《Top-level Qi Luck: Leading My Clan to Cultivate》 Chapter 1 Some Basic Settings of this Book_1 Cultivation Realms: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation(Corresponding to Demonic Beasts of 1st to 5th Order) PS: Only the Human Race with a Spiritual Root can cultivate. Innate differences can''t easily be reversed by ordinary treasures. Demonic Beasts cultivate their bodies, and the higher their grade, the higher their Spirit Wisdom. ... Lifespan: 120 years of Qi Cultivation, 250 years of Foundation Establishment, 600 years of Golden Core, 1500 years of Nascent Soul, 5000 years to Become a God (Demonic Beasts'' lifespans are roughly 5 times that of the Human Race) PS: Ordinary humans generally live to about 50, though some strong and sturdy martial artists can live to their eighties or nineties. ... Weapons: Spiritual Artifact, Magic Artifact, Magical Treasure, Spiritual Treasure, Ancient Treasure (corresponding to Qi Refinement~Divinity Transformation; starting from Magical Treasure, no further grade distinction) Heavenly Spiritual Treasure (a rarity from the upper realms) PS: Weapons are divided into offensive and defensive, and regardless of the grade, there are differences in quality and spirituality, naturally leading to different effects. ... Spiritual Root: Basic Five Elements properties + Ice, Wind, Thunder PS: The Human Race starts to test for Spiritual Roots at age ten, and only those who possess them can embark on the path of cultivation. ... Spirit Stone: Low-Grade, Medium Grade, High Quality, Supreme Quality Exchange Ratio: 100-1 PS: Medium and Low-Grade Spirit Stones are the most widely circulated among Cultivators. Once reaching the level of High-Quality Spirit Stones, these are typically used as energy sources for formations and are usually found with cultivators above the Golden Core Stage, considered a scarce strategic resource. ... Cultivation Technique; Yellow Grade, Mysterious, Earth, Heaven Spirit Art: Yellow Grade, Mysterious, Earth, Heaven PS: Yellow Grade is the lowest, and it goes up from there. Different grades of Cultivation Techniques come with varying strengths of Divine Skills and differ in the number of skills they convey. PS: Like Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Arts are special offensive methods that significantly enhance a Cultivator''s attack power. Generally used as trump cards, they are extremely precious. ... Treasure settings: 1st to 5th Order Spiritual Medicines, Fruits, and Ores: 1st to 5th Order. PS: 1st and 2nd Order treasures are divided into low, medium, and high quality. 3rd Order and above treasures are not divided by quality, but there''s still a significant difference in rarity and effect. ... Price Base: The value of treasures by order: 1st Order¡ª1-100 Spirit Stones, 2nd Order¡ª500-5,000 Spirit Stones, 3rd Order¡ª50,000 to 1,000,000 Spirit Stones. 4th Order: 10 million to 500 million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. 5th Order: Priceless treasures, not attainable with ordinary Spirit Stones. ... Human Race regional introduction: Huarong Realm, Nine Provinces Continent Nine Provinces Continent: Qingzhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Binzhou, Xuanzhou, Yunzhou, Huazhou, Youzhou, Jizhou. Overseas Three Islands: Changxing Island, Jiuxuan Island, Luolan Island PS: Each continent varies in size. Xuanzhou, Yunzhou, and Huazhou are the central regions of the Human Race, with extremely ancient inheritances. Currently, the Immortal Path flourishes there, with numerous clan powers. Qingzhou and Jizhou are close to the Endless Forest and are new territories for the Human Race, while the power and inheritances of the other seven provinces vary, and their overall strengths differ accordingly. ... Vein Introduction: PS: In this book, there''s no such thing as veins. Any mountain, river, or stream can serve as a habitat, the only difference being the concentration of Spiritual Energy. However, formations, Spirit Stones, and special treasures can be used to modify the concentration of Spiritual Energy. Typically, a long-standing power''s base is the result of thousands of years of accumulation and transformation to become a Cave Heaven and Blessed Land. ... Monster Race species: Demon Race, Barbarian Race, Sea Demon Race Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Demonic Beast territory: Endless Forest Barbarian territory: Endless Forest Sea Demon territory: Endless Sea Domain PS: The Endless Forest covers a vast area, home to both terrestrial Demonic Beasts and the Barbarian Race, though the Barbarian Race occupies a smaller proportion. The Barbarian Race has good innate talents but a shorter inheritance period, making their overall strength much weaker than that of the terrestrial Demonic Beasts and the Sea Demons. Barbarian characteristics: They have the appearance of a beast head on a human body and can freely transform into the body of a Demonic Beast in battle. With extremely high innate talents, they are the offspring of High Order terrestrial Demonic Beasts combined with the Human Race, essentially inheriting the advantages of both races. They possess higher Spirit Wisdom than pure Demonic Beasts, but still not as high as Human Cultivators. ... That''s all the settings for now, with more additions to come as the story progresses. Other realms will also be added as the plot advances. ... ``` Chapter 2 The main family member_1 ```As I worked on this chapter quite late, the main text has already reached over 500 chapters, and what follows is the current situation of the protagonist''s family. PS: This setting only records the core family members. As the plot progresses, the cultivation levels, positions, and even the deaths of some family members will be updated accordingly. If there are any mistakes, I hope readers will point them out in the comments! ... Family: Lin Family Location: Nine Provinces Continent, Qingzhou, Wei Kingdom, Luoyun Mountain Range Male protagonist: Lin Tianming (Mid Stage Golden Core, Third Order Alchemy Master) Female protagonist: Qin Xi (Early Stage Golden Core) ... Generation setup: Ren Yi Zhi Jiu Rong, Yu You Meng Qiu Ying, Huan Cheng Yi Shi Xing, Tian Chang Qing Jing Zheng, Qian Ao Jin Ze Cheng. Founding Ancestor: Lin Renfeng (Mid Stage Golden Core) Lin Shigong (protagonist''s grandfather) Lin Xingrong (protagonist''s father) Ren Yuxuan (protagonist''s mother, Foundation Establishment Seventh Level) Lin Changqing (protagonist''s son) ... Core family members: Clan Leader: Lin Shihua (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level) Deputy Clan Leader: Lin Xingrong (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Great Elder: Lin Shikang (Early Stage Golden Core) Second Elder: Lin Shigong (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master) Third Elder: Lin Shilu (Early Stage Golden Core, Third Order Artifact Refiner) ... The ten major family institutions: Elders'' Council: Comprising the Great Elders and the protagonist couple as members Enforcement Hall: Lin Xingzhi (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Hall of Merit: Lin Xingcheng (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level) Miscellaneous Affairs Hall: Lin Xingli (Foundation Establishment Seventh Level) Scripture Pavilion: Lin Xingping (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Alchemy Hall: Lin Xingyuan (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Second Order Superior Alchemy Master) Artifact Refining Hall: Lin Xingshun (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner) Skill Transmission Hall: Lin Xingyu (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level) Talisman Crafting Hall: Lin Xingqi (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order High-Grade Talisman Master) Formation Hall: Lin Tianluo (Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, Second Order Medium Quality Array Master) ... Tian generation core family members: Lin Tianfeng (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Lin Tianqin (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order Superior Alchemy Master) Lin Tianhong (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order Superior Alchemy Master) Lin Tianyue (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order High-Grade Talisman Maker) Lin Tianhu (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Lin Tianluo (Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, Second Order Medium Quality Array Master) Lin Tianbo (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner) Lin Tianyun (Wind Spirit Root, Early Stage Golden Core) Lin Tiancheng (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level) sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianhai (Foundation Establishment Seventh Level) ... ``` Chapter 1 Nine Provinces Continent (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 The Nine Provinces Continent, where myriad races stand tall and countless beings thrive, spans billions of miles with oceans covering a tremendous 80%, leaving only 20% as land.Seen from the distant skies, it resembles a giant water orb, a blend of azure and green, breathtakingly beautiful. According to records by the Human Race, this realm is known as the Huarong Realm. It is said to have existed for tens of billions of years, but the exact duration is uncertain due to its ancient past. The land is divided into nine provinces, namely Qingzhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Binzhou, Xuanzhou, Yunzhou, Huazhou, Youzhou, and Jizhou, which are nine vast territories. Each province is immeasurably large, encompassing millions of miles. This is a world for cultivators, where even mortals would find it difficult to traverse a single province in their lifetime. To the south of Jingzhou Land, there are more than ten thousand islands of various sizes; the large ones are half the size of a province, the small ones only span a hundred miles, and there are countless islets tens of miles across. This region is the outer area of the Nine Provinces Continent. Being close to the sea, it is rich in aquatic resources, and ordinary people living on the islands in the inner sea make their living by fishing. I once heard old fishermen claim that terrifying demonic beasts live beyond the outer sea. They are of various forms, extremely ferocious, and incidents of eating humans occur from time to time, including sharks dozens of meters long and giant turtles the size of a small hill, though it''s unclear whether these tales are true or false. Since then, fishermen have only dared to live within a hundred miles of the inner sea, earning their livelihood through fishing and aquaculture. Outside the vast expanse of the southern sea islands and the mainland, powerful races like Sea Demons, the Demon Race, and the Barbarian Race can be found. Qingzhou is located in the southwest of the Nine Provinces Continent, bordered by Jizhou to the north and Jingzhou to the south. In the areas west of Qingzhou and Jizhou, a mighty Demon Race dwells, inhabiting a vast primordial forest full of numerous mountain ranges and rivers, where towering trees hundreds of feet high are everywhere. Demonic beasts multiply and survive here, living off Spiritual Trees, Spiritual Medicine, and metal minerals; it''s a forbidden land where humans rarely set foot. Since the birth of the Human Race, a million years have passed, while the Demon Race has proliferated for several million years. They possess longevity far exceeding that of humans, sometimes living several times longer. The Demon Race''s long lifespan, coupled with their robust physiques, make them the favored children of the heavens. The impressive innate abilities of the Demon Race have always been the envy of human cultivators, yet the difficulties in the Demon Race''s advancement are substantially greater than those of humans. The intellect of low-order monster beasts is similar to that of a young child; only Third Order demonic beasts and above experience a significant increase in intelligence. For a million years, the formidable strength of the Demon Race has subtly surpassed that of the Human Race. The Nine Provinces Continent is often plagued by the havoc of the Demon Race, and beast tides attack frequently, with each one posing a life-and-death test for human cultivators. Thus, the human and demon races have been natural enemies since ancient times. Beyond Jingzhou to the south and east of Yangzhou and Binzhou lies an extensive sea area inhabited by an even more powerful Sea Demon Race. The land''s Demon Race is just a branch of the Sea Demon Race. It is said that millions of years before the birth of humankind, parts of the Sea Demon Race migrated to live on land. After a million years of evolution, the sea creatures that came ashore have adapted to life on land, giving birth to many strange and exotic beasts with varying innate gifts. Today''s Nine Provinces Continent has become a place of habitation after tens of thousands of years of wars between the human and demon races, fought by countless mighty beings. To the north of Youzhou lies a vast area of vast deserts and prairies, where the wild Barbarian Race lives. They are the offspring of the Human Race and Demon Race, with varying body sizes and bizarre forms, such as two-winged bodies, bovine heads on human torsos, embodying features of both human and demon races, and possessing exceptional talents. The land of the Barbarian Race abounds with fire and metal attribute Spiritual Objects, making it a paradise for cultivators of the fire and metal attributes. Meanwhile, Qingzhou, Jizhou, and the Demon Race''s lands are rich in wood, metal, and earth attribute Spiritual Objects, while regions like Jingzhou and Yangzhou have a prevalence of water attribute Spiritual Objects. In the Nine Provinces Continent, Yunzhou and Xuanzhou are the largest two provinces, each of which is bigger than Qingzhou and Jizhou combined. Yunzhou and Xuanzhou are the central regions of the Human Race, and through hundreds of thousands of years of heritage, these two provinces have become a hub for High Order Cultivators. With prosperous trade and abundant resources, they boast numerous Sect Families, making them a paradise for cultivators. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the Human Race continued to grow stronger, the resources of the seven provincial lands were no longer sufficient for the proliferation of Human Cultivators. The lands of Qingzhou and Jizhou had been gradually conquered from the hands of the Demon Race over tens of thousands of years. With their complex terrains and numerous unknown spiritual veins, mineral ores, and Spiritual Medicines, they attracted many adventurers who came in search of treasures and experiences, making these lands a prime destination for numerous cultivators'' adventures and treasure hunts. To date, the population of the Human Race numbers in the hundreds of millions, with 99% being ordinary mortals. It is not easy for a cultivator to be born, as only those with a Spiritual Root can cultivate. Among the offspring of mortals, only one in ten thousand may be born with a Spiritual Root, and the vast majority possess the most common Four Spirit Roots or Five Spirit Roots, which without extraordinary opportunities, make Core Formation unlikely in their lifetime. However, children born to cultivators have a much higher chance of possessing a Spiritual Root compared to mortals, and their Spiritual Roots tend to be superior. The likelihood of having Three or Four Spirit Roots is not small, and with proper nurturing, Foundation Establishment becomes hopeful. For those with a Single Spirit Root, the path of cultivation is much easier. Barring any premature demise, reaching the Golden Core Stage is almost assured, and the prospects of attaining the Nascent Soul Stage are very hopeful. Of course, the quality of one''s Spiritual Root is not a definitive factor on the path of Dao and does not determine the ultimate limit of a cultivator. Many favored sons of the heavens have perished prematurely or collapsed midway, while numerous cultivators of average aptitude have defied the odds and reached the pinnacle among humans. Legend has it that, hundreds of thousands of years ago, an ancestor of the Human Race with Five Spirit Roots ascended to the Divinity Transformation Stage within a millennium and successfully ascended, a feat not commonly seen in a million years, yet not unprecedented. The path of cultivation is inherently an act of defiance against the heavens, and with each advancement comes numerous perils and trials. The consequences range from a fallen state to death on the spot. Even so, this does not diminish the cultivator''s longing for immortality. In the Cultivation World, the realms of cultivators are divided into Qi Refinement Realm, Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Stage, and Divinity Transformation Stage. Both the Qi Refinement Realm and the Foundation Establishment Stage are divided into nine levels, with levels one to three being the early stage, four to six the medium stage, and seven to nine the late stage, followed by the Great Perfection Realm. After entering the Golden Core Stage, the realms are directly divided into the early, medium, late, and Great Perfection Realm. In the Huarong Cultivation World, the Demon Race and Barbarian Race cultivate their bodies, while Human Cultivators cultivate Spiritual Power. Mortals have a lifespan of over sixty years, with eighty being considered old age. The lifespans for the Qi Refinement Realm is one hundred and twenty years, the Foundation Establishment Stage two hundred and fifty-odd years, the Golden Core Stage over five hundred years, the Nascent Soul Stage around one thousand two hundred years, and the Divinity Transformation Stage over three thousand years. Upon reaching the Golden Core Stage, one has the abilities to soar through the skies and reshape landscapes and is considered among the ranks of High Order Cultivators. The longing for power becomes an ever deeper obsession. The division of realms for the Demon Race and Barbarian Race corresponds to those of Human Cultivators, with Monster Beasts from first to fifth order, each also divided into early, medium, and late stages. First Order Monster Beasts correspond to cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm, while Second Order corresponds to those at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Third Order Demon Beasts have fully awakened Spirit Wisdom, corresponding to the Golden Core Stage; Fourth Order Demon Beasts can transform into human form, with divine skills on par with Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators; those at the Divinity Transformation Stage of the Demon Race are not much different from humans. Tens of thousands of years ago, Jizhou and Qingzhou were still territories of the Demon Race. The Human and Demon Races waged war for over a hundred years, with even Nascent Soul Stage experts falling by the dozens and countless lower-order cultivators killed or injured. It is said that even Divinity Transformation Stage old monsters suffered casualties, though it''s unclear whether this is true. Since then, the Demon Race willingly ceded the two provinces as a buffer zone. Moreover, compared to the vast expanse of the Demon Race''s territories, the areas of Qingzhou and Jizhou are not large; these two provinces are but a drop in the bucket for the Demonic Lands, barely worth mentioning. For nearly ten thousand years, humans and demons have coexisted relatively peacefully. Beast tides occur from time to time but on a small scale, mostly involving Low-order Monster Beasts invading the borders of the Human Race, causing no significant damage to the foundation of both races. Over tens of thousands of years, both humans and demons have exercised restraint, recuperating and propagating. Chapter 2 Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In the southern part of Qingzhou Wei Kingdom, Green Bamboo Mountain.Green Bamboo Mountain is a corner of the Luoyun Mountain Range, which spans thousands of miles. Besides the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, there are the Jin Family of Golden Horn Mountain, the Sun Family of Flying Eagle Mountain, the Wu Family of Jiuhua Mountain, and the Luo Family of Baiyun Mountain. All five major families have Foundation Establishment Cultivators in residence, along with more than twenty smaller Qi Refining families nestled there. From atop the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, it resembles a coiled giant serpent with the head looking like a massive piece of bamboo, a thousand feet tall, standing at the center of Green Bamboo Mountain. The whole area of Green Bamboo Mountain stretches over a hundred miles, with gorges at the bottom, underground rivers throughout, and diverse landforms. The mountaintop is often shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, resembling a paradise on earth. Green Bamboo Mountain is covered in thickets of Qingling Bamboo, which are extremely flexible and counted among the first order wood attribute spirit materials. When Qingling Bamboo is added in the process of Artifact Refining, it can significantly enhance the resilience of a Spiritual Artifact, and it is widely used in refining flying swords, making it a premium Artifact Refining Material. Green Bamboo Mountain is the ancestral land of the Lin Family, whose legacy has lasted for over eight hundred years. Its founder was the Patriarch of the Lin Family, Lin Renfeng, who, during his life, was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. At the age of four hundred, he got injured while treasure hunting and gathering elixirs in the demon territory of Maple Forest Mountain Range. Gravely injured, he fled back to Qingzhou. Due to injuries in his energy channels, he could no longer make any progress in cultivation after recovering. Dispirited, he established the Lin Family on Green Bamboo Mountain using his life savings. The Lin Family currently has 175 cultivators. In the six hundred years since the Patriarch''s passing, the Lin Family members have slowly grown in number and the family line has passed down over ten generations. After more than eight hundred years of development, the Lin Family has achieved a certain level of renown in the southern part of Qingzhou Wei Kingdom. Currently, there are two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over a hundred Qi Refining Cultivators within the family. Within a courtyard on the mountainside of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Tianming was sitting upright on his bed. In his hand, he held a milky-white stone as he cultivated. The stone, about the size of a toddler''s fist, was crystal clear and stunningly beautiful. Spiritual Energy was flowing along his meridians, eventually converging within his dantian. After meditating for over an hour, the milky-white stone gradually shrank and finally, turned into a wisp of blue smoke and vanished. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A hint of joy flashed in Lin Tianming''s eyes as he eagerly used his Divine Sense to check his dantian. He saw that his dantian had clearly expanded, and he was not far from the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. If he could refine about a dozen more Spirit Stones, he should be able to reach the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but sigh with emotion, reflecting that cultivating with Spirit Stones truly sped up the process. A single Low-Grade Spirit Stone was equivalent to several days of his strenuous cultivation. Lin Tianming, a cultivator of the Lin Family from Green Bamboo Mountain, possessed Dual Spiritual Roots of wood and fire. At sixteen years of age, he was at the Fourth Level of Qi Practice, clad in a green shirt, with handsome features and eyes that occasionally revealed a trace of maturity and wisdom. Unconsciously, he had been cultivating for several hours. As evening approached, after using up two Spirit Stones, though he had a pained expression on his face, seeing the increase in Spiritual Power in his dantian and feeling himself getting closer to the Fifth Level of Qi Practice made it worthwhile. With many cultivators within the Lin Family and limited financial resources, during the early stages of Qi Practice, only one Spirit Stone was distributed monthly. In the middle stages of Qi Practice, three Low-Grade Spirit Stones were given each month. To gain more resources for cultivation, one must contribute to the family by taking on family tasks, earning Spirit Stones or elixirs for cultivation. After half a day of cultivation, feeling his stomach rumble, he stretched, pushed open the room door, and happened to run into Lin Tianyue coming his way. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Tianyue bounced over and, shaking his arm, said, "Brother, mother sent me to call you for the meal!" Lin Tianming affectionately stroked Lin Tianyue''s hair and chuckled, "Funny you should mention it, I was just getting hungry!" "Let''s go then. Time for dinner!" Saying this, he led Lin Tianyue to the main hall. Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianming''s younger sister, dressed in red, bore a certain resemblance to him, and was bound to become a stunning beauty in adulthood. This year, Lin Tianyue was twelve years old. With Triple Spiritual Roots of metal, wood, and fire, she had been cultivating for two years and was at the First Level of Qi Practice, showing considerable talent within the Lin Family. In the main hall, Ren Yuxuan was arranging the tableware. Before Lin Tianming even entered, Ren Yuxuan could hear his voice in the distance. "Mother, what delicious food are we having today?" As he spoke, Lin Tianming jogged into the hall and took a seat, grabbing a bowl of food and wolfing it down. His mother Ren Yuxuan wore a look of sympathy, repeatedly saying, "Eat slowly, there''s plenty more." Seeing this, Lin Tianyue commented with a look of disgust, "Brother, eat slower. No one''s going to snatch it from you." Lin Tianming chuckled and asked, "When is Dad coming back?" Hearing this, a look of longing flashed in the eyes of their mother and quickly faded away. "Your father went to escort a batch of Artifact Refining Materials and some Spiritual Artifacts to our store in Luoyun Market. It will be a few more days before he returns." "Before he left, he specifically instructed that I should supervise you in your cultivation diligently, so you can strive to break through to the fifth level of Qi Practice sooner and begin undertaking family missions to relieve some of the family''s burdens," His mother''s words filled Lin Tianming with longing. "Mother, I understand!" "I will definitely cultivate diligently and contribute to the family as soon as possible. The world is vast, and I have longed to go out and see it for myself." Ever since Lin Tianming was found to possess dual spiritual roots at the age of ten, the family had placed high hopes on him. In the past eight hundred years of the Lin Family, only the patriarch Lin Renfeng was born with dual spiritual roots of metal and fire. For the following eight hundred years, the best among the Lin Family had only three spiritual roots, and most family members had either four or five. In major sects or clans, with abundant resources, it might be possible to reach Core Formation, but the Lin Family, with its shallow foundations, simply couldn''t afford that. After dinner, his mother began to clear the dishes, while Tianming and Tianyue sat in the courtyard, with Tianming instructing Tianyue in the Five Elements Spell. All of a sudden, Tianming pinched a technique with his fingers, a wax-yellow flame flickering at the tip. He then shouted abruptly: "Go..." The flame, originally the size of a thumb, instantly expanded into a fireball several meters in diameter and shot towards the sky with the speed of an arrow. A loud boom filled the air, and the shockwave from the explosion spread out in all directions. Tianyue looked at her brother with admiration and said cheerfully: "I want to be as powerful as brother." Lin Tianming nodded affirmatively and then meticulously explained the Five Elements Spell once more. The Fireball Technique, a basic spell, harnesses one''s divine sense to control the fire attribute spiritual power within spiritual energy, concentrating it together. The stronger the divine sense, the more single-attribute spiritual power is gathered, and the greater the power and precision of the spell. The basic spells of the Five Elements can be practiced after introducing Qi into the body, starting from the first level of Qi Refining. "You must study diligently and practice frequently, and if there''s anything you don''t understand, ask Seventh Grandpa tomorrow at the Skill Transmission Hall, you got that?" Lin Tianming instructed. "Got it, brother, I will definitely work hard. I won''t keep you any longer, I''m going to find Tianqin. You can get back to what you were doing." In the blink of an eye, his sister had run off and disappeared from sight. Upon returning to the main hall, he saw his mother approaching him, holding a dark green storage bag in her hand. "Tianming, this is what your father asked me to give you before he went to the market. Your father and I have been saving these for the past two years to speed up your cultivation." As she said this, she handed the storage bag to Tianming, who blushed with curiosity and asked: "What is it?" Ren Yuxuan did not explain but simply said calmly: "Take a look for yourself." Lin Tianming accepted the dark green storage bag and examined it with great interest, feeling immensely pleased with himself. Anxious to see what his father, Lin Xingrong, had left for him that needed a storage bag, he returned to his room. Pulling out the dark green storage bag, he admired the gold-threaded embroidery of birds and beasts on it; it was extremely attractive, clearly incomparable to his own basic storage pouch. He imprinted his divine sense onto the storage bag, and after half an hour of refining, he probed inside with his divine sense to check the contents. It was a First Order Medium Grade storage bag with a space the size of a room, containing thirty-five low-grade spirit stones, a bottle of Lingshen Pills with three bright green, shiny pills inside. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but pick up a Lingshen Pill, examining it with curious delight. Lingshen Pills, commonly used elixirs by cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, are packed with spiritual energy and far more effective than the energy from spirit stones. Each Lingshen Pill represented a month''s hard cultivation saved, and three Lingshen Pills were worth at least twenty low-grade spirit stones. He packed away the spirit stones and Lingshen Pills and took out his original storage bag, which was inferior in quality, with only enough space to fit something the size of a table. Each family member who successfully introduces Qi into the body and enters the first level of Qi Refining to become a cultivator receives a First Order Inferior storage bag, a flying sword, and three low-grade spirit stones. He previously had five low-grade spirit stones left, so now he had a total of forty low-grade spirit stones and three Lingshen Pills. With enough resources for the next year or two, fully refining them would undoubtedly make reaching the fifth level of Qi Practice a certainty, and perhaps even the sixth level was within reach. After arranging his belongings, he lay on the bed. He hadn''t had a proper rest due to the high intensity of his meditation and cultivation over the past half month. It wasn''t even half an hour before the room was filled with the sound of his snoring. Chapter 3 First Attempt at Alchemy (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 At dawn, a ray of sunlight pierced through the small window of the attic, shining on Lin Tianming''s face.Opening his eyes, he stretched lazily out of bed, the fatigue of half a month dissipating without a trace. Cultivators too needed a balance of work and rest; constant seclusion for cultivation was detrimental to advancement in the later stages. Pushing the door open, he stepped out of his family''s courtyard. The morning in Green Bamboo Mountain was exceptionally lively, with clan members moving through the mountain paths. The morning sun resembled a fiery red disc, hanging beside the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, a vast expanse of green Qingling Bamboo stretched over a hundred acres, and more than a hundred attics on the mountain''s waistline encircled Green Bamboo Peak in pairs and trios, a sight too beautiful for words. Releasing his divine sense, a green and red flying sword materialized in Lin Tianming''s hand. Seven feet long and half a foot wide, it was extremely sharp, capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud. The family called it the Green Bamboo Sword, a low-grade spiritual artifact. Every clan member who reached the third level of Qi Cultivation could receive a Green Bamboo Sword from the Family Merits Hall to serve as a tool for repelling enemies and transportation. Summoning the flying sword, he cast a spell on it, and the sword instantly grew several times larger. Lin Tianming leaped onto it, steering the Green Bamboo Sword straight to the family''s Alchemy Hall. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming arrived at an attic on the mountainside. There stood a five-story-tall building with a large plaque hanging over its entrance, flamboyantly inscribed with the words "Alchemy Hall." This building appeared no different from an ordinary attic, but in reality, it was protected by several restrictive formations. Lin Tianming took out a green token from his storage bag, pinched a law decree with his hands, and murmured incantations. A beam of green light shot from the token towards the attic, and in the blink of an eye, a large gap opened in the formation. Lin Tianming stepped forward and mysteriously disappeared from sight. Inside the Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming passed through several alchemy rooms familiarly, as if he often visited this place, before finally stopping at the door of the innermost room. Seated within the room was an old man in his seventies, sitting upright on a meditation cushion. The elder was dressed in a gray Daoist robe, with most of his hair already white and a long goat beard, exuding a friendly and amiable appearance. In front of the elder was a flaming red pill furnace, three feet tall. The entire pillar furnace was red, with three legs and beautifully carved designs¡ªit was a second-order medium-grade Three Star Furnace. The Three Star Furnace was one of the second-order pill furnaces the Alchemy Hall possessed, its legacy spanning more than three hundred years, a relic of an ancestral Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist of the family. Now the treasure of the Alchemy Hall, the Three Star Furnace was for the use of family alchemists and was overseen by Lin Tianming''s grandfather, Lin Shigong. Next to the furnace, on a stone table, lay a dozen Spirit Grasses of various colors, surrounded by spiritual energy. This elder was none other than Lin Tianming''s grandfather, Lin Shigong, at the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Cultivation. He was the ninth in seniority among the Shi generation of the Lin Family and was nearly a hundred years old¡ªone of the only two alchemists in the family. The Lin Family had a history exceeding eight hundred years, with numerous members. The generations were distinguished as follows: Ren, Yi, Zhi, Jiu, Rong; Yu, You, Meng, Qiu, Ying; Huan, Cheng, Yi, Shi, Xing; Tian, Chang, Qing, Jing, Zheng; Qian, Ao, Jin, Ze, Cheng; with the ancestral founder being Lin Renfeng. Lin Tianming, a member of the Tian generation, was the sixteenth descendant of the Lin Family, ranking sixth among his generation. His father, Lin Xingrong, was the eleventh in the Xing generation. The Lin Family had 175 cultivators and over fifty thousand mortals, spread across major towns within a thousand miles around Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Family mortals intermarried with the local population, and all descendants bore the surname Lin. Lin Tianming entered the room and bowed respectfully to the elder. "Grandson Tianming pays his respects to Grandfather." Lin Shigong examined his grandson with a satisfied face: "You have been diligent, already at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement." "Remember, cultivation is like sailing against the current; if you don''t advance, you will fall behind," Lin Shigong pointed to the meditation cushions in front of him and said, "Take a seat." Lin Tianming glanced at the five meditation cushions and randomly picked one to sit down. After a few breaths passed, the Alchemy Hall''s early warning formation flickered slightly. Lin Shigong took out a token. Several spells were cast, opening a gap in the restriction, and a man and a woman entered. The man was named Lin Tianhong, twenty-two years old, at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, with the aptitude of Three Spiritual Roots. He was the son of Lin Xingping, Tianming''s cousin, and ranked second in the Tian generation. The woman was Lin Tianqin, twenty-one years old, also at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, with the same Three Spiritual Roots aptitude, and the daughter of Lin Xingsu, ranking third in the Tian generation. Within the Lin Family, those below the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement did not study crafts, focusing solely on cultivation. Upon reaching the Fourth Level, one could choose from the four crafts: alchemy, artifact refining, talisman making, and formation techniques; by the Fifth Level, one was expected to contribute to the family. In the Cultivation World, mastering a craft may be time-consuming and tedious, but upon achieving proficiency, one could quickly accumulate some resources for cultivation, aiding in the swift advancement of cultivation. Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin bowed to Lin Shigong and greeted in unison: "Tianhong and Tianqin pay respects to Ninth Grandpa." Lin Shigong said sternly: "Find a place to sit. Today, we will learn the basics of alchemy. Feel free to ask questions if there''s anything you don''t understand." After Lin Tianming and the others sat down properly, Lin Shigong began to explain. Alchemy starts with having a pill formula, spiritual medicine, a pill furnace, earth fire, or an alternative such as Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire. Missing any of these renders the process impossible, and the higher the grade of the elixir, the more difficult it is to make. Beyond the necessary materials, the art of alchemy also demands strict requirements for a cultivator''s divine sense. The stronger the divine sense, the greater the help in alchemy. It allows for the precise purification and extraction of the essence of spiritual medicine and seizing the optimal moment for solidifying the pill, thereby significantly increasing the success rate of pill formation. Today, we will discuss the most basic Fasting Pill, which is the most common first-order elixir. Consuming one Fasting Pill allows for half a month without the need for food. The Fasting Pill can replace food but does not increase cultivation level. It is the irreplaceable choice for Qi Refining Cultivators during secluded cultivation. Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, one can forego food and drink for several years. Lin Tianming and the others listened intently, asking various questions along the way, to which Lin Shigong patiently provided answers one by one. An hour had passed in the blink of an eye, and Lin Tianming and his two companions committed the basic knowledge to heart, brimming with interest in alchemy. "Now, I will practice making a batch of Fasting Pills. Watch closely," Lin Shigong said. Lin Shigong placed the Three Star Furnace above the Earth Fire vent. With the casting of a spell, dozens of flames gently spurted from the vent, raising the room''s temperature substantially in an instant. "This is Golden Bull Grass, this is Fire Ganoderma, and this is Nine-direction Flower..." Lin Shigong swiftly tossed over a dozen types of First Order Spiritual Medicine into the Three Star Furnace, his hands continuously forming incantations. After about two quarters of an hour, Lin Shigong shouted, "Solidify..." A fragrance filled the room as Lin Shigong concluded his work. In the Three Star Furnace lay seven brown pills, each the size of an eyeball, with a rich fragrance assailing the senses, and a bit of black residue at the bottom of the furnace. Lin Shigong nodded and said, "From one batch of medicinal ingredients, up to ten pills could be made, but that assurance is only given to a High Order Alchemist making Low-grade Pills. Normally, if three pills are solidified, it''s considered passing." After speaking, he collected the seven Fasting Pills and placed them into his storage bag. Then he took out three sets of ingredients for Fasting Pills. Once ready, Lin Shigong instructed, "Tianhong, you try it first." Hearing the instruction, Lin Tianhong looked somewhat nervous, but still mustered his courage to respond, "Yes, Ninth Grandpa!" Lin Tianhong took a deep breath, channeled his energy, pinched an incantation with two fingers, and cast his spell over the Alchemy Furnace. As Earth Fire flowed out, he sequentially threw over a dozen types of Spiritual Medicine into the furnace, casting several spells upon it. A quarter of an hour later, there were a few crackling noises from the furnace, but the pills failed to solidify successfully, ending in a heap of broken residue¡ªa failed initial attempt. Lin Tianhong managed a wry smile, sweating profusely, realizing that alchemy was indeed not as simple as he had thought. "Tianqin, your turn!" Upon Lin Shigong''s command, Lin Tianqin started to channel her energy, casting a spell onto the Alchemy Furnace and began her attempt at alchemy. After another quarter of an hour, there were similar cracking sounds and, just like Tianhong, she too failed to successfully create a pill. Lin Shigong was calm, apparently not angry, and then he spoke, "You two didn''t purify the Spiritual Medicine for long enough, which wasted some essence and resulted in insufficient medicinal strength, ultimately leading to the failure of the pill solidification. It''s perfectly normal to fail on your first alchemy attempt¡ªit requires much more practice." Lin Tianming and his companions nodded, their expressions a mix of understanding and confusion. Lin Shigong said no more, preparing to continue with more attempts. "Tianming, it''s your turn. Remember, don''t be impatient!" Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion, relaxing his body and mind, taking a deep breath to get into the best state. With incantations in hand, he cast a spell, offering up his Divine Sense to monitor the intensity of the Earth Fire closely. He methodically tossed the Spiritual Medicine into the furnace, step by step isolating the essence of the herbs at the bottom of the furnace. After a quarter of an hour, infusing his Spiritual Power forcefully, seeing the timing was nearly right, he too couldn''t help but shout, "Solidify..." Suddenly, the scent of the medicine filled the air. Upon uncovering the lid of the furnace, two oval pills floated in the center, with quite a bit of residue at the bottom, and the pills were misshapen with cracks and missing pieces, qualifying only as defective products. Lin Tianming concluded his work, feeling completely drained, a clear sign of overexertion, yet his heart was filled with joy. For a first attempt at alchemy, this result was quite extraordinary. Lin Shigong was inwardly astonished, yet he managed to appear utterly composed. To produce defective products on the very first attempt at alchemy was quite an achievement. He knew well that in his own time, it had taken him dozens of tries to reach the level Lin Tianming had achieved on his first go. Lin Shigong pointed out where Lin Tianming had fallen short and gave him some encouragement. There were six sets of ingredients left, and the three of them took turns practicing as the better part of the day slipped by unnoticed. In Lin Tianming''s last batch of ingredients, one pill solidified, with two defected pieces. Lin Tianqin managed to produce defected pills, while Lin Tianhong did not succeed at all. Lin Shigong packed up the Alchemy Furnace and said sternly, "I leave you three with Alchemy Insights Jade Tubes¡ªthese contain my lifelong experience combined with the insights passed down by my predecessors. Make sure to study them well and strive to master the art of pill-making as soon as possible." After a few words of encouragement, he allowed the three to leave. Lin Tianming and his two companions respectfully bowed and said, sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you, Grandfather (Ninth Grandpa), for your careful teaching; we shall take our leave now." The trio left the Alchemy Hall together. Lin Tianming smiled and bid farewell to Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin, "Second Brother, Third Sister, today has been exhausting. I won''t impose any further. I would like to invite you both to my home another day to discuss the art of alchemy and cultivation." After Lin Tianhong and the others agreed, they each said their goodbyes and departed. Lin Tianming left the Alchemy Hall and summoned his Green Bamboo Sword, ascending into the sky, and vanished on the horizon. Chapter 4 Comprehending Alchemy Experience_1 ```Returning to his small courtyard as evening fell, he had dinner and then headed early to his room. He took out the alchemy experience left by his grandfather and studied it earnestly. Lin Shigong was a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist, capable of concocting most First Order elixirs, and was the best alchemist in the Lin Family. Due to his inability to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, he had always been unable to concoct Second Order Pills. Besides him, the Lin Family also had a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, Lin Tianming''s clan uncle Lin Xingyuan, ranked fifth among the Xing generation, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and one of the most talented among his generation in the family. Alchemists are highly respected in the Cultivation World, regardless of whether they are low order cultivators, high order cultivators, or even the high order Demon Beast Race, all rely on elixirs for assistance. For hundreds of thousands of years in the Cultivation World, not only has the number of demons and humans increased, but it has become increasingly difficult for high order cultivators to break through their stages; the biggest reason being the scarcity of Spiritual Medicine resources. It is said that tens of thousands of years ago, during the ancient times, the number of high order cultivators in both human and demon races was several times more than now. During that period, there was an abundance of Spiritual Medicine and objects, and resources for cultivation were plentiful; the four great skills of pill concoction, weapon forging, formation, and talisman making reached unprecedented heights. After hundreds of thousands of years of continuous mining and extraction, the scarcity of Spiritual Medicine and objects has led to the loss of many ancient pill recipes and the extinction of their concoction methods. Alchemists can fully utilize the utmost effects of Spiritual Medicine, refining and condensing its essence into pills, which not only doesn''t waste the Spiritual Medicine but also diminishes its side effects. Therefore, elixirs have always been an in-demand resource in the Cultivation World. First and Second Order elixirs are manageable, available for sale in various markets, but Third and Fourth Order elixirs are much more rare, generally hard to come by unless one attends large markets or auctions. And with high order alchemists being just as scarce, it''s clear to see why alchemists are in such demand. Cultivating an alchemist requires a large number of resources; every alchemist is a product forged through a mountain of various Spiritual Medicines. The other three major skills are equally difficult to cultivate, and the cost is something Loose Cultivators can hardly afford. In the eight hundred years of the Lin Family, First Order Alchemists have never been in short supply, and only two Second Order Alchemists have ever emerged¡ªone Second Order Junior Alchemist and one Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. The main reason is that the Lin Family''s financial resources are limited; with a large number of clan members to support, they cannot afford the materials needed by alchemists, which also leads to the difficulty of the Lin Family in producing high order cultivators. The Lin Family''s income mainly comes from the First Order Artifact Refining material Qingling Bamboo from Green Bamboo Mountain. Every year they sell a batch of Qingling Bamboo Spirit Material, and the family also earns some Spirit Stones by forging a portion into Spiritual Artifacts. The Lin Family itself has several First Order Artifact Refiners, and even a Second Order Artifact Refiner. The Qingling Sword is made by the Lin Family¡ªpart is used by ourselves, most are sold to other Loose Cultivators through market shops. As for alchemy, the Lin Family can only prioritize the needs of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators; Second Order elixirs, needed by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, can only be purchased in various markets. Due to the restrictions in the pill aspect, the Lin Family has made the resolve to cultivate their own Second Order Alchemists. Lin Tianming, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin all have Spiritual Roots suitable for alchemy and are young with great potential, thus they are the primary targets for intensive training. He took out the alchemy experience left by his grandfather and pondered over it with full concentration. Fasting Pills, Lingshen Pills, Huadu Pills, Huiyuan Pills, Xisui Pills, Pozhang Pills... Huadu Pills, First Order Medium Grade Elixirs, can neutralize most First Order Demon Beast toxins but have limited effects on the toxins of some ancient demons with exceptional talents, only able to suppress the spread of the toxins temporarily and unable to completely cure them. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although it can''t neutralize all toxins, it can suppress the majority, making it one of the must-have pills for human cultivators. Huiyuan Pills, First Order Medium Grade Elixirs, are effective in rapidly restoring spiritual power; a single pill can replenish nearly half of one''s spiritual power in a brief moment. Huiyuan Pills and Huadu Pills are both consumable elixirs, essential in combat for cultivators and can save one''s life at critical moments. Xisui Pills, First Order Superior Grade Elixirs, have the effect of cleansing the marrow and expanding meridians, thereby strengthening the cultivator''s physical body, accelerating the absorption of spiritual energy, and expanding the capacity of one''s Qi Sea and Dantian by ten percent, which is immensely heaven-defying. ``` Cultivators engaged in a duel of spells, and having even a slight increase in Spiritual Energy meant an extra layer of protection. Often, the outcome of such battles hinged on the competition of who had the most profound Spiritual Energy reserves. The Xisui Pill is one of the elixirs within the First Order Spiritual Medicine with a relatively higher degree of difficulty to concoct. The Pozhang Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir, contains a large amount of Spiritual Energy. After consumption, it can break through the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Realm. It is expensive, with each Pozhang Pill selling for hundreds of Spirit Stones. Each sale is quickly snapped up, the Pozhang Pill and the Xisui Pill are among the most popular elixirs for Qi Training Cultivators. Only one can be taken, and taking more is ineffective. The Alchemy Experience documents detailed information on over twenty different types of elixirs and pill formulas that are widely known in the Cultivation World, along with an introduction to hundreds of types of Spiritual Medicine. To his surprise, there was even an introduction to the Foundation Establishment Pill! The Foundation Establishment Pill, a Second Order elixir, aids cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, increasing the chances of successful Foundation Establishment by fifty percent. It is one of the spiritual objects for Foundation Establishment. The Foundation Establishment Pill is exactly what the Lin Family lacks the most. The scarcity of the Foundation Establishment Pill is due to its main ingredient, the White Jade Grass that''s five hundred years old, which is extremely difficult to cultivate, not easy to transplant, and has a very low survival rate. It must satisfy the five hundred years of medicinal age before it can be used for alchemy. It''s relatively easier to survive from seed cultivation, but the cultivation time is too long, making it possible only for great cultivation sects and families with thousands of years of heritage to grow them. Wild White Jade Grass is extremely rare, as the vast majority have already been discovered and harvested by cultivators, and it probably only appears in lands inhabited by the Demon Race. The reason why the Lin Family has only two Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators is because of the exorbitant price of the Foundation Establishment Pill, which sells for tens of thousands of Spirit Stones per pill. Only a small amount of Foundation Establishment Pills appears at auctions, where major clans and powers bid against each other fiercely¡ªit''s a seller''s market with no availability at any price. A single Foundation Establishment Pill requires the Lin Family to accumulate wealth for several decades, hence it is the lifeline of small families, and major powers would not readily let Foundation Establishment Pills flow to the outside. After reviewing the various pill formulas and elixirs, he delved into the study of the Alchemy Experience. Because his father Lin Xingrong was frequently traveling between the family and Luoyun Market, rarely reuniting with the family, he followed his grandfather Lin Shigong from an early age, helping to sort Spiritual Medicine and organize pill formula materials. Under such influence, he became fascinated with the art of Alchemy from a young age and demonstrated a talent for it, earning his grandfather''s deep affection. His grandfather, feeling his own age, had long wanted to pass on all his skills to his grandson and have him carry on the legacy. Today, after concocting three batches of ingredients, he managed to produce only one Fasting Pill¡ªwith flaws. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but feel, alchemy was indeed not easy. With his grandfather''s verbal guidance and personal instruction, Lin Tianming''s understanding of the path of Alchemy had risen to a new level. What he needed now was diligent practice and relentless experimentation. Tomorrow, he would go to the Family Merits Hall to see if he could get an Alchemy Furnace and a few kinds of Spiritual Medicine. To perform Alchemy, in addition to Spiritual Medicine and the Pill Furnace, one must also use Earth Fire. Before reaching Core Formation, a cultivator''s Mana is not pure enough, and the flames they generate do not reach high enough temperatures. They must rely on Earth Fire for both Alchemy and Artifact Refining. Once in the Core Formation Stage, they can use their own Golden Core Fire for both processes, which is far more effective than Earth Fire. Beneath the Lin Family Clan Grounds flows a vein of Earth Fire that has existed for a long time, present since the establishment of the clan. After great effort by the founding ancestor, who set up formations and opened up five rooms for both the Alchemy Room and the Artifact Refining room, the use of Earth Fire for Alchemy and Artifact Refining has generated quite a wealth for the Lin Family over more than eight hundred years. The Lin Family has also developed over the past eight hundred years, leveraging the Golden Core Stage cultivation of the founding ancestor Lin Renfeng to quickly stabilize their footing on Green Bamboo Mountain. The Lin Family has grown from just over ten members in the early days to one hundred seventy-five Cultivators and hundreds of thousands of non-cultivators to date. After the passing of the old ancestor, the family went through several internal struggles and was nearly brought to ruin. Surviving hardships through the protective treasures left behind by the old ancestor, the Lin Family members became more united, gradually regaining their strength in recent years. After comprehending his grandfather''s Alchemy Experience, Lin Tianming made significant progress, and with diligent practice, he believed that he could master Alchemy on his own before long. This is the advantage of a family, having an elder who teaches without reservation, greatly reducing the potential for mistakes, as one would barely understand the most basic processes if left to fumble through on their own. After contemplating for three hours, Lin Tianming put away the Jade Tube and lay back on his bed. Late at night, the Qingfeng Bamboo outside his window rustled in the wind, and a fatigued Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 6 Successful Alchemy_1 The next morning at the Lin Family Hall of Merit.More than a dozen people gathered in the grand hall on the first floor of the Family Merits Hall, consisting of men and women, elders, young adults in their twenties, and middle-aged women. They were all Lin Family members exchanging merit points or trading various materials for weapon crafting and talisman making. A young man in a blue robe took out several stalks of spiritual medicine, a demon core from a demonic beast, and various parts of a demonic beast''s body from his storage bag. An elder in a white robe efficiently picked up the spiritual medicine materials to inspect them while three youngsters with a thick book stood by, making records. The book''s cover was made of green, oily beast skin, with densely packed runes swirling on the surface, giving it a rather peculiar appearance. The elder was none other than the Hall of Merit''s Master of the Lin Family, Lin Shixin, at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm, who was also over ninety years old¡ªabout the same age as his own grandfather. Lin Shixin had watched over the family''s treasury for more than forty years, experienced and knowledgeable, known for his fairness, responsible for collecting and exchanging all kinds of cultivation resources. As Lin Shixin counted and verified the items, he called out loudly: "Two stalks of Golden Flower Grass, each worth eight merit points, a total of sixteen merit points, three stalks of Wind Spirit Grass, each for six merit points, totaling eighteen merit points, one stalk of Jade Ginseng for five merit points." "One First Order Medium Grade Three-eyed Wolf demon core for eighteen merit points, four Three-eyed Wolf claws for a total of twelve merit points, one demonic eye bead for five merit points, and one Three-eyed Wolf skin for eight merit points, adding up to eighty-two merit points in total." The young man in the blue robe, seeming a bit surprised at the price, then spoke excitedly: "Uncle Ten, help me exchange for three Lingshen Pills, one Huadu Pill, one Huiyuan Pill, and one First Order Superior Attack Talisman." Lin Shixin nodded, checked the ledger, and proclaimed aloud: "Three Lingshen Pills, each for eight merit points, totaling twenty-four merit points, one Huadu Pill for twelve merit points, one Huiyuan Pill for eight merit points, and one First Order Superior Attack Talisman for fifteen merit points." "That makes fifty-nine merit points altogether, leaving a balance of twenty-three merit points after deduction." Before the words were finished, the young man in blue handed his Family Token to Lin Shixin. After Lin Shixin cast several law decrees, a series of red numeric figures flashed and then disappeared. Lin Shixin then went into the treasury to get the items for the family member and handed them over. The young man took his Family Token and the exchanged items, bowed with his fists and left the Hall of Merit. The family had established a complete exchange mechanism; one merit point could be exchanged for one Low-Grade Spirit Stone. Exchanges for various materials and elixirs from the family''s treasury were made at the market prices of the Cultivation World. However, selling materials to the family could only yield eighty to ninety percent of the market price, as the family needed Spirit Stones for its operation and to support its High Order Cultivators, thus it needed to make a profit as well. For example, the two stalks of Golden Flower Grass brought by the young man in blue would have exchanged for ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones each in the market, but in the family, they could only be exchanged for eight or nine Low-Grade Spirit Stones each. After the young man in blue left, a steady stream of family members continued to come and go, some selling, some buying, bringing lively activity to the entire Hall of Merit. In the noisy crowd, a young man in a green shirt appeared, it was Lin Tianming. Yesterday, he barely managed to concoct a flawed Fasting Pill on his first attempt at alchemy. Today, he planned to visit the Hall of Merit to see if there were any Alchemy Furnaces available. After exchanging customary greetings with his peers and elders, he approached Lin Shixin to pay his respects: S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Grandson Tianming, greets Uncle Ten." Lin Shixin nodded and couldn''t help teasing him: "You little rascal, just tell me what you want to exchange." Lin Tianming didn''t waste any time and stated his purpose directly. "Uncle Ten, do you have any Alchemy Furnaces? I am learning alchemy and lack both a Pill Furnace and spiritual medicines, so I thought to come and have a look." After hearing this, Lin Shixin replied, "The family has only four Pill Furnaces in total, and the only Second Order Medium Quality Dan Furnace is used by your grandfather." "Your Fifth Uncle has exchanged the one First Order Superior Grade Alchemy Furnace, and currently, only two First Order Medium Grade Dan Furnaces are left." While speaking, Lin Shixin took out two Dan Furnaces and placed them on the counter. Upon closer inspection, one was a fiery red furnace with three legs and four handles, named the Four Symbols Furnace. It was previously a First Order Superior Grade Dan Furnace, but for some reason, its grade had dropped to a First Order Medium Grade. It must have been damaged during a spell battle. Despite the grade drop, it was still significantly better to use than an ordinary First Order Medium Grade Alchemy Furnace, and it could be quite decent if repaired. The other was a blue-green Alchemy Furnace about three feet tall, adorned with runes on its body, named the Azure Mist Furnace, which was also a First Order Medium Grade Dan Furnace, left by a Lin Family ancestor. ''The Four Symbols Furnace requires two hundred and fifty merit points, and the Azure Mist Furnace requires one hundred and twenty merit points. Which one do you want to exchange for?'' When Lin Tianming heard the prices, he was taken aback. The thirty-five Spirit Stones given by Ren Yuxuan, along with three Lingshen Pills and his own Spirit Stones, were nowhere near enough even for half an Alchemy Furnace. It seemed like his hope to exchange for an Alchemy Furnace today was dashed. With an involuntary wry smile, Lin Tianming said: "Uncle Ten, it seems I can''t get a Dan Furnace. The combined merit points and Spirit Stones are far from enough. I can only exchange for some Fasting Pill spiritual medicines to concoct elixirs." The Fasting Pill requires eleven different types of common spiritual medicines, each valued at three Merit Points. Each portion of the spiritual medicine can be used to concoct three batches of Fasting Pills. "Then I''ll exchange for ten portions of Fasting Pill ingredients." Once he finished speaking, he took out his Family Token. After a few breaths, the Merit Points on the token were all reset to zero. Lin Tianming had not yet reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and could not take on family tasks, thus he was unable to earn Merit Spirit Stones. The thirty Merit Points on the token were given to him by his mother, Ren Yuxuan. Ren Yuxuan, possessing Four Spirit Roots and aged fifty-three, was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Knowing that her chances for Foundation Establishment were slim, she saved up most of the cultivation resources for Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong to cultivate with. In the Cultivation World, if one can''t reach Foundation Establishment before the age of seventy, the difficulty of doing so increases significantly after seventy. Qi Refining Cultivators have a lifespan of slightly over one hundred and twenty years. Once they exceed half of their lifespan, their vital energy gradually declines, making Foundation Establishment increasingly difficult. Most Lin Family members, upon reaching fifty years of age without advancing to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, would conserve cultivation resources to pass on to their offsprings who possessed better talents. Members of the Lin Family rarely marry before the age of forty. Only those with extremely poor talent or those without ambition would marry and have children early. This way, they could maximize the use of limited resources and focus on nurturing the next generation. The spiritual roots of Lin Tianming''s parents were not very good. His father, Lin Xingrong, was a Four Spirit Roots cultivator at fifty-five years old, who had reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm. His mother, Ren Yuxuan, also had Four Spirit Roots and was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement at fifty-three years old. Since the birth of Lin Tianming, Ren Yuxuan had been saving cultivation resources for more than a decade, reserving them for her son while also supporting Lin Xingrong''s cultivation. Otherwise, for Lin Xingrong alone, it would be very difficult to reach Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. After the Merit Points on the token were reset to zero and he had collected ten portions of Fasting Pill ingredients, he bid farewell to Lin Shixin and left the Hall of Merit to head straight for the Alchemy Hall. Less than half an hour later, Lin Tianming appeared before his grandfather, Lin Shigong. "Grandfather, I''ve exchanged for ten portions of Fasting Pill ingredients. I want to concoct Fasting Pills. I don''t have extra Merit Points to exchange for an Alchemy Furnace, so I can only borrow your Three Star Furnace for a bit," he said. Lin Shigong didn''t hesitate, he took out his Alchemy Furnace, gave several instructions, and left the pill room. Lin Tianming didn''t rush to start alchemy, but instead practiced cultivation for half a day to adjust his condition. In the pill room, Lin Tianming''s hands formed seals, casting several Law Decrees onto the Alchemy Furnace. Earth Fire surged forth, and after controlling the temperature, he warmed up the furnace for a quarter of an hour. He threw in the spiritual medicines one by one, brought out his Divine Sense, and operated his cultivation method to fully purify the medicines. A quarter of an hour later, he opened the lid of the furnace, and fragrance filled the air. A Fasting Pill hung in the center of the furnace. Overjoyed, Lin Tianming took out the Fasting Pill and inspected it carefully. It was undoubtedly a complete Fasting Pill. There were still plenty of medicinal ingredients left. Having had a good start, he continued to strike while the iron was hot. He casually threw the freshly concocted Fasting Pill into his mouth, and the hunger he had been feeling for the past half-day disappeared instantly. After four hours, he had finished processing one portion of the spiritual medicine. The first batch yielded one pill, the second batch failed to produce any, and the third batch also yielded one pill. Overall, he was quite satisfied. After continuously concocting three batches of Fasting Pills, his Spiritual Power was completely depleted, and his Divine Sense overly exhausted. He had to meditate and cultivate to recover before he could continue with alchemy. Time swiftly passed, half a month had gone by. Lin Tianming stepped out of the pill room. Over the course of half a month, he had frenziedly crafted Fasting Pills, using up all the spiritual medicines. His effort had been rewarded. After dozens of attempts, the success rate of the final third of the materials had surpassed sixty percent, yielding at least three and sometimes up to five Fasting Pills per batch. In half a month''s time, from the ten portions of spiritual medicines exchanged, after thirty batches of concocting, he ultimately produced thirty-nine Fasting Pills. After consuming one, he had thirty-eight left. Lin Tianming found his grandfather Lin Shigong to return the Three Star Furnace and report his alchemy results. Lin Shigong was so astounded that he stared in disbelief and couldn''t help but laugh heartily, exclaiming, "Heaven bless the Lin Family, Heaven bless the Lin Family..." After exuberantly shouting for more than a dozen breaths, Lin Shigong finally regained his composure. "You little devil, you''re barely considered a First Order Inferior Alchemist now. Seeing how serious you are, this old man must reward you properly. Hand over your family token," he said. Lin Tianming did not put on airs and directly handed over the Family Token to Lin Shigong. His grandfather took out his own Family Token and with a swipe of his hands, added three hundred Merit Points to Lin Tianming''s token. Lin Shigong said, "Go and exchange for the Four Symbols Furnace at the Hall of Merit. That Dan Furnace is indeed good and will help you quickly concoct pills." "Once you can concoct First Order Medium-Grade elixirs, I will ask your Third Grandfather to help you repair the Four Symbols Furnace. If there are materials for crafting, perhaps he could even upgrade it to a Second Order Dan Furnace," he added. Lin Tianming nodded, took the token, bowed with his hands clasped, and said goodbye to his grandfather. Time slowly went by... After half a month of frenzied alchemy, his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense were greatly drained. After concocting three batches of pills, he needed to meditate for half a day to recover before he could continue with alchemy, leaving him utterly exhausted. Although alchemy was strenuous, by replenishing what had been consumed, his cultivation base steadily improved, and his Divine Sense grew a bit. He felt that he was getting ever closer to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. With three Lingshen Pills left, Lin Tianming planned to go into seclusion to cultivate for a while. He would not come out of seclusion until he had broken through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Chapter 7 Qi Refinement Level 5_1 The next day, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the stone bed.His eyes closed, hands clasped together, he adeptly performed a Grand Circulation. Specks of blue and red light gathered sporadically above Lin Tianming''s head, slowly sinking into the Sky Spirit Cover, following through the seven meridians and eight channels of his body, and finally converging in the Seven Sea Dantian. After a full circulation, his meridians flowed smoothly, and he took out a bottle of elixirs. Pouring one out, it was indeed a Lingshen Pill. Without hesitation, Lin Tianming swallowed the pill. Its rich fragrance and sweet taste were refreshing to the spirit. Immediately, he began to refine the pill, transforming it into streams of violent spiritual power that surged into the Qi Sea Dantian, where he saw the Dantian slowly expanding at a minimal rate. Lin Tianming''s cultivation method was one of the family legacies, the Fire Origin Decision, a Fire Attribute Mysterious Grade technique with a very powerful attack but comparatively slow cultivation speed. It could be cultivated up to the late stage of Core Formation. In the Cultivation World, techniques are divided into Heavenly, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow grades. Techniques of the Heavenly grade are the highest and can be cultivated up to the Divinity Transformation Stage, followed by Earth-grade techniques, which can reach the Nascent Soul Stage, while the lowest Yellow-grade techniques only allow cultivation up to the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Lin Family had a legacy of over eight hundred years with only five techniques: two of Mysterious Grade and three of Yellow Grade. They had collected techniques for all Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, but had no techniques for unusual attributes. Spiritual Roots like the Wind Spirit Root, Ice Spirit Root, Thunder Spiritual Root, and other unusual attributes are exceedingly rare, and their corresponding techniques are even harder to collect. Even millennia-old cultivation families or top sects may not possess such unusual attribute techniques. The Fire Origin Decision and Spring Wood Creation Classic are the only two Mysterious Grade techniques the family possesses, each one capable of being cultivated to the late stage of Core Formation. The Spring Wood Creation Classic is relatively mild and easier to cultivate with fewer bottlenecks, making it the usual choice for those in the clan with the Wood Attribute Spiritual Root. Besides that, there are three Yellow Grade techniques. The Metal Attribute technique, Golden Gang Classic, has extremely strong offensive power. The Water Attribute technique, the Water Origin Sword Decision, is a sword technique that can at most control nine Flying Swords to form a Sword Array, useful for both offense and defense and quite extraordinary. The Earth Attribute technique, Thick Earth Decision, can congeal an earth shield with excellent defensive power but slightly weaker offensive ability, so not many clanspeople cultivate this technique. Time passed quietly, and it took Lin Tianming three days in seclusion to fully refine the first Lingshen Pill, his cultivation reaching the peak of the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement. With one pill consumed and two remaining, Lin Tianming planned to continue taking Lingshen Pills, attempting to break through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. He continued to consume another Lingshen Pill and began the refinement process once more. Lin Tianming controllingly harnessed the immense medicinal power, repeatedly assaulting his Dantian countless times. Finally, two days later, the Qi Sea of his Dantian expanded several times over, allowing Lin Tianming to enter the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling his power multiply, Lin Tianming was ecstatic with joy. The original size of his Dantian was like a bucket, but now it was the size of a small pond, its capacity increased several times over and his spiritual power denser. Having just made a breakthrough, Lin Tianming did not rush to leave seclusion; instead, he continued to meditate for five more days to further consolidate his cultivation. After ten days of seclusion, the gains were tremendous for Lin Tianming. With two Lingshen Pills, he had smoothly advanced to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, with one pill still remaining¡ªfar better than expected. Advancing to the Fifth Level of Qi Practice so swiftly was fortunate, thanks to the half-month retreat he had previously, during which he had concocted elixirs and used up a large amount of spiritual power, later replenishing through cultivation, allowing his strength to grow steadily. Because of a solid foundation, he had managed to break through smoothly. Although he wanted to continue taking elixirs to further enhance his cultivation, considering there was only one Lingshen Pill left, its effects might not be significant. Excessive consumption of elixirs in succession might affect the foundation, so a gradual and methodical approach was safest. Deciding it was time, Lin Tianming concluded his seclusion and pushed open the door to step out. It was still early in the day, and, recalling the 300 merit points awarded by his grandfather, Lin Tianming summoned his Flying Sword, leaped onto it, and headed straight for the Family Merits Hall. With his cultivation breakthrough, even the speed of Sword Flight had more than doubled, the wind whistling past his ears, fluttering his blue robe loudly. Along the way, Lin Tianming passed by many important halls of the Lin Family, encountering numerous Lin Family members who were busily engaged in their tasks. After greeting each of them, Lin Tianming bid farewell and left. Through long-term development, the Lin Family''s rules were rather strict, with clear principles of respecting the elderly and loving the young and distinct rewards and punishments, forming a complete family system. The Lin Family had ten departments, namely the Elders'' Council, Enforcement Hall, Skill Transmission Hall, Hall of Merit, Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Scripture Pavilion, Alchemy Hall, Artifact Training Hall, Talisman Crafting Hall, and Formation Hall. The Elders'' Council was composed of the Clan Leader and the various Hall Masters. Minor decisions were made after deliberation among the members of the Elders'' Council, while major resolutions needed to be referred to Foundation Establishment Stage supreme elders. The Enforcement Hall was responsible for supervising all clan members, dealing with those who abused their power for personal gain, bullied men and women, committed fratricide, or defected from the clan, enforcing the family rules accordingly. If a violation of the clan rules was verified, the offender might be detained on the lighter end or have their cultivation removed and be confined within the clan until death for more serious offenses. Under the strict clan rules, Lin Family members did not dare to overstep the family law. The Enforcement Hall was also responsible for tracking down murderers, leading clan members in experiential training, and assuming authority in external armed conflicts and battles. The Skill Transmission Hall''s duties involved propagating the deeds and development progress of the clan''s ancestors, fostering a sense of belonging among the clan members, teaching cultivation methods and secret techniques to those newly embarked on the path of cultivation, and taking on the responsibility of introductory education for the clan members. The Hall of Merit managed the Lin Family''s treasury and all public properties possessed by the clan, such as the Spiritual Medicine Garden and the mines. It also dealt with resource exchange and proxy selling for the clan members. The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was responsible for scheduling and executing various clan tasks. Once Lin Family members reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, they were expected to contribute to the clan, completing at least one family task within their capabilities every three years and receiving rewards upon completion. Family members under thirty years old who had not broken through to the fifth level could focus solely on cultivation and were exempt from tasks. Conversely, even those at the First Level of Qi Refining had to accept responsibilities after reaching thirty years of age, as the family would not support idlers. The Scripture Pavilion safeguarded all kinds of cultivation methods, secret techniques, and ancient texts of the family, providing suitable secret cultivation texts for those newly initiated into the path of cultivation. The Alchemy Hall, Artifact Training Hall, Talisman Crafting Hall, and Formation Hall were institutions established by the family to cultivate skilled talents. Upon reaching the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, one could choose any specialty based on their innate gifts and preferences to pursue further training. Naturally, choosing not to cultivate a skill or even cultivating multiple skills was also possible, as the family did not force any member. After hundreds of years of optimization and reforms, the current system was formed, which has been in effect for three hundred years without any major changes. Inside the Family Merits Hall, Lin Tianming appeared before Lin Shixin. Lin Tianming clasped his hands and bowed respectfully, saying, "Great-Nephew pays respects to Great-Uncle Ten." Lin Shixin waved his hand, indicating that he need not be overly courteous. "Great-Uncle Ten, I wish to sell thirty-eight Fasting Pills." As he spoke, he took out the thirty-eight Fasting Pills he had concocted and handed them over to Lin Shixin for inspection. Lin Shixin examined the elixirs closely for a moment before speaking, "Thirty-eight Fasting Pills, one Spirit Stone each, calculating at a discount of twenty percent, that makes a total of thirty merits." Lin Tianming took out his Family Token and said, "I want to exchange for a Four Symbols Furnace, plus ten sets of Fasting Pill Spiritual Medicine, and five sets of Lingshen Pill Spiritual Medicine." Lin Shixin quickly did the calculations: the Four Symbols Furnace cost 250 merits, each set of Fasting Pill Spiritual Medicine cost 3 merits, totaling 30 merits, and each set of Lingshen Pill Spiritual Medicine cost 8 merits, totaling 40 merits, adding up to a total expenditure of 320 merits. Selling the concocted thirty-eight Fasting Pills, he earned thirty merits, which balanced out exactly. Lin Tianming thought to himself that once the success rate and the number of pills produced in the later stages increased, he should be able to make a profit. Lin Shixin deducted the merits from his token, leaving himself with only ten merits. Gathering the Four Symbols Furnace along with ten sets of Fasting Pill Spiritual Medicine and five sets of Lingshen Pill Spiritual Medicine, Lin Tianming bowed and left the Hall of Merit. Chapter 8 Taking Over Family Duties_1 Lin Family''s Miscellaneous Hall.A five-story tall pavilion, built of a large number of boulders, more than ten zhang high, where many family members received clan tasks. Lin Tianming was one of the many family members. On the first floor of the Miscellaneous Hall, a giant gold screen showed rows of clan tasks in bold red characters. Every once in a while, a task or several tasks would disappear at the same time, evidently taken on by a member of the Lin Family. Looking closely at the screen, there were densely packed hundreds of family tasks. "Find two Golden Yuan Grass within six months, reward thirty Merit Points upon completion, minimum requirement of Sixth Level of Qi Refinement." "Guard the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden for one year, reward fifteen Merit Points upon completion, no cultivation level requirement." "Accompany the Enforcement Hall to clear the Demonic Beasts from the Luoyun Mountain Range, duration one year, reward eighty Merit Points upon completion, minimum requirement of Seventh Level Qi Cultivation." "Defend Qingfeng Town for three years, reward sixty Merit Points upon completion, minimum requirement of Third Level of Qi Refining." After watching for half an hour, he had looked through all the family tasks. He could take on most of them, but either they were too time-consuming or extremely risky. In his several years of cultivating, Lin Tianming had mastered the Five Elements Spell and Technique Secret Arts, and had sparred with his peers in the family, but he had never been in real combat. The task of clearing the Demonic Beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range would not only let him practice all sorts of spells and secret techniques but would also increase his combat experience, harden himself, and besides, he was extremely longing for the outside world. Unfortunately, the task of clearing out the Demonic Beasts required a minimum cultivation level of Seventh Level Qi Cultivation, and he was only at the Fifth Level, thus he couldn''t take on this task. The task of defending Qingfeng Town wasn''t bad either. Although three years was a long time, he could return to the family for half a month each year to visit relatives and refill cultivation resources. Determined, Lin Tianming decided to take on the task of defending Qingfeng Town. Collecting his thoughts, he walked towards the front desk of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, had a few words with the Executive Officer, and smoothly took on the task of defending Qingfeng Town. For tasks like defending clan grounds or guarding assets, one could receive the task rewards in advance, since they were long-term and not very dangerous, allowing the use of these rewards to exchange for resources and continue cultivating at the new location. Having received the task rewards in advance, he planned to exchange them for some cultivation resources to take with him to Qingfeng Town for continuing his alchemy and cultivation. One year was neither long nor short, but he had only one Spirit Essence Pill, forty Spirit Stones, materials for ten Fasting Pills, and materials for five Spirit Essence Pills, which might not be enough to last the year. After previously purchasing a Pill Furnace and alchemy materials, he had ten Merit Points left, plus the sixty Merit Points from the task reward, totaling seventy Merit Points, allowing him to buy some more alchemy materials, striving to produce Spirit Essence Pills. Lin Tianming pondered silently, and soon arrived at the Hall of Merit. He found Grandpa Shi, Lin Shixin, and successfully exchanged for ten sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials, costing a total of eighty Merit Points. Although there wouldn''t be much danger in defending Qingfeng Town, it was still best to prepare some means of fighting the enemy, and he exchanged for two First Order Superior Attack Talismans for a total of thirty Merit Points, spending a total of one hundred and ten Merit Points. After using all his Merit Points, his Family Token balance was zero, and he also had to add forty Spirit Stones to his expenses. With exactly forty Spirit Stones left, he replenished everything and then took the Spiritual Medicine and talismans to leave the Hall of Merit. Lin Tianming''s current assets, aside from ten sets of Fasting Pill materials and fifteen sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials. Besides those, he also had two First Order Superior Attack Talismans and one Spirit Essence Pill, with neither Spirit Stones nor Merit Points left. Excluding these cultivation resources, he could be considered utterly impoverished. The task required him to arrive at Qingfeng Town within ten days to replace the previous Lin family member in charge. There was still plenty of time, and he could still refine his Five Elements Spell and secret techniques to enhance their proficiency and strengthen himself. He summoned his Green Bamboo Sword, leapt onto it, and flew toward a valley partway up Green Bamboo Mountain. Half an hour passed. Lin Tianming appeared in a valley, dense with jungle and large trees everywhere, with wild animals often appearing in the valley, and a small river about three zhang wide running through it. This ravine was a natural training ground Lin Tianming found while practicing his spells, scarcely visited by people. When he first started cultivating, he liked to practice his Five Elements Spell and secret techniques here, using the wild animals as targets. After practicing, he could enjoy roasted meat, with a small part of his cultivation time spent here. Lin Tianming sat on a boulder several zhang in size and skillfully ran his Fire Origin Decision through a Grand Circulation. After adjusting his state, he started to use a secret technique that came with the cultivation technique. "Huoyuan Slash!" A giant sword made up of thousands of fierce flames hung above Lin Tianming''s head. Within several zhang of the surrounding vegetation, it all withered instantly, clearly scorched to death by the heatwave. Lin Tianming shouted: "Go!" The giant sword composed of thousands of flames appeared a hundred zhang away in an instant, slashing towards a large tree from high above. The tree, as thick as a water bucket, split in two in an instant, its severed area blackened, its moisture evaporated away, leaving only a dead stump. "Hiss..." Despite performing the technique multiple times, Lin Tianming was still awed by its immense power. However, this technique consumed too much Spiritual Power. His entire reservoir of Spiritual Power could barely perform it a few times before becoming exhausted. In combat, he dared not cast it lightly, keeping it as a trump card. In the following several days, after more than ten attempts using the Huoyuan Slash until all his Spiritual Power was depleted each time. After such arduous training, Lin Tianming was now able to execute the technique in half a breath, which could give him an advantage over his opponent. Five Elements Spells could also be cast instantly, greatly increasing speed. During this time, several wild beasts became victims, inexplicably burned by fire swords or bound by tendrils formed from spiritual power. In the past few days, Lin Tianming had also indulged his appetite for good food, enjoying black bear paws, white tiger meat, and even the unfortunate large flying birds, such as the eagle. More than half of the ten days had passed, and before leaving, he still had to say goodbye to his grandfather and mother. Although he had followed his father to Luoyun Market twice before, he was always restricted and never left his father''s sight. As this would be the first time Lin Tianming left the clan grounds alone, he started to look forward to the outside world. Gathering his thoughts, he took the remaining uneaten meat and left on his sword. Within the small courtyard of the Lin family home. Grandfather Lin Shigong managed the Alchemy Hall. There were too few alchemists in the clan and the alchemy tasks were heavy. Learning that Lin Tianming had accepted the task of guarding Qingfeng Town, he rarely came back to this small home for a family reunion. His father, Lin Xingrong, had also just returned from Luoyun Market to the clan and would rest for a few days before setting out again to guard Luoyun Market. The three generations sat under the maple tree in the courtyard, drinking tea, while Lin Tianming''s mother and sister were rinsing beast meat, preparing dinner. At this moment, Grandfather Lin Shigong wore a worried expression, feeling somewhat concerned. Lin Tianming had been brought up by him since childhood. With his dual spiritual roots talent and his alchemy talent that far exceeded his own, he really did not want him to venture out alone away from the clan lands. Although Qingfeng Town was not far from Green Bamboo Mountain, just over six hundred li away, it was indeed not too far, as one could reach it on a flying sword in just two days. Besides that, Qingfeng Town was located in the inland area. Although the demonic beasts of the Luoyun Mountain Range were numerous, they would find it difficult to cross the Lin Family Clan Grounds and attack the town situated behind them. However, the opponents of the Human Race were not just demonic beasts. It was not uncommon among humans to kill for treasures. There were many who would head to Luoyun Mountain Range or deep into the Demon Race territory to seek fortune and experience. If one were to encounter evil cultivators, odds would likely be against them. His grandson, new to the world, had no experience in survival, making it truly difficult to feel entirely at ease. Lin Shigong, with a look of concern, solemnly said, "Tianming, I have been an alchemist for the clan for over sixty years, and the majority of the clan''s elixirs come from my hands." "I can speak to your twelfth uncle and ask for a different clan task for you. I suppose he would give me that courtesy." Hearing Lin Shigong''s words, Lin Xingrong, his face red with embarrassment, said, "Father..." "If everyone were like you, how would the Clan Leader manage the family? Although you have worked hard and made great contributions, you cannot abuse your power for personal gain. We shouldn''t give people reason to speak ill of us." After listening, Lin Tianming also spoke righteously, "Grandfather, a flower in a greenhouse cannot grow tall. You cannot always stand behind me." "The Cultivation World is filled with experts, with over a thousand great clans and families. The Lin Family is merely one of many small families. Without enduring the trials of real fire, how can one become strong?" Seeing his grandfather''s expression softening a bit, Lin Tianming continued to speak, seizing the opportunity to persuade him further. "Qingfeng Town is not too far from the family''s residence, and being situated inland, as long as I don''t actively seek trouble, there won''t be any danger." "For this experience, I''ve exchanged for two First Order Superior Attack Talismans. I have more than enough to protect myself, and I will take good care of myself. You don''t have to worry!" Having said this, Lin Tianming looked up at Lin Shigong with big eyes. Hearing these words, Lin Shigong felt they were quite reasonable. Too much protection indeed makes it hard to achieve anything. Thinking of this, his facial expression improved significantly. "Take these two First Order Superior Defense Talismans, two bottles of Lingshen Pills, three Huiyuan Pills, one Huadu Pill, and twenty sets of Spirit Origin Pill ingredients," he said as he pulled out quite a few items, not forgetting to give detailed instructions. "Remember, you must not neglect either cultivation or alchemy. After one year, you must return for a few days, so I can verify your progress in alchemy." "Yes, I will follow Grandfather''s decree!" Lin Tianming replied firmly, feeling moved and also reflecting. Luckily, his grandfather was an alchemist with an abundance of elixirs, which further solidified his determination to work hard in his cultivation, to become an alchemist himself, to make his grandfather proud, and to bring honor to the family. Taking the items from his grandfather and regaining his composure, Lin Tianming began to instruct Lin Shigong, "You must also look after your health and not overwork yourself..." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingrong, who managed the family''s business in Luoyun Market, was well-traveled and skilled in dealing with people. He passed his experience on to Lin Tianming piece by piece. He didn''t provide any resources but instead gave Lin Tianming a map of Qingzhou and Jizhou, advising, "Remember to stay calm and composed, humble yet not servile, and always think thrice before acting!" "Thank you, Father..." Afterward, the three generations talked for a while, and dinner was also ready. The family gathered together, a rare occasion, with Grandfather bringing out his long-cherished Spiritual Wine. They enjoyed a joyful family meal to celebrate Lin Tianming''s departure. Chapter 9 Qingfeng Town_1 The next morning at dawn, outside the grand formation of Lin Family''s residence.Grandfather Lin Shigong, father Lin Xingrong, mother Ren Yuxuan, and sister Lin Tianyue were there to see off Lin Tianming. Ren Yuxuan''s eyes were red. When no one was paying attention, she secretly handed Lin Tianming a storage bag, filled with unknown items. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite repeated instructions last night, Grandfather Lin Shigong still couldn''t help but give endless reminders. "Remember to be careful, and do not neglect your alchemy and cultivation..." "Alright, Dad. Tianming is not a child anymore, and it''s getting late. We should set off as soon as possible!" Lin Xingrong said with a worried look as he urged. Lin Shigong''s face flushed red, and then he spoke: "It''s my old age showing improper emotions. Go ahead, Tianming, don''t worry about us, focus on your cultivation, and come back to see us as soon as the year is up!" "Hmm..." Lin Tianming''s face was calm, and he spoke with determination: "Grandfather, Father, Mother, Sister, I''m leaving. I will take good care of myself and cultivate diligently. I''ll strive to return soon. Take care of yourselves!" Having said that, he brought out his Green Bamboo Sword, leapt onto the blade, and reluctantly rose into the air, flying towards the east. Standing on the Green Bamboo Sword, the wind caused his green robe to flap loudly. Passing over mountains and rivers, Lin Tianming felt a whirlwind of emotions. He had always looked forward to leaving the family residence early, to travel the Nine Provinces Continent, to see the great rivers and mountains, to witness the heroes of all tribes. Having left for just half a day, he began to miss his family. With a reluctant heart, he continued on the road to Qingfeng Town. Qingfeng Town was more than six hundred li from Green Bamboo Mountain. With full-speed flight and his speed, he could arrive in two days. Departing five days early afforded plenty of time, so there was no need to hurry on his way. After half a day of Sword Flight, over half of his spiritual power was consumed. For the sake of unexpected circumstances, he saved half of his spiritual power for emergencies. It was best to be cautious on his first venture into the world, as it was still early and there was no harm in recovering before continuing on the journey. Just ahead, there was a small valley with a river ten zhang wide, towards which he flew. Landing on a large tree, he took out the storage bag given by Ren Yuxuan. Inside were three Lingshen Pills, one Huiyuan Pill, one Huadu Pill, and forty low-grade spirit stones. Looking at the elixirs and spirit stones in the storage bag, his thoughts were abundant. This must have been left by his father, Lin Xingrong. It was impossible for his mother, with only the Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement and no particularly outstanding skills, to often provide resources for him and his sister to cultivate. Although his father was seldom at Green Bamboo Mountain and did not show much concern, he was silently contributing. At this thought, Lin Tianming was very moved. He quietly placed the items back in the storage bag and summed up his current possessions. He currently had ten Lingshen Pills, four Huiyuan Pills, two Huadu Pills, and forty low-grade spirit stones, along with enough herbs for ten Fasting Pills and thirty-five batches of Spirit Origin Pill ingredients. Two first order superior attack talismans, two first order superior defense talismans, one Elemental Fire Bottle, and one set of Alchemy Experience summarized by his grandfather. He also had maps of Qingzhou and Jizhou, detailed with the mountain ranges of major countries, the territory of medium to large family sects, and family residence locations. The Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain was marked on the map, though it was not prominent. This net worth, valued at least in the hundreds of spirit stones, could very well be more than what Lin Family cultivators with the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement possessed. The four first order high-quality talismans, two attack and two defense talismans, would be more than enough for self-protection, as long as he did not encounter a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement. Taking up the map, he carefully discerned his location; he had flown a hundred li and should now be over Jinyu Mountain, a small mountain range the size of a hundred li. He sorted his possessions, closed his eyes, and began to meditate and cultivate. An hour later, having recovered, he resumed his journey, continuing to fly eastwards. Three days passed. A town spanning dozens of li gradually came into view, a plain filled with vast rice paddies, hardly a hill in sight, offering an extremely open vista. Feeling the atmosphere of this place, he sensed that the spiritual energy was far less than at Green Bamboo Mountain, probably not even sixty percent as strong. Luckily, he had plenty of spiritual medicine and Lingshen Pills, otherwise relying solely on practice for cultivation, the effect would not be satisfactory. Green Bamboo Mountain was located in the Luoyun Mountain Range. During the time of their ancestor, the family had spent a great deal to deploy a second order superior formation, which significantly increased the level of spiritual energy due to its inherent spirit-gathering power. Qingfeng Town, however, was only part of the secular world, so it was not surprising that the spiritual energy was thin. In a matter of breaths, he flew over the town. What came into view were densely packed houses, orderly streets, and a multitude of Lin Family commoners looking up with admiration and envy, some kneeling on the ground and murmuring prayers. In every direction of the town, there was a city wall spanning thousands of meters, several zhang high, with a gate in the middle displaying a placard. The placard, made of red sandalwood and measuring several zhang in length and one zhang in width, bore the three large characters for Qingfeng Town. In the center of the town stood the tallest and most imposing tower in the entire town, five stories high, built entirely of marble. Its gray-white walls were particularly eye-catching. Lin Tianming didn''t linger; he headed straight for the attic. Less than half an hour later, Lin Tianming landed directly in the square in front of the attic. A few moments passed, and out of the attic emerged a middle-aged man, about sixty years old, with the cultivation of the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, a clan uncle of the Lin Family by the name of Lin Xingche. Before this, the two had met several times but had never interacted much. Lin Tianming quickly walked forward, bowing with his hands clasped in salute, and said, "Tianming pays his respects to Clan Uncle!" Lin Xingche didn''t put on airs; he greeted him with a smile and said, "There''s no need for such formalities, nephew. You must be weary from your travels, please come inside to rest for a while." Lin Tianming didn''t refuse, and the two entered the grand hall of the attic together. Before leaving, Lin Xingche instructed the Lin Family commoners nearby, "Send someone to prepare a table of food for the grand hall, and summon the town mayor as well." "Yes!" The commoner from the Lin Family responded, bowed respectfully, and then left. Inside the grand hall, Lin Xingche brought out the tea set and the two sat opposite each other, starting to enjoy the tea and chat. Lin Xingche made pleasantries and said, "I originally thought that the one who would take over my guardian duty would be another clansman, but I never expected it would be our Lin Family''s pride, truly beyond anyone''s expectations." Lin Tianming chuckled and modestly replied, "I dare not claim to be the pride, with so many in the Wei Kingdom blessed with outstanding talents, not to mention in larger regions like Qingzhou or Yunzhou and Xuanzhou." Lin Xingche didn''t say much more and began to introduce Qingfeng Town to Lin Tianming. Qingfeng Town is one of the Lin Family commoners'' five major gathering places, with nearly a hundred thousand people, of medium scale, with a history of over five hundred years of city construction, and an important resource of commoners for the Lin Family. Every three years, it can produce several clansmen with Spiritual Roots. In two years'' time, it will be time for the clan''s triennial Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, when people should arrive to test the suitable-aged clansmen of Qingfeng Town and take those with Spiritual Roots back to the family''s territory for cultivation. Qingfeng Town lies five hundred li south, within the territory of the Huangyang Kingdom of Jingzhou, in the Whirlwind Mountain Range¡ªa no man''s land. Occasionally, low-order Demonic Beasts lose their way and intrude into Qingfeng Town''s jurisdiction. Remember to be vigilant and refrain from crossing the border into Jingzhou territory recklessly, for their cultivation standards far exceed Qingzhou''s, and do not stir up trouble or make enemies for the family. Three hundred li west is the end of the Wei Kingdom''s Ziyun Mountain Range in Qingzhou. In the thousand-li radius, there are no cultivator families. There are also many Demonic Beasts in the Ziyun Mountain Range, so there won''t be any danger as long as you don''t stray more than a hundred li from Qingfeng Town. Lin Xingche talked for half an hour. Then the Lin Family commoners brought in over ten different types of dishes and drinks. While eating and drinking, they continued discussing Qingfeng Town. Less than fifteen minutes later, an elderly man over fifty, with white hair, entered the grand hall, supported by two young adults. All three knelt down together and said in unison, "Welcome, great ancestor, to Qingfeng Town." Before the elder could finish speaking, Lin Tianming raised his hand with a wave, and the three were lifted and stood up in midair. Stunned, the three stood there with flushed faces, looking somewhat at a loss. Lin Tianming spoke calmly, "There''s no need for such formalities. I''ve been briefed sufficiently on Qingfeng Town by Clan Uncle. For the next three years, I will be stationed here to protect Qingfeng Town and ensure its peace." Lin Tianming then asked the elder to introduce himself and the other clansmen. The elder''s face lit up as he began to speak, "I am Lin Sheng, a thirty-second generation clansman of the Lin Family from Qingfeng Town, and have been serving as the town mayor for over twenty years." "These are my sons, Lin Shan and Lin Hai. Both are quite astute. I am getting on in years and find it hard to get around. I''m afraid I might not be able to serve you closely, great ancestor. I ask for your understanding, but please feel free to command them for anything," he added, turning to his sons. After saying this, he instructed his sons: "You two brothers, make yourselves fully available to serve the great ancestor. Any lapses will be met with family discipline!" Hearing this, Lin Shan and Lin Hai were visibly apprehensive, nodding repeatedly and promptly agreeing. In front of everyone, Lin Xingche handed over the control token for the attic''s restrictions to Lin Tianming and then let the three leave. The two continued their meal, and after a few cups of wine, Lin Xingche bid farewell to Lin Tianming, planning to rest for the night and set off at dawn to return to the family''s territory and report back. Lin Tianming also raised a cup in respect and wished his clan uncle a safe journey, then they retired to their respective rooms to rest. After traveling tirelessly for three days, Lin Tianming was thoroughly exhausted. Finally relaxed, he fell onto the bed and immediately fell asleep. Lin Sheng and Lin Hai stayed outside the attic, not straying a step away. The next morning, Lin Tianming saw off Clan Uncle Lin Xingche for several tens of li before returning. He surveyed the area around Qingfeng Town Clan Territory for ten li to ensure safety and then went back to the secret chamber in the attic. Chapter 10 Daily Cultivation_1 In the secret room of the attic, Lin Tianming sat upright on the meditation cushion.After several days of cultivation, the spiritual power in his Qi Sea Dantian had increased only slightly; relying solely on meditation here would bring minimal results. Before coming here, he had exchanged some spiritual medicine from the Family Merits Hall, and together with the Lingshen Pills given by his grandfather and father, he had as many as ten, a considerable number. Lin Tianming planned to take a Lingshen Pill once a month, which would just be enough to last a year. The remaining time would be used for pill concoction and meditation. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having decided that, he took out several sets of fasting pill materials and then consecutively retrieved the Elemental Fire Bottle and the Four Symbols Furnace. The Earth Fire inside the Elemental Fire Bottle was collected with the help of Elder Wu by his grandfather. According to his grandfather, the Elemental Fire Bottle turned out to be a First Order Medium Grade spiritual bottle, specifically for containing various types of flames or treasured spiritual objects. Without Earth Fire in Qingfeng Town, pill concoction was impossible, and it was quite a struggle when they collected the fire. It appeared that his grandfather had already considered everything thoroughly; he himself had been careless. If encountered in a battle of magic, such oversight could be disastrous¡ªa lesson to always be vigilant. His storage bag wasn''t short of fasting pill spiritual medicine materials, with as many as ten sets, each capable of making three batches, and thus thirty batches in total. At Green Bamboo Mountain, ten sets of materials yielded thirty-nine fasting pills, already qualifying him as a competent First Order Lower-Grade Alchemist with a success rate around fifty percent, and more than three pills per batch. Everything was ready, except for the crucial element. After skillfully adjusting his breathing through cultivation, a series of spells were cast onto the Elemental Fire Bottle. Instantly, the Elemental Fire Bottle expanded to the size of a bucket, and a stream of crimson flames surged out, soaring the temperature in the secret room. He placed the Four Symbols Furnace over the Elemental Fire Bottle, heating the furnace for a quarter of an hour as the temperature inside the furnace slowly increased. Every quarter of an hour, a herb was tossed into the furnace, then the furnace lid was closed. The spiritual medicine gradually melted into a spiritual liquid, a faint fragrance of medicine filling the entire room. With practiced ease, he decomposed, purified, separated, infused spirit, and condensed the mixture into elixirs. Half an hour later, the scent of the medicine was even more intense, and merely smelling it could reduce one''s hunger significantly. Lifting the lid of the furnace, five fasting pills hovered within. He took out each fasting pill and placed them into exquisite little jade bottles. Elixirs could only be stored in jade bottles. The jade bottles had a higher density and contained a trace of faint spiritual energy, whereas ordinary bottles could hardly retain the spiritual energy of the pills. In a few days, the pill''s energy would dissipate, its internal power leaked out, turning it into waste. Before coming to Qingfeng Town, he specifically prepared several hundred jade bottles to store the elixirs he concocted. Every alchemist would prepare a good number of jade bottles; high-grade elixirs were stored one pill per bottle. After concocting a batch of fasting pills and obtaining five pills, he continued to concoct the remaining two batches of spiritual medicine. Four hours later, a set of materials for three batches of fasting pills had been completely concocted. Taking half of the day, he had finally finished concocting the three batches of fasting pills, with a rest period of a quarter of an hour''s breathing adjustment between each batch. Under careful precautions, two out of three batches were successful, and the success rate had reached seventy percent. The first batch produced five pills, the second batch failed, and the third batch produced six pills¡ªa result that left him very satisfied. After completing one set of fasting pill materials, there was still more than half of the residual spiritual energy left in his Qi Sea Dantian. At the Fourth Level of Qi Practice, concocting three batches of fasting pills would deplete all his spiritual power, and he would have to meditate to restore it. After reaching the Fifth Level Qi Practice, it took less than half of the three batches of Fasting Pills to finish the process, and both the success rate and the number of pills produced increased significantly, highlighting the importance of cultivation level in mastering the Four Arts of Cultivation. He continued to make Fasting Pills until his Spiritual Power was completely depleted. In the blink of an eye, night had fallen, a bright moon hung in the sky, and Qingfeng Town was silent except for the occasional cries of children from within a few houses. After a whole day of making Fasting Pills, he exhausted all his Spiritual Power and used three sets of Spiritual Medicine Materials to make nine batches of elixirs. His experience in alchemy grew substantially; the First Order Inferior Fasting Pill now had a stable success rate of over seventy percent, and the yield was no fewer than five pills per batch, with the highest reaching as many as eight pills. Tallying the day''s proceeds, he had a total of thirty-eight Fasting Pills, which, if exchanged for Spirit Stones, would be valued at thirty-eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones. For the Lin Family Members living on Green Bamboo Mountain with a cultivation level of Fifth Level Qi Practice, it would take a whole year to accumulate thirty-eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones, just based on what the family distributed. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but marvel at how lucrative the profession of an alchemist was in the Cultivation World, given that just making First Order Inferior elixirs could be so profitable. Cultivators consume vast resources in their cultivation practice, and alchemists can quickly earn Spirit Stones and Spiritual Medicine for other cultivators by making elixirs, which they then use for their own cultivation and to trade for other resources. Every alchemist has a wide network of contacts, making it easy for many cultivators to become indebted to them. The risk of offending an alchemist is quite significant; they could find themselves troubled by many indebted parties, which is why High Order Alchemists are so respected, and one wouldn''t dare to offend them lightly. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming stored the Fasting Pills in his storage bag and began to cultivate. Lin Tianming found that every time he cultivated after exhausting himself through alchemy, his cultivation practice progressed twice as efficiently. After replenishing the depleted Spiritual Power, the Spiritual Power within his Seven Seas Dantian grew at a visibly fast rate, and his Divine Sense was also slowly improving after the high-intensity consumption and recovery. The Four Arts of Cultivation can fortify a cultivator''s Divine Sense; over time, the cumulative increase is considerable. The assistance of a strong Divine Sense to a cultivator is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The stronger the Divine Sense, the larger the area it can cover; at the Fifth Level Qi Practice, Lin Tianming''s Divine Sense could already encompass several miles, able to detect the metabolic processes of every blade of grass and tree. Born with an exceptionally powerful Divine Sense, Lin Tianming''s abilities at the Fifth Level Qi Practice were probably no less than those of an ordinary Sixth Level of Qi Refining cultivator, if not even stronger. A powerful Divine Sense is of great significance in combat, mastering the Four Arts of Cultivation, practicing techniques, and concealing one''s presence. With it, one can control more and stronger Spiritual Artifacts and Magical Treasures, cast secret techniques more smoothly, detect enemies earlier, and better conceal oneself, greatly enhancing a cultivator''s overall strength. In terms of the Four Arts of Cultivation, a stronger Divine Sense increases success rates and efficiency in both Alchemy and Artifact Refining, Talisman Making, and Formation. However, in the Cultivation World, secret techniques to train the Divine Sense are extremely rare and significantly more challenging to practice than cultivation techniques, perhaps only found in central regions of the Human Race like Yunzhou and Xuanzhou. In the remote provinces of Qingzhou and Jizhou, with their mere ten thousand years of development and shallow foundation, secret techniques for training the Divine Sense are incredibly rare and highly treasured. It is said that during the ancient times tens of thousands of years ago, there was no shortage of Heavenly Grade Techniques and strange and precious secret techniques, with numerous outstanding figures emerging. There were even rumors of the emergence of Immortal Realm manuals, though it is unknown whether they were true or false. In the quiet of the night, having fully recovered his Spiritual Power and his Divine Sense restored to normal, his Spiritual Power flowed smoothly and unimpeded. He looked at the slightly increased amount of Spiritual Power in his Dantian with a sense of satisfaction. It had been only a month since he reached the Fifth Level Qi Practice, and he still had some way to go before reaching the Sixth Level. Therefore, he decided not to cultivate any further and to rest easy instead. After a full day of Alchemy and cultivation, he felt a faint sense of fatigue. Lin Tianming left the secret chamber and walked towards the adjacent room, gradually disappearing into the night. Chapter 11 A Chance Encounter with Cultivators Dueling - Part 1 Time flew by, and Lin Tianming had been stationed in Qingfeng Town for two months.During those two months, Lin Tianming had only refined Fasting Pills twice, producing thirty-eight pills on the first attempt. The second time, he also used up materials for three batches of Fasting Pills, yielding forty-two pills, bringing the total to exactly eighty Fasting Pills. In the meantime, he would assimilate one Lingshen Pill each month. Having assimilated two Lingshen Pills, his cultivation level had significantly increased. He had reached the late phase of the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and was getting ever closer to the Sixth Level. He believed the breakthrough to the Sixth Level would likely happen within the next couple of months. Over the two months, apart from rigorous practice, it was still rigorous practice. He had not left his home and was quite satisfied with the progress in his cultivation despite the hardship. At the beginning of each month, Lin Tianming would patrol a radius of several dozen miles around Qingfeng Town. He hadn''t encountered any Demonic Beasts, only a few Mortal Beasts, which he casually killed and brought back to Qingfeng Town for the Lin Family mortals to feast on, much to the widening of many eyes among the Lin Family mortals. These Mortal Beasts were also descendants of the Demon Race, but their bloodlines had severely degenerated and they no longer had the ability to evolve. However, their flesh was full of vigorous energy, and when consumed by mortals, it could greatly enhance their strength and vitality. Over time, it would strengthen their bodies and make them resistant to diseases; reaching a certain amount could perhaps extend their lives by a decade or eight years. In the secular world, although there were also a small number of mortals who practiced martial arts, taking on beasts alone was more likely dangerous than not. The ease with which he killed them garnered immense admiration from the Lin Family mortals, and their respect for Lin Tianming deepened. At dawn, the fiery sun slowly rose, its rays shining upon the Nine Provinces Continent. Lin Tianming appeared outside the pavilion on the square, where numerous mortals knelt in reverence. Under the gaze of all, Lin Tianming summoned his Green Bamboo Sword. With a leap, he jumped onto it and rose into the air, flying out of the town. As usual, he planned to survey the perimeter around Qingfeng Town with the town as the center, checking for any Demonic Beasts that might harm the people. Last time he had patrolled a radius of just over fifty miles around Qingfeng Town, but today he planned to expand the area to a hundred-mile radius to ensure the safety of the region as much as possible. Outside the town, in the fields at dawn, a network of rivers was dense, and large swaths of rice seedlings, fresh and green, grew promisingly. Many Lin Family mortals were laboring in the fields. They moved in groups through the rice fields, busy farming, chatting, and laughing. A boy of about ten years old skillfully harvested the crops in the field. The yield was very good this year. An elder nearby, his face beaming with joy and respect, couldn''t help but exclaim, "Thank goodness our Lin Family is blessed by our immortal ancestors. Now, with favorable winds and rains, we can live and reproduce in peace." The boy, looking puzzled, asked, "Grandpa, are there really immortals in this world? Did our Lin Family really have immortals?" "Of course, there are immortals. Over thirty years ago, when I was just a child, younger than you, I saw one with my own eyes." "That immortal could fly through the air, command the power of water and fire at will, and had the ability to move mountains and fill seas. Even the ferocious tigers were killed in an instant by the immortal. I will never forget it for the rest of my life." The elder spoke passionately about the immortal, filled with admiration and longing. The boy''s face was filled with yearning, and he said firmly, "I also want to become an immortal, to protect our family and Qingfeng Town." Hearing this, his grandfather grew serious. In a little over a year, it would be time for the Lin Family''s Spirit Testing. He must send his grandson to try. With both his son and daughter-in-law having passed away at a young age, his grandson had grown up with him, raised through hardship. If he were to pass away, leaving his grandson helpless, what would become of him? If the boy could become an immortal and be entered into the Lin Family records, he himself could die content. Watching the many mortals happily farming or harvesting crops in the field, Lin Tianming was also touched by their joy. Continuing west, he soared towards the direction of the Wei Kingdom''s Ziyun Mountain Range. The Ziyun Mountain Range was a small range, spanning just over a thousand miles, less than one-fifth the size of the Luoyun Mountain Range, with sparse spiritual energy. The Purple Cloud Mountain Range got its name because it resembled the shape of clouds. Inside the mountain range, there weren''t many Demonic Beasts. Mostly there were First Order Demon Beasts, and Second Order Demonic Beasts were rare. They lived within the Purple Cloud Mountain Range and seldom ventured out of their territory. In the vast Qingzhou, small mountain ranges like this one were countless, and thus, no cultivation sects had taken control of this area. However, with the increasing number of cultivators in the land of Qingzhou and the expansion of other state''s forces, Qingzhou would sooner or later become overcrowded and its natural resources would start to dwindle. But those concerns were not something he needed to consider at the moment. Lin Tianming deployed his Divine Sense and continued to survey the nearby area for several miles. A few miles ahead, on a small hill, there were two cultivators dueling with magic. Judging from the fluctuations caused by their duel, they were at least at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement or above. Lin Tianming didn''t dare to keep going forward and immediately retreated, finding a place to hide in a small valley nearby. He used a concealment spell to hide exceptionally well. A few miles away, a cultivator in a red robe said indignantly, "Jin Daoyou, I was the first to discover that Cave Mansion. After exploring the Cave Mansion, I said we would divide the treasures with a split of sixty-forty in your favor. Yet, you, taking advantage of being one level higher in cultivation than me, actually propose an eighty-twenty split. That''s just too much to ask." "If you want to monopolize the treasures, just say so directly. Why make so many excuses? Even though you are one level higher in cultivation than me, does that mean I''m easy to bully?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other cultivator, a man in a white robe with a murderous aura, didn''t waste words. With a cold smile, he commanded three Spirit Swords to form a Sword Array that shot towards the man in the red robe at high speed. The Red Robe Cultivator, greatly alarmed, sacrificed a hammer-shaped Spiritual Artifact, pouring a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power into it. The dual hammers turned into a red light phantom and violently smashed down towards the man in the white robe. With a booming sound, a massive explosion erupted, and flames scattered in all directions. The white-robed man was sent flying backwards several yards, his clothes barely covering his body, with blood traces at the corner of his mouth, clearly sustaining serious internal injuries. As for the Red Robe Cultivator, his upper garment was completely shredded, exposing his entire upper body, with several inch-long bloody holes on his shoulder. Had he not been a Body Cultivator, full of vibrant blood and Qi which allowed him to quickly dodge vital areas, he might have already fallen. Both were extremely shocked. Now that they had gone past the point of reconciliation, it would be difficult to end things amicably. They had no choice but to fight desperately. If it were indeed the Cave Mansion of a Nascent Soul Master, it would be worth the risk. Having said that, both prepared their strongest attacks, intending to kill the other on the spot in order to take sole possession of the Cave Mansion Ruins. The white-robed cultivator sacrificed a Flying Sword, casting several spells on it. The Sword Qi on the blade soared several times, and with a spray of essence blood on the three swords, the Sword Qi became even more agile. The white-robed man shouted loudly, "Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique, kill¡­" In an instant, the three Spirit Swords merged into one, sending a berserk and nimble Sword Qi hurtling straight towards the man in the red robe. The Red Robe Cultivator, unfazed, grasped the dual hammers in his hands. Spiritual Power overflowed from his entire body, and the bloody holes on his shoulders healed at a visible rate. His whole body emanated an unstoppable aura. After using the Secret Art of Dominating Body Technique, the Red Robe Cultivator, holding a golden hammer in each hand, charged towards the white-robed cultivator as vigorously as if he had a cultivator''s body. His speed was so fast it made onlookers gape in astonishment. With a thunderous explosion, fire and debris flew in all directions. A shockwave from the blast spread out, with the two men at its center, toppling and snapping the towering trees within a hundred yards. The scene was a complete mess, too horrible to behold. After the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the white-robed man was seen lying motionless on the ground, at the bottom of a pit a zhang in diameter. His meridians were completely severed, his flesh blurred with blood; he was so dead that he could be no deader. The Red Robe Cultivator, with a pale face, stood dozens of yards away, with a hole the size of a fist in his chest. He leaned against a rock, his breaths weak, looking greatly depleted. He quickly took out a Consolidating Essence Pill, a healing elixir, popped it into his mouth, and sat down to meditate and recover from his injuries. That battle had been extremely fierce. For him, at the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation against an opponent at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, had he not used that heaven-defying secret technique, it might have been him lying dead. Chapter 12 Fight Back Between Life and Death_1 Lin Tianming concealed himself in the adjacent valley, suppressing all of his presence, and witnessed the entire process of the battle between two cultivators above the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, utterly shocked.Fortunately, he discovered them in time and halted his motion instead of colliding head-on with the two cultivators, or else it would have been very difficult to escape. Beyond the shock, he was also worried that their intense battle had possibly exposed his presence. Otherwise, with his own fifth level Qi Cultivation, he feared that the man in the red robe would silence him to keep the secret. He didn''t dare to leave rashly, which could easily reveal himself; he couldn''t risk it. Now he was in a dilemma, hoping he had gone unnoticed, and could only wait for the other to leave before making any plans. At this moment, time seemed incredibly slow. A quarter of an hour later. The man in the red robe stood up, his injuries somewhat recovered, the bleeding had stopped, and he had regained some of his spiritual power. He collected the storage bag of the man in the white robe and cast a Fireball Technique, incinerating the corpse to erase all traces. Having done all this, the man in the red robe glanced at the little hill where Lin Tianming was hiding and shouted disdainfully; "Fellow Daoist, after watching for so long, isn''t it time to show yourself?" Lin Tianming had not expected that the other had discovered him long ago but had simply disregarded him until the battle was over before dealing with him. Lin Tianming no longer hid and walked out of the valley with a wry smile. He flew unhurriedly toward the man in the red robe, stopped at a distance of a hundred zhang to maintain a safe distance, giving him some time to react in case a fight ensued. Lin Tianming spoke calmly; "I am Lin Tianming, a disciple of the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, tasked with guarding Qingfeng Town. I was just passing by on patrol and meant no harm. Fellow Daoist can leave directly." "I am ignorant of the deeds you committed and the words you spoke just now. I have tasks waiting and will not delay further, farewell!" After saying this, he clasped his hands together, turned around, and without looking back, he flew towards Qingfeng Town on his sword at full speed, quickly covering several miles. The man in the red robe thought, since this person comes from the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain and this place is merely over five hundred miles from Green Bamboo Mountain, if he reports to his clan and they send a Foundation Establishment elder, it will be extremely difficult to investigate the cave dwelling later. Whether he knows anything or not, this person cannot be allowed to live. Even though he was injured and at less than a third of his peak strength, this person was only at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation; capturing him should be easy. After killing him, he would immediately head back to Jingzhou in Huangyang Kingdom to lay low. The Lin Family''s reach had not extended to the land of Jingzhou yet, and in the future, there might be a chance to return secretly to explore the cave dwelling. "Hmph!" "Since you have run into this, your luck is to blame; only the dead can keep secrets." Lin Tianming hadn''t even gone several miles when the man in the red robe rode his giant hammer, flying through the air, in pursuit of Lin Tianming. Seeing that the distance between them was rapidly closing and that catching up was just a matter of time, Lin Tianming was frantic with urgency, fearing that escape would be difficult. Cooling down, he thought that the man had suffered serious injuries and after the great battle with the man in the white robe, a significant amount of spiritual power would have been drained; his full strength would surely be less than half. He still had two First Order Superior Attack Talismans and two Defense Talismans. In a fight to the death, he might not necessarily lose. It would be best to fly a distance first, wearing down some of the man''s spiritual power before considering a counterattack. Lin Tianming was in the lead with the man in the red robe chasing from behind. A chase ensued for dozens of miles until they were less than a mile apart. Lin Tianming decided not to flee any longer and landed in a small valley ahead, taking out a Huiyuan Pill to swallow, hoping to recover as much spiritual power as possible. The man in the red robe had used up a considerable amount of the small portion of spiritual power he had just recovered in the chase over dozens of miles. If the chase went on for dozens more miles, he would have to give up, but the boy seemed to have reached his limit sooner than expected. "Truly, heaven is helping me." "Boy, can''t hold out any longer, right? Go to hell then!" The man in the red robe, with his spiritual power substantially depleted and not fit for prolonged battle, directly unleashed his strongest attack, intending to finish off Lin Tianming in one strike. After executing the Secret Art of Dominating Body Technique, the man in the red robe, with a hammer in each hand and incredibly quick movements, charged straight at Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instantly released a First Order Superior Defense Talisman and Attack Talisman to counter the man in the red robe''s powerful strike. Having witnessed the full strength of the red-robed man''s strike, which had annihilated the man in white robes during their fight, Lin Tianming dared not take any chances. The Attack Talisman transformed into a golden Spirit Sword emanating powerful sword qi, equivalent to the full force strike of a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, charging straight towards the man in the red robe. The Defense Talisman turned into a huge shield with the spiritual power of the earth elements flowing rapidly on its surface. The shield, several zhang in size, positioned itself in front of Lin Tianming. After releasing the two talismans, he ran his cultivation technique at full power, forming hand seals with both hands and unleashing his strongest strike, the Huoyuan Slash, pouring all of his remaining spiritual power into it. A giant fiery-red sword materialized, with flames burning intensely on it, its sword qi astonishing, surging forth with power several times greater than when he executed it at the fourth level of Qi Practice. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Tianming held nothing back and struck with all his might. Lin Tianming bellowed, "Slash!" Within moments, the red-robed man was a hundred zhang away from Lin Tianming, wielding his twin hammers, as a massive hammer phantom loomed in the air, heading straight for Lin Tianming. In an instant, the Flying Sword of the High-Quality Talisman was about to make contact with the giant hammer. With a loud bang¡­ The golden Spirit Sword exploded and dissipated, but it had managed to delay the hammer for half a breath''s time and drain much of its power; however, it didn''t stop and continued to bear down on Lin Tianming. The hammer phantom slammed directly into the Defense Shield. With a thunderous noise, after enduring for several breaths, the shield shattered into pieces, and the powerful shockwave sent Lin Tianming flying several zhang away. The moment the shield broke, the giant fire sword formed by the Huoyuan Slash also collided with the hammer phantom. The hammer phantom held out for less than half a breath''s time before dissipating into specks of spiritual light scattering in all directions. After the hammer phantom dispersed, the giant sword encountered no resistance as it made its way towards the red-robed man. The man in the red robe''s face was filled with disbelief, never imagining that Lin Tianming had so many tricks up his sleeve, possessing both a First Order Superior Attack Talisman and Defense Talisman, and could unleash such tremendous power with his divine skills. Wanting to use other techniques, he found himself with hardly any spiritual power to utilize. Beyond his fear, he was left without options. With a booming sound, The red-robed man was struck by the giant sword made of flames, sent flying back dozens of zhang, crashing through several large trees before coming to a stop. His entire body was charred black, his flesh a blurry mess, as he lay motionless, clearly having fallen. Lin Tianming was tossed several zhang by the blast wave, landing to one side. His inner qi and blood roiled, his meridians were in disorder, and his entire body bore over ten ghastly wounds. If it weren''t for the two First Order High-Quality Talismans, which absorbed a great deal of destructive force, he would have likely faced grim odds. With his spiritual power almost completely exhausted after that forceful strike, if he hadn''t been able to kill the man in the red robe, he would have certainly been the one to die. At this time, if a cultivator at the First Level of Qi Refining were to appear, a single Fireball Technique could easily allow them to reap the benefits without effort. Struggling to sit up, he took out a Huiyuan Pill, threw it into his mouth, and began meditating right there to recover. After a quarter of an hour, he had recovered a small part of his spiritual power, and the injuries on his body gradually improved. No longer caring to survey the area, knowing it was not safe to stay for long, he needed to find a secure place to heal and recover. Forming seals with his hands, he cast a Fireball Technique to burn the red-robed man''s corpse. He collected both men''s storage bags and Spiritual Artifacts, erasing any traces of the fight. Casting the Green Bamboo Sword, he soared on the sword, flying towards the direction of Qingfeng Town. After half a day, Lin Tianming, dragging his injured body, appeared outside the pavilion in the plaza, without regard for the horrified stares of the common people, he instructed Lin Shan and Lin Hai, "Do not disturb my cultivation unless it is important," then he walked into the interior of the pavilion. Without stopping for rest, he headed straight to the secret chamber beside him, sat on the stone bed, and began to cultivate and heal his injuries. Chapter 13 Inventory of Gains_1 Within the secret chamber of the attic, Lin Tianming sat on the stone bed.He was like an old monk in deep meditation, with specks of spiritual light slowly converging above his head. After being forced to kill the man in the red robe, he hastened back to Qingfeng Town. His internal injuries were severe, and he had no time to recover his depleted spiritual power or heal the wounds in his meridians. He summoned his divine sense to inspect the condition of his body and meridians, and it was only upon close examination that he realized the extreme danger he had been in. The external wounds on his body were not a major concern; although the skin was ripped and flesh burst open, these could gradually heal by themselves, and some of the wounds had already started to scab over. However, the internal injuries were far worse than he had imagined, with several meridians on the verge of snapping at any moment. If he had continued to forcefully engage in battle, it was likely he would have ended up either dead or crippled, and even if he had recovered, his path of cultivation would have become extremely difficult to progress any further. Unknowingly, Lin Tianming had been sitting in the secret chamber for over a month, not moving a single step. After a month of healing, his meridians had slowly recovered from the brink of breaking, and his body''s condition had reached its peak. His cultivation had also made significant progress through life-and-death battles, reaching the pinnacle of the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. He could even catch a glimpse of the realm of the Sixth Level, and if he persisted in cultivating for another month or so, he should be able to break through. Lin Tianming did not rush to go into seclusion and make a breakthrough, instead choosing to inspect the storage bags of the Jin surname cultivator and the man in the red robe. His injuries were quite severe at the time, and he was in constant danger, leaving him no time to check the contents of the two storage bags. Now that he had recovered, of course, it was time to take stock of his gains. First, he took out the storage bag of the Jin surname cultivator and wiped away the residual divine sense imprint. The Jin surname cultivator was dead, and his divine sense imprint was easily erased. Lin Tianming extended his own divine sense to check the contents of the Jin surname cultivator''s storage bag. "Good heavens... this guy was too rich!" Lin Tianming couldn''t help but exclaim. Six Lingshen Pills, fifty-five low-grade spirit stones, three Huiyuan Pills, one Huadu Pill, and two Consolidating Essence Pills. There were also materials for concocting Lingshen Pills¡ªtwenty sets in total, three stalks of Golden Flower Grass, three stalks of Fire Element Grass, and more than thirty stalks of other lower-order spiritual medicine. The Consolidating Essence Pill is a healing pill for Qi Training Cultivators, a First Order Superior Grade elixir. If one were to take this pill to aid in recovering from injuries, it would at least halve the time needed to heal. Clearly, the Jin surname cultivator was also an alchemist, having collected a good number of elixirs and spiritual medicine materials. Golden Flower Grass and Fire Element Grass are both First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine materials, each stalk valued at ten low-grade spirit stones and are main ingredients in concocting the Xisui Pill; with only three main medicinal herbs left to find, he could begin to concoct the Xisui Pill. There was also one First Order Superior Attack Talisman, three First Order Medium Grade Spirit Swords, and two Jade Cylinders. Lin Tianming tirelessly searched through the Jade Cylinder for the cultivation technique owned by the Jin surname cultivator. He had personally witnessed its divine power, the Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique¡ªa Sword Array formed by the overlapping of three Spirit Swords with formidable attacking strength, which nearly killed the man in the red robe outright. After taking the Technique and contemplating it for a quarter of an hour, he gained a certain understanding of it. This was a Metal Attribute Profound Grade Technique, which could be cultivated up to the Late Stage of Core Formation with notable power. Although its grade was not below the Fire Origin Decision he practiced, he was unable to cultivate it himself and could only hand it over to his family. The family did not yet have a Metal Attribute Profound Grade Technique, and this technique should earn him quite a reward¡ªit would only be known after he handed it in. Putting away the Technique, he continued to search through the remaining Jade Cylinder, which turned out to contain Alchemy Experience. The Alchemy Experience was left by a Third Order Low-grade Alchemist at the Core Formation Stage. It was this alchemy heritage that had allowed him to swiftly become a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist, amassing a substantial amount of resources and thus advancing to the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement. The family had never produced a Third Order Alchemy Master; Tian Ming decided to set aside the alchemy experience for further study later on, which he could submit to the family. The cultivation technique and the alchemy experience should be exchangeable for a large amount of merit. This inheritance was tantamount to that of a Profound Grade Technique; its value was immeasurable. After inventorying the storage bag of the Zhou surname cultivator, the loot he obtained took Tian Ming by surprise; the cultivator''s possessions were not a small amount more than what Tian Ming had when he left Green Bamboo Mountain. Amidst his astonishment, he could not help but look forward to inspecting the red-robed man''s storage bag even more. He skillfully wiped away the remaining consciousness imprint on the storage bag and sent out his divine sense. Two Lingshen Pills, one Huiyuan Pill, one Consolidating Essence Pill, one Huadu Pill, thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, one Shuiyun Grass plant, more than ten First Order Inferior Spiritual Medicines, one First Order Superior Defense Talisman, one jade tube, and one map. Shuiyun Grass was also a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Medicine, a main ingredient for concocting the Xisui Pill, with each plant valued at ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones. With two main medicines and more than ten First Order Inferior Spiritual Medicines still needed, he would be able to collect all the ingredients necessary for concocting Xisui Pills. He picked up the only jade tube present. The golden runes that twined around it indicated that it was no ordinary item¡ªlikely the Profound Grade Technique practiced by the red-robed man. After attempting to refine it, he extended his divine sense and ceaselessly bombarded the rune barriers on the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder, spending half a day and always falling just short of breaking through. It seemed that his divine sense was not strong enough yet; he estimated that at least the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement would likely be required to break those rune barriers. Having no other choice, Tian Ming set it aside for the time being and planned to attempt it again once his cultivation reached the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation. Reluctantly putting away the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder, Tian Ming acknowledged that this technique must be extraordinary for it to have such high entry requirements. The red-robed man must have only just begun practicing it yet already possessed such formidable power, and Tian Ming couldn''t help but anticipate the day he would unlock it. He took out the remaining half-zhang-sized map; the map was made of beast skin, adorned with several markings on its surface and traces of blood that had not quite dried, clearly indicating that it was not made more than five years ago. The bendy routes on the map traversed through mountains and rivers. According to the map, the cave dwelling was located about five hundred li west of Qingfeng Town, in a valley within the core area of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. With Tian Ming''s current level of cultivation too low to safely explore the cave dwelling, he would need to reach at least the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation before attempting it. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It would be best to wait until he unlocked the red-robed man''s Profound Grade Technique and acquired some life-saving measures before heading there. Otherwise, venturing into the Purple Cloud Mountain Range would be courting death. Packing up all of the spoils of war, he placed them into his own storage bag. Now, with an exceptional surplus of elixirs, including those gained from looting¡ªsixteen Lingshen Pills, seven Huiyuan Pills, three Consolidating Essence Pills, four Huadu Pills, and one hundred and twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones¡ªTian Ming was truly wealthy. Apart from that, he also acquired a not-inconsiderable amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials; he already had four sets of Fasting Pill materials and thirty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials, and with the loot, he now had fifty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials. With three types of main herbs for the Xisui Pill already collected, he was only two herbs short of being ready to start alchemy. In terms of offensive measures, in order to slay the red-robed man, he had used one First Order Superior Attack Talisman and one Defense Talisman. From their possessions, he obtained one First Order Superior Grade Talisman and one Defense Talisman each, leaving him with two First Order Superior Attack Talismans and two Defense Talismans. The greatest gains of this battle were the large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials, but the most valuable were the cultivation technique and alchemy experience, followed by the Spiritual Medicine Materials. The status of the cave dwelling marked on the map had yet to be explored; it could belong to someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage or even the Core Formation Stage, which would only be confirmed once explored. Tian Ming had a multitude of resources at his disposal, all of which had been planned for use, so there was no longer any need to be frugal. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Fifth Level of Qi Practice, and he could take a Lingshen Pill at any moment to break through to the Sixth Level. With his mind set, Tian Ming decided to first advance to the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation before planning further cultivation arrangements. Sitting cross-legged, he took out a Lingshen Pill and swallowed it, then began his attempt to break through to the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation. Chapter 14 Breaking Through Qi Cultivation Level 6_1 Within the secret chamber in Qingfeng Town.Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on a cushion, motionless. After expending a day''s time to refine a Lingshen Pill, he had elevated his cultivation to the peak of the Fifth Level. He had already attempted to breakthrough the realm on three occasions, all of which had been unsuccessful. At this moment, his Seven Sea Dantian had expanded to the summit of the Fifth Level Qi Practice, just a step away from the threshold. His first duel had almost cost him his life, and if not for his substantial resources and the fact that the Red Robe Cultivator was injured, wielding only about thirty percent of his full strength, his luck might have been less favorable. Lin Tianming''s gaze was resolute, his yearning for strength growing ever stronger, he vowed to achieve a breakthrough today. He took out another Lingshen Pill and forcefully shoved it into his mouth. Circulating his cultivation technique, he frenziedly refined the medicinal power contained within the Lingshen Pill. Controlling the volatile spiritual power of the Lingshen Pill, he persistently assailed his Qi Sea Dantian over and over. After numerous attempts, he finally succeeded on the sixth onslaught, breaking through. The Sea of Qi within his Dantian expanded, his spiritual power became several times more abundant than before. Lin Tianming was overjoyed as, after two days and refining two Lingshen Pills, he had finally secured his breakthrough. Feeling the manifold increase in his spiritual power and cultivation, should he duel with the man in the Red Robe again, he wouldn''t be as badly embarrassed. Having just made a breakthrough, he still needed to consolidate it thoroughly. Lin Tianming continued his closed-door cultivation to solidify his newfound realm. Three days later, his realm had been firmly established. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming had three Spirit Swords and two giant hammers laid out before him, belonging to the Jin surname cultivator and the man in the Red Robe respectively. Throughout his seclusion, as he was recovering from his injuries and breaking through, he had not had the time to refine these two Spiritual Artifacts. Now at last he could refine them, enriching his combat arsenal for future engagements with cultivators, potentially increasing his chances of victory. He picked up the three Spirit Swords and carefully contemplated them. Each of the three Spirit Swords was a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument; when stacked together, their power could compare to a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument¡ªa truly remarkable set of Spiritual Instruments. However, it was a pity that he did not possess a Sword Array cultivation technique to bring out their maximum potential. He took the hammers, which also formed a set of Spiritual Instruments, each weighing a thousand jin, suitable for those who practiced Body Cultivation and possessing extraordinary power. Both sets of Spiritual Instruments were not ideally suited for him, but since he had never possessed a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument, he planned to refine one of the Spirit Swords. Even though he wouldn''t be able to unleash its full potential, it still would be far stronger than his inferior-grade Green Bamboo Sword. Having said that, he took out a Spirit Sword and began the refinement process after wiping clean the Divine Sense from its surface. Three days quietly passed, and Lin Tianming successfully refined a Spirit Sword and decided to give it a name. The sword, which he acquired while defending Qingfeng Town, shall be named Qingfeng Sword. The two giant hammer Spiritual Instruments could only be exchanged for Merit Points at an opportunity, or sold in the market for Spirit Stones. Ten days later, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion. His cultivation was stable at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining; his complexion was rosy, and his aura extremely steady. After spending more than a month recovering from injuries and breaking through, it was time to go out and survey the surroundings of Qingfeng Town. Since he had taken on the task of defending the town, he needed to do it properly and thoroughly. As always, he flew out of the town, making a hundred-mile circuit around Qingfeng Town. In half an hour, he arrived at the small hill where he dueled the Red Robe Cultivator. The traces from the previous duel were gradually being concealed by the newly grown trees and underbrush, and without meticulous examination, it would be hard to detect that a battle had occurred here. ``` Continuing to fly in circles forward, he encountered no Demonic Beasts, only a few unlucky wild animals which he easily killed and brought back to Qingfeng Town for the mortals to eat. Ordinarily, patrolling the area would take half a day, but now, with his cultivation like a rising tide and his Spiritual Power more profound, his speed had increased significantly. In just half a day, Lin Tianming returned to the secret room inside the attic. With some rare leisure time, he took out the Alchemy Experience he had obtained from a cultivator surnamed Jin. A jade tube, interlaced with patterns of green and ink, appeared in Lin Tianming''s hand. He deployed his Divine Sense to investigate the Alchemy Experience recorded inside the jade tube. This jade tube was left by True Person Yuhua, who, during his lifetime, was a Mid Stage Nascent Soul cultivator and a Third Order Low-grade Alchemist from Jingzhou. He had perished over three thousand years ago. True Person Yuhua was one of the many cultivators who came to Qingzhou in search of treasures and experience. In the tens of thousands of years prior, a large number of Loose Cultivators from the other seven provinces flocked to Qingzhou in search of treasures and experience; those from families and sects were also not in the minority. Qingzhou, with its abundant natural treasures, is near the Demon Race territory, and the struggle between the human and demon races, especially those of Fourth Order and below, has never ceased. Risk and opportunity coexist. A great number of cultivators have fallen in Qingzhou, while many have also acquired vast resources and soared to great heights. Qingzhou never lacks opportunities, nor does it lack the loss of lives. True Person Yuhua became one of the many victims of Qingzhou''s opportunities. The jade tube recorded True Person Yuhua''s understanding of Alchemy and also contained more than a dozen Pill Formulas, all of which were commonly used ¨C with even several Third Order Elixir Recipes included. Lingshen Pill, Huiyuan Pill, Consolidating Essence Pill, Huadu Pill ¨C these commonly used consumable elixirs could be refined into Fourth Order Elixirs given sufficiently aged medicinal ingredients, even suitable for Nascent Soul True Monarchs to consume. As for the Spiritual Medicines needed by the Divinity Transformation Stage old monsters, the peak powers of the human realm, they could not be created from these ordinary Spiritual Medicine materials. Among the experiences were four Pill Formulas that Lin Tianming had not previously collected. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nurturing Spirit Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir used by Spirit Beasts for cultivation, similar in effect to the Lingshen Pill used by the Human Race but much more potent, suitable only for the bodies of Demonic Beasts. Some of the Spiritual Medicine materials used in refining the Nurturing Spirit Pill overlap with those used for the Lingshen Pill, but the main ingredient is far more precious. If he had the opportunity to subdue a Demonic Beast, this pill would come in handy. Body Strengthening Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir that strengthens a cultivator''s vitality and alleviates pain ¨C one of the elixirs used by Body Cultivators to aid their Body Refinement practice, and quite expensive. Strong Spirit Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir that can slowly increase one''s Divine Sense, extremely precious; a single Strong Spirit Pill is worth as much as a Pozhang Pill. Although the effect on increasing Divine Sense is not very strong, it is still remarkably advantageous, and the effects can be significant with substantial consumption. However, the materials required for refinement are exceedingly precious, and ordinary cultivators don''t have enough resources to support such an extravagant consumption. Minor Foundation Building Pill, a Second Order Low-grade elixir, that can increase a cultivator''s likelihood of achieving Foundation Establishment by twenty percent, is a simplified version of the Foundation Establishment Pill; its efficacy is only a small fraction of the latter''s, but nonetheless, it''s remarkably advantageous. Lin Tianming was extremely excited; Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely difficult to obtain. Every pill used by the family had to be accumulated through decades of wealth, obtained at great risk. This was why there were only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family; there were several at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, but they were all stuck at the Great Perfection Realm, unable to progress an inch. The Lin Family''s foundation was too weak, the resources far from sufficient to support so many family members. If he could refine Minor Foundation Building Pills, those elders of the Lin Family stuck at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage would have a good chance of entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Foundation Establishment Pill is precious because the main ingredient, White Jade Grass, is extremely rare and difficult to cultivate or transplant. The Minor Foundation Building Pill uses Hidden Spirit Grass as the main ingredient instead of White Jade Grass. Though also very valuable, it''s far less rare than White Jade Grass. Packing away the jade tube, Lin Tianming couldn''t calm down for a long time. Just based on the value of this Minor Foundation Building Pill Formula alone, it is worth as much as a single Foundation Establishment Pill. Minor Foundation Building Pills could greatly relieve the family''s financial pressure, allowing those elders at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage to avoid dying in the Qi Refinement Realm. ``` Chapter 15 Refining the Lingshen Pill_1 ```Having been in Qingfeng Town for three months, my cultivation level has broken through from the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement to the sixth after consuming four Lingshen Pills, and I still have sixteen more. In such a thin Spiritual Energy environment, to be able to advance a level in just over three months, the role of elixirs was crucial. Now, I, Lin Tianming, have a fair amount of Spiritual Medicine and elixirs, but they are not inexhaustible. There is no need to be too frugal with cultivation resources now; I plan to consume two Lingshen Pills each month to advance my cultivation, and spend the rest of the time making elixirs. With sixteen Lingshen Pills, consuming two a month, I can barely make it last for a year. However, if there are enough elixirs, I could completely afford to take four a month, which would significantly speed up my cultivation advancement. The success rate and quantity of Fasting Pills have become very high, it''s time to try crafting the First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Medicine, the Lingshen Pill. With fifty-five sets of Lingshen Pill materials in hand, attempting to refine fifty-five batches should yield a successful portion. That should help replenish some of the elixirs; if the quantity is substantial, I could increase the monthly consumption by one or two pills, accelerating the cultivation progress. No sooner said than done, I immediately take out the Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Fasting Pills. Before starting on the Lingshen Pills, I intend to get a feel for it with the Fasting Pills. After all, the materials for the Lingshen Pill are precious, costing several times more, and the difficulty of making them is much higher. They can''t be wasted easily. As a matter of habit, I regulate my breathing for a quarter of an hour to reach my optimal state. I take out the Pill Furnace and the Huo Yuan Bottle, consecutively casting multiple Law Decrees on both. With practiced ease, I begin the alchemy for the Fasting Pills. Half a day later, I have refined all the remaining four sets of Fasting Pill materials. I yield fifty-six pills, which is fourteen more than the previous time I used one more set of Spiritual Medicine Materials. The success rate has increased again, which pleases me, Lin Tianming, greatly. Having refined all the Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Fasting Pills, I now have one hundred and thirty-six pills in hand, which should be exchangeable for a hundred and ten points of Shi Gong¡ªa quite substantial fortune. After completing the Fasting Pills, I continue with the plan to craft Lingshen Pills. I take out the Alchemy Experience written by my grandfather Lin Shigong and the Jade Tube left by True Person Yuhua. Although Grandfather Lin Shigong''s alchemy skills are by no means comparable to those of True Person Yuhua, they still encompass the experiences of several generations of the Lin Family''s alchemists, which are quite valuable. It takes half a day, but I revisit the experiences of both alchemists, focusing on learning from our predecessors'' alchemy knowledge. I take out three sets of Lingshen Pill materials and place them on the stone table beside me. After regulating my breath for an hour, I commence the alchemy for the Lingshen Pills. This being my first time crafting a First Order Medium Grade elixir, I must be cautious. I cycle my cultivation through a Grand Circulation, emitting several Law Decrees in orderly succession upon the Four Symbols Furnace. One by one, I toss a set of Lingshen Pill materials into the Four Symbols Furnace, controlling the flame of the Huo Yuan Bottle, breaking down and refining the Spiritual Medicine. I time my movements and layer several Law Decrees, injecting Spiritual Energy. A few breaths pass. "Solidify." "Puff." A strange sound emanates from the Four Symbols Furnace, accompanied by a slight tremor. I, Lin Tianming, quickly open the furnace. Inside, I see three fragmented, half-formed pills scattered at the bottom of the furnace. Just as expected, the first batch of Lingshen Pills is a failure. But I''m undeterred, I pick up the broken pieces of the pills and begin to ponder over them intently. ``` He pulled out True Person Yuhua''s Alchemy Experience and focused on analyzing the reasons for the failure. After pondering over it several times, it seemed that the issue lay with the lack of precise control over the flame during the decomposition of the Spiritual Medicine, leading to impurities not being fully broken down, preventing the pill from solidifying. There are over a dozen types of Spiritual Medicine used to refine the Lingshen Pill, each with different properties and medicinal characteristics, and each requires different intensities of flame to extract and decompose. The flame''s strength must be controlled according to the properties of the Spiritual Medicine. Otherwise, the Spiritual Medicine can easily be under-refined, or if the flame is too strong, the impurities can also be extracted and merge with the essence, making the pill difficult to form or causing the batch to be wasted. Alchemy is an art that highly values one''s state of mind; the control of the flame and the timing of opening the furnace are not fixed. A high-order Alchemist will have a prediction for what kind of flame strength is needed for each type of Spiritual Medicine. Different flames and different temperatures are required for refining different elixirs, and the needed strength of the fire and the refining duration vary significantly as well. This judgment can also be prone to errors; therefore, an Alchemist will make on-the-fly adjustments to the flame strength and the timing of the pill''s removal based on the changes during the refining process. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But even the most skilled alchemists can''t guarantee their judgments are 100% accurate; even a slight mishap can cause a batch of elixirs to be ruined. Thus, even experienced alchemist veterans can only maintain a certain success rate. The failure of the first batch was an expected outcome; even with exceptional talent, in the million years of the Cultivation World, no cultivator has ever succeeded on their first attempt at alchemy. Having deduced the reasons for his failure, Lin Tianming once again took out a set of Spirit Essence Pill Materials and redid all the preliminary preparations, step by step. He was exceedingly careful with every detail. In extracting each piece of Spiritual Medicine, he would use all of his Divine Sense to extract every bit of essence from them. He sequentially completed the decomposition of the dozen types of Spiritual Medicine. An hour later. "Solidify." A fragrant scent filled the entire secret chamber. Two pill pellets hovered in the center of the Four Symbols Furnace. Lin Tianming excitedly picked up one of the elixirs to examine if it was a complete Lingshen Pill. He pulled out a Lingshen Pill given to him by his grandfather for comparison. He placed the two Lingshen Pills side by side. The Lingshen Pill his grandfather gave was of an ink-green color, with patterns of dark and light green, its surface shiny and smooth. Comparing the colors, his own Lingshen Pill appeared almost identical. The Lingshen Pill looked normal, but something felt off. After careful comparison several times, he realized that his grandfather''s Lingshen Pill had a small amount of Spiritual Energy circling around its surface, while the one he refined had none. Recollecting the entire alchemy process, he realized that the step he lacked was the proper Infusion of Spirit; he had infused too much Spiritual Energy, exceeding the Lingshen Pill''s limits and disrupting its balance. This was the biggest reason for the failure of this attempt. Over the course of five days, through repeated practice and analysis of failures, he finally succeeded on the eighth attempt. During this period, he encountered various mistakes and issues; after repeatedly reviewing, checking, and comparing, and after multiple refining attempts, he finally succeeded. He carefully compared and observed the successfully refined Lingshen Pill with his fingers, and it seemed almost identical, from the color, Spiritual Power, and scent, it was undoubtedly a genuine Lingshen Pill. Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. The materials for so many Spiritual Medicine Materials could have bought a significant number of elixirs. The resources and time spent during this period were significant; had he not succeeded, he could hardly afford such an expenditure. With a successful example at hand, all he needed to do next was practice more to improve the success rate and quantity of pills yielded. That said, Lin Tianming delved into a frenzy of alchemy and cultivation. Chapter 16 Arduous Cultivation_1 ```Time flew by swiftly, and months passed silently. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat motionless on the meditation cushion. Bits of star-like spiritual energy wandered around his body, slowly entering through the Sky Spirit Cover or his fingertips, gradually permeating his entire being. An hour later, Lin Tianming ended his practice. Opening his eyes, a flash of brilliance streaked across his pupils, his body''s aura stable and profound. Several jade bottles lay scattered haphazardly inside the chamber, as empty as can be, with only faint traces of spiritual energy and medicinal fragrance lingering within. By this time, Lin Tianming had been in closed-door cultivation for several months. During this period, he fervently engaged in alchemy and cultivation, practicing alchemy until completely exhausted and his spiritual power was depleted before stopping. Afterward, he would perform breathing exercises to recover his spiritual power and divine sense. Prolonged alchemy not only consumed a great deal of spiritual energy but also placed a tremendous strain on the divine sense, leaving him extremely weary each time he overused it. He always pushed himself to the limit, spending days bitterly polishing his practice without ever resorting to Spirit Essence Pills or Restorative Elixirs. Though arduous, the rewards were incredibly rich. Over the months, fifty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials were completely refined. The difficulty of producing Spirit Essence Pills was not minor, being several times harder than making Fasting Pills. Out of fifty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials, only sixteen batches were successfully alchemized, barely reaching a thirty percent success rate. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The number of pills per batch varied between three and four, ultimately resulting in fifty Spirit Essence Pills. Combined with the fourteen remaining pills after his successful breakthrough to the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, he had a total of sixty-four pills. Throughout these months, he never relaxed his regimen of alchemy or cultivation, consistently taking two Spirit Essence Pills each month, leaving fifty-four pills remaining. Fortunately, the effort spent on alchemy also played a part; otherwise, it might have been impossible to reach the Medium Stage of the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement so soon based solely on the pills. Although he had no shortage of pills for his practice, Lin Tianming chose not to continue his closed-door cultivation. Instead, he prepared to leave seclusion to temper himself in the mountains near Qingfeng Town, to refine his realm further and solidify his gains before seeking another opportunity for a breakthrough. Cultivation itself is an act of defying the heavens and changing one''s fate. Although Lin Tianming had excellent talents, he was not a Cultivator with a Sky Spirit Root or a Hetero-attribute Spirit Root but merely one with above-average potential. Even those with Sky Spirit Root or Hetero-attribute Spirit Root need to temper and consolidate their experiences to avoid encountering too many bottlenecks. Overreliance on elixirs could add significant obstacles during Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages; to journey further on the path of Immortality, stepping out for real-world experience was a necessity. During these months, Lin Tianming always completed the monthly inspections as expected. Now, the time had come for the eighth inspection, and Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion, appearing in the courtyard outside the loft. The Lin Family''s Mortal Race brothers, Lin Shan and Lin Hai, tasked with awaiting his orders, had taken turns keeping vigil outside the loft for over half a year, never once leaving their post. Seeing Lin Tianming emerge from the grand hall, Lin Shan ran up to him, bowing respectfully. "Lin Shan greets the old ancestor with respect, congratulations on the grand achievement of your divine abilities." These brothers were indeed thoughtful. Aside from the first time they came to Qingfeng Town, they had not received any specific instructions, yet they continued to wait diligently day and night, anticipating orders. Lin Tianming spoke nonchalantly, "No need for formalities. Take these discarded pill residues; they still contain quite a bit of elixir essence. Though they''re of no use to Cultivators, if common folk stew them into a medicinal soup, it can strengthen the body, improve health, and eliminate chronic illnesses. There is enough here for dozens of your people to use." With a wave of his hands, a mass of elixir residues flew towards Lin Shan, landing firmly in his palm, a full handful. Lin Shan was overjoyed but also visibly apprehensive as he thanked Lin Tianming! Although useless for Cultivators, even the small amount of remaining essence in these discarded pill residues was a significant tonic for Mortals. Having collected many such residues from pill production, they could be gifted to the Lin Family''s Mortal members, an effortless act of generosity. ``` The mayors of the Lin Family''s five major Mortal Towns all descended directly from ancestors who were cultivators, though their bloodlines had become extremely diluted over dozens of generations. Nevertheless, the probability of a cultivator emerging from their lineage was still higher than that of average mortals, and leaving a good karma for oneself was certainly not improper. Lin Tianming no longer paid attention and, summoning the Qingfeng Sword, flew towards the outskirts of Qingfeng Town. In half a day''s time, he carefully patrolled the area within a hundred miles around Qingfeng Town and had already slain more than ten Mortal Beasts. Releasing all his Divine Sense, every animal and plant within ten miles flashed through his mind. "Huh," After almost half a year stationed in Qingfeng Town, he had never encountered Demonic Beasts. However, today, he ran into a Striped Crocodile. The Striped Crocodile was a Middle Stage First-Order Monster Beast. Adult Striped Crocodiles were Second Order Middle Stage beasts, so this one must only be a juvenile. Striped Crocodiles were gregarious creatures, with smaller groups numbering over ten and larger ones having over a hundred. It was strange to see just one in this place. This place was over a hundred miles to the west of Qingfeng Town, less than a hundred miles from the outer periphery of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. Logically, Monster Beasts shouldn''t appear here. Having discovered one, there was naturally no reason to let it go. It would serve as an opportunity to temper himself since it was the first time he had encountered a Monster Beast and thus was also the first time he would duel with one. He drove the Qingfeng Sword at full power, turning it into a streak of cyan escape light, heading straight for the Monster Beast several miles away. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming appeared in a small valley. The valley stretched for more than ten miles, with dense forests on both sides and a river more than thirty feet wide flowing across the valley floor. The river flowed from west to east, with the upstream being precisely the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. This Striped Crocodile must have come downstream along this river. The calm river occasionally rippled slightly, making it very difficult to notice anything unusual without careful observation. A Striped Crocodile, three zhang wide and over ten zhang long, was hiding at the bottom of the river, swimming quickly upstream. The creature must have sensed Lin Tianming''s formidable presence and, knowing it could not match him, had decided to hide under the water and flee. "Hmph," Do you think you can get away by hiding? I won''t be able to deal with you? This expedition for cultivation experience might last as short as half a month or as long as several months, with no way to determine an exact time. He must clear out the beasts within a hundred miles. If during his journey of cultivation one of them ran toward Qingfeng Town, countless mortals would surely be met with tragedy. Summoning the Qingfeng Sword, he infused it with a large amount of Spiritual Energy. The sword became a streak of cyan light and moved with incredible speed. "With a loud boom," The cyan sword light split the river, a few dozen zhang deep, and without any hesitation, rushed towards the Striped Crocodile. The Striped Crocodile moved its massive body quickly and agilely at the bottom of the river, likely aware that it couldn''t evade Lin Tianming''s attack. Suddenly, it turned its head and shot a water sword from its vast mouth. The water sword was half a zhang thick and rapidly shot towards the cyan giant sword. The two attacks collided with a thunderous roar and only held for the briefest of moments before they exploded. The river churned continuously, and the powerful shockwave threw fish and shrimp onto the banks, while many were torn to pieces. With a single easy strike deflected by the Striped Crocodile, Lin Tianming was not irritated. He made three more swift sword slashes, attacking the Striped Crocodile once again. The Striped Crocodile did not attempt to dodge; instead, it spat out water swords while rapidly moving towards Lin Tianming. All three water swords exploded in front, blocking the attacks released by Lin Tianming. As the explosions covered its movements, the Striped Crocodile opened its gaping maw and charged directly at Lin Tianming. Without any panic, Lin Tianming quickly executed the Technique Secret Art, Huoyuan Slash, turning it into a fiery sword, heading straight for the Striped Crocodile''s gaping mouth. With a loud bang, the Striped Crocodile''s body twisted wildly, rolling dozens of times in the river before floating motionless on the surface. Lin Tianming''s unrestrained strike had sent the fiery sword straight into the maw of the Striped Crocodile, pulverizing its insides completely, thus ending its life. Lin Tianming quickly tidied up the battlefield, skinned the Striped Crocodile with haste, extracted a pure white Demon Core from its body, then cut off its four sharp claws and the whole tail before leaving on his sword. Chapter 17 Investigating the Cave Dwelling_1 A few hours later...A streak of azure light shot across the sky, as Lin Tianming stood atop the Qingfeng Sword, appearing in a small valley over two hundred miles west of Qingfeng Town. This was the peripheral area of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range, a large expanse of hills teeming with lush vegetation and dense foliage, with small mountains hundreds of feet tall dotting the landscape. Having carefully scouted the area within a hundred miles of Qingfeng Town and eliminated a large number of mortal beasts, he had ensured no worries lay in wait to disrupt his journey of training and experience. Killing the Striped Crocodile, he obtained some materials for weapon forging, its hide could be combined with other materials to craft a set of defensive inner armor, whose defensive power would surely not be lacking. The long tail, on the other hand, could be used to craft a whip-like attack spirit weapon, which was also worth a good number of spirit stones, not to be squandered. As dusk approached, since demonic beasts were mostly nocturnal, it was unwise to enter the Purple Cloud Mountain Range at this time. It would be safer to set out after dawn the next day. Lin Tianming landed on top of a small mountain, drew the Qingfeng Sword, and hacked more than ten times, chiseling out a cavern of several zhangs on a giant stone wall, creating a simple cave mansion to rest for the night so he could recover and then enter the Purple Cloud Mountain Range in good condition. He weaved a few spells with his fingers, setting up some simple illusions to cover the entrance of the cave mansion, then stepped inside. Seen from the outside, this place was covered by a forest. Dozens of trees of various sizes obscured the entire rock wall. Such defenses could easily deter low-order monster beasts, but against high-order monster beasts or cultivators, they would provide no hiding place. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Tianming wore an expression of hesitation and indecision. This journey was bound to be brief, after all, he had his duty to protect the town. Leaving without permission for too long, should anything happen, would be difficult to justify to his clan. However, the uncertainties of training were beyond control, and no one could predict what might happen. His cultivation was not high; although the Purple Cloud Mountain Range was just a small mountain range, unlikely to house high-order demonic beasts, there were definitely plenty of second-order demonic beasts, as proven by the Striped Crocodile he had just killed. After pondering deeply for half an hour, Lin Tianming made a decision. He would keep the duration of this trip to within three months and wouldn''t blindly traverse the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. The map he had obtained from killing the man in the red robe, likely created by the murdered man himself, marked the location of the cave mansion ruins he had mentioned. "Since they managed to explore once without harm, it should not be too dangerous!" Lin Tianming thought to himself. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No sooner had he finished speaking than he spread out the map in front of him, studying it closely. According to the routes on the map, there were several circled locations, likely the territories of certain demonic beast clans. He would confirm the route once again, and if it proved too perilous, he would abandon it, perhaps exploring it after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Merely scouting the path should carry little risk. After considering his plan for an hour, he started cultivating to recuperate and restore his state. The next day at dawn, the morning sunlight shone into the valley, as flocks of birds flew over the mountain tops. Lin Tianming appeared outside the stone wall, dispelled the illusions, and chopped down a few large trees to cover up the cave where he had rested the night before. Taking out the map, he carefully determined the direction and then began running swiftly. His speed matched that of a cheetah charging at full force, extremely agile as he headed further into the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. The reason for not using sword flight was that flying in the territories of demonic beasts was extremely dangerous. Without any cover, being such an obvious target makes one easily detected, and even directly attacked, posing great danger. After half a day, Lin Tianming arrived just outside an area known as the Stone Forest, where the trees were sparse and countless large rocks lay haphazardly together, creating an eerily silent and bizarre scene. Lin Tianming carefully discerned his direction. At this point, he had already crossed the periphery of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range; along the way, he hadn''t encountered many demonic beasts, only a few first-order inferior ones. Lin Tianming had no desire to fight unnecessarily. He avoided conflict where he could, and if pursued relentlessly, he would kill quickly, retrieve the demon core and make a swift departure. Utilizing his divine sense, he cautiously scanned the surrounding area for several miles. From this place, he should be entering the inner region of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. "Huh... Earth Spirit Ganoderma..." He could see seven Earth Spirit Ganoderma growing within the crevices of the stone wall, each as large as a brick and dazzlingly colorful on the surface, a feast for the eyes. Moreover, there were over thirty Earth Mysterious Mice, most of which were at the First Order Initial Phase, but three were Demonic Beasts at the First Order Middle Stage, with one nearly advancing to the First Order Late Stage. The Earth Spirit Ganoderma was a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Medicine, and one of the main ingredients for refining Xisui Pills. Lin Tianming had already gathered Golden Flower Grass, Fire Element Grass, and Shuiyun Grass. If he could acquire this Earth Spirit Ganoderma, he would only be short of the Mystical Vine Flower to refine the Xisui Pill. The Earth Mysterious Mouse was an earth-attribute Demonic Beast, with thick skin and sharp teeth, and it moved incredibly fast. It was fond of eating earth-attribute Spirit Material and earth-attribute ores; this clump of Earth Spirit Ganoderma was likely their food that they were guarding. Lin Tianming thought calmly. There were many of them, and although most were First Order Inferior Demonic Beasts that posed no harm to him, if he were to be surrounded by a few Superior Beasts, he might have a difficult time escaping. If he left, there would be no risk in bypassing this place. But looking at those seven Earth Spirit Ganoderma, he truly could not bear to give them up. If it were any other Spiritual Medicine, he might have considered the risk too high and given up directly, but this was one of the five main ingredients for refining Xisui Pills, a rare find that''s not easily encountered again if missed. He had quite a few First Order Superior Talismans, so at worst, he would expend one or two of them. As long as he wasn''t surrounded, he could fight or run if defeat seemed imminent. No more hesitation¡ªhe acted! Lin Tianming transformed into a streak of light, covering several meters in a blink, and charged directly toward the clump of Earth Spirit Ganoderma. The three Middle Stage First Order Earth Mysterious Mice were the first to react. Opening their mouths wide as buckets, they lunged at Lin Tianming''s head with a bite. Lin Tianming summoned the Qingfeng Sword and swung it with all his might, sending a sweeping Sword Qi towards the numerous mouse horde. With several crackling sounds... A few Initial Phase First Order Earth Mysterious Mice couldn''t dodge in time and were sent flying, painfully slamming into a stone wall beside them, and no longer able to stand up, they could only howl in agony. Lin Tianming drew a breath of cold air, pushed the Qingfeng Sword to its limit, and chopped at the Inferior Earth Mysterious Mice, only to see that they didn''t die, a testament to the formidable defense of these earth-attributed Demonic Beasts. After slashing with three more swords, all the Earth Mysterious Mice began to leap and dodge to the left and right. Seizing the moment while they dodged the Sword Qi, he sprinted full force toward the Spiritual Medicines. Three breaths later, Lin Tianming successfully reached the top of the stone wall, quickly scooped up an Earth Spirit Ganoderma with the Qingfeng Sword, and stored it in his storage bag. The three Middle Stage First Order Earth Mysterious Mice were thoroughly enraged and simultaneously spewed a few chunks of jade stones from their bellies. The stones smashed toward Lin Tianming with astonishing speed. Being hit by even one could end in severe injury or death. Just as the stones were about to hit Lin Tianming, he had already collected five Earth Spirit Ganoderma, with two left behind, he could only give up on them. He took out a First Order Superior Defense Talisman and transformed it into a shield in front of him. With a loud explosion, shockwaves rippled. Using the sound and shockwaves from the explosion, Lin Tianming swiftly fled on his sword, speedier than before. Behind him, a group of Earth Mysterious Mice chased, but after a full circuit, they stopped pursuing. It seemed like he had left their territory, so they reluctantly retreated. After half an hour, Lin Tianming landed on top of a massive pine tree. Affected by the explosion''s impact, his body was struck by a searing pain, but fortunately, he had retreated in time, and his injuries were not serious. He was also lucky to have acted decisively, avoiding a head-on conflict. The Qingfeng Sword, when struck against the First Order Inferior Earth Mysterious Mice, only inflicted severe wounds, disabling their ability to fight. Otherwise, with the defensive power of the Middle Stage Earth Mysterious Mice, it would have been impossible for him to deal with them. This collection of Spiritual Medicine cost him a First Order Superior Defensive Talisman. The value of the talisman was almost equivalent to an Earth Spirit Ganoderma, but he succeeded in obtaining five century-old Earth Spirit Ganoderma. All things considered, he still made a considerable gain, and it wasn''t in vain that he risked harvesting the medicine. With a smile on his face, Lin Tianming took out the several Earth Spirit Ganoderma and carefully stored each in a specially made Jade Box to prevent the loss of their medicinal properties, waiting to collect the Mystical Vine Flower to attempt refining the Xisui Pill. After storing the Earth Spirit Ganoderma in his storage bag, he sat atop the tree and began to meditate and regulate his breath, waiting to recover his full condition. Chapter 18 Slaying the Spirit-Connecting Python_1 The next morning, Lin Tianming opened his eyes.It had been nine days since he left Qingfeng Town Clan Territory. During these nine days, he had traveled by day and rested at night to recuperate and ensure his condition was stable. After a night of recuperating, his body was filled with strength, and both his spirit and Divine Sense had reached their peak state. He was about to set off once more and tread the path of exploration. Lin Tianming took out the map and carefully observed the situation and directions of this area. He should now be near Qinghe Mountain, less than a hundred miles away from the cave dwelling''s location. This place had already entered the central area of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. First Order Late Stage Demon Beasts were everywhere, and he had to be fully alert, otherwise danger could strike at any time. Having confirmed the direction, Lin Tianming summoned his Qingfeng Sword and held a First Order Defense Talisman in his hand, carefully making his way through the jungle, not moving as fast as before. Lin Tianming was extremely cautious, taking a step and then using his Divine Sense, observing his surroundings for any dangers before continuing on his journey. After half a day, he had only covered a little over thirty miles. During that time, he encountered many First Order Inferior and Medium Grade Spiritual Medicine, which he collected one by one. Lin Tianming was elated as he put three Purple Mysterious Flowers into his storage bag, which already contained more than twenty First Order Spiritual Medicine. Seeing so many Spiritual Medicine materials, Lin Tianming frowned slightly. Even if he didn''t locate the cave dwelling, with the Spirit Medicine materials collected over the past few days, the value had reached no less than a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming''s journey of over thirty miles had been very safe, without encountering a single demon beast. However, the abnormality indicated that something strange was going on. Lin Tianming stopped and carefully observed his surroundings. Three peaks converged at this place, with several rivers converging at the bottom of the valley. A dense mist covered the entire valley, severely limiting his Divine Sense, which could only probe a few hundred feet. There were dozens of caves of various sizes in the mountains, and it was unclear where they led. Taking out the map, he carefully compared his position and realized he had deviated over thirty miles from the route. It seemed that his greed for the low-tier Spiritual Medicine had clouded his vision, gradually causing him to stray from the path. Lin Tianming decided to return the way he came, to the place where he had previously sat and recuperated, and then restart his journey following the route on the map. Just as he was about to turn his head to leave, he lifted his eyes to see that, without his notice, a gigantic python, dozens of meters in length, had raised its enormous head and was looking at him, hissing with a long forked tongue, looking extremely terrifying. "A First Order Late Stage Spirit-Connecting Python!" It was actually a Spirit-Connecting Python. An adult Spirit-Connecting Python was a Second Order Late Phase Beast, carrying a hint of the ancient dragon''s bloodline, with unparalleled attacking power. Among Second Order Demonic Beasts, it was one of the most formidable. Seeing the dozen or so caves of varying sizes on this section of the mountain, it was likely a den belonging to a group of Spirit-Connecting Pythons. It was critical to escape immediately, as waiting for an even stronger Spirit-Connecting Python to emerge meant certain death. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming, fully aware of this, turned and transformed into a streak of green light, quickly weaving through the forest. As Lin Tianming fled, the Spirit-Connecting Python watching him swiftly twisted its body, pursuing him. Despite its massive size, it moved through the forest with great agility. Having only run a few miles, Lin Tianming was already caught up by the Spirit-Connecting Python. The Spirit-Connecting Python opened its vast mouth and lunged straight for Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming leaped, swiftly dodging behind a big tree and avoiding the Spirit-Connecting Python''s deadly strike. Several large trees were bitten in half, their thirty-meter-high trunks crashing down, while Lin Tianming was panting next to a large tree. It seemed that escaping was not going to be easy. The speed of this Spirit-Connecting Python was at least half faster than Lin Tianming''s¡ªcompeting in speed was certainly not an option. His only chance of escape was to either beat back the serpent or kill it. The piercing pain in his arm and a few palm-sized scars brought Lin Tianming back to the present. The mere droplets of the python''s saliva had corroded his arm, its venom fiercely potent indeed, befitting the exceptional among First Order Demonic Beasts. Ignoring the injuries on his arm, Lin Tianming''s entire body shone with spiritual light. He drew out the Qingfeng Sword, slashed several times, and without concern for the precious Spirit Stones, immediately brought out a First Order Superior Attack Talisman. A blue giant sword and several sword Qis charged straight at the Spirit-Connecting Python. The Spirit-Connecting Python was no less fierce, sweeping its tail as thick as a water barrel directly at Lin Tianming. The azure sword clashed with the green and white tail of the python, metal-on-metal sounds echoing throughout the valley. Immediately, sparks flew in all directions, and trees fell in swathes¡ªan extreme spectacle. The python was exceedingly furious now, its eyes the size of a human head fixed deadly on the cultivator before it, readying its next wave of attacks. Lin Tianming carefully calculated; to kill the serpent, finding its weak point was essential. The python''s body was enveloped in green scales with fearsome defensive power; achieving a kill was tough. The only chance was to risk targeting its vital seven-inch section. Having settled on a plan, he had no choice but to hazardly approach the serpent''s main body. To attack a snake''s critical seven-inch section was the only path to victory; lingering longer only spelled greater danger if he wished to leave safely. He slashed thrice more, drawing the python''s attention. Availing of its momentary distraction, Lin Tianming moved swiftly. His body turned into a blur, and while moving, he didn''t forget to form hand seals, directly summoning his strongest Divine Skill, Fire Origin Decision. Half a breath later¡­ The fiery giant sword, with a massive blaze, struck the python right below its head at the seven-inch position. With a thunderous boom! The seven-inch section of the python burst into bloodshed. Its massive body twisted frantically, blood spurting all around, a ghastly sight to behold. In torment, the Spirit-Connecting Python rolled, lashing out with its remaining strength, sweeping its enormous tail at Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming couldn''t evade in time and got struck by the tail''s end, sustaining minor damage¡ªseveral ribs broken, a gash across the chest revealing a grim white bone. Dragging his injured body, Lin Tianming showed no mercy, furiously continuing to wield the Qingfeng Sword, gutting the python. Strike when the enemy is sick, take their life¡ªafter all, compassion for an enemy is irresponsibility towards oneself, a truth well known to all. After some moments, Lin Tianming extracted the Demon Core from the Spirit-Connecting Python, cut off the reverse scale on its back, and took out a Jade Bottle to gather a large amount of blood, nearly enough to fill a small pond. Before leaving, he also peeled off the python''s skin and stored it in a bag, transforming into a shadow and retracing the path he''d come by. Half a day passed. Following the path he had taken, Lin Tianming returned to his previous route on the map, settling down cross-legged atop the canopy of a large tree. He had been too busy fleeing to recover his mana or tend to his injuries. Once out of danger, he hurriedly took out a Huadu Pill and a Consolidating Essence Pill. The power of both elixirs rapidly mended his body''s meridians and internal organs. Chapter 19 Successfully Entering _1 Five days quietly passed, and Lin Tianming slowly opened his eyes.After several days of recovery, his wounds had basically healed, and he was ready to set out again. However, he must avoid life-and-death battles as much as possible. At present, he could only exert about eighty percent of his full strength, so he had to be even more cautious. In over half a year since coming from Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory to Qingfeng Town, after several fierce battles, numerous brushes with danger, and many injuries, Lin Tianming''s combat skills had become extremely proficient. He could instantaneously unleash various Cultivation Technique Secret Arts and had reached the peak of his current level, his fighting strength unlike any previous time. His cultivation had risen from the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement to the Late Stage of Sixth Level, not far from reaching the Seventh Level. Indeed, tempering through life-and-death battles proved to be the best method of cultivation; only after undergoing trials between life and death could breakthroughs happen naturally when the time came. In the Purple Cloud Mountain Range, there were many Second Order Demonic Beasts. Even though he hadn''t encountered any on the way, they definitely existed, so he still had to be careful, not stray from the path, and if he fell into danger once more, it would be troublesome¡ª not every time could he escape by sheer luck. Taking out the map, and after identifying the right direction, Lin Tianming continued on the road to find the Cave Mansion Ruins. Lin Tianming followed the indications on the map, undistracted by the occasional low-order Spirit Grasses he found around, pressing forward single-mindedly, solely to find the Cave Mansion Ruins as soon as possible. Two days went by, and with the guidance of the map, exploring carefully and avoiding dangerous spots many times, Lin Tianming arrived at the base of a mountain. The entire mountain was a thousand feet tall, with a bare surface, only very few trees growing in the crevices of the rock face. A gigantic river at the base of the mountain wound around the structure, cascading stones forming over a dozen waterfalls of various sizes, and the entire gorge was shrouded in thick mist. The spiritual energy was denser than the outside world by a considerable margin, almost comparable to the richness of Green Bamboo Mountain¡ªtruly an earthly paradise. Taking out the map, he carefully examined it, comparing it several times in detail. "It should be this place without a doubt...," Lin Tianming muttered to himself. Putting away the map, Lin Tianming could hardly contain his elation. After more than ten days of searching, several dire situations, and multiple pursuits by numerous Demonic Beasts along the way, he had finally found the location marked on the map. But upon close inspection, he saw that this place simply had a considerably denser spiritual energy and beyond that, it appeared indistinct from any other place. The mountain looked ethereal and otherworldly, but that did not ensure its authenticity. Possibly, it was just Illusion Technique or Formation Barrier, only meant to deceive the eyes and ears of others. Without further ado, Lin Tianming released all his Divine Sense, surveilling the entire mountain and its surroundings. An hour slipped by silently, after exploring twice, and still, nothing unusual was detected. Continuing to expand the search radius, he combed through a more than ten-mile radius around the mountain. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What''s this?" Suddenly, Lin Tianming noticed that behind the curtain of water from a waterfall, there seemed to be fluctuations of a Formation Barrier, intermittent and subtle. Though slight, they were still picked up by his senses. Behind the Formation Barrier must be where the Cave Mansion lay. It looked as though the power of the barrier had considerably weakened. He decided to strike with full force to see if he could open it. If it opened, he naturally had to explore it, but if it couldn''t be opened, he would have to give up for the time being. Resolved, Lin Tianming invoked the Qingfeng Sword, leaped onto it, and flew towards the waterfall with the Formation Barrier fluctuations. Passing through the curtain of the waterfall to the pond below, more than ten snow-white fish, each nearly the size of a small boat with sharp fangs and teeth, leaped out of the water surface and ferociously bit towards Lin Tianming. "Snow Spirit Fish!" Snow Spirit Fish, First Order Late Stage Water Attribute Demonic Beasts, usually live in groups. They dwell in the icy river canyons, with varying numbers in a group. Large groups can have more than ten thousand individuals. When they gather together, even Second Order Demonic Beasts can be devoured in an instant. They are indeed very ferocious. There were more than ten Snow Spirit Fish, only three of which were at the Late Stage of the First Order, while the rest were Medium and Early Stage Demonic Beasts. Over ten Snow Spirit Fish attacking at the same time posed a threat not to be underestimated. Lin Tianming, still injured and not fully recovered, didn''t dare to face them head-on. He threw out a First Order Superior Defensive Talisman, which transformed into a several zhang large shield. It protected his entire body from behind. Over ten Snow Spirit Fish slammed into the huge shield created by the talisman. It only held for a moment before exploding. The attack of the Snow Spirit Fish was blocked, and they fell into the pond. Seizing this opportunity, Lin Tianming formed a hand seal and cast Huoyuan Slash. A streak of blue and red light shot directly toward the barrier behind the water screen. With a loud boom, the flaming great sword transformed by the Huoyuan Slash hit the barrier. In less than a moment, a half-zhang large gap appeared in the barrier. Now was the moment. Lin Tianming turned into a lingering shadow as he rushed into the formation barrier. After a spell of dizziness. Lin Tianming appeared inside a hundred zhang large cave. The entire cave was dug out of the mountain body and must have been a temporary dwelling for a High Order Cultivator to cultivate; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been so spacious. Lin Tianming carefully observed his surroundings. The whole cave consisted of five chambers, the largest being over thirty zhang in size, and the smallest over ten zhang. Lin Tianming cautiously stepped in, clenching the Qingfeng Sword in his hand. Still not feeling reassured, he took the single remaining First Order Attack Talisman and Defense Talisman from his storage bag and held them in his hand. Should any unexpected situation arise, they could save his life. Upon entering the cave mansion, the first thing that caught his eye was a stone chamber of over ten zhang in size. It was a complete mess; many stone tables and chairs were already half-destroyed. Time had taken its toll, with ordinary stone materials unable to withstand the wear of years, splitting into uneven pieces. It appeared that this place was a reception hall and contained nothing of value. Lin Tianming did not linger and continued to walk further inside. To the right of the reception hall was a chamber protected by a golden light screen, obviously a Formation Barrier. Despite its age, the power it retained was not insignificant. Lin Tianming exerted his full strength to deploy the Huoyuan Slash, bombarding the barrier. I saw several ripples flash across the barrier but it remained unshaken ¨C the calm light screen rapidly returned to its tranquil state. After the unsuccessful attack, Lin Tianming felt the fluctuations of the barrier, making multiple attempts to attack, but none could break the Formation Barrier. It seemed that a single person would have a hard time shattering the barrier. After several failed forceful attempts, he knew he needed to think of a solution. The barrier was also a formation, so there had to be a weak point. Lin Tianming began to study the entire Formation Barrier. Unknowingly, he spent half a day pondering over it. Although he had not discovered its weakness, it wasn''t without some clues. Based on the remaining fluctuations and effects of the barrier, it must have existed for at least ten thousand years, and it wouldn''t be surprising if it had been tens of thousands of years. The grade of the Formation Barrier was at least Third Order, otherwise, it couldn''t have lasted such a long time. The power of the entire Formation Barrier had dwindled from its prolonged use, retaining barely a ten-thousandth of its original strength. Tian Ming estimated that even if he did not attack the formation forcibly, after waiting a few hundred to a thousand years for the central Spirit Stone of the barrier to deplete completely, the Formation Barrier would self-destruct. But Lin Tianming could not possibly wait that long. The opportunity was right in front of him, and no one could resist a chance that was within easy reach. Chapter 20 Treasure Hunting_1 Ten days flew by in a flash.The entire ancient dungeon was silent save for Lin Tianming, who watched the light screen intently, replaying the entire formation barrier in his mind countless times and occasionally gesturing with his hands non-stop. At this moment, he looked haggard; soon after, his complexion flushed with excitement and astonishment. "I found it!" Lin Tianming was thrilled beyond measure, his days of diligent research and numerous rehearsals had finally enabled him to discern the barrier''s weak point. In the top left corner of the formation''s light screen lay a rather ordinary beam of light, which should be the fulcrum connecting the light screen. Lin Tianming made hand signs and deployed the Huoyuan Slash¡ªa powerful flame-formed great sword stabbed toward a corner of the light screen. A piercing screech rang out as the light screen shattered, dissolving into specks of spiritual light and vanishing completely. Thankfully, the barrier''s existence was so ancient that its defensive power had significantly weakened, otherwise, even if he had found the central point, it would have been impossible for him to break it no matter the tricks he deployed. The misty light screen in front of the stone chamber dissipated, revealing a chamber over thirty yards in size. "Empty?" "Eh?" It wasn''t entirely empty, for spread across the ground lay the remains of a massive demonic beast, most of its body already turned to ash. From the surviving skeletal structure, it seemed to be a flying spirit beast of the flying creature lineage¡ªlikely the ancient dungeon owner''s mode of flight. It appeared this chamber was meant for a spirit beast, which, given the weight of ages, had died, leaving only its remains behind. Demonic beasts had lifespans several times longer than the human race, and yet, this one was tragically trapped and died here, suggesting the antiquity of the dungeon as being from ten thousand years ago. Lin Tianming''s face showed disappointment, having exerted so much effort to open the barrier, yet gaining nothing in return. There were still several chambers left; surely, they couldn''t all be spirit beast rooms, Lin Tianming thought resentfully. He turned and left the first chamber, heading down the passage. He discovered that each chamber was sealed by the same kind of formation barrier, with virtually no difference in the remaining force, all laid down by the dungeon owner at the same time. This was incredibly good news. Since he had found the weak point of the barrier, there was no need to waste energy searching any further. Returning to the second chamber, he carefully examined and searched it again. Utilizing the Huoyuan Slash effortlessly, he stabbed at the light beam on the light screen; the barrier of the second chamber dispersed. A scattering of demonic beast bones lay in the middle of the chamber. "Another spirit beast room?" Without looking back, Lin Tianming headed straight for the third chamber. He broke the barrier directly; the scent of elixirs seeped out in advance. "Spiritual Medicine Garden!" Lin Tianming rushed in with joy, moving even faster than if he were fleeing for his life, his posture that of a tiger or wolf. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Two hundred-year-old Hidden Spirit Grass, it''s actually Hidden Spirit Grass!" Lin Tianming exclaimed. Hidden Spirit Grass was a primary ingredient in concocting the Second Order minor elixir, the Minor Foundation Building Pill. Although only some twenty-odd plants met the age requirement for alchemy, this still thrilled Lin Tianming immensely. The more than twenty stalks of Hidden Spirit Grass could completely resolve the Lin Family''s urgent crisis, and for the family, they were simply treasures beyond measure. There was also a large number of True Soul Grass and Brahman Blood Grass, all of which were two-hundred-year-old Spiritual Medicines. True Soul Grass was the main ingredient for concocting Strong Spirit Pills, which could increase a trace of Divine Sense. With long-term use, the incremental Divine Sense would become quite substantial. Brahman Blood Grass was the main ingredient for concocting Body Strengthening Pills, which were elixirs consumed during Body Cultivation. They could enhance one''s Qi blood and eliminate pain during cultivation, and were extremely precious. Besides these, there were many other Spiritual Medicine Materials, all commonly used in combat and cultivation, with most of them being ingredients for Lingshen Pills. Lin Tianming quickly collected all the Spiritual Medicines that met the requirements for concoction, placing them into a Jade Box. Those herbs not old enough were pulled out, soil and all, to be transplanted into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden. Half an hour later, he successfully collected all the Spiritual Medicines, exited the stone chamber, and moved deeper into the passage. Upon breaking the Formation Barrier of the stone chamber, he was met with a ten-zhang-sized room that lay in ruins, with only fragments scattered across the floor. It must have been where the owner of the cave mansion practiced alchemy and artifact refining, but now it was beyond repair with nothing left behind. Turning around with a hint of disappointment, Lin Tianming walked towards the stone chamber at the very depths of the cave mansion. In front of the final stone chamber of the entire cave mansion, Lin Tianming broke the barrier and saw a skeleton of a cultivator, still intact and sitting cross-legged on a cushion. The entire skeleton was abnormally large; its arm bones were bigger than Lin Tianming''s arms, and every bone in its body was larger than those of an average person, emitting a special radiance that was truly unbelievable. In front of the skeleton lay a large number of weapon fragments scattered on the ground. The vast majority had completely disintegrated into residue, presumably unable to withstand the passage of time, losing their Spiritual Power and turning into a pile of refuse. Seeing this, Lin Tianming wore a bitterly disappointed expression. It was such a pity that good Magical Treasures or even higher grade Spiritual Treasures had turned to ash. Anyone who saw such a scene would feel heartache. With a trace of reluctance, Lin Tianming rummaged through the pile of artifact fragments, hoping to find something useful. After turning them over and over again for half an hour, he found two useful items. One was a Jade Tube, its surface enveloped in golden light and runes, identical to the one he had obtained from the Red Robe Cultivator, likely also containing a Cultivation Technique. Lin Tianming took out the Jade Tube he got from the body of the Red Robe Cultivator and placed them side by side; they were indeed exactly the same. He surmised that it must be the same Cultivation Technique, divided into two parts; the part he acquired earlier was the first half, and the part from this place was the latter half. Lin Tianming pondered seriously, if it was the same Cultivation Technique, how had the Red Robe Cultivator he killed obtained the first half? After contemplating for half an hour and surmising multiple theories, all seemed inconceivable. He guessed that as the Formation Barriers of the place gradually weakened, some of the remaining treasures slipped out at the edge of the barrier''s collapse, which happened to be obtained by the Red Robe Cultivator. After all, such events were not uncommon in the Cultivation World. Lin Tianming unleashed his Divine Sense into it, but his mind was met with a hazy gray scene that revealed nothing, so he retreated, his face pale and the exertion had clearly taken its toll on him. This was not something he could comprehend at his current level; he estimated that one would need to be at least at the Foundation Establishment Stage to glimpse a clue. He put the Jade Tube into his storage bag and shifted his attention to another remaining item. It was a stone with five hundred mottled colors, approximately the size of a fist, with a pitted and uneven surface. Aside from its attractive colors, it seemed no different from an ordinary stone. Lin Tianming carefully recalled the odd treasures and secret tombs he had read about, going over the introductions of those wonders of heaven and earth, but he still found no mention of this stone or anything similar. It was impossible for Lin Tianming to believe the stone was without use. Considering that, over the years, even weapon artifacts had turned into dust and debris, yet this stone had remained. It must also be one of the wonders of heaven and earth, and he assumed not many people knew about it¡ªit was just him who was unaware. Uncertain of what it was for now, he had no choice but to explore it slowly in the future and reluctantly put the stone into his storage bag. After searching the entire cave mansion several times, ensuring nothing was overlooked, he collected the remains of the cave mansion''s owner, intending to carry them outside and find a valley for burial. Although he did not know the name or origin of this person, or why they had perished here, that was no longer important. But having benefited from this person, the least he could do was take care of some final affairs. After all, it was merely a matter of convenience. With that, he left the cave mansion and appeared behind the waterfall''s curtain of water. Chapter 21 Purple Gold Eagle_1 On the outskirts of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range, a cultivator clad in green robes slowly flew over a mountaintop, heading eastward, looking quite haggard.This person was Lin Tianming, who had spent several days escaping from the ruins of the Cave Mansion, covered in grime and dirt. Along the way, he had been involved in several life-and-death encounters. Had Lin Tianming not always been cautious, always adhering to the principle of "if you can''t beat them, run," he might very well have perished in there. Moreover, Lin Tianming had exhausted all of his means of fighting enemies. As he emerged from the Cave Mansion, he was obstructed once again by a group of Snow Spirit Fish in the water. More than twenty of them leaped to attack him, and it was only by timely deploying his last remaining First Order Superior Defense Talisman that he narrowly escaped. As a result, he sustained not insignificant injuries. Not only did he encounter the Snow Spirit Fish, but along the way, he inexplicably ran into a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast. He used an Attack Talisman to stall it for a moment, which allowed him to successfully escape with his life. Now, he didn''t have a single talisman left on him, truly penniless. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming appeared before the Cave Mansion where he had stayed a night before entering the mountain range, pushing aside a large tree that blocked the entrance and walked inside after deploying a few Illusion Techniques and warning restrictions. Sitting on the stone bed inside the secret chamber, he took out a Consolidating Essence Pill and swallowed it to recover from his injuries. Having left Qingfeng Town Clan Territory just over a month ago, and not in a hurry, Lin Tianming planned to return to Qingfeng Town only after he had fully recovered. Half a month swiftly passed by, and Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s aura had significantly increased, and he appeared to have reached the peak of the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, on the verge of breaking through to the Seventh Level at any moment. Having been away for over a month and fully recovered from his injuries, it was time to return to Qingfeng Town, otherwise, he would have a hard time explaining himself to his family if anything were to happen. Exiting the Cave Mansion, he removed the restrictions and used a large tree to cover the entrance once again. Summoning the Qingfeng Sword, he turned into a streak of green light, shooting straight toward Qingfeng Town in the east. Having disappeared for over a month, the patrol task had been delayed by half a month. Before going back, Lin Tianming planned to patrol the area within a hundred miles around Qingfeng Town. In a large plain over fifty miles west of Qingfeng Town, numerous mortals were busy working in the fields, with men and women bustling about joyously. Suddenly, a series of demonic winds blew through the sky, and several older adults and half-grown children could not withstand the fierce winds, with some being blown several dozen feet high. Most of the mortals who had not yet been lifted by the wind ran together toward a row of large trees on the embankment, hoping to find a tree to take shelter from the wind. In the midst of the chaos, someone suddenly shouted in terror, "There''s a demon in the sky!" Hearing this, a multitude of mortals uniformly looked up to the sky with expressions of excessive fear on their faces. They could see the monster in the sky getting closer, a piercing scream rang out, causing several of them to bleed from their nostrils and mouths. An experienced elder yelled in fright, "It''s a Flying Monster Beast!" A Purple Gold Eagle, several dozen feet in size, came into view, with a golden beak resembling a dagger, slightly curved. Its wide wings, when fully spread, spanned over a dozen feet, and it moved with incredible speed; in an instant, it was hovering just above the heads of the mortals. The Purple Gold Eagle, a Flying Monster Beast, was said to contain a trace of the Gold-winged Roc''s bloodline in its body. If the bloodline was pure enough and they could revert back to their ancestors successfully, they would evolve into Gold-winged Rocs, which were extremely powerful. An adult Purple Gold Eagle was a Second Order Late Phase beast known for its lightning-fast speed, ranking near the top among Flying Monster Beasts. However, this Purple Gold Eagle was merely a First Order Medium Stage beast, still in its juvenile phase. The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to appear within the range of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range by chance, likely having unintentionally flown out of the peripheral area. Given its speed, it could fly from the Purple Cloud Mountain Range to Qingfeng Town in merely fifteen minutes. Upon seeing the multitude of mortals, the Purple Gold Eagle dove down and extended its sharp claws, snatching up several people before preparing to fly off with them. Lin Tianming just happened to be patrolling the area and saw the beast causing harm to the people. Naturally, he had to take action to teach the beast a lesson and rescue the captured mortals. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, a furious shout echoed through the sky! "Monstrous beast, halt!" Lin Tianming chased after it, riding on the Qingfeng Sword, his hands continuously forming seals, casting a Fireball Technique and hurling it towards the Purple Gold Eagle to intercept it for a moment. The Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings furiously, spitting out a fireball that collided with Lin Tianming''s Fireball Technique. The two flames violently collided in mid-air, and after a loud explosion, the fireballs burst apart, scattering hot air waves in all directions. Numerous ordinary people were swept up by the blast and were knocked head over heels. Many of the commoners, after their initial fright, regained their senses, their faces flushed with joy, and exclaimed with madness, "It''s a cultivator!" Lin Tianming''s face was grave as he prepared several Law Decrees with his hands, ready to summon the Divine Ability Fire Yuan Slash to directly slay the beast. The Purple Gold Eagle released the humans in its claws, as a cultivator''s flesh and blood were more than a hundred times better than that of an ordinary person. Diving down, it headed straight for Lin Tianming, intending to kill him on the spot. Lin Tianming cast several spells to hold the falling ordinary people aloft and placed them on the mountain behind him. With no worries behind him, he poured all his strength into the Fire Yuan Slash, transforming it into a huge sword enveloped by a blue and red escape light, and it collided with the beak of the Purple Gold Eagle. Several metallic clangs reverberated through the heavens, and hurting from the impact, the Purple Gold Eagle realized it was no match, and beat its wings frantically to escape the area. Seeing this, Lin Tianming swung another giant sword slash. The Purple Gold Eagle was unable to dodge in time, and the flame-enveloped great sword sliced right into its wing. With a sizzle... The several-zhang-long Purple Gold Eagle fell straight from the sky and smashed into the ground, creating a huge crater. The Purple Gold Eagle now lay gasping, a half-zhang-long gash on its left wing bleeding profusely, bones and flesh clearly visible, and it still flickered its wings, attempting to take off and flee once more. After struggling dozens of times, it still could not fly. As its vitality grew weaker, the Purple Gold Eagle lay there with wide eyes, viciously staring at Lin Tianming in front of it. Lin Tianming did not continue to attack, but was pondering something else. The Purple Gold Eagle was severely injured. Killing it would be easy, but if he could subdue it, it would be a great help during fights and journeys. The Purple Gold Eagle was extremely fast in flight and could also be useful in combat, making it suitable for taming and cultivation. Lin Tianming stood aside, deploying his Divine Sense to infiltrate the Purple Gold Eagle''s sea of consciousness, attempting to leave his mark on the creature''s soul. The Purple Gold Eagle resisted fiercely, but to little effect; it could only struggle and show great resistance. Half a quarter of an hour passed. Lin Tianming successfully left his Divine Sense mark on the Purple Gold Eagle''s soul, completely controlling its life. If the beast were to resist, he only needed a thought to detonate its soul and kill it. This Purple Gold Eagle was only in its juvenile stage with low Spirit Wisdom. Although it was highly resistant, it had no choice; its fate was controlled by Lin Tianming, and it could not resist, only able to whine in pain, bowing its head and rubbing against the hem of Lin Tianming''s clothes, expressing submission. Since the Demonic Beast had sincerely submitted, Lin Tianming took out two Lingshen Pills and one Consolidating Essence Pill from his storage bag and tossed them to the Purple Gold Eagle, which opened its mouth and swallowed the elixirs before lying in the pit to recover from its injuries. Although the elixirs used for cultivation and healing by cultivators were not as effective for Demonic Beasts as they were for humans, they were still significantly helpful. And since Lin Tianming did not have any elixirs suitable for healing Demonic Beasts, he had to make do with the Lingshen Pill and Consolidating Essence Pill for now. Lin Tianming instructed the nearby ordinary people to leave while he stayed to watch over the Purple Gold Eagle, waiting for it to recover from its injuries. Chapter 22 Return to Qingfeng Town (Please bookmark and recommend)_1 Time elapsed, and ten days swiftly passed.Atop a mountain peak, a cultivator in blue robes stood, with a giant bird several meters tall standing quietly behind him. Having ingested two Lingshen Pills and one Consolidating Essence Pill, the Purple Gold Eagle''s injuries had partially healed, with the wounds on its wings mended, now capable of normal flight. However, it couldn''t fly too fast, or else it risked leaving behind hidden complications, detrimental to future advancement. During the ten days at this place, while the Purple Gold Eagle was recovering, Lin Tianming was busy elsewhere, appearing in a small mountain valley. The valley was surrounded by several mountains, with a river flowing through at the bottom and dense fog swirling around. Pine forests stretched like a sea, and the scenery was simply breathtaking. Lin Tianming buried the remains of the cave mansion''s owner, fulfilling a long-standing wish. Having waited in this place for ten days, it was time to return to Qingfeng Town. It had been nearly two months since he had ventured into the Purple Cloud Mountain Range to find the cave mansion, and ten months since he arrived at Qingfeng Town. With only two more months left, he could return to Green Bamboo Mountain to visit his family. In these ten months, Lin Tianming had been continuously busy¡ªnot only had he successfully located the cave mansion ruins, but he also plundered a variety of Spiritual Medicines from it, found a complete Cultivation Technique, and a multicolored stone of unknown purpose. Previously, he had also killed the Red Robe Cultivator and acquired the Profound Grade Technique and the legacy of a Third Order Alchemy Master from the man surnamed Jin, reaping great rewards. Carrying such wealth, Lin Tianming was quite concerned that if he died or lost it, the loss would be tremendous for the Lin Family. But since there were only two months left in the year, he decided to wait a bit longer. Once he returned to the Lin Family, he planned to immediately hand over the Profound Grade Technique and the Third Order Alchemy Master''s legacy. He also needed to submit a portion of the Hidden Spirit Grass, the main ingredient for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, and in return, he should receive a considerable amount of virtue within the family. Since the inception of the Lin Family, there were only two Cultivation Techniques available. The rest had been accumulated over hundreds of years, with some being purchased and others obtained fortuitously. Every single technique was hard-earned, leading to the family''s current status. The Minor Foundation Building Pill was a Second Order elixir. Currently, just a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, he was far from being able to refine Second Order Pills. It was unlikely that his family could refine them either. How to turn them into elixirs would be a matter for the elders to discuss. However, those concerns were beyond his purview. While the Lin Family did not enforce the submission of any treasures found by their members abroad, and the compensation they offered was far less than selling those items independently, as a member of the family, one can''t be excessively selfish. Techniques and legacies are the foundation of cultivation. It''s better to submit them to the family to boost the strength of many family members and enhance the family''s heritage. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every cultivator in the Lin Family, upon discovering their Spiritual Root in the first year, is guided in cultivation by the elders of the Skill Transmission Hall. This accelerates the newcomer''s understanding of the path of cultivation and instills a sense of belonging and identity towards the family. You must know, the first lesson upon entering the Skill Transmission Hall is to memorize the eight centuries of the Lin Family''s history, bearing the influential ancestors of each era in mind and remembering the family''s tribulations during its moments of crisis. To be prepared in times of peace is what allows a family to thrive perpetually. The family''s foundational education provides the initial cultivation resources to its members, facilitating faster cultivation and instilling a greater sense of unity and selflessness within Lin Family members. That is the difference between a family and a Loose Cultivator. You must know that it''s much harder for Loose Cultivators, who start cultivation without any knowledge of the Dao, without techniques, and without resources, relying solely on their personal exploration and resource-finding. Their efficiency is far lower compared to family clans. In the Cultivation World, most Loose Cultivators undergo many life-and-death trials. Those who survive are strong, and high-order Loose Cultivators abound, with a significant number of them being powerful figures. ``` Rumors say that in Yunzhou and Xuanzhou, there are even a few Loose Cultivators in the Divinity Transformation Stage, each of whom is a super powerful figure seated in their own territory, famous and commendable. It is uncertain whether these rumors are true or false. Withdrawing his wandering thoughts from beyond the heavens, Lin Tianming jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle. After settling down, the Purple Gold Eagle flapped its massive wings, circling over Qingfeng Town at an incredible speed. As the fierce wind blew past his ears during the flight, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but sigh. Covering a hundred miles by himself using Sword Flight would take at least half a day, yet the Purple Gold Eagle only took two hours, more than doubling the speed. After spending half a day patrolling the hundred-mile radius around Qingfeng Town, and having killed most of the Mortal Beasts during the last patrol, there were few beasts left in the entire area. Finding no abnormalities while circling around, he returned to Qingfeng Town. When the Purple Gold Eagle appeared in the square of Qingfeng Town, a great number of mortals were terrified, scattering and running away, causing a stampede incident. There were also some bold mortals who stayed to watch the excitement, even making a spectacle of discussing it animatedly. Suddenly, Lin Tianming''s voice echoed throughout the entire town of Qingfeng Town. "Everyone, there''s no need to panic. This beast is my spiritual mount and has been subdued by me. It will not harm you!" After speaking, he no longer paid attention to the expressions of the crowd, fed two Lingshen Pills to the Purple Gold Eagle, and issued a command to it. He then turned and entered the great hall, leaving only the Purple Gold Eagle in the square, which soon lay down and fell asleep, digesting the power of the medicine. The members of the Clan were curiously watching the Purple Gold Eagle, as if they were looking at some rare treasure. After all, such a large bird was something most mortals would never see in their lifetimes, truly a rare spectacle. From time to time, an elder would speak astonishing words: "Ten days ago, this old man personally witnessed the entire process of a Lin Family immortal battling this beast. I saw the immortal conjure a huge sword made of flames, cutting a sword wound a meter long in the wing of the beast, causing it to fall straight from the sky and crash into the ground, creating a huge pit, nearly killing the creature on the spot!" The elder''s words sparked an uproar in the crowd. Suddenly, a large number of mortals crazily gathered around the elder, asking him to recount the entire process. The elder spoke passionately and exaggeratedly about what he had seen and heard, praising Lin Tianming to the skies. All the people listened intently, with expressions of worship on their faces. Inside the great hall, Lin Tianming was seated on a cushion. In the ten months since he left Green Bamboo Mountain, his cultivation had reached the peak of the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. With dedicated practice for some time, he could steadily make a breakthrough. With two months left in the year, the time was neither long nor short. He still could not check the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder received from the Red Robe Cultivator, so he decided to practice and aim to elevate his cultivation to the Seventh Level of Qi Refining first. Having said that, Lin Tianming began to meditate and breathe regulation. Half a quarter hour later, he took out a Lingshen Pill and swallowed it. He controlled the immense spiritual power of the Lingshen Pill, repeatedly striking at the Seven Sea Dantian. ``` Chapter 23 Breakthrough Qi Cultivation Level 7 (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 ```Half a month flew by, and in the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat upright on the meditation cushion. In the past half-month, he had already refined two Lingshen Pills. Despite several attempts, he had failed to enter the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation; each time, it was a near miss from breaking through the restraints at the Sixth Level. It seemed that reaching the Seventh Level really wasn''t that easy. There was a significant hurdle between the Sixth and Seventh Levels of Qi Cultivation. The Sixth Level was still considered mid-stage cultivation, while reaching the Seventh meant advancing to the later stages¡ªa completely different league. After hesitating for a moment, Lin Tianming decided to continue taking the Lingshen Pills and make another attempt at breaking through to the Seventh Level. If it still wasn''t successful, he would have to give up and seek another opportunity to break through. Taking out three Lingshen Pills, a crazed look flashed across Lin Tianming''s face as he threw all three pills into his mouth at once. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the violent spiritual energy of the three Lingshen Pills rampaged through his meridians, completely out of control. It felt as though his entire body was teetering on the brink of exploding. The terrifying pain permeated his nerves and brain, and many parts of his body had split open, with flesh tearing and blood pouring from the seven orifices¡ªa truly miserable sight. "I''m done for..." Lin Tianming now greatly regretted his recklessness. He should not have consumed three pills at once; the power of the medicine was beyond his imagination and now utterly uncontrollable. Enduring the intense pain, Lin Tianming tried to lead the spiritual energy from the Lingshen Pills to surge towards his Seven Sea Dantian. After half an hour of perseverance and two attempts, the pain did not diminish in the slightest; if anything, it intensified. Unbeknownst to him, Lin Tianming had completely passed out, collapsing onto the meditation cushion. An indeterminate amount of time passed before Lin Tianming slowly opened his eyes. Now naked, with his robust XX swaying, his green tunic had long since turned to ash. Many parts of his body were covered with a layer of black filth, emitting a faint stench. "Eh... I''m actually still alive?" Overwhelmed with joy, Lin Tianming was taken aback. It took a few moments for him to calm his excited heart and feel a wave of relief. The pain he had experienced was maddening¡ªas if a wild horse had broken free, the spiritual power had been uncontrollable and wreaked havoc, making him suffer intensely. He felt as if he had been on the verge of death and was about to give up when darkness overtook him. Who would have thought that he wouldn''t actually die? A great calamity spared brings a bright future! In the future, unless absolutely necessary, he dare not be so reckless again¡ªit wasn''t every time one could be this lucky. Gathering his thoughts, he realized he was naked, which startled him. He was thankful that he was alone; otherwise, had he been exposed, he would have been too ashamed to face anyone. With a gesture, Lin Tianming cast a water-based spell, causing a heavy rain to fall from above and enjoyed a comfortable bath. He then took a set of green clothes from his storage bag and dressed himself. A handsome young man stood erect, his features still holding a trace of youthful innocence. He then used a minor fire-based spell to dry the damp floor before sitting back on the cushion. Deploying his Divine Sense to check, he was overjoyed to find that he had indeed successfully reached the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. Not only had he survived, but against all odds and in a stroke of serendipity, he had even entered the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation¡ªfate''s wheel turns in mysterious ways. Feeling the explosive spiritual energy throughout his body, the strength of his spiritual power was indeed incomparable to that of the Sixth Level. ``` The Seven Sea Dantian had expanded several times over, brimming with robust and majestic spiritual power that almost felt tangible. When the next magic duel came, his divine skills would surely surge. Lin Tianming moved a bit and then sat down again, practicing a complete Grand Circulation to begin his closed-door consolidation of cultivation. Three days later, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion, appearing in the square outside the attic hall. Before closing off, he had given two Lingshen Pills to the Purple Gold Eagle. Twenty days had passed, and the Purple Gold Eagle had completely recovered from its injuries, its overall presence even stronger than before its submission. If it wasn''t for the lack of suitable elixirs for spirit beasts, having to settle for the Lingshen Pills, it could have helped it grow more rapidly, providing even more support to Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Tianming walking towards it, the Purple Gold Eagle was also quite excited, trotting over and rubbing his golden beak, thick as a man''s thigh, against the hem of Lin Tianming''s clothes in a pleasing manner. The Purple Gold Eagle was only at the First Order Middle Stage, still in its juvenile period, with limited spirit wisdom ¨C much like a mischievous human child. If it weren''t for Lin Tianming''s strict orders not to wander off, it might have slipped out already. It wouldn''t be considered an adult until it reached the Second Order Middle Stage, when its spirit wisdom would significantly increase. This Purple Gold Eagle of Lin Tianming had a trace of Gold-winged Roc bloodline. With proper nurturing, it would also become a great asset. However, advancing as a demonic beast was quite difficult, requiring vast resources. If nurtured properly, it could protect the Lin Family for an even longer duration. In the Cultivation World, Sect Families would raise several spirit beasts to guard their clans, as beasts live several times longer than the Human Race, providing extended protection to the family or sect. The Lin Family had a Guardian Spirit Beast at the Second Order Late Phase, cultivated only after the ancestral founder Lin Renfeng established the clan. It had stepped forward in times of family crises after the ancestor Lin Renfeng''s passing, suffering many injuries. At that time, it was only at the Second Order Middle Stage. Several hundred years later, it had barely advanced past a minor realm, illustrating the extreme difficulty of advancement. With the loss of ancestor Lin Renfeng, the family''s foundation was too shallow. Lacking even Foundation Establishment Cultivators, advancing to the Third Order might have been possible otherwise. It is said that some sects specialized in commanding spirit beasts boast incredible strength, possessing numerous Fourth Order Great Demons. In the central area of the Nine Provinces, even sightings of Fifth Order Spirit Beasts have occurred. Lin Tianming affectionately patted the head of the Purple Gold Eagle, also excited, looking forward to enhancing his bond with the spirit beast. The Purple Gold Eagle, which had been unable to fly for half a month while waiting in place, was eagerly anticipating a flight. Seeing Lin Tianming''s approach, it showed a desire to fly out for a spin. Lin Tianming readily agreed. Mounting the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, they soared into the sky, heading straight for the outskirts of the town. Circling around Qingfeng Town, taking in the magnificent vistas, and dreaming of the vast skies over the Nine Provinces Continent, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but feel a sense of anticipation. Half an hour later, they returned to Qingfeng Town, landing in the square; he instructed the Purple Gold Eagle not to fly beyond a ten-mile radius of Qingfeng Town during his closed-door sessions and gave it three Lingshen Pills to help it break through to the First Order Late Stage. After settling the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming returned to the secret chamber in the attic. Sitting on the meditation cushion, Lin Tianming took out the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinders he had obtained from the red-robed man and from the cave dwelling, pondering over them. Both Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinders were golden in color, with dense golden runes winding around their surfaces, almost certainly part of the same technique. Observing the cylinders closely, he noticed they were absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy, a truly incredible phenomenon. This had to be a top-level, earth-shattering Cultivation Technique. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but feel amazed, his anticipation for this technique growing even stronger. He had previously attempted to probe the upper half of this technique, but his cultivation and Divine Sense fell just short. Now that he had successfully reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, with both mana and Divine Sense greatly increased, he naturally wanted to investigate. Extending his Divine Sense slowly into the Jade Cylinder. After a short while, Lin Tianming''s face showed shock, as if he faced a formidable enemy, not knowing what astonishing thing he had discovered. Chapter 24 Tiangang Body Art (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming''s face was stricken with terror, his complexion drastically changing.A few moments later, his complexion gradually regained its rosiness as he fell into deep contemplation. "Haha... Hahaha..." Lin Tianming burst into open laughter, as if driven to madness! The Tiangang Body Art turned out to be a Heavenly Grade Technique that allowed for the dual cultivation of body and law and could be practiced up to the Late Stage of Becoming a God ¡ª a top-notch technique with formidable offense and defense, yet it required terrifying amounts of cultivation resources. Seeing the introduction of the technique, Lin Tianming wore a serious expression. Not only was a vast amount of resources needed for cultivation, but the process itself was also extremely arduous, involving the cultivation of both the spiritual power and the cultivators'' own bodies. Starting from the vital organs and extending to skin, bone, and soul, the cultivation process was excruciatingly painful, and few cultivators could bear it. But the rewards were directly proportional to the efforts, and this Technique Divine Power was well-rounded in both offense and defense, with few weaknesses. If cultivated to a profound level, it would easily allow one to defeat cultivators and Demonic Beasts of the same stage, making it one of the rare top-tier techniques known. Before his realization, Lin Tianming had surmised that such a technique must be of a High Order, but it was hard to imagine that it was actually a Heavenly Grade Technique, surpassing his expectations by far. In the Cultivation World, although there were quite a few Heavenly Grade Techniques, they were mostly controlled by Millennium Great Clans, with very few escaping into the outside world, appearing only occasionally in Ancient Cultivator''s Cave Dwellings. Every time a Heavenly Grade Technique appeared, it was through a bloody struggle and conflict, and countless cultivators had died in these battles. The fact that Lin Tianming had obtained such a top-tier technique was a testament to his incredible destiny. Destiny, though intangible and invisible, was vitally important in the journey of cultivation and could almost determine a cultivator''s potential. Furthermore, it often allowed those with such destiny to sense danger early, turning ill fortune into good. Every top-notch, super-powerful cultivator was someone blessed with great destiny, and Lin Tianming was clearly among them. The Tiangang Body Art was divided into an upper and lower part; the upper could be cultivated up to the Late Stage of Core Formation and the lower up to the Late Stage of Becoming a God, being one of the top techniques in the Cultivation World. In the ancient times tens of thousands of years ago, there were not a few super-powerful cultivators who practiced this technique. As the Cultivation World''s resources dwindled over time, and the massively resource-dependent Tiangang Body Art became too burdensome for most cultivators to practice, the number of cultivators of this technique decreased, and it gradually vanished from the Cultivation World, not seen for tens of thousands of years. "To cultivate or not to cultivate?" Lin Tianming wore a solemn expression, seemingly hesitant. The Lin Family had shallow foundations and struggled to even cultivate a Core Formation Cultivator, far from comparing to those super sects and clans. This technique demanded not only high aptitude, but also a tremendous dependency on resources and the endurance of great pain. Although he considered himself above average in talent and had a tenacious will, he could not count on his family for resources; he would have to rely on himself. Lin Tianming, since childhood, had browsed through the family''s treasured books and longed to explore the civilizations of the vast Nine Provinces Continent, with the ambition to become a super-powerful cultivator revered by all, able to traverse the magnificent expanse of the Nine Provinces. To achieve these dreams was incredibly difficult, and cultivation was absolutely critical. The vastness of the Nine Provinces was unimaginable; even a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator would find it difficult to cross a single province, and to travel throughout the Nine Provinces, one needed at least a Nascent Soul Stage cultivation. The thought of journeying across the Nine Provinces invigorated him, filling him with a boiling passion and a sense of soaring ambition. Cultivators are meant to defy fate, to contend with the heavens and battle with the earth. If one cannot become a strong protector, then what is the point of cultivation? Better to settle down early, marry, and enjoy life! Returning to reality, his current practice of the Fire Origin Decision could only take him up to the Late Stage of Core Formation; to give up such a defiance of the heavens would truly be a pity. "To cultivate or not to cultivate?" "Cultivate... As a man of spirit, I shall achieve greatness or die trying." Lin Tianming wore a determined expression, as there was no better choice at the moment, neglecting to cultivate the Heavenly Grade Technique would indeed be a waste. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming continued to comprehend the first half of the cultivation technique, adeptly committing the formula to memory. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The cultivation technique was now committed to memory and could be recited almost without thinking. To cultivate this technique, it was necessary to dissipate all the Spiritual Power that had been cultivated up to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement and start over from the First Level of Qi Refining. Upon re-cultivating, one only needed to operate the cultivation technique to refill the already formed Seven Sea Dantian without encountering any bottlenecks. Having said that, Lin Tianming once again entered a state of seclusion. Several days passed in a moment, and inside the secret chamber, Lin Tianming had successfully dissipated all his Spiritual Power. Lin Tianming was resolute, starting the practice was like an arrow released from its bow, with no path of retreat, he could only press on courageously. After reviewing the formula of the Tiangang Body Art, he began to breathe in and out, taking out a Lingshen Pill from his storage bag and swallowing it. The pill quickly transformed into streams of Spiritual Power that filled the Seven Sea Dantian. As he cultivated his Spiritual Power, the tingling in his body intensified. This pain was already intense at the Qi Refinement stage, bearable only through his own willpower. Without elixirs to assist at the Core Formation stage, one would likely die from the agony. The Lingshen Pills might not be enough to cultivate his physical body. Fortunately, when exploring the Ancient Cultivator''s Cave Dwellings, he had killed a Spirit-Connecting Python, whose flesh and blood could be used in conjunction with cultivating his own body. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He took out a jade bottle containing a full bottle of Spirit-Connecting Python''s blood, and drank the python blood in large gulps straight from the bottle. The scorching hot blood of the Spirit-Connecting Python slowly entered his body, quickly refining it. A special type of Spiritual Power slowly strengthened Lin Tianming''s internal organs. The effects of this blood were quite significant, though not plentiful. Combined with the Lingshen Pills, it was just enough to keep up with his Spiritual Power cultivation. By the time his cultivation ended, the body of the Spirit-Connecting Python would also come in handy. To cultivate faster, he would probably need to frequent the periphery of the Demon Race territory, where else could he find demonic beasts or resources for his use? With each passing day, after refining ten Lingshen Pills, Lin Tianming''s cultivation soared! Qi Refining Second Level... Qi Refining Third Level... Qi Refining Seventh Level... Lin Tianming''s internal organs gradually transformed, showing faint traces of golden yellow. With time, it was highly possible that they would become entirely golden. Half a month later, Lin Tianming successfully re-cultivated his cultivation base. He had plenty of elixirs and Spirit-Connecting Python blood to assist him. Combined with his not-so-high original cultivation, it would have been difficult to re-cultivate in such a short time otherwise. After redoing his cultivation, his Spiritual Power was vast and mighty, far stronger than before. His vitality surged throughout his body, and his Spiritual Power cultivation and recovery were a bit faster. Without using any Spiritual Power, his punch weighed a thousand pounds; if it struck a Middle Stage First Order monster beast, it would likely be seriously injured, if not dead. If he cultivated to an even higher level, how terrifying that would be. Achieving physical strength comparable to that of demonic beasts was quite possible, and even surpassing them was not an improbable hope. Feeling the surging power within him, Lin Tianming was very excited, his desire for strength growing even more intense. As the year''s deadline approached, with less than a month remaining, he had redone his cultivation technique, but the task remained daunting; he still had to cultivate the associated mystical techniques. When leaving Green Bamboo Mountain, he had a large number of High-Quality First Order talismans for self-preservation. Now, without means to confront enemies, encountering danger would be as precarious as a lamb awaiting slaughter. He needed to quickly complete the cultivation of the Mystical Techniques. Lin Tianming took out the cultivation technique, sat quietly to the side, and slowly began to comprehend the Mystical Techniques. Soon, he was deep in arduous cultivation. Chapter 25 Earth Fiend Sword Formation (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the floor.He had been comprehending the first mystical technique attached to the Tiangang Body Art for several days without moving a step. At this moment, Lin Tianmaking''s expression was calm as he thoroughly studied the secret technique, with his mind envisioning a terrifyingly powerful Sword Array! With each major realm achieved in the Tiangang Body Art, one could unlock a Divine Skill, and what Lin Tianming was comprehending now was the very first one. "Earth Fiend Sword Formation!" The Earth Fiend Sword Formation was created based on the arrangement of the Earth Fiend Seventy-six Stars. When fully activated, its power was earth-shattering, and Lin Tianming admired the ingenious thoughts of its creator to the extreme after seeing it. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but sigh, "The people of ancient times were truly remarkable, to have created such against-the-heaven cultivation techniques. They were indeed worthy of the golden age of cultivation!" When the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was deployed, it could mobilize seventy-two Spirit Swords to trap the enemy within, capable of confining or shredding them. The higher the level of the Spirit Swords, the stronger the attack power and the speed was incredibly fast. The attack was extremely powerful but it was also a test for the cultivator''s own Spiritual Power, Divine Sense, and physique. In varying levels of cultivation, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation could mobilize a different number of Spirit Swords. In the Qi Refinement Realm, one could simultaneously wield a maximum of thirty-six First Order Spirit Swords¡ªthe magnitude of that attacking power was unimaginable! In the Cultivation World, Sword Cultivators have always been among the top in terms of attack power, and their Sword Array Divine Skills are even more formidable. After several days, having practiced the formation in his mind over a hundred times, Lin Tianming carefully grasped the layout, sequence, and key points of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. He basically felt ready to attempt using it. With more practice and fine-tuning, he would achieve instant activation, increasing both the power and precision of the Sword Formation. Although he had successfully cultivated the secret technique, Lin Tianming currently only had three First Order Medium Grade Spirit Swords, and the number was a bit short. Even though he had just entered the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement and couldn''t possibly deploy all thirty-six Spirit Swords at once, he deduced that he could still mobilize about a dozen or more. Since it was currently difficult to gather enough Spirit Swords, he could only try forming a simple Sword Array with three swords. The power should not be less than that of the Divine Ability Fire Yuan Slash included in his previous cultivation technique! He took out three Spirit Swords from his storage bag, and they levitated neatly in front of Lin Tianming. These three Spirit Swords were spoils from the time he killed the man in red. Back then, without any Sword Formation techniques, he could only refine one Spirit Sword for traveling and fighting. Now, he needed to refine the remaining two Spirit Swords to form a Sword Array for defense. In the event of a sudden emergency, he would not be thrown into disarray and lose his life. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two days later, Lin Tianming successfully refined the two Spirit Swords. He could now try deploying a small Sword Array to see just how powerful it really was, something he was looking forward to. The mystical techniques that came with a Heavenly Grade Technique would certainly not be underestimated, and it would definitely be more powerful than the Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique used by the man surnamed Jin. As for the exact power it held, only a trial would tell. With less than half a month left until the one-year deadline, time was pressing, and Lin Tianming decided to leave the seclusion. There was no open land within the city, and a simple gesture from a cultivator could unleash a power capable of shaking the heavens and earth. Therefore, the city was not suitable for practicing such mystical techniques, and Lin Tianming planned to find an open space outside Qingfeng Town to start trying. Before long, Lin Tianming appeared on the pavilion''s outer square, where the Purple Gold Eagle lay snoozing heavily on the ground. Lin Tianming walked slowly towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The beast sensed its master''s presence before Lin Tianming got close, immediately getting up and trotted over, fawning and seeking approval. At first, Lin Tianming didn''t notice but upon closer inspection, he found that Purple Gold Eagle had successfully advanced to the First Order Late Stage, and he was overjoyed. It had been over three months since they left the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. The Eagle was already in the First Order Middle Stage and not far from the Late Stage. Although the Lingshen Pills fed to the Purple Gold Eagle were not very effective, the quantity it consumed was not small, especially when considering that he, himself, only took two or three Lingshen Pills for cultivation each month. Lin Tianming spared no expense on the growth of the Purple Gold Eagle; had his fortune not increased significantly, he truly wouldn''t have been able to afford its upkeep! Both master and beast had made breakthroughs, and with his cultivation technique nearly complete, Lin Tianming felt like he was blessed with triple happiness and couldn''t contain his excitement! With a command, he jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, and they turned into a streak of light, rushing out of the city. Man and beast freely soared outside Qingfeng Town. Half a quarter of an hour later, he descended into a secluded small valley. Lin Tianming sat at the top of a hill while the Purple Gold Eagle soared nearby, watching out and also chasing some wild animals for fun. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Lin Tianming then summoned three Qingfeng Swords and began the cultivation technique for a full Grand Circulation. Suddenly, Lin Tianming shouted loudly. "Go..." In the span of three breaths, the three Qingfeng Swords instantly appeared above a huge rock a hundred yards away, spinning ceaselessly and stirring up whirlwinds that tangled the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees into disarray, with only the massive rock remaining unshaken due to its immense weight. At this moment, the three Spirit Swords spun rapidly, using their Sword Qi to form a barrel-like trapping array that ensnared the giant rock completely. Seeing the effect of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation''s trapping array, Lin Tianming was pleasantly surprised; he estimated that an average cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement would have a hard time breaking out without some heaven-defying method. Lin Tianming couldn''t help clicking his tongue. If he were to fully summon all thirty-six Spirit Swords to form the sword array, even a cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement would struggle to break out. After testing the trapping power, Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied with the might, which had far exceeded his expectations! "Grind and kill!" Lin Tianming made another hand gesture, muttering words under his breath! "Kill!" The Spirit Swords forming the sword array swiftly intercrossed, stabbing toward the center! In an instant, the hundred-yard rock appeared as fragile as tofu, and in just a few breaths, it crumbled into pieces. Lin Tianming was also shocked by such power! Witnessing the scene, he couldn''t help but think that if he were trapped inside without a substantial number of Defense Talismans and relied only on offensive methods, he would likely face a nine out of ten chance of death. After finishing his practice, Lin Tianming thought to himself. From what he could see, whether it was the trapping or the killing formation, the power truly lived up to a top-level Heavenly Grade Technique, and indeed made one shudder with fear. After calibrating his fluctuating emotions, Lin Tianming did not let arrogance get the better of him. The Nine Provinces Continent had a million-year legacy with no shortage of exceptional beings and top-level techniques. If he had such means, it was inevitable that other cultivators would as well. Therefore, when combating enemies, one must never be complacent; a single mistake could mean no chance of survival. Having experienced the effects of the trapping and killing formations, he realized that since this was his first time deploying the mystical technique, he hadn''t yet fully grasped the essence, making the spellcasting process too long. A span of three breaths was far too long, as an enemy would not stand still waiting to die. After all, a cultivator''s movements were agile, and their speed was extraordinary; they would likely have vanished long before. The higher the level of the secret technique, the more difficult the cultivation, and to use it to its fullest potential, hundreds of practice sessions would be required. Otherwise, a technique initially grasped might not be as effective as a basic Five Elements Cultivation Technique perfected to its utmost. Since he had already sufficiently mastered the basic principles and with more than ten days left before his return to Green Bamboo Mountain, he could take this opportunity to practice further, ensuring an additional layer of safety on his journey home. Under the scorching sun, Lin Tianming delved into his arduous practice once again. Every time his Spiritual Power was reduced to less than half, he would take a Lingshen Pill to recover to an ample state and then resume his practice. ... Chapter 26 Returning Home (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 The blazing sun shone mercilessly, roasting the earth without a hint of compassion.In the valley, a young man in green robes was forming hand seals and casting spells, as a sword array made up of spirit swords wreaked havoc, leaving no corner untouched. The entire valley was now riddled with gaping wounds; swathes of forests and vegetation had fallen in great patches, and hundreds of boulders had been shattered to gravel. The valley had endured great devastation, lying in disarray. Fortunately, due to the spiritual energy of this world, it possesses astonishing resilience and creativity. The current sorry state of the valley would, in less than half a year, be once again covered by vegetation ¨C one cannot help but marvel at the sheer wonder of nature. Lin Tianming had been cultivating the sword array here for nearly half a month, and time had flown by swiftly, marking almost a year since he left the Lin Family''s residence at Green Bamboo Mountain. In the span of a year, Lin Tianming had grown considerably, not just in terms of cultivation but also in his spiritual refinement. Before this, Lin Tianming had never been away from the family''s residence for such a long time, away from his family''s watchful eyes. Now, Lin Tianming was cultivating alone, and he bore the safety of over a hundred thousand mortals on his shoulders. From a fledgling, he had grown to fly on his own; though he didn''t fly high or far, he had taken his first step, which was no easy feat. With time pressing, Lin Tianming had made significant progress with his day and night practices over the past half month. From taking three breaths to form a complete sword array initially, to now being able to cast it smoothly within half a breath, and greatly enhancing its attacking power, his improvement was undeniable. Apart from Lin Tianming''s diligent effort, the Purple Gold Eagle also played a huge role. The Purple Gold Eagle, with more than a dozen wounds on its body, hung its head dejectedly, its spirit subdued, looking thoroughly tormented. For over ten days, the Purple Gold Eagle had been used by Lin Tianming as a sparring partner. In the beginning, relying on its speed, the eagle would fly unopposed over his head, occasionally even taunting him. But in the last few days, with Lin Tianming giving his all, the eagle had found it increasingly difficult to escape. Each time it was trapped, it was left disheveled and pitiful after being beaten. Seeing the Purple Gold Eagle''s downtrodden appearance, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but laugh heartily, feeling extremely refreshed. He took a piece of the Spirit-Connecting Python''s body from his storage bag and threw it to the eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle didn''t hesitate, biting into it immediately. Sustaining injuries was somewhat compensated, and it quickly forgot its sense of loss. Through rigorous practice, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had reached the Minor Achievement Realm. This gave Lin Tianming an added layer of protection in battles, ensuring he was not completely defenseless. Lin Tianming, satisfied with the fruits of his grueling cultivation, decided to take a break from practicing and prepare for his return to Green Bamboo Mountain. The man and the bird, after a brief rest, soared into the sky, circling Qingfeng Town to survey the surroundings. A return journey home would also take close to a month, and it was necessary to inspect the area. As dusk approached, Lin Tianming stood with his hands behind his back in the plaza before the grand hall. After surveying the surroundings of Qingfeng Town and clearing some wild beasts, he and the creature returned to Qingfeng Town. Lin Shan, responsible for awaiting tasks, stood by respectfully. Lin Tianming instructed, "The time for my one-year familial visit has arrived. I will depart tomorrow to return to Green Bamboo Mountain. The journey will take at least half a month, and at most one month. I have also cleared all of the mortal beasts within a hundred li from the town, so there should be no danger." Lin Shan, overjoyed, also sincerely thanked Lin Tianming on behalf of the people of Qingfeng Town for his protection, ensuring that the town had enjoyed a peaceful year with few mortal casualties. Before Lin Tianming took charge of Qingfeng Town, perhaps the clan members assigned to this task were not as responsible, or maybe they did not have as high a cultivation level as him. Thus, every year more than a few mortals would die at the maws of beasts, and there had even been instances where hundreds of mortals perished. After giving instructions for his departure, Lin Tianming left, leaving Lin Shan standing by the side. Lin Tianming entered the loft''s grand hall, while the Purple Gold Eagle perched on top of the loft, entering a brief slumber. Inside the loft''s room, Lin Tianming lay on the stone bed, finally able to relax his tense nerves. After an indeterminate amount of time, the faint sound of breathing could be heard as Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep. For half a month, he had been cultivating his Technique Divine Power day and night, only resting normally for three nights. With the immense consumption of divine sense and spiritual power, he was already extremely weary. Now he could finally sleep peacefully. Without realizing, he slipped into a dreamland. The next morning, a slight breeze blew through the window sill into the room. Lin Tianming slowly opened his eyes and stretched luxuriously, feeling refreshed after a night of deep sleep, having reached an optimal state of vitality and spirit. During the tranquil and serene early morning. While most of the mortal people were still in deep slumber, Lin Tianming leaped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle and headed west, silently disappearing into the horizon. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming was thrilled and kept urging the eagle to fly faster. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A year of solitude had made him miss his clan members deeply. He missed his grandfather''s nagging, his father''s stern teachings, his mother''s warmth and concern, and his sister''s chattering while clinging to his arm. Perhaps sensing its master''s mood, the Purple Gold Eagle no longer played tricks and flew with full force, faster than it had ever flown before. A man and a beast turned into a speck in the sky, swiftly flying across and vanishing in the blink of an eye. Having set out in the early morning and after spending an entire day traveling at full speed, with only two brief pauses, He finally arrived at the outskirts of Green Bamboo Mountain, a few tens of miles away, just before sunset. At this time, the red sun was about to level with the horizon, and the afterglow of the sunset spread over the land, creating a peaceful scene. This was the exact time when the Lin Family''s Enforcement Hall patrol team was changing shifts. More than ten Lin Family Cultivators gathered at the mountain gate, among them a youth, who was Lin Tianfeng, the eldest of the Tian generation. Lin Tianfeng was twenty-five years old this year, with Three Spiritual Roots and at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. Previously, he had always been the highest-ranking cultivator of the Lin Family''s Tian generation. Lin Tianfeng, gifted and diligent in his cultivation, delighted in practicing combat and traveling, hence he served as an Executive Officer in the Enforcement Hall. He was responsible for patrols at this time. Among the many cultivators, a red-robed woman stood out, her clear eyes full of spiritual energy, waist-length hair, and porcelain-like skin - it was Lin Tianming''s sister, Lin Tianyue. Not having seen her for a year, the thirteen-year-old Lin Tianyue had changed quite a bit. Not only had her cultivation reached the Third Level of Qi Refining, but her appearance had also blossomed from a young girl into a graceful figure, destined to be a beauty that could cause the downfall of nations. Lin Tianyue wore an expression of worry at the moment. Her brother''s year-long stationing period was over, and by all rights, he should have returned yesterday. She waited here but did not see him return. Now it was getting dark, and he still hadn''t come back. She feared he might have encountered some danger. Seeing Lin Tianyue looking so worried, Lin Tianfeng also spoke up to comfort her, "Ninth sister, when the sixth brother left, he was already at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining with significant divine skills. With his talent, there''s a great hope he''ll break through to the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. He might have been delayed by something. You go back first, don''t worry, I''m responsible for the patrol. As soon as he returns, I''ll immediately send you a message." "Thank you, big brother. It''s not very late yet. I''ll wait a little longer for brother," she replied. Before Lin Tianyue''s words had finished, Lin Tianfeng''s face revealed a look of happy surprise, obviously, his divine sense had already detected Lin Tianming''s presence, quickly approaching Green Bamboo Mountain. The rest of the people, noticing the change in Lin Tianfeng, could roughly guess what was happening but were not sure. Only a little more than ten breaths had passed. In the distance, against the red glow of the sunset, a dark silhouette flew towards the clan''s land, unbelievably fast. As time went by, the silhouette that was as small as a sesame seed rapidly grew into a sizable flying creature more than ten zhang in size. A crowd of clan members stared in amazement at the fierce-looking demonic beast, disbelief written all over their faces. The one who had arrived was Lin Tianming, standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking like an immortal with a tranquil demeanor, though his heart was already filled with excitement. After a year of absence, and traveling with full effort from dawn until dusk, he finally returned at this moment to his long-awaited family residence. Chapter 27 Grandpas Shock (Please Favorite/Recommend) _1 Under the stunned gazes of everyone, a person and a beast landed outside the Protective Clan Formation.Lin Tianming took out his Identity Token, cast a spell, and a streak of blue light vanished into the colorless light curtain of the Five Elements. A moment later, the light curtain revealed an entrance over thirty feet wide, and the interior scenery of Green Bamboo Mountain came into view as the person and beast stepped inside in unison. As soon as his foot touched the ground, Lin Tianming found himself enveloped in a fiery embrace as a red figure ran up and clung to him, gripping so tightly he nearly couldn''t breathe. It was his younger sister, Lin Tianyue. Feeling his sister''s longing, Lin Tianming wrapped one arm around her waist and comforted her by stroking her hair with his other hand. After a few breaths, the girl calmed down, and Lin Tianming, holding his sister''s hand, approached Lin Tianfeng and the others to give a fist salute. ''Tianming pays respect to our fellow clansmen.'' After each of them returned the salute with a fist-clenched gesture, Lin Tianfeng began to speak. ''Younger brother, Tianyue here has been waiting for your return every day, not moving an inch. You must both be weary. We have patrolling duties and cannot stay for long. You''ve had a tiring journey, so head back and rest early. I''ll be sure to visit when I have some free time.'' ''Please proceed as you like, elder brother. I will invite you all to visit on another day.'' After exchanging salutes, they parted ways. Lin Tianming, holding Lin Tianyue''s hand, with the Purple Gold Eagle following behind them, walked along a cobblestone path towards the midsection of Green Bamboo Peak. Gazing at their familiar family grounds, Lin Tianming felt extremely happy at the moment. His sister chatted nonstop all the way, evidently yearning for the outside world. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the look in his sister''s eyes, identical to his own back then, full of longing for the world beyond, he reflected on how one truly starts to miss the warmth of family and the memories of home life only after being away for some time. In the Cultivation World where strength reigns supreme, murders for treasure and battles with Demonic Beasts are commonplace, countless people meet untimely deaths each day, and numerous family Sects are decimated. All these struggles stem from the pursuit of cultivation resources and the desire to strengthen one''s own power. In this perilous Cultivation World, he bore the expectations of revitalizing and protecting his family, with every family member striving toward this daunting goal. The path of cultivation can be bleak. While kinship may sometimes become a bond that ties, it is also the beacon that illuminates one''s way. Some cultivate in search of immortality, but not Lin Tianming¡ªhe cultivates to protect. In this moment, a subtle change took place within Lin Tianming''s heart. Walking toward the mountain midsection, they passed many fellow clansmen Cultivators. Lin Tianming greeted each one, and under the envious eyes of many clansmen, the siblings finally returned to their own small courtyard. After receiving Lin Tianyue''s message, Grandfather and parents all set aside their work, released a quiet sigh of relief, and gathered outside the courtyard, eagerly awaiting Lin Tianming and his sister, their joy evident beyond words. Lin Tianming ran over and bowed respectfully to his grandfather and parents. ''Tianming pays his respects to Grandfather, Father, and Mother.'' Grandfather Lin Shigong, grinning ear to ear and squinting, grabbed Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue by the hand and headed into the courtyard, unconcerned about his son and daughter-in-law''s reactions. The parents hurried to follow, and the family, full of harmonious joy, sat around a stone table in the courtyard to chat leisurely. Inside the courtyard, Lin Shigong said with a smile, ''You lad, your cultivation has actually broken through to the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. I thought reaching the Sixth Level would be good enough, but you didn''t let me down. It seems you have not been idle this past year. That''s good. So, the success rate and number of pills produced when refining First Order Inferior elixirs must be quite high, right?'' ''Grandfather, your grandson has successfully refined the Lingshen Pill, maintaining a success rate of forty percent and producing at least three pills each time, generally around four.'' ''What!'' A First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pill can guarantee a pill formation rate of forty percent, with at least three pills produced,'' Lin Shigong was both shocked and overjoyed. In just one year, such great progress had been made, turning into a qualified First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, which really took people by surprise. It seemed that his grandson''s alchemy talent was even higher than imagined. The parents and sister were also overjoyed, and began to ask Lin Tianming about his experiences over the past year. In the first half of the year guarding Qingfeng Town, Lin Tianming focused on cultivation and alchemy, consuming a lot of Spiritual Medicine Materials, which logically led to his successful advancement to a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Had it not been for exploring the Cave Mansion Ruins in the latter half of the year, suffering injuries several times, and spending time cultivating Divine Skills without access to Spiritual Medicine Materials, he would not have temporarily set aside the practice of alchemy. Given enough Spiritual Medicine Materials, it would not have been impossible for him to produce First Order Superior Grade elixirs. This time returning home to visit, aside from submitting the Mysterious Grade Technique and the inheritance of a Third Order Alchemist, he also needed to replenish his supply of Spiritual Medicine Materials fully. With substantial wealth, he could exchange for as many alchemy materials as possible to take back to Qingfeng Town to quickly enhance his alchemy skills. Suddenly, Lin Tianming''s expression turned solemn, and with a series of hand gestures, he set up a Prohibition Barrier to envelop everyone, preventing others from prying into their actions and conversations. Upon witnessing this, grandpa and the others knew that Lin Tianming had some very important matter to discuss and waited for him to speak. Today, Tianming took out from his storage bag the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder (Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique) and True Person Yuhua''s Alchemy Experience that he had obtained, and placed them on the stone table. His father, quick on the uptake, grabbed the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder, while grandpa got his hands on True Person Yuhua''s Alchemy Experience, deploying his Divine Sense to check it out. In three breaths'' time, the faces of Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong flushed with excitement. Grandpa''s wrinkled face was as red as a monkey''s butt, his excitement evident, not at all like a man nearing a hundred years old. Grandfather and father gradually regained their composure and exchanged the jade cylinders to explore them. Lin Tianming then took out more than ten Jade Boxes and placed them in front of them. Grandpa quickly opened a Jade Box! "Hidden Spirit Grass" Grandpa Lin Shigong went completely wild with excitement, laughing madly, "Heaven blesses the Lin Family, heaven blesses the Lin Family! These more than ten Hidden Spirit Grasses, if used well, are worth at least three Foundation Establishment Pills" Upon hearing this, father remembered that True Person Yuhua''s Alchemy Experience mentioned a formula for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, and his breathing became rapid¡ªwith good reason, as Hidden Spirit Grass was tied to one''s chances of reaching Foundation Establishment Stage! Mother and sister watched the jubilation of the three family members with complete bewilderment. After reviewing the three items, grandfather and father calmed down and began to inquire about the origins of these items, showing some concern. Lin Tianming recounted the incident where he was forced to kill the man in the red robe and included the Hidden Spirit Grass among the items obtained from him. Upon hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded. Mother had already cried herself into a mess. She wasn''t concerned with techniques or elixirs; she just wanted her son to be safe and sound. He spoke this way after careful consideration, for Lin Tianming did not plan to submit the Heavenly Grade Technique. After all, wealth should not be flaunted, and with the many gossips, no one could guarantee what thoughts the family might have. The matter of the Heavenly Grade Technique was too important; the fewer people knew, the better, especially now when it couldn''t be disclosed, or it might bring disaster upon the family. Everyone understood the logic that though a man may be blameless, possessing a treasured jade invites crime. At this moment, grandpa spoke with a grave expression, "This matter is of great importance. Tianming, you rest for a while. I need to immediately send a message to the Clan Leader and various Hall Masters. We will convene a meeting in the Elders'' Council in half an hour." Having said that, Lin Shigong performed a hand gesture, and more than a dozen fire-red Spiritual Birds formed from gathered spiritual energy flew off in all directions and quickly disappeared from sight. Chapter 28 Family Meeting (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Atop the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, on the square in front of a pavilion, a man in white robes and another in gray robes walked towards each other. These were the only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.The man in white was named Lin Shikang, with cultivation at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, aged one hundred and ten, and the third in seniority among his generation¡ªhe was the oldest and highest in rank within the Lin Family. The man in gray was Lin Shilu, ranked fifteenth in his generation, with cultivation at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, aged eighty-three, and he was also the only Second Order Artifact Refiner in the Lin Family. ''Elder brother, has Ninth Brother suddenly summoned us because something significant has occurred?'' Lin Shilu asked in confusion. Lin Shikang had the highest cultivation level in the Lin Family, and Lin Shilu hoped to gather some information from him. Lin Shikang also looked puzzled as he spoke, ''Shi Gong only sent a message for us to gather at the Elders'' Council. He was secretive and didn''t say much, so it must not be anything disastrous. If it were, he wouldn''t have mentioned nothing at all. Don''t worry. We have both been in secluded cultivation these past few years. It''s an excellent opportunity for us to go and see.'' ''Haha, Elder brother has a point. I have been refining artifacts every day for the past two years¡ªit''s time for a rest.'' With that said, the two flew together towards the waist of the main peak. At the same time, at several important pavilions on the mountainside of Green Bamboo Mountain, one after another person flew out, all with puzzled expressions, heading in the same direction. In a pavilion located in the midst of Green Bamboo Peak''s waist, a large elliptical round table more than ten meters wide stood in the center of the hall, surrounded by more than twenty bluestone seats. At this time, four elders were already seated. One of the elders, who was the Hall of Merit''s Master Lin Shixin, spoke up, ''What is Ninth Brother up to? He hasn''t made such a fuss in over ten years. What''s so serious?'' Another elder in a green robe said; ''Tian Ming took on the guard duty at Qingfeng Town and has come back to visit relatives. He even brought back a Purple Gold Eagle. It couldn''t be because of this trivial matter, could it?'' The speaker was the Clan Leader of the Lin Family, Lin Shihua, ranked twelfth among his generation at eighty-eight years old, at the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refinement, and had been the family head for fifteen years. ''It''s highly unlikely. The Purple Gold Eagle brought by Tian Ming may be exceptional and talented, but it''s far from enough to alarm all of us. Let us not speculate further and wait; we''ll know everything shortly.'' The other elders agreed, ''Indeed, let''s wait. Perhaps Elder brothers will also join us.'' After half an hour had passed, several more people arrived. At this point, the hall had gathered more than a dozen family members, including the older generation of Shi clan members, as well as several who were in their prime from the Xing line. The hall now concentrated most of the Lin Family''s top combat power apart from the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Outside the great hall, Lin Tianming followed behind his grandfather and father, the three of them proceeding together towards the Clan Elders'' Assembly Hall. Normally, given Lin Tianming''s rank and strength, he would not qualify to attend the Clan Elders'' Assembly, but his grandfather wanted him to speak directly to the elders and advocate for himself, as it was overall improper for the older generation to embarrass a junior. Suddenly, two streaks of azure light appeared, and two middle-aged cultivators appeared before the grandfather and grandson. Lin Tianming was taken aback. They had appeared before him without a sound, and he hadn''t noticed them at all. They must undoubtedly be Foundation Establishment Cultivators, as no one at the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement could achieve such a feat otherwise. Indeed, his father saluted with a fist and bow; ''Nephew Xing Rong pays his respects to Third Uncle and Fifteenth Uncle.'' Lin Tianming also saluted with a fist; ''Great-Grandson Tian Ming pays his respects to Third Grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather.'' Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction and encouraged Lin Tianming: ''At seventeen, you''ve reached the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation and are a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. You truly haven''t let us old fellows down. You must continue to work hard; the future of our family is depending on you to take up the burden.'' ''Thank you, Third Grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather. I will surely work hard to strive for an early Core Formation and restore our family''s glory.'' The grandfathers nodded contentedly and then entered the grand hall together, with Lin Tianming following behind. After the five of them entered the grand hall, all the elders inside stood up, greeted each other, and sat down one by one. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu sat at the highest seats, with Clan Leader Lin Shihua, Grandfather Lin Shigong, and Lin Shiji, who was the Enforcement Hall Master and one of the three Complete Qi Refining clan members, sitting in order. Lin Shiji was one hundred and five years old this year and ranked fifth among the Shi generation. Sitting behind were several clan members at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, including Head of the Skill Transmission Hall Lin Shigang, Head of the Scripture Pavilion Lin Shihe, and Hall of Merit''s Master Lin Shixin. The eldest, Lin Shikang, ranked third, while the youngest, Lin Shilu, ranked fifteenth; only these eight members of the Lin Family''s Shi generation were alive. The heads of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, and Talisman Crafting Hall were held by members of the Xing generation. Though the Formation Hall existed in name, it lacked a qualified Array Master and remained vacant for the time being. Several important members of the Xing generation were present as well, such as Lin Tianming''s father, Lin Xingrong, who managed the family''s businesses in Luoyun Market and was responsible for the security and transactions of all shops and goods there, wielding power not the slightest inferior to any of the hall masters present. There were also a few specialized talents within the grand hall, ensuring that the people gathered here were truly the elite of the Lin Family. After everyone had taken their seats, Lin Tianming paid his respects to all the elders and then stood behind his grandfather, remaining silent. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Clan Leader Lin Shihua began to speak: ''Ninth Brother, you''ve called us all here, even startling Third Brother and Fifteen. Everyone is quite busy; if there is something important, please speak quickly and don''t beat around the bush.'' Lin Shigong stood up and said: ''What I''m about to share today is indeed joyous news. Tianming has acquired a Mysterious Grade Technique, an Alchemy Insights Jade Tube from a Third Order Alchemist, and over a dozen crucial ingredients needed for the Minor Foundation Building Pills.'' Ssssss... All the family members in the grand hall, except for the knowledgeable grandfathers and father, took in a sharp breath, their faces flushing with excitement. Each of the three items was worth a fortune. ''Quick, quick, let''s see them!'' Caught up in the excitement, Clan Leader Lin Shihua couldn''t help but urge. Lin Tianming stepped forward, placed the technique and the Alchemy Experience, as well as fifteen jade boxes on the stone table, and then stepped back. Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu, and Lin Shihua each picked up one of the items to examine, while several elders began to inspect the jade boxes containing Hidden Spirit Grass. ''Truly, the heavens bless our Lin Family, the heavens bless our Lin Family.'' Lin Shihua was the first to burst out laughing, his expression filled with frenzy. All the clan members present couldn''t help but laugh with joy, silently heaving a sigh of relief. The Lin Family had been living rather frugally for the past decade. Fifteen years ago, in order to enable Lin Shilu''s Foundation Establishment, they had exhausted decades of savings. Coupled with intentional difficulties from several forces within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family had faced tough times, only able to bear insults silently. Had it not been for other families'' hesitance to provoke the legacy left by our ancestors, the Lin Family might have already been pushed out of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Now, with this windfall, holding firm for another ten years, if they could successfully raise a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family would no longer need to swallow their pride. Chapter 29 Rewards (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 After a quarter of an hour of taking turns to inspect the items, everyone had a clear understanding of the three objects at hand.The excitement and joy gradually subsided, and Clan Leader Lin Shihua asked Lin Tianming about how he came into possession of the items, in case they needed to be prepared for any trouble that might arise. Under the scrutiny of many clan members, Lin Tianming recounted the whole event, deliberately omitting the matter of the Heavenly Grade Technique. Learning that the treasures came from a loose cultivator and that no traces were discovered afterward, everyone unanimously breathed a sigh of relief. Any one of these three items could cause several clans at the Foundation Establishment Stage to fight bloody battles. The family elders were very clear that in these troubled times, it was not easy to make enemies. Now that the facts were clear, it was natural to discuss the disposition of the items. After thoughtful consideration, Lin Tianming took the initiative to speak: "All three items will be handed over to the clan in exchange for a portion of merit and spirit stones. As for the creation of Minor Foundation Building Pills, I request three to be given to Lin Tianming without any cost, with the excess managed by the clan." Fifteen batches of Minor Foundation Building Pills could be refined from the fifteen Hidden Spirit Grasses. The main ingredient, Hidden Spirit Grass, was precious, but the other auxiliary medicinal ingredients were manageable. The Lin Family Treasure Vault could gather most, and the few that were missing could be bought at some cost. If the alchemist was competent, with fifteen batches of ingredients and a success rate of thirty percent, they could expect about fifteen pills. Accounting for the alchemist''s remuneration, more than ten pills were a certainty. To request three pills without compensation was by no means an excessive demand considering his contribution. Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s words, many family elders began to ponder and even discuss in small groups. Some clan members argued there were many in the Lin Family at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement and Great Perfection who greatly needed the Minor Foundation Building Pills; three pills were too many. One would be appropriate, with additional compensation in spirit stones or merit. However, a portion of the elders believed Lin Tianming''s request was not excessive at all. He had made significant contributions to the Lin Family, and it would not be right to demand the items from him; they should unconditionally fulfill his request. The great hall immediately buzzed with debate. Those in support of Lin Tianming were mostly elders of the Shi generation, while those who opposed were predominantly Xing Clan members. At that moment, when the main hall was abuzz with arguments, a loud shout thundered through the hall like an explosion, silencing everyone. "Enough! Our family has survived numerous crises over eight hundred years, yet now we bicker shamefully over the fortune a junior has found. How does this look?" "If the family is to prosper, we must be as fair as possible; mere exploitation and plundering are no different from banditry and only serve to dishearten our clan members." "Put yourself in Tianming''s position and ask whether you would still be willing to dedicate yourself to the family. We are a family, not a sect. We need young people like Tianming; otherwise, when we pass away, we won''t have the face to meet our ancestors." After a scolding from Lin Shikang, who had the highest cultivation in the Lin Family, the opposing elders all bowed their heads in shame, their faces flushed with embarrassment. With the staunch support of two Foundation Establishment Stage elders, the family elders reached a unanimous decision. Clan Leader Lin Shihua spoke: "Award Tian Ming five thousand merit points or low-grade spirit stones, waive the restriction on performing family missions, award fifty sets of Lingshen Pill alchemical materials, fifty sets of various First Order Superior Grade alchemical spiritual medicines, ten High Quality Talisman papers, and three First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instruments, with the type unrestricted." "Additionally, if Minor Foundation Building Pills are created, regardless of the total number, three will be given to Lin Tianming without any compensation." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied, feeling that the clan had been quite fair. Although the three items would fetch at least a hundred thousand spirit stones in the market, the family''s finances were indeed limited. Besides, the creation of Minor Foundation Building Pills also required substantial resources. Even if the family had the will, it could not easily provide a hundred thousand spirit stones without compromising normal operations. The only option was to offer additional rewards in the form of medicinal materials, means to contend with adversaries, and some special privileges. Finally, Lin Shikang said to Lin Tianming: "Tian Ming, the family truly has its difficulties. These awards are hardly worth mentioning. I hope you don''t take it to heart. When the family''s finances improve in the future, we will make every effort to compensate you." When Lin Tianming heard this, he was also deeply moved! He stood up to express his gratitude, saying: "Tianming is a member of the family, too, running with the blood of the Lin Family. Those ancestors who laid down their lives for the family with selfless devotion, my contribution is nothing compared to theirs, all the elders need not blame themselves." "Look, even a teenager has a stronger sense of duty than many of our clan members," S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang''s ironic comment made those clan members who had initially opposed him feel even more ashamed and embarrassed. Discussions of the rewards came to an end, and it was now time to talk about the method for refining the Minor Foundation Building Pills. There was not a qualified Second Order Alchemist in the Lin Family, so to refine these pills, they would have to seek the help of an alchemist from outside. Many clan members also started a discussion about this. In the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, Second Order Alchemists were rare, and a few of them were closely related to the Lin Family''s rival clans, making it extremely difficult to ask for their help. Furthermore, although the Minor Foundation Building Pills were not as precious as the Foundation Establishment Pills, they were valuable nonetheless, and the Lin Family dared not let even the slightest rumor leak out with such large quantities at stake. If the opposing forces got wind of it, they might very well kill for treasure, and even if they managed to keep it safe, they would suffer significant losses. After some discussion, the senior family members unanimously decided to take the Spiritual Medicine Materials to Qianchuan Market in the Wei Kingdom and ask Ye Pinghai, an old friend of Lin Shigong, for help in refining them. Ye Pinghai was a Loose Cultivator, at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. In his earlier years during the Qi Refinement period, he was saved by Lin Shigong. The two became close friends, exchanged alchemy techniques, and on several occasions had refined precious elixirs for the Lin Family, making him the best candidate for help. After discussions and arrangements by the senior family members, for the coming month, the family would collect other Spiritual Medicine Materials needed for refining the Minor Foundation Building Pills. In a month, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianming, would set off to Qianchuan Market to look for Ye Pinghai. The reason for taking Lin Tianming was twofold, one for the experience, and two because Lin Tianming was a direct descendant of Lin Shigong. By going there, he could learn alchemy from Ye Pinghai as well as build a good relationship. Having the direct guidance of a Second Order Alchemist would be of great help in improving Lin Tianming''s skills in alchemy. Moreover, with Lin Tianming''s extraordinary abilities and all the Lin Family members at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement busy with family affairs, taking him along would be a significant advantage. The task of guarding Qingfeng Town would be taken over by another family member. The matter of the treasures came to a close, the clan members left the great hall one after another, and Lin Tianming along with his grandparents, also stood up to leave. Back in his courtyard, Lin Tianming took out a large piece of Spirit-Connecting Python meat and handed it to Ren Yuxuan to prepare a feast for the evening, so the family could joyfully share a reunion dinner. After the meal, Lin Tianming took out twenty Lingshen Pills and gave fifteen to his mother and five to his sister. His sister happily accepted the Lingshen Pills and ran off to cultivate. In the year that Lin Tianming was away, their mother had given her two Lingshen Pills to aid in her cultivation, which helped her successfully break through to the Third Level of Qi Refinement. Seeing so many Lingshen Pills, his mother became both touched and happy, seeing her son so accomplished, far surpassing her own achievements, with a future that seemed boundless, she couldn''t help but feel proud. ''Mother, you''re getting on in years, and the chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage are slim; you should keep these pills for yourself,'' ''Mother, I''m now a qualified First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. These pills were all refined by myself, and at least for now, I have no shortage of elixirs for cultivation. You always saved all the Spirit Stones and elixirs for Tian Yue and me; now, it''s time for your son to repay you.'' Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong also joined in, trying to persuade her: ''Yuxuan, I''m afraid this boy is now several times wealthier than I am, aside from Third Brother and Shi Lu, no one in the family is richer than him.'' ''Yes, Yuxuan, this boy is not the same as before. Just take them and catch up on the cultivation you''ve missed out on over the years.'' Moved to near tears by everyone''s earnest urging, Ren Yuxuan accepted the pills and stored them in her bag. As it was getting very late, after some words of advice from his grandfather and father, Lin Tianming returned to his own room. Exhausted, he lay down on the bed he had slept in for over ten years and fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 30 Redeeming Rewards (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 The next morning, a slightly glaring ray of sunlight shone through the small window onto Lin Tianming''s handsome face.Opening his eyes tinged with a hint of spirituality, Lin Tianming got up, tidied up his room, and prepared to head out. The family''s rewards had been determined, and today he was to go to the Hall of Merit to claim them. In addition to his own rewards, he also needed to exchange some materials that he didn''t need for merit points and purchase some essentials. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming stepped out the door, summoned the Qingfeng Sword, hopped onto it, and flew toward the mid-mountain pavilion. Inside the Family Merits Hall, the place buzzed with voices as many family cultivators presented spiritual medicines or demonic beast inner pills and bodies to the executive officers at the main hall. Among the plethora of spiritual objects, most were common first-order items. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, everyone stopped what they were doing and greeted him. As the one with the highest talent since the patriarch of the Lin Family, Lin Tianming was naturally the focus of attention for all the clan members. In the face of the clan members'' goodwill, Lin Tianming greeted them with a fist and palm salute, showing no difference in treatment despite their lower cultivation levels. With the demeanor of a gentleman and the respect of a junior, he won a round of encouraging cheers and applause. Lin Shixin was very satisfied with this. The child''s cultivation strength and temperament were top-tier, making him the future hope of the family. With some luck, provided he didn''t die young, there was a great hope of leading the family back into the ranks of Core Formation Stage clans. After greeting the clan members in the hall, Lin Tianming now approached Lin Shixin and bowed respectfully, saying: "Tianming pays respect to Fifteenth Grandfather." Lin Shixin squinted his eyes and smiled, responding: "Your reward has been prepared. Whatever you need, just say it, and I''ll fetch it for you, especially First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine materials, talisman paper, and spiritual artifacts." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Fifteenth Grandfather, for the First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine materials, I will need twenty-five portions of each spiritual medicine material listed on these two pill formulas," Tianming said. After speaking, Lin Tianming handed Lin Shixin two pill formulas, which undoubtedly were for refining the Strong Spirit Pill and the Body Strengthening Pill, which were aids for cultivating the Tiangang Body Art. Lin Shixin glanced at the pill formulas, and his old face turned alternately blue and purple as a voice couldn''t help but rise in his heart: "This little rascal sure knows how to choose, picking the more precious ones from among the first order spiritual medicines." "Oh well, this child''s talent and temperament are beyond reproach, and the family''s future depends on him. It''s fine to look after him a bit more. Besides, what he''s asking for are all First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicines; they are just a bit more precious, and there''s no violation of the rules." "Go ahead and tell me about the talisman paper and the spiritual artifacts, and I''ll fetch them all for you," Lin Shixin urged. Lin Tianming continued: "I need four First Order Superior Attack Talisman papers, and four Defense Talisman papers, as well as two Speed Evasion Talisman papers." "For spiritual artifacts, I would like three defensive spiritual tools. That''s all, and additionally, I want to sell a batch of Fasting Pills." Having said that, Lin Tianming took out the Fasting Pills he had refined, a total of one hundred. Originally, after refining all the materials for the Fasting Pills, he obtained one hundred and thirty-six. Having consumed some during his year of seclusion, he was left with a bit over one hundred and twenty. By selling one hundred, he would keep just over twenty for personal use. After all, he was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, and he couldn''t be without Fasting Pills during his seclusion. Only upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage could he truly fast and survive solely on spiritual energy for an extended period. "One hundred Fasting Pills in exchange for eighty merit points, is there anything else?" Lin Shixin asked. Lin Tianming frowned slightly and cautiously inquired: "Fifteenth Grandfather, does our Green Bamboo Mountain still have Second Order Qingling Bamboo for sale?" Lin Shixin asked with some confusion: "What do you need the Second Order Qingling Bamboo for? There are plenty of First Order ones, but not many Second Order ones. Even in the Hundred-mile Bamboo Forest, there are less than a hundred Second Order Qingling Bamboo. These are the batch with the oldest age; our family has rarely let them go!" Lin Tianming didn''t give it much thought and went straight to the point in his reply: "I want to exchange for twenty Second Order Qingling Bamboo. Please ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help me refine a complete set of Flying Sword Instruments. My current spiritual artifacts are too substandard and do not allow me to utilize my full strength." "Forget it, forget it!" After his initial shock, Lin Shixin began to elaborate. "Each Qingling Bamboo is quite valuable. It has excellent tensile strength and is extremely sharp, indeed making it one of the best materials for refining spirit swords. "Each Second Order Qingling Bamboo costs one hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. It''s not something the average person can afford, so if you want it, you''ll have to chop it down yourself!" After hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but be stunned as well. At one hundred and fifty spirit stones each, twenty would cost three thousand spirit stones, an amount indeed unaffordable for the average person. If not for having made significant contributions to the family and received a hefty reward, he truly wouldn''t have been able to afford it. After half a moment, Lin Shixin handed a storage bag over to Lin Tianming. "Everything is inside. Count them, and hand me your token as well." Lin Tianming respectfully took out his token and handed it to Lin Shixin. Lin Shixin then took out a token several times larger, formed a hand seal with both hands, and a burst of blue light flashed. A number lit up on Lin Tianming''s token for a few breaths before disappearing. At this moment, there were an additional two thousand and eighty merits on Lin Tianming''s family token. Five thousand merits vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving just so little. Lin Tianming felt the pinch acutely. In the past, he would have been reluctant to spend even a few dozen spirit stones, but now he had spent several thousand in one go. Thinking about this made his heart bleed. Taking the storage bag, Lin Tianming probed it with his divine sense. Inside the bag were over a hundred portions of various spirit grasses, four differently colored talisman papers, and three defensive spiritual tools. The three spiritual tools were all unique¡ªone was a turtle shell-like shield, another a small umbrella, and the last item was red inner armor. Lin Tianming gave them a cursory check. Lin Shixin took out another token made of Qingling bamboo material and handed it to Lin Tianming, saying: "This token is for entry into the deep part of the bamboo forest. Without it, if one rashly intrudes, they probably won''t last long before being blasted to death by the ward." Lin Tianming received the token and gave Lin Shixin a bow before departing. Half a moment later, Lin Tianming appeared at the bottom of a valley at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain. The entire valley was shrouded in mist, and the bamboo sea was endless to the eye, the area likely close to a hundred miles in size. Lin Tianming took out a token, cast a spell, and a light screen appeared out of thin air. The screen tore open to reveal an entrance several feet wide, with a powerful metal attribute aura assailing him. Because the bamboo forest was so vast and sealed off by great arrays all year round, the strong metal attribute spiritual energy trapped here was greatly beneficial to the growth of the Qingling Bamboo. Qingling Bamboo is a First Order Spiritual Material that requires a five-hundred-year growth cycle. The vast majority are just First Order Spiritual Materials, and only an extremely small number of Qingling Bamboo can grow into Second Order Spiritual Material by chance. The Lin Family had chosen to establish the family here originally because they happened upon a large expanse of Qingling Bamboo by chance, thus occupying this place. After more than eight hundred years of development, the area of Qingling Bamboo had more than doubled, and there were several hundred Second Order Qingling Bamboo. Every year some are used up or sold, leaving nearly a hundred which is one of the Lin Family''s greatest assets. Lin Tianming tucked the token into his storage bag, leaped up, and entered through the light screen. Chapter 31 Cutting Down Qingling Bamboo (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In the dense bamboo forest of blue and yellow hues, Lin Tianming looked around.Massive Qingling Bamboos were growing in the firm crevices of rocks, with varying heights and thickness. The tall ones could reach several zhang in height, as thick as the mouth of a bowl, with blue-yellow trunks and very few leaves, all several centuries old and suitable for crafting instruments. The short ones were less than half a zhang, colored blue, with denser leaves, averaging around a hundred years old. Qingling Bamboo has a long growth cycle, starting as finger-thick shoots of white jade color, gradually growing into blue, hundred-year-old specimens, and finally, blue-yellow when they reach full maturity. Lin Tianming swiftly shuttled through the bamboo forest, meticulously searching for Second Order Qingling Bamboo. An hour had passed, and Lin Tianming''s expression turned liver-colored; among tens of thousands of Qingling Bamboos, he hadn''t found a single Second Order one. The task was indeed daunting, given the vast area and difficulty in distinguishing them. The Second Order Qingling Bamboos and the five-century-old ones looked similar, both as thick as the mouth of a bowl with sparse leaves. The only difference was that the Second Order''s color was pure gold, while the ordinary ones were paler in blue-yellow. The entire Qingling Bamboo Forest spanned dozens of li, with several hundred thousand bamboos. To find the mere hundred Second Order specimens was certainly difficult. After resting for a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming continued on his quest. Time passed quickly, and another hour went by. Suddenly, amidst the thick bamboo, a golden bamboo stood tall among a cluster of five-century-old Qingling Bamboos. Overjoyed, Lin Tianming disappeared and reappeared beside the golden Second Order Qingling Bamboo. This Qingling Bamboo was several zhang tall, bowl-thick, completely golden, and the surface shone brilliantly¡ªundoubtedly a Second Order specimen. Lin Tianming carefully observed the growing environment of this Qingling Bamboo, hoping to deduce the factors for Second Order growth and find a shortcut to locate the remaining nineteen. He saw that it grew in rock crevices, surrounded mostly by mature, five-century Qingling Bamboos, hinting at a significant difference from the valley below¡ªhigher up the rocks, the greater the likelihood of finding Second Order bamboos. Lin Tianming tentatively concluded this was the case and decided in his subsequent searches to take to the air, identifying areas where the bamboo leaves were sparser and the groves taller, indicating greater possibilities for Second Order plants, and to focus on these patches to significantly improve efficiency. Resolved, Lin Tianming drew his Qingfeng Sword and began to cut down the bamboo. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three consecutive sword strikes hit the same spot, yet only a thumb-sized nick was made in the golden Qingling Bamboo. Lin Tianming was surprised; he was a body cultivator who practiced the top-notch Heavenly Grade Technique, Tiangang Body Art, possessing strength several times that of normal cultivators at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, yet he had only managed to inflict such a minor cut. To completely sever it, he anticipated a considerable amount of effort would be required. Activating his cultivation technique with full force, Lin Tianming delivered multiple sword strikes, each expanding the cut until, after more than fifty strikes, the bowl-thick Qingling Bamboo fell with a sound. "Puff¡­" A loud noise echoed as the several zhang tall Qingling Bamboo crashed heavily to the ground, creating a half-foot deep trench. Lin Tianming lifted the Qingling Bamboo, sweat bead appearing on his forehead; he tried to lift it three times without success. It wasn''t until he channeled his spiritual power and exerted his full strength, with thousands of jin erupting from his hands, that he managed to hoist the Qingling Bamboo and stow it in his storage bag. Having successfully secured the bamboo, Lin Tianming wiped his hands and sat panting on a nearby rock to rest. Lin Tianming thought to himself that each Second Order Qingling Bamboo must weigh at least a few thousand jin; with its hard material and excellent flexibility, swords crafted from it would surely be extraordinary. After resting for a short while, Lin Tianming continued on his journey to find more Second Order Qingling Bamboos. Having succeeded in his first attempt, Lin Tianming no longer aimlessly wandered the forest but flew above it, carefully discerning the densely populated areas of five-century Qingling Bamboos. "Ah¡­" "That clump of bamboo about a hundred zhang ahead is taller on average, with sparser leaves, mostly five-century Qingling Bamboos. The chances of finding Second Order ones should not be small." Lin Tianming swiftly flew to that part of the bamboo forest and began his meticulous search. "As expected, there are Second Order Qingling Bamboos," Lin Tianming was quite delighted, confident that with this method, the twenty Qingling Bamboos could be quickly found. Two days flew by! Inside the Qingling Bamboo Forest, Lin Tianming expertly placed a Second Order Qingling Bamboo down, swiftly lifting the several-thousand-jin bamboo stalk and stowing it into his storage bag. Having finally cut down twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo, after two days of non-stop swinging of the Qingfeng Sword, his arms were sore and swollen. If he had not been a Body Cultivator with a cultivation not considered weak, had it been the time he was at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, he likely could not have chopped down many in one day. Banking on his profound cultivation, he had completed the target within two days. Having reached the required quantity, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and couldn''t wait to take the twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo to Fifteenth Uncle to ask for his help with artifact forging. Considering his weapons as a significant shortcoming, he was eager to forge a sufficient number of Spirit Swords. If the grade could all be at First Order Superior, his combat power would at least double. Even facing a cultivator in the Late Stage of Qi Refining, he would be able to retreat unscathed. Upon reaching the edge of the bamboo forest, Lin Tianming took out his token, cast a Law Decree, and a slit appeared in the light screen; he stepped through without hesitation. After the span of a single breath, Lin Tianming had successfully emerged from the bamboo forest. He summoned a Qingfeng Sword, leaped onto the blade, and left flying through the sky. In half an hour, at the Family Merits Hall, Lin Tianming found Lin Shixin. "Elder Wu, I have gathered all twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo and have come to return the token." Lin Tianming respectfully handed over the token, exchanged a few pleasantries with Lin Shixin, and then bade farewell as he left the Hall of Merit. A short while later, in the Family Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming appeared before his grandfather Lin Shigong and bowed respectfully: "Your grandson greets you, grandfather!" Lin Shigong waved his hand and smiled, instructing: "Cheeky boy, come and sit down!" Lin Tianming chuckled, sat down directly on the cushion in front of him, and stated his purpose. "Grandfather, I spent three thousand merit points at once to exchange for twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo in the Hall of Merit, intending to ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help forge a batch of Spirit Swords. Unfortunately, I haven''t left a communication mark with Fifteenth Grandfather, so I''ve come to ask for your help to see if Fifteenth Grandfather can help with the forging." Hearing his grandson''s purpose, Lin Shigong was greatly startled! "This rapscallion, what a spender, to blow three thousand merit points like that. The Mysterious Grade Cultivation Technique Fire Origin Decision that he cultivates doesn''t even require so many Spirit Swords, right?" Lin Shixin was very puzzled by such extravagant spending and thus questioned Lin Tianming why he needed so many Spirit Swords. Lin Tianming hesitated and fumbled, and after much deliberation, he still did not reveal the Heavenly Grade Technique he was cultivating. He only mentioned that his Cultivation Technique was related to Sword Arrays. He emphasized repeatedly, asking his grandfather to keep it a secret, or it might bring disaster to the family! Seeing his grandson so serious, Lin Shixin no longer pressed the matter, knowing everyone had their secrets. And Lin Tianming had always been smart and stable, so if he didn''t speak of it, he naturally had his reasons. With these thoughts, Lin Shigong earnestly advised: "Since it''s so important, remember never to reveal it lightly in front of others. People in the Cultivation World constantly commit murders and rob others of their treasures; you can''t just trust anyone easily, understand?" Lin Tianming agreed wholeheartedly, easing his grandfather''s concerns. Afterward, Lin Shigong formed a seal with one hand and sent a message to Lin Shilu, inquiring whether he could take on the forging task. In half an hour, a beam of Spiritual Light passed through the restrictions of the building, stopping in front of Lin Shigong. He read the message, and after the Spiritual Light dissipated, he spoke up: "Your Fifteenth Grandfather has agreed to help. He told you to go directly to the summit of Green Bamboo Peak, where he and your Third Grandfather are cultivating in their main mountain abode. You can go find him there." Lin Tianming was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately took leave of Lin Shigong, planning to go directly to Lin Shilu. Before leaving, Lin Shigong took out eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones and a bottle of Second Order Lingshen Pill, handing them to Lin Tianming as a reward for the forging help. Lin Tianming, unpretentious, accepted the Spirit Stones and elixir, and left. Chapter 32 Observing Practice Equipment (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 ```Summit of Qingzhu Mountain. The entire mountain stood a thousand zhang high, its top a flat land of more than ten li in size, a truly spectacular sight! Lin Tianming was also climbing to the peak for the first time. From this height, he surveyed the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory; from halfway up the mountain, peaks rose one after another, stretching for over a hundred li, resembling a veritable fairyland. The summit spanned more than ten li, the terrain remarkably flat, as if a supreme being had cleaved off the entire mountaintop with a single sword! Feeling the density of the spiritual energy in this place, it was a cut above that of the mid-mountain regions; no doubt, long-term cultivation here would yield twice the results with half the effort. The ancestors truly were blessed with foresight; otherwise, to find such a land rich in spiritual energy would be no easy task. Such Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands were a rare sight in the whole Luoyun Mountain Range. Shaking off his distant thoughts, Lin Tianming headed towards the rear of the vast Bluestone Plaza. Atop Green Bamboo Mountain Peak lay a massive Bluestone Plaza. Around the plaza stood several courtyards of varying sizes. Each courtyard occupied a substantial area, their exteriors solemn and sacred, inspiring awe in those who looked upon them. In the Lin Family, only those who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage could bring their direct relatives to live at the peak of the mountain. This was a privilege reserved for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Lin Tianming walked directly to the outside of one of the courtyards, pausing to press his palms together and cast a beam of Spiritual Light into the restrictive enchantment. A few breaths later, the restriction opened a passage, and Lin Tianming entered without hesitation, then mysteriously vanished from sight. Inside the courtyard, Lin Shilu sat on a meditation cushion in the center, examining a Spirit Sword in his hand. He repeatedly channeled Spiritual Power into it, waving the sword through the air. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to interrupt and stood respectfully to the side, awaiting Lin Shilu''s instructions. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half an hour later, Lin Shilu stored the Spirit Sword in his storage bag, turned, smiled, and then said, "Tianming, come over and sit!" "Tianming greets Fifteenth Grandfather!" After giving a respectful salute, Lin Tianming sat down on a meditation cushion opposite Lin Shilu. "Fifteenth Grandfather, due to the lack of a suitable Spirit Sword, I''ve exchanged for twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo from the Family Merits Hall. I was hoping you could help forge them into a set of Flying Sword Instruments. Would you be able to assist me?" After several moments of silence, Lin Tianming, feeling increasingly anxious, tentatively continued, "I would not expect you to labour without compensation. I will pay you according to the market rate when the time comes. After all, forging a complete set of Spiritual Artifacts does consume a fair amount of supplementary materials and time. Offering compensation is the least I can do." Hearing Lin Tianming''s words, Lin Shilu frowned slightly, his face showing displeasure as he spoke, "Within the family, we do not differentiate between each other''s households. Crafting a complete set of Second Order Spirit Swords is indeed a challenge, but I am confident in forging a First Order set." "Back in my days at the Qi Refinement Realm, I often relied on your grandfather''s help with Alchemy. Rest assured, hand over the Second Order Qingling Bamboo; without delay, I''ll get to work immediately and aim to finish them as soon as possible." Lin Tianming was both surprised and moved by the response, thanking his elder profusely. Family cultivators, when able, would always assist each other. Should he find success in the future, he must also contribute to the family. After handing over the twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo to Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming was about to take his leave when Lin Shilu suddenly said, "If you have no other matters, stay and assist me. You can also learn some basics of Artifact Refining. Should you have a talent for it, it could bring great aid to your cultivation journey." "Yes, I will heed Fifteenth Grandfather''s teachings." After Lin Tianming responded, Lin Shilu stood up to leave, and Lin Tianming quickly followed his steps. ``` Although he had never refined any artifact or even had the chance to observe the process, watching the entire artifact refining process on-site was not an easy opportunity to come by. A few breaths passed, and Lin Shilu walked through the corridor, stopping in front of a secret chamber. Lin Tianming waited beside, feeling the abundant fire element spiritual power in the air; it must undoubtedly be the Refining Room. The more than ten courtyards on the summit of Green Bamboo Mountain each came with a Pill Refining Room and an Artifact Forging Room, through which the tributaries of the Earth Fire passed, providing the most basic conditions for pill concoction and weapon forging. Lin Shilu opened the restrictions and stepped in; Lin Tianming hurriedly followed. Inside the Artifact Forging Room, a cauldron about the size of a yard stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by numerous stone platforms with various tools laid out. After a brief moment of breathing regulation, Lin Shilu was ready to begin artifact refining. He skillfully ignited the Earth Fire, eliciting a three-feet-long flame that burst forth, perfectly suspended under the cauldron. He arranged the Second Order Qingling Bamboo neatly to one side, at the same time taking out a number of differently colored ores and placing them on the stone platform. Lin Shilu grabbed a large chunk of Spirit Iron Ore and tossed it into the cauldron, then adjusted the intensity of the Earth Fire, furiously burning the cauldron. As time passed, the Spirit Iron the size of a bucket gradually melted into a puddle of iron liquid. After an hour of repeated purification, the Spirit Iron, once the size of a bucket, was refined into twenty fist-sized ores, crystal clear and translucent. At this point, the originally ink-colored raw ore had astonishingly become as beautiful as Spirit Stones. While refining, Lin Shilu gave instructions to Lin Tianming. "Cut the Second Order Qingling Bamboo at two-thirds of its length; to forge a Spirit Sword, only the bottom half of the entire bamboo is needed. You can keep the tip part for forging other lower grade spirit swords." Hearing Lin Shilu''s instructions, Lin Tianming began to cut the Qingling Bamboo one by one, handing over the section as thick as the mouth of a bowl to Lin Shilu. Two days passed, and Lin Shilu had refined over a dozen different colored ores one by one, divided into twenty portions of crystal clear Spirit Ore. Twenty stalks of Qingling Bamboo were also trimmed to be three zhang long, twenty stalks neatly lined up in a row. Lin Shilu placed the entire Qingling Bamboo on the stone platform beside, took out a hammer with an extremely large head, and began to pound the whole stalk of Qingling Bamboo on the stone platform without respite. After half a day, the three-zhang-long Qingling Bamboo gradually shrunk in size and shape, turning from a bamboo thick as a bowl to a three-feet-long sword embryo, with the surface color turning more golden. Lin Tianming also widened his eyes in amazement; the transformation of the ores was still within his expectations, but the conversion of Qingling Bamboo into a sword embryo was truly incredible. As Lin Shilu hammered the Qingling Bamboo, every half an hour, he would add a type of ore to the sword embryo, increase the force of his hammering, and continue adding more ore. At this moment, Lin Shilu was drenched in sweat, focusing intently on hammering the Spirit Sword embryo. Lin Tianming, too, began to ponder on the side, committing Lin Shilu''s entire process and techniques to memory, thinking that perhaps he might attempt it when the time was ripe. However, given his limited time, it was unlikely he could devote a vast amount of time and energy solely on artifact refining, but learning some experience was still necessary. After most of a day, the Spirit Sword embryos were successively infused with more than ten types of colored ores, resulting in a completely golden sword, with two intertwining lines of azure and red running from the tip to the hilt, laying the foundation for the entire Spirit Sword. Feeling the faint Sword Qi emanating from the Spirit Sword, Lin Tianming was very satisfied; if he added the remaining inscriptions to the sword body, its might would likely be even more formidable. Lin Shilu, too, was extremely pleased at this point; although he was a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner and had forged a great number of First Order Superior Grade Spirit Swords, when it came to the power of the sword embryos alone, this particular Spirit Sword embryo satisfied him the most. This was still only the Spirit Sword embryo, accounting for only half of the success; the subsequent Inscription Array needed to be carved before it could be considered a complete Spiritual Artifact. Lin Shilu took a brief rest for a quarter of an hour and then threw himself back into the most important task of Inscription marking. Chapter 33 A Set of Qingfeng Swords (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In Lin Shilu''s refining room, Lin Shilu was at this moment, focusing intently on inscribing engravings, as golden-yellow runes sunk one by one into the Spirit Sword in front of him.An hour later, the golden runes revealed themselves one by one on the entire sword body, the tiny runes gradually spreading over the entirety of the sword. At this time, the whole Spirit Sword was emitting a strong Sword Qi, its grade had evidently reached that of a First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instrument without a doubt. Both Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were overwhelmed with joy, with Lin Tianming feeling particularly excited. Originally thinking that crafting a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument would be a success, they hadn''t expected to actually forge a First Order Top-Quality Spirit Sword. If all twenty Sword Embryos were made into First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments to form a Sword Array, its might would unquestionably be more terrifying. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but look forward to that. At this moment, Lin Shilu was also very satisfied, as he had successfully become a Second Order Medium Quality Refiner half a year ago. He took helping Tianming with refining very seriously. Before the refining process, the chances of producing a First Order Superior Grade were very high, and the possibility of a First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instrument was not slim either. Second Order Qingling Bamboo was already considered one of the best materials among Second Order materials, and Lin Shilu did not only bring out a large quantity of high-quality auxiliary materials but also a significant amount of treasured Second Order Spirit Iron. It was quite the bloodletting, but thankfully the results were satisfactory. In the Cultivation World, even most of the cultivators at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment still combat using Spiritual Instruments, most of which are First Order Superior Grade or Top-Quality. More advanced Magic Artifacts are only accessible to those cultivators who are in the middle or later stages of Foundation Establishment and are quite wealthy. Lin Tianming investing such a great deal in refining, his attack power was certain to increase significantly. Striking while the iron was hot, the grandfather and grandson worked together with renewed vigor and re-immersed themselves in the refining process. Twenty days passed in silence, and the day to go to Qianchuan Market was approaching; the sounds of hammering were continuous in Lin Shilu''s refining room. The pair were currently taking turns hammering a Second Order Qingling Bamboo. Before their eyes, the once bowl-thick Qingling Bamboo gradually took the shape of a Spirit Sword Embryo, its form nearly complete. Lin Shilu added a piece of Second Order ore, and together they hammered away without stopping. After half a month of teamwork, they developed a great synergy, the two massive hammers striking the Spirit Sword Embryo rapidly; the rhythm of their hammering was expertly controlled, greatly increasing the efficiency. Otherwise, if Lin Shilu were to refine alone, not only would it be very exhausting, but it would also be difficult to complete the forging of twenty Spirit Swords within a month. Having successfully forged the rudimentary shape of the Spirit Sword, Lin Shilu, without taking any rest, continued with the process of inscribing engravings. After one and a half hours of inscribing, the final Spirit Sword was completely finished. Twenty Spirit Swords were neatly suspended in the refining room, each radiating powerful fluctuations. Twenty stalks of Qingling Bamboo, with a large addition of various ores, even including three types of Second Order, had been successfully forged into twenty First Order Top-Quality complete set Spirit Swords. At this moment, Lin Shilu looked utterly exhausted. After over twenty continuous days of refining, his Spiritual Power and mental energy had been greatly spent. Lin Tianming was also very weary, now only wanting a good sleep for a couple of days. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu arranged for Lin Tianming to rest in the next room. The two of them took their rest, each collapsing onto a stone bed and falling into a deep sleep. The pair slept for a full two days, and on the morning of the third day, Lin Shilu emerged from his room and sat down to enjoy tea on a cushion in the courtyard. In his room, Lin Tianming opened his clear, bright eyes. After sleeping for a full two days, he was completely rejuvenated, his sharp gaze particularly keen. After grooming himself, Lin Tianming stepped out of his room and saw Lin Shilu sitting in the courtyard; he immediately went forward to pay his respects. Lin Tianming spoke with earnest sincerity: "Nephew Tianming pays his respects to Fifteenth Grandfather, thanking Fifteenth Grandfather for his painstaking efforts and consideration. This humble gift is a token of my deepest gratitude, and I humbly ask Fifteenth Grandfather to kindly accept it." Lin Tianming took out the eight hundred Spirit Stones given by his grandfather and two hundred he had gathered himself, totaling one thousand Spirit Stones, along with a bottle of Second Order Lingshen Pills, and respectfully handed them over to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu''s complexion was rosy as he calmly said: "There''s no need for the Spirit Stones. These Spirit Stones and elixirs are surely the result of your grandfather''s hard work. With the family''s modest foundation, it is difficult for each clan member to cultivate. When I was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, I greatly benefited from your grandfather''s support, which allowed me to quickly advance to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage." "Concerning the distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills, it was your grandfather who voluntarily withdrew from the competition. Coupled with the family''s full support, I might have found it difficult to succeed in Foundation Establishment. It can be said that your grandfather has made many contributions to the whole family, and to me. Therefore, you may take back the Spirit Stones, but since there''s some Second Order Qingling Bamboo material left, and Second Order Pills are useful for my cultivation, I will accept them without ceremony." "If you need any more help, just ask. If it''s within my capabilities, I will not refuse," Lin Shilu said with a seriously earnest expression. "Elder, I exchanged for a First Order High-Quality Alchemy Furnace at the Hall of Merit, but its grade has fallen to a First Order Medium-Grade Dan Furnace. Could you please help me repair it?" As he spoke, Lin Tianming took out the Four Symbols Furnace and handed it to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu received the Four Symbols Furnace, examining it carefully to ascertain the degree of damage and to see whether it could currently be repaired. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shilu finally spoke: "Leave it to me. Although the grade has fallen, the damage isn''t severe, and it won''t take much material to fix. It won''t take more than three days to upgrade it back to a First Order High-Quality level. With only a few days left in the month, you should go back and refine your set of Spirit Swords. In seven days, we will gather outside the family''s grand array and set off on time to Qianchuan Market." "Yes." Lin Tianming received the set of Spirit Swords, bowed respectfully, and then left the yard. In his own courtyard, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, taking out all twenty Spirit Swords and suspending them in the air. As he grasped one of the Spirit Swords in his hand, its powerful and violent fluctuations caused the surrounding Spiritual Energy to churn chaotically. The Spirit Sword vibrated continuously in his palm, attempting to break free from Lin Tianming''s control. An unrefined Spirit Sword whose ownership hadn''t been established couldn''t contain its aura, and it could only be controlled by successfully refining it. "Hmph, having put so much effort and materials into this, it would be a major loss if I didn''t refine you." Lin Tianming released a drop of his Lifeblood Essence onto the Spirit Sword, which quickly absorbed into the blade and vanished. He began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, imprinting his Lifeblood Essence and Divine Sense at the core of the Spirit Sword, carefully refining it. An hour later, Lin Tianming had refined the first Spirit Sword, which spun continuously around him, glowing a brilliant golden hue. At that moment, Lin Tianming and the Spirit Sword were in perfect sync, and the violent Sword Qi fluctuations of the entire blade were completely contained, indistinguishable from an ordinary Spirit Sword when not actively released. The Spirit Sword joyfully circled around Lin Tianming. Like a young child, it occasionally brushed against his body as if trying to please him. After storing the Spirit Sword he had refined and claimed as his own, Lin Tianming once again entered a state of refining and cultivation. Chapter 34 Preparations Before Departure_1 Time quietly passed, and three days flitted by in a hurry.In his small courtyard, Lin Tianming was tightly clutching a golden spirit sword, currently channeling his energy to refine and claim it as his own. An hour passed, and Lin Tianming loosened his grip on the spirit sword, which swiftly left the palm of his hand, spinning endlessly around him. After five consecutive days of refining, Lin Tianming finally succeeded in claiming all twenty spirit swords as his own. He took out all the spirit swords, and they lined up neatly in front of him. Each one was a first order top-quality spiritual instrument. So many spirit swords, and a complete set at that¡ªgiven their power, if put up for auction, it''s feared that even twenty thousand spirit stones might not be enough to buy them. The mere Second Order Qingling Bamboo was worth more than three thousand spirit stones, and adding to that the various types of Second Order Spirit Ore treasured by Lin Shilu, as well as some first order supplementary materials, took them nearly a month to refine successfully. It would have to sell for at least ten thousand spirit stones at a minimum. Its value almost enough to buy a Minor Foundation Building Pill. Clutching one of the spirit swords, Lin Tianming couldn''t bear to put it down; he hadn''t yet given the sword a name. After pondering deeply for a quarter of an hour, he decided to name it the Earth Evil Sword. Using the Earth Evil Sword in conjunction with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation made the name particularly fitting. After completing the refining and ownership ritual, Lin Tianming couldn''t wait to test its power. He put away the twenty Earth Evil Swords and stepped out of the room, riding his sword towards the valley where he had once practiced the Fire Origin Decision. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming arrived in the valley. Circulating his cultivation technique, Lin Tianming tried to activate the Earth Evil Sword. An Earth Evil Sword shot up into the sky. Its intense sword qi, almost tangible, whipped the surrounding flowers, grass, and trees into shreds. Surprised and delighted by such power, Lin Tianming fully controlled more spirit swords to join in. One after another, the Earth Evil Swords joined the unceasing rotation of the sword formation, the aura of the entire formation growing stronger. A strong wind picked up in the whole valley; trees within a thousand zhang were snapped by the wind, with some being uprooted entirely. After about ten breaths'' time had passed, Lin Tianming was drenched in sweat, looking like he had reached his limit. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the number of spirit swords had reached fifteen. The formation, made of fifteen first order top-quality Earth Evil Swords, was as impregnable as a fortified wall. Underneath the formation, trees and rocks rapidly vanished into nothingness, unable to withstand the power of the swords and directly sublimating. The sheer might of the formation was terrifying. Lin Tianming quickly maneuvered the sword formation to move towards a nearby stone mountain. "Annihilate." In a blink, stones the size of ten-odd zhang turned into dust; a hundred zhang deep hole appeared in the ground, its depths unseen, and the entire mountain shook. Lin Tianming retracted the sword formation and placed all the Earth Evil Swords back into his storage bag. Exerting his full power, he could only control fifteen spirit swords to form the sword array at once, and could only maintain it for half a quarter of an hour. His Divine Sense and spiritual power were largely spent. If he were to control the sword formation for a long time during combat, exceeding the burden on his Divine Sense and spiritual power, he feared there might be significant injuries. Still, the power of the fifteen spirit swords forming the Earth Evil Sword Formation was indeed terrifying. An ordinary cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, if trapped, would likely have to pay a heavy price to escape. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but sigh; powerful methods also demanded powerful control over spiritual power and Divine Sense. It was only logical to have such limitations; otherwise, low-level cultivators with access to advanced Mystical Techniques could defy the natural order and battle across several realms, which would be too contrary to the heavens. Having tested the sword array''s power and with only two days left of the month, Lin Tianming finished his practice. He put all the spirit swords back into his storage bag, transformed into a escaping light, and headed straight for the Family Merits Hall. The Qianchuan Market was located more than three thousand li to the north of Green Bamboo Mountain and the journey required passing through the Luoyun Market. The Luoyun Market was situated in the central area of the Luoyun Mountain Range. It was a small-scale market co-established by the five Foundation Establishing families of the range, along with over ten Qi Refining families. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already the strongest in the market, and there was always one stationed there year-round, with ten-year rotations among the five great Foundation Establishing families. For this ten-year period, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family was in residence. Whereas the Qianchuan Market was a medium-sized market, well-known throughout the Southern Wei Kingdom, even Core Formation Cultivators had made several appearances there. In the Southern Wei Kingdom, it was one of the foremost markets. The journey was long and merely getting on the road required more than ten days. Finding Ye Pinghai would take time too, and even if everything went smoothly, it was likely to take half a year. If not, one to two years were a strong possibility. The trip was not a short one. There were plenty of spiritual instruments, talismans, and spiritual medicine. I needed to prepare before leaving. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming headed straight to the Family Merits Hall. Inside the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming stepped in. Lin Shixin was exchanging spiritual medicine for family members. Lin Tianming wasn''t in a rush and stood by, waiting his turn. After half an hour, Lin Tianming approached to pay his respects: "Nephew Tianming pays respect to Uncle Shi." Lin Shixin responded with a smile: "You young fellow aren''t what you used to be. You lack for nothing, be it spiritual medicine, instruments, or talismans. What more do you need?" "Uncle Shi, does the family have any Mystical Vine Flowers?" "First Order Superior Grade Mystical Vine Flower?" "We have some in stock. Do you want them? Ten low-grade spirit stones per plant. How many would you like?" Lin Tianming replied: "I would like five Mystical Vine Flowers, two Fire Element Grass, two Golden Flower Grass, and four Shuiyun Grass. Do you have all these?" "Yes, all these are First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine, ten low-grade spirit stones each plant, totaling one hundred and thirty spirit stones." Lin Tianming had previously obtained some of the spiritual medicine materials for Xisui Pills. He wanted to supplement them, gather enough for five sets of materials, and prepare to refine them to consume as soon as possible. He then inquired about the materials for Pozhang Pills. The family had all the auxiliary ingredients, but not the main medicinal ingredient, the Dragon Origin Fruit. Lin Tianming had to spend one hundred and twenty spirit stones to purchase three sets of auxiliary medicine for the Pozhang Pills. He would try to acquire the Dragon Origin Fruit when he reached Qianchuan Market and refine it into elixirs. The resources in Qianchuan Market were far richer than those of Green Bamboo Mountain. Even Third Order spiritual medicine appeared from time to time, so finding the Dragon Origin Fruit should not be difficult. Lin Tianming took out his family token and deducted two hundred and fifty merit points, leaving him with less than two thousand. After storing away all the spiritual medicine materials, Lin Tianming did not linger and, after bidding farewell to Lin Shixin, left. Entering his family''s courtyard, Lin Tianming stepped inside. Lin Tianyue was sitting cross-legged in the courtyard. When she saw Lin Tianming, she immediately stood up and rushed into his embrace. Lin Tianming affectionately patted his sister''s hair and asked if their mother was at home. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianyue said: "Mother has been in seclusion recently. She didn''t focus on cultivation for the past few years and left most of the spirit stones and some elixirs from grandfather for us, siblings. She relied solely on breathing exercises and only advanced from the Sixth Level of Qi Refining to the Seventh Level five years ago. Now that brother has given her more than ten Lingshen Pills, she naturally went into seclusion to improve her cultivation level." "Father left the family estate ten days ago; you were refining artifacts and he couldn''t wait. So, he went directly to Luoyun Market. Grandfather and Mother surely know that you will be leaving the family soon, and they will probably return in the next day or two to spend some time together." At that time, Lin Tianyue was still at the Third Level of Qi Cultivation, but her aura was notably more full-bodied and robust¡ªit seemed she hadn''t been slacking in the past half-month. The siblings sat cross-legged in the courtyard, and Lin Tianming did his best to guide his sister''s cultivation while waiting for their grandfather and mother to emerge from seclusion. Chapter 35 Grandfathers Entrustment_1 ```At dusk, the waning rays of the setting sun bathed their small courtyard in a warm glow. Brother and sister, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue, were sitting at the stone table. After guiding his sister through her daily cultivation, Lin Tianyue persisted in coaxing Lin Tianming, insisting that her brother tell her about the events that had taken place while he was safeguarding Qingfeng Town. Worn down by her nagging, Lin Tianming began recounting his story, starting with the moment he left the family residence. Lin Tianming spoke non-stop, his tale lasting a quarter of an hour, spanning from the patrol mission to the forced counterattack, to the killing of the man in the red robe in a duel of magic. Upon hearing this part, Lin Tianyue''s rosy and handsome face quickly turned pale, as if she herself had been in the midst of the ordeal. Lin Tianming continued with his account, and Lin Tianyue listened intently, covering the battles with the Striped Crocodile, the sneaky harvesting of Earth Spirit Ganoderma, the inadvertent trespass into the Spirit-Connecting Python''s territory, and the embarrassing escape. Lin Tianming concealed the matter of the Cultivation Technique, which was of great consequence; the fewer who knew, the better. But he shared unreservedly the dramatic events of battling and fleeing for his life. Since she had started her cultivation and had become a cultivator, it was only natural to clarify the realities of the Cultivation World and let his sister understand the true nature of it so that she could adapt more quickly in the future. In this moment, Lin Tianyue''s heart was greatly affected. Having grown up with exceptional living conditions, carefree cultivation within the family residence, a grandfather who was an alchemist, parents who were cultivators, and a brother with extraordinary talent, she had never faced any danger from her childhood until now. The experiences her brother spoke of revealed that the Cultivation World was indeed filled with crises and opportunities. The law of the survival of the fittest was exemplified most vividly and cruelly. Unknowingly, the brother and sister had been talking for half an hour; the sun had set, and darkness was gradually descending. Ren Yuxuan, who had been in closed-door cultivation for a fortnight, opened her beautiful eyes, and a trace of joy crossed her delicate, moist face. Finally, she had reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level. For the past five years, she had rarely consumed elixirs, devoting her time to guiding and taking care of Lin Tianming and his sister. She hadn''t had the chance to focus solely on her cultivation in seclusion. Relying on a substantial amount of elixirs, building up her energy and releasing it in controlled amounts, she had naturally progressed and successfully reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level, her overall aura significantly more robust than before. With only one day left before Lin Tianming had to leave the family, it was natural for Ren Yuxuan to emerge from seclusion to see her son off. Ren Yuxuan stood up, left the secret chamber, walked down the long corridor, and appeared in the courtyard. Upon seeing their mother come out of seclusion, Lin Tianming and his sister immediately stepped forward to greet her. "Tianming greets Mother. Congratulations on successfully advancing to the Qi Refining Eighth Level!" Lin Tianming''s Divine Sense made it impossible for his sister to notice the advancement, but not him. His Divine Sense might even be stronger than his mother''s at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Moreover, since Ren Yuxuan did not conceal her cultivation, her advancement was easily detected. Lin Tianyue, upon hearing of her mother''s successful advancement, was also overjoyed. She grabbed her mother''s arm and shook it ceaselessly, displaying the demeanor of a doting daughter. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, I will go cook a feast. We''ll sit down together for a good meal tonight. Tianming, send a message to your grandfather, asking him to come back for dinner." "Yes, I will send the message to Grandfather right away." Just as Lin Tianming was about to send the message, Grandfather Lin Shigong walked in through the door, crossing the threshold into the small courtyard, and sat down at the stone table nearby. ``` Lin Tianming and his companion hurriedly performed a salute! Lin Shigong had them sit down before speaking: "Tianming, the day after tomorrow, early in the morning, you will set out on your journey. The road is long and far from the influence of our family. Qianchuan Market is a place where masters gather, including Core Formation Stage seniors. You must be cautious in everything you do when outside and must not act recklessly. Consult your Fifteenth Grandfather on all matters. He has often traveled outside these past years, and his Divine Skills are not weak. You must obey his orders and remember not to draw unnecessary trouble to our family." Lin Tianming replied earnestly: "Grandfather, rest assured, I will surely follow behind Fifteenth Grandfather and will not take risks lightly, nor will I carelessly cause trouble." Lin Shigong was very satisfied. After a year of guarding Qingfeng Town, his grandson had matured a lot. He had fought life-and-death battles with cultivators and Demonic Beasts. Although it was unknown which Cultivation Technique he was practicing, his Divine Skills were surely remarkable. Coupled with his extraordinary fortune, he was already fit to survive on his own in the Cultivation World. After a year of experience, Lin Tianming was wise and resourceful, with plenty of combat experience and substantial knowledge. He also had a large number of Spiritual Artifacts and talisman paper for fighting against enemies. With significant Divine Skills and a heart dedicated to the path of cultivation, if we protect him everywhere and are too protective, he may find it difficult to travel far. Lin Tianming sat respectfully on the side, listening to his grandfather Lin Shigong''s commands. "Ye Pinghai is an old acquaintance of mine, who values friendship and righteousness. Although it has been more than ten years since we last met, every time the family sends someone to Qianchuan Market, they visit him, and he has helped us refine Second Order Pills many times." "When this man was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, I helped him, and he owed us a favor. However, over the years, with the many times he has helped us refine pills, the favor he owed us has long been repaid." "Although he is a Loose Cultivator, his talent is extremely high. He has already entered the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and he has a considerable chance of entering the Golden Core Stage. He is also a Second Order Alchemist. When you visit him, you must not offend him. If you can get him to personally guide you for a while, the gains will not be small." Lin Tianming firmly responded, repeatedly assuring his grandfather to be at ease, which finally put Lin Shigong''s mind at rest. Lin Tianming was also very eager to see Qianchuan Market, to witness the famous market in the southern Wei Kingdom and to encounter various strong figures there. The grandfather and grandchildren sat in the courtyard discussing for half an hour, and Ren Yuxuan had prepared a lavish meal. Aside from Lin Xingrong who was in Luoyun Market, the four sat together to have dinner. After a meal and plenty of drinks, Lin Tianming and the others each returned to their rooms, and Grandfather went back to the Alchemy Hall for cultivation. Sitting on the stone bed in his room, Lin Tianming carefully went through the items in his storage bag to avoid mistakenly estimating his own resources and strength. At this time, Lin Tianming still had over twenty Lingshen Pills, several Huiyuan Pills, Huadu Pills, and Consolidating Essence Pills each, which meant he basically wouldn''t be lacking consumption-type pills for a while. He had materials for fifty Spirit Essence Pills, twenty-five portions each of Strong Spirit Pills, Body Strengthening Pills, along with assistance elixirs for cultivating the Tiangang Body Art. However, as he was not yet able to refine them on his own, it was essential to refine some of these pills during his trip to Qianchuan Market to aid in cultivation. Otherwise, as his cultivation rose, enduring the pain purely on his own would be nearly impossible for long. Refining pills had become a must on his agenda. His means for dealing with enemies were also strong. His own Cultivation Technique was not inferior, and combined with the Sword Array, plus ten First Order Superior Grade talisman papers and three First Order Superior Grade Defensive Spiritual Tools, ordinary cultivators at the Qi Refining Eighth Level were not his match, and he even had a fair chance of victory against those at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Lin Tianming packed each resource neatly into the storage bag, placing different types of Spiritual Medicine and talisman paper in separate locations in an orderly fashion. At this point, the night was deep, and Lin Tianming did not continue his cultivation; instead, he relaxed, lay down on the stone bed, and fell straight to sleep. Chapter 36 Setting Out_1 Early in the morning, a red sun slowly rose along the horizon.At this time, Green Bamboo Mountain was especially tranquil, with the majority of the clan members who were not in secluded cultivation still asleep. Lin Tianming sat on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, appearing outside the Protective Clan Formation. It was silent all around, utterly quiet. It was still early, and there was half a quarter of an hour until the arranged time, Lin Shilu had not yet appeared, so Lin Tianming sat down on a green stone nearby to wait. Before half a quarter of an hour had passed, a sound of tearing through the air came along, a ripple appeared in the clan''s great formation, and a streak of white light escaped, stopping in front of Lin Tianming. It was Lin Shilu, who had arrived. Lin Tianming immediately stepped forward to greet him. Lin Shilu nodded, then threw out a pill furnace, which was the Four Symbols Furnace that Lin Tianming had asked Lin Shilu to help repair. By this time, after several days of Lin Shilu''s repairs, with the addition of some Spirit Ore and Spiritual Objects, and the restoration of its inscriptions, the grade of the Four Symbols Furnace had successfully returned to First Order Superior Grade. The fine cracks on its surface had long since disappeared, and the entire furnace was a fiery red color with a delicate gloss, obviously the complete appearance of a pill furnace. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming was overjoyed, as the successful repair of the Four Symbols Furnace meant that his chances of successfully refining First Order Superior Grade elixirs were greatly increased. In his happiness, Lin Tianming sincerely expressed his gratitude: "Nephew thanks Fifteenth Grandfather for his help. I am deeply grateful. If there is hope for me to become a Second Order Alchemist one day, I will repay Fifteenth Grandfather for his generous assistance!" "Alright, we''re all family, no need for such formalities. It''s getting late, the journey is long, so you better set off quickly!" Lin Tianming readily agreed and took the initiative to say: "My Purple Gold Eagle is quite fast, so we can hurry to our destination and save a lot of time and effort. However, once we reach Qianchuan Market, we''ll have to leave it outside if we don''t have a Spirit Beast Bag, which could be a minor inconvenience." Hearing this, Lin Shilu took out a dark green Spirit Beast Bag and tossed it to Lin Tianming. As a Second Order Artifact Refiner, a Spirit Beast Bag was several times more precious than a storage bag, but it was not considered a rare item. He had an extra one, so he decided to give it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the Spirit Beast Bag with delight on his face. With the Spirit Beast Bag, there was no need to leave the Purple Gold Eagle outside the market. This was much safer, as if a Foundation Establishment Cultivator stumbled upon it, with the Purple Gold Eagle''s notable bloodline, it might be captured to be used as a Spirit Beast, inviting a lot of trouble. With the Spirit Beast Bag, there was no need to worry about that. Lin Shilu took out a Beast Skin map and confirmed the direction with Lin Tianming, discussing the route as well. "This trip to Qianchuan Market carries the expectations of the Elders'' Council members. With limited time, we must reach Qianchuan Market as soon as possible, find Ye Pinghai, and refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill to safely bring it back to the clan." "We must be cautious and careful, not allowing other cultivation families to detect us. Otherwise, they may interfere or even attempt to kill and seize treasures. This is entirely possible. Therefore, for this trip, we must disguise ourselves, avoiding other families'' territories as much as possible, and remember not to reveal our true purpose." In half a quarter of an hour, the two of them had discussed and agreed on the route. If they went straight, they would need to pass through Luoyun Market and the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family''s family residence. Luoyun Market was perennially guarded by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the Jin Family had always been at odds with the Lin Family, provoking them multiple times and injuring several clansmen. Alas, with the Jin Family''s strong power, the Lin Family could only swallow their grievances and remember the enmity in their hearts, waiting for the right conditions and the right time to seek justice. After discussion, they decided to bypass Luoyun Market and the other families'' territories, willing to spend several times more time to ensure safety. For nearly a hundred years, the Lin Family had struggled to survive among the five major families. The Minor Foundation Building Pill was too important, a spiritual object that could boost the family''s strength in a short time, hence it required utmost caution and prioritizing safety. Having made up their minds, Lin Shilu took out two black conical hats, which turned out to be First Order Medium Grade spiritual artifacts. They could alter appearance, change voice, and conceal one''s aura. Even for those at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, it would be quite difficult to discern their true faces. However, for Nascent Soul Masters with powerful divine sense, a careful investigation could still easily reveal them. The two of them then used a Disguise Technique. Lin Shilu transformed into an old man, with a face full of wrinkles, whitening hair, and an elderly voice, appearing to be at an advanced age. Lin Tianming transformed into a middle-aged man, his face covered with a rough beard, a spitting image of a rugged hearty fellow. The two of them sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, instructing it to fly thousands of feet high into the air and speed towards the north. Lin Shilu sat calmly on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, appearing as if he were closing his eyes to rest; in reality, he had extended his Divine Sense in all directions, probing the surroundings for several dozen miles. Along the way, they encountered some Qi Refining Stage Cultivators; upon being detected, they released a hint of Foundation Establishment Stage aura. Startled Qi Refining Cultivators would no longer bother them, immediately leaving them be. The two traveled at full speed during the day and rested at night; their journey was quite smooth. Time hurried by, and twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Tianming and his companion proceeded cautiously, avoiding large mountain ranges and territories of families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. When they did encounter Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they intentionally steered clear to avoid unnecessary troubles. "Fifteenth Grandfather, is that Maple Forest Mountain Range up ahead?" Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming held a map in his hands, carefully determining his location based on the terrain''s features. "Hmm, the mountains covered with maple forests stretching for a hundred miles, it is undoubtedly Maple Forest Mountain Range!" Lin Shilu confirmed Lin Tianming''s question, then continued, "This place isn''t far from Qianchuan Market, just less than five hundred miles away. It''s getting late, and this area is on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, relatively safe. Let''s rest here for the night and set out again tomorrow." "Yes!" Lin Tianming agreed enthusiastically, then instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to descend into a valley. After landing, Lin Tianming surveyed the valley, seeing the sky full of red leaves that painted the valley a crimson hue, a scenery most picturesque. Lin Tianming waved a Spirit Sword, swiftly carving out a simple cave abode halfway up the mountainside, casting two Illusion Techniques to conceal the entrance before both retreated into the cave to rest. The next day, as dawn broke, they resumed their journey towards Qianchuan Market. After traveling tirelessly for the better part of the day, Lin Tianming and his companion finally arrived on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. Landing several miles away from the market''s city gates on a small hill, they stowed the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag and took out their Flying Swords, flying toward Qianchuan Market. Approaching within several miles of the city gates, they could see with the naked eye a gigantic city sprawling on the horizon, its walls a hundred feet high, gleaming silver-white, and spanning at least dozens of miles. The city, built against a mountain thousands of feet tall, was majestically impressive. A brilliant golden light shield enveloped the entire city from east to west, north to south, clearly the work of a great array. Lin Shilu looked on calmly, while Lin Tianming, witnessing such a grand city for the first time, with city gates towering over ten feet high, was dumbfounded and utterly astonished. Such a grand city, with its Formation likely a Fourth Order Great Array, could even withstand attacks from Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators for a while. It certainly was incomparable to Luoyun Market. Having been to this place a few times before, Lin Shilu wasn''t as shocked as Lin Tianming, though he had had a more intense reaction than Lin Tianming upon his first visit to Qianchuan Market. Lin Shilu calmly reminded, "All right, let''s go and enter the city quickly." "Yes!" In less than half an hour, they were near the city gates, both descending to the ground, where a line was forming to enter the city¡ªdozens of people. Most of them were Qi Refining Cultivators, generally from the mid to late stages, with more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. The two followed closely, preparing to enter the city. Chapter 37 Qianchuan Market_1 At the entrance of Qianchuan Market, ten cultivators were collecting the entrance fee, among them a Foundation Establishment cultivator was leading the team.One of the cultivators shouted loudly, "To enter the market, each person must pay five spirit stones to enter, remember that fighting within the market is prohibited. Violators will be subject to on-the-spot execution by the Law Enforcement Team." Lin Tianming wore a bitter expression on his face; five spirit stones per person was indeed not cheap. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but sigh, many low-order loose cultivators would need half a year to save up five low-grade spirit stones, just to pay the entrance fee. Considering the flow of people here, he wondered how many spirit stones they would collect in a day, easily in the tens of thousands. The daily entrance fee was almost the same as the Lin Family''s annual income. "Fifteenth Grandfather, do you know if Core Formation cultivators have to pay the entrance fee?" Lin Shilu, with a face full of disdain, answered, "Of course, Core Formation cultivators don''t have to pay. At that level, they are esteemed figures, not only in Wei Kingdom but also in Qingzhou, revered as a powerful presence wherever they go. As far as I know, there are always several Core Formation cultivators present in Qianchuan Market all year round, including both loose cultivators and members from great sect families." Having said that, he didn''t care about Lin Tianming''s reaction. Lin Shilu paid ten low-grade spirit stones, and after the scrutinizing cultivator let them through, the two of them were able to enter the city. Once inside the city, they were on a wide road paved with bluestone, which was very broad. On both sides of the road, there were building after building, all different kinds of shops. The entire market was divided into four zones: east, south, west, and north. The entrance area was located in the West District, which was full of large shops opened by various commerce alliances, offering a wide variety, from elixirs to magic artifacts, and talisman papers to formations. "Elixir Pavilion," "Hundred Treasures Hall," "Sundry Goods Shop," "Tavern," "Inn"¡ª such a dazzling array of establishments. Lin Tianming was very eager to go in and broaden his horizons, but the time was not right yet. Moving further in, they reached the East District of the entire market. Here stood a colossal building, towering dozens of feet high, the tallest in the whole market, covering a hundred acres; it was the core institution of the market, consisting of the auction house and Market City Hall. Nearby, dozens of courtyards served as the residences of the market''s administrators and high-order cultivators. It was presumed that Core Formation cultivators lived here. The North District was the residential area for cultivators, with thousands of neat courtyards arrayed in order, all developed by the market as dwellings, available for short-term or long-term stays, and quite expensive. Many cultivators preferring short stays chose to rent inns as the more economical option. The South District was a vast square where cultivators could freely trade. Every cultivator who entered the city could rent a space spanning several square meters as a stall to sell their goods. In the entire market, the Law Enforcement Team often patrolled, ensuring excellent public order. Hardly any cultivator dared to fight within the market. As for the grudges between cultivators, they were beyond the market''s control once outside its bounds. One could say that the market provided a stable and prosperous sanctuary for the loose cultivators of the Cultivation World, where their cultivation efforts could be redoubled. In the Cultivation World, markets could bring vast wealth, and each one was backed by sect families, without which it would be difficult to achieve such a scale. And Qianchuan Market was established under the leadership of one of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, the Zhenyang Sect, bringing in a hefty sum of spirit stones to the sect every year. The Zhenyang Sect was one of the three great sects in Wei Kingdom, with multiple Core Formation cultivators to its name, over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, and more than a thousand disciples, making it the leading power in the Southern Wei Kingdom. In the land of the Qingzhou Wei Kingdom, aside from the Zhenyang Sect, there are also two major sects, the "Myriad Medicine Valley" and the "Golden Sword Sect," as well as two major families, the Yingchuan Chen Family and the West River Li Family, each with a varying number of Core Formation Cultivators stationed there. Listening to Lin Shilu''s introduction, the two of them walked along the bustling streets, weaving through the clamorous West City. Lin Tianming felt his head spin as he passed by the various shops, with the shop boys shouting out front, much like the cities of the Secular World, except this city was entirely dominated by cultivators. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming and his companion made their way through the lively West City and arrived outside the great hall for renting cave dwellings. After discussing, they hadn''t settled on the duration of their visit, which might be as short as three months or as long as a year; both decided that renting a small cave dwelling would be more cost-effective and safer. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two entered the great hall, where a huge divine map displayed thousands of red dots representing occupied cave dwellings and hundreds of green dots for those available for selection. Inside the hall, more than ten cultivators bustled about selecting cave dwellings, including several at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Lin Tianming and his companion approached the reception desk, and immediately a sixth-level Qi Refining Cultivator promptly greeted them. "Welcome, seniors, to select a cave dwelling. Please examine the map above and instruct the junior if you find one suitable. This junior will introduce them to you," the attendant said. Lin Shilu nodded thoughtfully while studying the large screen. The receptionist began to effusively introduce the options. "The dots on the map above are divided into two major areas, inner and outer. Near the inner city area are the First Order cave dwellings with ten acres of space, and the inner ones are Second Order dwellings with thirty acres. The price for a First Order dwelling is five low-grade Spirit Stones per month, while a Second Order dwelling costs twenty low-grade Spirit Stones per month. The minimum rental period is one month. Which kind of dwelling would you like to choose?" he asked. Lin Shilu pointed to one of the Second Order cave dwellings, took out one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, and handed them to the receptionist Qi Refining Cultivator. Upon receiving the Spirit Stones, the receptionist quickly scanned them with his Divine Sense and then handed Lin Shilu a turquoise token, saying, "Senior, please keep the token safe. You can proceed directly to the cave dwelling, as the token will automatically sense its specific location. When you display the token, it will unlock the various formations of the dwelling. If your rental period ends and you wish to extend, you can come to the hall to complete the procedures. If there''s anything else you need, please feel free to instruct this junior." Lin Shilu took the token, and he and Lin Tianming walked out of the great hall, heading towards the location of their cave dwelling. Along the way, Lin Shilu held the token, navigating through dozens of alleys, sensing the location of the dwelling. Within less than half an hour, the two stopped in front of a small courtyard located deep within the North District, a very quiet place. Lin Shilu displayed the token and cast a Law Decree, walking in first with Lin Tianming immediately following. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw a yard of several zhang, complete with stone tables and chairs, artificial mountains, and a pond, fully equipped with guest rooms on either side, rooms for training, secret chambers for alchemy and refining, and even Earth Fire. The layout was quite refined, accommodating several cultivators without issue. Feeling the Spiritual Energy of this place, which was in no way inferior to Green Bamboo Mountain and considering the one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones for half a year''s tenancy, it was hardly a surprise. By now, twilight had fallen, and after more than twenty days of travel, both decided to rest first and visit Ye Pinghai the next day, as a show of respect. They each picked a guest room and settled in. Weary from over twenty days of outdoor hardship, Lin Tianming was too exhausted to practice cultivation, so he immediately fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 38 Dragon Origin Grass_1 The next day, after a night of rest, Lin Tianming and his companion felt their fatigue of over twenty days vanish as they sat in the small courtyard, sipping tea and chatting leisurely."Fifteenth Grandfather, did you keep a way to contact Senior Ye? Otherwise, in such a vast market, how could we possibly find a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? It''s almost like looking for a needle in a haystack." Lin Shilu picked up a teacup from the stone table, took a sip, and calmly said: "I''ve been to Qianchuan Market a few times and have even met Daoist Ye once. I kept a way to contact him. Let me send a message now; I believe he will reply once he receives it, so don''t worry." Lin Shilu formed a hand gesture and sent a message. In less than a moment, a flash of spiritual light soared into the void and disappeared. Half an hour passed, and Lin Shilu had yet to receive any reply. Lin Tianming and he were both quite helpless. The Lin Family had taken significant risks on this journey, living through difficult times and threatened by rival families'' ambitions to swallow them up. They had luckily come across this opportunity to quickly increase their strength and had rushed to Qianchuan Market, but they could not afford to waste much time here. As Lin Shilu grew anxious, he comforted Lin Tianming. "Daoist Ye, as a Loose Cultivator, has been cultivating in Qianchuan Market for a long time. It''s hard to say how long a cultivator might spend in seclusion for alchemy, so it may not be easy to meet him. Although we are pressed for time, we mustn''t act in haste and lose our footing." Lin Tianming showed a helpless expression, knowing that being anxious wasn''t a solution, and they could only continue to wait. Time ticked away in this tense atmosphere, and soon half a day had elapsed. Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light flew into the courtyard, hovering in front of Lin Shilu. He projected his divine sense into it, and a voice echoed in his ear. "It is a joy to have friends come from afar. This evening, at the West District''s Welcome Pavilion, Lin is cordially invited to a banquet. Please be sure to come." Having heard everything, the spiritual light dissolved on the spot, turning into specks of light that vanished. Any trace of anxiety in Lin Shilu vanished completely. Lin Tianming, full of concern, asked, "Is that a reply from Senior Ye?" "Oh, yes, it''s a reply from Daoist Ye. He invites us to the Welcome Pavilion in the West District this evening for a banquet." Hearing that, Lin Tianming finally breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Senior Ye was not in a prolonged retreat; otherwise, they would have no idea how long they might have to wait to meet him. With half a day left before the appointed time, Lin Tianming was not inclined to cultivate; instead, he said to Lin Shilu: "Fifteenth Grandfather, there''s still plenty of time. I would like to wander around the marketplace to experience this place''s prosperity. Please allow me!" Lin Shilu pondered for a moment. Since fighting was prohibited in the market, and as long as they stayed within, it would be relatively safe. Thinking it was natural for him to see the world since he brought him along, Lin Shilu gave his consent. "Remember to come back before evening, don''t stir up trouble, and don''t leave Qianchuan Market on your own. If there''s an emergency, contact me immediately. Go ahead!" Lin Tianming readily agreed, then withdrew from the courtyard and headed towards the West District. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming appeared in the bustling West District, where row upon row of shops left him overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do, clearly spoilt for choice. Recalling the spiritual medicine materials needed for concocting Pozhang Pills, Lin Tianming realized he was still lacking a key ingredient, the Dragon Origin Grass. Though the Dragon Origin Grass was a First Order Superior Grade spirit grass, its preciousness surpassed most Second Order Spiritual Medicines. The Dragon Origin Grass required a very special environment to grow, needing a place where the blood of a Third Order Flood Dragon had been spilled in order to have a chance of sprouting. Third Order Flood Dragons were on par with Core Formation Cultivators; their blood was exceedingly precious and naturally not easy to come by. As he walked, a store named Thousand Herbs Pavilion caught his attention. Its massive signboard exuded grandeur. As its name suggested, it was likely a store specializing in selling Spiritual and Elixir Pills. With a glimmer of hope, Lin Tianming entered to see if he could purchase the needed herb. Upon entering the Thousand Herbs Pavilion, Lin Tianming was immediately greeted by an attendant at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, who was very enthusiastic and said with a smile, "Daoist friend, please take a seat. My surname is Qin, and I''m responsible for receiving visitors to our store. Whatever spirit herbs or elixirs you need, or if you wish to sell some spiritual medicine materials, please feel free to speak up. I''m not boasting, but our store has virtually everything that a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator might need." Lin Tianming looked disdainful, wondering if they even had Foundation Establishment Pills. "Oh? Do you have Dragon Origin Grass by any chance?" The expression of the cultivator surnamed Qin changed subtly at the mention of Dragon Origin Grass, which was not cheap. The whole store had only a few Dragon Origin Grass plants, and he surmised the visitor must be an alchemist wanting to concoct elixirs or needing it for an elder in his family. The attendant gathered his thoughts and responded calmly, "We do, but the price is sizeable¡ªeighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones per plant. How many would you like?" Lin Tianming was immediately delighted. He hadn''t been able to find a single Dragon Origin Grass in the Lin Family''s storeroom, and to think he could easily find it in Qianchuan Market, despite the steep price, was no small feat. "I would like three plants of Dragon Origin Grass. Could you possibly offer a lower price?" Although his storage bag still contained over a thousand spirit stones, a significant sum indeed, Lin Tianming put on an embarrassed face, hoping to haggle. The cultivator surnamed Qin pondered for a moment, considering that this cultivator was buying three plants of Dragon Origin Grass in one go and must be at least a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Anticipating future purchases of spiritual medicine, he decided to initiate a friendship. Alchemists were highly sought after in the Cultivation World, and he might need the cultivator''s help in the future. It was worth fostering a good relationship for potential benefits. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Daoist friend, I can give you the lowest price of seventy-five spirit stones per plant. If you will come back to purchase more spiritual medicine in the future, please look after our business, and I will make sure to offer you the best price available." Lin Tianming regarded the sincere demeanor of the Qin surnamed cultivator and didn''t suspect any deceit. Saving fifteen spirit stones on the three plants wasn''t a small sum, so he gladly agreed. The attendant poured a cup of tea for Lin Tianming and then went into the storeroom to get the Dragon Origin Grass for him. Lin Tianming sat in the guest chair at the side, sipping his tea while waiting patiently. After a short while, the cultivator surnamed Qin returned to the hall, holding three jade boxes, which he handed to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming carefully examined them. The entire spirit herb was a vivid red, resembling fresh blood, with three palm-sized leaves at the top of the stalk. The aroma was rich; there was no doubt it was the hundred-year-old Dragon Origin Grass. Once he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the Dragon Origin Grass, Lin Tianming decisively took out two hundred twenty-five spirit stones and handed them to the cultivator surnamed Qin. After a quick sweep of his Divine Sense over the spirit stones, Qin surnamed cultivator accepted them and prompted Lin Tianming to continue enjoying his tea, keen on becoming closer. While drinking the tea, Lin Tianming inquired about the market, exchanged a few pleasantries, and promised to take care of his business in the future. Then, Lin Tianming left the Thousand Herbs Pavilion. Since it was still early, Lin Tianming strolled around the West District, browsing through a variety of stores, looking at all the dazzling treasures. He saw so much that it nearly made his head spin, but he didn''t purchase anything, content with just broadening his horizons. Time ticked away, and the sun was about to set. Recalling Lin Shilu''s instructions, Lin Tianming left the West District to head toward the rented cave dwelling, preparing to meet up and go to the Welcoming Guests Tower to visit Ye Pinghai. Chapter 39 Ye Pinghai _1 Arriving back at the courtyard, with half an hour to go until the appointed time, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu sat down to drink tea and pass the time. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Kid, did you find anything good while you were out?" "Reporting to Fifteenth Grandfather, I had a substantial haul. I purchased several spiritual medicine materials that our Family Merits Hall doesn''t have. They are for alchemy. Today was quite the eye-opener; there are indeed countless treasures in the market. It simply cannot compare to Luoyun Market. Indeed, it is a paradise for cultivators. Once our clan grows stronger, we must expand our business here. If managed well, the gains would undoubtedly be substantial." "That is true. The foundation of our family is too shallow. For nearly a century, our situation has been increasingly difficult. Even within the Luoyun Mountain Range, we''re struggling to survive between the cracks. Who doesn''t want to expand the family business? Ye Pinghai is a Second Order Alchemist and is quite young, about the same age as this old man, and has already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. A Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist, his talent is not low, and he has a fair chance of reaching the Core Formation Stage. When you meet him, you must show respect and not offend him. Remember, you are the hope for our family''s rise. Remember to focus on your cultivation, and reach Foundation Establishment early to relieve some of the family''s pressure." Lin Tianming agreed, and the two of them began to chat leisurely. "It''s getting late; it''s almost time for our appointment. Let''s head out." "Yes!" Lin Shilu stood up from the courtyard, and Lin Tianming followed behind him as they headed towards the West District of the market. In less than fifteen minutes, they had passed through numerous cultivator dwellings and arrived on a broad road in the West District. In view, at a prominent location, stood a magnificent pavilion with the glorious gold and jade. The huge plaque was flamboyantly inscribed with three large characters: Welcome Pavilion, exuding an extraordinary aura. The two men, one in front of the other, stepped into the Welcome Pavilion. Inside, a vast number of cultivators were dining on the first floor, most of them in the Qi Refining Stage, chatting in groups of threes and twos, and the noisy sound was ceaseless to the ears. Upon seeing the two enter the main hall, a servant at the Fourth Level of Qi Practice hurried over to greet them with great respect and asked, ''Esteemed guests, please come inside. Are you here for an appointment, or would you like a table for yourselves?'' ''For an appointment. We''re specially invited by Daoist Ye of Ye Pinghai. Where is Daoist Ye at the moment? Has he arrived?'' Hearing this, the servant showed even more respect and couldn''t help feeling envious. Ye Pinghai''s name resounded throughout Qianchuan Market; not only was he at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but he was also a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Aside from Core Formation Stage experts, Ye Pinghai was one of the few Second Order Alchemists, with an extremely esteemed status. There were countless cultivators seeking his help, and the fact that these two were invited to dine with him suggested that they were no ordinary individuals. ''Elder, please follow me. Daoist Ye has already arrived and is waiting in a private room on the second floor.'' Following the attendant, Lin Tianming and his companion ascended to the second floor. Compared to the bustling noise on the first floor, the second floor was much quieter. Each room was a separate private space, and as Lin Tianming observed the rich and splendid decorations in the corridor, he mused that meal here must cost quite a lot. After a little more than ten breaths, they passed through several corridors and the party of three stopped at the entrance to a private room deep inside the second floor. The cultivator in charge of reception said respectfully, ''Elder Ye is already waiting inside, you can go directly in, your humble servant will wait outside, and should you have any instructions, feel free to summon me at any time,'' Lin Shilu nodded with satisfaction and tossed three Spirit Stones to the receptionist. The receptionist caught the Spirit Stones with a face full of surprise and thanked him respectfully; three Spirit Stones were a considerable amount for a First Order Rogue Cultivator like him, who, with poor natural talent, had a great need for cultivation resources. This necessity forced him to work as a receptionist at the Welcome Pavilion, toiling to earn Spirit Stones. Reliant on his salary and tips, he could earn around a dozen Spirit Stones each month, enough to buy a Lingshen Pill to aid in his Qi Cultivation, which had only reached the Fourth Level Qi Practice ¡ª a feat not easily accomplished. Lin Shilu paid no more attention to the receptionist and entered the private room with Lin Tianming, leaving the excited receptionist standing outside. Upon entering the private room, they saw a middle-aged cultivator in blue robes sitting at the round table, with sharp brows and piercing eyes, very heroic-looking ¡ª it was Ye Pinghai. On the round table were over a dozen jade containers filled with food that looked delicious. The entire room was overflowing with enticing aromas. Seeing Lin Shilu and others enter the private room, Ye Haiping stood up to welcome them, acting very courteously and completely without pretense. ''It brings me great joy to have an old friend visit. Please take a seat quickly. The fine food of this establishment is quite delicious. Daoist Lin, make sure to eat plenty as we talk over the meal.'' Lin Shilu revealed a hint of a smile, replying very sincerely, ''It''s an unexpected honor to disturb you, please forgive me, Daoist Ye. Today''s rare meeting will certainly call for a toast later on, as a token of my respect.'' ''This is my family''s Lin Shigong''s grandson, Lin Tianming, also a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, here specifically to meet Daoist Ye at Luoyun Market.'' ''Tianming, don''t hesitate to greet Elder Ye.'' Lin Tianming bowed with his fists clasped and said, ''I often hear my grandfather speak of Elder Ye, and hold you in high regard. Today, I finally have the chance to meet you in person. Junior Tianming greets Elder Ye.'' Throughout the process, he behaved neither submissively nor arrogantly, but composed and calm. ''Hm, I have not seen Brother Shi Gong for many years and it''s truly regrettable. His grandson truly carries an extraordinary bearing, most impressive. Please take your seat.'' Pleased with Lin Tianming''s demeanor, Ye Haiping took out two bottles of first-order Lingshen Pills from his storage bag and presented them to Lin Tianming as a greeting gift. After that, he happily invited the two to sit down. Having filled the cups with wine, he cast a restrictive spell to prevent eavesdropping. ''Brother Lin, it''s been many years since we''ve met. Today we must have a good exchange of insights. Tianming, make sure to eat well too. The Spirit Beast meat prepared by the Welcome Pavilion is quite exceptional, consuming more can strengthen a cultivator''s vitality and it''s not insignificant for your cultivation.'' Lin Tianming nodded like a pecking chick, helping himself unreservedly to the delicious food before him. After biting into a chunk of beast meat, he swallowed it down in large bites. The savory meat melted in his mouth, bolstering Lin Tianming''s physical body with spiritual power, clearly from a First Order Superior Grade Spirit Beast. Consuming a few bites appeared to have increased his strength somewhat. Although the effect was small, regular consumption would likely yield good results. Raising his cup of wine, Lin Tianming took the initiative to toast Ye Pinghai, and the three of them drank it down in one go. After the Spiritual Wine hit his throat, a fiery sensation rushed straight to his head. It was obviously not ordinary wine but must have been high-age Spiritual Medicine soaked liquor. Just one sip had slightly increased Lin Tianming''s spiritual power. Considering Elder Ye was also an alchemist, brewing some Spiritual Wine shouldn''t be too difficult; this must be from his private collection. Lin Tianming''s manner of eating caused Lin Shilu to look on disdainfully, silently chiding the boy in his heart for his disgraceful behavior. Lin Shilu and Ye Haiping began chatting over their Spiritual Wine, discussing not only about cultivation but also about Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging. Though they were Alchemist and Artifact Refiner respectively, the essence of crafting in both fields shared many similarities, making their conversation harmonious. As numerous dishes came and went, and after several rounds of wine, the three men''s faces turned red. Several bottles of high-quality Spiritual Wine had been consumed, and they began to discuss serious matters. Chapter 40 Guidance on Alchemy_1 Lin Shilu looked around cautiously and said,"Ye, my grandson and I have traveled thousands of miles to Qianchuan Market to seek your help in concocting elixirs. Rest assured, the reward will definitely satisfy you." "However, the elixirs to be concocted this time, though not high-grade, are no small matter. This issue must not be publicized or leaked out. I hope Ye can keep it confidential." Seeing Lin Shilu take the matter so seriously, Ye Haiping became curious and asked, "What kind of pills are so important to the Lin Family that you value them so highly?" Lin Shilu took out a pill formula written on a piece of beast skin and handed it to Ye Pinghai. It detailed the "Minor Foundation Building Pill" that Lin Tianming had obtained from the ancient cultivator''s cave dwellings. Ye Pinghai took the pill formula and began to carefully examine it, evaluating its authenticity for a full quarter of an hour. Shocked yet incredulous, Ye realized that the Minor Foundation Building Pill in Qingzhou was indeed a precious item. While easier to conjure and with good effects, the concoction of the Minor Foundation Building Pill and its spiritual medicine materials were relatively simple. Ye judged that the pill formula was indeed an ancient one, unheard of before, and possibly even one that had emerged from the human heartlands of Xuanzhou or Yunzhou. Its authenticity seemed high, and in a remote place like Qingzhou, it was indeed invaluable. No wonder Lin Shilu was so cautious. "Brother Lin, rest assured. Brother Shi Gong owes me a life-saving debt. I swear by my Heart Demon that I will keep this matter completely confidential and will not reveal the slightest bit. Should there be a leak, may I suffer and die in the Heart Demon Tribulation." Lin Shilu was also surprised. He dared not ask for such a serious oath, and yet Ye volunteered it, which spoke volumes of Ye Haiping''s trustworthiness. Had the family''s foundation not been so weak, devoid of a Second Order Alchemist, and the training of one taken decades and immense resources, they could not afford to wait. Otherwise, they would not entrust such an important matter to an outsider, and it was fortunate Ye Haiping knew to repay kindness. Otherwise, they really would have to take enormous risks. Lin Shilu''s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed. He took out a storage bag and handed it to Ye Pinghai. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Brother Ye, I cannot thank you enough for your great kindness. Our Lin Family has extended aid to you many times. Before coming here, the Clan Elders'' Assembly promised that should you ever need the Lin Family''s assistance within our means, you need only command us. There are fifteen portions of Minor Foundation Building Pill spiritual medicine materials in this storage bag. No matter the number of pills concocted, the Lin Family will show its gratitude after they are made, as per industry practice." In the Cultivation World, there are established norms for asking fellow cultivators to concoct elixirs or craft tools. For instance, in alchemy, one brings one''s own materials, and the alchemist, upon completion, may keep thirty percent of the finished pills as compensation. If there is an uneven number, compensation can be made with equivalent spirit stones. If the alchemy fails, the alchemist only needs to pay fifty percent of the spiritual medicine''s value in spirit stones as compensation. Should there be another division method, it can be agreed upon beforehand, provided both parties approve. The same general rules apply to tool crafting. Ye Pinghai took the storage bag, checked the spiritual medicine materials to ensure nothing was missing, and then said, "Though the Minor Foundation Building Pill is not too difficult to concoct, it''s not easy either. I need to prepare and adjust my condition to try to produce as many pills as possible. The entire process will likely take at least half a year." "You can wait for a while in the market. Also, please have Tian Ming come over to assist me, and I''ll take the opportunity to offer him some guidance too. How much he learns will be up to him." Ye Pinghai''s offer was a significant help to Lin Tianming and intended to reassure Lin Shilu. After all, being personally guided by a Second Order Alchemist in potion crafting would accelerate the improvement of one''s skills far more than solitary practice. At this moment, Lin Tianming was extremely excited. It had been a long time since he had concocted any elixirs. His trip to Qianchuan Market was aimed at concocting the Xisui Pill, Pozhang Pill, and the critical Body Strengthening Pill and Strong Spirit Pill for his practice. These pills were all First Order Superior Grade, and with Ye Pinghai''s personal guidance, the chances of successful concoction would greatly increase. "Thank you Senior Ye, I will definitely work hard and not let you down," Lin Tianming earnestly said. As night fell, having discussed and agreed on all arrangements, Lin Shilu, and two others left the guesthouse, bid each other farewell, and after agreeing to have Lin Tianming go to Ye Pinghai''s dwelling to study at dawn the next day, they each returned to their own dwellings. On the way back, Lin Shilu was very happy. He was charged with the heavy responsibility of the family''s development, carrying the family''s expectations, and thankfully, everything went very smoothly. As long as he brought the Minor Foundation Building Pills back to the family, he would have completed his mission perfectly. When they returned to the small courtyard, each retired to their rooms, Lin Tianming went to sleep peacefully, to rest up for tomorrow when he would begin making elixirs. Early in the morning, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance of a small courtyard, sent a message inside, and after a few moments, he walked in. The entire small courtyard was slightly larger than the one rented by Lin Shilu, modestly decorated, and Ye Pinghai was already waiting inside. "I pay my respects to Senior Ye!" Ye Pinghai nodded slightly with a smile and asked, "Which elixirs can you make now? What is the success rate of your pills?" "To answer Senior, I am currently making First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills, Huiyuan Pills, and Consolidating Essence Pills, with a success rate of forty percent and about four pills per batch." Ye Pinghai was also shocked after hearing this; a seventeen-year-old who could become a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, with a success rate and pill count that were not low. Such alchemy talent, he estimated, was like a phoenix feather or unicorn horn in the entire Wei Kingdom, probably only outdone by geniuses in the distant Cloud and Mystery States. "Follow me to the Alchemy Room. I will guide you in alchemy for a few days. Afterwards, I need to devote myself to making the Minor Foundation Building Pills. You can leave after watching a few batches, pay close attention, and it will be easier for you to make Second Order Pills in the future." Lin Tianming agreed respectfully and followed Ye Pinghai into the Alchemy Room. "First, make a batch of First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills for me to see. Adjust your state well, I will give you pointers from the side, and when it''s about right, try making First Order High Quality elixirs." Lin Tianming took out his Four Symbols Furnace and Spiritual Medicine Materials, habitually circulated his cultivation technique to regulate his breath, drew forth the Earth Fire, and in half an incense stick''s time, controlled the temperature of the Pill Furnace and Earth Fire. When it was about right, he began melting down the Spiritual Medicine Materials one by one, refining and purifying them. After an hour, a pleasant fragrance permeated the entire Alchemy Room. Opening the furnace lid, five Lingshen Pills were suspended in the furnace, each one bright and glossy, all being high-quality products. Lin Tianming was thrilled, as he mostly got four pills in his batches of elixirs, and it was rare to have five. Unexpectedly, his first batch today yielded five pills, and the time it took was also reduced significantly. Upon reflection, he attributed it to his increased cultivation, stronger Divine Sense, and the fact that his Four Symbols Furnace had been restored from First Order Superior Grade to Second Order Lower Grade, which made his alchemy even more smooth and effective. Ye Pinghai picked up an elixir between two fingers, scrutinizing it carefully, nodding occasionally, shaking his head at times, and it was unclear whether he was satisfied or not. "Young man, you''ve already done very well, but the details aren''t quite perfect. The vintages of the Spiritual Medicine Materials aren''t uniform, the refinement times vary, and the moment of opening the furnace isn''t fixed. You should adjust based on the actual situation, which can greatly improve the pill success rate and pill count. Try again later," suggested Ye Pinghai. Lin Tianming listened patiently, thought for a brief period, and then started making elixirs once again. Chapter 41 Refining Xisui Pill_1 ```In the Alchemy Room, Lin Tianming sat upright on his meditation cushion as Ye Pinghai stood by his side, occasionally offering a few words of guidance. After a day of Alchemy, Lin Tianming had already attempted to concoct three cauldrons of Lingshen Pills. Despite the failure of the second batch, the third batch yielded six successful pills, reflecting both a steady increase in his success rate and the number of pills produced. At the moment, Lin Tianming was in the midst of concocting the fourth cauldron of Lingshen Pills, wholeheartedly infusing his Spiritual Power into the process, preparing to solidify the pills once a sufficient amount had been instilled. A sudden roar from Ye Pinghai nearly startled Lin Tianming into breaking out in a cold sweat. "Boy, the time is now!" "Solidify!" A refreshing fragrance filled the air as the fourth cauldron of elixirs was successfully concocted. Upon opening the lid of the cauldron, seven pills with an intermingling of black and green hues were suspended within. They had a uniform and bright appearance with Spiritual Energy swirling around them. "The youth is indeed teachable, truly teachable!" Ye Pinghai was extremely pleased, exclaiming in admiration repeatedly. With his guidance, Lin Tianming''s success rate and pill count had risen sharply, to the point that he was fully capable of trying to concoct First Order Superior Grade elixirs. With Ye Pinghai there to guide him, the chances of success were high. Lin Tianming also found, to his unexpected delight, that following Ye Pinghai''s advice to adjust to the optimal timing based on the properties of the Spiritual Medicine indeed provided significant help in Alchemy, visibly improving both the success rate and the number of pills, and greatly speeding up the process as well. After a moment of contemplation, Ye Pinghai spoke up: "Your improvement is not insignificant; you can now attempt to concoct First Order Superior Grade elixirs. Have you decided which elixir to try? Do you have the Spiritual Medicine and Pill Formula?" Lin Tianming didn''t dare to delay, hastily replying: "In response to my senior''s question, this junior wishes to try concocting the Xisui Pill. I already have both the Pill Formula and the required Spiritual Medicine Materials at the ready. I only need to rest for four hours to recover before I can begin, and I humbly ask for senior''s permission!" "Hm, you recover first. I shall wait here," Ye Pinghai answered. Lin Tianming began to meditate to recover, while Ye Pinghai reviewed the Pill Formula for the Minor Foundation Building Pill on the side, preparing in advance for the subsequent concoction. Once four hours had passed, Lin Tianming was almost fully recovered, nearly at his peak condition. He took out the five portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Xisui Pill and arranged them beside him. After a series of preparations, he commenced with the Alchemy. It took him over an hour just to break down and purify the more than ten types of Spiritual Medicine Materials. As time slipped away, and just before the phase of solidifying the pill, Lin Tianming infused Spiritual Energy and there was a crisp sound, shattering the silence¡ªthe first cauldron of Xisui Pills was a failed concoction. Upon opening the lid of the cauldron, a slightly putrid smell rushed out, catching Lin Tianming off guard and almost bringing tears to his eyes. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A pile of pill residue lay at the bottom of the cauldron. Lin Tianming scooped up the wasted residue and placed it in the prepared Jade Bottle. The Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Xisui Pill were not cheap, so he could not afford to waste them; they might come in handy at some point. It was then that Ye Pinghai also spoke up: "Boy, not all elixirs require the same intensity of fire, and this is especially true for higher-level elixirs where the adjustment of the fire becomes increasingly complex. Some elixirs need a fierce fire for successful pill solidification, and the First Order Superior Grade elixirs certainly do. You''ll need to try a few more times, but the hopes for success are not small." ``` Hearing these words, Lin Tianming suddenly realized and was not discouraged, although it was already a slim hope for success for the first trial at alchemy, failure was inevitable, and with these limitations in place, it was no wonder he had not succeeded. With his mindset adjusted, Lin Tianming tried again to refine the Xisui Pill. As a day went by, after three consecutive failures, Lin Tianming refused to be superstitious and persisted in starting the fourth attempt at refining the Xisui Pill. Now well-versed in the process, he skillfully navigated through it, and when it was time to solidify the pill, Lin Tianming controlled the Earth Fire, instantly doubling its vitality. A piercing sound broke the silence, and after persevering for a moment, a fragrant aroma filled the air, Lin Tianming finished up and couldn''t wait to lift the lid of the furnace. Three golden pills were suspended in the furnace, and Lin Tianming was ecstatic, meticulously examining a Xisui Pill he picked up. Bright in color and full of spiritual energy, they were indeed genuine Xisui Pills. After three trial adjustments, he finally succeeded on the fourth attempt at refining. Ye Pinghai was expressionless, but inside he was quite surprised and inwardly marveled, acknowledging that the boy indeed had a high talent for alchemy. The reason he had said to try a few more times was to encourage and console, he had never expected success in the fourth furnace; it was truly unbelievable. Reflecting on his own past, where it took him more than ten years to reach the status of a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist and over forty years to become a Second Order Alchemist, he was deemed a genius Alchemist by many Cultivators in Qianchuan Market. And this young man, having cultivated for only so many years, had already entered the rank of a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist¡ªit was enough to drive one mad with envy! Lin Tianming placed the Xisui Pills into a Jade Bottle, intending to strike while the iron was hot, to solidify his Alchemy and refine the last batch of Xisui Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials. Having succeeded once, the process felt effortless when he tried it again, and within half a day, Lin Tianming had used up the last batch of Xisui Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials. The fifth furnace material luckily succeeded in forming pills, and out of five furnaces of Spiritual Medicine Materials, the last two succeeded in creating pills, each with three pills, which surprised Lin Tianming very much. At this moment, Lin Tianming was officially a qualified First Order Superior Grade Alchemist. The hard work of several days had not been in vain. Success in alchemy always comes after trials, and having succeeded once, subsequent refining of other First Order Superior Grade elixirs should become easier. Lin Tianming put away the Four Symbols Furnace, and gave the three Xisui Pills to Ye Pinghai. Although these pills were not much to Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming still wanted to express his gratitude. Overwhelmed with emotion, it took him a long time to calm down. With his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power exhausted, it was not suitable to refine pills again. He sincerely expressed his thanks. "Junior greatly appreciates the guidance of the senior. Without your meticulous explanations and guidance, I do not know when I would have succeeded. I will keep this great kindness in mind and if one day I reach the Core Formation Stage, I will repay this debt." At this time, Ye Pinghai felt very fortunate for his good deeds. It is better to deliver charcoal in snowy weather than to add flowers on a brocade, and this youth''s talent was extremely high; who knew if he might one day rely on him. Ye Pinghai was also very courteous, without any pretension, and replied, "It''s all due to your talent and understanding, friend. Even if I didn''t say it, you would have understood eventually. There''s no need for the pills. I have already taken the Xisui Pill, and taking more is pointless. Your family needs these elixirs more, you should keep them for yourself." "Since you''ve achieved your goal and I have almost finished adjusting, we can start refining the Minor Foundation Building Pills. I aim to complete the commission as soon as possible and let you return to your family. You should spend the remaining month here, observing the process, hoping it will help you." Lin Tianming respectfully said, "I honor your instruction, senior." Ye Pinghai then tidied up the Alchemy Room and began to meditate in preparation for his next refinement. Lin Tianming sat down on the spot, recalling the entire process of alchemy to consolidate his understanding, and healed to recover his condition. Chapter 42 Observing Alchemy_1 The next day, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes from the night before, as did Ye Pinghai.Lin Tianming took the initiative to step forward and pay his respects, waiting for Ye Pinghai''s instructions. "Today, I will begin refining Minor Foundation Building Pills. You can watch for a few furnaces, then you''ll be able to leave my cave abode and return to your cultivation," Ye Pinghai said. Lin Tianming replied calmly, "I will follow Senior''s orders without any objection." Ye Pinghai nodded, took out a fiery-red Pill Furnace from his storage bag, and laid out a set of Spiritual Medicine Materials, ready for refining, on a stone platform beside him. The entire Pill Furnace was fiery red, its surface densely covered with runes, exuding a powerful Spiritual Energy¡ªclearly, it was a Second Order Superior Pill Furnace, two minor grades higher than the Four Symbols Furnace he normally used. However, Lin Tianming was only momentarily surprised before he quickly regained his composure. After all, Ye Pinghai was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and also a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. With many years of Alchemy under his belt, his wealth was likely astonishing and far beyond what Lin Tianming could compare with. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After Ye Pinghai took out the Pill Furnace from the storage bag, a faint fragrance filled the Alchemy Room¡ªevidence that the Pill Furnace, after long-term use in pill refining, had been imbued with the scent of elixirs. This was the result of extensive alchemic practice. With a flick of a Law Decree, he struck the Pill Furnace, which instantly inflated dozens of times from the size of a palm to that of a water tank, hovering above the vent of the Earth Fire, motionless. Ye Pinghai sat on a cushion and began to channel his energy. Half an hour later, Earth Fire erupted, and a large flame as thick as a water bucket blazed directly onto the Pill Furnace. The temperature of the Pill Furnace climbed steadily, and the color of the Earth Fire had turned from fiery red to include a hint of gold. The temperature in the Alchemy Room had risen by dozens of degrees, and Lin Tianming was dripping with sweat. Any ordinary person would have found it difficult to endure even half an hour there and would likely have been roasted alive. As time progressed, and half a day passed, Ye Pinghai felt that the time was about right and began to throw a Spiritual Medicine into the Pill Furnace, using all his might to channel Spiritual Power and Divine Sense to decompose and purify the medicine, finally turning it into a clump of green-yellow liquid suspended in the furnace. Lin Tianming sat beside him, watching carefully and earnestly, not daring to miss the slightest detail. Seeing that Ye Pinghai had spent half a day just preheating the furnace¡ªa process tens of times longer than his own¡ªit was clear that refining Second Order Pills was indeed incomparable to First Order Elixirs. He estimated that the consumption of Spiritual Power and Divine Sense must also be enormous, Lin Tianming thought to himself. One by one, he decomposed and purified over a dozen types of Spiritual Medicine Materials, turning them into over a dozen clumps of various colored Spiritual Liquids. This single step alone had taken three days'' time. Ye Pinghai began to Infuse Spirit. His face contorted with veins throbbing on his forehead, exhibiting a look of strain. Lin Tianming didn''t know that Ye Pinghai had been decomposing and purifying Spiritual Medicine continuously for three days without replenishing his Spiritual Power. Most of his energy had been depleted, and the process of Infusion of Spirit for refining the Minor Foundation Building Pill was extremely draining. If not for deep cultivation, the task would have been even more arduous. After more than ten breaths, Ye Pinghai felt his infusion of Spiritual Power had reached its limit and suddenly let out a roar as loud as thunder. "Solidify Pill!" Following the roar, he manipulated the power of the Earth Fire, which instantly surged several times in strength. The flames that had been steady beneath the Pill Furnace spread out to cover the entire furnace. The temperature in the Alchemy Room rose another notch, and it was clear that the moisture in the air was evaporating speedily; Tianming''s soaked blue shirt dried almost immediately. After a few more moments of intense heating, an overpowering scent spread rapidly. Lin Tianming was exhilarated¡ªby the looks of it, the refining was a success. Ye Pinghai also wore an expression of joy, deeply exhaled a sigh of relief, and a wave of fatigue washed over him. He removed the lid of the furnace, and three pills hung within it, their fragrance so strong that one whiff seemed to revive the spirits, the entire pills were a brilliant golden-yellow, their surfaces marked by delicate, beautiful patterns, undoubtedly complete Minor Foundation Building Pills. Ye Pinghai took out two Minor Foundation Building Pills, examined them repeatedly, and after confirming there were no omissions, he placed them into the prepared Jade Bottle and handed them directly to Lin Tianming. "These three Minor Foundation Building Pills, you should first deliver them to Lin, the process of making them took too long, nearly seven days for one furnace, and it was also my first time making such pills, the consumption was not small, I need three days to recover before I can continue making more." "I suggest that it''s best for you to return these three Minor Foundation Building Pills to your clan immediately so that your clansmen can take them, then come back to Qianchuan Market to receive the remaining pills. There''s plenty of time for that. With such an arrangement, you can enable your Qi Refining Great Perfection clan members to establish their foundations sooner rather than later, and maybe by the time you return, some of them will have already succeeded." Lin Tianming nodded thoughtfully, also feeling that Ye Pinghai made a lot of sense, so he took the Jade Bottle, prepared to return to the cave dwelling in the market, and hand over the pills to Lin Shilu. After Lin Tianming took his leave, Ye Pinghai began meditating on the spot to cultivate and recover his significantly drained state. Upon leaving Ye Pinghai''s cave dwelling, Lin Tianming hurried back to the small courtyard rented by Lin Shilu without delay. He cast a Law Decree, entered the small courtyard, and with a face full of joy, he seemed radiant and very excited, quickly running up to Lin Shilu and even forgetting the most basic formalities towards an elder, but fortunately, Lin Shilu didn''t mind. "Fifteenth Grandfather, these three Minor Foundation Building Pills are from Ye''s first batch of Spiritual Medicine Materials. Ye instructed me to deliver them to you immediately." "Additionally, Ye suggested that you take these three Minor Foundation Building Pills and depart at once to return to our clan, so that our clansmen can take them as soon as possible. By the time we return to the clan, we may already have elders who have successfully established their foundation." "Now, for our clan, time is of the essence, and I also believe what Ye says makes sense. It will take at least half a year to finish making the fifteen batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, and it would be a waste of time for you to just wait here." Lin Shilu listened and pondered on the side. As the saying goes, ''be wary of others,'' and though he didn''t quite believe that Ye Pinghai meant harm, one could never be too careful! "Tian Ming, during the entire pill-making process, were you watching all the time? Did you notice anything amiss?" "To reply to Fifteenth Grandfather, I stood by and observed the entire process of pill-making by Ye, and I did not notice anything unusual. Additionally, the pills match the records exactly, so there shouldn''t be any problems." "Hmm, in that case, let''s proceed with that plan. I will personally take the three Minor Foundation Building Pills back to our clan, and you stay in the market. After three days, head to Ye Pinghai''s cave dwelling to continue learning Alchemy." "Furthermore, focus on your cultivation and studies, and remember not to step out of the market in your free time nor stir up trouble within it. Once I''ve delivered the pills to our clan, I will return immediately to join you." Lin Tianming readily agreed, took out the Spirit Beast Bag and two bottles of Lingshen Pills to give to Lin Shilu, suggesting that riding the Purple Gold Eagle back to Green Bamboo Mountain could make the journey quicker and safer. Lin Shilu took the Spirit Beast Bag and the pills, handed the Token of the cave dwelling over to Lin Tianming, and set off immediately on his journey. Chapter 43 Marrow Cleansing_1 Having left Qianchuan Market, Lin Shilu released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag and threw a Lingshen Pill towards it.The Purple Gold Eagle didn''t hesitate, biting it directly and swallowing, displaying a look of satisfaction. Mounting the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, the majestic creature took to the skies, swiftly rising hundreds of feet into the clouds and turning into a streak of light as it flew southward, disappearing into the vast expanse of clouds in just a few breaths'' time. In the secret chamber of his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, having previously refined six Xisui Pills and now prepared to take one during this lull. He took out a Xisui Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. Half a quarter of an hour later, a series of crackling sounds erupted from his body, continuing relentlessly for half an hour. Waves of intense pain spread rapidly through every part of his body. Lin Tianming endured the pain as beads of sweat the size of soybeans couldn''t stop falling from his forehead; his entire body was soaking as if drenched in rain. Once the half-hour had passed, the pain subsided, and he gradually returned to normal. Lin Tianming''s body emitted a layer of black grime with a nauseating stench, more than ten times the amount expelled during his previous breakthrough, as if he had been buried in a mud pit for several days. Rising to his feet, Lin Tianming formed a hand seal and cast the Rain Control Technique, enjoying a comfortable shower in the artificially created rain, then took out a set of green robes from his storage bag to wear. On inspecting his body, his skin was as white as jade, tender and smooth, with muscles visibly bulkier. Throwing a punch, the feeble spiritual energy in the air burst apart, his strength having greatly increased; previously one punch exceeded a thousand jins, now he estimated it to be around one thousand two hundred jins. Lin Tianming examined his body''s meridians and found that his whole circulatory system had become thicker and more robust, nearly ten percent larger than before, and the flow of spiritual power was much smoother. Although it seemed minor, the cumulative effect over time was significant. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with the effects of the Xisui Pill, holding it in even higher regard. The only pity was that a cultivator could only use one pill, as consuming more wouldn''t greatly enhance the effect. Sighing at his own greed, Lin Tianming felt a pang of regret. Still having five Xisui Pills left, he could either gift them to close kinfolk or sell them for a good price. Casting several Flame Techniques, he dried the water on the ground, tidied up the slightly messy secret chamber, and prepared to go out for a stroll, knowing there wasn''t much risk as long as he didn''t leave the market. Before long, a burly man appeared on the broad cobblestone path, none other than Lin Tianming casually wandering around the market. "I''ve pretty much visited all the stores in the West District. I''ve never been to the stall area in the Southern District," Lin Tianming thought to himself, deciding to head there to see what it was like. Having made up his mind, he set off towards the Southern District. In a vast square, hundreds of stalls were set up, with hundreds of cultivators haggling fiercely, bustling with activity. Most of them were in the Qi Refinement Realm, and among the cultivators, Lin Tianming couldn''t make out the exact level of some, guessing they were either several orders higher than himself or were using special Spiritual Artifacts to conceal their true cultivation. Likewise, disguised and with his identity changed, it was unlikely anyone in the Foundation Establishment Stage could discern his real cultivation level. Renting a stall space only cost five spirit stones, which allowed one to set up for the whole day in the square; considering the lively crowd and the brisk business, it was quite a bargain. Lin Tianming weaved through the square, carefully inspecting the items on each stall. Most were common spiritual medicine materials, or demon beast inner cores and carcasses, and some stalls had Fu Lu Spiritual Instruments, but the grades weren''t high, mostly First Order, low to mid-grade. Stalls selling elixirs were few, only five or six in number, and the elixirs were extremely ordinary. It made sense, Lin Tianming considered. The cultivators who set up stalls here were mostly low-level, only able to offer common goods. They wouldn''t bring out high-quality elixirs and talismans for trade unless they were in desperate need of spirit stones. Lin Tianming meandered his way through the market, occasionally chatting with the cultivators behind their stalls, but he didn''t buy anything. Instead, he was scouting the prices of various items. If he got the chance, he also planned to set up a stall to exchange some of his useless items for Spirit Stones. After asking around more than ten times, Lin Tianming had a fairly good grasp of the prices and goods at Qianchuan Market and continued to wander leisurely. He had strolled around for half a day without spotting anything that caught his eye. He had no need for Spiritual Medicine Materials or elixirs and talismans, so it seemed unlikely that he would find anything worthwhile. Lin Tianming continued browsing with diminishing interest. As he delved further into the square, a middle-aged blue-robed cultivator caught Lin Tianming''s attention. The cultivator appeared to be around sixty years old, with more than twenty items on display at his stall. There were a variety of elixirs suitable for Qi Refining Cultivators, several grades of Spirit Grass, and a few Jade Tubes. The man sat on the ground with his eyes closed, exuding a sense of calm. Unlike the other stall owners who were calling out to attract attention, this man seemed unconcerned about whether he had any customers or not, which made him stand out from the rest. Judging by the items on the ground, this person must also be an Alchemist, selling items related to Alchemy and displaying an aloof temperament, quite different from the ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators. Lin Tianming picked up a Jade Tube and started to examine them one by one. Most of them were Pill Formulas that only showed names and descriptions, with the contents not visible. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There''s actually a Pill Formula called the Beast Spirit Pill," he said to himself. Lin Tianming was rather surprised. As the name suggested, the Beast Spirit Pill was an elixir used by Demonic Beasts for cultivation. It was similar to the Lingshen Pill used by cultivators but was specifically for Demonic Beasts and not suitable for humans, as their bodies couldn''t endure the potency. Mild cases could result in disability, while severe cases could lead to death. A slight excitement stirred within Lin Tianming. After wandering around for half a day, he finally found something useful. He decided to buy the Pill Formula, as it would be perfect for the Purple Gold Eagle to consume for rapid growth. Furthermore, he could also use it for other Spirit Beasts he might tame in the future. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming took the initiative to ask. "Fellow Daoist, how much are you selling this Beast Spirit Pill Formula for?" he inquired. The blue-robed cultivator opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut, and said calmly, "A fixed price, ninety Spirit Stones for the formula!" "And how much for this ''Chronicle of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders''?" Lin Tianming asked, pointing to a book made from Beast Skin in front of him. "Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones," came the reply. Hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but show his surprise. The Pill Formula was indeed something he urgently needed. Together with the book that recorded heavenly and earthly wonders, he decided to make the purchase. Although Lin Tianming was not short of Spirit Stones, he still put on an embarrassed expression and said, "Fellow Daoist, I would like to offer three bottles of Lingshen Pills in exchange, and how about you include the book as a bonus gift?" The blue-robed cultivator pondered for a moment and agreed to the trade after a few seconds. Lin Tianming handed over the three bottles of Lingshen Pills to the blue-robed cultivator. Once the cultivator had removed the seals on the Jade Tubes, Lin Tianming collected the Pill Formula and the book into his storage bag and resumed casually wandering around the square. As half a day passed and evening approached, after spending most of the day at the market, besides purchasing the Jade Tubes and the book of wonders, he also bought several plants of Spiritual Medicine. They were the main ingredients for the Strong Spirit Pill and the Body Strengthening Pill and all were paid for with Lingshen Pills instead of Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming had a good supply of Lingshen Pills; he had used more than a dozen today, and with the same number remaining, plus the reward of Spiritual Medicine Materials from his family, there was no shortage. He could refine the medicines into elixirs at any time, and if he couldn''t use them all, he needed to sell some. After leaving the Southern District, he hurried toward the North District. Ye Pinghai was still resting for two more days before he could resume Alchemy. Since it was not convenient to disturb him, Lin Tianming could only return to his cave dwelling to rest and make further plans. Chapter 44 Eye of Five Colors_1 Back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion in the secret room.With both hands holding the Jade Tube, he reviewed the Pill Formula for the Beast Spirit Pill with complete concentration. The Beast Spirit Pill and the Lingshen Pill had similar effects, and the required materials were almost the same, except the main ingredient was replaced with a Demon Core. The higher the grade of the Demon Core, the better the effect of the Beast Spirit Pill that was refined from it. The difficulty of refining it was only slightly higher than that of the Lingshen Pill. The Purple Gold Eagle was still quite important to Lin Tianming. It could be used not only for traveling, greatly increasing speed, but also to provide some assistance during spell battles. If nurtured properly, advancing to the Second Order was only a matter of time. With the Beast Spirit Pill, the Purple Gold Eagle could advance rapidly. After putting away the Pill Formula Jade Tube into his storage bag, he took out the Chronicle of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders and started to search through it carefully. He had seen introductions to some heavenly and earthly wonders in his family several times, most of which were low-order items. There were only a few high-order wonders recorded, but the Cultivation World was vast and deep, with cultivation existing for hundreds of thousands of years. Although most species were almost the same, every region had different wonders, and many Spiritual Objects were not even collected completely. Purchasing this book was not just to broaden his horizons, but also to see if he could find clues about the stone from the Ancient Cultivator''s Cave Dwellings. Lin Tianming was convinced that the colorful stone was definitely no ordinary item; otherwise, it would not have been preserved intact over tens of thousands of years. Even Magical Treasures of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators turned to ashes, but the stone remained intact, which surely made it extraordinary. He flipped open the thick book, which had hundreds of pages. Each page recorded one type of Spiritual Object. The first part was all about introductions to Spirit Grass, not only with names and pictures, but also with information about their growing environments and characteristics, even including the method of harvesting. The descriptions were very detailed. "Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus," a Fourth Order Spirit Grass, with a growth period of nine thousand years. Every thousand years a leaf would bloom, and each leaf greatly enhanced the Divine Sense and physical body of the Cultivator, an incredible treasure for those who practice Body Cultivation. "Gold Glaze Bodhi," a Fourth Order Spirit Fruit with a growth period of five thousand years. Each fruit could increase the odds of achieving Nascent Soul by thirty percent, a truly priceless treasure. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but be astonished. In Wei Kingdom, Nascent Soul Masters were already formidable beings. If the Gold Glaze Bodhi appeared, it would undoubtedly lead to bloodshed because it was a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, and it was likely that no Nascent Soul Master would be able to resist it. After looking through hundreds of pages, all introductions were to Third or Fourth Order Spirit Medicines, not a single Fifth Order Spirit Medicine. Thinking about it, it made sense since Fifth Order Spirit Medicines had at least a growth cycle of ten thousand years or even longer and were used by those in the Divinity Transformation Stage. That realm was too remote to be recorded. He read through the entire night, from Spirit Grass to minerals, as well as Spirit Insects and Spiritual Fire. Seven or eight precious items were covered, and he was about to finish reading the whole book. With only ten pages left, he could finish reading the entire book. Lin Tianming continued to flip through. The last ten pages were dedicated to the List of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders, recording ten extremely precious objects among the final pages. Some were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and others were almost mythological in nature, with their actual existence still uncertain. Lin Tianming read carefully and, as he turned to the fifth last page, an illustration completely stunned him. There, displayed on the page, was a multicolored stone; the book described it as a Spiritual Object known as the Soul Beast''s Eye, which was said to be the third eye of an ancient Demonic Beast, the Soul Beast. As for the Soul Beast, it was a very unique species among Demonic Beasts. They were already extremely rare in ancient times, and in today''s Cultivation World, they had been extinct for tens of thousands of years. Moreover, only Soul Beasts of the Fourth Order and above could grow the third eye, which made the Soul Beast''s Eye extremely rare in the Cultivation World. The Soul Beast''s Eye could be refined and transformed into a Cultivator''s third eye, inheriting the Soul Beast''s natural talents and Divine Skills. It could see through most Illusion Techniques and Formations and also had an ability to attack with Divine Sense, making it impossible to guard against and extraordinarily powerful. Consequently, the Soul Beast''s Eye was ranked among the ten great heavenly and earthly wonders. Lin Tianming was overjoyed beyond measure. Although he had suspected this item was extraordinary, he did not expect it to be so treasured, no wonder it was named as one of the ten great heavenly and earthly wonders. He quickly took out the stone from his storage bag and began to scrutinize it, not missing the slightest detail. After carefully comparing, Lin Tianming was incredibly certain that the stone he had obtained was undoubtedly the Soul Beast''s Eye. He never expected to have acquired such a treasure. Lin Tianming couldn''t believe it; he couldn''t help but slap his face twice, wanting to make sure he was not dreaming. "Slap slap slap," three loud slaps rang out against his face. There was a sensation of pain, apparently not a dream¡ªthis was real! "Haha," Lin Tianming laughed wildly, utterly delighted. He had completely lost his mind, appearing quite comical. After a brief bout of madness, Lin Tianming gradually regained his composure. This kind of treasure needed to be refined and assimilated as soon as possible to enhance one''s own strength; otherwise, delay could lead to unforeseen changes. Lin Tianming sat down right there and swallowed the Soul Beast''s Eye, directing his Divine Sense to chase it towards the sea of consciousness. The Soul Beast''s Eye, however, seemed to be a living thing, desperately trying to escape. As it thrashed about wildly, Lin Tianming suffered agonizing pain, and blood started to seep from all seven apertures, while his skin began to crack and burst open, looking extremely miserable. If it weren''t for his body''s cultivation, he would have likely passed out. "Hmph, once you''re in my sea of consciousness, it''s definitely not possible for you to escape," he muttered. Enduring the intense pain, Lin Tianming mobilized all his Divine Sense into a large hand and controlled the Soul Beast''s Eye, slowly refining it; otherwise, he might have been tormented to death. Inside the sea of consciousness, the fist-sized Soul Beast''s Eye, after several hours of refining, was already half assimilated, gradually transforming into wisps of five-colored light orbs gathering to one side. With ongoing slow refinement, the pain in his body gradually lessened, and the torn flesh began to heal. A day passed, and Lin Tianming finally refined the entire Soul Beast''s Eye into a walnut-sized ball of five-colored divine light gathered in his sea of consciousness. Lin Tianming manipulated this ball of five-colored divine light and slowly merged it into his forehead. Suddenly, a smooth spot right in the middle of his forehead split open, and the five-colored divine light burst forth. For a moment, it was as though a five-colored sun hung above his head¡ªthe dim secret chamber instantly brightened up dramatically, and the emitted divine light was dazzling to the eye. At this moment, Lin Tianming discovered that the control center and key points of the entire cave dwelling''s restrictions were completely exposed under the Soul Beast''s Eye, making it incredibly simple to break through them. Lin Tianming was shocked, the Soul Beast''s Eye was truly defying the heavens¡ªsuch an artifact used for breaking formations was essentially like cheating! Although it was unclear if it was effective against all formations, it certainly could see through most Fourth Order and lower formations. Even if it couldn''t fully unravel them, it would provide plenty of clues, greatly assisting in breaking formations¡ªit was already immensely heaven-defying. He closed the Soul Beast''s Eye, and it merged directly into the skin and disappeared from view, making him look no different from a normal person. Very satisfied, Lin Tianming decided to give the Soul Beast''s Eye a name; after much contemplation, he decided to name it the Eye of Five Colors. When used, the Eye of Five Colors would burst forth with blinding five-colored divine light, so being named after the five colors was fitting. With that decided, it was settled. Having chosen a name, he prepared to leave his retreat and head to Ye Pinghai''s cave dwelling. After three days of recovery, he could once more attempt to refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 45 Crazy Alchemy_1 Ye Pinghai, cloaked in a grey robe within his cave abode, pinched a series of hand seals and cast spells onto the Pill Furnace, filling the entire secret chamber with scorching air.Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai were each seated in their own secret chamber, fervently concocting elixirs. While Ye Pinghai was refining the Minor Foundation Building Pill, Lin Tianming was also busy at work in the adjacent Alchemy Room, crafting the Lingshen Pill. Lin Tianming engaged in alchemy non-stop for seven to eight days, refining pills by day and meditating at night to recover his expended spiritual power and Divine Sense. His daily schedule was full and arduous. As his cultivation rose, Lin Tianming mastered the creation of First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills, and both the success rate and quantity of pills increased substantially. The success rate of First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills could reach 60%, and the quantity was remarkably stable, always above seven per batch. Even more efficiently, after refining five batches of pills each day, Lin Tianming still had a small reserve of spiritual power. Such is the advantage of profound cultivation¡ªit was no longer like before, when refining three batches would leave him completely drained. In the process of refining Lingshen Pills, Lin Tianming, with an experimental mindset, activated his Eye of Five Colors to see if it would aid in alchemy, and was pleasantly surprised. The Eye of Five Colors easily allowed him to discern the internal structure and impurities of each Spiritual Medicine. In truth, it wasn''t really a surprise. The Eye of Five Colors, capable of penetrating even restrictive formations, would naturally view lower-tier Spiritual Medicines with ease. Leveraging this special ability, Lin Tianming could handle purification, breakdown, and even Solidifying Pill with incredible precision, substantially improving the success rate and pill count¡ªa near perfect 80% success rate and nine pills per batch, almost reaching the limits of Pill Refining. Moreover, the Lingshen Pills he refined had an efficacy 10% higher than regular Lingshen Pills; they were truly superior among Superior Spirit Essence Pills. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming completed refining more than forty batches of Lingshen Pills without much effort, yielding a large stockpile of over three hundred Lingshen Pills. In the Cultivation World, a First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pill typically sells for eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones, while in some places it fetches nine. Even calculating by the lower price, three hundred pills amounted to two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones¡ªa considerable fortune indeed. With so many Lingshen Pills on hand, they would undoubtedly exceed his own needs during the Qi Refinement Realm. Once he returned to the clan, he planned to sell the majority through the clan''s market shops. Such superior quality Lingshen Pills would not lack for buyers, or he could choose to keep them within the clan, offering them to fellow clan members, as it was rare to encounter such fine quality. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming considered his next steps. He had nearly finished refining all the materials for the clan''s rewarded Lingshen Pills. What remained were materials for twenty-five batches of Body Strengthening Pill and Strong Spirit Pill, as well as three batches for the Pozhang Pill, signaling the time to attempt a large-scale refinement of First Order High-Quality elixirs. Additionally, he needed to refine the Beast Spirit Pill as soon as possible, utilizing the two Demon Cores in his possession. One was the Spotted Crocodile Inner Pill obtained while defending Qingfeng Town, and the other was an inner core of the Spirit-Connecting Python. Both were suitable for concocting the Beast Spirit Pill. The two Demon Cores on hand, from the Spotted Crocodile at Medium Stage and the Spirit-Connecting Python at Late First Order, were more than sufficient for the refinement of the Beast Spirit Pills. Lin Tianming decided to first refine the Beast Spirit Pills before tackling the more advanced Strong Spirit and Body Strengthening Pills. Falling into a rhythm, Lin Tianming worked deftly. There was not a significant difference between the Beast Spirit Pill and the Lingshen Pill, except that disassembling a Demon Core was much more challenging than work with Spiritual Medicine. The Demon Core was far more volatile, making it easier for the pill to explode during the process, which could potentially cause severe damage to the Pill Furnace. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming carefully dissected the Striped Crocodile''s Demon Core. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, no explosion occurred, and within fifteen minutes, the Demon Core was successfully refined. What followed was familiar territory, and in less than half an hour, the first batch of Beast Spirit Pills emerged from the furnace. Five green-yellow elixirs hovered inside the furnace, each one slightly larger than a Lingshen Pill, with a potency that was certainly more violent. In less than half a day, another First Order Late Stage Demon Core was transformed into Beast Spirit Pills. Seven pills solidified, and along with those from the first batch, there were twelve Beast Spirit Pills in total¡ªenough to last the Purple Gold Eagle for a while. He took out the Spiritual Medicine Materials needed for the Body Strengthening Pill and neatly arranged them on the stone platform next door. Lin Tianming quickly got into the swing of things. The difficulty of refining the Body Strengthening Pill and Strong Spirit Pill should be about the same as that of the Xisui Pill, so there was definitely no problem in refining them. He just didn''t know what the pill success rate and yield would be. Previously, without the Eye of Five Colors, when refining the Xisui Pill, the success rate had reached thirty percent. With the Eye of Five Colors, it should improve somewhat. Time flew by, and more than twenty days had passed. Lin Tianming had been staying in the Alchemy Room for nearly a month now. In the Alchemy Room next door, Ye Pinghai was still refining pills. Each batch of Minor Foundation Building Pills took him seven days to refine. After resting for three days, he would resume his alchemy. He hadn''t completed his seclusion yet. Lin Tianming had refined almost all of his Alchemy Materials, leaving only a small amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials in his storage bag. In this one month, Lin Tianming had made significant progress. When refining First Order Superior Grade Strong Spirit Pill and Body Strengthening Pill with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, his success rate remained above sixty percent, while the number of pills yielded hovered around six per batch. After a month of hard work, he obtained ninety Body Strengthening Pills and eighty-five Strong Spirit Pills. There was no longer a shortage of elixirs for the Qi Refinement Realm. He planned to focus all his energy on cultivation from now on. It had been nearly half a year since he had engaged in serious cultivation or consumed many elixirs, as he had been allowing his progress to consolidate. Now, not only had he solved the shortage of elixirs needed for his cultivation, but he had also managed to refine two batches of his three sets of Pozhang Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials, resulting in eleven pills. The Pozhang Pill was extremely expensive and had great effects. After consumption, it could remove bottlenecks and induce a breakthrough in one''s realm, which was extraordinary. Initially, just buying three main ingredients had cost him over two hundred Spirit Stones. A single Pozhang Pill could sell for at least one hundred Spirit Stones in the market, and it was hardly available for purchase. Only a very few were auctioned at exorbitant prices, and each time they did, they sold for sky-high amounts. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt quite emotional. Two years ago, using a Spirit Stone would cause him immense heartache. Now, his total worth added up was no less than ten thousand Spirit Stones. Among Qi Refining Cultivators, he was truly a tycoon. Perhaps only the core descendants of major families could compare with him. He put all the elixirs into his storage bag, tidied up the mess in the secret chamber, and walked out of the Alchemy Room. Outside the room, it was dusk. After a month of relentless alchemy, he was extremely exhausted. Lin Tianming walked through the streets, heading toward his dwelling in the North District. Lying on his stone bed, Lin Tianming fell into contemplation. "I wonder if Fifteenth Grandfather has taken the Minor Foundation Building Pills back to the family. By the timeline, they should have already reached the family. Even if he didn''t stay, and came straight back to Qianchuan Market, a round trip would take forty days. Now, all I can do is wait patiently and hope everything goes smoothly. After all, the medicine is too precious, and I can''t help but worry." Unknowingly, the tired Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep. In less than fifteen minutes, he was sound asleep. Chapter 46 Distribution of Minor Foundation Building Pills_1 Time rewound to ten days ago!Outside of the Lin Family''s protective formation, it was Lin Tianfeng''s turn to lead the patrol duty this month. A clan member gazed towards the exterior of the grand formation and spotted a dark shadow swiftly approaching from the distant horizon. What initially seemed like a tiny sesame-sized dot had, in just over a dozen breaths, transformed into a massive bird spanning more than ten zhang. "It''s Tianming''s Purple Gold Eagle!" At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was also puzzled, "Wasn''t Sixth Brother heading to Qianchuan Market to carry out a clan mission, rumored to take half a year? How come he has returned in just over a month?" The secret mission of Lin Tianming to Qianchuan Market for alchemy was known only to the Elders'' Council within the clan. Lin Tianfeng was only aware that Tianming had gone to Qianchuan Market but did not know the details of the mission. He knew this much only because he was among one of the highest cultivation levels of the clan''s younger generation. As the Purple Gold Eagle drew closer, everyone realized that it was Lin Shilu who sat on its back. At this moment, he looked utterly haggard, having flown from dawn until dusk each day to find a place to rest, with few stops in between. Under such hasty travel, he managed to return to Green Bamboo Mountain in just eighteen days, which was quite an accomplishment. Lin Shilu took out the family identity token and cast a spell on it. In the invisible and colorless sky, suddenly a gap opened up, through which a person and a beast flew into the Protective Clan Formation. The rift quickly mended and then disappeared. From the outside looking towards the clan''s land, everything appeared hazy and indistinct once more. After entering the formation, Lin Tianfeng and the others immediately came up to pay their respects. Lin Shilu, in a rush, nodded briefly and merely said a word for them to continue patrolling before he swiftly departed. He could not afford to care about fatigue at the moment; along with the beast, he flew towards the Clan Elders'' Assembly Hall. Before entering the formation, Lin Shilu had already sent a message, instructing clan members of the Shi generation like Lin Shikang to go to the Elders'' Council, to hand over the three Minor Foundation Building Pills in person, and to make the first round of distribution. This would enable clan members who met the requirements to begin Foundation Establishment as soon as possible and enhance the clan''s strength. Inside the Elders'' Council Hall, eight members of the Lin Family of the Shi generation gathered. Lin Shikang sat at the head of the table as the eight settled around it. Lin Shigong was tense. Seeing Lin Shilu return alone without the sight of his grandson Lin Tianming, he began to worry wildly. The mission Lin Tianming undertook to Qianchuan Market carried significant risk. The Sun Family of Golden Horn Mountain had always been hostile towards the Lin Family, resulting in constant friction. Furthermore, with numerous powerful individuals in the market, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not ensure absolute safety, let alone Lin Tianming, who was merely at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Shi Gong couldn''t help but feel concerned. Lin Shilu then spoke: "Now that all eight brothers are present, let''s formally begin the meeting." A smile tinged Lin Shilu''s weary face as he took out a jade bottle from his storage bag and placed it in the center of the round table. Besides Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, and Lin Shilu, the other five people''s faces blossomed with joy, presumably guessing what was in the bottle. Lin Shigong, exceedingly anxious, blurted out without a care for what was inside the bottle. "Little Fifteen, where is Tianming? Why didn''t he come back with you? Has something happened?" Lin Shigong''s barrage of questions left his brothers in the grand hall taken aback, and then they burst into laughter, even the usually stern Lin Shiji included. Caught off guard, Lin Shigong pondered and realized he was overthinking it. Noting Lin Shilu''s expression devoid of any sadness, surely nothing bad could have happened to Tianming. The other six in the hall could tell, and only the mentally preoccupied Lin Shigong had missed it. Lin Shixin, known for his playful nature, couldn''t resist chiming in: "Ninth Brother, seeing the look on little Fifteen, you should know that Tianming is safe. Yet, you didn''t see it. Really, when the mind is in chaos, even intelligence slips away, haha..." Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong came to his senses, his face flushed with embarrassment as he laughed awkwardly. Lin Shikang snatched the jade bottle out of the air, inspected a Minor Foundation Building Pill closely before tossing it to Lin Shigong: Lin Shigong caught the pill between his fingers and took out a jade tube left by Third Order Alchemy Master Yuhua, comparing it thoroughly. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Shigong nodded with satisfaction, his voice tingling with excitement as he began to speak. "This elixir is undoubtedly a genuine Minor Foundation Building Pill!" Upon hearing this, everyone aside from Lin Shilu and another who had already reached Foundation Establishment, revealed a fervent gleam in their eyes. Lin Shikang also opened his mouth at this time to ask Lin Shilu: "Why are there only three Minor Foundation Building Pills? Tianming had turned in fifteen Hidden Spirit Grass!" Lin Shilu shared Lin Tianming''s thoughts with all his brothers, and everyone nodded in approval, fully recognizing Lin Tianming''s arrangement. Now, time was money, even the hope of the entire clan; the Lin Family indeed needed these elixirs very much. Used properly, they could significantly enhance the Lin Family''s overall strength within just ten years, and indeed, the significance was extraordinary. At this point, Lin Shikang stood up and said: "Now let us discuss the allocation of these three Minor Foundation Building Pills, as well as the subsequent distribution issues!" Instantly, the atmosphere in the entire hall ignited, with all but Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had established their Foundation, getting involved in a heated debate. Among the remaining six, the youngest, Lin Shihua, was nearly ninety years old with only thirty years of life left, while Lin Shiji was just over a hundred. The sooner they consumed the pill, the greater their hope for Foundation Establishment. Everyone wanted to secure a Minor Foundation Building Pill as soon as possible to retain the hope of entering the Foundation Establishment stage, after all, no one wanted to die. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, sitting close together, whispered into each other''s ears, completely ignoring the relentless debates of the others. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu reached a unanimous decision. Lin Shikang stood up, silencing all his brothers before speaking out: "These three Minor Foundation Building Pills are just the first batch of elixirs, with more to come, though the quantity is yet to be determined. However, it is estimated that there will be at least five more. There''s no need for such urgency." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Shilu and I have decided to give these three to Lin Shiji, Lin Shigong, and Lin Shihua, who are already at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining stage. These pills aren''t free, though; they require an exchange of eight-thousand merit points. After all, the family has paid a huge price to produce these medicines. When the rest of the elixirs come back, as long as you have enough merit points, any clan member can exchange for them!" "For the three of you remaining, you will of course have priority for the exchange. Conveniently, all of you are at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Even with the elixirs, you can''t consume them in a short time. In the next half year, you can focus on cultivating fully, striving to reach Great Perfection earlier, and then using these pills to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage wouldn''t be too late." When the others heard this, seeing that Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu had reached a consensus, and their reasoning sound, no one dared to voice any objections, fearing it would provoke the opposition of all the clan members. Lin Shikang collected the three Minor Foundation Building Pills and asked everyone to return and arrange their resources and merit points. Once they had enough, they could come back to exchange with him, after all, acquiring eight-thousand merit points was not an easy feat. Even for the best alchemist in the family, coming up with eight-thousand merit points at once was quite difficult, unless one sold all their personal property. One by one, the people bid farewell and dispersed. As they left, Lin Shilu called Lin Shigong aside and asked for the Family Token. Lin Shilu took out his own Family Token, imprinted a Law Decree, and transferred three-thousand merit points from it to Lin Shigong. "This is what Tianming asked me to pass on to you, his two-thousand merit points, along with the thousand I''m lending you, making up three-thousand in total." Lin Shigong''s face reddened with embarrassment, for he had not expected to be borrowing his grandson''s merit points at such a time. But upon reflection, he realized that these merit points were indeed something he desperately needed right now. It solved his urgent need so he wouldn''t have to sell any spiritual objects or elixirs. Lin Shigong did not refuse, saying: "Thank you, fifteenth brother. As soon as I sell some spiritual medicines and treasures, I''ll return these merit points to you." Lin Shilu smiled in response. After exchanging goodbyes, they each went their own way. Lin Shilu arranged the time to return to Qianchuan Market before leaving. Lin Shilu planned to rest for two days before setting off again. After all, with Tianming alone in the market, he was somewhat worried. If he hadn''t been utterly exhausted, departing immediately wouldn''t have been impossible. Fortunately, the market was relatively safe, and with Ye Pinghai looking out for him, there shouldn''t be any significant danger. Chapter 47 Large Market Gathering_1 One clear morning in Qianchuan Market, at the plaza in the Southern District.After half a month of secluded alchemy, Lin Tianming emerged from his retreat. Since Ye Pinghai was still refining Minor Foundation Building Pills and shouldn''t be disturbed, Lin Tianming planned to set up a stall to sell off some useless spiritual medicine materials, elixirs, and spiritual artifacts he had on hand. Lin Tianming approached the exterior of a stone building, where already quite a few cultivators were coming and going, all there to rent stall spaces. The vast majority were below the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement, and there were a few whose cultivation levels he couldn''t discern. Taking a deep breath, Lin Tianming walked into the hall. Within the hall, five cultivators dressed in uniform attire stood out conspicuously, embroidered with a bright sun on their golden clothes, the emblem of the Zhenyang Sect of the Wei Kingdom. Since Qianchuan Market was a property of Zhenyang Sect, managing the market and related affairs naturally were taken as tasks assigned to the inner sect disciples of the sect. With over a thousand members in Zhenyang Sect, only inner sect disciples above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement were issued such robes, a uniform attire. Lower-level cultivators below the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement could be considered only as outer sect disciples, with hardly any status to speak of, and could barely count as members of the Zhenyang Sect. In Zhenyang Sect, only the cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage were considered core disciples, not to mention the even higher ranked true disciples, each one being a young talent with extraordinary gifts. Zhenyang Sect controlled two medium-sized markets, with Qianchuan Market being just one of them. The other medium-sized market was located to the north of the Zhenyang Sect, over ten thousand miles from here. Lin Tianming felt very envious, wishing that one day the Lin Family could also have thousands of members, uniform attire, and manage a medium-sized market like Qianchuan Market. Inside the hall, four Zhenyang Sect cultivators were attending to others who came to rent stalls. There was one cultivator whose spot was conveniently vacant, so Lin Tianming quickly stepped forward and started talking to the sect disciple in charge. After some conversation and choosing his spot, Lin Tianming took out five low-grade spirit stones and handed them to the disciple, receiving a gold-yellow card in exchange. The card served as a permit for setting up a stall. The enforcement team often patrolled the entire Southern District plaza to maintain order and check whether the stallholders had all the proper documentation. Those without a card who attempted to blend in and set up a stall illegally would be apprehended and punished. There were even cases where those who resisted were killed on the spot. Lin Tianming pocketed the card and left the hall, heading towards the center of the plaza. By then, the plaza already had over a hundred stalls set up, with more cultivators continuously arriving. For some reason, today''s market seemed exceptionally bustling to Lin Tianming, much to his surprise. In a hurry, he found the spot he''d selected, a corner in the western part of the plaza, covering a few square meters. It wasn''t in the center and wasn''t near the edge of the plaza; the location was quite ordinary indeed. He thought he was up early, but others had been earlier, and the better spots had already been rented out, leaving only these peripheral corners available. Lin Tianming spread out a piece of beast skin on the ground and sat down. He took eleven bottles of Lingshen Pills out of his storage bag. They were common Lingshen Pills not refined with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, and these were all he had left. Although their potency couldn''t compare with those refined later, they were still decent among the common Lingshen Pills and should sell well. As for the Superior Spirit Essence Pills he refined later, he didn''t dare sell them here as it could attract unnecessary trouble. He could only take them himself or sell them to the family for exchange and use by the clan members. Half a quarter of an hour had passed, and in front of Lin Tianming lay quite a few items. Besides the eleven bottles of Lingshen Pills, there were also over thirty pieces of First Order Spiritual Medicine¡ªrewards from his days guarding Qingfeng Town. He kept about a dozen of the medicines that had multiple purposes and sold all the other Lingshen Pill materials and some of the useless Spiritual Objects, exchanging them for Spirit Stones. He also brought out a set of hammers, Spiritual Artifacts, which he had obtained from the Red Robe Cultivator. More than half a year had passed since the fight, and given the distance to Qianchuan Market and its teeming, diverse crowd where countless Spiritual Artifacts changed hands daily, it was the perfect opportunity to sell those ill-gotten gains. However, he had no plans to sell the three Spirit Swords Spiritual Artifact he had acquired; after using them for some time, he thought they would be very suitable for Lin Tianyue. The items Lin Tianming set out for his stall were numerous, including elixirs, Spiritual Medicine materials, and Spiritual Artifacts, all of fine quality and almost entirely acquired from Qingfeng Town. As time moved on, after half an hour, the plaza surprisingly hosted hundreds of stalls, which even astonished Lin Tianming. "What day is it today that the number of stalls has more than tripled suddenly? It''s truly strange." The female cultivator at the stall next to Lin Tianming was in the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, about thirty years old in appearance, dressed like a noblewoman; it was unclear whether it was her true appearance or if she had altered it somehow. Lin Tianming took the initiative to start a conversation, aiming to glean some information. "Excuse me, fairy, do you know why today there are so many fellow cultivators setting up stalls? The number has increased several-fold." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The well-dressed lady, seeing the extraordinary items Lin Tianming had for sale, intended to become acquainted with him. "My name is Xin Qing, just a Loose Cultivator. May I ask the esteemed name of this fellow daoist?" "I am Chen Tian, also a Loose Cultivator. Pleased to meet you, Fairy Xin." Lin Tianming replied calmly, with a hint of a smile, deliberately using a different name and not revealing his real one. He picked a rather common surname, as Chen was a major family name within Wei Kingdom and countless cultivators bore it. "Is this your first time at Qianchuan Market? Don''t you know about the decennial grand assembly of the market?" Lin Tianming gave an embarrassed smile and listened as Xin Qing explained the origins of the grand assembly. It turned out that Qianchuan Market held a small assembly every two years and a grand assembly every ten years. In three days, the decennial grand assembly would take place, attracting numerous cultivators into the market to buy items needed for their cultivation or to conduct business and earn Spirit Stones. Some cultivators came just for the spectacle. It was said that even Nascent Soul Masters might attend the trade conference. Each market assembly featured several large auctions where various cultivation techniques, manuals, elixirs, Spiritual Artifacts, and many rare treasures were presented. At the last grand assembly for Qi Refining Cultivators, even Foundation Establishment Pills had appeared¡ªfive of them¡ªwith each selling for more than 30,000 Spirit Stones, the finale of the Qi Refining auction stage. Hearing Xin Qing''s explanation, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. Foundation Establishment Pills were available, no wonder so many cultivators flocked to Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming was deeply moved at that moment, considering how the Lin Family, established for eight hundred years on Green Bamboo Mountain, had always found the struggle for Foundation Establishment to be immensely difficult, with many forebears sacrificing for it. Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator family like the Lin''s, which had never lacked for cultivators, found it hard, which made one imagine the plight of Qi Refining families and Loose Cultivators being even more challenging. Time gradually passed, and eventually, all the stalls in the Southern District''s plaza were occupied by cultivators, with groups of cultivators entering to shop and enlivening the area. Lin Tianming paused his casual conversation with Xin Qing as they returned to their respective stalls, ready to deal with cultivators who came to inquire about the prices. Chapter 48 Setting up a Stall_1 In the southern district of Qianchuan Market, a large number of cultivators flooded into the bazaar. Within just half an hour, the number of people had quickly surpassed a thousand and continued to grow. The entire trading area was bustling with activity.After starting his stall, Lin Tianming had waited for half an hour for a customer to arrive. Finally, a male cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement came by. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This person, named Qin Yun, was a First Order Rogue Cultivator who frequented various big markets. He traded in spiritual medicine materials for a profit and had amassed quite a substantial wealth. With the grand gathering at the market imminent, Qin Yun decided to sell the spiritual medicine he had accrued and planned to buy some elixirs for his cultivation. The elixirs in the large shops were all more expensive than those at the stalls, so he simply went to the stalls to try his luck, saving whatever money he could. After visiting several stalls that sold elixirs and finding only Lingshen Pills with mediocre potency, which he suspected were crafted by just-emerging First Order Medium Grade alchemists due to their poor quality, he was not very impressed. They were priced at eight spirit stones each, which really was not a good value for the money. It was not until he reached Lin Tianming''s stall and examined the elixirs that he judged the alchemist who made them to be extraordinary, certainly not comparable to the half-competent ones he''d seen before. Very satisfied with the elixirs, he was eager to buy and promptly asked about the price. "Fellow Daoist, how much are you selling your Lingshen Pills for?" Having waited half an hour for business to pick up, Lin Tianming stood up and replied with a calm tone. "The price for a single pill is nine spirit stones, or twenty-five for three." Qin Yun hardly thought about it before cheerfully taking out fifty spirit stones and buying two bottles. Had he not been limited by the number of spirit stones he had, he would have liked to buy a couple more. Although they were one spirit stone more expensive than where he had asked previously, the potency of these Lingshen Pills was so good that it was hard to come by, making the extra cost worthwhile. Lin Tianming received the spirit stones and handed over two bottles of Lingshen Pills to Qin Yun, who then left to continue browsing other stalls. Finally making his first sale, Lin Tianming relaxed a bit. It would have been quite embarrassing if he had not sold anything. He was confident that with his high-quality elixirs, selling out shouldn''t be hard. Within an hour after Qin Yun''s departure, Lin Tianming sold only a few First Order Spirit Grass, making a total of sixteen spirit stones. During this time, several cultivators with lower levels of cultivation had asked for prices but did not buy anything. Judging by the look of frustration and longing on their faces as they left, it was likely they didn''t have enough spirit stones and had no choice but to give up. Wave after wave of Qi Refining Cultivators came to inquire about the prices but left disappointed. Almost all of them were persons of scant means, many from clans or low-ranking members of sects. On the other hand, the Loose Cultivators were not so destitute. Although they lacked support, they also had no commitments to hold them back, living on the edge and tasting danger. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Those Loose Cultivators who survived were all people of considerable wealth. Although Lin Tianming was from a clan, he was willing to face danger. Just by defending Qingfeng Town, he had become quite rich, and his cultivation had also progressed rapidly. In contrast, those clan members and sect disciples with lesser talents, accustomed to a peaceful life and afraid to take risks, relied on benefits to get by, taking on only safe family tasks to earn spirit stones. Such a life, over the long term, could only lead to further moral decline. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming continued to wait for customers. As noon arrived, the number of cultivators in the market reached its peak, with nearly every stall having at least one cultivator selecting suitable items. At Lin Tianming''s stall, a muscular man with a bare upper body was perusing the items. This man was tall and burly, towering over Lin Tianming by quite a bit. His bulging muscles were obvious, and he made no effort to conceal his aura. Astonishingly, he was a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, and a Body Cultivator at that. His chest, hands, and arms bore more than a dozen scars. Although healed, faint traces still remained. Many cultivators who were strolling around were attracted by this man. One of them, a cultivator in yellow robes, said in surprise, ''That''s Tie Feng. He''s a ruthless guy.'' Another cultivator, at the third level of Qi Cultivation, curiously asked, ''Who is Tie Feng?'' A number of people who had not heard of this man gathered around to listen as the cultivator in yellow robes spoke at length, his words tinged with a hint of wariness. ''Tie Feng is a ruthless man, a lone cultivator. When he was at the fifth level of Qi Practice, he would often search for medicine in the Fire Cloud Mountain Range. No one knows how many Demonic Beasts at the middle stage of the First Order he has killed. It''s said that he has even exchanged blows with Demonic Beasts at the late stage of the First Order and came back unscathed. Tell me, isn''t that ruthless?'' The onlookers, many cultivators among them, took a deep breath in awe and couldn''t help but reveal expressions of admiration and respect. They thought to themselves that they should be sensible if they ever encountered this man and try not to offend him. The Fire Cloud Mountain Range was located more than eight hundred miles west of Qianchuan Market. It marked the boundary between the Demonic Lands and the territory of the Human Race. It belonged to the outer regions, housing numerous First Order Demonic Beasts and some Spiritual Objects. It was a place of experience for many low-level cultivators. Tie Feng, hearing the conversations of the crowd, paid no attention. He carefully assessed the two massive hammers, which were Spiritual Artifacts, in his hands. Swinging the hammers that weighed over a thousand pounds¡ªsmashing, chopping, quickly moving them back and forth more than a dozen times, stirring up a breeze with each motion¡ªhe felt very satisfied. As his cultivation increased, his previous weapon, a big stick that was a low-quality Spiritual Artifact, with mediocre power, could no longer fully leverage his strength. Just so happened, he had luckily found a dozen or so High-Quality First Order Spirit Grasses in the Fire Cloud Mountain Range, sold them for more than a hundred Spirit Stones, and with the Spirit Stones he previously had, it was just enough to buy a good Spiritual Artifact to enhance his strength. ''Fellow Daoist, what are the names of these two hammer-type Spiritual Artifacts? How much are they selling for?'' Lin Tianming explained with an almost smiling demeanor, ''These two hammer-type Spiritual Artifacts are called the Sky Shaker Hammers. They are both at the Medium Grade of the First Order. Each hammer weighs a thousand pounds and is part of a set, extremely suitable for a Body Cultivator like Brother Tie, capable of unleashing the greatest power. I will sell the pair together. Seeing Brother Tie''s extraordinary strength, I will give you the lowest price¡ªjust one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones.'' Tie Feng felt that the two Sky Shaker Hammers were indeed very suitable for him, capable of greatly enhancing his strength, and the price was fairly reasonable. Such Spiritual Artifacts would probably cost two hundred Spirit Stones in the shops of the West District. He set down the Sky Shaker Hammers and picked up a bottle of Lingshen Pills to inspect. Pleased with the elixirs, he decided to buy a bottle to aid his cultivation. Having decided on his purchases, he asked Lin Tianming to give him a better deal. Lin Tianming was straightforward; he sold the two Sky Shaker Hammers and a bottle of Lingshen Pills for two hundred Spirit Stones, giving Tie Feng a five Spirit Stone discount. Tie Feng was very grateful and inquired about the next time Lin Tianming would set up his stall, deciding to become a long-term customer. Lin Tianming bowed with an apologetic expression and said, ''Brother Tie, I must apologize. My name is Chen Tian, also a rogue cultivator who has no fixed abode and considers the four seas my home. However, I do come to Qianchuan Market quite often, so we could exchange contact methods. If fate allows, we shall meet again.'' Not insisting further, Tie Feng exchanged contact information with him and, after bowing, took his leave. Before departing, he did not forget to promote Lin Tianming''s stall, and many cultivators, hearing of the quality of Lin Tianming''s elixirs, rushed to purchase. In less than half a day, all of the elixirs and Spiritual Medicine had sold out, with even Xin Qing from the neighboring stall buying a bottle of Lingshen Pills. Lin Tianming packed up his stall and left the Southern District, heading towards his cave dwelling. Chapter 49 Auction_1 In the secret chamber of the cave abode, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion, extending his Divine Sense to take inventory of the items in his storage bag.Today''s stall brought in a decent haul; eleven Lingshen Pills sold for two hundred and eighty-six Spirit Stones, two Sky Shaker Hammers went for one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, and various other low-level Spirit Grasses sold for fifty-four Spirit Stones. Only seven or eight common Spiritual Medicines remained unsold. The day''s sales totaled five hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. After calculating the income from the stall, and adding the thousand Spirit Stones Lin Shigong funded for the making of the Earth Evil Sword, which Lin Shilu didn''t charge for his work, Lin Tianming hadn''t had the chance to repay Lin Shigong, so they were unused, sitting in his bag. Including his own Spirit Stones, he now had over seventeen hundred Spirit Stones in his storage bag¡ªa substantial amount of money. Lin Tianming, the very image of a rich country gentleman, chuckled as he put the Spirit Stones back into the bag. While at the stall, he heard from Xin Qing that there would be several Qi Refinement Realm auctions in three days, where many rare items would be available. Lin Tianming''s interest was immediately piqued. With plenty of Spirit Stones and no shortage of elixirs, he planned to see what treasures were there; he might find some good things to buy. With three days until the auction began and nothing else to do, Lin Tianming thought about the Superior Spirit Essence Pill he had yet to test. He took out a pill and began his cultivation practice. As soon as the Lingshen Pill entered his mouth, Lin Tianming quickly activated his Cultivation Technique to refine the vast medicinal power spreading rapidly throughout his body, eventually flowing into the Seven Sea Dantian. For half a year, having not used any elixirs for cultivation, his cultivation had stagnated. The rush of Spiritual Power into the Seven Sea Dantian was like sweet rain after a long drought, instantly refreshing Lin Tianming. As time passed, within less than fifteen minutes of cultivation, intense pain had almost numbed him. He took a Body Strengthening Pill. In a few breaths, the prickling sensation throughout his body lessened considerably, and slowly returned to normal. Without the Body Strengthening Pill to aid in cultivation, the pain from this technique was unbearable for ordinary people. Just the consumption of various elixirs needed for auxiliary cultivation was something average Cultivators couldn''t afford, no wonder such Cultivation Techniques had been lost to history. The power of the Lingshen Pill slowly entered the Dantian. The Seven Sea Dantian, starved for Spiritual Energy for so long, voraciously absorbed it. The Qi Sea, which hadn''t grown in six months, also slowly started to expand. Though still some distance from reaching the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation, it wasn''t too far off. Assisted by the Body Strengthening Pill, Lin Tianming could now cultivate without worries. Thanks to the elixirs, his Spiritual Power increased rapidly. After cultivating for two whole days, he completely refined one Lingshen Pill. The potent medicinal power surprised Lin Tianming. Produced with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, the Lingshen Pill''s potency was a full twenty percent higher than any elixir he had used before, truly a superior quality elixir. The effect of the Body Strengthening Pill was also excellent, not only alleviating the pain of cultivation but also swiftly enhancing his physique. His strength incrementally increased. Given time, he would be able to match a Spiritual Artifact''s power with his body alone, securing an invincible position. After the three days were up, Lin Tianming emerged from his retreat, his aura stable and robust. He walked out of his cave dwelling, heading towards the tallest and grandest building in the Eastern District of the Market City. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many Cultivators were already on the road, heading towards the auction site, all intending to participate in the auction. In fifteen minutes, Lin Tianming arrived in front of a massive hall which stood five stories tall and covered thousands of square meters, exuding grandeur. This hall was the largest auction building in the Market City. It was said that the first floor was for Qi Training Cultivators'' auctions, the second floor for Foundation Establishment Cultivator auctions, and the third floor was where Nascent Soul Masters freely traded. With each higher level, space decreased. As for the fourth and fifth floors, no one knew exactly what transpired there. ``` The Market City auction held several sessions each month, with only a small portion of the seats open and the Spiritual Objects on offer relatively mediocre. It was only during the grand assembly that all seats were open, and sometimes the treasures that appeared could even make a Foundation Establishment Cultivator envious. At this moment, a queue of several dozen meters had formed in front of the grand hall, all cultivators preparing to enter the auction. Almost all of them were at the Fifth Level Qi Practice or above, including two openly at the Foundation Establishment Stage. There were undoubtedly many more in disguise, most likely aiming for the Foundation Establishment Pills. Lin Tianming followed the queue closely, slowly moving forward. As he approached the entrance, a Qi Training Cultivator donned in Zhenyang Sect attire was collecting Spirit Stones. For the Qi Refinement Realm auction, the common area charged each cultivator three Spirit Stones, while the high-end private rooms cost twenty Spirit Stones each and could admit up to four people. Lin Tianming decided to get a private room. Although it was much more expensive in Spirit Stones, he could afford it now given his considerable wealth. Plus, the private rooms came with protective enchantments that made it difficult to leak one''s whereabouts. His family''s affairs were too critical, and it was better to err on the side of caution. When it was Lin Tianming''s turn, he took out twenty Spirit Stones and handed them to the Zhenyang Sect cultivator. Upon receiving a token marked with a number, he stepped into the inner hall, where a charming female cultivator came forward to lead Lin Tianming to the private room corresponding to the number on his token. The charming female cultivator had a lovely face and was dressed in green. Her figure was exceptionally voluptuous. Judging by her bone age, she was just over twenty years old and at the Third Level Qi Practice. In the Cultivation World, the path of cultivation was even more challenging for female Loose Cultivators. Without talent or backing, they could only earn meager incomes doing lowly chores or serve as maids or Furnace Cauldrons for the powerful, which was far from easy. Some sought suitable dao companions to cooperate with, making survival somewhat easier. Seeing that Lin Tianming had not hesitated to choose a private room, the female cultivator knew he was not an ordinary Qi Training Cultivator and must be quite wealthy. If she provided good service, perhaps she could receive some gratuity. The guide swayed her hips as she led the way, nearly eliciting a reaction from Lin Tianming, who was still a virgin. Lin Tianming took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and followed the female cultivator. Arriving at a private room, Lin Tianming took out his token, which was engraved with the number forty-six. He verified that the room matched the number on the token, deactivated the protective barrier, and walked in. The female cultivator followed him inside, brewed a cup of Spiritual Tea for Lin Tianming, and then stood to the side. As time passed, the number of cultivators entering the auction gradually decreased. In the center of the entire ground floor was a high platform, surrounded by five concentric circles with hundreds of seats, each row fully occupied. Above the common area, dozens of private rooms encircled the platform, each covering ten square meters and protected by barriers against Divine Sense. The view was excellent, and Lin Tianming felt the twenty Spirit Stones were well spent. Lin Tianming sipped the Spiritual Tea and patiently waited for the auction to begin. Half an hour later, the stone doors at the first-floor entrance closed, and the somewhat noisy auction hall quickly became quiet. ``` Chapter 50 Second Order Golden Sword Talisman_1 At the auction, an elder of advanced age slowly made his way onto the stage. This person had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, his white hair suggesting he was probably a few years older than Lin Shigong.Upon seeing the elder, someone from the crowd said, "Unexpectedly, it''s Ruan Dao-you hosting. Surely the treasures this time are nothing ordinary!" Many cultivators who had never heard of the man began inquiring amongst their neighbors who were familiar with him. "Ruan Dao-you is a gold-medal auctioneer, having been in the auctioneering business for almost fifty years. He has conducted hundreds of auctions, handling countless treasures, and hasn''t participated in an auction for nearly a decade. The items he handles are certainly no common goods!" After hearing the cultivator''s explanation, the auction hall was abuzz, but it quickly settled down again, indicating that this person''s reputation was indeed not small. "I, Ruan Jingtian, bid welcome to all fellow cultivators attending this auction. I won''t belabor the rules: the highest bidder wins. If your spirit stones are insufficient, other treasures can be mortgaged. Enough talk, let''s proceed without further ado. I announce, the auction begins." As soon as Ruan Jingtian finished speaking, a beautiful woman dressed in red, with captivating charm and a provocatively twisting waist, walked swiftly up to the stage. She held a tray in her hands, covered in red cloth, hiding the treasure beneath. The eyes of many cultivators in the auction lit up with desire, nearly devouring the woman with their gazes, though it was unclear whether it was for the treasure or the woman herself. Ruan Jingtian paid no attention to the atmosphere below, raised his voice infused with a trace of mana, and started the bidding: "The first auction item, a complete set of First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifacts, the Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads." The captivating woman unveiled the red cloth to reveal five beads the size of an infant''s fist, their grayish-green bodies quite pleasing to the eye. "The Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads, each one a Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact. When activated together, they can instantly unleash a hundred-zhang wave to trap foes, or release numerous ice arrows, possessing formidable power. They are not only good for trapping enemies but also for killing them. Truly a powerful set of Spiritual Artifacts. The starting bid is three hundred and fifty spirit stones, and each subsequent bid must increase by at least five spirit stones." Hearing the introduction, Lin Tianming found himself quite fond of this Spiritual Artifact but, already owning the superior Earth Evil Sword and a complete set of Supreme Grade Spiritual Artifacts, he didn''t care to waste spirit stones, thus the Qi Refining Cultivators below were impatient. Instantly the auction became fiercely competitive, with multiple cultivators beginning to bid. A cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement shouted, "I bid three hundred and sixty spirit stones." Before the echo died down, another cultivator called out mockingly. "Three hundred and sixty stones for such an item, what a joke. I bid three hundred and seventy spirit stones." "I bid three hundred and eighty spirit stones." "Four hundred spirit stones." "Four hundred and eighty spirit stones." ...... After over ten rounds of bidding, the Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads were sold for four hundred and eighty spirit stones to a White Robed Cultivator who appeared to cultivate water-based techniques, and thus could exploit the full potential of these beads. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but comment that the price of the Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads was somewhat inflated, even though they were indeed a fine set. A single bead was nearly as valuable as the two Earthly Hammer Weapons he had sold, yet the price was more than ten percent higher than the usual market rate. The preciousness of the first item quickly inflamed the atmosphere, leaving everyone increasingly expectant for the upcoming treasures. "A First Order Medium Grade defensive Spiritual Artifact, Vajra Armor, crafted from the hide of the First Order Superior Grade Demonic Beast Silver-Horned Lizard, it boasts extreme defensive power. The starting bid is eighty spirit stones, with each increase no less than five spirit stones." "Ninety stones!" "One hundred stones!" "One hundred and ten stones!" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... "One hundred and thirty-five stones!" Ultimately, it was acquired by a cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Ruan Jingtian successively brought out a series of auction items, elixirs, talisman paper, spiritual artifacts, mostly needed by Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, and the transaction prices kept rising, making the atmosphere of the auction get increasingly intense. Lin Tianming did not participate in the bidding process at all, as he was not lacking in elixirs or spiritual artifacts. These treasures, if presented half a year earlier, might have excited him, but now, it was hard for them to pique his interest. "We will now proceed with the final ten showstopper treasures of the auction, my fellow Daoists, you may want to keep your eyes peeled!" Ruan Jingtian''s words pushed the atmosphere of the entire auction to a climax; many cultivators who hadn''t bid before were now fully alert, having waited for such a long time specifically for these showstopper items. "The first item up for auction is a First Order Superior Grade elixir, the Xisui Pill, with a quantity of three, auctioning one at a time, with a starting bid of one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must be no less than five spirit stones!" The charming woman stepped onto the platform again, pouring an elixir from the jade bottle, pinching it between her delicate fingers, and displaying it for the many cultivators to see. Instantly, a bid was called out from a private room! "One hundred and ten spirit stones!" ... "One hundred and forty spirit stones!" The entire venue was astounded. After a fierce competition, a cultivator in a private room won the bid with one hundred and forty spirit stones. The first Xisui Pill was sold at a high price, and the other two were not cheap either, being sold for one hundred and thirty and one hundred and thirty-five spirit stones respectively. Only one was bought by a cultivator in the open area of the auction, while the other two were acquired by cultivators in private rooms. Lin Tianming was also very surprised; he had not expected the Xisui Pill to be so sought after, prompting such frenzy among the cultivators. He couldn''t help but wonder how much the Xisui Pills he had refined were worth in spirit stones! The auction continued, and the value of the showstopper treasures became increasingly higher. During the third item, a bottle of Pozhang Pills was sold, with each of the three elixirs fetching a high price of no less than one hundred and eighty spirit stones. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but sigh; these cultivators were truly crazy! "The fourth item for auction, a Second Order inferior grade Golden Sword Talisman, upon activation, can unleash a Golden Sword Qi, powerful enough to be comparable to the full-force blow of an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator!" "Starting bid of two hundred and twenty spirit stones, with each bid increase being no less than ten spirit stones." After Ruan Jingtian''s introduction came to an end, a cultivator in a private room immediately started bidding. "Two hundred and thirty spirit stones!" "Two hundred and forty spirit stones!" After six rounds of bidding, the price for this talisman quickly climbed to two hundred and ninety spirit stones. At this point, Lin Tianming also wanted to win this talisman. He had quite a few First Order Superior Grade talisman paper, and with the help of spiritual artifacts and talisman paper, facing a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was not a big problem, but it was quite difficult to inflict fatal damage on a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. If he had a Second Order Talisman, he could completely turn the tide, and even possess a sliver of counterattacking power against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. "Three hundred and twenty spirit stones!" Lin Tianming raised the price by thirty spirit stones in one breath, hoping to discourage the other bidders. At that moment, someone in a private room spoke: "Three hundred and forty spirit stones, if any fellow Daoist bids higher, I will withdraw!" Then, the auction became silent, with no further bids. "Three hundred and fifty spirit stones!" After thinking for a moment, Lin Tianming shouted out a new bid! Eventually, after the countdown, no one outbid Lin Tianming, and he successfully won the item. Lin Tianming took out the spirit stones and threw them towards the platform from the private room, where Ruan Jingtian caught them in one swoop. After verifying the amount was correct, he threw the Golden Sword Talisman to Lin Tianming. Chapter 51 Another Auction_1 In the private room, Lin Tianming picked up the Golden Sword Talisman, inspecting it over and over, feeling the furious spiritual power within the talisman paper, and looking completely infatuated with it.With this talisman paper in hand, even if he encountered a Great Completion Cultivator who was completely unguarded, he might be able to inflict fatal damage. Thinking of this, spending 350 spirit stones seemed entirely worth it. He didn''t feel the slightest sting of regret, and suddenly became very generous. The maid attending him had a rosy complexion and looked on with envy, occasionally throwing sultry glances at Lin Tianming. She had witnessed his lavish spending; such a wealthy client must have an extraordinary fortune! After storing the Golden Sword Talisman in his storage bag, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief and continued to pay attention to the progression of the auction. "The sixth treasure, a Second Order inferior Alchemy Furnace¡ªthe Cloud Dust Furnace!" A blue pill furnace stood on the stage covered with densely packed inscriptions, delicately intricate. Spiritual energy swirled around its surface, making it very attractive to look at. Its quality was not inferior to the Four Symbols Furnace that Lin Tianming used. Upon seeing this item, the atmosphere in the auction hall heated up. Ruan Jingtian silenced the crowd and began the introduction. "The Cloud Dust Furnace, a Second Order inferior Alchemy Furnace, starting at 900 spirit stones, each bid must be at least 10 spirit stones higher than the previous!" No sooner had his voice faded than a cultivator in a private room bid. "950 spirit stones!" "1000 spirit stones!" ... "1300 spirit stones!" The entire place buzzed with shock. Some cultivators who weren''t serious about bidding inhaled sharply; raising the bid by 300 spirit stones in one go was likely an attempt to intimidate those with covetous eyes, showing a determination to win. Sure enough, after the dramatic price increase, many cultivators who had intended to bid gave up. A normal Second Order inferior pill furnace was worth just over 1000 spirit stones, so the current price was already somewhat inflated. In the end, only three cultivators in private rooms continued to bid, and after two rounds of competition, the Cloud Dust Furnace was won for 1400 spirit stones. The auction wasn''t even halfway through its final items, and there had already been Second Order talisman paper and a Second Order Alchemy Furnace on offer. This auction had indeed brought forth many valuable items, and each treasure presented was a rare find for a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but wonder what the remaining five items would be. "The seventh treasure, a set of Second Order inferior Array Plates, capable of setting up a Two Yi Four Symbols Formation, which can trap and kill enemies. Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator trapped inside would not die but would be certainly flayed, starting at 1300 spirit stones, with each bid increasing by at least 20 spirit stones." As soon as Ruan Jingtian finished introducing it, someone placed a bid. "1400 spirit stones!" "1550 spirit stones!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... After more than a dozen rounds of bidding, almost all came from cultivators in private rooms, likely family clan members given their frenzied bidding. A Second Order inferior formation was more than enough to serve as a Protective Clan Formation for a family of Qi Refining Cultivators. Even many families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators used Second Order medium-quality formations. The Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation was only a Second Order superior formation, acquired at great cost by an ancestor. Thanks to this formation, they had repelled attacks several times, preserving the clan from annihilation. Therefore, every time formations appeared at an auction, they would incite intense bidding from numerous families, pushing the final price to astonishing heights. "1900 spirit stones!" A brief silence fell over the hall, and no further bids were placed. Finally, a cultivator in one of the private rooms won the bid. Lin Tianming had spent over three hundred spirit stones on a Second Order talisman, which could only be used once, while a formation could be used over a long period, even though maintaining the formation''s operation required quite a few spirit stones. Spending nearly two thousand spirit stones on the Array Plates was indeed worth it! The auction continued, and seven items had already been auctioned off. The appearance of several Second Order Treasures had already been an eye-opener, and with three more treasured items remaining, they were sure to be even more precious. "The eighth auction item, the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, is a secret technique. Only half of it is available, it''s not the complete secret technique, and its utility is still unknown. It is a consigned item by a fellow cultivator. The starting price is one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, and each bid must increase by no less than twenty Spirit Stones." At this moment, the entire hall fell silent; everyone was calculating whether to bid or not, and Lin Tianming was also caught in thought. If this were a complete secret technique, even the lowest Yellow Grade Secret Technique could easily auction off for tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, but it was unclear whether it could be cultivated. Lin Tianming calculated that one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones was already quite a lot. If he bought it and couldn''t cultivate it or find the other half of the secret technique, it would be like throwing money into the water. After a good ten breaths of time with no one bidding, Lin Tianming considered and decided to bid. If he could cultivate it or find the other half, he could make a fortune. "One thousand two hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!" "One thousand two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!" Right after Lin Tianming spoke, another cultivator increased the bid, presumably sharing the same thought as him, looking to see if they could pick up a bargain. The risk was substantial, but so was the potential reward, and there were quite a few clever people indeed! "One thousand three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones" Lin Tianming raised the bid by a hundred Spirit Stones in one breath. If that person bid again, he planned to give up, as he had less than one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones left. As expected, the other party did not seem very keen on auctioning for this item and stopped raising the bid. Eventually, Lin Tianming got his wish and acquired the incomplete secret technique for one thousand three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. He paid the Spirit Stones on the spot, obtained the secret technique, and put it into his storage bag, planning to consult it once he returned to his cave dwelling. The auction continued. Surprisingly, the eighth treasure was a Water Attribute Yellow Grade Technique, which fetched fierce bidding and eventually sold for twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones, causing Lin Tianming to be taken aback and quietly marvel at the insanity. The ninth treasure was three Jiuyang Fruits. Consuming one Jiuyang Fruit could increase the probability of breaking through by twenty percent, making it one of the few Spiritual Objects that directly enhance the chance of Foundation Establishment and was extremely precious. The final price was also quite terrifying, with each fruit fetching no less than thirteen thousand Spirit Stones. The ten ultimate treasures were down to the last one, and it was estimated that the hearts of the cultivators present already had an idea, with the vast majority of the cultivators in the private rooms there for this item. "The tenth treasure, three Foundation Establishment Pills, to be auctioned separately, starting at twenty thousand per pill, with each increase not to be less than fifty Spirit Stones." "Twenty thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!" ... "Twenty-seven thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!" Within just over ten rounds, the price had already approached twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming, sitting in the private room, watched the excitement, with probably over ninety percent of the people in the auction hall looking on eagerly for excitement. "Twenty-nine thousand Spirit Stones!" Finally, no one else made a bid. The person who had made the bid heaved a great sigh of relief and couldn''t help but feel secretly elated. When Ruan Jingtian announced the result, the bidding cultivator wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Having spent all his resources, he finally obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill. The first Foundation Establishment Pill ended up selling for a high price of twenty-nine thousand Spirit Stones. The subsequent two also sold for over twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones each, with the average price of the three Foundation Establishment Pills being nearly twenty percent higher than the auction price at the grand gathering ten years ago. All treasures were successfully auctioned off, with not a single item passed up, and with prices almost one to two percent higher than ten years prior. Thinking of the commission he could draw, Ruan Jingtian couldn''t help but reveal a pleased expression. "Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your patronage. We will continue at our next auction!" With the auction ended, the cultivators in the main hall rose to their feet and slowly walked outside. Lin Tianming took out three Spirit Stones and rewarded the maid waiting by his side, then left the private room without looking back. Chapter 52 Great Sun Sword Qi Art_1 Returning to his cave abode, Lin Tianming sat on the cushion in the secret chamber, holding a golden jade cylinder in his hand¡ªit was the secret technique for which he had paid over a thousand spirit stones.After carefully reviewing the secret technique, Lin Tianming fell into a contemplative state. According to the method recorded in the secret technique, one had to draw a small portion of spiritual power from the Dantian and cultivate it into a strand of sword qi, nurturing it within the Seven Sea Dantian. The longer it was nurtured, the more powerful the sword qi would be when unleashed; it was indeed a secret technique. Unfortunately, this secret technique was only a fragment, merely half-complete, and its grade was unclear. It only recorded the condensation method of the Great Sun Sword Qi and lacked the mental cultivation technique for deploying the secret technique. Without finding the latter half, it was fundamentally unusable, making it somewhat of a white elephant. No wonder so few cultivators at the auction were willing to bid. If it were a complete secret technique, it certainly would not be put up for auction. Lin Tianming pondered over the condensation method of the secret technique several times and decided to first condense the sword embryo before anything else. He could nurture it within the Dantian; if he could find the latter half in the future, he would have to obtain it no matter what. This could potentially be the first secret technique the Lin Family had acquired since its founding, greatly enhancing the strength and foundation of the family''s cultivators. After fully comprehending the method of condensation, Lin Tianming began to cultivate the secret technique; his first step was to successfully condense the sword qi. Following the method recorded in the secret technique, he had to strip a portion of the spiritual power formed in the Dantian. This process was both dangerous and painful. If one did not handle the timing and amount correctly, it was easy to damage one''s foundation, making it extremely difficult to cultivate. Lin Tianming circulated his cultivation technique, deployed his Divine Sense, and with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, attempted to separate a portion of spiritual power¡ªabout ten percent of the total. After three days of cultivation, he still hadn''t succeeded in separating it. Each attempt brought immense suffering, even more so than when he cultivated the Tiangang Body Art. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s face was pale, and he was drenched in sweat, the very picture of excessive energy depletion. Just as he began to entertain the thought of giving up, he successfully separated a small portion of spiritual power, which gathered near the Dantian and remained stationary. Lin Tianming was overjoyed at this and focused his Divine Sense, mastering the amount of spiritual power until it met the requirements of the cultivation process, and then stopped extracting. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, he successfully extracted the spiritual power very precisely, exactly ten percent of the total. The first and most difficult step was finally completed; what remained was to cultivate the spiritual power into a strand of sword qi and nurture it in the Dantian, warming it daily with spiritual power until his task was accomplished. Two days hastened past, and during this time, Lin Tianming''s complexion remained pale, a listless figure as though he had suffered a severe illness¡ªall a consequence of cultivating the secret technique. Separating ten percent of his spiritual power had turned half a year''s worth of diligent cultivation to ashes, his strength now diminished rather than increased. Lin Tianming started circulating his cultivation technique again to go into closed-door healing and recover from his injuries. After a total of eight days in seclusion, having successfully condensed the sword qi three days earlier, there now rested a small golden sword quietly in his Dantian, surrounded by spiritual power that constantly nourished the sword qi. During the last three days, Lin Tianming had been cultivating and recovering from his injuries, eventually regaining most of his strength. A message suddenly flew into the secret chamber, and after reading it, Lin Tianming revealed a trace of a smile¡ªit was news that Fifteenth Grandfather had hurried back. With a smile on his face, Lin Tianming prepared to go out and welcome him. It had been over forty days since Lin Shilu had left Qianchuan Market on his own. Having only rested at the family for two days, and not yet fully recovered, he had set out again, worried about Lin Tianming. Hurrying back over this forty-day journey, Lin Shilu also looked greatly fatigued, but he had finally made it back in time. Having lifted the prohibitions, Lin Shilu walked in, and Lin Tianming was already waiting in the yard. "Fifteenth Grandfather, you''re back. Was everything smooth on your way?" Lin Tianming asked anxiously. Seeing Lin Tianming''s complexion, Lin Shilu asked in anger, "Tianming, why do you look like this? Are you injured?" Lin Tianming recounted the whole story about the auction of the secret technique, including how he successfully refined the Sword Qi, telling it like it was. Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu chastised him with palpable alarm: "You lad have quite the nerve, taking up a cultivation technique of dubious authenticity for direct cultivation; if there were any problems, it''s entirely possible you could have exploded and died on the spot." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, remember not to be reckless in the future. Keep matters regarding the secret technique quiet for now; we will look for it in secret. Should we find it, it would naturally be a fortunate discovery for the Lin Family. If we don''t, let''s just consider the money spent as a lesson." The grandfather and grandson sat in the yard as Lin Shilu recounted his experiences of the past forty-plus days. "I''ve been on the move for over forty days, basically following the same route I took to the market, though I took some detours. The journey was relatively smooth, and having the Purple Gold Eagle for transportation certainly sped things up considerably; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been possible to return so quickly." "After I delivered the three elixirs to our clan, the members of the Lin Family with the character ''Shi'' in their generation''s name discussed and have already decided on the distribution of the elixirs. Your grandfather, Elder Wu, and Twelfth Grandpa are all at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and are among the most suitable candidates. Given their significant contributions to the family over the years, they naturally received priority, requiring eight thousand merit points in exchange for one pill. With their accumulations over so many years, it shouldn''t be a problem. If nothing unexpected has occurred, they should be in seclusion by now!" After listening, Lin Tianming asked with concern: "Fifteenth Grandfather, can they be successful?" "Tianming, cultivation is fundamentally an act of defying the heavens and changing fate. Nobody can be absolutely certain of success. They are not young; the youngest, your Twelfth Uncle, is already over eighty years old. With the Minor Foundation Building Pill, he should have a thirty percent chance of success. Your grandfather and Elder Wu will have a slightly lower chance, but there should be a bit over twenty percent chance for them as well. This is far stronger than those who try to break through without any external aid. Even if they don''t successfully enter the Foundation Establishment Stage, they won''t be in any danger. Without a heaven-defying opportunity, this is as far as they can go in this life. It''s an unavoidable circumstance." "Worrying now is useless; we can only hope they are successful!" After some thought, Lin Tianming realized that indeed no one could be of help in the matter of making a breakthrough, they could only pray for their success. Setting this topic aside for the moment, the two discussed Ye Pinghai''s alchemy matters. Since Lin Shilu left the Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming spent close to half a month cultivating and attending auctions, spending his other time diligently practicing alchemy in Ye Pinghai''s cave dwelling. Ye Pinghai had just started refining Minor Foundation Building Pills, with a success rate of about thirty percent. With multiple refining sessions, this rate should improve; how much it would improve would only become clear once all the materials were processed. After half an hour of conversation, the grandfather and grandson continued their cultivation in Qianchuan Market, settling on their next steps. Lin Shilu then instructed Lin Tianming not to slack off before they each returned to their secret chambers for secluded cultivation, planning to wait until Ye Pinghai''s alchemy was complete before returning to the clan. Chapter 53 Double Happiness Arrives_1 Lin Tianming and his companion each returned to their secret chamber, estimating that it would take Ye Pinghai several months to refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill, they decided to have a short period of closed-door meditation.In the secret chamber, while Lin Tianming was healing his injuries, he also began to cultivate, the spiritual power extracted by condensing sword qi was significant, and it would require several months of diligent cultivation to replenish. He took out a Lingshen Pill and consumed it together with a Body Strengthening Pill, feeling the powerful medicinal strength, and the spiritual power lost in condensing sword qi gradually recovered. At the top of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within a courtyard, Lin Shigong sat motionless on a meditation cushion. In his hand was a Jade Tube, which recorded the breakthrough processes and experiences of more than a dozen ancestors of the Lin Family. Lin Shigong pondered carefully, not daring to miss a single detail. Not far from the courtyard, two other people were also in closed-door meditation, pondering over the Jade Tube; they were Lin Shiji and Lin Shihua. Since Lin Shilu returned to Green Bamboo Mountain and the selection for the Foundation Establishment Pill was confirmed, Lin Shigong immediately exchanged most of the precious Spiritual Medicine he had collected, and the elixirs he had refined over the years, all for merit points. Nearly spending half of his wealth, coupled with the merit points borrowed from Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, they finally gathered eight thousand points and successfully exchanged for a Minor Foundation Building Pill. Lin Shiji and Lin Shihua were the same, though both at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and one as the Enforcement Hall Master and the other as the current Clan Leader, their wealth accumulation still fell short of Lin Shigong''s, considering Lin Shigong was the Lin Family member with the highest level in alchemy, and his wealth was naturally more substantial. However, as the Enforcement Hall Master and Clan Leader of the Lin Family, their wealth was not something ordinary family members could compare with; they exchanged all their accumulated resources into merit points, and after borrowing some, they also reached eight thousand points and successfully exchanged for a Minor Foundation Building Pill. Right on the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, taking advantage of the thick spiritual energy at the peak, each person chose a courtyard for secluded meditation, fully committed to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. After three days passed, Lin Shigong had memorized the contents of the Jade Tube, adjusted himself to the optimal state and took out a Minor Foundation Building Pill without any hesitation, and swallowed it. In just a breath''s time, his originally slightly pale cheeks instantly turned bright red. An immense amount of spiritual power almost burst his Seven Sea Dantian, causing him excruciating pain. Lin Shigong concentrated his mind and, according to his ancestors'' experiences, knew that it was time to refine the spiritual power fully, further condensing the spiritual power within the entire Qi Sea into a purer form. Lin Shigong guided the vast spiritual energy, refining it bit by bit. Half a day passed, and he had only refined a fraction; the efficiency was exceptionally low. To complete the condensation, it would probably take a month or so. "This won''t do. I must speed up. The substantial medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill can only last for one month, and if the condensation is not completed within this timeframe, the breakthrough will fail," he thought to himself. At this moment, Lin Shigong was utterly frenzied, completely disregarding the heart-wrenching pain, even if his orifices bled, he did not stop and continued to refine the spiritual power with all his might. Twenty-five days passed in a flash, and Lin Shikang was sitting in his courtyard, not cultivating in seclusion, but protecting the three attempting to break through. Only a small part of the Lin Family''s core members knew that Lin Shigong and the others were attempting the breakthrough, the entire family secretly went on alert, and the Protective Clan Formation was also activated, to aid in their breakthrough. For the past half-month, Lin Shikang was extremely anxious, constantly worried about the three individuals. Despite his restlessness, he occasionally glanced towards the courtyards of Lin Shigong and the others. The time for the month-long duration was drawing near, with only five days remaining. Failure to break through in time would mean halting their progress for life. Lin Shikang recalled that when he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in his fifties, it took only fourteen days to succeed. Now twenty-five days had passed, and there was still no movement from the three, which was naturally worrisome. Just then, a muffled sound came from one courtyard, followed by the fleeting pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. "It''s Shihua''s place, haha¡­ Shihua has successfully established his foundation!" Overjoyed, Lin Shikang hurried out of his courtyard and flew towards the courtyard where Lin Shihua was meditating. Inside Lin Shihua''s meditation courtyard, his face was flushed red as he burst into laughter... After entering the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage more than a decade ago, he finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment, feeling the surging spiritual power that was incomparable to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. After Lin Shihua finished his cultivation, he sighed in relief, walked out of the courtyard, and met Lin Shikang who came rushing over. Lin Shikang''s face brimmed with smiles as he clasped his hands together in congratulations and said, "Shihua, congratulations on successfully entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. Our Lin Family has finally produced a third Foundation Establishment Cultivator. In order to restore our former glory, we have finally taken a step forward." Lin Shihua''s face was also flushed with color, not yet recovered from his joy, his excitement ineffable! "Thank you, third brother, for your protection. How are the fifth and the ninth brother doing?" Lin Shikang wore a helpless expression, smiling wryly as he replied, "There''s still no movement from Shigong and the others. We have only five days left until the one-month deadline. Whether they can succeed or not will be revealed in these few days!" Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua''s face also changed dramatically, and he smiled bitterly again and again. He had not yet recovered from the shock of his own breakthrough, and he was acutely aware of the difficulty of breaking through. That he had succeeded was already fortunate; his ninth brother, who was more than a decade older than him, would likely face even greater challenges. The members of the Lin Family, since detecting their Spiritual Roots, had all grown up on Green Bamboo Mountain. They learned enlightenment education together, studied the knowledge of cultivation, and even learned the arts of cultivation together. Over the years, they supported each other. Although the blood ties among many family members had become extremely thin, or even non-existent, the bond formed over decades was stronger than those between real brothers. In the early stages of his cultivation, Lin Shihua was often taken care of by Lin Shigong. He had always admired his selflessness and even took him as a role model. It was because of his fair and prudent style of handling affairs that he was elected Clan Leader. So, he was very hopeful that Lin Shigong would succeed. "Shihua, you''ve just made a breakthrough. Return and consolidate it in seclusion. We''re helpless while waiting, and as for their breakthroughs, they can only rely on themselves. I''m here to watch over things; there won''t be any issues," "Alright, then I''ll go back and consolidate first. Please take care of things here, third brother!" With a cupped fist, Lin Shihua left to seclude himself inside the courtyard. Four more days passed, and Lin Shikang had remained outside the courtyard where Lin Shigong and the other was in seclusion, never leaving. At this moment, Lin Shikang was sighing with regret and growing more anxious by the minute. Only one day remained, and it seemed there really was no hope left. Suddenly, another muffled boom rang out, followed by the breath of a Foundation Establishment Stage which confronted them directly; it returned to normal within a few breaths. Lin Shikang was instantly overjoyed, nearly rushing into the cave dwelling, but fortunately, he managed to stop himself in time! "It''s Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother did it, hahaha..." "Ninth Brother has succeeded in Foundation Establishment!" In the secret chamber, Lin Shigong was disheveled and covered in dried blood, his aura extremely chaotic. His previously gray-white hair was slowly turning black, and his aged face was growing visibly younger, with the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes vanishing. He looked completely like a middle-aged man. Feeling the surging spiritual power, Lin Shigong''s face was filled with astonishment, almost unable to believe! "Have I entered the Foundation Establishment Stage? Have I really entered the Foundation Establishment Stage?" He tried casting a spell! Boom... The stone table instantly shattered into pieces, feeling the surging spiritual power, which indeed was the might that only came with the Foundation Establishment Stage. "I''ve succeeded, I''ve actually succeeded..." Lin Shigong was suddenly overcome with tears of joy, crying profusely. If he had not succeeded this time, he could have only stopped at this stage. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 54 Six Months_1 The day after Lin Shigong''s breakthrough, which was also the last day of the thirtieth, Lin Shiji came out of seclusion, walking out of the courtyard.Lin Shiji''s face was full of disappointment, despondent, and his already aged visage became even more weathered. "I''m old now, perhaps this is fate!" Lin Shiji muttered to himself in his heart. Lin Shikang, who had been waiting outside all this time, approached Lin Shiji with a look of sympathy and comforted him, "Little brother, you have done your best. Take a good rest for a while, the Enforcement Hall now has young people to support it, you don''t have to work too hard!" Lin Shiji nodded. Before secluding himself, he had felt that hope was slim, but he still wanted to try one last time, just in case he succeeded! After all, no one wants to stop making progress. "Elder brother, did the ninth and twelfth brothers succeed?" Although during the breakthrough, he felt two Foundation Establishment Stage auras, he still wanted to confirm their authenticity. "Shihua is a bit younger, he took twenty-five days to break through as well. Shi Gong''s situation was more dangerous, he only succeeded yesterday!" Upon hearing this, Lin Shiji''s bitter face also revealed a slight smile. Two out of three people had a breakthrough, which was already a great fortune. "Elder brother, please convey my congratulations to Shi Gong and the others when they leave seclusion. I will take my leave now, there is a lot to do at the Enforcement Hall!" Lin Shikang nodded, halted his words, wanting to say something to console him, but not knowing how to start. Watching Lin Shiji walk away from the square, his lonely figure was heart-wrenching. Lin Shikang shook his head, his heart filled with bitterness and a sense of lament. If it were not for the family''s weak foundation, there would''ve been a fair chance if it was twenty years earlier. Time waits for no one! S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Let it be, let it be. Upon reflection, the success of the two was unexpected, yet seeing Lin Shiji''s failure still made it hard to hold back the regret. After Lin Shiji left, Lin Shikang also returned to his own small courtyard, waiting for Lin Shigong and the other to consolidate their cultivated strength and come out of seclusion. Sitting in his small courtyard, Lin Shikang was also pondering the future development of the family. The news of Lin Shigong''s two breakthroughs should still be kept secret, as a hidden strength. With two more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family''s power had greatly increased; no longer would they have to swallow their pride, but they also could not be too ostentatious. The Lin Family needed time to quickly elevate their overall strength. In Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming sat in a secret chamber within his cave dwelling, hands joined, eyes tightly shut, with beads of sweat occasionally seeping from his forehead, diligently cultivating. Time swiftly passed, and half a year had gone by. Lin Tianming would visit Ye Pinghai''s Alchemy Room every month to learn for several days, and the rest of the time he dedicated to cultivation. During this half year, Lin Tianming made significant progress. With a large amount of high-quality elixirs, his cultivation had been rapidly recovering. As early as three months ago, Lin Tianming had fully recovered the spiritual power he had lost, and not only that, the progress in the following three months was also substantial. His cultivation was nearing the late stage of the Seventh Level Qi Cultivation. With another year or half, it was very likely he would reach the Eighth Level Qi Cultivation. In addition to his spiritual power, his body refinement also made great strides. All his meridians throughout his body had become thicker, a full size larger than before, and his physical strength had also increased considerably. After half a year of arduous cultivation, as he opened his eyes, feeling the surging spiritual power within him, Lin Tianming was very satisfied. Just then, a message from Ye Pinghai entered the secret chamber. ''Elder Ye spent eight months, finally refining all the Spiritual Medicine Materials.'' Lin Tianming emerged from his seclusion, and, stepping out of the secret chamber, he took a seat in the courtyard to await Lin Shilu. At the same time, Lin Shilu had received the message and, hastily gathering some Artifact Refining Materials, he hastily left his own seclusion. Upon seeing Lin Shilu emerge, Lin Tianming hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. ''Fifteenth Grandfather, you''ve received the message from Elder Ye as well, haven''t you?'' Lin Shilu replied with a calm face, ''Indeed, let''s go. We shall pay a visit to his abode.'' In half an hour, the two of them had arrived inside Ye Pinghai''s abode. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai were sitting opposite each other, with Lin Tianming sitting below Lin Shilu, occasionally rising to pour a cup of Spiritual Tea for them both. Ye Pinghai picked up the jade tea cup, took a sip of the Spiritual Tea, and said with a pleased expression, ''Lin, I am pleased to report that the task you entrusted to me has been successfully completed, and now is the time to deliver the results.'' After speaking, Ye Pinghai took out five Jade Bottles and handed them to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu received the Jade Bottles with a chuckle of joy, his face brimming with delight. He extended his Divine Sense to inspect them and within the five bottles were fourteen pills that were unmistakably Minor Foundation Building Pills. Overjoyed, Lin Shilu spoke with sincere gratitude, ''Brother Ye has been tirelessly engaged in Alchemy for over half a year, consuming substantial resources. You should rest for a few days, there''s really no need for such hurry. My grandson and I have already waited for more than half a year, so a few more days would not make a difference.'' After half an hour of pleasantries and exchanging many words of thanks, Lin Shilu took out a storage bag containing eight thousand Spirit Stones, along with two Jade Bottles, totaling six Minor Foundation Building Pills, which he handed over to Ye Pinghai. Lin Shilu, following the customs of Alchemy, gave Ye Pinghai thirty percent of the pills as a reward for his assistance. From the fifteen batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials for Minor Foundation Building Pills, seventeen pills were successfully produced ¨C which surprised Lin Shilu. He had thought that procuring fifteen pills would have been more than satisfactory and had not anticipated that Ye Pinghai''s Alchemy skills would yield such a welcome bonus. Although Minor Foundation Building Pills are only considered Second Order Lower Quality, their difficulty of refinement is on par with many Second Order Medium Quality pills. The reason there were seventeen pills was because there were plentiful Spiritual Medicine Materials, and after multiple refinements, practice makes perfect. The final two batches presented four pills each, hence exceeding the expected amount by two. After pondering for a short moment, Ye Pinghai did not decline the offer. He took the Jade Bottles in hand, poured out one Minor Foundation Building Pill, placed it into a separate Jade Bottle, and then returned it to Lin Shilu. ''Lin, I will not turn down the five Minor Foundation Building Pills and the Spirit Stones, but you should take this one pill back. Your family needs these pills more than I do.'' Lin Shilu hastened to decline, but ultimately, at the insistent demand of Ye Pinghai, he accepted the pill. This trip to Qianchuan Market had achieved its aim. With these nine Minor Foundation Building Pills, the Lin Family now possessed a total of twelve, allowing many of their clan members to commence Foundation Establishment without delay. That evening, Lin Shilu spent more than three hundred Spirit Stones to host a lavish banquet at the Welcoming Guests Tower in gratitude for Ye Pinghai''s assistance. Ye Pinghai attended the banquet as promised and in high spirits, and they drank over ten bottles of wine brewed from Spirit Fruits. The cost of the Spiritual Wine alone amounted to more than a hundred Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming offered toasts several times throughout the evening, earnestly expressing his thanks to Ye Pinghai for his assistance in Alchemy. Ye Pinghai had always valued Lin Tianming''s talent and character, and he treasured him so much that he considered taking him as a disciple, consistently offering guidance; otherwise, he would not have wasted his time and effort. Taking advantage of the banquet, Lin Shilu spent several thousand Spirit Stones to purchase a batch of Second Order Pills from Ye Pinghai at a low price, mainly consisting of Lingshen Pills, along with some restorative Huiyuan Pills and Consolidating Essence Pills. After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Shilu excused himself, deciding to depart at dawn the following day to return to Green Bamboo Mountain. Ye Pinghai did not hold back, offering only a few polite words of well-wishing before they each said farewell and returned to their respective dwellings to rest. Chapter 55 Returning to Green Bamboo Mountain_1 The next morning, just outside Qianchuan Market, a fiery red morning glow hung suspended in the azure sky, brushed by a light breeze that spoke of endless beauty.Lin Tianming and his companion left the market and, after flying on their swords for more than ten miles, stopped atop a small mountain. Releasing the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag, it had grown significantly larger over the past half-year. With the Beast Spirit Pill, the Purple Gold Eagle rapidly grew with the help of the monthly elixirs. Taking a Beast Spirit Pill from his storage bag and tossing it to the Purple Gold Eagle, it caught it in one bite and swallowed, lets out a joyous screech, and affectionately nuzzled Lin Tianming with its massive head, looking quite eager to please. "Alright, stop fussing, we need to get on our way!" Lin Tianming and his companion mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which swiftly ascended hundreds of feet into the air and streaked away as a beam of light, flying south. Having Lin Shilu accompany him made the journey much easier for Lin Tianming, who sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, enjoying the scenery along the way, quite content. Following their previous route and with the familiarity of the path, the journey went smoothly. Coupled with the increased speed of the Purple Gold Eagle''s flight, they arrived near Green Bamboo Mountain in just half a month. Looking at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain in the distance, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement. Having been away for half a year, he deeply missed his clan. Wondering whether his grandfather had successfully established his foundation, with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, the two humans and one beast plunged into the Protective Clan Formation and disappeared. Once inside the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Shilu finally let out a sigh of relief! "Tianming, you go back first. Tomorrow, come to the Clan Elders'' Assembly with your grandfather. We have matters to discuss." "Yes." Lin Tianming bowed his hands in a salute and flew towards the mountainside. Watching Lin Tianming''s retreating figure, Lin Shilu was very pleased. This child is meticulous in thought, exceptional in talent, and extraordinary in fate; truly a promising individual! Lin Shilu did not linger any longer and vanished from the spot. Lin Tianming did not return to his own small courtyard but headed straight to the Alchemy Hall to check on his grandfather''s breakthrough. Outside the Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming chanced upon Lin Tianhong, who was just coming out. Lin Tianming greeted him, "Tianming pays his respects to Second Brother!" "Sixth Brother, it''s been a while. You''re finally back!" The two of them had studied alchemy together, and it had been nearly two years since they had last seen each other. Lin Tianhong had also progressed from the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement to the Fifth Level, a significant improvement. "Second Brother, is Grandfather inside?" "Ninth Grandpa is inside. I''ve just come out from seeing him; he happens to be free right now. You''ve been away for so long, I won''t disturb you further. Go on in." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then I shall go inside, and we''ll catch up another day!" "Sure, we brothers have all been deeply immersed in our own cultivation for several years; we haven''t gathered for quite some time. One day soon, let''s call First Brother and Third Sister to join us for a proper reunion." After parting from Lin Tianhong, he turned and walked into the great hall. Walking into the main hall of the Alchemy Hall, Lin Shigong was already seated inside, waiting for Lin Tianming. Reunited with his grandfather after many months, Lin Shigong''s appearance had drastically changed. The once predominantly gray hair was now nowhere to be seen, replaced by a head of jet-black hair, giving him the appearance of a middle-aged man. ``` After a cultivator has successfully completed Foundation Establishment, they can live for more than two hundred and fifty years, and at this time Lin Shigong was less than a hundred years old, indeed still considered a middle-aged man. Having confirmed that grandfather had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, Lin Tianming was extremely excited. Not only does the Lin Family gain another Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, but it is also very likely to gain a Second Order Alchemist. Lin Shigong''s alchemy had been stagnating at the superior grade of First Order for dozens of years; if it hadn''t been for the barrier in his cultivation, he would probably have advanced to Second Order long ago. Now that his cultivation has broken through, becoming a Second Order Alchemist should just be a matter of time. After calming his excited emotions, Lin Tianming began to offer his congratulations. "Congratulations to grandfather on entering the Foundation Establishment Stage!" Lin Shigong was also very happy at this time. A few years ago, he had thought that he was doomed to never succeed in Foundation Establishment, and he really didn''t expect to have even a sliver of chance, truly a testament to the unpredictable nature of life. "Hmph, I was fortunate to succeed in Foundation Establishment. This time, I really owe it to you. My twelfth brother and I have succeeded, but it''s a pity for the fifth brother..." Seeing the look of regret on Lin Shilu''s face, Lin Tianming knew that Lin Shiji had failed in Foundation Establishment. "Grandfather, the foundation of our family is really too weak. Many of our clan members have wasted decades for nothing, otherwise they wouldn''t be attempting Foundation Establishment at the age of a hundred. There''s nothing that can be done about it!" "That''s true. Before us, there were several clan members who exhausted their lifespan without even obtaining the spiritual objects to assist in Foundation Establishment. Their forced breakthrough attempts also weren''t successful. Compared to them, we''re actually quite lucky." After being comforted by Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong felt somewhat better and then asked Lin Tianming about his experiences in Qianchuan Market. Then, Lin Tianming set up a restrictive spell and began to recount his experiences over the past half year to Lin Shigong. "To have actually obtained twelve Minor Foundation Building Pills this time!" Lin Shigong was stunned, his face flushing with waves of red. If he didn''t know his grandson so well, he almost wouldn''t dare to believe it. "I didn''t expect that Ye Pinghai would truly be a person worth befriending. We are really indebted to him this time. Otherwise, our family would have had to expend great effort at much higher risk, and it would have been very difficult to obtain such a number of Minor Foundation Building Pills." Lin Tianming also expressed his gratitude: "Senior Ye indeed gave his all to help. He not only assisted with alchemy, but he also taught me a lot. Now my skills in alchemy have improved greatly, and I am able to produce common First Order Superior Grade elixirs, with both a high success rate and yield." Before coming back, I decided it''s still best not to reveal the secret of the Eye of Five Colors. This matter is too important and must be approached with caution; it''s better not to let the old man know. "Good, good, you really haven''t disappointed me. The thing I am proudest of in my life is you. Continue working hard, and strive to surpass our ancestors as soon as possible." "Yes, grandson will definitely work hard!" "Grandfather, I bid on a secret technique at the auction in Qianchuan Market. Please take a look at it." Hearing this, Lin Shigong became even more excited, half doubtingly asking: "You also bid on a Spirit Art?" Lin Tianming nodded, retrieved the Secret Art Jade Tube from his storage bag, and handed it over to Lin Shigong for inspection. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shigong''s face slowly returned to its normal color from the excitement. "What a pity, a pity!" "It''s only the upper half. No wonder it was up for auction. Trying to find the lower half is undoubtedly like searching for a needle in a haystack, but that''s not to say there''s no hope. If it''s real, then we''ve made a huge profit. Even if it''s a fake, losing some Spirit Stones is no big deal." "We should not reveal this secret technique to the other clan members for now. I''ll discuss it with your third uncle and the others. We can only search for it in secret. If we can find it, it would be a great fortune for our Lin Family, but if we can''t, then let it be." Lin Tianming readily agreed. Lin Shilu had already exhorted him on this, so he naturally wouldn''t speak of it to others. The two talked for a full hour until they finally left the Alchemy Hall together and returned to their own small courtyard. ``` Chapter 56 The Dust Settles_1 Having returned to their small courtyard, mother and sister were overjoyed to learn of Lin Tianming''s return to the family and rushed back to this humble home.The family reunited for dinner, with only Lin Xingrong still away in Luoyun Market, a significant regret. After dinner, mother and sister each went to their cultivation, leaving only Lin Shigong and Lin Tianming to sit in the courtyard for a casual chat. ''Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather asked me to tell you that at dawn tomorrow, we should go to the Elders'' Council for a clan meeting, and he wants me to join as well,'' Lin Tianming said. Lin Shigong, sipping his Spiritual Tea with a calm expression, replied, ''I suspect it''s to fulfill the promise of the three Minor Foundation Building Pills for you and to discuss the development of the family for the next few years, as well as external relations. The family has been silent for a long time now, and it''s time to take a step forward.'' ''With my twelfth brother and I successful in Foundation Establishment, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in our family is no less than that of the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family. Although there is a slight gap in cultivation, the Lin Family is not the same as before and naturally can no longer yield in every situation.'' ''Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family!'' ''Is the Jin Family very strong?'' Lin Tianming asked immediately, his interest piqued. ''Grandfather, what is the actual strength of the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range like?'' he inquired eagerly. Seeing Lin Tianming''s interest, Lin Shigong opened up to explain. Sooner or later, Tian Ming would have to deal with those families, and knowing both oneself and the enemy would ensure he would not be defeated. Understanding more would not be harmful. ''According to investigations, out of the five major families in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family has four Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the open, but whether there are more in hiding is unknown. Moreover, a person of exceptional talent has emerged from the Jin Family, known as Jin Qishan, who is twenty-six, possesses Dual Spiritual Roots, and has already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level¡ªan innate prodigy.''" ''In addition, the Flying Eagle Mountain Sun Family has three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while the Jiuhua Mountain Wu Family and Baiyun Mountain Luo Family each have two.'' ''Currently, the Jin Family''s strength is the strongest, and aside from the Sun Family, none of the other three can deal with them alone.'' ''The Jin Family and the Sun Family have always been at odds with each other. Under the mutual restraint of the Jin and Sun families, our Lin Family and the other two have banded together for mutual warmth, allowing us to secure a foothold in the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, the taste of survival in such a narrow gap is truly stifling.'' As Lin Shigong said this, he shook his head with a helpless expression on his face. Over two hundred years ago, the Lin Family was the strongest, monopolizing forty percent of the market profits. In just over a century, they had completely declined, and although they were not the weakest among the five major families, they were not much stronger. ''Grandfather, let''s take it slowly. The family is getting stronger and stronger, and it''s just a matter of time before we regain our past glory,'' Lin Tianming comforted. The younger generation of the Lin Family had shown excellent talent, including an individual with Dual Spiritual Roots and several with Three Spiritual Roots¡ªa true gathering of exceptional talents. After more than half an hour of casual conversation, Lin Tianming also gained a general understanding of the other four major families, including some key members, committing them firmly to memory. The next day at dawn, Lin Tianming followed his grandfather to the Clan Elders'' Assembly. In the Council Hall of the Elders'' Assembly, more than ten family members had already arrived, with Lin Shihua and Lin Shixin chatting among themselves. Seeing Lin Shigong enter, everyone quickly stood up, and Lin Tianming greeted everyone politely. Those attending the Clan Elders'' Assembly were all the core strength of the Lin Family, mostly those with real power. Nearly everyone who could make it was there, save for those who were indispensable elsewhere. Before long, two figures entered the Council Hall together; it was Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu arriving last. The crowd stood up to greet them, and Lin Tianming also stepped forward to salute. Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Lin Shihua began to speak: "Fellow clansmen, since everyone is here, let''s begin the meeting. The main topics are the distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills and the future development of our clan, as well as our stance towards other families." "Let''s start with the distribution of the Minor Foundation Building Pills. Apart from the three promised to Tian Ming, there are six left. Feel free to speak your minds and let''s come together to discuss a fair and just outcome." Right then, the Hall Master of the Skill Transmission Hall, Lin Shigang, was the first to speak out: "The remaining six Minor Foundation Building Pills should be allocated from among our clansmen. Whoever first reaches the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage can exchange it for eight thousand good deeds to establish their foundation as soon as possible and enhance the overall strength of the family. When facing the Jin Family, we''ll have a stronger foundation!" No sooner had these words been spoken than a clan member of the Xing generation began to object. "With only six Minor Foundation Building Pills, the number is still small. Moreover, the clan has already expended a large amount of wealth in their production, depleting most of our funds accumulated over decades. The main ingredient, Hidden Spirit Grass, although we have transplanted dozens of plants, has a low survival rate, and we won''t be able to use them to produce elixirs for a hundred years." "Therefore, for the next hundred years, it will be very difficult for us to obtain spiritual objects that can aid in Foundation Establishment. For this reason, I suggest we keep two pills in reserve, to retain a glimmer of hope in times of crisis, allowing the family to recover as quickly as possible." Many from the Xing generation supported this proposition, echoing their agreement. The Council Hall immediately became lively, essentially dividing into two camps: the younger Qi Refinement Cultivators of the Xing generation and the older, yet-to-establish Foundation members of the Shi generation. The Shi generation was no longer young. Apart from the four who had successfully established their foundation, including Lin Shiji who had failed in his attempt, there were only three others, all at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. The youngest among them, Lin Shixin, was already over ninety years old, not more than two years younger than Lin Shigong, with hardly any potential left. Even with the aid of Minor Foundation Building Pills, the hope of establishing a foundation was very slim. Lin Tianming sat silently behind his grandfather, and not only him, but none of the Lin Family Foundation Building Cultivators spoke up, nor did they openly express their stance. An hour passed, and the two generations could still not reach a consensus. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang, who had been silent until then, communicated secretly with Lin Shilu and the other three, asking for their opinions. After all, the views of those in the Foundation Establishment Stage carried weight and were crucial in deciding major clan issues. After a long deliberation, Lin Shilu, standing from the perspective of the family, found the words of the Xing generation more convincing. For the Shi generation, even with the aid of Minor Foundation Building Pills, the probability of successful Foundation Establishment was very low. It would be better to give the opportunity to the younger members to maximize the family''s strength. Not only did Lin Shilu think this way, but the other three Foundation Establishment Cultivators mostly felt the same. However, since Lin Shigong had managed to establish his foundation at an advanced age, there was a precedent. To directly cut off the hope of Lin Shixin and others seemed too harsh; after all, no one wanted to die. After discussion among the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Lin Shikang stood up and said: "Let''s divide the six Minor Foundation Building Pills into three parts: one for the Shi generation, three for the Xing generation, and two for the Tian generation. Whichever clan member reaches the Great Perfection first can exchange for them." As soon as this was stated, the previously bustling Council Hall fell silent as everyone pondered the suggestion. At that moment, Lin Shixin gratefully looked towards Lin Shikang and the others, nodding his head in thanks. After all, they had still preserved the hope for those of his generation to establish their foundation; it was just a matter of whether they could seize the opportunity. There was only so much in the way of resources; naturally, the most effective resources should be used for the clan members with the best talents. After a quiet moment, lasting only about ten breaths, and seeing that there were no objections, Lin Shilu took out the three Minor Foundation Building Pills and handed them to Lin Tianming. The remaining six were entrusted to Lin Shixin for safekeeping, settling the distribution of the pills. Lin Tianming secured the three Minor Foundation Building Pills into his storage bag. With these three elixirs, there was a good chance his parents could establish their foundation. Chapter 58 Listing Thoughts_1 Dear readers, I just received a suggestion from the editor to release my book tomorrow.Upon hearing this plan, wow wow wow... I''m so anxious right now! What should I do, everyone? Let me tell you the exact time the book will go live, and here I am, on my knees, begging for your support and subscription! "Lin Family''s Cultivation Journey" will be officially released at 12 PM on August 20th, 2021. I''m begging for subscriptions... begging for votes... Since the book is going live, I might as well write a few words of feelings because after all, this is my first time writing a novel. First of all, I want to thank every reader friend who has collected, recommended, and tipped. (I''m lazy and there are too many people, so I won''t list everyone individually) It''s every one of your collections, every comment, every recommendation vote, every monthly vote, and every tip that have given me the motivation to continue writing! Really.... Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is open the assistant app to see how many collections have increased and how many recommendation votes I''ve received. I don''t know how many times I check each day; one could say I''m even more active than when it comes to my salary. It''s with everyone''s support that I''ve been able to persist, and I sincerely want to say thank you to all of you... Next, I''d like to thank my editor, Editor Niqiu... As a novice writer, I''m like a needle in a haystack among many authors, not an exaggeration in the slightest. My journey from signing the contract to now going live has been relatively smooth, and I''ve received quite a few recommendations, for which I am truly grateful. Okay, now let''s talk about some personal thoughts! Up to this point, I''m quite satisfied with the book''s performance; as a newbie with such an updating speed, to achieve these results and even surpass expectations is more than satisfying. Now, I must sincerely apologize to all my reader friends. My updates have been too few; I feel I''ve really let down the readers who have been with me all this time! I feel somewhat guilty and hope to receive everyone''s understanding... Starting next month, I will dedicate more time to writing and try to update more frequently to repay everyone''s support. Last but not least, a bit about myself! I am a new writer! (So new! Don''t laugh when I tell you, but the first few readers will know, in my first two chapters I didn''t even divide paragraphs; a two-thousand-word chapter was just one massive paragraph. There were even readers who commented to remind me, and I felt so embarrassed. I quickly revised and divided the paragraphs because I didn''t know how to use the writing software at the time. Thankfully, I corrected it in time; otherwise, I would have been too ashamed to face anyone.) I only started writing novels to fulfill a small dream of mine. It was an impulsive decision, and that''s how I started writing this novel. Just like that, I began, groping my way through and pondering as I went. Family saga novels are much more difficult to write than those about Loose Cultivators, especially since I have no stockpile of written chapters, no outline, and no detailed outline; I rely purely on passion in my writing. In the beginning, it was okay, but the further I wrote, the more difficult it became. There were more characters and the content grew more complex. Some details were not meticulous and the logic not coherent, leading to quite a few reader complaints. Some of the more intense comments from readers hit me hard, but I still managed to keep my composure. Freedom of speech is everyone''s most fundamental right. I am deeply grateful to those readers who have criticized and corrected me, and even more so to those who have supported and comforted me, which is very touching. Thank you all... Writing is not easy. Just typing for a few hours every day and persisting for dozens of days has been tough, something any author can relate to. From the initial passion to the later stage when it almost becomes a burden, S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I hope on this lonely and lengthy journey of writing, I can find like-minded friends and together create a quality novel. No matter what the future holds, I will continue writing with this gratitude, striving to provide more exciting content as a way to give back to everyone. In closing, I ask everyone to support the legal version of the novel. Spend the money equivalent to a bottle of water or pack of cigarettes to support the author. If you''re a student and can''t afford it, then read a pirated copy if you must! Finally, I beg for your subscription, and if possible, setting up a recurring subscription would be even better. Everyone, Xiao Yan is counting on you all! Chapter 57 Arrangements (Please Subscribe) _1 The distribution of the Minor Foundation Building Pills has been settled, and Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, stood up and began to speak:"Now, let me report on the family''s situation over the past five years!" "As of today, the family has a total of 175 cultivators, with 12 from the Shi generation, 98 from the Xing generation, and 65 from the Tian generation. (Note: Female cultivators who marry into the Lin Family are counted by their husband''s generation for the purpose of family records. For example, Ren Yuxuan, Lin Tianming''s mother, is recorded under the Xing generation without changing her name.)" "Among them, there are four at the Foundation Establishment Stage, one at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, eleven at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and the rest are all below the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining." "In the past five years, after expenditures, the family has a remaining total of more than 11,000 Accumulated Spirit Stones. The recent production of Minor Foundation Building Pills consumed the accumulation of over twenty years, making it hard for us to allocate funds for the next decade!" Upon reaching this point, Lin Shihua couldn''t help but reveal a look of worry, which quickly returned to calm. The family is still too poor; fortunately, Lin Tianming brought back a large quantity of Hidden Spirit Grass. With the addition of a large amount of other auxiliary medicines and spending tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, the family managed to refine fifteen Minor Foundation Building Pills. Thankfully, the results were satisfying, and obtaining a large number of the pills could boost the family''s overall strength in a short time. Just as Lin Shihua finished speaking, Lin Shikang, who had been immersed in thought, continued the conversation! "Looking at the current situation, the family''s funds are almost depleted, only enough to pay one year''s monthly stipends, so I suggest organizing a large group of family members above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement to form Monster Hunting Squads. In batches, they should enter the Luoyun Mountain Range for training. Not only can they hunt Demonic Beasts to earn Spirit Stones, but they can also look for Spirit Grass. By using what they find, we''ll engage in lots of alchemy and crafting, then sell the items in the market. This will quickly increase the wealth of the family members and the family, as well as significantly expedite their breakthroughs in cultivation. It''s truly a win-win-win situation." "As for the Monster Hunting Squads, they will be led by Shi Ji, each team consisting of ten members. As long as they don''t venture too deep into the mountain range, safety isn''t a major concern. Regarding the schedule, they will rotate every six months." "Additionally, we''ll use the family''s stored elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts as rewards to motivate everyone. The spoils obtained by the family members will be the responsibility of Shi Lu for crafting and Shi Gong for alchemy. The sales will still be handled by Xing Rong. What does everyone think?" Lin Shigong was the first to speak up, "I agree with Third Brother''s suggestion!" "I also agree with Third Brother''s suggestion!" ... Lin Shilu and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators echoed their agreement, and several elders from the Xing generation also expressed their support. Lin Shikang nodded, very satisfied, as nearly half of the family members had already agreed. "Does anyone else have any opinions?" Lin Shikang''s gaze swept over the younger generation of the family in the grand hall, lingering on Lin Tianming for a few moments longer. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up and took the initiative to speak. "I strongly support Third Grandfather''s proposal. I''m willing to be the first to sign up and be part of the first group to enter the mountain range, to set an example for the younger members of the family." Lin Shikang and others were very satisfied with Lin Tianming''s response, and their expectations of this junior increased! Flowers nurtured in a greenhouse will never grow strong; only by enduring storms will they progress further on the path of cultivation. After fifteen minutes of discussion, the direction for the family''s strategic planning for the upcoming years was basically decided. As Clan Leader, Lin Shihua spoke once more. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Now let''s discuss the situation with the other four major families. Everyone is welcome to speak freely." At that moment, a Clan Member from the Xing generation stood up, his face serious as he began to speak. "Recently, the open and covert struggle between the Jin Family and the Sun Family has become increasingly fierce. Both are secretly accumulating strength, stockpiling various elixirs, Spiritual Artifacts, and talisman papers. All signs indicate that the two families are likely to break out into large-scale clan warfare in the coming years." Many of the clansmen present, upon hearing the news, had their faces change dramatically; it seemed the peace that had lasted for over a hundred years might soon be broken. "I estimate that the outbreak is very likely to occur in three years!" Hearing Lin Shihua''s words, some clansmen seemed not to understand, Lin Tianming was also in a fog, not clear on why the estimate was set for three years later, but people like Lin Shikang instantly understood. Seeing some of the younger clansmen looking puzzled, Lin Shikang began to explain. "Three years from now is the grand competition of the market that happens once every fifty years!" At these words, a few younger members who had not experienced the grand market competition asked curiously about the reason. The grand market competition was a contest between the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range, held once every fifty years, having been held more than ten times. Based upon the competition''s rankings, they allocated the benefits of the market for a fifty-year period, with benefits primarily involving various rents and ownership of the shops. The first place in the grand market competition would receive thirty percent, the second would obtain twenty percent, and the last three would each get ten percent. The remaining twenty percent would be distributed among more than ten Qi Refining families. Such a distribution plan had been implemented for hundreds of years. The best ranking the Lin Family had ever achieved was second place, bringing in twenty percent of the market''s benefits, while the first place had always been occupied by the Jin and Sun families. The Jin Family and Sun Family were indigenous inhabitants of the Luoyun Mountain Range, their clans established several hundred years earlier than the Lin Family. Although they had never produced a Core Formation Cultivator, the families were numerous, with the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators never falling below three each year, a sign of their considerable depth. At the establishment of the clan, considering the well-being of future generations, the ancestor of the Lin Family did not make things difficult for the Jin and Sun families, despite not being able to utilize eighty percent of his strength due to injuries. He simply chose Green Bamboo Mountain as the familial territory. The Lin Family only achieved a dominant position for nearly a hundred years during the lifetime of the clan progenitor, Lin Renfeng. Leaning on the Core Formation Stage of cultivation, they managed to suppress the local snakes, the Jin and Sun families, for a time. Because the Jin and Sun families feared Lin Renfeng''s cultivation level and did not dare to offend the Lin Family, they focused on their development peacefully for a hundred years. This allowed the Lin Family to gain a firm foothold, leading to today''s situation; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been so easy to secure a place in the Luoyun Mountain Range. After Lin Shikang''s explanation, the few clansmen who were previously confused finally came to a realization. "No wonder the Jin and Sun families are making such moves, their targets might very well be our three families. We must be on guard!" The perspective of one of the Xing Clan Members was acknowledged by many clansmen. Lin Shihua also spoke up: "In these troubled times, regardless of which family they target or what their intentions are, I think it''s necessary for us to be cautious. In the next few years, we must also secretly gather all kinds of resources, but discreetly so as not to alert them. Moreover, the news about Ninth Brother and me reaching Foundation Establishment must not be leaked. Who knows, this might be the Lin Family''s opportunity to rise!" "Makes sense!" Lin Shihua''s arrangement received everyone''s agreement! "Alright, there''s no need to worry too much. We also have four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and that number will only grow. As long as we are united, we have nothing to fear from the Jin Family." Lin Shikang''s words were like a calming pill for the Xing Clan Members; with four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family were no weaker than the Jin and Sun families. "In the coming years, the Lin Family must keep a low profile, try not to draw the attention of other families. If faced with their provocations, we should avoid friction as much as possible, for the time being, we have to be patient. We will accumulate our strengths in secret, to respond to any unknown threats." "Shi Ji, you''re in charge of organizing the Monster Hunting Squad. The faster, the better. Let''s proceed with this plan, everyone go and make preparations!" "Yes!" After a full half day of the clan meeting came to an end, many clan members began to leave the great hall. Lin Tianming also followed the crowd out, leaving only Lin Shigong and the three others behind, presumably to discuss some important matter. Chapter 58 The Shock of the Brothers_1 The next day, a notice was posted in front of several important buildings of the family, attracting a large crowd of clan members.''Organizing a Monster Hunting Squad to hunt demonic beasts in the mountains!'' ''Participants will be rewarded with varying amounts of merit points according to their cultivation level in advance. The spoils from hunting will be distributed by the team itself. The minimum requirement is a Fifth Level Qi Practice or above. Those interested should quickly register at the Enforcement Hall.'' The crowd was very lively at this time, discussing the content of the notice. ''The Luoyun Mountain Range is not like our family territory; there are many demonic beasts. For those below the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, the risk of entering is not small.'' ''But isn''t Elder Wu leading the teams? With ten members per team, as long as we don''t encounter Second Order Demonic Beasts, there shouldn''t be much risk.'' ''That may be, but the probability of encountering Second Order Demonic Beasts is not small. The rewards are high, but the risks are too. It might be better to take on more watchkeeping tasks.'' Indeed, but the rewards are truly substantial. As long as we don''t run into Second Order Demonic Beasts, the gains are sure to be significant. However, I have tasks at hand and definitely won''t make it for the first batch. The comments from this cultivator resonated with some of the clan members, while a few members were tempted by the lucrative rewards to participate. At this moment, Lin Tianhong, who had recently reached the Fifth Level Qi Practice, was flying towards the Hall of Merit on his Spirit Sword, ready to undertake a family task. Upon landing at the entrance to the Hall of Merit and seeing a large number of clan members gathered around something, he couldn''t help being drawn over. The onlookers greeted Lin Tianhong courteously as he approached, and Lin Tianhong returned their salutations with fist-and-palm salutes. After reading the content of the notice, Lin Tianhong began to ponder. The Lin Family''s Enforcement Hall does organize personnel to venture into the mountain range for experience, but it''s usually limited to the outermost areas, mainly clearing the vicinity of a few hundred miles near the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. The scale isn''t large, and as long as one doesn''t go deep into the mountains, there''s basically no risk. I''m now capable of making Lingshen Pills. If I accept alchemy tasks, it''s safer and the rewards are not bad either. However, I''ve never had any real experience, nor have I ever truly fought using magic. This could be a very good opportunity. At this moment, Lin Tianhong was incredibly conflicted about whether to participate or not! "Right, the sixth brother has a high cultivation level, and he has taken on guard tasks alone before. I should ask for his thoughts; maybe he''ll go too!" Deciding, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Tianhong''s face as he bid farewell to the clan members and flew toward Lin Tianming''s residence. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianhong arrived outside the courtyard of Lin Tianming''s home. Lin Tianming was just about to leave for the Enforcement Hall to sign up for the Monster Hunting Squad when he encountered Lin Tianhong descending from the sky. "Sixth brother, are you going out? I have something to ask you!" Surprised, Lin Tianming quickly invited Lin Tianhong into the courtyard, and the two sat opposite each other. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Second brother, what brings you here? Just say the word if there''s anything I can help with, I will not refuse!" "The family is organizing a Monster Hunting Squad to gain experience in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Have you heard about it?" "I''m aware, I was just about to head to the Enforcement Hall to sign up for the Monster Hunting Squad!" Hearing what Lin Tianming said, Lin Tianhong was overjoyed! "That''s great! I came to ask if you''d like to join me, and now it''s settled. We can fight side by side!" Surprised by Lin Tianhong''s intentions, Lin Tianming knew that clan members with special skills naturally preferred safer tasks, and it was rare to find someone like Lin Tianhong who was willing to take risks. "No time to delay, let''s go to the Enforcement Hall to register right now." The two left the courtyard together and flew toward the Enforcement Hall. All along the way, at many core locations of the family, clusters of clan members were discussing the matter of hunting demonic beasts. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianhong did not stop. Before long, the two appeared outside a cyan-grey pavilion, the very Enforcement Hall of the family. The two stepped inside the main hall without hesitation. Inside the main hall, Lin Tianfeng was also there. Seeing Lin Tianming and Lin Tianhong, he immediately greeted them! After exchanging courtesies, the three sat down together. "Second brother, sixth brother, are you joining the Monster Hunting Squad?" Lin Tianhong also spoke up: "Exactly, Tianming and I want to join the Monster Hunting Squad. Big brother, have you signed up?" ``` "Of course I''m going to participate. I''ve already registered with Elder Wu. With me included, there are currently five people signed up. If you both join in, we can quickly reach ten people and set off." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. It seemed that most of the family members were still concerned about the high risks and didn''t want to participate, otherwise there wouldn''t be so few. "Big brother, take us to register!" "Alright!" Lin Tianfeng was very excited. He had always liked adventure and had joined the Law Enforcement Team early on, already having fought a few battles and gained rich experience. Many in the family had grown accustomed to a comfortable life. Opting for stability was still a good thing, but without boldness, it would be difficult to cultivate to higher levels. The Lin Family needed members who dared to take risks. The three of them stood up and walked to the depths of the grand hall, where they met Lin Shiji. Lin Tianming and his brothers bowed with their fists clasped and explained their purpose. Lin Shiji was quite surprised. Although he had known that Tian Ming would participate, he had not expected Tianhong to sign up as well! Lin Shiji''s expression remained calm as he spoke solemnly, "This time is not like the minor skirmishes of the past, but a real fight against demonic beasts, and we might even encounter second-order ones. The risk is indeed not small." "Have you thought this through?" Lin Tianming and his company answered in unison, with conviction, "We have thought it through!" Lin Shilu took out a piece of beast skin and recorded the names of Lin Tianming and his companion. Then he asked for their Family Tokens. Their tokens were updated with an additional twenty merit points, and Tianming''s with thirty. "Alright, you''re now registered. You''ll be part of the first squad. Gather at the Enforcement Hall in seven days and then depart for the Luoyun Mountain Range." "The additional merit points promised by the family have already been awarded to you. In these few days, prepare well, especially with elixirs and talismans. This journey won''t be short, and injuries are inevitable, so try to prepare as many resources as you can!" "Yes!" Lin Tianming and his companions clasped their fists and left the Enforcement Hall. Outside the grand hall, Tianfeng and his companion were all smiles, loudly boasting about how many demonic beasts they would kill, which made Tianming smile slightly. "I''m going to the Hall of Merit to exchange some talisman paper and elixirs. Do you two want to come along?" "Big brother, I''ll come too!" "Big brother, you two go ahead, I''ve already prepared in advance!" After speaking, Tianming took out two bottles of elixirs. They were the Superior Spirit Essence Pills he had concocted himself, which he then gave to his brothers. "Sixth brother, thank you for your kindness, but as your elder, how could I take things from you!" "Exactly, I''m an alchemist myself, and I''m not really short on elixirs. You keep them." "Come on, I still have plenty of elixirs. Consider this a small token of my sentiment, don''t refuse it." After Tianming''s persistent insistence, they finally accepted the gift. The three shared a knowing smile, and Tianming clasped his hands in farewell before taking off on his Spirit Sword. Left behind, Tianfeng took an elixir out after Tianming disappeared, revealing a surprised expression. "Second brother, take a look at this Lingshen Pill, doesn''t it seem different?" Tianhong shuddered as he looked and responded in shock, "This... really is different, the medicinal strength feels almost stronger by a notch or two compared to regular Lingshen Pills!" As an alchemist, although Tianhong''s success rate in concocting Lingshen Pills was relatively low, having succeeded a few times, he could easily recognize the difference in the pills. However, where these Superior Spirit Essence Pills came from was a mystery. If they were crafted by Lin Shigong, it might make sense. But if they were the work of Tian Ming, it would be truly frightening! Time passed, and the two eventually calmed down and flew together to the Hall of Merit. ``` Chapter 59 Entering the Mountain_1 Back at his family''s small courtyard, Lin Tianming entered the secret chamber.It was still early, and he could cultivate in seclusion before departure, striving to enhance his strength as much as possible. The stronger he was, the easier it would be to survive. After swallowing a Lingshen Pill, he activated his cultivation technique to refine the power contained in the elixir. Streams of spiritual power slowly flowed into his Seven Sea Dantian, causing his Qi Sea to expand at a faint rate. Looking down at the spiritual power in his Qi Sea, which was nearly half full, each stream brimming with immense energy, a hint of a smile crossed Lin Tianming''s face. Seven days passed in this manner. Within the secret chamber, Lin Tianming opened his eyes that had been shut for several days, a gleam flashing in the corners. "Huff..." He exhaled a few breaths of stale air and got up to leave the secret chamber. In the evening, as a light breeze blew, the Lin family sat in the courtyard, casually chatting. Lin Shigong had also returned, babbling as always. "Remember to follow the team, do not act alone. I''ve already instructed Fifth Brother to keep a close watch on you..." And so on... Listening to his grandfather''s nagging and his mother''s admonitions, Lin Tianming felt warmth in his heart despite having heard them several times before. Though the Lin Family''s foundations were weak, at the end of the day, it was still a reliance, a bond, and a faith. Faith is a peculiar thing. Without faith, without goals, there is no motivation. People without these live their lives in a muddle. After sipping some Spiritual Tea, Lin Tianming spoke with a faint smile. "Grandfather, Mother, don''t worry. I''ve grown up. I''ll take good care of myself and act within my capabilities. You can rest assured, I will definitely make you proud!" Seeing Lin Tianming''s resolute eyes, grandfather and mother did not say much more. Lin Tianming then shifted the topic to his younger sister. After all, he had grown up and wouldn''t spend much time at Green Bamboo Mountain. She would be the only company for grandfather and mother. In recent years, Lin Tianyue had been cultivating diligently. Thanks to the abundant resources provided by Lin Tianming and grandfather, she led her peers in cultivation among the children of her age, becoming the first to break through to the Third Level of Qi Refining. She had already started learning the basics and just lacked practical experience. Unfortunately, Lin Tianyue was not interested in alchemy, but rather had a keen interest in talisman paper. Otherwise, with the guidance of the two most skilled alchemists from the Lin Family, she could have achieved twice the result with half the effort. Lin Shigong tried to persuade her many times but could not change her mind. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was quite open-minded, thinking that choosing a preferred skill could lead to even greater achievements. The warm scene, bathed in moonlight, brought a harmonious end to the family''s casual conversation. The next morning, Lin Tianming bid his mother farewell and left the house. The Purple Gold Eagle followed behind as he flew towards the Enforcement Hall. It was still early, and in front of the deserted square, more than a dozen clan members had gathered. Lin Tianming descended nearby, greeted the many clan members, and then walked over to chat with Lin Tianfeng and others. Lin Tianfeng had also just arrived a short while ago. The three of them sized up the strength of the Monster Hunting Squad. Among the registered clan members, aside from the three of them from the Tian generation, the other seven were from the Xing generation. The cultivation levels of the seven clan uncles varied, with the highest being Lin Xingzhi at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, three at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, three at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, plus Lin Tianming at Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, Lin Tianfeng at Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, Lin Tianhong at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, and Lin Shiji at Qi Cultivation Great Perfection, this lineup was almost comparable to the strength of more than half of the Qi Refining Families. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After half an hour, Lin Shiji arrived, and everyone saluted him. Taking out a small booklet, Lin Shiji glanced over everyone and nodded, confirming that the number of people was correct. "Now that everyone has arrived, I''ll say a few words!" "The primary purpose of organizing this monster hunt is to train you. Therefore, you are a team, and all actions must be under command. Remember not to act alone or take unnecessary risks that could endanger fellow clan members." "Also, in the mountain range, we will inevitably encounter people from other families, and even many loose cultivators. Remember not to stir up trouble and bring unnecessary hassle." "Do you understand?" "Yes!" "It''s getting late; let''s set off!" Lin Shiji took the lead, with everyone following behind him. In less than a quarter of an hour, the group flew out of the Protective Clan Formation, gathered together, and waited for Lin Shiji''s orders. "Tianming, the journey is not short. Let your Purple Gold Eagle carry everyone for a part of the way. This can save us a lot of time and spiritual power." Lin Tianming readily agreed, summoned the Purple Gold Eagle, and Lin Shiji leaped onto its back. Lin Tianming and the others quickly followed suit. Before long, all eleven people were on board, sitting on the ground, not at all cramped. As the Purple Gold Eagle had grown rapidly, it was now larger and capable of flying with more than ten people without affecting its speed. It could even handle a few more passengers without issue. Lin Shiji took out a map and pointed to a place named Qingyang Mountain, located over three hundred li to the west of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming gave the command, and the Purple Gold Eagle, flapping its wings, soared to a hundred zhang high and flew westward. The Purple Gold Eagle''s speed was swift, the strong wind whipping everyone''s robes and making a fluttering noise. Lin Shiji sat at the forefront, as calm as a monk in meditation, his expression serene, lost in thought. Lin Tianming and the others were not on their first expedition either. Many clan members had combat experience, and Lin Tianfeng was even known as the family''s battle maniac, having participated in several demonic beast encirclements, rich in experience. Lin Tianhong was quite nervous at this moment; his face showed a change of color, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead, prompting laughter and jest from everyone. In just half a day''s time, with the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and his group had flown more than three hundred li and arrived at Qingyang Mountain, landing in a valley. Everyone jumped down from the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, and Lin Tianming put the eagle into the Spirit Beast Bag as he began to survey the area. The entire valley was verdant with vegetation covering a vast expanse of forest, and a river flowed through the valley from east to west. This place was on the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Further west was the gathering place of demonic beasts. After arranging the formation, Lin Shiji led the way, speeding westward. Everyone followed one after another, with Lin Tianming using his Divine Sense to carefully monitor every movement around them. Lin Xingzhi, aside from Lin Shiji, was the highest level practitioner present and walked at the rear of the group. The three younger members of the Lin Family, including Lin Tianming, walked in the middle, which allowed them more time to react to sudden situations and avoid being easily attacked. As they ventured deeper, the fog in the forest grew thicker, greatly affecting the scope of the Divine Sense, which reduced its coverage by thirty percent. Half a day passed, and Lin Tianming and his group had shuttled nearly a hundred li to the west, entering a valley. The whole valley was not large, only a few li in size, with sparse trees and interspersed with many stone forests. It was now evening when the demonic beasts became active, significantly increasing the likelihood of encountering them. Considering the safety of his clan members, Lin Shiji decided to spend the night here and continue on the next day. Everyone sat down in a circle to recuperate, leaving two people in a pair to take turns keeping watch. Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianfeng would take the last watch, while Lin Tianming paired with a clan uncle at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement for the first watch. Lin Tianming and his partner didn''t practice cultivation; instead, they sat facing two different directions, north and south, carefully observing every movement around them. Chapter 60 Attack_1 The sky gradually darkened, and a bright moon hung in the sky.It was just the start of the night, not yet the time when demonic beasts roamed, and all around was silent. Rustle, rustle, rustle... The gentle breeze stirred the leaves, creating bursts of sound. Lin Tianming sat to one side, closely observing the movements around him, and although it was not yet deep into the night, he had to be vigilant. An hour and a half passed, and in this time, nothing untoward happened. Lin Tianming was relieved from his duty, replaced by two other clan uncles to continue the night watch. After focusing intently for most of the day, he was now extremely tired. Lin Tianming and his clansmen sat together, circulating their cultivation techniques and began meditating. Despite the dangers in the area, the spiritual energy was quite dense, slowly restoring the spent spiritual power! In the deep of the night, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng took over the responsibility of the night watch, sitting to one side, concentrating fully on monitoring the activities around them. Rustle, rustle, rustle... Rustle, rustle, rustle... Several such noises caught the attention of Lin Xingzhi. "Xingcheng, have you noticed anything?" Lin Xingcheng explored their surroundings carefully but found nothing unusual. "No, just some sounds of leaves rustling. Are you making too much out of it?" After hearing Lin Xingcheng''s words, Lin Xingzhi did not relax his caution, but became even more careful. "Could it be that I''m overthinking it!" "No, those few sounds just now, although nearly identical to the sound of wind blowing through leaves, were different. The sounds were noticeably sharper, with a faint clashing noise!" Rustle, rustle, rustle... Again came several noises, getting louder and closer! "Everyone be alert, something''s happening!" Lin Xingzhi suddenly shouted loudly, alarming those who were meditating; everyone got to their feet. At the same moment Lin Xingzhi raised the alarm, a piercing noise was heard. A huge scorpion, a full zhang in size, burst forth from the earth, rapidly speeding toward them. The entire scorpion was silvery-white with a golden tail stinger, and its two large claws were even bigger than a water bucket, looking fierce and malevolent. "It''s a Silver Earth Scorpion!" In the moment Lin Xingzhi warned of danger, the Silver Earth Scorpion was already less than ten zhang from him, close enough to attack instantly. The Silver Earth Scorpion already opened its gaping maw, extending its two large claws toward Lin Xingzhi in an attack. Fortunately, Lin Xingzhi had been alert, gripping a Superior Grade First Order defense talisman in his hand to prepare for emergencies. The instant he came under attack, Lin Xingzhi didn''t hesitate to activate the defense talisman in his hand. The talisman transformed into an earthen wall, blocking the deadly strike from the Silver Earth Scorpion. Taking advantage of the beast being obstructed, Lin Xingzhi swiftly retreated to his people''s side, watching the front warily. Its failed strike allowing the target to escape enraged the Silver Earth Scorpion, which emitted a sharp, angry shriek. Rustle, rustle, rustle... After more than ten breaths, over thirty Silver Earth Scorpions emerged from the ground, thoroughly surrounding Lin Tianming and his companions. The awakened members of the party each drew their Spiritual Artifacts, ready to battle at any moment. Lin Shiji''s expression was serious as his mind raced. The number of Silver Earth Scorpions attacking them was not few; there were over thirty, with three Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts among them, and the rest were mostly Mid Stage First Order with a small number of Early Stage. And the Silver Earth Scorpion that ambushed Lin Xingzhi was almost at the point of breaking through to the Second Order, posing the greatest threat. It seemed this was a clan, or there wouldn''t be such numbers. Although there were not many at the First Order Late Stage, the quantity at the Medium Stage was overwhelming, with each person having to deal with several at once, creating significant pressure. "Xingzhi, Xingcheng, you two are responsible for holding off the two Late Stage First Order Silver Earth Scorpions, Tianming, you and the others move quickly to eliminate the rest of the Silver Earth Scorpions. Be swift, lest other Demonic Beasts are attracted, which would complicate matters!" "Understood." After tasks were allocated, Lin Shiji summoned a Spirit Sword and took the initiative to attack the leading Silver Earth Scorpion. Seeing Lin Shiji''s offensive, the leading Silver Earth Scorpion swiftly crawled forward to meet him, its speed astonishing. Within half a breath''s time, Lin Shiji and the Silver Earth Scorpion were locked in combat. Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng each picked out a Silver Earth Scorpion and attacked. The rest of the people hurriedly followed suit, each summoning their Spiritual Artifacts to join the battle against the Silver Earth Scorpions. Instantly, a brilliant display of fire and various colors of sword light mixed with magical hues slashed through the night sky. "Bang bang bang..." The entire valley was in turmoil, a constant clashing sound akin to metal striking metal, exceptionally grating on the ears. Lin Tianming wielded an Earth Evil Sword, swinging it several times in rapid succession, sending several Sword Qi strikes towards the Silver Earth Scorpions. "Bang bang!" Two Silver Earth Scorpions, unable to avoid, were struck by Lin Tianming''s Sword Qi and sent flying backward. The two struck Silver Earth Scorpions revealed several palm-sized cracks on their bodies, wailing in pain, they stood up again and lunged at Lin Tianming with their bites. "They scarcely got hurt. The shell of these Silver Earth Scorpions is too formidable!" It should be known that although Lin Tianming was only at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, he could easily match the attack of an ordinary Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator with the usage of a Heavenly Grade Technique and Dual Cultivation of Body and Law! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the midst of his surprise, five Silver Earth Scorpions attacked again, assaulting Lin Tianming from different angles simultaneously. Lin Tianming leaped dozens of yards into the air and quietly stirred fifteen Earth Evil Swords into forming a Sword Array, enveloping a hundred yards radius below. Luckily, the Silver Earth Scorpions had extremely low Spirit Wisdom and were completely unprepared, getting trapped within the Sword Array without any defenses; among them, four of the Medium Stage and one of the Initial Stage. The five Silver Earth Scorpions seemed oblivious to the imminent danger until Sword Qi began to fill the area covered by the Sword Array. Only then did they sense the scent of death and scram to escape in all directions. The five Silver Earth Scorpions desperately rammed against the Sword Qi-created Sword Array, attempting to flee from this perilous place. Unfortunately, the Silver Earth Scorpions'' impact force and defensive power were far from adequate. They were repeatedly repelled by the Sword Qi, covered in wounds. "Hmph" "Today is a good day to test the might of this Sword Array on you!" "Annihilate!" As the space within the Sword Array shrank and the Sword Qi intensified, an Initial Stage Silver Earth Scorpion was directly beheaded by the Sword Qi, dying on the spot. The remaining four Silver Earth Scorpions struggled desperately to break free from the Sword Array''s confinement. After more than a dozen breaths'' time, the remaining four Silver Earth Scorpions were thoroughly exterminated. Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief and observed the situation of his clansmen, preparing to lend his aid. Not far from Lin Tianming, Lin Tianhong was being besieged by three Silver Earth Scorpions, two of Medium Stage and one of Initial Stage. At that moment, Lin Tianhong was in an exceptionally difficult situation, with several injuries on his body, more than half of his Spiritual Power depleted, and he was steadily being forced back. Lin Tianhong threw a First Order Medium Grade Defense Talisman, blocking the attack of the Silver Earth Scorpions and quickly retreating. Lin Tianming charged forward with a burst of speed, fully urging several Earth Evil Swords together into one Sword Qi strike. Launching a surprise attack, he directly slew one Medium Stage Silver Earth Scorpion. With Lin Tianming''s intervention, the most significant threat was eliminated, allowing Lin Tianhong to regain his footing. With the pressure suddenly reduced, he began counterattacking, moving to kill the remaining two Silver Earth Scorpions. Elsewhere, Lin Tianfeng was also battling three Medium Stage Silver Earth Scorpions and not falling behind at all. Relying on his rich combat experience, he should manage to achieve victory. The other clansmen, not novices in fighting Demonic Beasts, were also holding their own against several Silver Earth Scorpions without faltering. Chapter 61 Group Battle_1 On another battlefield, Lin Shiji was engaged in a fierce battle with a Silver Earth Scorpion, and neither side seemed to gain much of an advantage.Following a brutal strike that repelled the Silver Earth Scorpion, Lin Shiji leaped onto a large rock dozens of feet in size, brought his palms together, and concentrated a Golden Sword Qi above his head, which he shot out, slashing towards the Silver Earth Scorpion. "Damn beast, meet your death!" As the sword fell, a burst of Sword Qi exploded, sending sand and stones scattering within a range of dozens of feet. Wherever the sword light passed, two of the Silver Earth Scorpion''s legs were severed by the Sword Qi. The Silver Earth Scorpion let out two agonizing howls, writhing in pain and becoming even more frenzied. As it bared its teeth in a grimace, it shot a dark brown poison from its tail stinger at Lin Shiji. Shocked, Lin Shiji''s escape speed soared, instantly shifting more than ten feet away to land on a tree. While Lin Shiji narrowly avoided the attack, the rock he had just stepped on instantly dissolved into a pool of dark brown liquid, corroding a large hole in the ground. Seeing the power, Lin Shiji couldn''t help but exclaim. "This poison''s corrosive strength is indeed formidable!" As the strike missed, the injured Silver Earth Scorpion contemplated retreating, burrowing into the ground and shuttling rapidly, planning to flee. Lin Shiji hurriedly followed, chasing after the escaping Silver Earth Scorpion, with a distance of dozens of feet between man and beast. Because the Silver Earth Scorpion had lost two legs, its speed was greatly reduced, but it was still very fast underground. Lin Shiji couldn''t keep up for a short time, and the gap widened further. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had just helped Lin Tianhong kill a Silver Earth Scorpion and was preparing to support Lin Shiji, but unexpectedly, the Silver Earth Scorpion actually fled, and it was heading straight in Lin Tianming''s direction. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching from a distance, Lin Shiji was overjoyed and shouted eagerly, "Tianming, stop this beast!" Hearing Lin Shiji''s shout, Lin Tianming swiftly launched several Sword Qi attacks, heading straight for the underground, planning to force the Silver Earth Scorpion to the surface. "Puff puff puff..." With several crisp sounds, the Sword Qi exploded just in front of the Silver Earth Scorpion. Hindered by the blasts, the escaping creature revealed half of its body. Lin Tianming didn''t hesitate and took out an Attack Talisman, activating it immediately, turning it into a Golden Sword Qi that raced towards the Silver Earth Scorpion. With a bang, the Sword Qi struck the Silver Earth Scorpion, pushing it back several feet onto a colossal rock. The powerful impact shattered several pieces of the rock, and another leg of the Silver Earth Scorpion was severed, significantly slowing its speed. The Silver Earth Scorpion had not yet stabilized its body when Lin Tianming spared no effort and immediately operated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to envelop the creature within. The panicked Silver Earth Scorpion desperately tried to break out of the Sword Array''s range. Lin Tianming maintained the operation of the Sword Array at full strength, pushing the power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to its limits. However, his Spiritual Power was draining rapidly. The Silver Earth Scorpion was extremely frenzied, ramming multiple times, and the strong impacts inflicted no small damage on Lin Tianming''s psyche, causing a trace of blood to seep from the corner of his mouth. As his Spiritual Power was severely depleted, the Silver Earth Scorpion eventually escaped on the sixth charge. At this point, the Silver Earth Scorpion was covered in wounds with several legs injured by Sword Qi, and its burrowing speed was weakened yet again. Just as the Silver Earth Scorpion had broken free, Lin Shiji caught up and slashed out three swords in quick succession, with the furious Sword Qi heading straight for the injured beast. In the blink of an eye, the Golden Sword Qi struck the Silver Earth Scorpion''s head. "Puff puff puff..." Following several explosive sounds, the several-meter-long Silver Earth Scorpion collapsed onto the ground, crushing the stones beneath it into fragments. Seeing the strongest Silver Earth Scorpion dead, Lin Shiji and Lin Tianming finally let out a long sigh of relief, gasping for breath as they sat on the ground, clearly exhausted. "Tian Ming, thankfully you held it off. We finally killed the beast." Overflowing with joy, Lin Shiji smiled and sincerely praised Lin Tianming. If it weren''t for Lin Tianming holding off the Silver Earth Scorpion, allowing him to arrive in time, exhausting all his Spiritual Power, and consecutively unleashing three Sword Qi, they wouldn''t have been able to kill the beast so smoothly. Otherwise, given the Silver Earth Scorpion''s speed¡ªeven if it were slightly injured¡ªcatching up to it would have been nearly impossible. Meanwhile, with Lin Tianfeng and the others successfully dealing with the Silver Earth Scorpions they were fighting, they immediately aided the other clan members. After a tough battle, not a single one of the thirty-plus Silver Earth Scorpions escaped; all perished there. At this point, the valley was strewn with severed limbs. The trees and stones that had once stood there were now broken or shattered, the whole place a complete mess. The eleven of them sat in a circle, each tremendously drained, but all had smiles on their faces. They each took a Huiyuan Pill and sat down to meditate, recovering their depleted Spiritual Power. Since it was Lin Tianhong''s first time in real combat, he lacked experience and still got quite injured with the help of his clansmen, but no one perished, which was extremely fortunate. Half a quarter of an hour later, as everyone''s Spiritual Power had started to recover, Lin Shiji stood up and instructed them. "Quickly remove the carapaces and Demon Cores from these Silver Earth Scorpions. Don''t forget the poison stingers and the two large pincers¡ªtheir parts are excellent materials for Artifact Refining." "We can also collect some of their venom, and the flesh can be taken back; consuming it over time is beneficial!" Upon hearing the orders, a hint of joy flashed across everyone''s faces as they rushed toward the corpses of the Silver Earth Scorpions, separating all the useful parts. Although the battle was dangerous, and some were slightly injured while also expending some talisman paper and elixirs, the rewards were substantial, easily compensating for those losses and promising a good amount of Spirit Stones. The corpse of a Silver Earth Scorpion was a treasure all over; its Demon Core could be used for Alchemy, its carapace could be crafted into a defensive Spiritual Artifact, and its poison stingers and large pincers were valuable materials for Attack Spirit Weapons, which could fetch a good price. Everyone was busy disassembling the corpses of the Silver Earth Scorpions. Lin Tianming was not falling behind, removing the carapace from a First Order Middle Stage Silver Earth Scorpion¡ªindeed valuable, as even resisting one of his swords only caused a crack without affecting its suitability for Artifact Refining. A quarter of an hour passed, and the Silver Earth Scorpions¡ªonce bloodied and dismembered¡ªwere meticulously dismantled, their useful limbs stored in storage bags, while the useless parts were buried on the spot, leaving the chaotic valley much cleaner. After cleaning up the battlefield, everyone handed their storage bags over to Lin Shiji for safekeeping. Lin Shiji took out a piece of Beast Skin and recorded everyone''s achievements. At the end of the hunting expedition, they would hand it over to the clan to exchange for Spirit Stones and distribute them according to their contributions. Taking the storage bags from everyone, Lin Shiji was very satisfied and arranged their next move. "There was a sizable number of Silver Earth Scorpions; we must have intruded into their territory. Since we''ve killed them all, there likely aren''t many Silver Earth Scorpions of the First Order Middle Stage or above left. This area should be safe for now. Let''s search the vicinity and see if we can find their lair; we might gain some more treasures. If found, immediately notify everyone!" "Everyone split into pairs and search within a radius of more than ten miles. Remember not to go too far and accidentally enter the territory of other Demonic Beasts, as it would be very dangerous if we can''t provide timely assistance!" "Understood!" Lin Tianming paired up with Lin Tianfeng, Lin Tianhong with Lin Xingzhi, and they were divided into five groups, each searching in different directions. Lin Tianming and his companion chose one direction and started their careful search. Half a quarter of an hour went by, and after covering quite a bit of ground, they found no traces. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 62 Earth Mysterious Crystal_1 ```Lin Tianming and another carefully searched, walking more than ten miles away. Unintentionally, they arrived at a Stone Forest, spanning about a thousand acres, surrounded by valley and thick fog. Lin Tianming suddenly stopped in his tracks, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and observed the area. "Huh, there''s something strange here!" The earth attribute Spiritual Energy in the entire Stone Forest was particularly intense, the ratio was significantly higher than other places. "Brother, have you noticed anything special about this place?" Lin Tianfeng had already checked several times, and apart from being very concealed and greatly limited Divine Sense, there was nothing else strange. "Sixth brother, did you see anything different?" "Um, the earth attribute Spiritual Energy here is very concentrated, with Stone Forest spread all over, and considering the Silver Earth Scorpions are earth attribute Demonic Beasts, I reckon, there''s a high chance this is their den!" After being reminded by Lin Tianming, Lin Tianfeng hurriedly projected his Divine Sense and carefully sensed the differences in the Spiritual Energy. After some perception, Lin Tianfeng said with a smile: "Indeed, if one doesn''t carefully explore, they really won''t find it!" Lin Tianming immediately transmitted the news to the other clan members, and the two watched the movements within the Stone Forest with vigilance. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and upon receiving the transmission, Lin Shiji and a group of clan members gathered behind Lin Tianming. Lin Shiji asked calmly, "Tianming, have you found the den of the Silver Earth Scorpions?" "Elder Wu, it is almost certain it''s this place, let me try and then we''ll know!" Taking out an Earth Evil Sword, Lin Tianming swung it three times, sending three waves of Sword Qi straight into the Stone Forest. "Pfft pfft pfft..." The ground shook a few times, and several large rocks were shattered by the Sword Qi, scattering in all directions. Sounds of crawling came from the Stone Forest, quite noisy, judging from the numbers, there should be quite a few Demonic Beasts. "Ssss ssss ssss..." Startled, one Silver Earth Scorpion after another scuttled up from the ground, at least thirty of them, scurrying to escape. Having confirmed that this place was the Silver Earth Scorpion''s territory, Lin Shiji began to give orders. "Hmph, they are merely Silver Earth Scorpions in the First Order Initial Phase, there aren''t many in the Medium Stage, everyone quickly surround and kill them, don''t let them escape!" Everyone drew their weapons and quickly encircled the Stone Forest, there were no Silver Earth Scorpions in the First Order Late Stage, these in the Initial Phase would eventually be killed. Lin Tianming consecutively unleashed several slashes, the Silver Earth Scorpions in the First Order Initial Phase simply couldn''t withstand, and were killed one after another, those in the First Order Medium Stage couldn''t last much longer, it just took a bit more effort. In just half a quarter of an hour, all the juvenile Silver Earth Scorpions were killed. Quickly clearing the battlefield, everyone gathered together again. "The entire Silver Earth Scorpion group has been killed, there shouldn''t be any dangers inside, still, be cautious, in pairs of two, go in and scour, hopefully we can find some useful items." Hearing Lin Shiji''s instructions, everyone couldn''t wait and rushed into the Stone Forest. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng paired up and quickly moved through the Stone Forest, carefully searching. "Earth Spirit Ganoderma" Lin Tianfeng showed a flash of delight, quickly collecting several Earth Spirit Ganoderma. Half a quarter of an hour later, everyone had scoured the whole Stone Forest and finally gathered together. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I found three Earth Spirit Ganoderma!" "I found two Earth Spirit Ganoderma!" ¡­... Lin Tianfeng also began to report: "I found five Earth Spirit Ganoderma!" ``` Lin Tianming searched many areas as well, but he found nothing at all. Lin Shiji showed a hint of disappointment. With such a large Silver Earth Scorpion group and such an extensive cave system, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator entering it and facing the combined attack of the entire Silver Earth Scorpion group wouldn''t come out with much of a benefit. After over ten people exerted so much effort, they had only found a little over a dozen Earth Spirit Ganoderma, worth just over two hundred Spirit Stones¡ªnot considered a significant gain at all. With a hint of disappointment in his expression, Lin Shiji said, "Let''s just leave." Just as Lin Shiji turned around, Lin Tianming spoke up. "Wait!" Lin Shiji turned back, looking at Lin Tianming with a puzzled face. "Elder Wu, the proportion of earth attribute Spiritual Energy here is extremely high, which is very strange. Allow me to investigate a bit more; there might be some unexpected discoveries!" Having said that, Lin Tianming went straight to the depths of the Stone Forest to a spot where the earth attribute Spiritual Energy was the densest. He took out the Earth Evil Sword and began to wave it, stroke after stroke. A quarter of an hour later, a hole a few dozen feet wide appeared in the center of the Stone Forest, more than ten feet deep. The deeper they dug, the denser the earth attribute Spiritual Energy became. The soil gradually turned into rocks, making it increasingly difficult to excavate. Everyone jumped in and began to help with the digging. An hour passed, and they had dug nearly four hundred feet deep. The originally loose soil had transformed into rock, significantly harder, and every foot they dug required a great deal of effort. Two of the clan uncles were already thinking of giving up; one of them tried to persuade the others, "Tianming, stop digging, we''ve already wasted several hours. It''s unlikely we''ll find anything else!" "Indeed, let''s call it quits!" Another uncle chimed in. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong wanted to speak up for Lin Tianming but, considering their lower status and strength, they ended up not saying anything. They could only sigh in resignation and continued to dig alongside Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming ignored their advice and kept digging tirelessly as he neared a depth of five hundred feet. The soil that was originally black had turned to a lighter shade of gray, and with every foot dug, it became increasingly difficult. Lin Tianming grew even more confident that there must be some earth attribute Spiritual Objects in this place, and as a result, he worked even harder. Another hour passed, and at that point, they had dug beyond five hundred feet deep. Lin Tianming struck fiercely with his sword, breaking open a half-a-foot wide hole in the gray rock wall. A strong surge of earth attribute Spiritual Energy rushed at them through the opening. Looking inside through the gap, a fist-sized rock of grayish-white stood out against the darker stones, catching the eye. Lin Tianming was overjoyed, exclaiming, "There''s a discovery here!" All the clan members felt the intense and rich change in the Spiritual Energy and, hearing Lin Tianming''s shout, gathered around. Lin Tianming carefully used the Earth Evil Sword to extract the grayish-white rock, examining it closely. "It''s an Earth Mysterious Crystal!" Lin Tianming was certain. Although he wasn''t an Artifact Refiner, he had read many books on Spirit Materials and was familiar with some common ones. The Earth Mysterious Crystal was a Second Order Inferior Spirit Ore of great value, useful in the crafting of Defensive Spiritual Tools. Adding just a small amount could greatly enhance the Defensive Spiritual Tools'' defensive power and ductility, making it a high-quality material for Artifact Refining. The amount Lin Tianming held in his hands could be used three times more than enough for creating a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Artifact and was worth hundreds of Spirit Stones. Now, all the clan members were extremely excited. The two uncles who had wanted to give up earlier shamelessly praised Lin Tianming for his insight. Lin Tianming didn''t pay them any heed and handed the Earth Mysterious Crystal to Lin Shiji for confirmation. Taking the Earth Mysterious Crystal, Lin Shiji weighed it thoughtfully several times and said with certainty, "This is undoubtedly an Earth Mysterious Crystal. This place must be a small Spirit Vein. The only question is the amount of reserves. You all keep digging and explore how much there is. I''ll go out right away and set up a concealed Formation to hide this place." "Yes!" The crowd responded in unison, digging vigorously. Lin Shiji turned around and flew out of the cave, stopping outside the Stone Forest. He took out an Array Plate and four Array Flags from his storage bag, quickly setting up a Formation that enveloped the entire Stone Forest. Then he put up several Illusion Techniques to fully conceal the Stone Forest. Chapter 63 Mining_1 After arranging the formation and activating it, a nearly transparent light curtain enveloped the entire Stone Forest.This was a set of First Order Medium Grade array plate and array flags, named the Kui Star Array, specially borrowed from the clan for this monster hunt. It was quite valuable and could be used for trapping enemies and defense. It could even withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment Cultivators for a short period. Having set up the formation, Lin Shiji clasped his hands and began to mutter incantations. "Swift." Once the illusion technique was successfully deployed, the area that had been a Stone Forest transformed quietly into a small valley, indistinguishable from the surrounding hillsides in its ordinariness. Having arranged two illusion techniques in succession, Lin Shiji was very satisfied. Although they were now close to the inner region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, it was hard to guarantee that no cultivators would pass by and discover something. With the formation and illusion disguising the area, the clan members would be much safer. After repeatedly ensuring there were no errors, Lin Shiji turned and entered the cave. Inside the cave, Lin Tianming and the others were all gathered together, discussing. Upon investigation, the entire Spirit Vein was located beneath the Stone Forest at a depth of over five hundred feet, covering an area of seven to eight hundred mu. The thickness of the Spirit Ore was less than a hundred feet, indeed a small spirit vein. Although the vein spanned nearly a thousand mu, ninety-nine percent of it was ordinary rock, and very hard at that, making excavation quite difficult. Seeing Lin Shiji come down, everyone respectfully greeted him. "Tianming, what are the results of the exploration? How large is the reserve, and what is the difficulty in mining?" Lin Shiji''s string of questions also reflected his anticipation for how much they might actually gain. "Elder Wu, after exploring, we''ve found that this is a tiny Spirit Vein, covering more than seven hundred mu. We cannot accurately estimate the total reserves just yet; we can only get the actual amount after mining it all. I suspect the reserves won''t be large, otherwise, this place wouldn''t be occupied by just a First Order Silver Earth Scorpion!" Most people agreed with Lin Tianming''s speculation; if it were a large vein, the Silver Earth Scorpion colony wouldn''t be able to defend it, and cultivators would have already discovered it. After Lin Tianming''s analysis, Lin Shiji''s excited expression calmed a bit. "Alright, since the reserve is not large, let''s not report it to the clan just yet. This place is hundreds of miles from our clan territory, and many cultivators come here for trials. If it''s discovered, we could have serious trouble. You all start mining as quickly as possible. Whatever Earth Mysterious Crystals you find will be your own. I''ll keep watch outside." "Yes!" Everyone started mining with full enthusiasm, even those clan members who had initially advised Lin Tianming to give up on the excavation, now vigorously wielded their Spiritual Artifacts and dug hard. The whole cave was bustling with activity, the ten cultivators working like mortals tilling the fields, except their hoes were replaced by various oddly shaped Spiritual Artifacts. Lin Tianming was bare-shouldered, his impressive muscles exposed, drenched in sweat as he dug. Being a Body Cultivator, he made use of his strength of over a thousand jin, which allowed him to dig much faster. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In half a day''s time, Lin Tianhong nearby was already at the brink of collapse. With his Fifth Level Qi Refinement cultivation, digging through these extremely hard rocks was indeed strenuous, and his speed was nowhere near Lin Tianming''s. The clan members started the excavation around the edge of the Spirit Vein. It took them half a month to make a complete circle, yielding only one or two Earth Mysterious Crystals of small size, but they were already content with this. Two months flew by, and the land below had completely changed. On top of the former Spirit Vein, ten channels about half a zhang in size appeared, all neatly piercing through beneath the Stone Forest. For over two months, everyone had barely rested, working day and night at the excavation. As the last ten or so mu were excavated, everyone was so exhausted they slumped together, gasping for air. At that moment, all the clan members were ragged, sweaty, and grimy, looking little different from the beggars of the Secular World, perhaps even more pitiful. As a Body Cultivator, Lin Tianming''s overall condition was much better. After sending a message to Lin Shiji, Lin Tianming sat down on the ground to wait for him. It only took a dozen or so breaths for Lin Shiji to walk in, his face beaming with joy, impatient to ask about their findings. "Uncle Wu, I dug up eleven pieces!" A clan member from the Xing generation was visibly excited, grinning broadly as he took eleven Earth Mysterious Crystals out of his storage bag, most of them the size of a fist. "I dug up thirteen pieces!" Another clan uncle took out his Earth Mysterious Crystals, piling them together with the rest. ... In the blink of an eye, it was the turn of the three juniors, including Lin Tianming. Lin Tianfeng took out nine Earth Mysterious Crystals from his storage bag, surprising all the elders. After all, excavating a single Earth Mysterious Crystal was no easy task. It was still manageable near the fringe areas, but as one went deeper, the rocks became harder. It often required resting for half a day after digging for half, and it was common to find nothing even after digging for more than ten days. With Lin Tianfeng being only at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, his yield could compare with the elders at the Seventh or Eighth Level, which was indeed surprising. Seeing Lin Tianfeng handing over so many, Lin Tianhong didn''t want to fall behind and took out seven Earth Mysterious Crystals, placing them aside. Lin Tianhong, with the lowest cultivation, also had seven Earth Mysterious Crystals, which was certainly not easy. Lin Shiji nodded in satisfaction. The harvests of the two juniors were not inferior to those of the Xing Clan Members, which was both unexpected and delightful. Lin Tianming was the last one, and with his strength and luck, Lin Shiji''s expectation grew even stronger. Without any hesitation, Lin Tianming cheerfully took out twenty-eight Earth Mysterious Crystals from his storage bag and set them aside. The crowd inhaled sharply in astonishment. Although they had suspected that Lin Tianming''s haul would not be small, they had not expected it to be this substantial. Among the other nine, Lin Xingzhi had the most, with only fifteen pieces. Lin Tianming''s harvest was almost double that, truly frightening. In fact, Lin Tianming had not taken out everything and had kept five larger ones for himself, believing that the others had not fully disclosed their finds either. After all, these were personal gains, and it was reasonable to volunteer some while keeping a few. By now, the fist-sized Earth Mysterious Crystals had nearly piled into a small hill. Lin Shiji was very excited, his old face flushed with exhilaration. The family had expended its assets accumulated over decades to refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill and was currently facing financial difficulties. These hundred-plus Earth Mysterious Crystals were worth at least twenty thousand Spirit Stones. Other than the rewards for the clan members, some profit in Spirit Stones could also lighten the family''s financial burden. All present smiled knowingly, and many clan members started to express their emotions. They felt fortunate to have joined the Monster Hunting Squad. The profit from selling the materials of the Silver Earth Scorpion and Earth Spirit Ganoderma alone was worth quite a few Spirit Stones. Everyone had dug up a significant number of Earth Mysterious Crystals; even Lin Tianhong, who had the least, could expect a reward of at least a thousand Spirit Stones. With such a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, reaching the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage was not far off. If one could save up eight thousand Spirit Stones, exchanging them for a Minor Foundation Building Pill and entering the Foundation Establishment Stage was a possibility. At that moment, Lin Shiji spoke up, bringing the clan members back from their reveries. "I will take care of the Earth Mysterious Crystals for now. I have recorded the amount each person has contributed, and when we return to the clan, head to the Hall of Merit to claim your rewards." "It''s still early, and everyone is quite tired. You may cultivate here for two days, and we''ll set out again after that for some training nearby." "Yes!" After responding in unison, everyone sat down where they were and began their cultivation. Chapter 64 Being the Yellow Sparrow for Once_1 Outside Stone Forest, Lin Tianming and the others had gathered together, each one of them brimming with smiles. The fatigue they had previously shown had long since disappeared; after two days of rest and recovery, all the clan members had returned to their optimal condition.Lin Shiji, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and looked at the assembled crowd, making arrangements for the next steps. Having entered the Luoyun Mountain Range for two and a half months, there was still some time left before the six-month period was up. Although the group''s gains had far exceeded expectations, their soaring spirits led him to decide to continue with the adventure. The Array Flags were retracted, the cave entrance was buried, and they made sure to conceal any traces of the skirmishes as much as possible. After confirming that nothing had been missed, Lin Shiji took out a map made from Beast Skin and repeatedly confirmed their direction. Since the western part was the inner region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, where even Second Order Demonic Beasts sometimes appeared, the Monster Hunting Squad did not dare to tread lightly there due to their limited strength. The south, however, was a good choice; close to the Purple Cloud Mountain Range near Huangyang Kingdom, the area was sparsely populated and not too far from Green Bamboo Mountain. It was relatively safe, and they could also clear out the Demonic Beasts around the Mortal Towns for training. Having made up their minds, the group set off on their journey. After surviving an attack by Demonic Beasts, everyone was extremely cautious, and even under the bright sunshine, they dared not let their guard down. Lin Shiji led the clan members through the outer regions of the Luoyun Mountain Range, searching for Spiritual Medicine and hunting Demonic Beasts as they went. In a beautiful valley on the south side of Green Bamboo Mountain, at the outer borders of the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianhong was locked in fierce combat with an Azure Toad Beast in the First Order Middle Stage, exchanging numerous blows. The rest of the clan members had no intention of helping and were all watching the fight. Lin Tianming occasionally discussed the situation with Lin Tianfeng. "Big brother, how long do you think it will take Second Brother to kill the Azure Toad Beast?" Lin Tianfeng furrowed his brows, sharing his opinion while watching Lin Tianhong''s battle tactics. "I believe Second Brother can claim victory, but it will take at least several dozen more exchanges. Although the Azure Toad Beast''s attack power isn''t strong, its speed is incredibly fast and very troublesome to handle. Even if I were to step in, it would require quite an effort!" As the two were conversing, the wounds on the Azure Toad Beast''s body multiplied, and Lin Tianhong steadily gained the upper hand. Lin Tianhong brought his hands together, a Flaming Red Sword Qi forming above his head, and he slashed directly towards the Azure Toad Beast. "Huoyuan Slash" As an Alchemist, Lin Tianhong naturally possessed a Fire Spiritual Root. For him, the Fire Origin Decision¡ªone of the Lin Family''s few Fire-attribute Profound Grade Techniques¡ªwas the clear choice for a Cultivation Technique. Although the Sword Qi Lin Tianhong had mustered was noticeably less potent than Lin Tianming''s at the same level, it was not far off. "Boom¡­" As the Flaming Red Sword Qi closed in, the Azure Toad Beast desperately tried to evade, but the attack''s speed was too fast, and unable to escape, it suffered a fatal blow solidly. The half-zhang-sized Azure Toad Beast was struck by the Sword Qi, a huge wound opening up on its neck, nearly severing its head from its body. After a tough fight, the Azure Toad Beast was slain. Lin Tianhong removed its Demon Core and some useful materials, then retreated to the side to rest and recuperate. Over the past two months, whenever they encountered Demonic Beasts in the First Order Initial Phase or Middle Stage, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong took turns combating them. Through these trials, they quickly improved their combat experiences. Lin Tianhong''s progress was particularly noticeable; he was now easily handling most of the First Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts, a significant improvement from his beleaguered state during the Silver Earth Scorpion''s encirclement. If he were to battle three Silver Earth Scorpions again, even without Lin Tianming''s assistance, he would not be in mortal peril. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming also took action thrice, each time against First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, and each time he pushed himself to his limits. After several fights, the greatest achievement was bringing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to the Minor Achievement Realm; it could now be deployed in an instant, with increased precision and power. Even without the assistance of talisman paper and other external forces, facing a First Order Late Stage Demonic Beast alone became quite effortless, a significant progress. However, over more than half a month, the Monster Hunting Squad hadn''t found much Spiritual Medicine, killing only about a dozen Demonic Beasts, and obtained some Artifact Refining Materials, which wasn''t worth many Spirit Stones. This gain, compared to the group battle in the Stone Forest, was negligible. There was no helping it; finding even the tiny Earth Mysterious Crystal Spirit Ore was already a stroke of good luck. In the outer areas of the Luoyun Mountain Range, countless cultivators trained and sought treasures every day, and the vast majority of treasures had long been claimed. Second Order Spirit Ores like Earth Mysterious Crystals were rare, truly a matter of luck and not something one could simply find. A group of clansmen continued on their way, traversing within the mountains and ridges. In the southern part of the Luoyun Mountain Range, several days passed by while Lin Tianming and his group were journeying through a dense forest. Suddenly, the leader Lin Shiji halted, his expression serious, signaling that there was a situation ahead. "Stop, take cover." At his instruction, everyone leapt into the thick bushes, concealing their auras, blending in with the surrounding foliage. More than ten breaths passed in a tense atmosphere, and two injured Yellow Spirit Monkeys briefly stopped in the dense forest in front of them before hastily escaping deeper into the woods. Just after the Yellow Spirit Monkeys vanished, and merely ten or so breaths later, five cultivators arrived in pursuit, stopping at the tree where the monkeys had been. All five cultivators had at least reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level, with the leader named Song Lixin at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. He was the founder of this Monster Hunting Squad, rich in hunting experience, and frequented both the Purple Cloud Mountain Range and the Luoyun Mountain Range. Song Lixin paused where the Yellow Spirit Monkeys had passed, looked at a few drops of blood on the ground before him, and appeared to be pondering something as he gazed in the direction the monkeys had fled. "Daoist Chen, these Yellow Spirit Monkeys escape too quickly, they''re agile and cunning. After chasing them for half a day, we''re finally closing in. They''re injured now, let''s follow the blood trail and hurry up!" Hearing Song Lixin''s words, the other cultivators were excited and readily agreed. The five of them followed the blood trail of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys and chased after them into the depths of the forest. After half an hour, Lin Shiji emerged, gathering the clansmen together with a serious look on his face. "This Monster Hunting Squad is strong, though fewer in number than us, all are above the Qi Refining Eighth Level, with one at the Great Perfection Realm leading them. They''re going to great lengths to hunt down two Yellow Spirit Monkeys, which surely means they''re after something big. What do you all think?" The clansmen expressed their opinions, with two cultivators at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining suggesting retreat, while others suggested following to see what was happening before deciding. The three young members, including Lin Tianming, being of relatively low strength, kept silent. Seeing Lin Tianming not speaking, Lin Shiji proactively asked for his opinion. "Elder Wu, esteemed clan uncles, they just passed through the forest in front of us. The fact that they didn''t discover us at such a close distance is good news." "Regardless of their intention, we should follow them and see what opportunity unfolds. A man doesn''t grow rich without his fair share of chance, nor does a horse fatten without its night grazing. If it truly is an opportunity, why not seize the chance to be the mantis stalking the cicada?" After listening, the clansmen generally agreed with this idea. Greater risks could mean greater rewards; if the younger members were unafraid, what was there for them to fear? Seeing no objections from the clansmen, Lin Shiji gave further instructions. "Their squad is not weak; everyone must remember to be careful and cautious, not to expose our location and intent. If they engage in combat, don''t hold back, let none escape, or we may bring disaster upon our family. Understood?" "Understood." Lin Shiji led the way, with everyone carefully suppressing their auras and stealthily following behind Song Lixin''s Monster Hunting Squad. Chapter 65 Watching the Battle _1 In the depths of the dense forest, Song Lixin and his four companions paused atop a large tree, no longer pushing forward.The blood trail had abruptly vanished at this location, and the Yellow Spirit Monkey that had been pursued for half a day was nowhere to be seen; the reason for this was unknown. Leading the group, Song Lixin scrutinized the dense forest ahead with meticulous eyes. At this moment, the forest was eerily silent, with an unsettling air hanging in the still atmosphere. Furrowing his brows, Song Lixin formed hand seals with both hands, casting several spells in quick succession that shot directly into the forest in front of them. Waves of energy shattered the shrubbery in the vicinity of a hundred acres, felling swathes of trees cut at midsection¡ªhuge trees over thirty feet tall toppled in all directions, kicking up clouds of dust that obscured the vision of the group temporarily. With the cultivation of Complete Qi Refining combined with his unrestrained attacks, Song Lixin flattened what had been an intensely thick forest. After a brief moment, as the billowing dust dispersed, a hill approximately a hundred feet tall was revealed. Looking more closely, the entire hill spanned several hundred acres, with several lush fruit trees growing upon it¡ªeach tree about a few dozen feet tall and sparsely dotted with some red fruits. The cultivator surnamed Chen immediately cried out in astonishment. ''It''s the Jade Spirit Fruit, we''re going to be rich!'' S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The rest of the cultivators were greatly excited, having let go of the Yellow Spirit Monkey, they had followed behind simply to find the spiritual objects of its territory; Song Lixin''s guess had proven correct, and the four of them began to flatter him in turn. Hearing the obsequious words of the cultivators, Song Lixin nodded with satisfaction. ''You''re all a bit too early with your celebrations; though we''ve found the spiritual objects, they won''t be so easy to obtain. Yellow Spirit Monkeys are communal demonic beasts; small groups consist of over a dozen, while larger groups boast over a hundred. If you wish to obtain the Spirit Fruit, you cannot avoid a fierce battle.'' ''Let me be upfront¡ªI want forty percent of all the Spirit Fruit; the four of you can divide the remaining sixty percent. No objections, right?'' ''Brother Song, forgive my bluntness, but although you are our monster hunting leader with the highest cultivation and have strategized for us along the way, surely earning great merit, forty percent is indeed too much. Divided amongst us four, there would be very little left.'' ''Exactly!'' The other cultivators chimed in one after another, forming an implicit alliance of common interests. When their own benefits were at stake, no one was willing to back down, and they were no longer as flattering as before. ''Alright, the lowest I''ll go is thirty percent¡ªthat''s my bottom line. If there are still objections, I''ll back out.'' After some haggling and under pressure, there was a temporary compromise; Song Lixin accepted the thirty percent distribution plan. ''Hmph, I''ll let you make a fuss for now; after the fight, I''ll show you what I''m capable of.'' Underneath his scholarly demeanor, Song Lixin''s face revealed a hint of ruthlessness that was not easily detected. Even before gaining possession of the spiritual objects, the five cultivators were already at odds, each scheming for their own advantage, unwilling to come out at a loss. ''Alright, the treasure has been found¡ªlet''s try to approach where the Red Spirit Peach is located, and see what this Yellow Spirit Monkey is capable of.'' Song Lixin led the group towards the small hill. In half an hour, they arrived at the foot of the hill and observed from a distance of a hundred paces. The hill was anything but quiet. There was bustling activity and a few monkey calls, quite noisy, with nearly a hundred Yellow Spirit Monkeys gathered under the largest Jade Spirit Fruit Tree. One giant Yellow Spirit Monkey sat in the tree, its chestnut fur interspersed with strands of golden hair. Its aura had reached the Late Stage of First Order, evidently the leader of the group. Watching two injured Yellow Spirit Monkeys in front of it, the leader''s eyes flashed with a sharp ferocity. It leaped from the towering fruit tree, darting between the trunks, and headed out of the forest, followed by a large group of Yellow Spirit Monkeys. Song Lixin and the four others took out their respective Spiritual Artifacts and entered the forest cautiously, barely a hundred paces in. Suddenly, nearly a hundred Yellow Spirit Monkeys leaped out of the forest, encircling the cultivators. Without hesitation, they attacked the five cultivators. The Yellow Spirit Monkey leader took the lead, pounding its chest and stomping its feet, and in a blur of motion, it closed in with astonishing speed. A pair of sharp claws directly lunged at Song Lixin, and the Yellow Spirit Monkeys in the back closely followed, ganging up on the group of five in clusters. Facing the wave-like assault, the five cultivators did not panic in the slightest. They stood back to back forming a large circle, cooperating with each other to counterattack. Song Lixin summoned a gourd-shaped spiritual artifact, emitting a vast expanse of white frost, transforming into three large White Ice Pythons that lunged towards the oncoming leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys. The leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys, upon being attacked, deftly flipped to dodge, but the offspring behind it were significantly slower. One Medium Stage Yellow Spirit Monkey that had not yet closed in was immediately killed on the spot. Despite being hindered, the attack of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys did not cease in the slightest. A pair of sharp claws was about to grasp Song Lixin''s head. If he were caught, his head would likely shatter instantly, with no chance of surviving. In a fit of shock and anger, Song Lixin hastily took out a First Order Medium Grade small shield shaped spiritual artifact, blocking it in front of him. The Yellow Spirit Monkey''s claw made a gash in the shield, severely damaging Song Lixin''s spiritual artifact with one strike. Song Lixin quickly retreated, creating some distance. The thwarted attack completely enraged the entire tribe of Yellow Spirit Monkeys, who became even more frenzied. The raging horde of monkeys attacked the five people without fear of death, making the fight much more intense. In a matter of half a quarter hour, the horde of monkeys suffered heavy casualties. Many of the First Order Yellow Spirit Monkeys had died or were injured, leaving less than twenty. There were also more than twenty Medium Stage ones, and even eight in the Late Stage. The five cultivators were scattered by the onslaught, each becoming surrounded and fighting individually, which instantly increased the pressure on them. The cultivator with the surname Xie took deep breaths, his spiritual power greatly depleted, as he used every means he had to preserve his life. At this moment, he deeply regretted being so greedy as to take such a risk. In his haste, he threw out his last Defense Talisman, which formed a wall of earth to block the Yellow Spirit Monkey in front of him. After only holding on for barely more than ten breaths, the horde of monkeys breached the earth wall. The cultivator surnamed Xie, filled with terror, was overwhelmed by a group of Yellow Spirit Monkeys before he could react and put up a resistance. When the horde dispersed, they left behind a corpse torn to pieces, a sight of extreme misery. The cultivator surnamed Xie had fallen on the spot. Seeing this tragic sight, a cultivator with the surname Chen who was being attacked yelled urgently, "Brother Song, don''t hold back anymore, or that fool''s fate will be ours!" Upon hearing this, everyone unleashed their most powerful moves without reservation. Instantly, talisman papers were thrown out as if they were worthless, and all sorts of spiritual artifacts were pushed to their limits. Song Lixin and the leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys fought fiercely for hundreds of rounds. By now, the leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys was covered in wounds, with one arm left and countless injuries on its body, its strength drastically reduced by half. Song Lixin wasn''t in much better condition, with his spiritual power nearly depleted, more than ten wounds on his body, with several places exposing bone directly to the air, and his breathing extremely ragged. The other four were not much different, their spiritual power nearly exhausted, their treasures mostly consumed, and their strength greatly diminished. Without any further hesitation, the four stabilized the situation quickly and even gained the upper hand. The whole tribe of monkeys was mostly dead or wounded, leaving only over twenty survivors from nearly a hundred Yellow Spirit Monkeys¡ªall of whom were in the Medium Stage or above. Seeing that the situation was hopeless and that there was no chance of victory, the leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys was the first to dive into the dense forest, with the surviving Yellow Spirit Monkeys immediately following, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye. Song Lixin did not pursue. At this point, all of them had sustained injuries, their spiritual power was greatly depleted, and if they encountered other Demonic Beasts, it would likely be impossible to escape. Seeing the Yellow Spirit Monkeys vanish, the four had yet to catch their breath, When Lin Shiji and his people, hiding in the shadows, took advantage of Song Lixin and the others'' momentary relaxation to stealthily approach, the distance between them getting closer and closer. Chapter 66 Despair_1 In the dense forest, Lin Shiji and his group proceeded with extreme caution.While Song Lixin and his men were fiercely battling, Lin Shiji had already made thorough preparations, silently instructing Lin Tianming and the others, arranging the plan. As the Yellow Spirit Monkey disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, Song Lixin and his three companions quickly took out a Huiyuan Pill from their storage bag and consumed it. As Lin Shiji and his men got closer and closer, the distance was now less than a hundred yards. Suddenly, Song Lixin seemed to notice something, hastily leaping to the top of a tree tens of yards high, looking down at Lin Shiji and his men with a mix of shock and anger. "Not good, he''s spotted us, attack!" Realizing they had been discovered, Lin Shiji immediately sprang into action without a moment''s delay, his first move a lethal technique. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He launched a streak of Golden Sword Qi, aiming straight for one of the men in white robes among the four. According to Lin Shiji''s plan, even though his Lin Family Cultivators outnumbered the opponents, there was a significant gap in cultivation levels, so they had to seriously injure one person to lessen the pressure for the younger members. Considering that Song Lixin''s cultivation was almost equals to his own and that it would be very difficult to kill a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator named Chen in one blow, Lin Shiji targeted a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator in white robes, with his own Great Perfection cultivation, the chances of success in a sneak attack were significant. Lin Shiji crazily circulated his Spiritual Power, sending the ferocious Sword Qi hurtling towards the man in white robes. The man in white robes, both shocked and enraged, hastily struck out with his sword, hoping to block Lin Shiji''s fatal blow. "Boom..." Following the explosive sound, the two Sword Qis violently collided! In less than half a breath''s time, the man in white robes'' attack was shattered, and Lin Shiji''s Sword Qi bore down on him. Unable to dodge in time, the man in white robes froze in place, watching helplessly as the Sword Qi tore through his body. With the sneak attack, it was a one-strike kill, and Song Lixin''s group lost another member. At the same moment the man in white robes was struck, the cultivator surnamed Chen and another companion hurriedly retreated to Song Lixin''s side, their expressions extremely tense. The Lin Family Members followed suit, standing beside Lin Shiji, each holding a Spiritual Artifact in their hands, warily watching Song Lixin''s three remaining people. The two sides stood off against each other, weapons at the ready, neither side speaking, the atmosphere eerily unnatural. Both sides sized each other up, each contemplating their next move. Observing Lin Shiji''s cultivation, also at the Great Perfection Realm, with an aura even more profound than his own, and considering the collective strength of all the family members, was not to be underestimated. Whereas Song Lixin''s group had already lost two members, leaving only three remaining with significant depletion of energy, likely not strong enough to withstand them. Nevertheless, Song Lixin feigned composure, rapidly considering his options. The three of them were in terrible condition, hoping to buy some time, recover as much Spiritual Power as possible, and cling to a sliver of hope for survival. If they could give up a portion of the Jade Spirit Fruits and leave, that would naturally be best, but he couldn''t be sure ¨C he could only do his best to try. "Fellow Daoist, let''s not resort to violence. I am Song Lixin, might there be some misunderstanding?" "We can overlook the issue of the sneak attack. You can have the Jade Spirit Fruits, just allow us to leave, can you?" With a trace of anxiety, Song Lixin quickly spoke up, trying to calm the killing intent of the Lin Family Members. Lin Shiji sneered repeatedly, with no intention of responding, prepared to strike continuously, not allowing them any moment to catch their breath. Lin Shiji took out a three-foot-long Spirit Sword, channeling a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power, slashing out several streaks of Sword Qi, heading straight for Song Lixin. The violent Sword Qi whipped up fierce winds, engulfing the surrounding trees. Song Lixin, who had just restored a small portion of his spiritual power, wore a grave expression, knowing that despite the promise of numerous benefits, a battle was unavoidable, and he had to go all out. In a hurry, Song Lixin took out his small shield, damaged by the attack of the Yellow Spirit Monkey, to block several attempted strikes from Lin Shiji. After some probing, Lin Shiji''s attacks grew stronger with each move he made. Song Lixin, as a Loose Cultivator at the Great Perfection, had substantial resources. He whipped out several talismans in quick succession, neutralizing Lin Shiji''s offensive and even managing to counterattack. As the two fiercely battled with their magic, Lin Tianming and his fellow Lin Family Members surrounded the other two opponents. The Cultivator with the surname Chen was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and not severely injured, making it difficult for anyone present, aside from Lin Shiji, to defeat him; the other Cultivator, also at Ninth Layer, was gravely injured, which left him to be besieged by Lin Xingcheng and the rest of the family members. Once their opponents were determined, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi tacitly teamed up to encircle the Cultivator named Chen. In his first confrontation with an adversary at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, Lin Tianming was exceedingly cautious. He drew his Earth Fiend Sword, releasing several strikes to drain the scant spiritual power of Cultivator Chen and silently laid out the Earth Fiend Sword Formation without a sound. Lin Xingzhi was not to be outdone; the three exchanged a series of spells and sword qi. Their blows matched one another''s, leading to a stalemate that was difficult to break. Lin Xingcheng and the others also carefully besieged the other Cultivator. Although their cultivation base was inferior, they relied on a large number of First Order Medium Grade talisman papers, and with their superior numbers, they kept the upper hand. On the three battlefields, the fierce combat raged on, with both parties using every trick in the book, including talismans, spiritual instruments, and spells, leaving no technique unutilized. The already ravaged hillock was being remade once again under the reverberations of the fight. As time passed, Cultivator Chen''s complexion grew increasingly pale. Under the relentless onslaught from Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi, Cultivator Chen''s spiritual power was vastly depleted, forcing him into a defensive posture. If it were during a time of full strength, neither Lin Tianming nor Lin Xingzhi would have been a match for him, which was incredibly frustrating. "This won''t do. I can''t drag this out any longer, going all out might still give me a chance to live!" Cultivator Chen calculated internally, readying himself to fight with all his might. Taking advantage of a brief lull in the attack, Cultivator Chen pulled out a snow-white bead, brimming with violent spiritual power, and without hesitation, hurled it towards Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi. "Tian Ming, watch out!" Lin Xingzhi cried out in shock, retreating explosively while shouting to alert Lin Tianming. Seeing the white bead hurtling toward him, and sensing the immense power it contained, he knew it was no trivial thing. Lin Tianming quickly backed away, releasing two High Quality First Order Defense Talismans in quick succession, forming two walls in front of him. The white bead drew nearer and collided with the earthen walls created by the talismans, exploding with a loud boom. "Boom¡­" The first wall was breached in an instant by the explosive force, and the second one disintegrated shortly after. The shockwave from the explosion and the roaring blast of air sent Lin Tianming flying back, halting only after crashing through several towering trees. Lin Xingzhi, who was further away and retreated in time, along with deploying a Defense Talisman, received only some internal injuries, but they were not serious. Lin Tianming rose from the ground, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He hadn''t anticipated the bead''s formidable power, which his High Quality talismans could barely withstand for a moment. Lucky to have retreated in time and not overestimated himself, and with the benefits of his body refinement practice, he avoided serious harm. Using two High Quality First Order Defense Talismans was undoubtedly worth it. Seeing that Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi hadn''t sustained significant injuries, Cultivator Chen''s face turned ashen. This bead had cost Cultivator Chen a great deal to acquire, and there was only one. He had always saved it as a life-saving measure. Resigned to use it, he had high hopes that if he could kill any one of them, he might have a chance to escape with his life. But his desperate gambit yielded nothing, and his situation became dire. Chapter 67 Counterattack_1 There was no time for rest, and the frenzied Lin Tianming took no chances. Seizing the opportunity, he activated the already laid Sword Array, enveloping the Chen Surname Cultivator within the confines of the formation.Feeling the oppressive power of the Sword Array, the Chen Surname Cultivator was terrified and desperately tried to escape the reach of the Sword Array. Overwhelmed by the Sword Array, dodging the roaming Sword Qi within, the restrained Chen Surname Cultivator faced an unprecedented dilemma. Under heavy pressure, the Chen Surname Cultivator dared not be careless. Without any reservations, he threw out all the Attack Talismans he had at his disposal. Among the colorful dozen or so talismans, most were of Medium Grade, with only a few of High Quality. The combined power of the dozen talismans was exceptionally violent, like a tempest of snow and rain. Pouring down, they fiercely struck the formation''s light barrier. A trembling that could shake the earth and mountains followed, and within a few breaths of time, the light barrier shattered. With the Earth Fiend Sword Formation broken, Lin Tianming once again coughed up blood, his spirit damaged and injured yet again. Ignoring his own injuries, Lin Tianming threw out three Attack Talismans, transforming into three Golden Light Greatswords, and shot straight towards the Chen Surname Cultivator. Behind him, Lin Xingzhi was also exerting his Technique Divine Power, condensing a golden Sword Qi that hovered above his head. "Go..." Under their pincer attack, they gave no quarter. With an explosive sound, the Golden Light Greatswords pierced through the body of the Chen Surname Cultivator. Lin Tianming and his companion collapsed to the ground, gasping for air with a look of extreme exhaustion. Seeing the Chen Surname Cultivator''s gruesome death, the cultivators being attacked by Lin Xingcheng were shocked. In their moment of distraction, Lin Xingcheng seized the opportunity and killed them on the spot. As Lin Tianming and the others'' battle concluded, the confrontation between Lin Shiji and Song Lixin was reaching its end. Lin Shiji had been at the Great Perfection Realm for nearly thirty years, having reached its peak. He had served as the Law Enforcement Hall Master for decades, experienced in many battles, with countless cultivators and Monster Beasts falling at his hands. His combat experience was ample, and his wealth was beyond what ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators could compare to. Song Lixin, even in his prime, was no match for him. As time went on, and with his Spiritual Power depleted, Song Lixin''s injuries worsened under Lin Shiji''s relentless attacks¡ªhe was at the end of his rope. The freed Lin Family members, working together to besiege him, were too much for Song Lixin to handle. Facing attacks from all directions and drained of energy, Song Lixin was deeply unwilling to yield. In despair, Song Lixin went completely mad. "Hmph! If I must die, I''ll take two with me." He took out a radiant red talisman from his storage bag. A strong aura spilled out, clearly a Second Order talisman, its ferocity not much less than the Golden Sword Talisman Lin Tianming had purchased. In rage, he threw it into the sky, and instantly from the talisman, a Monster Beast Soul burst forth and fiercely lunged toward Lin Shiji. Recognizing the aura of a Second Order talisman, Lin Shiji panicked and bellowed: "Get out of the way!" Everyone scattered, fleeing in all directions. Lin Tianming threw out two First Order Superior Defense Talismans, transforming them into two earthen walls in front of Lin Shiji. No sooner had he thrown the talismans than he leaped into the air, soaring a hundred yards up. Song Lixin had gone completely mad, directing all his resentment towards Lin Shiji, determined to drag him down even in death. Unbelievably, Song Lixin possessed a Second Order talisman¡ªsomething no one had anticipated. All one could do was silently pray that Lin Shiji would survive this calamity. Facing the astonishly fast Monster Beast Soul, Lin Shiji could no longer dodge and had to resist with all his might. If he could withstand it, he would survive; if not, he would perish alongside his attacker. In a rush, he pulled a Blood-red Jade Pendant from his storage bag, its surface wreathed with Spiritual Energy, clearly no ordinary item. Injecting a Law Decree, the Blood-red Jade Pendant swelled to several yards in size, sheltering Lin Shiji closely behind it. Just as the jade pendant protected Lin Shiji, the ferocious beast soul slammed into the earthen wall with a loud impact. The first barrier was broken! The second barrier managed to hold for a moment before also shattering with a loud bang. "Boom..." The moment the demonic beast soul struck the blood-red jade pendant, it exploded, sending Lin Shiji flying with the violent shock waves. He crashed through several large trees before finally coming to a stop. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Second Order talisman, comparable to the full-force strike of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was terrifying indeed. At this moment, Lin Shiji''s body was in tatters, his breath weak and faltering, covered in wounds from head to toe. Several ribs were completely broken, and he spat out blood before falling into unconsciousness. All the Lin Family Members were injured. Lin Xingzhi, the closest to Lin Shiji, was mentally shaken by the mere remnants of the blast, vomiting several mouthfuls of blood. Had he been the one attacked, he would likely have fallen. The other members of the clan were further away and suffered only superficial injuries, which were not serious. Steadying himself from the blast, Lin Tianming immediately rushed over and held Lin Shiji tightly, calling out hurriedly. "Elder Wu, please wake up!" In his panic, Lin Tianming shouted several times without any response, and took out two Consolidating Essence Pills, making Lin Shiji swallow them. At this moment, all the Lin Family Members'' eyes were filled with murderous intent. Lin Xingcheng and a few others slashed out in anger, sending ferocious sword qi at Song Lixin. Song Lixin, drained of all spiritual power, was completely despairing, making no attempt to dodge or defend, clearly resigning himself to his fate. With a scream, Song Lixin fell heavily to the ground. After more than ten attacks, Song Lixin''s body was torn apart, leaving behind only two dark green storage bags. Having killed Song Lixin, the recovered Lin Xingzhi and the others immediately ran over to Lin Tianming''s side, looking at Lin Shiji with concern. Lin Xingzhi checked Lin Shiji''s condition and breathed a sigh of relief, consoling everyone. "Uncle Wu is still breathing, just severely injured and not in any immediate danger. Tianming has already made him take two Consolidating Essence Pills. He just needs to rest quietly for a while and should be able to recover." Upon hearing Lin Xingzhi''s words, everyone finally relaxed. Lin Shiji, being of a high seniority and old age, if anything happened to him, it would be difficult to explain to the clan. With Lin Shiji unconscious and Lin Xingzhi being older in both age and cultivation, he temporarily became the backbone of the Lin Family. "Tianfeng, Tianhong, the two of you stay and watch over Uncle Wu. Everyone else, quickly clean up the battlefield. We must also collect the Jade Spirit Fruit. Lastly, gather all the spoils of war together. I will register them, and we''ll hand them over to the clan for processing!" "Understood!" Everyone nodded and set to work. Lin Tianming looked over the small hill that was in disarray, strewn with various limbs and the bodies of dozens of Yellow Spirit Monkeys. Picking up the storage bags of several people and handing them to Lin Xingzhi, he also processed the bodies of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys, taking the demon cores and some useful crafting materials, filling several storage bags. After half an hour, the originally tragic site looked much better, at least not as bloody. All the clanspeople sat together on the ground, taking Huiyuan Pills to recover their spiritual power, while Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong remained to protect them. After half an hour of cultivation, the clanspeople had recovered a fair amount of spiritual power and now had some self-defensive capability. The injured Lin Shiji, with the help of the Consolidating Essence Pill''s medicinal strength, had his condition temporarily stabilized. With a few days of rest, he should be able to wake up. After examining Lin Shiji''s injuries, Lin Xingzhi gathered everyone and moved deeper into the dense forest. The formidable enemy was dead, and after all the effort they had expended, they could finally harvest the Jade Spirit Fruit! Chapter 68 Generous Rewards_1 The Yellow Spirit Monkeys had all fled, and at this point, the dense forest bore no dangers, so Lin Xingzhi led a group of clan members deep into the woods.At the top of a hill, there was a clearing several acres in size where six fruit trees, each more than ten zhang tall, grew. Upon closer inspection, the trees¡ªlush green in color¡ªwere adorned with more than ten bright red fruits. Each spirit fruit was slightly larger than a fist, looked clear and lustrous, and radiated strong fluctuations of spiritual energy. They were Jade Spirit Fruits. Jade Spirit Fruits were First Order spirit fruits, which only bore fruit once every hundred years. They could be consumed directly and were one of the supportive spiritual objects for Qi Refining Cultivators to cultivate with, and thus quite precious. Every Jade Spirit Fruit contained an abundant amount of spiritual power¡ªthe energy they contained was no less than that in Lingshen Pills. They were typically used to break through minor cultivation bottlenecks. Although their effect was not as miraculous as Pozhang Pills, they weren''t much less so, and each Jade Spirit Fruit was valued at seventy to eighty Spirit Stones. At this moment, the Jade Spirit Fruits were at the critical point of ripeness. They only needed a few more days before they could be harvested. The clan members all sat down together, cultivating while guarding the unconscious Lin Shiji. Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and around noon, following two coughs, the Lin Shiji, who had been unconscious for several days, finally woke up. After coughing up two mouthfuls of clotted blood, Lin Shiji''s complexion had improved significantly since the time he was injured. Everyone gathered around, expressing their concern for Lin Shiji''s injuries. The awakened Lin Shiji paid no mind to his own injuries. Instead, his first concern was the status of his clansmen, placing their lives above his own, which deeply moved all the clan members. With tears in his eyes, Lin Xingzhi reported everything that had happened since Lin Shiji lost consciousness, which finally put Lin Shiji''s mind at ease. "Xingzhi, you did well. I don''t have many days left to live, but you are the future of our family. The entire process and gains from this trial, I will report truthfully to the Elders'' Council. The rewards might not equal the items obtained, but they will certainly be substantial." Lin Shiji showed a gratified smile and praised all the clan members before starting to talk about his own injuries. "Everyone, don''t worry, my injuries have stabilized. I just need to rest quietly for a while to fully recover. However, I won''t be able to take action during this time. We must be careful and cautious on our way back. Once we exit the mountain range, we will be safe." "Additionally, all the spirit fruits must be harvested, and we should transplant several Jade Spirit Fruit Trees back to the family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden to enhance our family''s foundation. If they survive, they could yield nearly a hundred more Spirit Fruits in a hundred years!" After instructing the clan members, Lin Shiji took out a green storage bag and handed it to Lin Xingzhi, asking him to pack the fruit trees in the bag and transplant them back at the family''s estate. Taking the storage bag, Lin Xingzhi extended his divine sense to inspect it and couldn''t help showing a trace of a smile. The storage bag Lin Shiji had given had nearly a hundred cubic zhang of space, more than enough to fit the six Jade Spirit Fruit Trees¡ªseveral times larger than the one Lin Xingzhi was using¡ªsolving the problem of insufficient space perfectly. After arranging everything, Lin Shiji took out a Huiyuan Pill, swallowed it, and sat down cross-legged to recover from his injuries. Three days later, with a fragrance filling the air, the cultivators who were meditating all opened their eyes. "The Jade Spirit Fruits are ripe!" Lin Xingzhi, his face brightened with joy, said, "Tianfeng, Tianhong, Tian Ming, you three go and pick the Jade Spirit Fruits. Take the surrounding soil as well, and dig up the Jade Spirit Fruit Trees with their roots. The rest of you, stay on guard; the scent of the spirit fruits might attract some Demonic Beasts, so we must act quickly. Once we achieve our objective, we need to retreat immediately. As long as we are out of the mountain range, we will be safe!" "Yes," S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The clan members responded in unison and immediately set to work. Lin Tianming and the others each leaped onto a Jade Spirit Fruit Tree, carefully picking the fruits and placing them into jade boxes. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming finished harvesting two trees, picking twelve Jade Spirit Fruits from the first and eleven from the second. After plucking the fruits, he took out the Earth Evil Sword from his storage bag and began to dig around the trees. Only after digging three zhang deep did he stop, grasped the tree trunk as thick as a water bucket, and exerted all his strength to uproot the entire fruit tree along with the soil. Just as Lin Tianming and the others had placed the six fruit trees into their storage bag, several First Order Demon Beasts, drawn by the scent of the spirit fruits, rushed over and were promptly intercepted and slain by Lin Xingzhi. Once Lin Tianming and the others had secured the fruit trees, they immediately went to find Lin Shiji. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others emerge, Lin Shiji quickly asked: "Tianming, did you succeed?" "We did!" "All six Jade Spirit Fruit Trees bore ripe fruit; we harvested a total of eighty-three Jade Spirit Fruits. We also successfully uprooted the six trees, which just need to be brought back to the clan in time for transplanting into the Spiritual Medicine Garden." After reporting their harvest, Lin Tianming and his group each took out their storage bags and handed them to Lin Shiji. Upon receiving the storage bags, Lin Shiji examined them once over and quickly gathered Lin Xingzhi and others. After some discussion, the family members all retreated without any hesitation, moving through the dense forest and heading out of the mountain range. In less than half a day''s time, following the trail they had come by, the family members appeared on a vast plain, already out of the Luoyun Mountain Range and into the territory controlled by the Human Race. Having successfully navigated out of the dense forest onto the plains, they were essentially safe; everyone breathed a sigh of relief, "We''ve finally made it out!" Everyone showed a trace of exhilarated smiles; their haul this trip had far exceeded expectations, and now they could finally return to the clan. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from its Spirit Beast Bag and fed it a Beast Spirit Pill. Everyone climbed onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which flew carrying the group as they rushed towards Green Bamboo Mountain. It was now noon, and the Purple Gold Eagle appeared near Green Bamboo Mountain. After a full day''s journey, Lin Tianming and the others finally made it back to the clan. Once inside the grand formation, they encountered many fellow clan members, which drew the attention of several others. People speculated about the results of the trip and even discussed it in private. Since Lin Shiji had already instructed them not to reveal the details and results of the trip, the participants naturally did not share anything. After dismissing the gathered clan members, they all went back to their homes, waiting for the clan''s rewards. Lin Shiji did not delay any longer and immediately flew towards the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, ready to discuss matters with several members of the Shi generation. In a courtyard at the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, the seven Lin Family members of the Shi generation gathered for a casual chat after receiving a message. "With Fifth Brother personally leading the expedition, I wonder what their haul was this time!" Hearing Lin Shixin''s words, Lin Shilu said with a smile: "It must be significant; otherwise, he wouldn''t have called us all together!" "Indeed!" The group sipped tea while discussing recent events. After a short while, Lin Shiji appeared in the courtyard. Seeing Lin Shiji enter, everyone got up to greet him. Sensing Lin Shiji''s wan aura, the family members quickly inquired: "Fifth Brother, are you injured?" "My injury is nothing serious. With some rest, I will recover; you don''t need to worry, brothers." Lin Shiji reassured the family members and started to recount the recent events in detail. As he described lurking in the shadows and the final fierce battle, everyone felt a shiver of concern. Chapter 69 Generosity of the Family_1 Having finished recounting the events of the past half year, in the presence of the clan members, he took out more than ten differently colored storage bags.After hearing the process, all the clan members waited curiously, the loot this time was substantial, it was the perfect opportunity to enhance the Lin Family''s foundation. Lin Shiji picked up a storage bag and a beast skin for recording, and began to recite fluently. "These five storage bags all contain the Demon Cores of Silver Earth Scorpions as well as parts usable for artificing, totaling sixty-six Silver Earth Scorpion corpses of varying grades." "This storage bag contains all of the eighty-three Jade Spirit Fruits obtained." "This storage bag holds six Jade Spirit Fruit trees, very intact, including the surrounding soil dug up together, which increases the likelihood of survival." "These two storage bags contain one hundred and thirty-three pieces of Earth Mysterious Crystal Ore, roughly the size of a fist, with only a few slightly larger." ¡­ Lin Shiji took out all the Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ore, and Demonic Beast materials for artificing and detailed the experiences one by one. Listening, everyone was overjoyed. The wealth they had acquired was indeed substantial, worth at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the end, Lin Shiji produced five storage bags, the very ones seized from Song Lixin and his companions during the surprise attack at the crucial moment. The wealth of Song Lixin and his four companions was the hard-won result of the entire Monster Hunting Squad, and no one had opened them privately, deliberately saving them until last to decide on rewards based on the contents when opened in front of everyone. Hearing Lin Shiji''s explanation, everyone was greatly reassured. Lin Shiji''s actions were indeed fair and just, without the slightest hint of greed, earning the respect of all the clan members. He took out the first storage bag, which belonged to an Artificer at the Qi Refining Eighth Level with the surname Xie. Lin Shiji took out all the items from the storage bag and laid them out on an open space in the courtyard. Three hundred and sixty Spirit Stones, a bottle of Lingshen Pills, various amounts of Huiyuan Pills, Consolidating Essence Pills, and other consumable Spiritual Medicine, a Medium Grade Attack Spirit Weapon, and a number of First Order Spiritual Medicines and Demonic Beast Materials. These common items amounted to a total wealth of around a thousand or so Spirit Stones. Before long, Lin Shiji had taken out the wealth of the four others, excluding Song Lixin, which were all necessities for cultivation. Apart from the wealth of a cultivator with the surname Chen, valued at four thousand Spirit Stones, the wealth of the other two was somewhat higher than that of cultivator Xie, barely reaching three thousand Spirit Stones. Among the four, the cultivator Chen was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining with formidable strength, having participated in the Monster Hunting Squad multiple times; naturally, his accumulated wealth wasn''t small. Unfortunately, there were no Cultivation Techniques discovered; after all, it''s rare for Qi Refining rogue cultivators to have complete techniques, to even carry any is even less common. The crowd felt a bit disappointed, but considering the amount of treasure they obtained, they quickly came to terms with it. Moreover, the Lin Family wasn''t in great need of Yellow Grade Techniques; Mysterious Grade Techniques would be of more interest. FInally, with all expectations set, Lin Shiji took out Song Lixin''s storage bag and removed all the items. In no time, the ground was covered with items; everyone''s breath hitched as they checked over the array of riches. Now, the ground was covered in Spirit Stones, elixirs, and Spiritual Artifacts of every kind, bewitching the eye with their quantity and variety. Lin Shixin, as the Hall of Merit''s Master, stepped forward and, while inspecting, recited each item one by one. "One thousand six hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, five First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Instruments, three Lower Grade Spiritual Instruments, one First Order Superior Grade artificing furnace, a number of First Order artificing materials, twelve Second Order Spirit Ores!" After the first round of introduction, everybody was discussing in low voices. "Judging by the artificing materials in his storage bag, Song Lixin must be at least a First Order Medium Grade Artificer, absolutely!" "This guy is really rich, just these Spirit Stones, Spiritual Instruments, and artificing materials are worth over four thousand Spirit Stones, surpassing any of the others!" Lin Shixin paid no mind and continued the inventory count. "Two bottles of Lingshen Pill, various consumables elixirs, thirty First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, five Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, five First Order Medium Grade talisman paper, two High Quality Talisman papers, and several Demonic Beast Materials!" With the majority of the items accounted for, their value was nearly six thousand Spirit Stones, with just one Jade Tube left to be inspected. Lin Shixin picked up the Jade Tube and summoned his Divine Sense to examine its contents. After a few moments, a hint of joy appeared on his face. "This is a Profound Grade Technique of inferior quality, a Water Attribute Cultivation Technique, named the ''Kanli Water Scripture''!" Lin Shixin''s words once again took everyone present by surprise. In the eight hundred years of the Lin Family''s history, nearly a thousand clan members had worked hard to acquire two Profound Grade Techniques, both of which had been obtained during the ancestral patriarch''s era. For nearly five hundred years, no Profound Grade Techniques had been obtained, and it just so happened that the clan lacked a Water, Earth, or Wood Attribute Profound Grade Technique. It was truly incredible that they had now acquired a Profound Grade Technique. One must know that when Lin Tianming attended the Qianchuan Market auction, even a Yellow Grade Technique with a Water Attribute went for more than twenty thousand Spirit Stones. Although this Profound Grade Technique was relatively ordinary, it was still worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones at the very least. Lin Shixin tossed the Technique to Lin Shikang and others to verify, and in the end, it was confirmed indeed to be a Water Attribute Profound Grade Technique. With all treasures appraised, it took a full quarter hour before everyone could recover from their joy. Lin Shiji and others had achieved great merit by obtaining a large number of treasures. Lin Shikang took the initiative to open the discussion on how the clan members should be rewarded! After half an hour of discussion, a decision was made. As the leader, Lin Shiji, who was seriously injured, was awarded three thousand Merit Points, one First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument, two High Quality Talisman papers, and one Jade Spirit Fruit. Lin Xingzhi, whose performance was outstanding, was awarded two thousand Merit Points and one Jade Spirit Fruit. Lin Xingcheng was awarded one thousand five hundred Merit Points and one Jade Spirit Fruit, and other Seventh Level Qi Cultivators in the family were rewarded with one thousand Merit Points and one Jade Spirit Fruit each. Although the three juniors Lin Tianming, Lin Tianfeng, and Lin Tianhong had relatively low cultivation levels, they actively participated in the trials and set an example for the younger generation of the clan, with exceptional performance. Especially Lin Tianming, who, at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, was not inferior to the cultivators at the Ninth Layer and even discovered the Earth Mysterious Crystal, thus deserving the main credit. Therefore, considering that these individuals had always been the focus of the family''s cultivation resources, and that the family''s finances had been depleted due to the creation of the Minor Foundation Building Pills, it was natural to fulfill the previously established training plans now that a substantial fortune had been acquired. Lin Tianming was rewarded with two thousand five hundred Merit Points, one Jade Spirit Fruit, three High Quality Talisman papers, and one Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were both awarded one thousand five hundred Merit Points, one Jade Spirit Fruit, two High Quality Talisman papers, and one Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument. Their rewards were even more generous than those given to Seventh Level Qi Cultivators in the family, and Lin Tianming''s reward even surpassed that of Lin Xingzhi, a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator. The family was indeed generous this time. Once the rewards were decided, Lin Shiji handed over all the items to Lin Shixin for safekeeping on the spot. Apart from the Jade Spirit Fruits awarded, the surplus Jade Spirit Fruits were to be exchanged at market value, and anyone was allowed to exchange for them. The Jade Spirit Fruit Tree was also transplanted to the Spiritual Medicine Garden without delay, with clan members assigned to tend to it carefully; in a hundred years, it would bring yet another large bounty of resources. With all matters settled, everyone busied themselves and dispersed. Lin Tianming also immediately returned home to see his mother and sister. After some leisurely conversation, he retired to his room to rest. Half a year of trials had left him extremely exhausted. Within just over ten breaths, he had fallen into a deep sleep. Chapter 70 Claiming Rewards_1 Early the next morning, after a night''s rest, Lin Tianming stepped out from his long-missed room.As soon as he left the house, he ran into Lin Tianyue coming head-on. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Tianyue was also delighted and quickly spoke: "Brother, it''s so lively outside, the deeds of our Monster Hunting Squad have already spread. Now, many brothers and sisters really admire you!" Hearing what Lin Tianyue said, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment. Lin Shiji had long given orders that no news should be revealed to anyone until the family had discussed the results, especially the deeds of killing Song Lixin and others. Therefore, Lin Tianming had not even told his mother and sister. Since the whole clan now knew, it must have been deliberated by the family already. "Tianyue, where did you see this news?" "Notices have been posted in several places in the family where there is a lot of foot traffic. I think the family is deliberately promoting it. Besides, the family has rewarded us with a lot of good stuff. You should check it out." Lin Tianming said goodbye to his sister and left the small courtyard, flying directly towards the Enforcement Hall. In front of the main hall of the Enforcement Hall, a notice was posted on a wall, and more than a dozen people gathered around, chatting idly and giving their opinions. It wasn''t just the entrance of the Enforcement Hall that was bustling; other important clan locations were also full of clan members discussing. Lin Tianming jumped down from his Spirit Sword and landed at the edge of the crowd, greeting the clanspeople with a smile. The clanspeople returned the greeting, without the slightest sense of using their seniority to act superior. After all, Lin Tianming was gifted, already at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. His grandfather had reached Foundation Establishment, and each member of his family was very powerful, so everyone was extremely polite. The clanspeople asked Lin Tianming about the Monster Hunting Squad''s encounter, and he did not hold back, roughly narrating the process of the fierce battle with the Silver Earth Scorpion. However, he did not reveal the ambush on Song Lixin and others. After all, profiting unscrupulously from an unprovoked advantage was not something to be proud of. But that''s how the Cultivation World is. With scarce resources, the competition is even more bloody than in the mortal world. Those who do not compete for resources will eventually be eliminated. The survival of the fittest is vividly demonstrated in the Cultivation World. Even such a partial recounting sent the clanspeople''s blood surging, and those with sufficient strength expressed their desire to join the Monster Hunting Squad. Those who were not strong enough felt regretful but also planned to practice diligently, hoping to join the Monster Hunting Squad soon. Through the family''s extensive promotion and encouragement, plus the generous rewards from Lin Tianming and others, the enthusiasm of some clanspeople was fully ignited. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those with less innate talent, who subconsciously preferred to cultivate within the clan lands, seemed to have had a change of heart. Although their number was not large, the change was satisfying nonetheless. Feeling the passion of the clanspeople, Lin Tianming was very clear that a comfortable life indeed wears away the clanspeople''s sense of crisis. To develop and grow, one must have a spirit of adventure and sacrifice; otherwise, they would eventually fade away in the world of cultivation. After some casual conversation, Lin Tianming bid farewell to everyone and entered the Enforcement Hall. Upon entering the Enforcement Hall, he found Lin Tianfeng and greeted him. Lin Tianming then inquired about the notice. As a member of the Enforcement Hall, Lin Tianfeng naturally had already asked the Hall Master Lin Shiji. "Sixth brother, I have asked Elder Wu. To encourage our clanspeople, the arrangement was indeed made by the family. The rewards can be collected at any time at the Enforcement Hall," said Lin Tianfeng, his face beaming with joy. The rewards were indeed substantial¡ª1500 merit points and the Jade Spirit Fruit were enough for him to reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, not to mention the Fu Lu Spiritual Instrument. With his significantly increased strength, he planned to undergo further challenges once his cultivation was higher. He was a true battle enthusiast. While Lin Tianming was chatting with Lin Tianfeng, a confused Lin Tianhong also arrived. They hadn''t arrived yet, but their voices could be heard from afar. "Big Brother, Sixth Brother, is the notice at the entrance for real?" Lin Tianhong seemed to have his doubts, as the rewards were indeed too generous, and he had to come over to confirm. Lin Tianfeng was also very excited and quickly repeated Lin Shiji''s exact words, dispelling any hesitation the two may have had. "Let''s go to the Hall of Merit and claim our reward. I''ve long coveted that Jade Spirit Fruit, and with it, I''m eighty percent sure that I can break through to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement!" With an excited expression, Lin Tianfeng invited Lin Tianming and the other to join him. Lin Tianming and the other happily agreed, and the trio set off from the Enforcement Hall, flying towards the Hall of Merit on the other side. Inside the Hall of Merit, a large number of clan members had already gathered. Members of the Monster Hunting Squad were mostly there to receive their rewards, attracting many other clan members to watch the excitement. In the noisy hall, the arrival of Lin Tianming and his two companions caught the attention of all the clan members. After all, these three were the leading figures among the Lin Family''s Tian generation, with the highest cultivation among their peers, and even many of the Xing Clan Members could not compare. Lin Tianming and his two companions smiled and greeted their elders and brothers before lining up to collect their rewards. A great number of clan members watched as Lin Shixin distributed a large number of merit points and handed out the Jade Spirit Fruits, all of them green with envy and itching to venture into the Luoyun Mountain Range for training. The waiting Xing Clan Members were visibly excited, completely satisfied with the clan''s rewards; after all, with so many merit points, they could cultivate for a long time. Time passed quickly, and half an hour later, it was Lin Tianming''s trio''s turn. Lin Tianfeng was the first to claim his prize, not only crediting the merit points to his token but also receiving the Jade Spirit Fruit for his Fu Lu Spiritual Instrument, standing ecstatically to one side while waiting. Lin Tianhong claimed his merit points and exchanged for a Pill Furnace and a large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials, apparently planning to perform a large amount of alchemy to improve his alchemical skills. When it was Lin Tianming''s turn, he hardly lacked resources. He had plenty of elixirs, and those suitable for the Qi Refinement Realm were almost sufficient. The talisman paper and Spiritual Artifact he had been rewarded previously were also enough for the time being. After much consideration, he decided to exchange for some Spiritual Medicine Materials, planning to refine them into elixirs to sell back to the family. With his own refined elixirs, clan members could quickly improve their cultivation, he could practice his craft, and he could also earn Spirit Stones. Otherwise, not practicing alchemy for a long time might cause his skills to regress. He exchanged for a large quantity of elixir materials, all for consumptive pills like the Lingshen Pill, Consolidating Essence Pill, and Huiyuan Pill, as well as materials for five Xisui Pills. Since the materials for Xisui Pills were hard to gather, that was all there was, and Lin Tianming took them all. After bidding farewell to the crowd of clan members, the three stepped out of the Hall of Merit together. "Second Brother, Sixth Brother, after this training, I feel that my bottleneck has loosened. I plan to go into seclusion for cultivation. I won''t leave until I break through to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement!" Lin Tianfeng spoke with full confidence about his plans. Lin Tianhong also intended to go into seclusion for cultivation. Having just entered the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, he probably wouldn''t be able to reach the Sixth Level even with the Jade Spirit Fruit and planned to undergo quiet cultivation for a while. He wanted to enhance his alchemy and accumulate more experience before consuming the Jade Spirit Fruit towards the later stage of the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. "Big Brother, Second Brother, I too will go into seclusion. It''s been over a year since I reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. This is a good time to focus on cultivation and, with the help of the Jade Spirit Fruit, there''s a good chance of reaching the Eighth Level." After discussing their future plans, the three bid each other farewell and flew off in different directions. Chapter 71 Closed-Door Training (Please Subscribe, Asking for Votes)_1 Watching Lin Tianfeng and the other leave, Lin Tianming didn''t immediately go home but flew towards the Alchemy Hall instead.Having not seen his grandfather for half a year, returning to the Lin Family naturally meant paying a visit. Upon entering the Alchemy Hall, aside from Lin Shigong, he saw no other clan members. Compared to the bustling noise of the Enforcement Hall and the Hall of Merit, the Alchemy Hall was much quieter, after all, the Lin Family only had five true alchemists. The Alchemy Hall was only used for exchange and learning, and with the help of Earth Fire for alchemy, it was only lively at those times. Most of the time, it was just Lin Shigong here. Seeing his grandfather, Lin Tianming was very happy and hurried forward to pay his respects. Lin Shigong also hadn''t seen Lin Tianming for a long time; he pulled Lin Tianming to sit down, and the two chatted over Spiritual Tea. "Grandfather, my father should be close to reaching the Great Perfection realm now, right?" Lin Tianming rarely encountered Lin Xingrong and could only inquire about his father''s situation through his grandfather and mother. "Your father has been accumulating for several years, and the last time he came back, he was on the verge of a breakthrough. With a large number of elixirs to assist, without accidents, he should be able to enter the Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage within half a year. He''s still young, and with a Minor Foundation Building Pill to help him impact the Foundation Establishment Stage, there''s a great hope of success!" Lin Shigong was very gratified. He once thought that he would never break through the Foundation Establishment Stage in this lifetime, and he was quite pessimistic about Lin Xingrong''s future. It was very likely he would follow his own path, dying old in the Qi Refinement Realm. The family was too poor, and thinking about it made him feel helpless. Nowadays, the Lin Family''s predicament has greatly improved. The hope for Foundation Establishment is much greater than before, and it''s finally developing in a good direction. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Grandfather, I want to go into seclusion for a while, at least half a year, to strive for a breakthrough to the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement." Seeing the confident expression on Lin Tianming''s face, Lin Shigong''s face beamed with a smile. He was quite satisfied with Lin Tianming''s efforts and naturally supported him. "Good, there''s nothing big happening in the clan at this time, except for the Monster Hunting Squad and the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. The clan has already arranged for people to handle it. You just focus on your cultivation. I''ve also gathered spiritual medicine materials for half a year, and I want to try refining Second Order Pills. Previously, my cultivation wasn''t sufficient, and the elixirs needed for the third brother and the others had to be bought from outside. Now that there are more and more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the consumption is huge. Refining our own elixirs can save a lot of Spirit Stones." "That''s true, not to mention that it''s expensive to buy them from outside. During special times, you can''t even buy them if you want to!" The two chatted leisurely for an hour, from cultivation to alchemy. Through the exchange, both the grandfather and the grandson benefited a great deal. After the chat, Lin Tianming took out a Minor Foundation Building Pill and handed it to Lin Shigong, instructing him to pass it to his father once he reached the Great Perfection, to aid him in his early breakthrough. With two more Minor Foundation Building Pills and five stems of Hidden Spirit Grass left, at least there was no need to worry about not having enough. After saying farewell to his grandfather, Lin Tianming returned to his own small courtyard. He took out a large number of elixirs and handed them to his mother and sister, including Xisui Pills and Pozhang Pills, for them to cultivate in peace and strive for a breakthrough of one or two realms. Having greeted all his close clan members, Lin Tianming didn''t delay any further and directly entered the secret chamber. He sat cross-legged on the cushion, practiced his breathing and ran his Cultivation Technique through one Grand Circulation. More than a year had passed since the last breakthrough. During the half-year with the Monster Hunting Squad, through extensive practice, his cultivation also reached the peak of the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, and with step-by-step cultivation, a breakthrough was bound to happen sooner or later. Feeling the weak growth of Spiritual Power in his Dantian and the accompanying pain in his body, Lin Tianming took out a large number of elixirs and placed them beside him. Lingshen Pills, Body Strengthening Pills, Strong Spirit Pills¡ªall were key items aiding cultivation, especially the Body Strengthening Pill, which greatly alleviated the pain of cultivation; otherwise, it would be impossible to endure. After consuming the elixirs, he fully absorbed the rich Spiritual Power within. His Qi Sea and Dantian grew at a slow pace. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat motionless, entering the best state for cultivation, similar to an old monk in meditation. During Lin Tianming''s closed-door cultivation, the triennial Spirit Root Testing Ceremony arrived on schedule, and the Lin Family arranged for six clan members to descend the mountain to preside over the ceremony in the mortal towns. The clan placed great importance on the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony and cared deeply for the lives of mortals; otherwise, they wouldn''t have stationed people in such places with sparse spiritual energy year after year. Even though the probability of finding a mortal with a Spiritual Root was much smaller than that of descendants of cultivators, with the vast population, a few were always discovered each year. By controlling a vast population, the clan could quickly increase its size, continuously integrating fresh blood. With an increasing population, the probability of encountering cultivators with exceptional talents grew larger. Of the current 170-plus members of the Lin Family, nearly half came from mortal towns, highlighting the significance of mortals to the Lin Family. Therefore, having control over a large population of mortals was also considered one of the clan''s foundational strengths. In the southern part of Green Bamboo Mountain, outside Qingfeng Town, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining was flying towards the town on a Flying Sword. Before long, he flew directly over the town walls and headed toward the central stone tower. This person was named Lin Xingli, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining who was the Executive Officer sent by the Lin Family to preside over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. The triennial Spirit Root Testing Ceremony was held as scheduled, with the Lin Family dispatching six members to oversee it, five of whom were responsible for five major towns, while the remaining one oversaw the area at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain. Stay tuned with empire All six regions were places where the Lin Family''s mortals gathered, and compared to the five major towns, the small town at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain, with only fifty to sixty thousand people, had a much higher probability of discovering individuals with Spiritual Roots. The reason was straightforward: the mortals in that town were close relatives of Lin Family cultivators, with a cultivator emerging from within their lineage within the last ten generations, which significantly increased the probability of discovering individuals with Spiritual Roots compared to those who had never had a Spiritual Root emerge. Lin Xingli soared past the densely clustered mortal houses and appeared over a large square. At that moment, the square was filled with thousands of teenagers, about evenly split between boys and girls, most appearing to be around eleven or twelve years old, with a few thirteen-year-olds as well. A youth who happened to look up saw a middle-aged man standing on a Flying Sword, suspended in the air, and shouted in shock. "A celestial being..." Upon hearing the shout, everyone raised their heads to look up at the sky, and many Lin Family mortals respectfully knelt and began to worship. Lin Xingli shouted in a voice filled with Spiritual Power. "Silence all! Line up orderly. The official testing begins tomorrow. Anyone who makes noise or causes a commotion will be deprived of the right to be tested!" Lin Xingli''s words instantly hushed the previously noisy crowd, making it so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Having said that, he no longer paid attention to the waiting mortals. He formed a hand seal with one hand, cast a Law Decree, and entered the building. Less than ten breaths later, the protective restrictions were opened, and a cultivator at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining emerged. This cultivator, smiling as he walked, greeted Lin Xingli: "I didn''t expect Brother Thirteen to be overseeing the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony here. Please rest inside for a moment, brother. I''ll instruct the town mayor to prepare a banquet to welcome and cleanse the dust of travel for you." Lin Xingli returned the smile and the greeting, and the two entered the restriction one after the other before disappearing, leaving behind a crowd of mortals anxiously waiting. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Xingli sat opposite the other man, exchanging pleasantries. Soon after, Lin Shan''s subordinates delivered a lavish dinner. Lin Xingli and the other man sat opposite each other, eating and conversing, confirming that the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony would commence at the break of dawn. Chapter 72 Spirit Testing Convention (Two in One - Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_1 On the morning of the following day, while the brilliant moon had not yet completely vanished, a time when one would normally be sound asleep, the entirety of Qingfeng Town was brightly lit as though in the midst of a bustling celebration.Throngs of young boys and girls were rushing through the streets, heading toward the center of Qingfeng Town. In the town''s central square, a simple elevated platform had been constructed. Over a thousand youths were gathered together, waiting anxiously, and more adolescent boys and girls continued to pour in. Within the crowd, one could see a thin boy with a resolute gaze, his clothes disheveled, his face smeared with filth¡ªlooking every bit the beggar. In order to attend the Spirit Testing Event, he had set out ten days in advance, traveling alone, covering over twenty li each day, begging along the way, enduring great hardship just to arrive in Qingfeng Town on time. The slender youth heaved a sigh of relief, and with difficulty, he pushed through the onlookers to join the long queue, making his way toward the center of the square. As the number of people grew, the spacious square became overcrowded, and even the stone-paved roads were filled to the brim. Around the entire square, numerous adults stood to one side¡ªmen and women, old and middle-aged¡ªeach anxiously awaiting the test results of their children. As time passed, the number of individuals who had come for the testing had surpassed one thousand five hundred, with more scattered youths joining in bits and pieces. Due to the favorable weather in recent years, the population of ordinary humans in Qingfeng Town and the surrounding villages had increased significantly, resulting in more participants at the Spirit Testing Event than in any previous year. An hour passed, the moonlight faded away, and as rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining upon the earth, a solemn bell resounded. All heads turned to gaze at the loft above the square from where a man in gray robes slowly emerged, and in the blink of an eye, appeared atop the elevated platform in the square. Every person in the square looked up with devout respect, beginning to offer their salutations. Standing on the platform, looking down upon them all, Lin Xingli''s expression was calm, betraying no emotion. "All rise, I, Lin Xingli, will preside over this Spirit Testing Event, and I now declare, the Spirit Testing Event begins!" "Everyone, form a line. Those under ten and over thirteen years of age, leave at once. The rest, maintain order, refrain from creating disturbances, or forming riotous crowds, or their eligibility to be tested will be immediately revoked!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingli''s fierce gaze swept over the crowd, and those upon whom it alighted felt a chill as if dunked into an ice pit, drenched in cold sweat. Before long, over a hundred youngsters stepped out from the crowd¡ªall either under ten or over thirteen years of age. Seeing the opportunists leave, Lin Xingli no longer paid attention to those on the square. He took out a completely silvery-white, translucent stone from his storage bag and placed it on the low table in front of him. The stone was approximately the size of a brick, a Spirit Measuring Stone used for testing the Spiritual Root¡ªa common item in the Cultivation World, each valued at nearly a hundred Spirit Stones, indeed not cheap. It is said that within large Sects and noble clans, the Spirit Measuring Stones are of a much higher grade, with great accuracy, and they can even detect rare and special Spiritual Roots in Cultivators. The Spirit Measuring Stone used by the Lin Family was the most ordinary kind, with a slight probability of missing a Spiritual Root, but the chance was not significant. After placing the Spirit Measuring Stone on the surface of the table in front of him, he formed several Law Decrees with his fingers, and a streak of golden light entered the stone. In half a breath''s time, the lifeless stone block buzzed several times. After watching its surface become even more smooth and transparent, and the buzzing stopped, tranquility was restored. Having finished the preliminary preparations, Lin Xingli pointed to a queue not far in front of him, signaling for a young boy standing at the front to come forward for testing. Seeing Lin Xingli''s gesture, the boy seemed to freeze in place in disbelief, After a round of laughter from the crowd, and not until prompted by the boys behind him, did he nervously make his way forward. At this moment, the boy''s emotions were complicated, his expression frantic. Before the Spirit Testing Event began, he had always looked forward to the start of the testing, but now that it had truly commenced, he feared that he might have no Spiritual Root, and thus entirely miss the path to the Immortal Realm. With an uneasy heart, he took a step forward, the few short steps to the Spirit Measuring Stone seeming as difficult as a journey of dozens of li. Time seemed to stretch on forever, but finally, he reached the Spirit Measuring Stone. Infused with a sliver of Spiritual Power, so that his voice could spread throughout the entire square, clear for all to hear, Lin Xingli pointed at the Spirit Measuring Stone in front of him and spoke. "Place your hand upon this Spirit Measuring Stone. Those with a Spiritual Root will cause the stone to flash with different colors, representing different types of Spiritual Roots. If no color appears, it signifies a lack of destiny with the path of immortality. You will have to accept your fate!" Heeding Lin Xingli''s instruction, the boy wasted no time in placing his hand on the Spirit Measuring Stone, eagerly watching for a reaction. Several moments passed, yet the Spirit Measuring Stone remained inert. The boy''s face turned deathly pale, he withdrew his hand and left the square in a daze. Lin Xingli''s expression remained unchanged; without saying anything, he waved his hand, signaling the next youth to step forward and take the test. After more than an hour, over two hundred people had been tested without any causing the Spirit Measuring Stone to react, leaving Lin Xingli feeling somewhat disappointed. Although giving birth to an offspring with a Spiritual Root was not easy, with a population of a hundred thousand in Qingfeng Town, there must be at least one individual with a Spiritual Root, right? Enjoy exclusive content from empire If not, these past few days would have been a waste of effort. The reason he had taken on the task of conducting the Spirit Testing was also for the high rewards offered by the family; for every individual with a Spiritual Root he brought back, the family would reward him with ten points of merit, and even more for those with exceptional talent. Coming to this place with such sparse Spiritual Energy, where he would delay his own cultivation for over ten days and endure the arduous journey, if he didn''t bring back at least one individual with a Spiritual Root, it would be a huge loss. Chapter 72 Spirit Testing Convention (Two in One - Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_2 Lin Xingli frowned helplessly as he continued to watch the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony.Time slowly passed, and by around noon, another two hundred people had been tested, yet not a single youth had succeeded. Seeing that a third of the young boys and girls present had been tested without a single success, Lin Xingli''s expression gradually darkened. After a short while, with only about a dozen people having gone after, a girl aged eleven, with delicate and pretty features, stepped forward. On a pavilion surrounding the plaza, a middle-aged man and a well-dressed woman watched the girl onstage with tense expressions. This couple were the girl''s parents, who had been local gentry for many generations and were quite experienced and knowledgeable. Years ago, an ancestor of theirs had been a cultivator, so they placed great importance on whether their daughter had a Spiritual Root, always hoping that she could become a cultivator and return to Green Bamboo Mountain. The girl extended her pale hand and slowly placed it on the Spirit Measuring Stone, her beautiful eyes curiously fixed on it. Experience new tales on empire In just an instant, the Spirit Measuring Stone flashed with four different colors of light, with the pale blue light being particularly strong. "She has Four Spiritual Roots, including Metal, Wood, Water, and Earth attributes, among which the Water attribute has the strongest affinity. It is recommended that she cultivate Water attribute techniques for better results!" Lin Xingli''s words made the girl''s father utterly ecstatic, but her mother started to weep bitterly. "What are you crying for, woman of the household!" "Tianxin has revived the glory of our ancestors; what a joyous occasion." The girl''s father scolded her, but it did nothing to calm her down; instead, she became even more heartbroken. The girl''s mother understood that her daughter possessing a Spiritual Root meant they would be separated by the realms of mortals and immortals, possibly never to see each other again. Finally, with the appearance of one with a Spiritual Root, Lin Xingli''s face looked much better. After patiently explaining once more, he inquired about the girl''s identity. "What is your name, girl, and where is your home?" The girl, still not quite recovered from her joy, stuttered out her background. "To answer the elder, my name is Lin Xin, and my ancestors have all been from Qingfeng Town." "Hmm, from now on, you will be a member of the Lin Family''s Tian generation, named Lin Tianxin. Once the testing is over, we will return to the clan land and record your name in the family register. Remember this!" "Yes!" Having said that, Lin Xingli took out a piece of Beast Skin and swiftly began recording the girl''s information with a few gestures of his fingers. With the emergence of the first person with a Spiritual Root, Lin Xingli''s mood improved significantly, and he led Lin Tianxin aside as he continued to pay attention to the testing ceremony. Unknowingly, most of the day had passed, and the once crowded plaza had become less congested. In half a day, over thirteen hundred people had been tested, leaving just over two hundred yet to be tested. By then, Lin Xingli had two respectful boys and two girls standing behind him, among whom one boy and one girl had Four Spirit Roots, while the other two possessed Five Spirit Roots. The four of them were flushed with excitement, a stark contrast to the dejected youth who had not succeeded in their tests. As the remaining two hundred people continued to be tested, there were only a little over fifty left untested. Looking at the remaining fifty or so, Lin Xingli had lost much of his interest. As the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony neared its end, it was almost certain that these four individuals were the ones with Spiritual Roots. Not too many, not too few, slightly more than in previous times, which was already quite good. With just over a dozen people left, as a ragged, scrawny, and messy-looking boy stepped forward and unhesitatingly placed his hand on the Spirit Measuring Stone, three strong lights suddenly flashed, attracting everyone''s attention. Lin Xingli was overjoyed and excited as he hurriedly checked the results. Seeing the three strong and forceful lights, Lin Xingli held back his excitement as he introduced the scrawny boy''s Spiritual Root attributes. "Metal, Fire, Earth¡ªthese attributes all have good affinity, especially the Metal attribute, which is extremely compatible. He is a fine seed for cultivating Metal attribute techniques!" The scrawny boy was calm, seemingly unaffected internally. "What is your name, and where do you live?" The boy was not at all flustered, but respectfully replied: "To answer the senior, I am an orphan; my parents died early, and I live in a small village outside of Qingfeng Town, surviving on the charity of the villagers who call me ''Tiger''!" "Hmm, come here and stand behind me!" After calling ''Tiger'' to his side, Lin Xingli was quite satisfied, not expecting to find someone with Three Spiritual Roots in Qingfeng Town. This place had not seen Three Spiritual Roots in dozens of testing ceremonies, and often not even one could be found in five testing locations. The child was calm and determined, with excellent willpower; his Spiritual Root Talent could definitely rank him within the top ten of the Clan. Originally thinking there would be no promising talents this time, the last moment''s stroke of luck meant a bountiful reward awaited upon returning to the family. As the last youth finished testing, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony was completely over. Lin Xingli, with a smile, began instructing the people in the plaza. "This Spirit Root Testing Ceremony has concluded. Those who did not measure out a Spiritual Root should leave quickly. In three years, bring back the children aged ten to thirteen for testing." After dismissing the crowd of mortals, Lin Xingli, with a calm demeanor, instructed the five successful youths standing next to him: sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You may now go home to bid your parents and elders farewell. The Clan has rules: you must reach the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement before descending the mountain. This departure may well be forever. In five days at dawn, gather in the plaza, and I will take you back to the Clan land!" Chapter 72 Spirit Testing Convention (Two in One - Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_3 "Yes!"After respectfully bowing, the four young boys and girls departed, leaving Tiger alone, standing in his spot. Seeing that Tiger hadn''t moved, Lin Xingli questioned the frail boy: "Why have you not set off yet?" "To answer the senior, I have no more ties, and with the village being a hundred miles from Qingfeng Town, there isn''t enough time to make the round trip in five days, so I do not plan to return!" Hearing Tiger''s explanation, Lin Xingli did not press further. "Come with me then. Rest here for a few days, and we will set off after five days!" "Yes!" With respectful compliance, Tiger ceased to speak any further. The commands of Lin Xingli led most who had failed the test to accept reality; they orderly left the square. Still, there were many young boys and girls who had already been tested; they seemed not to have accepted the failure of their tests and were gathered in a corner of the square, reluctant to leave. Lin Xingli put away the Spirit Measuring Stone, storing it in his storage bag, and looked at the unwilling youngsters, shouting loudly: "Mortals and immortals are distinct; do not cling to false hopes, leave quickly!" Having spoken, he walked towards the grand hall with Tiger, without looking back, disappearing from sight. Upon Lin Xingli''s disappearance, the young boys and girls on the square had no choice but to finally accept their fate and gradually depart. Before entering the stone building, Lin Xingli instructed Lin Shan to settle Tiger, then began his own cultivation within the grand hall. Lin Shan, seeing Lin Xingli placing such importance on Tiger, naturally dared not offend and respectfully led Tiger away. After a proper wash and grooming, the once filthy Tiger was completely transformed. Though his body was thin, appearing undernourished, dressed in fine garments, he looked rather handsome. On the morning of the fifth day, in the grand lobby of the attic, Lin Xingli bid farewell to the townspeople guarding Qingfeng Town and, with Tiger, walked out of the great hall. In the square, four young boys and girls had already been waiting. Seeing Lin Xingli emerge, they hastened to greet him with a bow. "There''s no need for formalities, are you all prepared? We are about to set off!" "We are ready!" Lin Xingli nodded, satisfied, then took out a Spirit Sword. He chanted several Law Decrees at it, and the three-foot-long sword promptly grew to a thirty-foot-long blade suspended above the square. The five followers behind him were utterly astonished; although they had heard about the abilities of cultivators, witnessing them first-hand was still deeply shocking. Lin Xingli paid no attention to the crowd, took out five talisman papers from his storage bag, stuck them on the five individuals, then took the lead and leaped onto the sword. These five talisman papers were known as Light Spirit Talismans, considered First Order Inferior talisman papers, simple to make, and not very valuable. The Light Spirit Talisman could greatly reduce the weight of a mortal''s body; once attached, it allowed mortals to leap several meters high and even if they fell from great heights, the talisman would ensure they wouldn''t be killed, maybe just injured, which was quite miraculous. There were many kinds of special talismans like this, such as the Swift Travel Talisman, which allowed a mortal to travel a hundred miles a day, definitely faster than walking. Taking on the Spirit Measuring mission, one could receive some talismans from the family. Otherwise, with just their mortal bodies, reaching Green Bamboo Mountain hundreds of miles away would have taken several months. After explaining the wonderful uses of the talismans to the five people, he helped them onto the sword blade until they were all seated. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingli performed hand symbols and took flight, heading towards the northern territory of his clan. Such a scene occurred simultaneously in five Mortal Towns of the Lin Family. The Spirit Measuring ceremony completed, and the five members tasked with the mission all set off to return to their clan lands with varying numbers of new members. As the flying height reached several dozens of meters, the five people atop the Spirit Sword were very frightened, but Tiger quickly adapted and soon looked down at the beauty of the earth with a calm and collected gaze. "Do not worry, with the Light Spirit Talismans on you, even if you fall, you won''t die. And even without these talismans, I wouldn''t let you fall," said Lin Xingli, his reassuring words finally alleviated the fears of the four others. As half an hour passed, the remaining four also gradually adapted and started observing the surrounding scenery, looking extremely excited. Tiger, on the other hand, sat quietly, dreaming of the day he would fly on his own. Chapter 74 Breakthrough_1 Time swiftly passed, and it had already been half a year since the Spirit Testing Conference.The Lin Family was very calm, operating in an orderly fashion. Following the example set by Lin Tianming and others in monster hunting, the clan''s interest in hunting demonic beasts greatly increased. In this half-year period, the family formed two monster hunting squads, which went to the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range for experience and training. The first batch of family members who joined the hunting squads received generous rewards, and nearly all of them began to cultivate in seclusion. The older generation of cultivators was also busy. Lin Shikang, the person with the highest cultivation in the family and its guardian, also cultivated diligently, striving to make further progress. As the family''s only Second Order Artifact Refiner, Lin Shilu was extremely busy, toiling in both cultivation and artifact refinement, turning large amounts of demonic beast materials and Qingling Bamboo into spiritual artifacts. Lin Shigong successfully entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and began to try his hand at refining Second Order Pills, eager to quickly produce elixirs to assist his clan members in their cultivation. Clan Leader Lin Shihua was also actively managing the family, selling large quantities of First Order Spiritual Tools and various artifact materials in exchange for a significant amount of spiritual medicine materials and elixirs. He bought various talisman papers to subsidize family members, accelerating their cultivation while also refining spiritual artifacts for them and handing out talisman papers to enhance their combat methods. In anticipation of a foreseeable crisis, the Lin Family was secretly accumulating strength to face the unknown dangers ahead. All family members were cultivating with great effort, desperately wishing to break through to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage so they could exchange for a Minor Foundation Building Pill and attempt Foundation Establishment. The newly inducted family members lived fulfilling lives, learning basic cultivation knowledge every day at the Skill Transmission Hall. Under Lin Shigang''s guidance, the family members who had just embarked on the path of cultivation were growing rapidly, and their sense of belonging to the Lin Family was gradually strengthening. It wouldn''t be long before they could fully integrate into the family. Lin Tianhu cultivated with great dedication, his aspiration toward the Dao firm and resilient. Having completed the basic knowledge, he attempted Qi Introduction into his body. Because he possessed a Metal Attribute Spiritual Root, the one with the highest affinity, he naturally cultivated the family''s Mysterious Grade Technique, the Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique. Inside a secret chamber of a small courtyard, Lin Tianhu sat cross-legged on a mat, adjusting himself to the optimal state. Since he had already committed the incantations and mental techniques of the Cultivation Technique to memory, he attempted to circulate the technique, meditatively sensing the Spiritual Energy around him. After trying for over ten days, he had yet to succeed. As the eighteenth day passed, Lin Tianhu showed no sign of slackening, continuing his cultivation in the secret chamber aside from his required daily studies. Persistence pays off for those with determination! After nineteen days of unwavering effort, he finally succeeded in sensing a faint gold-tinged Spiritual Energy in the air. Lin Tianhu patiently guided the Spiritual Energy into his body, converging it in his Qi Sea Dantian. Several days passed, and after over a hundred failures, he finally succeeded in introducing a thread of Spiritual Energy into his body, reaching the First Level of Qi Refining and becoming a qualified cultivator. After rejoicing, he stabilized his progress and then left the secret chamber to go to the Skill Transmission Hall, seeking out Lin Shigang to record his achievement. Upon hearing Lin Tianhu''s report, Lin Shigang was greatly surprised and hastily asked Lin Tianhu to demonstrate his achievement. Lin Tianhu pinched his fingers together and a strand of Spiritual Energy danced at his fingertips, indeed successfully achieving Qi Introduction. Lin Shigang was very comforted and highly satisfied. Lin Tianhu indeed worked extremely hard, and his speed of cultivation was remarkable. It took him only twenty-two days to successfully introduce Qi into his body, nearly comparable to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming had Dual Spiritual Roots and grew up on Green Bamboo Mountain. Influenced by his parents'' long-term guidance, he took just sixteen days to achieve Qi Introduction, breaking a record that had stood for hundreds of years in the Lin Family. Ordinary cultivators with Three Spiritual Roots would be considered exceptional if they achieved Qi Introduction within a month. Those with Four Spiritual roots were slower still, and there were many cultivators with Five Spirit Roots who took half a year or more. There were even cases of Loose Cultivators without guidance who failed to achieve it even after decades. Lin Tianhu, who succeeded in just twenty-three days, could be ranked in the top five in the history of the Lin Family, illustrating his high talent and understanding, marking him as a promising seedling worthy of great cultivation effort from the family. Having informed Lin Tianhu to go to the Hall of Merit to claim the family benefits and urged him to diligently cultivate, Lin Tianhu once again immersed himself in arduous cultivation. The Lin Family was operating methodically, with all its members rapidly growing stronger. In the secret chamber of a small courtyard on the mountainside. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on a cushion, hands clasped together, having sustained his cultivation for a long span of half a year. Several jade bottles were messily scattered in front of him, their contents long since depleted. Following the end of the monster hunt, his cultivation level had reached the peak of Qi Refining Seventh Level. After consuming the only Jade Spirit Fruit he had, he leveraged the powerful spiritual energy contained within the fruit and successfully broke through to the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement. Over the span of six months, Lin Tianming focused on stabilizing his realm and, with the aid of elixirs, enhanced both his body and divine sense. Lin Tianming, who hadn''t moved for a long time, opened his eyes, assessing the condition of his whole body. After half a year of rigorous cultivation, his cultivation level had greatly advanced, feeling the surging spiritual power much stronger than when he was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. The aspect of body refinement also steadily improved through battles and elixirs, essentially keeping pace with his Qi Refining cultivation level. With the breakthrough in cultivation, his strength surged once again, feeling the power when clenching his fist¡ªit was probably no less than two thousand catties. Not only had his Qi Refinement and body refinement increased, but the growth of his divine sense was also significant. With a large supply of Strong Spirit Pills, Lin Tianming would consume one every month. Having continued this sweet-like consumption for over a year, taking one or two Strong Spirit Pills only provided a very limited increase in divine sense, barely noticeable. However, over more than a year of accumulation, the effects were quite evident. In this extra year, the increase in divine sense accounted for almost a tenth of the total divine sense. In the Cultivation World, methods to increase divine sense were extremely rare, aside from cultivation arts like frequent alchemy and artifact creation, which could slowly increase it, one had to rely on certain treasures or elixirs. But treasures were scarce and precious, high order elixirs were too slow to obtain, simply unattainable, one had to choose from common elixirs, among which Strong Spirit Pill was a well-known option. Even the most common Strong Spirit Pills were unaffordable for most cultivators, as spirit stones used for cultivation were insufficient, and who would spend vast resources to cultivate divine sense and refine the body? After examining his body and feeling the mighty divine sense, Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied. Exhaling a breath of stale air, Lin Tianming got up and left the secret chamber. At dusk, Lin Shigong also returned from the Alchemy Hall to the small courtyard, and Lin Xingrong made a rare trip back to the family. By now Lin Tianming was nearly nineteen years old, and his family was rarely gathered together like this. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After dinner, the family of five sat in the courtyard for casual conversation. Three years had passed since Lin Tianming broke through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement at the age of sixteen. With the help of experience and numerous elixirs, Lin Tianming''s progress was rapid, breaking through to Qi Refining Eighth Level in a mere three years, roughly one level per year, leaving his peers far behind. His parents were very pleased with the cultivation of Lin Tianming and his siblings. There was no need to mention Lin Tianming any further, as he was the fastest cultivator among the Lin Family''s generation named Tian. Lin Tianyue was also nearly fifteen years old, growing tall and graceful, with her cultivation level reaching the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, and she was recognized alongside Lin Tianqin as one of the two "golden flowers" of the Lin Family. With no need to support Lin Tianming anymore and with the aid of a large number of elixirs, his mother''s cultivation also sped up significantly, having broken through to the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Xingrong had also smoothly broken through to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage and, having returned to the family, prepared to enter seclusion calmly to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Chapter 75 Conscripted as a Strong Man_1 During casual conversation, Lin Shigong took out a Minor Foundation Building Pill and handed it to Lin Xingrong.Gazing at the precious Minor Foundation Building Pill, Lin Xingrong certainly knew where it came from, but he couldn''t help feeling somewhat embarrassed to benefit from his son''s achievements. "Father, this Minor Foundation Building Pill is what Tian Ming has earned. I''ve almost prepared the merit points, I''ll go back to the Hall of Merit and exchange for it myself!" Lin Xingrong strongly insisted, wanting to rely on his own merit points to exchange for the Minor Foundation Building Pill from the family. Though it required a huge amount of merit points, having been stationed in Luoyun Market for over twenty years, his accumulated wealth, although not eight thousand, was not much less. Lin Xingrong''s idea was met with stern criticism from Lin Shigong. You should know that three generations of the Lin Family have all set their sights on the remaining six Minor Foundation Building Pills, with competition especially intense. Among the Shi clan members, it was still manageable, but for some unknown reason, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe had given up the competition, ceding the last remaining Minor Foundation Building Pill spot of the Shi generation to Lin Shixin. It was likely because Lin Shigang and the others realized they were too old, and the probability of breaking through was even lower than it had been for Lin Shigong, so they decided to give away a favor easily rather than wasting a lot of merit points for an impossible breakthrough. It could also be that an agreement was reached among the three, but other clan members didn''t know about it, and even so, it still deeply touched Lin Shixin. As for the competition among the Xing clan members, it was even more fierce. Most of the Shi generation had already exhausted their potential, with only Lin Shixin holding hope for a breakthrough. Meanwhile, a large portion of Xing clan members under sixty still had a significant amount of time, and breaking through remained a promising prospect. As such, the competition for Minor Foundation Building Pills was far too intense, and no one would willingly give up unless they had an extremely poor Spiritual Root, effectively barring them from reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage before the age of one hundred. Although many Xing clan members did not know that Lin Tianming had three more Minor Foundation Building Pills, all the core clan members were aware. If they were to join the fray, it would undoubtedly invite criticism. After receiving Lin Shigong''s severe criticism, Lin Xingrong changed his mind. As he was getting older, delaying further would only make the breakthrough more difficult, so he finally accepted the goodwill from Tian Ming. "That''s more like it. We''re all family; why make such sharp distinctions? I took advantage of this youngster back then!" "Had it not been for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, I would have turned to dust in twenty years. Time waits for no one!" After considering it, Lin Xingrong realized it was indeed the case and accepted the Minor Foundation Building Pill. Seeing Lin Xingrong accept the Minor Foundation Building Pill and sipping the Spiritual Tea, Lin Shigong was very satisfied. Lin Tianming and his mother joined in, persuading Lin Xingrong not to be obstinate. The earlier one breaks through in their cultivation, the better. It had been delayed previously due to a lack of conditions, but now that the conditions were met, it was naturally best to proceed as quickly as possible. After the encouragement and persuasion of the four, Lin Xingrong was deeply moved and resolutely decided to break through as soon as possible. Hearing Lin Xingrong''s response, the urgent task now was to assist Lin Xingrong in his breakthrough. Lin Shigong sent a message, informing the Clan Leader and Lin Shikang of the closed-door cultivation for the breakthrough. It wasn''t long before Lin Shigong received a reply. After checking Lin Shikang''s response, Lin Shigong''s complexion was ruddy as he spoke. "Xingrong, Third Brother and Shihua have replied. I''ll take you to the summit of the main peak tomorrow for your closed-door breakthrough. Some experiences of our predecessors will naturally be handed over to you, just focus on breaking through." "Yes!" Since Lin Shigong had already arranged everything, Lin Xingrong stopped being unnecessarily polite. After organizing Lin Xingrong''s breakthrough, Lin Shigong instructed Lin Tianming. "During the time of your father''s breakthrough, I will be at the peak guarding him, and you, my boy, will just be idle. You are to stay in the Alchemy Hall for a while, taking charge of all the First Order elixirs for the Lin Family. Collect the Spiritual Medicine Materials from the Hall of Merit; I''ll explain to Shixin with a message." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Conscripted by his grandfather and having just achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation, Lin Tianming was looking forward to consolidating his gains, it had been quite a while since he had last practiced alchemy. "Grandson obeys!" After arranging all the matters, the family ended their casual conversation and returned to their rooms to rest. The next morning, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong left their courtyard together. After leaving the house, the two flew in opposite directions. Lin Tianming''s destination was the Family Merits Hall, while Lin Xingrong was headed for the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Before long, Lin Tianming arrived at the Hall of Merit. The Hall of Merit was particularly lively at the moment as the second batch of the Monster Hunting Squad had just concluded their half-year of training. In the hall of the Hall of Merit, Lin Shiji led a large group of Xing Clan Members to gather together. Although several of them were pale and their breathing was chaotic, showing signs of injury, they had all safely returned to the Lin Family. Each person''s face was brimming with a thick smile, seemingly quite satisfied with the gains from their training. Lin Shiji took out a large number of jade boxes and placed them on the stone table, while throwing three storage bags to Lin Shixin for inspection. Lin Shixin took out the records, registering all the Spiritual Medicine Materials and Demonic Beast Materials in the books. In half an hour, he appraised the value of all the training gains and on the spot allocated Merit points to the members of the Monster Hunting Squad. After receiving their share, all the clan members exchanged their points for various elixirs and talisman papers, then cheerfully left the Hall of Merit. Lin Tianming immediately stepped forward and began to pay his respects to Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin. "Tianming pays respects to Elder Wu and to Uncle Ten!" "Hmm, you lad have made a breakthrough!" Lin Shiji, composed as ever, teased Lin Tianming with a smile that was not quite a smile. Lin Tianming, smiling at the two of them, humbly responded: "Thanks to your blessings, I had the luck to make a breakthrough recently." "Elder Wu, have your injuries healed?" Instead of continuing with light-hearted banter, Lin Tianming inquired about Lin Shiji''s injuries. "A mere scratch, it healed in half a month, otherwise how could I continue to train outside!" "Elder Wu is strong and vigorous, truly formidable!" Lin Tianming heaped on the flattery, eliciting hearty laughter from Lin Shixin and even eliciting a rare laugh from the usually stern Lin Shiji. After a few moments of casual conversation, Lin Shiji took his leave. Once Lin Shiji was far enough away, Lin Shixin broached a more serious topic. "Your grandfather has already spoken to me; you''d better take this seriously, lad. Spiritual Medicine Materials are not easy to come by." Lin Shixin only knew that Lin Tianming was a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist and had not seen him practice alchemy, nor had he seen any elixirs he had refined. Unclear about his alchemy level, he seemed somewhat uneasy and repeatedly cautioned. "Understood, don''t worry, sir. If the elixirs don''t turn out well, I''ll compensate!" Seeing Lin Tianming''s confident expression, Lin Shixin thought, This young man usually is quite reliable, and besides, since Ninth Brother has spoken, he must be sure of himself. Lin Shixin took out various Spiritual Medicine Materials, checked the quantities with Lin Tianming, and did not forget to remind him about the quantity of elixirs required to be handed over. "Understood, just wait and see, sir!" Lin Tianming replied with full confidence, easing Lin Shixin''s worries. The amount Lin Shixin mentioned only required a 40% pill formation rate, which was a meager effort for Lin Tianming. After safely storing the hundreds of Spiritual Medicine Materials provided by Lin Shixin, Lin Tianming planned to exchange for some Demon Cores for alchemy purposes. The dozen or so Beast Spirit Pills he had refined at Qianchuan Market were depleted months ago, and the Purple Gold Eagle had completely run out of elixirs. With some time on his hands, it was a good opportunity to refine more Beast Spirit Pills to last a while longer. "Uncle Ten, how many First Order Late Stage Demon Pills do you have? I need fifteen." Lin Shixin was surprised¡ªwhat did this young man want so many Demon Pills for! "We have quite a few in stock now, with even more from the early and medium stages, mostly from the hands of the Monster Hunting Squad." "Each First Order Late Stage Demon Pill costs twelve points of Merit, totalling one hundred and eighty points!" Hearing the price, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to take out his Identity Token, transferred his Merit points, and exchanged for fifteen Demon Pills. Once all the materials and Demon Pills were secure in his storage bag, he bid farewell and left. Upon exiting the Hall of Merit, he headed straight for the Alchemy Hall. Chapter 76 Guiding Lin Tianqin_1 At the summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, within a secluded courtyard.Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong sat in the courtyard, sipping Spiritual Tea. Lin Shikang took out several Jade Tubes and handed them to Lin Xingrong, which contained the breakthrough experiences of more than a dozen of the Lin Family ancestors. Not only that, he also personally narrated his own experiences and feelings during his breakthrough. Lin Xingrong stood by, his expression calm, listening intently and committing every word to memory. After all, what is contained in the Jade Tubes is never as easy to understand as what is spoken firsthand. For a full half an hour, Lin Shikang finished relating all his experiences. Lin Shigong gave several earnest admonitions before allowing Lin Xingrong to leave. As he watched Lin Xingrong walk to the secret chamber, Lin Shigong seemed somewhat distracted, his expression a mix of flurry and nervousness. Even before the retreat for the breakthrough had begun, Lin Shigong started to worry. Seeing Lin Shigong''s expression, Lin Shikang felt helpless but only could offer advice. "Ninth brother, Xingrong has always been promising, and he is still young; there is hope yet. Whether he breaks through or not, his life is not in danger, so don''t worry too much!" "Ah..." Hearing Lin Shikang''s attempt to console him, Lin Shigong sighed helplessly. After all, a breakthrough is something no one else can aid with; one can only rely on oneself. Do your humanly best and leave the rest to fate! Cultivation itself is about defying fate¡ªsucceed, and a bright future awaits; fail, and all chances are lost. Regaining his composure, Lin Shigong steadied himself and said: "Third brother, the breakthrough will take at least a month. It''s enough that I keep watch here¡ªyou go about your business!" Seeing that Lin Shigong had stabilized his mindset, Lin Shikang did not object and left after a few comforting words. In the secret chamber, Lin Xingrong took out the Jade Tubes and began to scrutinize them intently. Before long, he was completely engrossed in the contents of the tubes. Outside the Alchemy Hall on the mountainside, Lin Tianming descended from the sky, on the verge of entering the hall. An appealing voice entered his mind! "Sixth brother, wait for me!" Lin Tianming turned around, Lin Tianqin was hurrying towards him. After several years, Lin Tianqin had already broken through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and, as revealed by Lin Tianhong, she had also successfully become a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. "Third sister, long time no see. You''ve become even more beautiful!" Lin Tianming teased Lin Tianqin with a hearty chuckle. But Lin Tianqin wasn''t having any of it, her expression tinged with a hint of sullenness, she started to scold Lin Tianming incessantly. "Hmph, you''re such a busybody. We hardly encountered each other in years!" "In this period, you guys have done well, tagging along with Elder Wu on your adventures, and you didn''t even include me!" "Hmph..." "We''re all men, able to handle the fighting; you are like a golden flower in our family, third sister!" Lin Tianqin found herself silenced by the flattery. Lin Tianming kept smiling bitterly. Knowing Lin Tianqin very well since they grew up together, he quickly complimented her, which finally appeased her. Lin Tianqin pouted, and upon hearing Lin Tianming''s pleas for mercy, her anger finally subsided. Having soothed Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianming quickly changed the subject. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Third sister, are you here to see someone or to craft elixirs?" "Alchemy. I can manage crafting Lingshen Pills well enough, but my success rate with other consumable elixirs isn''t high. I''ve prepared some Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice more." Lin Tianqin said with a smile, explaining her purpose. "I also need to craft a large number of elixirs; it''s a good opportunity for us to exchange knowledge!" Lin Tianming proactively suggested the exchange, mainly aiming to guide Lin Tianqin. With his First Order Superior Grade skills and astounding success rate in crafting elixirs, he believed guiding her was well within his capability. Hearing what Lin Tianming said, Lin Tianqin gladly agreed, and the two of them walked towards the Alchemy Hall side by side. After choosing an Alchemy Room, they sat on meditation cushions and exchanged their Alchemy Experience. Lin Tianming did not hold back and shared his experience with Lin Tianqin. Initially, Lin Tianqin had thought that Lin Tianming''s Alchemy was not much different from theirs, but as he explained his experience, many of her confusions suddenly cleared up. As Lin Tianqin pondered Lin Tianming''s words, she realized that this was not an exchange but guidance. After half an hour had passed, Lin Tianqin was utterly astounded. "Your progress has been way too fast!" "Are you even capable of refining First Order Superior Grade elixirs now?" Facing several questions, Lin Tianming did not hide anything and openly admitted. "Younger Brother is impressive, Sister admires you!" Lin Tianqin couldn''t help but praise him, concluding the guidance session! Lin Tianming let Lin Tianqin attempt to refine a batch of elixirs first while he gave guidance from the side. Lin Tianqin took out the Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Huiyuan Pill and neatly placed them aside before pulling out an azure blue Pill Furnace from her storage bag, its surface etched with many patterns. "Didn''t the family run out of Pill Furnaces?" Lin Tianming was very puzzled. After Lin Tianqin explained, it turned out to be a First Order Inferior Alchemy Furnace which she had specially asked a clan member to buy from the market for her. "No wonder!" Lin Tianqin struck the Pill Furnace with several Law Decrees, and as the Earth Fire surged out, she tempered the Alchemy Furnace. Half an hour later, a sudden crisp sound rang out! The first attempt at refining ended in failure. Lin Tianqin was not discouraged and prepared to start the refining process all over again. With Lin Tianming overseeing and timely correcting her mistakes, she successfully produced three pills on the third attempt. Overjoyed, Lin Tianqin realized that following the methods taught by Lin Tianming, the pills indeed formed quickly. While the iron was hot, Lin Tianqin refined several batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, managing to maintain a stable 30% success rate, producing three to four pills per batch. In front of Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianming refined a batch of Huiyuan Pills himself. As a scent of medicine filled the air, Lin Tianming lifted the lid of the furnace, and Lin Tianqin took out a Huiyuan Pill between her fingers, examining it carefully. Upon close inspection, Lin Tianqin was completely stunned. "This success rate and number of pills are just too terrifying!" "The medicinal strength contained is also stronger than what the others have refined!" "This must be the epitome of Exquisite Yuan Returning Pills!" Lin Tianming nodded, affirming Lin Tianqin''s thoughts. Lin Tianqin had no choice but to accept the reality; this guy was just too exaggerated and beyond comparison. After Lin Tianming''s demonstration, Lin Tianqin benefited significantly and tried Alchemy once more. Several days later, under Lin Tianming''s guidance, Lin Tianqin''s pill success rate steadily improved, and she could maintain a 40% success rate, with the number of pills also remaining stable at around four per batch. With more practice, she could attempt to refine other types of pills. Just as Lin Tianqin had run out of Spiritual Medicine Materials, she took the initiative to say goodbye and leave. "Younger Brother, thank you!" "I''ve run out of Spiritual Medicine Materials too, so I''ll head back now. After you finish refining your pills, I''ll host a banquet to celebrate, and remember to invite Tian Yue and Big Brother too. It has been a long time since we''ve all gathered together." "Sure, we''ll definitely visit you when the few of us are free!" Lin Tianqin sincerely expressed her gratitude, and Lin Tianming graciously agreed to attend without any refusal. Lin Tianqin was very happy, tidied up her belongings, and without further delay, left the Alchemy Room. Following Lin Tianqin''s departure, Lin Tianming also began to meditate and adjust his breathing, preparing to start Alchemy. Chapter 77 Adding Another Foundation Establishment _1 ```After seeing Lin Tianqin off, Lin Tianming began to prepare for alchemy. The family had provided him with hundreds of batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, mostly for the Lingshen Pill and the Huiyuan Pill, but also included a smaller proportion of Consolidating Essence Pill and Huadu Pill materials, which are for healing. Sitting on the cushion, he took a deep breath and began to regulate his breath. Before alchemy, it was still best to adjust his condition to its peak, and even though making these elixirs posed no real challenge to him, treating the process with respect was always the right thing to do. After cultivating diligently for most of the day, Lin Tianming''s condition had reached its peak. He organized all the Spiritual Medicine Materials neatly together. Taking out the Four Symbols Furnace, he cast several Law Decrees to control the temperature of the Earth Fire and made all the necessary preparations. Concocting a First Order Medium Grade elixirs was a simple task for Lin Tianming. With practiced ease, he cultivated while simultaneously carrying out alchemy and in just over half a month''s time, and without expending much effort, he had refined all seventy-odd batches of Lingshen Pill materials. Compared to the past when he could only refine a few batches of Lingshen Pills a day, depleting his Spiritual Power, his cultivation and Divine Sense were now much stronger; if he tried his hardest, he could probably finish them all in seven or eight days. If Lin Tianhong or Lin Tianqin were to do the refining, it would definitely take half a year to complete, not to mention the rate of success in forming the pills. He was quite satisfied with the speed of this alchemy session. At this moment, in front of Lin Tianming, hundreds of Jade Bottles were neatly arranged, each containing three pills. With over seventy batches of Lingshen Pill materials, and with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, all of the Lingshen Pills he refined were of excellent quality, amounting to a total of four hundred seventy-two Lingshen Pills. Looking at so many Lingshen Pills, Lin Tianming was very pleased. According to the rules of the Hall of Merit, out of so many Lingshen Pill materials, he only needed to submit one hundred fifty Lingshen Pills, and the rest belonged to the Alchemist. In this way, Lin Tianming could keep over three hundred pills, worth nearly three thousand Spirit Stones. Truly, alchemists could make a fortune. Lin Tianming couldn''t help thinking that if he specifically helped people refine elixirs in the market, he could earn a substantial amount of Spirit Stones in a month. In fact, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming''s success rate in concocting Lingshen Pills was thirty percent higher than that of a seasoned First Order Superior Grade Alchemist, yielding more pills and at a faster speed. Taking a seasoned Alchemist like Lin Shigong as a comparison, he could only ensure a fifty percent success rate and an output of about six pills per batch; to finish refining over seventy batches, it would probably take him two months. After such hard work for two months, he could only get a reward of nearly one hundred pills, although it was worth eight or nine hundred Spirit Stones, raising an Alchemist required quite a lot of resources. Doing the maths, while the reward was considerable, it wasn''t unacceptable; not every Alchemist was as defying as Lin Tianming. Having placed all the Lingshen Pills into his storage bag, he began to refine other types of elixirs. Another ten days passed, and all the Spiritual Medicine Materials had been refined. Lin Tianming started to tally up the harvest from his month of busy work. Four hundred seventy-two Lingshen Pills! One hundred ten Huiyuan Pills! Eighty-six Consolidating Essence Pills! Sixty-one Huadu Pills! Eighty-four Beast Spirit Pills! Lin Tianming separated the elixirs that needed to be submitted, placing them in a lower-grade storage bag, then collected the ones that belonged to him inside his storage bag. With plenty of time to spare, he decided to submit the elixirs at the Hall of Merit when he was free. He also still had plenty of Lingshen Pills on him; he wouldn''t run out during the Qi Refinements stage, so he could exchange them for other resources or for Spirit Stones. It had been just over a month since he started alchemy, and his father had been in seclusion for a month as well; there should be a result by now! With some free time at hand, naturally, he wanted to check on the situation. After tidying up the chaotic Alchemy Room, Lin Tianming left the room and flew towards the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain. In half an hour, Lin Tianming arrived at the small courtyard where Lin Xingrong was in seclusion. Lin Shigong had already been guarding there for over thirty days, without moving a step. ``` Since Lin Xingrong entered the secret chamber, it had been thirty-five days. The reason why it took such a long time without coming out was because Lin Xingrong was very cautious. He spent half a month just comprehending the breakthrough insights and several more days adjusting to the best state before taking the Minor Foundation Building Pill. In fact, it only lasted for half a month. Lin Shigong''s face, unaware of the reasons, turned somewhat pale as he occasionally sighed heavily. Lin Tianming guessed that he probably hadn''t completed the breakthrough yet. But as long as one didn''t leave the retreat, there was still hope. Approaching his grandfather, Lin Tianming didn''t speak and sat down next to him to wait. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Xingrong''s face flushed red while he endured excruciating pain, fully concentrating on condensing the spiritual power in his dantian into a sea of qi, reaching the most critical juncture. With the remaining frenzied spiritual power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill not much left, Lin Xingrong resolutely quickened the pace of refinement. Three days passed, and Lin Xingrong had gathered a sea of qi within his dantian, reaching the most crucial moment. If he reached a certain critical point, he would succeed in the breakthrough. Lin Xingrong was refining the medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill and quickly converging it with his original spiritual power. After numerous cycles of compression, he finally condensed all his spiritual power into a substantial spiritual liquid. At this moment, the spiritual power had turned from a gas into a viscous spiritual liquid, each drop containing violent energy. Just as he was about to breakthrough the critical point, the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread rapidly, unstoppable, and soon permeated the entire Summit of Qingzhu Mountain. After taking the Minor Foundation Building Pill and refining it for a full twenty days, he finally made the breakthrough. After a bout of euphoria passed, Lin Xingrong swiftly regained his composure and began to consolidate his cultivation. In the courtyard outside the secret chamber, a familiar aura approached. "It''s father, father has made the breakthrough!" Lin Tianming said excitedly, unable to hold back. Lin Shigong was equally excited. After worrying for over thirty days, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Lin Xingrong was still in his prime years, and with the help of the Minor Foundation Building Pill, his chances of making a breakthrough were far higher than his own. But no one dared to say that making a breakthrough was a sure thing; there were risks, and the outcome was unpredictable. Although failing the breakthrough did not pose a risk to one''s life, in several decades, he would die due to the depletion of his lifespan if he failed. If he failed, it would be a heartbreaking experience to have a man with black hair send off one with white. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though such things are commonplace in the Cultivation World, no one wants to go through such a painful separation. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Shigong gradually calmed down and began giving instructions to Lin Tianming. "Alright, your father has just made his breakthrough, and his realm is not stable; he still needs to consolidate his cultivation. You go back and tell your mother the good news, and I will go find your third uncle and the others!" "Yes, grandson will go now!" Lin Tianming readily agreed with a beaming smile, bowed to his grandfather, and left straight away. On his way, Lin Tianming was in a particularly good mood. Although he grew up following his grandfather, with few encounters and even less basic communication with his father, the bond of kinship was thick, and he felt genuinely happy. In a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming arrived back at his own courtyard. His mother and sister were sitting in the courtyard, faces tense, having been worried all along. For over a month, the anxious two did not cultivate, spending their days waiting for news from Lin Xingrong. Upon seeing Lin Tianming come in, his sister quickly asked. "Brother, how is father?" "Today, father successfully made the breakthrough!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s confirmation, the mother and daughter both let out a huge sigh of relief, with his sister cheering loudly. Chapter 78 The Current State of the Family_1 At the summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, within the courtyard of Lin Shikang.After over a month of consolidation of his cultivation, Lin Xingrong emerged from seclusion and, together with Lin Shigong, paid a visit to Lin Shikang. They were all usually busy with their own affairs, with barely any opportunity to gather together, but, taking advantage of the family''s first junior to successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, Clan Leader Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu also set aside their affairs to join Lin Shigong and his son, thus all five Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lin Family were together, which was particularly difficult to arrange. The five of them sat in the courtyard, casually chatting while exchanging insights on cultivation. Mainly, it was Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu who were speaking, with the other three listening. After all, they had only broken through for a year and had hardly any experience to share. An hour later, with the guidance from Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, all three had gained a great deal. The five sat there drinking spiritual tea, happily chatting about family matters. They talked about everything from their childhood days in the Skill Transmission Hall to learning various skills and, finally, the situation of the family. Years ago, the circumstances of the family were not promising. With only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family, the Jin Family watched greedily, coveting the Lin Family''s wealth, and amidst the undercurrents of the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, danger lurked everywhere with the flash of swords and shadows of danger. For the Lin Family to have survived surrounded by formidable enemies in the Luoyun Mountain Range for nearly a century was no easy feat. Every step could lead to an abyss; under such tremendous pressure, Lin Shikang and his partner tread cautiously, guarding the family with great care. Silently, the strength of the Lin Family had grown exponentially, and the high-level battle power of the five Foundation Establishment cultivators was now no less than that of the Jin Family. Now they could finally breathe a sigh of relief; the family was becoming stronger and stronger, living up to the expectations of their ancestors. Especially Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, whose faces were always brimming with smiles, felt an immense sense of contentment in their hearts. Before the breakthroughs of Lin Shigong and his peers, all the burdens of the Lin Family rested on the shoulders of Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu. But now things were different; the strength of the Lin Family had greatly increased, with five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the highest number in the history of the Lin Family. It must be said that this was a tremendous progress, and the Lin Family, which had lain dormant for more than two hundred years, finally reclaimed its former glory, naturally stirring up a fervent passion. If it were just one strong generation, that wouldn''t be anything special, but several generations of the Lin Family were remarkable, especially the Tian generation, which produced individuals with immense talent like Lin Tianming. There were also several people with the Three Spiritual Roots Aptitude. And the biggest reason for the drastic increase in the Lin Family''s strength was Lin Tianming! Without the opportunities he had encountered, there would have been no Minor Foundation Building Pills, and the family wouldn''t have achieved such a leap in just a few short years. Lin Shikang was filled with emotion; with the successive breakthroughs of Lin Shigong and the others, he finally felt he could account to his ancestors. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As they talked, taking advantage of the gathering of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the discussion turned to the family''s development. Clan Leader Lin Shihua, in charge of the family''s operations, started by introducing the latest situation. Lin Shihua began to speak about the family''s recent status, according to the latest information he had received. A year had passed since Lin Shigong and others had successfully established their Foundations, and significant changes had occurred within the Lin Family. Starting with the encouragement to join the Monster Hunting Squad, the family had deployed its many years of accumulated resources, greatly improving the treatment of family cultivators. With the help of these resources, many cultivators with good talent had broken through a minor realm. And the decision to form the Monster Hunting Squad had unexpectedly brought the family a great amount of wealth on its first expedition. Although the gains in the latter half of the year were somewhat less than the first, the obtained Demonic Beast Materials and spiritual medicines were also sizable. Once all were refined, it represented another substantial fortune. It also allowed family members to rapidly break through their cultivation levels through such trials. The first batch to join the Monster Hunting Squad had nearly all broken through with the help of the Jade Spirit Fruit, far exceeding expectations with the squad''s effectiveness. In the shadows, the family focused on amassing resources, selling a tremendous amount of Qingling Bamboo and liquidating all temporarily redundant properties to acquire a large sum of spirit stones. These were then exchanged for spiritual medicines or Spiritual Instrument Talismans and other resources, which were rewarded to the clan members with the sole purpose of enhancing their strength. If the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range truly came to blows, holding onto those possessions would be of little use; in the unfortunate event of their fall, they would merely benefit the enemy. Among the younger generation, there were not many from the Xing generation with potential. Lin Xingrong''s talent was nothing exceptional, it was only with the help of an alchemist like Lin Shigong that he became the first to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. However, the Tian generation was quite impressive. There was no need to mention Lin Tianming in particular, the fastest cultivator in the history of the Lin Family. Besides Lin Tianming, there were Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong, as well as Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhu¡ªall possessing Three Spiritual Roots, making their aptitude far superior to that of the two generations above them. Given fifty years, if the Lin Family cultivated its members properly, it could potentially nurture several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Unfortunately, time waits for no one, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for the Lin Family to maintain its independence. The conflict between the Jin Family and the Sun Family had become irreconcilable, and a major battle was now inevitable. Since it couldn''t be avoided, what needed to be considered was how to secure the greatest benefits for the family¡ªthis could also be the opportunity for the family''s rise. At this point, Lin Shigong and others expressed their own opinions. After discussing for half an hour and pooling their wisdom, they finally reached a consensus on a course of action. Since the news of Lin Shigong and others achieving Foundation Establishment had not been revealed, the Jin Family and the Sun Family, unaware of this, might lower their guard. They could fight to their demise, allowing the Lin Family to act last and gain the maximum benefit. The Lin Family already had a feud with the Jin Family, and if the conditions allowed, they could completely destroy them. Time was short; there were only two years left. The Lin Family needed to grow stronger as quickly as possible. In this period, they had to accelerate resource accumulation, nurture the exceptionally talented clan members, and maximize the enhancement of their strength. The half-day gathering established the family''s development direction for the next two years, and everyone bid farewell and departed. Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong left together, flying towards their courtyard. Receiving the news, Lin Tianming and his sister waited outside the family gate to welcome them. Soon after, Lin Shigong and the other person descended from the sky and landed in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Shigong''s face was flushed with excitement, indescribable joy, while Lin Xingrong maintained a solemn expression, showing neither happiness nor anger. Lin Tianming and his sister hurriedly stepped forward to offer their congratulations. "Congratulations, Father, on your successful entry into the Foundation Establishment Stage!" "You siblings are thoughtful. If it weren''t for Tianming, I might have never succeeded in reaching Foundation Establishment in my lifetime!" Lin Xingrong said earnestly, which took Lin Tianming by surprise. "Father has a strong foundation. The Minor Foundation Building Pill is just the icing on the cake; breaking through was only a matter of time!" Lin Tianming flattered as well, prompting everyone to burst into laughter. "Alright, enough jesting. Where''s your mother?" "Mother is busy preparing dinner to celebrate for you. It should be ready soon!" "Hmm, let''s go inside and talk!" Lin Shigong went in first, and the others followed. Inside the courtyard, the mother had already prepared a large table full of delicious food. Lin Tian Yue couldn''t wait to start eating, drawing a scolding from their mother. After dinner, the family sat contentedly in the courtyard, chatting idly. Chapter 79 Gathering Among Peers_1 The next morning, in the Hall of Merit, Lin Shixin received several jade boxes from a clan member.After opening and checking them, once he had confirmed the years and types of the spiritual medicines, he transferred the Merit Points to the exchanging clansman. Seeing that the person in front of him had completed the exchange and had left, Lin Tianming hurried forward to pay his respects. "Tianming pays respects to Uncle Ten!" Lin Shixin frowned slightly and said with a half-smile, "You scamp, no need for such formalities. What brings you here today? If you want to exchange for something, do it quickly¡ªI''m quite busy." "I''m here to submit elixirs!" "Submit elixirs?" "You''ve finished concocting them already? Is the quantity up to the required standard?" It had not been very long, only two months had passed, and Lin Shixin seemed to find it hard to believe that Lin Tianming had already finished concocting. Previously, even Lin Shigong needed close to two months to finish processing so many materials. Without explaining, Lin Tianming took out the prepared storage bag and handed it to Lin Shixin. Lin Shixin took the storage bag and reached out with his Divine Sense to examine it. To his astonishment as soon as he looked! "All these elixirs came from you?" Lin Shixin took out a Lingshen Pill and couldn''t stop examining it as if he couldn''t let it go. "Yes, one hundred and fifty of them, no more, no less!" Lin Tianming said with a smile. In his astonishment, Lin Shixin checked the elixirs and, after confirming the quantity and grade were correct, noted them down in a thick book. Lin Tianming took out over a hundred jade bottles from the storage bag and filled the table in front of him. Three hundred Lingshen Pills! Fifty Huiyuan Pills! Fifty Consolidating Essence Pills! Twenty Xisui Pills! Six Pozhang Pills! Aside from the Strong Spirit Pill and the Body Strengthening Pill required for cultivation, he left behind nearly a hundred Lingshen Pills and six Pozhang Pills, as well as five Xisui Pills. After setting aside a few of each type of consumable elixir, he took out everything else. Aside from one Pozhang Pill that he planned to consume himself, he left five Pozhang Pills and Xisui Pills, which he could give to his mother and sister or sell. Lin Tianming took out a vast quantity of elixirs that he had accumulated over nearly two years. Such a multitude of elixirs, clearly all from Lin Tianming''s own hands, thoroughly astounded Lin Shixin! Out of over four hundred elixirs, the majority were of exceptional quality, and just these elixirs alone nearly equaled the clan''s annual consumption. Lin Shixin was completely speechless and numb to Lin Tianming''s achievements! He thought to himself, "This kid is a monster!" After Lin Shixin had examined them, he assessed the total value of all the elixirs. "A total of six thousand and two hundred Merit Points!" Lin Shixin gave the total, which was not far from the estimate Lin Tianming had in mind, so he decided to proceed with the exchange. Even if there were some differences, a few hundred Merit Points more or less would simply mean he had to concoct a few more batches of elixirs given her stature and wealth. Lin Tianming took out his Family Token and handed it to Lin Shixin while speaking, "Uncle Ten, I''d like five thousand Merit Points, and the rest can be exchanged for Spirit Stones!" Having spent all his Spirit Stones at Qianchuan Market, he needed to exchange for some Spirit Stones to carry with him. After all, outside of the family, transactions either required bartering or payment with Spirit Stones¡ªMerit Points from the family were not recognized elsewhere, so having some Spirit Stones on hand was a precautionary measure. In a short while, Lin Shixin transferred five thousand Merit Points to Lin Tianming. By this time, Lin Tianming''s Family Token had accumulated nearly ten thousand Merit Points. With so many Merit Points, aside from Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, it was likely that not even the Clan Leader or Grandfather could compare. Lin Tianming thought about his own worth compared to that of the various Foundation Establishment Clan Members. After handing over the elixirs and exchanging all the accumulated ones, Lin Tianming said goodbye to Lin Shixin and walked out of the Hall of Merit. Summoning an Earth Evil Sword, he soared into the sky and flew towards a courtyard located halfway up the mountain. In no time at all, he appeared at the entrance of an exquisitely small courtyard. This was the residence of Lin Tianqin. A few days ago, Lin Tianqin had sent him a message, arranging to meet today. In recent years, as their generation''s cultivation had improved, the time spent in closed-door cultivation had gotten longer, or they were involved in family missions, leaving little time to gather as often as before. Since Lin Tianqin had invited him and the opportunity was rare, he naturally wanted to attend to familiarize himself with new clan members and to foster relationships among them. With a pinch of his fingers, he sent a message that entered the courtyard. Shortly after, two women in red dresses, with long hair draped over their shoulders and joyful expressions on their faces, came out from the courtyard. They were Lin Tianqin and her younger sister, Lin Tianyue. "Sixth Brother, please come in quickly!" Lin Tianqin was very enthusiastic; she was delighted that Lin Tianming had come to the gathering. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Brother, why are you so slow?" "Big Brother and Second Brother have already arrived, and quite a few clan brothers and sisters as well. We were just waiting for you!" Lin Tianyue didn''t hold back, starting to chide Lin Tianming. Before Lin Tianming could explain, the two of them grabbed one of his arms each and pulled him towards the courtyard. Inside the courtyard, more than twenty clan members sat together, both men and women; the oldest, Lin Tianfeng, was twenty-seven years old, and the youngest, Lin Tianhu, was eleven. In the past half-year, Lin Tianfeng had already broken through to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, while Lin Tianhong was still at the Fifth Level. Although he hadn''t broken through, his aura was strong, and he was not far from the Sixth Level, ready to break through at any time. The courtyard was exceptionally lively, with the younger clan members discussing cultivation matters, while the few older ones chatted over tea. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, Lin Tianfeng and the others stood up to welcome him. "Sixth Brother, come and take a seat!" "Tianming greets all the brothers and sisters!" Lin Tianming greeted everyone with a fist and palm salute. The clan members all returned the greeting politely. As the host, Lin Tianqin took the initiative to introduce to Lin Tianming many younger clan members whom he had not yet met. When she introduced Lin Tianhu, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but take a good look. He had heard about this clan brother who had been making waves lately and had long wanted to meet him. Lin Tianhu had spent a year at Green Bamboo Mountain, and from his original thinness, he had become sturdy. He was handsome with a sharp gaze, and his cultivation was stable at the First Level of Qi Refining. Lin Tianhu immediately gave a respectful fist and palm salute. "Clan brother, there''s no need for such formalities. If you have any difficulties in cultivation, feel free to seek me out. I''ll help if I can," Lin Tianming said earnestly, showing goodwill and speaking sincerely, which greatly increased Lin Tianhu''s good impression. "Yes, if there are any difficulties, I''ll be sure to tell Sixth Brother. I thank Sixth Brother in advance!" After introducing the clan members, Lin Tianming started to have an enjoyable chat with Lin Tianfeng and a few others. The whole gathering was incredibly lively, and everyone was very happy. The young clan members were very curious about the demon hunting trip, and Lin Tianfeng, not being stingy, animatedly recounted the events. He made fun of Lin Tianhong''s embarrassing moments when he was surrounded by the Silver Earth Scorpion and his significant improvement after the experience. Having a vivid example incited envy among the clan members. The impressive strength of Lin Tianming earned the admiration of many brothers and sisters. After talking about their experiences, they began to discuss their skills. Lin Tianming, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin, all Alchemists, took turns sharing their experiences with everyone. The lively gathering lasted for half a day and did not disperse until the evening. After promising to participate in the gatherings more often, everyone bid their farewells and left. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue returned to their own courtyard together. Chapter 80 Heading to Luoyun Market_1 Two months later, within the Elders'' Council Hall, Lin Shihua sat in the highest seat, with several clan members seated below, including Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong.Having received an urgent message from the Clan Leader, Lin Tianming, who was cultivating at the time, immediately left his seclusion and hastened to the Elders'' Council Hall. After greeting his elders with a clasped fist salute, the puzzled Lin Tianming took a seat to the side, waiting for the Clan Leader''s decision. Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Clan Leader began to issue orders. "Xing Rong, now that you are at the Foundation Establishment Stage, the family has decided to recall you. If you return to Luoyun Market, the Jin Family might detect your presence and expose our family''s strength. Therefore, for the next few years, you should avoid making public appearances and take the opportunity to cultivate well within the clan." Lin Xingrong listened very calmly, as if he had anticipated this. "If I leave, who will take care of the business in Luoyun Market?" Lin Shihua smiled and looked towards Lin Tianming. "Let Xing Zhi and Tian Ming go. It will be a good experience for them!" Both Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianming showed surprised expressions upon hearing this, while Lin Xingrong seemed somewhat concerned. "Tian Ming is too young; there are too many complex matters in the market, and the powers are deeply intertwined. He lacks worldly experience. I suggest sending a different member of the Xing generation to go instead." "Don''t worry. With Xing Zhi in charge of overseeing the market, Tian Ming will only handle the business of the Hundred Treasures Building and alchemy. Xing Yuan has reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and wishes to return to seclusion. Currently, all of our clan members above the Eighth Level of Qi Refining have their duties and cannot be spared, so we''re sending Tian Ming to fill in for a while." After pondering for a moment, Lin Xingrong spoke up: "Well then, we indeed lack manpower in the clan. If it''s just to manage the alchemy and business at the Hundred Treasures Building, then let him go." With Lin Xingrong no longer objecting, Lin Shihua turned to Lin Tianming as if to ask for his thoughts. "Tian Ming is willing to expend effort for the family!" "Good, you will depart in seven days!" "Understood!" Lin Tianming and the others rose with a clasped fist, left the hall, and didn''t rush off immediately. Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong started chatting idly, while Lin Tianming waited to the side. "Xing Zhi, the market is not like the clan, there are dangers everywhere. I''m entrusting Tian Ming to you. He''s still young; take care of him in all affairs." "You can rest assured, brother. I will do my utmost. Tian Ming is not weak in cultivation and has meticulous thoughts. We have fought side by side before; I hold him in high regard!" Lin Xingzhi gave his chest a reassuring pat, putting Lin Xingrong''s concerns to rest. After a brief chat and setting a time, they each went their separate ways. On the way back, Lin Xingrong talked in detail about the situation in the market, allowing Lin Tianming to understand more and to prepare well. According to Lin Xingrong, the public order of Luoyun Market was nowhere near that of Qianchuan Market. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While it was not to the extent of open conflict within the market, one could not guarantee safety once outside the market. In another two years, there would be a grand competition in the market; the situation had not been stable in recent years. It happened that the Jin Family Cultivators were stationed in Luoyun Market, which could spell danger if they had any ill intentions. However, the possibility of the Jin Family taking preemptive action was slim. Although the Jin Family was powerful, it was not yet capable of confronting the other families simultaneously. If they really engaged in underhand tactics and incurred the wrath of the crowd, they would also be unable to face the fury of the other families. As for the market itself, the five great families competed fairly in business, each with its own special features. The Lin Family''s Spiritual Artifacts were extremely popular, the Jin Family''s level of Alchemy was high, and the Sun Family''s talisman paper was peerless, while the other two families were somewhat inferior, yet not to be underestimated. After Lin Xingrong''s introduction, Lin Tianming had a much better understanding of the market. With seven days to go, Lin Tianming did not seclude himself for cultivation but went to the Scripture Pavilion instead, studying a vast amount of information, especially on various Spiritual Objects. In the following days, he followed Lin Shixin to learn about management, from receiving guests and dealing with people to authenticating treasures and bookkeeping, learning everything thoroughly. After days of this, he had accumulated a wealth of experience in handling affairs and could manage a shop without panicking. Seven days hurried by. One morning, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance to the Lin Family''s array. He took out a Beast Spirit Pill and tossed it to the Purple Gold Eagle, who swallowed it in one gulp and excitedly circled overhead. The Purple Gold Eagle had been following Lin Tianming for two years, having consumed more than a dozen Beast Spirit Pills, and had advanced to the late stage of the First Order, ensuring Lin Tianming''s efforts were not in vain. After its advancement, the body of the Purple Gold Eagle had grown to nearly twenty zhang, and its feathers had undergone a subtle change, with golden feathers becoming more abundant, seemingly nearing adulthood. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Xingzhi arrived on sword flight, stopping in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming greeted with a fist and palm salute. "Tianming pays respect to Uncle Seventeen!" Lin Xingzhi quickly returned the gesture, acting very courteously. He was well aware of Lin Tianming''s strength; a fight to the death with him would likely leave him with little chance of victory. "Tianming, let''s set off!" "Yes!" Having said that, Lin Tianming and the other each took out a black conical hat to wear. Lin Xingzhi disguised himself as a rugged burly man, while Lin Tianming took on the appearance of a scholar. They called back the Purple Gold Eagle and leaped onto its back, flying into the clouds and heading north. Atop the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and his companion chatted idly. Lin Xingzhi, having been to Luoyun Market several times, shared the information he had learned with Lin Tianming. Accompanied by beautiful scenery, they flew smoothly over mountains and rivers all the way. In less than half a day, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the outskirts of Luoyun Market. As they beheld a span of buildings revealed on the horizon, they leaped off the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, stored it in the Spirit Beast Bag, and continued on sword flight. Another half a quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Tianming landed in an open space. They walked together towards the market entrance. This wasn''t Lin Tianming''s first visit; he had come with his father before but had not paid much attention to the market, nor had he strolled through it. Now that he was going to stay in the market for an extended period, it was natural to learn more. As they walked, they took in the sights of Luoyun Market. The market occupied an area of only a few li, merely one-tenth the size of Qianchuan Market, hardly comparable at all. Even the market array was worlds apart. According to Lin Xingzhi, it was a Second Order array. The difference in the flow of people was also significant. Back when they entered Qianchuan Market, cultivators queued in long lines, but here at Luoyun Market, they entered in twos and threes without any need for queuing. Soon after, they arrived at the entrance. Lin Xingzhi took out two Golden Tokens, each inscribed with a "Lin" character, serving as a pass for Luoyun Market. Each of the Five Great Families of Luoyun had twenty of these tokens, which could be used to bypass the city entrance fee when necessary. After the guards inspected and verified the tokens, they allowed them through, and both men marched into the market. Inside, the market was divided into four areas, with an auction house at the center. The overall layout was not much different from Qianchuan Market, only smaller in scale with fewer buildings, essentially a miniaturized version of Qianchuan Market. As they walked the streets, it didn''t take long before they stopped at a compound in the Southern District. Lin Xingzhi took out the Restriction Order Token for the compound, deactivated the restriction, and they walked in. This place was the family''s assembly point at that time, and the clan members were busy in the shops, with nobody around for the moment. They each chose a room and entered to rest. Chapter 81 Hundred Treasures Building_1 As evening approached, shops suspended their business and clan members returned to the courtyard in Luoyun Market one after another.Lin Xingzhi gathered everyone together. Many clan members were seeing Lin Tianming for the first time and were very curious about this rising star within the clan. Lin Tianming, as a junior, paid his respects by clasping his fists and bowing in front of everyone, which greatly increased their affection for him. Thanks to Lin Xingzhi''s introductions, Lin Tianming also became familiar with these clan members. Including Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianming, there were a total of fourteen Lin Family members in the market, with a variety of cultivation levels. Among the twelve, Lin Xingyuan was at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement and a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. With Lin Tianming taking over, he was soon to return to the family, which would then make thirteen people including Lin Tianming''s elder brother, Lin Xingzhi. Among the other clan members, one was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, managing the Hundred Treasures Building, and two were at the Qi Refining Seventh Level, acting as shopkeepers for the inn and restaurant, with the rest all below the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Twelve clan members managed three shops. The core asset, Hundred Treasures Building, was run by three members, primarily dealing with the purchase and sale of spiritual objects, bringing the family a substantial income every year. The inn and the restaurant were less profitable, with mediocre income, but were better than none. Actually, the main source of income for the Lin Family in the market was not from the three main shops but rather the rental income from shop leases and the revenues from the market itself. There were over a hundred shops in the trading area of the Luoyun Market. The Lin Family owned only a little over ten stores, while the Jin Family owned more than thirty. The five major families took up eighty percent of the shops, while over ten Qi Refining Families occupied the remaining twenty percent. Although the Lin Family had more than ten shops, they did not have enough clan members to operate them all, so they only kept three that were in good locations for themselves and rented out the rest. The Lin Family was not alone in this approach; the other four major families operated in the same manner. In terms of market income, the real profits came from the rental fees for the stalls, the leased cave dwellings, the profits from the auction house, and the spirit stones paid for entering the market. These were the true sources of wealth. The market was a cornucopia for the five major families, yielding immense profits each year. That''s why they valued it so much and competed for their interests, both openly and in secret. After chatting leisurely for half an hour, Lin Tianming learned quite a lot about the market, and the clan members got to know each other better. Late at night, they concluded their casual conversations and returned to their rooms to rest. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next day, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi visited the Hundred Treasures Building. Lin Tianming looked around. The entire Hundred Treasures Building had three floors. The first floor contained items commonly used by Qi Refining Cultivators. The second floor had some Second Order items, although not in great numbers, roughly dozens of kinds, with few sales, since there were too few Foundation Establishment Cultivators in such a place. The third floor served as a temporary residence for the family''s cultivators and rooms for entertaining distinguished guests. Upon entering the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingzhi took out the account books, and after reconciling them with Lin Xingshun and restocking some elixirs and talismans, Lin Xingzhi left. Lin Tianming then worked with Lin Xingyuan to turn all the spiritual medicine received by the Hundred Treasures Building into elixirs. When Lin Tianming completed his first batch of elixirs, Lin Xingyuan was completely astounded. Before the alchemy, Lin Xingyuan had planned to stay for half a year, waiting for Lin Tianming''s alchemy skills to be sufficient before leaving. Who could have thought that his skills in alchemy would far surpass his own and even exceed those of Lin Shigong. Since Lin Tianming''s skills were so high, Lin Xingyuan no longer stayed and, after saying goodbye to everyone, went straight back to the family. Inside Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingshun drank spiritual tea while discussing the business situation of the Hundred Treasures Building. Lin Xingshun took out the account book and began to introduce. "Currently, we profit several hundred spirit stones a month, and on good months we can make over a thousand. The main income comes from the sale of spiritual artifacts, with elixirs as a secondary source," he said. Hearing Lin Xingshun''s presentation, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow. "Uncle, is business really that bad?" "Competition in the market is too fierce. Jin Family''s shop has a multitude of elixirs and their Spiritual Artifacts are not bad either. Sun Family''s talisman business is extremely hot; it''s considered good if they can profit a few hundred Spirit Stones each month. As far as I know, Wu Family and Luo Family are even worse off than us, not to mention the Qi Refining Families." Lin Xingshun said helplessly. "Never mind, uncle, roughly how many Spiritual Medicine Materials can we procure each month?" "We''ve never really focused on acquiring Spiritual Medicine, so not a lot. If we don''t prioritize the type, perhaps a little over two hundred plants." "Forget it, uncle. I''ll be doing a lot of alchemy in the future, so you should aggressively purchase Spiritual Medicine during this time. Even if it costs one or two more Spirit Stones each, don''t hesitate!" "This..." Lin Xingshun seemed a bit uncertain, unsure of what to decide! "Uncle, don''t worry. In no more than two months, I assure you that you''ll see the results." Initially, Lin Xingshun was hesitant, wondering whether or not to do as this talented younger relative suggested. "Well, all right, if he dares to take charge, then let him!" Lin Tianming said confidently, giving the hesitant Lin Xingshun a reassurance. "Fine, I''ll give the orders. Once we have the Spiritual Medicine Materials, I''ll send them to you immediately." "Great!" Having convinced Lin Xingshun, Lin Tianming took his leave and returned to his small courtyard to continue his cultivation. Two weeks later, Lin Xingshun brought over a batch of Lingshen Pill and Consolidating Essence Pill materials, totaling over forty portions. Lin Tianming immediately began alchemy. In just seven days, Lin Tianming delivered over eighty elixirs, keeping one hundred and fifty for himself. Taking the elixirs made by Lin Tianming, Lin Xingshun began to inspect them and was equally astonished. "Did you make these?" "Yes, I recommend that uncle sells these elixirs at a ten percent discount to quickly establish our reputation. After a period, we can adjust the prices. Don''t worry about this slight loss!" "All right, let''s do as you say." Lin Xingshun was very excited and immediately instructed his staff. Over the next several days, the Cultivators kept coming to purchase elixirs non-stop. Thanks to the high-quality Lingshen Pills, the eighty-plus elixirs were quickly sold out. The business at the Hundred Treasures Building became increasingly booming, even the other unsold Spiritual Objects sold out. Two months went by in a flash. During this period, Lin Tianming had a fulfilling time, either alchemizing or cultivating, and occasionally working at the shop as an assistant. Meanwhile, the Hundred Treasures Building aggressively purchased Spiritual Medicine. With Lin Tianming present, the materials were quickly turned into elixirs and sold through the shop. With the high-quality elixirs, the business of the Hundred Treasures Building improved significantly, with the daily turnover more than doubling. Lin Tianming also accumulated several thousand Spirit Stones thanks to the rewards from alchemy. The Shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingshun, was also thrilled. In two months, he had turned the average Hundred Treasures Building into the most popular shop in the market, earning a considerable amount of dividends. From then on, whenever Lin Tianming had suggestions, Lin Xingshun had no doubts and was fully supportive. Just like this, Lin Tianming rapidly improved the business at the Hundred Treasures Building. In a room on the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were drinking Spiritual Tea. Both were very happy and engaged in a cheerful conversation. Chapter 82 Strolling Through the Market_1 It had been half a year since Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi arrived at Luoyun Market. Following tradition, Lin Xingzhi was to return to Green Bamboo Mountain, bringing back the income and resources secretly acquired over the past six months to the Lin Family.On the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were drinking Spiritual Tea and chatting merrily. Before long, Lin Xingshun also walked in. While sipping tea, the three of them discussed the income of the Hundred Treasures Building over the past six months. Lin Xingshun took out the account book and started to give a detailed report. "In half a year, the Hundred Treasures Building''s income was over 23,500 Spirit Stones, of which the income from elixirs was 16,120 stones, Spiritual Artifacts brought in 4,260 stones, talisman paper 920 stones, and the various other materials added up to more than 2,300 stones!" Lin Xingshun reported the sales for the half-year period in succession. Lin Xingzhi was taken aback when he heard this. Although Lin Xingshun reported an approximate amount each month and it was more than double compared to previous years, Lin Xingzhi couldn''t have imagined it would reach over five times that amount. Unperturbed by Lin Xingzhi''s shock, Lin Xingshun continued his report. "The income was over 23,500 stones, with expenses amounting to over 15,800 stones, making for a net profit of over 7,800 stones." Lin Xingzhi, now numb to the surprise, was aware of the net income and quickly regained his composure. In just half a year, the gross sales and net income had skyrocketed by fivefold; even a net profit of 2,000 stones in the previous six months would have been extremely rare. After reporting the income, Lin Xingshun took out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Xingzhi. "Xingzhi, there are 6,000 Spirit Stones in here, just in time for your trip back to the family. The remaining 1,800 stones are for operational funds." "Hmm..." Lin Xingzhi took the storage bag and spoke to the other two: "I will report truthfully. I''m setting off for the family home tomorrow. Our business''s success has drawn the attention of the other major families, so be careful during this time!" "Don''t worry, and be cautious on your journey as well!" "The Purple Gold Eagle is fast and can also assist me. I''ve already instructed it to hasten our travel!" After giving his instructions, Lin Tianming took out two Beast Spirit Pills and a Spirit Beast Bag and handed them to Lin Xingzhi. "Thanks! I''ll make a quick trip there and back. Do you have anything you want me to take back to the family?" "No!" "Neither do I!" Seeing that the other two had nothing to send back to the family, Lin Xingzhi did not linger and left with a fist salute. After a brief conversation with Lin Xingshun, Lin Tianming left the Hundred Treasures Building and began to stroll around the market. Although it had been half a year since he arrived, he had either been cultivating or practicing alchemy and had not properly explored the marketplace. Standing on a street in the marketplace, Lin Tianming surveyed the surrounding shops and layouts. The entire shopping district had only about a hundred buildings, all designed as pavilions; they were likely built uniformly by the market. The Hundred Treasures Building was located at the entrance of the entire shopping district, and the dozen or so pavilions nearby were in prime locations. Besides the Hundred Treasures Building, a few other shops belonged to the five major families. The shop owned by the Jin Family was known as Shendan Pavilion, which always did exceptionally well among the major families. Lin Tianming decided to go in and have a look around, wanting to check out the market conditions as well. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming headed towards the Shendan Pavilion. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance of a multi-story building. The entire tower wasn''t much different from the Lin Family''s Hundred Treasures Building in size, also boasting a three-story structure. Golden characters spelling "Shendan Pavilion" danced on the plaque above the main door, giving off a rather imposing vibe. Stepping through the vermillion doors of Shendan Pavilion, Lin Tianming found himself in a large hall covering hundreds of square feet with seven or eight Cultivators selecting treasures. As Lin Tianming entered, a Sixth Level of Qi Refinement attendant came to greet him. "Welcome, fellow Daoist, to Shendan Pavilion. Are you looking to purchase elixirs or Spiritual Instrument Talismans? We at Shendan Pavilion have it all!" The shop assistant''s expression remained calm as he quickly evaluated Lin Tianming. "Oh, I''m just looking around!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s words, and seeing his shabby appearance, the shop assistant''s face immediately changed, and he no longer paid attention to him. Lin Tianming didn''t get angry and continued to select items on display by himself. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming had looked through all the items on the first floor. They were all ordinary elixirs, without even a single Pozhang Pill or Xisui Pill. The variety of elixirs was a bit more than that of the Lin Family''s Hundred Treasures Building, and the quality was slightly better than those refined by Lin Xingyuan, yet they were sold for the same price. Buying in large quantities even came with some small gifts to lure customers, no wonder their business was much better. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having finished with the first floor, Lin Tianming followed the shop assistant to the second floor. "The elixirs on the second floor are much fewer than those on the first, but almost all of them are First Order Superior Grade, and they even have Pozhang Pills!" Lin Tianming found the shop assistant and inquired about the price. "Pozhang Pills, one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones each!" Hearing the price quoted by the shop assistant, Lin Tianming was startled. One hundred and eighty Spirit Stones was almost the same price as in the Qianchuan Market auction. At the auction in Qianchuan Market, many cultivators bid against each other to reach this price. Yet here, in this small market where seeing someone at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was rare, they were selling for one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones each. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but think, "Do the cultivators who buy these elixirs have no brains?" After inquiring about the prices of some better elixirs for quite a while, he finally purchased a bottle of Lingshen Pills to study. After wasting so much time, the shop assistant was dry-mouthed from talking, and he was only able to sell this small amount of elixirs. With an ashen face, the shop assistant saw Lin Tianming out of the Shendan Pavilion, obviously quite annoyed. After leaving the Shendan Pavilion, Lin Tianming turned around and continued to stroll casually. Before long, he appeared in the Sun Family''s shop. The Sun Family''s shop was slightly smaller than the Jin Family''s, and the display tables were filled with a large amount of talisman papers. Lin Tianming carefully selected, ranging from the most common Swift Travel Talismans and Five Elements Class Spell Talismans to the powerful Superior Attack Talismans, there were hundreds of types, colorful and fascinating to behold. Lin Tianming looked around while also inquiring about the prices. "Swift Travel Talisman, five for three Spirit Stones!" "Fireball Talisman, one Spirit Stone each!" "First Order Superior Attack Talisman, fifteen Spirit Stones each!" The Sun Family shop''s assistant was much more patient, tirelessly explaining the uses and prices of talismans; their customer service attitude was much better than that of the Jin Family. Lin Tianming quite liked talismans because they did not consume much Spiritual Power, and their attack power was not to be underestimated. Even the most common Five Elements Class Spell Talismans, when dozens are activated at once against an enemy, can be quite powerful, making it hard for even a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator to come out unscathed. Moreover, they were much cheaper than Spiritual Artifacts, and almost every cultivator carried a few. After looking for half an hour, Lin Tianming decided to buy a few to try out. He found the shop assistant and purchased one First Order Superior Attack Talisman and a Defense Talisman, spending thirty Spirit Stones. He took out the Spirit Stones and handed them to the shop assistant, who quickly presented the two talismans. Receiving the talismans, Lin Tianming bowed his fists and left, continuing his casual stroll. Strolling until evening, Lin Tianming had nearly toured the entire market, purchasing some items from the five major families. After a whole day, Lin Tianming also had a pretty good understanding of the market situation and knew a bit about the prices and other shops'' situations. As the shops closed for the day, Lin Tianming didn''t linger and returned to the small courtyard. Chapter 83 Heavy Losses_1 ```On the third floor of the Shendan Pavilion, a middle-aged cultivator in a golden robe sat in a secret chamber deep inside, with his hands clasped and eyes tightly shut, cultivating in meditation. The slight fluctuation of energy emanating from him clearly indicated that he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. This person was named Jin Chaozong, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Jin Family, who had been stationed in Luoyun Market for several years. After a short while, a man in a gray robe arrived outside the secret chamber where Jin Chaozong was cultivating. He cast a Law Decree, and after the barrier was opened, the man in the gray robe walked in. The man in the gray robe came up to Jin Chaozong and bowed respectfully before speaking. "Clan Uncle, I have a matter to consult with you. I ask for Clan Uncle to make a decision!" Jin Chaozong opened his eyes, his expression displeased as he spoke, "Speak quickly if you have something to say. I need to continue my cultivation and don''t have much time to handle trivial matters." His reaction made the man in the gray robe anxious, and he quickly started to speak. "Clan Uncle, the business at Shendan Pavilion has been extremely poor in the past few months. According to my investigation, a new alchemist has come to the Hundred Treasures Building of the Lin Family, crafting elixirs of a rarely seen high quality, snatching away our significant business. In the past few months, the income of the Shendan Pavilion was halved." "What? Income cut by half..." "Lin Family alchemist, Superior Grade elixirs¡­" Upon hearing this, Jin Chaozong showed a hint of anger, alarming the man in the gray robe, who immediately knelt down. Ignoring the man in the gray robe, Jin Chaozong muttered to himself, carefully recalling the information about the Lin Family members. "The Lin Family only has Lin Shigong as a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist. While the color of the pills he refines is not bad, it definitely should not compare to Fifth Brother''s!" "Bring the pills here for me to see!" The man in the gray robe hurriedly took out a bottle of Lingshen Pills and a bottle of Huiyuan Pills and respectfully handed them to Jin Chaozong. Taking the two bottles of Superior Grade elixirs refined by Lin Tianming, Jin Chaozong took out the pills and observed them closely. He too was astonished after examining the pills. "How can the quality of these pills be so high? They definitely weren''t made by Lin Shigong; there must be another master!" "But who would it be?" After racking his brains for half an hour, Jin Chaozong still had no clue. "Enough, the family''s secret scheming has reached a critical moment. We must not expose ourselves, or we could lose all of our previous efforts." After pondering for half an hour, he began instructing the man in the gray robe. "For now, do not stir up any trouble over the matter of the elixir¡ªreduce the prices of all elixirs by ten to twenty percent to try and win back some customers!" "Remember not to provoke the Sun Family and the Lin Family; both of them are exceedingly secretive." "After a few days, I will return to the family to inform the Clan Leader about this and have the family members secretly investigate!" Having made up his mind, Jin Chaozong then instructed. "Yes, I will go at once to take care of it!" Having said that, the man in the gray robe withdrew. Outside the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingzhi, who had been back at the Lin Family territory for a month, returned to Luoyun Market. Stepping into the Hundred Treasures Building, he went straight to the third floor, where Lin Tianming and Lin Xingshun were sitting together, chatting leisurely in a room. Seeing Lin Xingzhi come in, Lin Tianming and the other immediately stood up and greeted him. "Seventh Uncle, you''ve finally returned. Was your journey smooth?" Lin Xingzhi looked excited, showing no signs of fatigue. ``` "Tian Ming, the trip went rather smoothly, thanks to your Purple Gold Eagle, it saved me quite a bit of time!" After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three of them sat down for tea. Having finished a cup of Spiritual Tea, Lin Xingzhi returned the Spirit Beast Bag to Lin Tianming and then took out five hundred Spirit Stones from his storage bag, giving four hundred to Lin Tianming and one hundred to Lin Xingshun. According to Lin Xingzhi, the reason for the windfall of Spirit Stones was the Lin Family''s reward for the profits of the Hundred Treasures Building, which had multiplied several times over in the past half-year. Lin Xingshun was ecstatic, as the reward of one hundred Spirit Stones was equivalent to his annual salary. Amidst his excitement, he couldn''t help but secretly think to himself that the Lin Family was indeed generous. Fortunately, he had followed Tian Ming''s plans, allowing him to reap substantial benefits. An excited Lin Xingshun accepted the Spirit Stones, repeatedly vowing to redouble his efforts and manage the Hundred Treasures Building well. Lin Tianming did not stand on ceremony, taking the Spirit Stones and putting them into his own storage bag. During their casual conversation, Lin Xingshun reported the state of affairs at the Hundred Treasures Building during Lin Xingzhi''s month-long absence. "This month, business at the Hundred Treasures Building has declined quite a bit. Compared to the previous months, profits have plummeted by forty percent. It must be some movements from the other families." "After a few days of investigation, I noticed many shops lowering their prices and selling off a large number of treasures, leading to many customers being drawn away." Lin Xingzhi''s expression changed slightly as he asked Lin Tianming for his opinion on the matter. After pondering for a moment, Lin Tianming began to speak. "The business downturn was expected; the market can only accommodate so much. Without any large-scale confrontations, the demand for elixirs has decreased substantially. Having made a significant profit for half a year is already quite an achievement!" Upon hearing Tian Ming''s analysis, both Lin Xingzhis seemed to agree, and their expressions finally improved. The Luoyun Market was only so big, and there were only so many cultivators. Those who could afford to use Lingshen Pills for cultivation every month were in the minority; most people couldn''t afford to buy many elixirs in a year. Thus, by leveraging high-quality elixirs at relatively affordable prices, making a sizable amount of Spirit Stones in half a year was already quite remarkable. Lin Tianming continued with his analysis without stopping. "Over the past six months, under our influence, the Jin Family''s Shendan Pavilion has taken the heaviest hit, with sales rapidly declining and massive losses incurred." "They have now reacted and taken several measures, so they''ve started cutting prices. We need not bother with that; we just need to be wary of them causing trouble." "That''s right!" Having listened to Tian Ming''s analysis, Lin Xingzhi also expressed agreement. "The Hundred Treasures Building competes fairly and hasn''t used any dishonorable tactics. Besides, the big market gathering is only three months away. No one would risk causing trouble at this time!" "Xingshun, carry on as usual during this period. As long as the Jin Family doesn''t cause us any problems, we can ignore them!" "Alright, we''ll do that!" With that settled, Lin Xingshun left, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi in the room. After Lin Xingshun''s departure, Lin Tianming inquired about the market gathering from Lin Xingzhi. The Luoyun Market gathering was much like the Qianchuan Market gathering, though the Luoyun Market did not differentiate between major and minor markets and always held its gathering once every three years. During the Luoyun Market gathering, there was also an auction event, but without separate sessions. Both Qi Refinement Realm cultivators and Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators participated in a single auction venue, so as long as Qi Refinement Stage cultivators had enough Spirit Stones, they could compete in bidding with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Of course, whether they could leave the market safely afterward was another matter. The auction event was the most important part of the market gathering. The five major families each provided one star item for the auction. The rest were provided by individual cultivators, with the auction house taking a five percent commission on the selling price of each item as an auction fee. After a detailed introduction from Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming had a good understanding, finding it quite similar to the Qianchuan Market auction event. "Tian Ming, the auction is three months away, and I''ve brought the centerpiece item with me. If you want to go, you can join me, and we can look out for each other." "Alright, there''s still plenty of time. The Hundred Treasures Building has a sufficient stock of elixirs, so there''s no need to produce more for now. I''ll return and cultivate for a while. After three months, we''ll attend the auction together!" After arranging a time with Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming bowed and took his leave. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 84 Sky Fei Fruit_1 In the secret chamber of the small courtyard, Lin Tianming sat on the meditation cushion with his palms together, entering a state of deep and self-forgetting cultivation.Over two months had passed by swiftly, and Lin Tianming''s life had been remarkably fulfilling. He spent a few days each month on alchemy and devoted the remainder to arduous cultivation. Having been in Luoyun Market for over half a year, his cultivation progress was exceedingly slow. Despite consuming many Lingshen Pills, he had barely reached the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, still some distance from the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Seeing that intensive cultivation was not very effective, Lin Tianming decided to emerge from seclusion, as the market assembly was just a few days away and it would be a good opportunity to take a look around. Exhaling a turbid breath, Lin Tianming stood up and left the secret chamber. He took out a black conical hat, wore it on his head to conceal some of his cultivation, steadying it at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, and walked outside. On the streets of the market, Lin Tianming strolled aimlessly. As the day of the market''s assembly drew nearer, many cultivators emerging from secluded cultivation left their cave dwellings to attend the auction, noticeably increasing the number of cultivators in the market. Walking along, Lin Tianming arrived at a square where quite a few cultivators were gathering in small groups. Among the crowd, a rough-looking burly man began to shout, ''Forming a team to hunt demonic beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range, still in need of three people, Qi Refining Sixth Level and above are welcome.'' ''It''s Song Yu forming a team. His strength is not weak and he has rich experience; he always manages to get quite a few good things. Hurry and sign up to join.'' Several Qi Refining cultivators at the Sixth Level heard Song Yu''s call and ran over. Soon after, three cultivators with happy faces emerged, evidently having been successfully selected for Song Yu''s team, while a few others looked disappointed, not being selected due to insufficient cultivation and had to search for another team. Lin Tianming did not linger and continued on his way, preparing to cross the square and head towards the Hundred Treasures Building. Just as he was about to leave the square, a man in a gray robe blocked Lin Tianming''s path. This man was around fifty, with a cultivation at the Qi Refining Eighth Level and a fairly handsome countenance. Lin Tianming was very puzzled, quickly recalling in his mind that he had never seen this person before, nor had they interacted. His abrupt obstruction was clearly for a purpose to discuss. As expected, seeing Lin Tianming did not react excessively, the man in the green robe introduced himself. ''Fellow Daoist, my name is Li Yuancheng, a loose cultivator. May I have a word with you in private?'' Since Lin Tianming was at leisure, he nodded and followed Li Yuancheng to a corner of the square. Seeing no one around, Li Yuancheng smiled and cupped his fist in greeting; ''I apologize for the abrupt obstruction, Fellow Daoist. Please forgive my rudeness.'' Lin Tianming responded calmly, ''If Fellow Daoist has something to say, just say it. I''m quite busy and don''t have much time to engage in idle chatter.'' Seeing that Lin Tianming seemed displeased, Li Yuancheng no longer beat around the bush and started communicating via transmission. ''Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in joining a hunt for demonic beasts? I accidentally discovered a Sky Fei Fruit Tree, but it''s guarded by a group of demonic beasts, so I''d like to invite you to join me and retrieve the treasure. What do you say?'' ''Sky Fei Fruit!'' ''A fruit that can enhance the cultivation of Qi Refining cultivators, its effects not inferior to the Jade Spirit Fruit that Lin Tianming had.'' Hearing what Li Yuancheng said, Lin Tianming was somewhat tempted. Having cultivated for over half a year, he had been stuck at the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Eighth Level for quite a while, even the Jade Spirit Fruit had been used, and only the Pozhang Pill remained untaken. He wanted to save it for when he reached the peak of the Qi Refining Eighth Level to break through smoothly to another realm, potentially reaching the peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining directly. Although the treasure was appealing, Lin Tianming couldn''t help pondering. With so many cultivators in the square, why did he seek him out specifically? What was his purpose? Furthermore, Li Yuancheng had not mentioned how many Sky Fei Fruits there were, how they would be divided, what kind of Demonic Beasts were guarding them, the number of beasts, and the extent of their strength were all unknown. Anyway, no matter what his purposes might be, I should ask for more details. If it really doesn''t work out, giving up is also an option. There''s no need to take unnecessary risks! Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming began to inquire. "Li, there are thousands of Cultivators here at the market. Why did you choose to find me?" "Though there are over a thousand Cultivators at the market, when you discount the members of the five major families, how many Loose Cultivators are there above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement? When seeking treasure, it''s better to find Cultivators at the Seventh and Eighth Levels of Qi Refining. Otherwise, even if you obtain the treasure, it''s hard to get much of a share. If your cultivation is too low, you won''t be of much use!" Hearing Li Yuancheng''s explanation, Lin Tianming stopped overthinking and asked Li Yuancheng to detail the treasure-hunting plan and how the spoils would be divided before deciding whether to join. Seeing Lin Tianming''s interest, Li Yuancheng began to share his plan. "In a valley on the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range, I personally saw a Sky Fei Fruit Tree with ten fruits on it, guarded by a group of Wind Shadow Leopards. There are more than twenty of them, with a few at the First Order Late Stage, and the rest at Medium and Early Stages." "I have already found three other Qi Refining Cultivators at the Seventh Level to hunt for this treasure with. Five of us together, without any unforeseen mishaps, there shouldn''t be much danger." "Once we obtain the Sky Fei Fruits, we''ll divide them equally, with each person getting two Spirit Fruits. After the deed is done, as the organizer, each of you will have to compensate me with fifty Spirit Stones for providing the information." After Li Yuancheng finished, Lin Tianming felt the plan and the division scheme were quite acceptable. If he could obtain two Sky Fei Fruits, coupled with Pozhang Pills, he likely could cultivate up to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Peak, which made Lin Tianming somewhat tempted. But the auction was coming up soon, and he had already agreed to attend it with Lin Xingzhi. If there was a scheduling conflict, he would have to give up on the treasure hunt. "Li, if I were to join, when would we depart?" Seeing Lin Tianming''s desire to participate, Li Yuancheng breathed a sigh of relief and responded: "The auction is nearly upon us, and the Sky Fei Fruits still need some time to ripen. We plan to replenish our resources before heading out in ten days!" Lin Tianming noted the schedule Li Yuancheng mentioned would not clash with the auction. However, he thought it best to inform Lin Xingzhi, since going out posed certain risks. "Li, may I have a day to consider? If I don''t reply by this time tomorrow, don''t wait for me!" "Fine, there''s still time. I''ll wait a day for you." After speaking, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng exchanged contact methods and agreed to reply within a day, then left the square. Upon returning to his courtyard, Lin Tianming went straight to Lin Xingzhi and relayed Li Yuancheng''s invitation and the plan for the Sky Fei Fruits. "Sky Fei Fruits, indeed a fine object!" Lin Xingzhi was also quite eager, but as the family''s representative in the Luoyun Market and burdened with numerous responsibilities, he was unable to accompany him. Otherwise, he would want a share of the spoils as well. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though he coveted the treasure, Lin Xingzhi was not blinded by greed. "Tianming, do you think this is credible? If the family were to go together, there would be no worries, but you must consider carefully when it comes to the words of Loose Cultivators." "Uncle Seventeen, personally, I''m rather confident in what Li Yuancheng has told us. Even if there''s some hidden scheme, with my strength, escaping unscathed shouldn''t be a problem!" "That''s true!" Lin Xingzhi was quite aware of Lin Tianming''s abilities. Being on par with Cultivators at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, and now having broken through to the Eighth Level, even if he encountered Great Completion Cultivators, he should have no problem escaping if he couldn''t win. "Very well, since you''re confident, then prepare some extra measures. It''s always better to be safe." With Lin Xingzhi agreeing to his plan, Lin Tianming sent a message to inform Li Yuancheng of his decision. Chapter 85 Auction Begins_1 ```Three days passed and the triennial Luoyun Market gathering was about to begin. Over the past few days, the number of cultivators in Luoyun Market had greatly increased. Aside from those who were preoccupied with urgent matters, almost every cultivator who wasn''t in closed-door cultivation had come to participate in the auction. After all, only once every three years, items rarely seen at other times often appeared at this event. Although many cultivators below the fifth level of Qi Refinement didn''t have significant buying power, they also enjoyed joining the crowd to broaden their horizons, which was pleasant enough. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi walked out of the Hundred Treasures Building together, heading towards the auction hall in the center of the market. Scattered along the way, cultivators of all levels, both male and female, were heading towards the auction, bringing the market to life. After half a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the entrance to the auction. This was Lin Tianming''s first time attending the Luoyun Market auction, and he couldn''t help but observe the enormous structure before him. The first thing that caught his eye was a three-tier circular stone hall spanning tens of acres, with a huge stone gate on which hung a plaque inscribed with the three big characters of the auction. At the entrance, over a dozen cultivators were already queuing up, as two executive officers of the auction collected spirit stones for entry. Lin Xingzhi, leading Lin Tianming, bypassed the queue and headed straight into the venue. Lin Xingzhi showed a blue token with a few small characters on it. The officer glanced at it and immediately allowed them to pass, with the pair disappearing amidst the envious looks of the crowd. After inquiring, Lin Tianming learned that the market managers from the five major families all had a token that allowed them direct access with five accompanying cultivators and also a VIP room spanning several square meters. Upon entering the inner field of the auction, they saw a circular podium in the center with hundreds of seats around it forming the general seating area of the auction room, nearly half of which were already occupied. Lin Xingzhi led Lin Tianming to one of the VIP rooms on the second floor. After they entered, Lin Xingzhi said to Lin Tianming, "Tianming, I''m going to submit the family''s final auction item. It won''t be long before I return. Rest here for a moment!" "Understood!" After finishing, Lin Xingzhi turned and left the VIP room, heading deep into the second floor. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming sat in the VIP room and looked over the auction. The second floor of the auction hall also had dozens of VIP rooms, all of which had the ability to block divine sense probing, and the layout of the auction wasn''t much different from Qianchuan Market¡ªessentially a smaller version. Another quarter of an hour passed, and as the seats in the venue gradually filled up, Lin Xingzhi also returned to the VIP room. The two chatted casually, and Lin Tianming, quite curious, asked about the final auction item offered by the family. Seeing Lin Tianming''s interest, he began to speak. "For this market gathering, the family considers it quite important. The final item is a set of five first order superior grade spirit swords, forged by Fifteenth Uncle!" Hearing Lin Xingzhi''s explanation, Lin Tianming seemed unsurprised. He thought it made sense, as Lin Family''s Qingling Bamboo was a fine material for crafting, with their specialty being spiritual artifacts. Although they had many elixirs, they wouldn''t sell those with significant effects at such a time. Therefore, offering a spiritual artifact was expected. Considering the initial cost of two thousand good deeds just for the Qingling Bamboo to forge twenty Earth Evil Swords, the value of a set of five superior grade spirit swords was certainly high enough to be the final auction item. A quarter of an hour went by, and the hundreds of seats were all filled. A grey-robed man stepped onto the central stage. Lin Xingzhi, sitting to the side, began to introduce him to Lin Tianming. This man was Chen Chong, a professional auctioneer, a loose cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage, and had been specially invited by the market. As the auction hall gradually quieted down, Chen Chong started with a bow and addressed the crowd. "Fellow Daoists, my name is Chen Chong, and I have the honor of presiding over this auction. I welcome everyone''s presence here!" ``` "Everyone knows the rules, the highest bidder will win; if you don''t have enough spirit stones, you can mortgage treasures. Alright, enough chitchat, let the auction begin now!" As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Chong took a ring-shaped treasure out of his storage bag and showed it to the cultivators present. "The first item for auction is a First Order Superior Grade Spirit Beast Ring, with interior space extending over a hundred feet, divided into several sections, capable of holding several Demonic Beasts at the same time. It''s quite rare, so don''t miss this opportunity!" "The starting bid is eighty spirit stones, and each subsequent bid must be at least five spirit stones more!" "Ninety spirit stones..." "Ninety-five spirit stones..." As soon as Chen Chong finished speaking, there were immediately cultivators calling out their bids. Indeed, a High-Quality Spirit Beast Ring was rare and an essential item for cultivators who liked to keep Spirit Beasts. Usually, only medium-sized markets like Qianchuan Market had them for sale and they would be quickly snatched up. Lin Tianming also wanted to bid for this item; the Spirit Beast Bag given to him by Lin Shilu was the lowest grade, and after accommodating the Purple Gold Eagle, there was hardly any space left. If the Purple Gold Eagle continued to grow, it would soon be too large to fit. After several rounds of bidding, the price of the Spirit Beast Ring swiftly rose to one hundred and thirty spirit stones. "One hundred sixty spirit stones..." When Lin Tianming''s bid was heard, increasing the price by thirty spirit stones in one go, the entire venue was abuzz, with many cultivators expressing their amazement. "It must be someone from one of the five major families, truly wealthy and generous. One hundred fifty spirit stones could buy so many Lingshen Pills for cultivation!" Sure enough, the increase of thirty spirit stones in one go stunned everyone in the venue. A few breaths of time passed with no other cultivators bidding, and Lin Tianming successfully won the auction. He took out one hundred sixty spirit stones and tossed them to Chen Chong. Upon confirmation that they were correct, Chen Chong threw the Spirit Beast Ring back to him, which Lin Tianming caught. Picking up the Spirit Beast Ring, Lin Tianming examined it closely, unable to let go. With the first auction item concluded, its sky-high price sparked a fervent atmosphere, setting a great tone for the rest of the event. Chen Chong continued to preside over the auction. "The second item for auction, a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Vajra Sword. It''s powerful, with a starting bid of seventy spirit stones, and each subsequent bid must be at least three spirit stones higher." "Seventy-five spirit stones..." "One hundred and five spirit stones..." ... Lin Tianming had no interest in the category of Spiritual Artifacts, merely watching the many cultivators bid from his VIP room. Although Lin Tianming wasn''t interested, some cultivators below the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement found it quite desirable, and the competition was fierce. In the end, the Vajra Sword was sold for one hundred ten spirit stones to a cultivator at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Tianming was quite surprised by this price; a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact was worth around eighty spirit stones, and one of good quality up to one hundred. He didn''t expect it to reach one hundred ten. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He couldn''t help but sigh that all items in this small market were more expensive compared to medium and large markets. Recollecting his thoughts, he continued to watch the auction. An hour passed, and dozens of items had been auctioned off without a single failure to sell, heating up the atmosphere in the venue even more. In the meantime, Lin Tianming spent several hundred spirit stones to acquire several types of Spiritual Medicine, all main ingredients for refining Strong Spirit Pills. Lin Xingzhi also acquired several treasures, and both of them gained something. As time progressed, the auction also came to a close, leaving just the last ten star items. Chapter 86 Fiery Flame Charm and Hun Tian Pill (Two-in-One)_1 As the auction drew to a close, the atmosphere reached its most intense moment.Chen Chong was very satisfied, as the treasures offered in this auction were generally quite valuable. There were many pieces of spiritual medicine and spiritual instrument talismans, and the prices kept climbing to new highs. "Ladies and gentlemen, the following are the last ten finale treasures!" "The first item, a Xisui Pill. I need not explain its function, as you all know. The starting bid is one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must not be less than five spirit stones!" No sooner had his voice faded did someone begin to bid. "One hundred and ten spirit stones..." "One hundred and fifteen spirit stones..." ... After more than ten rounds of intense bidding, the Xisui Pill was finally sold to a man in white robes for the high price of one hundred and forty-five spirit stones. Lin Tianming, having witnessed the process, was very surprised that a Xisui Pill could actually sell for one hundred and forty-five spirit stones, which was only higher than the prices at Qianchuan Market. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking about it carefully, it wasn''t strange. In a small place like Luoyun Market, where the level of cultivation wasn''t high and alchemists were few, elixirs were even rarer, so the prices naturally soared. "The second finale item..." "The third finale item..." ... Many finale items were auctioned in succession: First Order Superior Grade elixirs, various Fu Lu spiritual instruments, all of which were high-quality goods, fetching prices that set new records. Under the fervent atmosphere, the auction continued. Chen Chong then took out five cyan and yellow spirit swords from his storage bag and tossed them in front of him, where they hovered in place. "They''re First Order Superior Grade spirit swords!" "And it''s a complete set of spirit swords!" Several cultivators with exceptional vision called out in surprise, drawing the attention of all the cultivators present. Chen Chong smiled and began his introduction. "The seventh item, a complete set of five First Order Superior Grade spirit swords, crafted mainly from Second Order Qingling Bamboo by the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, with a starting bid of three hundred and fifty spirit stones, and each bid must not be lower than five spirit stones!" As soon as Chen Chong finished introducing the set of spirit swords, several eager cultivators immediately called out their bids. "Three hundred and sixty spirit stones..." "Three hundred and eighty spirit stones..." Lin Tianming and his companion sat in the VIP room, watching the cultivators below engage in fierce bidding and showing satisfied smiles. In another VIP room, a cultivator with a calm expression watched the five spirit swords with great interest. "Four hundred and seventy spirit stones..." A voice called out from one of the VIP rooms on the second floor! The scene immediately fell silent, and everyone looked up to the second floor, seemingly trying to determine the source of the voice. However, the VIP rooms were protected by restrictions that prevented divine sense from probing, so no one knew who had made the bid. They could only guess that it must be someone from a certain family, as it would be difficult for a loose cultivator to have such financial power. After a fierce competition, the five spirit swords were sold for the high price of four hundred and seventy spirit stones. The auction continued, with just the last three finale items remaining. As the seventh item had been a complete set of superior-grade spirit swords, the remaining finale items were surely even more valuable, and all the cultivators were extremely anticipatory. Without pausing, while everyone''s emotions were running high, Chen Chong took out a fiery red talisman paper from his storage bag. "The eighth finale item, a Second Order Inferior Grade Fiery Flame Charm talisman. Once activated, it can summon a great force of flames, its power equivalent to a full-force strike by a cultivator in the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. Its attack power is extremely formidable, provided by the Sun Family, with a starting bid of three hundred and fifty spirit stones, and each bid must not be lower than five spirit stones," Seeing this item, all the cultivators'' breath quickened. A Second Order talisman was extremely rare in Luoyun Market, creating a fierce struggle every time one appeared. Such a rare item was incredibly difficult to produce; besides the Sun Family, no other power was known to be able to create them, and it was unexpected that they would be willing to auction such an item. Seeing the Fiery Flame Charm, Lin Tianming immediately became interested. Although he still had a Second Order Golden Sword Talisman unused, no one ever complained about having too many trump cards. With plenty of spirit stones on hand, after browsing the market several times, he had not found any Second Order talismans. They were difficult to purchase even with spirit stones, unless one was at Qianchuan Market, where there were a few for sale. Now that he had come across it, he naturally wanted to make every effort to obtain it. In addition to him, many other cultivators in the venue, including people from several Foundation Establishing families, shared that thought. After a brief silence, a frenzy of bidding ensued. The bidding, starting from three hundred and sixty spirit stones, quickly soared to four hundred and forty. "Four hundred and fifty spirit stones..." "Four hundred and seventy spirit stones..." By this point, only people from the seven VIP rooms were bidding; the ordinary cultivators did not have the financial means to compete and could only watch from the sidelines. "Four hundred and eighty spirit stones..." Lin Tianming continued to bid, seemingly unconcerned with the inflated price. In a VIP room on the second floor, three Jin Family cultivators sat sipping spiritual tea. Hearing Lin Tianming''s bid, one of the young cultivators refused to be outdone and continued to raise the bid. "Five hundred and twenty spirit stones..." "Hiss..." Many cultivators were already astonished; over five hundred spirit stones was far more than the value of an ordinary Second Order talisman. "Five hundred and eighty spirit stones..." Lin Tianming bid without batting an eye, determined to win. Bidding against other cultivators for spirit stones, he was not afraid; among all the Qi Refining cultivators present, there were definitely not many whose wealth surpassed his, not even those in the Foundation Establishment Stage. In the VIP room of the Jin Family, an elder spoke to the bidding young cultivator: "Qi Long, let it go. Don''t get carried away. Even if the other families get this item, it won''t change their fate." "Yes!" After the young cultivator responded calmly, he stopped bidding. A few moments passed, and no one else made another bid. Chapter 86 Fiery Flame Charm and Hun Tian Pill (Two-in-One)_2 Lin Tianming also got what he wanted, acquiring the Fiery Flame Charm for the sky-high price of five hundred and eighty spirit stones.Lin Tianming took out the spirit stones and threw them towards the platform where Chen Chong was, and after they were checked and confirmed to be correct, the Fiery Flame Charm was thrown to Lin Tianming in the VIP room. After receiving the Fiery Flame Charm, he pinched it in his hand and looked over it several times before putting it into his storage bag. "The ninth and final highlight, a set of First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Artifacts called the Shadowless Needles, made up of seven precious needles. Each one is a superior grade Spiritual Artifact with immense power, provided by the Jin Family. The starting bid is five hundred and eighty spirit stones, with each increase required to be no less than ten spirit stones," announced the auctioneer. Flying needle sets were extremely difficult to forge and scarce in number, unpredictable in battle, hence extremely popular among cultivators. No sooner had the voice fallen, than many cultivators began to bid fiercely, quickly surpassing the finale item provided by the Lin Family. "Five hundred and ninety spirit stones..." "Six hundred and ten spirit stones..." ... In just seven or eight rounds of bidding, the price of the Shadowless Needles soared rapidly, quickly reaching seven hundred spirit stones and continuing to rise. Lin Xingzhi was very interested in this set of Spiritual Artifacts, and he joined the bidding, but was soon surpassed by other cultivators'' offers. "Eight hundred and ten spirit stones..." After a cultivator in a VIP room raised the bid by fifty spirit stones in one go, silence fell upon the entire venue. Your next chapter is on empire Although Lin Xingzhi bid several times, he had to give up reluctantly as the price was too high. Many cultivators were guessing which powerful buyer it could be, but there was no answer. With the ninth treasure settled, only the final item remained, spurring much speculation. "Spiritual Artifact..." "Elixirs..." "Cultivation Technique..." Or some other treasure, alas, it remained unknown... As everyone awaited in anticipation, Chen Chong brought out a golden jade slip and began to introduce it. "The final treasure, a Pill Formula for a Hun Tian Pill." "The Hun Tian Pill is a Second Order Pill that, when ingested by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, allows them to directly break through a minor realm, similar to the Pozhang Pill, but specifically for Foundation Establishment cultivators¡ªa truly heaven-defying item. The starting price is nine hundred spirit stones, with each increase required to be no less than ten spirit stones!" As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd was completely electrified. "It''s actually a Second Order Pill, and one that assists in breaking through realms!" Upon hearing Chen Chong''s words, Lin Xingzhi''s expression changed drastically, and he turned to Lin Tianming saying, "Tianming, this pill''s effects are tremendous; we must acquire it for our family, and later the family can compensate us for the spirit stones!" The same scene played out in various VIP rooms. "Nine hundred and thirty spirit stones..." One VIP room took the lead with a bid, immediately raising it by thirty spirit stones. "Nine hundred and fifty spirit stones..." Lin Xingzhi also entered a bid, but unfortunately, there were quite a few forces determined to win, and his bid was quickly surpassed by a new price. "One thousand one hundred and twenty spirit stones..." "One thousand three hundred spirit stones..." Throughout the auction, more than ten VIP rooms participated in the bidding, and the scene grew more and more intense, swiftly reaching one thousand three hundred spirit stones. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but exclaim, "Luoyun Market truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers!" The five major families bidding was inevitable, but in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, only those families had Foundation Establishment cultivators. The other bidders must be Loose Cultivators or hidden Foundation Establishment cultivators from Qi Refining families, otherwise no Qi Refinement Stage cultivator would buy this Pill Formula. As the price climbed higher and higher, some forces seemed to give up bidding. "One thousand four hundred spirit stones..." "One thousand six hundred spirit stones..." Lin Tianming raised the bid by two hundred spirit stones in one breath, once again igniting the atmosphere of the entire venue. Many cultivators were astounded, and numerous ones who had gained nothing, not even having made a bid, sighed in admiration. They thought that the auction had truly been an eye-opener with its record-breaking prices, making their trip worthwhile. Inside Jin Family''s VIP room, the young cultivator making the bids had a gloomy expression. Every time he offered a price, the opposite VIP room raised their bid, as if to deliberately counter him. "Hmph, trying to compete with the Jin Family in terms of wealth? Even the Sun Family is no match for us!" he sneered. With that, Jin Qilong bid again. "Seventeen hundred spirit stones!" "Eighteen hundred spirit stones!" ... After several rounds, the price quickly broke through two thousand spirit stones, reaching a terrifying two thousand four hundred spirit stones. Lin Tianming did not yield an inch, clearly determined to win. "Fellow Daoist, could you give our Jin Family some face and yield the pill formula to us?" Jin Qilong spoke out, directly invoking his family''s name, hoping to make Lin Tianming back down. "Forgive my plain speaking, but the auction has always been won by the highest bidder. Let''s not break the rules!" Lin Tianming spoke up in refusal, not giving Jin Qilong any face. Hearing Lin Tianming''s rejection, the Jin Family cultivators'' faces turned livid, their eyes bloodshot, as if they wished to immediately charge over and tear the refuser to pieces. The Jin elder, seeing Jin Qilong''s gloomy expression, stepped forward to persuade: "Never mind. With such a high price, the bidding cultivator must be from one of the five major families. Let them have it." "After all, these families won''t be hopping around for many more years. The production of second order pills is extremely difficult, and spiritual medicine is not easy to gather. Without a couple of years'' effort, it would be very hard to collect them all. It''s better to let them gather the spiritual medicine materials and then seize them all at once. By then, won''t everything belong to our Jin Family?" Hearing the words of the Jin elder, Jin Qilong''s expression gradually returned to normal. After a few moments passed and seeing that no one else made a bid, Chen Chong announced the auction a success. Lin Tianming took out all the one thousand six hundred spirit stones he had, added to the eight hundred spirit stones Lin Xingzhi had on him, pooled enough spirit stones, and threw them out of the VIP room, which were caught by Chen Chong. After verifying the correct number of spirit stones, Chen Chong threw the jade slip into the VIP room where Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were. Lin Tianming caught the jade slip, stretched out his divine sense, broke the ban on the jade slip, and checked the pill and spiritual medicine formulas once again. After careful consideration, indeed the pill formula was genuine, but the main medicine was the third order spiritual medicine Purple Yin Grass, and several of the auxiliary medicines were also precious. It would be difficult to gather them in a short period of time; indeed, the pill was not so easy to concoct. "Uncle Seventeen, the pill formula is indeed genuine!" A hint of joy flashed across Lin Xingzhi, who quickly spoke: "Good, when we leave later, blend into the departing crowd amidst the chaos. Don''t run about, head straight back to the Hundred Treasures Building. I also need to collect the spirit stones from the auctioned family items. If I leave directly, it would be more suspicious." "Alright, everyone be careful!" Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi had confirmed their exit strategy and continued to watch the auction. "Fellow Daoists, this auction has come to a satisfactory end. I hope you will all join again in three years. Farewell!" After declaring the end of the auction, Chen Chong left with a salute. The cultivators at the auction all hurriedly stood up and walked towards the exit. Lin Tianming left the VIP room by himself and, taking advantage of the chaos, quickly blended into the crowd and rushed to the Hundred Treasures Building. Within half a quarter hour, Lin Tianming smoothly entered the Hundred Treasures Building and only let out a sigh of relief when he sat down in his third-floor room. Although the market explicitly prohibited private fighting, with immense interests at stake, there was no telling whether some would take risks. Being extremely cautious and careful along the way, fortunately, everything went smoothly, and it seemed unlikely that anyone had exposed to which power the pill formula belonged. Half a day later, Lin Xingzhi also returned to the Hundred Treasures Building. The two sat in the third-floor room drinking tea and chatting leisurely. "Uncle Seventeen, I''ve already arranged with Li Yuancheng. In seven days, I''ll need to venture out to the market to look for the Sky Fei Fruit. During this period, it''ll be up to you to oversee the market!" "Tianming, be careful out there, and remember not to easily trust strangers. If the situation changes, return to the market immediately." Lin Xingzhi repeated his warnings, worried that Lin Tianming might not be aware of the dangers he could face since he was essential for the family''s rise. "Don''t worry, I have the Fiery Flame Charm, and with my strength, as long as I don''t encounter Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Second Order Demonic Beasts, there won''t be any danger." Lin Tianming''s words finally put Lin Xingzhi''s mind at ease. After entrusting the Hun Tian Pill formula to Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming left the Hundred Treasures Building and returned to his courtyard. With seven days until the arranged meeting, neither long nor short, Lin Tianming planned to cultivate for a while, get himself into the best condition, and then keep the appointment. Entering a secret chamber, he sat cross-legged on a straw mat, cycled the cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and quickly entered a state of deep cultivation. He took out a Lingshen Pill and a Body Strengthening Pill to consume, felt the violent spiritual power, and operated his cultivation technique at full strength to rapidly assimilate the medicinal power. In a short while, another bout of intense pain struck, and sweat began to bead on Lin Tianming''s forehead. Seven days passed quickly... Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 87 Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_1 At high noon, outside Luoyun Market.In a lush green valley, four cultivators gathered, among them three men and one woman. Aside from the organizer, Li Yuancheng, there were two other male cultivators, and the only female cultivator was radiant with beauty, dressed in blue palace attire with towering hair buns, akin to that of a noblewoman. She was Li Yuancheng''s companion, Song Yurong. "Daoist Li, why hasn''t this kid shown up yet? If he doesn''t come soon, let''s not wait for him. That way, there''ll be one less person to share the fruits with." A man, visibly displeased, spoke to Li Yuancheng, seemingly confident about the journey to obtain the fruits. "Daoist Lu, please be patient. There is still a quarter of an hour left until the appointed time, and this trip to get the fruit is not guaranteed to succeed. One more person means one more layer of security." Before he finished speaking, a burly man flew in on a sword from the east and landed beside Li Yuancheng¡ªit was Lin Tianming, who had altered his appearance. Upon seeing the four people, Lin Tianming greeted them with a fist and palm salute: "I''m late, please forgive me. My name is Chen Tian, and I greet all the fellow Daoists here, as well as this fairy maiden." Song Yurong gracefully performed a curtsy, revealing a slight smile as she said: "My name is Song Yurong. I greet you, Daoist Chen!" Li Yuancheng, with a kind expression, began to introduce Lin Tianming to the others. "This is Daoist Qiu Jinsong..." "And this is Daoist Lu Ming..." After exchanging greetings, everyone began to get acquainted with one another. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Li Yuancheng took out a map made from beast skin to confirm the direction, then flew toward the west with the others quickly following behind. Find more to read at empire After flying for an entire day, from noon till evening, the group of five successfully arrived at the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. As it was getting dark, they didn''t proceed further but found a small hill to rest on for the night. ... The next morning, the five set off again. Two days passed, and after crossing more than a dozen peaks, covering over three hundred miles, they entered deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Li Yuancheng leading the way, the journey was rather safe, encountering very few demonic beasts, until they arrived in a valley. Looking around, the forest was dense, and there were numerous large trees that would take several people to embrace, with mist swirling within the valley, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Li Yuancheng pointed toward the forest ahead and said: "The Sky Fei Fruit Tree is within this dense forest. I stumbled upon it by accident. It''s a pity that it''s guarded by a pack of Wind Shadow Leopards, otherwise I would have taken the fruits long ago!" "Wind Shadow Leopards!" Lu Ming revealed a hint of apprehension. Li Yuancheng''s expression remained calm as he began to describe the Wind Shadow Leopards. "These demonic beasts are extremely fast and have formidable attack power. They come and go without a trace and are very adept at ambushes. Everyone must be careful." Saying so, Li Yuancheng took out a snow-white whip about a zhang long, a high quality spiritual artifact. His companion Song Yurong was not to be outdone, producing a medium grade flying sword in hand. Everyone took out their spiritual artifacts, with Lin Tianming wielding an Earth Evil Sword and holding a high quality talisman paper, ready to deal with any unexpected dangers. Catching sight of Lin Tianming''s spirit sword and talisman paper, a flicker of barely noticeable greed flashed in Lu Ming''s eyes, which quickly returned to normal, revealing a highly wary expression. Seeing that everyone was prepared, Li Yuancheng led the way deeper inside. Soon, they reached the inner part of the valley where the trees gradually thinned, improving visibility. At the end of their line of sight, a fruit tree about a zhang tall grew on a mound, its green and red leaves adorned with over a dozen emerald-like fruits. "Sky Fei Fruit!" "Indeed, there are such fruits!" Upon seeing the treasure, Lu Ming and Qiu Jinsong called out in excitement, looking eager to proceed. In their excitement, they were unaware that danger had already quietly approached. Since entering the valley, Lin Tianming had his divine sense fully extended and his Eye of Five Colors open, guarding against unknown dangers, and had not relaxed for a moment, remaining cautious. A gust of wind passed through the valley, bringing a bone-chilling coolness that made everyone shiver. At that moment, several roars were heard. More than fifty Wind Shadow Leopards broke into a sprint, turning into streaks of afterimages, and in a few moments, they had charged from several hundred zhang away in the dense forest to right before the group. Looking over, among the pack of Wind Shadow Leopards, there was one at the late-stage peak, nearly breaking through to Second Order, obviously the leader of this pack. There were also six at the late-stage, and the rest were at the First Order middle and initial phases. "Daoist Li, you said there were only about thirty, why has their number increased so much?" Lu Ming''s face turned pale as he exclaimed, questioning Li Yuancheng. "I don''t know why either; the number of Wind Shadow Leopards has almost doubled!" "It''s pointless to investigate now. It''s already impossible to run away. Everyone, don''t hold back. Fight with all you''ve got, or we''re all in danger!" No sooner had Li Yuancheng finished speaking than several late-stage Wind Shadow Leopards were already upon them. The pack leader charged straight at Lin Tianming, seemingly sensing him as the greatest threat. After a brief moment of panic, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng quickly reacted, each urging on their spiritual artifacts. Lin Tianming slashed repeatedly, his fierce sword qi forcing the pack leader to retreat. He quietly set up a Sword Array and swiftly retreated, falling back behind the others. Li Yuancheng brandished his whip spiritual artifact, attacking left and right. The versatile whip was particularly effective against the incredibly fast Wind Shadow Leopards. Several of the First Order initial and middle-stage Wind Shadow Leopards couldn''t dodge in time and were struck by the whip, promptly ending their lives. The rest also used their techniques, and being fully prepared, they didn''t fall into disadvantage. Chapter 87 Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_2 The ambush had failed, and many of the dozen or so Wind Shadow Leopards had died immediately; the rest were all mid-stage Demonic Beasts.Instead of continuing the attack, the Wind Shadow Leopards surrounded the group, seeking an opportunity, lying in wait for the perfect moment to strike. After a stalemate that lasted for more than ten breaths, the Wind Shadow Leopards launched another onslaught. Seeming to have recognized Lin Tianming''s prowess, they gave up on direct combat with him and instead made a beeline for Lu Ming. The battle erupted anew. Lu Ming''s face darkened as he took out two talisman papers from his storage bag and tossed them into the air, forming a torrential sword rain that temporarily trapped the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards. The remaining Wind Shadow Leopards had already charged in, and the battlefield immediately plunged into chaos, as the frenzied spiritual power from various Spiritual Artifacts crisscrossed the sky. Lin Tianming drew the eighteen Earth Evil Swords, danced out a Sword Lotus resembling the God of Slaughter, killing several mid-stage Wind Shadow Leopards around him, without meeting any resistance. On the other side, the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards broke free and charged towards the cultivator with the surname Lu. After over a dozen brutal exchanges, Lu Ming was already severely injured. Having exhausted all his tricks, Lu Ming threw his last talisman paper and fled in panic, not forgetting to shout as he ran. "Save me..." At this moment, everyone was surrounded by Wind Shadow Leopards in varying numbers, and Lin Tianming, being the farthest away, could not attend to him. After a few breaths, the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards burst through the barrier in front of it and, with a gaping maw, charged straight for Lu Ming. "Roar..." With the lightning speed of the Wind Shadow Leopard, the desperate Lu Ming had no chance to dodge and was directly bitten, his body falling lifeless on the spot. Now dead, Lu Ming left four injured survivors behind. Among them, Qiu Jinsong was gravely hurt, his strength reduced to a mere tenth of what it was. The Wind Shadow Leopard pack had suffered heavy casualties, with only a dozen mid-to-late-stage beasts remaining, their dead bodies turning the ground a crimson red. After half an hour of fierce combat, both humans and beasts had sustained grievous injuries, and the cultivators had used up most of their spiritual power. "Li, you and I will take on the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards while the others quickly dispatch the rest," Lin Tianming shouted to Li Yuancheng. "We must be quick, or we won''t last much longer. If we don''t succeed, all of us will die here!" Amid their dire conditions and critical situation, Lin Tianming called out to Li Yuancheng. "Good!" All three responded in unison. Seeing the tragic state of the cultivator with the surname Lu, Lin Tianming and the others held nothing back and fought with all their might once more. Lin Tianming took out four First Order Superior Attack Talismans in a row and, after activating them, sent four streams of Sword Qi speeding towards the Wind Shadow Leopards. Simultaneously, he activated a previously laid Earth Fiend Sword Formation, enveloping the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards within it. Li Yuancheng took out a white pearl and spat it towards the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Overwhelmed by a strong sense of crisis, the Wind Shadow Leopard leader panicked within the Sword Array, frantically striking against the barriers of the formation, trying to break free from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation''s constraints. But Lin Tianming had laid his plans well in advance, and wouldn''t let it escape so easily. A few breaths later, the four Sword Qi and the pearl struck the Wind Shadow Leopard from several directions simultaneously. "Boom..." A series of explosions resounded through the valley... A blaze shot up into the sky; after the flying sand and stones settled, the figure of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader was revealed. The Wind Shadow Leopard leader was now lying in a huge pit, convulsing, with half its body gone, its organs exposed for all to see ¨C a pitiable sight that clearly indicated it was on the brink of death. Seeing the dire state of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Such a steep price paid, and had they not vanquished it, whether they could survive the ordeal would have been uncertain. Elsewhere, Song Yurong and Qiu Jinsong were being besieged by several late-stage Wind Shadow Leopards; both were in peril, continuously losing ground. Song Yurong was faring slightly better, relying on numerous talisman papers and her Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact sword, retreating while fighting, and was not in immediate danger of defeating. Qiu Jinsong, previously severely wounded and having lost an arm, had barely held on for half an hour, and was now completely drained. At the moment when the Wind Shadow Leopard leader fell, Qiu Jinsong, in a burst of rage, repelled one of the leopards only to have another powerful claw plunge through his chest. Looking at the fist-sized hole in his chest, his blood gushing out, Qiu Jinsong''s complexion turned deathly pale within moments. Feeling his body grow increasingly cold, he completely gave in to despair. Now with free hands, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng came to the aid, significantly reducing the pressure on Song Yurong. The remaining Wind Shadow Leopards were no match for them and were swiftly slain by the group. With the death of the last Wind Shadow Leopard, the fierce battle finally came to an end. Half an hour before, five lively individuals had stood, now only three remained alive. The grisly deaths of Lu Ming and his companion were etched in their memories, leaving no time to collect treasures; Lin Tianming and his two companions simply collapsed onto the ground. Lin Tianming took out a Huiyuan Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it, quickly recovering his nearly depleted spiritual power. After a quarter of an hour, the trio gradually regained some of their spiritual power. At this moment, Li Yuancheng and his wife were extremely tense, clutching their spiritual artifacts in their hands, not daring to let down their guard. After this battle, they had completely understood Lin Tianming''s strength; even at their peak, joining forces, they were no match for him. The carcasses of the Wind Shadow Leopards scattered across the field, along with the storage bags of Lu Ming''s party, plus the Sky Fei Fruit, undoubtedly represented an immense fortune. If Lin Tianming were to attack again, their chances of survival were slim. Lin Tianming was also on high alert, closely watching every move made by Li Yuancheng and his wife. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the silence began to feel exceedingly awkward. Finally, Lin Tianming broke the silence. "Li, let''s quickly distribute the treasures. It isn''t safe to stay here for long," said Lin Tianming. Explore stories on empire Relieved that Lin Tianming didn''t seem to intend to attack, Li Yuancheng and his wife finally relaxed a little. "Daoist Chen is very powerful. Without you, I''m afraid we would have been wiped out on this journey," said Li Yuancheng, lavishing praise before the division of treasure. "I think we should do it like this: The storage bags of Lu Ming''s party go to you, the spiritual artifacts to us as a couple, the carcass of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader to you, and we split the rest of the carcasses equally. As for the Sky Fei Fruits, you take sixty percent, and we take forty percent. How does that sound?" After proposing his plan, Li Yuancheng waited anxiously; given Lin Tianming''s formidable strength, it was only fair he received the larger share, but it was uncertain if he would be satisfied. Lin Tianming thought it over. The carcass of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader, which held the greatest value, would be his, and surely the storage bags of Lu Ming''s party contained all of their wealth. The spiritual artifacts were negligible in comparison. Li Yuancheng''s proposal was quite sincere. Asking for a few more Sky Fei Fruits would suffice. "Li, I have no objections to the rest, but as for the Sky Fei Fruits, taking more doesn''t add much benefit. Your couple can keep two, and the rest are mine. How about that?" "So be it," Without hesitation, Li Yuancheng agreed to Lin Tianming''s terms. Having divided the spoils, the three of them began to get themselves busy. Lin Tianming collected Lu Ming''s storage bags and the spiritual artifacts, handing the latter over to Li Yuancheng. They then started disassembling the carcasses of the Wind Shadow Leopards, taking all useful materials with them. An hour later, the battlefield was cleared, and the three of them headed towards the Sky Fei Fruit Tree. By now, the Sky Fei Fruits had ripened, ten emerald-like spirit fruits hanging from the tree. Song Yurong stepped forward to harvest the Sky Fei Fruits, while Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng chatted leisurely on the side. The Sky Fei Fruit ripened once every hundred years, and its effects surpassed even the Jade Spirit Fruit, but it was a pity that the tree could not be transplanted. Lin Tianming took out a map, located their position, and made a mark for his clan to return and harvest the fruits after a century. In a short while, Song Yurong had picked all of the spirit fruits and placed them in jade boxes, handing eight of them to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming accepted the jade boxes without fuss and put them back into his storage bag. After surviving a perilous battle and the test of shared interests, Li Yuancheng and his wife had come to a clearer understanding of Lin Tianming, at the very least, not a traitor. They became inclined to befriend him. "Daoist Chen, we''re still within the heart of the mountain range and have yet to leave danger behind. Why don''t we travel together back to the market city?" "I was thinking the same!" Having accomplished their mission of treasure hunting, the three of them did not linger and departed along the path they had come. Three days later, Lin Tianming and his companions emerged from a small hill on the periphery of the Luoyun Mountain Range. "Li, Fairy Song, let''s meet again someday!" "Daoist Chen, let''s meet again someday!" The three of them saluted each other simultaneously. Lin Tianming summoned his Earth Evil Sword and took to the sky, soon disappearing into the horizon. After Lin Tianming had left, Li Yuancheng gazed in the direction Lin Tianming had gone and muttered, "Daoist Chen is incredibly strong, and his talismans are of excellent quality. I wonder if he''s a loose cultivator or someone from the sect families..." Song Yurong, her complexion rosy, seemed to have realized something. "Husband, my intuition tells me he''s certainly not a loose cultivator. He''s very likely from one of the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range, perhaps even someone from the core disciples of Zhenyang Sect. We must make a good connection with him..." Chapter 88 Inventory of Harvest_1 In Luoyun Market, within a secret chamber of a small courtyard.After bidding farewell to Li Yuancheng and his wife, Lin Tianming didn''t wander aimlessly, but instead returned straight to the market. He hastily sent a message to Lin Xingzhi to assure his safety and then entered the secret chamber. Sitting on the cushion in the secret chamber, he took out the storage bags of Lu Ming and Qiu Jinsong, ready to tally his gains. The trip to obtain the Sky Fei Fruit had taken just half a month and had gone quite smoothly, costing only several High-Quality Talismans. With the storage bags of the two, he expected to make a hefty profit. First, he picked up Lu Ming''s storage bag and easily erased the remaining Divine Sense from it. He extended his Divine Sense and began to carefully examine the contents. Over two hundred and sixty Spirit Stones, a few Lingshen Pills and other consumable elixirs, several stalks of Spiritual Medicine Materials, and a fair amount of miscellaneous items, but nothing particularly valuable. This person had been cornered by the Wind Shadow Leopard and used up all his tricks. His Spiritual Artifact had even been given to Li Yuancheng and his wife, so there really wasn''t much left. "Huff¡­" Taking a deep breath, he shifted his focus to the other storage bag. Qiu Jinsong was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, not weak by any means, so his net worth should be a bit more substantial. Erasing the Divine Sense, he started to probe within. In no time at all, a slight smile appeared on Lin Tianming''s face. Compared to Lu Ming, Qiu Jinsong''s wealth was much more substantial; he had over six hundred Spirit Stones, various elixirs in abundance, and some Spirit Ore and other items, all quite ordinary. After Lin Tianming''s estimation, the assets of the two men together were worth over a thousand Spirit Stones. Subtracting the Talismans and elixirs consumed in the fight, he had still made a tidy sum. Not only the personal wealth of the two men, but also the numerous Wind Shadow Leopard carcasses would yield plenty of materials for crafting, and the eight Sky Fei Fruits alone were worth thousands of Spirit Stones. After tallying up the gains, he transferred the Spirit Stones and useful Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Ore into his own storage bag and threw useless items haphazardly into another, planning to sell them off when he found the time. Having done all that, Lin Tianming fell into contemplation. As the day of the big competition in Luoyun Market drew nearer, with just over a year left, he had obtained the Sky Fei Fruit. By harnessing its medicinal power, he could reach the peak of Qi Refining Eighth Level and then break through a minor realm with the help of Pozhang Pills. Resolved, he closed his eyes and entered a brief state of cultivation. After a night''s rest and gathering his energy, he got up and left the courtyard. Half an hour passed, and on the third floor of Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingzhi was sitting enjoying some tea. Before Lin Tianming could arrive, a hearty greeting was heard. "Seventeenth Uncle, how have you been recently?" Turning his head and seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingzhi immediately beamed with joy and hurriedly responded. "Good, you lad have finally returned. If you hadn''t come back in a few more days, I would have gone to the Luoyun Mountain Range to look for you!" Lin Tianming sat down, sipping tea and casually chatting, recounting the adventure of acquiring the treasure in brief. "Eight Sky Fei Fruits!" Learning of Lin Tianming''s gains, Lin Xingzhi was quite surprised and couldn''t help but feel a little envious. "This kid''s luck is too good; he always gains quite the treasure haul every time he goes out!" Seeing a look of longing on Lin Xingzhi''s face, Lin Tianming took out a Sky Fei Fruit and offered it with a clasped fist. "What are you doing?" "Seventeenth Uncle, you''ve already consumed the Jade Spirit Fruit, and it will be difficult for your cultivation to increase much in a short time. Please accept this Sky Fei Fruit as a modest token of my regard¡­" Lin Xingzhi stared intently at the Sky Fei Fruit, wanting to accept it but feeling embarrassed; after all, it seemed inappropriate to take a hard-won treasure from a junior. "Tian Ming, I appreciate the thought!" Lin Xingzhi took the Sky Fei Fruit and afterward drew two hundred Spirit Stones from his storage bag and handed them to Lin Tianming as compensation. Lin Tianming tried to refuse several times, but Lin Xingzhi insisted he take them, otherwise he would not accept his kindness. Lin Tianming did not put on airs and accepted the spirit stones. The two were in good spirits, and Lin Xingzhi asked Lin Tianming about his plans. "In two months, I can make a trip back to the family. It''s not too long nor too short a time. I plan to refine the Sky Fei Fruit to improve my cultivation as much as possible!" "Alright, then let''s set off together in two months!" Having agreed upon a time, Lin Tianming rose to take his leave. Before long, he returned to the secret chamber in the small courtyard. Sitting on the cushion, he began to operate his cultivation technique and quickly reached the optimal state for cultivation. With a thought, a fruit appeared between his fingers out of thin air. The fruit was about the size of a toddler''s fist, all over in green like jade. The small spirit fruit contained tremendous energy, a mere sniff of which was refreshing and clarifying. Lin Tianming did not hesitate and swallowed the Sky Fei Fruit in one bite. Upon entering his mouth, the Sky Fei Fruit melted immediately. The contained spiritual power was very gentle, not at all violent like that of the Jade Spirit Fruit. He quickly operated his cultivation technique to refine the energy of the Sky Fei Fruit, transforming it into streams of spiritual power that flowed into his Dantian, slowly enlarging his Qi Sea and progressing towards the later stage. Time slowly passed, and the two months went by. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing across his face. It took nearly a month to successfully refine the Sky Fei Fruit. Although he had not broken through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, his spiritual power had reached the limit of the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Lin Tianming was very pleased. With another half a year of seclusion, he could easily break through with the help of a Pozhang Pill. It was only a pity that time did not permit it, otherwise he really could have given it a try. The two-month period had arrived, and the day he had agreed upon with Lin Xingzhi was tomorrow. It was time to leave seclusion. He got up and walked out of the secret chamber, heading towards the Hundred Treasures Building. During the seclusion, he had refined a number of elixirs, enough to keep the Hundred Treasures Building operating for several months. After handing over the elixirs to Lin Xingshun, he asked about the business situation over the past few months. Thanks to the market assembly, the business had improved in the past two months. The income of the Hundred Treasures Building was stable, earning a large amount of spirit stones for the family. After half an hour, Lin Tianming rose to take his leave and returned to the family''s small courtyard. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next morning, when the sky was still dimly lit, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi set out from the market together and appeared at the top of a mountain outside the city. Over the past two months, Lin Xingzhi''s aura had become even more substantial. It seemed that after consuming the Sky Fei Fruit, his cultivation had become more profound. "Congratulations, Seventeenth Uncle, on the great progress in your cultivation. You mustn''t be far from the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage now!" Upon Lin Tianming''s inquiry, Lin Xingzhi spoke sincerely: Explore stories at empire "Thanks to you, kid. With the help of the Sky Fei Fruit, I saved several years of arduous cultivation. Otherwise, without three to five years of effort, it would not have been possible to reach this level!" He released the Purple Gold Eagle and fed it a Beast Spirit Pill before the two of them hopped onto its back. The Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, heading into the clouds, and became a lingering shadow that quickly disappeared into the horizon. The journey home is always a pleasure, and the two enjoyed the scenery and chatted leisurely along the way. By half a day, the two and the eagle smoothly appeared outside the Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming took out the family token, cast several law decrees, and, once the great formation was open, flew straight in. "Tianming, I have some errands to run. I''ll contact you when the day of departure is confirmed!" "Yes!" Lin Xingzhi left on a flying sword, and Lin Tianming did not stay longer, heading to his family''s small courtyard. Chapter 89 Alliance_1 At dusk, upon learning that Lin Tianming had returned to the clan, both Grandpa and Father hurried back to their own small courtyard.The five of them sat in the courtyard, enjoying tea and idle chat, which was indescribably comfortable. According to Grandpa, the Lin Family had undergone significant changes in recent years. With the substantial improvement of basic welfare for the clan and encouragement for members to gain experience, a large number of clanspeople strove to break through, and the younger generation progressed at an incredible speed, multiplying the overall strength of the Lin Family by several times. Lin Tianming also reported his experiences over the past year, in order not to worry his family, he did not mention those bloody and dangerous encounters. However, his accounts clearly could not deceive Grandpa and his father. Having lived for nearly a hundred years and having seen too much of the survival of the fittest and the killing for treasures, Lin Shigong knew these were simply the rules of the Cultivation World. As Lin Tianming''s growth accelerated, Lin Shigong''s views about him were quietly changing. Once wishing for him to spend his entire life within the clan grounds, he was now very clear. The talent of Lin Tianming, and the responsibilities he bore, destined him to venture beyond the Luoyun Mountain Range, and even leave the Wei Kingdom to explore a more vast and expansive world. Only by undergoing trials by fire could one shed all superficialities and become a strong leader, capable of restoring the family''s former glory. And on this thorny and rugged path, he knew he could no longer be of much help. As night fell, their casual conversation drew to a close, and Lin Tianming took out four Sky Fei Fruits to give to his grandfather and the others. While the Sky Fei Fruits were not of much use to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the energy they contained could still save several years of arduous cultivation. The four of them accepted the fruits without pretense, and each went back to their rooms to rest. One day, outside Green Bamboo Mountain. A three-zhang-tall Crowned Spirit Crane flew rapidly towards the Lin Family Clan Grounds, reaching the great formation of the clan grounds in just over ten breaths'' time. A young and an old man jumped off the Crowned Spirit Crane, landing on a hilltop. The elder, named Sun Dingfeng, a member of the Jiuhua Mountain Sun Clan, was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. The youth, named Sun Ruiyang, a member of the younger generation of the Sun Family, was in his early twenties, and looked curiously at the distant light screen and said, "Seventh Grandpa, is this the Lin Family''s clan grounds?" "Hmm¡­" Experience new tales on empire The elder remained calm and replied indifferently. After putting the Crowned Spirit Crane into the Spirit Beast Bag, he formed a hand seal and sent out two messages, which quickly vanished into the transparent light screen and disappeared. Half an hour later, the light screen tore open, and two people stepped out from inside¡ªit was Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang. Before even arriving, Lin Shikang walked forward with a cupped fist greeting and a hearty smile, "It turns out Daoist Sun has come for a visit; any neglect is regrettable, please forgive us!" Upon seeing Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu approach, Sun Dingfeng did not dare to presume, and quickly went forward with Sun Ruiyang. "Not at all, Sun Mou came unannounced, and I hope I have not disturbed your tranquil cultivation!" "Ruiyang, don''t you hurry to pay respects to the two seniors!" Hearing Sun Dingfeng''s instruction, Sun Ruiyang showed respectful demeanor and hurriedly bowed, "Junior pays respects to the two seniors!" Lin Shikang laughed heartily and praised, "Young friend, you need not be so formal. To have reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement at such a young age, the Sun Family indeed has a gathering of geniuses!" "Well, since Daoist Sun has made a special trip, there must be something to discuss. Please come to the clan residence, and let Lin Mou offer you some hospitality!" Sun Dingfeng smiled lightly. "Thanks to Daoist Lin!" "Please¡­" "Please¡­" Inside Lin Shikang''s courtyard at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Shikang and Sun Dingfeng sat in a pavilion, enjoying Spiritual Tea, while Sun Ruiyang stood to the side looking around. "Daoist Sun, it has been many years since we last met. Why have you come to visit today?" Lin Shikang directly inquired, although he and Lin Shilu already had an idea, they still pretended to be unaware. Seeing Lin Shikang and his companion playing dumb, Sun Dingfeng did not call them out on it. Without beating around the bush, he directly stated his purpose. "Daoist Lin, I have come on behalf of the Sun Family to pay a visit, hoping to collaborate with the Lin Family. I wonder if you would be interested." "Oh..." "How would you like to collaborate? Please enlighten me, Daoist Sun!" "In one year, the city''s grand competition will be held. Surely, Daoist Lin, you are aware of the Jin Family''s movements these past two years?" "Both you and I are well aware that the current Jin Family, with its great strength and wolf-like ambitions, seems to be preparing to make a move against our families." "Therefore, the Sun Family intends to form an alliance with the Lin Family, standing together in both advance and retreat to resist the Jin Family. What do you think of this, Daoist Lin?" Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu exchanged glances, communicating with each other through telepathy. After only a few moments, they seemed to have reached an agreement. Lin Shikang, with a solemn expression, began to respond. "Daoist Sun, I, Lin Mou, am also deeply aware of the Jin Family''s ambition. Alas, the Lin Family''s foundation is thin and our strength is limited, I''m afraid we may not be able to share much of the burden for the Sun Family. Therefore..." Seeing Lin Shikang''s pitiable expression, Sun Dingfeng knew that the Lin Family would not easily take a stance without some benefits. Fortunately, he had come prepared, never expecting to sway the Lin Family with just a few words. Sun Dingfeng took out a dark green storage bag and handed it to Lin Shikang. "Daoist Lin, if the Lin Family agrees to the alliance, consider these one thousand talisman papers as a token of sincerity from our Sun Family." Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu extended their divine sense to inspect the contents of the storage bag and both showed a hint of surprise. There were two hundred First Order Superior Grade talismans, three hundred Medium Grade talismans, and the remainder, amounting to five hundred, were Lower Grade. It seemed the Sun Family was truly putting forth a significant offer, with the given talismans valued at several thousand spirit stones at least. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were somewhat tempted; the Lin Family already had grievances with the Jin Family, and the Jin Family''s ambition was no secret. Once their fangs were bared, they would certainly not spare the Lin Family. "Daoist Sun, I wonder what the Luo Family and the Wu Family''s views are on this matter?" Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were also inclined towards forming an alliance, but they did not agree outright, aiming to gain more benefits for the Lin Family. Sun Dingfeng thought for a moment before replying: "I have already visited the Luo and Wu Families, and both have agreed to form an alliance to confront the Jin Family. Now, only the Lin Family remains!" "Although the Jin Family is powerful, taking on all four of our families at once is unlikely to end well for them. Should an opportunity arise, we might eliminate the Jin Family, and their wealth would be divided with the Sun and Lin families each taking thirty percent, while the Luo and Wu Families each take twenty percent." "What do you say?" Lin Shikang kept a calm demeanor, continually communicating with Lin Shilu through telepathy to weigh the pros and cons. Soon, they came to a consensus. The Lin Family and the Jin Family were mortal foes with no chance of reconciliation. Better to take this opportunity to deal them a severe blow, and if possible, to completely eradicate them. Making up his mind, Lin Shikang spoke up: "Daoist Sun, as a Talisman Crafting Aristocratic Family, the Sun Family possesses a multitude of talismans. I wonder if you could spare a few Second Order talismans?" "I am not greedy and only request ten. With them, the Lin Family will join the Sun Family''s ranks!" When Lin Shikang agreed to join the alliance, a flash of joy crossed Sun Dingfeng''s face. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At Lin Shikang''s request for ten Second Order Talismans, his expression changed instantly. Second Order Talismans were no trivial commodity. Even the Sun Family, with a century of accumulation, had only a limited stock. "Daoist Lin, within our Sun Family, Second Order Talismans are also extremely precious and rare. At most, we can provide five. Would that be acceptable?" Seeing that Sun Dingfeng''s expression did not seem feigned and considering the Lin Family had already gained quite a bit, Lin Shikang did not further press the issue. "Let''s follow Daoist Sun''s proposal. The Lin Family will form an alliance with the Sun Family, united in our cause!" Sun Dingfeng retrieved five Second Order Talismans and handed them to Lin Shikang, fulfilling his promised contribution. After half an hour of negotiation, the two finalized the details of their alliance. The Lin Family pledged to stand firmly with the Sun Family in their fight against the Jin Family. Should they break this vow, those of the Lin Family who had sworn the oath would die violently on the spot. "Daoist Lin, now that we have agreed to form an alliance, let us swear an oath to the Heart Demon." "Very well!" After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, both individuals recited their Heart Demon Oaths. Once a mysterious beam of light entered their Sky Spirit Covers, the oath was complete. A quarter of an hour later, Sun Dingfeng and his companion left the protective formation of the Lin Family''s clan grounds, boarding a Crowned Spirit Crane and flying away. Chapter 90 Qi Refinement Level 9_1 In his own small courtyard, inside the cultivation room.Lin Tianming sat on a cushion, hands clasped together, eyes slightly closed, with only the sound of his even breathing. After several days of cultivation in the secret chamber, he had adjusted his state to its optimum. He took out a jade bottle and poured out a greenish pill, which was the very Pozhang Pill he had concocted himself. With his cultivation having reached the extreme limit of the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, taking advantage of returning to the Lin Family, he could use the Pozhang Pill to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining in one fell swoop. Once he was prepared, he took a deep breath and consumed the Pozhang Pill. As soon as the pill entered his mouth, a violent surge of spiritual power rapidly swept through his body. He felt as if his body was about to ignite, his face turned bright red, veins bulging, presenting a somewhat frightening appearance. "I didn''t expect the power of the Pozhang Pill to be so strong; no wonder it can break through the bottleneck!" Without time to think further, Lin Tianming quickly operated his cultivation technique to refine the violent spiritual power. Time ticked away, the sensation of pricking pain did not diminish in the slightest, but instead grew stronger. Lin Tianming showed a look of pain, clenching his teeth tightly, his eyes showing several strands of blood. Before long and through the process of cultivation and refinement, the originally violent medicinal power became spiritual power and started to feel more gentle. Lin Tianming directed the refined spiritual power towards the Qi Sea within. As the spiritual power gradually increased and reached a certain amount, the already crowded Qi Sea seemed to have reached its limit, hardly able to take more. Even so, Lin Tianming did not stop, continuing to madly channel spiritual power into the Qi Sea. Soon, the shape and volume of the Qi Sea underwent considerable change, expanding and contracting intermittently. Lin Tianming knew that he was at a critical juncture and needed to break through the barrier as quickly as possible. Focusing his mind, he increased the intensity of refining the pill''s power once more, organizing the spiritual power to repeatedly impact it. After numerous impacts, an intense pain spread throughout his body, which then quickly returned to normal. Lin Tianming revealed intense joy, repeatedly checking the condition of the Qi Sea within his Seven Sea Dantian. The Qi Sea had significantly expanded in size, and there was still a small amount of the pill''s medicinal power left unrefined, which continued to turn into strands of gentle spiritual power flowing in. With the help of the Pozhang Pill, Lin Tianming successfully broke through and entered the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation. "Huff huff..." Even though he had successfully broken through, Lin Tianming did not rest, continuing to refine the remaining medicinal power to consolidate his cultivation. More than ten days passed, Lin Tianming opened his eyes that had been shut for half a month, his gaze flashing with a sharp light. After more than twenty days in closed-door cultivation, he had finally achieved a smooth breakthrough. Feeling the surging spiritual power, much stronger than at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, if he faced the Wind Shadow Leopard again, he alone would be enough to handle it. The exhilarating feeling after a cultivation breakthrough was truly addictive! With a moment of reflection, Lin Tianming stood up and left the secret chamber. In a few more days, he would return to Luoyun Market. Before leaving, he decided to first visit the Hall of Merit to exchange the spoils of battle he had acquired recently, and to resupply his talisman paper and spiritual medicine materials, given that his stock of talismans was nearly depleted. Inside the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming found Lin Shixin and handed him two storage pouches. Inside were the corpses of more than twenty Wind Shadow Leopards, including the body of the pack leader, as well as some low-grade spiritual medicine materials and miscellaneous items¡ªall battle spoils. Lin Shixin took the storage pouches and sent his Divine Sense into them, meticulously checking the contents. After a little more than ten breaths, he had a rough valuation. Lin Shixin''s face remained calm, and with a smile, he announced the price. "Three thousand six hundred and fifty spirit stones!" "Good, Uncle Shi, I want three thousand Spirit Stones, and the rest can be exchanged for talisman paper and Spiritual Medicine!" After speaking, Lin Tianming handed Lin Shixin a list. Since Merit Points were of no use outside, and the family didn''t have many good items, it was better to prepare more Spirit Stones for times of need. It wasn''t long before Lin Shixin took out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming. Inside were a large number of Spirit Stones, several dozen Medium and High Quality talisman papers, and a small amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials. Having completed the exchange, he chatted idly with Lin Shixin. Through their discussion, Lin Tianming learned that Lin Shixin had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and had exchanged for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, planning to go into closed-door cultivation three months later to attempt the Foundation Establishment Stage. Besides him, another member of the Lin Family from the Xing generation was also planning to enter closed-door cultivation to make a breakthrough. With less than a year until the great competition in Luoyun Market, the Lin Family was doing all they could to prepare for the crisis. In just three years, numerous members of the Lin Family had attempted to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, something unimaginable in the past. Explore hidden tales at empire Unfortunately, Lin Shixin was already ninety-six years old, barely two years younger than the grandfather''s age when he attempted Foundation Establishment, with equally slim hopes. "Uncle Shi, the blessed naturally attract good fortune. You will surely succeed!" With no other way to help, Lin Tianming could only offer such comfort. "Do our best and leave the rest to fate..." Lin Shixin''s gaze was firm, seemingly indifferent to the success of his attempt, showing a free and easy demeanor. After ending their idle chat and bidding farewell to Lin Shixin, Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit, summoned the Earth Evil Sword, and flew towards Lin Tianqin''s courtyard. As soon as the news of Lin Tianming''s return spread, he was invited to a gathering. Unable to politely refuse, he agreed to attend, finally getting Lin Tianqin to leave him alone. Otherwise, he would never have peace. After half an hour, Lin Tianming was sitting with Lin Tianfeng and others, chatting idly. Not having seen them for a year, Lin Tianfeng was still at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, while Lin Tianhong had successfully broken through to the Sixth Level. Lin Tianqin, who practiced with great diligence, was at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, and his sister, Lin Tianyue, had made significant progress, reaching the Fourth Level with the help of various elixirs. Among their generation, the male members progressed the fastest, while the females lagged somewhat behind, since they hadn''t undergone as many trials. The gathering that day was particularly lively, lasting well into the evening before dispersing. Lin Tianming said goodbye to everyone and returned to his own courtyard. Taking out his storage bag, he began to examine its contents carefully. There were over four thousand Spirit Stones, several dozen talisman papers, and more than three hundred elixirs in total; he was certainly not lacking in elixirs. After checking his storage bag, Lin Tianming examined the Sword Qi condensed in his Dantian. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had long mastered the Great Sun Sword Qi Art obtained at the auction; the Sword Qi had condensed and, after nearly two years of nurturing, had nearly become tangible, emitting waves of cold air. Lin Tianming speculated that this Spirit Art was at least of the Mysterious Grade. Unfortunately, without the latter part of the technique, he couldn''t activate it, which was a true pity. It was as if he had a treasure vault right in front of him but lacked the key to open it, leaving him unable to access the treasures within, an extremely frustrating feeling. "Huff..." There was no use in just thinking about it. The latter half of the Spirit Art was nowhere to be found, and whether he could find it relied on luck. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming brought his palms together and started to run his cultivation technique, beginning his practice. Three days later, a month had passed, and it was time to return to Luoyun Market. Waiting outside the family''s grand formation was Lin Xingzhi. Seeing Lin Tianming flying over, the two greeted each other. They released the Purple Gold Eagle, jumped onto its back, soared a hundred meters into the clouds, and flew towards Luoyun Market. After half a day, they arrived at the market. Chapter 91 Mysterious Moon Order_1 Time flew by, and three months passed.It had been several months since I returned to the market, spending three days each month on alchemy, while the rest of the time I dedicated to secluded cultivation, not relaxing for a moment. With the help of elixirs, my cultivation level was slowly increasing, but the pace was very slow, and there was still a long way to go to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. I shifted my long-seated body and got up from the secret chamber. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming appeared on a street in the marketplace. Looking around at the shops and the few passers-by, Lin Tianming began to wander leisurely. The market was also very calm, with large numbers of cultivators coming and going every day, as usual, showing no signs of anything unusual. Perhaps it was the calm before the storm! Without realizing it, Lin Tianming found himself in a square at the marketplace, precisely the area where stalls were set up. Lin Tianming carefully surveyed the area, which was only around thirty acres, much smaller than Qianchuan Market, but it still had a decent crowd. In this thirty-odd acres of space, there were already over two hundred stalls, with several cultivators selecting items at almost every stall. It seemed that although Luoyun Market was small, there were still many cultivators engaged in small trades. Having nothing better to do, I thought to stroll around since I was there, to see if there might be some gains. Lin Tianming entered and started his perusal from a stall by the entrance. After passing more than a dozen stalls, most of the items for sale were mostly spiritual medicine materials and demonic beast materials, with a comparatively small proportion of elixirs and spiritual artifacts. Thinking about it, I could understand why; after all, Luoyun Market was established at the edge of Luoyun Mountain Range, acting as a foothold for loose cultivators. Many loose cultivators teamed up to hunt demonic beasts in the mountains, with most of the materials they obtained being spiritual medicine materials and demonic beast materials. Among the loose cultivators, cultivation was already extremely difficult, and the consumption of alchemists and artificers was too large, too much for loose cultivators to afford the hefty initial investments. And the proportion of alchemists and artificers in the Cultivation World was still quite small, so in Luoyun Market, the prices of spiritual medicines and demonic beast materials were relatively low. Without realizing it, I wandered through dozens of stalls and did not find anything particularly special. I had spent only a little over three hundred spirit stones, purchasing a few rather rare spiritual medicine materials and several First Order Late Stage demon beast inner pills, which could be considered a bit of a gain. As I strolled along, I made my way to a stall deep within the market. Suddenly, the Eye of Five Colors twitched inexplicably. It was very strange. Having had the Eye of Five Colors for several years, it had never acted on its own before. "It looks like it has discovered something." Following the guidance of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming stopped at a stall. The stall''s owner was a young man in his twenties, at the Third Level of Qi Refining, who Lin Tianming judged to be a loose cultivator. There were only a little over ten items on the entire stall, all of which were as ordinary as could be. Seeing Lin Tianming approach, the young man greeted him with a smile. He had been setting up for half the day without selling much, and with a rare customer, he naturally wanted to offer good service. "Fellow Daoist, please look around. Whatever you like, I will give you the best price," he said. "Hmm..." Lin Tianming said nothing further, and began to search directly through the jumbled pile of beast skins. "What is this?" Amid the beast skins lay an oval-shaped token, still covered with some dirt, presenting a greyish-brown color. The token''s surface bore no text, just a few spirit beast patterns engraved on it. Lin Tianming held the token in his hand, closely examining it. Find adventures at empire Still not finding anything unusual. "Huh." Everything this man offered for sale was commonplace, nothing special, except this token that revealed no information, which had to be the object in question. After repeatedly examining it and still finding no clues, I decided to buy it regardless of whether or not it was genuine. "Fellow Daoist, what is this token, and how many spirit stones are you selling it for?" Lin Tianming began to inquire directly. "One hundred and fifty spirit stones!" The young man originally wanted to shout out a price of two hundred spirit stones, but the cultivators who had heard this price before had all left, obviously feeling it was not worth it. Thus, fearing that the cultivator before him would find it too expensive, he figured it would be better to just sell it for one hundred and fifty spirit stones. After all, he had not expended much effort to obtain the token, nor had he spent any spirit stones on it. "How about one hundred spirit stones?" Lin Tianming began to bargain directly, although one hundred spirit stones were truly nothing to him. Still, he had to appear reluctant, making the young man believe this item was just an ordinary thing. "One hundred and thirty spirit stones..." "One hundred and twenty spirit stones..." Lin Tianming was unyielding and did not show a particularly strong desire to buy, continuing to discuss the price. "Fellow Daoist, if you really want to buy it, one hundred and twenty-five spirit stones, let''s just become friends!" the young cultivator said sincerely. "Alright, I''ll take it for the price you''ve said." Lin Tianming nodded calmly and then took out one hundred and twenty-five spirit stones from his storage bag and handed them to the young man. After checking and confirming the correct amount, the young man handed the token to Lin Tianming. Having received the token, Lin Tianming was not in the mood to keep browsing and turned to leave the stall area, heading back to his family''s small courtyard. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming hastily took out the token and inspected it over and over, hoping for some clue. After pondering for half an hour, he still couldn''t make heads or tails of it. Right, let''s try to refine it and see if that''s of any use. Lin Tianming''s expression changed, and he bit his finger, dropping a drop of fresh blood onto the token, closely observing any changes in the token. After a quarter of an hour had passed, there was still no movement. "Huff!" "It seems that won''t work; let''s try some other methods," Lin Tianming muttered to himself. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having struggled for half a day trying various methods, there was still no response. "Could it be that I was mistaken!" Lin Tianming thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the idea. Few words are needed regarding the marvels of the Eye of Five Colors, which had provided him with significant help. With its accomplishment in breaking alchemy formations, penetrating illusion techniques, and its rank on the List of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders, it seemed unlikely that he had made a mistake. "That''s it, let''s try using the Eye of Five Colors!" Having made up his mind, he opened the Eye of Five Colors, placed the token in front of him, and examined it carefully. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, he finally saw something different. The originally dark brown color of the token turned golden yellow, which was truly incredible. Not only had the color changed, but the birds and animals on the token had as well, becoming more vivid and lifelike. Beyond that, a line of small characters was revealed inside the token. "Mysterious Moon Order!" "What does this mean?" Lin Tianming carefully reviewed all the information in his mind, hoping to recall something related to the Mysterious Moon. Despite having consulted many family secrets, heavenly and earthly treasures, and the names of some powerful individuals, there was no clue that could be directly connected to it. He pondered for an entire day but came up with nothing. "Forget it, forget it..." It seemed his knowledge was limited, and it was unrealistic to clarify this matter in a short time. He put away the Mysterious Moon token into his storage bag, planning to search for information in the market tomorrow; maybe he could find a clue. Chapter 92 Mixed Feelings_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming held a jade slip in his hands, pondering deeply after consulting it.Today, he had purposely bought a large number of books from various shops in the marketplace, including some that recorded the wonders of heaven and earth, but he still hadn''t found any references related to the Mysterious Moon Order. Lin Tianming speculated that it was very likely the key to some secret realm or the token of a large family or sect. In the vast Cultivation World, there are many dangerous places and secret realms, which contain a multitude of treasures but also numerous prohibitions and formation protections, all extremely powerful. Usually, special tokens or certain items are needed to enter. Alternatively, when a secret realm emerges into the world, its prohibitions might be weakened, making entry much safer. If one does not have the specific items and attempts to force their way in, it''s very easy to be attacked by the prohibitions, risking loss of life. It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, in Xuanzhou, a secret realm was discovered. A Nascent Soul Cultivator rashly entered and was directly killed by the powerful prohibitions. There are not a few such examples in the Cultivation World. You must understand that Nascent Soul Cultivators are already powerful figures that can preside over a region; even such individuals can die under prohibitions, which shows that secret realms are not something one can simply enter on a whim. Since no relevant records could be found, he could only set the matter aside for now. Packing the Mysterious Moon Token and a large number of books into his storage bag, he once again commenced his retreat for cultivation. Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. On the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Shigong sat in the courtyard, closely monitoring the activities of two other courtyards. He had been waiting here for a month, as Lin Shixin and Lin Xingyuan were in retreat, impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, and family members were needed to protect the law. As he was relatively idle, he took on the task. In a short while, Clan Leader Lin Shihua entered the courtyard. "Ninth Brother, Shixin and Xingyuan have been in retreat for a month now, why is there still no movement?" Lin Shihua''s expression was solemn, revealing his anxiety. "Shihua, comprehending the insights from our ancestors takes a few days, and judging from the time, regardless of success or failure, we should see results soon. Just be a bit more patient," Lin Shigong said. "Alright, there''s nothing else we can do!" Lin Shihua said with a touch of helplessness. Suddenly, the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread out. A smile flashed across both of their faces concurrently. "It''s Xingyuan!" "Xingyuan has successfully broken through!" A month''s wait finally bore fruit, and they both let out a long sigh of relief. Filled with immense joy, Lin Xingyuan''s breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Stage added another Foundation Establishment Cultivator to the Lin Family, making a total of six. After a while, they regained their composure, and Lin Shigong said: Discover hidden tales at empire "Shihua, your clan responsibilities are demanding, you shouldn''t waste any more time here. Although Xingyuan has broken through, he still needs to solidify his cultivation. I''m enough to handle things here." "Furthermore, keep the news of Xingyuan''s breakthrough confidential for now. Shixin is still in retreat. Instruct the clan members not to approach; my presence is enough!" "Alright, Ninth Brother, please take care. If anything happens, just send a message to me." "Hmm!" Lin Xinghua bowed and left, leaving Lin Shigong to continue guarding Lin Shixin. Time flew by, and another ten days passed. Lin Shixin had been in retreat for forty days now. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the secret chamber, Lin Shixin''s face was pale. Starting from the day he took the Minor Foundation Building Pill, it had now been thirty days, the final day. As he watched the rapidly dissipating power of the pill, with less than half of its strength remaining and a significant amount of spiritual power yet to be refined, Lin Shixin became extremely anxious. Over the past month, Lin Shixin had done his utmost to refine spiritual power, but the process was simply too slow. At this rate, he would certainly fail to complete it. With only the remaining half of the pill''s power left, Lin Shixin decided to make a last all-out effort. If he still couldn''t break through, he would be stuck in the Qi Refinement Realm. Lin Shixin operated his cultivation technique, completely disregarding the piercing pain in his Seven Sea Dantian, refined the last of the pill''s power, and launched another assault for a breakthrough. Outside the small courtyard, Lin Shigong''s face was exceedingly grim, burdened with deep concerns. At this moment, he was extremely worried about the success or failure of Lin Shixin. Lin Shixin and Lin Shigong were not far apart in age and had spent similar years in cultivation. Since childhood, they had played together and learned the knowledge of cultivation together. Lin Shixin had a very good nature, optimistic and cheerful, not at all as staid as Lin Shigang and Lin Shiji; he had a good relationship with every one of their clansmen brothers. The affection among the peers of the clan was profound; although they were not blood brothers, they were more like true brothers. From any perspective, he hoped that Lin Shixin would successfully break through, so that the family could become stronger and not have to part ways with the heavens and earth in twenty years. Today was already the fortieth day, and if he did not succeed, he would completely fail and would never have a chance again. "Sigh..." Lin Shigong sighed again. Half a day passed by, and inside the secret chamber. Lin Shixin, disregarding the consequences, made several more attempts to break through. By now, Lin Shixin''s face was pale as death, disheveled, with blood seeping from his seven orifices, his breath was extremely feeble. As the last trace of the medicinal strength faded away, Lin Shixin''s last sliver of hope was completely shattered. Lin Shixin stopped his cultivation practice, shook his head with a bitter smile, and felt somewhat downhearted. Despite the difficulty of acceptance, the fact was that he had failed, and he could only resign himself to fate. He stood up, straightened up his appearance, and walked out of the secret chamber. Outside the house, Lin Shigong saw Lin Shixin coming out and hurriedly greeted him. Lin Shigong wanted to say something several times but didn''t know what to say, and in the end could only offer words of comfort: "Shixin, it''s okay as long as you''ve tried your best, don''t overthink it!" "Ninth Brother, I''m fine, you all don''t need to worry!" Lin Shixin said with a smile, seemingly having come to terms with reality and recovering his spirits. Seeing this, Lin Shigong felt even heavier in his heart. "Shixin, you should go back and rest for now. There''s a long road ahead, and the younger generation has yet to grow up; the family still needs you!" "Thank you for your concern, Ninth Brother. Such is fate; if I''ve failed, then I''ve failed!" Having said that, Lin Shixin cupped his fists in farewell and flew down the mountain. Inside Lin Shigong''s courtyard, Lin Shihua hurried over, and the two discussed the outcome for Lin Shixin and the others. Lin Shigong sighed repeatedly, "Shihua, your Tenth Brother has failed!" Hearing this news, Lin Shihua also turned pale and immediately inquired. "How is Tenth Brother doing, and what about his mood?" "He''s all right, he''s suffered some backlash, but with some time to recover, he will be fine." "Sigh... that''s good!" Lin Shihua was also very emotional. Too many of the Shi generation had been delayed; if it had been twenty years earlier, the hope for breakthrough would have been much greater. With Lin Shixin''s failure to establish his foundation, the Shi generation of the Lin Family had virtually no chance left, with only Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe being too old and having only a theoretical possibility, on top of that, there were no more Minor Foundation Building Pill quotas left for the Shi generation. Meanwhile, members of the Xing generation still had potential and with Lin Xingyuan, two people had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment. As long as they had the spiritual objects for Foundation Establishment, the Lin Family was not lacking in cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage. "What''s done is done; we can only accept it." The two chatted idly for a while and then busied themselves with their own tasks. The Lin Family remained very tranquil, as if there were no ripples at all. Chapter 93 Selection of Contestants_1 Lin Family Clan Grounds, Elders'' Council Hall.Lin Shihua was chatting casually with Lin Xingzhi when clan members occasionally entered. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and already more than ten people were present in the great hall, among them Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong. At that moment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu entered the hall side by side, and all the clanspeople stood up to greet them. The two men nodded in acknowledgement and then each took their seats in the vacant spots. Seeing that Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu had arrived, and with most members of the Elders'' Council present, Lin Shihua rose to his feet to speak. "Since all our kinsmen have gathered, let us begin," he said. "Today, we convene to discuss the upcoming Luoyun Market Competition," he announced. "Xingzhi, you have been overseeing the market for nearly two years now, give us a report on the market situation first," he requested. "Yes!" Lin Xingzhi stood and began to report: "Over the past two years, the Luoyun Market has been as peaceful as ever, even the Jin Family has become much less troublesome, with all five major families conducting business in an orderly manner and not disturbing one another, which is extremely abnormal." "Strangely, consumable elixirs and various Fu Lu Spiritual Instruments have become sought-after in the shops, with their selling price generally increased by ten percent compared to a few years ago, which clearly indicates that the five major families and some stronger Qi Refining Families are deliberately accumulating resources for war." "Although the Jin Family is being quite secretive, they have still revealed some traces of their activity," he observed. "All indications point to the Jin Family definitely harboring intentions of making a move," he analyzed. "Hmm..." The clanspeople began to discuss among themselves, exchanging their own opinions, filling the great hall with lively chatter. This information was almost old news to the Lin Family''s high-ranking members and those with higher cultivation, but it was just reiterated to maintain a sense of urgency among the clan members. "Xingzhi, do not relax your vigilance, continue to monitor the Jin Family''s movements, and report back promptly with any news," Lin Shihua ordered with a stern expression. "Yes!" Lin Xingzhi saluted and then sat down again. "Next, we need to discuss the candidates for the forthcoming Luoyun Market Competition. Some of the clanspeople present have not experienced it before, so I will explain the rules to everyone first," he said. The Luoyun Market Competition has a history of hundreds of years, and the event held every fifty years is extremely important for every family. The purpose of hosting the Luoyun Market Competition is to allocate market profits and to avoid direct conflict. The family that ranks first in the competition will earn thirty percent of the market''s profit, the second gets twenty percent, the third, fifteen percent, and the fourth and fifth each get ten percent. The remaining fifteen percent is divided among more than ten Qi Refining Families. More than two hundred years ago, the Lin Family had twice consecutively taken the first place, but as the talent of subsequent generations declined, they gradually fell to third. Therefore, each competition is crucial; the Jin Family has already won first place three times in a row, amassing a great wealth over the span of more than a hundred years. It is with this wealth that the Jin Family has grown increasingly stronger, and the gap between the five major families has widened. The Jin Family is clearly no longer satisfied with the status quo. The Lin Family, having ranked third for three consecutive competitions, earns over thirty thousand spirit stones per year, with the vast majority of the Lin Family''s wealth coming from the market, highlighting the importance of the Luoyun Market Competition. As for the rules of the competition, each of the five major families must select three Qi Refining Stage clan members to compete, with no participant older than forty years. Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua were among those who participated in the last competition. When the competition starts, the contestants from the five major families will be taken to the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range to hunt Demonic Beasts as teams. The hunting period is one month long; an Initial Phase First Order Demonic Beast is worth ten points, a Medium Stage fifty points, and a Late Stage a hundred points. Rankings are determined by the total points accumulated, and slaying a Second Order Demonic Beast almost guarantees a first place finish. Just then, a clan member who had no prior experience spoke up: "If we''re forming teams to hunt demonic beasts, couldn''t someone simply bring out a prepared demonic beast corpse to boost their numbers?" "Anything you can think of, everyone else can think of too. After hundreds of years of patching loopholes, that method is still unfeasible!" "That''s because after each demonic beast is slain, its corpse must be marked with a special seal. This seal is only assigned by drawing lots right before the start of the competition. Not only that, but whether a beast is being used to pad the numbers can be determined based on the time of its death." If it''s discovered that a family is helping or that a contestant is cheating, they will be immediately disqualified from participating for the next hundred years. Thus, no family has dared to cheat in this way. After Lin Shihua finished explaining, several Xing clan members without experience also understood the rules. "Now that everyone understands, let''s recommend candidates for the competition. Each clan member can nominate themselves or someone else, with the final selection to be decided by Foundation Establishment cultivators." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, most of the clan members started discussing it. In the Lin Family, those under forty with at least Seventh Level Qi Cultivation, considering realm, only qualified seven clan members to be candidates, most of whom were the younger Xing clan members. "Tian Ming is the top choice!" "I also nominate Tian Ming!" Very quickly, many clan members endorsed him, and Lin Tianming was the first to be selected. According to the rules, with his Ninth Level Qi Refinement, Lin Tianming''s strength was extraordinarily strong, making him the natural first choice. As for the other two candidates, everyone had their own opinions. "I nominate Xing Qi, he''s at the Qi Refining Eighth Level and just under forty!" "I nominate Xing Yu, he''s also at Qi Refining Eighth Level and meets the criteria." Lin Shiji, who had been silent for a long while, suddenly spoke up with his suggestion. "I think Tianfeng isn''t bad, even though his cultivation is only at Seventh Level Qi Cultivation, the lad is experienced and strong. The difference of one level isn''t significant, I believe Tianfeng is fully capable." Lin Shixin also spoke up supporting Lin Tianfeng. After half an hour, various clan members expressed their views. In the end, five candidates were left for Lin Shikang and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators to decide on. "Third Brother, Ninth Brother, Shi Lu, what are your thoughts?" Lin Shihua started to inquire. Continue your adventure with empire After several discussions, they decided to select Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng. With the candidates determined, Lin Shihua spoke up. "The candidates have been determined, with Xing Yu, Tian Ming, and Tianfeng participating. Each will receive a Jade Spirit Fruit to further their progress. As for the rewards after the competition, that will be discussed once it is over." "Alright, with the competition matters settled, does anyone have anything else to report?" Seeing no one else speak, Lin Shikang stood up and said: "There is only half a year left until the Luoyun Market competition. This competition is particularly important as it could trigger a large-scale clan war. Although the risks are high, it is also an opportunity for our Lin Family. All clan members must stay sharp and prepare to face the threat from the Jin Family." "Shiji, in three months'' time, all family protective formations must be activated. All clan members are forbidden to leave privately and must not leave their posts unauthorized. Did everyone hear that clearly?" "Yes..." The clan members responded in unison. Leading the way, Lin Shikang was the first to walk out of the hall. In a moment, all the clan members left in order, and this clan meeting concluded. Chapter 94 Family Fire Seed (Two in One) _1 Inside the Hundred Treasures Building at the Luoyun Market.Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianming were sitting in armchairs, drinking tea and making idle conversation. "Tianming, the date of the Market''s grand competition is approaching, and the family has already decided on the participants. You''ll lead the team in the competition, joined by Tianfeng and your Uncle Xing Yu." "Tianfeng is also participating?" Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, indicating that the family''s situation didn''t seem optimistic. The significance of the Market''s grand competition goes without saying. The Tian Clan Members are still young, and the Xing Clan Members with higher cultivation have exceeded the age limit. If the competition were to be held a decade later, when the Tian Clan Members had grown further, the Lin Family would stand a much better chance. Regrettably, things didn''t go as hoped, and the Lin Family was stuck in a transitional period. As for his own participation in the competition, Lin Tianming wasn''t surprised. When he returned to the family half a year ago, his grandfather had already hinted that it was very likely he''d participate, so he had started preparing early on. "Seventeenth Uncle, I''ve already made preparations!" Lin Xingzhi nodded his head. Although the cultivations of the family''s participants weren''t particularly high this time¡ªonly Lin Tianming had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining¡ªhe had a lot of confidence in Lin Tianming. "Hmm, you probably don''t know the rules of the competition yet. Let me tell you again, so you''re mentally prepared," Lin Xingzhi said, and explained the rules thoroughly and in detail. Discover more stories at empire After a quarter hour, Lin Tianming nodded to confirm he understood the rules. Lin Xingzhi let out a sigh of relief and then handed Lin Tianming a Jade Spirit Fruit. "This Jade Spirit Fruit is provided by the family for the three of you. Try to enhance your strengths as much as possible. After the competition is over, there will also be generous rewards!" Lin Tianming received the Jade Spirit Fruit and said, "Don''t worry, Seventeenth Uncle, we will definitely take first place in the competition!" Seeing Lin Tianming full of confidence, Lin Xingzhi was very gratified and couldn''t help but praise, "Good! You truly are a fine man of our Lin Family. I believe you can do it!" "Tianming, time is tight, you''ve only got half a year. Go into seclusion to cultivate and try to improve your cultivation level as much as possible!" "Yes!" Lin Tianming agreed wholeheartedly, bowed with his hands clasped before leaving. A quarter hour later, he returned to his little courtyard and immediately entered the secret chamber. With half a year until the competition and possessing the Jade Spirit Fruit, he could cultivate once more, trying to improve his cultivation level as much as possible. Making up his mind, he immediately entered a state of cultivation. ... Four months passed in a flash. The five great families of the Luoyun Mountain Range were unusually calm, an unprecedented harmony that had lasted nearly two years, truly unexpected. ... In the northern part of the Luoyun Market, within a valley shrouded in dense fog, seven cultivators arrived on flying swords and descended on a mountaintop. Standing on the mountaintop, overlooking the entire valley, a small river about several zhang wide meandered eastward. The large expanse of bamboo forests among the mountains offered a beautiful view, somewhat reminiscent of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Xingrong took out a map made of beast skin and observed the whole valley repeatedly, then compared it carefully. After meticulous comparison, he was certain that this was the place mentioned by Lin Shikang. This valley, discovered by Lin Shikang many years ago during his travels, was particularly secluded, right on the edge of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Another five hundred li to the north would reach the edge of the Maple Forest Mountain Range. The location was complex, at the fringe of the Jin Family''s influence and close to the Maple Forest Mountain Range. Less than two thousand li from the Qianchuan Market, if Lin Xingrong traveled at full speed, it would take just a few days to reach the Qianchuan Market. After confirming the location was correct, Lin Xingrong extended his Divine Sense, searching throughout the valley. A quarter hour later, finding nothing unusual in the valley, he led the way into the valley, followed closely by the other six. Once inside, Lin Xingrong told Lin Xingqi who was behind him, "Xingqi, you guys start digging a cave dwelling in the mountain waist right away. It doesn''t need to be big, just enough for the seven of us to live in!" "Yes!" Lin Xingqi called Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianhu, and the others, and they all took out their Spirit Swords and began digging. After half an hour, Lin Xingqi and the others had carved out a passage tens of zhang deep into the mountain waist, with several rooms of varying sizes on each side. Although rudimentary, they were suitable for temporary lodging. Lin Xingrong took out a set of First Order Medium Grade array instruments and quickly arranged them around the cave entrance, also setting up several Illusion Techniques, before entering the cave. Gathering his fellow clan members, they sat down together. Lin Xingrong''s demeanor was solemn as he swept his sharp gaze over the clan members. Lin Xingqi, Lin Xingyi, Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianhu, and he himself made up a total of seven people. Looking at the two generations of clan members, all of whom were among the most talented in the Lin Family, Lin Xingrong felt both proud and helpless. He thought of the task assigned to him by Lin Shikang and the words he had said, and it weighed heavily on him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Initially, he opposed sending away these clan members, preferring to face whatever came with them, only to be scolded by Lin Shikang. If their lineage really ended, how could they face their ancestors? Thinking of the trust placed in him by Lin Shikang, Lin Xingrong felt an enormous sense of responsibility and was extra cautious along the way, for fear of being detected by the Jin Family. For a short distance of just over a thousand li, it took nearly ten days to travel safely. In the meantime, the several people were unaware of the full situation and didn''t dare to ask, only knowing they were carrying out a special mission. Looking at the perplexed looks of his clan members, Lin Xingrong''s expression turned grave as he laid out the entire situation before them. After hearing Lin Xingrong''s explanation, Lin Xingqi''s expression was resolute as he took the lead in volunteering. "Brother, is our special mission to stay here in seclusion for half a year? To let the clan members shed blood and sacrifice themselves? I want to go back and face it with the clan. I''m not afraid of death!" Chapter 94 Family Fire Seed (Two in One) _2 "Eleventh Uncle, I''m not afraid of dying either. I don''t want to live a life of constant fear and hiding; I want to go back and face the unknown dangers with my clan members, even if it means being shattered to pieces!"Lin Tianhong also spoke up, pleading to return to Green Bamboo Mountain and join his clan members. It wasn''t just the two of them; even the two women, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue, echoed the sentiment. Moved by the heartfelt words of the clanspeople, Lin Xingrong was deeply touched. "I understand how you feel. When my third uncle sought me out, I felt the same as you. If the family is truly in danger, we must have a contingency in place to reassure our people, otherwise, how can we face our esteemed ancestors!" "There is no need for you to worry. Our Lin Family already has six Foundation Establishment Cultivators and a strategic reserve left by our ancestors. It will not be easy for anyone who wants to take down our family. As long as everything is safe after six months, I will naturally bring you back." Hearing Lin Xingrong reveal the Lin Family''s hidden strength and trump cards, their reactions were somewhat less intense. "Before the tournament in Luoyun Market begins, I will leave for a short while to find Fifteenth Uncle. During the days I''m gone, you must all follow Xing Qi''s arrangements." "In summary, during this period, no one is allowed to leave without authorization or reveal themselves with the Lin surname. We must change our appearances and hide our identities, or severe punishment will follow!" "Do you understand?" "Yes..." Despite their reluctance, faced with Lin Xingrong''s commands, they could only obey. "Good. Now, each of you pick a secret chamber and begin your closed-door cultivation!" The six people bowed and departed after choosing their chambers. ... Green Bamboo Mountain, Family Elders'' Hall. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu had both emerged from seclusion and were casually chatting. In the past two years, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, as the two with the highest cultivation in the family, rarely made public appearances, choosing instead to cultivate in seclusion, striving to break through a minor realm to better manage potential dangers. Continue your saga on empire Before long, the assembled clanspeople arrived, and Clan Leader Lin Shihua stood up, convening a meeting. "The reason I''ve called everyone here today is for the Luoyun Market tournament. With just one month left, I''d like third brother to make the final arrangements!" After speaking, Lin Shihua turned to Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang stood up, his expression solemn as he said: "The participants for the tournament in Luoyun Market have been decided upon. Shi Lu will lead the team, departing in three days. Xing Rong has already set off in advance, lying in wait near the Luoyun Mountain Range. With Shi Lu in the open and Xing Rong concealed, they can cover for each other." "This tournament in Luoyun Market is a fuse; regardless of our ranking, the Jin Family might take action. If the Jin Family moves against Tian Ming and the others, having two Foundation Establishment Cultivators for protection should ensure safe retreats." "As for the family estate here, with all the family''s formations fully activated and myself overseeing them, along with the family''s Guardian Spirit Beast and all the clanspeople, it''s unlikely our safety will be threatened unless we''re attacked by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator or a high-order Array Master." Hearing Lin Shikang''s words brought a measure of comfort to the Xing Clan Members. In nearly a hundred years, the five major families had lived in relative peace, with plenty of minor skirmishes among Qi Refinement participants that could not shake the foundations of the families. Now, with the possibility of a large-scale clan war erupting, many were understandably concerned. Seeing the reaction of numerous clanspeople, Lin Shikang continued. "Although we have the protection of the great formation, we must not be careless. All clan members must be extra cautious, strictly forbidden from going out privately, ready to face any attack from the Jin Family!" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Did you all hear that clearly?" "We heard clearly!" All the clanspeople stood up and responded with a bow. Satisfied, Lin Shikang nodded and dismissed the gathering. As a large number of Xing Clan Members left the hall, eventually only eight people tacitly remained behind. Among the nine people left, eight were of the Shi generation, and the sole person from the Xing generation was Lin Xingyuan, who had just recently made a breakthrough. The nine people sat in a circle, none of them speaking first. "Cough cough..." Seeing no one start the conversation, Lin Shikang spoke up: "Shixin, have all the elixirs and talismans been distributed?" Lin Shixin''s expression was calm as he replied truthfully: "Third Brother, they were distributed half a year ago as required, exhausting all the accumulated resources for war preparations." To confront the potential crisis, the Lin Family had greatly enhanced the combat capability of its clanspeople by freely distributing resources accumulated over many years, with almost all Qi Refining Stage clanspeople receiving a portion of the resources. The few who didn''t receive resources either didn''t need them, like Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin, who, despite failing to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, were not comparable to ordinary cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage¡ªtherefore, those elixir charms were of little use to them. Another part was the clanspeople at the first and second layers of Qi Refining, whose cultivation was too low to be of significant use. Those from the third to the ninth layers of Qi Refining could all claim varying quantities of items, principally Lingshen Pills, Huiyuan Pills, and Consolidating Essence Pills, along with talismans of different grades. Following multiple orders from the family, the entire Lin Family operated like a war machine. "Hmm..." After Lin Shixin''s briefing, Lin Shikang said with a sense of gravity to Lin Shilu: "Shilu, once this clan war erupts, it will not be like the previous ones; we must make more preparations and keep some contingencies." "Among the clan, we have several Tian progeny who are exceptionally talented. As the seeds of the Lin Family, they have already left the clan in secret with Xing Rong and are temporarily hiding their identities. More importantly, Tian Ming, that child''s talents need no elaboration; he is the hope for our family''s rise. If the clan lands are lost, you and Xing Rong must protect him and wait for the younger generations to grow before returning to Green Bamboo Mountain!" Hearing Lin Shikang''s arrangements was like hearing a plea to care for his offspring; all the people in the hall felt a heavy heart. Seeing that the hall had fallen exceptionally quiet and everyone''s expressions were solemn, Lin Shilu spoke to reassure everyone. "Third Brother, our Lin Family has an eight-hundred-year history and has survived several crises. I believe we will get through this one as well¡ªno need to worry too much!" "Shilu is right, Third Brother, don''t overthink it!" The clan members echoed one after another. Hearing the reassurances of everyone, Lin Shikang said with a smile: "No need to be too pessimistic, everyone. Although the Jin Family is strong, the Lin Family also has six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the Guardian Spirit Beast. Nowadays, the Lin Family is no longer what it once was. Moreover, the Jin Family has no idea about Shi Gong and the others reaching Foundation Establishment; if they underestimate our strength, we can catch them off guard." "Besides our Lin Family, the Sun Family is also profound. Perhaps our Lin Family can take this opportunity to rise and dominate the entire Luoyun Mountain Range!" At these words, a fiery gleam flickered in the eyes of the clan members. The Lin Family had been dormant for two hundred years; if they could restore their past glory, even at the cost of sacrifice, it would be worth it. Now, with six Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family¡ªone more than the Jin Family had openly¡ªit truly held a not-insignificant hope. "In any case, although this is a crisis, it is also a great opportunity; all clanspeople must give their all. If we succeed in eradictating the Jin Family, we can rekindle the glory of our ancestors." After Lin Shikang''s bold and inspiring speech, the psychological burden on the clanspeople was somewhat lifted. Next, Lin Shikang took out a book that contained detailed information on the key members of the Jin Family, the latest intelligence gathered by the family over several years. The clan members took turns browsing through it, and Lin Shikang began to narrate. "Jin Zhiying, a member of the Jin Family''s Zhi generation, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and he reached this level thirty years ago, undoubtedly at the Great Perfection Realm, the highest cultivation in the Jin Family. It''s been thirty years since he last appeared, making him the most dangerous." "Jin Zhison, at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, an experienced Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Jin Family with formidable strength, who once served as the Clan Leader of the Jin Family, now rarely makes an appearance!" "Jin Chaozong, cultivator of the Jin Family''s Chao generation, at the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment, stationed at Luoyun Market, the most frequently seen member of the Jin Family!" "Jin Qishan, a cultivator of the Jin Family''s Qi generation, with Dual Spiritual Roots, likely at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm, and possibly already at Foundation Establishment. He has great potential; if there''s a chance, he must be killed; otherwise, the Jin Family will become an even more difficult adversary in a few decades." ... "The information on these individuals might not be entirely accurate, so everyone should only take it as a reference and not let their guard down!" After introducing information on more than ten individuals, the clan members finally understood the strength of the Jin Family¡ªit truly was profound. After an hour of analysis and discussion, the clanspeople had a good grasp of the Jin Family''s strength. Lin Shikang assigned tasks to everyone and then dismissed the clan members. All rose to their feet, clasped fists, and departed. Chapter 95 - The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_1 Three days later, at Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory.In the plaza outside the Elders'' Council Hall, dozens of people were gathered, almost all of them clan members above the fourth level of Qi Refinement. The clan members participating in the Luoyun Market competition were leaving the clan territory today, headed for Luoyun Market. A crowd emerged from their seclusions to see off Lin Shilu and the others. Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, and Clan Leader Lin Shihua, as well as other clan members of the "Shi" generation, were all present without exception. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the plaza, Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng were bidding farewell to familiar clan members. Looking at the people before him, Lin Shikang seemed somewhat melancholic. Despite having given instructions several times over in the past few days, Lin Shikang still took Lin Shilu aside for a long chat. After speaking for a good half an hour, it was Lin Shilu who finally took the initiative to say goodbye. "Third brother, Ninth Brother, it''s getting late. We must depart now, please take care of things within the clan!" "Hmm, be careful in everything, and remember not to act recklessly!" After speaking, Lin Shikang took out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Shilu, whispering something to him. More than ten breaths later, not until Lin Shilu had promised repeatedly, did Lin Shikang let out a sigh of relief and personally escorted Lin Shilu and the others outside the Protective Clan Formation. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a large group of clan members appeared at the entrance to the formation. Watching the clan members before him, Lin Shilu''s heart felt complex. Parting now, it was hard to predict¡ªif it might be a final farewell. "Shi Lu, let''s go!" Lin Shikang waved his hand, having already given all the necessary instructions¡ªit was time to set off. With slightly reddened eyes, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and others, bowed to a certain tower within the clan and then passed through the light curtain of the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the clan''s formation. Explore more adventures at empire Lin Shilu waved his hands and pulled out a Flying Sword from the storage bag, which he suspended in front of him. After casting a Law Decree, the greenish-yellow Spirit Sword swiftly grew to a length of three Zhang. Lin Shilu leaped onto the sword first, followed by Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng. Infusing it with Spiritual Power, the Spirit Sword soared into the air, flying towards Luoyun Market in the north. Watching Lin Shilu ride the sword away until he disappeared into the horizon, Lin Shikang still did not move. After gazing for half an hour, at Lin Shigong''s reminder did he finally snap back to attention, let out a sigh, and turned to Lin Shihua to speak. "Has the Protective Clan Formation been fully activated?" "It has been activated!" Lin Shihua responded truthfully, and then reported on the defense situation of the Lin Family. Ever since the Lin Family had entered a state of war preparedness, groups of people patrolled the clan territory every day. Even the range of the Protective Clan Formation had been significantly reduced, covering only the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain and a small town where mortals lived. With the reduced range and all the formations activated, the defensive and offensive power of the formation had increased several-fold, but the consumption of Spirit Stones was enormous. If it went on for too long, the Lin Family could not sustain it; they could only hold out for half a year. After hearing Lin Shihua''s arrangements, Lin Shikang was very satisfied. After disbanding the rest of the clan members, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua together inspected the clan territory one last time to ensure no oversights, then returned to the Summit of Qingzhu Mountain. ... At Golden Horn Mountain, Jin Family Clan''s Territory. Beneath a thousand-zhang high peak, several rivers converged at the base of the mountain to form a massive waterfall, a spectacular sight to behold. Inside a pavilion atop the mountain, Jin Zhiying sat with a man in a black robe in the high seat of the great hall. Several members of the Jin Family were seated below, listening to the conversation between Jin Zhiying and the black-robed elder. Jin Zhiying lifted a jade teacup, took a sip of Spiritual Tea, and began to chat leisurely with the black-robed elder beside him, speaking very politely. "Daoist Zhuang, are you confident in the task you have been entrusted with?" In response to Jin Zhiying''s question, the Zhuang-surnamed elder revealed a hint of an unusual expression. "I am absolutely certain I can break through the Protective Clan Formation of the other families, but the Lin Family''s formation is of no low grade; I am not overly confident. However, if Jin Daoyou launches a full-force attack, as long as a gap in the formation is opened, I can take advantage of it to find a flaw, and there is a good chance of breaking through the formation." Hearing Zhuang Zhenxin''s assurance, Jin Zhiying showed a strange smile. The Luoyun Mountain Range had been peaceful for nearly two hundred years. In order to swallow the other four major families in one fell swoop, he had been scheming for decades, and now the time was ripe; it was time to make a move. If he was going to strike, he had to inflict a total defeat on the other four major families. If he could acquire the treasures of the Sun Family and Lin Family, he might even have the chance to break through to the Golden Core Realm. An excited Jin Zhiying considered this possibility. "Hmm, with Daoist Zhuang''s involvement, we''re bound to succeed this time." "Here is a small portion of the deposit; after the matter is settled, the Jin Family will provide the remaining Spirit Stones, to your satisfaction!" After finishing his words, Jin Zhiying handed over a storage bag to Zhuang Zhenxin. After taking the storage bag from Jin Zhiying''s hand and checking its contents with his Divine Sense, Zhuang Zhenxin showed a satisfied smile, quickly regaining his composure. "Rest assured, Jin Daoyou, I will do my utmost. However, let me say this clearly: as per our agreement, after the success, I shall have unrestricted access to the collections of the Sun Family and Lin Family, and you must hand over the item I require. I hope Jin Daoyou does not go back on his word. Otherwise..." Jin Zhiying nodded, confidently saying: "Of course, if Daoist Zhuang fulfills the task, the Jin Family will not break its word!" "Hmm!" Once the two came to an agreement, Jin Zhiying turned his gaze to the many clan members below. "Zhisong, the day for the Luoyun Market competition is approaching. You and Chao Zong bring the younger generation along. Act according to plan. That Lin youngster has an exceptional talent; we must ensure his demise. Should he escape, he would become a relentless problem for the future." "Understood!" Jin Zhison stood up and cupped his hands in response, then took the clan members with him as they departed. ... Inside a secret chamber in a small courtyard within Luoyun Market, Lin Tianming was operating his Cultivation Technique, inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Energy rhythmically. Chapter 95 - The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_2 As a message transmission penetrated the secret chamber, it interrupted Lin Tianming, who had been cultivating for several months.For half a year, Lin Tianming had been in seclusion, cultivating and consuming Jade Spirit Fruits provided by the family, stabilizing his cultivation at the medium stage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Had the effects of the Jade Spirit Fruits not diminished after repeated doses compared to the first, perhaps with the help of elixirs, he could have made even further progress. Opening his eyes, a sharp light flickered within his bright pupils. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s aura was extremely stable and contained, and his physical condition was excellent. After tidying up the scattered jade boxes and jade bottles around him, he stood up and left the secret chamber. Inside the courtyard, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu, had already arrived at the market, discussing something with Lin Xingzhi and others. Upon seeing Lin Tianming emerge, Lin Shilu was delighted and waved him over. Lin Tianming hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "Tianming pays respect to Fifteenth Grandfather and all the elders of our clan." "Tianming, come over and sit!" "Yes!" After Lin Tianming sat down, he greeted Lin Tianfeng. Having not seen each other for half a year, Lin Tianfeng had also made significant progress. His cultivation was nearing the peak of the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, with an aura as sharp as a Spirit Sword, particularly striking. Unlike him, Lin Tianming''s aura was more subdued, and other than looking robust, he seemed like an ordinary martial artist. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Shilu recounted the rules and details of the Luoyun Market competition once again. Even though the others had heard it several times before, they still listened attentively. After all, Lin Shilu''s personal experiences with the competition were quite different from what others relayed. An hour passed, and Lin Shilu finished introducing the rules of the Luoyun Market competition, the range of the training grounds, and the strength of the Demonic Beasts. With Lin Shilu''s careful introduction and shared experiences, Lin Tianming and others learned a great deal. In the end, Lin Shilu took out a book and handed it to them. "This contains intelligence on the people of the other four major families, only the most important dozen or so. Although it might not be completely accurate, it can serve as a reference. The Sun Family, although our allies, should not be taken lightly. Without a full-scale war erupting, they are still competitors, so proceed with all due caution." "Yes!" After receiving the book, each person entered a secret chamber for a short-term seclusion, waiting for the start of the Luoyun Market competition. ... Inside his secret chamber, Lin Tianming took out the book and began to scrutinize it carefully. Jin Zhiying, Jin Chaozong, Jin Qishan, Lin Tianming paused when he reached this point. Jin Qishan, a dual-Spiritual Roots Cultivator from the Jin Family, only twenty-eight years old, definitely had the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage cultivation, perfectly eligible for the competition. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt no small pressure. "Huff..." Exhaling a breath of turbid air, he once again began to study the introductions of the other individuals. Sun Dingxian, Sun Ruiqing, Luo Chengjian, Wu Yinbao, he read through the roster of cultivators from each major family one by one, committing them to memory. With only one month left, the more he could enhance his cultivation, the safer he would be. Soon after, Lin Tianming resumed his cultivation practice. ... In a secret chamber within a valley at the northern boundary of the Luoyun Mountain Range, within the territory of the Jin Family, Lin Xingrong sat on a stone bed in the secret chamber, talking to himself. "There are ten more days until the Luoyun Market competition. It''s about time. We should set out!" Read new adventures at empire With that, Lin Xingrong sent out two messages. Before long, Lin Xingqi and Lin Tianhong entered the secret chamber. Looking at the two, close in age but of different generations, he said solemnly, "Xingqi, I will be away for more than a month. During this period, do not leave the cave residence without authorization. If an emergency arises, take the younger ones to the Qianchuan Market and seek out Elder Ye!" "If it''s really a last resort and you do go to Qianchuan Market, hand this storage bag over to Elder Ye. I believe after he sees it, he will naturally offer you protection for a while!" After speaking, Lin Xingrong pulled out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Xingqi. Lin Xingqi took the storage bag with a resolute expression, saying, "Rest assured, big brother, I will protect the youngsters and not let you down!" Pleased with the response, Lin Xingrong let them return to the secret chamber to cultivate. After the two left, Lin Xingrong stood up from the cave and, with a reluctant look, flew away towards the south. And so, time swiftly flew by. One clear morning, Lin Tianming emerged from the secret chamber and gathered with Lin Tianfeng and others, awaiting Lin Shilu. After more than ten breaths, Lin Shilu came out, stood in front of everyone, and scrutinized them repeatedly. Then, with satisfaction, he nodded and spoke, "Depart!" Lin Shilu led the way, with Lin Tianming and the others following closely behind. Leaving the courtyard, the four weaved through the streets, heading towards the entrance of Luoyun Market. As the great competition of Luoyun Market approached, the flow of people noticeably increased. Many cultivators who enjoyed spectacles left the market area and assembled at the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. When Lin Shilu and the others exited the entrance of the market, they summoned their flying swords, instantly attracting the attention of many cultivators. "It''s Elder Lin from the Lin Family!" ... A few Qi Training Cultivators exclaimed, drawing the gaze of a large number of cultivators towards Lin Tianming and his group. Lin Shilu didn''t pay them any mind, leading the others straight westward and quickly disappearing from sight. After an hour of expeditious travel, Lin Tianming and the others passed through the vast Guangmao Plain and appeared on top of a mountain hundreds of zhang high. Standing in the air, Lin Tianming surveyed the gathering spot below. The mountain wasn''t very tall, noticeably standing out on the expansive plain, with a nearly hundred-acre plateau at its peak that surprisingly formed a natural arena. Below the mountain, over a hundred Qi Refining Cultivators had already gathered to watch the fun. On the plateau, the Luo and Wu families had already arrived early, and several cultivators from Qi Refining Families were also watching the battle from the stage. Descending with his group to one corner of the plaza, the cultivators leading the Luo and Wu families greeted Lin Shilu with smiles. Lin Shilu reciprocated each greeting, appearing quite generous and proper. Soon after, four people arrived via Sword Flight from the sky, landing not far from the Lin Family Members. The leader of the group was Sun Dingfeng, who had previously gone to Green Bamboo Mountain to seek an alliance. Before he even landed, Sun Dingfeng''s hearty laughter could be heard. "Haha, I didn''t expect my fellow Daoists to have arrived before me. My respects to you all!" Lin Shilu and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators politely returned the greeting, being very courteous. After exchanging pleasantries, they didn''t say much more, each choosing to sit aside and quietly restore their energy. With the arrival of the Sun Family, four of the five great families had arrived, leaving only the Jin Family yet to appear. A tea''s time had passed, and the number of cultivators who had come to watch the excitement had reached more than two hundred. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Amidst the crowd''s commotion, a few cultivators shouted towards the sky: "The Jin Family has arrived, led by none other than Elder Jin Zhison!" Hearing the man''s exclamation, a great number of cultivators looked up into the sky, their faces filled with longing. Jin Zhison descended opposite the Lin Family members with a calm demeanor, greeting everyone. Since there had been no complete falling out, Lin Shilu and Sun Dingfeng didn''t show any unusual expression either, smiling and paying their respects but without much enthusiasm. Jin Zhison didn''t mind, appearing as if he had anticipated their response. The unspoken agreement among them felt odd to the onlookers. Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the five great families each took out a Spirit Sword of varying colors and threw them into the air, randomly shifting their positions. The five Foundation Establishment Cultivators reached out through the air and each retrieved a Spirit Sword. Lin Shilu caught a green Spirit Sword, which was surrounded by strong Wood-attribute Spiritual Power, quite peculiar. According to Lin Shilu, these five differently attributed Spirit Swords were crafted hundreds of years ago by a Third Order Artificer at the request of the five great families. Though their grade was only First Order Superior Grade, weaker than even the First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact, they served a special purpose: they could leave a unique mark. After every major competition, when the five great families redistributed the Spirit Swords, one was not allowed to catch the one they had the previous time. Therefore, it was impossible for someone to have the same sword twice within two hundred years. After handing the Spirit Sword to Lin Tianming, the other families also passed their Spirit Swords to the younger members of their clans. Then, Jin Zhison spoke, "Fellow Daoists, now that the Spirit Swords have been distributed, shall we begin?" Seeing that Lin Shilu and the others had no objections, Jin Zhison continued, "There''s no need to reiterate the rules of Luoyun Market''s grand competition. Your elders have already informed you. During the competition, life and death will be up to fate. Gather here in a month, and the ranking will be decided based on points!" After speaking, Jin Zhison instructed Jin Qishan behind him, "Go ahead!" Jin Zhison and his three companions didn''t hesitate, saluted, and immediately rose on their swords, flying into the western mountains. Seeing that Jin Family members had left, the other families didn''t linger either. The elder leaders of the groups gave a few instructions and each chose a direction to depart. Lin Shilu also didn''t wait further, instructing Lin Tianming with a few words. Lin Tianming and the other two saluted with cupped fists, jumped onto their flying swords, and flew into the western mountain range. Chapter 96 Green-Red Mantis_1 On the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range, within a secluded dense forest, Lin Tianming and his two companions carefully navigated through it.Five whole days had passed, and the trio''s gains were meager. They had killed only five Demonic Beasts in the Initial Phase of the First Order, and two in the Medium Stage, totaling less than two hundred points. The three of them perched on the branches of a tree beside them, gazing into the depths of the dense forest, deep in thought. "Tian Ming, this won''t do. The number of Demonic Beasts in the outer perimeter is really limited. They''re mostly in the Initial Phase, and there are hardly any in the Medium Stage, let alone the Later Stages," said Lin Xingyu, pulling the other two back to reality from their contemplation. "Yeah, at this rate, I''m afraid we won''t get much!" Lin Xingyu''s words won Lin Tianfeng''s agreement. After much consideration, Lin Tianming realized that in the outer perimeter, where Monster Hunting Squads often train, the number of Demonic Beasts had drastically decreased, and those in the Medium Stage were rarely seen. If things continued like this, progress would be slow. Although they were only a three-person team, their overall strength was not weak. In the inner area, as long as they didn''t provoke the larger tribes, there shouldn''t be any danger. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming decisively made a decision. "Uncle, Elder Brother, I want to enter the inner area. What do you think?" Lin Tianming asked. Hearing Lin Tianming''s suggestion, Lin Xingyu and the other understood. Hunting Demonic Beasts on the periphery might be safe, but it was impossible to win first place in the great competition. If they wanted to achieve a good result, taking risks was inevitable. "I have no objections!" "Neither do I!" With Lin Xingyu and the other''s affirmation, Lin Tianming didn''t say anything more. He led the two of them, turning direction and rushing towards the inner regions of the mountain range. Three days later, within a quiet valley, the trio revealed their figures. Gazing across, the valley wasn''t large, only several hundred zhang in length, with a large quantity of jungles around, lush vegetation that covered it all very well. "Tian Ming, have you discovered anything?" asked Lin Xingyu curiously as he saw Lin Tianming not moving forward, but silently staring at the valley ahead. As the two were puzzled, the shrill cries of some creatures caught the attention of all three. After a few moments, over forty Demon Insects attacked the trio, kicking up a great amount of dust. Once the dust settled, the true forms of the Demon Insects were exposed. "It''s the Green-Red Mantis!" Before the words were finished, the Green-Red Mantises quickly moved, surrounding the group tightly, yet not attacking, seemingly wary of them. Lin Tianming''s face was solemn as he scrutinized the Demon Insects that had encircled them. There were well over forty Green-Red Mantises of varying sizes, with the largest ones nearly half a zhang in size, their legs bristling with dense, sharp spines that looked particularly threatening. Among the Demon Insects, the largest five were in the Late Stage of the First Order, while the others were either in the Medium Stage or the Initial Phase. As both parties were in a standoff, Lin Tianming quickly began to think. In the past few days since entering the inner region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, they hadn''t found any particularly suitable Demon Beast Tribe to hunt. Either they were too weak to yield much gain, or they were too strong to risk provoking lightly. However, this tribe of Green-Red Mantises, while not weak and not without risks, was a rare equal match for them. Seeing that more than half of the hunting period had passed, they had no more time to waste. "Uncle, Elder Brother, get ready to make a move!" Lin Tianming decided and began to allocate the tactics. "Uncle, you and elder brother each deal with a late stage Demonic Beast, while I''ll hold off the others. Make it quick and decisive, finish off the two late stage Demon Insects then come help me!" "Agreed!" Lin Xingyu and another answered, each taking out their Spiritual Artifacts, and picked their targets, charging towards the Green-Red Mantises. Seeing that the two had made their move, Lin Tianming didn''t hesitate either. He summoned eighteen Earth Evil Swords, waved his hands, and the swords as beams of light sank into the ground, setting up the Sword Array to prevent the Demon Insects from escaping. He took out another Earth Evil Sword, consecutively releasing several Sword Qi straight towards the Green-Red Mantises. Seeing Lin Tianming and his party spring into action, the Green-Red Mantises did not sit and wait for death; the two late-stage Green-Red Mantises waved their limbs crossing them, and several green Wind Blades burst forth, meeting Lin Tianming''s Sword Qi. "Boom, boom, boom¡­" Discover hidden tales at empire A sound like clashing metal rang out as the Wind Blades and Sword Qi collided together, exploding violently and creating a massive wave of turbulent air. On the fringes of the explosion, several initial stage Green-Red Mantises couldn''t evade in time and were flipped by the powerful gusts, crashing into the valley''s rock walls, completely incapacitated. As Lin Tianming''s cultivation had increased significantly, a casual blow from him was now comparable to a Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. And the initial stage Demonic Beasts couldn''t even withstand the fluctuations caused by his fighting, as they were directly stunned and knocked out. On another side, Lin Tianfeng and another person each faced a late-stage Green-Red Mantis, as fierce battles unfolded between them. Since the Green-Red Mantises weren''t very fast, and as long as one was careful of the Wind Blades they emitted, they weren''t difficult to deal with. Each facing a Demonic Beast, they were under no substantial pressure. The two continuously summoned several Sword Qi. Sword light flashed, and the Green-Red Mantises were forced to retreat step by step, their defeat being only a matter of time. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that the two had gained the upper hand, Lin Tianming stopped dividing his attention and focused on the Demon Insects in front of him. Before he knew it, Lin Tianming had already battled through dozens of exchanges, both sides sustaining injuries. The majority of the initial and medium stage Demon Insects had perished, with only about ten medium stage and above remaining, many of whom were already covered in wounds. Lin Tianming had also suffered quite a few superficial wounds, but fortunately, with his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, relying on his strong defensive power and recovery abilities, the injuries weren''t serious, needing only two days of rest to fully recover. After a while, Lin Tianfeng and the other person had each dealt with their Demon Insects and joined Lin Tianming''s battle group. With Lin Tianfeng and the other person joining in, the pressure on Lin Tianming suddenly decreased. The three attacked from three different directions, the remaining ten or so Demonic Beasts seeing that things looked bleak and started thinking of escape. Lin Tianming had already set up his Sword Array and naturally wouldn''t let the Green-Red Mantises succeed. He pinched his fingers together, issuing several Law Decrees to activate the Sword Array, trapping all of the remaining Green-Red Mantises within a hundred yards. Sensing the vast amount of violent Sword Qi within the Sword Array, the Green-Red Mantises desperately tried to escape the range of the Sword Array. Lin Tianming didn''t pause at all, fully activating the Sword Array, shrinking the space within. As the space gradually decreased, cries of agony echoed from the Sword Array. A short time later, when the last Green-Red Mantis was struck by the Sword Qi and fell to the ground without breath, the battle was over. Seeing that all the Demon Insects had perished, Lin Tianming dispelled the Sword Array, collected all the Earth Evil Swords, then collapsed onto the ground, with a pale face but rapidly took out a Huiyuan Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng hadn''t expended much energy, and while Lin Tianming was recovering, they quickly cleared the battlefield. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming had recovered nearly half of his Spiritual Power, and his complexion gradually grew rosier. Lin Tianming stood up, took out a Spirit Sword provided for the competition, unleashed Sword Qi, and marked all the Demonic Beast corpses. Lin Tianfeng and the other person swiftly dissected the Demonic Beast corpses, removing the useful parts and storing them in their storage bags. Chapter 97 Sun Family Seeks Help_1 After clearing the battlefield and ensuring nothing was overlooked, Lin Tianming and his two companions continued on their way towards the Green-Red Mantis''s cave.After nearly ten days of searching, they finally achieved some results. After calculations, the points they had obtained amounted to over nineteen hundred, which was quite satisfying. The three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief. As for the cave of the Green-Red Mantis, it had yet to be explored; they should be able to find some treasures there, which brought a hint of a smile to their faces. Once they had calmed their emotions, the group headed into the valley. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three of them arrived deep in the valley. Looking around, they could see over a dozen caves of various sizes scattered at the base of the mountain, presumably the habitat of the Green-Red Mantis. Out of caution, the three did not rashly enter the serene depths of the valley. Lin Tianming took out the Earth Evil Sword, sending a slash of Sword Qi flying towards the interior of a cave. After a moment, other than a few sharp collision noises from within the cave, there was no other activity. After waiting for nearly half a quarter hour and seeing nothing unusual, Lin Tianming spoke. "Uncle, Tianfeng, let''s each enter a cave and quickly take whatever useful items we can find. We have limited time and must continue hunting demonic beasts," he said. "Alright, everyone be careful!" The other two had no objections and each began to act, with Lin Tianming choosing a cave and entering. Once inside, he found the cave quite spacious; even with several people walking side by side, it wouldn''t feel crowded. They walked deeper along the cave''s passage. Only after traversing several dozen yards did they reach the end. In the pitch-black depths of the cave, Lin Tianming carefully observed his surroundings. He saw that within a space of several yards, there were more than ten snow-white stones scattered in a small pit, each one the size of a fist and completely white. "Snow Saliva Crystals!" Snow Saliva Crystals were First Order Spiritual Materials, formed from the condensed body fluids of the Green-Red Mantis. Each piece was worth over twenty Spirit Stones; they were widely used in alchemy and artifact refining, with many elixirs requiring them, and could be added in small quantities to artifacts to increase their properties. Lin Tianming quickly collected the Snow Saliva Crystals and exited the cave to search another one. After half an hour, the group had searched all the caves and totaled eighty-eight Snow Saliva Crystals, with a combined value exceeding seventeen hundred Spirit Stones. The three distributed the Snow Saliva Crystals on the spot. Lin Tianming, having exerted the most effort, received thirty-eight, Lin Xingyu got twenty-eight, and Lin Tianfeng got twenty-two. The three of them shared a satisfied smile over their haul. After distributing their loot, Lin Xingyu spoke up and asked, "Tianming, where to next, what''s the plan?" Prompted by Lin Xingyu''s question, Lin Tianming began to think. With twenty days left until the end of the hunt, their haul was decent, but they didn''t take it lightly. After all, Jin Family''s hunting team was much more formidable. Apart from Jin Qishan, the other two members were above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. With such strength, as long as they didn''t provoke Second Order Demonic Beasts, even if they encountered a powerful Demon Beast Tribe, it wouldn''t be difficult to flee if they couldn''t fight, posing little risk. In contrast, the Lin Family''s team had varied levels of cultivation; Lin Tianfeng was slightly lower, which caused some difficulty when faced with tribes with many First Order Late Stage beasts, relying entirely on Lin Tianming to hold the fort. He Heaved a sigh, Lin Tianming said, "Time waits for no one, we can only go deeper to find suitable Demon Beast Tribes and try to obtain as many points as possible." "The Jin Family''s strength is a fact, but demonic beasts are not easy to find. Even if the Jin''s are the strongest, they are not guaranteed winners. Anyway, we need to be quick. Aside from necessary healing and cultivation, we must kill more demonic beasts as soon as possible." The words of Lin Tianming allowed the other two to relax a little. Since they had entered the competition, they naturally aimed to come first, as it involved forty percent of the market''s fifty-year profits, a large amount of Spirit Stones that they could not afford to give up. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having made up their minds, the three set off again, heading at a fast pace deeper into the heartland, and within a short time, they disappeared into the jungle. Just after Lin Tianming and his two companions had left, in less than the time it took to brew a cup of tea, a man dressed in black appeared where the three had just been. The man in black arrived at the site of the skirmish and inspected the traces carefully. Although the remnants had been cleaned up and covered by the trio, he managed to find some clues. "At last, I''ve found you!" The figure in black muttered to himself and, looking in the direction the three had gone, set off in pursuit once again. Time flew by, and half a month passed. In a valley, Lin Tianming and his two companions stood on a small hill, gazing thoughtfully at the vast marshland below. At this point, Lin Tianming and the other two looked extremely weary, with several wounds of varying depth on their bodies that had yet to heal. For half a month, the trio did not relax for a moment. They had searched a region spanning hundreds of miles, hunting demonic beasts during the day and resting to heal their wounds at night. In that half-month period, they had gone through three major battles, each one perilously close to death. They had all been injured multiple times, with Lin Tianfeng nearly losing his life on one occasion. Fortunately, Lin Tianming''s sword array was extremely powerful, capable of attack, defense, and entrapment. Against low-order demonic beasts with limited spirit wisdom, it was highly effective; otherwise, they might have already perished under the onslaught of the beasts. Despite the near death experiences, their gains were significant. They had slain more than twenty late-stage First Order demonic beasts and even more than a hundred of the mid-stage variety, accumulating over seven thousand points. Several storage bags were brimming with the bodies of the beasts. In addition to the bodies of the demonic beasts, they had collected an immense amount of Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore, which were likely worth thousands of Spirit Stones when added up¡ªan indeed plentiful haul. With only five days left until the deadline for the grand beast-hunting competition, they had traversed an area of several hundred square miles. Curiously, for some reason, the trio had not encountered a single team from any of the five great families, nor had they even found a trace, which was quite surprising to Lin Tianming. Perhaps the reason was that the Luoyun Mountain Range was simply too vast, spanning thousands of miles, with the outer perimeter and the area near the interior totaling more than two thousand square miles. The likelihood of encountering someone was indeed not great. Continue your adventure with empire Lin Tianming speculated silently in his heart. Seeing that it was getting late and not suitable for traveling, he turned to Lin Xingyu and said, "Uncle, let''s rest here for the night and set off again tomorrow." Lin Xingyu, looking visibly exhausted, readily agreed. Just as the three of them were preparing to descend the hill, several black dots appeared on the horizon, flying towards them. As they drew closer, it was not clear what their intentions were. The trio''s expressions tensed, each grabbing their Spiritual Artifacts and hiding behind the hilltop, ready for a potential threat. Lin Xingyu, watching the approaching dots, muttered softly, "Who has such audacity to fly with a sword in the heart of the Luoyun Mountain Range? Could it be a senior in the Foundation Establishment Stage?" Another dozen breaths passed, and the dots grew nearer, the fleeing figures now less than a few hundred yards from the hilltop. On closer inspection, they recognized the frantically fleeing individuals as Sun Ruiqing and Sun Chuan Yong from the Sun Family. Lin Tianming, realizing this first, felt his heart sink, and began to speculate. "The Sun Family members must have encountered cultivators from the Jin Family and are now being chased!" Since they had already been spotted, it was too late to hide. All they could do was join forces with the last two members of the Sun Family for a desperate fight. Quickly, based on the information he had, Lin Tianming surmised the cause. Since the Jin Family had made their move, he couldn''t just sit and await death. After saying this, he took out the Earth Evil Sword and started to set it up stealthily. Sun Ruiqing, getting closer, was overjoyed to see Lin Tianming and his group while still in mid-air. He quickly shouted, "Lin, save us!" Chapter 98 Hanging by a Thread (Two in One)_1 "Lin, save my life!""The Jin Family has made their move against the major families, and I fear that the people of the Luo and Wu Families have already perished. Now they are hunting us down!" In a desperate flight, Sun Ruiqing stumbled upon people from the Lin Family as if grasping at a lifeline. From a hundred zhang away, Sun Ruiqing, fleeing in panic, began to shout loudly. Hearing Sun Ruiqing''s cries for help, Lin Tianming''s expression changed abruptly. The Jin Family was powerful, and to think that the members of the Wu and Luo Families had been killed, no wonder they hadn''t encountered a single team for more than half a month. At the moment, Sun Ruiqing and Sun Chuan Yong were in terrible condition, their breaths weak, and with injuries on various parts of their bodies. The number of their people had also decreased, clearly showing they had suffered a major loss. Without waiting for Lin Tianming to respond, Sun Ruiqing and the other member from the Sun Family landed on the top of a mountain and immediately took out a couple of elixirs to consume and began to meditate on the spot. Seeing the plight of the two from the Sun Family, Lin Tianming and his two companions watched cautiously as several dark shadows approached in pursuit. After a mere ten breaths, Jin Qishan and two from the Jin Family arrived, flying on their swords directly above them. Seeing that Sun Ruiqing and the other had stopped running, and Lin Tianming''s group was also present, the people from the Jin Family were overjoyed. "Haha..." "It''s like finding what you''re looking for without even searching for it! "The people from the Lin Family are here too, perfect. We''ll deal with you all right here!" Hearing Jin Qishan''s arrogant words, as if he wasn''t taking them seriously at all, made the expressions on Lin Tianming and his fellows'' faces turn extremely ugly. Lin Tianfeng couldn''t hold back and said: "Hmph!" "Aren''t you being a bit too arrogant?" "Arrogant? Dealing with you few is still child''s play," replied Jin Qishan nonchalantly. While the others were engaged in a war of words, Lin Tianming, who had not said a word, quickly thought of a strategy in his mind. Among the Jin Family''s three members, Jin Qishan''s aura was exceedingly strong, no weaker than Lin Shiji at his peak. As a top genius of the Jin Family, his methods and trump cards were surely not weak. Besides him, among the other two from the Jin Family, Jin Chaoyi was at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage and Jin Qisheng was at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement; their abilities were generally a notch higher than those of the Lin and Sun Families. Although the cultivation levels of the Lin Family were on the lower side, with the aid of the two from the Sun Family, they held the advantage in numbers. Even though the two from the Sun Family were seriously injured, the Sun Family had stood among the top three families for a millennium; with such heritage, Sun Ruiqing must still have some life-saving measures. Upon assessing the situation, the Jin Family held an absolute advantage in terms of strength, but Lin Tianming''s side was not without their own opportunities. Moreover, there was no way the Jin Family would let them leave peacefully anyway, so it was better to go all out. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming secretly transmitted a message to the cultivators from both families, preparing to strike first. Experience more content on empire No time to lose! Readying the Earth Evil Sword, Lin Tianming unleashed several bouts of Sword Qi, aiming directly at Jin Qishan. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu joined hands against Jin Qisheng, while the two from the Sun Family together faced Jin Chaoyi. The three battles erupted in an instant. Lin Tianming didn''t pay attention to the other two battles, as facing Jin Qishan required his full focus. After several tentative exchanges, neither managed to gain an upper hand. After a few rounds of testing, Jin Qishan also had a rough idea of Lin Tianming''s strength. He initially thought that with the same Dual Spiritual Roots, Lin Tianming would not be weak and could arouse his interest, but found him rather ordinary. "Hmph, I''m done playing with you!" Following that, Jin Qishan took out a crimson long saber enveloped in a terrifying sinister aura; Lin Tianming guessed it was at least a high-quality Spiritual Artifact. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The dominance of saber cultivators and their destructive power held prestigious positions in the Cultivation World and cultivators of the same level often had terrifying battle capabilities. Jin Qishan unleashed three slashes in succession, and the three powerful currents of Blade Qi stirred up a great deal of sand and dust, heading straight for Lin Tianming with overwhelming momentum. Feeling the violent Blade Qi, Lin Tianming''s face grew solemn. He quickly brought out three Defense Talismans, forming three earthen walls in front of him. Not reassured, he took out a small umbrella-like Spiritual Artifact from his storage bag, poured a great amount of Spiritual Power into it, forming a barrier to protect himself. "Puff, puff, puff..." Three explosions sounded! The three earthen walls formed by the Defense Talismans instantly shattered, and the violent Blade Qi was unstoppable, directly striking the small umbrella Spiritual Artifact. After a moment, the small umbrella Spiritual Artifact burst apart, thoroughly pierced by the Blade Qi, breaking into several pieces. The Blade Qi had weakened after the consumption of the talisman paper and the defensive Spiritual Artifact, but it still didn''t stop, and continued slashing towards Lin Tianming. Caught by surprise and in pain, Lin Tianming quickly dodged to the side. However, the Blade Qi was too fast, and he couldn''t completely evade it in time; a strand of the Blade Qi slashed across his arm. Feeling intense pain, he saw a wound the size of a fist on his arm, with flesh torn and bone chillingly exposed to the air. Lin Tianming, having leapt to the side in a panic, glared straight at Jin Qishan, his expression exceptionally ugly. Before the fight began, Lin Tianming had anticipated that Jin Qishan would be difficult to deal with, but the actual encounter was still surprisingly challenging. Jin Qishan, intent on settling the battle with three full-powered slashes, was equally surprised. After all, he had been in the Great Perfection stage for a year now and would have been preparing to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage if it were not for the Grand Competition. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was only at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, just about touching the barrier of Great Perfection, but there was still a considerable gap between the small realms. Even so, he had not succeeded, merely causing some injuries and not completely incapacitating Lin Tianming. After the unsuccessful strike, Jin Qishan put away his playful demeanor and started to take the fight seriously. Without giving Lin Tianming a chance to catch his breath, Jin Qishan struck out with a few more slashes, aiming to finish Lin Tianming conclusively. Chapter 98 Hanging by a Thread (Two in One)_2 Just as Jin Qishan made his move, Lin Tianming was also busy. He drew the Earth Evil Sword and unleashed several streaks of sword qi that rushed straight towards Jin Qishan.For a moment, blade qi and sword qi collided fiercely, kicking up a great amount of dust and smoke. Seizing the moment in the blink of an eye, he threw out several First Order Superior Grade talismans, and Lin Tianming, with the Earth Evil Sword in hand, turned into a lingering shadow, thrusting directly at Jin Qishan. In a contest of spiritual power and offensive force, Lin Tianming did not have the advantage. As a body cultivator, his chances of winning in close combat were much greater. As the dust and smoke cleared, Lin Tianming had already closed in on Jin Qishan. Jin Qishan had long noticed Lin Tianming''s intent and showed no panic. Hastily, he summoned a small green shield to block Lin Tianming''s Earth Evil Sword. Seeing his attack obstructed, Lin Tianming swung out a fist, smashing towards Jin Qishan''s head. Lin Tianming, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and having consumed a large number of Body Strengthening Pills, had his strength tempered by his cultivation technique. The force of his punch exceeded several thousand pounds. Jin Qishan also launched a punch, colliding with Lin Tianming''s fist. A loud explosion! Jin Qishan was sent flying dozens of feet backwards, crashing through several large rocks before finally stopping. As Jin Qishan steadied himself, pain shot through his arm, and he discovered that many of the meridians in his arm were broken. Without a month or more of recuperation, recovery would be very difficult. I''ve been careless... Who would have thought that Lin Tianming was actually a body cultivator, and his prowess was not low, almost on par with his Qi Refining cultivation, just one punch had crippled an arm. The advantaged Lin Tianming didn''t give any chance, charging forward again. The injured Jin Qishan wouldn''t dare to be careless anymore. He slashed out several times with his blade and at the same time threw out a huge number of talismans, dozens of them, among which were many Medium Grade and High Quality talismans. Seeing the sky filled with a rain of swords, mixed with a multitude of Five Elements Spells engulfing Lin Tianming. For a moment, the sky was filled with a storm of fire, sword qi, and blade qi, causing one''s scalp to tingle. Jin Qishan took a long breath of relief; with so many talismans coupled with his blade qi, the chance of Lin Tianming rushing out unscathed was nearly impossible. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s situation was extremely dire. Trapped in the center, if he couldn''t break through, even as a body cultivator, he would undoubtedly suffer heavy injuries. In desperation, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors. He saw the trajectories of the rain of swords and the spells as if they held a traceable pattern. Unexpectedly, the Eye of Five Colors had such an ingenious use. With no time to think further, Now is the time! Lin Tianming didn''t hesitate nor could he afford to, his flexible body navigating through the narrow gaps. A moment later, Lin Tianming successfully charged out of the firestorm, wielding the Earth Evil Sword as he slashed towards Jin Qishan. At this point, Jin Qishan was completely stunned. With so many talismans and blade qi as barriers, for Lin Tianming to rush out in such a short time and with hardly any injury was simply unbelievable. In his panic, Jin Qishan once again brought out the green shield in front of him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Pfft..." A piercing loud noise! The green shield was knocked flying, slipping right out of his hands, and Jin Qishan''s face turned pale as he frantically tried to dodge. In an instant, the Earth Evil Sword made its decisive cut, completely severing Jin Qishan''s arm. As Jin Qishan was sent flying back, screams of agony echoed across the entire mountainside. Hearing Jin Qishan''s screams, the concentration of the other two Jin Family members was broken. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng seized the opportunity and, with a silent understanding between them, Jin Qisheng was pushed back again and again. On another front, although Sun Ruiqing and his companion were injured, the Sun Family, being a talisman-crafting family, threw out dozens of talismans of different grades, engulfing Jin Chaoyi and swallowing him whole. For a while, all members of the Jin Family were at a disadvantage. Jin Qishan had an arm severed, and the remaining arm''s meridians were mostly broken, greatly diminishing his strength. Lin Tianming did not give him a chance, charging over again, ready to completely take out Jin Qishan. Lin Shilu had earlier instructed that once they took action, they absolutely could not leave any loose ends, especially the talented Jin Qishan of the Jin Family, who had to die. At this point, Jin Qishan deeply regretted being overconfident, but it was too late. Knowing he was no match, Jin Qishan attempted to retreat in panic, but his severe injuries made it impossible to shake off Lin Tianming. Just as Lin Tianming closed in to within twenty feet, a furious shout came from a thousand feet away. "Youngster, you dare!" Hearing Jin Chaojiang''s angry shout, Lin Tianming didn''t stop for a second, his sword-heart aimed straight for Jin Qishan. Jin Qishan originally thought Lin Tianming would give up, but to his surprise, he didn''t hold back at all. For a moment, Jin Qishan''s face turned pale from its previous healthy glow. A thousand meters away, Jin Chaojiang''s expression changed dramatically. With a flick of his finger, he hurriedly launched an Ice Sword Technique, hoping to force Lin Tianming to give up his attack on Jin Qishan. A resolute look flashed across Lin Tianming''s steadfast face. Even if he didn''t kill Jin Qishan, it would be difficult for them to survive anyway. It was better to go all out and at least ensure Jin Qishan''s death. A brief moment passed, followed by a faint sound! The Earth Evil Sword pierced through Jin Qishan''s chest, blowing a hole the size of a human head through his upper body. Jin Qishan fell at the sound. At the same time, the Ice Sword Technique launched by Jin Chaojiang was already closing in on Lin Tianming. Having just stabilized his body, Lin Tianming''s face was pale with no time left to dodge. An attack from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even the most common Five Elements Spell, was simply not something an ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator could withstand. Lin Tianming did not wish to wait passively for death. Since he couldn''t avoid it, he had to try with all his might. In this moment of crisis, Lin Tianming''s intense desire to survive burst forth. He quickly took out all his Defense Talismans, more than a dozen in total, all of which he activated, turning them into several earthen walls to shield himself. Discover more content at empire He then took a shield out of his storage bag to protect himself thoroughly. Just as Lin Tianming completed all his actions, the Ice Sword Technique transformed into an ice sword that broke through the earthen walls. The first one was instantly shattered¡­ The second one was unable to stop it, even for a moment. More than a dozen earthen walls broke apart, and the resulting shockwave flattened a section of the mountain top. Though the earthen walls didn''t last long, they significantly weakened the Ice Sword''s power. By the time it collided with the shield, nearly half its energy had dissipated. Even so, the shield, of First Order Superior Grade, shattered after a mere breath''s time. The Ice Sword Technique broke through the small shield and struck Lin Tianming in the chest. In an instant, Lin Tianming coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, was sent flying a hundred meters, and slammed into the mountain, creating a human-shaped deep pit. Lin Tianfeng and the others also gave up their fierce attack on the critically injured Jin Qisheng and rushed madly to Lin Tianming''s side to pull him out. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu''s eyes were bloodshot as they frantically shouted: "Sixth brother, wake up!" "Tianming, wake up!" At this time, Lin Tianming was in a dreadful state, with a fist-sized bloody hole in his chest, many of his meridians severed, resulting in a brief loss of consciousness. Lin Tianfeng shouted several times, but there were no responses. Seeing this, both of them were completely panicked. Lin Tianming''s talent was well-known throughout the clan. As long as he lived, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage was a certainty, and with a bit of chance, advancing to the Golden Core stage was also highly likely. He was key to the family''s resurgence. His importance was such that even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the clan could not compare. If he were to die here, how would they explain it to the clan, to the ancestors who had passed away? At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was extremely grieved; the relationship between the two brothers was excellent¡ªthey had trained together, and despite being the eldest Tian-generation brother, he often needed Lin Tianming''s help. In his grief, he held Lin Tianming''s head and shook it while crying out. "Cough... Cough..." Two coughs suddenly interrupted Lin Tianfeng''s cries. "Big brother, stop shaking me!" "If you keep shaking me like this, I fear I might die by your hand!" Lin Tianfeng and the others suddenly looked at Lin Tianming, who was coughing and spitting blood, and burst into ecstatic shouts. "Thank goodness, you''re actually not dead?" "What are you saying, do you wish for me to be dead?" The pale-faced Lin Tianming couldn''t help but banter with Lin Tianfeng even in his condition. Having regained consciousness, Lin Tianming felt a wave of relief. The danger just now had been extremely dire. He took out the only defensive talismans he had on him, over a dozen First Order Superior Defense Talisman papers, along with a High Quality defensive spiritual tool, plus the inner armor he wore over his vital parts near the heart to narrowly save his life. If his body hadn''t been so strong, a regular Great Perfection Qi Refining Cultivator, in his situation, would have had no chance of survival. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were indeed terrifying! Coming back to his senses, Jin Chaojiang had already landed on the mountain top, cradling Jin Qishan''s corpse and beginning to examine it. Lin Tianming was severely injured, and they were still in danger. Although they had avoided a fatal blow, their current situation remained as perilous as ever. Chapter 99 No One Survives (Parts 1 and 2 Combined)_1 Looking at the gaping hole in Jin Qishan''s chest and his faint breath, such an injury was destined to be beyond salvation.Jin Chaojiang''s face turned pale, his tiger-like eyes bloodshot red. When he turned around, Lin Tianming and the other two were immediately stricken with panic. Enraged, Jin Chaojiang, holding a long spirit blade, swung out three times in quick succession, unleashing three streams of fiery red Blade Qi, charging straight towards Lin Tianming and his companions. Such divine powers were identical to those of Jin Qishan, but when a Foundation Establishment Cultivator made a move, the power was nowhere near that of Jin Qishan''s. Seeing the Blade Qi getting closer, and less than thirty feet from the trio, there was no escape, especially as they were injured and their defensive spiritual tools had nearly exhausted their power. Facing the full-force strike from the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage Jin Chaojiang, Lin Tianming was utterly despairing. Struggling was to no avail; the three leaned on each other and slowly closed their eyes, preparing to meet their demise. Just then, a shadow clad in black descended from the sky, standing in front of the trio. The figure was tall and resolute, a look of determination in his eyes, it was Lin Xingrong who had been tailing Lin Tianming and the others all along. "Father!" "Eleventh Uncle!" A glimmer of joy passed through Lin Tianming and the others; they had all but given up hope, never expecting Lin Xingrong to appear. In fact, everyone knew of the Jin Family''s ambitions. The Lin Family had made arrangements to counter them, but Lin Tianming had no idea. And Lin Xingrong had been following them for some time, but to avoid startling the snake, he had kept his distance and hadn''t made a move. Having landed, Lin Xingrong''s expression was stern. He ignored the three''s confusion, thinking of a plan. He had only recently entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, while Jin Chaojiang had already reached the second layer and had to be taken seriously. Lin Xingrong, wielding a Spirit Sword, slashed out several bursts of Sword Qi, and at the same time, summoned a Minor Shield Spirit Instrument to firmly protect everyone. After taking a series of measures, the Blade Qi and Sword Qi collided explosively. For a moment, the battlefield was alight with flames, and the blast wave forced back the members of the Sun Family, who were hundreds of feet away, making them cough up blood. The only remaining members of the Jin Family, Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng, had the same fate, now even more seriously injured from the effects of cultivators'' combat. The residual effect of the collision was blocked by Lin Xingrong''s shield. Thanks to Lin Xingrong''s protection, Lin Tianming and the others managed to evade disaster. Having blocked Jin Chaojiang''s attack, Lin Xingrong then turned to inspect the injuries of Lin Tianming and the others. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng were unharmed, just a bit drained, with no significant consequences. Lin Tianming, although slightly more injured, wasn''t fatal; with some quiet recuperation for a few days, he would be fine! Luckily he arrived in time, or else the outcome would have been dire! On the other side, frustrated by his ineffective attack, Jin Chaojiang''s face darkened as he watched Lin Xingrong with wariness and dread. Enjoy new adventures from empire Unexpectedly, Lin Xingrong had appeared there and even advanced into the Foundation Establishment Stage¡ªthe Lin Family had kept deep secrets! After an exchange, even though Jin Chaojiang''s cultivation was a level higher than Lin Xingrong''s, he still had to look after the seriously wounded Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng, so victory was not guaranteed. By now, Jin Chaojiang harbored thoughts of retreat, but it was too late, as the faces had been thoroughly ripped off, and the Lin Family might not hold back. Sure enough, Lin Xingrong took the initiative to strike, unwilling to let the Jin Family members go. Lin Xingrong unleashed a green-yellow Spirit Sword, slashing out several times, and releasing bursts of Sword Qi at Jin Chaojiang. Simultaneously, Jin Chaojiang leapt into the air and swung out several slashes of his own. The difference in cultivation between the two men was not substantial; they exchanged blows evenly, making it difficult to determine the superior fighter. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng took the initiative as well, joining with Sun Ruiqing and others to attack Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng. Already heavily injured, the two Jin Family members were no match for Lin Tianfeng and his companions and were constantly on the defensive. Although Lin Tianming was injured, he relied on elixirs and a strong self-healing ability. His wounds had partially recovered, and he could still exert most of his strength. Seeing Lin Tianfeng and the others gaining the upper hand, he decided to assist Lin Xingrong against Jin Chaojiang, knowing that as long as Foundation Establishment Cultivators were still alive, they were always in danger. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming consumed another Huiyuan Pill and Consolidating Essence Pill, drew the Earth Evil Sword, and charged at Jin Chaojiang. He unleashed several slashes, blocking Jin Chaojiang''s retreat path, but they were always narrowly dodged. While his Sword Qi''s power was limited, it couldn''t be completely ignored. If not evaded, after a few instances, even Jin Chaojiang couldn''t withstand it. Father and son coordinated seamlessly. Each time Jin Chaojiang tried to strike at Lin Tianming, Lin Xingrong always managed to block in advance. Before they knew it, the fierce battle had raged for half an hour. All three were significantly drained, Jin Chaojiang in particular was covered in wounds, continuously on the defensive. Lin Xingrong, too, was panting heavily, his spiritual power largely depleted. During a lull in the attack, Lin Tianming transmitted a message: S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Father, we can''t drag this out any longer. I''ve already laid down a Sword Array. As long as you can push him into its center and hold him for a moment, I can immediately activate the Sword Array and together we can take him down once and for all!" "Good, my spiritual power is running low, we can''t delay any further," Lin Xingrong was well aware of the special cultivation techniques Lin Tianming practiced. Since Lin Tianming was confident, he was naturally willing to give it a try. With that, Lin Xingrong used his Technique Divine Power, condensing a massive Sword Qi, which he directed at Jin Chaojiang. Lin Tianming also threw out more than ten First Order Superior Grade Attack Talismans, transforming into a sky full of Sword Qi, sealing off Jin Chaojiang''s escape routes. Feeling the concentrated Sword Qi from Lin Xingrong and the multitude of talisman papers, Jin Chaojiang''s face turned deathly pale as he hastily summoned a yellow Minor Shield Spirit Instrument to protect himself. Chapter 99 No One Survives (Parts 1 and 2 Combined)_2 "Boom..."A loud blast sounded, and the small shield had a large crack pierced through it. The intense impact force struck Jin Chaojiang, causing him to spurt out a mouthful of fresh blood and retreat dozens of feet, landing right in the center of Lin Tianming''s sword array. "Now is the moment!" Lin Tianming immediately activated the long-prepared sword array, enveloping Jin Chaojiang within it. Feeling the roaming Sword Qi, although its power was limited, the quantity was substantial, forcing Jin Chaojiang to change his approach once again. Without time to think much, he frantically attacked the barriers of the sword array. Each time, the sword array was on the verge of being overwhelmed, and Lin Tianming felt immense pressure. Having succeeded, Lin Tianming and his companion naturally wouldn''t let him escape easily. In the rush, Lin Xingrong swung his sword several times, sending numerous Sword Qi slashing towards Jin Chaojiang. And fully driving the sword array, steadily shrinking its range, he also threw out handfuls of talisman paper, more than twenty in total, among which were long-stored Second Order Golden Sword Talismans. In an instant, over twenty First Order Superior Grade attack talismans turned into Sword Qi, along with a Second Order Talisman Golden Sword Talisman''s Sword Qi, and combined with the Sword Qi generated by Lin Tianming''s sword array ¨C a total of over a hundred strands ¨C instantly engulfed Jin Chaojiang''s surroundings. Feeling the sword rain coming at him from all directions, alongside Lin Xingrong''s all-out strike, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Jin Chaojiang couldn''t help but feel his scalp tingle with dread. At that moment, Jin Chaojiang had no time for further thought, only desperation. If he couldn''t break free from the confines of the sword array, he would be gradually exhausted to death. Not daring to hold back, Jin Chaojiang spurted a mouthful of vital blood onto the long saber Spiritual Artifact in his hand and unleashed his Innate Divine Ability. "Return to Origin Five Blows!" Suddenly, he slashed five times in succession, each strike stronger than the last. With the five blades stacking, a terrifying Blade Qi turned into a heaven-piercing red light blade, striking down upon the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. "Pfff..." An earth-shattering explosion! After merely a breath''s time, the sword array was directly broken by Jin Chaojiang. Lin Tianming suffered backlash, immediately spewing several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his aura instantly wilted. Even with the backlash, Lin Tianming still didn''t dare to relax, propping up his half-destroyed body, he slashed out several times, attempting to push Jin Chaojiang back. Jin Chaojiang had no intention of caring about that, only wanting to escape the range of the pervasive sword rain. Just as he was about to break free to safety, his face full of elation, At that moment, the Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Xingrong and the Second Order Golden Sword Talisman''s Sword Qi blasted towards him simultaneously. Caught in a pincer attack, Jin Chaojiang faced an even more perilous situation. Seeing that it was impossible to dodge both, Jin Chaojiang swiftly made a decision. Instantly, he rolled to the side, evading Lin Xingrong''s lethal strike. At the same time, the Sword Qi from the Golden Sword Talisman arrived as expected, striking Jin Chaojiang on the back. "Pfff..." Jin Chaojiang''s physical body endured a sword strike, immediately being sent flying dozens of feet away. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jin Chaojiang, stabilizing his form, spewed out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face instantly pale, with a fist-sized hole in his chest ¨C not faring much better than Jin Qishan. At that moment, severely injured Jin Chaojiang was greatly diminished in strength, no way he could be a match for Lin Xingrong. At the other two battlefronts, seeing Jin Chaojiang''s dismal state, Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng''s faces turned even paler. The two were already on the brink of life and death, being besieged; the shock scattered their focus, giving Lin Xingyu and Suo Ruiqing a chance to exploit. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng launched deadly strikes at the same time, bombarding Jin Chaoyi''s body. After a moment, Jin Chaoyi was directly cleaved in half, falling dead. Meanwhile, Jin Qisheng was overwhelmed by numerous talismans of varying grades. Once the sword light dissipated, Jin Qisheng was riddled with holes and utterly devoid of life. Seeing two members of the Jin Family dead, Jin Chaojiang was both shocked and furious. He unleashed three more blows to force back Lin Xingrong who was pursuing him, then, dragging his battered body, he fled northward. At this point, Jin Chaojiang couldn''t care about danger and plunged into the dense forest to escape for his life. Lin Xingrong leapt high, dodging Jin Chaojiang''s Blade Qi, and immediately gave chase. One behind the other, they dashed through the woods, quickly vanishing from the sight of the others. Seeing Jin Chaojiang heavily injured and fleeing for his life, Lin Xingyu and the others heaved a sigh of relief; Lin Tianming, utterly spent, sat down on the ground with a thud. He pulled several elixirs from his storage bag, stuffed them into his mouth all at once, and sat down right there to meditate and recover. Lin Xingyu and several others also began to meditate and cultivate. In a swamp, Jin Chaojiang, who had escaped from the dense forest, was completely pale. After hastily consuming two elixirs, he resumed his flight. Shortly thereafter, Lin Xingrong caught up after chasing him for hundreds of miles. The distance between the two shrank to less than a thousand feet. Lin Xingrong had no intention of giving up the pursuit and was determined to stop him there and then. Mortally wounded and with his spiritual power completely drained, Jin Chaojiang burst forth with an unprecedented speed in a bid to survive; even so, he was still slower than Lin Xingrong. As the gap continued to narrow and before he could cross the swamp, Lin Xingrong closed in to a distance of a hundred feet. Seeing that he couldn''t escape, Jin Chaojiang seemed to have given up on fleeing and turned around to fight to the death. Using the last bit of his spiritual power, he swung three blades toward Lin Xingrong. Also drained of spiritual power, Lin Xingrong drew a small shield to block Jin Chaojiang''s desperate attack. After a loud explosion, Lin Xingrong spat out a mouthful of blood and, after being knocked back, he chased after him once again. With no spiritual power left, Jin Chaojiang was like a mortal, tumbling down from the sky. At that moment, Jin Chaojiang, utterly despondent, stopped trying to run and laughed manically. "Haha... Haha..." "You think by killing me you can reverse the situation?" "The Lin Family might already be rivers of blood by now!" "Haha..." Seeing Jin Chaojiang''s deranged behavior, Lin Xingrong''s face showed disdain. "Hmph, you think the Lin Family is still the same as it was ten years ago? There''s no way your Jin Family could breach the Protective Clan Formation!" Jin Chaojiang had gone mad, and Lin Xingrong showed no mercy, ending his life with a single sword strike. Jin Chaojiang finally perished, and Lin Xingrong breathed a sigh of relief. He took the storage bag from Jin Chaojiang and cast a Fireball Technique, burning the corpse to ashes on the spot. Read new adventures at empire Lin Tianming and others were not in a good state, so Lin Xingrong quickly returned, following the path of the chase at high speed. An hour later, Lin Xingrong returned to the site of the fierce battle. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu had regained some of their spiritual power after a short rest. Lin Tianming''s condition had improved slightly, but his injuries were still serious, and he wouldn''t be able to move normally for several days. The condition of the two from the Sun Family was better; they had sustained some injuries, which were not fatal, and they were already able to walk normally. They had been waiting in the same place, not daring to move or leave. Upon seeing Lin Xingrong return, they dared not stay and hurriedly stepped forward to pay respects. "The juniors have seen Elder Lin and thank Elder Lin for saving our lives. When we return to our clan, we will surely report the truth, and the Sun Family will never forget this kindness. Our elders will personally thank you!" Sun Ruiqing stood by nervously with a respectful demeanor. Although the Lin Family and Sun Family had formed an alliance, Sun Ruiqing did not dare to mention the spoils of the battle and was entirely unsure about Lin Xingrong''s stance. "Sun, my friend, there''s no need for formality. The Lin Family and Sun Family are allies, after all. The Jin Family attacked brazenly, and you gave it your all. There''s no need to be so tense. Rest for a few days, and you can leave this place with me." Hearing Lin Xingrong''s words, Sun Ruiqing breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Elder. With your permission, I can rest assured!" Sun Ruiqing and his companion bowed to Lin Xingrong with sincere respect. "Hmm, go and recover through cultivation!" Upon receiving the instruction, the two from the Sun Family bowed and left to find a place to sit down and cultivate on the spot. After dismissing the two from the Sun Family, Lin Xingrong called Lin Tianfeng over and instructed: "Take the storage bags from the Jin Family members and hand them to me. Clean up this place quickly and then go heal your injuries." "Yes!" Lin Tianfeng got to work quickly, collecting storage bags from the three members of the Jin Family and then clearing up the part of the mountain that had been disrupted. An hour later, the traces of the fight were almost erased, and the mountaintop had nearly returned to its original state. After checking the injuries of the Lin Family members, Lin Xingrong sat down nearby, took out elixirs, and began to recover his spiritual power and heal injuries while protecting the others as they cultivated. For a time, the valley fell into silence, with everyone cultivating and recovering from their injuries. Chapter 100 Lin Shilu Trapped (Two in One)_1 Outside the market, the Great Bi Assembly Ground.Members of the five major families, including Lin Shilu, each sat cross-legged on the spacious open ground. The leaders of the Lin Family and the other three clans were closer to each other, and although they were dozens of yards apart, they faintly formed a united front, as if intentionally guarding against Jin Zhison. At this moment, Lin Shilu and his companions each had their spirits aloft, faces etched with a trace of worry, pondering or fearing something unknown. At the edge of the platform, Jin Zhison appeared quite calm, with a trace of ruthless expression faintly present on his face. Jin Qishan and his group had left five days ago, and according to the plan, Jin Chaojiang should have already started to act. He was also ready on his side, and as soon as Zhuang Zhenxin arrived, he could take action at any time. Just then, a black dot appeared on the horizon, moving towards the plain at an incredibly fast speed. In just over ten breaths'' time, Zhuang Zhenxin, dressed in a black robe, approached the space above the platform. Before he even arrived, Lin Shilu and the others had already sensed his presence, each standing up to watch Zhuang Zhenxin''s approach with vigilance. Zhuang Zhenxin landed beside Jin Zhison, looking at the others present with a mocking gaze. "Is he a person from the Jin Family?" "He must be a hidden member of the Jin Family, or a hired helper. They''re definitely going to make a move!" Lin Shilu loudly reminded everyone, Seeing Zhuang Zhenxin reveal his alliance, and with Lin Shilu''s warning, everyone''s face changed dramatically. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jin Zhison already had the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, the highest present, and with this unfamiliar cultivator whose cultivation was still unknown but was surely no less than Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer, such strength truly warranted caution. Zhuang Zhenxin paid no attention to everyone''s guesses, and after exchanging a look with Jin Zhison, they both made their move. Jin Zhison took out a Circular Ring Spiritual Artifact and inputted several Law Decrees. Suddenly, a large number of fireballs emerged, each as large as buckets¡ªhundreds in number, crazily bombarding towards Lin Shilu and the others with incredible speed. With the first strike, he unleashed his strongest method. As everyone''s attention was on Jin Zhison''s move, Zhuang Zhenxin took the opportunity to pull out a dark green Array Plate, tossed it into the air, and inputted several Law Decrees. Suddenly, a golden light shield appeared in the void, covering the entire platform. "Not good, it''s a Formation!" Sun Dingfeng immediately yelled, warning the others. Everyone''s complexion changed drastically; as Jin Zhison''s attacks drew closer, they each had to concern themselves with their own lives and had no time to stop them. Feeling the temperature of the fireball, Lin Shilu''s face grew solemn, and he quickly took out a small shield with a pattern of interlocking blue and red, shielding himself with it. The other cultivators also did not dare to be negligent, each taking out various Defensive Spiritual Tools to protect themselves. After several booming explosions, screams echoed. The platform was left with numerous deep pits, where several Qi Refining Cultivators lay inside, their bodies still emitting flames, evidently dead. Among the five Qi Cultivation Great Perfection Cultivators, only Chen Xiaoliang, the Clan Leader of the Chen Clan, survived thanks to a treasured artifact, but he was also severely injured. Although the fireballs were formidable, their power became too dispersed as they attacked everyone present, allowing all Foundation Establishment Cultivators to successfully block Jin Zhison''s full-force strike. However, the observing Qi Refining Cultivators were not so fortunate. Even those at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage could not withstand it without a treasured artifact for protection, with Chen Xiaoliang as an example. After the first strike, Lin Shilu''s face changed dramatically, continuously reminding everyone, "Quickly, make your move, prevent them from forming the formation. If we get trapped by the formation, we will all die here!" Hearing Lin Shilu''s reminder, they all hastily attacked, trying to stop Zhuang Zhenxin from setting up the formation. Lin Shilu was the first to act, bringing out a big sword with hues of blue and yellow, pouring in a large amount of Spiritual Power and swinging it. A stroke of Golden Sword Qi launched towards Zhuang Zhenxin. Sun Dingfeng, on the other hand, threw out a large amount of talisman paper, dozens in total, with even two Second Order Talismans among them, indicating he was truly fighting for his life. Facing the desperate counterattack of four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, even with Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer cultivation, Jin Zhison was under immense pressure. But he had to hold on, to win time for Zhuang Zhenxin to set up the formation. As long as the formation was successfully laid and activated, they could completely turn the tide. Jin Zhison didn''t hesitate, immediately pulling out a glittering golden shield from his storage bag, imbued it with a large amount of Spiritual Power, and transformed it into a light screen tens of yards wide that firmly protected him. Seeing the golden shield, Sun Dingfeng immediately exclaimed, "It''s the Qing Jiao Shield!" Hearing Sun Dingfeng''s warning, everyone was taken aback. The Qing Jiao Shield was a Magic Artifact made from the Reverse Scale of a Third Order Demon Beast, Qingshui Jiao. It had extremely formidable defensive power and was one of the treasures of the Jin Family, rarely used. They didn''t expect it to appear here. It appeared the Jin Family really invested heavily this time. A moment passed, and the Golden Light Greatsword and a sky full of sword rain struck the Qing Jiao Shield simultaneously. "Crackle and pop, a continuous burst of explosive sounds..." Behind the light screen, Jin Zhison turned pale, coughing out mouthfuls of blood. His internal organs churned, and his breath quickly weakened. Even with the protection of the Magic Artifact, which blocked ninety percent of the attack, the remaining ten percent still shattered the flesh on his arms, exposing the white bones beneath. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire When the attack briefly ceased, Jin Zhison breathed a sigh of relief. If he hadn''t brought the Qing Jiao Shield, taking on the combined desperate strike of four people alone, he might have been reduced to ashes. Not achieving their goal with the first strike, Lin Shilu and the others did not dare to delay and launched another attack. As their attacks arrived once more, although not as ferocious as the first time, Jin Zhison was already injured and simply could not endure a second strike. Chapter 100 Lin Shilu Trapped (Two in One)_2 Just then, the sky suddenly revealed a pale golden light curtain that enveloped the entire platform. Sand and rocks were flying around, and Sword Qi was wandering everywhere within the platform.The second wave of attacks from several people was continuously depleted by the Sword Qi within the Formation, and ultimately collapsed, allowing Jin Zhison to escape. For a moment, the complexions of Lin Shilu and the others turned deathly white. "Daoist Zhuang has succeeded!" Feeling the activation of the Formation, Jin Zhison was very excited. He leaped up and was pulled by Zhuang Zhenxin, who quickly retreated, directly leaving the range of the Formation. Once out of the Formation, Jin Zhison immediately took a Healing Pill, and then vigilantly stared at the several people inside the Formation. "Daoist Zhuang, can this Formation trap four Foundation Establishment Cultivators?" Faced with Jin Zhison''s question, Zhuang Zhenxin said with a smile, "Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivators, not to mention four of them, even if a few more came, it would be nearly impossible for them to break the Formation through attack, unless one of them is a Second Order Array Master, or an Array Master from outside attempts to break the Formation, spending a month or so to study it, or by using a powerful Magic Artifact for the attack. Otherwise, it''s absolutely impossible to break through!" "Not only that, the Sword Qi inside will keep wandering without any pattern, and they must keep moving constantly. Even if they can avoid the attacks of the Sword Qi, once their Spiritual Power is exhausted, they will sooner or later be killed!" Even if they didn''t die, by the time they got out, their families would have been exterminated, and they wouldn''t be able to escape. This trip''s goal had been achieved, and they could now go and regroup with the main force of their family. Hearing Zhuang Zhenxin''s words, Jin Zhison was very shocked. No wonder Jin Zhiying treated him with such courtesy; he couldn''t help but show even greater respect for Zhuang Zhenxin. It should be known that Array Masters in the Cultivation World were even rarer than Alchemists, and those above Second Order were even less common. In the entire Wei Kingdom, they were rarely seen, and within the Luoyun Mountain Range, none had been seen for decades. The possibility of someone coming to rescue them was virtually non-existent. Seeing Jin Zhison being overwhelmed, Zhuang Zhenxin was somewhat proud, and said to Jin Zhison, "Daoist Jin, let''s go. We can go and meet up with your elder brother, and sweep through the territories of the four great families one by one, hoping to find the item I am looking for!" Thinking of quickly attacking the territories of the four great families and obtaining a large amount of treasures, the two were very excited. "Good, let''s set off now and meet up with elder brother!" At Zhuang Zhenxin''s words, Jin Zhison dared not disagree and readily agreed. Looking at the large number of Cultivators watching the battle below the mountain, Jin Zhison shouted, "If any of you dare to go to the market or report to the four great families, you are declaring yourselves enemies of the Jin Family. Once we find out, there will be no mercy." "We wouldn''t dare, wouldn''t dare..." The large number of Cultivators had already been scared out of their wits and quickly echoed agreement, with many even offering flattery. Jin Zhison and the other paid them no more heed and took to Sword Flight, flying towards the east, soon disappearing into the horizon. After the two had left, the Qi Refining Cultivators who had been watching the battle at the foot of the mountain finally breathed a sigh of relief. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jin Zhison had not troubled them; it seemed he didn''t care about these insignificant people. If a massacre had ensued, they would have had no way to resist. Read the latest on empire Soon, the Qi Refining Cultivators at the foot of the mountain left, leaving only the few people inside the Formation. Within the Formation, a large amount of furious Sword Qi was constantly on the move, causing Lin Shilu and the others to speed up their dodging, moving frantically inside. If they were hit by the Sword Qi, even if they didn''t die, they would be gravely injured. In between dodging, Lin Shilu released several Sword Qi attacks at the Formation''s light curtain. Regrettably, whether it was the Sword Qi or the attack of the Five Elements Spell, they were all absorbed by the light curtain, without showing even a ripple. Having no other choice, Lin Shilu could only invite the others to attack together and give it a try. "Fellow Daoists, the power of one is of no use at all; we should combine our powers and strike together, attacking the same spot. Maybe there is some hope." "I had the same thought!" Sun Dingfeng had also realized the difficulty of the Formation and happily agreed. The other few had no objections, so they combined their forces to attack the same spot. Although the light curtain clearly trembled, it quickly returned to normal. After several attempts, and changing numerous positions, there was still no effect; the Formation remained still. As time moved on, their Spiritual Power was rapidly depleting. Soon, they were nearing exhaustion, and the only Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator who had been alive was already dead, leaving only the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators. "Daoist Lin, attacking like this is futile. With just the few of us, it''s impossible to break the Formation. It''s better to save some Spiritual Power to avoid the Sword Qi''s attacks and wait for rescue." Sun Dingfeng''s words forced the others to accept the reality: they stopped attacking and began to conserve the little spiritual power that remained, weaving their way within the formation. Fortunately, the speed of the Sword Qi within the formation was not fast, and it was not difficult for them to avoid it. The consumption of spiritual power was also not rapid. If it had been a Third Order Formation, they would have had no chance to evade it at all. As days passed, relying on Huiyuan Pills to restore their spiritual power, they were able to hold on a bit longer. At this moment, Huiyuan Pills became the life-saving straw for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Half a month went by, and Wu Yingchong from the Wu Family, exhausted of elixirs and unable to persist, was the first to be struck by the Sword Qi and died. A renowned Foundation Establishment Cultivator dying because of depleted spiritual power was an unspeakable irony. Lin Shilu and Sun Dingfeng, both with higher cultivation and more elixirs, could hold on for another half month without problems. By now, everyone was already exhausted to the limit; the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Luo Family were on the verge of collapse. If no rescue came, they would inevitably follow in Wu Yingchong''s footsteps. Inside the formation, the three people who were still alive persevered desperately. ... In the Luoyun Mountain Range, within the valley of great battle. Atop a mountain peak, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. After four days of recovery, Lin Tianming''s injuries had partially healed. With the help of elixirs and his powerful self-healing ability, the bloody hole in his arm had healed, leaving only a scar. As long as he did not exert himself for a few days, he would quickly recover. Thinking back to the entire battle, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but feel relieved. If his father hadn''t followed him all the way and arrived in time at the critical moment, all three of them would have undoubtedly perished there. After four days of seated meditation to recover, Lin Tianming''s injuries were partially healed. It was already the day the martial arts competition ended, and it was time for them to set out again. Before long, Lin Xingrong gathered everyone, and the two people from the Sun Family also came over. Having confirmed that Lin Tianming''s injuries no longer hindered travel, they set off once more towards the outer regions of the Luoyun Mountain Range. A day later, with Lin Xingrong leading the group, they successfully exited the inner region. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, and by taking advantage of the Spirit Beast''s flight, they could even use this time to recover briefly. Their speed greatly increased as a result. Finally, on the day the competition ended, they arrived at the starting point. By then, the cultivators who had come to watch had long departed, leaving the lively foot of the mountain eerily quiet. Seeing the glow surrounding the platform from afar, they were greatly shocked, as it was apparent something unexpected had happened. Picking up the pace, they quickly arrived at the base of the platform''s mountain. Lin Tianming observed the formation repeatedly and after conjecture, deduced that it was at least a Second Order Formation. However, since none of them were Array Masters, it was impossible to determine exactly what kind of formation it was or how to break it. "Father, could there be any way to rescue Fifteenth Grandfather and the others who are trapped in the formation?" Faced with Lin Tianming''s question, Lin Xingrong also felt helpless. After all, he wasn''t an Array Master himself, and couldn''t even figure out the type of the formation, let alone how to begin to dismantle it. After fruitless discussion, they could only attempt the most straightforward method: using powerful attacks to break through. That was the only thing left to try. Resolute, Lin Xingrong took the lead in attacking. With all his strength, the formation did not budge an inch. The group attacked several times with combined forces, but similarly achieved nothing. The party tried attacking the formation countless times, switching positions, yet the formation naturally showed no response. As he saw the worsening condition of Lin Shilu and the others within the formation, Lin Xingrong grew increasingly anxious. At this moment, Lin Tianming was unusually calm, rapidly considering their options for a long while. "Eye of Five Colors!" Lin Tianming finally remembered his Eye of Five Colors! "The Eye of Five Colors has the ability to see through illusions and barriers. Although I''m not sure about the effects on High Order formations, for a Second Order Formation, it shouldn''t be a problem." With his mind made up, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards the formation''s glowing screen on the platform. Chapter 101 Escaping the Predicament (Two in One) _1 Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, gazing at the formation''s light curtain.Within the invisible and colorless curtain, countless beams of light appeared, each nearly the size of a strand of hair, densely packed and innumerable, ultimately converging towards eight directions of the platform, and at each direction there was an energy cluster, presumably the core of the formation. After circling around the platform, Lin Tianming revealed a grave expression. "How is it, can you discern anything?" Seeing Lin Tianming remaining silent, Lin Xingrong asked anxiously from the side. Faced with his father''s pressing question, he began to voice his thoughts. "It''s a bit tricky. Based on my estimation, this formation is at least a Second Order lower-grade formation, focused more on trapping than attacking, otherwise Elder Wu and the rest wouldn''t have been able to hold on for long!" Hearing what Lin Tianming said, everyone present became even more anxious. A Second Order Formation was extremely rare in the Luoyun Mountain Range, apart from the Protective Clan Formations of the five major families, no other power was known to have a Second Order Protective Clan Formation. In Wei Kingdom, Second Order Array Masters were essentially venerated by major powers, and even Golden Elixir Forces seldom managed to cultivate them; among Loose Cultivators, they were even rarer. Find your next read on empire The few speculated that the person who set up the formation was definitely not a Jin Family Cultivator, but more likely a helper that the Jin Family had sought out to annihilate the four major families. No matter their identity or purpose, the pressing matter at hand was naturally to rescue Lin Shilu and the others. "Tian Ming, do you have a method to break the formation?" An anxious Lin Xingrong asked again. Lin Tianming frowned slightly and said helplessly, "We can only try to locate the formation''s core and break it, or wait for the formation''s energy to be exhausted, or ask a Golden Elixir Expert to act, for there to be a chance of breaking the formation." Hearing what Lin Tianming said, Lin Xingrong''s face grew even grimmer. The methods Lin Tianming mentioned were all nearly impossible for them to accomplish. "Father, we have no other choice. Elder Wu and the rest can''t wait much longer. We can only do our best and try to break the formation!" Time waits for no one. They couldn''t wait for the formation''s energy to run out, nor could they find a Golden Elixir Expert to help, so they could only rely on themselves. If they could make use of the Eye of Five Colors, breaking the formation was possible, but it would require time to study and explore. "Alright then!" Knowing the severity of the situation and lacking other alternatives, Lin Xingrong agreed to let him try. "Tian Ming, focus on breaking the formation. I''ll stand guard here. Xing Yu and Tianfeng, you two immediately return to the market, find Xing Zhi and inquire about the situation of the various families. Additionally, find a way to send the news of the Jin Family''s actions back to our clan!" "Understood!" After the group responded in unison, they sprang into action. Sun Ruiqing and another decided not to delay and planned to return to the market with Lin Xingyu to gather news. Lin Xingrong also understood the urgency of the situation. Though the major families had anticipated trouble and made some preparations, getting news swiftly was crucial, so he did not stop them from going. When everyone had left, Lin Tianming began attempting to break the formation, with Lin Xingrong standing by waiting. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, scrutinizing the light beams within the curtain. The curtain''s light beams were too many, chaotically interwoven, ultimately converging at the eight formation cores. His task was to find the essential core among the eight and destroy it to break the formation. Having organized his thoughts, Lin Tianming started from the first direction in front of him. Looking at the chaotic and dense light beams, Lin Tianming carefully observed each one to locate the source of the beams. Three days passed, and Lin Tianming sat to the south, contemplating the light curtain in front of him. After analyzing and comparing, the light curtain in front of him was subtly different from other directions. Lin Tianming speculated that the formation''s core was likely hidden within this part of the curtain. Having identified the specific direction, Lin Tianming once again scrutinized the light beams inside for detailed analysis. ... Outside Luoyun Market. Lin Xingyu and the group of four arrived at a mountaintop outside the market, cautiously observing the entrance, not daring to enter hastily. At the entrance, there were still many cultivators coming in and out. Aside from a noticeable decrease in the flow of people, there were no signs of martial law enforcement or a direct shutdown of the market. It seemed that the Jin Family had not taken any action against the clanspeople within the market, which was good news. Considering there were no abnormalities, the four of them managed to enter the market smoothly. Inside the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingyu and another met with Lin Xingzhi. Although Jin Zhison had threatened the Qi Refining Cultivators watching the competition below the mountain not to spread any word, in the past few days, still, quite a few rumors had emerged. Lin Xingzhi had only just learned the news, and with half-belief, was about to go and check it out when he encountered Lin Xingyu and the others returning. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingyu recounted the events of the competition, and Lin Xingzhi was taken by surprise. Lin Xingrong had killed Jin Chaojiang, making him the only cultivator from the five major families to die in a magical duel in recent decades. After calming his emotions, Lin Xingzhi also spoke about the rumors within the market. According to rumors from some Qi Refining Cultivators, the Jin Family had assembled a large number of clansmen and gone to the Wu Family''s clan grounds at Jiuhua Mountain. After surrounding it for several days, they broke through the Wu Family''s Protective Clan Formation. The Wu Family was annihilated; not even the Foundation Establishment Cultivators managed to escape, with only a very small number of clan members outside surviving the catastrophe. Chapter 101 Escaping the Predicament (Two in One) _2 It had been a month since Lin Shilu and several others were trapped.The news of the Wu Family''s annihilation had spread in the market these last two days, causing a great shock, and the Wu Family members in the market had already fled. As for whether they could escape the pursuit, it was difficult to predict. The Jin Family most likely struck at the Wu Family first because the Wu Family''s territory was the closest, and their silent and unexpected annihilation was truly hard to believe. Yet, the Wu Family had been annihilated twenty days ago, and the news had only come out now. The Jin Family must have intended to block the information, otherwise, with the distance being within a thousand miles, the news should have been received much earlier. The whereabouts of the Jin Family were unknown now, and the next target was hard to determine, likely being either the Sun Family or the Luo Family. After Lin Xingyu and the others exchanged the information they each had learned, Lin Xingzhi spoke: "Xingyu, you now sneak back to our clan''s territory and relay the news of the Wu Family''s annihilation and the trapping of Fifteenth Uncle back to our family, but remember not to be discovered by the Jin Family. Tianfeng, return to Tian Ming''s side, and I will stay in the market to gather information." "Right, everyone, be careful!" After assigning their respective tasks, they quickly set into action. The gathering place for the competition. Lin Tianming had been sitting here for several days, concentrating on breaking the formation. At the moment, Lin Tianming''s brows were tightly furrowed, and sweat dripped continuously from his forehead; he had reached the most critical moment. Staring at the tens of thousands of light rays within the formation''s light screen, Lin Tianming focused on one of them, contemplating. This beam of light seemed very ordinary; it wound around like others, of the same thickness, and didn''t look different compared to the rest. But after comparisons and observing for the entire day, Lin Tianming still discovered a subtle difference. This particular beam of light would hasten the transfer of energy every half an hour, almost ten times faster, lasting for a quarter of an hour before returning to normal. After repeated confirmations, Lin Tianming was certain that this beam of light was the formation''s core. Days and nights of relentless study and calculation had left Lin Tianming utterly exhausted. Having found the key to breaking the formation, Lin Tianming finally showed a trace of a smile. Stay updated through empire Lin Shilu and the others had already been trapped for a full month, in extremely difficult circumstances. Without any delay, Lin Tianming stood up and took out an Earth Evil Sword from his storage bag. Circulating his cultivation technique and injecting a large amount of spiritual energy, he swung the sword with all his might, turning it into a cyan-yellow Sword Qi, and striking at that special beam of light. "Pfft..." A grating, strange sound cut through the sky, startling Lin Xingrong, who was meditating nearby. He immediately stood up and leaped to Lin Tianming''s side, vigilantly watching the light screen. When the weird noise stopped, the light screen slowly cracked open and then completely vanished without a trace, revealing the figures of Lin Shilu and the others. The three trapped men were pale, looking like they had aged several years. On the platform, seeing the formation broken and the wandering Sword Qi dissipating, Lin Shilu and the other two''s faces showed wild joy, and they all promptly sat on the ground, looking thoroughly drained. Being trapped for a full month, Wu Yingchong was worn to death, and Luo Chenggu was also at his limits. Lin Shilu and Sun Dingfeng fared slightly better; their cultivation and elixirs had allowed them to hold on, but they were equally exhausted. A few more days of being trapped would have certainly led to death from exhaustion. Seeing Lin Shilu''s figure, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong''s complexions were ruddy, and they rushed over immediately. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Fifteenth Uncle, how are you?" Lin Xingrong anxiously inquired about Lin Shilu''s condition. Lin Shilu took a Huiyuan Pill and meditated for a quarter of an hour before he could speak; this showed how lucky he was to be alive. Without Lin Tianming, they would have undoubtedly died this time. "Xingrong, Tianming, I''m just overly exhausted; I''m feeling a bit better now. I need to cultivate for half a day, you two help to protect me!" "Alright, Elder, recover at ease!" Having said that, Lin Tianming and the other person stopped asking questions and sat to one side to wait. Half a day passed quickly. After the recovery, some color finally returned to Lin Shilu''s pale face. In half a day''s time, his spiritual power had also recovered by nearly half. Lin Shilu got up and walked to the side, with Lin Tianming and the others following closely. In a corner, the two secretly communicated with Lin Shilu, exchanging their respective experiences through voice transmission. "Tian Ming, I owe you my life. Without you, I would have truly died here!" Upon learning that Lin Tianming had gone five days and nights without closing his eyes to break the formation and rescue several people, Lin Shilu didn''t inquire about the details but sincerely expressed his gratitude. "Fifteenth Grandfather, you are too polite. We are all Lin Family members, and my success was merely by luck. It is a great relief to us younger generations that you have escaped from danger!" "Indeed, Fifteenth Uncle, there''s no need for courtesy, all that we did was our duty!" Lin Xing Rong also spoke up in agreement. The three of them exchanged words for a good half a quarter hour until Sun Dingfeng and his companions stood up, signaling a pause in their communication. Once Sun Dingfeng and his group had regained a fraction of their spiritual power, they approached Lin Tianming and the others. After a half-day''s recovery, Sun Dingfeng and his group were in much better condition and immediately came over to express their thanks. "Daoist Lin, we will remember this life-saving grace deep in our hearts and will not refuse any request you make in the future!" "My fellow Daoists, there''s no need for such formality. Everyone making it out alive is a great fortune in itself, though it is truly unfortunate about Daoist Wu," said Lin solemnly, lamenting repeatedly. Upon mentioning Wu Yingchong, Sun Dingfeng and the other''s expressions changed. A stalwart Foundation Establishment Cultivator had died from being utterly drained; their tragic end came at the hands of the Jin Family. "Daoist Lin, Daoist Wu''s death is indeed regrettable. Since he is gone, let''s not talk about him. As for his storage bag, let''s leave it with Daoist Lin. Luo Daoyou, you have no objections, right?" Sun Dingfeng made the proposal without objections from Luo Chenggu. Given that their survival had entirely depended on the Lin Family''s intervention, they naturally wouldn''t dispute over these belongings. Following this, Lin Shilu recounted the experiences of the ordeal, which only stoked the fury of the two men. The Sun Family was slightly better off, having lost only one clan member, but the Luo and Wu Family members had been wiped out entirely, causing both men to grind their teeth in resentment, wishing they could immediately march to the Jin Family''s territory for vengeance. Lin Shilu advised them not to act rashly and thus was able to stabilize their emotions. For a good half an hour, the trio discussed strategies on how to deal with the Jin Family, and after coming to a series of resolutions, they prepared to return to their respective families. Just at that moment, Lin Tianfeng, who had returned from the market, rushed over. Seeing that Lin Shilu had escaped from danger, Lin Tianfeng was overjoyed and hurriedly went forward to pay his respects. Anxious, Lin Xing Rong hastily instructed Lin Tianfeng to report the news from the market as well as from the Jin Family. Knowing the critical nature of the news he possessed, Lin Tianfeng did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point by revealing the demise of the Wu Family. "What, the Wu Family was annihilated in just five days!" "It happened twenty days ago!" Sun Dingfeng and Luo Chenggu exclaimed in shock, as everyone present was thoroughly stunned. Although they had anticipated that the Jin Family, after trapping Lin Shilu and others, would immediately act, they had not expected that the Wu Family would fall in only five days, especially since they were also a Foundation Establishing family. The outcome was truly beyond expectations. Lin Shilu was the first to regain his calm and spoke: "Don''t forget, the Array Master the Jin Family brought in is, I deduce, at least a Second Order Mid-Grade Formation Master. With his help, coupled with the Jin Family''s Second Order Attack Artifact, breaking through the Wu Family''s Protective Clan Formation wouldn''t be difficult!" The others realized this was indeed the case. This person had managed to set up the formation in an extremely short amount of time, clearly indicating that this mysterious cultivator was not to be underestimated. Once everyone calmed down, they all had heavy hearts. With the Wu Family gone nearly a month, the Jin Family would definitely not sit idly by and would surely continue to attack the other three families'' territories. In such a case, the current state of the three families was unknown, and it was foreseen that their situation would not be good. Given the Jin Family and Sun Family''s historical enmity, it was highly probable that the Jin Family''s next target would be the Sun Family. Sun Dingfeng, not daring to delay any longer, said: "Daoist Lin, we are not yet sure which family''s territory the Jin Family is attacking now. We must set off immediately, return to our family, and strengthen our power to confront the Jin Family." "Daoist Sun speaks wisely. We cannot afford to delay!" Luo Chenggu strongly agreed with Sun Dingfeng''s remark, echoing him immediately. Lin Shilu was also extremely anxious and briefly discussed countermeasures with the others before letting them go without delay. Sun Dingfeng and the other person no longer lingered, gave a cupped fist salute, and quickly vanished into the horizon. Chapter 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _1 Flying Eagle Mountain, in a concealed valley behind the Sun Family clan territory.After escaping from his predicament, he dared not delay, nor care for his unhealed injuries, and hastily rushed back to Flying Eagle Mountain. This place was one of the Sun Family''s secret passages, known only to a dozen or so core clan members, and was one of the contingencies the Sun Family had left behind. Sun Dingfeng lay atop a hill, watching as various colors of magical spells streaked across the sky, accompanied by bursts of explosions. Clearly, the Jin Family was attacking the Protective Clan Formation. Looking at the Protective Clan Formation in front of him, its defensive power had decreased by over half; it seemed it wouldn''t hold out much longer. Just then, a red light streaked across the sky, and after the ground shook and the mountains swayed, the Protective Clan Formation collapsed with a loud bang, and flames soared into the sky from within the Sun Family territory. "It''s over, it''s all over!" Watching as the clan''s great formation was breached, Sun Dingfeng''s face turned even paler, and blood oozed from the corners of his mouth. Outside the Sun Family territory, with the formation broken, Jin Zhiying let out a triumphant, strange laugh and immediately charged in, while Zhuang Zhenxin, who had put away a gray pearl, swiftly followed suit. This time, aside from leaving behind one Foundation Establishment Cultivator to guard the territory, the Jin Family had dispatched ninety percent of their elite forces¡ªdozens of clan members, each with cultivation at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement or above. Inside the Sun Family, as the formation broke, three figures soared into the sky, appearing at the entrance of the clan territory. As Jin Zhiying, who had rushed in, saw one of the three, an old man with thinning hair and a goatee, he exclaimed: "Old Ghost Sun, you''re actually still alive!" The Sun elder''s expression was calm as he feigned composure and spoke: S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Humph, although my life is nearing its end, I won''t die so easily. Since you''ve seen me, why not quickly retreat? Our Sun Family can still let bygones be bygones; otherwise, today will be your death day!" Hearing the Sun elder speak plainly, Jin Zhiying seemed to sense a lack of confidence in his voice. Thinking of how Sun Dingfeng had been trapped and the Jin Family Cultivators outnumbered the Sun Family by three, and that the three from the Sun Family had cowered within the formation at the time of the breach and clearly dared not engage in battle, now that the formation was broken and they had completely turned hostile, they certainly wouldn''t retreat when they had the absolute upper hand. "Don''t think that just because you''re still alive, I''ll be afraid of you. We''ve been planning this for nearly ten years; how could we give up easily!" Making up his mind, Jin Zhiying commanded the Jin Family members behind him: "Spare no effort; kill them all. The wealth of the Sun Family will be ours!" Thinking of the vast treasures they had acquired from defeating the Wu Family, the Jin Family Cultivators behind him showed a fierce gleam in their eyes, swarming forward in full force. Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin also attacked at the same time, targeting Sun Anzhong and Sun Dingxian. Jin Zhiying, with his Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivation, faced Sun Anzhong at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, while Zhuang Zhenxin and Sun Dingxian were both at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. The four clashed fiercely in the high sky, and the remaining four Foundation Establishment Jin Family Cultivators besieged the lone Sun Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator. For a moment, there were flashes of blade and sword light, talisman paper and spells all burst forth, and the entire Sun Family territory descended into chaos. Jin Zhiying took out a three-foot-long blood-red blade that emanated a thick murderous aura, clearly a ferocious Second Order Magical Artifact. Seeing the blood-red blade, Sun Anzhong''s face turned extremely solemn. The Jin Family''s Second Order Attack Artifact, the Thousand Blood Blade, was notorious for its powerful attacks, and many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had died under its edge. Being already outmatched in cultivation by Jin Zhiying, he naturally faced great danger in the face of such a vicious weapon. As Jin Zhiying slashed three times in succession, transforming the strikes into three blood-colored dragon-shaped Blade Qi, they sliced towards Sun Anzhong. Sun Anzhong, not daring to be careless, brought out a black small shield to block the dragon-shaped Blade Qi. Three explosive sounds... Sun Anzhong''s face turned pale as he churned with blood, the single attack significantly shaking his mind and spirit. Steadying himself, Sun Anzhong began to counterattack. Before they knew it, the two had exchanged over a dozen rounds of blows, and relying on a large quantity of Second Order talismans, Sun Anzhong temporarily held off Jin Zhiying. If Sun Dingxian could defeat Zhuang Zhenxin in time, there was still a possibility of repelling the enemy. Meanwhile, Sun Dingxian''s situation was also dire. As a Second Order Array Master, Zhuang Zhenxin possessed many magical treasures. Although the two shared the same cultivation level, Sun Dingxian had significantly fewer artifacts and quickly found himself at a disadvantage. What was more critical was that, although the Sun Family had nearly two hundred clan members in the battle, there were too few Foundation Establishment Cultivators to hold the line. The sole Foundation Establishment Cultivator, besieged by Jin Zhison and two others, was already severely injured and wouldn''t last long before being killed. At this point, without the protection of the formation, the Sun Family was completely on the defensive. As time slowly passed, Jin Zhison struck with full force, releasing three Blade Qi. After a wretched scream, the Sun Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivator fell. Freely joining Jin Zhiying''s fray, Jin Zhison immediately helped to overwhelm their opponents. Jin Zhiying delivered a powerful strike, flinging Sun Anzhong dozens of feet away. He struggled to his feet, his face completely white as he spat mouthfuls of fresh blood. With Sun Anzhong retreating step by step, the Sun Family crumbled completely. Knowing that all was lost, Sun Anzhong secretly transmitted a message to Sun Dingxian. "Dingxian, the game is up, and the Sun Family has reached a dead end. The few clan members with great potential have already left. In any case, I won''t live much longer. In a moment, I will take the Blood Spirit Pill and hold them off for a while; you must escape immediately. As long as the green hills last, there''ll be wood to burn!" Hearing Sun Anzhong''s secret transmission, Sun Dingxian''s face turned deathly pale, realizing his own injuries, the desperate state of the Sun Family, and knowing that continuing to fight would not change the outcome; escaping was a helpless move. "Ninth Uncle, rest assured, I won''t let our family''s lineage be cut off!" Sun Dingxian''s eyes shown with resolution as he looked towards Sun Anzhong and began to transmit his message. Sun Anzhong, thus resolved, took out a red elixir from his storage bag and swallowed it. Chapter 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _2 A breath''s time had passed, and Sun Anzhong''s aura rapidly soared, ascending a whole level and now no less than that of Jin Zhiying."The Blood Spirit Pill, Old Ghost Sun is going for broke!" Jin Zhiying immediately cried out in alarm, swinging his blade several times, attacking Sun Anzhong. As Sun Anzhong''s aura surged, he dodged the attacks and gave up on confronting Jin Zhiying, instead aiming to kill Zhuang Zhenxin. Zhuang Zhenxin was greatly shocked and immediately ceased his attack on Sun Dingxian, explosively retreating backward. Seizing the opportunity, Sun Dingxian didn''t hesitate and instantly fled towards the aft hill of the clan grounds, his speed incredibly fast. Perceiving that Sun Dingxian was fleeing, Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin immediately gave chase. Having finally gotten the chance, Sun Anzhong, who had already planned for this, naturally would not let them pass. Sun Anzhong took out dozens of Second Order Attack Talismans, threw them into the sky, and instantly, numerous fireballs appeared, filling the entire sky, with Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin trapped amidst the sea of flames. For a moment, the sea of flames engulfed the entire battlefield, and under indiscriminate attack, both the Sun Family and Jin Family suffered numerous casualties. The Jin Family, protected by many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, lost just over a dozen clan members, while the Sun Family had dozens killed. "Old Ghost Sun has gone mad; he even disregards his own clan members!" Jin Zhiying was both shocked and enraged; although he and Zhuang Zhenxin were unharmed, they were completely blocked from their pursuit, allowing Sun Dingxian to vanish from their sight. To continue the chase would require significant effort. When the blaze dissipated, Jin Zhiying and Jin Zhison encircled Sun Anzhong, with Zhuang Zhenxin joining the fray. Sun Dingxian was a big problem; if he escaped, the Jin Family would have to be constantly on guard, an endless trouble. Only by killing Sun Anzhong could they get past him to chase the fleeing Sun Dingxian. In a flash, all three went all out, launching a frenzy of attacks on Sun Anzhong. Jin Zhiying once again unleashed a fatal blow, sending forth five strikes of Blood Jiao Blade Qi, layer upon layer, piercing through Sun Anzhong''s black shield. Sun Anzhong spat out blood, one arm severed, his combat strength severely reduced. "If you want to eradicate our Sun Family, you will have to pay the price!" Sun Anzhong''s face was pale as he roared in anger. Knowing he couldn''t kill Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin, he targeted Jin Zhison. He threw out the remaining dozen or so Second Order Talismans, entangling Jin Zhiying and the others. For a moment, resigned to death and dodging no attacks, Sun Anzhong made his way toward Jin Zhison. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Jin Zhiying and the others burst out of the talisman fire sea, they found two corpses lying on the ground. Jin Zhiying immediately ran over and picked up the fallen Jin Zhison to examine him. Having taken the Blood Spirit Pill and reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, Sun Anzhong was gravely wounded, but with a life-for-life strike, he succeeded in dying together with Jin Zhison, a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Seeing that Jin Zhison had already ceased breathing, Jin Zhiying was deeply grieved. A short while later, the entire battlefield became utterly silent. Aside from the escaped Sun Dingxian, all the Sun Family members present were killed. "Daoist Zhuang and I will chase after the fleeing Sun Dingxian, you all quickly clean up the Jin Family clan grounds, collect the treasures, leave five to keep watch, and then head to Green Bamboo Mountain," Jin Zhiying ordered. "Yes!" After the surviving Jin Family members respectfully responded, Jin Zhiying did not linger and chased in the direction Sun Dingxian had fled. ... On a hilltop behind the Sun Family Clan Grounds. After breaking away from the battle, Sun Dingxian didn''t stay for a moment and headed straight here. Seeing Sun Dingxian appear, Sun Dingfeng lying in wait on the hilltop immediately went up to greet him. "Fourth brother, how is the family?" Although Sun Dingfeng had guessed the outcome, he still asked, unwilling to give up hope. Sun Dingxian did not answer, pulling Sun Dingfeng along as they left without slowing their flight. After running for tens of miles, taking advantage of a brief rest, he recounted the events of the great battle. Upon hearing this, Sun Dingfeng''s expression turned sorrowful as he shared the predicament of the Spirit Scripture. "Fourth brother, what do we do now?" Facing Sun Dingfeng''s inquiry, Sun Dingxian also hesitated; the current situation called for flight first, with the possibility of later gathering the younger generations of the Sun Family. However, he also wanted to hear Sun Dingfeng''s opinion. "Dingfeng, what are your thoughts?" Sun Dingfeng pondered for a moment; to evade pursuit, the only option seemed to be fleeing to Qianchuan Market, but it was too far and unlikely. On the other hand, if they escaped to the Lin Family, only over six hundred miles away, the chances of hope were greater. Making up his mind, Sun Dingfeng said: "Fourth brother, after breaking free, I discussed with Lin Shilu that if anything happened, we could go to the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain to stand together against the Jin Family. Moreover, we already had an alliance in place. With the Lin Family''s strength, maybe we can fend off the Jin Family''s pursuit. What do you think?" After hearing Sun Dingfeng''s words, Sun Dingxian did not think long and agreed to the suggestion. In truth, they had no choice; currently, their only possibility of escaping the pursuit was to join with the Lin Family. Deciding on this, the two immediately flew toward the south. Sometime later, Jin Zhiying and another also caught up. Half a day''s time passed. At the Green Bamboo Mountain, the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Ever since the market competition began, the Lin Family had been under martial law for two months. At this moment, Lin Shiji was personally leading five clan members on patrol at the edge of the Formation. Suddenly, they saw two cultivators flying towards them at high speed, stopping just outside the Formation. As the two landed, Lin Shiji realized they were Sun Dingfeng and another. At this point, Sun Dingfeng and his companion were in terrible condition. While Sun Dingxian was better off, with Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivation and not much injury, Sun Dingfeng was already injured and exhausted from the constant fleeing. Outside the Formation, Sun Dingxian shouted toward the inside. "Sun Dingxian urgently seeks an audience with Lin Shikang, no time to lose, please come out at once!" Chapter 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _3 Lin Shi Ji was acutely aware that a bond had been forged with the Sun Family and that today was the day of a great battle, so he naturally did not dare to delay and immediately sent a message to Lin Shi Kang.Not long after, Lin Shi Kang appeared at the edge of the formation. He opened the formation, personally welcomed Sun Dingxian inside, and the formation swiftly returned to its original state. Without time to rest, Lin Shi Kang anxiously asked, "Daoist Sun, what kind of accident has befallen you?" Although he had anticipated this, Lin Shi Kang still wanted to inquire personally. Sun Dingxian took a deep breath and hurriedly recounted the Sun Family''s ordeal. "What? The Sun Family clan grounds have been breached, over a hundred clan members have perished, and only the two of you managed to escape!" Hearing Sun Dingxian say this himself, Lin Shi Kang was greatly shocked. It should be known that the Sun Family''s time of establishment predates the Lin Family by several hundred years and truly possesses deep foundations with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Yet, they too were breached by the Jin Family, who broke through their Protective Clan Formation and slew over a hundred of their clan members. But the matter had come to this point, leaving no choice but to believe it. As Lin Shi Ji tried to stabilize his emotions, he immediately reminded, "Lin, you must be careful. The Jin Family has somehow invited a Second Order Mid-Grade Formation Master. Not only did they lay down formations, entrapping people like Lin Shi Lu for about a month, but they also breached the Protective Clan Formations of both the Wu Family and our Sun Family. They are ruthless like the World Evil Sect!" Since Lin Shi Lu and others had not yet returned to the clan grounds for some reason, Lin Shi Kang took Sun Dingxian''s warning very seriously upon hearing it. "A Second Order Mid-Grade Formation Master... it seems the Jin Family is indeed well-prepared, otherwise, they wouldn''t have commenced the battle so resolutely!" "Indeed, we underestimated them!" After discussing, Lin Shi Kang turned to Lin Shi Ji beside him and instructed, "Shi Ji, the Jin Family will be here soon. Time is pressing, so take Daoist Sun and the others to rest first. I''ll personally guard this place. Then immediately order all clan members to assemble and be ready to respond to the battle with the Jin Family at any moment!" "Alright, I''ll see to it right away!" With that, Lin Shi Ji left with Sun Dingfeng and the other person. Half a quarter of an hour later, Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin appeared outside of the formation. Jin Zhiying saw that Sun Dingxian and the other person had vanished, evidently having entered the Lin Family Clan Grounds. "Daoist Zhuang, you first observe the Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation to see if you can break it. I''ll stay here on guard, as the Lin Family likely doesn''t dare to act rashly either!" "Understood!" Zhuang Zhenxin immediately began to inspect the perimeter of the formation. The appearance of the two men immediately caught the attention of Lin Shi Kang. Knowing that Jin Zhiying was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm and that there was Zhuang Zhenxin, who was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Lin Shi Kang did not dare to act rashly and could only hope that the Protective Clan Formation could withstand the attack. An hour passed, and Zhuang Zhenxin returned to Jin Zhiying''s side. Seeing Zhuang Zhenxin''s return, Jin Zhiying asked, "How goes it? Do you think you can break the formation?" Zhuang Zhenxin, with a calm expression, thought for a moment before replying, "The Lin Family is indeed a clan that has produced Golden Elixir Experts. Their Protective Clan Formation is quite mysterious. Although it is difficult, with some extra time, it should be possible to break through!" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pleased with Zhuang Zhenxin''s response, Jin Zhiying was very satisfied. Once they eliminated the Lin Family, the two from the Sun Family couldn''t run either. After that, the Luo Family left would simply be like fish on the chopping block, easily wiped out. "Haha, then I am relieved. With Daoist Zhuang making a move, it''s naturally as easy as grasping something in our hands. We''ll rest here for a few days. Once our Jin Family clan members arrive, we''ll take action to break the formation!" "Just as Jin Daoyou suggests!" Having made up their minds, the two flew to a hilltop outside the formation. While waiting for the Jin Family clan members, they sat down to cultivate. Chapter 103 Undermining the Enemys Foundations (Seeking Subscriptions, Seeking Monthly Votes)_1 Luoyun Market, a secluded room on the third floor of Hundred Treasures Building.Lin Shilu sat in the seat of honor, Lin Tianming and his son, along with Lin Xingzhi, the four of them sat together. After a day''s rest and recuperation, Lin Shilu and his companions had all fully recovered. Lifting the teacup and taking a sip of the Spiritual Tea, Lin Shilu spoke, inquiring everyone''s opinions. "Given the current situation, the Wu Family will be destroyed soon, and the next move of the Jin Family is unknown. Although the Sun Family is a likely possibility, it''s also unpredictable. Where should we go from here?" Hearing Lin Shilu''s words, everyone fell into deep thought. Soon, Lin Xingrong was the first to speak. "Fifteenth Uncle, Tianhong and the others are still in the Jin Family Clan''s Territory. We''ve agreed to meet up once I head over there. As for you all, you should head back to the clan as soon as possible!" After a long silence, Lin Tianming spoke. "Father, heading back to the clan now is too risky. The Jin Family is powerful, Jin Zhiying is at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, not to mention that cultivator with the surname Zhuang, along with Jin Zhison. Their high order combat power is formidable, and if we encounter them, it''s hard to say if we could even safely enter our clan land, let alone escape." "With most of the Jin Family''s elite forces gone, I suggest that we head to the Jin Family Clan''s Territory now and try to break through their Protective Clan Formation." Lin Tianming''s suggestion made everyone gasp. "Tianming, that''s too risky!" Lin Shilu seemed a bit concerned, knowing that with their small number, it would be difficult to come away unscathed if they encountered the Jin Family''s main force. "Fifteenth Grandfather, we don''t have a better plan right now. You know, the more dangerous a place is, the safer it might be. If we succeed, the Jin Family''s plans will be completely disrupted, and the outcome of the clan war crisis this time will be changed as a result." "Regardless of whether it''s feasible, let''s give it a try. If it really doesn''t work, we''ll just abandon the plan. In case we run into Jin Zhiying and the others, we''ll flee north. Once we reach Qianchuan Market, they won''t have any means to deal with us!" "Hmm!" "Tianming, how confident are you?" Lin Shilu seemed slightly tempted. If they could break through the Jin Family''s Protective Clan Formation, they could plunder everything, causing severe damage to the Jin Family''s vital energy. The Lin Family could also take this opportunity to develop rapidly and once again become the top family in the Luoyun Mountain Range. The plan to undercut the foundation, although very risky, indeed promised a high return. Such an opportunity was extremely rare, and it would indeed be a pity to give up. After half a quarter of an hour''s discussion, analyzing the interests and the family''s situation, Lin Shilu agreed to Lin Tianming''s plan. After the four of them discussed the plan of action, they decided to set off immediately, knowing that only by surprising their opponent could they achieve unexpected success. That night, under cover of darkness, Lin Shilu, Lin Xingrong, Lin Xingzhi, and Lin Tianming quietly left the market and disappeared into the night. Since this mission was a stealth attack, having too many people would likely expose them, so only the four of them were involved. Moreover, only a few of the Lin family members outside had high cultivation, and those with low cultivation would be of no help and might even be a burden. Outside the market, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, and the four of them quickly flew towards Golden Horn Mountain with the help of the Spirit Beast. A night passed, and Lin Tianming''s group traveled through the night silently, arriving in a valley near Golden Horn Mountain. The four of them rested briefly for four hours, waiting until they had recovered their Spiritual Power before flying towards the Jin Family''s gate. The early morning at Golden Horn Mountain was particularly quiet; inside the Protective Clan Formation, Jin Chaojun was leading four Jin Family members on a routine patrol. Ever since the Jin Family''s elite forces had left, the clan had immediately gone on high alert, activating all their Protective Clan Formations and patrolling several times a day with extra caution. Suddenly, upon spotting Lin Shilu and his party, he was startled but quickly regained his composure. Lin Shilu and his party, who had altered their appearances, walked over together and stopped outside the Protective Clan Formation, carefully examining the Jin Family''s Formation. Jin Chaojun was extremely cautious about the actions of Lin Shilu''s group and immediately sent a message to Jin Chaohai, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was left in charge of the clan territory. In no time, Jin Chaohai flew over and stood inside the gate, observing Lin Shilu and his companions. Seeing the unfamiliar faces of Lin Shilu''s group, he couldn''t recall having any interactions with them in his memory. At such a critical period, whether friend or foe, or whatever their motives might be, he dared not let them in. Lin Shilu and his companions didn''t have any intention to probe or bluff their way in either. At such a crucial time, it was impossible to fool a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Neither side initiated a conversation, and thus they were at an impasse. An hour later, Lin Tianming flew around the Protective Clan Formation, memorizing the base layout of the entire structure in his mind, and then returned to the starting point. Upon inspection, he confirmed that indeed, the Jin Family''s Protective Clan Formation was extraordinary, worthy of a family with a heritage spanning over a thousand years. Its grade was also a Superior Second Order Formation, somewhat similar to the Lin Family''s own Formation, presumably with eighteen formation eyes. The difficulty of breaking it was significant, much more so than the temporary formation set up by Zhuang Zhenxin. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the challenge was substantial, it wasn''t entirely hopeless. With the help of the miraculous Eye of Five Colors, Tianming believed it was possible to break the Formation, given some additional time. "How about it, are you confident?" Lin Shilu eagerly asked through a transmitted message, his eyes filled with anticipation. Lin Tianming, with a calm expression, replied: "Fifteenth Uncle, although it is somewhat tricky, Tianming still wishes to give it a try!" Your next read is at empire Seeing Lin Tianming''s determined attitude, coupled with his extraordinary luck, Lin Shilu also made up his mind to attempt it. "So be it, whether we succeed or not, I''ll take the risk and go crazy this once. If it comes to it, I''ll die right here!" Chapter 103 Undermining the Enemys Foundations (Seeking Subscriptions, Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Lin Shilu''s gaze was resolute, revealing a hint of madness, then he assigned tasks to everyone."Xing Rong, you must immediately go to the place where Jin Zhiying must pass when returning to the mountain. Once you discover their tracks, find a way to signal a warning immediately, and we will flee to the north!" "Xing Zhi, you are responsible for patrolling, keep watch for their possible exit. I will protect Tian Ming as he works on the formation. As soon as the formation is broken, regroup here immediately. That''s the plan, now go!" "Understood..." Explore more adventures at empire After Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi bowed with clasped hands, they went their separate ways. Once the two had left, Lin Tianming also began working on breaking the formation. Lin Shilu sat by his side, watching every movement around them closely so that he could protect Lin Tianming at the first sign of any situation. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and, through the screen of light, closely examined the structure of the Jin Family''s Great Formation and the pathways of its energy flow. As Lin Tianming began studying Jin Family''s Great Formation, at the Lin Family clan grounds in Green Bamboo Mountain, with the Jin Family members fully assembled, Zhuang Zhenxin also began studying the Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation. Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, Lin Shihua, and Lin Xingyuan, four Foundation Establishment cultivators, all gathered at the main gate, warily watching the Jin Family cultivators outside. As the Sun Family clan grounds had been breached, with most of their members dead or injured and only a dozen surviving, the Sun Family was virtually annihilated and utterly drained of vitality. The losses to the Jin Family were also not small. Jin Chaojiang had been killed by Lin Xingrong, Jin Zhison and Sun Anzhong had exchanged lives for lives. Aside from Jin Chaohai, who was guarding the clan''s territory, there were only Jin Zhiying, Jin Zhiping, and Jin Chaojiang left¡ªthree people and Zhuang Zhenxin making only four Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, the Jin Family''s fighting force was even more formidable. Not to mention Jin Zhiying''s cultivation, Jin Chaozong was at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, and Jin Zhiping was at the Third Level. Meanwhile, of the Lin Family members present, aside from Lin Shikang at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, all were at the first level, and the Qi Refining clanspeople were also of somewhat lower cultivation. If Sun Dingxian and Sun Dingfeng could be counted, they could barely put up a fight. However, the two from the Sun Family had not fully recovered yet, and their combat capabilities were limited. If they were to fight too soon, the Lin Family''s situation would be even more difficult. Outside the formation, Zhuang Zhenxin took out a grey bead and threw it at the light screen of the formation. The invisible and colorless, and indeed very transparent, light screen suddenly became visible. The structure and energy pathway of the formation appeared faintly in and out of sight as Zhuang Zhenxin immediately began to analyze and deduce with complete focus. "Formation Breaking Bead!" Lin Shigong cried out in alarm, his expression extremely ugly, and Lin Shihua''s face also changed drastically. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Lin Shigong and others'' faces change, Lin Xingyuan pressed for answers. "Third Uncle, what is this bead?" Lin Shihua began to explain. "The Formation Breaking Bead is a kind of auxiliary treasure. Although it doesn''t have any offensive capabilities, it can be used to assist in breaking formation barriers. It''s scarce in number, highly valuable, and one bead is worth tens of thousands of spirit stones, truly hard to find!" After hearing Lin Shihua''s explanation, Lin Xingyuan''s face instantly turned somewhat pale. With such an item, the probability of the Lin Family''s formation being breached skyrocketed. Seeing his companions'' distressed expressions, Lin Shikang spoke up to comfort them: "Although he has the assistance of the Formation Breaking Bead, breaking the formation in a short time is not so easy. You must know that among the five great families of Luoyun Mountain Range, our Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation is definitely not inferior to the Jin Family''s, and might even be more formidable." Hearing Lin Shikang''s reassuring words, their expressions gradually returned to normal. After observing for a long while, Lin Shikang gave instructions. "Shigong, a large-scale battle is inevitable now. You three go back and cultivate for a bit, try to increase your skills as much as possible. I will guard here alone, and at the first sign of any situation, I will send a message to you immediately!" Lin Shigong and the others nodded, bowed, and left, leaving Lin Shikang alone to guard the place. Time flew by, and half a month passed. Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family Territory. Lin Tianming was sitting in front of an ordinary-looking stone wall, just staring at it intently, lost in thought. Lin Shilu didn''t move an inch, constantly vigilant of every movement around them. After half a month of repeated deduction, Lin Tianming hypothesized that the core of the Jin Family''s Protective Formation was very likely hidden within this stone wall. Although the place looked unremarkable, filled only with a stone wall and rocks, he still discovered something highly unusual. With the Eye of Five Colors opened and after observing for half a day, he found that the stone wall and the rocks added up to exactly eighty-one pieces, arranged at very cunning angles, forming a rudimentary Ninety-Nine Hidden Formation. It looked as though it had formed naturally, and without careful attention, it would be hard to notice. But with his careful observation and the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming still caught it. After a thorough analysis, Lin Tianming revealed a slight smile and fixed his gaze on a certain corner of the stone wall. Pointing to a specific spot on the stone wall, Lin Tianming said to Lin Shilu, "Fifteenth Grandfather, do you see the indented spot on the upper left side of the stone wall?" "Hmm, I see it!" Seeing Lin Tianming bring it up, Lin Shilu guessed that Lin Tianming might have found a way to break the formation. "Fifteenth Grandfather, send a message to Uncle Xing Zhi and have him call my father back immediately. Once everyone is assembled, attack the indented spot with all your might. We may be able to break through the Jin Family''s Protective Formation!" "Good, you truly are the True Dragon''s Descendant of our Lin Family!" Lin Shilu''s face lit up with joy, and after praising him, he immediately sent out a message. Half a day later, brothers Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi had both gathered together. Upon learning that Lin Tianming had found the weak spot of the Jin Family''s Great Formation, the two were overjoyed. After the two had calmed down, Lin Shilu began to make arrangements. "Xing Rong, you go to our opposite side and keep an eye on the situation there. The Jin Family likely has an escape route. If you discover anyone fleeing, you must stop them. I will lead Tian Ming and Xing Zhi in the frontal assault for a swift battle. If we cannot overpower them, I will hold the enemy back while you escape with Tian Ming immediately. Understand?" "Yes, everyone, be careful!" Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi bowed and accepted the orders. A quarter of an hour after Lin Xingrong left, Lin Shilu took out an Azure Yellow Great Sword, which was his Magic Artifact, a lower-grade second-order item. Lin Shilu poured a large amount of spiritual power into it, and the Azure Yellow Great Sword instantly doubled in size, its blade emitting brilliant spiritual light. He leaped dozens of feet into the air, turning into a residual image. Clutching the magical treasure, he thrust directly at the indented point on the upper left corner of the stone wall. "Boom..." A loud explosion sounded, and the Jin Family''s Protective Formation shook violently before settling down again, only with the might of its barrier significantly reduced. Lin Tianming, overjoyed, quickly transmitted his voice: "Fifteenth Grandfather, this is the spot. Attack it a few more times, and we should be able to completely break through the formation!" Without hesitating, Lin Shilu attacked again. After three consecutive strikes at the same spot and upon the fourth attack, A roaring sound erupted. Golden Horn Mountain shook as if an earthquake had struck, and the invisible and colorless barrier suddenly dissipated, exposing every blade of grass and every tree within the Jin Family''s territory to their view. Inside the Jin Family''s territory, as the formation vibrated, Jin Chaohai''s face turned pale. It soon returned to normal, and he quickly assembled over two hundred clan members to guard the gate, bracing for the upcoming slaughter. As the formation broke and the Jin Family members came into view, Lin Shilu roared like a tiger returning to the forest and a dragon entering the sea, charging directly at Jin Chaohai. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi, each wielding a Spirit Sword, followed him closely, attacking the Jin Family members. Without any probing, Lin Shilu swung his sword several times, sending out five Fire Dragon Sword Qis at Jin Chaohai. With an earth-shattering strike, Lin Shilu held nothing back. With so few Lin Family members on the offensive, he needed to kill some Qi Refining Stage Cultivators to lessen the pressure on Lin Tianming. Facing the raging Fire Dragon Sword Qi, Jin Chaohai''s expression tensed as he threw out more than a dozen Defense Talismans, including several Second Order Defense Talismans. Only with so many talismans was he able to barely block Lin Shilu''s attack. Even though he successfully defended himself, he still sustained minor injuries, and a large number of clan members below the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement were directly shaken to death. Just one strike had killed dozens of Jin Family members. Jin Chaohai had no time to grieve; Lin Shilu gave him no chance to react and locked onto him, launching another attack. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming cut down three swords, attacking the Jin Family members. Suddenly, three people charged out beside Jin Chaohai¡ªone at Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and two at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining¡ªthey all attacked together. Chapter 104 Hard-won Victory_1 Sword Qi assaulted them, the Jin Family''s three members, besieging from all angles, wore expressions tinged with solemnness as they felt the intense fluctuations of Sword Qi.Among the three Jin Family members at Luoyun Market''s auction, Jin Qilong was also present. In the face of Lin Tianming''s attack, the leading Jin Chaojun pulled out a dark green shield, poured Spiritual Power into it, and narrowly blocked Lin Tianming''s assault. Not far away, Jin Qilong took out a blue gourd, tossed it into the sky, and immediately a dense, foul-smelling, dark green mist emanated from the gourd, surging directly towards Lin Tianming. "Poisonous..." Lin Tianming dared not take it lightly, waving his hands, eighteen Earth Evil Swords shot out, circling once before transforming into a hundred sword shadows. Lin Tianming, manipulating the numerous Earth Evil Swords, shaped them into a sword lotus, shielding himself from the oncoming dense mist. "Hmm..." The Sword Lotus''s speed greatly decreased, and the surfaces of the Earth Evil Swords instantly made a "sizzling" sound. The dense mist, spurred by Jin Qilong, was not only toxic but also hindered the functioning of sword techniques. In less than three breaths'' time, several Earth Evil Swords were corroded, which in turn drastically slowed down the sword shadows. With no time for shock, Lin Tianming hastily issued a palm strike, unleashing a Wind Control Skill that instantaneously dispersed the approaching dense mist. Seeing Lin Tianming easily neutralizing the poison mist attack, Jin Qilong''s expression shifted. This poison mist was something he had put a lot of effort into collecting a large number of poisons to refine. It had a strong corrosive effect on Spiritual Artifacts, and if one absorbed too much poison mist, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would lose their ability to fight. Seizing the moment of Jin Qilong''s astonishment, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze to Jin Chaojun. Being attacked by too many members of the Jin Family, the longer it dragged on, the more difficult his situation would become. He had to quickly kill or seriously injure one person. Even if it was just a serious injury, the pressure on him would be much relieved. Having made his decision, Lin Tianming waved his hand, throwing out more than ten attack talismans, among them the Fiery Flame Charm obtained from the auction. In the sky, the Second Order talismans transformed into three fireballs the size of buckets, accompanied by several Sword Qi blasts, and killed their way towards the three Jin Family members with incredible speed. Taking advantage of the moment they were busy dealing with the attacks, Lin Tianming waved his hands another time, scattering the eighteen Earth Evil Swords across various corners within dozens of yards. As the fireballs and Sword Qi drew nearer, the expressions of Jin Qilong''s three members turned exceedingly grave. The fireballs approached with such speed and alarming power that, coupled with their close proximity, it was very difficult for the three to evade successfully. Left with little time to think, each of the Jin Family members rapidly pulled out a Defensive Spiritual Tool from their storage bags to protect themselves. After a series of crackling explosions, the fireballs burst. "Ah..." After a scream. A few cracks appeared on the high-quality Defensive Spiritual Tools of Jin Qilong and Jin Chaojun. Subjected to the violent impact, both men turned pale, their insides churning as they struggled not to vomit. Another Jin Family member at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was not so lucky. Read latest stories on empire As he did not have a high-quality Defensive Spiritual Tool, the Second Order talismans, even if their power was split into three, were too much for his Spiritual Artifact to withstand. The Fiery Flame Charm turned into a fireball that directly pierced his defenses. When the fireball exploded, it entirely engulfed him, instantly turning him into a Fire Man. Watching their tragic kinsman turned to ashes, Jin Chaojun and Jin Qilong''s faces turned alternately green and white. Lin Tianming, holding nothing back, took out his very last reserves, using up all his remaining attack talismans. With this kind of generous combat style, he succeeded in killing one person with a single strike. Without giving Jin Qilong and the others time to react, Lin Tianming immediately activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, enveloping the two Jin Family members. As Lin Tianming''s cultivation became increasingly profound, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array became more solid and its power grew stronger. After much combat and strategic experience, his abilities had greatly improved. Feeling the pressure of the surrounding environment, the two Jin Family members wore grave expressions, carefully dodging the ceaselessly wandering Sword Qi, considerably slowing down their speed. Jin Chaojun took out a long spear, poured a great deal of Spiritual Power into it, and attacked the barriers of the Sword Array over and over in a frenzy. Jin Qilong, likewise not daring to delay, spurred on even more concentrated poison mist, attempting to corrode the Sword Array. Unfortunately, although the dense mist could corrode lower grade Spiritual Artifacts, it had no effect whatsoever on the Sword Array. Facing the threat of death, Jin Qilong joined hands with Jin Chaojun to repeatedly assault the barriers of the Sword Array. Together, they pushed the Sword Array to the brink of collapse. At this time, Lin Tianming''s consumption of Spiritual Power doubled, the pressure was immense, but even so, he firmly held the Sword Array steady. Forty yards... Thirty yards... ... As the area within the Sword Array gradually shrank, the two Jin Family members looked even paler and weaker, the Qi Refining Cultivators like ants on a hot pan. Outside the Sword Array, numerous cultivators, reduced by six or seven levels, joined hands in the attack on Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi. At that moment, various talismans and spells blossomed in the void. Busy dealing with the attack inside the Sword Array, and facing the onslaught of the Jin Family members, Lin Tianming was in a particularly dire situation. Luckily, Qi Refining cultivators above the eighth level from the Jin Family were reassigned, leaving mostly those at the sixth and seventh levels, with fewer than five above the eighth level, otherwise Lin Tianming and his companions would have already been defeated. The Jin Family members attacking Lin Xingzhi totaled dozens. Despite the significant difference in cultivation level, under the attack of so many cultivators, his situation was even more dire than Lin Tianming''s. The two of them struggled desperately, knowing that as long as Lin Shilu defeated Jin Chaohai, all problems would be resolved. But facing the Jin Family members who regarded death as if returning home, the battle was incredibly fierce. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. High above, Lin Shilu and Jin Chaohai were engaged in a fierce battle. With the advantages of heaven and earth, as well as the assistance from the dozens of family members on the ground, even Jin Chaohai, at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, was able to hold his own against Lin Shilu at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment without falling behind too much. Chapter 104 Hard-fought Victory_2 The two had already exchanged blows for dozens of rounds, and Lin Shilu was feeling extremely stifled. He thought that with his higher cultivation and the advantage of his Magic Artifact, he should have been able to quickly kill Jin Chaohai.However, the restraint from the Jin Family Clan''s members below was too troublesome, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn''t completely ignore it. Seeing that Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi''s situation was dire, Lin Shilu decisively changed strategies. Since he couldn''t take down Jin Chaohai in a short time, his only option was to kill the Jin Family Clan''s members on the ground to make Jin Chaohai hesitate. Having made up his mind, Lin Shilu threw out several talisman papers, blocking Jin Chaohai for a moment. Taking advantage of this brief interval, Lin Shilu unleashed his Sword Qi in a sweeping attack, directly plunging into the group of clan members on the ground, with the attitude of a ravenous wolf pouncing on its prey. The sudden shift in target caught the Jin Family members off guard, and Jin Chaohai, having dodged the talisman paper and Sword Qi, was already too late to come to their rescue. After the Sword Qi swept through, blood and flesh blurred together in the aftermath, with severed limbs and body parts strewn all over the entrance to the mountain. The frenzied attack of Lin Shilu and the horrible death of the clan members made the Jin Family Cultivators'' scalps tingle with fear, and many clan members were scared out of their wits and retreated in panic. Knowing that retreating would be useless and would only hasten the Jin Family''s defeat, Jin Chaohai urgently shouted. "No retreating, no retreating, speed up the attack..." The retreating Jin Family members, most of whom came to their senses, gathered around again, while some female relatives still failed to realize the situation, foolishly thinking they could survive. Unfortunately, their realization came a bit too late. Taking advantage of the Jin Family members'' hesitation, Lin Tianming was under much less pressure. The range covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shrink again, now less than thirty feet. "Constrict them!" At the heart of the Sword Array, Jin Qilong was red-eyed and disheveled, with numerous wounds of varied depths all over his body, looking like a bloodied man. Jin Chaojun wasn''t faring any better, his Minor Shield Spirit Instrument was completely riddled with holes. Facing increasingly intense Sword Qi and a shrinking space to survive in, he fell into utter despair. Seeing the desperate situation of Jin Qilong and others, Jin Chaohai was frantic and attacked furiously. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu, now free to act, naturally wouldn''t let him get his way, immediately stepping in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Shilu took out a small azure-red shield, firmly protecting Lin Tianming. Just as Jin Chaohai''s attack approached, a loud explosion followed, and two miserable screams came from within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Shilu successfully blocked Jin Chaohai''s lethal attack, allowing Lin Tianming to take the opportunity to kill Jin Qilong and the others, gaining his freedom. Without further concerns, Lin Shilu once again engaged in battle with Jin Chaohai. At the brink of hopelessness, Lin Xingzhi took out a Huiyuan Pill and swallowed it. With a wave of his arms, he threw the eighteen Earth Evil Swords towards the heads of the Jin Family Clan''s members, enveloping dozens of people within. With no High Order Cultivator''s attack, the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shrank step by step after activation. With Lin Tianming joining in, the two of them fighting together pushed the Jin Family members back, teetering on the edge of collapse. With no clan members to restrain him and a gap in the realm between them, Jin Chaohai''s situation rapidly declined, leaving him only capable of defensive measures and inevitably headed for defeat. At this point, Jin Chaohai realized that the situation was beyond salvage, his fighting spirit was gone, and he was ready to flee at any moment. Jin Chaohai repeated his tactic, launching an all-out strike at Lin Tianming, to make Lin Shilu hesitate, and while Lin Shilu was occupied with the rescue, Jin Chaohai fled towards the back mountain of the Jin Family Clan''s Territory. After deflecting the attack for Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu immediately gave chase. Well aware of the great threat posed by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if one were to escape and successfully regroup with Jin Zhiying, they would have no choice but to flee in panic. If he had to run with Lin Xingrong, it would be relatively easy, but if he had to take Lin Tianming and the others, the chances of a successful escape were too slim. Under no circumstances could he abandon Lin Tianming, so Jin Chaohai must die. Lin Shilu and Jin Chaohai, one pursuing and the other fleeing, turned into two fleeting shadows weaving through the territory of the Jin Family Clan. Little did they know, with Jin Chaohai''s escape route cut off, Lin Xingrong had already lain in ambush on the Jin Family''s back mountain. If they tried to break through from the front, they might still have a chance to live, but entering the back mountain meant a near-certain death. ... The back mountain of the Jin Family. Lin Xingrong lay hidden atop a tree, holding a Spirit Sword, releasing his entire Divine Sense, feeling all nearby movements, with each plant and tree appearing in his mind. Hearing the successive explosions coming from the Jin Family Clan''s Territory, Lin Xingrong''s expression was grim, extremely concerned about the safety of his companions. After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Lin Xingrong spotted Jin Chaohai shooting out from behind a waterfall, flying towards his direction, with a distance of several miles between them. Just a few breaths later, Lin Shilu also passed through the waterfall''s water curtain, pursuing Jin Chaohai. Lin Xingrong did not act rashly, steadying his mind and expertly hiding among the leaves. Focused on escape, Jin Chaohai seemed to have no clue and continued to flee towards Lin Xingrong, with the distance between them closing to less than a thousand zhang. Lin Xingrong measured the distance, ready to strike at any moment with a fatal blow. Six hundred zhang... Find exclusive stories on empire Four hundred zhang... Just as it neared two hundred zhang, Lin Xingrong leapt up and brandished his sword thrice, slashing towards Jin Chaohai. Confronted with the sudden attack, a tremor went through Jin Chaohai''s heart. With the distance too close, he could not dodge in time and had to hastily pull out a minor shield to save his life. A booming sound echoed, as if a blazing sun burst in the sky. Jin Chaohai took the full force of the blow and was sent flying back dozens of zhang, coughing up several mouthfuls of fresh blood. When it rains, it pours; not only had he suffered an injury from taking the blow head-on, but Lin Shilu had drawn within several hundred zhang and was still closing the distance. Jin Chaohai, disregarding his injuries and the reasons for the ambush, turned around and immediately fled. Lin Xingrong waved his sword several times, blocking his path and buying time for Lin Shilu. Realizing Lin Xingrong''s cultivation was two levels lower than his, Jin Chaohai struck out in a panic, hoping to carve a way out. Lin Xingrong took out a blood-colored jade pendant and shielded himself with it, immediately retreating explosively. With a thunderous crash, the jade pendant smashed to pieces, utterly dissipating into the void. Lin Xingrong''s cultivation was indeed slightly lower, and even though Jin Chaohai was injured, his attack was still formidable. Facing Jin Chaohai''s desperate attack and unable to dodge, Lin Xingrong was hit by the attack''s shockwave, sent tumbling back dozens of zhang and crashing through several large trees before he managed to stop and stand up, with a pale face, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. Seeing Lin Xingrong being pushed back and a path being cleared, Jin Chaohai felt a surge of joy and immediately tried to dash through. As he passed Lin Xingrong, Lin Shilu had already arrived, blocking his way. Lin Xingrong, also unconcerned with his injuries, stood up, and together with Lin Shilu, once again surrounded Jin Chaohai. After exchanging a nod, the two, as if by tacit understanding, immediately launched an attack, and in no time the three were engaged in battle. Alone, Jin Chaohai was no match for Lin Shilu, and with Lin Xingrong, a Foundation Establishment cultivator joining in, he could only defend passively, unable to counterattack. As time dragged on, Jin Chaohai''s situation grew increasingly dire, with his injuries worsening and him finding himself in a desperate plight. After a forceful strike, Lin Shilu''s voice transmitted, "Xingrong, we must finish this quickly, Tian Ming is still fighting, and any delay may lead to unexpected changes!" "Alright, let''s join forces for a decisive strike, and finish him off for good!" As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingrong threw out more than ten pieces of talisman paper, bombarding Jin Chaohai from above, while Lin Shilu swung out the Azure Yellow Great Sword, thrusting it directly at Jin Chaohai. Busy dealing with the talisman papers, Jin Chaohai was in a frantic disarray, desperately using the minor shield in front of him, hoping it could withstand the lethal strike. "Boom..." In an instant, a loud explosion erupted accompanied by a deluge of sword rain. The minor shield was pierced through by Lin Shilu''s magical treasure, creating a huge hole, and the Azure Yellow Great Sword slammed right onto his chest. Jin Chaohai''s body soared like a kite with its string cut, drawing an arc as it plummeted to the ground. By then, Jin Chaohai''s body was beyond recognition, half of his chest shattered, lifeless. Lin Shilu rushed over, seemingly still not reassured; he delivered a stroke of his sword and beheaded Jin Chaohai. When Jin Chaohai''s body and head were separated, Lin Shilu retrieved his storage bag, cast a Fireball Technique to incinerate his corpse, and then wiped away any traces of the battle on the ground. After cleaning up everything, he immediately took Lin Xingrong and flew towards the inner part of the Jin Family Clan''s Territory. Chapter 105 Outbreak of War_1 The gates of the Jin Family, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were still in fierce battle with the members of the Jin Family.The Earth Fiend Sword Formation was like a massive tornado, constantly spinning, with Sword Qi moving rapidly both inside and out, trapping dozens of people within it. When operated at full power, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation truly was a deadly weapon. It was tremendously powerful against cultivators of lower cultivation than him. Once trapped with no way to attack or escape, the large-scale killing effect was extremely terrifying. On the perimeter of the Sword Array, the Jin Family members who weren''t enveloped by the formation didn''t dare to be careless, frantically launching sky-filling Sword Qi and Blade Qi, along with numerous talismans and spells, bombarding Lin Tianming and his companion relentlessly. Lin Tianming firmly held the Sword Array in place, keeping it operating normally without any slack, not knowing how many attacks he had endured. As the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation gradually shrank, soon there was less than ninety feet worth of space to move in, continuing to squeeze the living space of the Jin Family members. In the process of the Sword Array''s contraction, terrified screams were occasionally heard. "Ah! Save me..." Regrettably, the Jin Family members who were still alive were all unable to save themselves, let alone rescue others. Watching their kin die horribly, the remaining Jin Family members turned pale, looking at the increasingly smaller living space, and each felt utterly hopeless. Mercy towards an enemy is harm to oneself and one''s clansmen. Well aware of this, Lin Tianming''s eyes were bloodshot, showing not the slightest pity, continuously manipulating the Sword Array, continuing to reap the lives of his enemies. For a moment, it was as if hell had come to the living world within the Sword Array. Before long, there was no more movement in the Sword Array, and Lin Tianming dispelled it, revealing the horrific scene inside. The air was filled with the stench of blood and flesh, and time seemed to stand still. The nearly hundred Jin Family members who were still alive looked at the bloody, muddled sight, and quite a few vomited on the spot. Some of the Jin Family female cultivators looked again at Lin Tianming, as if they had seen the God of Slaughter, their complexions suddenly losing color. Lin Tianming paid no mind to these fearful gazes, once again making his move, intent on wiping out the rest. Realizing the situation was hopeless, members of the Jin Family scattered in all directions, running away. Continue reading on empire Suddenly, with hundreds of targets, Lin Tianming and his companion were overwhelmed and couldn''t catch everyone, with many having already fled hundreds of feet away. At that moment, the oppressive presence of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator descended, causing many of the Jin Family members to stop in their tracks, and a few even fell from the sky, vomiting blood repeatedly. "Fifteenth Grandfather has finally returned." Lin Tianming''s face lit up with immense joy as he continued his assault on the fleeing enemies. Lin Shilu arrived and with a swing of his sword, created a barrier of green and yellow Sword Qi, blocking the path of the Jin Family members. A few Jin Family cultivators who couldn''t dodge in time, barely touched by the Sword Qi, spat out blood, clearly injured by the Sword Qi and completely lost their combat ability. With Lin Shilu''s arrival, Lin Xingrong also followed. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The four of them cornered the nearly hundred remaining Jin Family members from four directions, completely cutting off their escape. Screams of agony filled the air... After a short time, with the death of the last person, the Jin Family Clan''s Territory suddenly fell silent. By then, the main gate of the Jin Family at Golden Horn Mountain had largely collapsed, numerous buildings riddled with holes and several burning fiercely. Within the peak of Golden Horn Mountain, corpses were strewn everywhere, the ground soaked red, a scene of brutal carnage. The great battle finally ended, with not a single member of the Jin Family surviving. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were in a terrible state, their Spiritual Power exhausted and their breaths extremely chaotic, sheer willpower keeping them upright. Descending from the sky to the ground, the two quickly took out two elixirs and swallowed them, then sat down to meditate and recuperate on the spot. Lin Shilu and Lin Xingrong were in better condition, with no significant injuries aside from depleted Spiritual Power. "Xing Rong, let''s quickly clean up this place and collect all the spoils of war. Once those two have recovered a bit, we''ll go collect the treasures of the Jin Family," Lin Xingrong nodded and the two began to clear the battlefield, leaving Lin Tianming and his companion to heal and recover. In less than an hour, the countless severed limbs and indistinct corpses were burned away and cleared. The ravaged Jin Family gates looked much better, the fires consuming the buildings were extinguished, and aside from the traces of broken walls, there was no sign of the previous battle. ... Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. Twenty days had passed since the Jin Family members had assembled there. Jin Zhiying''s lips curled slightly upward, his eyes burning hot as he stared at the interior of Green Bamboo Mountain, imagining in his mind conquering the Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation and obtaining a wealth of treasures. What he didn''t realize was that, at this very moment, his own Jin Family Clan''s Territory was already littered with corpses, with not a single survivor, except for those who had escaped to this place and the market. He could not have imagined that the Lin Family had hidden as many as four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, nor could he foresee that Lin Tianming possessed the Eye of Five Colors, an extraordinary treasure. With little effort, Lin Tianming had broken the formation he was so confident in, killing the majority of the Jin Family members. After his daydream, Jin Zhiying remained composed instead of completely losing his mind. He deeply understood that the Lin Family, having produced Golden Elixir Experts, was a clan with not insignificant foundations. Although they had been in decline for over two hundred years and had not regained their former glory, they were not a force to be trifled with. Snapping back to reality, Jin Zhiying sent a message to Zhuang Zhenxin in front of him; "Daoist Zhuang, how is it, any progress?" Zhuang Zhenxin turned around with a serious expression; "This Lin Family''s formation is indeed extraordinary, perfectly integrated with the terrain of this place, and after hundreds of years of reinforcement, its power is tremendous. It''s very likely that the cultivator who set this Formation was extraordinary, possibly even a Third Order Array Master''s work." Chapter 105 The Great War Erupts_2 Upon hearing Zhuang Zhenxin''s words, Jin Zhiying''s expression turned gloomy, seemingly somewhat disappointed.After planning for such a long time, if he couldn''t seriously damage the Lin and Sun Families, once they caught their breath, they would definitely not let the Jin Family off the hook. In that case, the Jin Family''s situation would become extremely difficult, and their current plan would have utterly failed. "So you''re saying we''ve failed, according to what Daoist Zhuang has said?" Zhuang Zhenxin''s complexion instantly returned to normal, and he offered a faint smile as he hastily began to clarify. "Although the Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation is extraordinary, I''ve almost finished my research and deductions. I believe that within a few days, we''ll have results. We have waited this many days already, a day or two more won''t make a difference." Upon hearing Zhuang Zhenxin''s explanation, Jin Zhiying''s expression changed, and he became excited instantly, quickly ordering the Jin Family Members behind him to make all preparations. The moment the formation was breached, they were to immediately attack the Lin Family Members. After giving the orders, Jin Family Members raised their arms and cheered, each wearing a confident smile that was indescribably self-assured. Within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, inside the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Shikang had been guarding the edge of the formation, observing every action of the Jin Family through the light screen of the formation. Feeling the energy of the Protective Clan Formation slowing down and seeing the Jin Family Members outside the formation showing joy, Lin Shikang looked solemn and immediately sent out several messages. In a short while, Lin Shigong along with several other Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Lin Family and Sun Dingxian arrived after being alerted, quickly rushing over together. After exchanging greetings and seeing Lin Shikang''s grim expression, Lin Shigong anxiously asked, "Third Brother, is there a problem with the formation?" Lin Shikang did not conceal anything and shared the changes in the formation as well as the reactions of the Jin Family Members. After hearing this, everyone''s expression changed slightly, but they quickly regained their composure. Given the situation, the Jin Family would definitely not retreat. A great battle was now inevitable. Seeing that the others were not overly perturbed, Lin Shikang was quite pleased and began making arrangements. "Daoist Sun, how are your injuries? Have you recovered?" Faced with Lin Shikang''s kind inquiry, Sun Dingxian and his companion expressed their thanks with a salute and calmly replied, "Our injuries have completely healed. Lin, please give us your commands. Our Sun Family and the Jin Family are irreconcilable enemies. As long as we survive this ordeal, we are willing to form an eternal alliance with the Lin Family and will never betray it." Sun Dingxian spoke with sincerity. Learning that the Lin Family had several hidden Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the two of them were greatly shocked. They promptly shared their intentions, hoping to receive the Lin Family''s help. When under the eaves, one must bow the head. Faced with the powerful Jin Family, the Sun Family was no match. Perhaps they could truly seek revenge with the help of the Lin Family. "Good... With the help of the two Sun brothers, our force''s strength is no less than the Jin Family''s. In a life-and-death battle, the outcome is still uncertain." With Sun Dingxian and his companion willing to lend their full support, Lin Shikang felt much more at ease. Once he confirmed the condition of the two, Lin Shikang''s lips moved slightly as he secretly transmitted a message to Lin Shihua. Sun Dingxian, who was beside him, had already noticed this and presumed it to be about something important. Hence, he didn''t inquire further, as it was natural that the Lin Family''s secrets were not easily revealed. After a short while, Lin Shihua bowed and left, his destination unknown. Once Lin Shihua had left, Lin Shikang and the others did not take their leave but instead sat to the side and waited. Explore hidden tales at empire After half a day, Lin Shikang arrived with dozens of people, all lined up neatly to the side. Each one of them already knew what they were about to face, and they each had a fierce look in their eyes, with solemn expressions. Lin Shikang stood up with several Foundation Establishment Stage members and walked forward, stopping before the crowd. He looked at all the clan members present, both male and female, all of whom were Lin Family Members above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Shikang''s gaze swept over each person as if he wanted to remember the face of everyone there. After a short pause, Lin Shikang finally spoke. "I trust you all are already aware of the challenge we''re about to face. We don''t need to speak of the Jin Family''s strength; many have crossed paths with them, even clashed in battle. In this war, perhaps many of our clan members will perish. Are you afraid?" "Not afraid..." All the clan members responded in unison, their resounding reply echoing throughout Green Bamboo Mountain. "Good, that is the spirit of our Lin Family!" "The Jin Family harbors greedy ambitions, striving to dominate the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Wu Family has already been annihilated, and the Sun Family has suffered heavy casualties. Facing such ravenous wolves who have set their sights on our Lin Family, we must fight for our family, for our kin behind us, and for our honor." "So, muster your valor. When the enemy comes, slay them and defend the dignity of the Lin Family. Can you do it?" "We can!" Subsequently, Lin Shikang raised his arm and shouted, "For the family, we swear to protect to the death..." "For the family, we swear to protect to the death..." Every clan member about to enter the battle clenched their teeth with rising fervor. Lin Shikang and a few others faced the formation outside while sitting on the ground, with the clan members behind them following suit, waiting for the imminent battle. ... A day passed outside the grand formation. Zhuang Zhenxin sat in front of the light curtain of the formation, with a grey and white pearl spinning endlessly above his head. At that moment, Zhuang Zhenxin''s brows were deeply furrowed, and large beads of sweat continuously fell from his forehead. Suddenly, a piercing sound came through, and Zhuang Zhenxin shouted. "Now is the moment!" Behind him, Jin Zhiying grasped the Jin Family''s Magical Treasure Thousand Blood Blade and leaped dozens of yards high, slashing fiercely at one corner of the light curtain. A ferocious blood-red flood dragon smashed against the light curtain. "Sizzle..." The Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation shook, the light curtain caved in momentarily before returning to normal, but the operation of the formation seemed to be noticeably affected, its defensive power significantly weakened. The Lin Family members all perceived the disturbance immediately, rose to their feet, and tightly grasped talisman paper and Spiritual Artifacts in their hands, vigilantly watching the outside of the light curtain. After the initial strike failed, Jin Zhiying acted consecutively, launching three attacks one after another. "Roar..." The entire gate of the mountain shook slightly, and the invisible, colorless light curtain vanished into thin air, revealing the figures of both clashing clans to each other. With faces flushed red, Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin immediately rushed in, followed closely by the Jin Family members, with the great battle on the brink of erupting. Just then, a piercing, shrill screech resounded, a sound that captivated one''s soul. Suddenly, a three-yard-long green spider crawled swiftly, moving across several mountain peaks with ease and astonishing speed. As the sound passed the Lin Family members and reached the attacking Jin Family members, they all paused, their movements inexplicably slowing. "A Soul-eating Spider in the Second Order Late Phase!" Jin Zhiying exclaimed in alarm, his face turning dark as he immediately halted his advance. Although he had known that the Lin Family possessed a Guardian Spirit Beast left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family, its exact type had never been known, and it was unexpected to find it to be a Soul-eating Spider! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Soul-eating Spider, a Second Order Demon Insect, had unremarkable offensive capabilities but possessed a special skill to launch sonic attacks that could significantly affect a Cultivator''s soul, and its web, capable of trapping enemies, was highly effective, making it one of the rarest of demon insects. Jin Zhiying, startled for a moment, quickly recovered and a trace of greed appeared in his eyes. With the Patriarch of the Lin Family dead, the insect must be masterless now; such a rare demon insect, if successfully bonded, would surely be a great asset. "Kill them all!" Jin Zhiying roared, awakening the Jin Family members from their stupor. Taking the lead, Jin Zhiying immediately initiated an attack, with the Jin Family members quickly following. The great battle erupted, Lin Shikang soared into the air, the Soul-eating Spider closely following him as they both charged towards Jin Zhiying. The two men and the spider clashed fiercely, their Sword Qi and Blade Qi colliding continuously, generating waves of turbulence. As Lin Shikang fought valiantly, Lin Shihua and Sun Dingfeng joined forces against Jin Zhiping. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan went after Jin Chaozong, with Sun Dingxian confronting Zhuang Zhenxin. Ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators took to the sky, forming four major battlegrounds, fiercely engaging with one another. Beneath them, the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople, led by the Great Perfection members such as Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin, clashed with the Jin Family amid chaotic battle. For a moment, the sky was filled with spells and talisman papers cutting through the heavens, with the Lin Family''s Sword Qi directly colliding with the Jin Family''s Blade Qi. Below Green Bamboo Mountain, battles raged everywhere, both sides fighting to the death. Thus, the great battle fully erupted. Chapter 106 Lin Familys Trump Card_1 green bamboo mountain, within the lin family clan grounds.in front of the elders'' council''s great hall, a large number of lin family members gathered together, all of them practicing fifth level qi cultivation or below. for the sake of family protection, nearly a hundred lin family members did not participate in the great battle. every clan member clenched their fists tightly, their eyes red as they focused on the distant battle unfolding several miles away. at the mountain gate, nearly a hundred people were engaged in fierce combat. all kinds of bizarre spiritual artifacts appeared, and talismans fluttered throughout the sky. spells of all colors burst forth, with members of both sides sustaining injuries. the lin family members were at a disadvantage. before long, most talismans were used up. the qi refining cultivators from the jin family, with killing intent on their faces, charged towards the lin family members. lin shiji and lin shixin were the ones to face the brunt of the assault, each taking on several jin family cultivators at once, including a few at the complete qi refining stage. the pressure was immense. as the cultivators from the jin family had an overall higher cultivation, the two of them had to take on more burdens. otherwise, many of their clan members would be unable to survive. lucky for them, they were no ordinary individuals at great perfection. although their foundation establishment had failed, the minor foundation building pills had transformed their bodies, making their spiritual power even more profound. for the time being, they did not fall into much of a disadvantage. the outcome of the great battle wasn''t something the qi refinement realm cultivators could influence. only the victory of foundation establishment clan members could determine the outcome. high above in the sky, the situation for the foundation establishment clan members of the lin family was hardly optimistic. even though they had the advantage in numbers, their cultivation levels were much lower. enjoy exclusive content from empire lin shihua, together with sun dingfeng at the fourth level of foundation building, engaged in battle with jin zhiping, who was at the fifth level of foundation establishment. sun dingfeng, trapped by formations and facing the destruction of the sun family clan grounds and the death of hundreds of his family members, was enraged beyond measure. sun dingfeng''s eyes bloodshot, he grasped dozens of talismans and flung them skyward. in an instant, a sea of fire engulfed jin zhiping. while jin zhiping was surrounded by the sea of flames, lin shihua and sun dingfeng struck continuously, and from different angles, two streams of sword qi headed for jin zhiping. feeling the encroaching flames around him, jin zhiping, in a panic, quickly took out a shield to protect himself. after a breath''s time had passed, the flames extinguished, revealing sun dingfeng''s figure. his clothes were tattered, almost none remained intact; the skin that was exposed was scorched black, giving off the stench of something burnt. jin zhiping, looking disheveled, swallowed back a mouthful of blood, his fury unbounded. he immediately counterattacked, charging at lin shihua and sun dingfeng. the two sides engaged fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand for the moment. at another battlefield. sun dingxian took out a grey-ink-colored jade pendant, none other than the sun family''s treasured qiankun brush. with a casual wave, a streak of golden light appeared in the void, shooting at zhuang zhenxin like a meteor. as it was the sun family''s treasured artifact, its power was naturally extraordinary. zhuang zhenxin did not dare to be careless, hurriedly taking out a small shield from his storage bag, which turned out to be a second order medium quality magic artifact, and held it squarely in front of him. "clang." after the burst of noise, sun dingxian''s attack was easily blocked. zhuang zhenxin licked his dry lips, not knowing when he had taken out a greenish array flag, tossing it into the air. then his fingers rapidly flipped through several spell gestures, casting them upon the array flag. suddenly, the array flag burst into brilliant light, and from it, numerous monster beast souls flew out, easily a hundred, all crazily assaulting sun dingxian. startled, sun dingxian hastily retreated while throwing several second order defense talismans in front of him. successive explosions resonated in the sky as the second order talismans consumed a great number of monster beast souls, blocking the assault for a brief moment and allowing him to dodge the attack safely. zhuang zhenxin did not relent, once again bringing out different treasures, and the two continued their aggressive exchange. as an array master, zhuang zhenxin had an endless supply of treasures, and his strength was indeed formidable, pressing sun dingxian continuously. without the sun family''s powerfully treasured artifact and the numerous second order talismans, sun dingxian would have likely fallen already. s§×ar?h the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. on the outskirts of the battlefield, lin shigong and lin xingyuan were fighting jin chaozong. together, they matched jin chaozong blow for blow, with neither side able to gain a clear advantage for the time being. on the most advantageous part of the battlefield, lin shikang was in fierce battle with jin zhiying, with a soul-eating spider assisting by his side. jin zhiying, relying on his foundation establishment great perfection cultivation and coordinating with the jin family''s magical treasure thousand blood blade, attacked ferociously, intent on swiftly concluding the fight. "woosh, woosh." the formidable blade qi gleamed with blood light, appearing again and again, each strike repelling lin shikang more than ten yards. lin shikang stabilized his stance as his blood roiled continuously, his jade pendant spiritual artifact pushed to the limit, shattered by the violent blade qi, turning to ash. facing jin zhiying''s relentless attacking frequency, lin shikang''s expression was solemn, the pressure immense. despite holding the disadvantage, lin shikang wasn''t resigned to fate. he hastily threw out a few second order talismans, casting them into the sky, which turned into several fire swords charging towards jin zhiying. jin zhiying paused, effortlessly striking and shattering the fire swords with a casual blow, his face showing a mocking smile. lin shikang hadn''t expected the second order talismans to cause any harm to jin zhiying. to injure jin zhiying, likely only third order talismans would be effective. regardless of how many second order talismans there were, they were useless, serving at best to delay some time. using the delay, lin shikang adjusted his condition, readying for a counterattack. with a pat of his storage bag, a golden greatsword appeared in front of him. the greatsword glowed golden yellow, and the blade was filled with dense runes. upon its appearance, it slowly absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy, an eerie sight to behold. jin zhiying couldn''t help but exclaim, "the golden wind sword!" as for the lin family''s golden wind sword, with hundreds of years of interactions among the five major families of luoyun mountain, jin zhiying had long heard of it, yet this was his first time seeing its true form. Chapter 106 Lin Familys Trump Card_2 ```feeling the intense fluctuations of the golden wind sword, it indeed was a genuine second order superior magic artifact, much stronger than their jin family''s thousand blood blade. jin zhiying''s face changed, and he immediately became cautious. lin shikang gazed at the ancestral relic in front of him with pride. it was known that for nearly two hundred years, the lin family had not wielded the golden wind sword, keeping it as the treasure of the clan, daring not to use it lightly. the golden wind sword had played a significant role in the lin family''s enduring legacy after the ancestor''s passing. after fighting fiercely for more than a dozen rounds, lin shikang was very clear that relying only on himself and the soul-eating spider, the hope of defeating jin zhiying was slim. the moment of life and death had arrived, and if he didn''t use it now, the lin family would likely have a hard time surviving. once lin shikang grabbed hold of the golden wind sword, the blade trembled slightly, as if resonating. lin shikang infused copious amounts of spiritual power and slashed furiously at jin zhiying several times. three streaks of golden sword qi flew directly towards jin zhiying, ripping open a fissure in the ground and devouring a good amount of the air. as soon as lin shikang made a move, the soul-eating spider beside him let out a piercing cry, spitting out several strands of spider silk towards jin zhiying. jin zhiying, who was about to counterattack, suddenly paused as his divine sense inexplicably experienced a sharp pain, clearly affected by the sonic attack of the soul-eating spider. the sonic attack from the second order late phase soul-eating spider was indeed strange; if it were fighting a foundation establishment sixth level cultivator, it could probably easily influence them for a moment. and the effect of a moment, with the speed of the soul-eating spider, would allow it to easily close in for an attack. jin zhiying steadied his spirit, cast aside the distractions in his mind, and after regaining some composure, he did not dare to delay. he shifted to the side and appeared several meters away, avoiding the spider silk attack of the soul-eating spider. after stabilizing his posture, jin zhiying wielded the thousand blood blade, slashing wildly several times, and three streaks of blood-red blade qi collided with the golden sword qi. "boom..." the explosive sounds spread throughout green bamboo mountain. the explosion from the clash between the two second order superior magical treasures shattered several houses next to the gate in an instant, and the surrounding qingling bamboo fell in swathes. after the full-force strike, lin shikang was knocked back more than ten meters before he could stabilize his posture. a mouthful of fresh blood surged up, which he forcefully swallowed back down, leaving only a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. jin zhiying was similarly knocked back a few meters, his breath in disarray, which he quickly calmed. neither of them continued to probe, and they clashed again. the soul-eating spider kept shooting out strands of spider silk, trying to bind jin zhiying''s body. unknowingly, the fierce battle between them went for dozens of rounds, and the fight had reached a critical stage. as time passed, both sides'' spiritual power and magical treasures were consumed greatly, breaking the long standstill. because lin shihua''s cultivation was too low, even with sun dingfeng''s help, he was no match for jin zhiping. after struggling to defend for a while, his spiritual power was nearly depleted. seizing the opportunity, jin zhiping delivered a fierce strike. lin shihua''s spiritual power bottomed out, and his dodging speed was greatly reduced. he couldn''t avoid it in time and hurriedly took out a minor shield spirit instrument to protect himself. after an explosion... the minor shield shattered, the blade qi pierced through it, striking lin shihua on the shoulder. "shihua!" lin shikang''s face turned pale as he couldn''t help but call out. lin shihua''s body flew out like a kite with its string cut, eventually crashing into a large decorative rock. the rock crumbled, revealing lin shihua''s figure. lin shihua lay in the crater, with a fist-sized bloody hole in his entire left shoulder, and not only that, his left arm was also torn off. his face was pale as he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, struggled to stand, and was about to counterattack when he fell again, lapsing into unconsciousness. the injuries were too severe, his spiritual power was entirely depleted, and it was fortunate he did not die on the spot, as he was unable to fight any longer. lin shihua''s injuries shook the hearts of all the lin family members. on the ground, lin shiji and lin shixin unleashed their full power in one strike, driving back several jin family cultivators and immediately rushed to lin shihua''s side. lin shiji unleashed his full power, delivering several sword strikes, holding off the approaching jin family members. s§×arch* the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. lin shixin picked up the gravely wounded and unconscious lin shihua, his expression anxious, repeatedly calling out: "twelfth brother..." ``` he called out several times, but there was no response whatsoever. after putting lin shihua down, lin shixin''s eyes oozed fresh blood, looking extremely ghastly. at that moment, lin shiji, in his frenzy, killed two jin family cultivators with one strike; however, he was immediately attacked by several more jin family cultivators, becoming engulfed in a sea of flames and blade qi. when the sea of flames dissipated, lin shiji lay on the ground, his body covered with numerous wounds of varying depths, and a gaping hole in his neck that ceaselessly bled. within a short span of merely a dozen breaths, one of the lin family members of the ''shi'' generation had died and another was critically injured; the members of the ''xing'' generation had suffered over ten casualties in battle. the tragic death of lin shiji further incited the fury within lin shixin. lin shixin let out a few long howls to the sky, death in his eyes as he fixed his murderous gaze upon the jin family cultivators. unafraid of death, lin shixin charged toward the jin family members, unleashing even greater strength. after killing several people in succession, he still was outnumbered and died, filled with regret. high in the sky, lin shikang and jin zhiying had been locked in fierce combat for dozens of rounds. faced with jin zhiying''s frenzied attacks, he was constantly suppressed and found no opportunity to assist his fellow clansmen¡ªhis good intentions were rendered powerless by the situation. the other foundation establishment cultivators were struggling desperately to hold on. lin shihua was seriously injured, and sun dingfeng, now without anyone to hold him back, was even more hard-pressed and kept retreating in defeat. in the face of absolute strength, numerical advantage hardly mattered, especially since their numbers were not much greater. continue your adventure with empire by this time, all participants were greatly depleted, and the force of their attacks gradually weakened. the jin family stubbornly pushed forward against the lin family members, advancing several miles, quickly approaching the foot of peak of green bamboo mountain. jin zhiying, unable to win after prolonged combat, swung his saber several times, unleashing the jin family''s most powerful attack, aiming straight for lin shikang. the injured lin shikang was now out of defensive spiritual tools, and his spiritual power was almost spent. facing jin zhiying''s full-powered strike, he looked pale and powerless. glancing back at the courtyards interspersed among the slopes of green bamboo mountain, he knew he couldn''t retreat, not when jin zhiying''s assault would be lethal to those clan members upon contact. at that moment, lin shikang''s expression was grave, and his eyes revealed a hint of madness. he took out a palm-sized jade pendant, channeling a law decree into the golden-yellow jade. the jade pendant suddenly erupted with a golden light that instantly condensed into a large sword hovering above his head. "golden core talisman!" jin zhiying''s complexion changed drastically, his voice an anxious stammer as he cried out. all the cultivators present involuntarily halted their attacks. the object used by lin shikang was the lin family''s ultimate trump card; as the family''s ancestor passed away in seated meditation, enduring immense pain and dispersing all his spiritual power, he condensed a golden core talisman. this talisman retained three full-power strikes from the ancestor, each incredibly potent. it had been used twice before, each time rescuing the lin family from crisis. if the golden wind sword was considered the family''s treasure, the golden core talisman was like the guardian deity of the lin family. lin shikang shouted loudly, "protect our lin family... strike to kill!" the large sword above quickly targeted jin zhiying, moving at a speed that was almost inconceivable. seeing the large sword formed by the golden core talisman, jin zhiying''s face turned deathly pale. unable to escape at such speed, he hurriedly took out the jin family''s qing jiao shield and placed all his hopes on it. meanwhile, jin zhiying''s blade qi was drawing increasingly close to him. lin shikang shut his eyes, seemingly resigned to a mutual destruction. just then, the soul-eating spider leaped forward, thrusting itself in front of him and shielding him with its body. "boom boom..." two explosions sounded simultaneously, the deafening blasts reverberating through the heavens. the soul-eating spider was flung dozens of yards away, lying in a pit with most of its shiny black carapace shattered, its eight legs faintly twitching, apparently not yet dead. on the other side, jin zhiying had completely underestimated the power of the golden core talisman. the moment the golden sword light struck the qing jiao shield, it pierced through in an instant, swiftly cleaving towards jin zhiying. "pfft..." a faint sound and jin zhiying''s body was split in two by the golden light greatsword, his body lying still. above the two halves of his corpse, a wisp of retained sword qi from the golden light greatsword lingered. under the assault of the golden core talisman, jin zhiying was utterly dead. Chapter 107 Complete Annihilation_1 under the peak of green bamboo mountain, everyone fell into a brief silence.despite sacrificing the jin family''s defense treasure, the qing jiao shield, jin zhiying couldn''t withstand the strike from the golden light greatsword condensed by the golden core talisman and was killed in an extremely gruesome manner. even zhuang zhenxin, no stranger to the world''s wonders, witnessed the power of the golden core talisman for the first time and was completely stunned, losing his composure. time passed, and before anyone knew how much, lin shikang leapt forward and hurried to lin shihua''s side, hastily feeding him a healing elixir. the actions of lin shikang roused the jin family members from their stupor. they gathered around jin zhiping, their eyes filled with grief and terror, and they all watched the lin family members warily. zhuang zhenxin, silent as a ghost, watched everyone present. seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he leapt up in an attempt to flee. the escape of zhuang zhenxin dealt an additional blow to the already weakened jin family members, but they were powerless to stop him. with jin zhiying''s death, the jin family had lost their edge. relying solely on jin zhiping, at the foundation establishment fifth level, victory was impossible. zhuang zhenxin fully realized this. with lin shikang free and joining forces with sun dingxian, if they were surrounded, it would be difficult to retreat unscathed, so he prepared to seize the opportunity to flee. s§×ar?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. after all, he was alone in the vast world, and there was no place where he couldn''t find refuge! as for the jin family, they were nothing more than an alliance of convenience, and zhuang zhenxin would not concern himself with their fate. unfortunately for him, lin shikang and sun dingxian were closely monitoring him, prepared for his move. they intercepted him before he got far, with lin shikang blocking his path. soon, sun dingxian also caught up. the two of them closed in on zhuang zhenxin from opposite directions, trapping him. zhuang zhenxin''s expression changed abruptly, and he hurriedly spoke: "daoist lin, daoist sun, this is all a misunderstanding. i was deceived by jin zhiying into taking action. let us settle this matter. i can break through the jin family''s protective formation myself. as for the jin family''s treasures, you can divide them between yourselves. i will not take a single coin. consider it a gesture of apology. what do you say?" at this point, zhuang zhenxin utterly abandoned the jin family, offering to help the lin family break the jin family''s formation and proposing to settle the conflict with the jin family''s treasure. however, zhuang zhenxin''s words did not diminish the enmity of lin shikang and sun dingxian. the great battle that erupted within the luoyun mountain range, with the heavy sins of the jin family and zhuang zhenxin, saw the wu family silently annihilated and the sun family''s territory breached, resulting in the death of over two hundred clan members¡ªa tragedy not seen in hundreds of years. such deep-seated hatred and grievance could not be assuaged, even with the generous terms offered by zhuang zhenxin. as soon as zhuang zhenxin finished speaking, sun dingxian didn''t even hesitate and immediately shouted in fury. "enough of your nonsense! our sun family and you cannot coexist under the same sky. you killed over a hundred of our clan members. i must take your head to appease the souls of our sun family..." sun dingxian''s words made zhuang zhenxin''s face darken, and he threatened viciously: "without me, breaking through the jin family''s protective formation won''t be so easy. if you really wish to kill me, remember i''m not a pushover. we can all go down together if need be. even if i die, i''ll take some of you with me!" lin shikang, standing by, did not speak. thinking of lin shiji and lin shixin, whose bodies were still warm, and the more than twenty clan members killed in the conflict, he felt immense anger. to the overtures of zhuang zhenxin, lin shikang''s heart remained unshaken. his only desire was to exterminate this enemy and use his head to honor his deceased clan members. lin shikang nodded to sun dingxian, gripped the golden wind sword, and lashed out with several strikes. sun dingxian, holding the qiankun brush, drew across the sky, and a streak of golden light surged towards zhuang zhenxin. both cultivators, at the foundation establishment eighth level, attacked simultaneously, each wielding their clan''s sacred treasures. zhuang zhenxin''s face turned grave, yet he was not overly panicked. as the assault from the two closed in, zhuang zhenxin placed a small shield he had used before in front of himself. he then threw out a green flag, struck a law decree, and conjured a multitude of monster beast souls that charged toward lin shikang and sun dingxian. the quiet of the void was once again shattered by bursts of fire and a succession of booming sounds. the intense fight involving lin shikang seemed to ignite the fuse of battle. the lin family members at the base of green bamboo mountain peak immediately commenced an attack on the jin family''s clanspeople, igniting a tremendous surge of momentum. following jin zhiying''s death and the loss of their linchpin, the jin family members'' will to fight crumbled completely. jin zhiping and jin chaozong, pitted against a host of lin family foundation establishment clan members and sun dingfeng, were at a tremendous disadvantage. read exclusive adventures at empire the lin family qi refining clanspeople below, looking every bit the fierce warriors, attacked recklessly, causing heavy losses to the jin family. once again, chaos engulfed green bamboo mountain, flames shooting into the sky and screams echoing incessantly. as time slowly passed, the fierce combat involving lin shikang had already lasted for a quarter of an hour. the relentless onslaught from lin shikang and sun dingxian persisted, wave after wave of continuous assaults unfolding. zhuang zhenxin, surrounded and attacked, was forced to give ground, relying solely on his defense treasure to hold on. after withstanding their attacks, he saw the small shield in his hands riddled with holes and reduced to scrap. with no time to regret, zhuang zhenxin barely caught his breath before two more strikes approached. in his panic, he produced another magical treasure to shield himself. "boom..." zhuang zhenxin was knocked back more than ten paces, spitting several mouthfuls of blood before stabilizing. looking at his severely damaged defense treasure, his face turned pale. as the fight continued, not only was he injured, but he had also lost two of his defense treasures, with the last one utterly wrecked. if a few more strikes landed, he would be without any defensive power, and if he couldn''t dodge, he would only be waiting for death. Chapter 107 Total Annihilation _2 lin shikang and his companion were not about to give him time to react, seizing the moment he was injured to attack together once more.lin shikang slashed several times as sun dingfeng also drew one stroke after another, launching several attacks from four different directions aimed at zhuang zhenxin, intent on ending the fight once and for all. a trace of despair flashed across zhuang zhenxin''s face, and by now, negotiating terms was no longer possible, so he had no choice but to give it his all and perhaps there would still be a chance to save his own life. he took two beads the size of chicken eggs from his storage bag, his face showing a reluctant expression, and then he threw one at each of the two men. "spirit detonation beads..." upon seeing the two grey-white beads, lin shikang cried out in alarm and immediately retreated explosively. daoist sun''s face turned pale, and he hastily retreated as well. "boom boom..." two thunderous explosions sounded, and two huge fireballs appeared in the sky, spreading a wave of heat in all directions. before the spirit detonation beads exploded, lin shikang spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto his golden wind sword, which suddenly swelled a hundred times in size to block in front of him. at the same time, a semi-transparent golden shield bubbled up around him, enveloping his figure. sun dingfeng''s face turned deathly white. he slapped his storage bag and took out a blood-red jade pendant. once activated, it transformed into a light shield in front of him. after the explosion, the spirit detonation beads blasted a large pit more than thirty feet across into the ground. sun dingfeng''s body fell from the sky and crashed into the ground, forming a human-shaped pit. there, sun dingfeng lay in the pit, his body mangled and bloody, with only a weak breath remaining; he had completely passed out. at the same time, the golden bubble around lin shikang shattered, and the golden wind sword rapidly shrank back to its original form. s~ea??h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. lin shikang coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, then touched the sword blade lightly, his expression filled with immense pain and sorry. zhuang zhenxin had intended to take them down with him. thanks to the golden wind sword, lin shikang was lucky enough to avoid a fatal blow, but he was severely injured. lin shikang got to his feet and, without paying any attention to the half-dead sun dingfeng, rushed to the spot where zhuang zhenxin was, searching meticulously. before long, lin shikang found zhuang zhenxin''s corpse lying in a clump of grass. by now, zhuang zhenxin was thoroughly dead, his chest riddled with several gaping holes from which warm blood flowed out, quickly pooling into a small puddle. assured of zhuang zhenxin''s death, lin shikang heaved a long sigh of relief. he took down the man''s storage bag and decapitated him. lin shikang, holding the golden wind sword in one hand and the severed head in the other, advanced toward the jin family clanspeople. before long, lin shikang appeared above a group of his kin. the battle was still ongoing, and there were already more than sixty corpses on the ground, most of them from the jin family, with over twenty lin family members dead as well. lin shikang didn''t hesitate, heading straight for jin zhiping. explore hidden tales at empire seeing lin shikang approaching, jin zhiping turned ashen, knowing that zhuang zhenxin must have been executed. already injured, jin zhiping had been at a disadvantage all along and was struggling to cope. another attack from lin shikang, at the foundation establishment eighth level, left him with no room to escape. lin shikang unleashed several swift and incomparably fast sword strikes, aiming directly at jin zhiping. with nowhere to run, a completely despairing jin zhiping frantically pulled out a spiritual artifact to shield himself. "pfff, pfff, pfff..." the golden sword qi, which even ordinary magical treasures could not resist, easily penetrated the first order top-quality spiritual instrument, striking him squarely. after a horrific scream, jin zhiping''s body was split into three parts, falling dead on the spot. hearing jin zhiping''s agonized scream, jin chaozong was momentarily distracted, giving lin shigong and lin xingyuan the opportunity they needed. with another scream, jin chaozong''s body was impaled by both of their spirit swords. lin shigong swung his hands horizontally, splitting jin chaozong''s body into pieces; he couldn''t be deader. by this time, all the foundation establishment cultivators from the jin family were dead, leaving only more than ten qi refining clanspersons who were surrounded by a group of lin family cultivators. all lin family members glared at them with bloodlust, wishing they could tear them limb from limb. one middle-aged man from the jin family threw his spiritual artifact away and knelt down. "elder lin, i am willing to surrender. please spare my life. i can take you to the jin family clan''s territory and reveal the location of the treasure vault..." "enough... do you think you can live just by saying so? the jin family does not shelter cowards such as you..." an elder from the jin family scolded and then swung his sword, piercing the body of the clansperson who had surrendered. "at this point, don''t even dream of living by surrendering. it''s better to die gloriously. even if we can take one down with us, it''s worth it!" with that, the elder initiated an attack, and the men of the jin family followed suit. lin shikang and lin shigong sneered in disdain and together unleashed several sword qi bursts, which engulfed all the remaining jin family cultivators. after one breath''s time had passed, over ten jin family members fell simultaneously, completely void of life. the great battle had ended, and with this crisis resolved, all jin family members were dead, leaving green bamboo mountain entirely quiet. ... sun dingfeng did not stay in place, disregarding his injuries, he turned into a residual shadow and rushed towards the direction of sun dingxian to escape. lin shikang paid no attention to sun dingfeng, and after storing the golden wind sword into his storage bag, he ordered: "shi gong, go check on shihua and the soul-eating spider immediately, you must stabilize their injuries and ensure no hidden ailments are left behind!" "i''m on it!" lin shigong immediately dashed towards lin shihua to inspect his condition. fortunately, even though he was seriously injured, lin shikang had timely given him a healing pill to stabilize his condition. he just needed to rest quietly for two months for a full recovery. "xing yuan, organize our clanspeople immediately to treat the injured and bury the dead behind the mountain. then assign clanspeople to collect all the spoils of war and bring them to me, and burn the jin family''s corpses right here!" "understood!" lin xingyuan saluted and took his orders, then after giving out a few commands to the lin family members behind him, he began treating the injured clanspeople. after all the orders were given, a drained lin shikang could no longer hold back, repeatedly coughing up clots of blood. his complexion turned pale and he sat down on the ground, shuddering with delayed fear. taking out a pill from his storage bag, he swallowed it and began to recover on the spot. in a short while, some color finally returned to his face. at that moment, sun dingfeng came over with sun dingxian in his arms. lin shikang hurriedly got up and inquired. "how is daoist sun''s injury, is there any danger to his life?" seeing lin shikang''s genuine concern, sun dingfeng did not hide anything and honestly replied: "the injury is serious, it''s hard to say whether he can fully recover. it''s heaven''s will, we can only do our best!" "hmm..." this clan war had thankfully been helped by the sun family. if not for them, even if the lin family had the trump cards left by the old ancestor, it would have been difficult to survive. although the sun family''s territory had been breached, and the two came to seek refuge, they had indeed exerted considerable effort in this great battle. though it was cooperation, they also owed a debt of gratitude to the lin family. after a bout of reflection, lin shikang said earnestly: "if there is anything you need help with, just let us know. as long as the lin family can provide it, we will not refuse." seeing the sincerity in lin shikang''s expression, sun dingfeng repeatedly thanked him. "thank you, elder lin, for your generous assistance. however, with the great battle just concluded, you must be very busy. the jin family has been severely damaged and cannot easily recover. we will not disturb you further. once our injuries are healed, we will surely visit to offer our thanks personally." after speaking, sun dingfeng gave a saluting gesture with his fist and holding sun dingxian, flew towards the mountain gate, quickly disappearing into the sky. lin shikang did not try to persuade them to stay. with most of the high-level jin family cultivators dead or injured, the lin family''s power had not been significantly weakened. perhaps it was due to their wariness of the lin family that they chose not to stay in green bamboo mountain to recover. no matter what the reason was, it no longer mattered. lin shikang couldn''t help but heave a silent sigh: "it''s easy to share hardship among people, but hard to share wealth, and even more so for cultivators..." gathering his thoughts, lin shikang walked around the inner parts of green bamboo mountain. observing the battered state of green bamboo mountain, now devoid of its previous elegance, with corpses and severed limbs of many clanspeople scattered around, his mood was exceptionally heavy. lin shihua and the soul-eating spider were seriously injured, lin shiji and lin shixin had fallen, and more than twenty qi refining clanspeople had died in battle, the losses were substantial. in the cultivation world, it is so cruel, with battles over cultivation resources erupting every day among sect families. the lin family was merely a foundation establishing family at the bottom, such events were daily occurrences. the lin family, with its limited depth, only scraped through this disaster by playing their last card, combined with the assistance of the two from the sun family. if only they had a few more years, the lin family''s strength would have increased significantly, and the losses would not have been so great. alas, man''s plans are inferior to those of heaven. what they needed to do now was to soothe the members of the clan, quickly enhance their strength, and expand the family. after his reflection, with a look of melancholy, lin shikang muttered softly toward the market area: "shi lu, where are you? how are things going for you?" Chapter 108 Sweeping through the Spiritual Medicine Garden_1 the war ended beneath the peak of green bamboo mountain.lin xingyuan organized a large number of clan members to clean up the battlefield, while the injured clansmen each retreated to heal. the corpses of the jin family members were piled up together, forming a small mountain. a large circle of clan members gathered around, their fierce eyes yet to return to peace. this catastrophe served as a warning to all clansmen: without strong power, even the hope of peaceful cultivation was a delusion. often, trouble came even without seeking it. lin shikang, weighed down by heavy emotions, flicked his finger, releasing a fireball that ignited the mountain of corpses. soon, the roaring flames were accompanied by the crackling noises of breaking bones, and thick smoke billowed. lin xingyuan stepped forward, taking out dozens of storage bags and respectfully handing them to lin shikang. upon receiving the storage bags, lin shikang sighed sadly and instructed lin shigong, "shigong, properly bury the clansmen who died in battle. their belongings must be handed over intact to their direct descendants. for those who have no direct descendants, have the elders'' council record and keep the items until a descendant with spiritual root is confirmed and then transfer them." sea??h th§× n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "um, i''ll handle it immediately." after receiving lin shigong''s response, lin shikang''s face turned stern, and he said with murderous intent, "after settling the clan''s affairs, you and xingyuan take a group of clansmen and depart for luoyun market at once. gain control of the market, kill all the jin family members there, seize all their possessions, and then find a way to locate shilu and xing rong. this matter requires speed. once it''s done, set out immediately for golden horn mountain and ensure that not a single member of the jin family escapes." lin shigong and lin xingyuan''s faces were filled with murderous intent as they replied to lin shikang''s orders and prepared to leave. the jin family''s elite had suffered heavy casualties, and as news of the battle of green bamboo mountain wouldn''t be contained for long, the surviving jin family members would surely attempt to flee or hide, posing a potential future problem. now, there was no time to lose in taking action against the jin family territory. having made the arrangements, lin shikang did not linger and flew toward the summit of green bamboo mountain. find your next read at empire three days earlier, within the territory of the golden horn mountain jin family. after four hours of recovery and care, lin tianming and lin xingzhi had regained some of their strength and were capable of moving freely. lin shilu and lin xingrong had finished cleaning up the battlefield, and the corpses of over a hundred jin family members had already vanished without a trace, their storage bags naturally collected together and guarded by lin shilu. seeing that lin tianming and another had risen, and their condition seemed not too bad, lin shilu felt greatly relieved. delaying due to injuries, they had not yet seized the jin family''s treasures. now, the opportunity had come to thoroughly explore. after a brief exchange of pleasantries, lin xingrong was left to guard the entrance, while lin shilu led lin tianming and lin xingzhi inside the jin family compound. the three split into two groups, with lin xingzhi in charge of searching the residential area of the jin family members. these places lacked heavy protective restrictions, and his cultivation was sufficient to cope with them. lin tianming and lin shilu focused on locating the spiritual medicine garden and various key jin family institutions, such as the scripture pavilion and the family treasure vault. the protective restrictions of these places were strong, and even lin shilu''s aggressive approach might not guarantee success. however, with the help of lin tianming''s eye of five colors, it would be much easier, as even the protective clan formation was not beyond his capability to breach. the three entered the clan territory and began a careful search. lin tianming and lin shilu didn''t head to the courtyard clusters but flew straight toward the peak of golden horn mountain. ``` standing in the sky, lin tianming opened the eye of five colors and overlooked the entire golden horn mountain region. feeling the fluctuations of more than a dozen enchantments that were clearly stronger than those in the ordinary areas, a broad smile spread across lin tianming''s face as he promptly flew toward the nearest location, followed immediately by lin shilu. before long, the two appeared in a small valley halfway up the mountain, where the vegetation was lush and the spiritual energy relatively rich. lin tianming surveyed the area carefully, deducing that the enchantment was not weak and likely concealed an important treasure. he couldn''t help but feel a sense of anticipation. with a focused mind, lin tianming opened the eye of five colors and began to break the enchantment. after half an hour, a crack suddenly appeared in the void, revealing a large expanse of spirit fields spanning dozens of acres with numerous spiritual medicines directly visible to the two of them. "spiritual medicine garden." the faces of lin tianming and his companion turned red as they transformed into two shadows, dashing into the garden. the two moved through the spiritual medicine garden, their faces flushing with excitement as they saw the neatly arranged fields full of spiritual medicines and several spirit fruit trees. they carefully navigated through the garden, confirming the types of spiritual medicines as well as their age and quantity. golden flower grass, fire element grass, shuiyun grass¡ªall the main ingredients for the xisui pill were nearly complete and sufficient to concoct a sizable amount of elixirs. just in terms of lingshen pills and huiyuan pills, these commonly used elixir materials for qi refining cultivators were all gathered here in significant numbers, occupying most of the spiritual medicine garden. in a corner of the fields, they also discovered two jade spirit fruit trees, adorned with more than ten green fruits that didn''t seem quite ripe yet; lin tianming had no intention to pick or transplant them. lin tianming then collected the mature spiritual medicines that matched their age, leaving behind those that were not yet of age. these lower-grade spiritual medicines, with relatively short cycles, didn''t need to be transplanted and only required collection every so often. it took more than an hour to collect the first order spiritual medicines. then lin tianming continued further in; the deeper he went, the richer the spiritual energy became, with small plots of fields containing many second order spiritual medicines. dragon origin grass and cloudy rain flower, hundreds of stalks of various second order spiritual medicine materials stood neatly in the fields, prospering well, making it evident that the jin family had their expertise in alchemy and cultivation of spiritual medicines. after collecting the mature second order spiritual medicines, lin tianming continued inward, quickly reaching the deepest part. looking around, there were only a few acres of spirit fields at the very end, with the soil differing from that outside: darker in color and faintly emanating spiritual energy. lin tianming approached three spirit grasses about half a foot tall and observed them closely. after repeated confirmation, he realized these were the main ingredients for the hun tian pill: the third order spiritual medicine purple yin grass. unfortunately, they hadn''t matured yet, and to use them for alchemy, he would have to wait at least twenty more years. although he already possessed the pill formula for the hun tian pill and found some of the auxiliary spiritual medicines in the spiritual medicine garden, it was a pity that the purple yin grass was not yet of age. however, twenty-some years was not a long time in the world of cultivators, and the lin family could afford to wait. the thought of the family obtaining a batch of purple yin grass in twenty years and thereby concocting the hun tian pill to help their foundation establishment cultivators break through a realm brought a flush to lin tianming''s face. he quickly called over lin shilu and explained the effects of the herb. upon hearing this, and seeing the more than ten stalks of purple yin grass, lin shilu''s breathing quickened as well. one must know that progression during the foundation establishment stage was slow. it had been more than twenty years since lin shilu entered the foundation establishment stage, and he had barely managed to cultivate to the fourth level, drastically in need of elixirs to aid in his cultivation; relying solely on meditation and breathing exercises was incredibly slow. lin shilu carefully collected a few stalks of the purple yin grass and placed them in a prepared jade box, then continued to collect other third order spiritual medicines. ``` Chapter 109 Robbed Clean_1 a quarter-hour had passed, and the two of them had swept through the area of third order spiritual medicine, obtaining more than thirty mature third order spiritual medicines. most of these were items used by foundation establishment cultivators, and although their value was all lower than that of purple yin grass, they were still not something that second order spiritual medicines could compare with.after spending half a day, they had plundered the spiritual medicine garden, taking everything that met the age requirement for alchemy. high-value spiritual medicines were not spared either, being collected along with the soil to be transplanted into the lin family''s spiritual medicine garden. as time went by, the two busied themselves for half a day and obtained more than a thousand pieces of spiritual medicine materials, the vast majority of which were first order spiritual medicines. the truly high-value ones were less than two hundred. even so, the value of the jin family''s spiritual medicine garden was much higher than that of the lin family''s. the risk taken initially was well worth it just for the value of this spiritual medicine garden itself. with satisfaction, the two left the spiritual medicine garden and flew towards the summit''s plaza. atop golden horn mountain was a bluestone plaza that spanned dozens of acres. at the far end of the plaza were more than ten lofty stone halls of varying sizes snug against the square, each with several stories and all protected by strong prohibitive spells of varying degrees of power. lin tianming casually strolled up, stopped in front of a grand hall, and opened his eye of five colors to begin attempting to break the hall''s prohibitions. after spending two days, he had broken the prohibitions of a succession of more than ten halls, all belonging to some of the jin family''s administrative institutions with no substantial loot. they were mostly items that could not be easily taken away. looking at the remaining two halls, which must have been where the secret manuals and treasures were stored, lin tianming''s eyes couldn''t help but heat up. quickly regaining his composure, lin tianming began to break the prohibitions of the place. half a day later, the prohibitions were broken, revealing the entrance to the grand hall. lin tianming and lin shilu walked straight in. gazing about, the first floor of the grand hall revealed more than a dozen stone platforms, upon which rested various colored jade slips and some books made of beast skin. lin tianming immediately rushed in and picked up a jade slip to examine it. sure enough, it was a metal attribute yellow grade technique, identical to the one from the lin family. it was probably not surprising for such common goods to be found in multiple major families. after putting down the jade slip in his hand, lin tianming started to inspect the other items. read exclusive adventures at empire in no time, everything on the first floor of the grand hall had been collected by the two of them. they discovered a total of eight yellow grade techniques, three of which overlapped with the yellow grade techniques of the lin family. among the unheard techniques, there were two of wood attribute, and one each of metal, fire, and earth attributes, but none of water attribute. the rest of the books were introductions and experiences related to cultivation arts. the creators were probably not of high rank, and thus not very useful. there were also records of miscellaneous and interesting events, which might help someone new to cultivation, but were useless to them. lin shilu packed all the items into his storage bag to take back to the family for sorting, and then they went up to the second floor. there were not many platforms on the second floor, and even fewer books and jade slips, barely totaling over thirty pieces, but they were all good stuff. lin tianming held a jade slip and meticulously examined it. before long, a look of joy appeared on lin tianming''s face. "guiyuan heart sutra." this jade slip was precisely the cultivation technique practiced by many jin family cultivators, also a mysterious grade, which could be cultivated to the late stage of core formation, with metal attribute, and accompanied by no small divine skills, possessing extremely formidable attacking power. he had learned this firsthand; in terms of attacking power, the divine skills included in this technique were even more formidable than those of the lin family''s fire origin decision. after handing over this priceless technique to lin shilu, he then turned his attention to the remaining jade slips. an hour later, the two had finished examining the remaining techniques and manuals. the other two mysterious grade techniques were one of earth attribute and one of water attribute. with this, the lin family had gathered all of the mysterious grade techniques of the five attributes. beyond the techniques, they also found two volumes of alchemy experience. the jin family''s alchemy was renowned throughout the luoyun mountain range and, with nearly a thousand years of continuous improvement, their alchemy experiences did indeed hold many points of value. the rest of the manuals contained the jin family''s experience in cultivating spiritual medicine, as well as talisman paper and artifact refining techniques, covering nearly all the arts of cultivation. however, it was uncertain how much they could learn from them. it wasn''t long before the two had packed everything into their storage bags and headed towards the third floor. s~ea??h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. unfortunately, after a careful search in every corner of the third floor, they found nothing at all. the scripture pavilion of the jin family had been thoroughly looted. lin tianming made his way to the last great hall. it didn''t take much time to break through the restrictions, and the two of them walked inside. passing through the main hall of the great hall to its depths, there were several rooms on both sides of the corridor. lin tianming noticed that the layout here was somewhat similar to the lin family''s hall of merit and surmised this must be the jin family''s hall of merit. thinking that there must be treasures used for daily exchanges by the jin family here, lin tianming and his companion were particularly excited and quickly chose a room to enter. lin tianming pushed open the heavy stone door, and what caught his eye were several chests crafted from jade stone. lin tianming immediately rushed over and opened them. "spirit stones..." lin tianming grabbed a few spirit stones to examine, and they were all low-grade spirit stones. after his counting, just in these few chests, there were over thirteen thousand spirit stones. they moved the chests out of the room and placed them in the main hall, awaiting the final tally. half a day passed, and the two had swept through everything in the great hall three times, gathering all the useful items together into a small mountain. looking around, the treasures in front of them were varied: elixirs, spirit grass, spirit stones, spirit ore, demonic beast materials, as well as different quantities of spiritual artifacts and talisman paper, though not in large numbers. it was presumed that because of the recent battle, the jin family had carried the spiritual artifacts and talisman paper¡ªresources for war¡ªwith them. still, the loot remained quite valuable. lin shilu took out a piece of beast skin and recorded the type and quantity of all the treasures before putting all the treasures into storage bags. tian ming watched the vast amount of wealth with shining eyes, his heart blooming with joy. after all, the sight of treasures worth over a hundred thousand spirit stones would tempt any qi refining cultivator. setting aside the cultivation manuals and the yield from the spiritual medicine garden, just these supplementary cultivation resources were worth at least one hundred thousand spirit stones. besides these, there were also over a hundred storage bags from jin family cultivators that hadn''t been tallied. if all were accounted for, the sum might be astronomical. watching lin tianming''s eyes narrow into slits, lin shilu spoke with a calm expression. "tian ming, the jin family must have another treasure vault!" hearing lin shilu''s words, lin tianming snapped back to reality and, after some thought, began to understand. any family would not place the accumulation of a thousand years in such an obvious institution. they would opt to store them in multiple locations and keep them hidden to avoid being completely looted in case the family fell, also preserving a slim chance of rising again. moreover, the haul here, although not insignificant, was hardly substantial for a family like the jin family that had existed for a thousand years. this place was probably where they stored regularly used resources for exchanges by the jin family''s qi refining clanspeople, completely devoid of items used by foundation establishment cultivators. therefore, there definitely was another hidden treasure vault; it just was not easy to find. lin shilu''s conjecture was something lin tianming totally agreed with. afterwards, the two left the great hall and began to search separately within golden horn mountain. Chapter 110 Struck it Rich_1 half a day passed, and the several dozen-mile expanse of the golden horn mountain clan territory had been searched thoroughly by a group of people, but they had not found the location of the jin family''s treasure vault.lin shilu frowned, deep in thought. they had searched quite meticulously, practically turning over every inch of the jin family clan''s territory, but still, they hadn''t found it. although they had anticipated it wouldn''t be easy, after all, such a secretive matter wouldn''t be known to more than ten people even within the jin family clan. "where could it be?" while brooding over this conundrum, a loud shout came from not too far away; it was lin tianming who seemed to have found something, prompting lin shilu to immediately rush over. at the base of the main peak of golden horn mountain, where several rivers converged, a waterfall dozens of feet wide roared down with imposing momentum, a truly magnificent sight. the abundant water resources here formed a substantial mist after evaporation, filling the valley with dense fog, lush and vibrant, with colorful flowers and trees growing beside green rocks, presenting the spectacle of a cave heaven and blessed land. at the moment, however, lin tianming wasn''t admiring these beautiful scenes but stood in front of the waterfall, opening his eye of five colors and gazing through the curtain of water at something behind it. sensing the faint ripple of a formation behind the water curtain, which appeared and disappeared intermittently, a hint of joy flashed across lin tianming''s face. hearing lin tianming''s call, lin shilu quickly arrived beside him and looked in the direction lin tianming was facing, closely sensing the area. unfortunately, even with his foundation establishment cultivation, he couldn''t feel that faint fluctuation. out of curiosity, lin shilu didn''t ask any questions but quietly waited by the side. after an unknown amount of time, lin tianming held an earth evil artifact in his hand and boldly thrust his sword at the mirror-like curtain of water. "pff..." a strange crisp sound echoed as the mirror-like water curtain suddenly revealed an entrance to a cave, approximately three feet wide. lin shilu''s face lit up with joy as he leaped beside lin tianming. after releasing two attacks to ensure no dangers lay ahead, the two entered the cave together. walking cautiously along the flagstone path, the two headed deeper into the cave. in a short while, they reached the end of the cave and found several stone doors at the deepest part. the two worked together to push open the heavy stone doors, revealing the contents of the stone chamber. what greeted their eyes were several shelves, on which many jade bottles were placed. lin tianming rushed forward in a few strides, grabbed a jade bottle, opened it, and began identifying the elixirs inside. "second order spirit origin pill!" hearing lin tianming''s words, lin shilu''s face brightened, and he eagerly took the pill, carefully examining it. lin tianming continued inspecting the remaining jade bottles and in a short time, had checked all the elixirs inside them. lin shilu took out a piece of beast skin and began tallying the quantities and types of these elixirs. after they finished scouring the first stone chamber, the two continued to rummage through the remaining chambers. the second chamber contained a vast amount of spirit stones, far more than what was in the great hall at the top of golden horn mountain. after lin tianming''s count, there were a total of sixty thousand low-grade spirit stones, and in addition, forty-five medium-grade spirit stones. holding a fist-sized medium-grade spirit stone in his hand, lin tianming examined it carefully, his expression one of reluctance to let it go. to the naked eye, this medium-grade spirit stone was several times bigger than a normal low-grade spirit stone, containing a richer and more pure spiritual energy. in the cultivation world, spirit stones are the universal currency. it takes a hundred low-grade spirit stones to exchange for one medium-grade spirit stone, and so on, with a hundred medium-grade spirit stones fetching one high quality spirit stone, although typically no one is willing to trade for them. while low-grade spirit stones are quite common and widely circulated, medium-grade spirit stones are much rarer. medium-grade spirit stones can be used as the energy source required for the operation of formations, greatly enhancing their stability. it is said that some fourth order large towns even use supreme spirit stones as their energy source. hence, medium-grade spirit stones and above can serve as strategic resource reserves, and even the forces with golden core cultivators wouldn''t easily trade them away. forty-five medium-grade spirit stones, that''s four thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones. plus the other sixty thousand spirit stones, this truly is an immensely great fortune. "the jin family really is wealthy¡­" after sighing, lin tianming collected all the spirit stones into his storage bag and handed it to lin shilu. half an hour passed, and the two completed their search of the remaining stone chambers, walking out of the cave. at that moment, their complexions were flushed with excitement, their hearts racing as if a herd of ten thousand horses was charging through them. even lin shilu, well-versed and experienced, felt his heart pounding uncontrollably upon seeing such a tremendous amount of wealth for the first time, and both of their mouths were almost grinning crooked with joy. the loot was indeed substantial; having scoured the jin family''s nearly a thousand years of wealth accumulation, they left nothing behind. just in spirit stones from the two treasure vaults, they obtained nearly eighty thousand pieces, not to mention the resources such as elixirs and talismans amounting to a potentially astronomical figure. the beaming pair emerged, soon to be joined by lin xingzhi and lin xingrong, and they gathered together for a brief chat. lin xingzhi had also scoured every yard and didn''t get much, as few cultivators would leave their treasures in their abodes, keeping almost everything on their person. nevertheless, they still managed to gather some wealth, filling two storage bags. lin shilu took the storage bags without counting, planning to bring them back to the clan for the family to sort and tally. seeing the two, wearing an air of delighted disbelief, lin xingrong and his companion couldn''t hide their puzzlement. lin shilu revealed just a small part of their gains, shocking the two to the core. "pathetic, just a few tens of thousands of spirit stones and you look like that!" lin shilu muttered under his breath, then paid no further mind to lin xingrong and his companion. soon, they gradually recovered their composure, but lin shilu''s expression turned grave. it had been about half a month since they left luoyun market, and they had no news about the jin family''s movements or the situation back at home, which was a cause for concern. looking at lin shilu''s wistful expression, lin tianming and the others could guess some of the reasons behind it. now that they had accomplished their purpose, regardless of whether the jin family was successful or not, they could no longer stay here. once they returned to their clan''s territory, they would truly have to scatter and flee for their lives. lin tianming was the first to speak, asking lin shilu for his thoughts. "elder wu, what should we do next? go back to our clan, or to luoyun market?" faced with lin tianming''s question, lin shilu wanted to return to green bamboo mountain to check things out, but he thought of lin shikang''s instructions and plans and didn''t dare to take lin tianming into danger. he was now tangled and couldn''t make a firm decision. "share your thoughts; let''s discuss this together." after lin shilu spoke, they started to deliberate. experience tales at empire after a short while, through discussion, they reluctantly reached a consensus. sear?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. lin xingrong and lin tianming would temporarily stay near the jin family clan''s territory to take the chance to rendezvous with lin tianhong and the others. lin shilu and lin xingzhi would head back to luoyun market first, where the crowds and chaotic environment might allow them to gather some information. if the situation permitted, lin shilu alone would sneak back to green bamboo mountain. after all, the jin family''s threat was not yet lifted, and taking them would only be a burden. in the event of danger, the chances of escape were much higher for just one individual. after settling their plans, lin shilu took out several storage bags and handed them to lin xingrong. he messaged the group with a few instructions and felt slightly more at ease. with everything arranged, lin shilu and lin xingzhi didn''t linger; they mounted their swords and flew south towards luoyun market, soon disappearing into the sky. watching lin shilu and his companion leave, lin xingrong spoke up, "tianming, let''s get going too!" "yes¡­" lin tianming responded and then released the purple gold eagle, feeding it a beast spirit pill. the two of them jumped onto the purple gold eagle''s back and soared into the sky, flying northward, swiftly vanishing without a trace. Chapter 111 Gathering of the Falling Clouds_1 outside luoyun market, two figures swept across the sky and stopped atop a mountain.uncertain of the jin family''s whereabouts, lin shilu dared not rashly enter the market. if his tracks were discovered, it could bring about some unnecessary trouble. standing on the mountain, he tried to observe the indistinct city walls in the distance, hoping to gather some information. at that moment, several bursts of firelight scattered over the market, followed by the sound of booming explosions. lin shilu''s expression immediately tensed, as he attempted to guess what was happening. "could it be that the jin family has made a move against our people within the market?" if the jin family emerged victorious after attacking the four major families, once they severely damaged the other families, the rule of the market forbidding private fights would likely not be adhered to. after all, the rules of luoyun market were also set by the five major families. having defeated the other four families, they would naturally want to annihilate them completely, so there would be no need to follow the rules. the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, causing lin shilu to grow increasingly anxious. "xing zhi, you stay nearby and hide. if i''m not back in half an hour, don''t worry about me. immediately go find xing rong and then head together to qianchuan market, understand?" the more he worried, the less lin shilu could put his mind at ease, feeling an urgent necessity to ascertain the situation of his clan''s territory. he had to find a way to get there and see for himself. hearing lin shilu''s words, even lin xingzhi, as naive as he was, could guess some of the situation. the battle had spread to the market, certainly indicating the outcome of the clan conflict was clear, yet it was still unknown which side was victorious. stay connected with empire "fifteenth uncle, my heart is also with the family, so i won''t dissuade you. my cultivation is too weak; i''d only slow you down. please be very careful, and if anything happens, we will wait for you at qianchuan market." a trace of worry appeared on lin xingrong''s face as he gave his instructions in response. "hmm, be very cautious in everything!" with that, lin shilu no longer lingered, running straight down the mountain and quickly towards the direction of the market. lin xingzhi watched as lin shilu departed, then found a place to hide himself. after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, lin shilu had nearly reached the market entrance. by that time, the sound of explosions was echoing within the market, indicating a battle was still ongoing. the normally bustling entrance was now eerily quiet, without a single person in sight. as he was observing, several figures successively darted out from the market entrance, some bearing injuries. as soon as they left the market, they fled towards the north without looking back. lin shilu scrutinized the fleeing individuals carefully, they didn''t look like lin family disciples. moreover, why were the escaping figures heading north without a backward glance? soon after, a foundation establishment cultivator also emerged from the market entrance and quickly pursued the fleeing figures. "xing yuan!" seeing that the person was lin xingyuan, lin shilu understood at once. it was likely that the lin family had won the clan battle and was now hunting down the remnants of the jin family. at that moment, the stone in lin shilu''s heart finally dropped, and he broke into a radiant smile, laughing arrogantly and loudly. lin xingyuan, busy with the pursuit, initially didn''t notice lin shilu, who had changed his appearance. however, lin shilu, overwhelmed by excitement, revealed his true face, which then caught lin xingyuan''s attention. seeing lin shilu, lin xingyuan was instantly overjoyed, calling out: "fifteenth uncle, quickly kill the few who are fleeing; they are all from the jin family!" in just a few breaths, the fleeing lin family members had scattered in different directions, with two of them already a thousand feet away. without hesitation, lin shilu joined lin xingyuan in the pursuit. several qi refining cultivators, limited in speed, could not possibly escape from lin shilu of the fourth level of foundation building. in half a breath, lin shilu caught up with the slowest fleeing jin family member, flicking his finger to release a sword qi that easily eliminated the jin family member, who was at the seventh level of qi refining, before continuing the chase after the others. ``` in no time, lin shilu had successively killed several people, leaving only one cultivator who had fled for several miles. lin shilu flew after him on his sword, turning into a lingering shadow as he chased down the escapee. the fleeing cultivator was called jin chaoyang, the person in charge of the jin family at the market, with the cultivation at the great perfection of qi refining stage. earlier that day, two lin family cultivators at the foundation establishment stage had entered the market with several family members, launching a city-wide manhunt for all jin family members. the jin family''s shops had long changed hands, and during the raid, more than a dozen of their kin were killed; only he and a few others had riskedly escaped. at the moment, he was clueless, and too panicked to guess what had befallen the jin family, only thinking about escaping back to golden horn mountain as quickly as possible. jin chaoyang, already scared out of his wits, pushed his fleeing speed to the limit. as lin shilu drew closer and closer, jin chaoyang''s face grew paler, and in his panic, he threw out several first order superior grade talismans, hoping to delay his pursuer. unfortunately, with the power of the fourth level of foundation building, these petty tricks were no obstruction at all. as the distance closed to less than a hundred paces, lin shilu flicked his fingers repeatedly, shooting out strands of sword qi towards jin chaoyang. feeling the oncoming sword qi, jin chaoyang''s face instantly lost all color, and he hurriedly took out a small spiritual shield to block in front of him. "whoosh whoosh..." after several crisp sounds, small holes appeared in both the shield and jin chaoyang''s body. as he saw warm blood streaming from the holes in his chest, he simply could not believe this outcome. why had the jin family''s years of plotting, their grip on the clan war, ended in such a tragic defeat? alas, no matter what, he could not figure it out. with jin chaoyang falling unwillingly, lin shilu took his storage bag, then cast a fireball to burn the body before heading towards the market. before long, lin shilu and lin xingyuan returned to the market, walking on the main street. by then, all had quieted down inside the market, and many qi refining cultivators watched the lin family members vigilantly, wondering what they were up to. soon, the two reached the hundred treasures building, where lin shigong was already waiting at the entrance. after exchanging greetings, lin shigong began to inquire, "xing yuan, did you manage to kill the fleeing members of the jin family?" after lin xingyuan answered truthfully, lin shigong breathed a sigh of relief and then began to ask about the recent affairs of lin shilu. lin shilu did not hide anything, starting from the grand competition in the market and swiftly moving to the events of their escape. although they had already learned about the entrapment and escape through sun dingfeng, hearing it from lin shilu''s mouth made it all the more real. subsequently, lin shigong heard how lin shilu and three others stormed the jin family stronghold, slaughtered hundreds of their members, and took all of the jin family''s wealth. the two were already incredibly shocked, their expressions immensely rich. had they not known lin shilu wouldn''t joke about such matters, they wouldn''t have believed it. after hearty laughter, lin shigong quickly regained his composure before recounting the battle of green bamboo mountain, omitting the news of the deaths of lin shiji and others. s§×ar?h the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. learning about the battle at green bamboo mountain, lin shilu was equally astounded. although he knew the lin family had an ace up its sleeve left by the ancestral patriarch, he''d never witnessed its true power and couldn''t guess whether it would be enough to contend with jin zhiying. little did he expect not only the total annihilation of the jin family, but also the slaying of zhuang zhenxin. ``` Chapter 112 Controlling the Workshops_1 "ninth brother, although we have won this clan war, i wonder how much our family has lost?"lin shilu''s words caused lin shigong''s face to change. he had intended to hide the truth for a while, but now he had no choice but to reveal it. knowing he couldn''t hide it for long, lin shigong still chose to tell the truth. learning that all the foundation establishment cultivators who participated in the war had suffered various degrees of injury, and that lin shiji and lin shixin had died in battle, lin shilu''s complexion turned instantly ashen. "shilu, our fifth brother and the others did not sacrifice in vain. if they know that every member of the jin family has been executed, they would surely rest easy in the underworld!" "that''s right, fifteenth uncle. the battle was extremely hard-fought, and every lin family member made sacrifices!" seeing lin shilu''s dejected mood, lin xingyuan also spoke up to comfort him. "sigh..." after sighing deeply, lin shilu gradually regained his composure, and lin shigong, not wanting to see him upset, quickly changed the subject. "shilu, i was originally planning a trip to golden horn mountain to take over the jin family clan''s territory, but now it seems unnecessary. from what you''ve said, there are some immature spiritual medicines there that require a foundation establishment clan member to temporarily guard the jin family clan''s territory. we also need to send someone to check on the wu family''s clan land, and it would be best to control those places. as for the follow-up arrangements, let''s discuss them after the elders'' council has deliberated!" "whatever you arrange, ninth brother, will be best." after agreeing, lin shilu thought about lin xingzhi, who was waiting for him outside the market, and then spoke. "ninth brother, since all the jin family foundation establishment cultivators are dead, i''ll go find xing zhi now and have him fetch xing rong to send tian ming and the other juniors back home. after that, he can temporarily remain in the jin family clan''s territory." "alright..." finishing his words, lin shilu handed over the storage bags of jin chaoyang and several others to lin shigong, then immediately set off toward the market exit. after watching lin shilu leave, lin shigong erased the divine sense left on the storage bags and began to inspect a token taken out from one of them. once he was sure the token was correct, lin shigong revealed a trace of satisfaction and instructed lin xingyuan standing beside him: "xing yuan, now that we''ve taken control of all the jin family''s shops and assets, and obtained the luoyun order, organize some people immediately. let''s go straight to the market city supervisor''s office and replace the current law enforcers with our own, then ensure that the luoyun market''s security is maintained." "yes." the two didn''t linger and immediately hurried towards the direction of the marketplace auction. at the entrance to the auction, a bluestone plaza had already gathered quite a number of cultivators, with many more still hurrying towards the area. in the span of a short break, the number of people on the plaza grew, the majority being loose cultivators, as well as members of qi cultivation families and even members of the luoyun market law enforcement team. over a hundred cultivators gathered together, and those who had witnessed the battle began to discuss amongst themselves. in the past two months, undercurrents had surged within the five major clans of the luoyun mountain range. the jin family took advantage of the market competition when foundation establishment cultivators from other clans were away from their territories and brazenly initiated clan warfare, wiping out the wu family before they could even react. it was only several days later that the news reached the luoyun market, causing upheaval. many loose cultivators hurriedly left the market to avoid calamity. within a few short days, the market''s vitality had significantly waned, and the attendance was not even half of what it used to be. perhaps out of respect for the market''s rules, there had been peace within the luoyun market. some observant loose cultivators and trading cultivators still remained in the market. it wasn''t until today that twenty lin family members suddenly appeared near the jin family''s shops, openly attacking the jin family clan members. under the leadership of two foundation establishment cultivators, they were able to capture all of the jin family members within the marketplace in just half an hour. the appearance of the lin family members signified the jin family''s defeat, an inconceivable outcome. furthermore, lin shigong and lin xingyuan demonstrated their foundation establishment cultivation, completely stunning the onlookers. afterward, many secretly discussed how the jin family, with six foundation establishment clan members, could have been defeated, how many foundation establishment cultivators the lin family actually had, what unknown tactics they used, and just how much strength they had hidden. unfortunately, they could not find out. ... on the bluestone plaza, near the auction venue. a qi refining eighth level cultivator sat casually on the stairs in front of the auction house, surrounded by more than a dozen cultivators who gathered around him like stars around the moon. "daoist chen, as the captain of the law enforcement team, have you heard any rumors or have any insider information?" "yes, regarding the spell battle that has just erupted, i wonder what daoist chen thinks?" in the crowd, a few cultivators started asking, hoping to glean some news from him. chen jingshan frowned slightly, clueless about these inquiries, he was just as baffled at the moment. sear?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. still, considering that they were all acquaintances, even though he knew nothing, he still responded with a few words. "there''s no need for alarm. the grudges between the five major families should not involve us loose cultivators. whether it''s time for seclusion or business, just carry on. once they have settled their dispute, stability will naturally return." "indeed, this is not something we should worry about!" "what daoist chen said makes sense, we were overthinking it..." after chen jingshan spoke, several cultivators seemed much relieved and echoed his sentiments. just then, lin shigong, along with other lin family members, appeared at the edge of the plaza. "it''s people from the lin family..." "elder lin has succeeded in foundation establishment!" several cultivators who had just arrived at the plaza exclaimed in confusion. the arrival of lin shigong and his group immediately caused a huge stir, and the cultivators present greeted them with clasped fists, then made way for them. "fellow daoists, there''s no need for such courtesy..." lin shigong, with a gentle expression, politely responded, greatly endearing himself to those present. previously, members of the jin family had always been overbearing, yet due to the jin family''s great power, none dared to voice their anger. the lin family, on the other hand, had always been low-key and fair in their dealings, and they had an excellent reputation throughout the luoyun mountain range. amidst the cheering of the crowd, lin shigong gestured for everyone to be quiet, walked to the high platform in the plaza, and spoke with righteous indignation: discover exclusive tales at empire "fellow daoists, the jin family harbored wild ambitions and rashly instigated clan warfare under the pretext of the market city contest. in just a few days, the wu family was annihilated, the sun family clan''s territory was breached, and many of their people were killed or wounded. our lin family risked everything to resist, mobilizing the strength of our entire clan at the cost of heavy sacrifices, and we have now completely eradicated the jin family." "what?" "completely eradicated the jin family!" as lin shigong personally announced the outcome, many had already guessed it, yet there were still many who didn''t know, and they were shocked when they heard the news. lin shigong paid them no mind and continued: "as the jin family no longer exists, we of the lin family will temporarily take over the management of luoyun market. everyone should carry on with their business without any concern and please inform each other so we can bring the market back to its prosperous state as soon as possible." "as for the reformation of the law enforcement team and the market city supervisor roles, clean backgrounds and meeting the requirements are the criteria for all daoists who wish to apply, and the salaries will be increased by twenty percent over the previous rates." upon hearing lin shigong''s words, the crowd of cultivators erupted in cheers. the demise of the jin family indeed allowed many to vent their pent-up frustrations. as for the lin family taking control of the market and raising the salaries of the executive officers, it was naturally considered good news. soon, many cultivators stepped forward, eager to sign up, and chen jingshan was among them. lin xingyuan also took out a book and began to record their names, which would be kept on file for review and later employment. seeing the large number of cultivators signing up without any signs of resistance, the lin family could easily take control of the market. lin shigong stood aside, a smile creeping onto his face. Chapter 113 Sending Off_1 time flew, half a month had passed since the destruction of the jin family.the two-month-long clan war had come to a definitive end, with the wu family and the jin family destroyed, the sun family clan grounds breached, and the majority of its members either dead or injured, suffering a devastating blow. the unexpected outcome of the war had spread like a storm, first among ten, then among hundreds, until it became known to everyone in the luoyun mountain range; it even reached the neighboring qianchuan market and the huangyang kingdom in jingzhou. suddenly, the lin family was in the limelight, their fame spreading far and wide, becoming the most talked-about topic among cultivators. gradually, the luoyun market stabilized, and its popularity began to recover. in just over ten days, the lin family had exerted a great amount of manpower and resources, effectively taking control of the luoyun market. within the market, peace returned to its former state, with all the major shops reopening and the comings and goings of cultivators as usual. as for the lin family taking control of the market, unexpectedly, both the sun family and the virtually intact luo family made no statements. since neither the sun family nor the luo family raised the issue, the lin family naturally did not bring it up themselves; all parties understood each other''s silence, and for the time being, there were no negotiations. ... green bamboo mountain, lin family clan grounds. through lin xingzhi''s summoning, lin tianming and the other younger members all returned to green bamboo mountain. other than lin xingrong, who was stationed at golden horn mountain, and some clan members under lin xingyuan''s command who managed the market, all lin family members who were outside had now returned to green bamboo mountain. a few days previous, lin xingzhi had gone to the northern part of golden horn mountain to search for lin tianming and others; upon meeting, he recounted the whole process of the battle on green bamboo mountain. upon learning that lin shiji and lin shixin had died in battle, lin tianming felt immensely heavy-hearted. sear?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. lin tianming, having been born to cultivator parents, had lived on green bamboo mountain since childhood. as lin xingrong was often stationed at the market, he would follow lin shigong around from an early age, frequently interacting with the shi clan members. lin shixin, having no descendants, treated lin tianming as his own grandchild, often spoiling him and showing him special favor. lin tianming adored this mischievous elder, and their relationship was extremely close, leading lin shigong to occasionally question whether tianming was truly his own grandchild. lin shiji, who was rather stern, treated all the clan members equally; regardless of who erred, he remained unforgiving, with the sole exception of lin tianming, and the two had a tacit coordination during demon-hunting experiences. the loss of the two elders lin tianming deeply respected had grieved him for a long time. lin xingzhi also knew that lin tianming was troubled inside and could only urge him to diligently pursue cultivation, to strengthen the lin family so that such tragedies would not recur. lin tianming, who had a strong sense of belonging to his family, became even more eager to improve his strength in order to protect his family after hearing this. only if the family was strong and looked after by a high order cultivator could such incidents be avoided. from that point on, the heart of a strong warrior had taken root and begun to sprout within him, growing ever more resolute. ... green bamboo mountain, lin family ancestral hall. in the aftermath of the battle, as the injured clan members emerged from retreat and the exterior members had been gathered, it was time to hold the ceremony to place the spirit tablets in the ancestral hall. the ceremony of placing the spirit tablets in the ancestral hall was a common occurrence in the lin family. every few years, members of the lin family would pass away naturally or die in accidents, and the ceremony would be performed. however, the ceremonies for those clan members were simpler and attended by fewer family members. and in this clan war the lin family had faced, they had sacrificed more than twenty of their members in one go, who fought valiantly, dedicating everything to the family. therefore, the lin family placed great importance on the ceremony of entering the spirit tablets into the ancestral hall, going so far as to summon all the members who could be spared, just to send off these sacrificed members on their final journey. it was only by placing the members'' spirit tablets inside the ancestral hall to allow future generations to pay their respects, after this process was completed, that one was considered to have lived a full life and to have received the family''s recognition. the entry of the spirit tablet into the ancestral hall was the highest honor of the lin family, the final resting place for every member of the lin family. of course, there were exceptions. either the lin family was completely wiped out, with no descendants to conduct the ceremony, or the family member had committed unforgivable crimes and was so wicked that he was expelled from the family. such a person was considered to no longer be a member of the lin family and naturally could not enter the lin family ancestral hall. ... at this moment, more than a hundred family members had gathered in the ancestral hall. the ancient and heavy hall was utterly silent, each person''s expression extremely solemn, and some even bore tears. inside the hall, lin shihua, whose injuries had mostly healed, looked pallid, standing beside him were lin shikang and a few other surviving relatives from the shi generation. a flicker of sorrow passed across lin shikang''s face as he said to lin shihua, "shihua, begin." lin shihua nodded, took a spirit tablet from the wooden table next to him, and placed it on the peach wood altar. before long, two more spirit tablets were added to the layer belonging to the shi generation, belonging to lin shiji and lin shixin. lin tianming, looking at the numerous spirit tablets on the altar, remembered lin shixin''s kind and amiable face. just then, lin shihua loudly recited complex scriptures, followed by a eulogy for the achievements of the two men. "family members, pay your respects!" lin shikang and the other shi generation relatives bowed first, followed by the xing generation and tian generation members, who knelt and kowtowed thrice before rising. then it was the turn for the spirit tablets of the xing generation relatives to be placed on the altar. lin shihua continued to read out the names of the departed, then recited the scriptures. the family members paid their respects similarly, but since the xing generation was of the same generation, they did not kneel, only the tian generation members performed the kneeling tribute. after the passage of half a day, with the offerings properly arranged and three sticks of zen incense lit, the ceremony of the spirit tablets entering the ancestral hall was completed. seeing the family members'' low spirits, lin shikang felt helpless, knowing wounds always needed time to settle. he sighed, rallying his spirit before speaking, stay updated with empire "my fellow clansmen, the great war has just ended, the brutal process was as if it had just occurred. this is the cruelty of the cultivation world." "most of the people here have witnessed the sacrifice of shi ji and the others, the glory of their sacrifice. i hope you do not grieve too much. before the portraits of our ancestors, i believe shi ji and the others do not wish to see you like this." "what you need to do now is to remember this history, turn grief and indignation into motivation, and double your efforts in cultivation. strive to make breakthroughs as soon as possible. only when you are strong can you protect the family from harm. do you understand?" inspired by lin shikang''s words, everyone''s spirits were lifted, their expressions revealing a formidable aura as they replied in unison, "understood!" after lin shikang''s admonishment, a hint of vitality finally returned to everyone''s faces. seeing the transformation of the family members and the strong cohesion of the family, lin shikang showed a slight smile of relief. following lin shihua''s announcement of dismissal, the lin family members orderly left the ancestral hall to return to their normal cultivation. after leaving the ancestral hall, lin tianming greeted some relatives before returning to his family''s courtyard with his mother and sister. Chapter 114 The Lin Family Makes a Fortune, The Complete Spirit Art_1 explore hidden tales at empirepeak of green bamboo mountain. in lin shikang''s courtyard, the six remaining members of the lin family of shi''s generation sat inside, chatting. after the great battle, clan affairs entangled them, and those who were in seclusion stayed secluded, never gathering together. now, as matters had gradually been handled and the lin family had returned to the right track, it was naturally time to account for the family''s losses and gains. after some idle chat, lin shihua took out a book and, following the recorded counts, began to report. lin shikang and the others listened attentively. the lin family''s losses were huge in this battle: not only did more than twenty clan members die in battle, but a substantial amount of elixirs, talismans, and spiritual artifacts were consumed, depleting years of accumulated resources. after reporting the losses, it was time to inventory the gains. lin shihua took out dozens of storage bags and placed them on the stone table in the middle of the group, all containing possessions of the jin family members who had died on green bamboo mountain. s~ea??h the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the six of them each picked up a storage bag from the ground, wiped away the lingering divine sense, and started to check the contents. an hour later, they had finished tallying this batch of storage bags from qi refining stage clanspeople. in total, there were over 8,500 spirit stones, more than 200 consumable elixirs, fewer than 40 intact spiritual artifacts, and a large number of damaged remnants of spiritual artifacts, with hardly any talismans. just calculating the totals, lin shihua''s face darkened as he complained repeatedly, "this is far too little, isn''t it? over forty jin family members above the sixth level of qi refining, and this is all the spirit stones they had¡ªan average of barely two hundred spirit stones per person, no better than a loose cultivator." lin shigong frowned slightly and said helplessly, "that''s quite normal. they were participating in a great war, not strolling through a market. naturally, they wouldn''t carry too many treasures; otherwise, they would just be benefiting the enemy in case they fell." "that makes sense." lin shihua agreed with a nod and quickly registered it in the book. next, lin shigong took out more than ten storage bags, which were the possessions of the jin family cultivators stationed at the market and goods from the jin family shops. the quantity was not small. in no time, the group quickly tallied the treasures inside. there were over 11,000 spirit stones, more than 600 elixirs, as well as a fair number of talismans and spiritual artifacts, and varying amounts of spiritual medicine and spirit ore. although they only obtained a little more than ten storage bags, the wealth inside far exceeded the batch lin shihua had tallied. after their estimation, this wealth amounted to about 25,000 spirit stones. lin shihua packed up the categorized storage bags, and everyone turned their attention to lin shilu. lin shilu had breached jin family''s protective formation and acquired all the wealth of the jin family¡ªa thousand years of accumulation, which was undoubtedly substantial. everyone looked at him with eyes full of expectation and anticipation. lin shilu chuckled and calmly handed lin shihua two storage bags, which contained the spirit stones and cultivation techniques they had acquired from the hidden treasure vault of the jin family. lin shihua accepted the storage bags and began to inspect them. upon seeing nearly 70,000 spirit stones inside, his breath immediately became rapid. lin shigong and the others, curious, hurriedly snatched the storage bags from lin shilu''s hands to take turns inspecting them. "hiss..." apart from lin shilu, everyone''s face turned red, and even lin shikang, who was usually calm, couldn''t help but gasp in shock. at this moment, the people present had flushed faces and hearts filled with extreme excitement and agitation that took a long while to subside. taking advantage of their distraction, lin shilu took out more than two hundred storage bags and filled the stone table, all belonging to jin family members who had stayed behind in the jin family clan''s territory. after about ten breaths, everyone eventually calmed down and began to tally these storage bags. cultivation techniques, spirit stones, elixirs, talismans, spiritual artifacts... it took nearly half a day to completely tally the treasures inside. having seen such a vast quantity of treasures, lin shihua and the others had become numb to it. the spirit stones lin shilu brought back neared 120,000, plus five cultivation techniques, numerous books, more than thirty mature third order spiritual medicines, and countless first and second order items. after everyone''s estimation, excluding cultivation techniques and books, which were difficult to price, the value of the other treasures was definitely no less than 300,000 spirit stones. beyond their shock, they secretly compared the wealth of the jin family to that of the lin family. setting aside the value of the cultivation techniques, the wealth worth 300,000 spirit stones was still staggering; at the very least, the lin family couldn''t come close, and they were far behind. everyone couldn''t help but sigh, recognizing that the jin family, which had long dominated the market, never falling out of the top three, had amassed a great amount of wealth over a thousand years. they truly were an ancient family with profound foundations. after lin shilu finished tallying, there were still a few storage bags in lin shikang''s hands that hadn''t been counted. in his possession were the storage bags of jin zhiying and zhuang zhenxin. given their cultivations and their status as second order array masters, their contents must be extraordinary. not only that, the treasures looted from the sun family''s territory and the annihilated wu family were also in jin zhiying''s possession. although the treasures obtained by lin shilu were already of great value, the items in lin shikang''s possession might surpass those. everyone looked eagerly at lin shikang, their eyes burning with anticipation. lin shikang did not delay. he immediately took out a dozen storage bags, two of which were very conspicuous and obviously not ordinary. lin shikang distributed the storage bags among them, and they began to tally. after half an hour, they completed the inspection of the storage bags, everyone''s faces flush with color, and lin shihua even broke out into wild laughter. indeed, as they had expected, these dozen storage bags, although few in number, contained no shortage of treasures. Chapter 114 The Lin Family Makes a Fortune, The Complete Spirit Art_2 just the number of spirit stones found in jin zhiying''s storage bag amounted to as many as a hundred thousand pieces, and there were over twenty medium-grade spirit stones.this huge sum of wealth was very likely the combined fortunes of the sun and wu families, concentrated in jin zhiying''s hands. besides the enormous amount of spirit stones, the cultivation techniques of the sun and wu families were also among them. excluding the techniques that overlapped with those of the lin family, there were five mysterious-grade techniques and seven yellow-grade techniques. there were even over a hundred various classics, amongst which the sun family''s talisman-making insights were particularly precious. many of the other classics weren''t very useful, but they could still provide some references. in addition to these, the quantity of various cultivation resources was huge; the combined resources of the two families almost surpassed the treasures lin shilu had obtained from the jin family. ... lin shikang handed all the treasures over to lin shihua and then took out zhuang zhenxin''s storage bag, ready to explore its contents. he put in quite some effort to erase the divine sense on the storage bag. with a thought, a flag appeared in lin shikang''s hand¡ªit was the magical treasure zhuang zhenxin had used. lin shikang held the green jiao flag with a look of cherished fondness. he was very clear about how formidable this magical treasure was. at that time, in the face of his and sun dingxian''s joint attack, zhuang zhenxin relied on this array flag to hold out for a long time. if not for their own powerful magical treasures, the outcome would have been hard to predict. after handing the green jiao flag over to lin shihua for safekeeping, he took out a large number of spirit stones from the storage bag and placed them on the open ground in front of him. a small mountain of colorful spirit stones piled up, amounting to over eighty thousand pieces, plus more than ten medium-grade spirit stones. beyond that, there were a large number of second order pills and array setup materials, each one anything but ordinary. although he didn''t find zhuang zhenxin''s cultivation technique, he found an inheritance of a second order high-grade array master¡ªequally invaluable and capable of greatly filling the void for the family''s array masters. soon, the contents of zhuang zhenxin''s storage bag were almost completely tallied, leaving only one jade slip unchecked. lin shikang picked up the jade slip and began to examine it, his complexion instantly becoming flush with excitement. your journey continues on empire lin shilu and the others looked on with puzzlement, wondering what could elicit such surprise, and they urged him on eagerly. at this moment, an elated lin shikang was so overwhelmed he found himself at a loss for words, only to see him toss the jade slip towards lin shilu. lin shilu caught the jade slip and immediately probed it with his divine sense. after a look at the jade slip, his face underwent a dramatic change as he repeatedly exclaimed, "no wonder an eminent second order medium-quality array master came to the luoyun mountain range¡ªit was for this item!" lin shilu''s words left lin shihua and the others even more perplexed, prompting them to speculate. "could it be that there is some treasure of the lin family that zhuang zhenxin covets?" with no solutions coming to mind, an anxious lin shihua prompted hurriedly, "shilu, stop keeping us in suspense!" regaining his composure, lin shilu began, "do you still remember the incomplete spirit art that tian ming bought at the qianchuan market auction?" hearing lin shilu''s words, lin shihua''s expression changed, and he quickly replied. "that incomplete spirit art is still stored in the scripture pavilion. in the past two years, we have been secretly searching for it, to no avail. could it be that zhuang zhenxin is after the part we have?" "exactly!" "when tian ming obtained the spirit art, he also had me examine it. i can affirm that what we now possess is the latter half. therefore, we now have a complete mysterious-grade spirit art!" lin shilu''s definitive answer once again quickened the breaths of lin shihua and the others. the preciousness of spirit arts goes without saying; even if they were both of the mysterious grade, the value of a spirit art exceeds that of a cultivation technique by more than tenfold¡ªan exceedingly rare and valuable item that is hard to purchase even with spirit stones. such a priceless spirit art, not even the zhenyang sect, one of the three great sects of wei kingdom, would likely possess many; and even if they did, they would probably be only yellow-grade spirit arts. now that the lin family has acquired a profound grade spirit art, it''s as if they have gained an ace up their sleeve, an inexhaustible and never-ending advantage. practicing the spirit art could significantly enhance the strength of the family members, and in confrontations with peers of the same level, the probability of victory is greatly increased. sear?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. after the initial excitement subsided, the group didn''t let the breathtaking joy cloud their judgment; instead, they started to worry. if news of the spirit art were to leak out, it''s feared that the golden core forces would immediately make a move to snatch it, turning this treasure into a hot potato. the cautious lin shihua, with a somber expression, turned to lin shilu and asked, "shilu, have you shown your true faces to anyone? when you returned to the family, was anyone following you?" before lin shilu could answer, lin shigong added, "exactly, how did he know the upper half of the spirit art was within our family?" "apart from zhuang zhenxin, does anyone else know?" facing the questions from the group, lin shilu also began to carefully recall the events, and after a good half an hour, he finally said, "during our time at the qianchuan market, we were all disguised, and at the time of the tian ming auction, we were in the vip room. moreover, we left several months later." "if there was a leak, it''s very likely it came from the auction''s organizers since only they knew what was being sold, and with over a thousand cultivators attending, it''s uncertain whether some skillful person might have noticed something." listening to lin shilu''s explanation, lin shihua and the others nodded and said, "hmm... indeed, that''s very possible!" lin shikang, who had not spoken until now, didn''t care about how the information might have leaked, after all, zhuang zhenxin was dead, and there was no way to confirm. "the spirit art is far too important; i guess even zhuang zhenxin would not dare to disclose it. such a treasure, once leaked, is no longer his concern; only golden core forces are qualified to compete." "as a loose cultivator, his cultivation was not enough to destroy our lin family, that''s why he cooperated with the jin family. he was alone and without support, and if he failed, he could just flee far away!" "at present, what we need to guard against most is the zhenyang sect, since the spirit art was revealed through the qianchuan market, whether zhenyang sect is aware of it or not is unknown." "in any case, now that we have obtained the complete spirit art, giving it up is out of the question. we can only be cautious of zhenyang sect''s slightest moves, and once these few years of rumors pass, we will be safe." lin shikang''s incisive speculation allowed everyone to heave a sigh of relief. the real fear had been the unknown danger, but now, knowing the direction of the threat, the problem was manageable. they just needed to guard against zhenyang sect for a few years to safely weather the storm. finally, after discussing amongst themselves, they decided with great caution that only family members above the ninth layer of qi refining would be allowed to cultivate the spirit art, and even then, it was not to be used lightly for fear it would be discovered by the enemy and bring disaster upon the family. lin shikang repeatedly instructed everyone to treat this matter with the utmost secrecy. lin shihua and the others understood the gravity of the situation and wholeheartedly agreed. unknowingly, dusk had arrived, and simply tallying up their gains had taken an entire day. it would be difficult for outsiders to imagine that in this great battle, the lin family had emerged as the final winner, gaining the treasures of the jin, sun, and wu families. the wealth of the three families plus zhuang zhenxin''s property amounted to nearly three hundred thousand spirit stones, with the value of various other treasures nearing seven hundred thousand. beyond these assets, they had obtained over ten different cultivation techniques and numerous scriptures, greatly augmenting the lin family''s foundation. looking over the records, the emotions in the hearts of lin shikang and the others were indescribable with excitement. one could imagine with these resources, the lin family would finally not be so hard-pressed and could use these assets to quickly enhance the overall strength of the family. given ten years, the lin family could certainly add several foundation establishment cultivators, reaching an unprecedented peak in its history. after calming their emotions, the group sat down together, drinking tea while discussing family affairs. they discussed for over an hour, settling on several major decisions that just needed a few additions before they could be implemented. seeing that it was getting late, lin shikang decided not to prolong the discussion and prepared to dismiss everyone. "shihua, call a family meeting in three days, and after you return, send out a message to the juniors. this time the family will undergo a major transformation; we''ll significantly improve the members'' treatment and specifically cultivate a few individuals, using the entire family''s resources to aid their foundation establishment." "alright, i''ll send out messages to the members early tomorrow morning and meet in the elders'' council hall early morning in three days." lin shihua affirmed, and each of the family members bid farewell with a fist salute. Chapter 115 Clan Meeting Rewards_1 one morning at dawn, a rosy light penetrated the small window, illuminating the bedroom.lin tianming stretched lazily, and the fatigue of the past two months gradually dissipated. after several days of rest, his condition had once again reached its peak. lin tianming stood up, tidied up his appearance, and then walked towards the outside of the room. two days ago, he had received a message from the clan leader, asking him to attend the clan meeting at the elders'' council hall today. although the clan leader did not elaborate, lin tianming could guess something. the war had ended, and there was much to be done; the lin family had to get back on the right track. as such, the purpose and significance of this family council meeting went without saying. stay connected via empire putting aside his thoughts, and with some anticipation, lin tianming soared in the direction of the elders'' council. at this moment, in the elders'' council hall, several xing clan members were already seated, chatting casually about the matters concerning the clan meeting. lin tianming entered the hall, greeted a few of his clan uncles, and then found an empty seat to sit down. after a short while, more clan members entered the hall one after another, and soon there were over ten people gathered. s§×arch* the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. looking at some of the unfamiliar faces, it was the first time for them to attend such an important clan meeting. a quarter of an hour passed, and several figures appeared at the entrance of the hall. seeing lin shikang and several others, including lin shilu, coming in, all the clan members in the hall promptly got up to greet them. lin shikang and his group, smiling, instructed everyone to take their seats before sitting down themselves. seeing that all the clan members attending the meeting had arrived, the clan leader stood up with a solemn expression and began; "today, we are fortunate to gather together to discuss the family''s century-long plan. first, let me report on the situation of our clan members." "before the war, the lin family had one hundred and ninety-seven people. after the catastrophic war, our clan suffered heavy losses. twenty-one clan members died in battle, including two from the shi generation, sixteen from the xing generation, and three from the tian generation." the sacrificed clan members were qi refiners of at least the fifth level, including several above the eighth level, all of whom were the core strength of our family. this single battle resulted in the loss of more than ten percent of our clansmen. had it not been for those below the fifth level of qi refinement not participating in the war, the number of deaths would likely have been double. listenting to the clan leader''s report, even though the clan members had already braced themselves. but when reminded of the gory past, everyone felt incredibly heavy-hearted. it was as if they were recalling that horrific war, and for a moment, the whole hall fell into a brief silence. after this battle, the lin family''s vitality was greatly damaged, and for the next few years, we would face a shortage of personnel. fortunately, the jin family had not gone mad enough to strike at mortals; otherwise, in that situation, our family would have been unable to protect itself, let alone care for the lives of the mortals. in the vast history of the cultivation world, mortals might be weak, but they are the foundation for cultivators. so long as there is a substantial number of mortals, every few years, they will produce a batch of clan members with spiritual roots. with such an arrangement, as long as we develop steadily, it won''t take ten years for our family to regain its strength. after a short while, clan members gradually emerged from their memories. old memories were dredged up, and upon seeing a hint of sadness on the faces of the clan members, lin shihua felt somewhat distressed. what the family most needed now was to continue moving forward, not to dwell in prolonged grief. long-term sadness could lead to mental changes that would affect the cultivation of the clan members. at this point, lin shikang stood up and started to inquire among the clan members. "as our family''s territory continues to expand, and we need people to defend our marketplaces, the number of personnel we can mobilize within the clan is limited. we few old folks have decided to immediately organize a grand spiritual root testing. do you have any suggestions?" lin shikang''s change of topic successfully diverted the attention of the grieving clan members. one clan member immediately spoke up: "the grand spiritual root testing is urgent. i suggest that we test the mortal towns of the jin family and the wu family as well." "in addition, we should transfer some mortals from our family towns to those. they can live and reproduce there, spreading the lin family''s values. it will not take many decades before many lin family offspring are born in these places. in the long run, they will forget their past and become part of the lin family mortals." lin xingzhao''s suggestion was indeed in line with the lin family''s current situation and won the approval of many clan members, "xingzhao''s idea is good. their two families have many commoners, especially the jin family, with over a million people after a thousand years of proliferation. the wu family''s mortals are not as numerous, but there are also a few hundred thousand people." "exactly, the jin family and the wu family are extinct, and the mortal towns in their territories should rightfully become part of our family''s map." several clan members echoed this sentiment, and for a time, the atmosphere in the hall became enthusiastic. lin shihua was very pleased. although significant decisions within the lin family were made by foundation establishment clan members, having more clan members participate and listen to more suggestions can help the lin family develop in the right direction. for nearly half a quarter of an hour, various ideas and suggestions were flying, contributing to the family''s strategy. after discussions among the clan members, they reached an agreement. lin shihua and the other foundation establishment clan members were very satisfied and comforted. they immediately selected ten clan members, who, after the clan meeting, would immediately carry out the duties of the grand spiritual root testing. with satisfactory results for the first major item of business, lin shihua continued to preside over the meeting. "next, we will discuss the selection of heads for the enforcement hall and the hall of merit. candidates must be above the seventh level of qi refinement, one chief and one deputy each, and no younger than sixty years old. everyone is welcome to recommend several eligible nominees, and we will decide on the final candidates." Chapter 115 Clan Assembly Rewards_2 as soon as lin shihua had finished speaking, a clansman who was puzzled asked,"clan leader, the clan''s various departments have always been headed by a single hall master. why do we suddenly need two?" "previously, it was because the clan''s foundation was too weak, leading to many clansmen advancing slowly in their cultivation. even if they reached the great perfection in their cultivation, they lacked the foundation establishment spiritual objects. as a result, many clansmen stopped cultivating after the age of seventy and instead focused their energies on these affairs." "while serving as a hall master does come with a higher monthly salary, it can also hinder your cultivation. the reason for selecting both a chief and a deputy is so that you can take turns in cultivating without halting your progress." the words of lin shihua made the xing clan members have a sudden realization. before long, several people put forward more than a dozen candidates, among whom lin xingzhi was naturally included. there was no choice; among the lin family members who met the qualifications, there were only dozens, and with his ninth level of qi refinement, he was naturally one of the best candidates. at the highest place of the great hall, lin shihua and a few others began to communicate through voice transmission. after a few nods from everyone, lin shihua announced that lin xingcheng would serve as the hall of merit''s master and lin xingzhi would serve as the enforcement hall master. following that, two deputy hall masters were also selected, both of whom were at the seventh level of qi refinement and were older clansmen. once the candidates were confirmed, half a day had passed. "fellow clan members, after discussing with the shi generation clan members, we are now going to announce a major decision," "from next month onwards, the monthly salary for all clan members will be increased threefold. for example, a clansman at the initial stage of qi refining whose monthly salary is one spirit stone will now receive three spirit stones. all clan members will be treated equally. in addition, all clan tasks will now have their merit points tripled as well." the moment lin shihua''s voice fell, the clan members below immediately erupted into excitement. a threefold increase, what did that mean? it meant that a clansman in the initial stage of qi refining could exchange their three-month salary for a lingshen pill. the threefold increase in monthly salary was not even the biggest benefit; after all, the monthly salary was not a large proportion of a clansman''s income. the main earnings came from clan tasks. it could be imagined that if such a policy was maintained for ten years, the overall strength of the lin family could be greatly enhanced. it would be entirely normal for all clan members to improve by one or two levels in their cultivation. lin shihua and the others remained calm, as this policy was something they had decided upon after careful consideration. the current state of the lin family was very different from the past; they had nearly three hundred thousand spirit stones from the great battle alone, as well as immortal realm resources worth several hundreds of thousands. however, the situation for the lin family was that there were too few clan members and overall low levels of cultivation. the ancestral treasure, the golden core talisman, had been used and there were no more miraculous life-changing assets. therefore, now that there were the conditions, it was natural to quickly enhance the strength of the clansmen in order to alleviate the family''s worries and survive in the cultivation world. seeing the joy and elation on the faces of the clan members below, lin shikang and the others were extremely excited inside. they had finally managed to fulfill their duties to their ancestors. as all the clan members were still whispering to each other and expressing their joy, lin shihua waved his hand to silence everyone and spoke righteously; "with the collective efforts of our clan members, the family has overcome the crisis. the great battle is over, and it is time to implement the rewards." "there are too many clan members to announce individually, so i will only announce the names of those who have made significant contributions. as for the rewards for other clan members, a list will be posted at the entrance of all major institutions tomorrow. you may all go there to read it!" lin shihua''s words once again excited the clan members in the hall. almost a month had passed since the great battle, and the family had not made any announcement, leaving many clan members to think that the family had forgotten about it. considering the huge gains from the battle, the rewards were expected to be extremely generous, and some clan members couldn''t wait any longer. lin shihua, seeing his clan members eagerly looking at him, couldn''t be bothered to keep them in suspense any longer. "the first clan member, lin tianming, is rewarded with ten thousand merit points and can choose any three second order treasures from the family merits hall." as soon as lin shihua finished speaking, the clan members below cheered, including lin shilu and several other shi generation clan members who stood up and applauded for lin tianming. lin tianming got up and humbly bowed to the clan members. his modest and polite demeanor made the cheering in the hall grow even louder. lin shilu also wore a smile and looked envious as he joked to lin shigong, "ninth brother, you really have a good grandson!" among the younger generation of the lin family, he had the most contact with lin tianming. from trips to qianchuan market, to the market contests, to infiltrating the jin family clan''s territory, and fighting side by side on several occasions, lin tianming had even rescued him when he was trapped. he couldn''t find a single fault with lin tianming. "i also owe thanks to the care of all the brothers that this young man hasn''t let us old folks down," facing lin shilu''s joke, lin shigong also had a proud look and humbly replied. as the applause and cheers subsided, lin shihua continued to read out the names of the clan members. "the second clan member, lin xingzhi, is rewarded with three thousand merit points, and can choose any one second order treasure." "the third clan member, lin xingyu, is rewarded with two thousand merit points, and can choose any five first order treasures." s~ea??h the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "the fourth clan member, lin tianfeng, is rewarded with two thousand merit points, and can choose any five first order treasures." ... after about fifteen minutes of announcement, lin xingli, lin xingqi, lin xingping, and so on, all of the clan members listed received their rewards. the rewards for these clan members varied, with some getting as much as a thousand and others as few as three hundred. the clan members also gave applause but it was nowhere near as enthusiastic as when lin tianming was rewarded. experience tales at empire Chapter 115 Clan Meeting Rewards_3 the matter had already been discussed, and the reward list was complete; the meeting was nearing its end.lin shihua spoke with a stern expression: "do not forget the hardships you have once endured. now that your monthly stipends have been raised and rewards bestowed, i hope everyone will seize the time to cultivate diligently. do not slack off and strive to achieve foundation establishment as soon as possible so you can relieve the family of its worries. understood?" "understood..." the clan members responded in unison, each brimming with confidence. "good; the clan meeting is concluded. all policies and clan affairs shall be carried out according to the results discussed in the meeting. if there are matters you cannot decide on, you may consult us. you may all leave now." after lin shihua announced the end of the meeting, some clan members greeted each other and, after bowing to lin shikang and the others, began to head outside. lin tianming was done exchanging greetings with a few uncles and was about to leave when a transmission from lin shigong made him pause. "uncles, please go ahead; i still have something to ask of my grandfather!" "alright, then you be busy. i''ll invite you to my cave dwelling for a small gathering another day; you must come!" several clan members spoke one after another, inviting lin tianming for a visit before they left. lin tianming, far from stingy, promised resolutely: read exclusive content at empire "rest assured, uncles, as soon as tianming is free, he will surely come over for a drink." with lin tianming''s response, they lingered no longer and left the hall together. sea??h th§× n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. soon, all the xing clan members had departed, leaving only a few of the shi generation clan members. lin shikang and the others stared wide-eyed at him without speaking, which made him somewhat baffled. unable to guess why he was kept behind, lin tianming did not initiate conversation. after a brief silence, lin shikang spoke with a smile that was not quite a smile: "tianming, we''ve kept you behind to give you some good news, incredibly good news." lin shikang''s words baffled him even more. "good news?" "could it be that a rare treasure has been obtained?" lin shikang waved his hand, and immediately a jade slip flew out of his sleeve and was deftly caught by lin tianming. without pausing, lin tianming probed with his divine sense to read the contents recorded within the jade slip. "this is the latter half of the great sun sword qi art!" after looking through it, lin tianming was utterly shocked and found it hard to believe. he checked several times before his face lit up with ecstasy. for this spirit art, he was exceptionally familiar and had even successfully condensed sword qi, which he had nurtured in his dantian for more than two years. lin tianming observed his own dantian, finding that the sword qi had almost solidified and grown by more than a circle in size, yet, despite searching, he could not find the second half of the secret technique. unexpectedly, they had found it. "third grandfather, how did you obtain the latter half of the spirit art?" lin tianming inquired curiously. "it was found in zhuang zhenxin''s storage bag!" with lin shikang''s answer, lin tianming quickly worked through his thoughts, soon piecing together the cause and effect. "no wonder the jin family couldn''t resist taking action. it seems like zhuang zhenxin had a purpose in mind; otherwise, with his status as a second order array master, he wouldn''t have rashly provoked our family." "your speculation coincides with ours. now that he is dead, there''s no way to find more clues. since we have obtained it, it is a fortunate opportunity for the lin family. cultivate in peace, and after you succeed, return the jade slip to the family!" lin tianming put away the jade slip, his face still flushed with excitement. overjoyed, he repeatedly expressed: "your grandson will certainly work hard. it just so happens that i want to seclude myself for a while to understand this art and attempt a breakthrough." "hmm, go ahead!" lin tianming gave the group a fist and palm salute and swiftly left the hall. Chapter 116 The Grand Bazaar Meeting - Part 1 green bamboo mountain, a secret chamber in a small courtyard.after the clan meeting concluded, lin tianming told his mother and went straight into the secret chamber, eager to begin his retreat to comprehend the spirit art, without even collecting his reward. inside the secret chamber, lin tianming sat cross-legged, holding the spirit art jade slip, and entered a mysterious state. ... one day, at the small courtyard of lin shikang on the peak of green bamboo mountain. lin shikang and other members of the lin family of his generation sat around a stone table, sipping spiritual tea while casually chatting. lin shilu picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and calmly said, "third brother, what do you think about the sun family''s invitation?" lin shikang didn''t immediately speak, instead, he fell into thought. three days ago, sun dingfeng and luo chenggu visited the lin family together, bringing some gifts as a token of gratitude for the lin family''s support during the war. lin shihua happily accepted the gifts and hosted the two warmly. as they were leaving, sun dingfeng mentioned the convention of the market. according to the previous agreements among the five great families, one month after the conclusion of the market competition, the market convention would be held. due to the outbreak of war among the five great families, the jin and wu families were completely annihilated, and the market convention had already been delayed for two months. if not for the fact that members of the sun and luo families were injured, plus being busy with clan affairs, they would have brought it up sooner. now that the foundation establishment cultivators of both families have recovered from their injuries, and with only three of the five great families remaining, fewer families are sharing the market profits. for the sake of profit, concessions would definitely not be made anymore. "although the sun family still has two foundation establishment cultivators, even if they ally with the luo family, we don''t need to be too wary of them. we don''t need to worry too much about the market convention!" lin shikang''s words were greatly approved by everyone present! while the foundation establishment cultivators of the sun family were indeed formidable, only a few dozen clan members remained. and the luo family had always been at the bottom of the five great families, and even without significant losses, neither would be a match for the lin family on their own. s§×ar?h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "that''s true, but now that they''re weak, they may very well unite. if that happens, although we won''t fear them, it will certainly bring quite a bit of trouble!" lin shihua expressed his concerns, allowing the others to weigh in on the issue. lin shikang, composed as ever, promptly said, "shihua, given the current situation, it''s highly likely that the two families will unite. with the jin family destroyed, our lin family has become the biggest threat. even though we have shown them kindness, we can''t discount the possibility that they may consider us as enemies." "indeed, with that in mind, what attitude should we adopt towards these two families? and during the profit-sharing of the market, what should be our bottom line?" lin shilu affirmed lin shikang''s speculation and also brought up the lin family''s stance and bottom line. lin shikang nodded and answered, "what do you think? how much do you feel should be our bottom line?" "fifty percent? sixty percent?" lin shihua and the others offered their opinions and suggested a bottom line for the lin family. an hour later, after discussion, lin shikang had made up his mind. "shilu, three days from now, you''ll represent the lin family at the market convention. adhere to the family''s agreed-upon bottom line of a minimum fifty percent profit, and then try to secure even more benefits for the family. anything that benefits the family, you can decide on your own. if there are any major decisions you''re uncertain about, return and consult with the family first." hearing lin shikang''s instructions, lin shilu replied, "alright, i''ll set off tomorrow and go to the market convention with xing yuan!" after discussing the market convention, the group chatted for a while about clan affairs, and then they all got busy with their own matters. three days later, at the fangshi auction house. in a vast reception room, there were over a hundred seats around a huge round table. this reception room was where the market convention was held. in the past, it was always packed full; however, today only about half of the seats were filled with cultivators participating in the convention. the room was somewhat silent at the moment, and on one side of the round table, only sun dingfeng and luo chenggu were sitting and chatting leisurely. the two men seemed as if they were long-lost old friends catching up with each other. judging by the situation, there was indeed some connection between their two families. below them, all the seats were filled with qi refining cultivators above the qi refining eighth level. they sat divided to either side, each closing their eyes to meditate in preparation for the convention''s start. on the third floor of the hundred treasures building, lin xing yuan was pulling out a book, beginning his report on the recent situation in fangshi. "fifteenth uncle, it''s been over a month since we took over fangshi. due to a lack of personnel, we''ve kept three of the jin family''s shops with the best locations for ourselves, and have temporarily vacated the rest, planning to rent them out. although their locations aren''t the best, they''re still quite good. strangely enough, such decent shops have had no interested parties." experience more on empire lin shilu wasn''t surprised and explained, "that''s not strange. even though the war is over, the interests of the major families in fangshi have yet to reach an agreement, and there remains the risk of another outbreak of war. thus, those cultivators who want to do business are just watching and waiting!" lin xing yuan nodded, understanding that the current unstable times weren''t the best for opening a shop. after all, every businessman prefers to operate in a bustling and stable market. if the place is constantly in turmoil, it greatly impacts their business. "xing yuan, how have the sun and luo families been recently?" hearing lin shilu''s question, lin xing yuan reported on the situation of the sun and luo families. "half a month ago, the shops of the sun and luo families were back in business. as of now, the relationship between the families is relatively harmonious, everyone is busy with their trade, and no conflicts have erupted. the bustling atmosphere of fangshi has also returned to nearly what it was before. however, some rumors have started circulating recently!" Chapter 116 The Grand Bazaar Meeting_2 "what rumors?"lin shilu urgently asked. "a few days ago, a rumor suddenly spread throughout luoyun market, claiming the lin family had rashly seized control of the market, their ambition is not small, apparently aiming to unify the luoyun mountain range!" "upon hearing the rumors, i immediately sought to trace their origin, but unfortunately, they spread too quickly and have become common knowledge. we don''t have enough hands, and we''ve been unable to find the source of these rumors!" lin shilu let out a cold laugh, which made lin xingyuan rather uneasy, thinking that lin shilu was dissatisfied with him, and he immediately became nervous. "it''s perfectly normal that you can''t find the source. it''s clear that either the luo family or the sun family did this intentionally. they just need to give some benefits to a few qi refining cultivators to spread rumors, then quickly leave luoyun market and they''ll be safe, making it natural for you not to be able to find the source." lin xingyuan curiously asked, "what purpose do the sun and luo families have in spreading rumors? aren''t they afraid of tearing off the disguise and reigniting a great war?" lin shilu chuckled lightly and explained, "firstly, those who spread the rumors cannot be tracked, they may have already left luoyun market or could have been silenced. there''s no need to worry about us catching them red-handed." "as for the sun and luo families spreading rumors, they''re simply seeking sympathy and claiming the moral high ground. once the lin family takes action against them, it will confirm suspicions of our great ambition to unify luoyun, prompting resistance from many loose cultivators and even ostracism by them." s§×arch* the nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. after hearing lin shilu''s explanation, lin xingyuan came to a realization and immediately understood the reasons behind it. "fifteenth uncle, shall we just ignore this and do nothing?" "there is absolutely no need to bother with it or to continue investigating. the more intense our reaction, the more likely we are to be misunderstood by those loose cultivators. now that our family has just stabilized, it is unwise to start another conflict. all we need is a stable development for ten years. with tian ming''s terrifying talent and the abundant resources, the gap between the sun and luo families and us will only get bigger. by then, whoever has the bigger fist will call the shots; all other rules will be virtually meaningless!" lin shilu''s demeanor remained calm, not at all affected by these trivial matters. after all, the lin family had no intention of thoroughly exterminating, only needing to boil the frog in warm water to achieve their goal. there was no need to be hasty, creating enemies everywhere and wasting the favorable situation at present. "instruct the family members in luoyun market not to bully others using our power nor to make enemies lightly. the family needs stable development now. if the other party provokes us, there is no need for courtesy, understand?" "yes, i will surely keep the family members in line!" lin xingyuan responded and then fell silent. "hmm, it''s about time. let''s go to the market conference together!" with that, lin shilu stood up and left, with lin xingyuan quickly following behind him. the two exited the hundred treasures building and walked down the street, causing a huge stir. with the jin family annihilated, the strength of the lin family had come to light, shocking all the cultivators. seeing lin shilu personally visiting luoyun market, many low-level cultivators came forward to pay their respects, trying to cozy up. lin shilu responded with a smile and a few words, then made his way through the crowd toward the auction. shortly after, the two entered the grand hall of the auction and immediately went into the reception room. seeing lin shilu''s arrival, representatives of the qi refining families all stood up to greet him. sun dingfeng and luo chenggu also stood up to welcome him and then said with a smile, "it is indeed elder lin shi lu who graces us with his presence at the conference. we owe you a great debt for your care after being trapped last time, which enabled our successful escape. after the conference, we must treat you to a few drinks to express our gratitude." faced with the courteous duo, lin shilu maintained his composure, showing no signs of irregularity. he exchanged perfunctory pleasantries and then started chatting with some representatives of the qi refining families. lin shilu''s good actions reassured many representatives of the qi refining families, a complete contrast to the once overbearing and arrogant jin family. watching lin shilu engage in lively conversation with representatives of the qi refining families, sun dingfeng and his companion felt somewhat awkward for a time. after a short while, lin shilu waved his hand to silence the representatives of the qi refining families and stood up to say, "i, lin shi lu, welcome all friends to this conference. i hope everyone can work with our families to make luoyun market a stable and prosperous market." read the latest on empire "elder lin truly is a role model for our generation..." as lin shilu finished speaking, many representatives of the qi refining families began to offer compliments. lin shilu continued with a smile and a cupped-hand salute, "the great war has just ended, and the jin family''s unrighteous actions have caused huge losses to the four big families. the wu family has even been silently eliminated. faced with the powerful jin family, our lin family had the courage to take responsibility and made great sacrifices, finally thwarting the jin family''s conspiracy." "now that all is peaceful in all four directions, the profits of the market should be redistributed. today, as you have all arrived, if you have any thoughts or suggestions, please feel free to raise them." after speaking, lin shilu sat down and stopped talking. the room suddenly became silent, and no one spoke, resulting in an extremely awkward moment. after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed and seeing no one speak up, sun dingfeng covertly winked at he yuanqing, who was sitting diagonally across from him. understanding, he yuanqing stood up with clasped hands and began, "since the senior members are not speaking up, let me, he yuanqing, throw out a suggestion for discussion. anyone with objections can criticize and correct me. in my view, the lin family indeed played a significant role in this great war, and the sun family also suffered heavy losses. i propose that the lin family receives forty percent, the sun family thirty percent, the wu family fifteen percent, and the remaining fifteen percent be divided among the twelve qi refining families. i wonder what the seniors and friends think about this suggestion?" Chapter 116 Market Fair_3 after he yuanqing finished speaking, he eyed lin shilu''s reaction with what seemed to be a hint of unease.he yuanqing''s words appeared complimentary, but they were obviously under direction from the sun family, and such a despicable act could not have gone unnoticed by lin shilu. lin shilu remained calm, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger, and he offered no comment. seeing that lin shilu was silent, a representative from the chen clan, chen jingping, stood up and said, "he, you are mistaken. the lin family is rightfully the first-ranked family at this market''s competition. elder lin shikang even expended a huge cost to kill jin zhiying, and with several foundation establishment cultivators in the lin family, they are without a doubt the premier family of the luoyun mountain range, both in terms of merit and family strength. in my opinion, the lin family should take sixty percent, the sun family fifteen, the luo family ten, and the remaining fifteen should be divided among the qi refining families." as chen jingping finished speaking, the great hall immediately buzzed with activity as dozens of people began to voice their opinions. within moments, the dozens of people split into two camps, one favoring the sun family, the other the lin family. all of the foundation establishment cultivators from the lin family remained silent, watching the two factions bicker with calm detachment. somewhere along the way, he yuanqing spoke up to lin shilu, "please, elder lin, give everyone an explanation," he said. upon hearing this, lin shilu flashed a fierce smile and suddenly bellowed, "an explanation? what explanation do you want?" facing lin shilu''s outburst, he yuanqing''s complexion instantly turned deathly pale, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. seeing he yuanqing injured, sun dingfeng''s face immediately darkened. lin shilu''s reaction clearly indicated he was not willing to easily give up the benefits. this made it much harder for the sun family to secure enough interest. after all, facing the powerful lin family, they dared not offend them easily. thus, sun dingfeng inevitably felt less confident. "lin, calm down. whatever grievances your lin family has, just speak frankly. we can discuss it. there''s no need for anger. after all, just two months ago, we fought side by side!" faced with sun dingfeng''s appeasement, lin shilu''s expression softened slightly. discover more content at empire "daoist sun, do not forget that two months ago, the younger generation of my lin family saved the younger generation of your sun family. during the jin family''s pursuit, it was also my lin family that provided shelter. it could be said that my lin family has shown great kindness to your sun family. even daoist luo chenggu was saved by us. now, when it comes to profit distribution, you show this attitude?" lin shilu spared no irony in his scathing words, leaving sun dingfeng and the two others visibly embarrassed, and luo chenggu began weakly attempting to mediate. "hmph, our lin family will take sixty percent of the profits. as for your two families, you can discuss it amongst yourselves." lin shilu''s bold demand visibly altered their expressions. the jin family had only taken thirty percent in profits, and with sixty percent, that would be doubling it. this would leave their families with almost no growth in interest, and in the long term, the lin family would only get stronger. "lin, sixty percent is indeed too much. the most we can offer is fifty. what do you think?" sun dingfeng asked tentatively, as that was the bottom line based on their discussions with the luo family. "fifty percent is too little. how about this¡ªsince you and i are of the same realm, let''s have a match. if i win, the lin family gets fifty-five percent. if i lose, we''ll distribute it as luo daoyou suggested, at fifty percent. what do you say?" once lin shilu spoke, the whole room erupted, and sun dingfeng''s face changed, filled with hesitation. he was quite wary of lin shilu''s strength, but refusing the challenge would be a loss of face. s~ea??h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. sun dingfeng secretly communicated with luo chenggu and, receiving his agreement, spoke up, "let''s do as lin suggests. in fact, i would like to witness lin''s strength myself!" "very well, then let''s gather outside the market square!" with that, lin shilu and lin xingyuan stood up and left the reception room. Chapter 117 Profit Sharing_1 outside luoyun market, at the foot of a barren hilltop, nearly a hundred people were watching a battle.lin shilu stood at the top of the hill, with lin xingyuan not far from him watching. opposite him, sun dingfeng watched with a solemn expression, as if facing a formidable enemy. lin shilu instructed lin xingyuan with a few words before speaking out loud, "in a duel of magic, blades and swords are blind. should there be any injuries, no grudges shall be sought afterwards. is daoist sun ready?" "of course. please enlighten me, daoist lin!" after sun dingfeng bowed with his fists, he patted his storage bag, and instantly a red and green longsword appeared in his hand, ready for attack. lin shilu responded, and with a forceful wave, the red and green greatsword burst into spiritual light, sending multiple sword qi at an extremely high speed from all directions toward lin shilu. lin shilu''s expression remained as usual, as he took out a small blue shield to guard in front of him. "the qing jiao shield?" "wasn''t it punctured and damaged by lin shikang with a golden core talisman?" seeing the small shield in lin shilu''s hands, sun dingfeng''s expression changed. he couldn''t understand how the shield he had personally seen get damaged was now appearing whole in lin shilu''s hands again. after several explosive sounds, five beams of sword light bombarded the qing jiao shield. the powerful impact kicked up waves of air, instantly flipping over some qi refining cultivators at the base of the hill. after they steadied themselves, everyone looked up at the two figures on the hilltop in shock. once the dust settled, lin shilu''s figure was revealed. he was now examining the qing jiao shield in his hands and, after a short while, a satisfied expression crossed his face. in the great battle at green bamboo mountain, the sword qi transformed from the golden core talisman had punctured the second order superior magic artifact, the qing jiao shield, and also ended jin zhiying''s life directly. although the qing jiao shield had been badly damaged, the material of the artifact itself was extraordinary, and the core and central components were not significantly harmed. as a second order artifact refiner, lin shilu replenished a great amount of artifact refining materials and finally repaired the blasted artifact. due to his limited ability, after the repair, it barely reached the standard of a second order medium quality magic artifact, and its defensive power no longer matched that of the jin family''s era. even so, a second order medium quality defense artifact was still an extremely rare existence in the luoyun mountain range, and it easily blocked sun dingfeng''s attack. seeing lin shilu effortlessly catch his attack, sun dingfeng''s face turned somewhat ugly. lin shilu didn''t give sun dingfeng much time to react. he took out his spirit sword artifact and, without hesitation, launched several slashes. meanwhile, he leaped a hundred yards forward, aggressively charging at sun dingfeng. "elder lin is indeed formidable!" with lin shilu making his move, his overwhelming strength was revealed, shocking the watching clansmen once again, as several cultivators started exclaiming in awe. the expression on sun dingfeng''s face grew exceedingly grave; lin shilu''s speed was incredibly fast, and his angle of attack was tricky, making it difficult to avoid the onslaught. sun dingfeng patted his storage bag, took out a jade pendant, infused it with spiritual power, and instantly, a fiery red barrier formed in front of him. "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." a sharp and piercing noise accompanied the arrival of the sword qi. the fiery red barrier trembled violently. eventually, the sword qi and the fiery red barrier gradually dissipated, and the jade pendant returned to its original form. however, the spirituality of the pendant seemed greatly diminished, indicating it had been significantly depleted. behind the barrier, sun dingfeng''s face was slightly pale, and his breath was somewhat disordered. he did not show any abnormalities and forcibly composed himself. before he could catch his breath, a storm of attacks from lin shilu followed. after hastily dodging, sun dingfeng launched a series of counterattacks. for a time, as the two combatants exchanged blows, the fight grew increasingly fierce, and of the two, lin shilu clearly had the upper hand. as the intense battle unfolded at the mountaintop, the representatives of the qi refining clans at the foot of the mountain had very different mindsets. those supporting the sun family were incredibly anxious, while the qi refining cultivators of the lin family were quite at ease. unbeknownst to them, dozens of rounds had already passed in fierce combat. after lin shilu''s earth-shattering strike, sun dingfeng was repelled dozens of feet before he managed to stabilize his figure. with his face pale and his arms numb, sun dingfeng couldn''t help but spit out a mouthful of fresh blood and said, sear?h the nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "daoist lin''s divine skills are truly extraordinary. i am willing to admit defeat and accept the loss. the profit distribution of the market shall be carried out according to daoist lin''s plan!" seeing sun dingfeng concede, lin shilu ceased his attacks, put away his magic artifact into his storage bag, and said with a smile, "much obliged, much obliged!" with that, lin shilu flew down from the mountaintop, met up with lin xingyuan, and left together. back in the meeting room of the luoyun market auction house, the clan cultivators regathered. the share of profits for the lin family had been decided, while those of the sun and luo families as well as the rest of the qi refining families had yet to be determined. in the meeting room, as dozens started to negotiate, lin shilu and another stood by as silent observers, watching as the group haggled, intervening now and then to secure benefits for the lin family''s allied clans. after half a day of negotiation, the profit distribution plan of the market was finalized. the lin family obtained fifty-five percent share of the profits, while the sun family, which had contributed a great deal during the battle, obtained twenty percent. the luo family, with little to no merits, maintained their original ten percent share. the remaining fifteen percent was divided among eight qi refining families, as several had suffered heavy losses during the battle and thus lost their qualification for the distribution. as a result, each of the eight qi refining families saw an increase in their share of profits, with the three that initially supported the lin family gaining the most. the fiercely loyal chen clan''s profits increased significantly, placing them among the leading clans within the eight major families. at this moment, chen jingping''s heart was overflowing with excitement, immensely grateful for his choice. as long as the lin family stood strong, the status of their chen clan would rise with the tide and become very secure. the luoyun market assembly had come to an end, and thanks to lin shilu''s efforts, the lin family had gained the most. in addition to securing over half of the profit shares, they also acquired the management rights of the market. by simply assigning foundation establishment clan members to guard the market long-term, they had obtained such significant authority, which was no easy feat. inside the hundred treasures building, lin shilu and several others sat opposite each other, discussing the outcome of the market assembly. "fifteenth uncle, our family''s goal has been achieved, and there were unexpected gains. undoubtedly, when third uncle and the others find out, they will be thrilled!" lin shilu gave a slight smile, very satisfied with the results of the market assembly. the rise of the lin family was now unstoppable. though they had the task of guarding the market, the management rights were extraordinarily important. with such authority, the market''s future development would essentially be dictated by the lin family. in the long run, it was only a matter of time before they would have complete control over the luoyun market. lin shilu chuckled softly and instructed lin xingyuan, "xing yuan, continue to hold our position in the market. the family is currently undergoing reforms, and you cannot neglect your cultivation. in a few years, when someone from the family comes to take over for you, i will return to the family tomorrow to report. the family''s forces are too dispersed at the moment; you must be particularly vigilant and avoid leaving the market lightly!" "yes, i will diligently cultivate and safeguard the market for the family!" stay tuned to empire lin shilu nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand to dismiss lin xingyuan. after bowing with clasped hands, lin xingyuan left the secret chamber. Chapter 118 One Year_1 green bamboo mountain clan territory, within a secret chamber.lin tianming sat cross-legged, spiritual light suddenly flashing between his fingers. in the blink of an eye, a faint sword qi burst forth from his fingertips, easily piercing through a shell hanging in the air. lifting the shell above his head, lin tianming watched as the moonlight filtered through the hole left by the sword qi, a wave of ecstatic joy flashing across his face. after more than ten days of comprehension, he had successfully cultivated the great sun sword qi art. the faint trace of sword qi he had just released was to test the power of his sword qi. with merely one percent of his strength, he easily penetrated the shell of a first order inferior demonic beast. this was after only two years of tempering, and it was unimaginable how terrifying it would be if he were to cultivate it for ten years and release it in its entirety. "spirit arts truly are formidable, stronger than the divine skills that come with a cultivation technique and surpassing them in pure power by quite a margin. no wonder they are so rare and precious." after sighing, lin tianming was quite satisfied with this power. with this complete spirit art, it was like having a trump card for a decisive kill. even a foundation establishment cultivator, if slightly careless, could be killed by it. having successfully cultivated the spirit art, lin tianming did not immediately leave his retreat but took out several elixirs and began to cultivate again. he had reached the ninth layer of qi refining during the family war, and after several life-and-death battles, he was only a step away from the great perfection of qi refining stage. now that everything within the family was going well, it was the perfect time to seclude himself to strive for a higher realm. having made up his mind, lin tianming once again entered a state of cultivation. ... green bamboo mountain, within the family elders'' hall. lin shihua was discussing affairs with lin shigong when lin xingli entered the hall with more than thirty boys and girls. the sight of lin xingli entering the hall brought surprise and joy to lin shihua and lin shigong. lin xingli quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, and the children behind him knelt down and followed suit. lin shihua nodded and asked impatiently, "xingli, are these the boys and girls who were tested at this year''s talent assessment? tell me, how are their aptitudes?" lin xingli stepped in front of the group of children and began to report. "reporting to the clan leader, this year''s talent assessment was held in twelve towns outside of the family''s town, and thirty-six boys and girls were tested. among them, four have three spiritual roots, twelve with four spiritual roots, and twenty with five spiritual roots." in a short while, lin xingli had reported everything about the talent assessment. hearing lin xingli''s report, lin shihua''s face brightened with joy. to uncover forty-three children with spiritual roots in one assessment was more than double the number from the last time. even though there weren''t many with three spiritual roots, the overall number was substantial. with such a number, the lin family''s population could potentially double within a decade. the thought of this excited lin shihua tremendously. "xingli, you''ve done an excellent job with the talent assessment. the numbers are quite impressive. immediately take them to the ancestral hall to be recorded in the family''s genealogy." "yes!" lin xingli replied, then led the group of children to the annex behind the elders'' assembly. soon, lin shihua finished naming and enlisting the forty-three clan members into the family genealogy and then led them in the worship of the ancestors. after being busy for half of the day, he finally completed the task. stay connected through empire lin shihua was the first to walk out of the hall. he turned to lin xingli behind him and said, "xingli, send the new members of the clan to shi gang, and have them start learning the basics as soon as possible to set them on the path of cultivation early." lin shihua''s command was something lin xingli dared not delay, as he quickly replied: "yes, i''ll do it right away!" having said that, lin xingli led the boys and girls behind him in a bow before quickly leaving. watching them depart, lin shihua turned to lin shigong to inquire about lin tianming''s situation. "shihua, ever since the family conference ended, that young man has been in retreat without pause. he only briefly informed me, saying he was comprehending a spirit art. it''s been almost a month now, and i have no idea when he''ll come out of seclusion!" lin shigong cursed with a smile on his lips, yet his heart was extremely satisfied. lin tianming had always been diligent in his cultivation, gifted as well, being less than twenty-one years old and already at the ninth layer of qi refining. with strength atop his peers, he was truly elite. having such a member, the lin family''s future was bright. lin shihua felt equally relieved and envious, praising lin tianming a few times before they each went their separate ways. ... time flew, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed. inside the secret chamber where lin tianming was cultivating. lin tianming, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his tightly shut eyes, and flashes of sharp light passed through his black pupils. in seclusion for a whole year, he hadn''t wasted a moment, taking a month to understand a spirit art, then immediately consuming elixirs to continue his cultivation. after a year and consuming a large quantity of elixirs, he finally managed to break through to the great perfection realm of qi refining. feeling the spiritual power rapidly flowing through his body, a hint of a smile appeared on his face. his spiritual power had broken through, and he didn''t fall behind in body refinement either. sending his divine sense into his body, he found that all his internal organs had been strengthened, the robust vitality and explosive power now made his strength even more terrifying. just relying on his body, he estimated he could easily withstand an attack from a qi refining eighth level cultivator without any pressure. feeling the formidable spiritual power and the explosive strength of his body, he felt very gratified. his efforts and the life-and-death battles had paid off, successfully breaking through to the great perfection of qi refining stage before turning twenty-two. such a speed of cultivation had never been heard of in the entire luoyun mountain range. even within the wei kingdom, a qi refining great perfection cultivator at the age of twenty-two was an extremely rare existence. his goal for the retreat had been achieved, and there was no more possibility for progress, unless he decided to impact the foundation establishment stage. feeling his own state, lin tianming abandoned the idea of continuing the seclusion to attempt foundation establishment. even though he met the criteria for breakthrough, he wished to gain more experience and settle his achievements before starting the impact on foundation establishment stage. having made up his mind, lin tianming tidied up the messy secret chamber, casually casting a rain control technique to comfortably bathe and wash off the grime that had seeped out of his body. he took out a set of clean green robes from his storage bag, changed into them, and walked out of the secret chamber. s§×ar?h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. a year had passed, and green bamboo mountain had once again returned to its tranquil and peaceful state. a large number of clanspeople were bustling in and out of the mountain gate, each busy and cheerful. the entire luoyun mountain range was exceptionally tranquil, the sun family, and luo family were all developing their clans. after the calm, luoyun market regained its former bustling scenes. in this year, the lin family had changed a lot. after the spirit root testing conference, many new clanspeople were recruited, and the number had nearly reached two hundred, matching the size at their peak. with family policies and a wealth of resources, many clanspeople eagerly broke through their barriers. although there still weren''t too many at the great perfection of qi refining, in no more than three years, the power of the qi refining clanspeople would climb another step. after exchanging greetings with some passing clanspeople, lin tianming soon arrived at the alchemy hall. casting a law decree, lin tianming walked straight in. Chapter 119 New Task_1 entering the alchemy hall, lin shigong had already been waiting for a long time.it had been a year since he last saw his grandfather, and lin tianming was quite happy, immediately stepping forward to pay his respects. seeing his grandson, lin shigong couldn''t hide his joy, his face brimming with a thick smile. the two sat down, drinking spiritual tea while chatting. lin shigong had also nearly reached three years in the foundation establishment stage. in the past two years, the jin and wu families had been eradicated, and the sun family had suffered heavy losses. the wealth of all three families had fallen into the hands of the lin family. the lin family had amassed a great deal of wealth and a large amount of spiritual medicine materials. lin shigong had not been idle; knowing that core formation was beyond his reach in this life, he had barely cultivated at all, focusing all his energy on the alchemy dao, solely to refine the elixirs needed by the foundation establishment cultivators of his family as soon as possible. in the span of two years, thanks to decades of accumulation in the alchemy dao, lin shigong, after painstaking research and attempts, had managed to refine second order inferior grade pills. although the success rate and yield were not high, it finally solved the pressing need for cultivation pills within his family, and they were no longer restricted in this aspect. after more than two hundred years of silence, the lin family finally saw the emergence of a second order alchemist once again. upon learning that his grandfather had successfully become a second order alchemist, lin tianming felt exceedingly joyful and congratulated him repeatedly, which made his grandfather very happy. "enough, enough, how have you been in the recent year, any progress?" lin shigong waved his hand to stop him, his old face beaming with joy as he asked about lin tianming''s situation with a playful scold. lin tianming was in high spirits and reported everything about his year in seclusion without reservation. upon learning that lin tianming had reached the great perfection of qi refining stage, and that he had completed the latter half of his spirit art with mighty power, lin shigong was overjoyed and immediately sent out several messages. soon after, lin shikang and lin shihua both hurried over. everyone took their seats, and lin tianming swiftly poured tea for them, his unperturbed demeanor greatly satisfying them. lin shikang nodded in approval, showing a trace of satisfaction before teasingly saying, "tianming, you really haven''t let us down. to reach the qi cultivation great perfection at twenty-two, with your current strength, i fear even xing yuan may not be sure to best you." after lin shikang finished speaking, lin tianming repeatedly gave a bitter smile before humbly saying, "uncle xing yuan is a foundation establishment cultivator, far beyond what qi refining cultivators can compare to. third grandfather shouldn''t overpraise his grandson." "third brother, we can''t praise this boy too much. though his talent is remarkable and his cultivation speed and strength are excellent, we mustn''t let him become too arrogant. i''ve heard that there are quite a few examples of people succeeding in foundation establishment in their early twenties in the wei kingdom. i think we must not slack off." lin shigong chimed in quickly, with lin shihua adding a few words of agreement. at this moment, lin tianming''s thoughts also soared, estimating his own strength. in the cultivation path, the qi refinement realm is only the first stage. as long as a mortal is born with a spiritual root, regardless of cultivation resources, they can usually reach the mid qi refining stage with a hundred years of hard cultivation. subsequently, without resources, breaking through another realm would take an immense amount of time. in the cultivation world, qi refining cultivators only live longer than ordinary mortals. although they can wield some spells, they are still unable to completely go without food or fly on their own. they can only do so with the help of spiritual artifacts or other external means. strictly speaking, qi refining cultivators can''t be considered true cultivators at all, but only mortals who have just glimpsed the dao. however, foundation establishment cultivators are different. besides doubling their lifespan, they can abandon grain completely, fly with their own spiritual power, and possess tremendous might with a simple gesture, transcending the mortal world. merely breaking through to the foundation establishment was a bottleneck that countless qi refining cultivators couldn''t overcome. within the vast expanse of the luoyun mountain range, the number of qi refining cultivators who successfully established their foundations could be counted on one''s fingers. in this way, foundation establishment cultivators were considered the true practitioners of cultivation, with strength that naturally couldn''t be compared to that of qi training cultivators. at this moment, his spiritual power had reached the limit of qi refinement, and his body refinement was also nearing its limit. with his current strength, if he faced a first-layer foundation establishment cultivator without using the great sun sword qi art, it would be difficult to kill them, but escaping should still pose no problem. the elders chatted idly about the family''s recent situation while lin tian ming occasionally chimed in. an hour passed, and lin shi kang took a sip of spiritual tea before asking lin tian ming about his future cultivation plans. after some thought, considering that the luoyun mountain range was calm and without danger at the moment, he, being at leisure and having just broken through to the great perfection of the qi refining stage not long ago, didn''t plan to attempt the foundation establishment soon. he thought it would be good to consolidate his gains and build a solid foundation before making a breakthrough. since lin shi kang had taken the initiative to ask, it was highly likely that there were plans afoot, so lin tian ming tentatively asked, "third grandfather, i currently have no specific plans. does the family have any arrangements? tian ming is willing to serve the lin family." sea??h th§× n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. lin shi kang nodded, quite satisfied with lin tian ming''s response. although he had not spoken directly, lin tian ming was able to intuit the implication and was always willing to contribute to the family. this showed that he was very concerned about the family''s development. "tian ming, currently, the family is very stable, and the luoyun market also is at peace. in half a year, the triennial auction of luoyun market will take place. our lin family will be managing the market for the first time and is taking this auction very seriously. you should go and assist xing yuan in the market and preside over the auction." upon hearing lin shi kang''s words, lin tian ming was surprised, thinking it would be some significant matter, only to find out it was to preside over an auction. "tian ming is willing to go. have the family decided on the auction''s finale item?" find more to read at empire lin tian ming readily agreed, to no surprise to lin shi kang, who repeatedly inquired about the circumstances regarding the grand finale auction item from lin shihua. following the end of the great conflict between the luoyun mountain range families, although much of their popularity had been restored, it was still not at its zenith. now that the lin family had become the strongest family in the luoyun mountain range, controlling over fifty percent of the profit distribution, naturally, they regarded the post-war first auction with great importance. the lin family had acquired the wealth of the jin and wu families and had a portion of the sun family''s property too. there were no small number of treasures, and they were certainly flush with resources. an hour passed, and after discussion, lin shi kang and the others decided to put a large number of rare treasures up for auction to boost the market''s popularity and expand the lin family''s earnings. having settled on the auction items, lin shihua sent a message and then handed a piece of beast skin to lin tian ming. "tian ming, these fifteen treasures are coveted by any qi refinement cultivator, and several are also quite useful for foundation establishment cultivators. i''ve already sent a message to xingcheng. after you collect them from the hall of merit, pick a time to depart. the auction will be in your hands." lin tian ming took the beast skin and examined the items listed on it. pozhang pills, xisui pills, yellow grade techniques, second order pills, and even a third order spiritual medicine were included. it seemed that the family indeed placed great importance on this, bringing out many treasured items scarce to the lin family. lin tian ming put the beast skin into his storage bag, bowed to the others with a clasped fist, and then slowly withdrew. Chapter 120 Bright Jade Fruit_1 upon receiving instructions from the clan leader, lin tianming left the alchemy hall and prepared to head to the family merits hall to collect the auctioned items.besides that, after the clan meeting, he was eager to enter seclusion to comprehend the spirit art, and he hadn''t even had the time to collect his rewards of ten thousand merit points and three second order treasures from the clan''s major battle. with nothing to do at the moment and having exhausted all his treasures, it was natural for him to collect his rewards before heading out, to strengthen himself. having made up his mind, lin tianming immediately flew towards the hall of merit. before long, lin tianming appeared inside the hall of merit. at that time, more than a dozen clansmen were already exchanging items in the great hall; apart from lin xingcheng, there were two executive officers assisting him. while lin xingcheng was exchanging spiritual objects for other clansmen, lin tianming waited on the side, observing the clansmen in the hall. since lin shixin had fallen in battle, lin xingcheng had taken over as the master of the hall of merit for a year. the family had significantly increased the clan''s basic welfare, and the wealth of the clansmen grew, making exchanges increasingly frequent. when lin xingcheng saw lin tianming enter the hall, he came over to greet him once he had finished with the clansman he was helping. lin tianming also promptly stepped forward. after a brief exchange of pleasantries, lin xingcheng, who had already received a message from the clan leader, went into the depths of the hall to fetch the treasures from the luoyun market auction for lin tianming. sea??h th§× nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. after a short while, lin xingcheng came out and handed a storage bag to lin tianming. he took out a beast skin and scanned the storage bag with his divine sense to confirm that the treasures were correct before speaking, "uncle, the rewards the family owes me have not been collected yet. i''d like to take this opportunity to collect them today." as soon as lin tianming finished speaking, lin xingcheng took out a book to confirm that lin tianming had not collected his rewards yet, and tossed him a book listing second order items for lin tianming to select from. "tian ming, i can transfer the merit points to you at any time. for the three second order treasures, you can pick them yourself. let me know what you choose, and i''ll fetch them for you," lin xingcheng said. lin tianming opened the book and began looking through it, starting from the first page. spirit radiance grass, bright jade fruit, diamond sand, thick shield talisman... as he reviewed the second order treasures, both lin tianming and lin xingcheng had a hint of eagerness in their eyes. these second order treasures were no ordinary items, with significant value, enough to tempt any qi refining cultivator to take risks. after half a quarter of an hour, lin tianming had finished perusing the book. it listed hundreds of second order treasures, primarily consisting of spiritual medicine materials and spirit ore stones, with a few second order talismans and some elixirs, mostly lower-grade treasures. spiritual medicine materials and spirit ores would have limited use for him for the time being. after some thought, he decided to choose two second order talismans¡ªone a medium quality second order golden sword talisman and the other a lower-grade second order thick shield talisman, one for offense and the other for defense, greatly enhancing his chances of survival. for the last treasure, he decided to pick a second order spirit fruit, the bright jade fruit. this fruit was somewhat special; although it couldn''t enhance one''s cultivation, it could strengthen a cultivator''s body and enhance the cultivator''s vitality, making it a rare treasure for body cultivators. having made his decision, lin tianming took out his family token and handed it to lin xingcheng, saying, "uncle, for the three treasures i''ll choose the medium quality second order golden sword talisman and the thick shield talisman. for the other item, give me the bright jade fruit. please transfer five thousand merit points to me, then exchange forty first order superior talismans with the remaining points, and convert the rest into spirit stones." without hesitation, lin xingcheng cast a spell to transfer five thousand merit points to his token. a few streaks of spiritual light flashed by, and the display on lin tianming''s family token showed a series of numbers. including his previous assets, he had nearly eight thousand merit points. surprised, lin xingcheng went into the depths of the hall to fetch the spirit stones and the other treasures for lin tianming. in no time, lin xingzhi handed a storage bag to lin tianming. ``` lin tianming extended his divine sense and found exactly over four thousand spirit stones, two second order talismans, and forty first order superior talismans inside the storage bag. there was also a jade box, which undoubtedly contained the bright jade fruit. having confirmed the contents, lin tianming clasped his fist in farewell, left the hall of merit, and flew towards his own courtyard. back in his courtyard, lin tianming entered his room and sat cross-legged on the stone bed. he took out his rewards and one by one placed them into his storage bag. lin tianming meticulously checked his storage bag. at this moment, it contained a total of six thousand five hundred spirit stones, as well as two second order talismans, thirty first order superior attack talismans, ten defense talismans, along with some spiritual medicine materials and spirit ore that he had obtained earlier¡ªall relatively precious. after taking stock of his storage bag, lin tianming contemplated his next steps. the trip to luoyun market was still some time away, and he had no intention of departing immediately. after refining the bright jade fruit and resting for a few days, he planned to go to luoyun market and station there for a year. this would allow him to contribute to the family and solidify his cultivation, striving to breakthrough to the foundation establishment in one fell swoop. having made up his mind, he took out the bright jade fruit and placed it in the palm of his hand, observing it closely. looking at the fist-sized bright jade fruit with its crystalline and translucent flesh, he could smell its pungent yet enticing fragrance. without any more hesitation, lin tianming swallowed the bright jade fruit in one gulp. as the spirit fruit dissolved, waves of gentle energy were released, slowly circulating through his meridians and traversing his body. the comfortable sensation was almost heavenly and indescribably refreshing. lin tianming''s complexion gradually became more rosy as he controlled the energy emitted by the bright jade fruit to temper his internal organs and meridians. before he knew it, five days had passed. in the room, lin tianming''s clothing was tattered, his entire body enveloped in a thin layer of black mud, looking akin to a beggar. explore more adventures at empire opening his eyes and examining his body, he threw a punch with all his might, shattering the stone table in front of him with a gust from the punch. feeling the vigorous vitality within his body and spirit, lin tianming revealed a satisfied expression. with just one bright jade fruit, his vitality had significantly increased, and with it, his strength had further enhanced. the power to shatter a stone table several meters away with just the wind from his punch far exceeded his expectations. the effects of the bright jade fruit were excellent, further strengthening his physique. in terms of body cultivation, he had essentially reached the limit of the qi refinement realm, entirely surpassing his expectations. lin tianming stood up, cast a few five elements spells, and after bathing and changing clothes, he tidied up the room, then stepped out. that evening, lin tianming had dinner with his family. afterward, they sat in the courtyard for a casual chat. years had passed, and his sister''s cultivation had not fallen behind. with the family''s enhanced basic welfare benefits and the elixirs provided by lin tianming and their grandfather, she had reached the peak of the fifth level of qi refinement. it wouldn''t be long before she could break through to the sixth level. his mother''s cultivation progress was not significant; over the years, she had only advanced by one minor realm, still staying at the eighth level of qi refinement. lin tianming took out several tens of superior spirit essence pills. they were leftovers from his own cultivation; consuming too many would be of little use and might even increase the difficulty of his breakthroughs. giving the elixirs to the two of them, several tens of pills were enough for their cultivation for several years. both accepted the elixirs without demur, and lin tianming briefed them on his upcoming journey, urging them not to neglect their cultivation. not until both of them had agreed did the conversation end, and they each retired to their rooms to rest. ``` Chapter 121 Spreading the News_1 the next morning, lin tianming bid farewell to his family and set out alone, preparing to head to luoyun market.after leaving the family gates, lin tianming turned his head for one last look at the family''s great formation, which had been repaired. during the battle at green bamboo mountain, the family formation had been breached, and the lin family spent a considerable price to repair and greatly enhance the formation''s power. feeling the fluctuations of the formation, lin tianming lingered no longer and released the purple gold eagle from the spirit beast bag. with a piercing screech, the purple gold eagle shot into the sky and soared freely through the heavens. it flew for a full quarter hour before lin tianming forcefully summoned it back, stopping in front of him. looking at the purple gold eagle''s massive body, lin tianming was filled with emotion. the purple gold eagle had accompanied him for four years, and with the aid of numerous elixirs, it had successfully broken through to the first order superior grade, its strength no less than that of an ordinary ninth layer of qi refining cultivator. lin tianming took out a beast spirit pill and let the purple gold eagle consume it, then he leapt onto the back of the spirit beast. after consuming the elixir, the purple gold eagle flapped its gigantic wings, let out several excited screeches, and soared high into the sky, heading toward luoyun market in the north. sitting atop the spirit beast with the purple gold eagle covering hundreds of meters in an instant, lin tianming''s lips curled up slightly, feeling an indescribable excitement. within just half a day, lin tianming arrived at luoyun market. at the entrance of luoyun market, more than a dozen qi refining cultivators were queuing to enter the market, while chen jingshan was on duty at the side, collecting fees for entering the market. lin tianming walked up directly and presented his family token. once chen jingshan saw the green and red interleaved token, his breathing became rapid. others might not understand what this spirit tablet meant, but he was very clear that such a token was only possessed by the most core members of the lin family. taken aback, chen jingshan didn''t dare to delay and immediately let him through; lin tianming didn''t linger either and walked straight in. after entering the market, lin tianming didn''t head straight for the hundred treasures building but started to stroll around luoyun market. over a year had passed since the battle, and the market, with its bustling shops, had now recovered its former peak vitality. it took him a little over an hour to visit all the major areas of the market, eventually making his way back to the commercial district. upon entering the third floor of the hundred treasures building, lin tianming and lin xingyuan sat in a room, sipping spiritual tea. after explaining his purpose, lin tianming took out the storage bag containing the items for the finale and handed it over to lin xingyuan for safekeeping, in anticipation of the auction to be held six months later. lin xingyuan received the storage bag and sent his divine sense inside to check the prepared finale items, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face. not only were there numerous items, but they were also exceedingly precious and rare, reflecting the family''s level of importance placed on this event. with these valuable treasures, lin xingyuan felt considerably more at ease, and his confidence in the upcoming auction was solidified. after swallowing a calming pill, lin xingyuan asked with a smile, "tianming, the family places great importance on this auction. since they have sent you to assist me, do you have any strategies or suggestions? feel free to speak up so we can discuss them!" sipping the spiritual tea lightly, lin tianming spoke with a smile, "uncle xing yuan, there''s still plenty of time, with half a year until the auction. we might as well reveal some information about the finale items in advance, letting the news spread far and wide. by the time the auction takes place, most of the cultivators in the luoyun mountain range will know about it, ensuring that the attendance will far exceed previous years." s§×ar?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. lin xingyuan nodded after listening, fully endorsing lin tianming''s plan. lin tianming then continued, "apart from revealing the news ahead of time, i suggest we waive some of the market booth rentals to attract more cultivators. although this will result in a loss of some spirit stones, it''s entirely worthwhile to boost the market gathering''s fame. what do you think, uncle?" after hearing lin tianming''s suggestion, lin xingyuan fell into deep thought. waiving the booth rental for a few days would mean a loss of several thousand spirit stones for the market, a significant amount indeed. after a while, having thought it through, lin xingyuan decided lin tianming''s suggestion was worth trying. the loss of spirit stones was substantial, but once the market''s popularity increased, they could recuperate the loss through other means. even if they couldn''t regain it in the short term, the lost spirit stones wouldn''t be too much. such a loss was insignificant for the current lin family. having made up his mind, lin xingyuan instructed, "tianming, proceed as you''ve said. i''ll immediately have our people distribute the list of finale items and give a heads-up to the other two families. you stay in the market for the next period and help with the alchemy. we''ve accumulated a lot of spiritual medicine materials in the shop over more than a year which haven''t been used for alchemy. since you''re here, i''ll have to trouble you to take care of it, and afterwards, you can have a period of secluded cultivation." "very well, i''ll carry out any order from you, uncle!" lin tianming hadn''t practiced alchemy in a long while, and with his cultivation progress stalled, he now had plenty of time to properly concoct some first order elixirs and lay the groundwork for the future. stay updated via empire seeing lin xingyuan agree to his plan, lin tianming immediately accepted the task. afterwards, lin xingyuan sent out several messages with a smile. sometime later, two lin family members arrived. they passed on the details of the finale items and conveyed their arrangements. lin tianming then stood up to take his leave, returning to the family''s small courtyard in luoyun market. upon entering the family courtyard, lin tianming quickly began a brief period of cultivation. two days later, a member of the family brought a large amount of first order elixir materials for lin tianming to refine. upon receiving the materials, lin tianming checked them, counting several hundred portions of spiritual medicine materials, most of which were consumable elixirs, along with some spiritual medicine materials for xisui pills and pozhang pills. all these elixirs had been mass-produced before. although there were many, they posed no difficulty for him. proceeding with ease, lin tianming began concocting the elixirs as time flew by quickly. over half a month passed. during lin tianming''s intensive elixir production, news of the auction spread from one to ten and then to a hundred, soon reaching thousands of miles around the market. suddenly, from low-order qi refining cultivators to high-order foundation establishment stage loose cultivators, the vast majority had heard of the auction and marvelled at the lin family''s grand gesture. numerous low-order cultivators could hardly wait to participate in the once-every-three-year grand event of luoyun market. unaffected by the outside world, lin tianming remained busy with his focused alchemy. after a month of refining, with the aid of the eye of five colors, the several hundred portions of spiritual medicine materials were all turned into elixirs. looking at the thousands of jade bottles in front of him where nearly all the lingshen pills were of superior quality, and the potency of the pozhang pills was stronger than before. after keeping the elixirs for his own use, a slightly tired lin tianming left the secret room and headed to the hundred treasures building. on the third floor of the hundred treasures building, lin tianming handed over the elixirs to lin xingyuan, leaving a small portion to be sold in the market''s shop, while more of them were taken by family members back to the lin family. after a brief chat, lin tianming returned to his secluded chamber to begin a short period of seclusion, waiting for the arrival of the auction. Chapter 122 Qin Xi (The Female Lead Appears)_1 ```time flew by, and several months passed in a blink of an eye. during the time of his seclusion, lin tianming lived a fulfilling life, not only concocting elixirs for his family and cultivating but also taking some time to read through some of the books replicated by his family. in nearly half a year, he had perused precious texts on everything from pill concoction and weapon forging to talisman making and formations. although his main focus was on alchemy, learning some basic knowledge could enhance his insight, and perhaps it would come in handy at a critical moment. after half a year, having absorbed the precious texts from the jin family and wu family, his gains were indeed significant. three days before the auction was set to begin, lin tianming stopped cultivating and prepared to emerge from seclusion to attend the auction. stepping out of the secret room and walking on the streets of the market, lin tianming strolled around and looked about leisurely. with the auction approaching, luoyun market was exceptionally bustling, its vitality almost doubled compared to usual. a large number of cultivators flooded into the market, some to do business, others to trade their resources. wealthy cultivators were there specifically for the auction because, after all, the best items were only available there. unknowingly, lin tianming, while wandering, arrived in the market''s stall area. it was early morning, and many cultivators had already rented their stalls. many places were already displaying various treasures. outside the square, there were still many people arriving continuously. sea??h th§× novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. looking closely, cultivators of all kinds were selecting treasures, and the endless hawking permeated his ears, completely a scene of a mundane marketplace. seeing the busy trading scene, a slight smile crossed lin tianming''s face¡ªit was apparent that this gathering was even more popular than usual. watching as more people came to set up their stalls in the square, every spot occupied by cultivators, he no longer lingered and picked up his pace into the square. choosing a starting point, he began to meander through the stalls. after visiting more than a dozen stalls, which all offered fairly ordinary items¡ªvery attractive to a sixth level qi refining cultivator, but of little use to him¡ªlin tianming wandered aimlessly, his expression unchanged. time passed, and by noon he had roamed through a large part of the stall area. finally, near the main road, some decent items appeared. lin tianming decisively made his purchases, spending hundreds of spirit stones for a few stems of second order spiritual medicine materials, which were rather rare varieties. purchasing these useful spiritual medicine materials in advance, once he entered foundation establishment, he could concoct second order pills for his cultivation. as time wore on, just as lin tianming was about to leave, an elderly third level qi refining cultivator caught his attention. in the deepest part of the square, at an out-of-the-way spot, a grey-robed old man and a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl sat in front of a stall. the grey-robed elder had white speckled hair, sporting a goatee, showing signs of advanced age. when he looked at the girl, his eyes suddenly became spirited. the girl sat on the ground, holding a book in her hand, scrutinizing it intently. this girl, named qin xi, had delicate features and clear eyes. with a tall and slender figure, she had an indescribable vivacity about her; her green dress was fresh and natural, and once she came of age, she was sure to be a stunner. experience tales at empire the grey-robed elder, with a resolute expression, waved a few stems of first order spiritual medicine in his hand, calling out energetically to sell them. unfortunately, due to the poor location of his stall and the fact that the items he was selling were too common, passing cultivators showed no interest in inquiring about prices and hurried past him. as the day was about to pass, the grey-robed elder''s stall had barely attracted any buyers, only managing to sell a few stems of first order spiritual medicine, and even then at a low price. watching the hard-earned spiritual medicine sell for such low prices, the grey-robed elder''s eyes carried a sense of vicissitude and desolation. his end was nearing, and he would not live for many more years. in the final moments of his life, surprisingly, a year and a half ago, his granddaughter successfully introduced qi into her body and became a qi refining cultivator, delighting him beyond words. he came to luoyun market with the intention of selling the spiritual medicine he had risked his life to gather, to buy several lingshen pills for his granddaughter, to help her enhance her cultivation, so that before his end came, she would have some means of self-protection and be able to survive in the perilous cultivation world. unfortunately, his cultivation level was not high, and the spiritual medicine he gathered was too common, leading to a meager income. his granddaughter had not been cultivating for long and her cultivation was too low. he would not be able to protect her for many more years, and at this point, he felt somewhat anxious. ``` after a few sighs, the elder showed a hint of helplessness. qin xi, standing beside him, rose to her feet and massaged the elder''s back while consoling him with her exceptionally pleasant voice. "grandpa, if it really can''t be sold, let it be. you obtained these spiritual medicines at a great cost, and even sustained some injuries in the process. if it doesn''t work out, we can try the lin family''s store. their store is famous in luoyun market and they also purchase spiritual medicine materials. their prices are quite fair, and perhaps we could get more spirit stones to exchange for some healing elixirs for you." reassured by his granddaughter''s words, the elder''s complexion grew rosier. the lin family was now renowned throughout the luoyun mountain range, and he had heard about their good reputation. if the spiritual medicine indeed couldn''t be sold, they would have to try their luck at the lin family''s store. the elder stroked his granddaughter''s hair, gaining back some spirit, and prepared to call out to attract the attention of some cultivators. at that moment, lin tianming arrived in front of the elder, crouching down to observe the items laid out before him. the elder immediately lit up with joy at lin tianming''s arrival. although lin tianming was disguised, his outfit was immaculate, and he carried himself with an air of righteousness. even though he didn''t reveal any aura, the elder could still sense that he was no ordinary cultivator. as lin tianming scrutinized the items, the elder spoke up: "fellow daoist, please feel free to look. our prices are absolutely fair!" as soon as the elder finished speaking, lin tianming saw more than ten types of spiritual medicine, a few tattered books, and a blue jade slip laid out on the beast skin. lin tianming disregarded the all-too-common spiritual medicines and focused his attention on the blue jade slip. he picked up the jade slip and extended his divine sense to examine the information inside. after a few moments, having read the introduction in the jade slip, lin tianming revealed a hint of joy. the jade slip contained an ancient pill recipe, and it was a type of elixir for body cultivators to aid in their cultivation. he conjectured that the pills from this recipe were much stronger than the body strengthening pills. however, the elder had placed a restriction on the jade slip, preventing full access to the pill''s grade and materials. although lin tianming could have easily broken the restriction, he chose not to. looking at the mysterious pill formula, lin tianming decided to purchase it. having made up his mind, lin tianming asked: "fellow daoist, how much for this jade slip?" hearing lin tianming inquire about the price, the elder was overjoyed, but soon hesitated, not daring to quote a price too hastily for fear of scaring lin tianming away. after some thought, the elder''s expression calmed, and he tentatively replied in a low voice: "fellow daoist has good eyesight. this jade slip was acquired by chance, and the pill formula it records should be genuine. however, the spiritual medicine materials required are quite peculiar, some of which i have never heard of. it would probably be quite difficult to successfully concoct it. thus, this jade slip isn''t very practical. if you like it, how about fifty spirit stones?" lin tianming was surprised to hear this, as the elder seemed too honest. pill formulas were always highly valued, and even a first order medium grade pill formula could easily be sold for over a hundred spirit stones. although the grade of this formula was unknown, and it might not be possible to concoct the pills, he had a feeling that the jade slip would be of some use. a hundred spirit stones was not a small amount, but for lin tianming it was hardly significant. without any intention of bargaining, he took out one hundred spirit stones and gave them to the elder, buying the jade slip. the elder was ecstatic, his expression filled with excitement. some cultivators had examined the pill formula but likely deemed it not worth the risk and hadn''t bought it. but lin tianming, without even blinking an eye, made the purchase directly. with these spirit stones, he could buy some elixirs for his granddaughter. the girl stared at lin tianming as he spent generously, her curiosity piqued as she sized him up. after their gazes met, for some reason, lin tianming''s heart suddenly began to beat wildly, as if a deer were prancing inside, and his blood seemed to boil¡ªa sensation he had never experienced before. qin xi''s heart likewise raced, and a blush crept onto her face, making her even more stunningly beautiful. in a hurry, lin tianming stuffed the jade slip into his storage bag and lingered no longer, smiling politely and bidding farewell with a clasped fist. he then swiftly left the market area, heading toward the direction of the lin family courtyard. Chapter 123 Qianling Pill_1 hastily returning to the small courtyard, lin tianming immediately entered the secret chamber.sitting on the cushion, he circulated his cultivation technique for a grand circulation, trying to calm himself down. for some reason, the thought of that young girl stirred an unexplainable restlessness in his heart. it should be noted that he had reached the great perfection of qi cultivation, and over the years, he had encountered many female cultivators, many of whom knew some enchanting techniques. yet even so, he had never been moved. beyond the allure of beauty, he had experienced countless battles over the years, and had often hovered on the brink of life and death, facing mortality with an undisturbed composure. it was unexpected that he would lose his composure like this today. after a short while, as he focused on his cultivation, his state of mind gradually returned to tranquility. half an hour of cultivation later, he took out the purchased jade slip, ready to examine the pill formula. extending his divine sense, he erased the restrictions on the jade slip and began to review the pill formula. "qianling pill, second order pills?" murmuring softly to himself, lin tianming''s face flashed with a knowing smile. upon his examination, this was indeed an ancient pill recipe of a medium quality second order without a doubt, not low in grade, with effects similar to the body strengthening pill, but undoubtedly much stronger. unfortunately, the spiritual medicine materials recorded in the pill formula were very rare. the main ingredient, qianyuan grass, was extremely scarce, and he had yet to hear of its presence anywhere to date. apart from the main ingredient, there were several other important spiritual medicine materials that were quite rare, making it difficult to concoct the pill, which was somewhat regrettable. "let it be, let it be." having spent only a hundred spirit stones, such a small price for the ganling pill recipe, was already considered extraordinarily lucky. as for whether he could concoct it or not, it was still too early to say, he hadn''t reached foundation establishment yet, and he could still use the body strengthening pill for some time; there was no need to be so anxious. after adjusting his mindset, he once again closed his eyes and began the practice of inhaling and exhaling. two days passed, and the market city auction was held as scheduled. finishing his work, lin tianming tidied up the secret chamber and left the small courtyard, heading towards the auction site in the center of the market city. along the way, many cultivators, in groups of three or five, were accompanying each other to the auction. a quarter of an hour later, lin tianming appeared at the entrance of the auction venue. glancing around, he saw cultivators at the entrance formed into two long lines, like two great dragons extending from the entrance to the plaza. the number of cultivators in the entire market city, compared to usual, had at least doubled. seeing the bustling popularity, which was much higher than the family had anticipated, lin tianming was both surprised and somewhat relieved; it seemed that the original strategy had been quite correct. at this moment, lin tianming was in a good mood, ready to bypass the queue and enter the auction hall. suddenly, a commotion arose among the queuing cultivators. they saw a black-robed elder slowly walking towards them; for a time, the queuing cultivators opened a path for him. the black-robed elder wore a calm expression, without any intention of stopping, and walked past the cultivators with his hands behind his back. s§×arch* the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. at the entrance, several market city supervisors were collecting spirit stones to enter the auction. seeing the black-robed elder coming over, they immediately left the cultivators in front of them and stepped forward, bowing continuously and speaking in a very respectful tone, find more chapters on empire "junior has seen elder su, elder su, please come inside." the elder with the surname su nodded and casually threw thirty spirit stones towards the group. the executive officers'' faces brightened with joy as they quickly caught the spirit stones and then took out a round jade token to respectfully present to the elder su. elder su waved his hands, summoning the jade token through the air and then headed straight into the interior of the grand hall, soon disappearing from everyone''s view. after the elder left, the group wiped the sweat from their foreheads and let out a long sigh of relief. in the queue of cultivators below, many were equally astonished; those who were unclear of the elder''s identity kept asking about his name. thanks to the introduction by some older cultivators, the younger ones finally learned of the elder''s background. it turned out that this man was named su he. he had succeeded in foundation establishment tens of years ago and apart from the major families in the luoyun mountain range, he was one of the few foundation establishment stage loose cultivators with extremely formidable strength. as for his current cultivation realm, no one knew for sure, except that twenty years ago, su he was already at the third level of foundation establishment. with twenty years passed, it was estimated that he was at least at the fifth level of foundation establishment or even higher. some qi training cultivators couldn''t help but look forward eagerly, it seemed that the treasures provided by the lin family this time were indeed extraordinary, attracting even a cultivator with strength like su he to participate in the auction. after a while, with the maintenance of order by a few executive officers, cultivators began to pay the entrance spirit stones one after another. lin tianming walked straight past the queue, heading towards the entrance. after showing his family token, several executive officers immediately allowed him through. entering the grand hall, the public area was already bustling with people, the original five hundred seats had been filled, and some acquainted cultivators sat together chatting, creating an extremely noisy scene. cultivators were still queuing at the entrance, and extra seating had been temporarily added around the perimeter, with approximately three hundred new seats, which were also quickly being filled. witnessing the bustling scene, lin tianming was again pleasantly surprised. collecting his thoughts, lin tianming headed towards the second floor. he walked through the long corridor and stopped in front of the door to the deepest room. after sending a message, the room''s warding spells opened and lin tianming walked straight in. inside the room, lin shilu and lin xingyuan were seated in chairs, drinking spiritual tea and chatting while looking down at the stage below. seeing lin shilu appear at the auction, lin tianming was somewhat surprised, then immediately went forward to greet him. "fifteenth grandfather, how come you are at the market city? has something happened?" lin shilu waved his hand, indicating lin tianming to sit down before explaining, "the auction at the market city has attracted many cultivators. the family was worried that xing yuan might not be able to handle the situation. i just happened to have come out of a year-long retreat and wanted to stroll around, so i came to join in the fun. it''s not just me; sun dingfeng from the sun family and luo chenggu from the luo family have also come. from what i know, there are several foundation establishment cultivators in the market city now, with quite a few above the third level of foundation establishment." lin shilu''s words sent a shock through lin tianming''s heart. he hadn''t expected this market city meeting to draw so many elusive old monsters out of hiding. it was one thing for sun dingfeng and luo chenggu, as they had frequent interactions, but for those foundation establishment loose cultivators to gather was quite rare. lin shilu took another sip of his spiritual tea before continuing, "after the auction concludes, i have organized a trade meeting that the foundation establishment cultivators will participate in. you two will accompany me there, as the treasures in the hands of a foundation establishment cultivator naturally can''t compare to those at an auction." after lin shilu finished speaking, both lin xingyuan and lin tianming readily agreed. lin tianming was now somewhat impatient. with most of the auction items being supplied by the lin family, he figured it would be difficult for him to gain much. since there was a chance to trade with foundation establishment cultivators, he was certain their assets would not disappoint him. seeing lin tianming''s eager look, lin xingyuan was likewise filled with anticipation, both of them distractedly waiting for the auction to start. Chapter 124 Treasures Emerge_1 time slowly passed, and the eight hundred seats in the hall were now filled with cultivators.several market city supervisors temporarily closed the entrance to the auction, and the noisy auction hall finally became much quieter. all cultivators were eagerly looking towards the auction stage, waiting for the auction to officially begin. suddenly, a cultivator appeared in the passage; it was chen chong, who had presided over the last market city auction. he walked through the passage, greeting some familiar cultivators, and then ascended to the stage. s§×ar?h the n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. surveying the audience, the scale of this auction, the number of participants, and the treasures were unprecedented in a century. hosting such an auction assuredly promised substantial rewards. even chen chong, who had hosted many auctions, felt a surge of excitement. with a smile on his face and a cupped fist salute, chen chong waited for the cultivators below to quiet down before he spoke: "i am chen chong, honored to meet all seniors and fellow cultivators here. i am invited by the market city to preside over this auction. i welcome everybody for attending." "you all know the rules, the highest bidder wins. if you don''t have enough spirit stones, you may use treasures as collateral. without further ado, as i know many of you can hardly wait, i announce that the auction starts now!" as chen chong finished speaking, all the cultivators below became excited. chen chong still sporting a smile, quickly took out a greenish small shield from his storage bag, displaying it while introducing it to the cultivators present. "the first auction item, a first order medium grade defensive spiritual tool, the xuanjia shield, made primarily from the shell of a xuanjia turtle, forged with a great number of precious materials, its defensive power is extremely remarkable. the starting bid is ninety spirit stones, with each increment no less than two spirit stones." the very first treasure was a medium grade defensive spiritual tool; the subsequent finale items were naturally extraordinary. it was clear that this auction had indeed invested a lot of capital. looking at the greenish shield, medium grade defensive spiritual tools were rare, especially one forged from the shell of a xuanjia turtle. the eyes of many cultivators flashed with fervent expressions. "ninety-five spirit stones." a qi training cultivator at the sixth level of qi refining, wearing a blue robe, excitedly called out the first price, with a look of absolute determination. before his words had settled, other cultivators began to raise their bids. "one hundred and twenty spirit stones." "one hundred and twenty-five spirit stones." ... soon, after over a dozen rounds of intense bidding, the price of the xuanjia shield skyrocketed, quickly reaching one hundred and forty spirit stones. in the end, only four people continued to bid, and the first bidding blue-robed cultivator was among them. one hundred and forty spirit stones was no small amount. the blue-robed cultivator hesitated; to give up would be reluctant, yet it was costly to continue. considering the exceptional defensive power of the xuanjia shield, which was indeed a rare find among medium grade defensive spiritual tools, possessing this treasure would allow him to retreat unscathed even when facing a seventh level qi cultivation cultivator. after pondering for a moment, he decided not to give up and, gritting his teeth, he made a higher bid. "one hundred and fifty spirit stones. a few breaths passed, and no one else placed a higher bid. with the sound of a gong, the first auction item was successfully sold, with the blue-robed cultivator winning it with a high bid. the blue-robed cultivator, with a smile on his face, presented the spirit stones in front of all the cultivators present, exchanged for the treasure, and then sat down satisfied. the high price of the first treasure warmed up the atmosphere of the venue, with many cultivators eager and ready to snap up their coveted items. chen chong was very pleased and continued to strike while the iron was hot, taking out the second treasure to be bid on by a group of cultivators. as the small half of the day passed, nearly a hundred treasures were successfully auctioned off, none failing to sell, with the closing prices often hitting new highs. during this time, lin tianming made three bids, spending hundreds of spirit stones to win some items consigned by other cultivators, including two stalks of spirit grass and a green crystal core. in the vip room on the second floor, lin tianming fiddled with the crystal core in his hand, contemplating it closely. he had acquired the crystal core for just over a hundred spirit stones. at the time, including himself, no one recognized the item, nor did anyone else bid. it was about to go unsold when, under the examination of the eye of five colors, he still detected a faint trace of energy. out of curiosity and due to the low price, he decided to bid for the item. after lin tianming and the other two took turns examining it, none could discern anything significant, so they placed it in a storage bag to study in detail when they returned. at this point, the auction was nearing its end, with only the final showcase item left to be auctioned off. after a brief pause, chen chong began the auction for the final showcase items. this time, the lin family had prepared fifteen precious treasures; together with the items provided by the sun family and the luo family, there were twenty final showcase items in total, which was twice as many as in past auctions. many of the cultivators in the hall, especially those with higher cultivation, were there primarily for these final showcase items. "the first showcase item, three xisui pills with a starting bid of one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must increase by no less than five spirit stones!" "the second showcase item, three pozhang pills..." "the third showcase item, three jade spirit fruits..." ... for a moment, treasures were brought out one after the other. elxirs, spirit fruits, and spiritual artifacts conducive to breakthroughs for qi refining cultivators were rapidly auctioned off, with all ten of the showcase items provided by the lin family quickly sold. the number of treasures auctioned in this session was not small, and the overall value was quite high, especially the elixirs used for breakthroughs. continue reading stories on empire items useful for breaking through to the next realm were traditionally the most sought-after, and as such, the atmosphere of the auction was incredibly fervent. the appearance of so many rare treasures, although the prices were slightly lower than usual, shocked all the cultivators present with the lin family''s extravagant display. some cultivators of limited means, who had not succeeded in the auction, had their eyes opened wide with amazement, feeling their trip was worthwhile just witnessing the auction of so many rare treasures. at this time, chen chong was also excited; based solely on this auction, the commission he could extract was a significant sum. taking a deep breath to steady himself, chen chong continued to preside over the auction. time quickly passed, and an hour later, the last nine showcase items were also successfully auctioned, with each item''s price not falling below three hundred spirit stones. especially for the last five treasures, even foundation establishment cultivators joined in the bidding. the second order elixirs were won by sun dingfeng, while the third order spiritual medicine went to su he. other foundation establishment cultivators also reaped their rewards. at this point, only one final showcase item remained, and all the cultivators were waiting for it. not daring to hesitate, chen chong quickly pulled a jade slip from his storage bag and held it high. seeing the item below, the qi training cultivators'' breathing grew rapid, and at this moment, chen chong also began to introduce the final treasure. "a metal attribute yellow grade cultivation technique provided by the lin family, with extremely formidable offensive power. starting bid is seventeen thousand spirit stones, and each bid must increase by no less than one hundred spirit stones." no sooner had chen chong finished speaking than a cultivator started the bidding. "eighteen thousand spirit stones!" that was an increase of a thousand spirit stones with just one bid, showing the determination of the bidder to win. unfortunately, it wasn''t long before another increased the bid. back and forth the price went, continuously climbing. it''s worth noting that techniques are not commonly seen in the luoyun mountain range; most are controlled by large families, and many qi refining families do not have all the five elements attributes. families lacking metal attribute techniques, and finding themselves with members of the metal attribute, are forced to cultivate other attribute techniques temporarily. due to the mismatch, the speed of cultivation is greatly compromised. hence, when an opportunity like this arises, they naturally would not let it pass. despite the high price to pay, the need to remedy the family''s weaknesses was worth any sacrifice. lin tianming and the others were sitting in the vip room on the second floor, witnessing the intense bidding below. Chapter 125 Exchange Meeting_1 on the second floor of the auction, an elderly man sat in the center, flanked by two middle-aged cultivators on chairs; all three were clan members of the min clan from the luoyun mountain range.the min clan, an established qi refining family from the luoyun mountain range, boasted over sixty members with several individuals above the seventh level of qi refinement, ranking them at the forefront in terms of strength and financial power among qi refining families. at that moment, the countenances of the two min clan cultivators darkened, and one at the qi refining eighth level asked the elder in the chair of honor, "fourth uncle, the price of this cultivation technique has already exceeded expectations. what do we do now? do we continue to raise the bid?" explore new worlds at empire after hearing this, the elder showed a moment of hesitation, lost in contemplation. the min clan''s legacy spanned several hundred years, possessing just three cultivation techniques. they specifically lacked cultivation techniques of the water and metal categories. having finally encountered a metal-category technique, although it was only of yellow grade, it was extremely important for the min clan. giving up the opportunity now would be a true pity. having made up his mind, the elder immediately spoke, "raise... currently, only three families are still bidding, and within the luoyun mountain range, the qi refining families are probably at their limits. this opportunity is rare. if there are not enough spirit stones, take out the two stalks of third order spiritual medicine from the clan''s reserves to settle the account; we are keeping them without being able to refine any elixirs anyway." the words of the elder resonated with the two middle-aged cultivators beside him, who then promptly raised the bid. "twenty-one thousand eight hundred spirit stones!" a voice emanated from one of the vip rooms on the second floor, plunging the entire venue into silence. the elder''s prediction was correct; initially, there were more than ten cultivators bidding, but in the end, only three families were left. after he spontaneously increased the bid by a thousand spirit stones, the other two families indeed gave up on continuing to raise their bids. at this point, the cultivators below who were watching the excitement blushed, clearly overwhelmed by the exorbitant price. more than twenty thousand spirit stones was an amount most cultivators could not amass in their lifetime. such a transaction price was almost equivalent to that of a foundation establishment pill. of course, in the luoyun mountain range, quite a few qi refining families could gather that amount of three thousand spirit stones. the key issue was that, oftentimes, even if you possessed spirit stones, it was hard to purchase a foundation establishment pill, and without considerable strength, it was impossible to leave safely with it. two hundred years ago, the lin family had experienced a similar incident, when an ancestor successfully won a foundation establishment pill at an auction but was ambushed on the way back to the family. the ancestor was grievously injured and had to abandon the pill to escape. such situations were not uncommon in the cultivation world. in the silent auction hall, as a few moments passed and no more bids were made, chen chong had no choice but to announce the result. when the sound of the gong echoed, smiles finally appeared on the faces of the three from the min clan. the elder surnamed min took out two jade boxes, placed them into a storage bag, and reluctantly threw it to chen chong. chen chong accepted the storage bag, seeing the two stalks of third order spiritual medicine and some spirit stones. after confirming the equivalent value, he handed over the jade slip containing the cultivation technique to the min clan cultivator. once the transaction was complete, all items in the auction had been sold. chen chong clasped his hands, exchanged a few courteous words, and finally declared the auction over. afterward, the many cultivators filed out, leaving very few in the hall in short order. in the vip room on the second floor, lin tianming and lin shilu chatted idly, while lin xingyuan had taken the lead out of the chamber to retrieve the lin family''s auctioned belongings. after a short while, lin xingyuan returned to the chamber. "fifteenth uncle, after deducting the commission, the family''s auctioned items fetched a total of twenty-one thousand six hundred spirit stones, plus two stalks of third order lower-grade spiritual medicine. please review them," lin xingyuan said, presenting a black storage bag and a list for lin shilu to inspect. lin shilu accepted the storage bag, scanned it with his divine sense, and, finding the count and amount correct, nodded before securing the property into the storage bag. "let''s go, the exchange convention should be about to start," he said. with that, lin shilu took the lead in rising from his seat in the vip room and headed downstairs, with lin tianming and lin xingyuan promptly following. the three passed through several corridors and a long hallway before stopping in front of a stone door. after lin shilu formed a hand gesture, he pushed the stone door open with force and strode in. lin tianming and the other followed closely behind. by this time, a few cultivators were already inside the stone chamber, sitting and chatting over tea. upon seeing lin shilu enter, su he and several other loose cultivators stood to greet him, while sun dingfeng and luo chenggu also got up to exchange pleasantries. s§×ar?h the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "fellow daoists, i trust you''ve been well," lin shilu said with a knowing smile, approaching with lin xingyuan. after greeting several foundation establishment cultivators, he began to introduce lin tianming. "tianming, you''ve already met the daoists from the sun and luo families, and this is senior su. why don''t you come over and pay your respects?" upon hearing lin shilu''s instruction, lin tianming stepped forward and clasped his fists in a salute toward the several foundation establishment stage loose cultivators. despite his impressive cultivation, su he did not dare to underestimate the lin family and was very cordial. he teased with a smile, "i have long heard of a talented junior from the lin family. today, having the opportunity to meet him, it''s truly remarkable that one so young has already achieved great perfection of qi refining stage. surely a dragon among men, lin, your family is indeed fortunate." as su he offered his flattering words, the others chimed in as well. "oh, it''s nothing. my junior has done somewhat well, but such an achievement is insignificant in the grand scope of the wei kingdom," lin shilu modestly replied, though a proud and pleased expression could not be concealed on his weathered face. lin shilu''s demeanor did not escape the notice of sun dingfeng and the others, who kept their thoughts to themselves but inwardly sneered at the display. Chapter 125 Exchange Meet_2 ``` sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."The old guy really has no shame, he''s just short of singing praises about his own junior." With Lin Shilu''s introduction, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Tianming got to know a few Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivators, including Su He and four others, all possessing cultivation below the third level of the Foundation Establishment. After some pleasantries were exchanged, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators each took their seats, while Lin Tianming stood quietly behind Lin Shilu, watching the exchanges of cultivation experiences among several people in the area. Before they knew it, a quarter of an hour had passed. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators had almost finished their exchanges when Sun Dingfeng stood up and said, "Fellow daoists, it''s getting late, let''s start the trading event." Seeing that the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators had no objections, Lin Shilu nodded his head in agreement, signaling that they could begin. Sun Dingfeng slapped his storage bag and took out three Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans and two greenish Spirit Ore Stones, holding them in his hand as he said, "These three talismans and two Qingluan Stone ore, in exchange for elixirs that can enhance cultivation, Spiritual Medicine Materials, or an equivalent amount of Spirit Stones." Before the words had finished, Lin Shilu waved a hand and threw a Jade Bottle, which Sun Dingfeng caught. Sun Dingfeng opened the Jade Bottle to take a look, nodded in satisfaction, and then handed one piece of Qingluan Stone over to Lin Shilu. Su He also intended to trade, taking out two stalks of First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Medicine, and successfully exchanged for the other piece of Qingluan Stone. At this time, only the Second Order Talismans remained in Sun Dingfeng''s hand as no one else seemed interested. Just as Sun Dingfeng was about to put the talismans away, Lin Tianming spoke up, Explore hidden tales at empire "Senior Sun, may I know the price of these Second Order Talismans? I would like to trade with Spirit Stones, if that''s acceptable?" Surprised by the inquiry, Sun Dingfeng tossed the three talismans to Lin Tianming and then said, "Since you''re a junior, I won''t take advantage of you. Three Second Order Medium Quality Talismans for two thousand Spirit Stones." Lin Shilu, sitting on the side, heard that Sun Dingfeng''s price was quite reasonable and nodded toward Lin Tianming, signaling that the deal was acceptable. Lin Tianming received the three Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans, barely had time to feel excited before putting them into his storage bag, then immediately took out two thousand Spirit Stones and gave them to Sun Dingfeng. With Sun Dingfeng''s trade complete, and everyone obtaining items they desired, it was a good start to the event. Then, Lin Shilu took out three items for trade, the first being a set of Spirit Swords, each one a Supreme Spiritual Artifact. The second was a First Order Superior Grade Defensive Spiritual Tool, and the third was a Third Order Lower Quality Spiritual Medicine Material. "I''ll trade for Second Order or higher Spirit Ore or Second Order Demonic Beast Materials. If there''s something more valuable, I can make up the difference." After Lin Shilu stated what he wanted to trade, the cultivators began to inspect the items he provided. Li, looking at the set of Spirit Swords, took out two and swung them a few times, appearing vastly satisfied with their quality. In the Wei Kingdom, Magic Artifacts are extremely precious, and not all Foundation Establishment Cultivators can afford to use them. Many cultivators below the third level of Foundation Establishment still use First Order Superior Grade or Supreme Spiritual Artifacts. Li had been in the Foundation Establishment Stage for less than ten years and had used up all his wealth just to reach Foundation Establishment. He has been using a set of First Order Superior Grade Spirit Swords, which significantly reduced his combat effectiveness. The set of Spirit Swords offered by Lin Shilu was not weak in power, making it hard to find a more suitable weapon below the level of Magic Artifacts. The more he looked, the more he liked them, and Li soon entertained the idea of a trade. Having made up his mind, Li took out a Jade Bottle from his storage bag and tossed it to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu caught the Jade Bottle, extended his Divine Sense to inspect it, and saw a considerable amount of golden sand inside, seemingly an ordinary sand but probably weighing more than a pound. Lin Shilu poured out a few grains of sand and rubbed them in his hand. A pleased expression crossed his face as he exclaimed softly. "Golden Tide Sand." Li nodded and said, "Lin, as a Second Order Refiner, you surely understand the value of Golden Tide Sand better than I do. This bottle contains more than a pound of Golden Tide Sand, and if I were to trade it for just the five Supreme Spirit Swords, I would be at a loss." After hearing this, Lin Shilu also recognized the validity of Li''s comments. Golden Tide Sand is a Third Order Spiritual Ore which can greatly enhance the hardness and attack power of a weapon. It has a miraculous effect, and Golden Core Experts also use this material in their Magical Treasures. It is highly valuable and exceedingly rare; indeed, the value of more than a pound of Golden Tide Sand exceeds that of the Supreme Spiritual Artifacts by a lot. As a Second Order Refiner, Lin Shilu really didn''t want to pass up such a rare Spirit Ore, so he inquired about Li''s preference. "Then, what treasures would Fellow Daoist Li like to obtain in exchange for this Golden Tide Sand?" Li looked at the five Spirit Swords and the Defensive Spiritual Tool and said, "Those two Spirit Artifacts and an additional two thousand Spirit Stones. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Lin?" Without a moment''s hesitation, Lin Shilu immediately accepted the exchange proposal. Both parties secured the treasures, with the remaining Third Order Spiritual Medicine quickly traded to another Loose Cultivator for a piece of Third Order Spirit Iron. Thus, Lin Shilu succeeded in trading all three of his items, attaining more than a pound of Golden Tide Sand and a piece of Third Order Spirit Iron. Next, Su He brought out two items for trade: one was a foot-tall Spiritual Medicine with purple-black leaves emitting a unique fragrance. The other was the corpse of a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast, well-preserved. As the items were presented before everyone, Lin Tianming''s eyes suddenly lit up. "Purple Yin Grass?" Lin Tianming grasped the Spiritual Medicine in his hand, repeatedly confirming its characteristics and attributes. ``` Chapter 125 Exchange Meeting_3 Before long, Lin Tianming was certain this Spirit Grass was indeed the main Purple Yin Grass required for the Hun Tian Pill formula, and its medicinal age met the alchemy requirements.Several years had passed since he obtained the Hun Tian Pill formula. Stay updated through empire During this period, the Lin Family had acquired a vast number of treasures. Although they found Purple Yin Grass in the Jin Family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden, the medicinal age was insufficient to refine the Hun Tian Pill. Unexpectedly, Su He actually possessed mature Purple Yin Grass. After placing the Spirit Grass back into the Jade Box, Lin Tianming immediately sent a voice transmission to Lin Shilu, recounting the issue of the Hun Tian Pill formula and the situation with the Purple Yin Grass. Lin Shilu nodded. He was aware that Lin Tianming had obtained the Hun Tian Pill formula. Naturally, he wouldn''t let the opportunity to acquire mature Purple Yin Grass slip by. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Su Daoyou, may I ask what item you would like to exchange for your treasure?" Su He indicated that he was looking to exchange for elixirs used in cultivation or defensive Magic Artifacts, and if that wasn''t possible, a Supreme Defensive Spirit Artifact would suffice. Lin Shilu took out a small round shield, which was also a Supreme Quality Spiritual Artifact. After taking the small shield and bargaining with Lin Shilu, Su He completed the exchange smoothly with an additional one thousand Spirit Stones. The corpse of a Second Order Demonic Beast was traded to Luo Chenggu for a bottle of elixirs and one thousand Spirit Stones. The trade meeting continued; the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators also produced some treasures for exchange, though the value was clearly not comparable to the treasures presented by Lin Shilu and the others. Even so, Lin Xingyuan exchanged some Spirit Stones and a Spiritual Artifact for items suitable for himself, and Lin Tianming also purchased several Spiritual Medicine Materials of the Second Order, all essential for his cultivation elixir materials. Luo Chenggu and the others had some gains as well: each acquired what they needed, exchanging suitable items for useful ones. After half a day, the exchange meeting concluded. The cultivators chatted casually for a few moments, said their farewells, and some cultivators left the stone chamber first. Lin Shilu and his two companions hadn''t left yet. As Sun Dingfeng and several others departed, only Su He remained with the three of them in the stone chamber. Lin Tianming took out tea service and poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for everyone, then sat next to Lin Shilu. Sipping from his tea cup, Su He pondered the reason why Lin Shilu had asked him to stay. Lin Shilu didn''t beat around the bush and said directly: "Su Daoyou, I wonder if you have any more Purple Yin Grass? I would like to exchange for a few more. Rest assured, the price will definitely satisfy you." Su He was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. He hadn''t expected Lin Shilu''s reason for asking him to stay was this matter. "Lin Daoyou, I truly apologize, this was indeed the only plant, which I have already traded to you. I also suffered some injuries to obtain it." While his sincere response left Lin Shilu half-convinced, he nevertheless felt somewhat helpless. "Su Daoyou, forgive my impudence, but may I know where you acquired this herb? Can you share this information? Our Lin Family is willing to purchase this news, and we hope Su Daoyou will oblige." Upon hearing Lin Shilu''s words, Su He fell into thought. After hesitating and recalling the dangerous process of acquiring the Purple Yin Grass, he agreed to disclose its origin. After a quarter of an hour, Su He recounted how he obtained the Purple Yin Grass. Lin Shilu handed over two thousand Spirit Stones to Su He in exchange for a map drawn by Su He. Their transaction concluded, Su He didn''t wish to linger and took the initiative to take his leave. Lin Shilu did not stop him, personally seeing him off from the auction. Afterward, Lin Tianming and his two companions also left the auction venue and headed to the small courtyard in the market area. Chapter 126 Plan_1 ```Having left the auction hall, Lin Tianming and two others walked on the streets of Luoyun Market. Although the triennial auction had ended, the market was still bustling with people, many cultivators who had left the auction empty-handed were browsing stalls and shops. Walking on foot, Lin Shilu and his companions attracted the attention of numerous cultivators. Lin Shilu had long been famous, and his name was known to nearly all Qi Refining Cultivators; upon seeing him in person, many cultivators came forward to pay their respects. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu wore a smile and was very warm, without putting on airs, he chatted casually with some Qi Refining Cultivators, exciting them greatly. After a short while, the three managed to disperse the enthusiastic cultivators and returned to the Lin Family Courtyard in Luoyun Market. The three sat in the courtyard, Lin Shilu laid out the Beast Skin Map provided by Su He on the stone table, and they each studied the content recorded on the map. According to Su He, the Purple Yin Grass was also something he had come across by chance. A year ago, he ventured deep into the Luoyun Mountain Range in search of treasure and was chased by a Second Order Superior Demonic Beast. In a bid to save his life, he fled headlong into a valley and managed to shake off the Demonic Beast that was pursuing him. After escaping danger, while he searched the valley, he unexpectedly found the Third Order Purple Yin Grass, which made him believe his luck had turned. Unfortunately, before he could rejoice, he awoke a slumbering Demonic Beast in the valley. Already greatly weakened, he knew he was no match and was forced to flee for his life again. Fortunately, the Demonic Beast had a limited range of activity. He exhausted a great number of treasures and sustained serious injuries, but he managed to escape the territory of the Demonic Beast and saved his life. The relieved Su He did not dare to linger in the belly of the Luoyun Mountain Range, left the inner area in haste, and only sought a place to recover his injuries once he reached the peripheral areas. Inside the courtyard, Lin Tianming looked at the map and calmly asked, "Fifteenth Grandfather, do you think what Su told us is credible?" To Lin Tianming''s uncertainty, Lin Shilu expressed his opinion. "I believe Su He''s words are quite credible. This person has a clear background, has been around Luoyun Market for many years, and holds no grudges against our Lin Family; he is unlikely to deceive us." As he finished speaking, Lin Xingyuan, who had been silent, also said, "Fifteenth Uncle, it is still best to be cautious relying solely on his account!" Lin Shilu nodded, aware that one can never easily trust the words of outsiders. "Tian Ming, what do you think? Feel free to speak!" Being asked by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming was also hard-pressed to judge the credibility, but he still shared his opinion. "Just now, Su also mentioned that he can''t guarantee whether there are other Purple Yin Grasses in that valley. Regardless of whether there still exists Purple Yin Grass, I suggest we explore it; the benefits of Purple Yin Grass need no explanation. With it, the cultivation of our family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators can be enhanced. Therefore, this trip is necessary." After hearing Lin Tianming''s reasoning, Lin Shilu and another person also found it sensible; indeed, a Third Order Spiritual Medicine such as Purple Yin Grass was entirely worth sending someone for. Having decided, Lin Shilu immediately made arrangements. Lin Xingyuan was to continue overseeing the market while he and Lin Tianming would set off at once, returning to the family to discuss the matter with Lin Shikang before making a decision. And with a Second Order Superior Demonic Beast guarding that valley, if they let Lin Shikang take charge, it would be much safer. After instructing Lin Xingyuan on a few things, Lin Tianming and another got up from the courtyard and prepared to hurry back to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Leaving the market, it was almost evening, Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle. This Spirit Beast of Lin Tianming was something he was very familiar with; the two of them had traveled to many places on the Purple Gold Eagle, and after more than a year''s absence, he hadn''t expected it to have also advanced in rank. The two hopped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, and Lin Shilu praised it highly, looking very pleased. ``` A sharp screech and the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, turning into a lingering shadow as it flew towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. Seated upon the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, feeling the swift speed that was much faster than before, they probably wouldn''t need more than four hours to hurry back to Green Bamboo Mountain. True to their expectations, after a little over an hour and with the Purple Gold Eagle flying at full speed, the two returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming and his companion didn''t stop to rest but went straight to Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling. The three sat in the small courtyard, drinking tea, and after a short while, Lin Shihua also hurried over. Lin Shilu recounted the process of obtaining the Purple Yin Grass and Su He''s words, bringing joy to Lin Shikang and the others. Looking at the map Lin Shilu took out, Lin Shikang said with a joyful smile, "Shi Lu, you did well. I believe Tian Ming''s view is more prudent. The Purple Yin Grass is extremely important. Regardless of whether it''s true or false, we must explore!" Seeing Lin Shikang agree readily, the group discussed the details and plans for searching for the Purple Yin Grass. In half a quarter of an hour, Lin Shikang gave his orders for the arrangements after their departure. "Shi Lu, this trip will take us deep into the heart of the Luoyun Mountain Range, where there are numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. It''s not wise to bring too many people. It will be just Shihua and I going lightly equipped. When we leave, the family must leave two behind to guard, so the task falls to you and Shi Gong!" "This¡­" Upon hearing Lin Shikang''s arrangements, Lin Shilu was somewhat worried. According to Su He, there were numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts in that place, and the risk was not small for just the two of them. But at the moment, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the clan were occupied with their tasks, with Lin Xingyuan at the market and Lin Xingrong at Golden Horn Mountain; indeed, there were no clan members available to mobilize. Just as Lin Shilu was in a dilemma, he suddenly slapped his forehead and a flicker of joy crossed his face. "There''s still this kid! I almost forgot about him!" "Third brother, I''m also somewhat worried about just the two of you going. Shihua''s cultivation is not high, and solely relying on him might not be much help. It''s better to take Tian Ming with you. The kid is full of cunning tricks and has some unknown methods that will surely be of help." Before he had finished speaking, Lin Tianming also volunteered to join Lin Shikang. Thinking of Lin Tianming''s strength, though he was only at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, his might was probably not inferior to Lin Shihua''s. Combined with his endless array of methods, he might indeed be a great help. At this point, Lin Shikang was not persistent anymore and said, Stay connected with empire "Alright, then tomorrow morning, Shihua and Tian Ming will join me in entering Luoyun Mountain Range to search for Purple Yin Grass, and you will be responsible for guarding the family." Seeing Lin Shikang''s agreement, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were also pleased and readily agreed. Lin Shikang nodded, seeing that the group had come to a decision, and without further ado, he firmly gave his orders, "It''s getting late, you''re hurried from traveling, and must be tired. Everyone should return to rest, and we''ll meet at the mountain gate tomorrow morning!" "Yes!" Lin Shilu and the others stood up to answer, then bade each other farewell, each returning to their own cave dwellings. Lin Tianming also returned to the Lin Family Courtyard. His mother was in closed-door cultivation, and after explaining to his sister, he went back to his room to rest. Lying on his own bed, it was not long before he fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 127 Crimson Gold Snake_1 The morning of the next day.The darkness gradually gave way to light, and a ray of sunlight pierced through the fog, shining upon the serene and tranquil peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At this time, the majority of the clan was still cultivating or deep in slumber, Lin Tianming left his small courtyard and flew towards the mountain gate. A period long enough to drink a cup of tea had passed, and Lin Tianming appeared in the square at the mountain gate. There was still some time before the agreed hour, and neither Lin Shikang nor Lin Shihua had arrived yet, so Lin Tianming, having nothing better to do, examined the reconstructed mountain gate. Several years had passed since the great battle, and the once riddled mountain gate had long been rebuilt. Taking two years, the newly constructed mountain gate was located between two small hills; on a plaza below stood several towering pavilions and a hundred-zhang-wide gorge connected the inner part of the clan territory, with the massive mountain gate made of blue stone, majestic and imposing. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the greatly changed mountain gate, it finally had a bit of the Foundation Establishing families'' momentum. Just at that moment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua flew out from the gorge and landed on the square. Lin Tianming took a step forward and bowed deeply to the two elders. "Tian Ming pays respects to Third Grandfather and Twelfth Grandpa!" Lin Shikang waved his hand, and Lin Tianming stepped aside, waiting for Lin Shikang''s further instructions. "Tian Ming, let''s use your Purple Gold Eagle to travel!" Lin Tianming certainly wouldn''t refuse and hurriedly released the Purple Gold Eagle. The three men mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shikang checked the map in his hand, confirmed the direction, and then opened the Protective Clan Formation. "Let''s go!" The Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings and soared into the sky, flew through the Protective Clan Formation into the thick fog, and headed towards the Luoyun Mountain Range in the west. Half a day went by... At noon, on the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range, close to the inner area, the figures of three people appeared on a barren hill. With Lin Shikang, a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, anchoring the rear, the journey was quite smooth; a few First Order Demonic Beasts that obstructed their path were easily slain without much resistance. After a brief pause, Lin Shikang once again took out the map to confirm that their route was correct. "We are about to enter the inner area of the mountain range soon, and the likelihood of encountering Second Order Demonic Beasts increases significantly. We can''t use the Purple Gold Eagle for travel anymore. From now on, both of you follow closely behind me, and don''t fall behind. If an unexpected situation arises, you two act according to circumstances," he instructed them. "Understood!" After Lin Shikang gave his instructions, the two nodded, and Lin Tianming stored the Purple Gold Eagle into the Spirit Beast Ring, with all three drawing their weapons, thoroughly prepared. Lin Shikang leaped forward, leading the way, with the other two closely following behind, disappearing into the forest. Their footsteps were light, their speed was incredibly fast, skimming over the treetops like dragonflies skittering across water. Two days went by, and the trio traveled by day and rested at night. They had already ventured hundreds of miles deep into the belly of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Over the past two days, it was not as relaxed as it was in the outer regions. During their journey, they encountered a Demon Beast Tribe led by two Second Order Low-Grade Beasts. After a battle, it took some effort before the whole Demon Beast Tribe was slain. Once the battlefield was cleared and the territory of the beasts was looted, they only obtained some Second Order Spiritual Medicine, which was not a great gain, but undeterred, they hit the road again. A day later, at the edge of a quiet gorge, Lin Tianming and the others halted their steps, standing atop a large tree. Before them, two towering mountains stood tall, a magnificent sight to behold. In the middle, a bottomless gorge was shrouded in a dense fog, surrounded by lush forests, and the still air held an eerie breath. Lin Shikang looked at the surrounding terrain and compared it with the map, finally revealing a trace of a smile on his face. "We''ve arrived, this gorge in front of us is the place marked on the map!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the other person showed a look of solemnity and joy, and they too started observing this place that left a deep impression on Su He. After a Divine Sense detection, they found the fog greatly limited Divine Sense; the deeper they went, the more drastically the coverage reduced, and the discernible areas were eerily quiet, seemingly without anomaly. Lin Shikang, with a serious expression, said to Lin Tianming and the other, "You must have felt the limitations on Divine Sense. After my probing, I haven''t noticed the presence of Purple Yin Grass for the time being. It seems that if we want to find the Spiritual Medicine, we will have to venture further in!" The situation Lin Shikang described was already noticed by the two of them, but since the range of their detection was limited, they weren''t as significantly affected. "What are your thoughts? Feel free to speak up!" Facing Lin Shikang''s inquiry, Lin Shihua furrowed his brows and resolutely said: "Third brother, since we''re already here, we naturally should explore a bit. With your cultivation and the assistance of the Golden Wind Sword, as long as we don''t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast, even if we cannot defeat a Second Order Late Stage Beast, you should be able to escape with Tian Ming." Lin Shikang nodded, and seeing that the two had no intention of retreating, he spoke: "I''ll go in first to scout. If I encounter an attack, there will surely be a disturbance. At that time, give the signal as we agreed upon, and you two come in to assist me." Tian Ming and the other person nodded in agreement. Lin Shikang''s arrangements were more cautious. If the area inside was very dangerous, their entry wouldn''t be much help and would only distract him. "Third brother, be careful. If the strength of the demonic beast is too strong, just give up on this operation!" After Lin Shihua finished speaking, Tian Ming also advised: "Twelfth Grandpa is right. As long as the green hills are there, we won''t fear running out of firewood. A few years from now when our clan has more Foundation Establishment clan members, we can make another attempt!" "Don''t worry, I am aware of the risks. You two be careful as well. The area here is relatively safe for now. If I cannot hold against the enemy, you must immediately leave." After instructing them, Lin Shikang took out his Magical Treasure, the Golden Wind Sword, and cautiously crept towards the valley. As Lin Shikang disappeared from the range of their Divine Sense, Tian Ming and his companion watched over the valley with vigilance, anxiously waiting. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and Lin Shikang had advanced more than ten li. At this moment, the valley shrouded in thick fog was eerily silent. As he ventured deeper, both his vision and Divine Sense were increasingly affected, and the sky, which was clear just moments before, gradually darkened. Lin Shikang stopped on a large boulder, looking ahead and sensing the surroundings. Knowing there might be Second Order demonic beasts, he paused every li to check his surroundings, ensuring safety before proceeding. After a century of cultivation, it was precisely because of his prudence that he managed to turn many dangers into safety. He couldn''t afford to be careless now more than ever. At this point, Lin Shikang extended his Divine Sense to its fullest, exploring areas he had not checked before. With the aid of his Divine Sense, everything in the vicinity was relayed back to his mind, not a single flower or blade of grass escaped his notice. "What is this¡­" Suddenly, an image of a purple-black plant about a foot tall growing in a crevice of a rockwall flashed through his mind. "There is indeed a mature Purple Yin Grass!" Upon a meticulous inspection, the Spirit Grass appearing at the edge of his Divine Sense was conclusively a mature Purple Yin Grass. Finding the mature Purple Yin Grass after such effort excited Lin Shikang. Even then, he did not lower his guard at all, slowly moving forward, weapon in hand, ready to face any unseen dangers. As he got closer to the Purple Yin Grass, faint sounds emerged from the once silent valley, hardly perceptible. Accompanied by the sound of the wind breaking, a large green-chestnut colored snake shot out from the darkness of the valley. The crimson snake moved with surprising agility despite its tens of zhang long body. With its mouth wide open, the metre-long forked tongue lunged at him in a rather horrifying manner. "Indeed, it is a Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake!" Lin Shikang''s face changed, and as he hastily retreated, he swung the Magic Artifact in his hand, the Golden Wind Sword, casting several strands of Golden Sword Qi towards the Crimson Gold Snake. "Clang, clang, clang..." The Crimson Gold Snake twisted its body in an odd fashion, dodging his attack. Behind the Crimson Gold Snake, several towering trees bore the brunt of his assault and collapsed in an instant, stirring up thick fog and dust. Taking advantage of the moment the Crimson Gold Snake dodged, he had already retreated a hundred zhang away. Once he steadied himself and confirmed there was only this demonic beast present, he thrust his Golden Wind Sword into the sky, sending a unique strand of Sword Qi flying a thousand zhang high into the air. A golden bamboo pattern formed by the Golden Sword Qi hung high in the sky, its dazzling brilliance lasting for a full three breaths before dissipating. Chapter 128 The Power of Spirit Art_1 Outside the valley, Lin Tianming and his companion hid in the treetops, anxiously waiting and looking ahead.Since Lin Shikang had entered, it had already been half an hour, yet the silent valley remained calm. Lin Tianming was somewhat worried about Lin Shikang''s safety and looked tense. He couldn''t help but speak up. "Twelfth Grandpa, Third Grandfather has been in there for so long, why is there no movement at all?" Lin Shihua also felt anxious inside but dared not show any sign of it. He could only pretend to be calm and said, "No movement means that Third Brother is relatively safe. Let''s wait patiently a little longer. Once the message comes, we will immediately go in to assist him!" Before he had finished speaking, sudden booming sounds erupted from deep within the gorge. The expressions on Lin Tianming and his companion''s faces changed instantly as they focused intently ahead, not daring to miss even the smallest bit of information. At that moment, a streak of golden light flashed across the dim sky and soared high, condensing into the shape of a bamboo. The Golden Bamboo was extremely conspicuous as it passed through the thick fog and came into their view. "What is that?" Lin Shihua''s face was flushed as he said to Lin Tianming, "That''s the signal method we agreed upon with Third Brother; he''s hinting to us that we can enter!" "Twelfth Grandpa, there is no time to delay, let''s go in now!" Lin Tianming was the first to react. He reminded Lin Shihua and then charged into the gorge, rushing toward the marked direction. Lin Shihua did not dare to hesitate. He leaped forward and quickly followed Lin Tianming''s pace, disappearing at the entrance. ... Inside the gorge, Lin Tianming and his companion moved like agile monkeys, swiftly navigating the treetops. Following the path that Lin Shikang had scouted and marked, they didn''t need to be on guard everywhere. As a result, their speed greatly increased, several times faster than when Lin Shikang had entered. Despite Lin Shihua''s divine sense and eyesight being obstructed, Lin Tianming relied on the Eye of Five Colors, his vision unaffected in the slightest. As the noises grew increasingly intense, they were drawing closer and closer to Lin Shikang''s location. After just over ten breaths'' time, they were less than five hundred zhang away from Lin Shikang. Ahead of them, Lin Shikang at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level was locked in fierce battle with a Crimson Gold Snake in the late phase of the Second Order. Lin Shikang, with a single-handed seal, released a series of fireballs as thick as water buckets accompanied by various grades of talismans, shrouding the massive body of the Crimson Gold Snake. "Boom boom boom..." The sky rained down fiery attacks on the Crimson Gold Snake, and once the firelight dissipated, the enormous form of the Crimson Gold Snake was revealed. Green and yellow scales showed several charred spots, with two areas at the top fleshed open; however, these injuries were merely like scratches to the body of a Second Order Crimson Gold Snake. "Hiss..." With a piercing shriek, the Crimson Gold Snake violently swung its head, spitting out a yard-long tongue as sticky saliva dribbled from its giant mouth. Though it did not sustain a fatal injury, its fury grew as Lin Shikang repeatedly dodged its attacks. The Crimson Gold Snake lashed out with its huge tail, sweeping directly toward Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang leaped vertically over a hundred zhang, dodging the strike narrowly. Behind him, several large trees were snapped at the trunk, creating deep pits in the ground. Lin Shikang''s expression was grave. After more than a dozen exchanges with the beast, relying on his Golden Wind Sword and combining it with talisman papers, he did not expect to defeat the Crimson Gold Snake but hoped to delay it a while, to wear down its ferocity. The Crimson Gold Snake, which had not gained an upper hand after a prolonged battle, glared at Lin Shikang with its blood-red eyes and twisted its body, becoming even more berserk. As Lin Shihua and the other arrived, Lin Shikang''s face showed a hint of excitement. The three stood side by side atop the few remaining trees, watchfully eyeing the Crimson Gold Snake. "Shihua, the two of you distract this beast from the side; we''ll join forces to besiege it. Quick battle to avoid drawing other demonic beasts." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, everyone be careful!" The trio exchanged a few words before Lin Shikang took the lead, waving his Golden Wind Sword and unleashing increasingly fierce Sword Qi, stirring the surrounding air into a whistling frenzy. Lin Tianming didn''t hesitate, conjuring all his Earth Evil Swords to join Lin Shihua in a flank attack on the Crimson Gold Snake from another side. When all three went all out, the canyon was lit with flashes of fire as earthshaking noises echoed around. With limited strength, Lin Tianming and his companion didn''t dare to get too close, hovering around the periphery to constrain their foe while taking the opportunity to set up the Sword Array. The Crimson Gold Snake, now forced to be on guard, appeared extremely frustrated throughout the battle. As the fight intensified, dozens of rounds went by in brutal combat, reaching a critical and white-hot stage. Under the combined attack of the trio, the Crimson Gold Snake started to falter, gradually accumulating wounds all over its body. With a full-force attack from the three, the Crimson Gold Snake couldn''t attend to threats from both sides and was forced to twist its body to avoid vital hits. The Sword Qi transformed from the Golden Wind Sword was incredibly fast, and the Crimson Gold Snake, failing to dodge, got hit with the Sword Qi on its tail. Opening its huge, bloody maw, the Crimson Gold Snake let out a painful shriek. Its tail now bore a massive wound, and it was on the verge of being severed, as thick as a water bucket. The pained Crimson Gold Snake completely lost its sanity, its blood-red eyes focusing on Lin Tianming and his partner as if determined to dispose of these two annoying nuisances. The Crimson Gold Snake spat out two thick streams of water from its mouth that quickly solidified into hard blocks of ice, hurtling towards Lin Tianming and his companion. Seeing the Crimson Gold Snake suddenly change targets, Lin Shikang shouted anxiously: "Tianming, that''s the Crimson Gold Snake''s Innate Divine Ability, dodge it quickly!" Hearing Lin Shikang''s shout, Lin Tianming and his partner were horrified. They didn''t dare to face the Crimson Gold Snake''s Innate Divine Ability head on and, in a retreat, threw out several Second Order Defense Talismans to form two Defensive Shields in front of them. Not daring to hold back and knowing that mere Second Order Defense Talismans might not withstand the assault, they each drew out their Defensive Spiritual Tools to securely protect themselves. As the Crimson Gold Snake launched its attack and its attention was diverted, Lin Tianming took a risk and activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to envelop the snake''s massive body. Feeling the barriers around it and the wandering Sword Qi, the Crimson Gold Snake gave up on its continued assault on Lin Tianming and his partner, striving to break free from the Sword Array. "Boom, boom, boom..." A series of explosions followed, the talisman-created Shield shattered, and the ice lodged slammed onto the Defensive Spiritual Tools protecting Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua. "Thud, thud..." With the chilling ice striking their Defensive Spiritual Tools, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua each spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood. The two were sent flying backward like kites with broken strings, retreating dozens of feet away. Regaining their balance, they looked at their nearly destroyed Supreme Quality Spiritual Artifacts with pale faces and a shudder of fear in their hearts. If it weren''t for Lin Tianming''s timely activation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, forcing the Crimson Gold Snake to abandon its target, the two of them would have been in great jeopardy. Just as Lin Tianming and his companion escaped the dangerous situation, and while Lin Tianming''s Sword Array had the Crimson Gold Snake trapped for a moment, Lin Shikang bellowed: "Beast, meet your end!" A silver-white Sword Qi burst forth from his palm, its terrifying energy shining as brightly as sunlight, cutting through the dim sky and heading straight for the Crimson Gold Snake. Seeing this familiar and terrifying Sword Qi, Lin Tianming was somewhat stunned and couldn''t help exclaiming: "Great Sun Sword Qi Art?" The Crimson Gold Snake felt the breath of death and desperately tried to escape its bindings. In just a moment, it broke through the range of the Sword Array. The Sword Array broke, and Lin Tianming suffered a backlash, spurting out blood again, his face going utterly pale. As the Crimson Gold Snake crossed the Sword Array, the silver-white Sword Qi blasted into its vital seven-inch area. "Puff..." After a thudding sound, the Crimson Gold Snake fell, its huge head crashing into the ground, carving out a deep pit upon impact. The decapitated Crimson Gold Snake was a pitiful sight, blood pouring out and quickly pooling into a puddle. The snake, not yet dead, relied on its strong vitality to continue struggling. Unfortunately, with such severe injuries, even a Second Order Demonic Beast was beyond saving. In a short while, the Crimson Gold Snake stopped struggling and was clearly lifeless. Seeing the Crimson Gold Snake completely dead, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, and the two injured companions sat down on the ground, exhausted. Chapter 129 Treasure All Over_1 As the Crimson Gold Snake died, Lin Shikang fell from the sky to the ground.With no time to clean up the battlefield, he sat down on the ground, gasping for breath. Seeing that Lin Tianming and the other person were not in grave danger, the three of them each took elixirs and began to recover from their injuries and restore their spiritual power. Lin Shikang had merely exhausted a great deal of spiritual power, and his injuries were not serious. Just by taking a few Huiyuan Pills, he could recover to his full victorious state. However, there was a significant gap in cultivation between Lin Tianming and the other individual, having been attacked by the Crimson Gold Snake''s innate divine ability. Despite the attack''s short duration, they still sustained serious injuries and would need at least half a month of quiet cultivation to fully recover. After half an hour, Lin Shikang had slightly restored some spiritual power and already possessed some self-protective strength. He stood up and gazed at the extremely tragic battlefield. After the fierce battle, the inside of the canyon was in disarray, lofty trees lay toppled in all directions, and the ground was marred with shocking gullies. The enormous body of the Crimson Gold Snake lay on the ground, its head separated from its body, and the blood that had spurted from the wound had collected into a pool of blood, with the smell of blood permeating the air. Looking at the mostly intact but headless corpse of the Crimson Gold Snake, Lin Shikang couldn''t help but feel a tremor in his heart. He was utterly shocked by the Spirit Art used to finally kill the Crimson Gold Snake. Since obtaining the upper part of the Spirit Art, all the higher-ups in the family had tried to cultivate it, and he was one of the first clan members to practice the art. Over the years, only a few clan members had successfully condensed Sword Qi, and the Silver-White Sword Qi he had released was the result of over two years of nurturing. According to his estimate, the Silver-White Sword Qi released to kill the Crimson Gold Snake was even more powerful than the divine skills that came with the Cultivation Technique. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For such destructive power, which exceeded his expectations, he was very satisfied, and even fantasized that if he could nurture the Sword Qi for ten years, its might could possibly become several times stronger. Putting his thoughts aside, he began to clean up the battlefield. The entire body of the Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake was a treasure. Its sharp fangs and tail could be used to craft Attack Talismans, its scales and skin to forge two sets of Defense Artifacts, the Demon Core could be used in alchemy, and consuming the flesh could strengthen the body¡ªtruly, not a single part would go to waste. Taking out the magic Artifact Golden Wind Sword, its sharp blade easily pierced through the abdomen of the Crimson Gold Snake, from which he extracted a fist-sized Demon Core. He stored the invaluable Demon Core in his storage bag, then proceeded to strip the Crimson Gold Snake of its scales and skin. In a short while, the several dozen zhang long body of the Crimson Gold Snake was disassembled, with all the parts usable for pill concoction and weapon forging taken, and even the flesh was cut into sections and arranged to one side. Having dealt with the corpse of the Crimson Gold Snake, he tidied up the thoroughly damaged battlefield for half an hour, practically erasing all traces of the great battle. After finishing the basic cleaning, nearly an hour had passed. Lin Tianming, who had been healing, was the first to stand up, a hint of a rosy hue returning to his pale cheeks. Although his injuries were more serious than Lin Shihua''s, given his robust body, their recovery power was not on the same level when compared. Lin Tianming''s injuries had basically stabilized at this point, and as long as he didn''t engage in desperate combat again, he could recover on his own with some rest. As he stood up, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Shihua beside him, saw that his complexion was gradually improving, and then walked toward Lin Shikang. "Tian Ming, how are your injuries?" Seeing Lin Tianming stand up and walk over, Lin Shikang asked anxiously. "Third Grandfather, my injuries are not serious; you don''t have to worry about me!" Lin Tianming replied with a smile, his complexion as ruddy as usual, showing no unusual signs, which finally reassured Lin Shikang. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but inquire, "Third Grandfather, the Silver-White Sword Qi you released to kill the Crimson Gold Snake, was it the Great Sun Sword Qi Art?" Lin Shikang chuckled and nodded in response to the guess. Although Lin Tianming had anticipated this, he couldn''t help but feel surprised when Lin Shikang personally confirmed it. The terrifying silver-white Sword Qi had, with one stroke, decapitated the Crimson Gold Snake, and the powerful visual impact was something he would not forget any time soon. "Truly worthy of being the legendary Profound Grade Spirit Art!" Lin Tianming couldn''t help but sigh with admiration and, at the same time, was exceedingly glad that he had the discerning eye to stumble upon such a great bargain. At this point, Lin Shikang''s expression gradually became somber as he earnestly advised, "Tianming, the power of this Spirit Art is incredibly strong. I have merely nurtured it for a little over two years, and its explosive power is no less than the innate divine abilities that come with the cultivation technique. In the future, our clansmen must not use this art lightly unless absolutely necessary. If word gets out, it could bring catastrophe to our family!" Lin Tianming was well aware of the seriousness of this matter and firmly replied, "Tian Ming remembers!" "Hmm..." Lin Shikang was quite reassured and pleased with this junior family member, and his face soon returned to a state of calm. "Tianming, you should collect some of the Crimson Gold Snake''s body, as well as this pool of snake blood; they are excellent supplements for your Spirit Beast, the Purple Gold Eagle. I have already gathered a fair amount to take back to our clan to feed the Soul-eating Spider. With these supplements, I''m sure the Soul-eating Spider can fully recover from its injuries and perhaps even progress further." After Lin Shikang''s reminder, Lin Tianming was not bashful and immediately released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Ring. Upon seeing the pool of snake blood and flesh, the Purple Gold Eagle was extremely excited, as if it had encountered some nourishing delicacy. "Go ahead." At Lin Tianming''s command, the Purple Gold Eagle didn''t hesitate and rushed forward, swallowing half the pool of snake blood in one go before gulping down a segment of snake flesh, excitedly twirling its head. Before long, overwhelmed by the strong energy in the blood and flesh and being only at the First Order Late Stage, the Purple Gold Eagle began to feel drowsy. "Hehe, this silly bird, acting as if it can''t overeat!" Lin Tianming laughingly scolded, then put the drowsy bird back into the Spirit Beast Bag, and took out a huge number of Jade Bottles to collect the remaining half of the snake blood. Not only that, but he also deftly gathered several segments of snake flesh to leave some edibles for the foolish bird. After busying himself for half an hour, he had collected all the snake blood and flesh from the ground. With the site now cleared, Lin Tianming and the other sat down to rest for a while. After a little while, Lin Shihua finished his meditation and stood up to walk over to them. "Shihua, how are your injuries?" "Twelfth Grandpa, how are your injuries?" Both Lin Tianming''s questions were laden with concern, warming Lin Shihua''s heart. "Third Grandfather, Tianming, my injuries are not serious, and I will recover after some quiet rest. You don''t have to worry!" Lin Shihua laughed heartily, seeming almost the same as before the great battle. "Third Grandfather, the silver-white Sword Qi that killed the Crimson Gold Snake was...?" Lin Shihua stopped short, sharing the same thought as Lin Tianming. As soon as his injuries had slightly healed, he immediately sought confirmation from Lin Shikang about the source of the terrifying Sword Qi. Lin Shikang chuckled again, repeating the explanation and likewise did not forget to give further instructions until Lin Shihua promised to comply, which put him somewhat at ease. Chapter 130 A Bountiful Harvest_1 After the matter of Spirit Arts had settled, Lin Shihua no longer brought it up and quickly changed the subject."Third Brother, did you find the Purple Yin Grass?" Lin Shihua''s question reminded the two of the ultimate goal of their mission. Returning to the main topic, Lin Shikang began to recount what happened after he entered the canyon. "I was very cautious upon entering. Every time I advanced a distance, I stopped to confirm it was safe. Indeed, I discovered a stalk of Purple Yin Grass, but the Crimson Gold Snake was extremely well hidden, hoping to ambush me. Fortunately, its strength was no greater than mine, and under my vigilance, it couldn''t gain an advantage!" After listening, the two also broke out in a sweat for him. Luckily, Lin Shikang was cautious enough; otherwise, even if he wouldn''t have fallen there, he might have suffered some injuries. "Su He, that kid, was lucky and also very cautious. Otherwise, with his cultivation level, facing the powerful Crimson Gold Snake, it would already be fortunate if he didn''t die, no wonder he looked so scared when he mentioned it!" Lin Shikang sighed and began to give instructions. "This is not a place to linger. Now that everyone''s injuries are stabilized, let''s search this area quickly. Since Purple Yin Grass is of a Yin nature and likes to grow on cliffs and precipices, focus on places that fit these criteria to see if we can find any Purple Yin Grass!" "Shihua, you and Tian Ming team up. Do not take it lightly. Search quickly on one side, and after an hour, we''ll gather here." Lin Shihua and Lin Tianming nodded, with Lin Shikang leading the way deeper into the canyon, while the two of them chose a direction and started their search. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming and his partner had traveled several miles, and as they went deeper, their Divine Sense and visibility declined significantly. At that moment, they arrived at the foot of a mountain, still empty-handed, having found nothing. Feeling the damp and chilly environment around them, with a slight breeze, it seemed to fit the growing conditions of the Purple Yin Grass. "Tian Ming, this place meets the conditions for the growth of Purple Yin Grass. Let''s speed up our search!" Looking at the mountain in front of him, Lin Tianming nodded. "Twelfth Grandpa, let''s spread out a bit, that will make us more efficient. But don''t stray too far from each other, in case we need to come to each other''s aid in an emergency!" "Alright!" Having said that, Lin Shihua leapt up, flying towards the cliff face of the mountain. Not to be outdone, Lin Tianming, using the protruding rocks on the cliff as leverage, jumped with the agility of a monkey, his speed not at all inferior to Lin Shihua''s. In the midst of moving quickly, Lin Tianming activated his Eye of Five Colors, his gaze piercing through layers of fog, searching for plants on the mountain''s stone wall. Though his Divine Sense was greatly restricted, the Eye of Five Colors was unaffected, easily penetrating the fog and seeing the flowers, plants, and trees several miles away. After a quarter of an hour of searching, within a crevice of an uneven stone wall, a stalk of Spirit Grass about a foot high appeared in his sight, and not far from it, another half-foot-long plant was growing in a crevice. "Purple Yin Grass!" Lin Tianming''s expression showed surprise, and he immediately rushed over, his speed increasing yet again. Soon, Lin Tianming reached the stone wall. He carefully dug up the dark purple Spirit Grass, holding it gently in his hands, and thoroughly checked it. "It is indeed a mature Purple Yin Grass beyond doubt!" Lin Tianming was thrilled, and after spending nearly half an hour, he finally found a stalk of Purple Yin Grass. He placed the Purple Yin Grass into the prepared Jade Box and then dug up the nearby Purple Yin Grass seedling, along with the surrounding soil. Having collected the two stalks of Spirit Grass from the area, he embarked on his search again. Almost an hour had passed. Beneath the mountain where Lin Tianming and his partner were searching, Lin Shikang had already arrived first and was waiting there. A figure flashed through the mist and appeared in front of him; it was Lin Shihua, who had been searching the other side of the mountain. "Twelfth Grandpa, how were your findings?" Seeing Lin Shihua, Lin Tianming''s face revealed a slight smile as he casually asked about his harvest. Seeing Lin Tianming''s face, which looked as if he had tasted honey, Lin Shihua laughed and said: "Heh heh, this old man found a mature Purple Yin Grass and three immature Spiritual Medicines. Looking at your cheerful demeanor, you must have harvested quite a bit, huh?" "Hehe..." "It won''t be long before it''s time to meet with Third Grandfather, let''s leave this place and report our findings after we''ve regrouped." Lin Tianming did not immediately report his harvest, which made Lin Shihua somewhat expectant. "Let''s go!" Lin Shihua did not press further and took the lead in heading back in the direction they came from, with Lin Tianming quickly following and vanishing on the spot. Before long, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua had returned to the battleground. Lin Shikang had already been waiting there for them, and he immediately approached them as he saw Lin Shihua and Lin Tianming come out safely. The three briefly mentioned their search experiences and then reported their respective harvests. With the highest cultivation level, Lin Shikang searched the largest area and obtained four mature Purple Yin Grasses and seven seedlings. Lin Tianming took out three mature Purple Yin Grasses and five seedlings and handed them over to Lin Shikang. Taking Lin Tianming''s harvest, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua were somewhat surprised. They admired him, offering praises after taking a fresh look at him. Although Lin Tianming had the lowest cultivation level, he covered a similarly large search area, and his findings, though slightly less than Lin Shikang''s, were not far off. This expedition, spanning several days, yielded eight mature Purple Yin Grasses and fifteen seedlings in total. The goal of their trip was achieved, and the harvest they obtained far exceeded their expectations. The mature Purple Yin Grasses were invaluable, easily selling for thousands of Spirit Stones. There were hardly any willing sellers, so they were essentially priceless. Besides that, they had slain a Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake, acquiring a large amount of Alchemy and Qi Refinement materials. Even if they hadn''t found the Purple Yin Grass, the value from just the corpse of the Crimson Gold Snake made the trip worthwhile. Sharing a smile, Lin Tianming and his companions calmed their excited hearts before Lin Shikang spoke: "Now that our objective is achieved, we should make our way back to Green Bamboo Mountain!" Upon finishing his words, Lin Shikang took out the Beast Skin Map to confirm their route, leading Lin Tianming and his companion along the same path they took when entering. Two days later, the three of them successfully left the inner part of the Luoyun Mountain Range and appeared in a valley on the outskirts. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their journey was quite smooth, with no encounters with Second Order Demonic Beasts, saving them a lot of trouble. Since it was getting late and Lin Tianming and his companion were both injured and somewhat exhausted, and considering they were out of danger, there was no need to hurry on their journey. That evening, they set up camp on the spot and rested for the night before setting off again the next day. The next morning, as the sky began to lighten, Lin Tianming and his companions set off once more, flying toward Green Bamboo Mountain. Since the Purple Gold Eagle had fallen into a deep sleep from consuming too much Red Gold Snake Meat and blood, Lin Tianming did not forcefully summon it for transportation. Fortunately, they had already left the interior of the Luoyun Mountain Range, and there was no danger. Moreover, with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the proximity to the Lin Family''s doorstep, they were safe. In just half a day, the three who could only travel by Sword Flight successfully returned to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Chapter 131 Mini Gathering_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds...After returning safely to the clan, the three of them sighed with relief upon seeing that everything was as usual, then flew towards the main peak. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a courtyard, Lin Shikang sent out a message, and then the three sat in the small courtyard drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Before long, Lin Shigong and Lin Shilu learned that they had returned from the Luoyun Mountain Range and immediately rushed over. With the two joining in, the small courtyard became lively. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shikang spoke of their experiences during this period, and when he mentioned that Lin Tianming and the others were attacked by a Crimson Gold Snake, almost sustaining serious injuries. Hearing this, Lin Shigong''s face changed color for a moment as he anxiously asked about their condition. "Tianming, Shihua, are the two of you hurt?" Facing Lin Shigong''s concern, Lin Tianming felt a warmth in his heart and hastily replied, "Grandfather, our injuries aren''t serious. We only need to rest and recover for half a month and we''ll be completely healed. You don''t need to worry." "Yeah, Ninth Brother, the two of us are fine. But this kid Tianming, how come his recovery is so strong? Just a few days have passed, and he''s already as energetic as a dragon and lively as a tiger." Lin Shihua comforted Lin Shigong while teasing Lin Tianming, prompting laughter from everyone. After a short time, calmness returned to the group. Lin Shikang took out eight Jade Boxes containing Purple Yin Grass along with fifteen seedlings of the same and placed them on the round table in front of him, speaking seriously, "These Spirit Grass seedlings need to be transplanted into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden as soon as possible. Shihua will be in charge of this task. As for these eight mature Purple Yin Grasses, plus the one exchanged from Su He, making a total of nine Purple Yin Grasses, we should discuss how to handle them." Once he finished speaking, everyone fell into deep thought. The underlying meaning of Lin Shikang''s words was naturally to refine the Hun Tian Pill and enhance their cultivation as soon as possible. Prior to this, after years of collection by the family, all Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Hun Tian Pill were gathered except for the Purple Yin Grass. Now that the main medicine was found, there was no time to delay. Lin Shihua, who was well aware of the family''s situation, was the first to speak up. "Ninth Brother, are you confident in refining the Hun Tian Pill now?" Lin Shigong shook his head, expressing regret, "Although it has been over three years since I broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, my Alchemy skills have improved very little. Currently, I can only refine Second Order Inferior Grade Pills, with a success rate and yield of about thirty to forty percent, which is sufficient to maintain the daily cultivation needs of our Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, to refine the Second Order Medium Quality Hun Tian Pill is still far beyond my abilities!" Lin Shigong''s words meant that the option of refining the pill within the family was out of the question, and they had to find an alternative method. "Third Brother, you have been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level for a long time, and for those below the Sixth Level, the benefits of taking the Hun Tian Pill are too little. Our cultivation levels are too low, and we don''t need the Hun Tian Pill in the short term." After Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Shihua also added, "Shilu is right. I think we should send someone with three portions of the Spiritual Medicine Materials to Qianchuan Market and ask Daoist Ye to take action. As for the remaining six plants, we can store them temporarily in the family''s treasury. In ten or eight years, Ninth Brother should be able to refine them, and by that time, as our cultivation levels have increased, the Hun Tian Pills can be exchanged freely for five thousand Spirit Stone Goodness Points, which is beneficial in both respects!" Lin Shihua''s plan and pricing were indeed prudent and reasonable. ``` Seeing no opposition and after deliberation, the arrangement for the Purple Yin Grass was decided on the spot. With too few Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family and their cultivations not high, it was decided that Lin Shilu would take three stalks of Purple Yin Grass and set a date to head to Qianchuan Market, requesting Ye Pinghai''s help to concoct the Hun Tian Pill. Besides, he was also to carry a great amount of wealth to purchase scarce resources for the family, such as Second Order talisman paper and Spiritual Medicine Materials, among others. Lin Tianming''s request to accompany Lin Shilu was outright rejected on the spot by Lin Shikang. The reason was his injury had not yet healed, and since he had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, the family wanted him to stay and urgently prepare for his Foundation Establishment. Under the resolute words of the elders, Lin Tianming had no choice but to comply with the arrangement. Having settled the matter of the Purple Yin Grass, Lin Shikang then brought up the issue of rewards. The Lin Family had always been clear about rewards and punishments since its inception. He was indifferent to the rewards, but Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua had been injured for this cause and naturally deserved a fair reward. As Lin Shikang mentioned this, he became silent, and Lin Shilu chuckled and was the first to speak: "Third Brother contributed the most, receiving a Hun Tian Pill without cost and an additional reward of three thousand Spirit Stone Goodness Points. As for Shihua and Tianming, each shall receive a reward of five thousand Goodness Points, just enough to exchange for a Hun Tian Pill. How does everyone feel about this?" As participants in the search for the Purple Yin Grass, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua naturally would not voice any opinions, and Lin Shigong, concerning his grandson''s reward, did not speak either. Seeing no one raised an objection and considering that not only had Lin Tianming and company been injured on their trip, but they also lost some talisman papers and treasures, they had indeed gone all out in their search for the Purple Yin Grass. Lin Shikang, well aware of their efforts, firmly said: "I will accept the Hun Tian Pill, but as for the Goodness Points, let''s forget about it. In earlier years, the family resources were scant, and most of them were spent on me. Now, Spirit Stone Goodness Points are of little use to me. As for the rewards for Shihua and Tianming, let''s proceed as Shi Lu suggested!" With Lin Shikang''s tone leaving no room for objection, everyone nodded in agreement, thus recognizing the decision. With the arrangements for the Purple Yin Grass and the reward matters concluded, Lin Tianming stood up, excused himself from the elders, and prepared to return to his retreat to heal. Lin Shihua was equally busy. He not only had to arrange for the transplanting of the Purple Yin Grass seedlings, but he also needed to recover from his injuries to avoid affecting the survival rate of the transplant, as it was Third Order Spirit Grass and not commonplace cabbage; the loss of even a single plant would be exceedingly distressing. Lin Shikang said nothing more, only instructing: "I still have to discuss the matter of the Crimson Gold Snake''s carcass with Shilu and the others about artifact refining. You can go and be busy; take care not to delay and leave behind some chronic condition!" After nodding to the elders, Lin Tianming and company greeted the other clan members and left Lin Shikang''s courtyard together. Back at his own courtyard, his mother was still in seclusion and had not emerged yet. After chatting idly with his sister for a while, Lin Tianming instructed her not to neglect her cultivation until she fully agreed, and then he plunged into the secret chamber. Sitting on the meditation cushion in the chamber, Lin Tianming examined his injuries. After a brief respite on the battlefield, his injuries had already recovered by half; the skin wounds had healed, leaving only some meridians in need of proper repair, lest he regret it later due to lingering complications. Determined, he quickly took out a dark green elixir from his storage bag, emitting a special fragrance ¡ª it was the top-grade Consolidating Essence Pill he had concocted himself. After consuming the Consolidating Essence Pill, the elixir dissolved, slowly turning into gentle streams of Spiritual Power that coursed through the meridians in his body. Soon a tingling sensation spread throughout his body, and the gentle Spiritual Power from the elixir began to heal the damaged meridians and wounds. ``` Chapter 132 Asceticism_1 ```Over ten days had flown by in the blink of an eye. Within the secret chamber of his own small courtyard, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and sent out his divine sense to inspect the condition within his body. After more than ten days of seclusion, the injuries he had sustained from the intense battle with the Crimson Gold Snake had largely healed. Although experiencing injuries was unpleasant, the feeling of rapid improvement in one''s cultivation after recovering from such fully-committed battles was intoxicating. At the moment, his Qi Cultivation Great Perfection had hardly advanced, and it was almost impossible to make progress. However, when it came to Body Refinement, his meridians had been strengthened, yet there was still much room for improvement in his internal organs. Feeling the surging spiritual energy and his condition throughout his body, even though the improvement was not substantial, he clearly felt stronger than before the battle. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but smile, then got up to tidy the somewhat disordered secret chamber and stepped out. He did not continue his seclusion to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage because he felt it was only a little over half a year since he reached Great Perfection, and the time seemed short. His condition had not reached its peak, and his preparations were not yet ample enough. Although, with his innate talent and the Minor Foundation Building Pills he had saved over the years, the chances of breakthrough were extremely high, at least over sixty percent assurance. Even so, he wanted to further consolidate his Body Refinement and compress his cultivation and foundation. By doing so, he hoped to achieve the optimal effect with a significant breakthrough when the time came. As for how long he needed to settle, it would be at least half a year to possibly one or two years, depending on the situation. After leaving his courtyard, Lin Tianming decided to go to the Hall of Merit to collect his rewards. In a short while, Lin Tianming appeared inside the Family Merits Hall. The Hall of Merit was exceptionally lively every morning, as it was the time for clan members to exchange items, and many of them were busy at work. As a prominent figure in the family, his appearance caught the attention of everyone in the hall, many of whom were quite familiar with him. Lin Tianming did not neglect them and politely greeted the clan members before having a brief chat with some familiar faces. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it was Lin Tianming''s turn to exchange. Lin Tianming stepped forward, greeted Lin Xingcheng, explained his purpose, and handed over his identity token. Lin Xingcheng had already been informed about the reward and directly transferred five thousand merit points to him. Lin Tianming took the family token, bowed his thanks, and then asked, "Uncle, does our family still have any Bright Jade Fruit?" "Bright Jade Fruit?" Lin Xingcheng furrowed his brows, thought for a while, then replied, "That fruit was the spoils from the last battle with the Jin Family. You''re in luck; there''s exactly one left!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He had only asked on a whim, not expecting there to be any stock left. The effects were quite significant the last time he consumed a Bright Jade Fruit. If he could get another one, it should further enhance his physical strength. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming said, "Then I would like to exchange for one Bright Jade Fruit, and two demon cores of late-stage First Order demonic beasts." Lin Xingcheng nodded, took out books recording various spiritual objects, checked them, and then said, "A Bright Jade Fruit costs seven hundred and fifty spirit stones, and a demon core of a late-stage First Order demonic beast costs two hundred and sixty spirit stones each, making a total of one thousand two hundred and seventy spirit stones." ``` Lin Tianming didn''t hesitate to hand over his identity token, instructing the deduction of the spirit stones. Having taken care of this, Lin Xingcheng walked into the depths of the great hall to the storeroom. In a short while, he brought out the Bright Jade Fruit and two pure white demon cores and handed them over to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming took the Bright Jade Fruit and tucked it into his storage bag, then picked up the two demon cores to examine them. These two demon cores were precisely from the two Dragon Horned Lizards that Lin Tianming and his companions had encountered by accident while searching for the Purple Yin Grass. The two lizards had been unlucky; they were almost at the limit of a First Order demon beast, just needing to consume some heavenly materials and earthly treasures to likely advance to Second Order, but they had unluckily crossed paths with the trio as they passed through its territory, and inexplicably lost their lives. When they killed the Dragon Horned Lizards, Lin Tianming had his eye on their demon cores but felt embarrassed to ask for them directly and decided to exchange for them upon returning to the family. The Purple Gold Eagle had been in the late stage of First Order for a while now, and although it had consumed quite a few Beast Spirit Pills over the years, it was still some distance away from Second Order. If it had two demon cores, in addition to the body and blood of the Crimson Gold Snake, perhaps it could attempt to break through to Second Order. Tucking away the rest, after confirming the two demon cores were indeed from the Dragon Horned Lizards, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingcheng and flew towards the back mountain. Before long, he arrived at the small valley where he had once practiced his Technique Divine Power. Not having been here to cultivate for a long time, he looked at the familiar scenery and the training ground where he had once toiled, a determined glint flickering in his eyes. Ever since swallowing a portion of the Crimson Gold Snake''s body in the Luoyun Mountain Range and drinking half a pool of its blood, the Purple Gold Eagle had fallen into a brief slumber. Now that twenty days had passed, it was time for it to awaken, and Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Ring. Having not seen it for twenty days, the Purple Gold Eagle had indeed made great progress. Its body had grown significantly, and its aura had strengthened considerably, indicating it was inching ever closer to Second Order. It seemed that the meat and blood of a late-stage Second Order Crimson Gold Snake were indeed a great tonic for the Purple Gold Eagle, yielding even better results than expected. Lin Tianming was very satisfied, mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, soared around the outskirts of Green Bamboo Mountain, and then returned to the valley. Over the years, due to the impact of wars and many family affairs, he hadn''t been able to cultivate in this place. Now with the opportunity, Lin Tianming began to tirelessly practice his Divine Skills and body techniques in the valley while the Purple Gold Eagle stayed nearby. Time flew by, and three months passed quickly. Within the first half-month, Lin Tianming was no longer satisfied with cultivating alone and began using the Purple Gold Eagle as a sparring partner, battling with it as he had done in Qingfeng Town. Lin Tianming, with Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, coupled with his Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage cultivation, was naturally stronger than the Purple Gold Eagle. Therefore, he did not use any spiritual power and relied solely on his physical strength to combat the Purple Gold Eagle. Even though the Purple Gold Eagle was a demon beast with the speed of lightning, it struggled against Lin Tianming, a formidable human adversary, and still found no advantage. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After three months of hand-to-hand combat, Lin Tianming exhausted himself every day, and at night switched to his cultivation technique, relying on breathing exercises for cultivation. Three months of living under the open sky, enduring the sun and rain, he suppressed his spiritual power cultivation and lived like a mortal. The Purple Gold Eagle had it even worse, enduring daily beatings that left it covered in wounds after several months. Despite the hardships, the Purple Gold Eagle greatly progressed, consuming a barrel of Crimson Gold Snake blood and some snake meat every day. With the abundance of these treasures and Lin Tianming''s relentless training, the current condition of the Purple Gold Eagle had vastly improved from before. Though it had yet to break through to Second Order, it had reached its peak and just needed a bit of luck to advance smoothly. After three months of diligent cultivation, Lin Tianming had finished the Red Gold Snake Meat, and the Bright Jade Fruit had been consumed. Relying on these treasures, he finally reached the limit in his body refinement. Without further opportunity, both his spiritual power and body refinement were unlikely to make any further progress. "It''s time!" Chapter 133 Breakthrough Foundation Establishment_2 Another half month had passed.During this half month, he recalled his experiences from the past twenty-five years, from beginning to end. From the joy of familial love at the knees of his parents as a child, to joining the clan school with Lin Tian Qin and other clan members in his youth, and then to the elation of condensing his first strand of Spiritual Power and successfully entering the First Level of Qi Refining. The times before becoming a cultivator were warm memories. Thereafter, he began his cultivation, learned Alchemy, took on the task of guarding Qingfeng Town, investigated Ancient Cultivator''s Cave Dwellings for cultivation techniques, journeyed to Qianchuan Market with Lin Shilu, participated in the market competitions, and engaged in life and death battles for his family. In this latter part, the deception and cruelty of the Cultivation World were fully displayed. During this time, he experienced numerous life and death battles, was seriously injured several times, and suffered countless minor injuries. Each time he faced a life-threatening crisis, he persevered. His path to cultivation up to now had been extremely difficult, with over a decade of arduous practice to reach this current step... Memories are like smoke, scenes from his early days on the Path of Immortality feel as if they were just yesterday. As the images in his mind faded away, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut for half a month, and a flash of sharp light passed from the corners of his eyes. Now his mental fortitude was stronger than ever, especially in the training of his spirit, he had ascended to a new level. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s condition had reached an unprecedented peak. Everything was ready, he just needed an east wind! Lin Tianming formed hand seals and circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. He took out a Golden Foundation Establishment Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the elixir entered his mouth, without giving him any time to react, it transformed into a vast and violent Spiritual Power, quickly circulating through his meridians and then converging within his Qi Sea. In just less than the time it takes to breathe in, his face turned crimson red, and after a while, it turned deathly pale. The immense Spiritual Power was almost bursting his Qi Sea Dantian. At this moment, the violent Spiritual Power was exceedingly domineering as it rampaged through his meridians. Large beads of sweat continuously dripped from his face, and his body was in extreme pain. Lin Tianming was not panicked. According to the accounts of breakthroughs and Lin Shikang''s explanations, these reactions were all within his expectations. He immediately focused his mind, fully operated his cultivation technique, and following the experiences of his predecessors, refined the violent Spiritual Power before further condensing the Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea into an even purer form. In just a short amount of time, the newly condensed Spiritual Power gradually gathered into a mass, almost becoming substantial. Though the amount of Spiritual Power had decreased by hundreds of times through repeated compression and refining, the newly condensed Spiritual Power was much stronger, with just a wisp being far more formidable than before. As time passed under the dominion of an even more domineering Heavenly Grade Technique, even the violent Spiritual Power gradually became gentle, flowing through his wide meridians, the medicinal effect of the Minor Foundation Building Pill greatly accelerating the refining rate, making his entire meridian network unobstructed. Although the intense pain was still present, it had eased considerably compared to the beginning. Before he knew it, two days had already passed. Feeling the refined purity of the Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea, at this rate, he speculated that he could complete the transformation of the Spiritual Power in his Dantian within ten days. Despite this, Lin Tianming dared not relax in the slightest and continued to maintain an appropriate speed. At the same time, in another secret chamber. Lin Xingping was also fervently refining the violent medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill. He had taken the pill a few days earlier than Lin Tianming, but his refining speed could not compare, nor could the rate at which he condensed the power. Where Lin Tianming had refined more than twenty percent in two days, Lin Xingping had started three days earlier and had not even reached twenty percent with his condensed pure Spiritual Power, the disparity was quite clear. At this moment, Lin Xingping''s face alternated between blue and white, his Daoist robe soaked with sweat, as if he was undergoing immense suffering. He clenched his teeth, enduring the pain, methodically refining the medicinal power, eventually condensing it into strands of new Spiritual Power. At this moment, both individuals in their respective chambers were refining at different paces, drawing ever closer to entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. Another seven days passed by, and Lin Tianming remained motionless in the secret chamber. By then, the medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill had been almost completely refined, and the violent Spiritual Power was gradually absorbed. The Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea had reached the final stage of condensation, with only a small part left to complete. For nine days, he had borne the agony, now on the brink of a breakthrough, and began speeding up the refining process, ready to break through in one fell swoop. In Lin Shikang''s courtyard. Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua sat in the yard, closely monitoring for any signs of activity in two nearby courtyards. ``` "More than twenty days have passed, and still not a hint of movement!" Lin Shigong let out a subdued sigh, a trace of worry showing on his face. Lin Shikang remained quite calm and said to console him: "Shigong, keep your composure. It''s only been a few days. Didn''t you yourself take nearly two months to break through back then?" "Eh, that''s true!" Lin Shigong''s face reddened, and he sheepishly responded. "Third brother, how long do you think it will take Tian Ming to complete his consolidation?" After some thought, Lin Shikang replied: "I myself had to use a Foundation Establishment Pill to succeed in Foundation Establishment, which has a relatively gentle medicinal power and is quicker to assimilate than the Minor Foundation Building Pill, taking me fourteen days to reconsolidate my spiritual power." "Given Tian Ming''s talent and strength, Foundation Establishment shouldn''t be a problem. As for how long it will take, that''s hard to say, but judging from the experiences of Xing Rong and Xing Yuan in their breakthroughs, it''ll likely take at least just over ten days." Lin Shigong recalled Lin Xingyuan''s own experience and found himself in agreement with Lin Shikang''s estimate. "Let''s hope so!" Before the words of Lin Shigong had even faded, a surge of pressure from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator rapidly spread, soon engulfing the entire Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At the mountainside, in the open area unguarded by prohibitions, some clan members felt this powerful pressure and their expressions immediately changed. "Another clan member has succeeded in Foundation Establishment!" A large number of clan members stopped in their tracks, looking up at the summit of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, their faces filled with immense excitement. Lin Shikang immediately sensed this pressure and shouted with excitement: "It''s Tian Ming, Tian Ming has succeeded!" Just before Lin Shikang''s exclamation, Lin Shigong too had felt a pressure stronger than his own emanating. Unable to control his aura in the midst of a breakthrough, he knew with utter certainty it was none other than Lin Tianming. Knowing that Lin Tianming had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, Lin Shigong was overwhelmed with excitement, laughing heartily with relief. Lin Shikang was equally excited and after sharing a knowing smile, he reminded: "Shigong, Tian Ming has just broken through and still needs to stabilize. He''s unlikely to come out immediately. Moreover, Xing Shun is still in seclusion. The disturbance just now was too big; go and reassure the clan members. I''ll wait here." Lin Shigong nodded, quickly acknowledging and then left the courtyard, flying down the mountain. ... Within the secret chamber, Lin Tianming''s originally pale face gradually became rosy. As the last wisp of spiritual power was refined, a muffled sound came from his Dantian. In that instant of breakthrough, a warm current spread throughout his body. Lin Tianming felt the spiritual power within his Qi Sea grow exponentially, and his divine sense began to rapidly increase. At this moment, every flower and blade of grass around him, every movement, was crystal clear in his mind. Right then, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. After more than a decade of cultivation, he had finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Feeling the boundless power filling his body, he knew it was incomparable to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage. "No wonder they say that one only becomes a true cultivator upon reaching Foundation Establishment. With my current strength, even if ten cultivators at the Great Perfection attacked me together, they wouldn''t stand a chance!" After muttering to himself, he extended his divine sense and examined his transformed Qi Sea. Your next chapter is on empire The spiritual power he once had was vast but thin. Now, although it was only a small cluster, it was completely substantialized. It was precisely this small cluster of spiritual power, after repeated compressions and refinements, that could unleash energy more than ten times more potent than before. Before long, the excited Tian Ming finally regained his composure. His cultivation level had just stabilized and needed further consolidation. A slip at this point could lead to regrettable losses. Fully aware of these potential dangers, Lin Tianming brought his hands together and continued to operate his cultivation technique to practice. ``` Chapter 134 More Good News_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming, with hands pressed together, cycled the Cultivation Technique through countless Grand Circulations, clearly entering a state of self-forgetful cultivation.Thin strands of Spiritual Energy enveloped him, then slowly seeped in through his Sky Spirit Cover, and ultimately converged in his fist-sized Qi Sea. As the moon set and the sun rose, a half a month passed. In the secret chamber, he exhaled a breath of turbid air and once again opened his tightly shut eyes. After half a month of consolidating his cultivation, his aura was now stable and introverted, not at all as sharp and floating as it had been immediately following his breakthrough. Examining the transformed Spiritual True Essence, he was very satisfied with the results of his cultivation during this period. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Counting from the time he had entered the secret chamber to adjust his state, over forty days had passed. Lin Tianming stretched his body, twisted his slightly stiff limbs, and got up to leave the secret chamber. Inside Lin Shikang''s small courtyard, Lin Shigong and Lin Shikang were chatting idly. Today, more than forty days had passed since Lin Tianming''s successful Foundation Establishment, but there had been no word from Lin Xingping''s small courtyard. At this moment, the joy of Lin Tianming''s successful Foundation Establishment gradually faded, and the two began to worry about Lin Xingping, who was older, failing in his breakthrough. Over the years, several clan members had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, totaling seven Foundation Establishment Clan Members, firmly positioning them as the premier family of the Luoyun Mountain Range. But who would ever feel that having too many Foundation Establishment members was an issue? Seeing Lin Shikang''s concern, Lin Shigong forced a wry smile and tried to reassure him: "Third brother, Xingping is only sixty, about the same age as when Xing Rong achieved Foundation Establishment. The boy has cultivated diligently and accrued a long period of preparatory time; he still has a fairly good chance of success." Lin Shikang let out a wry laugh, then staring into Lin Xingping''s small courtyard, he sighed, "Let''s hope so." Before long, Lin Tianming entered the small courtyard, and the expressions on the faces of Lin Shikang and the other swiftly turned to surprise delight. "Tianming, you''ve finally emerged from seclusion." Lin Shigong was very happy and immediately approached, looking Lin Tianming over carefully. "Tianming pays respect to Third Grandfather and Grandfather!" Lin Tianming, with a smile, bowed to the two men. "Haha... come, take a seat!" Lin Shikang waved his hand, and Lin Shigong pulled him over to sit beside them. His bottom had barely warmed the seat when, planning to inquire about Lin Xingping''s situation with Foundation Establishment, he was instead bombarded with questions by the two elders about the whole process of his own Foundation Establishment. Lin Tianming, finding no alternative, began recounting everything starting from entering the secret chamber, narrating his entire breakthrough experience. Upon learning that Lin Tianming had ingested a Minor Foundation Building Pill and succeeded in refining new Spiritual True Essence in just nine days, both elders were astounded. At such a rate, Lin Tianming was truly unprecedented in the eight-hundred-year history of the Lin Family. As for whether there would be successors to the feat¡ª that was hard to say. Once they had composed themselves, Lin Shikang began to share his own cultivation experience in great detail. Lin Tianming listened intently, and as time passed, the meticulous explanations from Lin Shikang resolved many of the problems that had long puzzled him. This was the advantage of having elders'' guidance. If one were a Loose Cultivator, relying solely on self-exploration, it would mean much time lost in cultivation. An hour passed before he finally took the opportunity to inquire about Lin Xingping''s condition. At the mention of this matter, the joyful expression on Lin Shikang''s face became somewhat troubled. Just as Lin Tianming was about to offer some comfort, the oppressive aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator once again emanated from a nearby courtyard before quickly subsiding. Feeling the stirrings of Foundation Establishment, the three of them changed their expressions simultaneously and soon became excited. With Lin Xingping''s successful Foundation Establishment, the Lin Family had gained another Foundation Establishment Cultivator, bringing their total number to eight. With such strength, even within the territory of the Wei Kingdom, excluding the Golden Core forces, they could rank among the top of the Foundation Establishing Families, but that was not all. The Lin Family would continue to grow stronger and, given enough time, returning to the ranks of the Golden Core Families was not impossible. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong couldn''t help but burst into hearty laughter. More than ten breaths of time passed as they laughed, and before they knew it, tears of joy streamed down their faces uncontrollably. When the Lin Family was first established, it was after all a Golden Core Family. Though they had fallen into decline, they experienced a brief period of brilliance two hundred years ago¡ªyet those days of glory were now in the past. In the past few years, when they were surrounded by powerful enemies and their situation was precarious, the Lin Family could only survive in the cracks. Without careful vigilance, they could face calamity, and the family legacy that had lasted for eight hundred years would be destroyed in an instant. The family''s predicaments at that time were still vivid in the minds of LaShikang and Lin Shigong; many exceptionally talented family members tragically missed their chances to achieve Foundation Establishment, leading to lifelong regrets. Fortunately, heaven favored the Lin Family, and it was at this time that they began their sudden rise. In just five short years, through the concerted efforts of the entire family to overcome difficulties, the Lin Family had now reached, and even surpassed, the heights it had been at two hundred years before. At this thought, Lin Shikang''s eyes filled with tears once more. When he thought no one was paying attention, he turned his head, waved his sleeve, and wiped away his emotional tears. Lin Tianming, witnessing this, couldn''t help but feel his nose tingle, and his eyes began to blur with tears as well. Understanding the immense pressure Lin Shikang must have endured in those dire circumstances, he could fully empathize with these emotions. Lin Tianming stepped forward and took the hands of Lin Shikang and the others, comforting them, "Third Grandfather, Grandfather, Uncle Xingping''s successful Foundation Establishment is a blessing for our family. The Lin Family will only grow stronger from now on. Perhaps in less than a hundred years, we can return to the ranks of the Golden Core Families!" After Lin Tianming''s comforting words, Lin Shikang and the others steadied themselves, their emotions gradually calming. "Indeed, although the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in our family has reached the highest in our history, we are still among the Foundation Establishing Families. The journey to return to the Golden Core Families remains long and arduous!" Find adventures at empire Collecting themselves, the three of them sat back down. "Tianming, your success in Foundation Establishment brings me great joy. Take this bottle of elixirs as a celebratory gift!" Having said this, Lin Shikang quickly took out a Jade Bottle from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Shikang present a congratulatory gift, Lin Shigong said with a smile, "Haha... Third Brother really plays favorites. When Shihua and I had our breakthroughs, why didn''t we get a bottle of elixirs as a celebratory gift?" Lin Shikang gave a wry smile upon hearing Lin Shigong''s playful complaint. This was indeed unfair to him. When Lin Shigong had his breakthrough, the family was utterly destitute. Even the elixirs he needed for his own cultivation were intermittent. Often, cultivation relied solely on meditative breathing. In such circumstances, how could he have spare elixirs to give as a gift? However, on one point he wasn''t mistaken: he placed great hopes in Lin Tianming, and he hadn''t prepared a gift for Lin Xingping''s accomplishment; indeed, he might have been a bit biased. "Tianming, aren''t you going to thank your Third Grandfather? This is the first time he''s been so generous!" Reminded by his grandfather, Lin Tianming accepted the Jade Bottle, expressing his thanks respectfully. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others spent a short time gathering together. Since Lin Xingping was still in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation, he would not be able to leave for some time. As the evening deepened, following Lin Shikang''s parting words of advice, Lin Tianming left his cave abode and returned to his own home. Chapter 135 Tiangang Ninth Sword_1 Upon returning to his small courtyard, his mother had emerged from seclusion and was cooking a meal, preparing to celebrate his Foundation Establishment.The day after Lin Tianming successfully established his foundation, Lin Shigong specially dispatched clan members to Golden Horn Mountain to share the news of his Foundation Establishment with Lin Xingrong. Upon hearing of Lin Tianming''s successful Foundation Establishment, Lin Xingrong was overjoyed. After arranging the affairs of the Jin Family Clan''s Territory, he immediately rushed back to Green Bamboo Mountain. It was difficult for him to return to the clan''s lands, primarily to celebrate his son''s Foundation Establishment. Additionally, he hadn''t visited the clan''s territory in two years and saw it as a perfect opportunity to reunite with family. At this moment... The grandfather was still in Lin Shikang''s courtyard discussing clan affairs and had not returned, while the sister was helping the mother prepare the meal. Father and son sat together in the courtyard, sipping on Spiritual Tea. After a brief silence, the atmosphere became a bit awkward. At some point, the father''s face turned slightly red, and he stammered out a phrase. "Tian Ming... congratulations..." Lin Tianming gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Dad, there''s no need for such formality!" After speaking, he poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for his father and respectfully handed it over. Lin Xingrong took the Spiritual Tea, took a sip, and both of them smiled together. The relationship between father and son was subtle. Since Lin Tianming could remember, they hadn''t spent much time together. His father appeared silent and stern, upright and honest, and was quite strict with him. In fact, Lin Xingrong took Lin Tianming very seriously in his heart and was silently making sacrifices for him. Although he was strict, it was because he hoped his son could go further on the path towards eternal life. Lin Tianming, who profoundly understood this, deeply appreciated his father and harbored no resentment in his heart. Soon, the atmosphere relaxed, and Lin Xingrong began to share some of his cultivation experiences. Although they were both at the Foundation Establishment First Level, Lin Xingrong had cultivated for two years and, despite his limited experience, Lin Tianming took his words to heart. After half an hour passed, Lin Shigong also hurried back, just in time for dinner to be ready. The five of them sat down to begin their meal. Lin Shigong was extremely happy that day and had specially prepared a few jars of treasured Spiritual Wine to enhance the joy. Lin Shigong picked up his cup, stood up, and after scanning everyone, he said: "Today, I am extremely happy. To celebrate Tian Ming''s successful Foundation Establishment, let''s drink together, three generations of us!" Lin Tianming and the others got up, raised their cups, and drank. That night, the three generations happily drank merrily together, and after dinner, all three were completely drunk and returned to their rooms to rest. In fact, Spiritual Wine, brewed with Spirit Fruit and Spiritual Medicine Materials, was not as strong as the alcoholic beverages in the secular world. If they had used even a little Spiritual Power to suppress it, their Foundation Establishment Cultivator bodies and souls wouldn''t have allowed them to get drunk. The following morning... Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a beam of sunlight passed through the small window and shone onto the stone wall of the room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and twisted his head, which felt slightly groggy. In a short time, the grogginess dissipated, and he returned to his peak condition in body and spirit. At the back mountain of the family, Lin Tianming descended from high above and stopped in the small valley where he had once trained. With a piercing cry, the Purple Gold Eagle flew out of a cave halfway up a mountain. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle was extremely excited, rubbing his clothes with its beak as sharp as a sword. Having not seen each other for over a month, the Purple Gold Eagle''s body had grown larger once more, clearly benefiting from the Dragon Horned Lizard''s inner core, and further enhancing its strength. By now, the Purple Gold Eagle was probably about to reach the peak of Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts. If it had two Second Order Demon Cores, perhaps it could even attempt to break through to the Second Order. Patting the feathers of the Purple Gold Eagle, he was quite satisfied with its progress. Given the chance, he planned to take it to train in the Luoyun Mountain Range, to see if they could hunt down Second Order Demonic Beasts. However, now was not the right time. He had only recently succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, and his powers were limited. More importantly, each major realm of the Tiangang Body Art allowed for the cultivation of a new Divine Skill. He needed to, at the very least, succeed in cultivating this new skill and wait until his strength had further increased before venturing out for training. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming leaped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, flew a circle around Green Bamboo Mountain, and then returned to the valley. After giving the Purple Gold Eagle the remaining Dragon Horned Lizard''s Demon Core to consume, he let it return to its own excavated cave. Having seen off the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming sat down beneath the cave, ready to comprehend the Divine Skills of his cultivation technique. Once he sat down, Lin Tianming began to adjust his state, and after a quarter of an hour, when his condition peaked, he took out the Technique Jade Slip and began to understand it. At this moment, Lin Tianming remained motionless, in a mysterious state. Time slowly passed, and more than ten days quickly went by... Opening his eyes, Lin Tianming revealed a slight smile. In the first few days, Lin Tianming revisited the cultivation technique once more. In the subsequent ten days, he focused on comprehending the Divine Skills of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Through his contemplation, he successfully grasped the essence of the second Divine Skill. According to the description of the technique, the second attached Divine Skill was called the Tiangang Nine Swords, which was an offensive-oriented skill. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation Divine Skill of the Qi Refinement Realm mainly focused on trapping enemies, and its offensive power was not particularly remarkable. It also greatly depended on the right timing. Against cultivators of the same stage, it was naturally easy, but in a cross-level fight, the pressure was considerable. Perhaps it was because he had never activated all thirty-six Earth Evil Swords, leading to some misunderstanding of the Earth Evil Sword''s true power. The Tiangang Nine Swords, on the other hand, were all about offense. Each successive sword attack could be stacked, with each sword being more formidable than the last. When nine swords were layered, they corresponded to the nine levels of the Foundation Establishment Stage. With his understanding of the technique, he could only activate the first sword. As his level increased, he could stack the swords for greater offensive power. Having comprehended the essence of the skill, Lin Tianming was somewhat excited. He quickly took out an Earth Evil Sword, eager to try out the effects. After running his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, he tossed the Earth Evil Sword overhead. Then, with both hands forming seals, he made a strange gesture, followed by a single-handed seal while muttering under his breath. "Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword, swift..." The surface of the Earth Evil Sword burst into a brilliant golden light, streaking toward a stone wall a thousand feet away like a shooting star. In an instant, a loud bang erupted, and stone fragments scattered abundantly in the air as if a celestial maiden were sprinkling flowers. Once the dust settled, a giant hole several zhang in diameter appeared on the massive stone wall, the depth of which was unfathomable. Seeing such destructive power, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration: "Just one sword, and that too with a First Order Supreme Quality Earth Evil Sword, has caused such devastation to an entire stone mountain. The Tiangang Nine Swords truly are a fearsome Divine Skill!" The downside was that his casting speed was so slow that even a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage could easily dodge it. If he were to use it against an enemy now, it would clearly be premature. Even so, he was extremely satisfied with the power of the skill, and with some more practice and familiarity, he should be able to employ it against foes. Afterward, Lin Tianming continued to execute the technique over and over again, all for the sake of mastering it completely as soon as possible. Chapter 136 Minor Achievement in Divine Skills_1 Behind Green Bamboo Peak.In a quiet valley, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground. Above his head, the Earth Evil Sword emitted a piercing whine before shooting out like lightning, striking the rocky wall. "Boom..." At that moment, a loud explosion was heard, and the ground began to shake. A stone mountain several hundred feet high directly collapsed over a large area, and numerous rocks tumbled down, eventually coalescing to form a new small hill. After the shaking had stopped and the dust had cleared, Lin Tianming''s figure was revealed. At this moment, he was drenched in sweat, his complexion slightly pale, evidently greatly exhausted. For the past month, he had dedicated his days to rigorous practice, sitting in meditation to recover his spiritual power only after it was completely drained, repeatedly attempting, after over a thousand castings, each time pushed to the point of exhaustion before stopping. As the saying goes, hard work pays off. The Tiangang Ninth Sword, a divine skill, was finally within his grasp, and he had reached the Minor Achievement Realm. His casting speed had now attained instantaneity, and the power had further increased, enough to handle ordinary battles. Having reached the Minor Achievement Realm with practice alone, any further progress had become difficult; to attain the Great Achievement Realm, he needed to go through numerous real combats to advance further. Managing to reach the Minor Achievement Realm with a month of hard work was already quite remarkable, and for this result, he was very satisfied. His goal had been achieved, and the Purple Gold Eagle had ingested another Dragon Horned Lizard Demon Core and was still in deep slumber. Three days prior, Lin Shihua had sent a message, instructing him to head to Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling for a gathering the next day, so it was time to leave. He rose and tidied up the disheveled scene, glanced at the cave of the Purple Gold Eagle, and then left the valley. The next morning, Lin Tianming left his own small courtyard, accompanied by his father as they flew toward the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. In no time at all, the two arrived in front of Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After sending a message, the prohibition in front of the cave dwelling was lifted, and both of them walked straight in. In the courtyard, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong, among a few other Xing Clan members, were sitting on stone chairs, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Lin Tianming and his father walked straight up to the elders and bowed. "Tianming pays respect to the elders!" "No need for such formalities, come and sit with us!" Lin Shikang chuckled and waved them over to sit down. Lin Tianming and his father did not decline, stepping forward to sit by their grandfather''s side, one on the left and one on the right. It didn''t take long for Lin Xingping to enter the courtyard, exchanging greetings with other clan members present before taking a seat next to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming had come out of seclusion half a month earlier than him and went straight to cultivate divine skills, without having had the chance to congratulate him; now that they had met, the two chatted briefly. Lin Shikang, seeing everyone had gathered, said with a smile: "Today is truly rare; aside from Xing Yuan holding down Luoyun Market, all seven Foundation Establishment cultivators of our family are gathered here, plus Xingping and Tianming successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, our family has gained two more Foundation Establishment members, truly a cause for celebration!" Upon finishing, Lin Shihua also added with a sense of marvel. "Third brother is right. They both have been out of seclusion for half a month, each busy with their own tasks, and only today have we all managed to get together; this indeed isn''t easy." The others nodded and echoed a few words, after which Lin Shikang spoke about the matter at hand. "I''ve asked you all to come today for several purposes. First, to strengthen our bonds and celebrate Tian Ming and Xing Ping''s successful Foundation Establishment. Second, Shi Lu has returned from Qianchuan Market, having completed the Lin Family task perfectly and brought back two Hun Tian Pills. With a Hun Tian Pill, I can finally make further progress without accidents!" After Lin Shikang finished speaking, everyone was overjoyed. It should be noted that Lin Shikang was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm during the family war six years ago. Now, in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, each step forward is difficult. Having finally obtained a Hun Tian Pill, it was natural for him to seek a breakthrough as soon as possible. In the midst of laughter, Lin Shihua spoke, "Third brother, rest assured and focus on your breakthrough. Now that our family is growing stronger each day, we few can manage the clan affairs, and you can concentrate on your cultivation!" Tian Ming and the others also spoke up, encouraging Lin Shikang to focus on his seclusion. In the current state of Luoyun Mountain, the Lin Family is incomparable, its formidable strength leaving other clans in the dust. Unless faced with the threat of external forces, there would be no danger. "Hmm..." Lin Shikang smiled knowingly and gave his instructions, "Then, it''s settled. I cannot be certain how long this seclusion will take, short as three months, long up to a year. As for the clan''s affairs, you all can discuss and handle them. If there is a major decision that can''t be made, then pass the message to me!" "Yes..." After the unanimous response, they began to discuss some of the clan affairs. The gathering lasted for over an hour, only dispersing around noon. When it was time to leave, Lin Shihua called Lin Shikang, his father, and Lin Xingping aside, "Xing Rong, the three of you have established your Foundation, so you may choose a cave dwelling at the peak of the main mountain. Since you''ve been in charge of the affairs at Golden Horn Mountain and haven''t had the chance to choose, now that you''re back, why not settle on a dwelling before you leave? What do you think?" Lin Shihua''s words excited them. The spiritual energy of the peak was far stronger than that of the mid-mountain courtyards. Though the difference might not be noticeable over a short period of cultivation, over a prolonged seclusion, the improvement in cultivation speed could be significant. Lin Xingrong spoke, "The younger generation has no objections, we will follow the Clan Leader''s arrangements!" Naturally, Tian Ming and the others had no objections, and since many of them were at the peak, Lin Shihua decided to select the cave dwellings immediately. After leaving Lin Shikang''s courtyard, Lin Shihua led the three of them around the entire peak. Along the way, Lin Shihua also described the situation of some vacant courtyards to them. In reality, the layout of the peak''s courtyards was divided into four areas: east, south, west, and north, and they were not too far apart from each other. The few of them had long had an idea of what to expect. As the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators grew, the original dozen or so courtyards gradually became occupied by new clan members, leaving not many choices for them to select from. After half an hour, Tian Ming and the others each chose a cave dwelling. Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping chose to be on the east side of the courtyards, where Lin Xingyuan''s dwelling was. This way, the Xing Clan Members would be together. In the north, where there are several courtyards, only one was still vacant, and all four Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Lin family gathered there. Tian Ming naturally would not choose the north side. It also wouldn''t be quite right to join the senior members of the Xing lineage on the east. After some thought, he decided to choose a courtyard on the west side for his dwelling. As for the western area, besides him, no other clan members lived there. It was perfect, as he preferred a quiet environment. Additionally, the west side offered beautiful scenery near the mountains and was closer to the small valley where he cultivated his Divine Skills¡ªtruly an ideal location. After greeting Lin Shihua and securing the courtyard by completing the registration process, Tian Ming and the others received the Formation Token for the courtyard''s protective formation. With the selection of the courtyard concluded, Tian Ming and the others took their leave. Chapter 137 Cave Abode_1 The following morning at dawn, in the room of Lin Tianming.He packed up some essential living necessities briefly before stepping out of the room and into the courtyard. Inside the courtyard, his father was sitting and drinking tea, while his mother and sister were also packing up some household items. The previous day, after the father and son returned home, they had discussed with his mother about taking advantage of Lin Xingrong''s rare return to the clan lands to relocate the entire family to live on the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. The environment and spiritual energy at the peak were much better than at the mountainside. Moving there would also benefit their cultivation, and with Grandfather residing at the peak, the family was now reunited. Soon, all the necessary items were packed into storage bags, and the four of them reluctantly left the courtyard that had been their home for many years. Before long, the family arrived at the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Parting with their father, Lin Xingrong led his mother and sister to their new home in the East District, while Lin Tianming moved to his own cave dwelling in the West District. Standing in the center of the West District, Lin Tianming surveyed the quiet area around him. It was incomparable to the East or North Districts; the North District was home to Lin Shikang and several other Foundation Establishment clan members of the Shi generation, along with their direct relatives, and the East District housed Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingping, among other Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with their many family members. That area would also become lively in time. The West District, however, with its courtyards, was still unoccupied except for him, a solitary figure. It was unlikely that any of the Tian generation would reach Foundation Establishment soon, even Lin Tianfeng, the highest in cultivation among them, had only recently broken through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. It would be years before he succeeded in establishing his foundation. Fortunately, several years for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was but the span of a few closed-door meditation sessions, hardly considered a long time. As the cultivation of Tian generation members gradually progressed, the West District would become lively over the next decade. In a few decades, the ancient courtyards on the peak might even become insufficient, necessitating the construction of many more. Pushing these thoughts aside, it wasn''t long before he arrived at a location on the edge of the West District, standing in front of a quaint courtyard. Lin Tianming took out his Restriction Order Token, opened it, and entered with confident strides. It took him a quarter of an hour to explore the entire courtyard after entering his new dwelling. His courtyard covered a vast hundred acres, several times larger than his previous one. The facilities in the entire courtyard were comprehensive, including three bedrooms for rest, a reception room, and a varying number of Cultivation Rooms, Pill Refining Rooms, Artifact Forging Rooms, and other various secret chambers. Beyond these, there was also a several-acre Spirit Field in the outer courtyard suitable for planting Spiritual Medicine. Because it was near the western mountains, this courtyard had even denser spiritual energy than the North District, with clouds and mist often shrouding one corner of the yard, giving it a rather mystical appearance. Lin Tianming was very satisfied with his new courtyard. He then spent half a day tidying up the entire yard before he left his cave dwelling and headed to Lin Shilu''s courtyard. The West District was not far from the North District, separated only by a plaza. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the journey was a matter of just a few breaths. After entering Lin Shilu''s courtyard and exchanging greetings, the two sat down for a casual chat. Curious about Lin Tianming''s purpose for visiting, Lin Shilu asked, "Tianming, it is rare for you to visit. What brings you here today?" Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush; he went straight to the point. "Fifteenth Grandfather, your grandnephew wishes to forge an Attack Talisman. If the Earth Evil Swords could be upgraded and a few more forged, that would be even better. As a Second Order Refiner, perhaps you could enlighten me." "This boy, thinks a magic artifact is as common as a cabbage, that few can be made with just a few words," Lin Shilu thought to himself, his chest tightening upon hearing Lin Tianming''s request, then contemplation set in. The set of Spirit Swords wielded by Lin Tianming were crafted by him, and at the time, forging the twenty Earth Evil Swords had consumed a significant amount of his treasured Spirit Ore to produce a set of First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords. Those Supreme Quality First Order swords indeed made him unmatched in the Qi Refinement Realm, with few adversaries. However, they fell short at the Foundation Establishment Stage; unless up against a novice Loose Cultivator, most were using magic artifacts by the Medium Stage. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that Lin Tianming had successfully established his foundation and his wealth was considerable, it was evident that he was no longer satisfied using mere Spirit Swords against his enemies. After pondering for a full quarter-hour, Lin Tianming did not speak to interrupt, waiting patiently the entire time. After a short while, Lin Shilu finally spoke with a tone of regret, "At the moment, we have some ancillary materials, but we lack the appropriate main material. It''s impossible to forge a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact!" After Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Tianming''s expression became somewhat downcast. Seeing this, Lin Shilu changed tack. "However, the clan still has quite a few Second Order Qingling Bamboos. I can help you forge seventy-two Earth Evil Swords. It''s feasible to upgrade a few of them into a set of talismans!" Once Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Tianming finally showed a hint of a smile. He knew that the main material for Second Order Mid-tier magical artifacts was difficult to collect; he was just asking casually. Nonetheless, upgrading a few Lower Grade talismans on the existing basis wasn''t a bad idea either. Thinking of his Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the significant room for improvement, since an Attack Spirit Weapon was hard to come by in a short time, increasing the number of Earth Evil Swords could greatly enhance his own strength. With this in mind, Lin Tianming asked again, "Fifteenth Grandfather, my Earth Fiend Sword Formation can control up to seventy-two spirit swords. The stronger the quality of the spirit swords, the more powerful they will be. If I forge seventy-two First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords, surely the power of the sword array won''t be inferior to a Second Order Lower Grade magical artifact, right?" Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu revealed a look of astonished admiration. "Seventy-two First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords?" "That would require a huge number of spirit stones. Are you sure you want to do this?" At that moment, Lin Tianming was also calculating. He currently had twelve thousand Merit Points, which was indeed not a small amount. Originally, forging the twenty Earth Evil Swords; the materials alone, including the Second Order Qingling Bamboo, had cost three thousand spirit stones. To forge more than fifty spirit swords, with his current wealth, it was a bit tight. However, he was only at the First Layer of Foundation Establishment, and he didn''t need that many spirit swords for the time being. He estimated that gathering fifty-four spirit swords should be feasible. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming said, "There''s no need for so many right now. I already have twenty, so I just need to forge thirty-four First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords to pair with the previous ones to form a complete set of spirit swords. As for the Attack Spirit Weapon, just one will suffice." "Hmm, that would be doable!" Lin Shilu nodded his head, agreeing with his plan. After some thought, he took out a beast skin and laid it out on the stone table in front of him. Barely had his fingertip shone with spiritual light when he swiftly wrote down a list of materials on the beast skin. In no time, the beast skin listed more than ten types of materials. After confirming there were no omissions, Lin Shilu passed the beast skin to Lin Tianming, then said, "Retrieve the materials listed here from the clan exchange. I still have some of the other materials here, and there shouldn''t be a problem fulfilling the requirements for this forging." Lin Tianming took the beast skin, quickly glanced over it, and then tucked it securely into his storage bag. Lin Tianming bowed with clasped hands and said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, I will exchange for them now and come to find you tomorrow!" After he finished speaking, Lin Tianming stood up, ready to leave. At that moment, Lin Shilu spoke again, "Kid, if you''re short on Merit Points, this old man will lend you five thousand!" "Thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather, but Tianming has Merit Points..." Lin Tianming chuckled, gave Lin Shilu a bow with his hands pressed together, and left the small courtyard. Chapter 138 Penniless_1 After leaving Lin Shilu''s courtyard, Lin Tianming returned first to his own cave abode.Sitting in the small courtyard, he spread out the beast skin Lin Shilu had given him. He had only glanced briefly at it before and hadn''t had the chance to take a closer look; now, naturally, he wanted to calculate roughly how many Merit Points the artifact refining would require. Looking closely, he saw that the beast skin recorded more than a dozen items. "One hundred and thirty jin of Second Order Spirit Iron, three Silver Star Stones of Second Order, three strands of Jiuxuan Vine, one hundred jin of Second Order Demon Beast Essence Blood..." Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming had finished going through the list of artifact refining materials on the beast skin. At this moment, his expression was somewhat ugly. Just the aforementioned materials alone, each of which was no ordinary item, like Second Order Spirit Iron, priced at more than ten Spirit Stones per jin. Just the cost of this item alone would consume more than a thousand Spirit Stones, not to mention that the price of Second Order Qingling Bamboo was even higher. The other artifact refining materials were also expensive, each costing hundreds of Spirit Stones. He estimated that just the materials for the artifact refining would cost nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones. Fortunately, he was wealthy; an average Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn''t possibly afford it. "Never mind, I''ll go to the Hall of Merit to check first," Lin Tianming decided. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming left his cave abode and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Before long, Lin Tianming appeared inside the Hall of Merit and found Lin Xingcheng. After exchanging a few cordial words, he got straight to the point. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Uncle, could you help me check how many Merit Points these materials will require?" Having said that, he handed the beast skin to Lin Xingcheng so he could check and calculate the cost of the exchange. Lin Xingcheng took the beast skin, looked at just two lines, and his eyes twitched. Then he exclaimed in surprise. "You need so much? What kind of powerful weapon are you planning to refine?" After Lin Tianming explained his plan and thought about the power of his Sword Array, he became resigned. "Tianming, wait a moment while I check if we have all these Spiritual Objects and then I''ll calculate the prices for you," Lin Xingcheng said. After speaking, he directly picked up the ledger and went towards the back of the great hall to inventory the treasures for him. Lin Tianming sat patiently waiting on the side. A short half-quarter of an hour quietly passed, and Lin Xingcheng returned, pinching a storage bag in his hand. Seeing Lin Xingcheng coming out, Lin Tianming hurriedly asked, "How is it, do we have all the Spiritual Objects?" Lin Xingcheng chuckled and then said: "You''re really lucky; all the materials listed happen to be Second Order Spiritual Items. Although they''re precious, the family has fortunately collected some, just enough in quantity." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. These items were indeed precious, but with the treasures from the Jin Family and Wu Family added to the family''s resources, they could be gathered. If they had not been enough, he would have had to make quite an effort to find them elsewhere. Lin Xingcheng took out the ledger and started to read out the prices. "One jin of Second Order Spirit Iron costs ten Spirit Stones, totalling one thousand three hundred Spirit Stones; one Silver Star Stone costs two hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, totalling eight hundred and forty Spirit Stones; one Jiuxuan Vine costs two hundred and sixty Spirit Stones, totalling seven hundred and eighty Spirit Stones..." Lin Tianming listened, and a line slowly formed on his forehead. "The total for the aforementioned fourteen materials comes to six thousand seven hundred and fifty Spirit Stones." It didn''t take long for Lin Xingcheng to announce the final price, once again causing Lin Tianming''s complexion to change. Just the more than a dozen Spiritual Objects listed above would amount to more than six thousand Spirit Stones, not including the five thousand Spirit Stones for the Second Order Qingling Bamboo. If he included the Second Order Qingling Bamboo in the calculation, it would be nearly twelve thousand Spirit Stones, over a thousand more than he had anticipated. Soon, Lin Tianming came to terms with it. This time, to refine thirty-four First Order Supreme Quality Earth Evil Swords, as well as one Magic Artifact, it would cost just over ten thousand Spirit Stones for such a massive number. In truth, this price was quite reasonable. To know that a lower grade second-order magic artifact would cost no less than seven or eight thousand spirit stones, and a supreme quality spiritual artifact is also worth hundreds of spirit stones, this price he''s paying is truly insignificant by comparison. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming speculated that Lin Shilu must have had to add quite a few valuable spiritual objects to refine the weapon for him. "It seems that I must give up all my wealth to make up for what the old man has spent." Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming spoke up: "Uncle, I want all of the above treasures, and also the thirty-four second-order Qingling Bamboos. I''ll exchange for them all at once." After speaking, Lin Tianming didn''t care about Lin Xingcheng''s expression and directly handed over his family token. Upon hearing that Lin Tianming wanted to exchange for second-order Qingling Bamboos, Lin Xingcheng was so stunned that it took him a good while to come to his senses. Afterward, Lin Xingcheng calculated the total price based on the original cost and then accepted his family token. As a streak of blue light flashed by, the only remaining eleven thousand five hundred and some Merit Points in his family token were completely deducted. He still had to provide some extra spirit stones to the Hall of Merit. After deducting the Merit Points, Lin Xingcheng handed over a storage pouch to Lin Tianming and then took out the token for the bamboo forest, passing it along to him as well. The implication was that he would have to go find the bamboos in the forest himself. Lin Tianming reluctantly accepted the token, his current strength should make the cutting a fair bit quicker. With the exchange for artifact refining materials settled, Lin Tianming looked at his storage pouch and began pondering. After such a spree, years of accumulation had been wiped out, and the Merit Points had gone down to zero. In the storage pouch, there weren''t many spiritual objects left, only around one thousand six hundred spirit stones and some pills from the Qi Refinement Realm which hadn''t been used up. There were about thirty bottles in total, and only one bottle contained second-order pills, a gift from Lin Shikang when Lin Tianming was breaking through to the Foundation Establishment. Besides that, there were also some second-order spiritual medicines that he had slowly collected, intending to use for refining second-order pills. The rest were miscellaneous spiritual artifacts, spirit ores, and Demonic Beasts'' bodies and demon cores. After taking inventory of his storage pouch, Lin Tianming planned to exchange all ordinary objects utterly for spirit stones to gather as many as possible and serve as compensation for Lin Shilu''s assistance with artifact refining. Given that Lin Shilu had helped him many times, and this time, to help him with artifact refining, he was undoubtedly going to use some treasured items, possibly even the Golden Tide Sand obtained from the exchange meeting. With such help from Lin Shilu, if he did not show any gratitude, would it not be utterly disheartening! Determined, he decided to keep a few bottles of the pills he wouldn''t need, along with two pieces of Earth Mysterious Crystals that had been stored for a long time. All other spiritual items were taken out and laid before Lin Xingcheng. "Uncle, please take a look at these items. I want to exchange them all for spirit stones!" Lin Xingcheng, faced with the dazzling array of various treasures, was momentarily dazed. Many of the items before him were not ordinary, and even for someone who had been the Hall of Merit''s Master for several years, they were tempting. "Uncle?" "Hm¡­" After being prompted, Lin Xingcheng came back to his senses and began tallying up the various spiritual objects Lin Tianming had provided. Seventy-two Superior Spirit Essence Pills, totaling seven hundred and twenty spirit stones, a first-order medium grade attack spirit weapon, valued at one hundred and ten spirit stones¡­" Your next journey awaits at empire Half an hour passed, and Lin Xingcheng finished the inventory, and he said to Lin Tianming: "After tallying, the total value of these spiritual objects comes to two thousand eight hundred and forty-two spirit stones." Lin Tianming nodded his head, indicating his confirmation to exchange. Lin Xingcheng, without further words, went back into the storeroom within the passage and took out the exact amount of spirit stones, handing them over to Lin Tianming. After receiving the spirit stones, he put them into his storage pouch. Following the exchange, his Merit Points were gone, and he had only four thousand five hundred spirit stones left, most of which would have to be given as respect to Lin Shilu. Now, he was as poor as a beggar, instantly transported back to years ago. Having achieved his goal at the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming did not linger any longer. After a brief conversation with Lin Xingcheng, he cupped his fists and left the Hall of Merit. Chapter 139 Artifact Refining Again_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, within a vast sea of bamboo.Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit and headed straight to the Qingling Bamboo sea at the foot of the main peak. At this moment, he flew dozens of feet into the air, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and scanned the expanse of the bamboo forest. The first time he came to cut Qingling Bamboo, it had taken quite an effort, but with the experience of the first time, this time could be said to be familiar terrain. In just a short while, under the powerful vision of the Eye of Five Colors, the dense Qingling Bamboo had nowhere to hide. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he easily found the first Second Order Qingling Bamboo, a speed dozens of times faster than his first attempt. Lin Tianming leaped forward and flew towards the cliff where the Second Order bamboo was located. Reaching the side of the Qlingling Bamboo, he directly took out an Earth Evil Sword and, gauging the position, immediately chopped down. "Pff..." With one strike, the bamboo shuddered and then, at the base, a thumb-sized notch appeared. With a casual split using eighty percent of his strength, he was very pleased to have made a notch in the Qingling Bamboo. He then swiftly executed three more swords strikes, each hitting the same spot. "Bang..." A loud noise echoed as the bowl-thick Qingling Bamboo fell, digging a small pit on the ground. A look of delight appeared on Lin Tianming''s face, for with just five sword strikes, he had successfully felled the bamboo at an indeed swift pace. He discarded the useless parts of the bamboo, keeping only the main trunk and then stored it in his storage bag. The first Qingling Bamboo was successfully acquired in less than half an hour. With his improved cultivation and the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, cutting the bamboo again had become incredibly easy. After quickly tidying up the site, he flew back into the sky and resumed his search. ... As evening approached, the remaining sunshine spilled over the tranquil sea of bamboo. With the thirty-fourth Second Order Qingling Bamboo falling to the ground, his journey of cutting came to an end for the day. After storing the bamboo in his storage bag, Lin Tianming wove through the bamboo sea and darted towards the exit. He took out his token, opened the protective restrictions of the bamboo sea, and left the bamboo sea without looking back. From noon till evening, after spending most of the day cutting, he successfully obtained thirty-four pieces of Qingling Bamboo. Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Tianming did not go to the Hall of Merit but went straight back to his cave dwelling to rest for the night. Back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming placed the Artifact Refining materials he exchanged at the Hall of Merit and Second Order Qingling Bamboo into one storage bag, then he took out four thousand spirit stones and two Earth Mysterious Crystals, placing them into another storage bag to give to Lin Shilu the next day. After organizing his possessions, his own storage bag now contained just over five hundred spirit stones, one bottle of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills, two First Order Superior Grade defensive spiritual tools, and varying quantities of talisman papers. First Order talisman papers had lost much of their usefulness to him unless they were amassed in significant numbers. Otherwise, they hardly made any impact on Foundation Establishment cultivators. As for Second Order talisman papers, they didn''t consume much spiritual power and were comparable to attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators, which had some usefulness. However, he only had two pieces: one Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman and one inferior quality Defense Talisman, which provided limited help. Now, aside from this batch of high-value Artifact Refining materials and some long-stored spiritual medicine, he was indeed as poor as could be. "It looks like once the Artifact Refining is finished, it''s time to venture out and earn some spirit stones!" he muttered to himself, pondering his cultivation plans going forward. So far, he had been at the Foundation Establishment stage for less than half a year, and his cultivation was only at the first level. He was relatively safe in the Luoyun Mountain Range, but in the Wei Kingdom, he was not really considered significant. There was no need to rush at the moment, as he still had plenty to do. After finishing Artifact Refining, the first thing to do would be to practice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword, followed by improving his Alchemy, where at minimum he had to learn to concoct Second Order Spirit Origin Pills. Once his strength improved, it would be time to venture out, seek treasures, and aid his cultivation. Unwittingly, as the bright moon hung in the sky, the night had deepened. Lin Tianming put aside his scattered thoughts and, with a weary body, finally fell into a deep sleep. ... The following morning, Lin Tianming once again started his busy day. First thing, he went to the Hall of Merit to return the token for entering the bamboo sea, and then immediately hurried to Lin Shilu''s cave dwelling. Upon entering his courtyard, Lin Shilu had already been waiting for him. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Tianming pays respects to Fifteenth Grandfather!" After Lin Tianming gave a fist and palm salute, he respectfully handed over two storage bags he had prepared in advance. Lin Shilu frowned slightly, took the two storage bags, and then extended his divine sense to start examining them. "Hmm, all materials have been gathered as required!" "What does this mean?" Lin Shilu, pointing to the storage bag containing four thousand spirit stones and two Earth Mysterious Crystals, asked with a puzzled face. Lin Tianming maintained a calm demeanor as he earnestly explained: "Fifteenth Grandfather, you have taken great pains and even used up some of your treasured spiritual objects for the sake of your nephew''s artifact refining. These spirit stones are merely a small gesture of your nephew''s appreciation. Although the amount is trivial, I truly hope you will accept it!" Listening to Lin Tianming''s explanation, which was earnest in tone and attitude, Lin Shilu, considering that he too had to contribute a fair amount of artifact refining materials for this help, thought that although these spirit stones weren''t much, they represented Tianming''s sincerity. Rejecting them might increase Tianming''s burden. With these thoughts in mind, he chuckled and, without standing on ceremony, accepted the two storage bags. Seeing Lin Shilu accept the bags, Lin Tianming also breathed a sigh of relief and a knowing smile appeared on his face. Lin Shilu felt the same, and the two sat in the courtyard, chatting leisurely for a while, discussing the details of artifact refining. After a short time, the details were almost settled, and Lin Shilu spoke: "There is no better time than the present to start artifact refining. You should do as before, prepare some artifact refining materials for me from the Qingling Bamboo before you leave." Lin Tianming naturally didn''t dare to object, and even if Lin Shilu hadn''t mentioned it, he would have volunteered, so he readily agreed to the task. Afterward, the two walked one after another into Lin Shilu''s Artifact Forging Room. Looking at the familiar Artifact Forging Room, still laid out as before with no changes, Lin Shilu first took out the artifact refining materials one by one and placed them on the stone platform. The Third Order Golden Tide Sand, Second Order Red Flame Crystal, and the sharp teeth of a Second Order Crimson Gold Snake¡­ Lin Tianming looked on as a spectator and, as expected, saw the Golden Tide Sand amongst them, along with over a dozen rare artifact refining materials, which made him click his tongue in amazement. It seemed that the four thousand spirit stones and the two Earth Mysterious Crystals he had prepared were indeed trivial compared to the spiritual objects Fifteenth Grandfather had sacrificed! Experience tales at empire Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was extremely moved, yet he said nothing further. Having prepared the necessary items, Lin Shilu sat down cross-legged to meditate and adjust his breathing. Not daring to disturb, Lin Tianming, with nothing else to do, sat down as well and quietly waited. Inside the Artifact Forging Room, the sound of Lin Shilu''s breathing was rhythmic and steady, clearly entering the state needed for artifact refining. After adjusting for the better part of the day, he opened his eyes. With a single-handed seal, he cast a law decree, and in an instant, a three-foot-long flame spurted from the Earth Fire mouth, perfectly heating the huge furnace cauldron. As the Earth Fire erupted, the temperature inside the Artifact Forging Room increased sharply, and the temperature in the cauldron shot up instantly. While Lin Shilu was warming the furnace, Lin Tianming took out an Earth Evil Sword, and per his instructions, began cutting the Second Order Qingling Bamboo, leaving the lower part for artifact refining. After half an hour of heating the furnace and sensing that the temperature inside the cauldron was right, Lin Shilu knew the time was ripe. He took out a large piece of Spirit Iron, threw it decisively into the cauldron, and then controlled the Earth Fire to melt the hard Spirit Iron into molten iron. Chapter 140 Complete Set of Earth Evil Swords - 1 Inside the Artifact Forging Room.As time passed, the temperature in the room had reached its peak. Two figures bustled about non-stop, their robes already soaked with sweat. "Bang... bang..." The sounds of hammering echoed throughout the room, Lin Tianming stripped to the waist, revealing explosive muscles, the sharp lines of his muscles indicative of formidable strength. The pair hammered away at the fiery red Spirit Iron, their coordination almost telepathic. It was only Second Order Spirit Ore, but the difficulty of extracting and shaping it was substantial, far different from that of First Order Artifact Refining materials. After several days of intense refining, only a small portion of the dozens of Second Order Artifact Refining Materials had been processed, and completing them all would take no short amount of time. At this point, both showed signs of fatigue. Lin Shilu placed the shaped Spirit Iron on a stone platform nearby, then clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Tianming, let''s take a short break to recover our strength. Artifact Refining, like Alchemy, requires patience and gradual progress to craft divine weapons. We mustn''t rush!" "I shall heed Fifteenth Grandfather''s teachings." Find adventures at empire Lin Tianming replied and put down the heavy hammer from the thousand golds, sitting down on the ground with a thud and gasping for air. Lin Shilu had long been astonished by Lin Tianming''s physical stamina. With his own cultivation at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, he too was exhausted after several days of work. That Lin Tianming, who had broken through to the Foundation Establishment first level less than half a year ago, could keep up for so long was truly unexpected. "This kid is truly a monstrous talent; his Cultivation Technique must be terrifying indeed!" Lin Shilu guessed inwardly but, in perfect tacit understanding, kept silent about the topic of Cultivation Technique. After resting for half an hour, both men had recuperated enough strength to begin refining anew. Another half a month went by and the two had finally completed the refining process. Looking at the various types of Spirit Ore that had been refined and beaten, now more translucent and significantly smaller in size, yet the energy and attributes within the ores made their edges even more fearsomely sharp. Lin Shilu looked at their handiwork with satisfaction and was filled with a surge of lofty ambition and passion. Since he had started learning Artifact Refining over seventy years ago, his natural talent for it could rank within the top three in the history of the Lin Family. Even though he had been a Second Order Refiner for over thirty years, this was the first time he had forged such a large number of Spirit Swords. Furthermore, he had to create a Second Order Attack Talisman for Lin Tianming, presenting a monumental challenge. It was because of this that his competitive spirit was ignited, causing his blood to run hot. Sensing Lin Shilu''s enthusiasm, Lin Tianming felt a stir of excitement in his heart and admired Lin Shilu even more. Next, Lin Shilu, seizing the moment, decided to further fuse the refined Spirit Ores altogether. This step was much more difficult than refining, depending not only on the experience of the Artifact Refiner but also on a stricter test of one''s cultivation and spiritual essence. Lin Shilu''s expression was grave, not daring to be careless in the least. He took out the Sword Embryo forged from Qingling Bamboo and placed it on the stone platform; then he carefully took out the refined Spirit Ore, meticulously hammering and merging them together. At this stage, Lin Tianming did not lend a hand. After all, he was not an Artifact Refiner, and although he possessed the miraculous Eye of Five Colors to aid him, this step tested the Refiner''s experience. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He did not possess this prerequisite. Helping might have led to the opposite effect, potentially ruining all their previous efforts. If they failed, not only would their hard work be in vain, but the precious Spirit Ore reduced to waste was enough to cause them immense distress. Knowing this, he stood to the side and watched, not even daring to breathe too loudly, fearing that he might disturb Lin Shilu. As time passed, thirty-four Spirit Swords were successfully fused and formed. Because Lin Shilu had previously forged twenty Earth Evil Swords, although the number had increased this time, which elevated the difficulty of forging, he still persevered and completed the task. Looking at the neat array of Spirit Sword embryos exuding a special aura, which indicated they were already taking shape, Lin Shilu nodded his head, appearing quite satisfied with his work. At this moment, the Earth Evil Swords were more than half forged. All that was needed were some adjustments to the specific shapes of the Spirit Swords and then the engraving of the Inscription Array for the forging to be thoroughly completed. After a short rest, Lin Shilu threw himself back into the bustling activity of Artifact Refining. Following hundreds of hammering steps, a refined Spirit Sword came into being, leaving only the last step of Inscription Array engraving, with all preliminary processes finished. Time slowly trickled by, and one Spirit Sword after another took shape. A month had passed in this way. In the Artifact Forging Room, fifty-four Spirit Swords hung neatly in the air. Every Spirit Sword was identical without any variation. With so many Spirit Swords gathered together, all of them emanated strong fluctuations, stirring the air in the Artifact Forging Room, looking immensely powerful. Lin Shilu stared at the fifty-four Spirit Swords before him, his face showing a satisfied smile. In total, after fifty days of Refining, he had re-forged thirty-four Spirit Swords. Moreover, the original twenty Spirit Swords he had made for Lin Tianming were also re-hammered by him, with a portion of rare materials added and the Inscription Arrays re-engraved. The fifty-four Spirit Swords now made up a complete set of new Spiritual Instruments. Enhanced by his efforts, their power had increased significantly compared to the previous ones. Although each individual Spirit Sword remained a First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instrument, not breaking into the Second Order category, they had reached the limit of First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments. Looking at his masterpiece, Lin Shilu made a guess internally. Fifty-four First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments, forming a complete set, would undoubtedly exceed the power of a Lower Quality Second Order Magic Artifact, and could even be comparable to a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact. Regathering his consciousness, Lin Shilu waved his hand, and the fifty-four Spirit Swords flew in front of Lin Tianming. "Take a look, are they satisfying?" Lin Tianming grabbed a Spirit Sword and scrutinized it carefully. Looking at the all too familiar Spirit Sword and feeling the intense fluctuations coming from it, he displayed an expression of not wanting to let it go. While touching the blade, Tianming joyfully commented, "Fifteenth Grandfather, you have labored hard. I am very satisfied with this set of Spirit Swords!" "Good to hear you''re satisfied!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s appraisal, Lin Shilu laughed heartily, the look of tiredness on his face disappearing significantly. "After forging these Spirit Swords, my current condition isn''t very good. The materials for a Second Order Attack Artifact have been prepared, but due to my state, I regretfully have to set it aside for now. I will forge it once I''ve recovered. When I''ve completed it, I''ll send word to you!" Hearing Lin Shilu''s words, Lin Tianming sincerely replied, "Fifteenth Grandfather, please focus on recovering first. There is no need to hurry for now!" "I shall take my leave, Grandfather; you can summon me if there''s anything!" "Go on then!" Lin Shilu nodded his head and walked out first, while Lin Tianming stored the fifty-four Spirit Swords into his storage bag and then left the Artifact Forging Room. In the small courtyard, Lin Tianming bowed with his hands clasped together and left Lin Shilu''s abode. Chapter 141 Trial of Maiden Skill_1 Having left Lin Shilu''s small courtyard, Lin Tianming returned directly to his own cave dwelling.Although the set of Spirit Swords was completely crafted, Lin Tianming did not immediately begin the consecration process, nor was he overly eager to test the power of the Sword Array. After more than a month of intensely helping with Artifact Refining, he was now extremely weary, only able to forcibly suppress the restlessness in his heart. After a quick wash, he collapsed onto his bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. Before long, a day and two nights had passed, and when he awoke again, it was already the third day. Opening his eyes, he sat up and stretched, the previous sense of fatigue was nowhere to be found. Feeling that his vigor, aura, and spirit had all returned to optimal condition, he had no more reason to wait. He left his cave dwelling and headed straight for the valley where the Purple Gold Eagle resided. In no time at all, Lin Tianming appeared outside the cave dwelling of the Purple Gold Eagle. Feeling Lin Tianming''s presence, the Purple Gold Eagle became very excited and flew over to him directly. Although they were separated for only two months, a brief period, the aura of the Purple Gold Eagle had grown stronger once again. As expected, the Dragon Horn Lizard Demon Pill he had fed it before leaving had indeed enhanced its strength. At this point, the aura of the Purple Gold Eagle had reached the peak of the First Order Late Stage, just one step away from the Second Order. Seeing Lin Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle was overjoyed, rubbing against his robes as if to curry favor. Lin Tianming affectionately stroked the Purple Gold Eagle''s head and, regardless of whether it could understand him or not, he said, "Xiao Diao, that''s the name I''ve given you. Right now, your master is very poor and doesn''t have anything for you to eat!" The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to understand his words, nodding its head, then let out a sharp cry as if to respond to him. Lin Tianming laughed heartily, feeling it quite magical. Until now, his commands had been conveyed directly to the Purple Gold Eagle through Divine Sense; he didn''t expect it would understand spoken words as well. "It seems although Xiao Diao is just a First Order demonic bird, its Spirit Wisdom isn''t low!" Lin Tianming mumbled to himself quietly before taking out a piece of Red Gold Snake Meat, the last he had left, and threw it to Xiao Diao. Xiao Diao did not refuse the gift and clamped onto the snake meat with one bite, beginning to devour it eagerly. Having taken care of Xiao Diao, Lin Tianming found a flat platform to sit on and prepared to start the consecration process for the new Earth Fiend Swords. Soon after, he found himself atop a small hill. Finding the place quiet and secluded, very suitable for cultivation, he then sat down on the ground. He performed a full cycle of the Grand Circulation to adjust his condition, then took out an Earth Evil Sword and gripped it tightly in his hand. Having had previous experience with consecration to claim ownership, the process was now familiar to him. He sprinkled a drop of Lifeblood Essence onto the Spirit Sword. Instantly, the bright red blood quickly sank into the body of the sword, soon disappearing. Then the Spirit Sword began to tremble as though trying to escape his grasp. Lin Tianming had anticipated this and immediately used his Cultivation Technique to suppress it, followed by projecting a thread of his Divine Sense to engrave it into the core of the Spirit Sword. An hour flew by quickly. A distinctive sound of a sword''s cry rang out. The Spirit Sword that was shaking violently began to calm down and then started rotating around his body non-stop. Feeling the connection between himself and the Spirit Sword, Lin Tianming showed a hint of joy on his face. After the consecration of the first Earth Evil Sword was finished, Lin Tianming took out another Spirit Sword, repeating the process he just completed. In the blink of an eye, five days had passed. At this moment, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. Around him, fifty-four Spirit Swords were rapidly spinning, their speed astonishingly swift. At a glance, the rotating Spirit Swords had seemingly formed an impregnable shield without any blind spots. Because the Spirit Sword was spinning too fast, it stirred up a fierce Gang Wind that whipped up sand, stones, and rotten wood around it. Watching the flying sand and rolling stones, Lin Tianming was taken by surprise and also deeply astonished. As the Spirit Sword was retracted, the Gang Wind also dissipated, and the valley gradually returned to calm, leaving only a messy site. After spending several days, he had finally finished refining all of the Spirit Swords and was now ready to test their power. At that thought, Lin Tianming grew very excited. Since he wasn''t sure if he could activate all the Spirit Swords and considering he had been able to operate eighteen of them during the Qi Refinement Realm, and now that he had reached Foundation Establishment with a significant increase in Divine Sense, he decided to start with thirty-six swords. Without further delay, he waved his hands, and thirty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out, neatly hovering above his head. He quickly circulated his Cultivation Technique, then urged the Earth Evil Swords forward, placing them into the Sword Array one by one. "Swoosh..." As each position was set, he immediately formed seals with his hands and murmured incantations. "Earth Fiend Sword Formation, arise..." Suddenly, a Barrier materialized from the ground, covering a hundred feet in all directions. Inside the Barrier, thousands of Sword Qi went crashing and shuttling through without any pattern. "Earth Fiend Sword Formation, grind..." With a loud shout from him, the Barrier of the Sword Formation gradually shrank, the space inside became smaller, and the intensity of the Sword Qi grew even more fierce. Before long, the Barrier had shrunk to just over ten feet wide and stopped shrinking. By now, the Sword Qi inside the Barrier had become terrifyingly dense, almost tangible, and the thousands of Sword Qi were nearly brushing against each other. In the area covered by the Barrier, the ground was gouged out by the Sword Qi to more than a yard deep, growing even deeper towards the center. It was hard to imagine that if a cultivator were inside the Barrier, facing such fierce and dense Sword Qi, even a First Order Foundation Establishment cultivator would have no chance of survival. Feeling the power of the Sword Array, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and couldn''t help but exclaim: S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A thirty-six sword array holds such power; how terrifying would it be with fifty-four?" With that in mind, Lin Tianming tried again. Once the Sword Array reset, he added the remaining eighteen Earth Evil Swords to the array. As he finished channeling his energy, the fifty-four sword array was now fully in place. Without hesitation, he activated the Sword Array. Once the Sword Array was operational, it covered the same hundred-foot range, the number of Sword Qi within the formation doubled, and the force of the Sword Qi was further enhanced. Moreover, the Barrier of the Sword Array became even more solid, like an unbreakable copper wall and iron barrier. After a dozen or so breaths, Lin Tianming withdrew the Sword Array. At this point, his face was as pale as death, his Spiritual Power completely drained, and his Divine Sense severely depleted. From his test, the Sword Array consisting of fifty-four Earth Evil Swords, when fully activated, had a power that was several times greater than that of the thirty-six sword array. And with the increase in both the power and number of Spirit Swords, the consumption of Spiritual Power and Divine Sense also increased exponentially. With his current cultivation, he could only maintain it for a dozen breaths at most, after which his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense would be greatly depleted, and he would have to stop. Lin Tianming wasn''t surprised by this result; after all, greater power comes with greater limitations. The Sword Array of thirty-six Earth Evil Swords was also very powerful, greatly surpassing its former strength. He estimated that a sixteen blade sword array should be able to easily deal with an average Second Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, and perhaps even hold its own against a Third Level Foundation Establishment cultivator. Of course, that was just speculation; there would be many uncertain factors in practice, and the actual outcome would be hard to say, but he was confident. Gathering his thoughts, he was now completely out of Spiritual Power and severely drained of Divine Sense, not in any condition to continue. Retrieving the Spirit Swords, he quickly tidied up, and then flew towards his cave abode at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 142 Significant Improvement_1 Back to his cave abode.Lin Tianming lay on the bed, exhausted, as he recalled today''s gains in his mind. The new Earth Fiend Sword Formation, with its number of Spirit Swords doubled, greatly enhanced his strength, which excited him somewhat. And the Second Order Magical Artifact that Lin Shilu had helped him refine, when combined with the Divine Firmament Nine Swords, what kind of power would it wield? Given that it was a Second Order Magical Artifact and required Divine Skills that could only be cultivated in the Foundation Establishment Stage, its power was bound to be extraordinary. With the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap enemies and the Tiangang Ninth Sword for attack, his strength was about to undergo a qualitative transformation! At this thought, he became extremely eager. However, refining a Second Order Magical Artifact was no easy task, and Lin Shilu was completely drained; it couldn''t be produced in a short time. Now, with the new Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the difficulty of controlling it had increased significantly due to the increased number of Spirit Swords. He had to practice more to enhance the stability and speed of execution of the Sword Array. Thinking of this, he decided to go to the valley to practice again tomorrow, aiming to improve the power and stability of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation at the earliest opportunity while waiting for the Second Order Magical Artifact to be refined. Before he realized it, Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep¡­ The next day before dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and sunshine spread across the land, complementing the continuous mountains, creating a scene like that of heaven on Earth. At this time, Green Bamboo Mountain was exceptionally quiet, with the majority of the clan still in deep sleep. After a night''s rest, Lin Tianming left his cave and once again arrived at the valley where he had cultivated the day before. Such scenes, he could no longer remember how many springs and autumns he had experienced; such painstaking dedication was rare even in the Cultivation World. He sat cross-legged on the ground, circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and reached his optimal state. Basking in the first rays of the morning sun, a gentle breeze caressed his face. With a single wave of his hand, fifty-four Spirit Swords hovered above his head, exuding strands of Sword Qi, shredding the oncoming breeze. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking calmly at the mountain peak ahead, as if second nature, he began to activate the Sword Array. In an instant, Gang Wind arose, and Sword Qi danced across the sky, with the sound of howling sword energy never ceasing. "Trap!" Lin Tianming bellowed, and the Spirit Swords above his head shot out in the blink of an eye. In front of him, the Earth Fiend Swords spun madly, forming a barrier as strong as walls of copper and iron, encasing the small mountain peak within it. He controlled the Sword Array with all his might, treating the mountain peak as if it were a giant beast, mercilessly grinding it down. As the range of the Sword Array became narrower, he stopped when it had contracted to a scope of thirty feet. When the dust settled, the small mountain peak was riddled with holes from the bombardment of Sword Qi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming shook his head, seemingly unsatisfied. "Too slow. This mountain is inanimate, but if it were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, in a breath''s time, they could travel hundreds of feet, escaping from the reach of the Sword Array!" After sighing, Lin Tianming''s expression turned resolute as he retrieved all the Spirit Swords. Then, he made a move, repeating the actions he had just performed. Instantly, the valley was filled with whirling Sword Qi and the piercing sounds of explosions that echoed through the entire valley. Time silently slipped by and a month passed¡­ In the valley, Lin Tianming circulated his Spiritual Power to the extreme, his robe fluttering in the Gang Wind produced by the Sword Array. In front of him, under the coverage of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the sky was filled with Sword Qi, stones flew about, and the stones on the ground were easily crushed. Once the Sword Array ceased operation, the mountain peak had drastically decreased, almost leveled by him. Lin Tianming sheathed his Spirit Sword, looking at the chaos before him, his expression brimming with excitement. After a month of dedicated cultivation, his control over the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had become much more practiced. The sword array, consisting of fifty-four Spirit Swords, had its casting speed increased by several folds, capable of near-instantaneous deployment. Furthermore, the stability of the sword array had also significantly improved compared to before. Such progress in just one month was somewhat unexpected to him. In his joy, Lin Tianming thought to himself, "Perhaps it''s because the Earth Fiend Sword Formation has gone through numerous battles and has already reached the Minor Achievement Realm. That''s why, with just an increase in the number of Spirit Swords, the proficiency has improved so swiftly!" Returning to his thoughts, Lin Tianming looked at the ravaged valley, feeling a sense of guilt. The valley, once filled with birdsong and flower fragrances, hidden beneath lush jungles, now lay bare, stripped of its former grace. Thankfully, in this world of cultivation, such severe conditions could recover in just a few months. Otherwise, with his destructive power, the hundreds of large and small valleys of Green Bamboo Mountain would not be enough for his devastation. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming pondered. Lin Shilu hadn''t yet contacted him about the Artifact Refining, so the Second Order Magical Artifact must not be completed yet. As for the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, it had reached a bottleneck; further practice like this would yield no progress. Right now, with the sword array cultivation successful and the Magical Artifact still in the making, he was in a period of downtime. "Let''s try refining Second Order Pills during this downtime!" he decided. Resolved, Lin Tianming sheathed his Spirit Sword, then left the valley and flew toward the Hall of Merit. Inside the Hall of Merit, the place was abuzz with over a dozen clan members exchanging Spiritual Objects, and he greeted each of them in passing. Soon, it was Lin Tianming''s turn. Approaching Lin Xingcheng, after exchanging a few pleasantries, he said, "Uncle, I''d like to exchange for fifty sets of Spirit Essence Pill Materials!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s request, Lin Xingcheng was slightly surprised. He was very aware of Lin Tianming''s level in Alchemy. Logically, he should be attempting to refine Second Order Pills. In fact, Lin Tianming was also feeling helpless. The reason for exchanging First Order Spirit Essence Pill Materials was that he was currently very poor, with just over five hundred Spirit Stones in his storage bag. And as for the materials for Second Order Spirit Essence Pills, he had previously collected just a few sets, nowhere near enough for the consumption needed to attempt Pill Refining. Therefore, he planned to exchange for some Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, refine some First Order Pills to sell, earn Spirit Stones, and then buy some Second Order Spiritual Medicines to practice Alchemy. Although he could go to his grandfather and ask for some Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, he was too embarrassed to speak up, especially since he wasn''t yet at his wit''s end. While he was thinking, Lin Xingcheng had already calculated the price and fetched the Spiritual Medicine Materials for him. "Tianming, fifty sets of First Order Spirit Essence Pill Materials will total four hundred merit points," he said. Without hesitation, Lin Tianming took out four hundred Spirit Stones and handed them to Lin Xingcheng. After receiving the fifty sets of Spiritual Medicine Materials from Lin Xingcheng''s hands and bidding farewell, he immediately left the Hall of Merit. In a short period, Lin Tianming returned to his own cave dwelling from the Hall of Merit. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he looked at the Spiritual Medicine Materials before him and became reflective. Before reaching the Foundation Establishment, he had over ten thousand merit points and Spiritual Objects worth thousands, all spent on Artifact Refining, depleting years of savings, leaving him no choice but to refine pills to earn Spirit Stones. "Well, with the Eye of Five Colors to aid me, Pill Refining is nothing but a simple task for me!" he sighed. After that exclamation, he began to run his spiritual practice, adjusting his state to its best before starting the Alchemy process. Chapter 143 Dilemma_1 In the Pill Refining Room.A large amount of First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, neatly arranged on a stone platform, with the Four Symbols Furnace already suspended above the Earth Fire vent. Having not refined pills for a long time, the First Order Lingshen Pills had not been made for several years either. Lin Tianming was seen forming a spell with one hand, casting a spell onto the Four Symbols Furnace. When the Earth Fire spewed out, the scorching flames baked the Pill Furnace, and rapidly, the temperature within the entire Pill Refining Room began to rise, as did the temperature inside the Four Symbols Furnace. Seeing that the timing was just about right, he skillfully threw a plant of Spiritual Medicine Materials into the Four Symbols Furnace with both hands. With familiar ease, he proceeded with the proficient steps. Three days quietly passed by. When a strong fragrance of elixirs wafted out of the Pill Refining Room, he lifted the lid of the furnace and took out eight Lingshen Pills, placing them in a prepared Jade Bottle. "Done with great success. It''s been a long time since I''ve done alchemy, but luckily my skill in Alchemy has hardly regressed." Lin Tianming murmured to himself, tidied up the messy Pill Refining Room, and left the cave dwelling with the newly-refined Lingshen Pills. Before long, he arrived at the Hall of Merit. Having greeted the clan members working there, he sat opposite Lin Xingcheng and handed over the prepared First Order Lingshen Pills. After calculating with Lin Xingcheng, this time using only fifty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, they obtained two hundred and thirty-two First Order Lingshen Pills. "Two hundred and thirty-two Lingshen Pills can be exchanged for merits totalling one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six points," Lin Xingcheng said. Immediately after he spoke, Lin Tianming replied, "Uncle, please exchange all of it for the materials needed for Second Order Lingshen Pills." Hearing this request, Lin Xingcheng started to calculate and then spoke, "The materials for Second Order Lingshen Pills are worth one hundred and sixty merit points per portion. Your merits can only be exchanged for eleven portions, leaving an excess of ninety-six merit points." Lin Tianming nodded and said, "Uncle, please exchange it for twelve portions of Second Order Lingshen Pill materials, and I will make up the shortfall with Spirit Stones." Without pause, he hurriedly took out sixty-four Spirit Stones and handed them to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took the Spirit Stones and quickly brought back the Spiritual Medicine Materials. Seeing the exchange completed, Lin Tianming did not stay much longer, bid farewell to Lin Xingcheng, and returned to his own cave dwelling. Inside the cultivation room, he sat cross-legged on the floor and began to practice breathing exercises, not immediately starting the refinement of Second Order Pills. Once he felt his condition was sufficiently adjusted, he took out a great number of Alchemy Experiences and books, and began to meticulously review them. These Alchemy Experiences had been collected over the years, some of which were written by his grandfather, the originals of which had long been handed over to the family; what he had were just copied replicas. Before refining Second Order Elixirs, he had to make some additional preparations, and although he had already read through the Alchemy Experiences several times, further study would invariably yield some new insights. In the evening, after a day''s study, he had finished reading through half of the notes. Having stored the read Alchemy Experiences into his storage bag, he then took out a Jade Bottle, poured out one Lingshen Pill from it, and held it between his fingers, closely observing it. This bottle contained three Lingshen Pills, the very ones Lin Shikang had gifted to him after his Foundation Establishment breakthrough. Being busy with Artifact Refining and practicing Divine Skills, he had not yet had the chance to consume them. Looking at the green and yellow pill, surrounded by faint spiritual energy, a unique fragrance filled the air. At this moment, he was somewhat hesitant. He had been cultivating the Tiangang Body Art for seven or eight years, and during these years, aside from cultivating, he had been constantly experimenting. He found that just by sitting in meditation and performing breathing exercises, he could withstand the pain generated during cultivation without relying on the Body Strengthening Pill. If he took elixirs to cultivate, in a very short amount of time, the excessive spiritual power, without the aid of elixirs, would make it easy to suffer a backlash and produce even more intense pain. It was still manageable during the Qi Refinement Realm, but for the Foundation Establishment Stage, he had not tried it and did not dare to attempt it lightly. "This might just be the downside of a Heavenly Grade Technique." Lin Tianming laughed at himself, seeming to understand, after all, there were no perfect cultivation techniques. To gain stronger power, one must inevitably pay more. Gathering his thoughts, considering he still had some First Order Body Strengthening Pills which could alleviate the pain a bit, he felt somewhat eager to try. After a while, he made up his mind and swallowed one. Upon taking the elixir, a special medicinal power spread out. He immediately circulated his cultivation technique, refining the medicinal power, while the generated spiritual power slowly flowed through his meridians, eventually converging in the Seven Sea Dantian. In a short time, just as he expected, the pain came, and it grew increasingly severe. At this point, his face was pale, and large beads of sweat kept sliding off, quickly disappearing as they hit the ground. Enduring the excruciating pain, he waved one hand and immediately took out a Body Strengthening Pill and a Strong Spirit Pill to ingest. Once the Body Strengthening Pill was taken, its special medicinal power spread rapidly throughout his body along the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. Regrettably, since the Body Strengthening Pill was a First Order Elixir, it could only relieve some of the pain and couldn''t suppress it completely. Nevertheless, it was better than nothing, and it had some effect, allowing his complexion to regain a bit of color. Like this, with severe pain, he ran his cultivation technique to its limit, seeking to refine the power of the Lingshen Pill as quickly as possible to escape the extremely painful situation. Three days passed. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, which gradually became clearer from their previous muddiness. He examined the increased spiritual power within his Qi Sea Dantian, and although it wasn''t much and the breakthrough was still very far off, it was still several times faster compared to meditative cultivation. Seeing that his cultivation had increased slightly beyond expectations, his expression eased a bit. "It''s finally over. That bone-eroding sensation is truly not something ordinary people can withstand." Lin Tianming muttered softly, his eyes revealing a hint of apprehension. During these three days, every moment was an agony for him. Fortunately, after several years of cultivation, he had grown numb to ordinary pain, and with mental preparation, along with the aid of the Body Strengthening Pill, he had managed to endure. However, a new problem now lay before him. If he wanted to use elixirs to achieve a rapid improvement in his cultivation, he had to find Second Order auxiliary pills; otherwise, he could only rely on meditative cultivation. Or he could again endure the bone-eroding pain. Although his current cultivation was not very high, and with the Body Strengthening Pills, he could barely hold on for a while, this was not a long-term solution. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming said to himself, "It seems that once the magic artifact is finished, I must find a way to go out and look for suitable elixirs to assist in my cultivation. Otherwise, my cultivation might come to a standstill, and in that case, I must expedite the timeline for my experience." Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming temporarily buried this thought in his heart. Afterward, he formed a seal with both hands, circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and began to enter a state of recuperation. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 144 Second Order Alchemist_1 Three days later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes.After several days of regulation and taking Spirit Origin Pills, the side effects had vanished without a trace. At this moment, he had regained his condition. "It''s time to get started." He muttered to himself and rose to his feet, heading towards the pill refining room. Sitting in the pill refining room, he took out the materials for the Second Order Spirit Origin Pill one by one, a total of twenty batches of materials, placing them on a stone platform beside him. Out of the twenty batches of spiritual medicine materials, thirteen were exchanged from the Hall of Merit, while the remaining seven had been slowly collected over the past few years. Materials for Second Order spiritual medicine are quite valuable. If he failed too often, it would inevitably cause a bit of heartache, so he had to be extra cautious. "Huff huff." Lin Tianming took a deep breath, relaxed his mind, and prepared to begin refining. After more than ten breaths had passed, he suddenly moved. With a single hand forming a spell, he efficiently went through the procedures before starting the alchemy process. As the pill furnace finished preheating, he waved his hand, and a piece of spiritual medicine flew into the Four Symbols Furnace. At this time, he extended his divine sense to observe the movements within the pill furnace. At the same time, he carefully manipulated his divine sense, in conjunction with the power of Earth Fire, to decompose the spiritual medicine and purify it, eventually forming a small cluster of essence brimming with spiritual energy, quietly lying at the bottom of the furnace. The first piece of spiritual medicine decomposed very smoothly, boosting his confidence immensely. However, he did not let it go to his head; he was very aware that this was just the first piece of spiritual medicine. There were more than ten other materials to process, and the subsequent steps were even more difficult than the first. He methodically decomposed all the spiritual medicine materials and purified them one by one, performing each step with utmost precision. An hour later, the furnace contained more than ten different colors of liquid. Seeing the variously colored essences of spiritual medicine, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, couldn''t help but remark, "The difficulty of decomposing and purifying Second Order spiritual medicine really isn''t something that First Order elixirs can compare to. If it were for decomposing First Order spiritual medicine, it probably wouldn''t even take half an hour, but Second Order spiritual medicine takes more than double the time to complete." As the first step was finally completed successfully, he did not dare delay, his expression turning serious once more. With a flick of his finger, a spell struck the core of the Earth Fire, and in an instant, a more intense flame burst forth from the furnace mouth. In the pill furnace, a surge of heat erupted instantly. As the temperature rose further, he took the opportunity to merge two clusters of spiritual medicine essence. Soon, the first fusion was successful, and the second went just as smoothly. After half an hour, more than ten types of spiritual medicine essences had all been successfully fused, forming a colorful spirit group, suspended within the Four Symbols Furnace. Looking at the multicolored essences of spiritual medicine merged together, already taking on the semblance of a pill, After a tense half day of refining that went rather smoothly, he was quickly approaching the final step of infusing spirituality. Now at the last and most crucial step, if the infusion of spirit was successful, and the elixir had spirituality, he would be considered to have entered the ranks of a Second Order Alchemist. Thinking about it, he started to get excited. A Second Order Alchemist held an extraordinary position, even in a place filled with mighty figures like Qianchuan Market, and was a person of significant influence. In the small region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, a Second Order Alchemist was the ceiling. Apart from his grandfather, who had just made a breakthrough, there was probably no second person. And he was about to take that step. Once successful, he would become the second person, and not only that, the only two Second Order Alchemists would both hail from the Lin Family, which was an exhilarating thought. At this moment, his expression grew even more solemn as he prepared to begin the last step. Feeling that it was about the right time, he suddenly shouted, "Solidify!" Before his words had fallen, a burst of spiritual light shone from his fingertips, and a surge of spiritual power shot out, then entered the Four Symbols Furnace. Within the pill furnace, the medicine group formed by the fusion of more than ten kinds of spiritual medicine essences was enveloped by a unique spiritual power. In a mere moment, the spiritual power disappeared into the medicine group and was no longer visible. After completing these steps, Lin Tianming widened his eyes, closely observing the Four Symbols Furnace, not daring to miss any slight movement. Several moments later, still no semblance of a medicinal fragrance emerged from the furnace, nor was there any other movement. He opened the lid of the furnace with some confusion, then his expression turned somewhat unsightly, though it quickly returned to normal. At this time, inside the Four Symbols Furnace, more than ten pieces of variably-sized pill dregs lay scattered at the bottom, each with a hint of a burnt smell and distinctly different colors. Clearly, the first batch of elixirs had ended in failure. "This Second Order elixir really isn''t as easy to make as I imagined!" He sighed inwardly, Lin Tianming took out the wasted dregs and stored them separately in a Jade Bottle, and then recounted the entire pill refining process. Looking at the waste, Lin Tianming speculated that there should be no mistakes in the step of decomposing and purifying the spiritual medicine, as he had been extremely cautious with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, nearly achieving perfection. The most likely reason for the failure, he figured, must be the step of infusing spirit. Infusing spirit followed by solidifying the pill is the most critical and dangerous step in the entire alchemy process. If one does not handle the strength and timing of the infusion properly, it''s easy to fail. He was not surprised by the failure of the first batch of elixirs. Even with the heaven-defying Eye of Five Colors, such a treasure for Alchemy, it would probably be hard to succeed on the first try. After all, this was his first time refining Second Order Elixirs, and compared to First Order Elixirs, the difficulty was not on the same level. If he succeeded in refining on his first attempt, that would be too contrary to the heavens. Thinking of this, his expression remained calm, and he did not get discouraged. Now that he had identified the problem, it was manageable. With more practice, he was certain to succeed. Making up his mind, he prepared to tidy up once more and try again when he was back in the right state. The next morning, after a night of recovery, Lin Tianming once again began Alchemy. The familiar Pill Refining Room, the familiar Spiritual Medicine and Alchemy steps, everything was orderly and started according to the process. In the second furnace refining, the power of the spiritual Infusion was still not enough to meet the requirements for Solidifying Pill, and it also ended in failure. In the third furnace, the amount of Spiritual Power needed for Infusion was too much, causing the Elixir Essence to turn into residue directly. ... Time slowly passed, and a month had gone by just like that. Within the Pill Refining Room at this moment, Lin Tianming''s brows were tightly furrowed, Spiritual Light flashing at his fingertips, evidently ready for Infusion of Spirit. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the Spiritual Light entered the Pill Furnace, and in less than a breath''s time, a rich fragrance of medicine wafted through, quickly filling the entire Pill Refining Room. Feeling the medicinal fragrance, he became excited, his heart thrilled, and he couldn''t wait to check on it. In an instant, Lin Tianming swiftly lifted the lid of the furnace, and the aroma in the Pill Refining Room suddenly became even more intense. Looking closely, he saw three dark green pills suspended motionlessly in the middle of the furnace, each the size of an apricot, with a faint Spiritual Power swirling around them, looking very tempting. "These are Second Order Lingshen Pills." His expression joyous, he exclaimed without delay. Picking up a pill he had refined, he then took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill from his storage bag and placed them side by side. Looking at the two pills, he checked everything from their outward appearance to color and the aura of the pills, scrutinizing them closely. After repeated examination and comparison, Lin Tianming was certain that these were indeed genuine Second Order Lingshen Pills without a doubt. Once he was sure there was no difference in the pills, he finally let out a long sigh of relief. After refining for a month, the mere twenty batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials had almost been used up, but at last, success came with the seventeenth furnace, and Second Order Elixirs had been produced. Although there were only three pills, he had now taken a significant step forward, qualifying as a competent Second Order Alchemist. Find exclusive stories on empire During the month, he cultivated through Alchemy by day and meditation by night, and the degree of his hard work was indisputable. The Second Order Elixirs having been successfully refined, and with the rest of the time spent in meditation, his cultivation level also grew at a modest pace, reaching the goal he had set before closing up for cultivation. Still, Lin Tianming quietly muttered to himself. "It could still have been better, more meticulous. Otherwise, I might have succeeded a few furnaces earlier." Such thoughts, if known by other Alchemists, would surely make them feel ashamed. Merely twenty batches of Alchemy Materials were needed to refine the first batch of Second Order Elixirs, and at such a pace, it was simply against the heavens; such a feat was rare in the Cultivation World and would doubtlessly cause a huge commotion if word got out. "Although it wasn''t meticulous enough, the goal was still achieved, and that''s somewhat satisfying." With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming chuckled, the fatigue from the past month visibly diminishing a great deal. He reflected on the various problems that had appeared during the month of Alchemy, then summarized his shortcomings, making a series of adjustments. Looking at the remaining three batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, he sat down to meditate again to recover, preparing to give it his all and further solidify his Alchemy. Ten days later, Lin Tianming walked out of the Pill Refining Room, appearing in the small courtyard. Now, there was a faint smile on his face. In those ten days, he slowed down the pace of Alchemy, refining a batch every three days. Each time after refining, he would summarize the experience, identifying flaws and methods for improvement. After completing all this and adjusting himself to peak condition, he would then begin refining again. Under such diligent study and good patience, the last three batches of Alchemy Materials yielded a successful batch, with the number of pills reaching four. Beyond that, with every batch, he could feel his progress; with practice over time, the success rate and number of pills would surely improve steadily. Sitting in the courtyard, he took out all the Second Order Lingshen Pills and placed them on the stone table. From twenty batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, two successful batches resulted in seven pills, and together with two remaining pills from a bottle given by Lin Shikang, he had a total of nine pills left. Nowadays, without better auxiliary elixirs, he dared not easily cultivate with the aid of pills, for the pain that came with it was something he did not wish to endure again unless absolutely necessary. And Lin Shilu had not sent any news yet, which meant the Magic Artifact had not been successfully refined. "I''ll take these pills to the Hall of Merit to exchange for Spiritual Medicine Materials first, then have a reunion with my family. After that, I''ll continue to refine pills and earn Spirit Stones. Once I leave the family, I''ll need a lot of Spirit Stones, and meanwhile, I can wait for news from Lin Shilu." Having made up his mind, he stood up and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Chapter 145 Successful Artifact Refining_1 Within the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming made his appearance.At this time, the Hall of Merit was still bustling with noise, with a large number of clan members busily exchanging various Spiritual Objects. Soon enough, it was his turn to step forward and make an exchange. After exchanging some pleasantries with Lin Xingcheng and chatting about trivial family matters, Lin Xingcheng then inquired about his purpose for coming. Lin Tianming, with a smile on his face, took out three Jade Bottles and placed them on the stone platform before him, saying, "Uncle, these three bottles of Second Order Lingshen Pills, I would like to exchange them all for Spiritual Medicine Materials. If they''re not enough, I''ll make up the difference with Spirit Stones." Upon hearing this, Lin Xingcheng picked up the Jade Bottles from the stone platform, uncapped them to take a look, and his face immediately registered disbelief. Stunned for a few moments before regaining his composure, Lin Xingcheng tentatively asked, "Tian Ming, did you refine these elixirs yourself?" Lin Tianming nodded, affirming the authenticity of the matter, which left Lin Xingcheng looking utterly shocked. In fact, even if Lin Tianming had denied it, the unique aura attached to the elixirs would have allowed him to discern who had crafted them. The reason he asked again was simply because he was still finding it hard to believe, especially since it had only been a month and a half, and Lin Tianming had successfully refined the Second Order Spirit Origin Pills, which meant he had become a Second Order Alchemist. Advancing as an Alchemist is not an easy feat, and for him to have become a Second Order Alchemist in less than ten years was simply too unbelievable. After a while, Lin Xingcheng regained his composure and began exchanging the Spiritual Medicine Materials for him. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit carrying ten portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials. The original twenty portions of materials had only yielded seven pills, which in turn only allowed for the exchange of seven portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials. The remaining three portions of materials were a combination of the two he had been gifted by Shi Kang and over a hundred Spirit Stones he had added to make up the difference for ten portions. In other words, after more than a month, he had incurred considerable losses, but that was the norm for an Alchemist. If Alchemy were so easy, then everyone would be an Alchemist. In actuality, with his current pace, he was the envy of many, and it wouldn''t take long for him to turn his losses into profits. Thinking of this, he was incredibly excited, and not at all distressed by the initial losses. Not long after, Lin Tianming arrived at the Alchemy Hall. At that moment, Lin Shigong was organizing Alchemy Materials, preparing to start the Alchemy process. Seeing Lin Tianming enter, he greeted him with a smile, quickly set down the Spiritual Medicine Materials in his hands, and said, "You rascal, you said you wanted to go into seclusion for Alchemy. It''s perfect timing that you''re here, show me one round of your Alchemy, so I can see what level you''ve reached, and I can give you some guidance." Seeing that his grandfather wanted to test his Alchemy skills, Lin Tianming remained calm, showing no sign of perturbation. He found a cushion to sit down on, took out the Four Symbols Furnace,prepared the Spiritual Medicine Materials for himself, and then he started to regulate his breath, adjusting his state. After half an hour passed, he had reached an optimal state. He brought his palms together, and a spell struck the Pill Furnace and the Earth Fire outlet. As the Earth Fire surged forth and the temperature of the Pill Furnace reached the necessary degree for Alchemy, he began the refining process. Lin Shigong, watching Lin Tianming''s proficient movements from the side, occasionally nodded, his expression filled with anticipation. Time slowly slipped by, and half a day quietly elapsed. When a fragrance of elixirs wafted out, Lin Tianming eagerly lifted the lid of the Furnace, revealing four elixirs suspended within. Lin Shigong waved a hand and caught one of the elixirs between his fingertips to inspect it. "Indeed, these are Second Order Lingshen Pills, no doubt about that. This kid''s progress is too fast!" After inspecting the elixirs, Lin Shigong was inwardly thrilled, affirming that Lin Tianming had indeed entered the ranks of Second Order Alchemists, and moreover, the success rate was quite good, almost catching up to him. Once he calmed down, he then expressed his admiration, "You truly didn''t disappoint us; in less than ten years of practice, you''ve successfully stepped into the ranks of Second Order Alchemists." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not bask in self-satisfaction. The fact that he managed to successfully refine four pills in the first furnace involved some luck, which he was well aware of. Humbly, he replied, "Grandfather, it''s merely my good fortune. In fact, I''ve only just broken through and can barely maintain a thirty percent pill success rate and yield three pills." Hearing Lin Tianming''s response, Lin Shigong was very pleased and continued with a smile on his face, "You rascal, don''t be too modest. In my opinion, as long as you practice more, you''ll soon surpass me, maybe even catching up to the ranks of Second Order Medium Quality Alchemists faster than I did." Lin Tianming let out a small laugh and quickly changed the subject, after which the two of them began to chat leisurely. ¡­ In a room atop the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain designated for Artifact Refining, Lin Shilu was seated on the floor. In front of him, a cyan and red Spirit Sword was suspended above a Furnace Cauldron, beneath which, streams of scorching flames were baking it. Experience tales at empire He had a serious expression on his face, and sweat dripped down his forehead onto the hot stone platform with a sizzling sound as he flicked his fingers without cease, but he did not let this distract him from inscribing the Inscription Array. Such actions he had been maintaining for over a month now. In front of him on the blade of the Spirit Sword, countless special runes had emerged, occupying more than ninety percent of the surface area. As he kept working without pause, the number of runes continued to grow, about to cover the entire blade soon. Time flowed like water, quietly passing by. While Lin Tianming was having a casual chat with Grandpa, Lin Shilu sat in a secret room, his fingers suddenly moving to form a special seal. A beam of golden light shot out from the tip of his finger and struck the Spirit Sword at the top of the Pill Furnace. "Clang clang clang." In an instant, a sound of metal striking followed. The Spirit Sword, with its red and green hues, began to vibrate violently, and soon, a piercing sound spread throughout the entire Artifact Forging Room. Lin Shilu''s face flushed with color as he watched the vibrating Spirit Sword, his fingers moving even faster, shooting inscription after inscription into the body of the sword. The Spirit Sword seemed to possess a certain Spirituality and resisted the inscriptions fiercely, vibrating even more intensely as if it wanted to break free from its constraints. "Hmph." Lin Shilu''s expression became serious, and he muttered to himself. "All this effort to forge you, if you were to escape, wouldn''t it be a joke?" After a playful smile, he did not stop. While maintaining the vibrations of the Spirit Sword, he forced the last inscription to smash into its body. As soon as the inscription made contact with the blade, it quickly merged into the sword, engraving itself on the core system of the Spirit Sword. At the same time, the dense runes on the blade shone brightly, illuminating the dim Artifact Forging Room. At that moment, the Spirit Sword emitted a piercing sword cry. In less than the time of three breaths, the Artifact Forging Room returned to darkness, and the golden inscription on the surface of the Spirit Sword vanished without a trace. Inside the Artifact Forging Furnace, a Spirit Sword over a foot long hung quietly in the center, its intermingled red and green colors appearing slightly eerie¡ªas if stained with blood. Intense Sword Qi swirled around it. "A Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact!" Lin Shilu exclaimed excitedly, then let out a long sigh of relief. This was a Second Order Medium Quality Spirit Sword Magic Artifact, forged with a multitude of treasures, including three types of Third Order Forging Materials, having taken a full month and a half to complete, specially crafted for Lin Tianming as a divine weapon. An artifact forged with so many treasures, consuming all his dedication, naturally did not need to mention its power, which was anything but ordinary. Although he had forged two Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifacts during these years, the difficulty of creating this one was the greatest, prone to failure, but fortunately, it was a success. Moreover, among all the treasures he had, this artifact was the one that satisfied him the most. Brimming with delight, Lin Shilu slapped the forging furnace, and the Spirit Sword flew out instantly, which he then grasped in his hand. His face glowed with health, and his heart was filled with joy as he looked at the red and green Spirit Sword, a satisfied smile on his face. "Tian Ming must be really looking forward to this. He will definitely like it when he sees it," he muttered softly to himself before stowing the Spirit Sword in a storage bag and, with a single-handed seal, sent out a Messaging Aura that swiftly passed through the restrictive formations and disappeared without a trace. After tidying up the clutter of the Artifact Refining Room, he exited and sat in the small courtyard, waiting. ... Inside the Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming and Grandpa chatted, discussing everything from the family''s recent situation to cultivation and Alchemy, chatting for a whole half-hour. As the day was drawing to a close, Lin Tianming prepared to stand up and take his leave. Just then, a streak of red light pierced through the restrictions of the Alchemy Hall and flew to stop in front of Lin Tianming¡ªit was the Messaging Aura send by Lin Shilu. Lin Tianming extended his Divine Sense to quickly browse the content. In less than the time of three breaths, the Messaging Aura dissipated. Receiving the message, he became extremely excited and quickly stood up, saying to Grandpa, "Grandpa, I have something urgent to attend to, I won''t bother you any longer. I''ll come to visit another day!" Lin Shigong''s face showed displeasure, but after giving a few words of advice, he waved his hand and said, "Go on then!" Lin Tianming bowed respectfully to Lin Shigong, then headed out. Just at that moment, Lin Shigong seemed to remember something and hastily called out to him. Lin Tianming stopped, and saw him take out a storage bag and hand it over. Seeing Lin Tianming''s puzzled expression, Lin Shigong showed a hint of wistfulness and spoke, "You rascal, did you think I wouldn''t know about you having your Fifteenth Grandfather help with refining an artifact?" "Knowing him, forging an artifact for you would certainly cost him dearly. Here, take these two thousand Spirit Stones and three Jade Bottles of elixirs and give them to him," he said. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming felt a lump in his throat, his eyes momentarily welling up before regaining composure. Although it had been more than two years since Grandpa reached the level of Second Order Alchemist, given the consumption of Spiritual Medicine required for advancing to Second Order, he probably didn''t have many Spiritual Objects or resources left. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though the family would bear some of the cost, they couldn''t offer too many resources. Thus, these Spirit Stones and elixirs were likely all his grandfather''s net worth. With this thought, Lin Tianming was silent for a long time and then, without being pretentious, accepted the storage bag. His Grandpa had worried over him so much that when his alchemy skills improved a bit, he would start to profit. Then he could repay his Grandpa double, and for now, these Spirit Stones and elixirs would be given to the Fifteenth Grandfather. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming did not linger. After bowing to Grandpa once more, he left the Alchemy Hall and headed quickly towards the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 146 Great Increase in Strength_1 At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within Lin Shilu''s small courtyard.At that moment, Lin Shilu appeared slightly fatigued, sitting on a stone chair, waiting for Lin Tianming''s visit. It wasn''t long before a transmission flew in; Lin Shilu waved one hand to open the courtyard''s protective enchantment. Outside the courtyard, Lin Tianming rushed over in haste, seeing the enchantment open, he entered without hesitation. Upon entering the courtyard and seeing Lin Shilu''s exhausted state, he knew the effort must have been significant. Lin Tianming felt touched in his heart, recalling all the help Lin Shilu had provided him, he immediately stepped forward to show his respect with a sincere bow. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, "You can''t wait any longer, can you?" "This Magic Artifact took a lot of my effort to refine successfully; take a look!" As he finished speaking, Lin Shilu waved his sleeve, and a cyan and red Spirit Sword flew out, which Lin Tianming grabbed hold of. Lin Tianming looked at the cyan and red Spirit Sword in his hand, which was surrounded by a strong presence of Sword Qi. Lin Tianming could hardly believe it, and asked in doubt, "Is this a Second Order Medium Grade Magic Artifact?" Lin Shilu smiled and stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying. Lin Tianming refrained from further questions, swung the Spirit Sword upward, and a faint Sword Qi shot out from the sword itself, easily shattering a nearby stone garden rockery. Witnessing the effects, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but express his amazement. Then, he withdrew the Spirit Sword, holding it in his palm with an expression of fondness. Seeing this, Lin Shilu felt very gratified, his more than a month of laborious Artifact Refining now affirmed by Lin Tianming. It took a little while for Lin Tianming to stop waving the sword. Lin Shilu picked up a teacup, sipped a bit of Spiritual Tea, and then inquired, "How is it? Are you satisfied?" Lin Tianming still looked excited, nodding eagerly like a pecking chicken, and spoke very sincerely, "Fifteenth Grandfather, what are you saying? Such a divine and powerful weapon is terrifyingly potent; there are hardly a few like it even in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. Of course, I''m satisfied." After flattering him for a while, he continued, "It''s just that it must have been hard for you during this time." Having finished speaking, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag given by his grandfather and handed it over with both hands. Lin Shilu scanned the contents of the storage bag with his Divine Sense, his expression momentarily displeased, but soon he regained his calm and said, "Tianming, you are being too formal. In crafting this Magic Artifact, you spared no expense. I have already received my payment; take these Spirit Stones back." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming didn''t take back the storage bag, maintaining his posture and saying nothing, as if he would not rest until it was accepted. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a time, the two were silent, creating an awkward stillness in the air. Seeing Lin Tianming''s stubbornness, Lin Shilu gave a wry smile and then said, "I''ll graciously accept these few elixirs then, but take back the Spirit Stones." "This..." Seeing Lin Shilu''s slightly angered expression, Lin Tianming didn''t dare to insist anymore and obediently followed his wishes. "That''s right." Lin Shilu chuckled, waved his hand, and gestured him to sit down. The two sat opposite each other, Lin Tianming pouring him a cup of Spiritual Tea, Lin Shilu took the cup with a smug look on his face and then said, "This Spirit Sword contains lots of valuable materials. It''s the Magic Artifact I''m most satisfied with since I''ve started refining. Don''t let this sword go to waste, you little rascal." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming''s expression turned solemn, his eyes revealing a resolute battle spirit as he patted his chest and said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, I will not waste this sword. I will make it vanquish mighty foes and protect our family, to prove myself to you." "Hmm..." Seeing Lin Tianming''s determined look and aura, Lin Shilu nodded approvingly and asked, "This sword is quite powerful and doesn''t have a name yet. Why don''t you name it? Have you thought of a good one?" At this moment, Lin Tianming, touching the icy sword''s body and feeling the surges of Sword Qi it emitted, quickly contemplated in his mind. This Spirit Sword was intended for use in combination with the Divine Firmament Nine Swords, focusing on attack. He didn''t care much for a name, so he decided to name it straightforwardly after the Divine Skill¡ªsimple and clear. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, I have refined this sword to complement a Divine Skill. So let''s name it after the skill; let''s call it the Tiangang Sword. What do you think?" Lin Shilu naturally had no objections, he nodded with a laugh, accepting the name before praising, "Tiangang Sword, the name is quite fitting and matches the sword''s nature." "Excellent!" Lin Tianming was very satisfied, finalizing the name of the Spirit Sword, and then the two of them began to chat idly. After a quarter of an hour had passed, seeing Lin Shilu''s weary expression, and eager to consecrate the Tiangang Sword and test its power, Lin Tianming planned to take his leave. Resolved, he spoke calmly, "Fifteenth Grandfather, please focus on cultivating to recover your state. I will visit you again after some time has passed." Lin Shilu nodded. A month of intense Artifact Refining had taken a great toll on his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power; he indeed felt exhausted. With the Spirit Sword now successfully transferred and seeing Lin Tianming''s eagerness, he didn''t hold him back any longer. "You little rascal, go on then." After admonishing him with a teasing scold and voicing a few reminders, Lin Shilu watched Lin Tianming leave the courtyard. ... Continue your journey with empire Having left the courtyard, Lin Tianming didn''t delay, immediately flying toward the small valley where he practiced his Divine Skills, at an astonishingly fast speed. Chapter 146 Great Increase in Strength_2 It didn''t take long before he arrived at his destination.There was no one in the valley; it was exceptionally quiet, with only the occasional bird call. His expression serene, he took out the Tiangang Sword from his storage bag and held it in his hand. Looking at the Tiangang Sword in his hand, the interplay of blue and red hues, and the fluctuations of Sword Qi attached to it, he knew it was indeed not something a First Order Spiritual Tool could compare with. Although he had not yet performed the recognition and refinement ritual, and thus could not be certain of the Tiangang Sword''s power, judging from the aura of the Spirit Sword, it definitely qualified as a fine piece among Magic Artifacts. Such a Second Order Magical Artifact was naturally precious beyond words. To know, a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, among the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators, only Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang had, and perhaps only he could have one; even Clan Leader Lin Shihua used only a lower quality Second Order Magical Artifact against foes. Not only that, even in Qianchuan Market, the vast majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators used lower quality Second Order Magical Artifacts, only some with considerable wealth could afford better. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming couldn''t wait to perform the recognition and refinement rite and see how powerful it actually was. Having made up his mind, he immediately sat down cross-legged, circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and then began to adjust his state. An hour silently passed, his state reached its peak. He opened his eyes, waved his hand, and the Tiangang Sword flew over, hovering motionless in front of him. He formed spells with one hand, bombarding the Tiangang Sword with spell after spell. "Clang, clang, clang..." Several sharp noises transmitted, then morphed into melodious sounds similar to wind chimes, extremely pleasant to hear. Lin Tianming was not affected at all. He flicked his fingers continuously, the spells speeding further, transforming into strands of Spiritual Light enveloping the entire sword. At that moment, the Tiangang Sword began to vibrate violently, seeming to want to escape his control. "Thinking of escaping from my palm? I won''t let you have your way!" Lin Tianming''s expression turned serious, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, accurately sprayed onto the surface of the sword''s body. In an instant, the fresh blood rapidly penetrated into the sword''s body and soon disappeared from sight. Meanwhile, the shaking of the Spirit Sword intensified, and Sword Qi began to burst forth. If he was not careful, it could have easily eluded his control. Fortunately, he had anticipated this, and as the Spirit Sword vibrated, Lin Tianming fully operated his Cultivation Technique to firmly suppress the sword, then brought forth a strand of Divine Sense to imprint into the sword''s core. Seizing the opportunity, he began refining the sword, and then solidly inscribed his Divine Sense onto the core, achieving the purpose of controlling the Spirit Sword. As the process advanced, the Spirit Sword''s reaction gradually calmed, no longer resisting fiercely. Time slowly passed, and three days went by like this. After his relentless refinement through day and night, with a light and airy sword cry, the Tiangang Sword soared out, flying a hundred meters into the sky, and began spinning nonstop. Looking up, as the Tiangang Sword spun, a powerful Sword Qi erupted, sweeping up the faint surrounding Spiritual Energy into a massive storm. Below the Tiangang Sword, sand and rocks flew, dust filled the air, and numerous stones were pulverized by the Sword Qi. "Tiangang Sword, you truly haven''t disappointed me!" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming exclaimed in admiration, then with a wave of his hand, he summoned the Tiangang Sword back to his side. With the return of the Tiangang Sword, the process of refining and recognizing the Spirit Sword as its master was also thoroughly completed. At this moment, Lin Tianming appeared somewhat fatigued, but looking at the Tiangang Sword that affectionately orbited around him nonstop after being recognized as its master, the tiredness in his eyes dissipated a great deal. "The Tiangang Sword is still so spiritual; its power must be extraordinary!" After chuckling lightly, he casually waved his hand, and the Tiangang Sword flew into his grasp. He then carefully felt the enthusiasm of the Tiangang Sword. "Now that the refinement is complete, it''s time to test the power of Divine Skills." After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming tossed the Tiangang Sword into the air, then his hands formed seals, assuming an extremely peculiar gesture. At the same time, he immediately began chanting a special spell. "Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword, go for it..." In an instant, the Tiangang Sword shone brightly with golden light, transforming into a Golden Greatsword that flew at a terrifying speed toward a small hill a thousand feet away. When a heaven-shattering boom resonated, the Golden Light Greatsword directly pierced through the several hundred feet tall small hill, blasting a bottomless hole in the middle of its side. After the golden Sword Qi dissipated and the dust settled, his figure was revealed. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s face was somewhat pale, his spiritual power nearly depleted, and his blood and Qi churned so violently that he almost stumbled. He paid no attention to his own condition, and with a leap, he flew to the edge of the hole in the small hill to inspect it. After careful inspection, he discovered that the hole had gone straight through the entire hill. Although the hill was only a hundred feet in diameter, it had been completely pierced by the sword. Seeing the destructive power, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but exclaim, Continue reading stories on empire "This Tiangang Sword Qi, when executed with a Second Order magical artifact, is truly terrifyingly powerful." After muttering to himself quietly, he began to ponder. This Tiangang Sword Qi consumed too much spiritual power, just one strike had used up most of his spiritual energy. Although his spiritual power was only half-full and not at its peak before executing this divine skill, even so, even in his prime, it would cost him dearly to execute the second strike. However, the power of this divine skill was truly terrifying. When combined with a Second Order Medium Quality magical artifact, it was definitely one of his strongest divine skills so far. He even speculated that this divine skill might not be weaker than the Sword Qi condensed by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, and it was strong enough to be used as his ultimate trump card. The power of the Tiangang Sword exceeded his expectations, but as the magical artifact grew more potent, executing it became increasingly difficult, impacting its speed and stability as well. "It seems that I need to practice more to meet the requirements for combat," he said. Regaining his thoughts, his expression was still excited. The power of the Tiangang Sword had exceeded his expectations, greatly enhancing his strength. With no pressing matters at hand, he naturally wanted to further cultivate this divine skill as soon as possible. Resolving to do so, he sat down on the spot and began to recover his spiritual power. Time flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Within the small valley, the Tiangang Sword above Lin Tianming''s head radiated bright golden light, and a terrifying Sword Qi burst forth, its speed more than double that of the first time he had executed it. "Boom..." In the blink of an eye, the little mountain, riddled with holes, was struck by the Sword Qi again and subsequently collapsed thunderously. However, the penetrative Tiangang Sword Qi didn''t stop there; it continued at lightning speed to strike another mountain. With a loud explosion, even the larger hill was pierced through. Yet, after piercing the second hill, the Golden Sword Qi quickly dissipated into the sky. As the vibrations ended and the sky returned to calm, the hilly valley, now riddled with holes, was revealed. The valley, with several hundred-foot-tall hills, had completely collapsed. The original geographical features had been utterly transformed, and anyone not extremely familiar with the place would not be able to recognize its previous appearance. Standing up in an open area, Lin Tianming had a sly smile on his face, seemingly very satisfied with the power of the Tiangang Sword Qi. For the past month, he had not left the area, practicing day and night nonstop. Whenever his spiritual power returned to its peak, he would begin to execute the Divine Firmament Nine Swords. After repeated practice over a month, the first sword of the Tiangang Nine Swords had made great progress. Its casting speed and stability were efficient enough to confront a Foundation Establishment Second Layer cultivator and even hold its ground against a Third Layer cultivator. Besides, his spiritual power and proficiency had also slowly improved, bringing him ever closer to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Had he not lacked elixirs to assist in his cultivation, with such diligent practice, he might have already been ready to attempt a breakthrough. Gathering his thoughts, he waved his hand and summoned the distant Tiangang Sword back to him, then put it into his storage bag. Looking at the drastically altered valley, he left the area without a backward glance, flying towards his cave dwelling. Chapter 147 Gossip_1 The next morning, at dawn.As the first rays of the morning sun pierced the clouds and shone into Lin Tianming''s courtyard, he opened his eyes and sat by the window. After a night''s rest, he had recovered his composure. Discover hidden tales at empire S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gazing out the window at the sky, Lin Tianming fell into deep thought. Since his entry into the Foundation Establishment Stage, more than half a year had passed. Time truly flies, Lin Tianming mused. A year for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is but one or two sessions of secluded cultivation, and not even considered that long for Qi Refining Cultivators. In this half-year span, his progress in cultivation wasn''t significant; he was still at the first layer of Foundation Establishment, barely reaching the Medium Stage and some distance away from the Second Layer. But setting aside cultivation, he had made significant advancements in alchemy and Divine Skills. He delved into Alchemy, practiced Divine Skills tirelessly, and sought every means to enhance his strength, all to increase his methods of survival. Effort does not betray the diligent... Fortunately, input correlated with gain. After expending years of accumulation, he had forged an even more massive Sword Array and the formidable Tiangang Sword. Now, he had become a Second Order Alchemist, and in Divine Skills, he had the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap enemies, the strong offensive technique of the Tiangang Ninth Sword, and the Great Sun Sword Qi Art that he had been refining for years. His methods for confronting opponents had improved significantly. "Having been in Foundation Establishment for so long, it''s about time to look for an opportunity to go out for training in half a year!" "However, before I leave, I should try to further improve my alchemy. Once I''m out of the family, it will be difficult to find a safe and quiet environment for cultivation like before!" After talking to himself, Lin Tianming tidied up his room briefly and then entered the Pill Refining Room. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he skillfully prepared for alchemy and then began to adjust his state. Having refined Second Order Pills twice before, the process was now much easier. In the Pill Refining Room, Spiritual Medicine Materials were purified and the Infusion of Spirit was completed. Only when the fragrance of the pills wafted out could the alchemy be deemed successful. In the blink of an eye, more than twenty days passed, and the ten batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials he had exchanged for pills were all refined. Ten batches of materials yielded success in four rounds of alchemy, with a pill success rate of three to four per batch, which was quite stable. He looked at the several Jade Bottles in front of him containing thirteen Second Order Spirit Origin Pills and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. After days of practice, he had finally reached a breakeven point with his alchemy skills. He planned to exchange the pills he had refined for Spiritual Medicine, take the opportunity to further improve his Alchemy, and earn some Spirit Stones. Otherwise, it would be very troublesome to be penniless when he set out for training. After tidying up the Pill Refining Room, he left and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Before long, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingcheng were sitting across from each other. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming inquired, "Uncle, how many Second Order Spirit Origin Pill Materials does the family have left? Are there enough for alchemy?" After speaking, Lin Xingcheng took out the ledger to check. With a grave expression, he said, "The Materials for the Second Order Spirit Origin Pills are difficult to collect. In the past, the family didn''t have a Second Order Alchemist, so we couldn''t refine Second Order Pills. But over the years, we''ve amassed quite a lot of Materials." "The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family is increasing, and to supply seven or eight cultivators with pills, we will soon have a shortage of Spiritual Medicine." "In the last two years, your grandfather became a Second Order Alchemist and used up a lot of Materials, nearly depleting the reserves we earned from the big family battle." "The family''s proficiency in alchemy isn''t high. We can only produce a limited number of pills each month. The materials are collected through Luoyun Market, and adding the substantial Spiritual Medicine Gardens of the Jin and Wu Families, we have managed to ensure a steady supply so far." Hearing Lin Xingcheng''s words, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. Alchemists need a large amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials for practice when advancing, which quickly consumes vast resources and it''s difficult to achieve success in a short time. Only those with an exceptional talent for alchemy can attain a certain pill success rate and quantity to break even swiftly; otherwise, most people simply cannot afford the cost. His grandfather was lucky. The family spent a great deal of resources for him to practice, allowing them to produce a Second Order Alchemist once again. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming asked, "Uncle, I currently need a lot of Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice. How much can be exchanged?" After pondering for a moment, Lin Xingcheng answered, "We have just over fifty batches of registered Spiritual Medicine Materials left in the storehouse and the garden. How many do you need?" Lin Tianming considered the Spirit Stones he had, totaling just under two thousand, which had been given by his grandfather, along with the thirteen pills he intended to exchange for Spiritual Medicine Materials. After refining them, he planned to convert the pills into Spirit Stones and repay his grandfather. Having made up his mind, he took out the pills and Spirit Stones he had and handed them to Lin Xingcheng. After taking the pills and Spirit Stones, Lin Xingcheng calculated and went to the storehouse to gather the Spiritual Medicine Materials for him. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit with twenty-five batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials. Returning to his own courtyard, he once again entered a frenzied state of alchemy. Time flew by, and two months passed in a flash. Inside the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming looked weary as he sat in front of more than twenty Jade Bottles filled with the fruits of his exhaustive alchemy efforts. Chapter 147 Insider Information_2 For the past two months, he spent his days concocting elixirs and his nights meditating to recover his spiritual power and divine sense, not wasting a single moment.Exhausting all the merit points and spirit stones he had, along with the elixirs he previously made, he exchanged for twenty-five portions of spiritual medicine materials. After two months of secluded cultivation, he successfully refined them all. As he produced more and more Second Order pills, his alchemy skills improved rapidly. Now, when concocting Second Order Lingshen Pills, his success rate stabilized at fifty percent, and he usually produced around four pills per batch, which was a tremendous improvement. Before he went into seclusion, he exchanged for twenty-five portions of spiritual medicine materials and successfully obtained forty-eight Second Order Lingshen Pills. Looking at his harvest, Lin Tianming revealed a hint of a gratified smile. After storing the elixirs in his storage bag and tidying up the Pill Refining Room, he walked out. Shortly after, he arrived at the Hall of Merit of the family. Finding Lin Xingcheng, they chatted idly for a few moments before he took out fourteen bottles of Lingshen Pills, totaling forty-two Second Order Lingshen Pills. Since he was not planning to use the pills for cultivation just yet, he only kept six pills for emergencies and exchanged the vast majority for spirit stones. Lin Xingcheng took the elixirs, swept them with his divine sense to confirm they met the standards, and then said, "Forty-two pills, totaling six thousand seven hundred and twenty merit points." Lin Tianming nodded and said, "Uncle, exchange for five portions of spiritual medicine materials, and settle the rest in spirit stones!" Lin Xingcheng acknowledged and went into the storeroom deep inside the main hall to get the spiritual medicine and spirit stones for him. In no time, Lin Xingcheng came back out with a storage bag, which he handed over to him. After receiving the storage bag, he projected his divine sense into it, and saw the items within it appear in his mind¡ªfive portions of spiritual medicine materials and more than five thousand six hundred spirit stones. After confirming the amounts were correct, Lin Tianming did not linger. After exchanging a few polite words of thanks, he left the Hall of Merit, feeling completely satisfied, and flew towards the Alchemy Hall. In less than half an hour, Lin Tianming appeared outside the grand hall of the Alchemy Hall. At that moment, the grand hall was bustling with activity. More than a dozen young family members were sitting on cushions, listening intently to Lin Shigong as he explained the basics of alchemy. Among the group of young family members, like him, were those of the same Tian generation, both male and female, all under twenty years old. A family member dressed in a golden robe stood up and asked Lin Shigong, who was on the high platform, "Ninth Grandpa, is the Golden Elixir Flame that you spoke of unique to Golden Elixir Experts?" Hearing the question, Lin Shigong smiled gently, looking amiable and approachable, as he patiently began to answer. Outside the grand hall, having witnessed the whole scene, he was momentarily lost in a trance, as if he had returned to the scene from over ten years ago when he was but a teenager. Looking at the younger family members focused on learning the basics of alchemy, he too had gone through the same experience ten years ago, except that at that time the family did not have many members, nor did they have the resources or energy to train a large number of alchemists. Nowadays, with abundant resources and encouraging policies, coupled with the inheritance of other families, the Lin Family has produced many talents in the Four Arts of Cultivation. Quite a few family members under the age of twenty have become First Order Medium Grade alchemists or even Artifact Refiners. Regaining his focus and seeing his grandfather deeply engrossed in teaching, he did not interrupt and quietly waited on the side. After half an hour, Lin Shigong finished his lesson and dismissed the family members. Once the family members had dispersed, Lin Tianming approached, and the grandfather and grandson sat in the main hall, chatting leisurely. "Tian Ming, you''ve been alchemizing a lot lately. What''s your current success rate and pill yield?" Seeing his grandfather inquire about his alchemizing, Lin Tian Ming did not hold back and honestly relayed his progress. Although his grandfather had long known of his extraordinary talent in alchemy, he was still amazed when he heard the response. Back when he achieved Foundation Establishment, it took him three years and hundreds of batches of pills to reach the level Lin Tianming had achieved. "My boy, you''re beyond comparison!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shigong exclaimed, his face beaming with a broad smile, his heart filled with immense joy. After calming down, he asked, "You have entered the Foundation Establishment Stage for a while now. Do you have any subsequent plans or intentions?" Lin Tianming chuckled, for he had come today precisely to discuss his options with his grandfather and to hear his opinion. Since his grandfather had brought it up proactively, he opened his mouth to reply: "Grandfather, it will be difficult for me to make progress in the short term. Therefore, I want to go out and gain some experience!" Lin Shigong furrowed his brow, remembering the matter mentioned to him by Clan Leader Lin Shihua, before speaking up: "Tianming, in another month, it will be time for the family meeting. The family plans to organize a caravan to go to Qianchuan Market for development. I suggest you participate!" "Organize a caravan to develop in Qianchuan Market?" Seeing Lin Tianming''s puzzled expression, Lin Shigong explained: "Several years have passed since the family war, and the Luoyun Market is now well-managed by the family. However, over these years, the number of high-order cultivators in the family has increased rapidly, with many above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining." "As the scope of mundane affairs we manage grows larger and the number of Lin Family Members increases dramatically, if we merely rely on Luoyun Market and rest on our laurels, our accumulated resources may be exhausted in ten years, making further development difficult!" Hearing his grandfather''s explanation, although Lin Tianming hardly participated in the family''s operation, he quickly understood the underlying reasons. After the family war ended, the territory controlled by the Lin Family had expanded to over twenty towns, with a civilian population reaching over two million. With such a massive scale of civilians, every three years, the family would gain at least a dozen members with spiritual roots. Over the years, the number of cultivators in the family may have surpassed its peak period. As the treatment of clan members improved significantly, sustaining these lower-level cultivators required a large amount of resources from the family each year. And this was just part of it; the bulk of the burden lay with the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and those cultivating the Four Arts of Cultivation. After all, the monthly stipend for the eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than ten cultivators above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, who formed the upper echelons of the family, wasn''t a small amount of spirit stones. In terms of cultivating skills, he was well aware that the consumption was like a bottomless pit. Yet, for the family''s long-term development, supporting the development of the Four Arts of Cultivation, even if costly, was a necessary expense. Fortunately, after several years of family support, there had been significant progress in the Four Arts of Cultivation. His grandfather and he had both become Second Order Alchemists, and Lin Xingyuan, who had also broken through to Foundation Establishment, had already been a First-Order Superior Grade Alchemist before. It shouldn''t be long before he would reach the Second Order norms. When it came to Artifact Refining, it had always been a strong suit for the family. Although Lin Shilu remained a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner and had difficulty advancing in the short term, the family already had no fewer than five First Order Superior Grade Artifact Refiners, and their number was growing. Once they broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, they would eventually become Second Order Refiners. In other skill areas, within the Way of Talisman Making, there was yet to be a Second Order Inscription Master, and there were only two First Order Superior Grade Talisman Makers. However, this area too was developing rapidly, and any talented family members who took up this skill were bound to make a mark. As for the Way of Formation Setting, it was too demanding of the clan members'' comprehension abilities. So far, only two had become First Order Medium Grade, but their young age and good talent meant they had a lot of room for improvement. Thinking of this, the resources the family needed to consume each year must be astronomical. Indeed, after the great war ended, the Lin Family acquired resources worth nearly a million spirit stones, but the current rate of development would not last for long. Doing this math, the family did indeed need to find new revenue streams and make more preparations, which was an expected outcome. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming finally understood why the family was laying the groundwork in advance. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming asked: "Grandfather, do you know how the family plans to arrange this matter? Has any word come out?" Considering Lin Tianming''s inquiry, Lin Shigong thought for a moment. The Qianchuan Market affair was not a secret, and moreover, it involved his own grandson, so he spoke directly: Experience tales at empire "The matter has not yet been decided. However, it has been a topic of private discussion among us old folks. In a few days, the family meeting will be held, and it''s very likely that this matter will come up. Once approved, the implementation will proceed swiftly." After saying this, he continued: "I am merely giving you a heads-up. You can take this into consideration but there''s no need to put too much concern into it!" Lin Tianming nodded in response. With only a month left until the family meeting, there was no need for haste. All he needed to do was wait for the family''s decision and consider his options afterwards. As for the time being, he could focus on cultivation and prepare a bit more. Having made up his mind, after chatting casually with his grandfather, the two of them left the Alchemy Hall together. Chapter 148 The Grand Clan Meeting_1 Time flies, and the month has quickly passed.During this period, Lin Tianming led a fulfilling life, refining elixirs and delving into the Alchemy Dao during the day, while at night, accompanied by the moonlight, he engaged in seated meditation and breath control. Besides, he would occasionally visit the Alchemy Hall to teach basic Alchemy knowledge on behalf of his grandfather, and at the Skill Transmission Hall, he would also lend a helping hand for a few days. His arrival excited both Lin Shigong and Lin Shigang immensely, who gladly became absentee managers for a while. As for Lin Tianming himself, many of the clan members around ten years of age had never seen him in person. They''d only heard of his glorious deeds, and many had even taken him as a role model. Seeing him teach in person, the young clan members were both surprised and delighted. Unlike the stiff Lin Shigong and Lin Shigang, Lin Tianming''s teaching was relaxed and fascinating, easily mingling with the younger clan members. After a month of interaction, Lin Tianming got acquainted with quite a few young cultivators in the family and left them with a good impression of himself. His cultivation didn''t fall behind either, it continued to grow slowly, and he had used up all the Spiritual Medicine Materials at hand to produce more than twenty elixirs. One morning, the dawn pierced the clouds, shining light on every corner of Green Bamboo Mountain. Within his cave abode on the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Tianming was in the training room. Seated on the floor, he opened his eyes that had been closed for quite some time, stood up, stretched his slightly stiff waist, and then tidied up the training room. Today was the annual Clan Assembly. In the past, without significant matters to discuss, many higher-ups in the clan would be absent, including him, as he would not attend every time. After all, there were often critical moments in cultivation or breakthroughs, which naturally took precedence. Find more adventures on empire A few days before the start of this Clan Assembly, Lin Shihua had made a point of sending word to him early, asking him to make every effort to attend. After learning some advance news from his grandfather, it was evident that this Clan Assembly was very important and that there would certainly be significant matters to discuss. "Today is the day of the Clan Assembly, and it''s getting late; I should set out!" He murmured softly to himself, then straightened his robes and left his dwelling. ... At the break of dawn, the light of the morning sun seeped through the clouds, illuminating the land. In the entire Green Bamboo Mountain domain, many clan members were moving between the peaks, and a large number of them began to bustle about, with some heading towards the Elders'' Council halfway up the mountain. As the number of clan members increased, the courtyards at the foot of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain multiplied, and the daily activities of the traveling clan members also increased, making Green Bamboo Mountain livelier and livelier. However, the bustling scene at the foot of the mountain did not disturb the area at the top of the mountain. At the top of the main peak, Lin Tianming left his dwelling in the western courtyards and headed toward the Clan Elders'' Assembly. While crossing the enormous Bluestone Plaza, a familiar voice called out. "Younger Brother Six." Lin Tianming turned his head to see Lin Tianhong emerging from a courtyard in the East District and flying towards him. Lin Tianhong, son of Lin Xingping, had moved to live at the top of the Peak after Lin Xing Ping''s Foundation Establishment was successful, residing in his father''s cave dwelling in the East District. "Big Brother Two!" The two hadn''t seen each other for a long time; he immediately stepped forward, greeting him with a bow, then they chatted casually. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Big Brother Two, it''s been a while since we''ve seen each other, how have you been?" Lin Tianhong greeted him with a smile and cheerfully responded, "Thanks to the blessing of Younger Brother Six, I''ve been very well. I''ve almost always been in seclusion for the past few years. It''s hard to meet you even when I leave seclusion; such a rare encounter today is indeed not easy." "Indeed, it''s been a long time since we''ve had a chance to gather." Sighing, he also sized up Lin Tianhong. After a long absence, Lin Tianhong had also reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level. It was clear that he was very hardworking in his cultivation and, with his good talent and status as an Alchemist, had doubled his efficiency. "Younger Brother Six, many elders will be attending the Clan Assembly today. Do you know why they are assembling on such a grand scale?" Seeing Lin Tianhong''s puzzled look, Lin Tianming didn''t keep secrets. Indeed, the day''s Clan Assembly was bound to discuss these issues, so revealing a bit in advance wouldn''t matter. With this thought, he briefly shared the reasons his grandfather had mentioned. "Forming a caravan? Going to develop in Qianchuan Market!" Lin Tianhong was equally puzzled, but after Lin Tianming''s explanation, he excitedly said, "No wonder the family is giving such importance to this Clan Assembly. I heard many clan members received summons to attend, and even I am attending for the first time!" With excitement on his face, Lin Tianhong didn''t give Lin Tianming time to reply, peppering him with questions in quick succession. "Younger Brother Six, I wonder what kind of requirements the family has for the caravan. Otherwise, we might be able to join and contribute to the family!" "Indeed, but this is a matter that the family will discuss further. As for the details, we''ll have an answer today." Lin Tianming nodded and pondered the matter in his heart. Qianchuan Market was, after all, a mid-sized market with no shortage of powerhouses. The opportunities and treasures there were far beyond what Luoyun Mountain Range could offer, so he was also interested in joining. However, he conjectured that the caravan would not easily allow the younger generation to participate, as in a place with as many powerhouses as Qianchuan Market, the Qi Refinement Realm simply wasn''t significant. Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the Clan Elders'' Assembly. Standing before the Elders'' Council Hall, they saw many clan members coming and going, and Lin Tianming and his companion greeted each one. Soon, a hearty laugh echoed, and Lin Tianfeng descended from the sky, landing beside them. The three exchanged salutes, and Lin Tianfeng didn''t forget to give each a hug, catching them a little off guard. Chapter 148 The Grand Clan Meeting_2 After the three of them split up, Lin Tianfeng joked:"Wow, second brother, you''re doing quite well with your cultivation, already at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. After the clan meeting is over, you''ll have to spar with your big brother!" Hearing this and thinking of Lin Tianfeng, that battle maniac who was even one small realm higher than himself, Lin Tianhong''s face immediately changed, showing a hint of fear. However, Lin Tianhong was not at all flustered and quickly replied: "Big brother, I''m no match for you. If you''re itching to fight, why not let our sixth brother spar with you for a few moves?" Before his words fell, Lin Tianfeng''s aura instantly dissipated like a receding tide, and he said with a smile: "No, no, the sixth brother is no ordinary person. Sparring with him would be simply asking for trouble!" Lin Tianhong chuckled and said, "You''re just bullying me because my cultivation level is one tier lower than yours. When it comes to the sixth brother, you back off, don''t you?" Knowing that it was all in jest, Lin Tianming and the others exchanged smiles and no longer discussed the matter, then they entered the great hall together. In the great hall, around a huge round table, more than twenty people were already seated, chatting quietly in pairs and groups. At the prominent seats, Lin Shihua was meditating quietly, waiting for the clan members to arrive. After greeting their fellow clan members, Lin Tianming and the others walked to a corner and found seats for themselves. After half an hour had passed, the clan members arrived one after another, and the seats that were originally empty gradually filled up with clanspeople. At this moment, the great hall had gathered more than thirty people, all of whom were at or above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, and many were attending the clan meeting for the first time. Looking at the gathering of clanspeople, Lin Tianming fell into thought. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before the great family war, the Lin Family had, at most, only dozens of cultivators above the Fifth Level Qi Practice. Now, in the great hall, there were more than thirty clanspeople at or above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, not including those who were carrying out family missions or were too busy with their secluded cultivation to attend. If everyone were to return to the family, the number would likely not be less than eighty. In just a few years, the Lin Family''s combat power had been rapidly restored, setting aside the Foundation Establishment Cultivators not to mention, just the Qi Refinement Stage clanspeople had even surpassed the level before the war. From this, it was evident how swiftly the family had developed in these years. "So many clanspeople require support; the resources needed must be immense, no wonder the family had to seek alternative solutions," he reflected. Just as he was contemplating, a glint of Spiritual Light flashed through the restrictions of the great hall. Led by Lin Shikang, with Lin Shilu and a few others following, a group of people entered the great hall. With the exception of Lin Xingrong, who was guarding Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Xingyuan, who was in charge of overseeing Luoyun Market, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family had come. Seeing the group enter, Lin Shihua took the lead and the clanspeople in the great hall all stood up and greeted them with a salute. Lin Shikang laughed heartily and, along with Lin Shilu and the others behind him, nodded in acknowledgment and greeted some clanspeople. When his gaze fell on Lin Tianming, he saluted with his hands, then raised his head to look at Lin Shikang whom he hadn''t seen for over a year. Gazing at Lin Shikang''s kindly face, although his presence was restrained and he looked like an ordinary person, for some reason, Lin Tianming still felt an invisible pressure, causing his heart to palpitate. "Could it be that Third Grandfather has successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level?" He speculated inwardly, recalling the situation with the Hun Tian Pill, and he was convinced of his guess. Read exclusive content at empire Lin Shikang smiled calmly, not saying much, and gestured with his hand for all the clanspeople to sit down. He then led Lin Shilu and the others to the higher seats, settling down before awaiting the start of the clan meeting. In this gap, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to observe the people around him. Scanning the great hall, at the highest place sat Lin Shikang and the other Shikang generation clan members, totaling six. Below them, seated were Clan Leader Lin Xingping and other Xing generation clan members, making up over thirty people in total, all of whom were the core strength of the family. At the very bottom were members of the Tian generation from the Lin Family, headed by Lin Tianming, numbering only a few. Apart from the three of them, Lin Tianqin and her sister were also among them. After a short while, Lin Shihua stood up and scanned the crowd, which immediately fell silent. Seeing that all the clanspeople had arrived, he nodded slightly with a broad smile on his face, then spoke loudly, "It is truly delightful that our kin have gathered here despite their busy schedules. I am overjoyed. Today, in addition to our reunion, there are two main purposes: one is to report the clan''s progress over the past three years, and the other is to discuss several important issues. I hope everyone will offer their suggestions and strategize for our family''s benefit." "The Clan Leader may command as he pleases. We, the younger generation, will surely do our utmost to share some of the family''s burdens." After Lin Xingping spoke, the clanspeople below echoed in agreement. Lin Shihua nodded satisfactorily, took out a thick book and opened it, then continued, "Firstly, let me report on the clanspeople''s situation. As of today, our family has a total of two hundred and twelve cultivator members, including six of the Shi generation, eighty-eight of the Xing generation, and one hundred and eighteen of the Tian generation." "In the past three years, with the reinitiation of the Spirit Testing Convention, our family''s numbers have grown further. To date, we have eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators, two at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, and sixteen clanspeople above the eighth level of Qi Refining." As soon as these words were uttered, the venue immediately erupted. Although the majority of Qi Refining Stage clanspeople had a rough idea of the family''s strength, hearing it directly from Lin Shihua allowed them to truly appreciate the family''s tremendous progress compared to a few years ago. Seeing the excited reactions of the clanspeople, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, and the few remaining members of the Shi generation, felt equally moved and a sense of pride spontaneously arose within them. In the past, the Lin Family''s foundation was indeed rather weak, but now, whether it was the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople, the family''s strength had reached the peak in its history. Lin Shihua smiled contentedly and waved his hand to quell the excited clanspeople. "Over the past three years, thanks to the Luoyun Market, as well as the two Spirit Lands of Golden Horn Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain, our family has been able to obtain a large amount of Spirit Stones and Spiritual Medicine Materials, as well as some ores and artifact refining materials." "According to estimates, in the span of three years, the various resources acquired by the family amount to over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. After deducting expenses, we have a surplus of more than ten thousand Spirit Stones each year!" Upon hearing this, the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople became even more excited. It''s important to note that in the past, the Lin Family''s welfare was quite low. If they had a surplus of a thousand Spirit Stones at the end of the year, it was considered quite good. Now, despite significantly increasing the welfare of the clanspeople, the three-year surplus exceeded ten thousand Spirit Stones, several times more than before. In this way, with just ten years, they could gather enough Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill, a feat that would have been impossible without three or four decades in the past. During Lin Shihua''s report, the great hall buzzed with conversation as many clanspeople whispered to each other, expressing their excitement. After Lin Shihua elaborated on the details, apart from a few who were in the know, all the other clanspeople were thrilled and their expressions revealed a strong sense of confidence. Lin Tianming was no less excited. As the family that he heavily valued gradually grew stronger, they could focus on cultivation without being distracted by family affairs, much to his relief. As Lin Shihua expounded, the many changes and achievements within the family became known to the clanspeople. Every clan member could keenly feel the family''s growth and change, which brought them more confidence and peace of mind. An hour later, after Lin Shihua finished reporting the basic situation of the family, the Hall Masters of the various institutions also stood up one by one to report their respective situations. From the Four Arts of Cultivation to Law Enforcement and Skill Transmission, to the process of the clanspeople''s experiences, including the allocation of various resources, the introductions were quite detailed. Every clan member below listened intently, afraid of missing any key information. After all, such a public and transparent family assembly was a rare opportunity to fully understand the family, and such opportunities had been scarce in the history of the clan. Lin Tianming also witnessed for the first time how seriously the family took such matters, making public some previously guarded secrets. However, they were matters that could be controlled, and the most important secrets would not be revealed; otherwise, if they fell into the hands of hostile forces, it could easily lead to the family''s destruction. The lively family assembly continued, with various family affairs being announced, and half a day passed in this way. Chapter 149 Candidates_1 With the family''s report completed, the clan meeting came to a temporary close.During the short recess, the clan members huddled in small groups, whispering joyfully to each other. Lin Tianming was also busy, taking advantage of the opportunity to exchange ideas with several senior clan members, bolstering their relationships. A quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Shihua, seated in the place of honor, ceased his chatting. He had not yet stood up when the hall suddenly fell silent. Lin Shihua surveyed the assembly, his expression calm, and said, "The second half of the clan meeting is about to begin, with five topics for discussion. Should anyone have any opinions, feel free to raise them. I hope you will actively participate and offer your strategies for the good of the family." "We will follow the Clan Leader''s wishes!" As soon as he finished speaking, several members of the younger generation echoed in agreement, while most of the clan members waited quietly, evidently eager to know the topics of discussion. After all, the decisions made at each clan meeting were closely related to every member and were matters of great importance that could greatly alter their current situation. "The first item on the agenda is the family''s plan to organize a caravan to set up two shops in Qianchuan Market to mainly sell elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts. This will also allow us to collect various resources for the family. What are your suggestions?" As soon as Lin Shihua finished speaking, the previously quiet hall erupted in murmurs, especially from those who had not been privy to the news. "Qianchuan Market is a place teeming with all sorts, with numerous sects and families in competition. How can the family secure a foothold there?" "Qianchuan Market is the core territory of the Zhenyang Sect. Other than them, there are many Foundation Establishing Families conducting business there, and even several Golden Core Families. Are we at risk of being pushed out?" "Which clan member will lead the initiative? It''s surely too dangerous to go without at least a Foundation Establishment Stage leader." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... At this point, the hall was abuzz with various questions tumbling over one another, and some clan members began to voice their opinions. Lin Tianming was at this moment lost in thought, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. After all, Luoyun Market was a small market, isolated and limited in its access to information and the flow of people, with minimal connection to other regions of Wei Kingdom. In the past, due to severe internal strife within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the family had not been inclined to consider expansion and had been exhausted just from maintaining their own enterprise. Even though the family now had full control over the Luoyun Mountain Range, relying solely on Luoyun Market provided very limited profits. Though resource shortages weren''t an immediate issue for the family, if the family wished to develop in the long term, or to progress further, merely staying in this small area would be very difficult to achieve. Qianchuan Market, being a medium-sized market, ranked high among all markets in the entire Wei Kingdom. With over ten thousand resident cultivators, it saw a substantial circulation of rare treasures and had a huge demand for various resources. If the family could establish a solid footing in Qianchuan Market, it could not only earn Spirit Stones but also gather intelligence on the entire Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. When the time was ripe, the family could collaborate with other families from different regions to boost the family''s influence in Wei Kingdom. In other words, if the family wished to advance further and increase its influence in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, developing in Qianchuan Market was an excellent and necessary step to take. His thoughts aligned with those of the vast majority of the clan members. Regarding the matter of Qianchuan Market, there was virtually no opposition; the only thing under discussion was the choice of personnel for the market. True to expectations, this matter was swiftly approved, and many clan members eagerly awaited Lin Shihua''s decision on the selection of the candidate. Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Shikang and a few others before speaking, "After discussion among us elders, we have decided that the trip to Qianchuan Market will last for three years, with a rotation every three years. Shi Lu will lead the team, responsible for all affairs related to Qianchuan Market. Additionally, we are recruiting five family members with a cultivation level of Seventh Level Qi Cultivation or above to accompany him. Qualified members may register at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall tomorrow morning." "As for those participating in this mission, each person will receive a yearly subsidy of one hundred Spirit Stones, and regular stipends will be issued. Those who perform exceptionally over the three years will be appropriately rewarded by the family." Once Lin Shihua announced this, many clan members became eager to take on the task. This mission was an excellent opportunity for those in the later stages of Qi Cultivation within the family. After all, the tasks assigned within the family usually involved guarding Spirit Lands, finding Spiritual Objects, and the like¡ªeither perilous to accomplish or of little profit. After a year of hard work, it was tough to earn as many Spirit Stones and much time would be lost. Managing shops in Qianchuan Market, however, mainly involved overseeing the stores and handling various miscellaneous tasks. The recruitment of Loose Cultivators would assist in these tasks, so their own cultivation would not be hindered. Moreover, with abundant resources, it was easier to acquire a large number of precious items, making it a desirable destination. For those well aware of this fact, the eagerness to participate was palpable, and it was expected that by the following morning, numerous clan members would compete to register. Seeing the ardor amongst the clan members being harnessed, Lin Shihua and the others were quite pleased. As the clan meeting resumed, another half-quarter of an hour passed. The once noisy hall gradually calmed down. Following discussions and additional contributions of good suggestions from the clan members, the matter was finally settled. The enthusiastic clan meeting continued, and before anyone realized it, most of the day had passed. During this time, the family deliberated on numerous significant matters, and one by one, decisions were finalized. Your next read is at empire For the most part, Lin Tianming observed from the sidelines, occasionally offering his own insights, maintaining an appropriate demeanor. Chapter 149 Candidate Selection_2 At the high seat of the grand hall, Lin Shihua clapped his hands and proclaimed loudly;"Thus it''s decided. In the future, the frequency of the Spiritual Testing Assembly will change from once every three years to once a year, starting from next year." The clanspeople below were excited. Today, the family had made quite a few adjustments. Take the Spiritual Testing Assembly, for instance; it used to be once every three years. As the number of mortals in the family continued to increase, sticking with a triennial test would cause many young members to miss out on two years of potential development. With the final item on the agenda concluded, the clan meeting, which had lasted for the better part of the day, was drawing to a close. Lin Shihua was very satisfied and also quite relieved. Although within the clan, those in the Foundation Establishment Stage had absolute say, the clan had been giving more and more consideration to the wishes of the clanspeople. This clan meeting was exceptionally grand, with contributions of ideas from the members, resulting in many significant decisions. "The clan meeting is concluded. Everyone should go about their business and remember not to slacken in your cultivation. The assembly is dismissed." With Lin Shihua announcing the end of the clan meeting loudly, numerous clanspeople rose to their feet, bowed towards the elder generation seated in the high places, and finally left the grand hall. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong had risen early and said to him; "Little brother, Tianhong and I will head back first. We''ll go to register at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall tomorrow. Wait for our message, and hopefully, we will be selected." Read exclusive chapters at empire After speaking, the two of them gave a fist salute and then walked out of the grand hall together. As the throngs of clanspeople left, not even ten minutes passed, and the grand hall was left with less than ten people who silently stayed behind. They were all members of the Shi (world) generation, as well as several important Qi Refining Stage clanspeople. At this moment, Lin Tianming bowed to the elders and then earnestly said to Lin Shilu; "Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming requests to accompany you to the Qianchuan Market, and I hope you will grant your permission." Lin Shilu chuckled, seemingly having anticipated that he would volunteer himself. "Granted. In fact, even if you hadn''t mentioned it, I was planning to take you with me. Having you help me would save a lot of trouble." Lin Shikang smiled knowingly and joked; "Shilu, with Tianming accompanying you, and with both of your cultivation levels, when combined, you could likely face a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator without falling short." "Indeed, with the two of you together, we will feel much more at ease." Lin Shigong added. Lin Tianming looked puzzled, as if understanding from Lin Shikang''s words that Lin Shilu had probably broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. When he thought about it, before the family war, Shilu was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. It made sense that, after a few years, breaking through was within reason. With that thought, he also grew a bit excited and said to Lin Shilu; "Congratulations to Fifteenth Grandfather for achieving such great success in your cultivation." Lin Shilu smiled and waved his hand to signal that Tianming need not be formal, then he gave his orders; "I just had a breakthrough and need to consolidate for a while. We will set out after a month, so you prepare as well during this time." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I shall adhere to Fifteenth Grandfather''s command. Tianming will take his leave first." Lin Tianming replied, then stood up, bowed to the elders, and briskly left the grand hall. Back in his own cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat in the training room, deep in thought. A month would quickly pass, and before his departure, he needed to make some preparations. He projected his Divine Sense to meticulously inspect the contents of his storage bag. Recently, ten batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials had been refined into elixirs, and now he had twenty-eight Second Order Lingshen Pills, as well as five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. Besides that, there were fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, one Tiangang Sword, a Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman, and a Lower Grade Defense Talisman. The rest were a collection of various rare types of Spiritual Medicine Materials he had slowly gathered. There was also the Qianling Pill Recipe he had acquired long ago, and the Mysterious Moon Token. He still owed his grandfather two thousand Spirit Stones, which he was determined to return before leaving, leaving him with three thousand five hundred stones to use. These were all the important items he possessed, not much to speak of, but for an average Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was not a small amount either. After checking his storage bag, Lin Tianming took a deep breath, then sat with crossed hands and started to meditate and cultivate. The next morning, Lin Tianming left his cave dwelling and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Along the way, many clan members were headed in pairs to the Miscellaneous Hall, apparently ready to register for the mission to the Qianchuan Market. Watching the clanspeople in their hurried state, Lin Tianming was taken aback. He greeted the passersby and continued directly to the Hall of Merit. In a short while, he appeared inside the Hall of Merit. At this time, the Hall was less crowded than usual as most probably had gone to the Miscellaneous Hall either to register or to watch the excitement. After finding Lin Xingcheng, they greeted each other, then sat opposite each other and began to chat idly. "It''s a pity I have to stand guard at the Hall of Merit and can''t participate, otherwise I''d also like to gain some experience at Qianchuan Market," Lin Xingcheng said regretfully, a look of longing in his eyes. "Uncle, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. You''re almost at Great Perfection in your cultivation. Training within the clan for a while, and going in a few years will be just the same," Lin Tianming comforted him. Hearing this, Lin Xingcheng''s expression calmed down, and he let out a wry smile before quickly changing the subject, asking; "Tianming, what are you here to exchange today?" Lin Tianming took out seven bottles of Second Order Lingshen Pills and handed them to Lin Xingcheng, then said; "Uncle, I''d like to exchange for two Second Order low-grade Defense Talismans, and the rest in Spirit Stones." Lin Xingcheng received the Jade Bottle and, after verifying there were no issues, calculated the prices. "Twenty-one Second Order Lingshen Pills, unit price one hundred and sixty, totaling three thousand three hundred and sixty Spirit Stones. Second Order low-grade Defense Talismans, unit price three hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, totaling seven hundred and sixty Spirit Stones. After deduction, that leaves two thousand six hundred Spirit Stones." Lin Tianming nodded, then pondered for a moment. After repaying grandfather two thousand Spirit Stones, and adding the previous five thousand five hundred, he would still have six thousand left. With Spirit Stones in hand, one would feel at ease in Qianchuan Market, otherwise, wanting to purchase any treasure would be troublesome. Seeing Lin Tianming nod in agreement, Lin Xingcheng entered the depths of the great hall to fetch the items for exchange. In a moment, Lin Xingcheng came out, took out Spirit Stones and talismans from his storage bag, and handed them over in person. After receiving the Spirit Stones and Second Order Talismans into his own storage bag and exchanging a few words, Lin Tianming bowed his fists and left the Hall of Merit. At dawn, after leaving the Hall of Merit, he made his way through Green Bamboo Mountain, intending to return to his cave dwelling to continue his cultivation. Just as he flew to the summit of the main peak, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were already waiting for him. At that moment, both of their complexions were rosy, and they seemed very jubilant. Lin Tianming descended from the sky, greeted the two with a cupped fist salute, and asked with a smile on his face, "Big brother, judging by your expressions, did you manage to register successfully?" When Lin Tianming asked, Lin Tianhong displayed a smug look and confidently said, "Hehe, fortunately, it was a success, but you wouldn''t know, today''s Miscellaneous Hall... What a scene it was..." Both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong''s eyes crinkled as they watched Lin Tianhong chatter away excitedly, the two exchanged a smile. According to Lin Tianhong, today''s registration was extremely popular. More than thirty people were vying to participate, and the two of them were chosen partly because of their youth and partly because, among the Qi Refining clanspeople, they were among the most prominent. Lin Shilu always took good care of the younger generation, so with their close relationship, they were recruited. "Big brother, besides the two of you, which other clan members were selected?" Lin Tianming asked curiously. When Lin Tianming brought up this matter, Lin Tianfeng helplessly said, "Apart from us two, the other three should be Xing Clan Members. We were the first to be selected, after that we left, so the specific participants are still unclear, but I estimate they are definitely cultivators above the eighth level of Qi Refinement." After finishing, Lin Tianming shifted the topic and inquired about their plans. "Never mind that, I heard from Elder Wu that we''ll depart on time in a month. Do you brothers have any arrangements?" As the date drew near, Lin Tianfeng looked serious and discussed his plans. "First, I''ll go to the Hall of Merit to exchange for some talismans to ensure survival, then I''ll go into seclusion to cultivate a bit more, aiming to enhance my cultivation as much as possible. After all, Qianchuan Market is not like the family clan. There, although fighting is forbidden, outside the market, there aren''t so many rules." After Lin Tianfeng''s reminder, Lin Tianhong, who had been chatting and laughing moments before, suddenly became solemn, then said; "That''s the plan. This trip will take three years, and it''s necessary to exchange all our resources for elixirs and talismans, and to prepare more Spirit Stones for any unforeseen needs." "You brothers have thought it through. I also plan to cultivate for a short period!" No sooner had Lin Tianming finished speaking than Lin Tianfeng took up the conversation. "Then brother, I won''t keep you any longer. We''ll meet again in a month!" "Till then!" After the exchange, Lin Tianming and the others saluted with their fists and turned to fly off in different directions. Chapter 150 Revisiting Old Places_1 Over twenty days hurried past.The day before his departure, Lin Tianming walked out of his cave dwelling and flew towards the small valley where he practiced. Ever since he began preparing for his Foundation Establishment, the Purple Gold Eagle had been staying in the valley. Since he was going to Qianchuan Market, it was natural to bring it along, as it could take the place of travel on foot and save a considerable amount of time. As its strength grew, it could also offer some help during battles. Explore stories on empire In no time at all, Lin Tianming appeared in the valley. When his figure appeared in the valley, the Purple Gold Eagle immediately flew over and landed in front of him. At this point, after a large number of elixirs from Lin Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle''s aura had become even stronger. Clearly, it had reached the limit of a First Order Demon Beast. Lin Tianming jumped onto its back, fondly stroked its huge head, and then the pair began flying around Green Bamboo Mountain. ... Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Inside Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling, several members of the Lin Family from the Foundation Establishment Clan were sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. Lin Shihua took out three storage bags and handed them to Lin Shilu in front of him, then said, "Shilu, these three storage bags each contain fifty thousand Spirit Stones, as well as a large number of Spiritual Objects. They are all items needed to set up a shop." Lin Shilu received the storage bags, gave them a scan with his Divine Sense, and his expression grew serious. Such a large sum of Spirit Stones and various Spiritual Objects, nearing a total value of a hundred thousand, made it clear that the family was ready to go all out to secure a foothold in Qianchuan Market. Seeing the change in Lin Shilu''s expression, Lin Shikang also spoke up at this time, "Shilu, you have full authority over matters in Qianchuan Market. If necessary, you can ask Daoist Ye for help. With his connections and cultivation level, he may be able to offer some assistance." "If it really becomes impossible to manage, then let it go. Although Qianchuan Market is the family''s preferred location, it''s not irreplaceable. Prioritize your own safety above all else." "Yes, Qianchuan Market is filled with all sorts, and although the Lin Family has not made enemies with other forces, you still need to be extremely cautious." Lin Shigong also added a word of advice. With his expression returning to calm, Lin Shilu nodded firmly and responded, "Please rest assured, elder brothers. Shilu understands the importance and will not let you down. On this trip, I will surely secure a stable footing in Qianchuan Market as soon as possible to pave the way for the family..." ... As evening approached, the glow of sunset gradually faded and the sky darkened. In a valley, Lin Tianming put the Purple Gold Eagle into his Spirit Beast Bag and then, using Sword Flight, headed towards the summit of the main peak. A short while later, he did not return to his own dwelling but went to his father''s courtyard instead, intending to reunite with his mother before leaving. Entering his father''s courtyard, he found his grandfather and sister already waiting. Seeing Lin Tianming come in, Lin Tianyue''s face lit up with joy as she approached and took hold of his arm, acting coquettishly. "Brother, you are getting busier by the day and don''t visit Yue''er anymore!" "You''re already a Seventh Level Qi Refinement Cultivator, how come you still haven''t grown up?" Lin Tianming teased as he stroked his sister''s hair. Lin Tianyue pouted, let go of his arm, and with a sulking expression said, "Hmph, I''m also a First Order Medium Grade Talisman Maker now, I don''t care about you anymore; I''m going to help Mother!" Lin Tianming chuckled and walked over to his grandfather, then bowed his hands in greeting, "Tian Ming pays respects to Grandfather!" "Come sit, let''s talk!" Lin Shigong gestured with a wave of his hand. As they chatted casually, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag and passed it to Lin Shigong, which contained the two thousand Spirit Stones. "Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather did not accept any Spirit Stones for the Artifact Refining, so I must return them to their rightful owner!" Lin Shigong chuckled, accepted the storage bag without refusal, and then remarked with some emotion, "Among the many younger members of our family, your Fifteenth Grandfather has really gone above and beyond for you!" "Yes, grandson understands!" Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. Lin Shilu had refined artifacts for him several times and provided him with quite a few cultivation resources. The efforts were hardly less than those of a true grandfather, which was indeed remarkable. Not just towards him, Lin Shilu was equally generous to other young members of the family, a rarity in the entire Lin Family. Thinking about all this, Lin Tianming immediately felt a profound respect. After a while, following Lin Shigong''s advice, dinner was ready. The family sat together to eat and casually chatted. As his mother placed a piece of Spirit Beast meat into Lin Tianming''s bowl, she looked at him with regret and said, "Tianming, your twenty-fifth birthday is coming up soon. It''s a pity that you have to leave for Qianchuan Market tomorrow; otherwise, I would have celebrated it for you!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Reminded by his mother, Lin Tianming remembered that in half a month, he would turn twenty-five. Time had flown, and it had been fifteen years since he embarked on the cultivation path. Having reached the Foundation Establishment Stage for over a year, he thought back on the past decade with its clear images of cultivation, as if it were only yesterday, and couldn''t help feeling a wave of nostalgia. Without mention, it was easy to forget, but now recalling it, his pace of cultivation had set him apart. At twenty-four, he had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Even in the entire Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, he was a rare existence. Keeping these modest achievements in his heart, Lin Tianming then let out a relieved smile and said, "A true man aspires to travel far and make his mark. And even more so for a Cultivator. Isn''t today like an early celebration?" Hearing Lin Tianming''s words, everyone smiled knowingly. As night fell, the harmonious dinner concluded, and Lin Tianming, standing up with his grandfather, prepared to leave. As they arrived at the plaza, Lin Shigong took out two bottles of elixirs and handed them to him, then said, Chapter 150 Revisiting the Old Place_2 "Tianming, you will set off tomorrow. I won''t see you off, and I''ve said all that needs to be said. Take these two bottles of elixirs, and deliver them to your father when you pass Golden Horn Mountain."Lin Tianming took the elixirs, his expression determined as he responded: "Grandfather, rest assured, I will certainly work hard in my cultivation, and I won''t let you or the family down!" "Good, that puts my mind at ease!" Lin Shigong replied, then took the lead in departing, heading toward his own cave dwelling. Watching Lin Shigong leave, Lin Tianming then lifted his feet and departed, returning to his own cave dwelling. ... The next morning... As dawn was just beginning to break, several people had already gathered in the plaza at the family gate, among them Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong. Lin Tianming arrived above the plaza by sword flight, and before he could land, heard Lin Tianfeng''s hearty laughter. "Sixth brother, you''re finally here, we''ve just been waiting for Fifteenth Grandfather!" Lin Tianming smiled faintly, descended from the sky, then walked forward and bowed to the clan members. "I have seen three of my uncles, and two elder brothers." "Haha, with Tianming accompanying us, we can be said to be absolutely safe on this journey!" Lin Xingsu said excitedly. Before his voice had even faded, Lin Xingli echoed the sentiment. "Indeed, originally we thought that only Fifteenth Uncle, a Foundation Establishment, would be leading the team. To think that the True Dragon Prodigy of our family is also joining us, I am now quite reassured!" "My clan-born brethren flatter me. In the three years to come, we must rely on each other and fight side by side!" Lin Tianming replied with a smile. After that, they chatted idly for a while, becoming more familiar with one another. While waiting, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to evaluate their team. The three members of the Xing generation were all ascetics with little interaction with him. Nevertheless, they possessed not insignificant cultivation and were young with plenty of potential, no wonder the family valued them. Both Lin Xingsu and Lin Xingli were at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, while another member named Lin Xingyao was at the Eighth Level. Among those on the journey, Lin Shilu was at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, and with him at the First Level, plus three people at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and two at the Eighth Level. Such strength in the team was considerable; many Foundation Establishing families couldn''t even muster such forces when they were fully deployed. Half a quarter of an hour later, with the sound of tearing air, Lin Shilu appeared in the plaza. Lin Tianming and the others immediately went forward and respectfully bowed to him. "Dispense with the formalities!" Lin Shilu waved his hand, and everyone stood waiting on the side. After surveying everyone, Lin Shilu said: "Tianming, let''s use your Purple Gold Eagle as our mount. This time we won''t need to detour; we will prepare to go through Golden Horn Mountain, resting for a day or two, and incidentally check on your father!" "Alright!" "With no detours, not only is our journey much safer now, but we''ll also cut down a lot of time," Lin Tianming said, his expression excited. "The hour is late; we depart immediately!" After speaking, Lin Shilu took out the token, opened the Protective Clan Formation, and the group of six people left the formation. Outside the formation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, then took out a Beast Spirit Pill for the eagle to consume. "Your Spirit Beast has advanced rapidly, reaching the peak of a First Order Demon Beast in just seven or eight years!" Lin Shilu remarked admirably. Hearing this, the faces of Lin Xingli and the others changed. Although they knew all along that Lin Tianming''s Spirit Beast was strong, they hadn''t realized it was even more formidable than theirs. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled and explained: "Xiao Diao has consumed quite a few Spiritual Objects, it has swallowed dozens of elixirs, so reaching this level is inevitable!" "That''s true!" Lin Shilu nodded, jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle first, and the others quickly followed. With plenty of space for six people on its huge body, Lin Shilu took out a map and then confirmed the route with Lin Tianming. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming gave the command and the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the clouds a thousand yards high, heading north, and soon vanished into the horizon. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Xingli and the others were astounded by its speed. Lin Tianming remained calm; he sat with his eyes closed on the eagle''s back, enjoying the sensation of rapid flight. As the Purple Gold Eagle continued to grow, its current speed had increased even more than before. Previously, it took over twenty days to reach Qianchuan Market, but now, flying at this speed without detours, it was estimated that they could reach Qianchuan Market in about ten days. Unknowingly, two days passed. Golden Horn Mountain, the Jin Family Clan''s Territory Ruins. Several years have passed since the great Clan Battle at Luoyun Mountain, and the territories of the Jin and Wu families were all occupied by the Lin Family. Over the years, more and more clan members began to come to Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Xingrong even stayed here to cultivate. Golden Horn Mountain was rich in spiritual energy, making it an excellent place for settling down. Being close to Qianchuan Market also made its location extremely important, serving as a junction for the family. In addition to this, Golden Horn Mountain had huge Spirit Fields and a Spiritual Medicine Garden, as well as a not so small area of Golden Flower Trees. Golden Flower Trees were First Order Superior Grade Spirit Materials, usable in artifact refining, their value not inferior to that of Qingling Bamboo. Many of the Spiritual Medicine Materials and Golden Flower Trees could not be transplanted, and it would be a pity to let the vast Spirit Land crafted by the Jin family over a millennium go to waste. Therefore, the family placed great importance on this matter, dispatching a large number of clan members to occupy the land, restoring various Spiritual Objects and ensuring a substantial income each year. Such a treasure land was something the family would never give up on, from any perspective. At dusk... The Golden Horn Mountain was especially quiet at this time, with a clan member patrolling the mountain gate. Watching a dark shadow approaching from a distance, Lin Xingyou momentarily lost in thought. In an instant, the shadow arrived at the mountain gate. Seeing the several people on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Xingyou''s face lit up with excitement; he opened the great formation and immediately stepped forward to greet them. "Xingyou pays respects to Fifteenth Uncle, and to my fellow clan members!" Lin Tianming and the others returned the salute, exchanging pleasantries, after which Lin Shilu smiled slightly and said, "Let''s go inside first, send a message to Xing Rong at once!" After sending the message, Lin Shilu walked in, and Lin Tianming and the others followed. After entering Golden Horn Mountain and settling the Purple Gold Eagle, the group walked within the interior of Golden Horn Mountain. Revisiting the old place and walking on the cobblestone road, Lin Tianming observed the Jin Family Clan''s Territory he hadn''t seen for years. After several years of renovation, the traces of the family battle were erased, and the Golden Horn Mountain of today saw no ruins, retaining only some intact buildings. Compared to before, the scale was much reduced, but it still looked exquisite. A quarter of an hour passed. Lin Tianming and the others arrived at the main peak of Golden Horn Mountain, in a newly built courtyard. They sat in the small courtyard waiting, and Lin Xingrong, upon receiving the message, quickly came over. Having not seen his father for more than a year, his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer was as expected. After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats, and Lin Xingrong asked about the purpose of their visit with a puzzled look. Explore more at empire Lin Shilu didn''t conceal anything and stated the purpose of their visit directly. "Qianchuan Market, our family is going to expand into Qianchuan Market?" Lin Xingrong was somewhat surprised, but having previously been stationed in Luoyun Market long-term and being well-versed in commerce, he quickly understood the family''s strategic plan. Following that, Lin Xingrong also briefed them on the situation in Golden Horn Mountain and discussed various business matters concerning the market. After more than an hour of discussion, they had a general understanding of Golden Horn Mountain and gained valuable insights. As it was getting late into the night, Lin Shilu finally spoke up and instructed, "That''s enough for today. Everyone should go rest, and we''ll set off again early the morning after next!" Lin Xingrong nodded, and Lin Xingyou, along with Lin Xingli and the others, left to arrange places for them to rest. Once they had departed, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were arranged to stay in this courtyard to rest. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming took out two bottles of elixirs prepared by his grandfather and added one of his own, handing them to his father. "Father, these three bottles of elixirs are from grandfather for you!" Lin Xingrong was somewhat skeptical but did not show it, calmly saying, "I still have some elixirs for my cultivation, let''s take one bottle each!" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu chuckled and replied, "Xing Rong, just take them. Tianming is already a Second Order Alchemist, and your father certainly does not lack elixirs, and neither do I!" Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong''s face lit up with joy, and he accepted the elixirs, storing them in his storage bag. After discussing their recent cultivation achievements, Lin Shilu stood up to take his leave and prepare for rest. After giving several instructions, Lin Xingrong also rose to leave. With everyone gone to rest, Lin Tianming was the last to leave, returning to his own room to rest. Chapter 151 Return to Qianchuan_1 ``` S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Early morning. Golden Horn Mountain. Dense fog enveloped the area, the morning glow filtering through the clouds, with the gentle sunshine shining in every corner of Golden Horn Mountain. After a day and night of rest, Lin Tianming and his companions appeared at the mountain gate, with Lin Xingrong arriving to see them off. After Lin Tianming and his six companions had exchanged bows, they said farewell to Lin Xingrong and set off again, flying north towards Qianchuan Market. Golden Horn Mountain lay to the north of Luoyun Market, over two thousand miles away, and was the closest position within the Luoyun Mountain Range to Qianchuan Market. With the family''s occupation of Golden Horn Mountain, it could serve as a stepping stone for the Lin Family''s expansion towards greater aspirations, making its significance extraordinary. Sitting on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu took out a map made from beast skin and started examining it carefully with Lin Tianming. He pointed at two spots on the map with a serious expression and said, "Tianming, after we fly several hundred more miles to the north, we''ll enter the periphery of the Hengyang Mountain Range. Everyone needs to be vigilant from there on!" "You and I will take turns on guard. We cannot afford to be negligent!" Hearing Lin Shilu''s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded and acknowledged with a casual response before he spoke up: "Fifteenth Grandfather, with your eighty years of cultivation experience, you must have seen much of the world. Since we''re going to establish ourselves in Qianchuan Market, perhaps you could enlighten us on the basic situation surrounding the market?" Seeing Lin Tianming bring up this matter, Lin Shilu naturally wouldn''t refuse, especially since he had already planned to analyze the power dynamics of the surrounding forces to prepare the younger generation psychologically. Having made up his mind, he gathered everyone around and began to speak with a grave expression: "The Wei Kingdom is also vast, and as for the Golden Elixir Forces, I''m sure you''ve heard of them without me having to mention it." "In the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, there are at least a hundred Foundation Establishing Families. Almost every year, some families vanish, while new ones emerge. With so many families, the vast majority will not cross paths." "I will introduce the Foundation Establishing Families near Luoyun Market, which are close to the Luoyun Mountain Range. Keep these in mind, so if conflict arises with them, you will be prepared." Lin Tianming and the others nodded. Most of them had only operated within the Luoyun Mountain Range, so they didn''t know much about the outside world. As Lin Shilu started speaking, they all listened intently, showing keen interest. After a moment of contemplation, Lin Shilu began his explanation. "The vast area more than two thousand miles north of the Luoyun Mountain Range falls under the Hengyang Mountain Range and Luoyang Mountain Range!" "These two ranges form a pincer with Luoyun Mountain Range. Being closer to Qianchuan Market, the overall strength of these two mountain ranges is noticeably stronger than that of Luoyun Mountain Range." At Lin Shilu''s words, the others immediately showed interest, their eyes filled with anticipation. Seeing their reactions, Lin Shilu continued: "The Hengyang Mountain Range has seven great Foundation Establishing Families, among which the Chen Clan and Wei Family are powerful, openly boasting five Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the other five families varies, but overall, the strength of the entire Hengyang Mountain Range is more than double that of Luoyun Mountain Range!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng could not help but click his tongue, while the others looked somber. Lin Shilu chuckled and continued: "You might think that''s all, but actually, the neighboring Luoyang Mountain Range is even stronger!" Lin Tianfeng was immediately shocked and eagerly inquired further. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire "The situation in Luoyang Mountain Range is very different from Hengyang Mountain Range. There, only three major families exist, creating a tripartite balance of power that has persisted for hundreds of years. Each family has a heritage spanning over a thousand years, making them deeply entrenched and powerful." "One family also bears the Lin surname, while the other two are the Meng Family and Qiu Family. Each publicly boasts no fewer than seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Furthermore, among these three families, there is a considerable number of late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators and beyond!" "Hiss... such incredible strength!" The others gasped, Lin Tianfeng''s face paled, Lin Tianhong''s expression turned even darker, and even the usually composed Lin Tianming was taken aback. Comparing the Lin Family to these other families based on Lin Shilu''s description, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but realize how much the Lin Family lagged behind in overall strength, despite having a similar number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Seeing his younger kinsmen''s expressions of terror, Lin Shilu remained calm, then said: "You needn''t worry too much. The Foundation Establishing Families of Hengyang Mountain Range are embroiled in constant internal strife and lack the capacity to entangle with external forces." "On the other hand, the situation in Luoyang Mountain Range is comparatively simple. The strength of the three major Foundation Establishing Families is evenly matched; they guard against and suspect each other. None dare act rashly for fear of allowing another to profit off their conflict, leading to over two hundred years of peace." Reassured by Lin Shilu''s detailed introduction, Lin Tianming and the others felt somewhat more at ease, yet many questions lingered. "Fifteenth Grandfather, wouldn''t the Golden Elixir Forces intervene in the internal conflicts between families in different regions?" Lin Tianfeng asked curiously. Lin Shilu answered calmly and patiently: "In the entire region of Qingzhou, unlike other major states that have developed for tens of thousands of years such as the central Mysterious State, where many forces with ten-thousand-year legacies stand unshakably, Qingzhou has only developed for tens of thousands of years and cannot be compared." "Being close to the Demon Race Area, it is one of the Four Battlegrounds. Every day, many forces are extinguished, so many rules and orders are not well established. Over time, the situation here has become quite unique. Qingzhou is vast with sparse populations and chaotic order. Almost all forces just occupy a piece of territory and then wage war on their own." ``` Chapter 151 Return to Qianchuan_2 Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded their heads, showing expressions of having gained much benefit.Having never left the Luoyun Mountain Range before, they listened to these situations and finally gained a better understanding of the outside world. Soon after, Lin Tianming also asked: "Fifteenth Grandfather, from what you said, if there are no rules or order, doesn''t that mean the major forces can attack each other?" Lin Tianfeng echoed the sentiment. "Exactly, in that case, won''t major forces fight each other bloody over resources? Yet up to now, we haven''t heard much news about Golden Core forces being exterminated?" Lin Shilu''s expression remained calm as he began to explain again. "You are not aware of this; even though Qingzhou''s surface lacks explicit rules and order, for powers above Golden Core, the ties are too great. Pull one hair and the whole body is affected; they do not easily engage in large-scale warfare." "It is said that among the Human Race''s supreme powerhouses, those at the Divinity Transformation Stage have reached an agreement. Forces above Golden Core should not easily strike against each other to avoid the loss of the high-order combat power of the Human Race." "Divinity Transformation Stage powerhouses? An unspoken pact among the peak powerhouses of the Human Race?" Lin Tianming exclaimed in surprise. Lin Shilu nodded, then said: "It''s only said, whether it is true or false, I, with my limited perspective, cannot clarify." Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "As for struggles between the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment Families, for those Nascent Soul Cultivators standing at the peak of the Human Race, it''s nothing more than trivial scuffles, not worth mentioning." "Even if a life-and-death battle occurs, costing a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, low-order cultivators are merely a drop in the ocean when it comes to the overall strength of the Human Race. What truly decides the fate of the Human Race are those powerhouses above the stage of Nascent Soul cultivation." "And the Golden Core forces will not engage in major conflicts over small profits, unless it''s for a huge opportunity." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming, hearing Lin Shilu''s words, also found his explanation quite acceptable. Upon reflection, if there truly were no limits to rules, wouldn''t it mean one could act recklessly, stripping away the layers, and what chance would those Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment families have to survive? Although there are such underlying rules on the surface, the territories of the Human Race are vast with numerous domains. In places like Qingzhou, overt and covert struggles never cease, and in the vast Cultivation World, even the destruction of Golden Core forces wouldn''t create much ripple. Looking at it this way, the Cultivation World is still a place where strength is supreme and interests are paramount. Even Divinity Transformation Stage powerhouses would fight fiercely over transcendent resources; this, he had long seen very clearly. Seeing that Lin Tianming seemed to have grasped the concept, Lin Shilu was very pleased and then said: "You need not be too pessimistic. Although Qingzhou is chaotic and the rules are not perfect, it is much better compared to a thousand years ago. Moreover, among the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom and other Golden Core families, there hasn''t been large scale slaughter, and the overall state of Wei Kingdom is relatively stable." "As for the Foundation Establishing Families of the Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges which are closer to our territory, there will be numerous interactions in the future. As for each family, just be careful and cautious. And as for Golden Core forces, we''re not yet at a level to provoke them, just keep a low profile, avoiding trouble where possible but not fearing it, do you understand?" Lin Shilu''s expression was serious, as he earnestly cautioned them. Lin Tianming and the others clasped their fists and replied in unison: "Rest assured, Fifteenth Grandfather, we will definitely be careful and cautious, we won''t casually offend other forces!" Hearing Lin Tianming and the others'' responses, Lin Shilu nodded, then no longer spoke, starting to rest with his eyes closed. The group also discreetly refrained from asking further questions and each began to meditate and cultivate. Lin Tianming sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, surveying the rapidly passing scenery, deep in thought about something. Flying northward, they crossed over numerous lofty mountains and ridges, drawing ever closer to Qianchuan Market. Ten days passed quickly; the Purple Gold Eagle flew high in the sky, crossing the edge of the Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges. They encountered very few other cultivators along the way and finally arrived at the outskirts of Qianchuan Market on the tenth day. In a valley a few dozen miles from the market, Lin Tianming and the others landed on a small hill. After stowing the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag and taking a brief rest, the group of six altered their appearances and began sword flight towards the gate of Qianchuan Market. Along the way, the ever-cautious Lin Shilu once again gave some final reminders as they approached the entrance to the market, finally stopping his chatter. Lin Tianming was very aware that their task of permanently staying in the market was far from trivial; to gain a foothold in the intricate Qianchuan Market was no easy feat. Should they encroach on the interests of other forces, it was inevitable that some incidents would occur. And leading Lin Tianfeng and the others, he also had to be mindful of their safety. As such, both he and Lin Shilu faced no small amount of pressure. Seeing Lin Tianming''s expression grow somewhat serious, Lin Shilu transmitted a comforting message: "When the soldiers arrive, block them, when the water comes, cover it with earth. If worst comes to worst, we can abandon this plan; there''s no need to be too tense!" Lin Tianming smiled knowingly and gave Lin Shilu a comforting look. Outside Qianchuan Market, the group of six flew on their swords, gazing at the vast city in the distance. Even for Lin Tianming, who was visiting for the second time, the sight was still somewhat shocking. For Lin Tianfeng and the others, who were visiting the largest market in the southern Wei Kingdom for the first time, the sight of the buildings reaching into the clouds brought a look of excitement to their faces. The group flew close to the market entrance, then proceeded on foot toward the bustling city, where many cultivators still queued up for entry even as dusk approached. Lin Shilu led the group forward, simply following in line behind the others. After about a quarter of an hour, Lin Shilu paid the full amount of spirit stones, and they entered the city without issue. Inside, Lin Shilu led the group down the wide bluestone paved roads. As they walked past the bustling scenes along the way, Lin Tianfeng and the others glanced around, taking in the charm of a medium-sized market. In no time, they reached the North District of the market, where cave abodes were for rent. Looking at the bluestone attic in front of them, Lin Shilu spoke up: "We''ll rent a temporary cave abode today, so that we can settle down. Once the shop matters are finalized, we will then move to a longer-term, stable residence!" Lin Tianming and the others naturally had no objections. After a brief discussion, Lin Shilu stepped inside, with everyone following suit. Upon entering the hall, the receptionist, a Seventh Level of Qi Refinement cultivator, sensing the aura Lin Shilu faintly exuded, hurried over respectfully and asked: "Senior, are you here to rent a cave abode? Allow me to introduce our offerings first." Lin Shilu nodded, and the receptionist pointed at the light screen in front of them, patiently starting his introduction. Shortly after, Lin Shilu pointed to a spot flickering with green light and inquired about the price. The receptionist''s face lit up with joy, and he began to explain eagerly. "Senior has a good eye. This cave abode is of the Second Order, brimming with spiritual energy. It includes several practice rooms and a pill refining room. It''s located in a rather secluded spot and has just become available. It can be yours for three months at the cost of just sixty spirit stones!" "Let''s take this one then, lease it for three months!" Lin Shilu nodded in agreement and then took out the spirit stones to hand to the receptionist. The receptionist accepted the spirit stones and then produced a book. He infused it with a law decree, and the green light on the screen turned red. Having completed these tasks, he respectfully handed over a golden token, the key to the temporary cave abode. "Senior, please take your time. When the rental period is nearing its end, you may come here to switch places or extend the lease!" Taking the golden token, Lin Shilu and the others left the hall and headed towards the temporary cave abode in the North District. In a short while, the group arrived in front of a quiet courtyard. Lin Shilu took out the token and cast a law decree, causing a light screen to appear out of thin air, and then led everyone inside. Entering the courtyard, they felt the abundant spiritual energy that was almost comparable to that on the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, and Lin Tianfeng and the others became quite emotional. Lin Shilu swept the entire cave abode with his divine sense to ensure safety, then said: "After more than ten days of travel, everyone is tired. Let''s rest early today and discuss our next moves tomorrow morning!" "As you command!" The group answered in unison and then each chose a room within the cave abode to rest. Lin Tianming found a room deep inside the cave abode, entered, and lay down on a bed crafted from jade. Soon, fatigue set in, and he quickly fell asleep. Chapter 152 Collecting Information_1 At the dawn of the next day.In the temporarily rented Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming and his group of six people sat around a stone table. After a night of rest, their fatigue from the past ten-plus days had completely vanished. Lin Shilu sat in the seat of honor, scanning over everyone before opening his mouth to speak; "Now that we''ve arrived at Qianchuan Market, it''s time to discuss our next steps. If anyone has suggestions or advice, feel free to speak up." After he finished speaking, the clan members remained silent, and Lin Tianming also fell into deep thought. A dozen or so breaths later, seeing that everyone was staring blankly at one another, remaining silent, the atmosphere turned somewhat awkward, Lin Tianming finally spoke leisurely; "Fifteenth Grandfather, since we are new here, with no connections and unclear about the market''s operations, acting rashly will likely lead us down many wrong paths." Lin Tianfeng, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement, and the others also looked at him expectantly. Seeing the expressions of everyone, Lin Tianming didn''t delay any further, continuing to share his thoughts. "We shouldn''t be too hasty in renting a shop. We''d better walk around the market to gauge the flow of customers in the business district, as well as the situation with our competitors. Gathering information before starting our business would be the more prudent approach. What do you all think?" Before his words could fall, Lin Xingli, with a surprised expression, added; "Tianming, your words make sense. Acting hastily will lead to many detours. Plus, we aren''t familiar with the basic situation of the market, which can easily encroach on the interests of other forces. Even though we''re here to do business, there''s still fear of others employing underhanded tactics." "Being cautious and gathering more information will definitely not be wrong, and it could help us avoid many unnecessary troubles. We''re just here to do business, so it''s best to be as stable as possible." After Lin Tianhong added a sentence, Lin Shilu nodded thoughtfully, a relieved look appeared on his face. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire In truth, he had simply asked casually, gauging the adaptability and abilities of the younger clan members. Coming to Qianchuan Market, he had brought these clan members along to act. He had no doubt about Lin Tianming''s abilities, but since they would be in seclusion for the long term, and he didn''t want Lin Tianming to be entangled in worldly matters, managing the market store would need to be left to others. Fortunately, the accompanying clan members didn''t act rashly to seek quick success. Their cautious attitudes would serve them well anywhere. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Shilu instructed; "You all have spoken well. This matter should indeed not be rushed. In the coming days, feel free to walk around the market and collect information. We''ll discuss it further in a few days before making a decision." "Be careful when you go out, and don''t invite trouble." Lin Shilu advised loudly. The others nodded in agreement and then left the courtyard together, leaving only Lin Tianming behind. "Tianming, I''ve sent a message to Daoist Ye. Tonight, accompany this old man to the Yuxi Restaurant to meet an old friend." Hearing Lin Shilu''s instructions, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn''t refuse and agreed on the spot. Lin Tianming had already anticipated the purpose of this trip. For the clan to gain a foothold in Qianchuan Market, it was possible to consult Ye Pinghai, who had been living there for decades and was also a Second Order Alchemist. Maybe he could provide some guidance. Seeing that he understood, Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming also stood up and cupped his fists, ready to go out for a stroll and casually gather some news. Once out of the residential area, Lin Tianming walked on the broad streets, his mind racing with thoughts. When it came to where to find the most informed news in the entire market, naturally, it would be venues like restaurants and tea houses. Some cultivators, while drinking and tasting tea, also liked to gossip about the situations of various powers. If he took a tour around these places, he might gain something valuable. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming headed toward the West District of the market. A quarter of an hour passed, and he crossed several streets and plazas, arriving at the commercial district of the market. In the early hours, the marketplace was bustling with activity as crowds of cultivators shuttled between shops. Lin Tianming continued deeper into the market, observing the shops along the street, memorizing their names, and when he encountered some selling elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts, he would browse and also buy a few elixirs to assess their alchemy skill level. Before he knew it, half a day had passed. He had visited the entire commercial district of the market and obtained quite a bit of useful information. As he calculated, in the entire West District of the market, there were at least over twenty big shops and nearly a hundred smaller ones that sold Second Order Spiritual Items. Almost every few dozen meters, there would be one or two shops, and near the plaza in the much-coveted area, the shops were even more densely packed. Looking at this situation, the competition was truly extraordinary. Putting this information aside, he soon reached the front of a tower. Looking up, he saw a three-story building occupying a not-so-small space, with "Yuxi Restaurant" engraved on the signboard at the entrance. Opposite it, there were several even larger restaurants, not only bigger in size but also seemingly higher in rank than Yuxi Restaurant. During the noontime, a large number of cultivators entered the restaurant. That''s when Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong quietly appeared in front of him. Lin Tianfeng spoke with a smile; "Little Sixth, it seems we have similar thoughts. Since we''ve run into each other, let''s have a meal together; it''s a good opportunity to gather some news." Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, not expecting this coincidence, but since Lin Tianfeng suggested it, he naturally wouldn''t object. Chapter 152 Gathering Information_2 Three people stepped into the Yuxi Restaurant, where many were enjoying their drinks and casual conversations in the bustling hall.Upon seeing Lin Tianming and his two companions enter, a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Third Level approached to greet them. "Please come in, honored guests. Do you wish to reserve a private room, or would you prefer to dine in the main hall?" Lin Tianming chuckled. He had come here precisely to gather intelligence; opting for a private room¡ªwhich often had prohibitions against eavesdropping¡ªwould defeat the purpose. Looking at the dozens of tables in the hall, almost all occupied by Qi Refining Cultivators discussing various gossips and happenings of the market. Lin Tianming felt a surge of covert delight, yet he maintained a calm demeanor and casually replied: "Just in the main hall will be fine!" The young man had hoped to serve a few cultivators in a private room, so he could earn a larger hosting commission. He didn''t expect they would choose the main hall. "These three clearly have the cultivation of the Late Stage of Qi Refining, yet they picked the most ordinary seating area. Could it be that they are strapped for cash?" "There goes my chance for a tip!" The young host thought regretfully, but he didn''t let any displeasure show on his face. With a smile, he personally led Lin Tianming and his party to pick out a table. The three chose a seat by the window and sat down, after which Lin Tianming took out three Spirit Stones and handed them to the young host. "Serve us a table of your specialty dishes, and bring some of your finest Spiritual Wine!" Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire Seeing Lin Tianming offer a tip, the young man''s spirits soared. Taking the Spirit Stones, he scampered off to prepare their meal. In no time, a table of exquisite foods was brought before them. "Please enjoy, fellow Daoists. Should you need anything, simply call on me!" said the young man. Lin Tianming nodded, and the young man tactfully left. Before them were several jade plates filled with the aromatic meat of Spirit Beasts, complemented by three flasks of Spiritual Wine. The three chatted idly, eating their food, while Lin Tianming pricked up his ears, attentively listening to all the topics being discussed in the hall. At that moment, not far from them, a table occupied by four Qi Refining Cultivators burst into conversation as they heartily drank Spiritual Wine. One of the men in a white robe set down his wine cup and whispered: "Fellow Daoists, have you heard? The Lingxiao Tower to the south of the commercial district is closing down." Hearing this topic, Lin Tianming covertly observed their every move and hung on their every word. "Lingxiao Tower is closing down?" "Impossible, right?" a man in a gray robe questioned. Another in a blue shirt shook his head, expressing disbelief: "I''ve heard that Lingxiao Tower belongs to the Gao Family of the Qingfeng Mountain Range. It''s been open for over a hundred years, and business has always been good. Why would they close?" The man in the white robe spoke with an air of calm, his voice barely audible. "That''s where you''re uninformed. A rumor has it that the Gao Family engaged in a fierce battle with Wei Zhou of the Qingfeng Mountain Range. The Gao Family was defeated, suffering heavy casualties. Now they want to sell off their properties quickly and move their family out of Wei Kingdom to escape the pursuit and assassination attempts from the Wei Zhou families." The comment left the man in the blue shirt with a changed complexion, exclaiming in surprise: "The Gao Family''s strength was considerable before. Even with heavy losses, do they really need to leave the market? After all, no matter how powerful the Wei Zhou families are, they wouldn''t dare to cause trouble in the market, breaking its rules, right?" The white-robed man unconvinced, then proceeded to explain. "This has to do with the strategic location of the Qingfeng Mountain Range. The Wei Zhou families are powerful; either one is no weaker than the Gao Family. I''ve heard each has five Foundation Establishment members. Their territories control the vital passages, and even if the Gao Family holed up in the market, their stores would run out of treasures to sell soon enough. It''s better to cash in early and start anew elsewhere; there might be a chance for a comeback." "Indeed, as long as we have the green mountains, we needn''t worry about firewood. Dragging it out will only weaken them further!" Realizing the rationale after the white-robed man''s explanation, the man in the blue shirt switched gears. "In the past few decades, the Wei Kingdom has been fairly tranquil, with no large-scale clan wars, a rare period of peace." Upon hearing this, the white-robed man''s expression shifted, then he said: "Have you all forgotten? Just a few years ago, the Luoyun Mountain Range went through a gruesome battle!" As these words fell, a Qi Refining Cultivator at another table nearby suddenly turned to look at the white-robed man. This Fifth Level Qi Refining Cultivator stood up, clasped his hands together in greeting, and eagerly inquired: "I am Chen Xiu, a Loose Cultivator. This is my first visit to Qianchuan Market. I would be very interested to hear about the great battle you mentioned. Could you please share the story?" The man in the white robe chuckled, feeling that since the incident had happened several years ago and many in the market were aware of it, there was nothing to hide. Then, the sociable man in the white robe called Chen Xiu to take a seat, and began to speak: "Several years ago, a great battle erupted among the major families in the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Jin and Wu families were annihilated, and the Sun Family suffered heavy losses," "It was about a month after the battle in the Luoyun Mountain Range that the news reached Qianchuan Market, causing a huge sensation at that time." "Who would have thought that the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, unbeknownst to most, had so deeply hidden their strength, boasting six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who took the initiative to annihilate all members of the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family." "You must know, the Jin Family was previously the strongest in the Luoyun Mountain Range, also having several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and yet they were all wiped out." Chen Xiu was astonished to hear this, and replied: "Logically, it should have been an evenly matched situation; at the very least, it shouldn''t have led to a clan''s annihilation. And to think that the Jin Family, which ranked first for so long, was so easily defeated?" "Heh heh..." The man in the white robe sneered and said: "This Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain is no minor clan, and definitely not an easy target. You should know that the Lin Family ancestors include a Golden Elixir Expert!" "What, a Golden Elixir Expert?" Chen Xiu exclaimed, his breathing suddenly becoming rapid. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already beyond their reach, let alone Golden Elixir Experts. For them, Qi Refining Cultivators, it was an almost impossibly distant realm. He was stunned for a moment before he calmed down, then he lamented: "The Jin Family really had bad luck, stirring up trouble with a family that had a Golden Core Cultivator among its ancestors, and in the end, they failed to steal the chicken and lost the rice!" The man in the white robe remained calm, adding a comment. "Indeed, a family that has produced a Golden Core Cultivator is not one to be trifled with, and even in decline, it is not so easily obliterated!" ... Although their voices were not loud, Lin Tianming, sitting a few tables away, could still hear everything clearly. Afterward, they stopped discussing the Luoyun Mountain Range and switched to some mundane topics. Before they knew it, half a day had quickly passed. Throughout the afternoon, Lin Tianming and his two companions never left Yuxi Restaurant, staying inside, drinking and chatting while also gathering information. After an afternoon of waiting, the three of them had gained quite a bit, with the most useful piece of information being that the Gao Family''s Lingxiao Tower was changing hands. Besides that, they also heard some rumors, but the veracity of those was hard to ascertain. As dusk approached, Lin Tianming raised his cup and spoke to Lin Tianfeng and the other: "Brother, you and Second Brother go back to our lodgings first; I and Fifteenth Grandfather have some important matters to attend to!" Lin Tianfeng looked puzzled but did not ask what the matter was. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Go ahead, Tian Hong and I will wait a while longer before heading back together later in the evening," offered Lin Tianfeng. "Alright..." Lin Tianming nodded, downed his Spiritual Wine in one gulp, then threw down several dozens of Spirit Stones, saluted Lin Tianfeng and the other with a fist, and then left Yuxi Restaurant. Yuxi Restaurant and the Welcoming Establishment were both in the business district, not far apart, separated by just one street. Before long, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance of the Welcoming Establishment. There was still a little time before his meeting with Lin Shilu, so Lin Tianming stood on the street, observing the surrounding environment. Although it was in the same area as Yuxi Restaurant, the Welcoming Establishment had a better location and was clearly a cut above in class. Yuxi Restaurant was a place where Qi Refining Cultivators would go, whereas the Welcoming Establishment was frequented by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides that, the special offerings of the meals and the decorative atmosphere were also quite different, obviously catering to different crowds. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shilu appeared in his sight. "Tianming, we''re hosting this time; let''s go inside and wait!" Lin Shilu instructed, then led him towards the Welcoming Establishment. Chapter 153 Assistance_1 In a private room on the second floor of the Welcome Pavilion, Lin Tianming sat opposite the other party.There was still some time before Ye Pinghai''s scheduled arrival, and the two chatted to pass the time. He recounted some of the rumors that had been circulating throughout the day and awaited Lin Shilu''s opinion on them. Sure enough, upon hearing the news, Lin Shilu was similarly stirred. The purpose of their trip to Qianchuan Market was to establish a foothold, but setting up a shop in the market was not so easy, Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire Due to the bustling popularity of Qianchuan Market and consistently good business, most families conducting business there made a handsome profit. As a result, various shop spaces in the market had always been highly sought after, with hardly any powers willing to voluntarily give up their lease and forfeit the opportunity to make money. And once a location became available, it would quickly be rented by Foundation Establishment Families, with sometimes more than ten families competing to bid for a single shop space, even leading some to form grudges over it. Given this, it was not easy for the Lin Family to rent a shop within a short period of time. If the Gao Family was indeed planning to sell Lingxiao Tower, it would unquestionably be great news for the Lin Family. Having just arrived in the market, they had stumbled upon such a rare opportunity; their luck could be described as extremely good. With this thought, Lin Shilu suppressed the excitement in his heart and then inquired, "Tianming, what do you think about the likelihood that the Gao Family intends to sell Lingxiao Tower? Is there any hidden secret in this?" After some thought and recalling the rumors he had heard that day, Lin Tianming responded, "This matter has caused quite a stir, and I don''t think it''s without foundation. Considering the fact that the Gao Family was jointly attacked by Wei Zhou and suffered heavy losses, it is possible that they are indeed contemplating the sale." "That makes sense!" Lin Shilu nodded, and Lin Tianming continued. "If the Gao Family truly intends to sell, many families will surely want to rent it. With our limited power, securing a spot would certainly come at a significant cost!" "Without a doubt, numerous Foundation Establishment Families will compete, and our Lin Family, previously not well-known, will find it difficult to stand out." After Lin Tianming finished analyzing, Lin Shilu was not disheartened but calmly said, "Daoist Ye, having been in the market for many years and being a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, may have some connections. When he arrives, let''s inquire further." "We can only do so!" No sooner had the words been spoken than the protective enchantments of the private room flashed. "Daoist Ye has arrived, let''s go welcome him!" After instructing, the two got up. Lin Shilu then made a single-handed seal and cast a Law Decree, which vanished into the enchantment and disappeared. As the light flashed again, the entrance to the room revealed the figure of Ye Pinghai. After not seeing him for several years, Ye Pinghai''s aura seemed even more formidable. Lin Shilu, with Lin Tianming beside him, walked forward with a bright smile and then offered a respectful bow with folded hands. "Haha, Brother Ye, it''s been a long time, younger brother pays his respects..." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Junior has seen Elder Ye!" Lin Tianming gave a respectful bow with his hands clasped. Ye Pinghai, with a beaming smile as if meeting an old friend, returned the gesture with both hands clasped. Then, upon seeing Lin Tianming, he was immediately astonished and spoke in admiring tones. "Young Brother Lin is truly a dragon among men. In just a few years, you have already succeeded in Foundation Establishment; such cultivation speed is truly terrifying!" Lin Shilu chuckled modestly and responded, "Not at all, Brother Ye exalts me. My junior here has only been lucky and diligent, leading to a faster cultivation pace. As for his talent, it is hardly remarkable in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World!" After finishing his words, Ye Pinghai did not continue the subject. He waved his hand to change the topic and said playfully, "Now that Young Brother Lin has made a breakthrough, we are both Foundation Establishment Cultivators. You should now address each other as fellow daoists!" Lin Tianming shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this and then said, "Elder Ye, you flatter me too much. Though we both are at Foundation Establishment, you are at the Ninth Level and a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, a formidable figure in the entirety of Qianchuan Market. How could I compare myself to you?" Lin Tianming continued with a series of compliments, and then, with sincerity, said, "Moreover, you are as close as brothers with my grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather, and you have helped the Lin Family many times. If I were to address you as a fellow daoist, would it not upset the order of seniority?" "Haha..." With Lin Tianming''s explanation, Ye Pinghai laughed heartily, and the atmosphere among them became much warmer. Once things calmed down, Ye Pinghai said, "Brother Lin has been kind to me, and indeed we have addressed each other as brothers. Since you say so, I''ll take the liberty to forgo formalities. From now on, if you don''t mind, you may call me Grandpa Sea, how about that?" "Junior has seen Grandpa Sea!" Lin Tianming instantly agreed, greeting him with a bow. Hearing Ye Pinghai''s words and his initiative in showing goodwill towards the Lin Family, Lin Shilu on the side was very pleased and repeatedly agreed, "It should be so indeed!" After a few pleasantries, Lin Shilu invited Ye Pinghai to take a seat, while Lin Tianming instructed the servants waiting outside to serve a full table of food. Each took their seats, and Lin Shilu pulled out two golden gourds, uncorking one to let its fragrance fill the air. He stood to pour wine for Ye Pinghai and didn''t forget to add, "Brother Ye, these jugs of ''Haoyu Fruit Wine'' were personally brewed by Ninth Brother, infused with a large amount of precious Spiritual Medicine. It enhances cultivation and is not something we commonly consume." Chapter 153 Assistance_2 ```"If it weren''t for our trip to the market city, Ninth Brother specifically asked me to bring a few jars for you, Daoist Ye, insisting that I treat you to a banquet. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have had the chance to enjoy such a delight myself!" ``` ``` Hearing Lin Shilu''s words, Ye Pinghai let out a chuckle, a look of anticipation appearing on his face. ``` ``` "Is that so? I must savour them properly then. It would be disrespectful to Shi Gong''s kindness otherwise!" ``` ``` The enthusiastic Lin Shilu entertained Ye Pinghai, while Lin Tianming sat beside Lin Shilu. ``` ``` While indulging in spirit beast meat, Lin Tianming also made sure to rise and pour drinks for the two of them. ``` ``` Drink rounds passed thrice, dishes varied in five courses. ``` ``` Under the warm reception, with cups of spiritual wine going down one after another, Ye Pinghai was also pondering Lin Shilu''s intentions. ``` ``` Having lived nearly a hundred years and seen all sorts of people, he knew that Lin Shilu''s enthusiasm today must have been driven by a request. ``` ``` Knowing this, he took the initiative to ask. ``` ``` "Lin, if you have any requests where you need assistance, just speak frankly. If I can help, I will, as a way to repay the Lin Family''s life-saving favor!" ``` ``` Seeing that he directly brought up the matter, Lin Shilu replied with a wry smile: ``` ``` "As you have guessed, Daoist Ye, I indeed have a matter to discuss!" ``` ``` "Oh?" ``` ``` Ye Pinghai was somewhat intrigued. The Lin Family''s requests for his assistance in the past were almost always for alchemy, which for him was merely a matter of expending some time, and he would also charge a basic fee. His efforts could hardly be considered a great contribution. ``` ``` As for today''s matter, which Lin Shilu was handling with such gravity, he wondered what it could be. ``` ``` Seeing Ye Pinghai''s expression, Lin Shilu decided not to hide anything further, to avoid displeasing him. ``` ``` With his mind set, he directly cut to the chase and repeated the purpose of the Lin Family''s trip to the market city. ``` ``` "Leasing a shop, to establish a foothold in Qianchuan Market?" ``` ``` "The Lingxiao Tower of the Gao Family might change hands?" ``` ``` Ye Pinghai was somewhat astonished, but after Lin Shilu''s further explanation, he understood the Lin Family''s farsightedness. ``` ``` The Lin Family had not lacked this ambition in the past, but they truly didn''t have the strength. Even the Jin Family, once the number one family of the Luoyun Mountain Range, had not been able to secure a foothold in Qianchuan Market. ``` ``` Now with eight members of the Lin clan at the Foundation Establishment level, such strength allowed them to surpass all others in the Luoyun Mountain Range, and they naturally would not be content to just stagnate in obscurity. ``` ``` Thinking of this, he very much understood the Lin Family''s demands. However, securing a position in Qianchuan Market was by no means an easy task. ``` ``` Currently, the powerhouses backing the shops in the market were among the top tier of Foundation Establishing Families. Without real strength and connections, the market wouldn''t give them the time of day. ``` ``` Furthermore, the leases for the market''s shops start at ten years and with more than two years left until the next cycle, it would be quite a wait for that gap unless they hoped for a mid-term transfer opportunity, which was exceedingly rare. Normally, such a transfer would only occur if a shop could not continue operating. ``` ``` "If the Gao Family really does transfer their shop, certainly many forces will have their eyes on it¡ªit''ll surely lead to fierce competition," said Ye Pinghai. ``` ``` Seeing Ye Pinghai''s eyebrows raise and his expression turn grave, falling into silence, Lin Shilu did not dare to rush him, only waiting anxiously. ``` ``` At that moment, the private room was silent except for the sound of their even breathing. ``` ``` After more than a dozen breaths passed, Ye Pinghai finally spoke languidly: ``` ``` "Lin, while this task is challenging, it''s not impossible. If Lingxiao Tower indeed changes hands, we could try. Having spent decades in the market city, I''ve established some connections that might be of use. Perhaps we can negotiate something." ``` ``` Before he could finish speaking, Lin Shilu was overwhelmed with joy. ``` ``` He had intended to make an attempt, but had not expected Ye Pinghai to readily agree to the matter. Although success was not guaranteed, the sheer willingness to help was already invaluable. ``` ``` Otherwise, left to their own devices, they might ramble around aimlessly like headless flies, uncertain of when they would achieve any result. ``` ``` "Rest assured, Daoist Ye. I will confirm this matter immediately. Once it is true, I will ask for your assistance in navigating it. Regardless of the outcome, I assure you, you will be handsomely rewarded!" ``` ``` After speaking earnestly, Lin Shilu then took out a storage bag and handed it to Ye Pinghai. ``` ``` Seeing this, Ye Pinghai waved his hand and said: Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire ``` ``` "The matter has yet to be confirmed¡ªif the Gao Family is unwilling to sell, I would be of no help. It would be better to confirm the veracity of this matter in the coming days. Afterward, it''s not too late to make further plans." ``` ``` Seeing his determination, Lin Shilu had no choice but to give up and reluctantly took back the storage bag. ``` Lin Tianming, standing to one side, also tastefully stepped forward to fill their cups with Spiritual Wine. After that, the two tactfully changed the subject, starting to exchange insights and occasionally chatting about some trivial family matters. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was frantically sweeping through the delicacies on the table, with large amounts of Spirit Beast meat being devoured into his stomach, the smidgen of Spiritual Power contained within the meat nourishing his flesh. The banquet continued for over half an hour, and as the sky gradually darkened, Ye Pinghai prepared to take his leave. "Lin Brother, you and I should each inquire whether the news about Lingxiao Tower changing hands is true or false. Once there''s any news, you can directly come to my cave dwelling, and we can discuss and plan!" Lin Shilu nodded vigorously, his expression excited as he said: "Thank you, Elder Brother, for your concern. The moment I have news, I will immediately send a message to you!" "Good!" replied Ye Pinghai. Subsequently, the three got up, and after leaving the welcoming building, they each gave a salute and walked toward their respective cave dwellings. Upon returning to the temporarily rented cave dwelling, Lin Tianfeng and the others had already returned to the courtyard. Gathering everyone together, they summarized the information they had collected. The information gathered by all was almost identical; within the entire Market City, only the news of the Gao Family''s Lingxiao Tower being transferred had spread. Thus, for the time being, the Lin Family could only pin their hopes on this Lingxiao Tower. In the courtyard, seeing everyone fall into silence, Lin Tianfeng asked: "What should we do next?" After another few moments of silence, Lin Shilu, also without any clue, felt somewhat helpless. At that moment, Lin Tianming spoke up: "Tomorrow, you all should still go out to wander the streets and alleys, gossiping around, and befriend some cultivators to help us establish a foothold in the market. As for the matter of Lingxiao Tower, tomorrow I and Fifteenth Grandfather will go there in person to take a look and then inquire at the Market City Hall. Meanwhile, Elder Ye will confirm the matter through a friend, and I believe it won''t be long before we have an answer!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was the only option for now. Hearing Lin Tianming''s arrangement, Lin Shilu felt very reassured and then comforted everyone. "Indeed, worrying won''t help. Let''s not be so pessimistic, with Daoist Ye lending us a hand, there is still a considerable hope." Hearing these words, the tension eased significantly from Lin Tianfeng and the others. Throughout the day, they had mingled in various parts of the Market City, gaining some understanding of the rental situation of shops and becoming thoroughly familiar with the name of Ye Pinghai. It could be said that apart from Golden Elixir Experts, within the powerful Qianchuan Market, Ye Pinghai stood out among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, relying on his exquisite Alchemy skills to enjoy unlimited glory and full house of esteemed guests. With his assistance, the task indeed became much more manageable. Seeing the improved countenance of his companions, Lin Shilu instructed: "Let''s proceed according to Tianming''s plan. Tomorrow, everyone will take action on their own, and be careful when you go out!" "It''s getting late, everyone should rest now!" "Yes!" Lin Tianming and the others stood up, bowed, and then headed to their rooms. Returning to his room, Lin Tianming sat on the jade-like stone bed, then brought his hands together and started a Grand Circulation. Having consumed a lot of Spiritual Wine and a great amount of Spirit Beast meat, a surge of energy within him began to be refined. After more than an hour of cultivation, he finally refined most of the energy in his body. In the deep quiet of the night, he sat at the bedside, pondering. Considering the overall strength of the Lin Family, it was above average among Foundation Establishment families in the Wei Kingdom, and they qualified for sure. What mattered most was the attitude of Zhenyang Sect behind Qianchuan Market; this was the crux of the issue. As long as they could manage this connection, the task would become simple. "Enough, I''ll go take a look tomorrow and see..." Muttering to himself, Lin Tianming lay down to sleep, and soon his snores filled the room. Chapter 154 Major Progress_1 The next day.On a wide cobblestone path, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu walked together. It was early morning, the busiest time for the market district, with numerous cultivators shuttling between the various shops lining the sides of the streets. On the street, Lin Tianming looked all around, eyeing the bustling commercial area and conversing intermittently with Lin Shilu beside him. Feeling the lively scene around him, Lin Tianming showed a hint of pleasure and then spoke up: "Fifteenth Grandfather, not far ahead is the location of Lingxiao Tower. This street''s position is not bad, close to the central market''s auction, so it''s always bustling with people¡ªan excellent location within the entire commercial district!" "Indeed, it''s not bad; the pedestrian traffic here is significant. The surrounding shops are all big, and their business appears to be booming..." Lin Shilu nodded and replied. As soon as he entered this street, he felt the difference. The two walked on, and soon they arrived in front of a three-story pavilion. Stopping in his tracks, Lin Tianming looked up at the building before him. This was a three-story pavilion covering over ten acres, beautifully engraved all over. Above its main entrance hung a golden plaque with the words "Lingxiao Tower" written in a dragon-and-phoenix dance script. Looking at the imposing Lingxiao Tower, this was their destination for the trip. "Come on, let''s go in and take a look first!" Lin Shilu commanded, stepping towards the interior of Lingxiao Tower, with Lin Tianming quickly following behind. Inside Lingxiao Tower at the moment, the vast hall was nearly empty, with only a few Qi Refining Cultivators selecting treasures. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gao Yuzhou sat at the front desk, looking at the few Qi Refinement Stage customers with a worried expression, heaving sighs from time to time. As a member of the Gao Family in charge of Lingxiao Tower''s business for several years, he had never seen it as deserted as in the past month, with each day worse than the last. "Who knows if Seventh Uncle has had any success? If there''re no new treasures, I''m afraid Lingxiao Tower won''t be able to hold on much longer!" Muttering to himself, Gao Yuzhou''s face showed a look of loss. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and his companion enter, Gao Yuzhou forced a smile and immediately came forward to greet them. "Welcome to our store, honored cultivators. May I ask what you are looking for?" Gao Yuzhou greeted with clasped hands. After he finished speaking, Lin Tianming and his companion didn''t say anything, instead examining Gao Yuzhou himself. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Seeing Gao Yuzhou''s clearly nervous and insufficiently confident demeanor, Lin Tianming and his companion speculated that Lingxiao Tower''s situation must be extremely dire. Feeling their gaze, Gao Yuzhou''s heart sank, though he hid it well, the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators still sensed it. With Gao Yuzhou unsure of their purpose, he tried to seem more natural despite the palpitations inside him. After several moments passed, Lin Tianming finally retracted his sharp gaze and spoke: "I require some Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials and a few bottles of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills." Hearing this, Gao Yuzhou''s expression grew even more solemn. What Lin Tianming requested were all Second Order items; Lingxiao Tower hadn''t restocked any Spiritual Objects for half a year, relying solely on old inventory to scrape by. With the current situation, the Gao Family was both afraid of Lingxiao Tower losing business and of the last bit of stock selling out. Coupled with the prolonged absence of new supplies and many customers unable to purchase what they desired, several regular customers had almost all stopped coming. Now, faced with such a large order for Second Order Pills, if this were the past, Gao Yuzhou would have been overjoyed, but now it was a thorny issue. Because Lingxiao Tower simply didn''t have that quantity. If he outright refused, it might reveal Lingxiao Tower''s desperate situation. Seeing that Gao Yuzhou had not replied for a long time, along with his hesitating look, Lin Tianming became even more certain of his suspicion that Lingxiao Tower must be on the brink of collapse. A few breaths later, Gao Yuzhou spoke somewhat helplessly: "Honored cultivators, as the elixirs have not yet been refined, we presently don''t have sufficient quantity. If you are in a hurry, perhaps you could try your luck at other shops!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion, without further words, clasped their fists, turned around, and left Lingxiao Tower directly. After coming out of Lingxiao Tower, Lin Tianming and his companion once again took a round around the other shops in the street. After half a day, they had toured much of the market district. Back at their residence, they sat in the small courtyard chatting casually. Lin Tianming picked up his tea cup, took a light sip, and then said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, it seems the rumors are indeed true. The Gao Family''s Lingxiao Tower has little stock left. If they don''t get a replenishment, I''m afraid they won''t last much longer." "Hmm..." Lin Shilu nodded, agreeing with his view. After coming out from Lingxiao Tower today, they visited many shops, and even the worst performing shop had more inventory and patronage than Lingxiao Tower. By that comparison, if the Gao Family cannot resolve the issue in a short time, it''s only a matter of time before Lingxiao Tower changes owners. "Tianming, this is good news. I''ve already sent a message to Brother Ye, and he''s already thinking of a way. Let''s wait patiently for a while!" Lin Shilu said. Lin Tianming acknowledged and then added, "Good, for the next few days, remind Tianfeng and the others to keep a close watch on Lingxiao Tower and the Gao Family''s movements." After speaking, Lin Tianming clasped his hands and returned to his own room. ... Time swiftly passed by, days turning into weeks. Chapter 154 Major Progress_2 ```In Lin Tianming''s room, a Messaging Aura flew into the room and stopped in front of him. ``` ``` He opened his eyes, which had been tightly closed for several days, extended his hand to cast a Law Decree, and then the Messaging Aura dispersed, revealing the content of the message. ``` ``` After a few moments, a smile appeared on his face and he immediately rose and left the room. ``` ``` In the courtyard, Lin Shilu was waiting. Seeing him emerge, a smile also appeared on his face. ``` ``` Lin Tianming wasted no time with pleasantries and hurriedly asked, ``` ``` "Fifteenth Grandfather, did Ye mention the specifics in his communication?" ``` ``` As Lin Tianming pressed for details, Lin Shilu shook his head in response, ``` ``` "Li didn''t elaborate; he only requested that the two of us immediately visit his Cave Mansion Courtyard for a discussion." Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire ``` ``` "I suspect it has something to do with the progress regarding the shop. There''s no time to waste, let''s go right away!" ``` ``` Subsequently, the two of them left the courtyard together and hurried towards Ye Pinghai''s Cave Mansion Courtyard. ``` ``` It wasn''t long before Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu arrived at the entrance to Ye Pinghai''s Cave Mansion Courtyard. ``` ``` Ye Pinghai had been waiting for them. Seeing the visitors, he manipulated a spell to open the cave mansion''s wards, and the two walked in, one after another. ``` ``` As soon as they entered his Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Shilu performed a fist-and-palm salute and immediately began to inquire. ``` ``` "Ye, has there been progress with the shop?" ``` ``` Seeing the anxious look on Lin Shilu''s face, Ye Pinghai said with a smile, ``` ``` "Lin, indeed there has been progress. The Gao Family does intend to transfer the shop, but currently, it''s not just you¡ªmany families are considering taking over Lingxiao Tower." ``` ``` Upon hearing this, expressions of uncontained joy spread across the faces of Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming. ``` ``` For the past several days, the two had been losing sleep, constantly focusing on this matter. Since there had been significant progress, their excitement was naturally overwhelming. ``` ``` As the two gradually calmed down, Ye Pinghai continued, ``` ``` "Don''t get too excited just yet. Although the transfer is confirmed, there are several competitors who also want to take over Lingxiao Tower." ``` ``` "Ye, have you confirmed which families they are?" Lin Shilu asked urgently. ``` ``` "If all goes as expected, the Wei Family and the Zhou Family from Qingfeng Mountain Range will certainly be involved; they have joined forces against the Gao Family. Aside from coveting the Gao Family''s treasures, they surely won''t pass up the shop either! ``` ``` "In addition to the Wei and Zhou families, there are also the Chen Clan from the Hengyang Mountain Range and the Zhu Family from the Xiuyue Mountain Range. Other Foundation Establishing Families with insufficient strength are hardly a concern; they''re mostly just making up the numbers." ``` ``` Hearing this news from Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu''s expressions turned somewhat unsightly. ``` ``` For just one shop, there were several families competing whose strength was not inferior to that of the Lin Family. Indeed, success wouldn''t come easily. ``` ``` With this in mind, Lin Shilu spoke gravely, ``` ``` "Ye, I''ve heard of these major families. Their strength is indeed remarkable. Does our Lin Family stand a chance at acquiring it?" ``` ``` After some thought, Ye Pinghai began to analyze. ``` ``` "To be honest, in comparison to the other four major families, the Lin Family is at a disadvantage. However, your ancestor was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator who once made a name for himself in the Wei Kingdom. Although overall strength is lacking, it doesn''t mean there''s no chance." ``` ``` Hearing Ye Pinghai''s comforting words, Lin Shilu''s complexion looked a bit better. ``` ``` However, he understood that even though their ancestor had once been renowned, he had passed away more than six hundred years ago; past fame wouldn''t be of much help now, and it was their own strength that mattered most. ``` ``` sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While Lin Shilu was lost in thought, Ye Pinghai spoke again. ``` ``` "The reason I messaged you today is because there has been a significant development. I have been visiting old friends these past few days, and it has been somewhat fruitful!" ``` ``` "Is that so?" Lin Shilu asked eagerly, his face flushing with excitement. ``` ``` "Just today, I visited Li Xiuyuan. I explained the Lin Family''s appeal to him and we''ve arranged to visit him tomorrow with you." ``` ``` Before he could finish, Lin Shilu could not contain his joy, and quickly asked, ``` ``` "Li Xiuyuan? Do you mean that Li Xiuyuan, the Senior Executive Officer of the Market Institution?" ``` ``` "Exactly!" ``` ``` Hearing Ye Pinghai confirm it again, this time Lin Tianming was also thrilled. ``` ``` They had not been idle these past few days, collecting much information about the families and key figures in the market. Li Xiuyuan''s name was indeed well-known to them. ``` This Li Xiuyuan is no ordinary person; he is a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect with the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, possessing immense strength, and he also holds the position of a senior executive officer in the market institution. As everyone knows, the highest-ranking individuals in the market institution are the Golden Elixir Experts, but the Golden Core Cultivators are mostly busy pursuing the path of eternal life and have no time or energy to manage the trivial matters of the market institution. Therefore, three senior executive officers are appointed to manage the market institution on their behalf. It can be said that when the Golden Core Cultivators are absent, Li Xiuyuan and a few other senior executive officers are the de facto managers of the market institution; their status and strength are extraordinary, and countless Foundation Establishing Families seek to ingratiate themselves with them. He couldn''t believe that Ye Pinghai could actually befriend Li Xiuyuan and even get him to help. Seeing the puzzled expressions on Lin Tianming and the others, Ye Pinghai also explained: "In his early years, Li of the market institution had a low level of cultivation and had requested my help to refine several batches of elixirs; hence, he owed me a favor. Today, when I sought his help, he was willing to lend a hand." After pondering for a moment, Ye Pinghai continued: "However, although Li holds an office in the market institution, he doesn''t have the final say alone; the other two executive officers also naturally need to be well taken care of." After Ye Pinghai finished speaking, Lin Shilu felt relieved and nodded repeatedly in agreement. "It goes without saying, Lin of the market institution is willing to help, which is fortunate enough. Still, we cannot let him be busy for nothing. Moreover, I have already made preparations." Ye Pinghai nodded and then said: "Alright, I have already arranged to meet with him tomorrow. At that time, you shall accompany me to visit him!" After a brief chat and finalizing the matter, Lin Tianming and another person took their leave and returned to their own cave mansion. Sitting in his cave mansion courtyard, Lin Shilu''s brow was furrowed in hesitation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming asked: "Fifteenth Grandfather, is there any difficulty? Please share with Tian Ming and see if your grandnephew can offer help." Lin Shilu looked at the several storage bags in front of him and then spoke up: "We shall visit Li of the market institution tomorrow. Since we are requesting his services, we naturally must offer some treasures, otherwise, this matter might not succeed." "Before departing, the family provided tens of thousands of Spirit Stones for us to establish a store in the market institution. How many Spirit Stones should we offer as compensation to make it appropriate?" Lin Tianming laughed upon hearing this, finding it unexpected that Lin Shilu would worry about such a small number of Spirit Stones. "Fifteenth Grandfather, it''s already quite rare for someone to be willing to help." "Furthermore, Lin Family has just arrived with no foundation or connections; we might still need to rely on others in the future. If we appear too stingy, it wouldn''t be beneficial for our development in the market institution." Lin Shilu nodded, agreeing with Lin Tianming''s rationale, and later remarked. "It is I who am indecisive!" Lin Tianming understood his elder, as the Lin Family had previously lived frugally, hating to even spend a single Spirit Stone without breaking it in half, so some hesitation was within reason. Lin Shilu regained his focus and then inquired: "Tian Ming, how do you think we should allocate these tens of thousands of Spirit Stones?" After pondering for a while, Lin Tianming felt that for someone of Li Xiuyuan''s stature, offering five thousand Spirit Stones was too little and would likely not be taken seriously; it would probably take at least ten thousand Spirit Stones to motivate them. With this in mind, Lin Tianming began expressing his own opinion. "How about offering ten thousand Spirit Stones each to Ye and the three senior executive officers of the market institution?" "The remaining ten thousand can be used for the store''s rent, and if it''s not enough, we can chip in more Spirit Stones to resolve this matter." Hearing Lin Tianming''s suggestion, Lin Shilu almost immediately agreed to this plan without much thought. Having agreed on the matter, Lin Shilu said: "The hour is getting late; let''s rest for now and go together tomorrow to visit Li of the market institution!" "Yes!" Lin Tianming responded and then left with a bow, heading to his own room. Back in his room, Lin Tianming was still somewhat excited. Before coming to Qianchuan Market, he certainly did not expect to make significant progress in just a few days. After finally calming down, he formed hand seals and circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, beginning to meditate and cultivate. Chapter 155 Achieving the Objective_1 The next morning, Lin Tianming finished his practice early and appeared in the courtyard of the cave mansion.Lin Shilu had also emerged from seclusion and was walking around the courtyard. Today, they were going to visit Li Xiuyuan''s cave mansion, and Lin Shilu felt somewhat apprehensive, particularly concerned about the matter with the shop. Whether they could succeed or not depended on today. Upon seeing Lin Tianming come out, Lin Shilu perked up and greeted him. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire The two exchanged pleasantries and then sat down in the courtyard. Since there was still time before the agreed meeting, the two chatted idly to pass the time. Before they knew it, an hour had passed. As the sun shone brightly and the time approached, Lin Shilu spoke up: "The time is almost upon us, let''s set out!" Lin Tianming nodded, and the two of them, one after the other, left the cave mansion and headed towards Ye Pinghai''s residence. Soon, the two met up with Ye Pinghai and proceeded toward the depths of the residential area. After a quarter of an hour and several quiet streets, Lin Tianming and his companions stopped in front of a peaceful courtyard. Surveying the surroundings and feeling the dense spiritual energy, which was much stronger than at their own place, they were impressed. "Is this where Li resides?" Lin Shilu asked. "Indeed! Li doesn''t like noise, so he lives in the deepest part of the entire North District!" Ye Pinghai explained. Lin Shilu nodded with admiration. "This place is rich in spiritual energy, truly an excellent cave mansion!" Ye Pinghai smiled faintly, then cautioned the two: "Li is powerful and also a Second Order Artifact Refiner, as well as a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. So, he can be a little eccentric. Do not offend him. Although I am acquainted with him, I can''t be sure about his temperament." Hearing this, Lin Tianming took it seriously and nodded gravely. Ye Pinghai then formed a single-handed seal and sent a message into the courtyard''s restrictions. Three breaths later, a slit opened in the light screen, and the three men walked straight through. Upon entering the courtyard of the cave mansion, they saw a man in a golden robe standing with hands behind his back, waiting for them. Ye Pinghai, leading the other two, stepped forward, greeted Li with cupped hands and a bow, and spoke with a smile. "Greetings, Li! I apologize for the intrusion today, please allow me to express my regrets first!" Li Xiuyuan waved his hand and replied with a smile: "Not at all. It''s rare for Ye to visit, and I''m too pleased to even consider it an intrusion!" Watching Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan exchange pleasantries and apparently enjoying a close relationship, Lin Tianming felt relieved. After the greetings, Ye Pinghai introduced Lin Shilu with a smile. "This is Lin Shilu from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, a man of remarkable strength and also a Second Order Medium Artifact Refiner. Since you both share the craft of refining, you could exchange some insights." Li Xiuyuan regarded Lin Shilu with surprise, as he was around the same age, and asked: "Oh, Lin is also a refiner?" Lin Shilu greeted with a fist and palm salute and responded modestly. "I have merely scratched the surface, incomparable to Li. We really can''t be mentioned in the same breath." Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan became enthusiastic and said: "You are too modest, Lin. I have the support of my Sect, which has enabled my progress to this day. Although you are a few years older, hailing from a family and burdened with family affairs, it''s already quite remarkable for you to have achieved so much at your age!" As Lin Shilu waved his hand in modesty, Ye Pinghai began to introduce Lin Tianming. "Li, this young friend is extraordinary, a nephew of Lin, and a Second Order Junior Alchemist!" Lin Tianming also stepped forward, saluting with a fist in palm. Li Xiuyuan then turned his gaze to Lin Tianming, and upon seeing his age and hearing Ye Pinghai''s introduction, he was taken aback. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The Lin Family is indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; no wonder it has produced Golden Core experts. This young friend, not yet thirty, has entered the Foundation Establishment Realm and is a Second Order Alchemist. Such talent is rare even throughout the entire Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World..." Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Shilu chuckled and humbly interjected: "Li holds us in too high esteem. Though my junior is not bad, he can''t be considered much in the Wei Kingdom. I''ve heard that even the Zhenyang Sect has two exceptionally gifted disciples, who have achieved Foundation Establishment in just over ten years of cultivation." Li Xiuyuan, calm and yearning, replied, "Yet your junior is certainly no less talented than those geniuses. With the right guidance, there''s a hope of achieving the Golden Core Path!" "The Golden Core Path is not so easily reached. Such experts are few within the entire Wei Kingdom." "But I believe Li has a great chance of taking that step!" Lin Shilu remarked wistfully. Ye Pinghai joined in the sentiment, "Indeed, we are both nearly a century old. Without against-the-heavens fortune, we might stop here. Li, you are young and supported by the Sect, indeed with great potential." Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily and invited the others to take a seat. As the group chatted casually, they became closer, much like old friends. Initially, Li Xiuyuan was a bit skeptical based solely on Ye Pinghai''s word, but after seeing Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming''s cultivation levels and accomplishments in alchemy and artifact forging, he was greatly astonished. After half an hour, the four talked freely about everything from cultivation practice to supernatural skills, allowing Li Xiuyuan to gain a clear understanding of the Lin Family''s strength. As the atmosphere was cordial, Ye Pinghai decided to bring up the main topic. Chapter 155 Achieving the Goal_2 "Brother Li, holding a key position in the Market City Hall, commands great respect and authority. Regarding the matter of Gao Family''s Lingxiao Tower, could you possibly offer some convenience?""Indeed, if Brother Li could mediate and negotiate on our behalf, it would be a huge step forward for the Lin Family. Such kindness will certainly be etched in our memory. The Lin Family will spare no effort in any area where we can be of use!" Lin Shilu added. Hearing the conversation of the two men, Li Xiuyuan fell into brief contemplation. Despite having an extraordinary talent and having reached the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm at a young age, along with his status as a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect and the support of Golden Elixir Experts as his masters, he was still uncertain about his prospects of advancing to the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, taking advantage of his position in managing the market city, he aimed to form as many good karmic bonds as possible, which might help him when he attempted to break through to the Golden Core Realm. If anything, he was well aware that the sect could not always be relied upon¡ª even ten thousand steps back. Looking at Lin Tianming and considering the Lin Family''s growing strength, along with a talented clan member like Tianming, who was likely to reach the Golden Core Realm, it seemed prudent to have the Lin Family owe him a favor, which could help him out in times of need. After musing for a moment, and despite having made up his mind, he still spoke with a troubled expression: "Given my friendship with Brother Ye, it is only natural that I offer my help when the Lin Family is in need. However, regarding the issue with the Gao Family''s Lingxiao Tower, other Foundation Establishing Families are involved, and not everything within the market city is decided by me alone. There are two fellow sect members who might have their own thoughts." "As such, I need to discuss with the other two sect members before I can provide an answer!" No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shilu took out three storage bags and handed them over to Li Xiuyuan, then said: "This represents a small token of my gratitude. I ask for Brother Li''s help in mediating this matter, and the Lin Family will certainly remember your assistance. Once the matter is settled, you will be amply rewarded!" "This..." Seeing the three storage bags, Li Xiuyuan naturally understood their implication. With his wealth and status, he did not care about spirit stones; what he valued more was the favor he would owe the Lin Family. With an appearance of reluctance, he said: "I must decline for myself, Brother Lin will have much need for spirit stones in the future. As for these two storage bags, I will keep them on behalf of my fellow sect members, and you may visit my residence again in three days." Listening to Li Xiuyuan''s words and seeing him accept two of the storage bags, Lin Shilu breathed a sigh of relief. "One does not thank for great kindness; rest assured, Brother Li, wherever you may need the Lin Family, we will not refuse!" Lin Shilu earnestly expressed his gratitude. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmm... "Let''s settle it then; we shall meet again in three days." Li Xiuyuan said. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the other two wisely rose to their feet, exchanged salutes, and promptly left his residence. Once outside the residence, the trio walked along a deserted cobblestone path. With no one around, Lin Shilu took out another prepared storage bag and handed it to Ye Pinghai, then said: "Brother Ye, your assistance has been invaluable this time. This modest gesture is not nearly enough to show my appreciation, but please accept it." Upon witnessing this, Ye Pinghai''s expression turned displeased: "What are you saying, Brother Lin? If I offer help, I do not expect anything in return. Besides, all I did was say a few words and didn''t provide any real assistance. Please, take it back!" Seeing Ye Pinghai''s adamant attitude and the slight anger on his face, Lin Shilu had no choice but to nod and take back the storage bag. "That''s more like it!" Ye Pinghai said with a chuckle. Before they realized it, half a quarter of an hour had passed, and the three returned to Ye Pinghai''s residence. Before parting ways, Ye Pinghai spoke: "Brother Lin, rest assured, I know Li well enough to say that since he has accepted the other two storage bags and confidently invites you over in three days, he most certainly has a nine out of ten chance." "Given that, let me congratulate you in advance, Brother Lin!" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Lin Shilu chuckled, clasping his hands in salute: "Then I''ll take your auspicious words, Brother Ye. Once the matter is resolved, I will surely come to express my thanks in person!" After speaking, the two exchanged salutes and turned to walk towards their respective rented residences. Back at his residence, Lin Shilu called together the members of his clan and briefly outlined the results of the trip. Upon hearing this news, Lin Tianfeng and the others were overjoyed. In the past few days, they had been lingering in every corner of the Market City, running about and working hard for this very matter, and now they had another substantial breakthrough¡ªhow could they not be thrilled? The matter of the store was finally about to be settled, and amidst their happiness, the group started with their compliments. "Fifteenth Grandfather is mighty, Fifteenth Grandfather has worked hard..." Lin Shilu smiled knowingly; he was very aware that even though Lin Tianming hadn''t said much, his role had been even more significant than Lin Shilu''s own. Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan were interested in the Lin Family''s potential, as well as Lin Tianming''s potential, which is why they helped so unreservedly, without even wanting any benefits. If it were him, he would do the same. After all, Lin Tianming''s talent was exceptional¡ªfor someone so young to have achieved so much, should he succeed in reaching the Golden Core Stage, the returns he could bring would be even greater. Looking at the group beside him, bubbling with excitement, Lin Shilu smiled knowingly and sent them away. Once the others had left, only Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu remained seated in the small courtyard. Then, Lin Shilu began to speak: "Tianming, of the forty thousand Spirit Stones we prepared, we''ve only used twenty thousand. Ye and Li Xiuyuan did not take any compensation¡ªwhat do you make of this?" After pondering for a moment, Lin Tianming began to respond. "Both of them are indeed cunning with age, not taking any compensation. Clearly, they see the potential in our family. Both are close to making a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm and will surely need substantial resources. Being on good terms with the Lin Family and putting us in their debt benefits them greatly. Once our family advances further, their gains will be immensely substantial..." "Hmm..." Hearing Lin Tianming''s reply, which understood the entire benefit relationship so thoroughly, felt profoundly reassuring to Lin Shilu. "Be that as it may, whatever their reasons, a mutually beneficial relationship is also the best outcome for us." "We will wait for news and then pay them a visit in three days." Lin Tianming nodded, and after chatting idly for a while, they both returned to their rooms for a brief meditation. ... Unbeknownst to them, three days passed quickly. When the appointed time with Li Xiuyuan arrived, Lin Tianming and company once again left the small courtyard and headed towards his cave dwelling. In a short while, the two appeared in Li Xiuyuan''s courtyard. At this moment, only the three of them were present; Ye Pinghai did not join the gathering. After they exchanged greetings with cupped fists and took their seats, Li Xiuyuan joyfully said: "I have not failed in my task; after much cajoling and persuasion, I finally convinced two fellow Sect brothers to rent the Lingxiao Tower from the Gao Family to the Lin Family." "Here I congratulate Lin on achieving his wish," Li Xiuyuan said with a fist salute. Although they had been prepared on their way over, it was only upon hearing these words that Lin Shilu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then Lin Shilu earnestly said: "I''m at a loss for words, immensely grateful. Once the shop is up and running, I will surely host Li at the reception hall to show our appreciation and hope that Li will honor us with his presence!" "Definitely, definitely..." Li Xiuyuan accepted his invitation and then took out a Golden Token, handing it over to Lin Shilu. He said: "This token is a symbol for the Market City; every individual or power with a store in the Market City has one. It grants free entry without paying Spirit Stones and allows you to bring up to five people at a time." "After discussions with two other fellow Sect brothers, it''s been decided to entrust the Lingxiao Tower to the Lin Family. The Gao Family has not yet vacated the premises, we estimate it will take a few more days. In the meantime, remember to go to the Market City Hall to pay ten years'' worth of store rent and complete the leasing procedures." "Good... I will take care of this matter as quickly as possible!" Lin Shilu responded. Seeing that everything was now settled, they made small talk for a while before they felt it was time to leave. The two of them stood up, cupped their fists in farewell, and left Li Xiuyuan''s cave dwelling. Chapter 156 Luoyun Pavilion_1 Two days later, in the square outside the Qianchuan Market City Hall. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library EmpireLin Tianming and Lin Shilu stood still, watching the incessant flow of cultivators coming and going, their faces revealing excitement. Thanks to Li Xiuyuan''s manipulation behind the scenes, the Lin Family had secured a place in Lingxiao Tower. Today, they had come to pay the shop''s rental fee, intending to finalize the matter swiftly to avoid any unforeseen incidents. With their minds made up, the two men didn''t hesitate and stepped towards the grand hall. Upon entering the hall, the enormous lobby was bustling with people. Over ten cultivators, dressed in Zhenyang Sect uniforms, were attending to those who had come to conduct business. Looking around, the hall was filled with dozens of cultivators, most of whom were above the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, and there were even over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming thought to himself. "Qianchuan Market truly is formidable. In the Luoyun Market City Hall, there are scarcely any Foundation Establishment Cultivators conducting business, even those above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining are rare, yet here I easily see over ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators." Soon, it was Lin Shilu''s turn to step forward, so he approached. A Qi Cultivation Eighth Level disciple of the Zhenyang Sect stood up and spoke in a flat voice, "Elder, may I ask what brings you here today?" Lin Shilu took out the token that Li Xiuyuan had given him and handed it to the attending Zhenyang Sect disciple. "I am a member of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, here to pay the shop''s rental fee. I hope you can accommodate me, young friend," Lin Shilu said kindly. Before he finished speaking, many cultivators in the entire hall suddenly stopped their tasks, turning their attention this way. Due to the Lin Family''s low profile, and although the family''s founding ancestor was a Golden Core expert, the family had been silent for too long, and many younger cultivators had yet to hear of the Lin Family''s prestigious name. However, the battle a few years ago in the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family eliminated the Jin Family, earning fame in one fell swoop, had caused a sensation across several surrounding regions. Lin Shilu''s appearance and the matter of renting a shop caught the attention of many, and the attending Zhenyang Sect disciple was also quite surprised. After a few moments, the attending Zhenyang Sect disciple regained his composure and then proceeded to inspect the token. A day earlier, he had received instructions from Li Xiuyuan, detailing the affairs of the Lin Family, which had shocked him greatly, prompting him to readily agree to the request. Once he confirmed the token was correct, he said with a respectful expression, "Elder Lin, I have already received a message from Uncle Li. The Gao Family''s cancellation has been handled properly. You need only pay the rental fee for ten years, a total of thirty thousand spirit stones." Lin Shilu nodded and let out a sigh of relief. The fifty thousand spirit stones the family brought were just enough, leaving thirty thousand to pay the rental fee. If it had been more than thirty thousand spirit stones, he would have had to borrow spirit stones from other family members, which would disrupt their plans and be quite troublesome. Regaining his composure, he took out a prepared storage bag and handed it to the attending cultivator. The attending cultivator took the spirit stones without even looking and said a few words before leaving his seat to go deeper into the hall. In a short while, he returned to his seat, holding a golden yellow token in his hand. The attending executive officer handed the token to Lin Shilu with a bow, then politely said, "Elder Lin, this is the restriction order token for the shop in Lingxiao Tower. If you change the shop''s name in the future, remember to register it with the Market City Hall. As for the shop''s rental fee, it should be renewed one year before the end of each ten-year term." Lin Shilu nodded slightly, looking completely unpretentious and kindly spoke, "Very well, young friend, you have my gratitude. When you have some free time, you are welcome to visit the Lin Family''s shop." Hearing Lin Shilu''s offer of friendship, the attending cultivator did not dare to neglect it and quickly responded, "Thank you for your generous offer, Elder. My name is Zhao Qianfeng. Whenever I find leisure time, I shall surely pay a visit." "Good..." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu chuckled happily, feeling very pleased. He chatted idly with Zhao Qianfeng for a few more moments, which helped close the distance between them, effectively fostering connections for the younger members of the Lin Family. For the Lin Family to gain a firm footing in the market, forming ties with more cultivators, especially ones like Zhao Qianfeng who have the backing of a major power, was essential. Just as this time, having such relationships could be useful in many critical moments and might provide some assistance. After a short while, Lin Shilu took his leave from Zhao Qianfeng, and the two of them left the Market City Hall together. As soon as they were out of sight, the entire Market City Hall started to buzz with whispers. A Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator muttered in confusion, "The Lin Family? Could it be the very same Lin Family that triumphed in the Luoyun Mountain battle a few years ago?" No sooner had he spoken than another Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator replied with a smug look, "Indeed, it is that Lin Family. I''ve heard that this family is not simple; their founding ancestor was a Golden Core Cultivator who was once renowned throughout the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World." "They''ve produced a Golden Elixir Expert!" "Exactly! It is said that the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family has six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the most formidable among the clan members is at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level with exceedingly powerful strength. Such capability places them at the forefront among all the Foundation Establishing Families in the entire Wei Kingdom." The clamorous hall was abuzz, everyone trying to find out more about the Lin Family. And as some cultivators left, they began to spread news of the Lin Family. The departing Lin Tianming and his companion were long gone, utterly unaware of this. ... Upon leaving the Market City Hall, the two men headed straight for the street where Lingxiao Tower was located. Soon, they arrived in front of Lingxiao Tower. Lin Shilu took out the restriction order token, opened it, and they walked in. The Lingxiao Tower was now deserted as the Gao Family had removed all the remaining items for sale, leaving behind a cluttered space. Chapter 156 Luoyun Pavilion_2 Although the site was a mess, the facilities inside were essentially intact; they just needed to be cleaned and reorganized before they could be used again.It took the two of them half an hour to go through the entire Lingxiao Tower from top to bottom before finally returning to the main hall. The location of Lingxiao Tower was close to the market square, an excellent spot, and the interior space was not small at all, with the trading hall alone being over ten zhang in length and width, and having a storeroom, reception room, and rest area, all complete with various enchantments and formations. It wouldn''t be long before they could open for business. Lin Shilu nodded, very satisfied with this. "Tian Ming, gather Tianfeng and the others, let''s all get together and discuss the next step of the plan," Lin Shilu instructed. "Alright, I''ll send them a message right now!" Lin Tianming replied, and with a single-handed seal, sent out a message. Toward evening, within the Cave Mansion Courtyard of the North District. Lin Tianming and his clan members gathered together, and Lin Shilu, with a smile on his face, addressed them: "With the shop''s affairs settled, you can all breathe a sigh of relief. However, should we change the name of Lingxiao Tower? What are your thoughts on this?" After a moment of contemplation, Lin Tianming said: "Tian Ming suggests we change it. After all, Lingxiao Tower was a name chosen by the Gao Family, and since the Lin Family has taken over the shop, it''s as if a new dynasty has begun¡ªit''s only natural we change the name." Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded in agreement, indicating their approval of Lin Tianming''s statement. "Since everyone feels this way, let''s come up with a name and decide on it quickly," Lin Shilu said. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others began to contemplate. After more than ten breaths of time passed, Lin Tianfeng was the first to suggest a name, which was quickly rejected by everyone else. Then Lin Tianming said: "The Lin Family hails from the Luoyun Mountain Range, so why not call it Luoyun Pavilion?" "That''s a good one..." Lin Tianhong was the first to speak up in agreement. Lin Shilu didn''t really care. The Lin Family''s shop in Luoyun Market had been called Hundred Treasures Building for hundreds of years without a name change. He also felt that the name Hundred Treasures Building was too ordinary, but it had been chosen by his ancestors, and he didn''t feel it was right to change it. Now that there was this opportunity to open a new shop, naturally, a name that was elegant and meaningful was desired. "Not bad, I have no objections!" Lin Shilu said. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "We have no objections either!" Lin Xingli and the others also spoke up in agreement. With the shop name decided, Lin Shilu began to inquire about everyone''s opinions regarding the opening of the shop. Lin Xingli, having dealt with the Hundred Treasures Building''s transactions in Luoyun Market many times, had quite a bit to contribute on the matter. Lin Tianming also expressed: "On the opening day, it certainly needs to be grand. I suggest that all treasures be sold at a ten percent discount for one month. In just half a month, the market assembly will be upon us. If nothing unexpected happens, the number of people in the market will increase several fold. We can take this opportunity to make a name for Luoyun Pavilion!" Before he finished speaking, Lin Xingli voiced his objection. "Tian Ming, won''t one month be too long? If business is too good, think how many spirit stones we will lose out on!" Lin Tianfeng and the others also seemed reluctant but did not state their position. After some thought, Lin Tianming then proposed a compromise. "Well then, let''s take a step back. Only elixirs will be sold at a ten percent discount for one month; all other treasures will be sold at normal price. This way, the loss will be much smaller!" Seeing that Lin Xingli did not hold any further objections, Lin Tianming continued: "Do not mind the small profit for now; we have a long way ahead of us. Luoyun Pavilion is just starting out; how can we compete with those shops that have been open for over a hundred years?" "This..." Lin Xingli hesitated for a moment. Lin Shilu nodded, obviously agreeing with Lin Tianming''s view. Lin Tianming chuckled and added: "Besides, we can offer Alchemy services, limited to First Order Elixirs only and without charging any fees, using a thirty percent success rate as the baseline; any extra produced will belong to us. This will be a great opportunity for Tianhong and me to practice our alchemy skills while earning spirit stones!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s idea, Lin Shilu''s eyes lit up, and he silently thought: If they took advantage of Lin Tianming''s terrifying rate of successful elixir creation, they could certainly profit greatly while also building Luoyun Pavilion''s reputation. Besides, since Lin Tianhong was currently a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist, if he had a large supply of Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice with, it was imaginable that his alchemy skills would quickly advance, and he could possibly break through to a First-Order Superior Grade Alchemist within a year or two. Considering these points, Lin Shilu spoke seriously: "Let''s proceed with the suggestions as Tian Ming said. Xing Li will be responsible for the shop''s early affairs while Tianfeng will handle the promotions. Go ahead!" "Yes!" Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng bowed and took their leave, before getting up to pay their respects to Lin Shilu and then departing. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Before they knew it, ten days had passed and today was the grand opening of Luoyun Pavilion. Early in the morning, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had already left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and were heading towards Luoyun Pavilion. Over these days, Lin Tianfeng and others were active in every corner of the market, spreading the news of Luoyun Pavilion''s opening. Lin Tianming hadn''t been idle either; he helped out at Luoyun Pavilion during the day and returned to the Cave Mansion at night to meditate and cultivate, leading a leisurely yet fulfilling life. Walking down the street, a large number of cultivators were heading in the same direction toward Luoyun Pavilion. As the day for the market assembly drew nearer, the vibrancy in the market had significantly increased. In less than half an hour, the two reached the entrance of Luoyun Pavilion. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were preparing to hang a large signboard above the gatehouse. In no time, the large signboard was appropriately hung above the gatehouse. Chapter 156 Luoyun Pavilion_3 Outside the attic, a large number of cultivators were watching, many of them seemingly unable to wait any longer.Lin Shilu looked at the bustling scene, estimating that there were a few hundred people in the crowd. Once he collected his thoughts, he proceeded to walk to the front with Lin Tianming. The two of them stood on either side of the entrance, and at this moment, Lin Xingli gave them a nod, indicating that everything was ready. Lin Shilu smiled satisfyingly and then, cupping his fists in salute to the crowd below, he shouted loudly, "Fellow Daoists, I am Lin Shilu of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family. Today is the auspicious day of our store''s opening. I hereby promise that for one month starting from today, all elixirs will be sold at a 10% discount, and we will also provide free alchemy services for First Order Elixirs. Second Order Pills will follow market rules!" Before he could even finish, the cultivators below erupted in astonishment, hardly believing their ears, and many groups started discussing among themselves. At this time, a cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement bowed to Lin Shilu and said, "Elder Lin, is what you said true?" "Hehe!" "Rest assured, young friend. Our Lin Family has a heritage of nearly a thousand years. How could we speak falsehoods in front of so many fellow Daoists?" Lin Shilu said. His words seemed to alleviate many people''s doubts, but there were still some cautious cultivators who didn''t quite believe it. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, offering to help with alchemy for free without taking any payment was unheard of. Just then, a figure appeared at the back of the crowd and with a leap, appeared next to Lin Shilu. After steadying himself, Ye Pinghai came into view. He took out three Jade Bottles and handed them to Lin Tianming, then said, "I came uninvited, brother, to congratulate the Lin Family on your opening day and present three bottles of Second Order Pills!" "Haha..." "Brother Ye''s presence brings honor to us. I am truly grateful. Once the opening ceremony is over, we must share a few drinks!" Lin Shilu said with a hearty laugh, and then instructed Lin Tianhong behind him, "Tianhong, take Ye to rest inside. I will be with you shortly!" Lin Tianhong bowed to both Ye Pinghai and Lin Shilu, then led Ye Pinghai into the Luoyun Pavilion. With the appearance of Ye Pinghai, personally delivering a congratulatory gift, the cultivators below no longer harbored any doubts. After all, Lin Shilu and the Lin Family were not very famous in Qianchuan Market, but Ye Pinghai''s cultivation and alchemy skills were renowned, his reputation in the area as clear as thunder. It could be said that within Qianchuan Market, aside from Golden Elixir Experts, Ye Pinghai''s fame was almost universally known. The first cultivator to speak out, overjoyed, hurriedly took out three sets of Spirit Essence Pill Materials, expressing his wish for the Lin Family to assist in making the Lingshen Pills. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire Seeing this, Lin Shilu was very pleased and said, "Young friend, there is no need to hurry. Once I unveil the signboard, you may enter our store to register. Once the alchemy is complete, we will send for you to retrieve your elixirs!" The first cultivator to speak was overwhelmed with joy and spoke immediately, "Then I ask Elder Lin to unveil the signboard first. Although I have limited means, I will definitely be the first to enter the store and purchase some treasures!" Lin Shilu chuckled, nodded at Lin Tianming, and the two of them pulled on the red ropes at the same time. The red curtain covering the signboard fell, revealing the sparkling golden characters written with a flourish, "Luoyun Pavilion..." At that moment, cheers erupted from below, and the excitement reached its peak. Seeing the scene exceed expectations, Lin Shilu was thrilled and then spoke, "On the day our store opens, I invite all fellow Daoists to move inside for a small gathering. Those who need alchemy services may also enter the store to register!" As soon as Lin Shilu finished speaking, the cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement was the first to rush forward, followed by a large number of cultivators who began to approach the Luoyun Pavilion. The crowd soon grew to dozens and more cultivators were quickly on their way. Meanwhile, Lin Xingli and the others were all set, and various treasures had already been placed on the display tables, just waiting for customers to arrive. Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming entered the Luoyun Pavilion and quickly made their way to the third floor, leaving Lin Xingli and his group bustling about. Chapter 157 Booming Business_1 In the reception room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion.Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai were casually chatting in the chief seats, while Lin Tianming sat below, chiming in from time to time. To Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu''s surprise, the arrival of Ye Pinghai brought much interest to the store''s grand opening today. Lin Shilu looked excited and cupped his fists in thanks to Ye Pinghai, saying, "Thanks to Brother Ye for taking the time to come here amidst your busy schedule, I am truly grateful!" "Haha..." Ye Pinghai chuckled and replied, "Oh, it''s nothing. I was merely in a good mood and came over to ask for a drink!" "Excellent, tonight I will hold a banquet at the Welcoming Guest Building, and Brother Li will also be there. We must drink to our heart''s content!" Lin Shilu said. ... At the same time, within a tavern in the market, more than a dozen cultivators were gathered, engaging in spirited discussions. They ranged from talking about the Four Arts of Cultivation to great battles with demonic beasts, finally leading to scenes of Golden Core experts engaging in duels. "Golden Core experts are formidable beings, we must be cautious in speaking of them!" a cultivator interjected. Hearing the caution, the person who spoke first revealed a look of fear and hastily changed the topic. "I heard that the Lin Family from the Luoyun Mountain Range has taken over the Lingxiao Tower from the Gao Family. What are your thoughts on this?" A Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator in the crowd, seemingly with some prestige, resolutely said, "I hear that today is the day of the store''s grand opening. I also heard that for this occasion, the Lin Family has decided to offer a ten percent discount on all elixirs in the store for an entire month!" "Really?" A Qi Refinement Sixth Level cultivator seemed incredulous. The Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator looked a bit displeased but did not lose his temper, and then said, "It should be true. A few days ago, I met a young cultivator from the Lin Family named Lin Tianfeng, whose cultivation is at least at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. He personally mentioned it, so it must be true!" Before he had finished speaking, other cultivators who had not yet spoken started asking for information about the Lin Family, as previously many loose cultivators had not paid much attention to them. "The Lin Family is no small clan. They have had a Golden Core expert among their ancestors. Although they have declined now, their power remains formidable, with as many as six Foundation Establishment cultivators..." "What? That''s formidable!" Upon hearing this, the cultivators who were unaware of this fact exclaimed in surprise. This scene was repeated in various corners of the market, and news about the Lin Family began to spread widely. ... As news of the grand opening of Luoyun Pavilion spread through the market, many cultivators came to visit. Inside the sales hall on the first floor of Luoyun Pavilion, Dozens of people were selecting various treasures, and more cultivators were still making their way towards the Pavilion. Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng were busy and thrilled. "Esteemed friend, this Spirit Sword is a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument, forged primarily from Second Order Qingling Bamboo and infused with Earth Mysterious Crystal as well as many precious materials. Its attack power is extremely formidable. With this weapon, even a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator may not be your match..." Listening to Lin Tianfeng''s introduction, a Qi Refinement Seventh Level cultivator wielded the blue and yellow Spirit Sword, swung it around a few times, and then showed a look of satisfaction. After a short while, he put down the Spirit Sword and asked, "Indeed, a fine piece! What is the price for this sword?" Lin Tianfeng smiled and said without hesitation, "This sword was refined by our Lin Family''s Second Order Artifact Refiner, involving a significant amount of precious materials. Even among First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instruments, it is a genuine masterpiece." "As today marks the lucky day of our store''s opening, since you have taken an interest in this item, I too wish to make a friend. How about a deal at 260 Spirit Stones?" Hearing Lin Tianfeng''s price, coupled with his delightful demeanor, the man considering the sword felt tempted. He had come to Qianchuan Market specifically to attend an auction, hoping to win a suitable Spiritual Instrument. Considering the competitive pressure at the auction, even if a good Spiritual Instrument became available, he might not succeed. With these thoughts in mind, he made up his mind and then said, "Very well, I''ll take the sword for the price you''ve offered!" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire After speaking, he took out the Spirit Stones and handed them directly to Lin Tianfeng, promptly acquiring the Spirit Sword. He chatted with Lin Tianfeng for a while after buying the sword, then took his leave, as many more cultivators continued to inquire about prices. Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng were relatively free, occasionally finding brief respite amidst the bustle, but Lin Tianhong had a long queue in front of him. A Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator brought out several portions of Lingshen Pill materials and handed them respectfully to Lin Tianhong. Lin Tianhong took the materials in a calm manner, examined them carefully, and then asked, "How may I address this friend?" "I am Duan Qiu. How long will it take before I can collect my pills?" the cultivator replied nervously. After pondering, Lin Tianhong explained, "Due to the large number of friends commissioning alchemy, and limited number of alchemists in our shop, it could take as little as half a month to several months to complete the alchemy. Leave your name and a way to contact you, and as soon as the pills are ready, I will send you a message for you to come and collect them!" Hearing Lin Tianhong''s explanation, Duan Qiu quickly accepted, nodding his head and confirming the commission for alchemy. Lin Tianhong nodded, recorded Duan Qiu''s name and the quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials in the book, and then noted down the contact method. After exchanging a few polite words, Duan Qiu cupped his fists in thanks and then headed toward the sales area of the hall, intending to purchase some treasures. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 157 Booming Business_2 Watching the queue of people waiting to commission alchemy, Lin Tianhong shouted excitedly,"Next..." Such a bustling scene continued until dusk. As the sky darkened, there were fewer and fewer people on the street, and many shops closed their doors, ending a day''s business. Half a quarter of an hour passed... Outside Luoyun Pavilion, a young cultivator at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, with a determined expression and seemingly weathered by the elements, yet his eyes faintly revealed a calm demeanor. After gazing at the entrance of Luoyun Pavilion and hesitating, he seemed to have made up his mind and stepped inside. At this moment, Luoyun Pavilion was devoid of customers, seemingly about to close for the day. Inside the main hall, Lin Xingli was holding a book and carefully counting the various Spiritual Objects on the shelves. Upon seeing the cultivator enter, he immediately set down the book and asked, "Fellow Daoist, may I know what you need?" The entering cultivator bowed with hands clasped and said, "I am Li Rong, a Loose Cultivator. I wonder if the matter of representing in alchemy is true?" Lin Xingli let out a chuckle and calmly replied, "Today is the grand opening of our shop. I''ve made a promise in front of hundreds of fellow Daoists; of course, it''s true. Not to worry, Li Daoist, today alone, dozens of Daoists have entrusted our shop to help with their alchemy!" Upon hearing Lin Xingli''s explanation, Li Rong was thrilled and quickly took out more than ten portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, expressing his wish to have alchemy conducted on his behalf. Lin Xingli was somewhat surprised to find that this cultivator at merely the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement was able to present so many Spiritual Medicine Materials. He took out the book for recording alchemy commissions, noted Li Rong''s identity details, and left behind a way to transmit messages. Li Rong, overcome with excitement, hesitated as if he wanted to say more, which made Lin Xingli curious. "Li Daoist, is there another matter?" After hesitating, Li Rong finally spoke, "Lin Daoist, as a Loose Cultivator, I have only recently come to Qianchuan Market. I wonder if your esteemed shop is hiring staff? I seek a stable job to establish a footing in the market?" Hearing Li Rong''s request, Lin Xingli began to ponder. Not many from the Lin Family had come to Qianchuan Market, and naturally, neither Lin Shilu nor Lin Tianming would attend to these matters, and while Lin Tianhong also needed to perform alchemy, only the three of them could manage the shop, which would greatly delay their own cultivation. Considering that Lin Shilu had mentioned hiring staff before, an idea formed in his mind. He was about to send a transmission when Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming descended from the third floor. Seeing them come down, Lin Xingli quickly approached and inquired, "Fifteenth Uncle, Li Daoist here wishes to apply for a job as a shop assistant. What are your thoughts on this matter?" "Oh..." Lin Shilu chuckled and then asked, S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Where are you from, young friend Li? Are you familiar with various treasures?" Hearing Lin Shilu''s question, Li Rong remained composed, inwardly joyful, and then began to speak of his background. "Elder Lin, I come from the Qingfeng Mountain Range and identify as a Loose Cultivator. I have been traveling around the surrounding regions for years, surviving by hunting Demonic Beasts for cultivation!" "Although I am a Loose Cultivator, I have often consulted various annals. I am quite familiar with the common Spiritual Objects of the Cultivation World. I believe I am more than capable of the job." At these words, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were immediately astonished, and Lin Xingli nearly cried out in surprise. Lin Tianming even imagined a Loose Cultivator, at just the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, beginning to roam the surrounding areas and relying on hunting Demonic Beasts to earn Spirit Stones for a living, a life lived on the edge of a knife. Consider that many of the Lin Family Disciples at this cultivation level and age had not even experienced a real life-or-death combat. Yet here was someone in his twenties who had been traveling through several regions and reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, showing his considerable talent and a survival ability that many from the family did not possess. After asking a few more questions, Lin Shilu was very satisfied with Li Rong''s performance. His fondness for talent quickly led him to a decision. "Young friend Li, I''ve heard enough to understand your situation. I am very pleased. Luoyun Pavilion happens to be hiring shop assistants. The annual salary will be one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. Come over tomorrow and give it a try!" Hearing the generous terms Lin Shilu offered, Li Rong was over the moon. A salary of one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones was no small amount. Although it would delay his cultivation, it was very stable. He wouldn''t have to live the rough life he used to lead, always on the edge, tasting blood for survival. Once he''d calmed down, Li Rong said nervously, "Elder Lin, my younger sister has always followed me. She''s at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, and her knowledge of Spiritual Objects is no less than mine. May I ask if it''s possible to employ her as well?" Considering that Lin Xingli and the others also needed to cultivate, Luoyun Pavilion would probably need to hire at least two shop assistants, or it would definitely interfere with their cultivation. With that in mind, he nodded and then said, "Your siblings have indeed not had it easy. Come together tomorrow. Her salary will be one hundred Spirit Stones a year!" After Lin Shilu spoke, Li Rong let out a long sigh of relief, his face alight with ecstasy, and then he said earnestly, "Thank you, Elder Lin. I definitely won''t let you down!" "Go on then!" Lin Shilu waved his hand, and Li Rong quickly made a fist and palm salute before leaving Luoyun Pavilion. After Li Rong left, the spacious hall of Luoyun Pavilion was left with just a few of them. Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming sat in the shop, waiting for Lin Xingli to finish tallying the various Spiritual Objects. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Xingli quickly completed the tally of Spiritual Objects and the sales for the day. Looking at the thick book listing all kinds of Spiritual Medicine and the sales records for the day, Lin Xingli was beside himself with excitement. "Fifteenth Uncle, the business today was too good!" Lin Xingli said. "Oh, is that so? Give me a report!" Lin Shilu chuckled as he ordered. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Lin Xingli flipped open the book, then began to report loudly. "Today we sold First Order Elixirs and collected a total of over four thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, mainly consisting of Elixirs used in daily cultivation and fighting." "For Second Order Pills, it was over one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, mainly composed of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills." "Eighteen pieces of First Order Spiritual Tools were sold, and just one Second Order Low-Grade Artifact, totaling over four thousand six hundred Spirit Stones." "More than two hundred First Order Talismans and six Second Order Talismans, totaling over two thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, along with various other Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore, totaling over one thousand four hundred Spirit Stones!" "In summary, today''s total sales reached over fourteen thousand two hundred Spirit Stones." Before the echo of his voice faded, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were ecstatic, shocked by the sales figures. In one day, the total reached over fourteen thousand Spirit Stones. After deducting the costs, there would still be a net profit of several thousand Spirit Stones. This rate of earning Spirit Stones was significantly more than the daily profits from Luoyun Market. Of course, they also understood that this was only due to the opening day special of selling Elixirs at low prices and with the market conference about to take place, which more than doubled the market''s popularity. That''s what drove such high sales figures. Once the conference was over and the market returned to its usual quiet, the sales figures would definitely drop by several times, and maintaining a few thousand Spirit Stones a day would already be considered good. Lin Shilu was very satisfied and then asked about the Alchemy commissions. Lin Xingli took out the recorded book and began to report. "Today, the number of Cultivators who commissioned for Alchemy reached sixty-four. The Spiritual Medicine Materials provided varied, with some bringing over ten portions and others only one or two. After calculating, we have a total of over two hundred and twenty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials." After he finished speaking, Lin Shilu chuckled and teased, "Tian Ming, you''ll be busy now!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless. He had initially thought that a hundred portions of materials would have been good, but who knew that these Cultivators would go so crazy, easily surpassing two hundred portions. However, since he''d promised, he had to deliver; otherwise, if Luoyun Pavilion went back on its word, it would have no standing in the market. Lin Shilu felt a touch of schadenfreude in his heart, chuckled and then said, "It''s getting late, and the time we agreed upon with Ye has come. Call up Tianfeng and the others; we have to celebrate tonight." "Yes!" Lin Xingli nodded, then after sending out the message, the group of them closed the doors of Luoyun Pavilion and headed towards the guesthouse. Chapter 158 Dragon Bone Pill_1 Welcome Pavilion, a private room.The successful opening of Luoyun Pavilion and its impressive sales had excited all members of the Lin Family, with smiles beaming on their faces all the time. Lin Shilu stood up, and Lin Tianming and several family members rose together, each holding a jade cup in their hand. Lin Shilu turned to Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan beside him and said earnestly, "Today is an auspicious day for the opening of Luoyun Pavilion. On behalf of the Lin Family, I thank you both for your great support. If there is ever anything that the Lin Family can assist with, we will not hesitate to go through fire and water!" Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan exchanged smiles, quickly responding in kind. "It was just a small effort, no trouble at all, not worth mentioning. Brother Lin, you don''t have to be so polite!" As for their modesty, Lin Shilu was not completely convinced. Ye Pinghai''s likely reason for helping was gratitude for the kindness of the Lin Family, while Li Xiuyuan definitely saw the potential of the Lin Family. No matter what the motivation was, they had contributed significantly to the Lin Family''s establishment in the market, so it was proper to show courtesy and make some promises. The group finished their Spiritual Wine in one go. Lin Tianming quickly stepped forward to pour more wine and also offered a cup, expressing his gratitude. Lin Tianfeng and others also came forward one by one. Aside from toasting, it was a chance to get acquainted with others, which could help build connections in the market later on. Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan, with smiles on their faces, looked quite satisfied with the younger generation of the Lin Family, and their estimation of the Lin Family''s overall strength had increased, so they were quite courteous in their demeanor. The ambiance of the banquet was harmonious and joyful, lasting until late into the night. With bellies full of food and drink and the night growing quiet, the banquet came to an end and Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan stood to bid farewell. After exchanging pleasantries, they bowed their fists in departure, left the Welcome Pavilion, and went their separate ways. Back at the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Shilu gathered a few people together. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire After scanning the group, Lin Shilu, still unable to conceal his excitement, spoke up, "The sales on the opening day were beyond our expectations. I believe you all are aware of this. From tomorrow, Xing Li and Xing Yao will be responsible for the shop''s business, rotating every three months to be replaced by Tianfeng and Li Rong, whom we have recruited to manage the shop." "Tianming and Tianhong will have to work a bit harder, as there''s a large amount of alchemy to do; otherwise, it will take a long time to complete the materials entrusted to us by the cultivators." Hearing this, Lin Tianhong felt mixed emotions. He was excited to finally have a large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials for alchemy, allowing himself to practice his Alchemy without restraint and quickly improve, but it would also mean sacrificing a lot of cultivation time. Lin Tianming was indifferent. With his current cultivation level and alchemy efficiency, crafting First Order Elixirs was hardly challenging, and he could use this opportunity to amass considerable wealth. Despite the interference with their cultivation, the benefits were significant, and they believed their wealth and value would substantially increase before long. Thinking this way, for the family and to earn Spirit Stones, everyone was at ease and filled with enthusiasm. "Xing Li, distribute the elixirs collected today to Tianming and the others!" Lin Shilu ordered. Without delay, Lin Xingli quickly took out a storage bag and laid out the two hundred and twenty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials received by Luoyun Pavilion in front of everyone. Lin Shilu examined the Spiritual Medicine Materials and, after some thought, began to allocate them. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Tianming, you refine pills quickly, and both your rate of success and the number of pills are high. You''ll be responsible for one hundred and fifty portions, and Tianhong will take care of the remaining materials!" "As for the materials we receive later, we''ll bring them back every ten days for Tianming to distribute!" Upon hearing Lin Shilu''s arrangement, Lin Tianming and the other had no objections. They each gathered their share of the Spiritual Medicine Materials and placed them into their storage bags. Watching the night grow misty and the sky darken, Lin Shilu said no more and then dismissed everyone. "It''s getting late; everyone can go back to their tasks!" "Yes..." The group responded in unison, then stood and returned to their respective rooms. Back in his room, Lin Tianming did not go to rest immediately but began to plan his upcoming cultivation. Due to the lack of superior pill formulas to aid his cultivation, his progression was not fast. "In a few days, there will be a market conference and an auction. I must participate to see if I can find some pill formulas or suitable elixirs." He thought to himself, but with several days remaining and nothing much to do, he decided to refine pills¡ªaccumulating Spirit Stones while awaiting the auction. Resolved, he immediately took action. He left his room and headed towards the Pill Refining Room in the Cave Mansion. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he routinely cultivated and regulated his breathing, reaching the optimal state before beginning. He took out the Four Symbols Furnace, started the Earth Fire, and then one Law Decree after another bombarded the Pill Furnace. When the timing was about right, the Spiritual Medicine Materials were methodically broken down and purified, eventually turning into Elixir Essence. Making First Order Lingshen Pills and other consumable pills was indeed effortless for him. Efficiently and methodically, the fragrant smell of elixirs wafted throughout the Pill Refining Room. The next morning, as sunlight pierced through the clouds, Lin Tianming finally opened his eyes. Despite being somewhat tired, he showed a satisfied smile upon seeing the dozen Jade Bottles in front of him. After a night of alchemy, he had finished processing seven portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, succeeding in five batches. Each batch had at least six elixirs, totaling thirty-three Lingshen Pills. Chapter 158 Dragon Bone Pill_2 After setting aside the ten elixirs for the client, he could obtain twenty-three elixirs, which, when converted into Spirit Stones, amounted to nearly two hundred Spirit Stones.Nowadays, crafting First Order Elixirs was a breeze, and his speed had improved considerably from before; an evening''s work almost equaled the harvest of a previous day. Looking at the remaining Spiritual Medicine, still over a hundred and forty portions, he helplessly stored the elixirs into his storage bag. After tidying up the Pill Refining Room, he began a new round of alchemy. Time flew by, and three days had passed in the blink of an eye. Tomorrow would be the day of the auction. Having furiously crafted elixirs for three days, Lin Tianming was exhausted. He decided to come out of seclusion first and wait to resume after the auction was over. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming packed a large number of Jade Bottles into his storage bag. For three whole days, Lin Tianming had not stepped out of the Pill Refining Room. Working ceaselessly day and night, his gains were significant. He had crafted fifty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials and obtained over two hundred elixirs in total. After setting aside the portion for the client, he could gain around one hundred and thirty elixirs, claiming a sixty percent share. Such hard work had yielded immense results, not only in the form of elixirs but his cultivation had also steadily improved. After organizing the cluttered Pill Refining Room, he stepped out and then sat in the small courtyard. It wasn''t long before Lin Tianhong also emerged from another Pill Refining Room. Seeing Lin Tianming come out of seclusion, Lin Tianhong cheerfully asked, "Sixth brother, how was your harvest these past few days?" Lin Tianming pursed his lips with a smile, not wanting to discourage Lin Tianhong and dampen his enthusiasm. "Second brother, let''s not discuss my situation; rather, how about your harvest these days? How many batches of elixirs did you refine?" Seeing that Lin Tianming did not give a direct answer and considering his grotesque efficiency, Lin Tianhong had a rough idea in his mind. "Heh heh..." Lin Tianhong could hardly hide his excitement, chuckling as he said, "In these past three days, I crafted eighteen portions of materials, garnering over forty elixirs in total. Setting aside those for clients, I could also get nearly twenty for myself!" Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire "Second brother is truly impressive!" Lin Tianming offered a complimentary remark offhand. Lin Tianhong smiled knowingly, then continued, "You just love to tease me. I''ve been a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist for a long time now, so achieving this result was expected. I plan to finish crafting these Spiritual Medicines and then attempt a First Order Superior Grade elixir." Lin Tianming nodded, offering words of encouragement, "With so many Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice with, second brother will sooner or later become a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist!" "Then I shall take your auspicious words to heart!" Lin Tianhong replied with a bow, before shifting the topic. "Sixth brother, tomorrow is the market assembly. Are you going to the auction?" Facing Lin Tianhong''s inquiry, Lin Tianming replied, "Of course, I am going. This is a biennial small assembly, which will certainly feature many rare treasures. If I miss it, I''d have to wait another two years." "That is true!" "However, you''ll surely be attending the Foundation Establishment Area, while we can only participate in the Qi Refining Area," Lin Tianhong said with regret. Lin Tianming chuckled and comforted, "You shouldn''t worry too much, second brother. The treasures appearing in the Qi Refining Area are sufficient for your use. The key is whether you have enough Spirit Stones to purchase them!" "Ha ha, let''s head to Luoyun Pavilion and see!" Lin Tianhong suggested. "Exactly my intention!" Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. With the conversation finished, the two left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed to Luoyun Pavilion together. Upon entering Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Xingli and Lin Xingyao were extremely busy. Looking around, the store was still bustling with activity, comparable to the day of its opening. After making a round and seeing Lin Xingli overwhelmed with work, Lin Tianhong volunteered to help. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming bid farewell to the others and left Luoyun Pavilion. Standing on Bluestone Street, observing the bustling flow of cultivators, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless considering his own cultivation issues. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The increase in traffic at the marketplace might bring out some treasures. It seems my only hope lies in the deals at the stalls and the auction." After talking to himself, Lin Tianming stepped towards the Southern District of the Market City. In no time, he arrived at the stall area of the marketplace. As it was the time of the big market assembly, the stall area was extremely lively with hundreds of stalls, and despite not being as busy as the first time he had set up a stall, it was not much different. Looking over the vast square with its many stalls, numerous Qi Refining Cultivators were shouting out their wares in a vibrant scene. After looking around with hopeful eyes, he picked a direction and began to wander. He browsed dozens of stalls in a row, which almost exclusively sold items used by Qi Refining Cultivators and lacked any precious items, let alone any Pill Formulas that could aid his cultivation. Nevertheless, he still spent over two hundred Spirit Stones to buy some Spiritual Medicine Materials he could use. At this point, he navigated through the stall area, seemingly undiscouraged, and continued towards the most densely packed part of the crowd. Half an hour later, he arrived at the best location in the entire stall area, close to the central square. As the stall locations improved, so did the cultivation levels of the owners, ranging from the third level of Qi Refining at the outskirts to those at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. In the northern part of the area, at a conspicuous stall, a black-robed elder was resting with his eyes closed. In front of him, several Qi Refining Cultivators were selecting treasures. The elder acted indifferently and did not bother to explain his wares. When faced with price inquiries from Qi Refining Cultivators, he merely stated a number lukewarmly, prompting the cultivators to leave immediately. Chapter 158 Dragon Bone Pill_3 Standing on the nearby corridor, feeling the faint presence of the elderly man, though it was well-hidden, he still detected something unusual."This person seems to be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!" Lin Tianming thought to himself. In fact, although there were not many Foundation Establishment Cultivators within the entire trading area, there were still more than a dozen of them, but none were as indifferent as this elderly man. Lin Tianming, curious, approached the man. His arrival did not attract the elderly man''s notice, only causing him to frown slightly before he disregarded it. "This man is quite interesting!" Lin Tianming looked at the items in front of him, then picked up a damaged Jade Slip and held it in his hand. Examining its ancient material, it seemed to have some age to it. He projected his Divine Sense to read the contents of the Jade Slip, but there was a restriction making it so he could only get a rough idea. "This seems to be a pill formula?" Lin Tianming muttered to himself with a frown. "Fellow Daoist, does this Jade Slip contain a pill formula? What is its purpose?" Lin Tianming asked. The robed elder''s expression remained calm, and after opening his eyes, he still spoke indifferently about the general content of the Jade Slip. "This is an Ancient Pill Recipe named the Dragon Bone Pill, Second Order Medium Quality, and it''s a formula to aid in Body Refinement." Upon hearing the elder''s introduction, Lin Tianming''s face lit up with ecstasy. It was as if he had found exactly what he had been thinking of. If he could acquire this item, his cultivation dilemma would be resolved as well. Before he could speak, the robed elder continued: S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do not get too excited, fellow Daoist. This pill is not so easily concocted; its main ingredient is the inner core of the Second Order Demonic Beast Qinglong Jiao, which is nearly extinct. It is almost impossible to find, otherwise, I would not have sold it." The elder''s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Lin Tianming''s head. The Qinglong Jiao, as an ancient demonic beast, although not of a high order, was exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming, having cultivated for over a decade, had never even heard of it. It was said to be extinct on the Nine Provinces Continent, with perhaps only those Ancient Forbidden Lands or central areas of the Demon Race still harboring it. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming''s expression immediately darkened. It had not been easy to find a suitable pill formula, yet there seemed to be little hope of actually concocting it. Even so, he still did not want to give up. Whether he could concoct it or not, he wanted to purchase the pill formula for study. There might be a chance, after all, and currently, he had no way of finding another pill formula. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming inquired about the price. "Fellow Daoist, what price do you ask for this pill formula?" Upon hearing this, the robed elder''s expression showed a hint of peculiarity, then restored to normal. "One thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!" the elder said. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire Hearing this price, Lin Tianming could barely accept it, given that even a typical Second Order pill formula would cost over a thousand Spirit Stones. "Fellow Daoist, this pill formula has very little hope of being concocted. How about a cheaper price, one thousand Spirit Stones to make a deal?" The robed elder''s expression was unchanged, and then he spoke: "Forget it, the old man keeping it is of no use anyway; let''s make a deal at the price you suggest!" "However, fellow Daoist, don''t blame me for not warning you, if you can''t concoct the pill after buying this formula, do not bother me with your troubles." Lin Tianming nodded, taking out the Spirit Stones and handing them to the elder, while saying: "Rest assured, fellow Daoist; once bought, any oversight is my own volition and has nothing to do with you!" Hearing this, the elder rarely smiled, then began to count the Spirit Stones. Shortly after confirming the Spirit Stones were correct, the elder erased the restriction on the Jade Slip, and then handed it over to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the Jade Slip, projecting his Divine Sense to read it. In a short while, he confirmed that the content recorded in the Jade Slip was basically the same as what the elder had said. He then gave the elder a cupped fist salute and left the vendor''s stall. Looking at the few remaining stalls he had yet to visit, Lin Tianming didn''t feel much interest anymore. After scanning the entire trading area, he left and walked towards his rented cave dwelling. Chapter 159 Flame Fruit_1 After returning to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming immediately entered his room.He had only briefly looked over the pill formula he acquired earlier, but now that he was back in his abode, it was time to study it in detail. Sitting upright on the stone bed, he took out the pill formula he had bought from the stall area and extended his Divine Sense to peruse it. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming withdrew his Divine Sense and fell into a deep contemplation. The Dragon Bone Pill formula was complete and, according to his estimation, it was undoubtedly a genuine article. However, where would he find the main ingredient for this formula, the Demon Core of the Qinglong Jiao? Without finding a Qinglong Jiao, he would be unable to obtain its inner core, and thus be unable to concoct the pill. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless and could only put the matter out of his mind for now, to be addressed when an opportunity arose later. While Qinglong Jiaos were rare, it wasn''t entirely hopeless to find one. In the still silence of the night, with eyes tightly closed, Lin Tianming circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation and began to meditate to pass the time, while waiting for tomorrow''s auction. The next day, Lin Tianming opened his eyes that had been closed all through the night, tidied up his room, and ended his cultivation to step out of his room. As soon as he did, Lin Shilu also came out from the neighboring room, not far away, and the two of them met. Lin Shilu''s face showed a trace of excitement, and he casually said, "Tianming, let''s go to the auction together. There might even be an exchange event organized by fellow sects, and we must not miss it." Lin Tianming let out a chuckle and walked out of the courtyard together with Lin Shilu towards the central auction house in the market city. There were quite a few cultivators along the way, all heading in the same direction. After passing several Bluestone streets, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the plaza in front of the entrance to the auction. As the two paused, a voice came over. "This is quite the coincidence, running into Brother Lin wherever I go." Turning around, they saw Ye Pinghai approaching and immediately went forward to greet him with a salute. "Brother Ye, the auction is quite dull. Why don''t you join me? We''ll at least have a chat to relieve the boredom." Hearing Lin Shilu''s invitation, Ye Pinghai did not decline his hospitable offer. Since Foundation Establishment Cultivators didn''t need to queue, the three of them passed the line of Qi Training Cultivators and headed towards the entrance. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Executive Officer at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation, who apparently recognized the two, immediately greeted them warmly, Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "Greetings to Elder Ye and Elder Lin, please come inside." Lin Shilu nodded, but still presented his Market City Token, followed by handing over thirty Spirit Stones to the speaking cultivator. The Executive Officer responsible for collecting the admission fee respectfully took the Spirit Stones and then instructed a cultivator beside him to show them the way. The three followed the Qi Training Cultivator ahead of them, walked straight to the second floor, and finally entered a private room. Everyone took their seats, and the cultivator who led the way stood by the entrance. Since there was some time before the auction began, Lin Shilu brought out some Spiritual Tea, and the three chatted leisurely while drinking tea. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming reflected on the matter of the Dragon Bone Pill, and considering Ye Pinghai''s mastery in Second Order Superior Alchemy, who had immersed himself in alchemy for over sixty years, he might have some methods or pill formulas. With this thought, Lin Tianming turned to Ye Pinghai and said, "Grandpa Sea, do you have any Second Order Pill Recipes for elixirs that aid in Body Cultivation?" "Pill recipes for Second Order elixirs for Body Cultivators to consume?" Ye Pinghai looked startled, and after contemplating for a while, he directly stated he did not have any, dashing Lin Tianming''s hopes. Second Order pill formulas were precious to begin with, and those suited for Body Cultivators were even more exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming''s face showed a hint of disappointment, but he did not lose heart. Thinking of the Dragon Bone Pill formula, he asked, "Grandpa Sea, Tianming came across an Ancient Pill Recipe yesterday. Could you help the youngster take a look at it?" At the mention of this, Ye Pinghai''s eyes lit up with excitement. An alchemy enthusiast with exceptional talent, he was thrilled to have an Ancient Pill Recipe to study and suddenly became eager. "Oh? Let me have a look." Lin Tianming, pleasantly surprised, promptly took out the Dragon Bone Pill formula and respectfully handed it over. Ye Pinghai took the Jade Slip, extended his Divine Sense, and started to read the contents recorded within. A little while later, with a regretful expression, Ye Pinghai said, "The pill is genuine indeed, but where shall we find the inner core of the Azure Dragon Jiao required as the main ingredient? The chances of concocting this pill are practically non-existent." Lin Tianming''s face grew even grimmer upon hearing Ye Pinghai''s explanation. Suddenly, Ye Pinghai seemed to recall something, and his tone changed. "I once acquired the notes of a Third Order Alchemy Master. This alchemist was an oddball; he, too, encountered situations where he couldn''t find the main ingredients for his recipes. Eventually, he sought out Demons Cores with similar attributes to substitute, and astoundingly, he was still able to concoct pills with the same medicinal effect." Upon hearing Ye Pinghai''s words, enlightenment dawned upon Lin Tianming. There was almost no chance of finding a Qinglong Jiao''s Demon Core, but he couldn''t wait much longer. He had been at the first level of Foundation Establishment for nearly two years and, although he could still slowly increase his cultivation by meditating, he''d rather not dwell on the sluggish pace of his progress. There was no waiting around¡ªYe Pinghai''s suggested method might just be worth a try. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming''s face regained its luster. Seeing that Lin Tianming remained silent, Ye Pinghai then took out a Jade Slip from his storage bag and handed it to him. "This?" Lin Tianming asked in confusion. "This is the very set of notes from the Third Order Alchemy Master that I mentioned. Although the recorded methods are unconventional, there''s still much of value within." Ye Pinghai explained. Chapter 159 Flame Fruit_2 Seeing that Lin Tianming did not take the Jade Slip or show any reaction, Lin Shilu hurriedly reminded him."You lad, don''t you hurry up and thank your Grandpa Sea? This is summarized by a Third Order Alchemy Master," he urged. Hearing Lin Shilu''s reminder, Lin Tianming finally came back to his senses and said with utmost sincerity, "Thank you, Grandpa Sea. Once I have understood its contents, I will surely return it to you, sir." Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire Ye Pinghai chuckled and said, "No worries, I have already comprehended it. Just take it, and you decide how to deal with it." Thinking of how Ye Pinghai was all alone in the world yet had repeatedly provided help, Lin Tianming felt deeply moved. He indeed needed this handwritten note at the moment. As for repaying the favor in the future, he would make it a point to do so when he was capable. With this thought, Lin Tianming did not play coy any longer. He respectfully accepted the Jade Slip and then placed it into his storage bag. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai nodded in satisfaction and continued to chat leisurely. A short while later, bursts of noise came from the auction hall, and the few people quickly shifted their gaze. Looking over, the entire second-floor auction hall was more than half as small as the first floor. In the center was a similar high platform surrounded by hundreds of seats and over a hundred private rooms. At this moment, only around a hundred of the seats in the public area were occupied, the rest were empty. With the appearance of an old man with the demeanor of an immortal on the central high platform, the clamor throughout the hall quieted down. The old man had a composed demeanor, his aged face constantly adorned with a smile. He bowed to the hundred or so cultivators below and the surrounding private rooms, then he began to speak, "I, Xue Chong, am honored to host the Foundation Establishment Area auction today. As all of you are Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the rules of the auction need not be repeated as you''re doubtless informed," he said. "Hehe, many fellow cultivators can''t wait, so I won''t talk nonsense. Let''s start with the first auction item," he declared. No sooner had he finished speaking, the old man produced a piece of demonic beast skin in his hand. The whole piece was dark brown and well-preserved. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "One piece of Superior Second Order Savage Spirit Bull beast skin up for auction. The defensive capabilities of this beast are extremely formidable; its skin is an excellent material for crafting inner armor or for Talisman Making. The starting bid is eight hundred Spirit Stones, with each subsequent bid to be no less than ten Spirit Stones," he announced. Before the echo faded, several cultivators immediately began to bid, seemingly all Artifact Refiners or Talisman Makers. "Eight hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!" "Eight hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!" The first auction item was a Superior Second Order beast skin, and the price continued to climb, indicating the auction''s emphasis on this sale. Lin Tianming and the others, sitting in the private room and chatting idly, watched the heated scene below, and Ye Pinghai joked, "Brother Lin, this Savage Spirit Bull''s skin is quite fine, and quite large, too¡ªit''s great material for crafting inner armor." Lin Shilu laughed heartily, then replied, "I, too, plan to secure this item. If used properly, it should be enough to craft two sets of Lower Second Order inner armor." In just over ten breaths'' time, the price of the Savage Spirit Bull''s skin had reached one thousand one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. At such a price, the number of bidding cultivators below was dwindling, leaving only three who were still persistent. Lin Shilu also made his first bid. "One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones." "One thousand two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones," a cultivator immediately called out. "One thousand three hundred Spirit Stones." With Lin Shilu''s significant increase in the bid, the cultivators who had been bidding seemed to give up. After several breaths with no further bids, Xue Chong declared the first auction item sold. Lin Shilu prepared his Spirit Stones and completed the transaction with Xue Chong through a barrier, both parties obtaining the Spirit Stones and the auction item. With the first treasure settled, Xue Chong was very satisfied with the price and continued to host the event. "The second treasure, a plant of Six-leaved Purple Sandalwood, a Second Order spirit material, is an exceptional material for Artifact Refining. The starting bid is three hundred Spirit Stones, with increments no less than ten Spirit Stones," he introduced. Although the first treasure ignited the atmosphere, the second one was somewhat less impressive. Nevertheless, several cultivators were eagerly bidding. "Three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!" ... Below, the cultivators continued to bid fiercely. Lin Tianming, who did not practice Artifact Refining, naturally had no interest, and Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai also looked down upon these items. The second treasure was won by a Third Level Foundation Establishment Cultivator for five hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. The fiery auction continued, and in a blink of an eye, it had reached the last ten items, the climax of the event. After auctioning off hundreds of treasures, nearly all of them were Second Order Spiritual Items, including a considerable amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials, various Spirit Ore Materials, and many parts of Demonic Beasts'' bodies. During this time, Lin Tianming spent over a thousand Spirit Stones, acquiring several strains of Spiritual Medicine Materials and one Second Order low-quality Demon Beast Inner Pill, which he planned to feed to the Purple Gold Eagle in hopes of it breaking through to the second order. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai also made a few bids, each securing some Spiritual Medicine Materials and Artifact Refining Materials. They were not exceptionally precious, but were also not ordinary items. As the auction of the common items concluded, everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the grand finale items. After a brief rest, Xue Chong took out another Jade Box and opened it. In the Jade Box held by Xue Chong, a fist-sized Spirit Fruit lay inside, its entire form crystal clear and translucent, also emitting an enticing fragrance. Xue Chong''s eyes revealed a hint of fervor, but he quickly regained his composure and began the introduction. "A Second Order Medium Quality Spirit Fruit, the Flame Fruit, extremely rare, enhances vitality and blood, as well as benefits skin and Divine Sense. The starting bid is one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, with each increment not less than twenty Spirit Stones!" As soon as the words fell, many cultivators'' faces flushed, and their breathing quickened. Seeing this item, Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. He had long come across this fruit in various tomes; it could strengthen the body as well as fortify the Divine Sense, with very significant effects. However, only one could be consumed, and the effects would halve with each additional ingestion. Even so, the effects of the fruit were excellent, and cultivators who had never used it would not easily give up the chance to attain it. Although he had attended several auctions and exchange events before, he had never come across such a fruit. Now that he had finally found one, he naturally wouldn''t let it slip away. While Lin Tianming was momentarily lost in thought, over ten cultivators began bidding fiercely, and the price of the Flame Fruit had already risen to over fifteen hundred Spirit Stones, and it was still climbing. Determined to obtain the fruit, Lin Tianming immediately joined the bidding. "One thousand six hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!" He raised the bid by a full hundred Spirit Stones in one go, causing many cultivators in the audience to speculate in whispers. However, there were still seven or eight cultivators unwilling to give up. Among these bidding cultivators, many came from clans, sects, and other powerful forces, with considerable backing and financial resources not much inferior to his. "One thousand six hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!" "One thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones!" ... The price continued to soar, and after more than a dozen rounds of bidding, the Flame Fruit''s price had reached one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, about to break the two-thousand barrier. By this time, the majority of cultivators had already withdrawn. Now somewhat overpriced, only three people, including Lin Tianming, were still in the bidding. All of them were cultivators from private rooms. "One thousand nine hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!" Lin Tianming didn''t hesitate, raising the bid by one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones and causing the whole audience to gasp. He had already consumed many Body Refinement Spirit Fruits and elixirs and was very clear about the benefits they brought to the body and Divine Sense. Even if the price was steep, he was willing to pay, knowing well that treasures like this were hard to come by. After he called out his bid, the cultivators in the other two private rooms fell into brief silence, seemingly willing to give up. Three breaths passed, and just when Xue Chong was about to announce the auction result, one of the private rooms called out a price, seeming to make a final bid. "Two thousand Spirit Stones!" "Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!" Before the voice had finished, Lin Tianming instantly upped the bid by another hundred Spirit Stones. Hearing Lin Tianming''s new bid, the last bidding cultivator fell completely silent. Five breaths went by, and Xue Chong bowed towards the private room where Lin Tianming was located and proceeded to announce the auction result. "Congratulations to the Daoist friend in the private room on securing the Flame Fruit for two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!" Hearing Xue Chong declare the result, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. Overjoyed, he quickly took out two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones and, with a flick of his hand, sent them all through the restrictive light screen, landing steadily in Xue Chong''s hands. After a sweep with his Divine Sense and confirming that the number was correct, Xue Chong flung the Jade Box through the light screen as well, which Lin Tianming caught. At that moment, Lin Tianming was somewhat excited, picking up the blood-red Flame Fruit and lovingly admiring it. In the center of the auction house, Xue Chong chuckled and resumed hosting the auction. Chapter 160 Making Friends_1 The explosive auction continued.The first climax treasure sold for a high price of two thousand one hundred spirit stones, satisfying all cultivators in attendance. Xue Chong was very satisfied. By presiding over this auction, he would receive a generous reward. As the atmosphere on the scene gradually relaxed, Xue Chong took out the prepared treasure, the second climax item. Looking over, he revealed a fiery red spirit sword about three feet long in his hand, encircled by faint sword qi, clearly an attack talisman. Seeing this item, many cultivators flashed eager spiritual light in their eyes. Xue Chong waved his hand once, twirling the blade, then started to introduce it. "The second climax item, a Second Order Low Grade Artifact, named Fire Cloud Sword, renowned for its formidable attack power; it''s considered an exquisite piece among Second Order Low Grade Artifacts. The starting bid is three thousand spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than twenty spirit stones," he announced. As soon as the words fell, a cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment from the public area couldn''t wait to bid. "Three thousand one hundred spirit stones," he shouted. The first bid emerged, and an elderly cultivator at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment mocked: "Bidding so slowly is a waste of time, let an old man bid three thousand five hundred spirit stones," he declared. The elder sharply raised the price by several hundred spirit stones, making some eager cultivators give up on bidding. Second Order Magical Artifacts are not easily refined and are very precious in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment exhaust all their wealth and even incur debts for the sake of Foundation Establishment. Those who have just reached Foundation Establishment typically aren''t wealthy, and hence many cultivators at the Initial and even Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment find it hard to possess a magic artifact. That''s why many cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment attend auctions specifically for Second Order Magical Artifacts. Despite the significant price jump made by the elder, many people were not willing to give up easily, for the auction recognized spirit stones, and the one who offered the highest price would obtain the treasure. "Three thousand six hundred spirit stones," a middle-aged cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer bid loudly. "Three thousand seven hundred spirit stones," ... Lin Tianming and his two companions sat in the private room, watching the intense bidding among cultivators below, looking on as if enjoying a show. They had not made a bid throughout, nor did they have any intention to participate in the auction. After all, Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai had entered Foundation Establishment quite early. Lin Shilu was a Second Order Refiner, and Ye Pinghai was a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, both extremely wealthy, each already possessing Second Order Magical Artifacts, and of not low quality either. Lin Tianming himself used a complete set of spirit swords and had the Second Order Medium Quality Tiangang Sword for exhibiting his divine skills. The Fire Cloud Sword was decent but of little use to him. More importantly, his spirit stones were limited, and after purchasing the Flame Fruit, he only had a little over two thousand spirit stones left. The bidding scene at this moment was extremely hot, and the price was quickly raised to four thousand four hundred spirit stones. By this point, the price of the Fire Cloud Sword was somewhat inflated, and many cultivators with limited means had long given up the idea of bidding. Only two cultivators remained in the competition: the afore-mentioned cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer and the old man who had been fiercely raising the price. The two competing cultivators were at odds, neither willing to back down. Seeing the middle-aged cultivator increase the bid by fifty spirit stones, the elder''s face started to look rather unpleasant. Thinking of the thousands of spirit stones he had painstakingly saved, he yelled to the bidding cultivator: "Daoist Zhu, give me some face and let me have this sword, how about it?" "Hmph, the rule of the auction is that the highest bidder wins. If you don''t have spirit stones, you shouldn''t participate," the man surnamed Zhu flatly refused, without giving any face to the elder. The elder had assumed that since he was two minor realms higher than Daoist Zhu and had asked personally, Daoist Zhu would retreat. But he didn''t expect the man to completely disregard him, which took him by surprise. Seeing that Daoist Zhu was not giving in, the angered elder threatened: "Fine, fine, there will be other days. Daoist Zhu, you''d better watch yourself when you go out, lest something unfortunate happen to you," "Four thousand six hundred spirit stones," "Four thousand seven hundred spirit stones," Daoist Zhu remained undeterred and continued to increase the bid. A few moments passed. At this point, the elder''s face was flushed red. After sweeping his divine sense over the spirit stones in his storage bag, he no longer raised the bid, clearly giving up on the auction. Xue Chong, seeing that the two contenders were silent, publicly announced the auction result. Daoist Zhu was all smiles as he handed over the spirit stones to Xue Chong and then received the Fire Cloud Sword. Meanwhile, the elder''s face was red with rage; having lost face, he was fuming and wished he could tear Daoist Zhu to pieces. Noticing the elder''s demeanor, Xue Chong''s expression turned cold, and he spoke: "Daoist Xu, this is an auction. Any resentments should be resolved outside the market," Hearing Xue Chong''s reminder, Daoist Xu forcibly suppressed the agitation in his heart. Knowing the consequences all too well, no one dared to cause trouble within the market, and he sat down without saying another word. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Xue Chong nodded and continued to preside over the auction, S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time slowly passed, and soon an hour had gone by. During this period, seven treasures had been consecutively auctioned off, one of which was the Hun Tian Pill that fetched a high price. The other treasures were no ordinary items either. Two more Second Order Magical Artifacts, some precious Spiritual Medicine Materials, a Yellow Grade Technique, and a Foundation Establishment Pill were sold. The Yellow Grade Technique was bought by a cultivator in a private room for twenty-three thousand spirit stones, and the Foundation Establishment Pill was taken by another in a private room for thirty-one thousand spirit stones, bringing in high prices for all the treasures. Chapter 160 Making Friends_2 Among the finale items up for auction, Lin Shilu had not made a move, and although his family still coveted the Foundation Establishment Pills, considering the intense competition from several private rooms and the challenge of safely transporting it back to the family, it was simply too hot to handle for the Lin Family at present, so Lin Shilu could only give up.Ye Pinghai, on the other hand, spent thousands of Spirit Stones without so much as blinking an eye to win the bidding for two stalks of Third Order Spiritual Medicine Material, evidently showcasing the deep pockets of a Second Order High-Grade Alchemist. By this time, the auction had reached its concluding phase, with just one final treasured item yet to be auctioned off. The last item to end the auction was always the most precious treasure. All the cultivators present fixed their eyes on the final item, with many spectators looking forward with great anticipation. The highlight of the Qi Refining Area''s auction was almost a no-brainer¡ªit was definitely either a Foundation Establishment Pill or another Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object. And Lin Tianming, attending the Foundation Establishment Area''s auction for the first time, was also curious about what the treasure would be. Once the cultivators in the hall had calmed down, Xue Chong decided to skip the preliminaries, took out a Jade Box, and opened it so that all the cultivators could see the item inside. Lin Tianming peered intently inside the Jade Box and saw a Jade Slip. A prohibition kept him from knowing whether it contained a cultivation technique or a tome. "Brother Xue, what exactly is this Jade Slip?" a cultivator in the hall asked. With a chuckle towards the entire hall of cultivators, Xue Chong began his introduction. "The tenth and final treasure of the auction is a Water Attribute Mysterious Grade Cultivation Technique called ''Thousand Water Decree'', accompanied by Divine Skills offensive and defensive in one, with considerable power. The starting bid is forty thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than fifty Spirit Stones." "Mysterious Grade Technique?" This was something that hadn''t appeared for a long time. The number of Foundation Establishment Pills and cultivation techniques at small gatherings would sharply decrease, and Mysterious Grade Techniques were even rarer. Many cultivators thought they would only appear at the major gatherings held every ten years. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were also somewhat surprised, but neither of them was particularly interested. After all, the starting bid was forty thousand Spirit Stones, and one could imagine how high the final bid would go. Moreover, the Lin Family already possessed a complete set of Mysterious Grade Cultivation Techniques for the Five Elements, so they weren''t too keen on this one. However, their thoughts differed from those families lacking a Water Attribute Mysterious Grade Technique. Sure enough, as soon as Xue Chong finished introducing the technique, bids started coming from within the private rooms, and soon, new bidders joined the auction. "Forty-one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!" "Forty-two thousand Spirit Stones!" ... S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The prices continued to escalate, with each new bid coming from private rooms whose affiliations were unknown, turning the entire auction hall of about a hundred cultivators into mere spectators. "Forty-seven thousand Spirit Stones!" The bid came out higher by more than ten thousand Spirit Stones than the Foundation Establishment Pill, causing a stir among the numerous cultivators. Lin Tianming was equally astonished; this was his first time witnessing the successful auction of a Mysterious Grade Technique. After more than ten rounds of bidding, the Mysterious Grade Technique was won by a cultivator in one of the private rooms for a price of forty-seven thousand Spirit Stones. Xue Chong and the successful bidder in the private room completed the exchange of Spirit Stones and the technique. At this point, all the highlight items had been successfully auctioned off, along with nearly a hundred other spiritual objects, and not a single treasure failed to sell. Xue Chong was visibly excited; the auction had concluded successfully, which meant he would receive a substantial amount of salary. Once he calmed down, Xue Chong cupped his fists and bowed towards the numerous cultivators sitting below. "Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your participation. With all the treasures auctioned off, this auction has come to an end. Until next time!" As Xue Chong announced the conclusion, some cultivators who knew each other greeted one another and then started to leave the auction. Inside the private room, Lin Tianming and the other two remained seated, casually chatting, not in a rush to leave, as they were waiting to attend the exchange meet for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. A quarter of an hour later, many of the cultivators had left the venue, but there were still more than ten who remained where they were. After surveying the hall, Ye Pinghai turned to Lin Shilu and said: "It''s about time, Brother Lin, let''s go!" Lin Shilu nodded and followed Ye Pinghai out of the private room. The Qi Refining Cultivators waiting outside saw the three men exit and immediately came forward to greet them. Without a word, Lin Shilu waved his hand, and ten Spirit Stones appeared out of thin air in the hands of the Qi Refining Cultivator. The Qi Refining Cultivator was overjoyed upon seeing the Spirit Stones given by Lin Shilu and repeatedly thanked him with a bow. "Thank you, three seniors!" Lin Shilu nodded, and afterwards the three of them no longer paid attention to the Qi Refining Cultivators, directly passing by them towards the depths of the passageway. After more than ten breaths of time had passed, the three, having traversed several corridors, appeared outside a private room. Given Ye Pinghai often stayed in the market and had attended many auctions and exchange meetings, he led the way, and now they arrived outside a private room. With a single-handed seal, he sent a message into the room''s protective restrictions. In less than a breath''s time, an opening appeared in the protective restrictions of the room, and the three walked in together. They entered a huge private room, already filled with more than ten Cultivators sitting inside, many of whom were engaged in casual conversations with acquaintances. Lin Tianming also looked over the numerous Cultivators, and noticed that aside from himself, all the others were at least at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment or above. It was clear that the exchange meeting Ye Pinghai had brought them to was of a higher caliber, most likely not the kind of venue for Cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. Seeing Ye Pinghai enter, many Cultivators hurriedly stood up, proactively greeting him as if they were very familiar with him. Ye Pinghai also greeted them in return and then in front of all the Cultivators, began to introduce Lin Tianming and the other. "Fellow Daoists, these two represent the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family''s Lin Shilu, and beside him is his nephew¡ªallow me to introduce them to everyone!" "So, you are the Daoist friends from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, I have long heard of you!" Some Cultivators also took the initiative to greet Lin Shilu, and both he and Lin Tianming returned the gesture with a clasped fist, behaving quite courteously. Feeling the influence of Ye Pinghai, indeed, was powerful, as the majority of the Cultivators they met were quite polite. This was a good opportunity for networking. For the Lin Family to gain a foothold in the market, it was indispensable to cultivate good relations with these highly cultivated Foundation Establishment Cultivators, thereby expanding the Lin Family''s influence. The atmosphere was congenial and enthusiastic, and in a short while, Lin Tianming and the other had met over a dozen Cultivators, including Loose Cultivators and several from other families. Half a quarter of an hour passed. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire By this time, two Cultivators entered the room, one of whom was Li Xiuyuan, and the other also wore the attire of the Zhenyang Sect, his cultivation having reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Lin Tianming guessed that the other Cultivator must be one of the three Executive Officers of the market. As the two entered and saw the entirety of the Cultivators, including Ye Pinghai, stand up to welcome them, they greeted Li Xiuyuan and the others. "Ye, Lin, you two indeed came as well!" Before he was close, the hearty laugh of Li Xiuyuan could be heard. The other Cultivators present were somewhat surprised as it made sense for Li Xiuyuan to be courteous to Ye Pinghai, a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master with a powerful cultivation. However, it was unexpected that Li Xiuyuan would be as polite to this unfamiliar Lin Family Cultivator, which made some who hadn''t befriended Lin Shilu regret not doing so. While some Cultivators were still stunned, Li Xiuyuan also began introducing his fellow Sect member to Lin Shilu and the other. "Lin, this is my fellow Sect brother Song Xun. He helped a lot with the store matter last time. Now that we''ve met today, we should visit each other more often if there''s a chance!" Both Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming, looking excited, hurriedly greeted Song Xun. "So it''s Brother Song. I''ve already heard from both Ye and Li about you. It''s truly an honor to meet you today. Regarding the store matter, I am indebted to Brother Song''s assistance, and when I have leisure time, I will certainly make a visit." Song Xun waved his hand, saying with a very courteous expression: "It was but a trifle, Brother Lin need not be so formal. Actually, I''ve met your elder brother Lin Shikang before, but it''s been many years since I last saw him, and I suppose he is about to challenge the Golden Core Path soon, isn''t he?" "Haha, so Brother Song and my clan brother are old acquaintances. Once I return to the family land, I will surely convey your message on Brother Song''s behalf. As for the Golden Core Path, it''s not that easy. But someone like Brother Song, at such a young age nearing the Golden Core barrier, I admire that immensely," Lin responded. Hearing what Lin Shilu had said, Song Xun expressed: "As Brother Lin mentioned, how could the Golden Core Path be so easy to challenge? I have only reached where I am by relying on the Sect''s support and having good luck, in truth, it is nothing noteworthy." Lin Shilu chuckled and replied: "That may be true, but by my estimations, the three young friends have reached the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. With the help of heaven-defying elixirs, the hopes of successfully breaking through to the Golden Core are not small at all!" "Let''s hope so..." Song Xun shook his head, a hint of longing visible in his eyes. After a few moments of casual chat, they temporarily parted ways, with Li Xiuyuan and his companion also engaging in idle conversation with other Cultivators. Lin Tianming and the other sat with Ye Pinghai, chatting with some new friends while waiting for the exchange meeting to start. Chapter 161 Note_1 After casually chatting for a short while and seeing that the time was about right, Li Xiuyuan stood up and said,"Thank you, fellow cultivators, for attending this exchange meeting that I''ve organized. It has allowed everyone to make some new acquaintances. Let''s get started, and I hope that each of you will find some gains." As soon as his words ended, an elderly man with a kindly expression turned to Lin Shilu and said with a smile, "Indeed, every time I attend, I get to meet some new friends, which is truly fortunate." The person who spoke was named Wei Liqiong, a family cultivator with Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer cultivation, hailing from the Wei Family of the Hengyang Mountain Range, a family whose strength was not inferior to the Lin Family. Since this person was interested in making connections, Lin Shilu naturally would not reject him. They nodded to each other as a greeting. Lin Shilu responded with a nod to the goodwill expressed by the other cultivators. Seeing the warm atmosphere, Li Xiuyuan, as the organizer, began the exchange meeting, and he was the first to present his items for trade. With a wave of his hand, three treasures landed steadily on the stone table in front of everyone. They were a Second Order Medium Quality Demon Beast inner pill, a Third Order Low Grade Spiritual Medicine, and a fist-sized golden ore. Observing the three treasures, Li Xiuyuan spoke with a smile, "I assume I need not mention what these three items are, as everyone likely knows. I''m willing to trade them for Third Order Spiritual Medicine Chunyang Grass, or the Autumn Jade Fruit. If you possess such items, you can trade one for all three." Hearing Li Xiuyuan''s proposal, not a single cultivator in the room spoke up, evidently because the items he sought were too precious. Lin Tianming also eyed these treasures with great desire, but alas, he had nothing of equal value to offer and could only be a spectator. A few moments passed in silence, seeing that no one was speaking up, Li Xiuyuan felt a tinge of disappointment, but he quickly came to terms with it, given the rare nature of his requested items. Even within the Zhenyang Sect, they were hard to come by, and cultivators in the market, even if they had what he needed, would probably not be willing to trade them. He reluctantly put away the three treasures, and then it was Song Xun''s turn. He took out two items, a Second Order Low Grade Demon Core and a Third Order Spiritual Medicine. Song Xun''s items were of slightly lesser value than Li Xiuyuan''s and didn''t come with any special requirements. As long as the trade was of equal value and he needed the items, he was willing to exchange. Soon enough, two cultivators traded goods with Song Xun, each obtaining one of his treasures. Then Ye Pinghai also displayed a Hun Tian Pill and a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, looking to trade for the Third Order Spiritual Medicine he needed. The Hun Tian Pill, which could directly raise the cultivation of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator by a minor realm, was highly sought after in the Cultivation World. It was quickly traded away by Wei Liqiong at no small expense, while the medium-grade magic artifact was acquired by a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivator. In just a short while, Lin Shilu took out two items. One was Golden Tide Sand, and the other was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. Both items were extraordinary, with the Golden Tide Sand being rather precious and the Second Order artifacts always in high demand. Many cultivators, regardless of already possessing a magic artifact, would still be eager to obtain another, either for personal use or to purchase for their kin. "Fellow cultivators, I am looking to trade these two treasures for Second Order Qi Cultivation materials. As long as the values are equivalent, I''m willing to trade. If the item provided is of greater value than mine, I can compensate with spirit stones." No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Xiuyuan, with a single wave of his hand, revealed a blood-red stone in his palm. "Brother Lin, how about trading this Golden Blood Stone for your Golden Tide Sand?" "Mm, then I would be at an advantage, wouldn''t I?" Lin Shilu replied with a chuckle. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "It''s fine, Golden Tide Sand is not easy to come by. I don''t mind taking a small loss." Li Xiuyuan didn''t mind and proceeded to trade with Lin Shilu. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The remaining Second Order artifact was also quickly traded away by a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, who offered the body of a Second Order Demonic Beast in exchange. Lin Shilu was very pleased, as he managed to trade both of his items for things he needed. Time flowed on slowly, and the entire exchange meeting lasted for half an hour, featuring treasures that were no less inferior than those auctioned in Foundation Establishment auction houses. Lin Tianming witnessed the whole event, his eyes nearly dazzled by the array of treasures. As the exchange drew to a close, most cultivators didn''t immediately get up to leave; instead, they engaged in discussions about cultivation and the Four Arts of Cultivation. Lin Tianming listened intently, soaking in the many cultivators'' insights on cultivation and alchemy, as well as conversations with a few Second Order Alchemists. In just half an hour, he gained a lot of knowledge. The fervent atmosphere lasted until late afternoon. As dusk approached, it was time for the exchange meeting to wind down. Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun, as hosts and organizers of the exchange, got up and exchanged greetings with the other cultivators. Ye Pinghai and Lin Shilu also stood up, cupped their fists, exchanged a few words with Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun, and then prepared to leave. The three of them left the auction, and the bustling plaza outside the auction house quieted down significantly, marking the end of the grand gathering. Some cultivators also slowly departed from the market. By now, evening had arrived; the auction and exchange meeting had lasted nearly half a day. After parting ways with Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming and his companion returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once inside the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were already seated in the courtyard. Seeing the two return, they quickly got up to greet them. Lin Shilu nodded and then asked about their whereabouts and gains for the day. Lin Tianfeng and his companion had attended an auction at the Qi Refining Area and, with their assets, managed to bid on several treasures. After the auction ended, they too participated in an exchange and met several Zhenyang Sect Disciples and family cultivators, ending the day on a very positive note. Chapter 161 Notes_2 Lin Shilu nodded, reminded everyone to be cautious and careful, and then left first.As soon as Lin Shilu left, Lin Tianfeng began to talk non-stop, excitedly recounting the auction''s events. "Sixth brother, the auction at Qianchuan Market really can''t be compared to that of Luoyun Market. The treasures that appeared were simply a feast for the eyes." "Indeed, the Pozhang Pill, Yellow Grade Technique, and Foundation Establishment Pill also appeared. The cultivators were crazy enough, with each round of bidding driving prices higher than the last," Lin Tianhong chimed in. Lin Tianming understood their astonishment very well, as it was also their first time attending the auction at Qianchuan Market. When he first attended the Qianchuan Market auction, his reaction was almost the same¡ªthe plethora of items nearly dazzled his eyes. "So, what treasures did you both manage to win?" Lin Tianming asked. Still excited, Lin Tianhong hurriedly said: "Big brother and I jointly won a complete demonic beast carcass. With Fifteenth Grandfather''s help, we should be able to refine two decent Spiritual Artifacts." "Besides that, we each won a Second Order Talisman to add some life-saving measures for ourselves." Lin Tianming nodded and congratulated them. Lin Tianfeng was not of low cultivation, and even though he had no special talents, his participation in the family''s Monster Hunting Squad made his fortune quite substantial. Lin Tianhong was a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, and his alchemy had improved significantly, placing him at the forefront among his generation in the clan. In their generation, whether in terms of cultivation or cultivation technique, they had already far surpassed the previous generations of their clan. Thinking of this, he wore a face full of gratification. "Big brother, second brother, now that the market assembly is over, what are your plans next?" Lin Tianming inquired. After contemplating, Lin Tianfeng answered: "This place isn''t like the clan, otherwise I could still hunt demonic beasts. Now that''s not possible, so I plan to occasionally help out at Luoyun Pavilion and spend the rest of the time in seclusion and cultivation. In three months, I''m due to replace Uncle Xing Li to take care of the shop." After Lin Tianfeng finished speaking, Lin Tianhong shared his own plans. "Fifteenth Grandfather has given us quite a few tasks. I''ll be refining pills during the day and cultivating at night." Lin Tianming nodded, fully approving of Lin Tianhong''s arrangement. "That''s right, we all have our tasks to attend to, plus we need to cultivate, so there''s hardly any time to idle away." Afterward, the three of them chatted for a while before going their separate ways. Lin Tianming returned to his room, sat at the edge of his bed, and pondered his upcoming cultivation schedule. Having acquired the Flame Fruit from the auction, he naturally had to consume it as soon as possible to enhance his strength, and he also needed to study the notes given to him by Ye Pinghai, aiming to find suitable elixirs to assist in his cultivation at the earliest. Moreover, the number of Spiritual Medicine Materials commissioned for pill refining at Luoyun Pavilion was still over a hundred and increasing daily. Thinking about this, Lin Tianming felt quite a headache. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire "Well, first I''ll take the Flame Fruit to enhance the strength of my body and Divine Sense. Then, during the day, I''ll refine the collected Spiritual Medicine Materials into elixirs. At night, I''ll study the notes and cultivate." Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming began to regulate his state, aiming to reach his peak before consuming the Flame Fruit. Unconsciously, he had been meditating and cultivating for half an hour. At this moment, his state had reached its peak; feeling it was about right, he hurriedly took out the Flame Fruit and held it in his hand. Feeling the cool touch of the Flame Fruit and looking at its blood-red flesh, it seemed very appetizing. Without any hesitation, he swallowed the Flame Fruit in a single gulp. The cool Flame Fruit, upon entering his mouth, immediately felt like he had eaten a mouthful of flame, nothing like the previously cool sensation. Lin Tianming bore the pain and swallowed the fist-sized Flame Fruit. As the Flame Fruit descended into his belly, a massive amount of heat spread out, intensifying the scorching sensation. Not only that, but his entire body, as well as his soul, felt as if they were being roasted by fire. At this time, he felt as though he was being cut a thousand times; sweat poured out all over his body, quickly soaking his clothes. Lin Tianming gritted through the pain as he furiously circulated his cultivation technique, refining the energy released by the Flame Fruit into a gentle force, which he then used to pound every part of his body. Unbeknownst to him, another hour quickly passed by. The intense heat of the Flame Fruit seemed to gradually subside, but he couldn''t tell if he had simply grown numb or if it genuinely wasn''t scalding anymore. Lin Tianming remained unmoved, his furrowed brow indicating his determination as a unique energy continued to hammer his internal organs. Time hurried away, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had gone by. In the training room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile. He extended his divine sense to examine the meridians and internal organs throughout his body. After the vigorous tempering by the Flame Fruit''s power, the color of his organs had deepened, with hints of gold now appearing in certain areas. Not only that, but his meridians had expanded slightly, his skin and bones had strengthened, and even his divine sense had marginally increased. At that moment, he felt his body brimming with strength, as if he would never run out of it and could not feel fatigue at all. "Huff, huff..." Exhaling several breaths of turbid air, Lin Tianming returned his focus and realized his clothes were soiled with impurities that had seeped from his body. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He got up to stretch his limbs, then with a single-hand seal, cast a water-based magic spell to wash away the dirt from his body, followed by using a fire-based spell to dry off. He changed into a clean set of clothes and tidied up the cluttered room. Sitting on the ground, he took out the note gifted by Ye Pinghai and placed it before him. He explored the ancient jade slip given by the old man with his divine sense, perusing the contents it held. An hour later, Lin Tianming withdrew his divine sense and fell into deep thought. Through his comprehension, the Third Order Alchemy Master''s note revealed to be left by someone called Lingfeng, a Golden Elixir expert from tens of thousands of years ago. This person was a Golden Core Cultivator in life, a Third Order Medium Grade Alchemist, and an alchemy fanatic who immersed himself in the Alchemy Dao. He was obsessed with creating and improving pill formulas. Although he didn''t invent any high-order formulas, he did achieve some success in improving existing ones. The note specifically detailed his insights and methods for improving the Dragon Bone Pill, but it was uncertain whether they would be successful or not. According to Lingfeng''s records, the primary material for refining the Dragon Bone Pill was the inner core of an Azure Dragon Jiao, a creature that was already scarce tens of thousands of years ago and even rarer in the cultivation world of today. He believed that the Azure Dragon Jiao, being a fire-attribute spirit beast with a trace of true dragon bloodline¡ªalbeit extremely diluted¡ªwas undoubtedly unique. However, there was another demonic beast in the cultivation world called Qingxu Jiao, which greatly resembled the Azure Dragon Jiao. Not only were they both of the fire attribute, but their divine abilities were also very similar, and so were their habits and appearances. He speculated that tens of thousands of years ago, both species might have evolved from the same lineage. Thus, given how rare the Azure Dragon Jiao was, the relatively more common Qingxu Jiao might serve as a substitute. Lingfeng''s views and conjectures seemed to have some merit. Stowing the note into his storage bag, Lin Tianming pondered deeply. Currently, he didn''t have any better solutions. His cultivation had been consolidating for over a year, relying entirely on meditative practice, with the breakthrough to the second layer of Foundation Establishment seeming infinitely far away. Under these circumstances, regardless of whether Lingfeng''s speculated method was viable, he had to attempt it, as he didn''t have time to seek alternative solutions. However, he was presently too preoccupied; since Luoyun Pavilion''s opening, especially in the few days before the auction, there were tens of commissions for refining spiritual medicine materials every day. Though the flow of people to the market had significantly diminished thereafter, resulting in a sharp decrease in cultivators requesting alchemy services, the accumulation of half a month had left him with more than three hundred batches of spiritual medicine materials awaiting refinement. With Lin Tianhong''s speed of alchemy, who knows how long it would take to complete the refinement. Besides, he also needed to practice cultivation and couldn''t refine continuously day and night. Before he addressed the matter of the pill formula, it was necessary to refine as much of the commissioned elixirs as possible, to maintain Luoyun Pavilion''s credibility. Lin Tianming now slightly regretted his boastful claim from the past that had led to such strenuous work. No one expected so many cultivators to request alchemy services. Nevertheless, having given his word, he needed to do his best. Otherwise, Luoyun Pavilion wouldn''t be able to establish a foothold in the market. Upon further thought, considering he could earn a substantial amount of spirit stones, he didn''t find it too taxing. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming left the room and headed to the Pill Refining Room. Entering the Pill Refining Room, he took a brief moment to adjust his breathing, waiting until he was in optimal condition before starting the alchemy process. He brought out the Four Symbols Furnace, casting numerous spells upon the pill furnace and the earth fire beneath it. After making all the preparations and following a well-versed routine, he proceeded to separate and purify the spiritual medicine materials one by one, until finally solidifying the pill successfully. Chapter 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_1 Time hurried by, and one and a half months had passed.Inside the Pill Refining Room, the fragrance of elixirs wafted from the Four Symbols Furnace, quickly filling the entire room. Upon lifting the lid of the Furnace Cauldron, one could see seven Lingshen Pills lying at the bottom, each one full in color with clear patterns encircling the pills. "Finally, I''ve finished refining all four hundred batches of materials." Lin Tianming talked to himself, then stood up to stretch his limbs, looking at the hundred or so Jade Bottles in front of him with a weary expression. Secluded for one and a half months, he had accelerated the pace of his alchemy, ensuring the completion of ten rounds of pill concoction each day before beginning his cultivation. Luckily, he had refined First Order elixirs hundreds of times before and was quite familiar with the process. It was such frantic alchemy that further improved his efficiency, ensuring his cultivation was not delayed. Over the past month, he had refined most of the over four hundred batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, including the three hundred plus batches left over from his business with Luoyun Pavilion and the hundred batches from the opening day, leaving only a few dozen batches for Lin Tianhong to refine. Through his efforts, he had completed the refining of four hundred batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, resulting in more than one thousand five hundred pills, almost all of which were of superior quality. After setting aside the elixirs meant for the client, he could at least keep one thousand pills for himself, worth nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones. Thinking of the hardships of the past month and earning nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, a smile emerged on his face. "Huff... It''s time to leave seclusion." After tidying up the cluttered Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming returned to his own room. Falling onto the stone bed, he soon slept soundly. This sleep lasted a full day and night, and he only got up the next morning. Feeling the fatigue lifted from his body, and his condition back to its peak, he got up and walked out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Walking on the cobblestone road, he headed towards Luoyun Pavilion. The biennial Market City meeting had ended, and the flow of people in the Market had significantly decreased. There were noticeably fewer Cultivators he ran into on the road than at peak times. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at Luoyun Pavilion. With the Market City meeting over, the business at Luoyun Pavilion seemed to have declined quite a bit. At this moment, a few Qi Refining Cultivators were chatting with the hired shop assistant, Li Rong. Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng were sitting idle in the shop, chatting. Seeing Lin Tianming approach, a hint of joy crossed their faces. After exchanging greetings, they all headed to the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion together. "Uncle, how has the business been in the shop recently?" Lin Tianming inquired. Upon hearing this question, Lin Xingli answered with a somewhat helpless look, "The business at Luoyun Pavilion was very good for the first few days after it opened, with tens of thousands of treasures sold every day and a sizable profit. However, after the Market City meeting, coupled with the dwindling inventory of treasures in the shop, our business has dropped by half." Lin Xingli''s explanation indeed had its reasons. The business was so good during the first few days after Luoyun Pavilion opened that many of the treasures brought from the family were sold out quickly, and many of the best-selling products were out of stock, leading to a decrease in regular customers over time. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Xingli''s explanation, Lin Tianming consoled, "Uncle, this was expected. After all, no one could have anticipated how smoothly the shop would open before coming to the Market, let alone how good the business would be." Lin Xingli nodded, then continued, "Although the business has not been great these past days, since we are no longer accepting elixir refining commissions for free, there are quite a few Cultivators still selling Spiritual Medicine Materials, indirectly boosting some business. Maintaining an income of three thousand Spirit Stones a day is still not difficult." "It''s already quite good to be able to do this, at least several times better than the shops in Luoyun Market." Lin Tianming said casually before inquiring about the status of Lin Shilu and others. According to what Lin Xingli said, Lin Shilu had not been seen for a month and was constantly in the Artifact Forging Room, seemingly crafting Magic Artifacts. Lin Tianhong was also furiously engaged in Alchemy, although he occasionally came out to have a look, he quickly re-entered the Pill Refining Room. Aside from cultivating, Lin Tianfeng occasionally helped out at Luoyun Pavilion and spent his time at various venues in the Market. With his cultivation level and personality, he soon made a large number of acquaintances among the Qi Refining Cultivators. Hearing what the two had to say, Lin Tianming felt quite moved. In the two months since they had arrived at the Market, it was clear that all of the family members were diligently cultivating and had adapted to the life in the Market. Luoyun Pavilion had also fully entered the right track. When business was good, they could earn tens of thousands of Spirit Stones a day. Even when it was not, a daily income of a thousand or two thousand Spirit Stones was still possible. Over a year, this would amass a large profit in Spirit Stones for the family. The Lin Family had successfully established a foothold in the Market and made a vast number of Loose Cultivators and other power''s members its allies. The influence of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family was also gradually expanding. Perhaps in just a few decades, the name of the Lin Family would once again influence the entire Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Snapping back to reality and casually chatting with Lin Xingli for a few moments, he left Luoyun Pavilion and walked down the Market''s main street. The task of pill concoction was finished, and Luoyun Pavilion was on track; now it was time to consider the issue of the Dragon Bone Pill Formula. Having made up his mind, he quickly headed towards the Market City Hall. In no time at all, he appeared at the Market City Hall. He came here because there was a task hall within the Market where one could post tasks they needed help with or accept tasks posted by other Cultivators. Whether seeking Spiritual Medicine Materials or information about Demonic Beasts, commissioning Alchemy or Artifact Refining, forming teams for exploration, or even hunting down criminals in the Cultivation World, all could be posted or accepted here as missions. Chapter 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_2 ```He came here to see if there was any news of the Qingxu Jiao, after all, this beast was not found everywhere, and it wasn''t easy to find one. If there was ready information, he wouldn''t have to blindly search for it. It was because of this task board that many cultivators looking for specific spiritual objects could save a lot of trouble, which was why this place was very popular among loose cultivators. He entered the second floor of the Market City Hall and looked at a huge light screen in the hall, which displayed thousands of text-recorded tasks. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Looking for traces of the Variegated Beast, commission one hundred spirit stones, complete demonic beast carcases are also accepted for direct exchange..." "Searching for traces of the Purple Ratan Flower, commission eighty spirit stones, those who have this item can trade directly..." "Forming a team to go to the Qianchuan Mountain Range for cultivation experience, five people in total, requires at least Seventh Level of Qi Refinement..." "Track and kill the evil cultivator Gu Tong, those who claim his life will be rewarded ten thousand spirit stones..." "Tsk, tsk, tsk... Ten thousand spirit stone reward?" Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise. According to the information recorded on the light screen, this evil cultivator Gu Tong was a loose cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, who for some reason, had killed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Meng Family years ago, completely infuriating the family, which then spent a huge amount of money to issue the bounty for his apprehension. This Gu Tong was cunning by nature, had no attachments, and lived a nomadic life. Coupled with his formidable strength, although the Meng Family was powerful and had as many as seven members at the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was not easy to locate him within the vast Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Understanding the reason, Lin Tianming realized this was the case but had no interest; with his own cultivation at the Foundation Establishment First Level, seeking out such a vicious individual was clearly asking for trouble. Lin Tianming put the matter aside and continued to look through the tasks. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and he had rapidly reviewed over a hundred tasks; most were looking for spiritual medicine materials or demonic beasts, with a few dangerous missions like hunting evil cultivators. The rewards also varied, ranging from fifteen spirit stones to several thousand spirit stones. After reviewing many tasks, he decided to also post one looking for the Qingxu Jiao by assembling a large number of experienced people to help him search, which would save a lot of time. Resolved, he approached the area where tasks were posted and started chatting with a Zhenyang Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Lin Tianming was not well-known in the market, but many Zhenyang Sect Disciples had still heard of him, especially since he had made several public appearances in the market lately and had been seen with Li Xiuyuan and Ye Pinghai a few times. Seeing him personally coming to post a task, the Executive Officer who was serving him was very polite and subsequently explained to him the process of posting tasks. "Elder Lin, posting a task in the market requires five spirit stones and a deposit of one hundred spirit stones; when the task is completed, the remainder of the commission is paid," the officer said. "I''d like to post a task for searching for the Qingxu Jiao, the commission is only needed for providing the trail of this beast, how much would be appropriate?" Lin Tianming asked. After considering, the receptionist answered: "The Qingxu Jiao is a Second Order Demonic Beast. Those who can discover its trail must have at least the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, otherwise, they may not be able to make it out alive. In my humble opinion, a reward of at least several hundred spirit stones is needed to entice someone to take such a risk!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt it made sense and then said: "Then let''s set a commission of eight hundred spirit stones. As long as the information is accurate, anyone can claim the commission." After finishing his statement, Lin Tianming took out a hundred and five spirit stones and handed them to the receptionist. The receptionist took the spirit stones, recorded the transaction, and after leaving a way for him to be messaged, he took his leave. Soon, through the execution of the officer, his task also appeared on the light screen for task posting. "Looking for traces of Qingxu Jiao, anyone providing information, as long as it''s accurate and true, can claim eight hundred spirit stones, within a three-month period..." Lin Tianming looked at the task he had posted and was satisfied; after a brief pause, he returned to his cave dwelling, he only needed to wait for the news now. Several days later, Lin Shilu emerged from meditation, which had lasted for over a month, and the two sat down to drink tea and chat in the small courtyard. "Fifteenth Grandfather, the hand scroll you gave has been fully comprehended, and the methods recorded in it may be feasible," Lin Tianming said. "Oh? If it really works, then our family will have another Second Order Pill Recipe!" Lin Shilu said, somewhat excited. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup and then started talking about his plans. "However, according to the hand scroll, the substitute for the main drug in the Dragon Bone Pill is the Qingxu Jiao Inner Pill. This beast is not easy to find, I have already posted a task in the market. If its trail can be found, I must trouble you, elder, to join me in hunting a few demonic beasts!" "Hmm... Good, you didn''t get carried away and knew to measure your abilities!" ``` Lin Shilu nodded in praise and then said, "I''ve been in closed-door cultivation recently to refine my magic artifact. The piece of Golden Blood Stone I got from the exchange meeting has been incorporated into my artifact. After re-sacrificing it, its power has significantly increased, which is perfect for accompanying you on your journey!" "Then I must thank Fifteenth Grandfather in advance!" Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly rose to give a respectful bow. Lin Shilu waved his hand dismissively and then began to instruct him earnestly, "Hmm... as soon as you receive news of the Qingxu Jiao, send a message to me. Remember not to act alone, understand?" "Yes..." Lin Tianming respectfully responded. After chatting casually for a while, they each returned to their own cultivation rooms. Sitting in the cultivation room, Lin Tianming performed a Grand Circulation. After about a quarter of an hour, once his condition reached its peak, he took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill and began his cultivation with some difficulty. If there was evidence of the Qingxu Jiao''s whereabouts, he would have to leave Qianchuan Market. Before leaving, he wanted to improve his cultivation as much as possible. Despite the excruciating pain he was about to endure, he could not care less, as having even a sliver more of spiritual power meant additional safety. As the elixir entered his mouth, intense pain followed immediately, with large beads of sweat falling from his forehead. He did not dare to be careless, swallowing a Body Strengthening Pill and frantically running his cultivation technique, all the while enduring the agony to refine the medicinal power. Over ten days slowly passed... One day, a messaging aura entered his cultivation room, hovering in front of him. He sent out his divine sense to check the message recorded by the Spiritual Light. "There''s a message!" Lin Tianming was thrilled and immediately rose to leave the cave dwelling, rushing toward the Market City Hall. After finding the executive officer who had received him, the two struck up a conversation. The obsequious executive officer said, "Elder Lin, you are in luck. It''s only been just over ten days, and already a cultivator has happened upon the whereabouts of the Qingxu Jiao!" "Oh? Bring me to see that cultivator at once!" Lin Tianming urged. "Yes!" Following the executive officer, he was led to a private room where he was to meet alone with the cultivator who provided the information. Inside sat a middle-aged cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, who quickly stood up to pay respects to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming gestured for him to sit and then spoke with a grave expression, "It was you who found the trace of the Qingxu Jiao? Speak in detail, and remember not to attempt to deceive me. If I find out there is any falsehood, you will bear the consequences!" At Lin Tianming''s threatening words, the cultivator quickly assured him of his honesty and then relayed how he came across the Qingxu Jiao. "Elder, half a year ago I was training in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, when by chance I stumbled into a ravine and happened to spot the trace of a Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Jiao. Luckily, I was cautious enough to flee without looking back and managed to narrowly escape with my life." As he spoke, his face went pale, displaying an appearance of lingering fear. "After I returned to the market city, I learned of the task you had posted. But before I encountered the beast, I had no idea you were seeking the Qingxu Jiao, otherwise the news would not have come so swiftly." Listening to the cultivator''s explanation, Lin Tianming was skeptical, but he had no other options at the moment. Whether true or false, he needed to verify for himself. With this in mind, Lin Tianming did not make things difficult for the man, promptly paid him a deposit of two hundred Spirit Stones, and promised to pay the rest upon confirmation of the accurate information. After sending the man away, he had the executive officer withdraw his task. After everything was settled, he returned to his cave dwelling to prepare with Lin Shilu before searching for the Qingxu Jiao. Chapter 163 Sword Array Displays Its Power_1 Back in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming immediately reported the situation of the Qingxu Jiao.Lin Shilu had already been aware of this matter and had instructed him to be cautious. Upon learning that someone had provided information about the Qingxu Jiao, he instantly left his closed-door cultivation, deciding to head to the inner parts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range as soon as possible to find the beast, to prevent any mishaps. Early the next morning, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu bade Lin Tianfeng farewell and left Qianchuan Market quietly without any fuss. The two rode on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, heading west towards the Qianchuan Mountain Range. After two full days of travel, the two of them, along with the beast, appeared on the outer edges of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, close to the inner regions. Along the way, they encountered many Qi Refining Cultivators hunting Demonic Beasts on the outskirts, but they ignored them all, pressing on in a particular direction. After a night of rest, Lin Tianming stored the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, and the two of them continued on their journey, stepping into the more vast and lush inner regions. Along the way, the two were quite cautious, their Magic Artifacts at the ready, prepared to respond quickly to any noise, not as carefree as they were in the outer regions. After several days of cautious exploration and nearly circumventing encounters with Second Order Demonic Beasts, they arrived smoothly at the outside of a valley. Gazing at the valley overgrown with the ruins of broken walls and boulders, Lin Tianming''s expression grew solemn. "Tianming, is this the place that cultivator provided information about?" Lin Shilu inquired. Lin Tianming looked at the simple map in his hands, observing the valley in the distance before recalling the words of the cultivator who had provided the information. After a brief moment, Lin Tianming nodded and said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, according to the map and the description given by the cultivator providing the information, it should indeed be this place." "Hmm." Lin Shilu gazed ahead thoughtfully. "It''s already late in the day, and not suitable for entering, so let''s rest here for the night and restore our spirits before going in to take a look." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes," Lin Tianming complied. Having made up their minds, the two searched for a suitable location nearby and prepared to dig out a Temporary Cave Abode to spend the night. They quickly found a hidden spot against a cliff face, and Lin Tianming swiftly dug out a cave several meters wide, adequate for an overnight stay. Looking at the excavated Temporary Cave Abode, the two entered and settled down for the night. "Tianming, you keep watch during the first half of the night, and I will take over in the latter half. At dawn, we''ll venture into the valley to explore," Lin Shilu instructed. Hearing Lin Shilu''s orders, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed wholeheartedly. The expanse of the Qianchuan Mountain Range dwarfed that of the Luoyun Mountain Range by several times over. It was said that at its center, even Third Order Demon Beasts were not uncommon. Although this place was just a few hundred miles into the inner regions, Third Order Demonic Beasts may not be present, but there would certainly be a fair number of Second Order ones. Apart from Demonic Beasts, cultivators also had to be on guard, as this was not the market town, and occurrences of murder and looting were not infrequent. Giving the situation the gravity it demanded, they had to be extra careful. Sitting at the entrance of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming''s Divine Sense was fully deployed, keeping constant vigilance on the outside. The night passed quietly, and the two took turns meditating through the night. As morning light pierced through the dense fog and shone into the cave, the two got up and looked out over the distant valley. Lin Shilu took out a golden greatsword, his own Magic Artifact of Second Order Medium Quality. With preparations made, Lin Shilu began giving instructions. "Tianming, a Qingxu Jiao is a social beast with varying numbers in a group, ranging from over a dozen to hundreds, and their grades vary too. However, one thing is certain, in every group there is at least one male and one female that are of Second Order grade. Their Divine Skill is of the fire element, which is very powerful, but their weakness is poor perception. We mustn''t confront them head-on but instead move flexibly¡ªunderstand?" Lin Tianming nodded confidently and said, "Rest assured, Fifteenth Grandfather, I''ve already consulted many texts about this beast and am quite familiar with its habits. I am swift in escaping, and with a precious treasure to protect me, I can even fight a moment with a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast." Lin Shilu gave a chuckle, feeling very reassured about Lin Tianming. He was quite clear about Lin Tianming''s Divine Skills. Currently, even if faced with a Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator, it would be difficult to say who would win. "You will follow me later, I will take the lead, and you will watch our back. Although we''re not deep inside the mountain range, we can''t let our guard down. Should things turn south, we have to make a quick escape," Lin Shilu stated earnestly. Lin Tianming nodded, not daring to be careless in the slightest as he saw Lin Shilu''s serious demeanor. Some time passed, and once they were ready, they began to probe their way towards the distant valley. The two made their way through dense woods, covering several miles before gradually approaching the valley. Observing the massive area filled with ruins, with many peaks flattened or snapped in half, the craftsmanship seemed supernatural, not likely to be naturally occurring. Lin Tianming speculated that this place must have witnessed a monumental battle many years ago to turn the vast valley into what it looked like now. And to accomplish this, it would have required the intervention of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators at the very least. With a brief feeling of awe, they continued to make their way into the valley. After half a day, they proceeded with extreme caution for about ten miles without encountering any problems. Pausing briefly, they stared into the somewhat eerie valley, and Lin Shilu said, Chapter 163 Sword Array Demonstrates Power_2 ```"Tian Ming, have you noticed anything unusual?" Hearing Lin Shilu''s words, Lin Tianming reflected on all the encounters along the way. Three breaths of time passed, and Lin Tianming seemed to have noticed something different. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire "Fifteenth Grandfather, on our journey, not to mention demonic beasts, we haven''t even seen a wild sparrow, nor have we found any Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures. Such a strange situation is something I have never encountered before," said Lin Tianming. "Hmm," Reminded by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu also felt it was somewhat incredible. "There must be a demonic beast in this place, one that even eats ordinary wild sparrows; otherwise, it wouldn''t be this clean," he said. "Although we haven''t found it yet, there is definitely a demonic beast active nearby. We need to be careful," Lin Shilu warned. "Alright, let''s continue on our way." Lin Tianming nodded and followed Lin Shilu''s pace. The two were less than a few zhang apart, one behind the other, heading deeper into the valley. Unnoticed, the two walked for more than an hour, moving several more miles. As the vegetation grew sparser, the scene inside the valley became even more desolate. After delving over twenty miles ahead, they still hadn''t been attacked or noticed any movement. At this moment, Lin Tianming also began to waver, starting to doubt the cultivator who had provided the information. Seeing Lin Tianming''s complexion turning somewhat grim, Lin Shilu was just about to say something comforting when he heard a faint noise that, though minimal, he still detected. "Tian Ming, there''s a noise," Lin Shilu said with a serious expression. Hearing the warning, Lin Tianming immediately started looking around, and sure enough, he too soon heard the rustling sound. "Sha... shasha..." The noise grew clearer, and both of them felt something from deep within the valley approaching rapidly. "Tian Ming, get ready to make a move." After giving a reminder, Lin Shilu stared intently ahead, holding the Golden Greatsword, and positioned Lin Tianming behind him. Feeling the presence getting increasingly closer, Lin Tianming held nothing back. He waved his hand, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out instantly, revolving around him before scattering swiftly and finally hiding beneath the ground. Having done this, he formed a single-handed seal, and the Tiangang Sword appeared in his hand out of thin air. The blade vibrated wildly as if it couldn''t wait to attack, eager to taste the flavor of blood. Several breaths of time later, the movements in the deep valley became more pronounced. It was only then that they saw what was coming. At this point, a few thousand zhang ahead, dozens of large snakes with alternating blue and red bodies were slithering rapidly towards them, twisting their barrel-thick bodies. As they drew nearer, the true form of these snakes was revealed; they were unmistakably the Qingxu Snakes they had been searching for. Upon seeing the Qingxu Snakes, a smile appeared on Lin Tianming''s face. It seemed that the cultivator who provided the information had not deceived him. He wondered how that youngster had managed to survive in the territory of such an assembly of the Qingxu Snake Clan. Without time to ponder further, his expression soon turned solemn again. Looking around, he realized the Qingxu Snake Clan consisted of dozens of formidable snakes. Leading them were seven Second Order Demon Snakes, one at the Second Order Middle Stage and six at the Second Order Initial Stage, while the rest were made up of First Order Middle-Late Stage Monster Serpents. Fortunately, there were no Second Order Late Phase Demon Snakes; otherwise, it would be very difficult for him and Lin Shilu to retreat unharmed. Seeing such an assembly of Qingxu Snakes, Lin Shilu also had a serious look, ready to face the snake clan''s attack at any moment. "Tian Ming, I will take on that Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. You just hold off the others, and as long as you don''t get defeated, that''s enough. Once I''ve killed that beast, I''ll come and help you!" After dropping those words, Lin Shilu leaped dozens of zhang forward and charged towards the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming didn''t even have time to respond when Lin Shilu had already engaged with the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. Lin Shilu''s sword dance unleashed a hundred streaks of Golden Sword Qi that exploded with loud bangs, furiously charging at the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. ``` "Clang, clang, clang¡­ Hiss, hiss..." Multiple streaks of Sword Qi bombarded the Qingxu Snake''s body, shearing off its scales and revealing the snake''s greenish-yellow hide beneath. In pain, the Qingxu Snake opened its blood-spraying maw, hissing a few times before lunging straight for Lin Shilu''s bite, while at the same time, its barrel-thick tail swept across, as if trying to send the infuriated Lin Shilu flying. Just one attack, merely slicing off a few scales, hardly causing any substantial injury? Seeing this, Lin Shilu''s expression grew even graver. Faced with the Qingxu Snake''s counterattack, Lin Shilu generated wind under his feet and rapidly retreated dozens of yards, dodging the Qingxu Snake''s assault. Once stable, he flipped his hand and threw out several Second Order talismans and more than ten First Order talismans, forming a huge rain of swords that engulfed the Qingxu Snake. Simultaneously, he leaped up and once again engaged in fierce battle with the Monster Serpent. Man and serpent fought vigorously, with earth-shattering noises spreading throughout the valley, the aftermath of the battle shattering the giant green rocks around them. While Lin Shilu was entangled with the Qingxu Snake, several Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes below rushed towards Lin Shilu, seemingly wanting to aid their leader. "Evil beasts, you shall not succeed!" Lin Tianming bellowed angrily and then charged towards the Qingxu Snakes ahead. Clasping the Tiangang Sword in his hands, he spun it into a Sword Lotus, and numerous streaks of Sword Qi swept out wildly. For a time, a ferocious wind blew through the valley, the green Sword Qi was majestic and overwhelming, stopping the rapidly moving Second Order Qingxu Snakes in their tracks. "Pfft, pfft, pfft..." A powerful blast repelled several Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes, with the intense shockwaves of the Gang Wind lifting the hem of his robe. Even so, one Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snake managed to slip through his hands and charged towards Lin Shilu. Seeing this, he had no time to intervene again; he assumed the Fifteenth Grandfather would be able to handle it. After quick contemplation, he fixed his gaze on the Qingxu Snake Clan ahead. After his attack, the enraged snake clan seemed furious. They all opened their gaping maws, launching a fierce attack on him like a swarm of locusts passing through. For a moment, all he could see were the figures of Qingxu Snakes, darkening the sky and dimming the sunlight. Lin Tianming dared not be careless. He opened the Eye of Five Colors and moved through the gaps in an astonishing manner, narrowly avoiding the numerous biting and sweeping tails of the Qingxu Snakes. Once stable, he pressed his palms together and pushed his Cultivation Technique to the extreme, the robes whipped by the wildly circulating Spiritual Power around his body. "Earth Fiend Sword Formation, trap!" As soon as the Law Decree was uttered, the long-hidden Earth Evil Swords burst out from the ground below and began spinning wildly, enveloping an area of a thousand yards nearby. Due to the limited Spirit Wisdom of the Qingxu Snakes, equivalent to the intelligence of children, they failed to notice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation hidden beneath them. It wasn''t until the Sword Array started operating and they felt its restrictive force that they began to struggle fiercely to break free. Lin Tianming, who had long planned and even risked his life to lure them into the trap, certainly wouldn''t let them get away so easily. "Earth Fiend Sword Formation, slay!" As he uttered the Law Decree, the area covered by the Sword Array began to shrink gradually, with the Qingxu Snakes inside twisting their bodies and crashing against the barriers of the Sword Array. Suddenly, bursts of explosive sounds were heard. The range covered by the Sword Array was so vast that it was somewhat weak on the outermost edges, and under the powerful body impacts of the Qingxu Snakes, Lin Tianming was mentally shaken even if they did not break free. Enduring the pain, Lin Tianming forced the Cultivation Technique to stabilize the Sword Array, controlling the Sword Qi within to strike the Qingxu Snake Clan. Under the fierce movement of the Sword Qi, some First Order Qingxu Snakes were slain in a single contact. In just a few breaths, more than twenty First Order Qingxu Snakes had perished, leaving behind only some Middle-Late Stage First Order Monster Serpents, many of which were already heavily wounded, and two Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes had been injured. As the number of snakes decreased, the overall strength of the snake clan weakened, the range of the Sword Array reduced, it became more stable, and his situation improved significantly. In just a single encounter, more than a dozen First Order Qingxu Snakes were killed, and five Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes were trapped. After being re-forged, the Earth Evil Swords were fully activated for the first time, the Sword Array composed of fifty-six blades was terrifyingly powerful! Chapter 164 The Entire Snake Swarm is Wiped Out_1 With the addition of new Earth Evil Swords, their number significantly increased, causing the Sword Array''s power to grow exponentially.In his first real battle, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with such results. At this moment, more than thirty Qingxu Snakes within the Sword Array frantically tried to escape, but the space they could live in was steadily shrinking. Their massive bodies had become a burden, resulting in the Monster Serpents biting and attacking each other. Seeing this, Lin Tianming showed no mercy. He had to end the battle quickly to prevent any unexpected changes from arising. Making up his mind, he tossed the Tiangang Sword into the sky and then swiftly formed hand seals, chanting the Law Decree. "Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword... go!" In an instant, the Tiangang Sword glowed with a brilliant golden light, surrounded by numerous streams of Sword Qi. As the Law Decree was fully chanted, the Tiangang Sword disappeared from above his head and in the blink of an eye, it went through the Sword Array Barricade and attacked a Second Order Qingxu Snake. "Hiss hiss!" The Qingxu Snake that was targeted by the Tiangang Sword was in utter terror. As it struggled furiously, it spat out a fireball from its gaping maw, aiming at the Sword Array Barricade that bound it. "That Qingxu Snake is fighting desperately!" Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire Lin Tianming''s expression turned solemn; he knew that was the Qingxu Snake''s Innate Divine Ability, which was tremendously powerful. However, he had no choice but to endure the damage, as he couldn''t cancel the Sword Array to dodge the attack. Otherwise, if the Qingxu Snake broke free from the Sword Array''s confines, he would be in danger. In a split second, Lin Tianming made his decision; even if it meant getting hurt, he had to keep the group of Qingxu Snakes trapped and even aim to kill them. When he refocused his mind, the Tiangang Sword struck the Second Order Qingxu Snake at its vital seven-inch area, followed by a thunderous explosion. "Pfft..." The Qingxu Snake couldn''t dodge in time and the Tiangang Sword decapitated it. The bucket-thick snake head fell to the ground, and simultaneously, a large amount of snake blood sprayed out, quickly pooling into a blood lake. Meanwhile, the Qingxu Snake''s desperate attack, the fireball, collided with the Earth Fiend Sword Array''s Barricade at the same time. Another explosion echoed, and under the Qingxu Snake''s Innate Divine Ability attack, the Earth Fiend Sword Array''s Barricade shook violently. Lin Tianming''s face turned pale; he strenuously steadied the sword bodies, with his entire True Yuan running at its limit. After three breaths of time, the Sword Array Barricade''s shaking stopped, and it remained stable. Simultaneously, as the Sword Array continued to shrink, all the Qingxu Snakes inside were injured, and their numbers were greatly diminished once more. Lin Tianming was elated, then sighed with relief; he was truly worried the Sword Array would be breached, allowing the Demonic Beasts to escape, which would have caused even more trouble. Within the Sword Array, seeing their fellow decapitated, the remaining Demonic Beasts became even more violent. The remaining four Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes frenziedly rammed into the Sword Array Barricade. "Boom, boom, boom..." Under the furious assaults of the desperate Qingxu Snakes, the sound of collisions echoed through the valley, causing the Sword Array to shake wildly. Lin Tianming firmly maintained the Sword Array''s operation, gradually reducing its scope and depleting the snakes'' vitality. As long as he could hold on until Lin Shilu was free to assist, they could annihilate all the Qingxu Snakes. Time slowly passed... At a mound a thousand zhang away, Lin Shilu was engaged in a fierce battle with two Qingxu Snakes. He had been fighting the two Second Order Qingxu Snakes for dozens of rounds. Initially overbearing against the Medium Stage Qingxu Snake, the situation changed when another Second Order Initial Stage Monster Serpent joined the fray compelling him to fight two against one, significantly increasing the pressure, leaving the outcome of the battle hanging in the balance for the time being. Even though he was fully engaged in battling the two Demonic Beasts, he was also constantly aware of Lin Tianming''s situation. Knowing that Lin Tianming alone was holding off several Second Order Demonic Beasts, along with dozens of First Order Demon Beasts, although a single First Order Demon Beast wouldn''t pose much of a threat, the collective numbers were not to be underestimated. Seeing Lin Tianming''s precarious situation, and with his Spiritual Power depleting rapidly, prolonged conflict would be disadvantageous to them, so he had to resolve the battle quickly to assist Lin Tianming. With that thought, Lin Shilu''s expression turned serious, and he rallied his peak momentum. As he swung his Spirit Sword, the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth around him became utterly chaotic. "Die, beasts!" In a flash, several streaks of Golden Sword Qi shot out from his Magic Artifact, each with extreme speed, targeting the Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snake. "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..." Across from Lin Shilu, the two Second Order Qingxu Snakes opened their moon-sized jaws. As the attack drew nearer, the Medium Stage Qingxu Snake swayed its body, shifting more than ten zhang away. But the Second Order Initial Stage Monster Serpent, trying to dodge the Sword Qi, found it moving too fast. Unable to avoid in time, three streams of Sword Qi struck its vital parts, causing flesh to tear and blood staining its body. "Hiss hiss..." The Initial Stage Monster Serpent screamed and writhed wildly. Lin Shilu''s forceful strike had critically wounded the Initial Stage Monster Serpent, rendering it incapable of fighting and effectively achieving his objective. Lin Shilu''s expression remained intense; he felt it was a bit regrettable, but with the Initial Stage Monster Serpent nearly out of combat, his goal was reached. He turned to face the remaining Monster Serpent, his gaze filled with a fighting spirit. Without any hesitation, he once again wielded his Magic Artifact, charging towards the Monster Serpent. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Monster Serpent was both frightened and infuriated, its companions dead and its body riddled with bloody holes, it was overtaken by an overwhelming rage, determined to devour that human in revenge. The Monster Serpent swung its tail, sweeping directly toward Lin Shilu. Chapter 164 Mass Extermination of the Snakes_2 Lin Shilu soared dozens of feet into the air in a single leap, dodging the Monster Serpent''s tail. Beneath him, a giant boulder tens of feet wide exploded with a roar.Thwarted in its attack, the Monster Serpent grew furious. It opened its huge, blood-spitting maw and spat out two fireballs one after the other, coming at him in quick succession. Lin Shilu knew well the formidable Divine Skills of this beast; he dared not be careless. He threw out two Second Order Defense Talismans, transforming into two grey barriers that protected him in front. "Boom, boom..." Two consecutive explosions sounded as the grey barriers were shattered by the fireballs in an instant, creating a massive shockwave. The moment the grey barriers exploded, he had already shifted dozens of feet to the side, avoiding the fireballs'' onslaught. The hill below was not so fortunate; struck by the fireballs, it was blasted into a deep pit over ten feet wide, and the scorched earth looked ghastly. Once he stabilized himself, Lin Shilu''s fingers flickered rapidly, summoning a rain of fire from the sky. Then with a sweep of his robe, he sent a myriad of talisman papers transforming into a torrential Sword Array raining down upon the Monster Serpent. For a moment, light from the fire dazzled in all directions, and a series of collision sounds echoed through the gorge. The Qingxu Snake was powerful in Divine Skills attacks but was not as agile as other serpent Demonic Beasts. The Monster Serpent, unable to dodge in time, sustained numerous additional wounds on its body. Before the Monster Serpent could catch its breath, Lin Shilu''s relentless assaults overwhelmed it, the Five Elements Spells mixed with Sword Qi consuming it entirely. "Crackle and pop..." The thunderous sounds of explosions never ceased. When the firelight dissipated, the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake had lost most of its scales, and its body was densely covered in wounds, flesh torn and skin split, and its aura significantly weakened. "This beast is still not dead?" Lin Shilu couldn''t help but exclaim; the Monster Serpent''s vitality was truly formidable. He had used up dozens of talisman papers, more than ten of which were Second Order, and despite his wave after wave of attacks, he still hadn''t managed to kill the Qingxu Snake. "Hmph, You beast, you will die today!" Lin Shilu cursed, then his hands formed seals and he made a strange gesture, all the while chanting a special Law Decree. After a moment, a silver-white Sword Qi condensed above Lin Shilu''s head. Suddenly, the valley was filled with flying sand and stones as a wild wind arose, and the Sword Qi above his head grew increasingly fierce. "Great Sun Sword Qi Art, Kill!" Lin Shilu bellowed, and the silver-white Sword Qi above his head tore through the air towards the Qingxu Snake with the speed of a meteor. This Sword Qi was none other than the Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art that Lin Tianming had acquired, having been nurtured within his Qi Sea for several years. Now unleashed, the power of the Sword Qi seemed beyond imagination. Seeing the terrifying Sword Qi slashing at it, the Qingxu Snake struggled frantically to escape, but it was severely injured, and its speed was inherently slow. Realizing that it could not evade, the Qingxu Snake opened its mouth again, ejecting several enormous fireballs, each bigger than the last, in a desperate final stand. Several fireballs streaked across the sky, clashing with the silver-white Sword Qi. "Boom, boom, boom..." A deafening explosion darkened the skies, and the earth seemed to lose its color. Following the explosion, a massive blast wave came rolling through, forcing Lin Shilu back dozens of feet before he could stabilize his form. By then, his face was pale, and a trickle of fresh blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. When the firelight vanished, the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake lay in two pieces, its massive body still convulsing, as if expressing the Monster Serpent''s unwillingness to die. Seeing the only Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake cut down, Lin Shilu''s face lit up with wild joy, and without any hesitation, he swung his sword again, piercing through the twisting body of the Monster Serpent. He leaped to the side of the Monster Serpent''s body, extracted its gallbladder, and only then did the creature''s body stop twitching. Having done this, Lin Shilu casually exterminated another Monster Serpent that had lost its fighting power, then flew towards Lin Tianming. In less than the time of three breaths, he arrived behind Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming was in a critical situation; several Monster Serpents inside the Sword Array were frantically attacking the Sword Array Barricade. To survive, they seemed to have realized that concentrated attacks at one point were the key. Under the assaults of the five Monster Serpents, the Sword Array''s stability continued to weaken; after another two strikes, it would surely disintegrate. Again, five fireballs bombarded the same spot on the Sword Array, and after a loud explosion, the Sword Array vibrated wildly, teetering on the brink of shattering. Lin Tianming''s face was ashen, and a mouthful of fresh blood burst forth. At that moment, Lin Shilu arrived on horseback, and with his addition, the pressure on Lin Tianming greatly diminished, and the Sword Array resumed its smooth operation. "Tianming, you trap them, and I''ll handle the attack!" Lin Shilu hastily shouted, then swung his greatsword, arousing several streaks of Sword Qi, attacking several Second Order Demonic Beasts. Lin Tianming was not to be outdone, steadying the Sword Array while his Tiangang Sword repeatedly lashed out. "Puff, puff, puff..." With the two of them striking in quick succession, screaming incessantly emanated from within the Sword Array. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Within the Sword Array, three Second Order Monster Serpents had already been sliced apart by the Sword Qi, while the First Order ones fared even worse, with many being chopped into more than a few segments. The gruesome scene did not cease, and the few struggling serpents hardly stirred up any waves. Under the joint efforts of the pair, the Demonic Beasts within the Sword Array were like lambs to the slaughter, and death was their inevitable end. After less than half an hour, the previously noisy valley suddenly quieted down. At this point, looking out over the valley, it was riddled with holes, and deep pits were everywhere, with broken boulders strewn all around¡ªthe valley was a scene of utter devastation. Lin Tianming paid it no mind. With a casual wave of his hand, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords quickly converged and began to rotate around him. He stowed all the Spirit Swords into his storage bag and then sat down on a fragmented rock, breathing heavily. Both were in poor condition, though Lin Shilu was better off, merely having expended a great deal of Spiritual Power but otherwise uninjured. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had operated the massive Earth Fiend Sword Formation while contending with the attacks of five Second Order Demonic Beasts and dozens of First Order ones, completely depleting his Spiritual Power. Now his body was battered in numerous places, with some bones visible on his arm, leaving him with less than twenty percent of his strength. Had it not been for his strength in Body Cultivation, his powerful vitality and quick recovery, he would not have held on at all. The pair had fought against a Qingxu Snake Clan and, after a fierce battle lasting over half an hour, they finally emerged victorious. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu took out an elixir to restore Spiritual Power and swallowed it, then spoke, "Tianming, this place is unsafe, other Cultivators might hear the commotion at any time. We must quickly meditate to restore our Spiritual Power to be ready for any imminent dangers." Lin Tianming nodded, already holding an elixir, which he swallowed before beginning to meditate and cultivate. After half an hour, Lin Tianming''s Spiritual Power had recovered somewhat, and the flesh wounds on his body had also healed quite a bit. He got up and walked towards a corpse of one of the Monster Serpents. He alone sufficed to clean up the battlefield, allowing Lin Shilu to restore more Spiritual Power to face potential threats. He approached the corpse of a Second Order Middle Stage Monster Serpent, his Tiangang Sword swinging rapidly, cutting the serpent''s body, as thick as a water bucket, into segments before stowing them inside his storage bag. Even the scattered Scales on the ground needed to be collected; they were excellent material for Artifact Refining. As long as they were plentiful, they could be turned into armor or crafted into shields with exceptional defensive power. He did not overlook the small pools of Snake Blood either, collecting them all. Such treasures were hard to come by, and the Purple Gold Eagle was not picky. With so much snake blood, he could swiftly enhance his strength. After gathering the Medium Stage Second Order Monster Serpent, he moved to the body of an Initial Stage Second Order one, repeating the process and collecting all usable materials. He busied himself for half an hour just to collect the bodies of the dozens of Monster Serpents. After completing these tasks, he slightly altered the shocking scene and then walked toward Lin Shilu. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Lin Shilu opened his eyes, showing a satisfied smile. "Finished clearing the battlefield?" asked Lin Shilu. "Hehe... all of it has been collected!" Lin Tianming chuckled back, and in turn, Lin Shilu smiled meaningfully and said, "This group of Demonic Beasts was quite powerful. Let''s explore the territory of the Qingxu Snakes; maybe we''ll find something good!" With that, Lin Shilu walked deeper into the valley, and Lin Tianming quickly followed, soon disappearing from the spot. Chapter 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_1 The two left the battlefield and headed into the valley.With the Qingxu Snake Clan wiped out, there should no longer be any danger within the valley. By this time, Lin Shilu had recovered most of his spiritual power, and Lin Tianming had also recovered some. As long as they didn''t encounter a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator or a Second Order Late-Phase Demonic Beast, they wouldn''t have problems ensuring their own safety. Shortly, the pair advanced more than ten li deep into the valley along the base of the mountain. They arrived at a massive stone forest that was much larger than the one near the battlefield and had denser bushes. At the center of the stone forest, there were many caves a few zhang wide, distributed around the center, each one a snake burrow. Standing atop a huge rock, Lin Shilu surveyed the stone forest ahead and said: "Tianming, this vast stone forest must be the Qingxu Snake''s nest. I estimate that a hundred li around are their territory!" Lin Tianming nodded. Demonic Beasts had their own territories and usually would not leave them unless driven away by more powerful beasts; otherwise, they would stay and breed within their own lands. The territories of Second Order Demonic Beasts ranged from a hundred li to several hundred, while most First Order Demonic Beasts had territories spanning only several tens of li. Looking at the stone forest thousands of zhang wide before him, Lin Tianming''s face brimmed with excitement. They had expended considerable effort and treasures¡ªjust the talisman paper alone cost them hundreds¡ªto eradicate a clan of snakes, all for the spoils of war. Yet, the bodies and inner cores of the Qingxu Snakes alone had brought them substantial rewards. Moreover, there was the vast territory of the eradicated clan to explore, perhaps yielding some rarely-seen treasures. Grinning mischievously, Lin Shilu was also excited but chose not to show it. "Tianming, the territory of this snake clan is vast. If we were to inspect it all, we would spread ourselves too thin. Plus, with the surrounding Demonic Beasts eyeing us covetously, let''s just explore a twenty li radius around the stone forest. We can give up on the rest¡ªafter all, our haul is already substantial enough!" Hearing Lin Shilu''s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded; he too believed it was wise to be cautious. Because within a Demonic Beast''s territory, treasures almost always appeared within a ten li radius of its lair. As for the outer regions, there was hardly anything of value to be found, and venturing out to explore posed significant risks. If they encountered other cultivators or nearby Demonic Beasts, a safe retreat would not be easy. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire With these thoughts, Lin Tianming spoke up: "Fifteenth Grandfather, with the snake clan destroyed, there should not be any dangers within. Let''s each take a direction and scout thirty li around. Should there be any danger, we''ll immediately regroup at the center of the stone forest!" "Alright, search quickly and signal at once if there''s any trouble!" After replying, Lin Shilu immediately flew off to the left, quickly disappearing from sight. Lin Tianming wasted no time, swiftly heading in the opposite direction. While there shouldn''t be any dangers, Lin Tianming remained cautious, clutching the Earth Evil Sword, ready for any potential threats. He weaved through the stone forest, crossing several tens of zhang with each step, quickly covering over ten li. In this period, he discovered two Second Order Spiritual Medicines¡ªcommon items, but still worth several hundred Spirit Stones. Suddenly, Lin Tianming halted his steps and landed on a rock. A hundred zhang ahead, in a crevice between stones, grew a tree about one zhang tall with over ten bright red fruits. Seeing the tree one zhang tall in front of him, Lin Tianming couldn''t help exclaiming excitedly. "Qiuxing Fruit!" Elated, Lin Tianming leaped high, darting towards the fruit tree. Qiuxing Fruit, a Second Order fire-attribute Spirit Fruit, could aid the cultivation of both cultivators and Demonic Beasts, ripening once every sixty years. Since it was a naturally formed Spiritual Object, its effects were comparable to a Second Order Spirit Origin Pill, and even stronger, making it particularly effective for fire-attribute cultivators, a truly rare treasure. Moreover, unlike the Lingshen Pill, it could be eaten directly without any discomfort. And the fruits on this Qiuxing Fruit Tree were all ripe, a timely bounty for him. "No wonder such a number of Qingxu Snakes could emerge here, and even seven Second Order Demon Snakes, this tree must have played no small part!" After talking to himself, Lin Tianming immediately began to pick the Qiuxing Fruit. He took out over a dozen Jade Boxes and, with the Earth Evil Sword in hand, carefully plucked the Qiuxing Fruits one by one before delicately placing them into the boxes. A short while later, he had collected twelve Qiuxing Fruits. Looking at the one zhang tall Qiuxing Fruit Tree, Lin Tianming frequently stabbed the Earth Evil Sword into the ground, the rugged stone cleaved easily as if it were tofu. Having picked the fruits, he wouldn''t pass up the chance to transplant the Qiuxing Fruit Tree. If relocated to his family''s orchard, it could bear fresh Spirit Fruit after sixty years. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In just over a dozen breaths'' time, a pit a zhang wide appeared in the ground, and the Qiuxing Fruit Tree was extracted roots and all, placed into a prepared storage bag. Having done all this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, then turned and left the area without a backward glance, resuming his search. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. The area of over twenty li radius had been scouted by the two, who then reconvened at the point of separation. Chapter 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_2 At this moment, Lin Shilu''s face was flushed with color, indicating a bountiful harvest. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Lin Tianming was equally excited. Seeing the expression on Lin Shilu''s face, he initiated a conversation. "Fifteenth Grandfather, how was your harvest this time?" Lin Shilu chuckled and replied, "I''ve collected eleven second-order Spiritual Medicines and dozens of first-order ones, though they''re all common and not of high value." "Moreover, I found a Qiuxing Fruit Tree that bore twelve Spirit Fruits, all ripe!" After sharing his own findings, Lin Shilu also asked about Lin Tianming''s gains. Lin Tianming grinned from ear to ear, all but his eyes was smiling. "Fifteenth Grandfather, my gains are nearly the same as yours. However, I found not one but two Xingxing Fruit Trees. Their fruits, also ripe, have all been picked by me, and I even uprooted the trees, ready to bring them back and replant them in the family lands!" Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s report, Lin Shilu was overjoyed, his face blooming with smiles. The two of them had collected three Qiuxing Fruit Trees and thirty-six ripe Qiuxing Fruits just by raiding the Qingxu Snake Territory, and they hadn''t even explored the entire snake den yet. It was unknown what other treasures they might find inside. "Ha ha... You''re ruthless, my boy, but that''s what I like about you!" Lin Shilu teased. A smile crossed Lin Tianming''s lips, yet his heart remained undisturbed. Lin Shilu said no more; instead, he regarded the changing sky and spoke. "Alright, it''s getting late. We shouldn''t linger here too long. Let''s finish scouring the Qingxu Snake Cavern, and leave before dark to return to the Temporary Cave Abode where we stayed overnight. After a night''s rest, we''ll head back to Qianchuan Market early tomorrow morning!" "Yes!" Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. "We don''t know what lies inside these caverns. It''s better if we don''t split up. We''ll check them one by one, which I believe won''t take long!" After Lin Shilu made this suggestion and saw no objection from Lin Tianming, he walked towards one of the caverns. Lin Tianming did not hesitate and immediately followed. Inside the cavern, the light was dim, but this posed no problem for the cultivators. With caution, the two progressed along the cavern that was a bit taller than a man, covering a hundred paces before reaching the end. The journey was uneventful, which relieved them. They then came upon a larger cave, akin to a vast secret chamber, with enough space to fit two large rooms. After circling inside, they found only some Qingxu Snake Scales, which seemed to have been shed by the Monster Serpents. Collecting the Monster Serpent Scales casually, they left the cave and entered another. Half an hour quickly passed, and they had explored most of the cavern without finding any valuable items, though they did collect quite a number of Qingxu Snake Scales. Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised; traditionally, the probability of finding treasures within a monster''s lair was much higher than within its territory. The Qingxu Snake Cavern was filled with scales, and not even a single first-order Spirit Grass could be found, which was wholly unexpected. Seeing the disappointment on Lin Tianming''s face, Lin Shilu reassured him: "Tian Ming, the caverns we''ve explored are smaller ones. The largest ones are yet to come, and I''m sure the treasures must be concentrated in the caverns of the second-order Qingxu Snakes!" Heartened by Lin Shilu''s words, Lin Tianming felt a little better. Facing a larger cavern, anticipation filled their expressions, and without hesitating, they entered. Likewise uneventful, their journey soon reached its end, arriving at a vast chamber. Upon seeing the cavern, which was obviously larger than the others, Lin Tianming and his companion were certain that this was the lair of a second-order Qingxu Snake. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire With a calm demeanor, Lin Tianming quickly surveyed the interior of the cavern. Under the gaze of his Eye of Five Colors, the pitch-dark cavern was as clear as daylight; no movement could escape his eyes. Along the cave, scales were plentiful, all of which were collected by the two of them. In addition to that, some incomplete bones and fragments of Spiritual Artifacts lay scattered amidst the soil. It seemed this Qingxu Snake had swallowed many cultivators, along with their Spiritual Artifacts. Over time, both bones and fragments were no longer intact, nor could the identity of the unfortunate be discerned. ``` Walking along, Lin Tianming suddenly pointed to a deep pit at the far end of the cave and shouted, "Fifteenth Grandfather, look there!" Lin Shilu followed Lin Tianming''s pointed direction and saw several oval eggs in the pit more than ten meters away, each as large as a water bucket. The two hurried over and began examining the eggs in the pit, circling the cave. "These are Qingxu Snake eggs!" Lin Shilu exclaimed with delight. Lin Tianming was also overjoyed and reached out to touch the eggs, feeling the warmth and assessing the condition inside the eggs. After three breaths had passed, he said excitedly, "Fifteenth Grandfather, these eggs are viable, they should be able to hatch!" Hearing this, Lin Shilu quickly reached out and picked up an egg to investigate. "Indeed, they hold life force!" Overjoyed, Lin Shilu then said, "These eggs must have been here for a while, and if it hadn''t been for this great battle, they would likely have hatched soon. Now that we have found them, we must quickly take them back to the clan to be incubated, and then feed them with Lifeblood Essence. This cannot be delayed!" Lin Tianming nodded, fully aware of the importance of this matter. Taming demonic beasts is not easy. Besides those with great strength forcefully bonding, and giving sufficient benefits to prevent being devoured by a Spirit Beast, there is still the possibility of being devoured if the Spirit Beast''s cultivation is too high. However, a Spirit Beast hatched from an egg with one''s Lifeblood Essence, under any circumstances, will not turn on its master. Moreover, acquiring a Spirit Beast egg is difficult. They''re either found dead, unable to hatch a Spirit Beast, or the potential of the Spirit Beast is too low, making the egg meaningless. A hatched beast that cannot significantly assist its master is a burden. Considering the strength and talent of the Qingxu Snake, though not particularly outstanding, such an opportunity is rare and cannot be sought. The two then collected all the eggs and searched the entire cave. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the vast cave had been meticulously searched by the two, and they collected numerous scales, but still no other treasures. The two left the snake cavern and quickly moved on to search another cave. An hour passed in this way, with every cave being searched thoroughly, and soon all caves had been scoured. Emerging from the caves, their faces brimmed with broad smiles. In the subsequent twenty-odd caves, they found six more serpent eggs, all with powerful life force and all likely to hatch successfully. In addition, they collected a vast number of Qingxu Snake Scales, which serve as the best food for young Qingxu Snakes. With these scales, the newly hatched snakes would not lack for food for quite some time, and it is believed that they would grow rapidly, possibly reaching the first-order late stage easily sustained on the scales. After exploring the caves, they found no other treasures of the earth but were not the least bit concerned, because the eleven serpent eggs and the huge number of scales were invaluable, almost comparable to a dozen cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining. Outside the cave, the setting sun cast its residual glow in the valley, and the sky gradually darkened. With a smile on his face and his heart pounding with excitement, Lin Shilu managed to calm himself and then said, "Tian Ming, it''s dusk now, and we should not linger here. Let''s set off immediately, return to the Temporary Cave Abode where we rested last night, spend the night, and set off for Qianchuan Market first thing in the morning to plan our next move!" "Hmm..." Lin Tianming nodded, and the two immediately leapt up and hastened toward the direction they came from. With practiced ease, they made good progress and returned to the Temporary Cave Abode before dark. Lin Shilu sat down on the floor and said to Lin Tianming, "Tian Ming, you will take the first watch tonight as before, and I will take over in the second half of the night!" Lin Tianming nodded, sat at the entrance of the abode, closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense constantly monitored the surroundings. ``` Chapter 166 Sword Drawn, Crossbows Cocked_1 A night of calm passed as the two took turns standing guard.At the break of dawn the next day, Lin Tianming and his companion left the temporary cave shelter. After a night of meditation and cultivation, Lin Shilu had completely recovered his spiritual power, and Lin Tianming was also in good shape. Although there were still some minor flesh wounds on his body that hadn''t fully healed, given his strong recovery ability, it would take no more than a couple of days for him to fully recover. Feeling the surging spiritual power and vitality within his body, those small injuries had almost no effect on his combat ability. Lin Tianming was in good spirits, and the trip had been highly rewarding, which brought a constant, satisfied smile to his handsome face. Looking back at the cave shelter they had stayed in for two nights, he then took the initiative to conceal any traces of their dwelling. After covering up the cave, Lin Shilu took out the map, they glanced at it briefly, then put it away again. The route they had taken on their way here had been almost uneventful, and they decided to continue along the same path back to Qianchuan Market. "Let''s set off!" Lin Shilu commanded. As soon as he was done speaking, Lin Shilu took the lead, striding away with leaps covering dozens of meters, and Lin Tianming quickly followed suit. The two of them swiftly passed over rocks and giant trees, soon disappearing without a trace. After half a day of travel, they had covered several hundred miles. During this time, they encountered only a few low-order demonic beasts, which they dispatched with ease and quickly moved on, but despite their rapid pace, they still hadn''t exited the most dangerous inner region. The sun blazed overhead, in a sky clear of clouds. At this moment, they found themselves in a vast swamp. The swamp was massive and endless at first glance, peppered with dirt mounds tens of meters high within its confines. The two crossed over a mound, planning to thread their way through, but they halted their steps less than a thousand meters in. In front of them, two huge and strange demon insects were baring their teeth and blocking their path. Both demon insects were about nine meters long, with dark, glossy bodies and hundreds of feet, exuding a fierce and terrifying aura. They had passed this way upon entering and hadn''t encountered these two demon insects; unexpectedly, they met them now on their way out. They thought to bypass the two demon insects, but, undiscouraged, the insects chased after them for a while, occasionally spitting out ice swords to attack them. Lin Tianming was somewhat exasperated. The gains they had made this trip were already substantial. If it were a normal encounter, he wouldn''t bother with them, but surprisingly, these two demon insects were relentless. He couldn''t understand why these two Second Order Initial Stage demon insects were trying to trouble them, as it was no different from seeking death. Seeing this, it was becoming comical that two cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level were being pursued by two Second Order Initial Stage demon insects. Lin Shilu said helplessly, "Tian Ming, these are Black Carapace Demon Insects. They like to attack cultivators. Their defensive power is extremely formidable, and they''re also very fast. But since we''ve run into them, we might as well finish them off quickly!" Lin Tianming nodded. They each took out their magic artifacts and directly charged at the two Black Carapace Demon Insects. Lin Tianming, holding the Tiangang Sword, unleashed three slashes of sword qi that ferociously attacked one of the insects. Dealing with these two insects, they were under no pressure, so Lin Tianming did not plan to use the Earth Evil Sword. "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..." Seeing the silver-white sword qi slashing towards it, the demon insect emitted a strange cry and quickly moved its hundred feet, lithely shifting dozens of meters to the side with hardly a sound and easily evading Lin Tianming''s attack. Lin Tianming was taken aback, not expecting the demon insect''s speed to be so fast. It also highlighted his own shortcomings. In previous battles, he had relied on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap his opponents, attacking them when they were bound, and even cultivators or demonic beasts stronger than him found it hard to survive long in the sword formation. But without the suppression of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the demon insect had easily dodged the attack. Missing his initial strike, Lin Tianming dropped his playful expression and got serious. With a single-handed seal, a barrage of fireballs rained down from the sky, while at the same time, he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand anew. The demon insect, equally unyielding, raised its head and spat out several ice swords, shooting straight towards Lin Tianming at an incredibly fast pace. Lin Tianming raised his hand and conjured a firewall in front of him, and in the instant the ice swords collided with the firewall, made of Five Elements Spiritual Power, they pierced through it. "Puff..." A soft sound followed, the ice swords slowed slightly, giving Lin Tianming the chance to retreat over ten meters. Where he had been standing was now blasted into a deep pit, with mud spewing out to form a small pool. Lin Tianming''s expression remained calm as he gripped the Tiangang Sword tightly and once again unleashed several slashes of sword qi. Then, as if riding the wind, he leaped tens of meters toward the demon insect. The demon insect bared its teeth and dribbled saliva on the ground, eyeing Lin Tianming''s powerful vitality with evident desire. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire As Lin Tianming approached, the demon insect squirmed all over and spat out a few more ice swords at him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In less than a moment, the sword qi and ice swords collided. Explosions rang out, sending splashes up from the swamp below. At the same time, a wave of sword qi triumphantly shattered the demon insect''s ice swords, striking the shell of the demon insect. "Clang..." A metallic clashing sound erupted, and a palm-sized crack appeared on the demon insect''s shell. Chapter 166 Tense Situation_2 The demon insect, writhing in pain, let out a piercing scream and, after settling down, glared maliciously at Lin Tianming, seemingly very wary of him.Then man and insect clashed once more, spells and Sword Qi attacking wildly. The whole swamp was filled with earth-shattering explosions. While Lin Tianming was engaged in fierce battle, atop a mountain several miles away, an elder in black was observing the faint glow of fire in the distance, revealing a bloodthirsty smile. "Heh heh... Looks like there''s some strength there; let''s sneak over and see if there''s an opportunity!" After muttering to himself, the elder leaped a hundred meters into the air and quickly disappeared into the dense forest. Swamp... Lin Tianming and the Black Armored Beetle fought for over ten rounds, both sustaining injuries. However, Lin Tianming largely maintained the upper hand, mostly pressing the demon insect in battle. Lin Tianming, getting serious, didn''t hold back any longer. He made a move, preparing to settle the battle quickly. He tossed the Tiangang Sword into the air and made a special hand seal with both hands, all the while chanting a Law Decree. "Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword, kill!" Suddenly, countless fireballs appeared in the sky, and amidst a fiery rain, a Golden Light Greatsword plunged down with extreme speed. The Black Armored Beetle, sensing the impending powerful aura, frantically wriggled its body in a vain attempt to escape the mud beneath its feet. The Black Armored Beetle was unable to evade and could only watch as the Golden Greatsword struck it squarely on the head. "Bang..." A sharp and loud explosion sounded, and the head of the Black Armored Beetle was cleaved off, falling into a puddle, causing a splash. The beetle''s body twitched a few times before becoming motionless, clearly dead beyond any doubt. Lin Tianming leapt forward, coming to the side of the demon insect to inspect it. On the other side, Lin Shilu finished his battle quicker than Lin Tianming; after all, with his Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivation, taking down a Second Order Initial Stage Black Armored Beetle was effortless. Seeing that Lin Tianming had ended his battle, Lin Shilu was very satisfied with his performance and said excitedly: "Tianming, peel off the insect''s carapace and then extract its inner core. This corpse is also a good thing; I''m sure the Purple Gold Eagle and the Soul Devouring Bead would like it. It''s perfect to let them each swallow one." Lin Tianming nodded, his face showing a delighted expression. This journey yielded not only several Qingxu Snake bodies but also this Second Order demon insect; the Purple Gold Eagle''s food supply was secured for a short while. He quickly removed the inner core of the Black Armored Beetle, then, wielding the Tiangang Sword in his hand, he skilfully removed the insect''s hard shell along with its numerous legs, leaving nothing behind. Although he could not forge high-quality Spiritual Artifacts, letting the Artifact Refining learners of the clan practice was still good. If their refining skills were adequate, it was possible to forge First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Artifacts. In less than half a quarter of an hour, the shells and limbs of the two Black Armored Beetles were removed and stored in a storage bag, which he handed over to Lin Shilu to take back to the clan. The corpses of the demon insects, on the other hand, were kept by Lin Tianming himself. After busying himself for a while, all useful parts were gathered, and the signs of battle were concealed. Lin Tianming dusted off his hands and walked over to Lin Shilu, saying: "Fifteenth Grandfather, let''s set off!" "Hmm!" Lin Shilu nodded, about to turn and leave when suddenly he seemed to sense something. "Tianming, be careful!" As he exclaimed, he pushed Lin Tianming with a palm strike, sending him flying back ten yards. He too used the recoil to retreat a dozen yards and landed in a small clearing. Just as they left their original positions, nine flying needles struck with terrifying speed, blasting nine deep holes in the ground where they had just been standing. "A complete set of Flying Needle Magical Tools?" Once stable, Lin Shilu''s expression changed. Holding a Spirit Sword, he tensely stared at a mound in front of him and said: "Fellow Daoist, since you''re already here, why hide any longer!" From behind a dirt mound hundreds of yards away, an elder in black emerged from the soil, his face full of frustration. Earlier, he heard the commotion of Lin Tianming''s battle with the Black Armored Beetle, and using his movements and cultivation, he had sneaked to this hiding spot. Upon realizing that Lin Shilu and his companion''s cultivation was weaker than his and that they had expended quite a bit of spiritual power, he harbored malicious intentions. Little did he know that Lin Shilu seemed to have been on alert all along, maintaining vigilance and causing his deadly strike to miss and fall short. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that they were at odds, hoping to leave unscathed was no longer within his control. The black-robed elder''s face remained calm as he emerged with dignity and gave Lin Shilu a cupped fist salute, saying, "Esteemed fellow Daoist, I harbored no ill intentions. It was merely an accidental slip of the hand. Since we are both unharmed, perhaps we can let bygones be bygones, what say you?" Hearing the shameless explanation from the black-robed elder, Lin Shilu''s face was full of disdain. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator like himself, how could he "accidentally slip up?" Such an explanation was far too far-fetched. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire "Humph!" Lin Shilu''s face showed a trace of anger as he glared at the black-robed elder, his mind racing with thoughts. The elder was at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, a full stage higher than him. If he were alone, he would probably not be a match for him. But with Lin Tianming here, with his divine skills, he was almost a match for a Third Level of Foundation Establishment, or even a Fourth Level Cultivator. Together, they weren''t entirely without a chance of victory. What was more important was that if it wasn''t for his early vigilance, Lin Tianming might have been gravely injured or even killed. If Lin Tianming were to fall, the family''s hope for further advancement would be shattered, and he would become the sinner of the family. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shilu said with intense anger: "A failed strike, and you propose reconciliation, do you truly take me for a clay figure?" As Lin Shilu spoke, he unconsciously began to move slowly towards Lin Tianming. Joining together, each held their weapon in hand, warily watching the black-robed elder''s every move. Although not entirely without a chance of winning, if a fight really broke out, their chances of victory were at best thirty percent, and more likely both would end up injured. Thus, they had to be cautious, ready to respond to any threat posed by the elder. Upon hearing Lin Shilu''s words, the black-robed elder let out a cold chuckle. Although he entertained thoughts of abandoning the fight, his cultivation level was such that even if he could not win, his life would not be in danger, and escaping was still an option. It was precisely this cautious, even cowardly, disposition that had allowed him to live for over a century despite having made numerous enemies, and to even cultivate to the late stages of Foundation Establishment. Seeing the elder make no rebuttal nor movement, Lin Tianming began to observe the black-robed elder with increased tension. He opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards the black-robed elder. Under Lin Tianming''s gaze, the black-robed elder''s Disguise Technique and the Spiritual Artifact that concealed his aura were rendered ineffective. Gazing at his true appearance, Lin Tianming exclaimed. "Gu Tong!" Lin Shilu stood by with a puzzled expression, but after recalling what Lin Tianming had mentioned upon returning from the Market City Hall, he quickly remembered Gu Tong''s identity. Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s exclamation, the elder''s face changed dramatically, losing the composure he had moments before. The fact that he had been able to walk the Cultivation World and commit acts that could not stand the light was due to his reliance on his Disguise Technique and Spiritual Artifact for masking his aura. Never had he imagined that the Disguise Technique he took pride in would be so easily seen through by Lin Tianming, a thought that terrified him. Considering his identity was exposed and the idea that his enemies, if informed, would definitely cause him much trouble, even endangering his life, he decided not to let the two go. "To think they have discovered me, these two cannot be spared. If they escape, the trouble will be endless!" Making up his mind, his expression turned sinister. He took out a small seal that glinted with golden light from his storage bag, ready to make his move at any moment. Seeing the elder''s reaction, Lin Tianming and his companion also braced themselves for a crisis. Lin Tianming held the Tiangang Sword tightly, ready for battle, while Lin Shilu gripped his Spirit Sword, vigilantly watching Gu Tong. Both sides thus stood in a standoff, neither daring to make a rash move. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense as if swords were drawn and bows were bent. Chapter 167 The Final Trump Card_1 After a brief standoff, Gu Tong made the first move.Facing Lin Shilu and his companion, even with a higher cultivation level, he didn''t dare to be careless. A wave of his sleeve sent the Golden Seal flying in front of him, and a spell struck it, causing it to grow to half a zhang in size instantly. "Overturning Mountain Seal, Suppress!" With a loud shout from Gu Tong, the Golden Seal soared into the sky and then slammed down towards Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu remained calm as he wielded his Spirit Sword, slashing furiously at Gu Tong, releasing several fierce Sword Qi. At the same time, he stomped his foot and retreated over ten zhang to stabilize his figure. When the Sword Qi collided with the Seal, a crackling sound erupted, and flames shot up around them. While the two of them were testing each other out, Lin Tianming also sprang into action, moving close to Lin Shilu, with the two forming a pincer attack. He did not dare to venture too far away, fearing that if Gu Tong targeted him alone, Lin Shilu wouldn''t be able to look after him. Just as Lin Shilu and Gu Tong''s initial exchange ended, and amidst the marsh, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords silently emerged from beneath the ground. "Hm?" A frown creased Gu Tong''s brow as if he had noticed something unusual about Lin Tianming, but he didn''t see him as a threat, considering Lin Tianming''s mere Foundation Establishment first stage could at most cause him a bit of trouble. Even though he wasn''t concerned, he still wasn''t going to sit back and be captured without a fight, letting himself fall into a passive position. With a single hand forming a law decree, a fireball ignited in his palm and exploded in size after being hit with the spell, surrounded by terrifying high temperatures that dried out the mud around. Looking at the terrifying fireball, he smugly slapped it out with his palm, sending it smashing towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming kept his expression calm, surprised that Gu Tong would underestimate him so greatly, thinking to finish him off with just a Five Elements Spell forged fireball. However, this might be good for him, perhaps at the crucial moment, he could deliver a fatal blow, and thus potentially turn the tide of the battle. Refocusing, as the fireball drew closer, Lin Tianming coolly sent out a Sword Qi to collide with it. The fireball burst into flames, and Gu Tong''s nonchalant attack was neutralized by Lin Tianming. Once the fire and smoke cleared, Lin Shilu and Gu Tong had already engaged in fierce combat, with Gu Tong''s Golden Seal pounding down relentlessly, seemingly determined to crush him there and then. Lin Shilu did not dare to hold back either, his Spirit Sword overflowing with Sword Qi as he fought fiercely with Gu Tong. Watching Lin Shilu being suppressed by Gu Tong, Lin Tianming became anxious and hurriedly joined the fray to assist him. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the battle reignited and his participation, the two of them didn''t suffer any disadvantages, exchanging blows with great enthusiasm. A stick of incense time passed. Gu Tong was surprised by the prolonged fight; despite being a whole level above, he wasn''t gaining much of an advantage against the two of them. Although there was only one level difference, he was at the Foundation Establishment late stage, and Lin Shilu was only at the middle stage; the gap between the sixth and seventh levels was definitely more than just two ordinary levels. In such a situation, with the assistance of Lin Tianming, the two of them managed to avoid defeat. Seeing the stalemate continue, Gu Tong appeared unwilling to waste more time. A prolonged fight might expose his identity, attracting numerous enemies all too eager to tear him to pieces. With this in mind, he resolved to take care of the problem quickly. He took out five small flags of different colors from his storage bag, each embroidered with dense runes. As soon as the flags appeared, an icy chill permeated the air, indicating they were no ordinary items. Both Lin Shilu and his companion warily watched Gu Tong''s every move, their expressions extremely solemn. Gu Tong let out a cold laugh, brimming with confidence. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire His Five Elements Flag was a rare gem even among Second Order Medium Quality magic artifacts, almost comparable to a Second Order Superior artifact. Sealing numerous cultivators and demonic beasts'' souls within had made the flags incredibly powerful, capable of trapping enemies and muddling their minds; it was with these flags that he had turned the tide in dangerous situations many times. Gu Tong threw the Five Rod Flags into the air, hitting them with a spell, and immediately, the flags shone with a mass of green light. After a moment, a strong wind began to howl in the sky, and billows of black fog sprayed out of the flags, quickly enveloping the entire sky. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the other hurriedly retreated, but the black fog surged too rapidly and soon shrouded them within. Feeling the piercing sensation from the fog, which also greatly affected their Divine Sense. Besides, it seemed as if a barrier trapped them inside; no matter how they moved, the black fog would immediately catch up, and they just couldn''t shake it off. Lin Tianming and his companion were horrified, scrambling through the fog while trying to come up with a solution. "Tian Ming, this black fog is very strange!" Lin Shilu warned. Lin Tianming nodded, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and looking at the green dots appearing within the fog, he said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, I''m afraid it''s not just affecting our Divine Sense; it can also disturb our minds. Once we''re lost in it, we''ll be like lambs to the slaughter!" Lin Shilu''s face turned incredibly grim, at a loss for what to do. Although Lin Tianming''s Divine Sense was greatly affected, his Eye of Five Colors could still clearly see the surroundings. Feeling the black fog weakening slightly, covering only a few hundred zhang around them and not expanding further, it seemed the fog could only maintain this extent. Although it could move and suppress their Divine Sense and speed, it wasn''t without flaws. Chapter 167 The Final Trump Card_2 Just then, he distinctly felt that the barrier of the black fog had some obvious weaknesses, with the area right in front of Gu Tong being notably thinner.Lin Tianming''s expression brightened as he said to Lin Shilu, "Fifteenth Grandfather, there''s temporarily no black fog near Gu Tong, and it looks weaker. We can only break through the fog as quickly as possible to stand a chance at killing him. Otherwise, if we continue to drag this out, it''ll be extremely disadvantageous for us." Hearing this, Lin Shilu replied, "Good, I''ll protect you while you break the black fog''s barricade!" With those words, Lin Shilu''s steps shifted as he positioned himself in front of Lin Tianming. He stimulated his Spirit Sword and slashed out several beams of Sword Qi, then led Lin Tianming in a charge towards Gu Tong''s position. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s Tiangang Sword had already left his hand, and he formed hand seals, casting Law Decrees upon the Tiangang Sword. The Tiangang Sword, infused with a massive amount of Spiritual Power, began to vibrate wildly, as if sensing its master''s will. Outside the black fog, Gu Tong chuckled coldly, seemingly believing that the two men were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, with no possibility of passing through the fog. He let out a strange laugh and then spat a mouthful of blood essence onto the Five Rod Flag. A chill wind swept by, accompanied by sounds of wailing and shrieking intertwined with the roars of Demonic Beasts. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire Suddenly, a multitude of Monster Beast Souls surged out from within the black fog, along with the souls of countless cultivators and ordinary people, all densely clustered into a swarm that was at least tens of thousands strong. Among them, over thirty souls bore astonishingly powerful auras, clearly having been Second Order Demonic Beasts or Foundation Establishment Cultivators when alive. Faced with so many ferocious souls rushing at them, Lin Tianming and his companion felt a wave of horror gripped their hearts. Seeing this, Lin Shilu cursed with a fragrant breath, "This evil beast, just how many cultivators has he slaughtered, not even sparing ordinary folks who couldn''t even truss a chicken!" Lin Tianming also felt sickened, unable to fathom how Gu Tong could be so heartless and maniacal. You should know that there was an unspoken rule in the Cultivation World stipulating that cultivators must not harm ordinary people. If one were to massacre ordinary people on a large scale and get caught, it would lead to a combined attack from the entire Cultivation World. In the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, there were not a few demonic cultivators exterminated each year for slaughtering ordinary people on a large scale. Yet Gu Tong had secretly mass-murdered tens of thousands of ordinary people and sealed their souls within a Magic Artifact. Such actions were nothing short of lunacy and aroused the ire of both gods and men. However, this was not something they needed to consider at the moment. The most important thing was to get out of the range of the black fog and quickly execute this man. Fully aware of this, the two made their way through the black fog, with Lin Shilu leading and clearing a safe path for Lin Tianming. Inside the black fog, Lin Shilu was the first to engage in fierce combat with a mass of lower-tier souls. He casually threw out more than a dozen talisman papers that transformed into a torrential rain of swords to meet the souls. "Wuu wuu wuu..." Mournful cries echoed as the lower-tier souls within the black fog were slashed into pieces en masse. Lin Shilu''s Spirit Sword moved swiftly, its Sword Qi colliding with several formidable souls above. Although these souls had been Second Order Demonic Beasts or Foundation Establishment Cultivators in life, their strength as souls after death was greatly reduced, most likely only displaying about ten to twenty percent of their original power. Nevertheless, there were just too many souls in the black fog, and as they rushed forward fearlessly, Lin Shilu''s Spiritual Power was rapidly drained. After a dozen or so breaths, swathes of souls perished, and they were getting closer and closer to the weaker part of the fog. By this time, Lin Shilu''s body was covered in numerous wounds, lying in his own blood, all inflicted by the tearing and biting of the souls. Gu Tong saw that most of the souls had died, with only a handful of more powerful ones remaining. The souls of the ordinary people had been wiped out by Lin Shilu. Although the lower-tier souls had weak strength, they were all ordinary folks he had kidnapped in small-scale raids. He had spent considerable effort and risked great danger to accumulate such numbers. To think that Lin Shilu had depleted the majority of them to deal with the two men, it was painful for him to accept. With this in mind, Gu Tong''s face turned red as he slapped out several Law Decrees, and the Golden Seal left his hand, plunging into the black fog. Within the black fog, just as Lin Tianming and his companion were about to reach that weaker barrier, Gu Tong''s Golden Seal descended from the sky, bearing down on Lin Shilu with a ferocious strike. "Fifteenth Grandfather, be careful!" Lin Tianming was the first to spot the golden seal descending swiftly and promptly warned. However, Lin Shilu had already been injured and was distracted by his need to protect Lin Tianming. In addition, without the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, his divine sense was greatly impaired, preventing him from detecting the danger in time. Despite Lin Tianming''s warning, the golden seal''s speed was simply too fast; Lin Shilu hadn''t even had a chance to react before it was already upon him. Seeing this, Lin Shilu''s face changed drastically, but he quickly calmed down. With a resolute expression, he forcefully slapped Lin Tianming''s back, pushing him towards the weaker part of the black fog. As he saw Lin Tianming reach the position, a flash of red light flickered around him, and a blood-colored jade pendant transformed into a red light that shielded him in the front. A loud bang ensued, the light from the jade pendant shattered, and the golden seal struck him. After a pitiable scream, Lin Shilu spat out mouthfuls of blood and, like a kite with a broken string, was flung away, soon hitting the ground motionless. "Fifteenth Grandfather!" Seeing Lin Shilu hit by the golden seal, his life or death unknown, Lin Tianming shouted with eyes bloodshot. At this moment, Lin Tianming was incredibly furious. He didn''t have time to check on Lin Shilu''s condition; he only had to shatter the black fog''s barrier, or they would both certainly die there. Lin Shilu had pushed him away in the critical moment just to create an opportunity for him to break through the black fog''s barrier. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this purpose, he had disregarded his own life and death; for this moment, Lin Tianming could not forsake this sole chance. He turned his head, his blood-shot eyes emitting a terrifying murderous aura. He began forming hand seals, and with a mouthful of blood on the Tiangang Sword, it started to vibrate madly while emitting a series of sword cries. "Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword..." The Tiangang Sword released a beam of light that pierced through the sky, ruthlessly striking the weakest part of the black fog barricade. "Pff..." A massive sound echoed as the black fog disappeared without a trace. The black fog dissipated, and the five rod flag in front of Gu Tong fell to the ground, his complexion changing. The black fog that had never been broken was now shattered by Lin Tianming, whom he hadn''t taken seriously. Gu Tong had no time to contemplate as, before him, Lin Tianming''s body erupted with a fearsome murderous intent. Just as the black fog cleared, Lin Tianming formed hand seals, making a strange gesture while chanting an unusual incantation. At that moment, suddenly, a dazzling silver light filled the sky, as blinding as if the sun were right before his eyes. Simultaneously, a terrifyingly powerful sword qi took shape above his head, devouring the surrounding spiritual energy. This sword qi was the Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art. Lin Tianming had been condensing it for a long time, having nurtured it within his Qi Sea Dantian for several years. With Lin Shilu''s life hanging by a thread, and Lin Tianming unable to match Gu Tong using his usual methods, at this moment, to save his own life, he could not worry about anything else. This strongest trump card was now his last hope in such a dire situation. Sensing the monumental sword qi, several times more potent than Lin Shilu''s attacks, it was hard to imagine that it had been launched by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. At this instant, Gu Tong''s face turned ashen. Without any hesitation, he immediately fled in a panic. Lin Tianming''s face flushed red, his eyes filled with murderous intent, he pointed in the direction Gu Tong was escaping and bellowed: "Great Sun Sword Qi Art, kill!" Before the words even faded, the fearsome sword qi streaked across the sky at extreme speed, slashing towards Gu Tong. "Aaargh..." An utterly miserable cry sounded as the sword qi vanished and the sky returned to normal. In a mound a thousand feet ahead of him, Gu Tong''s severed limbs were scattered aside, evidently dead beyond any doubt. Chapter 168 Return to the Market Town_1 Upon witnessing Gu Tong''s definitive demise, Lin Tianming immediately turned and rushed toward Lin Shilu.At that moment, Lin Shilu was covered in blood, his body riddled with wounds, his aura utterly wilted, and a bloody hole directly caved into his chest, where stark white bones could be clearly seen. He knelt beside Lin Shilu, calling out anxiously as he checked on him. After a little over ten breaths'' time, a bit of color finally returned to Lin Tianming''s pale face. Based on his assessment, the situation, although not terrible, was not cause for optimism either. Since the Blood-colored Jade Pendant blocked the majority of the Golden Seal''s potency, Lin Shilu was not killed on the spot, but he had still sustained serious injuries. At present, his body had numerous wounds and he had lost too much blood, yet for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, these injuries were not fatal. What was critical was that the remaining force of the Golden Seal, having penetrated the protection of the Jade Pendant, struck his chest with solid impact, severely damaging his internal organs and severing many of his meridians. It would take some time to fully recover from these injuries, and without at least half a year''s care, it would be difficult for him to return to his peak condition. With Gu Tong dead and Lin Shilu still alive, Lin Tianming finally let out a long sigh of relief. The situation had been dire at the time, with Lin Shilu risking his life to create an opportunity for him, fortunately aided by the Eye of Five Colors, which revealed the weak point in the Black Fog Barricade. More importantly, it was the Sword Qi he had condensed for several years that erupted with staggering potency, ultimately slaying Gu Tong. The power of the Spirit Art exceeded his expectations; prior to this, he had only seen Lin Shikang use it once, and the Sword Qi he had cultivated for two years outright killed a Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake. As for himself, after carefully nurturing it for several years, the unleashed power far exceeded his expectations, striking down Gu Tong in one blow, leaving him somewhat incredulous. Gu Tong was also too foolish, panic-stricken by the power of the Spirit Art, even attempting to flee. If he had shown some courage and relied on some Defense Treasures or talisman paper, with his cultivation base to support him, he might have sustained serious injuries at most, and wouldn''t have met such a tragic death. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortuitously relying on the Spirit Art to survive the ordeal, joy washed over him, but then Lin Tianming''s face turned pale. After two consecutive battles, although he wasn''t much injured, his Spiritual Power had been depleted, and they were still not out of danger; he needed to quickly recover his Spiritual Power to face potential threats. He fed a healing elixir to Lin Shilu and also swallowed a Huiyuan Pill himself, immediately sitting down to meditate and restore his energy. After half an hour, Lin Tianming had regained about twenty to thirty percent of his Spiritual Power, barely enough to defend himself. He got up and went over to where Gu Tong had died, pocketing his storage bag and collecting the Five Rod Flag and Golden Seal. He clasped the Five Rod Flag in one hand and started examining the Golden Seal with the other. Although the Five Rod Flag was an evil Magic Artifact, its power was indeed formidable, with the emitted black fog being extremely elusive and easy to fall for if one was not cautious. However, after Lin Shilu''s slaughter, almost all the Monster Beast Souls within were depleted, greatly reducing its power. If he could capture a large number of Monster Beast Souls to seal inside, it might restore its potency and become an artifact for orthodox use. The Golden Seal was also a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, equally potent, suitable for both offense and defense, a comprehensive tool indeed. After clearing the battlefield and erasing any traces of the fight, seeing Gu Tong''s remains, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but reflect on the past events. When he saw the bounty issued by the Meng Family at the Market City Hall, this man had been at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm several years ago; unexpectedly, in just a few years, he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, possessing many formidable methods and an array of precious treasures. No wonder he managed to live well despite having made so many enemies. This magical duel had truly been fraught with peril; Gu Tong''s methods were endlessly surprising, and with his cultivation surpassing Lin Shilu, if it weren''t for the might of the Spirit Art and Gu Tong''s cowardice and foolishness, they would have undoubtedly perished here. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a surge of alarm and silently counted his lucky stars. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming released a fireball that burned Gu Tong''s remains to ash. After completing these tasks, he pondered their next move. They were still in the swamp, inside the Qianchuan Mountain Range''s inner region, the territory of the Black Armored Beetle. Given the current situation, there was no time for searching; Lin Shilu needed a safe place to recover from his injuries. The danger had not yet passed, but they were close to the outer region. If they pushed themselves, they might be able to leave this perilous area before dark and then rest at the edge of the outer region. Having made up his mind, he lifted Lin Shilu and, after consulting the map, immediately set off toward the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Lin Tianming pushed hard all the way, and, fortunately, he encountered little trouble, barely running into any Second Order Demonic Beasts, and easily shook off any First Order Demon Beasts he did meet. Without any hesitation, Lin Tianming finally reached the edge of the outer region just before nightfall. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire He found a secluded valley, hurriedly created a simple cave dwelling in a rock wall, and the two of them quickly entered. Lin Shilu was still unconscious, but he had been given a Consolidating Essence Pill, his wounds had begun to scab over, and his condition slowly stabilized, leaving nothing else but to patiently wait for his natural awakening. After making sure he was settled, Lin Tianming sealed the entrance to the cave dwelling and sat down on the ground to cultivate through meditation. Chapter 168 Return to the Town Market_2 Time flitted by, and five days had passed...In the stillness of the cave dwelling, a cough echoed. Hearing the sound, Lin Tianming was overwhelmed with joy. He quickly ended his cultivation and hurried towards Lin Shilu. At this moment, Lin Shilu had woken up. He tried to sit up unsteadily, but his injuries were too severe, making it a struggle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming hastily helped him sit up properly, and then with a choked voice, he said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, I''ve been so worried these past days. You were gravely injured but thankfully, you''re finally awake!" Lin Shilu patted Lin Tianming''s shoulder, his face carrying a trace of a warm smile. "Child, do not worry. I''m not dying yet. We are both still alive!" Looking at Lin Shilu''s heartwarming smile, Lin Tianming felt a twinge in his heart and his eyes moistened with tears. In the midst of the battle, his elder was constantly looking out for him, creating opportunities for him even at the brink of life and death, disregarding his own safety. It wasn''t just him. Back in the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Shiji had also risked his life for the younger generation of the Lin Family. There were numerous such examples. Lin Shilu had fought alongside him many times, always selflessly sacrificing for him, treasuring his life more than his own. Considering this deep affection, Lin Tianming was greatly moved. It was only because the Lin Family valued loyalty and sacrifice that he could understand this sentiment. At that moment, he had an insatiable desire for strength, wishing he could protect his family and carry on this spirit. Lin Tianming''s determination was resolute, his demeanor radiating a special aura. While he was lost in thought, Lin Shilu began inquiring about what happened during his unconsciousness, and Lin Tianming recounted the whole process without any reservation. After listening to Lin Tianming''s explanation, Lin Shilu was overjoyed. He then sucked in a breath of cold air, also filled with anticipation for the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Lin Tianming had obtained the Great Sun Sword Qi Art several years ago. All the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family had studied it, but the time it took them to condense the Sword Qi varied. Lin Shilu had only managed to condense Sword Qi for just over a year; its power was limited, so he did not use it in battle. "Tianming, you''ve done very well. You are truly the prodigy of our family!" Lin Shilu said, his face beaming with pride and relief. Lin Tianming chuckled and then asked, "Fifteenth Grandfather, what are our next steps? Do we wait for your injuries to heal before returning to the market town, or do we depart right away?" Lin Shilu raised his eyebrows slightly, his face a bit pale. He waved his hand and said, "My injuries won''t heal quickly, and it''s not advisable for me to travel in this state. How about we recuperate here for a few days? You can also take this time to consume a Qiuxing Fruit for cultivation. What do you think of this arrangement?" "Good, I will follow your esteemed guidance!" Lin Tianming nodded his approval of Lin Shilu''s plan. They were already away from the inner parts of the mountain range and the likelihood of encountering Second Order Demonic Beasts was not high. With his own cultivation, he could manage. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming sat down and began cultivating, operating his Cultivation Technique. Lin Shilu took out an elixir and swallowed it, closing his eyes to meditate and recover from his injuries. An hour later, Lin Tianming had adjusted himself to the best state. He then took out a Qiuxing Fruit and swallowed it whole. Upon consuming the Spirit Fruit, a gentle energy quickly spread, coursing through his meridians, bringing about an almost heavenly tingling sensation that nearly made him groan aloud. The energy of the Qiuxing Fruit was vastly different from that of the Lingshen Pill. Every time he took even a First Order Lingshen Pill, it caused him unbearable pain. Feeling this unique energy, he focused fully on his Cultivation Technique to assimilate it, channeling the gentle Spiritual Power into his Seven Sea Dantian. With the help of the Qiuxing Fruit, just an hour of cultivation allowed him to refine enough Spiritual Power to match half a month of hard training. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming was overjoyed. Since the beginning of his Foundation Establishment, he had never used proper elixirs for cultivation, nor had he exploited any gifted treasures. As the parched Seven Sea Dantian encountered the Spirit Fruit''s energy, it greedily absorbed the gentle Spiritual Power. Inside the cave dwelling, the breathing of the two was steady as they cultivated and healed. Time slowly passed, and another ten days went by. One morning, Lin Shilu was the first to open his eyes, his pale cheeks showing more color. At this time, the flesh wounds on his body had all healed, and most of the meridians within had recovered. Avoiding battle was enough; normal activities posed no problem. Lin Tianming also opened his eyes then, his face brimming with smiles. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire After ten days of cultivation, the powerful energy contained in the Qiuxing Fruit was fully refined. Now he felt full of power, his mental state reaching an unprecedented peak. Just one Qiuxing Fruit had allowed his cultivation to advance a small step, almost reaching the peak of the First Layer. With a few more, he might take this opportunity to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied. Seeing that Lin Shilu had finished his cultivation, he quickly asked how he had recovered. Responding to Lin Tianming''s concerned words, Lin Shilu said, "Tianming, my injuries have stabilized. As long as I avoid fighting, there will be no issue, and we can set off. Tianfeng and the others must be worrying by now!" "Indeed, we''ve been away for over twenty days, which is ten days more than expected. It''s time to leave!" Lin Tianming agreed with a word, then started tidying up the cave dwelling. After that, the two of them walked out together and concealed the entrance of the cave once more. Chapter 168 Return to the Town Market_3 After doing this, the two immediately set out, swiftly heading in the direction of Qianchuan Market.Considering Lin Shilu''s injuries, the two did not travel fast, taking two days to leave the more dangerous area. Lin Tianming checked the map and ensured that their location was safe, he then released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. After feeding it two sections of late-stage Qingxu Serpent Meat, the two jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which then soared into the sky, heading towards Qianchuan Market. ... At Qianchuan Market, in a secret room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingli, along with a few others, were seated, all looking somewhat anxious. Lin Tianfeng stood up and looked out the window, speaking apprehensively, "Uncles, before Fifteenth Grandfather and Tianming left, they said that this trip would take at most ten to fifteen days, yet it''s been almost a month now and they still haven''t returned. What shall we do?" Lin Xingsu and the others also showed nervous expressions but were at a loss for what to do. After all, with their cultivation, they could only move around the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. To enter and search for the two would be like finding a needle in a haystack, truly a hopeless endeavor. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire Seeing the low morale of the clan members, Lin Xingli spoke to comfort them, "Everyone, Fifteenth Uncle and Tianming are not weak in cultivation. Together, they could even handle a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. It''s just over ten days; perhaps they are delayed by some unexpected treasure!" On hearing this, the others finally heaved a sigh of relief. It was indeed very possible; an adventure in the Qianchuan Mountain Range could lead to unexpected delays due to treasures and opportunities. Seeing everyone relax a little, Lin Xingli continued, "Let''s all return to our cultivation. In another half-month, if they still haven''t returned, we''ll either request Elder Ye to search for them or go back to the clan for help!" "That''s all we can do!" Lin Tianfeng replied. The rest nodded their heads in agreement, ready to take their leave, when the ward at the door flickered, and Lin Tianming''s figure appeared. After a dusty and swift journey, with the help of the Purple Gold Eagle, their speed increased substantially. It only took them two days to return to Tianchuan Market. Seeing Lin Tianming return, everyone was overjoyed and hurried to greet him. After returning the greetings with a fist salute, Lin Tianming said, "Fellow clansmen, Fifteenth Grandfather was severely injured during the trip and has already returned to his cave dwelling to close up and recover!" "What?" "How is the elder''s condition? Is it serious?" Hearing Tianming''s statement, the clan members asked anxiously. "Everyone, there is no need to worry too much. Although Fifteenth Grandfather is quite injured, his condition has stabilized. With a few months of quiet cultivation, he should be able to recover to his peak." Relieved by Lin Tianming''s explanation, everyone sighed in relief. Each Foundation Establishment clan member was too important to the clan, especially someone like Lin Shilu, who with high seniority was the clan''s only Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner. With his talent and cultivation, aside from Lin Tianming, he was the clansman most likely to advance to the Golden Core Realm. Once the others regained their composure, Lin Tianming revealed part of what had transpired on their journey but did not mention Gu Tong. After all, that man was too evil and had attracted many enemies; who knew what kind of grudges and grievances he had. Besides, killing a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator would certainly cause a sensation; for the safety of the clan, it was wiser not to bring this up. After hearing Lin Tianming''s account, everyone was shocked. The two had actually wiped out a Qingxu Snake Clan, an achievement beyond imagination. And upon learning they acquired several Qingxu Snake Eggs and some Qiuxing Fruit Trees, the clan members were over the moon with excitement, following which they became incredibly joyful. Seeing everyone''s happy expressions, Lin Tianming instructed, "Fellow clansmen, Fifteenth Grandfather has ordered that nothing about this journey is to be revealed to outsiders, not a single word, otherwise clan law will be enforced!" "Yes!" The clan members nodded in response, then chatted casually. After half an hour had passed, everyone dispersed, and Lin Tianming led a few people back to the cave dwelling to cultivate. Chapter 169 Dividing the Spoils_1 Back to his cave abode, Lin Tianming set aside all minor matters and started taking Qiuxing Fruit, wholeheartedly beginning his closed-door cultivation.Time flew by, and a month had passed. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out a bright light. "Exhilarating..." Feeling the strength in his body increase yet again, his heart surged with excitement, full of praise for the effect of the Qiuxing Fruit. Before this, he had been consolidating for almost two years, with extremely slow progress in his cultivation. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a month of closed-door cultivation, he had refined two more Qiuxing Fruits, and the effects of cultivating with Qiuxing Fruit were surprisingly good, whether it was because he had consolidated for too long, or the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage was naturally not difficult to cultivate in. At this moment, he was getting closer and closer to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. If he were to cultivate in closed-door isolation for a long period and consume a large number of Qiuxing Fruits, he was confident he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. However, now was not the time for long-term closed-door cultivation. Today, Lin Shilu made a brief exit from his own cultivation retreat and specifically convened him to discuss sect affairs. He stood up and left the secret chamber, appearing in the small courtyard. Lin Shilu was already sitting in the courtyard waiting; he stepped forward and respectfully bowed, then the two of them took their seats. Over the month, Lin Shilu''s complexion had improved a lot, seemingly well on the way to recovery. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shilu began speaking: "My injuries have healed considerably, and now there are two important matters to address!" Finished speaking, Lin Shilu took out a dark green storage bag, which belonged to Gu Tong, and casually tossed the storage bag to Lin Tianming, motioning him to do an inventory of the items within. Lin Tianming received the storage bag, wiping away the remaining Divine Sense on it. He then extended his own Divine Sense to check the items inside. He hadn''t thought it important, but upon examination, he couldn''t help but take in a sharp breath¡ªthey were so numerous that it was staggering to comprehend what Gu Tong must have done to accumulate such wealth. Seeing the color rise to his cheeks, Lin Shilu quickly pressed him with questions. Without beating around the bush, Lin Tianming upended the storage bag and poured out its most important contents. In no time at all, a multitude of treasures¡ªSpirit Stones, elixirs, Spiritual Medicine materials, and Artifact Refining materials¡ªwere spread out before them. "What on earth did Gu Tong do, to have such an overwhelming collection of treasures on him?" Lin Shilu exclaimed with an agitated tone. As Lin Tianming looked over the vast treasure, he began to tally them up, while Lin Shilu sat beside him taking notes. "Thirty-one thousand two hundred and a bit Spirit Stones, one hundred and fifty bottles of First Order Elixir, thirty bottles of Second Order Pills." Lin Tianming recited the quantity and type of the treasures, while Lin Shilu recorded them on a piece of Beast Skin. "A combined total of several hundred First and Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, three pieces of Third Order Spirit Medicine Material, four Second Order Magical Artifacts, sixteen First Order Spiritual Tools..." After half an hour, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had finally finished taking the inventory of Gu Tong''s storage bag. Looking at the quantity and types noted on the Beast Skin, they took another sharp breath. There were simply too many treasures, with an estimated value of at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Included among the more valuable items were Third Order Spiritual Medicine, Second Order Magical Artifacts, various amounts of elixirs, as well as seven corpses of Demonic Beasts at the Second Order Initial Stage, and two bodies of Demonic Beasts at the Second Order Middle Stage, well-preserved enough for Artifact Refining and Talisman Making. After inspecting the basic treasures, Lin Tianming and his companion turned their attention to the remaining three Jade Slips and one grey-brown Token. "What is this?" Lin Shilu picked up the Token, a puzzled expression on his face, before something seemed to dawn on him. "Tianming, doesn''t this Token look similar to the Mysterious Moon Order you acquired several years ago?" Lin Shilu inquired. Reminded by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming took the Token and then opened his Eye of Five Colors to inspect it. Looking at the familiar text inside the Token and the lifelike Spirit Beast patterns on its surface, Lin Tianming retrieved the first Token he had acquired and compared them side by side. After comparison, he was certain it was indeed the Mysterious Moon Order he had obtained previously. Fiddling with the two Orders, Lin Tianming said with a sense of frustration: "Fifteenth Grandfather, it is indeed the Mysterious Moon Order, but the specific use of this Token is still unknown." Hearing this, Lin Shilu started to reassure him. "In the Cultivation World, many Secret Realms require either Bloodline Power or a Token to enter. Given how extraordinary this Mysterious Moon Order is, it must be one such item. Although we are not clear on which Secret Realm the Token belongs to, nor do we know the timing and requirements to activate it, it is undeniable that this item is invaluable. You must take good care of it." "Besides, since Gu Tong died at our hands and we gained this Mysterious Moon Order, remember that this matter must not be disclosed. Forget the bounty offered by the Meng Family; you only need to inform Elder Wu and the others, so they are aware of the situation!" Understanding the gravity of the situation, Lin Tianming nodded and then pondered over Lin Shilu''s elucidation of the Mysterious Moon Order. In the Cultivation World, Secret Realms were exceedingly rare, existing within special spaces. It was said that within them lay treasures of the world, but also filled with immense dangers. Those who could enter and emerge alive often brought back precious items, catapulting their status skyward. However, Secret Realms were not easy to enter. Many imposed restrictions on the cultivation level of the entrants. Some Realms'' spaces were unstable and could only withstand a certain number of Qi Refining Cultivators, while others were extremely robust and could even permit Divinity Transformation Stage old monsters to enter. The timing and location of a Secret Realm''s opening were unfathomable, with some being suppressed by powerful factions through Formations, fixing their locations for thousands or even tens of thousands of years without moving. Meanwhile, ownerless Secret Realms would shift their locations after every opening, retrieving the Tokens that allowed entry and subsequently scattering them anew along the moving path of the Realm. Chapter 169 Dividing the Spoils_2 In summary, the probability of encountering a Secret Realm greatly increases in the vicinity of where a Token is found, and no one who has obtained a Mysterious Realm Token is willing to forfeit such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.Having obtained the Mysterious Moon Order within the borders of the Wei Kingdom, it was very likely that a Secret Realm would open nearby. They only needed to discretely gather information, closely monitor the situation, and wait for the Secret Realm to manifest. Lin Tianming gathered his thoughts, tucked the two Tokens away, and patted his chest to assure they would be carefully guarded. After Lin Shilu gave a few instructions, the matter of the Tokens was temporarily concluded. Examining the remaining three jade slips, each of them picked up one to peruse. A tea time passed, and after going through the three jade slips, they finished tallying everything. Among these jade slips, one contained a fire attribute Yellow Grade Technique called "Tian Li Fire Scripture," known for its formidable attack power and considered a fine piece among Yellow Grade Techniques¡ªpresumably the one practiced by Gu Tong. The other two jade slips, however, were ordinary: one was the insights of a Second Order Artifact Refiner. The other was the insights of a Second Order Inscription Master; the quality was limited but still had worthwhile aspects. It could only be taken back to the clan for the members to study, which would enhance their cultivation techniques to some extent. Lin Shilu took the Artifact Refiner''s insights and glanced over it before putting it into his storage bag, clearly planning to delve into it. After all, he was a Refinement Maniac. Even though the Refiner who left these insights might not be at his level, there was still potential learning to be had that could be helpful. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming retrieved from his storage bag the Magic Artifacts used by Gu Tong: the Five Rod Flag and a Golden Seal named the Overturning Mountain Seal. He lined up the two Magic Artifacts in front of him. All the treasures obtained from Gu Tong were now collected in front of the two of them. Gazing at the six different kinds of Magic Artifacts, Lin Shilu''s expression was one of great excitement, and Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. The Lin Family had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators. During the family battle on Luoyun Mountain, several newly advanced Foundation Establishment members of the clan had only First Order Spiritual Tools to confront their enemies. It was after the annihilation of the Jin Family that they acquired several Magic Artifacts, allowing every Foundation Establishment member to wield a Magic Artifact. Now, acquiring six more Magic Artifacts, with the Five Rod Flag and Overturning Mountain Seal both being Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifacts, and a set of nine flying needles that formed a complete Spiritual Tool, the craftsmanship was quite impressive. They were fine artifacts even among those of the same caliber. The remaining three Magic Artifacts consisted of two Spirit Swords and a Spiritual Whip over ten yards long, all of which were First Order Inferior Magic Artifacts with average quality, but they were still much better than First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the numerous Spiritual Tools and Magical Treasures, Lin Shilu pondered before saying: "Tian Ming, let''s each select two pieces among these Magic Artifacts. As for the Spirit Stones, we''ll each take ten thousand. How about we submit all the remaining treasures to the clan?" Hearing Lin Shilu''s proposal, Lin Tianming did not hesitate a moment before gladly agreeing. Although these spoils of war were obtained through their joint efforts and rightfully belonged to them¡ªmoreover, the clan had no rules forcing members to hand over their treasures¡ªthe Lin Family had been established for over eight hundred years, and the members traditionally volunteered their contributions, with only the amount varying. As Lin Shilu was the main contributor to their gains on this mission and had suffered severe injuries as a result, he showed no concern for the vast amount of treasures. Lin Tianming felt even less entitled to care. In terms of power, even if Lin Shilu hadn''t mentioned such an arrangement, Lin Tianming was planning to submit most of his share of the loot. However, he also had to consider his own needs, especially since the effects of the Qiuxing Fruits were excellent and he desperately needed them to sustain his cultivation until he found a solution to the elixir issue. With this in mind, Lin Tianming hesitated. Seeing his manner of holding back, Lin Shilu had already guessed what was on his mind. "The Qiuxing Fruits are highly beneficial to you, I''m well aware of that. There are thirty-six in total; take out ten as a share for your Third Brother and the others, and keep the rest for your own cultivation!" said Lin Shilu. "Thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather!" Lin Tianming removed ten Qiuxing Fruits, placing them amongst the many treasures, then sincerely bowed to him. Lin Shilu nodded, then motioned for him to select a Spiritual Tool. Lin Tianming wasn''t too sentimental. He looked at the six magic artifacts on the field and hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to choose. He had experienced the bizarre attacks of the Five Rod Flag, and the soul attacks within it were also very powerful. However, they had been largely destroyed by Lin Shilu, causing their power to greatly diminish. After some thought, Lin Tianming still decided to choose the Five Rod Flag, mainly because the prospects of this artifact were very good. As long as he kept adding souls to it, its power could be quickly enhanced. Besides, this artifact could complement his Earth Fiend Sword Formation. With both at his command, enemies simply couldn''t react in time. Moreover, he had plenty of Qingxu Snake souls and Black Armored Beetle souls in his possession. If he sealed them all into the flag, its power would surely be no less than during Gu Tong''s period. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming collected the Five Rod Flag and then glanced at the Golden Seal before looking at the nine silver-white needles. In the end, he chose the nine silver-white needles. The reason was simple, if he took the two best artifacts for himself, it would be rather unseemly. Furthermore, he already had plenty of magic artifacts, and acquiring the Overturning Mountain Seal wouldn''t significantly increase his strength. Since his father still lacked a suitable artifact and it was quite dangerous for him to be alone, he planned to take the nine matching needle artifacts as a gift for him. That way, his father''s safety in defending Golden Horn Mountain would be assured. With this in mind, he immediately collected the nine needles and then waited for Lin Shilu to pick his artifact. Lin Shilu didn''t hesitate and directly put the Overturning Mountain Seal and the Spirit Sword artifact into his storage bag. With the distribution of artifacts complete, Lin Shilu waved one hand and grabbed twenty thousand spirit stones, taking ten thousand from them to give to Lin Tianming. Having done all this, he waved his hand again, pulling out several jade bottles from his storage bag, which contained souls he had collected. However, they were mostly from First Order demon beasts, with only two from the Second Order. Lin Tianming received the items, feeling incredibly moved. Whatever was on his mind, Lin Shilu seemed to understand clearly, always giving him what he needed without any hesitation. Lin Shilu chuckled and gave him a comforting look before speaking, "All these things have been distributed now. Leave the First Order elixirs in Luoyun Pavilion and send the elixirs you''ve refined back to the family for our people to use. Sell the inferior ones in the market square!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and put all the treasures into a storage bag. After finishing this, Lin Tianming took the initiative to say, "Fifteenth Grandfather, your injuries aren''t fully healed yet, and the Qingxu Snake eggs cannot be delayed. Tianming wishes to leave the market square in half a month to return to the family land, deliver the items we''ve obtained this time, and bring back a batch of spiritual objects to replenish Luoyun Pavilion''s stock." Hearing Lin Tianming''s offer to volunteer, Lin Shilu hesitated for a moment. He was concerned about letting Lin Tianming leave the market square alone to return to Green Bamboo Mountain, but under current circumstances, a trip back to the family land was indeed necessary. Since he was injured and unable to exert even a third of his strength and could not recover to his peak in a short time, it was not appropriate for him to travel. After pondering for a good while and considering that Lin Tianming''s strength was not much less than his, Lin Shilu sighed deeply. "So be it!" "You should cultivate in seclusion these next few days to properly re-refine your artifacts and adjust your condition, then you can set out!" After saying this, he spoke earnestly and instructed, "I''ll arrange for Xing Li to prepare the family''s elixirs and spirit stones at Luoyun Pavilion. Remember to be careful on this trip; don''t delay too much on the road. When you return, have your Third Uncle bring Xing Ping to the market square as well. With him accompanying you, it will be a bit safer." Lin Tianming''s expression was solemn, and he bowed respectfully to Lin Shilu, then pledged confidently, "Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, Tianming will not disappoint and will return to see you as soon as possible!" "Hmm... go and cultivate!" Lin Tianming nodded, then bowed with a fist, stood up, and walked towards his training room. Chapter 170 Thousand Beast Banner_1 Back in the practice room, Lin Tianming sat on the ground, took out the Five Rod Flag and the Nine Silver Needles, and carefully observed them in his hands.After the battle in the swamp, most of the souls within the Five Rod Flag had been lost, with only a few Monster Beast Souls remaining, which was not a large number, causing the power of the flag to decrease significantly. However, this was also good, for if he used it after sacrificial refining, he wouldn''t be mistaken for an evil cultivator, otherwise, he would attract some troubling attention. He then looked at the nine silver-white needles, which also formed a set of magic artifacts. Each silver needle was one foot long, its surface carried a bone-chilling coldness, and was also highly poisonous. This set of silver needle magic artifacts was exquisitely crafted; its main material must have been the tail stinger of a Myriad Poison Bee at the Second Order Middle Stage or higher. The intense poison, coupled with the unique properties of the sting, made the power of the silver needle set extremely formidable, and when used properly, they were not much less effective than a Second Order Medium Quality magic artifact. "Gu Tong was also a ruthless and fierce man, involving himself in many sly deeds, obtaining so many treasures and magic artifacts. He met his end due to his greed, and in the end, it all fell into our laps; fate truly plays with people," Lin Tianming muttered to himself. Regaining his composure, there was no time to spare; he needed to quickly complete the sacrificial refining of the Five Rod Flag, and would personally deliver the Nine Silver Needles to his father once he passed by Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming smiled knowingly, wasting no more time, and began to operate his Cultivation Technique, preparing to sacrificially refine the Five Rod Flag. He circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and once his state reached its peak, he first erased the residual Divine Sense left on the Five Rod Flag. After doing these things, he threw the Five Rod Flag into the air, then formed a spell with one hand and continuously cast spells onto the flag. "Crackle pop." A few light crackling sounds were heard, and the Five Rod Flag immediately began to rotate around him. Lin Tianming opened his mouth and spat out a few mouthfuls of essence blood, which quickly merged into the flag, and then into the core of the magic artifact. His Divine Sense flared, as he inscribed his own Consciousness Imprint on the core of the Five Rod Flag. As long as he completed this step, the refining would be done. The Five Rod Flag seemed somewhat resistant, also violently vibrating as if trying to escape his control. Lin Tianming''s nerves were tense, his hands frequently slamming spells onto the flag. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire Time slowly passed, and five days swiftly went by. In the practice room, the vibration of the Five Rod Flag stopped, and it joyously revolved non-stop around him. At this moment, the flag''s surface was bright and lustrous, far more vibrant than when it was unclaimed, clearly indicating that the refining was complete. Lin Tianming waved his hand and held the Five Rod Flag in his grasp, showing a loving, reluctant-to-part smile. After spending days refining it, there was still the need to seal Monster Beast Souls within it; only after completing this step would the flag''s power be restored, and it would be able to assist him during magical duels. Without delay, Lin Tianming immediately set out to do just this. He took out nearly a hundred Jade Bottles, each containing the soul of a Demonic Beast. Nearly half of these were the souls of Qingxu Snakes, the rest were those he had collected over the years, and some given by Lin Shilu. Among these Monster Beast Souls, ten were of the Second Order, stronger but not less potent than what Gu Tong possessed. If all were sealed, their power would certainly be formidable. Lin Tianming thought to himself, his hands moving non-stop, releasing the souls from the Jade Bottles. The shadows of the Monster Beast Souls emerging from the Jade Bottles immediately lunged at him with bared fangs and claws, appearing extremely fierce. "Hmph, already dead and still daring to rebel," he snorted. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming reached out with one hand, drawing in the struggling Monster Beast Souls into his grasp, condensing them into a sphere of light. He cast several spells with one hand, then projected the light sphere into the flag¡ªsoon, the light sphere vanished without a trace. At the same time, his fingers flicked continuously, casting spells onto the flag, inscribing special sealing runes. When a small cluster of dense golden runes were etched on the surface of the flag, the Five Rod Flag vibrated joyously, as if they were famished chicks, obviously very eager to devour the Monster Beast Souls. Lin Tianming was very pleased; he continued to release the Monster Beast Souls, following a proficient process to seal the souls within the flag. Five days later, in the secret chamber. Lin Tianming held the Five Rod Flag, his face filled with excitement. He had spent several more days sealing nearly a hundred Monster Beast Souls within the flag. The Five Rod Flag was now brightly colored, its surface covered with dense, refined golden runes, looking quite delicate, and even its aura had changed a lot. Before, the Five Rod Flag''s surface was dark, as if it belonged to something evil, but now its surface shimmered with golden light, incomparable to its previous state. Lin Tianming was very satisfied and was almost eager to test its power, but since he was in the market, he had to suppress this thought for now. With the Five Rod Flag refined, he prepared to leave his retreat and hurry back to Green Bamboo Mountain as soon as possible. However, the Five Rod Flag had been without a name, and now that he would be using it, it naturally needed a name; after all, he would be using it for a long time to come. Once he made up his mind, he began to ponder. During the family battle, the magical treasure Zhuang Zhenxin used was the Green Jiao Flag, which had a mysterious similarity in function and attack methods to these five flags; they were both sets of magical artifacts with exceptionally potent power. After much thought, considering the flag came from the Qianchuan Mountain Range, Lin Tianming suddenly had an idea. "Let''s call it the Thousand Beast Banner; it''s quite fitting considering there are a large number of Monster Beast Souls sealed inside," Lin Tianming murmured to himself, deciding on the name Thousand Beast Banner. Chapter 170 Thousand Beast Banner_2 Explore stories at My Virtual Library EmpireHe was quite satisfied with the name, though now the number of soul banners was not many, but in time, it would definitely reach into the thousands. At that point, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner would undoubtedly become even more formidable. After a ten-day closed-door session came to a close, the Thousand Beast Banner was successfully refined, and the collected monster beast souls were all sealed within. His goal had been achieved, and it was time to set off. Before leaving, he decided to first go to Luoyun Pavilion to retrieve the treasures and spirit stones he was taking back to the Lin Family, and also to purchase some second-order talismans. After all, the condensed sword qi had already been exhausted, and it would not be of much use for two years. Being alone and leaving Qianchuan Market, he still needed to make more preparations. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming got up, tidied up the practice room, and walked out the door. After leaving the cave mansion courtyard, Lin Tianming walked the streets of the market, heading towards the commercial area. Before long, he arrived at a grand street. Although he had been here several times already, he still looked around at the shops that had been there for hundreds or even thousands of years. This street was not far from Luoyun Pavilion, but it was in a slightly better location. The powers that could occupy this place and set up shops for hundreds or thousands of years, without exception, were renowned sects or families of Wei Kingdom. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Treasure Pavilion, Thousand Medicine Pavilion, Myriad Treasures Shop, Sky Dragon Pavilion... Dozens of sumptuous shops lined both sides of the street, each name more resounding than the last. But the strength behind these shops was indeed very formidable. Treasure Pavilion was the Zhenyang Sect''s only shop in the market, doing extremely booming business with a multitude of treasures available, though the prices were also incredibly high. The Thousand Medicine Pavilion was the Golden Core Sect''s Myriad Medicine Valley''s shop, and Myriad Treasures Shop was the Golden Sword Sect''s. The power behind Sky Dragon Pavilion was even more terrifying than the three great sects of Wei Kingdom. For Sky Dragon Pavilion was backed by the Sky Dragon Commerce Association, and the association was the reputed business of Qingzhou''s Tang Family. Their businesses were active across Qing and Ji provinces, and it was said they also had dealings in other major provinces. With the Tang Family''s formidable strength, having been passed down for tens of thousands of years and numbering tens of thousands of members, with at least dozens of Golden Core cultivators, and supposedly even Nascent Soul cultivators among them. With such strength, they could rank among the foremost powers in Qing and Ji provinces. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt immense aspiration in his heart, and also profound determination, making the Tang Family his goal. Lin Tianming put aside his distracting thoughts for the moment, paused to collect his thoughts, and then lifted his feet and walked towards Sky Dragon Pavilion in the middle. Upon entering Sky Dragon Pavilion, the interior was buzzing with noise. Over thirty cultivators were selecting various treasures, and several Qi Refining cultivators as receptionists were bustling about. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, a Qi Refining cultivator of the sixth level immediately stepped forward to greet him warmly. "Esteemed senior, I am Sun Jie at your service. What treasures do you require? Would you care to enjoy a cup of spiritual tea in one of our elegant private rooms while I retrieve the items for you?" Lin Tianming, seeing the person''s respectful and thorough service, nodded his head. He then followed Sun Jie upstairs to find a private room and entered. As they settled into the private room, Sun Jie immediately prepared a pot of spiritual tea and then stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Lin Tianming''s instructions. Lin Tianming sat on a chair made of precious wood and stated his purpose. "Young friend Sun, I''m in need of some second-order talisman paper, the higher the grade the better. Does your pavilion have any for sale?" Sun Jie hurriedly introduced a batch of second-order talismans, though they were only lower and medium-grade ones. Lin Tianming felt somewhat disappointed as he had come here to see if there were any superior second-order talismans available. If there was a second-order high-quality attack talisman, its power wouldn''t be inferior to the sword qi that previously killed Gu Tong. Noticing the look of disappointment on Lin Tianming''s face, Sun Jie spoke, "Senior, our Sky Dragon Pavilion does have some high-quality second-order attack talismans. However, I do not have the clearance. How about I invite the chief steward here to discuss directly with you?" Hearing this, Lin Tianming finally showed a smile. He then took out five spirit stones and handed them to Sun Jie as a tip. Sun Jie''s face brightened with joy as he accepted the spirit stones and bowed before leaving the room to presumably fetch the chief steward of the shop. After a short while, the sound of footsteps approached the private room, and then a white-robed elder in the Foundation Establishment Stage entered. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianming immediately rose to his feet to greet him. After all, the visitor could possibly be a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Tang Family, and the Lin Family couldn''t afford to offend them. Respect was due. The elderly man saw that Lin Tianming was so young, yet he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, such a cultivation speed was definitely not ordinary among Loose Cultivators, he must be a scion of a Sect or a family. The white-robed elder had a smile on his face, appeared very courteous, and was also quite curious. Both seated themselves and began to drink tea, the white-robed elder picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip before he asked: "This Daoist friend, I am Tang Xiuyuan, Chief Steward of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. May I know your esteemed name? I heard that you want to purchase a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman?" "Hmm... my surname is Chen, as for my given name, it''s not important. I wonder if you have any Second Order Superior Talismans for sale? And what would be the price?" Lin Tianming got straight to the point and asked about the Second Order Talismans, without revealing his own identity information. After all, the Tang Family was too powerful, and it was wiser for him to be cautious. Seeing that Lin Tianming was unwilling to reveal his name, Tang Xiuyuan did not press further. After all, many Loose Cultivators have such a temperament, asking too much could easily offend someone, and since they were in the business of selling, they were used to such behavior. Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, then with a flick of his sleeve, several talismans of different colors appeared, suspended in the air between them. Five talismans, all Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, each containing powerful forces. Among them, there were two Fire Attribute Talismans, two Metal Attribute Talismans, and one Water Attribute Talisman. Looking at the talismans, Tang Xiuyuan, with a calm and confident demeanor, said: "Daoist Chen, these five Second Order Superior Talismans are the best ones in our store. I am not being boastful, but such talismans are hard to find throughout the entire Qianchuan Market." Lin Tianming nodded without disputing the claim. Second Order Superior Talismans were not common items, the higher the grade, the rarer they were. Even at an auction, they were not often seen, and even for the powerful Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom, Second Order Superior Talismans were in limited supply. Only the Tang Family and the Golden Core Forces could afford to sell them. Regaining his composure, he took one of the talismans and examined it. Feeling the immense power of the flames contained within the talisman, it was many times stronger than any he had acquired before. After a while, he showed a satisfied expression. "Daoist Tang, how much for one Fire Attribute Talisman and one Metal Attribute Talisman?" Lin Tianming asked directly. Seeing that Lin Tianming seemed quite satisfied, Tang Xiuyuan answered composedly: "The Fire Attribute Talisman is 3,000 Spirit Stones each, and the Metal Attribute Talisman is 3,300 Spirit Stones each." When Tang Xiuyuan announced the prices, Lin Tianming was inwardly shocked. Although he had expected it, the Second Order Superior Talismans'' prices were still exorbitant; buying ten of them would almost cost as much as one Foundation Establishment Pill. However, upon further contemplation, a Second Order Superior Talisman, at a critical moment, could match the strike of a Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator, potentially altering the outcome. With this in mind, he reluctantly accepted the price and said: "Daoist Tang, I''ll take one Metal Attribute and one Fire Attribute Talisman. Can the price be a little cheaper? How about 6,000 Spirit Stones for both?" Hearing Lin Tianming haggle, Tang Xiuyuan thought it over secretly. Considering Lin Tianming''s young age and his ability to reach Foundation Establishment, his talent must be extraordinary. Purchasing two Superior Talismans in one go, he surely had a substantial wealth and might be worth befriending. Making up his mind, Tang Xiuyuan smiled and nodded: "As you say, Daoist friend, let''s make it a good connection. If you want to purchase any treasures in the future, just come to me, and I will offer you the lowest price." "Haha, then I must thank Daoist Tang. If there''s anything I need in the future, I will surely return." Lin Tianming laughed. The two exchanged smiles, and Lin Tianming took out 6,000 Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan, then took the two Second Order Talismans and put them into his storage bag. After completing the transaction, they chatted idly for a while, and despite Tang Xiuyuan''s roundabout inquiries, Lin Tianming still did not disclose any information, which left him quite helpless. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Tang Xiuyuan, left the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and headed straight towards Luoyun Pavilion. Chapter 171 Father-Son Bond_1 It wasn''t long before he arrived inside Luoyun Pavilion.At this moment, there were more than ten Qi Refining Cultivators in the Luoyun Pavilion, selecting the goods for sale, while Li Rong was busy attending to customers; the scene was bustling. Lin Tianming, who rarely had leisure time, had barely inquired about the operation of the shop. Apart from making pills for a fee, he hadn''t been much help. The shop was mainly managed by a few of his uncles from the Lin Family, such as Lin Xingli. With the assistance of Lin Tianfeng, everything was orderly and the profits were considerable. However, with his talent and cultivation, the family wouldn''t agree to his involvement in these trifles. The Clan Leader had instructed him multiple times to focus on cultivation, for only with higher cultivation could he provide greater assistance to the family. Understanding this well, he had never slacked off, devoting all his thoughts to cultivation and alchemy. As for clan affairs, there were elders to worry about them, so he didn''t need to trouble himself. Nevertheless, as a member of the Lin Family, he couldn''t be indifferent, lest his clan members thought him too arrogant. It had been a long time since he last visited the shop, and the business seemed to be doing well recently, probably due to restocking the treasures they acquired from Gu Tong. With more treasures, the business naturally improved. Li Rong and her sibling were modest and courteous with exceptional abilities to read situations and manage the shop. After working as clerks in Luoyun Pavilion for a few months, they had become particularly familiar with its operations, which had significantly boosted the business. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, Li Rong quickly set aside his tasks to greet him with a clasped-hands salute. Lin Tianming nodded, asked briefly about the state of Luoyun Pavilion, and then went straight to the third floor. Entering the secret room on the third floor, Lin Xingli and Lin Xingsu were seated inside with thick books in front of them, apparently recording some accounts. Seeing Lin Tianming come in, both men stood up to greet him. After exchanging formalities and salutes, the three of them sat down for tea and casual conversation. Lin Xingli had been prepared for Lin Tianming''s visit. Several days earlier, Lin Shilu had specially instructed him to have the Spirit Stones earned during the past few months ready; apart from retaining twenty thousand for turnover, all the rest were to be handed over to Lin Tianming to take back to the family. After a bit of small talk, Lin Xingli took out a storage bag and an account book, handing them over to Lin Tianming. Looking through the account book, Lin Tianming scanned it and, noting the one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones inside, showed a look of surprise. Luoyun Pavilion had been open for over four months, and the results greatly exceeded their expectations with an average monthly sale of treasures worth tens of thousands. In just a few months, Luoyun Pavilion had accumulated over one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. The initial shop cost for the family and various treasures worth over one hundred thousand had been almost entirely cashed in. In this way, in just four months, they had sold most of the treasures provided by the family and made a profit of at least thirty to forty thousand, enough to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but think to himself. "No wonder so many Foundation Establishing Families are eager to establish themselves in medium to large-sized markets. This truly is a profitable place!" In reality, the thriving business of Luoyun Pavilion didn''t mean that all shops were doing well; some made losses or even closed down. It just so happened that Luoyun Pavilion was lucky; they encountered the market''s biennial small gathering, bolstered by Ye Pinghai''s powerful influence, and the strategy of commissioned pill making, which all contributed to the shop''s booming business. Focusing his mind, Lin Tianming clasped his fists toward Lin Xingli and said, "Uncle, I will depart tomorrow. With Fifteenth Grandfather injured, the market will be hard work for you all!" Lin Xingli and Lin Xingsu shared a smile and waved their hands to say, "Tianming, you exaggerate. As members of the Lin Family, you, the cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage, have made greater contributions to the family. We are merely doing what we can!" After talking, Lin Tianming saluted the two men and left the secret room. After leaving Luoyun Pavilion, he didn''t linger but went straight back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Upon entering the training room, he sat down on the floor and then laid several storage bags in front of him. One of these was the one given to him by Lin Xingli, containing the Spirit Stones earned by Luoyun Pavilion over the past few months, totaling an impressive one hundred and fifty thousand. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other storage bags contained six Qingxu Snake Eggs and a large quantity of items from various parts of the Qingxu Snakes, along with three Qiuxing Fruit Trees and some treasures obtained from Gu Tong. Staring at the extraordinarily valuable treasures that he was to bring back to the family alone, facing more than ten days journey ahead, Lin Tianming''s expression was incredibly serious. This trip was of great responsibility, and he couldn''t guarantee there wouldn''t be any accidents. Fortunately, he had prepared, having purchased two Second Order Superior Talismans from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. With these talismans for protection, he was slightly relieved. "Hopefully, everything goes well!" Muttering softly to himself, Lin Tianming put away all of the storage bags and then began to practice his cultivation. Early the next morning, after notifying Lin Shilu and altering his appearance, Lin Tianming directly left the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Having left the market, Lin Tianming flew south for a distance, then released the Purple Gold Eagle. Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle''s back and reviewing the map, Lin Tianming''s Divine Sense was fully open, constantly monitoring the surroundings. The duo, man and beast, streaked across the skies a thousand feet up, heading straight for the south. Time flew, and half a month passed by in a flash. That evening, a sharp cry rang out as the Purple Gold Eagle appeared above Golden Horn Mountain. Chapter 171 Father and Son Bonding_2 Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming looked quite fatigued; glancing at the familiar mountain gate, he silently let out a sigh of relief.For half a month, he had been traveling alone, his Divine Sense greatly drained. Without Lin Shilu to take turns on watch, he didn''t dare to let the Purple Gold Eagle fly at full speed without reservations, fearing any sudden troubles that might arise. Fortunately, the journey went relatively smoothly, although it was slower compared to the trip there, but he had successfully reached Golden Horn Mountain. Upon reaching the vicinity of Golden Horn Mountain, this area was part of the Luoyun Mountain Range territory, mostly controlled by the Lin Family; it was considered safe. The Purple Gold Eagle landed at the entrance of Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Tianming jumped down from its back. Lin Xingyou, who was responsible for patrolling Golden Horn Mountain, was quite surprised to see him since they had left Golden Horn Mountain only four months ago, and it was unusual for him to return so quickly. However, seeing Lin Tianming looking normal, as if nothing significant had happened, Lin Xingyou didn''t ask any further. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming directly inquired about his father. Lin Xingyou chuckled and then said, "Tianming, your father has been in closed-door cultivation all this time. You''ve had a tiring journey, so you might as well rest for the night. I''ll send a message to him. If there''s nothing urgent, we can talk tomorrow!" Lin Tianming nodded; now that he had arrived at Golden Horn Mountain, he was not far from the clan estate, out of the danger zone, and there was no need to hurry. He was indeed tired, so resting for the night seemed reasonable. "Then I will take Uncle''s advice and rest for today!" Lin Tianming replied. Afterwards, Lin Xingyou led Lin Tianming towards the depths of Golden Horn Mountain, quickly arriving at the cave dwelling where Lin Xingrong was in secluded cultivation. Lin Xingyou cast a Law Decree, opening Lin Xingrong''s cave dwelling, then said to Lin Tianming, "Tianming, go inside by yourself. I still have duties to attend to, so I won''t stay long!" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Uncle, you go ahead with your tasks, we''ll meet again another day!" Lin Tianming gestured his thanks and said goodbye. After seeing Lin Xingyou off, Lin Tianming entered his father''s cave dwelling. Upon entering the room, he went straight to sleep, releasing the tension he had been holding, and quickly fell into a deep slumber. The next morning... Lin Tianming opened his eyes, and after a night''s sleep, the fatigue from the past half month vanished without a trace. He stretched leisurely and then got up and left the room, entering the small courtyard. His father had already come out of seclusion and was sitting in the courtyard drinking Spiritual Tea, seemingly waiting for him. Lin Tianming immediately approached and bowed deeply, "Father, your son pays his respects!" Lin Xingrong smiled and motioned with his hand, "Sit down, was your journey smooth?" Lin Tianming sat across from Lin Xingrong, and after pouring a cup of Spiritual Tea for his father, he said, "To reply to father, the journey was quite smooth!" "Hmm... family protocol is to return to clan lands once a year, and it hasn''t even been half a year yet, did something happen?" Lin Xingrong asked, puzzled. Lin Tianming had anticipated this question and had nothing to conceal, especially from his father, who was one of the high-ranking members of the Lin Family and entitled to know the most classified information. Lin Tianming took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then began recounting the events of the past few months. Hearing of the bustling business at Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Xingrong became excited, and upon learning that Lin Shilu had nearly perished in the swamp, his face darkened with anxiety, he asked, "How is your Fifteenth Grandfather now?" "Father, Fifteenth Grandfather has already recovered a great deal, but he won''t be able to fully recuperate in a short time; to completely recover, he will need at least a few months of dedicated cultivation!" Lin Tianming hastened to explain, putting Lin Xingrong at ease at last. After talking for nearly half an hour, Lin Xingrong finally understood the course of events and the reason for the rushed return. With the trip to Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming made another contribution, bringing back a plethora of treasures for the family with Lin Shilu, and making the business of Luoyun Pavilion so successful. As a father, his face beamed with pride seeing his son work hard and bring honor to the family. With that, Lin Xingrong became exhilarated. "This is a matter of great importance. Tomorrow, I shall return to Green Bamboo Mountain with you, especially since it''s been a long time since I last went back!" Lin Xingrong said. "Good, we''ll set off tomorrow morning!" Lin Tianming finished speaking and then took out the nine silver needles he had prepared and handed them to Lin Xingrong, saying, "Father, this set of silver needle Magic Artifacts is part of my share. You are safeguarding our territory, and with this treasure, I am sure you will be safer." Seeing that Lin Tianming was gifting him a Magic Artifact, Lin Xingrong felt touched but also somewhat embarrassed. As a father, he hadn''t been able to help Lin Tianming much in recent years. Now, he often had to rely on his son''s accomplishments. Despite coveting the Magic Artifact, he waved his hands and refused, saying, "I have a Magic Artifact which I got from the Jin Family. The clan has allocated it to me. Although it is only Second Order Low Quality, it is enough for now. You should keep this set for yourself!" Seeing that Lin Xingrong refused to accept it, Lin Tianming knew his father was too proud to accept it. However, for the sake of his safety, he still wanted to persuade him further. After a moment of silence, an idea suddenly struck Lin Tianming, and he said with a bright smile, "Father, I''ve obtained two Magic Artifacts. The other one, the Thousand Beast Banner, is even more powerful than this set of silver needles. Plus, Fifteenth Grandfather custom-made a Second Order Medium Quality Tiangang Sword for me, so I truly don''t need this one!" "If you don''t take it, I''ll gift it to Grandfather!" Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong''s face flushed with color, and he grabbed the nine silver needles before saying in a pretentiously old-fashioned manner, "Never mind, never mind, the old man has been living in the clan''s land; he doesn''t need such a fine Magic Artifact!" Seeing his strategy work, Lin Tianming''s face blossomed with joy. He found his father very interesting: clearly caring about him a lot yet always coming across as remote and stern. However, with his grandfather, he could live off of his resources, never feeling that it was too much or feeling embarrassed. Seeing Lin Tianming''s mischievous grin, Lin Xingrong chided him tersely, "You little rascal, what are you laughing at?" "Uh... nothing... nothing..." Lin Tianming quickly changed his expression, regaining his composure. "Hmph..." Lin Xingrong, holding the nine silver needles about a foot in length, examined them affectionately. Next to him, Lin Tianming, seeing his father''s fondness for the Magic Artifact, in high spirits, then suggested, "Father, this set of silver needle Magic Artifacts hasn''t been named yet. Why don''t you name it?" No sooner had he spoken than Lin Xingrong fell into thought. After a few moments, he seemed to have an idea. "This Magic Artifact is used for sneak attacks, extremely stealthy. When activated, it''s without a shadow or a trace. How about calling it Shadowless Needle?" Remembering how Gu Tong had ambushed them, he hadn''t reacted at all. If it weren''t for Lin Shilu''s powerful Divine Sense detecting something amiss a step ahead and pushing him away at the critical moment, he certainly would have lost his life. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, "Shadowless Needle... truly without shadow or trace!" "Haha... Then it''s settled!" "It''s called Shadowless Needle!" Lin Xingrong said excitedly. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire With the name of the Magic Artifact decided upon, Lin Tianming and his son exchanged a smile and then began to chat over tea. The father and son enjoyed their conversation immensely, their relationship drawing closer. It was rare for the two of them to sit down together like this, but as their encounters increased, their bond seemed to grow tighter. Now they could even share jokes, which would have been impossible in the past. After chatting for half an hour, Lin Xingrong finally got up, ready to leave. After all, he was to return to Green Bamboo Mountain with Lin Tianming, so the affairs here had to be properly arranged. "Father, this Qiuxing Fruit works wonders. Give it a try!" Lin Tianming called out to Xingrong, who, with a single wave of his hand, caught two Qiuxing Fruits in his hand. Lin Xingrong didn''t stand on ceremony and put the Qiuxing Fruits into his storage bag, giving a smile before turning to leave. Lin Tianming chuckled, watching his father leave the cave. Afterward, he returned to the training room. The next morning... As the daylight dawned with the morning glow piercing through the clouds, and the warm sunlight shone upon the land, the leaves of the Golden Flower Trees swayed in the breeze. Within the peaceful Golden Horn Mountain, Lin Tianming and his son left the mountain gate quietly, slipping away unnoticed. Sitting astride the Purple Gold Eagle, they flew into the clouds, turning into a fading shadow heading south towards Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 172 Decision_1 Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain...Lin Tianming and his companion were seated on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, descending at the gate of their clan''s mountain. The disciples of the Enforcement Hall responsible for patrolling the gate immediately approached to greet them. Lin Tianming and his companion were in great spirits, having successfully returned to the gate with immense wealth, allowing them to relax their tense minds. Lin Tianming raised his hand to send out a transmission, then instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to leave on its own; the two of them flew together to the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At the peak of the main mountain, within Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling. He sat on a straw mat with hands clasped in prayer, entering a deep state of cultivation¡ªas such closed-door cultivation was a routine affair for him. As the clan member with the highest cultivation, he had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level two years ago with the aid of a Hun Tian Pill. As the clan''s power grew stronger and more clan members reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, there was less need for him to handle everything personally. He only needed to make major decisions with the Shi generation clan members and to hold the general direction of the clan''s development. As for specific execution, that was carried by the Xing generation clan members. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Thus, a few of the Shi generation clan members, led by him, rarely had idle time and also began to cultivate diligently. When the restriction flashed, a transmission entered the training room. Lin Shikang opened his eyes and saw the transmission sent by Lin Tianming, revealing a puzzled expression. At the same time, Clan Leader Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong felt equally baffled by Lin Tianming''s transmission. With a puzzled look, Lin Shikang released a Law Decree after finishing his cultivation and stood up, stepping out of the training room. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his son had not gone directly back to their own cave dwelling but had come to his small courtyard to wait while drinking tea. Upon seeing Lin Shikang come out, both of them quickly got up to pay their respects with a salute. Lin Shikang laughed heartily, gesturing them to sit down, and then asked, "Xing Rong, why did you and your son come back so suddenly?" "Third Uncle, it''s great news!" Lin Xingrong said impatiently. Hearing this, Lin Shikang''s face brightened with joy as he eagerly inquired, "Oh, what''s the good news? Speak up and let me hear it!" Just then, hearty laughter echoed through the courtyard. "What''s this good news? Why such an upheaval?" Before the words were finished, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong stepped into the courtyard together, followed by Lin Xingping. Seeing Lin Tianming and his son returning together, Lin Shigong''s face was filled with smiles. Lin Tianming and his son quickly stood up to greet them, then exchanged pleasantries with Lin Xingping. Lin Xingping replied with a smile, then asked, "Tian Ming, how was everything at the market? Tianhong didn''t slack off, did he?" Hearing Lin Xingping''s caring words, Lin Tianming completely understood; after all, it was Lin Tianhong''s first time going to Qianchuan Market and the first time leaving the clan for an extended period. As his father, it was only natural for him to constantly worry about Lin Tianhong. Thinking of how Lin Tianhong, although toiling hard at alchemy in the market, had not neglected his cultivation, and even improved his alchemy skills while earning a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, Lin Tianming anticipated great growth. With that in mind, Lin Tianming spoke reassuringly, "Uncle Xing Ping, rest assured, everything at the market is fine. Second Brother has been very diligent, dedicating himself daily to alchemy and cultivation. I believe it won''t be many years before he can impact the Foundation Establishment Stage!" Relieved to hear about Lin Tianhong from Lin Tianming, Lin Xingping replied with a laugh, "That''s good to hear... Having Tian Ming as a role model, that kid has finally learned to put in some effort!" In response to Lin Xingping''s praise, Lin Tianming exchanged pleasantries before they all took their seats. In the courtyard, six clan members were now present. Except for Lin Shilu and Lin Xingyuan, who were each in different markets, all the Foundation Establishment clan members of the family had arrived. Seeing everyone assembled, Clan Leader Lin Shihua, who could hardly wait any longer, urgently asked about the purpose behind Lin Tianming''s transmission to them. Seeing the eager eyes of the clan members upon him, Lin Tianming didn''t dare beat around the bush; he started by recounting his entry into Qianchuan Market. Knowing the business at Luoyun Pavilion on its opening day was booming, everyone was excited. Lin Shikang thanked Ye Pinghai for his help while also praising their accomplishments. On the side, Lin Shihua expressed his thoughts, "It seems the clan''s decision to develop in Qianchuan Market was correct. Now that Luoyun Pavilion has established itself, the clan has gained an additional source of income!" "Indeed... the Luoyun Mountain Range is too small, and the traffic in Luoyun Market is limited. Simply relying on Luoyun Market, the clan won''t advance any further!" Lin Shigong joined in agreement. Lin Tianming nodded, feeling that the family''s decision was indeed wise. Although the clan had integrated Luoyun Market and secured a greater dividend right, bringing in a considerable profit over the year¡ªmore than at the peak of the Jin Family¡ªit wasn''t enough. But as the clan''s territory and the scale of clan members were rapidly growing, relying solely on the wealth source of Luoyun Market couldn''t support them for long. Taking advantage of the clan''s current capital to consider the problems they would face decades later and to take precautions would certainly not be mistaken. Seeing Lin Tianming lost in thought, Lin Shigong drew him back, urging him to continue with the rest of the story. The mention of Qingxu Snake Eggs and the acquisition of three Qiuxing Fruit Trees left the clan members shocked but then overjoyed. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When they learned that Lin Shilu had been gravely injured by Gu Tong, everyone''s face turned pale with shock, aside from Lin Xingrong, who already knew. "What? Shilu was injured?" Lin Shigong asked anxiously, his expression not much different from Lin Xingrong''s when he first heard the news. Seeing their concern, Lin Tianming did not delay and quickly shared the details of Lin Shilu''s injury. Chapter 172 Decision_2 "Elders, Fifteenth Grandfather was seriously injured, but fortunately, his foundation was not damaged. With half a year of quiet cultivation, he should fully recover!"Upon hearing this, everyone let out a long sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from their hearts, and their complexions returned to normal. Lin Tianming did not say much and simply took out several storage bags and laid them out one by one in front of everyone. Then he took out the account book that recorded their contents and handed it to Lin Shihua. At the same time, he pointed to the storage bags and explained the details and quantities of the treasures inside. It took a full quarter of an hour to clearly explain the origins and circumstances of these items. Lin Shihua and the others also took turns examining the storage bags, their faces filled with uncontainable excitement. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and said with excitement, "Tianming, you and the others have made another great contribution!" Lin Shihua also laughed heartily, saying with emotion, "Yes... Luoyun Pavilion has been successfully launched, the business is booming, and we''ve obtained so many treasures. Our Lin Family''s foundation has been further strengthened. We are truly on the rise!" Remembering the struggles of the clan decades ago, the remaining members grew contemplative, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber for a moment. Lin Tianming was deeply moved, understanding the sentiments of his elders, and he felt a measure of consolation when thinking of the rewards gleaned from each life-and-death struggle. A quarter of an hour later, the clan members had regained their calm and began to discuss what to do with this batch of treasures. As the stabilizing force of the Lin Family, Lin Shikang scanned the room before asking, "What do you all think about this matter?" After a moment of thought, several clan members began to voice their opinions, offering suggestions and strategic reforms for the family. Seeing that Lin Shihua had not yet spoken, Lin Shikang asked, "Shihua, as the Clan Leader, what are your thoughts?" Lin Shihua was silent for a moment before saying, "The success of Luoyun Pavilion in securing a stable position in the market is of utmost importance for the Lin Family. In the next few years, if all goes well, we can expect a steady income of spirit stones, ensuring that the family won''t have to worry about resources for the time being!" "Looking at our current situation, the family is not short on resources. It''s time to focus on nurturing some of our people, to help them accelerate their cultivation!" As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang looked toward Lin Tianming, his thoughts unreadable. Lin Shikang always held Lin Tianming in high regard, and since Tianming always made incisive and correct judgments, his opinions naturally carried significant weight. "Tianming, let''s hear your thoughts!" Lin Shikang asked, his eyes filled with expectation. Lin Tianming was calm, lost in thought. He had many ideas about the development of the clan. The clan used to be too poor, and the treatment of the clanspeople was not high, which was an unfortunate reality. After the great battle of the Luoyun Mountain, the family made several changes. They organized the Monster Hunting Squad, improved the basic welfare of the clanspeople, and even increased the Merit Points for various clan services significantly, greatly enhancing their enthusiasm. Over the years, the results had been quite remarkable, with a significant increase in the number of Foundation Establishment Clan Members and an overall improvement in the cultivation of Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. However, such development made it difficult to nurture High Order Cultivators. To go further, it was necessary to select several individuals with exceptional talents for intensive training, putting the best steel to its best use, to achieve greater returns. He had these thoughts not out of any selfishness but simply from considering the best interests of the family. Considering these points, Lin Tianming spoke frankly, "My opinion aligns with the Clan Leader''s. Currently, the family has sufficient resources and income. In terms of nurturing the junior members with higher talents, it is possible to ramp up efforts. Only with more Foundation Establishment Cultivators can we obtain more resources and a greater say!" "By doing so, we can choose a few key individuals from among the clanspeople for intensive cultivation, making preparations to break through to the Golden Core Stage!" After he spoke, the room fell into a deep silence as everyone considered his words. In the past, the situation was different; the family was too poor, and the goal was merely to develop Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to stand firm against fierce enemies on Luoyun Mountain. The Golden Core Stage was an unimaginably distant dream. Now, the times had changed. Within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family held an overwhelming advantage and had also established a foothold in Qianchuan Market. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire With both the internal and external situations unfolding favorably, the Golden Core Stage no longer seemed impossible under such fortuitous conditions. "Golden Core Stage..." Lin Shikang murmured softly to himself, his eyes revealing a longing gaze as they became fervent. Seeing this, Lin Shihua also spoke up, "Indeed... Now is the time for the family to look further ahead. The difficulty of reaching the Golden Core Stage is evident¡ªonly five Golden Elixir Forces in the entire Wei Kingdom," he said. The others nodded in agreement, seeming to concur with this sentiment. After all, in the entire Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, aside from the three Great Sects, there were only two Golden Core Families. This showed the immense difficulty of achieving the Golden Core, difficult by hundreds of times more than Foundation Establishment, requiring not only a great deal of resources but also talent and opportunity! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the family were to return to its former glory, it was imperative to marshal the entire clan''s efforts, focusing on nurturing the promising individuals to potentially take that step forward. After a moment of silence, with no one else speaking, Lin Shikang spoke up, "Tianming''s view is certainly logical. I agree with his suggestion. What do you all think? If there''s no objection, let''s settle on this!" "I agree!" Lin Shihua said, taking a stance. "I agree too," Lin Shigong naturally wouldn''t oppose and immediately voiced his opinion. ... Soon, the rest followed suit, unanimously agreeing, and the matter was officially decided. Chapter 172 Decision_3 Lin Shikang nodded with satisfaction before speaking with a firm attitude,"Now that this matter is settled, let''s decide on the number and the candidates for key training!" "As for the number, three from the Foundation Establishment Stage and seven from the Qi Refinement Realm, forming the Family Elite Ten. They will be exempt from some clan duties and focus solely on cultivation. The first among our clansmen to reach the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, the family will unconditionally provide them with one Foundation Establishment Pill." "For the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, upon reaching the late stages of the Foundation Establishment, they will be given a Hun Tian Pill. As for breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, that is still a bit far off. Moreover, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are not something that can be obtained with Spirit Stones." Before he finished speaking, the others nodded their heads in agreement. At this moment, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, as he had not expected Lin Shikang to make such a decisive decision on the matter. Lin Shigong was not surprised at all. He understood Lin Shikang''s character quite well. Though usually reticent and unassuming, he had more determination than Lin Shihua, which was why he managed to reach the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment within a mere century. "Third brother, how will we select the candidates?" Lin Shihua asked. Lin Tianming then took over the conversation and said, "Amongst the Qi Refinement Realm clansmen, we''ll set the age limit at sixty. We''ll choose from the clansmen above the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, selecting the youngest clansman from each level as key training targets. Starting from a subsidy of one hundred Spirit Stones, for each level, we will add an additional hundred Spirit Stones. This will greatly increase their enthusiasm for cultivation and help accelerate their progress!" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming''s suggestion, Lin Shikang''s eyes brightened. This method of Lin Tianming''s would sufficiently motivate the clansmen; to receive the subsidy, they would need to outpace their peers in cultivation, and competition among them would be more effective than anything else. With this in mind, he then added, "From the Fourth Level to Great Perfection, there are exactly seven realms, which is indeed fair. However, we must set a limit as well: we''ll settle accounts once a year. Those who are already enjoying support must wait until the end of the current year''s benefits before being replaced." "That''s right, otherwise it would be too chaotic!" Lin Shihua said with a nod and a smile. Lin Shikang chuckled, then added, "As for the candidates from the Foundation Establishment Stage, it will be Shi Lu and Tian Ming, father and son, with an annual subsidy of five thousand Spirit Stones each. When we have more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, we will need to select three candidates from the first, fourth, and seventh levels. And this policy will take effect from the beginning of next year!" "Moreover, to prevent clansmen from resorting to unscrupulous methods for the sake of cultivation progress, leading to instability in their realms, we can set up a sparring system, where no external means are allowed. The winner will receive the family subsidy!" Lin Shihua nodded and said, "If someone is less skilled, resorts to trickery and cunning, they will be directly disqualified from the benefits of this policy!" Everyone nodded their heads, made a few more comments, and then decided on the outcome of this matter. With the family policy matters concluded, Lin Shikang was in high spirits. He then instructed Lin Shihua, "Shihua, make sure to inform all the clansmen about the Family Elite Ten as soon as possible. There''s only a little more than half a year left until the beginning of next year, which is enough time for them to prepare!" "Besides, the Qingxu Snake Eggs that Tian Ming brought back need to be hatched immediately, and the Qiuxing Fruit needs to be transplanted as soon as possible!" "Good... I will arrange this right away!" Lin Shihua replied with a nod. After finishing, Lin Tianming remembered the words entrusted to him by Lin Shilu and then said, "Third Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather asked me to convey that in a few days when I return to Qianchuan Market, Uncle Xing Ping will accompany me to the market for cultivation and to also prepare for taking over the guard duties there." "Good... You and Shi Lu have been on guard for several years; it''s time for you to come back and focus on your cultivation!" "Xing Ping, in a few days, you will depart with Tian Ming; in a few years, that place will rely on you!" Lin Xingping stood up and cupped his fists, agreeing to the arrangement. With all matters settled, the assembled clansmen also rose to take their leave, exchanging fist salutes before departing in their respective directions. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire After leaving the courtyard, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping agreed on the day of departure, then returned to his father''s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Chapter 173 Hot Discussion_1 After leaving Lin Shikang''s courtyard, the grandfather and his two grandchildren returned to the father''s cave dwelling.The mother and sister had already received news of their return to the family, and they both came out of seclusion to prepare for a reunion. The five family members sat in the courtyard chatting idly; it had been half a year since they last saw each other. The mother''s cultivation level was still at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement. With her Four Spirit Roots talent, if not for the aid of Pozhang Pills, breaking through just by meditating would take at least several years. The sister had undergone considerable changes over the years. Now twenty-four years old, she had grown tall and slender, her features growing increasingly delicate and charming, and her personality had matured significantly. She always regarded her brother as a role model, aspiring to follow in his footsteps. With a plentiful supply of elixirs for cultivation and her penchant for adventure, she had repeatedly joined peers from the clan in monster hunting squads for trials in the mountain range. Over the years, her cultivation level had soared, reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. Her strength firmly placed her among the top three female cultivators of her generation in the clan, and alongside Lin Tianqin, she was known as one of the Lin Family''s two golden flowers. As their cultivation levels grew higher, the siblings spent more time in secluded cultivation and rarely saw each other. Lin Tianming looked at his sister and teased her, saying, "Tian Yue, you''ve done well for yourself over these years, daring to venture into the Luoyun Mountain Range?" Seeing Lin Tianming looking down on her, Lin Tianyue was reluctant to accept it and pouted in retort. "Brother..." "We are all from the same family. You dared to guard Qingfeng Town alone at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, and even ventured into the mountains. I''m already at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, and I have clan members teaming up with me, so why can''t I enter the mountains for trials?" Lin Tianming was suddenly at a loss for words, not expecting his sister to rebut him so fiercely and without reservation. Recognizing his sister''s courage and her fondness for trial through combat, Lin Tianming actually approved. It was for the best, lest she waste her talent and become someone with cultivation but no real strength. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt quite relieved. Seeing Lin Tianming no longer continuing the conversation, Lin Shigong chuckled and then brought up the subject of the Family Elite Ten. "Tian Yue, your brother is a key cultivation focus in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and there are seven spots in the Qi Refinement Realm. The youngest among the Qi Refinement Seventh Level clan members gets an annual subsidy of four hundred Spirit Stones from the family, which is no small amount," he said. "Yes, you need to work hard and strive to secure one of those spots. With that, you can advance your cultivation faster," added Lin Xingrong. "Grandfather, is that true?" Lin Tianyue asked excitedly. Faced with Lin Tianyue''s eager question, Lin Tianming interrupted and affirmed, "Of course, it''s true. The three of us just came out from Third Grandfather''s cave dwelling, where we were discussing the Family Elite Ten affairs. I expect the family will officially announce it tomorrow." No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianyue, upon hearing this significant news, became extremely excited and started dancing around. Previously, her cultivation speed had been quite fast; if she could be selected for the Family Elite Ten, it would not only bring honor to her grandparents but also allow her to rapidly increase her cultivation with the help of the family''s rewards. At this thought, Lin Tianyue''s excitement was uncontainable, and a confident smile was always present on her face. Lin Tianming and the others, seeing her smile, were influenced by her joy, and each of them showed a look of contentment. Indeed, once the family policy was implemented, it would surely cause quite a stir. After all, a Qi Refinement Fourth Level got a subsidy of a hundred Spirit Stones a year, which was already a considerable sum. Many Loose Cultivators in the Late Stage of Qi Refining didn''t even have a few hundred Spirit Stones to their name. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And the Lin Family Members, by displaying their talent, could earn a hefty sum of Spirit Stones from the competition. It was expected that no clan member would forgo this significant benefit. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but conjecture that with this policy, after a few years of competition, the overall strength of the family would surely rise to another level. Regaining his composure, the mother also got up and left to prepare the evening meal, while Lin Tianming and the grandparents leisurely discussed their respective cultivation progress. The grandfather had long been living with the Lin Family, without major affairs to attend to, almost never leaving clan territory. In terms of cultivation, he seemed to be aware of his limited talent, dedicating a few days each month to teaching the Family Alchemists, focusing most of his energy on nurturing clan members and on the Alchemy Dao. Only with the remaining time did he go into secluded cultivation. Though his advancement was slow, he led a comfortable life. Lin Xingrong''s situation was much simpler. In the past, he spent years busy with family affairs at Luoyun Market, but recently he had more leisure time. When in charge of guarding Golden Horn Mountain, he could cultivate wholeheartedly. With the help of a substantial amount of elixirs, his cultivation level had rapidly advanced, and he was the first among the subsequent Foundation Establishers to break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. That night, the family of five sat down together for a meal and, after a satisfactory dinner, they parted ways. Lin Tianming returned to his own cave dwelling and lay sprawled on his stone bed. He pondered the arrangements for the future. He planned to rest for a few days and then set off again, returning to Qianchuan Market. There, he would start concocting Dragon Bone Pills, and afterward, with the help of Sparse Star Fruits, he would strive to break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer as soon as possible. Before he knew it, the one lost in thoughts drifted off to sleep. ... The next morning, large notices were posted prominently in front of the doors of various major family institutions. In front of the Family Affairs Hall, at a peak time when clan members were coming and going, the posted notice was drawing a large crowd of onlookers. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Seeing the gathering crowd, some family members who were passing by were drawn over, soon amassing a large group of onlookers. In front of the notice, every clan member carefully scrutinized the golden characters, and they were quickly shocked by what they saw. One Qi Refinement Fourth Level family member seemed somewhat incredulous. Looking at the stunned crowd, he said, Chapter 173 Discussion_2 "Do you think the announcement about the Family Elite Ten is true?""Nonsense, how could it not be true? Everything''s written so clearly on the notice; is there even need for doubt?" "Exactly, it''s blatantly posted right at the entrance of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, how could it be false?" ... S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the crowd regained their composure, they discussed the matters mentioned in the announcement animatedly. The first person who spoke was visibly excited as he said to a fellow clan member: "The clan''s subsidy is really not small, one hundred Spirit Stones a year for the Fourth Level Qi Practice, plus the basic stipend provided by the family. In one year, one can save up a substantial amount of Spirit Stones and quickly enhance one''s cultivation." But then, thinking of his own age¡ªover forty and still at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement¡ªhe said with a mix of helplessness and regret: "It''s just a pity that with my talent and cultivation, there''s absolutely no chance of obtaining a seat." "Yeah! Our talent destines us to have no part in such benefits!" said another clan member who was at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement. At this time, a clan member at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement spoke up. "Why doesn''t the family distribute these Spirit Stones evenly, like last time, to enhance the basic welfare and mission rewards? That way, we could also benefit, right?" Upon hearing these words, many in the crowd changed their expressions. Lin Xingqu, who was standing among them, immediately interrupted: "Mind your words!" "You should know that the family has already raised the basic welfare of clan members twice. As far as I know, our family''s basic welfare is much higher than that of other families in Luoyun Mountain. Even the previous Jin Family is far behind!" "Indeed, being born into the Lin Family is already a huge stroke of luck, how can you still expect absolute equality?" "Keep in mind that Tianming is only in his twenties and has already reached Foundation Establishment, and he''s even a Second Order Alchemist. He has made so many contributions to the family. Should a Hidden Dragon like him be treated the same as you?" Immediately, several clan members with the Xing generation sharply rebuked the one who made the suggestion. He left the place in shame, unable to bear the embarrassment. Seeing this turn of events, Lin Xingqu then spoke, "My fellow clan members, there''s no need to be disheartened. Having a high talent simply means getting a head start. With the right opportunities, those with lesser talents may not fall far behind those prodigies!" "That''s right!" another clan member chimed in. "Many Loose Cultivators with lesser talents have also managed to achieve Foundation Establishment, and even those who have broken through to the Golden Core Stage. So there''s no reason for us to waver in our determination to pursue the path!" Energized by these words, some of the disheartened clan members picked themselves up, resolving to work hard at their cultivation regardless of whether they could be selected as one of the Qi Refining Seven Champions. As some clan members left, news about the Family Elite Ten quickly spread throughout the entire family, becoming a hot topic of discussion. And some clan members who had different views even took their grievances to Clan Leader Lin Shihua, hoping the family would treat everyone fairly. Almost all of these dissenting clan members had poor talent, and were usually lazy, having contributed little to the family. Lin Shihua spared no courtesy for these high-minded clan members, and after a severe scolding, they all fell in line. With this lesson before them, those who had been waiting to see how things would unfold no longer dared to voice their objections. After all, the upper echelons of the family were resolute in their stance, and with their cultivation, these onlookers couldn''t stir up any trouble. One morning, Lin Tianming emerged from his cave dwelling and made his way to the Elders'' Council. Along the way, he encountered many clan members, which caused quite a stir. Many young cultivators of the family had heard of the reputation of the family''s foremost talent but had never seen him in person. Lin Tianming greeted the clan members and encouraged some of the younger ones before leaving with a breezy demeanor, leaving only his dashing figure behind. It didn''t take long for him to arrive at the Elders'' Council. He was mainly there today for the Qingxu Snake Eggs and the Qiuxing Fruit Tree. Before departing from Qianchuan Market, Lin Shilu had repeatedly emphasized the importance of overseeing this matter. He also wanted to visit the family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden, so he came to see the Clan Leader. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shihua was quite pleased. Knowing his purpose, he immediately agreed to accompany him to the Spiritual Medicine Garden. The two left the Elders'' Council Hall and soon arrived at a secluded ravine in the back mountain. Looking at the valley teeming with bird songs and wildflowers, Lin Tianming scrutinized the place carefully. As it was his first visit to the Spiritual Medicine Garden, he was quite curious about what it was like inside. Lin Shihua chuckled, then took out a token, imbued it with a Law Decree, and suddenly an invisible, intangible barrier at the edge of the valley revealed a stone gate. Feeling the rich Spiritual Energy and scent of medicines wafting towards them, Lin Shihua stepped in, walking and explaining: "Tianming, our family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden is located in this ravine. It is protected by wards all year round, and there are also several clan members who guard it day and night." Hearing Lin Shihua''s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded and showed an expectant look. In the Cultivation World, each family or sect places great importance on their Treasure Vaults and Spiritual Medicine Gardens. They are highly valuable and are usually given the best protection. Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire Lin Tianming thought to himself that the Lin Family must have a lot of precious items, given the resources they had acquired over the years. After a short while, the two reached deep inside the valley. In front of them was a large area of mounds and expansive Spirit Fields. The squared Spirit Fields were arranged neatly, and a vast array of Spiritual Medicine Materials were planted within. Gazing out, he saw Golden Bull Grass, Earth Mysterious Mushrooms, Golden Flower Treasures, Mystical Vine Flowers... Chapter 173 Hot Discussion_3 There was no shortage of main medicines, ranging from the most basic Fasting Pills to Third Order Spiritual Medicines.Hundreds of types of Spiritual Medicine Materials were categorized and planted in the planned Spirit Fields. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the leaves of the Spiritual Medicines to flutter and sending a rich medicinal fragrance throughout the entire valley. "Hidden Spirit Grass!" Lin Tianming discovered the young Hidden Spirit Grass he had originally obtained, growing in the place with the richest Spiritual Energy. However, its medicinal age was still too short. To reach a medicinal age of two hundred years, which was necessary for refining Minor Foundation Building Pills, it would take almost a hundred years. Not far from there, a large amount of Third Order Spiritual Medicines were growing, many of which were precious varieties obtained from the Jin Family. Looking at the hundreds of High Order Spiritual Medicines, as well as a large amount of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, Lin Tianming was thrilled. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was just a portion of the Lin Family''s Spiritual Medicine Materials. In the clan lands of the Jin Family and the Wu Family, there were two sizable Spiritual Medicine Gardens. However, those gardens planted common varieties, and except for the Spiritual Medicines and Fruits that couldn''t be transplanted, the slightly more precious ones were all gathered here. Regaining their composure, the two of them walked through the medicinal fields toward the hillocks deep in the valley. Upon reaching the depths of the valley, the terrain was different from the medicinal fields. The fields were flat and delicate, whereas the hillocks appeared naturally formed. Besides that, the soil in the medicinal fields was dark brown, while that on the hillocks was distinctly yellowish-green. Looking up, each hillock had various quantities and varieties of Spirit Plants. The Jade Spirit Fruit Tree that he had obtained earlier was also growing on one of the hillocks, its green leaves looking healthy and thriving. At that moment, several clan members were seen holding tools and digging holes in the hillocks, seemingly transplanting something. The two of them didn''t stay and threaded through the paths between the hillocks, arriving where several people were working. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, the busy workers promptly stopped what they were doing and jogged over to greet them. Lin Shihua acknowledged their greetings with a nod, and then took out three Xingxing Fruit Trees and placed them in front of the workers. "Xing''an, these three Xingxing Fruit Trees are quite important and very precious. They need to be transplanted immediately. Take two people and start on this now!" Lin Xing''an, the leader, nodded and instructed his team to carry the Xingxing Fruits to a bare hillock. Feeling the rich Spiritual Energy of the place, he waved his Spiritual Artifact in hand and dug a deep pit on the hillock. After that, he took out dozens of Spirit Stones and threw them all into the deep pit before placing the Xingxing Fruit Tree inside and covering it with soil. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire After transplanting the Xingxing Fruit Tree, Lin Xing''an clasped his hands and cast a Five Elements Spell, summoning a large cloud overhead that irrigated the tree thoroughly with rain before he finished his work. Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua watched the whole process, with Shihua explaining along the way. "Planting Spiritual Medicines and transplanting Spirit Plants is not particularly difficult, as long as there are good Spirit Fields and Spirit Land, you should have no problems. The main thing is long-term maintenance, which requires investing a large number of Spirit Stones to increase the Spiritual Energy and periodically checking the growth of the Spirit Plants, ensuring timely exposure to sunlight and rain. It''s a long-term process!" Lin Tianming nodded, quickly grasping the procedures. Whether it was Spiritual Medicine Materials or Spirit Fruit Trees, the requirements for the medicinal fields and Spirit Land were quite demanding. For several years after transplantation, they needed a lot of resources and maintenance to survive. However, once they made it through the first few years, the subsequent period would become much easier. Half a day went by quickly, and the three Xingxing Fruit Trees were successfully transplanted. After giving a few instructions and telling Lin Xing''an to take good care of them, Lin Shihua left the Spiritual Medicine Garden with Lin Tianming. Chapter 174 Golden Core Duel_1 Having left the Spiritual Medicine Garden, Lin Tianming and his companion walked and chatted.Although Lin Xing''an''s cultivation talent was only average, his gift for planting Spiritual Medicines was exceptional. The survival rate of the young spiritual medicine plants and various spirit vegetation under his care was extremely high, which was considered a unique technical talent within the family. Lin Shihua introduced him to the scale and planting methods of the Spiritual Medicine Garden along the way, which excited Tianming greatly. According to him, the higher the grade of the transplanted Spiritual Medicines and Fruits, the better the soil containing Spiritual Energy needed to be; this was why Spirit Stones had to be added to the spiritual soil. Following the end of the battle at Luoyun Mountain, the scale of the Spiritual Medicine Garden had exploded, even harboring a large number of Third Order Spiritual Medicines. The enormous amount of Spiritual Energy required for the growth of so many medicines could no longer be satisfied by a Second Order low-grade Spirit Gathering Array. The level of the Spirit Gathering Array in the family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden was too low. It was the same array which the ancient ancestor had asked someone to help set up when the family was founded, and it hadn''t been upgraded in hundreds of years. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, the act of adding Spirit Stones to the soil to temporarily alleviate the issue of insufficient Spiritual Energy was a helpless move. At this point, Tianming inquired, "Twelfth Grandpa, does our family have any promising Array Masters?" Seeing him ask this question, Lin Shihua''s bitter face tinged red, and soon after he sighed with emotion. "There''s not much hope in the Xing generation, but there are two clansmen from the Tian generation who have fairly good talents in Formation. They have already become First Order Medium Grade Array Masters. However, this is because the earlier stages are not difficult. Whether they can break through to the Second Order is still hard to say." "Formation and Talisman Making have always been weak points for our family, which need long-term accumulation, and we need talented family members to explore it. However, we have made significant progress in these past years, and I believe that in a few decades, we will produce our own Second Order Array Master." Tianming nodded, understanding that this matter couldn''t be rushed. As long as the family continued to develop in a positive direction, there would eventually be a clansman with outstanding talent in Formation to make up for the family''s shortcoming. Without realizing it, after half a quarter of an hour of flying, following Lin Shihua, the two arrived at the entrance of a valley deep within Green Bamboo Mountain, not far from where Tianming often practiced his Divine Skills. However, in his more than twenty years of life, he had never been to this place. After all, Green Bamboo Mountain covered dozens of miles, and there were still many areas he had not set foot in. The two paused outside the valley, and then Lin Shihua took out a Token, entered a spell, and opened the barrier to enter the valley. Tianming stepped forward to follow, entering the valley with him. Inside the valley, the dense forest and rock walls became apparent, the terrain complex and ever-changing, with a plethora of mundane wild animals running about. Seeing this, Shihua laughed heartily and began to explain. "Tianming, this is the family''s Spirit Beast Garden. The Soul-eating Spider almost lives here as well. Apart from it, the rest are mundane wild animals and some Low-order Monster Beasts, serving as its food." Upon hearing these words, Tianming''s interest soared. He had never seen the Soul-eating Spider itself, only hearing about it from other clan members. During the last battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, he was scavenging for treasures with Lin Shilu at Golden Horn Mountain and did not partake in the battle here; naturally, he could not witness its true form. Just then, a distinctive hissing sound came, and a giant spider appeared in front of the two. It was undoubtedly the Soul-eating Spider. The Soul-eating Spider moved its terrifying limbs, baring its fangs and claws at Tianming, giving him quite a scare. Seeing this, Shihua chuckled and took a few sections of Crimson Gold Snake corpses from his storage bag, tossing them in front of the spider. Only then did the Soul-eating Spider turn around, bite into a piece of Qingxu Serpent Meat, grabbed the remaining sections with its claws, and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Watching the direction in which the Soul-eating Spider disappeared, Shihua spoke up, "The Soul-eating Spider was a Spirit Beast subdued by our ancient ancestor. At first, it was only at the initial stage of the Second Order. Although our ancient ancestor has been gone for hundreds of years and the Spirit Beast contract has expired, it did not leave the family. After hundreds of years of family provision, its grade has also significantly improved to the Second Order''s late phase." "Now, even though the Soul-eating Spider has not taken a new master and is free, it has recognized the family and has even defended the family on multiple occasions. During the last battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, it was even seriously injured, but luckily in recent years, our family acquired plenty of Spiritual Objects, and it quickly recovered from its injuries." At this, both became solemn. In the Cultivation World, it is not easy for Spirit Beasts to recognize a master. Once the master falls, and the Spirit Beast regains its freedom, most would leave without hesitation. It was rare to see a Spirit Beast like the Soul-eating Spider. Although it stayed with the family and accepted the resources provided by the family simply out of mutual needs, during times of family crisis, the Soul-eating Spider played a significant role. Just for this alone, the resources provided by the family were in no way wasted. "Twelfth Grandpa, how then should the Qingxu Snake Eggs be hatched? Why choose this place?" Tianming asked. Shihua frowned and replied without hesitation, "We are here only to select a place for the Qingxu snakes. I have studied those Serpent Eggs for a whole night. They need a large amount of essence blood smeared on the eggshells, so that the hatched Qingxu snakes will be in tune with you and naturally attached to you." Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire "Moreover, hatching a Spirit Beast is a long-term process. To meet the hatching requirements for these six Serpent Eggs, we''ll also need a vast amount of treasures for assistance. At the very least, it will take several months to hatch." Chapter 174 Golden Core Duel_2 Hearing Lin Shihua''s explanation, Lin Tianming felt somewhat embarrassed. His knowledge about Spirit Beasts was limited to the basic information recorded in books, and he had not anticipated so many conditions.The value of these Serpent Eggs was not low, and once the hatchlings reached maturity, it would be equivalent to raising a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Even if he hadn''t brought it up, the family elders wouldn''t have overlooked such an important matter. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming did not ask further. The two made a round in the valley before returning to where they started. Lin Tianming actually found the valley quite to his liking. The enclosed area was not small, and it was home to a large number of common wild animals, making it very suitable for the existence of Spirit Beasts. Lin Tianming even secretly thought that if he stayed with the clan for a long time, he could send the Purple Gold Eagle in, and perhaps even mix in the Soul-eating Spider. Regaining his composure, the two left the valley together. Walking along, Lin Shihua fully promised that he would definitely hatch the Qingxu Serpent as soon as possible. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt at ease. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lin Shihua, he returned to his cave dwelling first. There were still two days left before the day agreed with Lin Xingping to leave the clan. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming entered the training room and began to cultivate. Two days later, in the early morning, on the plaza of the clan gate. Lin Tianming was the first to wait there. The Purple Gold Eagle stood by his side, nuzzling his clothes with its large beak in a pleasing manner. He waved his hand and took out two pieces of First Order Qingxu Serpent Meat, fed them to the Purple Gold Eagle, and finally calmed the greedy creature down. In a short while, his father and Lin Xingping arrived in step, landing before him. Lin Tianming immediately approached and gave them his respects. "Tianming, there''s no need for such formalities!" Lin Xingping said with a wave of his hand and a smile, apparently in a very good mood. His father chuckled, then took out two storage bags and a ledger, handing them to Lin Tianming, saying: "The treasures in here are the clan''s resources prepared for the operation of the Luoyun Pavilion. The quantity is considerable, so you must take good care of them!" "Father, rest assured, your son will surely deliver these treasures intact to Qianchuan Market and hand them personally to Fifteenth Grandfather!" Lin Tianming replied with a resolute expression. "Brother Twelve, don''t worry. With me and Tianming together, there shouldn''t be any problems!" Lin Xingping also said, clasping his fist. Lin Xingrong nodded, glanced back at the clan grounds, then declared: "Hmm... Time is ticking on, let''s set off!" Upon finishing, the three of them and the beast exited the protective clan formation. They then mounted the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, with the eagle carrying them northward. In less than two days, they smoothly arrived at Golden Horn Mountain. After a short rest overnight, Lin Xingrong watched the two leave until they disappeared into the northern sky, then he returned to his cave dwelling. Lin Tianming and the other sat on the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, casually chatting as they felt the rushing mountains and rivers around them. Although he had traveled this route to Qianchuan Market several times and had never encountered any danger, Lin Tianming still did not dare to let down his guard. He took out a map and pointed to a mark on it, saying: "Uncle, this journey is long. We should take turns being on alert!" Hearing this, Lin Xingping naturally had no objections. He replied seriously: "Of course. Although I have never been to Qianchuan Market, I gathered quite some information before leaving the clan. The Hengyang Mountain Range that we will pass through is not exactly peaceful, so being cautious can do no harm!" "Yes, indeed... But no need to be too nervous. A party with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators isn''t one that is easily provoked!" Lin Tianming said with a light smile. "That''s true!" A party of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators ranks considerably high among the forces within Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Unless there are life-and-death grudges, almost no one would provoke them. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire The two exchanged smiles, sitting on the Purple Gold Eagle''s back as they flew northward at high speed. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days passed... S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the border of the Hengyang Mountain Range and the Luoyang Mountain Range, in a tranquil valley. It was now evening, and Lin Tianming and his companion landed atop a mountain peak. Lin Tianming surveyed the thickly forested valley, then swept the area with his Divine Sense, and after confirming there was no danger around, he said: "Uncle, let''s rest here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow!" "Good, after several days of travel, I''m indeed a bit tired. Besides, since the Qianchuan Market is still at a distance, even if we travel all night, we can''t reach it in a short time. Let''s just rest here for the night!" Lin Xingping said with a smile. Once he had finished speaking, Lin Tianming took out the Earth Evil Sword and swiftly carved out a simple cave in a stone wall. After casually setting up a couple of concealment Illusion Techniques, the two of them entered, one after the other. They then sat down, preparing to meditate and cultivate. Before one Grand Circulation was complete, a thunderous noise suddenly filled the air, and the valley began to shake violently. The expressions of Lin Tianming and his companion changed; they quickly ended their cultivation and went to the cave entrance, cautiously checking the situation outside. By now, it was dark, and the night was shrouded in a dense fog, making it hard to discern the situation. Lin Tianming didn''t dare use his Divine Sense, lest he be detected. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards two glowing masses in the distance, his face immediately turning pale. On two mountain peaks several miles away, two elders were fighting fiercely. One of them was wearing a golden Taoist robe with a sun pattern on his chest, exactly like the one on Li Xiuyuan''s robe, clearly identifying him as a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect without a doubt. The other elder wore black and held a glittering golden mirror; when he cast a Law Decree, a silver-white beam of light shot out towards the Zhenyang Sect cultivator. The cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect was unruffled. He quickly took out a small umbrella and protected himself with it. "Boom..." The beam of light hit the umbrella and exploded into a tremendous noise. Beneath the feet of the Zhenyang Sect cultivator, the ground suddenly split open, creating a crevice several zhang wide. The Zhenyang Sect cultivator''s face darkened, and he immediately unleashed a sword strike, sending out a tremendous number of Sword Qi, beginning to counterattack. Sparks flew from the fierce exchange between the two, their brightness like the brilliance of the sun, illuminating a radius of several tens of miles as if it were daylight. Meanwhile, thunderous rumblings could be heard, and the earth shook violently. Based on the fluctuations from their battle, they were at least Golden Core Stage seniors. Lin Tianming watched with a solemn expression. Although he had been on the cultivation path for some time, this was the first occasion he had witnessed Golden Core Stage cultivators, and, moreover, his first time observing a duel. At this moment, he held his breath, not even daring to let out a sigh, his eyes fixated on the distant battle, his mind racing with thoughts. He had no idea why those two Golden Core Stage seniors were fighting, nor whether they had noticed them. They might have even already spotted them but simply didn''t care about their presence. No matter what the possibility, if the seniors decided to cause trouble, their own levels of cultivation were completely incapable of handling it, and they could only pretend not to see and pray that the two would leave soon. After a short while, following a loud explosion, the elder in the black robe shouted angrily and alarmedly at the Zhenyang Sect cultivator: "Chen Jingtian, do you really intend to fight to the death with me over a piece of the Mysterious Moon Order?" Upon hearing this, the cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect sneered, and then, with determination in his voice, said: "Old Monster Gu, why waste time delaying? You are no match for me. Hand over the Mysterious Moon Order obediently, and I can let you leave. Otherwise, today might not end well for you!" Seeing Chen Jingtian''s impervious attitude, the cultivator surnamed Gu''s face darkened as he took out a bead with a grey-white pattern and threw it straight at Chen Jingtian. Chen Jingtian''s expression turned extremely grim as he hurriedly protected himself with the umbrella, then rapidly retreated. "Boom..." When the grey-white bead exploded between them, the cultivator surnamed Gu struck out with another beam of light and fled westward without looking back. Chen Jingtian leaped to avoid the attack from the cultivator surnamed Gu and immediately pursued the fleeing cultivator. Before long, the land quieted down, and the night returned to normal. The two Golden Core cultivators had completely vanished without a trace. Chapter 236 175 Find more to read at My Virtual Library EmpireWithin the Spartan cave abode, Lin Tianming and his companion dared not even let out a heavy breath. When the disturbance outside ceased and the darkness fell upon the land once again, the Golden Core Cultivator was nowhere to be seen. They did not know how much time had passed with absolute silence surrounding them before Lin Tianming and his companion finally let out a sigh of relief and plopped down onto the ground. At this moment, Lin Xingping wore a puzzled expression. With his limited Divine Sense and lacking treasures like the Eye of Five Colors, he could only sense the outbreak of a fierce battle outside but knew none of the specifics. Yet with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming managed to glean some basic information about the battle. Based on the course of the battle and the conversation between the two Golden Core cultivators, it seemed that they fought over the Mysterious Moon Order, and eventually, the one surnamed Gu appeared to be outmatched by Chen Jingtian. In a desperate move, he used a grayish-white pearl to create an explosive distraction, allowing him a moment to flee in panic, while Chen, unwilling to let go of the Mysterious Moon Order, pursued relentlessly without a second thought. Lin Tianming thought to himself that if even Golden Core cultivators were willing to fight over the Mysterious Moon Order, the two tokens in his possession must be of immense value. As he speculated in secret, Lin Xingping beside him asked, "Tian Ming, what was the cause of the commotion just now, and what was the outcome?" Lin Tianming regained his focus and replied, "There was a battle between two Golden Elixir Experts. One of them was Chen Jingtian, a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect. The other, surnamed Gu, I''ve never heard of before. There are no Golden Core Cultivators with the surname Gu in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, so he must not be from here!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s words, Lin Xingping''s face showed a shocked expression. Golden Core Cultivators were absolute top-tier experts in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, often elusive and rarely engaging in open conflict. Such disregard for secrecy in battle was exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming, however, was much calmer by then and continued, "The two Golden Core Cultivators fought several rounds, but the one surnamed Gu didn''t seem to be a match for Chen Jingtian and ended up fleeing in a panic!" "It''s unclear why they appeared here or fought so fiercely, and the outcome remains unknown. But these matters are none of our concern!" Lin Xingping nodded, finally regaining his composure from the shock. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Lin Tianming spoke gravely, sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Uncle, whether those elders have discovered us or simply don''t care about our presence, it doesn''t matter. We can''t stay here any longer. If they return and find us, it could spell trouble!" Seeing Lin Tianming''s serious words, Lin Xingping agreed there was a good chance of that happening and promptly said, "At this moment, we can''t worry about anything else. For safety''s sake, we should leave immediately and travel through the night to reach Qianchuan Market as soon as possible!" With those words, Lin Tianming and his companion left the temporary cave abode and released their Purple Gold Eagle. Hopping onto its back, they turned into a shadow under the hazy moonlight and vanished into the valley. Days flew by, and with no other incidents on the way, they safely arrived on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. After placing the Purple Gold Eagle into the Spirit Beast Bag, they hurried to the market entrance, paid the entrance Spirit Stones, and entered the market. Stepping onto the Bluestone Street and into the market, they breathed a sigh of relief and headed straight for the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once home, Lin Shilu was deep in cultivation practice. Lin Tianming sent a message without disturbing him. A short while later, Lin Shilu emerged from the practice room, and they quickly stepped forward to greet him. Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion return safely pleased Lin Shilu greatly. "Tian Ming, you''ve returned rather swiftly. It hasn''t even been a month, and you''ve already made a round trip!" Lin Shilu said, "Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming has some important matters to report to you!" Seeing Lin Tianming, usually so composed, being so cautious, Lin Shilu promptly invited them to sit and speak. The three sat in the courtyard, and Lin Tianming recounted everything they had seen and heard on their journey. Upon hearing the recount, Lin Shilu''s expression changed dramatically, his face reflecting his shock. Although Lin Tianming was detailed in his recounting, he did not mention the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order. The fight over the token by the two Golden Core cultivators revealed the significance of the matter. For safety''s sake, it was better that fewer people knew. "Tian Ming, for the next few days, the two of you should avoid showing your faces, lest someone recognizes you and trouble arises!" Lin Shilu cautioned. Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, agreeing to seclude themselves for a period of time to let the issue pass. After temporarily setting aside the matter of the Golden Core cultivators'' fight, Lin Tianming handed over the two storage bags brought from the family to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu took the storage bags, and after finalizing the transfer of an enormous amount of cultivation resources, Lin Tianming reported on the family''s matters. Learning of the decision to nurture the Family Elite Ten, Lin Shilu was very pleased and agreed wholly with the strategy. "Fifteenth Grandfather, the subsidy for the Family Elite Ten will start next year. You and I will receive an allocation of five thousand Spirit Stones annually. Before leaving, Third Grandfather had instructed that if it''s inconvenient to collect the subsidy from the family, we could take it from the profits of Luoyun Pavilion!" "Hmm..." Lin Shilu nodded and, after instructing them to practice diligently, Lin Xingping was the first to rise and take his leave. After he had left, Lin Tianming set up a barrier to ensure privacy, then started speaking about the Mysterious Moon Order. Chapter 175 Breakthrough to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment_2 ```"What? Those two Golden Core Cultivators actually came to blows over the Mysterious Moon Order?" Lin Shilu exclaimed. ``` ``` Although he had long suspected that the Mysterious Moon Order was no small matter, he had not expected that two Golden Core Cultivators would fight over it. With this development, the Mysterious Moon Order must be extremely important. ``` ``` Lin Tianming nodded, recalling the events, and then said, ``` ``` "Fifteenth Grandfather, what I''m telling you is absolutely true. I was watching the battle from a distance and also vaguely heard what the Cultivator with the surname Gu said¡ªit was indeed about the Mysterious Moon Order without a doubt!" ``` ``` Lin Shilu naturally did not doubt Lin Tianming''s words and immediately said, ``` ``` "It seems the Mysterious Moon Order really is extraordinary. The Zhenyang Sect must certainly know the purpose of the token. Even Golden Elixir Experts must take it seriously. Looking at this, the Mysterious Moon Order might soon come into use!" ``` ``` Lin Tianming nodded, somewhat excitedly saying, ``` ``` "It''s just that we don''t know what level this Secret Realm is or what the entry conditions are!" ``` ``` Hearing Lin Tianming''s remark, Lin Shilu recalled the past and then spoke. ``` ``` "This old man has consulted many texts before, and it is said that when an ownerless Secret Realm emerges, there will be a preparatory period before it officially opens. During this time, the entry restrictions can be discerned from the token allowing entrance!" ``` ``` As soon as his words fell, Lin Tianming eagerly asked, ``` ``` "Then by that logic, if even Golden Core Stage Cultivators can enter the Secret Realm, wouldn''t we have slim hope even if we had the token?" ``` ``` "Indeed, if truly even Golden Core Cultivators can enter, then those at the Foundation Establishment going in would surely be taking a near-certain death risk!" ``` ``` "In that case, we can only hope that the Secret Realm is limited to those in the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refinement Realm; otherwise, we would have to hand over the Mysterious Moon Order to the Zhenyang Sect in exchange for some cultivation resources." ``` ``` Having said that, even Lin Shilu showed a hint of worry in his voice. After all, even in the lowest Yellow Grade Secret Realm, the treasures within were extraordinary. Having obtained the Mysterious Moon Order, they would not give up on such a rare opportunity unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, they would opt to hand it over to the Zhenyang Sect. ``` ``` Hearing Lin Shilu''s explanation, Lin Tianming felt helpless and could only pray for good luck to be able to enter the Secret Realm and explore it. ``` ``` Seeing Lin Tianming''s worried expression, Lin Shilu comforted him, ``` ``` "Tianming, the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order cannot be forced. If it''s our chance, we won''t give up. If not, it just means we were not fated for it, so there''s no need to overthink it!" ``` ``` After nodding, Lin Tianming showed a slight smile and then said, ``` ``` "Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, Tianming understands. I plan to go into seclusion to cultivate during this period. Please keep an eye on the Mysterious Moon Order in secret. As soon as there is any news, immediately inform me!" ``` Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire ``` After chatting idly for a bit longer, Lin Tianming prepared to stand up and take his leave. ``` ``` Before leaving, Lin Shilu repeatedly urged, "The matter of the Mysterious Moon Order must not be revealed at all, and don''t try to inquire about it everywhere. It''s easy for people with motives to notice, and if it''s discovered that we own the Mysterious Moon Order, it will definitely provoke other Cultivators to attempt to seize it. If the Zhenyang Sect becomes aware, the trouble will be even greater, and we might not find refuge anywhere in the Wei Kingdom!" ``` ``` Fully aware of the importance of this matter, Lin Tianming nodded, promising to keep it to himself. Then he bid farewell to Lin Shilu and returned to his own cultivation room. ``` ``` Once inside his cultivation room, he sat down cross-legged, contemplating his cultivation plan going forward. ``` ``` After much thought, he decided to enter closed-door cultivation to raise his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. The matter of the Dragon Bone Pill would be set aside for the time being. Currently, he had more than twenty Qiuxing Fruits, so there was no shortage of treasures needed for short-term cultivation. ``` ``` Having made up his mind, he began the Grand Circulation, waiting until his condition reached its peak before taking out a Qiuxing Fruit. ``` ``` Looking at the Qiuxing Fruit brimming with Spiritual Energy, a sight for sore eyes, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to swallow it whole. ``` ``` As the Spirit Fruit entered his mouth, a gentle energy quickly spread out, traveling along his meridians. ``` ``` Although this was already the fourth Qiuxing Fruit he had consumed, the tingling sense of satisfaction still brought him immense comfort. ``` ``` Feeling this special energy, he wasted no time, fully operating his cultivation technique to refine it¡ªturning the energy within the Qiuxing Fruit into gentle Spiritual Power, which ultimately converged in his Seven Sea Dantian. ``` ``` Time flew by, and thus a year passed. ``` ``` Inside Lin Tianming''s cultivation room, he sat on the ground, his breathing steady and calm. ``` ``` Sensing the state of his entire body, Lin Tianming looked into his Seven Sea Dantian, where the abundant Spiritual Power was almost becoming liquid. The Spiritual Power within his Dantian was on the verge of overflowing. ``` His face was calm, and a trace of resolute determination shone from his eyes. For the past year, he had ingested a Qiuxing Fruit every month to cultivate, spending the remaining time meditating or crafting elixirs for the Luoyun Pavilion. Throughout this time, he had remained in the market district to cultivate, never venturing beyond his own doorsteps, embodying the essence of ascetic practice. In the past six months, he had several times forcefully suppressed his cultivation level. After half a year of tempering and settling, feeling that he could no longer hold back, he decided to break through in one fell swoop. Having made up his mind, he retrieved another Qiuxing Fruit and, without any hesitation, swallowed it in one gulp. As the Spirit Fruit dissolved in his mouth, he familiarly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it, and streams of gentle Spiritual Power flowed into his Qi Sea Dantian. Feeling that gentle Spiritual Power, he repeatedly washed against the barriers of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Time slowly passed, and three days later, the potency of the Qiuxing Fruit was dwindling, soon to be exhausted. Lin Tianming''s eyes reflected unwavering determination as he gathered the Spiritual Power he had refined over the past few days, preparing for the final assault. Feeling the vast Spiritual Power, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and directed the flood of power straight into the pinnacle of his Qi Sea Dantian. A sharp pain surged, Lin Tianming''s complexion turned pale, and soon, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead and evaporated upon hitting the bluestone floor. He endured the pain, controlling the now-liquid Spiritual Power as it bombarded the barriers. After who knows how many assaults, suddenly a warm current burst forth, and his Qi Sea Dantian began to expand once more. At the same time, the originally liquid Spiritual Power flowed into the expanded Qi Sea Dantian, swiftly becoming even more viscous. Not only that, but as the barriers were breached, a torrent of energy surged within his body, cleansing his flesh. A foul smell permeated, and his body oozed a stinky black muck, evidently cleansing his body again with the aid of the Spiritual Power combined with the medicinal properties within him. Lin Tianming did not dare to delay, swiftly circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, finally exhaling a long breath when his True Yuan flowed through his veins to his entire body. At this moment, feeling the vigorous Spiritual Power in his body, clearly thicker and more substantial than before, and containing even greater energy, he was filled with emotion. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having successfully broken through to the second layer of Foundation Establishment, Lin Tianming''s complexion became rosy, his heart brimming with excitement. It had been nearly three years since he entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, and with the aid of over ten Qiuxing Fruits, he had successfully broken through to the second layer at this moment. Over these years, his cultivation journey was fraught with difficulty. Before breaking through the early stages, he had to rely solely on meditation for cultivation advancement, which was extremely slow. However, this laid a solid foundation for him, and with the aid of the Qiuxing Fruits, he was able to make a breakthrough. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming did not immediately rise but continued cultivating to consolidate his position, ensuring he would not suffer a setback from an unstable realm post-breakthrough. He circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, rapidly redistributing the Spiritual Power throughout his body. Half a month swiftly elapsed... In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming, who sat cross-legged on the floor, opened his tightly closed eyes, and a flash of light shot from the corners of his eyes. Lin Tianming stood up, feeling the vigorous Spiritual Power within his body circulating with exceptional smoothness, and even his slightest movements contained immense energy. He clenched his fist, and his body crackled with several snapping sounds, Lin Tianming''s face brimming with joy. After a month of confinement to solidify his practice, his cultivation was now stable at the second layer of Foundation Establishment, and it was very solid. "Huff, huff..." he exhaled deeply. Seeing the foul-smelling black muck on his body, he then made a Single-handed Seal, casting a Five Elements Spell, conjuring a sphere of rainwater to comfortably bathe himself, then changed into a clean set of green robes. Feeling refreshed, he next cast a fireball, which quickly dried the rainwater on the ground with its intense heat. After completing these tasks, he tidied up the disordered cultivation room before stepping out. Chapter 176 Undercurrents Surge_1 Lin Tianming left the training room and came to the courtyard.At that moment, Lin Shilu was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. Lin Tianming didn''t expect to bump into Lin Shilu as soon as he left seclusion. With a smile on his face, he immediately walked up to greet him. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling the aura emitted by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu rejoiced and exclaimed, "Tianming, have you made a breakthrough, my boy?" Lin Tianming''s complexion looked good, and the joy from his breakthrough had yet to subside. Hearing Lin Shilu''s question, he nodded and smiled, "Fifteenth Grandfather, if I hadn''t been suppressing my cultivation in order to consolidate it, I might have broken through half a year ago!" "Hmm... not bad. Even so, breaking through a realm every three years is still quite fast!" Lin Shilu said. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire Lin Tianming nodded; the Foundation Establishment Stage wasn''t as easy to break through as the Qi Refinement Realm. He was fairly satisfied with a progression of one stage every three years. After sitting down to chat and drink tea for a bit, Lin Tianming began to inquire about the Mysterious Moon Order. Seeing Lin Tianming ask about this, Lin Shilu''s expression grew serious, and he then said, "In the marketplace, there have sporadically been rumors about the Mysterious Moon Order for nearly a year now!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately became interested! Lin Shilu picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and continued, "According to the rumors, a few months ago in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, a Mysterious Moon Order appeared out of nowhere, leading to a frenzied struggle for it. As a result, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators perished, and the Mysterious Moon Order eventually ended up in the hands of a Loose Cultivator named Liu Zhong. This person disappeared with the token, seemingly finding a place to hide, waiting for the Secret Realm to open!" "Liu Zhong?" Hearing this name, Lin Tianming carefully thought it over but didn''t recall any information about the man. "Fifteenth Grandfather, who is this Liu Zhong, and how come I have never heard of him?" Lin Tianming asked. When it came to Liu Zhong, Lin Shilu''s expression turned grave, seeming to hold considerable wariness towards him. "Curiously enough, he and that ancient-surnamed Golden Core Cultivator you''ve met are both from the Huangyang Country Cultivation World in Jingzhou. However, Liu Zhong frequently mingles within Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Though a Loose Cultivator, his talent and cultivation are not low; he managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level before the age of one hundred. Moreover, this individual is extremely dangerous, quite powerful, and ruthless. To gain opportunities, he would stop at nothing, having committed numerous murderous and plundering acts. If by chance you encounter this man, you must be very careful!" After listening to Lin Shilu''s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded, taking mental note of this person''s name to avoid being oblivious when meeting this dangerous figure. After advising Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu''s topic subtly shifted. "This matter of the Mysterious Moon Order is causing quite a stir in Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Cultivators from other regions are flooding into the Qianchuan Mountain Range, hoping to try their luck. The currents are turbulent in Wei Kingdom now, with a vast number of Cultivators gathering here. After all, securing even one token, even if they can''t enter themselves, allows them to trade it with the Great Sects or other forces in exchange for a wealth of resources!" It came as a surprise to Lin Tianming that the news of the Mysterious Moon Order was now common knowledge. Now that the word had spread, and so many Cultivators had come to the Qianchuan Mountain Range, he wondered what stance the Zhenyang Sect, the local power, would take. With this in mind, Lin Tianming asked: "Fifteenth Grandfather, what are the attitudes of the three Great Sects and the two Great Golden Core Families regarding this issue?" Lin Shilu''s brows furrowed, then he replied: "At present, Zhenyang Sect has shown no particular stance. After all, there are too many people coming, and even Zhenyang Sect wouldn''t dare to provoke public anger. They''ve merely declared that whoever brings in the Mysterious Moon Order will receive spirit stones or treasures worth tens of thousands, or even choose a Foundation Establishment Pill!" "Moreover, Myriad Medicine Valley, Golden Sword Sect, and the two Great Sects, as well as the Yingchuan Chen Family and the West River Li Family, have all put out similar words; whoever submits the Mysterious Moon Order will also receive a vast quantity of spirit stones or treasures." Upon hearing all this from Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming immediately understood that every Golden Elixir Force was highly valuing the Mysterious Moon Order, even willing to trade Foundation Establishment Pills for it. The preciousness of the Foundation Establishment Pill was self-evident. Even for Golden Elixir Forces, the amount produced each year was very limited, and those pills that made it to the market would inevitably cause fierce competition. For the Mysterious Moon Order, they were indeed investing heavily! However, upon careful consideration, although the Foundation Establishment Pills were valuable, if they could obtain more Mysterious Moon Orders, they would be able to send more Cultivators into the Secret Realm to hunt for treasures. The more people entering the Secret Realm, the safer it would be, and the greater the odds of finding treasures. If they could find Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, then what they paid for a Foundation Establishment Pill would be negligible. Viewed this way, it was understandable why the Golden Elixir Forces attached so much importance to it. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a rush of excitement. They had obtained two Mysterious Moon Orders. If they could enter and find a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they might help Lin Shikang break through to the Golden Core Stage, and then the Lin Family could return to glory and become the third Golden Core Family in the Wei Kingdom! But for now, the Secret Realm had yet to appear, and the entrance conditions were unknown. Weighing these possibilities seemed futile. With this thought, Lin Tianming asked with a sense of resignation: "Fifteenth Grandfather, does the frequent appearance of the Mysterious Moon Order indicate that the Secret Realm is about to open?" Lin Shilu nodded and then said: "Indeed, that is very likely. This realm is definitely an unclaimed Secret Realm. With the Mysterious Moon Order emerging in large numbers, it will appear in the world within a few months at the earliest, or three years at the latest!" "We have two Mysterious Moon Orders, and under no circumstances can we pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we can enter and obtain Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, Elder Brother''s chances of Core Formation will greatly increase!" Chapter 176 Undercurrents Surge_2 At this point, Lin Shilu''s gaze was resolute, with a hint of longing flashing in his eyes.The Lin Family had languished in obscurity for far too long. Such an opportunity was rare and sought after¡ªperhaps this was the chance their family had been waiting for. "Fifteenth Grandfather, I implore you to keep a close eye on this matter. As soon as the Secret Realm opens and we learn of the entry requirements, we must act swiftly. We can''t afford to miss this opportunity!" Lin Tianming said with excitement. Hearing Lin Tianming''s earnest instructions, Lin Shilu smiled faintly and replied: "Rest assured, my boy. I have already instructed Tianfeng and the others to keep a close watch on any news regarding the Mysterious Moon Order. As soon as we receive word, we''ll consult with you on our next steps immediately!" "I will enter seclusion to engage in Alchemy and then cultivate, striving to enhance my cultivation as much as possible and make preparations in advance!" Lin Tianming stated. "Go ahead!" Lin Shilu waved his hand dismissively. "Tian Ming takes his leave!" Lin Tianming bowed and then left the Cave Mansion Courtyard, emerging onto the streets of the marketplace. With Lin Shilu attending to the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order, Lin Tianming didn''t need to be distracted by it. Now that he had made a breakthrough in cultivation, and despite having more than ten Qiuxing Fruits left, the priority was to attempt producing Dragon Bone Pills as soon as possible, in anticipation of what was to come. Otherwise, once he ran out of Qiuxing Fruits and without the aid of elixirs, his cultivation would stagnate, wasting precious time. Fortunately, he had already acquired the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill, and most of the other Spiritual Medicine Materials were nearly all collected, only lacking Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit to start the alchemy process. Although these two ingredients were not exceedingly rare, they were also not commonly found. He planned to visit Sky Dragon Pavilion to see if they stocked these items. If they did, he would buy them immediately and return to refine pills. Settling on his plan, he strode briskly down the streets, heading towards the commercial district of the marketplace. On the way, the streets bustled with crowds of cultivators, the flow of people significantly increased by two or three times the usual, presumably because of the Mysterious Moon Order, attracting many cultivators to try their luck here. He paid them no heed, quickly arriving at Sky Dragon Pavilion where he was led by the receiving cultivator to a private room on the second floor. Soon after, Tang Xiuyuan''s hearty laughter reached his ears. "Ah, if it isn''t Daoist Chen! It''s been a long while; you have my salutations!" Tang Xiuyuan greeted, bowing with his hands clasped and a smile on his face. Lin Tianming stood to return the gesture and then both men sat opposite each other. He took a sip of the Spiritual Tea before him and said: "Hehe, indeed, it''s been over a year. I''m here today to look for two types of Spiritual Medicine Materials!" Hearing this, and recalling Lin Tianming''s generous spending in the past, Tang Xiuyuan immediately showed interest. "Oh? What might those be?" "Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit! Does your esteemed establishment carry these items?" Lin Tianming asked expectantly, getting straight to the point. "Autumn Night Grass? Xing Luan Fruit?" Tang Xiuyuan seemed surprised, but he didn''t show any particular reaction as he said: "These items may not be of high tier, merely Second Order inferior grade Spiritual Medicines, and indeed they aren''t common. But, Daoist Chen, you''re in luck¡ªour shop happens to have three stalks of Autumn Night Grass and five Xing Luan Fruits!" Lin Tianming, excited to hear that these two types of Spiritual Medicine Materials were available, inquired: "May I know the price?" "Each stalk of Autumn Night Grass is priced at two hundred and ten Spirit Stones, and each Xing Luan Fruit at one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!" Tang Xiuyuan replied forthrightly. Lin Tianming wasn''t surprised by the prices. Ordinary Second Order inferior grade Spiritual Medicine Materials would typically cost just over a hundred Spirit Stones, but the two types he sought were rarer, hence the higher prices. Still, he decided to purchase these Spiritual Medicines. Although he would only have materials for three batches, considering that he was merely attempting to produce Dragon Bone Pills for the first time, and unsure of its feasibility, it made sense to try out three batches. If they proved to assist his cultivation, he''d then purchase materials on a larger scale for pill refining. "Daoist Tang, I''ll take three portions of each of these two Spiritual Medicine Materials!" Having made his decision, Lin Tianming didn''t bother to negotiate and directly handed over one thousand one hundred and seventy Spirit Stones to Tang Xiuyuan. Tang Xiuyuan received the Spirit Stones, then with a wave of his sleeve, six Jade Boxes appeared in his hand. Lin Tianming took the six Jade Boxes, checking the contents to confirm they were indeed Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit of the correct medicinal properties, then stowed them in his storage bag. With the transaction complete, Lin Tianming exchanged some pleasantries with Tang Xiuyuan before leaving the Sky Dragon Pavilion and returning to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming sat on the floor and ran the Cultivation Technique for a cycle of Grand Circulation, bringing his body to its peak condition. Opening his eyes, he suddenly produced two Jade Slips. One contained the Dragon Bone Pill Formula he had bought from the stall area, and the other recorded the Alchemy Experience gifted by Ye Pinghai. Even though he had already reviewed both Jade Slips several times, committing their contents to memory, he sent out his Divine Sense to go over the recorded information once more. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire After a quarter of an hour had passed, Lin Tianming put away the two Jade Slips and then took out the Four Symbols Furnace. He made a Single-handed Seal, expertly ignited the Earth Fire, and then tossed the Four Symbols Furnace to hover steadily above the Earth Fire''s opening. Effortlessly completing the preparatory steps before pill refining, he then picked up a Second Order Qingxu Serpent Demon Elixir, examining it in his hand. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the grey-white inner core, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but reflect on the difficulty of its acquisition. Regaining his focus, he arranged all the necessary materials for the Dragon Bone Pill, setting them neatly on the nearby stone platform. Now, everything was in place, except for the eastern wind. Taking a deep breath, he began warming the furnace, and when the temperature reached the desired level, he tossed a stalk of Spiritual Medicine Material into the Four Symbols Furnace. The initial stages of decomposition and purification were no different from regular elixir production, posing no challenge for him. Chapter 176 Undertows_3 Soon, after an hour of high-intensity decomposition and purification, batch after batch of Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Fruits were broken down completely.At the bottom of the Four Symbols Furnace, a multicolored blob of Elixir Essence lay within the furnace. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead, then tossed the Second Order Qingxu Snake Inner Pill into the Four Symbols Furnace. As the ash-white Qingxu Snake Inner Pill entered the incredibly hot furnace, it suddenly came to life, bouncing around wildly. Lin Tianming dared not be careless, for a Demon Beast Inner Pill was not as gentle as Spiritual Medicine Materials, and a slight misstep could cause an explosion. The energy contained within a Second Order Demon Core was terrifying; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator might face mortal danger at such close proximity. He focused all his attention on maneuvering his Divine Sense, forcibly suppressing the inner core before starting to break it down. As half a day passed, inside the Four Symbols Furnace, the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill had completely disappeared, and the original Elixir Essence had expanded in size, its color also undergoing a drastic change to greenish-red. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. The most dangerous step was over, and what followed was the most critical Solidifying Pill process. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He took a deep breath, then performed a Single-handed Seal, striking a Law Decree on the Earth Fire vent. With a quiet sound, the Earth Fire spurted out, raising the temperature inside the Four Symbols Furnace to another level. Lin Tianming had a grave expression, constantly sensing the changes within the Four Symbols Furnace. Once the temperature was about right, he slapped the Four Symbols Furnace, unleashing a stream of Spiritual Power from his hand that plunged into the furnace and vanished without a trace. With the Infusion of Spirit complete, he controlled the temperature of the Earth Fire while chanting to himself. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire "Solidify!" A piercing sound emanated, followed by several crisp pops from within the Pill Furnace. Hearing the noise, Lin Tianming''s face changed color. After the sounds ceased, he immediately lifted the lid of the furnace. All that lay inside were a pile of medicinal dregs mixed with two broken pills. He picked up one of the shattered elixirs, holding it in his hands and pondering over it carefully. "It seems possible to have successfully concocted it; it was just that I didn''t control the temperature and timing of the Infusion of Spirit well, causing the Alchemy to fail!" "It looks like the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill can indeed replace the Qinglong Jiao Inner Dan, and it really can be used to concoct the Dragon Bone Pill," Lin Tianming muttered to himself, a smile flashing across his face. Although the first batch of elixirs was a failure, it was close to being a success, giving him unlimited hope. After cleaning up the wasted medicinal dregs, he began to recuperate, waiting until his condition was at its peak before continuing with the concoction. "With three sets of materials, I must successfully create a batch of pills!" he thought to himself, then began to recover his energy. Half a day later, Lin Tianming''s condition had recovered, and he once again dove into the intense process of pill concoction. Having learned from the first failure, he was extremely cautious while concocting the second batch of elixirs, doing his best to execute each step perfectly. With familiarity and diligent effort, he saw his work pay off, successfully solidifying the second batch of pills. In the Pill Refining Room, when a unique medicinal fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace, he didn''t care about his profuse sweating and hastily uncovered the lid of the furnace. Inside were five greenish-red pills suspended in the furnace. He immediately took out one pill and carefully examined it. "This is certainly a finished product, no doubt about it, but I wonder if it will be effective!" Lin Tianming thought to himself, his face expressing excitement. However, not being in good condition at the moment, he could only try it out another day. With that thought, he closed his eyes and began to meditate, preparing to refine the remaining set of materials and then to test the finished elixirs. Chapter 177 The Secret Realm Appears_1 Two days later...In the alchemy room, a fragrance wafted from the Four Symbols Furnace, quickly filling the entire alchemy room. Lin Tianming was overjoyed and hastily lifted the lid of the furnace, only to see five pills, intermingled with shades of green and red, lying at the bottom. He stored the pills in a jade bottle, then took out two to carefully compare. The results showed that the pills from both batches were identical, each one saturated with color, indistinguishable from the description of the Dragon Bone Pill. From three sets of materials, two successful batches yielded ten pills; both the success rate and quantity of pills were quite impressive. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, then tidied up the pill refining room, and moved on to the cultivation chamber. Sitting on a meditation mat in the cultivation chamber, he closed his eyes to regulate his breathing until he reached his peak condition, then opened his eyes. Lin Tianming then took out a Lingshen Pill and, without hesitation, swallowed it. As soon as the pill entered his mouth, he began to channel his energy to refine it, and the power contained within the pill started to flow through his meridians, bringing on a familiar sense of pain. Sweat began to seep out of Lin Tianming''s forehead; clenching his teeth, he quickly swallowed a prepared Dragon Bone Pill. The moment the Dragon Bone Pill was ingested, he started to refine it. Within a few breaths, the energy from the Dragon Bone Pill was gentle, like stepping into warm water, the comfortable sensation slowly suppressing the pain in his body. "This improved Dragon Bone Pill really works." Lin Tianming was ecstatic, and he then started to fully operate his cultivation technique, refining the potency of both the Lingshen Pill and the Dragon Bone Pill. As the speed of refinement increased sharply, the power of the Dragon Bone Pill took effect, suppressing the pain from the Lingshen Pill while also improving his physique. Crackling sounds came from inside his body. He extended his Divine Sense to observe the energetic flow of the pill''s potency quicken within him, eventually seeping into his skin, bones, and organs. A unique sensation reached his mind, and simultaneously, assisted by the pill, his sinews and bones began to strengthen until they became more solid and powerful. Lin Tianming couldn''t contain his delight, and he retracted his Divine Sense, wholeheartedly devoting himself to cultivation. Several days later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and a smile spread across his face, his heart trembling with excitement. The effects of the Dragon Bone Pill were truly unexpected; it not only perfectly suppressed the pain during cultivation but also further strengthened his body, surpassing the Body Strengthening Pill by quite a margin. Just one Dragon Bone Pill had made his physique stronger by a notch, an outcome he had never anticipated. However, on reflection, the Dragon Bone Pill was hard to come by and quite valuable. The spiritual medicine materials used in a single batch were worth hundreds of Spirit Stones, and more importantly, a Second Order Qingxu Snake Demon Core was valued at over a thousand Spirit Stones. Hence, for this batch of five pills, the cost per pill was several hundred; such an effect was actually to be expected. Currently, with nine Dragon Bone Pills and over ten Qiuxing Fruits remaining, he wouldn''t lack resources for cultivation for a few years. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming closed his eyes and resumed cultivation. Months later... At the southern border of the Wei Kingdom, near the boundary with Jingzhou''s Huangyang Kingdom, a sudden ear-splitting rumble echoed from a colossal canyon. The ground shook violently, fissures spreading for several miles around the valley, eventually giving way to a flash of golden light, followed by the sudden appearance of a barrier of light. This scene unfolded simultaneously across the vast expanse of land straddling the border between the Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom. The Whirlwind Mountain Range, located at the border of Jingzhou''s Huangyang Kingdom and the Wei Kingdom, and only a thousand miles from the Luoyun Mountain Range of the Wei Kingdom, is a rarely populated and lawless region. The same upheaval occurred here as well, the ground splitting open as a barrier of light emerged. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire At that moment, the nearby cultivators quickly detected the disturbance and all rushed towards its source. A middle-aged cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining flew on a sword towards the heart of the Whirlwind Mountain Range. This man was named Li Zhen, a Loose Cultivator who had spent years roaming between the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World and the Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Upon noticing the commotion, he was certain that a treasure had emerged and flew straight toward the interior of the Whirlwind Mountain Range without hesitation. In no time, he reached the vicinity of the newly formed light barrier. By then, over a dozen Qi Refining Cultivators had gathered, all cautiously observing the barrier, hoping to discover something from it. All the cultivators present were of the Qi Refining Cultivation level, with limited experience, and were unable to discern anything about the sudden appearance of the light barrier. Among the crowd, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining became impatient. With a single-handed seal, he unleashed a blast of Sword Qi at the barrier. "Clang..." With a resounding bang, the Sword Qi rapidly rebounded upon hitting the light barrier, hurtling back towards the cultivator who released it. The cultivator let out a scream; unable to dodge in time, his arm was severed by the rebounding Sword Qi. He turned pale and his face revealed a look of terror; had he not shifted his body just in time, he might have fallen right there. With this earlier example set, everyone else was afraid to act rashly. Seeing Li Zhen arrive, the assembled Qi Refining Cultivators stepped back and showed a wary expression. Li Zhen looked at the light barrier here and, thinking of the rumors of a secret realm opening in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, swiftly concluded that this was indeed the opening of a secret realm. However, seeing the vigilant eyes of the crowd and the injured cultivator, he did not betray any unusual reaction. Casting another glance at the cultivators present, he no longer paid them any attention and flew away on his sword, disappearing from their sight. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 177 The Secret Realm Appears_2 Qianchuan Market...In the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard''s training room, there was some strange movement coming from the Mysterious Moon Order inside the storage bag. Lin Tianming''s expression changed, and he quickly took out the Mysterious Moon Order, then held it in his hand to inspect it. At that moment, the patterns on the Mysterious Moon Order became clear. Not only that, as he infused Spiritual Energy, he distinctly felt waves of fluctuation emanating from the token. The Mysterious Moon Order, silent for several years, reacted for the first time. A few breaths'' time passed, and Lin Tianming''s face showed ecstatic joy. He immediately sent out a message and then hurriedly rushed out of the training room. In no time, in the courtyard of the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were sitting opposite each other. Seeing the expression on Lin Tianming''s face, Lin Shilu was instantly alarmed and quickly thought of the reason. "Tianming, has the Mysterious Moon Order responded?" he probed. After nodding, Lin Tianming replied, "Fifteenth Grandfather, the Mysterious Moon Order just stirred. When I infused it with Spiritual Energy, the patterns on it became clear. From the aura emitting from the token, it is clear that the Secret Realm has materialized!" After speaking, Lin Tianming took out a Mysterious Moon Order and passed it to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu''s face lit up with joy as he took the Mysterious Moon Order and began to examine it carefully. Indeed, he quickly noticed the aura emanating from the Mysterious Moon Order and also sensed the conditions for entering the Secret Realm. At this time, Lin Shilu''s face showed wild excitement as he spoke to himself. "This Mysterious Moon Order is truly miraculous. If nothing unexpected occurs, there will be many entrances to the Secret Realm, and the conditions for entry are quite lenient. As long as one is not over a hundred years old, they can carry the token and enter the Secret Realm!" Hearing Lin Shilu affirm this, Lin Tianming''s heart was also filled with excitement. An age limit of one hundred years was, by the standards of the Cultivation World''s many Secret Realms, not high at all. It is said that some Secret Realms have very peculiar entry requirements, and often not many people meet the criteria, only able to watch helplessly as opportunities slip away before their eyes. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming then asked, "Fifteenth Grandfather, what should we do next?" "Such an opportunity, even if it is filled with extreme danger, we must not forsake it!" "From the current situation, there is a month from the materialization to the opening of the Secret Realm. We need to immediately return to the family and inform the Third Brother and the others, then hasten to find the entrance to the Secret Realm and wait for its opening!" Lin Tianming nodded, aware of the urgency and that they had no time to delay. "There''s no time to lose; let''s set off for the family at once!" Lin Tianming declared. "Yes, let''s take action immediately!" responded Lin Shilu, then issued a transmission, summoning Lin Xingping over. Seeing the firm joy on the faces of Lin Tianming and another, Lin Xingping asked curiously: "Fifteenth Uncle, I''ve heard many rumors about Secret Realms recently. Does our family have a way to get in?" "Hmm... indeed, that''s the case!" Lin Shilu nodded in confirmation, then instructed: "Tianming and I must rush back to the family immediately. I leave Qianchuan Market in your hands, Xingping. Remember not to stir up trouble or reveal our whereabouts. Just say we''re in closed-door cultivation if anyone asks. If there''s anything you can''t deal with, you can seek the help of Daoist Ye!" Hearing the instructions, Lin Xingping stood up, his expression resolute as he said: "Rest assured, Fifteenth Uncle, I will take good care of the market. Please, be safe!" "Let''s set off right away!" Having spoken, Lin Tianming and the other person immediately got up and left the courtyard of the Cave Mansion. After changing their appearance, they quickly made their way to the market entrance. Having left the market, the two of them did not stop for a moment, mounted the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, and turned into a dark shadow flying towards the south. Riding on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu''s Divine Sense was fully open, constantly monitoring every movement around them. And just like that, ten days passed in a blink of an eye... During this period, both the Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom were abuzz with activity as over ten entrances to the Secret Realm appeared, the news quickly spreading throughout these two regions. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and the other were blissfully unaware, as they were in the midst of hastened travel. With Lin Shilu accompanying him, Lin Tianming didn''t have to worry too much about safety, as the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle was pushed to its limit. In ten days, they had travelled from Qianchuan Market to the edge of Green Bamboo Mountain, and even passed by Golden Horn Mountain without having time to stop and greet Lin Xingrong. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his companion looked exhausted, but they forewent rest and dove straight into the Protective Clan Formation. Shortly thereafter, at the Cave Mansion Courtyard atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, where Lin Shikang resided. Lin Shikang, Lin Shihua, and Lin Shigong were gathered in the courtyard, staring wide-eyed at the two who had hastily returned. Knowing the urgency of the situation, Lin Shilu didn''t hold back and immediately spoke up about the matter at hand. "Third brother, the Mysterious Moon Order has activated, the Secret Realm has appeared!" "What? The Secret Realm has appeared?" "When? And what are the entry restrictions?" Upon hearing the news, the others exclaimed in shock, their faces filled with incredulous expressions. Lin Shilu was inundated with questions before he could even catch his breath. Seeing this, Lin Tianming interjected with information about the Mysterious Moon Order. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ten days ago, the Mysterious Moon Order suddenly became active. We confirmed the requirements and restrictions for entering the Secret Realm, and without delay, we rushed back to the family to discuss the matter with our elders!" "As for the restriction on entering the Secret Realm, any cultivator below the age of one hundred can enter freely!" Upon hearing these restrictions, the Lin Family was completely eligible, and the faces of Lin Shikang and the others were overjoyed. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and immediately said: "Shilu, among our family members under a hundred years old, your cultivation is the highest. My age doesn''t meet the requirements, so it looks like we must rely on you!" Before he finished speaking, Lin Shihua also chimed in. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire "Indeed, the Secret Realm is filled with unimaginable dangers. You must be careful on your own. If it truly becomes unsustainable, find a place to hide. When the Secret Realm closes, you will be transported out!" After speaking, Lin Shilu frowned, remembering that they only knew of Lin Tianming acquiring one Mysterious Moon Order, but were unaware that over a year ago, the two of them had obtained another token from Gu Tong. He chuckled and said, "Third brother, after we killed Gu Tong in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, we acquired another token. We didn''t pay much attention to it at the time and therefore didn''t inform everyone!" "Is that true?" Lin Shikang was somewhat incredulous. Lin Tianming promptly took out both tokens and placed them before everyone. Lin Shikang picked up both tokens to examine them, and then laughed heartily. "Truly, the heavens bless our Lin Family. With two tokens, our chances of seizing opportunities have greatly increased!" Lin Shihua was also thrilled and quickly added: "Tianming''s cultivation is not low, and he has fought side by side with Shilu on many occasions. Let''s settle on these candidates for entering the Secret Realm." Lin Shikang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the pair before asking for their opinions. Lin Tianming and his companion naturally wouldn''t decline. Although entering the Secret Realm was fraught with immense danger and could even cost them their lives, among the family members under a hundred, only their cultivation was somewhat higher. Beyond that, the Secret Realm also offered vast opportunities. If they obtained treasures, they could keep a portion for themselves, which would be of great assistance on their path of cultivation. "As Lin Family members, it is our bounden duty!" the two declared in unison. Lin Shikang nodded and then instructed: "Shihua, you and a few others immediately gather some clanspeople above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Search around Luoyun Market and the nearby Qianchuan Mountain Range. Once the Secret Realm Entrance is found, report back to the family without delay!" "Alright, I''m on it!" After responding, Lin Shihua stood up and left to summon family members and search for news. With Lin Shihua''s departure, Lin Shikang began to issue orders: "Shigong, I must stay to guard the family. You and a few others also need to go out and search for the Secret Realm Entrance. The Qi Refining Clanspeople''s search is too slow; they can hardly gather any news. It will be easier for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to search!" "Remember to focus on searching the major mountain ranges. Do not venture too deeply into the mountains and prioritize the mission over everything else!" Lin Tianming and the others nodded, understanding the urgency. Despite their fatigue and not having time to rest, they stood up and left the courtyard. After exiting the Protective Clan Formation, they briefly discussed before each chose a direction and hurriedly set off. Chapter 178 Preparation_1 In the southern part of the Luoyun Mountain Range, above a mundane city.Through the thick clouds, a Purple Gold Eagle swiftly flew over Qingfeng Town, heading straight towards the south. It had been nearly ten years since Lin Tianming last visited Qingfeng Town. Returning to this place and looking down at the vast range of buildings below, he felt a great sense of nostalgia. Following the end of the clan war within the Luoyun Mountain Range, many mortals from the Jin and Wu Families had been relocated, gathering in the five major towns of their clan. Now, Qingfeng Town had further expanded in size and its population had noticeably increased. Gazing at the newly-built wooden pavilions below and the city having expanded by a third, Lin Tianming didn''t stay long before continuing to fly southward on the Purple Gold Eagle. Half a day later, Lin Tianming arrived at the southern part of Qingfeng Town, near the edge of the Whirlwind Mountain Range close to Huangyang Kingdom. He stopped atop a hill and gazed at the lofty, distant mountains on the horizon, lost in thought. Just then, three Qi Refining Cultivators flew in his direction as a group, their expressions showing some excitement. The three cultivators failed to notice Lin Tianming at all until they were a few hundred zhang away, when they finally realized he was standing with his arms folded, waiting for them to approach. Seeing Lin Tianming, the fact that they hadn''t detected him sooner surely meant that he must be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, without a doubt. The highest-cultivated among them, Xiao Jingshan, looked somewhat nervous upon realizing this and did not dare to leave directly. He bravely came forward to pay his respects, followed closely by the other two who stepped up to the front of Lin Tianming. "This younger generation pays respect to the senior!" The three, led by Xiao Jingshan, bowed respectfully with clasped hands. Lin Tianming waved dismissively, adopting an indifferent demeanor as he spoke, "Why are you three in such a rush? Has something significant occurred?" Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s interrogating words, the faces of Xiao Jingshan and the other two turned pale, and they immediately divulged the strange occurrences within the Whirlwind Mountain Range without any reservations. Hearing this, Lin Tianming was puzzled, but at this critical juncture, all peculiar events had to be thoroughly investigated. With this in mind, he asked, "Is there a treasure that has appeared? In what exact location?" "Senior, the three of us encountered it while cultivating in the Whirlwind Mountain Range. The location is at the edge of the mountain range, roughly a few hundred li to the south," they replied. Before they had finished speaking, Lin Tianming remained composed and then spoke, "Tell me the details. If I find this information interesting, I could reward you generously!" Hearing the promise of a reward, one of the Qi Refining Cultivators at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement immediately started speaking, eager to make a good impression. "Senior, it was ten days ago when suddenly, there was a huge noise in that mountain range. The ground shook violently, and a crack opened on the valley floor out of nowhere. Soon after, a light screen appeared between heaven and earth that could reflect attacks. It is very bizarre!" "Yes, at the time, many cultivators were drawn over, but no one could do anything about the light screen that appeared out of thin air. Some even had their arms severed by the rebounding attacks!" The three took turns explaining the strange happenings, providing far more detail than they had initially offered. In no time, Lin Tianming had a rough understanding of the situation and also knew the exact location of the valley. "Without a doubt, the strange disturbances within the Whirlwind Mountain Range are the signs of a Secret Realm''s emergence!" Lin Tianming thought to himself. Excited by the thought, Lin Tianming kept his emotions hidden, maintaining a distant expression. "This information you''ve provided is indeed interesting to me. Here is a little token of appreciation," Lin Tianming said, and casually took out three hundred Spirit Stones, distributing them to the three Qi Refining Cultivators. Each person received a hundred Spirit Stones, which was nearly equivalent to several months of their earnings. Seeing the Spirit Stones, Xiao Jingshan and the others showed delighted expressions and quickly bowed to express their gratitude. Lin Tianming gestured dismissively, then paid them no more attention. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Now that he had found the entrance to a Secret Realm, he naturally wanted to investigate it immediately. After that, he would rush back to his clan. His time was pressing, and he needed to reach the Whirlwind Mountain Range with Lin Shilu as soon as possible. It would be a pity to miss the opportunity to enter the Secret Realm due to any delay. With this thought, Lin Tianming didn''t linger and, with a great leap covering a hundred zhang, he quickly disappeared into the sky. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching Lin Tianming vanish, Xiao Jingshan and the other two let out a sigh of relief, their faces filled with joy as they left together. ... By evening half a day later, Lin Tianming followed the directions provided by Xiao Jingshan and his companions, quickly arriving near the entrance to the Secret Realm. From a distance, he could see the earth cracked open, revealing a light screen with golden light twinkling and emitting faint fluctuations of a prohibition, easily discernible even from behind a small hill. "It seems these three had the sense not to deceive me!" Lin Tianming murmured to himself, having confirmed the location of the Secret Realm Entrance. He didn''t care for the darkness of night and turned directly north, flying away. Luckily, he wasn''t too far from the Luoyun Mountain and no powers resided in this area. With the Purple Gold Eagle flying at full speed, it wouldn''t take long to enter the territory of his clan. ... Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming, who had rushed back from the edge of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, plunged into the Protective Clan Formation. Once back on clan grounds, he immediately sent messages to several elders and made his way to Lin Shikang''s abode to gather. In no time, he arrived at Lin Shikang''s cave dwellings. Seeing Lin Tianming return first, Lin Shikang quickly pressed, "Tianming, have you located the Secret Realm Entrance?" "Third Grandfather, your nephew found an entrance to a Secret Realm at the border of Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom, within the Whirlwind Mountain Range!" Lin Tianming reported. Chapter 178 Preparation_2 Before the sound of his words faded, Lin Shikang''s expression grew overjoyed, and his stern face instantly flushed with color."Are you certain you saw it with your own eyes?" Lin Shikang asked. As Lin Tianming recalled the scene he had witnessed, he assuredly replied: "Third Grandfather, even from several miles away, I could easily detect the ripples of the barrier around the entrance to the Secret Realm and that golden glimmering light; I am definitely not mistaken!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s utterly affirmative words, Lin Shikang nodded, his heart brimming with joy. Lin Tianming, just as overjoyed, had sent out messages for a long time yet without seeing Lin Shilu and his grandfather arrive. He then asked: "Third Grandfather, have my grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather not returned yet?" Seeing Lin Tianming bring up this matter, Lin Shikang said: "You were all spread out in search of the Secret Realm Entrance; they probably haven''t found it yet. You stay with the family, I''ll immediately go and find Shilu!" Lin Tianming nodded, then instructed: "Before we split up, I was responsible for searching the south, and Fifteenth Grandfather went to the Luoyun Mountain Range in the west. If nothing has gone wrong, he should still be in that direction!" "Alright, I''ll be back quickly!" With that reply, Lin Shikang immediately vanished from his side, moving so quickly that even Lin Tianming could not detect him. "Third Grandfather''s Ninth Layer ability is truly terrifying!" Lin Tianming muttered softly to himself, then left his cave dwelling and returned to his own small courtyard. Sitting in the training room, Lin Tianming took out the Thousand Beast Banner as well as two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans and placed them before him. The entrance to the Secret Realm awaited, and what lay inside would certainly be fraught with deadly perils; he had to make full preparations. Gazing at these treasures, he fell deep into thought. Currently, in terms of attack, he had the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to entrap enemies, and the Thousand Beast Banner to assist; unfolding both tactics simultaneously would make it exceedingly difficult for foes to dodge. The Tiangang Sword would be utilized for launching attacks, and having reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, he could now conjure an additional sword strike; he hadn''t tested the power of two conjured swords overlapping, but undoubtedly, it would be astonishing. Beyond that, the two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans were the cards up his sleeve for saving his life, not to be used lightly unless in a critical moment. It was only a pity that the sword qi generated by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had already been used, and reassembling it quickly would yield sword qi that was too immature; barely a year and a half old, forcefully conjuring it would probably barely exceed the strength of an ordinary attack¡ªit would be impossible to use it against enemies. After reviewing his attack methods, Lin Tianming thought to himself. With his strength, he estimated that handling a Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator wouldn''t be a problem, and even if he faced a slightly weaker Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivator, he could manage some resistance. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming started to organize his defensive measures. The defensive artifacts on his person were few, consisting only of two First Order Top-Quality Defensive Spiritual Weapons and three Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans. Since Defense Talismans of Second Order Medium Quality and above were particularly rare, he had not prepared any, but with the Eye of Five Colors to spot flaws, attacking him wouldn''t be so easy either. Though his defensive artifacts were few, as long as he did not encounter a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivator, escaping defeat should be no issue. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having gathered his thoughts, Lin Tianming brought his palms together and began to cultivate, circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. Three days later... A Messaging Aura flew into his training room, causing Lin Tianming to furrow his brows, then he stood up and left the training room. In a short while, he arrived at Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling. By then, Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang were sitting in the courtyard, both looking somewhat weary. Lin Tianming stepped forward and bowed to the two of them, saying, "I greet Third Grandfather, I greet Fifteenth Grandfather!" Lin Shikang waved his hand, motioning him to sit down, while Lin Shilu smiled and then asked: "Tianming, you found the entrance to the Secret Realm?" "Fifteenth Grandfather, Third Grandfather didn''t tell you?" Lin Tianming asked, somewhat surprised. "Of course he did, but it''s just to confirm in passing!" Lin Shilu replied. "Alright, Shihua and the others have not yet returned to the family; with time pressing, we cannot wait for them. You two should set out for the entrance to the Secret Realm immediately; as soon as the moment arrives, enter the realm at once!" After Lin Shikang finished speaking, he took out two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans and two Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans and handed them to Lin Tianming and the other person. At the same time, he also took out two fiery red beads and handed one to each of them. "Fire Spirit Pearl?" Lin Tianming''s complexion was rosy with delight. The Fire Spirit Pearl was a one-time offensive treasure, made from the inner core of a Second Order Fire Elemental Demonic Beast. The higher the grade of the inner core, the greater the power of the Fire Spirit Pearl that was refined, and the greater the difficulty of its creation, making it quite precious. The Fire Spirit Pearls that Lin Shikang took out were clearly refined from the inner cores of Late Stage Second Order Demonic Beasts, so their power was naturally significant. Neither person acted pretentiously and casually accepted the talismans and beads. Lin Shikang then spoke again, advising them: "There will definitely be many Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators entering the Secret Realm, as well as people from the Five Great Golden Core Forces; their strengths are very strong. The slightly better treasures from our family are these. You should carry them all, and remember to prioritize your safety. After the Secret Realm closes, I will wait at the entrance to pick you up!" Lin Shilu nodded, then stood up and clasped his fists, replying with a resolute expression: "Third Brother, rest assured, Tian Ming and I will definitely be cautious and ensure our safe return!" "Third Grandfather, don''t worry, we will definitely return safely!" Lin Tianming said with equal firmness. "Go then!" Lin Tianming and the other stood up, clasped their fists, and together walked out of Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling. Once out of the clan''s territory, the two of them wasted no time mounting the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, and then they turned into a streak of afterimage before disappearing from Green Bamboo Mountain. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu took out the two talismans given by Lin Shikang, and then pulled out a blue shield, which was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. "Tian Ming, last time we killed quite a few Qingxu Snakes and obtained many scales. I used Second Order scales and added a lot of valuable Spirit Materials to refine two Second Order Magical Artifacts. I kept one of the Second Order Medium Quality ones for myself, and this Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifact was specially refined for you," said Lin Shilu. As he finished speaking, Lin Shilu passed the little blue shield and the two talismans to Lin Tianming. Second Order Defense Artifacts were rare; many Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Loose Cultivators didn''t even have a Second Order Low Grade Attack Artifact, much less a Defense Artifact. Yet Lin Shilu always considered Tian Ming''s best interests, unhesitatingly giving the precious Second Order Defense Artifact to him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s eyes turned slightly red, and he quickly spoke up: "Fifteenth Grandfather, the Secret Realm is full of dangers, and even you dare not say that it will be safe. You should keep it for yourself!" Lin Shilu chuckled heartily, speaking earnestly: "Silly boy, I have a Second Order Medium Quality Artifact. These talismans are actually not so useful for me; they are better off with you. Only if you are safe will I have no concerns, won''t I?" After Lin Shilu said this much, Lin Tianming was no longer ceremonious. He took the small shield and talismans, then waved them around, showing a look of loving them dearly. After a hearty laugh, Lin Shilu spoke, reminding Lin Tianming. "Name this Defense Artifact and refine it as quickly as possible. This journey is fraught with immense danger but also huge opportunities. Once again, grandfather and grandson fight side by side!" "Yes, with grandfather and grandson working together, we will definitely return safely!" Lin Tianming said with determination. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the other chatted for a few moments, named the small shield the Green Scale Shield, and then began to close their eyes and rest. With the Green Scale Shield, his defense for the trip was further strengthened, taking his strength up another notch. Pleased beyond measure, Lin Tianming played with the shield for a while, then circulated his cultivation and rested, waiting for his condition to reach its peak before he began to refine the Green Scale Shield. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire Holding the Green Scale Shield, he cast several Law Decrees, then spat fresh blood onto the shield and began the refinement process. One day later, the luster on the Green Scale Shield was bright, and the densely packed runes on its surface became even more lively. Seeing that the refinement was almost complete, Lin Tianming began imprinting his Divine Sense into the core of the Green Scale Shield. Two days later, the refinement of the Green Scale Shield was completed. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming struck the shield with a Law Decree, then infused it with Spiritual Energy. The Green Scale Shield instantly expanded and quickly formed a solid shield in front of him. Lin Tianming slammed a Sword Qi against the shield, which was easily blocked without leaving even a faint mark. Lin Tianming was very satisfied and gained some understanding of the Green Scale Shield''s defensive power. By his estimation, the shield could easily withstand attacks from someone at the Foundation Building Fourth Level, and even to break through it with his full-powered attack would take considerable effort. After handling the shield for a while, Lin Tianming stored it away, and then he closed his eyes to cultivate and rest. Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_1 Huangyang Kingdom, Whirlwind Mountain Range.The Purple Gold Eagle carried Lin Tianming and his companion southward. After three days of flying with a brief rest overnight, they finally arrived near the Secret Realm Entrance in the evening. By that time, more than twenty days had passed since the Secret Realm became visible. When a month was reached, they would be able to enter the realm with the Mysterious Realm Token. Lin Tianming and his companion landed in a small valley outside the Secret Realm Entrance, preparing to cultivate there and wait out the last ten days. The place was less than fifty miles from the Secret Realm Entrance and far from the land of disputes, which made it relatively safe for the time being. They quickly set up a simple cave dwelling in a nearby valley and both entered to begin seclusion. The long journey had left Lin Tianming and his companion quite exhausted, with significant consumption of spiritual power and Divine Sense, leaving them in poor condition. Both sat cross-legged in the cave. Lin Shilu took out an elixir, swallowed it, and quickly entered a state of cultivation. Lin Tianming wasn''t idle either. With ten days left, he wanted to enhance his cultivation as much as possible to survive in the Secret Realm. With that thought in mind, he casually took out a Sparse Star Fruit and swallowed it without hesitation. Inside the cave dwelling, the sound of their even breathing carried through as they both entered a deep state of cultivation. At this moment, many mountain ranges in both Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom had visible entrances to Secret Realms, the news of which had spread quickly throughout the Cultivation World. From Golden Elixir Experts to Qi Training Cultivators, everyone was paying attention to the affairs of the Secret Realm. In the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, within the layers of overlapping mountains shrouded in year-round dense fog, lay a scene that looked like a paradise on earth. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before a vast square, Zhenyang Sect''s gate looked majestic and solemn, filled with an ancient air. More than ten cultivators stood respectfully on the white jade square, each with a different expression¡ªsome brimming with excitement, others filled with worry, though most remained calm. In front of them stood an old man with thinning white hair and a Daoist bearing, hands clasped behind his back. The breeze lifted his robe, revealing an aura of a formidable being. This man was named Du Qiong. An old Golden Core Cultivator and the Second Elder of Zhenyang Sect, he had held a high position and had broken through to the Golden Core Stage over two hundred years ago. Turning his head to gaze at the more than ten people before him, Du Qiong then spoke seriously, "The Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm has opened. This is an unclaimed Profound Secret Realm, extremely dangerous within. Apart from Demonic Beasts, there will also be disciples from other forces!" "According to my knowledge, other Golden Core Forces in Wei Kingdom will have varying numbers of disciples entering, and even the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom has many forces that have obtained the Mysterious Moon Order. They too will be involved." Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the more than ten people on the field changed somewhat, but none retreated. Observing his disciples and Sect members, a fleeting and almost imperceptible smile crossed Du Qiong''s aged face. "Chu Jie." Hearing Du Qiong''s call, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level stepped forward, standing respectfully before the elder, awaiting orders. "Though this journey is fraught with dangers, it also contains great opportunities. As the disciple with the highest cultivation in the team, you will take charge of leading them." "I will heed the Second Elder''s decree," Chu Jie replied firmly and respectfully. With a nod, Du Qiong continued, "All disciples must follow orders, work together with sincerity, both for yourselves and to obtain more treasures for the Sect. Understand?" "We will honor the Second Elder''s decree," all of them answered in unison with a salute. Turning away, Du Qiong waved his sleeve, and a palm-sized, intricately crafted boat appeared in his hand¡ªit was a Flying Artifact. He sent a spell into the miniature boat, which immediately expanded countless times in size. It quickly transformed into a Spirit Boat over thirty feet long, suspended above the square, and sporadically flickering with the light of runes. Seeing the Spirit Boat grow, the eyes of the surrounding cultivators burned with desire, as such Spirit Artifacts¡ªlet alone Magic Artifacts¡ªwere rare, and typically only Golden Elixir Experts could afford to use them. "Set off!" Without paying further attention to the crowd, Du Qiong leapt up after his light command and landed steadily on the Spirit Boat. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Hearing Du Qiong''s order, the cultivators gathered their focus and one by one jumped onto the Spirit Boat, then stood to one side. As Du Qiong looked westward, he cast a spell on the Spirit Boat, which until then had been motionless. Suddenly, the craft shot forward, becoming a blur, and vanished from its original spot. As the Secret Realm manifested and its opening approached, such scenes unfolded simultaneously in several Golden Elixir Forces within Wei Kingdom. Not just them, but also Foundation Establishing Families and Loose Cultivators rushed in large numbers toward the Secret Realm Entrance. Although many came just for the excitement, there were also cultivators with ulterior motives mixing in among them. ...As ten days passed in a flurry... Whirlwind Mountain Range at dawn, with night not yet completely gone and the early morning light just starting to rise. Inside the simple cave where Lin Tianming and his companion had secluded themselves, Lin Shilu was the first to open his eyes, feeling the state of his body, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. During these few days, he hadn''t been idle either, cultivating diligently, doing everything possible to improve his cultivation level in preparation for entering the Secret Realm. At that moment, Lin Tianming heard movement and also awoke from his deep state of cultivation. After ten days, having consumed a Sparse Star Fruit, he had elevated his spiritual power cultivation and organized his offensive and defensive methods, fully preparing himself. Lin Tianming got up and walked to the entrance of the cave, where it was just starting to get light. The dim sky was growing brighter as the light screen at the Secret Realm Entrance turned more substantial. Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_2 "Fifteenth Grandfather, is today the day the secret realm opens?" Lin Tianming asked."Hmm," Lin Shilu nodded, then stood up and, as he walked away, he said: "Tianming, today is indeed the day the Secret Realm Entrance opens. Are you prepared?" "Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming has been prepared for a long time. To others, the secret realm may indeed be dangerous, but it also presents a great opportunity. The path of cultivation is inherently against the natural order, and if we, as cultivators, lose our adventurous spirit, we are bound not to get far," Tianming replied. Hearing Lin Tianming''s bold and vigorous words, Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, feeling immensely gratified in his heart. However, considering how important Lin Tianming''s talents were for the family, he could not help but caution: sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Tianming, I''m very pleased with your ambition and spirit, but don''t be overly confident. There are countless strong figures in this world, and many genius cultivators with outstanding talent have fallen halfway." "Don''t worry, Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming remembers your advice," Lin Tianming responded. Lin Shilu nodded with a smile, feeling very reassured about Lin Tianming, but he still tirelessly reminded him: "The secret realm is full of dangers. The Five Great Golden Core Forces will surely enter, and we must be cautious. Don''t come into conflict with the big powers and prioritize our own safety above everything else." Lin Tianming knew that Lin Shilu was nagging him for his own good. Touched by his concern and with a resolute attitude, he said: "Understood, please rest assured, elder." Seeing Lin Tianming''s confident demeanor, Lin Shilu said no more. "It''s getting late, let us set off now." With that, Lin Shilu strode out of the cave, with Lin Tianming following closely behind without delay. Outside the cave, after concealing the entrance, the two of them quickly headed toward the distant light barrier. An hour and a half later, they arrived at the valley where the Secret Realm Entrance was located. By now, dozens of people had already gathered at the valley entrance. They were either alone or in small groups, with more people continuously arriving. Looking around, the majority of those present were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with a few Qi Refining Cultivators standing by and watching from a distance. Fortunately, not spotting any trace of the Golden Elixir Forces, the group of cultivators each occupied a small area on the hillside and sat down to meditate, waiting for the secret realm to open. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion let out a sigh of relief and landed on an unoccupied hilltop. Their arrival only caused the cultivators present to frown slightly before disregarding them. The two of them naturally did not seek trouble and found a flat spot to sit down and meditate, while also covertly keeping an eye on the activity around them. Time slowly passed by, and an hour went by. At noon, the sun shone brightly. The scorching sunlight shone down on the earth, and the pale golden rays penetrated through the clouds, illuminating the golden light barrier. As the color of the light barrier became more solid, everyone knew that the secret realm was about to open. At this moment, a black-robed figure suddenly descended from the sky, stopping on a hilltop not far from the Secret Realm Entrance. "Long Hai?" a cultivator exclaimed. Seeing Long Hai, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator who occupied this hilltop dared not show any dissatisfaction and quickly vacated the spot, moving elsewhere. The Black Robed Cultivator ignored everyone''s gazes and sat down on a rock to meditate. His reputation seemed to be quite significant, as he made no effort to disguise himself, allowing the cultivators present to recognize him easily. Lin Tianming and his companion also had their attention drawn to this person. As they knew, most people would enter the secret realm stealthily, not showing their true appearance, and would even conceal their aura. The fact that this person did not bother to hide indicated great confidence in his strength, not worrying about being targeted or robbed. Observing Long Hai from several hilltops away, Lin Tianming sent a telepathic message to Lin Shilu. "Fifteenth Grandfather, have you ever heard of Long Hai?" Upon being asked, Lin Shilu pondered for a moment before replying telepathically: "Looking at his demeanor, his cultivation is not low, at least at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, yet within the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, I have never heard of this name. He is most likely from the Huangyang Country Cultivation World!" After hearing this, Lin Tianming''s expression turned grave. A Loose Cultivator with a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivating in this place likely possessed a Mysterious Moon Order. If they encountered this person in the secret realm, their chances of victory were slim. "The opening of this secret realm has indeed attracted a large number of cultivators. Apart from the Golden Core Forces, even among the Loose Cultivators, there are some with profound cultivation. It seems this journey is fraught with extreme danger!" Lin Tianming thought to himself. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the number of cultivators in the canyon had increased significantly. From a few dozen at the beginning, there were now more than a hundred waiting. "Giggle giggle giggle..." At that moment, a light laughter came along. A richly dressed young woman suddenly appeared on one of the hilltops, attracting the gaze of most cultivators. This woman was dressed in blue palace robes, her eyes were like silk, and she twisted her slender waist as she looked over the crowd. Any cultivator her gaze touched, especially those below the late Foundation Establishment stage, could not help but become entranced, falling into a daze. Only after a few breaths did the affected cultivators regain their clarity. Those who came to their senses changed their expressions dramatically and no longer dared to look directly into her eyes. "Giggle... I didn''t expect Brother Long Hai to be here as well. It seems I won''t be lonely on this trip!" The laughter of the richly dressed young woman echoed around, drawing the attention of Lin Tianming and his companion as well. Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_3 Lin Tianming and his companion also opened their eyes, sizing up the palace-dressed young woman and casting a wary look at the momentarily bewildered cultivators around them.Meanwhile, Long Hai regarded the enchanting woman opposite him with an unchanging expression. "Hmph..." "Yun Xianzi, there''s no need to put on an act before me. Your little tricks have no effect on me. It would be best for you to keep your distance in the Secret Realm, otherwise I don''t mind destroying beauty!" Long Hai coldly uttered these words and then paid no further attention to Yun Yanrong across from him. On the surface, he seemed indifferent, but internally, he was filled with apprehension. "Giggle... Brother Long really doesn''t spare any pity for beauties... how boring!" Yun Yanrong retorted and then her expression turned serious. She closed her mesmerizing eyes as she waited for the Secret Realm to open. Lin Shilu was sizing up this unfamiliar female cultivator when he secretly sent a message to Lin Tianming. "Tianming, this female cultivator is not simple. She is skilled in Illusion Technique; once affected by it, even for just a moment or two, one could lose their life!" Upon hearing Lin Shilu''s reminder, Lin Tianming nodded. Inwardly, he was curious whether his Eye of Five Colors, which could see through restrictions and formations and had a great suppressing effect on illusions, would be effective against Yun Yanrong whose cultivation far exceeded his own. "I hope I don''t run into these two ruthless individuals," Lin Tianming muttered to himself. "Tianming, once we enter the Secret Realm, it''s best if we don''t separate. If we do get separated, it''s very dangerous to act alone. We should leave bamboo markers to indicate our path and so facilitate a quick reunion," Lin Shilu instructed via a mental message. After receiving Lin Shilu''s orders, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and, after giving a few instructions, ceased the mental communication as he waited for the Secret Realm to open. Time slowly passed, half an hour went by. The sunlight was at its peak at this time of the day, and as the golden yellow light on the barrier grew deeper, the opening of the Secret Realm was imminent. "Rumble rumble..." Once again, the ground began to shake, and a ten-zhang-wide gap slowly formed on the golden yellow barrier. "The Secret Realm has opened!" A few cultivators in the crowd pointed at the gap on the barrier, shouting excitedly. At that moment, all the cultivators present opened their eyes, their gazes fervently fixed on the gap in the barrier. On two mountain peaks, Long Hai and Yun Yanrong each took out a Mysterious Moon Order, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the token. The blood quickly disappeared into the tokens. In an instant, the tokens emitted a bright light and then released a sphere of light that directly entered their foreheads and vanished. Long Hai and Yun Yanrong leapt up and rushed into the gap in the barrier, disappearing from everyone''s sight. Watching the two enter the Secret Realm, cultivators holding the Mysterious Moon Order began to follow suit. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer stood atop a mountain peak, taking out a Mysterious Moon Order and spewing blood onto it. Just as the blood was about to fall onto the Mysterious Moon Order, a shadow flashed from behind on another peak, snatching the token directly from his hand. The blood sprayed onto the stones in front of the cultivator. Realizing what had happened, the shocked cultivator hastily shot out a fireball towards the shadow. The shadow turned back and with a slash, a Sword Qi engulfed the panic-stricken cultivator. "Ahh... Ahh..." Two agonized screams sounded. When the dust settled, the silhouette of the cultivator emerged. Struck back by the shadow, the young cultivator had lost an arm and lay weakened on a stone. While everyone was still in a state of shock, the shadow had already taken out blood to activate the token and then dashed as a phantom into the gap of the barrier, vanishing from sight. From the token being snatched to the young cultivator being injured, then to the activation of the token and entry into the gap of the barrier ¨C all of these events happened in the blink of an eye. Before the crowd could react, a series of actions had been completed. With the token snatched and the cultivator wounded, his expression sullen, he immediately took to his flying sword and left. This person was quite decisive. Now injured and with his power halved in the presence of so many covetous cultivators, he did not leave, perhaps even his life would have been forfeited there. While the departure of the injured young cultivator drew everyone''s attention, Lin Tianming and his companion quickly took out their Mysterious Moon Orders, spitting blood onto the tokens. By the time the others reacted, several ferocious-looking cultivators had already rushed over, each clutching a Magic Artifact in their hands. For a moment, the flashing of blades and swords seemed to engulf them both. Learning from the earlier example, Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared, with Second Order Talisman paper in hand, they activated it, forming several barriers in front of them. "Boom boom boom..." With several loud crashes, the barriers blocked the attacks. At that moment, the tokens shot out two Spirit Groups. As the light spheres entered their foreheads, the two immediately felt a warmth on their brows, and the Spirit Groups eventually vanished into their minds. Lin Tianming and his companion dared not delay; Lin Shilu grabbed Lin Tianming with one hand and a Spirit Sword with the other, unleashing a tremendous Sword Qi as they both charged into the gap in the barrier. Not until their figures disappeared did the several cultivators who had tried to intercept them curse in frustration. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, the expressions on the faces of the cultivators at the scene were all tense, witnessing such a scenario, some cultivators with Mysterious Moon Orders began to hesitate. If they activated their tokens, they would inevitably attract the attention of others, possibly even losing their lives if they failed to rush into the Secret Realm Entrance. If they didn''t try to use the token, the Mysterious Moon Order in their hand could turn into a mere fantasy, missing out on this opportunity for nothing. Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_4 Watching as the tear in the light screen gradually shrank, if they didn''t make a move now, it would be too late. Some cultivators seemed to have made up their minds.A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level was the first to act, but those with impure motives weren''t going to give up the dwindling opportunity. Soon, the scene turned chaotic, as cultivators took advantage of the turmoil to activate their tokens, hoping to rush into the Secret Realm Entrance amidst the confusion. As the tear at the Secret Realm Entrance slowly closed, the light screen returned to its original form. After a chaotic battle, several cultivators still risked their lives to charge into the Secret Realm Entrance, and everyone was above the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level in cultivation, having gone through a baptism of blood and blade to complete the feat perilously. The valley at this time was a sorry sight, littered with ruins and over a dozen corpses sprawled on the ground. In addition, there were dozens more injured cultivators, each regretfully looking at the restored light screen, their hearts filled with unknown thoughts. To obtain opportunity one had to pay a bloody price, but such a shocking scene had nothing to do with Lin Tianming and his companion. When Lin Tianming and his partner entered the Secret Realm Entrance, and after a dizzy spell, Lin Tianming found himself in a swamp with no one else around. As expected, upon entering the Secret Realm, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were randomly separated. Once everything returned to normal, Lin Tianming started to survey this utterly unfamiliar place. It was a vast swamp, as far as the eye could see, shrouded in a pale green poison fog, which even affected his Divine Sense, reducing it by at least a third, he estimated. Seeing this, Lin Tianming looked tense, quickly taking out a dark green pill from his storage bag¡ªbefore this, he had specially prepared a few such elixirs, spending a hefty sum, and each had retained three pills, in case they encountered this kind of poisonous fog. In just a short while, Lin Tianming felt the inhaled poison fog causing a throbbing pain in his chest; his expression grave, he didn''t hesitate to swallow the Detoxifying Pill in his hand. Having done all this, he gripped the Tiangang Sword in his hand and swung it a few times, creating a discreet bamboo mark on the ground. "I hope Fifteenth Grandfather quickly discovers my mark so we can meet up soon; it''s too dangerous to be alone!" After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming, looking at the mark hidden on a mound of dirt, shot off in the direction the bamboo point was indicating. After walking for half a day, Lin Tianming arrived beside a pond. Standing on a rock at the edge of the pond, Lin Tianming fell into a moment of contemplation. "Strange... this swamp is too big. Half a day''s journey and I haven''t reached the edge, nor have I encountered any other cultivators, not even the shadow of a demonic beast!" "Is this the legendary, peril-filled Secret Realm?" "It feels too unreal!" While Lin Tianming talked to himself, he scrutinized the pond spanning tens of feet before him. "Eh... This pond seems rather strange!" Lin Tianming murmured softly, noticing something odd about the pond in front of him; despite a breeze blowing by, the not-so-small pond remained completely waveless, calm as a mirror, which was simply too eerie. Under normal circumstances, winds would create ripples across a body of water of this size, but this pond was too still, unsettlingly so. "No matter... this place is too strange. Best to leave for now!" Lin Tianming made up his mind; since nothing had emerged, no demonic beasts or treasures, he wouldn''t go looking for trouble. Just as he turned to leave, the undisturbed water surface produced a single ripple, and then, from the center of the pond, a seven-colored lotus emerged. This lotus had only seven petals, each a different color, swaying in the light wind, casting a beautiful seven-colored halo on the surface of the pond. Seeing the lotus appear on the still water, Lin Tianming''s face lit up with joy as he exclaimed. "The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus!" The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was a Third Order Spiritual Material, with every part valuable; its petals could be used to refine elixirs, many of which used these petals as auxiliary materials. Consuming the petals could also enhance one''s cultivation. Beyond that, once the Golden Lotus''s petals fell, they would form varying numbers of seeds. These seeds were truly precious, each capable of strengthening a cultivator''s vital energy and refining their internal organs with remarkable effects, a rare treasure for Body Cultivators. Lin Tianming, watching the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, started to breathe more heavily. "I must obtain it!" Lin Tianming thought resolutely. However, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was still not fully ripe and probably needed more time before it could form the seeds¡ªan ordeal that could take half a day to several days. Apart from that, once the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus matured, it was bound to attract demonic beasts, certainly leading to a struggle for possession. Even so, Lin Tianming was not about to pass up such an excellent opportunity. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Deciding, he took out fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and covertly positioned all the Spirit Swords in the swamp surrounding the pond, just in case he encountered other cultivators or demonic beasts, so that he could be prepared. After doing all this, the Earth Evil Swords were hidden in the mud, nearly undetectable to the unwary eye. Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then quietly found a small mound, dug out a few feet deep cave, reclined within, and closed in on his mind, concealing his breath as he began to wait. Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_1 In a valley within the secret realm, Lin Shilu''s steps were light as he flitted across the treetops.From the moment he entered the secret realm until now, when his figure emerged, he was constantly on edge, navigating through this vast valley. His luck had been fairly good, not being thrown directly into the path of any demonic beasts, but it wasn''t exceptionally good either, as he hadn''t appeared directly in front of a treasure of heaven and earth. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire At this moment, he had already been traveling through the valley for two days, covering hundreds of miles. He hadn''t encountered any demonic beasts on his way but had collected a few Second Order spiritual medicines, which was somewhat of a reward. "Huh? Seems like there''s some noise!" Lin Shilu thought he had discovered something! He quickly turned his body and concealed himself within the dense foliage of a large tree, gazing intently ahead. Before long, a blue-robed cultivator passed by in front of him, his expression looking somewhat odd, as if, like him, he was puzzled by the lack of living creatures around. This was the only cultivator Lin Shilu had discovered in the two days since he had entered the secret realm, and the only living creature he had seen. Apart from this person, there wasn''t even a bird in sight. Lin Shilu concealed his presence extremely well; the passing cultivator did not notice him. "Forget it, the most important thing now is to find Tian Ming. It''s too dangerous to wander in this vast secret realm alone, I should not create unnecessary complications for now!" Lin Shilu secretly thought to himself, and only after the person disappeared in the distance and he could no longer sense his presence, did he emerge from the dense foliage and continue on his way. After one day had passed, Lin Shilu finally crossed the vast valley and arrived at a swamp. Stopping at the edge of the swamp and looking at the thick poisonous fog before him, he hurriedly took out a Detoxifying Pill and swallowed it, then continued to move forward. After walking for a day, he still hadn''t crossed the swamp. Looking around at the poison fog, he felt a bit lost. The situation was too peculiar; he had thought the secret realm would be full of dangers at every turn, but to his surprise, he hadn''t encountered anything along the way. He had barely left the valley and now arrived at this swamp, which he had no idea how large it was. Having walked for so long and still not out, he was now at a loss about where to go next, making him feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Lin Shilu looked resigned as he was about to adjust his direction and prepare to leave when he quietly discovered a discreet marking on a nearby mound. "What''s this?" Seeing the marking, he didn''t hesitate a moment and immediately dashed over, arriving at the marked mound. Looking at the bamboo marking on the ground, Lin Shilu''s face lit up with joy, and he immediately looked in the direction it pointed. "Finally found traces of Tian Ming!" Lin Shilu murmured to himself, his heart filled with excitement. He had assumed that the secret realm would scatter them far and wide, but unexpectedly they weren''t too far apart; a few days'' travel, for this secret realm of unknown size, could be considered relatively close. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Perhaps it''s because the two of us entered together that we weren''t scattered too far apart, otherwise it really would have been troublesome!" Lin Shilu muttered softly to himself and then quickly followed the direction indicated by the marking. ... At the swamp, beside a placid pond. Time slowly passed, and night gradually fell. In the cave by the pond, Lin Tianming''s divine sense was fully activated, constantly monitoring every movement in his surroundings. It had been two days since the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had surfaced, and there was still no sign of a lotus pod forming, let alone seeing the shadow of a lotus seed. "Why hasn''t the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus formed yet? If this continues, other cultivators will be attracted, which could spell trouble!" Lin Tianming thought to himself, feeling helpless. Despite his urgency, all he could do was wait patiently. Deep into the night... The petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus deepened in color, their multicolored light shining like a bright lamp in the darkness, visible from a hundred yards away. A breeze swept by, and the petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus began to fall, floating on the calm surface of the water, with a unique fragrance drifting through the air. Seeing this, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Tianming''s face, but it quickly turned serious. The blooming of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus in the night was so eye-catching that it was bound to cause trouble, especially since demonic beasts were accustomed to being active at night. There was a chance that the beasts would smell the unusual fragrance or see the dazzling light. Under such circumstances, obtaining the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus would likely entail a significant struggle! "Fortunately, although this poisonous fog brings trouble, it also effectively shields the bright light and prevents the strange aroma of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus from spreading. Only by approaching this pond can the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus be discovered!" Hidden in a cave, Lin Tianming thought to himself, praying that no trouble would come his way. Unfortunately, his wish was not granted. Ripples suddenly formed on the previously undisturbed water surface, and a large snake covered in green spots emerged from the water, opening its huge mouth as snake saliva dripped from its green-spotted hide onto the pond bank, making one''s scalp tingle. "Green-Spotted Poison Python!" Upon seeing the snake''s head emerge, Lin Tianming''s face turned anxious, but he dared not make any rash moves. The Green-Spotted Poison Python was a water-attribute demonic beast and contained a faint trace of an Ancient True Dragon''s blood. Although diluted, it was not to be underestimated and was quite rare in the current Cultivation World, likely only present in some secret realms. And this Green-Spotted Poison Python was a Second Order Late-Stage demon beast. The divine skills of ancient monster serpents were strong, and this snake''s power was probably not less than that of a cultivator at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. Thinking this, Lin Tianming inwardly felt alarmed. Fortunately, he had not stayed by the pond; otherwise, being discovered by this serpent, he might already have become its prey. Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_2 Just as his mind wandered beyond the earthly plane, the Green-Spotted Poison Python in the water pool moved. It swam around the pool as if patrolling its surroundings.After circling around, the Green-Spotted Poison Python didn''t seem to detect anything abnormal and returned to the side of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. Looking at the seven colorful petals that had fallen into the pool, the Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its mouth wide and sucked forcefully, causing several petals to slide over along with the water flow. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt a pang of regret. If Lin Shilu were here, the two of them together might have been able to snatch a few petals, but with his strength alone, he dared not reveal even a breath of his presence, which would be no different from seeking death. He could only watch as the precious petals were swallowed by the monster serpent. Just as the monster serpent was about to swallow the petals, a sound of breaking air came. A grey-robed cultivator emerged from the poison mist, holding a Crescent Hook Artifact in his hand, and on his Daoist robe hung a dark green gourd. "Evil creature, dare not!" The grey-robed cultivator shouted angrily, and the Crescent Hook Artifact in his hand shone brightly, sending moon-shaped spots of light directly at the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Meanwhile, the Green-Spotted Poison Python, seeing the moon-shaped spots of light coming at high speed, had no choice but to abandon the petals at its mouth. Raising its head, the Green-Spotted Poison Python saw the approaching spots of light and spat out a green mist, engulfing all the light spots within it. "Ssssss...Sss..." A series of strange sounds came as the light spots in the green mist corroded, producing a plume of black smoke that rose up. Although the attack from the magic artifact was corroded away, the grey-robed cultivator did not panic at all, instead revealing an expression of great joy. He slapped his palm towards his waist, and the dark green gourd hanging there suddenly appeared in his hand. The grey-robed cultivator formed a single-handed seal, mumbling an incantation, then spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the dark green gourd. The dark green gourd instantly glowed with green light and began to swell crazily until it reached half a zhang in size and then hung suspended in front of the grey-robed cultivator. Facing the approaching poison mist, the grey-robed cultivator issued a Law Decree, striking the dark green gourd. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire The gourd immediately opened its mouth, sucking in the oncoming poison mist. Soon... the poison mist sprayed by the Green-Spotted Poison Python was completely absorbed by the gourd, and the scene regained its normal state. Seeing this, the monster serpent thrashed its body, as thick as a water bucket, and stirred up waves. "Heh heh... This Green-Spotted Poison Python''s toxin is of good quality, enough for this old man to use for a few days!" The grey-robed cultivator laughed contentedly, speaking to himself while watching the enraged Green-Spotted Poison Python. This gourd of his had a special ingenious use; it was specifically designed to counter all kinds of poisonous mists. It could not only collect the toxic mist of demonic beasts but also release them. It was a nefarious weapon against cultivators. He had used this object multiple times to turn danger into safety, and the role of this dark green gourd was indispensable. In the water pool, the infuriated monster serpent would not give up. It swung its massive body, churning up waves, and quickly formed ice walls that covered the sky and whistled towards the grey-robed old man. It seemed that the monster serpent possessed not insignificant Spirit Wisdom, knowing that the grey-robed cultivator''s gourd could suck in the poison mist, so it switched to a different method of attack. The grey-robed cultivator''s expression became serious as he faced the serpent''s changed method of attack. Faced with the overwhelming ice balls, while he retreated, the magic artifact in his hand once again burst forth with spots of light aiming at the monster serpent. "Boom boom boom..." A series of loud explosions sounded as the moon-shaped spots of light collided with the oncoming ice balls. A few moments later, the moon-shaped spots of light were worn down to nothing, but there were still a considerable number of ice balls hurtling towards the grey-robed man. The grey-robed man''s face showed a trace of seriousness. He hadn''t expected the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s other means of attack to be so ferocious, momentarily putting him at a disadvantage. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, being a Loose Cultivator who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level and had slain many powerful enemies and Second Order Demonic Beasts, he had already seen all sorts of strange and wonderful methods. As he retreated explosively, he waved his sleeves, and several Second Order Talismans suddenly appeared in his hand, which he triggered without hesitation and threw out. As the ice balls slammed into the barriers created by the Second Order Talismans, deafening blasts rang out. One by one, the barriers shattered, and the ice balls broke into fragments or fell directly into the mire. For a time, the battlefield was splattered with mud, and numerous deep pits appeared, obviously created by the impact of the ice balls. At that moment, the grey-robed cultivator stabilized his stance. With a slap to his storage bag, he produced a blood-red curved saber in his hand. It emitted a strong evil aura, causing the temperature in the vicinity to involuntarily drop a few degrees. Hidden in the cave, Lin Tianming held his breath, bearing witness to the fierce battle between the grey-robed cultivator and the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Seeing this man take out the evil-filled Curved Saber Artifact, which was irrefutably a Second Order Medium Quality Artifact and a powerful Blood Evil Blade at that, it seemed he was about to get serious. The grey-robed cultivator laughed wildly, with spells flying from his hands and incantations coming from his mouth. "Ice Blood Evil Saber, kill!" The Blood Evil Blade in his hand glowed intensely, releasing terrifying Blade Qi that shot straight toward the Green-Spotted Poison Python. In the water pool, the monster serpent moved its body, raising its massive head and spraying out a large amount of dark green liquid, corroding much of the surrounding air. In an instant, the blood-colored Blade Qi arrived above the head of the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The Green-Spotted Poison Python twisted its massive body, desperately trying to dodge the terrifying blood-colored Blade Qi. However, the speed of the Blade Qi was astonishingly fast. While its massive body had explosive force during attacks, at this crucial moment, it became a burden. Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_3 ```After a piercing screech, the Green-Spotted Poison Python writhed its body desperately, trying to dodge the fatal attack. Alas, having left the water, its flexibility was hindered, and although it avoided the vital parts being hit, its tail was struck by the bloody Blade Qi. "Roar roar roar..." In pain, the Green-Spotted Poison Python fell back into the pool, rolling about wildly. The dark green liquid it spat out enveloped the grey-robed man like a downpour. "Sizzle sizzle sizzle..." An acrid stench permeated the air. Only when the dark green poison landed on the swamp did the figure of the grey-robed man become visible again. At this moment, his complexion had turned a bit pale with numerous holes in his Daoist robe, revealing the flesh underneath, much of which was burnt and charred, portraying a somewhat tragic sight. However, the grey-robed cultivator seemed to pay no mind to the minor injuries on his body as he raised his hand to inspect the gourd, a satisfied look appearing on his face. "Heh heh... This poison is quite good, many times stronger than the previous poison mists." He muttered to himself before raising his eyes to look at the pool where the Green-Spotted Poison Python was. The water churned, mixed with scarlet blood, looking quite gorgeous, yet somewhat unnerving. Only when the waves had subsided a little did the shape of the Green-Spotted Poison Python reveal itself. The Monster Serpent seemed weakened, with an injury several inches long on its tail, revealing the flesh inside, almost being decapitated. The serpent no longer dared to expose most of its body, only poking its head above the surface, glaring at the grey-robed cultivator with a malevolent look. At this time, the scent of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus in the middle of the pool became even more potent. The proud lotus pod''s color grew even more vibrant, with the seeds inside breaking free from the confines of the pod, revealing translucent seeds. Seeing the seeds start to emerge, he estimated that in half an hour, they would be fully exposed and ripe. Witnessing this, the grey-robed man''s face lit up with joy as he thought to himself. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire "I can''t delay any longer. This Secret Realm is filled with danger, and many disciples from the Golden Core Forces have come in. I must fight quickly and decisively, or if discovered by the major powers, all treasures will be lost." Determined, his Ice Blood Evil Saber glowed intensely in his hand as a torrent of Sword Qi and fireballs erupted in the sky, charging towards the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The Green-Spotted Poison Python, eying the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus nearby, became extremely agitated, evidently unwilling to relinquish the treasure it had guarded for many years. Seeing the human approaching again, the serpent opened its mouth to spray poison, turning into a rain of toxic liquid that shrouded the grey-robed man. At the same time, it thrashed its massive tail, sweeping towards the grey-robed man. Obviously, with the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus about to ripen, both the grey-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python had become desperate for the chance, sparing no effort in the fight. For a time, the swamp shuddered non-stop, and flashes of light zipped through the night. Lin Tianming watched the entire scene, not daring to breathe. With such a commotion, neither the grey-robed man nor the Green-Spotted Poison Python was something he could contend with alone. He simply wished for the battle to end quickly, for the victor to collect the spoils and leave so that he might be free to find as many treasures as possible in this incredibly precious time. ... On a mound in the northwest corner of the swamp, Lin Shilu''s feet lightly touched the ground, leaping dozens of feet to land atop a hill. After exiting the ravine, he had come to the midst of this vast swamp, following the markers left by Lin Tianming to his current location. His luck had been far better than Lin Tianming''s. Following a similar path through the swamp, he encountered several Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts, which he killed without exerting much effort, gaining numerous Second Order spirit materials, all prized among their tier. Standing on the mound, Lin Shilu looked thoughtfully at the faint bamboo patterns beneath him. Three days had passed since entering the Secret Realm, and he had traveled nearly a hundred miles in the swamp, spending a whole day without a trace of Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Shilu felt worried as he gazed in the direction indicated by the markers. Just then, a glimmer of light flashed in the night in the direction he was looking at. Despite its briefness, he noticed it. "There''s a disturbance. I wonder if it''s Tianming. It looks like I need to quicken my pace." His face grew serious, filled with anticipation and concern, his emotions complex. Taking a deep breath, he hastened towards the direction of the bamboo markers and soon vanished into the night. By the pool, the waves surged, and the sky was ablaze with light. The grey-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python had fought dozens of rounds, each giving as good as they got. The battle had reached a fever pitch. By now, the grey-robed man''s clothes were torn, his flesh a bloody haze, with large areas corroded by the serpent''s poison. His complexion was pale, and his overall aura was much deflated. Conversely, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was in an even more wretched state, its body covered with dense cuts, most of its scales shed, and a small section of its tail already missing. The Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its maw and let out a shriek, looking at the cultivator in the distance, seemingly considering retreat. Shooting forth a barrage of ice arrows towards the grey-robed man, it then turned and bit towards the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus on the verge of ripening. Seeing the serpent''s actions, clearly not intending to wait for the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus to mature, it was preparing to swallow the most precious part, the pod, and flee. ``` S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_4 Although the lotus seeds were not fully mature, falling just short of ripe and thus their effect greatly diminished, they were still far better than obtaining nothing at all, or even perishing here.If the monster serpent succeeded, even if he killed the Green-Spotted Poison Python, he would fail to secure the most precious thing. As a result, his loss would be significant. Thinking of these things, the gray-robed man was both shocked and enraged, baring his teeth and grimacing. He waved his sleeve, and several Second Order talismans flew out, transforming into various forms of barriers in the path of the ice arrows, while simultaneously, his Ice Slaughter Knife shone brightly as he furiously slashed at the Green-Spotted Poison Python, intent on stopping the monster serpent''s actions. The gray-robed man, having employed his most powerful efforts, attacked the Green-Spotted Poison Python with a frenzy. Seeing that the ice arrows were mostly dissipated by the barriers formed from the talismans, what remained posed no real threat to the gray-robed man. With a storm of attacks arriving, if it still forcefully swallowed the lotus pod, it would surely not have time to escape and its fate would be death right here. In that instant, the Green-Spotted Poison Python seemed to recognize the dire situation, and under immense pressure, temporarily gave up on swallowing the lotus pod. Even so, under the relentless onslaught of blade Qi and talismans, it had to fight desperately to survive. The monster serpent let out a piercing shriek, spitting out a blood arrow that struck with extreme speed, aimed directly at the gray-robed man. This blood arrow was the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s Innate Divine Ability, its strongest strike, used only in desperate times to carve a bloody path for its escape. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the blood arrow coming at an alarmingly high speed, the gray-robed man''s expression turned extremely grave. As he retreated, he pulled out the few remaining Defense Talismans, activating them, which transformed into various barriers in front of him. After doing all this, he still did not feel assured, and quickly took out a small turtle shell shield, pumping it full of vast spiritual power, until the turtle shell expanded and formed a large shell that covered him before he felt somewhat relieved. "Boom..." a thunderous and earthshaking noise erupted. The gray-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s strikes met at the same time. In the blink of an eye, the barriers formed from the talismans shattered one after another, and the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s blood arrow slammed into the turtle shell. Although the barriers formed from the talismans had absorbed some of the power of the blood arrow, its force was still incredibly potent, "Bang..." A loud noise echoed, and a crack suddenly appeared in the turtle shell, while the red ice arrow began to dissipate. At the same time, the gray-robed man was flung dozens of meters back by the impact of the ice arrow on the turtle shell, barely managing to steady himself. The gray-robed man now looked pale and powerless, with fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, clearly having sustained serious injuries. He raised his hand and saw the crack on the turtle shell, which was about to break apart, resulting in the shell''s defensive power being greatly weakened, probably retaining less than thirty percent of its defensive capacity. Second Order Defense Artifacts are not commonly seen, even a lower-grade Defense Artifact is nearly equivalent to a medium-grade Attack Talisman. Even though he was a cultivator at the late stages of Foundation Establishment, with considerable wealth and status, losing a Defense Artifact was still a painful blow. But he didn''t even have time to feel the pain, as the miserable cries of the Green-Spotted Poison Python came from the water. Looking over, the monster serpent was twisting its body wildly; almost none of its skin was intact. It writhed vigorously, drenched in blood, making no hesitation to flee, no longer caring about the now-ripe Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. The monster serpent turned and twisted, moving rapidly through the mud, heading straight in the direction where Lin Tianming was hiding. Suddenly, a distinct trail of blood-red colored the swamp, evidently the monster serpent''s blood mixing with the mud. For some reason, apart from the direction of the gray-robed cultivator, the monster serpent could have escaped any other way, yet it chose to head in Lin Tianming''s direction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was shocked and horrified. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire "Why drag me into this mess, you beast!" Lin Tianming cursed under his breath, seething with anger. He was a bystander caught in the crossfire, initially considering giving up this opportunity, but now he found himself unexpectedly entangled. More importantly, even if the gray-robed cultivator was injured and his power somewhat diminished, a cultivator at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment was beyond his ability to confront. If it were a Fifth Level Foundation Establishment, he wouldn''t have given up on this chance, willing to take the risk, but against an Eighth Level, he knew very well that he was no match. "How can I escape this!" Lin Tianming was extremely anxious, pondering over strategies in his mind. Chapter 181 Annihilate the Enemy_1 Swamp...The grey-robed man''s mouth twisted into a malicious grin upon seeing the Green-Spotted Poison Python attempting to escape. After all, the battle had taken a great deal of effort; he had exhausted an array of tactics and spent a significant amount of treasures, and he had also sustained serious injuries. Thus, the gravely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python had to die to quench his fury. The grey-robed man put away the turtle shell he had in his hand, then grasped the Ice Slaughter Knife, unleashing a terrifying Blade Qi, which he directed at the fleeing Green-Spotted Poison Python. At this moment, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was less than three hundred yards from Lin Tianming, a distance it could quickly cover. Lin Tianming''s heart raced with anxiety, uncertain of what to do. If he revealed himself, he could hardly guarantee that the grey-robed man would spare him; if he remained hidden, he could only hope that the grey-robed man would kill the Green-Spotted Poison Python before it discovered him. Seeing the grey-robed man in pursuit, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was also extremely angry. However, with its strength greatly depleted, the Monster Serpent wanted nothing more than to escape this place as quickly as possible, rather than entangle with the grey-robed man. Yet the injured Monster Serpent slowed down, its power greatly diminished, unable to break free. Just then, the grey-robed man caught up, his presence bursting with Blade Qi, his hands conjuring various Five Elements Spells like fireballs and ice swords. "Monster, you think you can escape? No way!" The grey-robed man roared in anger, the Ice Slaughter Knife in his hand ablaze with blood light, as he poured down all his methods, instantly engulfing the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The fury of the storm was clearly intended to kill the Green-Spotted Poison Python in one strike. "Boom..." Red and yellow light flashed in the night, dazzling like shooting stars. The trapped Green-Spotted Poison Python turned its head and spat out another Ice Arrow, confronting the grey-robed cultivator''s attack head-on. Unfortunately, the severely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python''s strength was greatly diminished, and its Ice Arrow was immediately overwhelmed by the storm-like Blade Qi, quickly dissipating in the blood light. The relentless Blade Qi struck with the speed of lightning. In this desperate situation, the gravely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python had no way to dodge; it could only try to move away from its vital areas to find a slim chance of survival. In an instant, the blood-colored Blade Qi enveloped the Monster Serpent, countless Blade Qi nicks marking its body as flesh flew and large patches of scales and flesh fell into the mud, staining a large area of the swamp red. "Hss hss hss..." The Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its mouth, hissing frantically, appearing as if in unbearable pain. The Green-Spotted Poison Python struggled mightily, twisting its riddled body, seemingly still desirous of living. Meanwhile, the grey-robed man''s face wore a stern expression as he watched the Monster Serpent crawl towards Lin Tianming, a hint of mockery in his eyes. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s expression darkened, his inner hopes completely shattered. The situation was developing in the worst possible way. As the Monster Serpent and the grey-robed man drew closer, Lin Tianming would eventually be discovered if things continued this way. Sure enough, the grey-robed man grasping the Snow Evil Blade leapt forward, releasing a burst of Blade Qi that pierced through the Monster Serpent''s vital spots. The Green-Spotted Poison Python cried out several times, its enormous body struggling a few moments before it lay still, lifeless. The grey-robed man sighed with relief, walked over to the corpse of the Monster Serpent, and began to extract its inner core. At that moment, the grey-robed man''s brow furrowed as he looked toward the mound where Lin Tianming was and sneered. "Fellow Daoist, show yourself!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming''s face turned extremely solemn as he reluctantly emerged from the cave and stood atop the mound, warily watching the grey-robed man across from him. Their eyes met, and Lin Tianming maintained his composure, bowing to the grey-robed man and explaining, "Esteemed fellow Daoist, I was simply here first and happened upon you arriving. However, I mean no harm and do not intend to interfere. As for the spoils of this place, they are all yours, and regarding this matter, I will absolutely not reveal a single word." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, the grey-robed man chuckled, also weighing the pros and cons in his heart. Since he couldn''t see through Lin Tianming''s cultivation, he hesitated, and since Lin Tianming had stayed hidden, if he had intended to attack, he would have done so by now. Since he had not attacked, it was clear that he wasn''t confident, hence his continuous backing down. "Enough, let''s test the waters first!" The grey-robed man thought to himself, then with a smile, he respectfully replied to Lin Tianming, "I see, you may leave at your leisure." As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianming''s face lit up with joy, and he appeared very nonchalant. He bowed to the grey-robed man and then said casually, "Ha ha... thank you for understanding, fellow Daoist... I shall take my leave now." With that, Lin Tianming turned to leave, but remained vigilant of the grey-robed cultivator''s every move. He was well aware that this man was likely a Loose Cultivator with unpredictable and vicious methods; probably he hesitated to act rashly because he could not fathom Lin Tianming''s cultivation. But such a ruthless person would not let him leave so easily, that much was certain. As expected, just as Lin Tianming turned around, the grey-robed man''s Blood Evil Blade surged with blood light. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Lin Tianming''s face changed, and as he retreated, he clenched several talismans in his hand, and without any hesitation, activated them. After a loud explosion, the Blade Qi pierced through the barrier formed by the talismans and slashed toward Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming swiftly dodged the greatly weakened Blade Qi, landing on a small mound. Once he had steadied himself, Lin Tianming stared at the grey-robed man, his expression one of shock and anger as he said, "What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoist? Why go back on your word?" Chapter 181 Extinguishing the Enemy_2 Upon hearing these words, the man in the gray robe looked at Lin Tianming with a mocking expression.Clearly, after a probing strike, he had gauged Lin Tianming''s approximate strength and knew that in a one-on-one fight, Lin Tianming was absolutely no match for him. With this in mind, he no longer pretended to play nice and scoffed, "Only the dead tell no tales, so prepare to leave your life behind!" Before his words had even finished, the cultivator in the gray robe''s Blood Evil Blade burst into a bright blood light, emitting a multitude of Blade Qi, and slashed toward Lin Tianming. Seeing that the gloves were completely off and fearing that turning to run would only hasten his death, Lin Tianming realized the situation was grim. Yet, as his opponent was likely heavily drained of both Spiritual Power and talisman paper after the previous battle, there was still hope to repel him head-on. Thinking this, Lin Tianming''s heart hardened and he decided to fight with all his might, holding nothing back for the sake of himself. With a wave of his hand, his Tiangang Sword shone brilliantly as it too burst into a barrage of Sword Qi, colliding head-on with the oncoming Blade Qi. The two forces exploded upon impact in the sky, with successive booms echoing out. The Blade Qi clearly had the upper hand, breaking through the Sword Qi and continuing its path toward Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming''s face grew stern as he hastily retreated, simultaneously hurling forth the talisman paper in his hand to envelop the cultivator in the gray robe. After making these moves, as the Blade Qi drew perilously close, Lin Tianming pulled out his Green Scale Shield and poured in a copious amount of Spiritual Power, causing the shield to bulge and protect him from behind. The Blade Qi, weakened by the Sword Qi, struck the Green Scale Shield with a thunderous crash, pushing Lin Tianming back dozens of feet before he could steady himself. The swamp was left in shambles, presenting a harrowing sight. Following the clash, Lin Tianming felt numbness in his arms and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He forcibly suppressed it and continued to watch his opponent warily. Merely one exchange had resulted in minor injuries for Lin Tianming, confirming the formidable strength of the cultivator in the gray robe. Upon seeing the Second Order Magical Artifact, the Tiangang Sword, and the Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, in Lin Tianming''s possession, the cultivator hesitated for a moment. "This person''s cultivation might not be high, yet he carries such treasures. Could he be a young master from a Golden Elixir Force?" "Forget it, no matter which force''s offspring he is, if he dies in the Secret Realm and the job is done cleanly, even the Golden Elixir Experts won''t be able to trace a thing!" "If I can obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item in the Secret Realm, I can flee far away. After all, I''m just a lone cultivator." The cultivator in the gray robe thought greedily to himself. Little did he know, these treasures were but a small part of Lin Tianming''s wealth. Because this person possessed the Dark Green Gourd, designed specifically to counter poison mists, Lin Tianming dared not use his Thousand Beast Banner for fear that the other could capture its black mist and Soul within the gourd ¨C that was the sole reason he hadn''t employed it. After another round, both fighters lapsed into a brief interlude, during which Lin Tianming pondered his strategy. No longer capable of withstanding a frontal assault, he needed to lure his opponent into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation; with the Sword Array, there might be a sliver of hope. Lin Tianming quickly assessed the situation and decided on a plan. He took out several more pieces of talisman paper, activated them, and threw them at his adversary. His Tiangang Sword then burst forth with Sword Qi, assaulting the cultivator in the gray robe. When Lin Tianming took the offensive, the cultivator was somewhat surprised, but he retaliated with a cold laugh and waved his Blood Evil Blade, unleashing a torrent of Blade Qi again. The two of them threw themselves into battle, a whirlwind of attacks igniting the sky as if flowers blossomed in the night. With frequent swings of his Blood Evil Blade, the cultivator in the gray robe kept the onslaught of Blade Qi coming, while Lin Tianming was just barely able to hold his ground using a multitude of talismanic weapons and the Green Scale Shield. Several rounds of intense fighting rapidly depleted their Spiritual Power. Even though the cultivator had deeper reserves, the successive battles wore him down, preventing him from holding out for much longer. Moreover, after several rounds of attack, the power of the cultivator''s offensive visibly weakened, which was indeed good news. After exchanging blows, Lin Tianming used his Green Scale Shield to block a strike, and exploiting the rebound force, he leapt towards the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming appeared above the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, reaching out to snatch it from the air. Seeing this, the cultivator in the gray robe''s complexion darkened, and he surged with Spiritual Light as he leaped toward Lin Tianming. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was not yet ripe; naturally, Lin Tianming wouldn''t truly destroy the immature plant. His actions were merely to lead the cultivator into the center of the Sword Array. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, in desperation, the cultivator failed to think it through and, with the Blood Evil Blade in hand, entered the center of the Sword Array. A hint of joy flashed over the pale-faced Lin Tianming as he pinched a Law Decree and chanted sotto voce. "Boom..." With the sound of swords humming, the Earth Evil Swords flew up from the depths of the mud, swiftly spinning and quickly forming a Barrier. Lin Tianming released a Law Decree with his hands, striking the operating Sword Array. "Earth Fiend Sword Formation, entrap!" Lin Tianming shouted forcefully while exerting all his strength to command the Sword Array, trapping the cultivator in the gray robe securely within it. Feeling the constriction of the Sword Array and the wandering Sword Qi inside, the cultivator''s countenance turned exceedingly gloomy. However, he did not panic. Although the Sword Array operated smoothly, it covered a wide area, making it somewhat unstable. While the roving Sword Qi was not weak, it was still not too difficult for him to dodge. It didn''t take long for the cultivator to assess his situation; his Blood Evil Blade glinted red as he fired Blade Qi against the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. "Bang bang bang..." Under frenzied attacks, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shake violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Chapter 181 Annihilate Enemy_3 Lin Tianming dared not be careless, ignoring the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, desperately maintaining the stability of the sword array. "Simply trapping him like this isn''t a solution, the sword formation must be narrowed quickly, otherwise it won''t be long before he breaks through the barrier and comes out!" Lin Tianming thought to himself, and immediately started swinging the Tiangang Sword in an attempt to push back the grey-robed cultivator, to buy himself some time. "Tiangang Nine Swords Second Sword!" A terrifying burst of Sword Qi shot towards the grey-robed cultivator, its speed so fast it was frightening. After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, this was the first time he had used this Divine Skill. The combined power of the two swords exceeded his expectations. Seeing Lin Tianming''s attack, the grey-robed cultivator''s face turned solemn, and he took out the damaged turtle shell to shield himself. In an instant, the Sword Qi struck the turtle shell, leaving a deep crack and causing the already weakened shell to sustain more damage. The grey-robed man was forced back several zhang by the Tiangang Sword Qi, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, evidently suffering an internal injury. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Tianming quickly reduced the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, soon reaching a range of several dozen zhang. The grey-robed cultivator turned, his ferocious face glaring at Lin Tianming, looking extremely enraged. With a flick of his fingers over the Law Decree, he spat out blood onto the Blood Evil Blade, which then merged into the blade and disappeared without a trace. At that moment, the Blood Evil Blade began vibrating intensely, letting out series of piercing cries, its blood light growing even more vivid. "Blood Evil Heavenly Blade, break for me!" A dreadful moonlight shot up into the sky, then burst forth, slamming into the walls of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s face filled with horror; he operated the sword formation with all his might in hopes of withstanding this terrifying strike. In less than a moment''s time, the already stable Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shake violently, then it stopped functioning, and the fifty-six Earth Evil Swords fell from the sky, dropping into the mud. With the Earth Fiend Sword Formation broken, Lin Tianming''s mind was hit hard. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his breath instantly weakening. The grey-robed cultivator, now free from confinement, looked even paler. To escape the sword formation, he had been forced to use all his strength, resulting in greater consumption of his spiritual power and further aggravating his injuries. His angry gaze fixed on Lin Tianming, now that he had witnessed his Divine Skills, he would no longer take him lightly. At this point, Lin Tianming''s complexion was dark. Having spent most of his spiritual power and his injuries worsening, he had less than thirty percent of his strength remaining. He gripped the Tiangang Sword, eyeing the grey-robed cultivator in the distance, brainstorming ways to survive. However, with limited strength and severe injuries, this situation clearly seemed like a dead end. And the grey-robed cultivator would not give him any more chances. As he struck the Law Decree on the Blood Evil Blade, a fierce Blade Qi was unleashed, intending to take Lin Tianming''s life. Facing the terrifying Blade Qi, Lin Tianming was all too aware of its power. As the ferocious Blade Qi approached, he bore the intense pain throughout his body and poured a great amount of spiritual power into the Green Scale Shield, desperately blocking this lethal strike. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Pu..." Where the Blade Qi struck, a crack opened up in the Green Scale Shield. Lin Tianming flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing into the mud, immediately spewing several mouthfuls of blood, nearly vomiting his internal organs. Lin Tianming lay in the mud, his body riddled with open flesh wounds, exposing pale golden bones. The grey-robed cultivator''s full-powered strike had been blocked by Lin Tianming using the Green Scale Shield, but the violent force had injured him, and the shield''s defensive power was greatly reduced, unlikely to withstand a second attack. Fortunately, the injuries he sustained were external; his meridians were almost unharmed, and with his robust physique, recovery should not be difficult. He propped himself up with the Tiangang Sword, shakily standing up from the mud, his eyes bloodshot, staring down the grey-robed cultivator. "Hm?" Seeing Lin Tianming still alive and able to stand up on his own, the grey-robed cultivator looked utterly incredulous. "No matter the reason, meeting me was your bad luck. But considering your exceptional talent, I''ll grant you a quick end!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After muttering to himself, the grey-robed cultivator''s Blood Evil Blade once again unleashed a wave of Blade Qi, slashing straight down. Lin Tianming watched the oncoming Blade Qi with a wry smile, then closed his eyes to await death. Just then, a sound of tearing through the air arrived. Lin Shilu shot towards him at lightning speed, positioning himself firmly in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Shilu steadied himself, his spiritual power surged, and he expanded the Green Scale Shield immensely, shielding both of them behind it. "Bang..." With a loud noise, the Green Scale Shield remained intact, effortlessly blocking the terrifying Blade Qi until it completely dissipated into spots of spiritual light in the night. Lin Tianming, who hadn''t felt the separation of his body from his head, opened his eyes to see Lin Shilu''s towering figure and wondered if he was hallucinating. He shook his heavy head and lamented, "Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming is going to meet the ancestors, I''m going to break my promise to protect our family!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s words, Lin Shilu immediately slapped his cheek, hoping to wake him up. "Tian Ming, you lad aren''t dead; I''ve arrived in time!" Feeling the real sensation on his face and hearing Lin Shilu''s voice, Lin Tianming finally realized that he indeed hadn''t died. At the critical moment, Lin Shilu arrived to block the fatal strike, then he turned to inspect Lin Tianming''s injuries. Thankfully, they had not reached the meridians; healing the external wounds wouldn''t be difficult. He took out two elixirs and stuffed them in Lin Tianming''s mouth, settling him down before turning around, angrily eyeing the grey-robed cultivator. Chapter 181 Exterminate Enemy_4 At this moment, upon seeing Lin Shilu rush over, the complexion of the gray-robed cultivator turned extremely ugly. He had previously been locked in intense battle with the Green-Spotted Poison Python for quite some time, already depleting a large amount of Spiritual Power and Talismanic Weapons. In his attempt to kill Lin Tianming, he had exhausted all his methods, leaving his Spiritual Power nearly spent. Now, with Lin Shilu arriving, possessing even stronger strength and Magic Artifacts, under such relentless attack, there was no way he could be his opponent. Thinking of this, the cultivator in the gray robe had already developed the intention to retreat, yet he dared not show it, for fear of betraying his weakness to Lin Shilu. He feigned composure and, with a calm expression, greeted Lin Shilu with a clasped fist: "Fellow Daoist, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus has matured. Why don''t we stop here and share the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus equally, what do you say?" "Heh heh..." Lin Shilu let out a mocking laugh. "You nearly took the life of my junior, and had I not arrived in time, even extracting your soul and refining your spirit would not quell my anger!" Hearing Lin Shilu''s words, the gray-robed cultivator realized the gravity of the situation, and he knew that today''s matters could not be resolved amicably. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He sighed inwardly, no longer saying much, as the red light from the Blood Evil Blade in his hand intensified and he took the initiative to attack. Seeing the corpse of the Green-Spotted Poison Python on the ground, as well as Lin Tianming''s condition, Lin Shilu knew that this man''s power must have been greatly diminished, not worth fearing at all. "Hmph... merely the last burst of a dying flame. I will send you on your way and avenge my grandson!" Lin Shilu let out a cold chuckle, his Spirit Sword emitting waves of sonorous sword cries while Spiritual Power frantically poured into the sword. In an instant, the Spirit Sword blazed with Golden Light and the wind rose fiercely, billowing his robes and revealing a terrifying intent to kill. Without any reservations, his move was the strongest attack, intending to end the battle with a single strike. "Boom boom boom..." A thunderous roar echoed, as blood-red Blade Qi collided with the Golden Sword Qi, exploding in the night sky and forming a huge and dazzling fireball. After the strike, neither had the upper hand. Seeing this, Lin Shilu''s expression changed and he felt the fearsome strength of the man in the gray robe, wondering how Tian Ming had managed to endure for so long against him. Regathering his focus, he did not give his adversary any chance to catch a breath as his Spirit Sword once again burst forth with power. In an instant, the two were locked in combat, the night sky flashing with light, each burst signifying a fierce clash. After nearly ten rounds, the gray-robed man managed to block a strike but his face turned pale and bloodless, gasping for air. After a fierce exchange, initially, the two were almost evenly matched, but as the fight progressed, his Spiritual Power depleted rapidly and hit bottom, constantly pressured by Lin Shilu, forcing him into a defensive position. At this moment, he felt incredibly stifled. Had he been in peak condition, Lin Shilu would not have been a match for him. Now, with little Spiritual Power left and no Magic Artifacts or talisman paper to help, he found himself on the brink of life and death. Lin Shilu''s condition was still much better. Although he also had several wounds and had consumed a lot of Spiritual Power, his combat strength was hardly affected. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Well aware of the dangers in the Secret Realm, he sighed a breath of murky air, resolving to finish off this man quickly. Making up his mind, his Spirit Sword glittered with Golden Light, holding a few more talisman papers in hand, and he showered them down on the man in gray, vowing to thoroughly exterminate him. Seeing Lin Shilu pull out all the stops without reservation, the man in gray turned deathly pale, knowing his chances were slim. The Spiritual Light of his turtle-shell artifact flashed as he poured all of his remaining Spiritual Power into it. The inflated turtle shell protected him from behind, awaiting the judgment of fate. At that moment, the gray-robed man intensely regretted not having settled the Green-Spotted Poison Python and that junior earlier. Alas, time could not flow backward, and what was done could not be undone. "Boom boom boom..." A loud boom erupted, lighting up a thousand zhang radius in the night with a massive fireball. As the firelight dissipated and the sky returned to pitch black, it was revealed that many charred limbs were scattered, falling haphazardly among the swamp''s muddy terrain. And then, in the night, all fell silent once again, everything returning to calm... Chapter 182 Collaboration_1 Seeing the gray-robed man''s head severed from his body, not a single limb remained intact. Lin Shilu let out a long sigh of relief and walked towards Lin Tianming''s location. At that moment, Lin Tianming was sitting cross-legged on a mound. Due to the healing pills he had taken earlier, his injuries had slightly improved. Although unable to fight, he was now able to move normally. Seeing Lin Shilu kill the gray-robed man without any harm, Lin Tianming was extremely excited inside. "Tianming, how are your injuries?" Upon hearing Lin Shilu''s concerned greeting, Lin Tianming felt warmth in his heart, and then said: "They are mostly superficial wounds, it won''t take long for me to recover to my peak condition." Lin Shilu nodded, gave a few instructions for him to rest and recover from his injuries, and then stepped towards the body of the gray-robed man. The two of them had finally decided the outcome after a fierce battle. However, this was truly a close call. If he hadn''t arrived in time, Lin Tianming might have already fallen. As for the gray-robed man, his luck was extremely bad. Despite being a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, after several battles, he was actually killed by Lin Shilu, whose cultivation was two realms lower. "This truly is the capriciousness of fate!" Lin Shilu sighed, and then collected the storage bag of the gray-robed man. After doing these, he immediately went to the edge of the pool, looking at the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus with a face full of ecstasy. The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had now fully matured, and its plump lotus pod was embedded with five crystal-clear seeds. The seven colorful petals that had already fallen were floating on the clear water surface. Lin Shilu reached out his palm and, through the air, he gathered the seven petals, then plucked the plump lotus pod. Looking at the lotus vine with its petals and pod collected, Lin Shilu felt a bit of regret; it would have been great if he could bring it back to his clan. Unfortunately, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had extremely high requirements for its growing environment and couldn''t be transplanted, so he had no choice but to leave the vine there. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu turned around, then walked towards the body of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, collecting the scales that had fallen along the way. These scales were treasures, even higher grade than those of the Qingxu Snake. Lin Tianming''s Green Scale Shield was severely damaged, so it was a good idea to collect some scales to repair his defense artifact. Soon, he had gathered enough scales to repair the Green Scale Shield. He then swung the Spirit Sword in his hand, cutting off parts suitable for artifact refining, and then chopped the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s body into segments to collect. In less than half an hour, the corpse of the monster serpent had vanished without a trace, and the body of the gray-robed cultivator was burnt to ashes by a fireball. Lin Shilu did a simple cleanup of the battlefield, erasing a lot of traces. After clearing the battlefield, Lin Shilu scanned the pond and the surroundings once more, but unfortunately, did not find any more treasures. After a complete search, Lin Shilu finally returned to the original spot. After a short rest, Lin Tianming finally regained some spiritual power, the injuries on his body stopped bleeding, and he could move freely. The two of them gathered together, with Lin Shilu looking at the calm pond and suddenly speaking: "Tianming, this place is extremely dangerous, we must leave immediately and find a place to recuperate and prepare." Lin Tianming nodded, and after discussing with each other, they chose a direction and hurried away. Half a day later. The two of them finally exited the swamp and entered a beautiful valley. Lin Shilu''s Divine Sense spread wide, checking the surrounding situation, and found no anomalies. After ensuring safety, they immediately found a spot to set up a simple cave abode. He raised his hand to cast a few Illusion Techniques, then took out a set of First Order Array Flags and arranged them around the cave. After doing these, he felt somewhat at ease, and the two of them then entered. Sitting in the cave, Lin Shilu took out the lotus pod of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, and a special fragrance emitted, soon filling the entire cave. Seeing this item, Lin Tianming showed a look of longing. Lin Shilu chuckled, and then carefully handed over a lotus seed to Lin Tianming. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "The time that the Secret Realm is open is limited. We can''t afford any delays now. This lotus seed is extremely effective; it can rapidly restore spiritual power and accelerate injury healing. More importantly, it can assist your physical body in breaking through." He listed many benefits in one breath. Then he instructed: "Time is of the essence. Use it to recover from your injuries while enhancing the strength of your physical body. Also, bring your Green Scale Shield over, and I will repair it for you." Lin Tianming nodded, his complexion filled with excitement. With Lin Shilu''s help, the damaged Green Scale Shield could be used again. Otherwise, it would be way too dangerous in the perilous Secret Realm. After taking the lotus seed, he handed his Green Scale Shield to Lin Shilu, and then immediately sat down and began rotating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation to adjust his condition. Seeing this, Lin Shilu wasn''t idle either. He sat down, adjusted his own condition, and then took out a large number of Green-Spotted Poison Python scales and the materials needed for Artifact Refining from his storage bag, and began repairing the Green Scale Shield for Lin Tianming. After nearly half an hour, Lin Tianming felt his condition had reached its peak. He looked at the lustrous and transparent lotus seed in his hand and swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the lotus seed entered his mouth, a powerful energy immediately burst forth, like a raging fire, extremely domineering. Lin Tianming''s face turned red, as the violent energy coursed through his meridians. Not daring to delay, he quickly operated his cultivation technique to begin integrating the energy. After half a beat, the energy had become milder after integration but was still domineering. Chapter 182 Cooperation_2 He carefully manipulated the stream of energy, guiding it through the seven meridians and eight collaterals, finally converging in the Qi Sea Dantian. However, as the energy flowed through, a peculiar sensation reached his mind, and he felt as though he was drifting atop the clouds, experiencing an ultimate level of comfort. Not only that, but as more and more energy was refined, his wounds began to tingle pleasantly, visibly healing at a speed visible to the naked eye, quickly scabbing over. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s face lit up with great joy, astonished at the unexpectedly powerful effect of the lotus seed. Once he collected his thoughts, he focused all his efforts on refining the lotus seed''s energy, further healing his injuries and tempering his own body. "Crackle and pop..." Sounds resonated as his organs, skin, and meridians were all effectively strengthened by the powerful energy transformation from inside the lotus seed. Time quietly slipped away, and three days passed in the blink of an eye. In the simple cave abode, Lin Tianming breathed steadily, and from within his body, sounds echoed at intervals with each deep breath. After a series of sounds, he opened his tightly shut eyes, and a flash of brilliance flickered through them. By then, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus seed had been completely refined. Feeling the quick flow of spiritual power throughout his body, as well as the further strengthened organs and meridians, Lin Tianming clenched his fist, revealing a gratified smile. Within three days, his injuries had largely healed, and his strength was now greater than before. Lin Tianming stood up and twisted his slightly stiff body, then turned to look at Lin Shilu. At this moment, Lin Shilu was busily engaged in repairing the Green Scale Shield, seemingly at a crucial juncture. He was seen flickering the spells in his hand, emitting talismans that flew out and then disappeared into the surface of the Green Scale Shield. Half a quarter of an hour later, a piercing noise sounded, and the Green Scale Shield lit up with spiritual light before returning to normal. With a single wave of his hand, the Green Scale Shield quickly shrank and he grabbed it in his hand. After a close examination, Lin Shilu revealed a satisfied expression. With the addition of scales from the Green-Spotted Poison Python, the defensive power of the Green Scale Shield, although slightly inferior to before, could still reach about eighty to ninety percent of its original strength, which was very impressive. If not for the limited time and materials, restoring the Green Scale Shield to its peak condition was absolutely possible, or even surpassing its previous state wasn''t impossible, considering the scales of the Monster Serpent belonged to a Second Order Late Stage Beast, which was much stronger than those from the initial or middle phases. "Tianming, give it a try," Lin Shilu said, chuckling as he tossed the Green Scale Shield to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming caught the Green Scale Shield, activated the spell, and then channeled a large amount of spiritual power into it, causing the palm-sized shield to swell rapidly. After a moment, he retracted the shield, sporting a satisfied look on his face. "How is it? Are you satisfied?" Lin Shilu asked with a smile. "Fifteenth Grandfather, to restore the shield''s defensive power to eighty or ninety percent in such a short time exceeds my expectations," Tianming replied. "Hmm, indeed it does," Lin Shilu said chuckling again, before taking out the storage bag of the man in the grey robe and handing it to Lin Tianming, gesturing for him to open it and check the spoils of the battle. To count their loot was certainly something Lin Tianming enjoyed. He took the storage bag and effortlessly wiped away the remaining Divine Sense from it. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He extended his Divine Sense and took out the items one by one from inside the storage bag, arranging them before both of them. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire At that moment, the duo looked at the treasure spread before them with an exceptionally thrilled expression. The belongings of the cultivator in gray robes were extremely wealthy. After all, as a Loose Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level who had cultivated for nearly a hundred years to reach this realm, he must have done many heinous and murderous acts. Just from his storage bag, they obtained more than thirty thousand Spirit Stones, one Third Order Spiritual Medicine, dozens of Second Order Spiritual Medicines, and a complete variety of Second Order Pills, numbering over twenty in total, mostly used for everyday cultivation and combat. Besides these, there were varying amounts of Artifact Refining Materials and Demon Beast Corpses, clearly accumulated from his years of hunting or acquired from other cultivators. Regrettably, they did not find any high-grade Cultivation Techniques or advanced insights; they only acquired two Yellow Grade Techniques and some experiences from a Second Order Inscription Master, all of which were quite ordinary and not very useful for the Lin Family at this point. As for magic artifacts, there were just his eerie Dark Green Gourd and the Blood Evil Blade. The defensive tortoiseshell artifact was already badly damaged, nearly reduced to junk, and other defensive measures like talismans had long since been used up. Even so, the gains from the battle were still beyond imagination, and excluding the magic artifacts and technique insights, the treasures acquired were worth at least sixty to seventy thousand Spirit Stones. Looking at the treasure scattered on the ground, Lin Shilu, with an excited grin, said: "Tianming, we''ll split the magic artifacts and Spirit Stones between us, and we''ll divide the pills as well. We''ll select some useful items for ourselves from the rest, and contribute the remainder to our family. What do you think?" Naturally, Lin Tianming had no objections, and with understanding smiles, the two of them began the division. In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had completed their division, each stowing their treasures in their storage bags. Lin Tianming obtained the mysterious gourd and was also allotted ten thousand Spirit Stones, while all the pills went to Lin Shilu, since Lin Tianming, being an Alchemist, found the pills relatively unnecessary. Apart from this, his greatest interest was in the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus; the effect was simply too beneficial. Just one lotus seed had significantly increased the strength of his body, and if all were refined, he would undoubtedly become even stronger. Chapter 182 Cooperation_3 Lin Shilu knew that Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, so he only took a petal and a lotus seed, leaving the rest to him. From the remaining treasures, Lin Tianming took more than ten relatively uncommon spiritual medicines and the inner core of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, while Lin Shilu accepted several pieces of precious spirit material and some Demonic Beast materials. After the allocation, both of them obtained a great number of treasures. Lin Shilu gave a knowing smile, then changed the topic to discuss the next plan. "Tianming, we have been in the Secret Realm for more than seven days, a quarter of the time has passed. What do you think should be our next move?" Lin Tianming pondered for a moment before speaking: "We obtained the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, as well as so many treasures; this journey has already been quite fruitful. If we stay here safely until the Secret Realm closes, that would be the most prudent." "However, the Secret Realm is full of opportunities, and such a chance is rare. It would be a pity to waste time just like that." Upon hearing this, a flash of spiritual light gleamed in Lin Shilu''s eyes, and he nodded, saying: "I have the same considerations. Although we have already gained a lot, these things alone are not enough to raise our family to a new level." "Moreover, there''s still plenty of time. If we give up this opportunity, who knows how many years it might be before we can enter a Secret Realm again." Lin Tianming nodded his head, finding Lin Shilu''s thoughts aligned with his. In the remaining time, as long as they were cautious, and avoided provoking those major forces'' descendants, they wouldn''t have to worry about their lives when encountering ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, since the two of them could join forces. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming immediately discussed the next detailed plan with Lin Shilu. Half an hour later, the two left the makeshift cave dwelling and appeared in the valley. The harsh sun beat down on the quiet, beautiful valley. Lin Shilu glanced at the scorching sun overhead, chose a direction, and then entered the dense forest. Lin Tianming quickly followed him, and the two disappeared from the spot. Time slowly passed, and several days went by. They had now reached a vast forest, where they paused atop a tree canopy, pondering the endless forest in the distance. After trekking for several days, they still hadn''t left the forest. Gazing at the boundless jungle ahead, Lin Tianming felt a sense of helplessness. Over the past few days, they hardly rested, searching for treasures during the day and finding places to rest at night, never wasting a moment. Along the way, they encountered a few Loose Cultivators, all of whom wisely avoided each other, and no unnecessary conflicts occurred. Lin Tianming and his companion were especially cautious. When they encountered two Second Order Demonic Beasts, they killed them. With such efforts, they both gained a fair bit, acquiring dozens of Second Order Spiritual Medicines, most of them quite rare. Just then, a series of loud noises came from a valley ahead, alerting both of them instantly. "Tianming, there''s noise ahead; it seems like there''s a fight going on," Lin Shilu said. Hearing Lin Shilu''s reminder, Lin Tianming nodded and asked with curiosity: "Fifteenth Grandfather, what shall we do next?" Lin Shilu furrowed his brows, feeling somewhat conflicted in his heart. The situation was still unclear, and rash involvement could mean danger. However, before he could ponder further, the commotion ahead grew louder, and it was clear that it was moving rapidly. Lin Tianming and his partner quickly hid in the nearby bushes and then vigilantly watched ahead. In a short while, they saw a man in black hurrying towards their location, his expression quite panicked. It wasn''t until the man got closer that the two recognized him; it was Long Hai, whom they had seen at the Secret Realm Entrance. It seemed Long Hai had discovered them beforehand, as he came straight towards the bushes, pausing several hundred yards away and looking intently at what was pursuing him. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, a group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts, each about a zhang in size, chased after him. Seeing Long Hai stop fleeing, they halted, baring their teeth and watching him warily, seemingly hesitant to approach. Long Hai''s expression grew serious. He turned and addressed the bushes: "There''s no need for you two fellow cultivators to hide any longer. I have come here because I''ve already spotted you." At these words, Lin Tianming and his companion''s expressions shifted, and they unwillingly emerged from the bushes, then cautiously eyed Long Hai and the Dragon-Eyed Beasts before them. Maintaining some distance from Long Hai, they prepared themselves for possible action. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "What do you mean, Long Dao-you? We are just passing through, and we bear no grudges against you, nor are we interested in getting involved in your affairs," Lin Shilu said coldly. Hearing this, Long Hai maintained a calm expression and looked at them with a wry smile: "Now it''s not a matter of whether you want to be involved or not. The Dragon-Eyed Beasts are not weak and have already set their sights on us. It won''t be easy to retreat unharmed without fighting them off." Lin Tianming and his partner''s expressions darkened at this, as they looked towards the Dragon Eye Beast Clan opposite them, feeling a touch of helplessness. Long Hai''s words weren''t untrue; the power of this group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts was extremely formidable. Fifteen Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts were among them, including two at the Late Stage, and the rest at the Medium Stage and the Initial Stage. As for the First Order, there were nearly a hundred of them. Although the strength of the First Order beasts was not a significant threat to them, the sheer number was still quite formidable. And such a mighty clan of Dragon-Eyed Beasts was indeed terrifying. More importantly, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts were Ancient Exotic Beasts. Although not known for their attack power, they were incredibly fast. Even a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast could move faster than a Medium Stage Cultivator, making it easy to imagine the difficulty of retreating unharmed from their clutches. Chapter 182 Cooperation_4 No wonder Lian Longhai, a Loose Cultivator with such a formidable reputation, fled at the wind. Lin Tianming muttered to himself internally. Well aware of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts'' formidable strength, Lin Shilu''s expression turned unpleasant as he spoke to Long Hai: "Dragon friend, by drawing disaster toward us and involving us innocents, shouldn''t you give us an explanation?" "An explanation?" Long Hai let out a chuckle, then said: "In the nest of these Dragon-Eyed Beasts, there is no shortage of treasures, among which is White Jade Grass. How''s that for an explanation?" Hearing mention of White Jade Grass, the two Lin Tianming were shocked. White Jade Grass is the main ingredient in crafting Foundation Establishment Pills. Apart from Golden Core Forces, it''s almost impossible to find in the Cultivation World and only appears in such Secret Realms. What the Lin Family currently lacked was White Jade Grass. If they could obtain some and craft Foundation Establishment Pills, the clan''s foundation would reach a new level. Thinking this, Lin Shilu was very clear-headed. How could one easily believe the words of a stranger? Seeing the expression on their faces, Long Hai continued: "Although these Dragon-Eyed Beasts are strong, with our combined efforts, it''s not like we have no fighting chance. How about we join forces to kill them and then divide the treasures within?" Upon hearing Long Hai''s words, the two Lin Tianming did not believe him and began to communicate in secret. "Tianming, do you think there''s truth or deception in his words?" Seeing Lin Shilu''s inquiry, Lin Tianming communicated back: "Regardless of truth or falsehood, we have no choice now. With his deep cultivation, if he were to leave directly, it would not be easy for us to retreat unharmed. Although cooperating with him is akin to seeking skin from a tiger, it''s still better than facing the Dragon-Eyed Beasts alone." Hearing Lin Tianming''s communication, Lin Shilu secretly nodded. Then, he asked aloud: "Dragon friend, words alone are no proof. If there really is White Jade Grass, I''m willing to take a chance. But if there isn''t, the two of us will definitely not take the risk." Long Hai seemed to anticipate their worries. He waved his sleeve, and suddenly, a spiritual plant about one foot tall with a body of pure white appeared in his hand. Seeing this item, it was undoubtedly genuine White Jade Grass, and the two Lin Tianming''s breathing quickened. Long Hai put away the White Jade Grass and then asked: "How about it? Have the two fellow Daoists thought it through?" Lin Shilu nodded, having made up his mind, he replied, "Dragon friend, let''s speak frankly. If we succeed, how shall we divide the spoils of war?" Hearing Lin Shilu speak of cooperation, Long Hai smiled and said: "Since I discovered this item and my strength is superior to yours, naturally, I should take the larger share. Of the treasures we obtain, I will take seventy percent, and you will take thirty percent." As soon as Long Hai proposed his division scheme, Lin Shilu immediately protested. "Dragon friend, your words are unfair. It''s true that you discovered this, but seventy percent is too much. Our contribution to the effort should at least give us fifty percent." Before he could finish speaking, Long Hai''s expression changed. However, he also had concerns¡ªshould Lin Tianming really decide not to cooperate, it would be impossible for him to escape unscathed alone. With this in mind, his attitude softened considerably, and he began to bargain. Soon, they reached an agreement: Long Hai would receive sixty percent, and they would get forty percent. To this division of spoils, the two Lin Tianming were quite satisfied. Given the current situation, it was unlikely for either party to succeed against the Dragon-Eyed Beasts alone. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only by cooperating could they achieve greater results and was the most advantageous approach. Long Hai and Lin Shilu both chuckled, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed. They then looked toward the group of Dragon Eye Beasts ahead. Neither side launched an attack, and the Dragon-Eyed Beasts did not dare to initiate one either. The two sides were at a standoff, with a big battle on the verge of erupting. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 183 Join Forces to Exterminate Demons_1 As the standoff ensued, Lin Tianming was sizing up the Dragon-Eyed Beasts on the opposite side. Each of these Dragon-Eyed Beasts was baring their teeth and snarling, with the two strongest at the Second Order Late Phase having an aura almost as formidable as that of the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Among the dozen or so other Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, each radiated a robust presence, clearly indicating they were not to be trifled with. In the current situation, fraught with extreme risk, Lin Tianming clenched his Tiangang Sword tightly, his expression immensely solemn. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Long Hai, since we have decided to make a move, let''s do it quickly and decisively," Lin Tianming said. No sooner had Lin Shilu spoken than he was the first to strike. With a flick of his Law Decree, his Spirit Sword glowed brightly with golden light, and the Golden Sword Qi burst forth, cutting towards the group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts in an instant. Lin Tianming was no less decisive. With a slap to his storage bag, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out and scattered, quickly forming a Sword Array that enveloped an area several hundred zhang around. With the Dragon-Eyed Beasts all clustered together, they were unable to react to Lin Tianming''s sudden move. Only the Dragon-Eyed Beasts of the Medium Stage and above managed to escape the range of the Sword Array; the majority were ensnared within it. Only when the Sword Array began to operate did the Dragon-Eyed Beasts feel the constraints it imposed, desperately trying to break free. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming and another make their move, Long Hai wasted no time. He waved his sleeve and out came a three-foot-long Curved Saber from his hand, emanating a fierce Blade Qi that devoured the surrounding Spiritual Energy, revealing it to be a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact. He struck the back of the saber with his palm, unleashing a powerful Blade Qi that slashed at the Dragon-Eyed Beasts trying to break the constraints. Where the Blade Qi passed, the Dragon Demonic Beasts scattered to avoid it, but there was still a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast that couldn''t escape in time and was cleaved in two by his single strike. In a single blow, none of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts below the Late Phase of Second Order proved a match for him, and his Eighth Level Foundation Establishment might was fully showcased. Long Hai''s actions, which not only killed an Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast, alleviating a great deal of pressure for himself, but also blocked those attempting to escape from the Sword Array, bought him enough time. Seeing the Sword Array begin to function, Long Hai leapt into action, charging toward the two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts that had escaped. The two Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts gathered together. They seemed to recognize Long Hai''s prowess, surrounding him and lunging with their formidable claws towards him. The remaining four at the Middle Stage, recklessly charging over, sought to rescue their trapped kin but were intercepted by Lin Shilu. In a moment, the entire battlefield was divided into three areas: Long Hai dealt with the two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts, Lin Shilu with the four at the Second Order Medium Stage. And Lin Tianming contended with the remaining eight at the Second Order Initial Stage, as well as a large number of First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Witnessing a multitude of Demonic Beasts within the Sword Array, Lin Tianming''s countenance was grave, not daring to be the least bit careless. While controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his Tiangang Sword moved frequently in his hands, steadily repressing those Dragon-Eyed Beasts and confining them firmly within. For a time, the sky was filled with swirling Sword Qi, and the growls of many First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts being slaughtered filled the air. Seeing a large number of First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts dying, the eight Second Order ones inside became completely enraged. Though restricted by the Sword Array, there was still a large area for them to maneuver around with their remarkable speeds, and the density of the Sword Qi within the array was insufficient to catch them. Moreover, the sheer number of the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts put so much pressure on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation that it began to tremble violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Observing this, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, casting several Second Order Attack Talismans from his hand, which transformed into copious Sword Qi to block several Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts from completely breaking through the Sword Array''s defenses. In the gap created as these Demonic Beasts were thwarted, he stabilized the faltering Sword Array. However, even though the Sword Array was made stable once more, it would likely collapse again without some means of suppression. With this in mind, he patted his storage bag and the Thousand Beast Banner appeared in his hand instantly. The Law Decree in Lin Tianming''s hand flickered and struck the Thousand Beast Banner, infusing it with a massive amount of Spiritual Power. The banner radiated a glow, sending a wave of black mist towards the nine Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire At the same time, within the black mist, spheres of light transformed into fearsome giant beast illusions that savagely pounced on the opposing Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Inside the Sword Array. The eight Dragon-Eyed Beasts roared and lunged, fangs bared and claws waving, engaging in fierce combat with the multitude of Monster Beast Souls. "Roar, roar, roar." Intense roars erupted as one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts raised its powerful claws, swatting away a Qingxu Snake Soul from the Initial Stage of the Second Order. At that moment, more Monster Beast Souls converged, bounding and tearing into a Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast, trapping it in their midst. The pained Dragon-Eyed Beast grew wildly agitated, struggling hard to break free. Despite its speed, however, it was hard-pressed to escape due to the roaming Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the relentless biting of the Monster Beast Souls. Under this double pressure, escape was near impossible. Seeing this, the remaining Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts joined the fray, fighting ferociously with the Monster Beast Souls. With the addition of these few Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, the battle took a sharp turn. Despite the large number of souls and a fair number of those at the Second Order, their attacks were considerably weaker than when they were alive, rarely reaching even twenty percent of their original strength. Chapter 183 Joining Forces to Exterminate the Demon_2 For a time, the souls within the Thousand Beast Banner were at a disadvantage, with the souls of the First Order Demonic Beasts dying in great numbers. Only the Second Order managed to hold on, but the entire group of souls was beaten back steadily. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming showed no panic. He spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Thousand Beast Banner, and the dark green flag suddenly burst into bright light. A thick black fog surged out, quickly enveloping a large area within the sword array. As soon as the black fog appeared, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts'' speed was affected, and they barely managed to stop the decline. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s Tiangang Sword flickered with silver light and shot towards the Dragon-Eyed Beasts within the black fog. "Tiangang Sword Qi Second Sword." The sword qi moved with incredible speed, stabbing towards a Dragon-Eyed Beast that was surrounded by monster beast souls. The targeted Dragon-Eyed Beast panicked upon seeing the attack of the Tiangang Sword coming, frantically biting at the souls around it, trying to break through and escape. However, although the souls'' strength was limited, they were not easily letting it escape due to their overwhelming numbers. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword pierced through the body of the Dragon-Eyed Beast, and a pitiful howl sounded as the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast was slain by the Tiangang Sword. As the Dragon-Eyed Beast fell to the ground, the Tiangang Sword, dripping with blood, returned to Lin Tianming''s hand. With the suppression of the sword array and the black fog, and the relentless entanglement by the souls, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts'' speed no longer held any advantage. Although Lin Tianming possessed only the strength of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, the power he burst forth with was definitely not inferior to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator. Under such circumstances, dealing with a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast was naturally not a problem. However, such a confrontation caused him a great drain on his spiritual power. With the overwhelming number of Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, relying on the Tiangang Ninth Sword to slay them all would likely be somewhat laborious. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not use the Tiangang Ninth Sword again, but instead, he steadily controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, starting to shrink it. In the blink of an eye, the range of the sword array shrank to just over two hundred zhang and had become extremely stable. As the sword qi inside became more dense, the pressure on the Dragon-Eyed Beasts intensified. The Dragon-Eyed Beasts were now extremely terrified, as the remaining seven Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts simultaneously opened their huge maws, spewing out fireballs towards the Sword Array Barricade. Seeing the Dragon-Eyed Beasts unleash their Innate Divine Abilities, Lin Tianming''s expression grew extremely grave. The attacking power of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts was otherwise not remarkable, but the fireballs produced by the collaborative effort of the seven would certainly be formidable. He feared the Earth Fiend Sword Formation might not withstand their relentless onslaught. Thinking this, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and a Flaming Red Talisman suddenly appeared in his hand, which was a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman he had purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. As he looked at the fire attribute attack talisman in his hand, a look of pain flickered across his face. He had not used it even during the fierce battle with the grey-robed cultivator, considering that a talisman capable of a strike akin to a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn''t be very effective against the grey-robed man at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. That''s why he had kept it until now. "This cost three thousand spirit stones," Lin Tianming thought to himself. Meanwhile, he threw the talisman into the air and followed by a spell that he cast on the Flaming Red Talisman. The talisman instantly shot out countless flames, forming a vast sea of fire that poured down upon the Dragon-Eyed Beasts within the sword array. "Boom, rumble..." The flames produced by the talisman and the fireballs spat by the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts collided fiercely, creating a massive mushroom cloud. For a moment, the sky was ablaze with red, the heat from the explosion so intense that it roasted the First Order Medium Grade Dragon-Eyed Beasts alive. After the explosion subsided into torrents of flaming rain, it covered the entire sword array, drenching any surviving Dragon-Eyed Beasts, leaving them soaking wet. Just one Second Order Superior Attack Talisman had killed eighty percent of the First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Only a few from the First Order Late Stage remained alive, each with varying degrees of injuries. The Divine Skills of the seven Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts were interrupted, and they roared in fury; but, upon looking at Lin Tianming again, a trace of fear appeared in their eyes. Lin Tianming''s face brightened with joy. Although he had used the precious Second Order Talisman and failed to kill any Second Order Demonic Beasts, it essentially wiped out the First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts and stopped the Second Order''s Divine Skills, achieving his goal. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire Taking advantage of the moment of dread among the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts, Lin Tianming reduced the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation even further, down to a hundred zhang. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt secretly delighted, his hand brewing another wave of attack, preparing to further expand his victories. His Tiangang Sword glowed brightly as he launched several beams of sword qi, then with a leap, he charged into the sword array. He had consumed a fair amount of spiritual power, and with the need to cooperate with Long Hai, with whom he had no previous interaction, he had to reserve some spiritual power to face any crisis that might arise at any time. Seeing Lin Tianming actively charge into the sword array, the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts resumed their snarling and became agitated once more. Cultivators and Demonic Beasts usually fought from a distance; Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had charged directly into the midst of seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts for close combat. The frenzied Dragon-Eyed Beasts immediately sprang into action, their strong paws lashing out toward Lin Tianming''s forehead. If hit, his head would likely explode in an instant. The attack of the Dragon-Eyed Beast was incredibly swift, its paw a mere blur under the sunlight. Lin Tianming was not startled; he opened his Eye of Five Colors and effortlessly dodged the furiously swiping paw of the Dragon-Eyed Beast. Then he took to his heels, putting a slight distance between them. After a brief disengagement, the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts were quite surprised. They were known for their speed and yet they did not expect this human cultivator to be equally fast and incredibly precise. Chapter 183 Joint Effort to Exterminate the Demon_3 Little did they know that Lin Tianming had the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, no matter how fast they were, he could predict their trajectories in advance and make the most ideal evasions. Stabilizing his stance, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming''s hand flashed with silver light, and he followed with a slash that repelled the two pursuing Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The pained Dragon-Eyed Beasts let out a shriek and then surged forward once more, surrounding Lin Tianming. The Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming''s hand swung frequently as he engaged in close combat with the attacking Dragon-Eyed Beasts. For a time, the silvery white sword light flashed, colliding with their iron-hard claws. "Clang, clang, clang." The sound of metal colliding, thousands of pounds in forces clashing, came like music from the heavens. After dozens of exchanges, Lin Tianming, with his powerful physique, did not fall into disadvantage. At this point, his body was drenched with sweat, and the temperature of the Tiangang Sword had reached a terrifying level; sweat droplets evaporated into steam as soon as they landed on the sword. "Haha, exhilarating!" Lin Tianming let out a long howl towards the sky, and as his physique further strengthened, he could match a Second Order Demonic Beast with just his bodily strength. With the aid of the Eye of Five Colors and a vast amount of magic artifacts, his combat power peaked. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the fierce battle raged, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation revolved continuously, slowly reducing the area it enveloped, compressing the living space of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts along with the Thousand Beast Banner. At this time, the area of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a hundred feet, the Sword Qi within was dense and exceptionally stable. By now, the seven surviving Dragon-Eyed Beasts gradually fell into disadvantage and soon began to sustain injuries, forcing the entire group to further retreat. Having gained the upper hand, Lin Tianming did not give the Dragon-Eyed Beasts a chance to catch their breath. While controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, he unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword again. With the suppression and binding of the Sword Array, he successfully inflicted severe wounds on two of the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The gravely wounded Dragon-Eyed Beasts lay on the ground, struggling and howling, their bodies torn in several places, one even having its tail severed, presenting a dismal sight. Seeing their compatriots in such a state, the few Dragon-Eyed Beasts still capable of fighting rushed over in fury, gnashing their teeth. Lin Tianming remained calm, clashing with them while wielding the Tiangang Sword. With two Dragon-Eyed Beasts rendered powerless, the rest of the group steadily retreated, trapped beasts in a fight. The remaining five Dragon-Eyed Beasts, in sheer terror, began frantically ramming the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in a last-ditch effort. Lin Tianming''s sword light flickered as he obstructed them, simultaneously controlling the Sword Array to continuously shrink their living space. The current situation was akin to a frog being boiled in warm water, it was only a matter of time. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea... As the Sword Array narrowed to an area of several dozen feet, a miserable cry echoed from within. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation also ceased operating and all flew to Lin Tianming''s side, beginning to rotate around him. Simultaneously, he put the Thousand Beast Banner into his storage bag, finally letting out a sigh of relief. His battle had ended, with all eight Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beasts vanquished. Looking across the battlefield on his side, there were corpses everywhere, lying in disarray. The flesh of many lower-order Dragon-Eyed Beasts had been scorched dry by a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, leaving only a pile of desiccated skeletons. Gazing upon this hellish scene, Lin Tianming did not have time to clean up the battlefield as he rushed towards a nearby battle group. At this moment, Lin Shilu was locked in fierce combat with three Dragon-Eyed Beasts, and judging from the situation, he seemed to have the upper hand, with one already slain and the rest wounded. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this since Lin Shilu was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, already nearing the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and with a plethora of magic artifacts assisting him, dealing with four Second Order Medium Stage Dragon-Eyed Beasts was not challenging. With Lin Tianming joining the fight, the struggling Dragon-Eyed Beasts had little power left to resist. "Tianming, make it quick!" Lin Shilu uttered as he enlarged the Golden Seal in his hand and slapped it down on one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The targeted Dragon-Eyed Beast, seeing this, frantically tried to flee but was blocked by Lin Tianming who had come to assist. "Boom..." With a loud bang, the three-foot tall body of the Dragon-Eyed Beast was sent flying by the Golden Seal, crashing heavily to the ground and leaving a deep pit upon impact. Under the attack of the Overturning Mountain Seal, the robust Dragon-Eyed Beast was still struggling, though it had lost its ability to fight. Lin Tianming rushed over and delivered an angry slash, ending the life of the Dragon-Eyed Beast conclusively. The remaining two Dragon-Eyed Beasts, sensing the situation, thought of escaping, but it was already too late. Lin Tianhong had already laid down the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, cutting off their escape routes completely. Subsequently, the two men repeated their tactics, skilfully coordinating to slay the two Dragon-Eyed Beasts one by one. Soon, Lin Tianming and his companion were free to act. After swallowing a Huiyuan Pill each, they started paying attention to the major battle above. At that moment, Long Hai was engaged in combat with two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts and was gradually gaining the upper hand. Long Hai''s three-foot long saber emitted intense Blade Qi, slicing off the tail of one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The pained beast howled in agony. Witnessing Long Hai''s upper hand and fearsome strength, the two felt extremely apprehensive. "Fellow Daoists, come over and lend me a hand!" Chapter 183 Join Forces to Eliminate the Demon _4 Hearing Long Hai''s call, Lin Shilu said to Lin Tianming: "Tian Ming, I will go and lend a hand so we can quickly end the battle, and you should not get involved!" Lin Tianming nodded. Facing a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demonic Beast was still too risky for him; any accidents could lead to more loss than gain, especially since Long Hai was not at a disadvantage even by himself. More importantly, he could recover his Spiritual Power as soon as possible, so if Long Hai went back on his word, he could be prepared. Watching Lin Shilu join the fray, Lin Tianming did not clean up the battlefield but started meditating on the spot to recover. "Boom, boom, boom..." Explosive noises emanated from the sky, lasting the time it took to drink a cup of tea before stopping. After a short while, Lin Shilu descended from the sky, landing beside Lin Tianming with a flicker of exhaustion in his eyes. Soon, Long Hai also descended from the sky, stopping at a distance opposite to the duo. The battle over, Long Hai appeared rather pleased, addressing Lin Tianming and company: "Fellow cultivators, quickly tally your spoils of war, and after that, we shall enter the lair of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts to plunder." Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, beginning to count their spoils of war. In less than half a quarter hour, they had collected all the inner cores from the Dragon-Eyed Beasts, stuffing the bodies wholesale into storage bags to be divided up when they had more time. After all, these spoils of war were nothing compared to the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, the White Jade Grass. After gathering the spoils of war, Lin Shilu addressed Long Hai: "Lead the way, Brother Long. I hope you won''t play any tricks, or we certainly won''t let it go easily!" Hearing Lin Shilu''s threatening words, Long Hai did not respond, but simply chuckled wryly and led the way north. Lin Tianming and his companion hastily followed, not daring to let him out of their sight before seeing the White Jade Grass. With Long Hai guiding them, it didn''t take long for the trio to arrive at a valley spanning several miles. The three stopped, and Lin Tianming and his companion took in their surroundings. Looking ahead from about a hundred yards away was a lush, rushing gorge filled with dense vegetation, towering trees, and vibrant flowers, presenting a breathtaking view. "Brother Long, is this where the lair of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts is located?" asked Lin Shilu. It was hard to believe that the massive population of the Dragon Eye Beast Clan inhabited such a small area. "Of course, if you don''t believe me, let us go in and see for ourselves!" With those words, Long Hai left them behind and headed into the gorge filled with flowers. Lin Tianming and his companion exchanged glances before following. Soon, they reached the deepest part of the valley, stopping atop a hill with red soil. The soil here was markedly different from that outside the valley, growing darker in hue the deeper one went¡ªquite a peculiar sight. Long Hai pointed toward a small area at the top of numerous mounds and said, "Fellow cultivators, please look over there!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion lifted their gaze, looking toward the direction Long Hai indicated. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire They saw a patch of blood-red soil at the top of the mounds, covering an area of several acres, sparsely dotted with snow-white Spirit Grass. "White Jade Grass!" "Indeed, it is White Jade Grass!" Lin Tianming exclaimed with excitement. Overjoyed at the sight, Lin Shilu rushed over to inspect it closely. Long Hai remained calm; the White Jade Grass in his hand had been collected here, and the sight of it no longer thrilled him as it once had. "Fellow cultivators, have I not been true to my word?" he said. Lin Shilu, looking much pleased, laughed in response, "Ha-ha... Brother Long, you indeed keep your promises!" "I had discovered this place earlier and collected a plant, but then the Dragon-Eyed Beasts detected me and pursued me relentlessly, which is why I sought cooperation with you," Long Hai explained, recounting his harrowing experience and lightening the atmosphere. Having joined forces, Long Hai was no longer as indifferent as before. He reminded them with a smile: "Fellow cultivators, our recent battle made quite a commotion. If other cultivators, especially those from the Golden Elixir Forces, are attracted, our troubles could multiply!" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu and his companion nodded. They needed to remain vigilant; encountering the Golden Elixir Forces could mean getting nothing and possibly even losing their lives here. Considering this, he said: "Let us quickly gather the grass and then divide our shares afterward!" Long Hai naturally had no objections, and taking the lead, he began collecting White Jade Grass. Lin Tianming and his companion, not wanting to fall behind, spread out to collect their own shares. Chapter 184 The gathering of the strong _1 With Long Hai occupying this hilltop, Lin Tianming and his companion continued to walk deeper into the area. Soon, they spotted White Jade Grass on different hilltops and began to disperse to collect it. Lin Tianming arrived at a hilltop and dug up a mature White Jade Grass, observing it in his hands. Aside from seeing the White Jade Grass from afar before the big battle at Long Hai, this counted as his second encounter with this precious Spirit Grass. Looking at the snow-white body of the White Jade Grass, Lin Tianming was thrilled. Just on this hilltop, he found three mature White Jade Grass plants, and more than ten saplings¡ªan abundant harvest indeed. With several such red-soiled hilltops in this small valley, if they could all yield a few plants, they would be able to divide up quite a number of Spirit Grasses among themselves. With that thought, he stored the precious White Jade Grass in a prepared Jade Box, and then began to collect the others. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the White Jade Grass saplings, he naturally wouldn''t overlook them. Although the survival rate of this Spiritual Medicine was frighteningly low, even if only one were to survive, it might bring a Foundation Establishment Clan Member to the family, wouldn''t it? On two nearby hilltops, Lin Shilu and Long Hai were also busy at work. They worked efficiently and meticulously, their faces showing excitement throughout the process. Although Long Hai had succeeded in Foundation Establishment and was still a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator, he had no use for White Jade Grass. However, one plant could easily fetch tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, making it extremely valuable. Moreover, he needed to prepare for his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, which required accumulating a large amount of Spirit Stones, so the White Jade Grass was essentially bundles and bundles of Spirit Stones to him. An hour later, the three of them regrouped. "Let''s all take out the White Jade Grass we collected!" After Long Hai spoke, he took out more than twenty Jade Boxes and opened them to reveal the White Jade Grass he had collected. Lin Tianming and his companion glanced over them¡ªfive mature White Jade Grass plants and twenty-one saplings. Following Long Hai, Lin Tianming and his companion also took out all the White Jade Grass they had collected and placed them together. "Nine mature White Jade Grass plants, and thirty-seven saplings!" Long Hai nodded; the three hadn''t been far apart while collecting, and each had a clear idea of how much Spiritual Medicine the others had obtained. They had quite a haul this trip, with fourteen mature White Jade Grass plants and fifty-eight saplings in total. Long Hai smiled and said to Lin Tianming and his companion: "Fellow cultivators, according to our agreement, I get sixty percent of these White Jade Grass. Eight mature plants are mine, and I''ll take thirty-five saplings, unless there are any objections!" Upon hearing Long Hai''s words, Lin Shilu calculated carefully and found the distribution to be fair according to their agreement. "Of course, we always keep our word and will not go back on our promises," he replied. Long Hai nodded, waved his sleeve, and collected his share of White Jade Grass. Without delay, Lin Shilu collected all the remaining Jade Boxes into his storage bag and then addressed Long Hai with a cupped fist: "Fellow Daoist Long, I wonder if you would consider selling some of your White Jade Grass to me? I''m willing to pay a high price!" "Oh?" Long Hai was somewhat surprised. Lin Shilu''s statement, along with the fact that Lin Tianming had been acting in concert throughout, indicated that there was at least one Foundation Establishment Power behind them. Otherwise, they wouldn''t be buying White Jade Grass from him, clearly gathering it for the power behind them, since White Jade Grass was otherwise nearly impossible to find outside. Since he himself had reached Foundation Establishment and was not an Alchemist, he had almost no use for White Jade Grass and ultimately intended to sell it. As long as the price was right, it mattered little who the buyer was. With this in mind, Long Hai inquired: Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "What price do you offer?" Hearing this, Lin Shilu became even more excited. Long Hai wasn''t opposed to selling to them, otherwise, he could have just refused. However, White Jade Grass was not cheap; if the offer was too low, he likely wouldn''t agree. "Fellow Daoist Long, for mature White Jade Grass, eleven thousand Spirit Stones per plant, and for the saplings, eight hundred Spirit Stones each. What do you think?" Lin Shilu asked. Long Hai found Lin Shilu''s price to be reasonable, even slightly higher than the market rate, so he quickly made up his mind. "I agree to your terms without objection," he said. Lin Tianming and his companion were overjoyed to learn that Long Hai was willing to sell, as White Jade Grass was extremely important to the Lin Family, and they were willing to buy it at any cost. Fortunately, they had recently killed a gray-robed cultivator and obtained thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and with their accumulations over the years, as well as the family''s subsidies of Spirit Stones, they could indeed gather a large fortune. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his companion communicated privately to arrange the payment of Spirit Stones. They quickly reached a consensus, and Lin Shilu took out all his Spirit Stones, a total of sixty thousand. Lin Tianming also took out all his Spirit Stones, a total of fifty thousand, collecting a total of one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones. They placed all the Spirit Stones in a storage bag, ready to trade with Long Hai for the White Jade Grass. "Fellow Daoist Long, we''ve gathered one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones in exchange for all your White Jade Grass, and we''ll take the excess in saplings!" Long Hai was stunned to hear Lin Shilu''s words, as even he could not produce such a vast fortune. Regaining his composure, Long Hai said: "I can only sell a maximum of eight mature White Jade Grass plants, but there''s no limit on the saplings." Lin Shilu and his companion, seeing Long Hai''s resolute gaze, did not press further and traded for the eight mature White Jade Grass plants and twenty-eight saplings from him. Chapter 184 Gathering of the Mighty_2 The exchange between the two men had nearly depleted Long Hai''s stock of White Jade Grass, leaving him with only one mature plant and eight seedlings. After completing the exchange and verifying that the Spirit Stones and White Jade Grass were correct, they walked out of the canyon together. As the three of them walked and chatted, Long Hai asked Lin Shilu: "Fellow Daoists, this Secret Realm is fraught with danger. What are your plans now?" It seemed Long Hai was interested in joining them; after all, the strength of a single person was ultimately limited. If the three worked together, at the very least, their chances of survival would be greater. Considering Long Hai''s strength, which both had seen before, Lin Shilu was somewhat tempted to cooperate for the long term. After discussing it with Lin Tianming, they decided to go it alone. Although it was riskier, their origins and movements would not be exposed. Lin Shilu then politely declined Long Hai''s offer, and Long Hai did not insist. After exchanging a fist salute, Long Hai took his leave. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Watching Long Hai depart, Lin Tianming did not linger either and quickly vanished on the spot. After parting with Long Hai, the two did not wander aimlessly but found a secluded valley and carved out a simple cave dwelling. The great battle had just ended, and both of their Spiritual Powers were not at their peak; Lin Shilu had also suffered a light injury. It would be very dangerous to move around blindly in this perilous Secret Realm. Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu sat on the ground, their faces full of excitement. Lin Shilu took out a mature White Jade Grass, examining it carefully in his palm with an expression of cherishing fondness. Lin Tianming watched silently, knowing full well what White Jade Grass meant for people of their stage, so he did not interrupt him. Time passed, and Lin Shilu finally looked up, addressing Lin Tianming: "Tian Ming, what should we do next? Continue to explore the Secret Realm or stay here and wait for it to close?" Lin Shilu''s question plunged Lin Tianming into deep thought. They had been in the Secret Realm for less than ten days, and their harvest was enormous. Even if they left now, it would still be a successful trip. Moreover, carrying so much White Jade Grass, encountering big trouble and dying in this place would mean the family would gain nothing. Considering these things, Lin Tianming felt conflicted; time was plentiful, but running around with so many treasures was incredibly risky. "Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming doesn''t really mind. Staying here is not a bad idea!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s view, Lin Shilu made his decision not to wander further and stayed to wait for the closure of the Secret Realm. The two smiled at each other, then, with a unified opinion, they began to meditate and cultivate. Lin Tianming sat on the ground, began to operate Heaven''s Will, and when his state reached its peak, he took out a lotus seed from the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and swallowed it in one gulp. A familiar energy burst forth, which he slowly refined; soon, the Spiritual Power formed and circulated through his meridians. Time flew, and more than ten days passed. The ten-plus days of fierce fighting at the beginning of their Secret Realm journey made this period of quiet cultivation a rarity. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During this opportunity, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu each refined a lotus seed, further increasing their Spiritual Power. Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them, indicating considerable progress in his cultivation. Feeling the enhancement of his Spiritual Power throughout his body, he was extremely excited. After ten-plus days of arduous cultivation, he had reached the pinnacle of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment. With one or two more lotus seeds, he was confident that he could make a breakthrough. Feeling that Lin Tianming had finished cultivating, Lin Shilu opened his eyes and teased the excited Lin Tianming: "Tian Ming, you seem to have made great progress. You must be close to reaching the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, aren''t you?" "Heh heh... If I consume two more lotus seeds, I am confident I can break through within half a year!" Lin Tianming replied with a laugh, his eyes filled with confidence. "That is incomparable indeed!" Lin Shilu exclaimed, then said: "I took more than ten years to advance from the first to the third layer of Foundation Establishment, while you, you rascal, are likely to reach that stage in just a few years. Indeed, you are a monster..." Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming humbly replied: "Fifteenth Grandfather flatters me. What were the cultivation conditions like for you back then? I am simply relying on a large number of elixirs and treasures!" Before his words had finished, Lin Shilu''s face changed, startling Lin Tianming. Seeing the serious expression on Lin Shilu''s face, he asked puzzledly: "Fifteenth Grandfather, has something gone wrong?" Lin Shilu''s expression returned to normal, and then he exclaimed, looking somewhat crazed. "Tian Ming, an incredible opportunity... An incredible opportunity!" Hearing this news, Lin Tianming was completely baffled but quickly guessed something. "Could it be a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item?" "Only a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item could make Fifteenth Grandfather so crazed. If this is true, then indeed, it would be an incredible opportunity!" Lin Tianming pondered to himself, and before he could speak, Lin Shilu began to explain. "Just now, several people rushed past not far from us. Among them, two cultivators mentioned that they discovered a Star Moon Fruit Tree near a colossal lake to the north!" "What? A Star Moon Fruit Tree!" Lin Tianming exclaimed in shock, his face showing disbelief. The Star Moon Fruit Tree, a Third Order Spiritual Fruit tree, blooms once a millennium and bears fruit only once another millennium, producing only nine fruits each time. One fruit could increase a simple 30% chance of making a Golden Core breakthrough¡ªit was considered Heaven-Defying Treasure within the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Quickly regaining his composure, Lin Tianming asked with an excited expression: Chapter 184 A Gathering of the Strong _3 "Fifteenth Grandfather, it seems we can''t just wait here for the Secret Realm to close!" Before the sound of his voice had faded, Lin Shilu, with a face full of longing, hesitantly began to speak: "Indeed... Even if we are crushed to pieces, we must strive for the Star Moon Fruit at all costs. Third brother has reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and if he obtains a Star Moon Fruit, he will have a chance to break through to the Golden Core Stage!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming quickly thought of something and, with a worried expression, said: "Fifteenth Grandfather, this thing is truly a hot potato. Whoever obtains it will not have an easy time. Do we still have time if we go now?" "Hehe... This news must have already spread throughout the Secret Realm by now; otherwise, the person who just passed by wouldn''t have blurted it out like that!" "The cultivator who just passed by might have spotted us, yet he spoke without restraint. It''s likely he intended to spread the news..." Lin Shilu''s words confounded Lin Tianming. Who would reveal such crucial information without good reason? "Fifteenth Grandfather, please quickly clarify what has happened!" urged Lin Tianming. Reminded by Lin Tianming''s urgency, Lin Shilu remembered he had only shared half of the information and then continued to speak: "According to those two, the Star Moon Fruit Tree is guarded by a group of Tianluan Turtles, among which there is one at the Third Order Early Stage!" "A Third Order Early Stage Tianluan Turtle?" Lin Tianming''s face flushed red, once more overwhelmed with shock. That''s right... A complete group of Tianluan Turtles, including a Third Order one at that. With such a lineup, even if the disciples from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom joined forces, they might not succeed. Only under such circumstances would they spread the news everywhere, presumably to gather everyone''s strength and obtain the treasure smoothly!" With the full explanation, Lin Tianming finally saw the light and then said: "Fifteenth Grandfather, this matter is extremely important. Whether true or false, we must go and verify it before making plans. What do you think?" "That is exactly what I intend to do!" Lin Shilu nodded, as his thoughts were the same. If the news was true, whether loose cultivators or people from Sect Families, at the very least, they would need to gather a large number of cultivators to participate. Otherwise, they could not hope to successfully obtain the Star Moon Fruit! This was destined to be a fierce competition, but they first needed to unite and deal with the Tianluan Turtle group. "Tianming, there''s no time to lose; let''s set out immediately!" commanded Lin Shilu. Lin Tianming nodded, and then the two of them left the cave dwelling together. For their own safety and to avoid exposing family information, they disguised themselves and swiftly headed north. Along the way, they crossed many mountains and rivers. They encountered many cultivators who, just like them, were all converging toward the north. For several days the two traveled nearly a thousand miles, meeting more and more cultivators. Many groups of cultivators discussed the matter of the Star Moon Fruit. As they traveled, everyone''s focus was on hurrying on their way, and harmoniously so, without any thought of starting trouble. Lin Tianming quite understood this unusual situation; after all, compared to the Star Moon Fruit, petty profits and personal grudges were simply insignificant. Moreover, the cultivators who could partake were all at least at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and above. When it came to an opportunity to advance to the Golden Core Stage, no one could ignore it. Under such circumstances, no one would actively start trouble at this time. Early this morning, after traveling non-stop on horseback, the two of them arrived at the outskirts of a massive lake. By now, over a hundred people had gathered on the shore, among them were sect members, as well as clan disciples. Beyond that, there was also a considerable number of cultivators acting alone or in groups who had hurried over. It was foreseeable that the number of people would continue to increase, and although many cultivators were only there to watch the excitement, those with a desire to compete were certainly not in the minority. The hundred-plus cultivators scattered about, each finding a spot to wait, and discussed the matter of the Star Moon Fruit without any reservations. By this point, one could almost confirm that the news of the Star Moon Fruit was true; otherwise, there would not be so many cultivators waiting here. The two chose a spot to settle down, maintaining a safe distance of several hundred zhang from the nearby cultivators, and then began to assess the cultivators and forces present at the scene. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before long, he spotted the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect and Golden Sword Sect, as well as clan members from the West River Li Family, all wearing uniform Daoist robes with distinct insignias, easily identifiable at a glance. However, among the multitude of cultivators, there was no sign of anyone from Myriad Medicine Valley or the Yingchuan Chen Family. It was unclear whether they chose not to participate or were simply too spread out to receive the news. Lin Tianming surveyed the entire venue, and from the number of people present, there were eleven cultivators from Zhenyang Sect, eight from Golden Sword Sect, and four from the West River Li Family. Although it was difficult to discern the cultivation level of most Golden Elixir force''s disciples, one could presume that they definitely possessed cultivation of at least Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Besides that, he also noticed the Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom; Qingyun Valley and Purple Yin Sect were in no way inferior to Zhenyang Sect in strength. Another Golden Elixir force was the Pengcheng Liu Family, which also had two Golden Core cultivators from the clan overseeing it, their strength exceeding that of the West River Li Family of the Wei Kingdom. Among the Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom, the number of people was also sizeable: Qingyun Valley had ten, Purple Yin Sect had nine, and Pengcheng Liu Family had five. In total, they came close to matching the number of disciples from the Golden Elixir forces of Wei Kingdom. Three out of the five Golden Elixir forces from Wei Kingdom were present, and similarly, three out of the six major Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom were there, with dozens of disciples from these forces combined. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Among the remaining hundred or so loose cultivators, there were certainly quite a few at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and while no one revealed their true identities, it was certain that many were from Foundation Establishing families. The Golden Elixir forces of both countries'' cultivation worlds had each occupied a vast area of the ground, seemingly reaching an unspoken agreement as they awaited the arrival of more cultivators. Although having more cultivators join would affect their gains, the more people there were, the smaller their losses would be. As for the intentions of the Golden Elixir forces, the loose cultivators and Foundation Establishment Stage families present were well aware, yet no one was willing to give up on such a rare opportunity. Seeing so many disciples of the Golden Elixir forces, as well as a great number of loose cultivators and cultivators of unknown origins, Lin Tianming had a serious expression, inwardly murmuring to himself. "Such a formation indeed is a gathering of powerful individuals!" Lin Shilu''s heart was similarly churning with tumultuous waves, filled with unease. In such a setting, they were as ordinary as could be. To gain something in this situation was exceedingly difficult! Nevertheless, for the sake of the Star Moon Fruit, they would not easily give up. After exchanging views, they unanimously decided to wait and see what moves the Golden Elixir forces would make next. Having made up their minds, the two sat cross-legged on the ground, closed their eyes to rest, and waited for the next move. Chapter 185 Planning_1 One day later... Since Lin Tianming and another had arrived here, they had been waiting on the side. Except for the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces, everyone was waiting for the actions of the Golden Elixir Forces. Within this day, there were still sporadic cultivators rushing over. After several days of waiting, there were already more than two hundred cultivators gathered here. Now, only three days were left until the one-month deadline! If they didn''t take action now, or if the process of collecting the Star Moon Fruit wasn''t smooth, they would miss this rare opportunity. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the shore of the vast lake, the Six Major Golden Core Forces occupied the best observation spots. The eleven disciples of the Zhenyang Sect were sitting together, excitement written on each person''s face. Chu Jie sat squarely in the center. He scanned over the Zhenyang Sect members and then fell into deep thought. Upon entering the Secret Realm, they had an average harvest in the first half of their journey. Although they had gathered some White Jade Grass, they hadn''t found anything particularly precious, which had worried him considerably. Before entering the Secret Realm, the Second Elder had repeatedly instructed him to seize this opportunity to obtain more treasures for the Sect. There were not a few disciples within the Sect with outstanding talent, and the competition was particularly fierce; there were many with greater talent and cultivation than him. Under these circumstances, only by securing enough treasures to make a significant contribution to the Sect could he possibly be cultivated as a key figure and be assisted in reaching the Golden Core Stage. This time, discovering the Star Moon Fruit was a rare opportunity. Just obtaining a single fruit would suffice as an explanation to the Sect; if they could get two, the reward would be substantial, and with three, his chances of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would greatly increase. Conversely, if he didn''t make enough of a contribution, relying on the Sect to form a Golden Core would be almost unrealistic. He recalled again the earnest words of the Second Elder before entering the Secret Realm, as if they had been spoken just yesterday. "This time, having discovered the Star Moon Fruit Tree, we must obtain more than two fruits no matter what!" Chu Jie silently made up his mind, his expression filled with a fighting spirit. Quickly, Chu Jie regained his focus and looked towards the occasionally visible island in the middle of the lake. After erecting a soundproof Barrier, he spoke: "Fellow disciples, this news has been spreading for a few days now, and fewer and fewer cultivators are arriving. I don''t think anyone else will come, and the Secret Realm will close soon. If we don''t take action now, there will be no time left!" Chu Jie''s words calmed his fellow disciples, and they each began to ponder internally. In the crowd, an ordinary-looking man spoke up to remind: "Chu, the Tianluan Turtle is very powerful; I''m afraid no one dares to act rashly. We must not become the sacrificial pawns!" Before he had finished speaking, another Zhenyang Sect disciple also chimed in. "Indeed... Although the Tianluan Turtle is not known for its offensive power among Third Order Demon Beasts, its defensive power is definitely at the top. If we want to kill this beast, ordinary methods will be like scratching an itch." "We had people spread the news with the very aim of gathering everyone''s strength. Otherwise, just relying on a few dozen cultivators attacking, it''s simply not going to be successful!" another Zhenyang Sect disciple said. Chu Jie was well aware of what his fellow Zhenyang Sect disciples said, but he didn''t feel confident himself. Chu Jie looked around and then said: "Fellow brothers, the defensive power of the Tianluan Turtle is terrifying. It''s not something that any one or two Golden Elixir forces can handle. We must find allies and cooperate if we are to succeed; what do you think?" Upon hearing this, everyone nodded thoughtfully. Having cultivated to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, they were naturally no fools. The Tianluan Turtle was a Third Order Demon Beast, known for its defense, and there were also many Second Order Tianluan Turtles. Just with these people, even possessing treasures left by the Sect, it was impossible. With that in mind, everyone spoke in unison: "We will follow whatever instructions you give, Brother Chu!" Seeing this, Chu Jie nodded in satisfaction and then looked towards the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect and the clan members of the West River Li Family not far away. If they wanted to form an alliance, the Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom were, of course, the first choice. Although they were all from the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World and had minor frictions from time to time, there had been no great wars for a thousand years. In this view, the Golden Sword Sect and the West River Li Family were much more reliable than the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. In fact, every one of the Golden Elixir Forces was well aware of his thinking. He opened the Barrier, intending to communicate secretly with the people from the Golden Sword Sect and the Li Family. Just then, two voice transmissions reached his ears, exactly from Su Yunlong of the Golden Sword Sect and Li Wenyi of the Li Family. In a short while, after he had re-established the Barrier, he then said to his fellow disciples: "Fellow disciples, Su Daoyou of the Golden Sword Sect and Li Daoyou of the Li Family have just communicated with me to discuss an alliance, which I have agreed to!" Upon hearing this, the disciples seemed unsurprised and showed no intention of disagreement. Forming an alliance was inevitable; they weren''t concerned about which power to form an alliance with, but about how the benefits would be distributed. If too much of the benefit was given away, they would have less to gain. In the crowd, Jia Yuanchun stood up to inquire: "Brother Chu, if we succeed, how will the benefits be distributed?" Before he could finish, another figure stood up and said fervently: "Our Zhenyang Sect has the most people; splitting the benefits equally would not be fair to us!" "Yes... yes..." The crowd agreed one after another. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 185 Plotting_2 Seeing everyone turning to him for advice at ordinary times, only to clam up when it came to discussing interests, he felt utterly disgusted. However, despite his annoyance, he did not show any abnormality outwardly; after all, he still relied on them to establish great achievements for his sect! Thinking of this, he chuckled and expressed with a rather satisfied expression, "I dare not make promises lightly, hence I gathered the opinions of all my fellow disciples to discuss this matter with you!" "Elder Chu handles matters with utmost care. Coupled with Second Elder''s previous instructions to follow your commands, the alliance is entirely up to you to decide!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes... Elder Chu''s cultivation is profound; just take charge directly, we have no objections!" Despite not knowing how sincere the flattering words were, Chu Jie was still very satisfied. He nodded, scanned his fellow sect members, and then communicated with Su Yunlong and Li Wenyi through voice transmission. Within moments, based on the number and strength of disciples from all three sides, they reached a simple agreement regarding the alliance. If they succeeded in killing the Tianluan Turtle, the scene was bound to spiral out of control; at that time, the three families would move forward or retreat together to deal with the Golden Core Stage cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire As for the treasure distribution, regardless of the quantity of Star Moon Fruits obtained, the Zhenyang Sect would take forty-five percent, Golden Sword Sect forty percent, and the Li Family, fifteen percent. If they were fortunate enough to acquire the Star Moon Fruit Tree, given the immense value of the tree, it couldn''t be split into three parts; any distribution would have to be decided by the Golden Core Stage Cultivators of each party. Moreover, in cases where it was impractical to split equally, the party obtaining the Star Moon Fruits must provide treasures of equivalent value as compensation. But all these terms were predicated on having killed the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, otherwise, all would be but idle chatter. As the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom formed an alliance, the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom also secretly reached an agreement, with terms similar to theirs: the forces with more people got a larger share, while those with fewer got less. After all, in the Cultivation World, it has always been might that makes right, and the stronger one''s fist, the greater one''s say. Half a quarter hour later... By the lakeside, cultivators from Qingyun Valley, Purple Yin Sect, and Pengcheng Liu Family gathered together, putting the other cultivators on alert. Among the crowd, Xu Hua of Qingyun Valley stood up and addressed the Zhenyang Sect''s side: "Fellow Daoist Chu, the Tianluan Turtle is a Water Attribute Demonic Beast, and its attack power will slightly weaken at noon, which will be our best opportunity to make a move!" Hearing Xu Hua''s remarks, no one in the crowd contradicted, evidencing their agreement. Chu Jie, along with Su Yunlong and Li Wenyi, nodded to each other and then gathered their disciples, positioning themselves in a stand-off against the cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom. The Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom had more than twenty cultivators, all of which were at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. Similarly, the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom had about the same number of cultivators, all Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, creating a balanced power on both sides. However, the two countries'' cultivators were unlikely to spark any conflict for the time being. Before the Third Order Tianluan Turtle was killed, they needed to restrain themselves and even cooperate sincerely. Seeing the movements of the Golden Elixir Forces of the two countries, everyone could guess that it was probably time to take action. Lin Tianming and another person were sitting on an open space in the northwest corner, eyeing the cultivators from both sides while remaining vigilant. Lin Tianming, observing the dynamics of the scene, voice transmitted to Lin Shilu and asked: "Fifteenth Grandfather, looking at the scene, the Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom are numerous and immensely powerful. Do you think they stand a chance of success?" Hearing Lin Tianming''s inquiry, Lin Shilu frowned and then responded: "The Third Order Tianluan Turtle is certainly formidable, but facing the onslaught of over a hundred mid- to late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it is likely to be overwhelmed. However, this battle is sure to result in a substantial number of cultivators falling here!" "Oh?" Lin Tianming looked puzzled and said, "You''re so confident about this, Fifteenth Grandfather?" Lin Shilu''s expression was serious, and his eyes revealed wariness as he explained: "Tianming, do you think the Golden Elixir Forces have no trump cards?" "Based on my estimation, before entering the Secret Realm, they must have been given powerful treasures by their sects, which will be the key to determining the outcome of this battle!" Hearing Lin Shilu''s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded. Zhenyang Sect and Golden Sword Sect of Wei Kingdom, as well as Qingyun Valley and Purple Yin Sect of Huangyang Kingdom, have at least several millennia of inheritance as Golden Elixir Forces. Entering such an ownerless Secret Realm, they were sure to hold some trump cards; only then could they acquire more treasures and reduce the losses of their disciples. Just as he was speculating about their trump cards, the conversation between the cultivators of the two countries interrupted his thoughts. At this time, the Golden Elixir Forces of both countries were gathered together, discussing strategies for attacking the Tianluan Turtle. Xu Hua chuckled, then decisively addressed Chu Jie: "Fellow Daoist Chu, since this place was first discovered by you, could you share some insights into the strength of the Tianluan Turtle herd?" After exchanging smiles with Su Yunlong, Chu Jie said: "Fellow Daoists of Huangyang Kingdom, it is true that we were the ones to find this place, but we also do not have detailed knowledge of the Tianluan Turtle herd''s exact strength!" Upon hearing this, the cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom displayed distinctly displeased expressions. The outspoken voice of Wu Xu, the leader of Purple Yin Sect, rang out, directly questioning: "Is Fellow Daoist Chu playing with us? We have been waiting here for several days; surely we haven''t been wasting our time for nothing!" Chapter 185 Strategy_3 "Wu Daoyou''s words are very true!" Liu Kaiquan of the Pengcheng Liu Family agreed. "Then why do you go around spreading rumors that there is a Star Moon Fruit Tree in the lair of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle?" Seeing everyone''s scorn and ridicule, Chu Jie''s face changed, and he immediately sneered back. "It''s true I was the one who released the news, but I never forced anyone to come. It was you who coveted the Star Moon Fruits, wasn''t it?" "If you didn''t discover any treasure, would you still vent your anger on me?" "You... you..." Hearing Chu Jie''s mocking words, Wu Xu became infuriated but was unable to retort. Seeing the situation getting out of control, Su Yunlong hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "Fellow Daoists from Huangyang Kingdom, do not be irritated. Daoist Chu did not deceive us. Think about it, haven''t the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also been waiting here for such a long time?" Even though Su Yunlong''s words were reasonable, they managed to calm the atmosphere. Xu Hua nodded and then spoke: "Daoist Chu, no more beating around the bush, just be straightforward. Tell us about the situation with the Tianluan Turtle clan. Without killing a Third Order Demonic Beast, our cooperation is necessary, isn''t it?" As soon as these words were uttered, Liu Kaiquan echoed them. "Yes... I''m not hiding anything either. As long as the Third Order Demonic Beast is not dead, we won''t conflict with each other. Even if we do kill the Third Order Demonic Beast, it will still be based on our abilities. Aren''t we all just trying to fulfill our Sect''s mission?" The frankness of these blunt words made people less repelled. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Chu Jie and the others nodded, their expressions gradually easing. "Fellow Daoists, I don''t intend to hide it from you, the matter of the Tianluan Turtle is indeed absolutely true," Chu Jie said, then his expression turned mournful. "Twelve of us entered the Secret Realm, and one of our fellow disciples died on the small island in the middle of the lake. Before that disciple perished, he sent back a message using a secret technique, and by judging the disturbances at that time, it was indeed an Early Stage Third Order Tianluan Turtle without a doubt!" No sooner had he finished than Xu Hua hurriedly asked, "Was there any mention of the overall strength of the Tianluan Turtle clan?" Seeing Xu Hua''s inquiry, Chu Jie''s expression became solemn, and then he responded: Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "According to the description from our perished fellow disciple, there is only one at the Third Order, but there are likely many at the Second Order¡ªno less than dozens of them. Their strength is formidable. That''s the reason why we haven''t driven away so many Loose Cultivators who have come here!" Upon hearing Chu Jie''s explanation, everyone seemed to awaken from a dream. No wonder he had spread such important news far and wide. "That makes sense... With a Tianluan Turtle clan of such strength, even we, the Six Major Golden Core Forces, might not be able to handle it," said Xu Hua. Chu Jie nodded and then shifted the topic. "Fellow Daoists, that''s the situation. We don''t have much time. You may want to think of a plan. We must finish this within three days, or we will waste this opportunity!" On hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought, and then some suggestions were made, only to be quickly dismissed. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed... Seeing that they could not find a reliable method, Xu Hua finally spoke up: "If we forcibly attack the Tianluan Turtle''s territory, the risk is too great, and even if we succeed, our losses will certainly be huge. We can try to lure them out!" "How do you suggest luring them out? Who would be willing to seek death?" Su Yunlong said. "Exactly... Even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection would be practically going to their death by entering the Tianluan Turtle''s cave in the middle of the lake!" Li Wenyi commented as well. "Hehe... take a look at this!" Xu Hua chuckled, then took out a jade box, opened it, and placed it in front of everyone. Within the jade box lay a spirit grass, half a foot long, entirely water-blue in color, with patterns of clouds adorning it, looking quite peculiar. Seeing the spirit grass in the jade box, Chu Jie asked with a surprised and pleased expression, "Is this Tianluan Grass?" "Hehe... Chu Daoyou, you have a discerning eye indeed!" Xu Hua responded. Tianluan Grass is a Third Order Water Attribute Spirit Grass. Although it''s not of much use in alchemy, with only a scant few elixirs requiring it, it has immense attraction for water attribute demonic beasts, especially the Tianluan Turtle. It''s nearly their favorite spirit material, easily capable of drawing water attribute demonic beasts from a distance. "Haha... with this, we can indeed lure the Tianluan Turtles out..." Chu Jie said with a hearty laugh. Su Yunlong was also very happy, and then spoke up: "We can find a place rich in Fire Attribute Spiritual Energy, set up a Second Order Formation, and then use the Tianluan Grass to attract the Tianluan Turtle clan. With the power of the formation, we might be able to reduce our casualties significantly!" Hearing Su Yunlong''s plan, everyone''s expression turned excited, with Xu Hua speaking up: "Exactly... That''s also what I was thinking. It is said that Su Daoyou is a Second Order Medium Quality Array Master, so I''m certain he will have a very powerful formation." Before he had finished speaking, everyone present was fixating their gaze on Su Yunlong, apparently eager to hear his thoughts. Seeing this, Su Yunlong confidently stated: "I have a complete set of Second Order Medium Quality Array Flags on me, which can be used to set up a Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. Although only relying on this formation wouldn''t be enough to kill a Third Order Tianluan Turtle, with the advantage of the right timing and location, restraining its power for a period of time is doable!" "Good... This plan is solid!" Chu Jie said. "Yeah... Does anyone else have anything to add?" asked Xu Hua. Seeing that no one spoke, Chu Jie and the others began to discuss the specific implementation plan. Half a quarter of an hour later, the Golden Core forces'' disciples of the two countries reached a consensus: using the Tianluan Grass to attract the Tianluan Turtles into the formation, then combining the power of many cultivators, they planned to kill the Third Order Tianluan Turtles. As for the Star Moon Fruit and the spoils of the big battle, it would come down to each person''s capabilities. After working out the results and methods, representatives from the Six Major Golden Core Forces gathered together, surveying the loose cultivators present. All six were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, their strength undeniably among the strongest of the over two hundred cultivators present. With solemn expressions, Chu Jie among them, addressed all the cultivators present with a fist salute, laying out their plan in full and inviting everyone to join in the fight against the Tianluan Turtle clan. As for those who did not want to take action, they had to leave this place by a hundred miles now. If they did not heed the advice and lingered, they would immediately be driven away. Those who were unwilling to take action but dared to lay hands on the Star Moon Fruit and spoils after the successful killing of the Tianluan Turtle clan, no matter their background or cultivation, would face pursuit and attack by the Six Major Golden Elixir Forces. However, those who did participate would have the right to vie for the Star Moon Fruit and spoils; whether they could obtain them would depend on their own abilities. Of course, if they died here, it wouldn''t be the fault of the Six Forces. Hearing Chu Jie''s threats and incentives, along with the stern expressions of the other five, it didn''t seem like a bluff. Instantly, the cultivators present began discussing amongst themselves, with many hesitating, although some had no intention of leaving from the start. Some cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level were very aware of their own limitations; they had come to watch the excitement and maybe pick up some bargains. If they perished here, what use would the Star Moon Fruit be to them? Quickly, nearly a hundred people left the scene, yet still, more than a hundred people remained, seemingly reluctant to give up on this opportunity. Seeing many cultivators leaving, Lin Tianming was in a dilemma. He then sent a message to Lin Shilu asking: "Fifteenth Grandfather, what should we do, give up participating, or join their camp?" After pondering for a while, Lin Shilu spoke resolutely: "Hearing their plan, the feasibility is quite good, and there''s even a considerable chance of success. We''ve come all this way, for the sake of the family''s centuries of effort, I''m willing to stake everything!" Seeing Lin Shilu''s determined expression, a fierce fire suddenly ignited in Lin Tianming''s chest, and a surge of momentum arose. "For the sake of the family''s long-held expectations, let''s stake everything..." Hearing Lin Tianming''s message, the two grandparent and grandchild shared a smile! Chapter 186 Siege_1 Lin Tianming and his companion made up their minds to get involved. Although the hope was slim, if they did not try, there would be no hope at all. By trying, at least there was a glimmer of hope, wasn''t there? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, led by the six major Golden Core forces, they planned to temporarily leave the lakeside to find a location rich in fire properties to set up the formation. With a small portion giving up the opportunity and those with ulterior motives leaving, those who confirmed their participation followed Chu Jie and the others away. The two followed behind a group of cultivators, walking for half an hour before they arrived at a valley filled with boulders. About a hundred cultivators stood at the top of the valley, then surveyed the surroundings. Looking around, there was a seemingly bottomless canyon with boulders scattered on both sides, and even the ground was reddish-brown soil. A stream of heat wafted out from the depths of the canyon, clearly a natural spirit land of fire. At this moment, Su Yunlong, standing at the forefront, smiled joyfully and then said to the cultivators beside him: "Fellow daoists, this is a natural fire spirit land I stumbled upon by chance. It is quite suitable for setting up the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. As long as that Third Order Tianluan Turtle enters the formation, we can certainly weaken its strength within a short time." Feeling the intense fire properties of the spiritual power enveloping them, Chu Jie and Xu Hua couldn''t help but reveal a trace of satisfaction. "With such a natural spot, our chances of success have greatly increased. As long as that Third Order Tianluan Turtle comes here, it will surely leave its life behind," Chu Jie said excitedly. Xu Hua nodded and looked up at the scorching sun overhead, then said as a reminder: "We should not delay. Let''s set up the formation before noon and do our best to lure the Third Order Tianluan Turtle here." "Indeed, after today''s time passes, we would have to wait another day, and we don''t have much time left," Li Wenyi chimed in. "Let''s trouble Su Daoyou to take action and set up the formation, and then place the Tianluan Grass within the formation." Xu Hua waved his sleeve, handing over a jade box containing the Tianluan Grass to Su Yunlong, signaling him to quickly set up the formation. Su Yunlong took the Tianluan Grass and without hesitation leaped from the mountaintop, landing at the bottom of the valley. He scanned the area at the bottom, picked a relatively small and uneven location, and then took out five fire-red flags and a dark-colored array plate. After surveying his chosen spot, Su Yunlong nodded with satisfaction, then threw the five flags into the sky, which then steadily disappeared into the soil beneath some boulders. At the same time, he made a spell gesture with his hands, light after light of spiritual light bombarding the array plate. "Hum hum hum..." Some time passed, and a few unique humming sounds emanated. A faint red light screen suddenly appeared over the valley, covering a large area. The formation light screen showed briefly before dissipating, and the valley returned to calm. He nodded in satisfaction, then took out the Tianluan Grass and placed it at the center of the formation. Feeling the formation activate, he then left the formation''s interior and came to the front of the group of cultivators. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Looking at his handiwork, Su Yunlong''s eyes gleamed with pride as he said to the cultivators: "Fellow daoists, the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation has been activated, and the Tianluan Grass has also been placed inside. Let us all retreat deep into the valley and conceal any traces of our presence, lest we startle the beast unnecessarily." "Everyone retreat deep into the valley, and remember to collect your composure so as not to disturb the Tianluan Turtle. Otherwise, if our plan fails, the consequences need not be mentioned by me!" After saying this with a threatening tone, Chu Jie led the Zhenyang Sect cultivators away, and the disciples of the other Golden Elixir Forces hurriedly followed suit. The remaining cultivators of unknown origin quickly followed; Lin Tianming and his companion blended among them, disappearing in the sky above the canyon. They reached deep into the canyon, a few miles away from the formation, where everyone subdued their minds and spirits, waiting for any movement within the formation. In the blink of an eye, it was already midday. The sun shone brightly at this hour, generating massive amounts of heat from the depths of the canyon. The heat evaporated into dense mist, enveloping the whole valley as if it were a mystical land of immortals. Lin Tianming and his companion sat inconspicuously at the back of the crowd, keenly observing any movement at the entrance of the canyon, ready to flee at any moment. Although they had a Second Order Formation and over a hundred cultivators to attack the clan of Tianluan Turtles, no one could guarantee that nothing unexpected would happen. If two Third Order Demonic Beasts appeared, all their planning would be in vain. At that time, they would not stay to fight to the death; likely everyone was thinking the same. Chu Jie and Xu Hua kept their eyes wide, staring at the dense fog ahead, full of worry. After some time had passed at the edge of the valley, one by one, immense turtles appeared. They were huge, each several meters in size, with blue and white intermingled shells easily identifiable on their backs. "The Tianluan Turtle clan has finally arrived," Chu Jie and Xu Hua were excited, and spiritual light twinkled faintly from the magic artifacts in their hands, clearly ready to strike. All the cultivators on the scene noticed the arrival of the Tianluan Turtles and prepared themselves accordingly. However, the figure of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle was still nowhere to be seen, causing the cultivators to feel somewhat helpless, continuing to wait. After a short while, a deep and unique sound came. Chapter 186 Siege_2 A Tianluan Turtle, some ten zhang in size, made its way towards the entrance of the gorge, causing the smaller Tianluan Turtles scattered about to make way for it, seemingly fearful. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The largest Tianluan Turtle, though immense in size, was surprisingly agile, instantly shifting a hundred zhang to the side and appearing just outside the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. The gigantic Tianluan Turtle seemed to loathe the place, but at the sight of the Tianluan Grass in the dense mist, it became extremely excited. However, this huge Tianluan Turtle was quite cautious. It stretched out its head, staring intently at the Tianluan Grass within the formation, neither stepping inside nor turning away. This largest Tianluan Turtle was undoubtedly Third Order, its aura exceptionally strong and easily distinguishable. Everyone held their breath at this moment, not daring to make a sound, quietly waiting for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to enter the formation. This was the first time Lin Tianming had seen a Third Order Demon Beast, especially one with such a long lifespan and remarkable resilience. He even thought that if he could subdue this Third Order Tianluan Turtle, his family wouldn''t have to fear the Golden Elixir Forces for a thousand years. But he quickly abandoned the idea: A Third Order Demon Beast wouldn''t easily accept a master, and without the strength of the Golden Core Stage to suppress it, subduing it was impossible. As he was lost in thought, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle made a move. Perhaps the Third Order Tianluan Grass was too tempting for it. After pacing back and forth outside the formation, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle finally decided to swallow the grass. All held their breath, waiting for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to take that step. Finally, the Tianluan Turtle raised its massive head, leading a few Second Order Tianluan Turtles into the formation, while the majority remained outside. Just as everyone tensed up, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle moved at an astonishing speed, charged to the side of the Tianluan Grass, gulped it down, and then let out a satisfied roar. Seeing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle enter the formation, Chu Jie and Xu Hua, among others, grew excited, waiting for Su Yunlong to give the signal to strike. As the Third Order Tianluan Turtle entered the formation, an Array Plate flew out of Su Yunlong''s hand, followed by several Law Decrees hitting it. The light screen, which had previously dissipated, shone brightly once more, with colors even more vibrant than before. "Boom rumble." After a ground-shaking tremor, the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation was successfully activated before the Tianluan Turtles inside could react. As the formation activated, the temperature within its embrace soared, and countless fireballs fell from the sky, pouring down towards the ground. Under the fierce attack of the massive fireballs, the Tianluan Turtles started to dodge, but the fireballs were dense, and many Second Order Tianluan Turtles were hit, quickly getting injured. The huge Third Order Tianluan Turtle, despite its speed, was still hit by some fireballs on its shell. Yet these terrifying fireballs only left a tiny wound on its carapace, posing no threat to its life. "Fellow cultivators, strike quickly!" Chu Jie let out a loud shout and then leaped forward, heading towards the entrance of the gorge. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire Behind him, a multitude of cultivators followed closely behind the juniors of the Six Major Golden Core Forces. Lin Tianming and his companion symbolically followed suit, always staying alert. More than ten breaths later, Chu Jie and the others arrived first at the formation, having rushed there at full speed. Inside the formation, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, greatly irritated, began to ram the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation while dodging the fireballs, leading its juniors. In the time it took for them to arrive, the formation had already been struck several times by the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, each impact shaking the earth, teetering on the brink of collapse. Seeing this, Su Yunlong quickly shouted: "Everyone, act quickly to stop them from breaking out of the formation. Once they escape, it will be difficult to deal with this creature." Before his words fell, Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others from the Golden Core Forces began to attack frantically. With a wave of his robe, Chu Jie sent out a set of nine Circular Ring Artifacts, then cast several spells on them. The Nine Ring Artifacts rapidly enlarged and hurtled towards the Third Order Tianluan Turtle at lightning speed. Xu Hua was not to be outdone. As the leader of Qingyun Valley, he couldn''t let Chu Jie of Wei Kingdom take all the spotlight. He slapped his storage bag, then pulled out a Spirit Sword gleaming with red light and brimming with Spiritual Energy, obviously also a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact. Injecting a great amount of Spiritual Power, the entire Spirit Sword flickered, slashing angrily toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle inside the formation. While the two took action, the remaining cultivators each made their move. Lin Tianming took out an Earth Evil Sword. The pair launched a few symbolic attacks, not using even a third of their strength. Many cultivators probably shared this mindset, as no one wanted to lead the charge or reveal their strength and methods. Still, the combined attack of over a hundred cultivators was terrifying nonetheless. For a moment, the entire formation was ablaze, various magic and spiritual artifacts emerged, and countless exotic attacks were unleashed, quickly engulfing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. "Boom rumble..." Explosions rang out, darkening the sky within the formation. The multitude of spells and attacks from Spirit Instruments washed over the area, and in just a moment, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles suffered horrific casualties, with nearly only those at the late phase of Second Order surviving, albeit injured. Chapter 186 Siege_3 The Third Order Tianluan Turtle, however, had hardly sustained any damage. The attacks from Foundation Establishment Cultivators had limited destructive power, and when faced with a defensive creature like this turtle, even the combined assaults from Chu Jie and Xu Hua merely left tiny cracks on its shell. After one strike, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle became incredibly furious. It lifted its head and let out a shrill screech, then swung its powerful limbs and charged at the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. "Boom..." A loud bang erupted, and the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation began to tremble wildly, intense light flickering over the barrier of the formation. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire Meanwhile, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles outside the formation launched an attack at the cultivators, seemingly attempting to coordinate with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle inside. Seeing this, Chu Jie and the others wore grave expressions. Su Yunlong quickly shouted loudly: "All cultivators except for those from the Six Major Golden Core Forces, focus on exterminating the peripheral Tianluan Turtles!" Chu Jie and Xu Hua wore cold expressions as well, speaking in a threatening tone: "Do not try to hold back or hide your strength. If the Third Order Tianluan Turtle breaks free, nobody will get their hands on the Star Moon Fruit, and nobody will have an easy time!" Hearing the words of Chu Jie and the rest, and considering the terrifying power of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, the cultivators began to fight more fiercely. Lin Tianming and his companion also unleashed seventy percent of their full strength, at least appearing like typical Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the battle intensified, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles on the periphery were vastly outnumbered by the cultivators and quickly suffered heavy casualties. The key to the battle still lay with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle within the formation. As dozens of cultivators from the Six Major Golden Core Forces joined forces, various moves bombarded in a frenzy, and the Second Order Tianluan Turtles were almost completely torn apart, with very few surviving. As for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, its famously defensive shell now bore numerous cracks. Though they weren''t deep, it had still suffered some minor injuries. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle was unusually angry at this point. In this place rich in fire-attributed spiritual power, the effect on it was not small, and the restrictions of the formation imposed yet another handicap on its strength. The enraged Third Order Tianluan Turtle, a mighty Third Order Demon Beast, found it humiliating to be besieged by so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators and to have sustained injuries, which was incredibly frustrating. As the infuriated Tianluan Turtle continued to ram the formation relentlessly, the stability of the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation also began to weaken. Seeing this, Su Yunlong''s expression became grave, and he quickly explained the situation to the Six Major Golden Core Forces, who all realized the importance of the formation to them. "Fellow Daoists, do not hold back any longer. This Third Order Tianluan Turtle is stronger than we expected, and it must be close to the Third Grade Medium Stage!" Chu Jie spoke up. Xu Hua and the others exchanged glances, then the magic artifacts in their hands glowed with increased spiritual light, their attacks becoming even more fierce. After two rounds of assaults, the Tianluan Turtle seemed to realize that its situation was also dire. Although the regular methods of Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn''t kill it, if the fight dragged on, unpredictable incidents could occur. At that moment, the furious Third Order Tianluan Turtle became even more agitated, suddenly shooting out a barrage of Cold Jade Arrows from its mouth, which heavily bombarded the formation''s barriers. "Not good... the Tianluan Turtle''s Innate Divine Ability!" Chu Jie cried out in alarm. "Thump, thump, thump..." Thunderous booms resounded, and the formation shook violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Chu Jie and the others'' faces changed drastically, their magic artifacts shining brightly, attempting to stop the Third Order Tianluan Turtle from continuing its assault. However, it seemed that the Tianluan Turtle was determined, withstanding their attacks in its resolution to break the formation. As a torrent of attacks poured down, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle''s Innate Divine Ability, the Cold Jade Arrows, struck the formation once again. For a moment, the colors of the sky and earth shifted, and a flurry of attacks slammed against the thick shell of the Tianluan Turtle. A section of the Tianluan Turtle''s hefty shell shattered, revealing flesh white as jade. The frenzied onslaught from Chu Jie and the others wounded the disregarding Tianluan Turtle, which let out a crazed howl from the pain. At the same time, the Cold Jade Arrows also broke through the formation''s barriers. Just as the formation shattered, the light screen in the sky dissipated, and the Jade Staff Small Flags burst into flames, quickly burning into ash. At that moment, with the formation broken, the enraged Tianluan Turtle turned its head, staring at the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces who had injured it. They had underestimated the strength of the Third Order Demon Beast, thinking that with a Second Order Formation and the advantage of terrain they could succeed, but they never imagined that the Third Order Tianluan Turtle would be so powerful and resolute. They had held back throughout the fight, which resulted in the Tianluan Turtle breaking free. At that point, the faces of Chu Jie and the others turned pale, and they started to retreat frantically. Chapter 187 Collapse_1 Seeing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle break free, the cultivators who were besieging the remaining demonic beasts immediately ceased their attacks. Lin Tianming and his companion hastily retreated, positioning themselves behind the forces of the Six Major Golden Core Powers at the first opportunity. With the Tianluan Turtle free and no longer restrained, if it were to go on a rampage, staying within its sight was an invitation to death. They were prepared to flee for their lives at the first sign of danger, letting the Golden Elixir Forces bear the brunt. As expected, over a dozen cultivators who were late to retreat, caught off guard, were effortlessly slain by the escaped Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Those quick enough to evade scrambled away in panic, eventually taking their place behind the Six Major Golden Core Forces, their faces pale as they looked upon the mangled corpses on the ground, all revealing expressions of lingering fear. Some of the surviving cultivators, witnessing this scene, immediately wavered in their resolve and, seizing the moment of shock and confusion, stealthily left the valley, evidently abandoning their plans to continue the siege. Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and others turned cold, watching the deserting cultivators with faces ashen. They were unable to prevent their departure, as there was no time to deal with the faint-hearted and fearful. In the blink of an eye, dozens feared the power of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle and hastily left, leaving behind mostly cultivators above the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even so, nearly a hundred cultivators remained, and the overall strength had not diminished by much. Those willing to stay were still reluctant to give up this opportunity for a breakthrough to the Golden Core. After cursing the fleeing cultivators, Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others turned their gaze to the Tianluan Turtle flock. At this moment, the surviving peripheral Tianluan Turtles, given a chance to breathe, quickly regrouped with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. With more than ten cultivators slain and dozens abandoning the siege out of fear of the Third Order Demonic Beast''s power, the conflict subsided for a moment. The cultivators and the Tianluan Turtle flock were now facing each other across the valley, the atmosphere extraordinarily tense. The current situation was still difficult to predict. From a strength perspective, there were still over a hundred cultivators, most being above the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, their power still formidable. While the Tianluan Turtle flock, despite the Third Order Tianluan Turtle having some injuries, was not significantly affected. Aside from that, with the aid of several dozen Second Order Tianluan Turtles, their strength was no less impressive than that of the cultivators. Both sides occupied their own hilltops, prepared for the impending battle. Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others wore somber expressions as they cautiously observed the enraged Tianluan Turtle flock, ready to engage at any moment. After a few moments passed, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle launched its attack, spitting out a barrage of Cold Jade Arrows towards the cultivators. "Everyone, be careful, strike quickly and vanquish them!" Xu Hua warned, as the Magic Artifact in his hand radiated intensely, slashing furiously at the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. "All Golden Core disciples, join me in attacking the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, the rest focus on quickly exterminating the Second Order Demonic Beasts, then we''ll all combine forces to deal with the Third Order," Chu Jie bellowed, as he flung his Hoop-shaped Magical Artifact which, after expanding in size, smashed toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Simultaneously, all disciples from the Golden Core Forces made their move. Suddenly, a myriad of attacks from various magical artifacts clashed with the Cold Jade Arrows spewed by the Tianluan Turtles. "Boom, boom, boom." The sky echoed with successive explosions, the Cold Jade Arrows colliding with the Six Forces'' attacks, generating explosive shockwaves, sending debris flying throughout the valley, and the heavens ablaze. At this moment, the intense battle was initiated by the Cold Jade Arrows launched by the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, entering a thrilling stage. Lin Tianming and his companion remained vigilant, targeting some of the injured Second Order Tianluan Turtles, making their battle surprisingly effortless while conserving their strength and not arousing suspicion among the other cultivators. In less than half a quarter of an hour, the valley was littered with corpses, both demonic beasts'' and cultivators''. The Tianluan Turtle flock suffered heavy losses, fewer than fifty capable of fighting remained, each bearing some injuries. Yet despite the relentless attacks, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle had not sustained fatal damage. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire The cultivator''s side also suffered significant losses, with dozens falling there, including over ten offspring of the Six Major Golden Core Forces, most killed by the Divine Skills of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. At this point, the showdown between cultivators and demonic beasts reached its climax. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle didn''t hesitate to unleash a flurry of Cold Jade Arrows at Chu Jie and the others. With the Third Order Demonic Beast''s Spirit Wisdom comparable to that of a human child, it seemed to know which cultivators posed a greater threat, and began to target them. As the Third Order Tianluan Turtle adjusted its tactics, Chu Jie, and the others had their complexions change drastically, scattering in haste. However, once their formation was broken, the pressure on the Third Order Tianluan Turtle eased, affording it an opportunity to retaliate. Seizing this chance, the Tianluan Turtle moved with astonishing speed towards Chu Jie and the Golden Core disciples, intent on wiping them out completely. But the Third Order Demonic Beast was too fast, and in the blink of an eye, two more disciples from the Zhenyang Sect had fallen, leaving the rest pale and huddled together. Stabilizing their positions, Jia Yuanchun''s face was pale with fright. If not for his quick reflexes dodging a lethal blow, he might well have perished. Chapter 187 Collapse_2 Thinking back to the recent peril, his face gloomy, he spoke to Chu Jie: "Brother Chu, the defensive power of this Third Order Tianluan Turtle is too strong; ordinary methods simply can''t kill it, and if we continue like this, it will be impossible to slay it." "Indeed, if the Third Order Demon Beast doesn''t die, none of us will get the Star Moon Fruit," another person chimed in. Hearing the words of his fellow brothers, Chu Jie''s face turned sour, but he had to face the reality that if they continued this way, not only would they fail to obtain the treasure, but they might also lose their lives here. He was extremely conflicted at this moment. If he used the trump card given by his sect, he would inevitably be at a disadvantage when it came time to compete for the Star Moon Fruit. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No, the trump card can only be used once; once used, it''s gone. It must be used by everyone together, otherwise, we can''t afford to lose our lifesaving trump card." Chu Jie thought to himself, clearly having made up his mind. He shouted to Xu Hua and the others: "Fellow Daoists, don''t hold back any longer. I believe your elders have surely given you a trump card. Whatever the means, we must bring them all out, slay the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, and then we will each rely on our own abilities." Chu Jie''s words made the descendants of the other Golden Elixir Forces hesitate; none wanted to lose their trump card, but the current situation didn''t allow them to ponder any longer. "Alright... Qingyun Valley agrees!" Xu Hua spoke up. "The Purple Yin Sect also agrees..." "Golden Sword Sect agrees too..." As the Four Great Golden Core Sects showed their stance, the representatives from Pengcheng Liu Family and West River Li Family had no choice but to reluctantly agree. Seeing this situation, Chu Jie and the others were very satisfied. Their cultivation and strength were the strongest and their numbers the most, so even without their trump cards, it would be easier for them to get the Star Moon Fruit than it would be for the Liu or Li families. "Everyone, take action quickly. The six major forces will take care of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. As for the Second Order ones, they will be left to those Loose Cultivators!" Chu Jie said. As he finished speaking, Chu Jie released the Nine Ring Artifacts from his hands, and with a spurt of blood, the nine rings rapidly grew in size and smashed toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. At the same time, the remaining cultivators struck again, their attacks clearly stronger than before. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle, seeing the cultivators'' attacks, moved swiftly to try to avoid their sharp edges. However, the Nine Ring Artifacts unleashed by Chu Jie were incredibly fast and, after striking its shell, ensnared its body. Seeing the Tianluan Turtle''s speed greatly reduced, Chu Jie''s face lit up with ecstasy. The greatest capability of his Nine Ring Artifacts was not to kill the enemy but to trap them. Once entangled by the rings, the speed of escape would greatly diminish, and over time, it would even restrict the Spiritual Power, causing the trapped demon beast to lose its strength¡ªan extremely peculiar power. But before he could rejoice, the Nine Ring Artifacts broke two of their number under the violent struggle of the Tianluan Turtle. Chu Jie spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, for when the artifacts were damaged, he too suffered a backlash. It was then that he realized he had been too naive; with his Second Order Medium Quality artifacts and his Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivation, trying to trap a Third Order Demon Beast with just his artifacts was impossible. After all, a Third Order Demon Beast is formidable, and if faced alone, it could likely kill him in an instant. Although unable to trap the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to death, before the Nine Artifacts completely shattered, they could still greatly reduce the turtle''s speed, serving some purpose. "Everyone, seize this opportunity to use your trump cards and completely eliminate this brute," Chu Jie urged. "Good... Let''s do it together!" several leading figures replied in unison, preparing to employ their trump measures. Seeing everyone''s resolute expressions and agreement to use their trump cards, Chu Jie was thrilled. He slapped his storage bag and a talisman paper flashing with red light appeared in his hand, clearly a Golden Core Talisman. As soon as the Golden Core Talisman appeared, the surrounding Spiritual Energy was stirred up, and a wild wind howled around Chu Jie. All the cultivators turned their attention to the Golden Core Talisman in Chu Jie''s hand, revealing a look of fear. At this time, Lin Tianming remained calm while pursuing the Second Order Tianluan Turtle, having already guessed in their hearts that the trump card Chu Jie produced would definitely be either a Third Order Talisman or a Golden Core Talisman condensed by a Golden Core Cultivator. After all, the Four Great Golden Core Sects here have been heritage forces for more than a thousand years, and the lineage of Golden Core Stage Cultivators has never been broken; each dying Golden Core Cultivator would condense a Golden Core Talisman, serving as their final contribution to their sect. The Patriarch of the Lin Family also left behind a Golden Core Talisman, which on multiple occasions saved the family from danger and preserved their ancestral business. Seven or eight years ago, when the Lin Family faced the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family, it was by employing this treasure that they directly killed the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Jin Zhiying without giving him a chance to fight back. The power of the Golden Core Talisman was well known to everyone. But the three offensive uses within the family''s Golden Core Talisman had been expended, and the Lin Family had lost their protective trump card. As for the Golden Core Talisman that Chu Jie produced, whether it had been condensed by an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator or by an even more powerful Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator was yet to be determined; only after activation could a rough judgment be made. It did not take long for him to know the result. As the Golden Core Talisman in Chu Jie''s hand was activated, a gigantic fireball descended from the sky. The entire fireball moved incredibly fast, engulfed in surging flames, with a terrifying temperature that vaporized the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Seeing the Terrifying Fireball, it appeared to be left behind by a fire-elemental Golden Core Expert, and judging by the fearsome temperature, it was very likely condensed by a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. It was clear that with the Secret Realm appearing near Wei Kingdom, the Zhenyang Sect, as the local authority, had made extremely thorough preparations and heavily invested in them. Chapter 187 Collapse_3 Chu Jie was thrilled beyond measure, his eyes fixated on the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, eager to witness whether the power of the Golden Core Talisman was as terrifying as the legends suggested. Not only that, Xu Hua and others also activated their trump cards. In Huangyang Country Cultivation World, Xu Hua and Wu Xu''s trump cards were also Golden Core Talismans, though their power seemed slightly weaker than those of the Zhenyang Sect, while the other three factions'' trump card was a Lower Third Order talisman paper, not as powerful as the Golden Core Talismans, but their might was still formidable. The combined trump cards of the Six Major Golden Core Forces created a terrifying momentum that shattered the rocks and vegetation within the gorge. At that moment, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, seeing the terrifying fireballs and Sword Qi above, struggled frantically, clearly aware that these attacks could threaten its life. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle writhed intensely, with the Circular Rings binding its body shattering one after another, leaving only the last two intact. Although only two Circular Rings remained to bind it, under normal circumstances, it would hardly need a moment to break free, but there was simply no time to spare in the current situation. Facing the all-encompassing attack, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle made a decisive move, retracting its entire body into its massive shell to withstand the trump cards of the six powers. "Bang, bang, bang..." The massive fireballs were the first to hit the shell of the Tianluan Turtle, instantly engulfing it in a sea of flames. At the same time, the other attacks arrived as expected, striking the shell of the Tianluan Turtle from all directions. For a moment, the sky was ablaze with fire, and the powerful aftermath opened a deep abyss in the gorge, the resulting surge instantly killing the nearby cultivators and Second Order Demonic Beasts. Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared early on, hiding behind the Golden Elixir Forces, protected from being used as cannon fodder. After more than ten breaths, the scene became very quiet, everyone waiting for the firelight and smoke to dissipate. As the fire died down and the smoke cleared, a miserable cry rang out. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle was now in a terrible state, its thick shell mostly shattered, two of its limbs severed, as it howled in agony, its aura significantly weakened compared to before. Seeing this, everyone was overjoyed. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle had suffered an unprecedented blow, and with the surrounding humans'' onslaught, killing it was only a matter of time. Although Chu Jie''s magic artifact had been destroyed, seeing the main culprit in such a state made him burst into crazed laughter. "Strike now, finish this beast!" Chu Jie bellowed, pulling out a Second Order Lower Magic Artifact and launching the first attack, with the other cultivators also acting quickly, surrounding and attacking the severely injured Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Soon, the critically wounded Tianluan Turtle was overwhelmed by a sky full of magical attacks and sword rain. Under such heavy injuries, it was difficult to escape, let alone resist the attacks from so many people. However, the dying Third Order Tianluan Turtle, acutely aware of its plight, became insanely fierce, obviously intending to drag some cultivators down with it. Cold Jade Arrows shot out in large numbers from its mouth at an incredibly fast speed, assaulting the surrounding cultivators. The death-fueled attack of a Third Order Demon Beast was extraordinarily fearsome. Some of the cultivators who were too close couldn''t dodge in time and were directly pierced through by the Cold Jade Arrows, falling dead on the spot. Meanwhile, the cultivator''s attacks arrived as scheduled, each one draining away at its life force. A few breaths later, the ground was littered with corpses and severed limbs, with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle lying lifelessly at the bottom of the gorge, surrounded by the bodies of dozens of cultivators sprawling in all directions. In its dying moments, the Third Order Demon Beast took the lives of dozens, with all Six Major Golden Core Forces facing varying degrees of casualties. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the death of the Third Order Demon Beast, the Cultivator Alliance instantly crumbled. Chu Jie and Xu Hua were the first to act, vying for the inner core of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Since Chu Jie''s magic artifact had been destroyed, and his injuries slowed him down, he ended up losing the inner core to Xu Hua. Xu Hua let out a triumphant laugh, then abruptly turned and shot towards the lair of the Tianluan Turtle, not even bothering to contest the corpse. Seeing Xu Hua''s action, which was clearly premeditated, the faces of the heirs of the several Golden Core Forces changed, cursing loudly before immediately giving chase. Lin Tianming and his companion made a decisive move at the moment Xu Hua turned around, already leaping a hundred yards away. Suddenly, a portion of the Loose Cultivators abandoned the corpse of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, rushing towards the beast''s cave as well, their speed not at all inferior to Xu Hua''s, clearly also at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level or above. Chapter 188 Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_1 At this moment inside the canyon, corpses were strewn everywhere, with nearly a hundred Tianluan Turtle carcasses as well as a great number of cultivator limbs. As the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces and those cultivators intent on competing for the Star Moon Fruit left, the nearly hundred cultivators remaining fought each other without any reservations, vying for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle carcasses and the numerous deceased cultivators'' belongings. Those who stayed in the canyon were very clear that with their cultivation, hoping to compete with the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces for the few Star Moon Fruits was extremely unlikely. In light of this, it was better to aim for the Tianluan Turtles and the possessions of the dead cultivators. After all, nearly a hundred cultivators had perished here, along with a large number of demon beast corpses, which amounted to a considerable fortune, not to mention the high value of a single Third Order Tianluan Turtle carcass. There were no shortage of cultivators with such thoughts, but only the top Foundation Establishment Cultivators would gamble on the chance for the Golden Core Path. At this time, the entire canyon was in utter chaos; in the sky, a multitude of spells and magic artifacts collided thunderously. Every cultivator held nothing back, unleashing lethal moves and displaying the full extent of human greed. However, Chu Jie and Xu Hua paid no heed to this, considering these treasures to be insignificant compared to the Star Moon Fruits. Lin Tianming did the same; in the moment Xu Hua turned around, he hurriedly took a few storage bags from the cultivators and immediately gave chase. Chu Jie and others were also infuriated, quickly securing any convenient valuables and chased after them, turning into lingering shadows. Xu Hua led the way, racing towards the location of the Tianluan Turtle den, which was that vast lake. Following behind him were Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and Wu Xu. Lin Tianming and his companion were also in pursuit, maintaining an above-average speed, with more than a dozen cultivators trailing behind them. The group whistled past, arriving in a majestic procession at the lakeside, surpassing the spot where they had initially stopped. Xu Hua and others looked at the vaguely visible island in the center of the lake, showing no signs of pausing as they blasted towards it. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the group of cultivators arrived above the small island. Looking around, the island was now enveloped in a dense fog, with numerous caves evident throughout the area. With the Tianluan Turtle clan wiped out, the whole island was eerily silent, save for some Tianluan Turtles guarding the nests who looked ferociously at the newcomers, spitting out Cold Jade Arrows to try and blast those who dared to enter their caves. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing a Second Order Tianluan Turtle attacking him, Xu Hua snorted coldly; a flash of spiritual light from the great sword in his hand and a face-to-face strike killed the Second Order Initial Stage Tianluan Turtle. The moment he was briefly slowed down, Chu Jie and the others arrived, their faces grim as they looked at Xu Hua. At this time, Chu Jie had seven Zhenyang Sect Disciples by his side. Nearby, Su Yunlong of the Golden Sword Sect also had several cultivators, while only three remained from the West River Li Family''s Li Wenyi. Opposite them, Xu Hua was accompanied by cultivators from the Purple Yin Sect and the Pengcheng Liu Family, adding up to seventeen cultivators from the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. After the brutal battle in the canyon, the cultivators from both sides had been visibly diminished, all having died at the mouths of Third Order Tianluan Turtles. Currently, the strengths of both parties were evenly matched; in terms of numbers, Xu Hua''s side seemed to have a slight advantage. However, even though the Golden Elixir Forces were powerful, they couldn''t afford to be complacent. Cultivators with unclear backgrounds like Lin Tianming were also present, numbering over thirty people, among them many above Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Given the circumstances, it was still uncertain who would ultimately claim the Star Moon Fruits. At this point, the Loose Cultivators were subtly gathering together, showing no inferiority in momentum compared to Chu Jie and Xu Hua. Seeing this, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Xu Hua''s face, as he secretly communicated with Chu Jie and others, seemingly discussing something. With the weird atmosphere and the changing expressions of Chu Jie and others, Lin Tianming and the majority of the Loose Cultivators wore serious expressions, readying themselves for an imminent battle. As expected, Xu Hua and Chu Jie seemed to have reached some agreement, launching an attack on the nearest cultivators without anyone noticing. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire In an instant, the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces who suddenly took action successfully killed several cultivators. Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared, immediately retreating to quickly create distance. Following the surprise attack, the remaining twenty or so Loose Cultivators had grim expressions, with someone angrily cursing: "Xu Daoyou, what is the meaning of this? We had agreed that upon the death of a Third Order Demon Beast, everyone would have the right to compete for the Star Moon Fruit." Hearing these words, Xu Hua and the others sneered, "How naive you are!" "With the Third Order Tianluan Turtles dead, what use are you?" Infuriated by Xu Hua''s scoffing taunt, the assembled Loose Cultivators were seething with anger, but being overpowered, they could only unite with other Loose Cultivators to confront Xu Hua and his group. Xu Hua and his peers were ungentlemanly, seeing that masks were torn off, they attacked directly. The Loose Cultivators did not shrink back, retaliating and engaging in a fierce battle. Lin Tianming and his partner teamed up against a disciple from the Purple Yin Sect. With their close coordination, they stood toe-to-toe with the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator without falling behind. By now, the situation had become chaotic again, and the previously ceased combat reignited once more. Although the average cultivation level of the Six Major Golden Core Forces was superior, there were still more than twenty extra people among the Loose Cultivators. Under this situation, the entire battle became even more intense. Flares burst in the sky above the island as massive spells and talisman papers collided, and the explosive waves uprooted flowers, plants, and trees from the ground. Chapter 188 Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_2 In just a short moment, the picturesque island lay in ruins. Meanwhile, screams echoed from time to time, with cultivators from both sides falling here. After a small quarter of an hour of intense battle, the fight had reached a fever pitch. Xu Hua leapt up, his spirit sword radiating brilliantly, and then a golden sword qi shot out, piercing through the chest of a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator. The defeated cultivator fell to the ground unwillingly, blood gushing from the chest wound, creating a truly desolate scene. Seeing the cultivator''s death, Xu Hua sneered and picked a new target, then struck again. At this moment, all the loose cultivators were in utter panic, except for a few who remained composed; the rest were ashen-faced, and some even started to beat a retreat. As another Foundation Establishment Seventh Level loose cultivator fell to Chu Jie, their body was pierced directly by a spirit sword, and the unwilling cultivator''s body convulsed on the ground in a terrifying sight. Seeing this, the remaining alive loose cultivators completely gave up on competing for the Star Moon Fruit. With the first cultivator fleeing, it quickly triggered a chain reaction, and another one dashed away in the direction they had come from. Soon, the initially numerically superior group of loose cultivators, with some dead and others escaped, was reduced to just over twenty who still held on. Seeing that they had the absolute upper hand, Xu Hua refrained from making another move and instead turned to rush alone towards the center of the island. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire At the same time, Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and others followed suit, leaving their brothers and sisters to block the loose cultivators. Lin Tianming and his companion quickly deduced their intent, which was to leave people to hinder the loose cultivators, while the leaders of the Six Major Golden Core Forces went to seize the Star Moon Fruit. Not just them, some among the loose cultivators had also figured it out, soon someone shouted: "Fellow daoists, Xu Hua, Chu Jie, and the others have gone to find the Star Moon Fruit, hurry and break through their blockade, or we''ll have no hope at all!" Before the words had even faded, the loose cultivators spontaneously converged together, launching an attack on the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces that were blocking them. At this critical juncture, no one hid their cultivation level or held back their strength anymore. Lin Tianming''s expression was grave as fifty-six Earth Fiend Swords shot out, trapping several cultivators who were in their way. At the same time, the Second Order Talisman in his hand flew out, transforming into a sea of fire that engulfed the enemy. After one strike, his attack was easily caught by the enemy; after all, his cultivation was too low, and these techniques were merely time-consuming for them. However, before the cultivators within could celebrate, Lin Shilu''s attack had already arrived in haste. The sky erupted in Golden Sword Qi, and the Overturning Mountain Seal slammed down furiously. A cultivator failed to dodge in time and was directly killed by the sword light and sword qi, his body torn to pieces, a sight most miserable indeed. The remaining two''s complexions changed dramatically, then they began attacking the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, trying to break out. But at that moment, a blood-colored blade qi shot towards them with extreme speed. The two inside the sword array had not anticipated a third person attacking them and couldn''t react in time; they could only try to dodge vitally. Yet the blood-colored blade qi was too fast. A scream pierced the air as one cultivator was unable to dodge in time and was struck dead. The other, more decisive, twisted his body to dodge the fatal blow but lost an arm in doing so. Inside the sword array, the sole surviving cultivator went pale with a look of terror, fortunate to have kept his life. Seeing the blood-colored blade qi, Lin Tianming and his companion immediately recognized that the attacker was none other than Long Hai, with whom they had previously cooperated. Similarly, Long Hai, upon seeing the fifty-six Earth Fiend Swords launched simultaneously, knew that the person whose face had changed was the pair who had battled alongside him against the Dragon-Eyed Beast. Noticing Long Hai''s intervention, the pair looked towards the approaching Long Hai and then heard his transmitted message. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The three nodded to each other, seemingly in tacit understanding, and together they shot towards the direction where Xu Hua and the others had fallen. Due to their sudden burst of power, they killed two of the three that blocked them, leaving the surviving one injured and unable to stop them further. The cultivators who wanted to provide support were also busy dealing with the frenzied loose cultivators and couldn''t spare their hands to close the gap. Under the watchful eyes of many cultivators, Lin Tianming and the other two quickly disappeared from their view. Lin Tianming and the other two''s successful breakthrough also gave the loose cultivators renewed confidence, and their attacks became increasingly fierce. Under such circumstances, the pressure on the disciples of the Golden Core Forces doubled, and they began to fall into a disadvantage. Meanwhile, the three paid no attention to this, flying towards the center of the island, and subsequently searching for the Star Moon Fruit Tree. After more than ten breaths had passed, booming noises echoed from the center of the island, evidently, Chu Jie and his six companions were also fighting fiercely for the chance. The trio carefully made their way over, stopping by a hidden cave entrance to watch the intense battle unfolding before them. Looking over, Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and Li Wenyi were fighting together against Xu Hua, Wu Xu, and Liu Kaiquan. The six Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level unleashed powerful fluctuations as they clashed, significantly stronger than the Cultivators trying to hold them back. Behind the six people, an eye-catching golden fruit tree about three meters tall stood out, with nine silvery-white fruits hanging from its golden trunk. Each fruit was the size of a child''s head, covered in dense patterns, and surrounded by a great amount of Spiritual Energy, appearing extremely tempting. "Star Moon Fruit!" Seeing this, the three were extremely excited, almost wishing they could rush over and uproot it at once. However, they forcefully suppressed the restlessness in their hearts, as it was not the right moment to act. It would be better to wait until the others were embroiled in a critical moment of their battle, increasing the likelihood of obtaining the Star Moon Fruit. Soon enough, their opportunity arrived. In front of the trio, Chu Jie wielded a large number of Second Order Talisman, at least ten, and without hesitation, he launched them. They transformed into a rain of swords that enveloped Xu Hua and the others. At the same time, Su Yunlong slapped his storage bag, and several pale gold beads appeared in his hands¡ªthese were Gold Spirit Beads refined from Demon Beast Inner Pills. They shared some similarities with the Fire Spirit Pearls in Lin Tianming and his companions'' possession, differing only in attributes. He threw the Gold Spirit Beads towards Xu Hua and the others, then prepared an even more violent assault. Seeing Chu Jie and the others'' strike, Lin Tianming was inwardly amazed. "These leaders of the Golden Core Forces truly are extravagant, casually throwing out over a dozen Second Order Talisman and several Gold Spirit Beads. Just these attack methods have already cost tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, it''s simply too wasteful." While he was astounded, Xu Hua''s expression turned very grim under the relentless attack, but he didn''t seem overly panicked. All he did was wave his robe''s sleeve, and a small umbrella-shaped Defense Artifact covered him, blocking the offensive from Chu Jie and the others. After the blow, a series of explosive noises followed, as the umbrella withstood the attacks from Chu Jie and his group. When the dust cleared, Xu Hua and the others were still standing. At this point, Xu Hua and his companions'' faces were grim as they took out a large number of treasures and began to counter-attack. Xu Hua''s Spirit Sword burst forth with earth-shattering Sword Qi, furiously slashing towards Chu Jie and the rest. "Boom, boom, boom..." Chu Jie and his companions each pulled out their own Defense Artifacts to resist the onslaught from Xu Hua and his group. "Bang, bang, bang..." The Golden Sword Qi slammed against the Defense Artifacts, and the resultant shockwaves lifted a huge amount of sand and stones, whirling them through the air. For a time, the sky was ablaze with fireballs, turning it red. Taking advantage of this, Lin Shilu dashed towards the Star Moon Fruit. And the several individuals still engaged in fierce combat had not expected someone to have already broken through the blockades and arrived at the scene. While the Cultivators were astonished, Lin Shilu quickly surpassed them, reaching the Star Moon Fruit Tree. At this moment, without any time for joy, Lin Shilu hesitated not a moment, grabbing three Star Moon Fruits and rapidly retreating. Seeing Lin Shilu take away three Star Moon Fruits, everyone''s faces changed dramatically. They immediately stopped their battle, aiming to kill Lin Shilu in order to obtain the fruits. Witnessing this situation, Lin Tianming''s expression drastically changed, his Fire Spirit Pearl flying out of his hand towards Chu Jie and the others. At the same time, a blood-red long blade in Long Hai''s hand glowed fiercely, unleashing a torrent of terrifying Blade Qi. Lin Shilu didn''t dare delay, hurling a handful of talisman paper he had in hand, raining them down on the group like a storm. "Boom, boom, boom..." Flames soared to the sky, and with the help of numerous treasures, as well as Lin Tianming and Long Hai''s support, Lin Shilu successfully broke through the encirclement and joined his companions. Chapter 189 Escape from Death_1 "Boom boom boom..." The Fire Spirit Pearl and a large number of Second Order talismans exploded in the sky, unleashing horrendous waves of fire that instantly illuminated the entire small island. In order to help Lin Shilu break through the encirclement, Lin Tianming didn''t care about anything else; he threw the only Fire Spirit Pearl he had, just to make the attackers give up on Lin Shilu. At this moment, with grim expressions, Chu Jie and Xu Hua watched the terrifying fireball erupt from the Fire Spirit Pearl, helplessly ceasing their attacks on Lin Shilu and each took out a Defense Artifact to block the assault. Fortunately, the power of the Fire Spirit Pearl and the talismans was limited. Had they been Third Order talismans, even a body protected by a magic artifact would have been like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. As time silently passed, with the flames gradually dying down, a figure emerged from the remnants of the inferno, clothes in tatters and body charred. "Fifteenth Grandfather, how are you!" Seeing Lin Shilu in such a tragic state, with even his breath weak, Lin Tianming hurriedly went to meet him. "There''s no time to talk right now, they''ll catch up soon, we need to run!" Lin Shilu secretly transmitted his voice to Lin Tianming, then took out a Star Moon Fruit and unhesitatingly handed it to Long Hai, who was beside him. Long Hai, upon seeing the Star Moon Fruit, was ecstatic, and without hesitation swallowed the fruit. Then he heard Lin Shilu''s secret message, his expression became extremely grave. In an instant, whatever Lin Shilu had told him, Long Hai, pulling along Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming, turned into a blurred shadow and shot away. The faces of Xu Hua and the others, having regained their senses, grew exceedingly dark. To think that the core disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces would be played by a Loose Cultivator and even had three Star Moon Fruits snatched from right behind them. For whatever reason, if this incident were to spread, they would lose all face in the Cultivation World. Thinking this, Chu Jie and his group looked especially ugly. Just when they were preparing to flee, the magic artifacts in their hands started flickering with light. Chu Jie and Xu Hua attacked first, followed closely by Wu Xu and Su Yunlong. When the six Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators made their move, it shook the heavens and earth, vowing to stop the trio. At that moment, the sky was filled with frenzied Sword Qi, and a barrage of talismans and Law Decrees came at them, sending Lin Tianming and his companions into a state of alarm. In his heart, Lin Tianming''s pulse raced. As the three of them made their retreat, Long Hai waved his sleeve and a gray-white talisman paper suddenly appeared in his hand. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the gray-white talisman paper, which was actually a Second Order Superior Defense Talisman, the complexion of Lin Tianming and the other man finally calmed down. Long Hai was well aware of their predicament. Facing the joint attack of six cultivators superior to him in cultivation, even with Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, a moment of carelessness could lead to his demise here. In a crisis, the three were tied together. Whether for his own sake or for Lin Tianming and the other man, he had to give it his all. Understanding this, Long Hai dared not hold back. He released the gray-white talisman paper from his hand, flung a Law Decree upon it, and the talisman paper immediately flickered with light, then swiftly transformed into a gray barrier behind them. At the same time, the attacks from Chu Jie and the others arrived as expected. Explosions sounded as their attacks slammed into the barrier created by the Second Order Superior Talisman. "Bang bang bang..." Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire The defense of the Second Order Superior Talisman was indeed formidable, successfully blocking the attacks of the six for a moment. And though that moment was extremely brief, for Foundation Establishment cultivators in a life-and-death situation, it was enough to cross a distance of several dozen feet. Lin Tianming and the other man had fought side by side many times and were in perfect harmony, naturally not letting such a rare opportunity slip by. As for Long Hai, it goes without saying. As a Loose Cultivator who managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level before the age of a hundred, his path of cultivation was filled with countless trials of life and death. Under the assault of the six, he naturally seized the slim chance of survival. With the help of the explosive force created by the talisman''s destruction, Lin Tianming and his companions had already moved over a hundred feet away from the six, and the distance was still increasing. After the flames dissipated, seeing Lin Tianming and his companions growing ever more distant, the faces of Chu Jie and the others darkened to their limits. However, each harboring their own schemes at this moment, actively giving up the struggle against the other Golden Elixir Forces to chase after Lin Tianming did not necessarily guarantee they would be able to kill the three. After all, the strength they had shown was not to be underestimated. Thus, the difficulty of seizing the three Star Moon Fruits from them was equally immense. But if they stayed here, competing for the remaining six Star Moon Fruits among the Six Major Golden Core Forces, even with extraordinary luck, they couldn''t possibly obtain two or three. The six individuals were entangled in their decision, with Chu Jie and Xu Hua and the others being somewhat better off, as they held an absolute advantage among the Sect Cultivators. Even at their worst, securing one Star Moon Fruit was a sure thing. But Liu Kaiquan from the Pengcheng Liu Family and Li Wenyi from the West River Li Family made a decision in a very short time. They were painfully aware that although they too belonged to the Golden Core Forces, they were at the bottom of the Six Major Golden Core Forces. Not only that, but Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others, as leaders among the Great Sect Cultivators, were not as simple as they appeared. The difficulty of securing one Star Moon Fruit from the other four was self-evident. Considering this, pursuing Lin Tianming and his two companions, despite the dangers, could result in a more substantial reward if successful. Thus, taking the smallest risk for the greatest gain was undoubtedly the wisest choice. Chapter 189 Escape to Freedom_2 At that moment, Liu Kaiquan and Li Wenyi didn''t pause for a second; the instant they stabilized their figures, they turned into lingering shadows in pursuit. Soon, relying on their superior cultivation, they slowly closed some distance. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his two companions, who were frantically fleeing ahead, hadn''t even the chance to catch their breath before having to face a new crisis. On their left, the loose cultivators and the Golden Elixir Forces disciples, who had been embroiled in a fierce battle, seemed to have reached a conclusion. Several of the loose cultivators were already heading their way, clearly having broken through the blockade to compete for the Star Moon Fruit. The ones in mad pursuit behind them were six disciples of Golden Core Cultivators. Besides, Li Wenyi and Liu Kaiquan were getting closer and closer. If they were held up even for a moment, they would be surrounded and meet with even greater trouble. Seeing this, the expressions on the faces of Lin Tianming and his two companions were extremely troubling. They had managed to obtain the Star Moon Fruit with great difficulty, burst out from Chu Jie and the others'' encirclement, and now faced these aggressive loose cultivators and a host of Golden Elixir Forces'' descendants. The Golden Elixir Forces wouldn''t hold back against them, and if the loose cultivators learned that they had the Star Moon Fruit, they certainly wouldn''t lend a hand. Instead, they would make a move to snatch it, after all, no one would give up such a treasure. "It''s truly like facing wolves in front and tigers behind, such ill-fortune!" Lin Tianming thought to himself in despair while anxiously trying to figure out a way to escape. Watching Li Wenyi and the loose cultivators get closer, Lin Shilu once again took out a Star Moon Fruit, his face showing an unwillingness to part with it. Seeing Lin Shilu taking out the Star Moon Fruit, the breath of everyone on the scene quickened, and like ravenous wolves, they pounced towards it. For a moment, a myriad of attacks filled the sky as if they couldn''t wait to tear them to shreds on the spot. Lin Tianming and Long Hai''s expressions were grave as they simultaneously attacked, trying to carve out a path. Sword Qi and Blade Qi burst out from their hands, slashing towards the direction with the fewest people. At the same time, Lin Shilu tossed one of the Star Moon Fruits towards the approaching Li Wenyi. Suddenly, Li Wenyi''s face was full of confusion. Facing the Star Moon Fruit coming straight at him, he did not hesitate to catch it in his hand. Li Wenyi, who had caught the Star Moon Fruit, showed an ecstatic expression, never expecting that the Star Moon Fruit would fall from the sky right into his palm so perfectly. "To think it arrived without any effort at all!" However, before he could even feel happy, his face turned to one of horror. At that moment, apart from a few individuals from the West River Li Family, the eyes of all cultivators greedily fixed on him. Only then did he understand that at this moment, the Star Moon Fruit was a hot potato, as well as a death knell. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And at this time, although the cultivators'' gaze shifted, their attacks arrived as promised, and Lin Tianming and his two companions were still not out of danger. The frenzied attacks of more than twenty people created a true crisis. The trio dared not be careless; if they lost their lives, what use would it be to keep the treasures? Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire Lin Tianming, fully aware of this, used up all prepared measures in one breath. Whether it was First Order Talismans or Second Order Talismans, any method that could attack or defend was activated without reservation. Lin Shilu did the same; he threw out his only remaining Fire Spirit Pearl without any hesitation, hoping to clear a path to survival. At the same time, his Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, was already protecting the three of them, ready to face the cultivator''s attacks. Long Hai also spared no measures; he threw out several Second Order Talismans and then frantically infused a vast amount of spiritual power to activate his defense artifact, forming a gigantic shield in front of the trio. "Boom... Boom... Boom..." Pops and crackles erupted in the sky as a myriad of attacks broke through the barriers formed by the Defense Talismans and a mass of fireballs, ice swords, and various Sword Qi and Blade Qi hammered against the Defense Artifact. At this moment, both the sky and the ground erupted into an endless sea of flames, violently shaking the entire battlefield. After enduring for three breaths'' time, the attacks from the sky ceased, and tranquility returned. Then, under such an onslaught, Lin Tianming and his companions each spat out a mouthful of blood, their faces quickly paling. Taking advantage of a brief lull, and the fact that a great number of cultivators were distracted by the Star Moon Fruit in Li Wenyi''s hands, the three turned into lingering shadows and shot towards a forest-covered mountain range. For a full breath''s time, by the time everyone returned to their senses, the trio had vanished into the dense woods, leaving the crowd with faces of disbelief. Soon, the cultivators snapped out of it; several chased in the direction Lin Tianming and his party had fled, seemingly unwilling to give up on the murder and robbery. The remaining cultivators launched attacks at Li Wenyi, converging on him in a mad pursuit of the Star Moon Fruit. At this moment, the most miserable was Liu Kaiquan; empty-handed, he not only failed to catch up with Lin Tianming and his group but also faced the collective onslaught of a large number of cultivators. The battle erupted once again, throwing the scene into renewed chaos. As for Lin Tianming and his companions, after exhausting all means to escape death, they cared not who would end up with the Star Moon Fruit they had surrendered. The trio crazily scurried through the expanse of forest-covered mountains, heedless of any danger along the way. Thus, their speed was incredibly fast, with Lin Tianming being dragged through the air by Lin Shilu and Long Hai for the entire journey. Time passed quickly, and in half a day, they had traversed several large mountains and covered a few hundred li, putting considerable distance between them and the land of strife. Fortunately, the journey was smooth, and the cultivators chasing them, slower than them in escape speed, were shaken off in less than an hour, finally losing track of the trio completely. Chapter 189 Escape from Death_3 After that, they encountered several lone travelers on the road, who were all frightened to see the trio''s fierce and villainous appearance. Fortunately, both parties had no particular intentions, and they quickly disengaged from each other. As evening approached, the three had also left danger behind. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and his companions landed on a secluded mountain peak, then they all took a long breath and showed smiles of someone who had survived a calamity. Long Hai took a Huiyuan Pill and looked at Lin Tianming and his companion with a hint of admiration in his eyes. He knew that Lin Shilu and his companion''s cultivation was not as advanced as his, but combined, their strength was no less than his own. Under such dangerous circumstances, to be able to obtain three Star Moon Fruits despite the attacks from the Six Major Golden Core Forces was an extremely difficult feat. Even more precious was the fact that without hesitation he had made a choice in a desperate situation, trading one Star Moon Fruit for a chance at their lives. In this respect, both in terms of strength, courage, and character, the two had reached the pinnacle. Having cooperated twice, both parties had reaped exceedingly rich rewards. Thinking of these things, Long Hai couldn''t help but admire them. On this trip to the Secret Realm, he had gained a wealth of treasures and the priceless Star Moon Fruit; he was very content. With these thoughts in mind, he cupped his hands towards the two and said, "Fellow Daoists, we have now left danger behind, and the Secret Realm will close in two days. Let us part ways here!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion showed expressions of regret. Although the Secret Realm was about to close, the three of them were all somewhat injured, and with two days remaining, the danger was still unpredictable. Given that Long Hai was not weak and they had cooperated several times, if the three of them were to move together and watch out for each other, it would certainly be safer. However, a stranger was after all a stranger. Each carrying a Star Moon Fruit, it would be easy to share misfortune together, but sharing fortune was difficult, and it was impossible for either side to be completely unguarded. Perhaps it was better for each to go their own way. With these thoughts, Lin Shilu no longer insisted on staying. After exchanging methods of communication with Long Hai, they prepared to say their goodbyes and leave. "Fellow Daoists, if fate wills it, we shall meet again!" Long Hai said with a cupped fist, not asking about their backgrounds or identities. Then, after tossing out eight Jade Boxes with a hearty laugh, he disappeared from their sight. Watching Long Hai leave, Lin Shilu opened the Jade Boxes, which contained one mature White Jade Grass and seven seedlings left by Long Hai. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion showed astonished expressions. "Didn''t expect this person to be so loyal and righteous. Although we didn''t discuss rewards when cooperating with him, he still took the initiative to gift us the White Jade Grass in his possession, truly commendable!." After sighing, Lin Shilu said, "Tianming, Long Hai is indeed worth getting to know deeply!" Lin Tianming nodded, agreeing inwardly. Although most Loose Cultivators were selfish and unscrupulous in achieving their goals, there were also many who were free-spirited. Character is a very mysterious thing; often, those who are free-spirited have an easier time overcoming the Heart Demon when breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, "Yes, such loyal and righteous Loose Cultivators are indeed rare, we may meet again in the future!" "Hmm..." Lin Shilu smiled knowingly, then instructed, "We have gained much from this journey, but the danger is not yet over. Let''s immediately find a safe place to retreat for healing. Don''t wander around anymore, just wait for the Secret Realm to close." After speaking, Lin Shilu stepped away, followed by Lin Tianming. The two headed rapidly into the depths of the mountain range. As night fell, the entire sky turned completely dark. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire The two traveled dozens of miles, hastily rushing into a quiet canyon. With the sky growing darker, it was time for Demonic Beasts to appear, so it was not suitable to wander about anymore. The two found a hidden natural cave on the spot and set up several Illusion Arrays and a First Order Formation. Having taken precautionary and protective measures, they entered the cave and began to close-off for healing, waiting for the end of their time in the Secret Realm. Chapter 190 Convergence_1 Time flew by, and soon two days had passed. In a secluded cave, Lin Tianming and his companion sat on the ground, their breathing steady and regular, the pallor of their faces having returned to a normal, healthy flush. After parting ways with Long Hai, the two of them had hurriedly found a natural cave to shelter in before nightfall. Over the past two days, all had been rather calm; no accidents had occurred, and they did not step foot outside the cave. At that moment, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes, and a satisfied smile flashed across his face. After two days of meditative recovery, the injuries sustained from being attacked had mostly healed, and he could walk and fight normally again. Seeing Lin Tianming emerge from his meditation, Lin Shilu also opened his eyes, which flashed with a bright light, indicating that he had also made a good recovery. Lin Tianming''s expression brightened with joy as he quickly asked, "Fifteenth Grandfather, how are your injuries?" Moved by Lin Tianming''s concern, Lin Shilu laughed heartily while waving his hand, indicating that he was fine. Seeing this, Lin Tianming could not hide his excitement and blurted out: "Fifteenth Grandfather, today is the day the secret realm closes. Our journey here has yielded incredible treasures. Once we return to our family, we will surely surprise Elder Wu and the others!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s words, Lin Shilu nodded. They had been too weary to rejoice previously. Now that the closing of the secret realm was imminent, they could finally leave this dangerous place and return to familiar territory. How could they not be thrilled? Lin Shilu''s calm face was infected by Lin Tianming''s enthusiasm, and a smile flickered across it. Looking at Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu produced several storage bags and said: "Tianming, there''s still some time before the secret realm closes. We should take this opportunity to inventory the storage bags we''ve obtained before!" Reminded by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming recalled that, starting from their ambush of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, they had collected a few unlucky cultivators'' belongings. Now that they were out of danger and had nothing else to do, they naturally should sort out their loot. With this in mind, Lin Tianming chuckled and took out two storage bags, quickly wiping away the remaining Divine Sense on them. Lin Shilu also got busy, swiftly cleaning off the Divine Sense from the storage bags before tallying the contents inside. In a short while, the two had finished inventorying the five storage bags they had acquired. A mountain of treasures was piled up, including Spirit Stones, elixirs, various Artifact Refining Materials, and a large number of Demonic Beast Materials, nearly blocking the entrance to the cave. At this point, both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were excited. One sorted the items while the other recorded the ones to be handed over to the family. Before long, the two had gone through the five storage bags and determined the amount and types of their unexpected windfall. The wealth of the five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including both Loose Cultivators and Sect Cultivators, was substantial, with the combined value of Spirit Stones alone reaching an impressive total of more than 130,000! Beyond that, there were over twenty bottles of Second Order Pills, a large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Ore, including three mature White Jade Grass plants and seven seedlings, though the rest weren''t particularly rare or valuable. Apart from cultivation resources, there were numerous Magic Artifacts and talisman papers that could enhance their strength. They secured two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Artifacts and two Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts, with even one Attack Artifact being quite a treasure. However, they were somewhat disappointed not to find any Mysterious Grade Techniques or insights from a Third Order Master. They only obtained one Yellow Grade Technique and insights from a Second Order Refiner, which were of marginal value to the family. After all, these were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, some of whom were strong individuals above the fifth level, who should have possessed high-grade Techniques or insights. Yet, they only acquired a few things that were of little significance to the family. But the two soon came to terms with it. After all, the treasures they had acquired were numerous enough, and most of these storage bags had been picked up effortlessly. Aside from the most precious Star Moon Fruits and White Jade Grass, just the Spirit Stones and various treasures and Artifacts combined were worth over 200,000 Spirit Stones. Looking at the small mountain of Spirit Stones and treasures, Lin Shilu''s face blossomed with happiness. Once he regained his composure, he then said: "Tianming, let''s divide these Spirit Stones and talismans between the two of us, and we can hand over all the rest, including the Artifacts, to the family. Those in Xing Ping''s generation don''t have many Artifacts. With this batch, every Foundation Establishment Clan Member in the family will have two Artifacts each, which can greatly enhance our strength!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Shilu''s suggestion, Lin Tianming naturally had no objections. Over the years, the two of them had fought in many battles together, experiencing numerous life and death situations. They had acquired so many Spirit Stones and far more Artifacts than even their fathers, so they had more than enough. As for the cultivation elixirs and lower-grade Artifacts, they had no shortage and didn''t mind giving them away to their clanspeople. With this in mind, Lin Tianming readily agreed. Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, and they each received three Second Order Talismans: two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans and one Second Order Low Grade Defense Talisman. During the previous attacks by a group of cultivators, fortunately, part of the damage was blocked by Long Hai''s Defense Artifact. Although their Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, had sustained some damage, Lin Shilu had already repaired it with some Spirit Ore, and it was still usable for the time being. With the addition of these few Second Order Talismans, if they had to fight again, they would barely be adequate. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire After dividing the Spirit Stones, Lin Shilu received 70,000, while Lin Tianming got 60,000. They picked out a few useful items from the remaining treasures, and collected the rest into different storage bags. Chapter 190 Convergence_2 The two busied themselves for a good quarter of an hour, classifying and recording all the treasures. After completing these tasks, they began to close their eyes to conserve energy, waiting for the secret realm to close and teleport them out. Less than half an hour later, a series of rumbling sounds came, and the earth began to shake violently. Lin Tianming and his companion opened their eyes and could clearly feel that the spiritual light that had submerged into their Sky Spirit Covers when they entered the secret realm was stirring. Lin Shilu exclaimed with a look of surprise and excitement, "Tianming, the secret realm is about to close, let''s get out immediately!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming''s face lit up with excitement. They had waited two days for this moment. Both nodded to each other and immediately dashed out of the natural cavern. Soon, the ground stopped shaking, and a dazzling light flashed across the clear blue sky. As the light in the sky grew stronger, the two experienced a sharp pain in their divine sense, followed by a bout of dizziness in their minds, and their bodies uncontrollably swept toward the void as if yanked by some force. When the two regained their normal senses, they found themselves in an unfamiliar valley. Fortunately, there were no other people around, and they both heaved a sigh of relief. Lin Shilu extended his divine sense to search the surroundings of the two of them, detecting no abnormalities. Regaining his composure, he spoke in an even tone, "Tianming, we are still unable to determine our location, but according to the records, when a secret realm closes, cultivators inside are most likely to be teleported near the entrance." Hearing Lin Shilu''s words, Lin Tianming nodded, his tense nerves relaxing a bit. He had been genuinely worried that they would be separated upon exiting the secret realm, as was the case when they entered. At such a critical moment, it was certain that some cultivators with impure motives would be out to kill and rob. After all, those cultivators with impure motives could not enter the secret realm, but by killing just one person, they could opportunistically seize the fortune obtained from within the realm. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming said to Lin Shilu, "Fifteenth Grandfather, the crisis is not yet over. Let us have the Purple Gold Eagle fly us north immediately. Once we determine our location, we''ll head straight back to the family!" Lin Shilu nodded. They carried treasures that were immensely important to the family, and there was no time for consideration; they needed to return to the family as quickly as possible. Understanding this, Lin Tianming swiftly released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. After feeding the Purple Gold Eagle a segment of the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s body, the two mounted its back, and the eagle swiftly ascended into the clouds, heading north. Sitting on the broad back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu kept his divine sense fully extended, ever vigilant of their surroundings. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Purple Gold Eagle carried the two for nearly a hundred miles. Using the features of the surrounding mountain ranges to guide them, they quickly determined their precise location¡ªwithin the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom. However, their position was somewhat deeper in the mountains than the entrance to the secret realm. The journey home would take them across a vast expanse of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, possibly encountering other cultivators. Fortunately, as they traveled together, and as long as they did not come across cultivators above the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, they should have nothing to fear with their strength. Moreover, within these vast mountains, who would know whether they were of any particular identity or if they had entered the secret realm. With this in mind, as long as they remained cautious, they would be able to enter the territory of Wei Kingdom after traveling more than eight hundred miles. Once within Wei Kingdom, they would not be far from the Luoyun Mountain Range. Should they successfully rendezvous with Lin Xingrong, they would be completely safe. Resolving to do this, the two decided to fly in a straight line and return to their clan''s territory at top speed. Having made up their minds, Lin Tianming signaled to the Purple Gold Eagle, which, understanding his intention, picked up speed and continued flying north. ... In the Whirlwind Mountain Range, near a valley on the side closer to Wei Kingdom. This place was only a couple hundred miles from the edge of the Purple Sun Mountain Range, still at the border between the two countries. In the beautiful valley, where vegetation was lush, occasional common wild beasts scurried, unaware of two figures lurking atop a large tree. One of them, looking toward the depths of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, mumbled, "Third Uncle, Tianming and his companion should pass by here, shouldn''t they?" Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong maintained a calm demeanor. Lin Xingrong had already asked this question three times, and each time he had answered, yet he was being asked again. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator who can''t remember things? Clearly, Lin Xingrong was excessively worried; after all, entering the Secret Realm was too dangerous, and with the large number of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators entering, even if the two of them joined forces, they couldn''t guarantee their safety. Being fully aware of this, Lin Shikang did not get angry, and instead spoke to reassure him, "Xingrong, I had an agreement with Tianming before they left, that as soon as they come out of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, they will definitely meet up here. Don''t worry!" Upon hearing Lin Shikang''s response, Lin Xingrong finally felt somewhat relieved. The family had temporarily summoned him back from Golden Horn Mountain to facilitate their return, and with Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu entering the Secret Realm, the overall strength of the family was now higher with just the two of them. With their departure from the family land, the entire family now relied on Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua to oversee the premises, significantly reducing the security of Green Bamboo Mountain. However, this was a necessary move. Although the family had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they had broken through too recently, so their cultivation was not high. Additionally, they were spread too thin, with Lin Xingyuan presiding over Luoyun Market and Lin Xingping in Qianchuan Market, so he could only be temporarily reassigned. However, the family had made considerable progress over these past ten-plus years, with those advancing from the Qi Refinement Realm to the Foundation Establishment Stage experiencing a qualitative leap in overall strength. What the family lacked now was time, since ten-plus years were still very brief for Foundation Establishing Families. Given another fifty years, the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators would definitely be able to enter the mid to late phase of the stage. By then, the family would no longer face restrictions as they did now. "Fifteenth Grandfather, nearly two days have passed since the Secret Realm closed. If they are still in the area of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, they should have arrived by now!" Lin Xingrong said. Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang''s normally unflappable face briefly revealed a hint of concern, but he quickly regained his composure. He had always had great confidence in Lin Tianming and the others, especially Tianming. As the most talented member of the family since its foundation, Tianming had been through many battles and his strength far surpassed cultivators at the same level. His quirky, unfettered ideas often led to unexpected advancements. Besides these, with the experienced Lin Shilu accompanying him, it was unlikely there would be any mishaps. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shikang''s expression brightened. Seeing the faint worry on Lin Xingrong''s face, he said, "Xingrong, extend your reach a bit more toward the depths of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, but don''t go too far. If any unforeseen incident occurs, I won''t be able to support you in time!" Hearing Lin Shikang''s instruction, Lin Xingrong nodded and then swept toward the deeper parts of the mountain range. Just as he was turning to leave, Lin Shikang''s expression suddenly turned ecstatic, and he immediately shot off at an unbelievably fast speed. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire Seeing this, Lin Xingrong guessed the reason and immediately followed. An hour later, atop a mountain, Lin Shikang stood with his hands behind his back, watching as a black shadow in the sky grew larger, his face brimming with excitement. The pursuing Lin Xingrong, seeing the shadow in the sky, took a long breath of relief. Soon, the shadow grew larger, and finally, it landed in front of Lin Shikang. The two people who approached were indeed Lin Tianming and another. After two days of continuous travel, they had managed to journey without rest, and thankfully, with their not insignificant cultivation levels and having disguised their appearances, they had a relatively smooth journey, even though they encountered several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After some probing attacks, realizing the strength of the two, the blocking cultivators had no choice but to watch them leave. Having travelled for two days, they finally crossed the Whirlwind Mountain Range safely and without mishap, meeting up with Lin Shikang, whose cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, thus eliminating their immediate danger. At this moment, they could finally relax their constantly tense expressions. When they reached Lin Shikang, Lin Tianming immediately greeted with a fist and palm salute. "Tianming pays respects to Third Grandfather, and to Father!" Before the words fell, Lin Shikang stepped forward, taking their hands and asking eagerly, "Was your journey smooth? Have you been injured?" Seeing Lin Shikang''s concerned manner, which did not mention any gains at all, Lin Tianming felt deeply gratified. Lin Shilu felt the same, but he was well aware of Lin Shikang''s nature. He chuckled, then said, "Third Brother, we are both unharmed. It''s not safe to linger here, so let''s return to the family land first. As for the expedition to the Secret Realm, we can talk on the way!" "Alright then!" "Although we have successfully gathered, we must not be complacent. Let''s set out immediately and head back to the family first!" Following Lin Shikang''s words, the group of four hopped onto the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, ready to travel through the night back to Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 191 Shock_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. After two days of non-stop travel, the Purple Gold Eagle carried a group of four and dashed straight into the Protective Clan Formation. Their hurried journey over the past two days had been quite smooth. With four Foundation Establishment Cultivators moving together, and with Lin Shikang, a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator, as their rear guard, nobody foolish enough sought to court death by approaching them. During the journey, Lin Tianming and his company mentioned nothing of their adventures in the Secret Realm, and Lin Shikang did not inquire. However, their ever-present smiles spoke volumes, and knowing them as he did, he was certain their venture had been abundantly fruitful. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire The reason Lin Tianming and his companion didn''t bring it up was simply because they were too exhausted. They had spent the last few days burdened with heavy responsibilities and nerves stretched thin. They were utterly drained, both mentally and physically. Since the treasures were already in their possession, there was no harm in waiting a few more days until the arrival of other important clan members to share their story in detail. Understanding this, Lin Shikang and Lin Xingrong kept silent, all wearing looks of anticipation for the day they would reunite with family. As the four men and one eagle entered the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming and his companion let out a long sigh of relief, allowing their tense nerves to finally relax. Atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, on the Bluestone Plaza, Lin Shikang saw the still weary expressions of the two and said, "Shilu, you two have worked hard these past days. Go back and rest; we''ll meet at my cave mansion in two days." Hearing Lin Shikang''s words, the two men didn''t decline but nodded and bowed before heading towards their respective cave mansions. Lin Tianming returned to his cave mansion, without any delay, dove into his room, and collapsed onto the stone bed he hadn''t seen in so long. It wasn''t long before he fell into a deep sleep, his room filled with the sound of his even and rhythmic breathing. Two days later, early in the morning, Lin Tianming finally opened his eyes and awoke. He had slept for a full two days, and the feeling of exhaustion had completely vanished from his body, leaving him in peak condition. Lin Tianming got up, stretched, then left his cave mansion and made his way to Lin Shikang''s abode. Before long, he arrived at the courtyard of Lin Shikang''s Cave Mansion. At that time, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong were seated in the courtyard, sipping tea and chatting leisurely as they waited for others to arrive. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, their faces lit up with joy, and they hastily invited him to sit down. Lin Tianming promptly approached to pay his respects, and afterward sat down to join in their idle chatter. Soon, Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and Lin Xingrong arrived together. After a brief exchange of greetings, the six of them each found seats and continued their conversation. With the exception of Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan, who were still at Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Market respectively, all six Foundation Establishment Clan Members were now gathered together. As the junior among them, Lin Tianming got up to pour tea for his elders. When he came to serve Clan Leader Lin Shihua, he discreetly noticed that in just over a month''s time, the Clan Leader had successfully made a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. A surge of happiness washed over Lin Tianming, who then asked, "Twelfth Grandpa, have you successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer?" Lin Shihua chuckled and then said reflectively, "We broke through too late and can''t compare to the potential of you youngsters. It has been six or seven years since I entered Foundation Establishment, and it would have been improper not to make a breakthrough." Lin Tianming felt helpless hearing Lin Shihua''s reply. Many clan members of the Shihua generation were held back by the Lin Family''s lack of resources. Clan Leader Lin Shihua had been tied down with clan obligations, spending at least half the year on affairs other than cultivation¡ªfar less time than Lin Xingrong devoted to his own. From the perspective of the cultivation path, the position of Clan Leader was even a heavy burden. Grandfather Lin Shigong was in the same boat, serving as the Alchemy Hall Master while being responsible for training the younger generation as well as studying Pill Formulas and conducting Alchemy. Additionally, he was older when he reached his breakthrough, and thus his cultivation progress naturally lagged behind the younger generation. With this in mind, Lin Tianming offered consolation, "Twelfth Grandpa, having been a long-serving Clan Leader, you''ve shouldered the burden and concerns of the family, it''s the family that has held you back." Lin Shihua''s face shone with joy, and he was deeply touched by these words. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ten years ago, the family was on the brink of collapse, and he had resigned himself to the possibility that he would die at the Qi Refinement Realm. Who could have imagined... That the family would rise so meteorically within such a short span of time, giving him a glimpse of hope for reaching Foundation Establishment, which both he and Lin Shigong managed to seize. Meanwhile, Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin failed in their breakthroughs and sacrificed their last bit of strength for the clan during the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. At the thought, Lin Shihua''s eyes reddened slightly, and he spoke with a regretful tone, "Fate is indeed mysterious. It''s just a pity for Elder Shi and the others..." Seeing Lin Shihua''s choked speech and his reminiscing expression, Lin Shikang quickly offered a few comforting words. Lin Shihua knew he had lost his composure but soon recovered, then he started discussing more pressing matters. Seeing the eager looks from the clan members, Lin Shilu chuckled and began recounting their experiences in the Secret Realm. "What?" "Tian Ming fought alone against a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator and obtained the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus!" Facing Lin Shigong''s exclamations, Lin Tianming replied with an embarrassed smile, "If it wasn''t for Fifteenth Grandfather, I might''ve not made it!" Hearing this, Lin Shilu solemnly said, "This kid is really bold... Staying near that pool was so dangerous. Next time, you should keep your distance. That way, if things get impossible, you can still make an escape, right?" Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, recalling the situation. In such a dangerous Secret Realm, with his own level of cultivation, he indeed should have kept his distance. Seeing that he couldn''t get the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus on his own, he should have been ready to flee rather than staying there and almost losing his life. Chapter 191 Shock_2 Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming spoke up, "The lad will remember not to take risks lightly in the future!" "Hmm..." Lin Shilu nodded and moved past the subject, continuing to share their experiences, from the two of them partnering up to search for treasures, to their encounter with Long Hai, and finally their cooperation in attacking the Dragon-Eyed Beast tribe, which led to them obtaining more than ten mature White Jade Grasses. Upon hearing this news, Lin Shikang and the rest of the clan members were beyond shocked. They originally thought that acquiring the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and some Second Order Spiritual Medicine was decent enough, but they had not expected to obtain the primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, which the family was in desperate need of. With this, the clan now had the ability to refine Foundation Establishment Pills on their own, and these more than ten mature White Jade Grasses could at least create several Foundation Establishment Clan Members. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang and a few others laughed heartily, their emotions running high. However, before they could celebrate for long, Lin Shilu started talking about the encirclement of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, causing everyone''s heart to once again hang in suspense, as if they were experiencing it themselves. If it weren''t for seeing the two return safely and without any major injuries, they would surely think they were joking. Only after Lin Shilu mentioned the Star Moon Fruit did they understand why the two had been so reckless, even driving the usually prudent Lin Shilu to take such risks. Lin Shilu didn''t stop there; he recounted the entire battle as well as their adventurous feat of obtaining three Star Moon Fruits with Long Hai. Hearing this earth-shattering news, all four were breathing rapidly, their faces soon flushing red. After a silence lasting more than ten breaths, none of them spoke until Lin Shikang was the first to come around, asking in a probing tone, "Shilu... is this... is this true?" "Tian Ming... are you not joking?" Hearing these hesitant words, which clearly lacked confidence, Lin Shilu frowned, took out the Star Moon Fruits from his storage bag, and placed them in Lin Shikang''s hand. Felling the substantial weight in his palm, as well as that peculiar energy fluctuation, Lin Shikang finally believed it. Lin Shihua and the rest, seeing the Star Moon Fruit, cautiously approached and inspected the fruit thoroughly, understanding it completely. At that moment, the scene was very quiet until everyone confirmed the authenticity of the Star Moon Fruit, and then it completely erupted into excitement. Watching Lin Shikang laugh heartily, even with tears brimming in his eyes, Lin Tianming also felt extreme excitement. Seeing the thrilled expressions on everyone''s faces and recalling their own nerves stretched tight during those days and the moments seeking a lifeline on the verge of death, they felt that their efforts were entirely worthwhile. They were even immensely relieved that they had made the right decision and that their hard work had paid off accordingly. Soon, the crowd calmed down from their euphoria, and Lin Shilu continued with what happened next. Upon learning that he traded a Star Moon Fruit for a thread of survival, everyone looked relieved, showing not the slightest hint of regret for the loss. "Shilu, you both did well. In such a moment of crisis, even if you had to throw away everything, it was necessary!" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Shikang''s words, Lin Shihua chimed in as well. "Yes... having life is better than any treasure!" Lin Shilu nodded, recalling the situation at the time, knowing that if one Star Moon Fruit couldn''t resolve the crisis, he would not hesitate to throw away the rest to secure a chance at life. He himself wasn''t afraid of death, but given that Lin Tianming was with him, if they had died in the Secret Realm, the loss to the family would certainly exceed a Star Moon Fruit. Considering his own talent and the potential he had demonstrated, not to mention the Star Moon Fruit, even for a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, he would naturally give it up without hesitation. Bringing his mind back to the present, Lin Shilu changed the topic and said, "Elders, although our journey to the Secret Realm was treacherous, the outcome was very satisfying, and it wasn''t in vain that Tian Ming and I walked through the gates of death twice!" Before the words had even finished, Lin Tianming also interjected, saying: "Indeed... we must quickly transplant the White Jade Grass seedlings. Although they may not all survive, even if a single plant does, it could create one or two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the future!" After saying this, Lin Shilu handed over all the White Jade Grass seedlings to Lin Shihua and gave the mature White Jade Grass to Lin Tianming to prepare him to refine the Foundation Establishment Pills for storage within the clan. Lin Tianming accepted the fifteen mature White Jade Grass plants. Now that his success rate in refining Second Order lower-grade elixirs was quite high, such precious elixirs naturally had to be refined by him. However, he planned to enter secluded cultivation for a time. After breaking through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, he would practice refining some elixirs to warm up before he began refining the Foundation Establishment Pills, to make the process as foolproof as possible. After arranging for the White Jade Grass, Lin Shilu subsequently took out several prepared storage bags, which contained the spiritual objects they had obtained during this period. However, the treasures beneficial to them had already been picked out and distributed. Apart from the Second Order Magical Artifacts and elixirs, there were not many valuable items left, but the quantity was exceptionally vast, a rare find for the clan''s Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. Lin Shilu passed the storage bags to Lin Shihua, then spoke: "Twelfth Brother, these items were acquired by Tian Ming and myself in the Secret Realm. Apart from the Second Order Magical Artifacts and elixirs which are prepared for you, the rest will be unconditionally turned over to the clan." As soon as Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Shikang first took the storage bags. After a sweep with his Divine Sense, he found that the treasures inside were numerous, and their value was not at all insignificant. Lin Shikang handed the storage bags to Lin Shihua and said: "Shilu, let Shihua deposit these treasures into the clan''s treasury. Besides the Spirit Stones you spent on purchasing White Jade Grass, the clan will reward you with thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and Tian Ming with twenty thousand. How does that sound?" No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shilu began to refuse. "Elder Brother, there''s no need for a reward. We already obtained plenty from our trip; this is something we willingly offer to the clan!" "Yes, Third Grandfather... Tian Ming and Fifteenth Grandfather don''t lack Spirit Stones. Let''s forego the rewards!" Lin Tianming also chimed in. In the Secret Realm, they had each gathered tens of thousands of Spirit Stones from several storage bags they had picked up, along with many treasures. At present, they were not in need of Spirit Stones or cultivation elixirs. As for the clan''s rewards, they had no intention of accepting them before they made their offer, let alone after. Hearing the response from Lin Tianming and the others, Lin Shikang''s expression turned serious as he said: "How could that be acceptable? You''ve already done so much for the clan, it''s only right if you''d accept regardless of the amount!" "Stop being so formal. Over the years, you two have toiled and traveled far for the clan, gone through numerous skirmishes, and established countless merits. No matter how small, do not refuse this token of appreciation!" "Moreover, now that the clan has the income from Luoyun Market and Luoyun Pavilion, we''re not in the same financial strain as before!" Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong, due to their status, did not speak much, but they also persuaded Lin Shilu to accept, while suggesting that Tian Ming''s reward be skipped since he was already wealthy and did not require much. "What do you think, Tian Ming?" Lin Shilu left the decision to him, and Lin Tianming hesitated. Faced with Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua''s stern expressions, he was at a loss for words. "This... this... alright then!" With Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua persistently persuading, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming had no choice but to accept the reward situation. In the end, Lin Shilu took out a storage bag containing the Second Order Pills and several Second Order Magical Artifacts. He handed the storage bag to Lin Shihua, then said: "Shihua, these Second Order Magical Artifacts are exquisite treasures, used by cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. When you have time, distribute them to Ninth Brother and Xing Yuan!" "Haha... then I''ll thank you on behalf of Xing Yuan and the others!" Lin Shihua, not one to be overly courteous, accepted the storage bag on behalf of the clan members who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, promising to pass it on to them. "Heh heh... I only have one Attack Talisman myself, previously used by a Jin Family Cultivator, indeed its power is quite ordinary. With this Second Order Magical Artifact, my strength can also increase somewhat!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Faced with Lin Shihua murmuring to himself, everyone smiled knowingly, and securely stored their treasures away. Chapter 192 Breakthrough_1 The matter of contributing treasures came to a conclusion, and everyone was in high spirits, sitting down to enjoy tea and chit-chatting about the Star Moon Fruit. Lin Shilu picked up the teacup, took a slight sip, and then asked about Lin Shikang''s plans. Lin Shikang gave a bitter smile, then began to speak, "I am currently at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, it was only with the help of a Hun Tian Pill that I broke through five years ago, and only five years have passed since then, and it''s still uncertain when I''ll enter the Great Perfection Realm, maybe one or two years, or it could take up to ten years, it''s too early to talk about this now!" "What''s more important is, it''s not so easy to break through to the Golden Core Stage, and just preparing for it takes a considerable amount of time. Your cultivation is increasing rapidly; I expect it won''t take twenty years for you to attempt breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. And this Star Moon Fruit, let''s leave it for Shilu and Tianming!" Hearing Lin Shikang''s words, it was clear he planned to give the opportunity to break through to the Golden Core to those with a higher probability of success, Lin Shilu or Lin Tianming. His reasoning was indeed sound. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire After all, Lin Shilu was not yet ninety years old and had already reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, not far from the Seventh Level. Once he breaks through, he could then use the Hun Tian Pill to break through another realm. If all went well, there was indeed a very high probability of him attempting to impact the Golden Core Stage within twenty years. Although Lin Tianming was not yet thirty years old and only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, his cultivation speed was unbelievably fast. With his talent, it was very possible he would be ready to impact the Golden Core Stage within thirty years. From the perspective of potential, the probability of Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was indeed higher than Lin Shikang''s, especially for Tianming, who had at least a seventy percent chance, provided there were no accidents. In this light, entrusting this heavy hope to the more promising Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu was also a prudent approach. The family would just need to wait longer and plan more meticulously. Although the emergence of a Golden Core Stage family member would be delayed, this arrangement offered a greater assurance. Those who were aware of the situation said nothing, and the room fell into silence. Lin Tianming too was thinking about this matter, though he was not particularly concerned about the hard-won Star Moon Fruit. He was well aware that although Lin Shikang was over a hundred years old, that age was not considered old, and the probability of breaking through with the help of the Star Moon Fruit was not low. It was just that he felt too much pressure, wanting to give this rare opportunity to a clan member with a better grasp on success. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming said, "Third Grandfather, you should break through to the Great Perfection Realm as soon as possible and then attempt the Golden Core Stage with the Star Moon Fruit. If we delay for decades, it may become even more difficult to break through." As soon as he finished, Lin Shilu also began to persuade. "That''s right, Third Brother... Tianming and I share the same view. Even if you fail, at the worst, we can wait a few more decades. With Tianming''s talent and cultivation, it''s completely worth the wait!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, others like Lin Shigong also started to agree. Seeing the clan members all speaking up and persuading, and even Lin Shilu indicating that if he failed to break through, it would be okay if their generation never progressed beyond the Foundation Establishment Stage, Lin Shikang was deeply comforted and also quite fearful at hearing this. To say he didn''t want to break through to the Golden Core Stage would be a lie; no one would easily give up that slim chance of breakthrough, and he felt the same. And breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would not only fulfill the centuries-old aspirations of the family but also double his lifespan, allowing him to live up to five hundred years. If he found an elixir that could extend life, he might even be able to protect the family for several hundred years. It was because of this that he dared not gamble with the family''s fate on this hard-won opportunity. At this point, Lin Shikang let out a rueful smile, then spoke up, "It''s too early to discuss this now. Let''s wait until I reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection before we decide. What do you all think?" Hearing Lin Shikang''s words, though it sounded like he might be buying time, he hadn''t outright refused, showing some signs of relenting. Lin Shilu chuckled and then adopted a serious demeanor, "Then, for now, let''s follow Third Brother''s words. However, I have to make it clear upfront, you better not slack off. Although it seems calm now, and the family is thriving, no one can be certain when a crisis might arise. Don''t let it be that when the moment of danger comes, our opportunity is lost because our cultivation was insufficient!" "Indeed, Third Grandfather..." Lin Tianming smiled and then sternly said, "Our ancestors broke through to the Golden Core Stage at the age of one hundred and sixty, and you are not even one hundred and thirty years old. Even if you delay for another twenty years, would you still not be younger than the ancestor at that time?" Lin Tianming''s words elicited laughter from the clan members, and Grandfather Lin Shigong also joined in, "Third Brother... listen to this, wasn''t it even harder for our ancestor all alone? And yet he managed to do it. Now with the substantial support of the family, you shouldn''t have any psychological burdens!" After this, the usually silent Lin Shihua chimed in. "Exactly... if you ask me, with this Star Moon Fruit, Third Brother''s probability to break through to the Golden Core Stage is at least forty percent or more, which is much higher than what our ancestor had." Listening to his clan members, a fierce fire ignited deep inside Lin Shikang, and his conviction seemed to become even firmer. Lin Shikang stood up, bowed with cupped hands to everyone present, and then confidently said, "Very well... since everyone has such faith in me, I will borrow your auspicious words and give it my best effort!" "Ha ha... that''s more like it..." Chapter 192 Breakthrough_2 Lin Shilu chuckled, and everyone''s faces were filled with excitement; the entire scene was bustling and lively. Shortly after a brief chat of half an hour, they exchanged information about some clan affairs and then left with cupped fists. Before leaving, Lin Shikang instructed him and Lin Shilu to stay in the clan for a few years of cultivation. Lin Xingping would be stationed in Qianchuan Market for several years. With Luoyun Pavilion establishing a foothold, their presence there would no longer make much difference. As for his task, it was, of course, to focus on cultivation and the preparation of Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, the family already had quite a few members above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, all waiting for the Foundation Establishment Pills for breakthrough. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire Both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu nodded and agreed to this matter, as it was a good opportunity for cultivation. In the end, Lin Tianming and his two grandchildren left the cave dwelling together, heading toward his father''s dwelling. With the secret realm journey over, Lin Tianming would also likely stay within the clan for long-term cultivation for a few years. However, before starting his seclusion, he would first reunite with his family and then commence closed-door cultivation and the preparation of Foundation Establishment Pills. That night, upon learning of Lin Tianming''s safe return, his mother and sister hurriedly came out of seclusion. Seeing Lin Tianming return unharmed, his mother''s worried heart could finally relax. From his departure to Qianchuan Market to now, after not seeing him for two years, his mother''s cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, not far from the Great Perfection Realm. Following this rate of cultivation, she would likely make a move to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage within three years. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And his sister had seized a spot amongst the Qi Refining Seven Champions. With the resources provided by her grandfather and brother Lin Tianming, she had made rapid progress in the past two years, also reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Level, becoming one of the fastest cultivating women of the Tian generation in the clan. With the current cultivation levels of the mother and daughter, plus an abundance of resources, it was highly probable they could impact the Foundation Establishment Stage together. In the evening, the family of five finished their dinner and sat in the small courtyard chatting about everything from clan members to cultivation and even to the Four Arts of Cultivation, talking for quite some time. In the two years he had been stationed in Qianchuan Market, apart from sending serpent eggs and Spirit Stones back to the clan and quickly returning from the last secret realm affair, he had no time to attend to the clan''s internal matters. Listening to the others, the selection of the Qi Refining Seven Champions had taken place last year. Except for the Great Perfection slot, which was secured by Lin Xingzhi, the six slots from the Fourth to Ninth Layer of Qi Refining were all taken by members of the Tian generation. Lin Tianfeng was the one who obtained the Ninth Layer slot, while Lin Tianqin took the Eighth Layer. It was a pity for Lin Tianhong; although also at the Eighth Layer, he was a year older than Lin Tianqin and had to concede. Despite his likely superior strength at the same realm, as a male member of the clan, it was difficult for him to challenge her. And Lin Tianyue, his sister, won the Seventh Layer slot. Now that she had broken through to the Eighth Layer, Lin Tianqin no longer had a chance past this year, especially since Lin Tianyue, his sister, was seven years younger than this elder sister of the Tian generation. As for the clan members below the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, apart from Lin Tianhu at the Sixth Level being a familiar face, the rest started cultivation after the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain and all had the talent of Three Spiritual Roots, also all exceptionally talented young cultivators. With lesser hardships in their cultivation journey and the clan doubling the monthly stipend and merit points for services over the past ten years, the resources for the new generation''s cultivation significantly increased. With resource assistance, their pace of cultivation was much faster than during the times of Lin Tianfeng and his peers. This is the result of the clan''s strength; they were also fortunate to live in a good era where the resources for cultivators in the clan currently far exceeded those of the other two major clans by several times. At this rate, the disparity between the three major clans of Luoyun Mountain would only grow wider and wider. Before they knew it, the night grew quiet... The casual conversation was drawing to a close, and Lin Tianming took out a large number of Spirit Stones and elixirs to distribute to his family members. He did not share the petals and seeds of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus with his grandfather and father, not because he was stingy, but because there were too few of them. Moreover, since he practised Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, it would have the greatest effect if he used them himself. Seeing the vast number of Spirit Stones Lin Tianming brought out¡ªtotally thirty thousand¡ªand more than ten bottles of Second Order Pills, as well as some Qi Refinement elixirs for his sister and mother to use. Considering Lin Tianming''s current cultivation and wealth, probably only Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu could surpass him. Under such circumstances, his grandfather did not refuse, and each of them accepted some Spirit Stones and elixirs before putting an end to their chat. After his grandfather gave several words of advice, they finally got up to leave his father''s small courtyard. The two grandchildren walked on the road, then parted ways at the empty Bluestone Plaza, each returning to their own cave dwellings. Lin Tianming entered the training room, sat on the meditation cushion, and reflected on his cultivation schedule. After experiencing trials in adversity, he felt that he was not far from the third level of Foundation Establishment, and decided to attempt a breakthrough first. With his mind made up, he began to cultivate and breathe deeply, rotating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and when his condition reached its peak, he immediately took out a petal of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and held it in his hand. Looking at the brightly colored petal emanating bursts of special fragrance, it was refreshing and delightful to the senses. He had previously consumed lotus seeds and was extremely satisfied with the effects, and with six petals left that he had never used before, his anticipation for these petals began to rise. Regathering his focus, he swallowed the petal without hesitation. The bright petal dissolved in his mouth, a special sweetness spread, refreshing the mind and spirit. The energy from the petal was gentle and began to overflow soon after consumption, not at all violent like the lotus seeds. Lin Tianming did not hesitate to start refining it, the energy contained in the petal was slowly refined and then transformed into spiritual power that flowed along his meridians, eventually converging in his Seven Sea Dantian. Feeling the refined spiritual power and its effects, it was somewhat inferior to that of the lotus seeds, but still significantly better than the effects of Second Order Pills. Moreover, refining such heaven and earth treasures did not cause any discomfort or side effects, making the use of Dragon Bone Pills unnecessary. In light of this, even he did not want to endure the previous agonizing pain. Returning to his task, Lin Tianming did not pause and continued to cultivate at full strength, quickly refining the energy contained within the petal. Time passed slowly, and half a year went by in this way. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming was statue-like, having remained in seclusion without moving an inch for half a year. At this moment, he was at the very peak of the second layer of the Foundation Establishment, on the verge of a breakthrough at any time. During the half-year period, he had consumed three petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, and this was the fourth. Feeling that the energy of this petal was nearly refined, yet still without a successful breakthrough. Lin Tianming increased his pace, frantically refining the remaining energy, and then marshaled the immense spiritual power to mount one final assault. By now, the spiritual power in his Dantian had reached its limit; all it needed was an infusion of even greater spiritual energy to break through the shackles. With a determined expression, he controlled the accumulated vast spiritual energy, pouring it into his Qi Sea Dantian, and then began to impact the barrier of the third level of Foundation Establishment. Time and again, he sweated profusely, the accumulated spiritual energy began to wane a little, still without a successful breakthrough. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s expression turned frenzied. "Today, I must break through the third level of Foundation Establishment... break for me!" Lin Tianming gritted his teeth and concentrated all his spiritual energy together, charging madly against the realm''s barrier. After an indeterminate amount of time, a peculiar sound emanated. His Qi Sea Dantian suddenly broke its restraints, like a dam bursting, and a great flood of river water poured into a vast lake or sea. Feeling the increase in spiritual power throughout his body, he was much stronger than before, and moreover, the exhilaration of the breakthrough filled him with immense excitement. Now that he had successfully broken through, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. It was not easy to make a breakthrough, and if his realm was not stable, causing a fall back, it would waste another year or two to re-cultivate. If he fell back in his realm, although he would be free from the boundaries of that realm, wasting two precious years to re-cultivate was not desirable, so naturally, he had to solidify his cultivation as soon as possible. With this in mind, he dared not be careless and instantly set out to cultivate and regulate his breath, running his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and started to consolidate his cultivation. Chapter 193 Foundation Establishment Pill Success_1 Half a month later. Inside the training room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing briefly through his clear gaze. Sensing the formidable strength after his breakthrough, he stood up and clenched his fists, his true yuan swiftly circulating throughout his body. "Crack, crackle..." The sounds of bones vibrating and popping resonated, his spiritual power flowing extremely smoothly throughout his body. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but smile knowingly and began to talk to himself. "This Third Level of Foundation Establishment is indeed much stronger than the Second Layer, my strength has doubled, and I should be able to hold my own against a cultivator at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment without falling into a disadvantage," he mused. Previously in the secret realm, he had already sparred with Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts and had not fallen into a disadvantage either. According to his judgment, after breaking through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, relying on a few Second Order magical artifacts and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in his hands, he would not be at much of a disadvantage when fighting against cultivators below the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment. However, this was just a rough estimate, after all, there were many core disciples from great sects whose talents were even higher than his, and they possessed a multitude of precious treasures, capable of unleashing even more formidable power. Regaining his composure, he tidied up the training room before walking out. As he walked, he pondered his future cultivation plans. Now that he had successfully broken through, and as he would not be leaving the clan''s territory for a short time, it was naturally time to start preparing to forge Foundation Establishment Pills. For half a year, the family had been collecting auxiliary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill, which were not considered extremely rare. Over the years, the family had acquired quite a few spiritual medicines, and now they were fully capable of gathering them together. Moreover, there were already clan members who met the requirements for impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, so forging Foundation Establishment Pills had become a matter of urgency. Thinking of this, he changed direction and flew towards the towering mountains behind the main peak. The Purple Gold Eagle had reached the First Order Peak Period a while ago, and when he returned to the clan after the secret realm had ended, he had intended to help it break through to the Second Order, making future travels faster and safer. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at the valley where he once practiced his divine skills. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire Looking at a huge cave on the side of the mountain, he called out loudly, and the Purple Gold Eagle quickly flew over and landed in front of him, rubbing its enormous beak against his clothes in an almost comical manner. Lin Tianming caressed its feathers, with a doting expression on his face. The Purple Gold Eagle had been with him for nearly ten years, and as the gap in their combat abilities grew wider, although it hadn''t provided much help in battle, it had been quite useful shuttling through various markets and mountain ranges over the years. One could say that the Purple Gold Eagle had contributed significantly not just to him, but to the entire family as well. From any perspective, helping it break through to the Second Order was only right and proper. With these thoughts, he patted his storage bag and took out two gray-white demon cores. Advancing as a demonic beast was even harder than for cultivators. The Purple Gold Eagle had consumed many First Order demon beast inner pills before, and its realm growth had been quite slow. Fortunately, they had long lifespans, and with these two Second Order demon cores, coupled with some demon beast corpses and blood, it should be enough to help it break through to the Second Order. At this moment, seeing the two Second Order Initial Stage demon beast inner pills in Lin Tianming''s hand, the Purple Gold Eagle''s eyes gleamed, clearly impatient. It excitedly screeched, seemingly aware that Lin Tianming was going to help it break through, and began rubbing its beak against his clothes again. Lin Tianming touched the Purple Gold Eagle''s slightly golden feathers, finally calming it down. Over the years, he had traveled far and wide and been through many great battles. During his journey in the secret realm, he had also obtained many Second Order demon cores. Among them, the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s inner core was at the Second Order Late Phase, and it was the only Second Order Late Phase inner core he had. Beyond that, Lin Shilu had given him two of the Second Order Middle Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast inner pills, and during the Tianluan Turtle''s great battle, he had acquired three Second Order Middle Stage Tianluan Turtle inner pills, as well as numerous Second Order Initial Stage inner pills. With more than ten Second Order monster beast inner pills at hand, including several Second Order Middle Stage demon cores, he had plenty. With so many demon beast inner pills, as well as a considerable number of demonic beast corpses and blood, it was more than enough to help the Purple Gold Eagle advance to the Second Order Middle or Late Phase. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming chuckled and took out several portions of the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s body, tossing them to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle, thrilled, swallowed the monster serpent''s body in one gulp and then eagerly fixed its gaze on the two demon cores in Lin Tianming''s hands. Seeing this, Lin Tianming laughed and teasingly chided: "Hey hey... after eating so many good things, if you can''t advance to the Second Order, watch how I''ll deal with you." Without waiting for the Purple Gold Eagle''s reaction, he threw the two demon beast inner pills straight to it. The Purple Gold Eagle didn''t hesitate to gulp down the two Second Order demon beast inner pills, unfazed by the risk of the explosive energy from the cores potentially bursting its body. "This bird... truly worthy of being a demonic beast!" Lin Tianming laughed and cursed. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator were to swallow these Second Order inner cores whole, they would certainly lose their life, and even a Golden Core Cultivator could suffer serious injuries or be on the verge of death. Yet, the path to advancement for demonic beasts was so simple and brutal¡ªeither the bodies of cultivators or heavenly treasures, as well as demonic beasts'' bodies and inner cores, were all consumed directly. Relying on their unique natural gifts, they could easily convert it to the energy needed for their breakthroughs. Coming to his senses, the Purple Gold Eagle took Lin Tianming around Green Bamboo Mountain for a flight, and finally, they returned to the original spot. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to immediately start refining the demon beast inner pills and to break through to the Second Order as soon as possible. The Purple Gold Eagle screeched a few times, conveying a sense of utter confidence. Chapter 193 The Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_2 Lin Tianming nodded, then left the familiar small valley without looking back and headed to the Hall of Merit. It wasn''t long before he saw Lin Xingcheng, and the two sat opposite each other, making small talk. Lin Tianming chuckled, then teased Lin Xingcheng by saying, "Uncle, having not seen you for a few years, you must be close to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?" Lin Xingcheng laughed wryly, then responded, "It''s not that easy. Although with your alchemy skills, it won''t take long to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, but looking at the current situation, it seems like it will take at least a few years of preparation for a successful breakthrough!" Hearing Lin Xingcheng''s words, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement¡ªmore preparation was definitely safer; unless absolutely necessary, rushing a breakthrough was indeed dangerous. After exchanging a few more words, Lin Xingcheng''s tone shifted, already anticipating the purpose of Lin Tianming''s visit. As the Clan Leader of the Hall of Merit and one of the high-ranking members of the clan, he was well aware of Lin Tianming''s return to the clan and the White Jade Grass he had brought with him. Moreover, half a year earlier, the Clan Leader had instructed him to gather the auxiliary herbs for more than ten batches of Foundation Establishment Pills in the shortest time possible, clearly intending to refine Foundation Establishment Pills without doubt. Knowing this, he was immensely excited; the Minor Foundation Building Pills that Lin Tianming had obtained earlier, after being distributed by the clan, left no more exchange quotas for the Xing clan members. Now that the clan had obtained White Jade Grass and had the capability to refine it, they would have more effective Foundation Establishment Pills to use; even if the exchange for Merit Points was higher, clan members would prioritize the Foundation Establishment Pills over the Minor Foundation Building Pills. After all, the Minor Foundation Building Pills could only increase the chances of breakthrough by twenty percent, while Foundation Establishment Pills could reach fifty percent, a significantly better outcome. With this in mind, for their own successful breakthrough, most would choose the Foundation Establishment Pills first, unless clan members who lacked enough Merit Points would opt for the Minor Foundation Building Pills. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regaining his composure, Lin Xingcheng, looking excited, greeted Lin Tianming and then headed straight to the storeroom. In a short while, he came out with a storage bag, which he then handed to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the storage bag and swept it with his Divine Sense, confirming the count and medicinal properties of the fifteen batches of Foundation Establishment Pill''s auxiliary herbs met the refining requirements. After the handover was complete, Lin Xingcheng began to give additional instructions. "Tianming, the Clan Leader has instructed that once you refine the Foundation Establishment Pills, aside from contributing thirty percent to the clan, keep three for yourself, and if there are more Foundation Establishment Pills, exchange them all at the Family Merits Hall¡ªthe clan will repurchase each one for thirty thousand Spirit Stones!" Hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded and accepted the task. In fact, even if the clan didn''t mention it, he would have done the same, for Foundation Establishment Pills were tremendously valuable and fundamental to a clan. Even if the surplus Foundation Establishment Pills were his, he wouldn''t let them out of the clan. He couldn''t forget the scene of the family''s plight over a decade ago, nor the history of the sacrifices of many ancestors for a single Foundation Establishment Pill. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming didn''t linger long. After bidding farewell to Lin Xingcheng, he headed to the Alchemy Hall. Soon, he arrived inside the Alchemy Hall. At the moment, Lin Shigong was teaching a few young clan members about alchemy. Lin Tianming didn''t disturb them and stood quietly to the side, waiting. Finally, after the grandfather dispatched the youngsters, they found a spot to sit down, drink tea, and chat casually. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup, enjoying the rich aroma of the Spiritual Tea, the unique taste lingering in his mouth. "Not bad... This Spiritual Tea is excellent!" Lin Tianming exclaimed, then said, "Grandfather, I plan to start refining the Foundation Establishment Pills and would like to borrow the Three Star Furnace. My Four Symbols Furnace is somewhat lacking in grade. Although it is not unusable, it would still be advantageous to increase the success rate of the pill formation as much as possible!" Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s request, Lin Shigong promptly took out a fiery red Pill Furnace, which was the very Three Star Furnace he had used for many years. Lin Shigong handed the Three Star Furnace to Lin Tianming and then asked, "You''re starting the refining so soon, kid?" "If you need this old man''s help, just say the word. I''ve got plenty of time. Although my alchemy skills aren''t as good as yours, I''ve got no problem assisting you!" Lin Tianming chuckled and quickly replied, "Grandfather, I''ve got it under control. With the Three Star Furnace, I have even greater confidence. You should take this opportunity to go into seclusion and strive to break through to the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage!" Seeing Lin Tianming decline his offer graciously, Lin Shigong didn''t insist. After a few simple admonishments, Lin Tianming finally got up, bowed with cupped hands. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Having bid farewell to his grandfather and leaving the Alchemy Hall, he returned to his own cave dwelling. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he sat cross-legged on the ground, running his cultivation techniques to breathe and adjust his condition. When his condition reached its peak, Lin Tianming didn''t immediately begin refining but took out a large number of Jade Slips and books, all of them containing Pill Formulas and Alchemy Experiences. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed an Alchemy Experience in hand and began to ruminate and comprehend it. Although he had already gone over these experiences several times and knew their contents by heart, when it came to refining Foundation Establishment Pills, he preferred to be more meticulous; producing one more pill might result in one more Foundation Establishment Cultivator. In such circumstances, it was only natural to be cautious, striving for perfection without fail. Several days quickly passed by. Lin Tianming reviewed all the Pill Formulas and Alchemy Experiences in his possession, whether they were for Second Order or Third Order Alchemists, all over again. Chapter 193 Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_3 Although he had reviewed it many times, each time he delved into it, he felt his understanding of the Alchemy Dao deepened. "I don''t know if it''s an illusion or if there really is progress!" After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming then put all of the pill formulas and insights into his storage bag. Having done that, he began the preparations for alchemy, taking out a complete set of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials and placing them on the stone platform beside him, sorted into different categories. Next, he checked the Earth Fire and the Pill Furnace. After making sure all the details were perfect, he began to adjust his state. It was unclear how much time had passed, but he eventually reached his peak condition. All was ready except for the right opportunity! Lin Tianming opened his eyes, formed seals with his hands, and struck the Earth Fire''s vent with a Law Decree. As the Earth Fire erupted, the temperature in the Pill Refining Room began to slowly rise. He placed the Three Star Furnace above the Earth Fire, starting the various preparations for alchemy. When the temperature inside the Three Star Furnace reached a critical point, he immediately took out a piece of Spiritual Medicine Material and tossed it into the furnace to begin the basic decomposition process. The procedure was the same as for other elixirs; he had already successfully refined numerous Second Order Pills, so decomposing these auxiliary medicines wasn''t difficult. Soon, after over an hour of intense decomposition, each Spiritual Medicine Material and Spirit Fruit was processed. At the bottom of the Three Star Furnace, a mass of multicolored Elixir Essence lay there. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead and gazed at the liquid essence of the Spiritual Medicine, showing a satisfied expression. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the auxiliary medicines decomposed, the main medicine, White Jade Grass, was left to be processed. He looked at the Spirit Grass with a jade-like sheen and took a deep breath. This White Jade Grass had cost him 11,000 Spirit Stones to purchase from Long Hai; its value was certainly not low. After a brief distraction, he quickly regained his calm and resolutely threw the White Jade Grass into the Three Star Furnace. At that moment, he opened his Eye of Five Colors to observe the White Jade Grass inside the Three Star Furnace, focusing his Divine Sense to start the decomposition. Half a day passed. Inside the Three Star Furnace, the Elixir Essence had grown larger in volume and changed dramatically in color, becoming a mix of blue and white that looked akin to a piece of Supreme Quality jade. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. With all the Spiritual Medicine Materials decomposed, the next crucial step was the Solidifying Pill. He took a deep breath and formed a Single-handed Seal, then struck the Earth Fire''s vent with another Law Decree. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire A soft sound followed, and the Earth Fire burst forth, raising the temperature in the Three Star Furnace by another notch. Lin Tianming''s expression became serious, attentively sensing every change inside the Three Star Furnace. When the temperature seemed right, he slapped the Three Star Furnace with his palm, and a burst of Spiritual Power shot out from his hand into the furnace and disappeared without a trace. "Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..." A few noises sounded out, marking the completion of Infusion of Spirit. While controlling the Earth Fire''s temperature, he murmured to himself. "Solidify the pill!" In an instant, a distinct sound echoed, followed by a few crisp crackles from within the Pill Furnace. The noise suggested that the pills might have shattered. Lin Tianming''s face changed, showing an expression of distress. As the noise subsided, he promptly lifted the lid off the furnace to look inside. He saw a pile of residue mixed with some broken pieces of a pill, emitting an unpleasant odor. He picked up a fragment of the failed elixir, holding it carefully in his hand to ponder over. "This Foundation Establishment Pill is indeed difficult; failure to control the temperature and timing of the infusion of spirit led to the failure of the alchemy process!" Lin Tianming talked to himself, thereafter contemplating the reasons for failure in his mind and summarizing the issues to watch out for next time. The entire process of this batch of pills was smooth; the decomposition and purification were done meticulously¡ªhow could it have failed? Lin Tianming wore a puzzled expression as he recalled the entire procedure and pondered over the reasons for the failure. "It seems that during the pill solidification, the timing of the spirit infusion and the Earth Fire didn''t match, leading to the failure of this batch!" Lin Tianming murmured to himself, quickly pinpointing the problem. "Let''s try another furnace and hope for success!" Though the first batch had failed, he was not discouraged at all. After all, it was his first attempt at producing this pill, and failure was nothing unusual. Moreover, although the Foundation Establishment Pill was classified as a Second Order Inferior Grade Pill, the difficulty of its refinement could rival many Second Order Medium Quality pills. After clearing out the wasted residue, he took out another set of Spiritual Medicine Materials and placed them on the stone platform. Once that was done, he began to recuperate until his condition peaked before continuing to refine. "Materials are hard to come by; they must be refined successfully soon so as not to waste them. This complete set of materials cost more than 10,000 Spirit Stones!" he muttered to himself, thinking in his heart. Half a day later, Lin Tianming recovered, and once again, he plunged into the intensive alchemy process. With the lesson learned from the first failure, he was extra careful with the second furnace, striving to perfect every step. The entire process went smoothly, as familiar as the path beneath one''s feet, with each step of decomposition, purification, and the control of infusion and Earth Fire right on point. His efforts bore fruit; his cultivation made a breakthrough, and aided by the Eye of Five Colors, he succeeded in solidifying the pills in the second furnace. In the Pill Refining Room at that moment, a unique fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace. Not caring about his sweaty forehead and weary expression, he quickly lifted off the furnace lid. He saw three pills with a blue and white hue suspended inside the furnace, immediately taking one out and comparing it with the Pill Formula, examining it in great detail. "After careful verification, this is undoubtedly a finished product. I just don''t know how effective it is yet!" Lin Tianming thought excitedly, his face expressing immense joy. The process of refining two batches of Foundation Establishment Pills¡ªfailing the first and succeeding the second¡ªcould be considered a smooth start. Though he usually managed to produce about five pills of Second Order Inferior Grade elixirs, and this batch only yielded three, considering the difficulty of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Tianming was still extremely satisfied. He placed the three Foundation Establishment Pills into a prepared Jade Bottle, then began to recuperate, waiting for his condition to recover before starting to forge ahead and refine a few more batches. Chapter 194 Announcement of News_1 One day later. As his condition recovered, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and took out three plump Foundation Establishment Pills, looking overjoyed. Feeling that his state was just right, he planned to refine a few more batches of elixirs, striving to improve both the pill concoction rate and the number of successful pills. Having made up his mind, he took out another portion of Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill and began pill refining. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Familiar with the procedure, one by one, the Spiritual Medicine Materials were decomposed and purified into differently colored liquid essences, which settled at the bottom of the Three Star Furnace, waiting for the infusion of spirit and pill solidification. Two months hurried by. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming looked at the seventeen Jade Bottles laid out before him, his expression quite satisfied. Since he had entered the Pill Refining Room for secluded cultivation, nearly three months had passed. The difficulty of refining Foundation Establishment Pills was not small; only three to four batches could be refined each month. Forcing more could affect both the rate of pill success and the number of pills, so he wasn''t in a rush. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He proceeded carefully and steadily, always waiting to return to his peak condition before starting on the next batch of elixirs. After all, the auxiliary herbs for Foundation Establishment Pills were the lesser concern, but the main herb, White Jade Grass, was limited. Wasting one meant one less available; refining an extra one could potentially create another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the clan. Under such cautious conditions, he successfully refined four batches from seven portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, yielding a total of seventeen Foundation Establishment Pills, all of good quality. While not reaching the highest quality, they were still quite rare. With these seventeen Foundation Establishment Pills, even if the restrictions were completely lifted, the clan wouldn''t have to worry about Foundation Establishment for its members for the next ten years. Contemplating this, Lin Tianming''s expression became ecstatic as he put the Jade Bottles into his storage bag, then tidied up, preparing to end this period of pill refining. The reason he was emerging from seclusion now, aside from having addressed the urgent need for Foundation Establishment Pills, was because he wanted to save half of the Spiritual Medicine Materials until he became a Second Order Medium Quality or Second Order Superior Alchemist before continuing refining. By then, if he could refine top-quality Foundation Establishment Pills, the medicinal power within them would be stronger, increasing the odds of breakthrough just a bit. And that slim chance, in many instances, could change a person''s destiny. Back then, when Lin Shixin was breaking through to Foundation Establishment, if he had used such a pill, his odds of success would have greatly increased, with at least a sixty to seventy percent chance of entering the Foundation Establishment Realm. Regrettably, the clan''s resources were insufficient at the time, and even the Minor Foundation Building Pill was their last lifeline. Under the pressure of formidable enemies and advancing age, they had no choice but to stake everything on one gamble. Under the same age constraints, Lin Shigong seized that final opportunity, breaking through at the last moment and thus changing his own fate. Recalling Lin Shixin''s unruly character and his amiable face, always fooling around and joking with him, and the many times he had offered assistance, Lin Tianming''s bright eyes were filled with a reflective look. His thoughts returning, he sighed helplessly. "Perhaps this is destiny; it''s such a pity for Tenth Uncle." Listening to his own sigh echoing in the Pill Refining Room brought him back to reality. Having tidied up the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming then left his cave residence and headed towards the Family Merits Hall. Soon, he met Lin Xingcheng. The two of them sat opposite each other, exchanging greetings, and then Lin Tianming directly took out fifteen Jade Bottles and passed them to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took a bottle and opened it, his breathing becoming hurried at once. Even though he knew he would eventually see the real Foundation Establishment Pills and was also preparing to exchange Merit Points for them, the sight of these actual elixirs still thrilled him immensely. Seeing Lin Xingcheng''s excited expression, Lin Tianming spoke up, "Uncle, out of the fifteen portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, seven have been refined. The rest will be continued after my alchemy skills have further improved." After speaking, he passed a storage bag containing the remaining eight portions of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took some time to calm down before taking the storage bag and checking its contents. He then said, "The fifteen Foundation Establishment Pills you''ve given are for the clan, fulfilling the requirements. These remaining eight portions of materials, strictly speaking, belong to you personally." Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn''t refuse and said, "These Spiritual Medicine Materials are extremely valuable and unsafe to carry on me. I will leave them with the clan for safekeeping and will come to collect them when I plan to refine Foundation Establishment Pills." After he spoke, Lin Xingcheng put away the storage bag and personally assured that he would take good care of the materials and report honestly to the Clan Leader. Lin Tianming nodded, and after a few more casual words, he said his goodbyes and left. Watching Lin Tianming depart, Lin Xingcheng hurriedly took the Foundation Establishment Pills that Lin Tianming had brought to the Clan Elders'' Assembly to report in person. He soon arrived at the Elders'' Council Hall. At that moment, Lin Shihua was discussing something with several clan members. After giving a few instructions, he turned around. Seeing Lin Xingcheng''s arrival, Lin Shihua seemed a bit surprised, chuckled, and asked, "Xingcheng, what brings you here today? It''s not yet the day for the monthly report, is it?" Lin Xingcheng stepped forward and respectfully bowed, then took out the storage bag Lin Tianming had given him and handed it to Lin Shihua for inspection. Lin Shihua furrowed his brow, wondering what could have happened so recently, but when he saw the Foundation Establishment Pills inside the storage bag, his breathing immediately quickened. Chapter 194 Announcement of News_2 Several breaths of time passed, Lin Shihua calmed down before instructing, "Xingcheng, I will temporarily keep the Foundation Establishment Pill. After I discuss it with the Third Brother and the others, I will message you, and then we can announce the exchange price." "By the Clan Leader''s decree." Lin Xingcheng respectfully complied, then cupped his fist and left the Elders'' Council Hall. At this point, Lin Tianming had already returned to his own cave dwelling. He sat cross-legged in the secret chamber, pondering his next arrangements. Over the past few years, he had been running around everywhere: markets, taking part in secret realms, refining pills for the Luoyun Pavilion and the clan, indeed delaying a lot of time. Now that the Foundation Establishment Pill had been refined, there were enough for the clan to use for a very long time. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next, he should also go into secluded cultivation, practicing Divine Skills in his free time to exert the power of Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. There were still two petals left of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. He planned to fully refine them before going to the back mountain to practice the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. Once the Divine Skills were completely mastered, he could lead the clan''s Monster Hunting Squad to train in the Luoyun Mountain Range, experiencing real combat while doing some things within his ability for the clan. Having made up his mind, he sat up straight, then started to form hand signs and ran the Cultivation Technique for a Grand Circulation. When his state reached its peak, he took out a petal of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and swallowed it. A special energy poured out, and he immediately cycled the Cultivation Technique to refine it into Spiritual Energy, eventually gathering it in the Seven Sea Dantian. Feeling the slowly increasing Spiritual Power within the Seven Sea Dantian, Lin Tianming''s expression was joyful as he continued to refine. In the secret chamber, the even breathing of Lin Tianming could be heard, clearly indicating he had entered a deep state of cultivation. At the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, in the cave dwelling of Lin Shikang. A few Xing Clan Members of the Shi generation were sitting together chatting casually, with more than a dozen Jade Bottles placed in front of them¡ªthese were the Foundation Establishment Pills that Lin Tianming had refined. At the moment, the few of them had smiles on their faces, looking quite excited. Lin Shihua picked up a Foundation Establishment Pill, examined it in his hand, and then asked, "The Foundation Establishment Pills that Tianming refined are of good quality. Now, there are also a few people in the clan who are prepared to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. How should these pills be distributed, and at what price shall they be exchanged?" After speaking, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, "In the Qianchuan Market auctions, a Foundation Establishment Pill basically goes for around thirty thousand Spirit Stones each. This price is not small pressure for those younger clan members; I''m afraid the vast majority of the clanspeople won''t be able to offer that much." Hearing this, Lin Shigong also began to voice his opinion. "Indeed, thirty thousand Spirit Stones is not a small amount. When I exchanged for a Minor Foundation Building Pill, I took out all the Spirit Stones I had and sold quite a few treasures before I could afford the Spirit Stones for the exchange. Those younger generations who have been cultivating for decades would still find it unaffordable, even if they took out everything they had." As his words ended, Lin Shihua also spoke up, "Yes, I suggest we adjust the exchange prices of all treasures. In the past, the Hall of Merit used to buy them below market price and sold them at the same price. We resorted to this last-ditch strategy because the clan was too poor." "Now that the clan is better than before, with extra income, let''s also make an adjustment. Whether buying or exchanging, we will use the market price as the standard. For high-value treasures like the Foundation Establishment Pill, we will sell it at 80% of the price to reduce the pressure on the younger generations as much as possible." Hearing the suggestions discussed by the few, Lin Shikang gave it some thought before speaking, "I have no objections. On top of that, we can make some further adjustments. Those clanspeople who do not have enough Spirit Stones can first pay more than half of the Stones, and the remaining half can be repaid slowly over time." "That''s good, the young ones won''t have any worries now," Lin Shilu chuckled. Hearing this, the rest of the group smiled knowingly and decided on the matter. Then, Lin Shikang spoke again. "In half a year, Tianfeng and Tianhong''s three-year term will be up," Lin Shikang said. "Those two should also be close to meeting the conditions for impacting the Foundation Establishment stage. It''s time to call them back and prepare for their Foundation Establishment." "Then, which clanspeople should we send to Qianchuan Market for some experience?" Lin Shihua asked. After contemplating for a moment, Lin Shikang opened his mouth and said, "Tian Qin and Tian Yue, the two girls, are quite good. One is an alchemist, and the other is a talisman maker. Their cultivation is not low, and with Xing Ping leading in the market, and the Luoyun Pavilion increasingly stable, they can indeed go there and prepare for Foundation Establishment." Upon hearing this, several people nodded. The two golden flowers of the family had considerable cultivation and possessed not-to-be-snubbed skills. After cultivating for so many years, apart from joining the Monster Hunting Squad into the Luoyun Mountain Range, they had never gone out to gain experience. Taking this opportunity to visit Qianchuan Market was indeed a good choice. Lin Shihua chuckled and stored all the Foundation Establishment Pills, then said, "Alright, I''ll choose some of the clanspeople to go with Tian Yue in half a year to Qianchuan Market to replace Tianfeng and the others." "At that time, let Tian Ming escort them to Qianchuan Market and bring back Tianfeng and the rest." "Hmm, let''s arrange it this way," Lin Shikang nodded and said with a smile. Once the conversation was finished, they chatted idly for a few moments and then left, each returning to their own cave dwellings. The next day, outside the main halls of the family''s major institutions, notices posted attracted many clanspeople to gather around. Previously, the news about the White Jade Grass was known only to a few of the family''s upper echelons. But now, the news about the Foundation Establishment Pills was made public, as was the adjusted exchange price at the Hall of Merit. The two explosive pieces of news quickly spread throughout the entire family, causing a great commotion. Outside the major institutions, the gathered clanspeople were excited and discussed the news about the Foundation Establishment Pills. The news about the Foundation Establishment Pills had all the clanspeople thrilled. With these pills, the Xing clan members saw reignited hopes for achieving Foundation Establishment. Previously, although there were three Minor Foundation Building Pills left, those were allocated to the Tian clan members. With Lin Xingping''s successful Foundation Establishment, the Xing clan members had already used up their quota. But now, with the even more effective Foundation Establishment Pills available without any exchange restrictions, as long as clanspeople reached Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage and were under a hundred years old, they could exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Under such circumstances, for those clanspeople above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, a mere decade or so of diligent cultivation could give them hope to breakthrough. Moreover, the Foundation Establishment Pill was priced at an exchange rate of 24,000 spirit stones, a price that brought even more joy to the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople of the family. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire Before, many were worried they might meet the required cultivation level but couldn''t gather enough spirit stones to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill, causing unnecessary delays. Now, with an 80% discount on the pill and the option to pre-pay half the price, meaning just 12,000 spirit stones, they could exchange for the pill in advance. With the family''s twice-increased salaries, the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople now had the capability to accumulate spirit stones. For those clanspeople at the Eighth or Ninth Levels of Qi Refinement, gathering seven or eight thousand spirit stones was not difficult at all. With some borrowed spirit stones, they could quickly gather enough for the advance payment. As expected, right after the announcement regarding the exchange of Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Xingzhi was the first to find Lin Xingcheng, easily producing 12,000 spirit stones and exchanging them on the spot for the first Foundation Establishment Pill. Under the envious gaze of his fellow clanspeople, he accepted the precious pill, equally excited and ready to begin preparations for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, ready to impact the stage whenever conditions permitted. Besides Lin Xingzhi, Lin Xingcheng had also reached the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refining and was the second to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, he had just broken through to the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refining; he would need at least two to three years to consolidate before attempting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. The remaining clanspeople above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement were all like chickens injected with adrenaline, preparing to cultivate crazily, as well as accumulate the 12,000 spirit stones necessary to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Instantly, the entire family was once again caught up in a frenzy of cultivation and training, all striving desperately to advance their cultivation and accumulate spirit stones, making preparations for the future. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming knew nothing of this, still immersed in his secluded cultivation. Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_1 Three months hurried by. Inside the practice room, Lin Tianming sat upright on the cushion and then opened his eyes. "Huu huu..." He exhaled a breath of foul air, then stood up and exited the secret chamber, ending his three-month cultivation. During these three months, the last two petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus he had left were also consumed and refined; thanks to his hard cultivation, his cultivation became even more solid. Although he was still far from reaching the Foundation Building Fourth Level, he was still immensely satisfied with this speed. The reason he was emerging now was to practice his Divine Skills, as mastering them soon would increase his strength a bit more. Having made up his mind, he left his cave dwelling and flew towards the rear mountain. In a short while, he arrived at the valley where he had practiced his Divine Skills before. Not far from the Purple Gold Eagle''s cave, Lin Tianming called out, but for a long period, there was no response from the Purple Gold Eagle. It seemed that the Purple Gold Eagle was sleeping or perhaps at a critical moment of breaking through to the Second Order. Lin Tianming didn''t disturb it; he chose another valley not too far away and relatively quiet and began practicing his Divine Skills there. In the valley, Lin Tianming was bare-chested, revealing his explosive muscles and aesthetically-pleasing lines, drenched in sweat. He formed a Single-handed Seal, and the Law Decree slammed into the Tiangang Sword. "Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword, strike!" In an instant, the surface of the Tiangang Sword in his hand glowed brightly, transforming into a phantom shadow, shooting towards a large tree a thousand feet away. "Puff..." A loud noise rang out as the half yard thick tree exploded from the middle and then fell, creating a deep pit on the ground. Lin Tianming leaped over, and seeing the tree that was easily broken, he revealed a contemplative expression. The power of the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword was truly formidable, definitely the strongest Divine Skill he possessed currently. However, it consumed a lot of Spiritual Power to execute, and the casting speed wasn''t fast enough; the Sword Qi was easy for the enemy to dodge. But this was just the beginning; he was still not very accustomed to it, after practicing more, he should be able to bring it to the Minor Achievement Realm and use it in combat. With these thoughts, he was not at all discouraged; on the contrary, he was full of confidence. Lin Tianming retreated a hundred yards, and then once again he wielded the Tiangang Sword, beginning to practice his Divine Skills repeatedly. Each time he would deplete all the Spiritual Power in his body, then meditate and cultivate until he fully recovered, then start practicing again. Time flew by, and another two months had passed. In the valley, Lin Tianming was sweating profusely, practicing the Tiangang Sword Qi over and over again. The Tiangang Sword in his hand flashed with silver light, turning into a phantom that streaked toward a large tree a thousand yards away. "Bang..." After a loud explosion, the entire giant tree burst apart, turning into scattered wood chips, floating through the valley like celestial flowers. Lin Tianming ceased his practice; although he appeared quite exhausted, he still had a satisfied smile on his face. After two months of arduous practice, not stepping out of the valley once, practicing Divine Skills, and waiting for the Purple Gold Eagle to break through. Unsure of how many times he had practiced, but with his efforts, the casting speed of the Tiangang Sword Qi had greatly improved, and its power and accuracy had also significantly increased, clearly reaching the Minor Achievement Realm. The current Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword, with its triple overlay, was exceptionally powerful. Having reached the Minor Achievement Realm, it was more than enough to handle cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and if he met slower enemies, he could easily kill them. Lin Tianming was very pleased, stored the Tiangang Sword away, and prepared to meditate and restore the nearly depleted Spiritual Power in his body. As he was about to turn around, a sharp screeching sound spread throughout the valley, familiar yet piercing. At the same time, an aura of the Foundation Establishment Stage rushed towards him. "The Purple Gold Eagle is breaking through!" Upon hearing this commotion, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, not minding his fatigue, and flew towards the valley where the Purple Gold Eagle''s nest was located. Soon, he arrived at the valley. By then, the Purple Gold Eagle had already left its nest, emanating a strong presence. Seeing Lin Tianming come, it was extremely excited, dragging its huge body unsteadily towards him. Looking over, many feathers from the Purple Gold Eagle had fallen onto the ground, and its expression looked somewhat listless. However, from the eyes of the Purple Gold Eagle, there was clearly an excited look. Apparently, after several months of slumber, the Purple Gold Eagle had successfully advanced to Second Order Lower Grade. Seeing the successful breakthrough of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming was very happy. He walked up, took several sections of the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s body from his storage bag, and tossed them to the Purple Gold Eagle. Then he took out several First Order Demon Beast Inner Pills and let the Purple Gold Eagle swallow them all at once. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Purple Gold Eagle swallowed the snake meat and Demon Beast Inner Pills in one gulp, affectionately nuzzling his clothes, appearing very excited. Lin Tianming patted the beak of the Purple Gold Eagle and then said, Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire "Xiao Diao, you, this bird, have finally broken through, and it wasn''t in vain that I invested so many resources in you!" Hearing this, the Purple Gold Eagle cried out grievously, as if to say that for a Demonic Beast, breaking through was even harder than for a cultivator. Lin Tianming chuckled, naturally not about to argue with a bird. Just then, several figures flew towards them; it was Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and two Qi Refining Stage clanspeople from the Enforcement Hall. Seeing them approach, it was obvious they were alerted by the disturbance caused by the Purple Gold Eagle''s breakthrough, and so they came to check. Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagles Breakthrough_2 Lin Tianming immediately approached and saluted the several people with clasped hands. Lin Shilu waved his hand, and next to him Lin Shihua, wearing a smile, then began to speak: "Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle has broken through to Second Order, this is indeed a cause for great celebration!" "Hehe..." Lin Tianming chuckled and waved his hand as he spoke: "Xiao Diao has indeed made quite a few contributions over the years. I used two Second Order Monster Beast Inner Pellets and added some of the body of a Green-Spotted Poison Python, finally helping it break through to the Second Order. It was worth the effort of nurturing it so diligently!" Hearing this, Lin Shihua chuckled and said: "Hmm... the Purple Gold Eagle indeed played a significant role for our clan, consider this Yunshang Grass as a reward for it from our family!" With that said, he took out a water blue Spirit Grass and handed it to Lin Tianming. Yunshang Grass is a Second Order High Grade Spiritual Medicine Material with a stabilizing effect on the injuries of Demonic Beasts; though it is of little use to a cultivator, for a Demonic Beast, it is an excellent healing medicine. Upon seeing the Yunshang Grass, Lin Tianming''s expression was one of delighted surprise; with this grass, the Purple Gold Eagle could recover from its injuries quickly and stabilize its newly advanced rank. "Then, I shall thank the family on behalf of the Purple Gold Eagle!" Lin Tianming said, cupping his fist in gratitude. "Oh, and Tianming, in a month''s time, the Purple Gold Eagle''s injuries should be mostly healed. At that time, you''ll represent the family on a trip to escort Tian Qin and the others to Qianchuan Market and collect the past year''s Spirit Stone earnings from Luoyun Pavilion to bring back with your brother Tianfeng and the others!" Hearing Lin Shihua''s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed to the task. With the Purple Gold Eagle''s breakthrough, its flying speed was certain to increase significantly. The Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword had also been cultivated to the Minor Achievement Realm. Presently having no pressing matters, Lin Tianming found it convenient to make the trip for the family, as coming and going would not take more than a month. Seeing Lin Tianming agree promptly, Lin Shilu chuckled and said: "Tianming, hand over your Green Scale Shield to me. It was hastily repaired during our last venture into the secret realm. Since you''re going to Qianchuan Market, I''ll take the time to fully repair it for you. In case any mishap occurs, it will provide you with some safety." The Green Scale Shield had proved quite useful during their venture into the secret realm. After several major battles, it had only been simply repaired once. However, it could currently exhibit only about eighty percent of its defensive power. With Lin Shilu''s repairs, this trip would surely be safer. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and began to express his thanks graciously. "I thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather." Afterward, he slapped his storage bag and hurriedly handed the Green Scale Shield to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu accepted the shield. The two did not stay long and, after a few more words of instruction, left the valley with the patrolling clan members. As he watched them leave, Lin Tianming held the Yunshang Grass in hand and instructed: "Xiao Diao, this Yunshang Grass can help stabilize your realm and injuries quickly. Take this medicine, and after one month''s time, we''ll be heading to Qianchuan Market again." The Purple Gold Eagle looked at the blue Yunshang Grass with an almost instinctive longing, and as soon as Lin Tianming tossed it, the eagle swallowed it immediately. After swallowing the Yunshang Grass, the Purple Gold Eagle gave an excited cry and, with a flap of its massive wings, easily stirred up a whirlwind in the valley. "This silly bird..." Watching the excited Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming lightly scolded with a laugh and then gave a few more instructions before leaving the valley. Having returned to his own cave dwelling, Lin Tianming once again entered the secret chamber. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Sitting cross-legged, he took out many jade bottles from his storage bag, all filled with Monster Beast Souls obtained from the venture into the secret realm, tallying up to well over a hundred. Most of these Monster Beast Souls were those of Tianluan Turtles, some of which he had slain together with Lin Shilu. Though fewer in number, they were basically all Second Order Demonic Beasts. Among the souls taken from the Tianluan Turtle group, the Second Order ones were few, numbering only about twenty; the rest were First Order. Otherwise, amid such chaos, the stronger Monster Beast Souls would have already been targeted by other cultivators. He saw no need to fight over such little things. Besides, among these hundred-plus Monster Beast Souls, the most powerful were those of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, which were also the rare Second Order Late-Stage Monster Beast Souls. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the multitude of glowing orbs, within which were fierce and translucent shadows, Lin Tianming''s expression was joyful as he took out the Thousand Beast Banner, preparing to seal all the Monster Beast Souls inside to further enhance the artifact''s power. He tossed the Thousand Beast Banner into the air, sprayed a mouthful of essence blood onto the Five Rod Flag, and then pinched a spell, sending strands of Spiritual Light blasting onto the flags. In an instant, the Five Rod Flags shone brightly and started to revolve around him at an incredibly fast speed. Without pause, Lin Tianming continued to throw Monster Beast Souls at the spinning Thousand Beast Banner and frequently issued sealing inscriptions with his hands, merging them onto the banner. The Thousand Beast Banner seemed quite spirited, joyfully swallowing the Monster Beast Souls and merging them into the vast pool of souls. Wearing a pleased smile, Lin Tianming once again took out a Monster Beast Soul from a jade bottle and skillfully sealed it within the Thousand Beast Banner. After more than ten days, the hundred-plus Monster Beast Souls had all been sealed. At this point, the Thousand Beast Banner radiated layers of Spiritual Light, looking as though its power and spirituality had once again increased. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming looked at the Five Rod Flags circling around him, displaying special luminescence, and then showed a satisfied expression. Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_3 Before this, the Thousand Beast Banner already contained the souls of several hundred demonic beasts. Although the overall strength of the beast souls was rather weak, the addition of this batch of powerful souls greatly enhanced the power of the banner, which also possessed immense potential for further growth. "If this Thousand Beast Banner had tens of thousands of demonic beasts within it, how great would its power be? Maybe it could even advance to the level of a Second Order Superior," Lin Tianming mused to himself, envisioning the day when the number of beast souls in the Thousand Beast Banner would break through ten thousand. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire After a short while, he collected his thoughts, tidied up the messy cultivation room, and then settled back onto the cushion. There were still twenty days left before the trip to Qianchuan Market. By now, he had completed cultivating his Divine Skills, the Purple Gold Eagle had broken through to the Second Order, and the Thousand Beast Banner had been re-cultivated. Most of the preparations were done. With nothing else to do, he decided to engage in a brief period of cultivation, waiting for the day of departure to draw near. Having made up his mind, he took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. As the elixir entered his body, it turned into a furious energy that raced along the pathways of his meridians. Soon, the familiar feeling of intense pain arrived. His face grew pale, and large beads of sweat dripped onto the bluestone floor. "This damned cultivation technique is practically torture!" Lin Tianming cursed internally, but he quickly regained his composure. After all, when he had decided to cultivate this technique, it had been made clear to him, and it was his own choice. With the great strength it provided, enduring such inhuman pain seemed worth it. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He gritted his teeth against the pain until his body was nearly numb, then quickly took out a Dragon Bone Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it. As soon as the Dragon Bone Pill was consumed, he began to refine the energy contained within the elixir. Not long after, as the medicinal power of the Dragon Bone Pill spread, the pain in his body began to ease, returning to normal shortly after. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, then concentrated on refining the energy and strengthening his physique. The twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Tianming left his dwelling and came to the valley where the cave of the Purple Gold Eagle was located. As soon as he appeared, before he could call out, the Purple Gold Eagle had already flown out of the cave and was heading towards him, clearly having sensed his arrival. Looking at the Purple Gold Eagle now, its feathers were even brighter than before. Previously, only a small patch on its head had golden-yellow feathers, but now its entire head was covered with them, giving it a rather majestic appearance. Moreover, the current aura of the Purple Gold Eagle was quite formidable, giving him the impression that it was no weaker than those demonic beasts that had been in the Second Order for a long time. Lin Tianming smiled and, after forming a spell with his hands, shot a fireball towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The sudden appearance of the massive fireball, filled with terrifying heat and explosive power, would have turned the large Purple Gold Eagle into a roasted bird if hit directly. The Purple Gold Eagle showed no panic. It flapped its huge wings, retreating a bit, and spat out successive large fireballs that collided with the fireball Lin Tianming had fired. "Boom boom boom..." The two fireballs collided in the sky, instantly exploding into a sea of fire that rained down, burning all the trees on the hillside to ashes. For a time, the entire hill became barren. The excited Purple Gold Eagle let out a triumphant cry, evidently seeking praise for showcasing its strength. However, before it could delight in its achievement, Lin Tianming charged over. His skinny fists, seemingly harmless, smashed directly against the Purple Gold Eagle''s body. In an instant, the mournful cries of the Purple Gold Eagle echoed as its large body was sent flying, crashing into a small hill and leveling the entire mound in an instant. Flapping its wings a couple of times, just as the Purple Gold Eagle was about to rise, Lin Tianming''s teasing voice rang out. "Heh heh... You big yellow bird, just after breaking through to the Second Order, let''s see how you handle this!" Lin Tianming chuckled and struck the Purple Gold Eagle with his clenched fist. Soon, the valley was filled with the bird''s pitiful cries. At that moment, several clan members from a nearby patrol heard the huge commotion caused by the exploding fireballs and quickly rushed over to investigate. Seeing Lin Tianming beating up the massive Purple Gold Eagle stunned the patrolling clan members, and their admiration for him deepened. The watchers stayed where they were, not daring to get close or interrupt. One of them, a Sixth Level of Qi Refinement clansman, observing the battered Purple Gold Eagle, said to his companions: "Let''s move on. Tian Ming seems to be sparring with the Purple Gold Eagle. With his strength, no accidents are likely to happen." "That''s right... We still have our patrol duties. Let''s leave," another clan member replied. With that, the five of them engaged in Sword Flight and quickly disappeared into the mountain ranges. A tea-time later, the wails in the valley finally ceased. By this point, the Purple Gold Eagle''s feathers were disheveled, many on the ground, and its aura had diminished, looking quite sorry for itself. Lin Tianming was also panting heavily, with most of his clothes shredded, revealing his bronze-skinned body, and several long wounds on both his arms and chest, clearly inflicted by the claws of the Purple Gold Eagle. Just moments ago, in the valley, one man and one bird engaged in fierce combat. Lin Tianming had suppressed his strength to the level of Foundation Establishment, fighting dozens of rounds with the Purple Gold Eagle to test its capabilities. Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_4 Even though he had suppressed his cultivation realm, having battled extensively and being a dual cultivator of body and law, Lin Tianming was bolstered by his strong life force and experience. The Purple Gold Eagle was simply no match and spent most of the time on the receiving end of the attack. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire However, the Purple Gold Eagle wasn''t weak either. After taking beating after beating, it finally erupted in a rage, unleashing a fierce counterattack that even managed to wound Lin Tianming. At this moment, both man and bird stopped fighting and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air heavily. "Not bad, Xiao Diao. To have sparred with me until now and not fallen behind much," Lin Tianming said with a chuckle. He then took out a piece of the Green-Spotted Poison Python''s carcass and tossed it to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle quickly stood up, clamped the snake meat in its beak, and gobbled it down without a tremor, soon emitting a satisfied sound. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly. The attacking talents of flying monster beasts lie not in close combat but in their long-range attack capabilities and rapid flight. The Purple Gold Eagle''s innate physique wasn''t bad either. It must have consumed a large amount of elixirs and heavenly treasures, making its body extremely formidable. Its offensive and defensive power were both quite impressive and obviously, it wasn''t any weaker than those monster beasts that specialized in close combat. After his assessment, the Purple Gold Eagle could stand toe to toe with him in close combat despite his suppressed cultivation level, and didn''t fall behind much. Given this, the strength of the Purple Gold Eagle was undoubtedly stronger than a cultivator who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and it might not necessarily lose even if it faced a Second Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator alone. In this regard, Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied with the growth rate and strength of the Purple Gold Eagle; all the resources he had expended to help it break through were not in vain. After a while, Lin Tianming recovered his strength. With a casual wave of his hand, he changed into a clean, green shirt and then rose to walk towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle immediately stood up and rubbed Lin Tianming''s clothes with its beak, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud. "Come, take me for a flight around, let''s see how fast you are," Lin Tianming said and leapt onto the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, standing there quietly. No sooner had he settled than the Purple Gold Eagle began flapping its gigantic wings and soared into the sky, flying towards the distant mountain range. Lin Tianming stood on the Purple Gold Eagle''s back, circling around the vast Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory on its back. Feeling the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle as it flew, it was more than three times faster than before its breakthrough. Lin Tianming thought to himself that with this speed, he could travel from his family to the Qianchuan Market in five days at full speed, which was beyond reproach. At least in the Wei Kingdom, apart from flying artifacts and more powerful flying spiritual birds, there was nothing faster than the Purple Gold Eagle. While Second Order Demonic Beasts were perhaps not rare within Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom, flying Second Order Demonic Beasts were extremely scarce. Besides the Golden Elixir Forces possessing varying numbers of Second Order flying spiritual birds, only a few top-tier Foundation Establishing families owned them. Not only did the Lin Family possess a late-phase Second Order Soul-Eating Spider, but they also had an early-phase Second Order Purple Gold Eagle. Additionally, they had as many as eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators with a projected exponential growth in the coming decades. From this angle, as long as a Golden Core cultivator emerged within the family, they could ascend to the forefront of the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. With this thought, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement, and his blood boiled unconsciously. Unknowingly, the Purple Gold Eagle had already soared past the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain with its wings that could blot out the sun, and the winds stirred by its flapping swiftly caught the attention of the tribe members. "Look... that''s Tianming and the early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle," an excited Xing Clan member shouted. A young tribesman, looking up at Lin Tianming in the sky, exclaimed with an admiring expression, "It''s Sixth Brother; he''s so strong! His own strength is formidable, and he even has a Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as his spiritual pet." At the foot of the peak, many tribespeople lifted their heads to gaze at the Purple Gold Eagle and Lin Tianming in the sky, their faces filled with excitement and admiration. The crowd stopped in their tracks, looking up at the pair in the sky, and burst into discussions. A Fifth Level of Qi Refinement Xing Clan Cultivator looked up at Lin Tianming above him and then spoke to his companion beside him: "Tianming has been in the Foundation Establishment stage for about five years now, hasn''t he? With his talent, he should have reached the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment by now," he said. Hearing these words, a middle-aged cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement immediately responded, "Xing Ya, you''re really underestimating our clan''s Hidden Dragon. Although none of us know Tian Ming''s exact level of cultivation, judging by his past speed of cultivation, he must be at least at the second layer of Foundation Establishment by now, and there''s even a great chance he''s reached the third layer." Upon hearing this, the surrounding clan members gasped in surprise, and soon someone else spoke up. "No way? How old is Tian Ming, just over thirty years old, and already so formidable?" "Hehe..." The cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement furrowed his brows, a smug smile spreading on his face as he spoke: "You need to realize that Tian Ming was only twenty-six when he established his foundation. It''s impossible for any of us to break through two layers in five years, but for him, it''s entirely possible." Before he had even finished speaking, everyone took a deep breath. A youth under twenty from the clan bowed to the speaker and then asked: "Uncle, does Sixth Brother really cultivate so quickly? At this rate, if everything goes well, wouldn''t he be able to attempt the Golden Core Stage within a hundred years?" These words from the young cultivator aroused the interest of everyone present, and a cultivator at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement also interjected a word. "Yes, assuming he''s now at the second layer of Foundation Establishment and has nearly sixty years left, there''s great hope that he''ll reach the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment," they said. At that moment, the cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement gestured with his hand, and everyone ceased their discussions to listen attentively to his words. Seeing this, he resolutely said, "In my opinion, under smooth conditions, Tian Ming has at least a 70% chance of reaching the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment before the age of one hundred, and even breaking through to the Golden Core Stage is highly possible." "What?" The gaping mouths of several people revealed their shock. Seeing this, a clan member at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, excited, then said: "The Golden Core Stage? If that day really comes, our clan could restore its former glory and once again become the sixth Golden Elixir Force in the Wei Kingdom." At that time, aside from those Xing clan members above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, everyone was greatly astonished. The older clan members had almost all witnessed Lin Tianming''s meteoric rise and had immense confidence in him. As for the younger Tian clan members, apart from a few who were about the same age as Lin Tianming, many had never even seen him in person and only heard about the clan''s Hidden Dragon from their elders. But today, not only did they witness his true face, but also heard a great deal about his feats from the Xing clan members, making their admiration for him grow even stronger. Seeing the worshipful gazes of the Tian clan members, the Xing clan members spoke seriously: "You youngsters should take Tian Ming as your example. It''s not realistic to say you''ll surpass him, but as the clan''s foundation grows stronger and the rewards and benefits improve, it''s absolutely possible for you to break through to Foundation Establishment with a bit more diligence." "Yes... Back when the clan''s foundations were poor, the same-level rewards barely reached half of what they are now, and with our lack of talent and no resources, we wasted many years," another member added. "So, the situation is different now. Even those with average talent, as long as they work hard and with the support of the clan''s resources, have a great chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment," they continued. Hearing these words, the young clan members all bowed in thanks, their expressions becoming resolute. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had already soared past over their heads, quickly arriving at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Purple Gold Eagle carried him around the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory for a full quarter of an hour, proving to be much faster than before. This speed excited Lin Tianming. He ordered the Purple Gold Eagle to land on the Bluestone Plaza at the peak, hopped off its back, and made his way to his father''s cave dwelling. The Purple Gold Eagle, without delay, continued flying toward the rear mountain, quickly disappearing from sight. Chapter 196 Leaving_1 ``` It wasn''t long before he arrived at his father''s cave mansion courtyard. Sitting in the courtyard, his mother and younger sister also came out upon hearing the news, and the three of them sat in the yard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Lin Tianming lifted his teacup to taste a sip, and then took out two Second Order talismans and five thousand spirit stones from his storage bag, handing them to Lin Tianyue. "Tianyue, you will be going to Qianchuan Market to gain experience tomorrow, Take these two Second Order talismans, they will make you a bit safer out there!" Seeing the two Second Order talismans in Lin Tianming''s hands, one a Second Order Low Grade Attack Talisman and the other a Second Order Low Grade Defense Talisman, Lin Tianyue''s expression lit up with joy. "Brother... I''m already a First Order Superior Grade talisman maker, and I''ve saved up some spirit stones over the years, I''ll take the talismans, but let''s forget about the spirit stones, I still have quite a few!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming didn''t insist. Although five thousand spirit stones did not mean much to him, relying too much on her brother would not be beneficial for Lin Tianyue''s growth. Thinking this, he didn''t persist and put the spirit stones away. Lin Tianyue took the two Second Order talismans, inspecting them carefully in her hands and showing a look of adoration. As a talisman maker herself, she certainly had seen many Second Order talismans, but Second Order Defense Talismans were rare, and it was perfect that Lin Tianming had given her one, which she could study to perhaps enhance her own talisman-making skills. Seeing Lin Tianyue''s expression, Lin Tianming felt very gratified. Their mother also took out several pieces of Late Stage First Order Demonic Beast skins, and then said meaningfully: "Tianyue, this is your first time going to Qianchuan Market, and you''ll be gone for three years. I can''t compare to your brother and don''t have anything nice to give you, but since you''re a talisman maker, take these beast skins for talisman making!" After speaking, she handed the pieces of beast skin to Lin Tianyue. "Mother, why say such things? Even a single spirit stone is the most precious gift in your daughter''s eyes!" Lin Tianyue spoke joyfully, then took the beast skins from her mother''s hands and placed them into her storage bag. Afterward, the three of them sat together chatting leisurely, and Lin Tianyue spoke up: "Brother, you''ve been in Qianchuan Market for a few years, tell me about the situation there." Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled. Even if his sister hadn''t asked, he still would have told her ¡ª why else had he come so early that day? "Qianchuan Market is one of the two medium-sized markets governed by the Zhenyang Sect of Wei Kingdom, also a renowned existence throughout the entire kingdom, with numerous powerhouses, including Golden Core Cultivators!" Hearing this, Lin Tianyue''s expression brightened with excitement and she looked forward to the trip even more. Lin Tianming didn''t beat around the bush and continued: "Generally speaking, the market is relatively safe, with fighting prohibited inside. There are many Loose Cultivators and countless treasures, and business is extremely prosperous¡ªit really is a paradise for cultivators." As he spoke, Lin Tianming seemed to remember something and said excitedly: "You''re in luck, in half a month''s time, the ten-year market fair will take place!" Hearing about the market fair, Lin Tianyue immediately showed interest. She had attended Luoyun Market''s fair the year before last and witnessed many extraordinary treasures and events, so the thought of a fair was always memorable to her. "A market fair? Is it like the one at Luoyun Market?" Lin Tianyue inquired. As Lin Tianyue asked this, Lin Tianming frowned slightly and then explained: Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The market fair at Qianchuan Market can''t be compared to Luoyun Market''s; not only are there more participants, but the rank of the treasures appearing is also several levels higher. It''s said that even Golden Elixir Experts might participate!" Before he could finish, Lin Tianyue was visibly shocked, clearly overwhelmed by the revelation. Lin Tianming continued to speak: "You think that''s all there is? Qianchuan Market is filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators are countless, and the number of natural treasures is beyond measure. Every market fair draws cultivators from surrounding areas, and even from the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom. With every fair, the number of people in the market easily surpasses tens of thousands!" "A market with tens of thousands of people, that certainly exceeds Luoyun Market!" Lin Tianyue said with emotion upon hearing this. "Brother, how is the Lin Family perceived in Wei Kingdom nowadays?" "How is the business in Luoyun Pavilion?" "Is the competition fierce among the shops inside the market?" One question after another rolled off Lin Tianyue''s tongue, rendering Lin Tianming momentarily speechless. Nevertheless, he didn''t withhold anything, taking an hour to share all he knew. He detailed the forces in Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, the background of the market, and the well-known cultivators and shops inside it, explaining all the crucial information once over. In doing so, Lin Tianyue was no longer completely ignorant and gained a deeper understanding of her family and the Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom, leaving her better prepared to survive on her own without feeling utterly in the dark. Unbeknownst to them, the sky had already darkened. At that moment, Lin Shigong walked in, his expression looking rather excited. Seeing Lin Shigong enter, the three rose to greet him respectfully. Lin Shigong waved his hand and then sat down, and Lin Tianming promptly offered a cup of Spiritual Tea with all due respect. Lin Shigong took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then said to Ren Yuxuan sitting beside him: "Yuxuan, go prepare dinner, let''s give Tianyue a proper send-off!" "Father, please rest, I''ll go prepare the dinner now!" Ren Yuxuan replied respectfully and then headed deeper into the courtyard to prepare dinner for them. Watching their mother leave, Lin Tianming chuckled and asked: ``` Chapter 196 Departure_2 "Grandfather, have you broken through to the second layer of Foundation Establishment?" Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong''s expression slightly changed as he spoke: "You rascal, I haven''t leaked a hint of aura, how did you detect it?" "Hehe... It might seem to you that you haven''t leaked, but at such a close distance, your grandson naturally has a way to sense it," Lin Tianming said with a smile. Seeing this explanation, Lin Shigong furrowed his brows, said nothing more, then took out a defense artifact from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming¡ªit was the Green Scale Shield that Lin Shilu had taken away. Lin Tianming took the Green Scale Shield and casually played with it, then revealed a satisfied smile. After Lin Shilu''s repairs and the addition of some precious treasures, the Green Scale Shield was now thoroughly repaired, its defensive power even stronger than before it was damaged. Seeing this, Lin Shigong also took out two Second Order Talismans and handed them to Lin Tianyue, saying: "Tian Yue, you''re going to the market for three years, and your grandfather doesn''t have much to give. Take these two Second Order Talismans and carry them with you!" "Thank you, Grandfather!" Lin Tianyue quickly thanked him and then took the two talismans from Lin Shigong, revealing an overjoyed smile. "Tian Ming, remember to stop for a night when you pass by Golden Horn Mountain tomorrow and take the opportunity to visit your father!" "Grandfather, rest assured, I will definitely visit Father!" Lin Tianming said. Lin Shigong nodded and started to give long and earnest instructions, no different from when he had set off for Qingfeng Town. After speaking for nearly half an hour, the brother and sister kept nodding their heads, occasionally interjecting a few words. Seeing that Lin Shigong showed no sign of stopping, Lin Tianming helplessly said, "Grandfather... rest assured, Qianchuan Market is not a desolate wilderness. As long as we don''t leave the market, there won''t be any danger!" Seeing Lin Tianming speak up, Lin Tianyue also chimed in. "Yes, Grandfather... with Uncle Xing Ping watching over us in the market, and in case of any unresolved major issue, we can still ask Venerable Ye for help, right!" Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Seeing Lin Tianming and his sister speak to this point, Lin Shigong nodded, his heart somewhat relaxed, and he stopped his relentless talking. Then, Lin Tianming changed the subject, chatted leisurely for a while, and then began to have a meal. Except for Lin Xingrong, who was stationed at Golden Horn Mountain and had not returned, the family of four ate and chatted, the atmosphere very harmonious. After a satisfying meal, the grandfather and grandson left the courtyard of the cave mansion where their mother lived. As the two walked along the road, Lin Shigong took out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming, saying: "The vast resources from these past years have all been collected by the clan. The Clan Leader asked me to pass them to you to bring to Luoyun Pavilion for Xing Ping." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming took the storage bags and inspected them. They indeed contained a huge amount of resources; by his estimate, they were worth nearly a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming put away the storage bags and then said: "Grandfather, this trip coincides with the great assembly period of Qianchuan Market. I shall catch the auction and will need to stay for some days. Adding on the accumulated Spiritual Medicine Materials of Luoyun Pavilion, I have to help with the refinement. After busying with all that, it will take at least a month, but I will return with Tianfeng and the others within two months at most." "Hm... Try not to cause trouble and come back early!" After Lin Shigong gave his advice, the two went their separate ways, each heading back to their own cave mansion. In no time, Lin Tianming was back at his cave mansion. Instead of continuing with his cultivation, he lay straight on his stone bed, ready to rest well for the night. Soon, he fell into a deep sleep, snores filling the room. The next morning, at the clan''s entrance gate plaza. Five clan members were already waiting there, including both men and women. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were among them. Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi were also present. As members of the clan selected to go to Qianchuan Market, the pair, being of an older generation and age, were clearly part of a team composed of middle-aged clan members. The remaining clan member was Lin Tianhu. In just over a decade, his cultivation had soared, reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. At such a speed, even the well-resourced Lin Tianyue was slower, which was quite inconceivable. Apart from Lin Tianhu, who was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, the other four were at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, making it a team of no weak strength. This lineup was in no way inferior to the group of clan members like Lin Tianfeng and the others. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They chatted with each other while waiting for Lin Tianming to arrive. After a short while, Lin Tianming arrived on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, landing before everyone. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, the group greeted him with formalities. Lin Tianming laughed and exchanged greetings with them. "Uncles, second sister, and Tianhu, Tian Ming greets you all!" Seeing how polite Lin Tianming was, Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi did not dare to be casual. They immediately clasped their fists and bowed: "Tian Ming, there''s no need for such courtesy. In terms of cultivation, we two cannot compare to you!" Tian Ming joked in response, "Uncle speaks jestingly. We are a family, not a sect. The rules of the clan must not be overstepped. Even if Tian Ming were a Golden Core Cultivator, he would still regard himself as a junior in the presence of family elders." Hearing this, the expressions of Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi eased, and they started chatting casually with Lin Tianming. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and then spoke up: "The hour is late. Let''s set out!" "Yes!" they replied in unison. Although privately they observed seniority, Lin Tianming was courteous, but as the leader and the highest cultivator in the team, even the elders had to obey. Chapter 196 Departure_3 Lin Tianming nodded and led several people towards the Protective Clan Formation, with the Purple Gold Eagle following behind. They quickly arrived at the edge of the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming took out the Family Token, cast a Law Decree, and a gap opened in the light screen of the Protective Clan Formation. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire The group leaped through, exiting the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the formation, they all jumped onto the back of the massive Purple Gold Eagle. Lin Tianming gave a command, and the eagle immediately soared into the air, flying into the clouds a thousand feet high, before it turned into a black shadow, heading towards Qianchuan Market in the north. Seated on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, everyone settled into a lotus position, forming a small circle. The speed of the Purple Gold Eagle was incredibly fast, as fierce winds swept past them and the surrounding mountains gradually receded into the distance. Lin Tianming looked over the group and then began to talk, sharing basic information about Qianchuan Market and the Cultivation World. Everyone listened intently, afraid to miss any information. As Lin Tianming spoke, various strange and unusual questions were raised by the others. Lin Tianming patiently explained everything, not holding back any answer he knew. Soon, thanks to his meticulous explanations, everyone''s understanding of the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World and Qianchuan Market had deepened, and aside from the already knowledgeable Lin Tianyue, the rest had learned a great deal. A day later, the Purple Gold Eagle had already appeared above Golden Horn Mountain. The clan members responsible for patrolling saw the figure of the Purple Gold Eagle and immediately sent a message to Lin Xingrong, then waited at the mountain gate. The Purple Gold Eagle landed at the mountain gate. Everyone jumped down and greeted Lin Xingyou. After exchanging pleasantries and discussing some family affairs, Lin Tianming asked, "Uncle, has my father finished his secluded cultivation?" "Tianming, I''ve already sent a message to your father, and he has replied that he''s on his way here!" Before the voice faded, Lin Xingrong''s figure appeared before the group. Lin Tianming and his sister Lin Tianyue immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "We greet father!" Lin Xingrong chuckled as he saw his children, helped them up, and then greeted the other clan members behind them. After chatting casually for a few moments, Lin Xingrong turned to Lin Xingyou and instructed, "Let''s rest here for the day. Xingyou, immediately have someone prepare the evening meal. Tonight we''ll take the opportunity to gather." Hearing the order, Lin Xingyou nodded. "Good! This is a rare chance, I''ll immediately send a message to the clan members who aren''t in seclusion. Tonight, a grand gathering!" Then the group headed towards the interior of Golden Horn Mountain, quickly arriving at Lin Xingrong''s Cave Mansion District. That evening, over ten clan members who guarded Golden Horn Mountain gathered with the six people from Lin Tianming''s group to toast and enjoy themselves, creating a harmonious atmosphere. The discussion covered everything from cultivation exchanges and the Four Arts of Cultivation to the odd tales and gossip of the Cultivation World. They also organized a small clan cultivator exchange meeting, as those who usually stayed on Golden Horn Mountain seldom returned to their family, often running out of Spiritual and Elixir Pills. As alchemists, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue naturally had a good stock of pills, which they sold on the spot at friendly prices to their clansmen, making everyone very happy. As the night fell and the lively banquet ended, Lin Xingyou led everyone away to arrange accommodations for them. Naturally, Lin Tianming and his sister stayed overnight in Lin Xingrong''s Cave Mansion. In Lin Xingrong''s courtyard, Lin Tianming recounted everything about the Foundation Establishment Pill and the reforms made by the family, which delighted his father immensely. Then Lin Tianming produced two bottles of elixirs and handed them to his father, claiming they were from grandfather to be given to him. Lin Xingrong didn''t make a fuss, took the two bottles of elixirs, and began to give instructions. In the past, Lin Xingrong was reticent with Lin Tianming, but as his son grew increasingly mature and had surpassed him in cultivation, he completely let go of his worries. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianyue, as a woman, had hardly ever left the family during her more than ten years of cultivation, and the furthest she had gone was to Luoyun Market, and that too, under the supervision of family elders. Given this, she had virtually no experience in handling matters, which made it hard for him to rest at ease. In response to her father''s words of advice, Lin Tianyue confidently assured him that she would be careful. Lin Tianming also spoke up to reassure their father, finally putting Lin Xingrong''s mind at ease. "Well, if Yue''er is confident, then as a father, I am relieved!" "You''ll leave tomorrow, and I won''t see you off. Just be careful, both of you!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue nodded, bowed to their father, and then each returned to their rooms to rest. Once in his room, Lin Tianming immediately fell asleep, preparing to fully rest up for the journey ahead tomorrow. Early the next morning. It was just getting light, and the morning glow, piercing through the dense morning fog, shone onto the main peak of Golden Horn Mountain. Occasionally some mundane wild beasts would shuttle back and forth in front of the mountain gate. In silence, Lin Tianming and his group of six left Golden Horn Mountain, carried by the Purple Gold Eagle as they flew towards Qianchuan Market in the north. With the eagle flying at full strength, their speed was incredibly fast. The mountains, with their layers upon layers, whizzed by below, while the Gang Wind in the high altitude tossed their hair about. Sitting upright on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming''s Divine Sense covered the surrounding area, capturing every rustle of grass, making him appear as steadfast as a bamboo, unaffected by the roaring Gang Wind. The others, however, were struggling. Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi momentarily lost focus but quickly stabilized their postures. Being relatively older, they had gone through numerous battles and had plenty of experience, so they adapted quickly to the Purple Gold Eagle''s sudden burst of speed. Lin Tianhu might have had the lowest cultivation, but he seemed to have good experience. His Spiritual Power flowed slowly through him, and he quickly stabilized his posture, earning a new level of respect from Lin Tianming. Chapter 196 Departure_4 Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were buffeted by the strong Gang Wind, which made them lose their composure as they had not yet adapted. Lin Tianyue steadied herself and said indignantly, "Hmph, that darn Xiao Diao, why wasn''t it this fast yesterday? It suddenly sped up, making this young lady look bad." Her words made everyone burst into laughter. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming said, "We weren''t in a hurry to travel quickly yesterday. With its breakthrough to the Second Order, it could easily reach Golden Horn Mountain, so there was no need to fly so fast. Now, we''re headed to Qianchuan Market, and the journey is far. If we flew at the same speed as before, it would delay us a lot of time." Hearing Lin Tianming''s explanation, Lin Tianyue nodded helplessly, and then she sat cross-legged on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, stabilizing herself with her spiritual power without speaking. Each of them stabilized their own postures as the Purple Gold Eagle accelerated greatly, flying northward over numerous mountains and rivers. Time slowly passed by, and several days went by in this manner. In a mountain valley on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, the Purple Gold Eagle descended from the high sky, and Lin Tianming, along with the group, dismounted from its back and gathered together. Thanks to the significant increase in the Purple Gold Eagle''s flying speed, just a few days of travel had smoothly brought them to the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire With a clear route and a smooth journey, no mishaps occurred along the way. Atop a quiet hill, Lin Tianming looked up at the edge of the sky where the outlines of a city could be faintly seen and said to the others, "The city that can be vaguely seen ahead is our destination, Qianchuan Market. Next, we will proceed with Sword Flight. Remember not to cause any trouble and avoid unnecessary problems." "Don''t worry, Tian Ming. We all know the rules of the market, we won''t cause any trouble," Lin Xingqi said with a smile. Lin Tianming nodded. He had already told them this several times, but he just couldn''t help worrying. Seeing that everyone was resolute and their cultivation wasn''t low, and with elders watching over, he said no more and immediately took off into the air, flying towards the entrance of Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianyue and the others quickly followed suit, and the six of them shot towards the market entrance. As they neared the entrance of the market, there were several cultivators flying by on the road, some in groups, others alone, each hastening on their way. Clearly, as the days of the grand market assembly were drawing near, loose cultivators and family-team cultivators alike from the outskirts of Qianchuan Market were all rushing to participate and witness the grandeur of the event. Lin Tianming and his group had disguised themselves and were heading towards the market entrance as a team. At the entrance, there was already a long line of cultivators waiting to enter the city. When Lin Tianming and his party of six arrived, they immediately attracted a great deal of attention from the other cultivators. Their group was too eye-catching. All six members had high cultivation levels, while those in line were all at the Qi Refinement Realm, unable to discern the true cultivation of Lin Tianming''s group. But it was certain that they were a family team, presumably comprised of cultivators at least at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Under such circumstances, many cultivators were secretly guessing the background of this team. Lin Tianming, seeing this, paid no mind and led his group straight past the line of cultivators to the Market City Supervisor who was collecting the entrance fee. Now that he was quite wealthy, he didn''t intend to make everyone wait in line. By paying some extra Spirit Stones, they could gain priority entry into the city. At that moment, he took out several dozen Spirit Stones and handed them to the collecting officer, exchanging a few words with him through a secret transmission. The officer, upon seeing the Spirit Stones and after exchanging a few words with Lin Tianming, instantly brightened up with joy and did not hesitate to let them through. After Lin Tianming thanked him, he led the group towards the inner sections of the market, appearing among the shops. Upon entering the market, the bustling crowds filled the streets; numerous cultivators moved between the various shops, giving the market a very lively atmosphere. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin began to look around eagerly, as if they were impatient to experience all that the shops had to offer. Lin Tianming laughed softly to himself, as it was their first visit to Qianchuan Market, and such reactions were normal out of curiosity. He recalled his first time visiting Qianchuan Market; he had been no different from them. With that thought, he said nothing more and looked at Luoyun Pavilion, which was now so close. He decided not to visit any shops at first, but instead to go directly to the Cave Mansion Courtyard they had rented. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, "After several days of travel, everyone must be tired. Let''s first head to the family''s rented Cave Mansion Courtyard in the market. Tomorrow, Tianfeng can take you all to look around. He has many friends in the market and can help you integrate quickly into this place." Everyone nodded in agreement and followed Lin Tianming''s steps toward the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Chapter 197 Rumors and Gathering_1 In the market cave dwelling, the figures of Lin Tianming and a few others appeared. Upon hearing that several people had arrived at Qianchuan Market, Lin Xingping and many clan members stopped their cultivation one after another, rushing over from their training rooms or Luoyun Pavilion. The clan members simply greeted each other before all gathering in the courtyard to chat idly. Lin Tianming and a few others of the Tian generation formed a small group, each sharing the various events of the past two years. Lin Xingping and his peers of the Tian generation sat together, discussing the recent developments. Having not seen each other for a long while, everyone was in a great mood, with Lin Tianfeng laughing throughout, sharing amusing stories from the market and delighting both Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue. In the midst of casual conversation, Lin Tianming also inquired from Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingping about any news, looking to see if, following their journey to the Secret Realm, there had been any reaction from Qianchuan Market, and if they could gather some useful information. Since Lin Tianfeng often mingled in various places within Qianchuan Market and was acquainted with many cultivators of different statuses, his information was certainly well-informed. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Seeing that Lin Tianming was so concerned about this, Lin Tianfeng did not dare to withhold anything, divulging all the news he had learned. As expected, during the time in the Secret Realm, many powerful Loose Cultivators took part, and some obtained a great deal of treasures and left unscathed, later spreading the news widely, creating a buzz in the Cultivation World that even the Golden Core Forces couldn''t stop. There had also been rumors about the Luoyun Mountain Range a while before, which were quickly discovered by the clanspeople in the market and then reported to the family, hence Lin Tianming and the others were aware of this. However, it was unknown who had spread these rumors, nor was it possible to discern their truth, but everything remained calm and so eventually, the matter was forgotten. According to Lin Tianfeng, after the journey to the Secret Realm, some significant events that took place there were being circulated in the market, causing quite a stir. Among the swirling rumors, two major incidents had become the talk of the town, discussed for a long time. The first involved the Zhenyang Sect discovering a Star Moon Fruit Tree, spreading the news to gather a large force of cultivators and Loose Cultivators to besiege a Third Order Tianluan Turtle. After the Third Order Tianluan Turtle perished, several Golden Core Forces vied for the Star Moon Fruit Tree and its nine fruits. Following a fierce battle, three of the nine Star Moon Fruits vanished without a trace, the remaining six being divided between the Wei Kingdom and the Golden Core Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. Qingyun Valley acquired two Star Moon Fruits, whereas the West River Li Family fared the worst, with Li Wenyi perishing under the onslaught of many cultivators; this resulted in the loss of the Li Family Cultivators'' qualification to vie for the Star Moon Fruits. The remaining four Golden Core Forces each secured a Star Moon Fruit, whereas the other three Star Moon Fruits and the inner core of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle were said to be obtained by Loose Cultivators who changed their appearance and went to great lengths to hide their identities, hence no one knew who they were. At that point, Lin Tianming chuckled, for what they didn''t realize was that one of the Star Moon Fruits had been obtained by the Lin Family. What was even less known was the pivotal role he and Lin Shilu played in the entire siege of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle; otherwise, the West River Li Family wouldn''t have met such a dire fate, and Li Wenyi wouldn''t have perished within the Secret Realm. As for the precious Star Moon Fruit Tree, after intense contention, it was acquired by the Zhenyang Sect. However, the other Golden Core Forces wouldn''t let it go so easily, and high-ranking members, undoubtedly, would negotiate over this object. As for the ultimate outcome, aside from the Golden Core Forces involved, no one else knew. The second significant incident was equally unbelievable: Myriad Medicine Valley, in alliance with Huangyang Kingdom''s Liujin Gate and several other Golden Elixir Forces, jointly attacked the lair of a Third Order Wind Xun Beast, acquiring several Yuqiong Fruits. The Yuqiong Fruit, also a Spirit Fruit meant to aid Core Formation, wasn''t far behind the Star Moon Fruit in effectiveness, making it one of the treasures of immense value as well. However, they did not have the best of luck, as this Wind Xun Beast was remarkably swift and formidable in its attacks. Despite their numerical advantage, killing it was no easy feat. Ultimately, the descendants of the Golden Core Forces had to reveal their trump cards, forcing the Wind Xun Beast to abandon its lair''s Yuqiong Fruits. Only after a hard-fought battle did it manage to escape their siege. While the cultivators'' goal was achieved, with each Golden Core Force involved acquiring a Yuqiong Fruit, the fierce battle resulted in nearly half their members perishing, with tremendous losses sustained. After Lin Tianfeng finished reporting all the news about these matters, the weight on Lin Tianming''s heart was finally lifted. Previously he and Lin Shilu, along with a few family higher-ups who were privy to the facts, had been quite worried that their identities would be exposed, attracting the greed of other forces, or even the Golden Core Forces. Now it was all good, as it had been over half a year since the incident, and throughout the Wei Kingdom, there had been no talk of any forces or renowned Loose Cultivators being killed. Clearly, the Golden Core Forces were uncertain about the identities of those who obtained the Star Moon Fruits. They could not possibly exterminate all Foundation Establishing Families based on baseless speculations; if they really did so, even the Golden Core Forces would become the public enemy of all Loose Cultivators and would have difficulty establishing themselves in the Cultivation World. At this point, Lin Tianming heaved a long sigh of relief, then proceeded to tell of his and Lin Shilu''s experiences after leaving the market, including their venture into the Secret Realm. Except for the number of Foundation Establishment Pills they crafted from the Star Moon Fruits and White Jade Grass, which was kept secret, he disclosed almost everything else. Upon hearing the thrilling tale of the journey to the Secret Realm, aside from Lin Tianyue who was already informed, the other clan members were overwhelmed with shock. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 197 Rumors and Gathering_2 Upon learning that the clan had liberalized access to Foundation Establishment Pills and greatly reduced the burdens on the clanspeople, the few Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople staying behind in the market let out a long sigh of relief, their hearts swelling with excitement. Their cultivation had reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement or Great Perfection Realm, and making a move to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage was to be put on the agenda, allowing them to start making early preparations. Overwhelmed with excitement, and finally gathering their spirits, Lin Tianfeng chuckled and turned to Lin Tianming to ask, "Little Brother Six, it''s been a long time since we saw each other, and how do I feel that you seem to have become stronger again? Have you possibly broken through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment?" "Purely by good fortune, I managed to break through, that''s all." Hearing Lin Tianfeng inquire about his cultivation level, Lin Tianming didn''t conceal it, nor did he have anything to hide, and he simply acknowledged the fact. When Lin Tianfeng and the others heard Lin Tianming generously admit this, they were incredibly astonished, secretly thinking, "Is this kid even human? His rate of cultivation is just too fast, and the gap between their cultivation levels is growing larger and larger." However, none of them displayed their thoughts, merely teasing him a few times, taking it all as a joke. Lin Tianming chuckled and inquired, "Big Brother, returning to the clan this time, you should be starting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?" Seeing Lin Tianming ask, Lin Tianfeng''s expression immediately grew solemn as he then said, "I have already broken through to the Great Perfection Realm. As long as I have a Foundation Establishment Pill, I would be able to retreat and impact the Foundation Establishment Stage within two years. For this, I have been preparing for a long time. Having been on the cultivation path for over thirty years, I''ve been waiting for this day." To this, Lin Tianming had already anticipated. While Lin Tianfeng''s talent wasn''t considered outstanding in the clan, it was still quite good, and with his traditionally diligent cultivation practice and frequent participation in the clan''s training, his cultivation was incredibly solid. With the assistance of a Foundation Establishment Pill, the chance of breakthrough would likely not be small. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming said with great confidence, "Big Brother, your cultivation is solid, you''ve participated in many major battles, and your foundation is extremely stable. The probability of breaking through the Foundation Establishment is at least sixty percent, so there''s no need to worry too much." Hearing Lin Tianming''s comforting words, Lin Tianfeng''s confidence soared, and his desire to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage grew even more fervent. "Haha, then I''ll take the good words of Little Brother Six. With your encouragement, my heart feels much at ease," Lin Tianfeng said with a cupped-fist laugh. Lin Tianming nodded and then changed the topic, addressing Lin Tianhong, "Second Brother, with Big Brother working so hard, you must also be close to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?" Seeing Lin Tianming turn to him, Lin Tianhong responded solemnly, "I can''t compare to Big Brother. It was only recently that I broke through to Qi Refining Great Perfection. I''m not yet equipped to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage in the short term. I plan to consolidate for two or three years before considering it. After all, we''re still young. Consolidating for a few years will increase the likelihood of a successful breakthrough when the time comes." Hearing Lin Tianhong''s sensible plan, Lin Tianming nodded, inwardly giving his approval. Then, Lin Tianming began to inquire about the cultivation realms of Lin Xing Li and the others. Lin Xing Li and his peers were overjoyed, each sharing their own circumstances. Before they came to Qianchuan Market, they each were at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refinement. After three years of cultivation, Lin Xingyao''s cultivation had also reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, even almost touching the edge of the Great Perfection Realm. As for Lin Xingsu and Lin Xing Li, they were currently at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm and would only need to calmly prepare for two years, appropriately consolidating their cultivation, to have a not low chance of making a successful breakthrough. After listening to their perspectives, Lin Tianming felt he understood the situation quite well, and his heart was filled with satisfaction. Given the current state, although no new Foundation Establishment Stage members had appeared in the clan in the past few years, a solid foundation had been laid. Lin Xing Li, Lin Xingsu, Lin Xingcheng, and Lin Xingzhi, these four members of the Xing generation, had preliminarily met the conditions to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Beyond that, among the Tian generation of clanspeople, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were also at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm. In the years ahead, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue, among others from the Tian generation, will also successively reach the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm and begin to emerge as a large group of seeds ready to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Looking at it now, the various policies and reforms that the clan began a decade ago are about to yield a rich reward. At this thought, Lin Tianming''s heart was filled with intense excitement, and he couldn''t help but envision a scene where Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the clan filled the sky. Unconsciously, the group of clanspeople engaged in a long exchange, each obtaining a great deal of insight. Through introductions from Lin Tianfeng and the others, Lin Tianyue and her peers came to have a deeper understanding of the basic situation of the market. The atmosphere at this moment was excellent, Lin Tianming''s mood was buoyant, and a reassuring smile was constantly on his face. Watching the lively scene, Lin Tianming said to Lin Tianfeng with a smile, "Big brother, these next few days you take Tianqin and the others around the market to get familiar with the situation at Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Pavilion. When the auction starts, you all can participate together. It''s not easy to come upon such a grand meeting that happens only once every ten years. We must not give up this opportunity." Before he had finished speaking, the hearty voice of Lin Tianfeng rang out. "Sixth brother, rest assured, the grand market meeting is just a few days away. In these days, I will definitely take Tianqin and the others for a good stroll, and I''ll introduce a few female cultivators to them as well." "Then, thank you, big brother." Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue said excitedly, expressing their thanks. Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and nodded toward Lin Xingping before saying, "That''s all for today. Everyone is tired from traveling these past few days. Go back and rest." After he finished, Lin Tianfeng left with several clanspeople to select their rooms and prepare to rest, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping behind without departing. After everyone had left, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags he had brought from the family and handed them to Lin Xingping, then inquired about the business situation of the Luoyun Pavilion. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingping took the storage bags and began to report on the business of Luoyun Pavilion. After Lin Xingping''s introduction, Lin Tianming basically understood the overall situation of the Luoyun Pavilion for the past two years. The business was similar to what it was when he was there, quite stable over the past two years. However, there had been some improvements lately, entirely due to the influence of the grand market meeting. Generally speaking, making a few thousand spirit stones in profit each month was hardly difficult. During the time of the market meeting, that could go up to several tens of thousands of spirit stones in a month, but such opportunities were not many. Lin Tianming picked up his tea cup and took a sip of spiritual tea before saying with a smile, Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire "This is already quite good. Business can''t be booming every day; there are always slow and busy seasons. All of this relies on the strategic operation by Uncle." Facing Lin Tianming''s compliment, Lin Xingping waved his hand and said, "It''s the foundation you and Fifteenth Uncle laid down, along with everyone''s efforts, that led to the results today. I''m just doing my duty." Then, Lin Xingping changed the subject and said, "Tianming, many cultivators have come to Luoyun Pavilion these past few days, all of them loose cultivators looking to request alchemy services. Since you were not around, I did not have Xing Li and the others take on this business. What do you think?" Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, "Let Uncle Xing Li handle this matter. Now that Tianqin and I have come to Qianchuan Market, along with Tianhong, the three of us can do the alchemy for about a month, and that won''t leave much left over." When Lin Tianming spoke up, Lin Xingping was delighted. With Lin Tianming joining in, the matter would be much easier to handle. Attracting those cultivators commissioning alchemy would not only enhance the reputation of Luoyun Pavilion but would also indirectly boost the shop''s business. Plus, it would allow the alchemists to quickly improve their alchemy skills¡ªit was a win-win-win situation. Although the alchemists in the family might be a bit tired, the benefits were plenty and well worth expanding the business for. Thinking of this, Lin Xingping excitedly said, "Good, I will arrange this matter as soon as possible and before you leave, I will hand over the accounts and profits for the last two years of Luoyun Pavilion to take back to the family." Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and then invited Lin Xingping to attend the auction together, and they quickly set a date to meet in a few days'' time. "Alright, let us call it a day. Tianming, you should rest early, and we will meet again in a few days," said Lin Xingping. "Uncle, have a good rest. Tianming takes his leave." Lin Tianming cupped his hands towards Lin Xingping, then stood up and walked toward the rooms deeper inside the courtyard. Once back in his room, he lay straight down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_1 The next day, Lin Tianming left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed towards the market district. As the grand gathering at the market drew closer, the streets were bustling with cultivators, and the market''s foot traffic had further increased, noticeably busier than the day before. During his expedition to the Secret Realm, his Second Order talismans had all been consumed. Of the few storage bags he had found, he had originally divided three talismans and even given two of those to Lin Tianyue, leaving him with only one Second Order Low Quality Attack Talisman. In his storage bag now, apart from Spirit Stones and elixirs, there were hardly any consumable treasures. If he were to encounter a fierce battle, relying solely on his own abilities would require considerable effort. Since he had enough Spirit Stones, it was natural to make ample preparations for his own safety. Having made up his mind, he headed straight for the Sky Dragon Pavilion without any hesitation. Before long, he arrived in front of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. As he stepped in, a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator came forward to greet him. "Is Daoist Tang in?" "If senior is looking for Daoist Tang, please follow me!" the welcoming cultivator replied respectfully and led the way to the second floor, with Lin Tianming following behind. The cultivator showed him to a private room, served a pot of Spiritual Tea, and then retreated. Lin Tianming had been sitting quietly for a while when a hearty and familiar voice reached his ears. "It turns out to be Daoist Chen visiting us, my apologies for the oversight!" When Lin Tianming saw Tang Xiuyuan coming over, he quickly got up, clasped his fists in greeting, and then said with a smile, "Haha... not at all, I am sitting in this private room being served excellent Spiritual Tea, enjoying such leisure and elegance. How could there be any neglect!" Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, invited Lin Tianming to sit down, and after pouring him a cup of Spiritual Tea, said, "I''m glad you don''t mind, Daoist Chen. It''s rare to see you today, and we should definitely take the opportunity to meet up and relieve the longing I''ve been feeling!" Hearing these insincerely flattering words, Lin Tianming''s hair stood on end, although his expression remained as usual, showing nothing out of the ordinary. He took a sip from the teacup and went straight to the point. "Here I am. Today I''m looking to purchase some treasures, and I hope Daoist Tang can offer me a good deal!" "What do you need, Daoist Chen? I will certainly offer you a favorable price!" asked Tang Xiuyuan. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire "Either Second Order talismans or other one-time consumable treasures would be fine. I need both Attack Talismans and Defense Talismans, the higher the grade the better!" "Besides that, there''s also the Autumn Leaf Grass and Xing Luan Fruit that I asked you to look out for, the more the better!" Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan''s complexion lit up with joy, deducing from Lin Tianming''s tone that a big business deal was coming. He suppressed the joy in his heart and said, "Please wait a moment, Daoist Chen. I''ll prepare the Autumn Leaf Grass and Xing Luan Fruit for you, and I''ll bring out a precious treasure that will surely not disappoint!" With that, Tang Xiuyuan left the private room. Lin Tianming sat and drank his tea, his face full of anticipation. Less than the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, Tang Xiuyuan returned to the private room, carrying a storage bag with unknown contents. Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and then took out over a dozen stems of Autumn Leaf Grass and eight Xing Luan Fruits, placing them on the stone table in the mountain retreat. He then brought out more than twenty Second Order talismans, including several High Quality Attack Talismans; the rest were Medium Quality Talismans, and among them were some Defense Talismans, with even two Second Order Medium Quality Talismans present. Looking at the more than twenty Second Order talismans, all of which were rare and valuable, Lin Tianming was very satisfied, but he didn''t show any particular reaction. Lin Tianming carefully examined the High Quality Attack Talismans he held in his hand and then asked, "What are the prices for these talismans and Spiritual Medicine Materials?" Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and then announced the prices, which were almost the same as those from previous purchases. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded. These were higher grade talismans, usually hard to come by, and since they were available, he naturally wanted to purchase some for potential emergencies. Having made up his mind, he began to discuss the types and quantities of talismans he wanted. "Daoist Tang, I''ll take all these Spirit Grasses. I want three Superior Attack Talismans, three Medium Quality Talismans, and all of the Defense Talismans!" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming''s request to buy eleven Second Order talismans in one go, including five Superior Attack Talismans, Tang Xiuyuan was ecstatic. It didn''t take long for Tang Xiuyuan to calculate that the eleven Second Order talismans Lin Tianming wanted were worth nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones, truly a significant transaction. Lin Tianming was evidently willing to spend Spirit Stones, clearly intending to diversify his offensive methods as much as possible. Lin Tianming toyed with several High Quality Talismans and, remembering Tang Xiuyuan''s previous mention of a precious treasure, asked, "Daoist Tang, may I know what the precious treasure you spoke of is?" Daoist Tang chuckled, promptly took out a grey talisman from the storage bag, and handed it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming took the grey talisman and examined it carefully, revealing a pensive expression. The grey talisman was surrounded by Spiritual Power, occasionally devouring the faint Spiritual Energy around it. Its surface color was somewhat dull, giving it a peculiar feeling. After a moment, he tentatively asked, "Could this be a Golden Core Talisman? Yet it doesn''t quite seem like it." Tang Xiuyuan smiled ambiguously, remained silent for a moment, and then answered, "Daoist Chen has a discerning eye indeed. This is indeed a Golden Core Talisman." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was astonished and was just about to speak when Daoist Tang continued, "However, strictly speaking, this talisman cannot be considered a true Golden Core Talisman, since the attack sealed within it does not reach the level of Golden Elixir Experts. It can only be seen as a semi-finished product, also known as a Fake Golden Core Talisman." Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_2 With Tang Xiuyuan''s explanation, Lin Tianming, puzzled, asked, "Daoist Tang, why is this so? Can Golden Core Talismans also have incomplete products?" Tang Xiuyuan smiled and then began to narrate the origin of the Golden Core Talisman. "This talisman is condensed by a Fake Core Cultivator, whose effects are significantly less than those of a true Golden Core Cultivator, but it''s much more powerful than the attacks of a common Great Perfection Cultivator. Compared to a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, this one is incomparable." "Fake Core Cultivators are those who have failed to break through to the Golden Core Realm. They have condensed a Golden Core but failed to withstand the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Nevertheless, the True Essence Spiritual Power inside their bodies has already been formed, maintaining a Fake Elixir Realm. Their strength lies somewhere between that of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator and a Golden Core Cultivator," he explained. "As for this Fake Golden Core Talisman, it is a concentration of the Fake Core Cultivator after they passed on. Although its effects cannot surpass a true Golden Core Talisman, its power should certainly not be underestimated." Once Tang Xiuyuan finished speaking, Lin Tianming completely understood the origins of the talisman and then said: "Daoist Tang indeed has broad vision. In this light, it''s no wonder you''re willing to part with this talisman. If it were a complete Golden Core Talisman, I''m afraid your pavilion wouldn''t sell it at all." "Hehe... That goes without saying. If it were a real Golden Core Talisman, even we, the Sky Dragon Pavilion, or any Golden Elixir Forces, wouldn''t easily part with it," Tang Xiuyuan said with a smile. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Lin Tianming nodded, then asked, "So, at what price is this Fake Golden Core Talisman being sold?" "Since Daoist Chen has asked, I won''t ask for too much¡ªthirteen thousand Spirit Stones for you," Tang Xiuyuan said. "Thirteen thousand Spirit Stones?" Lin Tianming exclaimed in surprise. Seeing Lin Tianming''s astonished expression, Tang Xiuyuan''s face changed slightly, then he said: "This is a Fake Golden Core Talisman, after all, not something that a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman can compare with. At an auction, this item could easily go for more than fifteen thousand Spirit Stones. I''m giving you this low price because I feel a sense of kinship with Daoist Chen." Thinking it over carefully, Lin Tianming then felt reassured. While the price of this Fake Golden Core Talisman could compare to more than four Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, those talismans could at best injure a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator and would struggle to directly kill one. However, even an incomplete Golden Core Talisman could unexpectedly kill a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. With such a comparison, spending thirteen thousand Spirit Stones for such a deadly weapon was certainly not a loss. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming promptly took out thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan, signaling he would buy the Fake Golden Core Talisman along with the Spiritual Medicine Materials and Second Order Talismans. Tang Xiuyuan received the hefty amount of Spirit Stones, verified the quantity, and then looked surprised. He didn''t expect Lin Tianming to be so decisive and affluent. He wondered whether Lin Tianming was a core disciple of some Golden Elixir Force or a direct heir of a prominent Foundation Establishing Family. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming did not reveal any information from beginning to end, nor did he expose any cultivation or secrets, leaving Tang Xiuyuan rather helpless. Returning to his senses, Tang Xiuyuan handed over the Fake Golden Core Talisman and all other talismans and spiritual medicines to Lin Tianming. The transaction was complete¡ªLin Tianming acquired a large number of talismans, and Tang Xiuyuan sold treasures for a substantial amount of Spirit Stones. At this point, Lin Tianming, despite having spent over thirty thousand Spirit Stones, did not feel any pain at the cost. He was now exceedingly wealthy, having received fifty thousand Spirit Stones for advancing the White Jade Grass purchase for his family. Before coming to Qianchuan Market, he had collected that sum, and together with several storage bags from the Secret Realm, his personal Spirit Stone tally had increased by more than sixty thousand. In total, he had over a hundred twenty thousand Spirit Stones. In addition to that, he had many treasures. The Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials stored by his family were, strictly speaking, his personal possessions; he wasn''t short on Spirit Stones for the time being. Gathering his thoughts, while chatting casually, Lin Tianming then inquired, "Daoist Tang, does your shop also have any Second Order Alchemy Furnaces for sale? The higher the quality, the better." "Second Order Alchemy Furnace?" Tang Xiuyuan pondered. After a short while, he replied, "Second Order Pill Furnaces are not easy to find. Even in our Sky Dragon Pavilion, they are rare. We only have two Second Order Inferior Grade Alchemy Furnaces, which I''m afraid might not meet Daoist Chen''s standards." At this, Lin Tianming was somewhat disappointed. He still relied on the Four Symbols Furnace, a First Order Superior Grade Pill Furnace, for alchemy. It could barely be used to concoct Second Order Inferior Grade Pills, but its pill formation rate and yield were impacted. As his alchemy skills improved, the Four Symbols Furnace no longer met his needs. Second Order Pill Furnaces were hard to acquire. A furnace of the same grade was worth at least several times more than a magic artifact of equivalent grade, especially those of Second Order Medium Quality or above, which were even rarer and more precious. However, he didn''t think much of Second Order Inferior Grade Pill Furnaces¡ªif he bought one, it would only be a matter of a decade or so before it ceased to satisfy his needs. Previously when he concocted Foundation Establishment Pills, he had borrowed his grandfather''s Three Star Furnace; otherwise, the pill formation rate and yield would have been even lower. His grandfather had even suggested that he use the Three Star Furnace himself, an offer he directly declined. Under these circumstances, he would need at least a Second Order Medium Quality Pill Furnace to last him a few decades; so that he wouldn''t need to search for a new furnace before entering the Golden Core Stage. Seeing Lin Tianming''s slightly disappointed expression, Tang Xiuyuan suddenly thought of something and then spoke up: Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_3 "Daoist Chen, there''s no need to be disheartened," Lin Tianming said. "To my knowledge, in a few days at the auction, there will be a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace up for bid. You might try your luck there. With your financial resources, it should not be too difficult to secure the item." Hearing this news, Lin Tianming''s face lit up with joy. He hadn''t expected Tang Xiuyuan to be privy to such information, much less to share such favorable news with him. However, considering the terrifying background of Sky Dragon Pavilion, it wasn''t strange for them to know such information. After all, at the Luoyun Market auction, local powers with some strength generally had access to the list of key auction items before the event, and this unspoken rule was equally applicable to the larger Qianchuan Market. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming cupped his hands and bowed to Tang Xiuyuan, "I thank Daoist Tang. I have reaped much today and won''t stay long. I shall come to visit you at the pavilion another day." "Farewell." Having expressed his intentions to leave, Tang Xiuyuan also stood up and returned the gesture, cupping his hands and bowing. He then watched Lin Tianming leave the Luoyun Pavilion and disappear into the bustling crowd. Upon leaving Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming stood on the bluestone-paved street and observed the cultivators coming and going, lost in thought. Having frequented the market, he knew that every time there was a gathering, the vending area would be bustling with popularity. Even though the peddling cultivators had lower cultivation levels and their treasures weren''t considered remarkable by his current standards, they weren''t entirely useless. With some luck, he could find overlooked treasures, although the chances were slim. However, since the auction wouldn''t start for a few days, and he was idle anyway, he thought a quick stroll wouldn''t take much time. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming followed the crowd and headed towards the vending area''s plaza. In less than half an hour, he arrived at the vending plaza and stood at its edge. Looking out, he saw that the numerous stalls were already crowded with people, and the noisy flow of individuals, mixed with a few shouts from Qi Refining Cultivators, resembled a worldly marketplace. He glanced over the vending area and then walked in a particular direction, soon arriving at a cultivator''s stall. Upon seeing Lin Tianming approach, the sitting cultivator immediately stood up and enthusiastically introduced the herbs and ores laid out in front of him. Lin Tianming didn''t speak and scanned the beast skin that displayed various Spiritual Medicine Materials and ores, showing a look of disappointment. While the displayed items might be considered decent for Qi Refining Cultivators, they were quite ordinary and even somewhat unnecessary to someone with high standards like himself. Nevertheless, out of respect for the eager Qi Refining Cultivator''s enthusiasm, he spent several dozen Spirit Stones and bought a few herbs that he could use. After paying the Spirit Stones, he collected the Spiritual Medicine Materials and, under the grateful gaze of the vendor, headed deeper into the vending area. In less than half an hour, as he wandered around, he had already covered a large part of the vending area. During this time, he bought some Spiritual Medicine Materials and a few pieces of Beast Skin, intending to give the latter to Lin Tianyue for Talisman Making, and keeping the former for his own use. Beyond that, he didn''t come across anything exceptional. Common items were not in short supply for him, but he wasn''t surprised. One couldn''t always be lucky, nor could one expect to encounter great finds every time. He stood at the edge of the vending area and sighed. Glancing at the scorching sun in the sky, he headed back to his Cave Mansion Courtyard. It wasn''t long before he returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Only Lin Xingyao was on duty at the courtyard; Lin Xingping was cultivating, and the other clan members had been taken out by Lin Tianfeng to enjoy themselves. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire After exchanging a few pleasantries with the on-duty Lin Xingyao, he planned to refine a portion of the Spiritual Medicine Materials collected from the Luoyun Market as soon as possible, so that after the auction ended, they could quickly return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Resolved, he went straight into the Pill Refining Room. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he looked at the hundreds of portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, most of which were First Order, with only a small fraction tailored for Second Order Pills. He habitually exercised his cultivation to regulate his breathing and peak his condition. After making a series of preparations, he started with the more challenging types of materials to refine, leaving the simpler ones to Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong. Before long, the Earth Fire was burning in the Pill Refining Room, and batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials were being broken down and purified. With practiced ease, a distinct fragrance of elixirs emerged from the Four Symbols Furnace every few half-days, and pill after pill was thus created. Chapter 199 The Lin Familys Name_1 Several days later, the market auction was held as scheduled. At this time, Qianchuan Market was bustling with activity, its foot traffic more than doubling the usual amount. On this day, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion, and together with Lin Xingping, led a mighty procession of clan members out of the cave dwelling, towards the location of the auction. Their group was grand in scale, and the subtle aura emanating from Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping caught the attention of many cultivators. Some Qi Refining Cultivators who were acquainted with the group greeted Lin Tianfeng and others warmly; Lin Tianfeng responded with equal courtesy, surprising many Loose Cultivators with his grace. It wasn''t until they disappeared into the crowd that some unfamiliar Loose Cultivators began to inquire about their origin and background with the surrounding cultivators. A cultivator who had just greeted Lin Tianfeng chuckled and then, with a look of surprise, said: "Friend, have you been in seclusion for so long or have you not visited Qianchuan Market for over a decade to not have heard the name of the Lin Family from the Luoyun Mountain Range?" Upon hearing this, the inquiring cultivator showed an embarrassed expression and then spoke up: "I am Feng Meng, I haven''t been to Qianchuan Market in a long time. I''ve been active near Liuyun Market, so I''m out of the loop!" "Can it be the same Lin Family from Green Bamboo Mountain that rose like a comet over ten years ago?" Before the question was finished, a Qi Refining Cultivator with a reverent look and tone said, "That''s precisely the Lin Family that Daoist Feng mentioned!" Hearing this, Feng Meng suddenly realized and remembered how, ten years ago, the Lin Family had quietly risen, uprooting the once-dominant Jin Family and revealing their collective strength. Furthermore, the Luoyun Pavilion had gained a considerable reputation in the market over the years, selling treasures that were both fine and inexpensive, and helping cultivators with alchemy, accumulating a vast amount of popularity and goodwill. With Lin Tianfeng being adept at networking and having made many cultivator acquaintances over the years, the reputation of the Luoyun Pavilion had spread far and wide, making the Lin Family behind it well-known and further expanding their influence. Aside from Feng Meng, other Loose Cultivators who were unaware of the Lin Family''s details also showed expressions of awe and began inquiring about the various deeds of the Lin Family with the cultivators beside them. Informed cultivators also took delight in recounting the various deeds and rumors of the Lin Family, further dispersing their influence. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his party had long since walked away, utterly unaware of these discussions. The group walked along the Bluestone Street. Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue chattered incessantly, while Lin Tianfeng patiently introduced the various aspects of the market to the two golden flowers of the family. Lin Tianming chatted idly with Lin Xingping, leading the clan members through the crowd towards the auction. Soon, they arrived at the square in front of the auction house. At that moment, a large number of cultivators were standing in a long queue, orderly handing over Spirit Stones before being allowed passage by the Market City Supervisor. Lin Tianming and the others bypassed the line and headed towards the interior. Upon reaching the Market City Supervisor, Lin Xingping immediately took out the Luoyun Pavilion''s shop Token and handed it to him. Upon seeing the Luoyun Pavilion Token, the Market City Supervisor''s expression changed instantly, and he respectfully said: "So it is the Elders from the Lin Family. I am Song Yunzhi, Uncle Li''s junior. He has instructed that if Daoists from the Lin Family come to participate in the auction, they should be allowed to pass directly, and two VIP rooms shall be arranged for the Lin Elders!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, appreciating the gesture from Li Xiuyuan, acknowledging that even though arranging two VIP rooms did not cost much in terms of Spirit Stones, for someone of his stature to extend such a courtesy meant a great deal. However, they could not blatantly disregard the rules and cause Li Xiuyuan to be the subject of gossip. With that in mind, he quickly took out two hundred Spirit Stones and handed them to Song Yunzhi, then said: "Li is too courteous. I accept his kindness on behalf of the Lin Family, but the market''s order must not be broken. These Spirit Stones will reserve two VIP rooms, and the rest is for you, young friend Song, and your fellow disciples, to buy some Spiritual Wine. After the auction is over, I will treat Li to a drink of Spiritual Wine." "Haha... In that case, I thank Elder Lin on behalf of my juniors!" Song Yunzhi nodded, expressed his thanks with a cupped fist salute, and then respectfully accepted the Spirit Stones, instructing two Qi Refining female cultivators at the Third Level to lead the way. Seeing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and said: Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Good... You young friends should often visit the Luoyun Pavilion and share some cultivation insights with our younger generation!" "I have already met Daoist Tianfeng and will certainly visit at a later date!" replied Song Yunzhi. After the conversation, Lin Tianming nodded and led the clan members, following the Qi Refining female cultivators into the inner part of the auction. As they left, the cultivators in line started whispering among themselves, many showing envious expressions. In the Cultivation World, this is the display of strength. For those formidable Foundation Establishing Families or long-established cultivators, even those with Golden Core Strength would not ignore them. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the market has rules, many conveniences are offered to attract those powerful Foundation Establishing Families, and such matters are an open secret. In the grand hall on the first floor of the auction, after instructing Lin Tianfeng on a few matters, Lin Tianming alongside Lin Xingping went straight to the second floor and finally entered one of the VIP rooms. Both settled into their seats, and the guiding female cultivators respectfully stood by the entrance. Chapter 199 The Name of Lin Family_2 As there was still some time before the auction started, Lin Shilu took out the Spiritual Tea, and the two of them chatted idly while drinking tea. At this moment, the main hall of the auction house filled with the sound of a bustling crowd, and the two shifted their gaze toward the noise. Looking around, the seats in the public area were already filled with a majority of cultivators; some of them were dressed in odd and unusual clothes, and did not seem to be from Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Apart from that, the cultivators'' levels of cultivation varied greatly, with some above the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, and a few whose aura was chaotic, as if they had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and had not yet consolidated their cultivation. Seeing the variety of attire and exchanging information with other cultivators, Lin Tianming and his companion exchanged smiles, discussing the state of the cultivation world in various countries. A quarter of an hour later, as the seats in the auction house were filled, an elder emerged from behind the curtain; it was Xue Chong, who had previously hosted the auction, and he made his way to the central stage while greeting the attendees with folded hands. With the elder''s appearance, the noisy atmosphere gradually calmed down, and occasionally, a few cultivators greeted Xue Chong. Xue Chong''s expression was serene, and a smile was ever-present on his face. He bowed to the hundred or so cultivators below and the private rooms around before speaking: "I, Xue Chong, am honored to host today''s Foundation Establishment Area auction. Many of you are familiar faces, and a lot have attended auctions multiple times. As for the rules, I believe there''s no need to repeat them, as you all know them well!" "Hehe... The treasures this time are all rare and unprecedented; many fellow cultivators can hardly wait any longer, so let''s get straight to the point. Let us begin the auction with the first item." After he spoke, an elder''s hand revealed a fiery red talisman paper, surrounded by dazzling Spiritual Light, looking quite powerful. "One Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman for the starting bid of one thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than twenty Spirit Stones." No sooner had his voice fallen, a few cultivators immediately started bidding, all of them being at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment or below. "One thousand and fifty Spirit Stones!" "One thousand and eighty Spirit Stones!" The first item for auction was a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman; a Medium Grade Defense Talisman was quite valuable and not easy to come by. In the Qianchuan Market, only some large stores had them, and the prices were not low. As the opening item of the auction, the prices continued to climb, indicating the significance the auctioneers placed on this sale. While Lin Tianming and his partner chatted in their private room, they observed the fiery bidding below. Lin Tianming had plenty of Second Order Talismans on him, and even more so, he had as many as five Defense Talismans, which were enough for a while, so he had no intention of bidding. Lin Xingping, on the other hand, seemed to be considering making a bid. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said to Lin Xingping: "Uncle, Medium Quality Defense Talismans are rare, and the power of this talisman seems impressive. It looks like the cultivator who made this talisman is quite skilled. If you like it, don''t let the chance slip by!" "That''s true, let''s see how it goes first - if the price is right, I might just make a bid..." Lin Xingping replied. Just then, the price of the Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman had reached one thousand three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. Such a price had already surpassed the value of a typical Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, and the number of cultivators below still bidding was dwindling, with only two remaining persistent. Seeing the two bidders hesitating, Lin Xingping made his first bid. "One thousand three hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!" With Lin Xingping significantly raising the price, the cultivators who had been bidding seemed to give up on continuing their bids. After a few breaths with no further bids, Xue Chong announced the first item sold on the spot. Lin Xingping prepared the Spirit Stones, completed the transaction with Xue Chong through a barrier, and both parties obtained the Spirit Stones and the item. The first treasure sold for a high price, satisfying Lin Xingping, while Xue Chong continued to preside over the auction. "The second treasure, a Second Order Spirit Material Mature Millet Seed Tree, an excellent material for Artifact Refining. The starting bid is three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than ten Spirit Stones." The first item had whipped up enthusiasm, and although the second was somewhat less exciting, there were still many cultivators bidding fiercely. "Three hundred and seventy Spirit Stones!" ... The cultivators below continued their intense bidding, and neither Lin Tianming nor Lin Xingping, who weren''t into Artifact Refining, had any intention of bidding. They drank their Spiritual Tea as mere spectators, thoroughly enjoying themselves. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The second treasure was acquired by a cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment for five hundred and forty Spirit Stones. The heated auction continued and, in the blink of an eye, it was time for the last ten showstopping items. After auctioning off hundreds of treasures, nearly all Second Order Spiritual Items, there were plenty of Spiritual Medicine Materials, various Spirit Ore Materials, and numerous Demonic Beast bodies. During this period, Lin Tianming spent more than three thousand spirit stones to purchase a few stalks of Spiritual Medicine Materials, all rare and precious varieties. Besides, Lin Shilu was busy with his cultivation and had no time to attend the auction; he specifically bid on two fist-sized pieces of Obsidian Iron to prepare for gifting Lin Shilu for Artifact Refining. After all, the elder had been very generous to him, going all out to forge the Earth Evil Sword and Tiangang Sword for him, and had repaired his Magic Artifacts many times, not to mention how many cherished treasures he had spent on his behalf. Now that such an opportunity had arisen, he naturally wanted to express his gratitude. Lin Xingping also made several bids, acquiring some fairly good treasures to further strengthen his power. As the auction of ordinary items concluded, everyone''s anticipation grew for the climactic final items. After a brief rest, Xue Chong took out a Jade Box again and opened it. Inside the Jade Box held by Xue Chong lay a fist-sized Spirit Fruit, the whole fruit appearing translucent and emitting an enticing fragrance. It was yet another Flame Fruit; previously, he had successfully bid for one at a high price of two thousand one hundred spirit stones. The effect of the Flame Fruit was notable, and he had been longing for it ever since; unexpectedly, another one appeared as the finale of this auction. However, only one Flame Fruit could be consumed, and the effect was greatly diminished with repeated use, which was truly a pity. As he was momentarily lost in thought, many cultivators in the auction hall had flushed faces, their breathing suddenly quickened. The Flame Fruit held little allure for those cultivators who had already consumed it, but more than ninety percent of the cultivators, including Lin Xingping, were drooling over it. As expected, as soon as Xue Chong announced the starting bid, more than ten cultivators immediately began a heated competition, and after a dozen rounds of bidding, the price of the Flame Fruit had already risen to more than one thousand six hundred spirit stones and was still climbing. At this point, Lin Xingping was resolute, having made up his mind to obtain the fruit, he joined the bidding straight away. "One thousand seven hundred twenty spirit stones!" He raised the bid by one hundred spirit stones in one go, leading many cultivators to secretly speculate. Even so, there were still several cultivators who were not ready to give up easily; after all, the Flame Fruit was quite rare, hardly seen in ordinary times, and it was only during market gatherings that it might appear. Missing this opportunity meant waiting several years. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire "One thousand six hundred fifty spirit stones!" "One thousand seven hundred spirit stones!" ... The price continued to rise; after several more rounds of bidding, the Flame Fruit''s price had reached over one thousand nine hundred spirit stones and was about to break the two-thousand-mark barrier. By then, with such a price, most cultivators had decided to give up on further bidding. Lin Xingping seemed hell-bent on winning; as soon as the last bid was called, he was the first to call out his bid, raising the price by dozens of spirit stones each time, suppressing those cultivators who were still hesitant. "Two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones!" After three rounds of bidding, once he called out the price, the remaining two competing cultivators did not raise their bids any further. As five breaths of time passed with no further bids, Xue Chong bowed toward the VIP room where Lin Tianming was, and then announced the result of the auction. Upon hearing Xue Chong''s announcement of the successful bid, Lin Xingping let out a long sigh of relief. Surprised and delighted, he quickly took out two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones and completed the transaction with Xue Chong across the restrictive barrier. In the VIP room, Lin Xingping was excited, holding the blood-red Flame Fruit and admiring it lovingly. The first finale treasure sold for the high price of two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones, much to the thrill of all the cultivators present. This price was more than two hundred spirit stones higher than when Lin Tianming bid for the Flame Fruit, showing that the same treasure sold for a higher price at large gatherings than at smaller ones. However, Lin Xingping didn''t mind in the least¡ªhe was willing to pay more if necessary, as treasures were serendipitous; once missed, who knows how long it would be till the next opportunity. Chapter 200 Blueflame Furnace_1 ``` The first star item was successfully auctioned, snapped up by Lin Xingping through spirited bidding at a high price, igniting the atmosphere of the auction hall. In the center of the auction, Xue Chong looked around at the excited crowd with a satisfied smile, continuing to preside over the proceedings. He waved his hand for silence; as the room''s excitement calmed down, he promptly brought out the second star item. Looking over, he revealed a silver-white Spirit Ruler in his hand about two-feet long, its surface covered with dense, golden runes, an impressively Second Order Lower Quality Attack Talisman. Many cultivators'' eyes lit up with avid spiritual light at the sight of the glittering small ruler. Although the attack treasures of Lin Tianming and his companion were numerous and the power of the Spirit Ruler was not weak, they were not keen on wasting Spirit Stones. However, many Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivators in the audience, still utilizing First Order Spiritual Tools against their enemies, burst into fierce bidding the moment Xue Chong announced the starting price. "Five thousand two hundred Spirit Stones." "I bid five thousand four hundred Spirit Stones," shouted a cultivator rising from the crowd. ... sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and his companion sat in the VIP room, observing the intense bidding below as they chatted leisurely over tea, waiting for the dust to settle on this item. A teatime later, the small ruler was bought by a Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator for four thousand four hundred Spirit Stones. With the second star item settled, the third item was taken out by Xue Chong, yet another piece the pair showed no interest in. They still had no intention of bidding, quietly waiting for the remaining star auction items. Time gradually passed, and soon an hour went by. In this period, five star items had been consecutively auctioned off, each fetching a high price. At the time of the fifth item, Lin Tianming finally took action, expending over nine thousand Spirit Stones to win a fierce competition for a Third Order Spirit Ore Red Copper Crystal as a filial gift for Lin Shilu. Red Copper Crystal is a high-quality material used in Artifact Refining, able to greatly enhance the toughness and power of magical instruments; even some Golden Elixir Experts'' Magical Treasures incorporate this material. Among Third Order Spiritual Ores, it is considered top-notch. In the VIP room, Lin Tianming, holding the red stone, imagining the scene where he would present the Black Meteoric Iron and Red Copper Crystal to Lin Shilu, couldn''t help but show an excited expression on his face. The auction continued, with Lin Tianming and his companion in the VIP room looking on expectantly. Before they knew it, it was nearing the end of the auction. The first eight items featured many rarely seen treasures: Hun Tian Pill, Second Order Medium Quality Offensive Magical Instruments, Three Sessions Spiritual Medicine Materials¡ªeach commanded a high price. Now, the atmosphere in the venue was boiling with anticipation, with only the last two star items left to be auctioned. The final two star items have always been the most precious, and each time they met with bids that reached astronomical prices. All the cultivators in attendance fixed their eyes on Xue Chong, their expressions filled with eager anticipation. Many who did not have the means to participate in the bidding felt just witnessing such a spectacle was worth their while. In the center of the auction, Xue Chong chuckled and then placed a little cauldron that was red and blue in color in his palm. As soon as the small cauldron appeared, it immediately elicited gasps from the cultivators in attendance, drawing Lin Tianming back to reality from his reverie. Gazing at it, the small, palm-sized, red and blue cauldron was extremely delicate, covered with dense runes, and was clearly a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemy Furnace. Xue Chong struck it with a Law Decree, and the little cauldron instantly shone with Spiritual Light, then began to enlarge until it was the size of a table before it stopped growing. Looking at the exquisite little cauldron, Xue Chong''s expression turned eager as he reluctantly shifted his gaze from it to the cultivators in front and began to introduce the item. "This furnace is named the Blueflame Furnace, Second Order Medium Quality, capable of significantly increasing pill-concocting success rates and pill quantities. It''s a rare treasure; fellow daoists who practice Alchemy shouldn''t miss it," explained Xue Chong. Even Second Order Medium Quality Magical Instruments were rarely seen, let alone a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace, which was extremely rare. Many well-known Second Order Medium Grade Alchemists, and even High Quality Alchemists, often use Lower Order Alchemy Furnaces. And a Second Order Superior Alchemy Furnace is so valuable that it''s almost always a hereditary treasure, almost never auctioned. Amongst the circulating pill furnaces within Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace was already the best available. Furthermore, there were plenty of Alchemists in the Cultivation World, but good Alchemy Furnaces were scarce. One could say a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace was in high demand within the entire Wei Kingdom Cultivation World, always sparking fierce competition whenever it became available. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire "Brother Xue, what''s the starting price? Stop beating around the bush," an impatient cultivator called out, pressing for an answer. "Hehe... The Blueflame Furnace will start at thirty-three thousand Spirit Stones, and each bid must be at least one hundred Spirit Stones higher," Xue Chong detailed. Before his words fell, numerous bids were already being called from several VIP rooms, heating up the scene instantly. Many cultivators breathed rapidly, ready for an intense bidding war. Lin Tianming, equally thrilled, sighed in relief when he saw the Blueflame Furnace featured as the ninth star item. He had been tipped off by Tang Xiuyuan back at the Sky Dragon Pavilion and, now that he had personally witnessed it, began to prepare himself resolutely to win it. While he was contemplating, the bidding for the Blueflame Furnace had already gone through several rounds, shooting up to thirty-seven thousand Spirit Stones, with numerous cultivators on stand-by, ready to jump into the fray. ``` Chapter 200 Blueflame Furnace_2 After several more rounds of bidding, a voice from a VIP room called out a price of 41,000 spirit stones, pushing the atmosphere in the hall to a climax. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the VIP room, Lin Xingping was so shocked that he could hardly take it anymore. The price of the Blueflame Furnace had already reached the amount required to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, with more than 10,000 spirit stones to spare, and it was still increasing. Seeing the cultivators in these VIP rooms bid so ferociously, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but click his tongue, thinking that these people really didn''t consider spirit stones as anything important. But after thinking about it, it wasn''t surprising. A Second Order Low Quality Magic Artifact cost several thousand spirit stones, and a Second Order Medium Quality artifact went for over ten thousand. Considering that pill furnaces have always been rare and precious, and that they are valued several times higher than attack artifacts of the same grade, it was not strange that a Second Order Medium Grade pill furnace would fetch tens of thousands of spirit stones. True to expectations, there were still over a dozen VIP rooms persisting in the bidding war, clearly not willing to give up easily. Lin Tianming wasn''t planning to just watch the fun unfold. The moment the previous VIP room announced their price, he called out a bid of 46,000 spirit stones. Hearing the price from Lin Tianming''s VIP room, which increased by 3,000 spirit stones in one go, many cultivators were immediately stunned. At this moment, Lin Xingping was again shocked beyond belief. He had already spent most of his savings on second order talisman paper and Flame Fruits, yet Lin Tianming kept his composure even after calling out more than ten thousand spirit stones. "This young man is really too rich!" Lin Xingping thought secretly, but he didn''t say anything. After all, Lin Tianming was always prudent, and since he made a bid, he surely had his reasons. Regaining his composure, the whole auction house suddenly fell silent, the faces of cultivators who came to enjoy the show flushed and their breathing quickened. In a certain VIP room, two Foundation Establishment cultivators sat side by side. One of them was grim-faced, swearing profusely. The other, an old man with a bitter smile, noticing his companion''s restlessness, took the opportunity to advise, "Hong Hao, this is an auction, where the highest bidder wins by rule. Besides, every alchemist powerful enough to join this bidding war is overflowing with wealth. Although your cultivation is strong and you are a young Second Order Alchemist, the cultivation world is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. There are many talented individuals out there who surpass you, and you really need to change your arrogant ways. Otherwise, if you clash with someone formidable, you''ll be at a disadvantage." Seeing the old man''s advice, the young cultivator''s expression eased slightly, but he still looked rather displeased. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire "I understand, but I''m determined to get this Blueflame Furnace, no matter the price," Wei Honghao said emphatically. Thereupon, seeing the young man''s resolve, the old man shook his head helplessly and said nothing more to avoid upsetting him further. "47,000 spirit stones!" The young cultivator remained unyielding. Although he did not raise the bid by much, adding a thousand spirit stones in one breath was still significant. Lin Tianming remained unphased and instantly matched the increased bid with an additional thousand spirit stones of his own. As the two of them continued to bid, raising the price by a thousand each time, the Blueflame Furnace''s price had already broken the fifty-thousand threshold, reaching a frightening 54,000 spirit stones. By this point, the entire auction had fallen into absolute silence, with only Lin Tianming and the young cultivator still in competition, all eyes fixated on the two VIP rooms. Encountering someone so determined to win, Lin Tianming felt a slight irritation but quickly calmed down. When it comes to a contest of spirit stones, he was by no means inferior. Although he had spent tens of thousands on Second Order Talismans earlier, he still had seventy to eighty thousand spirit stones on him and was not worried about running out. Even though the Blueflame Furnace had sold for an exorbitant price, if he managed to produce just two more Foundation Establishment Pills with it, he would recover the cost. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming remained unwavered and raised the bid once again. "55,000 spirit stones!" Hearing the price, the young cultivator could not contain himself any longer, crushing the spirit stone he had been toying with into dust. "56,000 spirit stones!" the young cultivator called out his bid once more. "Hong Hao, just let it go. The cultivator you''re bidding against clearly has far greater wealth than you, and it''s very likely he comes from a Great Sect or one of those top Foundation Establishment families." Hearing these words, the young cultivator''s face turned displeased, as if he had lost his rationality. Seizing the lull, he said towards the elder: "Fourth Grandpa, if we don''t bid for the Blueflame Furnace, it won''t be easy to find another Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace. How many more spirit stones do you have? I want to take one more gamble!" As soon as he finished speaking, the elder''s expression became grave, and he then earnestly cautioned: "I''ve already loaned you more than ten thousand spirit stones, and now I only have two thousand left. We simply don''t have the confidence to engage in a dogfight with them to the end!" Upon hearing this, the young cultivator''s expression dimmed. He called out another price, then fixed his gaze in the direction where Lin Tianming was seated. "Fifty-nine thousand spirit stones!" Lin Tianming declared his bid without hesitation, prepared to increase his offer at any moment. However, as soon as he made his bid, the other party did not raise the price any further; it seemed they had given up. Within the private room where Wei Honghao was, his face was exceedingly grim. The elder beside him began to advise him. After a few words of persuasion, Wei Honghao reluctantly nodded his head. The Wei Family was also one of the Foundation Establishing Families of the Hengyang Mountain Range, and their influence ranked high even throughout the Wei Kingdom; however, the price of the Blueflame Furnace was too steep, his personal supply of spirit stones limited, so he could only abandon the idea of continuing the bidding. Xue Chong looked towards the direction of the young cultivator, wearing an expression of anticipation. He truly wished for the other party to keep raising the bid, further driving up the price of the Blueflame Furnace, so that he could receive a more substantial reward. However, his hopes were not met. A few moments passed, the auction hall remained silent, and no cultivator advanced the bid beyond fifty-nine thousand spirit stones offered by Lin Tianming. Xue Chong sighed helplessly, then publicly announced that the ninth auction item, the Blueflame Furnace, was sold for fifty-nine thousand spirit stones. Hearing Xue Chong''s resonant voice, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then prepared the spirit stones, completing the transaction through the barrier of the private room. Not long after, Lin Tianming received the Blueflame Furnace and began to closely inspect it, his expression extremely excited. He casually played with it for a while; satisfied with the Alchemy Furnace despite the heavy expenditure of spirit stones, he still felt it was worth it. With the transaction of the treasure completed, the suffocating atmosphere in the auction hall was lifted, and a host of cultivators began murmuring amongst themselves. Many were secretly speculating about the identity of the person who had won the bid. Unfortunately, with the barrier in place, no one could know their identity information, except for the Zhenyang Sect behind the auction. Returning his focus, the auction continued. Lin Tianming was also filled with anticipation, reasoning that since the ninth item was a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace, the final auction treasure should be even more precious. While he was speculating, Xue Chong had already brought out a water-blue jade box adorned with myriad runes, clearly indicating it was no ordinary object. "The final star item, a Gold Fruit, with a starting bid of one hundred thousand spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than two hundred spirit stones!" As soon as he finished, the entire hall of cultivators gasped, many completely astounded. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping both breathed heavily, equally shocked. The Gold Fruit was a Third Order Spiritual Fruit that matured once every five thousand years, and it was one of the rare items that could increase the chances of advancing to the Golden Core Realm by ten percent. Although just a one in ten chance, it was still the dream treasure of all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After all, often times, a ten percent chance is enough to change a person''s fate. If one could step into the Golden Core Realm, their lifespan would greatly increase, propelling them into the ranks of High Order Cultivators and becoming a powerful figure revered by thousands. In light of this, no matter how many spirit stones it cost, no one would be stingy with such external possessions. Although the Lin Family already had a Star Moon Fruit, they still coveted any treasure that could aid in Core Formation. At this moment, the auction hall was deathly silent; needles could be heard dropping, and the atmosphere had fallen into a strange calm. Chapter 201 - Belonging_1 Time passed indiscernibly when Xue Chong, seeing the situation, let out a cough, and only then did he bring the mesmerized cultivators back to their senses. Soon, the bidding started like a tempestuous storm, with the price of the Gold Fruit skyrocketing, quickly surpassing 120,000 Spirit Stones. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion''s faces flushed with health as they sat in the VIP room drinking Spiritual Tea and watching the intense bidding among the cultivators, without any intention to participate. Despite their intense desire for it, hearing the fierce bidding, they could only express regret. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More importantly, this Gold Fruit was a hot potato¡ªeven if they could successfully win the bid, there was no way to safely bring it back to their family. At this time, the number of cultivators bidding below gradually lessened, with only a few VIP rooms still participating, each belonging to either the top families of Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World or Loose Cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. In one of the VIP rooms, Ye Pinghai sat on a precious wooden armchair, staring at the intense bidding below and showing a pensive expression. He had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and was very close to reaching the Great Perfection Realm, so he needed to prepare in advance for the impact of the Golden Core Stage. He had been preparing for more than ten years, accumulating a significant amount of wealth. He attended the auction today because he had learned of the Gold Fruit''s presence through Li Xiuyuan in advance. Not just him, many top Foundation Establishing families and Loose Cultivators from Qianchuan Market, who got wind of it early, aimed precisely for the most precious items like the Blueflame Furnace and this Gold Fruit. Although the Gold Fruit could only increase the Core Formation rate by ten percent, in today''s Cultivation World, it was one of the rare Nascent Soul Spiritual Items that even a Golden Core force like Zhenyang Sect could not easily obtain in sufficient quantities. As for why a Gold Fruit would appear in this auction, no one knew for sure¡ªit could be to attract popularity for the market, or the item might have come from the hands of a Loose Cultivator. Regardless of the reason, his goal was very straightforward. If he gave up the chance to bid for the Gold Fruit now, he would have to wait another ten years until the next grand meeting¡ªmoreover, he might not be successful in the bid, further delaying several years. With these thoughts, he firmed his resolve. With the wealth that he had amassed as a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master over many hard years, it was worth it to bid for the Gold Fruit. After an unknown passage of time, he regained his composure and joined the fierce bidding. "146,000 Spirit Stones." Ye Pinghai announced his price, increasing it by 3,000 stones in one breath to a staggering almost 150,000, plunging the whole venue into a brief silence again. At this point, many cultivators breathed rapidly, not even daring to let out a loud breath. The previous bids were mere child''s play¡ªit was only now that the real top forces had joined the battle. "147,000 Spirit Stones." "149,000 Spirit Stones." After more than ten rounds of bidding, the price of the Gold Fruit had reached 163,000 Spirit Stones. At this stage, including Ye Pinghai, only three were still bidding, the rest of the bidders having been deterred by the frightening price. Both Lin Tianming and his companion were also shocked; the price of over 160,000 Spirit Stones was enough to purchase several Foundation Establishment Pills. Each bid was increased by thousands, and the price was still climbing. "This Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World and Qianchuan Market really are places full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; to nonchalantly offer tens of thousands of Spirit Stones without a second thought, it seems our previous assessment on the family''s strength was too optimistic." Lin Tianming thought to himself, yet his heart remained undisturbed, after all, the family was on the rise. Given another ten years, the family would reach a new peak and could match the standard of the top Foundation Establishing Families. In the VIP room where Ye Pinghai was, he appeared extremely composed, displaying the courage of a sinking ship, and bid 175,000 Spirit Stones, raising the stakes by 6,000 at once. A few breaths passed without another bid from any VIP room; the whole scene descended into silence. Xue Chong was excited at this point. Seeing that no one else was bidding, he publicly announced the results of the auction. Upon hearing the announcement, Ye Pinghai was thrilled, hastily taking out 175,000 Spirit Stones. Through the restrictions of the VIP room, he threw his storage bag out, and it landed firmly in Xue Chong''s hands. Xue Chong received the storage bag, used his Divine Sense to count the Spirit Stones and, confirming the correct amount, immediately threw the Jade Box containing the Gold Fruit towards Ye Pinghai''s VIP room. Ye Pinghai caught the Jade Box, opened it at once, and looked at the golden fruit inside, containing powerful energy, his expression one of unrestrained excitement. Not knowing how much time had passed, atop the auction stage, Xue Chong surveyed the whole venue, then announced the end of the Foundation Establishment Area auction. In the public seating area, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had yet to regain their senses, clearly shocked by the astronomical price of over 170,000 Spirit Stones. Only when some cultivators stood up and greeted Xue Chong did they come back to themselves. After exchanging pleasantries with some acquaintances, they orderly left the venue. In the VIP room where Lin Tianming was, the two watched the cultivators gradually leaving and were in no rush to leave themselves. At this moment, Lin Xingping was extremely excited. Attending the auction had been quite rewarding for them, and they had witnessed such an intense bidding process, making the trip worthwhile. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, Lin Tianming finally stood up, turned to Lin Xingping, and said, "Uncle, there''s a swap meet next. Do you want to take a look?" Hearing this, Lin Xingping nodded, agreeing with the idea. Chapter 201 - Belonging_2 Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up and walked toward the exit of the VIP room, with Lin Xingping following closely behind. Upon leaving the VIP room, the female cultivator standing at the door had not left. Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion emerge, she immediately greeted them. Lin Tianming casually took out twenty spirit stones and handed them to the female cultivator, and then he led Lin Xingping further down the corridor. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a short while, they entered a secret chamber where more than ten cultivators were already engaged in casual conversation, some of whom were familiar faces. Upon seeing the two men enter, several Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately stood up to welcome them, specifically those they had met at a previous exchange meeting, showing great courtesy. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping did not dare to act arrogantly and immediately performed a fist-and-palm salute in greeting, then started to chat with the familiar cultivators. As this was Lin Xingping''s first time attending an exchange meeting and he was unfamiliar with many of the cultivators, the intention today was to introduce him to some so that his future guardianship of the market would be more convenient. Seeing Lin Xingping''s unfamiliar face, a cultivator promptly asked, "Lin, it''s been a while since we''ve seen Daoist Lin Shilu. Who might this fellow Daoist be?" Lin Tianming let out a chuckle and then earnestly replied, "Daoist Meng, my Fifteenth Grandfather is currently in secluded cultivation, and this person beside me is my uncle Lin Xingping. From now on, our Lin Family will have him stationed in the market. I hope fellow Daoists can do us the honor of lending a hand in times of crisis." "No problem at all. The name of the Lin Family is well-known to all. I presume there are no fools bold enough to cause trouble," said Meng Zhaosong, the first to compliment. The rest of the cultivators were also very polite, echoing the sentiment. "Indeed, the Lin Family is thriving like the midday sun, rising swiftly among the many Foundation Establishing families in the Wei Kingdom. Nobody dares to offend them lightly," they said. Lin Tianming and his company''s faces flushed with modesty as they continuously waved their hands, displaying great humility. While Lin Tianming and the others were chatting leisurely, some previously unacquainted cultivators, seeing the respect shown to Lin Tianming, quickly exchanged whispers with nearby cultivators to inquire about the background of the two. After learning that Lin Tianming and his companion were from the recently prominent Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain, some cultivators took the initiative to come over and greet them. Lin Tianming was very courteous in response to these kind gestures, engaging in mutual exchange. At this moment, Ye Pinghai also entered the secret chamber, seeing that Lin Tianming had already arrived, he greeted him with a smile. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong quickly got up and returned the salute with a fist-and-palm salute, then laughed and said, "Grandpa Sea, as I expected, how could you possibly miss this rare opportunity for a gathering?" Ye Pinghai nodded and replied with a hearty laugh. "Of course, this grand market meeting happens only once every ten years. With so many Daoists rarely gathering, it''s only natural for an old man like me to join the fun," he said. "That''s right, a rare opportunity indeed. Usually, everyone is busy with their cultivation; such chances are indeed few and far between," agreed the other cultivators. Everyone nodded, then took their seats and chatted briefly, waiting for the exchange meeting to begin. Soon after, Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun walked into the secret chamber together, accompanied by Tang Xiuyuan. Seeing the three arrive, all the cultivators in the chamber promptly stood up to welcome them. After saluting the crowd with a fist-and-palm greeting, the three made their way directly towards Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai. Seeing Tang Xiuyuan attending the exchange meeting and coming with Li Xiuyuan was not a surprise to Lin Tianming. Given his role as the person in charge of Sky Dragon Pavilion in Qianchuan Market and his origin from the top-tier Tang Family of Qingzhou, his status was naturally not to be taken lightly, not even by the Zhenyang Sect. When Tang Xiuyuan saw Lin Tianming, he chuckled and took the initiative to greet him. "I didn''t expect Daoist Chen to be from the Lin Family. No wonder the first time we met, I had the impression of your extraordinary background." Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan, Song Xun, and the other cultivators were taken aback. Li Xiuyuan then asked with a smile, "Daoist Tang, you''re acquainted with young Lin?" Lin Tianming nodded and said somewhat awkwardly, "I''ve had the fortune of meeting Daoist Tang a few times before. I had always concealed my true name and background, which has led to some misunderstandings. If I''ve given any offense, I hope Daoist Tang can forgive me." "Don''t worry about it, it''s perfectly normal for cultivators to hide their identities from one another. Lin, don''t give it another thought, it''s no big deal to me," Tang Xiuyuan replied with a smile. Listening to Tang Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming''s explanation, several cultivators nodded, understanding the reasons behind it. They all laughed, dissolving the awkwardness, and after exchanging formalities, they began to chat casually. Many cultivators present were unfamiliar faces, and upon hearing the conversation among several people and seeing that renowned cultivators from Qianchuan Market were very polite to Lin Tianming, many noted Lin Tianming and the Lin Family in their minds. In the future, they would naturally be more cautious to avoid provoking these powerful Foundation Establishment families. After a short while, as Li Xiuyuan and two others entered, no other cultivators continued to come. Finding that no more were joining, Li Xiuyuan stood up and announced the start of the exchange meeting. Once everyone had settled down, he waved one hand and two treasures landed steadily on the stone table in front of the crowd. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire Looking over them, both items were extraordinary: one a Second Order Medium Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill, and the other a Second Order Medium Grade Attack Magical Artifact. Admiring the two treasures, Li Xiuyuan smiled and then said, "These two items of mine are but ordinary, so there are no restrictions. As long as I deem the items offered in exchange satisfactory, anything can be traded." No sooner had he finished speaking, a cultivator took out a Third Order Spirit Medicine Material and a cultivation-enhancing Spiritual Fruit to trade for his two treasures. Next, Song Xun also brought out two treasures, and after some comparison, successfully traded for two items he wanted. In a short time, several well-known Foundation Establishment cultivators completed their trades, and Ye Pinghai brought out a Hun Tian Pill and a Second Order Spiritual Fruit, exchanging them for a precious Third Order Spirit Medicine Material. What Tang Xiuyuan put forth was also impressive: a Third Order Solid Gold Stone and a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill. Soon, Song Xun traded for the Solid Gold Stone, and the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill was traded to a Loose Cultivator. As several renowned cultivators looked at him with anticipation, Lin Tianming felt embarrassed. He hadn''t planned on acquiring any particular treasures at the exchange meeting, as aside from Demon Beast Inner Pills and talismans, he didn''t have much suitable for trading. Still, with many eyes on him, he took out a Second Order Mid-tier Dragon Eye Beast Inner Pill, as well as an ordinary Third Order Spirit Medicine Material, and placed them on the stone platform in front of him. Although these items were not the most precious, they were above average among the treasures and were swiftly traded away by several Loose Cultivators. In return, Lin Tianming acquired a Third Order Spiritual Ore and several pieces of Second Order Initial Stage Beast Skin Armor, planning to gift the ore to Lin Shilu and the beast skin to Lin Tianyue. As Lin Tianming completed his trades, when it was Lin Xingping''s turn, he decisively stated that he would not participate. Lin Tianming had anticipated this. His Foundation Establishment phase was still short, and having spent all his Spirit Stones on Second Order Talismans and the Flame Fruit, he had no high-value treasures that could interest these cultivators. It seemed better to abstain than to be the subject of ridicule. Seeing Lin Xingping abstaining from trading, the next cultivator moved past him and continued the exchange meeting. An hour later, the exchange meeting concluded. Except for Lin Xingping, all the cultivators had traded for items they desired, though a few treasures remained unclaimed. In the private room, Li Xiuyuan and the others chatted briefly, then organized a sharing of cultivation experiences, including discussions on the Four Arts of Cultivation. As Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping''s cultivation levels were too low, they didn''t show off unnecessarily, instead absorbing the experiences shared by others with patience. As dusk approached, the day-long auction and exchange meeting drew to a close. Laughter echoed through the large private room with the atmosphere among the cultivators being extremely amiable. Lin Tianming and his companion made a few more acquaintances and gained much experience, sparing them some detours on the cultivation path. After half a quarter of an hour, Li Xiuyuan stood up, bowed with cupped hands to the group of cultivators, and then said, "Fellow Daoists, this exchange meeting has concluded successfully. As we have all gathered here and each has gained something, I look forward to continuing our interactions next time!" As his words ended, some cultivators greeted each other and then stood up to leave. Lin Tianming and his companion bid farewell to the other cultivators and also stood up to leave, departing the auction with Ye Pinghai. While walking through the streets of the market, Lin Tianming arranged to visit Ye Pinghai another day, who graciously agreed to the invitation. Only when the two reached the Cave Mansion District did they part ways, each returning to their own caves. Chapter 202 Extensive Alchemy_1 Having returned to the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianfeng and the other members of the family had already returned in advance. Seeing the lively group sitting in the courtyard chatting idly and sharing amusing stories from the auction, Lin Tianming and his companion joined in. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming inquired about everyone''s gains. Lin Tianfeng let out a chuckle and then took out a Second Order Junior Attack Talisman and a crystal clear Spirit Fruit, excitedly discussing the auction process at the Qi Refining Area. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin also had fruitful results, each snapping up some good materials for alchemy and talisman making. During the subsequent exchange meeting, they also obtained some elixirs and Spirit Fruits that would enhance their cultivation, reaping a rich harvest indeed. The rest of the group had also gained considerably, acquiring various treasures and becoming acquainted with many cultivators from the Sect Families, as well as some highly skilled Loose Cultivators. Through these days of understanding and connections made with other cultivators, the new family members were able to integrate more swiftly into the Qianchuan Market. As they listened to the accounts, Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, feeling much reassured. Lin Tianming then asked about the recent cultivation plans of the family members, in preparation for their return to the Lin Family. Upon Lin Tianming''s inquiry, Lin Tianfeng immediately responded, "Sixth Brother, just give your instructions. I don''t have any specific plans for this period. I will cultivate by assimilating the Spirit Fruit I have, and then get Tianhu and the others acquainted with the business at the Luoyun Pavilion." Before he finished speaking, Lin Tianhu chimed in, "Yes, Sixth Brother, if you, Second Brother, and Third Sister are going to do alchemy, just give us your direct orders." Lin Tianming nodded then began to think about his own arrangements. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire In the past few days, he had nearly completed making half of the Second Order Pills, and there were still many left, including the accumulation from recent days, plus a lot of materials for First Order Elixirs. Fortunately, with Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong, who were both First Order Superior Grade Alchemists, the making of First Order Elixirs could be left to them. Beyond that, he had acquired the Blueflame Furnace from the auction. He believed that, once he had bonded with it and started refining elixirs, his speed would increase significantly. With these thoughts in mind, he said, "Next, Second Brother and Third Sister will start making First Order Elixir materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion. I will handle the Second Order ones. Uncle Xing Ping will be in closed-door cultivation, and the Pavilion is quite busy right now, so the rest of the family should take turns helping out at the Luoyun Pavilion." Hearing the orders, Lin Tianfeng and the others immediately agreed and then stood up to leave, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping sitting in the courtyard. After the departure of the others, Lin Xingping still looked excited. After calming down, he said, "Tianming, you better start your closed-door cultivation to assimilate the Blueflame Furnace as soon as possible. I will also assimilate the Flame Fruit. It should not take many days before I can leave seclusion. I''ll pay attention to the market in the meantime, and I believe nothing unexpected will happen." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and responded, "Alright, Uncle, go ahead with your cultivation in seclusion. Once I have assimilated the Blueflame Furnace, I''ll also have to refine elixirs for a while. Once we have processed a good amount of the Spiritual Medicine materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion, I will take Tianfeng and the others back to the family." After a few more words, the two said farewell with clasped hands and headed towards their respective training rooms. Lin Tianming didn''t delay either. He had been eager to get the Blueflame Furnace since the moment he received it. If it were not for the fact that he was still at the auction and didn''t have the conditions to assimilate the pill furnace, he would have wanted to begin immediately. Now back in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, he naturally wanted to start assimilating it right away. Thinking this, he immediately entered a training room. Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he took out the blue and red Blueflame Furnace and placed it in front of him. Excitement filled his expression as he looked at the exquisite Blueflame Furnace. With this Blueflame Furnace, the Lin Family possessed its third Second Order Pill Furnace, in addition to the Three Star Furnace used by himself and his grandfather, while another Second Order Junior Pill Furnace was in use by Lin Xingyuan. Moreover, the Lin Family was making equal strides in alchemy and Artifact Refining. Lin Shilu, as a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner, was highly skilled in the Way of Artifact Refining and was regarded as preeminent in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. In the sphere of alchemy, they had Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan, both Second Order Junior Alchemists, and with the assistance of the Blueflame Furnace, breaking through to Second Order Medium Quality should not take long. At most five years, or perhaps ten years, they would surely step into the rank of Second Order Medium Quality. As for First Order Alchemists, there were many clan members with considerable talent. Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin were both First Order Superior Grade. As long as they successfully established their Foundation, becoming Second Order Alchemists should be a natural success. At that time, the family''s alchemy domain would have several Second Order Alchemists, and this alchemic strength would be sufficient to step onto a new stage. He did not know how much time had passed before he came back to his senses and began to regulate his breath and circulate his cultivation technique. Half an hour later, after circulating his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation and ensuring that his state reached its peak, he formed hand seals and cast spells which transformed into beams of Spiritual Light bombarding the Blueflame Furnace. "Humming..." The Blueflame Furnace emitted a series of sounds, its surface gleaming brightly, followed by intense vibrations, as it swelled to the size of a table before quietly settling in front of him, motionless. On closer inspection, the exquisite patterns and tiny inscriptions on the Pill Furnace were clearly visible, and numerous lifelike depictions of Demonic Beasts emerged, lending the entire Pill Furnace an air of indomitable grandeur. Looking at the hard-earned Blueflame Furnace, his expression was one of excitement. He then spat a mouthful of blood essence onto the Blueflame Furnace. In an instant, as the blood essence touched the surface of the Pill Furnace, the entire furnace erupted with an invisible aura, creating gusts of wind that stirred the faint Spiritual Energy of the training room. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 202 Alchemy on a Large Scale_2 ``` Seeing this, Lin Tianming grew even more excited, thinking to himself, "It seems that the Blueflame Furnace''s grade is unexpectedly high, almost reaching the level of a Second Order Superior artifact." Recollecting his mind, at this moment, the surface of the Blueflame Furnace burst with spiritual light and began to spin wildly. Lin Tianming brought his palms together and then cast a series of spells onto the pill furnace. At the same time, he started to focus his consciousness, controlling his divine sense to penetrate the central system of the Blueflame Furnace. As long as he could imprint his consciousness on it and refine it once more, his great accomplishment would be complete. By then, the entire cultivation room was flickering with light, and strange sounds were emerging. Lin Tianming was in the midst of intense refining. Time flew by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming looked somewhat weary, but he did not mind it. After casting another spell, he slowly began to wrap up his work. Lin Tianming felt the Blueflame Furnace in tune with his mind, as if it were a part of his own body, clearly indicating successful refining. At this point, the Blueflame Furnace stopped spinning, silently standing on the floor before him. Looking at it, the previously unclaimed Blueflame Furnace, though lively in appearance, had a somewhat dim luster. But now, after his refinement, it looked more spirited, with a bright surface sheen and occasional flashes of demonic beast phantoms that seemed to have come back to life. Looking at the successfully refined Blueflame Furnace, Lin Tianming waved his hand, and the Blueflame Furnace instantly shrank dramatically, turning back to palm-size, and he caught it in his hand. He infused it with spiritual power, the entire Blueflame Furnace glowed brilliantly and swelled rapidly before starting to spin alongside him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled, and he took the Blueflame Furnace back into his hands for a close inspection, appearing to be utterly lovestruck by it. After several days of refining, he finally succeeded in claiming and refining the Blueflame Furnace. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and then began to meditate with closed eyes, waiting to return to peak condition. Then he would start alchemy to test the effect of the Blueflame Furnace. Half a day later, once his condition had fully recovered, he went to the pill refining room. After sitting on the cushion, he took out some Second Order Lingshen Pill spiritual medicine materials, ready to begin alchemy. With preparations complete, he performed a Grand Circulation, and then cast a spell onto the Earth Fire vent. When the Earth Fire erupted, a wave of heat spread, and the temperature in the pill refining room began to rise gradually, the high temperatures created by the flowing heat waves causing his robe to billow. Then, unhurriedly, he took out the Blueflame Furnace and cast a spell onto it, making it rapidly inflate before it was suspended in the air above the Earth Fire. Once the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace reached the required threshold for alchemy, he immediately threw in a piece of spiritual medicine material into the furnace. "Sizzle sizzle sizzle." The spiritual medicine materials entered the Blueflame Furnace and were quickly refined by the high heat, emitting a faintly special fragrance. He ignored this and began the most basic process of decomposition and purification, turning each piece of spiritual medicine material into essence that collected at the bottom of the furnace. Soon, after more than an hour of intense decomposition and purification, the pieces of spiritual medicine material were completely broken down. At the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace, a multicolored mass of elixir essence lay within. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead, gazing at the essence of the spiritual medicine, showing a satisfied expression. With the Blueflame Furnace, his impression was that this pill furnace was better than his grandfather''s Three Star Furnace; it was more intuitive to use, the efficiency of the decomposition and purification was improved by more than thirty percent, and the resulting elixir essence was purer. This significant change was a great help and enhancement to his alchemy. At this thought, he was extremely excited and prepared to complete the final steps of Infusion of Spirit and Solidifying Pill to see the results of this batch of pills. He took a deep breath and with a single-handed seal, cast another spell onto the Earth Fire vent. With a soft sound, the bright red Earth Fire burst forth, directly heating the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace. At that moment, the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace skyrocketed within a very short time. Seeing that the temperature was about right, he struck the Three Star Furnace with his palm, and immediately, a blast of spiritual power surged into the furnace and disappeared. Suddenly, Lin Tianming shouted, "Solidify the pill!" In an instant, a unique fragrance of elixirs emanated from the furnace, quickly filling the entire pill refining room. ``` Seeing this, he didn''t bother about the beads of sweat on his forehead and hurriedly lifted the lid of the furnace to take a look. Inside the furnace, eight dull gray pills were suspended. He immediately took out one and began to carefully examine it in his hand. After a short while, Lin Tianming''s face revealed an extremely excited expression. This batch of pills had been refined incredibly smoothly. Even though they were just ordinary Second Order Lingshen Pills, which he had refined many times before, the energy contained in the pills refined with the Blueflame Furnace seemed somewhat higher. Not only that, the yield was typically six pills, with seven occurring in rare cases, but this first batch yielded eight. This made it clear that with the help of the Blueflame Furnace, his yield and the success rate of pill production might have both improved. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt joyful and was very pleased with the Blueflame Furnace''s performance. "Each time I can produce one or two more pills, and if they are valuable pills, in one or two instances, I could make back the nearly sixty thousand Spirit Stones spent to buy this Blueflame Furnace. Indeed, it was worth it," Lin Tianming thought to himself. He then collected the pills from the bottom of the furnace, ready to strike while the iron was hot and promptly refine all the materials. Determined, he immediately sprang into action. In no time, the Pill Refining Room was engulfed in waves of heat. Every half day, bursts of medicinal fragrance spread out. The days of frenzied pill refining quietly passed by, and without realizing it, a month had gone by. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming had several hundred Jade Bottles arranged in front of him¡ªall the fruits of his labor over the past month. During this month, he spent his days pill refining and his nights in meditation, not wasting a single moment. With such hard work, he achieved tremendous gains. All the Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials accumulated by Luoyun Pavilion had been fully refined by him, and he had also managed to refine more than a third of the First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. He left the rest for Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin to refine. Since acquiring the Blueflame Furnace, there had been a slight increase in both his pill success rate and yield. After a month of continuous pill refining, he had crafted over a hundred Second Order Pills and just as many First Order Pills. After setting aside those owed to the people who commissioned the pills, he could keep over sixty percent. With over two hundred pills, their value had already surpassed twenty thousand Spirit Stones, earning him back nearly half the capital for the Blueflame Furnace. At this moment, Lin Tianming was exhilarated and in high spirits. After tidying up the cluttered Pill Refining Room, he took all the pills and left. Shortly after, he arrived at the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Seated in the courtyard, he sent out several messages to gather his family members. Before long, except for Lin Xingyao and Lin Tianhu, who were guarding the Luoyun Pavilion, the others had all arrived in haste. They exchanged greetings and then sat down to chat leisurely for a while. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming handed over the hundred-plus bottles of pills he had prepared in advance to Lin Xingping and then asked Lin Tianhong about his and the others'' accomplishments over the month. Lin Tianhong chuckled and said, "The First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion have been mostly refined by us. Aside from the portion we owe to those commissioning pills, the two of us have acquired close to a hundred pills. The remaining twenty percent of the materials will be left for Tianqin. I believe it won''t take long for her to finish refining them all!" Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and felt happy for them. Although their pill refining was arduous, after a month, not only could they improve their pill production skills, but they also obtained a large number of pills. Nearly a hundred pills were worth close to a thousand Spirit Stones. With more opportunities like this, it would take less than ten years to gather enough Spirit Stones for the Foundation Establishment Pills. Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and then said, "It''s been over a month since we left the family. The auction has been attended, the Spiritual Medicine Materials have been almost fully refined, and all matters are settled. Tomorrow morning, let us set out to return to the family!" Hearing Lin Tianming''s words, everyone was overwhelmingly excited. They had left the family three years ago, and finally, they could return. "We''re going home tomorrow!" Lin Tianfeng said excitedly. "Everyone should go and rest. We''ll gather tomorrow morning!" Lin Tianming said with a smile. Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded, stood up, and left one after another. After a short time, only Lin Tianming and his siblings, along with Lin Xingping, remained in the courtyard. Seeing everyone depart, Lin Tianming spoke, "Uncle, I''ve already messaged Old Ye. Let''s set out!" "Mm... let''s go!" Lin Xingping nodded in response. With that, the three of them left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed towards Ye Pinghai''s abode. Chapter 203 Guess_1 In the North District of Qianchuan Market, outside a delicate and quiet residence. Lin Tianming and his two companions paused for a moment before a message was sent out, and the residence''s gate swiftly opened automatically. The three stepped in. At that time, Ye Pinghai was sitting in the small courtyard, waiting for Lin Tianming''s visit. Upon seeing the three enter the courtyard, he politely stood up, greeting Lin Tianming and the others. "Tian Ming has met Grandpa Sea," Lin Tianming saluted with folded hands, and Lin Xingping also greeted Ye Pinghai with clasped fists. Ye Pinghai waved his hand in a dismissing gesture and then turned to Lin Tianyue, asking, "Heh heh, I am truly delighted by the visit of the three young friends. Is this Elder Shi Gong''s granddaughter?" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianyue nodded and then bowed respectfully, "Tian Yue has seen Elder Ye. I have often heard grandfather and my brother mention the elder. I have been in the market for some days now, and it is only today that I have come to pay respects. I hope elder will not blame the younger generation for any disrespect." "It''s no trouble at all. Your grandfather and your elders are very good friends of mine, and the Lin Family has been kind to me, so there''s no need for such politeness. Just call me as Tian Ming does from now on," Ye Pinghai replied. "I will follow Grandpa Sea''s instructions," said Lin Tianyue, once again bowing respectfully. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire "Hmm." Ye Pinghai nodded and then with a wave of his sleeve, a rather exquisite silver-white small sword and a jade bottle appeared in his hand. Ye Pinghai waved the spirit sword in his hand, its nimble blade quickly turning into a series of afterimages, clearly a supreme quality spiritual artifact. "This Ice Sword was obtained by me in my early years; among supreme quality spiritual artifacts, it''s considered a fine item. This Jade Ring Pill in the bottle will benefit your cultivation. Consider them a meeting gift from me," Ye Pinghai said. Seeing the Ice Sword and Jade Ring Pill, Lin Tianming was excited. The aura from the spiritual artifact suggested it was very close to the standard of a Second Order Magical Artifact, extremely nimble yet possessing formidable piercing power¡ªindeed, it was a rare treasure among spiritual artifacts. The Jade Ring Pill was an elixir that improved cultivation, its effects even stronger than the Lingshen Pill. However, spiritual medicine is hard to find, and only a few Golden Elixir Forces had a small reserve of it. Both items were exceptional treasures. It was clear to see that Ye Pinghai was very pleased with Lin Tianyue to present such valuable items. "Tian Yue, Grandpa Sea is quite generous; you should accept these," Lin Tianming said. Hearing Lin Tianming''s reminder, Lin Tianyue, looking delighted, quickly took over the Ice Sword and Jade Ring Pill and thanked Ye Pinghai respectfully. Ye Pinghai nodded, very satisfied, and then invited the three to sit down and chat casually. After conversing leisurely for a while, Ye Pinghai changed the topic and solemnly asked, "Tian Ming, what is Daoist Shi Kang''s current cultivation level? If nothing unexpected happens, he should be close to reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Does he have any chance of impacting the Golden Core Stage?" These words made Lin Tianming''s heart tighten. The family had always kept the advancement of Shi Kang to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment a secret, known only by the most core members. Ye Pinghai''s direct inquiry was puzzling, leaving Lin Tianming uncertain of his intentions and what his plans were, yet it was inappropriate to outright reject answering. Musing over these thoughts, Lin Tianming said with a wry smile, "The younger generation is not clear about Third Grandfather''s exact cultivation level. At your level, every step forward is extremely difficult. As for the Golden Core Stage, without heaven-defying treasures, it''s an unreachable realm and not something easily achieved." Hearing this, Ye Pinghai fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Quickly recovering, he said with a resigned tone, "That''s true, without heaven-defying treasures, the hopes of impacting the Golden Core Stage are slim." Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and then said, "Today, I came to visit you, Elder, because I will return to my family tomorrow. My sister and uncle will remain in the market. I earnestly request Grandpa Sea to look after them. If there''s an opportunity in the future, we will invite Grandpa Sea to visit Green Bamboo Mountain." After finishing, Ye Pinghai maintained his composure, then firmly added: "As long as your family members do not provoke the Golden Core Forces, there won''t be any danger in the market. Even the Golden Core Forces will give this old man some face. Rest assured and go in peace." "Moreover, in a few years, perhaps less than five or within ten, I plan to visit Green Bamboo Mountain to meet with your elders and discuss some important matters." Hearing that Ye Pinghai intended to visit Green Bamboo Mountain and had significant matters to discuss with his Third Grandfather and others, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but speculate. After pondering carefully, given Ye Pinghai''s status and cultivation, Lin Tianming couldn''t fathom what matter would require the Lin Family''s assistance. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Could he be planning to impact the Golden Core Stage?" Lin Tianming thought suddenly, feeling a spark of realization. That was the only possibility; otherwise, he couldn''t see any reason for Ye Pinghai to seek help from the Lin Family. Keeping his expression neutral without directly addressing the issue, since no one would lightly disclose such significant matters, Lin Tianming said, "I will then thank Grandpa Sea in advance for his help. Once I have returned to my family, I will surely mention this to Third Grandfather and the others and await Grandpa Sea''s arrival at Green Bamboo Mountain." "In no more than five or ten years, I shall surely make the personal visit," Ye Pinghai said excitedly. Then, after chatting casually for half an hour and as the evening approached, they got up to say their goodbyes and returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Sitting in the courtyard, Lin Tianming took out the acquired Second Order Demonic Beast skin armors from the exchange and handed them to Lin Tianyue, then instructed her, "These beast skins were specially prepared for you by your brother. I will return to the family tomorrow. Spend the next three years peacefully cultivating in the market. The outside world is too dangerous; never leave on your own. Always follow Uncle Xing Ping''s arrangements and hopefully, when you return to the family after three years, you can directly impact the Foundation Establishment Stage." Chapter 203 Guessing_2 Hearing Lin Tianming''s instructions, Lin Tianyue nodded her head and took the demonic beast skin armor he handed over, saying: "Understood, brother. You can rest assured, I will definitely follow the arrangements. Be careful on your journey." "Alright, go cultivate. We are leaving tomorrow morning, so we won''t be disturbing you anymore," Lin Tianming said. Lin Tianyue nodded her head, then walked towards the depths of the courtyard, disappearing into the night. At this moment, Lin Xingping also took out a book and three storage bags, handing them to Lin Tianming and saying, "This is the profit from Luoyun Pavilion for the past two years, totaling over eighty thousand spirit stones, as well as a batch of precious cultivation resources. The details are all recorded in the book. Be careful on the road." Lin Tianming accepted the storage bags and the book, his Divine Sense sweeping through them to verify the contents, then spoke, "Uncle, don''t worry. Tianhong is returning to the family with me tomorrow. I believe it won''t be more than a few years before he can attempt to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. With his talent and age, the chance of success is great, so you need not worry too much." "As for Tianyue and the others, and Luoyun Pavilion, I''ll leave them in your care, Uncle. If there is anything you can''t resolve, you can go ask Elder Ye for help." "Mm, rest assured. I won''t see you off when you leave the market tomorrow," said Lin Xingping. "Alright, Uncle, rest early. I should head back, too." With those words, Lin Tianming bowed with clasped hands, then headed to his own room, and both men returned to their rooms. That night, Lin Tianming didn''t cultivate but went to bed early, preparing to rest well. The next morning, dawn was just breaking. Lin Tianfeng and the others were ready to go, sitting in the courtyard waiting for Lin Tianming to come out. After a short while, Lin Tianming came out and greeted everyone with a smile, "Everyone looks spirited!" Lin Tianfeng laughed and said with an excited expression, "Well, of course! It''s been three years since we''ve been home, and I do miss the days on Green Bamboo Mountain." "Since everyone is eager to return home, let''s not delay any longer. Let''s go home!" With those words, Lin Tianming took the lead, and Lin Tianfeng and the others followed closely behind. Soon, they left the market in a grand procession and arrived in a valley more than ten miles outside the market. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from its Spirit Beast Bag, and then they all jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle. Feeling the aura of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianfeng couldn''t contain his excitement and blurted out, "It has broken through to Second Order?" "Mm... has been for half a year!" Lin Tianming nodded in response. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming''s affirmative words, the others were visibly excited. With the breakthrough of the Purple Gold Eagle, the family had added another Foundation Establishment combat power, and it was a flying Spiritual Bird at that. Seeing the excitement of his companions, Lin Tianming glanced at the map and then issued a command to the Purple Gold Eagle. Understanding, the Purple Gold Eagle with everyone on its back soared into the sky, entering the thousand-foot-high clouds and reaching its top speed as it shot towards the south. A few days later, Lin Tianming and the others successfully returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. After entering the mountain gate, Lin Tianming bade farewell to the others and then hastened to Lin Shikang''s cave abode. It wasn''t long before he saw Lin Shikang, and Lin Shihua, having heard the news, hurried over as well. The three of them sat in the courtyard chatting over tea. Lin Tianming asked, "Is Fifteenth Grandfather in secluded cultivation?" "Hmm..." Lin Shikang nodded and said with a laugh, "After coming out of the Secret Realm, Shi Lu showed signs of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. With everything going smoothly, it''s time for him to go into seclusion to attempt the breakthrough!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. If Lin Shilu broke through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, the family would have an additional Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, raising the family''s strength to a new level. Given this, the family''s two Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators were stepping into the threshold of the top Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World. Seeing Lin Tianming''s excitement, Lin Shihua asked about the trip to the market, "Tianming, was the trip to Qianchuan Market smooth?" Lin Tianming collected his thoughts and then reported the entire process of the trip to Qianchuan. At the same time, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Shihua. After listening to the whole process, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua nodded. Lin Shihua checked the storage bags and then expressed satisfaction. "Tianming, you''ve worked hard on this trip. Now you can focus on cultivating in the family, aiming for an early breakthrough to the Foundation Building Fourth Level," Lin Shikang said. Lin Tianming nodded, "Third Grandfather, rest assured. Tianming won''t neglect his cultivation!" "Hmm, go ahead!" Lin Shikang waved his hand and said. Just as Lin Tianming was about to get up, he remembered the words of Ye Pinghai and spoke: "Right, Third Grandfather, before I left the Qianchuan Market, I made a special trip with Uncle Xing Ping and Tian Yue to pay a visit to Elder Ye!" Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded, extremely satisfied with how Lin Tianming had handled things. "You did well; he has been of great help to the family over the years, and he indeed deserves a visit!" Lin Tianming chuckled and began to talk about what Ye Pinghai had mentioned during the visit. "Elder Ye said he would be back to Green Bamboo Mountain in the coming years to visit you and a few other elders, as he has important matters to consult about, though he didn''t mention what it was about!" "Ye Pinghai inquired about my cultivation level? He even asked about my confidence in reaching the Golden Core Stage and intends to visit Green Bamboo Mountain?" Lin Shikang was somewhat surprised; Ye Pinghai had not visited Green Bamboo Mountain for over thirty years, and with his cultivation level and influence, his sudden visit must have some motive. After reflecting for several days, Lin Tianming had an uncertain idea, but he could not confirm it. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire With these thoughts, he immediately said: "Third Grandfather, didn''t the auction at the market convention feature a Gold Fruit?" "In my opinion, with Elder Ye''s cultivation and wealth, I think he must have participated in the auction, and he might even have acquired the Gold Fruit!" "As for his reasons for visiting, it''s very likely related to his impacting the Golden Core Stage and perhaps seeking assistance from the Lin Family!" Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang and another person did not speak but started to ponder over the possibility. After a short while, Lin Shikang nodded and then said, "This speculation of yours is indeed very plausible!" At this time, Lin Shihua also spoke up: "Third brother, impacting the Golden Core Stage, loose cultivators always do so in secret, seeking a quiet and safe place to break through, who would make a big show of it and spread the word around!" "Yes, Third Grandfather!" Lin Tianming echoed: "Even though Elder Ye has always had a good relationship with our Lin Family, and is even close friends with a few of the elders, the importance of the Golden Core Stage is too great. Would he really disclose this matter to you?" As soon as the words fell, Lin Shikang smiled and then shared his own opinion. "What Tian Ming said does make some sense, but impacting the Golden Core Stage is extremely tough, especially during the final Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Many cultivators can condense a Golden Core but fail to successfully pass the tribulation and ultimately perish, leaving only a very small number who survive with the aid of treasures and remain in the Fake Elixir Realm!" "It can be said that this Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation is the biggest obstacle on the path to the Golden Core!" "And as a loose cultivator, Ye Pinghai cannot impact the Golden Core Realm within the market; without a stable and safe place for the breakthrough and no one to protect him, rashly attempting it would be incredibly dangerous." "If he comes to the Lin Family for help and borrows some high-quality defensive artifacts, his chances of breaking through the Golden Core Stage will greatly increase!" "Considering this, that''s very likely the reason for his visit!" Hearing Lin Shikang discuss this matter, Lin Tianming and the other person suddenly saw the light and felt that it was indeed a strong possibility. However, Lin Tianming still had some doubts, and he then asked: "Third Grandfather, Elder Ye is well-known in the entire Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, and many powers owe him favors. If he seeks help from other forces, shouldn''t it be easy?" "Yeah... If he seeks help from the Zhenyang Sect, wouldn''t the breakthrough be even more secure?" Lin Shihua said. "Zhenyang Sect?" Lin Shikang snorted coldly and explained: "You think the Zhenyang Sect would be that benevolent?" "Even if they were willing to help, he''d probably have to pay a heavy price, or they might even kick him when he''s down." Hearing this, Lin Tianming and the other person nodded, fully agreeing with his statement, knowing the complex inner workings of sects, with various factions and the constant undercurrent of power struggles, it indeed wasn''t a guarantee of safety. Seeing that Lin Tianming and the other person had no further questions, Lin Shikang continued: "These are all our speculations, after all. If it''s really as suspected, helping him would be to our advantage, but whether it is so or not, we''ll know when he actually visits!" "Also, this matter should not be spread around. Only the few of us should know, understand?" "Understood!" Lin Tianming and the other person nodded in agreement, chatted for a bit longer, and then left Lin Shikang''s cave dwelling together, each returning to their own. Chapter 204 Training Once Again_1 Back to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming lay on his stone bed, relaxed his tense nerves, and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, after a night of rest, Lin Tianming stepped out of his cave dwelling, feeling no trace of fatigue. It was early morning, and the warm sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on his mature face. He stretched lazily, his entire body relaxed, and he exuded a vibrant vitality. Over the years, bustling about ceaselessly, he was now at ease with all affairs smoothly handled and calm both inside and outside the family; his leisure was incomparably comfortable. Looking around at some of the empty courtyards, perhaps in a few years, the Tian-generation family members would successively break through to Foundation Establishment, bringing new occupants here and enlivening the area. He strolled through the courtyard, idly wandering while contemplating his next plans. With no clan tasks for the short term and no worries about resources for cultivation, he could finally devote himself to uninterrupted cultivation for a few years. Unconsciously, he arrived at his mother''s cave dwelling. His sister had gone to Qianchuan Market, and these past few years his mother had peacefully secluded herself, preparing to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. After a brief reunion, Lin Tianming left behind some top-quality elixirs and then departed. Afterward, Lin Tianming paid a visit to his grandfather. The grandfather and grandson sat sipping tea and chatting in the small courtyard. Lin Shigong lifted his teacup and took a sip, then asked, "Tianming, now that you''re quite free, what are your plans for the future?" Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Lin Tianming thought for a moment; he had originally planned to temper himself in Luoyun Mountain Range but had his schedule disrupted by the trip to Qianchuan Market. Now with ample time, he could perhaps lead family members who were above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining to the Luoyun Mountain Range for experience, meanwhile consolidating their cultivation and honing their divine skills. Having thought this through, Lin Tianming shared his thoughts, quickly gaining Lin Shigong''s approval and encouragement. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this, as experience was beneficial for both the family and himself; it could not only enhance combat experience but also consolidate cultivation. And with some luck, it could yield heaven-sent treasures, accumulating wealth. More importantly, it could strengthen the faith of family members on the cultivation path, helping them to understand the purpose of cultivation¡ªtruly a case of killing several birds with one stone. At that moment, Lin Shigong looked at his grandson with a satisfied expression. He was very proud and comforted by his grandson, whose cultivation advanced rapidly, who always considered the clan in every regard, who was indifferent to personal gain or loss, and who had become increasingly mature and stable with age, displaying a character and temperament beyond reproach. "Tianming, experience is a good thing, but you must be careful. Go and discuss the matter with your Twelfth Grandpa. I believe he will also support this initiative," Upon hearing his grandfather''s words, Lin Tianming immediately stood up to take his leave and headed towards the Elders'' Council Hall. In no time, he met with Clan Leader Lin Shihua. The two sat in the Elders'' Council Hall, and Lin Tianming proposed the idea of the venture, then awaited the Clan Leader''s directives. Lin Shihua chuckled and said, "That''s a good thing. The clan''s ventures have never ceased over the years, but none with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, only those above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement attending in groups; their strength is limited, and they have not ventured deep into Luoyun Mountain Range." In the past, the clan''s expeditions were almost always on the fringes of the internal regions. After years of hunting, the outer demonic beasts were reduced to one-tenth of their original number, making it relatively safe as long as one remains cautious of the Second Order Demonic Beasts inside. "Since you are willing to lead the venture, you can advance toward Golden Horn Mountain. With your strength, there is no difficulty in clearing out the Second Order Initial Stage beasts around the periphery, and even a singular Second Order Middle Stage beast is unlikely to match you," S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing what the Clan Leader said, Lin Tianming nodded. Now, with his Third Level of Foundation Establishment and being a Dual Cultivator of Body and Law, ordinary Second Order Initial Stage demonic beasts were no match for him; even if he faced a Second Order Middle Stage beast, he could retreat intact. Seeing Lin Tianming''s confident expression, Lin Shihua continued; "Pushing toward the direction of Golden Horn Mountain has many benefits. After sweeping through those demonic beasts, a safe route to Golden Horn Mountain can be opened. With the explosive growth of mortal family members in recent years, some of them can be relocated to live around the area. If we come across some rivers and mountains with richer Spiritual Energy, we can develop Spirit Fields or Spiritual Medicine Gardens, growing Spirit Valley Elixirs and accumulating Spirit Stones for the clan." Hearing this, Lin Tianming strongly agreed. The family''s numbers were growing quickly, and their annual consumption of Spirit Stones was vast. If they relied solely on Luoyun Market and Luoyun Pavilion, they would eventually be unable to sustain the clan''s expenses; they needed to put those with poor talent and low cultivation to good use. Their cultivation was low and their talent lacking, rendering them unremarkable in the Four Arts of Cultivation, but they were quite sufficient for planting Spirit Valley crops and guarding the lower-order Spiritual Medicine Gardens. "It''s perfect timing. Tianfeng and Tianhong are about to meet the requirements for Foundation Establishment, along with some Xing Clan Members whose cultivation is all above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. We can assemble some clan members to open up Luoyun Mountain, simultaneously tempering them," Lin Shihua said. Lin Tianming nodded. The clan''s current generation was advancing rapidly in cultivation. Aside from some Xing Clan Members who had participated in the battle of Luoyun Mountain, many had not undergone much life-or-death experience, like Lin Xingqi and Lin Tianhong, who had been secretly taken away by Lin Xingrong as the clan''s lifeline and thus missed the thrilling battle of Luoyun Mountain. As their cultivation had reached the threshold for Foundation Establishment, leading them to experience and settle would perhaps ease their own impacts on the Foundation Establishment Stage. Chapter 204 Again Training_2 Returning his attention, Lin Tianming spoke, "The Clan Leader has issued an order that all clan members above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining must participate in a trial within two years, barring special circumstances. Please ask Fifteenth Grandfather to lead the mission; we will clear the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range and, incidentally, forge a safe passage to Golden Horn Mountain." "Hmm... I will arrange this matter later," Lin Shihua nodded in response. "Then, Twelfth Grandpa is busy, Tianming will take his leave first." Lin Tianming stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and walked out of the Elders'' Council Hall. After leaving the Elders'' Council Hall, Lin Tianming walked on the paths of Green Bamboo Mountain. It was exactly noon, and a large number of clan members were bustling between various clan institutions, making the clan''s atmosphere seem very lively. At that moment, a voice came from behind. He turned his head to see Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong approaching him side by side, greeting him from a distance away. Lin Tianming returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute and immediately asked, "Big brother, second brother, what brings you here?" Excited after returning from Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianfeng spoke, "The two of us are preparing to exchange for some treasures at the Hall of Merit and then enter seclusion to cultivate for a while." Hearing this, it seemed the two brothers were not here to find him; it was merely a chance encounter. However, thinking of the trial discussed with the Clan Leader, Lin Tianming mentioned the matter to them. After all, they would soon be informed and needed to participate in this trial. After a short while, Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded. They naturally had no objections to the clan''s arrangements, nor did they dare to have any. "Sixth brother, we''ll participate in the first batch of the trial. Let us reunite in three months, hoping to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage after this trial," Lin Tianfeng said. No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianhong excitedly added, "Yes, I wanted to consolidate my cultivation; this is a great opportunity." "Mm... Use these next few months to prepare well. In three months, we will enter the mountains for the trial," Lin Tianming said, and after bidding farewell to the two, he returned to his cave dwelling. Back in his cave dwelling, he went straight to the training room and began another session of seclusion, striving to further improve his cultivation. The next morning, notices were posted at the entrance of every clan institution. Crowds of clan members gathered to observe, and although the mountain trial wasn''t directly relevant to cultivators below Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, it did not stop everyone from discussing it. Soon, the news of the clan organizing those above Ninth Layer of Qi Refining for the mountain trial spread throughout the clan, drawing a lot of attention. Aside from those in seclusion or not present in the clan, the rest of the clan was informed about the matter. Moreover, the members in seclusion would eventually learn about it, as there were still three months before the mountains were to be entered, and since the groups were being split into two waves, there was ample time to prepare. Meanwhile, those eligible for the trial rushed to the Hall of Merit to extensively prepare elixirs and talismans, readying themselves for departure at any moment. As for Lin Tianming, he was in seclusion in the training room, oblivious to these developments. Time flew by swiftly, and three months passed just like that. On this day, in the plaza in front of the clan gate, Lin Xingzhi stood at the forefront, his gaze sweeping over the gathered cultivators. At that moment, the plaza was filled with more than a dozen people. As the Enforcement Hall Master, Lin Xingzhi was also there with his Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage cultivation. Below him were Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong, as well as Lin Xingyu, who was also at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, totaling four clan members with that level of cultivation. And the remaining individuals, all at the Ninth Layer Qi Refining stage, were all backbone forces of the clan. Lin Xingzhi and the others struck up casual conversation, waiting for Lin Tianming''s arrival. After a short while, Lin Tianming arrived via Sword Flight and landed beside Lin Xingzhi. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming said with a smile, "Clan Uncle, long time no see, and now even you are participating!" "Even though I serve as the Enforcement Hall Master, I still meet the requirements for this trial. It''s a good opportunity to venture out in the trial and then return to the clan to seclude myself and impact the Foundation Establishment Stage!" responded Lin Xingzhi. Lin Tianming nodded, glanced at the nine people on the field, and said to Lin Xingzhi: "Uncle, have all the clansmen for this training gathered?" Lin Xingzhi chuckled, and then responded, "Fifteenth Uncle is still in secluded cultivation. We are the first group of clansmen to enter the mountain, and we have all assembled here. Another group of clansmen will be led by Fifteenth Uncle to replace us in half a year." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, no wonder Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingshun, and the others with Great Perfection cultivation weren''t seen. After scanning the crowd of clansmen, Lin Tianming suddenly spoke up: "This mountain training will last for half a year; the purpose needs no further explanation. Everyone here is the backbone of the family. I hope you seize this opportunity to temper yourselves, so that upon returning to the clan, you can breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage at the earliest." "Let''s set off!" Lin Tianming waved his hand and stepped past the Protective Clan Formation, followed by a crowd of clansmen who promptly disappeared from the spot. Once out of the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, leading everyone towards the bordering Luoyun Mountain Range. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, fierce winds howled past their ears, and the rivers and valleys behind them gradually receded into the distance. The group sat together, discussing matters related to their training. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming asked, "Does anyone have any suggestions for this training?" Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi spoke up, "For this training, the family hasn''t set any particular goals. We will clear out the demonic beasts along the way towards Golden Horn Mountain, penetrating deeper into the mountain range according to our strength¡ªthere are no mandatory requirements." "We can infiltrate a few dozen miles into the interior, and then advance towards Golden Horn Mountain''s direction. With our line-up, and having Little Sixth Brother anchoring us, it shouldn''t be difficult," Lin Tianfeng said with a smile. After hearing the thoughts of the few, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, "A few dozen miles... let''s see. If the demonic beasts are not too strong, even infiltrating two hundred miles shouldn''t be a problem!" Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi and the others had solemn expressions on their faces, seemingly apprehensive. Although the Luoyun Mountain Range isn''t as vast as the Qianchuan Mountain Range, it still covers a thousand miles or so, and the core interior is home to a large number of Second Order demonic beasts¡ªits strength should not be underestimated. And Lin Tianming''s words about infiltrating two hundred miles would nearly reach the territories of those Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts. Considering this, Lin Xingzhi quickly said, "Tianming, let''s first test out the actual situation with the demonic beasts. If conditions allow, we still have no objections!" "Alright then, let''s go see what we''re up against first," Lin Tianming replied. Seeing that Lin Tianming didn''t insist, the others breathed a sigh of relief. After half a day, the Purple Gold Eagle with all the clansmen arrived in a valley. With the high-speed flight of the Purple Gold Eagle, coupled with the near-eradication of the outer demonic beasts, they didn''t need to worry about danger and thus moved quickly. In just half a day, they had reached the borderline between the outer and inner areas of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Standing on top of a small hill, Lin Tianming took out a map to check their location with Lin Xingzhi. Behind them, Lin Tianfeng and the others were cleaning up the battlefield, taking down demon cores and useful materials from some First Order demonic beasts. This place bordered the inner region, and it was also the territory of a First Order demon beast tribe with just over twenty members and not particularly strong. He didn''t even have to lift a finger, and his clansmen tackled them effortlessly. In no time, Lin Tianfeng and the others finished cleaning up the battlefield and gathered together. Looking at his excited companions, Lin Tianming then asked, "How did the battle go, and how is everyone''s condition?" Lin Tianfeng, energized, began reporting the results. "All twenty-seven First Order demonic beasts have been slaughtered, including four at the First Order Late Stage, seven at the Middle Stage, and the rest were all at the Initial Phase!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, then instructed, "Search their lair thoroughly but safely, heed no carelessness. After the cave is searched, we''ll camp here for tonight. Tomorrow, we will infiltrate deeper into the mountain range!" "Okay!" Lin Tianfeng replied and led a few men deeper into the valley, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi standing there. Chapter 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_1 The next morning, in the misty canyon, Lin Tianming and his clanspeople gathered together. After scouring the dens of the Demonic Beasts the previous day, they had acquired some Spiritual Medicine Materials. These were all rather common varieties, and the quantities were not significant; the harvest was quite average. The night passed peacefully, with no unexpected incidents. The clanspeople convened, and among them, Lin Tianming''s seniority was not the highest, but his cultivation was. Everyone eagerly awaited his instructions. As the leader of this expedition, Lin Tianming scanned the crowd and quickly made a decision¡ªto continue deeper into the Luoyun Mountain Range. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire After briefing the clanspeople, the group set off, swiftly making their way into the dense forests deep within the mountain range. The clanspeople moved swiftly¡ªevery one of them was at least at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. With Lin Tianming, who was at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, leading them, they felt much more assured and ventured on with few concerns. While the clanspeople were at ease, Lin Tianming dared not be careless; the Tiangang Sword was always in his hand, and his Divine Sense enveloped their surroundings, alert to any potential dangers. The group proceeded without incident, pushing deeper into the mountain ridges. Three days flew by in a flash. Over these few days, Lin Tianming and the others had traveled over a hundred miles, encountering only a lone Demonic Beast at the First Order Late Stage, which was swiftly slain by the group. Now, they arrived at a hill, where Lin Tianming stood on the summit, gazing thoughtfully at the dense mounds in the distance. "Tianming, is there something moving?" Lin Xingzhi asked. After a moment, Lin Tianming''s gaze shifted back, his expression somewhat solemn. "Everyone, prepare for battle!" With that command, Lin Tianming immediately took out fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and tossed them into the air. The swords quickly scattered, then disappeared underground. Seeing Lin Tianming''s reaction and his verbal warning, Lin Xingzhi and others promptly got ready for combat. Just then, the ground began to tremble. Their expressions changed as they focused on the noise coming from ahead. Lin Tianming, who had been through numerous life-and-death battles, stayed calm. He pivoted, shielding his fellow clanspeople behind him, ready for the appearance of the Demonic Beasts. In no time, dust kicked up into the air. Once the dust settled, the silhouettes of dozens of Demonic Beasts became visible as they converged, fixing their gaze on Lin Tianming and his companions, poised to attack at any moment. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Scorpion Clan beasts!" Lin Tianfeng shouted. Surveying the scene, it was indeed a Scorpion Clan group, numbering over fifty, among which were two Second Order Initial Stage beasts, evidently a male and a female pair. Beyond them were more than ten First Order Late Stage beasts, and the rest were at the Initial Phase and Medium Stage¡ªhardly a threat. "Leave those two Second Order beasts to me; eliminate the rest as quickly as you can!" After shouting his orders, Lin Tianming, gripping the Tiangang Sword, charged forth with the speed of an arrow. At the same time, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianfeng were the first to engage, unleashing a flurry of attacks and charging towards two First Order Late Stage Sword Venom Scorpions. Upon witnessing Lin Tianming and his kinsmen take action, the two Second Order Scorpions let out a shrill cry, wielding their giant pincers, and leaped a hundred yards towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming snorted coldly. His Tiangang Sword radiated a brilliant Spiritual Light, sending out streaks of Sword Qi at extreme speed, slashing towards the Scorpions. "Boom!" The Scorpions hastily dodged the attack and then swiped their massive pincers towards Lin Tianming. Seeing the incoming giant pincers, Lin Tianming knew a direct hit could cause serious damage, even with his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. Fortunately, the Scorpions weren''t very fast, and their Second Order Initial Stage wasn''t very high, making them not too difficult to dodge. Lin Tianming, unruffled, dodged and released multiple bursts of Sword Qi from his Tiangang Sword. This time, one Scorpion wasn''t so lucky. Under the barrage of Qi, it failed to evade in time and was struck by a burst of Sword Qi on its tail. "Crackle and pop..." A series of metallic clangs rang out as cracks formed on the Scorpion''s black shell-tail. "Hiss..." The Scorpion writhed in pain, wildly swinging its venomous tail spike like an invisible sword, stabbing towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s expression turned grave. His attack failed to sever the Scorpion''s not-so-large tail, which was somewhat unexpected. This was his first encounter with such a beast. Although he had heard of them and seen descriptions in books, after one exchange, it was clear their attack and defensive power were extremely strong, but their speed was a significant weakness. Now, as the Scorpion''s venomous tail spike drew near, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, slowing the seemingly lightning-fast attack. Elated, Lin Tianming moved like the wind, effortlessly dodging the furious blow. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the other Scorpion''s attack promptly followed. Facing the fierce onslaught of the two Scorpions, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming became a blur, weaving between them. Meanwhile, he seized every opportunity to counterattack. At this time, the entire mound was under siege. Lin Tianming fought fiercely with the two Second Order Scorpions at the edge, with constant, thunderous blasts echoing as countless mounds were battered into a mess by their respective attacks. Not far from them, Lin Xingzhi and his fellow clansmen battled with the First Order Scorpions. Although the Scorpions had a numerical advantage, Lin Xingzhi and the others were not outmatched in cultivation. With experience in battle and strength nearly at the limit of the Qi Refinement Realm, they held their own. Chapter 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_2 Under such circumstances, the Sword Venom Scorpions were being suppressed by them; the corpses of early to mid-stage Demonic Beasts lay scattered everywhere, with only a few mid-stage or higher beasts clinging to life thanks to their tough defensive carapaces. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt relieved. He no longer needed to split his focus on the clan members and could concentrate fully on dealing with the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions. After dodging another strike, the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions were squeezed together, getting closer and closer to the center of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Perfect opportunity! Lin Tianming performed the hand seals, chanting under his breath. "Earth Fiend Sword Formation, activate!" The Earth Evil Swords hidden beneath the ground shot into the sky, spinning rapidly in an exceedingly short amount of time. Quickly, the sword array was activated, and an invisible barrier enveloped the area within several hundred yards. At the moment the sword array was activated, a pressing feeling came over them, with copious amounts of Sword Qi roaming about. The two Sword Venom Scorpions seemed to realize that something was amiss and scrambled, in a panic, to escape the coverage of the sword array. Seeing this, how could Lin Tianming let them have their way? "Tiangang Ninth Sword, third strike!" Lin Tianming thundered, the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand, carrying silvery-white light and shooting towards the Sword Venom Scorpions within the sword array. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword was already in front of the Sword Venom Scorpion. "Bang..." A loud noise erupted. In their panic, the Sword Venom Scorpions were too slow to evade, hampered by the constricting sensation of the sword array, and harassed by the Sword Qi within it, leaving them unable to dodge. The Tiangang Sword, carrying an earth-shattering momentum, directly struck the back of one of the Sword Venom Scorpions. With a wretched cry, the scorpion''s back shell split open over a large area, exposing the flesh underneath. At this point, the Sword Venom Scorpion, struck by the Tiangang Sword, writhed painfully, severely injured but not yet dead. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. This was the first time he used the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword in combat, and the power of the three overlapping strikes was indeed fierce, causing severe damage to the defensively impressive Sword Venom Scorpion. The other Sword Venom Scorpion that had evaded the attack saw its companion severely wounded and immediately became enraged. It let out an angry hiss and then raised its terrifying stinger, spewing out a large amount of dark brown venom. As soon as the venom was released, a pungent, fishy smell spread, and the air itself seemed to corrode with a sizzling sound. For a creature like the Sword Venom Scorpion, its venom is the most dangerous weapon. If one were covered in its venom head-on, even cultivators at the Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment would be gravely injured, if not killed. Seeing the venom spurting towards him at a terrifying speed, Lin Tianming didn''t dare to be careless. As he retreated explosively, he threw out a Second Order inferior-grade Defense Talisman, which after infusing it with Spiritual Power, rapidly turned into a light screen in front of him. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the blink of an eye, the dark brown venom came into contact with the light screen. "Sizzle sizzle sizzle..." A series of harsh sounds echoed. The light screen instantly burst into flames and could only hold for a brief moment before the venom corroded it into a puff of black smoke that dissipated between heaven and earth. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s eyebrows were tightly knit, not expecting the venom to be so terrifying that a Second Order inferior-grade talisman was so easily destroyed. Facing the continuing onslaught of venom, he quickly brought out the Green Scale Shield in front of him. In that instant, a small amount of the venom splashed onto the Green Scale Shield causing more black smoke to billow, disappearing quickly. Fortunately, the Green Scale Shield blocked the horrific venom, but a small amount of venom still corroded a part of the shield, reducing its spirituality and thereby decreasing the shield''s overall defensive power. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn''t have time to lament the damage to the Green Scale Shield; filled with anger, he once again unleashed the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. At the same time, with a pinch of his Law Decree, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a range of a hundred yards. Inside, the Sword Qi was incredibly dense, and the barriers were exceptionally solid. Watching the sword qi roaming inside the formation becoming stronger and the even more terrifying Tiangang Sword assaulting, the trapped Sword Venom Scorpion frantically charged at the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, struggling desperately to break free. Regrettably, its strength was limited, and under such an overwhelming attack, any response was already too late. "Boom..." A loud explosion sounded as the Tiangang Sword directly struck the head of the Sword Venom Scorpion. A miserable scream was heard, and the scorpion''s head instantly shattered. The Tiangang Sword had pierced through its head, and its three-zhang-long body fell to the ground. After a few instinctive twitches, there was no more movement; it was clearly killed by the Tiangang Sword. Seeing this, another Sword Venom Scorpion dead and one severely injured and deprived of its fighting ability, the outcome of the battle was decided, and Lin Tianming''s expression was filled with surprise and joy. Facing the only dying Sword Venom Scorpion left, he leaped forward, the Tiangang Sword in his hand piercing straight through the heavily injured scorpion, ending its life. Having dealt with the two Sword Venom Scorpions, he then turned his head to observe the battle of his clan members. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingzhi''s First Order High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts in their hands burst forth with powerful Sword Qi, stirring up dust clouds and alternating flashes of firelight and the sounds of explosions. The Lin Family members held an absolute advantage, with many of the low-order Monster Beasts already dead. The Scorpion Clan was already no match for the power of the Lin Family, and now they were in even more of a retreat, likely unable to hold out much longer before being completely annihilated. Lin Tianming stood on top of a mound, and although he had expended over half of his Spiritual Power, his own strength still peaked. He had no intention of joining the battle, as this trial was meant to temper his clan members. Besides, they held a definitive upper hand; steady and assured victory was just a matter of time as long as they eradicated the remaining members of the Scorpion Clan. In such a situation, he had no reason to intervene. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng, seeing that the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions had been killed, was surprised and delighted, suddenly laughing heartily: "Uncle Xingzhi, let''s have a little competition to see who can end the battle faster, shall we?" Hearing Lin Tianfeng''s words, Lin Xingzhi, after repelling a First Order Late Stage Sword Venom Scorpion with his sword, responded with a chuckle, "Hehe... you lad dare to challenge me, if you lose, you have to give me two jars of Jade Flower Brew!" "Fine... we''ll bet two jars of Jade Flower Brew!" After Lin Tianfeng shouted, the Spirit Sword in his hand erupted with even more intense Spiritual Light, a shocking golden Sword Qi shot out, cutting towards the Sword Venom Scorpion in front of him. Seeing Lin Tianfeng going all out with his strongest Divine Skill, Lin Xingzhi did not show weakness either. He poured a massive amount of Spiritual Power into his Spirit Sword, causing his First Order High-Grade Spiritual Artifact to burst with Spiritual Light, unleashing countless tiny silvery Sword Qi projectiles, bombarding his targeted Sword Venom Scorpion. Lin Tianming, watching the battle from the side, judged their strength. "Uncle Xingzhi, who has reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage longer, has had two more years of experience. Plus, he has been battle-hardened and shone brilliantly in the great battle at Luoyun Mountain. He should be the first to finish the battle!" Lin Tianming thought to himself. Sure enough, as his mind returned to the present, Lin Xingzhi''s Sword Qi struck the head of the Sword Venom Scorpion. A metallic clash resonated, followed by a scream. The head of the Sword Venom Scorpion hit by Lin Xingzhi''s Sword Qi shattered, with copious amounts of blood and dark brown fluids spewing out, the mixture immediately corroding the mound beneath the beast into a deep pit. Meanwhile, the scorpion twitched a few times and then laid still, evidently dead from Lin Xingzhi''s attack. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire On the other side, Lin Tianfeng''s attack struck the Sword Venom Scorpion at the same time. However, the outcomes were different. The carapace on the back of the scorpion struck by Lin Tianfeng broke apart, exposing the internal organs, and it struggled on the ground without dying immediately. With this, the difference between their strikes was clear. "Haha... Tianfeng, you better not back out!" Lin Xingzhi shouted excitedly. "I, Tianfeng, a man of my word, will accept the loss!" After replying, Lin Tianfeng swung his Spirit Sword once more, bringing an end to the life of the injured Sword Venom Scorpion. Chapter 206 Qilin Beast_1 Lin Tianming stared at the battlefield of his fellow clansmen, as Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingzhi finished their battle, the entire Sword Venom Scorpion Clan was already at the end of its road. "Tianfeng, quickly help our clansmen finish the battle!" After Lin Xingzhi shouted, he pounced toward the remaining Sword Venom Scorpions like a tiger descending the mountain. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng was not to be outdone, and with a wild laugh, he too joined the fray. With the addition of Lin Tianfeng and another, what was already a winning situation for Lin Tianhong and the others became an overwhelming rout, encircling and slaughtering the remaining Sword Venom Scorpions. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fire soared to the sky amidst the mounds, screams mingled with the clanging of metal echoed forth. After the time it takes to brew a pot of tea passed, all movement stopped on the hills, signaling the end of the battle. Looking around, the hills were now riddled with holes¡ªmany of them caused by attacks from various Lingjian Spells, resulting in a lot of deep pits either blasted by Sword Qi or corroded into existence by the venom of the Sword Venom Scorpions. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire At this time, Lin Tianfeng and the excited clansmen gathered around Lin Tianming. Seeing that everyone had finished the battle without major injuries¡ªonly Lin Tianhong and Lin Xingxiao looked a bit pale, but they appeared to be alright¡ªLin Tianming swept his gaze over the people and carelessly asked out of concern, "The battle is over, did anyone get hurt?" Lin Tianhong took out a Consolidating Essence Pill and swallowed it before replying, "The venom of those Sword Venom Scorpions is quite tricky, barely a touch and it corroded a small part of my arm. But it''s not serious, I only need a few days of rest to recover!" No sooner had his words fallen than Lin Xingxiao spoke, "Tianhong and I have similar injuries, just some minor ones. It won''t take long to recover!" After Lin Tianhong and the other had spoken, the rest remained silent, clearly indicating that they were uninjured. Lin Tianming nodded, approving of his clansmen''s performance, and then ordered, "Everyone, quickly clean up the battlefield. After that, find their nests, collect all the treasures, and then we can rest here overnight!" "Alright... let''s be swift and avoid wasting time!" Lin Xingzhi followed up right after speaking and took some people with him to collect the corpses of the demonic beasts. Seeing everyone busily getting to work in their excitement, Lin Tianming headed toward the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions he had killed. Arriving beside a Second Order Sword Venom Scorpion, he swung his Tiangang Sword, extracted the demon beast''s inner pill, and then easily sliced off the creature''s shell to store in his storage bag. Every part of this Sword Venom Scorpion was treasure; its shell was extremely tough and could serve as a main material, combined with some Spirit Ore Stones to refine a shield. The other parts such as the venomous stings and pincers were also good Artifact Refining Materials, useful for making attack-type weapons. Soon, he had finished dissecting the corpse of a Second Order Sword Venom Scorpion, collecting all usable parts, including the soul and flesh, as they also contained a considerable amount of energy. Although cultivators couldn''t consume it, the Purple Gold Eagle was not picky, and it would make a fine meal for it. After a quarter of an hour, the battlefield was cleansed. The ground was littered with the limbs of Sword Venom Scorpions, mostly Low-order Monster Beast bodies, and numerous discarded items. At this time, every clansman was brimming with excitement; the spoils from this battle were not small. A clan of over fifty Sword Venom Scorpions could fetch a good number of Spirit Stones from just their corpses, not to mention their yet-to-be-collected nests. With the thought of the Sword Venom Scorpion Clan''s nests, Lin Tianming wore an expectant look and led several people in the direction the demonic beasts had come from. In a short time, they arrived at a place crisscrossed with ravines. Looking around at the edge of the ravine, there were many holes of varying sizes, scattered in every direction with nearly a hundred in number. From the aura emanating above and the size of these caves, they were positive these were the nests of the Sword Venom Scorpions. Lin Tianfeng and the others couldn''t contain their excitement, showing eagerness to begin. Looking into the unfathomable caves, Lin Tianming deployed his Divine Sense to scan the area and detected nothing unusual. "I''ve already checked, there''s no danger in the ravines, but as for inside the caves, that''s unknown. Everyone split up into pairs, stay alert, and go gather the treasures inside!" After Lin Tianming gave the command, Lin Xingzhi and the others nodded in acknowledgment and quickly formed four teams. Lin Xingzhi and four other Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage clansmen each took a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining clansman; the one extra person was allocated to Lin Tianhong''s team. After all, it was obvious that Lin Tianhong''s strength was somewhat weaker after the group battle. Having an extra person on his team meant their overall strength improved, nearly matching the other three teams. Following their descent into the ravine, Lin Tianming also jumped down, heading straight for the two largest caves. Entering one of the caves, Lin Tianming carefully proceeded deeper, his Tiangang Sword in hand. Soon, he reached the end and found several stalks of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, all of fairly good quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming remained calm. Although he didn''t find anything of high value, the discovery was still satisfying. He quickly collected the Spiritual Medicine Materials and then moved on to another cave. The second cave was the same, containing several stalks of the same variety of Spiritual Medicine Materials and nothing else. Not discouraged by this, Lin Tianming pressed on. After all, the Sword Venom Scorpion Clan''s strength was limited. The two highest-ranked demonic beasts were only at the Second Order Initial Stage and were unlikely to possess any remarkable treasures. Chapter 1 - 1: Some Basic Settings of this Book_1 Chapter 1: Some Basic Settings of this Book_1 Chapter 1: Some Basic Settings of this Book_1 Cultivation Realms: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation (Corresponding to Demonic Beasts of 1st to 5th Order) PS: Only the Human Race with a Spiritual Root can cultivate. Innate differences can¡¯t easily be reversed by ordinary treasures. Demonic Beasts cultivate their bodies, and the higher their grade, the higher their Spirit Wisdom. ¡­ Lifespan: 120 years of Qi Cultivation, 250 years of Foundation Establishment, 600 years of Golden Core, 1500 years of Nascent Soul, 5000 years to Become a God ... (Demonic Beasts¡¯ lifespans are roughly 5 times that of the Human Race) PS: Ordinary humans generally live to about 50, though some strong and sturdy martial artists can live to their eighties or nineties. ¡­ Weapons: Spiritual Artifact, Magic Artifact, Magical Treasure, Spiritual Treasure, Ancient Treasure (corresponding to Qi Refinement~Divinity Transformation; starting from Magical Treasure, no further grade distinction) Heavenly Spiritual Treasure (a rarity from the upper realms) PS: Weapons are divided into offensive and defensive, and regardless of the grade, there are differences in quality and spirituality, naturally leading to different effects. ¡­ Spiritual Root: Basic Five Elements properties + Ice, Wind, Thunder PS: The Human Race starts to test for Spiritual Roots at age ten, and only those who possess them can embark on the path of cultivation. ¡­ Spirit Stone: Low-Grade, Medium Grade, High Quality, Supreme Quality S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Exchange Ratio: 100-1 PS: Medium and Low-Grade Spirit Stones are the most widely circulated among Cultivators. Once reaching the level of High-Quality Spirit Stones, these are typically used as energy sources for formations and are usually found with cultivators above the Golden Core Stage, considered a scarce strategic resource. ¡­ Cultivation Technique; Yellow Grade, Mysterious, Earth, Heaven Spirit Art: Yellow Grade, Mysterious, Earth, Heaven PS: Yellow Grade is the lowest, and it goes up from there. Different grades of Cultivation Techniques come with varying strengths of Divine Skills and differ in the number of skills they convey. PS: Like Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Arts are special offensive methods that significantly enhance a Cultivator¡¯s attack power. Generally used as trump cards, they are extremely precious. ¡­ Treasure settings: 1st to 5th Order Spiritual Medicines, Fruits, and Ores: 1st to 5th Order. PS: 1st and 2nd Order treasures are divided into low, medium, and high quality. 3rd Order and above treasures are not divided by quality, but there¡¯s still a significant difference in rarity and effect. ¡­ Price Base: The value of treasures by order: 1st Order¡ª1-100 Spirit Stones, 2nd Order¡ª500-5,000 Spirit Stones, 3rd Order¡ª50,000 to 1,000,000 Spirit Stones. 4th Order: 10 million to 500 million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. 5th Order: Priceless treasures, not attainable with ordinary Spirit Stones. ¡­ Human Race regional introduction: Huarong Realm, Nine Provinces Continent Nine Provinces Continent: Qingzhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Binzhou, Xuanzhou, Yunzhou, Huazhou, Youzhou, Jizhou. Overseas Three Islands: Changxing Island, Jiuxuan Island, Luolan Island PS: Each continent varies in size. Xuanzhou, Yunzhou, and Huazhou are the central regions of the Human Race, with extremely ancient inheritances. Currently, the Immortal Path flourishes there, with numerous clan powers. Qingzhou and Jizhou are close to the Endless Forest and are new territories for the Human Race, while the power and inheritances of the other seven provinces vary, and their overall strengths differ accordingly. ¡­ Vein Introduction: PS: In this book, there¡¯s no such thing as veins. Any mountain, river, or stream can serve as a habitat, the only difference being the concentration of Spiritual Energy. However, formations, Spirit Stones, and special treasures can be used to modify the concentration of Spiritual Energy. Typically, a long-standing power¡¯s base is the result of thousands of years of accumulation and transformation to become a Cave Heaven and Blessed Land. ¡­ Monster Race species: Demon Race, Barbarian Race, Sea Demon Race Demonic Beast territory: Endless Forest Barbarian territory: Endless Forest Sea Demon territory: Endless Sea Domain PS: The Endless Forest covers a vast area, home to both terrestrial Demonic Beasts and the Barbarian Race, though the Barbarian Race occupies a smaller proportion. The Barbarian Race has good innate talents but a shorter inheritance period, making their overall strength much weaker than that of the terrestrial Demonic Beasts and the Sea Demons. Barbarian characteristics: They have the appearance of a beast head on a human body and can freely transform into the body of a Demonic Beast in battle. With extremely high innate talents, they are the offspring of High Order terrestrial Demonic Beasts combined with the Human Race, essentially inheriting the advantages of both races. They possess higher Spirit Wisdom than pure Demonic Beasts, but still not as high as Human Cultivators. ¡­ That¡¯s all the settings for now, with more additions to come as the story progresses. Other realms will also be added as the plot advances. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 2 - 2: The main family member_1 Chapter 2: The main family member_1 Chapter 2: The main family member_1 ¡°` As I worked on this Chapter quite late, the main text has already reached over 500 Chapters, and what follows is the current situation of the protagonist¡¯s family. PS: This setting only records the core family members. As the plot progresses, the cultivation levels, positions, and even the deaths of some family members will be updated accordingly. If there are any mistakes, I hope readers will point them out in the comments! ¡­ Family: Lin Family ... Location: Nine Provinces Continent, Qingzhou, Wei Kingdom, Luoyun Mountain Range Male protagonist: Lin Tianming (Mid Stage Golden Core, Third Order Alchemy Master) Female protagonist: Qin Xi (Early Stage Golden Core) ¡­ Generation setup: Ren Yi Zhi Jiu Rong, Yu You Meng Qiu Ying, Huan Cheng Yi Shi Xing, Tian Chang Qing Jing Zheng, Qian Ao Jin Ze Cheng. Founding Ancestor: Lin Renfeng (Mid Stage Golden Core) Lin Shigong (protagonist¡¯s grandfather) Lin Xingrong (protagonist¡¯s father) Ren Yuxuan (protagonist¡¯s mother, Foundation Establishment Seventh Level) Lin Changqing (protagonist¡¯s son) ¡­ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Core family members: Clan Leader: Lin Shihua (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level) Deputy Clan Leader: Lin Xingrong (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Great Elder: Lin Shikang (Early Stage Golden Core) Second Elder: Lin Shigong (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master) Third Elder: Lin Shilu (Early Stage Golden Core, Third Order Artifact Refiner) ¡­ The ten major family institutions: Elders¡¯ Council: Comprising the Great Elders and the protagonist couple as members Enforcement Hall: Lin Xingzhi (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Hall of Merit: Lin Xingcheng (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level) Miscellaneous Affairs Hall: Lin Xingli (Foundation Establishment Seventh Level) Scripture Pavilion: Lin Xingping (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Alchemy Hall: Lin Xingyuan (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Second Order Superior Alchemy Master) Artifact Refining Hall: Lin Xingshun (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner) Skill Transmission Hall: Lin Xingyu (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level) Talisman Crafting Hall: Lin Xingqi (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order High-Grade Talisman Master) Formation Hall: Lin Tianluo (Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, Second Order Medium Quality Array Master) ¡­ Tian generation core family members: Lin Tianfeng (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Lin Tianqin (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order Superior Alchemy Master) Lin Tianhong (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order Superior Alchemy Master) Lin Tianyue (Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, Second Order High-Grade Talisman Maker) Lin Tianhu (Foundation Establishment Great Perfection) Lin Tianluo (Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, Second Order Medium Quality Array Master) Lin Tianbo (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner) Lin Tianyun (Wind Spirit Root, Early Stage Golden Core) Lin Tiancheng (Foundation Establishment Eighth Level) Lin Tianhai (Foundation Establishment Seventh Level) ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 3 - 3 - 1: Nine Provinces Continent (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 Chapter 3 ¨C 1: Nine Provinces Continent (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 Chapter 3: Chapter 1: Nine Provinces Continent (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 The Nine Provinces Continent, where myriad races stand tall and countless beings thrive, spans billions of miles with oceans covering a tremendous 80%, leaving only 20% as land. Seen from the distant skies, it resembles a giant water orb, a blend of azure and green, breathtakingly beautiful. According to records by the Human Race, this realm is known as the Huarong Realm. It is said to have existed for tens of billions of years, but the exact duration is uncertain due to its ancient past. The land is divided into nine provinces, namely Qingzhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Binzhou, Xuanzhou, Yunzhou, Huazhou, Youzhou, and Jizhou, which are nine vast territories. Each province is immeasurably large, encompassing millions of miles. ... This is a world for cultivators, where even mortals would find it difficult to traverse a single province in their lifetime. To the south of Jingzhou Land, there are more than ten thousand islands of various sizes; the large ones are half the size of a province, the small ones only span a hundred miles, and there are countless islets tens of miles across. This region is the outer area of the Nine Provinces Continent. Being close to the sea, it is rich in aquatic resources, and ordinary people living on the islands in the inner sea make their living by fishing. I once heard old fishermen claim that terrifying demonic beasts live beyond the outer sea. They are of various forms, extremely ferocious, and incidents of eating humans occur from time to time, including sharks dozens of meters long and giant turtles the size of a small hill, though it¡¯s unclear whether these tales are true or false. Since then, fishermen have only dared to live within a hundred miles of the inner sea, earning their livelihood through fishing and aquaculture. Outside the vast expanse of the southern sea islands and the mainland, powerful races like Sea Demons, the Demon Race, and the Barbarian Race can be found. Qingzhou is located in the southwest of the Nine Provinces Continent, bordered by Jizhou to the north and Jingzhou to the south. In the areas west of Qingzhou and Jizhou, a mighty Demon Race dwells, inhabiting a vast primordial forest full of numerous mountain ranges and rivers, where towering trees hundreds of feet high are everywhere. Demonic beasts multiply and survive here, living off Spiritual Trees, Spiritual Medicine, and metal minerals; it¡¯s a forbidden land where humans rarely set foot. Since the birth of the Human Race, a million years have passed, while the Demon Race has proliferated for several million years. They possess longevity far exceeding that of humans, sometimes living several times longer. The Demon Race¡¯s long lifespan, coupled with their robust physiques, make them the favored children of the heavens. The impressive innate abilities of the Demon Race have always been the envy of human cultivators, yet the difficulties in the Demon Race¡¯s advancement are substantially greater than those of humans. The intellect of low-order monster beasts is similar to that of a young child; only Third Order demonic beasts and above experience a significant increase in intelligence. For a million years, the formidable strength of the Demon Race has subtly surpassed that of the Human Race. The Nine Provinces Continent is often plagued by the havoc of the Demon Race, and beast tides attack frequently, with each one posing a life-and-death test for human cultivators. Thus, the human and demon races have been natural enemies since ancient times. Beyond Jingzhou to the south and east of Yangzhou and Binzhou lies an extensive sea area inhabited by an even more powerful Sea Demon Race. The land¡¯s Demon Race is just a branch of the Sea Demon Race. It is said that millions of years before the birth of humankind, parts of the Sea Demon Race migrated to live on land. After a million years of evolution, the sea creatures that came ashore have adapted to life on land, giving birth to many strange and exotic beasts with varying innate gifts. Today¡¯s Nine Provinces Continent has become a place of habitation after tens of thousands of years of wars between the human and demon races, fought by countless mighty beings. To the north of Youzhou lies a vast area of vast deserts and prairies, where the wild Barbarian Race lives. They are the offspring of the Human Race and Demon Race, with varying body sizes and bizarre forms, such as two-winged bodies, bovine heads on human torsos, embodying features of both human and demon races, and possessing exceptional talents. The land of the Barbarian Race abounds with fire and metal attribute Spiritual Objects, making it a paradise for cultivators of the fire and metal attributes. Meanwhile, Qingzhou, Jizhou, and the Demon Race¡¯s lands are rich in wood, metal, and earth attribute Spiritual Objects, while regions like Jingzhou and Yangzhou have a prevalence of water attribute Spiritual Objects. In the Nine Provinces Continent, Yunzhou and Xuanzhou are the largest two provinces, each of which is bigger than Qingzhou and Jizhou combined. Yunzhou and Xuanzhou are the central regions of the Human Race, and through hundreds of thousands of years of heritage, these two provinces have become a hub for High Order Cultivators. With prosperous trade and abundant resources, they boast numerous Sect Families, making them a paradise for cultivators. As the Human Race continued to grow stronger, the resources of the seven provincial lands were no longer sufficient for the proliferation of Human Cultivators. The lands of Qingzhou and Jizhou had been gradually conquered from the hands of the Demon Race over tens of thousands of years. With their complex terrains and numerous unknown spiritual veins, mineral ores, and Spiritual Medicines, they attracted many adventurers who came in search of treasures and experiences, making these lands a prime destination for numerous cultivators¡¯ adventures and treasure hunts. To date, the population of the Human Race numbers in the hundreds of millions, with 99% being ordinary mortals. It is not easy for a cultivator to be born, as only those with a Spiritual Root can cultivate. Among the offspring of mortals, only one in ten thousand may be born with a Spiritual Root, and the vast majority possess the most common Four Spirit Roots or Five Spirit Roots, which without extraordinary opportunities, make Core Formation unlikely in their lifetime. However, children born to cultivators have a much higher chance of possessing a Spiritual Root compared to mortals, and their Spiritual Roots tend to be superior. The likelihood of having Three or Four Spirit Roots is not small, and with proper nurturing, Foundation Establishment becomes hopeful. For those with a Single Spirit Root, the path of cultivation is much easier. Barring any premature demise, reaching the Golden Core Stage is almost assured, and the prospects of attaining the Nascent Soul Stage are very hopeful. Of course, the quality of one¡¯s Spiritual Root is not a definitive factor on the path of Dao and does not determine the ultimate limit of a cultivator. Many favored sons of the heavens have perished prematurely or collapsed midway, while numerous cultivators of average aptitude have defied the odds and reached the pinnacle among humans. Legend has it that, hundreds of thousands of years ago, an ancestor of the Human Race with Five Spirit Roots ascended to the Divinity Transformation Stage within a millennium and successfully ascended, a feat not commonly seen in a million years, yet not unprecedented. The path of cultivation is inherently an act of defiance against the heavens, and with each advancement comes numerous perils and trials. The consequences range from a fallen state to death on the spot. Even so, this does not diminish the cultivator¡¯s longing for immortality. In the Cultivation World, the realms of cultivators are divided into Qi Refinement Realm, Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Stage, and Divinity Transformation Stage. Both the Qi Refinement Realm and the Foundation Establishment Stage are divided into nine levels, with levels one to three being the early stage, four to six the medium stage, and seven to nine the late stage, followed by the Great Perfection Realm. After entering the Golden Core Stage, the realms are directly divided into the early, medium, late, and Great Perfection Realm. In the Huarong Cultivation World, the Demon Race and Barbarian Race cultivate their bodies, while Human Cultivators cultivate Spiritual Power. Mortals have a lifespan of over sixty years, with eighty being considered old age. The lifespans for the Qi Refinement Realm is one hundred and twenty years, the Foundation Establishment Stage two hundred and fifty-odd years, the Golden Core Stage over five hundred years, the Nascent Soul Stage around one thousand two hundred years, and the Divinity Transformation Stage over three thousand years. Upon reaching the Golden Core Stage, one has the abilities to soar through the skies and reshape landscapes and is considered among the ranks of High Order Cultivators. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The longing for power becomes an ever deeper obsession. The division of realms for the Demon Race and Barbarian Race corresponds to those of Human Cultivators, with Monster Beasts from first to fifth order, each also divided into early, medium, and late stages. First Order Monster Beasts correspond to cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm, while Second Order corresponds to those at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Third Order Demon Beasts have fully awakened Spirit Wisdom, corresponding to the Golden Core Stage; Fourth Order Demon Beasts can transform into human form, with divine skills on par with Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators; those at the Divinity Transformation Stage of the Demon Race are not much different from humans. Tens of thousands of years ago, Jizhou and Qingzhou were still territories of the Demon Race. The Human and Demon Races waged war for over a hundred years, with even Nascent Soul Stage experts falling by the dozens and countless lower-order cultivators killed or injured. It is said that even Divinity Transformation Stage old monsters suffered casualties, though it¡¯s unclear whether this is true. Since then, the Demon Race willingly ceded the two provinces as a buffer zone. Moreover, compared to the vast expanse of the Demon Race¡¯s territories, the areas of Qingzhou and Jizhou are not large; these two provinces are but a drop in the bucket for the Demonic Lands, barely worth mentioning. For nearly ten thousand years, humans and demons have coexisted relatively peacefully. Beast tides occur from time to time but on a small scale, mostly involving Low-order Monster Beasts invading the borders of the Human Race, causing no significant damage to the foundation of both races. Over tens of thousands of years, both humans and demons have exercised restraint, recuperating and propagating. Chapter 4 - 4 - 2: Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 4 ¨C 2: Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 4: Chapter 2: Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In the southern part of Qingzhou Wei Kingdom, Green Bamboo Mountain. Green Bamboo Mountain is a corner of the Luoyun Mountain Range, which spans thousands of miles. Besides the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, there are the Jin Family of Golden Horn Mountain, the Sun Family of Flying Eagle Mountain, the Wu Family of Jiuhua Mountain, and the Luo Family of Baiyun Mountain. All five major families have Foundation Establishment Cultivators in residence, along with more than twenty smaller Qi Refining families nestled there. From atop the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, it resembles a coiled giant serpent with the head looking like a massive piece of bamboo, a thousand feet tall, standing at the center of Green Bamboo Mountain. The whole area of Green Bamboo Mountain stretches over a hundred miles, with gorges at the bottom, underground rivers throughout, and diverse landforms. The mountaintop is often shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, resembling a paradise on earth. ... Green Bamboo Mountain is covered in thickets of Qingling Bamboo, which are extremely flexible and counted among the first order wood attribute spirit materials. When Qingling Bamboo is added in the process of Artifact Refining, it can significantly enhance the resilience of a Spiritual Artifact, and it is widely used in refining flying swords, making it a premium Artifact Refining Material. Green Bamboo Mountain is the ancestral land of the Lin Family, whose legacy has lasted for over eight hundred years. Its founder was the Patriarch of the Lin Family, Lin Renfeng, who, during his life, was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. At the age of four hundred, he got injured while treasure hunting and gathering elixirs in the demon territory of Maple Forest Mountain Range. Gravely injured, he fled back to Qingzhou. Due to injuries in his energy channels, he could no longer make any progress in cultivation after recovering. Dispirited, he established the Lin Family on Green Bamboo Mountain using his life savings. The Lin Family currently has 175 cultivators. In the six hundred years since the Patriarch¡¯s passing, the Lin Family members have slowly grown in number and the family line has passed down over ten generations. After more than eight hundred years of development, the Lin Family has achieved a certain level of renown in the southern part of Qingzhou Wei Kingdom. Currently, there are two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over a hundred Qi Refining Cultivators within the family. Within a courtyard on the mountainside of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Tianming was sitting upright on his bed. In his hand, he held a milky-white stone as he cultivated. The stone, about the size of a toddler¡¯s fist, was crystal clear and stunningly beautiful. Spiritual Energy was flowing along his meridians, eventually converging within his dantian. After meditating for over an hour, the milky-white stone gradually shrank and finally, turned into a wisp of blue smoke and vanished. A hint of joy flashed in Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes as he eagerly used his Divine Sense to check his dantian. He saw that his dantian had clearly expanded, and he was not far from the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. If he could refine about a dozen more Spirit Stones, he should be able to reach the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh with emotion, reflecting that cultivating with Spirit Stones truly sped up the process. A single Low-Grade Spirit Stone was equivalent to several days of his strenuous cultivation. Lin Tianming, a cultivator of the Lin Family from Green Bamboo Mountain, possessed Dual Spiritual Roots of wood and fire. At sixteen years of age, he was at the Fourth Level of Qi Practice, clad in a green shirt, with handsome features and eyes that occasionally revealed a trace of maturity and wisdom. Unconsciously, he had been cultivating for several hours. As evening approached, after using up two Spirit Stones, though he had a pained expression on his face, seeing the increase in Spiritual Power in his dantian and feeling himself getting closer to the Fifth Level of Qi Practice made it worthwhile. With many cultivators within the Lin Family and limited financial resources, during the early stages of Qi Practice, only one Spirit Stone was distributed monthly. In the middle stages of Qi Practice, three Low-Grade Spirit Stones were given each month. To gain more resources for cultivation, one must contribute to the family by taking on family tasks, earning Spirit Stones or elixirs for cultivation. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After half a day of cultivation, feeling his stomach rumble, he stretched, pushed open the room door, and happened to run into Lin Tianyue coming his way. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Tianyue bounced over and, shaking his arm, said, ¡°Brother, mother sent me to call you for the meal!¡± Lin Tianming affectionately stroked Lin Tianyue¡¯s hair and chuckled, ¡°Funny you should mention it, I was just getting hungry!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go then. Time for dinner!¡± Saying this, he led Lin Tianyue to the main hall. Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianming¡¯s younger sister, dressed in red, bore a certain resemblance to him, and was bound to become a stunning beauty in adulthood. This year, Lin Tianyue was twelve years old. With Triple Spiritual Roots of metal, wood, and fire, she had been cultivating for two years and was at the First Level of Qi Practice, showing considerable talent within the Lin Family. In the main hall, Ren Yuxuan was arranging the tableware. Before Lin Tianming even entered, Ren Yuxuan could hear his voice in the distance. ¡°Mother, what delicious food are we having today?¡± As he spoke, Lin Tianming jogged into the hall and took a seat, grabbing a bowl of food and wolfing it down. His mother Ren Yuxuan wore a look of sympathy, repeatedly saying, ¡°Eat slowly, there¡¯s plenty more.¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianyue commented with a look of disgust, ¡°Brother, eat slower. No one¡¯s going to snatch it from you.¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and asked, ¡°When is Dad coming back?¡± Hearing this, a look of longing flashed in the eyes of their mother and quickly faded away. ¡°Your father went to escort a batch of Artifact Refining Materials and some Spiritual Artifacts to our store in Luoyun Market. It will be a few more days before he returns.¡± ¡°Before he left, he specifically instructed that I should supervise you in your cultivation diligently, so you can strive to break through to the fifth level of Qi Practice sooner and begin undertaking family missions to relieve some of the family¡¯s burdens,¡± His mother¡¯s words filled Lin Tianming with longing. ¡°Mother, I understand!¡± ¡°I will definitely cultivate diligently and contribute to the family as soon as possible. The world is vast, and I have longed to go out and see it for myself.¡± Ever since Lin Tianming was found to possess dual spiritual roots at the age of ten, the family had placed high hopes on him. In the past eight hundred years of the Lin Family, only the patriarch Lin Renfeng was born with dual spiritual roots of metal and fire. For the following eight hundred years, the best among the Lin Family had only three spiritual roots, and most family members had either four or five. In major sects or clans, with abundant resources, it might be possible to reach Core Formation, but the Lin Family, with its shallow foundations, simply couldn¡¯t afford that. After dinner, his mother began to clear the dishes, while Tianming and Tianyue sat in the courtyard, with Tianming instructing Tianyue in the Five Elements Spell. All of a sudden, Tianming pinched a technique with his fingers, a wax-yellow flame flickering at the tip. He then shouted abruptly: ¡°Go¡­¡± The flame, originally the size of a thumb, instantly expanded into a fireball several meters in diameter and shot towards the sky with the speed of an arrow. A loud boom filled the air, and the shockwave from the explosion spread out in all directions. Tianyue looked at her brother with admiration and said cheerfully: ¡°I want to be as powerful as brother.¡± Lin Tianming nodded affirmatively and then meticulously explained the Five Elements Spell once more. The Fireball Technique, a basic spell, harnesses one¡¯s divine sense to control the fire attribute spiritual power within spiritual energy, concentrating it together. The stronger the divine sense, the more single-attribute spiritual power is gathered, and the greater the power and precision of the spell. The basic spells of the Five Elements can be practiced after introducing Qi into the body, starting from the first level of Qi Refining. ¡°You must study diligently and practice frequently, and if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, ask Seventh Grandpa tomorrow at the Skill Transmission Hall, you got that?¡± Lin Tianming instructed. ¡°Got it, brother, I will definitely work hard. I won¡¯t keep you any longer, I¡¯m going to find Tianqin. You can get back to what you were doing.¡± In the blink of an eye, his sister had run off and disappeared from sight. Upon returning to the main hall, he saw his mother approaching him, holding a dark green storage bag in her hand. ¡°Tianming, this is what your father asked me to give you before he went to the market. Your father and I have been saving these for the past two years to speed up your cultivation.¡± As she said this, she handed the storage bag to Tianming, who blushed with curiosity and asked: ¡°What is it?¡± Ren Yuxuan did not explain but simply said calmly: ¡°Take a look for yourself.¡± Lin Tianming accepted the dark green storage bag and examined it with great interest, feeling immensely pleased with himself. Anxious to see what his father, Lin Xingrong, had left for him that needed a storage bag, he returned to his room. Pulling out the dark green storage bag, he admired the gold-threaded embroidery of birds and beasts on it; it was extremely attractive, clearly incomparable to his own basic storage pouch. He imprinted his divine sense onto the storage bag, and after half an hour of refining, he probed inside with his divine sense to check the contents. It was a First Order Medium Grade storage bag with a space the size of a room, containing thirty-five low-grade spirit stones, a bottle of Lingshen Pills with three bright green, shiny pills inside. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but pick up a Lingshen Pill, examining it with curious delight. Lingshen Pills, commonly used elixirs by cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, are packed with spiritual energy and far more effective than the energy from spirit stones. Each Lingshen Pill represented a month¡¯s hard cultivation saved, and three Lingshen Pills were worth at least twenty low-grade spirit stones. He packed away the spirit stones and Lingshen Pills and took out his original storage bag, which was inferior in quality, with only enough space to fit something the size of a table. Each family member who successfully introduces Qi into the body and enters the first level of Qi Refining to become a cultivator receives a First Order Inferior storage bag, a flying sword, and three low-grade spirit stones. He previously had five low-grade spirit stones left, so now he had a total of forty low-grade spirit stones and three Lingshen Pills. With enough resources for the next year or two, fully refining them would undoubtedly make reaching the fifth level of Qi Practice a certainty, and perhaps even the sixth level was within reach. After arranging his belongings, he lay on the bed. He hadn¡¯t had a proper rest due to the high intensity of his meditation and cultivation over the past half month. It wasn¡¯t even half an hour before the room was filled with the sound of his snoring. Chapter 5 - 5 - 3: First Attempt at Alchemy (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Chapter 5 ¨C 3: First Attempt at Alchemy (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Chapter 5: Chapter 3: First Attempt at Alchemy (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 At dawn, a ray of sunlight pierced through the small window of the attic, shining on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Opening his eyes, he stretched lazily out of bed, the fatigue of half a month dissipating without a trace. Cultivators too needed a balance of work and rest; constant seclusion for cultivation was detrimental to advancement in the later stages. Pushing the door open, he stepped out of his family¡¯s courtyard. The morning in Green Bamboo Mountain was exceptionally lively, with clan members moving through the mountain paths. The morning sun resembled a fiery red disc, hanging beside the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, a vast expanse of green Qingling Bamboo stretched over a hundred acres, and more than a hundred attics on the mountain¡¯s waistline encircled Green Bamboo Peak in pairs and trios, a sight too beautiful for words. Releasing his divine sense, a green and red flying sword materialized in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. Seven feet long and half a foot wide, it was extremely sharp, capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud. The family called it the Green Bamboo Sword, a low-grade spiritual artifact. Every clan member who reached the third level of Qi Cultivation could receive a Green Bamboo Sword from the Family Merits Hall to serve as a tool for repelling enemies and transportation. ... Summoning the flying sword, he cast a spell on it, and the sword instantly grew several times larger. Lin Tianming leaped onto it, steering the Green Bamboo Sword straight to the family¡¯s Alchemy Hall. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming arrived at an attic on the mountainside. There stood a five-story-tall building with a large plaque hanging over its entrance, flamboyantly inscribed with the words ¡°Alchemy Hall.¡± This building appeared no different from an ordinary attic, but in reality, it was protected by several restrictive formations. Lin Tianming took out a green token from his storage bag, pinched a law decree with his hands, and murmured incantations. A beam of green light shot from the token towards the attic, and in the blink of an eye, a large gap opened in the formation. Lin Tianming stepped forward and mysteriously disappeared from sight. Inside the Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming passed through several alchemy rooms familiarly, as if he often visited this place, before finally stopping at the door of the innermost room. Seated within the room was an old man in his seventies, sitting upright on a meditation cushion. The elder was dressed in a gray Daoist robe, with most of his hair already white and a long goat beard, exuding a friendly and amiable appearance. In front of the elder was a flaming red pill furnace, three feet tall. The entire pillar furnace was red, with three legs and beautifully carved designs¡ªit was a second-order medium-grade Three Star Furnace. The Three Star Furnace was one of the second-order pill furnaces the Alchemy Hall possessed, its legacy spanning more than three hundred years, a relic of an ancestral Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist of the family. Now the treasure of the Alchemy Hall, the Three Star Furnace was for the use of family alchemists and was overseen by Lin Tianming¡¯s grandfather, Lin Shigong. Next to the furnace, on a stone table, lay a dozen Spirit Grasses of various colors, surrounded by spiritual energy. This elder was none other than Lin Tianming¡¯s grandfather, Lin Shigong, at the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Cultivation. He was the ninth in seniority among the Shi generation of the Lin Family and was nearly a hundred years old¡ªone of the only two alchemists in the family. The Lin Family had a history exceeding eight hundred years, with numerous members. The generations were distinguished as follows: Ren, Yi, Zhi, Jiu, Rong; Yu, You, Meng, Qiu, Ying; Huan, Cheng, Yi, Shi, Xing; Tian, Chang, Qing, Jing, Zheng; Qian, Ao, Jin, Ze, Cheng; with the ancestral founder being Lin Renfeng. Lin Tianming, a member of the Tian generation, was the sixteenth descendant of the Lin Family, ranking sixth among his generation. His father, Lin Xingrong, was the eleventh in the Xing generation. The Lin Family had 175 cultivators and over fifty thousand mortals, spread across major towns within a thousand miles around Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Family mortals intermarried with the local population, and all descendants bore the surname Lin. Lin Tianming entered the room and bowed respectfully to the elder. ¡°Grandson Tianming pays his respects to Grandfather.¡± Lin Shigong examined his grandson with a satisfied face: ¡°You have been diligent, already at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°Remember, cultivation is like sailing against the current; if you don¡¯t advance, you will fall behind,¡± Lin Shigong pointed to the meditation cushions in front of him and said, ¡°Take a seat.¡± Lin Tianming glanced at the five meditation cushions and randomly picked one to sit down. After a few breaths passed, the Alchemy Hall¡¯s early warning formation flickered slightly. Lin Shigong took out a token. Several spells were cast, opening a gap in the restriction, and a man and a woman entered. The man was named Lin Tianhong, twenty-two years old, at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, with the aptitude of Three Spiritual Roots. He was the son of Lin Xingping, Tianming¡¯s cousin, and ranked second in the Tian generation. The woman was Lin Tianqin, twenty-one years old, also at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, with the same Three Spiritual Roots aptitude, and the daughter of Lin Xingsu, ranking third in the Tian generation. Within the Lin Family, those below the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement did not study crafts, focusing solely on cultivation. Upon reaching the Fourth Level, one could choose from the four crafts: alchemy, artifact refining, talisman making, and formation techniques; by the Fifth Level, one was expected to contribute to the family. In the Cultivation World, mastering a craft may be time-consuming and tedious, but upon achieving proficiency, one could quickly accumulate some resources for cultivation, aiding in the swift advancement of cultivation. Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin bowed to Lin Shigong and greeted in unison: ¡°Tianhong and Tianqin pay respects to Ninth Grandpa.¡± Lin Shigong said sternly: ¡°Find a place to sit. Today, we will learn the basics of alchemy. Feel free to ask questions if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand.¡± After Lin Tianming and the others sat down properly, Lin Shigong began to explain. Alchemy starts with having a pill formula, spiritual medicine, a pill furnace, earth fire, or an alternative such as Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire. Missing any of these renders the process impossible, and the higher the grade of the elixir, the more difficult it is to make. Beyond the necessary materials, the art of alchemy also demands strict requirements for a cultivator¡¯s divine sense. The stronger the divine sense, the greater the help in alchemy. It allows for the precise purification and extraction of the essence of spiritual medicine and seizing the optimal moment for solidifying the pill, thereby significantly increasing the success rate of pill formation. Today, we will discuss the most basic Fasting Pill, which is the most common first-order elixir. Consuming one Fasting Pill allows for half a month without the need for food. The Fasting Pill can replace food but does not increase cultivation level. It is the irreplaceable choice for Qi Refining Cultivators during secluded cultivation. Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, one can forego food and drink for several years. Lin Tianming and the others listened intently, asking various questions along the way, to which Lin Shigong patiently provided answers one by one. An hour had passed in the blink of an eye, and Lin Tianming and his two companions committed the basic knowledge to heart, brimming with interest in alchemy. ¡°Now, I will practice making a batch of Fasting Pills. Watch closely,¡± Lin Shigong said. Lin Shigong placed the Three Star Furnace above the Earth Fire vent. With the casting of a spell, dozens of flames gently spurted from the vent, raising the room¡¯s temperature substantially in an instant. ¡°This is Golden Bull Grass, this is Fire Ganoderma, and this is Nine-direction Flower¡­¡± Lin Shigong swiftly tossed over a dozen types of First Order Spiritual Medicine into the Three Star Furnace, his hands continuously forming incantations. After about two quarters of an hour, Lin Shigong shouted, ¡°Solidify¡­¡± A fragrance filled the room as Lin Shigong concluded his work. In the Three Star Furnace lay seven brown pills, each the size of an eyeball, with a rich fragrance assailing the senses, and a bit of black residue at the bottom of the furnace. Lin Shigong nodded and said, ¡°From one batch of medicinal ingredients, up to ten pills could be made, but that assurance is only given to a High Order Alchemist making Low-grade Pills. Normally, if three pills are solidified, it¡¯s considered passing.¡± After speaking, he collected the seven Fasting Pills and placed them into his storage bag. Then he took out three sets of ingredients for Fasting Pills. Once ready, Lin Shigong instructed, ¡°Tianhong, you try it first.¡± Hearing the instruction, Lin Tianhong looked somewhat nervous, but still mustered his courage to respond, ¡°Yes, Ninth Grandpa!¡± Lin Tianhong took a deep breath, channeled his energy, pinched an incantation with two fingers, and cast his spell over the Alchemy Furnace. As Earth Fire flowed out, he sequentially threw over a dozen types of Spiritual Medicine into the furnace, casting several spells upon it. A quarter of an hour later, there were a few crackling noises from the furnace, but the pills failed to solidify successfully, ending in a heap of broken residue¡ªa failed initial attempt. Lin Tianhong managed a wry smile, sweating profusely, realizing that alchemy was indeed not as simple as he had thought. ¡°Tianqin, your turn!¡± Upon Lin Shigong¡¯s command, Lin Tianqin started to channel her energy, casting a spell onto the Alchemy Furnace and began her attempt at alchemy. After another quarter of an hour, there were similar cracking sounds and, just like Tianhong, she too failed to successfully create a pill. Lin Shigong was calm, apparently not angry, and then he spoke, ¡°You two didn¡¯t purify the Spiritual Medicine for long enough, which wasted some essence and resulted in insufficient medicinal strength, ultimately leading to the failure of the pill solidification. It¡¯s perfectly normal to fail on your first alchemy attempt¡ªit requires much more practice.¡± Lin Tianming and his companions nodded, their expressions a mix of understanding and confusion. Lin Shigong said no more, preparing to continue with more attempts. ¡°Tianming, it¡¯s your turn. Remember, don¡¯t be impatient!¡± Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion, relaxing his body and mind, taking a deep breath to get into the best state. With incantations in hand, he cast a spell, offering up his Divine Sense to monitor the intensity of the Earth Fire closely. He methodically tossed the Spiritual Medicine into the furnace, step by step isolating the essence of the herbs at the bottom of the furnace. After a quarter of an hour, infusing his Spiritual Power forcefully, seeing the timing was nearly right, he too couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Solidify¡­¡± Suddenly, the scent of the medicine filled the air. Upon uncovering the lid of the furnace, two oval pills floated in the center, with quite a bit of residue at the bottom, and the pills were misshapen with cracks and missing pieces, qualifying only as defective products. Lin Tianming concluded his work, feeling completely drained, a clear sign of overexertion, yet his heart was filled with joy. For a first attempt at alchemy, this result was quite extraordinary. Lin Shigong was inwardly astonished, yet he managed to appear utterly composed. To produce defective products on the very first attempt at alchemy was quite an achievement. He knew well that in his own time, it had taken him dozens of tries to reach the level Lin Tianming had achieved on his first go. Lin Shigong pointed out where Lin Tianming had fallen short and gave him some encouragement. There were six sets of ingredients left, and the three of them took turns practicing as the better part of the day slipped by unnoticed. In Lin Tianming¡¯s last batch of ingredients, one pill solidified, with two defected pieces. Lin Tianqin managed to produce defected pills, while Lin Tianhong did not succeed at all. Lin Shigong packed up the Alchemy Furnace and said sternly, ¡°I leave you three with Alchemy Insights Jade Tubes¡ªthese contain my lifelong experience combined with the insights passed down by my predecessors. Make sure to study them well and strive to master the art of pill-making as soon as possible.¡± After a few words of encouragement, he allowed the three to leave. Lin Tianming and his two companions respectfully bowed and said, ¡°Thank you, Grandfather (Ninth Grandpa), for your careful teaching; we shall take our leave now.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The trio left the Alchemy Hall together. Lin Tianming smiled and bid farewell to Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin, ¡°Second Brother, Third Sister, today has been exhausting. I won¡¯t impose any further. I would like to invite you both to my home another day to discuss the art of alchemy and cultivation.¡± After Lin Tianhong and the others agreed, they each said their goodbyes and departed. Lin Tianming left the Alchemy Hall and summoned his Green Bamboo Sword, ascending into the sky, and vanished on the horizon. Chapter 6 - 6 - 4: Comprehending Alchemy Experience_1 Chapter 6 ¨C 4: Comprehending Alchemy Experience_1 Chapter 6: Chapter 4: Comprehending Alchemy Experience_1 ¡°` Returning to his small courtyard as evening fell, he had dinner and then headed early to his room. He took out the alchemy experience left by his grandfather and studied it earnestly. Lin Shigong was a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist, capable of concocting most First Order elixirs, and was the best alchemist in the Lin Family. Due to his inability to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, he had always been unable to concoct Second Order Pills. Besides him, the Lin Family also had a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, Lin Tianming¡¯s clan uncle Lin Xingyuan, ranked fifth among the Xing generation, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and one of the most talented among his generation in the family. ... Alchemists are highly respected in the Cultivation World, regardless of whether they are low order cultivators, high order cultivators, or even the high order Demon Beast Race, all rely on elixirs for assistance. For hundreds of thousands of years in the Cultivation World, not only has the number of demons and humans increased, but it has become increasingly difficult for high order cultivators to break through their stages; the biggest reason being the scarcity of Spiritual Medicine resources. It is said that tens of thousands of years ago, during the ancient times, the number of high order cultivators in both human and demon races was several times more than now. During that period, there was an abundance of Spiritual Medicine and objects, and resources for cultivation were plentiful; the four great skills of pill concoction, weapon forging, formation, and talisman making reached unprecedented heights. After hundreds of thousands of years of continuous mining and extraction, the scarcity of Spiritual Medicine and objects has led to the loss of many ancient pill recipes and the extinction of their concoction methods. Alchemists can fully utilize the utmost effects of Spiritual Medicine, refining and condensing its essence into pills, which not only doesn¡¯t waste the Spiritual Medicine but also diminishes its side effects. Therefore, elixirs have always been an in-demand resource in the Cultivation World. First and Second Order elixirs are manageable, available for sale in various markets, but Third and Fourth Order elixirs are much more rare, generally hard to come by unless one attends large markets or auctions. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And with high order alchemists being just as scarce, it¡¯s clear to see why alchemists are in such demand. Cultivating an alchemist requires a large number of resources; every alchemist is a product forged through a mountain of various Spiritual Medicines. The other three major skills are equally difficult to cultivate, and the cost is something Loose Cultivators can hardly afford. In the eight hundred years of the Lin Family, First Order Alchemists have never been in short supply, and only two Second Order Alchemists have ever emerged¡ªone Second Order Junior Alchemist and one Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. The main reason is that the Lin Family¡¯s financial resources are limited; with a large number of clan members to support, they cannot afford the materials needed by alchemists, which also leads to the difficulty of the Lin Family in producing high order cultivators. The Lin Family¡¯s income mainly comes from the First Order Artifact Refining material Qingling Bamboo from Green Bamboo Mountain. Every year they sell a batch of Qingling Bamboo Spirit Material, and the family also earns some Spirit Stones by forging a portion into Spiritual Artifacts. The Lin Family itself has several First Order Artifact Refiners, and even a Second Order Artifact Refiner. The Qingling Sword is made by the Lin Family¡ªpart is used by ourselves, most are sold to other Loose Cultivators through market shops. As for alchemy, the Lin Family can only prioritize the needs of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators; Second Order elixirs, needed by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, can only be purchased in various markets. Due to the restrictions in the pill aspect, the Lin Family has made the resolve to cultivate their own Second Order Alchemists. Lin Tianming, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin all have Spiritual Roots suitable for alchemy and are young with great potential, thus they are the primary targets for intensive training. He took out the alchemy experience left by his grandfather and pondered over it with full concentration. Fasting Pills, Lingshen Pills, Huadu Pills, Huiyuan Pills, Xisui Pills, Pozhang Pills¡­ Huadu Pills, First Order Medium Grade Elixirs, can neutralize most First Order Demon Beast toxins but have limited effects on the toxins of some ancient demons with exceptional talents, only able to suppress the spread of the toxins temporarily and unable to completely cure them. Although it can¡¯t neutralize all toxins, it can suppress the majority, making it one of the must-have pills for human cultivators. Huiyuan Pills, First Order Medium Grade Elixirs, are effective in rapidly restoring spiritual power; a single pill can replenish nearly half of one¡¯s spiritual power in a brief moment. Huiyuan Pills and Huadu Pills are both consumable elixirs, essential in combat for cultivators and can save one¡¯s life at critical moments. Xisui Pills, First Order Superior Grade Elixirs, have the effect of cleansing the marrow and expanding meridians, thereby strengthening the cultivator¡¯s physical body, accelerating the absorption of spiritual energy, and expanding the capacity of one¡¯s Qi Sea and Dantian by ten percent, which is immensely heaven-defying. ¡°` Cultivators engaged in a duel of spells, and having even a slight increase in Spiritual Energy meant an extra layer of protection. Often, the outcome of such battles hinged on the competition of who had the most profound Spiritual Energy reserves. The Xisui Pill is one of the elixirs within the First Order Spiritual Medicine with a relatively higher degree of difficulty to concoct. The Pozhang Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir, contains a large amount of Spiritual Energy. After consumption, it can break through the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Realm. It is expensive, with each Pozhang Pill selling for hundreds of Spirit Stones. Each sale is quickly snapped up, the Pozhang Pill and the Xisui Pill are among the most popular elixirs for Qi Training Cultivators. Only one can be taken, and taking more is ineffective. The Alchemy Experience documents detailed information on over twenty different types of elixirs and pill formulas that are widely known in the Cultivation World, along with an introduction to hundreds of types of Spiritual Medicine. To his surprise, there was even an introduction to the Foundation Establishment Pill! The Foundation Establishment Pill, a Second Order elixir, aids cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, increasing the chances of successful Foundation Establishment by fifty percent. It is one of the spiritual objects for Foundation Establishment. The Foundation Establishment Pill is exactly what the Lin Family lacks the most. The scarcity of the Foundation Establishment Pill is due to its main ingredient, the White Jade Grass that¡¯s five hundred years old, which is extremely difficult to cultivate, not easy to transplant, and has a very low survival rate. It must satisfy the five hundred years of medicinal age before it can be used for alchemy. It¡¯s relatively easier to survive from seed cultivation, but the cultivation time is too long, making it possible only for great cultivation sects and families with thousands of years of heritage to grow them. Wild White Jade Grass is extremely rare, as the vast majority have already been discovered and harvested by cultivators, and it probably only appears in lands inhabited by the Demon Race. The reason why the Lin Family has only two Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators is because of the exorbitant price of the Foundation Establishment Pill, which sells for tens of thousands of Spirit Stones per pill. Only a small amount of Foundation Establishment Pills appears at auctions, where major clans and powers bid against each other fiercely¡ªit¡¯s a seller¡¯s market with no availability at any price. A single Foundation Establishment Pill requires the Lin Family to accumulate wealth for several decades, hence it is the lifeline of small families, and major powers would not readily let Foundation Establishment Pills flow to the outside. After reviewing the various pill formulas and elixirs, he delved into the study of the Alchemy Experience. Because his father Lin Xingrong was frequently traveling between the family and Luoyun Market, rarely reuniting with the family, he followed his grandfather Lin Shigong from an early age, helping to sort Spiritual Medicine and organize pill formula materials. Under such influence, he became fascinated with the art of Alchemy from a young age and demonstrated a talent for it, earning his grandfather¡¯s deep affection. His grandfather, feeling his own age, had long wanted to pass on all his skills to his grandson and have him carry on the legacy. Today, after concocting three batches of ingredients, he managed to produce only one Fasting Pill¡ªwith flaws. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel, alchemy was indeed not easy. With his grandfather¡¯s verbal guidance and personal instruction, Lin Tianming¡¯s understanding of the path of Alchemy had risen to a new level. What he needed now was diligent practice and relentless experimentation. Tomorrow, he would go to the Family Merits Hall to see if he could get an Alchemy Furnace and a few kinds of Spiritual Medicine. To perform Alchemy, in addition to Spiritual Medicine and the Pill Furnace, one must also use Earth Fire. Before reaching Core Formation, a cultivator¡¯s Mana is not pure enough, and the flames they generate do not reach high enough temperatures. They must rely on Earth Fire for both Alchemy and Artifact Refining. Once in the Core Formation Stage, they can use their own Golden Core Fire for both processes, which is far more effective than Earth Fire. Beneath the Lin Family Clan Grounds flows a vein of Earth Fire that has existed for a long time, present since the establishment of the clan. After great effort by the founding ancestor, who set up formations and opened up five rooms for both the Alchemy Room and the Artifact Refining room, the use of Earth Fire for Alchemy and Artifact Refining has generated quite a wealth for the Lin Family over more than eight hundred years. The Lin Family has also developed over the past eight hundred years, leveraging the Golden Core Stage cultivation of the founding ancestor Lin Renfeng to quickly stabilize their footing on Green Bamboo Mountain. The Lin Family has grown from just over ten members in the early days to one hundred seventy-five Cultivators and hundreds of thousands of non-cultivators to date. After the passing of the old ancestor, the family went through several internal struggles and was nearly brought to ruin. Surviving hardships through the protective treasures left behind by the old ancestor, the Lin Family members became more united, gradually regaining their strength in recent years. After comprehending his grandfather¡¯s Alchemy Experience, Lin Tianming made significant progress, and with diligent practice, he believed that he could master Alchemy on his own before long. This is the advantage of a family, having an elder who teaches without reservation, greatly reducing the potential for mistakes, as one would barely understand the most basic processes if left to fumble through on their own. After contemplating for three hours, Lin Tianming put away the Jade Tube and lay back on his bed. Late at night, the Qingfeng Bamboo outside his window rustled in the wind, and a fatigued Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 7 - 7 - 6 Successful Alchemy_1 Chapter 7 ¨C 6 Successful Alchemy_1 Chapter 7: Chapter 6 Successful Alchemy_1 The next morning at the Lin Family Hall of Merit. More than a dozen people gathered in the grand hall on the first floor of the Family Merits Hall, consisting of men and women, elders, young adults in their twenties, and middle-aged women. They were all Lin Family members exchanging merit points or trading various materials for weapon crafting and talisman making. A young man in a blue robe took out several stalks of spiritual medicine, a demon core from a demonic beast, and various parts of a demonic beast¡¯s body from his storage bag. An elder in a white robe efficiently picked up the spiritual medicine materials to inspect them while three youngsters with a thick book stood by, making records. The book¡¯s cover was made of green, oily beast skin, with densely packed runes swirling on the surface, giving it a rather peculiar appearance. The elder was none other than the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master of the Lin Family, Lin Shixin, at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm, who was also over ninety years old¡ªabout the same age as his own grandfather. ... Lin Shixin had watched over the family¡¯s treasury for more than forty years, experienced and knowledgeable, known for his fairness, responsible for collecting and exchanging all kinds of cultivation resources. As Lin Shixin counted and verified the items, he called out loudly: ¡°Two stalks of Golden Flower Grass, each worth eight merit points, a total of sixteen merit points, three stalks of Wind Spirit Grass, each for six merit points, totaling eighteen merit points, one stalk of Jade Ginseng for five merit points.¡± ¡°One First Order Medium Grade Three-eyed Wolf demon core for eighteen merit points, four Three-eyed Wolf claws for a total of twelve merit points, one demonic eye bead for five merit points, and one Three-eyed Wolf skin for eight merit points, adding up to eighty-two merit points in total.¡± The young man in the blue robe, seeming a bit surprised at the price, then spoke excitedly: ¡°Uncle Ten, help me exchange for three Lingshen Pills, one Huadu Pill, one Huiyuan Pill, and one First Order Superior Attack Talisman.¡± Lin Shixin nodded, checked the ledger, and proclaimed aloud: ¡°Three Lingshen Pills, each for eight merit points, totaling twenty-four merit points, one Huadu Pill for twelve merit points, one Huiyuan Pill for eight merit points, and one First Order Superior Attack Talisman for fifteen merit points.¡± ¡°That makes fifty-nine merit points altogether, leaving a balance of twenty-three merit points after deduction.¡± Before the words were finished, the young man in blue handed his Family Token to Lin Shixin. After Lin Shixin cast several law decrees, a series of red numeric figures flashed and then disappeared. Lin Shixin then went into the treasury to get the items for the family member and handed them over. The young man took his Family Token and the exchanged items, bowed with his fists and left the Hall of Merit. The family had established a complete exchange mechanism; one merit point could be exchanged for one Low-Grade Spirit Stone. Exchanges for various materials and elixirs from the family¡¯s treasury were made at the market prices of the Cultivation World. However, selling materials to the family could only yield eighty to ninety percent of the market price, as the family needed Spirit Stones for its operation and to support its High Order Cultivators, thus it needed to make a profit as well. For example, the two stalks of Golden Flower Grass brought by the young man in blue would have exchanged for ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones each in the market, but in the family, they could only be exchanged for eight or nine Low-Grade Spirit Stones each. After the young man in blue left, a steady stream of family members continued to come and go, some selling, some buying, bringing lively activity to the entire Hall of Merit. In the noisy crowd, a young man in a green shirt appeared, it was Lin Tianming. Yesterday, he barely managed to concoct a flawed Fasting Pill on his first attempt at alchemy. Today, he planned to visit the Hall of Merit to see if there were any Alchemy Furnaces available. After exchanging customary greetings with his peers and elders, he approached Lin Shixin to pay his respects: ¡°Grandson Tianming, greets Uncle Ten.¡± Lin Shixin nodded and couldn¡¯t help teasing him: ¡°You little rascal, just tell me what you want to exchange.¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t waste any time and stated his purpose directly. ¡°Uncle Ten, do you have any Alchemy Furnaces? I am learning alchemy and lack both a Pill Furnace and spiritual medicines, so I thought to come and have a look.¡± After hearing this, Lin Shixin replied, ¡°The family has only four Pill Furnaces in total, and the only Second Order Medium Quality Dan Furnace is used by your grandfather.¡± ¡°Your Fifth Uncle has exchanged the one First Order Superior Grade Alchemy Furnace, and currently, only two First Order Medium Grade Dan Furnaces are left.¡± While speaking, Lin Shixin took out two Dan Furnaces and placed them on the counter. Upon closer inspection, one was a fiery red furnace with three legs and four handles, named the Four Symbols Furnace. It was previously a First Order Superior Grade Dan Furnace, but for some reason, its grade had dropped to a First Order Medium Grade. It must have been damaged during a spell battle. Despite the grade drop, it was still significantly better to use than an ordinary First Order Medium Grade Alchemy Furnace, and it could be quite decent if repaired. The other was a blue-green Alchemy Furnace about three feet tall, adorned with runes on its body, named the Azure Mist Furnace, which was also a First Order Medium Grade Dan Furnace, left by a Lin Family ancestor. ¡®The Four Symbols Furnace requires two hundred and fifty merit points, and the Azure Mist Furnace requires one hundred and twenty merit points. Which one do you want to exchange for?¡¯ When Lin Tianming heard the prices, he was taken aback. The thirty-five Spirit Stones given by Ren Yuxuan, along with three Lingshen Pills and his own Spirit Stones, were nowhere near enough even for half an Alchemy Furnace. It seemed like his hope to exchange for an Alchemy Furnace today was dashed. With an involuntary wry smile, Lin Tianming said: ¡°Uncle Ten, it seems I can¡¯t get a Dan Furnace. The combined merit points and Spirit Stones are far from enough. I can only exchange for some Fasting Pill spiritual medicines to concoct elixirs.¡± The Fasting Pill requires eleven different types of common spiritual medicines, each valued at three Merit Points. Each portion of the spiritual medicine can be used to concoct three batches of Fasting Pills. ¡°Then I¡¯ll exchange for ten portions of Fasting Pill ingredients.¡± Once he finished speaking, he took out his Family Token. After a few breaths, the Merit Points on the token were all reset to zero. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming had not yet reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and could not take on family tasks, thus he was unable to earn Merit Spirit Stones. The thirty Merit Points on the token were given to him by his mother, Ren Yuxuan. Ren Yuxuan, possessing Four Spirit Roots and aged fifty-three, was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Knowing that her chances for Foundation Establishment were slim, she saved up most of the cultivation resources for Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong to cultivate with. In the Cultivation World, if one can¡¯t reach Foundation Establishment before the age of seventy, the difficulty of doing so increases significantly after seventy. Qi Refining Cultivators have a lifespan of slightly over one hundred and twenty years. Once they exceed half of their lifespan, their vital energy gradually declines, making Foundation Establishment increasingly difficult. Most Lin Family members, upon reaching fifty years of age without advancing to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, would conserve cultivation resources to pass on to their offsprings who possessed better talents. Members of the Lin Family rarely marry before the age of forty. Only those with extremely poor talent or those without ambition would marry and have children early. This way, they could maximize the use of limited resources and focus on nurturing the next generation. The spiritual roots of Lin Tianming¡¯s parents were not very good. His father, Lin Xingrong, was a Four Spirit Roots cultivator at fifty-five years old, who had reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm. His mother, Ren Yuxuan, also had Four Spirit Roots and was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement at fifty-three years old. Since the birth of Lin Tianming, Ren Yuxuan had been saving cultivation resources for more than a decade, reserving them for her son while also supporting Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation. Otherwise, for Lin Xingrong alone, it would be very difficult to reach Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. After the Merit Points on the token were reset to zero and he had collected ten portions of Fasting Pill ingredients, he bid farewell to Lin Shixin and left the Hall of Merit to head straight for the Alchemy Hall. Less than half an hour later, Lin Tianming appeared before his grandfather, Lin Shigong. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ve exchanged for ten portions of Fasting Pill ingredients. I want to concoct Fasting Pills. I don¡¯t have extra Merit Points to exchange for an Alchemy Furnace, so I can only borrow your Three Star Furnace for a bit,¡± he said. Lin Shigong didn¡¯t hesitate, he took out his Alchemy Furnace, gave several instructions, and left the pill room. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t rush to start alchemy, but instead practiced cultivation for half a day to adjust his condition. In the pill room, Lin Tianming¡¯s hands formed seals, casting several Law Decrees onto the Alchemy Furnace. Earth Fire surged forth, and after controlling the temperature, he warmed up the furnace for a quarter of an hour. He threw in the spiritual medicines one by one, brought out his Divine Sense, and operated his cultivation method to fully purify the medicines. A quarter of an hour later, he opened the lid of the furnace, and fragrance filled the air. A Fasting Pill hung in the center of the furnace. Overjoyed, Lin Tianming took out the Fasting Pill and inspected it carefully. It was undoubtedly a complete Fasting Pill. There were still plenty of medicinal ingredients left. Having had a good start, he continued to strike while the iron was hot. He casually threw the freshly concocted Fasting Pill into his mouth, and the hunger he had been feeling for the past half-day disappeared instantly. After four hours, he had finished processing one portion of the spiritual medicine. The first batch yielded one pill, the second batch failed to produce any, and the third batch also yielded one pill. Overall, he was quite satisfied. After continuously concocting three batches of Fasting Pills, his Spiritual Power was completely depleted, and his Divine Sense overly exhausted. He had to meditate and cultivate to recover before he could continue with alchemy. Time swiftly passed, half a month had gone by. Lin Tianming stepped out of the pill room. Over the course of half a month, he had frenziedly crafted Fasting Pills, using up all the spiritual medicines. His effort had been rewarded. After dozens of attempts, the success rate of the final third of the materials had surpassed sixty percent, yielding at least three and sometimes up to five Fasting Pills per batch. In half a month¡¯s time, from the ten portions of spiritual medicines exchanged, after thirty batches of concocting, he ultimately produced thirty-nine Fasting Pills. After consuming one, he had thirty-eight left. Lin Tianming found his grandfather Lin Shigong to return the Three Star Furnace and report his alchemy results. Lin Shigong was so astounded that he stared in disbelief and couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily, exclaiming, ¡°Heaven bless the Lin Family, Heaven bless the Lin Family¡­¡± After exuberantly shouting for more than a dozen breaths, Lin Shigong finally regained his composure. ¡°You little devil, you¡¯re barely considered a First Order Inferior Alchemist now. Seeing how serious you are, this old man must reward you properly. Hand over your family token,¡± he said. Lin Tianming did not put on airs and directly handed over the Family Token to Lin Shigong. His grandfather took out his own Family Token and with a swipe of his hands, added three hundred Merit Points to Lin Tianming¡¯s token. Lin Shigong said, ¡°Go and exchange for the Four Symbols Furnace at the Hall of Merit. That Dan Furnace is indeed good and will help you quickly concoct pills.¡± ¡°Once you can concoct First Order Medium-Grade elixirs, I will ask your Third Grandfather to help you repair the Four Symbols Furnace. If there are materials for crafting, perhaps he could even upgrade it to a Second Order Dan Furnace,¡± he added. Lin Tianming nodded, took the token, bowed with his hands clasped, and said goodbye to his grandfather. Time slowly went by¡­ After half a month of frenzied alchemy, his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense were greatly drained. After concocting three batches of pills, he needed to meditate for half a day to recover before he could continue with alchemy, leaving him utterly exhausted. Although alchemy was strenuous, by replenishing what had been consumed, his cultivation base steadily improved, and his Divine Sense grew a bit. He felt that he was getting ever closer to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. With three Lingshen Pills left, Lin Tianming planned to go into seclusion to cultivate for a while. He would not come out of seclusion until he had broken through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Chapter 8 - 8 - 7 Qi Refinement Level 5_1 Chapter 8 ¨C 7 Qi Refinement Level 5_1 Chapter 8: Chapter 7 Qi Refinement Level 5_1 The next day, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the stone bed. His eyes closed, hands clasped together, he adeptly performed a Grand Circulation. Specks of blue and red light gathered sporadically above Lin Tianming¡¯s head, slowly sinking into the Sky Spirit Cover, following through the seven meridians and eight channels of his body, and finally converging in the Seven Sea Dantian. After a full circulation, his meridians flowed smoothly, and he took out a bottle of elixirs. Pouring one out, it was indeed a Lingshen Pill. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, Lin Tianming swallowed the pill. Its rich fragrance and sweet taste were refreshing to the spirit. ... Immediately, he began to refine the pill, transforming it into streams of violent spiritual power that surged into the Qi Sea Dantian, where he saw the Dantian slowly expanding at a minimal rate. Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation method was one of the family legacies, the Fire Origin Decision, a Fire Attribute Mysterious Grade technique with a very powerful attack but comparatively slow cultivation speed. It could be cultivated up to the late stage of Core Formation. In the Cultivation World, techniques are divided into Heavenly, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow grades. Techniques of the Heavenly grade are the highest and can be cultivated up to the Divinity Transformation Stage, followed by Earth-grade techniques, which can reach the Nascent Soul Stage, while the lowest Yellow-grade techniques only allow cultivation up to the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Lin Family had a legacy of over eight hundred years with only five techniques: two of Mysterious Grade and three of Yellow Grade. They had collected techniques for all Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, but had no techniques for unusual attributes. Spiritual Roots like the Wind Spirit Root, Ice Spirit Root, Thunder Spiritual Root, and other unusual attributes are exceedingly rare, and their corresponding techniques are even harder to collect. Even millennia-old cultivation families or top sects may not possess such unusual attribute techniques. The Fire Origin Decision and Spring Wood Creation Classic are the only two Mysterious Grade techniques the family possesses, each one capable of being cultivated to the late stage of Core Formation. The Spring Wood Creation Classic is relatively mild and easier to cultivate with fewer bottlenecks, making it the usual choice for those in the clan with the Wood Attribute Spiritual Root. Besides that, there are three Yellow Grade techniques. The Metal Attribute technique, Golden Gang Classic, has extremely strong offensive power. The Water Attribute technique, the Water Origin Sword Decision, is a sword technique that can at most control nine Flying Swords to form a Sword Array, useful for both offense and defense and quite extraordinary. The Earth Attribute technique, Thick Earth Decision, can congeal an earth shield with excellent defensive power but slightly weaker offensive ability, so not many clanspeople cultivate this technique. Time passed quietly, and it took Lin Tianming three days in seclusion to fully refine the first Lingshen Pill, his cultivation reaching the peak of the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement. With one pill consumed and two remaining, Lin Tianming planned to continue taking Lingshen Pills, attempting to break through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. He continued to consume another Lingshen Pill and began the refinement process once more. Lin Tianming controllingly harnessed the immense medicinal power, repeatedly assaulting his Dantian countless times. Finally, two days later, the Qi Sea of his Dantian expanded several times over, allowing Lin Tianming to enter the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. Feeling his power multiply, Lin Tianming was ecstatic with joy. The original size of his Dantian was like a bucket, but now it was the size of a small pond, its capacity increased several times over and his spiritual power denser. Having just made a breakthrough, Lin Tianming did not rush to leave seclusion; instead, he continued to meditate for five more days to further consolidate his cultivation. After ten days of seclusion, the gains were tremendous for Lin Tianming. With two Lingshen Pills, he had smoothly advanced to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, with one pill still remaining¡ªfar better than expected. Advancing to the Fifth Level of Qi Practice so swiftly was fortunate, thanks to the half-month retreat he had previously, during which he had concocted elixirs and used up a large amount of spiritual power, later replenishing through cultivation, allowing his strength to grow steadily. Because of a solid foundation, he had managed to break through smoothly. Although he wanted to continue taking elixirs to further enhance his cultivation, considering there was only one Lingshen Pill left, its effects might not be significant. Excessive consumption of elixirs in succession might affect the foundation, so a gradual and methodical approach was safest. Deciding it was time, Lin Tianming concluded his seclusion and pushed open the door to step out. It was still early in the day, and, recalling the 300 merit points awarded by his grandfather, Lin Tianming summoned his Flying Sword, leaped onto it, and headed straight for the Family Merits Hall. With his cultivation breakthrough, even the speed of Sword Flight had more than doubled, the wind whistling past his ears, fluttering his blue robe loudly. Along the way, Lin Tianming passed by many important halls of the Lin Family, encountering numerous Lin Family members who were busily engaged in their tasks. After greeting each of them, Lin Tianming bid farewell and left. Through long-term development, the Lin Family¡¯s rules were rather strict, with clear principles of respecting the elderly and loving the young and distinct rewards and punishments, forming a complete family system. The Lin Family had ten departments, namely the Elders¡¯ Council, Enforcement Hall, Skill Transmission Hall, Hall of Merit, Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Scripture Pavilion, Alchemy Hall, Artifact Training Hall, Talisman Crafting Hall, and Formation Hall. The Elders¡¯ Council was composed of the Clan Leader and the various Hall Masters. Minor decisions were made after deliberation among the members of the Elders¡¯ Council, while major resolutions needed to be referred to Foundation Establishment Stage supreme elders. The Enforcement Hall was responsible for supervising all clan members, dealing with those who abused their power for personal gain, bullied men and women, committed fratricide, or defected from the clan, enforcing the family rules accordingly. If a violation of the clan rules was verified, the offender might be detained on the lighter end or have their cultivation removed and be confined within the clan until death for more serious offenses. Under the strict clan rules, Lin Family members did not dare to overstep the family law. The Enforcement Hall was also responsible for tracking down murderers, leading clan members in experiential training, and assuming authority in external armed conflicts and battles. The Skill Transmission Hall¡¯s duties involved propagating the deeds and development progress of the clan¡¯s ancestors, fostering a sense of belonging among the clan members, teaching cultivation methods and secret techniques to those newly embarked on the path of cultivation, and taking on the responsibility of introductory education for the clan members. The Hall of Merit managed the Lin Family¡¯s treasury and all public properties possessed by the clan, such as the Spiritual Medicine Garden and the mines. It also dealt with resource exchange and proxy selling for the clan members. The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was responsible for scheduling and executing various clan tasks. Once Lin Family members reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, they were expected to contribute to the clan, completing at least one family task within their capabilities every three years and receiving rewards upon completion. Family members under thirty years old who had not broken through to the fifth level could focus solely on cultivation and were exempt from tasks. Conversely, even those at the First Level of Qi Refining had to accept responsibilities after reaching thirty years of age, as the family would not support idlers. The Scripture Pavilion safeguarded all kinds of cultivation methods, secret techniques, and ancient texts of the family, providing suitable secret cultivation texts for those newly initiated into the path of cultivation. The Alchemy Hall, Artifact Training Hall, Talisman Crafting Hall, and Formation Hall were institutions established by the family to cultivate skilled talents. Upon reaching the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, one could choose any specialty based on their innate gifts and preferences to pursue further training. Naturally, choosing not to cultivate a skill or even cultivating multiple skills was also possible, as the family did not force any member. After hundreds of years of optimization and reforms, the current system was formed, which has been in effect for three hundred years without any major changes. Inside the Family Merits Hall, Lin Tianming appeared before Lin Shixin. Lin Tianming clasped his hands and bowed respectfully, saying, ¡°Great-Nephew pays respects to Great-Uncle Ten.¡± Lin Shixin waved his hand, indicating that he need not be overly courteous. ¡°Great-Uncle Ten, I wish to sell thirty-eight Fasting Pills.¡± As he spoke, he took out the thirty-eight Fasting Pills he had concocted and handed them over to Lin Shixin for inspection. Lin Shixin examined the elixirs closely for a moment before speaking, ¡°Thirty-eight Fasting Pills, one Spirit Stone each, calculating at a discount of twenty percent, that makes a total of thirty merits.¡± Lin Tianming took out his Family Token and said, ¡°I want to exchange for a Four Symbols Furnace, plus ten sets of Fasting Pill Spiritual Medicine, and five sets of Lingshen Pill Spiritual Medicine.¡± Lin Shixin quickly did the calculations: the Four Symbols Furnace cost 250 merits, each set of Fasting Pill Spiritual Medicine cost 3 merits, totaling 30 merits, and each set of Lingshen Pill Spiritual Medicine cost 8 merits, totaling 40 merits, adding up to a total expenditure of 320 merits. Selling the concocted thirty-eight Fasting Pills, he earned thirty merits, which balanced out exactly. Lin Tianming thought to himself that once the success rate and the number of pills produced in the later stages increased, he should be able to make a profit. Lin Shixin deducted the merits from his token, leaving himself with only ten merits. Gathering the Four Symbols Furnace along with ten sets of Fasting Pill Spiritual Medicine and five sets of Lingshen Pill Spiritual Medicine, Lin Tianming bowed and left the Hall of Merit. Chapter 9 - 9 - 8 Taking Over Family Duties_1 Chapter 9 ¨C 8 Taking Over Family Duties_1 Chapter 9: Chapter 8 Taking Over Family Duties_1 Lin Family¡¯s Miscellaneous Hall. A five-story tall pavilion, built of a large number of boulders, more than ten zhang high, where many family members received clan tasks. Lin Tianming was one of the many family members. On the first floor of the Miscellaneous Hall, a giant gold screen showed rows of clan tasks in bold red characters. Every once in a while, a task or several tasks would disappear at the same time, evidently taken on by a member of the Lin Family. Looking closely at the screen, there were densely packed hundreds of family tasks. ... ¡°Find two Golden Yuan Grass within six months, reward thirty Merit Points upon completion, minimum requirement of Sixth Level of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°Guard the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden for one year, reward fifteen Merit Points upon completion, no cultivation level requirement.¡± ¡°Accompany the Enforcement Hall to clear the Demonic Beasts from the Luoyun Mountain Range, duration one year, reward eighty Merit Points upon completion, minimum requirement of Seventh Level Qi Cultivation.¡± ¡°Defend Qingfeng Town for three years, reward sixty Merit Points upon completion, minimum requirement of Third Level of Qi Refining.¡± After watching for half an hour, he had looked through all the family tasks. He could take on most of them, but either they were too time-consuming or extremely risky. In his several years of cultivating, Lin Tianming had mastered the Five Elements Spell and Technique Secret Arts, and had sparred with his peers in the family, but he had never been in real combat. The task of clearing the Demonic Beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range would not only let him practice all sorts of spells and secret techniques but would also increase his combat experience, harden himself, and besides, he was extremely longing for the outside world. Unfortunately, the task of clearing out the Demonic Beasts required a minimum cultivation level of Seventh Level Qi Cultivation, and he was only at the Fifth Level, thus he couldn¡¯t take on this task. The task of defending Qingfeng Town wasn¡¯t bad either. Although three years was a long time, he could return to the family for half a month each year to visit relatives and refill cultivation resources. Determined, Lin Tianming decided to take on the task of defending Qingfeng Town. Collecting his thoughts, he walked towards the front desk of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, had a few words with the Executive Officer, and smoothly took on the task of defending Qingfeng Town. For tasks like defending clan grounds or guarding assets, one could receive the task rewards in advance, since they were long-term and not very dangerous, allowing the use of these rewards to exchange for resources and continue cultivating at the new location. Having received the task rewards in advance, he planned to exchange them for some cultivation resources to take with him to Qingfeng Town for continuing his alchemy and cultivation. One year was neither long nor short, but he had only one Spirit Essence Pill, forty Spirit Stones, materials for ten Fasting Pills, and materials for five Spirit Essence Pills, which might not be enough to last the year. After previously purchasing a Pill Furnace and alchemy materials, he had ten Merit Points left, plus the sixty Merit Points from the task reward, totaling seventy Merit Points, allowing him to buy some more alchemy materials, striving to produce Spirit Essence Pills. Lin Tianming pondered silently, and soon arrived at the Hall of Merit. He found Grandpa Shi, Lin Shixin, and successfully exchanged for ten sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials, costing a total of eighty Merit Points. Although there wouldn¡¯t be much danger in defending Qingfeng Town, it was still best to prepare some means of fighting the enemy, and he exchanged for two First Order Superior Attack Talismans for a total of thirty Merit Points, spending a total of one hundred and ten Merit Points. After using all his Merit Points, his Family Token balance was zero, and he also had to add forty Spirit Stones to his expenses. With exactly forty Spirit Stones left, he replenished everything and then took the Spiritual Medicine and talismans to leave the Hall of Merit. Lin Tianming¡¯s current assets, aside from ten sets of Fasting Pill materials and fifteen sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials. Besides those, he also had two First Order Superior Attack Talismans and one Spirit Essence Pill, with neither Spirit Stones nor Merit Points left. Excluding these cultivation resources, he could be considered utterly impoverished. The task required him to arrive at Qingfeng Town within ten days to replace the previous Lin family member in charge. There was still plenty of time, and he could still refine his Five Elements Spell and secret techniques to enhance their proficiency and strengthen himself. He summoned his Green Bamboo Sword, leapt onto it, and flew toward a valley partway up Green Bamboo Mountain. Half an hour passed. Lin Tianming appeared in a valley, dense with jungle and large trees everywhere, with wild animals often appearing in the valley, and a small river about three zhang wide running through it. This ravine was a natural training ground Lin Tianming found while practicing his spells, scarcely visited by people. When he first started cultivating, he liked to practice his Five Elements Spell and secret techniques here, using the wild animals as targets. After practicing, he could enjoy roasted meat, with a small part of his cultivation time spent here. Lin Tianming sat on a boulder several zhang in size and skillfully ran his Fire Origin Decision through a Grand Circulation. After adjusting his state, he started to use a secret technique that came with the cultivation technique. ¡°Huoyuan Slash!¡± A giant sword made up of thousands of fierce flames hung above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Within several zhang of the surrounding vegetation, it all withered instantly, clearly scorched to death by the heatwave. Lin Tianming shouted: ¡°Go!¡± The giant sword composed of thousands of flames appeared a hundred zhang away in an instant, slashing towards a large tree from high above. The tree, as thick as a water bucket, split in two in an instant, its severed area blackened, its moisture evaporated away, leaving only a dead stump. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Despite performing the technique multiple times, Lin Tianming was still awed by its immense power. However, this technique consumed too much Spiritual Power. His entire reservoir of Spiritual Power could barely perform it a few times before becoming exhausted. In combat, he dared not cast it lightly, keeping it as a trump card. In the following several days, after more than ten attempts using the Huoyuan Slash until all his Spiritual Power was depleted each time. After such arduous training, Lin Tianming was now able to execute the technique in half a breath, which could give him an advantage over his opponent. Five Elements Spells could also be cast instantly, greatly increasing speed. During this time, several wild beasts became victims, inexplicably burned by fire swords or bound by tendrils formed from spiritual power. In the past few days, Lin Tianming had also indulged his appetite for good food, enjoying black bear paws, white tiger meat, and even the unfortunate large flying birds, such as the eagle. More than half of the ten days had passed, and before leaving, he still had to say goodbye to his grandfather and mother. Although he had followed his father to Luoyun Market twice before, he was always restricted and never left his father¡¯s sight. As this would be the first time Lin Tianming left the clan grounds alone, he started to look forward to the outside world. Gathering his thoughts, he took the remaining uneaten meat and left on his sword. Within the small courtyard of the Lin family home. Grandfather Lin Shigong managed the Alchemy Hall. There were too few alchemists in the clan and the alchemy tasks were heavy. Learning that Lin Tianming had accepted the task of guarding Qingfeng Town, he rarely came back to this small home for a family reunion. His father, Lin Xingrong, had also just returned from Luoyun Market to the clan and would rest for a few days before setting out again to guard Luoyun Market. The three generations sat under the maple tree in the courtyard, drinking tea, while Lin Tianming¡¯s mother and sister were rinsing beast meat, preparing dinner. At this moment, Grandfather Lin Shigong wore a worried expression, feeling somewhat concerned. Lin Tianming had been brought up by him since childhood. With his dual spiritual roots talent and his alchemy talent that far exceeded his own, he really did not want him to venture out alone away from the clan lands. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Qingfeng Town was not far from Green Bamboo Mountain, just over six hundred li away, it was indeed not too far, as one could reach it on a flying sword in just two days. Besides that, Qingfeng Town was located in the inland area. Although the demonic beasts of the Luoyun Mountain Range were numerous, they would find it difficult to cross the Lin Family Clan Grounds and attack the town situated behind them. However, the opponents of the Human Race were not just demonic beasts. It was not uncommon among humans to kill for treasures. There were many who would head to Luoyun Mountain Range or deep into the Demon Race territory to seek fortune and experience. If one were to encounter evil cultivators, odds would likely be against them. His grandson, new to the world, had no experience in survival, making it truly difficult to feel entirely at ease. Lin Shigong, with a look of concern, solemnly said, ¡°Tianming, I have been an alchemist for the clan for over sixty years, and the majority of the clan¡¯s elixirs come from my hands.¡± ¡°I can speak to your twelfth uncle and ask for a different clan task for you. I suppose he would give me that courtesy.¡± Hearing Lin Shigong¡¯s words, Lin Xingrong, his face red with embarrassment, said, ¡°Father¡­¡± ¡°If everyone were like you, how would the Clan Leader manage the family? Although you have worked hard and made great contributions, you cannot abuse your power for personal gain. We shouldn¡¯t give people reason to speak ill of us.¡± After listening, Lin Tianming also spoke righteously, ¡°Grandfather, a flower in a greenhouse cannot grow tall. You cannot always stand behind me.¡± ¡°The Cultivation World is filled with experts, with over a thousand great clans and families. The Lin Family is merely one of many small families. Without enduring the trials of real fire, how can one become strong?¡± Seeing his grandfather¡¯s expression softening a bit, Lin Tianming continued to speak, seizing the opportunity to persuade him further. ¡°Qingfeng Town is not too far from the family¡¯s residence, and being situated inland, as long as I don¡¯t actively seek trouble, there won¡¯t be any danger.¡± ¡°For this experience, I¡¯ve exchanged for two First Order Superior Attack Talismans. I have more than enough to protect myself, and I will take good care of myself. You don¡¯t have to worry!¡± Having said this, Lin Tianming looked up at Lin Shigong with big eyes. Hearing these words, Lin Shigong felt they were quite reasonable. Too much protection indeed makes it hard to achieve anything. Thinking of this, his facial expression improved significantly. ¡°Take these two First Order Superior Defense Talismans, two bottles of Lingshen Pills, three Huiyuan Pills, one Huadu Pill, and twenty sets of Spirit Origin Pill ingredients,¡± he said as he pulled out quite a few items, not forgetting to give detailed instructions. ¡°Remember, you must not neglect either cultivation or alchemy. After one year, you must return for a few days, so I can verify your progress in alchemy.¡± ¡°Yes, I will follow Grandfather¡¯s decree!¡± Lin Tianming replied firmly, feeling moved and also reflecting. Luckily, his grandfather was an alchemist with an abundance of elixirs, which further solidified his determination to work hard in his cultivation, to become an alchemist himself, to make his grandfather proud, and to bring honor to the family. Taking the items from his grandfather and regaining his composure, Lin Tianming began to instruct Lin Shigong, ¡°You must also look after your health and not overwork yourself¡­¡± Lin Xingrong, who managed the family¡¯s business in Luoyun Market, was well-traveled and skilled in dealing with people. He passed his experience on to Lin Tianming piece by piece. He didn¡¯t provide any resources but instead gave Lin Tianming a map of Qingzhou and Jizhou, advising, ¡°Remember to stay calm and composed, humble yet not servile, and always think thrice before acting!¡± ¡°Thank you, Father¡­¡± Afterward, the three generations talked for a while, and dinner was also ready. The family gathered together, a rare occasion, with Grandfather bringing out his long-cherished Spiritual Wine. They enjoyed a joyful family meal to celebrate Lin Tianming¡¯s departure. Chapter 10 - 10 - 9 Qingfeng Town_1 Chapter 10 ¨C 9 Qingfeng Town_1 Chapter 10: Chapter 9 Qingfeng Town_1 The next morning at dawn, outside the grand formation of Lin Family¡¯s residence. Grandfather Lin Shigong, father Lin Xingrong, mother Ren Yuxuan, and sister Lin Tianyue were there to see off Lin Tianming. Ren Yuxuan¡¯s eyes were red. When no one was paying attention, she secretly handed Lin Tianming a storage bag, filled with unknown items. Despite repeated instructions last night, Grandfather Lin Shigong still couldn¡¯t help but give endless reminders. ¡°Remember to be careful, and do not neglect your alchemy and cultivation¡­¡± ¡°Alright, Dad. Tianming is not a child anymore, and it¡¯s getting late. We should set off as soon as possible!¡± Lin Xingrong said with a worried look as he urged. ... Lin Shigong¡¯s face flushed red, and then he spoke: ¡°It¡¯s my old age showing improper emotions. Go ahead, Tianming, don¡¯t worry about us, focus on your cultivation, and come back to see us as soon as the year is up!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face was calm, and he spoke with determination: ¡°Grandfather, Father, Mother, Sister, I¡¯m leaving. I will take good care of myself and cultivate diligently. I¡¯ll strive to return soon. Take care of yourselves!¡± Having said that, he brought out his Green Bamboo Sword, leapt onto the blade, and reluctantly rose into the air, flying towards the east. Standing on the Green Bamboo Sword, the wind caused his green robe to flap loudly. Passing over mountains and rivers, Lin Tianming felt a whirlwind of emotions. He had always looked forward to leaving the family residence early, to travel the Nine Provinces Continent, to see the great rivers and mountains, to witness the heroes of all tribes. Having left for just half a day, he began to miss his family. With a reluctant heart, he continued on the road to Qingfeng Town. Qingfeng Town was more than six hundred li from Green Bamboo Mountain. With full-speed flight and his speed, he could arrive in two days. Departing five days early afforded plenty of time, so there was no need to hurry on his way. After half a day of Sword Flight, over half of his spiritual power was consumed. For the sake of unexpected circumstances, he saved half of his spiritual power for emergencies. It was best to be cautious on his first venture into the world, as it was still early and there was no harm in recovering before continuing on the journey. Just ahead, there was a small valley with a river ten zhang wide, towards which he flew. Landing on a large tree, he took out the storage bag given by Ren Yuxuan. Inside were three Lingshen Pills, one Huiyuan Pill, one Huadu Pill, and forty low-grade spirit stones. Looking at the elixirs and spirit stones in the storage bag, his thoughts were abundant. This must have been left by his father, Lin Xingrong. It was impossible for his mother, with only the Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement and no particularly outstanding skills, to often provide resources for him and his sister to cultivate. Although his father was seldom at Green Bamboo Mountain and did not show much concern, he was silently contributing. At this thought, Lin Tianming was very moved. He quietly placed the items back in the storage bag and summed up his current possessions. He currently had ten Lingshen Pills, four Huiyuan Pills, two Huadu Pills, and forty low-grade spirit stones, along with enough herbs for ten Fasting Pills and thirty-five batches of Spirit Origin Pill ingredients. Two first order superior attack talismans, two first order superior defense talismans, one Elemental Fire Bottle, and one set of Alchemy Experience summarized by his grandfather. He also had maps of Qingzhou and Jizhou, detailed with the mountain ranges of major countries, the territory of medium to large family sects, and family residence locations. The Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain was marked on the map, though it was not prominent. This net worth, valued at least in the hundreds of spirit stones, could very well be more than what Lin Family cultivators with the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement possessed. The four first order high-quality talismans, two attack and two defense talismans, would be more than enough for self-protection, as long as he did not encounter a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement. Taking up the map, he carefully discerned his location; he had flown a hundred li and should now be over Jinyu Mountain, a small mountain range the size of a hundred li. He sorted his possessions, closed his eyes, and began to meditate and cultivate. An hour later, having recovered, he resumed his journey, continuing to fly eastwards. Three days passed. A town spanning dozens of li gradually came into view, a plain filled with vast rice paddies, hardly a hill in sight, offering an extremely open vista. Feeling the atmosphere of this place, he sensed that the spiritual energy was far less than at Green Bamboo Mountain, probably not even sixty percent as strong. Luckily, he had plenty of spiritual medicine and Lingshen Pills, otherwise relying solely on practice for cultivation, the effect would not be satisfactory. Green Bamboo Mountain was located in the Luoyun Mountain Range. During the time of their ancestor, the family had spent a great deal to deploy a second order superior formation, which significantly increased the level of spiritual energy due to its inherent spirit-gathering power. Qingfeng Town, however, was only part of the secular world, so it was not surprising that the spiritual energy was thin. In a matter of breaths, he flew over the town. What came into view were densely packed houses, orderly streets, and a multitude of Lin Family commoners looking up with admiration and envy, some kneeling on the ground and murmuring prayers. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In every direction of the town, there was a city wall spanning thousands of meters, several zhang high, with a gate in the middle displaying a placard. The placard, made of red sandalwood and measuring several zhang in length and one zhang in width, bore the three large characters for Qingfeng Town. In the center of the town stood the tallest and most imposing tower in the entire town, five stories high, built entirely of marble. Its gray-white walls were particularly eye-catching. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger; he headed straight for the attic. Less than half an hour later, Lin Tianming landed directly in the square in front of the attic. A few moments passed, and out of the attic emerged a middle-aged man, about sixty years old, with the cultivation of the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, a clan uncle of the Lin Family by the name of Lin Xingche. Before this, the two had met several times but had never interacted much. Lin Tianming quickly walked forward, bowing with his hands clasped in salute, and said, ¡°Tianming pays his respects to Clan Uncle!¡± Lin Xingche didn¡¯t put on airs; he greeted him with a smile and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities, nephew. You must be weary from your travels, please come inside to rest for a while.¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t refuse, and the two entered the grand hall of the attic together. Before leaving, Lin Xingche instructed the Lin Family commoners nearby, ¡°Send someone to prepare a table of food for the grand hall, and summon the town mayor as well.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The commoner from the Lin Family responded, bowed respectfully, and then left. Inside the grand hall, Lin Xingche brought out the tea set and the two sat opposite each other, starting to enjoy the tea and chat. Lin Xingche made pleasantries and said, ¡°I originally thought that the one who would take over my guardian duty would be another clansman, but I never expected it would be our Lin Family¡¯s pride, truly beyond anyone¡¯s expectations.¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and modestly replied, ¡°I dare not claim to be the pride, with so many in the Wei Kingdom blessed with outstanding talents, not to mention in larger regions like Qingzhou or Yunzhou and Xuanzhou.¡± Lin Xingche didn¡¯t say much more and began to introduce Qingfeng Town to Lin Tianming. Qingfeng Town is one of the Lin Family commoners¡¯ five major gathering places, with nearly a hundred thousand people, of medium scale, with a history of over five hundred years of city construction, and an important resource of commoners for the Lin Family. Every three years, it can produce several clansmen with Spiritual Roots. In two years¡¯ time, it will be time for the clan¡¯s triennial Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, when people should arrive to test the suitable-aged clansmen of Qingfeng Town and take those with Spiritual Roots back to the family¡¯s territory for cultivation. Qingfeng Town lies five hundred li south, within the territory of the Huangyang Kingdom of Jingzhou, in the Whirlwind Mountain Range¡ªa no man¡¯s land. Occasionally, low-order Demonic Beasts lose their way and intrude into Qingfeng Town¡¯s jurisdiction. Remember to be vigilant and refrain from crossing the border into Jingzhou territory recklessly, for their cultivation standards far exceed Qingzhou¡¯s, and do not stir up trouble or make enemies for the family. Three hundred li west is the end of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Ziyun Mountain Range in Qingzhou. In the thousand-li radius, there are no cultivator families. There are also many Demonic Beasts in the Ziyun Mountain Range, so there won¡¯t be any danger as long as you don¡¯t stray more than a hundred li from Qingfeng Town. Lin Xingche talked for half an hour. Then the Lin Family commoners brought in over ten different types of dishes and drinks. While eating and drinking, they continued discussing Qingfeng Town. Less than fifteen minutes later, an elderly man over fifty, with white hair, entered the grand hall, supported by two young adults. All three knelt down together and said in unison, ¡°Welcome, great ancestor, to Qingfeng Town.¡± Before the elder could finish speaking, Lin Tianming raised his hand with a wave, and the three were lifted and stood up in midair. Stunned, the three stood there with flushed faces, looking somewhat at a loss. Lin Tianming spoke calmly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities. I¡¯ve been briefed sufficiently on Qingfeng Town by Clan Uncle. For the next three years, I will be stationed here to protect Qingfeng Town and ensure its peace.¡± Lin Tianming then asked the elder to introduce himself and the other clansmen. The elder¡¯s face lit up as he began to speak, ¡°I am Lin Sheng, a thirty-second generation clansman of the Lin Family from Qingfeng Town, and have been serving as the town mayor for over twenty years.¡± ¡°These are my sons, Lin Shan and Lin Hai. Both are quite astute. I am getting on in years and find it hard to get around. I¡¯m afraid I might not be able to serve you closely, great ancestor. I ask for your understanding, but please feel free to command them for anything,¡± he added, turning to his sons. After saying this, he instructed his sons: ¡°You two brothers, make yourselves fully available to serve the great ancestor. Any lapses will be met with family discipline!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shan and Lin Hai were visibly apprehensive, nodding repeatedly and promptly agreeing. In front of everyone, Lin Xingche handed over the control token for the attic¡¯s restrictions to Lin Tianming and then let the three leave. The two continued their meal, and after a few cups of wine, Lin Xingche bid farewell to Lin Tianming, planning to rest for the night and set off at dawn to return to the family¡¯s territory and report back. Lin Tianming also raised a cup in respect and wished his clan uncle a safe journey, then they retired to their respective rooms to rest. After traveling tirelessly for three days, Lin Tianming was thoroughly exhausted. Finally relaxed, he fell onto the bed and immediately fell asleep. Lin Sheng and Lin Hai stayed outside the attic, not straying a step away. The next morning, Lin Tianming saw off Clan Uncle Lin Xingche for several tens of li before returning. He surveyed the area around Qingfeng Town Clan Territory for ten li to ensure safety and then went back to the secret chamber in the attic. Chapter 11 - 11 - 10 Daily Cultivation_1 Chapter 11 ¨C 10 Daily Cultivation_1 Chapter 11: Chapter 10 Daily Cultivation_1 In the secret room of the attic, Lin Tianming sat upright on the meditation cushion. After several days of cultivation, the spiritual power in his Qi Sea Dantian had increased only slightly; relying solely on meditation here would bring minimal results. Before coming here, he had exchanged some spiritual medicine from the Family Merits Hall, and together with the Lingshen Pills given by his grandfather and father, he had as many as ten, a considerable number. Lin Tianming planned to take a Lingshen Pill once a month, which would just be enough to last a year. The remaining time would be used for pill concoction and meditation. Having decided that, he took out several sets of fasting pill materials and then consecutively retrieved the Elemental Fire Bottle and the Four Symbols Furnace. The Earth Fire inside the Elemental Fire Bottle was collected with the help of Elder Wu by his grandfather. ... According to his grandfather, the Elemental Fire Bottle turned out to be a First Order Medium Grade spiritual bottle, specifically for containing various types of flames or treasured spiritual objects. Without Earth Fire in Qingfeng Town, pill concoction was impossible, and it was quite a struggle when they collected the fire. It appeared that his grandfather had already considered everything thoroughly; he himself had been careless. If encountered in a battle of magic, such oversight could be disastrous¡ªa lesson to always be vigilant. His storage bag wasn¡¯t short of fasting pill spiritual medicine materials, with as many as ten sets, each capable of making three batches, and thus thirty batches in total. At Green Bamboo Mountain, ten sets of materials yielded thirty-nine fasting pills, already qualifying him as a competent First Order Lower-Grade Alchemist with a success rate around fifty percent, and more than three pills per batch. Everything was ready, except for the crucial element. After skillfully adjusting his breathing through cultivation, a series of spells were cast onto the Elemental Fire Bottle. Instantly, the Elemental Fire Bottle expanded to the size of a bucket, and a stream of crimson flames surged out, soaring the temperature in the secret room. He placed the Four Symbols Furnace over the Elemental Fire Bottle, heating the furnace for a quarter of an hour as the temperature inside the furnace slowly increased. Every quarter of an hour, a herb was tossed into the furnace, then the furnace lid was closed. The spiritual medicine gradually melted into a spiritual liquid, a faint fragrance of medicine filling the entire room. With practiced ease, he decomposed, purified, separated, infused spirit, and condensed the mixture into elixirs. Half an hour later, the scent of the medicine was even more intense, and merely smelling it could reduce one¡¯s hunger significantly. Lifting the lid of the furnace, five fasting pills hovered within. He took out each fasting pill and placed them into exquisite little jade bottles. Elixirs could only be stored in jade bottles. The jade bottles had a higher density and contained a trace of faint spiritual energy, whereas ordinary bottles could hardly retain the spiritual energy of the pills. In a few days, the pill¡¯s energy would dissipate, its internal power leaked out, turning it into waste. Before coming to Qingfeng Town, he specifically prepared several hundred jade bottles to store the elixirs he concocted. Every alchemist would prepare a good number of jade bottles; high-grade elixirs were stored one pill per bottle. After concocting a batch of fasting pills and obtaining five pills, he continued to concoct the remaining two batches of spiritual medicine. Four hours later, a set of materials for three batches of fasting pills had been completely concocted. Taking half of the day, he had finally finished concocting the three batches of fasting pills, with a rest period of a quarter of an hour¡¯s breathing adjustment between each batch. Under careful precautions, two out of three batches were successful, and the success rate had reached seventy percent. The first batch produced five pills, the second batch failed, and the third batch produced six pills¡ªa result that left him very satisfied. After completing one set of fasting pill materials, there was still more than half of the residual spiritual energy left in his Qi Sea Dantian. At the Fourth Level of Qi Practice, concocting three batches of fasting pills would deplete all his spiritual power, and he would have to meditate to restore it. After reaching the Fifth Level Qi Practice, it took less than half of the three batches of Fasting Pills to finish the process, and both the success rate and the number of pills produced increased significantly, highlighting the importance of cultivation level in mastering the Four Arts of Cultivation. He continued to make Fasting Pills until his Spiritual Power was completely depleted. In the blink of an eye, night had fallen, a bright moon hung in the sky, and Qingfeng Town was silent except for the occasional cries of children from within a few houses. After a whole day of making Fasting Pills, he exhausted all his Spiritual Power and used three sets of Spiritual Medicine Materials to make nine batches of elixirs. His experience in alchemy grew substantially; the First Order Inferior Fasting Pill now had a stable success rate of over seventy percent, and the yield was no fewer than five pills per batch, with the highest reaching as many as eight pills. Tallying the day¡¯s proceeds, he had a total of thirty-eight Fasting Pills, which, if exchanged for Spirit Stones, would be valued at thirty-eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones. For the Lin Family Members living on Green Bamboo Mountain with a cultivation level of Fifth Level Qi Practice, it would take a whole year to accumulate thirty-eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones, just based on what the family distributed. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how lucrative the profession of an alchemist was in the Cultivation World, given that just making First Order Inferior elixirs could be so profitable. Cultivators consume vast resources in their cultivation practice, and alchemists can quickly earn Spirit Stones and Spiritual Medicine for other cultivators by making elixirs, which they then use for their own cultivation and to trade for other resources. Every alchemist has a wide network of contacts, making it easy for many cultivators to become indebted to them. The risk of offending an alchemist is quite significant; they could find themselves troubled by many indebted parties, which is why High Order Alchemists are so respected, and one wouldn¡¯t dare to offend them lightly. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming stored the Fasting Pills in his storage bag and began to cultivate. Lin Tianming found that every time he cultivated after exhausting himself through alchemy, his cultivation practice progressed twice as efficiently. After replenishing the depleted Spiritual Power, the Spiritual Power within his Seven Seas Dantian grew at a visibly fast rate, and his Divine Sense was also slowly improving after the high-intensity consumption and recovery. The Four Arts of Cultivation can fortify a cultivator¡¯s Divine Sense; over time, the cumulative increase is considerable. The assistance of a strong Divine Sense to a cultivator is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The stronger the Divine Sense, the larger the area it can cover; at the Fifth Level Qi Practice, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense could already encompass several miles, able to detect the metabolic processes of every blade of grass and tree. Born with an exceptionally powerful Divine Sense, Lin Tianming¡¯s abilities at the Fifth Level Qi Practice were probably no less than those of an ordinary Sixth Level of Qi Refining cultivator, if not even stronger. A powerful Divine Sense is of great significance in combat, mastering the Four Arts of Cultivation, practicing techniques, and concealing one¡¯s presence. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With it, one can control more and stronger Spiritual Artifacts and Magical Treasures, cast secret techniques more smoothly, detect enemies earlier, and better conceal oneself, greatly enhancing a cultivator¡¯s overall strength. In terms of the Four Arts of Cultivation, a stronger Divine Sense increases success rates and efficiency in both Alchemy and Artifact Refining, Talisman Making, and Formation. However, in the Cultivation World, secret techniques to train the Divine Sense are extremely rare and significantly more challenging to practice than cultivation techniques, perhaps only found in central regions of the Human Race like Yunzhou and Xuanzhou. In the remote provinces of Qingzhou and Jizhou, with their mere ten thousand years of development and shallow foundation, secret techniques for training the Divine Sense are incredibly rare and highly treasured. It is said that during the ancient times tens of thousands of years ago, there was no shortage of Heavenly Grade Techniques and strange and precious secret techniques, with numerous outstanding figures emerging. There were even rumors of the emergence of Immortal Realm manuals, though it is unknown whether they were true or false. In the quiet of the night, having fully recovered his Spiritual Power and his Divine Sense restored to normal, his Spiritual Power flowed smoothly and unimpeded. He looked at the slightly increased amount of Spiritual Power in his Dantian with a sense of satisfaction. It had been only a month since he reached the Fifth Level Qi Practice, and he still had some way to go before reaching the Sixth Level. Therefore, he decided not to cultivate any further and to rest easy instead. After a full day of Alchemy and cultivation, he felt a faint sense of fatigue. Lin Tianming left the secret chamber and walked towards the adjacent room, gradually disappearing into the night. Chapter 12 - 12 - 11: A Chance Encounter with Cultivators Dueling - Part 1 Chapter 12 ¨C 11: A Chance Encounter with Cultivators Dueling ¨C Part 1 Chapter 12: Chapter 11: A Chance Encounter with Cultivators Dueling ¨C Part 1 Time flew by, and Lin Tianming had been stationed in Qingfeng Town for two months. During those two months, Lin Tianming had only refined Fasting Pills twice, producing thirty-eight pills on the first attempt. The second time, he also used up materials for three batches of Fasting Pills, yielding forty-two pills, bringing the total to exactly eighty Fasting Pills. In the meantime, he would assimilate one Lingshen Pill each month. Having assimilated two Lingshen Pills, his cultivation level had significantly increased. He had reached the late phase of the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and was getting ever closer to the Sixth Level. He believed the breakthrough to the Sixth Level would likely happen within the next couple of months. Over the two months, apart from rigorous practice, it was still rigorous practice. He had not left his home and was quite satisfied with the progress in his cultivation despite the hardship. At the beginning of each month, Lin Tianming would patrol a radius of several dozen miles around Qingfeng Town. ... He hadn¡¯t encountered any Demonic Beasts, only a few Mortal Beasts, which he casually killed and brought back to Qingfeng Town for the Lin Family mortals to feast on, much to the widening of many eyes among the Lin Family mortals. These Mortal Beasts were also descendants of the Demon Race, but their bloodlines had severely degenerated and they no longer had the ability to evolve. However, their flesh was full of vigorous energy, and when consumed by mortals, it could greatly enhance their strength and vitality. Over time, it would strengthen their bodies and make them resistant to diseases; reaching a certain amount could perhaps extend their lives by a decade or eight years. In the secular world, although there were also a small number of mortals who practiced martial arts, taking on beasts alone was more likely dangerous than not. The ease with which he killed them garnered immense admiration from the Lin Family mortals, and their respect for Lin Tianming deepened. At dawn, the fiery sun slowly rose, its rays shining upon the Nine Provinces Continent. Lin Tianming appeared outside the pavilion on the square, where numerous mortals knelt in reverence. Under the gaze of all, Lin Tianming summoned his Green Bamboo Sword. With a leap, he jumped onto it and rose into the air, flying out of the town. As usual, he planned to survey the perimeter around Qingfeng Town with the town as the center, checking for any Demonic Beasts that might harm the people. Last time he had patrolled a radius of just over fifty miles around Qingfeng Town, but today he planned to expand the area to a hundred-mile radius to ensure the safety of the region as much as possible. Outside the town, in the fields at dawn, a network of rivers was dense, and large swaths of rice seedlings, fresh and green, grew promisingly. Many Lin Family mortals were laboring in the fields. They moved in groups through the rice fields, busy farming, chatting, and laughing. A boy of about ten years old skillfully harvested the crops in the field. The yield was very good this year. An elder nearby, his face beaming with joy and respect, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Thank goodness our Lin Family is blessed by our immortal ancestors. Now, with favorable winds and rains, we can live and reproduce in peace.¡± The boy, looking puzzled, asked, ¡°Grandpa, are there really immortals in this world? Did our Lin Family really have immortals?¡± ¡°Of course, there are immortals. Over thirty years ago, when I was just a child, younger than you, I saw one with my own eyes.¡± ¡°That immortal could fly through the air, command the power of water and fire at will, and had the ability to move mountains and fill seas. Even the ferocious tigers were killed in an instant by the immortal. I will never forget it for the rest of my life.¡± The elder spoke passionately about the immortal, filled with admiration and longing. The boy¡¯s face was filled with yearning, and he said firmly, ¡°I also want to become an immortal, to protect our family and Qingfeng Town.¡± Hearing this, his grandfather grew serious. In a little over a year, it would be time for the Lin Family¡¯s Spirit Testing. He must send his grandson to try. With both his son and daughter-in-law having passed away at a young age, his grandson had grown up with him, raised through hardship. If he were to pass away, leaving his grandson helpless, what would become of him? If the boy could become an immortal and be entered into the Lin Family records, he himself could die content. Watching the many mortals happily farming or harvesting crops in the field, Lin Tianming was also touched by their joy. Continuing west, he soared towards the direction of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Ziyun Mountain Range. The Ziyun Mountain Range was a small range, spanning just over a thousand miles, less than one-fifth the size of the Luoyun Mountain Range, with sparse spiritual energy. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Purple Cloud Mountain Range got its name because it resembled the shape of clouds. Inside the mountain range, there weren¡¯t many Demonic Beasts. Mostly there were First Order Demon Beasts, and Second Order Demonic Beasts were rare. They lived within the Purple Cloud Mountain Range and seldom ventured out of their territory. In the vast Qingzhou, small mountain ranges like this one were countless, and thus, no cultivation sects had taken control of this area. However, with the increasing number of cultivators in the land of Qingzhou and the expansion of other state¡¯s forces, Qingzhou would sooner or later become overcrowded and its natural resources would start to dwindle. But those concerns were not something he needed to consider at the moment. Lin Tianming deployed his Divine Sense and continued to survey the nearby area for several miles. A few miles ahead, on a small hill, there were two cultivators dueling with magic. Judging from the fluctuations caused by their duel, they were at least at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement or above. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to keep going forward and immediately retreated, finding a place to hide in a small valley nearby. He used a concealment spell to hide exceptionally well. A few miles away, a cultivator in a red robe said indignantly, ¡°Jin Daoyou, I was the first to discover that Cave Mansion. After exploring the Cave Mansion, I said we would divide the treasures with a split of sixty-forty in your favor. Yet, you, taking advantage of being one level higher in cultivation than me, actually propose an eighty-twenty split. That¡¯s just too much to ask.¡± ¡°If you want to monopolize the treasures, just say so directly. Why make so many excuses? Even though you are one level higher in cultivation than me, does that mean I¡¯m easy to bully?¡± The other cultivator, a man in a white robe with a murderous aura, didn¡¯t waste words. With a cold smile, he commanded three Spirit Swords to form a Sword Array that shot towards the man in the red robe at high speed. The Red Robe Cultivator, greatly alarmed, sacrificed a hammer-shaped Spiritual Artifact, pouring a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power into it. The dual hammers turned into a red light phantom and violently smashed down towards the man in the white robe. With a booming sound, a massive explosion erupted, and flames scattered in all directions. The white-robed man was sent flying backwards several yards, his clothes barely covering his body, with blood traces at the corner of his mouth, clearly sustaining serious internal injuries. As for the Red Robe Cultivator, his upper garment was completely shredded, exposing his entire upper body, with several inch-long bloody holes on his shoulder. Had he not been a Body Cultivator, full of vibrant blood and Qi which allowed him to quickly dodge vital areas, he might have already fallen. Both were extremely shocked. Now that they had gone past the point of reconciliation, it would be difficult to end things amicably. They had no choice but to fight desperately. If it were indeed the Cave Mansion of a Nascent Soul Master, it would be worth the risk. Having said that, both prepared their strongest attacks, intending to kill the other on the spot in order to take sole possession of the Cave Mansion Ruins. The white-robed cultivator sacrificed a Flying Sword, casting several spells on it. The Sword Qi on the blade soared several times, and with a spray of essence blood on the three swords, the Sword Qi became even more agile. The white-robed man shouted loudly, ¡°Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique, kill¡­¡± In an instant, the three Spirit Swords merged into one, sending a berserk and nimble Sword Qi hurtling straight towards the man in the red robe. The Red Robe Cultivator, unfazed, grasped the dual hammers in his hands. Spiritual Power overflowed from his entire body, and the bloody holes on his shoulders healed at a visible rate. His whole body emanated an unstoppable aura. After using the Secret Art of Dominating Body Technique, the Red Robe Cultivator, holding a golden hammer in each hand, charged towards the white-robed cultivator as vigorously as if he had a cultivator¡¯s body. His speed was so fast it made onlookers gape in astonishment. With a thunderous explosion, fire and debris flew in all directions. A shockwave from the blast spread out, with the two men at its center, toppling and snapping the towering trees within a hundred yards. The scene was a complete mess, too horrible to behold. After the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the white-robed man was seen lying motionless on the ground, at the bottom of a pit a zhang in diameter. His meridians were completely severed, his flesh blurred with blood; he was so dead that he could be no deader. The Red Robe Cultivator, with a pale face, stood dozens of yards away, with a hole the size of a fist in his chest. He leaned against a rock, his breaths weak, looking greatly depleted. He quickly took out a Consolidating Essence Pill, a healing elixir, popped it into his mouth, and sat down to meditate and recover from his injuries. That battle had been extremely fierce. For him, at the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation against an opponent at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, had he not used that heaven-defying secret technique, it might have been him lying dead. Chapter 13 - 13 - 12: Fight Back Between Life and Death_1 Chapter 13 ¨C 12: Fight Back Between Life and Death_1 Chapter 13: Chapter 12: Fight Back Between Life and Death_1 Lin Tianming concealed himself in the adjacent valley, suppressing all of his presence, and witnessed the entire process of the battle between two cultivators above the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, utterly shocked. Fortunately, he discovered them in time and halted his motion instead of colliding head-on with the two cultivators, or else it would have been very difficult to escape. Beyond the shock, he was also worried that their intense battle had possibly exposed his presence. Otherwise, with his own fifth level Qi Cultivation, he feared that the man in the red robe would silence him to keep the secret. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn¡¯t dare to leave rashly, which could easily reveal himself; he couldn¡¯t risk it. Now he was in a dilemma, hoping he had gone unnoticed, and could only wait for the other to leave before making any plans. ... At this moment, time seemed incredibly slow. A quarter of an hour later. The man in the red robe stood up, his injuries somewhat recovered, the bleeding had stopped, and he had regained some of his spiritual power. He collected the storage bag of the man in the white robe and cast a Fireball Technique, incinerating the corpse to erase all traces. Having done all this, the man in the red robe glanced at the little hill where Lin Tianming was hiding and shouted disdainfully; ¡°Fellow Daoist, after watching for so long, isn¡¯t it time to show yourself?¡± Lin Tianming had not expected that the other had discovered him long ago but had simply disregarded him until the battle was over before dealing with him. Lin Tianming no longer hid and walked out of the valley with a wry smile. He flew unhurriedly toward the man in the red robe, stopped at a distance of a hundred zhang to maintain a safe distance, giving him some time to react in case a fight ensued. Lin Tianming spoke calmly; ¡°I am Lin Tianming, a disciple of the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, tasked with guarding Qingfeng Town. I was just passing by on patrol and meant no harm. Fellow Daoist can leave directly.¡± ¡°I am ignorant of the deeds you committed and the words you spoke just now. I have tasks waiting and will not delay further, farewell!¡± After saying this, he clasped his hands together, turned around, and without looking back, he flew towards Qingfeng Town on his sword at full speed, quickly covering several miles. The man in the red robe thought, since this person comes from the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain and this place is merely over five hundred miles from Green Bamboo Mountain, if he reports to his clan and they send a Foundation Establishment elder, it will be extremely difficult to investigate the cave dwelling later. Whether he knows anything or not, this person cannot be allowed to live. Even though he was injured and at less than a third of his peak strength, this person was only at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation; capturing him should be easy. After killing him, he would immediately head back to Jingzhou in Huangyang Kingdom to lay low. The Lin Family¡¯s reach had not extended to the land of Jingzhou yet, and in the future, there might be a chance to return secretly to explore the cave dwelling. ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°Since you have run into this, your luck is to blame; only the dead can keep secrets.¡± Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t even gone several miles when the man in the red robe rode his giant hammer, flying through the air, in pursuit of Lin Tianming. Seeing that the distance between them was rapidly closing and that catching up was just a matter of time, Lin Tianming was frantic with urgency, fearing that escape would be difficult. Cooling down, he thought that the man had suffered serious injuries and after the great battle with the man in the white robe, a significant amount of spiritual power would have been drained; his full strength would surely be less than half. He still had two First Order Superior Attack Talismans and two Defense Talismans. In a fight to the death, he might not necessarily lose. It would be best to fly a distance first, wearing down some of the man¡¯s spiritual power before considering a counterattack. Lin Tianming was in the lead with the man in the red robe chasing from behind. A chase ensued for dozens of miles until they were less than a mile apart. Lin Tianming decided not to flee any longer and landed in a small valley ahead, taking out a Huiyuan Pill to swallow, hoping to recover as much spiritual power as possible. The man in the red robe had used up a considerable amount of the small portion of spiritual power he had just recovered in the chase over dozens of miles. If the chase went on for dozens more miles, he would have to give up, but the boy seemed to have reached his limit sooner than expected. ¡°Truly, heaven is helping me.¡± ¡°Boy, can¡¯t hold out any longer, right? Go to hell then!¡± The man in the red robe, with his spiritual power substantially depleted and not fit for prolonged battle, directly unleashed his strongest attack, intending to finish off Lin Tianming in one strike. After executing the Secret Art of Dominating Body Technique, the man in the red robe, with a hammer in each hand and incredibly quick movements, charged straight at Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instantly released a First Order Superior Defense Talisman and Attack Talisman to counter the man in the red robe¡¯s powerful strike. Having witnessed the full strength of the red-robed man¡¯s strike, which had annihilated the man in white robes during their fight, Lin Tianming dared not take any chances. The Attack Talisman transformed into a golden Spirit Sword emanating powerful sword qi, equivalent to the full force strike of a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, charging straight towards the man in the red robe. The Defense Talisman turned into a huge shield with the spiritual power of the earth elements flowing rapidly on its surface. The shield, several zhang in size, positioned itself in front of Lin Tianming. After releasing the two talismans, he ran his cultivation technique at full power, forming hand seals with both hands and unleashing his strongest strike, the Huoyuan Slash, pouring all of his remaining spiritual power into it. A giant fiery-red sword materialized, with flames burning intensely on it, its sword qi astonishing, surging forth with power several times greater than when he executed it at the fourth level of Qi Practice. At this moment, Lin Tianming held nothing back and struck with all his might. Lin Tianming bellowed, ¡°Slash!¡± Within moments, the red-robed man was a hundred zhang away from Lin Tianming, wielding his twin hammers, as a massive hammer phantom loomed in the air, heading straight for Lin Tianming. In an instant, the Flying Sword of the High-Quality Talisman was about to make contact with the giant hammer. With a loud bang¡­ The golden Spirit Sword exploded and dissipated, but it had managed to delay the hammer for half a breath¡¯s time and drain much of its power; however, it didn¡¯t stop and continued to bear down on Lin Tianming. The hammer phantom slammed directly into the Defense Shield. With a thunderous noise, after enduring for several breaths, the shield shattered into pieces, and the powerful shockwave sent Lin Tianming flying several zhang away. The moment the shield broke, the giant fire sword formed by the Huoyuan Slash also collided with the hammer phantom. The hammer phantom held out for less than half a breath¡¯s time before dissipating into specks of spiritual light scattering in all directions. After the hammer phantom dispersed, the giant sword encountered no resistance as it made its way towards the red-robed man. The man in the red robe¡¯s face was filled with disbelief, never imagining that Lin Tianming had so many tricks up his sleeve, possessing both a First Order Superior Attack Talisman and Defense Talisman, and could unleash such tremendous power with his divine skills. Wanting to use other techniques, he found himself with hardly any spiritual power to utilize. Beyond his fear, he was left without options. With a booming sound, The red-robed man was struck by the giant sword made of flames, sent flying back dozens of zhang, crashing through several large trees before coming to a stop. His entire body was charred black, his flesh a blurry mess, as he lay motionless, clearly having fallen. Lin Tianming was tossed several zhang by the blast wave, landing to one side. His inner qi and blood roiled, his meridians were in disorder, and his entire body bore over ten ghastly wounds. If it weren¡¯t for the two First Order High-Quality Talismans, which absorbed a great deal of destructive force, he would have likely faced grim odds. With his spiritual power almost completely exhausted after that forceful strike, if he hadn¡¯t been able to kill the man in the red robe, he would have certainly been the one to die. At this time, if a cultivator at the First Level of Qi Refining were to appear, a single Fireball Technique could easily allow them to reap the benefits without effort. Struggling to sit up, he took out a Huiyuan Pill, threw it into his mouth, and began meditating right there to recover. After a quarter of an hour, he had recovered a small part of his spiritual power, and the injuries on his body gradually improved. No longer caring to survey the area, knowing it was not safe to stay for long, he needed to find a secure place to heal and recover. Forming seals with his hands, he cast a Fireball Technique to burn the red-robed man¡¯s corpse. He collected both men¡¯s storage bags and Spiritual Artifacts, erasing any traces of the fight. Casting the Green Bamboo Sword, he soared on the sword, flying towards the direction of Qingfeng Town. After half a day, Lin Tianming, dragging his injured body, appeared outside the pavilion in the plaza, without regard for the horrified stares of the common people, he instructed Lin Shan and Lin Hai, ¡°Do not disturb my cultivation unless it is important,¡± then he walked into the interior of the pavilion. Without stopping for rest, he headed straight to the secret chamber beside him, sat on the stone bed, and began to cultivate and heal his injuries. Chapter 14 - 14 - 13 Inventory of Gains_1 Chapter 14 ¨C 13 Inventory of Gains_1 Chapter 14: Chapter 13 Inventory of Gains_1 Within the secret chamber of the attic, Lin Tianming sat on the stone bed. He was like an old monk in deep meditation, with specks of spiritual light slowly converging above his head. After being forced to kill the man in the red robe, he hastened back to Qingfeng Town. His internal injuries were severe, and he had no time to recover his depleted spiritual power or heal the wounds in his meridians. He summoned his divine sense to inspect the condition of his body and meridians, and it was only upon close examination that he realized the extreme danger he had been in. The external wounds on his body were not a major concern; although the skin was ripped and flesh burst open, these could gradually heal by themselves, and some of the wounds had already started to scab over. However, the internal injuries were far worse than he had imagined, with several meridians on the verge of snapping at any moment. If he had continued to forcefully engage in battle, it was likely he would have ended up either dead or crippled, and even if he had recovered, his path of cultivation would have become extremely difficult to progress any further. ... Unknowingly, Lin Tianming had been sitting in the secret chamber for over a month, not moving a single step. After a month of healing, his meridians had slowly recovered from the brink of breaking, and his body¡¯s condition had reached its peak. His cultivation had also made significant progress through life-and-death battles, reaching the pinnacle of the Fifth Level of Qi Practice. He could even catch a glimpse of the realm of the Sixth Level, and if he persisted in cultivating for another month or so, he should be able to break through. Lin Tianming did not rush to go into seclusion and make a breakthrough, instead choosing to inspect the storage bags of the Jin surname cultivator and the man in the red robe. His injuries were quite severe at the time, and he was in constant danger, leaving him no time to check the contents of the two storage bags. Now that he had recovered, of course, it was time to take stock of his gains. First, he took out the storage bag of the Jin surname cultivator and wiped away the residual divine sense imprint. The Jin surname cultivator was dead, and his divine sense imprint was easily erased. Lin Tianming extended his own divine sense to check the contents of the Jin surname cultivator¡¯s storage bag. ¡°Good heavens¡­ this guy was too rich!¡± Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Six Lingshen Pills, fifty-five low-grade spirit stones, three Huiyuan Pills, one Huadu Pill, and two Consolidating Essence Pills. There were also materials for concocting Lingshen Pills¡ªtwenty sets in total, three stalks of Golden Flower Grass, three stalks of Fire Element Grass, and more than thirty stalks of other lower-order spiritual medicine. The Consolidating Essence Pill is a healing pill for Qi Training Cultivators, a First Order Superior Grade elixir. If one were to take this pill to aid in recovering from injuries, it would at least halve the time needed to heal. Clearly, the Jin surname cultivator was also an alchemist, having collected a good number of elixirs and spiritual medicine materials. Golden Flower Grass and Fire Element Grass are both First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine materials, each stalk valued at ten low-grade spirit stones and are main ingredients in concocting the Xisui Pill; with only three main medicinal herbs left to find, he could begin to concoct the Xisui Pill. There was also one First Order Superior Attack Talisman, three First Order Medium Grade Spirit Swords, and two Jade Cylinders. Lin Tianming tirelessly searched through the Jade Cylinder for the cultivation technique owned by the Jin surname cultivator. He had personally witnessed its divine power, the Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique¡ªa Sword Array formed by the overlapping of three Spirit Swords with formidable attacking strength, which nearly killed the man in the red robe outright. After taking the Technique and contemplating it for a quarter of an hour, he gained a certain understanding of it. This was a Metal Attribute Profound Grade Technique, which could be cultivated up to the Late Stage of Core Formation with notable power. Although its grade was not below the Fire Origin Decision he practiced, he was unable to cultivate it himself and could only hand it over to his family. The family did not yet have a Metal Attribute Profound Grade Technique, and this technique should earn him quite a reward¡ªit would only be known after he handed it in. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Putting away the Technique, he continued to search through the remaining Jade Cylinder, which turned out to contain Alchemy Experience. The Alchemy Experience was left by a Third Order Low-grade Alchemist at the Core Formation Stage. It was this alchemy heritage that had allowed him to swiftly become a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist, amassing a substantial amount of resources and thus advancing to the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement. The family had never produced a Third Order Alchemy Master; Tian Ming decided to set aside the alchemy experience for further study later on, which he could submit to the family. The cultivation technique and the alchemy experience should be exchangeable for a large amount of merit. This inheritance was tantamount to that of a Profound Grade Technique; its value was immeasurable. After inventorying the storage bag of the Zhou surname cultivator, the loot he obtained took Tian Ming by surprise; the cultivator¡¯s possessions were not a small amount more than what Tian Ming had when he left Green Bamboo Mountain. Amidst his astonishment, he could not help but look forward to inspecting the red-robed man¡¯s storage bag even more. He skillfully wiped away the remaining consciousness imprint on the storage bag and sent out his divine sense. Two Lingshen Pills, one Huiyuan Pill, one Consolidating Essence Pill, one Huadu Pill, thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, one Shuiyun Grass plant, more than ten First Order Inferior Spiritual Medicines, one First Order Superior Defense Talisman, one jade tube, and one map. Shuiyun Grass was also a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Medicine, a main ingredient for concocting the Xisui Pill, with each plant valued at ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones. With two main medicines and more than ten First Order Inferior Spiritual Medicines still needed, he would be able to collect all the ingredients necessary for concocting Xisui Pills. He picked up the only jade tube present. The golden runes that twined around it indicated that it was no ordinary item¡ªlikely the Profound Grade Technique practiced by the red-robed man. After attempting to refine it, he extended his divine sense and ceaselessly bombarded the rune barriers on the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder, spending half a day and always falling just short of breaking through. It seemed that his divine sense was not strong enough yet; he estimated that at least the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement would likely be required to break those rune barriers. Having no other choice, Tian Ming set it aside for the time being and planned to attempt it again once his cultivation reached the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation. Reluctantly putting away the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder, Tian Ming acknowledged that this technique must be extraordinary for it to have such high entry requirements. The red-robed man must have only just begun practicing it yet already possessed such formidable power, and Tian Ming couldn¡¯t help but anticipate the day he would unlock it. He took out the remaining half-zhang-sized map; the map was made of beast skin, adorned with several markings on its surface and traces of blood that had not quite dried, clearly indicating that it was not made more than five years ago. The bendy routes on the map traversed through mountains and rivers. According to the map, the cave dwelling was located about five hundred li west of Qingfeng Town, in a valley within the core area of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. With Tian Ming¡¯s current level of cultivation too low to safely explore the cave dwelling, he would need to reach at least the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation before attempting it. It would be best to wait until he unlocked the red-robed man¡¯s Profound Grade Technique and acquired some life-saving measures before heading there. Otherwise, venturing into the Purple Cloud Mountain Range would be courting death. Packing up all of the spoils of war, he placed them into his own storage bag. Now, with an exceptional surplus of elixirs, including those gained from looting¡ªsixteen Lingshen Pills, seven Huiyuan Pills, three Consolidating Essence Pills, four Huadu Pills, and one hundred and twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones¡ªTian Ming was truly wealthy. Apart from that, he also acquired a not-inconsiderable amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials; he already had four sets of Fasting Pill materials and thirty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials, and with the loot, he now had fifty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials. With three types of main herbs for the Xisui Pill already collected, he was only two herbs short of being ready to start alchemy. In terms of offensive measures, in order to slay the red-robed man, he had used one First Order Superior Attack Talisman and one Defense Talisman. From their possessions, he obtained one First Order Superior Grade Talisman and one Defense Talisman each, leaving him with two First Order Superior Attack Talismans and two Defense Talismans. The greatest gains of this battle were the large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials, but the most valuable were the cultivation technique and alchemy experience, followed by the Spiritual Medicine Materials. The status of the cave dwelling marked on the map had yet to be explored; it could belong to someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage or even the Core Formation Stage, which would only be confirmed once explored. Tian Ming had a multitude of resources at his disposal, all of which had been planned for use, so there was no longer any need to be frugal. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Fifth Level of Qi Practice, and he could take a Lingshen Pill at any moment to break through to the Sixth Level. With his mind set, Tian Ming decided to first advance to the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation before planning further cultivation arrangements. Sitting cross-legged, he took out a Lingshen Pill and swallowed it, then began his attempt to break through to the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation. Chapter 15 - 15 - 14 Breaking Through Qi Cultivation Level 6_1 Chapter 15 ¨C 14 Breaking Through Qi Cultivation Level 6_1 Chapter 15: Chapter 14 Breaking Through Qi Cultivation Level 6_1 Within the secret chamber in Qingfeng Town. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on a cushion, motionless. After expending a day¡¯s time to refine a Lingshen Pill, he had elevated his cultivation to the peak of the Fifth Level. He had already attempted to breakthrough the realm on three occasions, all of which had been unsuccessful. At this moment, his Seven Sea Dantian had expanded to the summit of the Fifth Level Qi Practice, just a step away from the threshold. His first duel had almost cost him his life, and if not for his substantial resources and the fact that the Red Robe Cultivator was injured, wielding only about thirty percent of his full strength, his luck might have been less favorable. ... Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze was resolute, his yearning for strength growing ever stronger, he vowed to achieve a breakthrough today. He took out another Lingshen Pill and forcefully shoved it into his mouth. Circulating his cultivation technique, he frenziedly refined the medicinal power contained within the Lingshen Pill. Controlling the volatile spiritual power of the Lingshen Pill, he persistently assailed his Qi Sea Dantian over and over. After numerous attempts, he finally succeeded on the sixth onslaught, breaking through. The Sea of Qi within his Dantian expanded, his spiritual power became several times more abundant than before. Lin Tianming was overjoyed as, after two days and refining two Lingshen Pills, he had finally secured his breakthrough. Feeling the manifold increase in his spiritual power and cultivation, should he duel with the man in the Red Robe again, he wouldn¡¯t be as badly embarrassed. Having just made a breakthrough, he still needed to consolidate it thoroughly. Lin Tianming continued his closed-door cultivation to solidify his newfound realm. Three days later, his realm had been firmly established. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming had three Spirit Swords and two giant hammers laid out before him, belonging to the Jin surname cultivator and the man in the Red Robe respectively. Throughout his seclusion, as he was recovering from his injuries and breaking through, he had not had the time to refine these two Spiritual Artifacts. Now at last he could refine them, enriching his combat arsenal for future engagements with cultivators, potentially increasing his chances of victory. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He picked up the three Spirit Swords and carefully contemplated them. Each of the three Spirit Swords was a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument; when stacked together, their power could compare to a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument¡ªa truly remarkable set of Spiritual Instruments. However, it was a pity that he did not possess a Sword Array cultivation technique to bring out their maximum potential. He took the hammers, which also formed a set of Spiritual Instruments, each weighing a thousand jin, suitable for those who practiced Body Cultivation and possessing extraordinary power. Both sets of Spiritual Instruments were not ideally suited for him, but since he had never possessed a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument, he planned to refine one of the Spirit Swords. Even though he wouldn¡¯t be able to unleash its full potential, it still would be far stronger than his inferior-grade Green Bamboo Sword. Having said that, he took out a Spirit Sword and began the refinement process after wiping clean the Divine Sense from its surface. Three days quietly passed, and Lin Tianming successfully refined a Spirit Sword and decided to give it a name. The sword, which he acquired while defending Qingfeng Town, shall be named Qingfeng Sword. The two giant hammer Spiritual Instruments could only be exchanged for Merit Points at an opportunity, or sold in the market for Spirit Stones. Ten days later, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion. His cultivation was stable at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining; his complexion was rosy, and his aura extremely steady. After spending more than a month recovering from injuries and breaking through, it was time to go out and survey the surroundings of Qingfeng Town. Since he had taken on the task of defending the town, he needed to do it properly and thoroughly. As always, he flew out of the town, making a hundred-mile circuit around Qingfeng Town. In half an hour, he arrived at the small hill where he dueled the Red Robe Cultivator. The traces from the previous duel were gradually being concealed by the newly grown trees and underbrush, and without meticulous examination, it would be hard to detect that a battle had occurred here. ¡°` Continuing to fly in circles forward, he encountered no Demonic Beasts, only a few unlucky wild animals which he easily killed and brought back to Qingfeng Town for the mortals to eat. Ordinarily, patrolling the area would take half a day, but now, with his cultivation like a rising tide and his Spiritual Power more profound, his speed had increased significantly. In just half a day, Lin Tianming returned to the secret room inside the attic. With some rare leisure time, he took out the Alchemy Experience he had obtained from a cultivator surnamed Jin. A jade tube, interlaced with patterns of green and ink, appeared in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. He deployed his Divine Sense to investigate the Alchemy Experience recorded inside the jade tube. This jade tube was left by True Person Yuhua, who, during his lifetime, was a Mid Stage Nascent Soul cultivator and a Third Order Low-grade Alchemist from Jingzhou. He had perished over three thousand years ago. True Person Yuhua was one of the many cultivators who came to Qingzhou in search of treasures and experience. In the tens of thousands of years prior, a large number of Loose Cultivators from the other seven provinces flocked to Qingzhou in search of treasures and experience; those from families and sects were also not in the minority. Qingzhou, with its abundant natural treasures, is near the Demon Race territory, and the struggle between the human and demon races, especially those of Fourth Order and below, has never ceased. Risk and opportunity coexist. A great number of cultivators have fallen in Qingzhou, while many have also acquired vast resources and soared to great heights. Qingzhou never lacks opportunities, nor does it lack the loss of lives. True Person Yuhua became one of the many victims of Qingzhou¡¯s opportunities. The jade tube recorded True Person Yuhua¡¯s understanding of Alchemy and also contained more than a dozen Pill Formulas, all of which were commonly used ¨C with even several Third Order Elixir Recipes included. Lingshen Pill, Huiyuan Pill, Consolidating Essence Pill, Huadu Pill ¨C these commonly used consumable elixirs could be refined into Fourth Order Elixirs given sufficiently aged medicinal ingredients, even suitable for Nascent Soul True Monarchs to consume. As for the Spiritual Medicines needed by the Divinity Transformation Stage old monsters, the peak powers of the human realm, they could not be created from these ordinary Spiritual Medicine materials. Among the experiences were four Pill Formulas that Lin Tianming had not previously collected. Nurturing Spirit Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir used by Spirit Beasts for cultivation, similar in effect to the Lingshen Pill used by the Human Race but much more potent, suitable only for the bodies of Demonic Beasts. Some of the Spiritual Medicine materials used in refining the Nurturing Spirit Pill overlap with those used for the Lingshen Pill, but the main ingredient is far more precious. If he had the opportunity to subdue a Demonic Beast, this pill would come in handy. Body Strengthening Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir that strengthens a cultivator¡¯s vitality and alleviates pain ¨C one of the elixirs used by Body Cultivators to aid their Body Refinement practice, and quite expensive. Strong Spirit Pill, a First Order Superior Grade elixir that can slowly increase one¡¯s Divine Sense, extremely precious; a single Strong Spirit Pill is worth as much as a Pozhang Pill. Although the effect on increasing Divine Sense is not very strong, it is still remarkably advantageous, and the effects can be significant with substantial consumption. However, the materials required for refinement are exceedingly precious, and ordinary cultivators don¡¯t have enough resources to support such an extravagant consumption. Minor Foundation Building Pill, a Second Order Low-grade elixir, that can increase a cultivator¡¯s likelihood of achieving Foundation Establishment by twenty percent, is a simplified version of the Foundation Establishment Pill; its efficacy is only a small fraction of the latter¡¯s, but nonetheless, it¡¯s remarkably advantageous. Lin Tianming was extremely excited; Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely difficult to obtain. Every pill used by the family had to be accumulated through decades of wealth, obtained at great risk. This was why there were only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family; there were several at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, but they were all stuck at the Great Perfection Realm, unable to progress an inch. The Lin Family¡¯s foundation was too weak, the resources far from sufficient to support so many family members. If he could refine Minor Foundation Building Pills, those elders of the Lin Family stuck at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage would have a good chance of entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Foundation Establishment Pill is precious because the main ingredient, White Jade Grass, is extremely rare and difficult to cultivate or transplant. The Minor Foundation Building Pill uses Hidden Spirit Grass as the main ingredient instead of White Jade Grass. Though also very valuable, it¡¯s far less rare than White Jade Grass. Packing away the jade tube, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t calm down for a long time. Just based on the value of this Minor Foundation Building Pill Formula alone, it is worth as much as a single Foundation Establishment Pill. Minor Foundation Building Pills could greatly relieve the family¡¯s financial pressure, allowing those elders at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage to avoid dying in the Qi Refinement Realm. ¡°` Chapter 16 - 16 - 15: Refining the Lingshen Pill_1 Chapter 16 ¨C 15: Refining the Lingshen Pill_1 Chapter 16: Chapter 15: Refining the Lingshen Pill_1 ¡°` Having been in Qingfeng Town for three months, my cultivation level has broken through from the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement to the sixth after consuming four Lingshen Pills, and I still have sixteen more. In such a thin Spiritual Energy environment, to be able to advance a level in just over three months, the role of elixirs was crucial. Now, I, Lin Tianming, have a fair amount of Spiritual Medicine and elixirs, but they are not inexhaustible. There is no need to be too frugal with cultivation resources now; I plan to consume two Lingshen Pills each month to advance my cultivation, and spend the rest of the time making elixirs. With sixteen Lingshen Pills, consuming two a month, I can barely make it last for a year. However, if there are enough elixirs, I could completely afford to take four a month, which would significantly speed up my cultivation advancement. ... The success rate and quantity of Fasting Pills have become very high, it¡¯s time to try crafting the First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Medicine, the Lingshen Pill. With fifty-five sets of Lingshen Pill materials in hand, attempting to refine fifty-five batches should yield a successful portion. That should help replenish some of the elixirs; if the quantity is substantial, I could increase the monthly consumption by one or two pills, accelerating the cultivation progress. No sooner said than done, I immediately take out the Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Fasting Pills. Before starting on the Lingshen Pills, I intend to get a feel for it with the Fasting Pills. After all, the materials for the Lingshen Pill are precious, costing several times more, and the difficulty of making them is much higher. They can¡¯t be wasted easily. As a matter of habit, I regulate my breathing for a quarter of an hour to reach my optimal state. I take out the Pill Furnace and the Huo Yuan Bottle, consecutively casting multiple Law Decrees on both. With practiced ease, I begin the alchemy for the Fasting Pills. Half a day later, I have refined all the remaining four sets of Fasting Pill materials. I yield fifty-six pills, which is fourteen more than the previous time I used one more set of Spiritual Medicine Materials. The success rate has increased again, which pleases me, Lin Tianming, greatly. Having refined all the Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Fasting Pills, I now have one hundred and thirty-six pills in hand, which should be exchangeable for a hundred and ten points of Shi Gong¡ªa quite substantial fortune. After completing the Fasting Pills, I continue with the plan to craft Lingshen Pills. I take out the Alchemy Experience written by my grandfather Lin Shigong and the Jade Tube left by True Person Yuhua. Although Grandfather Lin Shigong¡¯s alchemy skills are by no means comparable to those of True Person Yuhua, they still encompass the experiences of several generations of the Lin Family¡¯s alchemists, which are quite valuable. It takes half a day, but I revisit the experiences of both alchemists, focusing on learning from our predecessors¡¯ alchemy knowledge. I take out three sets of Lingshen Pill materials and place them on the stone table beside me. After regulating my breath for an hour, I commence the alchemy for the Lingshen Pills. This being my first time crafting a First Order Medium Grade elixir, I must be cautious. I cycle my cultivation through a Grand Circulation, emitting several Law Decrees in orderly succession upon the Four Symbols Furnace. One by one, I toss a set of Lingshen Pill materials into the Four Symbols Furnace, controlling the flame of the Huo Yuan Bottle, breaking down and refining the Spiritual Medicine. I time my movements and layer several Law Decrees, injecting Spiritual Energy. A few breaths pass. ¡°Solidify.¡± ¡°Puff.¡± A strange sound emanates from the Four Symbols Furnace, accompanied by a slight tremor. I, Lin Tianming, quickly open the furnace. Inside, I see three fragmented, half-formed pills scattered at the bottom of the furnace. Just as expected, the first batch of Lingshen Pills is a failure. But I¡¯m undeterred, I pick up the broken pieces of the pills and begin to ponder over them intently. ¡°` He pulled out True Person Yuhua¡¯s Alchemy Experience and focused on analyzing the reasons for the failure. After pondering over it several times, it seemed that the issue lay with the lack of precise control over the flame during the decomposition of the Spiritual Medicine, leading to impurities not being fully broken down, preventing the pill from solidifying. There are over a dozen types of Spiritual Medicine used to refine the Lingshen Pill, each with different properties and medicinal characteristics, and each requires different intensities of flame to extract and decompose. The flame¡¯s strength must be controlled according to the properties of the Spiritual Medicine. Otherwise, the Spiritual Medicine can easily be under-refined, or if the flame is too strong, the impurities can also be extracted and merge with the essence, making the pill difficult to form or causing the batch to be wasted. Alchemy is an art that highly values one¡¯s state of mind; the control of the flame and the timing of opening the furnace are not fixed. A high-order Alchemist will have a prediction for what kind of flame strength is needed for each type of Spiritual Medicine. Different flames and different temperatures are required for refining different elixirs, and the needed strength of the fire and the refining duration vary significantly as well. This judgment can also be prone to errors; therefore, an Alchemist will make on-the-fly adjustments to the flame strength and the timing of the pill¡¯s removal based on the changes during the refining process. But even the most skilled alchemists can¡¯t guarantee their judgments are 100% accurate; even a slight mishap can cause a batch of elixirs to be ruined. Thus, even experienced alchemist veterans can only maintain a certain success rate. The failure of the first batch was an expected outcome; even with exceptional talent, in the million years of the Cultivation World, no cultivator has ever succeeded on their first attempt at alchemy. Having deduced the reasons for his failure, Lin Tianming once again took out a set of Spirit Essence Pill Materials and redid all the preliminary preparations, step by step. He was exceedingly careful with every detail. In extracting each piece of Spiritual Medicine, he would use all of his Divine Sense to extract every bit of essence from them. He sequentially completed the decomposition of the dozen types of Spiritual Medicine. An hour later. ¡°Solidify.¡± A fragrant scent filled the entire secret chamber. Two pill pellets hovered in the center of the Four Symbols Furnace. Lin Tianming excitedly picked up one of the elixirs to examine if it was a complete Lingshen Pill. He pulled out a Lingshen Pill given to him by his grandfather for comparison. He placed the two Lingshen Pills side by side. The Lingshen Pill his grandfather gave was of an ink-green color, with patterns of dark and light green, its surface shiny and smooth. Comparing the colors, his own Lingshen Pill appeared almost identical. The Lingshen Pill looked normal, but something felt off. After careful comparison several times, he realized that his grandfather¡¯s Lingshen Pill had a small amount of Spiritual Energy circling around its surface, while the one he refined had none. Recollecting the entire alchemy process, he realized that the step he lacked was the proper Infusion of Spirit; he had infused too much Spiritual Energy, exceeding the Lingshen Pill¡¯s limits and disrupting its balance. This was the biggest reason for the failure of this attempt. Over the course of five days, through repeated practice and analysis of failures, he finally succeeded on the eighth attempt. During this period, he encountered various mistakes and issues; after repeatedly reviewing, checking, and comparing, and after multiple refining attempts, he finally succeeded. He carefully compared and observed the successfully refined Lingshen Pill with his fingers, and it seemed almost identical, from the color, Spiritual Power, and scent, it was undoubtedly a genuine Lingshen Pill. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. The materials for so many Spiritual Medicine Materials could have bought a significant number of elixirs. The resources and time spent during this period were significant; had he not succeeded, he could hardly afford such an expenditure. With a successful example at hand, all he needed to do next was practice more to improve the success rate and quantity of pills yielded. That said, Lin Tianming delved into a frenzy of alchemy and cultivation. Chapter 17 - 17 - 16 Arduous Cultivation_1 Chapter 17 ¨C 16 Arduous Cultivation_1 Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 17: Chapter 16 Arduous Cultivation_1 ¡°` Time flew by swiftly, and months passed silently. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat motionless on the meditation cushion. Bits of star-like spiritual energy wandered around his body, slowly entering through the Sky Spirit Cover or his fingertips, gradually permeating his entire being. An hour later, Lin Tianming ended his practice. Opening his eyes, a flash of brilliance streaked across his pupils, his body¡¯s aura stable and profound. ... Several jade bottles lay scattered haphazardly inside the chamber, as empty as can be, with only faint traces of spiritual energy and medicinal fragrance lingering within. By this time, Lin Tianming had been in closed-door cultivation for several months. During this period, he fervently engaged in alchemy and cultivation, practicing alchemy until completely exhausted and his spiritual power was depleted before stopping. Afterward, he would perform breathing exercises to recover his spiritual power and divine sense. Prolonged alchemy not only consumed a great deal of spiritual energy but also placed a tremendous strain on the divine sense, leaving him extremely weary each time he overused it. He always pushed himself to the limit, spending days bitterly polishing his practice without ever resorting to Spirit Essence Pills or Restorative Elixirs. Though arduous, the rewards were incredibly rich. Over the months, fifty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials were completely refined. The difficulty of producing Spirit Essence Pills was not minor, being several times harder than making Fasting Pills. Out of fifty-five sets of Spirit Essence Pill materials, only sixteen batches were successfully alchemized, barely reaching a thirty percent success rate. The number of pills per batch varied between three and four, ultimately resulting in fifty Spirit Essence Pills. Combined with the fourteen remaining pills after his successful breakthrough to the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, he had a total of sixty-four pills. Throughout these months, he never relaxed his regimen of alchemy or cultivation, consistently taking two Spirit Essence Pills each month, leaving fifty-four pills remaining. Fortunately, the effort spent on alchemy also played a part; otherwise, it might have been impossible to reach the Medium Stage of the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement so soon based solely on the pills. Although he had no shortage of pills for his practice, Lin Tianming chose not to continue his closed-door cultivation. Instead, he prepared to leave seclusion to temper himself in the mountains near Qingfeng Town, to refine his realm further and solidify his gains before seeking another opportunity for a breakthrough. Cultivation itself is an act of defying the heavens and changing one¡¯s fate. Although Lin Tianming had excellent talents, he was not a Cultivator with a Sky Spirit Root or a Hetero-attribute Spirit Root but merely one with above-average potential. Even those with Sky Spirit Root or Hetero-attribute Spirit Root need to temper and consolidate their experiences to avoid encountering too many bottlenecks. Overreliance on elixirs could add significant obstacles during Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages; to journey further on the path of Immortality, stepping out for real-world experience was a necessity. During these months, Lin Tianming always completed the monthly inspections as expected. Now, the time had come for the eighth inspection, and Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion, appearing in the courtyard outside the loft. The Lin Family¡¯s Mortal Race brothers, Lin Shan and Lin Hai, tasked with awaiting his orders, had taken turns keeping vigil outside the loft for over half a year, never once leaving their post. Seeing Lin Tianming emerge from the grand hall, Lin Shan ran up to him, bowing respectfully. ¡°Lin Shan greets the old ancestor with respect, congratulations on the grand achievement of your divine abilities.¡± These brothers were indeed thoughtful. Aside from the first time they came to Qingfeng Town, they had not received any specific instructions, yet they continued to wait diligently day and night, anticipating orders. Lin Tianming spoke nonchalantly, ¡°No need for formalities. Take these discarded pill residues; they still contain quite a bit of elixir essence. Though they¡¯re of no use to Cultivators, if common folk stew them into a medicinal soup, it can strengthen the body, improve health, and eliminate chronic illnesses. There is enough here for dozens of your people to use.¡± With a wave of his hands, a mass of elixir residues flew towards Lin Shan, landing firmly in his palm, a full handful. Lin Shan was overjoyed but also visibly apprehensive as he thanked Lin Tianming! Although useless for Cultivators, even the small amount of remaining essence in these discarded pill residues was a significant tonic for Mortals. Having collected many such residues from pill production, they could be gifted to the Lin Family¡¯s Mortal members, an effortless act of generosity. ¡°` The mayors of the Lin Family¡¯s five major Mortal Towns all descended directly from ancestors who were cultivators, though their bloodlines had become extremely diluted over dozens of generations. Nevertheless, the probability of a cultivator emerging from their lineage was still higher than that of average mortals, and leaving a good karma for oneself was certainly not improper. Lin Tianming no longer paid attention and, summoning the Qingfeng Sword, flew towards the outskirts of Qingfeng Town. In half a day¡¯s time, he carefully patrolled the area within a hundred miles around Qingfeng Town and had already slain more than ten Mortal Beasts. Releasing all his Divine Sense, every animal and plant within ten miles flashed through his mind. ¡°Huh,¡± After almost half a year stationed in Qingfeng Town, he had never encountered Demonic Beasts. However, today, he ran into a Striped Crocodile. The Striped Crocodile was a Middle Stage First-Order Monster Beast. Adult Striped Crocodiles were Second Order Middle Stage beasts, so this one must only be a juvenile. Striped Crocodiles were gregarious creatures, with smaller groups numbering over ten and larger ones having over a hundred. It was strange to see just one in this place. This place was over a hundred miles to the west of Qingfeng Town, less than a hundred miles from the outer periphery of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. Logically, Monster Beasts shouldn¡¯t appear here. Having discovered one, there was naturally no reason to let it go. It would serve as an opportunity to temper himself since it was the first time he had encountered a Monster Beast and thus was also the first time he would duel with one. He drove the Qingfeng Sword at full power, turning it into a streak of cyan escape light, heading straight for the Monster Beast several miles away. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming appeared in a small valley. The valley stretched for more than ten miles, with dense forests on both sides and a river more than thirty feet wide flowing across the valley floor. The river flowed from west to east, with the upstream being precisely the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. This Striped Crocodile must have come downstream along this river. The calm river occasionally rippled slightly, making it very difficult to notice anything unusual without careful observation. A Striped Crocodile, three zhang wide and over ten zhang long, was hiding at the bottom of the river, swimming quickly upstream. The creature must have sensed Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable presence and, knowing it could not match him, had decided to hide under the water and flee. ¡°Hmph,¡± Do you think you can get away by hiding? I won¡¯t be able to deal with you? This expedition for cultivation experience might last as short as half a month or as long as several months, with no way to determine an exact time. He must clear out the beasts within a hundred miles. If during his journey of cultivation one of them ran toward Qingfeng Town, countless mortals would surely be met with tragedy. Summoning the Qingfeng Sword, he infused it with a large amount of Spiritual Energy. The sword became a streak of cyan light and moved with incredible speed. ¡°With a loud boom,¡± The cyan sword light split the river, a few dozen zhang deep, and without any hesitation, rushed towards the Striped Crocodile. The Striped Crocodile moved its massive body quickly and agilely at the bottom of the river, likely aware that it couldn¡¯t evade Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Suddenly, it turned its head and shot a water sword from its vast mouth. The water sword was half a zhang thick and rapidly shot towards the cyan giant sword. The two attacks collided with a thunderous roar and only held for the briefest of moments before they exploded. The river churned continuously, and the powerful shockwave threw fish and shrimp onto the banks, while many were torn to pieces. With a single easy strike deflected by the Striped Crocodile, Lin Tianming was not irritated. He made three more swift sword slashes, attacking the Striped Crocodile once again. The Striped Crocodile did not attempt to dodge; instead, it spat out water swords while rapidly moving towards Lin Tianming. All three water swords exploded in front, blocking the attacks released by Lin Tianming. As the explosions covered its movements, the Striped Crocodile opened its gaping maw and charged directly at Lin Tianming. Without any panic, Lin Tianming quickly executed the Technique Secret Art, Huoyuan Slash, turning it into a fiery sword, heading straight for the Striped Crocodile¡¯s gaping mouth. With a loud bang, the Striped Crocodile¡¯s body twisted wildly, rolling dozens of times in the river before floating motionless on the surface. Lin Tianming¡¯s unrestrained strike had sent the fiery sword straight into the maw of the Striped Crocodile, pulverizing its insides completely, thus ending its life. Lin Tianming quickly tidied up the battlefield, skinned the Striped Crocodile with haste, extracted a pure white Demon Core from its body, then cut off its four sharp claws and the whole tail before leaving on his sword. Chapter 18 - 18 - 17 Investigating the Cave Dwelling_1 Chapter 18 ¨C 17 Investigating the Cave Dwelling_1 Chapter 18: Chapter 17 Investigating the Cave Dwelling_1 A few hours later¡­ A streak of azure light shot across the sky, as Lin Tianming stood atop the Qingfeng Sword, appearing in a small valley over two hundred miles west of Qingfeng Town. This was the peripheral area of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range, a large expanse of hills teeming with lush vegetation and dense foliage, with small mountains hundreds of feet tall dotting the landscape. Having carefully scouted the area within a hundred miles of Qingfeng Town and eliminated a large number of mortal beasts, he had ensured no worries lay in wait to disrupt his journey of training and experience. Killing the Striped Crocodile, he obtained some materials for weapon forging, its hide could be combined with other materials to craft a set of defensive inner armor, whose defensive power would surely not be lacking. The long tail, on the other hand, could be used to craft a whip-like attack spirit weapon, which was also worth a good number of spirit stones, not to be squandered. ... As dusk approached, since demonic beasts were mostly nocturnal, it was unwise to enter the Purple Cloud Mountain Range at this time. It would be safer to set out after dawn the next day. Lin Tianming landed on top of a small mountain, drew the Qingfeng Sword, and hacked more than ten times, chiseling out a cavern of several zhangs on a giant stone wall, creating a simple cave mansion to rest for the night so he could recover and then enter the Purple Cloud Mountain Range in good condition. He weaved a few spells with his fingers, setting up some simple illusions to cover the entrance of the cave mansion, then stepped inside. Seen from the outside, this place was covered by a forest. Dozens of trees of various sizes obscured the entire rock wall. Such defenses could easily deter low-order monster beasts, but against high-order monster beasts or cultivators, they would provide no hiding place. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Tianming wore an expression of hesitation and indecision. This journey was bound to be brief, after all, he had his duty to protect the town. Leaving without permission for too long, should anything happen, would be difficult to justify to his clan. However, the uncertainties of training were beyond control, and no one could predict what might happen. His cultivation was not high; although the Purple Cloud Mountain Range was just a small mountain range, unlikely to house high-order demonic beasts, there were definitely plenty of second-order demonic beasts, as proven by the Striped Crocodile he had just killed. After pondering deeply for half an hour, Lin Tianming made a decision. He would keep the duration of this trip to within three months and wouldn¡¯t blindly traverse the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. The map he had obtained from killing the man in the red robe, likely created by the murdered man himself, marked the location of the cave mansion ruins he had mentioned. ¡°Since they managed to explore once without harm, it should not be too dangerous!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. No sooner had he finished speaking than he spread out the map in front of him, studying it closely. According to the routes on the map, there were several circled locations, likely the territories of certain demonic beast clans. He would confirm the route once again, and if it proved too perilous, he would abandon it, perhaps exploring it after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Merely scouting the path should carry little risk. After considering his plan for an hour, he started cultivating to recuperate and restore his state. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next day at dawn, the morning sunlight shone into the valley, as flocks of birds flew over the mountain tops. Lin Tianming appeared outside the stone wall, dispelled the illusions, and chopped down a few large trees to cover up the cave where he had rested the night before. Taking out the map, he carefully determined the direction and then began running swiftly. His speed matched that of a cheetah charging at full force, extremely agile as he headed further into the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. The reason for not using sword flight was that flying in the territories of demonic beasts was extremely dangerous. Without any cover, being such an obvious target makes one easily detected, and even directly attacked, posing great danger. After half a day, Lin Tianming arrived just outside an area known as the Stone Forest, where the trees were sparse and countless large rocks lay haphazardly together, creating an eerily silent and bizarre scene. Lin Tianming carefully discerned his direction. At this point, he had already crossed the periphery of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range; along the way, he hadn¡¯t encountered many demonic beasts, only a few first-order inferior ones. Lin Tianming had no desire to fight unnecessarily. He avoided conflict where he could, and if pursued relentlessly, he would kill quickly, retrieve the demon core and make a swift departure. Utilizing his divine sense, he cautiously scanned the surrounding area for several miles. From this place, he should be entering the inner region of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. ¡°Huh¡­ Earth Spirit Ganoderma¡­¡± He could see seven Earth Spirit Ganoderma growing within the crevices of the stone wall, each as large as a brick and dazzlingly colorful on the surface, a feast for the eyes. Moreover, there were over thirty Earth Mysterious Mice, most of which were at the First Order Initial Phase, but three were Demonic Beasts at the First Order Middle Stage, with one nearly advancing to the First Order Late Stage. The Earth Spirit Ganoderma was a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Medicine, and one of the main ingredients for refining Xisui Pills. Lin Tianming had already gathered Golden Flower Grass, Fire Element Grass, and Shuiyun Grass. If he could acquire this Earth Spirit Ganoderma, he would only be short of the Mystical Vine Flower to refine the Xisui Pill. The Earth Mysterious Mouse was an earth-attribute Demonic Beast, with thick skin and sharp teeth, and it moved incredibly fast. It was fond of eating earth-attribute Spirit Material and earth-attribute ores; this clump of Earth Spirit Ganoderma was likely their food that they were guarding. Lin Tianming thought calmly. There were many of them, and although most were First Order Inferior Demonic Beasts that posed no harm to him, if he were to be surrounded by a few Superior Beasts, he might have a difficult time escaping. If he left, there would be no risk in bypassing this place. But looking at those seven Earth Spirit Ganoderma, he truly could not bear to give them up. If it were any other Spiritual Medicine, he might have considered the risk too high and given up directly, but this was one of the five main ingredients for refining Xisui Pills, a rare find that¡¯s not easily encountered again if missed. He had quite a few First Order Superior Talismans, so at worst, he would expend one or two of them. As long as he wasn¡¯t surrounded, he could fight or run if defeat seemed imminent. No more hesitation¡ªhe acted! Lin Tianming transformed into a streak of light, covering several meters in a blink, and charged directly toward the clump of Earth Spirit Ganoderma. The three Middle Stage First Order Earth Mysterious Mice were the first to react. Opening their mouths wide as buckets, they lunged at Lin Tianming¡¯s head with a bite. Lin Tianming summoned the Qingfeng Sword and swung it with all his might, sending a sweeping Sword Qi towards the numerous mouse horde. With several crackling sounds¡­ A few Initial Phase First Order Earth Mysterious Mice couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were sent flying, painfully slamming into a stone wall beside them, and no longer able to stand up, they could only howl in agony. Lin Tianming drew a breath of cold air, pushed the Qingfeng Sword to its limit, and chopped at the Inferior Earth Mysterious Mice, only to see that they didn¡¯t die, a testament to the formidable defense of these earth-attributed Demonic Beasts. After slashing with three more swords, all the Earth Mysterious Mice began to leap and dodge to the left and right. Seizing the moment while they dodged the Sword Qi, he sprinted full force toward the Spiritual Medicines. Three breaths later, Lin Tianming successfully reached the top of the stone wall, quickly scooped up an Earth Spirit Ganoderma with the Qingfeng Sword, and stored it in his storage bag. The three Middle Stage First Order Earth Mysterious Mice were thoroughly enraged and simultaneously spewed a few chunks of jade stones from their bellies. The stones smashed toward Lin Tianming with astonishing speed. Being hit by even one could end in severe injury or death. Just as the stones were about to hit Lin Tianming, he had already collected five Earth Spirit Ganoderma, with two left behind, he could only give up on them. He took out a First Order Superior Defense Talisman and transformed it into a shield in front of him. With a loud explosion, shockwaves rippled. Using the sound and shockwaves from the explosion, Lin Tianming swiftly fled on his sword, speedier than before. Behind him, a group of Earth Mysterious Mice chased, but after a full circuit, they stopped pursuing. It seemed like he had left their territory, so they reluctantly retreated. After half an hour, Lin Tianming landed on top of a massive pine tree. Affected by the explosion¡¯s impact, his body was struck by a searing pain, but fortunately, he had retreated in time, and his injuries were not serious. He was also lucky to have acted decisively, avoiding a head-on conflict. The Qingfeng Sword, when struck against the First Order Inferior Earth Mysterious Mice, only inflicted severe wounds, disabling their ability to fight. Otherwise, with the defensive power of the Middle Stage Earth Mysterious Mice, it would have been impossible for him to deal with them. This collection of Spiritual Medicine cost him a First Order Superior Defensive Talisman. The value of the talisman was almost equivalent to an Earth Spirit Ganoderma, but he succeeded in obtaining five century-old Earth Spirit Ganoderma. All things considered, he still made a considerable gain, and it wasn¡¯t in vain that he risked harvesting the medicine. With a smile on his face, Lin Tianming took out the several Earth Spirit Ganoderma and carefully stored each in a specially made Jade Box to prevent the loss of their medicinal properties, waiting to collect the Mystical Vine Flower to attempt refining the Xisui Pill. After storing the Earth Spirit Ganoderma in his storage bag, he sat atop the tree and began to meditate and regulate his breath, waiting to recover his full condition. Chapter 19 - 19 - 18: Slaying the Spirit-Connecting Python_1 Chapter 19 ¨C 18: Slaying the Spirit-Connecting Python_1 Chapter 19: Chapter 18: Slaying the Spirit-Connecting Python_1 The next morning, Lin Tianming opened his eyes. It had been nine days since he left Qingfeng Town Clan Territory. During these nine days, he had traveled by day and rested at night to recuperate and ensure his condition was stable. After a night of recuperating, his body was filled with strength, and both his spirit and Divine Sense had reached their peak state. He was about to set off once more and tread the path of exploration. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming took out the map and carefully observed the situation and directions of this area. He should now be near Qinghe Mountain, less than a hundred miles away from the cave dwelling¡¯s location. This place had already entered the central area of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. First Order Late Stage Demon Beasts were everywhere, and he had to be fully alert, otherwise danger could strike at any time. ... Having confirmed the direction, Lin Tianming summoned his Qingfeng Sword and held a First Order Defense Talisman in his hand, carefully making his way through the jungle, not moving as fast as before. Lin Tianming was extremely cautious, taking a step and then using his Divine Sense, observing his surroundings for any dangers before continuing on his journey. After half a day, he had only covered a little over thirty miles. During that time, he encountered many First Order Inferior and Medium Grade Spiritual Medicine, which he collected one by one. Lin Tianming was elated as he put three Purple Mysterious Flowers into his storage bag, which already contained more than twenty First Order Spiritual Medicine. Seeing so many Spiritual Medicine materials, Lin Tianming frowned slightly. Even if he didn¡¯t locate the cave dwelling, with the Spirit Medicine materials collected over the past few days, the value had reached no less than a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming¡¯s journey of over thirty miles had been very safe, without encountering a single demon beast. However, the abnormality indicated that something strange was going on. Lin Tianming stopped and carefully observed his surroundings. Three peaks converged at this place, with several rivers converging at the bottom of the valley. A dense mist covered the entire valley, severely limiting his Divine Sense, which could only probe a few hundred feet. There were dozens of caves of various sizes in the mountains, and it was unclear where they led. Taking out the map, he carefully compared his position and realized he had deviated over thirty miles from the route. It seemed that his greed for the low-tier Spiritual Medicine had clouded his vision, gradually causing him to stray from the path. Lin Tianming decided to return the way he came, to the place where he had previously sat and recuperated, and then restart his journey following the route on the map. Just as he was about to turn his head to leave, he lifted his eyes to see that, without his notice, a gigantic python, dozens of meters in length, had raised its enormous head and was looking at him, hissing with a long forked tongue, looking extremely terrifying. ¡°A First Order Late Stage Spirit-Connecting Python!¡± It was actually a Spirit-Connecting Python. An adult Spirit-Connecting Python was a Second Order Late Phase Beast, carrying a hint of the ancient dragon¡¯s bloodline, with unparalleled attacking power. Among Second Order Demonic Beasts, it was one of the most formidable. Seeing the dozen or so caves of varying sizes on this section of the mountain, it was likely a den belonging to a group of Spirit-Connecting Pythons. It was critical to escape immediately, as waiting for an even stronger Spirit-Connecting Python to emerge meant certain death. Lin Tianming, fully aware of this, turned and transformed into a streak of green light, quickly weaving through the forest. As Lin Tianming fled, the Spirit-Connecting Python watching him swiftly twisted its body, pursuing him. Despite its massive size, it moved through the forest with great agility. Having only run a few miles, Lin Tianming was already caught up by the Spirit-Connecting Python. The Spirit-Connecting Python opened its vast mouth and lunged straight for Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming leaped, swiftly dodging behind a big tree and avoiding the Spirit-Connecting Python¡¯s deadly strike. Several large trees were bitten in half, their thirty-meter-high trunks crashing down, while Lin Tianming was panting next to a large tree. It seemed that escaping was not going to be easy. The speed of this Spirit-Connecting Python was at least half faster than Lin Tianming¡¯s¡ªcompeting in speed was certainly not an option. His only chance of escape was to either beat back the serpent or kill it. The piercing pain in his arm and a few palm-sized scars brought Lin Tianming back to the present. The mere droplets of the python¡¯s saliva had corroded his arm, its venom fiercely potent indeed, befitting the exceptional among First Order Demonic Beasts. Ignoring the injuries on his arm, Lin Tianming¡¯s entire body shone with spiritual light. He drew out the Qingfeng Sword, slashed several times, and without concern for the precious Spirit Stones, immediately brought out a First Order Superior Attack Talisman. A blue giant sword and several sword Qis charged straight at the Spirit-Connecting Python. The Spirit-Connecting Python was no less fierce, sweeping its tail as thick as a water barrel directly at Lin Tianming. The azure sword clashed with the green and white tail of the python, metal-on-metal sounds echoing throughout the valley. Immediately, sparks flew in all directions, and trees fell in swathes¡ªan extreme spectacle. The python was exceedingly furious now, its eyes the size of a human head fixed deadly on the cultivator before it, readying its next wave of attacks. Lin Tianming carefully calculated; to kill the serpent, finding its weak point was essential. The python¡¯s body was enveloped in green scales with fearsome defensive power; achieving a kill was tough. The only chance was to risk targeting its vital seven-inch section. Having settled on a plan, he had no choice but to hazardly approach the serpent¡¯s main body. To attack a snake¡¯s critical seven-inch section was the only path to victory; lingering longer only spelled greater danger if he wished to leave safely. He slashed thrice more, drawing the python¡¯s attention. Availing of its momentary distraction, Lin Tianming moved swiftly. His body turned into a blur, and while moving, he didn¡¯t forget to form hand seals, directly summoning his strongest Divine Skill, Fire Origin Decision. Half a breath later¡­ The fiery giant sword, with a massive blaze, struck the python right below its head at the seven-inch position. With a thunderous boom! The seven-inch section of the python burst into bloodshed. Its massive body twisted frantically, blood spurting all around, a ghastly sight to behold. In torment, the Spirit-Connecting Python rolled, lashing out with its remaining strength, sweeping its enormous tail at Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t evade in time and got struck by the tail¡¯s end, sustaining minor damage¡ªseveral ribs broken, a gash across the chest revealing a grim white bone. Dragging his injured body, Lin Tianming showed no mercy, furiously continuing to wield the Qingfeng Sword, gutting the python. Strike when the enemy is sick, take their life¡ªafter all, compassion for an enemy is irresponsibility towards oneself, a truth well known to all. After some moments, Lin Tianming extracted the Demon Core from the Spirit-Connecting Python, cut off the reverse scale on its back, and took out a Jade Bottle to gather a large amount of blood, nearly enough to fill a small pond. Before leaving, he also peeled off the python¡¯s skin and stored it in a bag, transforming into a shadow and retracing the path he¡¯d come by. Half a day passed. Following the path he had taken, Lin Tianming returned to his previous route on the map, settling down cross-legged atop the canopy of a large tree. He had been too busy fleeing to recover his mana or tend to his injuries. Once out of danger, he hurriedly took out a Huadu Pill and a Consolidating Essence Pill. The power of both elixirs rapidly mended his body¡¯s meridians and internal organs. Chapter 20 - 20 - 19 Successfully Entering _1 Chapter 20 ¨C 19 Successfully Entering _1 Chapter 20: Chapter 19 Successfully Entering _1 Five days quietly passed, and Lin Tianming slowly opened his eyes. After several days of recovery, his wounds had basically healed, and he was ready to set out again. However, he must avoid life-and-death battles as much as possible. At present, he could only exert about eighty percent of his full strength, so he had to be even more cautious. In over half a year since coming from Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory to Qingfeng Town, after several fierce battles, numerous brushes with danger, and many injuries, Lin Tianming¡¯s combat skills had become extremely proficient. He could instantaneously unleash various Cultivation Technique Secret Arts and had reached the peak of his current level, his fighting strength unlike any previous time. His cultivation had risen from the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement to the Late Stage of Sixth Level, not far from reaching the Seventh Level. ... Indeed, tempering through life-and-death battles proved to be the best method of cultivation; only after undergoing trials between life and death could breakthroughs happen naturally when the time came. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the Purple Cloud Mountain Range, there were many Second Order Demonic Beasts. Even though he hadn¡¯t encountered any on the way, they definitely existed, so he still had to be careful, not stray from the path, and if he fell into danger once more, it would be troublesome¡ª not every time could he escape by sheer luck. Taking out the map, and after identifying the right direction, Lin Tianming continued on the road to find the Cave Mansion Ruins. Lin Tianming followed the indications on the map, undistracted by the occasional low-order Spirit Grasses he found around, pressing forward single-mindedly, solely to find the Cave Mansion Ruins as soon as possible. Two days went by, and with the guidance of the map, exploring carefully and avoiding dangerous spots many times, Lin Tianming arrived at the base of a mountain. The entire mountain was a thousand feet tall, with a bare surface, only very few trees growing in the crevices of the rock face. A gigantic river at the base of the mountain wound around the structure, cascading stones forming over a dozen waterfalls of various sizes, and the entire gorge was shrouded in thick mist. The spiritual energy was denser than the outside world by a considerable margin, almost comparable to the richness of Green Bamboo Mountain¡ªtruly an earthly paradise. Taking out the map, he carefully examined it, comparing it several times in detail. ¡°It should be this place without a doubt¡­,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. Putting away the map, Lin Tianming could hardly contain his elation. After more than ten days of searching, several dire situations, and multiple pursuits by numerous Demonic Beasts along the way, he had finally found the location marked on the map. But upon close inspection, he saw that this place simply had a considerably denser spiritual energy and beyond that, it appeared indistinct from any other place. The mountain looked ethereal and otherworldly, but that did not ensure its authenticity. Possibly, it was just Illusion Technique or Formation Barrier, only meant to deceive the eyes and ears of others. Without further ado, Lin Tianming released all his Divine Sense, surveilling the entire mountain and its surroundings. An hour slipped by silently, after exploring twice, and still, nothing unusual was detected. Continuing to expand the search radius, he combed through a more than ten-mile radius around the mountain. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Suddenly, Lin Tianming noticed that behind the curtain of water from a waterfall, there seemed to be fluctuations of a Formation Barrier, intermittent and subtle. Though slight, they were still picked up by his senses. Behind the Formation Barrier must be where the Cave Mansion lay. It looked as though the power of the barrier had considerably weakened. He decided to strike with full force to see if he could open it. If it opened, he naturally had to explore it, but if it couldn¡¯t be opened, he would have to give up for the time being. Resolved, Lin Tianming invoked the Qingfeng Sword, leaped onto it, and flew towards the waterfall with the Formation Barrier fluctuations. Passing through the curtain of the waterfall to the pond below, more than ten snow-white fish, each nearly the size of a small boat with sharp fangs and teeth, leaped out of the water surface and ferociously bit towards Lin Tianming. ¡°Snow Spirit Fish!¡± Snow Spirit Fish, First Order Late Stage Water Attribute Demonic Beasts, usually live in groups. They dwell in the icy river canyons, with varying numbers in a group. Large groups can have more than ten thousand individuals. When they gather together, even Second Order Demonic Beasts can be devoured in an instant. They are indeed very ferocious. There were more than ten Snow Spirit Fish, only three of which were at the Late Stage of the First Order, while the rest were Medium and Early Stage Demonic Beasts. Over ten Snow Spirit Fish attacking at the same time posed a threat not to be underestimated. Lin Tianming, still injured and not fully recovered, didn¡¯t dare to face them head-on. He threw out a First Order Superior Defensive Talisman, which transformed into a several zhang large shield. It protected his entire body from behind. Over ten Snow Spirit Fish slammed into the huge shield created by the talisman. It only held for a moment before exploding. The attack of the Snow Spirit Fish was blocked, and they fell into the pond. Seizing this opportunity, Lin Tianming formed a hand seal and cast Huoyuan Slash. A streak of blue and red light shot directly toward the barrier behind the water screen. With a loud boom, the flaming great sword transformed by the Huoyuan Slash hit the barrier. In less than a moment, a half-zhang large gap appeared in the barrier. Now was the moment. Lin Tianming turned into a lingering shadow as he rushed into the formation barrier. After a spell of dizziness. Lin Tianming appeared inside a hundred zhang large cave. The entire cave was dug out of the mountain body and must have been a temporary dwelling for a High Order Cultivator to cultivate; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been so spacious. Lin Tianming carefully observed his surroundings. The whole cave consisted of five chambers, the largest being over thirty zhang in size, and the smallest over ten zhang. Lin Tianming cautiously stepped in, clenching the Qingfeng Sword in his hand. Still not feeling reassured, he took the single remaining First Order Attack Talisman and Defense Talisman from his storage bag and held them in his hand. Should any unexpected situation arise, they could save his life. Upon entering the cave mansion, the first thing that caught his eye was a stone chamber of over ten zhang in size. It was a complete mess; many stone tables and chairs were already half-destroyed. Time had taken its toll, with ordinary stone materials unable to withstand the wear of years, splitting into uneven pieces. It appeared that this place was a reception hall and contained nothing of value. Lin Tianming did not linger and continued to walk further inside. To the right of the reception hall was a chamber protected by a golden light screen, obviously a Formation Barrier. Despite its age, the power it retained was not insignificant. Lin Tianming exerted his full strength to deploy the Huoyuan Slash, bombarding the barrier. I saw several ripples flash across the barrier but it remained unshaken ¨C the calm light screen rapidly returned to its tranquil state. After the unsuccessful attack, Lin Tianming felt the fluctuations of the barrier, making multiple attempts to attack, but none could break the Formation Barrier. It seemed that a single person would have a hard time shattering the barrier. After several failed forceful attempts, he knew he needed to think of a solution. The barrier was also a formation, so there had to be a weak point. Lin Tianming began to study the entire Formation Barrier. Unknowingly, he spent half a day pondering over it. Although he had not discovered its weakness, it wasn¡¯t without some clues. Based on the remaining fluctuations and effects of the barrier, it must have existed for at least ten thousand years, and it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if it had been tens of thousands of years. The grade of the Formation Barrier was at least Third Order, otherwise, it couldn¡¯t have lasted such a long time. The power of the entire Formation Barrier had dwindled from its prolonged use, retaining barely a ten-thousandth of its original strength. Tian Ming estimated that even if he did not attack the formation forcibly, after waiting a few hundred to a thousand years for the central Spirit Stone of the barrier to deplete completely, the Formation Barrier would self-destruct. But Lin Tianming could not possibly wait that long. The opportunity was right in front of him, and no one could resist a chance that was within easy reach. Chapter 21 - 21 - 20 Treasure Hunting_1 Chapter 21 ¨C 20 Treasure Hunting_1 Chapter 21: Chapter 20 Treasure Hunting_1 Ten days flew by in a flash. The entire ancient dungeon was silent save for Lin Tianming, who watched the light screen intently, replaying the entire formation barrier in his mind countless times and occasionally gesturing with his hands non-stop. At this moment, he looked haggard; soon after, his complexion flushed with excitement and astonishment. ¡°I found it!¡± Lin Tianming was thrilled beyond measure, his days of diligent research and numerous rehearsals had finally enabled him to discern the barrier¡¯s weak point. In the top left corner of the formation¡¯s light screen lay a rather ordinary beam of light, which should be the fulcrum connecting the light screen. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Lin Tianming made hand signs and deployed the Huoyuan Slash¡ªa powerful flame-formed great sword stabbed toward a corner of the light screen. A piercing screech rang out as the light screen shattered, dissolving into specks of spiritual light and vanishing completely. Thankfully, the barrier¡¯s existence was so ancient that its defensive power had significantly weakened, otherwise, even if he had found the central point, it would have been impossible for him to break it no matter the tricks he deployed. The misty light screen in front of the stone chamber dissipated, revealing a chamber over thirty yards in size. ¡°Empty?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± It wasn¡¯t entirely empty, for spread across the ground lay the remains of a massive demonic beast, most of its body already turned to ash. From the surviving skeletal structure, it seemed to be a flying spirit beast of the flying creature lineage¡ªlikely the ancient dungeon owner¡¯s mode of flight. It appeared this chamber was meant for a spirit beast, which, given the weight of ages, had died, leaving only its remains behind. Demonic beasts had lifespans several times longer than the human race, and yet, this one was tragically trapped and died here, suggesting the antiquity of the dungeon as being from ten thousand years ago. Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed disappointment, having exerted so much effort to open the barrier, yet gaining nothing in return. There were still several chambers left; surely, they couldn¡¯t all be spirit beast rooms, Lin Tianming thought resentfully. He turned and left the first chamber, heading down the passage. He discovered that each chamber was sealed by the same kind of formation barrier, with virtually no difference in the remaining force, all laid down by the dungeon owner at the same time. This was incredibly good news. Since he had found the weak point of the barrier, there was no need to waste energy searching any further. Returning to the second chamber, he carefully examined and searched it again. Utilizing the Huoyuan Slash effortlessly, he stabbed at the light beam on the light screen; the barrier of the second chamber dispersed. A scattering of demonic beast bones lay in the middle of the chamber. ¡°Another spirit beast room?¡± Without looking back, Lin Tianming headed straight for the third chamber. He broke the barrier directly; the scent of elixirs seeped out in advance. ¡°Spiritual Medicine Garden!¡± Lin Tianming rushed in with joy, moving even faster than if he were fleeing for his life, his posture that of a tiger or wolf. ¡°Two hundred-year-old Hidden Spirit Grass, it¡¯s actually Hidden Spirit Grass!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed. Hidden Spirit Grass was a primary ingredient in concocting the Second Order minor elixir, the Minor Foundation Building Pill. Although only some twenty-odd plants met the age requirement for alchemy, this still thrilled Lin Tianming immensely. The more than twenty stalks of Hidden Spirit Grass could completely resolve the Lin Family¡¯s urgent crisis, and for the family, they were simply treasures beyond measure. There was also a large number of True Soul Grass and Brahman Blood Grass, all of which were two-hundred-year-old Spiritual Medicines. True Soul Grass was the main ingredient for concocting Strong Spirit Pills, which could increase a trace of Divine Sense. With long-term use, the incremental Divine Sense would become quite substantial. Brahman Blood Grass was the main ingredient for concocting Body Strengthening Pills, which were elixirs consumed during Body Cultivation. They could enhance one¡¯s Qi blood and eliminate pain during cultivation, and were extremely precious. Besides these, there were many other Spiritual Medicine Materials, all commonly used in combat and cultivation, with most of them being ingredients for Lingshen Pills. Lin Tianming quickly collected all the Spiritual Medicines that met the requirements for concoction, placing them into a Jade Box. Those herbs not old enough were pulled out, soil and all, to be transplanted into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden. Half an hour later, he successfully collected all the Spiritual Medicines, exited the stone chamber, and moved deeper into the passage. Upon breaking the Formation Barrier of the stone chamber, he was met with a ten-zhang-sized room that lay in ruins, with only fragments scattered across the floor. It must have been where the owner of the cave mansion practiced alchemy and artifact refining, but now it was beyond repair with nothing left behind. Turning around with a hint of disappointment, Lin Tianming walked towards the stone chamber at the very depths of the cave mansion. In front of the final stone chamber of the entire cave mansion, Lin Tianming broke the barrier and saw a skeleton of a cultivator, still intact and sitting cross-legged on a cushion. The entire skeleton was abnormally large; its arm bones were bigger than Lin Tianming¡¯s arms, and every bone in its body was larger than those of an average person, emitting a special radiance that was truly unbelievable. In front of the skeleton lay a large number of weapon fragments scattered on the ground. The vast majority had completely disintegrated into residue, presumably unable to withstand the passage of time, losing their Spiritual Power and turning into a pile of refuse. Seeing this, Lin Tianming wore a bitterly disappointed expression. It was such a pity that good Magical Treasures or even higher grade Spiritual Treasures had turned to ash. Anyone who saw such a scene would feel heartache. With a trace of reluctance, Lin Tianming rummaged through the pile of artifact fragments, hoping to find something useful. After turning them over and over again for half an hour, he found two useful items. One was a Jade Tube, its surface enveloped in golden light and runes, identical to the one he had obtained from the Red Robe Cultivator, likely also containing a Cultivation Technique. Lin Tianming took out the Jade Tube he got from the body of the Red Robe Cultivator and placed them side by side; they were indeed exactly the same. He surmised that it must be the same Cultivation Technique, divided into two parts; the part he acquired earlier was the first half, and the part from this place was the latter half. Lin Tianming pondered seriously, if it was the same Cultivation Technique, how had the Red Robe Cultivator he killed obtained the first half? After contemplating for half an hour and surmising multiple theories, all seemed inconceivable. He guessed that as the Formation Barriers of the place gradually weakened, some of the remaining treasures slipped out at the edge of the barrier¡¯s collapse, which happened to be obtained by the Red Robe Cultivator. After all, such events were not uncommon in the Cultivation World. Lin Tianming unleashed his Divine Sense into it, but his mind was met with a hazy gray scene that revealed nothing, so he retreated, his face pale and the exertion had clearly taken its toll on him. This was not something he could comprehend at his current level; he estimated that one would need to be at least at the Foundation Establishment Stage to glimpse a clue. He put the Jade Tube into his storage bag and shifted his attention to another remaining item. It was a stone with five hundred mottled colors, approximately the size of a fist, with a pitted and uneven surface. Aside from its attractive colors, it seemed no different from an ordinary stone. Lin Tianming carefully recalled the odd treasures and secret tombs he had read about, going over the introductions of those wonders of heaven and earth, but he still found no mention of this stone or anything similar. It was impossible for Lin Tianming to believe the stone was without use. Considering that, over the years, even weapon artifacts had turned into dust and debris, yet this stone had remained. It must also be one of the wonders of heaven and earth, and he assumed not many people knew about it¡ªit was just him who was unaware. Uncertain of what it was for now, he had no choice but to explore it slowly in the future and reluctantly put the stone into his storage bag. After searching the entire cave mansion several times, ensuring nothing was overlooked, he collected the remains of the cave mansion¡¯s owner, intending to carry them outside and find a valley for burial. Although he did not know the name or origin of this person, or why they had perished here, that was no longer important. But having benefited from this person, the least he could do was take care of some final affairs. After all, it was merely a matter of convenience. With that, he left the cave mansion and appeared behind the waterfall¡¯s curtain of water. Chapter 22 - 22 - 21 Purple Gold Eagle_1 Chapter 22 ¨C 21 Purple Gold Eagle_1 Chapter 22: Chapter 21 Purple Gold Eagle_1 On the outskirts of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range, a cultivator clad in green robes slowly flew over a mountaintop, heading eastward, looking quite haggard. This person was Lin Tianming, who had spent several days escaping from the ruins of the Cave Mansion, covered in grime and dirt. Along the way, he had been involved in several life-and-death encounters. Had Lin Tianming not always been cautious, always adhering to the principle of ¡°if you can¡¯t beat them, run,¡± he might very well have perished in there. Moreover, Lin Tianming had exhausted all of his means of fighting enemies. As he emerged from the Cave Mansion, he was obstructed once again by a group of Snow Spirit Fish in the water. More than twenty of them leaped to attack him, and it was only by timely deploying his last remaining First Order Superior Defense Talisman that he narrowly escaped. As a result, he sustained not insignificant injuries. Not only did he encounter the Snow Spirit Fish, but along the way, he inexplicably ran into a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast. He used an Attack Talisman to stall it for a moment, which allowed him to successfully escape with his life. ... Now, he didn¡¯t have a single talisman left on him, truly penniless. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming appeared before the Cave Mansion where he had stayed a night before entering the mountain range, pushing aside a large tree that blocked the entrance and walked inside after deploying a few Illusion Techniques and warning restrictions. Sitting on the stone bed inside the secret chamber, he took out a Consolidating Essence Pill and swallowed it to recover from his injuries. Having left Qingfeng Town Clan Territory just over a month ago, and not in a hurry, Lin Tianming planned to return to Qingfeng Town only after he had fully recovered. Half a month swiftly passed by, and Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s aura had significantly increased, and he appeared to have reached the peak of the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, on the verge of breaking through to the Seventh Level at any moment. Having been away for over a month and fully recovered from his injuries, it was time to return to Qingfeng Town, otherwise, he would have a hard time explaining himself to his family if anything were to happen. Exiting the Cave Mansion, he removed the restrictions and used a large tree to cover the entrance once again. Summoning the Qingfeng Sword, he turned into a streak of green light, shooting straight toward Qingfeng Town in the east. Having disappeared for over a month, the patrol task had been delayed by half a month. Before going back, Lin Tianming planned to patrol the area within a hundred miles around Qingfeng Town. In a large plain over fifty miles west of Qingfeng Town, numerous mortals were busy working in the fields, with men and women bustling about joyously. Suddenly, a series of demonic winds blew through the sky, and several older adults and half-grown children could not withstand the fierce winds, with some being blown several dozen feet high. Most of the mortals who had not yet been lifted by the wind ran together toward a row of large trees on the embankment, hoping to find a tree to take shelter from the wind. In the midst of the chaos, someone suddenly shouted in terror, ¡°There¡¯s a demon in the sky!¡± Hearing this, a multitude of mortals uniformly looked up to the sky with expressions of excessive fear on their faces. They could see the monster in the sky getting closer, a piercing scream rang out, causing several of them to bleed from their nostrils and mouths. An experienced elder yelled in fright, ¡°It¡¯s a Flying Monster Beast!¡± A Purple Gold Eagle, several dozen feet in size, came into view, with a golden beak resembling a dagger, slightly curved. Its wide wings, when fully spread, spanned over a dozen feet, and it moved with incredible speed; in an instant, it was hovering just above the heads of the mortals. The Purple Gold Eagle, a Flying Monster Beast, was said to contain a trace of the Gold-winged Roc¡¯s bloodline in its body. If the bloodline was pure enough and they could revert back to their ancestors successfully, they would evolve into Gold-winged Rocs, which were extremely powerful. An adult Purple Gold Eagle was a Second Order Late Phase beast known for its lightning-fast speed, ranking near the top among Flying Monster Beasts. However, this Purple Gold Eagle was merely a First Order Medium Stage beast, still in its juvenile phase. The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to appear within the range of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range by chance, likely having unintentionally flown out of the peripheral area. Given its speed, it could fly from the Purple Cloud Mountain Range to Qingfeng Town in merely fifteen minutes. Upon seeing the multitude of mortals, the Purple Gold Eagle dove down and extended its sharp claws, snatching up several people before preparing to fly off with them. Lin Tianming just happened to be patrolling the area and saw the beast causing harm to the people. Naturally, he had to take action to teach the beast a lesson and rescue the captured mortals. Suddenly, a furious shout echoed through the sky! ¡°Monstrous beast, halt!¡± Lin Tianming chased after it, riding on the Qingfeng Sword, his hands continuously forming seals, casting a Fireball Technique and hurling it towards the Purple Gold Eagle to intercept it for a moment. The Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings furiously, spitting out a fireball that collided with Lin Tianming¡¯s Fireball Technique. The two flames violently collided in mid-air, and after a loud explosion, the fireballs burst apart, scattering hot air waves in all directions. Numerous ordinary people were swept up by the blast and were knocked head over heels. Many of the commoners, after their initial fright, regained their senses, their faces flushed with joy, and exclaimed with madness, ¡°It¡¯s a cultivator!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face was grave as he prepared several Law Decrees with his hands, ready to summon the Divine Ability Fire Yuan Slash to directly slay the beast. The Purple Gold Eagle released the humans in its claws, as a cultivator¡¯s flesh and blood were more than a hundred times better than that of an ordinary person. Diving down, it headed straight for Lin Tianming, intending to kill him on the spot. Lin Tianming cast several spells to hold the falling ordinary people aloft and placed them on the mountain behind him. With no worries behind him, he poured all his strength into the Fire Yuan Slash, transforming it into a huge sword enveloped by a blue and red escape light, and it collided with the beak of the Purple Gold Eagle. Several metallic clangs reverberated through the heavens, and hurting from the impact, the Purple Gold Eagle realized it was no match, and beat its wings frantically to escape the area. Seeing this, Lin Tianming swung another giant sword slash. The Purple Gold Eagle was unable to dodge in time, and the flame-enveloped great sword sliced right into its wing. With a sizzle¡­ S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The several-zhang-long Purple Gold Eagle fell straight from the sky and smashed into the ground, creating a huge crater. The Purple Gold Eagle now lay gasping, a half-zhang-long gash on its left wing bleeding profusely, bones and flesh clearly visible, and it still flickered its wings, attempting to take off and flee once more. After struggling dozens of times, it still could not fly. As its vitality grew weaker, the Purple Gold Eagle lay there with wide eyes, viciously staring at Lin Tianming in front of it. Lin Tianming did not continue to attack, but was pondering something else. The Purple Gold Eagle was severely injured. Killing it would be easy, but if he could subdue it, it would be a great help during fights and journeys. The Purple Gold Eagle was extremely fast in flight and could also be useful in combat, making it suitable for taming and cultivation. Lin Tianming stood aside, deploying his Divine Sense to infiltrate the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s sea of consciousness, attempting to leave his mark on the creature¡¯s soul. The Purple Gold Eagle resisted fiercely, but to little effect; it could only struggle and show great resistance. Half a quarter of an hour passed. Lin Tianming successfully left his Divine Sense mark on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s soul, completely controlling its life. If the beast were to resist, he only needed a thought to detonate its soul and kill it. This Purple Gold Eagle was only in its juvenile stage with low Spirit Wisdom. Although it was highly resistant, it had no choice; its fate was controlled by Lin Tianming, and it could not resist, only able to whine in pain, bowing its head and rubbing against the hem of Lin Tianming¡¯s clothes, expressing submission. Since the Demonic Beast had sincerely submitted, Lin Tianming took out two Lingshen Pills and one Consolidating Essence Pill from his storage bag and tossed them to the Purple Gold Eagle, which opened its mouth and swallowed the elixirs before lying in the pit to recover from its injuries. Although the elixirs used for cultivation and healing by cultivators were not as effective for Demonic Beasts as they were for humans, they were still significantly helpful. And since Lin Tianming did not have any elixirs suitable for healing Demonic Beasts, he had to make do with the Lingshen Pill and Consolidating Essence Pill for now. Lin Tianming instructed the nearby ordinary people to leave while he stayed to watch over the Purple Gold Eagle, waiting for it to recover from its injuries. Chapter 23 - 23 - 22: Return to Qingfeng Town (Please bookmark and recommend)_1 Chapter 23 ¨C 22: Return to Qingfeng Town (Please bookmark and recommend)_1 Chapter 23: Chapter 22: Return to Qingfeng Town (Please bookmark and recommend)_1 Time elapsed, and ten days swiftly passed. Atop a mountain peak, a cultivator in blue robes stood, with a giant bird several meters tall standing quietly behind him. Having ingested two Lingshen Pills and one Consolidating Essence Pill, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s injuries had partially healed, with the wounds on its wings mended, now capable of normal flight. However, it couldn¡¯t fly too fast, or else it risked leaving behind hidden complications, detrimental to future advancement. During the ten days at this place, while the Purple Gold Eagle was recovering, Lin Tianming was busy elsewhere, appearing in a small mountain valley. The valley was surrounded by several mountains, with a river flowing through at the bottom and dense fog swirling around. Pine forests stretched like a sea, and the scenery was simply breathtaking. Lin Tianming buried the remains of the cave mansion¡¯s owner, fulfilling a long-standing wish. ... Having waited in this place for ten days, it was time to return to Qingfeng Town. It had been nearly two months since he had ventured into the Purple Cloud Mountain Range to find the cave mansion, and ten months since he arrived at Qingfeng Town. With only two more months left, he could return to Green Bamboo Mountain to visit his family. In these ten months, Lin Tianming had been continuously busy¡ªnot only had he successfully located the cave mansion ruins, but he also plundered a variety of Spiritual Medicines from it, found a complete Cultivation Technique, and a multicolored stone of unknown purpose. Previously, he had also killed the Red Robe Cultivator and acquired the Profound Grade Technique and the legacy of a Third Order Alchemy Master from the man surnamed Jin, reaping great rewards. Carrying such wealth, Lin Tianming was quite concerned that if he died or lost it, the loss would be tremendous for the Lin Family. But since there were only two months left in the year, he decided to wait a bit longer. Once he returned to the Lin Family, he planned to immediately hand over the Profound Grade Technique and the Third Order Alchemy Master¡¯s legacy. He also needed to submit a portion of the Hidden Spirit Grass, the main ingredient for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, and in return, he should receive a considerable amount of virtue within the family. Since the inception of the Lin Family, there were only two Cultivation Techniques available. The rest had been accumulated over hundreds of years, with some being purchased and others obtained fortuitously. Every single technique was hard-earned, leading to the family¡¯s current status. The Minor Foundation Building Pill was a Second Order elixir. Currently, just a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, he was far from being able to refine Second Order Pills. It was unlikely that his family could refine them either. How to turn them into elixirs would be a matter for the elders to discuss. However, those concerns were beyond his purview. While the Lin Family did not enforce the submission of any treasures found by their members abroad, and the compensation they offered was far less than selling those items independently, as a member of the family, one can¡¯t be excessively selfish. Techniques and legacies are the foundation of cultivation. It¡¯s better to submit them to the family to boost the strength of many family members and enhance the family¡¯s heritage. Every cultivator in the Lin Family, upon discovering their Spiritual Root in the first year, is guided in cultivation by the elders of the Skill Transmission Hall. This accelerates the newcomer¡¯s understanding of the path of cultivation and instills a sense of belonging and identity towards the family. You must know, the first lesson upon entering the Skill Transmission Hall is to memorize the eight centuries of the Lin Family¡¯s history, bearing the influential ancestors of each era in mind and remembering the family¡¯s tribulations during its moments of crisis. To be prepared in times of peace is what allows a family to thrive perpetually. The family¡¯s foundational education provides the initial cultivation resources to its members, facilitating faster cultivation and instilling a greater sense of unity and selflessness within Lin Family members. That is the difference between a family and a Loose Cultivator. You must know that it¡¯s much harder for Loose Cultivators, who start cultivation without any knowledge of the Dao, without techniques, and without resources, relying solely on their personal exploration and resource-finding. Their efficiency is far lower compared to family clans. In the Cultivation World, most Loose Cultivators undergo many life-and-death trials. Those who survive are strong, and high-order Loose Cultivators abound, with a significant number of them being powerful figures. ¡°` Rumors say that in Yunzhou and Xuanzhou, there are even a few Loose Cultivators in the Divinity Transformation Stage, each of whom is a super powerful figure seated in their own territory, famous and commendable. It is uncertain whether these rumors are true or false. Withdrawing his wandering thoughts from beyond the heavens, Lin Tianming jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle. After settling down, the Purple Gold Eagle flapped its massive wings, circling over Qingfeng Town at an incredible speed. As the fierce wind blew past his ears during the flight, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Covering a hundred miles by himself using Sword Flight would take at least half a day, yet the Purple Gold Eagle only took two hours, more than doubling the speed. After spending half a day patrolling the hundred-mile radius around Qingfeng Town, and having killed most of the Mortal Beasts during the last patrol, there were few beasts left in the entire area. Finding no abnormalities while circling around, he returned to Qingfeng Town. When the Purple Gold Eagle appeared in the square of Qingfeng Town, a great number of mortals were terrified, scattering and running away, causing a stampede incident. There were also some bold mortals who stayed to watch the excitement, even making a spectacle of discussing it animatedly. Suddenly, Lin Tianming¡¯s voice echoed throughout the entire town of Qingfeng Town. ¡°Everyone, there¡¯s no need to panic. This beast is my spiritual mount and has been subdued by me. It will not harm you!¡± After speaking, he no longer paid attention to the expressions of the crowd, fed two Lingshen Pills to the Purple Gold Eagle, and issued a command to it. He then turned and entered the great hall, leaving only the Purple Gold Eagle in the square, which soon lay down and fell asleep, digesting the power of the medicine. The members of the Clan were curiously watching the Purple Gold Eagle, as if they were looking at some rare treasure. After all, such a large bird was something most mortals would never see in their lifetimes, truly a rare spectacle. From time to time, an elder would speak astonishing words: ¡°Ten days ago, this old man personally witnessed the entire process of a Lin Family immortal battling this beast. I saw the immortal conjure a huge sword made of flames, cutting a sword wound a meter long in the wing of the beast, causing it to fall straight from the sky and crash into the ground, creating a huge pit, nearly killing the creature on the spot!¡± The elder¡¯s words sparked an uproar in the crowd. Suddenly, a large number of mortals crazily gathered around the elder, asking him to recount the entire process. The elder spoke passionately and exaggeratedly about what he had seen and heard, praising Lin Tianming to the skies. All the people listened intently, with expressions of worship on their faces. Inside the great hall, Lin Tianming was seated on a cushion. In the ten months since he left Green Bamboo Mountain, his cultivation had reached the peak of the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. With dedicated practice for some time, he could steadily make a breakthrough. With two months left in the year, the time was neither long nor short. He still could not check the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder received from the Red Robe Cultivator, so he decided to practice and aim to elevate his cultivation to the Seventh Level of Qi Refining first. Having said that, Lin Tianming began to meditate and breathe regulation. Half a quarter hour later, he took out a Lingshen Pill and swallowed it. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He controlled the immense spiritual power of the Lingshen Pill, repeatedly striking at the Seven Sea Dantian. ¡°` Chapter 24 - 24 - 23 Breakthrough Qi Cultivation Level 7 (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 24 ¨C 23 Breakthrough Qi Cultivation Level 7 (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 24: Chapter 23 Breakthrough Qi Cultivation Level 7 (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 ¡°` Half a month flew by, and in the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat upright on the meditation cushion. In the past half-month, he had already refined two Lingshen Pills. Despite several attempts, he had failed to enter the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation; each time, it was a near miss from breaking through the restraints at the Sixth Level. It seemed that reaching the Seventh Level really wasn¡¯t that easy. There was a significant hurdle between the Sixth and Seventh Levels of Qi Cultivation. The Sixth Level was still considered mid-stage cultivation, while reaching the Seventh meant advancing to the later stages¡ªa completely different league. After hesitating for a moment, Lin Tianming decided to continue taking the Lingshen Pills and make another attempt at breaking through to the Seventh Level. If it still wasn¡¯t successful, he would have to give up and seek another opportunity to break through. Taking out three Lingshen Pills, a crazed look flashed across Lin Tianming¡¯s face as he threw all three pills into his mouth at once. ... At this moment, the violent spiritual energy of the three Lingshen Pills rampaged through his meridians, completely out of control. It felt as though his entire body was teetering on the brink of exploding. The terrifying pain permeated his nerves and brain, and many parts of his body had split open, with flesh tearing and blood pouring from the seven orifices¡ªa truly miserable sight. ¡°I¡¯m done for¡­¡± Lin Tianming now greatly regretted his recklessness. He should not have consumed three pills at once; the power of the medicine was beyond his imagination and now utterly uncontrollable. Enduring the intense pain, Lin Tianming tried to lead the spiritual energy from the Lingshen Pills to surge towards his Seven Sea Dantian. After half an hour of perseverance and two attempts, the pain did not diminish in the slightest; if anything, it intensified. Unbeknownst to him, Lin Tianming had completely passed out, collapsing onto the meditation cushion. An indeterminate amount of time passed before Lin Tianming slowly opened his eyes. Now naked, with his robust XX swaying, his green tunic had long since turned to ash. Many parts of his body were covered with a layer of black filth, emitting a faint stench. ¡°Eh¡­ I¡¯m actually still alive?¡± Overwhelmed with joy, Lin Tianming was taken aback. It took a few moments for him to calm his excited heart and feel a wave of relief. The pain he had experienced was maddening¡ªas if a wild horse had broken free, the spiritual power had been uncontrollable and wreaked havoc, making him suffer intensely. He felt as if he had been on the verge of death and was about to give up when darkness overtook him. Who would have thought that he wouldn¡¯t actually die? A great calamity spared brings a bright future! In the future, unless absolutely necessary, he dare not be so reckless again¡ªit wasn¡¯t every time one could be this lucky. Gathering his thoughts, he realized he was naked, which startled him. He was thankful that he was alone; otherwise, had he been exposed, he would have been too ashamed to face anyone. With a gesture, Lin Tianming cast a water-based spell, causing a heavy rain to fall from above and enjoyed a comfortable bath. He then took a set of green clothes from his storage bag and dressed himself. A handsome young man stood erect, his features still holding a trace of youthful innocence. He then used a minor fire-based spell to dry the damp floor before sitting back on the cushion. Deploying his Divine Sense to check, he was overjoyed to find that he had indeed successfully reached the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. Not only had he survived, but against all odds and in a stroke of serendipity, he had even entered the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation¡ªfate¡¯s wheel turns in mysterious ways. Feeling the explosive spiritual energy throughout his body, the strength of his spiritual power was indeed incomparable to that of the Sixth Level. ¡°` S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Seven Sea Dantian had expanded several times over, brimming with robust and majestic spiritual power that almost felt tangible. When the next magic duel came, his divine skills would surely surge. Lin Tianming moved a bit and then sat down again, practicing a complete Grand Circulation to begin his closed-door consolidation of cultivation. Three days later, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion, appearing in the square outside the attic hall. Before closing off, he had given two Lingshen Pills to the Purple Gold Eagle. Twenty days had passed, and the Purple Gold Eagle had completely recovered from its injuries, its overall presence even stronger than before its submission. If it wasn¡¯t for the lack of suitable elixirs for spirit beasts, having to settle for the Lingshen Pills, it could have helped it grow more rapidly, providing even more support to Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Tianming walking towards it, the Purple Gold Eagle was also quite excited, trotting over and rubbing his golden beak, thick as a man¡¯s thigh, against the hem of Lin Tianming¡¯s clothes in a pleasing manner. The Purple Gold Eagle was only at the First Order Middle Stage, still in its juvenile period, with limited spirit wisdom ¨C much like a mischievous human child. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Tianming¡¯s strict orders not to wander off, it might have slipped out already. It wouldn¡¯t be considered an adult until it reached the Second Order Middle Stage, when its spirit wisdom would significantly increase. This Purple Gold Eagle of Lin Tianming had a trace of Gold-winged Roc bloodline. With proper nurturing, it would also become a great asset. However, advancing as a demonic beast was quite difficult, requiring vast resources. If nurtured properly, it could protect the Lin Family for an even longer duration. In the Cultivation World, Sect Families would raise several spirit beasts to guard their clans, as beasts live several times longer than the Human Race, providing extended protection to the family or sect. The Lin Family had a Guardian Spirit Beast at the Second Order Late Phase, cultivated only after the ancestral founder Lin Renfeng established the clan. It had stepped forward in times of family crises after the ancestor Lin Renfeng¡¯s passing, suffering many injuries. At that time, it was only at the Second Order Middle Stage. Several hundred years later, it had barely advanced past a minor realm, illustrating the extreme difficulty of advancement. With the loss of ancestor Lin Renfeng, the family¡¯s foundation was too shallow. Lacking even Foundation Establishment Cultivators, advancing to the Third Order might have been possible otherwise. It is said that some sects specialized in commanding spirit beasts boast incredible strength, possessing numerous Fourth Order Great Demons. In the central area of the Nine Provinces, even sightings of Fifth Order Spirit Beasts have occurred. Lin Tianming affectionately patted the head of the Purple Gold Eagle, also excited, looking forward to enhancing his bond with the spirit beast. The Purple Gold Eagle, which had been unable to fly for half a month while waiting in place, was eagerly anticipating a flight. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s approach, it showed a desire to fly out for a spin. Lin Tianming readily agreed. Mounting the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, they soared into the sky, heading straight for the outskirts of the town. Circling around Qingfeng Town, taking in the magnificent vistas, and dreaming of the vast skies over the Nine Provinces Continent, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of anticipation. Half an hour later, they returned to Qingfeng Town, landing in the square; he instructed the Purple Gold Eagle not to fly beyond a ten-mile radius of Qingfeng Town during his closed-door sessions and gave it three Lingshen Pills to help it break through to the First Order Late Stage. After settling the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming returned to the secret chamber in the attic. Sitting on the meditation cushion, Lin Tianming took out the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinders he had obtained from the red-robed man and from the cave dwelling, pondering over them. Both Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinders were golden in color, with dense golden runes winding around their surfaces, almost certainly part of the same technique. Observing the cylinders closely, he noticed they were absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy, a truly incredible phenomenon. This had to be a top-level, earth-shattering Cultivation Technique. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed, his anticipation for this technique growing even stronger. He had previously attempted to probe the upper half of this technique, but his cultivation and Divine Sense fell just short. Now that he had successfully reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, with both mana and Divine Sense greatly increased, he naturally wanted to investigate. Extending his Divine Sense slowly into the Jade Cylinder. After a short while, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed shock, as if he faced a formidable enemy, not knowing what astonishing thing he had discovered. Chapter 25 - 25 - 24 Tiangang Body Art (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 Chapter 25 ¨C 24 Tiangang Body Art (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 Chapter 25: Chapter 24 Tiangang Body Art (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was stricken with terror, his complexion drastically changing. A few moments later, his complexion gradually regained its rosiness as he fell into deep contemplation. ¡°Haha¡­ Hahaha¡­¡± Lin Tianming burst into open laughter, as if driven to madness! The Tiangang Body Art turned out to be a Heavenly Grade Technique that allowed for the dual cultivation of body and law and could be practiced up to the Late Stage of Becoming a God ¡ª a top-notch technique with formidable offense and defense, yet it required terrifying amounts of cultivation resources. Seeing the introduction of the technique, Lin Tianming wore a serious expression. Not only was a vast amount of resources needed for cultivation, but the process itself was also extremely arduous, involving the cultivation of both the spiritual power and the cultivators¡¯ own bodies. ... Starting from the vital organs and extending to skin, bone, and soul, the cultivation process was excruciatingly painful, and few cultivators could bear it. But the rewards were directly proportional to the efforts, and this Technique Divine Power was well-rounded in both offense and defense, with few weaknesses. If cultivated to a profound level, it would easily allow one to defeat cultivators and Demonic Beasts of the same stage, making it one of the rare top-tier techniques known. Before his realization, Lin Tianming had surmised that such a technique must be of a High Order, but it was hard to imagine that it was actually a Heavenly Grade Technique, surpassing his expectations by far. In the Cultivation World, although there were quite a few Heavenly Grade Techniques, they were mostly controlled by Millennium Great Clans, with very few escaping into the outside world, appearing only occasionally in Ancient Cultivator¡¯s Cave Dwellings. Every time a Heavenly Grade Technique appeared, it was through a bloody struggle and conflict, and countless cultivators had died in these battles. The fact that Lin Tianming had obtained such a top-tier technique was a testament to his incredible destiny. Destiny, though intangible and invisible, was vitally important in the journey of cultivation and could almost determine a cultivator¡¯s potential. Furthermore, it often allowed those with such destiny to sense danger early, turning ill fortune into good. Every top-notch, super-powerful cultivator was someone blessed with great destiny, and Lin Tianming was clearly among them. The Tiangang Body Art was divided into an upper and lower part; the upper could be cultivated up to the Late Stage of Core Formation and the lower up to the Late Stage of Becoming a God, being one of the top techniques in the Cultivation World. In the ancient times tens of thousands of years ago, there were not a few super-powerful cultivators who practiced this technique. As the Cultivation World¡¯s resources dwindled over time, and the massively resource-dependent Tiangang Body Art became too burdensome for most cultivators to practice, the number of cultivators of this technique decreased, and it gradually vanished from the Cultivation World, not seen for tens of thousands of years. ¡°To cultivate or not to cultivate?¡± Lin Tianming wore a solemn expression, seemingly hesitant. The Lin Family had shallow foundations and struggled to even cultivate a Core Formation Cultivator, far from comparing to those super sects and clans. This technique demanded not only high aptitude, but also a tremendous dependency on resources and the endurance of great pain. Although he considered himself above average in talent and had a tenacious will, he could not count on his family for resources; he would have to rely on himself. Lin Tianming, since childhood, had browsed through the family¡¯s treasured books and longed to explore the civilizations of the vast Nine Provinces Continent, with the ambition to become a super-powerful cultivator revered by all, able to traverse the magnificent expanse of the Nine Provinces. To achieve these dreams was incredibly difficult, and cultivation was absolutely critical. The vastness of the Nine Provinces was unimaginable; even a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator would find it difficult to cross a single province, and to travel throughout the Nine Provinces, one needed at least a Nascent Soul Stage cultivation. The thought of journeying across the Nine Provinces invigorated him, filling him with a boiling passion and a sense of soaring ambition. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cultivators are meant to defy fate, to contend with the heavens and battle with the earth. If one cannot become a strong protector, then what is the point of cultivation? Better to settle down early, marry, and enjoy life! Returning to reality, his current practice of the Fire Origin Decision could only take him up to the Late Stage of Core Formation; to give up such a defiance of the heavens would truly be a pity. ¡°To cultivate or not to cultivate?¡± ¡°Cultivate¡­ As a man of spirit, I shall achieve greatness or die trying.¡± Lin Tianming wore a determined expression, as there was no better choice at the moment, neglecting to cultivate the Heavenly Grade Technique would indeed be a waste. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming continued to comprehend the first half of the cultivation technique, adeptly committing the formula to memory. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The cultivation technique was now committed to memory and could be recited almost without thinking. To cultivate this technique, it was necessary to dissipate all the Spiritual Power that had been cultivated up to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement and start over from the First Level of Qi Refining. Upon re-cultivating, one only needed to operate the cultivation technique to refill the already formed Seven Sea Dantian without encountering any bottlenecks. Having said that, Lin Tianming once again entered a state of seclusion. Several days passed in a moment, and inside the secret chamber, Lin Tianming had successfully dissipated all his Spiritual Power. Lin Tianming was resolute, starting the practice was like an arrow released from its bow, with no path of retreat, he could only press on courageously. After reviewing the formula of the Tiangang Body Art, he began to breathe in and out, taking out a Lingshen Pill from his storage bag and swallowing it. The pill quickly transformed into streams of Spiritual Power that filled the Seven Sea Dantian. As he cultivated his Spiritual Power, the tingling in his body intensified. This pain was already intense at the Qi Refinement stage, bearable only through his own willpower. Without elixirs to assist at the Core Formation stage, one would likely die from the agony. The Lingshen Pills might not be enough to cultivate his physical body. Fortunately, when exploring the Ancient Cultivator¡¯s Cave Dwellings, he had killed a Spirit-Connecting Python, whose flesh and blood could be used in conjunction with cultivating his own body. He took out a jade bottle containing a full bottle of Spirit-Connecting Python¡¯s blood, and drank the python blood in large gulps straight from the bottle. The scorching hot blood of the Spirit-Connecting Python slowly entered his body, quickly refining it. A special type of Spiritual Power slowly strengthened Lin Tianming¡¯s internal organs. The effects of this blood were quite significant, though not plentiful. Combined with the Lingshen Pills, it was just enough to keep up with his Spiritual Power cultivation. By the time his cultivation ended, the body of the Spirit-Connecting Python would also come in handy. To cultivate faster, he would probably need to frequent the periphery of the Demon Race territory, where else could he find demonic beasts or resources for his use? With each passing day, after refining ten Lingshen Pills, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation soared! Qi Refining Second Level¡­ Qi Refining Third Level¡­ Qi Refining Seventh Level¡­ Lin Tianming¡¯s internal organs gradually transformed, showing faint traces of golden yellow. With time, it was highly possible that they would become entirely golden. Half a month later, Lin Tianming successfully re-cultivated his cultivation base. He had plenty of elixirs and Spirit-Connecting Python blood to assist him. Combined with his not-so-high original cultivation, it would have been difficult to re-cultivate in such a short time otherwise. After redoing his cultivation, his Spiritual Power was vast and mighty, far stronger than before. His vitality surged throughout his body, and his Spiritual Power cultivation and recovery were a bit faster. Without using any Spiritual Power, his punch weighed a thousand pounds; if it struck a Middle Stage First Order monster beast, it would likely be seriously injured, if not dead. If he cultivated to an even higher level, how terrifying that would be. Achieving physical strength comparable to that of demonic beasts was quite possible, and even surpassing them was not an improbable hope. Feeling the surging power within him, Lin Tianming was very excited, his desire for strength growing even more intense. As the year¡¯s deadline approached, with less than a month remaining, he had redone his cultivation technique, but the task remained daunting; he still had to cultivate the associated mystical techniques. When leaving Green Bamboo Mountain, he had a large number of High-Quality First Order talismans for self-preservation. Now, without means to confront enemies, encountering danger would be as precarious as a lamb awaiting slaughter. He needed to quickly complete the cultivation of the Mystical Techniques. Lin Tianming took out the cultivation technique, sat quietly to the side, and slowly began to comprehend the Mystical Techniques. Soon, he was deep in arduous cultivation. Chapter 26 - 26 - 25: Earth Fiend Sword Formation (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 26 ¨C 25: Earth Fiend Sword Formation (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 26: Chapter 25: Earth Fiend Sword Formation (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the floor. He had been comprehending the first mystical technique attached to the Tiangang Body Art for several days without moving a step. At this moment, Lin Tianmaking¡¯s expression was calm as he thoroughly studied the secret technique, with his mind envisioning a terrifyingly powerful Sword Array! With each major realm achieved in the Tiangang Body Art, one could unlock a Divine Skill, and what Lin Tianming was comprehending now was the very first one. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation!¡± The Earth Fiend Sword Formation was created based on the arrangement of the Earth Fiend Seventy-six Stars. When fully activated, its power was earth-shattering, and Lin Tianming admired the ingenious thoughts of its creator to the extreme after seeing it. ... Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°The people of ancient times were truly remarkable, to have created such against-the-heaven cultivation techniques. They were indeed worthy of the golden age of cultivation!¡± When the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was deployed, it could mobilize seventy-two Spirit Swords to trap the enemy within, capable of confining or shredding them. The higher the level of the Spirit Swords, the stronger the attack power and the speed was incredibly fast. The attack was extremely powerful but it was also a test for the cultivator¡¯s own Spiritual Power, Divine Sense, and physique. In varying levels of cultivation, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation could mobilize a different number of Spirit Swords. In the Qi Refinement Realm, one could simultaneously wield a maximum of thirty-six First Order Spirit Swords¡ªthe magnitude of that attacking power was unimaginable! In the Cultivation World, Sword Cultivators have always been among the top in terms of attack power, and their Sword Array Divine Skills are even more formidable. After several days, having practiced the formation in his mind over a hundred times, Lin Tianming carefully grasped the layout, sequence, and key points of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. He basically felt ready to attempt using it. With more practice and fine-tuning, he would achieve instant activation, increasing both the power and precision of the Sword Formation. Although he had successfully cultivated the secret technique, Lin Tianming currently only had three First Order Medium Grade Spirit Swords, and the number was a bit short. Even though he had just entered the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement and couldn¡¯t possibly deploy all thirty-six Spirit Swords at once, he deduced that he could still mobilize about a dozen or more. Since it was currently difficult to gather enough Spirit Swords, he could only try forming a simple Sword Array with three swords. The power should not be less than that of the Divine Ability Fire Yuan Slash included in his previous cultivation technique! He took out three Spirit Swords from his storage bag, and they levitated neatly in front of Lin Tianming. These three Spirit Swords were spoils from the time he killed the man in red. Back then, without any Sword Formation techniques, he could only refine one Spirit Sword for traveling and fighting. Now, he needed to refine the remaining two Spirit Swords to form a Sword Array for defense. In the event of a sudden emergency, he would not be thrown into disarray and lose his life. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two days later, Lin Tianming successfully refined the two Spirit Swords. He could now try deploying a small Sword Array to see just how powerful it really was, something he was looking forward to. The mystical techniques that came with a Heavenly Grade Technique would certainly not be underestimated, and it would definitely be more powerful than the Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique used by the man surnamed Jin. As for the exact power it held, only a trial would tell. With less than half a month left until the one-year deadline, time was pressing, and Lin Tianming decided to leave the seclusion. There was no open land within the city, and a simple gesture from a cultivator could unleash a power capable of shaking the heavens and earth. Therefore, the city was not suitable for practicing such mystical techniques, and Lin Tianming planned to find an open space outside Qingfeng Town to start trying. Before long, Lin Tianming appeared on the pavilion¡¯s outer square, where the Purple Gold Eagle lay snoozing heavily on the ground. Lin Tianming walked slowly towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The beast sensed its master¡¯s presence before Lin Tianming got close, immediately getting up and trotted over, fawning and seeking approval. At first, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t notice but upon closer inspection, he found that Purple Gold Eagle had successfully advanced to the First Order Late Stage, and he was overjoyed. It had been over three months since they left the Purple Cloud Mountain Range. The Eagle was already in the First Order Middle Stage and not far from the Late Stage. Although the Lingshen Pills fed to the Purple Gold Eagle were not very effective, the quantity it consumed was not small, especially when considering that he, himself, only took two or three Lingshen Pills for cultivation each month. Lin Tianming spared no expense on the growth of the Purple Gold Eagle; had his fortune not increased significantly, he truly wouldn¡¯t have been able to afford its upkeep! Both master and beast had made breakthroughs, and with his cultivation technique nearly complete, Lin Tianming felt like he was blessed with triple happiness and couldn¡¯t contain his excitement! With a command, he jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, and they turned into a streak of light, rushing out of the city. Man and beast freely soared outside Qingfeng Town. Half a quarter of an hour later, he descended into a secluded small valley. Lin Tianming sat at the top of a hill while the Purple Gold Eagle soared nearby, watching out and also chasing some wild animals for fun. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Lin Tianming then summoned three Qingfeng Swords and began the cultivation technique for a full Grand Circulation. Suddenly, Lin Tianming shouted loudly. ¡°Go¡­¡± In the span of three breaths, the three Qingfeng Swords instantly appeared above a huge rock a hundred yards away, spinning ceaselessly and stirring up whirlwinds that tangled the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees into disarray, with only the massive rock remaining unshaken due to its immense weight. At this moment, the three Spirit Swords spun rapidly, using their Sword Qi to form a barrel-like trapping array that ensnared the giant rock completely. Seeing the effect of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s trapping array, Lin Tianming was pleasantly surprised; he estimated that an average cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement would have a hard time breaking out without some heaven-defying method. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help clicking his tongue. If he were to fully summon all thirty-six Spirit Swords to form the sword array, even a cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement would struggle to break out. After testing the trapping power, Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied with the might, which had far exceeded his expectations! ¡°Grind and kill!¡± Lin Tianming made another hand gesture, muttering words under his breath! ¡°Kill!¡± The Spirit Swords forming the sword array swiftly intercrossed, stabbing toward the center! In an instant, the hundred-yard rock appeared as fragile as tofu, and in just a few breaths, it crumbled into pieces. Lin Tianming was also shocked by such power! Witnessing the scene, he couldn¡¯t help but think that if he were trapped inside without a substantial number of Defense Talismans and relied only on offensive methods, he would likely face a nine out of ten chance of death. After finishing his practice, Lin Tianming thought to himself. From what he could see, whether it was the trapping or the killing formation, the power truly lived up to a top-level Heavenly Grade Technique, and indeed made one shudder with fear. After calibrating his fluctuating emotions, Lin Tianming did not let arrogance get the better of him. The Nine Provinces Continent had a million-year legacy with no shortage of exceptional beings and top-level techniques. If he had such means, it was inevitable that other cultivators would as well. Therefore, when combating enemies, one must never be complacent; a single mistake could mean no chance of survival. Having experienced the effects of the trapping and killing formations, he realized that since this was his first time deploying the mystical technique, he hadn¡¯t yet fully grasped the essence, making the spellcasting process too long. A span of three breaths was far too long, as an enemy would not stand still waiting to die. After all, a cultivator¡¯s movements were agile, and their speed was extraordinary; they would likely have vanished long before. The higher the level of the secret technique, the more difficult the cultivation, and to use it to its fullest potential, hundreds of practice sessions would be required. Otherwise, a technique initially grasped might not be as effective as a basic Five Elements Cultivation Technique perfected to its utmost. Since he had already sufficiently mastered the basic principles and with more than ten days left before his return to Green Bamboo Mountain, he could take this opportunity to practice further, ensuring an additional layer of safety on his journey home. Under the scorching sun, Lin Tianming delved into his arduous practice once again. Every time his Spiritual Power was reduced to less than half, he would take a Lingshen Pill to recover to an ample state and then resume his practice. ¡­ Chapter 27 - 27 - 26 Returning Home (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Chapter 27 ¨C 26 Returning Home (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Chapter 27: Chapter 26 Returning Home (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 The blazing sun shone mercilessly, roasting the earth without a hint of compassion. In the valley, a young man in green robes was forming hand seals and casting spells, as a sword array made up of spirit swords wreaked havoc, leaving no corner untouched. The entire valley was now riddled with gaping wounds; swathes of forests and vegetation had fallen in great patches, and hundreds of boulders had been shattered to gravel. The valley had endured great devastation, lying in disarray. Fortunately, due to the spiritual energy of this world, it possesses astonishing resilience and creativity. The current sorry state of the valley would, in less than half a year, be once again covered by vegetation ¨C one cannot help but marvel at the sheer wonder of nature. Lin Tianming had been cultivating the sword array here for nearly half a month, and time had flown by swiftly, marking almost a year since he left the Lin Family¡¯s residence at Green Bamboo Mountain. ... In the span of a year, Lin Tianming had grown considerably, not just in terms of cultivation but also in his spiritual refinement. Before this, Lin Tianming had never been away from the family¡¯s residence for such a long time, away from his family¡¯s watchful eyes. Now, Lin Tianming was cultivating alone, and he bore the safety of over a hundred thousand mortals on his shoulders. From a fledgling, he had grown to fly on his own; though he didn¡¯t fly high or far, he had taken his first step, which was no easy feat. With time pressing, Lin Tianming had made significant progress with his day and night practices over the past half month. From taking three breaths to form a complete sword array initially, to now being able to cast it smoothly within half a breath, and greatly enhancing its attacking power, his improvement was undeniable. Apart from Lin Tianming¡¯s diligent effort, the Purple Gold Eagle also played a huge role. The Purple Gold Eagle, with more than a dozen wounds on its body, hung its head dejectedly, its spirit subdued, looking thoroughly tormented. For over ten days, the Purple Gold Eagle had been used by Lin Tianming as a sparring partner. In the beginning, relying on its speed, the eagle would fly unopposed over his head, occasionally even taunting him. But in the last few days, with Lin Tianming giving his all, the eagle had found it increasingly difficult to escape. Each time it was trapped, it was left disheveled and pitiful after being beaten. Seeing the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s downtrodden appearance, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily, feeling extremely refreshed. He took a piece of the Spirit-Connecting Python¡¯s body from his storage bag and threw it to the eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t hesitate, biting into it immediately. Sustaining injuries was somewhat compensated, and it quickly forgot its sense of loss. Through rigorous practice, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had reached the Minor Achievement Realm. This gave Lin Tianming an added layer of protection in battles, ensuring he was not completely defenseless. Lin Tianming, satisfied with the fruits of his grueling cultivation, decided to take a break from practicing and prepare for his return to Green Bamboo Mountain. The man and the bird, after a brief rest, soared into the sky, circling Qingfeng Town to survey the surroundings. A return journey home would also take close to a month, and it was necessary to inspect the area. As dusk approached, Lin Tianming stood with his hands behind his back in the plaza before the grand hall. After surveying the surroundings of Qingfeng Town and clearing some wild beasts, he and the creature returned to Qingfeng Town. Lin Shan, responsible for awaiting tasks, stood by respectfully. Lin Tianming instructed, ¡°The time for my one-year familial visit has arrived. I will depart tomorrow to return to Green Bamboo Mountain. The journey will take at least half a month, and at most one month. I have also cleared all of the mortal beasts within a hundred li from the town, so there should be no danger.¡± Lin Shan, overjoyed, also sincerely thanked Lin Tianming on behalf of the people of Qingfeng Town for his protection, ensuring that the town had enjoyed a peaceful year with few mortal casualties. Before Lin Tianming took charge of Qingfeng Town, perhaps the clan members assigned to this task were not as responsible, or maybe they did not have as high a cultivation level as him. Thus, every year more than a few mortals would die at the maws of beasts, and there had even been instances where hundreds of mortals perished. After giving instructions for his departure, Lin Tianming left, leaving Lin Shan standing by the side. Lin Tianming entered the loft¡¯s grand hall, while the Purple Gold Eagle perched on top of the loft, entering a brief slumber. Inside the loft¡¯s room, Lin Tianming lay on the stone bed, finally able to relax his tense nerves. After an indeterminate amount of time, the faint sound of breathing could be heard as Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep. For half a month, he had been cultivating his Technique Divine Power day and night, only resting normally for three nights. With the immense consumption of divine sense and spiritual power, he was already extremely weary. Now he could finally sleep peacefully. Without realizing, he slipped into a dreamland. The next morning, a slight breeze blew through the window sill into the room. Lin Tianming slowly opened his eyes and stretched luxuriously, feeling refreshed after a night of deep sleep, having reached an optimal state of vitality and spirit. During the tranquil and serene early morning. While most of the mortal people were still in deep slumber, Lin Tianming leaped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle and headed west, silently disappearing into the horizon. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming was thrilled and kept urging the eagle to fly faster. A year of solitude had made him miss his clan members deeply. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He missed his grandfather¡¯s nagging, his father¡¯s stern teachings, his mother¡¯s warmth and concern, and his sister¡¯s chattering while clinging to his arm. Perhaps sensing its master¡¯s mood, the Purple Gold Eagle no longer played tricks and flew with full force, faster than it had ever flown before. A man and a beast turned into a speck in the sky, swiftly flying across and vanishing in the blink of an eye. Having set out in the early morning and after spending an entire day traveling at full speed, with only two brief pauses, He finally arrived at the outskirts of Green Bamboo Mountain, a few tens of miles away, just before sunset. At this time, the red sun was about to level with the horizon, and the afterglow of the sunset spread over the land, creating a peaceful scene. This was the exact time when the Lin Family¡¯s Enforcement Hall patrol team was changing shifts. More than ten Lin Family Cultivators gathered at the mountain gate, among them a youth, who was Lin Tianfeng, the eldest of the Tian generation. Lin Tianfeng was twenty-five years old this year, with Three Spiritual Roots and at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. Previously, he had always been the highest-ranking cultivator of the Lin Family¡¯s Tian generation. Lin Tianfeng, gifted and diligent in his cultivation, delighted in practicing combat and traveling, hence he served as an Executive Officer in the Enforcement Hall. He was responsible for patrols at this time. Among the many cultivators, a red-robed woman stood out, her clear eyes full of spiritual energy, waist-length hair, and porcelain-like skin ¨C it was Lin Tianming¡¯s sister, Lin Tianyue. Not having seen her for a year, the thirteen-year-old Lin Tianyue had changed quite a bit. Not only had her cultivation reached the Third Level of Qi Refining, but her appearance had also blossomed from a young girl into a graceful figure, destined to be a beauty that could cause the downfall of nations. Lin Tianyue wore an expression of worry at the moment. Her brother¡¯s year-long stationing period was over, and by all rights, he should have returned yesterday. She waited here but did not see him return. Now it was getting dark, and he still hadn¡¯t come back. She feared he might have encountered some danger. Seeing Lin Tianyue looking so worried, Lin Tianfeng also spoke up to comfort her, ¡°Ninth sister, when the sixth brother left, he was already at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining with significant divine skills. With his talent, there¡¯s a great hope he¡¯ll break through to the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. He might have been delayed by something. You go back first, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m responsible for the patrol. As soon as he returns, I¡¯ll immediately send you a message.¡± ¡°Thank you, big brother. It¡¯s not very late yet. I¡¯ll wait a little longer for brother,¡± she replied. Before Lin Tianyue¡¯s words had finished, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face revealed a look of happy surprise, obviously, his divine sense had already detected Lin Tianming¡¯s presence, quickly approaching Green Bamboo Mountain. The rest of the people, noticing the change in Lin Tianfeng, could roughly guess what was happening but were not sure. Only a little more than ten breaths had passed. In the distance, against the red glow of the sunset, a dark silhouette flew towards the clan¡¯s land, unbelievably fast. As time went by, the silhouette that was as small as a sesame seed rapidly grew into a sizable flying creature more than ten zhang in size. A crowd of clan members stared in amazement at the fierce-looking demonic beast, disbelief written all over their faces. The one who had arrived was Lin Tianming, standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking like an immortal with a tranquil demeanor, though his heart was already filled with excitement. After a year of absence, and traveling with full effort from dawn until dusk, he finally returned at this moment to his long-awaited family residence. Chapter 28 - 28 - 27 Grandpa’s Shock (Please Favorite/Recommend) _1 Chapter 28 ¨C 27 Grandpa¡¯s Shock (Please Favorite/Recommend) _1 Chapter 28: Chapter 27 Grandpa¡¯s Shock (Please Favorite/Recommend) _1 Under the stunned gazes of everyone, a person and a beast landed outside the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming took out his Identity Token, cast a spell, and a streak of blue light vanished into the colorless light curtain of the Five Elements. A moment later, the light curtain revealed an entrance over thirty feet wide, and the interior scenery of Green Bamboo Mountain came into view as the person and beast stepped inside in unison. As soon as his foot touched the ground, Lin Tianming found himself enveloped in a fiery embrace as a red figure ran up and clung to him, gripping so tightly he nearly couldn¡¯t breathe. It was his younger sister, Lin Tianyue. Feeling his sister¡¯s longing, Lin Tianming wrapped one arm around her waist and comforted her by stroking her hair with his other hand. After a few breaths, the girl calmed down, and Lin Tianming, holding his sister¡¯s hand, approached Lin Tianfeng and the others to give a fist salute. ... ¡®Tianming pays respect to our fellow clansmen.¡¯ After each of them returned the salute with a fist-clenched gesture, Lin Tianfeng began to speak. ¡®Younger brother, Tianyue here has been waiting for your return every day, not moving an inch. You must both be weary. We have patrolling duties and cannot stay for long. You¡¯ve had a tiring journey, so head back and rest early. I¡¯ll be sure to visit when I have some free time.¡¯ ¡®Please proceed as you like, elder brother. I will invite you all to visit on another day.¡¯ After exchanging salutes, they parted ways. Lin Tianming, holding Lin Tianyue¡¯s hand, with the Purple Gold Eagle following behind them, walked along a cobblestone path towards the midsection of Green Bamboo Peak. Gazing at their familiar family grounds, Lin Tianming felt extremely happy at the moment. His sister chatted nonstop all the way, evidently yearning for the outside world. Seeing the look in his sister¡¯s eyes, identical to his own back then, full of longing for the world beyond, he reflected on how one truly starts to miss the warmth of family and the memories of home life only after being away for some time. In the Cultivation World where strength reigns supreme, murders for treasure and battles with Demonic Beasts are commonplace, countless people meet untimely deaths each day, and numerous family Sects are decimated. All these struggles stem from the pursuit of cultivation resources and the desire to strengthen one¡¯s own power. In this perilous Cultivation World, he bore the expectations of revitalizing and protecting his family, with every family member striving toward this daunting goal. The path of cultivation can be bleak. While kinship may sometimes become a bond that ties, it is also the beacon that illuminates one¡¯s way. Some cultivate in search of immortality, but not Lin Tianming¡ªhe cultivates to protect. In this moment, a subtle change took place within Lin Tianming¡¯s heart. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Walking toward the mountain midsection, they passed many fellow clansmen Cultivators. Lin Tianming greeted each one, and under the envious eyes of many clansmen, the siblings finally returned to their own small courtyard. After receiving Lin Tianyue¡¯s message, Grandfather and parents all set aside their work, released a quiet sigh of relief, and gathered outside the courtyard, eagerly awaiting Lin Tianming and his sister, their joy evident beyond words. Lin Tianming ran over and bowed respectfully to his grandfather and parents. ¡®Tianming pays his respects to Grandfather, Father, and Mother.¡¯ Grandfather Lin Shigong, grinning ear to ear and squinting, grabbed Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue by the hand and headed into the courtyard, unconcerned about his son and daughter-in-law¡¯s reactions. The parents hurried to follow, and the family, full of harmonious joy, sat around a stone table in the courtyard to chat leisurely. Inside the courtyard, Lin Shigong said with a smile, ¡®You lad, your cultivation has actually broken through to the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. I thought reaching the Sixth Level would be good enough, but you didn¡¯t let me down. It seems you have not been idle this past year. That¡¯s good. So, the success rate and number of pills produced when refining First Order Inferior elixirs must be quite high, right?¡¯ ¡®Grandfather, your grandson has successfully refined the Lingshen Pill, maintaining a success rate of forty percent and producing at least three pills each time, generally around four.¡¯ ¡®What!¡¯ A First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pill can guarantee a pill formation rate of forty percent, with at least three pills produced,¡¯ Lin Shigong was both shocked and overjoyed. In just one year, such great progress had been made, turning into a qualified First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, which really took people by surprise. It seemed that his grandson¡¯s alchemy talent was even higher than imagined. The parents and sister were also overjoyed, and began to ask Lin Tianming about his experiences over the past year. In the first half of the year guarding Qingfeng Town, Lin Tianming focused on cultivation and alchemy, consuming a lot of Spiritual Medicine Materials, which logically led to his successful advancement to a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Had it not been for exploring the Cave Mansion Ruins in the latter half of the year, suffering injuries several times, and spending time cultivating Divine Skills without access to Spiritual Medicine Materials, he would not have temporarily set aside the practice of alchemy. Given enough Spiritual Medicine Materials, it would not have been impossible for him to produce First Order Superior Grade elixirs. This time returning home to visit, aside from submitting the Mysterious Grade Technique and the inheritance of a Third Order Alchemist, he also needed to replenish his supply of Spiritual Medicine Materials fully. With substantial wealth, he could exchange for as many alchemy materials as possible to take back to Qingfeng Town to quickly enhance his alchemy skills. Suddenly, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned solemn, and with a series of hand gestures, he set up a Prohibition Barrier to envelop everyone, preventing others from prying into their actions and conversations. Upon witnessing this, grandpa and the others knew that Lin Tianming had some very important matter to discuss and waited for him to speak. Today, Tianming took out from his storage bag the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder (Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique) and True Person Yuhua¡¯s Alchemy Experience that he had obtained, and placed them on the stone table. His father, quick on the uptake, grabbed the Cultivation Technique Jade Cylinder, while grandpa got his hands on True Person Yuhua¡¯s Alchemy Experience, deploying his Divine Sense to check it out. In three breaths¡¯ time, the faces of Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong flushed with excitement. Grandpa¡¯s wrinkled face was as red as a monkey¡¯s butt, his excitement evident, not at all like a man nearing a hundred years old. Grandfather and father gradually regained their composure and exchanged the jade cylinders to explore them. Lin Tianming then took out more than ten Jade Boxes and placed them in front of them. Grandpa quickly opened a Jade Box! ¡°Hidden Spirit Grass¡± Grandpa Lin Shigong went completely wild with excitement, laughing madly, ¡°Heaven blesses the Lin Family, heaven blesses the Lin Family! These more than ten Hidden Spirit Grasses, if used well, are worth at least three Foundation Establishment Pills¡± Upon hearing this, father remembered that True Person Yuhua¡¯s Alchemy Experience mentioned a formula for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, and his breathing became rapid¡ªwith good reason, as Hidden Spirit Grass was tied to one¡¯s chances of reaching Foundation Establishment Stage! Mother and sister watched the jubilation of the three family members with complete bewilderment. After reviewing the three items, grandfather and father calmed down and began to inquire about the origins of these items, showing some concern. Lin Tianming recounted the incident where he was forced to kill the man in the red robe and included the Hidden Spirit Grass among the items obtained from him. Upon hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded. Mother had already cried herself into a mess. She wasn¡¯t concerned with techniques or elixirs; she just wanted her son to be safe and sound. He spoke this way after careful consideration, for Lin Tianming did not plan to submit the Heavenly Grade Technique. After all, wealth should not be flaunted, and with the many gossips, no one could guarantee what thoughts the family might have. The matter of the Heavenly Grade Technique was too important; the fewer people knew, the better, especially now when it couldn¡¯t be disclosed, or it might bring disaster upon the family. Everyone understood the logic that though a man may be blameless, possessing a treasured jade invites crime. At this moment, grandpa spoke with a grave expression, ¡°This matter is of great importance. Tianming, you rest for a while. I need to immediately send a message to the Clan Leader and various Hall Masters. We will convene a meeting in the Elders¡¯ Council in half an hour.¡± Having said that, Lin Shigong performed a hand gesture, and more than a dozen fire-red Spiritual Birds formed from gathered spiritual energy flew off in all directions and quickly disappeared from sight. Chapter 29 - 29 - 28 Family Meeting (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Chapter 29 ¨C 28 Family Meeting (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Atop the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, on the square in front of a pavilion, a man in white robes and another in gray robes walked towards each other. These were the only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family. The man in white was named Lin Shikang, with cultivation at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, aged one hundred and ten, and the third in seniority among his generation¡ªhe was the oldest and highest in rank within the Lin Family. The man in gray was Lin Shilu, ranked fifteenth in his generation, with cultivation at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, aged eighty-three, and he was also the only Second Order Artifact Refiner in the Lin Family. ¡¯Elder brother, has Ninth Brother suddenly summoned us because something significant has occurred?¡¯ Lin Shilu asked in confusion. Lin Shikang had the highest cultivation level in the Lin Family, and Lin Shilu hoped to gather some information from him. Lin Shikang also looked puzzled as he spoke, ¡¯Shi Gong only sent a message for us to gather at the Elders¡¯ Council. He was secretive and didn¡¯t say much, so it must not be anything disastrous. If it were, he wouldn¡¯t have mentioned nothing at all. Don¡¯t worry. We have both been in secluded cultivation these past few years. It¡¯s an excellent opportunity for us to go and see.¡¯ ... ¡¯Haha, Elder brother has a point. I have been refining artifacts every day for the past two years¡ªit¡¯s time for a rest.¡¯ With that said, the two flew together towards the waist of the main peak. At the same time, at several important pavilions on the mountainside of Green Bamboo Mountain, one after another person flew out, all with puzzled expressions, heading in the same direction. In a pavilion located in the midst of Green Bamboo Peak¡¯s waist, a large elliptical round table more than ten meters wide stood in the center of the hall, surrounded by more than twenty bluestone seats. At this time, four elders were already seated. One of the elders, who was the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master Lin Shixin, spoke up, ¡¯What is Ninth Brother up to? He hasn¡¯t made such a fuss in over ten years. What¡¯s so serious?¡¯ Another elder in a green robe said; ¡¯Tian Ming took on the guard duty at Qingfeng Town and has come back to visit relatives. He even brought back a Purple Gold Eagle. It couldn¡¯t be because of this trivial matter, could it?¡¯ The speaker was the Clan Leader of the Lin Family, Lin Shihua, ranked twelfth among his generation at eighty-eight years old, at the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refinement, and had been the family head for fifteen years. ¡¯It¡¯s highly unlikely. The Purple Gold Eagle brought by Tian Ming may be exceptional and talented, but it¡¯s far from enough to alarm all of us. Let us not speculate further and wait; we¡¯ll know everything shortly.¡¯ The other elders agreed, ¡¯Indeed, let¡¯s wait. Perhaps Elder brothers will also join us.¡¯ After half an hour had passed, several more people arrived. At this point, the hall had gathered more than a dozen family members, including the older generation of Shi clan members, as well as several who were in their prime from the Xing line. The hall now concentrated most of the Lin Family¡¯s top combat power apart from the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Outside the great hall, Lin Tianming followed behind his grandfather and father, the three of them proceeding together towards the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly Hall. Normally, given Lin Tianming¡¯s rank and strength, he would not qualify to attend the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly, but his grandfather wanted him to speak directly to the elders and advocate for himself, as it was overall improper for the older generation to embarrass a junior. Suddenly, two streaks of azure light appeared, and two middle-aged cultivators appeared before the grandfather and grandson. Lin Tianming was taken aback. They had appeared before him without a sound, and he hadn¡¯t noticed them at all. They must undoubtedly be Foundation Establishment Cultivators, as no one at the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement could achieve such a feat otherwise. Indeed, his father saluted with a fist and bow; ¡¯Nephew Xing Rong pays his respects to Third Uncle and Fifteenth Uncle.¡¯ Lin Tianming also saluted with a fist; ¡¯Great-Grandson Tian Ming pays his respects to Third Grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather.¡¯ Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction and encouraged Lin Tianming: ¡¯At seventeen, you¡¯ve reached the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation and are a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. You truly haven¡¯t let us old fellows down. You must continue to work hard; the future of our family is depending on you to take up the burden.¡¯ ¡¯Thank you, Third Grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather. I will surely work hard to strive for an early Core Formation and restore our family¡¯s glory.¡¯ The grandfathers nodded contentedly and then entered the grand hall together, with Lin Tianming following behind. After the five of them entered the grand hall, all the elders inside stood up, greeted each other, and sat down one by one. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu sat at the highest seats, with Clan Leader Lin Shihua, Grandfather Lin Shigong, and Lin Shiji, who was the Enforcement Hall Master and one of the three Complete Qi Refining clan members, sitting in order. Lin Shiji was one hundred and five years old this year and ranked fifth among the Shi generation. Sitting behind were several clan members at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, including Head of the Skill Transmission Hall Lin Shigang, Head of the Scripture Pavilion Lin Shihe, and Hall of Merit¡¯s Master Lin Shixin. The eldest, Lin Shikang, ranked third, while the youngest, Lin Shilu, ranked fifteenth; only these eight members of the Lin Family¡¯s Shi generation were alive. The heads of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, and Talisman Crafting Hall were held by members of the Xing generation. Though the Formation Hall existed in name, it lacked a qualified Array Master and remained vacant for the time being. Several important members of the Xing generation were present as well, such as Lin Tianming¡¯s father, Lin Xingrong, who managed the family¡¯s businesses in Luoyun Market and was responsible for the security and transactions of all shops and goods there, wielding power not the slightest inferior to any of the hall masters present. There were also a few specialized talents within the grand hall, ensuring that the people gathered here were truly the elite of the Lin Family. After everyone had taken their seats, Lin Tianming paid his respects to all the elders and then stood behind his grandfather, remaining silent. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Clan Leader Lin Shihua began to speak: ¡¯Ninth Brother, you¡¯ve called us all here, even startling Third Brother and Fifteen. Everyone is quite busy; if there is something important, please speak quickly and don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡¯ Lin Shigong stood up and said: ¡¯What I¡¯m about to share today is indeed joyous news. Tianming has acquired a Mysterious Grade Technique, an Alchemy Insights Jade Tube from a Third Order Alchemist, and over a dozen crucial ingredients needed for the Minor Foundation Building Pills.¡¯ Ssssss¡­ All the family members in the grand hall, except for the knowledgeable grandfathers and father, took in a sharp breath, their faces flushing with excitement. Each of the three items was worth a fortune. ¡¯Quick, quick, let¡¯s see them!¡¯ Caught up in the excitement, Clan Leader Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but urge. Lin Tianming stepped forward, placed the technique and the Alchemy Experience, as well as fifteen jade boxes on the stone table, and then stepped back. Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu, and Lin Shihua each picked up one of the items to examine, while several elders began to inspect the jade boxes containing Hidden Spirit Grass. ¡¯Truly, the heavens bless our Lin Family, the heavens bless our Lin Family.¡¯ Lin Shihua was the first to burst out laughing, his expression filled with frenzy. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All the clan members present couldn¡¯t help but laugh with joy, silently heaving a sigh of relief. The Lin Family had been living rather frugally for the past decade. Fifteen years ago, in order to enable Lin Shilu¡¯s Foundation Establishment, they had exhausted decades of savings. Coupled with intentional difficulties from several forces within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family had faced tough times, only able to bear insults silently. Had it not been for other families¡¯ hesitance to provoke the legacy left by our ancestors, the Lin Family might have already been pushed out of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Now, with this windfall, holding firm for another ten years, if they could successfully raise a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family would no longer need to swallow their pride. Chapter 30 - 30 - 29 Rewards (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 Chapter 30 ¨C 29 Rewards (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 After a quarter of an hour of taking turns to inspect the items, everyone had a clear understanding of the three objects at hand. The excitement and joy gradually subsided, and Clan Leader Lin Shihua asked Lin Tianming about how he came into possession of the items, in case they needed to be prepared for any trouble that might arise. Under the scrutiny of many clan members, Lin Tianming recounted the whole event, deliberately omitting the matter of the Heavenly Grade Technique. Learning that the treasures came from a loose cultivator and that no traces were discovered afterward, everyone unanimously breathed a sigh of relief. Any one of these three items could cause several clans at the Foundation Establishment Stage to fight bloody battles. The family elders were very clear that in these troubled times, it was not easy to make enemies. Now that the facts were clear, it was natural to discuss the disposition of the items. After thoughtful consideration, Lin Tianming took the initiative to speak: ... ¡°All three items will be handed over to the clan in exchange for a portion of merit and spirit stones. As for the creation of Minor Foundation Building Pills, I request three to be given to Lin Tianming without any cost, with the excess managed by the clan.¡± Fifteen batches of Minor Foundation Building Pills could be refined from the fifteen Hidden Spirit Grasses. The main ingredient, Hidden Spirit Grass, was precious, but the other auxiliary medicinal ingredients were manageable. The Lin Family Treasure Vault could gather most, and the few that were missing could be bought at some cost. If the alchemist was competent, with fifteen batches of ingredients and a success rate of thirty percent, they could expect about fifteen pills. Accounting for the alchemist¡¯s remuneration, more than ten pills were a certainty. To request three pills without compensation was by no means an excessive demand considering his contribution. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, many family elders began to ponder and even discuss in small groups. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some clan members argued there were many in the Lin Family at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement and Great Perfection who greatly needed the Minor Foundation Building Pills; three pills were too many. One would be appropriate, with additional compensation in spirit stones or merit. However, a portion of the elders believed Lin Tianming¡¯s request was not excessive at all. He had made significant contributions to the Lin Family, and it would not be right to demand the items from him; they should unconditionally fulfill his request. The great hall immediately buzzed with debate. Those in support of Lin Tianming were mostly elders of the Shi generation, while those who opposed were predominantly Xing Clan members. At that moment, when the main hall was abuzz with arguments, a loud shout thundered through the hall like an explosion, silencing everyone. ¡°Enough! Our family has survived numerous crises over eight hundred years, yet now we bicker shamefully over the fortune a junior has found. How does this look?¡± ¡°If the family is to prosper, we must be as fair as possible; mere exploitation and plundering are no different from banditry and only serve to dishearten our clan members.¡± ¡°Put yourself in Tianming¡¯s position and ask whether you would still be willing to dedicate yourself to the family. We are a family, not a sect. We need young people like Tianming; otherwise, when we pass away, we won¡¯t have the face to meet our ancestors.¡± After a scolding from Lin Shikang, who had the highest cultivation in the Lin Family, the opposing elders all bowed their heads in shame, their faces flushed with embarrassment. With the staunch support of two Foundation Establishment Stage elders, the family elders reached a unanimous decision. Clan Leader Lin Shihua spoke: ¡°Award Tian Ming five thousand merit points or low-grade spirit stones, waive the restriction on performing family missions, award fifty sets of Lingshen Pill alchemical materials, fifty sets of various First Order Superior Grade alchemical spiritual medicines, ten High Quality Talisman papers, and three First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instruments, with the type unrestricted.¡± ¡°Additionally, if Minor Foundation Building Pills are created, regardless of the total number, three will be given to Lin Tianming without any compensation.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied, feeling that the clan had been quite fair. Although the three items would fetch at least a hundred thousand spirit stones in the market, the family¡¯s finances were indeed limited. Besides, the creation of Minor Foundation Building Pills also required substantial resources. Even if the family had the will, it could not easily provide a hundred thousand spirit stones without compromising normal operations. The only option was to offer additional rewards in the form of medicinal materials, means to contend with adversaries, and some special privileges. Finally, Lin Shikang said to Lin Tianming: ¡°Tian Ming, the family truly has its difficulties. These awards are hardly worth mentioning. I hope you don¡¯t take it to heart. When the family¡¯s finances improve in the future, we will make every effort to compensate you.¡± When Lin Tianming heard this, he was also deeply moved! He stood up to express his gratitude, saying: ¡°Tianming is a member of the family, too, running with the blood of the Lin Family. Those ancestors who laid down their lives for the family with selfless devotion, my contribution is nothing compared to theirs, all the elders need not blame themselves.¡± ¡°Look, even a teenager has a stronger sense of duty than many of our clan members,¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s ironic comment made those clan members who had initially opposed him feel even more ashamed and embarrassed. Discussions of the rewards came to an end, and it was now time to talk about the method for refining the Minor Foundation Building Pills. There was not a qualified Second Order Alchemist in the Lin Family, so to refine these pills, they would have to seek the help of an alchemist from outside. Many clan members also started a discussion about this. In the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, Second Order Alchemists were rare, and a few of them were closely related to the Lin Family¡¯s rival clans, making it extremely difficult to ask for their help. Furthermore, although the Minor Foundation Building Pills were not as precious as the Foundation Establishment Pills, they were valuable nonetheless, and the Lin Family dared not let even the slightest rumor leak out with such large quantities at stake. If the opposing forces got wind of it, they might very well kill for treasure, and even if they managed to keep it safe, they would suffer significant losses. After some discussion, the senior family members unanimously decided to take the Spiritual Medicine Materials to Qianchuan Market in the Wei Kingdom and ask Ye Pinghai, an old friend of Lin Shigong, for help in refining them. Ye Pinghai was a Loose Cultivator, at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. In his earlier years during the Qi Refinement period, he was saved by Lin Shigong. The two became close friends, exchanged alchemy techniques, and on several occasions had refined precious elixirs for the Lin Family, making him the best candidate for help. After discussions and arrangements by the senior family members, for the coming month, the family would collect other Spiritual Medicine Materials needed for refining the Minor Foundation Building Pills. In a month, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianming, would set off to Qianchuan Market to look for Ye Pinghai. The reason for taking Lin Tianming was twofold, one for the experience, and two because Lin Tianming was a direct descendant of Lin Shigong. By going there, he could learn alchemy from Ye Pinghai as well as build a good relationship. Having the direct guidance of a Second Order Alchemist would be of great help in improving Lin Tianming¡¯s skills in alchemy. Moreover, with Lin Tianming¡¯s extraordinary abilities and all the Lin Family members at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement busy with family affairs, taking him along would be a significant advantage. The task of guarding Qingfeng Town would be taken over by another family member. The matter of the treasures came to a close, the clan members left the great hall one after another, and Lin Tianming along with his grandparents, also stood up to leave. Back in his courtyard, Lin Tianming took out a large piece of Spirit-Connecting Python meat and handed it to Ren Yuxuan to prepare a feast for the evening, so the family could joyfully share a reunion dinner. After the meal, Lin Tianming took out twenty Lingshen Pills and gave fifteen to his mother and five to his sister. His sister happily accepted the Lingshen Pills and ran off to cultivate. In the year that Lin Tianming was away, their mother had given her two Lingshen Pills to aid in her cultivation, which helped her successfully break through to the Third Level of Qi Refinement. Seeing so many Lingshen Pills, his mother became both touched and happy, seeing her son so accomplished, far surpassing her own achievements, with a future that seemed boundless, she couldn¡¯t help but feel proud. ¡¯Mother, you¡¯re getting on in years, and the chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage are slim; you should keep these pills for yourself,¡¯ ¡¯Mother, I¡¯m now a qualified First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. These pills were all refined by myself, and at least for now, I have no shortage of elixirs for cultivation. You always saved all the Spirit Stones and elixirs for Tian Yue and me; now, it¡¯s time for your son to repay you.¡¯ Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong also joined in, trying to persuade her: ¡¯Yuxuan, I¡¯m afraid this boy is now several times wealthier than I am, aside from Third Brother and Shi Lu, no one in the family is richer than him.¡¯ ¡¯Yes, Yuxuan, this boy is not the same as before. Just take them and catch up on the cultivation you¡¯ve missed out on over the years.¡¯ Moved to near tears by everyone¡¯s earnest urging, Ren Yuxuan accepted the pills and stored them in her bag. As it was getting very late, after some words of advice from his grandfather and father, Lin Tianming returned to his own room. Exhausted, he lay down on the bed he had slept in for over ten years and fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 31 - 31 - 30 Redeeming Rewards (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 Chapter 31 ¨C 30 Redeeming Rewards (Please Bookmark and Recommend)_1 The next morning, a slightly glaring ray of sunlight shone through the small window onto Lin Tianming¡¯s handsome face. Opening his eyes tinged with a hint of spirituality, Lin Tianming got up, tidied up his room, and prepared to head out. The family¡¯s rewards had been determined, and today he was to go to the Hall of Merit to claim them. In addition to his own rewards, he also needed to exchange some materials that he didn¡¯t need for merit points and purchase some essentials. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming stepped out the door, summoned the Qingfeng Sword, hopped onto it, and flew toward the mid-mountain pavilion. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the Family Merits Hall, the place buzzed with voices as many family cultivators presented spiritual medicines or demonic beast inner pills and bodies to the executive officers at the main hall. Among the plethora of spiritual objects, most were common first-order items. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, everyone stopped what they were doing and greeted him. As the one with the highest talent since the patriarch of the Lin Family, Lin Tianming was naturally the focus of attention for all the clan members. ... In the face of the clan members¡¯ goodwill, Lin Tianming greeted them with a fist and palm salute, showing no difference in treatment despite their lower cultivation levels. With the demeanor of a gentleman and the respect of a junior, he won a round of encouraging cheers and applause. Lin Shixin was very satisfied with this. The child¡¯s cultivation strength and temperament were top-tier, making him the future hope of the family. With some luck, provided he didn¡¯t die young, there was a great hope of leading the family back into the ranks of Core Formation Stage clans. After greeting the clan members in the hall, Lin Tianming now approached Lin Shixin and bowed respectfully, saying: ¡°Tianming pays respect to Fifteenth Grandfather.¡± Lin Shixin squinted his eyes and smiled, responding: ¡°Your reward has been prepared. Whatever you need, just say it, and I¡¯ll fetch it for you, especially First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine materials, talisman paper, and spiritual artifacts.¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, for the First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine materials, I will need twenty-five portions of each spiritual medicine material listed on these two pill formulas,¡± Tianming said. After speaking, Lin Tianming handed Lin Shixin two pill formulas, which undoubtedly were for refining the Strong Spirit Pill and the Body Strengthening Pill, which were aids for cultivating the Tiangang Body Art. Lin Shixin glanced at the pill formulas, and his old face turned alternately blue and purple as a voice couldn¡¯t help but rise in his heart: ¡°This little rascal sure knows how to choose, picking the more precious ones from among the first order spiritual medicines.¡± ¡°Oh well, this child¡¯s talent and temperament are beyond reproach, and the family¡¯s future depends on him. It¡¯s fine to look after him a bit more. Besides, what he¡¯s asking for are all First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicines; they are just a bit more precious, and there¡¯s no violation of the rules.¡± ¡°Go ahead and tell me about the talisman paper and the spiritual artifacts, and I¡¯ll fetch them all for you,¡± Lin Shixin urged. Lin Tianming continued: ¡°I need four First Order Superior Attack Talisman papers, and four Defense Talisman papers, as well as two Speed Evasion Talisman papers.¡± ¡°For spiritual artifacts, I would like three defensive spiritual tools. That¡¯s all, and additionally, I want to sell a batch of Fasting Pills.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming took out the Fasting Pills he had refined, a total of one hundred. Originally, after refining all the materials for the Fasting Pills, he obtained one hundred and thirty-six. Having consumed some during his year of seclusion, he was left with a bit over one hundred and twenty. By selling one hundred, he would keep just over twenty for personal use. After all, he was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, and he couldn¡¯t be without Fasting Pills during his seclusion. Only upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage could he truly fast and survive solely on spiritual energy for an extended period. ¡°One hundred Fasting Pills in exchange for eighty merit points, is there anything else?¡± Lin Shixin asked. Lin Tianming frowned slightly and cautiously inquired: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, does our Green Bamboo Mountain still have Second Order Qingling Bamboo for sale?¡± Lin Shixin asked with some confusion: ¡°What do you need the Second Order Qingling Bamboo for? There are plenty of First Order ones, but not many Second Order ones. Even in the Hundred-mile Bamboo Forest, there are less than a hundred Second Order Qingling Bamboo. These are the batch with the oldest age; our family has rarely let them go!¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give it much thought and went straight to the point in his reply: ¡°I want to exchange for twenty Second Order Qingling Bamboo. Please ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help me refine a complete set of Flying Sword Instruments. My current spiritual artifacts are too substandard and do not allow me to utilize my full strength.¡± ¡°Forget it, forget it!¡± After his initial shock, Lin Shixin began to elaborate. ¡°Each Qingling Bamboo is quite valuable. It has excellent tensile strength and is extremely sharp, indeed making it one of the best materials for refining spirit swords. ¡°Each Second Order Qingling Bamboo costs one hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. It¡¯s not something the average person can afford, so if you want it, you¡¯ll have to chop it down yourself!¡± After hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but be stunned as well. At one hundred and fifty spirit stones each, twenty would cost three thousand spirit stones, an amount indeed unaffordable for the average person. If not for having made significant contributions to the family and received a hefty reward, he truly wouldn¡¯t have been able to afford it. After half a moment, Lin Shixin handed a storage bag over to Lin Tianming. ¡°Everything is inside. Count them, and hand me your token as well.¡± Lin Tianming respectfully took out his token and handed it to Lin Shixin. Lin Shixin then took out a token several times larger, formed a hand seal with both hands, and a burst of blue light flashed. A number lit up on Lin Tianming¡¯s token for a few breaths before disappearing. At this moment, there were an additional two thousand and eighty merits on Lin Tianming¡¯s family token. Five thousand merits vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving just so little. Lin Tianming felt the pinch acutely. In the past, he would have been reluctant to spend even a few dozen spirit stones, but now he had spent several thousand in one go. Thinking about this made his heart bleed. Taking the storage bag, Lin Tianming probed it with his divine sense. Inside the bag were over a hundred portions of various spirit grasses, four differently colored talisman papers, and three defensive spiritual tools. The three spiritual tools were all unique¡ªone was a turtle shell-like shield, another a small umbrella, and the last item was red inner armor. Lin Tianming gave them a cursory check. Lin Shixin took out another token made of Qingling bamboo material and handed it to Lin Tianming, saying: ¡°This token is for entry into the deep part of the bamboo forest. Without it, if one rashly intrudes, they probably won¡¯t last long before being blasted to death by the ward.¡± Lin Tianming received the token and gave Lin Shixin a bow before departing. Half a moment later, Lin Tianming appeared at the bottom of a valley at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain. The entire valley was shrouded in mist, and the bamboo sea was endless to the eye, the area likely close to a hundred miles in size. Lin Tianming took out a token, cast a spell, and a light screen appeared out of thin air. The screen tore open to reveal an entrance several feet wide, with a powerful metal attribute aura assailing him. Because the bamboo forest was so vast and sealed off by great arrays all year round, the strong metal attribute spiritual energy trapped here was greatly beneficial to the growth of the Qingling Bamboo. Qingling Bamboo is a First Order Spiritual Material that requires a five-hundred-year growth cycle. The vast majority are just First Order Spiritual Materials, and only an extremely small number of Qingling Bamboo can grow into Second Order Spiritual Material by chance. The Lin Family had chosen to establish the family here originally because they happened upon a large expanse of Qingling Bamboo by chance, thus occupying this place. After more than eight hundred years of development, the area of Qingling Bamboo had more than doubled, and there were several hundred Second Order Qingling Bamboo. Every year some are used up or sold, leaving nearly a hundred which is one of the Lin Family¡¯s greatest assets. Lin Tianming tucked the token into his storage bag, leaped up, and entered through the light screen. Chapter 32 - 32 - 31: Cutting Down Qingling Bamboo (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 32 ¨C 31: Cutting Down Qingling Bamboo (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In the dense bamboo forest of blue and yellow hues, Lin Tianming looked around. Massive Qingling Bamboos were growing in the firm crevices of rocks, with varying heights and thickness. The tall ones could reach several zhang in height, as thick as the mouth of a bowl, with blue-yellow trunks and very few leaves, all several centuries old and suitable for crafting instruments. The short ones were less than half a zhang, colored blue, with denser leaves, averaging around a hundred years old. Qingling Bamboo has a long growth cycle, starting as finger-thick shoots of white jade color, gradually growing into blue, hundred-year-old specimens, and finally, blue-yellow when they reach full maturity. Lin Tianming swiftly shuttled through the bamboo forest, meticulously searching for Second Order Qingling Bamboo. An hour had passed, and Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned liver-colored; among tens of thousands of Qingling Bamboos, he hadn¡¯t found a single Second Order one. ... The task was indeed daunting, given the vast area and difficulty in distinguishing them. The Second Order Qingling Bamboos and the five-century-old ones looked similar, both as thick as the mouth of a bowl with sparse leaves. The only difference was that the Second Order¡¯s color was pure gold, while the ordinary ones were paler in blue-yellow. The entire Qingling Bamboo Forest spanned dozens of li, with several hundred thousand bamboos. To find the mere hundred Second Order specimens was certainly difficult. After resting for a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming continued on his quest. Time passed quickly, and another hour went by. Suddenly, amidst the thick bamboo, a golden bamboo stood tall among a cluster of five-century-old Qingling Bamboos. Overjoyed, Lin Tianming disappeared and reappeared beside the golden Second Order Qingling Bamboo. This Qingling Bamboo was several zhang tall, bowl-thick, completely golden, and the surface shone brilliantly¡ªundoubtedly a Second Order specimen. Lin Tianming carefully observed the growing environment of this Qingling Bamboo, hoping to deduce the factors for Second Order growth and find a shortcut to locate the remaining nineteen. He saw that it grew in rock crevices, surrounded mostly by mature, five-century Qingling Bamboos, hinting at a significant difference from the valley below¡ªhigher up the rocks, the greater the likelihood of finding Second Order bamboos. Lin Tianming tentatively concluded this was the case and decided in his subsequent searches to take to the air, identifying areas where the bamboo leaves were sparser and the groves taller, indicating greater possibilities for Second Order plants, and to focus on these patches to significantly improve efficiency. Resolved, Lin Tianming drew his Qingfeng Sword and began to cut down the bamboo. Three consecutive sword strikes hit the same spot, yet only a thumb-sized nick was made in the golden Qingling Bamboo. Lin Tianming was surprised; he was a body cultivator who practiced the top-notch Heavenly Grade Technique, Tiangang Body Art, possessing strength several times that of normal cultivators at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, yet he had only managed to inflict such a minor cut. To completely sever it, he anticipated a considerable amount of effort would be required. Activating his cultivation technique with full force, Lin Tianming delivered multiple sword strikes, each expanding the cut until, after more than fifty strikes, the bowl-thick Qingling Bamboo fell with a sound. ¡°Puff¡­¡± A loud noise echoed as the several zhang tall Qingling Bamboo crashed heavily to the ground, creating a half-foot deep trench. Lin Tianming lifted the Qingling Bamboo, sweat bead appearing on his forehead; he tried to lift it three times without success. It wasn¡¯t until he channeled his spiritual power and exerted his full strength, with thousands of jin erupting from his hands, that he managed to hoist the Qingling Bamboo and stow it in his storage bag. Having successfully secured the bamboo, Lin Tianming wiped his hands and sat panting on a nearby rock to rest. Lin Tianming thought to himself that each Second Order Qingling Bamboo must weigh at least a few thousand jin; with its hard material and excellent flexibility, swords crafted from it would surely be extraordinary. After resting for a short while, Lin Tianming continued on his journey to find more Second Order Qingling Bamboos. Having succeeded in his first attempt, Lin Tianming no longer aimlessly wandered the forest but flew above it, carefully discerning the densely populated areas of five-century Qingling Bamboos. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°That clump of bamboo about a hundred zhang ahead is taller on average, with sparser leaves, mostly five-century Qingling Bamboos. The chances of finding Second Order ones should not be small.¡± Lin Tianming swiftly flew to that part of the bamboo forest and began his meticulous search. ¡°As expected, there are Second Order Qingling Bamboos,¡± Lin Tianming was quite delighted, confident that with this method, the twenty Qingling Bamboos could be quickly found. Two days flew by! Inside the Qingling Bamboo Forest, Lin Tianming expertly placed a Second Order Qingling Bamboo down, swiftly lifting the several-thousand-jin bamboo stalk and stowing it into his storage bag. Having finally cut down twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo, after two days of non-stop swinging of the Qingfeng Sword, his arms were sore and swollen. If he had not been a Body Cultivator with a cultivation not considered weak, had it been the time he was at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, he likely could not have chopped down many in one day. Banking on his profound cultivation, he had completed the target within two days. Having reached the required quantity, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and couldn¡¯t wait to take the twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo to Fifteenth Uncle to ask for his help with artifact forging. Considering his weapons as a significant shortcoming, he was eager to forge a sufficient number of Spirit Swords. If the grade could all be at First Order Superior, his combat power would at least double. Even facing a cultivator in the Late Stage of Qi Refining, he would be able to retreat unscathed. Upon reaching the edge of the bamboo forest, Lin Tianming took out his token, cast a Law Decree, and a slit appeared in the light screen; he stepped through without hesitation. After the span of a single breath, Lin Tianming had successfully emerged from the bamboo forest. He summoned a Qingfeng Sword, leaped onto the blade, and left flying through the sky. In half an hour, at the Family Merits Hall, Lin Tianming found Lin Shixin. ¡°Elder Wu, I have gathered all twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo and have come to return the token.¡± Lin Tianming respectfully handed over the token, exchanged a few pleasantries with Lin Shixin, and then bade farewell as he left the Hall of Merit. A short while later, in the Family Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming appeared before his grandfather Lin Shigong and bowed respectfully: ¡°Your grandson greets you, grandfather!¡± Lin Shigong waved his hand and smiled, instructing: ¡°Cheeky boy, come and sit down!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, sat down directly on the cushion in front of him, and stated his purpose. ¡°Grandfather, I spent three thousand merit points at once to exchange for twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo in the Hall of Merit, intending to ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help forge a batch of Spirit Swords. Unfortunately, I haven¡¯t left a communication mark with Fifteenth Grandfather, so I¡¯ve come to ask for your help to see if Fifteenth Grandfather can help with the forging.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing his grandson¡¯s purpose, Lin Shigong was greatly startled! ¡°This rapscallion, what a spender, to blow three thousand merit points like that. The Mysterious Grade Cultivation Technique Fire Origin Decision that he cultivates doesn¡¯t even require so many Spirit Swords, right?¡± Lin Shixin was very puzzled by such extravagant spending and thus questioned Lin Tianming why he needed so many Spirit Swords. Lin Tianming hesitated and fumbled, and after much deliberation, he still did not reveal the Heavenly Grade Technique he was cultivating. He only mentioned that his Cultivation Technique was related to Sword Arrays. He emphasized repeatedly, asking his grandfather to keep it a secret, or it might bring disaster to the family! Seeing his grandson so serious, Lin Shixin no longer pressed the matter, knowing everyone had their secrets. And Lin Tianming had always been smart and stable, so if he didn¡¯t speak of it, he naturally had his reasons. With these thoughts, Lin Shigong earnestly advised: ¡°Since it¡¯s so important, remember never to reveal it lightly in front of others. People in the Cultivation World constantly commit murders and rob others of their treasures; you can¡¯t just trust anyone easily, understand?¡± Lin Tianming agreed wholeheartedly, easing his grandfather¡¯s concerns. Afterward, Lin Shigong formed a seal with one hand and sent a message to Lin Shilu, inquiring whether he could take on the forging task. In half an hour, a beam of Spiritual Light passed through the restrictions of the building, stopping in front of Lin Shigong. He read the message, and after the Spiritual Light dissipated, he spoke up: ¡°Your Fifteenth Grandfather has agreed to help. He told you to go directly to the summit of Green Bamboo Peak, where he and your Third Grandfather are cultivating in their main mountain abode. You can go find him there.¡± Lin Tianming was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately took leave of Lin Shigong, planning to go directly to Lin Shilu. Before leaving, Lin Shigong took out eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones and a bottle of Second Order Lingshen Pill, handing them to Lin Tianming as a reward for the forging help. Lin Tianming, unpretentious, accepted the Spirit Stones and elixir, and left. Chapter 33 - 33 - 32: Observing Practice Equipment (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 Chapter 33 ¨C 32: Observing Practice Equipment (Please Favorite and Recommend)_1 ¡°` Summit of Qingzhu Mountain. The entire mountain stood a thousand zhang high, its top a flat land of more than ten li in size, a truly spectacular sight! Lin Tianming was also climbing to the peak for the first time. From this height, he surveyed the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory; from halfway up the mountain, peaks rose one after another, stretching for over a hundred li, resembling a veritable fairyland. The summit spanned more than ten li, the terrain remarkably flat, as if a supreme being had cleaved off the entire mountaintop with a single sword! Feeling the density of the spiritual energy in this place, it was a cut above that of the mid-mountain regions; no doubt, long-term cultivation here would yield twice the results with half the effort. The ancestors truly were blessed with foresight; otherwise, to find such a land rich in spiritual energy would be no easy task. Such Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands were a rare sight in the whole Luoyun Mountain Range. ... Shaking off his distant thoughts, Lin Tianming headed towards the rear of the vast Bluestone Plaza. Atop Green Bamboo Mountain Peak lay a massive Bluestone Plaza. Around the plaza stood several courtyards of varying sizes. Each courtyard occupied a substantial area, their exteriors solemn and sacred, inspiring awe in those who looked upon them. In the Lin Family, only those who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage could bring their direct relatives to live at the peak of the mountain. This was a privilege reserved for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Lin Tianming walked directly to the outside of one of the courtyards, pausing to press his palms together and cast a beam of Spiritual Light into the restrictive enchantment. A few breaths later, the restriction opened a passage, and Lin Tianming entered without hesitation, then mysteriously vanished from sight. Inside the courtyard, Lin Shilu sat on a meditation cushion in the center, examining a Spirit Sword in his hand. He repeatedly channeled Spiritual Power into it, waving the sword through the air. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to interrupt and stood respectfully to the side, awaiting Lin Shilu¡¯s instructions. Half an hour later, Lin Shilu stored the Spirit Sword in his storage bag, turned, smiled, and then said, ¡°Tianming, come over and sit!¡± ¡°Tianming greets Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± After giving a respectful salute, Lin Tianming sat down on a meditation cushion opposite Lin Shilu. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, due to the lack of a suitable Spirit Sword, I¡¯ve exchanged for twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo from the Family Merits Hall. I was hoping you could help forge them into a set of Flying Sword Instruments. Would you be able to assist me?¡± After several moments of silence, Lin Tianming, feeling increasingly anxious, tentatively continued, S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I would not expect you to labour without compensation. I will pay you according to the market rate when the time comes. After all, forging a complete set of Spiritual Artifacts does consume a fair amount of supplementary materials and time. Offering compensation is the least I can do.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu frowned slightly, his face showing displeasure as he spoke, ¡°Within the family, we do not differentiate between each other¡¯s households. Crafting a complete set of Second Order Spirit Swords is indeed a challenge, but I am confident in forging a First Order set.¡± ¡°Back in my days at the Qi Refinement Realm, I often relied on your grandfather¡¯s help with Alchemy. Rest assured, hand over the Second Order Qingling Bamboo; without delay, I¡¯ll get to work immediately and aim to finish them as soon as possible.¡± Lin Tianming was both surprised and moved by the response, thanking his elder profusely. Family cultivators, when able, would always assist each other. Should he find success in the future, he must also contribute to the family. After handing over the twenty stalks of Second Order Qingling Bamboo to Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming was about to take his leave when Lin Shilu suddenly said, ¡°If you have no other matters, stay and assist me. You can also learn some basics of Artifact Refining. Should you have a talent for it, it could bring great aid to your cultivation journey.¡± ¡°Yes, I will heed Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s teachings.¡± After Lin Tianming responded, Lin Shilu stood up to leave, and Lin Tianming quickly followed his steps. ¡°` Although he had never refined any artifact or even had the chance to observe the process, watching the entire artifact refining process on-site was not an easy opportunity to come by. A few breaths passed, and Lin Shilu walked through the corridor, stopping in front of a secret chamber. Lin Tianming waited beside, feeling the abundant fire element spiritual power in the air; it must undoubtedly be the Refining Room. The more than ten courtyards on the summit of Green Bamboo Mountain each came with a Pill Refining Room and an Artifact Forging Room, through which the tributaries of the Earth Fire passed, providing the most basic conditions for pill concoction and weapon forging. Lin Shilu opened the restrictions and stepped in; Lin Tianming hurriedly followed. Inside the Artifact Forging Room, a cauldron about the size of a yard stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by numerous stone platforms with various tools laid out. After a brief moment of breathing regulation, Lin Shilu was ready to begin artifact refining. He skillfully ignited the Earth Fire, eliciting a three-feet-long flame that burst forth, perfectly suspended under the cauldron. He arranged the Second Order Qingling Bamboo neatly to one side, at the same time taking out a number of differently colored ores and placing them on the stone platform. Lin Shilu grabbed a large chunk of Spirit Iron Ore and tossed it into the cauldron, then adjusted the intensity of the Earth Fire, furiously burning the cauldron. As time passed, the Spirit Iron the size of a bucket gradually melted into a puddle of iron liquid. After an hour of repeated purification, the Spirit Iron, once the size of a bucket, was refined into twenty fist-sized ores, crystal clear and translucent. New n????vel chapters are published on .c¦Ò?. At this point, the originally ink-colored raw ore had astonishingly become as beautiful as Spirit Stones. While refining, Lin Shilu gave instructions to Lin Tianming. ¡°Cut the Second Order Qingling Bamboo at two-thirds of its length; to forge a Spirit Sword, only the bottom half of the entire bamboo is needed. You can keep the tip part for forging other lower grade spirit swords.¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming began to cut the Qingling Bamboo one by one, handing over the section as thick as the mouth of a bowl to Lin Shilu. Two days passed, and Lin Shilu had refined over a dozen different colored ores one by one, divided into twenty portions of crystal clear Spirit Ore. Twenty stalks of Qingling Bamboo were also trimmed to be three zhang long, twenty stalks neatly lined up in a row. Lin Shilu placed the entire Qingling Bamboo on the stone platform beside, took out a hammer with an extremely large head, and began to pound the whole stalk of Qingling Bamboo on the stone platform without respite. After half a day, the three-zhang-long Qingling Bamboo gradually shrunk in size and shape, turning from a bamboo thick as a bowl to a three-feet-long sword embryo, with the surface color turning more golden. Lin Tianming also widened his eyes in amazement; the transformation of the ores was still within his expectations, but the conversion of Qingling Bamboo into a sword embryo was truly incredible. As Lin Shilu hammered the Qingling Bamboo, every half an hour, he would add a type of ore to the sword embryo, increase the force of his hammering, and continue adding more ore. At this moment, Lin Shilu was drenched in sweat, focusing intently on hammering the Spirit Sword embryo. Lin Tianming, too, began to ponder on the side, committing Lin Shilu¡¯s entire process and techniques to memory, thinking that perhaps he might attempt it when the time was ripe. However, given his limited time, it was unlikely he could devote a vast amount of time and energy solely on artifact refining, but learning some experience was still necessary. After most of a day, the Spirit Sword embryos were successively infused with more than ten types of colored ores, resulting in a completely golden sword, with two intertwining lines of azure and red running from the tip to the hilt, laying the foundation for the entire Spirit Sword. Feeling the faint Sword Qi emanating from the Spirit Sword, Lin Tianming was very satisfied; if he added the remaining inscriptions to the sword body, its might would likely be even more formidable. Lin Shilu, too, was extremely pleased at this point; although he was a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner and had forged a great number of First Order Superior Grade Spirit Swords, when it came to the power of the sword embryos alone, this particular Spirit Sword embryo satisfied him the most. This was still only the Spirit Sword embryo, accounting for only half of the success; the subsequent Inscription Array needed to be carved before it could be considered a complete Spiritual Artifact. Lin Shilu took a brief rest for a quarter of an hour and then threw himself back into the most important task of Inscription marking. Chapter 34 - 34 - 33 A Set of Qingfeng Swords (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 Chapter 34 ¨C 33 A Set of Qingfeng Swords (Please Collect and Recommend)_1 In Lin Shilu¡¯s refining room, Lin Shilu was at this moment, focusing intently on inscribing engravings, as golden-yellow runes sunk one by one into the Spirit Sword in front of him. An hour later, the golden runes revealed themselves one by one on the entire sword body, the tiny runes gradually spreading over the entirety of the sword. At this time, the whole Spirit Sword was emitting a strong Sword Qi, its grade had evidently reached that of a First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instrument without a doubt. Both Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were overwhelmed with joy, with Lin Tianming feeling particularly excited. Originally thinking that crafting a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument would be a success, they hadn¡¯t expected to actually forge a First Order Top-Quality Spirit Sword. If all twenty Sword Embryos were made into First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments to form a Sword Array, its might would unquestionably be more terrifying. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but look forward to that. At this moment, Lin Shilu was also very satisfied, as he had successfully become a Second Order Medium Quality Refiner half a year ago. He took helping Tianming with refining very seriously. Before the refining process, the chances of producing a First Order Superior Grade were very high, and the possibility of a First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instrument was not slim either. ... Second Order Qingling Bamboo was already considered one of the best materials among Second Order materials, and Lin Shilu did not only bring out a large quantity of high-quality auxiliary materials but also a significant amount of treasured Second Order Spirit Iron. It was quite the bloodletting, but thankfully the results were satisfactory. In the Cultivation World, even most of the cultivators at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment still combat using Spiritual Instruments, most of which are First Order Superior Grade or Top-Quality. More advanced Magic Artifacts are only accessible to those cultivators who are in the middle or later stages of Foundation Establishment and are quite wealthy. Lin Tianming investing such a great deal in refining, his attack power was certain to increase significantly. Striking while the iron was hot, the grandfather and grandson worked together with renewed vigor and re-immersed themselves in the refining process. Twenty days passed in silence, and the day to go to Qianchuan Market was approaching; the sounds of hammering were continuous in Lin Shilu¡¯s refining room. The pair were currently taking turns hammering a Second Order Qingling Bamboo. Before their eyes, the once bowl-thick Qingling Bamboo gradually took the shape of a Spirit Sword Embryo, its form nearly complete. Lin Shilu added a piece of Second Order ore, and together they hammered away without stopping. After half a month of teamwork, they developed a great synergy, the two massive hammers striking the Spirit Sword Embryo rapidly; the rhythm of their hammering was expertly controlled, greatly increasing the efficiency. Otherwise, if Lin Shilu were to refine alone, not only would it be very exhausting, but it would also be difficult to complete the forging of twenty Spirit Swords within a month. Having successfully forged the rudimentary shape of the Spirit Sword, Lin Shilu, without taking any rest, continued with the process of inscribing engravings. After one and a half hours of inscribing, the final Spirit Sword was completely finished. Twenty Spirit Swords were neatly suspended in the refining room, each radiating powerful fluctuations. Twenty stalks of Qingling Bamboo, with a large addition of various ores, even including three types of Second Order, had been successfully forged into twenty First Order Top-Quality complete set Spirit Swords. At this moment, Lin Shilu looked utterly exhausted. After over twenty continuous days of refining, his Spiritual Power and mental energy had been greatly spent. Lin Tianming was also very weary, now only wanting a good sleep for a couple of days. Lin Shilu arranged for Lin Tianming to rest in the next room. The two of them took their rest, each collapsing onto a stone bed and falling into a deep sleep. The pair slept for a full two days, and on the morning of the third day, Lin Shilu emerged from his room and sat down to enjoy tea on a cushion in the courtyard. In his room, Lin Tianming opened his clear, bright eyes. After sleeping for a full two days, he was completely rejuvenated, his sharp gaze particularly keen. After grooming himself, Lin Tianming stepped out of his room and saw Lin Shilu sitting in the courtyard; he immediately went forward to pay his respects. Lin Tianming spoke with earnest sincerity: ¡°Nephew Tianming pays his respects to Fifteenth Grandfather, thanking Fifteenth Grandfather for his painstaking efforts and consideration. This humble gift is a token of my deepest gratitude, and I humbly ask Fifteenth Grandfather to kindly accept it.¡± Lin Tianming took out the eight hundred Spirit Stones given by his grandfather and two hundred he had gathered himself, totaling one thousand Spirit Stones, along with a bottle of Second Order Lingshen Pills, and respectfully handed them over to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu¡¯s complexion was rosy as he calmly said: ¡°There¡¯s no need for the Spirit Stones. These Spirit Stones and elixirs are surely the result of your grandfather¡¯s hard work. With the family¡¯s modest foundation, it is difficult for each clan member to cultivate. When I was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, I greatly benefited from your grandfather¡¯s support, which allowed me to quickly advance to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage.¡± ¡°Concerning the distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills, it was your grandfather who voluntarily withdrew from the competition. Coupled with the family¡¯s full support, I might have found it difficult to succeed in Foundation Establishment. It can be said that your grandfather has made many contributions to the whole family, and to me. Therefore, you may take back the Spirit Stones, but since there¡¯s some Second Order Qingling Bamboo material left, and Second Order Pills are useful for my cultivation, I will accept them without ceremony.¡± ¡°If you need any more help, just ask. If it¡¯s within my capabilities, I will not refuse,¡± Lin Shilu said with a seriously earnest expression. ¡°Elder, I exchanged for a First Order High-Quality Alchemy Furnace at the Hall of Merit, but its grade has fallen to a First Order Medium-Grade Dan Furnace. Could you please help me repair it?¡± As he spoke, Lin Tianming took out the Four Symbols Furnace and handed it to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu received the Four Symbols Furnace, examining it carefully to ascertain the degree of damage and to see whether it could currently be repaired. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shilu finally spoke: ¡°Leave it to me. Although the grade has fallen, the damage isn¡¯t severe, and it won¡¯t take much material to fix. It won¡¯t take more than three days to upgrade it back to a First Order High-Quality level. With only a few days left in the month, you should go back and refine your set of Spirit Swords. In seven days, we will gather outside the family¡¯s grand array and set off on time to Qianchuan Market.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Tianming received the set of Spirit Swords, bowed respectfully, and then left the yard. In his own courtyard, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, taking out all twenty Spirit Swords and suspending them in the air. As he grasped one of the Spirit Swords in his hand, its powerful and violent fluctuations caused the surrounding Spiritual Energy to churn chaotically. The Spirit Sword vibrated continuously in his palm, attempting to break free from Lin Tianming¡¯s control. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An unrefined Spirit Sword whose ownership hadn¡¯t been established couldn¡¯t contain its aura, and it could only be controlled by successfully refining it. ¡°Hmph, having put so much effort and materials into this, it would be a major loss if I didn¡¯t refine you.¡± Lin Tianming released a drop of his Lifeblood Essence onto the Spirit Sword, which quickly absorbed into the blade and vanished. He began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, imprinting his Lifeblood Essence and Divine Sense at the core of the Spirit Sword, carefully refining it. An hour later, Lin Tianming had refined the first Spirit Sword, which spun continuously around him, glowing a brilliant golden hue. At that moment, Lin Tianming and the Spirit Sword were in perfect sync, and the violent Sword Qi fluctuations of the entire blade were completely contained, indistinguishable from an ordinary Spirit Sword when not actively released. The Spirit Sword joyfully circled around Lin Tianming. Like a young child, it occasionally brushed against his body as if trying to please him. After storing the Spirit Sword he had refined and claimed as his own, Lin Tianming once again entered a state of refining and cultivation. Chapter 35 - 35 - 34 Preparations Before Departure_1 Chapter 35 ¨C 34 Preparations Before Departure_1 Time quietly passed, and three days flitted by in a hurry. In his small courtyard, Lin Tianming was tightly clutching a golden spirit sword, currently channeling his energy to refine and claim it as his own. An hour passed, and Lin Tianming loosened his grip on the spirit sword, which swiftly left the palm of his hand, spinning endlessly around him. After five consecutive days of refining, Lin Tianming finally succeeded in claiming all twenty spirit swords as his own. He took out all the spirit swords, and they lined up neatly in front of him. Each one was a first order top-quality spiritual instrument. So many spirit swords, and a complete set at that¡ªgiven their power, if put up for auction, it¡¯s feared that even twenty thousand spirit stones might not be enough to buy them. The mere Second Order Qingling Bamboo was worth more than three thousand spirit stones, and adding to that the various types of Second Order Spirit Ore treasured by Lin Shilu, as well as some first order supplementary materials, took them nearly a month to refine successfully. It would have to sell for at least ten thousand spirit stones at a minimum. Its value almost enough to buy a Minor Foundation Building Pill. ... Clutching one of the spirit swords, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t bear to put it down; he hadn¡¯t yet given the sword a name. After pondering deeply for a quarter of an hour, he decided to name it the Earth Evil Sword. Using the Earth Evil Sword in conjunction with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation made the name particularly fitting. After completing the refining and ownership ritual, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t wait to test its power. He put away the twenty Earth Evil Swords and stepped out of the room, riding his sword towards the valley where he had once practiced the Fire Origin Decision. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming arrived in the valley. Circulating his cultivation technique, Lin Tianming tried to activate the Earth Evil Sword. An Earth Evil Sword shot up into the sky. Its intense sword qi, almost tangible, whipped the surrounding flowers, grass, and trees into shreds. Surprised and delighted by such power, Lin Tianming fully controlled more spirit swords to join in. One after another, the Earth Evil Swords joined the unceasing rotation of the sword formation, the aura of the entire formation growing stronger. A strong wind picked up in the whole valley; trees within a thousand zhang were snapped by the wind, with some being uprooted entirely. After about ten breaths¡¯ time had passed, Lin Tianming was drenched in sweat, looking like he had reached his limit. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the number of spirit swords had reached fifteen. The formation, made of fifteen first order top-quality Earth Evil Swords, was as impregnable as a fortified wall. Underneath the formation, trees and rocks rapidly vanished into nothingness, unable to withstand the power of the swords and directly sublimating. The sheer might of the formation was terrifying. Lin Tianming quickly maneuvered the sword formation to move towards a nearby stone mountain. ¡°Annihilate.¡± In a blink, stones the size of ten-odd zhang turned into dust; a hundred zhang deep hole appeared in the ground, its depths unseen, and the entire mountain shook. Lin Tianming retracted the sword formation and placed all the Earth Evil Swords back into his storage bag. Exerting his full power, he could only control fifteen spirit swords to form the sword array at once, and could only maintain it for half a quarter of an hour. His Divine Sense and spiritual power were largely spent. If he were to control the sword formation for a long time during combat, exceeding the burden on his Divine Sense and spiritual power, he feared there might be significant injuries. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still, the power of the fifteen spirit swords forming the Earth Evil Sword Formation was indeed terrifying. An ordinary cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, if trapped, would likely have to pay a heavy price to escape. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh; powerful methods also demanded powerful control over spiritual power and Divine Sense. It was only logical to have such limitations; otherwise, low-level cultivators with access to advanced Mystical Techniques could defy the natural order and battle across several realms, which would be too contrary to the heavens. Having tested the sword array¡¯s power and with only two days left of the month, Lin Tianming finished his practice. He put all the spirit swords back into his storage bag, transformed into a escaping light, and headed straight for the Family Merits Hall. The Qianchuan Market was located more than three thousand li to the north of Green Bamboo Mountain and the journey required passing through the Luoyun Market. The Luoyun Market was situated in the central area of the Luoyun Mountain Range. It was a small-scale market co-established by the five Foundation Establishing families of the range, along with over ten Qi Refining families. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already the strongest in the market, and there was always one stationed there year-round, with ten-year rotations among the five great Foundation Establishing families. For this ten-year period, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family was in residence. Whereas the Qianchuan Market was a medium-sized market, well-known throughout the Southern Wei Kingdom, even Core Formation Cultivators had made several appearances there. In the Southern Wei Kingdom, it was one of the foremost markets. The journey was long and merely getting on the road required more than ten days. Finding Ye Pinghai would take time too, and even if everything went smoothly, it was likely to take half a year. If not, one to two years were a strong possibility. The trip was not a short one. There were plenty of spiritual instruments, talismans, and spiritual medicine. I needed to prepare before leaving. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming headed straight to the Family Merits Hall. Inside the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming stepped in. Lin Shixin was exchanging spiritual medicine for family members. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t in a rush and stood by, waiting his turn. After half an hour, Lin Tianming approached to pay his respects: ¡°Nephew Tianming pays respect to Uncle Shi.¡± Lin Shixin responded with a smile: ¡°You young fellow aren¡¯t what you used to be. You lack for nothing, be it spiritual medicine, instruments, or talismans. What more do you need?¡± ¡°Uncle Shi, does the family have any Mystical Vine Flowers?¡± ¡°First Order Superior Grade Mystical Vine Flower?¡± ¡°We have some in stock. Do you want them? Ten low-grade spirit stones per plant. How many would you like?¡± Lin Tianming replied: ¡°I would like five Mystical Vine Flowers, two Fire Element Grass, two Golden Flower Grass, and four Shuiyun Grass. Do you have all these?¡± ¡°Yes, all these are First Order Superior Grade spiritual medicine, ten low-grade spirit stones each plant, totaling one hundred and thirty spirit stones.¡± Lin Tianming had previously obtained some of the spiritual medicine materials for Xisui Pills. He wanted to supplement them, gather enough for five sets of materials, and prepare to refine them to consume as soon as possible. He then inquired about the materials for Pozhang Pills. The family had all the auxiliary ingredients, but not the main medicinal ingredient, the Dragon Origin Fruit. Lin Tianming had to spend one hundred and twenty spirit stones to purchase three sets of auxiliary medicine for the Pozhang Pills. He would try to acquire the Dragon Origin Fruit when he reached Qianchuan Market and refine it into elixirs. The resources in Qianchuan Market were far richer than those of Green Bamboo Mountain. Even Third Order spiritual medicine appeared from time to time, so finding the Dragon Origin Fruit should not be difficult. Lin Tianming took out his family token and deducted two hundred and fifty merit points, leaving him with less than two thousand. After storing away all the spiritual medicine materials, Lin Tianming did not linger and, after bidding farewell to Lin Shixin, left. Entering his family¡¯s courtyard, Lin Tianming stepped inside. Lin Tianyue was sitting cross-legged in the courtyard. When she saw Lin Tianming, she immediately stood up and rushed into his embrace. Lin Tianming affectionately patted his sister¡¯s hair and asked if their mother was at home. Lin Tianyue said: ¡°Mother has been in seclusion recently. She didn¡¯t focus on cultivation for the past few years and left most of the spirit stones and some elixirs from grandfather for us, siblings. She relied solely on breathing exercises and only advanced from the Sixth Level of Qi Refining to the Seventh Level five years ago. Now that brother has given her more than ten Lingshen Pills, she naturally went into seclusion to improve her cultivation level.¡± ¡°Father left the family estate ten days ago; you were refining artifacts and he couldn¡¯t wait. So, he went directly to Luoyun Market. Grandfather and Mother surely know that you will be leaving the family soon, and they will probably return in the next day or two to spend some time together.¡± At that time, Lin Tianyue was still at the Third Level of Qi Cultivation, but her aura was notably more full-bodied and robust¡ªit seemed she hadn¡¯t been slacking in the past half-month. The siblings sat cross-legged in the courtyard, and Lin Tianming did his best to guide his sister¡¯s cultivation while waiting for their grandfather and mother to emerge from seclusion. Chapter 36 - 36 - 35 Grandfather’s Entrustment_1 Chapter 36 ¨C 35 Grandfather¡¯s Entrustment_1 ¡°` At dusk, the waning rays of the setting sun bathed their small courtyard in a warm glow. Brother and sister, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue, were sitting at the stone table. After guiding his sister through her daily cultivation, Lin Tianyue persisted in coaxing Lin Tianming, insisting that her brother tell her about the events that had taken place while he was safeguarding Qingfeng Town. Worn down by her nagging, Lin Tianming began recounting his story, starting with the moment he left the family residence. Lin Tianming spoke non-stop, his tale lasting a quarter of an hour, spanning from the patrol mission to the forced counterattack, to the killing of the man in the red robe in a duel of magic. Upon hearing this part, Lin Tianyue¡¯s rosy and handsome face quickly turned pale, as if she herself had been in the midst of the ordeal. Lin Tianming continued with his account, and Lin Tianyue listened intently, covering the battles with the Striped Crocodile, the sneaky harvesting of Earth Spirit Ganoderma, the inadvertent trespass into the Spirit-Connecting Python¡¯s territory, and the embarrassing escape. ... Lin Tianming concealed the matter of the Cultivation Technique, which was of great consequence; the fewer who knew, the better. But he shared unreservedly the dramatic events of battling and fleeing for his life. Since she had started her cultivation and had become a cultivator, it was only natural to clarify the realities of the Cultivation World and let his sister understand the true nature of it so that she could adapt more quickly in the future. In this moment, Lin Tianyue¡¯s heart was greatly affected. Having grown up with exceptional living conditions, carefree cultivation within the family residence, a grandfather who was an alchemist, parents who were cultivators, and a brother with extraordinary talent, she had never faced any danger from her childhood until now. The experiences her brother spoke of revealed that the Cultivation World was indeed filled with crises and opportunities. The law of the survival of the fittest was exemplified most vividly and cruelly. Unknowingly, the brother and sister had been talking for half an hour; the sun had set, and darkness was gradually descending. Ren Yuxuan, who had been in closed-door cultivation for a fortnight, opened her beautiful eyes, and a trace of joy crossed her delicate, moist face. Finally, she had reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level. For the past five years, she had rarely consumed elixirs, devoting her time to guiding and taking care of Lin Tianming and his sister. She hadn¡¯t had the chance to focus solely on her cultivation in seclusion. Relying on a substantial amount of elixirs, building up her energy and releasing it in controlled amounts, she had naturally progressed and successfully reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level, her overall aura significantly more robust than before. With only one day left before Lin Tianming had to leave the family, it was natural for Ren Yuxuan to emerge from seclusion to see her son off. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ren Yuxuan stood up, left the secret chamber, walked down the long corridor, and appeared in the courtyard. Upon seeing their mother come out of seclusion, Lin Tianming and his sister immediately stepped forward to greet her. ¡°Tianming greets Mother. Congratulations on successfully advancing to the Qi Refining Eighth Level!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense made it impossible for his sister to notice the advancement, but not him. His Divine Sense might even be stronger than his mother¡¯s at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Moreover, since Ren Yuxuan did not conceal her cultivation, her advancement was easily detected. Lin Tianyue, upon hearing of her mother¡¯s successful advancement, was also overjoyed. She grabbed her mother¡¯s arm and shook it ceaselessly, displaying the demeanor of a doting daughter. ¡°Alright, I will go cook a feast. We¡¯ll sit down together for a good meal tonight. Tianming, send a message to your grandfather, asking him to come back for dinner.¡± ¡°Yes, I will send the message to Grandfather right away.¡± Just as Lin Tianming was about to send the message, Grandfather Lin Shigong walked in through the door, crossing the threshold into the small courtyard, and sat down at the stone table nearby. ¡°` Lin Tianming and his companion hurriedly performed a salute! Lin Shigong had them sit down before speaking: ¡°Tianming, the day after tomorrow, early in the morning, you will set out on your journey. The road is long and far from the influence of our family. Qianchuan Market is a place where masters gather, including Core Formation Stage seniors. You must be cautious in everything you do when outside and must not act recklessly. Consult your Fifteenth Grandfather on all matters. He has often traveled outside these past years, and his Divine Skills are not weak. You must obey his orders and remember not to draw unnecessary trouble to our family.¡± Lin Tianming replied earnestly: ¡°Grandfather, rest assured, I will surely follow behind Fifteenth Grandfather and will not take risks lightly, nor will I carelessly cause trouble.¡± Lin Shigong was very satisfied. After a year of guarding Qingfeng Town, his grandson had matured a lot. He had fought life-and-death battles with cultivators and Demonic Beasts. Although it was unknown which Cultivation Technique he was practicing, his Divine Skills were surely remarkable. Coupled with his extraordinary fortune, he was already fit to survive on his own in the Cultivation World. After a year of experience, Lin Tianming was wise and resourceful, with plenty of combat experience and substantial knowledge. He also had a large number of Spiritual Artifacts and talisman paper for fighting against enemies. With significant Divine Skills and a heart dedicated to the path of cultivation, if we protect him everywhere and are too protective, he may find it difficult to travel far. Lin Tianming sat respectfully on the side, listening to his grandfather Lin Shigong¡¯s commands. ¡°Ye Pinghai is an old acquaintance of mine, who values friendship and righteousness. Although it has been more than ten years since we last met, every time the family sends someone to Qianchuan Market, they visit him, and he has helped us refine Second Order Pills many times.¡± ¡°When this man was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, I helped him, and he owed us a favor. However, over the years, with the many times he has helped us refine pills, the favor he owed us has long been repaid.¡± ¡°Although he is a Loose Cultivator, his talent is extremely high. He has already entered the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and he has a considerable chance of entering the Golden Core Stage. He is also a Second Order Alchemist. When you visit him, you must not offend him. If you can get him to personally guide you for a while, the gains will not be small.¡± Lin Tianming firmly responded, repeatedly assuring his grandfather to be at ease, which finally put Lin Shigong¡¯s mind at rest. Lin Tianming was also very eager to see Qianchuan Market, to witness the famous market in the southern Wei Kingdom and to encounter various strong figures there. The grandfather and grandchildren sat in the courtyard discussing for half an hour, and Ren Yuxuan had prepared a lavish meal. Aside from Lin Xingrong who was in Luoyun Market, the four sat together to have dinner. After a meal and plenty of drinks, Lin Tianming and the others each returned to their rooms, and Grandfather went back to the Alchemy Hall for cultivation. Sitting on the stone bed in his room, Lin Tianming carefully went through the items in his storage bag to avoid mistakenly estimating his own resources and strength. At this time, Lin Tianming still had over twenty Lingshen Pills, several Huiyuan Pills, Huadu Pills, and Consolidating Essence Pills each, which meant he basically wouldn¡¯t be lacking consumption-type pills for a while. He had materials for fifty Spirit Essence Pills, twenty-five portions each of Strong Spirit Pills, Body Strengthening Pills, along with assistance elixirs for cultivating the Tiangang Body Art. However, as he was not yet able to refine them on his own, it was essential to refine some of these pills during his trip to Qianchuan Market to aid in cultivation. Otherwise, as his cultivation rose, enduring the pain purely on his own would be nearly impossible for long. Refining pills had become a must on his agenda. His means for dealing with enemies were also strong. His own Cultivation Technique was not inferior, and combined with the Sword Array, plus ten First Order Superior Grade talisman papers and three First Order Superior Grade Defensive Spiritual Tools, ordinary cultivators at the Qi Refining Eighth Level were not his match, and he even had a fair chance of victory against those at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Lin Tianming packed each resource neatly into the storage bag, placing different types of Spiritual Medicine and talisman paper in separate locations in an orderly fashion. At this point, the night was deep, and Lin Tianming did not continue his cultivation; instead, he relaxed, lay down on the stone bed, and fell straight to sleep. Chapter 37 - 37 - 36 Setting Out_1 Chapter 37 ¨C 36 Setting Out_1 Early in the morning, a red sun slowly rose along the horizon. At this time, Green Bamboo Mountain was especially tranquil, with the majority of the clan members who were not in secluded cultivation still asleep. Lin Tianming sat on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, appearing outside the Protective Clan Formation. It was silent all around, utterly quiet. It was still early, and there was half a quarter of an hour until the arranged time, Lin Shilu had not yet appeared, so Lin Tianming sat down on a green stone nearby to wait. Before half a quarter of an hour had passed, a sound of tearing through the air came along, a ripple appeared in the clan¡¯s great formation, and a streak of white light escaped, stopping in front of Lin Tianming. It was Lin Shilu, who had arrived. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming immediately stepped forward to greet him. ... Lin Shilu nodded, then threw out a pill furnace, which was the Four Symbols Furnace that Lin Tianming had asked Lin Shilu to help repair. By this time, after several days of Lin Shilu¡¯s repairs, with the addition of some Spirit Ore and Spiritual Objects, and the restoration of its inscriptions, the grade of the Four Symbols Furnace had successfully returned to First Order Superior Grade. The fine cracks on its surface had long since disappeared, and the entire furnace was a fiery red color with a delicate gloss, obviously the complete appearance of a pill furnace. Lin Tianming was overjoyed, as the successful repair of the Four Symbols Furnace meant that his chances of successfully refining First Order Superior Grade elixirs were greatly increased. In his happiness, Lin Tianming sincerely expressed his gratitude: ¡°Nephew thanks Fifteenth Grandfather for his help. I am deeply grateful. If there is hope for me to become a Second Order Alchemist one day, I will repay Fifteenth Grandfather for his generous assistance!¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯re all family, no need for such formalities. It¡¯s getting late, the journey is long, so you better set off quickly!¡± Lin Tianming readily agreed and took the initiative to say: ¡°My Purple Gold Eagle is quite fast, so we can hurry to our destination and save a lot of time and effort. However, once we reach Qianchuan Market, we¡¯ll have to leave it outside if we don¡¯t have a Spirit Beast Bag, which could be a minor inconvenience.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu took out a dark green Spirit Beast Bag and tossed it to Lin Tianming. As a Second Order Artifact Refiner, a Spirit Beast Bag was several times more precious than a storage bag, but it was not considered a rare item. He had an extra one, so he decided to give it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the Spirit Beast Bag with delight on his face. With the Spirit Beast Bag, there was no need to leave the Purple Gold Eagle outside the market. This was much safer, as if a Foundation Establishment Cultivator stumbled upon it, with the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s notable bloodline, it might be captured to be used as a Spirit Beast, inviting a lot of trouble. With the Spirit Beast Bag, there was no need to worry about that. Lin Shilu took out a Beast Skin map and confirmed the direction with Lin Tianming, discussing the route as well. ¡°This trip to Qianchuan Market carries the expectations of the Elders¡¯ Council members. With limited time, we must reach Qianchuan Market as soon as possible, find Ye Pinghai, and refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill to safely bring it back to the clan.¡± ¡°We must be cautious and careful, not allowing other cultivation families to detect us. Otherwise, they may interfere or even attempt to kill and seize treasures. This is entirely possible. Therefore, for this trip, we must disguise ourselves, avoiding other families¡¯ territories as much as possible, and remember not to reveal our true purpose.¡± In half a quarter of an hour, the two of them had discussed and agreed on the route. If they went straight, they would need to pass through Luoyun Market and the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family¡¯s family residence. Luoyun Market was perennially guarded by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the Jin Family had always been at odds with the Lin Family, provoking them multiple times and injuring several clansmen. Alas, with the Jin Family¡¯s strong power, the Lin Family could only swallow their grievances and remember the enmity in their hearts, waiting for the right conditions and the right time to seek justice. After discussion, they decided to bypass Luoyun Market and the other families¡¯ territories, willing to spend several times more time to ensure safety. For nearly a hundred years, the Lin Family had struggled to survive among the five major families. The Minor Foundation Building Pill was too important, a spiritual object that could boost the family¡¯s strength in a short time, hence it required utmost caution and prioritizing safety. Having made up their minds, Lin Shilu took out two black conical hats, which turned out to be First Order Medium Grade spiritual artifacts. They could alter appearance, change voice, and conceal one¡¯s aura. Even for those at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, it would be quite difficult to discern their true faces. However, for Nascent Soul Masters with powerful divine sense, a careful investigation could still easily reveal them. The two of them then used a Disguise Technique. Lin Shilu transformed into an old man, with a face full of wrinkles, whitening hair, and an elderly voice, appearing to be at an advanced age. Lin Tianming transformed into a middle-aged man, his face covered with a rough beard, a spitting image of a rugged hearty fellow. The two of them sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, instructing it to fly thousands of feet high into the air and speed towards the north. Lin Shilu sat calmly on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, appearing as if he were closing his eyes to rest; in reality, he had extended his Divine Sense in all directions, probing the surroundings for several dozen miles. Along the way, they encountered some Qi Refining Stage Cultivators; upon being detected, they released a hint of Foundation Establishment Stage aura. Startled Qi Refining Cultivators would no longer bother them, immediately leaving them be. The two traveled at full speed during the day and rested at night; their journey was quite smooth. Time hurried by, and twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Tianming and his companion proceeded cautiously, avoiding large mountain ranges and territories of families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. When they did encounter Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they intentionally steered clear to avoid unnecessary troubles. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, is that Maple Forest Mountain Range up ahead?¡± Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming held a map in his hands, carefully determining his location based on the terrain¡¯s features. ¡°Hmm, the mountains covered with maple forests stretching for a hundred miles, it is undoubtedly Maple Forest Mountain Range!¡± Lin Shilu confirmed Lin Tianming¡¯s question, then continued, ¡°This place isn¡¯t far from Qianchuan Market, just less than five hundred miles away. It¡¯s getting late, and this area is on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, relatively safe. Let¡¯s rest here for the night and set out again tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianming agreed enthusiastically, then instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to descend into a valley. After landing, Lin Tianming surveyed the valley, seeing the sky full of red leaves that painted the valley a crimson hue, a scenery most picturesque. Lin Tianming waved a Spirit Sword, swiftly carving out a simple cave abode halfway up the mountainside, casting two Illusion Techniques to conceal the entrance before both retreated into the cave to rest. The next day, as dawn broke, they resumed their journey towards Qianchuan Market. After traveling tirelessly for the better part of the day, Lin Tianming and his companion finally arrived on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. Landing several miles away from the market¡¯s city gates on a small hill, they stowed the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag and took out their Flying Swords, flying toward Qianchuan Market. Approaching within several miles of the city gates, they could see with the naked eye a gigantic city sprawling on the horizon, its walls a hundred feet high, gleaming silver-white, and spanning at least dozens of miles. The city, built against a mountain thousands of feet tall, was majestically impressive. A brilliant golden light shield enveloped the entire city from east to west, north to south, clearly the work of a great array. Lin Shilu looked on calmly, while Lin Tianming, witnessing such a grand city for the first time, with city gates towering over ten feet high, was dumbfounded and utterly astonished. Such a grand city, with its Formation likely a Fourth Order Great Array, could even withstand attacks from Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators for a while. It certainly was incomparable to Luoyun Market. Having been to this place a few times before, Lin Shilu wasn¡¯t as shocked as Lin Tianming, though he had had a more intense reaction than Lin Tianming upon his first visit to Qianchuan Market. Lin Shilu calmly reminded, ¡°All right, let¡¯s go and enter the city quickly.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± In less than half an hour, they were near the city gates, both descending to the ground, where a line was forming to enter the city¡ªdozens of people. Most of them were Qi Refining Cultivators, generally from the mid to late stages, with more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. The two followed closely, preparing to enter the city. Chapter 38 - 38 - 37 Qianchuan Market_1 Chapter 38 ¨C 37 Qianchuan Market_1 At the entrance of Qianchuan Market, ten cultivators were collecting the entrance fee, among them a Foundation Establishment cultivator was leading the team. One of the cultivators shouted loudly, ¡°To enter the market, each person must pay five spirit stones to enter, remember that fighting within the market is prohibited. Violators will be subject to on-the-spot execution by the Law Enforcement Team.¡± Lin Tianming wore a bitter expression on his face; five spirit stones per person was indeed not cheap. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh, many low-order loose cultivators would need half a year to save up five low-grade spirit stones, just to pay the entrance fee. Considering the flow of people here, he wondered how many spirit stones they would collect in a day, easily in the tens of thousands. The daily entrance fee was almost the same as the Lin Family¡¯s annual income. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, do you know if Core Formation cultivators have to pay the entrance fee?¡± Lin Shilu, with a face full of disdain, answered, ... ¡°Of course, Core Formation cultivators don¡¯t have to pay. At that level, they are esteemed figures, not only in Wei Kingdom but also in Qingzhou, revered as a powerful presence wherever they go. As far as I know, there are always several Core Formation cultivators present in Qianchuan Market all year round, including both loose cultivators and members from great sect families.¡± Having said that, he didn¡¯t care about Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction. Lin Shilu paid ten low-grade spirit stones, and after the scrutinizing cultivator let them through, the two of them were able to enter the city. Once inside the city, they were on a wide road paved with bluestone, which was very broad. On both sides of the road, there were building after building, all different kinds of shops. The entire market was divided into four zones: east, south, west, and north. The entrance area was located in the West District, which was full of large shops opened by various commerce alliances, offering a wide variety, from elixirs to magic artifacts, and talisman papers to formations. ¡°Elixir Pavilion,¡± ¡°Hundred Treasures Hall,¡± ¡°Sundry Goods Shop,¡± ¡°Tavern,¡± ¡°Inn¡±¡ª such a dazzling array of establishments. Lin Tianming was very eager to go in and broaden his horizons, but the time was not right yet. Moving further in, they reached the East District of the entire market. Here stood a colossal building, towering dozens of feet high, the tallest in the whole market, covering a hundred acres; it was the core institution of the market, consisting of the auction house and Market City Hall. Nearby, dozens of courtyards served as the residences of the market¡¯s administrators and high-order cultivators. It was presumed that Core Formation cultivators lived here. The North District was the residential area for cultivators, with thousands of neat courtyards arrayed in order, all developed by the market as dwellings, available for short-term or long-term stays, and quite expensive. Many cultivators preferring short stays chose to rent inns as the more economical option. The South District was a vast square where cultivators could freely trade. Every cultivator who entered the city could rent a space spanning several square meters as a stall to sell their goods. In the entire market, the Law Enforcement Team often patrolled, ensuring excellent public order. Hardly any cultivator dared to fight within the market. As for the grudges between cultivators, they were beyond the market¡¯s control once outside its bounds. One could say that the market provided a stable and prosperous sanctuary for the loose cultivators of the Cultivation World, where their cultivation efforts could be redoubled. In the Cultivation World, markets could bring vast wealth, and each one was backed by sect families, without which it would be difficult to achieve such a scale. And Qianchuan Market was established under the leadership of one of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, the Zhenyang Sect, bringing in a hefty sum of spirit stones to the sect every year. The Zhenyang Sect was one of the three great sects in Wei Kingdom, with multiple Core Formation cultivators to its name, over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, and more than a thousand disciples, making it the leading power in the Southern Wei Kingdom. In the land of the Qingzhou Wei Kingdom, aside from the Zhenyang Sect, there are also two major sects, the ¡°Myriad Medicine Valley¡± and the ¡°Golden Sword Sect,¡± as well as two major families, the Yingchuan Chen Family and the West River Li Family, each with a varying number of Core Formation Cultivators stationed there. Listening to Lin Shilu¡¯s introduction, the two of them walked along the bustling streets, weaving through the clamorous West City. Lin Tianming felt his head spin as he passed by the various shops, with the shop boys shouting out front, much like the cities of the Secular World, except this city was entirely dominated by cultivators. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming and his companion made their way through the lively West City and arrived outside the great hall for renting cave dwellings. After discussing, they hadn¡¯t settled on the duration of their visit, which might be as short as three months or as long as a year; both decided that renting a small cave dwelling would be more cost-effective and safer. The two entered the great hall, where a huge divine map displayed thousands of red dots representing occupied cave dwellings and hundreds of green dots for those available for selection. Inside the hall, more than ten cultivators bustled about selecting cave dwellings, including several at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Lin Tianming and his companion approached the reception desk, and immediately a sixth-level Qi Refining Cultivator promptly greeted them. ¡°Welcome, seniors, to select a cave dwelling. Please examine the map above and instruct the junior if you find one suitable. This junior will introduce them to you,¡± the attendant said. Lin Shilu nodded thoughtfully while studying the large screen. The receptionist began to effusively introduce the options. ¡°The dots on the map above are divided into two major areas, inner and outer. Near the inner city area are the First Order cave dwellings with ten acres of space, and the inner ones are Second Order dwellings with thirty acres. The price for a First Order dwelling is five low-grade Spirit Stones per month, while a Second Order dwelling costs twenty low-grade Spirit Stones per month. The minimum rental period is one month. Which kind of dwelling would you like to choose?¡± he asked. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu pointed to one of the Second Order cave dwellings, took out one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, and handed them to the receptionist Qi Refining Cultivator. Upon receiving the Spirit Stones, the receptionist quickly scanned them with his Divine Sense and then handed Lin Shilu a turquoise token, saying, ¡°Senior, please keep the token safe. You can proceed directly to the cave dwelling, as the token will automatically sense its specific location. When you display the token, it will unlock the various formations of the dwelling. If your rental period ends and you wish to extend, you can come to the hall to complete the procedures. If there¡¯s anything else you need, please feel free to instruct this junior.¡± Lin Shilu took the token, and he and Lin Tianming walked out of the great hall, heading towards the location of their cave dwelling. Along the way, Lin Shilu held the token, navigating through dozens of alleys, sensing the location of the dwelling. Within less than half an hour, the two stopped in front of a small courtyard located deep within the North District, a very quiet place. Lin Shilu displayed the token and cast a Law Decree, walking in first with Lin Tianming immediately following. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw a yard of several zhang, complete with stone tables and chairs, artificial mountains, and a pond, fully equipped with guest rooms on either side, rooms for training, secret chambers for alchemy and refining, and even Earth Fire. The layout was quite refined, accommodating several cultivators without issue. Feeling the Spiritual Energy of this place, which was in no way inferior to Green Bamboo Mountain and considering the one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones for half a year¡¯s tenancy, it was hardly a surprise. By now, twilight had fallen, and after more than twenty days of travel, both decided to rest first and visit Ye Pinghai the next day, as a show of respect. They each picked a guest room and settled in. Weary from over twenty days of outdoor hardship, Lin Tianming was too exhausted to practice cultivation, so he immediately fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 39 - 39 - 38 Dragon Origin Grass_1 Chapter 39 ¨C 38 Dragon Origin Grass_1 The next day, after a night of rest, Lin Tianming and his companion felt their fatigue of over twenty days vanish as they sat in the small courtyard, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, did you keep a way to contact Senior Ye? Otherwise, in such a vast market, how could we possibly find a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? It¡¯s almost like looking for a needle in a haystack.¡± Lin Shilu picked up a teacup from the stone table, took a sip, and calmly said: ¡°I¡¯ve been to Qianchuan Market a few times and have even met Daoist Ye once. I kept a way to contact him. Let me send a message now; I believe he will reply once he receives it, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Lin Shilu formed a hand gesture and sent a message. In less than a moment, a flash of spiritual light soared into the void and disappeared. Half an hour passed, and Lin Shilu had yet to receive any reply. Lin Tianming and he were both quite helpless. The Lin Family had taken significant risks on this journey, living through difficult times and threatened by rival families¡¯ ambitions to swallow them up. They had luckily come across this opportunity to quickly increase their strength and had rushed to Qianchuan Market, but they could not afford to waste much time here. ... Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Shilu grew anxious, he comforted Lin Tianming. ¡°Daoist Ye, as a Loose Cultivator, has been cultivating in Qianchuan Market for a long time. It¡¯s hard to say how long a cultivator might spend in seclusion for alchemy, so it may not be easy to meet him. Although we are pressed for time, we mustn¡¯t act in haste and lose our footing.¡± Lin Tianming showed a helpless expression, knowing that being anxious wasn¡¯t a solution, and they could only continue to wait. Time ticked away in this tense atmosphere, and soon half a day had elapsed. Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light flew into the courtyard, hovering in front of Lin Shilu. He projected his divine sense into it, and a voice echoed in his ear. ¡°It is a joy to have friends come from afar. This evening, at the West District¡¯s Welcome Pavilion, Lin is cordially invited to a banquet. Please be sure to come.¡± Having heard everything, the spiritual light dissolved on the spot, turning into specks of light that vanished. Any trace of anxiety in Lin Shilu vanished completely. Lin Tianming, full of concern, asked, ¡°Is that a reply from Senior Ye?¡± ¡°Oh, yes, it¡¯s a reply from Daoist Ye. He invites us to the Welcome Pavilion in the West District this evening for a banquet.¡± Hearing that, Lin Tianming finally breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Senior Ye was not in a prolonged retreat; otherwise, they would have no idea how long they might have to wait to meet him. With half a day left before the appointed time, Lin Tianming was not inclined to cultivate; instead, he said to Lin Shilu: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, there¡¯s still plenty of time. I would like to wander around the marketplace to experience this place¡¯s prosperity. Please allow me!¡± Lin Shilu pondered for a moment. Since fighting was prohibited in the market, and as long as they stayed within, it would be relatively safe. Thinking it was natural for him to see the world since he brought him along, Lin Shilu gave his consent. ¡°Remember to come back before evening, don¡¯t stir up trouble, and don¡¯t leave Qianchuan Market on your own. If there¡¯s an emergency, contact me immediately. Go ahead!¡± Lin Tianming readily agreed, then withdrew from the courtyard and headed towards the West District. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming appeared in the bustling West District, where row upon row of shops left him overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do, clearly spoilt for choice. Recalling the spiritual medicine materials needed for concocting Pozhang Pills, Lin Tianming realized he was still lacking a key ingredient, the Dragon Origin Grass. Though the Dragon Origin Grass was a First Order Superior Grade spirit grass, its preciousness surpassed most Second Order Spiritual Medicines. The Dragon Origin Grass required a very special environment to grow, needing a place where the blood of a Third Order Flood Dragon had been spilled in order to have a chance of sprouting. Third Order Flood Dragons were on par with Core Formation Cultivators; their blood was exceedingly precious and naturally not easy to come by. As he walked, a store named Thousand Herbs Pavilion caught his attention. Its massive signboard exuded grandeur. As its name suggested, it was likely a store specializing in selling Spiritual and Elixir Pills. With a glimmer of hope, Lin Tianming entered to see if he could purchase the needed herb. Upon entering the Thousand Herbs Pavilion, Lin Tianming was immediately greeted by an attendant at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, who was very enthusiastic and said with a smile, ¡°Daoist friend, please take a seat. My surname is Qin, and I¡¯m responsible for receiving visitors to our store. Whatever spirit herbs or elixirs you need, or if you wish to sell some spiritual medicine materials, please feel free to speak up. I¡¯m not boasting, but our store has virtually everything that a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator might need.¡± Lin Tianming looked disdainful, wondering if they even had Foundation Establishment Pills. ¡°Oh? Do you have Dragon Origin Grass by any chance?¡± The expression of the cultivator surnamed Qin changed subtly at the mention of Dragon Origin Grass, which was not cheap. The whole store had only a few Dragon Origin Grass plants, and he surmised the visitor must be an alchemist wanting to concoct elixirs or needing it for an elder in his family. The attendant gathered his thoughts and responded calmly, ¡°We do, but the price is sizeable¡ªeighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones per plant. How many would you like?¡± Lin Tianming was immediately delighted. He hadn¡¯t been able to find a single Dragon Origin Grass in the Lin Family¡¯s storeroom, and to think he could easily find it in Qianchuan Market, despite the steep price, was no small feat. ¡°I would like three plants of Dragon Origin Grass. Could you possibly offer a lower price?¡± Although his storage bag still contained over a thousand spirit stones, a significant sum indeed, Lin Tianming put on an embarrassed face, hoping to haggle. The cultivator surnamed Qin pondered for a moment, considering that this cultivator was buying three plants of Dragon Origin Grass in one go and must be at least a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Anticipating future purchases of spiritual medicine, he decided to initiate a friendship. Alchemists were highly sought after in the Cultivation World, and he might need the cultivator¡¯s help in the future. It was worth fostering a good relationship for potential benefits. ¡°Daoist friend, I can give you the lowest price of seventy-five spirit stones per plant. If you will come back to purchase more spiritual medicine in the future, please look after our business, and I will make sure to offer you the best price available.¡± Lin Tianming regarded the sincere demeanor of the Qin surnamed cultivator and didn¡¯t suspect any deceit. Saving fifteen spirit stones on the three plants wasn¡¯t a small sum, so he gladly agreed. The attendant poured a cup of tea for Lin Tianming and then went into the storeroom to get the Dragon Origin Grass for him. Lin Tianming sat in the guest chair at the side, sipping his tea while waiting patiently. After a short while, the cultivator surnamed Qin returned to the hall, holding three jade boxes, which he handed to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming carefully examined them. The entire spirit herb was a vivid red, resembling fresh blood, with three palm-sized leaves at the top of the stalk. The aroma was rich; there was no doubt it was the hundred-year-old Dragon Origin Grass. Once he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the Dragon Origin Grass, Lin Tianming decisively took out two hundred twenty-five spirit stones and handed them to the cultivator surnamed Qin. After a quick sweep of his Divine Sense over the spirit stones, Qin surnamed cultivator accepted them and prompted Lin Tianming to continue enjoying his tea, keen on becoming closer. While drinking the tea, Lin Tianming inquired about the market, exchanged a few pleasantries, and promised to take care of his business in the future. Then, Lin Tianming left the Thousand Herbs Pavilion. Since it was still early, Lin Tianming strolled around the West District, browsing through a variety of stores, looking at all the dazzling treasures. He saw so much that it nearly made his head spin, but he didn¡¯t purchase anything, content with just broadening his horizons. Time ticked away, and the sun was about to set. Recalling Lin Shilu¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming left the West District to head toward the rented cave dwelling, preparing to meet up and go to the Welcoming Guests Tower to visit Ye Pinghai. Chapter 40 - 40 - 39 Ye Pinghai _1 Chapter 40 ¨C 39 Ye Pinghai _1 Arriving back at the courtyard, with half an hour to go until the appointed time, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu sat down to drink tea and pass the time. ¡°Kid, did you find anything good while you were out?¡± ¡°Reporting to Fifteenth Grandfather, I had a substantial haul. I purchased several spiritual medicine materials that our Family Merits Hall doesn¡¯t have. They are for alchemy. Today was quite the eye-opener; there are indeed countless treasures in the market. It simply cannot compare to Luoyun Market. Indeed, it is a paradise for cultivators. Once our clan grows stronger, we must expand our business here. If managed well, the gains would undoubtedly be substantial.¡± ¡°That is true. The foundation of our family is too shallow. For nearly a century, our situation has been increasingly difficult. Even within the Luoyun Mountain Range, we¡¯re struggling to survive between the cracks. Who doesn¡¯t want to expand the family business? Ye Pinghai is a Second Order Alchemist and is quite young, about the same age as this old man, and has already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. A Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist, his talent is not low, and he has a fair chance of reaching the Core Formation Stage. When you meet him, you must show respect and not offend him. Remember, you are the hope for our family¡¯s rise. Remember to focus on your cultivation, and reach Foundation Establishment early to relieve some of the family¡¯s pressure.¡± Lin Tianming agreed, and the two of them began to chat leisurely. ¡°It¡¯s getting late; it¡¯s almost time for our appointment. Let¡¯s head out.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ... Lin Shilu stood up from the courtyard, and Lin Tianming followed behind him as they headed towards the West District of the market. In less than fifteen minutes, they had passed through numerous cultivator dwellings and arrived on a broad road in the West District. In view, at a prominent location, stood a magnificent pavilion with the glorious gold and jade. The huge plaque was flamboyantly inscribed with three large characters: Welcome Pavilion, exuding an extraordinary aura. The two men, one in front of the other, stepped into the Welcome Pavilion. Inside, a vast number of cultivators were dining on the first floor, most of them in the Qi Refining Stage, chatting in groups of threes and twos, and the noisy sound was ceaseless to the ears. Upon seeing the two enter the main hall, a servant at the Fourth Level of Qi Practice hurried over to greet them with great respect and asked, ¡¯Esteemed guests, please come inside. Are you here for an appointment, or would you like a table for yourselves?¡¯ ¡¯For an appointment. We¡¯re specially invited by Daoist Ye of Ye Pinghai. Where is Daoist Ye at the moment? Has he arrived?¡¯ Hearing this, the servant showed even more respect and couldn¡¯t help feeling envious. Ye Pinghai¡¯s name resounded throughout Qianchuan Market; not only was he at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but he was also a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Aside from Core Formation Stage experts, Ye Pinghai was one of the few Second Order Alchemists, with an extremely esteemed status. There were countless cultivators seeking his help, and the fact that these two were invited to dine with him suggested that they were no ordinary individuals. ¡¯Elder, please follow me. Daoist Ye has already arrived and is waiting in a private room on the second floor.¡¯ Following the attendant, Lin Tianming and his companion ascended to the second floor. Compared to the bustling noise on the first floor, the second floor was much quieter. Each room was a separate private space, and as Lin Tianming observed the rich and splendid decorations in the corridor, he mused that meal here must cost quite a lot. After a little more than ten breaths, they passed through several corridors and the party of three stopped at the entrance to a private room deep inside the second floor. The cultivator in charge of reception said respectfully, ¡¯Elder Ye is already waiting inside, you can go directly in, your humble servant will wait outside, and should you have any instructions, feel free to summon me at any time,¡¯ Lin Shilu nodded with satisfaction and tossed three Spirit Stones to the receptionist. The receptionist caught the Spirit Stones with a face full of surprise and thanked him respectfully; three Spirit Stones were a considerable amount for a First Order Rogue Cultivator like him, who, with poor natural talent, had a great need for cultivation resources. This necessity forced him to work as a receptionist at the Welcome Pavilion, toiling to earn Spirit Stones. Reliant on his salary and tips, he could earn around a dozen Spirit Stones each month, enough to buy a Lingshen Pill to aid in his Qi Cultivation, which had only reached the Fourth Level Qi Practice ¡ª a feat not easily accomplished. Lin Shilu paid no more attention to the receptionist and entered the private room with Lin Tianming, leaving the excited receptionist standing outside. Upon entering the private room, they saw a middle-aged cultivator in blue robes sitting at the round table, with sharp brows and piercing eyes, very heroic-looking ¡ª it was Ye Pinghai. On the round table were over a dozen jade containers filled with food that looked delicious. The entire room was overflowing with enticing aromas. Seeing Lin Shilu and others enter the private room, Ye Haiping stood up to welcome them, acting very courteously and completely without pretense. ¡¯It brings me great joy to have an old friend visit. Please take a seat quickly. The fine food of this establishment is quite delicious. Daoist Lin, make sure to eat plenty as we talk over the meal.¡¯ Lin Shilu revealed a hint of a smile, replying very sincerely, ¡¯It¡¯s an unexpected honor to disturb you, please forgive me, Daoist Ye. Today¡¯s rare meeting will certainly call for a toast later on, as a token of my respect.¡¯ S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¯This is my family¡¯s Lin Shigong¡¯s grandson, Lin Tianming, also a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, here specifically to meet Daoist Ye at Luoyun Market.¡¯ ¡¯Tianming, don¡¯t hesitate to greet Elder Ye.¡¯ Lin Tianming bowed with his fists clasped and said, ¡¯I often hear my grandfather speak of Elder Ye, and hold you in high regard. Today, I finally have the chance to meet you in person. Junior Tianming greets Elder Ye.¡¯ Throughout the process, he behaved neither submissively nor arrogantly, but composed and calm. ¡¯Hm, I have not seen Brother Shi Gong for many years and it¡¯s truly regrettable. His grandson truly carries an extraordinary bearing, most impressive. Please take your seat.¡¯ Pleased with Lin Tianming¡¯s demeanor, Ye Haiping took out two bottles of first-order Lingshen Pills from his storage bag and presented them to Lin Tianming as a greeting gift. After that, he happily invited the two to sit down. Having filled the cups with wine, he cast a restrictive spell to prevent eavesdropping. ¡¯Brother Lin, it¡¯s been many years since we¡¯ve met. Today we must have a good exchange of insights. Tianming, make sure to eat well too. The Spirit Beast meat prepared by the Welcome Pavilion is quite exceptional, consuming more can strengthen a cultivator¡¯s vitality and it¡¯s not insignificant for your cultivation.¡¯ Lin Tianming nodded like a pecking chick, helping himself unreservedly to the delicious food before him. After biting into a chunk of beast meat, he swallowed it down in large bites. The savory meat melted in his mouth, bolstering Lin Tianming¡¯s physical body with spiritual power, clearly from a First Order Superior Grade Spirit Beast. Consuming a few bites appeared to have increased his strength somewhat. Although the effect was small, regular consumption would likely yield good results. Raising his cup of wine, Lin Tianming took the initiative to toast Ye Pinghai, and the three of them drank it down in one go. After the Spiritual Wine hit his throat, a fiery sensation rushed straight to his head. It was obviously not ordinary wine but must have been high-age Spiritual Medicine soaked liquor. Just one sip had slightly increased Lin Tianming¡¯s spiritual power. Considering Elder Ye was also an alchemist, brewing some Spiritual Wine shouldn¡¯t be too difficult; this must be from his private collection. Lin Tianming¡¯s manner of eating caused Lin Shilu to look on disdainfully, silently chiding the boy in his heart for his disgraceful behavior. Lin Shilu and Ye Haiping began chatting over their Spiritual Wine, discussing not only about cultivation but also about Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging. Though they were Alchemist and Artifact Refiner respectively, the essence of crafting in both fields shared many similarities, making their conversation harmonious. As numerous dishes came and went, and after several rounds of wine, the three men¡¯s faces turned red. Several bottles of high-quality Spiritual Wine had been consumed, and they began to discuss serious matters. Chapter 41 - 41 - 40 Guidance on Alchemy_1 Chapter 41 ¨C 40 Guidance on Alchemy_1 Lin Shilu looked around cautiously and said, ¡°Ye, my grandson and I have traveled thousands of miles to Qianchuan Market to seek your help in concocting elixirs. Rest assured, the reward will definitely satisfy you.¡± ¡°However, the elixirs to be concocted this time, though not high-grade, are no small matter. This issue must not be publicized or leaked out. I hope Ye can keep it confidential.¡± Seeing Lin Shilu take the matter so seriously, Ye Haiping became curious and asked, ¡°What kind of pills are so important to the Lin Family that you value them so highly?¡± Lin Shilu took out a pill formula written on a piece of beast skin and handed it to Ye Pinghai. It detailed the ¡°Minor Foundation Building Pill¡± that Lin Tianming had obtained from the ancient cultivator¡¯s cave dwellings. Ye Pinghai took the pill formula and began to carefully examine it, evaluating its authenticity for a full quarter of an hour. Shocked yet incredulous, Ye realized that the Minor Foundation Building Pill in Qingzhou was indeed a precious item. While easier to conjure and with good effects, the concoction of the Minor Foundation Building Pill and its spiritual medicine materials were relatively simple. ... Ye judged that the pill formula was indeed an ancient one, unheard of before, and possibly even one that had emerged from the human heartlands of Xuanzhou or Yunzhou. Its authenticity seemed high, and in a remote place like Qingzhou, it was indeed invaluable. No wonder Lin Shilu was so cautious. ¡°Brother Lin, rest assured. Brother Shi Gong owes me a life-saving debt. I swear by my Heart Demon that I will keep this matter completely confidential and will not reveal the slightest bit. Should there be a leak, may I suffer and die in the Heart Demon Tribulation.¡± Lin Shilu was also surprised. He dared not ask for such a serious oath, and yet Ye volunteered it, which spoke volumes of Ye Haiping¡¯s trustworthiness. Had the family¡¯s foundation not been so weak, devoid of a Second Order Alchemist, and the training of one taken decades and immense resources, they could not afford to wait. Otherwise, they would not entrust such an important matter to an outsider, and it was fortunate Ye Haiping knew to repay kindness. Otherwise, they really would have to take enormous risks. Lin Shilu¡¯s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed. He took out a storage bag and handed it to Ye Pinghai. ¡°Brother Ye, I cannot thank you enough for your great kindness. Our Lin Family has extended aid to you many times. Before coming here, the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly promised that should you ever need the Lin Family¡¯s assistance within our means, you need only command us. There are fifteen portions of Minor Foundation Building Pill spiritual medicine materials in this storage bag. No matter the number of pills concocted, the Lin Family will show its gratitude after they are made, as per industry practice.¡± In the Cultivation World, there are established norms for asking fellow cultivators to concoct elixirs or craft tools. For instance, in alchemy, one brings one¡¯s own materials, and the alchemist, upon completion, may keep thirty percent of the finished pills as compensation. If there is an uneven number, compensation can be made with equivalent spirit stones. If the alchemy fails, the alchemist only needs to pay fifty percent of the spiritual medicine¡¯s value in spirit stones as compensation. Should there be another division method, it can be agreed upon beforehand, provided both parties approve. The same general rules apply to tool crafting. Ye Pinghai took the storage bag, checked the spiritual medicine materials to ensure nothing was missing, and then said, ¡°Though the Minor Foundation Building Pill is not too difficult to concoct, it¡¯s not easy either. I need to prepare and adjust my condition to try to produce as many pills as possible. The entire process will likely take at least half a year.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You can wait for a while in the market. Also, please have Tian Ming come over to assist me, and I¡¯ll take the opportunity to offer him some guidance too. How much he learns will be up to him.¡± Ye Pinghai¡¯s offer was a significant help to Lin Tianming and intended to reassure Lin Shilu. After all, being personally guided by a Second Order Alchemist in potion crafting would accelerate the improvement of one¡¯s skills far more than solitary practice. At this moment, Lin Tianming was extremely excited. It had been a long time since he had concocted any elixirs. His trip to Qianchuan Market was aimed at concocting the Xisui Pill, Pozhang Pill, and the critical Body Strengthening Pill and Strong Spirit Pill for his practice. These pills were all First Order Superior Grade, and with Ye Pinghai¡¯s personal guidance, the chances of successful concoction would greatly increase. ¡°Thank you Senior Ye, I will definitely work hard and not let you down,¡± Lin Tianming earnestly said. As night fell, having discussed and agreed on all arrangements, Lin Shilu, and two others left the guesthouse, bid each other farewell, and after agreeing to have Lin Tianming go to Ye Pinghai¡¯s dwelling to study at dawn the next day, they each returned to their own dwellings. On the way back, Lin Shilu was very happy. He was charged with the heavy responsibility of the family¡¯s development, carrying the family¡¯s expectations, and thankfully, everything went very smoothly. As long as he brought the Minor Foundation Building Pills back to the family, he would have completed his mission perfectly. When they returned to the small courtyard, each retired to their rooms, Lin Tianming went to sleep peacefully, to rest up for tomorrow when he would begin making elixirs. Early in the morning, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance of a small courtyard, sent a message inside, and after a few moments, he walked in. The entire small courtyard was slightly larger than the one rented by Lin Shilu, modestly decorated, and Ye Pinghai was already waiting inside. ¡°I pay my respects to Senior Ye!¡± Ye Pinghai nodded slightly with a smile and asked, ¡°Which elixirs can you make now? What is the success rate of your pills?¡± ¡°To answer Senior, I am currently making First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills, Huiyuan Pills, and Consolidating Essence Pills, with a success rate of forty percent and about four pills per batch.¡± Ye Pinghai was also shocked after hearing this; a seventeen-year-old who could become a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, with a success rate and pill count that were not low. Such alchemy talent, he estimated, was like a phoenix feather or unicorn horn in the entire Wei Kingdom, probably only outdone by geniuses in the distant Cloud and Mystery States. ¡°Follow me to the Alchemy Room. I will guide you in alchemy for a few days. Afterwards, I need to devote myself to making the Minor Foundation Building Pills. You can leave after watching a few batches, pay close attention, and it will be easier for you to make Second Order Pills in the future.¡± Lin Tianming agreed respectfully and followed Ye Pinghai into the Alchemy Room. ¡°First, make a batch of First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills for me to see. Adjust your state well, I will give you pointers from the side, and when it¡¯s about right, try making First Order High Quality elixirs.¡± Lin Tianming took out his Four Symbols Furnace and Spiritual Medicine Materials, habitually circulated his cultivation technique to regulate his breath, drew forth the Earth Fire, and in half an incense stick¡¯s time, controlled the temperature of the Pill Furnace and Earth Fire. When it was about right, he began melting down the Spiritual Medicine Materials one by one, refining and purifying them. After an hour, a pleasant fragrance permeated the entire Alchemy Room. Opening the furnace lid, five Lingshen Pills were suspended in the furnace, each one bright and glossy, all being high-quality products. Lin Tianming was thrilled, as he mostly got four pills in his batches of elixirs, and it was rare to have five. Unexpectedly, his first batch today yielded five pills, and the time it took was also reduced significantly. Upon reflection, he attributed it to his increased cultivation, stronger Divine Sense, and the fact that his Four Symbols Furnace had been restored from First Order Superior Grade to Second Order Lower Grade, which made his alchemy even more smooth and effective. Ye Pinghai picked up an elixir between two fingers, scrutinizing it carefully, nodding occasionally, shaking his head at times, and it was unclear whether he was satisfied or not. ¡°Young man, you¡¯ve already done very well, but the details aren¡¯t quite perfect. The vintages of the Spiritual Medicine Materials aren¡¯t uniform, the refinement times vary, and the moment of opening the furnace isn¡¯t fixed. You should adjust based on the actual situation, which can greatly improve the pill success rate and pill count. Try again later,¡± suggested Ye Pinghai. Lin Tianming listened patiently, thought for a brief period, and then started making elixirs once again. Chapter 42 - 42 - 41 Refining Xisui Pill_1 Chapter 42 ¨C 41 Refining Xisui Pill_1 ¡°` S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the Alchemy Room, Lin Tianming sat upright on his meditation cushion as Ye Pinghai stood by his side, occasionally offering a few words of guidance. After a day of Alchemy, Lin Tianming had already attempted to concoct three cauldrons of Lingshen Pills. Despite the failure of the second batch, the third batch yielded six successful pills, reflecting both a steady increase in his success rate and the number of pills produced. At the moment, Lin Tianming was in the midst of concocting the fourth cauldron of Lingshen Pills, wholeheartedly infusing his Spiritual Power into the process, preparing to solidify the pills once a sufficient amount had been instilled. A sudden roar from Ye Pinghai nearly startled Lin Tianming into breaking out in a cold sweat. ¡°Boy, the time is now!¡± ¡°Solidify!¡± ... A refreshing fragrance filled the air as the fourth cauldron of elixirs was successfully concocted. Upon opening the lid of the cauldron, seven pills with an intermingling of black and green hues were suspended within. They had a uniform and bright appearance with Spiritual Energy swirling around them. ¡°The youth is indeed teachable, truly teachable!¡± Ye Pinghai was extremely pleased, exclaiming in admiration repeatedly. With his guidance, Lin Tianming¡¯s success rate and pill count had risen sharply, to the point that he was fully capable of trying to concoct First Order Superior Grade elixirs. With Ye Pinghai there to guide him, the chances of success were high. Lin Tianming also found, to his unexpected delight, that following Ye Pinghai¡¯s advice to adjust to the optimal timing based on the properties of the Spiritual Medicine indeed provided significant help in Alchemy, visibly improving both the success rate and the number of pills, and greatly speeding up the process as well. After a moment of contemplation, Ye Pinghai spoke up: ¡°Your improvement is not insignificant; you can now attempt to concoct First Order Superior Grade elixirs. Have you decided which elixir to try? Do you have the Spiritual Medicine and Pill Formula?¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to delay, hastily replying: ¡°In response to my senior¡¯s question, this junior wishes to try concocting the Xisui Pill. I already have both the Pill Formula and the required Spiritual Medicine Materials at the ready. I only need to rest for four hours to recover before I can begin, and I humbly ask for senior¡¯s permission!¡± ¡°Hm, you recover first. I shall wait here,¡± Ye Pinghai answered. Lin Tianming began to meditate to recover, while Ye Pinghai reviewed the Pill Formula for the Minor Foundation Building Pill on the side, preparing in advance for the subsequent concoction. Once four hours had passed, Lin Tianming was almost fully recovered, nearly at his peak condition. He took out the five portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Xisui Pill and arranged them beside him. After a series of preparations, he commenced with the Alchemy. It took him over an hour just to break down and purify the more than ten types of Spiritual Medicine Materials. As time slipped away, and just before the phase of solidifying the pill, Lin Tianming infused Spiritual Energy and there was a crisp sound, shattering the silence¡ªthe first cauldron of Xisui Pills was a failed concoction. Upon opening the lid of the cauldron, a slightly putrid smell rushed out, catching Lin Tianming off guard and almost bringing tears to his eyes. A pile of pill residue lay at the bottom of the cauldron. Lin Tianming scooped up the wasted residue and placed it in the prepared Jade Bottle. The Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Xisui Pill were not cheap, so he could not afford to waste them; they might come in handy at some point. It was then that Ye Pinghai also spoke up: ¡°Boy, not all elixirs require the same intensity of fire, and this is especially true for higher-level elixirs where the adjustment of the fire becomes increasingly complex. Some elixirs need a fierce fire for successful pill solidification, and the First Order Superior Grade elixirs certainly do. You¡¯ll need to try a few more times, but the hopes for success are not small.¡± ¡°` Hearing these words, Lin Tianming suddenly realized and was not discouraged, although it was already a slim hope for success for the first trial at alchemy, failure was inevitable, and with these limitations in place, it was no wonder he had not succeeded. With his mindset adjusted, Lin Tianming tried again to refine the Xisui Pill. As a day went by, after three consecutive failures, Lin Tianming refused to be superstitious and persisted in starting the fourth attempt at refining the Xisui Pill. Now well-versed in the process, he skillfully navigated through it, and when it was time to solidify the pill, Lin Tianming controlled the Earth Fire, instantly doubling its vitality. A piercing sound broke the silence, and after persevering for a moment, a fragrant aroma filled the air, Lin Tianming finished up and couldn¡¯t wait to lift the lid of the furnace. Three golden pills were suspended in the furnace, and Lin Tianming was ecstatic, meticulously examining a Xisui Pill he picked up. Bright in color and full of spiritual energy, they were indeed genuine Xisui Pills. After three trial adjustments, he finally succeeded on the fourth attempt at refining. Ye Pinghai was expressionless, but inside he was quite surprised and inwardly marveled, acknowledging that the boy indeed had a high talent for alchemy. The reason he had said to try a few more times was to encourage and console, he had never expected success in the fourth furnace; it was truly unbelievable. Reflecting on his own past, where it took him more than ten years to reach the status of a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist and over forty years to become a Second Order Alchemist, he was deemed a genius Alchemist by many Cultivators in Qianchuan Market. And this young man, having cultivated for only so many years, had already entered the rank of a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist¡ªit was enough to drive one mad with envy! Lin Tianming placed the Xisui Pills into a Jade Bottle, intending to strike while the iron was hot, to solidify his Alchemy and refine the last batch of Xisui Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials. Having succeeded once, the process felt effortless when he tried it again, and within half a day, Lin Tianming had used up the last batch of Xisui Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials. The fifth furnace material luckily succeeded in forming pills, and out of five furnaces of Spiritual Medicine Materials, the last two succeeded in creating pills, each with three pills, which surprised Lin Tianming very much. At this moment, Lin Tianming was officially a qualified First Order Superior Grade Alchemist. The hard work of several days had not been in vain. Success in alchemy always comes after trials, and having succeeded once, subsequent refining of other First Order Superior Grade elixirs should become easier. Lin Tianming put away the Four Symbols Furnace, and gave the three Xisui Pills to Ye Pinghai. Although these pills were not much to Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming still wanted to express his gratitude. Overwhelmed with emotion, it took him a long time to calm down. With his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power exhausted, it was not suitable to refine pills again. He sincerely expressed his thanks. ¡°Junior greatly appreciates the guidance of the senior. Without your meticulous explanations and guidance, I do not know when I would have succeeded. I will keep this great kindness in mind and if one day I reach the Core Formation Stage, I will repay this debt.¡± At this time, Ye Pinghai felt very fortunate for his good deeds. It is better to deliver charcoal in snowy weather than to add flowers on a brocade, and this youth¡¯s talent was extremely high; who knew if he might one day rely on him. Ye Pinghai was also very courteous, without any pretension, and replied, ¡°It¡¯s all due to your talent and understanding, friend. Even if I didn¡¯t say it, you would have understood eventually. There¡¯s no need for the pills. I have already taken the Xisui Pill, and taking more is pointless. Your family needs these elixirs more, you should keep them for yourself.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve achieved your goal and I have almost finished adjusting, we can start refining the Minor Foundation Building Pills. I aim to complete the commission as soon as possible and let you return to your family. You should spend the remaining month here, observing the process, hoping it will help you.¡± Lin Tianming respectfully said, ¡°I honor your instruction, senior.¡± Ye Pinghai then tidied up the Alchemy Room and began to meditate in preparation for his next refinement. Lin Tianming sat down on the spot, recalling the entire process of alchemy to consolidate his understanding, and healed to recover his condition. Chapter 43 - 43 - 42 Observing Alchemy_1 Chapter 43 ¨C 42 Observing Alchemy_1 The next day, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes from the night before, as did Ye Pinghai. Lin Tianming took the initiative to step forward and pay his respects, waiting for Ye Pinghai¡¯s instructions. ¡°Today, I will begin refining Minor Foundation Building Pills. You can watch for a few furnaces, then you¡¯ll be able to leave my cave abode and return to your cultivation,¡± Ye Pinghai said. Lin Tianming replied calmly, ¡°I will follow Senior¡¯s orders without any objection.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded, took out a fiery-red Pill Furnace from his storage bag, and laid out a set of Spiritual Medicine Materials, ready for refining, on a stone platform beside him. The entire Pill Furnace was fiery red, its surface densely covered with runes, exuding a powerful Spiritual Energy¡ªclearly, it was a Second Order Superior Pill Furnace, two minor grades higher than the Four Symbols Furnace he normally used. However, Lin Tianming was only momentarily surprised before he quickly regained his composure. After all, Ye Pinghai was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and also a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. With many years of Alchemy under his belt, his wealth was likely astonishing and far beyond what Lin Tianming could compare with. ... After Ye Pinghai took out the Pill Furnace from the storage bag, a faint fragrance filled the Alchemy Room¡ªevidence that the Pill Furnace, after long-term use in pill refining, had been imbued with the scent of elixirs. This was the result of extensive alchemic practice. With a flick of a Law Decree, he struck the Pill Furnace, which instantly inflated dozens of times from the size of a palm to that of a water tank, hovering above the vent of the Earth Fire, motionless. Ye Pinghai sat on a cushion and began to channel his energy. Half an hour later, Earth Fire erupted, and a large flame as thick as a water bucket blazed directly onto the Pill Furnace. The temperature of the Pill Furnace climbed steadily, and the color of the Earth Fire had turned from fiery red to include a hint of gold. The temperature in the Alchemy Room had risen by dozens of degrees, and Lin Tianming was dripping with sweat. Any ordinary person would have found it difficult to endure even half an hour there and would likely have been roasted alive. As time progressed, and half a day passed, Ye Pinghai felt that the time was about right and began to throw a Spiritual Medicine into the Pill Furnace, using all his might to channel Spiritual Power and Divine Sense to decompose and purify the medicine, finally turning it into a clump of green-yellow liquid suspended in the furnace. Lin Tianming sat beside him, watching carefully and earnestly, not daring to miss the slightest detail. Seeing that Ye Pinghai had spent half a day just preheating the furnace¡ªa process tens of times longer than his own¡ªit was clear that refining Second Order Pills was indeed incomparable to First Order Elixirs. He estimated that the consumption of Spiritual Power and Divine Sense must also be enormous, Lin Tianming thought to himself. One by one, he decomposed and purified over a dozen types of Spiritual Medicine Materials, turning them into over a dozen clumps of various colored Spiritual Liquids. This single step alone had taken three days¡¯ time. Ye Pinghai began to Infuse Spirit. His face contorted with veins throbbing on his forehead, exhibiting a look of strain. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t know that Ye Pinghai had been decomposing and purifying Spiritual Medicine continuously for three days without replenishing his Spiritual Power. Most of his energy had been depleted, and the process of Infusion of Spirit for refining the Minor Foundation Building Pill was extremely draining. If not for deep cultivation, the task would have been even more arduous. After more than ten breaths, Ye Pinghai felt his infusion of Spiritual Power had reached its limit and suddenly let out a roar as loud as thunder. ¡°Solidify Pill!¡± Following the roar, he manipulated the power of the Earth Fire, which instantly surged several times in strength. The flames that had been steady beneath the Pill Furnace spread out to cover the entire furnace. The temperature in the Alchemy Room rose another notch, and it was clear that the moisture in the air was evaporating speedily; Tianming¡¯s soaked blue shirt dried almost immediately. After a few more moments of intense heating, an overpowering scent spread rapidly. Lin Tianming was exhilarated¡ªby the looks of it, the refining was a success. Ye Pinghai also wore an expression of joy, deeply exhaled a sigh of relief, and a wave of fatigue washed over him. He removed the lid of the furnace, and three pills hung within it, their fragrance so strong that one whiff seemed to revive the spirits, the entire pills were a brilliant golden-yellow, their surfaces marked by delicate, beautiful patterns, undoubtedly complete Minor Foundation Building Pills. Ye Pinghai took out two Minor Foundation Building Pills, examined them repeatedly, and after confirming there were no omissions, he placed them into the prepared Jade Bottle and handed them directly to Lin Tianming. ¡°These three Minor Foundation Building Pills, you should first deliver them to Lin, the process of making them took too long, nearly seven days for one furnace, and it was also my first time making such pills, the consumption was not small, I need three days to recover before I can continue making more.¡± ¡°I suggest that it¡¯s best for you to return these three Minor Foundation Building Pills to your clan immediately so that your clansmen can take them, then come back to Qianchuan Market to receive the remaining pills. There¡¯s plenty of time for that. With such an arrangement, you can enable your Qi Refining Great Perfection clan members to establish their foundations sooner rather than later, and maybe by the time you return, some of them will have already succeeded.¡± Lin Tianming nodded thoughtfully, also feeling that Ye Pinghai made a lot of sense, so he took the Jade Bottle, prepared to return to the cave dwelling in the market, and hand over the pills to Lin Shilu. After Lin Tianming took his leave, Ye Pinghai began meditating on the spot to cultivate and recover his significantly drained state. Upon leaving Ye Pinghai¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Tianming hurried back to the small courtyard rented by Lin Shilu without delay. He cast a Law Decree, entered the small courtyard, and with a face full of joy, he seemed radiant and very excited, quickly running up to Lin Shilu and even forgetting the most basic formalities towards an elder, but fortunately, Lin Shilu didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, these three Minor Foundation Building Pills are from Ye¡¯s first batch of Spiritual Medicine Materials. Ye instructed me to deliver them to you immediately.¡± ¡°Additionally, Ye suggested that you take these three Minor Foundation Building Pills and depart at once to return to our clan, so that our clansmen can take them as soon as possible. By the time we return to the clan, we may already have elders who have successfully established their foundation.¡± ¡°Now, for our clan, time is of the essence, and I also believe what Ye says makes sense. It will take at least half a year to finish making the fifteen batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, and it would be a waste of time for you to just wait here.¡± Lin Shilu listened and pondered on the side. As the saying goes, ¡¯be wary of others,¡¯ and though he didn¡¯t quite believe that Ye Pinghai meant harm, one could never be too careful! ¡°Tian Ming, during the entire pill-making process, were you watching all the time? Did you notice anything amiss?¡± ¡°To reply to Fifteenth Grandfather, I stood by and observed the entire process of pill-making by Ye, and I did not notice anything unusual. Additionally, the pills match the records exactly, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡± ¡°Hmm, in that case, let¡¯s proceed with that plan. I will personally take the three Minor Foundation Building Pills back to our clan, and you stay in the market. After three days, head to Ye Pinghai¡¯s cave dwelling to continue learning Alchemy.¡± ¡°Furthermore, focus on your cultivation and studies, and remember not to step out of the market in your free time nor stir up trouble within it. Once I¡¯ve delivered the pills to our clan, I will return immediately to join you.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming readily agreed, took out the Spirit Beast Bag and two bottles of Lingshen Pills to give to Lin Shilu, suggesting that riding the Purple Gold Eagle back to Green Bamboo Mountain could make the journey quicker and safer. Lin Shilu took the Spirit Beast Bag and the pills, handed the Token of the cave dwelling over to Lin Tianming, and set off immediately on his journey. Chapter 44 - 44 - 43 Marrow Cleansing_1 Chapter 44 ¨C 43 Marrow Cleansing_1 Having left Qianchuan Market, Lin Shilu released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag and threw a Lingshen Pill towards it. The Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t hesitate, biting it directly and swallowing, displaying a look of satisfaction. Mounting the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, the majestic creature took to the skies, swiftly rising hundreds of feet into the clouds and turning into a streak of light as it flew southward, disappearing into the vast expanse of clouds in just a few breaths¡¯ time. In the secret chamber of his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, having previously refined six Xisui Pills and now prepared to take one during this lull. He took out a Xisui Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. Half a quarter of an hour later, a series of crackling sounds erupted from his body, continuing relentlessly for half an hour. Waves of intense pain spread rapidly through every part of his body. Lin Tianming endured the pain as beads of sweat the size of soybeans couldn¡¯t stop falling from his forehead; his entire body was soaking as if drenched in rain. ... Once the half-hour had passed, the pain subsided, and he gradually returned to normal. Lin Tianming¡¯s body emitted a layer of black grime with a nauseating stench, more than ten times the amount expelled during his previous breakthrough, as if he had been buried in a mud pit for several days. Rising to his feet, Lin Tianming formed a hand seal and cast the Rain Control Technique, enjoying a comfortable shower in the artificially created rain, then took out a set of green robes from his storage bag to wear. On inspecting his body, his skin was as white as jade, tender and smooth, with muscles visibly bulkier. Throwing a punch, the feeble spiritual energy in the air burst apart, his strength having greatly increased; previously one punch exceeded a thousand jins, now he estimated it to be around one thousand two hundred jins. Lin Tianming examined his body¡¯s meridians and found that his whole circulatory system had become thicker and more robust, nearly ten percent larger than before, and the flow of spiritual power was much smoother. Although it seemed minor, the cumulative effect over time was significant. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with the effects of the Xisui Pill, holding it in even higher regard. The only pity was that a cultivator could only use one pill, as consuming more wouldn¡¯t greatly enhance the effect. Sighing at his own greed, Lin Tianming felt a pang of regret. Still having five Xisui Pills left, he could either gift them to close kinfolk or sell them for a good price. Casting several Flame Techniques, he dried the water on the ground, tidied up the slightly messy secret chamber, and prepared to go out for a stroll, knowing there wasn¡¯t much risk as long as he didn¡¯t leave the market. Before long, a burly man appeared on the broad cobblestone path, none other than Lin Tianming casually wandering around the market. ¡°I¡¯ve pretty much visited all the stores in the West District. I¡¯ve never been to the stall area in the Southern District,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, deciding to head there to see what it was like. Having made up his mind, he set off towards the Southern District. In a vast square, hundreds of stalls were set up, with hundreds of cultivators haggling fiercely, bustling with activity. Most of them were in the Qi Refinement Realm, and among the cultivators, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t make out the exact level of some, guessing they were either several orders higher than himself or were using special Spiritual Artifacts to conceal their true cultivation. Likewise, disguised and with his identity changed, it was unlikely anyone in the Foundation Establishment Stage could discern his real cultivation level. Renting a stall space only cost five spirit stones, which allowed one to set up for the whole day in the square; considering the lively crowd and the brisk business, it was quite a bargain. Lin Tianming weaved through the square, carefully inspecting the items on each stall. Most were common spiritual medicine materials, or demon beast inner cores and carcasses, and some stalls had Fu Lu Spiritual Instruments, but the grades weren¡¯t high, mostly First Order, low to mid-grade. Stalls selling elixirs were few, only five or six in number, and the elixirs were extremely ordinary. It made sense, Lin Tianming considered. The cultivators who set up stalls here were mostly low-level, only able to offer common goods. They wouldn¡¯t bring out high-quality elixirs and talismans for trade unless they were in desperate need of spirit stones. Lin Tianming meandered his way through the market, occasionally chatting with the cultivators behind their stalls, but he didn¡¯t buy anything. Instead, he was scouting the prices of various items. If he got the chance, he also planned to set up a stall to exchange some of his useless items for Spirit Stones. After asking around more than ten times, Lin Tianming had a fairly good grasp of the prices and goods at Qianchuan Market and continued to wander leisurely. He had strolled around for half a day without spotting anything that caught his eye. He had no need for Spiritual Medicine Materials or elixirs and talismans, so it seemed unlikely that he would find anything worthwhile. Lin Tianming continued browsing with diminishing interest. As he delved further into the square, a middle-aged blue-robed cultivator caught Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. The cultivator appeared to be around sixty years old, with more than twenty items on display at his stall. There were a variety of elixirs suitable for Qi Refining Cultivators, several grades of Spirit Grass, and a few Jade Tubes. The man sat on the ground with his eyes closed, exuding a sense of calm. Unlike the other stall owners who were calling out to attract attention, this man seemed unconcerned about whether he had any customers or not, which made him stand out from the rest. Judging by the items on the ground, this person must also be an Alchemist, selling items related to Alchemy and displaying an aloof temperament, quite different from the ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators. Lin Tianming picked up a Jade Tube and started to examine them one by one. Most of them were Pill Formulas that only showed names and descriptions, with the contents not visible. ¡°There¡¯s actually a Pill Formula called the Beast Spirit Pill,¡± he said to himself. Lin Tianming was rather surprised. As the name suggested, the Beast Spirit Pill was an elixir used by Demonic Beasts for cultivation. It was similar to the Lingshen Pill used by cultivators but was specifically for Demonic Beasts and not suitable for humans, as their bodies couldn¡¯t endure the potency. Mild cases could result in disability, while severe cases could lead to death. A slight excitement stirred within Lin Tianming. After wandering around for half a day, he finally found something useful. He decided to buy the Pill Formula, as it would be perfect for the Purple Gold Eagle to consume for rapid growth. Furthermore, he could also use it for other Spirit Beasts he might tame in the future. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming took the initiative to ask. ¡°Fellow Daoist, how much are you selling this Beast Spirit Pill Formula for?¡± he inquired. The blue-robed cultivator opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut, and said calmly, ¡°A fixed price, ninety Spirit Stones for the formula!¡± ¡°And how much for this ¡¯Chronicle of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders¡¯?¡± Lin Tianming asked, pointing to a book made from Beast Skin in front of him. ¡°Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones,¡± came the reply. Hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but show his surprise. The Pill Formula was indeed something he urgently needed. Together with the book that recorded heavenly and earthly wonders, he decided to make the purchase. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Lin Tianming was not short of Spirit Stones, he still put on an embarrassed expression and said, ¡°Fellow Daoist, I would like to offer three bottles of Lingshen Pills in exchange, and how about you include the book as a bonus gift?¡± The blue-robed cultivator pondered for a moment and agreed to the trade after a few seconds. Lin Tianming handed over the three bottles of Lingshen Pills to the blue-robed cultivator. Once the cultivator had removed the seals on the Jade Tubes, Lin Tianming collected the Pill Formula and the book into his storage bag and resumed casually wandering around the square. As half a day passed and evening approached, after spending most of the day at the market, besides purchasing the Jade Tubes and the book of wonders, he also bought several plants of Spiritual Medicine. They were the main ingredients for the Strong Spirit Pill and the Body Strengthening Pill and all were paid for with Lingshen Pills instead of Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming had a good supply of Lingshen Pills; he had used more than a dozen today, and with the same number remaining, plus the reward of Spiritual Medicine Materials from his family, there was no shortage. He could refine the medicines into elixirs at any time, and if he couldn¡¯t use them all, he needed to sell some. After leaving the Southern District, he hurried toward the North District. Ye Pinghai was still resting for two more days before he could resume Alchemy. Since it was not convenient to disturb him, Lin Tianming could only return to his cave dwelling to rest and make further plans. Chapter 45 - 45 - 44 Eye of Five Colors_1 Chapter 45 ¨C 44 Eye of Five Colors_1 Back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion in the secret room. With both hands holding the Jade Tube, he reviewed the Pill Formula for the Beast Spirit Pill with complete concentration. The Beast Spirit Pill and the Lingshen Pill had similar effects, and the required materials were almost the same, except the main ingredient was replaced with a Demon Core. The higher the grade of the Demon Core, the better the effect of the Beast Spirit Pill that was refined from it. The difficulty of refining it was only slightly higher than that of the Lingshen Pill. The Purple Gold Eagle was still quite important to Lin Tianming. It could be used not only for traveling, greatly increasing speed, but also to provide some assistance during spell battles. If nurtured properly, advancing to the Second Order was only a matter of time. With the Beast Spirit Pill, the Purple Gold Eagle could advance rapidly. After putting away the Pill Formula Jade Tube into his storage bag, he took out the Chronicle of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders and started to search through it carefully. He had seen introductions to some heavenly and earthly wonders in his family several times, most of which were low-order items. There were only a few high-order wonders recorded, but the Cultivation World was vast and deep, with cultivation existing for hundreds of thousands of years. Although most species were almost the same, every region had different wonders, and many Spiritual Objects were not even collected completely. Purchasing this book was not just to broaden his horizons, but also to see if he could find clues about the stone from the Ancient Cultivator¡¯s Cave Dwellings. ... Lin Tianming was convinced that the colorful stone was definitely no ordinary item; otherwise, it would not have been preserved intact over tens of thousands of years. Even Magical Treasures of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators turned to ashes, but the stone remained intact, which surely made it extraordinary. He flipped open the thick book, which had hundreds of pages. Each page recorded one type of Spiritual Object. The first part was all about introductions to Spirit Grass, not only with names and pictures, but also with information about their growing environments and characteristics, even including the method of harvesting. The descriptions were very detailed. ¡°Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus,¡± a Fourth Order Spirit Grass, with a growth period of nine thousand years. Every thousand years a leaf would bloom, and each leaf greatly enhanced the Divine Sense and physical body of the Cultivator, an incredible treasure for those who practice Body Cultivation. ¡°Gold Glaze Bodhi,¡± a Fourth Order Spirit Fruit with a growth period of five thousand years. Each fruit could increase the odds of achieving Nascent Soul by thirty percent, a truly priceless treasure. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but be astonished. In Wei Kingdom, Nascent Soul Masters were already formidable beings. If the Gold Glaze Bodhi appeared, it would undoubtedly lead to bloodshed because it was a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, and it was likely that no Nascent Soul Master would be able to resist it. After looking through hundreds of pages, all introductions were to Third or Fourth Order Spirit Medicines, not a single Fifth Order Spirit Medicine. Thinking about it, it made sense since Fifth Order Spirit Medicines had at least a growth cycle of ten thousand years or even longer and were used by those in the Divinity Transformation Stage. That realm was too remote to be recorded. He read through the entire night, from Spirit Grass to minerals, as well as Spirit Insects and Spiritual Fire. Seven or eight precious items were covered, and he was about to finish reading the whole book. With only ten pages left, he could finish reading the entire book. Lin Tianming continued to flip through. The last ten pages were dedicated to the List of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders, recording ten extremely precious objects among the final pages. Some were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and others were almost mythological in nature, with their actual existence still uncertain. Lin Tianming read carefully and, as he turned to the fifth last page, an illustration completely stunned him. There, displayed on the page, was a multicolored stone; the book described it as a Spiritual Object known as the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye, which was said to be the third eye of an ancient Demonic Beast, the Soul Beast. As for the Soul Beast, it was a very unique species among Demonic Beasts. They were already extremely rare in ancient times, and in today¡¯s Cultivation World, they had been extinct for tens of thousands of years. Moreover, only Soul Beasts of the Fourth Order and above could grow the third eye, which made the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye extremely rare in the Cultivation World. The Soul Beast¡¯s Eye could be refined and transformed into a Cultivator¡¯s third eye, inheriting the Soul Beast¡¯s natural talents and Divine Skills. It could see through most Illusion Techniques and Formations and also had an ability to attack with Divine Sense, making it impossible to guard against and extraordinarily powerful. Consequently, the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye was ranked among the ten great heavenly and earthly wonders. Lin Tianming was overjoyed beyond measure. Although he had suspected this item was extraordinary, he did not expect it to be so treasured, no wonder it was named as one of the ten great heavenly and earthly wonders. He quickly took out the stone from his storage bag and began to scrutinize it, not missing the slightest detail. After carefully comparing, Lin Tianming was incredibly certain that the stone he had obtained was undoubtedly the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye. He never expected to have acquired such a treasure. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t believe it; he couldn¡¯t help but slap his face twice, wanting to make sure he was not dreaming. ¡°Slap slap slap,¡± three loud slaps rang out against his face. There was a sensation of pain, apparently not a dream¡ªthis was real! ¡°Haha,¡± Lin Tianming laughed wildly, utterly delighted. He had completely lost his mind, appearing quite comical. After a brief bout of madness, Lin Tianming gradually regained his composure. This kind of treasure needed to be refined and assimilated as soon as possible to enhance one¡¯s own strength; otherwise, delay could lead to unforeseen changes. Lin Tianming sat down right there and swallowed the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye, directing his Divine Sense to chase it towards the sea of consciousness. The Soul Beast¡¯s Eye, however, seemed to be a living thing, desperately trying to escape. As it thrashed about wildly, Lin Tianming suffered agonizing pain, and blood started to seep from all seven apertures, while his skin began to crack and burst open, looking extremely miserable. If it weren¡¯t for his body¡¯s cultivation, he would have likely passed out. ¡°Hmph, once you¡¯re in my sea of consciousness, it¡¯s definitely not possible for you to escape,¡± he muttered. Enduring the intense pain, Lin Tianming mobilized all his Divine Sense into a large hand and controlled the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye, slowly refining it; otherwise, he might have been tormented to death. Inside the sea of consciousness, the fist-sized Soul Beast¡¯s Eye, after several hours of refining, was already half assimilated, gradually transforming into wisps of five-colored light orbs gathering to one side. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With ongoing slow refinement, the pain in his body gradually lessened, and the torn flesh began to heal. A day passed, and Lin Tianming finally refined the entire Soul Beast¡¯s Eye into a walnut-sized ball of five-colored divine light gathered in his sea of consciousness. Lin Tianming manipulated this ball of five-colored divine light and slowly merged it into his forehead. Suddenly, a smooth spot right in the middle of his forehead split open, and the five-colored divine light burst forth. For a moment, it was as though a five-colored sun hung above his head¡ªthe dim secret chamber instantly brightened up dramatically, and the emitted divine light was dazzling to the eye. At this moment, Lin Tianming discovered that the control center and key points of the entire cave dwelling¡¯s restrictions were completely exposed under the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye, making it incredibly simple to break through them. Lin Tianming was shocked, the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye was truly defying the heavens¡ªsuch an artifact used for breaking formations was essentially like cheating! Although it was unclear if it was effective against all formations, it certainly could see through most Fourth Order and lower formations. Even if it couldn¡¯t fully unravel them, it would provide plenty of clues, greatly assisting in breaking formations¡ªit was already immensely heaven-defying. He closed the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye, and it merged directly into the skin and disappeared from view, making him look no different from a normal person. Very satisfied, Lin Tianming decided to give the Soul Beast¡¯s Eye a name; after much contemplation, he decided to name it the Eye of Five Colors. When used, the Eye of Five Colors would burst forth with blinding five-colored divine light, so being named after the five colors was fitting. With that decided, it was settled. Having chosen a name, he prepared to leave his retreat and head to Ye Pinghai¡¯s cave dwelling. After three days of recovery, he could once more attempt to refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill. Chapter 46 - 46 - 45: Crazy Alchemy_1 Chapter 46 ¨C 45: Crazy Alchemy_1 Ye Pinghai, cloaked in a grey robe within his cave abode, pinched a series of hand seals and cast spells onto the Pill Furnace, filling the entire secret chamber with scorching air. Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai were each seated in their own secret chamber, fervently concocting elixirs. While Ye Pinghai was refining the Minor Foundation Building Pill, Lin Tianming was also busy at work in the adjacent Alchemy Room, crafting the Lingshen Pill. Lin Tianming engaged in alchemy non-stop for seven to eight days, refining pills by day and meditating at night to recover his expended spiritual power and Divine Sense. His daily schedule was full and arduous. As his cultivation rose, Lin Tianming mastered the creation of First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills, and both the success rate and quantity of pills increased substantially. The success rate of First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pills could reach 60%, and the quantity was remarkably stable, always above seven per batch. Even more efficiently, after refining five batches of pills each day, Lin Tianming still had a small reserve of spiritual power. Such is the advantage of profound cultivation¡ªit was no longer like before, when refining three batches would leave him completely drained. In the process of refining Lingshen Pills, Lin Tianming, with an experimental mindset, activated his Eye of Five Colors to see if it would aid in alchemy, and was pleasantly surprised. The Eye of Five Colors easily allowed him to discern the internal structure and impurities of each Spiritual Medicine. ... In truth, it wasn¡¯t really a surprise. The Eye of Five Colors, capable of penetrating even restrictive formations, would naturally view lower-tier Spiritual Medicines with ease. Leveraging this special ability, Lin Tianming could handle purification, breakdown, and even Solidifying Pill with incredible precision, substantially improving the success rate and pill count¡ªa near perfect 80% success rate and nine pills per batch, almost reaching the limits of Pill Refining. Moreover, the Lingshen Pills he refined had an efficacy 10% higher than regular Lingshen Pills; they were truly superior among Superior Spirit Essence Pills. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming completed refining more than forty batches of Lingshen Pills without much effort, yielding a large stockpile of over three hundred Lingshen Pills. In the Cultivation World, a First Order Medium Grade Lingshen Pill typically sells for eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones, while in some places it fetches nine. Even calculating by the lower price, three hundred pills amounted to two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones¡ªa considerable fortune indeed. With so many Lingshen Pills on hand, they would undoubtedly exceed his own needs during the Qi Refinement Realm. Once he returned to the clan, he planned to sell the majority through the clan¡¯s market shops. Such superior quality Lingshen Pills would not lack for buyers, or he could choose to keep them within the clan, offering them to fellow clan members, as it was rare to encounter such fine quality. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming considered his next steps. He had nearly finished refining all the materials for the clan¡¯s rewarded Lingshen Pills. What remained were materials for twenty-five batches of Body Strengthening Pill and Strong Spirit Pill, as well as three batches for the Pozhang Pill, signaling the time to attempt a large-scale refinement of First Order High-Quality elixirs. Additionally, he needed to refine the Beast Spirit Pill as soon as possible, utilizing the two Demon Cores in his possession. One was the Spotted Crocodile Inner Pill obtained while defending Qingfeng Town, and the other was an inner core of the Spirit-Connecting Python. Both were suitable for concocting the Beast Spirit Pill. The two Demon Cores on hand, from the Spotted Crocodile at Medium Stage and the Spirit-Connecting Python at Late First Order, were more than sufficient for the refinement of the Beast Spirit Pills. Lin Tianming decided to first refine the Beast Spirit Pills before tackling the more advanced Strong Spirit and Body Strengthening Pills. Falling into a rhythm, Lin Tianming worked deftly. There was not a significant difference between the Beast Spirit Pill and the Lingshen Pill, except that disassembling a Demon Core was much more challenging than work with Spiritual Medicine. The Demon Core was far more volatile, making it easier for the pill to explode during the process, which could potentially cause severe damage to the Pill Furnace. Lin Tianming carefully dissected the Striped Crocodile¡¯s Demon Core. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, no explosion occurred, and within fifteen minutes, the Demon Core was successfully refined. What followed was familiar territory, and in less than half an hour, the first batch of Beast Spirit Pills emerged from the furnace. Five green-yellow elixirs hovered inside the furnace, each one slightly larger than a Lingshen Pill, with a potency that was certainly more violent. In less than half a day, another First Order Late Stage Demon Core was transformed into Beast Spirit Pills. Seven pills solidified, and along with those from the first batch, there were twelve Beast Spirit Pills in total¡ªenough to last the Purple Gold Eagle for a while. He took out the Spiritual Medicine Materials needed for the Body Strengthening Pill and neatly arranged them on the stone platform next door. Lin Tianming quickly got into the swing of things. The difficulty of refining the Body Strengthening Pill and Strong Spirit Pill should be about the same as that of the Xisui Pill, so there was definitely no problem in refining them. He just didn¡¯t know what the pill success rate and yield would be. Previously, without the Eye of Five Colors, when refining the Xisui Pill, the success rate had reached thirty percent. With the Eye of Five Colors, it should improve somewhat. Time flew by, and more than twenty days had passed. Lin Tianming had been staying in the Alchemy Room for nearly a month now. In the Alchemy Room next door, Ye Pinghai was still refining pills. Each batch of Minor Foundation Building Pills took him seven days to refine. After resting for three days, he would resume his alchemy. He hadn¡¯t completed his seclusion yet. Lin Tianming had refined almost all of his Alchemy Materials, leaving only a small amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials in his storage bag. In this one month, Lin Tianming had made significant progress. When refining First Order Superior Grade Strong Spirit Pill and Body Strengthening Pill with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, his success rate remained above sixty percent, while the number of pills yielded hovered around six per batch. After a month of hard work, he obtained ninety Body Strengthening Pills and eighty-five Strong Spirit Pills. There was no longer a shortage of elixirs for the Qi Refinement Realm. He planned to focus all his energy on cultivation from now on. It had been nearly half a year since he had engaged in serious cultivation or consumed many elixirs, as he had been allowing his progress to consolidate. Now, not only had he solved the shortage of elixirs needed for his cultivation, but he had also managed to refine two batches of his three sets of Pozhang Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials, resulting in eleven pills. The Pozhang Pill was extremely expensive and had great effects. After consumption, it could remove bottlenecks and induce a breakthrough in one¡¯s realm, which was extraordinary. Initially, just buying three main ingredients had cost him over two hundred Spirit Stones. A single Pozhang Pill could sell for at least one hundred Spirit Stones in the market, and it was hardly available for purchase. Only a very few were auctioned at exorbitant prices, and each time they did, they sold for sky-high amounts. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt quite emotional. Two years ago, using a Spirit Stone would cause him immense heartache. Now, his total worth added up was no less than ten thousand Spirit Stones. Among Qi Refining Cultivators, he was truly a tycoon. Perhaps only the core descendants of major families could compare with him. He put all the elixirs into his storage bag, tidied up the mess in the secret chamber, and walked out of the Alchemy Room. Outside the room, it was dusk. After a month of relentless alchemy, he was extremely exhausted. Lin Tianming walked through the streets, heading toward his dwelling in the North District. Lying on his stone bed, Lin Tianming fell into contemplation. ¡°I wonder if Fifteenth Grandfather has taken the Minor Foundation Building Pills back to the family. By the timeline, they should have already reached the family. Even if he didn¡¯t stay, and came straight back to Qianchuan Market, a round trip would take forty days. Now, all I can do is wait patiently and hope everything goes smoothly. After all, the medicine is too precious, and I can¡¯t help but worry.¡± Unknowingly, the tired Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep. In less than fifteen minutes, he was sound asleep. Chapter 47 - 47 - 46 Distribution of Minor Foundation Building Pills_1 Chapter 47 ¨C 46 Distribution of Minor Foundation Building Pills_1 Time rewound to ten days ago! Outside of the Lin Family¡¯s protective formation, it was Lin Tianfeng¡¯s turn to lead the patrol duty this month. A clan member gazed towards the exterior of the grand formation and spotted a dark shadow swiftly approaching from the distant horizon. What initially seemed like a tiny sesame-sized dot had, in just over a dozen breaths, transformed into a massive bird spanning more than ten zhang. ¡°It¡¯s Tianming¡¯s Purple Gold Eagle!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was also puzzled, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Sixth Brother heading to Qianchuan Market to carry out a clan mission, rumored to take half a year? How come he has returned in just over a month?¡± The secret mission of Lin Tianming to Qianchuan Market for alchemy was known only to the Elders¡¯ Council within the clan. Lin Tianfeng was only aware that Tianming had gone to Qianchuan Market but did not know the details of the mission. He knew this much only because he was among one of the highest cultivation levels of the clan¡¯s younger generation. As the Purple Gold Eagle drew closer, everyone realized that it was Lin Shilu who sat on its back. ... At this moment, he looked utterly haggard, having flown from dawn until dusk each day to find a place to rest, with few stops in between. Under such hasty travel, he managed to return to Green Bamboo Mountain in just eighteen days, which was quite an accomplishment. Lin Shilu took out the family identity token and cast a spell on it. In the invisible and colorless sky, suddenly a gap opened up, through which a person and a beast flew into the Protective Clan Formation. The rift quickly mended and then disappeared. From the outside looking towards the clan¡¯s land, everything appeared hazy and indistinct once more. After entering the formation, Lin Tianfeng and the others immediately came up to pay their respects. Lin Shilu, in a rush, nodded briefly and merely said a word for them to continue patrolling before he swiftly departed. He could not afford to care about fatigue at the moment; along with the beast, he flew towards the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly Hall. Before entering the formation, Lin Shilu had already sent a message, instructing clan members of the Shi generation like Lin Shikang to go to the Elders¡¯ Council, to hand over the three Minor Foundation Building Pills in person, and to make the first round of distribution. This would enable clan members who met the requirements to begin Foundation Establishment as soon as possible and enhance the clan¡¯s strength. Inside the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, eight members of the Lin Family of the Shi generation gathered. Lin Shikang sat at the head of the table as the eight settled around it. Lin Shigong was tense. Seeing Lin Shilu return alone without the sight of his grandson Lin Tianming, he began to worry wildly. The mission Lin Tianming undertook to Qianchuan Market carried significant risk. The Sun Family of Golden Horn Mountain had always been hostile towards the Lin Family, resulting in constant friction. Furthermore, with numerous powerful individuals in the market, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not ensure absolute safety, let alone Lin Tianming, who was merely at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Shi Gong couldn¡¯t help but feel concerned. Lin Shilu then spoke: ¡°Now that all eight brothers are present, let¡¯s formally begin the meeting.¡± A smile tinged Lin Shilu¡¯s weary face as he took out a jade bottle from his storage bag and placed it in the center of the round table. Besides Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, and Lin Shilu, the other five people¡¯s faces blossomed with joy, presumably guessing what was in the bottle. Lin Shigong, exceedingly anxious, blurted out without a care for what was inside the bottle. ¡°Little Fifteen, where is Tianming? Why didn¡¯t he come back with you? Has something happened?¡± Lin Shigong¡¯s barrage of questions left his brothers in the grand hall taken aback, and then they burst into laughter, even the usually stern Lin Shiji included. Caught off guard, Lin Shigong pondered and realized he was overthinking it. Noting Lin Shilu¡¯s expression devoid of any sadness, surely nothing bad could have happened to Tianming. The other six in the hall could tell, and only the mentally preoccupied Lin Shigong had missed it. Lin Shixin, known for his playful nature, couldn¡¯t resist chiming in: ¡°Ninth Brother, seeing the look on little Fifteen, you should know that Tianming is safe. Yet, you didn¡¯t see it. Really, when the mind is in chaos, even intelligence slips away, haha¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong came to his senses, his face flushed with embarrassment as he laughed awkwardly. Lin Shikang snatched the jade bottle out of the air, inspected a Minor Foundation Building Pill closely before tossing it to Lin Shigong: Lin Shigong caught the pill between his fingers and took out a jade tube left by Third Order Alchemy Master Yuhua, comparing it thoroughly. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Shigong nodded with satisfaction, his voice tingling with excitement as he began to speak. ¡°This elixir is undoubtedly a genuine Minor Foundation Building Pill!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone aside from Lin Shilu and another who had already reached Foundation Establishment, revealed a fervent gleam in their eyes. Lin Shikang also opened his mouth at this time to ask Lin Shilu: ¡°Why are there only three Minor Foundation Building Pills? Tianming had turned in fifteen Hidden Spirit Grass!¡± Lin Shilu shared Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts with all his brothers, and everyone nodded in approval, fully recognizing Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangement. Now, time was money, even the hope of the entire clan; the Lin Family indeed needed these elixirs very much. Used properly, they could significantly enhance the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength within just ten years, and indeed, the significance was extraordinary. At this point, Lin Shikang stood up and said: ¡°Now let us discuss the allocation of these three Minor Foundation Building Pills, as well as the subsequent distribution issues!¡± Instantly, the atmosphere in the entire hall ignited, with all but Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had established their Foundation, getting involved in a heated debate. Among the remaining six, the youngest, Lin Shihua, was nearly ninety years old with only thirty years of life left, while Lin Shiji was just over a hundred. The sooner they consumed the pill, the greater their hope for Foundation Establishment. Everyone wanted to secure a Minor Foundation Building Pill as soon as possible to retain the hope of entering the Foundation Establishment stage, after all, no one wanted to die. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, sitting close together, whispered into each other¡¯s ears, completely ignoring the relentless debates of the others. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu reached a unanimous decision. Lin Shikang stood up, silencing all his brothers before speaking out: ¡°These three Minor Foundation Building Pills are just the first batch of elixirs, with more to come, though the quantity is yet to be determined. However, it is estimated that there will be at least five more. There¡¯s no need for such urgency.¡± ¡°Shilu and I have decided to give these three to Lin Shiji, Lin Shigong, and Lin Shihua, who are already at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining stage. These pills aren¡¯t free, though; they require an exchange of eight-thousand merit points. After all, the family has paid a huge price to produce these medicines. When the rest of the elixirs come back, as long as you have enough merit points, any clan member can exchange for them!¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°For the three of you remaining, you will of course have priority for the exchange. Conveniently, all of you are at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Even with the elixirs, you can¡¯t consume them in a short time. In the next half year, you can focus on cultivating fully, striving to reach Great Perfection earlier, and then using these pills to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage wouldn¡¯t be too late.¡± When the others heard this, seeing that Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu had reached a consensus, and their reasoning sound, no one dared to voice any objections, fearing it would provoke the opposition of all the clan members. Lin Shikang collected the three Minor Foundation Building Pills and asked everyone to return and arrange their resources and merit points. Once they had enough, they could come back to exchange with him, after all, acquiring eight-thousand merit points was not an easy feat. Even for the best alchemist in the family, coming up with eight-thousand merit points at once was quite difficult, unless one sold all their personal property. One by one, the people bid farewell and dispersed. As they left, Lin Shilu called Lin Shigong aside and asked for the Family Token. Lin Shilu took out his own Family Token, imprinted a Law Decree, and transferred three-thousand merit points from it to Lin Shigong. ¡°This is what Tianming asked me to pass on to you, his two-thousand merit points, along with the thousand I¡¯m lending you, making up three-thousand in total.¡± Lin Shigong¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment, for he had not expected to be borrowing his grandson¡¯s merit points at such a time. But upon reflection, he realized that these merit points were indeed something he desperately needed right now. It solved his urgent need so he wouldn¡¯t have to sell any spiritual objects or elixirs. Lin Shigong did not refuse, saying: ¡°Thank you, fifteenth brother. As soon as I sell some spiritual medicines and treasures, I¡¯ll return these merit points to you.¡± Lin Shilu smiled in response. After exchanging goodbyes, they each went their own way. Lin Shilu arranged the time to return to Qianchuan Market before leaving. Lin Shilu planned to rest for two days before setting off again. After all, with Tianming alone in the market, he was somewhat worried. If he hadn¡¯t been utterly exhausted, departing immediately wouldn¡¯t have been impossible. Fortunately, the market was relatively safe, and with Ye Pinghai looking out for him, there shouldn¡¯t be any significant danger. Chapter 48 - 48 - 47 Large Market Gathering_1 Chapter 48 ¨C 47 Large Market Gathering_1 One clear morning in Qianchuan Market, at the plaza in the Southern District. After half a month of secluded alchemy, Lin Tianming emerged from his retreat. Since Ye Pinghai was still refining Minor Foundation Building Pills and shouldn¡¯t be disturbed, Lin Tianming planned to set up a stall to sell off some useless spiritual medicine materials, elixirs, and spiritual artifacts he had on hand. Lin Tianming approached the exterior of a stone building, where already quite a few cultivators were coming and going, all there to rent stall spaces. The vast majority were below the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement, and there were a few whose cultivation levels he couldn¡¯t discern. Taking a deep breath, Lin Tianming walked into the hall. Within the hall, five cultivators dressed in uniform attire stood out conspicuously, embroidered with a bright sun on their golden clothes, the emblem of the Zhenyang Sect of the Wei Kingdom. Since Qianchuan Market was a property of Zhenyang Sect, managing the market and related affairs naturally were taken as tasks assigned to the inner sect disciples of the sect. With over a thousand members in Zhenyang Sect, only inner sect disciples above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement were issued such robes, a uniform attire. Lower-level cultivators below the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement could be considered only as outer sect disciples, with hardly any status to speak of, and could barely count as members of the Zhenyang Sect. ... In Zhenyang Sect, only the cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage were considered core disciples, not to mention the even higher ranked true disciples, each one being a young talent with extraordinary gifts. Zhenyang Sect controlled two medium-sized markets, with Qianchuan Market being just one of them. The other medium-sized market was located to the north of the Zhenyang Sect, over ten thousand miles from here. Lin Tianming felt very envious, wishing that one day the Lin Family could also have thousands of members, uniform attire, and manage a medium-sized market like Qianchuan Market. Inside the hall, four Zhenyang Sect cultivators were attending to others who came to rent stalls. There was one cultivator whose spot was conveniently vacant, so Lin Tianming quickly stepped forward and started talking to the sect disciple in charge. After some conversation and choosing his spot, Lin Tianming took out five low-grade spirit stones and handed them to the disciple, receiving a gold-yellow card in exchange. The card served as a permit for setting up a stall. The enforcement team often patrolled the entire Southern District plaza to maintain order and check whether the stallholders had all the proper documentation. Those without a card who attempted to blend in and set up a stall illegally would be apprehended and punished. There were even cases where those who resisted were killed on the spot. Lin Tianming pocketed the card and left the hall, heading towards the center of the plaza. By then, the plaza already had over a hundred stalls set up, with more cultivators continuously arriving. For some reason, today¡¯s market seemed exceptionally bustling to Lin Tianming, much to his surprise. In a hurry, he found the spot he¡¯d selected, a corner in the western part of the plaza, covering a few square meters. It wasn¡¯t in the center and wasn¡¯t near the edge of the plaza; the location was quite ordinary indeed. He thought he was up early, but others had been earlier, and the better spots had already been rented out, leaving only these peripheral corners available. Lin Tianming spread out a piece of beast skin on the ground and sat down. He took eleven bottles of Lingshen Pills out of his storage bag. They were common Lingshen Pills not refined with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, and these were all he had left. Although their potency couldn¡¯t compare with those refined later, they were still decent among the common Lingshen Pills and should sell well. As for the Superior Spirit Essence Pills he refined later, he didn¡¯t dare sell them here as it could attract unnecessary trouble. He could only take them himself or sell them to the family for exchange and use by the clan members. Half a quarter of an hour had passed, and in front of Lin Tianming lay quite a few items. Besides the eleven bottles of Lingshen Pills, there were also over thirty pieces of First Order Spiritual Medicine¡ªrewards from his days guarding Qingfeng Town. He kept about a dozen of the medicines that had multiple purposes and sold all the other Lingshen Pill materials and some of the useless Spiritual Objects, exchanging them for Spirit Stones. He also brought out a set of hammers, Spiritual Artifacts, which he had obtained from the Red Robe Cultivator. More than half a year had passed since the fight, and given the distance to Qianchuan Market and its teeming, diverse crowd where countless Spiritual Artifacts changed hands daily, it was the perfect opportunity to sell those ill-gotten gains. However, he had no plans to sell the three Spirit Swords Spiritual Artifact he had acquired; after using them for some time, he thought they would be very suitable for Lin Tianyue. The items Lin Tianming set out for his stall were numerous, including elixirs, Spiritual Medicine materials, and Spiritual Artifacts, all of fine quality and almost entirely acquired from Qingfeng Town. As time moved on, after half an hour, the plaza surprisingly hosted hundreds of stalls, which even astonished Lin Tianming. ¡°What day is it today that the number of stalls has more than tripled suddenly? It¡¯s truly strange.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The female cultivator at the stall next to Lin Tianming was in the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, about thirty years old in appearance, dressed like a noblewoman; it was unclear whether it was her true appearance or if she had altered it somehow. Lin Tianming took the initiative to start a conversation, aiming to glean some information. ¡°Excuse me, fairy, do you know why today there are so many fellow cultivators setting up stalls? The number has increased several-fold.¡± The well-dressed lady, seeing the extraordinary items Lin Tianming had for sale, intended to become acquainted with him. ¡°My name is Xin Qing, just a Loose Cultivator. May I ask the esteemed name of this fellow daoist?¡± ¡°I am Chen Tian, also a Loose Cultivator. Pleased to meet you, Fairy Xin.¡± Lin Tianming replied calmly, with a hint of a smile, deliberately using a different name and not revealing his real one. He picked a rather common surname, as Chen was a major family name within Wei Kingdom and countless cultivators bore it. ¡°Is this your first time at Qianchuan Market? Don¡¯t you know about the decennial grand assembly of the market?¡± Lin Tianming gave an embarrassed smile and listened as Xin Qing explained the origins of the grand assembly. It turned out that Qianchuan Market held a small assembly every two years and a grand assembly every ten years. In three days, the decennial grand assembly would take place, attracting numerous cultivators into the market to buy items needed for their cultivation or to conduct business and earn Spirit Stones. Some cultivators came just for the spectacle. It was said that even Nascent Soul Masters might attend the trade conference. Each market assembly featured several large auctions where various cultivation techniques, manuals, elixirs, Spiritual Artifacts, and many rare treasures were presented. At the last grand assembly for Qi Refining Cultivators, even Foundation Establishment Pills had appeared¡ªfive of them¡ªwith each selling for more than 30,000 Spirit Stones, the finale of the Qi Refining auction stage. Hearing Xin Qing¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. Foundation Establishment Pills were available, no wonder so many cultivators flocked to Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming was deeply moved at that moment, considering how the Lin Family, established for eight hundred years on Green Bamboo Mountain, had always found the struggle for Foundation Establishment to be immensely difficult, with many forebears sacrificing for it. Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator family like the Lin¡¯s, which had never lacked for cultivators, found it hard, which made one imagine the plight of Qi Refining families and Loose Cultivators being even more challenging. Time gradually passed, and eventually, all the stalls in the Southern District¡¯s plaza were occupied by cultivators, with groups of cultivators entering to shop and enlivening the area. Lin Tianming paused his casual conversation with Xin Qing as they returned to their respective stalls, ready to deal with cultivators who came to inquire about the prices. Chapter 49 - 49 - 48 Setting up a Stall_1 Chapter 49 ¨C 48 Setting up a Stall_1 In the southern district of Qianchuan Market, a large number of cultivators flooded into the bazaar. Within just half an hour, the number of people had quickly surpassed a thousand and continued to grow. The entire trading area was bustling with activity. After starting his stall, Lin Tianming had waited for half an hour for a customer to arrive. Finally, a male cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement came by. This person, named Qin Yun, was a First Order Rogue Cultivator who frequented various big markets. He traded in spiritual medicine materials for a profit and had amassed quite a substantial wealth. With the grand gathering at the market imminent, Qin Yun decided to sell the spiritual medicine he had accrued and planned to buy some elixirs for his cultivation. The elixirs in the large shops were all more expensive than those at the stalls, so he simply went to the stalls to try his luck, saving whatever money he could. After visiting several stalls that sold elixirs and finding only Lingshen Pills with mediocre potency, which he suspected were crafted by just-emerging First Order Medium Grade alchemists due to their poor quality, he was not very impressed. They were priced at eight spirit stones each, which really was not a good value for the money. It was not until he reached Lin Tianming¡¯s stall and examined the elixirs that he judged the alchemist who made them to be extraordinary, certainly not comparable to the half-competent ones he¡¯d seen before. Very satisfied with the elixirs, he was eager to buy and promptly asked about the price. ¡°Fellow Daoist, how much are you selling your Lingshen Pills for?¡± ... Having waited half an hour for business to pick up, Lin Tianming stood up and replied with a calm tone. ¡°The price for a single pill is nine spirit stones, or twenty-five for three.¡± Qin Yun hardly thought about it before cheerfully taking out fifty spirit stones and buying two bottles. Had he not been limited by the number of spirit stones he had, he would have liked to buy a couple more. Although they were one spirit stone more expensive than where he had asked previously, the potency of these Lingshen Pills was so good that it was hard to come by, making the extra cost worthwhile. Lin Tianming received the spirit stones and handed over two bottles of Lingshen Pills to Qin Yun, who then left to continue browsing other stalls. Finally making his first sale, Lin Tianming relaxed a bit. It would have been quite embarrassing if he had not sold anything. He was confident that with his high-quality elixirs, selling out shouldn¡¯t be hard. Within an hour after Qin Yun¡¯s departure, Lin Tianming sold only a few First Order Spirit Grass, making a total of sixteen spirit stones. During this time, several cultivators with lower levels of cultivation had asked for prices but did not buy anything. Judging by the look of frustration and longing on their faces as they left, it was likely they didn¡¯t have enough spirit stones and had no choice but to give up. Wave after wave of Qi Refining Cultivators came to inquire about the prices but left disappointed. Almost all of them were persons of scant means, many from clans or low-ranking members of sects. On the other hand, the Loose Cultivators were not so destitute. Although they lacked support, they also had no commitments to hold them back, living on the edge and tasting danger. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Those Loose Cultivators who survived were all people of considerable wealth. Although Lin Tianming was from a clan, he was willing to face danger. Just by defending Qingfeng Town, he had become quite rich, and his cultivation had also progressed rapidly. In contrast, those clan members and sect disciples with lesser talents, accustomed to a peaceful life and afraid to take risks, relied on benefits to get by, taking on only safe family tasks to earn spirit stones. Such a life, over the long term, could only lead to further moral decline. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming continued to wait for customers. As noon arrived, the number of cultivators in the market reached its peak, with nearly every stall having at least one cultivator selecting suitable items. At Lin Tianming¡¯s stall, a muscular man with a bare upper body was perusing the items. This man was tall and burly, towering over Lin Tianming by quite a bit. His bulging muscles were obvious, and he made no effort to conceal his aura. Astonishingly, he was a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, and a Body Cultivator at that. His chest, hands, and arms bore more than a dozen scars. Although healed, faint traces still remained. Many cultivators who were strolling around were attracted by this man. One of them, a cultivator in yellow robes, said in surprise, ¡¯That¡¯s Tie Feng. He¡¯s a ruthless guy.¡¯ Another cultivator, at the third level of Qi Cultivation, curiously asked, ¡¯Who is Tie Feng?¡¯ A number of people who had not heard of this man gathered around to listen as the cultivator in yellow robes spoke at length, his words tinged with a hint of wariness. ¡¯Tie Feng is a ruthless man, a lone cultivator. When he was at the fifth level of Qi Practice, he would often search for medicine in the Fire Cloud Mountain Range. No one knows how many Demonic Beasts at the middle stage of the First Order he has killed. It¡¯s said that he has even exchanged blows with Demonic Beasts at the late stage of the First Order and came back unscathed. Tell me, isn¡¯t that ruthless?¡¯ The onlookers, many cultivators among them, took a deep breath in awe and couldn¡¯t help but reveal expressions of admiration and respect. They thought to themselves that they should be sensible if they ever encountered this man and try not to offend him. The Fire Cloud Mountain Range was located more than eight hundred miles west of Qianchuan Market. It marked the boundary between the Demonic Lands and the territory of the Human Race. It belonged to the outer regions, housing numerous First Order Demonic Beasts and some Spiritual Objects. It was a place of experience for many low-level cultivators. Tie Feng, hearing the conversations of the crowd, paid no attention. He carefully assessed the two massive hammers, which were Spiritual Artifacts, in his hands. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Swinging the hammers that weighed over a thousand pounds¡ªsmashing, chopping, quickly moving them back and forth more than a dozen times, stirring up a breeze with each motion¡ªhe felt very satisfied. As his cultivation increased, his previous weapon, a big stick that was a low-quality Spiritual Artifact, with mediocre power, could no longer fully leverage his strength. Just so happened, he had luckily found a dozen or so High-Quality First Order Spirit Grasses in the Fire Cloud Mountain Range, sold them for more than a hundred Spirit Stones, and with the Spirit Stones he previously had, it was just enough to buy a good Spiritual Artifact to enhance his strength. ¡¯Fellow Daoist, what are the names of these two hammer-type Spiritual Artifacts? How much are they selling for?¡¯ Lin Tianming explained with an almost smiling demeanor, ¡¯These two hammer-type Spiritual Artifacts are called the Sky Shaker Hammers. They are both at the Medium Grade of the First Order. Each hammer weighs a thousand pounds and is part of a set, extremely suitable for a Body Cultivator like Brother Tie, capable of unleashing the greatest power. I will sell the pair together. Seeing Brother Tie¡¯s extraordinary strength, I will give you the lowest price¡ªjust one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones.¡¯ Tie Feng felt that the two Sky Shaker Hammers were indeed very suitable for him, capable of greatly enhancing his strength, and the price was fairly reasonable. Such Spiritual Artifacts would probably cost two hundred Spirit Stones in the shops of the West District. He set down the Sky Shaker Hammers and picked up a bottle of Lingshen Pills to inspect. Pleased with the elixirs, he decided to buy a bottle to aid his cultivation. Having decided on his purchases, he asked Lin Tianming to give him a better deal. Lin Tianming was straightforward; he sold the two Sky Shaker Hammers and a bottle of Lingshen Pills for two hundred Spirit Stones, giving Tie Feng a five Spirit Stone discount. Tie Feng was very grateful and inquired about the next time Lin Tianming would set up his stall, deciding to become a long-term customer. Lin Tianming bowed with an apologetic expression and said, ¡¯Brother Tie, I must apologize. My name is Chen Tian, also a rogue cultivator who has no fixed abode and considers the four seas my home. However, I do come to Qianchuan Market quite often, so we could exchange contact methods. If fate allows, we shall meet again.¡¯ Not insisting further, Tie Feng exchanged contact information with him and, after bowing, took his leave. Before departing, he did not forget to promote Lin Tianming¡¯s stall, and many cultivators, hearing of the quality of Lin Tianming¡¯s elixirs, rushed to purchase. In less than half a day, all of the elixirs and Spiritual Medicine had sold out, with even Xin Qing from the neighboring stall buying a bottle of Lingshen Pills. Lin Tianming packed up his stall and left the Southern District, heading towards his cave dwelling. Chapter 50 - 50 - 49 Auction_1 Chapter 50 ¨C 49 Auction_1 In the secret chamber of the cave abode, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion, extending his Divine Sense to take inventory of the items in his storage bag. Today¡¯s stall brought in a decent haul; eleven Lingshen Pills sold for two hundred and eighty-six Spirit Stones, two Sky Shaker Hammers went for one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, and various other low-level Spirit Grasses sold for fifty-four Spirit Stones. Only seven or eight common Spiritual Medicines remained unsold. The day¡¯s sales totaled five hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. After calculating the income from the stall, and adding the thousand Spirit Stones Lin Shigong funded for the making of the Earth Evil Sword, which Lin Shilu didn¡¯t charge for his work, Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t had the chance to repay Lin Shigong, so they were unused, sitting in his bag. Including his own Spirit Stones, he now had over seventeen hundred Spirit Stones in his storage bag¡ªa substantial amount of money. Lin Tianming, the very image of a rich country gentleman, chuckled as he put the Spirit Stones back into the bag. While at the stall, he heard from Xin Qing that there would be several Qi Refinement Realm auctions in three days, where many rare items would be available. Lin Tianming¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. With plenty of Spirit Stones and no shortage of elixirs, he planned to see what treasures were there; he might find some good things to buy. With three days until the auction began and nothing else to do, Lin Tianming thought about the Superior Spirit Essence Pill he had yet to test. He took out a pill and began his cultivation practice. As soon as the Lingshen Pill entered his mouth, Lin Tianming quickly activated his Cultivation Technique to refine the vast medicinal power spreading rapidly throughout his body, eventually flowing into the Seven Sea Dantian. For half a year, having not used any elixirs for cultivation, his cultivation had stagnated. The rush of Spiritual Power into the Seven Sea Dantian was like sweet rain after a long drought, instantly refreshing Lin Tianming. ... As time passed, within less than fifteen minutes of cultivation, intense pain had almost numbed him. He took a Body Strengthening Pill. In a few breaths, the prickling sensation throughout his body lessened considerably, and slowly returned to normal. Without the Body Strengthening Pill to aid in cultivation, the pain from this technique was unbearable for ordinary people. Just the consumption of various elixirs needed for auxiliary cultivation was something average Cultivators couldn¡¯t afford, no wonder such Cultivation Techniques had been lost to history. The power of the Lingshen Pill slowly entered the Dantian. The Seven Sea Dantian, starved for Spiritual Energy for so long, voraciously absorbed it. The Qi Sea, which hadn¡¯t grown in six months, also slowly started to expand. Though still some distance from reaching the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation, it wasn¡¯t too far off. Assisted by the Body Strengthening Pill, Lin Tianming could now cultivate without worries. Thanks to the elixirs, his Spiritual Power increased rapidly. After cultivating for two whole days, he completely refined one Lingshen Pill. The potent medicinal power surprised Lin Tianming. Produced with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, the Lingshen Pill¡¯s potency was a full twenty percent higher than any elixir he had used before, truly a superior quality elixir. The effect of the Body Strengthening Pill was also excellent, not only alleviating the pain of cultivation but also swiftly enhancing his physique. His strength incrementally increased. Given time, he would be able to match a Spiritual Artifact¡¯s power with his body alone, securing an invincible position. After the three days were up, Lin Tianming emerged from his retreat, his aura stable and robust. He walked out of his cave dwelling, heading towards the tallest and grandest building in the Eastern District of the Market City. Many Cultivators were already on the road, heading towards the auction site, all intending to participate in the auction. In fifteen minutes, Lin Tianming arrived in front of a massive hall which stood five stories tall and covered thousands of square meters, exuding grandeur. This hall was the largest auction building in the Market City. It was said that the first floor was for Qi Training Cultivators¡¯ auctions, the second floor for Foundation Establishment Cultivator auctions, and the third floor was where Nascent Soul Masters freely traded. With each higher level, space decreased. As for the fourth and fifth floors, no one knew exactly what transpired there. ¡°` The Market City auction held several sessions each month, with only a small portion of the seats open and the Spiritual Objects on offer relatively mediocre. It was only during the grand assembly that all seats were open, and sometimes the treasures that appeared could even make a Foundation Establishment Cultivator envious. At this moment, a queue of several dozen meters had formed in front of the grand hall, all cultivators preparing to enter the auction. Almost all of them were at the Fifth Level Qi Practice or above, including two openly at the Foundation Establishment Stage. There were undoubtedly many more in disguise, most likely aiming for the Foundation Establishment Pills. Lin Tianming followed the queue closely, slowly moving forward. As he approached the entrance, a Qi Training Cultivator donned in Zhenyang Sect attire was collecting Spirit Stones. For the Qi Refinement Realm auction, the common area charged each cultivator three Spirit Stones, while the high-end private rooms cost twenty Spirit Stones each and could admit up to four people. Lin Tianming decided to get a private room. Although it was much more expensive in Spirit Stones, he could afford it now given his considerable wealth. Plus, the private rooms came with protective enchantments that made it difficult to leak one¡¯s whereabouts. His family¡¯s affairs were too critical, and it was better to err on the side of caution. When it was Lin Tianming¡¯s turn, he took out twenty Spirit Stones and handed them to the Zhenyang Sect cultivator. Upon receiving a token marked with a number, he stepped into the inner hall, where a charming female cultivator came forward to lead Lin Tianming to the private room corresponding to the number on his token. The charming female cultivator had a lovely face and was dressed in green. Her figure was exceptionally voluptuous. Judging by her bone age, she was just over twenty years old and at the Third Level Qi Practice. In the Cultivation World, the path of cultivation was even more challenging for female Loose Cultivators. Without talent or backing, they could only earn meager incomes doing lowly chores or serve as maids or Furnace Cauldrons for the powerful, which was far from easy. Some sought suitable dao companions to cooperate with, making survival somewhat easier. Seeing that Lin Tianming had not hesitated to choose a private room, the female cultivator knew he was not an ordinary Qi Training Cultivator and must be quite wealthy. If she provided good service, perhaps she could receive some gratuity. The guide swayed her hips as she led the way, nearly eliciting a reaction from Lin Tianming, who was still a virgin. Lin Tianming took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and followed the female cultivator. Arriving at a private room, Lin Tianming took out his token, which was engraved with the number forty-six. He verified that the room matched the number on the token, deactivated the protective barrier, and walked in. The female cultivator followed him inside, brewed a cup of Spiritual Tea for Lin Tianming, and then stood to the side. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As time passed, the number of cultivators entering the auction gradually decreased. In the center of the entire ground floor was a high platform, surrounded by five concentric circles with hundreds of seats, each row fully occupied. Above the common area, dozens of private rooms encircled the platform, each covering ten square meters and protected by barriers against Divine Sense. The view was excellent, and Lin Tianming felt the twenty Spirit Stones were well spent. Lin Tianming sipped the Spiritual Tea and patiently waited for the auction to begin. Half an hour later, the stone doors at the first-floor entrance closed, and the somewhat noisy auction hall quickly became quiet. ¡°` Chapter 51 - 51 - 50 Second Order Golden Sword Talisman_1 Chapter 51 ¨C 50 Second Order Golden Sword Talisman_1 At the auction, an elder of advanced age slowly made his way onto the stage. This person had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, his white hair suggesting he was probably a few years older than Lin Shigong. Upon seeing the elder, someone from the crowd said, ¡°Unexpectedly, it¡¯s Ruan Dao-you hosting. Surely the treasures this time are nothing ordinary!¡± Many cultivators who had never heard of the man began inquiring amongst their neighbors who were familiar with him. ¡°Ruan Dao-you is a gold-medal auctioneer, having been in the auctioneering business for almost fifty years. He has conducted hundreds of auctions, handling countless treasures, and hasn¡¯t participated in an auction for nearly a decade. The items he handles are certainly no common goods!¡± After hearing the cultivator¡¯s explanation, the auction hall was abuzz, but it quickly settled down again, indicating that this person¡¯s reputation was indeed not small. ¡°I, Ruan Jingtian, bid welcome to all fellow cultivators attending this auction. I won¡¯t belabor the rules: the highest bidder wins. If your spirit stones are insufficient, other treasures can be mortgaged. Enough talk, let¡¯s proceed without further ado. I announce, the auction begins.¡± As soon as Ruan Jingtian finished speaking, a beautiful woman dressed in red, with captivating charm and a provocatively twisting waist, walked swiftly up to the stage. She held a tray in her hands, covered in red cloth, hiding the treasure beneath. ... The eyes of many cultivators in the auction lit up with desire, nearly devouring the woman with their gazes, though it was unclear whether it was for the treasure or the woman herself. Ruan Jingtian paid no attention to the atmosphere below, raised his voice infused with a trace of mana, and started the bidding: ¡°The first auction item, a complete set of First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifacts, the Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads.¡± The captivating woman unveiled the red cloth to reveal five beads the size of an infant¡¯s fist, their grayish-green bodies quite pleasing to the eye. ¡°The Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads, each one a Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact. When activated together, they can instantly unleash a hundred-zhang wave to trap foes, or release numerous ice arrows, possessing formidable power. They are not only good for trapping enemies but also for killing them. Truly a powerful set of Spiritual Artifacts. The starting bid is three hundred and fifty spirit stones, and each subsequent bid must increase by at least five spirit stones.¡± Hearing the introduction, Lin Tianming found himself quite fond of this Spiritual Artifact but, already owning the superior Earth Evil Sword and a complete set of Supreme Grade Spiritual Artifacts, he didn¡¯t care to waste spirit stones, thus the Qi Refining Cultivators below were impatient. Instantly the auction became fiercely competitive, with multiple cultivators beginning to bid. A cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement shouted, ¡°I bid three hundred and sixty spirit stones.¡± Before the echo died down, another cultivator called out mockingly. ¡°Three hundred and sixty stones for such an item, what a joke. I bid three hundred and seventy spirit stones.¡± ¡°I bid three hundred and eighty spirit stones.¡± ¡°Four hundred spirit stones.¡± ¡°Four hundred and eighty spirit stones.¡± ¡­¡­ After over ten rounds of bidding, the Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads were sold for four hundred and eighty spirit stones to a White Robed Cultivator who appeared to cultivate water-based techniques, and thus could exploit the full potential of these beads. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but comment that the price of the Five-Child Mysterious Water Beads was somewhat inflated, even though they were indeed a fine set. A single bead was nearly as valuable as the two Earthly Hammer Weapons he had sold, yet the price was more than ten percent higher than the usual market rate. The preciousness of the first item quickly inflamed the atmosphere, leaving everyone increasingly expectant for the upcoming treasures. ¡°A First Order Medium Grade defensive Spiritual Artifact, Vajra Armor, crafted from the hide of the First Order Superior Grade Demonic Beast Silver-Horned Lizard, it boasts extreme defensive power. The starting bid is eighty spirit stones, with each increase no less than five spirit stones.¡± ¡°Ninety stones!¡± ¡°One hundred stones!¡± ¡°One hundred and ten stones!¡± ¡­ ¡°One hundred and thirty-five stones!¡± Ultimately, it was acquired by a cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Ruan Jingtian successively brought out a series of auction items, elixirs, talisman paper, spiritual artifacts, mostly needed by Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, and the transaction prices kept rising, making the atmosphere of the auction get increasingly intense. Lin Tianming did not participate in the bidding process at all, as he was not lacking in elixirs or spiritual artifacts. These treasures, if presented half a year earlier, might have excited him, but now, it was hard for them to pique his interest. ¡°We will now proceed with the final ten showstopper treasures of the auction, my fellow Daoists, you may want to keep your eyes peeled!¡± Ruan Jingtian¡¯s words pushed the atmosphere of the entire auction to a climax; many cultivators who hadn¡¯t bid before were now fully alert, having waited for such a long time specifically for these showstopper items. ¡°The first item up for auction is a First Order Superior Grade elixir, the Xisui Pill, with a quantity of three, auctioning one at a time, with a starting bid of one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must be no less than five spirit stones!¡± The charming woman stepped onto the platform again, pouring an elixir from the jade bottle, pinching it between her delicate fingers, and displaying it for the many cultivators to see. Instantly, a bid was called out from a private room! ¡°One hundred and ten spirit stones!¡± ¡­ ¡°One hundred and forty spirit stones!¡± The entire venue was astounded. After a fierce competition, a cultivator in a private room won the bid with one hundred and forty spirit stones. The first Xisui Pill was sold at a high price, and the other two were not cheap either, being sold for one hundred and thirty and one hundred and thirty-five spirit stones respectively. Only one was bought by a cultivator in the open area of the auction, while the other two were acquired by cultivators in private rooms. Lin Tianming was also very surprised; he had not expected the Xisui Pill to be so sought after, prompting such frenzy among the cultivators. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much the Xisui Pills he had refined were worth in spirit stones! The auction continued, and the value of the showstopper treasures became increasingly higher. During the third item, a bottle of Pozhang Pills was sold, with each of the three elixirs fetching a high price of no less than one hundred and eighty spirit stones. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh; these cultivators were truly crazy! ¡°The fourth item for auction, a Second Order inferior grade Golden Sword Talisman, upon activation, can unleash a Golden Sword Qi, powerful enough to be comparable to the full-force blow of an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator!¡± ¡°Starting bid of two hundred and twenty spirit stones, with each bid increase being no less than ten spirit stones.¡± After Ruan Jingtian¡¯s introduction came to an end, a cultivator in a private room immediately started bidding. ¡°Two hundred and thirty spirit stones!¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Two hundred and forty spirit stones!¡± After six rounds of bidding, the price for this talisman quickly climbed to two hundred and ninety spirit stones. At this point, Lin Tianming also wanted to win this talisman. He had quite a few First Order Superior Grade talisman paper, and with the help of spiritual artifacts and talisman paper, facing a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was not a big problem, but it was quite difficult to inflict fatal damage on a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. If he had a Second Order Talisman, he could completely turn the tide, and even possess a sliver of counterattacking power against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. ¡°Three hundred and twenty spirit stones!¡± Lin Tianming raised the price by thirty spirit stones in one breath, hoping to discourage the other bidders. At that moment, someone in a private room spoke: ¡°Three hundred and forty spirit stones, if any fellow Daoist bids higher, I will withdraw!¡± Then, the auction became silent, with no further bids. ¡°Three hundred and fifty spirit stones!¡± After thinking for a moment, Lin Tianming shouted out a new bid! Eventually, after the countdown, no one outbid Lin Tianming, and he successfully won the item. Lin Tianming took out the spirit stones and threw them towards the platform from the private room, where Ruan Jingtian caught them in one swoop. After verifying the amount was correct, he threw the Golden Sword Talisman to Lin Tianming. Chapter 52 - 52 - 51: Another Auction_1 Chapter 52 ¨C 51: Another Auction_1 In the private room, Lin Tianming picked up the Golden Sword Talisman, inspecting it over and over, feeling the furious spiritual power within the talisman paper, and looking completely infatuated with it. With this talisman paper in hand, even if he encountered a Great Completion Cultivator who was completely unguarded, he might be able to inflict fatal damage. Thinking of this, spending 350 spirit stones seemed entirely worth it. He didn¡¯t feel the slightest sting of regret, and suddenly became very generous. The maid attending him had a rosy complexion and looked on with envy, occasionally throwing sultry glances at Lin Tianming. She had witnessed his lavish spending; such a wealthy client must have an extraordinary fortune! After storing the Golden Sword Talisman in his storage bag, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief and continued to pay attention to the progression of the auction. ¡°The sixth treasure, a Second Order inferior Alchemy Furnace¡ªthe Cloud Dust Furnace!¡± A blue pill furnace stood on the stage covered with densely packed inscriptions, delicately intricate. Spiritual energy swirled around its surface, making it very attractive to look at. Its quality was not inferior to the Four Symbols Furnace that Lin Tianming used. ... Upon seeing this item, the atmosphere in the auction hall heated up. Ruan Jingtian silenced the crowd and began the introduction. ¡°The Cloud Dust Furnace, a Second Order inferior Alchemy Furnace, starting at 900 spirit stones, each bid must be at least 10 spirit stones higher than the previous!¡± No sooner had his voice faded than a cultivator in a private room bid. ¡°950 spirit stones!¡± ¡°1000 spirit stones!¡± ¡­ ¡°1300 spirit stones!¡± The entire place buzzed with shock. Some cultivators who weren¡¯t serious about bidding inhaled sharply; raising the bid by 300 spirit stones in one go was likely an attempt to intimidate those with covetous eyes, showing a determination to win. Sure enough, after the dramatic price increase, many cultivators who had intended to bid gave up. A normal Second Order inferior pill furnace was worth just over 1000 spirit stones, so the current price was already somewhat inflated. In the end, only three cultivators in private rooms continued to bid, and after two rounds of competition, the Cloud Dust Furnace was won for 1400 spirit stones. The auction wasn¡¯t even halfway through its final items, and there had already been Second Order talisman paper and a Second Order Alchemy Furnace on offer. This auction had indeed brought forth many valuable items, and each treasure presented was a rare find for a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but wonder what the remaining five items would be. ¡°The seventh treasure, a set of Second Order inferior Array Plates, capable of setting up a Two Yi Four Symbols Formation, which can trap and kill enemies. Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator trapped inside would not die but would be certainly flayed, starting at 1300 spirit stones, with each bid increasing by at least 20 spirit stones.¡± As soon as Ruan Jingtian finished introducing it, someone placed a bid. ¡°1400 spirit stones!¡± ¡°1550 spirit stones!¡± ¡­ After more than a dozen rounds of bidding, almost all came from cultivators in private rooms, likely family clan members given their frenzied bidding. A Second Order inferior formation was more than enough to serve as a Protective Clan Formation for a family of Qi Refining Cultivators. Even many families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators used Second Order medium-quality formations. The Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation was only a Second Order superior formation, acquired at great cost by an ancestor. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thanks to this formation, they had repelled attacks several times, preserving the clan from annihilation. Therefore, every time formations appeared at an auction, they would incite intense bidding from numerous families, pushing the final price to astonishing heights. ¡°1900 spirit stones!¡± A brief silence fell over the hall, and no further bids were placed. Finally, a cultivator in one of the private rooms won the bid. Lin Tianming had spent over three hundred spirit stones on a Second Order talisman, which could only be used once, while a formation could be used over a long period, even though maintaining the formation¡¯s operation required quite a few spirit stones. Spending nearly two thousand spirit stones on the Array Plates was indeed worth it! The auction continued, and seven items had already been auctioned off. The appearance of several Second Order Treasures had already been an eye-opener, and with three more treasured items remaining, they were sure to be even more precious. ¡°The eighth auction item, the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, is a secret technique. Only half of it is available, it¡¯s not the complete secret technique, and its utility is still unknown. It is a consigned item by a fellow cultivator. The starting price is one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, and each bid must increase by no less than twenty Spirit Stones.¡± At this moment, the entire hall fell silent; everyone was calculating whether to bid or not, and Lin Tianming was also caught in thought. If this were a complete secret technique, even the lowest Yellow Grade Secret Technique could easily auction off for tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, but it was unclear whether it could be cultivated. Lin Tianming calculated that one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones was already quite a lot. If he bought it and couldn¡¯t cultivate it or find the other half of the secret technique, it would be like throwing money into the water. After a good ten breaths of time with no one bidding, Lin Tianming considered and decided to bid. If he could cultivate it or find the other half, he could make a fortune. ¡°One thousand two hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°One thousand two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± Right after Lin Tianming spoke, another cultivator increased the bid, presumably sharing the same thought as him, looking to see if they could pick up a bargain. The risk was substantial, but so was the potential reward, and there were quite a few clever people indeed! ¡°One thousand three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones¡± Lin Tianming raised the bid by a hundred Spirit Stones in one breath. If that person bid again, he planned to give up, as he had less than one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones left. As expected, the other party did not seem very keen on auctioning for this item and stopped raising the bid. Eventually, Lin Tianming got his wish and acquired the incomplete secret technique for one thousand three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. He paid the Spirit Stones on the spot, obtained the secret technique, and put it into his storage bag, planning to consult it once he returned to his cave dwelling. The auction continued. Surprisingly, the eighth treasure was a Water Attribute Yellow Grade Technique, which fetched fierce bidding and eventually sold for twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones, causing Lin Tianming to be taken aback and quietly marvel at the insanity. The ninth treasure was three Jiuyang Fruits. Consuming one Jiuyang Fruit could increase the probability of breaking through by twenty percent, making it one of the few Spiritual Objects that directly enhance the chance of Foundation Establishment and was extremely precious. The final price was also quite terrifying, with each fruit fetching no less than thirteen thousand Spirit Stones. The ten ultimate treasures were down to the last one, and it was estimated that the hearts of the cultivators present already had an idea, with the vast majority of the cultivators in the private rooms there for this item. ¡°The tenth treasure, three Foundation Establishment Pills, to be auctioned separately, starting at twenty thousand per pill, with each increase not to be less than fifty Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Twenty thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ ¡°Twenty-seven thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Within just over ten rounds, the price had already approached twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming, sitting in the private room, watched the excitement, with probably over ninety percent of the people in the auction hall looking on eagerly for excitement. ¡°Twenty-nine thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Finally, no one else made a bid. The person who had made the bid heaved a great sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly elated. When Ruan Jingtian announced the result, the bidding cultivator wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Having spent all his resources, he finally obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill. The first Foundation Establishment Pill ended up selling for a high price of twenty-nine thousand Spirit Stones. The subsequent two also sold for over twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones each, with the average price of the three Foundation Establishment Pills being nearly twenty percent higher than the auction price at the grand gathering ten years ago. All treasures were successfully auctioned off, with not a single item passed up, and with prices almost one to two percent higher than ten years prior. Thinking of the commission he could draw, Ruan Jingtian couldn¡¯t help but reveal a pleased expression. ¡°Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your patronage. We will continue at our next auction!¡± With the auction ended, the cultivators in the main hall rose to their feet and slowly walked outside. Lin Tianming took out three Spirit Stones and rewarded the maid waiting by his side, then left the private room without looking back. Chapter 53 - 53 - 52 Great Sun Sword Qi Art_1 Chapter 53 ¨C 52 Great Sun Sword Qi Art_1 Returning to his cave abode, Lin Tianming sat on the cushion in the secret chamber, holding a golden jade cylinder in his hand¡ªit was the secret technique for which he had paid over a thousand spirit stones. After carefully reviewing the secret technique, Lin Tianming fell into a contemplative state. According to the method recorded in the secret technique, one had to draw a small portion of spiritual power from the Dantian and cultivate it into a strand of sword qi, nurturing it within the Seven Sea Dantian. The longer it was nurtured, the more powerful the sword qi would be when unleashed; it was indeed a secret technique. Unfortunately, this secret technique was only a fragment, merely half-complete, and its grade was unclear. It only recorded the condensation method of the Great Sun Sword Qi and lacked the mental cultivation technique for deploying the secret technique. Without finding the latter half, it was fundamentally unusable, making it somewhat of a white elephant. No wonder so few cultivators at the auction were willing to bid. If it were a complete secret technique, it certainly would not be put up for auction. Lin Tianming pondered over the condensation method of the secret technique several times and decided to first condense the sword embryo before anything else. He could nurture it within the Dantian; if he could find the latter half in the future, he would have to obtain it no matter what. This could potentially be the first secret technique the Lin Family had acquired since its founding, greatly enhancing the strength and foundation of the family¡¯s cultivators. After fully comprehending the method of condensation, Lin Tianming began to cultivate the secret technique; his first step was to successfully condense the sword qi. ... Following the method recorded in the secret technique, he had to strip a portion of the spiritual power formed in the Dantian. This process was both dangerous and painful. If one did not handle the timing and amount correctly, it was easy to damage one¡¯s foundation, making it extremely difficult to cultivate. Lin Tianming circulated his cultivation technique, deployed his Divine Sense, and with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, attempted to separate a portion of spiritual power¡ªabout ten percent of the total. After three days of cultivation, he still hadn¡¯t succeeded in separating it. Each attempt brought immense suffering, even more so than when he cultivated the Tiangang Body Art. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was pale, and he was drenched in sweat, the very picture of excessive energy depletion. Just as he began to entertain the thought of giving up, he successfully separated a small portion of spiritual power, which gathered near the Dantian and remained stationary. Lin Tianming was overjoyed at this and focused his Divine Sense, mastering the amount of spiritual power until it met the requirements of the cultivation process, and then stopped extracting. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, he successfully extracted the spiritual power very precisely, exactly ten percent of the total. The first and most difficult step was finally completed; what remained was to cultivate the spiritual power into a strand of sword qi and nurture it in the Dantian, warming it daily with spiritual power until his task was accomplished. Two days hastened past, and during this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion remained pale, a listless figure as though he had suffered a severe illness¡ªall a consequence of cultivating the secret technique. Separating ten percent of his spiritual power had turned half a year¡¯s worth of diligent cultivation to ashes, his strength now diminished rather than increased. Lin Tianming started circulating his cultivation technique again to go into closed-door healing and recover from his injuries. After a total of eight days in seclusion, having successfully condensed the sword qi three days earlier, there now rested a small golden sword quietly in his Dantian, surrounded by spiritual power that constantly nourished the sword qi. During the last three days, Lin Tianming had been cultivating and recovering from his injuries, eventually regaining most of his strength. A message suddenly flew into the secret chamber, and after reading it, Lin Tianming revealed a trace of a smile¡ªit was news that Fifteenth Grandfather had hurried back. With a smile on his face, Lin Tianming prepared to go out and welcome him. It had been over forty days since Lin Shilu had left Qianchuan Market on his own. Having only rested at the family for two days, and not yet fully recovered, he had set out again, worried about Lin Tianming. Hurrying back over this forty-day journey, Lin Shilu also looked greatly fatigued, but he had finally made it back in time. Having lifted the prohibitions, Lin Shilu walked in, and Lin Tianming was already waiting in the yard. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you¡¯re back. Was everything smooth on your way?¡± Lin Tianming asked anxiously. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion, Lin Shilu asked in anger, ¡°Tianming, why do you look like this? Are you injured?¡± Lin Tianming recounted the whole story about the auction of the secret technique, including how he successfully refined the Sword Qi, telling it like it was. Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu chastised him with palpable alarm: ¡°You lad have quite the nerve, taking up a cultivation technique of dubious authenticity for direct cultivation; if there were any problems, it¡¯s entirely possible you could have exploded and died on the spot.¡± ¡°Alright, remember not to be reckless in the future. Keep matters regarding the secret technique quiet for now; we will look for it in secret. Should we find it, it would naturally be a fortunate discovery for the Lin Family. If we don¡¯t, let¡¯s just consider the money spent as a lesson.¡± The grandfather and grandson sat in the yard as Lin Shilu recounted his experiences of the past forty-plus days. ¡°I¡¯ve been on the move for over forty days, basically following the same route I took to the market, though I took some detours. The journey was relatively smooth, and having the Purple Gold Eagle for transportation certainly sped things up considerably; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible to return so quickly.¡± ¡°After I delivered the three elixirs to our clan, the members of the Lin Family with the character ¡¯Shi¡¯ in their generation¡¯s name discussed and have already decided on the distribution of the elixirs. Your grandfather, Elder Wu, and Twelfth Grandpa are all at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and are among the most suitable candidates. Given their significant contributions to the family over the years, they naturally received priority, requiring eight thousand merit points in exchange for one pill. With their accumulations over so many years, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. If nothing unexpected has occurred, they should be in seclusion by now!¡± After listening, Lin Tianming asked with concern: Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, can they be successful?¡± ¡°Tianming, cultivation is fundamentally an act of defying the heavens and changing fate. Nobody can be absolutely certain of success. They are not young; the youngest, your Twelfth Uncle, is already over eighty years old. With the Minor Foundation Building Pill, he should have a thirty percent chance of success. Your grandfather and Elder Wu will have a slightly lower chance, but there should be a bit over twenty percent chance for them as well. This is far stronger than those who try to break through without any external aid. Even if they don¡¯t successfully enter the Foundation Establishment Stage, they won¡¯t be in any danger. Without a heaven-defying opportunity, this is as far as they can go in this life. It¡¯s an unavoidable circumstance.¡± ¡°Worrying now is useless; we can only hope they are successful!¡± After some thought, Lin Tianming realized that indeed no one could be of help in the matter of making a breakthrough, they could only pray for their success. Setting this topic aside for the moment, the two discussed Ye Pinghai¡¯s alchemy matters. Since Lin Shilu left the Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming spent close to half a month cultivating and attending auctions, spending his other time diligently practicing alchemy in Ye Pinghai¡¯s cave dwelling. Ye Pinghai had just started refining Minor Foundation Building Pills, with a success rate of about thirty percent. With multiple refining sessions, this rate should improve; how much it would improve would only become clear once all the materials were processed. After half an hour of conversation, the grandfather and grandson continued their cultivation in Qianchuan Market, settling on their next steps. Lin Shilu then instructed Lin Tianming not to slack off before they each returned to their secret chambers for secluded cultivation, planning to wait until Ye Pinghai¡¯s alchemy was complete before returning to the clan. Chapter 54 - 54 - 53 Double Happiness Arrives_1 Chapter 54 ¨C 53 Double Happiness Arrives_1 Lin Tianming and his companion each returned to their secret chamber, estimating that it would take Ye Pinghai several months to refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill, they decided to have a short period of closed-door meditation. In the secret chamber, while Lin Tianming was healing his injuries, he also began to cultivate, the spiritual power extracted by condensing sword qi was significant, and it would require several months of diligent cultivation to replenish. He took out a Lingshen Pill and consumed it together with a Body Strengthening Pill, feeling the powerful medicinal strength, and the spiritual power lost in condensing sword qi gradually recovered. At the top of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within a courtyard, Lin Shigong sat motionless on a meditation cushion. In his hand was a Jade Tube, which recorded the breakthrough processes and experiences of more than a dozen ancestors of the Lin Family. Lin Shigong pondered carefully, not daring to miss a single detail. Not far from the courtyard, two other people were also in closed-door meditation, pondering over the Jade Tube; they were Lin Shiji and Lin Shihua. Since Lin Shilu returned to Green Bamboo Mountain and the selection for the Foundation Establishment Pill was confirmed, Lin Shigong immediately exchanged most of the precious Spiritual Medicine he had collected, and the elixirs he had refined over the years, all for merit points. ... Nearly spending half of his wealth, coupled with the merit points borrowed from Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, they finally gathered eight thousand points and successfully exchanged for a Minor Foundation Building Pill. Lin Shiji and Lin Shihua were the same, though both at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and one as the Enforcement Hall Master and the other as the current Clan Leader, their wealth accumulation still fell short of Lin Shigong¡¯s, considering Lin Shigong was the Lin Family member with the highest level in alchemy, and his wealth was naturally more substantial. However, as the Enforcement Hall Master and Clan Leader of the Lin Family, their wealth was not something ordinary family members could compare with; they exchanged all their accumulated resources into merit points, and after borrowing some, they also reached eight thousand points and successfully exchanged for a Minor Foundation Building Pill. Right on the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, taking advantage of the thick spiritual energy at the peak, each person chose a courtyard for secluded meditation, fully committed to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. After three days passed, Lin Shigong had memorized the contents of the Jade Tube, adjusted himself to the optimal state and took out a Minor Foundation Building Pill without any hesitation, and swallowed it. In just a breath¡¯s time, his originally slightly pale cheeks instantly turned bright red. An immense amount of spiritual power almost burst his Seven Sea Dantian, causing him excruciating pain. Lin Shigong concentrated his mind and, according to his ancestors¡¯ experiences, knew that it was time to refine the spiritual power fully, further condensing the spiritual power within the entire Qi Sea into a purer form. Lin Shigong guided the vast spiritual energy, refining it bit by bit. Half a day passed, and he had only refined a fraction; the efficiency was exceptionally low. To complete the condensation, it would probably take a month or so. ¡°This won¡¯t do. I must speed up. The substantial medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill can only last for one month, and if the condensation is not completed within this timeframe, the breakthrough will fail,¡± he thought to himself. At this moment, Lin Shigong was utterly frenzied, completely disregarding the heart-wrenching pain, even if his orifices bled, he did not stop and continued to refine the spiritual power with all his might. Twenty-five days passed in a flash, and Lin Shikang was sitting in his courtyard, not cultivating in seclusion, but protecting the three attempting to break through. Only a small part of the Lin Family¡¯s core members knew that Lin Shigong and the others were attempting the breakthrough, the entire family secretly went on alert, and the Protective Clan Formation was also activated, to aid in their breakthrough. For the past half-month, Lin Shikang was extremely anxious, constantly worried about the three individuals. Despite his restlessness, he occasionally glanced towards the courtyards of Lin Shigong and the others. The time for the month-long duration was drawing near, with only five days remaining. Failure to break through in time would mean halting their progress for life. Lin Shikang recalled that when he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in his fifties, it took only fourteen days to succeed. Now twenty-five days had passed, and there was still no movement from the three, which was naturally worrisome. Just then, a muffled sound came from one courtyard, followed by the fleeting pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. ¡°It¡¯s Shihua¡¯s place, haha¡­ Shihua has successfully established his foundation!¡± Overjoyed, Lin Shikang hurried out of his courtyard and flew towards the courtyard where Lin Shihua was meditating. Inside Lin Shihua¡¯s meditation courtyard, his face was flushed red as he burst into laughter¡­ After entering the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage more than a decade ago, he finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment, feeling the surging spiritual power that was incomparable to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. After Lin Shihua finished his cultivation, he sighed in relief, walked out of the courtyard, and met Lin Shikang who came rushing over. Lin Shikang¡¯s face brimmed with smiles as he clasped his hands together in congratulations and said, S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Shihua, congratulations on successfully entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. Our Lin Family has finally produced a third Foundation Establishment Cultivator. In order to restore our former glory, we have finally taken a step forward.¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face was also flushed with color, not yet recovered from his joy, his excitement ineffable! ¡°Thank you, third brother, for your protection. How are the fifth and the ninth brother doing?¡± Lin Shikang wore a helpless expression, smiling wryly as he replied, ¡°There¡¯s still no movement from Shigong and the others. We have only five days left until the one-month deadline. Whether they can succeed or not will be revealed in these few days!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua¡¯s face also changed dramatically, and he smiled bitterly again and again. He had not yet recovered from the shock of his own breakthrough, and he was acutely aware of the difficulty of breaking through. That he had succeeded was already fortunate; his ninth brother, who was more than a decade older than him, would likely face even greater challenges. The members of the Lin Family, since detecting their Spiritual Roots, had all grown up on Green Bamboo Mountain. They learned enlightenment education together, studied the knowledge of cultivation, and even learned the arts of cultivation together. Over the years, they supported each other. Although the blood ties among many family members had become extremely thin, or even non-existent, the bond formed over decades was stronger than those between real brothers. In the early stages of his cultivation, Lin Shihua was often taken care of by Lin Shigong. He had always admired his selflessness and even took him as a role model. It was because of his fair and prudent style of handling affairs that he was elected Clan Leader. So, he was very hopeful that Lin Shigong would succeed. ¡°Shihua, you¡¯ve just made a breakthrough. Return and consolidate it in seclusion. We¡¯re helpless while waiting, and as for their breakthroughs, they can only rely on themselves. I¡¯m here to watch over things; there won¡¯t be any issues,¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll go back and consolidate first. Please take care of things here, third brother!¡± With a cupped fist, Lin Shihua left to seclude himself inside the courtyard. Four more days passed, and Lin Shikang had remained outside the courtyard where Lin Shigong and the other was in seclusion, never leaving. At this moment, Lin Shikang was sighing with regret and growing more anxious by the minute. Only one day remained, and it seemed there really was no hope left. Suddenly, another muffled boom rang out, followed by the breath of a Foundation Establishment Stage which confronted them directly; it returned to normal within a few breaths. Lin Shikang was instantly overjoyed, nearly rushing into the cave dwelling, but fortunately, he managed to stop himself in time! ¡°It¡¯s Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother did it, hahaha¡­¡± ¡°Ninth Brother has succeeded in Foundation Establishment!¡± In the secret chamber, Lin Shigong was disheveled and covered in dried blood, his aura extremely chaotic. His previously gray-white hair was slowly turning black, and his aged face was growing visibly younger, with the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes vanishing. He looked completely like a middle-aged man. Feeling the surging spiritual power, Lin Shigong¡¯s face was filled with astonishment, almost unable to believe! ¡°Have I entered the Foundation Establishment Stage? Have I really entered the Foundation Establishment Stage?¡± He tried casting a spell! Boom¡­ The stone table instantly shattered into pieces, feeling the surging spiritual power, which indeed was the might that only came with the Foundation Establishment Stage. ¡°I¡¯ve succeeded, I¡¯ve actually succeeded¡­¡± Lin Shigong was suddenly overcome with tears of joy, crying profusely. If he had not succeeded this time, he could have only stopped at this stage. Chapter 55 - 55 - 54 Six Months_1 Chapter 55 ¨C 54 Six Months_1 The day after Lin Shigong¡¯s breakthrough, which was also the last day of the thirtieth, Lin Shiji came out of seclusion, walking out of the courtyard. Lin Shiji¡¯s face was full of disappointment, despondent, and his already aged visage became even more weathered. ¡°I¡¯m old now, perhaps this is fate!¡± Lin Shiji muttered to himself in his heart. Lin Shikang, who had been waiting outside all this time, approached Lin Shiji with a look of sympathy and comforted him, ¡°Little brother, you have done your best. Take a good rest for a while, the Enforcement Hall now has young people to support it, you don¡¯t have to work too hard!¡± Lin Shiji nodded. Before secluding himself, he had felt that hope was slim, but he still wanted to try one last time, just in case he succeeded! After all, no one wants to stop making progress. ¡°Elder brother, did the ninth and twelfth brothers succeed?¡± ... Although during the breakthrough, he felt two Foundation Establishment Stage auras, he still wanted to confirm their authenticity. ¡°Shihua is a bit younger, he took twenty-five days to break through as well. Shi Gong¡¯s situation was more dangerous, he only succeeded yesterday!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shiji¡¯s bitter face also revealed a slight smile. Two out of three people had a breakthrough, which was already a great fortune. ¡°Elder brother, please convey my congratulations to Shi Gong and the others when they leave seclusion. I will take my leave now, there is a lot to do at the Enforcement Hall!¡± Lin Shikang nodded, halted his words, wanting to say something to console him, but not knowing how to start. Watching Lin Shiji walk away from the square, his lonely figure was heart-wrenching. Lin Shikang shook his head, his heart filled with bitterness and a sense of lament. If it were not for the family¡¯s weak foundation, there would¡¯ve been a fair chance if it was twenty years earlier. Time waits for no one! Let it be, let it be. Upon reflection, the success of the two was unexpected, yet seeing Lin Shiji¡¯s failure still made it hard to hold back the regret. After Lin Shiji left, Lin Shikang also returned to his own small courtyard, waiting for Lin Shigong and the other to consolidate their cultivated strength and come out of seclusion. Sitting in his small courtyard, Lin Shikang was also pondering the future development of the family. The news of Lin Shigong¡¯s two breakthroughs should still be kept secret, as a hidden strength. With two more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family¡¯s power had greatly increased; no longer would they have to swallow their pride, but they also could not be too ostentatious. The Lin Family needed time to quickly elevate their overall strength. In Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming sat in a secret chamber within his cave dwelling, hands joined, eyes tightly shut, with beads of sweat occasionally seeping from his forehead, diligently cultivating. Time swiftly passed, and half a year had gone by. Lin Tianming would visit Ye Pinghai¡¯s Alchemy Room every month to learn for several days, and the rest of the time he dedicated to cultivation. During this half year, Lin Tianming made significant progress. With a large amount of high-quality elixirs, his cultivation had been rapidly recovering. As early as three months ago, Lin Tianming had fully recovered the spiritual power he had lost, and not only that, the progress in the following three months was also substantial. His cultivation was nearing the late stage of the Seventh Level Qi Cultivation. With another year or half, it was very likely he would reach the Eighth Level Qi Cultivation. In addition to his spiritual power, his body refinement also made great strides. All his meridians throughout his body had become thicker, a full size larger than before, and his physical strength had also increased considerably. After half a year of arduous cultivation, as he opened his eyes, feeling the surging spiritual power within him, Lin Tianming was very satisfied. Just then, a message from Ye Pinghai entered the secret chamber. ¡¯Elder Ye spent eight months, finally refining all the Spiritual Medicine Materials.¡¯ Lin Tianming emerged from his seclusion, and, stepping out of the secret chamber, he took a seat in the courtyard to await Lin Shilu. At the same time, Lin Shilu had received the message and, hastily gathering some Artifact Refining Materials, he hastily left his own seclusion. Upon seeing Lin Shilu emerge, Lin Tianming hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. ¡¯Fifteenth Grandfather, you¡¯ve received the message from Elder Ye as well, haven¡¯t you?¡¯ Lin Shilu replied with a calm face, ¡¯Indeed, let¡¯s go. We shall pay a visit to his abode.¡¯ In half an hour, the two of them had arrived inside Ye Pinghai¡¯s abode. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai were sitting opposite each other, with Lin Tianming sitting below Lin Shilu, occasionally rising to pour a cup of Spiritual Tea for them both. Ye Pinghai picked up the jade tea cup, took a sip of the Spiritual Tea, and said with a pleased expression, ¡¯Lin, I am pleased to report that the task you entrusted to me has been successfully completed, and now is the time to deliver the results.¡¯ After speaking, Ye Pinghai took out five Jade Bottles and handed them to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu received the Jade Bottles with a chuckle of joy, his face brimming with delight. He extended his Divine Sense to inspect them and within the five bottles were fourteen pills that were unmistakably Minor Foundation Building Pills. Overjoyed, Lin Shilu spoke with sincere gratitude, ¡¯Brother Ye has been tirelessly engaged in Alchemy for over half a year, consuming substantial resources. You should rest for a few days, there¡¯s really no need for such hurry. My grandson and I have already waited for more than half a year, so a few more days would not make a difference.¡¯ After half an hour of pleasantries and exchanging many words of thanks, Lin Shilu took out a storage bag containing eight thousand Spirit Stones, along with two Jade Bottles, totaling six Minor Foundation Building Pills, which he handed over to Ye Pinghai. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu, following the customs of Alchemy, gave Ye Pinghai thirty percent of the pills as a reward for his assistance. From the fifteen batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials for Minor Foundation Building Pills, seventeen pills were successfully produced ¨C which surprised Lin Shilu. He had thought that procuring fifteen pills would have been more than satisfactory and had not anticipated that Ye Pinghai¡¯s Alchemy skills would yield such a welcome bonus. Although Minor Foundation Building Pills are only considered Second Order Lower Quality, their difficulty of refinement is on par with many Second Order Medium Quality pills. The reason there were seventeen pills was because there were plentiful Spiritual Medicine Materials, and after multiple refinements, practice makes perfect. The final two batches presented four pills each, hence exceeding the expected amount by two. After pondering for a short moment, Ye Pinghai did not decline the offer. He took the Jade Bottles in hand, poured out one Minor Foundation Building Pill, placed it into a separate Jade Bottle, and then returned it to Lin Shilu. ¡¯Lin, I will not turn down the five Minor Foundation Building Pills and the Spirit Stones, but you should take this one pill back. Your family needs these pills more than I do.¡¯ Lin Shilu hastened to decline, but ultimately, at the insistent demand of Ye Pinghai, he accepted the pill. This trip to Qianchuan Market had achieved its aim. With these nine Minor Foundation Building Pills, the Lin Family now possessed a total of twelve, allowing many of their clan members to commence Foundation Establishment without delay. That evening, Lin Shilu spent more than three hundred Spirit Stones to host a lavish banquet at the Welcoming Guests Tower in gratitude for Ye Pinghai¡¯s assistance. Ye Pinghai attended the banquet as promised and in high spirits, and they drank over ten bottles of wine brewed from Spirit Fruits. The cost of the Spiritual Wine alone amounted to more than a hundred Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming offered toasts several times throughout the evening, earnestly expressing his thanks to Ye Pinghai for his assistance in Alchemy. Ye Pinghai had always valued Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and character, and he treasured him so much that he considered taking him as a disciple, consistently offering guidance; otherwise, he would not have wasted his time and effort. Taking advantage of the banquet, Lin Shilu spent several thousand Spirit Stones to purchase a batch of Second Order Pills from Ye Pinghai at a low price, mainly consisting of Lingshen Pills, along with some restorative Huiyuan Pills and Consolidating Essence Pills. After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Shilu excused himself, deciding to depart at dawn the following day to return to Green Bamboo Mountain. Ye Pinghai did not hold back, offering only a few polite words of well-wishing before they each said farewell and returned to their respective dwellings to rest. Chapter 56 - 56 - 55 Returning to Green Bamboo Mountain_1 Chapter 56 ¨C 55 Returning to Green Bamboo Mountain_1 The next morning, just outside Qianchuan Market, a fiery red morning glow hung suspended in the azure sky, brushed by a light breeze that spoke of endless beauty. Lin Tianming and his companion left the market and, after flying on their swords for more than ten miles, stopped atop a small mountain. Releasing the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag, it had grown significantly larger over the past half-year. With the Beast Spirit Pill, the Purple Gold Eagle rapidly grew with the help of the monthly elixirs. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Taking a Beast Spirit Pill from his storage bag and tossing it to the Purple Gold Eagle, it caught it in one bite and swallowed, lets out a joyous screech, and affectionately nuzzled Lin Tianming with its massive head, looking quite eager to please. ¡°Alright, stop fussing, we need to get on our way!¡± Lin Tianming and his companion mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which swiftly ascended hundreds of feet into the air and streaked away as a beam of light, flying south. ... Having Lin Shilu accompany him made the journey much easier for Lin Tianming, who sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, enjoying the scenery along the way, quite content. Following their previous route and with the familiarity of the path, the journey went smoothly. Coupled with the increased speed of the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flight, they arrived near Green Bamboo Mountain in just half a month. Looking at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain in the distance, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement. Having been away for half a year, he deeply missed his clan. Wondering whether his grandfather had successfully established his foundation, with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, the two humans and one beast plunged into the Protective Clan Formation and disappeared. Once inside the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Shilu finally let out a sigh of relief! ¡°Tianming, you go back first. Tomorrow, come to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly with your grandfather. We have matters to discuss.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Tianming bowed his hands in a salute and flew towards the mountainside. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s retreating figure, Lin Shilu was very pleased. This child is meticulous in thought, exceptional in talent, and extraordinary in fate; truly a promising individual! Lin Shilu did not linger any longer and vanished from the spot. Lin Tianming did not return to his own small courtyard but headed straight to the Alchemy Hall to check on his grandfather¡¯s breakthrough. Outside the Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming chanced upon Lin Tianhong, who was just coming out. Lin Tianming greeted him, ¡°Tianming pays his respects to Second Brother!¡± ¡°Sixth Brother, it¡¯s been a while. You¡¯re finally back!¡± The two of them had studied alchemy together, and it had been nearly two years since they had last seen each other. Lin Tianhong had also progressed from the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement to the Fifth Level, a significant improvement. ¡°Second Brother, is Grandfather inside?¡± ¡°Ninth Grandpa is inside. I¡¯ve just come out from seeing him; he happens to be free right now. You¡¯ve been away for so long, I won¡¯t disturb you further. Go on in.¡± ¡°Then I shall go inside, and we¡¯ll catch up another day!¡± ¡°Sure, we brothers have all been deeply immersed in our own cultivation for several years; we haven¡¯t gathered for quite some time. One day soon, let¡¯s call First Brother and Third Sister to join us for a proper reunion.¡± After parting from Lin Tianhong, he turned and walked into the great hall. Walking into the main hall of the Alchemy Hall, Lin Shigong was already seated inside, waiting for Lin Tianming. Reunited with his grandfather after many months, Lin Shigong¡¯s appearance had drastically changed. The once predominantly gray hair was now nowhere to be seen, replaced by a head of jet-black hair, giving him the appearance of a middle-aged man. ¡°` After a cultivator has successfully completed Foundation Establishment, they can live for more than two hundred and fifty years, and at this time Lin Shigong was less than a hundred years old, indeed still considered a middle-aged man. Having confirmed that grandfather had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, Lin Tianming was extremely excited. Not only does the Lin Family gain another Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, but it is also very likely to gain a Second Order Alchemist. Lin Shigong¡¯s alchemy had been stagnating at the superior grade of First Order for dozens of years; if it hadn¡¯t been for the barrier in his cultivation, he would probably have advanced to Second Order long ago. Now that his cultivation has broken through, becoming a Second Order Alchemist should just be a matter of time. After calming his excited emotions, Lin Tianming began to offer his congratulations. ¡°Congratulations to grandfather on entering the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± Lin Shigong was also very happy at this time. A few years ago, he had thought that he was doomed to never succeed in Foundation Establishment, and he really didn¡¯t expect to have even a sliver of chance, truly a testament to the unpredictable nature of life. ¡°Hmph, I was fortunate to succeed in Foundation Establishment. This time, I really owe it to you. My twelfth brother and I have succeeded, but it¡¯s a pity for the fifth brother¡­¡± Seeing the look of regret on Lin Shilu¡¯s face, Lin Tianming knew that Lin Shiji had failed in Foundation Establishment. ¡°Grandfather, the foundation of our family is really too weak. Many of our clan members have wasted decades for nothing, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t be attempting Foundation Establishment at the age of a hundred. There¡¯s nothing that can be done about it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Before us, there were several clan members who exhausted their lifespan without even obtaining the spiritual objects to assist in Foundation Establishment. Their forced breakthrough attempts also weren¡¯t successful. Compared to them, we¡¯re actually quite lucky.¡± After being comforted by Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong felt somewhat better and then asked Lin Tianming about his experiences in Qianchuan Market. Then, Lin Tianming set up a restrictive spell and began to recount his experiences over the past half year to Lin Shigong. ¡°To have actually obtained twelve Minor Foundation Building Pills this time!¡± Lin Shigong was stunned, his face flushing with waves of red. If he didn¡¯t know his grandson so well, he almost wouldn¡¯t dare to believe it. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Ye Pinghai would truly be a person worth befriending. We are really indebted to him this time. Otherwise, our family would have had to expend great effort at much higher risk, and it would have been very difficult to obtain such a number of Minor Foundation Building Pills.¡± Lin Tianming also expressed his gratitude: ¡°Senior Ye indeed gave his all to help. He not only assisted with alchemy, but he also taught me a lot. Now my skills in alchemy have improved greatly, and I am able to produce common First Order Superior Grade elixirs, with both a high success rate and yield.¡± Before coming back, I decided it¡¯s still best not to reveal the secret of the Eye of Five Colors. This matter is too important and must be approached with caution; it¡¯s better not to let the old man know. ¡°Good, good, you really haven¡¯t disappointed me. The thing I am proudest of in my life is you. Continue working hard, and strive to surpass our ancestors as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes, grandson will definitely work hard!¡± ¡°Grandfather, I bid on a secret technique at the auction in Qianchuan Market. Please take a look at it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong became even more excited, half doubtingly asking: ¡°You also bid on a Spirit Art?¡± Lin Tianming nodded, retrieved the Secret Art Jade Tube from his storage bag, and handed it over to Lin Shigong for inspection. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shigong¡¯s face slowly returned to its normal color from the excitement. ¡°What a pity, a pity!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only the upper half. No wonder it was up for auction. Trying to find the lower half is undoubtedly like searching for a needle in a haystack, but that¡¯s not to say there¡¯s no hope. If it¡¯s real, then we¡¯ve made a huge profit. Even if it¡¯s a fake, losing some Spirit Stones is no big deal.¡± ¡°We should not reveal this secret technique to the other clan members for now. I¡¯ll discuss it with your third uncle and the others. We can only search for it in secret. If we can find it, it would be a great fortune for our Lin Family, but if we can¡¯t, then let it be.¡± Lin Tianming readily agreed. Lin Shilu had already exhorted him on this, so he naturally wouldn¡¯t speak of it to others. The two talked for a full hour until they finally left the Alchemy Hall together and returned to their own small courtyard. ¡°` Chapter 57 - 57 - 56 The Dust Settles_1 Chapter 57 ¨C 56 The Dust Settles_1 Having returned to their small courtyard, mother and sister were overjoyed to learn of Lin Tianming¡¯s return to the family and rushed back to this humble home. The family reunited for dinner, with only Lin Xingrong still away in Luoyun Market, a significant regret. After dinner, mother and sister each went to their cultivation, leaving only Lin Shigong and Lin Tianming to sit in the courtyard for a casual chat. ¡¯Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather asked me to tell you that at dawn tomorrow, we should go to the Elders¡¯ Council for a clan meeting, and he wants me to join as well,¡¯ Lin Tianming said. Lin Shigong, sipping his Spiritual Tea with a calm expression, replied, ¡¯I suspect it¡¯s to fulfill the promise of the three Minor Foundation Building Pills for you and to discuss the development of the family for the next few years, as well as external relations. The family has been silent for a long time now, and it¡¯s time to take a step forward.¡¯ ¡¯With my twelfth brother and I successful in Foundation Establishment, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in our family is no less than that of the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family. Although there is a slight gap in cultivation, the Lin Family is not the same as before and naturally can no longer yield in every situation.¡¯ ... ¡¯Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family!¡¯ ¡¯Is the Jin Family very strong?¡¯ Lin Tianming asked immediately, his interest piqued. ¡¯Grandfather, what is the actual strength of the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range like?¡¯ he inquired eagerly. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s interest, Lin Shigong opened up to explain. Sooner or later, Tian Ming would have to deal with those families, and knowing both oneself and the enemy would ensure he would not be defeated. Understanding more would not be harmful. ¡¯According to investigations, out of the five major families in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family has four Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the open, but whether there are more in hiding is unknown. Moreover, a person of exceptional talent has emerged from the Jin Family, known as Jin Qishan, who is twenty-six, possesses Dual Spiritual Roots, and has already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level¡ªan innate prodigy.¡¯¡± ¡¯In addition, the Flying Eagle Mountain Sun Family has three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while the Jiuhua Mountain Wu Family and Baiyun Mountain Luo Family each have two.¡¯ ¡¯Currently, the Jin Family¡¯s strength is the strongest, and aside from the Sun Family, none of the other three can deal with them alone.¡¯ ¡¯The Jin Family and the Sun Family have always been at odds with each other. Under the mutual restraint of the Jin and Sun families, our Lin Family and the other two have banded together for mutual warmth, allowing us to secure a foothold in the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, the taste of survival in such a narrow gap is truly stifling.¡¯ As Lin Shigong said this, he shook his head with a helpless expression on his face. Over two hundred years ago, the Lin Family was the strongest, monopolizing forty percent of the market profits. In just over a century, they had completely declined, and although they were not the weakest among the five major families, they were not much stronger. ¡¯Grandfather, let¡¯s take it slowly. The family is getting stronger and stronger, and it¡¯s just a matter of time before we regain our past glory,¡¯ Lin Tianming comforted. The younger generation of the Lin Family had shown excellent talent, including an individual with Dual Spiritual Roots and several with Three Spiritual Roots¡ªa true gathering of exceptional talents. After more than half an hour of casual conversation, Lin Tianming also gained a general understanding of the other four major families, including some key members, committing them firmly to memory. The next day at dawn, Lin Tianming followed his grandfather to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly. In the Council Hall of the Elders¡¯ Assembly, more than ten family members had already arrived, with Lin Shihua and Lin Shixin chatting among themselves. Seeing Lin Shigong enter, everyone quickly stood up, and Lin Tianming greeted everyone politely. Those attending the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly were all the core strength of the Lin Family, mostly those with real power. Nearly everyone who could make it was there, save for those who were indispensable elsewhere. Before long, two figures entered the Council Hall together; it was Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu arriving last. The crowd stood up to greet them, and Lin Tianming also stepped forward to salute. Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Lin Shihua began to speak: ¡°Fellow clansmen, since everyone is here, let¡¯s begin the meeting. The main topics are the distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills and the future development of our clan, as well as our stance towards other families.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start with the distribution of the Minor Foundation Building Pills. Apart from the three promised to Tian Ming, there are six left. Feel free to speak your minds and let¡¯s come together to discuss a fair and just outcome.¡± Right then, the Hall Master of the Skill Transmission Hall, Lin Shigang, was the first to speak out: ¡°The remaining six Minor Foundation Building Pills should be allocated from among our clansmen. Whoever first reaches the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage can exchange it for eight thousand good deeds to establish their foundation as soon as possible and enhance the overall strength of the family. When facing the Jin Family, we¡¯ll have a stronger foundation!¡± No sooner had these words been spoken than a clan member of the Xing generation began to object. ¡°With only six Minor Foundation Building Pills, the number is still small. Moreover, the clan has already expended a large amount of wealth in their production, depleting most of our funds accumulated over decades. The main ingredient, Hidden Spirit Grass, although we have transplanted dozens of plants, has a low survival rate, and we won¡¯t be able to use them to produce elixirs for a hundred years.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Therefore, for the next hundred years, it will be very difficult for us to obtain spiritual objects that can aid in Foundation Establishment. For this reason, I suggest we keep two pills in reserve, to retain a glimmer of hope in times of crisis, allowing the family to recover as quickly as possible.¡± Many from the Xing generation supported this proposition, echoing their agreement. The Council Hall immediately became lively, essentially dividing into two camps: the younger Qi Refinement Cultivators of the Xing generation and the older, yet-to-establish Foundation members of the Shi generation. The Shi generation was no longer young. Apart from the four who had successfully established their foundation, including Lin Shiji who had failed in his attempt, there were only three others, all at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. The youngest among them, Lin Shixin, was already over ninety years old, not more than two years younger than Lin Shigong, with hardly any potential left. Even with the aid of Minor Foundation Building Pills, the hope of establishing a foundation was very slim. Lin Tianming sat silently behind his grandfather, and not only him, but none of the Lin Family Foundation Building Cultivators spoke up, nor did they openly express their stance. An hour passed, and the two generations could still not reach a consensus. Lin Shikang, who had been silent until then, communicated secretly with Lin Shilu and the other three, asking for their opinions. After all, the views of those in the Foundation Establishment Stage carried weight and were crucial in deciding major clan issues. After a long deliberation, Lin Shilu, standing from the perspective of the family, found the words of the Xing generation more convincing. For the Shi generation, even with the aid of Minor Foundation Building Pills, the probability of successful Foundation Establishment was very low. It would be better to give the opportunity to the younger members to maximize the family¡¯s strength. Not only did Lin Shilu think this way, but the other three Foundation Establishment Cultivators mostly felt the same. However, since Lin Shigong had managed to establish his foundation at an advanced age, there was a precedent. To directly cut off the hope of Lin Shixin and others seemed too harsh; after all, no one wanted to die. After discussion among the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Lin Shikang stood up and said: ¡°Let¡¯s divide the six Minor Foundation Building Pills into three parts: one for the Shi generation, three for the Xing generation, and two for the Tian generation. Whichever clan member reaches the Great Perfection first can exchange for them.¡± As soon as this was stated, the previously bustling Council Hall fell silent as everyone pondered the suggestion. At that moment, Lin Shixin gratefully looked towards Lin Shikang and the others, nodding his head in thanks. After all, they had still preserved the hope for those of his generation to establish their foundation; it was just a matter of whether they could seize the opportunity. There was only so much in the way of resources; naturally, the most effective resources should be used for the clan members with the best talents. After a quiet moment, lasting only about ten breaths, and seeing that there were no objections, Lin Shilu took out the three Minor Foundation Building Pills and handed them to Lin Tianming. The remaining six were entrusted to Lin Shixin for safekeeping, settling the distribution of the pills. Lin Tianming secured the three Minor Foundation Building Pills into his storage bag. With these three elixirs, there was a good chance his parents could establish their foundation. Chapter 58 - 58: Listing Thoughts_1 Chapter 58: Listing Thoughts_1 Dear readers, I just received a suggestion from the editor to release my book tomorrow. Upon hearing this plan, wow wow wow¡­ I¡¯m so anxious right now! What should I do, everyone? Let me tell you the exact time the book will go live, and here I am, on my knees, begging for your support and subscription! ¡°Lin Family¡¯s Cultivation Journey¡± will be officially released at 12 PM on August 20th, 2021. I¡¯m begging for subscriptions¡­ begging for votes¡­ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since the book is going live, I might as well write a few words of feelings because after all, this is my first time writing a novel. ... First of all, I want to thank every reader friend who has collected, recommended, and tipped. (I¡¯m lazy and there are too many people, so I won¡¯t list everyone individually) It¡¯s every one of your collections, every comment, every recommendation vote, every monthly vote, and every tip that have given me the motivation to continue writing! Really¡­. Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is open the assistant app to see how many collections have increased and how many recommendation votes I¡¯ve received. I don¡¯t know how many times I check each day; one could say I¡¯m even more active than when it comes to my salary. It¡¯s with everyone¡¯s support that I¡¯ve been able to persist, and I sincerely want to say thank you to all of you¡­ Next, I¡¯d like to thank my editor, Editor Niqiu¡­ As a novice writer, I¡¯m like a needle in a haystack among many authors, not an exaggeration in the slightest. My journey from signing the contract to now going live has been relatively smooth, and I¡¯ve received quite a few recommendations, for which I am truly grateful. Okay, now let¡¯s talk about some personal thoughts! Up to this point, I¡¯m quite satisfied with the book¡¯s performance; as a newbie with such an updating speed, to achieve these results and even surpass expectations is more than satisfying. Now, I must sincerely apologize to all my reader friends. My updates have been too few; I feel I¡¯ve really let down the readers who have been with me all this time! I feel somewhat guilty and hope to receive everyone¡¯s understanding¡­ Starting next month, I will dedicate more time to writing and try to update more frequently to repay everyone¡¯s support. Last but not least, a bit about myself! I am a new writer! (So new! Don¡¯t laugh when I tell you, but the first few readers will know, in my first two chapters I didn¡¯t even divide paragraphs; a two-thousand-word chapter was just one massive paragraph. There were even readers who commented to remind me, and I felt so embarrassed. I quickly revised and divided the paragraphs because I didn¡¯t know how to use the writing software at the time. Thankfully, I corrected it in time; otherwise, I would have been too ashamed to face anyone.) I only started writing novels to fulfill a small dream of mine. It was an impulsive decision, and that¡¯s how I started writing this novel. Just like that, I began, groping my way through and pondering as I went. Family saga novels are much more difficult to write than those about Loose Cultivators, especially since I have no stockpile of written chapters, no outline, and no detailed outline; I rely purely on passion in my writing. In the beginning, it was okay, but the further I wrote, the more difficult it became. There were more characters and the content grew more complex. Some details were not meticulous and the logic not coherent, leading to quite a few reader complaints. Some of the more intense comments from readers hit me hard, but I still managed to keep my composure. Freedom of speech is everyone¡¯s most fundamental right. I am deeply grateful to those readers who have criticized and corrected me, and even more so to those who have supported and comforted me, which is very touching. Thank you all¡­ Writing is not easy. Just typing for a few hours every day and persisting for dozens of days has been tough, something any author can relate to. From the initial passion to the later stage when it almost becomes a burden, I hope on this lonely and lengthy journey of writing, I can find like-minded friends and together create a quality novel. No matter what the future holds, I will continue writing with this gratitude, striving to provide more exciting content as a way to give back to everyone. In closing, I ask everyone to support the legal version of the novel. Spend the money equivalent to a bottle of water or pack of cigarettes to support the author. If you¡¯re a student and can¡¯t afford it, then read a pirated copy if you must! Finally, I beg for your subscription, and if possible, setting up a recurring subscription would be even better. Everyone, Xiao Yan is counting on you all! Chapter 59 - 59 - 57: Arrangements (Please Subscribe) _1 Chapter 59 ¨C 57: Arrangements (Please Subscribe) _1 The distribution of the Minor Foundation Building Pills has been settled, and Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, stood up and began to speak: ¡°Now, let me report on the family¡¯s situation over the past five years!¡± ¡°As of today, the family has a total of 175 cultivators, with 12 from the Shi generation, 98 from the Xing generation, and 65 from the Tian generation. (Note: Female cultivators who marry into the Lin Family are counted by their husband¡¯s generation for the purpose of family records. For example, Ren Yuxuan, Lin Tianming¡¯s mother, is recorded under the Xing generation without changing her name.)¡± ¡°Among them, there are four at the Foundation Establishment Stage, one at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, eleven at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and the rest are all below the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.¡± ¡°In the past five years, after expenditures, the family has a remaining total of more than 11,000 Accumulated Spirit Stones. The recent production of Minor Foundation Building Pills consumed the accumulation of over twenty years, making it hard for us to allocate funds for the next decade!¡± Upon reaching this point, Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of worry, which quickly returned to calm. The family is still too poor; fortunately, Lin Tianming brought back a large quantity of Hidden Spirit Grass. With the addition of a large amount of other auxiliary medicines and spending tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, the family managed to refine fifteen Minor Foundation Building Pills. Thankfully, the results were satisfying, and obtaining a large number of the pills could boost the family¡¯s overall strength in a short time. ... Just as Lin Shihua finished speaking, Lin Shikang, who had been immersed in thought, continued the conversation! ¡°Looking at the current situation, the family¡¯s funds are almost depleted, only enough to pay one year¡¯s monthly stipends, so I suggest organizing a large group of family members above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement to form Monster Hunting Squads. In batches, they should enter the Luoyun Mountain Range for training. Not only can they hunt Demonic Beasts to earn Spirit Stones, but they can also look for Spirit Grass. By using what they find, we¡¯ll engage in lots of alchemy and crafting, then sell the items in the market. This will quickly increase the wealth of the family members and the family, as well as significantly expedite their breakthroughs in cultivation. It¡¯s truly a win-win-win situation.¡± ¡°As for the Monster Hunting Squads, they will be led by Shi Ji, each team consisting of ten members. As long as they don¡¯t venture too deep into the mountain range, safety isn¡¯t a major concern. Regarding the schedule, they will rotate every six months.¡± ¡°Additionally, we¡¯ll use the family¡¯s stored elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts as rewards to motivate everyone. The spoils obtained by the family members will be the responsibility of Shi Lu for crafting and Shi Gong for alchemy. The sales will still be handled by Xing Rong. What does everyone think?¡± Lin Shigong was the first to speak up, ¡°I agree with Third Brother¡¯s suggestion!¡± ¡°I also agree with Third Brother¡¯s suggestion!¡± ¡­ Lin Shilu and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators echoed their agreement, and several elders from the Xing generation also expressed their support. Lin Shikang nodded, very satisfied, as nearly half of the family members had already agreed. ¡°Does anyone else have any opinions?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang¡¯s gaze swept over the younger generation of the family in the grand hall, lingering on Lin Tianming for a few moments longer. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up and took the initiative to speak. ¡°I strongly support Third Grandfather¡¯s proposal. I¡¯m willing to be the first to sign up and be part of the first group to enter the mountain range, to set an example for the younger members of the family.¡± Lin Shikang and others were very satisfied with Lin Tianming¡¯s response, and their expectations of this junior increased! Flowers nurtured in a greenhouse will never grow strong; only by enduring storms will they progress further on the path of cultivation. After fifteen minutes of discussion, the direction for the family¡¯s strategic planning for the upcoming years was basically decided. As Clan Leader, Lin Shihua spoke once more. ¡°Now let¡¯s discuss the situation with the other four major families. Everyone is welcome to speak freely.¡± At that moment, a Clan Member from the Xing generation stood up, his face serious as he began to speak. ¡°Recently, the open and covert struggle between the Jin Family and the Sun Family has become increasingly fierce. Both are secretly accumulating strength, stockpiling various elixirs, Spiritual Artifacts, and talisman papers. All signs indicate that the two families are likely to break out into large-scale clan warfare in the coming years.¡± Many of the clansmen present, upon hearing the news, had their faces change dramatically; it seemed the peace that had lasted for over a hundred years might soon be broken. ¡°I estimate that the outbreak is very likely to occur in three years!¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words, some clansmen seemed not to understand, Lin Tianming was also in a fog, not clear on why the estimate was set for three years later, but people like Lin Shikang instantly understood. Seeing some of the younger clansmen looking puzzled, Lin Shikang began to explain. ¡°Three years from now is the grand competition of the market that happens once every fifty years!¡± At these words, a few younger members who had not experienced the grand market competition asked curiously about the reason. The grand market competition was a contest between the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range, held once every fifty years, having been held more than ten times. Based upon the competition¡¯s rankings, they allocated the benefits of the market for a fifty-year period, with benefits primarily involving various rents and ownership of the shops. The first place in the grand market competition would receive thirty percent, the second would obtain twenty percent, and the last three would each get ten percent. The remaining twenty percent would be distributed among more than ten Qi Refining families. Such a distribution plan had been implemented for hundreds of years. The best ranking the Lin Family had ever achieved was second place, bringing in twenty percent of the market¡¯s benefits, while the first place had always been occupied by the Jin and Sun families. The Jin Family and Sun Family were indigenous inhabitants of the Luoyun Mountain Range, their clans established several hundred years earlier than the Lin Family. Although they had never produced a Core Formation Cultivator, the families were numerous, with the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators never falling below three each year, a sign of their considerable depth. At the establishment of the clan, considering the well-being of future generations, the ancestor of the Lin Family did not make things difficult for the Jin and Sun families, despite not being able to utilize eighty percent of his strength due to injuries. He simply chose Green Bamboo Mountain as the familial territory. The Lin Family only achieved a dominant position for nearly a hundred years during the lifetime of the clan progenitor, Lin Renfeng. Leaning on the Core Formation Stage of cultivation, they managed to suppress the local snakes, the Jin and Sun families, for a time. Because the Jin and Sun families feared Lin Renfeng¡¯s cultivation level and did not dare to offend the Lin Family, they focused on their development peacefully for a hundred years. This allowed the Lin Family to gain a firm foothold, leading to today¡¯s situation; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been so easy to secure a place in the Luoyun Mountain Range. After Lin Shikang¡¯s explanation, the few clansmen who were previously confused finally came to a realization. ¡°No wonder the Jin and Sun families are making such moves, their targets might very well be our three families. We must be on guard!¡± The perspective of one of the Xing Clan Members was acknowledged by many clansmen. Lin Shihua also spoke up: ¡°In these troubled times, regardless of which family they target or what their intentions are, I think it¡¯s necessary for us to be cautious. In the next few years, we must also secretly gather all kinds of resources, but discreetly so as not to alert them. Moreover, the news about Ninth Brother and me reaching Foundation Establishment must not be leaked. Who knows, this might be the Lin Family¡¯s opportunity to rise!¡± ¡°Makes sense!¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangement received everyone¡¯s agreement! ¡°Alright, there¡¯s no need to worry too much. We also have four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and that number will only grow. As long as we are united, we have nothing to fear from the Jin Family.¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words were like a calming pill for the Xing Clan Members; with four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family were no weaker than the Jin and Sun families. ¡°In the coming years, the Lin Family must keep a low profile, try not to draw the attention of other families. If faced with their provocations, we should avoid friction as much as possible, for the time being, we have to be patient. We will accumulate our strengths in secret, to respond to any unknown threats.¡± ¡°Shi Ji, you¡¯re in charge of organizing the Monster Hunting Squad. The faster, the better. Let¡¯s proceed with this plan, everyone go and make preparations!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After a full half day of the clan meeting came to an end, many clan members began to leave the great hall. Lin Tianming also followed the crowd out, leaving only Lin Shigong and the three others behind, presumably to discuss some important matter. Chapter 60 - 60 - 58 The Shock of the Brothers_1 Chapter 60 ¨C 58 The Shock of the Brothers_1 The next day, a notice was posted in front of several important buildings of the family, attracting a large crowd of clan members. ¡¯Organizing a Monster Hunting Squad to hunt demonic beasts in the mountains!¡¯ ¡¯Participants will be rewarded with varying amounts of merit points according to their cultivation level in advance. The spoils from hunting will be distributed by the team itself. The minimum requirement is a Fifth Level Qi Practice or above. Those interested should quickly register at the Enforcement Hall.¡¯ The crowd was very lively at this time, discussing the content of the notice. ¡¯The Luoyun Mountain Range is not like our family territory; there are many demonic beasts. For those below the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, the risk of entering is not small.¡¯ ¡¯But isn¡¯t Elder Wu leading the teams? With ten members per team, as long as we don¡¯t encounter Second Order Demonic Beasts, there shouldn¡¯t be much risk.¡¯ S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¯That may be, but the probability of encountering Second Order Demonic Beasts is not small. The rewards are high, but the risks are too. It might be better to take on more watchkeeping tasks.¡¯ ... Indeed, but the rewards are truly substantial. As long as we don¡¯t run into Second Order Demonic Beasts, the gains are sure to be significant. However, I have tasks at hand and definitely won¡¯t make it for the first batch. The comments from this cultivator resonated with some of the clan members, while a few members were tempted by the lucrative rewards to participate. At this moment, Lin Tianhong, who had recently reached the Fifth Level Qi Practice, was flying towards the Hall of Merit on his Spirit Sword, ready to undertake a family task. Upon landing at the entrance to the Hall of Merit and seeing a large number of clan members gathered around something, he couldn¡¯t help being drawn over. The onlookers greeted Lin Tianhong courteously as he approached, and Lin Tianhong returned their salutations with fist-and-palm salutes. After reading the content of the notice, Lin Tianhong began to ponder. The Lin Family¡¯s Enforcement Hall does organize personnel to venture into the mountain range for experience, but it¡¯s usually limited to the outermost areas, mainly clearing the vicinity of a few hundred miles near the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. The scale isn¡¯t large, and as long as one doesn¡¯t go deep into the mountains, there¡¯s basically no risk. I¡¯m now capable of making Lingshen Pills. If I accept alchemy tasks, it¡¯s safer and the rewards are not bad either. However, I¡¯ve never had any real experience, nor have I ever truly fought using magic. This could be a very good opportunity. At this moment, Lin Tianhong was incredibly conflicted about whether to participate or not! ¡°Right, the sixth brother has a high cultivation level, and he has taken on guard tasks alone before. I should ask for his thoughts; maybe he¡¯ll go too!¡± Deciding, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Tianhong¡¯s face as he bid farewell to the clan members and flew toward Lin Tianming¡¯s residence. In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianhong arrived outside the courtyard of Lin Tianming¡¯s home. Lin Tianming was just about to leave for the Enforcement Hall to sign up for the Monster Hunting Squad when he encountered Lin Tianhong descending from the sky. ¡°Sixth brother, are you going out? I have something to ask you!¡± Surprised, Lin Tianming quickly invited Lin Tianhong into the courtyard, and the two sat opposite each other. ¡°Second brother, what brings you here? Just say the word if there¡¯s anything I can help with, I will not refuse!¡± ¡°The family is organizing a Monster Hunting Squad to gain experience in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Have you heard about it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware, I was just about to head to the Enforcement Hall to sign up for the Monster Hunting Squad!¡± Hearing what Lin Tianming said, Lin Tianhong was overjoyed! ¡°That¡¯s great! I came to ask if you¡¯d like to join me, and now it¡¯s settled. We can fight side by side!¡± Surprised by Lin Tianhong¡¯s intentions, Lin Tianming knew that clan members with special skills naturally preferred safer tasks, and it was rare to find someone like Lin Tianhong who was willing to take risks. ¡°No time to delay, let¡¯s go to the Enforcement Hall to register right now.¡± The two left the courtyard together and flew toward the Enforcement Hall. All along the way, at many core locations of the family, clusters of clan members were discussing the matter of hunting demonic beasts. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianhong did not stop. Before long, the two appeared outside a cyan-grey pavilion, the very Enforcement Hall of the family. The two stepped inside the main hall without hesitation. Inside the main hall, Lin Tianfeng was also there. Seeing Lin Tianming and Lin Tianhong, he immediately greeted them! After exchanging courtesies, the three sat down together. ¡°Second brother, sixth brother, are you joining the Monster Hunting Squad?¡± Lin Tianhong also spoke up: ¡°Exactly, Tianming and I want to join the Monster Hunting Squad. Big brother, have you signed up?¡± ¡°` ¡°Of course I¡¯m going to participate. I¡¯ve already registered with Elder Wu. With me included, there are currently five people signed up. If you both join in, we can quickly reach ten people and set off.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. It seemed that most of the family members were still concerned about the high risks and didn¡¯t want to participate, otherwise there wouldn¡¯t be so few. ¡°Big brother, take us to register!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Tianfeng was very excited. He had always liked adventure and had joined the Law Enforcement Team early on, already having fought a few battles and gained rich experience. Many in the family had grown accustomed to a comfortable life. Opting for stability was still a good thing, but without boldness, it would be difficult to cultivate to higher levels. The Lin Family needed members who dared to take risks. The three of them stood up and walked to the depths of the grand hall, where they met Lin Shiji. Lin Tianming and his brothers bowed with their fists clasped and explained their purpose. Lin Shiji was quite surprised. Although he had known that Tian Ming would participate, he had not expected Tianhong to sign up as well! Lin Shiji¡¯s expression remained calm as he spoke solemnly, ¡°This time is not like the minor skirmishes of the past, but a real fight against demonic beasts, and we might even encounter second-order ones. The risk is indeed not small.¡± ¡°Have you thought this through?¡± Lin Tianming and his company answered in unison, with conviction, ¡°We have thought it through!¡± Lin Shilu took out a piece of beast skin and recorded the names of Lin Tianming and his companion. Then he asked for their Family Tokens. Their tokens were updated with an additional twenty merit points, and Tianming¡¯s with thirty. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re now registered. You¡¯ll be part of the first squad. Gather at the Enforcement Hall in seven days and then depart for the Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± ¡°The additional merit points promised by the family have already been awarded to you. In these few days, prepare well, especially with elixirs and talismans. This journey won¡¯t be short, and injuries are inevitable, so try to prepare as many resources as you can!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianming and his companions clasped their fists and left the Enforcement Hall. Outside the grand hall, Tianfeng and his companion were all smiles, loudly boasting about how many demonic beasts they would kill, which made Tianming smile slightly. ¡°I¡¯m going to the Hall of Merit to exchange some talisman paper and elixirs. Do you two want to come along?¡± ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ll come too!¡± ¡°Big brother, you two go ahead, I¡¯ve already prepared in advance!¡± After speaking, Tianming took out two bottles of elixirs. They were the Superior Spirit Essence Pills he had concocted himself, which he then gave to his brothers. ¡°Sixth brother, thank you for your kindness, but as your elder, how could I take things from you!¡± ¡°Exactly, I¡¯m an alchemist myself, and I¡¯m not really short on elixirs. You keep them.¡± ¡°Come on, I still have plenty of elixirs. Consider this a small token of my sentiment, don¡¯t refuse it.¡± After Tianming¡¯s persistent insistence, they finally accepted the gift. The three shared a knowing smile, and Tianming clasped his hands in farewell before taking off on his Spirit Sword. Left behind, Tianfeng took an elixir out after Tianming disappeared, revealing a surprised expression. ¡°Second brother, take a look at this Lingshen Pill, doesn¡¯t it seem different?¡± Tianhong shuddered as he looked and responded in shock, ¡°This¡­ really is different, the medicinal strength feels almost stronger by a notch or two compared to regular Lingshen Pills!¡± As an alchemist, although Tianhong¡¯s success rate in concocting Lingshen Pills was relatively low, having succeeded a few times, he could easily recognize the difference in the pills. However, where these Superior Spirit Essence Pills came from was a mystery. If they were crafted by Lin Shigong, it might make sense. But if they were the work of Tian Ming, it would be truly frightening! Time passed, and the two eventually calmed down and flew together to the Hall of Merit. ¡°` New n????vel chapters are published on .c¦Ò?. Chapter 61 - 61 - 59 Entering the Mountain_1 Chapter 61 ¨C 59 Entering the Mountain_1 Back at his family¡¯s small courtyard, Lin Tianming entered the secret chamber. It was still early, and he could cultivate in seclusion before departure, striving to enhance his strength as much as possible. The stronger he was, the easier it would be to survive. After swallowing a Lingshen Pill, he activated his cultivation technique to refine the power contained in the elixir. Streams of spiritual power slowly flowed into his Seven Sea Dantian, causing his Qi Sea to expand at a faint rate. Looking down at the spiritual power in his Qi Sea, which was nearly half full, each stream brimming with immense energy, a hint of a smile crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Seven days passed in this manner. Within the secret chamber, Lin Tianming opened his eyes that had been shut for several days, a gleam flashing in the corners. ¡°Huff¡­¡± ... He exhaled a few breaths of stale air and got up to leave the secret chamber. In the evening, as a light breeze blew, the Lin family sat in the courtyard, casually chatting. Lin Shigong had also returned, babbling as always. ¡°Remember to follow the team, do not act alone. I¡¯ve already instructed Fifth Brother to keep a close watch on you¡­¡± And so on¡­ Listening to his grandfather¡¯s nagging and his mother¡¯s admonitions, Lin Tianming felt warmth in his heart despite having heard them several times before. Though the Lin Family¡¯s foundations were weak, at the end of the day, it was still a reliance, a bond, and a faith. Faith is a peculiar thing. Without faith, without goals, there is no motivation. People without these live their lives in a muddle. After sipping some Spiritual Tea, Lin Tianming spoke with a faint smile. ¡°Grandfather, Mother, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve grown up. I¡¯ll take good care of myself and act within my capabilities. You can rest assured, I will definitely make you proud!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute eyes, grandfather and mother did not say much more. Lin Tianming then shifted the topic to his younger sister. After all, he had grown up and wouldn¡¯t spend much time at Green Bamboo Mountain. She would be the only company for grandfather and mother. In recent years, Lin Tianyue had been cultivating diligently. Thanks to the abundant resources provided by Lin Tianming and grandfather, she led her peers in cultivation among the children of her age, becoming the first to break through to the Third Level of Qi Refining. She had already started learning the basics and just lacked practical experience. Unfortunately, Lin Tianyue was not interested in alchemy, but rather had a keen interest in talisman paper. Otherwise, with the guidance of the two most skilled alchemists from the Lin Family, she could have achieved twice the result with half the effort. Lin Shigong tried to persuade her many times but could not change her mind. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was quite open-minded, thinking that choosing a preferred skill could lead to even greater achievements. The warm scene, bathed in moonlight, brought a harmonious end to the family¡¯s casual conversation. The next morning, Lin Tianming bid his mother farewell and left the house. The Purple Gold Eagle followed behind as he flew towards the Enforcement Hall. It was still early, and in front of the deserted square, more than a dozen clan members had gathered. Lin Tianming descended nearby, greeted the many clan members, and then walked over to chat with Lin Tianfeng and others. Lin Tianfeng had also just arrived a short while ago. The three of them sized up the strength of the Monster Hunting Squad. Among the registered clan members, aside from the three of them from the Tian generation, the other seven were from the Xing generation. The cultivation levels of the seven clan uncles varied, with the highest being Lin Xingzhi at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, three at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, three at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, plus Lin Tianming at Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, Lin Tianfeng at Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, Lin Tianhong at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, and Lin Shiji at Qi Cultivation Great Perfection, this lineup was almost comparable to the strength of more than half of the Qi Refining Families. After half an hour, Lin Shiji arrived, and everyone saluted him. Taking out a small booklet, Lin Shiji glanced over everyone and nodded, confirming that the number of people was correct. ¡°Now that everyone has arrived, I¡¯ll say a few words!¡± ¡°The primary purpose of organizing this monster hunt is to train you. Therefore, you are a team, and all actions must be under command. Remember not to act alone or take unnecessary risks that could endanger fellow clan members.¡± ¡°Also, in the mountain range, we will inevitably encounter people from other families, and even many loose cultivators. Remember not to stir up trouble and bring unnecessary hassle.¡± ¡°Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late; let¡¯s set off!¡± Lin Shiji took the lead, with everyone following behind him. In less than a quarter of an hour, the group flew out of the Protective Clan Formation, gathered together, and waited for Lin Shiji¡¯s orders. ¡°Tianming, the journey is not short. Let your Purple Gold Eagle carry everyone for a part of the way. This can save us a lot of time and spiritual power.¡± Lin Tianming readily agreed, summoned the Purple Gold Eagle, and Lin Shiji leaped onto its back. Lin Tianming and the others quickly followed suit. Before long, all eleven people were on board, sitting on the ground, not at all cramped. As the Purple Gold Eagle had grown rapidly, it was now larger and capable of flying with more than ten people without affecting its speed. It could even handle a few more passengers without issue. Lin Shiji took out a map and pointed to a place named Qingyang Mountain, located over three hundred li to the west of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming gave the command, and the Purple Gold Eagle, flapping its wings, soared to a hundred zhang high and flew westward. The Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s speed was swift, the strong wind whipping everyone¡¯s robes and making a fluttering noise. Lin Shiji sat at the forefront, as calm as a monk in meditation, his expression serene, lost in thought. Lin Tianming and the others were not on their first expedition either. Many clan members had combat experience, and Lin Tianfeng was even known as the family¡¯s battle maniac, having participated in several demonic beast encirclements, rich in experience. Lin Tianhong was quite nervous at this moment; his face showed a change of color, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead, prompting laughter and jest from everyone. In just half a day¡¯s time, with the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and his group had flown more than three hundred li and arrived at Qingyang Mountain, landing in a valley. Everyone jumped down from the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, and Lin Tianming put the eagle into the Spirit Beast Bag as he began to survey the area. The entire valley was verdant with vegetation covering a vast expanse of forest, and a river flowed through the valley from east to west. This place was on the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Further west was the gathering place of demonic beasts. After arranging the formation, Lin Shiji led the way, speeding westward. Everyone followed one after another, with Lin Tianming using his Divine Sense to carefully monitor every movement around them. Lin Xingzhi, aside from Lin Shiji, was the highest level practitioner present and walked at the rear of the group. The three younger members of the Lin Family, including Lin Tianming, walked in the middle, which allowed them more time to react to sudden situations and avoid being easily attacked. As they ventured deeper, the fog in the forest grew thicker, greatly affecting the scope of the Divine Sense, which reduced its coverage by thirty percent. Half a day passed, and Lin Tianming and his group had shuttled nearly a hundred li to the west, entering a valley. The whole valley was not large, only a few li in size, with sparse trees and interspersed with many stone forests. It was now evening when the demonic beasts became active, significantly increasing the likelihood of encountering them. Considering the safety of his clan members, Lin Shiji decided to spend the night here and continue on the next day. Everyone sat down in a circle to recuperate, leaving two people in a pair to take turns keeping watch. Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianfeng would take the last watch, while Lin Tianming paired with a clan uncle at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement for the first watch. Lin Tianming and his partner didn¡¯t practice cultivation; instead, they sat facing two different directions, north and south, carefully observing every movement around them. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 62 - 62 - 60 Attack_1 Chapter 62 ¨C 60 Attack_1 The sky gradually darkened, and a bright moon hung in the sky. It was just the start of the night, not yet the time when demonic beasts roamed, and all around was silent. Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­ The gentle breeze stirred the leaves, creating bursts of sound. Lin Tianming sat to one side, closely observing the movements around him, and although it was not yet deep into the night, he had to be vigilant. An hour and a half passed, and in this time, nothing untoward happened. Lin Tianming was relieved from his duty, replaced by two other clan uncles to continue the night watch. After focusing intently for most of the day, he was now extremely tired. ... Lin Tianming and his clansmen sat together, circulating their cultivation techniques and began meditating. Despite the dangers in the area, the spiritual energy was quite dense, slowly restoring the spent spiritual power! In the deep of the night, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng took over the responsibility of the night watch, sitting to one side, concentrating fully on monitoring the activities around them. Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­ Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­ Several such noises caught the attention of Lin Xingzhi. ¡°Xingcheng, have you noticed anything?¡± Lin Xingcheng explored their surroundings carefully but found nothing unusual. ¡°No, just some sounds of leaves rustling. Are you making too much out of it?¡± After hearing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi did not relax his caution, but became even more careful. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯m overthinking it!¡± ¡°No, those few sounds just now, although nearly identical to the sound of wind blowing through leaves, were different. The sounds were noticeably sharper, with a faint clashing noise!¡± Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­ Again came several noises, getting louder and closer! ¡°Everyone be alert, something¡¯s happening!¡± Lin Xingzhi suddenly shouted loudly, alarming those who were meditating; everyone got to their feet. At the same moment Lin Xingzhi raised the alarm, a piercing noise was heard. A huge scorpion, a full zhang in size, burst forth from the earth, rapidly speeding toward them. The entire scorpion was silvery-white with a golden tail stinger, and its two large claws were even bigger than a water bucket, looking fierce and malevolent. ¡°It¡¯s a Silver Earth Scorpion!¡± In the moment Lin Xingzhi warned of danger, the Silver Earth Scorpion was already less than ten zhang from him, close enough to attack instantly. The Silver Earth Scorpion already opened its gaping maw, extending its two large claws toward Lin Xingzhi in an attack. Fortunately, Lin Xingzhi had been alert, gripping a Superior Grade First Order defense talisman in his hand to prepare for emergencies. The instant he came under attack, Lin Xingzhi didn¡¯t hesitate to activate the defense talisman in his hand. The talisman transformed into an earthen wall, blocking the deadly strike from the Silver Earth Scorpion. Taking advantage of the beast being obstructed, Lin Xingzhi swiftly retreated to his people¡¯s side, watching the front warily. Its failed strike allowing the target to escape enraged the Silver Earth Scorpion, which emitted a sharp, angry shriek. Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­ After more than ten breaths, over thirty Silver Earth Scorpions emerged from the ground, thoroughly surrounding Lin Tianming and his companions. The awakened members of the party each drew their Spiritual Artifacts, ready to battle at any moment. Lin Shiji¡¯s expression was serious as his mind raced. The number of Silver Earth Scorpions attacking them was not few; there were over thirty, with three Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts among them, and the rest were mostly Mid Stage First Order with a small number of Early Stage. And the Silver Earth Scorpion that ambushed Lin Xingzhi was almost at the point of breaking through to the Second Order, posing the greatest threat. It seemed this was a clan, or there wouldn¡¯t be such numbers. Although there were not many at the First Order Late Stage, the quantity at the Medium Stage was overwhelming, with each person having to deal with several at once, creating significant pressure. ¡°Xingzhi, Xingcheng, you two are responsible for holding off the two Late Stage First Order Silver Earth Scorpions, Tianming, you and the others move quickly to eliminate the rest of the Silver Earth Scorpions. Be swift, lest other Demonic Beasts are attracted, which would complicate matters!¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After tasks were allocated, Lin Shiji summoned a Spirit Sword and took the initiative to attack the leading Silver Earth Scorpion. Seeing Lin Shiji¡¯s offensive, the leading Silver Earth Scorpion swiftly crawled forward to meet him, its speed astonishing. Within half a breath¡¯s time, Lin Shiji and the Silver Earth Scorpion were locked in combat. Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng each picked out a Silver Earth Scorpion and attacked. The rest of the people hurriedly followed suit, each summoning their Spiritual Artifacts to join the battle against the Silver Earth Scorpions. Instantly, a brilliant display of fire and various colors of sword light mixed with magical hues slashed through the night sky. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The entire valley was in turmoil, a constant clashing sound akin to metal striking metal, exceptionally grating on the ears. Lin Tianming wielded an Earth Evil Sword, swinging it several times in rapid succession, sending several Sword Qi strikes towards the Silver Earth Scorpions. ¡°Bang bang!¡± Two Silver Earth Scorpions, unable to avoid, were struck by Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Qi and sent flying backward. The two struck Silver Earth Scorpions revealed several palm-sized cracks on their bodies, wailing in pain, they stood up again and lunged at Lin Tianming with their bites. ¡°They scarcely got hurt. The shell of these Silver Earth Scorpions is too formidable!¡± It should be known that although Lin Tianming was only at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, he could easily match the attack of an ordinary Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator with the usage of a Heavenly Grade Technique and Dual Cultivation of Body and Law! In the midst of his surprise, five Silver Earth Scorpions attacked again, assaulting Lin Tianming from different angles simultaneously. Lin Tianming leaped dozens of yards into the air and quietly stirred fifteen Earth Evil Swords into forming a Sword Array, enveloping a hundred yards radius below. Luckily, the Silver Earth Scorpions had extremely low Spirit Wisdom and were completely unprepared, getting trapped within the Sword Array without any defenses; among them, four of the Medium Stage and one of the Initial Stage. The five Silver Earth Scorpions seemed oblivious to the imminent danger until Sword Qi began to fill the area covered by the Sword Array. Only then did they sense the scent of death and scram to escape in all directions. The five Silver Earth Scorpions desperately rammed against the Sword Qi-created Sword Array, attempting to flee from this perilous place. Unfortunately, the Silver Earth Scorpions¡¯ impact force and defensive power were far from adequate. They were repeatedly repelled by the Sword Qi, covered in wounds. ¡°Hmph¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Today is a good day to test the might of this Sword Array on you!¡± ¡°Annihilate!¡± As the space within the Sword Array shrank and the Sword Qi intensified, an Initial Stage Silver Earth Scorpion was directly beheaded by the Sword Qi, dying on the spot. The remaining four Silver Earth Scorpions struggled desperately to break free from the Sword Array¡¯s confinement. After more than a dozen breaths¡¯ time, the remaining four Silver Earth Scorpions were thoroughly exterminated. Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief and observed the situation of his clansmen, preparing to lend his aid. Not far from Lin Tianming, Lin Tianhong was being besieged by three Silver Earth Scorpions, two of Medium Stage and one of Initial Stage. At that moment, Lin Tianhong was in an exceptionally difficult situation, with several injuries on his body, more than half of his Spiritual Power depleted, and he was steadily being forced back. Lin Tianhong threw a First Order Medium Grade Defense Talisman, blocking the attack of the Silver Earth Scorpions and quickly retreating. Lin Tianming charged forward with a burst of speed, fully urging several Earth Evil Swords together into one Sword Qi strike. Launching a surprise attack, he directly slew one Medium Stage Silver Earth Scorpion. With Lin Tianming¡¯s intervention, the most significant threat was eliminated, allowing Lin Tianhong to regain his footing. With the pressure suddenly reduced, he began counterattacking, moving to kill the remaining two Silver Earth Scorpions. Elsewhere, Lin Tianfeng was also battling three Medium Stage Silver Earth Scorpions and not falling behind at all. Relying on his rich combat experience, he should manage to achieve victory. The other clansmen, not novices in fighting Demonic Beasts, were also holding their own against several Silver Earth Scorpions without faltering. Chapter 63 - 63 - 61 Group Battle_1 Chapter 63 ¨C 61 Group Battle_1 On another battlefield, Lin Shiji was engaged in a fierce battle with a Silver Earth Scorpion, and neither side seemed to gain much of an advantage. Following a brutal strike that repelled the Silver Earth Scorpion, Lin Shiji leaped onto a large rock dozens of feet in size, brought his palms together, and concentrated a Golden Sword Qi above his head, which he shot out, slashing towards the Silver Earth Scorpion. ¡°Damn beast, meet your death!¡± As the sword fell, a burst of Sword Qi exploded, sending sand and stones scattering within a range of dozens of feet. Wherever the sword light passed, two of the Silver Earth Scorpion¡¯s legs were severed by the Sword Qi. The Silver Earth Scorpion let out two agonizing howls, writhing in pain and becoming even more frenzied. As it bared its teeth in a grimace, it shot a dark brown poison from its tail stinger at Lin Shiji. Shocked, Lin Shiji¡¯s escape speed soared, instantly shifting more than ten feet away to land on a tree. While Lin Shiji narrowly avoided the attack, the rock he had just stepped on instantly dissolved into a pool of dark brown liquid, corroding a large hole in the ground. ... Seeing the power, Lin Shiji couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°This poison¡¯s corrosive strength is indeed formidable!¡± As the strike missed, the injured Silver Earth Scorpion contemplated retreating, burrowing into the ground and shuttling rapidly, planning to flee. Lin Shiji hurriedly followed, chasing after the escaping Silver Earth Scorpion, with a distance of dozens of feet between man and beast. Because the Silver Earth Scorpion had lost two legs, its speed was greatly reduced, but it was still very fast underground. Lin Shiji couldn¡¯t keep up for a short time, and the gap widened further. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had just helped Lin Tianhong kill a Silver Earth Scorpion and was preparing to support Lin Shiji, but unexpectedly, the Silver Earth Scorpion actually fled, and it was heading straight in Lin Tianming¡¯s direction. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching from a distance, Lin Shiji was overjoyed and shouted eagerly, ¡°Tianming, stop this beast!¡± Hearing Lin Shiji¡¯s shout, Lin Tianming swiftly launched several Sword Qi attacks, heading straight for the underground, planning to force the Silver Earth Scorpion to the surface. ¡°Puff puff puff¡­¡± With several crisp sounds, the Sword Qi exploded just in front of the Silver Earth Scorpion. Hindered by the blasts, the escaping creature revealed half of its body. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate and took out an Attack Talisman, activating it immediately, turning it into a Golden Sword Qi that raced towards the Silver Earth Scorpion. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a bang, the Sword Qi struck the Silver Earth Scorpion, pushing it back several feet onto a colossal rock. The powerful impact shattered several pieces of the rock, and another leg of the Silver Earth Scorpion was severed, significantly slowing its speed. The Silver Earth Scorpion had not yet stabilized its body when Lin Tianming spared no effort and immediately operated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to envelop the creature within. The panicked Silver Earth Scorpion desperately tried to break out of the Sword Array¡¯s range. Lin Tianming maintained the operation of the Sword Array at full strength, pushing the power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to its limits. However, his Spiritual Power was draining rapidly. The Silver Earth Scorpion was extremely frenzied, ramming multiple times, and the strong impacts inflicted no small damage on Lin Tianming¡¯s psyche, causing a trace of blood to seep from the corner of his mouth. As his Spiritual Power was severely depleted, the Silver Earth Scorpion eventually escaped on the sixth charge. At this point, the Silver Earth Scorpion was covered in wounds with several legs injured by Sword Qi, and its burrowing speed was weakened yet again. Just as the Silver Earth Scorpion had broken free, Lin Shiji caught up and slashed out three swords in quick succession, with the furious Sword Qi heading straight for the injured beast. In the blink of an eye, the Golden Sword Qi struck the Silver Earth Scorpion¡¯s head. ¡°Puff puff puff¡­¡± Following several explosive sounds, the several-meter-long Silver Earth Scorpion collapsed onto the ground, crushing the stones beneath it into fragments. Seeing the strongest Silver Earth Scorpion dead, Lin Shiji and Lin Tianming finally let out a long sigh of relief, gasping for breath as they sat on the ground, clearly exhausted. ¡°Tian Ming, thankfully you held it off. We finally killed the beast.¡± Overflowing with joy, Lin Shiji smiled and sincerely praised Lin Tianming. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Tianming holding off the Silver Earth Scorpion, allowing him to arrive in time, exhausting all his Spiritual Power, and consecutively unleashing three Sword Qi, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to kill the beast so smoothly. Otherwise, given the Silver Earth Scorpion¡¯s speed¡ªeven if it were slightly injured¡ªcatching up to it would have been nearly impossible. Meanwhile, with Lin Tianfeng and the others successfully dealing with the Silver Earth Scorpions they were fighting, they immediately aided the other clan members. After a tough battle, not a single one of the thirty-plus Silver Earth Scorpions escaped; all perished there. At this point, the valley was strewn with severed limbs. The trees and stones that had once stood there were now broken or shattered, the whole place a complete mess. The eleven of them sat in a circle, each tremendously drained, but all had smiles on their faces. They each took a Huiyuan Pill and sat down to meditate, recovering their depleted Spiritual Power. Since it was Lin Tianhong¡¯s first time in real combat, he lacked experience and still got quite injured with the help of his clansmen, but no one perished, which was extremely fortunate. Half a quarter of an hour later, as everyone¡¯s Spiritual Power had started to recover, Lin Shiji stood up and instructed them. ¡°Quickly remove the carapaces and Demon Cores from these Silver Earth Scorpions. Don¡¯t forget the poison stingers and the two large pincers¡ªtheir parts are excellent materials for Artifact Refining.¡± ¡°We can also collect some of their venom, and the flesh can be taken back; consuming it over time is beneficial!¡± Upon hearing the orders, a hint of joy flashed across everyone¡¯s faces as they rushed toward the corpses of the Silver Earth Scorpions, separating all the useful parts. Although the battle was dangerous, and some were slightly injured while also expending some talisman paper and elixirs, the rewards were substantial, easily compensating for those losses and promising a good amount of Spirit Stones. The corpse of a Silver Earth Scorpion was a treasure all over; its Demon Core could be used for Alchemy, its carapace could be crafted into a defensive Spiritual Artifact, and its poison stingers and large pincers were valuable materials for Attack Spirit Weapons, which could fetch a good price. Everyone was busy disassembling the corpses of the Silver Earth Scorpions. Lin Tianming was not falling behind, removing the carapace from a First Order Middle Stage Silver Earth Scorpion¡ªindeed valuable, as even resisting one of his swords only caused a crack without affecting its suitability for Artifact Refining. A quarter of an hour passed, and the Silver Earth Scorpions¡ªonce bloodied and dismembered¡ªwere meticulously dismantled, their useful limbs stored in storage bags, while the useless parts were buried on the spot, leaving the chaotic valley much cleaner. After cleaning up the battlefield, everyone handed their storage bags over to Lin Shiji for safekeeping. Lin Shiji took out a piece of Beast Skin and recorded everyone¡¯s achievements. At the end of the hunting expedition, they would hand it over to the clan to exchange for Spirit Stones and distribute them according to their contributions. Taking the storage bags from everyone, Lin Shiji was very satisfied and arranged their next move. ¡°There was a sizable number of Silver Earth Scorpions; we must have intruded into their territory. Since we¡¯ve killed them all, there likely aren¡¯t many Silver Earth Scorpions of the First Order Middle Stage or above left. This area should be safe for now. Let¡¯s search the vicinity and see if we can find their lair; we might gain some more treasures. If found, immediately notify everyone!¡± ¡°Everyone split into pairs and search within a radius of more than ten miles. Remember not to go too far and accidentally enter the territory of other Demonic Beasts, as it would be very dangerous if we can¡¯t provide timely assistance!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lin Tianming paired up with Lin Tianfeng, Lin Tianhong with Lin Xingzhi, and they were divided into five groups, each searching in different directions. Lin Tianming and his companion chose one direction and started their careful search. Half a quarter of an hour went by, and after covering quite a bit of ground, they found no traces. Chapter 64 - 64 - 62 Earth Mysterious Crystal_1 Chapter 64 ¨C 62 Earth Mysterious Crystal_1 ¡°` Lin Tianming and another carefully searched, walking more than ten miles away. Unintentionally, they arrived at a Stone Forest, spanning about a thousand acres, surrounded by valley and thick fog. Lin Tianming suddenly stopped in his tracks, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and observed the area. ¡°Huh, there¡¯s something strange here!¡± The earth attribute Spiritual Energy in the entire Stone Forest was particularly intense, the ratio was significantly higher than other places. ¡°Brother, have you noticed anything special about this place?¡± ... Lin Tianfeng had already checked several times, and apart from being very concealed and greatly limited Divine Sense, there was nothing else strange. ¡°Sixth brother, did you see anything different?¡± ¡°Um, the earth attribute Spiritual Energy here is very concentrated, with Stone Forest spread all over, and considering the Silver Earth Scorpions are earth attribute Demonic Beasts, I reckon, there¡¯s a high chance this is their den!¡± After being reminded by Lin Tianming, Lin Tianfeng hurriedly projected his Divine Sense and carefully sensed the differences in the Spiritual Energy. After some perception, Lin Tianfeng said with a smile: ¡°Indeed, if one doesn¡¯t carefully explore, they really won¡¯t find it!¡± Lin Tianming immediately transmitted the news to the other clan members, and the two watched the movements within the Stone Forest with vigilance. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and upon receiving the transmission, Lin Shiji and a group of clan members gathered behind Lin Tianming. Lin Shiji asked calmly, ¡°Tianming, have you found the den of the Silver Earth Scorpions?¡± ¡°Elder Wu, it is almost certain it¡¯s this place, let me try and then we¡¯ll know!¡± Taking out an Earth Evil Sword, Lin Tianming swung it three times, sending three waves of Sword Qi straight into the Stone Forest. ¡°Pfft pfft pfft¡­¡± The ground shook a few times, and several large rocks were shattered by the Sword Qi, scattering in all directions. Sounds of crawling came from the Stone Forest, quite noisy, judging from the numbers, there should be quite a few Demonic Beasts. ¡°Ssss ssss ssss¡­¡± Startled, one Silver Earth Scorpion after another scuttled up from the ground, at least thirty of them, scurrying to escape. Having confirmed that this place was the Silver Earth Scorpion¡¯s territory, Lin Shiji began to give orders. ¡°Hmph, they are merely Silver Earth Scorpions in the First Order Initial Phase, there aren¡¯t many in the Medium Stage, everyone quickly surround and kill them, don¡¯t let them escape!¡± Everyone drew their weapons and quickly encircled the Stone Forest, there were no Silver Earth Scorpions in the First Order Late Stage, these in the Initial Phase would eventually be killed. Lin Tianming consecutively unleashed several slashes, the Silver Earth Scorpions in the First Order Initial Phase simply couldn¡¯t withstand, and were killed one after another, those in the First Order Medium Stage couldn¡¯t last much longer, it just took a bit more effort. In just half a quarter of an hour, all the juvenile Silver Earth Scorpions were killed. Quickly clearing the battlefield, everyone gathered together again. ¡°The entire Silver Earth Scorpion group has been killed, there shouldn¡¯t be any dangers inside, still, be cautious, in pairs of two, go in and scour, hopefully we can find some useful items.¡± Hearing Lin Shiji¡¯s instructions, everyone couldn¡¯t wait and rushed into the Stone Forest. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng paired up and quickly moved through the Stone Forest, carefully searching. ¡°Earth Spirit Ganoderma¡± Lin Tianfeng showed a flash of delight, quickly collecting several Earth Spirit Ganoderma. Half a quarter of an hour later, everyone had scoured the whole Stone Forest and finally gathered together. ¡°I found three Earth Spirit Ganoderma!¡± ¡°I found two Earth Spirit Ganoderma!¡± ¡­¡­ Lin Tianfeng also began to report: ¡°I found five Earth Spirit Ganoderma!¡± ¡°` Lin Tianming searched many areas as well, but he found nothing at all. Lin Shiji showed a hint of disappointment. With such a large Silver Earth Scorpion group and such an extensive cave system, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator entering it and facing the combined attack of the entire Silver Earth Scorpion group wouldn¡¯t come out with much of a benefit. After over ten people exerted so much effort, they had only found a little over a dozen Earth Spirit Ganoderma, worth just over two hundred Spirit Stones¡ªnot considered a significant gain at all. With a hint of disappointment in his expression, Lin Shiji said, ¡°Let¡¯s just leave.¡± Just as Lin Shiji turned around, Lin Tianming spoke up. ¡°Wait!¡± Lin Shiji turned back, looking at Lin Tianming with a puzzled face. ¡°Elder Wu, the proportion of earth attribute Spiritual Energy here is extremely high, which is very strange. Allow me to investigate a bit more; there might be some unexpected discoveries!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming went straight to the depths of the Stone Forest to a spot where the earth attribute Spiritual Energy was the densest. He took out the Earth Evil Sword and began to wave it, stroke after stroke. A quarter of an hour later, a hole a few dozen feet wide appeared in the center of the Stone Forest, more than ten feet deep. The deeper they dug, the denser the earth attribute Spiritual Energy became. The soil gradually turned into rocks, making it increasingly difficult to excavate. Everyone jumped in and began to help with the digging. An hour passed, and they had dug nearly four hundred feet deep. The originally loose soil had transformed into rock, significantly harder, and every foot they dug required a great deal of effort. Two of the clan uncles were already thinking of giving up; one of them tried to persuade the others, ¡°Tianming, stop digging, we¡¯ve already wasted several hours. It¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll find anything else!¡± ¡°Indeed, let¡¯s call it quits!¡± Another uncle chimed in. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong wanted to speak up for Lin Tianming but, considering their lower status and strength, they ended up not saying anything. They could only sigh in resignation and continued to dig alongside Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming ignored their advice and kept digging tirelessly as he neared a depth of five hundred feet. The soil that was originally black had turned to a lighter shade of gray, and with every foot dug, it became increasingly difficult. Lin Tianming grew even more confident that there must be some earth attribute Spiritual Objects in this place, and as a result, he worked even harder. Another hour passed, and at that point, they had dug beyond five hundred feet deep. Lin Tianming struck fiercely with his sword, breaking open a half-a-foot wide hole in the gray rock wall. A strong surge of earth attribute Spiritual Energy rushed at them through the opening. Looking inside through the gap, a fist-sized rock of grayish-white stood out against the darker stones, catching the eye. Lin Tianming was overjoyed, exclaiming, S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°There¡¯s a discovery here!¡± All the clan members felt the intense and rich change in the Spiritual Energy and, hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s shout, gathered around. Lin Tianming carefully used the Earth Evil Sword to extract the grayish-white rock, examining it closely. ¡°It¡¯s an Earth Mysterious Crystal!¡± Lin Tianming was certain. Although he wasn¡¯t an Artifact Refiner, he had read many books on Spirit Materials and was familiar with some common ones. The Earth Mysterious Crystal was a Second Order Inferior Spirit Ore of great value, useful in the crafting of Defensive Spiritual Tools. Adding just a small amount could greatly enhance the Defensive Spiritual Tools¡¯ defensive power and ductility, making it a high-quality material for Artifact Refining. The amount Lin Tianming held in his hands could be used three times more than enough for creating a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Artifact and was worth hundreds of Spirit Stones. Now, all the clan members were extremely excited. The two uncles who had wanted to give up earlier shamelessly praised Lin Tianming for his insight. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pay them any heed and handed the Earth Mysterious Crystal to Lin Shiji for confirmation. Taking the Earth Mysterious Crystal, Lin Shiji weighed it thoughtfully several times and said with certainty, ¡°This is undoubtedly an Earth Mysterious Crystal. This place must be a small Spirit Vein. The only question is the amount of reserves. You all keep digging and explore how much there is. I¡¯ll go out right away and set up a concealed Formation to hide this place.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The crowd responded in unison, digging vigorously. Lin Shiji turned around and flew out of the cave, stopping outside the Stone Forest. He took out an Array Plate and four Array Flags from his storage bag, quickly setting up a Formation that enveloped the entire Stone Forest. Then he put up several Illusion Techniques to fully conceal the Stone Forest. Chapter 65 - 65 - 63 Mining_1 Chapter 65 ¨C 63 Mining_1 After arranging the formation and activating it, a nearly transparent light curtain enveloped the entire Stone Forest. This was a set of First Order Medium Grade array plate and array flags, named the Kui Star Array, specially borrowed from the clan for this monster hunt. It was quite valuable and could be used for trapping enemies and defense. It could even withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment Cultivators for a short period. Having set up the formation, Lin Shiji clasped his hands and began to mutter incantations. ¡°Swift.¡± Once the illusion technique was successfully deployed, the area that had been a Stone Forest transformed quietly into a small valley, indistinguishable from the surrounding hillsides in its ordinariness. Having arranged two illusion techniques in succession, Lin Shiji was very satisfied. Although they were now close to the inner region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, it was hard to guarantee that no cultivators would pass by and discover something. With the formation and illusion disguising the area, the clan members would be much safer. After repeatedly ensuring there were no errors, Lin Shiji turned and entered the cave. ... Inside the cave, Lin Tianming and the others were all gathered together, discussing. Upon investigation, the entire Spirit Vein was located beneath the Stone Forest at a depth of over five hundred feet, covering an area of seven to eight hundred mu. The thickness of the Spirit Ore was less than a hundred feet, indeed a small spirit vein. Although the vein spanned nearly a thousand mu, ninety-nine percent of it was ordinary rock, and very hard at that, making excavation quite difficult. Seeing Lin Shiji come down, everyone respectfully greeted him. ¡°Tianming, what are the results of the exploration? How large is the reserve, and what is the difficulty in mining?¡± Lin Shiji¡¯s string of questions also reflected his anticipation for how much they might actually gain. ¡°Elder Wu, after exploring, we¡¯ve found that this is a tiny Spirit Vein, covering more than seven hundred mu. We cannot accurately estimate the total reserves just yet; we can only get the actual amount after mining it all. I suspect the reserves won¡¯t be large, otherwise, this place wouldn¡¯t be occupied by just a First Order Silver Earth Scorpion!¡± Most people agreed with Lin Tianming¡¯s speculation; if it were a large vein, the Silver Earth Scorpion colony wouldn¡¯t be able to defend it, and cultivators would have already discovered it. After Lin Tianming¡¯s analysis, Lin Shiji¡¯s excited expression calmed a bit. ¡°Alright, since the reserve is not large, let¡¯s not report it to the clan just yet. This place is hundreds of miles from our clan territory, and many cultivators come here for trials. If it¡¯s discovered, we could have serious trouble. You all start mining as quickly as possible. Whatever Earth Mysterious Crystals you find will be your own. I¡¯ll keep watch outside.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone started mining with full enthusiasm, even those clan members who had initially advised Lin Tianming to give up on the excavation, now vigorously wielded their Spiritual Artifacts and dug hard. The whole cave was bustling with activity, the ten cultivators working like mortals tilling the fields, except their hoes were replaced by various oddly shaped Spiritual Artifacts. Lin Tianming was bare-shouldered, his impressive muscles exposed, drenched in sweat as he dug. Being a Body Cultivator, he made use of his strength of over a thousand jin, which allowed him to dig much faster. In half a day¡¯s time, Lin Tianhong nearby was already at the brink of collapse. With his Fifth Level Qi Refinement cultivation, digging through these extremely hard rocks was indeed strenuous, and his speed was nowhere near Lin Tianming¡¯s. The clan members started the excavation around the edge of the Spirit Vein. It took them half a month to make a complete circle, yielding only one or two Earth Mysterious Crystals of small size, but they were already content with this. Two months flew by, and the land below had completely changed. On top of the former Spirit Vein, ten channels about half a zhang in size appeared, all neatly piercing through beneath the Stone Forest. For over two months, everyone had barely rested, working day and night at the excavation. As the last ten or so mu were excavated, everyone was so exhausted they slumped together, gasping for air. At that moment, all the clan members were ragged, sweaty, and grimy, looking little different from the beggars of the Secular World, perhaps even more pitiful. As a Body Cultivator, Lin Tianming¡¯s overall condition was much better. After sending a message to Lin Shiji, Lin Tianming sat down on the ground to wait for him. It only took a dozen or so breaths for Lin Shiji to walk in, his face beaming with joy, impatient to ask about their findings. ¡°Uncle Wu, I dug up eleven pieces!¡± A clan member from the Xing generation was visibly excited, grinning broadly as he took eleven Earth Mysterious Crystals out of his storage bag, most of them the size of a fist. ¡°I dug up thirteen pieces!¡± Another clan uncle took out his Earth Mysterious Crystals, piling them together with the rest. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, it was the turn of the three juniors, including Lin Tianming. Lin Tianfeng took out nine Earth Mysterious Crystals from his storage bag, surprising all the elders. After all, excavating a single Earth Mysterious Crystal was no easy task. It was still manageable near the fringe areas, but as one went deeper, the rocks became harder. It often required resting for half a day after digging for half, and it was common to find nothing even after digging for more than ten days. With Lin Tianfeng being only at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, his yield could compare with the elders at the Seventh or Eighth Level, which was indeed surprising. Seeing Lin Tianfeng handing over so many, Lin Tianhong didn¡¯t want to fall behind and took out seven Earth Mysterious Crystals, placing them aside. Lin Tianhong, with the lowest cultivation, also had seven Earth Mysterious Crystals, which was certainly not easy. Lin Shiji nodded in satisfaction. The harvests of the two juniors were not inferior to those of the Xing Clan Members, which was both unexpected and delightful. Lin Tianming was the last one, and with his strength and luck, Lin Shiji¡¯s expectation grew even stronger. Without any hesitation, Lin Tianming cheerfully took out twenty-eight Earth Mysterious Crystals from his storage bag and set them aside. The crowd inhaled sharply in astonishment. Although they had suspected that Lin Tianming¡¯s haul would not be small, they had not expected it to be this substantial. Among the other nine, Lin Xingzhi had the most, with only fifteen pieces. Lin Tianming¡¯s harvest was almost double that, truly frightening. In fact, Lin Tianming had not taken out everything and had kept five larger ones for himself, believing that the others had not fully disclosed their finds either. After all, these were personal gains, and it was reasonable to volunteer some while keeping a few. By now, the fist-sized Earth Mysterious Crystals had nearly piled into a small hill. Lin Shiji was very excited, his old face flushed with exhilaration. The family had expended its assets accumulated over decades to refine the Minor Foundation Building Pill and was currently facing financial difficulties. These hundred-plus Earth Mysterious Crystals were worth at least twenty thousand Spirit Stones. Other than the rewards for the clan members, some profit in Spirit Stones could also lighten the family¡¯s financial burden. All present smiled knowingly, and many clan members started to express their emotions. They felt fortunate to have joined the Monster Hunting Squad. The profit from selling the materials of the Silver Earth Scorpion and Earth Spirit Ganoderma alone was worth quite a few Spirit Stones. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everyone had dug up a significant number of Earth Mysterious Crystals; even Lin Tianhong, who had the least, could expect a reward of at least a thousand Spirit Stones. With such a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, reaching the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage was not far off. If one could save up eight thousand Spirit Stones, exchanging them for a Minor Foundation Building Pill and entering the Foundation Establishment Stage was a possibility. At that moment, Lin Shiji spoke up, bringing the clan members back from their reveries. ¡°I will take care of the Earth Mysterious Crystals for now. I have recorded the amount each person has contributed, and when we return to the clan, head to the Hall of Merit to claim your rewards.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still early, and everyone is quite tired. You may cultivate here for two days, and we¡¯ll set out again after that for some training nearby.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After responding in unison, everyone sat down where they were and began their cultivation. Chapter 66 - 66 - 64: Being the Yellow Sparrow for Once_1 Chapter 66 ¨C 64: Being the Yellow Sparrow for Once_1 Outside Stone Forest, Lin Tianming and the others had gathered together, each one of them brimming with smiles. The fatigue they had previously shown had long since disappeared; after two days of rest and recovery, all the clan members had returned to their optimal condition. Lin Shiji, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and looked at the assembled crowd, making arrangements for the next steps. Having entered the Luoyun Mountain Range for two and a half months, there was still some time left before the six-month period was up. Although the group¡¯s gains had far exceeded expectations, their soaring spirits led him to decide to continue with the adventure. The Array Flags were retracted, the cave entrance was buried, and they made sure to conceal any traces of the skirmishes as much as possible. After confirming that nothing had been missed, Lin Shiji took out a map made from Beast Skin and repeatedly confirmed their direction. Since the western part was the inner region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, where even Second Order Demonic Beasts sometimes appeared, the Monster Hunting Squad did not dare to tread lightly there due to their limited strength. ... The south, however, was a good choice; close to the Purple Cloud Mountain Range near Huangyang Kingdom, the area was sparsely populated and not too far from Green Bamboo Mountain. It was relatively safe, and they could also clear out the Demonic Beasts around the Mortal Towns for training. Having made up their minds, the group set off on their journey. After surviving an attack by Demonic Beasts, everyone was extremely cautious, and even under the bright sunshine, they dared not let their guard down. Lin Shiji led the clan members through the outer regions of the Luoyun Mountain Range, searching for Spiritual Medicine and hunting Demonic Beasts as they went. In a beautiful valley on the south side of Green Bamboo Mountain, at the outer borders of the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianhong was locked in fierce combat with an Azure Toad Beast in the First Order Middle Stage, exchanging numerous blows. The rest of the clan members had no intention of helping and were all watching the fight. Lin Tianming occasionally discussed the situation with Lin Tianfeng. ¡°Big brother, how long do you think it will take Second Brother to kill the Azure Toad Beast?¡± Lin Tianfeng furrowed his brows, sharing his opinion while watching Lin Tianhong¡¯s battle tactics. ¡°I believe Second Brother can claim victory, but it will take at least several dozen more exchanges. Although the Azure Toad Beast¡¯s attack power isn¡¯t strong, its speed is incredibly fast and very troublesome to handle. Even if I were to step in, it would require quite an effort!¡± As the two were conversing, the wounds on the Azure Toad Beast¡¯s body multiplied, and Lin Tianhong steadily gained the upper hand. Lin Tianhong brought his hands together, a Flaming Red Sword Qi forming above his head, and he slashed directly towards the Azure Toad Beast. ¡°Huoyuan Slash¡± As an Alchemist, Lin Tianhong naturally possessed a Fire Spiritual Root. For him, the Fire Origin Decision¡ªone of the Lin Family¡¯s few Fire-attribute Profound Grade Techniques¡ªwas the clear choice for a Cultivation Technique. Although the Sword Qi Lin Tianhong had mustered was noticeably less potent than Lin Tianming¡¯s at the same level, it was not far off. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As the Flaming Red Sword Qi closed in, the Azure Toad Beast desperately tried to evade, but the attack¡¯s speed was too fast, and unable to escape, it suffered a fatal blow solidly. The half-zhang-sized Azure Toad Beast was struck by the Sword Qi, a huge wound opening up on its neck, nearly severing its head from its body. After a tough fight, the Azure Toad Beast was slain. Lin Tianhong removed its Demon Core and some useful materials, then retreated to the side to rest and recuperate. Over the past two months, whenever they encountered Demonic Beasts in the First Order Initial Phase or Middle Stage, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong took turns combating them. Through these trials, they quickly improved their combat experiences. Lin Tianhong¡¯s progress was particularly noticeable; he was now easily handling most of the First Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts, a significant improvement from his beleaguered state during the Silver Earth Scorpion¡¯s encirclement. If he were to battle three Silver Earth Scorpions again, even without Lin Tianming¡¯s assistance, he would not be in mortal peril. Lin Tianming also took action thrice, each time against First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, and each time he pushed himself to his limits. After several fights, the greatest achievement was bringing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to the Minor Achievement Realm; it could now be deployed in an instant, with increased precision and power. Even without the assistance of talisman paper and other external forces, facing a First Order Late Stage Demonic Beast alone became quite effortless, a significant progress. However, over more than half a month, the Monster Hunting Squad hadn¡¯t found much Spiritual Medicine, killing only about a dozen Demonic Beasts, and obtained some Artifact Refining Materials, which wasn¡¯t worth many Spirit Stones. This gain, compared to the group battle in the Stone Forest, was negligible. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was no helping it; finding even the tiny Earth Mysterious Crystal Spirit Ore was already a stroke of good luck. In the outer areas of the Luoyun Mountain Range, countless cultivators trained and sought treasures every day, and the vast majority of treasures had long been claimed. Second Order Spirit Ores like Earth Mysterious Crystals were rare, truly a matter of luck and not something one could simply find. A group of clansmen continued on their way, traversing within the mountains and ridges. In the southern part of the Luoyun Mountain Range, several days passed by while Lin Tianming and his group were journeying through a dense forest. Suddenly, the leader Lin Shiji halted, his expression serious, signaling that there was a situation ahead. ¡°Stop, take cover.¡± At his instruction, everyone leapt into the thick bushes, concealing their auras, blending in with the surrounding foliage. More than ten breaths passed in a tense atmosphere, and two injured Yellow Spirit Monkeys briefly stopped in the dense forest in front of them before hastily escaping deeper into the woods. Just after the Yellow Spirit Monkeys vanished, and merely ten or so breaths later, five cultivators arrived in pursuit, stopping at the tree where the monkeys had been. All five cultivators had at least reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level, with the leader named Song Lixin at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. He was the founder of this Monster Hunting Squad, rich in hunting experience, and frequented both the Purple Cloud Mountain Range and the Luoyun Mountain Range. Song Lixin paused where the Yellow Spirit Monkeys had passed, looked at a few drops of blood on the ground before him, and appeared to be pondering something as he gazed in the direction the monkeys had fled. ¡°Daoist Chen, these Yellow Spirit Monkeys escape too quickly, they¡¯re agile and cunning. After chasing them for half a day, we¡¯re finally closing in. They¡¯re injured now, let¡¯s follow the blood trail and hurry up!¡± Hearing Song Lixin¡¯s words, the other cultivators were excited and readily agreed. The five of them followed the blood trail of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys and chased after them into the depths of the forest. After half an hour, Lin Shiji emerged, gathering the clansmen together with a serious look on his face. ¡°This Monster Hunting Squad is strong, though fewer in number than us, all are above the Qi Refining Eighth Level, with one at the Great Perfection Realm leading them. They¡¯re going to great lengths to hunt down two Yellow Spirit Monkeys, which surely means they¡¯re after something big. What do you all think?¡± The clansmen expressed their opinions, with two cultivators at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining suggesting retreat, while others suggested following to see what was happening before deciding. The three young members, including Lin Tianming, being of relatively low strength, kept silent. Seeing Lin Tianming not speaking, Lin Shiji proactively asked for his opinion. ¡°Elder Wu, esteemed clan uncles, they just passed through the forest in front of us. The fact that they didn¡¯t discover us at such a close distance is good news.¡± ¡°Regardless of their intention, we should follow them and see what opportunity unfolds. A man doesn¡¯t grow rich without his fair share of chance, nor does a horse fatten without its night grazing. If it truly is an opportunity, why not seize the chance to be the mantis stalking the cicada?¡± After listening, the clansmen generally agreed with this idea. Greater risks could mean greater rewards; if the younger members were unafraid, what was there for them to fear? Seeing no objections from the clansmen, Lin Shiji gave further instructions. ¡°Their squad is not weak; everyone must remember to be careful and cautious, not to expose our location and intent. If they engage in combat, don¡¯t hold back, let none escape, or we may bring disaster upon our family. Understood?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Lin Shiji led the way, with everyone carefully suppressing their auras and stealthily following behind Song Lixin¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad. Chapter 67 - 67 - 65 Watching the Battle _1 Chapter 67 ¨C 65 Watching the Battle _1 In the depths of the dense forest, Song Lixin and his four companions paused atop a large tree, no longer pushing forward. The blood trail had abruptly vanished at this location, and the Yellow Spirit Monkey that had been pursued for half a day was nowhere to be seen; the reason for this was unknown. Leading the group, Song Lixin scrutinized the dense forest ahead with meticulous eyes. At this moment, the forest was eerily silent, with an unsettling air hanging in the still atmosphere. Furrowing his brows, Song Lixin formed hand seals with both hands, casting several spells in quick succession that shot directly into the forest in front of them. Waves of energy shattered the shrubbery in the vicinity of a hundred acres, felling swathes of trees cut at midsection¡ªhuge trees over thirty feet tall toppled in all directions, kicking up clouds of dust that obscured the vision of the group temporarily. With the cultivation of Complete Qi Refining combined with his unrestrained attacks, Song Lixin flattened what had been an intensely thick forest. ... After a brief moment, as the billowing dust dispersed, a hill approximately a hundred feet tall was revealed. Looking more closely, the entire hill spanned several hundred acres, with several lush fruit trees growing upon it¡ªeach tree about a few dozen feet tall and sparsely dotted with some red fruits. The cultivator surnamed Chen immediately cried out in astonishment. ¡¯It¡¯s the Jade Spirit Fruit, we¡¯re going to be rich!¡¯ The rest of the cultivators were greatly excited, having let go of the Yellow Spirit Monkey, they had followed behind simply to find the spiritual objects of its territory; Song Lixin¡¯s guess had proven correct, and the four of them began to flatter him in turn. Hearing the obsequious words of the cultivators, Song Lixin nodded with satisfaction. ¡¯You¡¯re all a bit too early with your celebrations; though we¡¯ve found the spiritual objects, they won¡¯t be so easy to obtain. Yellow Spirit Monkeys are communal demonic beasts; small groups consist of over a dozen, while larger groups boast over a hundred. If you wish to obtain the Spirit Fruit, you cannot avoid a fierce battle.¡¯ ¡¯Let me be upfront¡ªI want forty percent of all the Spirit Fruit; the four of you can divide the remaining sixty percent. No objections, right?¡¯ ¡¯Brother Song, forgive my bluntness, but although you are our monster hunting leader with the highest cultivation and have strategized for us along the way, surely earning great merit, forty percent is indeed too much. Divided amongst us four, there would be very little left.¡¯ ¡¯Exactly!¡¯ The other cultivators chimed in one after another, forming an implicit alliance of common interests. When their own benefits were at stake, no one was willing to back down, and they were no longer as flattering as before. ¡¯Alright, the lowest I¡¯ll go is thirty percent¡ªthat¡¯s my bottom line. If there are still objections, I¡¯ll back out.¡¯ After some haggling and under pressure, there was a temporary compromise; Song Lixin accepted the thirty percent distribution plan. ¡¯Hmph, I¡¯ll let you make a fuss for now; after the fight, I¡¯ll show you what I¡¯m capable of.¡¯ Underneath his scholarly demeanor, Song Lixin¡¯s face revealed a hint of ruthlessness that was not easily detected. Even before gaining possession of the spiritual objects, the five cultivators were already at odds, each scheming for their own advantage, unwilling to come out at a loss. ¡¯Alright, the treasure has been found¡ªlet¡¯s try to approach where the Red Spirit Peach is located, and see what this Yellow Spirit Monkey is capable of.¡¯ Song Lixin led the group towards the small hill. In half an hour, they arrived at the foot of the hill and observed from a distance of a hundred paces. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The hill was anything but quiet. There was bustling activity and a few monkey calls, quite noisy, with nearly a hundred Yellow Spirit Monkeys gathered under the largest Jade Spirit Fruit Tree. One giant Yellow Spirit Monkey sat in the tree, its chestnut fur interspersed with strands of golden hair. Its aura had reached the Late Stage of First Order, evidently the leader of the group. Watching two injured Yellow Spirit Monkeys in front of it, the leader¡¯s eyes flashed with a sharp ferocity. It leaped from the towering fruit tree, darting between the trunks, and headed out of the forest, followed by a large group of Yellow Spirit Monkeys. Song Lixin and the four others took out their respective Spiritual Artifacts and entered the forest cautiously, barely a hundred paces in. Suddenly, nearly a hundred Yellow Spirit Monkeys leaped out of the forest, encircling the cultivators. Without hesitation, they attacked the five cultivators. The Yellow Spirit Monkey leader took the lead, pounding its chest and stomping its feet, and in a blur of motion, it closed in with astonishing speed. A pair of sharp claws directly lunged at Song Lixin, and the Yellow Spirit Monkeys in the back closely followed, ganging up on the group of five in clusters. Facing the wave-like assault, the five cultivators did not panic in the slightest. They stood back to back forming a large circle, cooperating with each other to counterattack. Song Lixin summoned a gourd-shaped spiritual artifact, emitting a vast expanse of white frost, transforming into three large White Ice Pythons that lunged towards the oncoming leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys. The leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys, upon being attacked, deftly flipped to dodge, but the offspring behind it were significantly slower. One Medium Stage Yellow Spirit Monkey that had not yet closed in was immediately killed on the spot. Despite being hindered, the attack of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys did not cease in the slightest. A pair of sharp claws was about to grasp Song Lixin¡¯s head. If he were caught, his head would likely shatter instantly, with no chance of surviving. In a fit of shock and anger, Song Lixin hastily took out a First Order Medium Grade small shield shaped spiritual artifact, blocking it in front of him. The Yellow Spirit Monkey¡¯s claw made a gash in the shield, severely damaging Song Lixin¡¯s spiritual artifact with one strike. Song Lixin quickly retreated, creating some distance. The thwarted attack completely enraged the entire tribe of Yellow Spirit Monkeys, who became even more frenzied. The raging horde of monkeys attacked the five people without fear of death, making the fight much more intense. In a matter of half a quarter hour, the horde of monkeys suffered heavy casualties. Many of the First Order Yellow Spirit Monkeys had died or were injured, leaving less than twenty. There were also more than twenty Medium Stage ones, and even eight in the Late Stage. The five cultivators were scattered by the onslaught, each becoming surrounded and fighting individually, which instantly increased the pressure on them. The cultivator with the surname Xie took deep breaths, his spiritual power greatly depleted, as he used every means he had to preserve his life. At this moment, he deeply regretted being so greedy as to take such a risk. In his haste, he threw out his last Defense Talisman, which formed a wall of earth to block the Yellow Spirit Monkey in front of him. After only holding on for barely more than ten breaths, the horde of monkeys breached the earth wall. The cultivator surnamed Xie, filled with terror, was overwhelmed by a group of Yellow Spirit Monkeys before he could react and put up a resistance. When the horde dispersed, they left behind a corpse torn to pieces, a sight of extreme misery. The cultivator surnamed Xie had fallen on the spot. Seeing this tragic sight, a cultivator with the surname Chen who was being attacked yelled urgently, ¡°Brother Song, don¡¯t hold back anymore, or that fool¡¯s fate will be ours!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone unleashed their most powerful moves without reservation. Instantly, talisman papers were thrown out as if they were worthless, and all sorts of spiritual artifacts were pushed to their limits. Song Lixin and the leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys fought fiercely for hundreds of rounds. By now, the leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys was covered in wounds, with one arm left and countless injuries on its body, its strength drastically reduced by half. Song Lixin wasn¡¯t in much better condition, with his spiritual power nearly depleted, more than ten wounds on his body, with several places exposing bone directly to the air, and his breathing extremely ragged. The other four were not much different, their spiritual power nearly exhausted, their treasures mostly consumed, and their strength greatly diminished. Without any further hesitation, the four stabilized the situation quickly and even gained the upper hand. The whole tribe of monkeys was mostly dead or wounded, leaving only over twenty survivors from nearly a hundred Yellow Spirit Monkeys¡ªall of whom were in the Medium Stage or above. Seeing that the situation was hopeless and that there was no chance of victory, the leader of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys was the first to dive into the dense forest, with the surviving Yellow Spirit Monkeys immediately following, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye. Song Lixin did not pursue. At this point, all of them had sustained injuries, their spiritual power was greatly depleted, and if they encountered other Demonic Beasts, it would likely be impossible to escape. Seeing the Yellow Spirit Monkeys vanish, the four had yet to catch their breath, When Lin Shiji and his people, hiding in the shadows, took advantage of Song Lixin and the others¡¯ momentary relaxation to stealthily approach, the distance between them getting closer and closer. Chapter 68 - 68 - 66 Despair_1 Chapter 68 ¨C 66 Despair_1 In the dense forest, Lin Shiji and his group proceeded with extreme caution. While Song Lixin and his men were fiercely battling, Lin Shiji had already made thorough preparations, silently instructing Lin Tianming and the others, arranging the plan. As the Yellow Spirit Monkey disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, Song Lixin and his three companions quickly took out a Huiyuan Pill from their storage bag and consumed it. As Lin Shiji and his men got closer and closer, the distance was now less than a hundred yards. Suddenly, Song Lixin seemed to notice something, hastily leaping to the top of a tree tens of yards high, looking down at Lin Shiji and his men with a mix of shock and anger. ¡°Not good, he¡¯s spotted us, attack!¡± Realizing they had been discovered, Lin Shiji immediately sprang into action without a moment¡¯s delay, his first move a lethal technique. ... He launched a streak of Golden Sword Qi, aiming straight for one of the men in white robes among the four. According to Lin Shiji¡¯s plan, even though his Lin Family Cultivators outnumbered the opponents, there was a significant gap in cultivation levels, so they had to seriously injure one person to lessen the pressure for the younger members. Considering that Song Lixin¡¯s cultivation was almost equals to his own and that it would be very difficult to kill a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator named Chen in one blow, Lin Shiji targeted a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator in white robes, with his own Great Perfection cultivation, the chances of success in a sneak attack were significant. Lin Shiji crazily circulated his Spiritual Power, sending the ferocious Sword Qi hurtling towards the man in white robes. The man in white robes, both shocked and enraged, hastily struck out with his sword, hoping to block Lin Shiji¡¯s fatal blow. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Following the explosive sound, the two Sword Qis violently collided! In less than half a breath¡¯s time, the man in white robes¡¯ attack was shattered, and Lin Shiji¡¯s Sword Qi bore down on him. Unable to dodge in time, the man in white robes froze in place, watching helplessly as the Sword Qi tore through his body. With the sneak attack, it was a one-strike kill, and Song Lixin¡¯s group lost another member. At the same moment the man in white robes was struck, the cultivator surnamed Chen and another companion hurriedly retreated to Song Lixin¡¯s side, their expressions extremely tense. The Lin Family Members followed suit, standing beside Lin Shiji, each holding a Spiritual Artifact in their hands, warily watching Song Lixin¡¯s three remaining people. The two sides stood off against each other, weapons at the ready, neither side speaking, the atmosphere eerily unnatural. Both sides sized each other up, each contemplating their next move. Observing Lin Shiji¡¯s cultivation, also at the Great Perfection Realm, with an aura even more profound than his own, and considering the collective strength of all the family members, was not to be underestimated. Whereas Song Lixin¡¯s group had already lost two members, leaving only three remaining with significant depletion of energy, likely not strong enough to withstand them. Nevertheless, Song Lixin feigned composure, rapidly considering his options. The three of them were in terrible condition, hoping to buy some time, recover as much Spiritual Power as possible, and cling to a sliver of hope for survival. If they could give up a portion of the Jade Spirit Fruits and leave, that would naturally be best, but he couldn¡¯t be sure ¨C he could only do his best to try. ¡°Fellow Daoist, let¡¯s not resort to violence. I am Song Lixin, might there be some misunderstanding?¡± ¡°We can overlook the issue of the sneak attack. You can have the Jade Spirit Fruits, just allow us to leave, can you?¡± With a trace of anxiety, Song Lixin quickly spoke up, trying to calm the killing intent of the Lin Family Members. Lin Shiji sneered repeatedly, with no intention of responding, prepared to strike continuously, not allowing them any moment to catch their breath. Lin Shiji took out a three-foot-long Spirit Sword, channeling a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power, slashing out several streaks of Sword Qi, heading straight for Song Lixin. The violent Sword Qi whipped up fierce winds, engulfing the surrounding trees. Song Lixin, who had just restored a small portion of his spiritual power, wore a grave expression, knowing that despite the promise of numerous benefits, a battle was unavoidable, and he had to go all out. In a hurry, Song Lixin took out his small shield, damaged by the attack of the Yellow Spirit Monkey, to block several attempted strikes from Lin Shiji. After some probing, Lin Shiji¡¯s attacks grew stronger with each move he made. Song Lixin, as a Loose Cultivator at the Great Perfection, had substantial resources. He whipped out several talismans in quick succession, neutralizing Lin Shiji¡¯s offensive and even managing to counterattack. As the two fiercely battled with their magic, Lin Tianming and his fellow Lin Family Members surrounded the other two opponents. The Cultivator with the surname Chen was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and not severely injured, making it difficult for anyone present, aside from Lin Shiji, to defeat him; the other Cultivator, also at Ninth Layer, was gravely injured, which left him to be besieged by Lin Xingcheng and the rest of the family members. Once their opponents were determined, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi tacitly teamed up to encircle the Cultivator named Chen. In his first confrontation with an adversary at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, Lin Tianming was exceedingly cautious. He drew his Earth Fiend Sword, releasing several strikes to drain the scant spiritual power of Cultivator Chen and silently laid out the Earth Fiend Sword Formation without a sound. Lin Xingzhi was not to be outdone; the three exchanged a series of spells and sword qi. Their blows matched one another¡¯s, leading to a stalemate that was difficult to break. Lin Xingcheng and the others also carefully besieged the other Cultivator. Although their cultivation base was inferior, they relied on a large number of First Order Medium Grade talisman papers, and with their superior numbers, they kept the upper hand. On the three battlefields, the fierce combat raged on, with both parties using every trick in the book, including talismans, spiritual instruments, and spells, leaving no technique unutilized. The already ravaged hillock was being remade once again under the reverberations of the fight. As time passed, Cultivator Chen¡¯s complexion grew increasingly pale. Under the relentless onslaught from Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi, Cultivator Chen¡¯s spiritual power was vastly depleted, forcing him into a defensive posture. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it were during a time of full strength, neither Lin Tianming nor Lin Xingzhi would have been a match for him, which was incredibly frustrating. ¡°This won¡¯t do. I can¡¯t drag this out any longer, going all out might still give me a chance to live!¡± Cultivator Chen calculated internally, readying himself to fight with all his might. Taking advantage of a brief lull in the attack, Cultivator Chen pulled out a snow-white bead, brimming with violent spiritual power, and without hesitation, hurled it towards Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi. ¡°Tian Ming, watch out!¡± Lin Xingzhi cried out in shock, retreating explosively while shouting to alert Lin Tianming. Seeing the white bead hurtling toward him, and sensing the immense power it contained, he knew it was no trivial thing. Lin Tianming quickly backed away, releasing two High Quality First Order Defense Talismans in quick succession, forming two walls in front of him. The white bead drew nearer and collided with the earthen walls created by the talismans, exploding with a loud boom. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The first wall was breached in an instant by the explosive force, and the second one disintegrated shortly after. The shockwave from the explosion and the roaring blast of air sent Lin Tianming flying back, halting only after crashing through several towering trees. Lin Xingzhi, who was further away and retreated in time, along with deploying a Defense Talisman, received only some internal injuries, but they were not serious. Lin Tianming rose from the ground, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He hadn¡¯t anticipated the bead¡¯s formidable power, which his High Quality talismans could barely withstand for a moment. Lucky to have retreated in time and not overestimated himself, and with the benefits of his body refinement practice, he avoided serious harm. Using two High Quality First Order Defense Talismans was undoubtedly worth it. Seeing that Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi hadn¡¯t sustained significant injuries, Cultivator Chen¡¯s face turned ashen. This bead had cost Cultivator Chen a great deal to acquire, and there was only one. He had always saved it as a life-saving measure. Resigned to use it, he had high hopes that if he could kill any one of them, he might have a chance to escape with his life. But his desperate gambit yielded nothing, and his situation became dire. Chapter 69 - 69 - 67: Counterattack_1 Chapter 69 ¨C 67: Counterattack_1 There was no time for rest, and the frenzied Lin Tianming took no chances. Seizing the opportunity, he activated the already laid Sword Array, enveloping the Chen Surname Cultivator within the confines of the formation. Feeling the oppressive power of the Sword Array, the Chen Surname Cultivator was terrified and desperately tried to escape the reach of the Sword Array. Overwhelmed by the Sword Array, dodging the roaming Sword Qi within, the restrained Chen Surname Cultivator faced an unprecedented dilemma. Under heavy pressure, the Chen Surname Cultivator dared not be careless. Without any reservations, he threw out all the Attack Talismans he had at his disposal. Among the colorful dozen or so talismans, most were of Medium Grade, with only a few of High Quality. The combined power of the dozen talismans was exceptionally violent, like a tempest of snow and rain. Pouring down, they fiercely struck the formation¡¯s light barrier. A trembling that could shake the earth and mountains followed, and within a few breaths of time, the light barrier shattered. ... With the Earth Fiend Sword Formation broken, Lin Tianming once again coughed up blood, his spirit damaged and injured yet again. Ignoring his own injuries, Lin Tianming threw out three Attack Talismans, transforming into three Golden Light Greatswords, and shot straight towards the Chen Surname Cultivator. Behind him, Lin Xingzhi was also exerting his Technique Divine Power, condensing a golden Sword Qi that hovered above his head. ¡°Go¡­¡± Under their pincer attack, they gave no quarter. With an explosive sound, the Golden Light Greatswords pierced through the body of the Chen Surname Cultivator. Lin Tianming and his companion collapsed to the ground, gasping for air with a look of extreme exhaustion. Seeing the Chen Surname Cultivator¡¯s gruesome death, the cultivators being attacked by Lin Xingcheng were shocked. In their moment of distraction, Lin Xingcheng seized the opportunity and killed them on the spot. As Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ battle concluded, the confrontation between Lin Shiji and Song Lixin was reaching its end. Lin Shiji had been at the Great Perfection Realm for nearly thirty years, having reached its peak. He had served as the Law Enforcement Hall Master for decades, experienced in many battles, with countless cultivators and Monster Beasts falling at his hands. His combat experience was ample, and his wealth was beyond what ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators could compare to. Song Lixin, even in his prime, was no match for him. As time went on, and with his Spiritual Power depleted, Song Lixin¡¯s injuries worsened under Lin Shiji¡¯s relentless attacks¡ªhe was at the end of his rope. The freed Lin Family members, working together to besiege him, were too much for Song Lixin to handle. Facing attacks from all directions and drained of energy, Song Lixin was deeply unwilling to yield. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In despair, Song Lixin went completely mad. ¡°Hmph! If I must die, I¡¯ll take two with me.¡± He took out a radiant red talisman from his storage bag. A strong aura spilled out, clearly a Second Order talisman, its ferocity not much less than the Golden Sword Talisman Lin Tianming had purchased. In rage, he threw it into the sky, and instantly from the talisman, a Monster Beast Soul burst forth and fiercely lunged toward Lin Shiji. Recognizing the aura of a Second Order talisman, Lin Shiji panicked and bellowed: ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Everyone scattered, fleeing in all directions. Lin Tianming threw out two First Order Superior Defense Talismans, transforming them into two earthen walls in front of Lin Shiji. No sooner had he thrown the talismans than he leaped into the air, soaring a hundred yards up. Song Lixin had gone completely mad, directing all his resentment towards Lin Shiji, determined to drag him down even in death. Unbelievably, Song Lixin possessed a Second Order talisman¡ªsomething no one had anticipated. All one could do was silently pray that Lin Shiji would survive this calamity. Facing the astonishly fast Monster Beast Soul, Lin Shiji could no longer dodge and had to resist with all his might. If he could withstand it, he would survive; if not, he would perish alongside his attacker. In a rush, he pulled a Blood-red Jade Pendant from his storage bag, its surface wreathed with Spiritual Energy, clearly no ordinary item. Injecting a Law Decree, the Blood-red Jade Pendant swelled to several yards in size, sheltering Lin Shiji closely behind it. Just as the jade pendant protected Lin Shiji, the ferocious beast soul slammed into the earthen wall with a loud impact. The first barrier was broken! The second barrier managed to hold for a moment before also shattering with a loud bang. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The moment the demonic beast soul struck the blood-red jade pendant, it exploded, sending Lin Shiji flying with the violent shock waves. He crashed through several large trees before finally coming to a stop. A Second Order talisman, comparable to the full-force strike of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was terrifying indeed. At this moment, Lin Shiji¡¯s body was in tatters, his breath weak and faltering, covered in wounds from head to toe. Several ribs were completely broken, and he spat out blood before falling into unconsciousness. All the Lin Family Members were injured. Lin Xingzhi, the closest to Lin Shiji, was mentally shaken by the mere remnants of the blast, vomiting several mouthfuls of blood. Had he been the one attacked, he would likely have fallen. The other members of the clan were further away and suffered only superficial injuries, which were not serious. Steadying himself from the blast, Lin Tianming immediately rushed over and held Lin Shiji tightly, calling out hurriedly. ¡°Elder Wu, please wake up!¡± In his panic, Lin Tianming shouted several times without any response, and took out two Consolidating Essence Pills, making Lin Shiji swallow them. At this moment, all the Lin Family Members¡¯ eyes were filled with murderous intent. Lin Xingcheng and a few others slashed out in anger, sending ferocious sword qi at Song Lixin. Song Lixin, drained of all spiritual power, was completely despairing, making no attempt to dodge or defend, clearly resigning himself to his fate. With a scream, Song Lixin fell heavily to the ground. After more than ten attacks, Song Lixin¡¯s body was torn apart, leaving behind only two dark green storage bags. Having killed Song Lixin, the recovered Lin Xingzhi and the others immediately ran over to Lin Tianming¡¯s side, looking at Lin Shiji with concern. Lin Xingzhi checked Lin Shiji¡¯s condition and breathed a sigh of relief, consoling everyone. ¡°Uncle Wu is still breathing, just severely injured and not in any immediate danger. Tianming has already made him take two Consolidating Essence Pills. He just needs to rest quietly for a while and should be able to recover.¡± Upon hearing Lin Xingzhi¡¯s words, everyone finally relaxed. Lin Shiji, being of a high seniority and old age, if anything happened to him, it would be difficult to explain to the clan. With Lin Shiji unconscious and Lin Xingzhi being older in both age and cultivation, he temporarily became the backbone of the Lin Family. ¡°Tianfeng, Tianhong, the two of you stay and watch over Uncle Wu. Everyone else, quickly clean up the battlefield. We must also collect the Jade Spirit Fruit. Lastly, gather all the spoils of war together. I will register them, and we¡¯ll hand them over to the clan for processing!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Everyone nodded and set to work. Lin Tianming looked over the small hill that was in disarray, strewn with various limbs and the bodies of dozens of Yellow Spirit Monkeys. Picking up the storage bags of several people and handing them to Lin Xingzhi, he also processed the bodies of the Yellow Spirit Monkeys, taking the demon cores and some useful crafting materials, filling several storage bags. After half an hour, the originally tragic site looked much better, at least not as bloody. All the clanspeople sat together on the ground, taking Huiyuan Pills to recover their spiritual power, while Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong remained to protect them. After half an hour of cultivation, the clanspeople had recovered a fair amount of spiritual power and now had some self-defensive capability. The injured Lin Shiji, with the help of the Consolidating Essence Pill¡¯s medicinal strength, had his condition temporarily stabilized. With a few days of rest, he should be able to wake up. After examining Lin Shiji¡¯s injuries, Lin Xingzhi gathered everyone and moved deeper into the dense forest. The formidable enemy was dead, and after all the effort they had expended, they could finally harvest the Jade Spirit Fruit! Chapter 70 - 70 - 68 Generous Rewards_1 Chapter 70 ¨C 68 Generous Rewards_1 The Yellow Spirit Monkeys had all fled, and at this point, the dense forest bore no dangers, so Lin Xingzhi led a group of clan members deep into the woods. At the top of a hill, there was a clearing several acres in size where six fruit trees, each more than ten zhang tall, grew. Upon closer inspection, the trees¡ªlush green in color¡ªwere adorned with more than ten bright red fruits. Each spirit fruit was slightly larger than a fist, looked clear and lustrous, and radiated strong fluctuations of spiritual energy. They were Jade Spirit Fruits. Jade Spirit Fruits were First Order spirit fruits, which only bore fruit once every hundred years. They could be consumed directly and were one of the supportive spiritual objects for Qi Refining Cultivators to cultivate with, and thus quite precious. Every Jade Spirit Fruit contained an abundant amount of spiritual power¡ªthe energy they contained was no less than that in Lingshen Pills. They were typically used to break through minor cultivation bottlenecks. Although their effect was not as miraculous as Pozhang Pills, they weren¡¯t much less so, and each Jade Spirit Fruit was valued at seventy to eighty Spirit Stones. At this moment, the Jade Spirit Fruits were at the critical point of ripeness. They only needed a few more days before they could be harvested. The clan members all sat down together, cultivating while guarding the unconscious Lin Shiji. ... Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and around noon, following two coughs, the Lin Shiji, who had been unconscious for several days, finally woke up. After coughing up two mouthfuls of clotted blood, Lin Shiji¡¯s complexion had improved significantly since the time he was injured. Everyone gathered around, expressing their concern for Lin Shiji¡¯s injuries. The awakened Lin Shiji paid no mind to his own injuries. Instead, his first concern was the status of his clansmen, placing their lives above his own, which deeply moved all the clan members. With tears in his eyes, Lin Xingzhi reported everything that had happened since Lin Shiji lost consciousness, which finally put Lin Shiji¡¯s mind at ease. ¡°Xingzhi, you did well. I don¡¯t have many days left to live, but you are the future of our family. The entire process and gains from this trial, I will report truthfully to the Elders¡¯ Council. The rewards might not equal the items obtained, but they will certainly be substantial.¡± Lin Shiji showed a gratified smile and praised all the clan members before starting to talk about his own injuries. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t worry, my injuries have stabilized. I just need to rest quietly for a while to fully recover. However, I won¡¯t be able to take action during this time. We must be careful and cautious on our way back. Once we exit the mountain range, we will be safe.¡± ¡°Additionally, all the spirit fruits must be harvested, and we should transplant several Jade Spirit Fruit Trees back to the family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden to enhance our family¡¯s foundation. If they survive, they could yield nearly a hundred more Spirit Fruits in a hundred years!¡± After instructing the clan members, Lin Shiji took out a green storage bag and handed it to Lin Xingzhi, asking him to pack the fruit trees in the bag and transplant them back at the family¡¯s estate. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Taking the storage bag, Lin Xingzhi extended his divine sense to inspect it and couldn¡¯t help showing a trace of a smile. The storage bag Lin Shiji had given had nearly a hundred cubic zhang of space, more than enough to fit the six Jade Spirit Fruit Trees¡ªseveral times larger than the one Lin Xingzhi was using¡ªsolving the problem of insufficient space perfectly. After arranging everything, Lin Shiji took out a Huiyuan Pill, swallowed it, and sat down cross-legged to recover from his injuries. Three days later, with a fragrance filling the air, the cultivators who were meditating all opened their eyes. ¡°The Jade Spirit Fruits are ripe!¡± Lin Xingzhi, his face brightened with joy, said, ¡°Tianfeng, Tianhong, Tian Ming, you three go and pick the Jade Spirit Fruits. Take the surrounding soil as well, and dig up the Jade Spirit Fruit Trees with their roots. The rest of you, stay on guard; the scent of the spirit fruits might attract some Demonic Beasts, so we must act quickly. Once we achieve our objective, we need to retreat immediately. As long as we are out of the mountain range, we will be safe!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± The clan members responded in unison and immediately set to work. Lin Tianming and the others each leaped onto a Jade Spirit Fruit Tree, carefully picking the fruits and placing them into jade boxes. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming finished harvesting two trees, picking twelve Jade Spirit Fruits from the first and eleven from the second. After plucking the fruits, he took out the Earth Evil Sword from his storage bag and began to dig around the trees. Only after digging three zhang deep did he stop, grasped the tree trunk as thick as a water bucket, and exerted all his strength to uproot the entire fruit tree along with the soil. Just as Lin Tianming and the others had placed the six fruit trees into their storage bag, several First Order Demon Beasts, drawn by the scent of the spirit fruits, rushed over and were promptly intercepted and slain by Lin Xingzhi. Once Lin Tianming and the others had secured the fruit trees, they immediately went to find Lin Shiji. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others emerge, Lin Shiji quickly asked: ¡°Tianming, did you succeed?¡± ¡°We did!¡± ¡°All six Jade Spirit Fruit Trees bore ripe fruit; we harvested a total of eighty-three Jade Spirit Fruits. We also successfully uprooted the six trees, which just need to be brought back to the clan in time for transplanting into the Spiritual Medicine Garden.¡± After reporting their harvest, Lin Tianming and his group each took out their storage bags and handed them to Lin Shiji. Upon receiving the storage bags, Lin Shiji examined them once over and quickly gathered Lin Xingzhi and others. After some discussion, the family members all retreated without any hesitation, moving through the dense forest and heading out of the mountain range. In less than half a day¡¯s time, following the trail they had come by, the family members appeared on a vast plain, already out of the Luoyun Mountain Range and into the territory controlled by the Human Race. Having successfully navigated out of the dense forest onto the plains, they were essentially safe; everyone breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°We¡¯ve finally made it out!¡± Everyone showed a trace of exhilarated smiles; their haul this trip had far exceeded expectations, and now they could finally return to the clan. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from its Spirit Beast Bag and fed it a Beast Spirit Pill. Everyone climbed onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which flew carrying the group as they rushed towards Green Bamboo Mountain. It was now noon, and the Purple Gold Eagle appeared near Green Bamboo Mountain. After a full day¡¯s journey, Lin Tianming and the others finally made it back to the clan. Once inside the grand formation, they encountered many fellow clan members, which drew the attention of several others. People speculated about the results of the trip and even discussed it in private. Since Lin Shiji had already instructed them not to reveal the details and results of the trip, the participants naturally did not share anything. After dismissing the gathered clan members, they all went back to their homes, waiting for the clan¡¯s rewards. Lin Shiji did not delay any longer and immediately flew towards the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, ready to discuss matters with several members of the Shi generation. In a courtyard at the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, the seven Lin Family members of the Shi generation gathered for a casual chat after receiving a message. ¡°With Fifth Brother personally leading the expedition, I wonder what their haul was this time!¡± Hearing Lin Shixin¡¯s words, Lin Shilu said with a smile: ¡°It must be significant; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have called us all together!¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± The group sipped tea while discussing recent events. After a short while, Lin Shiji appeared in the courtyard. Seeing Lin Shiji enter, everyone got up to greet him. Sensing Lin Shiji¡¯s wan aura, the family members quickly inquired: ¡°Fifth Brother, are you injured?¡± ¡°My injury is nothing serious. With some rest, I will recover; you don¡¯t need to worry, brothers.¡± Lin Shiji reassured the family members and started to recount the recent events in detail. As he described lurking in the shadows and the final fierce battle, everyone felt a shiver of concern. Chapter 71 - 71 - 69 Generosity of the Family_1 Chapter 71 ¨C 69 Generosity of the Family_1 Having finished recounting the events of the past half year, in the presence of the clan members, he took out more than ten differently colored storage bags. After hearing the process, all the clan members waited curiously, the loot this time was substantial, it was the perfect opportunity to enhance the Lin Family¡¯s foundation. Lin Shiji picked up a storage bag and a beast skin for recording, and began to recite fluently. ¡°These five storage bags all contain the Demon Cores of Silver Earth Scorpions as well as parts usable for artificing, totaling sixty-six Silver Earth Scorpion corpses of varying grades.¡± ¡°This storage bag contains all of the eighty-three Jade Spirit Fruits obtained.¡± ¡°This storage bag holds six Jade Spirit Fruit trees, very intact, including the surrounding soil dug up together, which increases the likelihood of survival.¡± ¡°These two storage bags contain one hundred and thirty-three pieces of Earth Mysterious Crystal Ore, roughly the size of a fist, with only a few slightly larger.¡± ... ¡­ Lin Shiji took out all the Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ore, and Demonic Beast materials for artificing and detailed the experiences one by one. Listening, everyone was overjoyed. The wealth they had acquired was indeed substantial, worth at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. In the end, Lin Shiji produced five storage bags, the very ones seized from Song Lixin and his companions during the surprise attack at the crucial moment. The wealth of Song Lixin and his four companions was the hard-won result of the entire Monster Hunting Squad, and no one had opened them privately, deliberately saving them until last to decide on rewards based on the contents when opened in front of everyone. Hearing Lin Shiji¡¯s explanation, everyone was greatly reassured. Lin Shiji¡¯s actions were indeed fair and just, without the slightest hint of greed, earning the respect of all the clan members. He took out the first storage bag, which belonged to an Artificer at the Qi Refining Eighth Level with the surname Xie. Lin Shiji took out all the items from the storage bag and laid them out on an open space in the courtyard. Three hundred and sixty Spirit Stones, a bottle of Lingshen Pills, various amounts of Huiyuan Pills, Consolidating Essence Pills, and other consumable Spiritual Medicine, a Medium Grade Attack Spirit Weapon, and a number of First Order Spiritual Medicines and Demonic Beast Materials. These common items amounted to a total wealth of around a thousand or so Spirit Stones. Before long, Lin Shiji had taken out the wealth of the four others, excluding Song Lixin, which were all necessities for cultivation. Apart from the wealth of a cultivator with the surname Chen, valued at four thousand Spirit Stones, the wealth of the other two was somewhat higher than that of cultivator Xie, barely reaching three thousand Spirit Stones. Among the four, the cultivator Chen was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining with formidable strength, having participated in the Monster Hunting Squad multiple times; naturally, his accumulated wealth wasn¡¯t small. Unfortunately, there were no Cultivation Techniques discovered; after all, it¡¯s rare for Qi Refining rogue cultivators to have complete techniques, to even carry any is even less common. The crowd felt a bit disappointed, but considering the amount of treasure they obtained, they quickly came to terms with it. Moreover, the Lin Family wasn¡¯t in great need of Yellow Grade Techniques; Mysterious Grade Techniques would be of more interest. FInally, with all expectations set, Lin Shiji took out Song Lixin¡¯s storage bag and removed all the items. In no time, the ground was covered with items; everyone¡¯s breath hitched as they checked over the array of riches. Now, the ground was covered in Spirit Stones, elixirs, and Spiritual Artifacts of every kind, bewitching the eye with their quantity and variety. Lin Shixin, as the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master, stepped forward and, while inspecting, recited each item one by one. ¡°One thousand six hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, five First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Instruments, three Lower Grade Spiritual Instruments, one First Order Superior Grade artificing furnace, a number of First Order artificing materials, twelve Second Order Spirit Ores!¡± After the first round of introduction, everybody was discussing in low voices. ¡°Judging by the artificing materials in his storage bag, Song Lixin must be at least a First Order Medium Grade Artificer, absolutely!¡± ¡°This guy is really rich, just these Spirit Stones, Spiritual Instruments, and artificing materials are worth over four thousand Spirit Stones, surpassing any of the others!¡± Lin Shixin paid no mind and continued the inventory count. ¡°Two bottles of Lingshen Pill, various consumables elixirs, thirty First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, five Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, five First Order Medium Grade talisman paper, two High Quality Talisman papers, and several Demonic Beast Materials!¡± With the majority of the items accounted for, their value was nearly six thousand Spirit Stones, with just one Jade Tube left to be inspected. Lin Shixin picked up the Jade Tube and summoned his Divine Sense to examine its contents. After a few moments, a hint of joy appeared on his face. ¡°This is a Profound Grade Technique of inferior quality, a Water Attribute Cultivation Technique, named the ¡¯Kanli Water Scripture¡¯!¡± Lin Shixin¡¯s words once again took everyone present by surprise. In the eight hundred years of the Lin Family¡¯s history, nearly a thousand clan members had worked hard to acquire two Profound Grade Techniques, both of which had been obtained during the ancestral patriarch¡¯s era. For nearly five hundred years, no Profound Grade Techniques had been obtained, and it just so happened that the clan lacked a Water, Earth, or Wood Attribute Profound Grade Technique. It was truly incredible that they had now acquired a Profound Grade Technique. One must know that when Lin Tianming attended the Qianchuan Market auction, even a Yellow Grade Technique with a Water Attribute went for more than twenty thousand Spirit Stones. Although this Profound Grade Technique was relatively ordinary, it was still worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones at the very least. Lin Shixin tossed the Technique to Lin Shikang and others to verify, and in the end, it was confirmed indeed to be a Water Attribute Profound Grade Technique. With all treasures appraised, it took a full quarter hour before everyone could recover from their joy. Lin Shiji and others had achieved great merit by obtaining a large number of treasures. Lin Shikang took the initiative to open the discussion on how the clan members should be rewarded! After half an hour of discussion, a decision was made. As the leader, Lin Shiji, who was seriously injured, was awarded three thousand Merit Points, one First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument, two High Quality Talisman papers, and one Jade Spirit Fruit. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingzhi, whose performance was outstanding, was awarded two thousand Merit Points and one Jade Spirit Fruit. Lin Xingcheng was awarded one thousand five hundred Merit Points and one Jade Spirit Fruit, and other Seventh Level Qi Cultivators in the family were rewarded with one thousand Merit Points and one Jade Spirit Fruit each. Although the three juniors Lin Tianming, Lin Tianfeng, and Lin Tianhong had relatively low cultivation levels, they actively participated in the trials and set an example for the younger generation of the clan, with exceptional performance. Especially Lin Tianming, who, at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, was not inferior to the cultivators at the Ninth Layer and even discovered the Earth Mysterious Crystal, thus deserving the main credit. Therefore, considering that these individuals had always been the focus of the family¡¯s cultivation resources, and that the family¡¯s finances had been depleted due to the creation of the Minor Foundation Building Pills, it was natural to fulfill the previously established training plans now that a substantial fortune had been acquired. Lin Tianming was rewarded with two thousand five hundred Merit Points, one Jade Spirit Fruit, three High Quality Talisman papers, and one Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were both awarded one thousand five hundred Merit Points, one Jade Spirit Fruit, two High Quality Talisman papers, and one Medium Grade Spiritual Instrument. Their rewards were even more generous than those given to Seventh Level Qi Cultivators in the family, and Lin Tianming¡¯s reward even surpassed that of Lin Xingzhi, a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator. The family was indeed generous this time. Once the rewards were decided, Lin Shiji handed over all the items to Lin Shixin for safekeeping on the spot. Apart from the Jade Spirit Fruits awarded, the surplus Jade Spirit Fruits were to be exchanged at market value, and anyone was allowed to exchange for them. The Jade Spirit Fruit Tree was also transplanted to the Spiritual Medicine Garden without delay, with clan members assigned to tend to it carefully; in a hundred years, it would bring yet another large bounty of resources. With all matters settled, everyone busied themselves and dispersed. Lin Tianming also immediately returned home to see his mother and sister. After some leisurely conversation, he retired to his room to rest. Half a year of trials had left him extremely exhausted. Within just over ten breaths, he had fallen into a deep sleep. Chapter 72 - 72 - 70 Claiming Rewards_1 Chapter 72 ¨C 70 Claiming Rewards_1 Early the next morning, after a night¡¯s rest, Lin Tianming stepped out from his long-missed room. As soon as he left the house, he ran into Lin Tianyue coming head-on. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Tianyue was also delighted and quickly spoke: ¡°Brother, it¡¯s so lively outside, the deeds of our Monster Hunting Squad have already spread. Now, many brothers and sisters really admire you!¡± Hearing what Lin Tianyue said, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment. Lin Shiji had long given orders that no news should be revealed to anyone until the family had discussed the results, especially the deeds of killing Song Lixin and others. Therefore, Lin Tianming had not even told his mother and sister. Since the whole clan now knew, it must have been deliberated by the family already. ¡°Tianyue, where did you see this news?¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Notices have been posted in several places in the family where there is a lot of foot traffic. I think the family is deliberately promoting it. Besides, the family has rewarded us with a lot of good stuff. You should check it out.¡± ... Lin Tianming said goodbye to his sister and left the small courtyard, flying directly towards the Enforcement Hall. In front of the main hall of the Enforcement Hall, a notice was posted on a wall, and more than a dozen people gathered around, chatting idly and giving their opinions. It wasn¡¯t just the entrance of the Enforcement Hall that was bustling; other important clan locations were also full of clan members discussing. Lin Tianming jumped down from his Spirit Sword and landed at the edge of the crowd, greeting the clanspeople with a smile. The clanspeople returned the greeting, without the slightest sense of using their seniority to act superior. After all, Lin Tianming was gifted, already at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. His grandfather had reached Foundation Establishment, and each member of his family was very powerful, so everyone was extremely polite. The clanspeople asked Lin Tianming about the Monster Hunting Squad¡¯s encounter, and he did not hold back, roughly narrating the process of the fierce battle with the Silver Earth Scorpion. However, he did not reveal the ambush on Song Lixin and others. After all, profiting unscrupulously from an unprovoked advantage was not something to be proud of. But that¡¯s how the Cultivation World is. With scarce resources, the competition is even more bloody than in the mortal world. Those who do not compete for resources will eventually be eliminated. The survival of the fittest is vividly demonstrated in the Cultivation World. Even such a partial recounting sent the clanspeople¡¯s blood surging, and those with sufficient strength expressed their desire to join the Monster Hunting Squad. Those who were not strong enough felt regretful but also planned to practice diligently, hoping to join the Monster Hunting Squad soon. Through the family¡¯s extensive promotion and encouragement, plus the generous rewards from Lin Tianming and others, the enthusiasm of some clanspeople was fully ignited. Those with less innate talent, who subconsciously preferred to cultivate within the clan lands, seemed to have had a change of heart. Although their number was not large, the change was satisfying nonetheless. Feeling the passion of the clanspeople, Lin Tianming was very clear that a comfortable life indeed wears away the clanspeople¡¯s sense of crisis. To develop and grow, one must have a spirit of adventure and sacrifice; otherwise, they would eventually fade away in the world of cultivation. After some casual conversation, Lin Tianming bid farewell to everyone and entered the Enforcement Hall. Upon entering the Enforcement Hall, he found Lin Tianfeng and greeted him. Lin Tianming then inquired about the notice. As a member of the Enforcement Hall, Lin Tianfeng naturally had already asked the Hall Master Lin Shiji. ¡°Sixth brother, I have asked Elder Wu. To encourage our clanspeople, the arrangement was indeed made by the family. The rewards can be collected at any time at the Enforcement Hall,¡± said Lin Tianfeng, his face beaming with joy. The rewards were indeed substantial¡ª1500 merit points and the Jade Spirit Fruit were enough for him to reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, not to mention the Fu Lu Spiritual Instrument. With his significantly increased strength, he planned to undergo further challenges once his cultivation was higher. He was a true battle enthusiast. While Lin Tianming was chatting with Lin Tianfeng, a confused Lin Tianhong also arrived. They hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but their voices could be heard from afar. ¡°Big Brother, Sixth Brother, is the notice at the entrance for real?¡± Lin Tianhong seemed to have his doubts, as the rewards were indeed too generous, and he had to come over to confirm. Lin Tianfeng was also very excited and quickly repeated Lin Shiji¡¯s exact words, dispelling any hesitation the two may have had. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Hall of Merit and claim our reward. I¡¯ve long coveted that Jade Spirit Fruit, and with it, I¡¯m eighty percent sure that I can break through to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement!¡± With an excited expression, Lin Tianfeng invited Lin Tianming and the other to join him. Lin Tianming and the other happily agreed, and the trio set off from the Enforcement Hall, flying towards the Hall of Merit on the other side. Inside the Hall of Merit, a large number of clan members had already gathered. Members of the Monster Hunting Squad were mostly there to receive their rewards, attracting many other clan members to watch the excitement. In the noisy hall, the arrival of Lin Tianming and his two companions caught the attention of all the clan members. After all, these three were the leading figures among the Lin Family¡¯s Tian generation, with the highest cultivation among their peers, and even many of the Xing Clan Members could not compare. Lin Tianming and his two companions smiled and greeted their elders and brothers before lining up to collect their rewards. A great number of clan members watched as Lin Shixin distributed a large number of merit points and handed out the Jade Spirit Fruits, all of them green with envy and itching to venture into the Luoyun Mountain Range for training. The waiting Xing Clan Members were visibly excited, completely satisfied with the clan¡¯s rewards; after all, with so many merit points, they could cultivate for a long time. Time passed quickly, and half an hour later, it was Lin Tianming¡¯s trio¡¯s turn. Lin Tianfeng was the first to claim his prize, not only crediting the merit points to his token but also receiving the Jade Spirit Fruit for his Fu Lu Spiritual Instrument, standing ecstatically to one side while waiting. Lin Tianhong claimed his merit points and exchanged for a Pill Furnace and a large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials, apparently planning to perform a large amount of alchemy to improve his alchemical skills. When it was Lin Tianming¡¯s turn, he hardly lacked resources. He had plenty of elixirs, and those suitable for the Qi Refinement Realm were almost sufficient. The talisman paper and Spiritual Artifact he had been rewarded previously were also enough for the time being. After much consideration, he decided to exchange for some Spiritual Medicine Materials, planning to refine them into elixirs to sell back to the family. With his own refined elixirs, clan members could quickly improve their cultivation, he could practice his craft, and he could also earn Spirit Stones. Otherwise, not practicing alchemy for a long time might cause his skills to regress. He exchanged for a large quantity of elixir materials, all for consumptive pills like the Lingshen Pill, Consolidating Essence Pill, and Huiyuan Pill, as well as materials for five Xisui Pills. Since the materials for Xisui Pills were hard to gather, that was all there was, and Lin Tianming took them all. After bidding farewell to the crowd of clan members, the three stepped out of the Hall of Merit together. ¡°Second Brother, Sixth Brother, after this training, I feel that my bottleneck has loosened. I plan to go into seclusion for cultivation. I won¡¯t leave until I break through to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement!¡± Lin Tianfeng spoke with full confidence about his plans. Lin Tianhong also intended to go into seclusion for cultivation. Having just entered the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the Sixth Level even with the Jade Spirit Fruit and planned to undergo quiet cultivation for a while. He wanted to enhance his alchemy and accumulate more experience before consuming the Jade Spirit Fruit towards the later stage of the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. ¡°Big Brother, Second Brother, I too will go into seclusion. It¡¯s been over a year since I reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. This is a good time to focus on cultivation and, with the help of the Jade Spirit Fruit, there¡¯s a good chance of reaching the Eighth Level.¡± After discussing their future plans, the three bid each other farewell and flew off in different directions. Chapter 73 - 73 - 71: Closed-Door Training (Please Subscribe, Asking for Votes)_1 Chapter 73 ¨C 71: Closed-Door Training (Please Subscribe, Asking for Votes)_1 Watching Lin Tianfeng and the other leave, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t immediately go home but flew towards the Alchemy Hall instead. Having not seen his grandfather for half a year, returning to the Lin Family naturally meant paying a visit. Upon entering the Alchemy Hall, aside from Lin Shigong, he saw no other clan members. Compared to the bustling noise of the Enforcement Hall and the Hall of Merit, the Alchemy Hall was much quieter, after all, the Lin Family only had five true alchemists. The Alchemy Hall was only used for exchange and learning, and with the help of Earth Fire for alchemy, it was only lively at those times. Most of the time, it was just Lin Shigong here. Seeing his grandfather, Lin Tianming was very happy and hurried forward to pay his respects. Lin Shigong also hadn¡¯t seen Lin Tianming for a long time; he pulled Lin Tianming to sit down, and the two chatted over Spiritual Tea. ... ¡°Grandfather, my father should be close to reaching the Great Perfection realm now, right?¡± Lin Tianming rarely encountered Lin Xingrong and could only inquire about his father¡¯s situation through his grandfather and mother. ¡°Your father has been accumulating for several years, and the last time he came back, he was on the verge of a breakthrough. With a large number of elixirs to assist, without accidents, he should be able to enter the Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage within half a year. He¡¯s still young, and with a Minor Foundation Building Pill to help him impact the Foundation Establishment Stage, there¡¯s a great hope of success!¡± Lin Shigong was very gratified. He once thought that he would never break through the Foundation Establishment Stage in this lifetime, and he was quite pessimistic about Lin Xingrong¡¯s future. It was very likely he would follow his own path, dying old in the Qi Refinement Realm. The family was too poor, and thinking about it made him feel helpless. Nowadays, the Lin Family¡¯s predicament has greatly improved. The hope for Foundation Establishment is much greater than before, and it¡¯s finally developing in a good direction. ¡°Grandfather, I want to go into seclusion for a while, at least half a year, to strive for a breakthrough to the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement.¡± Seeing the confident expression on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, Lin Shigong¡¯s face beamed with a smile. He was quite satisfied with Lin Tianming¡¯s efforts and naturally supported him. ¡°Good, there¡¯s nothing big happening in the clan at this time, except for the Monster Hunting Squad and the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. The clan has already arranged for people to handle it. You just focus on your cultivation. I¡¯ve also gathered spiritual medicine materials for half a year, and I want to try refining Second Order Pills. Previously, my cultivation wasn¡¯t sufficient, and the elixirs needed for the third brother and the others had to be bought from outside. Now that there are more and more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the consumption is huge. Refining our own elixirs can save a lot of Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, not to mention that it¡¯s expensive to buy them from outside. During special times, you can¡¯t even buy them if you want to!¡± The two chatted leisurely for an hour, from cultivation to alchemy. Through the exchange, both the grandfather and the grandson benefited a great deal. After the chat, Lin Tianming took out a Minor Foundation Building Pill and handed it to Lin Shigong, instructing him to pass it to his father once he reached the Great Perfection, to aid him in his early breakthrough. With two more Minor Foundation Building Pills and five stems of Hidden Spirit Grass left, at least there was no need to worry about not having enough. After saying farewell to his grandfather, Lin Tianming returned to his own small courtyard. He took out a large number of elixirs and handed them to his mother and sister, including Xisui Pills and Pozhang Pills, for them to cultivate in peace and strive for a breakthrough of one or two realms. Having greeted all his close clan members, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any further and directly entered the secret chamber. He sat cross-legged on the cushion, practiced his breathing and ran his Cultivation Technique through one Grand Circulation. More than a year had passed since the last breakthrough. During the half-year with the Monster Hunting Squad, through extensive practice, his cultivation also reached the peak of the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, and with step-by-step cultivation, a breakthrough was bound to happen sooner or later. Feeling the weak growth of Spiritual Power in his Dantian and the accompanying pain in his body, Lin Tianming took out a large number of elixirs and placed them beside him. Lingshen Pills, Body Strengthening Pills, Strong Spirit Pills¡ªall were key items aiding cultivation, especially the Body Strengthening Pill, which greatly alleviated the pain of cultivation; otherwise, it would be impossible to endure. After consuming the elixirs, he fully absorbed the rich Spiritual Power within. His Qi Sea and Dantian grew at a slow pace. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat motionless, entering the best state for cultivation, similar to an old monk in meditation. During Lin Tianming¡¯s closed-door cultivation, the triennial Spirit Root Testing Ceremony arrived on schedule, and the Lin Family arranged for six clan members to descend the mountain to preside over the ceremony in the mortal towns. The clan placed great importance on the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony and cared deeply for the lives of mortals; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have stationed people in such places with sparse spiritual energy year after year. Even though the probability of finding a mortal with a Spiritual Root was much smaller than that of descendants of cultivators, with the vast population, a few were always discovered each year. By controlling a vast population, the clan could quickly increase its size, continuously integrating fresh blood. With an increasing population, the probability of encountering cultivators with exceptional talents grew larger. Of the current 170-plus members of the Lin Family, nearly half came from mortal towns, highlighting the significance of mortals to the Lin Family. Therefore, having control over a large population of mortals was also considered one of the clan¡¯s foundational strengths. In the southern part of Green Bamboo Mountain, outside Qingfeng Town, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining was flying towards the town on a Flying Sword. Before long, he flew directly over the town walls and headed toward the central stone tower. This person was named Lin Xingli, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining who was the Executive Officer sent by the Lin Family to preside over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. The triennial Spirit Root Testing Ceremony was held as scheduled, with the Lin Family dispatching six members to oversee it, five of whom were responsible for five major towns, while the remaining one oversaw the area at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain. All six regions were places where the Lin Family¡¯s mortals gathered, and compared to the five major towns, the small town at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain, with only fifty to sixty thousand people, had a much higher probability of discovering individuals with Spiritual Roots. The reason was straightforward: the mortals in that town were close relatives of Lin Family cultivators, with a cultivator emerging from within their lineage within the last ten generations, which significantly increased the probability of discovering individuals with Spiritual Roots compared to those who had never had a Spiritual Root emerge. Lin Xingli soared past the densely clustered mortal houses and appeared over a large square. At that moment, the square was filled with thousands of teenagers, about evenly split between boys and girls, most appearing to be around eleven or twelve years old, with a few thirteen-year-olds as well. A youth who happened to look up saw a middle-aged man standing on a Flying Sword, suspended in the air, and shouted in shock. ¡°A celestial being¡­¡± Upon hearing the shout, everyone raised their heads to look up at the sky, and many Lin Family mortals respectfully knelt and began to worship. Lin Xingli shouted in a voice filled with Spiritual Power. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Silence all! Line up orderly. The official testing begins tomorrow. Anyone who makes noise or causes a commotion will be deprived of the right to be tested!¡± Lin Xingli¡¯s words instantly hushed the previously noisy crowd, making it so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Having said that, he no longer paid attention to the waiting mortals. He formed a hand seal with one hand, cast a Law Decree, and entered the building. Less than ten breaths later, the protective restrictions were opened, and a cultivator at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining emerged. This cultivator, smiling as he walked, greeted Lin Xingli: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Brother Thirteen to be overseeing the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony here. Please rest inside for a moment, brother. I¡¯ll instruct the town mayor to prepare a banquet to welcome and cleanse the dust of travel for you.¡± Lin Xingli returned the smile and the greeting, and the two entered the restriction one after the other before disappearing, leaving behind a crowd of mortals anxiously waiting. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Xingli sat opposite the other man, exchanging pleasantries. Soon after, Lin Shan¡¯s subordinates delivered a lavish dinner. Lin Xingli and the other man sat opposite each other, eating and conversing, confirming that the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony would commence at the break of dawn. Chapter 78 - 78 - 74 Breakthrough_1 Chapter 78 ¨C 74 Breakthrough_1 Time swiftly passed, and it had already been half a year since the Spirit Testing Conference. The Lin Family was very calm, operating in an orderly fashion. Following the example set by Lin Tianming and others in monster hunting, the clan¡¯s interest in hunting demonic beasts greatly increased. In this half-year period, the family formed two monster hunting squads, which went to the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range for experience and training. The first batch of family members who joined the hunting squads received generous rewards, and nearly all of them began to cultivate in seclusion. The older generation of cultivators was also busy. Lin Shikang, the person with the highest cultivation in the family and its guardian, also cultivated diligently, striving to make further progress. As the family¡¯s only Second Order Artifact Refiner, Lin Shilu was extremely busy, toiling in both cultivation and artifact refinement, turning large amounts of demonic beast materials and Qingling Bamboo into spiritual artifacts. ... Lin Shigong successfully entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and began to try his hand at refining Second Order Pills, eager to quickly produce elixirs to assist his clan members in their cultivation. Clan Leader Lin Shihua was also actively managing the family, selling large quantities of First Order Spiritual Tools and various artifact materials in exchange for a significant amount of spiritual medicine materials and elixirs. He bought various talisman papers to subsidize family members, accelerating their cultivation while also refining spiritual artifacts for them and handing out talisman papers to enhance their combat methods. In anticipation of a foreseeable crisis, the Lin Family was secretly accumulating strength to face the unknown dangers ahead. All family members were cultivating with great effort, desperately wishing to break through to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage so they could exchange for a Minor Foundation Building Pill and attempt Foundation Establishment. The newly inducted family members lived fulfilling lives, learning basic cultivation knowledge every day at the Skill Transmission Hall. Under Lin Shigang¡¯s guidance, the family members who had just embarked on the path of cultivation were growing rapidly, and their sense of belonging to the Lin Family was gradually strengthening. It wouldn¡¯t be long before they could fully integrate into the family. Lin Tianhu cultivated with great dedication, his aspiration toward the Dao firm and resilient. Having completed the basic knowledge, he attempted Qi Introduction into his body. Because he possessed a Metal Attribute Spiritual Root, the one with the highest affinity, he naturally cultivated the family¡¯s Mysterious Grade Technique, the Three Stars Spirit Sword Technique. Inside a secret chamber of a small courtyard, Lin Tianhu sat cross-legged on a mat, adjusting himself to the optimal state. Since he had already committed the incantations and mental techniques of the Cultivation Technique to memory, he attempted to circulate the technique, meditatively sensing the Spiritual Energy around him. After trying for over ten days, he had yet to succeed. As the eighteenth day passed, Lin Tianhu showed no sign of slackening, continuing his cultivation in the secret chamber aside from his required daily studies. Persistence pays off for those with determination! After nineteen days of unwavering effort, he finally succeeded in sensing a faint gold-tinged Spiritual Energy in the air. Lin Tianhu patiently guided the Spiritual Energy into his body, converging it in his Qi Sea Dantian. Several days passed, and after over a hundred failures, he finally succeeded in introducing a thread of Spiritual Energy into his body, reaching the First Level of Qi Refining and becoming a qualified cultivator. After rejoicing, he stabilized his progress and then left the secret chamber to go to the Skill Transmission Hall, seeking out Lin Shigang to record his achievement. Upon hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s report, Lin Shigang was greatly surprised and hastily asked Lin Tianhu to demonstrate his achievement. Lin Tianhu pinched his fingers together and a strand of Spiritual Energy danced at his fingertips, indeed successfully achieving Qi Introduction. Lin Shigang was very comforted and highly satisfied. Lin Tianhu indeed worked extremely hard, and his speed of cultivation was remarkable. It took him only twenty-two days to successfully introduce Qi into his body, nearly comparable to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming had Dual Spiritual Roots and grew up on Green Bamboo Mountain. Influenced by his parents¡¯ long-term guidance, he took just sixteen days to achieve Qi Introduction, breaking a record that had stood for hundreds of years in the Lin Family. Ordinary cultivators with Three Spiritual Roots would be considered exceptional if they achieved Qi Introduction within a month. Those with Four Spiritual roots were slower still, and there were many cultivators with Five Spirit Roots who took half a year or more. There were even cases of Loose Cultivators without guidance who failed to achieve it even after decades. Lin Tianhu, who succeeded in just twenty-three days, could be ranked in the top five in the history of the Lin Family, illustrating his high talent and understanding, marking him as a promising seedling worthy of great cultivation effort from the family. Having informed Lin Tianhu to go to the Hall of Merit to claim the family benefits and urged him to diligently cultivate, Lin Tianhu once again immersed himself in arduous cultivation. The Lin Family was operating methodically, with all its members rapidly growing stronger. In the secret chamber of a small courtyard on the mountainside. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on a cushion, hands clasped together, having sustained his cultivation for a long span of half a year. Several jade bottles were messily scattered in front of him, their contents long since depleted. Following the end of the monster hunt, his cultivation level had reached the peak of Qi Refining Seventh Level. After consuming the only Jade Spirit Fruit he had, he leveraged the powerful spiritual energy contained within the fruit and successfully broke through to the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement. Over the span of six months, Lin Tianming focused on stabilizing his realm and, with the aid of elixirs, enhanced both his body and divine sense. Lin Tianming, who hadn¡¯t moved for a long time, opened his eyes, assessing the condition of his whole body. After half a year of rigorous cultivation, his cultivation level had greatly advanced, feeling the surging spiritual power much stronger than when he was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The aspect of body refinement also steadily improved through battles and elixirs, essentially keeping pace with his Qi Refining cultivation level. With the breakthrough in cultivation, his strength surged once again, feeling the power when clenching his fist¡ªit was probably no less than two thousand catties. Not only had his Qi Refinement and body refinement increased, but the growth of his divine sense was also significant. With a large supply of Strong Spirit Pills, Lin Tianming would consume one every month. Having continued this sweet-like consumption for over a year, taking one or two Strong Spirit Pills only provided a very limited increase in divine sense, barely noticeable. However, over more than a year of accumulation, the effects were quite evident. In this extra year, the increase in divine sense accounted for almost a tenth of the total divine sense. In the Cultivation World, methods to increase divine sense were extremely rare, aside from cultivation arts like frequent alchemy and artifact creation, which could slowly increase it, one had to rely on certain treasures or elixirs. But treasures were scarce and precious, high order elixirs were too slow to obtain, simply unattainable, one had to choose from common elixirs, among which Strong Spirit Pill was a well-known option. Even the most common Strong Spirit Pills were unaffordable for most cultivators, as spirit stones used for cultivation were insufficient, and who would spend vast resources to cultivate divine sense and refine the body? After examining his body and feeling the mighty divine sense, Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied. Exhaling a breath of stale air, Lin Tianming got up and left the secret chamber. At dusk, Lin Shigong also returned from the Alchemy Hall to the small courtyard, and Lin Xingrong made a rare trip back to the family. By now Lin Tianming was nearly nineteen years old, and his family was rarely gathered together like this. After dinner, the family of five sat in the courtyard for casual conversation. Three years had passed since Lin Tianming broke through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement at the age of sixteen. With the help of experience and numerous elixirs, Lin Tianming¡¯s progress was rapid, breaking through to Qi Refining Eighth Level in a mere three years, roughly one level per year, leaving his peers far behind. His parents were very pleased with the cultivation of Lin Tianming and his siblings. There was no need to mention Lin Tianming any further, as he was the fastest cultivator among the Lin Family¡¯s generation named Tian. Lin Tianyue was also nearly fifteen years old, growing tall and graceful, with her cultivation level reaching the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, and she was recognized alongside Lin Tianqin as one of the two ¡°golden flowers¡± of the Lin Family. With no need to support Lin Tianming anymore and with the aid of a large number of elixirs, his mother¡¯s cultivation also sped up significantly, having broken through to the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Xingrong had also smoothly broken through to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage and, having returned to the family, prepared to enter seclusion calmly to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Chapter 79 - 79 - 75: Conscripted as a Strong Man_1 Chapter 79 ¨C 75: Conscripted as a Strong Man_1 During casual conversation, Lin Shigong took out a Minor Foundation Building Pill and handed it to Lin Xingrong. Gazing at the precious Minor Foundation Building Pill, Lin Xingrong certainly knew where it came from, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat embarrassed to benefit from his son¡¯s achievements. ¡°Father, this Minor Foundation Building Pill is what Tian Ming has earned. I¡¯ve almost prepared the merit points, I¡¯ll go back to the Hall of Merit and exchange for it myself!¡± Lin Xingrong strongly insisted, wanting to rely on his own merit points to exchange for the Minor Foundation Building Pill from the family. Though it required a huge amount of merit points, having been stationed in Luoyun Market for over twenty years, his accumulated wealth, although not eight thousand, was not much less. Lin Xingrong¡¯s idea was met with stern criticism from Lin Shigong. You should know that three generations of the Lin Family have all set their sights on the remaining six Minor Foundation Building Pills, with competition especially intense. ... Among the Shi clan members, it was still manageable, but for some unknown reason, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe had given up the competition, ceding the last remaining Minor Foundation Building Pill spot of the Shi generation to Lin Shixin. It was likely because Lin Shigang and the others realized they were too old, and the probability of breaking through was even lower than it had been for Lin Shigong, so they decided to give away a favor easily rather than wasting a lot of merit points for an impossible breakthrough. It could also be that an agreement was reached among the three, but other clan members didn¡¯t know about it, and even so, it still deeply touched Lin Shixin. As for the competition among the Xing clan members, it was even more fierce. Most of the Shi generation had already exhausted their potential, with only Lin Shixin holding hope for a breakthrough. Meanwhile, a large portion of Xing clan members under sixty still had a significant amount of time, and breaking through remained a promising prospect. As such, the competition for Minor Foundation Building Pills was far too intense, and no one would willingly give up unless they had an extremely poor Spiritual Root, effectively barring them from reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage before the age of one hundred. Although many Xing clan members did not know that Lin Tianming had three more Minor Foundation Building Pills, all the core clan members were aware. If they were to join the fray, it would undoubtedly invite criticism. After receiving Lin Shigong¡¯s severe criticism, Lin Xingrong changed his mind. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he was getting older, delaying further would only make the breakthrough more difficult, so he finally accepted the goodwill from Tian Ming. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. We¡¯re all family; why make such sharp distinctions? I took advantage of this youngster back then!¡± ¡°Had it not been for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, I would have turned to dust in twenty years. Time waits for no one!¡± After considering it, Lin Xingrong realized it was indeed the case and accepted the Minor Foundation Building Pill. Seeing Lin Xingrong accept the Minor Foundation Building Pill and sipping the Spiritual Tea, Lin Shigong was very satisfied. Lin Tianming and his mother joined in, persuading Lin Xingrong not to be obstinate. The earlier one breaks through in their cultivation, the better. It had been delayed previously due to a lack of conditions, but now that the conditions were met, it was naturally best to proceed as quickly as possible. After the encouragement and persuasion of the four, Lin Xingrong was deeply moved and resolutely decided to break through as soon as possible. Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s response, the urgent task now was to assist Lin Xingrong in his breakthrough. Lin Shigong sent a message, informing the Clan Leader and Lin Shikang of the closed-door cultivation for the breakthrough. It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Shigong received a reply. After checking Lin Shikang¡¯s response, Lin Shigong¡¯s complexion was ruddy as he spoke. ¡°Xingrong, Third Brother and Shihua have replied. I¡¯ll take you to the summit of the main peak tomorrow for your closed-door breakthrough. Some experiences of our predecessors will naturally be handed over to you, just focus on breaking through.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Since Lin Shigong had already arranged everything, Lin Xingrong stopped being unnecessarily polite. After organizing Lin Xingrong¡¯s breakthrough, Lin Shigong instructed Lin Tianming. ¡°During the time of your father¡¯s breakthrough, I will be at the peak guarding him, and you, my boy, will just be idle. You are to stay in the Alchemy Hall for a while, taking charge of all the First Order elixirs for the Lin Family. Collect the Spiritual Medicine Materials from the Hall of Merit; I¡¯ll explain to Shixin with a message.¡± Conscripted by his grandfather and having just achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation, Lin Tianming was looking forward to consolidating his gains, it had been quite a while since he had last practiced alchemy. ¡°Grandson obeys!¡± After arranging all the matters, the family ended their casual conversation and returned to their rooms to rest. The next morning, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong left their courtyard together. After leaving the house, the two flew in opposite directions. Lin Tianming¡¯s destination was the Family Merits Hall, while Lin Xingrong was headed for the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Before long, Lin Tianming arrived at the Hall of Merit. The Hall of Merit was particularly lively at the moment as the second batch of the Monster Hunting Squad had just concluded their half-year of training. In the hall of the Hall of Merit, Lin Shiji led a large group of Xing Clan Members to gather together. Although several of them were pale and their breathing was chaotic, showing signs of injury, they had all safely returned to the Lin Family. Each person¡¯s face was brimming with a thick smile, seemingly quite satisfied with the gains from their training. Lin Shiji took out a large number of jade boxes and placed them on the stone table, while throwing three storage bags to Lin Shixin for inspection. Lin Shixin took out the records, registering all the Spiritual Medicine Materials and Demonic Beast Materials in the books. In half an hour, he appraised the value of all the training gains and on the spot allocated Merit points to the members of the Monster Hunting Squad. After receiving their share, all the clan members exchanged their points for various elixirs and talisman papers, then cheerfully left the Hall of Merit. Lin Tianming immediately stepped forward and began to pay his respects to Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin. ¡°Tianming pays respects to Elder Wu and to Uncle Ten!¡± ¡°Hmm, you lad have made a breakthrough!¡± Lin Shiji, composed as ever, teased Lin Tianming with a smile that was not quite a smile. Lin Tianming, smiling at the two of them, humbly responded: ¡°Thanks to your blessings, I had the luck to make a breakthrough recently.¡± ¡°Elder Wu, have your injuries healed?¡± Instead of continuing with light-hearted banter, Lin Tianming inquired about Lin Shiji¡¯s injuries. ¡°A mere scratch, it healed in half a month, otherwise how could I continue to train outside!¡± ¡°Elder Wu is strong and vigorous, truly formidable!¡± Lin Tianming heaped on the flattery, eliciting hearty laughter from Lin Shixin and even eliciting a rare laugh from the usually stern Lin Shiji. After a few moments of casual conversation, Lin Shiji took his leave. Once Lin Shiji was far enough away, Lin Shixin broached a more serious topic. ¡°Your grandfather has already spoken to me; you¡¯d better take this seriously, lad. Spiritual Medicine Materials are not easy to come by.¡± Lin Shixin only knew that Lin Tianming was a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist and had not seen him practice alchemy, nor had he seen any elixirs he had refined. Unclear about his alchemy level, he seemed somewhat uneasy and repeatedly cautioned. ¡°Understood, don¡¯t worry, sir. If the elixirs don¡¯t turn out well, I¡¯ll compensate!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confident expression, Lin Shixin thought, This young man usually is quite reliable, and besides, since Ninth Brother has spoken, he must be sure of himself. Lin Shixin took out various Spiritual Medicine Materials, checked the quantities with Lin Tianming, and did not forget to remind him about the quantity of elixirs required to be handed over. ¡°Understood, just wait and see, sir!¡± Lin Tianming replied with full confidence, easing Lin Shixin¡¯s worries. The amount Lin Shixin mentioned only required a 40% pill formation rate, which was a meager effort for Lin Tianming. After safely storing the hundreds of Spiritual Medicine Materials provided by Lin Shixin, Lin Tianming planned to exchange for some Demon Cores for alchemy purposes. The dozen or so Beast Spirit Pills he had refined at Qianchuan Market were depleted months ago, and the Purple Gold Eagle had completely run out of elixirs. With some time on his hands, it was a good opportunity to refine more Beast Spirit Pills to last a while longer. ¡°Uncle Ten, how many First Order Late Stage Demon Pills do you have? I need fifteen.¡± Lin Shixin was surprised¡ªwhat did this young man want so many Demon Pills for! ¡°We have quite a few in stock now, with even more from the early and medium stages, mostly from the hands of the Monster Hunting Squad.¡± ¡°Each First Order Late Stage Demon Pill costs twelve points of Merit, totalling one hundred and eighty points!¡± Hearing the price, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to take out his Identity Token, transferred his Merit points, and exchanged for fifteen Demon Pills. Once all the materials and Demon Pills were secure in his storage bag, he bid farewell and left. Upon exiting the Hall of Merit, he headed straight for the Alchemy Hall. Chapter 80 - 80 - 76 Guiding Lin Tianqin_1 Chapter 80 ¨C 76 Guiding Lin Tianqin_1 At the summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, within a secluded courtyard. Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong sat in the courtyard, sipping Spiritual Tea. Lin Shikang took out several Jade Tubes and handed them to Lin Xingrong, which contained the breakthrough experiences of more than a dozen of the Lin Family ancestors. Not only that, he also personally narrated his own experiences and feelings during his breakthrough. Lin Xingrong stood by, his expression calm, listening intently and committing every word to memory. After all, what is contained in the Jade Tubes is never as easy to understand as what is spoken firsthand. For a full half an hour, Lin Shikang finished relating all his experiences. ... Lin Shigong gave several earnest admonitions before allowing Lin Xingrong to leave. As he watched Lin Xingrong walk to the secret chamber, Lin Shigong seemed somewhat distracted, his expression a mix of flurry and nervousness. Even before the retreat for the breakthrough had begun, Lin Shigong started to worry. Seeing Lin Shigong¡¯s expression, Lin Shikang felt helpless but only could offer advice. ¡°Ninth brother, Xingrong has always been promising, and he is still young; there is hope yet. Whether he breaks through or not, his life is not in danger, so don¡¯t worry too much!¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s attempt to console him, Lin Shigong sighed helplessly. After all, a breakthrough is something no one else can aid with; one can only rely on oneself. Do your humanly best and leave the rest to fate! Cultivation itself is about defying fate¡ªsucceed, and a bright future awaits; fail, and all chances are lost. Regaining his composure, Lin Shigong steadied himself and said: ¡°Third brother, the breakthrough will take at least a month. It¡¯s enough that I keep watch here¡ªyou go about your business!¡± Seeing that Lin Shigong had stabilized his mindset, Lin Shikang did not object and left after a few comforting words. In the secret chamber, Lin Xingrong took out the Jade Tubes and began to scrutinize them intently. Before long, he was completely engrossed in the contents of the tubes. Outside the Alchemy Hall on the mountainside, Lin Tianming descended from the sky, on the verge of entering the hall. An appealing voice entered his mind! ¡°Sixth brother, wait for me!¡± Lin Tianming turned around, Lin Tianqin was hurrying towards him. After several years, Lin Tianqin had already broken through to the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and, as revealed by Lin Tianhong, she had also successfully become a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. ¡°Third sister, long time no see. You¡¯ve become even more beautiful!¡± Lin Tianming teased Lin Tianqin with a hearty chuckle. But Lin Tianqin wasn¡¯t having any of it, her expression tinged with a hint of sullenness, she started to scold Lin Tianming incessantly. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re such a busybody. We hardly encountered each other in years!¡± ¡°In this period, you guys have done well, tagging along with Elder Wu on your adventures, and you didn¡¯t even include me!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re all men, able to handle the fighting; you are like a golden flower in our family, third sister!¡± Lin Tianqin found herself silenced by the flattery. Lin Tianming kept smiling bitterly. Knowing Lin Tianqin very well since they grew up together, he quickly complimented her, which finally appeased her. Lin Tianqin pouted, and upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s pleas for mercy, her anger finally subsided. Having soothed Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianming quickly changed the subject. ¡°Third sister, are you here to see someone or to craft elixirs?¡± ¡°Alchemy. I can manage crafting Lingshen Pills well enough, but my success rate with other consumable elixirs isn¡¯t high. I¡¯ve prepared some Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice more.¡± Lin Tianqin said with a smile, explaining her purpose. ¡°I also need to craft a large number of elixirs; it¡¯s a good opportunity for us to exchange knowledge!¡± Lin Tianming proactively suggested the exchange, mainly aiming to guide Lin Tianqin. With his First Order Superior Grade skills and astounding success rate in crafting elixirs, he believed guiding her was well within his capability. Hearing what Lin Tianming said, Lin Tianqin gladly agreed, and the two of them walked towards the Alchemy Hall side by side. After choosing an Alchemy Room, they sat on meditation cushions and exchanged their Alchemy Experience. Lin Tianming did not hold back and shared his experience with Lin Tianqin. Initially, Lin Tianqin had thought that Lin Tianming¡¯s Alchemy was not much different from theirs, but as he explained his experience, many of her confusions suddenly cleared up. As Lin Tianqin pondered Lin Tianming¡¯s words, she realized that this was not an exchange but guidance. After half an hour had passed, Lin Tianqin was utterly astounded. ¡°Your progress has been way too fast!¡± ¡°Are you even capable of refining First Order Superior Grade elixirs now?¡± Facing several questions, Lin Tianming did not hide anything and openly admitted. ¡°Younger Brother is impressive, Sister admires you!¡± Lin Tianqin couldn¡¯t help but praise him, concluding the guidance session! Lin Tianming let Lin Tianqin attempt to refine a batch of elixirs first while he gave guidance from the side. Lin Tianqin took out the Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Huiyuan Pill and neatly placed them aside before pulling out an azure blue Pill Furnace from her storage bag, its surface etched with many patterns. ¡°Didn¡¯t the family run out of Pill Furnaces?¡± Lin Tianming was very puzzled. After Lin Tianqin explained, it turned out to be a First Order Inferior Alchemy Furnace which she had specially asked a clan member to buy from the market for her. ¡°No wonder!¡± Lin Tianqin struck the Pill Furnace with several Law Decrees, and as the Earth Fire surged out, she tempered the Alchemy Furnace. Half an hour later, a sudden crisp sound rang out! The first attempt at refining ended in failure. Lin Tianqin was not discouraged and prepared to start the refining process all over again. With Lin Tianming overseeing and timely correcting her mistakes, she successfully produced three pills on the third attempt. Overjoyed, Lin Tianqin realized that following the methods taught by Lin Tianming, the pills indeed formed quickly. While the iron was hot, Lin Tianqin refined several batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, managing to maintain a stable 30% success rate, producing three to four pills per batch. In front of Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianming refined a batch of Huiyuan Pills himself. As a scent of medicine filled the air, Lin Tianming lifted the lid of the furnace, and Lin Tianqin took out a Huiyuan Pill between her fingers, examining it carefully. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon close inspection, Lin Tianqin was completely stunned. ¡°This success rate and number of pills are just too terrifying!¡± ¡°The medicinal strength contained is also stronger than what the others have refined!¡± ¡°This must be the epitome of Exquisite Yuan Returning Pills!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, affirming Lin Tianqin¡¯s thoughts. Lin Tianqin had no choice but to accept the reality; this guy was just too exaggerated and beyond comparison. After Lin Tianming¡¯s demonstration, Lin Tianqin benefited significantly and tried Alchemy once more. Several days later, under Lin Tianming¡¯s guidance, Lin Tianqin¡¯s pill success rate steadily improved, and she could maintain a 40% success rate, with the number of pills also remaining stable at around four per batch. With more practice, she could attempt to refine other types of pills. Just as Lin Tianqin had run out of Spiritual Medicine Materials, she took the initiative to say goodbye and leave. ¡°Younger Brother, thank you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve run out of Spiritual Medicine Materials too, so I¡¯ll head back now. After you finish refining your pills, I¡¯ll host a banquet to celebrate, and remember to invite Tian Yue and Big Brother too. It has been a long time since we¡¯ve all gathered together.¡± ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll definitely visit you when the few of us are free!¡± Lin Tianqin sincerely expressed her gratitude, and Lin Tianming graciously agreed to attend without any refusal. Lin Tianqin was very happy, tidied up her belongings, and without further delay, left the Alchemy Room. Following Lin Tianqin¡¯s departure, Lin Tianming also began to meditate and adjust his breathing, preparing to start Alchemy. Chapter 81 - 81 - 77 Adding Another Foundation Establishment _1 Chapter 81 ¨C 77 Adding Another Foundation Establishment _1 ¡°` After seeing Lin Tianqin off, Lin Tianming began to prepare for alchemy. The family had provided him with hundreds of batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, mostly for the Lingshen Pill and the Huiyuan Pill, but also included a smaller proportion of Consolidating Essence Pill and Huadu Pill materials, which are for healing. Sitting on the cushion, he took a deep breath and began to regulate his breath. Before alchemy, it was still best to adjust his condition to its peak, and even though making these elixirs posed no real challenge to him, treating the process with respect was always the right thing to do. After cultivating diligently for most of the day, Lin Tianming¡¯s condition had reached its peak. He organized all the Spiritual Medicine Materials neatly together. ... Taking out the Four Symbols Furnace, he cast several Law Decrees to control the temperature of the Earth Fire and made all the necessary preparations. Concocting a First Order Medium Grade elixirs was a simple task for Lin Tianming. With practiced ease, he cultivated while simultaneously carrying out alchemy and in just over half a month¡¯s time, and without expending much effort, he had refined all seventy-odd batches of Lingshen Pill materials. Compared to the past when he could only refine a few batches of Lingshen Pills a day, depleting his Spiritual Power, his cultivation and Divine Sense were now much stronger; if he tried his hardest, he could probably finish them all in seven or eight days. If Lin Tianhong or Lin Tianqin were to do the refining, it would definitely take half a year to complete, not to mention the rate of success in forming the pills. He was quite satisfied with the speed of this alchemy session. At this moment, in front of Lin Tianming, hundreds of Jade Bottles were neatly arranged, each containing three pills. With over seventy batches of Lingshen Pill materials, and with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, all of the Lingshen Pills he refined were of excellent quality, amounting to a total of four hundred seventy-two Lingshen Pills. Looking at so many Lingshen Pills, Lin Tianming was very pleased. According to the rules of the Hall of Merit, out of so many Lingshen Pill materials, he only needed to submit one hundred fifty Lingshen Pills, and the rest belonged to the Alchemist. In this way, Lin Tianming could keep over three hundred pills, worth nearly three thousand Spirit Stones. Truly, alchemists could make a fortune. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help thinking that if he specifically helped people refine elixirs in the market, he could earn a substantial amount of Spirit Stones in a month. In fact, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming¡¯s success rate in concocting Lingshen Pills was thirty percent higher than that of a seasoned First Order Superior Grade Alchemist, yielding more pills and at a faster speed. Taking a seasoned Alchemist like Lin Shigong as a comparison, he could only ensure a fifty percent success rate and an output of about six pills per batch; to finish refining over seventy batches, it would probably take him two months. After such hard work for two months, he could only get a reward of nearly one hundred pills, although it was worth eight or nine hundred Spirit Stones, raising an Alchemist required quite a lot of resources. Doing the maths, while the reward was considerable, it wasn¡¯t unacceptable; not every Alchemist was as defying as Lin Tianming. Having placed all the Lingshen Pills into his storage bag, he began to refine other types of elixirs. Another ten days passed, and all the Spiritual Medicine Materials had been refined. Lin Tianming started to tally up the harvest from his month of busy work. Four hundred seventy-two Lingshen Pills! One hundred ten Huiyuan Pills! Eighty-six Consolidating Essence Pills! Sixty-one Huadu Pills! Eighty-four Beast Spirit Pills! Lin Tianming separated the elixirs that needed to be submitted, placing them in a lower-grade storage bag, then collected the ones that belonged to him inside his storage bag. With plenty of time to spare, he decided to submit the elixirs at the Hall of Merit when he was free. He also still had plenty of Lingshen Pills on him; he wouldn¡¯t run out during the Qi Refinements stage, so he could exchange them for other resources or for Spirit Stones. It had been just over a month since he started alchemy, and his father had been in seclusion for a month as well; there should be a result by now! With some free time at hand, naturally, he wanted to check on the situation. After tidying up the chaotic Alchemy Room, Lin Tianming left the room and flew towards the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain. In half an hour, Lin Tianming arrived at the small courtyard where Lin Xingrong was in seclusion. Lin Shigong had already been guarding there for over thirty days, without moving a step. ¡°` Since Lin Xingrong entered the secret chamber, it had been thirty-five days. The reason why it took such a long time without coming out was because Lin Xingrong was very cautious. He spent half a month just comprehending the breakthrough insights and several more days adjusting to the best state before taking the Minor Foundation Building Pill. In fact, it only lasted for half a month. Lin Shigong¡¯s face, unaware of the reasons, turned somewhat pale as he occasionally sighed heavily. Lin Tianming guessed that he probably hadn¡¯t completed the breakthrough yet. But as long as one didn¡¯t leave the retreat, there was still hope. Approaching his grandfather, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t speak and sat down next to him to wait. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face flushed red while he endured excruciating pain, fully concentrating on condensing the spiritual power in his dantian into a sea of qi, reaching the most critical juncture. With the remaining frenzied spiritual power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill not much left, Lin Xingrong resolutely quickened the pace of refinement. Three days passed, and Lin Xingrong had gathered a sea of qi within his dantian, reaching the most crucial moment. If he reached a certain critical point, he would succeed in the breakthrough. Lin Xingrong was refining the medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill and quickly converging it with his original spiritual power. After numerous cycles of compression, he finally condensed all his spiritual power into a substantial spiritual liquid. At this moment, the spiritual power had turned from a gas into a viscous spiritual liquid, each drop containing violent energy. Just as he was about to breakthrough the critical point, the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread rapidly, unstoppable, and soon permeated the entire Summit of Qingzhu Mountain. After taking the Minor Foundation Building Pill and refining it for a full twenty days, he finally made the breakthrough. After a bout of euphoria passed, Lin Xingrong swiftly regained his composure and began to consolidate his cultivation. In the courtyard outside the secret chamber, a familiar aura approached. ¡°It¡¯s father, father has made the breakthrough!¡± Lin Tianming said excitedly, unable to hold back. Lin Shigong was equally excited. After worrying for over thirty days, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Lin Xingrong was still in his prime years, and with the help of the Minor Foundation Building Pill, his chances of making a breakthrough were far higher than his own. But no one dared to say that making a breakthrough was a sure thing; there were risks, and the outcome was unpredictable. Although failing the breakthrough did not pose a risk to one¡¯s life, in several decades, he would die due to the depletion of his lifespan if he failed. If he failed, it would be a heartbreaking experience to have a man with black hair send off one with white. Even though such things are commonplace in the Cultivation World, no one wants to go through such a painful separation. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Shigong gradually calmed down and began giving instructions to Lin Tianming. ¡°Alright, your father has just made his breakthrough, and his realm is not stable; he still needs to consolidate his cultivation. You go back and tell your mother the good news, and I will go find your third uncle and the others!¡± ¡°Yes, grandson will go now!¡± Lin Tianming readily agreed with a beaming smile, bowed to his grandfather, and left straight away. On his way, Lin Tianming was in a particularly good mood. Although he grew up following his grandfather, with few encounters and even less basic communication with his father, the bond of kinship was thick, and he felt genuinely happy. In a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming arrived back at his own courtyard. His mother and sister were sitting in the courtyard, faces tense, having been worried all along. For over a month, the anxious two did not cultivate, spending their days waiting for news from Lin Xingrong. Upon seeing Lin Tianming come in, his sister quickly asked. ¡°Brother, how is father?¡± ¡°Today, father successfully made the breakthrough!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s confirmation, the mother and daughter both let out a huge sigh of relief, with his sister cheering loudly. Chapter 82 - 82 - 78: The Current State of the Family_1 Chapter 82 ¨C 78: The Current State of the Family_1 At the summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, within the courtyard of Lin Shikang. After over a month of consolidation of his cultivation, Lin Xingrong emerged from seclusion and, together with Lin Shigong, paid a visit to Lin Shikang. They were all usually busy with their own affairs, with barely any opportunity to gather together, but, taking advantage of the family¡¯s first junior to successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, Clan Leader Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu also set aside their affairs to join Lin Shigong and his son, thus all five Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lin Family were together, which was particularly difficult to arrange. The five of them sat in the courtyard, casually chatting while exchanging insights on cultivation. Mainly, it was Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu who were speaking, with the other three listening. After all, they had only broken through for a year and had hardly any experience to share. An hour later, with the guidance from Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, all three had gained a great deal. ... The five sat there drinking spiritual tea, happily chatting about family matters. They talked about everything from their childhood days in the Skill Transmission Hall to learning various skills and, finally, the situation of the family. Years ago, the circumstances of the family were not promising. With only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family, the Jin Family watched greedily, coveting the Lin Family¡¯s wealth, and amidst the undercurrents of the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, danger lurked everywhere with the flash of swords and shadows of danger. For the Lin Family to have survived surrounded by formidable enemies in the Luoyun Mountain Range for nearly a century was no easy feat. Every step could lead to an abyss; under such tremendous pressure, Lin Shikang and his partner tread cautiously, guarding the family with great care. Silently, the strength of the Lin Family had grown exponentially, and the high-level battle power of the five Foundation Establishment cultivators was now no less than that of the Jin Family. Now they could finally breathe a sigh of relief; the family was becoming stronger and stronger, living up to the expectations of their ancestors. Especially Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, whose faces were always brimming with smiles, felt an immense sense of contentment in their hearts. Before the breakthroughs of Lin Shigong and his peers, all the burdens of the Lin Family rested on the shoulders of Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu. But now things were different; the strength of the Lin Family had greatly increased, with five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the highest number in the history of the Lin Family. It must be said that this was a tremendous progress, and the Lin Family, which had lain dormant for more than two hundred years, finally reclaimed its former glory, naturally stirring up a fervent passion. If it were just one strong generation, that wouldn¡¯t be anything special, but several generations of the Lin Family were remarkable, especially the Tian generation, which produced individuals with immense talent like Lin Tianming. There were also several people with the Three Spiritual Roots Aptitude. And the biggest reason for the drastic increase in the Lin Family¡¯s strength was Lin Tianming! Without the opportunities he had encountered, there would have been no Minor Foundation Building Pills, and the family wouldn¡¯t have achieved such a leap in just a few short years. Lin Shikang was filled with emotion; with the successive breakthroughs of Lin Shigong and the others, he finally felt he could account to his ancestors. As they talked, taking advantage of the gathering of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the discussion turned to the family¡¯s development. Clan Leader Lin Shihua, in charge of the family¡¯s operations, started by introducing the latest situation. Lin Shihua began to speak about the family¡¯s recent status, according to the latest information he had received. A year had passed since Lin Shigong and others had successfully established their Foundations, and significant changes had occurred within the Lin Family. Starting with the encouragement to join the Monster Hunting Squad, the family had deployed its many years of accumulated resources, greatly improving the treatment of family cultivators. With the help of these resources, many cultivators with good talent had broken through a minor realm. And the decision to form the Monster Hunting Squad had unexpectedly brought the family a great amount of wealth on its first expedition. Although the gains in the latter half of the year were somewhat less than the first, the obtained Demonic Beast Materials and spiritual medicines were also sizable. Once all were refined, it represented another substantial fortune. It also allowed family members to rapidly break through their cultivation levels through such trials. The first batch to join the Monster Hunting Squad had nearly all broken through with the help of the Jade Spirit Fruit, far exceeding expectations with the squad¡¯s effectiveness. In the shadows, the family focused on amassing resources, selling a tremendous amount of Qingling Bamboo and liquidating all temporarily redundant properties to acquire a large sum of spirit stones. These were then exchanged for spiritual medicines or Spiritual Instrument Talismans and other resources, which were rewarded to the clan members with the sole purpose of enhancing their strength. If the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range truly came to blows, holding onto those possessions would be of little use; in the unfortunate event of their fall, they would merely benefit the enemy. Among the younger generation, there were not many from the Xing generation with potential. Lin Xingrong¡¯s talent was nothing exceptional, it was only with the help of an alchemist like Lin Shigong that he became the first to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. However, the Tian generation was quite impressive. There was no need to mention Lin Tianming in particular, the fastest cultivator in the history of the Lin Family. Besides Lin Tianming, there were Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong, as well as Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhu¡ªall possessing Three Spiritual Roots, making their aptitude far superior to that of the two generations above them. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Given fifty years, if the Lin Family cultivated its members properly, it could potentially nurture several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Unfortunately, time waits for no one, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for the Lin Family to maintain its independence. The conflict between the Jin Family and the Sun Family had become irreconcilable, and a major battle was now inevitable. Since it couldn¡¯t be avoided, what needed to be considered was how to secure the greatest benefits for the family¡ªthis could also be the opportunity for the family¡¯s rise. At this point, Lin Shigong and others expressed their own opinions. After discussing for half an hour and pooling their wisdom, they finally reached a consensus on a course of action. Since the news of Lin Shigong and others achieving Foundation Establishment had not been revealed, the Jin Family and the Sun Family, unaware of this, might lower their guard. They could fight to their demise, allowing the Lin Family to act last and gain the maximum benefit. The Lin Family already had a feud with the Jin Family, and if the conditions allowed, they could completely destroy them. Time was short; there were only two years left. The Lin Family needed to grow stronger as quickly as possible. In this period, they had to accelerate resource accumulation, nurture the exceptionally talented clan members, and maximize the enhancement of their strength. The half-day gathering established the family¡¯s development direction for the next two years, and everyone bid farewell and departed. Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong left together, flying towards their courtyard. Receiving the news, Lin Tianming and his sister waited outside the family gate to welcome them. Soon after, Lin Shigong and the other person descended from the sky and landed in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Shigong¡¯s face was flushed with excitement, indescribable joy, while Lin Xingrong maintained a solemn expression, showing neither happiness nor anger. Lin Tianming and his sister hurriedly stepped forward to offer their congratulations. ¡°Congratulations, Father, on your successful entry into the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± ¡°You siblings are thoughtful. If it weren¡¯t for Tianming, I might have never succeeded in reaching Foundation Establishment in my lifetime!¡± Lin Xingrong said earnestly, which took Lin Tianming by surprise. ¡°Father has a strong foundation. The Minor Foundation Building Pill is just the icing on the cake; breaking through was only a matter of time!¡± Lin Tianming flattered as well, prompting everyone to burst into laughter. ¡°Alright, enough jesting. Where¡¯s your mother?¡± ¡°Mother is busy preparing dinner to celebrate for you. It should be ready soon!¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s go inside and talk!¡± Lin Shigong went in first, and the others followed. Inside the courtyard, the mother had already prepared a large table full of delicious food. Lin Tian Yue couldn¡¯t wait to start eating, drawing a scolding from their mother. After dinner, the family sat contentedly in the courtyard, chatting idly. Chapter 83 - 83 - 79: Gathering Among Peers_1 Chapter 83 ¨C 79: Gathering Among Peers_1 The next morning, in the Hall of Merit, Lin Shixin received several jade boxes from a clan member. After opening and checking them, once he had confirmed the years and types of the spiritual medicines, he transferred the Merit Points to the exchanging clansman. Seeing that the person in front of him had completed the exchange and had left, Lin Tianming hurried forward to pay his respects. ¡°Tianming pays respects to Uncle Ten!¡± Lin Shixin frowned slightly and said with a half-smile, ¡°You scamp, no need for such formalities. What brings you here today? If you want to exchange for something, do it quickly¡ªI¡¯m quite busy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to submit elixirs!¡± ... ¡°Submit elixirs?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve finished concocting them already? Is the quantity up to the required standard?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had not been very long, only two months had passed, and Lin Shixin seemed to find it hard to believe that Lin Tianming had already finished concocting. Previously, even Lin Shigong needed close to two months to finish processing so many materials. Without explaining, Lin Tianming took out the prepared storage bag and handed it to Lin Shixin. Lin Shixin took the storage bag and reached out with his Divine Sense to examine it. To his astonishment as soon as he looked! ¡°All these elixirs came from you?¡± Lin Shixin took out a Lingshen Pill and couldn¡¯t stop examining it as if he couldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°Yes, one hundred and fifty of them, no more, no less!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. In his astonishment, Lin Shixin checked the elixirs and, after confirming the quantity and grade were correct, noted them down in a thick book. Lin Tianming took out over a hundred jade bottles from the storage bag and filled the table in front of him. Three hundred Lingshen Pills! Fifty Huiyuan Pills! Fifty Consolidating Essence Pills! Twenty Xisui Pills! Six Pozhang Pills! Aside from the Strong Spirit Pill and the Body Strengthening Pill required for cultivation, he left behind nearly a hundred Lingshen Pills and six Pozhang Pills, as well as five Xisui Pills. After setting aside a few of each type of consumable elixir, he took out everything else. Aside from one Pozhang Pill that he planned to consume himself, he left five Pozhang Pills and Xisui Pills, which he could give to his mother and sister or sell. Lin Tianming took out a vast quantity of elixirs that he had accumulated over nearly two years. Such a multitude of elixirs, clearly all from Lin Tianming¡¯s own hands, thoroughly astounded Lin Shixin! Out of over four hundred elixirs, the majority were of exceptional quality, and just these elixirs alone nearly equaled the clan¡¯s annual consumption. Lin Shixin was completely speechless and numb to Lin Tianming¡¯s achievements! He thought to himself, ¡°This kid is a monster!¡± After Lin Shixin had examined them, he assessed the total value of all the elixirs. ¡°A total of six thousand and two hundred Merit Points!¡± Lin Shixin gave the total, which was not far from the estimate Lin Tianming had in mind, so he decided to proceed with the exchange. Even if there were some differences, a few hundred Merit Points more or less would simply mean he had to concoct a few more batches of elixirs given her stature and wealth. Lin Tianming took out his Family Token and handed it to Lin Shixin while speaking, ¡°Uncle Ten, I¡¯d like five thousand Merit Points, and the rest can be exchanged for Spirit Stones!¡± Having spent all his Spirit Stones at Qianchuan Market, he needed to exchange for some Spirit Stones to carry with him. After all, outside of the family, transactions either required bartering or payment with Spirit Stones¡ªMerit Points from the family were not recognized elsewhere, so having some Spirit Stones on hand was a precautionary measure. In a short while, Lin Shixin transferred five thousand Merit Points to Lin Tianming. By this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s Family Token had accumulated nearly ten thousand Merit Points. With so many Merit Points, aside from Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, it was likely that not even the Clan Leader or Grandfather could compare. Lin Tianming thought about his own worth compared to that of the various Foundation Establishment Clan Members. After handing over the elixirs and exchanging all the accumulated ones, Lin Tianming said goodbye to Lin Shixin and walked out of the Hall of Merit. Summoning an Earth Evil Sword, he soared into the sky and flew towards a courtyard located halfway up the mountain. In no time at all, he appeared at the entrance of an exquisitely small courtyard. This was the residence of Lin Tianqin. A few days ago, Lin Tianqin had sent him a message, arranging to meet today. In recent years, as their generation¡¯s cultivation had improved, the time spent in closed-door cultivation had gotten longer, or they were involved in family missions, leaving little time to gather as often as before. Since Lin Tianqin had invited him and the opportunity was rare, he naturally wanted to attend to familiarize himself with new clan members and to foster relationships among them. With a pinch of his fingers, he sent a message that entered the courtyard. Shortly after, two women in red dresses, with long hair draped over their shoulders and joyful expressions on their faces, came out from the courtyard. They were Lin Tianqin and her younger sister, Lin Tianyue. ¡°Sixth Brother, please come in quickly!¡± Lin Tianqin was very enthusiastic; she was delighted that Lin Tianming had come to the gathering. ¡°Brother, why are you so slow?¡± ¡°Big Brother and Second Brother have already arrived, and quite a few clan brothers and sisters as well. We were just waiting for you!¡± Lin Tianyue didn¡¯t hold back, starting to chide Lin Tianming. Before Lin Tianming could explain, the two of them grabbed one of his arms each and pulled him towards the courtyard. Inside the courtyard, more than twenty clan members sat together, both men and women; the oldest, Lin Tianfeng, was twenty-seven years old, and the youngest, Lin Tianhu, was eleven. In the past half-year, Lin Tianfeng had already broken through to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, while Lin Tianhong was still at the Fifth Level. Although he hadn¡¯t broken through, his aura was strong, and he was not far from the Sixth Level, ready to break through at any time. The courtyard was exceptionally lively, with the younger clan members discussing cultivation matters, while the few older ones chatted over tea. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, Lin Tianfeng and the others stood up to welcome him. ¡°Sixth Brother, come and take a seat!¡± ¡°Tianming greets all the brothers and sisters!¡± Lin Tianming greeted everyone with a fist and palm salute. The clan members all returned the greeting politely. As the host, Lin Tianqin took the initiative to introduce to Lin Tianming many younger clan members whom he had not yet met. When she introduced Lin Tianhu, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but take a good look. He had heard about this clan brother who had been making waves lately and had long wanted to meet him. Lin Tianhu had spent a year at Green Bamboo Mountain, and from his original thinness, he had become sturdy. He was handsome with a sharp gaze, and his cultivation was stable at the First Level of Qi Refining. Lin Tianhu immediately gave a respectful fist and palm salute. ¡°Clan brother, there¡¯s no need for such formalities. If you have any difficulties in cultivation, feel free to seek me out. I¡¯ll help if I can,¡± Lin Tianming said earnestly, showing goodwill and speaking sincerely, which greatly increased Lin Tianhu¡¯s good impression. ¡°Yes, if there are any difficulties, I¡¯ll be sure to tell Sixth Brother. I thank Sixth Brother in advance!¡± After introducing the clan members, Lin Tianming started to have an enjoyable chat with Lin Tianfeng and a few others. The whole gathering was incredibly lively, and everyone was very happy. The young clan members were very curious about the demon hunting trip, and Lin Tianfeng, not being stingy, animatedly recounted the events. He made fun of Lin Tianhong¡¯s embarrassing moments when he was surrounded by the Silver Earth Scorpion and his significant improvement after the experience. Having a vivid example incited envy among the clan members. The impressive strength of Lin Tianming earned the admiration of many brothers and sisters. After talking about their experiences, they began to discuss their skills. Lin Tianming, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin, all Alchemists, took turns sharing their experiences with everyone. The lively gathering lasted for half a day and did not disperse until the evening. After promising to participate in the gatherings more often, everyone bid their farewells and left. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue returned to their own courtyard together. Chapter 84 - 84 - 80: Heading to Luoyun Market_1 Chapter 84 ¨C 80: Heading to Luoyun Market_1 Two months later, within the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, Lin Shihua sat in the highest seat, with several clan members seated below, including Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong. Having received an urgent message from the Clan Leader, Lin Tianming, who was cultivating at the time, immediately left his seclusion and hastened to the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. After greeting his elders with a clasped fist salute, the puzzled Lin Tianming took a seat to the side, waiting for the Clan Leader¡¯s decision. Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Clan Leader began to issue orders. ¡°Xing Rong, now that you are at the Foundation Establishment Stage, the family has decided to recall you. If you return to Luoyun Market, the Jin Family might detect your presence and expose our family¡¯s strength. Therefore, for the next few years, you should avoid making public appearances and take the opportunity to cultivate well within the clan.¡± Lin Xingrong listened very calmly, as if he had anticipated this. ¡°If I leave, who will take care of the business in Luoyun Market?¡± ... Lin Shihua smiled and looked towards Lin Tianming. ¡°Let Xing Zhi and Tian Ming go. It will be a good experience for them!¡± Both Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianming showed surprised expressions upon hearing this, while Lin Xingrong seemed somewhat concerned. ¡°Tian Ming is too young; there are too many complex matters in the market, and the powers are deeply intertwined. He lacks worldly experience. I suggest sending a different member of the Xing generation to go instead.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With Xing Zhi in charge of overseeing the market, Tian Ming will only handle the business of the Hundred Treasures Building and alchemy. Xing Yuan has reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and wishes to return to seclusion. Currently, all of our clan members above the Eighth Level of Qi Refining have their duties and cannot be spared, so we¡¯re sending Tian Ming to fill in for a while.¡± After pondering for a moment, Lin Xingrong spoke up: ¡°Well then, we indeed lack manpower in the clan. If it¡¯s just to manage the alchemy and business at the Hundred Treasures Building, then let him go.¡± With Lin Xingrong no longer objecting, Lin Shihua turned to Lin Tianming as if to ask for his thoughts. ¡°Tian Ming is willing to expend effort for the family!¡± ¡°Good, you will depart in seven days!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lin Tianming and the others rose with a clasped fist, left the hall, and didn¡¯t rush off immediately. Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong started chatting idly, while Lin Tianming waited to the side. ¡°Xing Zhi, the market is not like the clan, there are dangers everywhere. I¡¯m entrusting Tian Ming to you. He¡¯s still young; take care of him in all affairs.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You can rest assured, brother. I will do my utmost. Tian Ming is not weak in cultivation and has meticulous thoughts. We have fought side by side before; I hold him in high regard!¡± Lin Xingzhi gave his chest a reassuring pat, putting Lin Xingrong¡¯s concerns to rest. After a brief chat and setting a time, they each went their separate ways. On the way back, Lin Xingrong talked in detail about the situation in the market, allowing Lin Tianming to understand more and to prepare well. According to Lin Xingrong, the public order of Luoyun Market was nowhere near that of Qianchuan Market. While it was not to the extent of open conflict within the market, one could not guarantee safety once outside the market. In another two years, there would be a grand competition in the market; the situation had not been stable in recent years. It happened that the Jin Family Cultivators were stationed in Luoyun Market, which could spell danger if they had any ill intentions. However, the possibility of the Jin Family taking preemptive action was slim. Although the Jin Family was powerful, it was not yet capable of confronting the other families simultaneously. If they really engaged in underhand tactics and incurred the wrath of the crowd, they would also be unable to face the fury of the other families. As for the market itself, the five great families competed fairly in business, each with its own special features. The Lin Family¡¯s Spiritual Artifacts were extremely popular, the Jin Family¡¯s level of Alchemy was high, and the Sun Family¡¯s talisman paper was peerless, while the other two families were somewhat inferior, yet not to be underestimated. After Lin Xingrong¡¯s introduction, Lin Tianming had a much better understanding of the market. With seven days to go, Lin Tianming did not seclude himself for cultivation but went to the Scripture Pavilion instead, studying a vast amount of information, especially on various Spiritual Objects. In the following days, he followed Lin Shixin to learn about management, from receiving guests and dealing with people to authenticating treasures and bookkeeping, learning everything thoroughly. After days of this, he had accumulated a wealth of experience in handling affairs and could manage a shop without panicking. Seven days hurried by. One morning, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance to the Lin Family¡¯s array. He took out a Beast Spirit Pill and tossed it to the Purple Gold Eagle, who swallowed it in one gulp and excitedly circled overhead. The Purple Gold Eagle had been following Lin Tianming for two years, having consumed more than a dozen Beast Spirit Pills, and had advanced to the late stage of the First Order, ensuring Lin Tianming¡¯s efforts were not in vain. After its advancement, the body of the Purple Gold Eagle had grown to nearly twenty zhang, and its feathers had undergone a subtle change, with golden feathers becoming more abundant, seemingly nearing adulthood. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Xingzhi arrived on sword flight, stopping in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming greeted with a fist and palm salute. ¡°Tianming pays respect to Uncle Seventeen!¡± Lin Xingzhi quickly returned the gesture, acting very courteously. He was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; a fight to the death with him would likely leave him with little chance of victory. ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s set off!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming and the other each took out a black conical hat to wear. Lin Xingzhi disguised himself as a rugged burly man, while Lin Tianming took on the appearance of a scholar. They called back the Purple Gold Eagle and leaped onto its back, flying into the clouds and heading north. Atop the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and his companion chatted idly. Lin Xingzhi, having been to Luoyun Market several times, shared the information he had learned with Lin Tianming. Accompanied by beautiful scenery, they flew smoothly over mountains and rivers all the way. In less than half a day, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the outskirts of Luoyun Market. As they beheld a span of buildings revealed on the horizon, they leaped off the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, stored it in the Spirit Beast Bag, and continued on sword flight. Another half a quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Tianming landed in an open space. They walked together towards the market entrance. This wasn¡¯t Lin Tianming¡¯s first visit; he had come with his father before but had not paid much attention to the market, nor had he strolled through it. Now that he was going to stay in the market for an extended period, it was natural to learn more. As they walked, they took in the sights of Luoyun Market. The market occupied an area of only a few li, merely one-tenth the size of Qianchuan Market, hardly comparable at all. Even the market array was worlds apart. According to Lin Xingzhi, it was a Second Order array. The difference in the flow of people was also significant. Back when they entered Qianchuan Market, cultivators queued in long lines, but here at Luoyun Market, they entered in twos and threes without any need for queuing. Soon after, they arrived at the entrance. Lin Xingzhi took out two Golden Tokens, each inscribed with a ¡°Lin¡± character, serving as a pass for Luoyun Market. Each of the Five Great Families of Luoyun had twenty of these tokens, which could be used to bypass the city entrance fee when necessary. After the guards inspected and verified the tokens, they allowed them through, and both men marched into the market. Inside, the market was divided into four areas, with an auction house at the center. The overall layout was not much different from Qianchuan Market, only smaller in scale with fewer buildings, essentially a miniaturized version of Qianchuan Market. As they walked the streets, it didn¡¯t take long before they stopped at a compound in the Southern District. Lin Xingzhi took out the Restriction Order Token for the compound, deactivated the restriction, and they walked in. This place was the family¡¯s assembly point at that time, and the clan members were busy in the shops, with nobody around for the moment. They each chose a room and entered to rest. Chapter 85 - 85 - 81 Hundred Treasures Building_1 Chapter 85 ¨C 81 Hundred Treasures Building_1 As evening approached, shops suspended their business and clan members returned to the courtyard in Luoyun Market one after another. Lin Xingzhi gathered everyone together. Many clan members were seeing Lin Tianming for the first time and were very curious about this rising star within the clan. Lin Tianming, as a junior, paid his respects by clasping his fists and bowing in front of everyone, which greatly increased their affection for him. Thanks to Lin Xingzhi¡¯s introductions, Lin Tianming also became familiar with these clan members. Including Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianming, there were a total of fourteen Lin Family members in the market, with a variety of cultivation levels. Among the twelve, Lin Xingyuan was at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement and a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist. With Lin Tianming taking over, he was soon to return to the family, which would then make thirteen people including Lin Tianming¡¯s elder brother, Lin Xingzhi. ... Among the other clan members, one was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, managing the Hundred Treasures Building, and two were at the Qi Refining Seventh Level, acting as shopkeepers for the inn and restaurant, with the rest all below the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Twelve clan members managed three shops. The core asset, Hundred Treasures Building, was run by three members, primarily dealing with the purchase and sale of spiritual objects, bringing the family a substantial income every year. The inn and the restaurant were less profitable, with mediocre income, but were better than none. Actually, the main source of income for the Lin Family in the market was not from the three main shops but rather the rental income from shop leases and the revenues from the market itself. There were over a hundred shops in the trading area of the Luoyun Market. The Lin Family owned only a little over ten stores, while the Jin Family owned more than thirty. The five major families took up eighty percent of the shops, while over ten Qi Refining Families occupied the remaining twenty percent. Although the Lin Family had more than ten shops, they did not have enough clan members to operate them all, so they only kept three that were in good locations for themselves and rented out the rest. The Lin Family was not alone in this approach; the other four major families operated in the same manner. In terms of market income, the real profits came from the rental fees for the stalls, the leased cave dwellings, the profits from the auction house, and the spirit stones paid for entering the market. These were the true sources of wealth. The market was a cornucopia for the five major families, yielding immense profits each year. That¡¯s why they valued it so much and competed for their interests, both openly and in secret. After chatting leisurely for half an hour, Lin Tianming learned quite a lot about the market, and the clan members got to know each other better. Late at night, they concluded their casual conversations and returned to their rooms to rest. The next day, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi visited the Hundred Treasures Building. Lin Tianming looked around. The entire Hundred Treasures Building had three floors. The first floor contained items commonly used by Qi Refining Cultivators. The second floor had some Second Order items, although not in great numbers, roughly dozens of kinds, with few sales, since there were too few Foundation Establishment Cultivators in such a place. The third floor served as a temporary residence for the family¡¯s cultivators and rooms for entertaining distinguished guests. Upon entering the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingzhi took out the account books, and after reconciling them with Lin Xingshun and restocking some elixirs and talismans, Lin Xingzhi left. Lin Tianming then worked with Lin Xingyuan to turn all the spiritual medicine received by the Hundred Treasures Building into elixirs. When Lin Tianming completed his first batch of elixirs, Lin Xingyuan was completely astounded. Before the alchemy, Lin Xingyuan had planned to stay for half a year, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s alchemy skills to be sufficient before leaving. Who could have thought that his skills in alchemy would far surpass his own and even exceed those of Lin Shigong. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since Lin Tianming¡¯s skills were so high, Lin Xingyuan no longer stayed and, after saying goodbye to everyone, went straight back to the family. Inside Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingshun drank spiritual tea while discussing the business situation of the Hundred Treasures Building. Lin Xingshun took out the account book and began to introduce. ¡°Currently, we profit several hundred spirit stones a month, and on good months we can make over a thousand. The main income comes from the sale of spiritual artifacts, with elixirs as a secondary source,¡± he said. Hearing Lin Xingshun¡¯s presentation, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow. ¡°Uncle, is business really that bad?¡± ¡°Competition in the market is too fierce. Jin Family¡¯s shop has a multitude of elixirs and their Spiritual Artifacts are not bad either. Sun Family¡¯s talisman business is extremely hot; it¡¯s considered good if they can profit a few hundred Spirit Stones each month. As far as I know, Wu Family and Luo Family are even worse off than us, not to mention the Qi Refining Families.¡± Lin Xingshun said helplessly. ¡°Never mind, uncle, roughly how many Spiritual Medicine Materials can we procure each month?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve never really focused on acquiring Spiritual Medicine, so not a lot. If we don¡¯t prioritize the type, perhaps a little over two hundred plants.¡± ¡°Forget it, uncle. I¡¯ll be doing a lot of alchemy in the future, so you should aggressively purchase Spiritual Medicine during this time. Even if it costs one or two more Spirit Stones each, don¡¯t hesitate!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Xingshun seemed a bit uncertain, unsure of what to decide! ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. In no more than two months, I assure you that you¡¯ll see the results.¡± Initially, Lin Xingshun was hesitant, wondering whether or not to do as this talented younger relative suggested. ¡°Well, all right, if he dares to take charge, then let him!¡± Lin Tianming said confidently, giving the hesitant Lin Xingshun a reassurance. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give the orders. Once we have the Spiritual Medicine Materials, I¡¯ll send them to you immediately.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Having convinced Lin Xingshun, Lin Tianming took his leave and returned to his small courtyard to continue his cultivation. Two weeks later, Lin Xingshun brought over a batch of Lingshen Pill and Consolidating Essence Pill materials, totaling over forty portions. Lin Tianming immediately began alchemy. In just seven days, Lin Tianming delivered over eighty elixirs, keeping one hundred and fifty for himself. Taking the elixirs made by Lin Tianming, Lin Xingshun began to inspect them and was equally astonished. ¡°Did you make these?¡± ¡°Yes, I recommend that uncle sells these elixirs at a ten percent discount to quickly establish our reputation. After a period, we can adjust the prices. Don¡¯t worry about this slight loss!¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s do as you say.¡± Lin Xingshun was very excited and immediately instructed his staff. Over the next several days, the Cultivators kept coming to purchase elixirs non-stop. Thanks to the high-quality Lingshen Pills, the eighty-plus elixirs were quickly sold out. The business at the Hundred Treasures Building became increasingly booming, even the other unsold Spiritual Objects sold out. Two months went by in a flash. During this period, Lin Tianming had a fulfilling time, either alchemizing or cultivating, and occasionally working at the shop as an assistant. Meanwhile, the Hundred Treasures Building aggressively purchased Spiritual Medicine. With Lin Tianming present, the materials were quickly turned into elixirs and sold through the shop. With the high-quality elixirs, the business of the Hundred Treasures Building improved significantly, with the daily turnover more than doubling. Lin Tianming also accumulated several thousand Spirit Stones thanks to the rewards from alchemy. The Shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingshun, was also thrilled. In two months, he had turned the average Hundred Treasures Building into the most popular shop in the market, earning a considerable amount of dividends. From then on, whenever Lin Tianming had suggestions, Lin Xingshun had no doubts and was fully supportive. Just like this, Lin Tianming rapidly improved the business at the Hundred Treasures Building. In a room on the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were drinking Spiritual Tea. Both were very happy and engaged in a cheerful conversation. Chapter 86 - 86 - 82 Strolling Through the Market_1 Chapter 86 ¨C 82 Strolling Through the Market_1 It had been half a year since Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi arrived at Luoyun Market. Following tradition, Lin Xingzhi was to return to Green Bamboo Mountain, bringing back the income and resources secretly acquired over the past six months to the Lin Family. On the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were drinking Spiritual Tea and chatting merrily. Before long, Lin Xingshun also walked in. While sipping tea, the three of them discussed the income of the Hundred Treasures Building over the past six months. Lin Xingshun took out the account book and started to give a detailed report. ¡°In half a year, the Hundred Treasures Building¡¯s income was over 23,500 Spirit Stones, of which the income from elixirs was 16,120 stones, Spiritual Artifacts brought in 4,260 stones, talisman paper 920 stones, and the various other materials added up to more than 2,300 stones!¡± Lin Xingshun reported the sales for the half-year period in succession. ... Lin Xingzhi was taken aback when he heard this. Although Lin Xingshun reported an approximate amount each month and it was more than double compared to previous years, Lin Xingzhi couldn¡¯t have imagined it would reach over five times that amount. Unperturbed by Lin Xingzhi¡¯s shock, Lin Xingshun continued his report. ¡°The income was over 23,500 stones, with expenses amounting to over 15,800 stones, making for a net profit of over 7,800 stones.¡± Lin Xingzhi, now numb to the surprise, was aware of the net income and quickly regained his composure. In just half a year, the gross sales and net income had skyrocketed by fivefold; even a net profit of 2,000 stones in the previous six months would have been extremely rare. After reporting the income, Lin Xingshun took out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Xingzhi. ¡°Xingzhi, there are 6,000 Spirit Stones in here, just in time for your trip back to the family. The remaining 1,800 stones are for operational funds.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi took the storage bag and spoke to the other two: ¡°I will report truthfully. I¡¯m setting off for the family home tomorrow. Our business¡¯s success has drawn the attention of the other major families, so be careful during this time!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, and be cautious on your journey as well!¡± ¡°The Purple Gold Eagle is fast and can also assist me. I¡¯ve already instructed it to hasten our travel!¡± After giving his instructions, Lin Tianming took out two Beast Spirit Pills and a Spirit Beast Bag and handed them to Lin Xingzhi. ¡°Thanks! I¡¯ll make a quick trip there and back. Do you have anything you want me to take back to the family?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Neither do I!¡± Seeing that the other two had nothing to send back to the family, Lin Xingzhi did not linger and left with a fist salute. After a brief conversation with Lin Xingshun, Lin Tianming left the Hundred Treasures Building and began to stroll around the market. Although it had been half a year since he arrived, he had either been cultivating or practicing alchemy and had not properly explored the marketplace. Standing on a street in the marketplace, Lin Tianming surveyed the surrounding shops and layouts. The entire shopping district had only about a hundred buildings, all designed as pavilions; they were likely built uniformly by the market. The Hundred Treasures Building was located at the entrance of the entire shopping district, and the dozen or so pavilions nearby were in prime locations. Besides the Hundred Treasures Building, a few other shops belonged to the five major families. The shop owned by the Jin Family was known as Shendan Pavilion, which always did exceptionally well among the major families. Lin Tianming decided to go in and have a look around, wanting to check out the market conditions as well. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming headed towards the Shendan Pavilion. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance of a multi-story building. The entire tower wasn¡¯t much different from the Lin Family¡¯s Hundred Treasures Building in size, also boasting a three-story structure. Golden characters spelling ¡°Shendan Pavilion¡± danced on the plaque above the main door, giving off a rather imposing vibe. Stepping through the vermillion doors of Shendan Pavilion, Lin Tianming found himself in a large hall covering hundreds of square feet with seven or eight Cultivators selecting treasures. As Lin Tianming entered, a Sixth Level of Qi Refinement attendant came to greet him. ¡°Welcome, fellow Daoist, to Shendan Pavilion. Are you looking to purchase elixirs or Spiritual Instrument Talismans? We at Shendan Pavilion have it all!¡± The shop assistant¡¯s expression remained calm as he quickly evaluated Lin Tianming. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just looking around!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, and seeing his shabby appearance, the shop assistant¡¯s face immediately changed, and he no longer paid attention to him. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t get angry and continued to select items on display by himself. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming had looked through all the items on the first floor. They were all ordinary elixirs, without even a single Pozhang Pill or Xisui Pill. The variety of elixirs was a bit more than that of the Lin Family¡¯s Hundred Treasures Building, and the quality was slightly better than those refined by Lin Xingyuan, yet they were sold for the same price. Buying in large quantities even came with some small gifts to lure customers, no wonder their business was much better. Having finished with the first floor, Lin Tianming followed the shop assistant to the second floor. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The elixirs on the second floor are much fewer than those on the first, but almost all of them are First Order Superior Grade, and they even have Pozhang Pills!¡± Lin Tianming found the shop assistant and inquired about the price. ¡°Pozhang Pills, one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones each!¡± Hearing the price quoted by the shop assistant, Lin Tianming was startled. One hundred and eighty Spirit Stones was almost the same price as in the Qianchuan Market auction. At the auction in Qianchuan Market, many cultivators bid against each other to reach this price. Yet here, in this small market where seeing someone at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was rare, they were selling for one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones each. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Do the cultivators who buy these elixirs have no brains?¡± After inquiring about the prices of some better elixirs for quite a while, he finally purchased a bottle of Lingshen Pills to study. After wasting so much time, the shop assistant was dry-mouthed from talking, and he was only able to sell this small amount of elixirs. With an ashen face, the shop assistant saw Lin Tianming out of the Shendan Pavilion, obviously quite annoyed. After leaving the Shendan Pavilion, Lin Tianming turned around and continued to stroll casually. Before long, he appeared in the Sun Family¡¯s shop. The Sun Family¡¯s shop was slightly smaller than the Jin Family¡¯s, and the display tables were filled with a large amount of talisman papers. Lin Tianming carefully selected, ranging from the most common Swift Travel Talismans and Five Elements Class Spell Talismans to the powerful Superior Attack Talismans, there were hundreds of types, colorful and fascinating to behold. Lin Tianming looked around while also inquiring about the prices. ¡°Swift Travel Talisman, five for three Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Fireball Talisman, one Spirit Stone each!¡± ¡°First Order Superior Attack Talisman, fifteen Spirit Stones each!¡± The Sun Family shop¡¯s assistant was much more patient, tirelessly explaining the uses and prices of talismans; their customer service attitude was much better than that of the Jin Family. Lin Tianming quite liked talismans because they did not consume much Spiritual Power, and their attack power was not to be underestimated. Even the most common Five Elements Class Spell Talismans, when dozens are activated at once against an enemy, can be quite powerful, making it hard for even a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator to come out unscathed. Moreover, they were much cheaper than Spiritual Artifacts, and almost every cultivator carried a few. After looking for half an hour, Lin Tianming decided to buy a few to try out. He found the shop assistant and purchased one First Order Superior Attack Talisman and a Defense Talisman, spending thirty Spirit Stones. He took out the Spirit Stones and handed them to the shop assistant, who quickly presented the two talismans. Receiving the talismans, Lin Tianming bowed his fists and left, continuing his casual stroll. Strolling until evening, Lin Tianming had nearly toured the entire market, purchasing some items from the five major families. After a whole day, Lin Tianming also had a pretty good understanding of the market situation and knew a bit about the prices and other shops¡¯ situations. As the shops closed for the day, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger and returned to the small courtyard. Chapter 87 - 87 - 83 Heavy Losses_1 Chapter 87 ¨C 83 Heavy Losses_1 ¡°` On the third floor of the Shendan Pavilion, a middle-aged cultivator in a golden robe sat in a secret chamber deep inside, with his hands clasped and eyes tightly shut, cultivating in meditation. The slight fluctuation of energy emanating from him clearly indicated that he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This person was named Jin Chaozong, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Jin Family, who had been stationed in Luoyun Market for several years. After a short while, a man in a gray robe arrived outside the secret chamber where Jin Chaozong was cultivating. He cast a Law Decree, and after the barrier was opened, the man in the gray robe walked in. The man in the gray robe came up to Jin Chaozong and bowed respectfully before speaking. ¡°Clan Uncle, I have a matter to consult with you. I ask for Clan Uncle to make a decision!¡± ... Jin Chaozong opened his eyes, his expression displeased as he spoke, ¡°Speak quickly if you have something to say. I need to continue my cultivation and don¡¯t have much time to handle trivial matters.¡± His reaction made the man in the gray robe anxious, and he quickly started to speak. ¡°Clan Uncle, the business at Shendan Pavilion has been extremely poor in the past few months. According to my investigation, a new alchemist has come to the Hundred Treasures Building of the Lin Family, crafting elixirs of a rarely seen high quality, snatching away our significant business. In the past few months, the income of the Shendan Pavilion was halved.¡± ¡°What? Income cut by half¡­¡± ¡°Lin Family alchemist, Superior Grade elixirs¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Jin Chaozong showed a hint of anger, alarming the man in the gray robe, who immediately knelt down. Ignoring the man in the gray robe, Jin Chaozong muttered to himself, carefully recalling the information about the Lin Family members. ¡°The Lin Family only has Lin Shigong as a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist. While the color of the pills he refines is not bad, it definitely should not compare to Fifth Brother¡¯s!¡± ¡°Bring the pills here for me to see!¡± The man in the gray robe hurriedly took out a bottle of Lingshen Pills and a bottle of Huiyuan Pills and respectfully handed them to Jin Chaozong. Taking the two bottles of Superior Grade elixirs refined by Lin Tianming, Jin Chaozong took out the pills and observed them closely. He too was astonished after examining the pills. ¡°How can the quality of these pills be so high? They definitely weren¡¯t made by Lin Shigong; there must be another master!¡± ¡°But who would it be?¡± After racking his brains for half an hour, Jin Chaozong still had no clue. ¡°Enough, the family¡¯s secret scheming has reached a critical moment. We must not expose ourselves, or we could lose all of our previous efforts.¡± After pondering for half an hour, he began instructing the man in the gray robe. ¡°For now, do not stir up any trouble over the matter of the elixir¡ªreduce the prices of all elixirs by ten to twenty percent to try and win back some customers!¡± ¡°Remember not to provoke the Sun Family and the Lin Family; both of them are exceedingly secretive.¡± ¡°After a few days, I will return to the family to inform the Clan Leader about this and have the family members secretly investigate!¡± Having made up his mind, Jin Chaozong then instructed. ¡°Yes, I will go at once to take care of it!¡± Having said that, the man in the gray robe withdrew. Outside the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingzhi, who had been back at the Lin Family territory for a month, returned to Luoyun Market. Stepping into the Hundred Treasures Building, he went straight to the third floor, where Lin Tianming and Lin Xingshun were sitting together, chatting leisurely in a room. Seeing Lin Xingzhi come in, Lin Tianming and the other immediately stood up and greeted him. ¡°Seventh Uncle, you¡¯ve finally returned. Was your journey smooth?¡± Lin Xingzhi looked excited, showing no signs of fatigue. ¡°` ¡°Tian Ming, the trip went rather smoothly, thanks to your Purple Gold Eagle, it saved me quite a bit of time!¡± After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three of them sat down for tea. Having finished a cup of Spiritual Tea, Lin Xingzhi returned the Spirit Beast Bag to Lin Tianming and then took out five hundred Spirit Stones from his storage bag, giving four hundred to Lin Tianming and one hundred to Lin Xingshun. According to Lin Xingzhi, the reason for the windfall of Spirit Stones was the Lin Family¡¯s reward for the profits of the Hundred Treasures Building, which had multiplied several times over in the past half-year. Lin Xingshun was ecstatic, as the reward of one hundred Spirit Stones was equivalent to his annual salary. Amidst his excitement, he couldn¡¯t help but secretly think to himself that the Lin Family was indeed generous. Fortunately, he had followed Tian Ming¡¯s plans, allowing him to reap substantial benefits. An excited Lin Xingshun accepted the Spirit Stones, repeatedly vowing to redouble his efforts and manage the Hundred Treasures Building well. Lin Tianming did not stand on ceremony, taking the Spirit Stones and putting them into his own storage bag. During their casual conversation, Lin Xingshun reported the state of affairs at the Hundred Treasures Building during Lin Xingzhi¡¯s month-long absence. ¡°This month, business at the Hundred Treasures Building has declined quite a bit. Compared to the previous months, profits have plummeted by forty percent. It must be some movements from the other families.¡± ¡°After a few days of investigation, I noticed many shops lowering their prices and selling off a large number of treasures, leading to many customers being drawn away.¡± Lin Xingzhi¡¯s expression changed slightly as he asked Lin Tianming for his opinion on the matter. After pondering for a moment, Lin Tianming began to speak. ¡°The business downturn was expected; the market can only accommodate so much. Without any large-scale confrontations, the demand for elixirs has decreased substantially. Having made a significant profit for half a year is already quite an achievement!¡± Upon hearing Tian Ming¡¯s analysis, both Lin Xingzhis seemed to agree, and their expressions finally improved. The Luoyun Market was only so big, and there were only so many cultivators. Those who could afford to use Lingshen Pills for cultivation every month were in the minority; most people couldn¡¯t afford to buy many elixirs in a year. Thus, by leveraging high-quality elixirs at relatively affordable prices, making a sizable amount of Spirit Stones in half a year was already quite remarkable. Lin Tianming continued with his analysis without stopping. ¡°Over the past six months, under our influence, the Jin Family¡¯s Shendan Pavilion has taken the heaviest hit, with sales rapidly declining and massive losses incurred.¡± ¡°They have now reacted and taken several measures, so they¡¯ve started cutting prices. We need not bother with that; we just need to be wary of them causing trouble.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Having listened to Tian Ming¡¯s analysis, Lin Xingzhi also expressed agreement. ¡°The Hundred Treasures Building competes fairly and hasn¡¯t used any dishonorable tactics. Besides, the big market gathering is only three months away. No one would risk causing trouble at this time!¡± ¡°Xingshun, carry on as usual during this period. As long as the Jin Family doesn¡¯t cause us any problems, we can ignore them!¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do that!¡± With that settled, Lin Xingshun left, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi in the room. After Lin Xingshun¡¯s departure, Lin Tianming inquired about the market gathering from Lin Xingzhi. The Luoyun Market gathering was much like the Qianchuan Market gathering, though the Luoyun Market did not differentiate between major and minor markets and always held its gathering once every three years. During the Luoyun Market gathering, there was also an auction event, but without separate sessions. Both Qi Refinement Realm cultivators and Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators participated in a single auction venue, so as long as Qi Refinement Stage cultivators had enough Spirit Stones, they could compete in bidding with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Of course, whether they could leave the market safely afterward was another matter. The auction event was the most important part of the market gathering. The five major families each provided one star item for the auction. The rest were provided by individual cultivators, with the auction house taking a five percent commission on the selling price of each item as an auction fee. After a detailed introduction from Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming had a good understanding, finding it quite similar to the Qianchuan Market auction event. ¡°Tian Ming, the auction is three months away, and I¡¯ve brought the centerpiece item with me. If you want to go, you can join me, and we can look out for each other.¡± ¡°Alright, there¡¯s still plenty of time. The Hundred Treasures Building has a sufficient stock of elixirs, so there¡¯s no need to produce more for now. I¡¯ll return and cultivate for a while. After three months, we¡¯ll attend the auction together!¡± After arranging a time with Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming bowed and took his leave. Chapter 88 - 88 - 84 Sky Fei Fruit_1 Chapter 88 ¨C 84 Sky Fei Fruit_1 In the secret chamber of the small courtyard, Lin Tianming sat on the meditation cushion with his palms together, entering a state of deep and self-forgetting cultivation. Over two months had passed by swiftly, and Lin Tianming¡¯s life had been remarkably fulfilling. He spent a few days each month on alchemy and devoted the remainder to arduous cultivation. Having been in Luoyun Market for over half a year, his cultivation progress was exceedingly slow. Despite consuming many Lingshen Pills, he had barely reached the middle stage of the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, still some distance from the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Seeing that intensive cultivation was not very effective, Lin Tianming decided to emerge from seclusion, as the market assembly was just a few days away and it would be a good opportunity to take a look around. Exhaling a turbid breath, Lin Tianming stood up and left the secret chamber. He took out a black conical hat, wore it on his head to conceal some of his cultivation, steadying it at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, and walked outside. On the streets of the market, Lin Tianming strolled aimlessly. ... As the day of the market¡¯s assembly drew nearer, many cultivators emerging from secluded cultivation left their cave dwellings to attend the auction, noticeably increasing the number of cultivators in the market. Walking along, Lin Tianming arrived at a square where quite a few cultivators were gathering in small groups. Among the crowd, a rough-looking burly man began to shout, ¡¯Forming a team to hunt demonic beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range, still in need of three people, Qi Refining Sixth Level and above are welcome.¡¯ ¡¯It¡¯s Song Yu forming a team. His strength is not weak and he has rich experience; he always manages to get quite a few good things. Hurry and sign up to join.¡¯ Several Qi Refining cultivators at the Sixth Level heard Song Yu¡¯s call and ran over. Soon after, three cultivators with happy faces emerged, evidently having been successfully selected for Song Yu¡¯s team, while a few others looked disappointed, not being selected due to insufficient cultivation and had to search for another team. Lin Tianming did not linger and continued on his way, preparing to cross the square and head towards the Hundred Treasures Building. Just as he was about to leave the square, a man in a gray robe blocked Lin Tianming¡¯s path. This man was around fifty, with a cultivation at the Qi Refining Eighth Level and a fairly handsome countenance. Lin Tianming was very puzzled, quickly recalling in his mind that he had never seen this person before, nor had they interacted. His abrupt obstruction was clearly for a purpose to discuss. As expected, seeing Lin Tianming did not react excessively, the man in the green robe introduced himself. ¡¯Fellow Daoist, my name is Li Yuancheng, a loose cultivator. May I have a word with you in private?¡¯ Since Lin Tianming was at leisure, he nodded and followed Li Yuancheng to a corner of the square. Seeing no one around, Li Yuancheng smiled and cupped his fist in greeting; ¡¯I apologize for the abrupt obstruction, Fellow Daoist. Please forgive my rudeness.¡¯ Lin Tianming responded calmly, ¡¯If Fellow Daoist has something to say, just say it. I¡¯m quite busy and don¡¯t have much time to engage in idle chatter.¡¯ Seeing that Lin Tianming seemed displeased, Li Yuancheng no longer beat around the bush and started communicating via transmission. ¡¯Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in joining a hunt for demonic beasts? I accidentally discovered a Sky Fei Fruit Tree, but it¡¯s guarded by a group of demonic beasts, so I¡¯d like to invite you to join me and retrieve the treasure. What do you say?¡¯ ¡¯Sky Fei Fruit!¡¯ ¡¯A fruit that can enhance the cultivation of Qi Refining cultivators, its effects not inferior to the Jade Spirit Fruit that Lin Tianming had.¡¯ Hearing what Li Yuancheng said, Lin Tianming was somewhat tempted. Having cultivated for over half a year, he had been stuck at the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Eighth Level for quite a while, even the Jade Spirit Fruit had been used, and only the Pozhang Pill remained untaken. He wanted to save it for when he reached the peak of the Qi Refining Eighth Level to break through smoothly to another realm, potentially reaching the peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining directly. Although the treasure was appealing, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help pondering. With so many cultivators in the square, why did he seek him out specifically? What was his purpose? Furthermore, Li Yuancheng had not mentioned how many Sky Fei Fruits there were, how they would be divided, what kind of Demonic Beasts were guarding them, the number of beasts, and the extent of their strength were all unknown. Anyway, no matter what his purposes might be, I should ask for more details. If it really doesn¡¯t work out, giving up is also an option. There¡¯s no need to take unnecessary risks! Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming began to inquire. ¡°Li, there are thousands of Cultivators here at the market. Why did you choose to find me?¡± ¡°Though there are over a thousand Cultivators at the market, when you discount the members of the five major families, how many Loose Cultivators are there above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement? When seeking treasure, it¡¯s better to find Cultivators at the Seventh and Eighth Levels of Qi Refining. Otherwise, even if you obtain the treasure, it¡¯s hard to get much of a share. If your cultivation is too low, you won¡¯t be of much use!¡± Hearing Li Yuancheng¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming stopped overthinking and asked Li Yuancheng to detail the treasure-hunting plan and how the spoils would be divided before deciding whether to join. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s interest, Li Yuancheng began to share his plan. ¡°In a valley on the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range, I personally saw a Sky Fei Fruit Tree with ten fruits on it, guarded by a group of Wind Shadow Leopards. There are more than twenty of them, with a few at the First Order Late Stage, and the rest at Medium and Early Stages.¡± ¡°I have already found three other Qi Refining Cultivators at the Seventh Level to hunt for this treasure with. Five of us together, without any unforeseen mishaps, there shouldn¡¯t be much danger.¡± ¡°Once we obtain the Sky Fei Fruits, we¡¯ll divide them equally, with each person getting two Spirit Fruits. After the deed is done, as the organizer, each of you will have to compensate me with fifty Spirit Stones for providing the information.¡± After Li Yuancheng finished, Lin Tianming felt the plan and the division scheme were quite acceptable. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If he could obtain two Sky Fei Fruits, coupled with Pozhang Pills, he likely could cultivate up to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Peak, which made Lin Tianming somewhat tempted. But the auction was coming up soon, and he had already agreed to attend it with Lin Xingzhi. If there was a scheduling conflict, he would have to give up on the treasure hunt. ¡°Li, if I were to join, when would we depart?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s desire to participate, Li Yuancheng breathed a sigh of relief and responded: ¡°The auction is nearly upon us, and the Sky Fei Fruits still need some time to ripen. We plan to replenish our resources before heading out in ten days!¡± Lin Tianming noted the schedule Li Yuancheng mentioned would not clash with the auction. However, he thought it best to inform Lin Xingzhi, since going out posed certain risks. ¡°Li, may I have a day to consider? If I don¡¯t reply by this time tomorrow, don¡¯t wait for me!¡± ¡°Fine, there¡¯s still time. I¡¯ll wait a day for you.¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng exchanged contact methods and agreed to reply within a day, then left the square. Upon returning to his courtyard, Lin Tianming went straight to Lin Xingzhi and relayed Li Yuancheng¡¯s invitation and the plan for the Sky Fei Fruits. ¡°Sky Fei Fruits, indeed a fine object!¡± Lin Xingzhi was also quite eager, but as the family¡¯s representative in the Luoyun Market and burdened with numerous responsibilities, he was unable to accompany him. Otherwise, he would want a share of the spoils as well. Though he coveted the treasure, Lin Xingzhi was not blinded by greed. ¡°Tianming, do you think this is credible? If the family were to go together, there would be no worries, but you must consider carefully when it comes to the words of Loose Cultivators.¡± ¡°Uncle Seventeen, personally, I¡¯m rather confident in what Li Yuancheng has told us. Even if there¡¯s some hidden scheme, with my strength, escaping unscathed shouldn¡¯t be a problem!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Lin Xingzhi was quite aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s abilities. Being on par with Cultivators at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, and now having broken through to the Eighth Level, even if he encountered Great Completion Cultivators, he should have no problem escaping if he couldn¡¯t win. ¡°Very well, since you¡¯re confident, then prepare some extra measures. It¡¯s always better to be safe.¡± With Lin Xingzhi agreeing to his plan, Lin Tianming sent a message to inform Li Yuancheng of his decision. Chapter 89 - 89 - 85 Auction Begins_1 Chapter 89 ¨C 85 Auction Begins_1 ¡°` Three days passed and the triennial Luoyun Market gathering was about to begin. Over the past few days, the number of cultivators in Luoyun Market had greatly increased. Aside from those who were preoccupied with urgent matters, almost every cultivator who wasn¡¯t in closed-door cultivation had come to participate in the auction. After all, only once every three years, items rarely seen at other times often appeared at this event. Although many cultivators below the fifth level of Qi Refinement didn¡¯t have significant buying power, they also enjoyed joining the crowd to broaden their horizons, which was pleasant enough. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi walked out of the Hundred Treasures Building together, heading towards the auction hall in the center of the market. Scattered along the way, cultivators of all levels, both male and female, were heading towards the auction, bringing the market to life. ... After half a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the entrance to the auction. This was Lin Tianming¡¯s first time attending the Luoyun Market auction, and he couldn¡¯t help but observe the enormous structure before him. The first thing that caught his eye was a three-tier circular stone hall spanning tens of acres, with a huge stone gate on which hung a plaque inscribed with the three big characters of the auction. At the entrance, over a dozen cultivators were already queuing up, as two executive officers of the auction collected spirit stones for entry. Lin Xingzhi, leading Lin Tianming, bypassed the queue and headed straight into the venue. Lin Xingzhi showed a blue token with a few small characters on it. The officer glanced at it and immediately allowed them to pass, with the pair disappearing amidst the envious looks of the crowd. After inquiring, Lin Tianming learned that the market managers from the five major families all had a token that allowed them direct access with five accompanying cultivators and also a VIP room spanning several square meters. Upon entering the inner field of the auction, they saw a circular podium in the center with hundreds of seats around it forming the general seating area of the auction room, nearly half of which were already occupied. Lin Xingzhi led Lin Tianming to one of the VIP rooms on the second floor. After they entered, Lin Xingzhi said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, I¡¯m going to submit the family¡¯s final auction item. It won¡¯t be long before I return. Rest here for a moment!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± After finishing, Lin Xingzhi turned and left the VIP room, heading deep into the second floor. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming sat in the VIP room and looked over the auction. The second floor of the auction hall also had dozens of VIP rooms, all of which had the ability to block divine sense probing, and the layout of the auction wasn¡¯t much different from Qianchuan Market¡ªessentially a smaller version. Another quarter of an hour passed, and as the seats in the venue gradually filled up, Lin Xingzhi also returned to the VIP room. The two chatted casually, and Lin Tianming, quite curious, asked about the final auction item offered by the family. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s interest, he began to speak. ¡°For this market gathering, the family considers it quite important. The final item is a set of five first order superior grade spirit swords, forged by Fifteenth Uncle!¡± Hearing Lin Xingzhi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming seemed unsurprised. He thought it made sense, as Lin Family¡¯s Qingling Bamboo was a fine material for crafting, with their specialty being spiritual artifacts. Although they had many elixirs, they wouldn¡¯t sell those with significant effects at such a time. Therefore, offering a spiritual artifact was expected. Considering the initial cost of two thousand good deeds just for the Qingling Bamboo to forge twenty Earth Evil Swords, the value of a set of five superior grade spirit swords was certainly high enough to be the final auction item. A quarter of an hour went by, and the hundreds of seats were all filled. A grey-robed man stepped onto the central stage. Lin Xingzhi, sitting to the side, began to introduce him to Lin Tianming. This man was Chen Chong, a professional auctioneer, a loose cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage, and had been specially invited by the market. As the auction hall gradually quieted down, Chen Chong started with a bow and addressed the crowd. ¡°Fellow Daoists, my name is Chen Chong, and I have the honor of presiding over this auction. I welcome everyone¡¯s presence here!¡± ¡°` ¡°Everyone knows the rules, the highest bidder will win; if you don¡¯t have enough spirit stones, you can mortgage treasures. Alright, enough chitchat, let the auction begin now!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Chong took a ring-shaped treasure out of his storage bag and showed it to the cultivators present. ¡°The first item for auction is a First Order Superior Grade Spirit Beast Ring, with interior space extending over a hundred feet, divided into several sections, capable of holding several Demonic Beasts at the same time. It¡¯s quite rare, so don¡¯t miss this opportunity!¡± ¡°The starting bid is eighty spirit stones, and each subsequent bid must be at least five spirit stones more!¡± ¡°Ninety spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Ninety-five spirit stones¡­¡± As soon as Chen Chong finished speaking, there were immediately cultivators calling out their bids. Indeed, a High-Quality Spirit Beast Ring was rare and an essential item for cultivators who liked to keep Spirit Beasts. Usually, only medium-sized markets like Qianchuan Market had them for sale and they would be quickly snatched up. Lin Tianming also wanted to bid for this item; the Spirit Beast Bag given to him by Lin Shilu was the lowest grade, and after accommodating the Purple Gold Eagle, there was hardly any space left. If the Purple Gold Eagle continued to grow, it would soon be too large to fit. After several rounds of bidding, the price of the Spirit Beast Ring swiftly rose to one hundred and thirty spirit stones. ¡°One hundred sixty spirit stones¡­¡± When Lin Tianming¡¯s bid was heard, increasing the price by thirty spirit stones in one go, the entire venue was abuzz, with many cultivators expressing their amazement. ¡°It must be someone from one of the five major families, truly wealthy and generous. One hundred fifty spirit stones could buy so many Lingshen Pills for cultivation!¡± Sure enough, the increase of thirty spirit stones in one go stunned everyone in the venue. A few breaths of time passed with no other cultivators bidding, and Lin Tianming successfully won the auction. He took out one hundred sixty spirit stones and tossed them to Chen Chong. Upon confirmation that they were correct, Chen Chong threw the Spirit Beast Ring back to him, which Lin Tianming caught. Picking up the Spirit Beast Ring, Lin Tianming examined it closely, unable to let go. With the first auction item concluded, its sky-high price sparked a fervent atmosphere, setting a great tone for the rest of the event. Chen Chong continued to preside over the auction. ¡°The second item for auction, a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Vajra Sword. It¡¯s powerful, with a starting bid of seventy spirit stones, and each subsequent bid must be at least three spirit stones higher.¡± ¡°Seventy-five spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°One hundred and five spirit stones¡­¡± ¡­ Lin Tianming had no interest in the category of Spiritual Artifacts, merely watching the many cultivators bid from his VIP room. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t interested, some cultivators below the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement found it quite desirable, and the competition was fierce. In the end, the Vajra Sword was sold for one hundred ten spirit stones to a cultivator at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Tianming was quite surprised by this price; a First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact was worth around eighty spirit stones, and one of good quality up to one hundred. He didn¡¯t expect it to reach one hundred ten. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh that all items in this small market were more expensive compared to medium and large markets. Recollecting his thoughts, he continued to watch the auction. An hour passed, and dozens of items had been auctioned off without a single failure to sell, heating up the atmosphere in the venue even more. In the meantime, Lin Tianming spent several hundred spirit stones to acquire several types of Spiritual Medicine, all main ingredients for refining Strong Spirit Pills. Lin Xingzhi also acquired several treasures, and both of them gained something. As time progressed, the auction also came to a close, leaving just the last ten star items. Chapter 90 - 90 - 86: Fiery Flame Charm and Hun Tian Pill (Two-in-One)_1 Chapter 90 ¨C 86: Fiery Flame Charm and Hun Tian Pill (Two-in-One)_1 As the auction drew to a close, the atmosphere reached its most intense moment. Chen Chong was very satisfied, as the treasures offered in this auction were generally quite valuable. There were many pieces of spiritual medicine and spiritual instrument talismans, and the prices kept climbing to new highs. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the following are the last ten finale treasures!¡± ¡°The first item, a Xisui Pill. I need not explain its function, as you all know. The starting bid is one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must not be less than five spirit stones!¡± No sooner had his voice faded did someone begin to bid. ¡°One hundred and ten spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°One hundred and fifteen spirit stones¡­¡± ... ¡­ After more than ten rounds of intense bidding, the Xisui Pill was finally sold to a man in white robes for the high price of one hundred and forty-five spirit stones. Lin Tianming, having witnessed the process, was very surprised that a Xisui Pill could actually sell for one hundred and forty-five spirit stones, which was only higher than the prices at Qianchuan Market. Thinking about it carefully, it wasn¡¯t strange. In a small place like Luoyun Market, where the level of cultivation wasn¡¯t high and alchemists were few, elixirs were even rarer, so the prices naturally soared. ¡°The second finale item¡­¡± ¡°The third finale item¡­¡± ¡­ Many finale items were auctioned in succession: First Order Superior Grade elixirs, various Fu Lu spiritual instruments, all of which were high-quality goods, fetching prices that set new records. Under the fervent atmosphere, the auction continued. Chen Chong then took out five cyan and yellow spirit swords from his storage bag and tossed them in front of him, where they hovered in place. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°They¡¯re First Order Superior Grade spirit swords!¡± ¡°And it¡¯s a complete set of spirit swords!¡± Several cultivators with exceptional vision called out in surprise, drawing the attention of all the cultivators present. Chen Chong smiled and began his introduction. ¡°The seventh item, a complete set of five First Order Superior Grade spirit swords, crafted mainly from Second Order Qingling Bamboo by the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, with a starting bid of three hundred and fifty spirit stones, and each bid must not be lower than five spirit stones!¡± As soon as Chen Chong finished introducing the set of spirit swords, several eager cultivators immediately called out their bids. ¡°Three hundred and sixty spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Three hundred and eighty spirit stones¡­¡± Lin Tianming and his companion sat in the VIP room, watching the cultivators below engage in fierce bidding and showing satisfied smiles. In another VIP room, a cultivator with a calm expression watched the five spirit swords with great interest. ¡°Four hundred and seventy spirit stones¡­¡± A voice called out from one of the VIP rooms on the second floor! The scene immediately fell silent, and everyone looked up to the second floor, seemingly trying to determine the source of the voice. However, the VIP rooms were protected by restrictions that prevented divine sense from probing, so no one knew who had made the bid. They could only guess that it must be someone from a certain family, as it would be difficult for a loose cultivator to have such financial power. After a fierce competition, the five spirit swords were sold for the high price of four hundred and seventy spirit stones. The auction continued, with just the last three finale items remaining. As the seventh item had been a complete set of superior-grade spirit swords, the remaining finale items were surely even more valuable, and all the cultivators were extremely anticipatory. Without pausing, while everyone¡¯s emotions were running high, Chen Chong took out a fiery red talisman paper from his storage bag. ¡°The eighth finale item, a Second Order Inferior Grade Fiery Flame Charm talisman. Once activated, it can summon a great force of flames, its power equivalent to a full-force strike by a cultivator in the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. Its attack power is extremely formidable, provided by the Sun Family, with a starting bid of three hundred and fifty spirit stones, and each bid must not be lower than five spirit stones,¡± Seeing this item, all the cultivators¡¯ breath quickened. A Second Order talisman was extremely rare in Luoyun Market, creating a fierce struggle every time one appeared. Such a rare item was incredibly difficult to produce; besides the Sun Family, no other power was known to be able to create them, and it was unexpected that they would be willing to auction such an item. Seeing the Fiery Flame Charm, Lin Tianming immediately became interested. Although he still had a Second Order Golden Sword Talisman unused, no one ever complained about having too many trump cards. With plenty of spirit stones on hand, after browsing the market several times, he had not found any Second Order talismans. They were difficult to purchase even with spirit stones, unless one was at Qianchuan Market, where there were a few for sale. Now that he had come across it, he naturally wanted to make every effort to obtain it. In addition to him, many other cultivators in the venue, including people from several Foundation Establishing families, shared that thought. After a brief silence, a frenzy of bidding ensued. The bidding, starting from three hundred and sixty spirit stones, quickly soared to four hundred and forty. ¡°Four hundred and fifty spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Four hundred and seventy spirit stones¡­¡± By this point, only people from the seven VIP rooms were bidding; the ordinary cultivators did not have the financial means to compete and could only watch from the sidelines. ¡°Four hundred and eighty spirit stones¡­¡± Lin Tianming continued to bid, seemingly unconcerned with the inflated price. In a VIP room on the second floor, three Jin Family cultivators sat sipping spiritual tea. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s bid, one of the young cultivators refused to be outdone and continued to raise the bid. ¡°Five hundred and twenty spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Many cultivators were already astonished; over five hundred spirit stones was far more than the value of an ordinary Second Order talisman. ¡°Five hundred and eighty spirit stones¡­¡± Lin Tianming bid without batting an eye, determined to win. Bidding against other cultivators for spirit stones, he was not afraid; among all the Qi Refining cultivators present, there were definitely not many whose wealth surpassed his, not even those in the Foundation Establishment Stage. In the VIP room of the Jin Family, an elder spoke to the bidding young cultivator: ¡°Qi Long, let it go. Don¡¯t get carried away. Even if the other families get this item, it won¡¯t change their fate.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After the young cultivator responded calmly, he stopped bidding. A few moments passed, and no one else made another bid. Chapter 91 - 91 - 86: Fiery Flame Charm and Hun Tian Pill (Two-in-One)_2 Chapter 91 ¨C 86: Fiery Flame Charm and Hun Tian Pill (Two-in-One)_2 Lin Tianming also got what he wanted, acquiring the Fiery Flame Charm for the sky-high price of five hundred and eighty spirit stones. Lin Tianming took out the spirit stones and threw them towards the platform where Chen Chong was, and after they were checked and confirmed to be correct, the Fiery Flame Charm was thrown to Lin Tianming in the VIP room. After receiving the Fiery Flame Charm, he pinched it in his hand and looked over it several times before putting it into his storage bag. ¡°The ninth and final highlight, a set of First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Artifacts called the Shadowless Needles, made up of seven precious needles. Each one is a superior grade Spiritual Artifact with immense power, provided by the Jin Family. The starting bid is five hundred and eighty spirit stones, with each increase required to be no less than ten spirit stones,¡± announced the auctioneer. Flying needle sets were extremely difficult to forge and scarce in number, unpredictable in battle, hence extremely popular among cultivators. No sooner had the voice fallen, than many cultivators began to bid fiercely, quickly surpassing the finale item provided by the Lin Family. ¡°Five hundred and ninety spirit stones¡­¡± ... ¡°Six hundred and ten spirit stones¡­¡± ¡­ In just seven or eight rounds of bidding, the price of the Shadowless Needles soared rapidly, quickly reaching seven hundred spirit stones and continuing to rise. Lin Xingzhi was very interested in this set of Spiritual Artifacts, and he joined the bidding, but was soon surpassed by other cultivators¡¯ offers. ¡°Eight hundred and ten spirit stones¡­¡± After a cultivator in a VIP room raised the bid by fifty spirit stones in one go, silence fell upon the entire venue. Your next chapter is on empire Although Lin Xingzhi bid several times, he had to give up reluctantly as the price was too high. Many cultivators were guessing which powerful buyer it could be, but there was no answer. With the ninth treasure settled, only the final item remained, spurring much speculation. ¡°Spiritual Artifact¡­¡± ¡°Elixirs¡­¡± ¡°Cultivation Technique¡­¡± Or some other treasure, alas, it remained unknown¡­ As everyone awaited in anticipation, Chen Chong brought out a golden jade slip and began to introduce it. ¡°The final treasure, a Pill Formula for a Hun Tian Pill.¡± ¡°The Hun Tian Pill is a Second Order Pill that, when ingested by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, allows them to directly break through a minor realm, similar to the Pozhang Pill, but specifically for Foundation Establishment cultivators¡ªa truly heaven-defying item. The starting price is nine hundred spirit stones, with each increase required to be no less than ten spirit stones!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd was completely electrified. ¡°It¡¯s actually a Second Order Pill, and one that assists in breaking through realms!¡± Upon hearing Chen Chong¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi¡¯s expression changed drastically, and he turned to Lin Tianming saying, ¡°Tianming, this pill¡¯s effects are tremendous; we must acquire it for our family, and later the family can compensate us for the spirit stones!¡± The same scene played out in various VIP rooms. ¡°Nine hundred and thirty spirit stones¡­¡± One VIP room took the lead with a bid, immediately raising it by thirty spirit stones. ¡°Nine hundred and fifty spirit stones¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi also entered a bid, but unfortunately, there were quite a few forces determined to win, and his bid was quickly surpassed by a new price. ¡°One thousand one hundred and twenty spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°One thousand three hundred spirit stones¡­¡± Throughout the auction, more than ten VIP rooms participated in the bidding, and the scene grew more and more intense, swiftly reaching one thousand three hundred spirit stones. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Luoyun Market truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers!¡± The five major families bidding was inevitable, but in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, only those families had Foundation Establishment cultivators. The other bidders must be Loose Cultivators or hidden Foundation Establishment cultivators from Qi Refining families, otherwise no Qi Refinement Stage cultivator would buy this Pill Formula. As the price climbed higher and higher, some forces seemed to give up bidding. ¡°One thousand four hundred spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°One thousand six hundred spirit stones¡­¡± Lin Tianming raised the bid by two hundred spirit stones in one breath, once again igniting the atmosphere of the entire venue. Many cultivators were astounded, and numerous ones who had gained nothing, not even having made a bid, sighed in admiration. They thought that the auction had truly been an eye-opener with its record-breaking prices, making their trip worthwhile. Inside Jin Family¡¯s VIP room, the young cultivator making the bids had a gloomy expression. Every time he offered a price, the opposite VIP room raised their bid, as if to deliberately counter him. ¡°Hmph, trying to compete with the Jin Family in terms of wealth? Even the Sun Family is no match for us!¡± he sneered. With that, Jin Qilong bid again. ¡°Seventeen hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡°Eighteen hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡­ After several rounds, the price quickly broke through two thousand spirit stones, reaching a terrifying two thousand four hundred spirit stones. Lin Tianming did not yield an inch, clearly determined to win. ¡°Fellow Daoist, could you give our Jin Family some face and yield the pill formula to us?¡± Jin Qilong spoke out, directly invoking his family¡¯s name, hoping to make Lin Tianming back down. ¡°Forgive my plain speaking, but the auction has always been won by the highest bidder. Let¡¯s not break the rules!¡± Lin Tianming spoke up in refusal, not giving Jin Qilong any face. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s rejection, the Jin Family cultivators¡¯ faces turned livid, their eyes bloodshot, as if they wished to immediately charge over and tear the refuser to pieces. The Jin elder, seeing Jin Qilong¡¯s gloomy expression, stepped forward to persuade: ¡°Never mind. With such a high price, the bidding cultivator must be from one of the five major families. Let them have it.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°After all, these families won¡¯t be hopping around for many more years. The production of second order pills is extremely difficult, and spiritual medicine is not easy to gather. Without a couple of years¡¯ effort, it would be very hard to collect them all. It¡¯s better to let them gather the spiritual medicine materials and then seize them all at once. By then, won¡¯t everything belong to our Jin Family?¡± Hearing the words of the Jin elder, Jin Qilong¡¯s expression gradually returned to normal. After a few moments passed and seeing that no one else made a bid, Chen Chong announced the auction a success. Lin Tianming took out all the one thousand six hundred spirit stones he had, added to the eight hundred spirit stones Lin Xingzhi had on him, pooled enough spirit stones, and threw them out of the VIP room, which were caught by Chen Chong. After verifying the correct number of spirit stones, Chen Chong threw the jade slip into the VIP room where Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were. Lin Tianming caught the jade slip, stretched out his divine sense, broke the ban on the jade slip, and checked the pill and spiritual medicine formulas once again. After careful consideration, indeed the pill formula was genuine, but the main medicine was the third order spiritual medicine Purple Yin Grass, and several of the auxiliary medicines were also precious. It would be difficult to gather them in a short period of time; indeed, the pill was not so easy to concoct. ¡°Uncle Seventeen, the pill formula is indeed genuine!¡± A hint of joy flashed across Lin Xingzhi, who quickly spoke: ¡°Good, when we leave later, blend into the departing crowd amidst the chaos. Don¡¯t run about, head straight back to the Hundred Treasures Building. I also need to collect the spirit stones from the auctioned family items. If I leave directly, it would be more suspicious.¡± ¡°Alright, everyone be careful!¡± Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi had confirmed their exit strategy and continued to watch the auction. ¡°Fellow Daoists, this auction has come to a satisfactory end. I hope you will all join again in three years. Farewell!¡± After declaring the end of the auction, Chen Chong left with a salute. The cultivators at the auction all hurriedly stood up and walked towards the exit. Lin Tianming left the VIP room by himself and, taking advantage of the chaos, quickly blended into the crowd and rushed to the Hundred Treasures Building. Within half a quarter hour, Lin Tianming smoothly entered the Hundred Treasures Building and only let out a sigh of relief when he sat down in his third-floor room. Although the market explicitly prohibited private fighting, with immense interests at stake, there was no telling whether some would take risks. Being extremely cautious and careful along the way, fortunately, everything went smoothly, and it seemed unlikely that anyone had exposed to which power the pill formula belonged. Half a day later, Lin Xingzhi also returned to the Hundred Treasures Building. The two sat in the third-floor room drinking tea and chatting leisurely. ¡°Uncle Seventeen, I¡¯ve already arranged with Li Yuancheng. In seven days, I¡¯ll need to venture out to the market to look for the Sky Fei Fruit. During this period, it¡¯ll be up to you to oversee the market!¡± ¡°Tianming, be careful out there, and remember not to easily trust strangers. If the situation changes, return to the market immediately.¡± Lin Xingzhi repeated his warnings, worried that Lin Tianming might not be aware of the dangers he could face since he was essential for the family¡¯s rise. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have the Fiery Flame Charm, and with my strength, as long as I don¡¯t encounter Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Second Order Demonic Beasts, there won¡¯t be any danger.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words finally put Lin Xingzhi¡¯s mind at ease. After entrusting the Hun Tian Pill formula to Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming left the Hundred Treasures Building and returned to his courtyard. With seven days until the arranged meeting, neither long nor short, Lin Tianming planned to cultivate for a while, get himself into the best condition, and then keep the appointment. Entering a secret chamber, he sat cross-legged on a straw mat, cycled the cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and quickly entered a state of deep cultivation. He took out a Lingshen Pill and a Body Strengthening Pill to consume, felt the violent spiritual power, and operated his cultivation technique at full strength to rapidly assimilate the medicinal power. In a short while, another bout of intense pain struck, and sweat began to bead on Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead. Seven days passed quickly¡­ Chapter 92 - 92 - 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_1 Chapter 92 ¨C 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_1 At high noon, outside Luoyun Market. In a lush green valley, four cultivators gathered, among them three men and one woman. Aside from the organizer, Li Yuancheng, there were two other male cultivators, and the only female cultivator was radiant with beauty, dressed in blue palace attire with towering hair buns, akin to that of a noblewoman. She was Li Yuancheng¡¯s companion, Song Yurong. ¡°Daoist Li, why hasn¡¯t this kid shown up yet? If he doesn¡¯t come soon, let¡¯s not wait for him. That way, there¡¯ll be one less person to share the fruits with.¡± A man, visibly displeased, spoke to Li Yuancheng, seemingly confident about the journey to obtain the fruits. ¡°Daoist Lu, please be patient. There is still a quarter of an hour left until the appointed time, and this trip to get the fruit is not guaranteed to succeed. One more person means one more layer of security.¡± Before he finished speaking, a burly man flew in on a sword from the east and landed beside Li Yuancheng¡ªit was Lin Tianming, who had altered his appearance. ... Upon seeing the four people, Lin Tianming greeted them with a fist and palm salute: ¡°I¡¯m late, please forgive me. My name is Chen Tian, and I greet all the fellow Daoists here, as well as this fairy maiden.¡± Song Yurong gracefully performed a curtsy, revealing a slight smile as she said: ¡°My name is Song Yurong. I greet you, Daoist Chen!¡± Li Yuancheng, with a kind expression, began to introduce Lin Tianming to the others. ¡°This is Daoist Qiu Jinsong¡­¡± ¡°And this is Daoist Lu Ming¡­¡± After exchanging greetings, everyone began to get acquainted with one another. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Li Yuancheng took out a map made from beast skin to confirm the direction, then flew toward the west with the others quickly following behind. Find more to read at empire After flying for an entire day, from noon till evening, the group of five successfully arrived at the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. As it was getting dark, they didn¡¯t proceed further but found a small hill to rest on for the night. ¡­ The next morning, the five set off again. Two days passed, and after crossing more than a dozen peaks, covering over three hundred miles, they entered deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range. With Li Yuancheng leading the way, the journey was rather safe, encountering very few demonic beasts, until they arrived in a valley. Looking around, the forest was dense, and there were numerous large trees that would take several people to embrace, with mist swirling within the valley, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Yuancheng pointed toward the forest ahead and said: ¡°The Sky Fei Fruit Tree is within this dense forest. I stumbled upon it by accident. It¡¯s a pity that it¡¯s guarded by a pack of Wind Shadow Leopards, otherwise I would have taken the fruits long ago!¡± ¡°Wind Shadow Leopards!¡± Lu Ming revealed a hint of apprehension. Li Yuancheng¡¯s expression remained calm as he began to describe the Wind Shadow Leopards. ¡°These demonic beasts are extremely fast and have formidable attack power. They come and go without a trace and are very adept at ambushes. Everyone must be careful.¡± Saying so, Li Yuancheng took out a snow-white whip about a zhang long, a high quality spiritual artifact. His companion Song Yurong was not to be outdone, producing a medium grade flying sword in hand. Everyone took out their spiritual artifacts, with Lin Tianming wielding an Earth Evil Sword and holding a high quality talisman paper, ready to deal with any unexpected dangers. Catching sight of Lin Tianming¡¯s spirit sword and talisman paper, a flicker of barely noticeable greed flashed in Lu Ming¡¯s eyes, which quickly returned to normal, revealing a highly wary expression. Seeing that everyone was prepared, Li Yuancheng led the way deeper inside. Soon, they reached the inner part of the valley where the trees gradually thinned, improving visibility. At the end of their line of sight, a fruit tree about a zhang tall grew on a mound, its green and red leaves adorned with over a dozen emerald-like fruits. ¡°Sky Fei Fruit!¡± ¡°Indeed, there are such fruits!¡± Upon seeing the treasure, Lu Ming and Qiu Jinsong called out in excitement, looking eager to proceed. In their excitement, they were unaware that danger had already quietly approached. Since entering the valley, Lin Tianming had his divine sense fully extended and his Eye of Five Colors open, guarding against unknown dangers, and had not relaxed for a moment, remaining cautious. A gust of wind passed through the valley, bringing a bone-chilling coolness that made everyone shiver. At that moment, several roars were heard. More than fifty Wind Shadow Leopards broke into a sprint, turning into streaks of afterimages, and in a few moments, they had charged from several hundred zhang away in the dense forest to right before the group. Looking over, among the pack of Wind Shadow Leopards, there was one at the late-stage peak, nearly breaking through to Second Order, obviously the leader of this pack. There were also six at the late-stage, and the rest were at the First Order middle and initial phases. ¡°Daoist Li, you said there were only about thirty, why has their number increased so much?¡± Lu Ming¡¯s face turned pale as he exclaimed, questioning Li Yuancheng. ¡°I don¡¯t know why either; the number of Wind Shadow Leopards has almost doubled!¡± ¡°It¡¯s pointless to investigate now. It¡¯s already impossible to run away. Everyone, don¡¯t hold back. Fight with all you¡¯ve got, or we¡¯re all in danger!¡± No sooner had Li Yuancheng finished speaking than several late-stage Wind Shadow Leopards were already upon them. The pack leader charged straight at Lin Tianming, seemingly sensing him as the greatest threat. After a brief moment of panic, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng quickly reacted, each urging on their spiritual artifacts. Lin Tianming slashed repeatedly, his fierce sword qi forcing the pack leader to retreat. He quietly set up a Sword Array and swiftly retreated, falling back behind the others. Li Yuancheng brandished his whip spiritual artifact, attacking left and right. The versatile whip was particularly effective against the incredibly fast Wind Shadow Leopards. Several of the First Order initial and middle-stage Wind Shadow Leopards couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were struck by the whip, promptly ending their lives. The rest also used their techniques, and being fully prepared, they didn¡¯t fall into disadvantage. Chapter 93 - 93 - 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_2 Chapter 93 ¨C 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_2 The ambush had failed, and many of the dozen or so Wind Shadow Leopards had died immediately; the rest were all mid-stage Demonic Beasts. Instead of continuing the attack, the Wind Shadow Leopards surrounded the group, seeking an opportunity, lying in wait for the perfect moment to strike. After a stalemate that lasted for more than ten breaths, the Wind Shadow Leopards launched another onslaught. Seeming to have recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s prowess, they gave up on direct combat with him and instead made a beeline for Lu Ming. The battle erupted anew. Lu Ming¡¯s face darkened as he took out two talisman papers from his storage bag and tossed them into the air, forming a torrential sword rain that temporarily trapped the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards. The remaining Wind Shadow Leopards had already charged in, and the battlefield immediately plunged into chaos, as the frenzied spiritual power from various Spiritual Artifacts crisscrossed the sky. ... Lin Tianming drew the eighteen Earth Evil Swords, danced out a Sword Lotus resembling the God of Slaughter, killing several mid-stage Wind Shadow Leopards around him, without meeting any resistance. On the other side, the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards broke free and charged towards the cultivator with the surname Lu. After over a dozen brutal exchanges, Lu Ming was already severely injured. Having exhausted all his tricks, Lu Ming threw his last talisman paper and fled in panic, not forgetting to shout as he ran. ¡°Save me¡­¡± At this moment, everyone was surrounded by Wind Shadow Leopards in varying numbers, and Lin Tianming, being the farthest away, could not attend to him. After a few breaths, the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards burst through the barrier in front of it and, with a gaping maw, charged straight for Lu Ming. ¡°Roar¡­¡± With the lightning speed of the Wind Shadow Leopard, the desperate Lu Ming had no chance to dodge and was directly bitten, his body falling lifeless on the spot. Now dead, Lu Ming left four injured survivors behind. Among them, Qiu Jinsong was gravely hurt, his strength reduced to a mere tenth of what it was. The Wind Shadow Leopard pack had suffered heavy casualties, with only a dozen mid-to-late-stage beasts remaining, their dead bodies turning the ground a crimson red. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After half an hour of fierce combat, both humans and beasts had sustained grievous injuries, and the cultivators had used up most of their spiritual power. ¡°Li, you and I will take on the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards while the others quickly dispatch the rest,¡± Lin Tianming shouted to Li Yuancheng. ¡°We must be quick, or we won¡¯t last much longer. If we don¡¯t succeed, all of us will die here!¡± Amid their dire conditions and critical situation, Lin Tianming called out to Li Yuancheng. ¡°Good!¡± All three responded in unison. Seeing the tragic state of the cultivator with the surname Lu, Lin Tianming and the others held nothing back and fought with all their might once more. Lin Tianming took out four First Order Superior Attack Talismans in a row and, after activating them, sent four streams of Sword Qi speeding towards the Wind Shadow Leopards. Simultaneously, he activated a previously laid Earth Fiend Sword Formation, enveloping the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards within it. Li Yuancheng took out a white pearl and spat it towards the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards. Overwhelmed by a strong sense of crisis, the Wind Shadow Leopard leader panicked within the Sword Array, frantically striking against the barriers of the formation, trying to break free from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s constraints. But Lin Tianming had laid his plans well in advance, and wouldn¡¯t let it escape so easily. A few breaths later, the four Sword Qi and the pearl struck the Wind Shadow Leopard from several directions simultaneously. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A series of explosions resounded through the valley¡­ A blaze shot up into the sky; after the flying sand and stones settled, the figure of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader was revealed. The Wind Shadow Leopard leader was now lying in a huge pit, convulsing, with half its body gone, its organs exposed for all to see ¨C a pitiable sight that clearly indicated it was on the brink of death. Seeing the dire state of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Such a steep price paid, and had they not vanquished it, whether they could survive the ordeal would have been uncertain. Elsewhere, Song Yurong and Qiu Jinsong were being besieged by several late-stage Wind Shadow Leopards; both were in peril, continuously losing ground. Song Yurong was faring slightly better, relying on numerous talisman papers and her Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact sword, retreating while fighting, and was not in immediate danger of defeating. Qiu Jinsong, previously severely wounded and having lost an arm, had barely held on for half an hour, and was now completely drained. At the moment when the Wind Shadow Leopard leader fell, Qiu Jinsong, in a burst of rage, repelled one of the leopards only to have another powerful claw plunge through his chest. Looking at the fist-sized hole in his chest, his blood gushing out, Qiu Jinsong¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale within moments. Feeling his body grow increasingly cold, he completely gave in to despair. Now with free hands, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng came to the aid, significantly reducing the pressure on Song Yurong. The remaining Wind Shadow Leopards were no match for them and were swiftly slain by the group. With the death of the last Wind Shadow Leopard, the fierce battle finally came to an end. Half an hour before, five lively individuals had stood, now only three remained alive. The grisly deaths of Lu Ming and his companion were etched in their memories, leaving no time to collect treasures; Lin Tianming and his two companions simply collapsed onto the ground. Lin Tianming took out a Huiyuan Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it, quickly recovering his nearly depleted spiritual power. After a quarter of an hour, the trio gradually regained some of their spiritual power. At this moment, Li Yuancheng and his wife were extremely tense, clutching their spiritual artifacts in their hands, not daring to let down their guard. After this battle, they had completely understood Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; even at their peak, joining forces, they were no match for him. The carcasses of the Wind Shadow Leopards scattered across the field, along with the storage bags of Lu Ming¡¯s party, plus the Sky Fei Fruit, undoubtedly represented an immense fortune. If Lin Tianming were to attack again, their chances of survival were slim. Lin Tianming was also on high alert, closely watching every move made by Li Yuancheng and his wife. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the silence began to feel exceedingly awkward. Finally, Lin Tianming broke the silence. ¡°Li, let¡¯s quickly distribute the treasures. It isn¡¯t safe to stay here for long,¡± said Lin Tianming. Explore stories on empire Relieved that Lin Tianming didn¡¯t seem to intend to attack, Li Yuancheng and his wife finally relaxed a little. ¡°Daoist Chen is very powerful. Without you, I¡¯m afraid we would have been wiped out on this journey,¡± said Li Yuancheng, lavishing praise before the division of treasure. ¡°I think we should do it like this: The storage bags of Lu Ming¡¯s party go to you, the spiritual artifacts to us as a couple, the carcass of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader to you, and we split the rest of the carcasses equally. As for the Sky Fei Fruits, you take sixty percent, and we take forty percent. How does that sound?¡± After proposing his plan, Li Yuancheng waited anxiously; given Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength, it was only fair he received the larger share, but it was uncertain if he would be satisfied. Lin Tianming thought it over. The carcass of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader, which held the greatest value, would be his, and surely the storage bags of Lu Ming¡¯s party contained all of their wealth. The spiritual artifacts were negligible in comparison. Li Yuancheng¡¯s proposal was quite sincere. Asking for a few more Sky Fei Fruits would suffice. ¡°Li, I have no objections to the rest, but as for the Sky Fei Fruits, taking more doesn¡¯t add much benefit. Your couple can keep two, and the rest are mine. How about that?¡± ¡°So be it,¡± Without hesitation, Li Yuancheng agreed to Lin Tianming¡¯s terms. Having divided the spoils, the three of them began to get themselves busy. Lin Tianming collected Lu Ming¡¯s storage bags and the spiritual artifacts, handing the latter over to Li Yuancheng. They then started disassembling the carcasses of the Wind Shadow Leopards, taking all useful materials with them. An hour later, the battlefield was cleared, and the three of them headed towards the Sky Fei Fruit Tree. By now, the Sky Fei Fruits had ripened, ten emerald-like spirit fruits hanging from the tree. Song Yurong stepped forward to harvest the Sky Fei Fruits, while Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng chatted leisurely on the side. The Sky Fei Fruit ripened once every hundred years, and its effects surpassed even the Jade Spirit Fruit, but it was a pity that the tree could not be transplanted. Lin Tianming took out a map, located their position, and made a mark for his clan to return and harvest the fruits after a century. In a short while, Song Yurong had picked all of the spirit fruits and placed them in jade boxes, handing eight of them to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming accepted the jade boxes without fuss and put them back into his storage bag. After surviving a perilous battle and the test of shared interests, Li Yuancheng and his wife had come to a clearer understanding of Lin Tianming, at the very least, not a traitor. They became inclined to befriend him. ¡°Daoist Chen, we¡¯re still within the heart of the mountain range and have yet to leave danger behind. Why don¡¯t we travel together back to the market city?¡± ¡°I was thinking the same!¡± Having accomplished their mission of treasure hunting, the three of them did not linger and departed along the path they had come. Three days later, Lin Tianming and his companions emerged from a small hill on the periphery of the Luoyun Mountain Range. ¡°Li, Fairy Song, let¡¯s meet again someday!¡± ¡°Daoist Chen, let¡¯s meet again someday!¡± The three of them saluted each other simultaneously. Lin Tianming summoned his Earth Evil Sword and took to the sky, soon disappearing into the horizon. After Lin Tianming had left, Li Yuancheng gazed in the direction Lin Tianming had gone and muttered, ¡°Daoist Chen is incredibly strong, and his talismans are of excellent quality. I wonder if he¡¯s a loose cultivator or someone from the sect families¡­¡± Song Yurong, her complexion rosy, seemed to have realized something. ¡°Husband, my intuition tells me he¡¯s certainly not a loose cultivator. He¡¯s very likely from one of the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range, perhaps even someone from the core disciples of Zhenyang Sect. We must make a good connection with him¡­¡± Chapter 94 - 94 - 88 Inventory of Harvest_1 Chapter 94 ¨C 88 Inventory of Harvest_1 In Luoyun Market, within a secret chamber of a small courtyard. After bidding farewell to Li Yuancheng and his wife, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t wander aimlessly, but instead returned straight to the market. He hastily sent a message to Lin Xingzhi to assure his safety and then entered the secret chamber. Sitting on the cushion in the secret chamber, he took out the storage bags of Lu Ming and Qiu Jinsong, ready to tally his gains. The trip to obtain the Sky Fei Fruit had taken just half a month and had gone quite smoothly, costing only several High-Quality Talismans. With the storage bags of the two, he expected to make a hefty profit. First, he picked up Lu Ming¡¯s storage bag and easily erased the remaining Divine Sense from it. He extended his Divine Sense and began to carefully examine the contents. ... Over two hundred and sixty Spirit Stones, a few Lingshen Pills and other consumable elixirs, several stalks of Spiritual Medicine Materials, and a fair amount of miscellaneous items, but nothing particularly valuable. This person had been cornered by the Wind Shadow Leopard and used up all his tricks. His Spiritual Artifact had even been given to Li Yuancheng and his wife, so there really wasn¡¯t much left. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Taking a deep breath, he shifted his focus to the other storage bag. Qiu Jinsong was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, not weak by any means, so his net worth should be a bit more substantial. Erasing the Divine Sense, he started to probe within. In no time at all, a slight smile appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Compared to Lu Ming, Qiu Jinsong¡¯s wealth was much more substantial; he had over six hundred Spirit Stones, various elixirs in abundance, and some Spirit Ore and other items, all quite ordinary. After Lin Tianming¡¯s estimation, the assets of the two men together were worth over a thousand Spirit Stones. Subtracting the Talismans and elixirs consumed in the fight, he had still made a tidy sum. Not only the personal wealth of the two men, but also the numerous Wind Shadow Leopard carcasses would yield plenty of materials for crafting, and the eight Sky Fei Fruits alone were worth thousands of Spirit Stones. After tallying up the gains, he transferred the Spirit Stones and useful Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Ore into his own storage bag and threw useless items haphazardly into another, planning to sell them off when he found the time. Having done all that, Lin Tianming fell into contemplation. As the day of the big competition in Luoyun Market drew nearer, with just over a year left, he had obtained the Sky Fei Fruit. By harnessing its medicinal power, he could reach the peak of Qi Refining Eighth Level and then break through a minor realm with the help of Pozhang Pills. Resolved, he closed his eyes and entered a brief state of cultivation. After a night¡¯s rest and gathering his energy, he got up and left the courtyard. Half an hour passed, and on the third floor of Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingzhi was sitting enjoying some tea. Before Lin Tianming could arrive, a hearty greeting was heard. ¡°Seventeenth Uncle, how have you been recently?¡± Turning his head and seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingzhi immediately beamed with joy and hurriedly responded. ¡°Good, you lad have finally returned. If you hadn¡¯t come back in a few more days, I would have gone to the Luoyun Mountain Range to look for you!¡± Lin Tianming sat down, sipping tea and casually chatting, recounting the adventure of acquiring the treasure in brief. ¡°Eight Sky Fei Fruits!¡± Learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s gains, Lin Xingzhi was quite surprised and couldn¡¯t help but feel a little envious. ¡°This kid¡¯s luck is too good; he always gains quite the treasure haul every time he goes out!¡± Seeing a look of longing on Lin Xingzhi¡¯s face, Lin Tianming took out a Sky Fei Fruit and offered it with a clasped fist. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Seventeenth Uncle, you¡¯ve already consumed the Jade Spirit Fruit, and it will be difficult for your cultivation to increase much in a short time. Please accept this Sky Fei Fruit as a modest token of my regard¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi stared intently at the Sky Fei Fruit, wanting to accept it but feeling embarrassed; after all, it seemed inappropriate to take a hard-won treasure from a junior. ¡°Tian Ming, I appreciate the thought!¡± Lin Xingzhi took the Sky Fei Fruit and afterward drew two hundred Spirit Stones from his storage bag and handed them to Lin Tianming as compensation. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming tried to refuse several times, but Lin Xingzhi insisted he take them, otherwise he would not accept his kindness. Lin Tianming did not put on airs and accepted the spirit stones. The two were in good spirits, and Lin Xingzhi asked Lin Tianming about his plans. ¡°In two months, I can make a trip back to the family. It¡¯s not too long nor too short a time. I plan to refine the Sky Fei Fruit to improve my cultivation as much as possible!¡± ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s set off together in two months!¡± Having agreed upon a time, Lin Tianming rose to take his leave. Before long, he returned to the secret chamber in the small courtyard. Sitting on the cushion, he began to operate his cultivation technique and quickly reached the optimal state for cultivation. With a thought, a fruit appeared between his fingers out of thin air. The fruit was about the size of a toddler¡¯s fist, all over in green like jade. The small spirit fruit contained tremendous energy, a mere sniff of which was refreshing and clarifying. Lin Tianming did not hesitate and swallowed the Sky Fei Fruit in one bite. Upon entering his mouth, the Sky Fei Fruit melted immediately. The contained spiritual power was very gentle, not at all violent like that of the Jade Spirit Fruit. He quickly operated his cultivation technique to refine the energy of the Sky Fei Fruit, transforming it into streams of spiritual power that flowed into his Dantian, slowly enlarging his Qi Sea and progressing towards the later stage. Time slowly passed, and the two months went by. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing across his face. It took nearly a month to successfully refine the Sky Fei Fruit. Although he had not broken through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, his spiritual power had reached the limit of the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Lin Tianming was very pleased. With another half a year of seclusion, he could easily break through with the help of a Pozhang Pill. It was only a pity that time did not permit it, otherwise he really could have given it a try. The two-month period had arrived, and the day he had agreed upon with Lin Xingzhi was tomorrow. It was time to leave seclusion. He got up and walked out of the secret chamber, heading towards the Hundred Treasures Building. During the seclusion, he had refined a number of elixirs, enough to keep the Hundred Treasures Building operating for several months. After handing over the elixirs to Lin Xingshun, he asked about the business situation over the past few months. Thanks to the market assembly, the business had improved in the past two months. The income of the Hundred Treasures Building was stable, earning a large amount of spirit stones for the family. After half an hour, Lin Tianming rose to take his leave and returned to the family¡¯s small courtyard. The next morning, when the sky was still dimly lit, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi set out from the market together and appeared at the top of a mountain outside the city. Over the past two months, Lin Xingzhi¡¯s aura had become even more substantial. It seemed that after consuming the Sky Fei Fruit, his cultivation had become more profound. ¡°Congratulations, Seventeenth Uncle, on the great progress in your cultivation. You mustn¡¯t be far from the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage now!¡± Upon Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Lin Xingzhi spoke sincerely: Explore stories at empire ¡°Thanks to you, kid. With the help of the Sky Fei Fruit, I saved several years of arduous cultivation. Otherwise, without three to five years of effort, it would not have been possible to reach this level!¡± He released the Purple Gold Eagle and fed it a Beast Spirit Pill before the two of them hopped onto its back. The Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, heading into the clouds, and became a lingering shadow that quickly disappeared into the horizon. The journey home is always a pleasure, and the two enjoyed the scenery and chatted leisurely along the way. By half a day, the two and the eagle smoothly appeared outside the Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming took out the family token, cast several law decrees, and, once the great formation was open, flew straight in. ¡°Tianming, I have some errands to run. I¡¯ll contact you when the day of departure is confirmed!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xingzhi left on a flying sword, and Lin Tianming did not stay longer, heading to his family¡¯s small courtyard. Chapter 95 - 95 - 89 Alliance_1 Chapter 95 ¨C 89 Alliance_1 At dusk, upon learning that Lin Tianming had returned to the clan, both Grandpa and Father hurried back to their own small courtyard. The five of them sat in the courtyard, enjoying tea and idle chat, which was indescribably comfortable. According to Grandpa, the Lin Family had undergone significant changes in recent years. With the substantial improvement of basic welfare for the clan and encouragement for members to gain experience, a large number of clanspeople strove to break through, and the younger generation progressed at an incredible speed, multiplying the overall strength of the Lin Family by several times. Lin Tianming also reported his experiences over the past year, in order not to worry his family, he did not mention those bloody and dangerous encounters. However, his accounts clearly could not deceive Grandpa and his father. Having lived for nearly a hundred years and having seen too much of the survival of the fittest and the killing for treasures, Lin Shigong knew these were simply the rules of the Cultivation World. As Lin Tianming¡¯s growth accelerated, Lin Shigong¡¯s views about him were quietly changing. ... Once wishing for him to spend his entire life within the clan grounds, he was now very clear. The talent of Lin Tianming, and the responsibilities he bore, destined him to venture beyond the Luoyun Mountain Range, and even leave the Wei Kingdom to explore a more vast and expansive world. Only by undergoing trials by fire could one shed all superficialities and become a strong leader, capable of restoring the family¡¯s former glory. And on this thorny and rugged path, he knew he could no longer be of much help. As night fell, their casual conversation drew to a close, and Lin Tianming took out four Sky Fei Fruits to give to his grandfather and the others. While the Sky Fei Fruits were not of much use to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the energy they contained could still save several years of arduous cultivation. The four of them accepted the fruits without pretense, and each went back to their rooms to rest. One day, outside Green Bamboo Mountain. A three-zhang-tall Crowned Spirit Crane flew rapidly towards the Lin Family Clan Grounds, reaching the great formation of the clan grounds in just over ten breaths¡¯ time. A young and an old man jumped off the Crowned Spirit Crane, landing on a hilltop. The elder, named Sun Dingfeng, a member of the Jiuhua Mountain Sun Clan, was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. The youth, named Sun Ruiyang, a member of the younger generation of the Sun Family, was in his early twenties, and looked curiously at the distant light screen and said, ¡°Seventh Grandpa, is this the Lin Family¡¯s clan grounds?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Experience new tales on empire The elder remained calm and replied indifferently. After putting the Crowned Spirit Crane into the Spirit Beast Bag, he formed a hand seal and sent out two messages, which quickly vanished into the transparent light screen and disappeared. Half an hour later, the light screen tore open, and two people stepped out from inside¡ªit was Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before even arriving, Lin Shikang walked forward with a cupped fist greeting and a hearty smile, ¡°It turns out Daoist Sun has come for a visit; any neglect is regrettable, please forgive us!¡± Upon seeing Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu approach, Sun Dingfeng did not dare to presume, and quickly went forward with Sun Ruiyang. ¡°Not at all, Sun Mou came unannounced, and I hope I have not disturbed your tranquil cultivation!¡± ¡°Ruiyang, don¡¯t you hurry to pay respects to the two seniors!¡± Hearing Sun Dingfeng¡¯s instruction, Sun Ruiyang showed respectful demeanor and hurriedly bowed, ¡°Junior pays respects to the two seniors!¡± Lin Shikang laughed heartily and praised, ¡°Young friend, you need not be so formal. To have reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement at such a young age, the Sun Family indeed has a gathering of geniuses!¡± ¡°Well, since Daoist Sun has made a special trip, there must be something to discuss. Please come to the clan residence, and let Lin Mou offer you some hospitality!¡± Sun Dingfeng smiled lightly. ¡°Thanks to Daoist Lin!¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Shikang and Sun Dingfeng sat in a pavilion, enjoying Spiritual Tea, while Sun Ruiyang stood to the side looking around. ¡°Daoist Sun, it has been many years since we last met. Why have you come to visit today?¡± Lin Shikang directly inquired, although he and Lin Shilu already had an idea, they still pretended to be unaware. Seeing Lin Shikang and his companion playing dumb, Sun Dingfeng did not call them out on it. Without beating around the bush, he directly stated his purpose. ¡°Daoist Lin, I have come on behalf of the Sun Family to pay a visit, hoping to collaborate with the Lin Family. I wonder if you would be interested.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°How would you like to collaborate? Please enlighten me, Daoist Sun!¡± ¡°In one year, the city¡¯s grand competition will be held. Surely, Daoist Lin, you are aware of the Jin Family¡¯s movements these past two years?¡± ¡°Both you and I are well aware that the current Jin Family, with its great strength and wolf-like ambitions, seems to be preparing to make a move against our families.¡± ¡°Therefore, the Sun Family intends to form an alliance with the Lin Family, standing together in both advance and retreat to resist the Jin Family. What do you think of this, Daoist Lin?¡± Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu exchanged glances, communicating with each other through telepathy. New n????vel chapters are published on .c¦Ò?. After only a few moments, they seemed to have reached an agreement. Lin Shikang, with a solemn expression, began to respond. ¡°Daoist Sun, I, Lin Mou, am also deeply aware of the Jin Family¡¯s ambition. Alas, the Lin Family¡¯s foundation is thin and our strength is limited, I¡¯m afraid we may not be able to share much of the burden for the Sun Family. Therefore¡­¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s pitiable expression, Sun Dingfeng knew that the Lin Family would not easily take a stance without some benefits. Fortunately, he had come prepared, never expecting to sway the Lin Family with just a few words. Sun Dingfeng took out a dark green storage bag and handed it to Lin Shikang. ¡°Daoist Lin, if the Lin Family agrees to the alliance, consider these one thousand talisman papers as a token of sincerity from our Sun Family.¡± Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu extended their divine sense to inspect the contents of the storage bag and both showed a hint of surprise. There were two hundred First Order Superior Grade talismans, three hundred Medium Grade talismans, and the remainder, amounting to five hundred, were Lower Grade. It seemed the Sun Family was truly putting forth a significant offer, with the given talismans valued at several thousand spirit stones at least. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were somewhat tempted; the Lin Family already had grievances with the Jin Family, and the Jin Family¡¯s ambition was no secret. Once their fangs were bared, they would certainly not spare the Lin Family. ¡°Daoist Sun, I wonder what the Luo Family and the Wu Family¡¯s views are on this matter?¡± Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were also inclined towards forming an alliance, but they did not agree outright, aiming to gain more benefits for the Lin Family. Sun Dingfeng thought for a moment before replying: ¡°I have already visited the Luo and Wu Families, and both have agreed to form an alliance to confront the Jin Family. Now, only the Lin Family remains!¡± ¡°Although the Jin Family is powerful, taking on all four of our families at once is unlikely to end well for them. Should an opportunity arise, we might eliminate the Jin Family, and their wealth would be divided with the Sun and Lin families each taking thirty percent, while the Luo and Wu Families each take twenty percent.¡± ¡°What do you say?¡± Lin Shikang kept a calm demeanor, continually communicating with Lin Shilu through telepathy to weigh the pros and cons. Soon, they came to a consensus. The Lin Family and the Jin Family were mortal foes with no chance of reconciliation. Better to take this opportunity to deal them a severe blow, and if possible, to completely eradicate them. Making up his mind, Lin Shikang spoke up: ¡°Daoist Sun, as a Talisman Crafting Aristocratic Family, the Sun Family possesses a multitude of talismans. I wonder if you could spare a few Second Order talismans?¡± ¡°I am not greedy and only request ten. With them, the Lin Family will join the Sun Family¡¯s ranks!¡± When Lin Shikang agreed to join the alliance, a flash of joy crossed Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face. At Lin Shikang¡¯s request for ten Second Order Talismans, his expression changed instantly. Second Order Talismans were no trivial commodity. Even the Sun Family, with a century of accumulation, had only a limited stock. ¡°Daoist Lin, within our Sun Family, Second Order Talismans are also extremely precious and rare. At most, we can provide five. Would that be acceptable?¡± Seeing that Sun Dingfeng¡¯s expression did not seem feigned and considering the Lin Family had already gained quite a bit, Lin Shikang did not further press the issue. ¡°Let¡¯s follow Daoist Sun¡¯s proposal. The Lin Family will form an alliance with the Sun Family, united in our cause!¡± Sun Dingfeng retrieved five Second Order Talismans and handed them to Lin Shikang, fulfilling his promised contribution. After half an hour of negotiation, the two finalized the details of their alliance. The Lin Family pledged to stand firmly with the Sun Family in their fight against the Jin Family. Should they break this vow, those of the Lin Family who had sworn the oath would die violently on the spot. ¡°Daoist Lin, now that we have agreed to form an alliance, let us swear an oath to the Heart Demon.¡± ¡°Very well!¡± After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, both individuals recited their Heart Demon Oaths. Once a mysterious beam of light entered their Sky Spirit Covers, the oath was complete. A quarter of an hour later, Sun Dingfeng and his companion left the protective formation of the Lin Family¡¯s clan grounds, boarding a Crowned Spirit Crane and flying away. Chapter 96 - 96 - 90 Qi Refinement Level 9_1 Chapter 96 ¨C 90 Qi Refinement Level 9_1 In his own small courtyard, inside the cultivation room. Lin Tianming sat on a cushion, hands clasped together, eyes slightly closed, with only the sound of his even breathing. After several days of cultivation in the secret chamber, he had adjusted his state to its optimum. He took out a jade bottle and poured out a greenish pill, which was the very Pozhang Pill he had concocted himself. With his cultivation having reached the extreme limit of the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, taking advantage of returning to the Lin Family, he could use the Pozhang Pill to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining in one fell swoop. Once he was prepared, he took a deep breath and consumed the Pozhang Pill. As soon as the pill entered his mouth, a violent surge of spiritual power rapidly swept through his body. ... He felt as if his body was about to ignite, his face turned bright red, veins bulging, presenting a somewhat frightening appearance. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the power of the Pozhang Pill to be so strong; no wonder it can break through the bottleneck!¡± Without time to think further, Lin Tianming quickly operated his cultivation technique to refine the violent spiritual power. Time ticked away, the sensation of pricking pain did not diminish in the slightest, but instead grew stronger. Lin Tianming showed a look of pain, clenching his teeth tightly, his eyes showing several strands of blood. Before long and through the process of cultivation and refinement, the originally violent medicinal power became spiritual power and started to feel more gentle. Lin Tianming directed the refined spiritual power towards the Qi Sea within. As the spiritual power gradually increased and reached a certain amount, the already crowded Qi Sea seemed to have reached its limit, hardly able to take more. Even so, Lin Tianming did not stop, continuing to madly channel spiritual power into the Qi Sea. Soon, the shape and volume of the Qi Sea underwent considerable change, expanding and contracting intermittently. Lin Tianming knew that he was at a critical juncture and needed to break through the barrier as quickly as possible. Focusing his mind, he increased the intensity of refining the pill¡¯s power once more, organizing the spiritual power to repeatedly impact it. After numerous impacts, an intense pain spread throughout his body, which then quickly returned to normal. Lin Tianming revealed intense joy, repeatedly checking the condition of the Qi Sea within his Seven Sea Dantian. The Qi Sea had significantly expanded in size, and there was still a small amount of the pill¡¯s medicinal power left unrefined, which continued to turn into strands of gentle spiritual power flowing in. With the help of the Pozhang Pill, Lin Tianming successfully broke through and entered the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation. ¡°Huff huff¡­¡± Even though he had successfully broken through, Lin Tianming did not rest, continuing to refine the remaining medicinal power to consolidate his cultivation. More than ten days passed, Lin Tianming opened his eyes that had been shut for half a month, his gaze flashing with a sharp light. After more than twenty days in closed-door cultivation, he had finally achieved a smooth breakthrough. Feeling the surging spiritual power, much stronger than at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, if he faced the Wind Shadow Leopard again, he alone would be enough to handle it. The exhilarating feeling after a cultivation breakthrough was truly addictive! With a moment of reflection, Lin Tianming stood up and left the secret chamber. In a few more days, he would return to Luoyun Market. Before leaving, he decided to first visit the Hall of Merit to exchange the spoils of battle he had acquired recently, and to resupply his talisman paper and spiritual medicine materials, given that his stock of talismans was nearly depleted. Inside the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming found Lin Shixin and handed him two storage pouches. Inside were the corpses of more than twenty Wind Shadow Leopards, including the body of the pack leader, as well as some low-grade spiritual medicine materials and miscellaneous items¡ªall battle spoils. Lin Shixin took the storage pouches and sent his Divine Sense into them, meticulously checking the contents. After a little more than ten breaths, he had a rough valuation. Lin Shixin¡¯s face remained calm, and with a smile, he announced the price. ¡°Three thousand six hundred and fifty spirit stones!¡± ¡°Good, Uncle Shi, I want three thousand Spirit Stones, and the rest can be exchanged for talisman paper and Spiritual Medicine!¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming handed Lin Shixin a list. Since Merit Points were of no use outside, and the family didn¡¯t have many good items, it was better to prepare more Spirit Stones for times of need. It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Shixin took out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming. Inside were a large number of Spirit Stones, several dozen Medium and High Quality talisman papers, and a small amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials. Having completed the exchange, he chatted idly with Lin Shixin. Through their discussion, Lin Tianming learned that Lin Shixin had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and had exchanged for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, planning to go into closed-door cultivation three months later to attempt the Foundation Establishment Stage. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides him, another member of the Lin Family from the Xing generation was also planning to enter closed-door cultivation to make a breakthrough. With less than a year until the great competition in Luoyun Market, the Lin Family was doing all they could to prepare for the crisis. In just three years, numerous members of the Lin Family had attempted to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, something unimaginable in the past. Explore hidden tales at empire Unfortunately, Lin Shixin was already ninety-six years old, barely two years younger than the grandfather¡¯s age when he attempted Foundation Establishment, with equally slim hopes. ¡°Uncle Shi, the blessed naturally attract good fortune. You will surely succeed!¡± With no other way to help, Lin Tianming could only offer such comfort. ¡°Do our best and leave the rest to fate¡­¡± Lin Shixin¡¯s gaze was firm, seemingly indifferent to the success of his attempt, showing a free and easy demeanor. After ending their idle chat and bidding farewell to Lin Shixin, Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit, summoned the Earth Evil Sword, and flew towards Lin Tianqin¡¯s courtyard. As soon as the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s return spread, he was invited to a gathering. Unable to politely refuse, he agreed to attend, finally getting Lin Tianqin to leave him alone. Otherwise, he would never have peace. After half an hour, Lin Tianming was sitting with Lin Tianfeng and others, chatting idly. Not having seen them for a year, Lin Tianfeng was still at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, while Lin Tianhong had successfully broken through to the Sixth Level. Lin Tianqin, who practiced with great diligence, was at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, and his sister, Lin Tianyue, had made significant progress, reaching the Fourth Level with the help of various elixirs. Among their generation, the male members progressed the fastest, while the females lagged somewhat behind, since they hadn¡¯t undergone as many trials. The gathering that day was particularly lively, lasting well into the evening before dispersing. Lin Tianming said goodbye to everyone and returned to his own courtyard. Taking out his storage bag, he began to examine its contents carefully. There were over four thousand Spirit Stones, several dozen talisman papers, and more than three hundred elixirs in total; he was certainly not lacking in elixirs. After checking his storage bag, Lin Tianming examined the Sword Qi condensed in his Dantian. He had long mastered the Great Sun Sword Qi Art obtained at the auction; the Sword Qi had condensed and, after nearly two years of nurturing, had nearly become tangible, emitting waves of cold air. Lin Tianming speculated that this Spirit Art was at least of the Mysterious Grade. Unfortunately, without the latter part of the technique, he couldn¡¯t activate it, which was a true pity. It was as if he had a treasure vault right in front of him but lacked the key to open it, leaving him unable to access the treasures within, an extremely frustrating feeling. ¡°Huff¡­¡± There was no use in just thinking about it. The latter half of the Spirit Art was nowhere to be found, and whether he could find it relied on luck. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming brought his palms together and started to run his cultivation technique, beginning his practice. Three days later, a month had passed, and it was time to return to Luoyun Market. Waiting outside the family¡¯s grand formation was Lin Xingzhi. Seeing Lin Tianming flying over, the two greeted each other. They released the Purple Gold Eagle, jumped onto its back, soared a hundred meters into the clouds, and flew towards Luoyun Market. After half a day, they arrived at the market. Chapter 97 - 97 - 91 Mysterious Moon Order_1 Chapter 97 ¨C 91 Mysterious Moon Order_1 Time flew by, and three months passed. It had been several months since I returned to the market, spending three days each month on alchemy, while the rest of the time I dedicated to secluded cultivation, not relaxing for a moment. With the help of elixirs, my cultivation level was slowly increasing, but the pace was very slow, and there was still a long way to go to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. I shifted my long-seated body and got up from the secret chamber. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming appeared on a street in the marketplace. Looking around at the shops and the few passers-by, Lin Tianming began to wander leisurely. The market was also very calm, with large numbers of cultivators coming and going every day, as usual, showing no signs of anything unusual. ... Perhaps it was the calm before the storm! Without realizing it, Lin Tianming found himself in a square at the marketplace, precisely the area where stalls were set up. Lin Tianming carefully surveyed the area, which was only around thirty acres, much smaller than Qianchuan Market, but it still had a decent crowd. In this thirty-odd acres of space, there were already over two hundred stalls, with several cultivators selecting items at almost every stall. It seemed that although Luoyun Market was small, there were still many cultivators engaged in small trades. Having nothing better to do, I thought to stroll around since I was there, to see if there might be some gains. Lin Tianming entered and started his perusal from a stall by the entrance. After passing more than a dozen stalls, most of the items for sale were mostly spiritual medicine materials and demonic beast materials, with a comparatively small proportion of elixirs and spiritual artifacts. Thinking about it, I could understand why; after all, Luoyun Market was established at the edge of Luoyun Mountain Range, acting as a foothold for loose cultivators. Many loose cultivators teamed up to hunt demonic beasts in the mountains, with most of the materials they obtained being spiritual medicine materials and demonic beast materials. Among the loose cultivators, cultivation was already extremely difficult, and the consumption of alchemists and artificers was too large, too much for loose cultivators to afford the hefty initial investments. And the proportion of alchemists and artificers in the Cultivation World was still quite small, so in Luoyun Market, the prices of spiritual medicines and demonic beast materials were relatively low. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without realizing it, I wandered through dozens of stalls and did not find anything particularly special. I had spent only a little over three hundred spirit stones, purchasing a few rather rare spiritual medicine materials and several First Order Late Stage demon beast inner pills, which could be considered a bit of a gain. As I strolled along, I made my way to a stall deep within the market. Suddenly, the Eye of Five Colors twitched inexplicably. It was very strange. Having had the Eye of Five Colors for several years, it had never acted on its own before. ¡°It looks like it has discovered something.¡± Following the guidance of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming stopped at a stall. The stall¡¯s owner was a young man in his twenties, at the Third Level of Qi Refining, who Lin Tianming judged to be a loose cultivator. There were only a little over ten items on the entire stall, all of which were as ordinary as could be. Seeing Lin Tianming approach, the young man greeted him with a smile. He had been setting up for half the day without selling much, and with a rare customer, he naturally wanted to offer good service. ¡°Fellow Daoist, please look around. Whatever you like, I will give you the best price,¡± he said. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming said nothing further, and began to search directly through the jumbled pile of beast skins. ¡°What is this?¡± Amid the beast skins lay an oval-shaped token, still covered with some dirt, presenting a greyish-brown color. The token¡¯s surface bore no text, just a few spirit beast patterns engraved on it. Lin Tianming held the token in his hand, closely examining it. Find adventures at empire Still not finding anything unusual. ¡°Huh.¡± Everything this man offered for sale was commonplace, nothing special, except this token that revealed no information, which had to be the object in question. After repeatedly examining it and still finding no clues, I decided to buy it regardless of whether or not it was genuine. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what is this token, and how many spirit stones are you selling it for?¡± Lin Tianming began to inquire directly. ¡°One hundred and fifty spirit stones!¡± The young man originally wanted to shout out a price of two hundred spirit stones, but the cultivators who had heard this price before had all left, obviously feeling it was not worth it. Thus, fearing that the cultivator before him would find it too expensive, he figured it would be better to just sell it for one hundred and fifty spirit stones. After all, he had not expended much effort to obtain the token, nor had he spent any spirit stones on it. ¡°How about one hundred spirit stones?¡± Lin Tianming began to bargain directly, although one hundred spirit stones were truly nothing to him. Still, he had to appear reluctant, making the young man believe this item was just an ordinary thing. ¡°One hundred and thirty spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°One hundred and twenty spirit stones¡­¡± Lin Tianming was unyielding and did not show a particularly strong desire to buy, continuing to discuss the price. ¡°Fellow Daoist, if you really want to buy it, one hundred and twenty-five spirit stones, let¡¯s just become friends!¡± the young cultivator said sincerely. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it for the price you¡¯ve said.¡± Lin Tianming nodded calmly and then took out one hundred and twenty-five spirit stones from his storage bag and handed them to the young man. After checking and confirming the correct amount, the young man handed the token to Lin Tianming. Having received the token, Lin Tianming was not in the mood to keep browsing and turned to leave the stall area, heading back to his family¡¯s small courtyard. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming hastily took out the token and inspected it over and over, hoping for some clue. After pondering for half an hour, he still couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it. Right, let¡¯s try to refine it and see if that¡¯s of any use. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and he bit his finger, dropping a drop of fresh blood onto the token, closely observing any changes in the token. After a quarter of an hour had passed, there was still no movement. ¡°Huff!¡± ¡°It seems that won¡¯t work; let¡¯s try some other methods,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. Having struggled for half a day trying various methods, there was still no response. ¡°Could it be that I was mistaken!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the idea. Few words are needed regarding the marvels of the Eye of Five Colors, which had provided him with significant help. With its accomplishment in breaking alchemy formations, penetrating illusion techniques, and its rank on the List of Heavenly and Earthly Wonders, it seemed unlikely that he had made a mistake. ¡°That¡¯s it, let¡¯s try using the Eye of Five Colors!¡± Having made up his mind, he opened the Eye of Five Colors, placed the token in front of him, and examined it carefully. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, he finally saw something different. The originally dark brown color of the token turned golden yellow, which was truly incredible. Not only had the color changed, but the birds and animals on the token had as well, becoming more vivid and lifelike. Beyond that, a line of small characters was revealed inside the token. ¡°Mysterious Moon Order!¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± Lin Tianming carefully reviewed all the information in his mind, hoping to recall something related to the Mysterious Moon. Despite having consulted many family secrets, heavenly and earthly treasures, and the names of some powerful individuals, there was no clue that could be directly connected to it. He pondered for an entire day but came up with nothing. ¡°Forget it, forget it¡­¡± It seemed his knowledge was limited, and it was unrealistic to clarify this matter in a short time. He put away the Mysterious Moon token into his storage bag, planning to search for information in the market tomorrow; maybe he could find a clue. Chapter 98 - 98 - 92 Mixed Feelings_1 Chapter 98 ¨C 92 Mixed Feelings_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming held a jade slip in his hands, pondering deeply after consulting it. Today, he had purposely bought a large number of books from various shops in the marketplace, including some that recorded the wonders of heaven and earth, but he still hadn¡¯t found any references related to the Mysterious Moon Order. Lin Tianming speculated that it was very likely the key to some secret realm or the token of a large family or sect. In the vast Cultivation World, there are many dangerous places and secret realms, which contain a multitude of treasures but also numerous prohibitions and formation protections, all extremely powerful. Usually, special tokens or certain items are needed to enter. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alternatively, when a secret realm emerges into the world, its prohibitions might be weakened, making entry much safer. If one does not have the specific items and attempts to force their way in, it¡¯s very easy to be attacked by the prohibitions, risking loss of life. It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, in Xuanzhou, a secret realm was discovered. A Nascent Soul Cultivator rashly entered and was directly killed by the powerful prohibitions. There are not a few such examples in the Cultivation World. ... You must understand that Nascent Soul Cultivators are already powerful figures that can preside over a region; even such individuals can die under prohibitions, which shows that secret realms are not something one can simply enter on a whim. Since no relevant records could be found, he could only set the matter aside for now. Packing the Mysterious Moon Token and a large number of books into his storage bag, he once again commenced his retreat for cultivation. Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. On the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Shigong sat in the courtyard, closely monitoring the activities of two other courtyards. He had been waiting here for a month, as Lin Shixin and Lin Xingyuan were in retreat, impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, and family members were needed to protect the law. As he was relatively idle, he took on the task. In a short while, Clan Leader Lin Shihua entered the courtyard. ¡°Ninth Brother, Shixin and Xingyuan have been in retreat for a month now, why is there still no movement?¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s expression was solemn, revealing his anxiety. ¡°Shihua, comprehending the insights from our ancestors takes a few days, and judging from the time, regardless of success or failure, we should see results soon. Just be a bit more patient,¡± Lin Shigong said. ¡°Alright, there¡¯s nothing else we can do!¡± Lin Shihua said with a touch of helplessness. Suddenly, the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread out. A smile flashed across both of their faces concurrently. ¡°It¡¯s Xingyuan!¡± ¡°Xingyuan has successfully broken through!¡± A month¡¯s wait finally bore fruit, and they both let out a long sigh of relief. Filled with immense joy, Lin Xingyuan¡¯s breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Stage added another Foundation Establishment Cultivator to the Lin Family, making a total of six. After a while, they regained their composure, and Lin Shigong said: Discover hidden tales at empire ¡°Shihua, your clan responsibilities are demanding, you shouldn¡¯t waste any more time here. Although Xingyuan has broken through, he still needs to solidify his cultivation. I¡¯m enough to handle things here.¡± ¡°Furthermore, keep the news of Xingyuan¡¯s breakthrough confidential for now. Shixin is still in retreat. Instruct the clan members not to approach; my presence is enough!¡± ¡°Alright, Ninth Brother, please take care. If anything happens, just send a message to me.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Xinghua bowed and left, leaving Lin Shigong to continue guarding Lin Shixin. Time flew by, and another ten days passed. Lin Shixin had been in retreat for forty days now. In the secret chamber, Lin Shixin¡¯s face was pale. Starting from the day he took the Minor Foundation Building Pill, it had now been thirty days, the final day. As he watched the rapidly dissipating power of the pill, with less than half of its strength remaining and a significant amount of spiritual power yet to be refined, Lin Shixin became extremely anxious. Over the past month, Lin Shixin had done his utmost to refine spiritual power, but the process was simply too slow. At this rate, he would certainly fail to complete it. With only the remaining half of the pill¡¯s power left, Lin Shixin decided to make a last all-out effort. If he still couldn¡¯t break through, he would be stuck in the Qi Refinement Realm. Lin Shixin operated his cultivation technique, completely disregarding the piercing pain in his Seven Sea Dantian, refined the last of the pill¡¯s power, and launched another assault for a breakthrough. Outside the small courtyard, Lin Shigong¡¯s face was exceedingly grim, burdened with deep concerns. At this moment, he was extremely worried about the success or failure of Lin Shixin. Lin Shixin and Lin Shigong were not far apart in age and had spent similar years in cultivation. Since childhood, they had played together and learned the knowledge of cultivation together. Lin Shixin had a very good nature, optimistic and cheerful, not at all as staid as Lin Shigang and Lin Shiji; he had a good relationship with every one of their clansmen brothers. The affection among the peers of the clan was profound; although they were not blood brothers, they were more like true brothers. From any perspective, he hoped that Lin Shixin would successfully break through, so that the family could become stronger and not have to part ways with the heavens and earth in twenty years. Today was already the fortieth day, and if he did not succeed, he would completely fail and would never have a chance again. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Lin Shigong sighed again. Half a day passed by, and inside the secret chamber. Lin Shixin, disregarding the consequences, made several more attempts to break through. By now, Lin Shixin¡¯s face was pale as death, disheveled, with blood seeping from his seven orifices, his breath was extremely feeble. As the last trace of the medicinal strength faded away, Lin Shixin¡¯s last sliver of hope was completely shattered. Lin Shixin stopped his cultivation practice, shook his head with a bitter smile, and felt somewhat downhearted. Despite the difficulty of acceptance, the fact was that he had failed, and he could only resign himself to fate. He stood up, straightened up his appearance, and walked out of the secret chamber. Outside the house, Lin Shigong saw Lin Shixin coming out and hurriedly greeted him. Lin Shigong wanted to say something several times but didn¡¯t know what to say, and in the end could only offer words of comfort: ¡°Shixin, it¡¯s okay as long as you¡¯ve tried your best, don¡¯t overthink it!¡± ¡°Ninth Brother, I¡¯m fine, you all don¡¯t need to worry!¡± Lin Shixin said with a smile, seemingly having come to terms with reality and recovering his spirits. Seeing this, Lin Shigong felt even heavier in his heart. ¡°Shixin, you should go back and rest for now. There¡¯s a long road ahead, and the younger generation has yet to grow up; the family still needs you!¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Ninth Brother. Such is fate; if I¡¯ve failed, then I¡¯ve failed!¡± Having said that, Lin Shixin cupped his fists in farewell and flew down the mountain. Inside Lin Shigong¡¯s courtyard, Lin Shihua hurried over, and the two discussed the outcome for Lin Shixin and the others. Lin Shigong sighed repeatedly, ¡°Shihua, your Tenth Brother has failed!¡± Hearing this news, Lin Shihua also turned pale and immediately inquired. ¡°How is Tenth Brother doing, and what about his mood?¡± ¡°He¡¯s all right, he¡¯s suffered some backlash, but with some time to recover, he will be fine.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ that¡¯s good!¡± Lin Shihua was also very emotional. Too many of the Shi generation had been delayed; if it had been twenty years earlier, the hope for breakthrough would have been much greater. With Lin Shixin¡¯s failure to establish his foundation, the Shi generation of the Lin Family had virtually no chance left, with only Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe being too old and having only a theoretical possibility, on top of that, there were no more Minor Foundation Building Pill quotas left for the Shi generation. Meanwhile, members of the Xing generation still had potential and with Lin Xingyuan, two people had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment. As long as they had the spiritual objects for Foundation Establishment, the Lin Family was not lacking in cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage. ¡°What¡¯s done is done; we can only accept it.¡± The two chatted idly for a while and then busied themselves with their own tasks. The Lin Family remained very tranquil, as if there were no ripples at all. Chapter 99 - 99 - 93: Selection of Contestants_1 Chapter 99 ¨C 93: Selection of Contestants_1 Lin Family Clan Grounds, Elders¡¯ Council Hall. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shihua was chatting casually with Lin Xingzhi when clan members occasionally entered. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and already more than ten people were present in the great hall, among them Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong. At that moment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu entered the hall side by side, and all the clanspeople stood up to greet them. The two men nodded in acknowledgement and then each took their seats in the vacant spots. Seeing that Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu had arrived, and with most members of the Elders¡¯ Council present, Lin Shihua rose to his feet to speak. ¡°Since all our kinsmen have gathered, let us begin,¡± he said. ... ¡°Today, we convene to discuss the upcoming Luoyun Market Competition,¡± he announced. ¡°Xingzhi, you have been overseeing the market for nearly two years now, give us a report on the market situation first,¡± he requested. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xingzhi stood and began to report: ¡°Over the past two years, the Luoyun Market has been as peaceful as ever, even the Jin Family has become much less troublesome, with all five major families conducting business in an orderly manner and not disturbing one another, which is extremely abnormal.¡± ¡°Strangely, consumable elixirs and various Fu Lu Spiritual Instruments have become sought-after in the shops, with their selling price generally increased by ten percent compared to a few years ago, which clearly indicates that the five major families and some stronger Qi Refining Families are deliberately accumulating resources for war.¡± ¡°Although the Jin Family is being quite secretive, they have still revealed some traces of their activity,¡± he observed. ¡°All indications point to the Jin Family definitely harboring intentions of making a move,¡± he analyzed. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The clanspeople began to discuss among themselves, exchanging their own opinions, filling the great hall with lively chatter. This information was almost old news to the Lin Family¡¯s high-ranking members and those with higher cultivation, but it was just reiterated to maintain a sense of urgency among the clan members. ¡°Xingzhi, do not relax your vigilance, continue to monitor the Jin Family¡¯s movements, and report back promptly with any news,¡± Lin Shihua ordered with a stern expression. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xingzhi saluted and then sat down again. ¡°Next, we need to discuss the candidates for the forthcoming Luoyun Market Competition. Some of the clanspeople present have not experienced it before, so I will explain the rules to everyone first,¡± he said. The Luoyun Market Competition has a history of hundreds of years, and the event held every fifty years is extremely important for every family. The purpose of hosting the Luoyun Market Competition is to allocate market profits and to avoid direct conflict. The family that ranks first in the competition will earn thirty percent of the market¡¯s profit, the second gets twenty percent, the third, fifteen percent, and the fourth and fifth each get ten percent. The remaining fifteen percent is divided among more than ten Qi Refining Families. More than two hundred years ago, the Lin Family had twice consecutively taken the first place, but as the talent of subsequent generations declined, they gradually fell to third. Therefore, each competition is crucial; the Jin Family has already won first place three times in a row, amassing a great wealth over the span of more than a hundred years. It is with this wealth that the Jin Family has grown increasingly stronger, and the gap between the five major families has widened. The Jin Family is clearly no longer satisfied with the status quo. The Lin Family, having ranked third for three consecutive competitions, earns over thirty thousand spirit stones per year, with the vast majority of the Lin Family¡¯s wealth coming from the market, highlighting the importance of the Luoyun Market Competition. As for the rules of the competition, each of the five major families must select three Qi Refining Stage clan members to compete, with no participant older than forty years. Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua were among those who participated in the last competition. When the competition starts, the contestants from the five major families will be taken to the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range to hunt Demonic Beasts as teams. The hunting period is one month long; an Initial Phase First Order Demonic Beast is worth ten points, a Medium Stage fifty points, and a Late Stage a hundred points. Rankings are determined by the total points accumulated, and slaying a Second Order Demonic Beast almost guarantees a first place finish. Just then, a clan member who had no prior experience spoke up: ¡°If we¡¯re forming teams to hunt demonic beasts, couldn¡¯t someone simply bring out a prepared demonic beast corpse to boost their numbers?¡± ¡°Anything you can think of, everyone else can think of too. After hundreds of years of patching loopholes, that method is still unfeasible!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because after each demonic beast is slain, its corpse must be marked with a special seal. This seal is only assigned by drawing lots right before the start of the competition. Not only that, but whether a beast is being used to pad the numbers can be determined based on the time of its death.¡± If it¡¯s discovered that a family is helping or that a contestant is cheating, they will be immediately disqualified from participating for the next hundred years. Thus, no family has dared to cheat in this way. After Lin Shihua finished explaining, several Xing clan members without experience also understood the rules. ¡°Now that everyone understands, let¡¯s recommend candidates for the competition. Each clan member can nominate themselves or someone else, with the final selection to be decided by Foundation Establishment cultivators.¡± At this point, most of the clan members started discussing it. In the Lin Family, those under forty with at least Seventh Level Qi Cultivation, considering realm, only qualified seven clan members to be candidates, most of whom were the younger Xing clan members. ¡°Tian Ming is the top choice!¡± ¡°I also nominate Tian Ming!¡± Very quickly, many clan members endorsed him, and Lin Tianming was the first to be selected. According to the rules, with his Ninth Level Qi Refinement, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was extraordinarily strong, making him the natural first choice. As for the other two candidates, everyone had their own opinions. ¡°I nominate Xing Qi, he¡¯s at the Qi Refining Eighth Level and just under forty!¡± ¡°I nominate Xing Yu, he¡¯s also at Qi Refining Eighth Level and meets the criteria.¡± Lin Shiji, who had been silent for a long while, suddenly spoke up with his suggestion. ¡°I think Tianfeng isn¡¯t bad, even though his cultivation is only at Seventh Level Qi Cultivation, the lad is experienced and strong. The difference of one level isn¡¯t significant, I believe Tianfeng is fully capable.¡± Lin Shixin also spoke up supporting Lin Tianfeng. After half an hour, various clan members expressed their views. In the end, five candidates were left for Lin Shikang and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators to decide on. ¡°Third Brother, Ninth Brother, Shi Lu, what are your thoughts?¡± Lin Shihua started to inquire. Continue your adventure with empire After several discussions, they decided to select Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng. With the candidates determined, Lin Shihua spoke up. ¡°The candidates have been determined, with Xing Yu, Tian Ming, and Tianfeng participating. Each will receive a Jade Spirit Fruit to further their progress. As for the rewards after the competition, that will be discussed once it is over.¡± ¡°Alright, with the competition matters settled, does anyone have anything else to report?¡± Seeing no one else speak, Lin Shikang stood up and said: ¡°There is only half a year left until the Luoyun Market competition. This competition is particularly important as it could trigger a large-scale clan war. Although the risks are high, it is also an opportunity for our Lin Family. All clan members must stay sharp and prepare to face the threat from the Jin Family.¡± ¡°Shiji, in three months¡¯ time, all family protective formations must be activated. All clan members are forbidden to leave privately and must not leave their posts unauthorized. Did everyone hear that clearly?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The clan members responded in unison. Leading the way, Lin Shikang was the first to walk out of the hall. In a moment, all the clan members left in order, and this clan meeting concluded. Chapter 100 - 100 - 94 Family Fire Seed (Two in One) _1 Chapter 100 ¨C 94 Family Fire Seed (Two in One) _1 Inside the Hundred Treasures Building at the Luoyun Market. Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianming were sitting in armchairs, drinking tea and making idle conversation. ¡°Tianming, the date of the Market¡¯s grand competition is approaching, and the family has already decided on the participants. You¡¯ll lead the team in the competition, joined by Tianfeng and your Uncle Xing Yu.¡± ¡°Tianfeng is also participating?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, indicating that the family¡¯s situation didn¡¯t seem optimistic. The significance of the Market¡¯s grand competition goes without saying. The Tian Clan Members are still young, and the Xing Clan Members with higher cultivation have exceeded the age limit. If the competition were to be held a decade later, when the Tian Clan Members had grown further, the Lin Family would stand a much better chance. Regrettably, things didn¡¯t go as hoped, and the Lin Family was stuck in a transitional period. ... As for his own participation in the competition, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised. When he returned to the family half a year ago, his grandfather had already hinted that it was very likely he¡¯d participate, so he had started preparing early on. ¡°Seventeenth Uncle, I¡¯ve already made preparations!¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded his head. Although the cultivations of the family¡¯s participants weren¡¯t particularly high this time¡ªonly Lin Tianming had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining¡ªhe had a lot of confidence in Lin Tianming. ¡°Hmm, you probably don¡¯t know the rules of the competition yet. Let me tell you again, so you¡¯re mentally prepared,¡± Lin Xingzhi said, and explained the rules thoroughly and in detail. Discover more stories at empire After a quarter hour, Lin Tianming nodded to confirm he understood the rules. Lin Xingzhi let out a sigh of relief and then handed Lin Tianming a Jade Spirit Fruit. ¡°This Jade Spirit Fruit is provided by the family for the three of you. Try to enhance your strengths as much as possible. After the competition is over, there will also be generous rewards!¡± Lin Tianming received the Jade Spirit Fruit and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Seventeenth Uncle, we will definitely take first place in the competition!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming full of confidence, Lin Xingzhi was very gratified and couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Good! You truly are a fine man of our Lin Family. I believe you can do it!¡± ¡°Tianming, time is tight, you¡¯ve only got half a year. Go into seclusion to cultivate and try to improve your cultivation level as much as possible!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianming agreed wholeheartedly, bowed with his hands clasped before leaving. A quarter hour later, he returned to his little courtyard and immediately entered the secret chamber. With half a year until the competition and possessing the Jade Spirit Fruit, he could cultivate once more, trying to improve his cultivation level as much as possible. Making up his mind, he immediately entered a state of cultivation. ¡­ Four months passed in a flash. The five great families of the Luoyun Mountain Range were unusually calm, an unprecedented harmony that had lasted nearly two years, truly unexpected. ¡­ In the northern part of the Luoyun Market, within a valley shrouded in dense fog, seven cultivators arrived on flying swords and descended on a mountaintop. Standing on the mountaintop, overlooking the entire valley, a small river about several zhang wide meandered eastward. The large expanse of bamboo forests among the mountains offered a beautiful view, somewhat reminiscent of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Xingrong took out a map made of beast skin and observed the whole valley repeatedly, then compared it carefully. After meticulous comparison, he was certain that this was the place mentioned by Lin Shikang. This valley, discovered by Lin Shikang many years ago during his travels, was particularly secluded, right on the edge of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Another five hundred li to the north would reach the edge of the Maple Forest Mountain Range. The location was complex, at the fringe of the Jin Family¡¯s influence and close to the Maple Forest Mountain Range. Less than two thousand li from the Qianchuan Market, if Lin Xingrong traveled at full speed, it would take just a few days to reach the Qianchuan Market. After confirming the location was correct, Lin Xingrong extended his Divine Sense, searching throughout the valley. A quarter hour later, finding nothing unusual in the valley, he led the way into the valley, followed closely by the other six. Once inside, Lin Xingrong told Lin Xingqi who was behind him, ¡°Xingqi, you guys start digging a cave dwelling in the mountain waist right away. It doesn¡¯t need to be big, just enough for the seven of us to live in!¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xingqi called Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianhu, and the others, and they all took out their Spirit Swords and began digging. After half an hour, Lin Xingqi and the others had carved out a passage tens of zhang deep into the mountain waist, with several rooms of varying sizes on each side. Although rudimentary, they were suitable for temporary lodging. Lin Xingrong took out a set of First Order Medium Grade array instruments and quickly arranged them around the cave entrance, also setting up several Illusion Techniques, before entering the cave. Gathering his fellow clan members, they sat down together. Lin Xingrong¡¯s demeanor was solemn as he swept his sharp gaze over the clan members. Lin Xingqi, Lin Xingyi, Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianhu, and he himself made up a total of seven people. Looking at the two generations of clan members, all of whom were among the most talented in the Lin Family, Lin Xingrong felt both proud and helpless. He thought of the task assigned to him by Lin Shikang and the words he had said, and it weighed heavily on him. Initially, he opposed sending away these clan members, preferring to face whatever came with them, only to be scolded by Lin Shikang. If their lineage really ended, how could they face their ancestors? Thinking of the trust placed in him by Lin Shikang, Lin Xingrong felt an enormous sense of responsibility and was extra cautious along the way, for fear of being detected by the Jin Family. For a short distance of just over a thousand li, it took nearly ten days to travel safely. In the meantime, the several people were unaware of the full situation and didn¡¯t dare to ask, only knowing they were carrying out a special mission. Looking at the perplexed looks of his clan members, Lin Xingrong¡¯s expression turned grave as he laid out the entire situation before them. After hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingqi¡¯s expression was resolute as he took the lead in volunteering. ¡°Brother, is our special mission to stay here in seclusion for half a year? To let the clan members shed blood and sacrifice themselves? I want to go back and face it with the clan. I¡¯m not afraid of death!¡± Chapter 101 - 101 - 94 Family Fire Seed (Two in One) _2 Chapter 101 ¨C 94 Family Fire Seed (Two in One) _2 ¡°Eleventh Uncle, I¡¯m not afraid of dying either. I don¡¯t want to live a life of constant fear and hiding; I want to go back and face the unknown dangers with my clan members, even if it means being shattered to pieces!¡± Lin Tianhong also spoke up, pleading to return to Green Bamboo Mountain and join his clan members. It wasn¡¯t just the two of them; even the two women, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue, echoed the sentiment. Moved by the heartfelt words of the clanspeople, Lin Xingrong was deeply touched. ¡°I understand how you feel. When my third uncle sought me out, I felt the same as you. If the family is truly in danger, we must have a contingency in place to reassure our people, otherwise, how can we face our esteemed ancestors!¡± ¡°There is no need for you to worry. Our Lin Family already has six Foundation Establishment Cultivators and a strategic reserve left by our ancestors. It will not be easy for anyone who wants to take down our family. As long as everything is safe after six months, I will naturally bring you back.¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong reveal the Lin Family¡¯s hidden strength and trump cards, their reactions were somewhat less intense. ... ¡°Before the tournament in Luoyun Market begins, I will leave for a short while to find Fifteenth Uncle. During the days I¡¯m gone, you must all follow Xing Qi¡¯s arrangements.¡± ¡°In summary, during this period, no one is allowed to leave without authorization or reveal themselves with the Lin surname. We must change our appearances and hide our identities, or severe punishment will follow!¡± ¡°Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Despite their reluctance, faced with Lin Xingrong¡¯s commands, they could only obey. ¡°Good. Now, each of you pick a secret chamber and begin your closed-door cultivation!¡± The six people bowed and departed after choosing their chambers. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, Family Elders¡¯ Hall. Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu had both emerged from seclusion and were casually chatting. In the past two years, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, as the two with the highest cultivation in the family, rarely made public appearances, choosing instead to cultivate in seclusion, striving to break through a minor realm to better manage potential dangers. Continue your saga on empire Before long, the assembled clanspeople arrived, and Clan Leader Lin Shihua stood up, convening a meeting. ¡°The reason I¡¯ve called everyone here today is for the Luoyun Market tournament. With just one month left, I¡¯d like third brother to make the final arrangements!¡± After speaking, Lin Shihua turned to Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang stood up, his expression solemn as he said: ¡°The participants for the tournament in Luoyun Market have been decided upon. Shi Lu will lead the team, departing in three days. Xing Rong has already set off in advance, lying in wait near the Luoyun Mountain Range. With Shi Lu in the open and Xing Rong concealed, they can cover for each other.¡± ¡°This tournament in Luoyun Market is a fuse; regardless of our ranking, the Jin Family might take action. If the Jin Family moves against Tian Ming and the others, having two Foundation Establishment Cultivators for protection should ensure safe retreats.¡± ¡°As for the family estate here, with all the family¡¯s formations fully activated and myself overseeing them, along with the family¡¯s Guardian Spirit Beast and all the clanspeople, it¡¯s unlikely our safety will be threatened unless we¡¯re attacked by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator or a high-order Array Master.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words brought a measure of comfort to the Xing Clan Members. In nearly a hundred years, the five major families had lived in relative peace, with plenty of minor skirmishes among Qi Refinement participants that could not shake the foundations of the families. Now, with the possibility of a large-scale clan war erupting, many were understandably concerned. Seeing the reaction of numerous clanspeople, Lin Shikang continued. ¡°Although we have the protection of the great formation, we must not be careless. All clan members must be extra cautious, strictly forbidden from going out privately, ready to face any attack from the Jin Family!¡± ¡°Did you all hear that clearly?¡± ¡°We heard clearly!¡± All the clanspeople stood up and responded with a bow. Satisfied, Lin Shikang nodded and dismissed the gathering. As a large number of Xing Clan Members left the hall, eventually only eight people tacitly remained behind. Among the nine people left, eight were of the Shi generation, and the sole person from the Xing generation was Lin Xingyuan, who had just recently made a breakthrough. The nine people sat in a circle, none of them speaking first. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Seeing no one start the conversation, Lin Shikang spoke up: ¡°Shixin, have all the elixirs and talismans been distributed?¡± Lin Shixin¡¯s expression was calm as he replied truthfully: ¡°Third Brother, they were distributed half a year ago as required, exhausting all the accumulated resources for war preparations.¡± To confront the potential crisis, the Lin Family had greatly enhanced the combat capability of its clanspeople by freely distributing resources accumulated over many years, with almost all Qi Refining Stage clanspeople receiving a portion of the resources. The few who didn¡¯t receive resources either didn¡¯t need them, like Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin, who, despite failing to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, were not comparable to ordinary cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage¡ªtherefore, those elixir charms were of little use to them. Another part was the clanspeople at the first and second layers of Qi Refining, whose cultivation was too low to be of significant use. Those from the third to the ninth layers of Qi Refining could all claim varying quantities of items, principally Lingshen Pills, Huiyuan Pills, and Consolidating Essence Pills, along with talismans of different grades. Following multiple orders from the family, the entire Lin Family operated like a war machine. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± After Lin Shixin¡¯s briefing, Lin Shikang said with a sense of gravity to Lin Shilu: ¡°Shilu, once this clan war erupts, it will not be like the previous ones; we must make more preparations and keep some contingencies.¡± ¡°Among the clan, we have several Tian progeny who are exceptionally talented. As the seeds of the Lin Family, they have already left the clan in secret with Xing Rong and are temporarily hiding their identities. More importantly, Tian Ming, that child¡¯s talents need no elaboration; he is the hope for our family¡¯s rise. If the clan lands are lost, you and Xing Rong must protect him and wait for the younger generations to grow before returning to Green Bamboo Mountain!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangements was like hearing a plea to care for his offspring; all the people in the hall felt a heavy heart. Seeing that the hall had fallen exceptionally quiet and everyone¡¯s expressions were solemn, Lin Shilu spoke to reassure everyone. ¡°Third Brother, our Lin Family has an eight-hundred-year history and has survived several crises. I believe we will get through this one as well¡ªno need to worry too much!¡± ¡°Shilu is right, Third Brother, don¡¯t overthink it!¡± The clan members echoed one after another. Hearing the reassurances of everyone, Lin Shikang said with a smile: ¡°No need to be too pessimistic, everyone. Although the Jin Family is strong, the Lin Family also has six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the Guardian Spirit Beast. Nowadays, the Lin Family is no longer what it once was. Moreover, the Jin Family has no idea about Shi Gong and the others reaching Foundation Establishment; if they underestimate our strength, we can catch them off guard.¡± ¡°Besides our Lin Family, the Sun Family is also profound. Perhaps our Lin Family can take this opportunity to rise and dominate the entire Luoyun Mountain Range!¡± At these words, a fiery gleam flickered in the eyes of the clan members. The Lin Family had been dormant for two hundred years; if they could restore their past glory, even at the cost of sacrifice, it would be worth it. Now, with six Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family¡ªone more than the Jin Family had openly¡ªit truly held a not-insignificant hope. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In any case, although this is a crisis, it is also a great opportunity; all clanspeople must give their all. If we succeed in eradictating the Jin Family, we can rekindle the glory of our ancestors.¡± After Lin Shikang¡¯s bold and inspiring speech, the psychological burden on the clanspeople was somewhat lifted. Next, Lin Shikang took out a book that contained detailed information on the key members of the Jin Family, the latest intelligence gathered by the family over several years. The clan members took turns browsing through it, and Lin Shikang began to narrate. ¡°Jin Zhiying, a member of the Jin Family¡¯s Zhi generation, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and he reached this level thirty years ago, undoubtedly at the Great Perfection Realm, the highest cultivation in the Jin Family. It¡¯s been thirty years since he last appeared, making him the most dangerous.¡± ¡°Jin Zhison, at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, an experienced Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Jin Family with formidable strength, who once served as the Clan Leader of the Jin Family, now rarely makes an appearance!¡± ¡°Jin Chaozong, cultivator of the Jin Family¡¯s Chao generation, at the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment, stationed at Luoyun Market, the most frequently seen member of the Jin Family!¡± ¡°Jin Qishan, a cultivator of the Jin Family¡¯s Qi generation, with Dual Spiritual Roots, likely at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm, and possibly already at Foundation Establishment. He has great potential; if there¡¯s a chance, he must be killed; otherwise, the Jin Family will become an even more difficult adversary in a few decades.¡± ¡­ ¡°The information on these individuals might not be entirely accurate, so everyone should only take it as a reference and not let their guard down!¡± After introducing information on more than ten individuals, the clan members finally understood the strength of the Jin Family¡ªit truly was profound. After an hour of analysis and discussion, the clanspeople had a good grasp of the Jin Family¡¯s strength. Lin Shikang assigned tasks to everyone and then dismissed the clan members. All rose to their feet, clasped fists, and departed. Chapter 102 - 102 - 95 - The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_1 Chapter 102 ¨C 95 ¨C The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_1 Three days later, at Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. In the plaza outside the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, dozens of people were gathered, almost all of them clan members above the fourth level of Qi Refinement. The clan members participating in the Luoyun Market competition were leaving the clan territory today, headed for Luoyun Market. A crowd emerged from their seclusions to see off Lin Shilu and the others. Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, and Clan Leader Lin Shihua, as well as other clan members of the ¡°Shi¡± generation, were all present without exception. In the plaza, Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng were bidding farewell to familiar clan members. Looking at the people before him, Lin Shikang seemed somewhat melancholic. Despite having given instructions several times over in the past few days, Lin Shikang still took Lin Shilu aside for a long chat. ... After speaking for a good half an hour, it was Lin Shilu who finally took the initiative to say goodbye. ¡°Third brother, Ninth Brother, it¡¯s getting late. We must depart now, please take care of things within the clan!¡± ¡°Hmm, be careful in everything, and remember not to act recklessly!¡± After speaking, Lin Shikang took out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Shilu, whispering something to him. More than ten breaths later, not until Lin Shilu had promised repeatedly, did Lin Shikang let out a sigh of relief and personally escorted Lin Shilu and the others outside the Protective Clan Formation. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a large group of clan members appeared at the entrance to the formation. Watching the clan members before him, Lin Shilu¡¯s heart felt complex. Parting now, it was hard to predict¡ªif it might be a final farewell. ¡°Shi Lu, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, having already given all the necessary instructions¡ªit was time to set off. With slightly reddened eyes, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and others, bowed to a certain tower within the clan and then passed through the light curtain of the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the clan¡¯s formation. Explore more adventures at empire Lin Shilu waved his hands and pulled out a Flying Sword from the storage bag, which he suspended in front of him. After casting a Law Decree, the greenish-yellow Spirit Sword swiftly grew to a length of three Zhang. Lin Shilu leaped onto the sword first, followed by Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng. Infusing it with Spiritual Power, the Spirit Sword soared into the air, flying towards Luoyun Market in the north. Watching Lin Shilu ride the sword away until he disappeared into the horizon, Lin Shikang still did not move. After gazing for half an hour, at Lin Shigong¡¯s reminder did he finally snap back to attention, let out a sigh, and turned to Lin Shihua to speak. ¡°Has the Protective Clan Formation been fully activated?¡± ¡°It has been activated!¡± Lin Shihua responded truthfully, and then reported on the defense situation of the Lin Family. Ever since the Lin Family had entered a state of war preparedness, groups of people patrolled the clan territory every day. Even the range of the Protective Clan Formation had been significantly reduced, covering only the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain and a small town where mortals lived. With the reduced range and all the formations activated, the defensive and offensive power of the formation had increased several-fold, but the consumption of Spirit Stones was enormous. If it went on for too long, the Lin Family could not sustain it; they could only hold out for half a year. After hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements, Lin Shikang was very satisfied. After disbanding the rest of the clan members, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua together inspected the clan territory one last time to ensure no oversights, then returned to the Summit of Qingzhu Mountain. ¡­ At Golden Horn Mountain, Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory. Beneath a thousand-zhang high peak, several rivers converged at the base of the mountain to form a massive waterfall, a spectacular sight to behold. Inside a pavilion atop the mountain, Jin Zhiying sat with a man in a black robe in the high seat of the great hall. Several members of the Jin Family were seated below, listening to the conversation between Jin Zhiying and the black-robed elder. Jin Zhiying lifted a jade teacup, took a sip of Spiritual Tea, and began to chat leisurely with the black-robed elder beside him, speaking very politely. ¡°Daoist Zhuang, are you confident in the task you have been entrusted with?¡± In response to Jin Zhiying¡¯s question, the Zhuang-surnamed elder revealed a hint of an unusual expression. ¡°I am absolutely certain I can break through the Protective Clan Formation of the other families, but the Lin Family¡¯s formation is of no low grade; I am not overly confident. However, if Jin Daoyou launches a full-force attack, as long as a gap in the formation is opened, I can take advantage of it to find a flaw, and there is a good chance of breaking through the formation.¡± Hearing Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s assurance, Jin Zhiying showed a strange smile. The Luoyun Mountain Range had been peaceful for nearly two hundred years. In order to swallow the other four major families in one fell swoop, he had been scheming for decades, and now the time was ripe; it was time to make a move. If he was going to strike, he had to inflict a total defeat on the other four major families. If he could acquire the treasures of the Sun Family and Lin Family, he might even have the chance to break through to the Golden Core Realm. An excited Jin Zhiying considered this possibility. ¡°Hmm, with Daoist Zhuang¡¯s involvement, we¡¯re bound to succeed this time.¡± ¡°Here is a small portion of the deposit; after the matter is settled, the Jin Family will provide the remaining Spirit Stones, to your satisfaction!¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After finishing his words, Jin Zhiying handed over a storage bag to Zhuang Zhenxin. After taking the storage bag from Jin Zhiying¡¯s hand and checking its contents with his Divine Sense, Zhuang Zhenxin showed a satisfied smile, quickly regaining his composure. ¡°Rest assured, Jin Daoyou, I will do my utmost. However, let me say this clearly: as per our agreement, after the success, I shall have unrestricted access to the collections of the Sun Family and Lin Family, and you must hand over the item I require. I hope Jin Daoyou does not go back on his word. Otherwise¡­¡± Jin Zhiying nodded, confidently saying: ¡°Of course, if Daoist Zhuang fulfills the task, the Jin Family will not break its word!¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Once the two came to an agreement, Jin Zhiying turned his gaze to the many clan members below. ¡°Zhisong, the day for the Luoyun Market competition is approaching. You and Chao Zong bring the younger generation along. Act according to plan. That Lin youngster has an exceptional talent; we must ensure his demise. Should he escape, he would become a relentless problem for the future.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Jin Zhison stood up and cupped his hands in response, then took the clan members with him as they departed. ¡­ Inside a secret chamber in a small courtyard within Luoyun Market, Lin Tianming was operating his Cultivation Technique, inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Energy rhythmically. Chapter 103 - 103 - 95 - The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_2 Chapter 103 ¨C 95 ¨C The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_2 As a message transmission penetrated the secret chamber, it interrupted Lin Tianming, who had been cultivating for several months. For half a year, Lin Tianming had been in seclusion, cultivating and consuming Jade Spirit Fruits provided by the family, stabilizing his cultivation at the medium stage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Had the effects of the Jade Spirit Fruits not diminished after repeated doses compared to the first, perhaps with the help of elixirs, he could have made even further progress. Opening his eyes, a sharp light flickered within his bright pupils. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s aura was extremely stable and contained, and his physical condition was excellent. After tidying up the scattered jade boxes and jade bottles around him, he stood up and left the secret chamber. Inside the courtyard, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu, had already arrived at the market, discussing something with Lin Xingzhi and others. ... Upon seeing Lin Tianming emerge, Lin Shilu was delighted and waved him over. Lin Tianming hurriedly stepped forward to salute, ¡°Tianming pays respect to Fifteenth Grandfather and all the elders of our clan.¡± ¡°Tianming, come over and sit!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After Lin Tianming sat down, he greeted Lin Tianfeng. Having not seen each other for half a year, Lin Tianfeng had also made significant progress. His cultivation was nearing the peak of the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, with an aura as sharp as a Spirit Sword, particularly striking. Unlike him, Lin Tianming¡¯s aura was more subdued, and other than looking robust, he seemed like an ordinary martial artist. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Shilu recounted the rules and details of the Luoyun Market competition once again. Even though the others had heard it several times before, they still listened attentively. After all, Lin Shilu¡¯s personal experiences with the competition were quite different from what others relayed. An hour passed, and Lin Shilu finished introducing the rules of the Luoyun Market competition, the range of the training grounds, and the strength of the Demonic Beasts. With Lin Shilu¡¯s careful introduction and shared experiences, Lin Tianming and others learned a great deal. In the end, Lin Shilu took out a book and handed it to them. ¡°This contains intelligence on the people of the other four major families, only the most important dozen or so. Although it might not be completely accurate, it can serve as a reference. The Sun Family, although our allies, should not be taken lightly. Without a full-scale war erupting, they are still competitors, so proceed with all due caution.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After receiving the book, each person entered a secret chamber for a short-term seclusion, waiting for the start of the Luoyun Market competition. ¡­ Inside his secret chamber, Lin Tianming took out the book and began to scrutinize it carefully. Jin Zhiying, Jin Chaozong, Jin Qishan, Lin Tianming paused when he reached this point. Jin Qishan, a dual-Spiritual Roots Cultivator from the Jin Family, only twenty-eight years old, definitely had the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage cultivation, perfectly eligible for the competition. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt no small pressure. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Exhaling a breath of turbid air, he once again began to study the introductions of the other individuals. Sun Dingxian, Sun Ruiqing, Luo Chengjian, Wu Yinbao, he read through the roster of cultivators from each major family one by one, committing them to memory. With only one month left, the more he could enhance his cultivation, the safer he would be. Soon after, Lin Tianming resumed his cultivation practice. ¡­ In a secret chamber within a valley at the northern boundary of the Luoyun Mountain Range, within the territory of the Jin Family, Lin Xingrong sat on a stone bed in the secret chamber, talking to himself. ¡°There are ten more days until the Luoyun Market competition. It¡¯s about time. We should set out!¡± Read new adventures at empire With that, Lin Xingrong sent out two messages. Before long, Lin Xingqi and Lin Tianhong entered the secret chamber. Looking at the two, close in age but of different generations, he said solemnly, ¡°Xingqi, I will be away for more than a month. During this period, do not leave the cave residence without authorization. If an emergency arises, take the younger ones to the Qianchuan Market and seek out Elder Ye!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really a last resort and you do go to Qianchuan Market, hand this storage bag over to Elder Ye. I believe after he sees it, he will naturally offer you protection for a while!¡± After speaking, Lin Xingrong pulled out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Xingqi. Lin Xingqi took the storage bag with a resolute expression, saying, ¡°Rest assured, big brother, I will protect the youngsters and not let you down!¡± Pleased with the response, Lin Xingrong let them return to the secret chamber to cultivate. After the two left, Lin Xingrong stood up from the cave and, with a reluctant look, flew away towards the south. And so, time swiftly flew by. One clear morning, Lin Tianming emerged from the secret chamber and gathered with Lin Tianfeng and others, awaiting Lin Shilu. After more than ten breaths, Lin Shilu came out, stood in front of everyone, and scrutinized them repeatedly. Then, with satisfaction, he nodded and spoke, ¡°Depart!¡± Lin Shilu led the way, with Lin Tianming and the others following closely behind. Leaving the courtyard, the four weaved through the streets, heading towards the entrance of Luoyun Market. As the great competition of Luoyun Market approached, the flow of people noticeably increased. Many cultivators who enjoyed spectacles left the market area and assembled at the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. When Lin Shilu and the others exited the entrance of the market, they summoned their flying swords, instantly attracting the attention of many cultivators. ¡°It¡¯s Elder Lin from the Lin Family!¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ A few Qi Training Cultivators exclaimed, drawing the gaze of a large number of cultivators towards Lin Tianming and his group. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t pay them any mind, leading the others straight westward and quickly disappearing from sight. After an hour of expeditious travel, Lin Tianming and the others passed through the vast Guangmao Plain and appeared on top of a mountain hundreds of zhang high. Standing in the air, Lin Tianming surveyed the gathering spot below. The mountain wasn¡¯t very tall, noticeably standing out on the expansive plain, with a nearly hundred-acre plateau at its peak that surprisingly formed a natural arena. Below the mountain, over a hundred Qi Refining Cultivators had already gathered to watch the fun. On the plateau, the Luo and Wu families had already arrived early, and several cultivators from Qi Refining Families were also watching the battle from the stage. Descending with his group to one corner of the plaza, the cultivators leading the Luo and Wu families greeted Lin Shilu with smiles. Lin Shilu reciprocated each greeting, appearing quite generous and proper. Soon after, four people arrived via Sword Flight from the sky, landing not far from the Lin Family Members. The leader of the group was Sun Dingfeng, who had previously gone to Green Bamboo Mountain to seek an alliance. Before he even landed, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s hearty laughter could be heard. ¡°Haha, I didn¡¯t expect my fellow Daoists to have arrived before me. My respects to you all!¡± Lin Shilu and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators politely returned the greeting, being very courteous. After exchanging pleasantries, they didn¡¯t say much more, each choosing to sit aside and quietly restore their energy. With the arrival of the Sun Family, four of the five great families had arrived, leaving only the Jin Family yet to appear. A tea¡¯s time had passed, and the number of cultivators who had come to watch the excitement had reached more than two hundred. Amidst the crowd¡¯s commotion, a few cultivators shouted towards the sky: ¡°The Jin Family has arrived, led by none other than Elder Jin Zhison!¡± Hearing the man¡¯s exclamation, a great number of cultivators looked up into the sky, their faces filled with longing. Jin Zhison descended opposite the Lin Family members with a calm demeanor, greeting everyone. Since there had been no complete falling out, Lin Shilu and Sun Dingfeng didn¡¯t show any unusual expression either, smiling and paying their respects but without much enthusiasm. Jin Zhison didn¡¯t mind, appearing as if he had anticipated their response. The unspoken agreement among them felt odd to the onlookers. Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the five great families each took out a Spirit Sword of varying colors and threw them into the air, randomly shifting their positions. The five Foundation Establishment Cultivators reached out through the air and each retrieved a Spirit Sword. Lin Shilu caught a green Spirit Sword, which was surrounded by strong Wood-attribute Spiritual Power, quite peculiar. According to Lin Shilu, these five differently attributed Spirit Swords were crafted hundreds of years ago by a Third Order Artificer at the request of the five great families. Though their grade was only First Order Superior Grade, weaker than even the First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact, they served a special purpose: they could leave a unique mark. After every major competition, when the five great families redistributed the Spirit Swords, one was not allowed to catch the one they had the previous time. Therefore, it was impossible for someone to have the same sword twice within two hundred years. After handing the Spirit Sword to Lin Tianming, the other families also passed their Spirit Swords to the younger members of their clans. Then, Jin Zhison spoke, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that the Spirit Swords have been distributed, shall we begin?¡± Seeing that Lin Shilu and the others had no objections, Jin Zhison continued, ¡°There¡¯s no need to reiterate the rules of Luoyun Market¡¯s grand competition. Your elders have already informed you. During the competition, life and death will be up to fate. Gather here in a month, and the ranking will be decided based on points!¡± After speaking, Jin Zhison instructed Jin Qishan behind him, ¡°Go ahead!¡± Jin Zhison and his three companions didn¡¯t hesitate, saluted, and immediately rose on their swords, flying into the western mountains. Seeing that Jin Family members had left, the other families didn¡¯t linger either. The elder leaders of the groups gave a few instructions and each chose a direction to depart. Lin Shilu also didn¡¯t wait further, instructing Lin Tianming with a few words. Lin Tianming and the other two saluted with cupped fists, jumped onto their flying swords, and flew into the western mountain range. Chapter 104 - 104 - 96 Green-Red Mantis_1 Chapter 104 ¨C 96 Green-Red Mantis_1 On the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range, within a secluded dense forest, Lin Tianming and his two companions carefully navigated through it. Five whole days had passed, and the trio¡¯s gains were meager. They had killed only five Demonic Beasts in the Initial Phase of the First Order, and two in the Medium Stage, totaling less than two hundred points. The three of them perched on the branches of a tree beside them, gazing into the depths of the dense forest, deep in thought. ¡°Tian Ming, this won¡¯t do. The number of Demonic Beasts in the outer perimeter is really limited. They¡¯re mostly in the Initial Phase, and there are hardly any in the Medium Stage, let alone the Later Stages,¡± said Lin Xingyu, pulling the other two back to reality from their contemplation. ¡°Yeah, at this rate, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t get much!¡± Lin Xingyu¡¯s words won Lin Tianfeng¡¯s agreement. After much consideration, Lin Tianming realized that in the outer perimeter, where Monster Hunting Squads often train, the number of Demonic Beasts had drastically decreased, and those in the Medium Stage were rarely seen. If things continued like this, progress would be slow. ... Although they were only a three-person team, their overall strength was not weak. In the inner area, as long as they didn¡¯t provoke the larger tribes, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming decisively made a decision. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Uncle, Elder Brother, I want to enter the inner area. What do you think?¡± Lin Tianming asked. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, Lin Xingyu and the other understood. Hunting Demonic Beasts on the periphery might be safe, but it was impossible to win first place in the great competition. If they wanted to achieve a good result, taking risks was inevitable. ¡°I have no objections!¡± ¡°Neither do I!¡± With Lin Xingyu and the other¡¯s affirmation, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t say anything more. He led the two of them, turning direction and rushing towards the inner regions of the mountain range. Three days later, within a quiet valley, the trio revealed their figures. Gazing across, the valley wasn¡¯t large, only several hundred zhang in length, with a large quantity of jungles around, lush vegetation that covered it all very well. ¡°Tian Ming, have you discovered anything?¡± asked Lin Xingyu curiously as he saw Lin Tianming not moving forward, but silently staring at the valley ahead. As the two were puzzled, the shrill cries of some creatures caught the attention of all three. After a few moments, over forty Demon Insects attacked the trio, kicking up a great amount of dust. Once the dust settled, the true forms of the Demon Insects were exposed. ¡°It¡¯s the Green-Red Mantis!¡± Before the words were finished, the Green-Red Mantises quickly moved, surrounding the group tightly, yet not attacking, seemingly wary of them. Lin Tianming¡¯s face was solemn as he scrutinized the Demon Insects that had encircled them. There were well over forty Green-Red Mantises of varying sizes, with the largest ones nearly half a zhang in size, their legs bristling with dense, sharp spines that looked particularly threatening. Among the Demon Insects, the largest five were in the Late Stage of the First Order, while the others were either in the Medium Stage or the Initial Phase. As both parties were in a standoff, Lin Tianming quickly began to think. In the past few days since entering the inner region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, they hadn¡¯t found any particularly suitable Demon Beast Tribe to hunt. Either they were too weak to yield much gain, or they were too strong to risk provoking lightly. However, this tribe of Green-Red Mantises, while not weak and not without risks, was a rare equal match for them. Seeing that more than half of the hunting period had passed, they had no more time to waste. ¡°Uncle, Elder Brother, get ready to make a move!¡± Lin Tianming decided and began to allocate the tactics. ¡°Uncle, you and elder brother each deal with a late stage Demonic Beast, while I¡¯ll hold off the others. Make it quick and decisive, finish off the two late stage Demon Insects then come help me!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Lin Xingyu and another answered, each taking out their Spiritual Artifacts, and picked their targets, charging towards the Green-Red Mantises. Seeing that the two had made their move, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate either. He summoned eighteen Earth Evil Swords, waved his hands, and the swords as beams of light sank into the ground, setting up the Sword Array to prevent the Demon Insects from escaping. He took out another Earth Evil Sword, consecutively releasing several Sword Qi straight towards the Green-Red Mantises. Seeing Lin Tianming and his party spring into action, the Green-Red Mantises did not sit and wait for death; the two late-stage Green-Red Mantises waved their limbs crossing them, and several green Wind Blades burst forth, meeting Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Qi. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Discover hidden tales at empire A sound like clashing metal rang out as the Wind Blades and Sword Qi collided together, exploding violently and creating a massive wave of turbulent air. On the fringes of the explosion, several initial stage Green-Red Mantises couldn¡¯t evade in time and were flipped by the powerful gusts, crashing into the valley¡¯s rock walls, completely incapacitated. As Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation had increased significantly, a casual blow from him was now comparable to a Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. And the initial stage Demonic Beasts couldn¡¯t even withstand the fluctuations caused by his fighting, as they were directly stunned and knocked out. On another side, Lin Tianfeng and another person each faced a late-stage Green-Red Mantis, as fierce battles unfolded between them. Since the Green-Red Mantises weren¡¯t very fast, and as long as one was careful of the Wind Blades they emitted, they weren¡¯t difficult to deal with. Each facing a Demonic Beast, they were under no substantial pressure. The two continuously summoned several Sword Qi. Sword light flashed, and the Green-Red Mantises were forced to retreat step by step, their defeat being only a matter of time. Seeing that the two had gained the upper hand, Lin Tianming stopped dividing his attention and focused on the Demon Insects in front of him. Before he knew it, Lin Tianming had already battled through dozens of exchanges, both sides sustaining injuries. The majority of the initial and medium stage Demon Insects had perished, with only about ten medium stage and above remaining, many of whom were already covered in wounds. Lin Tianming had also suffered quite a few superficial wounds, but fortunately, with his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, relying on his strong defensive power and recovery abilities, the injuries weren¡¯t serious, needing only two days of rest to fully recover. After a while, Lin Tianfeng and the other person had each dealt with their Demon Insects and joined Lin Tianming¡¯s battle group. With Lin Tianfeng and the other person joining in, the pressure on Lin Tianming suddenly decreased. The three attacked from three different directions, the remaining ten or so Demonic Beasts seeing that things looked bleak and started thinking of escape. Lin Tianming had already set up his Sword Array and naturally wouldn¡¯t let the Green-Red Mantises succeed. He pinched his fingers together, issuing several Law Decrees to activate the Sword Array, trapping all of the remaining Green-Red Mantises within a hundred yards. Sensing the vast amount of violent Sword Qi within the Sword Array, the Green-Red Mantises desperately tried to escape the range of the Sword Array. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pause at all, fully activating the Sword Array, shrinking the space within. As the space gradually decreased, cries of agony echoed from the Sword Array. A short time later, when the last Green-Red Mantis was struck by the Sword Qi and fell to the ground without breath, the battle was over. Seeing that all the Demon Insects had perished, Lin Tianming dispelled the Sword Array, collected all the Earth Evil Swords, then collapsed onto the ground, with a pale face but rapidly took out a Huiyuan Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng hadn¡¯t expended much energy, and while Lin Tianming was recovering, they quickly cleared the battlefield. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming had recovered nearly half of his Spiritual Power, and his complexion gradually grew rosier. Lin Tianming stood up, took out a Spirit Sword provided for the competition, unleashed Sword Qi, and marked all the Demonic Beast corpses. Lin Tianfeng and the other person swiftly dissected the Demonic Beast corpses, removing the useful parts and storing them in their storage bags. Chapter 105 - 105 - 97 Sun Family Seeks Help_1 Chapter 105 ¨C 97 Sun Family Seeks Help_1 After clearing the battlefield and ensuring nothing was overlooked, Lin Tianming and his two companions continued on their way towards the Green-Red Mantis¡¯s cave. After nearly ten days of searching, they finally achieved some results. After calculations, the points they had obtained amounted to over nineteen hundred, which was quite satisfying. The three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief. As for the cave of the Green-Red Mantis, it had yet to be explored; they should be able to find some treasures there, which brought a hint of a smile to their faces. Once they had calmed their emotions, the group headed into the valley. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three of them arrived deep in the valley. Looking around, they could see over a dozen caves of various sizes scattered at the base of the mountain, presumably the habitat of the Green-Red Mantis. Out of caution, the three did not rashly enter the serene depths of the valley. ... Lin Tianming took out the Earth Evil Sword, sending a slash of Sword Qi flying towards the interior of a cave. After a moment, other than a few sharp collision noises from within the cave, there was no other activity. After waiting for nearly half a quarter hour and seeing nothing unusual, Lin Tianming spoke. ¡°Uncle, Tianfeng, let¡¯s each enter a cave and quickly take whatever useful items we can find. We have limited time and must continue hunting demonic beasts,¡± he said. ¡°Alright, everyone be careful!¡± The other two had no objections and each began to act, with Lin Tianming choosing a cave and entering. Once inside, he found the cave quite spacious; even with several people walking side by side, it wouldn¡¯t feel crowded. They walked deeper along the cave¡¯s passage. Only after traversing several dozen yards did they reach the end. In the pitch-black depths of the cave, Lin Tianming carefully observed his surroundings. He saw that within a space of several yards, there were more than ten snow-white stones scattered in a small pit, each one the size of a fist and completely white. ¡°Snow Saliva Crystals!¡± Snow Saliva Crystals were First Order Spiritual Materials, formed from the condensed body fluids of the Green-Red Mantis. Each piece was worth over twenty Spirit Stones; they were widely used in alchemy and artifact refining, with many elixirs requiring them, and could be added in small quantities to artifacts to increase their properties. Lin Tianming quickly collected the Snow Saliva Crystals and exited the cave to search another one. After half an hour, the group had searched all the caves and totaled eighty-eight Snow Saliva Crystals, with a combined value exceeding seventeen hundred Spirit Stones. The three distributed the Snow Saliva Crystals on the spot. Lin Tianming, having exerted the most effort, received thirty-eight, Lin Xingyu got twenty-eight, and Lin Tianfeng got twenty-two. The three of them shared a satisfied smile over their haul. After distributing their loot, Lin Xingyu spoke up and asked, ¡°Tianming, where to next, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Prompted by Lin Xingyu¡¯s question, Lin Tianming began to think. With twenty days left until the end of the hunt, their haul was decent, but they didn¡¯t take it lightly. After all, Jin Family¡¯s hunting team was much more formidable. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Apart from Jin Qishan, the other two members were above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. With such strength, as long as they didn¡¯t provoke Second Order Demonic Beasts, even if they encountered a powerful Demon Beast Tribe, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to flee if they couldn¡¯t fight, posing little risk. In contrast, the Lin Family¡¯s team had varied levels of cultivation; Lin Tianfeng was slightly lower, which caused some difficulty when faced with tribes with many First Order Late Stage beasts, relying entirely on Lin Tianming to hold the fort. He Heaved a sigh, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Time waits for no one, we can only go deeper to find suitable Demon Beast Tribes and try to obtain as many points as possible.¡± ¡°The Jin Family¡¯s strength is a fact, but demonic beasts are not easy to find. Even if the Jin¡¯s are the strongest, they are not guaranteed winners. Anyway, we need to be quick. Aside from necessary healing and cultivation, we must kill more demonic beasts as soon as possible.¡± The words of Lin Tianming allowed the other two to relax a little. Since they had entered the competition, they naturally aimed to come first, as it involved forty percent of the market¡¯s fifty-year profits, a large amount of Spirit Stones that they could not afford to give up. Having made up their minds, the three set off again, heading at a fast pace deeper into the heartland, and within a short time, they disappeared into the jungle. Just after Lin Tianming and his two companions had left, in less than the time it took to brew a cup of tea, a man dressed in black appeared where the three had just been. The man in black arrived at the site of the skirmish and inspected the traces carefully. Although the remnants had been cleaned up and covered by the trio, he managed to find some clues. ¡°At last, I¡¯ve found you!¡± The figure in black muttered to himself and, looking in the direction the three had gone, set off in pursuit once again. Time flew by, and half a month passed. In a valley, Lin Tianming and his two companions stood on a small hill, gazing thoughtfully at the vast marshland below. At this point, Lin Tianming and the other two looked extremely weary, with several wounds of varying depth on their bodies that had yet to heal. For half a month, the trio did not relax for a moment. They had searched a region spanning hundreds of miles, hunting demonic beasts during the day and resting to heal their wounds at night. In that half-month period, they had gone through three major battles, each one perilously close to death. They had all been injured multiple times, with Lin Tianfeng nearly losing his life on one occasion. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s sword array was extremely powerful, capable of attack, defense, and entrapment. Against low-order demonic beasts with limited spirit wisdom, it was highly effective; otherwise, they might have already perished under the onslaught of the beasts. Despite the near death experiences, their gains were significant. They had slain more than twenty late-stage First Order demonic beasts and even more than a hundred of the mid-stage variety, accumulating over seven thousand points. Several storage bags were brimming with the bodies of the beasts. In addition to the bodies of the demonic beasts, they had collected an immense amount of Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore, which were likely worth thousands of Spirit Stones when added up¡ªan indeed plentiful haul. With only five days left until the deadline for the grand beast-hunting competition, they had traversed an area of several hundred square miles. Curiously, for some reason, the trio had not encountered a single team from any of the five great families, nor had they even found a trace, which was quite surprising to Lin Tianming. Perhaps the reason was that the Luoyun Mountain Range was simply too vast, spanning thousands of miles, with the outer perimeter and the area near the interior totaling more than two thousand square miles. The likelihood of encountering someone was indeed not great. Continue your adventure with empire Lin Tianming speculated silently in his heart. Seeing that it was getting late and not suitable for traveling, he turned to Lin Xingyu and said, ¡°Uncle, let¡¯s rest here for the night and set off again tomorrow.¡± Lin Xingyu, looking visibly exhausted, readily agreed. Just as the three of them were preparing to descend the hill, several black dots appeared on the horizon, flying towards them. As they drew closer, it was not clear what their intentions were. The trio¡¯s expressions tensed, each grabbing their Spiritual Artifacts and hiding behind the hilltop, ready for a potential threat. Lin Xingyu, watching the approaching dots, muttered softly, ¡°Who has such audacity to fly with a sword in the heart of the Luoyun Mountain Range? Could it be a senior in the Foundation Establishment Stage?¡± Another dozen breaths passed, and the dots grew nearer, the fleeing figures now less than a few hundred yards from the hilltop. On closer inspection, they recognized the frantically fleeing individuals as Sun Ruiqing and Sun Chuan Yong from the Sun Family. Lin Tianming, realizing this first, felt his heart sink, and began to speculate. ¡°The Sun Family members must have encountered cultivators from the Jin Family and are now being chased!¡± Since they had already been spotted, it was too late to hide. All they could do was join forces with the last two members of the Sun Family for a desperate fight. Quickly, based on the information he had, Lin Tianming surmised the cause. Since the Jin Family had made their move, he couldn¡¯t just sit and await death. After saying this, he took out the Earth Evil Sword and started to set it up stealthily. Sun Ruiqing, getting closer, was overjoyed to see Lin Tianming and his group while still in mid-air. He quickly shouted, ¡°Lin, save us!¡± Chapter 106 - 106 - 98 Hanging by a Thread (Two in One)_1 Chapter 106 ¨C 98 Hanging by a Thread (Two in One)_1 ¡°Lin, save my life!¡± ¡°The Jin Family has made their move against the major families, and I fear that the people of the Luo and Wu Families have already perished. Now they are hunting us down!¡± In a desperate flight, Sun Ruiqing stumbled upon people from the Lin Family as if grasping at a lifeline. From a hundred zhang away, Sun Ruiqing, fleeing in panic, began to shout loudly. Hearing Sun Ruiqing¡¯s cries for help, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed abruptly. The Jin Family was powerful, and to think that the members of the Wu and Luo Families had been killed, no wonder they hadn¡¯t encountered a single team for more than half a month. At the moment, Sun Ruiqing and Sun Chuan Yong were in terrible condition, their breaths weak, and with injuries on various parts of their bodies. The number of their people had also decreased, clearly showing they had suffered a major loss. ... Without waiting for Lin Tianming to respond, Sun Ruiqing and the other member from the Sun Family landed on the top of a mountain and immediately took out a couple of elixirs to consume and began to meditate on the spot. Seeing the plight of the two from the Sun Family, Lin Tianming and his two companions watched cautiously as several dark shadows approached in pursuit. After a mere ten breaths, Jin Qishan and two from the Jin Family arrived, flying on their swords directly above them. Seeing that Sun Ruiqing and the other had stopped running, and Lin Tianming¡¯s group was also present, the people from the Jin Family were overjoyed. ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s like finding what you¡¯re looking for without even searching for it! ¡°The people from the Lin Family are here too, perfect. We¡¯ll deal with you all right here!¡± Hearing Jin Qishan¡¯s arrogant words, as if he wasn¡¯t taking them seriously at all, made the expressions on Lin Tianming and his fellows¡¯ faces turn extremely ugly. Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t hold back and said: ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too arrogant?¡± ¡°Arrogant? Dealing with you few is still child¡¯s play,¡± replied Jin Qishan nonchalantly. While the others were engaged in a war of words, Lin Tianming, who had not said a word, quickly thought of a strategy in his mind. Among the Jin Family¡¯s three members, Jin Qishan¡¯s aura was exceedingly strong, no weaker than Lin Shiji at his peak. As a top genius of the Jin Family, his methods and trump cards were surely not weak. Besides him, among the other two from the Jin Family, Jin Chaoyi was at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage and Jin Qisheng was at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement; their abilities were generally a notch higher than those of the Lin and Sun Families. Although the cultivation levels of the Lin Family were on the lower side, with the aid of the two from the Sun Family, they held the advantage in numbers. Even though the two from the Sun Family were seriously injured, the Sun Family had stood among the top three families for a millennium; with such heritage, Sun Ruiqing must still have some life-saving measures. Upon assessing the situation, the Jin Family held an absolute advantage in terms of strength, but Lin Tianming¡¯s side was not without their own opportunities. Moreover, there was no way the Jin Family would let them leave peacefully anyway, so it was better to go all out. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming secretly transmitted a message to the cultivators from both families, preparing to strike first. Experience more content on empire No time to lose! Readying the Earth Evil Sword, Lin Tianming unleashed several bouts of Sword Qi, aiming directly at Jin Qishan. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu joined hands against Jin Qisheng, while the two from the Sun Family together faced Jin Chaoyi. The three battles erupted in an instant. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pay attention to the other two battles, as facing Jin Qishan required his full focus. After several tentative exchanges, neither managed to gain an upper hand. After a few rounds of testing, Jin Qishan also had a rough idea of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. He initially thought that with the same Dual Spiritual Roots, Lin Tianming would not be weak and could arouse his interest, but found him rather ordinary. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m done playing with you!¡± Following that, Jin Qishan took out a crimson long saber enveloped in a terrifying sinister aura; Lin Tianming guessed it was at least a high-quality Spiritual Artifact. The dominance of saber cultivators and their destructive power held prestigious positions in the Cultivation World and cultivators of the same level often had terrifying battle capabilities. Jin Qishan unleashed three slashes in succession, and the three powerful currents of Blade Qi stirred up a great deal of sand and dust, heading straight for Lin Tianming with overwhelming momentum. Feeling the violent Blade Qi, Lin Tianming¡¯s face grew solemn. He quickly brought out three Defense Talismans, forming three earthen walls in front of him. Not reassured, he took out a small umbrella-like Spiritual Artifact from his storage bag, poured a great amount of Spiritual Power into it, forming a barrier to protect himself. ¡°Puff, puff, puff¡­¡± Three explosions sounded! The three earthen walls formed by the Defense Talismans instantly shattered, and the violent Blade Qi was unstoppable, directly striking the small umbrella Spiritual Artifact. After a moment, the small umbrella Spiritual Artifact burst apart, thoroughly pierced by the Blade Qi, breaking into several pieces. The Blade Qi had weakened after the consumption of the talisman paper and the defensive Spiritual Artifact, but it still didn¡¯t stop, and continued slashing towards Lin Tianming. Caught by surprise and in pain, Lin Tianming quickly dodged to the side. However, the Blade Qi was too fast, and he couldn¡¯t completely evade it in time; a strand of the Blade Qi slashed across his arm. Feeling intense pain, he saw a wound the size of a fist on his arm, with flesh torn and bone chillingly exposed to the air. Lin Tianming, having leapt to the side in a panic, glared straight at Jin Qishan, his expression exceptionally ugly. Before the fight began, Lin Tianming had anticipated that Jin Qishan would be difficult to deal with, but the actual encounter was still surprisingly challenging. Jin Qishan, intent on settling the battle with three full-powered slashes, was equally surprised. After all, he had been in the Great Perfection stage for a year now and would have been preparing to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage if it were not for the Grand Competition. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was only at the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, just about touching the barrier of Great Perfection, but there was still a considerable gap between the small realms. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even so, he had not succeeded, merely causing some injuries and not completely incapacitating Lin Tianming. After the unsuccessful strike, Jin Qishan put away his playful demeanor and started to take the fight seriously. Without giving Lin Tianming a chance to catch his breath, Jin Qishan struck out with a few more slashes, aiming to finish Lin Tianming conclusively. Chapter 107 - 107 - 98 Hanging by a Thread (Two in One)_2 Chapter 107 ¨C 98 Hanging by a Thread (Two in One)_2 Just as Jin Qishan made his move, Lin Tianming was also busy. He drew the Earth Evil Sword and unleashed several streaks of sword qi that rushed straight towards Jin Qishan. For a moment, blade qi and sword qi collided fiercely, kicking up a great amount of dust and smoke. Seizing the moment in the blink of an eye, he threw out several First Order Superior Grade talismans, and Lin Tianming, with the Earth Evil Sword in hand, turned into a lingering shadow, thrusting directly at Jin Qishan. In a contest of spiritual power and offensive force, Lin Tianming did not have the advantage. As a body cultivator, his chances of winning in close combat were much greater. As the dust and smoke cleared, Lin Tianming had already closed in on Jin Qishan. Jin Qishan had long noticed Lin Tianming¡¯s intent and showed no panic. Hastily, he summoned a small green shield to block Lin Tianming¡¯s Earth Evil Sword. Seeing his attack obstructed, Lin Tianming swung out a fist, smashing towards Jin Qishan¡¯s head. ... Lin Tianming, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and having consumed a large number of Body Strengthening Pills, had his strength tempered by his cultivation technique. The force of his punch exceeded several thousand pounds. Jin Qishan also launched a punch, colliding with Lin Tianming¡¯s fist. A loud explosion! Jin Qishan was sent flying dozens of feet backwards, crashing through several large rocks before finally stopping. As Jin Qishan steadied himself, pain shot through his arm, and he discovered that many of the meridians in his arm were broken. Without a month or more of recuperation, recovery would be very difficult. I¡¯ve been careless¡­ Who would have thought that Lin Tianming was actually a body cultivator, and his prowess was not low, almost on par with his Qi Refining cultivation, just one punch had crippled an arm. The advantaged Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give any chance, charging forward again. The injured Jin Qishan wouldn¡¯t dare to be careless anymore. He slashed out several times with his blade and at the same time threw out a huge number of talismans, dozens of them, among which were many Medium Grade and High Quality talismans. Seeing the sky filled with a rain of swords, mixed with a multitude of Five Elements Spells engulfing Lin Tianming. For a moment, the sky was filled with a storm of fire, sword qi, and blade qi, causing one¡¯s scalp to tingle. Jin Qishan took a long breath of relief; with so many talismans coupled with his blade qi, the chance of Lin Tianming rushing out unscathed was nearly impossible. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s situation was extremely dire. Trapped in the center, if he couldn¡¯t break through, even as a body cultivator, he would undoubtedly suffer heavy injuries. In desperation, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors. He saw the trajectories of the rain of swords and the spells as if they held a traceable pattern. Unexpectedly, the Eye of Five Colors had such an ingenious use. With no time to think further, Now is the time! Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate nor could he afford to, his flexible body navigating through the narrow gaps. A moment later, Lin Tianming successfully charged out of the firestorm, wielding the Earth Evil Sword as he slashed towards Jin Qishan. At this point, Jin Qishan was completely stunned. With so many talismans and blade qi as barriers, for Lin Tianming to rush out in such a short time and with hardly any injury was simply unbelievable. In his panic, Jin Qishan once again brought out the green shield in front of him. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± A piercing loud noise! The green shield was knocked flying, slipping right out of his hands, and Jin Qishan¡¯s face turned pale as he frantically tried to dodge. In an instant, the Earth Evil Sword made its decisive cut, completely severing Jin Qishan¡¯s arm. As Jin Qishan was sent flying back, screams of agony echoed across the entire mountainside. Hearing Jin Qishan¡¯s screams, the concentration of the other two Jin Family members was broken. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng seized the opportunity and, with a silent understanding between them, Jin Qisheng was pushed back again and again. On another front, although Sun Ruiqing and his companion were injured, the Sun Family, being a talisman-crafting family, threw out dozens of talismans of different grades, engulfing Jin Chaoyi and swallowing him whole. For a while, all members of the Jin Family were at a disadvantage. Jin Qishan had an arm severed, and the remaining arm¡¯s meridians were mostly broken, greatly diminishing his strength. Lin Tianming did not give him a chance, charging over again, ready to completely take out Jin Qishan. Lin Shilu had earlier instructed that once they took action, they absolutely could not leave any loose ends, especially the talented Jin Qishan of the Jin Family, who had to die. At this point, Jin Qishan deeply regretted being overconfident, but it was too late. Knowing he was no match, Jin Qishan attempted to retreat in panic, but his severe injuries made it impossible to shake off Lin Tianming. Just as Lin Tianming closed in to within twenty feet, a furious shout came from a thousand feet away. ¡°Youngster, you dare!¡± Hearing Jin Chaojiang¡¯s angry shout, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t stop for a second, his sword-heart aimed straight for Jin Qishan. Jin Qishan originally thought Lin Tianming would give up, but to his surprise, he didn¡¯t hold back at all. For a moment, Jin Qishan¡¯s face turned pale from its previous healthy glow. A thousand meters away, Jin Chaojiang¡¯s expression changed dramatically. With a flick of his finger, he hurriedly launched an Ice Sword Technique, hoping to force Lin Tianming to give up his attack on Jin Qishan. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A resolute look flashed across Lin Tianming¡¯s steadfast face. Even if he didn¡¯t kill Jin Qishan, it would be difficult for them to survive anyway. It was better to go all out and at least ensure Jin Qishan¡¯s death. A brief moment passed, followed by a faint sound! The Earth Evil Sword pierced through Jin Qishan¡¯s chest, blowing a hole the size of a human head through his upper body. Jin Qishan fell at the sound. At the same time, the Ice Sword Technique launched by Jin Chaojiang was already closing in on Lin Tianming. Having just stabilized his body, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was pale with no time left to dodge. An attack from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even the most common Five Elements Spell, was simply not something an ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator could withstand. Lin Tianming did not wish to wait passively for death. Since he couldn¡¯t avoid it, he had to try with all his might. In this moment of crisis, Lin Tianming¡¯s intense desire to survive burst forth. He quickly took out all his Defense Talismans, more than a dozen in total, all of which he activated, turning them into several earthen walls to shield himself. Discover more content at empire He then took a shield out of his storage bag to protect himself thoroughly. Just as Lin Tianming completed all his actions, the Ice Sword Technique transformed into an ice sword that broke through the earthen walls. The first one was instantly shattered¡­ The second one was unable to stop it, even for a moment. More than a dozen earthen walls broke apart, and the resulting shockwave flattened a section of the mountain top. Though the earthen walls didn¡¯t last long, they significantly weakened the Ice Sword¡¯s power. By the time it collided with the shield, nearly half its energy had dissipated. Even so, the shield, of First Order Superior Grade, shattered after a mere breath¡¯s time. The Ice Sword Technique broke through the small shield and struck Lin Tianming in the chest. In an instant, Lin Tianming coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, was sent flying a hundred meters, and slammed into the mountain, creating a human-shaped deep pit. Lin Tianfeng and the others also gave up their fierce attack on the critically injured Jin Qisheng and rushed madly to Lin Tianming¡¯s side to pull him out. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as they frantically shouted: ¡°Sixth brother, wake up!¡± ¡°Tianming, wake up!¡± At this time, Lin Tianming was in a dreadful state, with a fist-sized bloody hole in his chest, many of his meridians severed, resulting in a brief loss of consciousness. Lin Tianfeng shouted several times, but there were no responses. Seeing this, both of them were completely panicked. Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was well-known throughout the clan. As long as he lived, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage was a certainty, and with a bit of chance, advancing to the Golden Core stage was also highly likely. He was key to the family¡¯s resurgence. His importance was such that even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the clan could not compare. If he were to die here, how would they explain it to the clan, to the ancestors who had passed away? At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was extremely grieved; the relationship between the two brothers was excellent¡ªthey had trained together, and despite being the eldest Tian-generation brother, he often needed Lin Tianming¡¯s help. In his grief, he held Lin Tianming¡¯s head and shook it while crying out. ¡°Cough¡­ Cough¡­¡± Two coughs suddenly interrupted Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cries. ¡°Big brother, stop shaking me!¡± ¡°If you keep shaking me like this, I fear I might die by your hand!¡± Lin Tianfeng and the others suddenly looked at Lin Tianming, who was coughing and spitting blood, and burst into ecstatic shouts. ¡°Thank goodness, you¡¯re actually not dead?¡± ¡°What are you saying, do you wish for me to be dead?¡± The pale-faced Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but banter with Lin Tianfeng even in his condition. Having regained consciousness, Lin Tianming felt a wave of relief. The danger just now had been extremely dire. He took out the only defensive talismans he had on him, over a dozen First Order Superior Defense Talisman papers, along with a High Quality defensive spiritual tool, plus the inner armor he wore over his vital parts near the heart to narrowly save his life. If his body hadn¡¯t been so strong, a regular Great Perfection Qi Refining Cultivator, in his situation, would have had no chance of survival. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were indeed terrifying! Coming back to his senses, Jin Chaojiang had already landed on the mountain top, cradling Jin Qishan¡¯s corpse and beginning to examine it. Lin Tianming was severely injured, and they were still in danger. Although they had avoided a fatal blow, their current situation remained as perilous as ever. Chapter 108 - 108 - 99: No One Survives (Parts 1 and 2 Combined)_1 Chapter 108 ¨C 99: No One Survives (Parts 1 and 2 Combined)_1 Looking at the gaping hole in Jin Qishan¡¯s chest and his faint breath, such an injury was destined to be beyond salvation. Jin Chaojiang¡¯s face turned pale, his tiger-like eyes bloodshot red. When he turned around, Lin Tianming and the other two were immediately stricken with panic. Enraged, Jin Chaojiang, holding a long spirit blade, swung out three times in quick succession, unleashing three streams of fiery red Blade Qi, charging straight towards Lin Tianming and his companions. Such divine powers were identical to those of Jin Qishan, but when a Foundation Establishment Cultivator made a move, the power was nowhere near that of Jin Qishan¡¯s. Seeing the Blade Qi getting closer, and less than thirty feet from the trio, there was no escape, especially as they were injured and their defensive spiritual tools had nearly exhausted their power. Facing the full-force strike from the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage Jin Chaojiang, Lin Tianming was utterly despairing. ... Struggling was to no avail; the three leaned on each other and slowly closed their eyes, preparing to meet their demise. Just then, a shadow clad in black descended from the sky, standing in front of the trio. The figure was tall and resolute, a look of determination in his eyes, it was Lin Xingrong who had been tailing Lin Tianming and the others all along. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Eleventh Uncle!¡± A glimmer of joy passed through Lin Tianming and the others; they had all but given up hope, never expecting Lin Xingrong to appear. In fact, everyone knew of the Jin Family¡¯s ambitions. The Lin Family had made arrangements to counter them, but Lin Tianming had no idea. And Lin Xingrong had been following them for some time, but to avoid startling the snake, he had kept his distance and hadn¡¯t made a move. Having landed, Lin Xingrong¡¯s expression was stern. He ignored the three¡¯s confusion, thinking of a plan. He had only recently entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, while Jin Chaojiang had already reached the second layer and had to be taken seriously. Lin Xingrong, wielding a Spirit Sword, slashed out several bursts of Sword Qi, and at the same time, summoned a Minor Shield Spirit Instrument to firmly protect everyone. After taking a series of measures, the Blade Qi and Sword Qi collided explosively. For a moment, the battlefield was alight with flames, and the blast wave forced back the members of the Sun Family, who were hundreds of feet away, making them cough up blood. The only remaining members of the Jin Family, Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng, had the same fate, now even more seriously injured from the effects of cultivators¡¯ combat. The residual effect of the collision was blocked by Lin Xingrong¡¯s shield. Thanks to Lin Xingrong¡¯s protection, Lin Tianming and the others managed to evade disaster. Having blocked Jin Chaojiang¡¯s attack, Lin Xingrong then turned to inspect the injuries of Lin Tianming and the others. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng were unharmed, just a bit drained, with no significant consequences. Lin Tianming, although slightly more injured, wasn¡¯t fatal; with some quiet recuperation for a few days, he would be fine! Luckily he arrived in time, or else the outcome would have been dire! On the other side, frustrated by his ineffective attack, Jin Chaojiang¡¯s face darkened as he watched Lin Xingrong with wariness and dread. Enjoy new adventures from empire Unexpectedly, Lin Xingrong had appeared there and even advanced into the Foundation Establishment Stage¡ªthe Lin Family had kept deep secrets! After an exchange, even though Jin Chaojiang¡¯s cultivation was a level higher than Lin Xingrong¡¯s, he still had to look after the seriously wounded Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng, so victory was not guaranteed. By now, Jin Chaojiang harbored thoughts of retreat, but it was too late, as the faces had been thoroughly ripped off, and the Lin Family might not hold back. Sure enough, Lin Xingrong took the initiative to strike, unwilling to let the Jin Family members go. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingrong unleashed a green-yellow Spirit Sword, slashing out several times, and releasing bursts of Sword Qi at Jin Chaojiang. Simultaneously, Jin Chaojiang leapt into the air and swung out several slashes of his own. The difference in cultivation between the two men was not substantial; they exchanged blows evenly, making it difficult to determine the superior fighter. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng took the initiative as well, joining with Sun Ruiqing and others to attack Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng. Already heavily injured, the two Jin Family members were no match for Lin Tianfeng and his companions and were constantly on the defensive. Although Lin Tianming was injured, he relied on elixirs and a strong self-healing ability. His wounds had partially recovered, and he could still exert most of his strength. Seeing Lin Tianfeng and the others gaining the upper hand, he decided to assist Lin Xingrong against Jin Chaojiang, knowing that as long as Foundation Establishment Cultivators were still alive, they were always in danger. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming consumed another Huiyuan Pill and Consolidating Essence Pill, drew the Earth Evil Sword, and charged at Jin Chaojiang. He unleashed several slashes, blocking Jin Chaojiang¡¯s retreat path, but they were always narrowly dodged. While his Sword Qi¡¯s power was limited, it couldn¡¯t be completely ignored. If not evaded, after a few instances, even Jin Chaojiang couldn¡¯t withstand it. Father and son coordinated seamlessly. Each time Jin Chaojiang tried to strike at Lin Tianming, Lin Xingrong always managed to block in advance. Before they knew it, the fierce battle had raged for half an hour. All three were significantly drained, Jin Chaojiang in particular was covered in wounds, continuously on the defensive. Lin Xingrong, too, was panting heavily, his spiritual power largely depleted. During a lull in the attack, Lin Tianming transmitted a message: ¡°Father, we can¡¯t drag this out any longer. I¡¯ve already laid down a Sword Array. As long as you can push him into its center and hold him for a moment, I can immediately activate the Sword Array and together we can take him down once and for all!¡± ¡°Good, my spiritual power is running low, we can¡¯t delay any further,¡± Lin Xingrong was well aware of the special cultivation techniques Lin Tianming practiced. Since Lin Tianming was confident, he was naturally willing to give it a try. With that, Lin Xingrong used his Technique Divine Power, condensing a massive Sword Qi, which he directed at Jin Chaojiang. Lin Tianming also threw out more than ten First Order Superior Grade Attack Talismans, transforming into a sky full of Sword Qi, sealing off Jin Chaojiang¡¯s escape routes. Feeling the concentrated Sword Qi from Lin Xingrong and the multitude of talisman papers, Jin Chaojiang¡¯s face turned deathly pale as he hastily summoned a yellow Minor Shield Spirit Instrument to protect himself. Chapter 109 - 109 - 99: No One Survives (Parts 1 and 2 Combined)_2 Chapter 109 ¨C 99: No One Survives (Parts 1 and 2 Combined)_2 ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud blast sounded, and the small shield had a large crack pierced through it. The intense impact force struck Jin Chaojiang, causing him to spurt out a mouthful of fresh blood and retreat dozens of feet, landing right in the center of Lin Tianming¡¯s sword array. ¡°Now is the moment!¡± Lin Tianming immediately activated the long-prepared sword array, enveloping Jin Chaojiang within it. Feeling the roaming Sword Qi, although its power was limited, the quantity was substantial, forcing Jin Chaojiang to change his approach once again. Without time to think much, he frantically attacked the barriers of the sword array. ... Each time, the sword array was on the verge of being overwhelmed, and Lin Tianming felt immense pressure. Having succeeded, Lin Tianming and his companion naturally wouldn¡¯t let him escape easily. In the rush, Lin Xingrong swung his sword several times, sending numerous Sword Qi slashing towards Jin Chaojiang. And fully driving the sword array, steadily shrinking its range, he also threw out handfuls of talisman paper, more than twenty in total, among which were long-stored Second Order Golden Sword Talismans. In an instant, over twenty First Order Superior Grade attack talismans turned into Sword Qi, along with a Second Order Talisman Golden Sword Talisman¡¯s Sword Qi, and combined with the Sword Qi generated by Lin Tianming¡¯s sword array ¨C a total of over a hundred strands ¨C instantly engulfed Jin Chaojiang¡¯s surroundings. Feeling the sword rain coming at him from all directions, alongside Lin Xingrong¡¯s all-out strike, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Jin Chaojiang couldn¡¯t help but feel his scalp tingle with dread. At that moment, Jin Chaojiang had no time for further thought, only desperation. If he couldn¡¯t break free from the confines of the sword array, he would be gradually exhausted to death. Not daring to hold back, Jin Chaojiang spurted a mouthful of vital blood onto the long saber Spiritual Artifact in his hand and unleashed his Innate Divine Ability. ¡°Return to Origin Five Blows!¡± Suddenly, he slashed five times in succession, each strike stronger than the last. With the five blades stacking, a terrifying Blade Qi turned into a heaven-piercing red light blade, striking down upon the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Pfff¡­¡± An earth-shattering explosion! After merely a breath¡¯s time, the sword array was directly broken by Jin Chaojiang. Lin Tianming suffered backlash, immediately spewing several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his aura instantly wilted. Even with the backlash, Lin Tianming still didn¡¯t dare to relax, propping up his half-destroyed body, he slashed out several times, attempting to push Jin Chaojiang back. Jin Chaojiang had no intention of caring about that, only wanting to escape the range of the pervasive sword rain. Just as he was about to break free to safety, his face full of elation, At that moment, the Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Xingrong and the Second Order Golden Sword Talisman¡¯s Sword Qi blasted towards him simultaneously. Caught in a pincer attack, Jin Chaojiang faced an even more perilous situation. Seeing that it was impossible to dodge both, Jin Chaojiang swiftly made a decision. Instantly, he rolled to the side, evading Lin Xingrong¡¯s lethal strike. At the same time, the Sword Qi from the Golden Sword Talisman arrived as expected, striking Jin Chaojiang on the back. ¡°Pfff¡­¡± Jin Chaojiang¡¯s physical body endured a sword strike, immediately being sent flying dozens of feet away. Jin Chaojiang, stabilizing his form, spewed out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face instantly pale, with a fist-sized hole in his chest ¨C not faring much better than Jin Qishan. At that moment, severely injured Jin Chaojiang was greatly diminished in strength, no way he could be a match for Lin Xingrong. At the other two battlefronts, seeing Jin Chaojiang¡¯s dismal state, Jin Chaoyi and Jin Qisheng¡¯s faces turned even paler. The two were already on the brink of life and death, being besieged; the shock scattered their focus, giving Lin Xingyu and Suo Ruiqing a chance to exploit. Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng launched deadly strikes at the same time, bombarding Jin Chaoyi¡¯s body. After a moment, Jin Chaoyi was directly cleaved in half, falling dead. Meanwhile, Jin Qisheng was overwhelmed by numerous talismans of varying grades. Once the sword light dissipated, Jin Qisheng was riddled with holes and utterly devoid of life. Seeing two members of the Jin Family dead, Jin Chaojiang was both shocked and furious. He unleashed three more blows to force back Lin Xingrong who was pursuing him, then, dragging his battered body, he fled northward. At this point, Jin Chaojiang couldn¡¯t care about danger and plunged into the dense forest to escape for his life. Lin Xingrong leapt high, dodging Jin Chaojiang¡¯s Blade Qi, and immediately gave chase. One behind the other, they dashed through the woods, quickly vanishing from the sight of the others. Seeing Jin Chaojiang heavily injured and fleeing for his life, Lin Xingyu and the others heaved a sigh of relief; Lin Tianming, utterly spent, sat down on the ground with a thud. He pulled several elixirs from his storage bag, stuffed them into his mouth all at once, and sat down right there to meditate and recover. Lin Xingyu and several others also began to meditate and cultivate. In a swamp, Jin Chaojiang, who had escaped from the dense forest, was completely pale. After hastily consuming two elixirs, he resumed his flight. Shortly thereafter, Lin Xingrong caught up after chasing him for hundreds of miles. The distance between the two shrank to less than a thousand feet. Lin Xingrong had no intention of giving up the pursuit and was determined to stop him there and then. Mortally wounded and with his spiritual power completely drained, Jin Chaojiang burst forth with an unprecedented speed in a bid to survive; even so, he was still slower than Lin Xingrong. As the gap continued to narrow and before he could cross the swamp, Lin Xingrong closed in to a distance of a hundred feet. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t escape, Jin Chaojiang seemed to have given up on fleeing and turned around to fight to the death. Using the last bit of his spiritual power, he swung three blades toward Lin Xingrong. Also drained of spiritual power, Lin Xingrong drew a small shield to block Jin Chaojiang¡¯s desperate attack. After a loud explosion, Lin Xingrong spat out a mouthful of blood and, after being knocked back, he chased after him once again. With no spiritual power left, Jin Chaojiang was like a mortal, tumbling down from the sky. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Jin Chaojiang, utterly despondent, stopped trying to run and laughed manically. ¡°Haha¡­ Haha¡­¡± ¡°You think by killing me you can reverse the situation?¡± ¡°The Lin Family might already be rivers of blood by now!¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Seeing Jin Chaojiang¡¯s deranged behavior, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face showed disdain. ¡°Hmph, you think the Lin Family is still the same as it was ten years ago? There¡¯s no way your Jin Family could breach the Protective Clan Formation!¡± Jin Chaojiang had gone mad, and Lin Xingrong showed no mercy, ending his life with a single sword strike. Jin Chaojiang finally perished, and Lin Xingrong breathed a sigh of relief. He took the storage bag from Jin Chaojiang and cast a Fireball Technique, burning the corpse to ashes on the spot. Read new adventures at empire Lin Tianming and others were not in a good state, so Lin Xingrong quickly returned, following the path of the chase at high speed. An hour later, Lin Xingrong returned to the site of the fierce battle. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu had regained some of their spiritual power after a short rest. Lin Tianming¡¯s condition had improved slightly, but his injuries were still serious, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to move normally for several days. The condition of the two from the Sun Family was better; they had sustained some injuries, which were not fatal, and they were already able to walk normally. They had been waiting in the same place, not daring to move or leave. Upon seeing Lin Xingrong return, they dared not stay and hurriedly stepped forward to pay respects. ¡°The juniors have seen Elder Lin and thank Elder Lin for saving our lives. When we return to our clan, we will surely report the truth, and the Sun Family will never forget this kindness. Our elders will personally thank you!¡± Sun Ruiqing stood by nervously with a respectful demeanor. Although the Lin Family and Sun Family had formed an alliance, Sun Ruiqing did not dare to mention the spoils of the battle and was entirely unsure about Lin Xingrong¡¯s stance. ¡°Sun, my friend, there¡¯s no need for formality. The Lin Family and Sun Family are allies, after all. The Jin Family attacked brazenly, and you gave it your all. There¡¯s no need to be so tense. Rest for a few days, and you can leave this place with me.¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s words, Sun Ruiqing breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you, Elder. With your permission, I can rest assured!¡± Sun Ruiqing and his companion bowed to Lin Xingrong with sincere respect. ¡°Hmm, go and recover through cultivation!¡± Upon receiving the instruction, the two from the Sun Family bowed and left to find a place to sit down and cultivate on the spot. After dismissing the two from the Sun Family, Lin Xingrong called Lin Tianfeng over and instructed: ¡°Take the storage bags from the Jin Family members and hand them to me. Clean up this place quickly and then go heal your injuries.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianfeng got to work quickly, collecting storage bags from the three members of the Jin Family and then clearing up the part of the mountain that had been disrupted. An hour later, the traces of the fight were almost erased, and the mountaintop had nearly returned to its original state. After checking the injuries of the Lin Family members, Lin Xingrong sat down nearby, took out elixirs, and began to recover his spiritual power and heal injuries while protecting the others as they cultivated. For a time, the valley fell into silence, with everyone cultivating and recovering from their injuries. Chapter 110 - 110 - 100 Lin Shilu Trapped (Two in One)_1 Chapter 110 ¨C 100 Lin Shilu Trapped (Two in One)_1 Outside the market, the Great Bi Assembly Ground. Members of the five major families, including Lin Shilu, each sat cross-legged on the spacious open ground. The leaders of the Lin Family and the other three clans were closer to each other, and although they were dozens of yards apart, they faintly formed a united front, as if intentionally guarding against Jin Zhison. At this moment, Lin Shilu and his companions each had their spirits aloft, faces etched with a trace of worry, pondering or fearing something unknown. At the edge of the platform, Jin Zhison appeared quite calm, with a trace of ruthless expression faintly present on his face. Jin Qishan and his group had left five days ago, and according to the plan, Jin Chaojiang should have already started to act. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was also ready on his side, and as soon as Zhuang Zhenxin arrived, he could take action at any time. ... Just then, a black dot appeared on the horizon, moving towards the plain at an incredibly fast speed. In just over ten breaths¡¯ time, Zhuang Zhenxin, dressed in a black robe, approached the space above the platform. Before he even arrived, Lin Shilu and the others had already sensed his presence, each standing up to watch Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s approach with vigilance. Zhuang Zhenxin landed beside Jin Zhison, looking at the others present with a mocking gaze. ¡°Is he a person from the Jin Family?¡± ¡°He must be a hidden member of the Jin Family, or a hired helper. They¡¯re definitely going to make a move!¡± Lin Shilu loudly reminded everyone, Seeing Zhuang Zhenxin reveal his alliance, and with Lin Shilu¡¯s warning, everyone¡¯s face changed dramatically. Jin Zhison already had the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, the highest present, and with this unfamiliar cultivator whose cultivation was still unknown but was surely no less than Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer, such strength truly warranted caution. Zhuang Zhenxin paid no attention to everyone¡¯s guesses, and after exchanging a look with Jin Zhison, they both made their move. Jin Zhison took out a Circular Ring Spiritual Artifact and inputted several Law Decrees. Suddenly, a large number of fireballs emerged, each as large as buckets¡ªhundreds in number, crazily bombarding towards Lin Shilu and the others with incredible speed. With the first strike, he unleashed his strongest method. As everyone¡¯s attention was on Jin Zhison¡¯s move, Zhuang Zhenxin took the opportunity to pull out a dark green Array Plate, tossed it into the air, and inputted several Law Decrees. Suddenly, a golden light shield appeared in the void, covering the entire platform. ¡°Not good, it¡¯s a Formation!¡± Sun Dingfeng immediately yelled, warning the others. Everyone¡¯s complexion changed drastically; as Jin Zhison¡¯s attacks drew closer, they each had to concern themselves with their own lives and had no time to stop them. Feeling the temperature of the fireball, Lin Shilu¡¯s face grew solemn, and he quickly took out a small shield with a pattern of interlocking blue and red, shielding himself with it. The other cultivators also did not dare to be negligent, each taking out various Defensive Spiritual Tools to protect themselves. After several booming explosions, screams echoed. The platform was left with numerous deep pits, where several Qi Refining Cultivators lay inside, their bodies still emitting flames, evidently dead. Among the five Qi Cultivation Great Perfection Cultivators, only Chen Xiaoliang, the Clan Leader of the Chen Clan, survived thanks to a treasured artifact, but he was also severely injured. Although the fireballs were formidable, their power became too dispersed as they attacked everyone present, allowing all Foundation Establishment Cultivators to successfully block Jin Zhison¡¯s full-force strike. However, the observing Qi Refining Cultivators were not so fortunate. Even those at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage could not withstand it without a treasured artifact for protection, with Chen Xiaoliang as an example. After the first strike, Lin Shilu¡¯s face changed dramatically, continuously reminding everyone, ¡°Quickly, make your move, prevent them from forming the formation. If we get trapped by the formation, we will all die here!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder, they all hastily attacked, trying to stop Zhuang Zhenxin from setting up the formation. Lin Shilu was the first to act, bringing out a big sword with hues of blue and yellow, pouring in a large amount of Spiritual Power and swinging it. A stroke of Golden Sword Qi launched towards Zhuang Zhenxin. Sun Dingfeng, on the other hand, threw out a large amount of talisman paper, dozens in total, with even two Second Order Talismans among them, indicating he was truly fighting for his life. Facing the desperate counterattack of four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, even with Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer cultivation, Jin Zhison was under immense pressure. But he had to hold on, to win time for Zhuang Zhenxin to set up the formation. As long as the formation was successfully laid and activated, they could completely turn the tide. Jin Zhison didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately pulling out a glittering golden shield from his storage bag, imbued it with a large amount of Spiritual Power, and transformed it into a light screen tens of yards wide that firmly protected him. Seeing the golden shield, Sun Dingfeng immediately exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s the Qing Jiao Shield!¡± Hearing Sun Dingfeng¡¯s warning, everyone was taken aback. The Qing Jiao Shield was a Magic Artifact made from the Reverse Scale of a Third Order Demon Beast, Qingshui Jiao. It had extremely formidable defensive power and was one of the treasures of the Jin Family, rarely used. They didn¡¯t expect it to appear here. It appeared the Jin Family really invested heavily this time. A moment passed, and the Golden Light Greatsword and a sky full of sword rain struck the Qing Jiao Shield simultaneously. ¡°Crackle and pop, a continuous burst of explosive sounds¡­¡± Behind the light screen, Jin Zhison turned pale, coughing out mouthfuls of blood. His internal organs churned, and his breath quickly weakened. Even with the protection of the Magic Artifact, which blocked ninety percent of the attack, the remaining ten percent still shattered the flesh on his arms, exposing the white bones beneath. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire When the attack briefly ceased, Jin Zhison breathed a sigh of relief. If he hadn¡¯t brought the Qing Jiao Shield, taking on the combined desperate strike of four people alone, he might have been reduced to ashes. Not achieving their goal with the first strike, Lin Shilu and the others did not dare to delay and launched another attack. As their attacks arrived once more, although not as ferocious as the first time, Jin Zhison was already injured and simply could not endure a second strike. Chapter 111 - 111 - 100 Lin Shilu Trapped (Two in One)_2 Chapter 111 ¨C 100 Lin Shilu Trapped (Two in One)_2 Just then, the sky suddenly revealed a pale golden light curtain that enveloped the entire platform. Sand and rocks were flying around, and Sword Qi was wandering everywhere within the platform. The second wave of attacks from several people was continuously depleted by the Sword Qi within the Formation, and ultimately collapsed, allowing Jin Zhison to escape. For a moment, the complexions of Lin Shilu and the others turned deathly white. ¡°Daoist Zhuang has succeeded!¡± Feeling the activation of the Formation, Jin Zhison was very excited. He leaped up and was pulled by Zhuang Zhenxin, who quickly retreated, directly leaving the range of the Formation. Once out of the Formation, Jin Zhison immediately took a Healing Pill, and then vigilantly stared at the several people inside the Formation. ¡°Daoist Zhuang, can this Formation trap four Foundation Establishment Cultivators?¡± ... Faced with Jin Zhison¡¯s question, Zhuang Zhenxin said with a smile, ¡°Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivators, not to mention four of them, even if a few more came, it would be nearly impossible for them to break the Formation through attack, unless one of them is a Second Order Array Master, or an Array Master from outside attempts to break the Formation, spending a month or so to study it, or by using a powerful Magic Artifact for the attack. Otherwise, it¡¯s absolutely impossible to break through!¡± ¡°Not only that, the Sword Qi inside will keep wandering without any pattern, and they must keep moving constantly. Even if they can avoid the attacks of the Sword Qi, once their Spiritual Power is exhausted, they will sooner or later be killed!¡± Even if they didn¡¯t die, by the time they got out, their families would have been exterminated, and they wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. This trip¡¯s goal had been achieved, and they could now go and regroup with the main force of their family. Hearing Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s words, Jin Zhison was very shocked. No wonder Jin Zhiying treated him with such courtesy; he couldn¡¯t help but show even greater respect for Zhuang Zhenxin. It should be known that Array Masters in the Cultivation World were even rarer than Alchemists, and those above Second Order were even less common. In the entire Wei Kingdom, they were rarely seen, and within the Luoyun Mountain Range, none had been seen for decades. The possibility of someone coming to rescue them was virtually non-existent. Seeing Jin Zhison being overwhelmed, Zhuang Zhenxin was somewhat proud, and said to Jin Zhison, ¡°Daoist Jin, let¡¯s go. We can go and meet up with your elder brother, and sweep through the territories of the four great families one by one, hoping to find the item I am looking for!¡± Thinking of quickly attacking the territories of the four great families and obtaining a large amount of treasures, the two were very excited. ¡°Good, let¡¯s set off now and meet up with elder brother!¡± At Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s words, Jin Zhison dared not disagree and readily agreed. Looking at the large number of Cultivators watching the battle below the mountain, Jin Zhison shouted, ¡°If any of you dare to go to the market or report to the four great families, you are declaring yourselves enemies of the Jin Family. Once we find out, there will be no mercy.¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare, wouldn¡¯t dare¡­¡± The large number of Cultivators had already been scared out of their wits and quickly echoed agreement, with many even offering flattery. Jin Zhison and the other paid them no more heed and took to Sword Flight, flying towards the east, soon disappearing into the horizon. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the two had left, the Qi Refining Cultivators who had been watching the battle at the foot of the mountain finally breathed a sigh of relief. Jin Zhison had not troubled them; it seemed he didn¡¯t care about these insignificant people. If a massacre had ensued, they would have had no way to resist. Read the latest on empire Soon, the Qi Refining Cultivators at the foot of the mountain left, leaving only the few people inside the Formation. Within the Formation, a large amount of furious Sword Qi was constantly on the move, causing Lin Shilu and the others to speed up their dodging, moving frantically inside. If they were hit by the Sword Qi, even if they didn¡¯t die, they would be gravely injured. In between dodging, Lin Shilu released several Sword Qi attacks at the Formation¡¯s light curtain. Regrettably, whether it was the Sword Qi or the attack of the Five Elements Spell, they were all absorbed by the light curtain, without showing even a ripple. Having no other choice, Lin Shilu could only invite the others to attack together and give it a try. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the power of one is of no use at all; we should combine our powers and strike together, attacking the same spot. Maybe there is some hope.¡± ¡°I had the same thought!¡± Sun Dingfeng had also realized the difficulty of the Formation and happily agreed. The other few had no objections, so they combined their forces to attack the same spot. Although the light curtain clearly trembled, it quickly returned to normal. After several attempts, and changing numerous positions, there was still no effect; the Formation remained still. As time moved on, their Spiritual Power was rapidly depleting. Soon, they were nearing exhaustion, and the only Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator who had been alive was already dead, leaving only the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Daoist Lin, attacking like this is futile. With just the few of us, it¡¯s impossible to break the Formation. It¡¯s better to save some Spiritual Power to avoid the Sword Qi¡¯s attacks and wait for rescue.¡± Sun Dingfeng¡¯s words forced the others to accept the reality: they stopped attacking and began to conserve the little spiritual power that remained, weaving their way within the formation. Fortunately, the speed of the Sword Qi within the formation was not fast, and it was not difficult for them to avoid it. The consumption of spiritual power was also not rapid. If it had been a Third Order Formation, they would have had no chance to evade it at all. As days passed, relying on Huiyuan Pills to restore their spiritual power, they were able to hold on a bit longer. At this moment, Huiyuan Pills became the life-saving straw for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Half a month went by, and Wu Yingchong from the Wu Family, exhausted of elixirs and unable to persist, was the first to be struck by the Sword Qi and died. A renowned Foundation Establishment Cultivator dying because of depleted spiritual power was an unspeakable irony. Lin Shilu and Sun Dingfeng, both with higher cultivation and more elixirs, could hold on for another half month without problems. By now, everyone was already exhausted to the limit; the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Luo Family were on the verge of collapse. If no rescue came, they would inevitably follow in Wu Yingchong¡¯s footsteps. Inside the formation, the three people who were still alive persevered desperately. ¡­ In the Luoyun Mountain Range, within the valley of great battle. Atop a mountain peak, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. After four days of recovery, Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries had partially healed. With the help of elixirs and his powerful self-healing ability, the bloody hole in his arm had healed, leaving only a scar. As long as he did not exert himself for a few days, he would quickly recover. Thinking back to the entire battle, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. If his father hadn¡¯t followed him all the way and arrived in time at the critical moment, all three of them would have undoubtedly perished there. After four days of seated meditation to recover, Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries were partially healed. It was already the day the martial arts competition ended, and it was time for them to set out again. Before long, Lin Xingrong gathered everyone, and the two people from the Sun Family also came over. Having confirmed that Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries no longer hindered travel, they set off once more towards the outer regions of the Luoyun Mountain Range. A day later, with Lin Xingrong leading the group, they successfully exited the inner region. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, and by taking advantage of the Spirit Beast¡¯s flight, they could even use this time to recover briefly. Their speed greatly increased as a result. Finally, on the day the competition ended, they arrived at the starting point. By then, the cultivators who had come to watch had long departed, leaving the lively foot of the mountain eerily quiet. Seeing the glow surrounding the platform from afar, they were greatly shocked, as it was apparent something unexpected had happened. Picking up the pace, they quickly arrived at the base of the platform¡¯s mountain. Lin Tianming observed the formation repeatedly and after conjecture, deduced that it was at least a Second Order Formation. However, since none of them were Array Masters, it was impossible to determine exactly what kind of formation it was or how to break it. ¡°Father, could there be any way to rescue Fifteenth Grandfather and the others who are trapped in the formation?¡± Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Lin Xingrong also felt helpless. After all, he wasn¡¯t an Array Master himself, and couldn¡¯t even figure out the type of the formation, let alone how to begin to dismantle it. After fruitless discussion, they could only attempt the most straightforward method: using powerful attacks to break through. That was the only thing left to try. Resolute, Lin Xingrong took the lead in attacking. With all his strength, the formation did not budge an inch. The group attacked several times with combined forces, but similarly achieved nothing. The party tried attacking the formation countless times, switching positions, yet the formation naturally showed no response. As he saw the worsening condition of Lin Shilu and the others within the formation, Lin Xingrong grew increasingly anxious. At this moment, Lin Tianming was unusually calm, rapidly considering their options for a long while. ¡°Eye of Five Colors!¡± Lin Tianming finally remembered his Eye of Five Colors! ¡°The Eye of Five Colors has the ability to see through illusions and barriers. Although I¡¯m not sure about the effects on High Order formations, for a Second Order Formation, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± With his mind made up, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards the formation¡¯s glowing screen on the platform. Chapter 112 - 112 - 101: Escaping the Predicament (Two in One) _1 Chapter 112 ¨C 101: Escaping the Predicament (Two in One) _1 Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, gazing at the formation¡¯s light curtain. Within the invisible and colorless curtain, countless beams of light appeared, each nearly the size of a strand of hair, densely packed and innumerable, ultimately converging towards eight directions of the platform, and at each direction there was an energy cluster, presumably the core of the formation. After circling around the platform, Lin Tianming revealed a grave expression. ¡°How is it, can you discern anything?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming remaining silent, Lin Xingrong asked anxiously from the side. Faced with his father¡¯s pressing question, he began to voice his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s a bit tricky. Based on my estimation, this formation is at least a Second Order lower-grade formation, focused more on trapping than attacking, otherwise Elder Wu and the rest wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold on for long!¡± ... Hearing what Lin Tianming said, everyone present became even more anxious. A Second Order Formation was extremely rare in the Luoyun Mountain Range, apart from the Protective Clan Formations of the five major families, no other power was known to have a Second Order Protective Clan Formation. In Wei Kingdom, Second Order Array Masters were essentially venerated by major powers, and even Golden Elixir Forces seldom managed to cultivate them; among Loose Cultivators, they were even rarer. Find your next read on empire The few speculated that the person who set up the formation was definitely not a Jin Family Cultivator, but more likely a helper that the Jin Family had sought out to annihilate the four major families. No matter their identity or purpose, the pressing matter at hand was naturally to rescue Lin Shilu and the others. ¡°Tian Ming, do you have a method to break the formation?¡± An anxious Lin Xingrong asked again. Lin Tianming frowned slightly and said helplessly, ¡°We can only try to locate the formation¡¯s core and break it, or wait for the formation¡¯s energy to be exhausted, or ask a Golden Elixir Expert to act, for there to be a chance of breaking the formation.¡± Hearing what Lin Tianming said, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face grew even grimmer. The methods Lin Tianming mentioned were all nearly impossible for them to accomplish. ¡°Father, we have no other choice. Elder Wu and the rest can¡¯t wait much longer. We can only do our best and try to break the formation!¡± Time waits for no one. They couldn¡¯t wait for the formation¡¯s energy to run out, nor could they find a Golden Elixir Expert to help, so they could only rely on themselves. If they could make use of the Eye of Five Colors, breaking the formation was possible, but it would require time to study and explore. ¡°Alright then!¡± Knowing the severity of the situation and lacking other alternatives, Lin Xingrong agreed to let him try. ¡°Tian Ming, focus on breaking the formation. I¡¯ll stand guard here. Xing Yu and Tianfeng, you two immediately return to the market, find Xing Zhi and inquire about the situation of the various families. Additionally, find a way to send the news of the Jin Family¡¯s actions back to our clan!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± After the group responded in unison, they sprang into action. Sun Ruiqing and another decided not to delay and planned to return to the market with Lin Xingyu to gather news. Lin Xingrong also understood the urgency of the situation. Though the major families had anticipated trouble and made some preparations, getting news swiftly was crucial, so he did not stop them from going. When everyone had left, Lin Tianming began attempting to break the formation, with Lin Xingrong standing by waiting. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, scrutinizing the light beams within the curtain. The curtain¡¯s light beams were too many, chaotically interwoven, ultimately converging at the eight formation cores. His task was to find the essential core among the eight and destroy it to break the formation. Having organized his thoughts, Lin Tianming started from the first direction in front of him. Looking at the chaotic and dense light beams, Lin Tianming carefully observed each one to locate the source of the beams. Three days passed, and Lin Tianming sat to the south, contemplating the light curtain in front of him. After analyzing and comparing, the light curtain in front of him was subtly different from other directions. Lin Tianming speculated that the formation¡¯s core was likely hidden within this part of the curtain. Having identified the specific direction, Lin Tianming once again scrutinized the light beams inside for detailed analysis. ¡­ Outside Luoyun Market. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingyu and the group of four arrived at a mountaintop outside the market, cautiously observing the entrance, not daring to enter hastily. At the entrance, there were still many cultivators coming in and out. Aside from a noticeable decrease in the flow of people, there were no signs of martial law enforcement or a direct shutdown of the market. It seemed that the Jin Family had not taken any action against the clanspeople within the market, which was good news. Considering there were no abnormalities, the four of them managed to enter the market smoothly. Inside the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xingyu and another met with Lin Xingzhi. Although Jin Zhison had threatened the Qi Refining Cultivators watching the competition below the mountain not to spread any word, in the past few days, still, quite a few rumors had emerged. Lin Xingzhi had only just learned the news, and with half-belief, was about to go and check it out when he encountered Lin Xingyu and the others returning. Lin Xingyu recounted the events of the competition, and Lin Xingzhi was taken by surprise. Lin Xingrong had killed Jin Chaojiang, making him the only cultivator from the five major families to die in a magical duel in recent decades. After calming his emotions, Lin Xingzhi also spoke about the rumors within the market. According to rumors from some Qi Refining Cultivators, the Jin Family had assembled a large number of clansmen and gone to the Wu Family¡¯s clan grounds at Jiuhua Mountain. After surrounding it for several days, they broke through the Wu Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation. The Wu Family was annihilated; not even the Foundation Establishment Cultivators managed to escape, with only a very small number of clan members outside surviving the catastrophe. Chapter 113 - 113 - 101: Escaping the Predicament (Two in One) _2 Chapter 113 ¨C 101: Escaping the Predicament (Two in One) _2 It had been a month since Lin Shilu and several others were trapped. The news of the Wu Family¡¯s annihilation had spread in the market these last two days, causing a great shock, and the Wu Family members in the market had already fled. As for whether they could escape the pursuit, it was difficult to predict. The Jin Family most likely struck at the Wu Family first because the Wu Family¡¯s territory was the closest, and their silent and unexpected annihilation was truly hard to believe. Yet, the Wu Family had been annihilated twenty days ago, and the news had only come out now. The Jin Family must have intended to block the information, otherwise, with the distance being within a thousand miles, the news should have been received much earlier. The whereabouts of the Jin Family were unknown now, and the next target was hard to determine, likely being either the Sun Family or the Luo Family. After Lin Xingyu and the others exchanged the information they each had learned, Lin Xingzhi spoke: ¡°Xingyu, you now sneak back to our clan¡¯s territory and relay the news of the Wu Family¡¯s annihilation and the trapping of Fifteenth Uncle back to our family, but remember not to be discovered by the Jin Family. Tianfeng, return to Tian Ming¡¯s side, and I will stay in the market to gather information.¡± ... ¡°Right, everyone, be careful!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After assigning their respective tasks, they quickly set into action. The gathering place for the competition. Lin Tianming had been sitting here for several days, concentrating on breaking the formation. At the moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, and sweat dripped continuously from his forehead; he had reached the most critical moment. Staring at the tens of thousands of light rays within the formation¡¯s light screen, Lin Tianming focused on one of them, contemplating. This beam of light seemed very ordinary; it wound around like others, of the same thickness, and didn¡¯t look different compared to the rest. But after comparisons and observing for the entire day, Lin Tianming still discovered a subtle difference. This particular beam of light would hasten the transfer of energy every half an hour, almost ten times faster, lasting for a quarter of an hour before returning to normal. New n????vel chapters are published on .c¦Ò?. After repeated confirmations, Lin Tianming was certain that this beam of light was the formation¡¯s core. Days and nights of relentless study and calculation had left Lin Tianming utterly exhausted. Having found the key to breaking the formation, Lin Tianming finally showed a trace of a smile. Stay updated through empire Lin Shilu and the others had already been trapped for a full month, in extremely difficult circumstances. Without any delay, Lin Tianming stood up and took out an Earth Evil Sword from his storage bag. Circulating his cultivation technique and injecting a large amount of spiritual energy, he swung the sword with all his might, turning it into a cyan-yellow Sword Qi, and striking at that special beam of light. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± A grating, strange sound cut through the sky, startling Lin Xingrong, who was meditating nearby. He immediately stood up and leaped to Lin Tianming¡¯s side, vigilantly watching the light screen. When the weird noise stopped, the light screen slowly cracked open and then completely vanished without a trace, revealing the figures of Lin Shilu and the others. The three trapped men were pale, looking like they had aged several years. On the platform, seeing the formation broken and the wandering Sword Qi dissipating, Lin Shilu and the other two¡¯s faces showed wild joy, and they all promptly sat on the ground, looking thoroughly drained. Being trapped for a full month, Wu Yingchong was worn to death, and Luo Chenggu was also at his limits. Lin Shilu and Sun Dingfeng fared slightly better; their cultivation and elixirs had allowed them to hold on, but they were equally exhausted. A few more days of being trapped would have certainly led to death from exhaustion. Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s figure, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong¡¯s complexions were ruddy, and they rushed over immediately. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, how are you?¡± Lin Xingrong anxiously inquired about Lin Shilu¡¯s condition. Lin Shilu took a Huiyuan Pill and meditated for a quarter of an hour before he could speak; this showed how lucky he was to be alive. Without Lin Tianming, they would have undoubtedly died this time. ¡°Xingrong, Tianming, I¡¯m just overly exhausted; I¡¯m feeling a bit better now. I need to cultivate for half a day, you two help to protect me!¡± ¡°Alright, Elder, recover at ease!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming and the other person stopped asking questions and sat to one side to wait. Half a day passed quickly. After the recovery, some color finally returned to Lin Shilu¡¯s pale face. In half a day¡¯s time, his spiritual power had also recovered by nearly half. Lin Shilu got up and walked to the side, with Lin Tianming and the others following closely. In a corner, the two secretly communicated with Lin Shilu, exchanging their respective experiences through voice transmission. ¡°Tian Ming, I owe you my life. Without you, I would have truly died here!¡± Upon learning that Lin Tianming had gone five days and nights without closing his eyes to break the formation and rescue several people, Lin Shilu didn¡¯t inquire about the details but sincerely expressed his gratitude. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you are too polite. We are all Lin Family members, and my success was merely by luck. It is a great relief to us younger generations that you have escaped from danger!¡± ¡°Indeed, Fifteenth Uncle, there¡¯s no need for courtesy, all that we did was our duty!¡± Lin Xing Rong also spoke up in agreement. The three of them exchanged words for a good half a quarter hour until Sun Dingfeng and his companions stood up, signaling a pause in their communication. Once Sun Dingfeng and his group had regained a fraction of their spiritual power, they approached Lin Tianming and the others. After a half-day¡¯s recovery, Sun Dingfeng and his group were in much better condition and immediately came over to express their thanks. ¡°Daoist Lin, we will remember this life-saving grace deep in our hearts and will not refuse any request you make in the future!¡± ¡°My fellow Daoists, there¡¯s no need for such formality. Everyone making it out alive is a great fortune in itself, though it is truly unfortunate about Daoist Wu,¡± said Lin solemnly, lamenting repeatedly. Upon mentioning Wu Yingchong, Sun Dingfeng and the other¡¯s expressions changed. A stalwart Foundation Establishment Cultivator had died from being utterly drained; their tragic end came at the hands of the Jin Family. ¡°Daoist Lin, Daoist Wu¡¯s death is indeed regrettable. Since he is gone, let¡¯s not talk about him. As for his storage bag, let¡¯s leave it with Daoist Lin. Luo Daoyou, you have no objections, right?¡± Sun Dingfeng made the proposal without objections from Luo Chenggu. Given that their survival had entirely depended on the Lin Family¡¯s intervention, they naturally wouldn¡¯t dispute over these belongings. Following this, Lin Shilu recounted the experiences of the ordeal, which only stoked the fury of the two men. The Sun Family was slightly better off, having lost only one clan member, but the Luo and Wu Family members had been wiped out entirely, causing both men to grind their teeth in resentment, wishing they could immediately march to the Jin Family¡¯s territory for vengeance. Lin Shilu advised them not to act rashly and thus was able to stabilize their emotions. For a good half an hour, the trio discussed strategies on how to deal with the Jin Family, and after coming to a series of resolutions, they prepared to return to their respective families. Just at that moment, Lin Tianfeng, who had returned from the market, rushed over. Seeing that Lin Shilu had escaped from danger, Lin Tianfeng was overjoyed and hurriedly went forward to pay his respects. Anxious, Lin Xing Rong hastily instructed Lin Tianfeng to report the news from the market as well as from the Jin Family. Knowing the critical nature of the news he possessed, Lin Tianfeng did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point by revealing the demise of the Wu Family. ¡°What, the Wu Family was annihilated in just five days!¡± ¡°It happened twenty days ago!¡± Sun Dingfeng and Luo Chenggu exclaimed in shock, as everyone present was thoroughly stunned. Although they had anticipated that the Jin Family, after trapping Lin Shilu and others, would immediately act, they had not expected that the Wu Family would fall in only five days, especially since they were also a Foundation Establishing family. The outcome was truly beyond expectations. Lin Shilu was the first to regain his calm and spoke: ¡°Don¡¯t forget, the Array Master the Jin Family brought in is, I deduce, at least a Second Order Mid-Grade Formation Master. With his help, coupled with the Jin Family¡¯s Second Order Attack Artifact, breaking through the Wu Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation wouldn¡¯t be difficult!¡± The others realized this was indeed the case. This person had managed to set up the formation in an extremely short amount of time, clearly indicating that this mysterious cultivator was not to be underestimated. Once everyone calmed down, they all had heavy hearts. With the Wu Family gone nearly a month, the Jin Family would definitely not sit idly by and would surely continue to attack the other three families¡¯ territories. In such a case, the current state of the three families was unknown, and it was foreseen that their situation would not be good. Given the Jin Family and Sun Family¡¯s historical enmity, it was highly probable that the Jin Family¡¯s next target would be the Sun Family. Sun Dingfeng, not daring to delay any longer, said: ¡°Daoist Lin, we are not yet sure which family¡¯s territory the Jin Family is attacking now. We must set off immediately, return to our family, and strengthen our power to confront the Jin Family.¡± ¡°Daoist Sun speaks wisely. We cannot afford to delay!¡± Luo Chenggu strongly agreed with Sun Dingfeng¡¯s remark, echoing him immediately. Lin Shilu was also extremely anxious and briefly discussed countermeasures with the others before letting them go without delay. Sun Dingfeng and the other person no longer lingered, gave a cupped fist salute, and quickly vanished into the horizon. Chapter 114 - 114 - 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _1 Chapter 114 ¨C 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _1 Flying Eagle Mountain, in a concealed valley behind the Sun Family clan territory. After escaping from his predicament, he dared not delay, nor care for his unhealed injuries, and hastily rushed back to Flying Eagle Mountain. This place was one of the Sun Family¡¯s secret passages, known only to a dozen or so core clan members, and was one of the contingencies the Sun Family had left behind. Sun Dingfeng lay atop a hill, watching as various colors of magical spells streaked across the sky, accompanied by bursts of explosions. Clearly, the Jin Family was attacking the Protective Clan Formation. Looking at the Protective Clan Formation in front of him, its defensive power had decreased by over half; it seemed it wouldn¡¯t hold out much longer. Just then, a red light streaked across the sky, and after the ground shook and the mountains swayed, the Protective Clan Formation collapsed with a loud bang, and flames soared into the sky from within the Sun Family territory. ... ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over!¡± Watching as the clan¡¯s great formation was breached, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face turned even paler, and blood oozed from the corners of his mouth. Outside the Sun Family territory, with the formation broken, Jin Zhiying let out a triumphant, strange laugh and immediately charged in, while Zhuang Zhenxin, who had put away a gray pearl, swiftly followed suit. This time, aside from leaving behind one Foundation Establishment Cultivator to guard the territory, the Jin Family had dispatched ninety percent of their elite forces¡ªdozens of clan members, each with cultivation at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement or above. Inside the Sun Family, as the formation broke, three figures soared into the sky, appearing at the entrance of the clan territory. As Jin Zhiying, who had rushed in, saw one of the three, an old man with thinning hair and a goatee, he exclaimed: ¡°Old Ghost Sun, you¡¯re actually still alive!¡± The Sun elder¡¯s expression was calm as he feigned composure and spoke: ¡°Humph, although my life is nearing its end, I won¡¯t die so easily. Since you¡¯ve seen me, why not quickly retreat? Our Sun Family can still let bygones be bygones; otherwise, today will be your death day!¡± Hearing the Sun elder speak plainly, Jin Zhiying seemed to sense a lack of confidence in his voice. Thinking of how Sun Dingfeng had been trapped and the Jin Family Cultivators outnumbered the Sun Family by three, and that the three from the Sun Family had cowered within the formation at the time of the breach and clearly dared not engage in battle, now that the formation was broken and they had completely turned hostile, they certainly wouldn¡¯t retreat when they had the absolute upper hand. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯re still alive, I¡¯ll be afraid of you. We¡¯ve been planning this for nearly ten years; how could we give up easily!¡± Making up his mind, Jin Zhiying commanded the Jin Family members behind him: ¡°Spare no effort; kill them all. The wealth of the Sun Family will be ours!¡± Thinking of the vast treasures they had acquired from defeating the Wu Family, the Jin Family Cultivators behind him showed a fierce gleam in their eyes, swarming forward in full force. Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin also attacked at the same time, targeting Sun Anzhong and Sun Dingxian. Jin Zhiying, with his Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivation, faced Sun Anzhong at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, while Zhuang Zhenxin and Sun Dingxian were both at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. The four clashed fiercely in the high sky, and the remaining four Foundation Establishment Jin Family Cultivators besieged the lone Sun Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator. For a moment, there were flashes of blade and sword light, talisman paper and spells all burst forth, and the entire Sun Family territory descended into chaos. New n????vel chapters are published on .c¦Ò?. Jin Zhiying took out a three-foot-long blood-red blade that emanated a thick murderous aura, clearly a ferocious Second Order Magical Artifact. Seeing the blood-red blade, Sun Anzhong¡¯s face turned extremely solemn. The Jin Family¡¯s Second Order Attack Artifact, the Thousand Blood Blade, was notorious for its powerful attacks, and many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had died under its edge. Being already outmatched in cultivation by Jin Zhiying, he naturally faced great danger in the face of such a vicious weapon. As Jin Zhiying slashed three times in succession, transforming the strikes into three blood-colored dragon-shaped Blade Qi, they sliced towards Sun Anzhong. Sun Anzhong, not daring to be careless, brought out a black small shield to block the dragon-shaped Blade Qi. Three explosive sounds¡­ Sun Anzhong¡¯s face turned pale as he churned with blood, the single attack significantly shaking his mind and spirit. Steadying himself, Sun Anzhong began to counterattack. Before they knew it, the two had exchanged over a dozen rounds of blows, and relying on a large quantity of Second Order talismans, Sun Anzhong temporarily held off Jin Zhiying. If Sun Dingxian could defeat Zhuang Zhenxin in time, there was still a possibility of repelling the enemy. Meanwhile, Sun Dingxian¡¯s situation was also dire. As a Second Order Array Master, Zhuang Zhenxin possessed many magical treasures. Although the two shared the same cultivation level, Sun Dingxian had significantly fewer artifacts and quickly found himself at a disadvantage. What was more critical was that, although the Sun Family had nearly two hundred clan members in the battle, there were too few Foundation Establishment Cultivators to hold the line. The sole Foundation Establishment Cultivator, besieged by Jin Zhison and two others, was already severely injured and wouldn¡¯t last long before being killed. At this point, without the protection of the formation, the Sun Family was completely on the defensive. As time slowly passed, Jin Zhison struck with full force, releasing three Blade Qi. After a wretched scream, the Sun Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivator fell. Freely joining Jin Zhiying¡¯s fray, Jin Zhison immediately helped to overwhelm their opponents. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jin Zhiying delivered a powerful strike, flinging Sun Anzhong dozens of feet away. He struggled to his feet, his face completely white as he spat mouthfuls of fresh blood. With Sun Anzhong retreating step by step, the Sun Family crumbled completely. Knowing that all was lost, Sun Anzhong secretly transmitted a message to Sun Dingxian. ¡°Dingxian, the game is up, and the Sun Family has reached a dead end. The few clan members with great potential have already left. In any case, I won¡¯t live much longer. In a moment, I will take the Blood Spirit Pill and hold them off for a while; you must escape immediately. As long as the green hills last, there¡¯ll be wood to burn!¡± Hearing Sun Anzhong¡¯s secret transmission, Sun Dingxian¡¯s face turned deathly pale, realizing his own injuries, the desperate state of the Sun Family, and knowing that continuing to fight would not change the outcome; escaping was a helpless move. ¡°Ninth Uncle, rest assured, I won¡¯t let our family¡¯s lineage be cut off!¡± Sun Dingxian¡¯s eyes shown with resolution as he looked towards Sun Anzhong and began to transmit his message. Sun Anzhong, thus resolved, took out a red elixir from his storage bag and swallowed it. Chapter 115 - 115 - 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _2 Chapter 115 ¨C 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _2 A breath¡¯s time had passed, and Sun Anzhong¡¯s aura rapidly soared, ascending a whole level and now no less than that of Jin Zhiying. ¡°The Blood Spirit Pill, Old Ghost Sun is going for broke!¡± Jin Zhiying immediately cried out in alarm, swinging his blade several times, attacking Sun Anzhong. As Sun Anzhong¡¯s aura surged, he dodged the attacks and gave up on confronting Jin Zhiying, instead aiming to kill Zhuang Zhenxin. Zhuang Zhenxin was greatly shocked and immediately ceased his attack on Sun Dingxian, explosively retreating backward. Seizing the opportunity, Sun Dingxian didn¡¯t hesitate and instantly fled towards the aft hill of the clan grounds, his speed incredibly fast. Perceiving that Sun Dingxian was fleeing, Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin immediately gave chase. ... Having finally gotten the chance, Sun Anzhong, who had already planned for this, naturally would not let them pass. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sun Anzhong took out dozens of Second Order Attack Talismans, threw them into the sky, and instantly, numerous fireballs appeared, filling the entire sky, with Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin trapped amidst the sea of flames. For a moment, the sea of flames engulfed the entire battlefield, and under indiscriminate attack, both the Sun Family and Jin Family suffered numerous casualties. The Jin Family, protected by many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, lost just over a dozen clan members, while the Sun Family had dozens killed. ¡°Old Ghost Sun has gone mad; he even disregards his own clan members!¡± Jin Zhiying was both shocked and enraged; although he and Zhuang Zhenxin were unharmed, they were completely blocked from their pursuit, allowing Sun Dingxian to vanish from their sight. To continue the chase would require significant effort. When the blaze dissipated, Jin Zhiying and Jin Zhison encircled Sun Anzhong, with Zhuang Zhenxin joining the fray. Sun Dingxian was a big problem; if he escaped, the Jin Family would have to be constantly on guard, an endless trouble. Only by killing Sun Anzhong could they get past him to chase the fleeing Sun Dingxian. In a flash, all three went all out, launching a frenzy of attacks on Sun Anzhong. Jin Zhiying once again unleashed a fatal blow, sending forth five strikes of Blood Jiao Blade Qi, layer upon layer, piercing through Sun Anzhong¡¯s black shield. Sun Anzhong spat out blood, one arm severed, his combat strength severely reduced. ¡°If you want to eradicate our Sun Family, you will have to pay the price!¡± Sun Anzhong¡¯s face was pale as he roared in anger. Knowing he couldn¡¯t kill Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin, he targeted Jin Zhison. He threw out the remaining dozen or so Second Order Talismans, entangling Jin Zhiying and the others. For a moment, resigned to death and dodging no attacks, Sun Anzhong made his way toward Jin Zhison. When Jin Zhiying and the others burst out of the talisman fire sea, they found two corpses lying on the ground. Jin Zhiying immediately ran over and picked up the fallen Jin Zhison to examine him. Having taken the Blood Spirit Pill and reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, Sun Anzhong was gravely wounded, but with a life-for-life strike, he succeeded in dying together with Jin Zhison, a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Seeing that Jin Zhison had already ceased breathing, Jin Zhiying was deeply grieved. A short while later, the entire battlefield became utterly silent. Aside from the escaped Sun Dingxian, all the Sun Family members present were killed. ¡°Daoist Zhuang and I will chase after the fleeing Sun Dingxian, you all quickly clean up the Jin Family clan grounds, collect the treasures, leave five to keep watch, and then head to Green Bamboo Mountain,¡± Jin Zhiying ordered. ¡°Yes!¡± After the surviving Jin Family members respectfully responded, Jin Zhiying did not linger and chased in the direction Sun Dingxian had fled. ¡­ On a hilltop behind the Sun Family Clan Grounds. After breaking away from the battle, Sun Dingxian didn¡¯t stay for a moment and headed straight here. Seeing Sun Dingxian appear, Sun Dingfeng lying in wait on the hilltop immediately went up to greet him. ¡°Fourth brother, how is the family?¡± Although Sun Dingfeng had guessed the outcome, he still asked, unwilling to give up hope. Sun Dingxian did not answer, pulling Sun Dingfeng along as they left without slowing their flight. After running for tens of miles, taking advantage of a brief rest, he recounted the events of the great battle. Upon hearing this, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s expression turned sorrowful as he shared the predicament of the Spirit Scripture. ¡°Fourth brother, what do we do now?¡± Facing Sun Dingfeng¡¯s inquiry, Sun Dingxian also hesitated; the current situation called for flight first, with the possibility of later gathering the younger generations of the Sun Family. However, he also wanted to hear Sun Dingfeng¡¯s opinion. ¡°Dingfeng, what are your thoughts?¡± Sun Dingfeng pondered for a moment; to evade pursuit, the only option seemed to be fleeing to Qianchuan Market, but it was too far and unlikely. On the other hand, if they escaped to the Lin Family, only over six hundred miles away, the chances of hope were greater. Making up his mind, Sun Dingfeng said: ¡°Fourth brother, after breaking free, I discussed with Lin Shilu that if anything happened, we could go to the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain to stand together against the Jin Family. Moreover, we already had an alliance in place. With the Lin Family¡¯s strength, maybe we can fend off the Jin Family¡¯s pursuit. What do you think?¡± After hearing Sun Dingfeng¡¯s words, Sun Dingxian did not think long and agreed to the suggestion. In truth, they had no choice; currently, their only possibility of escaping the pursuit was to join with the Lin Family. Deciding on this, the two immediately flew toward the south. Sometime later, Jin Zhiying and another also caught up. Half a day¡¯s time passed. At the Green Bamboo Mountain, the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Ever since the market competition began, the Lin Family had been under martial law for two months. At this moment, Lin Shiji was personally leading five clan members on patrol at the edge of the Formation. Suddenly, they saw two cultivators flying towards them at high speed, stopping just outside the Formation. As the two landed, Lin Shiji realized they were Sun Dingfeng and another. At this point, Sun Dingfeng and his companion were in terrible condition. While Sun Dingxian was better off, with Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivation and not much injury, Sun Dingfeng was already injured and exhausted from the constant fleeing. Outside the Formation, Sun Dingxian shouted toward the inside. ¡°Sun Dingxian urgently seeks an audience with Lin Shikang, no time to lose, please come out at once!¡± Chapter 116 - 116 - 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _3 Chapter 116 ¨C 102 Sun Family Seeks Refuge (Parts One and Two Combined) _3 Lin Shi Ji was acutely aware that a bond had been forged with the Sun Family and that today was the day of a great battle, so he naturally did not dare to delay and immediately sent a message to Lin Shi Kang. Not long after, Lin Shi Kang appeared at the edge of the formation. He opened the formation, personally welcomed Sun Dingxian inside, and the formation swiftly returned to its original state. Without time to rest, Lin Shi Kang anxiously asked, ¡°Daoist Sun, what kind of accident has befallen you?¡± Although he had anticipated this, Lin Shi Kang still wanted to inquire personally. Sun Dingxian took a deep breath and hurriedly recounted the Sun Family¡¯s ordeal. ... ¡°What? The Sun Family clan grounds have been breached, over a hundred clan members have perished, and only the two of you managed to escape!¡± Hearing Sun Dingxian say this himself, Lin Shi Kang was greatly shocked. It should be known that the Sun Family¡¯s time of establishment predates the Lin Family by several hundred years and truly possesses deep foundations with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Yet, they too were breached by the Jin Family, who broke through their Protective Clan Formation and slew over a hundred of their clan members. But the matter had come to this point, leaving no choice but to believe it. As Lin Shi Ji tried to stabilize his emotions, he immediately reminded, ¡°Lin, you must be careful. The Jin Family has somehow invited a Second Order Mid-Grade Formation Master. Not only did they lay down formations, entrapping people like Lin Shi Lu for about a month, but they also breached the Protective Clan Formations of both the Wu Family and our Sun Family. They are ruthless like the World Evil Sect!¡± Since Lin Shi Lu and others had not yet returned to the clan grounds for some reason, Lin Shi Kang took Sun Dingxian¡¯s warning very seriously upon hearing it. ¡°A Second Order Mid-Grade Formation Master¡­ it seems the Jin Family is indeed well-prepared, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have commenced the battle so resolutely!¡± ¡°Indeed, we underestimated them!¡± After discussing, Lin Shi Kang turned to Lin Shi Ji beside him and instructed, ¡°Shi Ji, the Jin Family will be here soon. Time is pressing, so take Daoist Sun and the others to rest first. I¡¯ll personally guard this place. Then immediately order all clan members to assemble and be ready to respond to the battle with the Jin Family at any moment!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see to it right away!¡± With that, Lin Shi Ji left with Sun Dingfeng and the other person. Half a quarter of an hour later, Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin appeared outside of the formation. Jin Zhiying saw that Sun Dingxian and the other person had vanished, evidently having entered the Lin Family Clan Grounds. ¡°Daoist Zhuang, you first observe the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation to see if you can break it. I¡¯ll stay here on guard, as the Lin Family likely doesn¡¯t dare to act rashly either!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Zhuang Zhenxin immediately began to inspect the perimeter of the formation. The appearance of the two men immediately caught the attention of Lin Shi Kang. Knowing that Jin Zhiying was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm and that there was Zhuang Zhenxin, who was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, Lin Shi Kang did not dare to act rashly and could only hope that the Protective Clan Formation could withstand the attack. An hour passed, and Zhuang Zhenxin returned to Jin Zhiying¡¯s side. Seeing Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s return, Jin Zhiying asked, ¡°How goes it? Do you think you can break the formation?¡± Zhuang Zhenxin, with a calm expression, thought for a moment before replying, ¡°The Lin Family is indeed a clan that has produced Golden Elixir Experts. Their Protective Clan Formation is quite mysterious. Although it is difficult, with some extra time, it should be possible to break through!¡± Pleased with Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s response, Jin Zhiying was very satisfied. Once they eliminated the Lin Family, the two from the Sun Family couldn¡¯t run either. After that, the Luo Family left would simply be like fish on the chopping block, easily wiped out. ¡°Haha, then I am relieved. With Daoist Zhuang making a move, it¡¯s naturally as easy as grasping something in our hands. We¡¯ll rest here for a few days. Once our Jin Family clan members arrive, we¡¯ll take action to break the formation!¡± ¡°Just as Jin Daoyou suggests!¡± Having made up their minds, the two flew to a hilltop outside the formation. While waiting for the Jin Family clan members, they sat down to cultivate. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 119 - 119 - 104 Hard-won Victory_1 Chapter 119 ¨C 104 Hard-won Victory_1 Sword Qi assaulted them, the Jin Family¡¯s three members, besieging from all angles, wore expressions tinged with solemnness as they felt the intense fluctuations of Sword Qi. Among the three Jin Family members at Luoyun Market¡¯s auction, Jin Qilong was also present. In the face of Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, the leading Jin Chaojun pulled out a dark green shield, poured Spiritual Power into it, and narrowly blocked Lin Tianming¡¯s assault. Not far away, Jin Qilong took out a blue gourd, tossed it into the sky, and immediately a dense, foul-smelling, dark green mist emanated from the gourd, surging directly towards Lin Tianming. ¡°Poisonous¡­¡± Lin Tianming dared not take it lightly, waving his hands, eighteen Earth Evil Swords shot out, circling once before transforming into a hundred sword shadows. Lin Tianming, manipulating the numerous Earth Evil Swords, shaped them into a sword lotus, shielding himself from the oncoming dense mist. ... ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The Sword Lotus¡¯s speed greatly decreased, and the surfaces of the Earth Evil Swords instantly made a ¡°sizzling¡± sound. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The dense mist, spurred by Jin Qilong, was not only toxic but also hindered the functioning of sword techniques. In less than three breaths¡¯ time, several Earth Evil Swords were corroded, which in turn drastically slowed down the sword shadows. With no time for shock, Lin Tianming hastily issued a palm strike, unleashing a Wind Control Skill that instantaneously dispersed the approaching dense mist. Seeing Lin Tianming easily neutralizing the poison mist attack, Jin Qilong¡¯s expression shifted. Your adventure continues at empire This poison mist was something he had put a lot of effort into collecting a large number of poisons to refine. It had a strong corrosive effect on Spiritual Artifacts, and if one absorbed too much poison mist, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would lose their ability to fight. Seizing the moment of Jin Qilong¡¯s astonishment, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze to Jin Chaojun. Being attacked by too many members of the Jin Family, the longer it dragged on, the more difficult his situation would become. He had to quickly kill or seriously injure one person. Even if it was just a serious injury, the pressure on him would be much relieved. Having made his decision, Lin Tianming waved his hand, throwing out more than ten attack talismans, among them the Fiery Flame Charm obtained from the auction. In the sky, the Second Order talismans transformed into three fireballs the size of buckets, accompanied by several Sword Qi blasts, and killed their way towards the three Jin Family members with incredible speed. Taking advantage of the moment they were busy dealing with the attacks, Lin Tianming waved his hands another time, scattering the eighteen Earth Evil Swords across various corners within dozens of yards. As the fireballs and Sword Qi drew nearer, the expressions of Jin Qilong¡¯s three members turned exceedingly grave. The fireballs approached with such speed and alarming power that, coupled with their close proximity, it was very difficult for the three to evade successfully. Left with little time to think, each of the Jin Family members rapidly pulled out a Defensive Spiritual Tool from their storage bags to protect themselves. After a series of crackling explosions, the fireballs burst. ¡°Ah¡­¡± After a scream. A few cracks appeared on the high-quality Defensive Spiritual Tools of Jin Qilong and Jin Chaojun. Subjected to the violent impact, both men turned pale, their insides churning as they struggled not to vomit. Another Jin Family member at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was not so lucky. As he did not have a high-quality Defensive Spiritual Tool, the Second Order talismans, even if their power was split into three, were too much for his Spiritual Artifact to withstand. The Fiery Flame Charm turned into a fireball that directly pierced his defenses. When the fireball exploded, it entirely engulfed him, instantly turning him into a Fire Man. Watching their tragic kinsman turned to ashes, Jin Chaojun and Jin Qilong¡¯s faces turned alternately green and white. Lin Tianming, holding nothing back, took out his very last reserves, using up all his remaining attack talismans. With this kind of generous combat style, he succeeded in killing one person with a single strike. Without giving Jin Qilong and the others time to react, Lin Tianming immediately activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, enveloping the two Jin Family members. As Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation became increasingly profound, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array became more solid and its power grew stronger. After much combat and strategic experience, his abilities had greatly improved. Feeling the pressure of the surrounding environment, the two Jin Family members wore grave expressions, carefully dodging the ceaselessly wandering Sword Qi, considerably slowing down their speed. Jin Chaojun took out a long spear, poured a great deal of Spiritual Power into it, and attacked the barriers of the Sword Array over and over in a frenzy. Jin Qilong, likewise not daring to delay, spurred on even more concentrated poison mist, attempting to corrode the Sword Array. Unfortunately, although the dense mist could corrode lower grade Spiritual Artifacts, it had no effect whatsoever on the Sword Array. Facing the threat of death, Jin Qilong joined hands with Jin Chaojun to repeatedly assault the barriers of the Sword Array. Together, they pushed the Sword Array to the brink of collapse. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s consumption of Spiritual Power doubled, the pressure was immense, but even so, he firmly held the Sword Array steady. Forty yards¡­ Thirty yards¡­ ¡­ As the area within the Sword Array gradually shrank, the two Jin Family members looked even paler and weaker, the Qi Refining Cultivators like ants on a hot pan. Outside the Sword Array, numerous cultivators, reduced by six or seven levels, joined hands in the attack on Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi. At that moment, various talismans and spells blossomed in the void. Busy dealing with the attack inside the Sword Array, and facing the onslaught of the Jin Family members, Lin Tianming was in a particularly dire situation. Luckily, Qi Refining cultivators above the eighth level from the Jin Family were reassigned, leaving mostly those at the sixth and seventh levels, with fewer than five above the eighth level, otherwise Lin Tianming and his companions would have already been defeated. The Jin Family members attacking Lin Xingzhi totaled dozens. Despite the significant difference in cultivation level, under the attack of so many cultivators, his situation was even more dire than Lin Tianming¡¯s. The two of them struggled desperately, knowing that as long as Lin Shilu defeated Jin Chaohai, all problems would be resolved. But facing the Jin Family members who regarded death as if returning home, the battle was incredibly fierce. High above, Lin Shilu and Jin Chaohai were engaged in a fierce battle. With the advantages of heaven and earth, as well as the assistance from the dozens of family members on the ground, even Jin Chaohai, at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, was able to hold his own against Lin Shilu at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment without falling behind too much. Chapter 120 - 120 - 104: Hard-fought Victory_2 Chapter 120 ¨C 104: Hard-fought Victory_2 The two had already exchanged blows for dozens of rounds, and Lin Shilu was feeling extremely stifled. He thought that with his higher cultivation and the advantage of his Magic Artifact, he should have been able to quickly kill Jin Chaohai. However, the restraint from the Jin Family Clan¡¯s members below was too troublesome, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn¡¯t completely ignore it. Seeing that Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi¡¯s situation was dire, Lin Shilu decisively changed strategies. Since he couldn¡¯t take down Jin Chaohai in a short time, his only option was to kill the Jin Family Clan¡¯s members on the ground to make Jin Chaohai hesitate. Having made up his mind, Lin Shilu threw out several talisman papers, blocking Jin Chaohai for a moment. Taking advantage of this brief interval, Lin Shilu unleashed his Sword Qi in a sweeping attack, directly plunging into the group of clan members on the ground, with the attitude of a ravenous wolf pouncing on its prey. The sudden shift in target caught the Jin Family members off guard, and Jin Chaohai, having dodged the talisman paper and Sword Qi, was already too late to come to their rescue. ... After the Sword Qi swept through, blood and flesh blurred together in the aftermath, with severed limbs and body parts strewn all over the entrance to the mountain. The frenzied attack of Lin Shilu and the horrible death of the clan members made the Jin Family Cultivators¡¯ scalps tingle with fear, and many clan members were scared out of their wits and retreated in panic. Knowing that retreating would be useless and would only hasten the Jin Family¡¯s defeat, Jin Chaohai urgently shouted. ¡°No retreating, no retreating, speed up the attack¡­¡± The retreating Jin Family members, most of whom came to their senses, gathered around again, while some female relatives still failed to realize the situation, foolishly thinking they could survive. Unfortunately, their realization came a bit too late. Taking advantage of the Jin Family members¡¯ hesitation, Lin Tianming was under much less pressure. The range covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shrink again, now less than thirty feet. ¡°Constrict them!¡± At the heart of the Sword Array, Jin Qilong was red-eyed and disheveled, with numerous wounds of varied depths all over his body, looking like a bloodied man. Jin Chaojun wasn¡¯t faring any better, his Minor Shield Spirit Instrument was completely riddled with holes. Facing increasingly intense Sword Qi and a shrinking space to survive in, he fell into utter despair. Seeing the desperate situation of Jin Qilong and others, Jin Chaohai was frantic and attacked furiously. Lin Shilu, now free to act, naturally wouldn¡¯t let him get his way, immediately stepping in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Shilu took out a small azure-red shield, firmly protecting Lin Tianming. Just as Jin Chaohai¡¯s attack approached, a loud explosion followed, and two miserable screams came from within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Shilu successfully blocked Jin Chaohai¡¯s lethal attack, allowing Lin Tianming to take the opportunity to kill Jin Qilong and the others, gaining his freedom. Without further concerns, Lin Shilu once again engaged in battle with Jin Chaohai. At the brink of hopelessness, Lin Xingzhi took out a Huiyuan Pill and swallowed it. With a wave of his arms, he threw the eighteen Earth Evil Swords towards the heads of the Jin Family Clan¡¯s members, enveloping dozens of people within. With no High Order Cultivator¡¯s attack, the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shrank step by step after activation. With Lin Tianming joining in, the two of them fighting together pushed the Jin Family members back, teetering on the edge of collapse. With no clan members to restrain him and a gap in the realm between them, Jin Chaohai¡¯s situation rapidly declined, leaving him only capable of defensive measures and inevitably headed for defeat. At this point, Jin Chaohai realized that the situation was beyond salvage, his fighting spirit was gone, and he was ready to flee at any moment. Jin Chaohai repeated his tactic, launching an all-out strike at Lin Tianming, to make Lin Shilu hesitate, and while Lin Shilu was occupied with the rescue, Jin Chaohai fled towards the back mountain of the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory. After deflecting the attack for Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu immediately gave chase. Well aware of the great threat posed by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if one were to escape and successfully regroup with Jin Zhiying, they would have no choice but to flee in panic. If he had to run with Lin Xingrong, it would be relatively easy, but if he had to take Lin Tianming and the others, the chances of a successful escape were too slim. Under no circumstances could he abandon Lin Tianming, so Jin Chaohai must die. Lin Shilu and Jin Chaohai, one pursuing and the other fleeing, turned into two fleeting shadows weaving through the territory of the Jin Family Clan. Little did they know, with Jin Chaohai¡¯s escape route cut off, Lin Xingrong had already lain in ambush on the Jin Family¡¯s back mountain. If they tried to break through from the front, they might still have a chance to live, but entering the back mountain meant a near-certain death. ¡­ The back mountain of the Jin Family. Lin Xingrong lay hidden atop a tree, holding a Spirit Sword, releasing his entire Divine Sense, feeling all nearby movements, with each plant and tree appearing in his mind. Hearing the successive explosions coming from the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, Lin Xingrong¡¯s expression was grim, extremely concerned about the safety of his companions. After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Lin Xingrong spotted Jin Chaohai shooting out from behind a waterfall, flying towards his direction, with a distance of several miles between them. Just a few breaths later, Lin Shilu also passed through the waterfall¡¯s water curtain, pursuing Jin Chaohai. Lin Xingrong did not act rashly, steadying his mind and expertly hiding among the leaves. Focused on escape, Jin Chaohai seemed to have no clue and continued to flee towards Lin Xingrong, with the distance between them closing to less than a thousand zhang. Lin Xingrong measured the distance, ready to strike at any moment with a fatal blow. Six hundred zhang¡­ Find exclusive stories on empire Four hundred zhang¡­ Just as it neared two hundred zhang, Lin Xingrong leapt up and brandished his sword thrice, slashing towards Jin Chaohai. Confronted with the sudden attack, a tremor went through Jin Chaohai¡¯s heart. With the distance too close, he could not dodge in time and had to hastily pull out a minor shield to save his life. A booming sound echoed, as if a blazing sun burst in the sky. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jin Chaohai took the full force of the blow and was sent flying back dozens of zhang, coughing up several mouthfuls of fresh blood. When it rains, it pours; not only had he suffered an injury from taking the blow head-on, but Lin Shilu had drawn within several hundred zhang and was still closing the distance. Jin Chaohai, disregarding his injuries and the reasons for the ambush, turned around and immediately fled. Lin Xingrong waved his sword several times, blocking his path and buying time for Lin Shilu. Realizing Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation was two levels lower than his, Jin Chaohai struck out in a panic, hoping to carve a way out. Lin Xingrong took out a blood-colored jade pendant and shielded himself with it, immediately retreating explosively. With a thunderous crash, the jade pendant smashed to pieces, utterly dissipating into the void. Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation was indeed slightly lower, and even though Jin Chaohai was injured, his attack was still formidable. Facing Jin Chaohai¡¯s desperate attack and unable to dodge, Lin Xingrong was hit by the attack¡¯s shockwave, sent tumbling back dozens of zhang and crashing through several large trees before he managed to stop and stand up, with a pale face, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. Seeing Lin Xingrong being pushed back and a path being cleared, Jin Chaohai felt a surge of joy and immediately tried to dash through. As he passed Lin Xingrong, Lin Shilu had already arrived, blocking his way. Lin Xingrong, also unconcerned with his injuries, stood up, and together with Lin Shilu, once again surrounded Jin Chaohai. After exchanging a nod, the two, as if by tacit understanding, immediately launched an attack, and in no time the three were engaged in battle. Alone, Jin Chaohai was no match for Lin Shilu, and with Lin Xingrong, a Foundation Establishment cultivator joining in, he could only defend passively, unable to counterattack. As time dragged on, Jin Chaohai¡¯s situation grew increasingly dire, with his injuries worsening and him finding himself in a desperate plight. After a forceful strike, Lin Shilu¡¯s voice transmitted, ¡°Xingrong, we must finish this quickly, Tian Ming is still fighting, and any delay may lead to unexpected changes!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s join forces for a decisive strike, and finish him off for good!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingrong threw out more than ten pieces of talisman paper, bombarding Jin Chaohai from above, while Lin Shilu swung out the Azure Yellow Great Sword, thrusting it directly at Jin Chaohai. Busy dealing with the talisman papers, Jin Chaohai was in a frantic disarray, desperately using the minor shield in front of him, hoping it could withstand the lethal strike. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In an instant, a loud explosion erupted accompanied by a deluge of sword rain. The minor shield was pierced through by Lin Shilu¡¯s magical treasure, creating a huge hole, and the Azure Yellow Great Sword slammed right onto his chest. Jin Chaohai¡¯s body soared like a kite with its string cut, drawing an arc as it plummeted to the ground. By then, Jin Chaohai¡¯s body was beyond recognition, half of his chest shattered, lifeless. Lin Shilu rushed over, seemingly still not reassured; he delivered a stroke of his sword and beheaded Jin Chaohai. When Jin Chaohai¡¯s body and head were separated, Lin Shilu retrieved his storage bag, cast a Fireball Technique to incinerate his corpse, and then wiped away any traces of the battle on the ground. After cleaning up everything, he immediately took Lin Xingrong and flew towards the inner part of the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory. Chapter 121 - 121 - 105 Outbreak of War_1 Chapter 121 ¨C 105 Outbreak of War_1 The gates of the Jin Family, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were still in fierce battle with the members of the Jin Family. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation was like a massive tornado, constantly spinning, with Sword Qi moving rapidly both inside and out, trapping dozens of people within it. When operated at full power, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation truly was a deadly weapon. It was tremendously powerful against cultivators of lower cultivation than him. Once trapped with no way to attack or escape, the large-scale killing effect was extremely terrifying. On the perimeter of the Sword Array, the Jin Family members who weren¡¯t enveloped by the formation didn¡¯t dare to be careless, frantically launching sky-filling Sword Qi and Blade Qi, along with numerous talismans and spells, bombarding Lin Tianming and his companion relentlessly. Lin Tianming firmly held the Sword Array in place, keeping it operating normally without any slack, not knowing how many attacks he had endured. As the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation gradually shrank, soon there was less than ninety feet worth of space to move in, continuing to squeeze the living space of the Jin Family members. In the process of the Sword Array¡¯s contraction, terrified screams were occasionally heard. ... ¡°Ah! Save me¡­¡± Regrettably, the Jin Family members who were still alive were all unable to save themselves, let alone rescue others. Watching their kin die horribly, the remaining Jin Family members turned pale, looking at the increasingly smaller living space, and each felt utterly hopeless. Mercy towards an enemy is harm to oneself and one¡¯s clansmen. Well aware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, showing not the slightest pity, continuously manipulating the Sword Array, continuing to reap the lives of his enemies. For a moment, it was as if hell had come to the living world within the Sword Array. Before long, there was no more movement in the Sword Array, and Lin Tianming dispelled it, revealing the horrific scene inside. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The air was filled with the stench of blood and flesh, and time seemed to stand still. The nearly hundred Jin Family members who were still alive looked at the bloody, muddled sight, and quite a few vomited on the spot. Some of the Jin Family female cultivators looked again at Lin Tianming, as if they had seen the God of Slaughter, their complexions suddenly losing color. Lin Tianming paid no mind to these fearful gazes, once again making his move, intent on wiping out the rest. Realizing the situation was hopeless, members of the Jin Family scattered in all directions, running away. Continue reading on empire Suddenly, with hundreds of targets, Lin Tianming and his companion were overwhelmed and couldn¡¯t catch everyone, with many having already fled hundreds of feet away. At that moment, the oppressive presence of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator descended, causing many of the Jin Family members to stop in their tracks, and a few even fell from the sky, vomiting blood repeatedly. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather has finally returned.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with immense joy as he continued his assault on the fleeing enemies. Lin Shilu arrived and with a swing of his sword, created a barrier of green and yellow Sword Qi, blocking the path of the Jin Family members. A few Jin Family cultivators who couldn¡¯t dodge in time, barely touched by the Sword Qi, spat out blood, clearly injured by the Sword Qi and completely lost their combat ability. With Lin Shilu¡¯s arrival, Lin Xingrong also followed. The four of them cornered the nearly hundred remaining Jin Family members from four directions, completely cutting off their escape. Screams of agony filled the air¡­ After a short time, with the death of the last person, the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory suddenly fell silent. By then, the main gate of the Jin Family at Golden Horn Mountain had largely collapsed, numerous buildings riddled with holes and several burning fiercely. Within the peak of Golden Horn Mountain, corpses were strewn everywhere, the ground soaked red, a scene of brutal carnage. The great battle finally ended, with not a single member of the Jin Family surviving. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi were in a terrible state, their Spiritual Power exhausted and their breaths extremely chaotic, sheer willpower keeping them upright. Descending from the sky to the ground, the two quickly took out two elixirs and swallowed them, then sat down to meditate and recuperate on the spot. Lin Shilu and Lin Xingrong were in better condition, with no significant injuries aside from depleted Spiritual Power. ¡°Xing Rong, let¡¯s quickly clean up this place and collect all the spoils of war. Once those two have recovered a bit, we¡¯ll go collect the treasures of the Jin Family,¡± Lin Xingrong nodded and the two began to clear the battlefield, leaving Lin Tianming and his companion to heal and recover. In less than an hour, the countless severed limbs and indistinct corpses were burned away and cleared. The ravaged Jin Family gates looked much better, the fires consuming the buildings were extinguished, and aside from the traces of broken walls, there was no sign of the previous battle. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. Twenty days had passed since the Jin Family members had assembled there. Jin Zhiying¡¯s lips curled slightly upward, his eyes burning hot as he stared at the interior of Green Bamboo Mountain, imagining in his mind conquering the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation and obtaining a wealth of treasures. What he didn¡¯t realize was that, at this very moment, his own Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory was already littered with corpses, with not a single survivor, except for those who had escaped to this place and the market. He could not have imagined that the Lin Family had hidden as many as four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, nor could he foresee that Lin Tianming possessed the Eye of Five Colors, an extraordinary treasure. With little effort, Lin Tianming had broken the formation he was so confident in, killing the majority of the Jin Family members. After his daydream, Jin Zhiying remained composed instead of completely losing his mind. He deeply understood that the Lin Family, having produced Golden Elixir Experts, was a clan with not insignificant foundations. Although they had been in decline for over two hundred years and had not regained their former glory, they were not a force to be trifled with. Snapping back to reality, Jin Zhiying sent a message to Zhuang Zhenxin in front of him; ¡°Daoist Zhuang, how is it, any progress?¡± Zhuang Zhenxin turned around with a serious expression; ¡°This Lin Family¡¯s formation is indeed extraordinary, perfectly integrated with the terrain of this place, and after hundreds of years of reinforcement, its power is tremendous. It¡¯s very likely that the cultivator who set this Formation was extraordinary, possibly even a Third Order Array Master¡¯s work.¡± Chapter 122 - 122 - 105 The Great War Erupts_2 Chapter 122 ¨C 105 The Great War Erupts_2 Upon hearing Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s words, Jin Zhiying¡¯s expression turned gloomy, seemingly somewhat disappointed. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After planning for such a long time, if he couldn¡¯t seriously damage the Lin and Sun Families, once they caught their breath, they would definitely not let the Jin Family off the hook. In that case, the Jin Family¡¯s situation would become extremely difficult, and their current plan would have utterly failed. ¡°So you¡¯re saying we¡¯ve failed, according to what Daoist Zhuang has said?¡± Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s complexion instantly returned to normal, and he offered a faint smile as he hastily began to clarify. ¡°Although the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation is extraordinary, I¡¯ve almost finished my research and deductions. I believe that within a few days, we¡¯ll have results. We have waited this many days already, a day or two more won¡¯t make a difference.¡± Upon hearing Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s explanation, Jin Zhiying¡¯s expression changed, and he became excited instantly, quickly ordering the Jin Family Members behind him to make all preparations. The moment the formation was breached, they were to immediately attack the Lin Family Members. ... After giving the orders, Jin Family Members raised their arms and cheered, each wearing a confident smile that was indescribably self-assured. Within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, inside the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Shikang had been guarding the edge of the formation, observing every action of the Jin Family through the light screen of the formation. Feeling the energy of the Protective Clan Formation slowing down and seeing the Jin Family Members outside the formation showing joy, Lin Shikang looked solemn and immediately sent out several messages. In a short while, Lin Shigong along with several other Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Lin Family and Sun Dingxian arrived after being alerted, quickly rushing over together. After exchanging greetings and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s grim expression, Lin Shigong anxiously asked, ¡°Third Brother, is there a problem with the formation?¡± Lin Shikang did not conceal anything and shared the changes in the formation as well as the reactions of the Jin Family Members. After hearing this, everyone¡¯s expression changed slightly, but they quickly regained their composure. Given the situation, the Jin Family would definitely not retreat. A great battle was now inevitable. Seeing that the others were not overly perturbed, Lin Shikang was quite pleased and began making arrangements. ¡°Daoist Sun, how are your injuries? Have you recovered?¡± Faced with Lin Shikang¡¯s kind inquiry, Sun Dingxian and his companion expressed their thanks with a salute and calmly replied, ¡°Our injuries have completely healed. Lin, please give us your commands. Our Sun Family and the Jin Family are irreconcilable enemies. As long as we survive this ordeal, we are willing to form an eternal alliance with the Lin Family and will never betray it.¡± Sun Dingxian spoke with sincerity. Learning that the Lin Family had several hidden Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the two of them were greatly shocked. They promptly shared their intentions, hoping to receive the Lin Family¡¯s help. When under the eaves, one must bow the head. Faced with the powerful Jin Family, the Sun Family was no match. Perhaps they could truly seek revenge with the help of the Lin Family. ¡°Good¡­ With the help of the two Sun brothers, our force¡¯s strength is no less than the Jin Family¡¯s. In a life-and-death battle, the outcome is still uncertain.¡± With Sun Dingxian and his companion willing to lend their full support, Lin Shikang felt much more at ease. Once he confirmed the condition of the two, Lin Shikang¡¯s lips moved slightly as he secretly transmitted a message to Lin Shihua. Sun Dingxian, who was beside him, had already noticed this and presumed it to be about something important. Hence, he didn¡¯t inquire further, as it was natural that the Lin Family¡¯s secrets were not easily revealed. After a short while, Lin Shihua bowed and left, his destination unknown. Once Lin Shihua had left, Lin Shikang and the others did not take their leave but instead sat to the side and waited. Explore hidden tales at empire After half a day, Lin Shikang arrived with dozens of people, all lined up neatly to the side. Each one of them already knew what they were about to face, and they each had a fierce look in their eyes, with solemn expressions. Lin Shikang stood up with several Foundation Establishment Stage members and walked forward, stopping before the crowd. He looked at all the clan members present, both male and female, all of whom were Lin Family Members above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Shikang¡¯s gaze swept over each person as if he wanted to remember the face of everyone there. After a short pause, Lin Shikang finally spoke. ¡°I trust you all are already aware of the challenge we¡¯re about to face. We don¡¯t need to speak of the Jin Family¡¯s strength; many have crossed paths with them, even clashed in battle. In this war, perhaps many of our clan members will perish. Are you afraid?¡± ¡°Not afraid¡­¡± All the clan members responded in unison, their resounding reply echoing throughout Green Bamboo Mountain. ¡°Good, that is the spirit of our Lin Family!¡± ¡°The Jin Family harbors greedy ambitions, striving to dominate the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Wu Family has already been annihilated, and the Sun Family has suffered heavy casualties. Facing such ravenous wolves who have set their sights on our Lin Family, we must fight for our family, for our kin behind us, and for our honor.¡± ¡°So, muster your valor. When the enemy comes, slay them and defend the dignity of the Lin Family. Can you do it?¡± ¡°We can!¡± Subsequently, Lin Shikang raised his arm and shouted, ¡°For the family, we swear to protect to the death¡­¡± ¡°For the family, we swear to protect to the death¡­¡± Every clan member about to enter the battle clenched their teeth with rising fervor. Lin Shikang and a few others faced the formation outside while sitting on the ground, with the clan members behind them following suit, waiting for the imminent battle. ¡­ A day passed outside the grand formation. Zhuang Zhenxin sat in front of the light curtain of the formation, with a grey and white pearl spinning endlessly above his head. At that moment, Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s brows were deeply furrowed, and large beads of sweat continuously fell from his forehead. Suddenly, a piercing sound came through, and Zhuang Zhenxin shouted. ¡°Now is the moment!¡± Behind him, Jin Zhiying grasped the Jin Family¡¯s Magical Treasure Thousand Blood Blade and leaped dozens of yards high, slashing fiercely at one corner of the light curtain. A ferocious blood-red flood dragon smashed against the light curtain. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± The Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation shook, the light curtain caved in momentarily before returning to normal, but the operation of the formation seemed to be noticeably affected, its defensive power significantly weakened. The Lin Family members all perceived the disturbance immediately, rose to their feet, and tightly grasped talisman paper and Spiritual Artifacts in their hands, vigilantly watching the outside of the light curtain. After the initial strike failed, Jin Zhiying acted consecutively, launching three attacks one after another. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The entire gate of the mountain shook slightly, and the invisible, colorless light curtain vanished into thin air, revealing the figures of both clashing clans to each other. With faces flushed red, Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin immediately rushed in, followed closely by the Jin Family members, with the great battle on the brink of erupting. Just then, a piercing, shrill screech resounded, a sound that captivated one¡¯s soul. Suddenly, a three-yard-long green spider crawled swiftly, moving across several mountain peaks with ease and astonishing speed. As the sound passed the Lin Family members and reached the attacking Jin Family members, they all paused, their movements inexplicably slowing. ¡°A Soul-eating Spider in the Second Order Late Phase!¡± Jin Zhiying exclaimed in alarm, his face turning dark as he immediately halted his advance. Although he had known that the Lin Family possessed a Guardian Spirit Beast left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family, its exact type had never been known, and it was unexpected to find it to be a Soul-eating Spider! The Soul-eating Spider, a Second Order Demon Insect, had unremarkable offensive capabilities but possessed a special skill to launch sonic attacks that could significantly affect a Cultivator¡¯s soul, and its web, capable of trapping enemies, was highly effective, making it one of the rarest of demon insects. Jin Zhiying, startled for a moment, quickly recovered and a trace of greed appeared in his eyes. With the Patriarch of the Lin Family dead, the insect must be masterless now; such a rare demon insect, if successfully bonded, would surely be a great asset. ¡°Kill them all!¡± Jin Zhiying roared, awakening the Jin Family members from their stupor. Taking the lead, Jin Zhiying immediately initiated an attack, with the Jin Family members quickly following. The great battle erupted, Lin Shikang soared into the air, the Soul-eating Spider closely following him as they both charged towards Jin Zhiying. The two men and the spider clashed fiercely, their Sword Qi and Blade Qi colliding continuously, generating waves of turbulence. As Lin Shikang fought valiantly, Lin Shihua and Sun Dingfeng joined forces against Jin Zhiping. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan went after Jin Chaozong, with Sun Dingxian confronting Zhuang Zhenxin. Ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators took to the sky, forming four major battlegrounds, fiercely engaging with one another. Beneath them, the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople, led by the Great Perfection members such as Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin, clashed with the Jin Family amid chaotic battle. For a moment, the sky was filled with spells and talisman papers cutting through the heavens, with the Lin Family¡¯s Sword Qi directly colliding with the Jin Family¡¯s Blade Qi. Below Green Bamboo Mountain, battles raged everywhere, both sides fighting to the death. Thus, the great battle fully erupted. Chapter 123 - 123 - 106 Lin Family’s Trump Card_1 Chapter 123 ¨C 106 Lin Family¡¯s Trump Card_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, within the Lin Family Clan Grounds. In front of the Elders¡¯ Council¡¯s great hall, a large number of Lin Family Members gathered together, all of them practicing Fifth Level Qi Cultivation or below. For the sake of family protection, nearly a hundred Lin Family Members did not participate in the great battle. Every clan member clenched their fists tightly, their eyes red as they focused on the distant battle unfolding several miles away. At the mountain gate, nearly a hundred people were engaged in fierce combat. All kinds of bizarre Spiritual Artifacts appeared, and talismans fluttered throughout the sky. Spells of all colors burst forth, with members of both sides sustaining injuries. The Lin Family Members were at a disadvantage. Before long, most talismans were used up. The Qi Refining Cultivators from the Jin Family, with killing intent on their faces, charged towards the Lin Family Members. Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin were the ones to face the brunt of the assault, each taking on several Jin Family Cultivators at once, including a few at the Complete Qi Refining stage. The pressure was immense. ... As the cultivators from the Jin Family had an overall higher cultivation, the two of them had to take on more burdens. Otherwise, many of their clan members would be unable to survive. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lucky for them, they were no ordinary individuals at Great Perfection. Although their Foundation Establishment had failed, the Minor Foundation Building Pills had transformed their bodies, making their spiritual power even more profound. For the time being, they did not fall into much of a disadvantage. The outcome of the great battle wasn¡¯t something the Qi Refinement Realm cultivators could influence. Only the victory of Foundation Establishment Clan Members could determine the outcome. High above in the sky, the situation for the Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Lin Family was hardly optimistic. Even though they had the advantage in numbers, their cultivation levels were much lower. Enjoy exclusive content from empire Lin Shihua, together with Sun Dingfeng at the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, engaged in battle with Jin Zhiping, who was at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Sun Dingfeng, trapped by formations and facing the destruction of the Sun Family Clan Grounds and the death of hundreds of his family members, was enraged beyond measure. Sun Dingfeng¡¯s eyes bloodshot, he grasped dozens of talismans and flung them skyward. In an instant, a sea of fire engulfed Jin Zhiping. While Jin Zhiping was surrounded by the sea of flames, Lin Shihua and Sun Dingfeng struck continuously, and from different angles, two streams of Sword Qi headed for Jin Zhiping. Feeling the encroaching flames around him, Jin Zhiping, in a panic, quickly took out a shield to protect himself. After a breath¡¯s time had passed, the flames extinguished, revealing Sun Dingfeng¡¯s figure. His clothes were tattered, almost none remained intact; the skin that was exposed was scorched black, giving off the stench of something burnt. Jin Zhiping, looking disheveled, swallowed back a mouthful of blood, his fury unbounded. He immediately counterattacked, charging at Lin Shihua and Sun Dingfeng. The two sides engaged fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand for the moment. At another battlefield. Sun Dingxian took out a grey-ink-colored Jade Pendant, none other than the Sun Family¡¯s treasured Qiankun Brush. With a casual wave, a streak of golden light appeared in the void, shooting at Zhuang Zhenxin like a meteor. As it was the Sun Family¡¯s treasured artifact, its power was naturally extraordinary. Zhuang Zhenxin did not dare to be careless, hurriedly taking out a small shield from his storage bag, which turned out to be a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, and held it squarely in front of him. ¡°Clang.¡± After the burst of noise, Sun Dingxian¡¯s attack was easily blocked. Zhuang Zhenxin licked his dry lips, not knowing when he had taken out a greenish Array Flag, tossing it into the air. Then his fingers rapidly flipped through several spell gestures, casting them upon the Array Flag. Suddenly, the Array Flag burst into brilliant light, and from it, numerous Monster Beast Souls flew out, easily a hundred, all crazily assaulting Sun Dingxian. Startled, Sun Dingxian hastily retreated while throwing several Second Order Defense Talismans in front of him. Successive explosions resonated in the sky as the Second Order Talismans consumed a great number of Monster Beast Souls, blocking the assault for a brief moment and allowing him to dodge the attack safely. Zhuang Zhenxin did not relent, once again bringing out different treasures, and the two continued their aggressive exchange. As an Array Master, Zhuang Zhenxin had an endless supply of treasures, and his strength was indeed formidable, pressing Sun Dingxian continuously. Without the Sun Family¡¯s powerfully treasured artifact and the numerous Second Order Talismans, Sun Dingxian would have likely fallen already. On the outskirts of the battlefield, Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan were fighting Jin Chaozong. Together, they matched Jin Chaozong blow for blow, with neither side able to gain a clear advantage for the time being. On the most advantageous part of the battlefield, Lin Shikang was in fierce battle with Jin Zhiying, with a Soul-eating Spider assisting by his side. Jin Zhiying, relying on his Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivation and coordinating with the Jin Family¡¯s Magical Treasure Thousand Blood Blade, attacked ferociously, intent on swiftly concluding the fight. ¡°Woosh, woosh.¡± The formidable Blade Qi gleamed with blood light, appearing again and again, each strike repelling Lin Shikang more than ten yards. Lin Shikang stabilized his stance as his blood roiled continuously, his Jade Pendant Spiritual Artifact pushed to the limit, shattered by the violent Blade Qi, turning to ash. Facing Jin Zhiying¡¯s relentless attacking frequency, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was solemn, the pressure immense. Despite holding the disadvantage, Lin Shikang wasn¡¯t resigned to fate. He hastily threw out a few Second Order Talismans, casting them into the sky, which turned into several fire swords charging towards Jin Zhiying. Jin Zhiying paused, effortlessly striking and shattering the fire swords with a casual blow, his face showing a mocking smile. Lin Shikang hadn¡¯t expected the Second Order Talismans to cause any harm to Jin Zhiying. To injure Jin Zhiying, likely only Third Order Talismans would be effective. Regardless of how many Second Order Talismans there were, they were useless, serving at best to delay some time. Using the delay, Lin Shikang adjusted his condition, readying for a counterattack. With a pat of his storage bag, a Golden Greatsword appeared in front of him. The greatsword glowed golden yellow, and the blade was filled with dense runes. Upon its appearance, it slowly absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy, an eerie sight to behold. Jin Zhiying couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°The Golden Wind Sword!¡± As for the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Wind Sword, with hundreds of years of interactions among the five major families of Luoyun Mountain, Jin Zhiying had long heard of it, yet this was his first time seeing its true form. Chapter 124 - 124 - 106: Lin Family’s Trump Card_2 Chapter 124 ¨C 106: Lin Family¡¯s Trump Card_2 ¡°` Feeling the intense fluctuations of the Golden Wind Sword, it indeed was a genuine Second Order Superior Magic Artifact, much stronger than their Jin Family¡¯s Thousand Blood Blade. Jin Zhiying¡¯s face changed, and he immediately became cautious. Lin Shikang gazed at the ancestral relic in front of him with pride. It was known that for nearly two hundred years, the Lin Family had not wielded the Golden Wind Sword, keeping it as the treasure of the clan, daring not to use it lightly. The Golden Wind Sword had played a significant role in the Lin Family¡¯s enduring legacy after the ancestor¡¯s passing. After fighting fiercely for more than a dozen rounds, Lin Shikang was very clear that relying only on himself and the Soul-eating Spider, the hope of defeating Jin Zhiying was slim. The moment of life and death had arrived, and if he didn¡¯t use it now, the Lin Family would likely have a hard time surviving. ... Once Lin Shikang grabbed hold of the Golden Wind Sword, the blade trembled slightly, as if resonating. Lin Shikang infused copious amounts of spiritual power and slashed furiously at Jin Zhiying several times. Three streaks of Golden Sword Qi flew directly towards Jin Zhiying, ripping open a fissure in the ground and devouring a good amount of the air. As soon as Lin Shikang made a move, the Soul-eating Spider beside him let out a piercing cry, spitting out several strands of spider silk towards Jin Zhiying. Jin Zhiying, who was about to counterattack, suddenly paused as his divine sense inexplicably experienced a sharp pain, clearly affected by the sonic attack of the Soul-eating Spider. The sonic attack from the Second Order Late Phase Soul-eating Spider was indeed strange; if it were fighting a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivator, it could probably easily influence them for a moment. And the effect of a moment, with the speed of the Soul-eating Spider, would allow it to easily close in for an attack. Jin Zhiying steadied his spirit, cast aside the distractions in his mind, and after regaining some composure, he did not dare to delay. He shifted to the side and appeared several meters away, avoiding the spider silk attack of the Soul-eating Spider. After stabilizing his posture, Jin Zhiying wielded the Thousand Blood Blade, slashing wildly several times, and three streaks of blood-red Blade Qi collided with the Golden Sword Qi. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The explosive sounds spread throughout Green Bamboo Mountain. The explosion from the clash between the two Second Order Superior Magical Treasures shattered several houses next to the gate in an instant, and the surrounding Qingling Bamboo fell in swathes. After the full-force strike, Lin Shikang was knocked back more than ten meters before he could stabilize his posture. A mouthful of fresh blood surged up, which he forcefully swallowed back down, leaving only a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. Jin Zhiying was similarly knocked back a few meters, his breath in disarray, which he quickly calmed. Neither of them continued to probe, and they clashed again. The Soul-eating Spider kept shooting out strands of spider silk, trying to bind Jin Zhiying¡¯s body. Unknowingly, the fierce battle between them went for dozens of rounds, and the fight had reached a critical stage. As time passed, both sides¡¯ spiritual power and magical treasures were consumed greatly, breaking the long standstill. Because Lin Shihua¡¯s cultivation was too low, even with Sun Dingfeng¡¯s help, he was no match for Jin Zhiping. After struggling to defend for a while, his spiritual power was nearly depleted. Seizing the opportunity, Jin Zhiping delivered a fierce strike. Lin Shihua¡¯s spiritual power bottomed out, and his dodging speed was greatly reduced. He couldn¡¯t avoid it in time and hurriedly took out a Minor Shield Spirit Instrument to protect himself. After an explosion¡­ The Minor Shield shattered, the Blade Qi pierced through it, striking Lin Shihua on the shoulder. ¡°Shihua!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned pale as he couldn¡¯t help but call out. Lin Shihua¡¯s body flew out like a kite with its string cut, eventually crashing into a large decorative rock. The rock crumbled, revealing Lin Shihua¡¯s figure. Lin Shihua lay in the crater, with a fist-sized bloody hole in his entire left shoulder, and not only that, his left arm was also torn off. His face was pale as he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, struggled to stand, and was about to counterattack when he fell again, lapsing into unconsciousness. The injuries were too severe, his spiritual power was entirely depleted, and it was fortunate he did not die on the spot, as he was unable to fight any longer. Lin Shihua¡¯s injuries shook the hearts of all the Lin Family Members. On the ground, Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin unleashed their full power in one strike, driving back several Jin Family cultivators and immediately rushed to Lin Shihua¡¯s side. Lin Shiji unleashed his full power, delivering several sword strikes, holding off the approaching Jin Family Members. Lin Shixin picked up the gravely wounded and unconscious Lin Shihua, his expression anxious, repeatedly calling out: ¡°Twelfth brother¡­¡± ¡°` He called out several times, but there was no response whatsoever. After putting Lin Shihua down, Lin Shixin¡¯s eyes oozed fresh blood, looking extremely ghastly. At that moment, Lin Shiji, in his frenzy, killed two Jin Family Cultivators with one strike; however, he was immediately attacked by several more Jin Family Cultivators, becoming engulfed in a sea of flames and blade qi. When the sea of flames dissipated, Lin Shiji lay on the ground, his body covered with numerous wounds of varying depths, and a gaping hole in his neck that ceaselessly bled. Within a short span of merely a dozen breaths, one of the Lin Family members of the ¡¯Shi¡¯ generation had died and another was critically injured; the members of the ¡¯Xing¡¯ generation had suffered over ten casualties in battle. The tragic death of Lin Shiji further incited the fury within Lin Shixin. Lin Shixin let out a few long howls to the sky, death in his eyes as he fixed his murderous gaze upon the Jin Family Cultivators. Unafraid of death, Lin Shixin charged toward the Jin Family members, unleashing even greater strength. After killing several people in succession, he still was outnumbered and died, filled with regret. High in the sky, Lin Shikang and Jin Zhiying had been locked in fierce combat for dozens of rounds. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Faced with Jin Zhiying¡¯s frenzied attacks, he was constantly suppressed and found no opportunity to assist his fellow clansmen¡ªhis good intentions were rendered powerless by the situation. The other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were struggling desperately to hold on. Lin Shihua was seriously injured, and Sun Dingfeng, now without anyone to hold him back, was even more hard-pressed and kept retreating in defeat. In the face of absolute strength, numerical advantage hardly mattered, especially since their numbers were not much greater. Continue your adventure with empire By this time, all participants were greatly depleted, and the force of their attacks gradually weakened. The Jin Family stubbornly pushed forward against the Lin Family members, advancing several miles, quickly approaching the foot of Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Jin Zhiying, unable to win after prolonged combat, swung his saber several times, unleashing the Jin Family¡¯s most powerful attack, aiming straight for Lin Shikang. The injured Lin Shikang was now out of Defensive Spiritual Tools, and his spiritual power was almost spent. Facing Jin Zhiying¡¯s full-powered strike, he looked pale and powerless. Glancing back at the courtyards interspersed among the slopes of Green Bamboo Mountain, he knew he couldn¡¯t retreat, not when Jin Zhiying¡¯s assault would be lethal to those clan members upon contact. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was grave, and his eyes revealed a hint of madness. He took out a palm-sized jade pendant, channeling a Law Decree into the golden-yellow jade. The jade pendant suddenly erupted with a golden light that instantly condensed into a large sword hovering above his head. ¡°Golden Core Talisman!¡± Jin Zhiying¡¯s complexion changed drastically, his voice an anxious stammer as he cried out. All the Cultivators present involuntarily halted their attacks. The object used by Lin Shikang was the Lin Family¡¯s ultimate trump card; as the family¡¯s ancestor passed away in seated meditation, enduring immense pain and dispersing all his spiritual power, he condensed a Golden Core Talisman. This talisman retained three full-power strikes from the ancestor, each incredibly potent. It had been used twice before, each time rescuing the Lin Family from crisis. If the Golden Wind Sword was considered the family¡¯s treasure, the Golden Core Talisman was like the guardian deity of the Lin Family. Lin Shikang shouted loudly, ¡°Protect our Lin Family¡­ strike to kill!¡± The large sword above quickly targeted Jin Zhiying, moving at a speed that was almost inconceivable. Seeing the large sword formed by the Golden Core Talisman, Jin Zhiying¡¯s face turned deathly pale. Unable to escape at such speed, he hurriedly took out the Jin Family¡¯s Qing Jiao Shield and placed all his hopes on it. Meanwhile, Jin Zhiying¡¯s blade qi was drawing increasingly close to him. Lin Shikang shut his eyes, seemingly resigned to a mutual destruction. Just then, the Soul-eating Spider leaped forward, thrusting itself in front of him and shielding him with its body. ¡°Boom boom¡­¡± Two explosions sounded simultaneously, the deafening blasts reverberating through the heavens. The Soul-eating Spider was flung dozens of yards away, lying in a pit with most of its shiny black carapace shattered, its eight legs faintly twitching, apparently not yet dead. On the other side, Jin Zhiying had completely underestimated the power of the Golden Core Talisman. The moment the golden sword light struck the Qing Jiao Shield, it pierced through in an instant, swiftly cleaving towards Jin Zhiying. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± A faint sound and Jin Zhiying¡¯s body was split in two by the Golden Light Greatsword, his body lying still. Above the two halves of his corpse, a wisp of retained Sword Qi from the Golden Light Greatsword lingered. Under the assault of the Golden Core Talisman, Jin Zhiying was utterly dead. Chapter 125 - 125 - 107: Complete Annihilation_1 Chapter 125 ¨C 107: Complete Annihilation_1 Under the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, everyone fell into a brief silence. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite sacrificing the Jin Family¡¯s Defense Treasure, the Qing Jiao Shield, Jin Zhiying couldn¡¯t withstand the strike from the Golden Light Greatsword condensed by the Golden Core Talisman and was killed in an extremely gruesome manner. Even Zhuang Zhenxin, no stranger to the world¡¯s wonders, witnessed the power of the Golden Core Talisman for the first time and was completely stunned, losing his composure. Time passed, and before anyone knew how much, Lin Shikang leapt forward and hurried to Lin Shihua¡¯s side, hastily feeding him a healing elixir. The actions of Lin Shikang roused the Jin Family members from their stupor. They gathered around Jin Zhiping, their eyes filled with grief and terror, and they all watched the Lin Family members warily. Zhuang Zhenxin, silent as a ghost, watched everyone present. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he leapt up in an attempt to flee. The escape of Zhuang Zhenxin dealt an additional blow to the already weakened Jin Family members, but they were powerless to stop him. ... With Jin Zhiying¡¯s death, the Jin Family had lost their edge. Relying solely on Jin Zhiping, at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, victory was impossible. Zhuang Zhenxin fully realized this. With Lin Shikang free and joining forces with Sun Dingxian, if they were surrounded, it would be difficult to retreat unscathed, so he prepared to seize the opportunity to flee. After all, he was alone in the vast world, and there was no place where he couldn¡¯t find refuge! As for the Jin Family, they were nothing more than an alliance of convenience, and Zhuang Zhenxin would not concern himself with their fate. Unfortunately for him, Lin Shikang and Sun Dingxian were closely monitoring him, prepared for his move. They intercepted him before he got far, with Lin Shikang blocking his path. Soon, Sun Dingxian also caught up. The two of them closed in on Zhuang Zhenxin from opposite directions, trapping him. Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s expression changed abruptly, and he hurriedly spoke: ¡°Daoist Lin, Daoist Sun, this is all a misunderstanding. I was deceived by Jin Zhiying into taking action. Let us settle this matter. I can break through the Jin Family¡¯s Protective Formation myself. As for the Jin Family¡¯s treasures, you can divide them between yourselves. I will not take a single coin. Consider it a gesture of apology. What do you say?¡± At this point, Zhuang Zhenxin utterly abandoned the Jin Family, offering to help the Lin Family break the Jin Family¡¯s Formation and proposing to settle the conflict with the Jin Family¡¯s treasure. However, Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s words did not diminish the enmity of Lin Shikang and Sun Dingxian. The great battle that erupted within the Luoyun Mountain Range, with the heavy sins of the Jin Family and Zhuang Zhenxin, saw the Wu Family silently annihilated and the Sun Family¡¯s territory breached, resulting in the death of over two hundred clan members¡ªa tragedy not seen in hundreds of years. Such deep-seated hatred and grievance could not be assuaged, even with the generous terms offered by Zhuang Zhenxin. As soon as Zhuang Zhenxin finished speaking, Sun Dingxian didn¡¯t even hesitate and immediately shouted in fury. ¡°Enough of your nonsense! Our Sun Family and you cannot coexist under the same sky. You killed over a hundred of our clan members. I must take your head to appease the souls of our Sun Family¡­¡± Sun Dingxian¡¯s words made Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s face darken, and he threatened viciously: ¡°Without me, breaking through the Jin Family¡¯s Protective Formation won¡¯t be so easy. If you really wish to kill me, remember I¡¯m not a pushover. We can all go down together if need be. Even if I die, I¡¯ll take some of you with me!¡± Lin Shikang, standing by, did not speak. Thinking of Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin, whose bodies were still warm, and the more than twenty clan members killed in the conflict, he felt immense anger. To the overtures of Zhuang Zhenxin, Lin Shikang¡¯s heart remained unshaken. His only desire was to exterminate this enemy and use his head to honor his deceased clan members. Lin Shikang nodded to Sun Dingxian, gripped the Golden Wind Sword, and lashed out with several strikes. Sun Dingxian, holding the Qiankun Brush, drew across the sky, and a streak of golden light surged towards Zhuang Zhenxin. Both cultivators, at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, attacked simultaneously, each wielding their clan¡¯s sacred treasures. Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s face turned grave, yet he was not overly panicked. As the assault from the two closed in, Zhuang Zhenxin placed a small shield he had used before in front of himself. He then threw out a green flag, struck a Law Decree, and conjured a multitude of Monster Beast Souls that charged toward Lin Shikang and Sun Dingxian. The quiet of the void was once again shattered by bursts of fire and a succession of booming sounds. The intense fight involving Lin Shikang seemed to ignite the fuse of battle. The Lin Family Members at the base of Green Bamboo Mountain Peak immediately commenced an attack on the Jin Family¡¯s clanspeople, igniting a tremendous surge of momentum. Following Jin Zhiying¡¯s death and the loss of their linchpin, the Jin Family members¡¯ will to fight crumbled completely. Jin Zhiping and Jin Chaozong, pitted against a host of Lin Family Foundation Establishment Clan Members and Sun Dingfeng, were at a tremendous disadvantage. Read exclusive adventures at empire The Lin Family Qi Refining Clanspeople below, looking every bit the fierce warriors, attacked recklessly, causing heavy losses to the Jin Family. Once again, chaos engulfed Green Bamboo Mountain, flames shooting into the sky and screams echoing incessantly. As time slowly passed, the fierce combat involving Lin Shikang had already lasted for a quarter of an hour. The relentless onslaught from Lin Shikang and Sun Dingxian persisted, wave after wave of continuous assaults unfolding. Zhuang Zhenxin, surrounded and attacked, was forced to give ground, relying solely on his Defense Treasure to hold on. After withstanding their attacks, he saw the small shield in his hands riddled with holes and reduced to scrap. With no time to regret, Zhuang Zhenxin barely caught his breath before two more strikes approached. In his panic, he produced another Magical Treasure to shield himself. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Zhuang Zhenxin was knocked back more than ten paces, spitting several mouthfuls of blood before stabilizing. Looking at his severely damaged Defense Treasure, his face turned pale. As the fight continued, not only was he injured, but he had also lost two of his Defense Treasures, with the last one utterly wrecked. If a few more strikes landed, he would be without any defensive power, and if he couldn¡¯t dodge, he would only be waiting for death. Chapter 126 - 126 - 107: Total Annihilation _2 Chapter 126 ¨C 107: Total Annihilation _2 Lin Shikang and his companion were not about to give him time to react, seizing the moment he was injured to attack together once more. Lin Shikang slashed several times as Sun Dingfeng also drew one stroke after another, launching several attacks from four different directions aimed at Zhuang Zhenxin, intent on ending the fight once and for all. A trace of despair flashed across Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s face, and by now, negotiating terms was no longer possible, so he had no choice but to give it his all and perhaps there would still be a chance to save his own life. He took two beads the size of chicken eggs from his storage bag, his face showing a reluctant expression, and then he threw one at each of the two men. ¡°Spirit Detonation Beads¡­¡± Upon seeing the two grey-white beads, Lin Shikang cried out in alarm and immediately retreated explosively. Daoist Sun¡¯s face turned pale, and he hastily retreated as well. ... ¡°Boom boom¡­¡± Two thunderous explosions sounded, and two huge fireballs appeared in the sky, spreading a wave of heat in all directions. Before the Spirit Detonation Beads exploded, Lin Shikang spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto his Golden Wind Sword, which suddenly swelled a hundred times in size to block in front of him. At the same time, a semi-transparent golden shield bubbled up around him, enveloping his figure. Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face turned deathly white. He slapped his storage bag and took out a blood-red jade pendant. Once activated, it transformed into a light shield in front of him. After the explosion, the Spirit Detonation Beads blasted a large pit more than thirty feet across into the ground. Sun Dingfeng¡¯s body fell from the sky and crashed into the ground, forming a human-shaped pit. There, Sun Dingfeng lay in the pit, his body mangled and bloody, with only a weak breath remaining; he had completely passed out. At the same time, the golden bubble around Lin Shikang shattered, and the Golden Wind Sword rapidly shrank back to its original form. Lin Shikang coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, then touched the sword blade lightly, his expression filled with immense pain and sorry. Zhuang Zhenxin had intended to take them down with him. Thanks to the Golden Wind Sword, Lin Shikang was lucky enough to avoid a fatal blow, but he was severely injured. Lin Shikang got to his feet and, without paying any attention to the half-dead Sun Dingfeng, rushed to the spot where Zhuang Zhenxin was, searching meticulously. Before long, Lin Shikang found Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s corpse lying in a clump of grass. By now, Zhuang Zhenxin was thoroughly dead, his chest riddled with several gaping holes from which warm blood flowed out, quickly pooling into a small puddle. Assured of Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s death, Lin Shikang heaved a long sigh of relief. He took down the man¡¯s storage bag and decapitated him. Lin Shikang, holding the Golden Wind Sword in one hand and the severed head in the other, advanced toward the Jin Family clanspeople. Before long, Lin Shikang appeared above a group of his kin. The battle was still ongoing, and there were already more than sixty corpses on the ground, most of them from the Jin Family, with over twenty Lin Family members dead as well. Lin Shikang didn¡¯t hesitate, heading straight for Jin Zhiping. Explore hidden tales at empire Seeing Lin Shikang approaching, Jin Zhiping turned ashen, knowing that Zhuang Zhenxin must have been executed. Already injured, Jin Zhiping had been at a disadvantage all along and was struggling to cope. Another attack from Lin Shikang, at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, left him with no room to escape. Lin Shikang unleashed several swift and incomparably fast sword strikes, aiming directly at Jin Zhiping. With nowhere to run, a completely despairing Jin Zhiping frantically pulled out a spiritual artifact to shield himself. ¡°Pfff, pfff, pfff¡­¡± The Golden Sword Qi, which even ordinary magical treasures could not resist, easily penetrated the First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instrument, striking him squarely. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a horrific scream, Jin Zhiping¡¯s body was split into three parts, falling dead on the spot. Hearing Jin Zhiping¡¯s agonized scream, Jin Chaozong was momentarily distracted, giving Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan the opportunity they needed. With another scream, Jin Chaozong¡¯s body was impaled by both of their Spirit Swords. Lin Shigong swung his hands horizontally, splitting Jin Chaozong¡¯s body into pieces; he couldn¡¯t be deader. By this time, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Jin Family were dead, leaving only more than ten Qi Refining clanspersons who were surrounded by a group of Lin Family Cultivators. All Lin Family members glared at them with bloodlust, wishing they could tear them limb from limb. One middle-aged man from the Jin Family threw his spiritual artifact away and knelt down. ¡°Elder Lin, I am willing to surrender. Please spare my life. I can take you to the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory and reveal the location of the treasure vault¡­¡± ¡°Enough¡­ do you think you can live just by saying so? The Jin Family does not shelter cowards such as you¡­¡± An elder from the Jin Family scolded and then swung his sword, piercing the body of the clansperson who had surrendered. ¡°At this point, don¡¯t even dream of living by surrendering. It¡¯s better to die gloriously. Even if we can take one down with us, it¡¯s worth it!¡± With that, the elder initiated an attack, and the men of the Jin Family followed suit. Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong sneered in disdain and together unleashed several Sword Qi bursts, which engulfed all the remaining Jin Family Cultivators. After one breath¡¯s time had passed, over ten Jin Family members fell simultaneously, completely void of life. The great battle had ended, and with this crisis resolved, all Jin Family members were dead, leaving Green Bamboo Mountain entirely quiet. ¡­ Sun Dingfeng did not stay in place, disregarding his injuries, he turned into a residual shadow and rushed towards the direction of Sun Dingxian to escape. Lin Shikang paid no attention to Sun Dingfeng, and after storing the Golden Wind Sword into his storage bag, he ordered: ¡°Shi Gong, go check on Shihua and the Soul-eating Spider immediately, you must stabilize their injuries and ensure no hidden ailments are left behind!¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it!¡± Lin Shigong immediately dashed towards Lin Shihua to inspect his condition. Fortunately, even though he was seriously injured, Lin Shikang had timely given him a healing pill to stabilize his condition. He just needed to rest quietly for two months for a full recovery. ¡°Xing Yuan, organize our clanspeople immediately to treat the injured and bury the dead behind the mountain. Then assign clanspeople to collect all the spoils of war and bring them to me, and burn the Jin Family¡¯s corpses right here!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lin Xingyuan saluted and took his orders, then after giving out a few commands to the Lin Family Members behind him, he began treating the injured clanspeople. After all the orders were given, a drained Lin Shikang could no longer hold back, repeatedly coughing up clots of blood. His complexion turned pale and he sat down on the ground, shuddering with delayed fear. Taking out a pill from his storage bag, he swallowed it and began to recover on the spot. In a short while, some color finally returned to his face. At that moment, Sun Dingfeng came over with Sun Dingxian in his arms. Lin Shikang hurriedly got up and inquired. ¡°How is Daoist Sun¡¯s injury, is there any danger to his life?¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s genuine concern, Sun Dingfeng did not hide anything and honestly replied: ¡°The injury is serious, it¡¯s hard to say whether he can fully recover. It¡¯s Heaven¡¯s will, we can only do our best!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± This clan war had thankfully been helped by the Sun Family. If not for them, even if the Lin Family had the trump cards left by the old ancestor, it would have been difficult to survive. Although the Sun Family¡¯s territory had been breached, and the two came to seek refuge, they had indeed exerted considerable effort in this great battle. Though it was cooperation, they also owed a debt of gratitude to the Lin Family. After a bout of reflection, Lin Shikang said earnestly: ¡°If there is anything you need help with, just let us know. As long as the Lin Family can provide it, we will not refuse.¡± Seeing the sincerity in Lin Shikang¡¯s expression, Sun Dingfeng repeatedly thanked him. ¡°Thank you, Elder Lin, for your generous assistance. However, with the great battle just concluded, you must be very busy. The Jin Family has been severely damaged and cannot easily recover. We will not disturb you further. Once our injuries are healed, we will surely visit to offer our thanks personally.¡± After speaking, Sun Dingfeng gave a saluting gesture with his fist and holding Sun Dingxian, flew towards the mountain gate, quickly disappearing into the sky. Lin Shikang did not try to persuade them to stay. With most of the high-level Jin Family Cultivators dead or injured, the Lin Family¡¯s power had not been significantly weakened. Perhaps it was due to their wariness of the Lin Family that they chose not to stay in Green Bamboo Mountain to recover. No matter what the reason was, it no longer mattered. Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but heave a silent sigh: ¡°It¡¯s easy to share hardship among people, but hard to share wealth, and even more so for cultivators¡­¡± Gathering his thoughts, Lin Shikang walked around the inner parts of Green Bamboo Mountain. Observing the battered state of Green Bamboo Mountain, now devoid of its previous elegance, with corpses and severed limbs of many clanspeople scattered around, his mood was exceptionally heavy. Lin Shihua and the Soul-eating Spider were seriously injured, Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin had fallen, and more than twenty Qi Refining clanspeople had died in battle, the losses were substantial. In the Cultivation World, it is so cruel, with battles over cultivation resources erupting every day among Sect Families. The Lin Family was merely a Foundation Establishing Family at the bottom, such events were daily occurrences. The Lin Family, with its limited depth, only scraped through this disaster by playing their last card, combined with the assistance of the two from the Sun Family. If only they had a few more years, the Lin Family¡¯s strength would have increased significantly, and the losses would not have been so great. Alas, man¡¯s plans are inferior to those of Heaven. What they needed to do now was to soothe the members of the clan, quickly enhance their strength, and expand the family. After his reflection, with a look of melancholy, Lin Shikang muttered softly toward the market area: ¡°Shi Lu, where are you? How are things going for you?¡± Chapter 127 - 127 - 108: Sweeping through the Spiritual Medicine Garden_1 Chapter 127 ¨C 108: Sweeping through the Spiritual Medicine Garden_1 The war ended beneath the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Xingyuan organized a large number of clan members to clean up the battlefield, while the injured clansmen each retreated to heal. The corpses of the Jin Family members were piled up together, forming a small mountain. A large circle of clan members gathered around, their fierce eyes yet to return to peace. This catastrophe served as a warning to all clansmen: without strong power, even the hope of peaceful cultivation was a delusion. Often, trouble came even without seeking it. Lin Shikang, weighed down by heavy emotions, flicked his finger, releasing a fireball that ignited the mountain of corpses. Soon, the roaring flames were accompanied by the crackling noises of breaking bones, and thick smoke billowed. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingyuan stepped forward, taking out dozens of storage bags and respectfully handing them to Lin Shikang. ... Upon receiving the storage bags, Lin Shikang sighed sadly and instructed Lin Shigong, ¡°Shigong, properly bury the clansmen who died in battle. Their belongings must be handed over intact to their direct descendants. For those who have no direct descendants, have the Elders¡¯ Council record and keep the items until a descendant with Spiritual Root is confirmed and then transfer them.¡± ¡°Um, I¡¯ll handle it immediately.¡± After receiving Lin Shigong¡¯s response, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned stern, and he said with murderous intent, ¡°After settling the clan¡¯s affairs, you and Xingyuan take a group of clansmen and depart for Luoyun Market at once. Gain control of the market, kill all the Jin Family members there, seize all their possessions, and then find a way to locate Shilu and Xing Rong. This matter requires speed. Once it¡¯s done, set out immediately for Golden Horn Mountain and ensure that not a single member of the Jin Family escapes.¡± Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan¡¯s faces were filled with murderous intent as they replied to Lin Shikang¡¯s orders and prepared to leave. The Jin Family¡¯s elite had suffered heavy casualties, and as news of the Battle of Green Bamboo Mountain wouldn¡¯t be contained for long, the surviving Jin Family members would surely attempt to flee or hide, posing a potential future problem. Now, there was no time to lose in taking action against the Jin Family territory. Having made the arrangements, Lin Shikang did not linger and flew toward the summit of Green Bamboo Mountain. Find your next read at empire Three days earlier, within the territory of the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family. After four hours of recovery and care, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi had regained some of their strength and were capable of moving freely. Lin Shilu and Lin Xingrong had finished cleaning up the battlefield, and the corpses of over a hundred Jin Family members had already vanished without a trace, their storage bags naturally collected together and guarded by Lin Shilu. Seeing that Lin Tianming and another had risen, and their condition seemed not too bad, Lin Shilu felt greatly relieved. Delaying due to injuries, they had not yet seized the Jin Family¡¯s treasures. Now, the opportunity had come to thoroughly explore. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Xingrong was left to guard the entrance, while Lin Shilu led Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi inside the Jin Family compound. The three split into two groups, with Lin Xingzhi in charge of searching the residential area of the Jin Family members. These places lacked heavy protective restrictions, and his cultivation was sufficient to cope with them. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu focused on locating the Spiritual Medicine Garden and various key Jin Family institutions, such as the Scripture Pavilion and the Family Treasure Vault. The protective restrictions of these places were strong, and even Lin Shilu¡¯s aggressive approach might not guarantee success. However, with the help of Lin Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors, it would be much easier, as even the Protective Clan Formation was not beyond his capability to breach. The three entered the clan territory and began a careful search. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu didn¡¯t head to the courtyard clusters but flew straight toward the peak of Golden Horn Mountain. ¡°` Standing in the sky, Lin Tianming opened the Eye of Five Colors and overlooked the entire Golden Horn Mountain region. Feeling the fluctuations of more than a dozen enchantments that were clearly stronger than those in the ordinary areas, a broad smile spread across Lin Tianming¡¯s face as he promptly flew toward the nearest location, followed immediately by Lin Shilu. Before long, the two appeared in a small valley halfway up the mountain, where the vegetation was lush and the spiritual energy relatively rich. Lin Tianming surveyed the area carefully, deducing that the enchantment was not weak and likely concealed an important treasure. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of anticipation. With a focused mind, Lin Tianming opened the Eye of Five Colors and began to break the enchantment. After half an hour, a crack suddenly appeared in the void, revealing a large expanse of Spirit Fields spanning dozens of acres with numerous Spiritual Medicines directly visible to the two of them. ¡°Spiritual Medicine Garden.¡± The faces of Lin Tianming and his companion turned red as they transformed into two shadows, dashing into the garden. The two moved through the Spiritual Medicine Garden, their faces flushing with excitement as they saw the neatly arranged fields full of Spiritual Medicines and several Spirit Fruit Trees. They carefully navigated through the garden, confirming the types of Spiritual Medicines as well as their age and quantity. Golden Flower Grass, Fire Element Grass, Shuiyun Grass¡ªall the main ingredients for the Xisui Pill were nearly complete and sufficient to concoct a sizable amount of elixirs. Just in terms of Lingshen Pills and Huiyuan Pills, these commonly used elixir materials for Qi Refining Cultivators were all gathered here in significant numbers, occupying most of the Spiritual Medicine Garden. In a corner of the fields, they also discovered two Jade Spirit Fruit Trees, adorned with more than ten green fruits that didn¡¯t seem quite ripe yet; Lin Tianming had no intention to pick or transplant them. Lin Tianming then collected the mature Spiritual Medicines that matched their age, leaving behind those that were not yet of age. These lower-grade Spiritual Medicines, with relatively short cycles, didn¡¯t need to be transplanted and only required collection every so often. It took more than an hour to collect the First Order Spiritual Medicines. Then Lin Tianming continued further in; the deeper he went, the richer the spiritual energy became, with small plots of fields containing many Second Order Spiritual Medicines. Dragon Origin Grass and Cloudy Rain Flower, hundreds of stalks of various Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials stood neatly in the fields, prospering well, making it evident that the Jin Family had their expertise in Alchemy and cultivation of Spiritual Medicines. After collecting the mature Second Order Spiritual Medicines, Lin Tianming continued inward, quickly reaching the deepest part. Looking around, there were only a few acres of Spirit Fields at the very end, with the soil differing from that outside: darker in color and faintly emanating spiritual energy. Lin Tianming approached three Spirit Grasses about half a foot tall and observed them closely. After repeated confirmation, he realized these were the main ingredients for the Hun Tian Pill: the Third Order Spiritual Medicine Purple Yin Grass. Unfortunately, they hadn¡¯t matured yet, and to use them for Alchemy, he would have to wait at least twenty more years. Although he already possessed the Pill Formula for the Hun Tian Pill and found some of the auxiliary Spiritual Medicines in the Spiritual Medicine Garden, it was a pity that the Purple Yin Grass was not yet of age. However, twenty-some years was not a long time in the world of cultivators, and the Lin Family could afford to wait. The thought of the family obtaining a batch of Purple Yin Grass in twenty years and thereby concocting the Hun Tian Pill to help their Foundation Establishment Cultivators break through a realm brought a flush to Lin Tianming¡¯s face. He quickly called over Lin Shilu and explained the effects of the herb. Upon hearing this, and seeing the more than ten stalks of Purple Yin Grass, Lin Shilu¡¯s breathing quickened as well. One must know that progression during the Foundation Establishment Stage was slow. It had been more than twenty years since Lin Shilu entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, and he had barely managed to cultivate to the Fourth Level, drastically in need of elixirs to aid in his cultivation; relying solely on meditation and breathing exercises was incredibly slow. Lin Shilu carefully collected a few stalks of the Purple Yin Grass and placed them in a prepared Jade Box, then continued to collect other Third Order Spiritual Medicines. ¡°` Chapter 128 - 128 - 109 Robbed Clean_1 Chapter 128 ¨C 109 Robbed Clean_1 A quarter-hour had passed, and the two of them had swept through the area of Third Order Spiritual Medicine, obtaining more than thirty mature Third Order Spiritual Medicines. Most of these were items used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and although their value was all lower than that of Purple Yin Grass, they were still not something that Second Order Spiritual Medicines could compare with. After spending half a day, they had plundered the Spiritual Medicine Garden, taking everything that met the age requirement for alchemy. High-value Spiritual Medicines were not spared either, being collected along with the soil to be transplanted into the Lin Family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden. As time went by, the two busied themselves for half a day and obtained more than a thousand pieces of Spiritual Medicine Materials, the vast majority of which were First Order Spiritual Medicines. The truly high-value ones were less than two hundred. Even so, the value of the Jin Family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden was much higher than that of the Lin Family¡¯s. The risk taken initially was well worth it just for the value of this Spiritual Medicine Garden itself. With satisfaction, the two left the Spiritual Medicine Garden and flew towards the summit¡¯s plaza. Atop Golden Horn Mountain was a Bluestone Plaza that spanned dozens of acres. At the far end of the plaza were more than ten lofty stone halls of varying sizes snug against the square, each with several stories and all protected by strong prohibitive spells of varying degrees of power. ... Lin Tianming casually strolled up, stopped in front of a grand hall, and opened his Eye of Five Colors to begin attempting to break the hall¡¯s prohibitions. After spending two days, he had broken the prohibitions of a succession of more than ten halls, all belonging to some of the Jin Family¡¯s administrative institutions with no substantial loot. They were mostly items that could not be easily taken away. Looking at the remaining two halls, which must have been where the secret manuals and treasures were stored, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but heat up. Quickly regaining his composure, Lin Tianming began to break the prohibitions of the place. Half a day later, the prohibitions were broken, revealing the entrance to the grand hall. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu walked straight in. Gazing about, the first floor of the grand hall revealed more than a dozen stone platforms, upon which rested various colored Jade Slips and some books made of beast skin. Lin Tianming immediately rushed in and picked up a Jade Slip to examine it. Sure enough, it was a Metal Attribute Yellow Grade Technique, identical to the one from the Lin Family. It was probably not surprising for such common goods to be found in multiple major Families. After putting down the Jade Slip in his hand, Lin Tianming started to inspect the other items. Read exclusive adventures at empire In no time, everything on the first floor of the grand hall had been collected by the two of them. They discovered a total of eight Yellow Grade Techniques, three of which overlapped with the Yellow Grade Techniques of the Lin Family. Among the unheard Techniques, there were two of Wood Attribute, and one each of Metal, Fire, and Earth Attributes, but none of Water Attribute. The rest of the books were introductions and experiences related to cultivation arts. The creators were probably not of high rank, and thus not very useful. There were also records of miscellaneous and interesting events, which might help someone new to cultivation, but were useless to them. Lin Shilu packed all the items into his storage bag to take back to the family for sorting, and then they went up to the second floor. There were not many platforms on the second floor, and even fewer books and Jade Slips, barely totaling over thirty pieces, but they were all good stuff. Lin Tianming held a Jade Slip and meticulously examined it. Before long, a look of joy appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ¡°Guiyuan Heart Sutra.¡± This Jade Slip was precisely the cultivation technique practiced by many Jin Family Cultivators, also a Mysterious Grade, which could be cultivated to the Late Stage of Core Formation, with Metal Attribute, and accompanied by no small Divine Skills, possessing extremely formidable attacking power. He had learned this firsthand; in terms of attacking power, the Divine Skills included in this technique were even more formidable than those of the Lin Family¡¯s Fire Origin Decision. After handing over this priceless technique to Lin Shilu, he then turned his attention to the remaining Jade Slips. An hour later, the two had finished examining the remaining techniques and manuals. The other two Mysterious Grade Techniques were one of Earth Attribute and one of Water Attribute. With this, the Lin Family had gathered all of the Mysterious Grade Techniques of the five attributes. Beyond the techniques, they also found two volumes of Alchemy Experience. The Jin Family¡¯s alchemy was renowned throughout the Luoyun Mountain Range and, with nearly a thousand years of continuous improvement, their alchemy experiences did indeed hold many points of value. The rest of the manuals contained the Jin Family¡¯s experience in cultivating Spiritual Medicine, as well as talisman paper and Artifact Refining techniques, covering nearly all the arts of cultivation. However, it was uncertain how much they could learn from them. It wasn¡¯t long before the two had packed everything into their storage bags and headed towards the third floor. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, after a careful search in every corner of the third floor, they found nothing at all. The Scripture Pavilion of the Jin Family had been thoroughly looted. Lin Tianming made his way to the last great hall. It didn¡¯t take much time to break through the restrictions, and the two of them walked inside. Passing through the main hall of the great hall to its depths, there were several rooms on both sides of the corridor. Lin Tianming noticed that the layout here was somewhat similar to the Lin Family¡¯s Hall of Merit and surmised this must be the Jin Family¡¯s Hall of Merit. Thinking that there must be treasures used for daily exchanges by the Jin Family here, Lin Tianming and his companion were particularly excited and quickly chose a room to enter. Lin Tianming pushed open the heavy stone door, and what caught his eye were several chests crafted from jade stone. Lin Tianming immediately rushed over and opened them. ¡°Spirit Stones¡­¡± Lin Tianming grabbed a few Spirit Stones to examine, and they were all Low-Grade Spirit Stones. After his counting, just in these few chests, there were over thirteen thousand Spirit Stones. They moved the chests out of the room and placed them in the main hall, awaiting the final tally. Half a day passed, and the two had swept through everything in the great hall three times, gathering all the useful items together into a small mountain. Looking around, the treasures in front of them were varied: elixirs, Spirit Grass, Spirit Stones, Spirit Ore, Demonic Beast Materials, as well as different quantities of Spiritual Artifacts and talisman paper, though not in large numbers. It was presumed that because of the recent battle, the Jin Family had carried the Spiritual Artifacts and talisman paper¡ªresources for war¡ªwith them. Still, the loot remained quite valuable. Lin Shilu took out a piece of Beast Skin and recorded the type and quantity of all the treasures before putting all the treasures into storage bags. Tian Ming watched the vast amount of wealth with shining eyes, his heart blooming with joy. After all, the sight of treasures worth over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones would tempt any Qi Refining Cultivator. Setting aside the Cultivation Manuals and the yield from the Spiritual Medicine Garden, just these supplementary cultivation resources were worth at least one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Besides these, there were also over a hundred storage bags from Jin Family Cultivators that hadn¡¯t been tallied. If all were accounted for, the sum might be astronomical. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes narrow into slits, Lin Shilu spoke with a calm expression. ¡°Tian Ming, the Jin Family must have another Treasure Vault!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming snapped back to reality and, after some thought, began to understand. Any family would not place the accumulation of a thousand years in such an obvious institution. They would opt to store them in multiple locations and keep them hidden to avoid being completely looted in case the family fell, also preserving a slim chance of rising again. Moreover, the haul here, although not insignificant, was hardly substantial for a family like the Jin Family that had existed for a thousand years. This place was probably where they stored regularly used resources for exchanges by the Jin Family¡¯s Qi Refining clanspeople, completely devoid of items used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Therefore, there definitely was another hidden Treasure Vault; it just was not easy to find. Lin Shilu¡¯s conjecture was something Lin Tianming totally agreed with. Afterwards, the two left the great hall and began to search separately within Golden Horn Mountain. Chapter 129 - 129 - 110: Struck it Rich_1 Chapter 129 ¨C 110: Struck it Rich_1 Half a day passed, and the several dozen-mile expanse of the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory had been searched thoroughly by a group of people, but they had not found the location of the Jin Family¡¯s treasure vault. Lin Shilu frowned, deep in thought. They had searched quite meticulously, practically turning over every inch of the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, but still, they hadn¡¯t found it. Although they had anticipated it wouldn¡¯t be easy, after all, such a secretive matter wouldn¡¯t be known to more than ten people even within the Jin Family Clan. ¡°Where could it be?¡± While brooding over this conundrum, a loud shout came from not too far away; it was Lin Tianming who seemed to have found something, prompting Lin Shilu to immediately rush over. At the base of the main peak of Golden Horn Mountain, where several rivers converged, a waterfall dozens of feet wide roared down with imposing momentum, a truly magnificent sight. ... The abundant water resources here formed a substantial mist after evaporation, filling the valley with dense fog, lush and vibrant, with colorful flowers and trees growing beside green rocks, presenting the spectacle of a cave heaven and blessed land. At the moment, however, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t admiring these beautiful scenes but stood in front of the waterfall, opening his Eye of Five Colors and gazing through the curtain of water at something behind it. Sensing the faint ripple of a formation behind the water curtain, which appeared and disappeared intermittently, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s call, Lin Shilu quickly arrived beside him and looked in the direction Lin Tianming was facing, closely sensing the area. Unfortunately, even with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he couldn¡¯t feel that faint fluctuation. Out of curiosity, Lin Shilu didn¡¯t ask any questions but quietly waited by the side. After an unknown amount of time, Lin Tianming held an Earth Evil Artifact in his hand and boldly thrust his sword at the mirror-like curtain of water. ¡°Pff¡­¡± A strange crisp sound echoed as the mirror-like water curtain suddenly revealed an entrance to a cave, approximately three feet wide. Lin Shilu¡¯s face lit up with joy as he leaped beside Lin Tianming. After releasing two attacks to ensure no dangers lay ahead, the two entered the cave together. Walking cautiously along the flagstone path, the two headed deeper into the cave. In a short while, they reached the end of the cave and found several stone doors at the deepest part. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two worked together to push open the heavy stone doors, revealing the contents of the stone chamber. What greeted their eyes were several shelves, on which many jade bottles were placed. Lin Tianming rushed forward in a few strides, grabbed a jade bottle, opened it, and began identifying the elixirs inside. ¡°Second Order Spirit Origin Pill!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu¡¯s face brightened, and he eagerly took the pill, carefully examining it. Lin Tianming continued inspecting the remaining jade bottles and in a short time, had checked all the elixirs inside them. Lin Shilu took out a piece of beast skin and began tallying the quantities and types of these elixirs. After they finished scouring the first stone chamber, the two continued to rummage through the remaining chambers. The second chamber contained a vast amount of Spirit Stones, far more than what was in the great hall at the top of Golden Horn Mountain. After Lin Tianming¡¯s count, there were a total of sixty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and in addition, forty-five Medium-Grade Spirit Stones. Holding a fist-sized Medium-Grade Spirit Stone in his hand, Lin Tianming examined it carefully, his expression one of reluctance to let it go. To the naked eye, this Medium-Grade Spirit Stone was several times bigger than a normal Low-Grade Spirit Stone, containing a richer and more pure Spiritual Energy. In the Cultivation World, Spirit Stones are the universal currency. It takes a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones to exchange for one Medium-Grade Spirit Stone, and so on, with a hundred Medium-Grade Spirit Stones fetching one High Quality Spirit Stone, although typically no one is willing to trade for them. While Low-Grade Spirit Stones are quite common and widely circulated, Medium-Grade Spirit Stones are much rarer. Medium-Grade Spirit Stones can be used as the energy source required for the operation of Formations, greatly enhancing their stability. It is said that some Fourth Order large towns even use Supreme Spirit Stones as their energy source. Hence, medium-grade spirit stones and above can serve as strategic resource reserves, and even the forces with Golden Core cultivators wouldn¡¯t easily trade them away. Forty-five medium-grade spirit stones, that¡¯s four thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones. Plus the other sixty thousand spirit stones, this truly is an immensely great fortune. ¡°The Jin Family really is wealthy¡­¡± After sighing, Lin Tianming collected all the spirit stones into his storage bag and handed it to Lin Shilu. Half an hour passed, and the two completed their search of the remaining stone chambers, walking out of the cave. At that moment, their complexions were flushed with excitement, their hearts racing as if a herd of ten thousand horses was charging through them. Even Lin Shilu, well-versed and experienced, felt his heart pounding uncontrollably upon seeing such a tremendous amount of wealth for the first time, and both of their mouths were almost grinning crooked with joy. The loot was indeed substantial; having scoured the Jin Family¡¯s nearly a thousand years of wealth accumulation, they left nothing behind. Just in spirit stones from the two treasure vaults, they obtained nearly eighty thousand pieces, not to mention the resources such as elixirs and talismans amounting to a potentially astronomical figure. The beaming pair emerged, soon to be joined by Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong, and they gathered together for a brief chat. Lin Xingzhi had also scoured every yard and didn¡¯t get much, as few cultivators would leave their treasures in their abodes, keeping almost everything on their person. Nevertheless, they still managed to gather some wealth, filling two storage bags. Lin Shilu took the storage bags without counting, planning to bring them back to the clan for the family to sort and tally. Seeing the two, wearing an air of delighted disbelief, Lin Xingrong and his companion couldn¡¯t hide their puzzlement. Lin Shilu revealed just a small part of their gains, shocking the two to the core. ¡°Pathetic, just a few tens of thousands of spirit stones and you look like that!¡± Lin Shilu muttered under his breath, then paid no further mind to Lin Xingrong and his companion. Soon, they gradually recovered their composure, but Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned grave. It had been about half a month since they left Luoyun Market, and they had no news about the Jin Family¡¯s movements or the situation back at home, which was a cause for concern. Looking at Lin Shilu¡¯s wistful expression, Lin Tianming and the others could guess some of the reasons behind it. Now that they had accomplished their purpose, regardless of whether the Jin Family was successful or not, they could no longer stay here. Once they returned to their clan¡¯s territory, they would truly have to scatter and flee for their lives. Lin Tianming was the first to speak, asking Lin Shilu for his thoughts. ¡°Elder Wu, what should we do next? Go back to our clan, or to Luoyun Market?¡± Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Lin Shilu wanted to return to Green Bamboo Mountain to check things out, but he thought of Lin Shikang¡¯s instructions and plans and didn¡¯t dare to take Lin Tianming into danger. He was now tangled and couldn¡¯t make a firm decision. ¡°Share your thoughts; let¡¯s discuss this together.¡± After Lin Shilu spoke, they started to deliberate. Experience tales at empire After a short while, through discussion, they reluctantly reached a consensus. Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianming would temporarily stay near the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory to take the chance to rendezvous with Lin Tianhong and the others. Lin Shilu and Lin Xingzhi would head back to Luoyun Market first, where the crowds and chaotic environment might allow them to gather some information. If the situation permitted, Lin Shilu alone would sneak back to Green Bamboo Mountain. After all, the Jin Family¡¯s threat was not yet lifted, and taking them would only be a burden. In the event of danger, the chances of escape were much higher for just one individual. After settling their plans, Lin Shilu took out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Xingrong. He messaged the group with a few instructions and felt slightly more at ease. With everything arranged, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingzhi didn¡¯t linger; they mounted their swords and flew south towards Luoyun Market, soon disappearing into the sky. Watching Lin Shilu and his companion leave, Lin Xingrong spoke up, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s get going too!¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Lin Tianming responded and then released the Purple Gold Eagle, feeding it a Beast Spirit Pill. The two of them jumped onto the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back and soared into the sky, flying northward, swiftly vanishing without a trace. Chapter 130 - 130 - 111 Gathering of the Falling Clouds_1 Chapter 130 ¨C 111 Gathering of the Falling Clouds_1 Outside Luoyun Market, two figures swept across the sky and stopped atop a mountain. Uncertain of the Jin Family¡¯s whereabouts, Lin Shilu dared not rashly enter the market. If his tracks were discovered, it could bring about some unnecessary trouble. Standing on the mountain, he tried to observe the indistinct city walls in the distance, hoping to gather some information. At that moment, several bursts of firelight scattered over the market, followed by the sound of booming explosions. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression immediately tensed, as he attempted to guess what was happening. ¡°Could it be that the Jin Family has made a move against our people within the market?¡± If the Jin Family emerged victorious after attacking the four major families, once they severely damaged the other families, the rule of the market forbidding private fights would likely not be adhered to. ... After all, the rules of Luoyun Market were also set by the five major families. Having defeated the other four families, they would naturally want to annihilate them completely, so there would be no need to follow the rules. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, causing Lin Shilu to grow increasingly anxious. ¡°Xing Zhi, you stay nearby and hide. If I¡¯m not back in half an hour, don¡¯t worry about me. Immediately go find Xing Rong and then head together to Qianchuan Market, understand?¡± The more he worried, the less Lin Shilu could put his mind at ease, feeling an urgent necessity to ascertain the situation of his clan¡¯s territory. He had to find a way to get there and see for himself. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, even Lin Xingzhi, as naive as he was, could guess some of the situation. The battle had spread to the market, certainly indicating the outcome of the clan conflict was clear, yet it was still unknown which side was victorious. Stay connected with empire ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, my heart is also with the family, so I won¡¯t dissuade you. My cultivation is too weak; I¡¯d only slow you down. Please be very careful, and if anything happens, we will wait for you at Qianchuan Market.¡± A trace of worry appeared on Lin Xingrong¡¯s face as he gave his instructions in response. ¡°Hmm, be very cautious in everything!¡± With that, Lin Shilu no longer lingered, running straight down the mountain and quickly towards the direction of the market. Lin Xingzhi watched as Lin Shilu departed, then found a place to hide himself. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lin Shilu had nearly reached the market entrance. By that time, the sound of explosions was echoing within the market, indicating a battle was still ongoing. The normally bustling entrance was now eerily quiet, without a single person in sight. As he was observing, several figures successively darted out from the market entrance, some bearing injuries. As soon as they left the market, they fled towards the north without looking back. Lin Shilu scrutinized the fleeing individuals carefully, they didn¡¯t look like Lin Family disciples. Moreover, why were the escaping figures heading north without a backward glance? Soon after, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator also emerged from the market entrance and quickly pursued the fleeing figures. ¡°Xing Yuan!¡± Seeing that the person was Lin Xingyuan, Lin Shilu understood at once. It was likely that the Lin Family had won the clan battle and was now hunting down the remnants of the Jin Family. At that moment, the stone in Lin Shilu¡¯s heart finally dropped, and he broke into a radiant smile, laughing arrogantly and loudly. Lin Xingyuan, busy with the pursuit, initially didn¡¯t notice Lin Shilu, who had changed his appearance. However, Lin Shilu, overwhelmed by excitement, revealed his true face, which then caught Lin Xingyuan¡¯s attention. Seeing Lin Shilu, Lin Xingyuan was instantly overjoyed, calling out: ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, quickly kill the few who are fleeing; they are all from the Jin Family!¡± In just a few breaths, the fleeing Lin Family members had scattered in different directions, with two of them already a thousand feet away. Without hesitation, Lin Shilu joined Lin Xingyuan in the pursuit. Several Qi Refining Cultivators, limited in speed, could not possibly escape from Lin Shilu of the Fourth Level of Foundation Building. In half a breath, Lin Shilu caught up with the slowest fleeing Jin Family member, flicking his finger to release a Sword Qi that easily eliminated the Jin Family member, who was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, before continuing the chase after the others. ¡°` In no time, Lin Shilu had successively killed several people, leaving only one cultivator who had fled for several miles. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu flew after him on his sword, turning into a lingering shadow as he chased down the escapee. The fleeing cultivator was called Jin Chaoyang, the person in charge of the Jin Family at the market, with the cultivation at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. Earlier that day, two Lin Family cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage had entered the market with several family members, launching a city-wide manhunt for all Jin Family members. The Jin Family¡¯s shops had long changed hands, and during the raid, more than a dozen of their kin were killed; only he and a few others had riskedly escaped. At the moment, he was clueless, and too panicked to guess what had befallen the Jin Family, only thinking about escaping back to Golden Horn Mountain as quickly as possible. Jin Chaoyang, already scared out of his wits, pushed his fleeing speed to the limit. As Lin Shilu drew closer and closer, Jin Chaoyang¡¯s face grew paler, and in his panic, he threw out several First Order Superior Grade talismans, hoping to delay his pursuer. Unfortunately, with the power of the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, these petty tricks were no obstruction at all. As the distance closed to less than a hundred paces, Lin Shilu flicked his fingers repeatedly, shooting out strands of sword qi towards Jin Chaoyang. Feeling the oncoming sword qi, Jin Chaoyang¡¯s face instantly lost all color, and he hurriedly took out a small spiritual shield to block in front of him. ¡°Whoosh whoosh¡­¡± After several crisp sounds, small holes appeared in both the shield and Jin Chaoyang¡¯s body. As he saw warm blood streaming from the holes in his chest, he simply could not believe this outcome. Why had the Jin Family¡¯s years of plotting, their grip on the clan war, ended in such a tragic defeat? Alas, no matter what, he could not figure it out. With Jin Chaoyang falling unwillingly, Lin Shilu took his storage bag, then cast a fireball to burn the body before heading towards the market. Before long, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingyuan returned to the market, walking on the main street. By then, all had quieted down inside the market, and many Qi Refining Cultivators watched the Lin Family members vigilantly, wondering what they were up to. Soon, the two reached the Hundred Treasures Building, where Lin Shigong was already waiting at the entrance. After exchanging greetings, Lin Shigong began to inquire, ¡°Xing Yuan, did you manage to kill the fleeing members of the Jin Family?¡± After Lin Xingyuan answered truthfully, Lin Shigong breathed a sigh of relief and then began to ask about the recent affairs of Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu did not hide anything, starting from the grand competition in the market and swiftly moving to the events of their escape. Although they had already learned about the entrapment and escape through Sun Dingfeng, hearing it from Lin Shilu¡¯s mouth made it all the more real. Subsequently, Lin Shigong heard how Lin Shilu and three others stormed the Jin Family stronghold, slaughtered hundreds of their members, and took all of the Jin Family¡¯s wealth. The two were already incredibly shocked, their expressions immensely rich. Had they not known Lin Shilu wouldn¡¯t joke about such matters, they wouldn¡¯t have believed it. After hearty laughter, Lin Shigong quickly regained his composure before recounting the battle of Green Bamboo Mountain, omitting the news of the deaths of Lin Shiji and others. Learning about the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Shilu was equally astounded. Although he knew the Lin Family had an ace up its sleeve left by the ancestral Patriarch, he¡¯d never witnessed its true power and couldn¡¯t guess whether it would be enough to contend with Jin Zhiying. Little did he expect not only the total annihilation of the Jin Family, but also the slaying of Zhuang Zhenxin. ¡°` Chapter 131 - 131 - 112: Controlling the Workshops_1 Chapter 131 ¨C 112: Controlling the Workshops_1 ¡°Ninth Brother, although we have won this clan war, I wonder how much our family has lost?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words caused Lin Shigong¡¯s face to change. He had intended to hide the truth for a while, but now he had no choice but to reveal it. Knowing he couldn¡¯t hide it for long, Lin Shigong still chose to tell the truth. Learning that all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who participated in the war had suffered various degrees of injury, and that Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin had died in battle, Lin Shilu¡¯s complexion turned instantly ashen. ¡°Shilu, our Fifth Brother and the others did not sacrifice in vain. If they know that every member of the Jin Family has been executed, they would surely rest easy in the underworld!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Fifteenth Uncle. The battle was extremely hard-fought, and every Lin Family Member made sacrifices!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s dejected mood, Lin Xingyuan also spoke up to comfort him. ... ¡°Sigh¡­¡± After sighing deeply, Lin Shilu gradually regained his composure, and Lin Shigong, not wanting to see him upset, quickly changed the subject. ¡°Shilu, I was originally planning a trip to Golden Horn Mountain to take over the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, but now it seems unnecessary. From what you¡¯ve said, there are some immature Spiritual Medicines there that require a Foundation Establishment Clan Member to temporarily guard the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory. We also need to send someone to check on the Wu Family¡¯s clan land, and it would be best to control those places. As for the follow-up arrangements, let¡¯s discuss them after the Elders¡¯ Council has deliberated!¡± ¡°Whatever you arrange, Ninth Brother, will be best.¡± After agreeing, Lin Shilu thought about Lin Xingzhi, who was waiting for him outside the market, and then spoke. ¡°Ninth Brother, since all the Jin Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators are dead, I¡¯ll go find Xing Zhi now and have him fetch Xing Rong to send Tian Ming and the other juniors back home. After that, he can temporarily remain in the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory.¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Finishing his words, Lin Shilu handed over the storage bags of Jin Chaoyang and several others to Lin Shigong, then immediately set off toward the market exit. After watching Lin Shilu leave, Lin Shigong erased the Divine Sense left on the storage bags and began to inspect a Token taken out from one of them. Once he was sure the Token was correct, Lin Shigong revealed a trace of satisfaction and instructed Lin Xingyuan standing beside him: ¡°Xing Yuan, now that we¡¯ve taken control of all the Jin Family¡¯s shops and assets, and obtained the Luoyun Order, organize some people immediately. Let¡¯s go straight to the Market City Supervisor¡¯s office and replace the current law enforcers with our own, then ensure that the Luoyun Market¡¯s security is maintained.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two didn¡¯t linger and immediately hurried towards the direction of the marketplace auction. At the entrance to the auction, a Bluestone Plaza had already gathered quite a number of Cultivators, with many more still hurrying towards the area. In the span of a short break, the number of people on the plaza grew, the majority being Loose Cultivators, as well as members of Qi Cultivation families and even members of the Luoyun Market Law Enforcement Team. Over a hundred Cultivators gathered together, and those who had witnessed the battle began to discuss amongst themselves. In the past two months, undercurrents had surged within the five major clans of the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Jin Family took advantage of the market competition when Foundation Establishment Cultivators from other clans were away from their territories and brazenly initiated clan warfare, wiping out the Wu Family before they could even react. It was only several days later that the news reached the Luoyun Market, causing upheaval. Many Loose Cultivators hurriedly left the market to avoid calamity. Within a few short days, the market¡¯s vitality had significantly waned, and the attendance was not even half of what it used to be. Perhaps out of respect for the market¡¯s rules, there had been peace within the Luoyun Market. Some observant Loose Cultivators and trading Cultivators still remained in the market. It wasn¡¯t until today that twenty Lin Family Members suddenly appeared near the Jin Family¡¯s shops, openly attacking the Jin Family Clan Members. Under the leadership of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they were able to capture all of the Jin Family Members within the marketplace in just half an hour. The appearance of the Lin Family Members signified the Jin Family¡¯s defeat, an inconceivable outcome. Furthermore, Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan demonstrated their Foundation Establishment cultivation, completely stunning the onlookers. Afterward, many secretly discussed how the Jin Family, with six Foundation Establishment Clan Members, could have been defeated, how many Foundation Establishment Cultivators the Lin Family actually had, what unknown tactics they used, and just how much strength they had hidden. Unfortunately, they could not find out. ¡­ On the Bluestone Plaza, near the auction venue. A Qi Refining Eighth Level Cultivator sat casually on the stairs in front of the auction house, surrounded by more than a dozen Cultivators who gathered around him like stars around the moon. ¡°Daoist Chen, as the captain of the Law Enforcement Team, have you heard any rumors or have any insider information?¡± ¡°Yes, regarding the spell battle that has just erupted, I wonder what Daoist Chen thinks?¡± In the crowd, a few cultivators started asking, hoping to glean some news from him. Chen Jingshan frowned slightly, clueless about these inquiries, he was just as baffled at the moment. Still, considering that they were all acquaintances, even though he knew nothing, he still responded with a few words. ¡°There¡¯s no need for alarm. The grudges between the five major families should not involve us loose cultivators. Whether it¡¯s time for seclusion or business, just carry on. Once they have settled their dispute, stability will naturally return.¡± ¡°Indeed, this is not something we should worry about!¡± ¡°What Daoist Chen said makes sense, we were overthinking it¡­¡± After Chen Jingshan spoke, several cultivators seemed much relieved and echoed his sentiments. Just then, Lin Shigong, along with other Lin Family members, appeared at the edge of the plaza. ¡°It¡¯s people from the Lin Family¡­¡± ¡°Elder Lin has succeeded in Foundation Establishment!¡± Several cultivators who had just arrived at the plaza exclaimed in confusion. The arrival of Lin Shigong and his group immediately caused a huge stir, and the cultivators present greeted them with clasped fists, then made way for them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, there¡¯s no need for such courtesy¡­¡± Lin Shigong, with a gentle expression, politely responded, greatly endearing himself to those present. Previously, members of the Jin Family had always been overbearing, yet due to the Jin Family¡¯s great power, none dared to voice their anger. The Lin Family, on the other hand, had always been low-key and fair in their dealings, and they had an excellent reputation throughout the Luoyun Mountain Range. Amidst the cheering of the crowd, Lin Shigong gestured for everyone to be quiet, walked to the high platform in the plaza, and spoke with righteous indignation: Discover exclusive tales at empire ¡°Fellow Daoists, the Jin Family harbored wild ambitions and rashly instigated clan warfare under the pretext of the Market City Contest. In just a few days, the Wu Family was annihilated, the Sun Family Clan¡¯s Territory was breached, and many of their people were killed or wounded. Our Lin Family risked everything to resist, mobilizing the strength of our entire clan at the cost of heavy sacrifices, and we have now completely eradicated the Jin Family.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Completely eradicated the Jin Family!¡± As Lin Shigong personally announced the outcome, many had already guessed it, yet there were still many who didn¡¯t know, and they were shocked when they heard the news. Lin Shigong paid them no mind and continued: ¡°As the Jin Family no longer exists, we of the Lin Family will temporarily take over the management of Luoyun Market. Everyone should carry on with their business without any concern and please inform each other so we can bring the market back to its prosperous state as soon as possible.¡± ¡°As for the reformation of the Law Enforcement Team and the Market City Supervisor roles, clean backgrounds and meeting the requirements are the criteria for all Daoists who wish to apply, and the salaries will be increased by twenty percent over the previous rates.¡± Upon hearing Lin Shigong¡¯s words, the crowd of cultivators erupted in cheers. The demise of the Jin Family indeed allowed many to vent their pent-up frustrations. As for the Lin Family taking control of the market and raising the salaries of the executive officers, it was naturally considered good news. Soon, many cultivators stepped forward, eager to sign up, and Chen Jingshan was among them. Lin Xingyuan also took out a book and began to record their names, which would be kept on file for review and later employment. Seeing the large number of cultivators signing up without any signs of resistance, the Lin Family could easily take control of the market. Lin Shigong stood aside, a smile creeping onto his face. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 132 - 132 - 113 Sending Off_1 Chapter 132 ¨C 113 Sending Off_1 Time flew, half a month had passed since the destruction of the Jin Family. The two-month-long clan war had come to a definitive end, with the Wu Family and the Jin Family destroyed, the Sun Family clan grounds breached, and the majority of its members either dead or injured, suffering a devastating blow. The unexpected outcome of the war had spread like a storm, first among ten, then among hundreds, until it became known to everyone in the Luoyun Mountain Range; it even reached the neighboring Qianchuan Market and the Huangyang Kingdom in Jingzhou. Suddenly, the Lin Family was in the limelight, their fame spreading far and wide, becoming the most talked-about topic among cultivators. Gradually, the Luoyun Market stabilized, and its popularity began to recover. In just over ten days, the Lin Family had exerted a great amount of manpower and resources, effectively taking control of the Luoyun Market. Within the market, peace returned to its former state, with all the major shops reopening and the comings and goings of cultivators as usual. ... As for the Lin Family taking control of the market, unexpectedly, both the Sun Family and the virtually intact Luo Family made no statements. Since neither the Sun Family nor the Luo Family raised the issue, the Lin Family naturally did not bring it up themselves; all parties understood each other¡¯s silence, and for the time being, there were no negotiations. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family clan grounds. Through Lin Xingzhi¡¯s summoning, Lin Tianming and the other younger members all returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. Other than Lin Xingrong, who was stationed at Golden Horn Mountain, and some clan members under Lin Xingyuan¡¯s command who managed the market, all Lin Family members who were outside had now returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. A few days previous, Lin Xingzhi had gone to the northern part of Golden Horn Mountain to search for Lin Tianming and others; upon meeting, he recounted the whole process of the battle on Green Bamboo Mountain. Upon learning that Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin had died in battle, Lin Tianming felt immensely heavy-hearted. Lin Tianming, having been born to cultivator parents, had lived on Green Bamboo Mountain since childhood. As Lin Xingrong was often stationed at the market, he would follow Lin Shigong around from an early age, frequently interacting with the Shi Clan members. Lin Shixin, having no descendants, treated Lin Tianming as his own grandchild, often spoiling him and showing him special favor. Lin Tianming adored this mischievous elder, and their relationship was extremely close, leading Lin Shigong to occasionally question whether Tianming was truly his own grandchild. Lin Shiji, who was rather stern, treated all the clan members equally; regardless of who erred, he remained unforgiving, with the sole exception of Lin Tianming, and the two had a tacit coordination during demon-hunting experiences. The loss of the two elders Lin Tianming deeply respected had grieved him for a long time. Lin Xingzhi also knew that Lin Tianming was troubled inside and could only urge him to diligently pursue cultivation, to strengthen the Lin Family so that such tragedies would not recur. Lin Tianming, who had a strong sense of belonging to his family, became even more eager to improve his strength in order to protect his family after hearing this. Only if the family was strong and looked after by a High Order Cultivator could such incidents be avoided. From that point on, the heart of a strong warrior had taken root and begun to sprout within him, growing ever more resolute. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Ancestral Hall. In the aftermath of the battle, as the injured clan members emerged from retreat and the exterior members had been gathered, it was time to hold the ceremony to place the spirit tablets in the ancestral hall. The ceremony of placing the spirit tablets in the ancestral hall was a common occurrence in the Lin Family. Every few years, members of the Lin Family would pass away naturally or die in accidents, and the ceremony would be performed. However, the ceremonies for those clan members were simpler and attended by fewer family members. And in this clan war the Lin Family had faced, they had sacrificed more than twenty of their members in one go, who fought valiantly, dedicating everything to the family. Therefore, the Lin Family placed great importance on the ceremony of entering the spirit tablets into the ancestral hall, going so far as to summon all the members who could be spared, just to send off these sacrificed members on their final journey. It was only by placing the members¡¯ spirit tablets inside the ancestral hall to allow future generations to pay their respects, after this process was completed, that one was considered to have lived a full life and to have received the family¡¯s recognition. The entry of the spirit tablet into the ancestral hall was the highest honor of the Lin Family, the final resting place for every member of the Lin Family. Of course, there were exceptions. Either the Lin Family was completely wiped out, with no descendants to conduct the ceremony, or the family member had committed unforgivable crimes and was so wicked that he was expelled from the family. Such a person was considered to no longer be a member of the Lin Family and naturally could not enter the Lin Family Ancestral Hall. ¡­ At this moment, more than a hundred family members had gathered in the ancestral hall. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The ancient and heavy hall was utterly silent, each person¡¯s expression extremely solemn, and some even bore tears. Inside the hall, Lin Shihua, whose injuries had mostly healed, looked pallid, standing beside him were Lin Shikang and a few other surviving relatives from the Shi generation. A flicker of sorrow passed across Lin Shikang¡¯s face as he said to Lin Shihua, ¡°Shihua, begin.¡± Lin Shihua nodded, took a spirit tablet from the wooden table next to him, and placed it on the peach wood altar. Before long, two more spirit tablets were added to the layer belonging to the Shi generation, belonging to Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin. Lin Tianming, looking at the numerous spirit tablets on the altar, remembered Lin Shixin¡¯s kind and amiable face. Just then, Lin Shihua loudly recited complex scriptures, followed by a eulogy for the achievements of the two men. ¡°Family members, pay your respects!¡± Lin Shikang and the other Shi generation relatives bowed first, followed by the Xing generation and Tian generation members, who knelt and kowtowed thrice before rising. Then it was the turn for the spirit tablets of the Xing generation relatives to be placed on the altar. Lin Shihua continued to read out the names of the departed, then recited the scriptures. The family members paid their respects similarly, but since the Xing generation was of the same generation, they did not kneel, only the Tian generation members performed the kneeling tribute. After the passage of half a day, with the offerings properly arranged and three sticks of zen incense lit, the ceremony of the spirit tablets entering the ancestral hall was completed. Seeing the family members¡¯ low spirits, Lin Shikang felt helpless, knowing wounds always needed time to settle. He sighed, rallying his spirit before speaking, Stay updated with empire ¡°My fellow clansmen, the great war has just ended, the brutal process was as if it had just occurred. This is the cruelty of the Cultivation World.¡± ¡°Most of the people here have witnessed the sacrifice of Shi Ji and the others, the glory of their sacrifice. I hope you do not grieve too much. Before the portraits of our ancestors, I believe Shi Ji and the others do not wish to see you like this.¡± ¡°What you need to do now is to remember this history, turn grief and indignation into motivation, and double your efforts in cultivation. Strive to make breakthroughs as soon as possible. Only when you are strong can you protect the family from harm. Do you understand?¡± Inspired by Lin Shikang¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s spirits were lifted, their expressions revealing a formidable aura as they replied in unison, ¡°Understood!¡± After Lin Shikang¡¯s admonishment, a hint of vitality finally returned to everyone¡¯s faces. Seeing the transformation of the family members and the strong cohesion of the family, Lin Shikang showed a slight smile of relief. Following Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement of dismissal, the Lin Family members orderly left the ancestral hall to return to their normal cultivation. After leaving the ancestral hall, Lin Tianming greeted some relatives before returning to his family¡¯s courtyard with his mother and sister. Chapter 133 - 133 - 114: The Lin Family Makes a Fortune, The Complete Spirit Art_1 Chapter 133 ¨C 114: The Lin Family Makes a Fortune, The Complete Spirit Art_1 Explore hidden tales at empire sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. In Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard, the six remaining members of the Lin Family of Shi¡¯s generation sat inside, chatting. After the great battle, clan affairs entangled them, and those who were in seclusion stayed secluded, never gathering together. Now, as matters had gradually been handled and the Lin Family had returned to the right track, it was naturally time to account for the family¡¯s losses and gains. After some idle chat, Lin Shihua took out a book and, following the recorded counts, began to report. Lin Shikang and the others listened attentively. The Lin Family¡¯s losses were huge in this battle: not only did more than twenty clan members die in battle, but a substantial amount of elixirs, talismans, and spiritual artifacts were consumed, depleting years of accumulated resources. ... After reporting the losses, it was time to inventory the gains. Lin Shihua took out dozens of storage bags and placed them on the stone table in the middle of the group, all containing possessions of the Jin Family members who had died on Green Bamboo Mountain. The six of them each picked up a storage bag from the ground, wiped away the lingering divine sense, and started to check the contents. An hour later, they had finished tallying this batch of storage bags from Qi Refining Stage clanspeople. In total, there were over 8,500 spirit stones, more than 200 consumable elixirs, fewer than 40 intact spiritual artifacts, and a large number of damaged remnants of spiritual artifacts, with hardly any talismans. Just calculating the totals, Lin Shihua¡¯s face darkened as he complained repeatedly, ¡°This is far too little, isn¡¯t it? Over forty Jin Family members above the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, and this is all the spirit stones they had¡ªan average of barely two hundred spirit stones per person, no better than a Loose Cultivator.¡± Lin Shigong frowned slightly and said helplessly, ¡°That¡¯s quite normal. They were participating in a great war, not strolling through a market. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t carry too many treasures; otherwise, they would just be benefiting the enemy in case they fell.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Lin Shihua agreed with a nod and quickly registered it in the book. Next, Lin Shigong took out more than ten storage bags, which were the possessions of the Jin Family Cultivators stationed at the market and goods from the Jin Family shops. The quantity was not small. In no time, the group quickly tallied the treasures inside. There were over 11,000 spirit stones, more than 600 elixirs, as well as a fair number of talismans and spiritual artifacts, and varying amounts of Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Ore. Although they only obtained a little more than ten storage bags, the wealth inside far exceeded the batch Lin Shihua had tallied. After their estimation, this wealth amounted to about 25,000 spirit stones. Lin Shihua packed up the categorized storage bags, and everyone turned their attention to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu had breached Jin Family¡¯s Protective Formation and acquired all the wealth of the Jin Family¡ªa thousand years of accumulation, which was undoubtedly substantial. Everyone looked at him with eyes full of expectation and anticipation. Lin Shilu chuckled and calmly handed Lin Shihua two storage bags, which contained the spirit stones and Cultivation Techniques they had acquired from the hidden treasure vault of the Jin Family. Lin Shihua accepted the storage bags and began to inspect them. Upon seeing nearly 70,000 spirit stones inside, his breath immediately became rapid. Lin Shigong and the others, curious, hurriedly snatched the storage bags from Lin Shilu¡¯s hands to take turns inspecting them. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Apart from Lin Shilu, everyone¡¯s face turned red, and even Lin Shikang, who was usually calm, couldn¡¯t help but gasp in shock. At this moment, the people present had flushed faces and hearts filled with extreme excitement and agitation that took a long while to subside. Taking advantage of their distraction, Lin Shilu took out more than two hundred storage bags and filled the stone table, all belonging to Jin Family members who had stayed behind in the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory. After about ten breaths, everyone eventually calmed down and began to tally these storage bags. Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Stones, Elixirs, Talismans, Spiritual Artifacts¡­ It took nearly half a day to completely tally the treasures inside. Having seen such a vast quantity of treasures, Lin Shihua and the others had become numb to it. The spirit stones Lin Shilu brought back neared 120,000, plus five Cultivation Techniques, numerous books, more than thirty mature Third Order Spiritual Medicines, and countless First and Second Order items. After everyone¡¯s estimation, excluding Cultivation Techniques and books, which were difficult to price, the value of the other treasures was definitely no less than 300,000 spirit stones. Beyond their shock, they secretly compared the wealth of the Jin Family to that of the Lin Family. Setting aside the value of the Cultivation Techniques, the wealth worth 300,000 spirit stones was still staggering; at the very least, the Lin Family couldn¡¯t come close, and they were far behind. Everyone couldn¡¯t help but sigh, recognizing that the Jin Family, which had long dominated the market, never falling out of the top three, had amassed a great amount of wealth over a thousand years. They truly were an ancient family with profound foundations. After Lin Shilu finished tallying, there were still a few storage bags in Lin Shikang¡¯s hands that hadn¡¯t been counted. In his possession were the storage bags of Jin Zhiying and Zhuang Zhenxin. Given their cultivations and their status as Second Order Array Masters, their contents must be extraordinary. Not only that, the treasures looted from the Sun Family¡¯s territory and the annihilated Wu Family were also in Jin Zhiying¡¯s possession. Although the treasures obtained by Lin Shilu were already of great value, the items in Lin Shikang¡¯s possession might surpass those. Everyone looked eagerly at Lin Shikang, their eyes burning with anticipation. Lin Shikang did not delay. He immediately took out a dozen storage bags, two of which were very conspicuous and obviously not ordinary. Lin Shikang distributed the storage bags among them, and they began to tally. After half an hour, they completed the inspection of the storage bags, everyone¡¯s faces flush with color, and Lin Shihua even broke out into wild laughter. Indeed, as they had expected, these dozen storage bags, although few in number, contained no shortage of treasures. Chapter 134 - 134 - 114: The Lin Family Makes a Fortune, The Complete Spirit Art_2 Chapter 134 ¨C 114: The Lin Family Makes a Fortune, The Complete Spirit Art_2 Just the number of spirit stones found in Jin Zhiying¡¯s storage bag amounted to as many as a hundred thousand pieces, and there were over twenty medium-grade spirit stones. This huge sum of wealth was very likely the combined fortunes of the Sun and Wu Families, concentrated in Jin Zhiying¡¯s hands. Besides the enormous amount of spirit stones, the cultivation techniques of the Sun and Wu Families were also among them. Excluding the techniques that overlapped with those of the Lin Family, there were five mysterious-grade techniques and seven yellow-grade techniques. There were even over a hundred various classics, amongst which the Sun Family¡¯s talisman-making insights were particularly precious. Many of the other classics weren¡¯t very useful, but they could still provide some references. In addition to these, the quantity of various cultivation resources was huge; the combined resources of the two families almost surpassed the treasures Lin Shilu had obtained from the Jin Family. ¡­ Lin Shikang handed all the treasures over to Lin Shihua and then took out Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s storage bag, ready to explore its contents. ... He put in quite some effort to erase the divine sense on the storage bag. With a thought, a flag appeared in Lin Shikang¡¯s hand¡ªit was the magical treasure Zhuang Zhenxin had used. Lin Shikang held the Green Jiao Flag with a look of cherished fondness. He was very clear about how formidable this magical treasure was. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, in the face of his and Sun Dingxian¡¯s joint attack, Zhuang Zhenxin relied on this array flag to hold out for a long time. If not for their own powerful magical treasures, the outcome would have been hard to predict. After handing the Green Jiao Flag over to Lin Shihua for safekeeping, he took out a large number of spirit stones from the storage bag and placed them on the open ground in front of him. A small mountain of colorful spirit stones piled up, amounting to over eighty thousand pieces, plus more than ten medium-grade spirit stones. Beyond that, there were a large number of second order pills and array setup materials, each one anything but ordinary. Although he didn¡¯t find Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s cultivation technique, he found an inheritance of a second order high-grade array master¡ªequally invaluable and capable of greatly filling the void for the family¡¯s array masters. Soon, the contents of Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s storage bag were almost completely tallied, leaving only one jade slip unchecked. Lin Shikang picked up the jade slip and began to examine it, his complexion instantly becoming flush with excitement. Your journey continues on empire Lin Shilu and the others looked on with puzzlement, wondering what could elicit such surprise, and they urged him on eagerly. At this moment, an elated Lin Shikang was so overwhelmed he found himself at a loss for words, only to see him toss the jade slip towards Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu caught the jade slip and immediately probed it with his divine sense. After a look at the jade slip, his face underwent a dramatic change as he repeatedly exclaimed, ¡°No wonder an eminent second order medium-quality array master came to the Luoyun Mountain Range¡ªit was for this item!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words left Lin Shihua and the others even more perplexed, prompting them to speculate. ¡°Could it be that there is some treasure of the Lin Family that Zhuang Zhenxin covets?¡± With no solutions coming to mind, an anxious Lin Shihua prompted hurriedly, ¡°Shilu, stop keeping us in suspense!¡± Regaining his composure, Lin Shilu began, ¡°Do you still remember the incomplete spirit art that Tian Ming bought at the Qianchuan Market auction?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression changed, and he quickly replied. ¡°That incomplete spirit art is still stored in the Scripture Pavilion. In the past two years, we have been secretly searching for it, to no avail. Could it be that Zhuang Zhenxin is after the part we have?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°When Tian Ming obtained the spirit art, he also had me examine it. I can affirm that what we now possess is the latter half. Therefore, we now have a complete mysterious-grade spirit art!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s definitive answer once again quickened the breaths of Lin Shihua and the others. The preciousness of spirit arts goes without saying; even if they were both of the mysterious grade, the value of a spirit art exceeds that of a cultivation technique by more than tenfold¡ªan exceedingly rare and valuable item that is hard to purchase even with spirit stones. Such a priceless spirit art, not even the Zhenyang Sect, one of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, would likely possess many; and even if they did, they would probably be only yellow-grade spirit arts. Now that the Lin Family has acquired a Profound Grade Spirit Art, it¡¯s as if they have gained an ace up their sleeve, an inexhaustible and never-ending advantage. Practicing the Spirit Art could significantly enhance the strength of the family members, and in confrontations with peers of the same level, the probability of victory is greatly increased. After the initial excitement subsided, the group didn¡¯t let the breathtaking joy cloud their judgment; instead, they started to worry. If news of the Spirit Art were to leak out, it¡¯s feared that the Golden Core forces would immediately make a move to snatch it, turning this treasure into a hot potato. The cautious Lin Shihua, with a somber expression, turned to Lin Shilu and asked, ¡°Shilu, have you shown your true faces to anyone? When you returned to the family, was anyone following you?¡± Before Lin Shilu could answer, Lin Shigong added, ¡°Exactly, how did he know the upper half of the Spirit Art was within our family?¡± ¡°Apart from Zhuang Zhenxin, does anyone else know?¡± Facing the questions from the group, Lin Shilu also began to carefully recall the events, and after a good half an hour, he finally said, ¡°During our time at the Qianchuan Market, we were all disguised, and at the time of the Tian Ming auction, we were in the VIP room. Moreover, we left several months later.¡± ¡°If there was a leak, it¡¯s very likely it came from the auction¡¯s organizers since only they knew what was being sold, and with over a thousand cultivators attending, it¡¯s uncertain whether some skillful person might have noticed something.¡± Listening to Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Shihua and the others nodded and said, ¡°Hmm¡­ indeed, that¡¯s very possible!¡± Lin Shikang, who had not spoken until now, didn¡¯t care about how the information might have leaked, after all, Zhuang Zhenxin was dead, and there was no way to confirm. ¡°The Spirit Art is far too important; I guess even Zhuang Zhenxin would not dare to disclose it. Such a treasure, once leaked, is no longer his concern; only Golden Core forces are qualified to compete.¡± ¡°As a Loose Cultivator, his cultivation was not enough to destroy our Lin Family, that¡¯s why he cooperated with the Jin Family. He was alone and without support, and if he failed, he could just flee far away!¡± ¡°At present, what we need to guard against most is the Zhenyang Sect, since the Spirit Art was revealed through the Qianchuan Market, whether Zhenyang Sect is aware of it or not is unknown.¡± ¡°In any case, now that we have obtained the complete Spirit Art, giving it up is out of the question. We can only be cautious of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s slightest moves, and once these few years of rumors pass, we will be safe.¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s incisive speculation allowed everyone to heave a sigh of relief. The real fear had been the unknown danger, but now, knowing the direction of the threat, the problem was manageable. They just needed to guard against Zhenyang Sect for a few years to safely weather the storm. Finally, after discussing amongst themselves, they decided with great caution that only family members above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining would be allowed to cultivate the Spirit Art, and even then, it was not to be used lightly for fear it would be discovered by the enemy and bring disaster upon the family. Lin Shikang repeatedly instructed everyone to treat this matter with the utmost secrecy. Lin Shihua and the others understood the gravity of the situation and wholeheartedly agreed. Unknowingly, dusk had arrived, and simply tallying up their gains had taken an entire day. It would be difficult for outsiders to imagine that in this great battle, the Lin Family had emerged as the final winner, gaining the treasures of the Jin, Sun, and Wu Families. The wealth of the three families plus Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s property amounted to nearly three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, with the value of various other treasures nearing seven hundred thousand. Beyond these assets, they had obtained over ten different Cultivation Techniques and numerous scriptures, greatly augmenting the Lin Family¡¯s foundation. Looking over the records, the emotions in the hearts of Lin Shikang and the others were indescribable with excitement. One could imagine with these resources, the Lin Family would finally not be so hard-pressed and could use these assets to quickly enhance the overall strength of the family. Given ten years, the Lin Family could certainly add several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, reaching an unprecedented peak in its history. After calming their emotions, the group sat down together, drinking tea while discussing family affairs. They discussed for over an hour, settling on several major decisions that just needed a few additions before they could be implemented. Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Shikang decided not to prolong the discussion and prepared to dismiss everyone. ¡°Shihua, call a family meeting in three days, and after you return, send out a message to the juniors. This time the family will undergo a major transformation; we¡¯ll significantly improve the members¡¯ treatment and specifically cultivate a few individuals, using the entire family¡¯s resources to aid their Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send out messages to the members early tomorrow morning and meet in the Elders¡¯ Council Hall early morning in three days.¡± Lin Shihua affirmed, and each of the family members bid farewell with a fist salute. Chapter 135 - 135 - 115: Clan Meeting Rewards_1 Chapter 135 ¨C 115: Clan Meeting Rewards_1 One morning at dawn, a rosy light penetrated the small window, illuminating the bedroom. Lin Tianming stretched lazily, and the fatigue of the past two months gradually dissipated. After several days of rest, his condition had once again reached its peak. Lin Tianming stood up, tidied up his appearance, and then walked towards the outside of the room. Two days ago, he had received a message from the Clan Leader, asking him to attend the clan meeting at the Elders¡¯ Council Hall today. Although the Clan Leader did not elaborate, Lin Tianming could guess something. The war had ended, and there was much to be done; the Lin Family had to get back on the right track. As such, the purpose and significance of this family council meeting went without saying. ... Stay connected via empire Putting aside his thoughts, and with some anticipation, Lin Tianming soared in the direction of the Elders¡¯ Council. At this moment, in the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, several Xing Clan Members were already seated, chatting casually about the matters concerning the clan meeting. Lin Tianming entered the hall, greeted a few of his clan uncles, and then found an empty seat to sit down. After a short while, more clan members entered the hall one after another, and soon there were over ten people gathered. Looking at some of the unfamiliar faces, it was the first time for them to attend such an important clan meeting. A quarter of an hour passed, and several figures appeared at the entrance of the hall. Seeing Lin Shikang and several others, including Lin Shilu, coming in, all the clan members in the hall promptly got up to greet them. Lin Shikang and his group, smiling, instructed everyone to take their seats before sitting down themselves. Seeing that all the clan members attending the meeting had arrived, the Clan Leader stood up with a solemn expression and began; ¡°Today, we are fortunate to gather together to discuss the family¡¯s century-long plan. First, let me report on the situation of our clan members.¡± ¡°Before the war, the Lin Family had one hundred and ninety-seven people. After the catastrophic war, our clan suffered heavy losses. Twenty-one clan members died in battle, including two from the Shi generation, sixteen from the Xing generation, and three from the Tian generation.¡± The sacrificed clan members were Qi Refiners of at least the Fifth Level, including several above the Eighth Level, all of whom were the core strength of our family. This single battle resulted in the loss of more than ten percent of our clansmen. Had it not been for those below the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement not participating in the war, the number of deaths would likely have been double. Listenting to the Clan Leader¡¯s report, even though the clan members had already braced themselves. But when reminded of the gory past, everyone felt incredibly heavy-hearted. It was as if they were recalling that horrific war, and for a moment, the whole hall fell into a brief silence. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After this battle, the Lin Family¡¯s vitality was greatly damaged, and for the next few years, we would face a shortage of personnel. Fortunately, the Jin Family had not gone mad enough to strike at mortals; otherwise, in that situation, our family would have been unable to protect itself, let alone care for the lives of the mortals. In the vast history of the Cultivation World, mortals might be weak, but they are the foundation for Cultivators. So long as there is a substantial number of mortals, every few years, they will produce a batch of clan members with Spiritual Roots. With such an arrangement, as long as we develop steadily, it won¡¯t take ten years for our family to regain its strength. After a short while, clan members gradually emerged from their memories. Old memories were dredged up, and upon seeing a hint of sadness on the faces of the clan members, Lin Shihua felt somewhat distressed. What the family most needed now was to continue moving forward, not to dwell in prolonged grief. Long-term sadness could lead to mental changes that would affect the cultivation of the clan members. At this point, Lin Shikang stood up and started to inquire among the clan members. ¡°As our family¡¯s territory continues to expand, and we need people to defend our marketplaces, the number of personnel we can mobilize within the clan is limited. We few old folks have decided to immediately organize a grand Spiritual Root Testing. Do you have any suggestions?¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s change of topic successfully diverted the attention of the grieving clan members. One clan member immediately spoke up: ¡°The grand Spiritual Root Testing is urgent. I suggest that we test the mortal towns of the Jin Family and the Wu Family as well.¡± ¡°In addition, we should transfer some mortals from our family towns to those. They can live and reproduce there, spreading the Lin Family¡¯s values. It will not take many decades before many Lin Family offspring are born in these places. In the long run, they will forget their past and become part of the Lin Family mortals.¡± Lin Xingzhao¡¯s suggestion was indeed in line with the Lin Family¡¯s current situation and won the approval of many clan members, ¡°Xingzhao¡¯s idea is good. Their two families have many commoners, especially the Jin Family, with over a million people after a thousand years of proliferation. The Wu Family¡¯s mortals are not as numerous, but there are also a few hundred thousand people.¡± ¡°Exactly, the Jin Family and the Wu Family are extinct, and the mortal towns in their territories should rightfully become part of our family¡¯s map.¡± Several clan members echoed this sentiment, and for a time, the atmosphere in the hall became enthusiastic. Lin Shihua was very pleased. Although significant decisions within the Lin Family were made by Foundation Establishment Clan Members, having more clan members participate and listen to more suggestions can help the Lin Family develop in the right direction. For nearly half a quarter of an hour, various ideas and suggestions were flying, contributing to the family¡¯s strategy. After discussions among the clan members, they reached an agreement. Lin Shihua and the other Foundation Establishment Clan Members were very satisfied and comforted. They immediately selected ten clan members, who, after the clan meeting, would immediately carry out the duties of the grand Spiritual Root Testing. With satisfactory results for the first major item of business, Lin Shihua continued to preside over the meeting. ¡°Next, we will discuss the selection of heads for the Enforcement Hall and the Hall of Merit. Candidates must be above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, one chief and one deputy each, and no younger than sixty years old. Everyone is welcome to recommend several eligible nominees, and we will decide on the final candidates.¡± Chapter 136 - 136 - 115 Clan Assembly Rewards_2 Chapter 136 ¨C 115 Clan Assembly Rewards_2 As soon as Lin Shihua had finished speaking, a clansman who was puzzled asked, ¡°Clan Leader, the clan¡¯s various departments have always been headed by a single Hall Master. Why do we suddenly need two?¡± ¡°Previously, it was because the clan¡¯s foundation was too weak, leading to many clansmen advancing slowly in their cultivation. Even if they reached the Great Perfection in their cultivation, they lacked the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects. As a result, many clansmen stopped cultivating after the age of seventy and instead focused their energies on these affairs.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°While serving as a Hall Master does come with a higher monthly salary, it can also hinder your cultivation. The reason for selecting both a chief and a deputy is so that you can take turns in cultivating without halting your progress.¡± The words of Lin Shihua made the Xing Clan Members have a sudden realization. Before long, several people put forward more than a dozen candidates, among whom Lin Xingzhi was naturally included. There was no choice; among the Lin Family members who met the qualifications, there were only dozens, and with his Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, he was naturally one of the best candidates. ... At the highest place of the great hall, Lin Shihua and a few others began to communicate through voice transmission. After a few nods from everyone, Lin Shihua announced that Lin Xingcheng would serve as the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master and Lin Xingzhi would serve as the Enforcement Hall Master. Following that, two deputy Hall Masters were also selected, both of whom were at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement and were older clansmen. Once the candidates were confirmed, half a day had passed. ¡°Fellow clan members, after discussing with the Shi Generation Clan Members, we are now going to announce a major decision,¡± ¡°From next month onwards, the monthly salary for all clan members will be increased threefold. For example, a clansman at the initial stage of Qi Refining whose monthly salary is one Spirit Stone will now receive three Spirit Stones. All clan members will be treated equally. In addition, all clan tasks will now have their Merit Points tripled as well.¡± The moment Lin Shihua¡¯s voice fell, the clan members below immediately erupted into excitement. A threefold increase, what did that mean? It meant that a clansman in the initial stage of Qi Refining could exchange their three-month salary for a Lingshen Pill. The threefold increase in monthly salary was not even the biggest benefit; after all, the monthly salary was not a large proportion of a clansman¡¯s income. The main earnings came from clan tasks. It could be imagined that if such a policy was maintained for ten years, the overall strength of the Lin Family could be greatly enhanced. It would be entirely normal for all clan members to improve by one or two levels in their cultivation. Lin Shihua and the others remained calm, as this policy was something they had decided upon after careful consideration. The current state of the Lin Family was very different from the past; they had nearly three hundred thousand Spirit Stones from the great battle alone, as well as Immortal Realm resources worth several hundreds of thousands. However, the situation for the Lin Family was that there were too few clan members and overall low levels of cultivation. The ancestral treasure, the Golden Core Talisman, had been used and there were no more miraculous life-changing assets. Therefore, now that there were the conditions, it was natural to quickly enhance the strength of the clansmen in order to alleviate the family¡¯s worries and survive in the Cultivation World. Seeing the joy and elation on the faces of the clan members below, Lin Shikang and the others were extremely excited inside. They had finally managed to fulfill their duties to their ancestors. As all the clan members were still whispering to each other and expressing their joy, Lin Shihua waved his hand to silence everyone and spoke righteously; ¡°With the collective efforts of our clan members, the family has overcome the crisis. The great battle is over, and it is time to implement the rewards.¡± ¡°There are too many clan members to announce individually, so I will only announce the names of those who have made significant contributions. As for the rewards for other clan members, a list will be posted at the entrance of all major institutions tomorrow. You may all go there to read it!¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s words once again excited the clan members in the hall. Almost a month had passed since the great battle, and the family had not made any announcement, leaving many clan members to think that the family had forgotten about it. Considering the huge gains from the battle, the rewards were expected to be extremely generous, and some clan members couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Lin Shihua, seeing his clan members eagerly looking at him, couldn¡¯t be bothered to keep them in suspense any longer. ¡°The first clan member, Lin Tianming, is rewarded with ten thousand Merit Points and can choose any three Second Order Treasures from the Family Merits Hall.¡± As soon as Lin Shihua finished speaking, the clan members below cheered, including Lin Shilu and several other Shi Generation Clan Members who stood up and applauded for Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming got up and humbly bowed to the clan members. His modest and polite demeanor made the cheering in the hall grow even louder. Lin Shilu also wore a smile and looked envious as he joked to Lin Shigong, ¡°Ninth Brother, you really have a good grandson!¡± Among the younger generation of the Lin Family, he had the most contact with Lin Tianming. From trips to Qianchuan Market, to the market contests, to infiltrating the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, and fighting side by side on several occasions, Lin Tianming had even rescued him when he was trapped. He couldn¡¯t find a single fault with Lin Tianming. ¡°I also owe thanks to the care of all the brothers that this young man hasn¡¯t let us old folks down,¡± Facing Lin Shilu¡¯s joke, Lin Shigong also had a proud look and humbly replied. As the applause and cheers subsided, Lin Shihua continued to read out the names of the clan members. ¡°The second clan member, Lin Xingzhi, is rewarded with three thousand Merit Points, and can choose any one Second Order Treasure.¡± ¡°The third clan member, Lin Xingyu, is rewarded with two thousand Merit Points, and can choose any five First Order Treasures.¡± ¡°The fourth clan member, Lin Tianfeng, is rewarded with two thousand Merit Points, and can choose any five First Order Treasures.¡± ¡­ After about fifteen minutes of announcement, Lin Xingli, Lin Xingqi, Lin Xingping, and so on, all of the clan members listed received their rewards. The rewards for these clan members varied, with some getting as much as a thousand and others as few as three hundred. The clan members also gave applause but it was nowhere near as enthusiastic as when Lin Tianming was rewarded. Experience tales at empire Chapter 137 - 137 - 115 Clan Meeting Rewards_3 Chapter 137 ¨C 115 Clan Meeting Rewards_3 The matter had already been discussed, and the reward list was complete; the meeting was nearing its end. Lin Shihua spoke with a stern expression: ¡°Do not forget the hardships you have once endured. Now that your monthly stipends have been raised and rewards bestowed, I hope everyone will seize the time to cultivate diligently. Do not slack off and strive to achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible so you can relieve the family of its worries. Understood?¡± ¡°Understood¡­¡± The clan members responded in unison, each brimming with confidence. ¡°Good; the clan meeting is concluded. All policies and clan affairs shall be carried out according to the results discussed in the meeting. If there are matters you cannot decide on, you may consult us. You may all leave now.¡± After Lin Shihua announced the end of the meeting, some clan members greeted each other and, after bowing to Lin Shikang and the others, began to head outside. ... Lin Tianming was done exchanging greetings with a few uncles and was about to leave when a transmission from Lin Shigong made him pause. ¡°Uncles, please go ahead; I still have something to ask of my grandfather!¡± ¡°Alright, then you be busy. I¡¯ll invite you to my cave dwelling for a small gathering another day; you must come!¡± Several clan members spoke one after another, inviting Lin Tianming for a visit before they left. Lin Tianming, far from stingy, promised resolutely: Read exclusive content at empire ¡°Rest assured, uncles, as soon as Tianming is free, he will surely come over for a drink.¡± With Lin Tianming¡¯s response, they lingered no longer and left the hall together. Soon, all the Xing Clan Members had departed, leaving only a few of the Shi Generation clan members. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang and the others stared wide-eyed at him without speaking, which made him somewhat baffled. Unable to guess why he was kept behind, Lin Tianming did not initiate conversation. After a brief silence, Lin Shikang spoke with a smile that was not quite a smile: ¡°Tianming, we¡¯ve kept you behind to give you some good news, incredibly good news.¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words baffled him even more. ¡°Good news?¡± ¡°Could it be that a rare treasure has been obtained?¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, and immediately a Jade Slip flew out of his sleeve and was deftly caught by Lin Tianming. Without pausing, Lin Tianming probed with his Divine Sense to read the contents recorded within the Jade Slip. ¡°This is the latter half of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art!¡± After looking through it, Lin Tianming was utterly shocked and found it hard to believe. He checked several times before his face lit up with ecstasy. For this Spirit Art, he was exceptionally familiar and had even successfully condensed Sword Qi, which he had nurtured in his Dantian for more than two years. Lin Tianming observed his own Dantian, finding that the Sword Qi had almost solidified and grown by more than a circle in size, yet, despite searching, he could not find the second half of the secret technique. Unexpectedly, they had found it. ¡°Third Grandfather, how did you obtain the latter half of the Spirit Art?¡± Lin Tianming inquired curiously. ¡°It was found in Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s storage bag!¡± With Lin Shikang¡¯s answer, Lin Tianming quickly worked through his thoughts, soon piecing together the cause and effect. ¡°No wonder the Jin Family couldn¡¯t resist taking action. It seems like Zhuang Zhenxin had a purpose in mind; otherwise, with his status as a Second Order Array Master, he wouldn¡¯t have rashly provoked our family.¡± ¡°Your speculation coincides with ours. Now that he is dead, there¡¯s no way to find more clues. Since we have obtained it, it is a fortunate opportunity for the Lin Family. Cultivate in peace, and after you succeed, return the Jade Slip to the family!¡± Lin Tianming put away the Jade Slip, his face still flushed with excitement. Overjoyed, he repeatedly expressed: ¡°Your grandson will certainly work hard. It just so happens that I want to seclude myself for a while to understand this art and attempt a breakthrough.¡± ¡°Hmm, go ahead!¡± Lin Tianming gave the group a fist and palm salute and swiftly left the hall. Chapter 138 - 138 - 116: The Grand Bazaar Meeting - Part 1 Chapter 138 ¨C 116: The Grand Bazaar Meeting ¨C Part 1 Green Bamboo Mountain, a secret chamber in a small courtyard. After the clan meeting concluded, Lin Tianming told his mother and went straight into the secret chamber, eager to begin his retreat to comprehend the Spirit Art, without even collecting his reward. Inside the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, holding the Spirit Art Jade Slip, and entered a mysterious state. ¡­ sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One day, at the small courtyard of Lin Shikang on the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Shikang and other members of the Lin Family of his generation sat around a stone table, sipping Spiritual Tea while casually chatting. Lin Shilu picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and calmly said, ... ¡°Third Brother, what do you think about the Sun Family¡¯s invitation?¡± Lin Shikang didn¡¯t immediately speak, instead, he fell into thought. Three days ago, Sun Dingfeng and Luo Chenggu visited the Lin Family together, bringing some gifts as a token of gratitude for the Lin Family¡¯s support during the war. Lin Shihua happily accepted the gifts and hosted the two warmly. As they were leaving, Sun Dingfeng mentioned the convention of the market. According to the previous agreements among the Five Great Families, one month after the conclusion of the market competition, the market convention would be held. Due to the outbreak of war among the Five Great Families, the Jin and Wu Families were completely annihilated, and the market convention had already been delayed for two months. If not for the fact that members of the Sun and Luo Families were injured, plus being busy with clan affairs, they would have brought it up sooner. Now that the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of both families have recovered from their injuries, and with only three of the Five Great Families remaining, fewer families are sharing the market profits. For the sake of profit, concessions would definitely not be made anymore. ¡°Although the Sun Family still has two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, even if they ally with the Luo Family, we don¡¯t need to be too wary of them. We don¡¯t need to worry too much about the market convention!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words were greatly approved by everyone present! While the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Sun Family were indeed formidable, only a few dozen clan members remained. And the Luo Family had always been at the bottom of the Five Great Families, and even without significant losses, neither would be a match for the Lin Family on their own. ¡°That¡¯s true, but now that they¡¯re weak, they may very well unite. If that happens, although we won¡¯t fear them, it will certainly bring quite a bit of trouble!¡± Lin Shihua expressed his concerns, allowing the others to weigh in on the issue. Lin Shikang, composed as ever, promptly said, ¡°Shihua, given the current situation, it¡¯s highly likely that the two families will unite. With the Jin Family destroyed, our Lin Family has become the biggest threat. Even though we have shown them kindness, we can¡¯t discount the possibility that they may consider us as enemies.¡± ¡°Indeed, with that in mind, what attitude should we adopt towards these two families? And during the profit-sharing of the market, what should be our bottom line?¡± Lin Shilu affirmed Lin Shikang¡¯s speculation and also brought up the Lin Family¡¯s stance and bottom line. Lin Shikang nodded and answered, ¡°What do you think? How much do you feel should be our bottom line?¡± ¡°Fifty percent? Sixty percent?¡± Lin Shihua and the others offered their opinions and suggested a bottom line for the Lin Family. An hour later, after discussion, Lin Shikang had made up his mind. ¡°Shilu, three days from now, you¡¯ll represent the Lin Family at the market convention. Adhere to the family¡¯s agreed-upon bottom line of a minimum fifty percent profit, and then try to secure even more benefits for the family. Anything that benefits the family, you can decide on your own. If there are any major decisions you¡¯re uncertain about, return and consult with the family first.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s instructions, Lin Shilu replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll set off tomorrow and go to the market convention with Xing Yuan!¡± After discussing the market convention, the group chatted for a while about clan affairs, and then they all got busy with their own matters. Three days later, at the Fangshi auction house. In a vast reception room, there were over a hundred seats around a huge round table. This reception room was where the market convention was held. In the past, it was always packed full; however, today only about half of the seats were filled with cultivators participating in the convention. The room was somewhat silent at the moment, and on one side of the round table, only Sun Dingfeng and Luo Chenggu were sitting and chatting leisurely. The two men seemed as if they were long-lost old friends catching up with each other. Judging by the situation, there was indeed some connection between their two families. Below them, all the seats were filled with Qi Refining Cultivators above the Qi Refining Eighth Level. They sat divided to either side, each closing their eyes to meditate in preparation for the convention¡¯s start. On the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Xing Yuan was pulling out a book, beginning his report on the recent situation in Fangshi. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, it¡¯s been over a month since we took over Fangshi. Due to a lack of personnel, we¡¯ve kept three of the Jin Family¡¯s shops with the best locations for ourselves, and have temporarily vacated the rest, planning to rent them out. Although their locations aren¡¯t the best, they¡¯re still quite good. Strangely enough, such decent shops have had no interested parties.¡± Experience more on empire Lin Shilu wasn¡¯t surprised and explained, ¡°That¡¯s not strange. Even though the war is over, the interests of the major families in Fangshi have yet to reach an agreement, and there remains the risk of another outbreak of war. Thus, those cultivators who want to do business are just watching and waiting!¡± Lin Xing Yuan nodded, understanding that the current unstable times weren¡¯t the best for opening a shop. After all, every businessman prefers to operate in a bustling and stable market. If the place is constantly in turmoil, it greatly impacts their business. ¡°Xing Yuan, how have the Sun and Luo Families been recently?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s question, Lin Xing Yuan reported on the situation of the Sun and Luo Families. ¡°Half a month ago, the shops of the Sun and Luo Families were back in business. As of now, the relationship between the families is relatively harmonious, everyone is busy with their trade, and no conflicts have erupted. The bustling atmosphere of Fangshi has also returned to nearly what it was before. However, some rumors have started circulating recently!¡± Chapter 139 - 139 - 116: The Grand Bazaar Meeting_2 Chapter 139 ¨C 116: The Grand Bazaar Meeting_2 ¡°What rumors?¡± Lin Shilu urgently asked. ¡°A few days ago, a rumor suddenly spread throughout Luoyun Market, claiming the Lin Family had rashly seized control of the market, their ambition is not small, apparently aiming to unify the Luoyun Mountain Range!¡± ¡°Upon hearing the rumors, I immediately sought to trace their origin, but unfortunately, they spread too quickly and have become common knowledge. We don¡¯t have enough hands, and we¡¯ve been unable to find the source of these rumors!¡± Lin Shilu let out a cold laugh, which made Lin Xingyuan rather uneasy, thinking that Lin Shilu was dissatisfied with him, and he immediately became nervous. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly normal that you can¡¯t find the source. It¡¯s clear that either the Luo Family or the Sun Family did this intentionally. They just need to give some benefits to a few Qi Refining Cultivators to spread rumors, then quickly leave Luoyun Market and they¡¯ll be safe, making it natural for you not to be able to find the source.¡± Lin Xingyuan curiously asked, ... ¡°What purpose do the Sun and Luo Families have in spreading rumors? Aren¡¯t they afraid of tearing off the disguise and reigniting a great war?¡± Lin Shilu chuckled lightly and explained, ¡°Firstly, those who spread the rumors cannot be tracked, they may have already left Luoyun Market or could have been silenced. There¡¯s no need to worry about us catching them red-handed.¡± ¡°As for the Sun and Luo Families spreading rumors, they¡¯re simply seeking sympathy and claiming the moral high ground. Once the Lin Family takes action against them, it will confirm suspicions of our great ambition to unify Luoyun, prompting resistance from many Loose Cultivators and even ostracism by them.¡± After hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingyuan came to a realization and immediately understood the reasons behind it. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, shall we just ignore this and do nothing?¡± ¡°There is absolutely no need to bother with it or to continue investigating. The more intense our reaction, the more likely we are to be misunderstood by those Loose Cultivators. Now that our family has just stabilized, it is unwise to start another conflict. All we need is a stable development for ten years. With Tian Ming¡¯s terrifying talent and the abundant resources, the gap between the Sun and Luo Families and us will only get bigger. By then, whoever has the bigger fist will call the shots; all other rules will be virtually meaningless!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s demeanor remained calm, not at all affected by these trivial matters. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, the Lin Family had no intention of thoroughly exterminating, only needing to boil the frog in warm water to achieve their goal. There was no need to be hasty, creating enemies everywhere and wasting the favorable situation at present. ¡°Instruct the family members in Luoyun Market not to bully others using our power nor to make enemies lightly. The family needs stable development now. If the other party provokes us, there is no need for courtesy, understand?¡± ¡°Yes, I will surely keep the family members in line!¡± Lin Xingyuan responded and then fell silent. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s go to the market conference together!¡± With that, Lin Shilu stood up and left, with Lin Xingyuan quickly following behind him. The two exited the Hundred Treasures Building and walked down the street, causing a huge stir. With the Jin Family annihilated, the strength of the Lin Family had come to light, shocking all the Cultivators. Seeing Lin Shilu personally visiting Luoyun Market, many low-level Cultivators came forward to pay their respects, trying to cozy up. Lin Shilu responded with a smile and a few words, then made his way through the crowd toward the auction. Shortly after, the two entered the grand hall of the auction and immediately went into the reception room. Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s arrival, representatives of the Qi Refining Families all stood up to greet him. Sun Dingfeng and Luo Chenggu also stood up to welcome him and then said with a smile, ¡°It is indeed Elder Lin Shi Lu who graces us with his presence at the conference. We owe you a great debt for your care after being trapped last time, which enabled our successful escape. After the conference, we must treat you to a few drinks to express our gratitude.¡± Faced with the courteous duo, Lin Shilu maintained his composure, showing no signs of irregularity. He exchanged perfunctory pleasantries and then started chatting with some representatives of the Qi Refining Families. Lin Shilu¡¯s good actions reassured many representatives of the Qi Refining Families, a complete contrast to the once overbearing and arrogant Jin Family. Watching Lin Shilu engage in lively conversation with representatives of the Qi Refining Families, Sun Dingfeng and his companion felt somewhat awkward for a time. After a short while, Lin Shilu waved his hand to silence the representatives of the Qi Refining Families and stood up to say, ¡°I, Lin Shi Lu, welcome all friends to this conference. I hope everyone can work with our families to make Luoyun Market a stable and prosperous market.¡± Read the latest on empire ¡°Elder Lin truly is a role model for our generation¡­¡± As Lin Shilu finished speaking, many representatives of the Qi Refining Families began to offer compliments. Lin Shilu continued with a smile and a cupped-hand salute, ¡°The great war has just ended, and the Jin Family¡¯s unrighteous actions have caused huge losses to the four big families. The Wu Family has even been silently eliminated. Faced with the powerful Jin Family, our Lin Family had the courage to take responsibility and made great sacrifices, finally thwarting the Jin Family¡¯s conspiracy.¡± ¡°Now that all is peaceful in all four directions, the profits of the market should be redistributed. Today, as you have all arrived, if you have any thoughts or suggestions, please feel free to raise them.¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu sat down and stopped talking. The room suddenly became silent, and no one spoke, resulting in an extremely awkward moment. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed and seeing no one speak up, Sun Dingfeng covertly winked at He Yuanqing, who was sitting diagonally across from him. Understanding, He Yuanqing stood up with clasped hands and began, ¡°Since the senior members are not speaking up, let me, He Yuanqing, throw out a suggestion for discussion. Anyone with objections can criticize and correct me. In my view, the Lin Family indeed played a significant role in this great war, and the Sun Family also suffered heavy losses. I propose that the Lin Family receives forty percent, the Sun Family thirty percent, the Wu Family fifteen percent, and the remaining fifteen percent be divided among the twelve Qi Refining Families. I wonder what the seniors and friends think about this suggestion?¡± Chapter 140 - 140 - 116 Market Fair_3 Chapter 140 ¨C 116 Market Fair_3 After He Yuanqing finished speaking, he eyed Lin Shilu¡¯s reaction with what seemed to be a hint of unease. He Yuanqing¡¯s words appeared complimentary, but they were obviously under direction from the Sun Family, and such a despicable act could not have gone unnoticed by Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu remained calm, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger, and he offered no comment. Seeing that Lin Shilu was silent, a representative from the Chen Clan, Chen Jingping, stood up and said, ¡°He, you are mistaken. The Lin Family is rightfully the first-ranked family at this market¡¯s competition. Elder Lin Shikang even expended a huge cost to kill Jin Zhiying, and with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family, they are without a doubt the premier family of the Luoyun Mountain Range, both in terms of merit and family strength. In my opinion, the Lin Family should take sixty percent, the Sun Family fifteen, the Luo Family ten, and the remaining fifteen should be divided among the Qi Refining Families.¡± As Chen Jingping finished speaking, the great hall immediately buzzed with activity as dozens of people began to voice their opinions. Within moments, the dozens of people split into two camps, one favoring the Sun Family, the other the Lin Family. ... S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Lin Family remained silent, watching the two factions bicker with calm detachment. Somewhere along the way, He Yuanqing spoke up to Lin Shilu, ¡°Please, Elder Lin, give everyone an explanation,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu flashed a fierce smile and suddenly bellowed, ¡°An explanation? What explanation do you want?¡± Facing Lin Shilu¡¯s outburst, He Yuanqing¡¯s complexion instantly turned deathly pale, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. Seeing He Yuanqing injured, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face immediately darkened. Lin Shilu¡¯s reaction clearly indicated he was not willing to easily give up the benefits. This made it much harder for the Sun Family to secure enough interest. After all, facing the powerful Lin Family, they dared not offend them easily. Thus, Sun Dingfeng inevitably felt less confident. ¡°Lin, calm down. Whatever grievances your Lin Family has, just speak frankly. We can discuss it. There¡¯s no need for anger. After all, just two months ago, we fought side by side!¡± Faced with Sun Dingfeng¡¯s appeasement, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression softened slightly. Discover more content at empire ¡°Daoist Sun, do not forget that two months ago, the younger generation of my Lin Family saved the younger generation of your Sun Family. During the Jin Family¡¯s pursuit, it was also my Lin Family that provided shelter. It could be said that my Lin Family has shown great kindness to your Sun Family. Even Daoist Luo Chenggu was saved by us. Now, when it comes to profit distribution, you show this attitude?¡± Lin Shilu spared no irony in his scathing words, leaving Sun Dingfeng and the two others visibly embarrassed, and Luo Chenggu began weakly attempting to mediate. ¡°Hmph, our Lin Family will take sixty percent of the profits. As for your two families, you can discuss it amongst yourselves.¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s bold demand visibly altered their expressions. The Jin Family had only taken thirty percent in profits, and with sixty percent, that would be doubling it. This would leave their families with almost no growth in interest, and in the long term, the Lin Family would only get stronger. ¡°Lin, sixty percent is indeed too much. The most we can offer is fifty. What do you think?¡± Sun Dingfeng asked tentatively, as that was the bottom line based on their discussions with the Luo Family. ¡°Fifty percent is too little. How about this¡ªsince you and I are of the same realm, let¡¯s have a match. If I win, the Lin Family gets fifty-five percent. If I lose, we¡¯ll distribute it as Luo Daoyou suggested, at fifty percent. What do you say?¡± Once Lin Shilu spoke, the whole room erupted, and Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face changed, filled with hesitation. He was quite wary of Lin Shilu¡¯s strength, but refusing the challenge would be a loss of face. Sun Dingfeng secretly communicated with Luo Chenggu and, receiving his agreement, spoke up, ¡°Let¡¯s do as Lin suggests. In fact, I would like to witness Lin¡¯s strength myself!¡± ¡°Very well, then let¡¯s gather outside the market square!¡± With that, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingyuan stood up and left the reception room. Chapter 141 - 141 - 117 Profit Sharing_1 Chapter 141 ¨C 117 Profit Sharing_1 Outside Luoyun Market, at the foot of a barren hilltop, nearly a hundred people were watching a battle. Lin Shilu stood at the top of the hill, with Lin Xingyuan not far from him watching. Opposite him, Sun Dingfeng watched with a solemn expression, as if facing a formidable enemy. Lin Shilu instructed Lin Xingyuan with a few words before speaking out loud, ¡°In a duel of magic, blades and swords are blind. Should there be any injuries, no grudges shall be sought afterwards. Is Daoist Sun ready?¡± ¡°Of course. Please enlighten me, Daoist Lin!¡± After Sun Dingfeng bowed with his fists, he patted his storage bag, and instantly a red and green longsword appeared in his hand, ready for attack. Lin Shilu responded, and with a forceful wave, the red and green greatsword burst into spiritual light, sending multiple sword qi at an extremely high speed from all directions toward Lin Shilu. ... Lin Shilu¡¯s expression remained as usual, as he took out a small blue shield to guard in front of him. ¡°The Qing Jiao Shield?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it punctured and damaged by Lin Shikang with a Golden Core Talisman?¡± Seeing the small shield in Lin Shilu¡¯s hands, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s expression changed. He couldn¡¯t understand how the shield he had personally seen get damaged was now appearing whole in Lin Shilu¡¯s hands again. After several explosive sounds, five beams of sword light bombarded the Qing Jiao Shield. The powerful impact kicked up waves of air, instantly flipping over some Qi Refining Cultivators at the base of the hill. After they steadied themselves, everyone looked up at the two figures on the hilltop in shock. Once the dust settled, Lin Shilu¡¯s figure was revealed. He was now examining the Qing Jiao Shield in his hands and, after a short while, a satisfied expression crossed his face. In the great battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, the sword qi transformed from the Golden Core Talisman had punctured the Second Order Superior Magic Artifact, the Qing Jiao Shield, and also ended Jin Zhiying¡¯s life directly. Although the Qing Jiao Shield had been badly damaged, the material of the artifact itself was extraordinary, and the core and central components were not significantly harmed. As a Second Order Artifact Refiner, Lin Shilu replenished a great amount of artifact refining materials and finally repaired the blasted artifact. Due to his limited ability, after the repair, it barely reached the standard of a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, and its defensive power no longer matched that of the Jin Family¡¯s era. Even so, a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact was still an extremely rare existence in the Luoyun Mountain Range, and it easily blocked Sun Dingfeng¡¯s attack. Seeing Lin Shilu effortlessly catch his attack, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face turned somewhat ugly. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t give Sun Dingfeng much time to react. He took out his Spirit Sword artifact and, without hesitation, launched several slashes. Meanwhile, he leaped a hundred yards forward, aggressively charging at Sun Dingfeng. ¡°Elder Lin is indeed formidable!¡± With Lin Shilu making his move, his overwhelming strength was revealed, shocking the watching clansmen once again, as several cultivators started exclaiming in awe. The expression on Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face grew exceedingly grave; Lin Shilu¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, and his angle of attack was tricky, making it difficult to avoid the onslaught. Sun Dingfeng patted his storage bag, took out a jade pendant, infused it with spiritual power, and instantly, a fiery red barrier formed in front of him. ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­¡± A sharp and piercing noise accompanied the arrival of the sword qi. The fiery red barrier trembled violently. Eventually, the sword qi and the fiery red barrier gradually dissipated, and the jade pendant returned to its original form. However, the spirituality of the pendant seemed greatly diminished, indicating it had been significantly depleted. Behind the barrier, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s face was slightly pale, and his breath was somewhat disordered. He did not show any abnormalities and forcibly composed himself. Before he could catch his breath, a storm of attacks from Lin Shilu followed. After hastily dodging, Sun Dingfeng launched a series of counterattacks. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a time, as the two combatants exchanged blows, the fight grew increasingly fierce, and of the two, Lin Shilu clearly had the upper hand. As the intense battle unfolded at the mountaintop, the representatives of the Qi Refining clans at the foot of the mountain had very different mindsets. Those supporting the Sun Family were incredibly anxious, while the Qi Refining Cultivators of the Lin Family were quite at ease. Unbeknownst to them, dozens of rounds had already passed in fierce combat. After Lin Shilu¡¯s earth-shattering strike, Sun Dingfeng was repelled dozens of feet before he managed to stabilize his figure. With his face pale and his arms numb, Sun Dingfeng couldn¡¯t help but spit out a mouthful of fresh blood and said, ¡°Daoist Lin¡¯s divine skills are truly extraordinary. I am willing to admit defeat and accept the loss. The profit distribution of the market shall be carried out according to Daoist Lin¡¯s plan!¡± Seeing Sun Dingfeng concede, Lin Shilu ceased his attacks, put away his magic artifact into his storage bag, and said with a smile, ¡°Much obliged, much obliged!¡± With that, Lin Shilu flew down from the mountaintop, met up with Lin Xingyuan, and left together. Back in the meeting room of the Luoyun Market auction house, the clan cultivators regathered. The share of profits for the Lin Family had been decided, while those of the Sun and Luo Families as well as the rest of the Qi Refining Families had yet to be determined. In the meeting room, as dozens started to negotiate, Lin Shilu and another stood by as silent observers, watching as the group haggled, intervening now and then to secure benefits for the Lin Family¡¯s allied clans. After half a day of negotiation, the profit distribution plan of the market was finalized. The Lin Family obtained fifty-five percent share of the profits, while the Sun Family, which had contributed a great deal during the battle, obtained twenty percent. The Luo Family, with little to no merits, maintained their original ten percent share. The remaining fifteen percent was divided among eight Qi Refining Families, as several had suffered heavy losses during the battle and thus lost their qualification for the distribution. As a result, each of the eight Qi Refining Families saw an increase in their share of profits, with the three that initially supported the Lin Family gaining the most. The fiercely loyal Chen Clan¡¯s profits increased significantly, placing them among the leading clans within the eight major families. At this moment, Chen Jingping¡¯s heart was overflowing with excitement, immensely grateful for his choice. As long as the Lin Family stood strong, the status of their Chen Clan would rise with the tide and become very secure. The Luoyun Market assembly had come to an end, and thanks to Lin Shilu¡¯s efforts, the Lin Family had gained the most. In addition to securing over half of the profit shares, they also acquired the management rights of the market. By simply assigning Foundation Establishment Clan Members to guard the market long-term, they had obtained such significant authority, which was no easy feat. Inside the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Shilu and several others sat opposite each other, discussing the outcome of the market assembly. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, our family¡¯s goal has been achieved, and there were unexpected gains. Undoubtedly, when Third Uncle and the others find out, they will be thrilled!¡± Lin Shilu gave a slight smile, very satisfied with the results of the market assembly. The rise of the Lin Family was now unstoppable. Though they had the task of guarding the market, the management rights were extraordinarily important. With such authority, the market¡¯s future development would essentially be dictated by the Lin Family. In the long run, it was only a matter of time before they would have complete control over the Luoyun Market. Lin Shilu chuckled softly and instructed Lin Xingyuan, ¡°Xing Yuan, continue to hold our position in the market. The family is currently undergoing reforms, and you cannot neglect your cultivation. In a few years, when someone from the family comes to take over for you, I will return to the family tomorrow to report. The family¡¯s forces are too dispersed at the moment; you must be particularly vigilant and avoid leaving the market lightly!¡± ¡°Yes, I will diligently cultivate and safeguard the market for the family!¡± Stay tuned to empire Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand to dismiss Lin Xingyuan. After bowing with clasped hands, Lin Xingyuan left the secret chamber. Chapter 142 - 142 - 118 One Year_1 Chapter 142 ¨C 118 One Year_1 Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, within a secret chamber. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, spiritual light suddenly flashing between his fingers. In the blink of an eye, a faint Sword Qi burst forth from his fingertips, easily piercing through a shell hanging in the air. Lifting the shell above his head, Lin Tianming watched as the moonlight filtered through the hole left by the Sword Qi, a wave of ecstatic joy flashing across his face. After more than ten days of comprehension, he had successfully cultivated the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. The faint trace of Sword Qi he had just released was to test the power of his Sword Qi. With merely one percent of his strength, he easily penetrated the shell of a First Order Inferior Demonic Beast. This was after only two years of tempering, and it was unimaginable how terrifying it would be if he were to cultivate it for ten years and release it in its entirety. ¡°Spirit Arts truly are formidable, stronger than the Divine Skills that come with a Cultivation Technique and surpassing them in pure power by quite a margin. No wonder they are so rare and precious.¡± After sighing, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with this power. ... With this complete Spirit Art, it was like having a trump card for a decisive kill. Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if slightly careless, could be killed by it. Having successfully cultivated the Spirit Art, Lin Tianming did not immediately leave his retreat but took out several elixirs and began to cultivate again. He had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining during the family war, and after several life-and-death battles, he was only a step away from the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. Now that everything within the family was going well, it was the perfect time to seclude himself to strive for a higher realm. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming once again entered a state of cultivation. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, within the Family Elders¡¯ Hall. Lin Shihua was discussing affairs with Lin Shigong when Lin Xingli entered the hall with more than thirty boys and girls. The sight of Lin Xingli entering the hall brought surprise and joy to Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong. Lin Xingli quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, and the children behind him knelt down and followed suit. Lin Shihua nodded and asked impatiently, ¡°Xingli, are these the boys and girls who were tested at this year¡¯s Talent Assessment? Tell me, how are their aptitudes?¡± Lin Xingli stepped in front of the group of children and began to report. ¡°Reporting to the Clan Leader, this year¡¯s Talent Assessment was held in twelve towns outside of the family¡¯s town, and thirty-six boys and girls were tested. Among them, four have Three Spiritual Roots, twelve with Four Spiritual Roots, and twenty with Five Spiritual Roots.¡± In a short while, Lin Xingli had reported everything about the Talent Assessment. Hearing Lin Xingli¡¯s report, Lin Shihua¡¯s face brightened with joy. To uncover forty-three children with Spiritual Roots in one assessment was more than double the number from the last time. Even though there weren¡¯t many with Three Spiritual Roots, the overall number was substantial. With such a number, the Lin Family¡¯s population could potentially double within a decade. The thought of this excited Lin Shihua tremendously. ¡°Xingli, you¡¯ve done an excellent job with the Talent Assessment. The numbers are quite impressive. Immediately take them to the ancestral hall to be recorded in the family¡¯s genealogy.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xingli replied, then led the group of children to the annex behind the Elders¡¯ Assembly. Soon, Lin Shihua finished naming and enlisting the forty-three clan members into the family genealogy and then led them in the worship of the ancestors. After being busy for half of the day, he finally completed the task. Stay connected through empire Lin Shihua was the first to walk out of the hall. He turned to Lin Xingli behind him and said, ¡°Xingli, send the new members of the clan to Shi Gang, and have them start learning the basics as soon as possible to set them on the path of cultivation early.¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s command was something Lin Xingli dared not delay, as he quickly replied: ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do it right away!¡± Having said that, Lin Xingli led the boys and girls behind him in a bow before quickly leaving. Watching them depart, Lin Shihua turned to Lin Shigong to inquire about Lin Tianming¡¯s situation. ¡°Shihua, ever since the family conference ended, that young man has been in retreat without pause. He only briefly informed me, saying he was comprehending a Spirit Art. It¡¯s been almost a month now, and I have no idea when he¡¯ll come out of seclusion!¡± Lin Shigong cursed with a smile on his lips, yet his heart was extremely satisfied. Lin Tianming had always been diligent in his cultivation, gifted as well, being less than twenty-one years old and already at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. With strength atop his peers, he was truly elite. Having such a member, the Lin Family¡¯s future was bright. Lin Shihua felt equally relieved and envious, praising Lin Tianming a few times before they each went their separate ways. ¡­ Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed. Inside the secret chamber where Lin Tianming was cultivating. Lin Tianming, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his tightly shut eyes, and flashes of sharp light passed through his black pupils. In seclusion for a whole year, he hadn¡¯t wasted a moment, taking a month to understand a Spirit Art, then immediately consuming elixirs to continue his cultivation. After a year and consuming a large quantity of elixirs, he finally managed to break through to the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refining. Feeling the spiritual power rapidly flowing through his body, a hint of a smile appeared on his face. His spiritual power had broken through, and he didn¡¯t fall behind in Body Refinement either. Sending his Divine Sense into his body, he found that all his internal organs had been strengthened, the robust vitality and explosive power now made his strength even more terrifying. Just relying on his body, he estimated he could easily withstand an attack from a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator without any pressure. Feeling the formidable spiritual power and the explosive strength of his body, he felt very gratified. His efforts and the life-and-death battles had paid off, successfully breaking through to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage before turning twenty-two. Such a speed of cultivation had never been heard of in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. Even within the Wei Kingdom, a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator at the age of twenty-two was an extremely rare existence. His goal for the retreat had been achieved, and there was no more possibility for progress, unless he decided to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling his own state, Lin Tianming abandoned the idea of continuing the seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment. Even though he met the criteria for breakthrough, he wished to gain more experience and settle his achievements before starting the impact on Foundation Establishment Stage. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming tidied up the messy secret chamber, casually casting a Rain Control Technique to comfortably bathe and wash off the grime that had seeped out of his body. He took out a set of clean green robes from his storage bag, changed into them, and walked out of the secret chamber. A year had passed, and Green Bamboo Mountain had once again returned to its tranquil and peaceful state. A large number of clanspeople were bustling in and out of the mountain gate, each busy and cheerful. The entire Luoyun Mountain Range was exceptionally tranquil, the Sun Family, and Luo Family were all developing their clans. After the calm, Luoyun Market regained its former bustling scenes. In this year, the Lin Family had changed a lot. After the Spirit Root Testing Conference, many new clanspeople were recruited, and the number had nearly reached two hundred, matching the size at their peak. With family policies and a wealth of resources, many clanspeople eagerly broke through their barriers. Although there still weren¡¯t too many at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, in no more than three years, the power of the Qi Refining clanspeople would climb another step. After exchanging greetings with some passing clanspeople, Lin Tianming soon arrived at the Alchemy Hall. Casting a Law Decree, Lin Tianming walked straight in. Chapter 143 - 143 - 119 New Task_1 Chapter 143 ¨C 119 New Task_1 Entering the Alchemy Hall, Lin Shigong had already been waiting for a long time. It had been a year since he last saw his grandfather, and Lin Tianming was quite happy, immediately stepping forward to pay his respects. Seeing his grandson, Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t hide his joy, his face brimming with a thick smile. The two sat down, drinking Spiritual Tea while chatting. Lin Shigong had also nearly reached three years in the Foundation Establishment Stage. In the past two years, the Jin and Wu families had been eradicated, and the Sun Family had suffered heavy losses. The wealth of all three families had fallen into the hands of the Lin Family. The Lin Family had amassed a great deal of wealth and a large amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials. Lin Shigong had not been idle; knowing that Core Formation was beyond his reach in this life, he had barely cultivated at all, focusing all his energy on the Alchemy Dao, solely to refine the elixirs needed by the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of his family as soon as possible. In the span of two years, thanks to decades of accumulation in the Alchemy Dao, Lin Shigong, after painstaking research and attempts, had managed to refine Second Order Inferior Grade Pills. Although the success rate and yield were not high, it finally solved the pressing need for cultivation pills within his family, and they were no longer restricted in this aspect. ... After more than two hundred years of silence, the Lin Family finally saw the emergence of a Second Order Alchemist once again. Upon learning that his grandfather had successfully become a Second Order Alchemist, Lin Tianming felt exceedingly joyful and congratulated him repeatedly, which made his grandfather very happy. ¡°Enough, enough, how have you been in the recent year, any progress?¡± Lin Shigong waved his hand to stop him, his old face beaming with joy as he asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s situation with a playful scold. Lin Tianming was in high spirits and reported everything about his year in seclusion without reservation. Upon learning that Lin Tianming had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, and that he had completed the latter half of his Spirit Art with mighty power, Lin Shigong was overjoyed and immediately sent out several messages. Soon after, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua both hurried over. Everyone took their seats, and Lin Tianming swiftly poured tea for them, his unperturbed demeanor greatly satisfying them. Lin Shikang nodded in approval, showing a trace of satisfaction before teasingly saying, ¡°Tianming, you really haven¡¯t let us down. To reach the Qi Cultivation Great Perfection at twenty-two, with your current strength, I fear even Xing Yuan may not be sure to best you.¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, Lin Tianming repeatedly gave a bitter smile before humbly saying, ¡°Uncle Xing Yuan is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, far beyond what Qi Refining Cultivators can compare to. Third Grandfather shouldn¡¯t overpraise his grandson.¡± ¡°Third Brother, we can¡¯t praise this boy too much. Though his talent is remarkable and his cultivation speed and strength are excellent, we mustn¡¯t let him become too arrogant. I¡¯ve heard that there are quite a few examples of people succeeding in Foundation Establishment in their early twenties in the Wei Kingdom. I think we must not slack off.¡± Lin Shigong chimed in quickly, with Lin Shihua adding a few words of agreement. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts also soared, estimating his own strength. In the cultivation path, the Qi Refinement Realm is only the first stage. As long as a mortal is born with a Spiritual Root, regardless of cultivation resources, they can usually reach the Mid Qi Refining Stage with a hundred years of hard cultivation. Subsequently, without resources, breaking through another realm would take an immense amount of time. In the Cultivation World, Qi Refining Cultivators only live longer than ordinary mortals. Although they can wield some spells, they are still unable to completely go without food or fly on their own. They can only do so with the help of Spiritual Artifacts or other external means. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Strictly speaking, Qi Refining Cultivators can¡¯t be considered true Cultivators at all, but only mortals who have just glimpsed the Dao. However, Foundation Establishment Cultivators are different. Besides doubling their lifespan, they can abandon grain completely, fly with their own spiritual power, and possess tremendous might with a simple gesture, transcending the mortal world. Merely breaking through to the Foundation Establishment was a bottleneck that countless Qi Refining Cultivators couldn¡¯t overcome. Within the vast expanse of the Luoyun Mountain Range, the number of Qi Refining Cultivators who successfully established their foundations could be counted on one¡¯s fingers. In this way, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were considered the true practitioners of cultivation, with strength that naturally couldn¡¯t be compared to that of Qi Training Cultivators. At this moment, his spiritual power had reached the limit of Qi Refinement, and his body refinement was also nearing its limit. With his current strength, if he faced a first-layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator without using the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, it would be difficult to kill them, but escaping should still pose no problem. The elders chatted idly about the family¡¯s recent situation while Lin Tian Ming occasionally chimed in. An hour passed, and Lin Shi Kang took a sip of Spiritual Tea before asking Lin Tian Ming about his future cultivation plans. After some thought, considering that the Luoyun Mountain Range was calm and without danger at the moment, he, being at leisure and having just broken through to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage not long ago, didn¡¯t plan to attempt the Foundation Establishment soon. He thought it would be good to consolidate his gains and build a solid foundation before making a breakthrough. Since Lin Shi Kang had taken the initiative to ask, it was highly likely that there were plans afoot, so Lin Tian Ming tentatively asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, I currently have no specific plans. Does the family have any arrangements? Tian Ming is willing to serve the Lin Family.¡± Lin Shi Kang nodded, quite satisfied with Lin Tian Ming¡¯s response. Although he had not spoken directly, Lin Tian Ming was able to intuit the implication and was always willing to contribute to the family. This showed that he was very concerned about the family¡¯s development. ¡°Tian Ming, currently, the family is very stable, and the Luoyun Market also is at peace. In half a year, the triennial auction of Luoyun Market will take place. Our Lin Family will be managing the market for the first time and is taking this auction very seriously. You should go and assist Xing Yuan in the market and preside over the auction.¡± Upon hearing Lin Shi Kang¡¯s words, Lin Tian Ming was surprised, thinking it would be some significant matter, only to find out it was to preside over an auction. ¡°Tian Ming is willing to go. Have the family decided on the auction¡¯s finale item?¡± Find more to read at empire Lin Tian Ming readily agreed, to no surprise to Lin Shi Kang, who repeatedly inquired about the circumstances regarding the grand finale auction item from Lin Shihua. Following the end of the great conflict between the Luoyun Mountain Range families, although much of their popularity had been restored, it was still not at its zenith. Now that the Lin Family had become the strongest family in the Luoyun Mountain Range, controlling over fifty percent of the profit distribution, naturally, they regarded the post-war first auction with great importance. The Lin Family had acquired the wealth of the Jin and Wu families and had a portion of the Sun Family¡¯s property too. There were no small number of treasures, and they were certainly flush with resources. An hour passed, and after discussion, Lin Shi Kang and the others decided to put a large number of rare treasures up for auction to boost the market¡¯s popularity and expand the Lin Family¡¯s earnings. Having settled on the auction items, Lin Shihua sent a message and then handed a piece of Beast Skin to Lin Tian Ming. ¡°Tian Ming, these fifteen treasures are coveted by any Qi Refinement Cultivator, and several are also quite useful for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. I¡¯ve already sent a message to Xingcheng. After you collect them from the Hall of Merit, pick a time to depart. The auction will be in your hands.¡± Lin Tian Ming took the Beast Skin and examined the items listed on it. Pozhang Pills, Xisui Pills, Yellow Grade Techniques, Second Order Pills, and even a Third Order Spiritual Medicine were included. It seemed that the family indeed placed great importance on this, bringing out many treasured items scarce to the Lin Family. Lin Tian Ming put the Beast Skin into his storage bag, bowed to the others with a clasped fist, and then slowly withdrew. Chapter 144 - 144 - 120: Bright Jade Fruit_1 Chapter 144 ¨C 120: Bright Jade Fruit_1 Upon receiving instructions from the Clan Leader, Lin Tianming left the Alchemy Hall and prepared to head to the Family Merits Hall to collect the auctioned items. Besides that, after the clan meeting, he was eager to enter seclusion to comprehend the Spirit Art, and he hadn¡¯t even had the time to collect his rewards of ten thousand Merit Points and three Second Order Treasures from the clan¡¯s major battle. With nothing to do at the moment and having exhausted all his treasures, it was natural for him to collect his rewards before heading out, to strengthen himself. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming immediately flew towards the Hall of Merit. Before long, Lin Tianming appeared inside the Hall of Merit. At that time, more than a dozen clansmen were already exchanging items in the great hall; apart from Lin Xingcheng, there were two Executive Officers assisting him. While Lin Xingcheng was exchanging Spiritual Objects for other clansmen, Lin Tianming waited on the side, observing the clansmen in the hall. ... Since Lin Shixin had fallen in battle, Lin Xingcheng had taken over as the Master of the Hall of Merit for a year. The family had significantly increased the clan¡¯s basic welfare, and the wealth of the clansmen grew, making exchanges increasingly frequent. When Lin Xingcheng saw Lin Tianming enter the hall, he came over to greet him once he had finished with the clansman he was helping. Lin Tianming also promptly stepped forward. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Xingcheng, who had already received a message from the Clan Leader, went into the depths of the hall to fetch the treasures from the Luoyun Market auction for Lin Tianming. After a short while, Lin Xingcheng came out and handed a storage bag to Lin Tianming. He took out a beast skin and scanned the storage bag with his Divine Sense to confirm that the treasures were correct before speaking, ¡°Uncle, the rewards the family owes me have not been collected yet. I¡¯d like to take this opportunity to collect them today.¡± As soon as Lin Tianming finished speaking, Lin Xingcheng took out a book to confirm that Lin Tianming had not collected his rewards yet, and tossed him a book listing Second Order items for Lin Tianming to select from. ¡°Tian Ming, I can transfer the Merit Points to you at any time. For the three Second Order Treasures, you can pick them yourself. Let me know what you choose, and I¡¯ll fetch them for you,¡± Lin Xingcheng said. Lin Tianming opened the book and began looking through it, starting from the first page. Spirit Radiance Grass, Bright Jade Fruit, Diamond Sand, Thick Shield Talisman¡­ As he reviewed the Second Order Treasures, both Lin Tianming and Lin Xingcheng had a hint of eagerness in their eyes. These Second Order Treasures were no ordinary items, with significant value, enough to tempt any Qi Refining Cultivator to take risks. After half a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming had finished perusing the book. It listed hundreds of Second Order Treasures, primarily consisting of Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Ore Stones, with a few Second Order Talismans and some elixirs, mostly lower-grade treasures. Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Ores would have limited use for him for the time being. After some thought, he decided to choose two Second Order Talismans¡ªone a Medium Quality Second Order Golden Sword Talisman and the other a lower-grade Second Order Thick Shield Talisman, one for offense and the other for defense, greatly enhancing his chances of survival. For the last treasure, he decided to pick a Second Order Spirit Fruit, the Bright Jade Fruit. This fruit was somewhat special; although it couldn¡¯t enhance one¡¯s cultivation, it could strengthen a cultivator¡¯s body and enhance the cultivator¡¯s vitality, making it a rare treasure for Body Cultivators. Having made his decision, Lin Tianming took out his family token and handed it to Lin Xingcheng, saying, ¡°Uncle, for the three treasures I¡¯ll choose the Medium Quality Second Order Golden Sword Talisman and the Thick Shield Talisman. For the other item, give me the Bright Jade Fruit. Please transfer five thousand Merit Points to me, then exchange forty First Order Superior Talismans with the remaining points, and convert the rest into Spirit Stones.¡± Without hesitation, Lin Xingcheng cast a spell to transfer five thousand Merit Points to his token. A few streaks of Spiritual Light flashed by, and the display on Lin Tianming¡¯s family token showed a series of numbers. Including his previous assets, he had nearly eight thousand Merit Points. Surprised, Lin Xingcheng went into the depths of the hall to fetch the Spirit Stones and the other treasures for Lin Tianming. In no time, Lin Xingzhi handed a storage bag to Lin Tianming. ¡°` Lin Tianming extended his divine sense and found exactly over four thousand spirit stones, two second order talismans, and forty first order superior talismans inside the storage bag. There was also a jade box, which undoubtedly contained the Bright Jade Fruit. Having confirmed the contents, Lin Tianming clasped his fist in farewell, left the Hall of Merit, and flew towards his own courtyard. Back in his courtyard, Lin Tianming entered his room and sat cross-legged on the stone bed. He took out his rewards and one by one placed them into his storage bag. Lin Tianming meticulously checked his storage bag. At this moment, it contained a total of six thousand five hundred spirit stones, as well as two second order talismans, thirty first order superior attack talismans, ten defense talismans, along with some spiritual medicine materials and spirit ore that he had obtained earlier¡ªall relatively precious. After taking stock of his storage bag, Lin Tianming contemplated his next steps. The trip to Luoyun Market was still some time away, and he had no intention of departing immediately. After refining the Bright Jade Fruit and resting for a few days, he planned to go to Luoyun Market and station there for a year. This would allow him to contribute to the family and solidify his cultivation, striving to breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment in one fell swoop. Having made up his mind, he took out the Bright Jade Fruit and placed it in the palm of his hand, observing it closely. Looking at the fist-sized Bright Jade Fruit with its crystalline and translucent flesh, he could smell its pungent yet enticing fragrance. Without any more hesitation, Lin Tianming swallowed the Bright Jade Fruit in one gulp. As the spirit fruit dissolved, waves of gentle energy were released, slowly circulating through his meridians and traversing his body. The comfortable sensation was almost heavenly and indescribably refreshing. Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion gradually became more rosy as he controlled the energy emitted by the Bright Jade Fruit to temper his internal organs and meridians. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before he knew it, five days had passed. In the room, Lin Tianming¡¯s clothing was tattered, his entire body enveloped in a thin layer of black mud, looking akin to a beggar. Explore more adventures at Opening his eyes and examining his body, he threw a punch with all his might, shattering the stone table in front of him with a gust from the punch. Feeling the vigorous vitality within his body and spirit, Lin Tianming revealed a satisfied expression. With just one Bright Jade Fruit, his vitality had significantly increased, and with it, his strength had further enhanced. The power to shatter a stone table several meters away with just the wind from his punch far exceeded his expectations. The effects of the Bright Jade Fruit were excellent, further strengthening his physique. In terms of body cultivation, he had essentially reached the limit of the Qi Refinement Realm, entirely surpassing his expectations. Lin Tianming stood up, cast a few Five Elements Spells, and after bathing and changing clothes, he tidied up the room, then stepped out. That evening, Lin Tianming had dinner with his family. Afterward, they sat in the courtyard for a casual chat. Years had passed, and his sister¡¯s cultivation had not fallen behind. With the family¡¯s enhanced basic welfare benefits and the elixirs provided by Lin Tianming and their grandfather, she had reached the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refinement. It wouldn¡¯t be long before she could break through to the sixth level. His mother¡¯s cultivation progress was not significant; over the years, she had only advanced by one minor realm, still staying at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Lin Tianming took out several tens of Superior Spirit Essence Pills. They were leftovers from his own cultivation; consuming too many would be of little use and might even increase the difficulty of his breakthroughs. Giving the elixirs to the two of them, several tens of pills were enough for their cultivation for several years. Both accepted the elixirs without demur, and Lin Tianming briefed them on his upcoming journey, urging them not to neglect their cultivation. Not until both of them had agreed did the conversation end, and they each retired to their rooms to rest. ¡°` Chapter 145 - 145 - 121 Spreading the News_1 Chapter 145 ¨C 121 Spreading the News_1 The next morning, Lin Tianming bid farewell to his family and set out alone, preparing to head to Luoyun Market. After leaving the family gates, Lin Tianming turned his head for one last look at the family¡¯s great formation, which had been repaired. During the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, the family formation had been breached, and the Lin Family spent a considerable price to repair and greatly enhance the formation¡¯s power. Feeling the fluctuations of the formation, Lin Tianming lingered no longer and released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. With a piercing screech, the Purple Gold Eagle shot into the sky and soared freely through the heavens. It flew for a full quarter hour before Lin Tianming forcefully summoned it back, stopping in front of him. Looking at the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s massive body, Lin Tianming was filled with emotion. ... The Purple Gold Eagle had accompanied him for four years, and with the aid of numerous elixirs, it had successfully broken through to the First Order Superior Grade, its strength no less than that of an ordinary Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator. Lin Tianming took out a Beast Spirit Pill and let the Purple Gold Eagle consume it, then he leapt onto the back of the spirit beast. After consuming the elixir, the Purple Gold Eagle flapped its gigantic wings, let out several excited screeches, and soared high into the sky, heading toward Luoyun Market in the north. Sitting atop the spirit beast with the Purple Gold Eagle covering hundreds of meters in an instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s lips curled up slightly, feeling an indescribable excitement. Within just half a day, Lin Tianming arrived at Luoyun Market. At the entrance of Luoyun Market, more than a dozen Qi Refining Cultivators were queuing to enter the market, while Chen Jingshan was on duty at the side, collecting fees for entering the market. Lin Tianming walked up directly and presented his Family Token. Once Chen Jingshan saw the green and red interleaved Token, his breathing became rapid. Others might not understand what this Spirit Tablet meant, but he was very clear that such a Token was only possessed by the most core members of the Lin Family. Taken aback, Chen Jingshan didn¡¯t dare to delay and immediately let him through; Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger either and walked straight in. After entering the market, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t head straight for the Hundred Treasures Building but started to stroll around Luoyun Market. Over a year had passed since the battle, and the market, with its bustling shops, had now recovered its former peak vitality. It took him a little over an hour to visit all the major areas of the market, eventually making his way back to the commercial district. Upon entering the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingyuan sat in a room, sipping Spiritual Tea. After explaining his purpose, Lin Tianming took out the storage bag containing the items for the finale and handed it over to Lin Xingyuan for safekeeping, in anticipation of the auction to be held six months later. Lin Xingyuan received the storage bag and sent his Divine Sense inside to check the prepared finale items, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face. Not only were there numerous items, but they were also exceedingly precious and rare, reflecting the family¡¯s level of importance placed on this event. With these valuable treasures, Lin Xingyuan felt considerably more at ease, and his confidence in the upcoming auction was solidified. After swallowing a Calming Pill, Lin Xingyuan asked with a smile, ¡°Tianming, the family places great importance on this auction. Since they have sent you to assist me, do you have any strategies or suggestions? Feel free to speak up so we can discuss them!¡± Sipping the Spiritual Tea lightly, Lin Tianming spoke with a smile, ¡°Uncle Xing Yuan, there¡¯s still plenty of time, with half a year until the auction. We might as well reveal some information about the finale items in advance, letting the news spread far and wide. By the time the auction takes place, most of the cultivators in the Luoyun Mountain Range will know about it, ensuring that the attendance will far exceed previous years.¡± Lin Xingyuan nodded after listening, fully endorsing Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Lin Tianming then continued, ¡°Apart from revealing the news ahead of time, I suggest we waive some of the market booth rentals to attract more cultivators. Although this will result in a loss of some spirit stones, it¡¯s entirely worthwhile to boost the market gathering¡¯s fame. What do you think, Uncle?¡± After hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, Lin Xingyuan fell into deep thought. Waiving the booth rental for a few days would mean a loss of several thousand spirit stones for the market, a significant amount indeed. After a while, having thought it through, Lin Xingyuan decided Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion was worth trying. The loss of spirit stones was substantial, but once the market¡¯s popularity increased, they could recuperate the loss through other means. Even if they couldn¡¯t regain it in the short term, the lost spirit stones wouldn¡¯t be too much. Such a loss was insignificant for the current Lin Family. Having made up his mind, Lin Xingyuan instructed, ¡°Tianming, proceed as you¡¯ve said. I¡¯ll immediately have our people distribute the list of finale items and give a heads-up to the other two families. You stay in the market for the next period and help with the alchemy. We¡¯ve accumulated a lot of spiritual medicine materials in the shop over more than a year which haven¡¯t been used for alchemy. Since you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to take care of it, and afterwards, you can have a period of secluded cultivation.¡± ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll carry out any order from you, Uncle!¡± Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t practiced alchemy in a long while, and with his cultivation progress stalled, he now had plenty of time to properly concoct some first order elixirs and lay the groundwork for the future. Stay updated via .com Seeing Lin Xingyuan agree to his plan, Lin Tianming immediately accepted the task. Afterwards, Lin Xingyuan sent out several messages with a smile. Sometime later, two Lin Family members arrived. They passed on the details of the finale items and conveyed their arrangements. Lin Tianming then stood up to take his leave, returning to the Family¡¯s small courtyard in Luoyun Market. Upon entering the Family courtyard, Lin Tianming quickly began a brief period of cultivation. Two days later, a member of the family brought a large amount of first order elixir materials for Lin Tianming to refine. Upon receiving the materials, Lin Tianming checked them, counting several hundred portions of spiritual medicine materials, most of which were consumable elixirs, along with some Spiritual Medicine Materials for Xisui Pills and Pozhang Pills. All these elixirs had been mass-produced before. Although there were many, they posed no difficulty for him. Proceeding with ease, Lin Tianming began concocting the elixirs as time flew by quickly. Over half a month passed. During Lin Tianming¡¯s intensive elixir production, news of the auction spread from one to ten and then to a hundred, soon reaching thousands of miles around the market. Suddenly, from low-order Qi Refining cultivators to high-order Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivators, the vast majority had heard of the auction and marvelled at the Lin Family¡¯s grand gesture. Numerous low-order cultivators could hardly wait to participate in the once-every-three-year grand event of Luoyun Market. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unaffected by the outside world, Lin Tianming remained busy with his focused alchemy. After a month of refining, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, the several hundred portions of spiritual medicine materials were all turned into elixirs. Looking at the thousands of jade bottles in front of him where nearly all the Lingshen Pills were of superior quality, and the potency of the Pozhang Pills was stronger than before. After keeping the elixirs for his own use, a slightly tired Lin Tianming left the secret room and headed to the Hundred Treasures Building. On the third floor of the Hundred Treasures Building, Lin Tianming handed over the elixirs to Lin Xingyuan, leaving a small portion to be sold in the market¡¯s shop, while more of them were taken by family members back to the Lin Family. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming returned to his secluded chamber to begin a short period of seclusion, waiting for the arrival of the auction. Chapter 146 - 146 - 122: Qin Xi (The Female Lead Appears)_1 Chapter 146 ¨C 122: Qin Xi (The Female Lead Appears)_1 ¡°` Time flew by, and several months passed in a blink of an eye. During the time of his seclusion, Lin Tianming lived a fulfilling life, not only concocting elixirs for his family and cultivating but also taking some time to read through some of the books replicated by his family. In nearly half a year, he had perused precious texts on everything from pill concoction and weapon forging to talisman making and formations. Although his main focus was on alchemy, learning some basic knowledge could enhance his insight, and perhaps it would come in handy at a critical moment. After half a year, having absorbed the precious texts from the Jin Family and Wu Family, his gains were indeed significant. Three days before the auction was set to begin, Lin Tianming stopped cultivating and prepared to emerge from seclusion to attend the auction. Stepping out of the secret room and walking on the streets of the market, Lin Tianming strolled around and looked about leisurely. ... With the auction approaching, Luoyun Market was exceptionally bustling, its vitality almost doubled compared to usual. A large number of cultivators flooded into the market, some to do business, others to trade their resources. Wealthy cultivators were there specifically for the auction because, after all, the best items were only available there. Unknowingly, Lin Tianming, while wandering, arrived in the market¡¯s stall area. It was early morning, and many cultivators had already rented their stalls. Many places were already displaying various treasures. Outside the square, there were still many people arriving continuously. Looking closely, cultivators of all kinds were selecting treasures, and the endless hawking permeated his ears, completely a scene of a mundane marketplace. Seeing the busy trading scene, a slight smile crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s face¡ªit was apparent that this gathering was even more popular than usual. Watching as more people came to set up their stalls in the square, every spot occupied by cultivators, he no longer lingered and picked up his pace into the square. Choosing a starting point, he began to meander through the stalls. After visiting more than a dozen stalls, which all offered fairly ordinary items¡ªvery attractive to a Sixth Level Qi Refining cultivator, but of little use to him¡ªLin Tianming wandered aimlessly, his expression unchanged. Time passed, and by noon he had roamed through a large part of the stall area. Finally, near the main road, some decent items appeared. Lin Tianming decisively made his purchases, spending hundreds of spirit stones for a few stems of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, which were rather rare varieties. Purchasing these useful spiritual medicine materials in advance, once he entered Foundation Establishment, he could concoct Second Order Pills for his cultivation. As time wore on, just as Lin Tianming was about to leave, an elderly Third Level Qi Refining cultivator caught his attention. In the deepest part of the square, at an out-of-the-way spot, a grey-robed old man and a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl sat in front of a stall. The grey-robed elder had white speckled hair, sporting a goatee, showing signs of advanced age. When he looked at the girl, his eyes suddenly became spirited. The girl sat on the ground, holding a book in her hand, scrutinizing it intently. This girl, named Qin Xi, had delicate features and clear eyes. With a tall and slender figure, she had an indescribable vivacity about her; her green dress was fresh and natural, and once she came of age, she was sure to be a stunner. Experience tales at The grey-robed elder, with a resolute expression, waved a few stems of First Order Spiritual Medicine in his hand, calling out energetically to sell them. Unfortunately, due to the poor location of his stall and the fact that the items he was selling were too common, passing cultivators showed no interest in inquiring about prices and hurried past him. As the day was about to pass, the grey-robed elder¡¯s stall had barely attracted any buyers, only managing to sell a few stems of First Order Spiritual Medicine, and even then at a low price. Watching the hard-earned spiritual medicine sell for such low prices, the grey-robed elder¡¯s eyes carried a sense of vicissitude and desolation. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His end was nearing, and he would not live for many more years. In the final moments of his life, surprisingly, a year and a half ago, his granddaughter successfully introduced Qi into her body and became a Qi Refining cultivator, delighting him beyond words. He came to Luoyun Market with the intention of selling the spiritual medicine he had risked his life to gather, to buy several Lingshen Pills for his granddaughter, to help her enhance her cultivation, so that before his end came, she would have some means of self-protection and be able to survive in the perilous cultivation world. Unfortunately, his cultivation level was not high, and the spiritual medicine he gathered was too common, leading to a meager income. His granddaughter had not been cultivating for long and her cultivation was too low. He would not be able to protect her for many more years, and at this point, he felt somewhat anxious. ¡°` After a few sighs, the elder showed a hint of helplessness. Qin Xi, standing beside him, rose to her feet and massaged the elder¡¯s back while consoling him with her exceptionally pleasant voice. ¡°Grandpa, if it really can¡¯t be sold, let it be. You obtained these Spiritual Medicines at a great cost, and even sustained some injuries in the process. If it doesn¡¯t work out, we can try the Lin Family¡¯s store. Their store is famous in Luoyun Market and they also purchase Spiritual Medicine Materials. Their prices are quite fair, and perhaps we could get more Spirit Stones to exchange for some healing elixirs for you.¡± Reassured by his granddaughter¡¯s words, the elder¡¯s complexion grew rosier. The Lin Family was now renowned throughout the Luoyun Mountain Range, and he had heard about their good reputation. If the Spiritual Medicine indeed couldn¡¯t be sold, they would have to try their luck at the Lin Family¡¯s store. The elder stroked his granddaughter¡¯s hair, gaining back some spirit, and prepared to call out to attract the attention of some cultivators. At that moment, Lin Tianming arrived in front of the elder, crouching down to observe the items laid out before him. The elder immediately lit up with joy at Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival. Although Lin Tianming was disguised, his outfit was immaculate, and he carried himself with an air of righteousness. Even though he didn¡¯t reveal any aura, the elder could still sense that he was no ordinary cultivator. As Lin Tianming scrutinized the items, the elder spoke up: ¡°Fellow Daoist, please feel free to look. Our prices are absolutely fair!¡± As soon as the elder finished speaking, Lin Tianming saw more than ten types of Spiritual Medicine, a few tattered books, and a blue Jade Slip laid out on the beast skin. Lin Tianming disregarded the all-too-common Spiritual Medicines and focused his attention on the blue Jade Slip. He picked up the Jade Slip and extended his Divine Sense to examine the information inside. After a few moments, having read the introduction in the Jade Slip, Lin Tianming revealed a hint of joy. The Jade Slip contained an Ancient Pill Recipe, and it was a type of elixir for Body Cultivators to aid in their cultivation. He conjectured that the pills from this recipe were much stronger than the Body Strengthening Pills. However, the elder had placed a restriction on the Jade Slip, preventing full access to the pill¡¯s grade and materials. Although Lin Tianming could have easily broken the restriction, he chose not to. Looking at the mysterious Pill Formula, Lin Tianming decided to purchase it. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming asked: ¡°Fellow Daoist, how much for this Jade Slip?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming inquire about the price, the elder was overjoyed, but soon hesitated, not daring to quote a price too hastily for fear of scaring Lin Tianming away. After some thought, the elder¡¯s expression calmed, and he tentatively replied in a low voice: ¡°Fellow Daoist has good eyesight. This Jade Slip was acquired by chance, and the Pill Formula it records should be genuine. However, the Spiritual Medicine Materials required are quite peculiar, some of which I have never heard of. It would probably be quite difficult to successfully concoct it. Thus, this Jade Slip isn¡¯t very practical. If you like it, how about fifty Spirit Stones?¡± Lin Tianming was surprised to hear this, as the elder seemed too honest. Pill Formulas were always highly valued, and even a First Order Medium Grade Pill Formula could easily be sold for over a hundred Spirit Stones. Although the grade of this formula was unknown, and it might not be possible to concoct the pills, he had a feeling that the Jade Slip would be of some use. A hundred Spirit Stones was not a small amount, but for Lin Tianming it was hardly significant. Without any intention of bargaining, he took out one hundred Spirit Stones and gave them to the elder, buying the Jade Slip. The elder was ecstatic, his expression filled with excitement. Some Cultivators had examined the Pill Formula but likely deemed it not worth the risk and hadn¡¯t bought it. But Lin Tianming, without even blinking an eye, made the purchase directly. With these Spirit Stones, he could buy some elixirs for his granddaughter. The girl stared at Lin Tianming as he spent generously, her curiosity piqued as she sized him up. After their gazes met, for some reason, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart suddenly began to beat wildly, as if a deer were prancing inside, and his blood seemed to boil¡ªa sensation he had never experienced before. Qin Xi¡¯s heart likewise raced, and a blush crept onto her face, making her even more stunningly beautiful. In a hurry, Lin Tianming stuffed the Jade Slip into his storage bag and lingered no longer, smiling politely and bidding farewell with a clasped fist. He then swiftly left the market area, heading toward the direction of the Lin Family Courtyard. Chapter 147 - 147 - 123 Qianling Pill_1 Chapter 147 ¨C 123 Qianling Pill_1 Hastily returning to the small courtyard, Lin Tianming immediately entered the secret chamber. Sitting on the cushion, he circulated his cultivation technique for a Grand Circulation, trying to calm himself down. For some reason, the thought of that young girl stirred an unexplainable restlessness in his heart. It should be noted that he had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Cultivation, and over the years, he had encountered many female cultivators, many of whom knew some enchanting techniques. Yet even so, he had never been moved. Beyond the allure of beauty, he had experienced countless battles over the years, and had often hovered on the brink of life and death, facing mortality with an undisturbed composure. It was unexpected that he would lose his composure like this today. After a short while, as he focused on his cultivation, his state of mind gradually returned to tranquility. Half an hour of cultivation later, he took out the purchased jade slip, ready to examine the pill formula. ... S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Extending his Divine Sense, he erased the restrictions on the jade slip and began to review the pill formula. ¡°Qianling Pill, Second Order Pills?¡± Murmuring softly to himself, Lin Tianming¡¯s face flashed with a knowing smile. Upon his examination, this was indeed an Ancient Pill Recipe of a Medium Quality Second Order without a doubt, not low in grade, with effects similar to the Body Strengthening Pill, but undoubtedly much stronger. Unfortunately, the Spiritual Medicine Materials recorded in the pill formula were very rare. The main ingredient, Qianyuan Grass, was extremely scarce, and he had yet to hear of its presence anywhere to date. Apart from the main ingredient, there were several other important Spiritual Medicine Materials that were quite rare, making it difficult to concoct the pill, which was somewhat regrettable. ¡°Let it be, let it be.¡± Having spent only a hundred Spirit Stones, such a small price for the Ganling Pill Recipe, was already considered extraordinarily lucky. As for whether he could concoct it or not, it was still too early to say, he hadn¡¯t reached Foundation Establishment yet, and he could still use the Body Strengthening Pill for some time; there was no need to be so anxious. After adjusting his mindset, he once again closed his eyes and began the practice of inhaling and exhaling. Two days passed, and the market city auction was held as scheduled. Finishing his work, Lin Tianming tidied up the secret chamber and left the small courtyard, heading towards the auction site in the center of the market city. Along the way, many cultivators, in groups of three or five, were accompanying each other to the auction. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance of the auction venue. Glancing around, he saw cultivators at the entrance formed into two long lines, like two great dragons extending from the entrance to the plaza. The number of cultivators in the entire market city, compared to usual, had at least doubled. Seeing the bustling popularity, which was much higher than the family had anticipated, Lin Tianming was both surprised and somewhat relieved; it seemed that the original strategy had been quite correct. At this moment, Lin Tianming was in a good mood, ready to bypass the queue and enter the auction hall. Suddenly, a commotion arose among the queuing cultivators. They saw a black-robed elder slowly walking towards them; for a time, the queuing cultivators opened a path for him. The black-robed elder wore a calm expression, without any intention of stopping, and walked past the cultivators with his hands behind his back. At the entrance, several market city supervisors were collecting Spirit Stones to enter the auction. Seeing the black-robed elder coming over, they immediately left the cultivators in front of them and stepped forward, bowing continuously and speaking in a very respectful tone, Find more chapters on .com ¡°Junior has seen Elder Su, Elder Su, please come inside.¡± The Elder with the surname Su nodded and casually threw thirty Spirit Stones towards the group. The Executive Officers¡¯ faces brightened with joy as they quickly caught the Spirit Stones and then took out a round Jade Token to respectfully present to the Elder Su. Elder Su waved his hands, summoning the Jade Token through the air and then headed straight into the interior of the grand hall, soon disappearing from everyone¡¯s view. After the elder left, the group wiped the sweat from their foreheads and let out a long sigh of relief. In the queue of Cultivators below, many were equally astonished; those who were unclear of the elder¡¯s identity kept asking about his name. Thanks to the introduction by some older Cultivators, the younger ones finally learned of the elder¡¯s background. It turned out that this man was named Su He. He had succeeded in Foundation Establishment tens of years ago and apart from the major families in the Luoyun Mountain Range, he was one of the few Foundation Establishment stage Loose Cultivators with extremely formidable strength. As for his current cultivation realm, no one knew for sure, except that twenty years ago, Su He was already at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. With twenty years passed, it was estimated that he was at least at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment or even higher. Some Qi Training Cultivators couldn¡¯t help but look forward eagerly, it seemed that the treasures provided by the Lin Family this time were indeed extraordinary, attracting even a Cultivator with strength like Su He to participate in the auction. After a while, with the maintenance of order by a few Executive Officers, Cultivators began to pay the entrance Spirit Stones one after another. Lin Tianming walked straight past the queue, heading towards the entrance. After showing his Family Token, several Executive Officers immediately allowed him through. Entering the grand hall, the public area was already bustling with people, the original five hundred seats had been filled, and some acquainted Cultivators sat together chatting, creating an extremely noisy scene. Cultivators were still queuing at the entrance, and extra seating had been temporarily added around the perimeter, with approximately three hundred new seats, which were also quickly being filled. Witnessing the bustling scene, Lin Tianming was again pleasantly surprised. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming headed towards the second floor. He walked through the long corridor and stopped in front of the door to the deepest room. After sending a message, the room¡¯s warding spells opened and Lin Tianming walked straight in. Inside the room, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingyuan were seated in chairs, drinking Spiritual Tea and chatting while looking down at the stage below. Seeing Lin Shilu appear at the auction, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, then immediately went forward to greet him. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how come you are at the Market City? Has something happened?¡± Lin Shilu waved his hand, indicating Lin Tianming to sit down before explaining, ¡°The auction at the Market City has attracted many Cultivators. The family was worried that Xing Yuan might not be able to handle the situation. I just happened to have come out of a year-long retreat and wanted to stroll around, so I came to join in the fun. It¡¯s not just me; Sun Dingfeng from the Sun Family and Luo Chenggu from the Luo Family have also come. From what I know, there are several Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Market City now, with quite a few above the Third Level of Foundation Establishment.¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words sent a shock through Lin Tianming¡¯s heart. He hadn¡¯t expected this Market City meeting to draw so many elusive old monsters out of hiding. It was one thing for Sun Dingfeng and Luo Chenggu, as they had frequent interactions, but for those Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators to gather was quite rare. Lin Shilu took another sip of his Spiritual Tea before continuing, ¡°After the auction concludes, I have organized a trade meeting that the Foundation Establishment Cultivators will participate in. You two will accompany me there, as the treasures in the hands of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator naturally can¡¯t compare to those at an auction.¡± After Lin Shilu finished speaking, both Lin Xingyuan and Lin Tianming readily agreed. Lin Tianming was now somewhat impatient. With most of the auction items being supplied by the Lin Family, he figured it would be difficult for him to gain much. Since there was a chance to trade with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he was certain their assets would not disappoint him. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s eager look, Lin Xingyuan was likewise filled with anticipation, both of them distractedly waiting for the auction to start. Chapter 148 - 148 - 124 Treasures Emerge_1 Chapter 148 ¨C 124 Treasures Emerge_1 Time slowly passed, and the eight hundred seats in the hall were now filled with cultivators. Several Market City Supervisors temporarily closed the entrance to the auction, and the noisy auction hall finally became much quieter. All cultivators were eagerly looking towards the auction stage, waiting for the auction to officially begin. Suddenly, a cultivator appeared in the passage; it was Chen Chong, who had presided over the last Market City auction. He walked through the passage, greeting some familiar cultivators, and then ascended to the stage. Surveying the audience, the scale of this auction, the number of participants, and the treasures were unprecedented in a century. Hosting such an auction assuredly promised substantial rewards. Even Chen Chong, who had hosted many auctions, felt a surge of excitement. With a smile on his face and a cupped fist salute, Chen Chong waited for the cultivators below to quiet down before he spoke: ... ¡°I am Chen Chong, honored to meet all seniors and fellow cultivators here. I am invited by the Market City to preside over this auction. I welcome everybody for attending.¡± ¡°You all know the rules, the highest bidder wins. If you don¡¯t have enough spirit stones, you may use treasures as collateral. Without further ado, as I know many of you can hardly wait, I announce that the auction starts now!¡± As Chen Chong finished speaking, all the cultivators below became excited. Chen Chong still sporting a smile, quickly took out a greenish small shield from his storage bag, displaying it while introducing it to the cultivators present. ¡°The first auction item, a First Order Medium Grade Defensive Spiritual Tool, the Xuanjia Shield, made primarily from the shell of a Xuanjia Turtle, forged with a great number of precious materials, its defensive power is extremely remarkable. The starting bid is ninety spirit stones, with each increment no less than two spirit stones.¡± The very first treasure was a Medium Grade defensive spiritual tool; the subsequent finale items were naturally extraordinary. It was clear that this auction had indeed invested a lot of capital. Looking at the greenish shield, Medium Grade defensive spiritual tools were rare, especially one forged from the shell of a Xuanjia Turtle. The eyes of many cultivators flashed with fervent expressions. ¡°Ninety-five spirit stones.¡± A Qi Training Cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, wearing a blue robe, excitedly called out the first price, with a look of absolute determination. Before his words had settled, other cultivators began to raise their bids. ¡°One hundred and twenty spirit stones.¡± ¡°One hundred and twenty-five spirit stones.¡± ¡­ Soon, after over a dozen rounds of intense bidding, the price of the Xuanjia Shield skyrocketed, quickly reaching one hundred and forty spirit stones. In the end, only four people continued to bid, and the first bidding blue-robed cultivator was among them. One hundred and forty spirit stones was no small amount. The blue-robed cultivator hesitated; to give up would be reluctant, yet it was costly to continue. Considering the exceptional defensive power of the Xuanjia Shield, which was indeed a rare find among Medium Grade defensive spiritual tools, possessing this treasure would allow him to retreat unscathed even when facing a Seventh Level Qi Cultivation cultivator. After pondering for a moment, he decided not to give up and, gritting his teeth, he made a higher bid. ¡°One hundred and fifty spirit stones. A few breaths passed, and no one else placed a higher bid. With the sound of a gong, the first auction item was successfully sold, with the blue-robed cultivator winning it with a high bid. The blue-robed cultivator, with a smile on his face, presented the spirit stones in front of all the cultivators present, exchanged for the treasure, and then sat down satisfied. The high price of the first treasure warmed up the atmosphere of the venue, with many cultivators eager and ready to snap up their coveted items. Chen Chong was very pleased and continued to strike while the iron was hot, taking out the second treasure to be bid on by a group of cultivators. As the small half of the day passed, nearly a hundred treasures were successfully auctioned off, none failing to sell, with the closing prices often hitting new highs. During this time, Lin Tianming made three bids, spending hundreds of spirit stones to win some items consigned by other cultivators, including two stalks of spirit grass and a green crystal core. In the VIP room on the second floor, Lin Tianming fiddled with the crystal core in his hand, contemplating it closely. He had acquired the crystal core for just over a hundred spirit stones. At the time, including himself, no one recognized the item, nor did anyone else bid. It was about to go unsold when, under the examination of the Eye of Five Colors, he still detected a faint trace of energy. Out of curiosity and due to the low price, he decided to bid for the item. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After Lin Tianming and the other two took turns examining it, none could discern anything significant, so they placed it in a storage bag to study in detail when they returned. At this point, the auction was nearing its end, with only the final showcase item left to be auctioned off. After a brief pause, Chen Chong began the auction for the final showcase items. This time, the Lin Family had prepared fifteen precious treasures; together with the items provided by the Sun Family and the Luo Family, there were twenty final showcase items in total, which was twice as many as in past auctions. Many of the cultivators in the hall, especially those with higher cultivation, were there primarily for these final showcase items. ¡°The first showcase item, three Xisui Pills with a starting bid of one hundred spirit stones, and each bid must increase by no less than five spirit stones!¡± ¡°The second showcase item, three Pozhang Pills¡­¡± ¡°The third showcase item, three Jade Spirit Fruits¡­¡± ¡­ For a moment, treasures were brought out one after the other. Elxirs, spirit fruits, and spiritual artifacts conducive to breakthroughs for Qi Refining Cultivators were rapidly auctioned off, with all ten of the showcase items provided by the Lin Family quickly sold. The number of treasures auctioned in this session was not small, and the overall value was quite high, especially the elixirs used for breakthroughs. Continue reading stories on .com Items useful for breaking through to the next realm were traditionally the most sought-after, and as such, the atmosphere of the auction was incredibly fervent. The appearance of so many rare treasures, although the prices were slightly lower than usual, shocked all the cultivators present with the Lin Family¡¯s extravagant display. Some cultivators of limited means, who had not succeeded in the auction, had their eyes opened wide with amazement, feeling their trip was worthwhile just witnessing the auction of so many rare treasures. At this time, Chen Chong was also excited; based solely on this auction, the commission he could extract was a significant sum. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Chen Chong continued to preside over the auction. Time quickly passed, and an hour later, the last nine showcase items were also successfully auctioned, with each item¡¯s price not falling below three hundred spirit stones. Especially for the last five treasures, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators joined in the bidding. The Second Order elixirs were won by Sun Dingfeng, while the Third Order Spiritual Medicine went to Su He. Other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also reaped their rewards. At this point, only one final showcase item remained, and all the cultivators were waiting for it. Not daring to hesitate, Chen Chong quickly pulled a jade slip from his storage bag and held it high. Seeing the item below, the Qi Training Cultivators¡¯ breathing grew rapid, and at this moment, Chen Chong also began to introduce the final treasure. ¡°A Metal Attribute Yellow Grade Cultivation Technique provided by the Lin Family, with extremely formidable offensive power. Starting bid is seventeen thousand spirit stones, and each bid must increase by no less than one hundred spirit stones.¡± No sooner had Chen Chong finished speaking than a cultivator started the bidding. ¡°Eighteen thousand spirit stones!¡± That was an increase of a thousand spirit stones with just one bid, showing the determination of the bidder to win. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before another increased the bid. Back and forth the price went, continuously climbing. It¡¯s worth noting that techniques are not commonly seen in the Luoyun Mountain Range; most are controlled by large families, and many Qi Refining Families do not have all the Five Elements attributes. Families lacking Metal Attribute techniques, and finding themselves with members of the Metal Attribute, are forced to cultivate other attribute techniques temporarily. Due to the mismatch, the speed of cultivation is greatly compromised. Hence, when an opportunity like this arises, they naturally would not let it pass. Despite the high price to pay, the need to remedy the family¡¯s weaknesses was worth any sacrifice. Lin Tianming and the others were sitting in the VIP room on the second floor, witnessing the intense bidding below. Chapter 149 - 149 - 125: Exchange Meeting_1 Chapter 149 ¨C 125: Exchange Meeting_1 On the second floor of the auction, an elderly man sat in the center, flanked by two middle-aged cultivators on chairs; all three were clan members of the Min Clan from the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Min Clan, an established Qi Refining family from the Luoyun Mountain Range, boasted over sixty members with several individuals above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, ranking them at the forefront in terms of strength and financial power among Qi Refining families. At that moment, the countenances of the two Min Clan cultivators darkened, and one at the Qi Refining Eighth Level asked the elder in the chair of honor, ¡°Fourth uncle, the price of this Cultivation Technique has already exceeded expectations. What do we do now? Do we continue to raise the bid?¡± Explore new worlds at After hearing this, the elder showed a moment of hesitation, lost in contemplation. The Min Clan¡¯s legacy spanned several hundred years, possessing just three Cultivation Techniques. They specifically lacked Cultivation Techniques of the water and metal categories. Having finally encountered a metal-category technique, although it was only of Yellow Grade, it was extremely important for the Min Clan. Giving up the opportunity now would be a true pity. ... Having made up his mind, the elder immediately spoke, ¡°Raise¡­ Currently, only three families are still bidding, and within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Qi Refining families are probably at their limits. This opportunity is rare. If there are not enough Spirit Stones, take out the two stalks of Third Order Spiritual Medicine from the clan¡¯s reserves to settle the account; we are keeping them without being able to refine any elixirs anyway.¡± The words of the elder resonated with the two middle-aged cultivators beside him, who then promptly raised the bid. ¡°Twenty-one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!¡± A voice emanated from one of the VIP rooms on the second floor, plunging the entire venue into silence. The elder¡¯s prediction was correct; initially, there were more than ten cultivators bidding, but in the end, only three families were left. After he spontaneously increased the bid by a thousand Spirit Stones, the other two families indeed gave up on continuing to raise their bids. At this point, the cultivators below who were watching the excitement blushed, clearly overwhelmed by the exorbitant price. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More than twenty thousand Spirit Stones was an amount most cultivators could not amass in their lifetime. Such a transaction price was almost equivalent to that of a Foundation Establishment Pill. Of course, in the Luoyun Mountain Range, quite a few Qi Refining families could gather that amount of three thousand Spirit Stones. The key issue was that, oftentimes, even if you possessed Spirit Stones, it was hard to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, and without considerable strength, it was impossible to leave safely with it. Two hundred years ago, the Lin Family had experienced a similar incident, when an ancestor successfully won a Foundation Establishment Pill at an auction but was ambushed on the way back to the family. The ancestor was grievously injured and had to abandon the pill to escape. Such situations were not uncommon in the Cultivation World. In the silent auction hall, as a few moments passed and no more bids were made, Chen Chong had no choice but to announce the result. When the sound of the gong echoed, smiles finally appeared on the faces of the three from the Min Clan. The elder surnamed Min took out two Jade Boxes, placed them into a storage bag, and reluctantly threw it to Chen Chong. Chen Chong accepted the storage bag, seeing the two stalks of Third Order Spiritual Medicine and some Spirit Stones. After confirming the equivalent value, he handed over the Jade Slip containing the Cultivation Technique to the Min Clan cultivator. Once the transaction was complete, all items in the auction had been sold. Chen Chong clasped his hands, exchanged a few courteous words, and finally declared the auction over. Afterward, the many cultivators filed out, leaving very few in the hall in short order. In the VIP room on the second floor, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu chatted idly, while Lin Xingyuan had taken the lead out of the chamber to retrieve the Lin Family¡¯s auctioned belongings. After a short while, Lin Xingyuan returned to the chamber. ¡°Fifteenth uncle, after deducting the commission, the family¡¯s auctioned items fetched a total of twenty-one thousand six hundred Spirit Stones, plus two stalks of Third Order lower-grade Spiritual Medicine. Please review them,¡± Lin Xingyuan said, presenting a black storage bag and a list for Lin Shilu to inspect. Lin Shilu accepted the storage bag, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and, finding the count and amount correct, nodded before securing the property into the storage bag. ¡°Let¡¯s go, the Exchange Convention should be about to start,¡± he said. With that, Lin Shilu took the lead in rising from his seat in the VIP room and headed downstairs, with Lin Tianming and Lin Xingyuan promptly following. The three passed through several corridors and a long hallway before stopping in front of a stone door. After Lin Shilu formed a hand gesture, he pushed the stone door open with force and strode in. Lin Tianming and the other followed closely behind. By this time, a few cultivators were already inside the stone chamber, sitting and chatting over tea. Upon seeing Lin Shilu enter, Su He and several other Loose Cultivators stood to greet him, while Sun Dingfeng and Luo Chenggu also got up to exchange pleasantries. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I trust you¡¯ve been well,¡± Lin Shilu said with a knowing smile, approaching with Lin Xingyuan. After greeting several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he began to introduce Lin Tianming. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve already met the Daoists from the Sun and Luo families, and this is Senior Su. Why don¡¯t you come over and pay your respects?¡± Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instruction, Lin Tianming stepped forward and clasped his fists in a salute toward the several Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivators. Despite his impressive cultivation, Su He did not dare to underestimate the Lin Family and was very cordial. He teased with a smile, ¡°I have long heard of a talented junior from the Lin Family. Today, having the opportunity to meet him, it¡¯s truly remarkable that one so young has already achieved Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. Surely a dragon among men, Lin, your family is indeed fortunate.¡± As Su He offered his flattering words, the others chimed in as well. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. My junior has done somewhat well, but such an achievement is insignificant in the grand scope of the Wei Kingdom,¡± Lin Shilu modestly replied, though a proud and pleased expression could not be concealed on his weathered face. Lin Shilu¡¯s demeanor did not escape the notice of Sun Dingfeng and the others, who kept their thoughts to themselves but inwardly sneered at the display. Chapter 150 - 150 - 125: Exchange Meet_2 Chapter 150 ¨C 125: Exchange Meet_2 ¡°` ¡°The old guy really has no shame, he¡¯s just short of singing praises about his own junior.¡± With Lin Shilu¡¯s introduction, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Tianming got to know a few Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivators, including Su He and four others, all possessing cultivation below the third level of the Foundation Establishment. After some pleasantries were exchanged, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators each took their seats, while Lin Tianming stood quietly behind Lin Shilu, watching the exchanges of cultivation experiences among several people in the area. Before they knew it, a quarter of an hour had passed. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators had almost finished their exchanges when Sun Dingfeng stood up and said, ¡°Fellow daoists, it¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s start the trading event.¡± ... Seeing that the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators had no objections, Lin Shilu nodded his head in agreement, signaling that they could begin. Sun Dingfeng slapped his storage bag and took out three Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans and two greenish Spirit Ore Stones, holding them in his hand as he said, ¡°These three talismans and two Qingluan Stone ore, in exchange for elixirs that can enhance cultivation, Spiritual Medicine Materials, or an equivalent amount of Spirit Stones.¡± Before the words had finished, Lin Shilu waved a hand and threw a Jade Bottle, which Sun Dingfeng caught. Sun Dingfeng opened the Jade Bottle to take a look, nodded in satisfaction, and then handed one piece of Qingluan Stone over to Lin Shilu. Su He also intended to trade, taking out two stalks of First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Medicine, and successfully exchanged for the other piece of Qingluan Stone. At this time, only the Second Order Talismans remained in Sun Dingfeng¡¯s hand as no one else seemed interested. Just as Sun Dingfeng was about to put the talismans away, Lin Tianming spoke up, Explore hidden tales at ¡°Senior Sun, may I know the price of these Second Order Talismans? I would like to trade with Spirit Stones, if that¡¯s acceptable?¡± Surprised by the inquiry, Sun Dingfeng tossed the three talismans to Lin Tianming and then said, ¡°Since you¡¯re a junior, I won¡¯t take advantage of you. Three Second Order Medium Quality Talismans for two thousand Spirit Stones.¡± Lin Shilu, sitting on the side, heard that Sun Dingfeng¡¯s price was quite reasonable and nodded toward Lin Tianming, signaling that the deal was acceptable. Lin Tianming received the three Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans, barely had time to feel excited before putting them into his storage bag, then immediately took out two thousand Spirit Stones and gave them to Sun Dingfeng. With Sun Dingfeng¡¯s trade complete, and everyone obtaining items they desired, it was a good start to the event. Then, Lin Shilu took out three items for trade, the first being a set of Spirit Swords, each one a Supreme Spiritual Artifact. The second was a First Order Superior Grade Defensive Spiritual Tool, and the third was a Third Order Lower Quality Spiritual Medicine Material. ¡°I¡¯ll trade for Second Order or higher Spirit Ore or Second Order Demonic Beast Materials. If there¡¯s something more valuable, I can make up the difference.¡± After Lin Shilu stated what he wanted to trade, the cultivators began to inspect the items he provided. Li, looking at the set of Spirit Swords, took out two and swung them a few times, appearing vastly satisfied with their quality. In the Wei Kingdom, Magic Artifacts are extremely precious, and not all Foundation Establishment Cultivators can afford to use them. Many cultivators below the third level of Foundation Establishment still use First Order Superior Grade or Supreme Spiritual Artifacts. Li had been in the Foundation Establishment Stage for less than ten years and had used up all his wealth just to reach Foundation Establishment. He has been using a set of First Order Superior Grade Spirit Swords, which significantly reduced his combat effectiveness. The set of Spirit Swords offered by Lin Shilu was not weak in power, making it hard to find a more suitable weapon below the level of Magic Artifacts. The more he looked, the more he liked them, and Li soon entertained the idea of a trade. Having made up his mind, Li took out a Jade Bottle from his storage bag and tossed it to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu caught the Jade Bottle, extended his Divine Sense to inspect it, and saw a considerable amount of golden sand inside, seemingly an ordinary sand but probably weighing more than a pound. Lin Shilu poured out a few grains of sand and rubbed them in his hand. A pleased expression crossed his face as he exclaimed softly. ¡°Golden Tide Sand.¡± Li nodded and said, ¡°Lin, as a Second Order Refiner, you surely understand the value of Golden Tide Sand better than I do. This bottle contains more than a pound of Golden Tide Sand, and if I were to trade it for just the five Supreme Spirit Swords, I would be at a loss.¡± After hearing this, Lin Shilu also recognized the validity of Li¡¯s comments. Golden Tide Sand is a Third Order Spiritual Ore which can greatly enhance the hardness and attack power of a weapon. It has a miraculous effect, and Golden Core Experts also use this material in their Magical Treasures. It is highly valuable and exceedingly rare; indeed, the value of more than a pound of Golden Tide Sand exceeds that of the Supreme Spiritual Artifacts by a lot. As a Second Order Refiner, Lin Shilu really didn¡¯t want to pass up such a rare Spirit Ore, so he inquired about Li¡¯s preference. ¡°Then, what treasures would Fellow Daoist Li like to obtain in exchange for this Golden Tide Sand?¡± Li looked at the five Spirit Swords and the Defensive Spiritual Tool and said, ¡°Those two Spirit Artifacts and an additional two thousand Spirit Stones. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Lin?¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Lin Shilu immediately accepted the exchange proposal. Both parties secured the treasures, with the remaining Third Order Spiritual Medicine quickly traded to another Loose Cultivator for a piece of Third Order Spirit Iron. Thus, Lin Shilu succeeded in trading all three of his items, attaining more than a pound of Golden Tide Sand and a piece of Third Order Spirit Iron. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next, Su He brought out two items for trade: one was a foot-tall Spiritual Medicine with purple-black leaves emitting a unique fragrance. The other was the corpse of a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast, well-preserved. As the items were presented before everyone, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°Purple Yin Grass?¡± Lin Tianming grasped the Spiritual Medicine in his hand, repeatedly confirming its characteristics and attributes. ¡°` Chapter 151 - 151 - 125: Exchange Meeting_3 Chapter 151 ¨C 125: Exchange Meeting_3 Before long, Lin Tianming was certain this Spirit Grass was indeed the main Purple Yin Grass required for the Hun Tian Pill formula, and its medicinal age met the alchemy requirements. Several years had passed since he obtained the Hun Tian Pill formula. Stay updated through empire During this period, the Lin Family had acquired a vast number of treasures. Although they found Purple Yin Grass in the Jin Family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden, the medicinal age was insufficient to refine the Hun Tian Pill. Unexpectedly, Su He actually possessed mature Purple Yin Grass. After placing the Spirit Grass back into the Jade Box, Lin Tianming immediately sent a voice transmission to Lin Shilu, recounting the issue of the Hun Tian Pill formula and the situation with the Purple Yin Grass. Lin Shilu nodded. He was aware that Lin Tianming had obtained the Hun Tian Pill formula. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t let the opportunity to acquire mature Purple Yin Grass slip by. ¡°Su Daoyou, may I ask what item you would like to exchange for your treasure?¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su He indicated that he was looking to exchange for elixirs used in cultivation or defensive Magic Artifacts, and if that wasn¡¯t possible, a Supreme Defensive Spirit Artifact would suffice. ... Lin Shilu took out a small round shield, which was also a Supreme Quality Spiritual Artifact. After taking the small shield and bargaining with Lin Shilu, Su He completed the exchange smoothly with an additional one thousand Spirit Stones. The corpse of a Second Order Demonic Beast was traded to Luo Chenggu for a bottle of elixirs and one thousand Spirit Stones. The trade meeting continued; the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators also produced some treasures for exchange, though the value was clearly not comparable to the treasures presented by Lin Shilu and the others. Even so, Lin Xingyuan exchanged some Spirit Stones and a Spiritual Artifact for items suitable for himself, and Lin Tianming also purchased several Spiritual Medicine Materials of the Second Order, all essential for his cultivation elixir materials. Luo Chenggu and the others had some gains as well: each acquired what they needed, exchanging suitable items for useful ones. After half a day, the exchange meeting concluded. The cultivators chatted casually for a few moments, said their farewells, and some cultivators left the stone chamber first. Lin Shilu and his two companions hadn¡¯t left yet. As Sun Dingfeng and several others departed, only Su He remained with the three of them in the stone chamber. Lin Tianming took out tea service and poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for everyone, then sat next to Lin Shilu. Sipping from his tea cup, Su He pondered the reason why Lin Shilu had asked him to stay. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t beat around the bush and said directly: ¡°Su Daoyou, I wonder if you have any more Purple Yin Grass? I would like to exchange for a few more. Rest assured, the price will definitely satisfy you.¡± Su He was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Shilu¡¯s reason for asking him to stay was this matter. ¡°Lin Daoyou, I truly apologize, this was indeed the only plant, which I have already traded to you. I also suffered some injuries to obtain it.¡± While his sincere response left Lin Shilu half-convinced, he nevertheless felt somewhat helpless. ¡°Su Daoyou, forgive my impudence, but may I know where you acquired this herb? Can you share this information? Our Lin Family is willing to purchase this news, and we hope Su Daoyou will oblige.¡± Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Su He fell into thought. After hesitating and recalling the dangerous process of acquiring the Purple Yin Grass, he agreed to disclose its origin. After a quarter of an hour, Su He recounted how he obtained the Purple Yin Grass. Lin Shilu handed over two thousand Spirit Stones to Su He in exchange for a map drawn by Su He. Their transaction concluded, Su He didn¡¯t wish to linger and took the initiative to take his leave. Lin Shilu did not stop him, personally seeing him off from the auction. Afterward, Lin Tianming and his two companions also left the auction venue and headed to the small courtyard in the market area. Chapter 152 - 152 - 126 Plan_1 Chapter 152 ¨C 126 Plan_1 ¡°` Having left the auction hall, Lin Tianming and two others walked on the streets of Luoyun Market. Although the triennial auction had ended, the market was still bustling with people, many cultivators who had left the auction empty-handed were browsing stalls and shops. Walking on foot, Lin Shilu and his companions attracted the attention of numerous cultivators. Lin Shilu had long been famous, and his name was known to nearly all Qi Refining Cultivators; upon seeing him in person, many cultivators came forward to pay their respects. Lin Shilu wore a smile and was very warm, without putting on airs, he chatted casually with some Qi Refining Cultivators, exciting them greatly. After a short while, the three managed to disperse the enthusiastic cultivators and returned to the Lin Family Courtyard in Luoyun Market. ... The three sat in the courtyard, Lin Shilu laid out the Beast Skin Map provided by Su He on the stone table, and they each studied the content recorded on the map. According to Su He, the Purple Yin Grass was also something he had come across by chance. A year ago, he ventured deep into the Luoyun Mountain Range in search of treasure and was chased by a Second Order Superior Demonic Beast. In a bid to save his life, he fled headlong into a valley and managed to shake off the Demonic Beast that was pursuing him. After escaping danger, while he searched the valley, he unexpectedly found the Third Order Purple Yin Grass, which made him believe his luck had turned. Unfortunately, before he could rejoice, he awoke a slumbering Demonic Beast in the valley. Already greatly weakened, he knew he was no match and was forced to flee for his life again. Fortunately, the Demonic Beast had a limited range of activity. He exhausted a great number of treasures and sustained serious injuries, but he managed to escape the territory of the Demonic Beast and saved his life. The relieved Su He did not dare to linger in the belly of the Luoyun Mountain Range, left the inner area in haste, and only sought a place to recover his injuries once he reached the peripheral areas. Inside the courtyard, Lin Tianming looked at the map and calmly asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, do you think what Su told us is credible?¡± To Lin Tianming¡¯s uncertainty, Lin Shilu expressed his opinion. ¡°I believe Su He¡¯s words are quite credible. This person has a clear background, has been around Luoyun Market for many years, and holds no grudges against our Lin Family; he is unlikely to deceive us.¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Xingyuan, who had been silent, also said, ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, it is still best to be cautious relying solely on his account!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, aware that one can never easily trust the words of outsiders. ¡°Tian Ming, what do you think? Feel free to speak!¡± Being asked by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming was also hard-pressed to judge the credibility, but he still shared his opinion. ¡°Just now, Su also mentioned that he can¡¯t guarantee whether there are other Purple Yin Grasses in that valley. Regardless of whether there still exists Purple Yin Grass, I suggest we explore it; the benefits of Purple Yin Grass need no explanation. With it, the cultivation of our family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators can be enhanced. Therefore, this trip is necessary.¡± After hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s reasoning, Lin Shilu and another person also found it sensible; indeed, a Third Order Spiritual Medicine such as Purple Yin Grass was entirely worth sending someone for. Having decided, Lin Shilu immediately made arrangements. Lin Xingyuan was to continue overseeing the market while he and Lin Tianming would set off at once, returning to the family to discuss the matter with Lin Shikang before making a decision. And with a Second Order Superior Demonic Beast guarding that valley, if they let Lin Shikang take charge, it would be much safer. After instructing Lin Xingyuan on a few things, Lin Tianming and another got up from the courtyard and prepared to hurry back to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Leaving the market, it was almost evening, Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle. This Spirit Beast of Lin Tianming was something he was very familiar with; the two of them had traveled to many places on the Purple Gold Eagle, and after more than a year¡¯s absence, he hadn¡¯t expected it to have also advanced in rank. The two hopped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, and Lin Shilu praised it highly, looking very pleased. ¡°` A sharp screech and the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, turning into a lingering shadow as it flew towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. Seated upon the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, feeling the swift speed that was much faster than before, they probably wouldn¡¯t need more than four hours to hurry back to Green Bamboo Mountain. True to their expectations, after a little over an hour and with the Purple Gold Eagle flying at full speed, the two returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming and his companion didn¡¯t stop to rest but went straight to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. The three sat in the small courtyard, drinking tea, and after a short while, Lin Shihua also hurried over. Lin Shilu recounted the process of obtaining the Purple Yin Grass and Su He¡¯s words, bringing joy to Lin Shikang and the others. Looking at the map Lin Shilu took out, Lin Shikang said with a joyful smile, ¡°Shi Lu, you did well. I believe Tian Ming¡¯s view is more prudent. The Purple Yin Grass is extremely important. Regardless of whether it¡¯s true or false, we must explore!¡± Seeing Lin Shikang agree readily, the group discussed the details and plans for searching for the Purple Yin Grass. In half a quarter of an hour, Lin Shikang gave his orders for the arrangements after their departure. ¡°Shi Lu, this trip will take us deep into the heart of the Luoyun Mountain Range, where there are numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. It¡¯s not wise to bring too many people. It will be just Shihua and I going lightly equipped. When we leave, the family must leave two behind to guard, so the task falls to you and Shi Gong!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangements, Lin Shilu was somewhat worried. According to Su He, there were numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts in that place, and the risk was not small for just the two of them. But at the moment, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the clan were occupied with their tasks, with Lin Xingyuan at the market and Lin Xingrong at Golden Horn Mountain; indeed, there were no clan members available to mobilize. Just as Lin Shilu was in a dilemma, he suddenly slapped his forehead and a flicker of joy crossed his face. ¡°There¡¯s still this kid! I almost forgot about him!¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Third brother, I¡¯m also somewhat worried about just the two of you going. Shihua¡¯s cultivation is not high, and solely relying on him might not be much help. It¡¯s better to take Tian Ming with you. The kid is full of cunning tricks and has some unknown methods that will surely be of help.¡± Before he had finished speaking, Lin Tianming also volunteered to join Lin Shikang. Thinking of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, though he was only at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, his might was probably not inferior to Lin Shihua¡¯s. Combined with his endless array of methods, he might indeed be a great help. At this point, Lin Shikang was not persistent anymore and said, Stay connected with ¡°Alright, then tomorrow morning, Shihua and Tian Ming will join me in entering Luoyun Mountain Range to search for Purple Yin Grass, and you will be responsible for guarding the family.¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s agreement, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were also pleased and readily agreed. Lin Shikang nodded, seeing that the group had come to a decision, and without further ado, he firmly gave his orders, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, you¡¯re hurried from traveling, and must be tired. Everyone should return to rest, and we¡¯ll meet at the mountain gate tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Shilu and the others stood up to answer, then bade each other farewell, each returning to their own cave dwellings. Lin Tianming also returned to the Lin Family Courtyard. His mother was in closed-door cultivation, and after explaining to his sister, he went back to his room to rest. Lying on his own bed, it was not long before he fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 153 - 153 - 127 Crimson Gold Snake_1 Chapter 153 ¨C 127 Crimson Gold Snake_1 The morning of the next day. The darkness gradually gave way to light, and a ray of sunlight pierced through the fog, shining upon the serene and tranquil peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At this time, the majority of the clan was still cultivating or deep in slumber, Lin Tianming left his small courtyard and flew towards the mountain gate. A period long enough to drink a cup of tea had passed, and Lin Tianming appeared in the square at the mountain gate. There was still some time before the agreed hour, and neither Lin Shikang nor Lin Shihua had arrived yet, so Lin Tianming, having nothing better to do, examined the reconstructed mountain gate. Several years had passed since the great battle, and the once riddled mountain gate had long been rebuilt. Taking two years, the newly constructed mountain gate was located between two small hills; on a plaza below stood several towering pavilions and a hundred-zhang-wide gorge connected the inner part of the clan territory, with the massive mountain gate made of blue stone, majestic and imposing. ... Looking at the greatly changed mountain gate, it finally had a bit of the Foundation Establishing families¡¯ momentum. Just at that moment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua flew out from the gorge and landed on the square. Lin Tianming took a step forward and bowed deeply to the two elders. ¡°Tian Ming pays respects to Third Grandfather and Twelfth Grandpa!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, and Lin Tianming stepped aside, waiting for Lin Shikang¡¯s further instructions. ¡°Tian Ming, let¡¯s use your Purple Gold Eagle to travel!¡± Lin Tianming certainly wouldn¡¯t refuse and hurriedly released the Purple Gold Eagle. The three men mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shikang checked the map in his hand, confirmed the direction, and then opened the Protective Clan Formation. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings and soared into the sky, flew through the Protective Clan Formation into the thick fog, and headed towards the Luoyun Mountain Range in the west. Half a day went by¡­ At noon, on the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range, close to the inner area, the figures of three people appeared on a barren hill. With Lin Shikang, a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, anchoring the rear, the journey was quite smooth; a few First Order Demonic Beasts that obstructed their path were easily slain without much resistance. After a brief pause, Lin Shikang once again took out the map to confirm that their route was correct. ¡°We are about to enter the inner area of the mountain range soon, and the likelihood of encountering Second Order Demonic Beasts increases significantly. We can¡¯t use the Purple Gold Eagle for travel anymore. From now on, both of you follow closely behind me, and don¡¯t fall behind. If an unexpected situation arises, you two act according to circumstances,¡± he instructed them. ¡°Understood!¡± After Lin Shikang gave his instructions, the two nodded, and Lin Tianming stored the Purple Gold Eagle into the Spirit Beast Ring, with all three drawing their weapons, thoroughly prepared. Lin Shikang leaped forward, leading the way, with the other two closely following behind, disappearing into the forest. Their footsteps were light, their speed was incredibly fast, skimming over the treetops like dragonflies skittering across water. Two days went by, and the trio traveled by day and rested at night. They had already ventured hundreds of miles deep into the belly of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Over the past two days, it was not as relaxed as it was in the outer regions. During their journey, they encountered a Demon Beast Tribe led by two Second Order Low-Grade Beasts. After a battle, it took some effort before the whole Demon Beast Tribe was slain. Once the battlefield was cleared and the territory of the beasts was looted, they only obtained some Second Order Spiritual Medicine, which was not a great gain, but undeterred, they hit the road again. A day later, at the edge of a quiet gorge, Lin Tianming and the others halted their steps, standing atop a large tree. Before them, two towering mountains stood tall, a magnificent sight to behold. In the middle, a bottomless gorge was shrouded in a dense fog, surrounded by lush forests, and the still air held an eerie breath. Lin Shikang looked at the surrounding terrain and compared it with the map, finally revealing a trace of a smile on his face. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived, this gorge in front of us is the place marked on the map!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the other person showed a look of solemnity and joy, and they too started observing this place that left a deep impression on Su He. After a Divine Sense detection, they found the fog greatly limited Divine Sense; the deeper they went, the more drastically the coverage reduced, and the discernible areas were eerily quiet, seemingly without anomaly. Lin Shikang, with a serious expression, said to Lin Tianming and the other, ¡°You must have felt the limitations on Divine Sense. After my probing, I haven¡¯t noticed the presence of Purple Yin Grass for the time being. It seems that if we want to find the Spiritual Medicine, we will have to venture further in!¡± The situation Lin Shikang described was already noticed by the two of them, but since the range of their detection was limited, they weren¡¯t as significantly affected. ¡°What are your thoughts? Feel free to speak up!¡± Facing Lin Shikang¡¯s inquiry, Lin Shihua furrowed his brows and resolutely said: ¡°Third brother, since we¡¯re already here, we naturally should explore a bit. With your cultivation and the assistance of the Golden Wind Sword, as long as we don¡¯t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast, even if we cannot defeat a Second Order Late Stage Beast, you should be able to escape with Tian Ming.¡± Lin Shikang nodded, and seeing that the two had no intention of retreating, he spoke: ¡°I¡¯ll go in first to scout. If I encounter an attack, there will surely be a disturbance. At that time, give the signal as we agreed upon, and you two come in to assist me.¡± Tian Ming and the other person nodded in agreement. Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangements were more cautious. If the area inside was very dangerous, their entry wouldn¡¯t be much help and would only distract him. ¡°Third brother, be careful. If the strength of the demonic beast is too strong, just give up on this operation!¡± After Lin Shihua finished speaking, Tian Ming also advised: ¡°Twelfth Grandpa is right. As long as the green hills are there, we won¡¯t fear running out of firewood. A few years from now when our clan has more Foundation Establishment clan members, we can make another attempt!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I am aware of the risks. You two be careful as well. The area here is relatively safe for now. If I cannot hold against the enemy, you must immediately leave.¡± After instructing them, Lin Shikang took out his Magical Treasure, the Golden Wind Sword, and cautiously crept towards the valley. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Shikang disappeared from the range of their Divine Sense, Tian Ming and his companion watched over the valley with vigilance, anxiously waiting. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and Lin Shikang had advanced more than ten li. At this moment, the valley shrouded in thick fog was eerily silent. As he ventured deeper, both his vision and Divine Sense were increasingly affected, and the sky, which was clear just moments before, gradually darkened. Lin Shikang stopped on a large boulder, looking ahead and sensing the surroundings. Knowing there might be Second Order demonic beasts, he paused every li to check his surroundings, ensuring safety before proceeding. After a century of cultivation, it was precisely because of his prudence that he managed to turn many dangers into safety. He couldn¡¯t afford to be careless now more than ever. At this point, Lin Shikang extended his Divine Sense to its fullest, exploring areas he had not checked before. With the aid of his Divine Sense, everything in the vicinity was relayed back to his mind, not a single flower or blade of grass escaped his notice. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Suddenly, an image of a purple-black plant about a foot tall growing in a crevice of a rockwall flashed through his mind. ¡°There is indeed a mature Purple Yin Grass!¡± Upon a meticulous inspection, the Spirit Grass appearing at the edge of his Divine Sense was conclusively a mature Purple Yin Grass. Finding the mature Purple Yin Grass after such effort excited Lin Shikang. Even then, he did not lower his guard at all, slowly moving forward, weapon in hand, ready to face any unseen dangers. As he got closer to the Purple Yin Grass, faint sounds emerged from the once silent valley, hardly perceptible. Accompanied by the sound of the wind breaking, a large green-chestnut colored snake shot out from the darkness of the valley. The crimson snake moved with surprising agility despite its tens of zhang long body. With its mouth wide open, the metre-long forked tongue lunged at him in a rather horrifying manner. ¡°Indeed, it is a Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s face changed, and as he hastily retreated, he swung the Magic Artifact in his hand, the Golden Wind Sword, casting several strands of Golden Sword Qi towards the Crimson Gold Snake. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± The Crimson Gold Snake twisted its body in an odd fashion, dodging his attack. Behind the Crimson Gold Snake, several towering trees bore the brunt of his assault and collapsed in an instant, stirring up thick fog and dust. Taking advantage of the moment the Crimson Gold Snake dodged, he had already retreated a hundred zhang away. Once he steadied himself and confirmed there was only this demonic beast present, he thrust his Golden Wind Sword into the sky, sending a unique strand of Sword Qi flying a thousand zhang high into the air. A golden bamboo pattern formed by the Golden Sword Qi hung high in the sky, its dazzling brilliance lasting for a full three breaths before dissipating. Chapter 154 - 154 - 128: The Power of Spirit Art_1 Chapter 154 ¨C 128: The Power of Spirit Art_1 Outside the valley, Lin Tianming and his companion hid in the treetops, anxiously waiting and looking ahead. Since Lin Shikang had entered, it had already been half an hour, yet the silent valley remained calm. Lin Tianming was somewhat worried about Lin Shikang¡¯s safety and looked tense. He couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, Third Grandfather has been in there for so long, why is there no movement at all?¡± Lin Shihua also felt anxious inside but dared not show any sign of it. He could only pretend to be calm and said, ¡°No movement means that Third Brother is relatively safe. Let¡¯s wait patiently a little longer. Once the message comes, we will immediately go in to assist him!¡± Before he had finished speaking, sudden booming sounds erupted from deep within the gorge. ... The expressions on Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces changed instantly as they focused intently ahead, not daring to miss even the smallest bit of information. At that moment, a streak of golden light flashed across the dim sky and soared high, condensing into the shape of a bamboo. The Golden Bamboo was extremely conspicuous as it passed through the thick fog and came into their view. ¡°What is that?¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face was flushed as he said to Lin Tianming, ¡°That¡¯s the signal method we agreed upon with Third Brother; he¡¯s hinting to us that we can enter!¡± ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, there is no time to delay, let¡¯s go in now!¡± Lin Tianming was the first to react. He reminded Lin Shihua and then charged into the gorge, rushing toward the marked direction. Lin Shihua did not dare to hesitate. He leaped forward and quickly followed Lin Tianming¡¯s pace, disappearing at the entrance. ¡­ Inside the gorge, Lin Tianming and his companion moved like agile monkeys, swiftly navigating the treetops. Following the path that Lin Shikang had scouted and marked, they didn¡¯t need to be on guard everywhere. As a result, their speed greatly increased, several times faster than when Lin Shikang had entered. Despite Lin Shihua¡¯s divine sense and eyesight being obstructed, Lin Tianming relied on the Eye of Five Colors, his vision unaffected in the slightest. As the noises grew increasingly intense, they were drawing closer and closer to Lin Shikang¡¯s location. After just over ten breaths¡¯ time, they were less than five hundred zhang away from Lin Shikang. Ahead of them, Lin Shikang at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level was locked in fierce battle with a Crimson Gold Snake in the late phase of the Second Order. Lin Shikang, with a single-handed seal, released a series of fireballs as thick as water buckets accompanied by various grades of talismans, shrouding the massive body of the Crimson Gold Snake. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sky rained down fiery attacks on the Crimson Gold Snake, and once the firelight dissipated, the enormous form of the Crimson Gold Snake was revealed. Green and yellow scales showed several charred spots, with two areas at the top fleshed open; however, these injuries were merely like scratches to the body of a Second Order Crimson Gold Snake. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± With a piercing shriek, the Crimson Gold Snake violently swung its head, spitting out a yard-long tongue as sticky saliva dribbled from its giant mouth. Though it did not sustain a fatal injury, its fury grew as Lin Shikang repeatedly dodged its attacks. The Crimson Gold Snake lashed out with its huge tail, sweeping directly toward Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang leaped vertically over a hundred zhang, dodging the strike narrowly. Behind him, several large trees were snapped at the trunk, creating deep pits in the ground. Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was grave. After more than a dozen exchanges with the beast, relying on his Golden Wind Sword and combining it with talisman papers, he did not expect to defeat the Crimson Gold Snake but hoped to delay it a while, to wear down its ferocity. The Crimson Gold Snake, which had not gained an upper hand after a prolonged battle, glared at Lin Shikang with its blood-red eyes and twisted its body, becoming even more berserk. As Lin Shihua and the other arrived, Lin Shikang¡¯s face showed a hint of excitement. The three stood side by side atop the few remaining trees, watchfully eyeing the Crimson Gold Snake. ¡°Shihua, the two of you distract this beast from the side; we¡¯ll join forces to besiege it. Quick battle to avoid drawing other demonic beasts.¡± ¡°Alright, everyone be careful!¡± The trio exchanged a few words before Lin Shikang took the lead, waving his Golden Wind Sword and unleashing increasingly fierce Sword Qi, stirring the surrounding air into a whistling frenzy. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, conjuring all his Earth Evil Swords to join Lin Shihua in a flank attack on the Crimson Gold Snake from another side. When all three went all out, the canyon was lit with flashes of fire as earthshaking noises echoed around. With limited strength, Lin Tianming and his companion didn¡¯t dare to get too close, hovering around the periphery to constrain their foe while taking the opportunity to set up the Sword Array. The Crimson Gold Snake, now forced to be on guard, appeared extremely frustrated throughout the battle. As the fight intensified, dozens of rounds went by in brutal combat, reaching a critical and white-hot stage. Under the combined attack of the trio, the Crimson Gold Snake started to falter, gradually accumulating wounds all over its body. With a full-force attack from the three, the Crimson Gold Snake couldn¡¯t attend to threats from both sides and was forced to twist its body to avoid vital hits. The Sword Qi transformed from the Golden Wind Sword was incredibly fast, and the Crimson Gold Snake, failing to dodge, got hit with the Sword Qi on its tail. Opening its huge, bloody maw, the Crimson Gold Snake let out a painful shriek. Its tail now bore a massive wound, and it was on the verge of being severed, as thick as a water bucket. The pained Crimson Gold Snake completely lost its sanity, its blood-red eyes focusing on Lin Tianming and his partner as if determined to dispose of these two annoying nuisances. The Crimson Gold Snake spat out two thick streams of water from its mouth that quickly solidified into hard blocks of ice, hurtling towards Lin Tianming and his companion. Seeing the Crimson Gold Snake suddenly change targets, Lin Shikang shouted anxiously: ¡°Tianming, that¡¯s the Crimson Gold Snake¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, dodge it quickly!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s shout, Lin Tianming and his partner were horrified. They didn¡¯t dare to face the Crimson Gold Snake¡¯s Innate Divine Ability head on and, in a retreat, threw out several Second Order Defense Talismans to form two Defensive Shields in front of them. Not daring to hold back and knowing that mere Second Order Defense Talismans might not withstand the assault, they each drew out their Defensive Spiritual Tools to securely protect themselves. As the Crimson Gold Snake launched its attack and its attention was diverted, Lin Tianming took a risk and activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to envelop the snake¡¯s massive body. Feeling the barriers around it and the wandering Sword Qi, the Crimson Gold Snake gave up on its continued assault on Lin Tianming and his partner, striving to break free from the Sword Array. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A series of explosions followed, the talisman-created Shield shattered, and the ice lodged slammed onto the Defensive Spiritual Tools protecting Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua. ¡°Thud, thud¡­¡± With the chilling ice striking their Defensive Spiritual Tools, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua each spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood. The two were sent flying backward like kites with broken strings, retreating dozens of feet away. Regaining their balance, they looked at their nearly destroyed Supreme Quality Spiritual Artifacts with pale faces and a shudder of fear in their hearts. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Tianming¡¯s timely activation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, forcing the Crimson Gold Snake to abandon its target, the two of them would have been in great jeopardy. Just as Lin Tianming and his companion escaped the dangerous situation, and while Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Array had the Crimson Gold Snake trapped for a moment, Lin Shikang bellowed: ¡°Beast, meet your end!¡± A silver-white Sword Qi burst forth from his palm, its terrifying energy shining as brightly as sunlight, cutting through the dim sky and heading straight for the Crimson Gold Snake. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this familiar and terrifying Sword Qi, Lin Tianming was somewhat stunned and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming: ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art?¡± The Crimson Gold Snake felt the breath of death and desperately tried to escape its bindings. In just a moment, it broke through the range of the Sword Array. The Sword Array broke, and Lin Tianming suffered a backlash, spurting out blood again, his face going utterly pale. As the Crimson Gold Snake crossed the Sword Array, the silver-white Sword Qi blasted into its vital seven-inch area. ¡°Puff¡­¡± After a thudding sound, the Crimson Gold Snake fell, its huge head crashing into the ground, carving out a deep pit upon impact. The decapitated Crimson Gold Snake was a pitiful sight, blood pouring out and quickly pooling into a puddle. The snake, not yet dead, relied on its strong vitality to continue struggling. Unfortunately, with such severe injuries, even a Second Order Demonic Beast was beyond saving. In a short while, the Crimson Gold Snake stopped struggling and was clearly lifeless. Seeing the Crimson Gold Snake completely dead, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, and the two injured companions sat down on the ground, exhausted. Chapter 155 - 155 - 129: Treasure All Over_1 Chapter 155 ¨C 129: Treasure All Over_1 As the Crimson Gold Snake died, Lin Shikang fell from the sky to the ground. With no time to clean up the battlefield, he sat down on the ground, gasping for breath. Seeing that Lin Tianming and the other person were not in grave danger, the three of them each took elixirs and began to recover from their injuries and restore their spiritual power. Lin Shikang had merely exhausted a great deal of spiritual power, and his injuries were not serious. Just by taking a few Huiyuan Pills, he could recover to his full victorious state. However, there was a significant gap in cultivation between Lin Tianming and the other individual, having been attacked by the Crimson Gold Snake¡¯s innate divine ability. Despite the attack¡¯s short duration, they still sustained serious injuries and would need at least half a month of quiet cultivation to fully recover. After half an hour, Lin Shikang had slightly restored some spiritual power and already possessed some self-protective strength. He stood up and gazed at the extremely tragic battlefield. After the fierce battle, the inside of the canyon was in disarray, lofty trees lay toppled in all directions, and the ground was marred with shocking gullies. ... The enormous body of the Crimson Gold Snake lay on the ground, its head separated from its body, and the blood that had spurted from the wound had collected into a pool of blood, with the smell of blood permeating the air. Looking at the mostly intact but headless corpse of the Crimson Gold Snake, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but feel a tremor in his heart. He was utterly shocked by the Spirit Art used to finally kill the Crimson Gold Snake. Since obtaining the upper part of the Spirit Art, all the higher-ups in the family had tried to cultivate it, and he was one of the first clan members to practice the art. Over the years, only a few clan members had successfully condensed Sword Qi, and the Silver-White Sword Qi he had released was the result of over two years of nurturing. According to his estimate, the Silver-White Sword Qi released to kill the Crimson Gold Snake was even more powerful than the divine skills that came with the Cultivation Technique. For such destructive power, which exceeded his expectations, he was very satisfied, and even fantasized that if he could nurture the Sword Qi for ten years, its might could possibly become several times stronger. Putting his thoughts aside, he began to clean up the battlefield. The entire body of the Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake was a treasure. Its sharp fangs and tail could be used to craft Attack Talismans, its scales and skin to forge two sets of Defense Artifacts, the Demon Core could be used in alchemy, and consuming the flesh could strengthen the body¡ªtruly, not a single part would go to waste. Taking out the magic Artifact Golden Wind Sword, its sharp blade easily pierced through the abdomen of the Crimson Gold Snake, from which he extracted a fist-sized Demon Core. He stored the invaluable Demon Core in his storage bag, then proceeded to strip the Crimson Gold Snake of its scales and skin. In a short while, the several dozen zhang long body of the Crimson Gold Snake was disassembled, with all the parts usable for pill concoction and weapon forging taken, and even the flesh was cut into sections and arranged to one side. Having dealt with the corpse of the Crimson Gold Snake, he tidied up the thoroughly damaged battlefield for half an hour, practically erasing all traces of the great battle. After finishing the basic cleaning, nearly an hour had passed. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming, who had been healing, was the first to stand up, a hint of a rosy hue returning to his pale cheeks. Although his injuries were more serious than Lin Shihua¡¯s, given his robust body, their recovery power was not on the same level when compared. Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries had basically stabilized at this point, and as long as he didn¡¯t engage in desperate combat again, he could recover on his own with some rest. As he stood up, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Shihua beside him, saw that his complexion was gradually improving, and then walked toward Lin Shikang. ¡°Tian Ming, how are your injuries?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming stand up and walk over, Lin Shikang asked anxiously. ¡°Third Grandfather, my injuries are not serious; you don¡¯t have to worry about me!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, his complexion as ruddy as usual, showing no unusual signs, which finally reassured Lin Shikang. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but inquire, ¡°Third Grandfather, the Silver-White Sword Qi you released to kill the Crimson Gold Snake, was it the Great Sun Sword Qi Art?¡± Lin Shikang chuckled and nodded in response to the guess. Although Lin Tianming had anticipated this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised when Lin Shikang personally confirmed it. The terrifying silver-white Sword Qi had, with one stroke, decapitated the Crimson Gold Snake, and the powerful visual impact was something he would not forget any time soon. ¡°Truly worthy of being the legendary Profound Grade Spirit Art!¡± Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh with admiration and, at the same time, was exceedingly glad that he had the discerning eye to stumble upon such a great bargain. At this point, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression gradually became somber as he earnestly advised, ¡°Tianming, the power of this Spirit Art is incredibly strong. I have merely nurtured it for a little over two years, and its explosive power is no less than the innate divine abilities that come with the cultivation technique. In the future, our clansmen must not use this art lightly unless absolutely necessary. If word gets out, it could bring catastrophe to our family!¡± Lin Tianming was well aware of the seriousness of this matter and firmly replied, ¡°Tian Ming remembers!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang was quite reassured and pleased with this junior family member, and his face soon returned to a state of calm. ¡°Tianming, you should collect some of the Crimson Gold Snake¡¯s body, as well as this pool of snake blood; they are excellent supplements for your Spirit Beast, the Purple Gold Eagle. I have already gathered a fair amount to take back to our clan to feed the Soul-eating Spider. With these supplements, I¡¯m sure the Soul-eating Spider can fully recover from its injuries and perhaps even progress further.¡± After Lin Shikang¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming was not bashful and immediately released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Ring. Upon seeing the pool of snake blood and flesh, the Purple Gold Eagle was extremely excited, as if it had encountered some nourishing delicacy. ¡°Go ahead.¡± At Lin Tianming¡¯s command, the Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t hesitate and rushed forward, swallowing half the pool of snake blood in one go before gulping down a segment of snake flesh, excitedly twirling its head. Before long, overwhelmed by the strong energy in the blood and flesh and being only at the First Order Late Stage, the Purple Gold Eagle began to feel drowsy. ¡°Hehe, this silly bird, acting as if it can¡¯t overeat!¡± Lin Tianming laughingly scolded, then put the drowsy bird back into the Spirit Beast Bag, and took out a huge number of Jade Bottles to collect the remaining half of the snake blood. Not only that, but he also deftly gathered several segments of snake flesh to leave some edibles for the foolish bird. After busying himself for half an hour, he had collected all the snake blood and flesh from the ground. With the site now cleared, Lin Tianming and the other sat down to rest for a while. After a little while, Lin Shihua finished his meditation and stood up to walk over to them. ¡°Shihua, how are your injuries?¡± ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, how are your injuries?¡± Both Lin Tianming¡¯s questions were laden with concern, warming Lin Shihua¡¯s heart. ¡°Third Grandfather, Tianming, my injuries are not serious, and I will recover after some quiet rest. You don¡¯t have to worry!¡± Lin Shihua laughed heartily, seeming almost the same as before the great battle. ¡°Third Grandfather, the silver-white Sword Qi that killed the Crimson Gold Snake was¡­?¡± Lin Shihua stopped short, sharing the same thought as Lin Tianming. As soon as his injuries had slightly healed, he immediately sought confirmation from Lin Shikang about the source of the terrifying Sword Qi. Lin Shikang chuckled again, repeating the explanation and likewise did not forget to give further instructions until Lin Shihua promised to comply, which put him somewhat at ease. Chapter 156 - 156 - 130 A Bountiful Harvest_1 Chapter 156 ¨C 130 A Bountiful Harvest_1 After the matter of Spirit Arts had settled, Lin Shihua no longer brought it up and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Third Brother, did you find the Purple Yin Grass?¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s question reminded the two of the ultimate goal of their mission. Returning to the main topic, Lin Shikang began to recount what happened after he entered the canyon. ¡°I was very cautious upon entering. Every time I advanced a distance, I stopped to confirm it was safe. Indeed, I discovered a stalk of Purple Yin Grass, but the Crimson Gold Snake was extremely well hidden, hoping to ambush me. Fortunately, its strength was no greater than mine, and under my vigilance, it couldn¡¯t gain an advantage!¡± After listening, the two also broke out in a sweat for him. Luckily, Lin Shikang was cautious enough; otherwise, even if he wouldn¡¯t have fallen there, he might have suffered some injuries. ¡°Su He, that kid, was lucky and also very cautious. Otherwise, with his cultivation level, facing the powerful Crimson Gold Snake, it would already be fortunate if he didn¡¯t die, no wonder he looked so scared when he mentioned it!¡± ... Lin Shikang sighed and began to give instructions. ¡°This is not a place to linger. Now that everyone¡¯s injuries are stabilized, let¡¯s search this area quickly. Since Purple Yin Grass is of a Yin nature and likes to grow on cliffs and precipices, focus on places that fit these criteria to see if we can find any Purple Yin Grass!¡± ¡°Shihua, you and Tian Ming team up. Do not take it lightly. Search quickly on one side, and after an hour, we¡¯ll gather here.¡± Lin Shihua and Lin Tianming nodded, with Lin Shikang leading the way deeper into the canyon, while the two of them chose a direction and started their search. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming and his partner had traveled several miles, and as they went deeper, their Divine Sense and visibility declined significantly. At that moment, they arrived at the foot of a mountain, still empty-handed, having found nothing. Feeling the damp and chilly environment around them, with a slight breeze, it seemed to fit the growing conditions of the Purple Yin Grass. ¡°Tian Ming, this place meets the conditions for the growth of Purple Yin Grass. Let¡¯s speed up our search!¡± Looking at the mountain in front of him, Lin Tianming nodded. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, let¡¯s spread out a bit, that will make us more efficient. But don¡¯t stray too far from each other, in case we need to come to each other¡¯s aid in an emergency!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Having said that, Lin Shihua leapt up, flying towards the cliff face of the mountain. Not to be outdone, Lin Tianming, using the protruding rocks on the cliff as leverage, jumped with the agility of a monkey, his speed not at all inferior to Lin Shihua¡¯s. In the midst of moving quickly, Lin Tianming activated his Eye of Five Colors, his gaze piercing through layers of fog, searching for plants on the mountain¡¯s stone wall. Though his Divine Sense was greatly restricted, the Eye of Five Colors was unaffected, easily penetrating the fog and seeing the flowers, plants, and trees several miles away. After a quarter of an hour of searching, within a crevice of an uneven stone wall, a stalk of Spirit Grass about a foot high appeared in his sight, and not far from it, another half-foot-long plant was growing in a crevice. ¡°Purple Yin Grass!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression showed surprise, and he immediately rushed over, his speed increasing yet again. Soon, Lin Tianming reached the stone wall. He carefully dug up the dark purple Spirit Grass, holding it gently in his hands, and thoroughly checked it. ¡°It is indeed a mature Purple Yin Grass beyond doubt!¡± Lin Tianming was thrilled, and after spending nearly half an hour, he finally found a stalk of Purple Yin Grass. He placed the Purple Yin Grass into the prepared Jade Box and then dug up the nearby Purple Yin Grass seedling, along with the surrounding soil. Having collected the two stalks of Spirit Grass from the area, he embarked on his search again. Almost an hour had passed. Beneath the mountain where Lin Tianming and his partner were searching, Lin Shikang had already arrived first and was waiting there. A figure flashed through the mist and appeared in front of him; it was Lin Shihua, who had been searching the other side of the mountain. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, how were your findings?¡± Seeing Lin Shihua, Lin Tianming¡¯s face revealed a slight smile as he casually asked about his harvest. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s face, which looked as if he had tasted honey, Lin Shihua laughed and said: ¡°Heh heh, this old man found a mature Purple Yin Grass and three immature Spiritual Medicines. Looking at your cheerful demeanor, you must have harvested quite a bit, huh?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be long before it¡¯s time to meet with Third Grandfather, let¡¯s leave this place and report our findings after we¡¯ve regrouped.¡± Lin Tianming did not immediately report his harvest, which made Lin Shihua somewhat expectant. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shihua did not press further and took the lead in heading back in the direction they came from, with Lin Tianming quickly following and vanishing on the spot. Before long, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua had returned to the battleground. Lin Shikang had already been waiting there for them, and he immediately approached them as he saw Lin Shihua and Lin Tianming come out safely. The three briefly mentioned their search experiences and then reported their respective harvests. With the highest cultivation level, Lin Shikang searched the largest area and obtained four mature Purple Yin Grasses and seven seedlings. Lin Tianming took out three mature Purple Yin Grasses and five seedlings and handed them over to Lin Shikang. Taking Lin Tianming¡¯s harvest, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua were somewhat surprised. They admired him, offering praises after taking a fresh look at him. Although Lin Tianming had the lowest cultivation level, he covered a similarly large search area, and his findings, though slightly less than Lin Shikang¡¯s, were not far off. This expedition, spanning several days, yielded eight mature Purple Yin Grasses and fifteen seedlings in total. The goal of their trip was achieved, and the harvest they obtained far exceeded their expectations. The mature Purple Yin Grasses were invaluable, easily selling for thousands of Spirit Stones. There were hardly any willing sellers, so they were essentially priceless. Besides that, they had slain a Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake, acquiring a large amount of Alchemy and Qi Refinement materials. Even if they hadn¡¯t found the Purple Yin Grass, the value from just the corpse of the Crimson Gold Snake made the trip worthwhile. Sharing a smile, Lin Tianming and his companions calmed their excited hearts before Lin Shikang spoke: ¡°Now that our objective is achieved, we should make our way back to Green Bamboo Mountain!¡± Upon finishing his words, Lin Shikang took out the Beast Skin Map to confirm their route, leading Lin Tianming and his companion along the same path they took when entering. Two days later, the three of them successfully left the inner part of the Luoyun Mountain Range and appeared in a valley on the outskirts. Their journey was quite smooth, with no encounters with Second Order Demonic Beasts, saving them a lot of trouble. Since it was getting late and Lin Tianming and his companion were both injured and somewhat exhausted, and considering they were out of danger, there was no need to hurry on their journey. That evening, they set up camp on the spot and rested for the night before setting off again the next day. The next morning, as the sky began to lighten, Lin Tianming and his companions set off once more, flying toward Green Bamboo Mountain. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since the Purple Gold Eagle had fallen into a deep sleep from consuming too much Red Gold Snake Meat and blood, Lin Tianming did not forcefully summon it for transportation. Fortunately, they had already left the interior of the Luoyun Mountain Range, and there was no danger. Moreover, with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the proximity to the Lin Family¡¯s doorstep, they were safe. In just half a day, the three who could only travel by Sword Flight successfully returned to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Chapter 157 - 157 - 131 Mini Gathering_1 Chapter 157 ¨C 131 Mini Gathering_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds¡­ After returning safely to the clan, the three of them sighed with relief upon seeing that everything was as usual, then flew towards the main peak. In a courtyard, Lin Shikang sent out a message, and then the three sat in the small courtyard drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Before long, Lin Shigong and Lin Shilu learned that they had returned from the Luoyun Mountain Range and immediately rushed over. With the two joining in, the small courtyard became lively. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shikang spoke of their experiences during this period, and when he mentioned that Lin Tianming and the others were attacked by a Crimson Gold Snake, almost sustaining serious injuries. Hearing this, Lin Shigong¡¯s face changed color for a moment as he anxiously asked about their condition. ... ¡°Tianming, Shihua, are the two of you hurt?¡± Facing Lin Shigong¡¯s concern, Lin Tianming felt a warmth in his heart and hastily replied, S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Grandfather, our injuries aren¡¯t serious. We only need to rest and recover for half a month and we¡¯ll be completely healed. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°Yeah, Ninth Brother, the two of us are fine. But this kid Tianming, how come his recovery is so strong? Just a few days have passed, and he¡¯s already as energetic as a dragon and lively as a tiger.¡± Lin Shihua comforted Lin Shigong while teasing Lin Tianming, prompting laughter from everyone. After a short time, calmness returned to the group. Lin Shikang took out eight Jade Boxes containing Purple Yin Grass along with fifteen seedlings of the same and placed them on the round table in front of him, speaking seriously, ¡°These Spirit Grass seedlings need to be transplanted into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden as soon as possible. Shihua will be in charge of this task. As for these eight mature Purple Yin Grasses, plus the one exchanged from Su He, making a total of nine Purple Yin Grasses, we should discuss how to handle them.¡± Once he finished speaking, everyone fell into deep thought. The underlying meaning of Lin Shikang¡¯s words was naturally to refine the Hun Tian Pill and enhance their cultivation as soon as possible. Prior to this, after years of collection by the family, all Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Hun Tian Pill were gathered except for the Purple Yin Grass. Now that the main medicine was found, there was no time to delay. Lin Shihua, who was well aware of the family¡¯s situation, was the first to speak up. ¡°Ninth Brother, are you confident in refining the Hun Tian Pill now?¡± Lin Shigong shook his head, expressing regret, ¡°Although it has been over three years since I broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, my Alchemy skills have improved very little. Currently, I can only refine Second Order Inferior Grade Pills, with a success rate and yield of about thirty to forty percent, which is sufficient to maintain the daily cultivation needs of our Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, to refine the Second Order Medium Quality Hun Tian Pill is still far beyond my abilities!¡± Lin Shigong¡¯s words meant that the option of refining the pill within the family was out of the question, and they had to find an alternative method. ¡°Third Brother, you have been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level for a long time, and for those below the Sixth Level, the benefits of taking the Hun Tian Pill are too little. Our cultivation levels are too low, and we don¡¯t need the Hun Tian Pill in the short term.¡± After Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Shihua also added, ¡°Shilu is right. I think we should send someone with three portions of the Spiritual Medicine Materials to Qianchuan Market and ask Daoist Ye to take action. As for the remaining six plants, we can store them temporarily in the family¡¯s treasury. In ten or eight years, Ninth Brother should be able to refine them, and by that time, as our cultivation levels have increased, the Hun Tian Pills can be exchanged freely for five thousand Spirit Stone Goodness Points, which is beneficial in both respects!¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s plan and pricing were indeed prudent and reasonable. ¡°` Seeing no opposition and after deliberation, the arrangement for the Purple Yin Grass was decided on the spot. With too few Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family and their cultivations not high, it was decided that Lin Shilu would take three stalks of Purple Yin Grass and set a date to head to Qianchuan Market, requesting Ye Pinghai¡¯s help to concoct the Hun Tian Pill. Besides, he was also to carry a great amount of wealth to purchase scarce resources for the family, such as Second Order talisman paper and Spiritual Medicine Materials, among others. Lin Tianming¡¯s request to accompany Lin Shilu was outright rejected on the spot by Lin Shikang. The reason was his injury had not yet healed, and since he had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, the family wanted him to stay and urgently prepare for his Foundation Establishment. Under the resolute words of the elders, Lin Tianming had no choice but to comply with the arrangement. Having settled the matter of the Purple Yin Grass, Lin Shikang then brought up the issue of rewards. The Lin Family had always been clear about rewards and punishments since its inception. He was indifferent to the rewards, but Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua had been injured for this cause and naturally deserved a fair reward. As Lin Shikang mentioned this, he became silent, and Lin Shilu chuckled and was the first to speak: ¡°Third Brother contributed the most, receiving a Hun Tian Pill without cost and an additional reward of three thousand Spirit Stone Goodness Points. As for Shihua and Tianming, each shall receive a reward of five thousand Goodness Points, just enough to exchange for a Hun Tian Pill. How does everyone feel about this?¡± As participants in the search for the Purple Yin Grass, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua naturally would not voice any opinions, and Lin Shigong, concerning his grandson¡¯s reward, did not speak either. Seeing no one raised an objection and considering that not only had Lin Tianming and company been injured on their trip, but they also lost some talisman papers and treasures, they had indeed gone all out in their search for the Purple Yin Grass. Lin Shikang, well aware of their efforts, firmly said: ¡°I will accept the Hun Tian Pill, but as for the Goodness Points, let¡¯s forget about it. In earlier years, the family resources were scant, and most of them were spent on me. Now, Spirit Stone Goodness Points are of little use to me. As for the rewards for Shihua and Tianming, let¡¯s proceed as Shi Lu suggested!¡± With Lin Shikang¡¯s tone leaving no room for objection, everyone nodded in agreement, thus recognizing the decision. With the arrangements for the Purple Yin Grass and the reward matters concluded, Lin Tianming stood up, excused himself from the elders, and prepared to return to his retreat to heal. Lin Shihua was equally busy. He not only had to arrange for the transplanting of the Purple Yin Grass seedlings, but he also needed to recover from his injuries to avoid affecting the survival rate of the transplant, as it was Third Order Spirit Grass and not commonplace cabbage; the loss of even a single plant would be exceedingly distressing. Lin Shikang said nothing more, only instructing: ¡°I still have to discuss the matter of the Crimson Gold Snake¡¯s carcass with Shilu and the others about artifact refining. You can go and be busy; take care not to delay and leave behind some chronic condition!¡± After nodding to the elders, Lin Tianming and company greeted the other clan members and left Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard together. Back at his own courtyard, his mother was still in seclusion and had not emerged yet. After chatting idly with his sister for a while, Lin Tianming instructed her not to neglect her cultivation until she fully agreed, and then he plunged into the secret chamber. Sitting on the meditation cushion in the chamber, Lin Tianming examined his injuries. After a brief respite on the battlefield, his injuries had already recovered by half; the skin wounds had healed, leaving only some meridians in need of proper repair, lest he regret it later due to lingering complications. Determined, he quickly took out a dark green elixir from his storage bag, emitting a special fragrance ¡ª it was the top-grade Consolidating Essence Pill he had concocted himself. After consuming the Consolidating Essence Pill, the elixir dissolved, slowly turning into gentle streams of Spiritual Power that coursed through the meridians in his body. Soon a tingling sensation spread throughout his body, and the gentle Spiritual Power from the elixir began to heal the damaged meridians and wounds. ¡°` Chapter 158 - 158 - 132 Asceticism_1 Chapter 158 ¨C 132 Asceticism_1 ¡°` Over ten days had flown by in the blink of an eye. Within the secret chamber of his own small courtyard, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and sent out his divine sense to inspect the condition within his body. After more than ten days of seclusion, the injuries he had sustained from the intense battle with the Crimson Gold Snake had largely healed. Although experiencing injuries was unpleasant, the feeling of rapid improvement in one¡¯s cultivation after recovering from such fully-committed battles was intoxicating. At the moment, his Qi Cultivation Great Perfection had hardly advanced, and it was almost impossible to make progress. However, when it came to Body Refinement, his meridians had been strengthened, yet there was still much room for improvement in his internal organs. Feeling the surging spiritual energy and his condition throughout his body, even though the improvement was not substantial, he clearly felt stronger than before the battle. ... Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile, then got up to tidy the somewhat disordered secret chamber and stepped out. He did not continue his seclusion to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage because he felt it was only a little over half a year since he reached Great Perfection, and the time seemed short. His condition had not reached its peak, and his preparations were not yet ample enough. Although, with his innate talent and the Minor Foundation Building Pills he had saved over the years, the chances of breakthrough were extremely high, at least over sixty percent assurance. Even so, he wanted to further consolidate his Body Refinement and compress his cultivation and foundation. By doing so, he hoped to achieve the optimal effect with a significant breakthrough when the time came. As for how long he needed to settle, it would be at least half a year to possibly one or two years, depending on the situation. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After leaving his courtyard, Lin Tianming decided to go to the Hall of Merit to collect his rewards. In a short while, Lin Tianming appeared inside the Family Merits Hall. The Hall of Merit was exceptionally lively every morning, as it was the time for clan members to exchange items, and many of them were busy at work. As a prominent figure in the family, his appearance caught the attention of everyone in the hall, many of whom were quite familiar with him. Lin Tianming did not neglect them and politely greeted the clan members before having a brief chat with some familiar faces. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it was Lin Tianming¡¯s turn to exchange. Lin Tianming stepped forward, greeted Lin Xingcheng, explained his purpose, and handed over his identity token. Lin Xingcheng had already been informed about the reward and directly transferred five thousand merit points to him. Lin Tianming took the family token, bowed his thanks, and then asked, ¡°Uncle, does our family still have any Bright Jade Fruit?¡± ¡°Bright Jade Fruit?¡± Lin Xingcheng furrowed his brows, thought for a while, then replied, ¡°That fruit was the spoils from the last battle with the Jin Family. You¡¯re in luck; there¡¯s exactly one left!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He had only asked on a whim, not expecting there to be any stock left. The effects were quite significant the last time he consumed a Bright Jade Fruit. If he could get another one, it should further enhance his physical strength. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Then I would like to exchange for one Bright Jade Fruit, and two demon cores of late-stage First Order demonic beasts.¡± Lin Xingcheng nodded, took out books recording various spiritual objects, checked them, and then said, ¡°A Bright Jade Fruit costs seven hundred and fifty spirit stones, and a demon core of a late-stage First Order demonic beast costs two hundred and sixty spirit stones each, making a total of one thousand two hundred and seventy spirit stones.¡± ¡°` Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate to hand over his identity token, instructing the deduction of the spirit stones. Having taken care of this, Lin Xingcheng walked into the depths of the great hall to the storeroom. In a short while, he brought out the Bright Jade Fruit and two pure white demon cores and handed them over to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming took the Bright Jade Fruit and tucked it into his storage bag, then picked up the two demon cores to examine them. These two demon cores were precisely from the two Dragon Horned Lizards that Lin Tianming and his companions had encountered by accident while searching for the Purple Yin Grass. The two lizards had been unlucky; they were almost at the limit of a First Order demon beast, just needing to consume some heavenly materials and earthly treasures to likely advance to Second Order, but they had unluckily crossed paths with the trio as they passed through its territory, and inexplicably lost their lives. When they killed the Dragon Horned Lizards, Lin Tianming had his eye on their demon cores but felt embarrassed to ask for them directly and decided to exchange for them upon returning to the family. The Purple Gold Eagle had been in the late stage of First Order for a while now, and although it had consumed quite a few Beast Spirit Pills over the years, it was still some distance away from Second Order. If it had two demon cores, in addition to the body and blood of the Crimson Gold Snake, perhaps it could attempt to break through to Second Order. Enjoy exclusive adventures from Tucking away the rest, after confirming the two demon cores were indeed from the Dragon Horned Lizards, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingcheng and flew towards the back mountain. Before long, he arrived at the small valley where he had once practiced his Technique Divine Power. Not having been here to cultivate for a long time, he looked at the familiar scenery and the training ground where he had once toiled, a determined glint flickering in his eyes. Ever since swallowing a portion of the Crimson Gold Snake¡¯s body in the Luoyun Mountain Range and drinking half a pool of its blood, the Purple Gold Eagle had fallen into a brief slumber. Now that twenty days had passed, it was time for it to awaken, and Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Ring. Having not seen it for twenty days, the Purple Gold Eagle had indeed made great progress. Its body had grown significantly, and its aura had strengthened considerably, indicating it was inching ever closer to Second Order. It seemed that the meat and blood of a late-stage Second Order Crimson Gold Snake were indeed a great tonic for the Purple Gold Eagle, yielding even better results than expected. Lin Tianming was very satisfied, mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, soared around the outskirts of Green Bamboo Mountain, and then returned to the valley. Over the years, due to the impact of wars and many family affairs, he hadn¡¯t been able to cultivate in this place. Now with the opportunity, Lin Tianming began to tirelessly practice his Divine Skills and body techniques in the valley while the Purple Gold Eagle stayed nearby. Time flew by, and three months passed quickly. Within the first half-month, Lin Tianming was no longer satisfied with cultivating alone and began using the Purple Gold Eagle as a sparring partner, battling with it as he had done in Qingfeng Town. Lin Tianming, with Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, coupled with his Great Perfection of Qi Refining stage cultivation, was naturally stronger than the Purple Gold Eagle. Therefore, he did not use any spiritual power and relied solely on his physical strength to combat the Purple Gold Eagle. Even though the Purple Gold Eagle was a demon beast with the speed of lightning, it struggled against Lin Tianming, a formidable human adversary, and still found no advantage. After three months of hand-to-hand combat, Lin Tianming exhausted himself every day, and at night switched to his cultivation technique, relying on breathing exercises for cultivation. Three months of living under the open sky, enduring the sun and rain, he suppressed his spiritual power cultivation and lived like a mortal. The Purple Gold Eagle had it even worse, enduring daily beatings that left it covered in wounds after several months. Despite the hardships, the Purple Gold Eagle greatly progressed, consuming a barrel of Crimson Gold Snake blood and some snake meat every day. With the abundance of these treasures and Lin Tianming¡¯s relentless training, the current condition of the Purple Gold Eagle had vastly improved from before. Though it had yet to break through to Second Order, it had reached its peak and just needed a bit of luck to advance smoothly. After three months of diligent cultivation, Lin Tianming had finished the Red Gold Snake Meat, and the Bright Jade Fruit had been consumed. Relying on these treasures, he finally reached the limit in his body refinement. Without further opportunity, both his spiritual power and body refinement were unlikely to make any further progress. ¡°It¡¯s time!¡± Chapter 159 - 159 - 133: Breakthrough Foundation Establishment (1) Chapter 159 ¨C 133: Breakthrough Foundation Establishment (1) ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s time!¡± After Lin Tianming summoned back the Purple Gold Eagle, he muttered. He was about to prepare for the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the duration of his seclusion was uncertain¡ªit could be one month, three months, or perhaps even longer. During this period, he planned to leave the Purple Gold Eagle here. This place had clear mountains and waters and was situated on the outskirts of Green Bamboo Mountain. Wild beasts were plentiful, and there was ample space for flying¡ªit was indeed suitable for the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s life. He left behind a Demon Core from a Dragon Horned Lizard, then issued a command for the Purple Gold Eagle to live independently for a while, without leaving the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. In a short while, Lin Tianming rose to his feet and flew toward the peak of the main Green Bamboo Mountain Peak. ... sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the small courtyard of Lin Shigong on the Green Bamboo Mountain Peak. Except for Lin Shilu who had gone to Qianchuan Market and had not returned, a few other Foundation Establishment Elders, like Lin Shikang, were sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. While chatting leisurely, they were also guessing the implications of Lin Tianming summoning them. Lin Shikang picked up his teacup and sipped lightly, his face brimming with a broad smile, as if he had already figured it out. ¡°Tianming must be preparing for his Foundation Establishment, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t mobilize us like this!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words mirrored the thoughts of the other two. Lin Shihua also said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s almost certain, the lad has always been prudent, and he seldom seeks us out, so it must be concerning the matter of Foundation Establishment!¡± As the two chatted and laughed about their grandson, Lin Shigong beside them wore an expression full of excitement. He was extremely attentive to the matter of Lin Tianming¡¯s Foundation Establishment, having already prepared the ancestral breakthrough insights, waiting for this day to arrive. At this moment, the three men were filled with anticipation, waiting for Lin Tianming to arrive. Not much time had passed. Lin Tianming entered the courtyard, and seeing that the three were already waiting, he immediately went forward, bowing deeply to his elders. Lin Shikang chuckled, waved his hand, and indicated for him to sit down before talking. Lin Tianming was not pretentious. He sat down, exchanged a few casual remarks, and then promptly got to the point, explaining the purpose of his visit. Upon hearing Lin Tianming personally speak of Foundation Establishment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua remained composed, but Lin Shigong got a bit agitated, repeatedly saying, ¡°Good, good, good, our Lin Family will add one or two more Foundation Establishment members!¡± ¡°One or two Foundation Establishment Cultivators?¡± Lin Tianming was puzzled. Were there other family members besides himself who were preparing for Foundation Establishment? ¡°Hehe¡­ aside from you, your Uncle Xing Ping is also preparing for Foundation Establishment!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± It wasn¡¯t surprising upon reflection. Since Lin Xingyuan¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, three years had passed. Due to the impact of the great battle, there had been a two-year gap in the family¡¯s Cultivation Great Perfection members. In the two years since the end of the battle, the Lin Family¡¯s wealth had exploded, greatly enhancing the welfare of the family members. Along with the surviving members¡¯ remarkable military merits, they received numerous rewards, and their cultivation speed soared rapidly. After two years of development, Lin Xingzhi and several others were at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and any moment they could reach Great Perfection. As time passed, more family members would meet the requirements for Foundation Establishment. Turning back, Lin Shikang said with a smile, ¡°Tianming, next, we¡¯ll explain our own experiences when we broke through. Listen carefully, it will be quite helpful for your Foundation Establishment.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy. Although the family had ancestral breakthrough experiences summarized, having them personally narrated by Lin Shikang, who was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, would naturally be more effective than reading. He quickly stood up and bowed, carefully listening to Lin Shikang¡¯s narrative, afraid of missing a word. Unknowingly, half a day had passed. After Lin Shikang¡¯s account, with occasional interjections by Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, all the steps and precautions of breaking through to Foundation Establishment were firmly memorized. After listening to the elders¡¯ admonitions and guidance, Lin Tianming said, ¡°I plan to start my seclusion in three days, and, after adjusting my state, I will take the Minor Foundation Building Pill and begin impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Explore new worlds at Lin Shikang nodded in approval of his plan and then said, ¡°Xing Ping will probably start his seclusion too. At that time, you two will choose adjacent courtyards for your peaceful seclusion, and I will personally protect you. I wish you success in advance!¡± Lin Tianming bowed once again, with a determined look in his eyes, ¡°Thank you, Third Grandfather, I will do my best!¡± Lin Shigong nodded in encouragement, then took out the breakthrough insights he had organized and handed them personally to Lin Tianming. After receiving the insights and bowing to his three elders, Lin Tianming slowly exited the courtyard. That night, Lin Tianming discussed his plans with his younger sister and mother. Hearing his plans, his mother became somewhat worried. ¡°Mother, I am confident, I will definitely succeed!¡± After consoling her for a while, the mother finally felt better. She then instructed her daughter to check on the Purple Gold Eagle from time to time, lest it wander off. Having made these arrangements, Lin Tianming went back to his room to rest. Three days later, on the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. In the secret chambers of two small courtyards not far from each other, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping each sat on a meditation mat. He took out the breakthrough insights his grandfather had organized, spending two days to carefully review them until they were embedded in his memory before stopping. Then, sitting upright, he began to circulate his cultivation technique while closing his eyes, sinking into a state of recollection. ¡°Qingfeng Town, the family battle, Jin Qilong¡­¡± As memories shifted from their original blur to gradually becoming vivid and clear, Lin Tianming¡¯s expressions alternated between joy and anger, inconsistent and far removed from his usual composed demeanor. After a short while, Lin Tianming¡¯s face gradually returned to calm, and the sounds of even breathing emerged from the chamber. At this moment, Lin Tianming entered a mysterious state. ¡°` Chapter 160 - 160 - 133 Breakthrough Foundation Establishment_2 Chapter 160 ¨C 133 Breakthrough Foundation Establishment_2 Another half month had passed. During this half month, he recalled his experiences from the past twenty-five years, from beginning to end. From the joy of familial love at the knees of his parents as a child, to joining the clan school with Lin Tian Qin and other clan members in his youth, and then to the elation of condensing his first strand of Spiritual Power and successfully entering the First Level of Qi Refining. The times before becoming a cultivator were warm memories. Thereafter, he began his cultivation, learned Alchemy, took on the task of guarding Qingfeng Town, investigated Ancient Cultivator¡¯s Cave Dwellings for cultivation techniques, journeyed to Qianchuan Market with Lin Shilu, participated in the market competitions, and engaged in life and death battles for his family. In this latter part, the deception and cruelty of the Cultivation World were fully displayed. During this time, he experienced numerous life and death battles, was seriously injured several times, and suffered countless minor injuries. Each time he faced a life-threatening crisis, he persevered. His path to cultivation up to now had been extremely difficult, with over a decade of arduous practice to reach this current step¡­ ... Memories are like smoke, scenes from his early days on the Path of Immortality feel as if they were just yesterday. As the images in his mind faded away, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut for half a month, and a flash of sharp light passed from the corners of his eyes. Now his mental fortitude was stronger than ever, especially in the training of his spirit, he had ascended to a new level. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s condition had reached an unprecedented peak. Everything was ready, he just needed an east wind! Lin Tianming formed hand seals and circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. He took out a Golden Foundation Establishment Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the elixir entered his mouth, without giving him any time to react, it transformed into a vast and violent Spiritual Power, quickly circulating through his meridians and then converging within his Qi Sea. In just less than the time it takes to breathe in, his face turned crimson red, and after a while, it turned deathly pale. The immense Spiritual Power was almost bursting his Qi Sea Dantian. At this moment, the violent Spiritual Power was exceedingly domineering as it rampaged through his meridians. Large beads of sweat continuously dripped from his face, and his body was in extreme pain. Lin Tianming was not panicked. According to the accounts of breakthroughs and Lin Shikang¡¯s explanations, these reactions were all within his expectations. He immediately focused his mind, fully operated his cultivation technique, and following the experiences of his predecessors, refined the violent Spiritual Power before further condensing the Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea into an even purer form. In just a short amount of time, the newly condensed Spiritual Power gradually gathered into a mass, almost becoming substantial. Though the amount of Spiritual Power had decreased by hundreds of times through repeated compression and refining, the newly condensed Spiritual Power was much stronger, with just a wisp being far more formidable than before. As time passed under the dominion of an even more domineering Heavenly Grade Technique, even the violent Spiritual Power gradually became gentle, flowing through his wide meridians, the medicinal effect of the Minor Foundation Building Pill greatly accelerating the refining rate, making his entire meridian network unobstructed. Although the intense pain was still present, it had eased considerably compared to the beginning. Before he knew it, two days had already passed. Feeling the refined purity of the Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea, at this rate, he speculated that he could complete the transformation of the Spiritual Power in his Dantian within ten days. Despite this, Lin Tianming dared not relax in the slightest and continued to maintain an appropriate speed. At the same time, in another secret chamber. Lin Xingping was also fervently refining the violent medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had taken the pill a few days earlier than Lin Tianming, but his refining speed could not compare, nor could the rate at which he condensed the power. Where Lin Tianming had refined more than twenty percent in two days, Lin Xingping had started three days earlier and had not even reached twenty percent with his condensed pure Spiritual Power, the disparity was quite clear. At this moment, Lin Xingping¡¯s face alternated between blue and white, his Daoist robe soaked with sweat, as if he was undergoing immense suffering. He clenched his teeth, enduring the pain, methodically refining the medicinal power, eventually condensing it into strands of new Spiritual Power. At this moment, both individuals in their respective chambers were refining at different paces, drawing ever closer to entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. Another seven days passed by, and Lin Tianming remained motionless in the secret chamber. By then, the medicinal power of the Minor Foundation Building Pill had been almost completely refined, and the violent Spiritual Power was gradually absorbed. The Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea had reached the final stage of condensation, with only a small part left to complete. For nine days, he had borne the agony, now on the brink of a breakthrough, and began speeding up the refining process, ready to break through in one fell swoop. In Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard. Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua sat in the yard, closely monitoring for any signs of activity in two nearby courtyards. ¡°` ¡°More than twenty days have passed, and still not a hint of movement!¡± Lin Shigong let out a subdued sigh, a trace of worry showing on his face. Lin Shikang remained quite calm and said to console him: ¡°Shigong, keep your composure. It¡¯s only been a few days. Didn¡¯t you yourself take nearly two months to break through back then?¡± ¡°Eh, that¡¯s true!¡± Lin Shigong¡¯s face reddened, and he sheepishly responded. ¡°Third brother, how long do you think it will take Tian Ming to complete his consolidation?¡± After some thought, Lin Shikang replied: ¡°I myself had to use a Foundation Establishment Pill to succeed in Foundation Establishment, which has a relatively gentle medicinal power and is quicker to assimilate than the Minor Foundation Building Pill, taking me fourteen days to reconsolidate my spiritual power.¡± ¡°Given Tian Ming¡¯s talent and strength, Foundation Establishment shouldn¡¯t be a problem. As for how long it will take, that¡¯s hard to say, but judging from the experiences of Xing Rong and Xing Yuan in their breakthroughs, it¡¯ll likely take at least just over ten days.¡± Lin Shigong recalled Lin Xingyuan¡¯s own experience and found himself in agreement with Lin Shikang¡¯s estimate. ¡°Let¡¯s hope so!¡± Before the words of Lin Shigong had even faded, a surge of pressure from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator rapidly spread, soon engulfing the entire Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At the mountainside, in the open area unguarded by prohibitions, some clan members felt this powerful pressure and their expressions immediately changed. ¡°Another clan member has succeeded in Foundation Establishment!¡± A large number of clan members stopped in their tracks, looking up at the summit of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, their faces filled with immense excitement. Lin Shikang immediately sensed this pressure and shouted with excitement: ¡°It¡¯s Tian Ming, Tian Ming has succeeded!¡± Just before Lin Shikang¡¯s exclamation, Lin Shigong too had felt a pressure stronger than his own emanating. Unable to control his aura in the midst of a breakthrough, he knew with utter certainty it was none other than Lin Tianming. Knowing that Lin Tianming had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, Lin Shigong was overwhelmed with excitement, laughing heartily with relief. Lin Shikang was equally excited and after sharing a knowing smile, he reminded: ¡°Shigong, Tian Ming has just broken through and still needs to stabilize. He¡¯s unlikely to come out immediately. Moreover, Xing Shun is still in seclusion. The disturbance just now was too big; go and reassure the clan members. I¡¯ll wait here.¡± Lin Shigong nodded, quickly acknowledging and then left the courtyard, flying down the mountain. ¡­ Within the secret chamber, Lin Tianming¡¯s originally pale face gradually became rosy. As the last wisp of spiritual power was refined, a muffled sound came from his Dantian. In that instant of breakthrough, a warm current spread throughout his body. Lin Tianming felt the spiritual power within his Qi Sea grow exponentially, and his divine sense began to rapidly increase. At this moment, every flower and blade of grass around him, every movement, was crystal clear in his mind. Right then, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. After more than a decade of cultivation, he had finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Feeling the boundless power filling his body, he knew it was incomparable to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage. ¡°No wonder they say that one only becomes a true cultivator upon reaching Foundation Establishment. With my current strength, even if ten cultivators at the Great Perfection attacked me together, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance!¡± After muttering to himself, he extended his divine sense and examined his transformed Qi Sea. Your next chapter is on .com The spiritual power he once had was vast but thin. Now, although it was only a small cluster, it was completely substantialized. It was precisely this small cluster of spiritual power, after repeated compressions and refinements, that could unleash energy more than ten times more potent than before. Before long, the excited Tian Ming finally regained his composure. His cultivation level had just stabilized and needed further consolidation. A slip at this point could lead to regrettable losses. Fully aware of these potential dangers, Lin Tianming brought his hands together and continued to operate his cultivation technique to practice. ¡°` Chapter 161 - 161 - 134: More Good News_1 Chapter 161 ¨C 134: More Good News_1 In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming, with hands pressed together, cycled the Cultivation Technique through countless Grand Circulations, clearly entering a state of self-forgetful cultivation. Thin strands of Spiritual Energy enveloped him, then slowly seeped in through his Sky Spirit Cover, and ultimately converged in his fist-sized Qi Sea. As the moon set and the sun rose, a half a month passed. In the secret chamber, he exhaled a breath of turbid air and once again opened his tightly shut eyes. After half a month of consolidating his cultivation, his aura was now stable and introverted, not at all as sharp and floating as it had been immediately following his breakthrough. Examining the transformed Spiritual True Essence, he was very satisfied with the results of his cultivation during this period. Counting from the time he had entered the secret chamber to adjust his state, over forty days had passed. Lin Tianming stretched his body, twisted his slightly stiff limbs, and got up to leave the secret chamber. ... Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s small courtyard, Lin Shigong and Lin Shikang were chatting idly. Today, more than forty days had passed since Lin Tianming¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, but there had been no word from Lin Xingping¡¯s small courtyard. At this moment, the joy of Lin Tianming¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment gradually faded, and the two began to worry about Lin Xingping, who was older, failing in his breakthrough. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over the years, several clan members had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, totaling seven Foundation Establishment Clan Members, firmly positioning them as the premier family of the Luoyun Mountain Range. But who would ever feel that having too many Foundation Establishment members was an issue? Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s concern, Lin Shigong forced a wry smile and tried to reassure him: ¡°Third brother, Xingping is only sixty, about the same age as when Xing Rong achieved Foundation Establishment. The boy has cultivated diligently and accrued a long period of preparatory time; he still has a fairly good chance of success.¡± Lin Shikang let out a wry laugh, then staring into Lin Xingping¡¯s small courtyard, he sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Before long, Lin Tianming entered the small courtyard, and the expressions on the faces of Lin Shikang and the other swiftly turned to surprise delight. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve finally emerged from seclusion.¡± Lin Shigong was very happy and immediately approached, looking Lin Tianming over carefully. ¡°Tianming pays respect to Third Grandfather and Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming, with a smile, bowed to the two men. ¡°Haha¡­ come, take a seat!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, and Lin Shigong pulled him over to sit beside them. His bottom had barely warmed the seat when, planning to inquire about Lin Xingping¡¯s situation with Foundation Establishment, he was instead bombarded with questions by the two elders about the whole process of his own Foundation Establishment. Lin Tianming, finding no alternative, began recounting everything starting from entering the secret chamber, narrating his entire breakthrough experience. Upon learning that Lin Tianming had ingested a Minor Foundation Building Pill and succeeded in refining new Spiritual True Essence in just nine days, both elders were astounded. At such a rate, Lin Tianming was truly unprecedented in the eight-hundred-year history of the Lin Family. As for whether there would be successors to the feat¡ª that was hard to say. Once they had composed themselves, Lin Shikang began to share his own cultivation experience in great detail. Lin Tianming listened intently, and as time passed, the meticulous explanations from Lin Shikang resolved many of the problems that had long puzzled him. This was the advantage of having elders¡¯ guidance. If one were a Loose Cultivator, relying solely on self-exploration, it would mean much time lost in cultivation. An hour passed before he finally took the opportunity to inquire about Lin Xingping¡¯s condition. At the mention of this matter, the joyful expression on Lin Shikang¡¯s face became somewhat troubled. Just as Lin Tianming was about to offer some comfort, the oppressive aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator once again emanated from a nearby courtyard before quickly subsiding. Feeling the stirrings of Foundation Establishment, the three of them changed their expressions simultaneously and soon became excited. With Lin Xingping¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, the Lin Family had gained another Foundation Establishment Cultivator, bringing their total number to eight. With such strength, even within the territory of the Wei Kingdom, excluding the Golden Core forces, they could rank among the top of the Foundation Establishing Families, but that was not all. The Lin Family would continue to grow stronger and, given enough time, returning to the ranks of the Golden Core Families was not impossible. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t help but burst into hearty laughter. More than ten breaths of time passed as they laughed, and before they knew it, tears of joy streamed down their faces uncontrollably. When the Lin Family was first established, it was after all a Golden Core Family. Though they had fallen into decline, they experienced a brief period of brilliance two hundred years ago¡ªyet those days of glory were now in the past. In the past few years, when they were surrounded by powerful enemies and their situation was precarious, the Lin Family could only survive in the cracks. Without careful vigilance, they could face calamity, and the family legacy that had lasted for eight hundred years would be destroyed in an instant. The family¡¯s predicaments at that time were still vivid in the minds of LaShikang and Lin Shigong; many exceptionally talented family members tragically missed their chances to achieve Foundation Establishment, leading to lifelong regrets. Fortunately, heaven favored the Lin Family, and it was at this time that they began their sudden rise. In just five short years, through the concerted efforts of the entire family to overcome difficulties, the Lin Family had now reached, and even surpassed, the heights it had been at two hundred years before. At this thought, Lin Shikang¡¯s eyes filled with tears once more. When he thought no one was paying attention, he turned his head, waved his sleeve, and wiped away his emotional tears. Lin Tianming, witnessing this, couldn¡¯t help but feel his nose tingle, and his eyes began to blur with tears as well. Understanding the immense pressure Lin Shikang must have endured in those dire circumstances, he could fully empathize with these emotions. Lin Tianming stepped forward and took the hands of Lin Shikang and the others, comforting them, ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandfather, Uncle Xingping¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment is a blessing for our family. The Lin Family will only grow stronger from now on. Perhaps in less than a hundred years, we can return to the ranks of the Golden Core Families!¡± After Lin Tianming¡¯s comforting words, Lin Shikang and the others steadied themselves, their emotions gradually calming. ¡°Indeed, although the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in our family has reached the highest in our history, we are still among the Foundation Establishing Families. The journey to return to the Golden Core Families remains long and arduous!¡± Find adventures at Collecting themselves, the three of them sat back down. ¡°Tianming, your success in Foundation Establishment brings me great joy. Take this bottle of elixirs as a celebratory gift!¡± Having said this, Lin Shikang quickly took out a Jade Bottle from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Shikang present a congratulatory gift, Lin Shigong said with a smile, ¡°Haha¡­ Third Brother really plays favorites. When Shihua and I had our breakthroughs, why didn¡¯t we get a bottle of elixirs as a celebratory gift?¡± Lin Shikang gave a wry smile upon hearing Lin Shigong¡¯s playful complaint. This was indeed unfair to him. When Lin Shigong had his breakthrough, the family was utterly destitute. Even the elixirs he needed for his own cultivation were intermittent. Often, cultivation relied solely on meditative breathing. In such circumstances, how could he have spare elixirs to give as a gift? However, on one point he wasn¡¯t mistaken: he placed great hopes in Lin Tianming, and he hadn¡¯t prepared a gift for Lin Xingping¡¯s accomplishment; indeed, he might have been a bit biased. ¡°Tianming, aren¡¯t you going to thank your Third Grandfather? This is the first time he¡¯s been so generous!¡± Reminded by his grandfather, Lin Tianming accepted the Jade Bottle, expressing his thanks respectfully. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others spent a short time gathering together. Since Lin Xingping was still in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation, he would not be able to leave for some time. As the evening deepened, following Lin Shikang¡¯s parting words of advice, Lin Tianming left his cave abode and returned to his own home. Chapter 162 - 162 - 135 Tiangang Ninth Sword_1 Chapter 162 ¨C 135 Tiangang Ninth Sword_1 Upon returning to his small courtyard, his mother had emerged from seclusion and was cooking a meal, preparing to celebrate his Foundation Establishment. The day after Lin Tianming successfully established his foundation, Lin Shigong specially dispatched clan members to Golden Horn Mountain to share the news of his Foundation Establishment with Lin Xingrong. Upon hearing of Lin Tianming¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, Lin Xingrong was overjoyed. After arranging the affairs of the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, he immediately rushed back to Green Bamboo Mountain. It was difficult for him to return to the clan¡¯s lands, primarily to celebrate his son¡¯s Foundation Establishment. Additionally, he hadn¡¯t visited the clan¡¯s territory in two years and saw it as a perfect opportunity to reunite with family. At this moment¡­ The grandfather was still in Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard discussing clan affairs and had not returned, while the sister was helping the mother prepare the meal. Father and son sat together in the courtyard, sipping on Spiritual Tea. After a brief silence, the atmosphere became a bit awkward. ... At some point, the father¡¯s face turned slightly red, and he stammered out a phrase. ¡°Tian Ming¡­ congratulations¡­¡± Lin Tianming gave an embarrassed smile and said, ¡°Dad, there¡¯s no need for such formality!¡± After speaking, he poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for his father and respectfully handed it over. Lin Xingrong took the Spiritual Tea, took a sip, and both of them smiled together. The relationship between father and son was subtle. Since Lin Tianming could remember, they hadn¡¯t spent much time together. His father appeared silent and stern, upright and honest, and was quite strict with him. In fact, Lin Xingrong took Lin Tianming very seriously in his heart and was silently making sacrifices for him. Although he was strict, it was because he hoped his son could go further on the path towards eternal life. Lin Tianming, who profoundly understood this, deeply appreciated his father and harbored no resentment in his heart. Soon, the atmosphere relaxed, and Lin Xingrong began to share some of his cultivation experiences. Although they were both at the Foundation Establishment First Level, Lin Xingrong had cultivated for two years and, despite his limited experience, Lin Tianming took his words to heart. After half an hour passed, Lin Shigong also hurried back, just in time for dinner to be ready. The five of them sat down to begin their meal. Lin Shigong was extremely happy that day and had specially prepared a few jars of treasured Spiritual Wine to enhance the joy. Lin Shigong picked up his cup, stood up, and after scanning everyone, he said: ¡°Today, I am extremely happy. To celebrate Tian Ming¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, let¡¯s drink together, three generations of us!¡± Lin Tianming and the others got up, raised their cups, and drank. That night, the three generations happily drank merrily together, and after dinner, all three were completely drunk and returned to their rooms to rest. In fact, Spiritual Wine, brewed with Spirit Fruit and Spiritual Medicine Materials, was not as strong as the alcoholic beverages in the secular world. If they had used even a little Spiritual Power to suppress it, their Foundation Establishment Cultivator bodies and souls wouldn¡¯t have allowed them to get drunk. The following morning¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a beam of sunlight passed through the small window and shone onto the stone wall of the room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and twisted his head, which felt slightly groggy. In a short time, the grogginess dissipated, and he returned to his peak condition in body and spirit. At the back mountain of the family, Lin Tianming descended from high above and stopped in the small valley where he had once trained. With a piercing cry, the Purple Gold Eagle flew out of a cave halfway up a mountain. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle was extremely excited, rubbing his clothes with its beak as sharp as a sword. Having not seen each other for over a month, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s body had grown larger once more, clearly benefiting from the Dragon Horned Lizard¡¯s inner core, and further enhancing its strength. By now, the Purple Gold Eagle was probably about to reach the peak of Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts. If it had two Second Order Demon Cores, perhaps it could even attempt to break through to the Second Order. Patting the feathers of the Purple Gold Eagle, he was quite satisfied with its progress. Given the chance, he planned to take it to train in the Luoyun Mountain Range, to see if they could hunt down Second Order Demonic Beasts. However, now was not the right time. He had only recently succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, and his powers were limited. More importantly, each major realm of the Tiangang Body Art allowed for the cultivation of a new Divine Skill. He needed to, at the very least, succeed in cultivating this new skill and wait until his strength had further increased before venturing out for training. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming leaped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, flew a circle around Green Bamboo Mountain, and then returned to the valley. After giving the Purple Gold Eagle the remaining Dragon Horned Lizard¡¯s Demon Core to consume, he let it return to its own excavated cave. Having seen off the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming sat down beneath the cave, ready to comprehend the Divine Skills of his cultivation technique. Once he sat down, Lin Tianming began to adjust his state, and after a quarter of an hour, when his condition peaked, he took out the Technique Jade Slip and began to understand it. At this moment, Lin Tianming remained motionless, in a mysterious state. Time slowly passed, and more than ten days quickly went by¡­ Opening his eyes, Lin Tianming revealed a slight smile. In the first few days, Lin Tianming revisited the cultivation technique once more. In the subsequent ten days, he focused on comprehending the Divine Skills of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Through his contemplation, he successfully grasped the essence of the second Divine Skill. According to the description of the technique, the second attached Divine Skill was called the Tiangang Nine Swords, which was an offensive-oriented skill. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation Divine Skill of the Qi Refinement Realm mainly focused on trapping enemies, and its offensive power was not particularly remarkable. It also greatly depended on the right timing. Against cultivators of the same stage, it was naturally easy, but in a cross-level fight, the pressure was considerable. Perhaps it was because he had never activated all thirty-six Earth Evil Swords, leading to some misunderstanding of the Earth Evil Sword¡¯s true power. The Tiangang Nine Swords, on the other hand, were all about offense. Each successive sword attack could be stacked, with each sword being more formidable than the last. When nine swords were layered, they corresponded to the nine levels of the Foundation Establishment Stage. With his understanding of the technique, he could only activate the first sword. As his level increased, he could stack the swords for greater offensive power. Having comprehended the essence of the skill, Lin Tianming was somewhat excited. He quickly took out an Earth Evil Sword, eager to try out the effects. After running his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, he tossed the Earth Evil Sword overhead. Then, with both hands forming seals, he made a strange gesture, followed by a single-handed seal while muttering under his breath. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword, swift¡­¡± The surface of the Earth Evil Sword burst into a brilliant golden light, streaking toward a stone wall a thousand feet away like a shooting star. In an instant, a loud bang erupted, and stone fragments scattered abundantly in the air as if a celestial maiden were sprinkling flowers. Once the dust settled, a giant hole several zhang in diameter appeared on the massive stone wall, the depth of which was unfathomable. Seeing such destructive power, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration: ¡°Just one sword, and that too with a First Order Supreme Quality Earth Evil Sword, has caused such devastation to an entire stone mountain. The Tiangang Nine Swords truly are a fearsome Divine Skill!¡± The downside was that his casting speed was so slow that even a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage could easily dodge it. If he were to use it against an enemy now, it would clearly be premature. Even so, he was extremely satisfied with the power of the skill, and with some more practice and familiarity, he should be able to employ it against foes. Afterward, Lin Tianming continued to execute the technique over and over again, all for the sake of mastering it completely as soon as possible. Chapter 163 - 163 - 136: Minor Achievement in Divine Skills_1 Chapter 163 ¨C 136: Minor Achievement in Divine Skills_1 Behind Green Bamboo Peak. In a quiet valley, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground. Above his head, the Earth Evil Sword emitted a piercing whine before shooting out like lightning, striking the rocky wall. ¡°Boom¡­¡± At that moment, a loud explosion was heard, and the ground began to shake. A stone mountain several hundred feet high directly collapsed over a large area, and numerous rocks tumbled down, eventually coalescing to form a new small hill. After the shaking had stopped and the dust had cleared, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure was revealed. At this moment, he was drenched in sweat, his complexion slightly pale, evidently greatly exhausted. ... For the past month, he had dedicated his days to rigorous practice, sitting in meditation to recover his spiritual power only after it was completely drained, repeatedly attempting, after over a thousand castings, each time pushed to the point of exhaustion before stopping. As the saying goes, hard work pays off. The Tiangang Ninth Sword, a divine skill, was finally within his grasp, and he had reached the Minor Achievement Realm. His casting speed had now attained instantaneity, and the power had further increased, enough to handle ordinary battles. Having reached the Minor Achievement Realm with practice alone, any further progress had become difficult; to attain the Great Achievement Realm, he needed to go through numerous real combats to advance further. Managing to reach the Minor Achievement Realm with a month of hard work was already quite remarkable, and for this result, he was very satisfied. His goal had been achieved, and the Purple Gold Eagle had ingested another Dragon Horned Lizard Demon Core and was still in deep slumber. Three days prior, Lin Shihua had sent a message, instructing him to head to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling for a gathering the next day, so it was time to leave. He rose and tidied up the disheveled scene, glanced at the cave of the Purple Gold Eagle, and then left the valley. The next morning, Lin Tianming left his own small courtyard, accompanied by his father as they flew toward the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. In no time at all, the two arrived in front of Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. After sending a message, the prohibition in front of the cave dwelling was lifted, and both of them walked straight in. In the courtyard, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong, among a few other Xing Clan members, were sitting on stone chairs, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Lin Tianming and his father walked straight up to the elders and bowed. ¡°Tianming pays respect to the elders!¡± ¡°No need for such formalities, come and sit with us!¡± Lin Shikang chuckled and waved them over to sit down. Lin Tianming and his father did not decline, stepping forward to sit by their grandfather¡¯s side, one on the left and one on the right. It didn¡¯t take long for Lin Xingping to enter the courtyard, exchanging greetings with other clan members present before taking a seat next to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming had come out of seclusion half a month earlier than him and went straight to cultivate divine skills, without having had the chance to congratulate him; now that they had met, the two chatted briefly. Lin Shikang, seeing everyone had gathered, said with a smile: ¡°Today is truly rare; aside from Xing Yuan holding down Luoyun Market, all seven Foundation Establishment cultivators of our family are gathered here, plus Xingping and Tianming successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, our family has gained two more Foundation Establishment members, truly a cause for celebration!¡± Upon finishing, Lin Shihua also added with a sense of marvel. ¡°Third brother is right. They both have been out of seclusion for half a month, each busy with their own tasks, and only today have we all managed to get together; this indeed isn¡¯t easy.¡± The others nodded and echoed a few words, after which Lin Shikang spoke about the matter at hand. ¡°I¡¯ve asked you all to come today for several purposes. First, to strengthen our bonds and celebrate Tian Ming and Xing Ping¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment. Second, Shi Lu has returned from Qianchuan Market, having completed the Lin Family task perfectly and brought back two Hun Tian Pills. With a Hun Tian Pill, I can finally make further progress without accidents!¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, everyone was overjoyed. It should be noted that Lin Shikang was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm during the family war six years ago. Now, in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, each step forward is difficult. Having finally obtained a Hun Tian Pill, it was natural for him to seek a breakthrough as soon as possible. In the midst of laughter, Lin Shihua spoke, ¡°Third brother, rest assured and focus on your breakthrough. Now that our family is growing stronger each day, we few can manage the clan affairs, and you can concentrate on your cultivation!¡± Tian Ming and the others also spoke up, encouraging Lin Shikang to focus on his seclusion. In the current state of Luoyun Mountain, the Lin Family is incomparable, its formidable strength leaving other clans in the dust. Unless faced with the threat of external forces, there would be no danger. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang smiled knowingly and gave his instructions, ¡°Then, it¡¯s settled. I cannot be certain how long this seclusion will take, short as three months, long up to a year. As for the clan¡¯s affairs, you all can discuss and handle them. If there is a major decision that can¡¯t be made, then pass the message to me!¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± After the unanimous response, they began to discuss some of the clan affairs. The gathering lasted for over an hour, only dispersing around noon. When it was time to leave, Lin Shihua called Lin Shikang, his father, and Lin Xingping aside, ¡°Xing Rong, the three of you have established your Foundation, so you may choose a cave dwelling at the peak of the main mountain. Since you¡¯ve been in charge of the affairs at Golden Horn Mountain and haven¡¯t had the chance to choose, now that you¡¯re back, why not settle on a dwelling before you leave? What do you think?¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s words excited them. The spiritual energy of the peak was far stronger than that of the mid-mountain courtyards. Though the difference might not be noticeable over a short period of cultivation, over a prolonged seclusion, the improvement in cultivation speed could be significant. Lin Xingrong spoke, ¡°The younger generation has no objections, we will follow the Clan Leader¡¯s arrangements!¡± Naturally, Tian Ming and the others had no objections, and since many of them were at the peak, Lin Shihua decided to select the cave dwellings immediately. After leaving Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard, Lin Shihua led the three of them around the entire peak. Along the way, Lin Shihua also described the situation of some vacant courtyards to them. In reality, the layout of the peak¡¯s courtyards was divided into four areas: east, south, west, and north, and they were not too far apart from each other. The few of them had long had an idea of what to expect. As the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators grew, the original dozen or so courtyards gradually became occupied by new clan members, leaving not many choices for them to select from. After half an hour, Tian Ming and the others each chose a cave dwelling. Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping chose to be on the east side of the courtyards, where Lin Xingyuan¡¯s dwelling was. This way, the Xing Clan Members would be together. In the north, where there are several courtyards, only one was still vacant, and all four Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Lin family gathered there. Tian Ming naturally would not choose the north side. It also wouldn¡¯t be quite right to join the senior members of the Xing lineage on the east. After some thought, he decided to choose a courtyard on the west side for his dwelling. As for the western area, besides him, no other clan members lived there. It was perfect, as he preferred a quiet environment. Additionally, the west side offered beautiful scenery near the mountains and was closer to the small valley where he cultivated his Divine Skills¡ªtruly an ideal location. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After greeting Lin Shihua and securing the courtyard by completing the registration process, Tian Ming and the others received the Formation Token for the courtyard¡¯s protective formation. With the selection of the courtyard concluded, Tian Ming and the others took their leave. Chapter 164 - 164 - 137: Cave Abode_1 Chapter 164 ¨C 137: Cave Abode_1 S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The following morning at dawn, in the room of Lin Tianming. He packed up some essential living necessities briefly before stepping out of the room and into the courtyard. Inside the courtyard, his father was sitting and drinking tea, while his mother and sister were also packing up some household items. The previous day, after the father and son returned home, they had discussed with his mother about taking advantage of Lin Xingrong¡¯s rare return to the clan lands to relocate the entire family to live on the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. The environment and spiritual energy at the peak were much better than at the mountainside. Moving there would also benefit their cultivation, and with Grandfather residing at the peak, the family was now reunited. Soon, all the necessary items were packed into storage bags, and the four of them reluctantly left the courtyard that had been their home for many years. Before long, the family arrived at the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. ... Parting with their father, Lin Xingrong led his mother and sister to their new home in the East District, while Lin Tianming moved to his own cave dwelling in the West District. Standing in the center of the West District, Lin Tianming surveyed the quiet area around him. It was incomparable to the East or North Districts; the North District was home to Lin Shikang and several other Foundation Establishment clan members of the Shi generation, along with their direct relatives, and the East District housed Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingping, among other Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with their many family members. That area would also become lively in time. The West District, however, with its courtyards, was still unoccupied except for him, a solitary figure. It was unlikely that any of the Tian generation would reach Foundation Establishment soon, even Lin Tianfeng, the highest in cultivation among them, had only recently broken through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. It would be years before he succeeded in establishing his foundation. Fortunately, several years for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was but the span of a few closed-door meditation sessions, hardly considered a long time. As the cultivation of Tian generation members gradually progressed, the West District would become lively over the next decade. In a few decades, the ancient courtyards on the peak might even become insufficient, necessitating the construction of many more. Pushing these thoughts aside, it wasn¡¯t long before he arrived at a location on the edge of the West District, standing in front of a quaint courtyard. Lin Tianming took out his Restriction Order Token, opened it, and entered with confident strides. It took him a quarter of an hour to explore the entire courtyard after entering his new dwelling. His courtyard covered a vast hundred acres, several times larger than his previous one. The facilities in the entire courtyard were comprehensive, including three bedrooms for rest, a reception room, and a varying number of Cultivation Rooms, Pill Refining Rooms, Artifact Forging Rooms, and other various secret chambers. Beyond these, there was also a several-acre Spirit Field in the outer courtyard suitable for planting Spiritual Medicine. Because it was near the western mountains, this courtyard had even denser spiritual energy than the North District, with clouds and mist often shrouding one corner of the yard, giving it a rather mystical appearance. Lin Tianming was very satisfied with his new courtyard. He then spent half a day tidying up the entire yard before he left his cave dwelling and headed to Lin Shilu¡¯s courtyard. The West District was not far from the North District, separated only by a plaza. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the journey was a matter of just a few breaths. After entering Lin Shilu¡¯s courtyard and exchanging greetings, the two sat down for a casual chat. Curious about Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose for visiting, Lin Shilu asked, ¡°Tianming, it is rare for you to visit. What brings you here today?¡± Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush; he went straight to the point. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, your grandnephew wishes to forge an Attack Talisman. If the Earth Evil Swords could be upgraded and a few more forged, that would be even better. As a Second Order Refiner, perhaps you could enlighten me.¡± ¡°This boy, thinks a magic artifact is as common as a cabbage, that few can be made with just a few words,¡± Lin Shilu thought to himself, his chest tightening upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s request, then contemplation set in. The set of Spirit Swords wielded by Lin Tianming were crafted by him, and at the time, forging the twenty Earth Evil Swords had consumed a significant amount of his treasured Spirit Ore to produce a set of First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords. Those Supreme Quality First Order swords indeed made him unmatched in the Qi Refinement Realm, with few adversaries. However, they fell short at the Foundation Establishment Stage; unless up against a novice Loose Cultivator, most were using magic artifacts by the Medium Stage. Now that Lin Tianming had successfully established his foundation and his wealth was considerable, it was evident that he was no longer satisfied using mere Spirit Swords against his enemies. After pondering for a full quarter-hour, Lin Tianming did not speak to interrupt, waiting patiently the entire time. After a short while, Lin Shilu finally spoke with a tone of regret, ¡°At the moment, we have some ancillary materials, but we lack the appropriate main material. It¡¯s impossible to forge a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact!¡± After Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became somewhat downcast. Seeing this, Lin Shilu changed tack. ¡°However, the clan still has quite a few Second Order Qingling Bamboos. I can help you forge seventy-two Earth Evil Swords. It¡¯s feasible to upgrade a few of them into a set of talismans!¡± Once Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Tianming finally showed a hint of a smile. He knew that the main material for Second Order Mid-tier magical artifacts was difficult to collect; he was just asking casually. Nonetheless, upgrading a few Lower Grade talismans on the existing basis wasn¡¯t a bad idea either. Thinking of his Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the significant room for improvement, since an Attack Spirit Weapon was hard to come by in a short time, increasing the number of Earth Evil Swords could greatly enhance his own strength. With this in mind, Lin Tianming asked again, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, my Earth Fiend Sword Formation can control up to seventy-two spirit swords. The stronger the quality of the spirit swords, the more powerful they will be. If I forge seventy-two First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords, surely the power of the sword array won¡¯t be inferior to a Second Order Lower Grade magical artifact, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu revealed a look of astonished admiration. ¡°Seventy-two First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords?¡± ¡°That would require a huge number of spirit stones. Are you sure you want to do this?¡± At that moment, Lin Tianming was also calculating. He currently had twelve thousand Merit Points, which was indeed not a small amount. Originally, forging the twenty Earth Evil Swords; the materials alone, including the Second Order Qingling Bamboo, had cost three thousand spirit stones. To forge more than fifty spirit swords, with his current wealth, it was a bit tight. However, he was only at the First Layer of Foundation Establishment, and he didn¡¯t need that many spirit swords for the time being. He estimated that gathering fifty-four spirit swords should be feasible. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for so many right now. I already have twenty, so I just need to forge thirty-four First Order Top-Quality Spirit Swords to pair with the previous ones to form a complete set of spirit swords. As for the Attack Spirit Weapon, just one will suffice.¡± ¡°Hmm, that would be doable!¡± Lin Shilu nodded his head, agreeing with his plan. After some thought, he took out a beast skin and laid it out on the stone table in front of him. Barely had his fingertip shone with spiritual light when he swiftly wrote down a list of materials on the beast skin. In no time, the beast skin listed more than ten types of materials. After confirming there were no omissions, Lin Shilu passed the beast skin to Lin Tianming, then said, ¡°Retrieve the materials listed here from the clan exchange. I still have some of the other materials here, and there shouldn¡¯t be a problem fulfilling the requirements for this forging.¡± Lin Tianming took the beast skin, quickly glanced over it, and then tucked it securely into his storage bag. Lin Tianming bowed with clasped hands and said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I will exchange for them now and come to find you tomorrow!¡± After he finished speaking, Lin Tianming stood up, ready to leave. At that moment, Lin Shilu spoke again, ¡°Kid, if you¡¯re short on Merit Points, this old man will lend you five thousand!¡± ¡°Thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather, but Tianming has Merit Points¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, gave Lin Shilu a bow with his hands pressed together, and left the small courtyard. Chapter 165 - 165 - 138: Penniless_1 Chapter 165 ¨C 138: Penniless_1 After leaving Lin Shilu¡¯s courtyard, Lin Tianming returned first to his own cave abode. Sitting in the small courtyard, he spread out the beast skin Lin Shilu had given him. He had only glanced briefly at it before and hadn¡¯t had the chance to take a closer look; now, naturally, he wanted to calculate roughly how many Merit Points the artifact refining would require. Looking closely, he saw that the beast skin recorded more than a dozen items. ¡°One hundred and thirty jin of Second Order Spirit Iron, three Silver Star Stones of Second Order, three strands of Jiuxuan Vine, one hundred jin of Second Order Demon Beast Essence Blood¡­¡± Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming had finished going through the list of artifact refining materials on the beast skin. At this moment, his expression was somewhat ugly. ... Just the aforementioned materials alone, each of which was no ordinary item, like Second Order Spirit Iron, priced at more than ten Spirit Stones per jin. Just the cost of this item alone would consume more than a thousand Spirit Stones, not to mention that the price of Second Order Qingling Bamboo was even higher. The other artifact refining materials were also expensive, each costing hundreds of Spirit Stones. He estimated that just the materials for the artifact refining would cost nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones. Fortunately, he was wealthy; an average Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn¡¯t possibly afford it. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll go to the Hall of Merit to check first,¡± Lin Tianming decided. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming left his cave abode and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Before long, Lin Tianming appeared inside the Hall of Merit and found Lin Xingcheng. After exchanging a few cordial words, he got straight to the point. ¡°Uncle, could you help me check how many Merit Points these materials will require?¡± Having said that, he handed the beast skin to Lin Xingcheng so he could check and calculate the cost of the exchange. Lin Xingcheng took the beast skin, looked at just two lines, and his eyes twitched. Then he exclaimed in surprise. ¡°You need so much? What kind of powerful weapon are you planning to refine?¡± After Lin Tianming explained his plan and thought about the power of his Sword Array, he became resigned. ¡°Tianming, wait a moment while I check if we have all these Spiritual Objects and then I¡¯ll calculate the prices for you,¡± Lin Xingcheng said. After speaking, he directly picked up the ledger and went towards the back of the great hall to inventory the treasures for him. Lin Tianming sat patiently waiting on the side. A short half-quarter of an hour quietly passed, and Lin Xingcheng returned, pinching a storage bag in his hand. Seeing Lin Xingcheng coming out, Lin Tianming hurriedly asked, ¡°How is it, do we have all the Spiritual Objects?¡± Lin Xingcheng chuckled and then said: ¡°You¡¯re really lucky; all the materials listed happen to be Second Order Spiritual Items. Although they¡¯re precious, the family has fortunately collected some, just enough in quantity.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. These items were indeed precious, but with the treasures from the Jin Family and Wu Family added to the family¡¯s resources, they could be gathered. If they had not been enough, he would have had to make quite an effort to find them elsewhere. Lin Xingcheng took out the ledger and started to read out the prices. ¡°One jin of Second Order Spirit Iron costs ten Spirit Stones, totalling one thousand three hundred Spirit Stones; one Silver Star Stone costs two hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, totalling eight hundred and forty Spirit Stones; one Jiuxuan Vine costs two hundred and sixty Spirit Stones, totalling seven hundred and eighty Spirit Stones¡­¡± Lin Tianming listened, and a line slowly formed on his forehead. ¡°The total for the aforementioned fourteen materials comes to six thousand seven hundred and fifty Spirit Stones.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for Lin Xingcheng to announce the final price, once again causing Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion to change. Just the more than a dozen Spiritual Objects listed above would amount to more than six thousand Spirit Stones, not including the five thousand Spirit Stones for the Second Order Qingling Bamboo. If he included the Second Order Qingling Bamboo in the calculation, it would be nearly twelve thousand Spirit Stones, over a thousand more than he had anticipated. Soon, Lin Tianming came to terms with it. This time, to refine thirty-four First Order Supreme Quality Earth Evil Swords, as well as one Magic Artifact, it would cost just over ten thousand Spirit Stones for such a massive number. In truth, this price was quite reasonable. To know that a lower grade second-order magic artifact would cost no less than seven or eight thousand spirit stones, and a supreme quality spiritual artifact is also worth hundreds of spirit stones, this price he¡¯s paying is truly insignificant by comparison. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming speculated that Lin Shilu must have had to add quite a few valuable spiritual objects to refine the weapon for him. ¡°It seems that I must give up all my wealth to make up for what the old man has spent.¡± Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming spoke up: ¡°Uncle, I want all of the above treasures, and also the thirty-four second-order Qingling Bamboos. I¡¯ll exchange for them all at once.¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about Lin Xingcheng¡¯s expression and directly handed over his family token. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing that Lin Tianming wanted to exchange for second-order Qingling Bamboos, Lin Xingcheng was so stunned that it took him a good while to come to his senses. Afterward, Lin Xingcheng calculated the total price based on the original cost and then accepted his family token. As a streak of blue light flashed by, the only remaining eleven thousand five hundred and some Merit Points in his family token were completely deducted. He still had to provide some extra spirit stones to the Hall of Merit. After deducting the Merit Points, Lin Xingcheng handed over a storage pouch to Lin Tianming and then took out the token for the bamboo forest, passing it along to him as well. The implication was that he would have to go find the bamboos in the forest himself. Lin Tianming reluctantly accepted the token, his current strength should make the cutting a fair bit quicker. With the exchange for artifact refining materials settled, Lin Tianming looked at his storage pouch and began pondering. After such a spree, years of accumulation had been wiped out, and the Merit Points had gone down to zero. In the storage pouch, there weren¡¯t many spiritual objects left, only around one thousand six hundred spirit stones and some pills from the Qi Refinement Realm which hadn¡¯t been used up. There were about thirty bottles in total, and only one bottle contained second-order pills, a gift from Lin Shikang when Lin Tianming was breaking through to the Foundation Establishment. Besides that, there were also some second-order spiritual medicines that he had slowly collected, intending to use for refining second-order pills. The rest were miscellaneous spiritual artifacts, spirit ores, and Demonic Beasts¡¯ bodies and demon cores. After taking inventory of his storage pouch, Lin Tianming planned to exchange all ordinary objects utterly for spirit stones to gather as many as possible and serve as compensation for Lin Shilu¡¯s assistance with artifact refining. Given that Lin Shilu had helped him many times, and this time, to help him with artifact refining, he was undoubtedly going to use some treasured items, possibly even the Golden Tide Sand obtained from the exchange meeting. With such help from Lin Shilu, if he did not show any gratitude, would it not be utterly disheartening! Determined, he decided to keep a few bottles of the pills he wouldn¡¯t need, along with two pieces of Earth Mysterious Crystals that had been stored for a long time. All other spiritual items were taken out and laid before Lin Xingcheng. ¡°Uncle, please take a look at these items. I want to exchange them all for spirit stones!¡± Lin Xingcheng, faced with the dazzling array of various treasures, was momentarily dazed. Many of the items before him were not ordinary, and even for someone who had been the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master for several years, they were tempting. ¡°Uncle?¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± After being prompted, Lin Xingcheng came back to his senses and began tallying up the various spiritual objects Lin Tianming had provided. Seventy-two Superior Spirit Essence Pills, totaling seven hundred and twenty spirit stones, a first-order medium grade attack spirit weapon, valued at one hundred and ten spirit stones¡­¡± Your next journey awaits at Half an hour passed, and Lin Xingcheng finished the inventory, and he said to Lin Tianming: ¡°After tallying, the total value of these spiritual objects comes to two thousand eight hundred and forty-two spirit stones.¡± Lin Tianming nodded his head, indicating his confirmation to exchange. Lin Xingcheng, without further words, went back into the storeroom within the passage and took out the exact amount of spirit stones, handing them over to Lin Tianming. After receiving the spirit stones, he put them into his storage pouch. Following the exchange, his Merit Points were gone, and he had only four thousand five hundred spirit stones left, most of which would have to be given as respect to Lin Shilu. Now, he was as poor as a beggar, instantly transported back to years ago. Having achieved his goal at the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming did not linger any longer. After a brief conversation with Lin Xingcheng, he cupped his fists and left the Hall of Merit. Chapter 166 - 166 - 139: Artifact Refining Again_1 Chapter 166 ¨C 139: Artifact Refining Again_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, within a vast sea of bamboo. Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit and headed straight to the Qingling Bamboo sea at the foot of the main peak. At this moment, he flew dozens of feet into the air, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and scanned the expanse of the bamboo forest. The first time he came to cut Qingling Bamboo, it had taken quite an effort, but with the experience of the first time, this time could be said to be familiar terrain. In just a short while, under the powerful vision of the Eye of Five Colors, the dense Qingling Bamboo had nowhere to hide. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he easily found the first Second Order Qingling Bamboo, a speed dozens of times faster than his first attempt. Lin Tianming leaped forward and flew towards the cliff where the Second Order bamboo was located. ... Reaching the side of the Qlingling Bamboo, he directly took out an Earth Evil Sword and, gauging the position, immediately chopped down. ¡°Pff¡­¡± With one strike, the bamboo shuddered and then, at the base, a thumb-sized notch appeared. With a casual split using eighty percent of his strength, he was very pleased to have made a notch in the Qingling Bamboo. He then swiftly executed three more swords strikes, each hitting the same spot. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise echoed as the bowl-thick Qingling Bamboo fell, digging a small pit on the ground. A look of delight appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, for with just five sword strikes, he had successfully felled the bamboo at an indeed swift pace. He discarded the useless parts of the bamboo, keeping only the main trunk and then stored it in his storage bag. The first Qingling Bamboo was successfully acquired in less than half an hour. With his improved cultivation and the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, cutting the bamboo again had become incredibly easy. After quickly tidying up the site, he flew back into the sky and resumed his search. ¡­ As evening approached, the remaining sunshine spilled over the tranquil sea of bamboo. With the thirty-fourth Second Order Qingling Bamboo falling to the ground, his journey of cutting came to an end for the day. After storing the bamboo in his storage bag, Lin Tianming wove through the bamboo sea and darted towards the exit. He took out his token, opened the protective restrictions of the bamboo sea, and left the bamboo sea without looking back. From noon till evening, after spending most of the day cutting, he successfully obtained thirty-four pieces of Qingling Bamboo. Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Tianming did not go to the Hall of Merit but went straight back to his cave dwelling to rest for the night. Back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming placed the Artifact Refining materials he exchanged at the Hall of Merit and Second Order Qingling Bamboo into one storage bag, then he took out four thousand spirit stones and two Earth Mysterious Crystals, placing them into another storage bag to give to Lin Shilu the next day. After organizing his possessions, his own storage bag now contained just over five hundred spirit stones, one bottle of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills, two First Order Superior Grade defensive spiritual tools, and varying quantities of talisman papers. First Order talisman papers had lost much of their usefulness to him unless they were amassed in significant numbers. Otherwise, they hardly made any impact on Foundation Establishment cultivators. As for Second Order talisman papers, they didn¡¯t consume much spiritual power and were comparable to attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators, which had some usefulness. However, he only had two pieces: one Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman and one inferior quality Defense Talisman, which provided limited help. Now, aside from this batch of high-value Artifact Refining materials and some long-stored spiritual medicine, he was indeed as poor as could be. ¡°It looks like once the Artifact Refining is finished, it¡¯s time to venture out and earn some spirit stones!¡± he muttered to himself, pondering his cultivation plans going forward. So far, he had been at the Foundation Establishment stage for less than half a year, and his cultivation was only at the first level. He was relatively safe in the Luoyun Mountain Range, but in the Wei Kingdom, he was not really considered significant. There was no need to rush at the moment, as he still had plenty to do. After finishing Artifact Refining, the first thing to do would be to practice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword, followed by improving his Alchemy, where at minimum he had to learn to concoct Second Order Spirit Origin Pills. Once his strength improved, it would be time to venture out, seek treasures, and aid his cultivation. Unwittingly, as the bright moon hung in the sky, the night had deepened. Lin Tianming put aside his scattered thoughts and, with a weary body, finally fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ The following morning, Lin Tianming once again started his busy day. First thing, he went to the Hall of Merit to return the token for entering the bamboo sea, and then immediately hurried to Lin Shilu¡¯s cave dwelling. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon entering his courtyard, Lin Shilu had already been waiting for him. ¡°Tianming pays respects to Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± After Lin Tianming gave a fist and palm salute, he respectfully handed over two storage bags he had prepared in advance. Lin Shilu frowned slightly, took the two storage bags, and then extended his divine sense to start examining them. ¡°Hmm, all materials have been gathered as required!¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± Lin Shilu, pointing to the storage bag containing four thousand spirit stones and two Earth Mysterious Crystals, asked with a puzzled face. Lin Tianming maintained a calm demeanor as he earnestly explained: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you have taken great pains and even used up some of your treasured spiritual objects for the sake of your nephew¡¯s artifact refining. These spirit stones are merely a small gesture of your nephew¡¯s appreciation. Although the amount is trivial, I truly hope you will accept it!¡± Listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, which was earnest in tone and attitude, Lin Shilu, considering that he too had to contribute a fair amount of artifact refining materials for this help, thought that although these spirit stones weren¡¯t much, they represented Tianming¡¯s sincerity. Rejecting them might increase Tianming¡¯s burden. With these thoughts in mind, he chuckled and, without standing on ceremony, accepted the two storage bags. Seeing Lin Shilu accept the bags, Lin Tianming also breathed a sigh of relief and a knowing smile appeared on his face. Lin Shilu felt the same, and the two sat in the courtyard, chatting leisurely for a while, discussing the details of artifact refining. After a short time, the details were almost settled, and Lin Shilu spoke: ¡°There is no better time than the present to start artifact refining. You should do as before, prepare some artifact refining materials for me from the Qingling Bamboo before you leave.¡± Lin Tianming naturally didn¡¯t dare to object, and even if Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would have volunteered, so he readily agreed to the task. Afterward, the two walked one after another into Lin Shilu¡¯s Artifact Forging Room. Looking at the familiar Artifact Forging Room, still laid out as before with no changes, Lin Shilu first took out the artifact refining materials one by one and placed them on the stone platform. The Third Order Golden Tide Sand, Second Order Red Flame Crystal, and the sharp teeth of a Second Order Crimson Gold Snake¡­ Lin Tianming looked on as a spectator and, as expected, saw the Golden Tide Sand amongst them, along with over a dozen rare artifact refining materials, which made him click his tongue in amazement. It seemed that the four thousand spirit stones and the two Earth Mysterious Crystals he had prepared were indeed trivial compared to the spiritual objects Fifteenth Grandfather had sacrificed! Experience tales at Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was extremely moved, yet he said nothing further. Having prepared the necessary items, Lin Shilu sat down cross-legged to meditate and adjust his breathing. Not daring to disturb, Lin Tianming, with nothing else to do, sat down as well and quietly waited. Inside the Artifact Forging Room, the sound of Lin Shilu¡¯s breathing was rhythmic and steady, clearly entering the state needed for artifact refining. After adjusting for the better part of the day, he opened his eyes. With a single-handed seal, he cast a law decree, and in an instant, a three-foot-long flame spurted from the Earth Fire mouth, perfectly heating the huge furnace cauldron. As the Earth Fire erupted, the temperature inside the Artifact Forging Room increased sharply, and the temperature in the cauldron shot up instantly. While Lin Shilu was warming the furnace, Lin Tianming took out an Earth Evil Sword, and per his instructions, began cutting the Second Order Qingling Bamboo, leaving the lower part for artifact refining. After half an hour of heating the furnace and sensing that the temperature inside the cauldron was right, Lin Shilu knew the time was ripe. He took out a large piece of Spirit Iron, threw it decisively into the cauldron, and then controlled the Earth Fire to melt the hard Spirit Iron into molten iron. Chapter 167 - 167 - 140: Complete Set of Earth Evil Swords - 1 Chapter 167 ¨C 140: Complete Set of Earth Evil Swords ¨C 1 Inside the Artifact Forging Room. As time passed, the temperature in the room had reached its peak. Two figures bustled about non-stop, their robes already soaked with sweat. ¡°Bang¡­ bang¡­¡± The sounds of hammering echoed throughout the room, Lin Tianming stripped to the waist, revealing explosive muscles, the sharp lines of his muscles indicative of formidable strength. The pair hammered away at the fiery red Spirit Iron, their coordination almost telepathic. It was only Second Order Spirit Ore, but the difficulty of extracting and shaping it was substantial, far different from that of First Order Artifact Refining materials. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... After several days of intense refining, only a small portion of the dozens of Second Order Artifact Refining Materials had been processed, and completing them all would take no short amount of time. At this point, both showed signs of fatigue. Lin Shilu placed the shaped Spirit Iron on a stone platform nearby, then clapped his hands and said with a smile, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s take a short break to recover our strength. Artifact Refining, like Alchemy, requires patience and gradual progress to craft divine weapons. We mustn¡¯t rush!¡± ¡°I shall heed Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s teachings.¡± Find adventures at Lin Tianming replied and put down the heavy hammer from the thousand golds, sitting down on the ground with a thud and gasping for air. Lin Shilu had long been astonished by Lin Tianming¡¯s physical stamina. With his own cultivation at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, he too was exhausted after several days of work. That Lin Tianming, who had broken through to the Foundation Establishment first level less than half a year ago, could keep up for so long was truly unexpected. ¡°This kid is truly a monstrous talent; his Cultivation Technique must be terrifying indeed!¡± Lin Shilu guessed inwardly but, in perfect tacit understanding, kept silent about the topic of Cultivation Technique. After resting for half an hour, both men had recuperated enough strength to begin refining anew. Another half a month went by and the two had finally completed the refining process. Looking at the various types of Spirit Ore that had been refined and beaten, now more translucent and significantly smaller in size, yet the energy and attributes within the ores made their edges even more fearsomely sharp. Lin Shilu looked at their handiwork with satisfaction and was filled with a surge of lofty ambition and passion. Since he had started learning Artifact Refining over seventy years ago, his natural talent for it could rank within the top three in the history of the Lin Family. Even though he had been a Second Order Refiner for over thirty years, this was the first time he had forged such a large number of Spirit Swords. Furthermore, he had to create a Second Order Attack Talisman for Lin Tianming, presenting a monumental challenge. It was because of this that his competitive spirit was ignited, causing his blood to run hot. Sensing Lin Shilu¡¯s enthusiasm, Lin Tianming felt a stir of excitement in his heart and admired Lin Shilu even more. Next, Lin Shilu, seizing the moment, decided to further fuse the refined Spirit Ores altogether. This step was much more difficult than refining, depending not only on the experience of the Artifact Refiner but also on a stricter test of one¡¯s cultivation and spiritual essence. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was grave, not daring to be careless in the least. He took out the Sword Embryo forged from Qingling Bamboo and placed it on the stone platform; then he carefully took out the refined Spirit Ore, meticulously hammering and merging them together. At this stage, Lin Tianming did not lend a hand. After all, he was not an Artifact Refiner, and although he possessed the miraculous Eye of Five Colors to aid him, this step tested the Refiner¡¯s experience. He did not possess this prerequisite. Helping might have led to the opposite effect, potentially ruining all their previous efforts. If they failed, not only would their hard work be in vain, but the precious Spirit Ore reduced to waste was enough to cause them immense distress. Knowing this, he stood to the side and watched, not even daring to breathe too loudly, fearing that he might disturb Lin Shilu. As time passed, thirty-four Spirit Swords were successfully fused and formed. Because Lin Shilu had previously forged twenty Earth Evil Swords, although the number had increased this time, which elevated the difficulty of forging, he still persevered and completed the task. Looking at the neat array of Spirit Sword embryos exuding a special aura, which indicated they were already taking shape, Lin Shilu nodded his head, appearing quite satisfied with his work. At this moment, the Earth Evil Swords were more than half forged. All that was needed were some adjustments to the specific shapes of the Spirit Swords and then the engraving of the Inscription Array for the forging to be thoroughly completed. After a short rest, Lin Shilu threw himself back into the bustling activity of Artifact Refining. Following hundreds of hammering steps, a refined Spirit Sword came into being, leaving only the last step of Inscription Array engraving, with all preliminary processes finished. Time slowly trickled by, and one Spirit Sword after another took shape. A month had passed in this way. In the Artifact Forging Room, fifty-four Spirit Swords hung neatly in the air. Every Spirit Sword was identical without any variation. With so many Spirit Swords gathered together, all of them emanated strong fluctuations, stirring the air in the Artifact Forging Room, looking immensely powerful. Lin Shilu stared at the fifty-four Spirit Swords before him, his face showing a satisfied smile. In total, after fifty days of Refining, he had re-forged thirty-four Spirit Swords. Moreover, the original twenty Spirit Swords he had made for Lin Tianming were also re-hammered by him, with a portion of rare materials added and the Inscription Arrays re-engraved. The fifty-four Spirit Swords now made up a complete set of new Spiritual Instruments. Enhanced by his efforts, their power had increased significantly compared to the previous ones. Although each individual Spirit Sword remained a First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instrument, not breaking into the Second Order category, they had reached the limit of First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments. Looking at his masterpiece, Lin Shilu made a guess internally. Fifty-four First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments, forming a complete set, would undoubtedly exceed the power of a Lower Quality Second Order Magic Artifact, and could even be comparable to a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact. Regathering his consciousness, Lin Shilu waved his hand, and the fifty-four Spirit Swords flew in front of Lin Tianming. ¡°Take a look, are they satisfying?¡± Lin Tianming grabbed a Spirit Sword and scrutinized it carefully. Looking at the all too familiar Spirit Sword and feeling the intense fluctuations coming from it, he displayed an expression of not wanting to let it go. While touching the blade, Tianming joyfully commented, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you have labored hard. I am very satisfied with this set of Spirit Swords!¡± ¡°Good to hear you¡¯re satisfied!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s appraisal, Lin Shilu laughed heartily, the look of tiredness on his face disappearing significantly. ¡°After forging these Spirit Swords, my current condition isn¡¯t very good. The materials for a Second Order Attack Artifact have been prepared, but due to my state, I regretfully have to set it aside for now. I will forge it once I¡¯ve recovered. When I¡¯ve completed it, I¡¯ll send word to you!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming sincerely replied, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, please focus on recovering first. There is no need to hurry for now!¡± ¡°I shall take my leave, Grandfather; you can summon me if there¡¯s anything!¡± ¡°Go on then!¡± Lin Shilu nodded his head and walked out first, while Lin Tianming stored the fifty-four Spirit Swords into his storage bag and then left the Artifact Forging Room. In the small courtyard, Lin Tianming bowed with his hands clasped together and left Lin Shilu¡¯s abode. Chapter 168 - 168 - 141 Trial of Maiden Skill_1 Chapter 168 ¨C 141 Trial of Maiden Skill_1 Having left Lin Shilu¡¯s small courtyard, Lin Tianming returned directly to his own cave dwelling. Although the set of Spirit Swords was completely crafted, Lin Tianming did not immediately begin the consecration process, nor was he overly eager to test the power of the Sword Array. After more than a month of intensely helping with Artifact Refining, he was now extremely weary, only able to forcibly suppress the restlessness in his heart. After a quick wash, he collapsed onto his bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. Before long, a day and two nights had passed, and when he awoke again, it was already the third day. Opening his eyes, he sat up and stretched, the previous sense of fatigue was nowhere to be found. Feeling that his vigor, aura, and spirit had all returned to optimal condition, ... he had no more reason to wait. He left his cave dwelling and headed straight for the valley where the Purple Gold Eagle resided. In no time at all, Lin Tianming appeared outside the cave dwelling of the Purple Gold Eagle. Feeling Lin Tianming¡¯s presence, the Purple Gold Eagle became very excited and flew over to him directly. Although they were separated for only two months, a brief period, the aura of the Purple Gold Eagle had grown stronger once again. As expected, the Dragon Horn Lizard Demon Pill he had fed it before leaving had indeed enhanced its strength. At this point, the aura of the Purple Gold Eagle had reached the peak of the First Order Late Stage, just one step away from the Second Order. Seeing Lin Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle was overjoyed, rubbing against his robes as if to curry favor. Lin Tianming affectionately stroked the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head and, regardless of whether it could understand him or not, he said, ¡°Xiao Diao, that¡¯s the name I¡¯ve given you. Right now, your master is very poor and doesn¡¯t have anything for you to eat!¡± The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to understand his words, nodding its head, then let out a sharp cry as if to respond to him. Lin Tianming laughed heartily, feeling it quite magical. Until now, his commands had been conveyed directly to the Purple Gold Eagle through Divine Sense; he didn¡¯t expect it would understand spoken words as well. ¡°It seems although Xiao Diao is just a First Order demonic bird, its Spirit Wisdom isn¡¯t low!¡± Lin Tianming mumbled to himself quietly before taking out a piece of Red Gold Snake Meat, the last he had left, and threw it to Xiao Diao. Xiao Diao did not refuse the gift and clamped onto the snake meat with one bite, beginning to devour it eagerly. Having taken care of Xiao Diao, Lin Tianming found a flat platform to sit on and prepared to start the consecration process for the new Earth Fiend Swords. Soon after, he found himself atop a small hill. Finding the place quiet and secluded, very suitable for cultivation, he then sat down on the ground. He performed a full cycle of the Grand Circulation to adjust his condition, then took out an Earth Evil Sword and gripped it tightly in his hand. Having had previous experience with consecration to claim ownership, the process was now familiar to him. He sprinkled a drop of Lifeblood Essence onto the Spirit Sword. Instantly, the bright red blood quickly sank into the body of the sword, soon disappearing. Then the Spirit Sword began to tremble as though trying to escape his grasp. Lin Tianming had anticipated this and immediately used his Cultivation Technique to suppress it, followed by projecting a thread of his Divine Sense to engrave it into the core of the Spirit Sword. An hour flew by quickly. A distinctive sound of a sword¡¯s cry rang out. The Spirit Sword that was shaking violently began to calm down and then started rotating around his body non-stop. Feeling the connection between himself and the Spirit Sword, Lin Tianming showed a hint of joy on his face. After the consecration of the first Earth Evil Sword was finished, Lin Tianming took out another Spirit Sword, repeating the process he just completed. In the blink of an eye, five days had passed. At this moment, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. Around him, fifty-four Spirit Swords were rapidly spinning, their speed astonishingly swift. At a glance, the rotating Spirit Swords had seemingly formed an impregnable shield without any blind spots. Because the Spirit Sword was spinning too fast, it stirred up a fierce Gang Wind that whipped up sand, stones, and rotten wood around it. Watching the flying sand and rolling stones, Lin Tianming was taken by surprise and also deeply astonished. As the Spirit Sword was retracted, the Gang Wind also dissipated, and the valley gradually returned to calm, leaving only a messy site. After spending several days, he had finally finished refining all of the Spirit Swords and was now ready to test their power. At that thought, Lin Tianming grew very excited. Since he wasn¡¯t sure if he could activate all the Spirit Swords and considering he had been able to operate eighteen of them during the Qi Refinement Realm, and now that he had reached Foundation Establishment with a significant increase in Divine Sense, he decided to start with thirty-six swords. Without further delay, he waved his hands, and thirty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out, neatly hovering above his head. He quickly circulated his Cultivation Technique, then urged the Earth Evil Swords forward, placing them into the Sword Array one by one. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± As each position was set, he immediately formed seals with his hands and murmured incantations. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, arise¡­¡± Suddenly, a Barrier materialized from the ground, covering a hundred feet in all directions. Inside the Barrier, thousands of Sword Qi went crashing and shuttling through without any pattern. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, grind¡­¡± With a loud shout from him, the Barrier of the Sword Formation gradually shrank, the space inside became smaller, and the intensity of the Sword Qi grew even more fierce. Before long, the Barrier had shrunk to just over ten feet wide and stopped shrinking. By now, the Sword Qi inside the Barrier had become terrifyingly dense, almost tangible, and the thousands of Sword Qi were nearly brushing against each other. In the area covered by the Barrier, the ground was gouged out by the Sword Qi to more than a yard deep, growing even deeper towards the center. It was hard to imagine that if a cultivator were inside the Barrier, facing such fierce and dense Sword Qi, even a First Order Foundation Establishment cultivator would have no chance of survival. Feeling the power of the Sword Array, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim: ¡°A thirty-six sword array holds such power; how terrifying would it be with fifty-four?¡± With that in mind, Lin Tianming tried again. Once the Sword Array reset, he added the remaining eighteen Earth Evil Swords to the array. As he finished channeling his energy, the fifty-four sword array was now fully in place. Without hesitation, he activated the Sword Array. Once the Sword Array was operational, it covered the same hundred-foot range, the number of Sword Qi within the formation doubled, and the force of the Sword Qi was further enhanced. Moreover, the Barrier of the Sword Array became even more solid, like an unbreakable copper wall and iron barrier. After a dozen or so breaths, Lin Tianming withdrew the Sword Array. At this point, his face was as pale as death, his Spiritual Power completely drained, and his Divine Sense severely depleted. From his test, the Sword Array consisting of fifty-four Earth Evil Swords, when fully activated, had a power that was several times greater than that of the thirty-six sword array. And with the increase in both the power and number of Spirit Swords, the consumption of Spiritual Power and Divine Sense also increased exponentially. With his current cultivation, he could only maintain it for a dozen breaths at most, after which his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense would be greatly depleted, and he would have to stop. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by this result; after all, greater power comes with greater limitations. The Sword Array of thirty-six Earth Evil Swords was also very powerful, greatly surpassing its former strength. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He estimated that a sixteen blade sword array should be able to easily deal with an average Second Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, and perhaps even hold its own against a Third Level Foundation Establishment cultivator. Of course, that was just speculation; there would be many uncertain factors in practice, and the actual outcome would be hard to say, but he was confident. Gathering his thoughts, he was now completely out of Spiritual Power and severely drained of Divine Sense, not in any condition to continue. Retrieving the Spirit Swords, he quickly tidied up, and then flew towards his cave abode at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 169 - 169 - 142 Significant Improvement_1 Chapter 169 ¨C 142 Significant Improvement_1 Back to his cave abode. Lin Tianming lay on the bed, exhausted, as he recalled today¡¯s gains in his mind. The new Earth Fiend Sword Formation, with its number of Spirit Swords doubled, greatly enhanced his strength, which excited him somewhat. And the Second Order Magical Artifact that Lin Shilu had helped him refine, when combined with the Divine Firmament Nine Swords, what kind of power would it wield? Given that it was a Second Order Magical Artifact and required Divine Skills that could only be cultivated in the Foundation Establishment Stage, its power was bound to be extraordinary. With the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap enemies and the Tiangang Ninth Sword for attack, his strength was about to undergo a qualitative transformation! At this thought, he became extremely eager. However, refining a Second Order Magical Artifact was no easy task, and Lin Shilu was completely drained; it couldn¡¯t be produced in a short time. ... Now, with the new Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the difficulty of controlling it had increased significantly due to the increased number of Spirit Swords. He had to practice more to enhance the stability and speed of execution of the Sword Array. Thinking of this, he decided to go to the valley to practice again tomorrow, aiming to improve the power and stability of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation at the earliest opportunity while waiting for the Second Order Magical Artifact to be refined. Before he realized it, Lin Tianming fell into a deep sleep¡­ The next day before dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and sunshine spread across the land, complementing the continuous mountains, creating a scene like that of heaven on Earth. At this time, Green Bamboo Mountain was exceptionally quiet, with the majority of the clan still in deep sleep. After a night¡¯s rest, Lin Tianming left his cave and once again arrived at the valley where he had cultivated the day before. Such scenes, he could no longer remember how many springs and autumns he had experienced; such painstaking dedication was rare even in the Cultivation World. He sat cross-legged on the ground, circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and reached his optimal state. Basking in the first rays of the morning sun, a gentle breeze caressed his face. With a single wave of his hand, fifty-four Spirit Swords hovered above his head, exuding strands of Sword Qi, shredding the oncoming breeze. Looking calmly at the mountain peak ahead, as if second nature, he began to activate the Sword Array. In an instant, Gang Wind arose, and Sword Qi danced across the sky, with the sound of howling sword energy never ceasing. ¡°Trap!¡± Lin Tianming bellowed, and the Spirit Swords above his head shot out in the blink of an eye. In front of him, the Earth Fiend Swords spun madly, forming a barrier as strong as walls of copper and iron, encasing the small mountain peak within it. He controlled the Sword Array with all his might, treating the mountain peak as if it were a giant beast, mercilessly grinding it down. As the range of the Sword Array became narrower, he stopped when it had contracted to a scope of thirty feet. When the dust settled, the small mountain peak was riddled with holes from the bombardment of Sword Qi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming shook his head, seemingly unsatisfied. ¡°Too slow. This mountain is inanimate, but if it were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, in a breath¡¯s time, they could travel hundreds of feet, escaping from the reach of the Sword Array!¡± After sighing, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned resolute as he retrieved all the Spirit Swords. Then, he made a move, repeating the actions he had just performed. Instantly, the valley was filled with whirling Sword Qi and the piercing sounds of explosions that echoed through the entire valley. Time silently slipped by and a month passed¡­ In the valley, Lin Tianming circulated his Spiritual Power to the extreme, his robe fluttering in the Gang Wind produced by the Sword Array. In front of him, under the coverage of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the sky was filled with Sword Qi, stones flew about, and the stones on the ground were easily crushed. Once the Sword Array ceased operation, the mountain peak had drastically decreased, almost leveled by him. Lin Tianming sheathed his Spirit Sword, looking at the chaos before him, his expression brimming with excitement. After a month of dedicated cultivation, his control over the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had become much more practiced. The sword array, consisting of fifty-four Spirit Swords, had its casting speed increased by several folds, capable of near-instantaneous deployment. Furthermore, the stability of the sword array had also significantly improved compared to before. Such progress in just one month was somewhat unexpected to him. In his joy, Lin Tianming thought to himself, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because the Earth Fiend Sword Formation has gone through numerous battles and has already reached the Minor Achievement Realm. That¡¯s why, with just an increase in the number of Spirit Swords, the proficiency has improved so swiftly!¡± Returning to his thoughts, Lin Tianming looked at the ravaged valley, feeling a sense of guilt. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The valley, once filled with birdsong and flower fragrances, hidden beneath lush jungles, now lay bare, stripped of its former grace. Thankfully, in this world of cultivation, such severe conditions could recover in just a few months. Otherwise, with his destructive power, the hundreds of large and small valleys of Green Bamboo Mountain would not be enough for his devastation. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming pondered. Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t yet contacted him about the Artifact Refining, so the Second Order Magical Artifact must not be completed yet. As for the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, it had reached a bottleneck; further practice like this would yield no progress. Right now, with the sword array cultivation successful and the Magical Artifact still in the making, he was in a period of downtime. ¡°Let¡¯s try refining Second Order Pills during this downtime!¡± he decided. Resolved, Lin Tianming sheathed his Spirit Sword, then left the valley and flew toward the Hall of Merit. Inside the Hall of Merit, the place was abuzz with over a dozen clan members exchanging Spiritual Objects, and he greeted each of them in passing. Soon, it was Lin Tianming¡¯s turn. Approaching Lin Xingcheng, after exchanging a few pleasantries, he said, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯d like to exchange for fifty sets of Spirit Essence Pill Materials!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s request, Lin Xingcheng was slightly surprised. He was very aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s level in Alchemy. Logically, he should be attempting to refine Second Order Pills. In fact, Lin Tianming was also feeling helpless. The reason for exchanging First Order Spirit Essence Pill Materials was that he was currently very poor, with just over five hundred Spirit Stones in his storage bag. And as for the materials for Second Order Spirit Essence Pills, he had previously collected just a few sets, nowhere near enough for the consumption needed to attempt Pill Refining. Therefore, he planned to exchange for some Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, refine some First Order Pills to sell, earn Spirit Stones, and then buy some Second Order Spiritual Medicines to practice Alchemy. Although he could go to his grandfather and ask for some Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, he was too embarrassed to speak up, especially since he wasn¡¯t yet at his wit¡¯s end. While he was thinking, Lin Xingcheng had already calculated the price and fetched the Spiritual Medicine Materials for him. ¡°Tianming, fifty sets of First Order Spirit Essence Pill Materials will total four hundred merit points,¡± he said. Without hesitation, Lin Tianming took out four hundred Spirit Stones and handed them to Lin Xingcheng. After receiving the fifty sets of Spiritual Medicine Materials from Lin Xingcheng¡¯s hands and bidding farewell, he immediately left the Hall of Merit. In a short period, Lin Tianming returned to his own cave dwelling from the Hall of Merit. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he looked at the Spiritual Medicine Materials before him and became reflective. Before reaching the Foundation Establishment, he had over ten thousand merit points and Spiritual Objects worth thousands, all spent on Artifact Refining, depleting years of savings, leaving him no choice but to refine pills to earn Spirit Stones. ¡°Well, with the Eye of Five Colors to aid me, Pill Refining is nothing but a simple task for me!¡± he sighed. After that exclamation, he began to run his spiritual practice, adjusting his state to its best before starting the Alchemy process. Chapter 170 - 170 - 143 Dilemma_1 Chapter 170 ¨C 143 Dilemma_1 In the Pill Refining Room. A large amount of First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, neatly arranged on a stone platform, with the Four Symbols Furnace already suspended above the Earth Fire vent. Having not refined pills for a long time, the First Order Lingshen Pills had not been made for several years either. Lin Tianming was seen forming a spell with one hand, casting a spell onto the Four Symbols Furnace. When the Earth Fire spewed out, the scorching flames baked the Pill Furnace, and rapidly, the temperature within the entire Pill Refining Room began to rise, as did the temperature inside the Four Symbols Furnace. Seeing that the timing was just about right, he skillfully threw a plant of Spiritual Medicine Materials into the Four Symbols Furnace with both hands. With familiar ease, he proceeded with the proficient steps. ... Three days quietly passed by. When a strong fragrance of elixirs wafted out of the Pill Refining Room, he lifted the lid of the furnace and took out eight Lingshen Pills, placing them in a prepared Jade Bottle. ¡°Done with great success. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve done alchemy, but luckily my skill in Alchemy has hardly regressed.¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, tidied up the messy Pill Refining Room, and left the cave dwelling with the newly-refined Lingshen Pills. Before long, he arrived at the Hall of Merit. Having greeted the clan members working there, he sat opposite Lin Xingcheng and handed over the prepared First Order Lingshen Pills. After calculating with Lin Xingcheng, this time using only fifty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, they obtained two hundred and thirty-two First Order Lingshen Pills. ¡°Two hundred and thirty-two Lingshen Pills can be exchanged for merits totalling one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six points,¡± Lin Xingcheng said. Immediately after he spoke, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°Uncle, please exchange all of it for the materials needed for Second Order Lingshen Pills.¡± Hearing this request, Lin Xingcheng started to calculate and then spoke, ¡°The materials for Second Order Lingshen Pills are worth one hundred and sixty merit points per portion. Your merits can only be exchanged for eleven portions, leaving an excess of ninety-six merit points.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Uncle, please exchange it for twelve portions of Second Order Lingshen Pill materials, and I will make up the shortfall with Spirit Stones.¡± Without pause, he hurriedly took out sixty-four Spirit Stones and handed them to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took the Spirit Stones and quickly brought back the Spiritual Medicine Materials. Seeing the exchange completed, Lin Tianming did not stay much longer, bid farewell to Lin Xingcheng, and returned to his own cave dwelling. Inside the cultivation room, he sat cross-legged on the floor and began to practice breathing exercises, not immediately starting the refinement of Second Order Pills. Once he felt his condition was sufficiently adjusted, he took out a great number of Alchemy Experiences and books, and began to meticulously review them. These Alchemy Experiences had been collected over the years, some of which were written by his grandfather, the originals of which had long been handed over to the family; what he had were just copied replicas. Before refining Second Order Elixirs, he had to make some additional preparations, and although he had already read through the Alchemy Experiences several times, further study would invariably yield some new insights. In the evening, after a day¡¯s study, he had finished reading through half of the notes. Having stored the read Alchemy Experiences into his storage bag, he then took out a Jade Bottle, poured out one Lingshen Pill from it, and held it between his fingers, closely observing it. This bottle contained three Lingshen Pills, the very ones Lin Shikang had gifted to him after his Foundation Establishment breakthrough. Being busy with Artifact Refining and practicing Divine Skills, he had not yet had the chance to consume them. Looking at the green and yellow pill, surrounded by faint spiritual energy, a unique fragrance filled the air. At this moment, he was somewhat hesitant. He had been cultivating the Tiangang Body Art for seven or eight years, and during these years, aside from cultivating, he had been constantly experimenting. He found that just by sitting in meditation and performing breathing exercises, he could withstand the pain generated during cultivation without relying on the Body Strengthening Pill. If he took elixirs to cultivate, in a very short amount of time, the excessive spiritual power, without the aid of elixirs, would make it easy to suffer a backlash and produce even more intense pain. It was still manageable during the Qi Refinement Realm, but for the Foundation Establishment Stage, he had not tried it and did not dare to attempt it lightly. ¡°This might just be the downside of a Heavenly Grade Technique.¡± Lin Tianming laughed at himself, seeming to understand, after all, there were no perfect cultivation techniques. To gain stronger power, one must inevitably pay more. Gathering his thoughts, considering he still had some First Order Body Strengthening Pills which could alleviate the pain a bit, he felt somewhat eager to try. After a while, he made up his mind and swallowed one. Upon taking the elixir, a special medicinal power spread out. He immediately circulated his cultivation technique, refining the medicinal power, while the generated spiritual power slowly flowed through his meridians, eventually converging in the Seven Sea Dantian. In a short time, just as he expected, the pain came, and it grew increasingly severe. At this point, his face was pale, and large beads of sweat kept sliding off, quickly disappearing as they hit the ground. Enduring the excruciating pain, he waved one hand and immediately took out a Body Strengthening Pill and a Strong Spirit Pill to ingest. Once the Body Strengthening Pill was taken, its special medicinal power spread rapidly throughout his body along the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. Regrettably, since the Body Strengthening Pill was a First Order Elixir, it could only relieve some of the pain and couldn¡¯t suppress it completely. Nevertheless, it was better than nothing, and it had some effect, allowing his complexion to regain a bit of color. Like this, with severe pain, he ran his cultivation technique to its limit, seeking to refine the power of the Lingshen Pill as quickly as possible to escape the extremely painful situation. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three days passed. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, which gradually became clearer from their previous muddiness. He examined the increased spiritual power within his Qi Sea Dantian, and although it wasn¡¯t much and the breakthrough was still very far off, it was still several times faster compared to meditative cultivation. Seeing that his cultivation had increased slightly beyond expectations, his expression eased a bit. ¡°It¡¯s finally over. That bone-eroding sensation is truly not something ordinary people can withstand.¡± Lin Tianming muttered softly, his eyes revealing a hint of apprehension. During these three days, every moment was an agony for him. Fortunately, after several years of cultivation, he had grown numb to ordinary pain, and with mental preparation, along with the aid of the Body Strengthening Pill, he had managed to endure. However, a new problem now lay before him. If he wanted to use elixirs to achieve a rapid improvement in his cultivation, he had to find Second Order auxiliary pills; otherwise, he could only rely on meditative cultivation. Or he could again endure the bone-eroding pain. Although his current cultivation was not very high, and with the Body Strengthening Pills, he could barely hold on for a while, this was not a long-term solution. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming said to himself, ¡°It seems that once the magic artifact is finished, I must find a way to go out and look for suitable elixirs to assist in my cultivation. Otherwise, my cultivation might come to a standstill, and in that case, I must expedite the timeline for my experience.¡± Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming temporarily buried this thought in his heart. Afterward, he formed a seal with both hands, circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and began to enter a state of recuperation. Chapter 171 - 171 - 144 Second Order Alchemist_1 Chapter 171 ¨C 144 Second Order Alchemist_1 Three days later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes. After several days of regulation and taking Spirit Origin Pills, the side effects had vanished without a trace. At this moment, he had regained his condition. ¡°It¡¯s time to get started.¡± He muttered to himself and rose to his feet, heading towards the pill refining room. Sitting in the pill refining room, he took out the materials for the Second Order Spirit Origin Pill one by one, a total of twenty batches of materials, placing them on a stone platform beside him. Out of the twenty batches of spiritual medicine materials, thirteen were exchanged from the Hall of Merit, while the remaining seven had been slowly collected over the past few years. Materials for Second Order spiritual medicine are quite valuable. If he failed too often, it would inevitably cause a bit of heartache, so he had to be extra cautious. ... ¡°Huff huff.¡± Lin Tianming took a deep breath, relaxed his mind, and prepared to begin refining. After more than ten breaths had passed, he suddenly moved. With a single hand forming a spell, he efficiently went through the procedures before starting the alchemy process. As the pill furnace finished preheating, he waved his hand, and a piece of spiritual medicine flew into the Four Symbols Furnace. At this time, he extended his divine sense to observe the movements within the pill furnace. At the same time, he carefully manipulated his divine sense, in conjunction with the power of Earth Fire, to decompose the spiritual medicine and purify it, eventually forming a small cluster of essence brimming with spiritual energy, quietly lying at the bottom of the furnace. The first piece of spiritual medicine decomposed very smoothly, boosting his confidence immensely. However, he did not let it go to his head; he was very aware that this was just the first piece of spiritual medicine. There were more than ten other materials to process, and the subsequent steps were even more difficult than the first. He methodically decomposed all the spiritual medicine materials and purified them one by one, performing each step with utmost precision. An hour later, the furnace contained more than ten different colors of liquid. Seeing the variously colored essences of spiritual medicine, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°The difficulty of decomposing and purifying Second Order spiritual medicine really isn¡¯t something that First Order elixirs can compare to. If it were for decomposing First Order spiritual medicine, it probably wouldn¡¯t even take half an hour, but Second Order spiritual medicine takes more than double the time to complete.¡± As the first step was finally completed successfully, he did not dare delay, his expression turning serious once more. With a flick of his finger, a spell struck the core of the Earth Fire, and in an instant, a more intense flame burst forth from the furnace mouth. In the pill furnace, a surge of heat erupted instantly. As the temperature rose further, he took the opportunity to merge two clusters of spiritual medicine essence. Soon, the first fusion was successful, and the second went just as smoothly. After half an hour, more than ten types of spiritual medicine essences had all been successfully fused, forming a colorful spirit group, suspended within the Four Symbols Furnace. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the multicolored essences of spiritual medicine merged together, already taking on the semblance of a pill, After a tense half day of refining that went rather smoothly, he was quickly approaching the final step of infusing spirituality. Now at the last and most crucial step, if the infusion of spirit was successful, and the elixir had spirituality, he would be considered to have entered the ranks of a Second Order Alchemist. Thinking about it, he started to get excited. A Second Order Alchemist held an extraordinary position, even in a place filled with mighty figures like Qianchuan Market, and was a person of significant influence. In the small region of the Luoyun Mountain Range, a Second Order Alchemist was the ceiling. Apart from his grandfather, who had just made a breakthrough, there was probably no second person. And he was about to take that step. Once successful, he would become the second person, and not only that, the only two Second Order Alchemists would both hail from the Lin Family, which was an exhilarating thought. At this moment, his expression grew even more solemn as he prepared to begin the last step. Feeling that it was about the right time, he suddenly shouted, ¡°Solidify!¡± Before his words had fallen, a burst of spiritual light shone from his fingertips, and a surge of spiritual power shot out, then entered the Four Symbols Furnace. Within the pill furnace, the medicine group formed by the fusion of more than ten kinds of spiritual medicine essences was enveloped by a unique spiritual power. In a mere moment, the spiritual power disappeared into the medicine group and was no longer visible. After completing these steps, Lin Tianming widened his eyes, closely observing the Four Symbols Furnace, not daring to miss any slight movement. Several moments later, still no semblance of a medicinal fragrance emerged from the furnace, nor was there any other movement. He opened the lid of the furnace with some confusion, then his expression turned somewhat unsightly, though it quickly returned to normal. At this time, inside the Four Symbols Furnace, more than ten pieces of variably-sized pill dregs lay scattered at the bottom, each with a hint of a burnt smell and distinctly different colors. Clearly, the first batch of elixirs had ended in failure. ¡°This Second Order elixir really isn¡¯t as easy to make as I imagined!¡± He sighed inwardly, Lin Tianming took out the wasted dregs and stored them separately in a Jade Bottle, and then recounted the entire pill refining process. Looking at the waste, Lin Tianming speculated that there should be no mistakes in the step of decomposing and purifying the spiritual medicine, as he had been extremely cautious with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, nearly achieving perfection. The most likely reason for the failure, he figured, must be the step of infusing spirit. Infusing spirit followed by solidifying the pill is the most critical and dangerous step in the entire alchemy process. If one does not handle the strength and timing of the infusion properly, it¡¯s easy to fail. He was not surprised by the failure of the first batch of elixirs. Even with the heaven-defying Eye of Five Colors, such a treasure for Alchemy, it would probably be hard to succeed on the first try. After all, this was his first time refining Second Order Elixirs, and compared to First Order Elixirs, the difficulty was not on the same level. If he succeeded in refining on his first attempt, that would be too contrary to the heavens. Thinking of this, his expression remained calm, and he did not get discouraged. Now that he had identified the problem, it was manageable. With more practice, he was certain to succeed. Making up his mind, he prepared to tidy up once more and try again when he was back in the right state. The next morning, after a night of recovery, Lin Tianming once again began Alchemy. The familiar Pill Refining Room, the familiar Spiritual Medicine and Alchemy steps, everything was orderly and started according to the process. In the second furnace refining, the power of the spiritual Infusion was still not enough to meet the requirements for Solidifying Pill, and it also ended in failure. In the third furnace, the amount of Spiritual Power needed for Infusion was too much, causing the Elixir Essence to turn into residue directly. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and a month had gone by just like that. Within the Pill Refining Room at this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, Spiritual Light flashing at his fingertips, evidently ready for Infusion of Spirit. When the Spiritual Light entered the Pill Furnace, and in less than a breath¡¯s time, a rich fragrance of medicine wafted through, quickly filling the entire Pill Refining Room. Feeling the medicinal fragrance, he became excited, his heart thrilled, and he couldn¡¯t wait to check on it. In an instant, Lin Tianming swiftly lifted the lid of the furnace, and the aroma in the Pill Refining Room suddenly became even more intense. Looking closely, he saw three dark green pills suspended motionlessly in the middle of the furnace, each the size of an apricot, with a faint Spiritual Power swirling around them, looking very tempting. ¡°These are Second Order Lingshen Pills.¡± His expression joyous, he exclaimed without delay. Picking up a pill he had refined, he then took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill from his storage bag and placed them side by side. Looking at the two pills, he checked everything from their outward appearance to color and the aura of the pills, scrutinizing them closely. After repeated examination and comparison, Lin Tianming was certain that these were indeed genuine Second Order Lingshen Pills without a doubt. Once he was sure there was no difference in the pills, he finally let out a long sigh of relief. After refining for a month, the mere twenty batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials had almost been used up, but at last, success came with the seventeenth furnace, and Second Order Elixirs had been produced. Although there were only three pills, he had now taken a significant step forward, qualifying as a competent Second Order Alchemist. Find exclusive stories on .com During the month, he cultivated through Alchemy by day and meditation by night, and the degree of his hard work was indisputable. The Second Order Elixirs having been successfully refined, and with the rest of the time spent in meditation, his cultivation level also grew at a modest pace, reaching the goal he had set before closing up for cultivation. Still, Lin Tianming quietly muttered to himself. ¡°It could still have been better, more meticulous. Otherwise, I might have succeeded a few furnaces earlier.¡± Such thoughts, if known by other Alchemists, would surely make them feel ashamed. Merely twenty batches of Alchemy Materials were needed to refine the first batch of Second Order Elixirs, and at such a pace, it was simply against the heavens; such a feat was rare in the Cultivation World and would doubtlessly cause a huge commotion if word got out. ¡°Although it wasn¡¯t meticulous enough, the goal was still achieved, and that¡¯s somewhat satisfying.¡± With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming chuckled, the fatigue from the past month visibly diminishing a great deal. He reflected on the various problems that had appeared during the month of Alchemy, then summarized his shortcomings, making a series of adjustments. Looking at the remaining three batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, he sat down to meditate again to recover, preparing to give it his all and further solidify his Alchemy. Ten days later, Lin Tianming walked out of the Pill Refining Room, appearing in the small courtyard. Now, there was a faint smile on his face. In those ten days, he slowed down the pace of Alchemy, refining a batch every three days. Each time after refining, he would summarize the experience, identifying flaws and methods for improvement. After completing all this and adjusting himself to peak condition, he would then begin refining again. Under such diligent study and good patience, the last three batches of Alchemy Materials yielded a successful batch, with the number of pills reaching four. Beyond that, with every batch, he could feel his progress; with practice over time, the success rate and number of pills would surely improve steadily. Sitting in the courtyard, he took out all the Second Order Lingshen Pills and placed them on the stone table. From twenty batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, two successful batches resulted in seven pills, and together with two remaining pills from a bottle given by Lin Shikang, he had a total of nine pills left. Nowadays, without better auxiliary elixirs, he dared not easily cultivate with the aid of pills, for the pain that came with it was something he did not wish to endure again unless absolutely necessary. And Lin Shilu had not sent any news yet, which meant the Magic Artifact had not been successfully refined. ¡°I¡¯ll take these pills to the Hall of Merit to exchange for Spiritual Medicine Materials first, then have a reunion with my family. After that, I¡¯ll continue to refine pills and earn Spirit Stones. Once I leave the family, I¡¯ll need a lot of Spirit Stones, and meanwhile, I can wait for news from Lin Shilu.¡± Having made up his mind, he stood up and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Chapter 172 - 172 - 145 Successful Artifact Refining_1 Chapter 172 ¨C 145 Successful Artifact Refining_1 Within the Hall of Merit, Lin Tianming made his appearance. At this time, the Hall of Merit was still bustling with noise, with a large number of clan members busily exchanging various Spiritual Objects. Soon enough, it was his turn to step forward and make an exchange. After exchanging some pleasantries with Lin Xingcheng and chatting about trivial family matters, Lin Xingcheng then inquired about his purpose for coming. Lin Tianming, with a smile on his face, took out three Jade Bottles and placed them on the stone platform before him, saying, ¡°Uncle, these three bottles of Second Order Lingshen Pills, I would like to exchange them all for Spiritual Medicine Materials. If they¡¯re not enough, I¡¯ll make up the difference with Spirit Stones.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingcheng picked up the Jade Bottles from the stone platform, uncapped them to take a look, and his face immediately registered disbelief. ... Stunned for a few moments before regaining his composure, Lin Xingcheng tentatively asked, ¡°Tian Ming, did you refine these elixirs yourself?¡± Lin Tianming nodded, affirming the authenticity of the matter, which left Lin Xingcheng looking utterly shocked. In fact, even if Lin Tianming had denied it, the unique aura attached to the elixirs would have allowed him to discern who had crafted them. The reason he asked again was simply because he was still finding it hard to believe, especially since it had only been a month and a half, and Lin Tianming had successfully refined the Second Order Spirit Origin Pills, which meant he had become a Second Order Alchemist. Advancing as an Alchemist is not an easy feat, and for him to have become a Second Order Alchemist in less than ten years was simply too unbelievable. After a while, Lin Xingcheng regained his composure and began exchanging the Spiritual Medicine Materials for him. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit carrying ten portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The original twenty portions of materials had only yielded seven pills, which in turn only allowed for the exchange of seven portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials. The remaining three portions of materials were a combination of the two he had been gifted by Shi Kang and over a hundred Spirit Stones he had added to make up the difference for ten portions. In other words, after more than a month, he had incurred considerable losses, but that was the norm for an Alchemist. If Alchemy were so easy, then everyone would be an Alchemist. In actuality, with his current pace, he was the envy of many, and it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to turn his losses into profits. Thinking of this, he was incredibly excited, and not at all distressed by the initial losses. Not long after, Lin Tianming arrived at the Alchemy Hall. At that moment, Lin Shigong was organizing Alchemy Materials, preparing to start the Alchemy process. Seeing Lin Tianming enter, he greeted him with a smile, quickly set down the Spiritual Medicine Materials in his hands, and said, ¡°You rascal, you said you wanted to go into seclusion for Alchemy. It¡¯s perfect timing that you¡¯re here, show me one round of your Alchemy, so I can see what level you¡¯ve reached, and I can give you some guidance.¡± Seeing that his grandfather wanted to test his Alchemy skills, Lin Tianming remained calm, showing no sign of perturbation. He found a cushion to sit down on, took out the Four Symbols Furnace,prepared the Spiritual Medicine Materials for himself, and then he started to regulate his breath, adjusting his state. After half an hour passed, he had reached an optimal state. He brought his palms together, and a spell struck the Pill Furnace and the Earth Fire outlet. As the Earth Fire surged forth and the temperature of the Pill Furnace reached the necessary degree for Alchemy, he began the refining process. Lin Shigong, watching Lin Tianming¡¯s proficient movements from the side, occasionally nodded, his expression filled with anticipation. Time slowly slipped by, and half a day quietly elapsed. When a fragrance of elixirs wafted out, Lin Tianming eagerly lifted the lid of the Furnace, revealing four elixirs suspended within. Lin Shigong waved a hand and caught one of the elixirs between his fingertips to inspect it. ¡°Indeed, these are Second Order Lingshen Pills, no doubt about that. This kid¡¯s progress is too fast!¡± After inspecting the elixirs, Lin Shigong was inwardly thrilled, affirming that Lin Tianming had indeed entered the ranks of Second Order Alchemists, and moreover, the success rate was quite good, almost catching up to him. Once he calmed down, he then expressed his admiration, ¡°You truly didn¡¯t disappoint us; in less than ten years of practice, you¡¯ve successfully stepped into the ranks of Second Order Alchemists.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not bask in self-satisfaction. The fact that he managed to successfully refine four pills in the first furnace involved some luck, which he was well aware of. Humbly, he replied, ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s merely my good fortune. In fact, I¡¯ve only just broken through and can barely maintain a thirty percent pill success rate and yield three pills.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s response, Lin Shigong was very pleased and continued with a smile on his face, ¡°You rascal, don¡¯t be too modest. In my opinion, as long as you practice more, you¡¯ll soon surpass me, maybe even catching up to the ranks of Second Order Medium Quality Alchemists faster than I did.¡± Lin Tianming let out a small laugh and quickly changed the subject, after which the two of them began to chat leisurely. ¡­ In a room atop the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain designated for Artifact Refining, Lin Shilu was seated on the floor. In front of him, a cyan and red Spirit Sword was suspended above a Furnace Cauldron, beneath which, streams of scorching flames were baking it. Experience tales at He had a serious expression on his face, and sweat dripped down his forehead onto the hot stone platform with a sizzling sound as he flicked his fingers without cease, but he did not let this distract him from inscribing the Inscription Array. Such actions he had been maintaining for over a month now. In front of him on the blade of the Spirit Sword, countless special runes had emerged, occupying more than ninety percent of the surface area. As he kept working without pause, the number of runes continued to grow, about to cover the entire blade soon. Time flowed like water, quietly passing by. While Lin Tianming was having a casual chat with Grandpa, Lin Shilu sat in a secret room, his fingers suddenly moving to form a special seal. A beam of golden light shot out from the tip of his finger and struck the Spirit Sword at the top of the Pill Furnace. ¡°Clang clang clang.¡± In an instant, a sound of metal striking followed. The Spirit Sword, with its red and green hues, began to vibrate violently, and soon, a piercing sound spread throughout the entire Artifact Forging Room. Lin Shilu¡¯s face flushed with color as he watched the vibrating Spirit Sword, his fingers moving even faster, shooting inscription after inscription into the body of the sword. The Spirit Sword seemed to possess a certain Spirituality and resisted the inscriptions fiercely, vibrating even more intensely as if it wanted to break free from its constraints. ¡°Hmph.¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s expression became serious, and he muttered to himself. ¡°All this effort to forge you, if you were to escape, wouldn¡¯t it be a joke?¡± After a playful smile, he did not stop. While maintaining the vibrations of the Spirit Sword, he forced the last inscription to smash into its body. As soon as the inscription made contact with the blade, it quickly merged into the sword, engraving itself on the core system of the Spirit Sword. At the same time, the dense runes on the blade shone brightly, illuminating the dim Artifact Forging Room. At that moment, the Spirit Sword emitted a piercing sword cry. In less than the time of three breaths, the Artifact Forging Room returned to darkness, and the golden inscription on the surface of the Spirit Sword vanished without a trace. Inside the Artifact Forging Furnace, a Spirit Sword over a foot long hung quietly in the center, its intermingled red and green colors appearing slightly eerie¡ªas if stained with blood. Intense Sword Qi swirled around it. ¡°A Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact!¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed excitedly, then let out a long sigh of relief. This was a Second Order Medium Quality Spirit Sword Magic Artifact, forged with a multitude of treasures, including three types of Third Order Forging Materials, having taken a full month and a half to complete, specially crafted for Lin Tianming as a divine weapon. An artifact forged with so many treasures, consuming all his dedication, naturally did not need to mention its power, which was anything but ordinary. Although he had forged two Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifacts during these years, the difficulty of creating this one was the greatest, prone to failure, but fortunately, it was a success. Moreover, among all the treasures he had, this artifact was the one that satisfied him the most. Brimming with delight, Lin Shilu slapped the forging furnace, and the Spirit Sword flew out instantly, which he then grasped in his hand. His face glowed with health, and his heart was filled with joy as he looked at the red and green Spirit Sword, a satisfied smile on his face. ¡°Tian Ming must be really looking forward to this. He will definitely like it when he sees it,¡± he muttered softly to himself before stowing the Spirit Sword in a storage bag and, with a single-handed seal, sent out a Messaging Aura that swiftly passed through the restrictive formations and disappeared without a trace. After tidying up the clutter of the Artifact Refining Room, he exited and sat in the small courtyard, waiting. ¡­ Inside the Alchemy Hall, Lin Tianming and Grandpa chatted, discussing everything from the family¡¯s recent situation to cultivation and Alchemy, chatting for a whole half-hour. As the day was drawing to a close, Lin Tianming prepared to stand up and take his leave. Just then, a streak of red light pierced through the restrictions of the Alchemy Hall and flew to stop in front of Lin Tianming¡ªit was the Messaging Aura send by Lin Shilu. Lin Tianming extended his Divine Sense to quickly browse the content. In less than the time of three breaths, the Messaging Aura dissipated. Receiving the message, he became extremely excited and quickly stood up, saying to Grandpa, ¡°Grandpa, I have something urgent to attend to, I won¡¯t bother you any longer. I¡¯ll come to visit another day!¡± Lin Shigong¡¯s face showed displeasure, but after giving a few words of advice, he waved his hand and said, ¡°Go on then!¡± Lin Tianming bowed respectfully to Lin Shigong, then headed out. Just at that moment, Lin Shigong seemed to remember something and hastily called out to him. Lin Tianming stopped, and saw him take out a storage bag and hand it over. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s puzzled expression, Lin Shigong showed a hint of wistfulness and spoke, ¡°You rascal, did you think I wouldn¡¯t know about you having your Fifteenth Grandfather help with refining an artifact?¡± ¡°Knowing him, forging an artifact for you would certainly cost him dearly. Here, take these two thousand Spirit Stones and three Jade Bottles of elixirs and give them to him,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming felt a lump in his throat, his eyes momentarily welling up before regaining composure. Although it had been more than two years since Grandpa reached the level of Second Order Alchemist, given the consumption of Spiritual Medicine required for advancing to Second Order, he probably didn¡¯t have many Spiritual Objects or resources left. Even though the family would bear some of the cost, they couldn¡¯t offer too many resources. Thus, these Spirit Stones and elixirs were likely all his grandfather¡¯s net worth. With this thought, Lin Tianming was silent for a long time and then, without being pretentious, accepted the storage bag. His Grandpa had worried over him so much that when his alchemy skills improved a bit, he would start to profit. Then he could repay his Grandpa double, and for now, these Spirit Stones and elixirs would be given to the Fifteenth Grandfather. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming did not linger. After bowing to Grandpa once more, he left the Alchemy Hall and headed quickly towards the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 173 - 173 - 146: Great Increase in Strength_1 Chapter 173 ¨C 146: Great Increase in Strength_1 At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within Lin Shilu¡¯s small courtyard. At that moment, Lin Shilu appeared slightly fatigued, sitting on a stone chair, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. It wasn¡¯t long before a transmission flew in; Lin Shilu waved one hand to open the courtyard¡¯s protective enchantment. Outside the courtyard, Lin Tianming rushed over in haste, seeing the enchantment open, he entered without hesitation. Upon entering the courtyard and seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s exhausted state, he knew the effort must have been significant. Lin Tianming felt touched in his heart, recalling all the help Lin Shilu had provided him, he immediately stepped forward to show his respect with a sincere bow. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ... ¡°You can¡¯t wait any longer, can you?¡± ¡°This Magic Artifact took a lot of my effort to refine successfully; take a look!¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Shilu waved his sleeve, and a cyan and red Spirit Sword flew out, which Lin Tianming grabbed hold of. Lin Tianming looked at the cyan and red Spirit Sword in his hand, which was surrounded by a strong presence of Sword Qi. Lin Tianming could hardly believe it, and asked in doubt, ¡°Is this a Second Order Medium Grade Magic Artifact?¡± Lin Shilu smiled and stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying. Lin Tianming refrained from further questions, swung the Spirit Sword upward, and a faint Sword Qi shot out from the sword itself, easily shattering a nearby stone garden rockery. Witnessing the effects, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but express his amazement. Then, he withdrew the Spirit Sword, holding it in his palm with an expression of fondness. Seeing this, Lin Shilu felt very gratified, his more than a month of laborious Artifact Refining now affirmed by Lin Tianming. It took a little while for Lin Tianming to stop waving the sword. Lin Shilu picked up a teacup, sipped a bit of Spiritual Tea, and then inquired, ¡°How is it? Are you satisfied?¡± Lin Tianming still looked excited, nodding eagerly like a pecking chicken, and spoke very sincerely, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what are you saying? Such a divine and powerful weapon is terrifyingly potent; there are hardly a few like it even in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. Of course, I¡¯m satisfied.¡± After flattering him for a while, he continued, ¡°It¡¯s just that it must have been hard for you during this time.¡± Having finished speaking, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag given by his grandfather and handed it over with both hands. Lin Shilu scanned the contents of the storage bag with his Divine Sense, his expression momentarily displeased, but soon he regained his calm and said, ¡°Tianming, you are being too formal. In crafting this Magic Artifact, you spared no expense. I have already received my payment; take these Spirit Stones back.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take back the storage bag, maintaining his posture and saying nothing, as if he would not rest until it was accepted. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a time, the two were silent, creating an awkward stillness in the air. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s stubbornness, Lin Shilu gave a wry smile and then said, ¡°I¡¯ll graciously accept these few elixirs then, but take back the Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s slightly angered expression, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to insist anymore and obediently followed his wishes. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Shilu chuckled, waved his hand, and gestured him to sit down. The two sat opposite each other, Lin Tianming pouring him a cup of Spiritual Tea, Lin Shilu took the cup with a smug look on his face and then said, ¡°This Spirit Sword contains lots of valuable materials. It¡¯s the Magic Artifact I¡¯m most satisfied with since I¡¯ve started refining. Don¡¯t let this sword go to waste, you little rascal.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned solemn, his eyes revealing a resolute battle spirit as he patted his chest and said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, I will not waste this sword. I will make it vanquish mighty foes and protect our family, to prove myself to you.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s determined look and aura, Lin Shilu nodded approvingly and asked, ¡°This sword is quite powerful and doesn¡¯t have a name yet. Why don¡¯t you name it? Have you thought of a good one?¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming, touching the icy sword¡¯s body and feeling the surges of Sword Qi it emitted, quickly contemplated in his mind. This Spirit Sword was intended for use in combination with the Divine Firmament Nine Swords, focusing on attack. He didn¡¯t care much for a name, so he decided to name it straightforwardly after the Divine Skill¡ªsimple and clear. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I have refined this sword to complement a Divine Skill. So let¡¯s name it after the skill; let¡¯s call it the Tiangang Sword. What do you think?¡± Lin Shilu naturally had no objections, he nodded with a laugh, accepting the name before praising, ¡°Tiangang Sword, the name is quite fitting and matches the sword¡¯s nature.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Lin Tianming was very satisfied, finalizing the name of the Spirit Sword, and then the two of them began to chat idly. After a quarter of an hour had passed, seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s weary expression, and eager to consecrate the Tiangang Sword and test its power, Lin Tianming planned to take his leave. Resolved, he spoke calmly, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, please focus on cultivating to recover your state. I will visit you again after some time has passed.¡± Lin Shilu nodded. A month of intense Artifact Refining had taken a great toll on his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power; he indeed felt exhausted. With the Spirit Sword now successfully transferred and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s eagerness, he didn¡¯t hold him back any longer. ¡°You little rascal, go on then.¡± After admonishing him with a teasing scold and voicing a few reminders, Lin Shilu watched Lin Tianming leave the courtyard. ¡­ Continue your journey with Having left the courtyard, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay, immediately flying toward the small valley where he practiced his Divine Skills, at an astonishingly fast speed. Chapter 174 - 174 - 146 Great Increase in Strength_2 Chapter 174 ¨C 146 Great Increase in Strength_2 It didn¡¯t take long before he arrived at his destination. There was no one in the valley; it was exceptionally quiet, with only the occasional bird call. His expression serene, he took out the Tiangang Sword from his storage bag and held it in his hand. Looking at the Tiangang Sword in his hand, the interplay of blue and red hues, and the fluctuations of Sword Qi attached to it, he knew it was indeed not something a First Order Spiritual Tool could compare with. Although he had not yet performed the recognition and refinement ritual, and thus could not be certain of the Tiangang Sword¡¯s power, judging from the aura of the Spirit Sword, it definitely qualified as a fine piece among Magic Artifacts. Such a Second Order Magical Artifact was naturally precious beyond words. To know, a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, among the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators, only Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang had, and perhaps only he could have one; even Clan Leader Lin Shihua used only a lower quality Second Order Magical Artifact against foes. ... Not only that, even in Qianchuan Market, the vast majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators used lower quality Second Order Magical Artifacts, only some with considerable wealth could afford better. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t wait to perform the recognition and refinement rite and see how powerful it actually was. Having made up his mind, he immediately sat down cross-legged, circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and then began to adjust his state. An hour silently passed, his state reached its peak. He opened his eyes, waved his hand, and the Tiangang Sword flew over, hovering motionless in front of him. He formed spells with one hand, bombarding the Tiangang Sword with spell after spell. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± Several sharp noises transmitted, then morphed into melodious sounds similar to wind chimes, extremely pleasant to hear. Lin Tianming was not affected at all. He flicked his fingers continuously, the spells speeding further, transforming into strands of Spiritual Light enveloping the entire sword. At that moment, the Tiangang Sword began to vibrate violently, seeming to want to escape his control. ¡°Thinking of escaping from my palm? I won¡¯t let you have your way!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned serious, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, accurately sprayed onto the surface of the sword¡¯s body. In an instant, the fresh blood rapidly penetrated into the sword¡¯s body and soon disappeared from sight. Meanwhile, the shaking of the Spirit Sword intensified, and Sword Qi began to burst forth. If he was not careful, it could have easily eluded his control. Fortunately, he had anticipated this, and as the Spirit Sword vibrated, Lin Tianming fully operated his Cultivation Technique to firmly suppress the sword, then brought forth a strand of Divine Sense to imprint into the sword¡¯s core. Seizing the opportunity, he began refining the sword, and then solidly inscribed his Divine Sense onto the core, achieving the purpose of controlling the Spirit Sword. As the process advanced, the Spirit Sword¡¯s reaction gradually calmed, no longer resisting fiercely. Time slowly passed, and three days went by like this. After his relentless refinement through day and night, with a light and airy sword cry, the Tiangang Sword soared out, flying a hundred meters into the sky, and began spinning nonstop. Looking up, as the Tiangang Sword spun, a powerful Sword Qi erupted, sweeping up the faint surrounding Spiritual Energy into a massive storm. Below the Tiangang Sword, sand and rocks flew, dust filled the air, and numerous stones were pulverized by the Sword Qi. ¡°Tiangang Sword, you truly haven¡¯t disappointed me!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed in admiration, then with a wave of his hand, he summoned the Tiangang Sword back to his side. With the return of the Tiangang Sword, the process of refining and recognizing the Spirit Sword as its master was also thoroughly completed. At this moment, Lin Tianming appeared somewhat fatigued, but looking at the Tiangang Sword that affectionately orbited around him nonstop after being recognized as its master, the tiredness in his eyes dissipated a great deal. ¡°The Tiangang Sword is still so spiritual; its power must be extraordinary!¡± After chuckling lightly, he casually waved his hand, and the Tiangang Sword flew into his grasp. He then carefully felt the enthusiasm of the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Now that the refinement is complete, it¡¯s time to test the power of Divine Skills.¡± After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming tossed the Tiangang Sword into the air, then his hands formed seals, assuming an extremely peculiar gesture. At the same time, he immediately began chanting a special spell. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword, go for it¡­¡± In an instant, the Tiangang Sword shone brightly with golden light, transforming into a Golden Greatsword that flew at a terrifying speed toward a small hill a thousand feet away. When a heaven-shattering boom resonated, the Golden Light Greatsword directly pierced through the several hundred feet tall small hill, blasting a bottomless hole in the middle of its side. After the golden Sword Qi dissipated and the dust settled, his figure was revealed. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was somewhat pale, his spiritual power nearly depleted, and his blood and Qi churned so violently that he almost stumbled. He paid no attention to his own condition, and with a leap, he flew to the edge of the hole in the small hill to inspect it. After careful inspection, he discovered that the hole had gone straight through the entire hill. Although the hill was only a hundred feet in diameter, it had been completely pierced by the sword. Seeing the destructive power, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, Continue reading stories on .com ¡°This Tiangang Sword Qi, when executed with a Second Order magical artifact, is truly terrifyingly powerful.¡± After muttering to himself quietly, he began to ponder. This Tiangang Sword Qi consumed too much spiritual power, just one strike had used up most of his spiritual energy. Although his spiritual power was only half-full and not at its peak before executing this divine skill, even so, even in his prime, it would cost him dearly to execute the second strike. However, the power of this divine skill was truly terrifying. When combined with a Second Order Medium Quality magical artifact, it was definitely one of his strongest divine skills so far. He even speculated that this divine skill might not be weaker than the Sword Qi condensed by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, and it was strong enough to be used as his ultimate trump card. The power of the Tiangang Sword exceeded his expectations, but as the magical artifact grew more potent, executing it became increasingly difficult, impacting its speed and stability as well. ¡°It seems that I need to practice more to meet the requirements for combat,¡± he said. Regaining his thoughts, his expression was still excited. The power of the Tiangang Sword had exceeded his expectations, greatly enhancing his strength. With no pressing matters at hand, he naturally wanted to further cultivate this divine skill as soon as possible. Resolving to do so, he sat down on the spot and began to recover his spiritual power. Time flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Within the small valley, the Tiangang Sword above Lin Tianming¡¯s head radiated bright golden light, and a terrifying Sword Qi burst forth, its speed more than double that of the first time he had executed it. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the little mountain, riddled with holes, was struck by the Sword Qi again and subsequently collapsed thunderously. However, the penetrative Tiangang Sword Qi didn¡¯t stop there; it continued at lightning speed to strike another mountain. With a loud explosion, even the larger hill was pierced through. Yet, after piercing the second hill, the Golden Sword Qi quickly dissipated into the sky. As the vibrations ended and the sky returned to calm, the hilly valley, now riddled with holes, was revealed. The valley, with several hundred-foot-tall hills, had completely collapsed. The original geographical features had been utterly transformed, and anyone not extremely familiar with the place would not be able to recognize its previous appearance. Standing up in an open area, Lin Tianming had a sly smile on his face, seemingly very satisfied with the power of the Tiangang Sword Qi. For the past month, he had not left the area, practicing day and night nonstop. Whenever his spiritual power returned to its peak, he would begin to execute the Divine Firmament Nine Swords. After repeated practice over a month, the first sword of the Tiangang Nine Swords had made great progress. Its casting speed and stability were efficient enough to confront a Foundation Establishment Second Layer cultivator and even hold its ground against a Third Layer cultivator. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, his spiritual power and proficiency had also slowly improved, bringing him ever closer to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Had he not lacked elixirs to assist in his cultivation, with such diligent practice, he might have already been ready to attempt a breakthrough. Gathering his thoughts, he waved his hand and summoned the distant Tiangang Sword back to him, then put it into his storage bag. Looking at the drastically altered valley, he left the area without a backward glance, flying towards his cave dwelling. Chapter 175 - 175 - 147 Gossip_1 Chapter 175 ¨C 147 Gossip_1 The next morning, at dawn. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the first rays of the morning sun pierced the clouds and shone into Lin Tianming¡¯s courtyard, he opened his eyes and sat by the window. After a night¡¯s rest, he had recovered his composure. Discover hidden tales at Gazing out the window at the sky, Lin Tianming fell into deep thought. Since his entry into the Foundation Establishment Stage, more than half a year had passed. Time truly flies, Lin Tianming mused. A year for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is but one or two sessions of secluded cultivation, and not even considered that long for Qi Refining Cultivators. In this half-year span, his progress in cultivation wasn¡¯t significant; he was still at the first layer of Foundation Establishment, barely reaching the Medium Stage and some distance away from the Second Layer. ... But setting aside cultivation, he had made significant advancements in alchemy and Divine Skills. He delved into Alchemy, practiced Divine Skills tirelessly, and sought every means to enhance his strength, all to increase his methods of survival. Effort does not betray the diligent¡­ Fortunately, input correlated with gain. After expending years of accumulation, he had forged an even more massive Sword Array and the formidable Tiangang Sword. Now, he had become a Second Order Alchemist, and in Divine Skills, he had the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap enemies, the strong offensive technique of the Tiangang Ninth Sword, and the Great Sun Sword Qi Art that he had been refining for years. His methods for confronting opponents had improved significantly. ¡°Having been in Foundation Establishment for so long, it¡¯s about time to look for an opportunity to go out for training in half a year!¡± ¡°However, before I leave, I should try to further improve my alchemy. Once I¡¯m out of the family, it will be difficult to find a safe and quiet environment for cultivation like before!¡± After talking to himself, Lin Tianming tidied up his room briefly and then entered the Pill Refining Room. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he skillfully prepared for alchemy and then began to adjust his state. Having refined Second Order Pills twice before, the process was now much easier. In the Pill Refining Room, Spiritual Medicine Materials were purified and the Infusion of Spirit was completed. Only when the fragrance of the pills wafted out could the alchemy be deemed successful. In the blink of an eye, more than twenty days passed, and the ten batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials he had exchanged for pills were all refined. Ten batches of materials yielded success in four rounds of alchemy, with a pill success rate of three to four per batch, which was quite stable. He looked at the several Jade Bottles in front of him containing thirteen Second Order Spirit Origin Pills and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. After days of practice, he had finally reached a breakeven point with his alchemy skills. He planned to exchange the pills he had refined for Spiritual Medicine, take the opportunity to further improve his Alchemy, and earn some Spirit Stones. Otherwise, it would be very troublesome to be penniless when he set out for training. After tidying up the Pill Refining Room, he left and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Before long, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingcheng were sitting across from each other. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming inquired, ¡°Uncle, how many Second Order Spirit Origin Pill Materials does the family have left? Are there enough for alchemy?¡± After speaking, Lin Xingcheng took out the ledger to check. With a grave expression, he said, ¡°The Materials for the Second Order Spirit Origin Pills are difficult to collect. In the past, the family didn¡¯t have a Second Order Alchemist, so we couldn¡¯t refine Second Order Pills. But over the years, we¡¯ve amassed quite a lot of Materials.¡± ¡°The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family is increasing, and to supply seven or eight cultivators with pills, we will soon have a shortage of Spiritual Medicine.¡± ¡°In the last two years, your grandfather became a Second Order Alchemist and used up a lot of Materials, nearly depleting the reserves we earned from the big family battle.¡± ¡°The family¡¯s proficiency in alchemy isn¡¯t high. We can only produce a limited number of pills each month. The materials are collected through Luoyun Market, and adding the substantial Spiritual Medicine Gardens of the Jin and Wu Families, we have managed to ensure a steady supply so far.¡± Hearing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. Alchemists need a large amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials for practice when advancing, which quickly consumes vast resources and it¡¯s difficult to achieve success in a short time. Only those with an exceptional talent for alchemy can attain a certain pill success rate and quantity to break even swiftly; otherwise, most people simply cannot afford the cost. His grandfather was lucky. The family spent a great deal of resources for him to practice, allowing them to produce a Second Order Alchemist once again. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Uncle, I currently need a lot of Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice. How much can be exchanged?¡± After pondering for a moment, Lin Xingcheng answered, ¡°We have just over fifty batches of registered Spiritual Medicine Materials left in the storehouse and the garden. How many do you need?¡± Lin Tianming considered the Spirit Stones he had, totaling just under two thousand, which had been given by his grandfather, along with the thirteen pills he intended to exchange for Spiritual Medicine Materials. After refining them, he planned to convert the pills into Spirit Stones and repay his grandfather. Having made up his mind, he took out the pills and Spirit Stones he had and handed them to Lin Xingcheng. After taking the pills and Spirit Stones, Lin Xingcheng calculated and went to the storehouse to gather the Spiritual Medicine Materials for him. A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming left the Hall of Merit with twenty-five batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials. Returning to his own courtyard, he once again entered a frenzied state of alchemy. Time flew by, and two months passed in a flash. Inside the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming looked weary as he sat in front of more than twenty Jade Bottles filled with the fruits of his exhaustive alchemy efforts. Chapter 176 - 176 - 147: Insider Information_2 Chapter 176 ¨C 147: Insider Information_2 For the past two months, he spent his days concocting elixirs and his nights meditating to recover his spiritual power and divine sense, not wasting a single moment. Exhausting all the merit points and spirit stones he had, along with the elixirs he previously made, he exchanged for twenty-five portions of spiritual medicine materials. After two months of secluded cultivation, he successfully refined them all. As he produced more and more Second Order pills, his alchemy skills improved rapidly. Now, when concocting Second Order Lingshen Pills, his success rate stabilized at fifty percent, and he usually produced around four pills per batch, which was a tremendous improvement. Before he went into seclusion, he exchanged for twenty-five portions of spiritual medicine materials and successfully obtained forty-eight Second Order Lingshen Pills. Looking at his harvest, Lin Tianming revealed a hint of a gratified smile. After storing the elixirs in his storage bag and tidying up the Pill Refining Room, he walked out. ... Shortly after, he arrived at the Hall of Merit of the family. Finding Lin Xingcheng, they chatted idly for a few moments before he took out fourteen bottles of Lingshen Pills, totaling forty-two Second Order Lingshen Pills. Since he was not planning to use the pills for cultivation just yet, he only kept six pills for emergencies and exchanged the vast majority for spirit stones. Lin Xingcheng took the elixirs, swept them with his divine sense to confirm they met the standards, and then said, ¡°Forty-two pills, totaling six thousand seven hundred and twenty merit points.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Uncle, exchange for five portions of spiritual medicine materials, and settle the rest in spirit stones!¡± Lin Xingcheng acknowledged and went into the storeroom deep inside the main hall to get the spiritual medicine and spirit stones for him. In no time, Lin Xingcheng came back out with a storage bag, which he handed over to him. After receiving the storage bag, he projected his divine sense into it, and saw the items within it appear in his mind¡ªfive portions of spiritual medicine materials and more than five thousand six hundred spirit stones. After confirming the amounts were correct, Lin Tianming did not linger. After exchanging a few polite words of thanks, he left the Hall of Merit, feeling completely satisfied, and flew towards the Alchemy Hall. In less than half an hour, Lin Tianming appeared outside the grand hall of the Alchemy Hall. At that moment, the grand hall was bustling with activity. More than a dozen young family members were sitting on cushions, listening intently to Lin Shigong as he explained the basics of alchemy. Among the group of young family members, like him, were those of the same Tian generation, both male and female, all under twenty years old. A family member dressed in a golden robe stood up and asked Lin Shigong, who was on the high platform, ¡°Ninth Grandpa, is the Golden Elixir Flame that you spoke of unique to Golden Elixir Experts?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Shigong smiled gently, looking amiable and approachable, as he patiently began to answer. Outside the grand hall, having witnessed the whole scene, he was momentarily lost in a trance, as if he had returned to the scene from over ten years ago when he was but a teenager. Looking at the younger family members focused on learning the basics of alchemy, he too had gone through the same experience ten years ago, except that at that time the family did not have many members, nor did they have the resources or energy to train a large number of alchemists. Nowadays, with abundant resources and encouraging policies, coupled with the inheritance of other families, the Lin Family has produced many talents in the Four Arts of Cultivation. Quite a few family members under the age of twenty have become First Order Medium Grade alchemists or even Artifact Refiners. Regaining his focus and seeing his grandfather deeply engrossed in teaching, he did not interrupt and quietly waited on the side. After half an hour, Lin Shigong finished his lesson and dismissed the family members. Once the family members had dispersed, Lin Tianming approached, and the grandfather and grandson sat in the main hall, chatting leisurely. ¡°Tian Ming, you¡¯ve been alchemizing a lot lately. What¡¯s your current success rate and pill yield?¡± Seeing his grandfather inquire about his alchemizing, Lin Tian Ming did not hold back and honestly relayed his progress. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although his grandfather had long known of his extraordinary talent in alchemy, he was still amazed when he heard the response. Back when he achieved Foundation Establishment, it took him three years and hundreds of batches of pills to reach the level Lin Tianming had achieved. ¡°My boy, you¡¯re beyond comparison!¡± Lin Shigong exclaimed, his face beaming with a broad smile, his heart filled with immense joy. After calming down, he asked, ¡°You have entered the Foundation Establishment Stage for a while now. Do you have any subsequent plans or intentions?¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, for he had come today precisely to discuss his options with his grandfather and to hear his opinion. Since his grandfather had brought it up proactively, he opened his mouth to reply: ¡°Grandfather, it will be difficult for me to make progress in the short term. Therefore, I want to go out and gain some experience!¡± Lin Shigong furrowed his brow, remembering the matter mentioned to him by Clan Leader Lin Shihua, before speaking up: ¡°Tianming, in another month, it will be time for the family meeting. The family plans to organize a caravan to go to Qianchuan Market for development. I suggest you participate!¡± ¡°Organize a caravan to develop in Qianchuan Market?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s puzzled expression, Lin Shigong explained: ¡°Several years have passed since the family war, and the Luoyun Market is now well-managed by the family. However, over these years, the number of high-order cultivators in the family has increased rapidly, with many above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.¡± ¡°As the scope of mundane affairs we manage grows larger and the number of Lin Family Members increases dramatically, if we merely rely on Luoyun Market and rest on our laurels, our accumulated resources may be exhausted in ten years, making further development difficult!¡± Hearing his grandfather¡¯s explanation, although Lin Tianming hardly participated in the family¡¯s operation, he quickly understood the underlying reasons. After the family war ended, the territory controlled by the Lin Family had expanded to over twenty towns, with a civilian population reaching over two million. With such a massive scale of civilians, every three years, the family would gain at least a dozen members with spiritual roots. Over the years, the number of cultivators in the family may have surpassed its peak period. As the treatment of clan members improved significantly, sustaining these lower-level cultivators required a large amount of resources from the family each year. And this was just part of it; the bulk of the burden lay with the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and those cultivating the Four Arts of Cultivation. After all, the monthly stipend for the eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than ten cultivators above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, who formed the upper echelons of the family, wasn¡¯t a small amount of spirit stones. In terms of cultivating skills, he was well aware that the consumption was like a bottomless pit. Yet, for the family¡¯s long-term development, supporting the development of the Four Arts of Cultivation, even if costly, was a necessary expense. Fortunately, after several years of family support, there had been significant progress in the Four Arts of Cultivation. His grandfather and he had both become Second Order Alchemists, and Lin Xingyuan, who had also broken through to Foundation Establishment, had already been a First-Order Superior Grade Alchemist before. It shouldn¡¯t be long before he would reach the Second Order norms. When it came to Artifact Refining, it had always been a strong suit for the family. Although Lin Shilu remained a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner and had difficulty advancing in the short term, the family already had no fewer than five First Order Superior Grade Artifact Refiners, and their number was growing. Once they broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, they would eventually become Second Order Refiners. In other skill areas, within the Way of Talisman Making, there was yet to be a Second Order Inscription Master, and there were only two First Order Superior Grade Talisman Makers. However, this area too was developing rapidly, and any talented family members who took up this skill were bound to make a mark. As for the Way of Formation Setting, it was too demanding of the clan members¡¯ comprehension abilities. So far, only two had become First Order Medium Grade, but their young age and good talent meant they had a lot of room for improvement. Thinking of this, the resources the family needed to consume each year must be astronomical. Indeed, after the great war ended, the Lin Family acquired resources worth nearly a million spirit stones, but the current rate of development would not last for long. Doing this math, the family did indeed need to find new revenue streams and make more preparations, which was an expected outcome. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming finally understood why the family was laying the groundwork in advance. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming asked: ¡°Grandfather, do you know how the family plans to arrange this matter? Has any word come out?¡± Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Lin Shigong thought for a moment. The Qianchuan Market affair was not a secret, and moreover, it involved his own grandson, so he spoke directly: Experience tales at ¡°The matter has not yet been decided. However, it has been a topic of private discussion among us old folks. In a few days, the family meeting will be held, and it¡¯s very likely that this matter will come up. Once approved, the implementation will proceed swiftly.¡± After saying this, he continued: ¡°I am merely giving you a heads-up. You can take this into consideration but there¡¯s no need to put too much concern into it!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response. With only a month left until the family meeting, there was no need for haste. All he needed to do was wait for the family¡¯s decision and consider his options afterwards. As for the time being, he could focus on cultivation and prepare a bit more. Having made up his mind, after chatting casually with his grandfather, the two of them left the Alchemy Hall together. Chapter 177 - 177 - 148 The Grand Clan Meeting_1 Chapter 177 ¨C 148 The Grand Clan Meeting_1 Time flies, and the month has quickly passed. During this period, Lin Tianming led a fulfilling life, refining elixirs and delving into the Alchemy Dao during the day, while at night, accompanied by the moonlight, he engaged in seated meditation and breath control. Besides, he would occasionally visit the Alchemy Hall to teach basic Alchemy knowledge on behalf of his grandfather, and at the Skill Transmission Hall, he would also lend a helping hand for a few days. His arrival excited both Lin Shigong and Lin Shigang immensely, who gladly became absentee managers for a while. As for Lin Tianming himself, many of the clan members around ten years of age had never seen him in person. They¡¯d only heard of his glorious deeds, and many had even taken him as a role model. Seeing him teach in person, the young clan members were both surprised and delighted. Unlike the stiff Lin Shigong and Lin Shigang, Lin Tianming¡¯s teaching was relaxed and fascinating, easily mingling with the younger clan members. After a month of interaction, Lin Tianming got acquainted with quite a few young cultivators in the family and left them with a good impression of himself. ... His cultivation didn¡¯t fall behind either, it continued to grow slowly, and he had used up all the Spiritual Medicine Materials at hand to produce more than twenty elixirs. One morning, the dawn pierced the clouds, shining light on every corner of Green Bamboo Mountain. Within his cave abode on the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Tianming was in the training room. Seated on the floor, he opened his eyes that had been closed for quite some time, stood up, stretched his slightly stiff waist, and then tidied up the training room. Today was the annual Clan Assembly. In the past, without significant matters to discuss, many higher-ups in the clan would be absent, including him, as he would not attend every time. After all, there were often critical moments in cultivation or breakthroughs, which naturally took precedence. Find more adventures on .com A few days before the start of this Clan Assembly, Lin Shihua had made a point of sending word to him early, asking him to make every effort to attend. After learning some advance news from his grandfather, it was evident that this Clan Assembly was very important and that there would certainly be significant matters to discuss. ¡°Today is the day of the Clan Assembly, and it¡¯s getting late; I should set out!¡± He murmured softly to himself, then straightened his robes and left his dwelling. ¡­ At the break of dawn, the light of the morning sun seeped through the clouds, illuminating the land. In the entire Green Bamboo Mountain domain, many clan members were moving between the peaks, and a large number of them began to bustle about, with some heading towards the Elders¡¯ Council halfway up the mountain. As the number of clan members increased, the courtyards at the foot of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain multiplied, and the daily activities of the traveling clan members also increased, making Green Bamboo Mountain livelier and livelier. However, the bustling scene at the foot of the mountain did not disturb the area at the top of the mountain. At the top of the main peak, Lin Tianming left his dwelling in the western courtyards and headed toward the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly. While crossing the enormous Bluestone Plaza, a familiar voice called out. ¡°Younger Brother Six.¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming turned his head to see Lin Tianhong emerging from a courtyard in the East District and flying towards him. Lin Tianhong, son of Lin Xingping, had moved to live at the top of the Peak after Lin Xing Ping¡¯s Foundation Establishment was successful, residing in his father¡¯s cave dwelling in the East District. ¡°Big Brother Two!¡± The two hadn¡¯t seen each other for a long time; he immediately stepped forward, greeting him with a bow, then they chatted casually. ¡°Big Brother Two, it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen each other, how have you been?¡± Lin Tianhong greeted him with a smile and cheerfully responded, ¡°Thanks to the blessing of Younger Brother Six, I¡¯ve been very well. I¡¯ve almost always been in seclusion for the past few years. It¡¯s hard to meet you even when I leave seclusion; such a rare encounter today is indeed not easy.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve had a chance to gather.¡± Sighing, he also sized up Lin Tianhong. After a long absence, Lin Tianhong had also reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level. It was clear that he was very hardworking in his cultivation and, with his good talent and status as an Alchemist, had doubled his efficiency. ¡°Younger Brother Six, many elders will be attending the Clan Assembly today. Do you know why they are assembling on such a grand scale?¡± Seeing Lin Tianhong¡¯s puzzled look, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t keep secrets. Indeed, the day¡¯s Clan Assembly was bound to discuss these issues, so revealing a bit in advance wouldn¡¯t matter. With this thought, he briefly shared the reasons his grandfather had mentioned. ¡°Forming a caravan? Going to develop in Qianchuan Market!¡± Lin Tianhong was equally puzzled, but after Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, he excitedly said, ¡°No wonder the family is giving such importance to this Clan Assembly. I heard many clan members received summons to attend, and even I am attending for the first time!¡± With excitement on his face, Lin Tianhong didn¡¯t give Lin Tianming time to reply, peppering him with questions in quick succession. ¡°Younger Brother Six, I wonder what kind of requirements the family has for the caravan. Otherwise, we might be able to join and contribute to the family!¡± ¡°Indeed, but this is a matter that the family will discuss further. As for the details, we¡¯ll have an answer today.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and pondered the matter in his heart. Qianchuan Market was, after all, a mid-sized market with no shortage of powerhouses. The opportunities and treasures there were far beyond what Luoyun Mountain Range could offer, so he was also interested in joining. However, he conjectured that the caravan would not easily allow the younger generation to participate, as in a place with as many powerhouses as Qianchuan Market, the Qi Refinement Realm simply wasn¡¯t significant. Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly. Standing before the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, they saw many clan members coming and going, and Lin Tianming and his companion greeted each one. Soon, a hearty laugh echoed, and Lin Tianfeng descended from the sky, landing beside them. The three exchanged salutes, and Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t forget to give each a hug, catching them a little off guard. Chapter 178 - 178 - 148 The Grand Clan Meeting_2 Chapter 178 ¨C 148 The Grand Clan Meeting_2 After the three of them split up, Lin Tianfeng joked: ¡°Wow, second brother, you¡¯re doing quite well with your cultivation, already at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. After the clan meeting is over, you¡¯ll have to spar with your big brother!¡± Hearing this and thinking of Lin Tianfeng, that battle maniac who was even one small realm higher than himself, Lin Tianhong¡¯s face immediately changed, showing a hint of fear. However, Lin Tianhong was not at all flustered and quickly replied: ¡°Big brother, I¡¯m no match for you. If you¡¯re itching to fight, why not let our sixth brother spar with you for a few moves?¡± Before his words fell, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s aura instantly dissipated like a receding tide, and he said with a smile: ¡°No, no, the sixth brother is no ordinary person. Sparring with him would be simply asking for trouble!¡± ... Lin Tianhong chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯re just bullying me because my cultivation level is one tier lower than yours. When it comes to the sixth brother, you back off, don¡¯t you?¡± Knowing that it was all in jest, Lin Tianming and the others exchanged smiles and no longer discussed the matter, then they entered the great hall together. In the great hall, around a huge round table, more than twenty people were already seated, chatting quietly in pairs and groups. At the prominent seats, Lin Shihua was meditating quietly, waiting for the clan members to arrive. After greeting their fellow clan members, Lin Tianming and the others walked to a corner and found seats for themselves. After half an hour had passed, the clan members arrived one after another, and the seats that were originally empty gradually filled up with clanspeople. At this moment, the great hall had gathered more than thirty people, all of whom were at or above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, and many were attending the clan meeting for the first time. Looking at the gathering of clanspeople, Lin Tianming fell into thought. Before the great family war, the Lin Family had, at most, only dozens of cultivators above the Fifth Level Qi Practice. Now, in the great hall, there were more than thirty clanspeople at or above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, not including those who were carrying out family missions or were too busy with their secluded cultivation to attend. If everyone were to return to the family, the number would likely not be less than eighty. In just a few years, the Lin Family¡¯s combat power had been rapidly restored, setting aside the Foundation Establishment Cultivators not to mention, just the Qi Refinement Stage clanspeople had even surpassed the level before the war. From this, it was evident how swiftly the family had developed in these years. ¡°So many clanspeople require support; the resources needed must be immense, no wonder the family had to seek alternative solutions,¡± he reflected. Just as he was contemplating, a glint of Spiritual Light flashed through the restrictions of the great hall. Led by Lin Shikang, with Lin Shilu and a few others following, a group of people entered the great hall. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the exception of Lin Xingrong, who was guarding Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Xingyuan, who was in charge of overseeing Luoyun Market, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family had come. Seeing the group enter, Lin Shihua took the lead and the clanspeople in the great hall all stood up and greeted them with a salute. Lin Shikang laughed heartily and, along with Lin Shilu and the others behind him, nodded in acknowledgment and greeted some clanspeople. When his gaze fell on Lin Tianming, he saluted with his hands, then raised his head to look at Lin Shikang whom he hadn¡¯t seen for over a year. Gazing at Lin Shikang¡¯s kindly face, although his presence was restrained and he looked like an ordinary person, for some reason, Lin Tianming still felt an invisible pressure, causing his heart to palpitate. ¡°Could it be that Third Grandfather has successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level?¡± He speculated inwardly, recalling the situation with the Hun Tian Pill, and he was convinced of his guess. Read exclusive content at Lin Shikang smiled calmly, not saying much, and gestured with his hand for all the clanspeople to sit down. He then led Lin Shilu and the others to the higher seats, settling down before awaiting the start of the clan meeting. In this gap, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to observe the people around him. Scanning the great hall, at the highest place sat Lin Shikang and the other Shikang generation clan members, totaling six. Below them, seated were Clan Leader Lin Xingping and other Xing generation clan members, making up over thirty people in total, all of whom were the core strength of the family. At the very bottom were members of the Tian generation from the Lin Family, headed by Lin Tianming, numbering only a few. Apart from the three of them, Lin Tianqin and her sister were also among them. After a short while, Lin Shihua stood up and scanned the crowd, which immediately fell silent. Seeing that all the clanspeople had arrived, he nodded slightly with a broad smile on his face, then spoke loudly, ¡°It is truly delightful that our kin have gathered here despite their busy schedules. I am overjoyed. Today, in addition to our reunion, there are two main purposes: one is to report the clan¡¯s progress over the past three years, and the other is to discuss several important issues. I hope everyone will offer their suggestions and strategize for our family¡¯s benefit.¡± ¡°The Clan Leader may command as he pleases. We, the younger generation, will surely do our utmost to share some of the family¡¯s burdens.¡± After Lin Xingping spoke, the clanspeople below echoed in agreement. Lin Shihua nodded satisfactorily, took out a thick book and opened it, then continued, ¡°Firstly, let me report on the clanspeople¡¯s situation. As of today, our family has a total of two hundred and twelve cultivator members, including six of the Shi generation, eighty-eight of the Xing generation, and one hundred and eighteen of the Tian generation.¡± ¡°In the past three years, with the reinitiation of the Spirit Testing Convention, our family¡¯s numbers have grown further. To date, we have eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators, two at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, and sixteen clanspeople above the eighth level of Qi Refining.¡± As soon as these words were uttered, the venue immediately erupted. Although the majority of Qi Refining Stage clanspeople had a rough idea of the family¡¯s strength, hearing it directly from Lin Shihua allowed them to truly appreciate the family¡¯s tremendous progress compared to a few years ago. Seeing the excited reactions of the clanspeople, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, and the few remaining members of the Shi generation, felt equally moved and a sense of pride spontaneously arose within them. In the past, the Lin Family¡¯s foundation was indeed rather weak, but now, whether it was the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople, the family¡¯s strength had reached the peak in its history. Lin Shihua smiled contentedly and waved his hand to quell the excited clanspeople. ¡°Over the past three years, thanks to the Luoyun Market, as well as the two Spirit Lands of Golden Horn Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain, our family has been able to obtain a large amount of Spirit Stones and Spiritual Medicine Materials, as well as some ores and artifact refining materials.¡± ¡°According to estimates, in the span of three years, the various resources acquired by the family amount to over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. After deducting expenses, we have a surplus of more than ten thousand Spirit Stones each year!¡± Upon hearing this, the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople became even more excited. It¡¯s important to note that in the past, the Lin Family¡¯s welfare was quite low. If they had a surplus of a thousand Spirit Stones at the end of the year, it was considered quite good. Now, despite significantly increasing the welfare of the clanspeople, the three-year surplus exceeded ten thousand Spirit Stones, several times more than before. In this way, with just ten years, they could gather enough Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill, a feat that would have been impossible without three or four decades in the past. During Lin Shihua¡¯s report, the great hall buzzed with conversation as many clanspeople whispered to each other, expressing their excitement. After Lin Shihua elaborated on the details, apart from a few who were in the know, all the other clanspeople were thrilled and their expressions revealed a strong sense of confidence. Lin Tianming was no less excited. As the family that he heavily valued gradually grew stronger, they could focus on cultivation without being distracted by family affairs, much to his relief. As Lin Shihua expounded, the many changes and achievements within the family became known to the clanspeople. Every clan member could keenly feel the family¡¯s growth and change, which brought them more confidence and peace of mind. An hour later, after Lin Shihua finished reporting the basic situation of the family, the Hall Masters of the various institutions also stood up one by one to report their respective situations. From the Four Arts of Cultivation to Law Enforcement and Skill Transmission, to the process of the clanspeople¡¯s experiences, including the allocation of various resources, the introductions were quite detailed. Every clan member below listened intently, afraid of missing any key information. After all, such a public and transparent family assembly was a rare opportunity to fully understand the family, and such opportunities had been scarce in the history of the clan. Lin Tianming also witnessed for the first time how seriously the family took such matters, making public some previously guarded secrets. However, they were matters that could be controlled, and the most important secrets would not be revealed; otherwise, if they fell into the hands of hostile forces, it could easily lead to the family¡¯s destruction. The lively family assembly continued, with various family affairs being announced, and half a day passed in this way. Chapter 179 - 179 - 149 Candidates_1 Chapter 179 ¨C 149 Candidates_1 With the family¡¯s report completed, the clan meeting came to a temporary close. During the short recess, the clan members huddled in small groups, whispering joyfully to each other. Lin Tianming was also busy, taking advantage of the opportunity to exchange ideas with several senior clan members, bolstering their relationships. A quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Shihua, seated in the place of honor, ceased his chatting. He had not yet stood up when the hall suddenly fell silent. Lin Shihua surveyed the assembly, his expression calm, and said, ¡°The second half of the clan meeting is about to begin, with five topics for discussion. Should anyone have any opinions, feel free to raise them. I hope you will actively participate and offer your strategies for the good of the family.¡± ¡°We will follow the Clan Leader¡¯s wishes!¡± ... As soon as he finished speaking, several members of the younger generation echoed in agreement, while most of the clan members waited quietly, evidently eager to know the topics of discussion. After all, the decisions made at each clan meeting were closely related to every member and were matters of great importance that could greatly alter their current situation. ¡°The first item on the agenda is the family¡¯s plan to organize a caravan to set up two shops in Qianchuan Market to mainly sell elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts. This will also allow us to collect various resources for the family. What are your suggestions?¡± As soon as Lin Shihua finished speaking, the previously quiet hall erupted in murmurs, especially from those who had not been privy to the news. ¡°Qianchuan Market is a place teeming with all sorts, with numerous sects and families in competition. How can the family secure a foothold there?¡± ¡°Qianchuan Market is the core territory of the Zhenyang Sect. Other than them, there are many Foundation Establishing Families conducting business there, and even several Golden Core Families. Are we at risk of being pushed out?¡± ¡°Which clan member will lead the initiative? It¡¯s surely too dangerous to go without at least a Foundation Establishment Stage leader.¡± ¡­ At this point, the hall was abuzz with various questions tumbling over one another, and some clan members began to voice their opinions. Lin Tianming was at this moment lost in thought, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. After all, Luoyun Market was a small market, isolated and limited in its access to information and the flow of people, with minimal connection to other regions of Wei Kingdom. In the past, due to severe internal strife within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the family had not been inclined to consider expansion and had been exhausted just from maintaining their own enterprise. Even though the family now had full control over the Luoyun Mountain Range, relying solely on Luoyun Market provided very limited profits. Though resource shortages weren¡¯t an immediate issue for the family, if the family wished to develop in the long term, or to progress further, merely staying in this small area would be very difficult to achieve. Qianchuan Market, being a medium-sized market, ranked high among all markets in the entire Wei Kingdom. With over ten thousand resident cultivators, it saw a substantial circulation of rare treasures and had a huge demand for various resources. If the family could establish a solid footing in Qianchuan Market, it could not only earn Spirit Stones but also gather intelligence on the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. When the time was ripe, the family could collaborate with other families from different regions to boost the family¡¯s influence in Wei Kingdom. In other words, if the family wished to advance further and increase its influence in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, developing in Qianchuan Market was an excellent and necessary step to take. His thoughts aligned with those of the vast majority of the clan members. Regarding the matter of Qianchuan Market, there was virtually no opposition; the only thing under discussion was the choice of personnel for the market. True to expectations, this matter was swiftly approved, and many clan members eagerly awaited Lin Shihua¡¯s decision on the selection of the candidate. Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Shikang and a few others before speaking, ¡°After discussion among us elders, we have decided that the trip to Qianchuan Market will last for three years, with a rotation every three years. Shi Lu will lead the team, responsible for all affairs related to Qianchuan Market. Additionally, we are recruiting five family members with a cultivation level of Seventh Level Qi Cultivation or above to accompany him. Qualified members may register at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°As for those participating in this mission, each person will receive a yearly subsidy of one hundred Spirit Stones, and regular stipends will be issued. Those who perform exceptionally over the three years will be appropriately rewarded by the family.¡± Once Lin Shihua announced this, many clan members became eager to take on the task. This mission was an excellent opportunity for those in the later stages of Qi Cultivation within the family. After all, the tasks assigned within the family usually involved guarding Spirit Lands, finding Spiritual Objects, and the like¡ªeither perilous to accomplish or of little profit. After a year of hard work, it was tough to earn as many Spirit Stones and much time would be lost. Managing shops in Qianchuan Market, however, mainly involved overseeing the stores and handling various miscellaneous tasks. The recruitment of Loose Cultivators would assist in these tasks, so their own cultivation would not be hindered. Moreover, with abundant resources, it was easier to acquire a large number of precious items, making it a desirable destination. For those well aware of this fact, the eagerness to participate was palpable, and it was expected that by the following morning, numerous clan members would compete to register. Seeing the ardor amongst the clan members being harnessed, Lin Shihua and the others were quite pleased. As the clan meeting resumed, another half-quarter of an hour passed. The once noisy hall gradually calmed down. Following discussions and additional contributions of good suggestions from the clan members, the matter was finally settled. The enthusiastic clan meeting continued, and before anyone realized it, most of the day had passed. During this time, the family deliberated on numerous significant matters, and one by one, decisions were finalized. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Your next read is at For the most part, Lin Tianming observed from the sidelines, occasionally offering his own insights, maintaining an appropriate demeanor. Chapter 180 - 180 - 149 Candidate Selection_2 Chapter 180 ¨C 149 Candidate Selection_2 At the high seat of the grand hall, Lin Shihua clapped his hands and proclaimed loudly; ¡°Thus it¡¯s decided. In the future, the frequency of the Spiritual Testing Assembly will change from once every three years to once a year, starting from next year.¡± The clanspeople below were excited. Today, the family had made quite a few adjustments. Take the Spiritual Testing Assembly, for instance; it used to be once every three years. As the number of mortals in the family continued to increase, sticking with a triennial test would cause many young members to miss out on two years of potential development. With the final item on the agenda concluded, the clan meeting, which had lasted for the better part of the day, was drawing to a close. Lin Shihua was very satisfied and also quite relieved. Although within the clan, those in the Foundation Establishment Stage had absolute say, the clan had been giving more and more consideration to the wishes of the clanspeople. This clan meeting was exceptionally grand, with contributions of ideas from the members, resulting in many significant decisions. ¡°The clan meeting is concluded. Everyone should go about their business and remember not to slacken in your cultivation. The assembly is dismissed.¡± ... With Lin Shihua announcing the end of the clan meeting loudly, numerous clanspeople rose to their feet, bowed towards the elder generation seated in the high places, and finally left the grand hall. Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong had risen early and said to him; ¡°Little brother, Tianhong and I will head back first. We¡¯ll go to register at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall tomorrow. Wait for our message, and hopefully, we will be selected.¡± Read exclusive chapters at After speaking, the two of them gave a fist salute and then walked out of the grand hall together. As the throngs of clanspeople left, not even ten minutes passed, and the grand hall was left with less than ten people who silently stayed behind. They were all members of the Shi (world) generation, as well as several important Qi Refining Stage clanspeople. At this moment, Lin Tianming bowed to the elders and then earnestly said to Lin Shilu; ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming requests to accompany you to the Qianchuan Market, and I hope you will grant your permission.¡± Lin Shilu chuckled, seemingly having anticipated that he would volunteer himself. ¡°Granted. In fact, even if you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I was planning to take you with me. Having you help me would save a lot of trouble.¡± Lin Shikang smiled knowingly and joked; ¡°Shilu, with Tianming accompanying you, and with both of your cultivation levels, when combined, you could likely face a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator without falling short.¡± ¡°Indeed, with the two of you together, we will feel much more at ease.¡± Lin Shigong added. Lin Tianming looked puzzled, as if understanding from Lin Shikang¡¯s words that Lin Shilu had probably broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. When he thought about it, before the family war, Shilu was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. It made sense that, after a few years, breaking through was within reason. With that thought, he also grew a bit excited and said to Lin Shilu; ¡°Congratulations to Fifteenth Grandfather for achieving such great success in your cultivation.¡± Lin Shilu smiled and waved his hand to signal that Tianming need not be formal, then he gave his orders; ¡°I just had a breakthrough and need to consolidate for a while. We will set out after a month, so you prepare as well during this time.¡± ¡°I shall adhere to Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s command. Tianming will take his leave first.¡± Lin Tianming replied, then stood up, bowed to the elders, and briskly left the grand hall. Back in his own cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat in the training room, deep in thought. A month would quickly pass, and before his departure, he needed to make some preparations. He projected his Divine Sense to meticulously inspect the contents of his storage bag. Recently, ten batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials had been refined into elixirs, and now he had twenty-eight Second Order Lingshen Pills, as well as five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. Besides that, there were fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, one Tiangang Sword, a Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman, and a Lower Grade Defense Talisman. The rest were a collection of various rare types of Spiritual Medicine Materials he had slowly gathered. There was also the Qianling Pill Recipe he had acquired long ago, and the Mysterious Moon Token. He still owed his grandfather two thousand Spirit Stones, which he was determined to return before leaving, leaving him with three thousand five hundred stones to use. These were all the important items he possessed, not much to speak of, but for an average Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was not a small amount either. After checking his storage bag, Lin Tianming took a deep breath, then sat with crossed hands and started to meditate and cultivate. The next morning, Lin Tianming left his cave dwelling and flew towards the Hall of Merit. Along the way, many clan members were headed in pairs to the Miscellaneous Hall, apparently ready to register for the mission to the Qianchuan Market. Watching the clanspeople in their hurried state, Lin Tianming was taken aback. He greeted the passersby and continued directly to the Hall of Merit. In a short while, he appeared inside the Hall of Merit. At this time, the Hall was less crowded than usual as most probably had gone to the Miscellaneous Hall either to register or to watch the excitement. After finding Lin Xingcheng, they greeted each other, then sat opposite each other and began to chat idly. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I have to stand guard at the Hall of Merit and can¡¯t participate, otherwise I¡¯d also like to gain some experience at Qianchuan Market,¡± Lin Xingcheng said regretfully, a look of longing in his eyes. ¡°Uncle, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. You¡¯re almost at Great Perfection in your cultivation. Training within the clan for a while, and going in a few years will be just the same,¡± Lin Tianming comforted him. Hearing this, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s expression calmed down, and he let out a wry smile before quickly changing the subject, asking; ¡°Tianming, what are you here to exchange today?¡± Lin Tianming took out seven bottles of Second Order Lingshen Pills and handed them to Lin Xingcheng, then said; ¡°Uncle, I¡¯d like to exchange for two Second Order low-grade Defense Talismans, and the rest in Spirit Stones.¡± Lin Xingcheng received the Jade Bottle and, after verifying there were no issues, calculated the prices. ¡°Twenty-one Second Order Lingshen Pills, unit price one hundred and sixty, totaling three thousand three hundred and sixty Spirit Stones. Second Order low-grade Defense Talismans, unit price three hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, totaling seven hundred and sixty Spirit Stones. After deduction, that leaves two thousand six hundred Spirit Stones.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then pondered for a moment. After repaying grandfather two thousand Spirit Stones, and adding the previous five thousand five hundred, he would still have six thousand left. With Spirit Stones in hand, one would feel at ease in Qianchuan Market, otherwise, wanting to purchase any treasure would be troublesome. Seeing Lin Tianming nod in agreement, Lin Xingcheng entered the depths of the great hall to fetch the items for exchange. In a moment, Lin Xingcheng came out, took out Spirit Stones and talismans from his storage bag, and handed them over in person. After receiving the Spirit Stones and Second Order Talismans into his own storage bag and exchanging a few words, Lin Tianming bowed his fists and left the Hall of Merit. At dawn, after leaving the Hall of Merit, he made his way through Green Bamboo Mountain, intending to return to his cave dwelling to continue his cultivation. Just as he flew to the summit of the main peak, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were already waiting for him. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, both of their complexions were rosy, and they seemed very jubilant. Lin Tianming descended from the sky, greeted the two with a cupped fist salute, and asked with a smile on his face, ¡°Big brother, judging by your expressions, did you manage to register successfully?¡± When Lin Tianming asked, Lin Tianhong displayed a smug look and confidently said, ¡°Hehe, fortunately, it was a success, but you wouldn¡¯t know, today¡¯s Miscellaneous Hall¡­ What a scene it was¡­¡± Both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong¡¯s eyes crinkled as they watched Lin Tianhong chatter away excitedly, the two exchanged a smile. According to Lin Tianhong, today¡¯s registration was extremely popular. More than thirty people were vying to participate, and the two of them were chosen partly because of their youth and partly because, among the Qi Refining clanspeople, they were among the most prominent. Lin Shilu always took good care of the younger generation, so with their close relationship, they were recruited. ¡°Big brother, besides the two of you, which other clan members were selected?¡± Lin Tianming asked curiously. When Lin Tianming brought up this matter, Lin Tianfeng helplessly said, ¡°Apart from us two, the other three should be Xing Clan Members. We were the first to be selected, after that we left, so the specific participants are still unclear, but I estimate they are definitely cultivators above the eighth level of Qi Refinement.¡± After finishing, Lin Tianming shifted the topic and inquired about their plans. ¡°Never mind that, I heard from Elder Wu that we¡¯ll depart on time in a month. Do you brothers have any arrangements?¡± As the date drew near, Lin Tianfeng looked serious and discussed his plans. ¡°First, I¡¯ll go to the Hall of Merit to exchange for some talismans to ensure survival, then I¡¯ll go into seclusion to cultivate a bit more, aiming to enhance my cultivation as much as possible. After all, Qianchuan Market is not like the family clan. There, although fighting is forbidden, outside the market, there aren¡¯t so many rules.¡± After Lin Tianfeng¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianhong, who had been chatting and laughing moments before, suddenly became solemn, then said; ¡°That¡¯s the plan. This trip will take three years, and it¡¯s necessary to exchange all our resources for elixirs and talismans, and to prepare more Spirit Stones for any unforeseen needs.¡± ¡°You brothers have thought it through. I also plan to cultivate for a short period!¡± No sooner had Lin Tianming finished speaking than Lin Tianfeng took up the conversation. ¡°Then brother, I won¡¯t keep you any longer. We¡¯ll meet again in a month!¡± ¡°Till then!¡± After the exchange, Lin Tianming and the others saluted with their fists and turned to fly off in different directions. Chapter 181 - 181 - 150 Revisiting Old Places_1 Chapter 181 ¨C 150 Revisiting Old Places_1 Over twenty days hurried past. The day before his departure, Lin Tianming walked out of his cave dwelling and flew towards the small valley where he practiced. Ever since he began preparing for his Foundation Establishment, the Purple Gold Eagle had been staying in the valley. Since he was going to Qianchuan Market, it was natural to bring it along, as it could take the place of travel on foot and save a considerable amount of time. As its strength grew, it could also offer some help during battles. Explore stories on .com In no time at all, Lin Tianming appeared in the valley. When his figure appeared in the valley, the Purple Gold Eagle immediately flew over and landed in front of him. At this point, after a large number of elixirs from Lin Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s aura had become even stronger. Clearly, it had reached the limit of a First Order Demon Beast. ... Lin Tianming jumped onto its back, fondly stroked its huge head, and then the pair began flying around Green Bamboo Mountain. ¡­ Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling, several members of the Lin Family from the Foundation Establishment Clan were sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. Lin Shihua took out three storage bags and handed them to Lin Shilu in front of him, then said, ¡°Shilu, these three storage bags each contain fifty thousand Spirit Stones, as well as a large number of Spiritual Objects. They are all items needed to set up a shop.¡± Lin Shilu received the storage bags, gave them a scan with his Divine Sense, and his expression grew serious. Such a large sum of Spirit Stones and various Spiritual Objects, nearing a total value of a hundred thousand, made it clear that the family was ready to go all out to secure a foothold in Qianchuan Market. Seeing the change in Lin Shilu¡¯s expression, Lin Shikang also spoke up at this time, ¡°Shilu, you have full authority over matters in Qianchuan Market. If necessary, you can ask Daoist Ye for help. With his connections and cultivation level, he may be able to offer some assistance.¡± ¡°If it really becomes impossible to manage, then let it go. Although Qianchuan Market is the family¡¯s preferred location, it¡¯s not irreplaceable. Prioritize your own safety above all else.¡± ¡°Yes, Qianchuan Market is filled with all sorts, and although the Lin Family has not made enemies with other forces, you still need to be extremely cautious.¡± Lin Shigong also added a word of advice. With his expression returning to calm, Lin Shilu nodded firmly and responded, ¡°Please rest assured, elder brothers. Shilu understands the importance and will not let you down. On this trip, I will surely secure a stable footing in Qianchuan Market as soon as possible to pave the way for the family¡­¡± ¡­ As evening approached, the glow of sunset gradually faded and the sky darkened. In a valley, Lin Tianming put the Purple Gold Eagle into his Spirit Beast Bag and then, using Sword Flight, headed towards the summit of the main peak. A short while later, he did not return to his own dwelling but went to his father¡¯s courtyard instead, intending to reunite with his mother before leaving. Entering his father¡¯s courtyard, he found his grandfather and sister already waiting. Seeing Lin Tianming come in, Lin Tianyue¡¯s face lit up with joy as she approached and took hold of his arm, acting coquettishly. ¡°Brother, you are getting busier by the day and don¡¯t visit Yue¡¯er anymore!¡± ¡°You¡¯re already a Seventh Level Qi Refinement Cultivator, how come you still haven¡¯t grown up?¡± Lin Tianming teased as he stroked his sister¡¯s hair. Lin Tianyue pouted, let go of his arm, and with a sulking expression said, ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m also a First Order Medium Grade Talisman Maker now, I don¡¯t care about you anymore; I¡¯m going to help Mother!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and walked over to his grandfather, then bowed his hands in greeting, ¡°Tian Ming pays respects to Grandfather!¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Come sit, let¡¯s talk!¡± Lin Shigong gestured with a wave of his hand. As they chatted casually, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag and passed it to Lin Shigong, which contained the two thousand Spirit Stones. ¡°Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather did not accept any Spirit Stones for the Artifact Refining, so I must return them to their rightful owner!¡± Lin Shigong chuckled, accepted the storage bag without refusal, and then remarked with some emotion, ¡°Among the many younger members of our family, your Fifteenth Grandfather has really gone above and beyond for you!¡± ¡°Yes, grandson understands!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. Lin Shilu had refined artifacts for him several times and provided him with quite a few cultivation resources. The efforts were hardly less than those of a true grandfather, which was indeed remarkable. Not just towards him, Lin Shilu was equally generous to other young members of the family, a rarity in the entire Lin Family. Thinking about all this, Lin Tianming immediately felt a profound respect. After a while, following Lin Shigong¡¯s advice, dinner was ready. The family sat together to eat and casually chatted. As his mother placed a piece of Spirit Beast meat into Lin Tianming¡¯s bowl, she looked at him with regret and said, ¡°Tianming, your twenty-fifth birthday is coming up soon. It¡¯s a pity that you have to leave for Qianchuan Market tomorrow; otherwise, I would have celebrated it for you!¡± Reminded by his mother, Lin Tianming remembered that in half a month, he would turn twenty-five. Time had flown, and it had been fifteen years since he embarked on the cultivation path. Having reached the Foundation Establishment Stage for over a year, he thought back on the past decade with its clear images of cultivation, as if it were only yesterday, and couldn¡¯t help feeling a wave of nostalgia. Without mention, it was easy to forget, but now recalling it, his pace of cultivation had set him apart. At twenty-four, he had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Even in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, he was a rare existence. Keeping these modest achievements in his heart, Lin Tianming then let out a relieved smile and said, ¡°A true man aspires to travel far and make his mark. And even more so for a Cultivator. Isn¡¯t today like an early celebration?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, everyone smiled knowingly. As night fell, the harmonious dinner concluded, and Lin Tianming, standing up with his grandfather, prepared to leave. As they arrived at the plaza, Lin Shigong took out two bottles of elixirs and handed them to him, then said, Chapter 182 - 182 - 150 Revisiting the Old Place_2 Chapter 182 ¨C 150 Revisiting the Old Place_2 ¡°Tianming, you will set off tomorrow. I won¡¯t see you off, and I¡¯ve said all that needs to be said. Take these two bottles of elixirs, and deliver them to your father when you pass Golden Horn Mountain.¡± Lin Tianming took the elixirs, his expression determined as he responded: ¡°Grandfather, rest assured, I will certainly work hard in my cultivation, and I won¡¯t let you or the family down!¡± ¡°Good, that puts my mind at ease!¡± Lin Shigong replied, then took the lead in departing, heading toward his own cave dwelling. Watching Lin Shigong leave, Lin Tianming then lifted his feet and departed, returning to his own cave dwelling. ¡­ ... The next morning¡­ As dawn was just beginning to break, several people had already gathered in the plaza at the family gate, among them Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong. Lin Tianming arrived above the plaza by sword flight, and before he could land, heard Lin Tianfeng¡¯s hearty laughter. ¡°Sixth brother, you¡¯re finally here, we¡¯ve just been waiting for Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming smiled faintly, descended from the sky, then walked forward and bowed to the clan members. ¡°I have seen three of my uncles, and two elder brothers.¡± ¡°Haha, with Tianming accompanying us, we can be said to be absolutely safe on this journey!¡± Lin Xingsu said excitedly. Before his voice had even faded, Lin Xingli echoed the sentiment. ¡°Indeed, originally we thought that only Fifteenth Uncle, a Foundation Establishment, would be leading the team. To think that the True Dragon Prodigy of our family is also joining us, I am now quite reassured!¡± ¡°My clan-born brethren flatter me. In the three years to come, we must rely on each other and fight side by side!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. After that, they chatted idly for a while, becoming more familiar with one another. While waiting, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to evaluate their team. The three members of the Xing generation were all ascetics with little interaction with him. Nevertheless, they possessed not insignificant cultivation and were young with plenty of potential, no wonder the family valued them. Both Lin Xingsu and Lin Xingli were at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, while another member named Lin Xingyao was at the Eighth Level. Among those on the journey, Lin Shilu was at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, and with him at the First Level, plus three people at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and two at the Eighth Level. Such strength in the team was considerable; many Foundation Establishing families couldn¡¯t even muster such forces when they were fully deployed. Half a quarter of an hour later, with the sound of tearing air, Lin Shilu appeared in the plaza. Lin Tianming and the others immediately went forward and respectfully bowed to him. ¡°Dispense with the formalities!¡± Lin Shilu waved his hand, and everyone stood waiting on the side. After surveying everyone, Lin Shilu said: ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s use your Purple Gold Eagle as our mount. This time we won¡¯t need to detour; we will prepare to go through Golden Horn Mountain, resting for a day or two, and incidentally check on your father!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°With no detours, not only is our journey much safer now, but we¡¯ll also cut down a lot of time,¡± Lin Tianming said, his expression excited. ¡°The hour is late; we depart immediately!¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu took out the token, opened the Protective Clan Formation, and the group of six people left the formation. Outside the formation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, then took out a Beast Spirit Pill for the eagle to consume. ¡°Your Spirit Beast has advanced rapidly, reaching the peak of a First Order Demon Beast in just seven or eight years!¡± Lin Shilu remarked admirably. Hearing this, the faces of Lin Xingli and the others changed. Although they knew all along that Lin Tianming¡¯s Spirit Beast was strong, they hadn¡¯t realized it was even more formidable than theirs. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled and explained: ¡°Xiao Diao has consumed quite a few Spiritual Objects, it has swallowed dozens of elixirs, so reaching this level is inevitable!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle first, and the others quickly followed. With plenty of space for six people on its huge body, Lin Shilu took out a map and then confirmed the route with Lin Tianming. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming gave the command and the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the clouds a thousand yards high, heading north, and soon vanished into the horizon. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Xingli and the others were astounded by its speed. Lin Tianming remained calm; he sat with his eyes closed on the eagle¡¯s back, enjoying the sensation of rapid flight. As the Purple Gold Eagle continued to grow, its current speed had increased even more than before. Previously, it took over twenty days to reach Qianchuan Market, but now, flying at this speed without detours, it was estimated that they could reach Qianchuan Market in about ten days. Unknowingly, two days passed. Golden Horn Mountain, the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory Ruins. Several years have passed since the great Clan Battle at Luoyun Mountain, and the territories of the Jin and Wu families were all occupied by the Lin Family. Over the years, more and more clan members began to come to Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Xingrong even stayed here to cultivate. Golden Horn Mountain was rich in spiritual energy, making it an excellent place for settling down. Being close to Qianchuan Market also made its location extremely important, serving as a junction for the family. In addition to this, Golden Horn Mountain had huge Spirit Fields and a Spiritual Medicine Garden, as well as a not so small area of Golden Flower Trees. Golden Flower Trees were First Order Superior Grade Spirit Materials, usable in artifact refining, their value not inferior to that of Qingling Bamboo. Many of the Spiritual Medicine Materials and Golden Flower Trees could not be transplanted, and it would be a pity to let the vast Spirit Land crafted by the Jin family over a millennium go to waste. Therefore, the family placed great importance on this matter, dispatching a large number of clan members to occupy the land, restoring various Spiritual Objects and ensuring a substantial income each year. Such a treasure land was something the family would never give up on, from any perspective. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At dusk¡­ The Golden Horn Mountain was especially quiet at this time, with a clan member patrolling the mountain gate. Watching a dark shadow approaching from a distance, Lin Xingyou momentarily lost in thought. In an instant, the shadow arrived at the mountain gate. Seeing the several people on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Xingyou¡¯s face lit up with excitement; he opened the great formation and immediately stepped forward to greet them. ¡°Xingyou pays respects to Fifteenth Uncle, and to my fellow clan members!¡± Lin Tianming and the others returned the salute, exchanging pleasantries, after which Lin Shilu smiled slightly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside first, send a message to Xing Rong at once!¡± After sending the message, Lin Shilu walked in, and Lin Tianming and the others followed. After entering Golden Horn Mountain and settling the Purple Gold Eagle, the group walked within the interior of Golden Horn Mountain. Revisiting the old place and walking on the cobblestone road, Lin Tianming observed the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory he hadn¡¯t seen for years. After several years of renovation, the traces of the family battle were erased, and the Golden Horn Mountain of today saw no ruins, retaining only some intact buildings. Compared to before, the scale was much reduced, but it still looked exquisite. A quarter of an hour passed. Lin Tianming and the others arrived at the main peak of Golden Horn Mountain, in a newly built courtyard. They sat in the small courtyard waiting, and Lin Xingrong, upon receiving the message, quickly came over. Having not seen his father for more than a year, his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer was as expected. After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats, and Lin Xingrong asked about the purpose of their visit with a puzzled look. Explore more at Lin Shilu didn¡¯t conceal anything and stated the purpose of their visit directly. ¡°Qianchuan Market, our family is going to expand into Qianchuan Market?¡± Lin Xingrong was somewhat surprised, but having previously been stationed in Luoyun Market long-term and being well-versed in commerce, he quickly understood the family¡¯s strategic plan. Following that, Lin Xingrong also briefed them on the situation in Golden Horn Mountain and discussed various business matters concerning the market. After more than an hour of discussion, they had a general understanding of Golden Horn Mountain and gained valuable insights. As it was getting late into the night, Lin Shilu finally spoke up and instructed, ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Everyone should go rest, and we¡¯ll set off again early the morning after next!¡± Lin Xingrong nodded, and Lin Xingyou, along with Lin Xingli and the others, left to arrange places for them to rest. Once they had departed, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were arranged to stay in this courtyard to rest. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming took out two bottles of elixirs prepared by his grandfather and added one of his own, handing them to his father. ¡°Father, these three bottles of elixirs are from grandfather for you!¡± Lin Xingrong was somewhat skeptical but did not show it, calmly saying, ¡°I still have some elixirs for my cultivation, let¡¯s take one bottle each!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled and replied, ¡°Xing Rong, just take them. Tianming is already a Second Order Alchemist, and your father certainly does not lack elixirs, and neither do I!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he accepted the elixirs, storing them in his storage bag. After discussing their recent cultivation achievements, Lin Shilu stood up to take his leave and prepare for rest. After giving several instructions, Lin Xingrong also rose to leave. With everyone gone to rest, Lin Tianming was the last to leave, returning to his own room to rest. Chapter 183 - 183 - 151: Return to Qianchuan_1 Chapter 183 ¨C 151: Return to Qianchuan_1 ¡°` Early morning. Golden Horn Mountain. Dense fog enveloped the area, the morning glow filtering through the clouds, with the gentle sunshine shining in every corner of Golden Horn Mountain. After a day and night of rest, Lin Tianming and his companions appeared at the mountain gate, with Lin Xingrong arriving to see them off. After Lin Tianming and his six companions had exchanged bows, they said farewell to Lin Xingrong and set off again, flying north towards Qianchuan Market. Golden Horn Mountain lay to the north of Luoyun Market, over two thousand miles away, and was the closest position within the Luoyun Mountain Range to Qianchuan Market. With the family¡¯s occupation of Golden Horn Mountain, it could serve as a stepping stone for the Lin Family¡¯s expansion towards greater aspirations, making its significance extraordinary. ... Sitting on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu took out a map made from beast skin and started examining it carefully with Lin Tianming. He pointed at two spots on the map with a serious expression and said, ¡°Tianming, after we fly several hundred more miles to the north, we¡¯ll enter the periphery of the Hengyang Mountain Range. Everyone needs to be vigilant from there on!¡± ¡°You and I will take turns on guard. We cannot afford to be negligent!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded and acknowledged with a casual response before he spoke up: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, with your eighty years of cultivation experience, you must have seen much of the world. Since we¡¯re going to establish ourselves in Qianchuan Market, perhaps you could enlighten us on the basic situation surrounding the market?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming bring up this matter, Lin Shilu naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse, especially since he had already planned to analyze the power dynamics of the surrounding forces to prepare the younger generation psychologically. Having made up his mind, he gathered everyone around and began to speak with a grave expression: ¡°The Wei Kingdom is also vast, and as for the Golden Elixir Forces, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of them without me having to mention it.¡± ¡°In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there are at least a hundred Foundation Establishing Families. Almost every year, some families vanish, while new ones emerge. With so many families, the vast majority will not cross paths.¡± ¡°I will introduce the Foundation Establishing Families near Luoyun Market, which are close to the Luoyun Mountain Range. Keep these in mind, so if conflict arises with them, you will be prepared.¡± Lin Tianming and the others nodded. Most of them had only operated within the Luoyun Mountain Range, so they didn¡¯t know much about the outside world. As Lin Shilu started speaking, they all listened intently, showing keen interest. After a moment of contemplation, Lin Shilu began his explanation. ¡°The vast area more than two thousand miles north of the Luoyun Mountain Range falls under the Hengyang Mountain Range and Luoyang Mountain Range!¡± ¡°These two ranges form a pincer with Luoyun Mountain Range. Being closer to Qianchuan Market, the overall strength of these two mountain ranges is noticeably stronger than that of Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± At Lin Shilu¡¯s words, the others immediately showed interest, their eyes filled with anticipation. Seeing their reactions, Lin Shilu continued: ¡°The Hengyang Mountain Range has seven great Foundation Establishing Families, among which the Chen Clan and Wei Family are powerful, openly boasting five Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the other five families varies, but overall, the strength of the entire Hengyang Mountain Range is more than double that of Luoyun Mountain Range!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng could not help but click his tongue, while the others looked somber. Lin Shilu chuckled and continued: ¡°You might think that¡¯s all, but actually, the neighboring Luoyang Mountain Range is even stronger!¡± Lin Tianfeng was immediately shocked and eagerly inquired further. Discover hidden tales at .com ¡°The situation in Luoyang Mountain Range is very different from Hengyang Mountain Range. There, only three major families exist, creating a tripartite balance of power that has persisted for hundreds of years. Each family has a heritage spanning over a thousand years, making them deeply entrenched and powerful.¡± ¡°One family also bears the Lin surname, while the other two are the Meng Family and Qiu Family. Each publicly boasts no fewer than seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Furthermore, among these three families, there is a considerable number of late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators and beyond!¡± ¡°Hiss¡­ such incredible strength!¡± The others gasped, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face paled, Lin Tianhong¡¯s expression turned even darker, and even the usually composed Lin Tianming was taken aback. Comparing the Lin Family to these other families based on Lin Shilu¡¯s description, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but realize how much the Lin Family lagged behind in overall strength, despite having a similar number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Seeing his younger kinsmen¡¯s expressions of terror, Lin Shilu remained calm, then said: ¡°You needn¡¯t worry too much. The Foundation Establishing Families of Hengyang Mountain Range are embroiled in constant internal strife and lack the capacity to entangle with external forces.¡± ¡°On the other hand, the situation in Luoyang Mountain Range is comparatively simple. The strength of the three major Foundation Establishing Families is evenly matched; they guard against and suspect each other. None dare act rashly for fear of allowing another to profit off their conflict, leading to over two hundred years of peace.¡± Reassured by Lin Shilu¡¯s detailed introduction, Lin Tianming and the others felt somewhat more at ease, yet many questions lingered. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, wouldn¡¯t the Golden Elixir Forces intervene in the internal conflicts between families in different regions?¡± Lin Tianfeng asked curiously. Lin Shilu answered calmly and patiently: ¡°In the entire region of Qingzhou, unlike other major states that have developed for tens of thousands of years such as the central Mysterious State, where many forces with ten-thousand-year legacies stand unshakably, Qingzhou has only developed for tens of thousands of years and cannot be compared.¡± ¡°Being close to the Demon Race Area, it is one of the Four Battlegrounds. Every day, many forces are extinguished, so many rules and orders are not well established. Over time, the situation here has become quite unique. Qingzhou is vast with sparse populations and chaotic order. Almost all forces just occupy a piece of territory and then wage war on their own.¡± ¡°` S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 184 - 184 - 151: Return to Qianchuan_2 Chapter 184 ¨C 151: Return to Qianchuan_2 Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded their heads, showing expressions of having gained much benefit. Having never left the Luoyun Mountain Range before, they listened to these situations and finally gained a better understanding of the outside world. Soon after, Lin Tianming also asked: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, from what you said, if there are no rules or order, doesn¡¯t that mean the major forces can attack each other?¡± Lin Tianfeng echoed the sentiment. ¡°Exactly, in that case, won¡¯t major forces fight each other bloody over resources? Yet up to now, we haven¡¯t heard much news about Golden Core forces being exterminated?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s expression remained calm as he began to explain again. ... ¡°You are not aware of this; even though Qingzhou¡¯s surface lacks explicit rules and order, for powers above Golden Core, the ties are too great. Pull one hair and the whole body is affected; they do not easily engage in large-scale warfare.¡± ¡°It is said that among the Human Race¡¯s supreme powerhouses, those at the Divinity Transformation Stage have reached an agreement. Forces above Golden Core should not easily strike against each other to avoid the loss of the high-order combat power of the Human Race.¡± ¡°Divinity Transformation Stage powerhouses? An unspoken pact among the peak powerhouses of the Human Race?¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed in surprise. Lin Shilu nodded, then said: ¡°It¡¯s only said, whether it is true or false, I, with my limited perspective, cannot clarify.¡± Read exclusive adventures at .com S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As for struggles between the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment Families, for those Nascent Soul Cultivators standing at the peak of the Human Race, it¡¯s nothing more than trivial scuffles, not worth mentioning.¡± ¡°Even if a life-and-death battle occurs, costing a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, low-order cultivators are merely a drop in the ocean when it comes to the overall strength of the Human Race. What truly decides the fate of the Human Race are those powerhouses above the stage of Nascent Soul cultivation.¡± ¡°And the Golden Core forces will not engage in major conflicts over small profits, unless it¡¯s for a huge opportunity.¡± Lin Tianming, hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, also found his explanation quite acceptable. Upon reflection, if there truly were no limits to rules, wouldn¡¯t it mean one could act recklessly, stripping away the layers, and what chance would those Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment families have to survive? Although there are such underlying rules on the surface, the territories of the Human Race are vast with numerous domains. In places like Qingzhou, overt and covert struggles never cease, and in the vast Cultivation World, even the destruction of Golden Core forces wouldn¡¯t create much ripple. Looking at it this way, the Cultivation World is still a place where strength is supreme and interests are paramount. Even Divinity Transformation Stage powerhouses would fight fiercely over transcendent resources; this, he had long seen very clearly. Seeing that Lin Tianming seemed to have grasped the concept, Lin Shilu was very pleased and then said: ¡°You need not be too pessimistic. Although Qingzhou is chaotic and the rules are not perfect, it is much better compared to a thousand years ago. Moreover, among the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom and other Golden Core families, there hasn¡¯t been large scale slaughter, and the overall state of Wei Kingdom is relatively stable.¡± ¡°As for the Foundation Establishing Families of the Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges which are closer to our territory, there will be numerous interactions in the future. As for each family, just be careful and cautious. And as for Golden Core forces, we¡¯re not yet at a level to provoke them, just keep a low profile, avoiding trouble where possible but not fearing it, do you understand?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was serious, as he earnestly cautioned them. Lin Tianming and the others clasped their fists and replied in unison: ¡°Rest assured, Fifteenth Grandfather, we will definitely be careful and cautious, we won¡¯t casually offend other forces!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ responses, Lin Shilu nodded, then no longer spoke, starting to rest with his eyes closed. The group also discreetly refrained from asking further questions and each began to meditate and cultivate. Lin Tianming sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, surveying the rapidly passing scenery, deep in thought about something. Flying northward, they crossed over numerous lofty mountains and ridges, drawing ever closer to Qianchuan Market. Ten days passed quickly; the Purple Gold Eagle flew high in the sky, crossing the edge of the Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges. They encountered very few other cultivators along the way and finally arrived at the outskirts of Qianchuan Market on the tenth day. In a valley a few dozen miles from the market, Lin Tianming and the others landed on a small hill. After stowing the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag and taking a brief rest, the group of six altered their appearances and began sword flight towards the gate of Qianchuan Market. Along the way, the ever-cautious Lin Shilu once again gave some final reminders as they approached the entrance to the market, finally stopping his chatter. Lin Tianming was very aware that their task of permanently staying in the market was far from trivial; to gain a foothold in the intricate Qianchuan Market was no easy feat. Should they encroach on the interests of other forces, it was inevitable that some incidents would occur. And leading Lin Tianfeng and the others, he also had to be mindful of their safety. As such, both he and Lin Shilu faced no small amount of pressure. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grow somewhat serious, Lin Shilu transmitted a comforting message: ¡°When the soldiers arrive, block them, when the water comes, cover it with earth. If worst comes to worst, we can abandon this plan; there¡¯s no need to be too tense!¡± Lin Tianming smiled knowingly and gave Lin Shilu a comforting look. Outside Qianchuan Market, the group of six flew on their swords, gazing at the vast city in the distance. Even for Lin Tianming, who was visiting for the second time, the sight was still somewhat shocking. For Lin Tianfeng and the others, who were visiting the largest market in the southern Wei Kingdom for the first time, the sight of the buildings reaching into the clouds brought a look of excitement to their faces. The group flew close to the market entrance, then proceeded on foot toward the bustling city, where many cultivators still queued up for entry even as dusk approached. Lin Shilu led the group forward, simply following in line behind the others. After about a quarter of an hour, Lin Shilu paid the full amount of spirit stones, and they entered the city without issue. Inside, Lin Shilu led the group down the wide bluestone paved roads. As they walked past the bustling scenes along the way, Lin Tianfeng and the others glanced around, taking in the charm of a medium-sized market. In no time, they reached the North District of the market, where cave abodes were for rent. Looking at the bluestone attic in front of them, Lin Shilu spoke up: ¡°We¡¯ll rent a temporary cave abode today, so that we can settle down. Once the shop matters are finalized, we will then move to a longer-term, stable residence!¡± Lin Tianming and the others naturally had no objections. After a brief discussion, Lin Shilu stepped inside, with everyone following suit. Upon entering the hall, the receptionist, a Seventh Level of Qi Refinement cultivator, sensing the aura Lin Shilu faintly exuded, hurried over respectfully and asked: ¡°Senior, are you here to rent a cave abode? Allow me to introduce our offerings first.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, and the receptionist pointed at the light screen in front of them, patiently starting his introduction. Shortly after, Lin Shilu pointed to a spot flickering with green light and inquired about the price. The receptionist¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he began to explain eagerly. ¡°Senior has a good eye. This cave abode is of the Second Order, brimming with spiritual energy. It includes several practice rooms and a pill refining room. It¡¯s located in a rather secluded spot and has just become available. It can be yours for three months at the cost of just sixty spirit stones!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take this one then, lease it for three months!¡± Lin Shilu nodded in agreement and then took out the spirit stones to hand to the receptionist. The receptionist accepted the spirit stones and then produced a book. He infused it with a law decree, and the green light on the screen turned red. Having completed these tasks, he respectfully handed over a golden token, the key to the temporary cave abode. ¡°Senior, please take your time. When the rental period is nearing its end, you may come here to switch places or extend the lease!¡± Taking the golden token, Lin Shilu and the others left the hall and headed towards the temporary cave abode in the North District. In a short while, the group arrived in front of a quiet courtyard. Lin Shilu took out the token and cast a law decree, causing a light screen to appear out of thin air, and then led everyone inside. Entering the courtyard, they felt the abundant spiritual energy that was almost comparable to that on the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, and Lin Tianfeng and the others became quite emotional. Lin Shilu swept the entire cave abode with his divine sense to ensure safety, then said: ¡°After more than ten days of travel, everyone is tired. Let¡¯s rest early today and discuss our next moves tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°As you command!¡± The group answered in unison and then each chose a room within the cave abode to rest. Lin Tianming found a room deep inside the cave abode, entered, and lay down on a bed crafted from jade. Soon, fatigue set in, and he quickly fell asleep. Chapter 185 - 185 - 152 Collecting Information_1 Chapter 185 ¨C 152 Collecting Information_1 At the dawn of the next day. In the temporarily rented Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming and his group of six people sat around a stone table. After a night of rest, their fatigue from the past ten-plus days had completely vanished. Lin Shilu sat in the seat of honor, scanning over everyone before opening his mouth to speak; ¡°Now that we¡¯ve arrived at Qianchuan Market, it¡¯s time to discuss our next steps. If anyone has suggestions or advice, feel free to speak up.¡± After he finished speaking, the clan members remained silent, and Lin Tianming also fell into deep thought. A dozen or so breaths later, seeing that everyone was staring blankly at one another, remaining silent, the atmosphere turned somewhat awkward, Lin Tianming finally spoke leisurely; ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, since we are new here, with no connections and unclear about the market¡¯s operations, acting rashly will likely lead us down many wrong paths.¡± ... Lin Tianfeng, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement, and the others also looked at him expectantly. Seeing the expressions of everyone, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any further, continuing to share his thoughts. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be too hasty in renting a shop. We¡¯d better walk around the market to gauge the flow of customers in the business district, as well as the situation with our competitors. Gathering information before starting our business would be the more prudent approach. What do you all think?¡± Before his words could fall, Lin Xingli, with a surprised expression, added; ¡°Tianming, your words make sense. Acting hastily will lead to many detours. Plus, we aren¡¯t familiar with the basic situation of the market, which can easily encroach on the interests of other forces. Even though we¡¯re here to do business, there¡¯s still fear of others employing underhanded tactics.¡± ¡°Being cautious and gathering more information will definitely not be wrong, and it could help us avoid many unnecessary troubles. We¡¯re just here to do business, so it¡¯s best to be as stable as possible.¡± After Lin Tianhong added a sentence, Lin Shilu nodded thoughtfully, a relieved look appeared on his face. Your journey continues on .com In truth, he had simply asked casually, gauging the adaptability and abilities of the younger clan members. Coming to Qianchuan Market, he had brought these clan members along to act. He had no doubt about Lin Tianming¡¯s abilities, but since they would be in seclusion for the long term, and he didn¡¯t want Lin Tianming to be entangled in worldly matters, managing the market store would need to be left to others. Fortunately, the accompanying clan members didn¡¯t act rashly to seek quick success. Their cautious attitudes would serve them well anywhere. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Shilu instructed; ¡°You all have spoken well. This matter should indeed not be rushed. In the coming days, feel free to walk around the market and collect information. We¡¯ll discuss it further in a few days before making a decision.¡± ¡°Be careful when you go out, and don¡¯t invite trouble.¡± Lin Shilu advised loudly. The others nodded in agreement and then left the courtyard together, leaving only Lin Tianming behind. ¡°Tianming, I¡¯ve sent a message to Daoist Ye. Tonight, accompany this old man to the Yuxi Restaurant to meet an old friend.¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse and agreed on the spot. Lin Tianming had already anticipated the purpose of this trip. For the clan to gain a foothold in Qianchuan Market, it was possible to consult Ye Pinghai, who had been living there for decades and was also a Second Order Alchemist. Maybe he could provide some guidance. Seeing that he understood, Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction. Lin Tianming also stood up and cupped his fists, ready to go out for a stroll and casually gather some news. Once out of the residential area, Lin Tianming walked on the broad streets, his mind racing with thoughts. When it came to where to find the most informed news in the entire market, naturally, it would be venues like restaurants and tea houses. Some cultivators, while drinking and tasting tea, also liked to gossip about the situations of various powers. If he took a tour around these places, he might gain something valuable. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming headed toward the West District of the market. A quarter of an hour passed, and he crossed several streets and plazas, arriving at the commercial district of the market. In the early hours, the marketplace was bustling with activity as crowds of cultivators shuttled between shops. Lin Tianming continued deeper into the market, observing the shops along the street, memorizing their names, and when he encountered some selling elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts, he would browse and also buy a few elixirs to assess their alchemy skill level. Before he knew it, half a day had passed. He had visited the entire commercial district of the market and obtained quite a bit of useful information. As he calculated, in the entire West District of the market, there were at least over twenty big shops and nearly a hundred smaller ones that sold Second Order Spiritual Items. Almost every few dozen meters, there would be one or two shops, and near the plaza in the much-coveted area, the shops were even more densely packed. Looking at this situation, the competition was truly extraordinary. Putting this information aside, he soon reached the front of a tower. Looking up, he saw a three-story building occupying a not-so-small space, with ¡°Yuxi Restaurant¡± engraved on the signboard at the entrance. Opposite it, there were several even larger restaurants, not only bigger in size but also seemingly higher in rank than Yuxi Restaurant. During the noontime, a large number of cultivators entered the restaurant. That¡¯s when Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong quietly appeared in front of him. Lin Tianfeng spoke with a smile; S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Little Sixth, it seems we have similar thoughts. Since we¡¯ve run into each other, let¡¯s have a meal together; it¡¯s a good opportunity to gather some news.¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, not expecting this coincidence, but since Lin Tianfeng suggested it, he naturally wouldn¡¯t object. Chapter 186 - 186 - 152 Gathering Information_2 Chapter 186 ¨C 152 Gathering Information_2 Three people stepped into the Yuxi Restaurant, where many were enjoying their drinks and casual conversations in the bustling hall. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and his two companions enter, a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Third Level approached to greet them. ¡°Please come in, honored guests. Do you wish to reserve a private room, or would you prefer to dine in the main hall?¡± Lin Tianming chuckled. He had come here precisely to gather intelligence; opting for a private room¡ªwhich often had prohibitions against eavesdropping¡ªwould defeat the purpose. Looking at the dozens of tables in the hall, almost all occupied by Qi Refining Cultivators discussing various gossips and happenings of the market. Lin Tianming felt a surge of covert delight, yet he maintained a calm demeanor and casually replied: ¡°Just in the main hall will be fine!¡± ... The young man had hoped to serve a few cultivators in a private room, so he could earn a larger hosting commission. He didn¡¯t expect they would choose the main hall. ¡°These three clearly have the cultivation of the Late Stage of Qi Refining, yet they picked the most ordinary seating area. Could it be that they are strapped for cash?¡± ¡°There goes my chance for a tip!¡± The young host thought regretfully, but he didn¡¯t let any displeasure show on his face. With a smile, he personally led Lin Tianming and his party to pick out a table. The three chose a seat by the window and sat down, after which Lin Tianming took out three Spirit Stones and handed them to the young host. ¡°Serve us a table of your specialty dishes, and bring some of your finest Spiritual Wine!¡± Your next read awaits at .com Seeing Lin Tianming offer a tip, the young man¡¯s spirits soared. Taking the Spirit Stones, he scampered off to prepare their meal. In no time, a table of exquisite foods was brought before them. ¡°Please enjoy, fellow Daoists. Should you need anything, simply call on me!¡± said the young man. Lin Tianming nodded, and the young man tactfully left. Before them were several jade plates filled with the aromatic meat of Spirit Beasts, complemented by three flasks of Spiritual Wine. The three chatted idly, eating their food, while Lin Tianming pricked up his ears, attentively listening to all the topics being discussed in the hall. At that moment, not far from them, a table occupied by four Qi Refining Cultivators burst into conversation as they heartily drank Spiritual Wine. One of the men in a white robe set down his wine cup and whispered: ¡°Fellow Daoists, have you heard? The Lingxiao Tower to the south of the commercial district is closing down.¡± Hearing this topic, Lin Tianming covertly observed their every move and hung on their every word. ¡°Lingxiao Tower is closing down?¡± ¡°Impossible, right?¡± a man in a gray robe questioned. Another in a blue shirt shook his head, expressing disbelief: ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Lingxiao Tower belongs to the Gao Family of the Qingfeng Mountain Range. It¡¯s been open for over a hundred years, and business has always been good. Why would they close?¡± The man in the white robe spoke with an air of calm, his voice barely audible. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re uninformed. A rumor has it that the Gao Family engaged in a fierce battle with Wei Zhou of the Qingfeng Mountain Range. The Gao Family was defeated, suffering heavy casualties. Now they want to sell off their properties quickly and move their family out of Wei Kingdom to escape the pursuit and assassination attempts from the Wei Zhou families.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The comment left the man in the blue shirt with a changed complexion, exclaiming in surprise: ¡°The Gao Family¡¯s strength was considerable before. Even with heavy losses, do they really need to leave the market? After all, no matter how powerful the Wei Zhou families are, they wouldn¡¯t dare to cause trouble in the market, breaking its rules, right?¡± The white-robed man unconvinced, then proceeded to explain. ¡°This has to do with the strategic location of the Qingfeng Mountain Range. The Wei Zhou families are powerful; either one is no weaker than the Gao Family. I¡¯ve heard each has five Foundation Establishment members. Their territories control the vital passages, and even if the Gao Family holed up in the market, their stores would run out of treasures to sell soon enough. It¡¯s better to cash in early and start anew elsewhere; there might be a chance for a comeback.¡± ¡°Indeed, as long as we have the green mountains, we needn¡¯t worry about firewood. Dragging it out will only weaken them further!¡± Realizing the rationale after the white-robed man¡¯s explanation, the man in the blue shirt switched gears. ¡°In the past few decades, the Wei Kingdom has been fairly tranquil, with no large-scale clan wars, a rare period of peace.¡± Upon hearing this, the white-robed man¡¯s expression shifted, then he said: ¡°Have you all forgotten? Just a few years ago, the Luoyun Mountain Range went through a gruesome battle!¡± As these words fell, a Qi Refining Cultivator at another table nearby suddenly turned to look at the white-robed man. This Fifth Level Qi Refining Cultivator stood up, clasped his hands together in greeting, and eagerly inquired: ¡°I am Chen Xiu, a Loose Cultivator. This is my first visit to Qianchuan Market. I would be very interested to hear about the great battle you mentioned. Could you please share the story?¡± The man in the white robe chuckled, feeling that since the incident had happened several years ago and many in the market were aware of it, there was nothing to hide. Then, the sociable man in the white robe called Chen Xiu to take a seat, and began to speak: ¡°Several years ago, a great battle erupted among the major families in the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Jin and Wu families were annihilated, and the Sun Family suffered heavy losses,¡± ¡°It was about a month after the battle in the Luoyun Mountain Range that the news reached Qianchuan Market, causing a huge sensation at that time.¡± ¡°Who would have thought that the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, unbeknownst to most, had so deeply hidden their strength, boasting six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who took the initiative to annihilate all members of the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family.¡± ¡°You must know, the Jin Family was previously the strongest in the Luoyun Mountain Range, also having several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and yet they were all wiped out.¡± Chen Xiu was astonished to hear this, and replied: ¡°Logically, it should have been an evenly matched situation; at the very least, it shouldn¡¯t have led to a clan¡¯s annihilation. And to think that the Jin Family, which ranked first for so long, was so easily defeated?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± The man in the white robe sneered and said: ¡°This Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain is no minor clan, and definitely not an easy target. You should know that the Lin Family ancestors include a Golden Elixir Expert!¡± ¡°What, a Golden Elixir Expert?¡± Chen Xiu exclaimed, his breathing suddenly becoming rapid. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already beyond their reach, let alone Golden Elixir Experts. For them, Qi Refining Cultivators, it was an almost impossibly distant realm. He was stunned for a moment before he calmed down, then he lamented: ¡°The Jin Family really had bad luck, stirring up trouble with a family that had a Golden Core Cultivator among its ancestors, and in the end, they failed to steal the chicken and lost the rice!¡± The man in the white robe remained calm, adding a comment. ¡°Indeed, a family that has produced a Golden Core Cultivator is not one to be trifled with, and even in decline, it is not so easily obliterated!¡± ¡­ Although their voices were not loud, Lin Tianming, sitting a few tables away, could still hear everything clearly. Afterward, they stopped discussing the Luoyun Mountain Range and switched to some mundane topics. Before they knew it, half a day had quickly passed. Throughout the afternoon, Lin Tianming and his two companions never left Yuxi Restaurant, staying inside, drinking and chatting while also gathering information. After an afternoon of waiting, the three of them had gained quite a bit, with the most useful piece of information being that the Gao Family¡¯s Lingxiao Tower was changing hands. Besides that, they also heard some rumors, but the veracity of those was hard to ascertain. As dusk approached, Lin Tianming raised his cup and spoke to Lin Tianfeng and the other: ¡°Brother, you and Second Brother go back to our lodgings first; I and Fifteenth Grandfather have some important matters to attend to!¡± Lin Tianfeng looked puzzled but did not ask what the matter was. ¡°Go ahead, Tian Hong and I will wait a while longer before heading back together later in the evening,¡± offered Lin Tianfeng. ¡°Alright¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, downed his Spiritual Wine in one gulp, then threw down several dozens of Spirit Stones, saluted Lin Tianfeng and the other with a fist, and then left Yuxi Restaurant. Yuxi Restaurant and the Welcoming Establishment were both in the business district, not far apart, separated by just one street. Before long, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance of the Welcoming Establishment. There was still a little time before his meeting with Lin Shilu, so Lin Tianming stood on the street, observing the surrounding environment. Although it was in the same area as Yuxi Restaurant, the Welcoming Establishment had a better location and was clearly a cut above in class. Yuxi Restaurant was a place where Qi Refining Cultivators would go, whereas the Welcoming Establishment was frequented by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides that, the special offerings of the meals and the decorative atmosphere were also quite different, obviously catering to different crowds. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shilu appeared in his sight. ¡°Tianming, we¡¯re hosting this time; let¡¯s go inside and wait!¡± Lin Shilu instructed, then led him towards the Welcoming Establishment. Chapter 187 - 187 - 153 Assistance_1 Chapter 187 ¨C 153 Assistance_1 In a private room on the second floor of the Welcome Pavilion, Lin Tianming sat opposite the other party. There was still some time before Ye Pinghai¡¯s scheduled arrival, and the two chatted to pass the time. He recounted some of the rumors that had been circulating throughout the day and awaited Lin Shilu¡¯s opinion on them. Sure enough, upon hearing the news, Lin Shilu was similarly stirred. The purpose of their trip to Qianchuan Market was to establish a foothold, but setting up a shop in the market was not so easy, Find your next read at .com Due to the bustling popularity of Qianchuan Market and consistently good business, most families conducting business there made a handsome profit. ... As a result, various shop spaces in the market had always been highly sought after, with hardly any powers willing to voluntarily give up their lease and forfeit the opportunity to make money. And once a location became available, it would quickly be rented by Foundation Establishment Families, with sometimes more than ten families competing to bid for a single shop space, even leading some to form grudges over it. Given this, it was not easy for the Lin Family to rent a shop within a short period of time. If the Gao Family was indeed planning to sell Lingxiao Tower, it would unquestionably be great news for the Lin Family. Having just arrived in the market, they had stumbled upon such a rare opportunity; their luck could be described as extremely good. With this thought, Lin Shilu suppressed the excitement in his heart and then inquired, ¡°Tianming, what do you think about the likelihood that the Gao Family intends to sell Lingxiao Tower? Is there any hidden secret in this?¡± After some thought and recalling the rumors he had heard that day, Lin Tianming responded, ¡°This matter has caused quite a stir, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s without foundation. Considering the fact that the Gao Family was jointly attacked by Wei Zhou and suffered heavy losses, it is possible that they are indeed contemplating the sale.¡± ¡°That makes sense!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, and Lin Tianming continued. ¡°If the Gao Family truly intends to sell, many families will surely want to rent it. With our limited power, securing a spot would certainly come at a significant cost!¡± ¡°Without a doubt, numerous Foundation Establishment Families will compete, and our Lin Family, previously not well-known, will find it difficult to stand out.¡± After Lin Tianming finished analyzing, Lin Shilu was not disheartened but calmly said, ¡°Daoist Ye, having been in the market for many years and being a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, may have some connections. When he arrives, let¡¯s inquire further.¡± ¡°We can only do so!¡± No sooner had the words been spoken than the protective enchantments of the private room flashed. ¡°Daoist Ye has arrived, let¡¯s go welcome him!¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After instructing, the two got up. Lin Shilu then made a single-handed seal and cast a Law Decree, which vanished into the enchantment and disappeared. As the light flashed again, the entrance to the room revealed the figure of Ye Pinghai. After not seeing him for several years, Ye Pinghai¡¯s aura seemed even more formidable. Lin Shilu, with Lin Tianming beside him, walked forward with a bright smile and then offered a respectful bow with folded hands. ¡°Haha, Brother Ye, it¡¯s been a long time, younger brother pays his respects¡­¡± ¡°Junior has seen Elder Ye!¡± Lin Tianming gave a respectful bow with his hands clasped. Ye Pinghai, with a beaming smile as if meeting an old friend, returned the gesture with both hands clasped. Then, upon seeing Lin Tianming, he was immediately astonished and spoke in admiring tones. ¡°Young Brother Lin is truly a dragon among men. In just a few years, you have already succeeded in Foundation Establishment; such cultivation speed is truly terrifying!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled modestly and responded, ¡°Not at all, Brother Ye exalts me. My junior here has only been lucky and diligent, leading to a faster cultivation pace. As for his talent, it is hardly remarkable in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± After finishing his words, Ye Pinghai did not continue the subject. He waved his hand to change the topic and said playfully, ¡°Now that Young Brother Lin has made a breakthrough, we are both Foundation Establishment Cultivators. You should now address each other as fellow daoists!¡± Lin Tianming shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this and then said, ¡°Elder Ye, you flatter me too much. Though we both are at Foundation Establishment, you are at the Ninth Level and a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, a formidable figure in the entirety of Qianchuan Market. How could I compare myself to you?¡± Lin Tianming continued with a series of compliments, and then, with sincerity, said, ¡°Moreover, you are as close as brothers with my grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather, and you have helped the Lin Family many times. If I were to address you as a fellow daoist, would it not upset the order of seniority?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± With Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Ye Pinghai laughed heartily, and the atmosphere among them became much warmer. Once things calmed down, Ye Pinghai said, ¡°Brother Lin has been kind to me, and indeed we have addressed each other as brothers. Since you say so, I¡¯ll take the liberty to forgo formalities. From now on, if you don¡¯t mind, you may call me Grandpa Sea, how about that?¡± ¡°Junior has seen Grandpa Sea!¡± Lin Tianming instantly agreed, greeting him with a bow. Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words and his initiative in showing goodwill towards the Lin Family, Lin Shilu on the side was very pleased and repeatedly agreed, ¡°It should be so indeed!¡± After a few pleasantries, Lin Shilu invited Ye Pinghai to take a seat, while Lin Tianming instructed the servants waiting outside to serve a full table of food. Each took their seats, and Lin Shilu pulled out two golden gourds, uncorking one to let its fragrance fill the air. He stood to pour wine for Ye Pinghai and didn¡¯t forget to add, ¡°Brother Ye, these jugs of ¡¯Haoyu Fruit Wine¡¯ were personally brewed by Ninth Brother, infused with a large amount of precious Spiritual Medicine. It enhances cultivation and is not something we commonly consume.¡± Chapter 188 - 188 - 153 Assistance_2 Chapter 188 ¨C 153 Assistance_2 ¡°` ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our trip to the market city, Ninth Brother specifically asked me to bring a few jars for you, Daoist Ye, insisting that I treat you to a banquet. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to enjoy such a delight myself!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Ye Pinghai let out a chuckle, a look of anticipation appearing on his face. ¡°` ¡°` ... ¡°Is that so? I must savour them properly then. It would be disrespectful to Shi Gong¡¯s kindness otherwise!¡± ¡°` ¡°` The enthusiastic Lin Shilu entertained Ye Pinghai, while Lin Tianming sat beside Lin Shilu. ¡°` ¡°` While indulging in spirit beast meat, Lin Tianming also made sure to rise and pour drinks for the two of them. ¡°` ¡°` Drink rounds passed thrice, dishes varied in five courses. ¡°` ¡°` Under the warm reception, with cups of spiritual wine going down one after another, Ye Pinghai was also pondering Lin Shilu¡¯s intentions. ¡°` ¡°` Having lived nearly a hundred years and seen all sorts of people, he knew that Lin Shilu¡¯s enthusiasm today must have been driven by a request. ¡°` ¡°` Knowing this, he took the initiative to ask. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Lin, if you have any requests where you need assistance, just speak frankly. If I can help, I will, as a way to repay the Lin Family¡¯s life-saving favor!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Seeing that he directly brought up the matter, Lin Shilu replied with a wry smile: ¡°` ¡°` ¡°As you have guessed, Daoist Ye, I indeed have a matter to discuss!¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Ye Pinghai was somewhat intrigued. The Lin Family¡¯s requests for his assistance in the past were almost always for alchemy, which for him was merely a matter of expending some time, and he would also charge a basic fee. His efforts could hardly be considered a great contribution. ¡°` ¡°` As for today¡¯s matter, which Lin Shilu was handling with such gravity, he wondered what it could be. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression, Lin Shilu decided not to hide anything further, to avoid displeasing him. ¡°` ¡°` With his mind set, he directly cut to the chase and repeated the purpose of the Lin Family¡¯s trip to the market city. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Leasing a shop, to establish a foothold in Qianchuan Market?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°The Lingxiao Tower of the Gao Family might change hands?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Ye Pinghai was somewhat astonished, but after Lin Shilu¡¯s further explanation, he understood the Lin Family¡¯s farsightedness. ¡°` ¡°` The Lin Family had not lacked this ambition in the past, but they truly didn¡¯t have the strength. Even the Jin Family, once the number one family of the Luoyun Mountain Range, had not been able to secure a foothold in Qianchuan Market. ¡°` ¡°` Now with eight members of the Lin clan at the Foundation Establishment level, such strength allowed them to surpass all others in the Luoyun Mountain Range, and they naturally would not be content to just stagnate in obscurity. ¡°` ¡°` Thinking of this, he very much understood the Lin Family¡¯s demands. However, securing a position in Qianchuan Market was by no means an easy task. ¡°` ¡°` Currently, the powerhouses backing the shops in the market were among the top tier of Foundation Establishing Families. Without real strength and connections, the market wouldn¡¯t give them the time of day. ¡°` ¡°` Furthermore, the leases for the market¡¯s shops start at ten years and with more than two years left until the next cycle, it would be quite a wait for that gap unless they hoped for a mid-term transfer opportunity, which was exceedingly rare. Normally, such a transfer would only occur if a shop could not continue operating. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°If the Gao Family really does transfer their shop, certainly many forces will have their eyes on it¡ªit¡¯ll surely lead to fierce competition,¡± said Ye Pinghai. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyebrows raise and his expression turn grave, falling into silence, Lin Shilu did not dare to rush him, only waiting anxiously. ¡°` ¡°` At that moment, the private room was silent except for the sound of their even breathing. ¡°` ¡°` After more than a dozen breaths passed, Ye Pinghai finally spoke languidly: ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Lin, while this task is challenging, it¡¯s not impossible. If Lingxiao Tower indeed changes hands, we could try. Having spent decades in the market city, I¡¯ve established some connections that might be of use. Perhaps we can negotiate something.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Before he could finish speaking, Lin Shilu was overwhelmed with joy. ¡°` ¡°` He had intended to make an attempt, but had not expected Ye Pinghai to readily agree to the matter. Although success was not guaranteed, the sheer willingness to help was already invaluable. ¡°` ¡°` Otherwise, left to their own devices, they might ramble around aimlessly like headless flies, uncertain of when they would achieve any result. ¡°` Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` ¡°Rest assured, Daoist Ye. I will confirm this matter immediately. Once it is true, I will ask for your assistance in navigating it. Regardless of the outcome, I assure you, you will be handsomely rewarded!¡± ¡°` ¡°` After speaking earnestly, Lin Shilu then took out a storage bag and handed it to Ye Pinghai. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing this, Ye Pinghai waved his hand and said: Stay updated via .com ¡°` ¡°` ¡°The matter has yet to be confirmed¡ªif the Gao Family is unwilling to sell, I would be of no help. It would be better to confirm the veracity of this matter in the coming days. Afterward, it¡¯s not too late to make further plans.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Seeing his determination, Lin Shilu had no choice but to give up and reluctantly took back the storage bag. ¡°` Lin Tianming, standing to one side, also tastefully stepped forward to fill their cups with Spiritual Wine. After that, the two tactfully changed the subject, starting to exchange insights and occasionally chatting about some trivial family matters. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was frantically sweeping through the delicacies on the table, with large amounts of Spirit Beast meat being devoured into his stomach, the smidgen of Spiritual Power contained within the meat nourishing his flesh. The banquet continued for over half an hour, and as the sky gradually darkened, Ye Pinghai prepared to take his leave. ¡°Lin Brother, you and I should each inquire whether the news about Lingxiao Tower changing hands is true or false. Once there¡¯s any news, you can directly come to my cave dwelling, and we can discuss and plan!¡± Lin Shilu nodded vigorously, his expression excited as he said: ¡°Thank you, Elder Brother, for your concern. The moment I have news, I will immediately send a message to you!¡± ¡°Good!¡± replied Ye Pinghai. Subsequently, the three got up, and after leaving the welcoming building, they each gave a salute and walked toward their respective cave dwellings. Upon returning to the temporarily rented cave dwelling, Lin Tianfeng and the others had already returned to the courtyard. Gathering everyone together, they summarized the information they had collected. The information gathered by all was almost identical; within the entire Market City, only the news of the Gao Family¡¯s Lingxiao Tower being transferred had spread. Thus, for the time being, the Lin Family could only pin their hopes on this Lingxiao Tower. In the courtyard, seeing everyone fall into silence, Lin Tianfeng asked: ¡°What should we do next?¡± After another few moments of silence, Lin Shilu, also without any clue, felt somewhat helpless. At that moment, Lin Tianming spoke up: ¡°Tomorrow, you all should still go out to wander the streets and alleys, gossiping around, and befriend some cultivators to help us establish a foothold in the market. As for the matter of Lingxiao Tower, tomorrow I and Fifteenth Grandfather will go there in person to take a look and then inquire at the Market City Hall. Meanwhile, Elder Ye will confirm the matter through a friend, and I believe it won¡¯t be long before we have an answer!¡± It was the only option for now. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangement, Lin Shilu felt very reassured and then comforted everyone. ¡°Indeed, worrying won¡¯t help. Let¡¯s not be so pessimistic, with Daoist Ye lending us a hand, there is still a considerable hope.¡± Hearing these words, the tension eased significantly from Lin Tianfeng and the others. Throughout the day, they had mingled in various parts of the Market City, gaining some understanding of the rental situation of shops and becoming thoroughly familiar with the name of Ye Pinghai. It could be said that apart from Golden Elixir Experts, within the powerful Qianchuan Market, Ye Pinghai stood out among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, relying on his exquisite Alchemy skills to enjoy unlimited glory and full house of esteemed guests. With his assistance, the task indeed became much more manageable. Seeing the improved countenance of his companions, Lin Shilu instructed: ¡°Let¡¯s proceed according to Tianming¡¯s plan. Tomorrow, everyone will take action on their own, and be careful when you go out!¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late, everyone should rest now!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianming and the others stood up, bowed, and then headed to their rooms. Returning to his room, Lin Tianming sat on the jade-like stone bed, then brought his hands together and started a Grand Circulation. Having consumed a lot of Spiritual Wine and a great amount of Spirit Beast meat, a surge of energy within him began to be refined. After more than an hour of cultivation, he finally refined most of the energy in his body. In the deep quiet of the night, he sat at the bedside, pondering. Considering the overall strength of the Lin Family, it was above average among Foundation Establishment families in the Wei Kingdom, and they qualified for sure. What mattered most was the attitude of Zhenyang Sect behind Qianchuan Market; this was the crux of the issue. As long as they could manage this connection, the task would become simple. ¡°Enough, I¡¯ll go take a look tomorrow and see¡­¡± Muttering to himself, Lin Tianming lay down to sleep, and soon his snores filled the room. Chapter 189 - 189 - 154 Major Progress_1 Chapter 189 ¨C 154 Major Progress_1 The next day. On a wide cobblestone path, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu walked together. It was early morning, the busiest time for the market district, with numerous cultivators shuttling between the various shops lining the sides of the streets. On the street, Lin Tianming looked all around, eyeing the bustling commercial area and conversing intermittently with Lin Shilu beside him. Feeling the lively scene around him, Lin Tianming showed a hint of pleasure and then spoke up: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, not far ahead is the location of Lingxiao Tower. This street¡¯s position is not bad, close to the central market¡¯s auction, so it¡¯s always bustling with people¡ªan excellent location within the entire commercial district!¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not bad; the pedestrian traffic here is significant. The surrounding shops are all big, and their business appears to be booming¡­¡± ... Lin Shilu nodded and replied. As soon as he entered this street, he felt the difference. The two walked on, and soon they arrived in front of a three-story pavilion. Stopping in his tracks, Lin Tianming looked up at the building before him. This was a three-story pavilion covering over ten acres, beautifully engraved all over. Above its main entrance hung a golden plaque with the words ¡°Lingxiao Tower¡± written in a dragon-and-phoenix dance script. Looking at the imposing Lingxiao Tower, this was their destination for the trip. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go in and take a look first!¡± Lin Shilu commanded, stepping towards the interior of Lingxiao Tower, with Lin Tianming quickly following behind. Inside Lingxiao Tower at the moment, the vast hall was nearly empty, with only a few Qi Refining Cultivators selecting treasures. Gao Yuzhou sat at the front desk, looking at the few Qi Refinement Stage customers with a worried expression, heaving sighs from time to time. As a member of the Gao Family in charge of Lingxiao Tower¡¯s business for several years, he had never seen it as deserted as in the past month, with each day worse than the last. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Who knows if Seventh Uncle has had any success? If there¡¯re no new treasures, I¡¯m afraid Lingxiao Tower won¡¯t be able to hold on much longer!¡± Muttering to himself, Gao Yuzhou¡¯s face showed a look of loss. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and his companion enter, Gao Yuzhou forced a smile and immediately came forward to greet them. ¡°Welcome to our store, honored cultivators. May I ask what you are looking for?¡± Gao Yuzhou greeted with clasped hands. After he finished speaking, Lin Tianming and his companion didn¡¯t say anything, instead examining Gao Yuzhou himself. Enjoy exclusive chapters from Seeing Gao Yuzhou¡¯s clearly nervous and insufficiently confident demeanor, Lin Tianming and his companion speculated that Lingxiao Tower¡¯s situation must be extremely dire. Feeling their gaze, Gao Yuzhou¡¯s heart sank, though he hid it well, the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators still sensed it. With Gao Yuzhou unsure of their purpose, he tried to seem more natural despite the palpitations inside him. After several moments passed, Lin Tianming finally retracted his sharp gaze and spoke: ¡°I require some Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials and a few bottles of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills.¡± Hearing this, Gao Yuzhou¡¯s expression grew even more solemn. What Lin Tianming requested were all Second Order items; Lingxiao Tower hadn¡¯t restocked any Spiritual Objects for half a year, relying solely on old inventory to scrape by. With the current situation, the Gao Family was both afraid of Lingxiao Tower losing business and of the last bit of stock selling out. Coupled with the prolonged absence of new supplies and many customers unable to purchase what they desired, several regular customers had almost all stopped coming. Now, faced with such a large order for Second Order Pills, if this were the past, Gao Yuzhou would have been overjoyed, but now it was a thorny issue. Because Lingxiao Tower simply didn¡¯t have that quantity. If he outright refused, it might reveal Lingxiao Tower¡¯s desperate situation. Seeing that Gao Yuzhou had not replied for a long time, along with his hesitating look, Lin Tianming became even more certain of his suspicion that Lingxiao Tower must be on the brink of collapse. A few breaths later, Gao Yuzhou spoke somewhat helplessly: ¡°Honored cultivators, as the elixirs have not yet been refined, we presently don¡¯t have sufficient quantity. If you are in a hurry, perhaps you could try your luck at other shops!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion, without further words, clasped their fists, turned around, and left Lingxiao Tower directly. After coming out of Lingxiao Tower, Lin Tianming and his companion once again took a round around the other shops in the street. After half a day, they had toured much of the market district. Back at their residence, they sat in the small courtyard chatting casually. Lin Tianming picked up his tea cup, took a light sip, and then said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, it seems the rumors are indeed true. The Gao Family¡¯s Lingxiao Tower has little stock left. If they don¡¯t get a replenishment, I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t last much longer.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shilu nodded, agreeing with his view. After coming out from Lingxiao Tower today, they visited many shops, and even the worst performing shop had more inventory and patronage than Lingxiao Tower. By that comparison, if the Gao Family cannot resolve the issue in a short time, it¡¯s only a matter of time before Lingxiao Tower changes owners. ¡°Tianming, this is good news. I¡¯ve already sent a message to Brother Ye, and he¡¯s already thinking of a way. Let¡¯s wait patiently for a while!¡± Lin Shilu said. Lin Tianming acknowledged and then added, ¡°Good, for the next few days, remind Tianfeng and the others to keep a close watch on Lingxiao Tower and the Gao Family¡¯s movements.¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming clasped his hands and returned to his own room. ¡­ Time swiftly passed by, days turning into weeks. Chapter 190 - 190 - 154 Major Progress_2 Chapter 190 ¨C 154 Major Progress_2 ¡°` In Lin Tianming¡¯s room, a Messaging Aura flew into the room and stopped in front of him. ¡°` ¡°` He opened his eyes, which had been tightly closed for several days, extended his hand to cast a Law Decree, and then the Messaging Aura dispersed, revealing the content of the message. ¡°` ¡°` ... After a few moments, a smile appeared on his face and he immediately rose and left the room. ¡°` ¡°` In the courtyard, Lin Shilu was waiting. Seeing him emerge, a smile also appeared on his face. ¡°` ¡°` Lin Tianming wasted no time with pleasantries and hurriedly asked, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, did Ye mention the specifics in his communication?¡± ¡°` ¡°` As Lin Tianming pressed for details, Lin Shilu shook his head in response, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Li didn¡¯t elaborate; he only requested that the two of us immediately visit his Cave Mansion Courtyard for a discussion.¡± Your next chapter awaits on ¡°` ¡°` ¡°I suspect it has something to do with the progress regarding the shop. There¡¯s no time to waste, let¡¯s go right away!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Subsequently, the two of them left the courtyard together and hurried towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. ¡°` ¡°` It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu arrived at the entrance to Ye Pinghai¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. ¡°` ¡°` Ye Pinghai had been waiting for them. Seeing the visitors, he manipulated a spell to open the cave mansion¡¯s wards, and the two walked in, one after another. ¡°` ¡°` As soon as they entered his Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Shilu performed a fist-and-palm salute and immediately began to inquire. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Ye, has there been progress with the shop?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Seeing the anxious look on Lin Shilu¡¯s face, Ye Pinghai said with a smile, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Lin, indeed there has been progress. The Gao Family does intend to transfer the shop, but currently, it¡¯s not just you¡ªmany families are considering taking over Lingxiao Tower.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Upon hearing this, expressions of uncontained joy spread across the faces of Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming. ¡°` ¡°` For the past several days, the two had been losing sleep, constantly focusing on this matter. Since there had been significant progress, their excitement was naturally overwhelming. ¡°` ¡°` As the two gradually calmed down, Ye Pinghai continued, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited just yet. Although the transfer is confirmed, there are several competitors who also want to take over Lingxiao Tower.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Ye, have you confirmed which families they are?¡± Lin Shilu asked urgently. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°If all goes as expected, the Wei Family and the Zhou Family from Qingfeng Mountain Range will certainly be involved; they have joined forces against the Gao Family. Aside from coveting the Gao Family¡¯s treasures, they surely won¡¯t pass up the shop either! ¡°` ¡°` ¡°In addition to the Wei and Zhou families, there are also the Chen Clan from the Hengyang Mountain Range and the Zhu Family from the Xiuyue Mountain Range. Other Foundation Establishing Families with insufficient strength are hardly a concern; they¡¯re mostly just making up the numbers.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing this news from Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu¡¯s expressions turned somewhat unsightly. ¡°` ¡°` For just one shop, there were several families competing whose strength was not inferior to that of the Lin Family. Indeed, success wouldn¡¯t come easily. ¡°` ¡°` With this in mind, Lin Shilu spoke gravely, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Ye, I¡¯ve heard of these major families. Their strength is indeed remarkable. Does our Lin Family stand a chance at acquiring it?¡± ¡°` ¡°` After some thought, Ye Pinghai began to analyze. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°To be honest, in comparison to the other four major families, the Lin Family is at a disadvantage. However, your ancestor was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator who once made a name for himself in the Wei Kingdom. Although overall strength is lacking, it doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no chance.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s comforting words, Lin Shilu¡¯s complexion looked a bit better. ¡°` ¡°` However, he understood that even though their ancestor had once been renowned, he had passed away more than six hundred years ago; past fame wouldn¡¯t be of much help now, and it was their own strength that mattered most. ¡°` ¡°` While Lin Shilu was lost in thought, Ye Pinghai spoke again. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°The reason I messaged you today is because there has been a significant development. I have been visiting old friends these past few days, and it has been somewhat fruitful!¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Is that so?¡± Lin Shilu asked eagerly, his face flushing with excitement. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Just today, I visited Li Xiuyuan. I explained the Lin Family¡¯s appeal to him and we¡¯ve arranged to visit him tomorrow with you.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Before he could finish, Lin Shilu could not contain his joy, and quickly asked, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Li Xiuyuan? Do you mean that Li Xiuyuan, the Senior Executive Officer of the Market Institution?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing Ye Pinghai confirm it again, this time Lin Tianming was also thrilled. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` ¡°` They had not been idle these past few days, collecting much information about the families and key figures in the market. Li Xiuyuan¡¯s name was indeed well-known to them. ¡°` This Li Xiuyuan is no ordinary person; he is a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect with the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, possessing immense strength, and he also holds the position of a senior executive officer in the market institution. As everyone knows, the highest-ranking individuals in the market institution are the Golden Elixir Experts, but the Golden Core Cultivators are mostly busy pursuing the path of eternal life and have no time or energy to manage the trivial matters of the market institution. Therefore, three senior executive officers are appointed to manage the market institution on their behalf. It can be said that when the Golden Core Cultivators are absent, Li Xiuyuan and a few other senior executive officers are the de facto managers of the market institution; their status and strength are extraordinary, and countless Foundation Establishing Families seek to ingratiate themselves with them. He couldn¡¯t believe that Ye Pinghai could actually befriend Li Xiuyuan and even get him to help. Seeing the puzzled expressions on Lin Tianming and the others, Ye Pinghai also explained: ¡°In his early years, Li of the market institution had a low level of cultivation and had requested my help to refine several batches of elixirs; hence, he owed me a favor. Today, when I sought his help, he was willing to lend a hand.¡± After pondering for a moment, Ye Pinghai continued: ¡°However, although Li holds an office in the market institution, he doesn¡¯t have the final say alone; the other two executive officers also naturally need to be well taken care of.¡± After Ye Pinghai finished speaking, Lin Shilu felt relieved and nodded repeatedly in agreement. ¡°It goes without saying, Lin of the market institution is willing to help, which is fortunate enough. Still, we cannot let him be busy for nothing. Moreover, I have already made preparations.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and then said: ¡°Alright, I have already arranged to meet with him tomorrow. At that time, you shall accompany me to visit him!¡± After a brief chat and finalizing the matter, Lin Tianming and another person took their leave and returned to their own cave mansion. Sitting in his cave mansion courtyard, Lin Shilu¡¯s brow was furrowed in hesitation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming asked: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, is there any difficulty? Please share with Tian Ming and see if your grandnephew can offer help.¡± Lin Shilu looked at the several storage bags in front of him and then spoke up: ¡°We shall visit Li of the market institution tomorrow. Since we are requesting his services, we naturally must offer some treasures, otherwise, this matter might not succeed.¡± ¡°Before departing, the family provided tens of thousands of Spirit Stones for us to establish a store in the market institution. How many Spirit Stones should we offer as compensation to make it appropriate?¡± Lin Tianming laughed upon hearing this, finding it unexpected that Lin Shilu would worry about such a small number of Spirit Stones. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, it¡¯s already quite rare for someone to be willing to help.¡± ¡°Furthermore, Lin Family has just arrived with no foundation or connections; we might still need to rely on others in the future. If we appear too stingy, it wouldn¡¯t be beneficial for our development in the market institution.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, agreeing with Lin Tianming¡¯s rationale, and later remarked. ¡°It is I who am indecisive!¡± Lin Tianming understood his elder, as the Lin Family had previously lived frugally, hating to even spend a single Spirit Stone without breaking it in half, so some hesitation was within reason. Lin Shilu regained his focus and then inquired: ¡°Tian Ming, how do you think we should allocate these tens of thousands of Spirit Stones?¡± After pondering for a while, Lin Tianming felt that for someone of Li Xiuyuan¡¯s stature, offering five thousand Spirit Stones was too little and would likely not be taken seriously; it would probably take at least ten thousand Spirit Stones to motivate them. With this in mind, Lin Tianming began expressing his own opinion. ¡°How about offering ten thousand Spirit Stones each to Ye and the three senior executive officers of the market institution?¡± ¡°The remaining ten thousand can be used for the store¡¯s rent, and if it¡¯s not enough, we can chip in more Spirit Stones to resolve this matter.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, Lin Shilu almost immediately agreed to this plan without much thought. Having agreed on the matter, Lin Shilu said: ¡°The hour is getting late; let¡¯s rest for now and go together tomorrow to visit Li of the market institution!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianming responded and then left with a bow, heading to his own room. Back in his room, Lin Tianming was still somewhat excited. Before coming to Qianchuan Market, he certainly did not expect to make significant progress in just a few days. After finally calming down, he formed hand seals and circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, beginning to meditate and cultivate. Chapter 191 - 191 - 155: Achieving the Objective_1 Chapter 191 ¨C 155: Achieving the Objective_1 The next morning, Lin Tianming finished his practice early and appeared in the courtyard of the cave mansion. Lin Shilu had also emerged from seclusion and was walking around the courtyard. Today, they were going to visit Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave mansion, and Lin Shilu felt somewhat apprehensive, particularly concerned about the matter with the shop. Whether they could succeed or not depended on today. Upon seeing Lin Tianming come out, Lin Shilu perked up and greeted him. Enjoy new tales from The two exchanged pleasantries and then sat down in the courtyard. Since there was still time before the agreed meeting, the two chatted idly to pass the time. Before they knew it, an hour had passed. ... As the sun shone brightly and the time approached, Lin Shilu spoke up: ¡°The time is almost upon us, let¡¯s set out!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and the two of them, one after the other, left the cave mansion and headed towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s residence. Soon, the two met up with Ye Pinghai and proceeded toward the depths of the residential area. After a quarter of an hour and several quiet streets, Lin Tianming and his companions stopped in front of a peaceful courtyard. Surveying the surroundings and feeling the dense spiritual energy, which was much stronger than at their own place, they were impressed. ¡°Is this where Li resides?¡± Lin Shilu asked. ¡°Indeed! Li doesn¡¯t like noise, so he lives in the deepest part of the entire North District!¡± Ye Pinghai explained. Lin Shilu nodded with admiration. ¡°This place is rich in spiritual energy, truly an excellent cave mansion!¡± Ye Pinghai smiled faintly, then cautioned the two: S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Li is powerful and also a Second Order Artifact Refiner, as well as a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. So, he can be a little eccentric. Do not offend him. Although I am acquainted with him, I can¡¯t be sure about his temperament.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming took it seriously and nodded gravely. Ye Pinghai then formed a single-handed seal and sent a message into the courtyard¡¯s restrictions. Three breaths later, a slit opened in the light screen, and the three men walked straight through. Upon entering the courtyard of the cave mansion, they saw a man in a golden robe standing with hands behind his back, waiting for them. Ye Pinghai, leading the other two, stepped forward, greeted Li with cupped hands and a bow, and spoke with a smile. ¡°Greetings, Li! I apologize for the intrusion today, please allow me to express my regrets first!¡± Li Xiuyuan waved his hand and replied with a smile: ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s rare for Ye to visit, and I¡¯m too pleased to even consider it an intrusion!¡± Watching Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan exchange pleasantries and apparently enjoying a close relationship, Lin Tianming felt relieved. After the greetings, Ye Pinghai introduced Lin Shilu with a smile. ¡°This is Lin Shilu from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, a man of remarkable strength and also a Second Order Medium Artifact Refiner. Since you both share the craft of refining, you could exchange some insights.¡± Li Xiuyuan regarded Lin Shilu with surprise, as he was around the same age, and asked: ¡°Oh, Lin is also a refiner?¡± Lin Shilu greeted with a fist and palm salute and responded modestly. ¡°I have merely scratched the surface, incomparable to Li. We really can¡¯t be mentioned in the same breath.¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan became enthusiastic and said: ¡°You are too modest, Lin. I have the support of my Sect, which has enabled my progress to this day. Although you are a few years older, hailing from a family and burdened with family affairs, it¡¯s already quite remarkable for you to have achieved so much at your age!¡± As Lin Shilu waved his hand in modesty, Ye Pinghai began to introduce Lin Tianming. ¡°Li, this young friend is extraordinary, a nephew of Lin, and a Second Order Junior Alchemist!¡± Lin Tianming also stepped forward, saluting with a fist in palm. Li Xiuyuan then turned his gaze to Lin Tianming, and upon seeing his age and hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s introduction, he was taken aback. ¡°The Lin Family is indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; no wonder it has produced Golden Core experts. This young friend, not yet thirty, has entered the Foundation Establishment Realm and is a Second Order Alchemist. Such talent is rare even throughout the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Shilu chuckled and humbly interjected: ¡°Li holds us in too high esteem. Though my junior is not bad, he can¡¯t be considered much in the Wei Kingdom. I¡¯ve heard that even the Zhenyang Sect has two exceptionally gifted disciples, who have achieved Foundation Establishment in just over ten years of cultivation.¡± Li Xiuyuan, calm and yearning, replied, ¡°Yet your junior is certainly no less talented than those geniuses. With the right guidance, there¡¯s a hope of achieving the Golden Core Path!¡± ¡°The Golden Core Path is not so easily reached. Such experts are few within the entire Wei Kingdom.¡± ¡°But I believe Li has a great chance of taking that step!¡± Lin Shilu remarked wistfully. Ye Pinghai joined in the sentiment, ¡°Indeed, we are both nearly a century old. Without against-the-heavens fortune, we might stop here. Li, you are young and supported by the Sect, indeed with great potential.¡± Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily and invited the others to take a seat. As the group chatted casually, they became closer, much like old friends. Initially, Li Xiuyuan was a bit skeptical based solely on Ye Pinghai¡¯s word, but after seeing Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation levels and accomplishments in alchemy and artifact forging, he was greatly astonished. After half an hour, the four talked freely about everything from cultivation practice to supernatural skills, allowing Li Xiuyuan to gain a clear understanding of the Lin Family¡¯s strength. As the atmosphere was cordial, Ye Pinghai decided to bring up the main topic. Chapter 192 - 192 - 155: Achieving the Goal_2 Chapter 192 ¨C 155: Achieving the Goal_2 ¡°Brother Li, holding a key position in the Market City Hall, commands great respect and authority. Regarding the matter of Gao Family¡¯s Lingxiao Tower, could you possibly offer some convenience?¡± ¡°Indeed, if Brother Li could mediate and negotiate on our behalf, it would be a huge step forward for the Lin Family. Such kindness will certainly be etched in our memory. The Lin Family will spare no effort in any area where we can be of use!¡± Lin Shilu added. Hearing the conversation of the two men, Li Xiuyuan fell into brief contemplation. Despite having an extraordinary talent and having reached the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm at a young age, along with his status as a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect and the support of Golden Elixir Experts as his masters, he was still uncertain about his prospects of advancing to the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, taking advantage of his position in managing the market city, he aimed to form as many good karmic bonds as possible, which might help him when he attempted to break through to the Golden Core Realm. If anything, he was well aware that the sect could not always be relied upon¡ª even ten thousand steps back. Looking at Lin Tianming and considering the Lin Family¡¯s growing strength, along with a talented clan member like Tianming, who was likely to reach the Golden Core Realm, it seemed prudent to have the Lin Family owe him a favor, which could help him out in times of need. ... After musing for a moment, and despite having made up his mind, he still spoke with a troubled expression: ¡°Given my friendship with Brother Ye, it is only natural that I offer my help when the Lin Family is in need. However, regarding the issue with the Gao Family¡¯s Lingxiao Tower, other Foundation Establishing Families are involved, and not everything within the market city is decided by me alone. There are two fellow sect members who might have their own thoughts.¡± ¡°As such, I need to discuss with the other two sect members before I can provide an answer!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shilu took out three storage bags and handed them over to Li Xiuyuan, then said: ¡°This represents a small token of my gratitude. I ask for Brother Li¡¯s help in mediating this matter, and the Lin Family will certainly remember your assistance. Once the matter is settled, you will be amply rewarded!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Seeing the three storage bags, Li Xiuyuan naturally understood their implication. With his wealth and status, he did not care about spirit stones; what he valued more was the favor he would owe the Lin Family. With an appearance of reluctance, he said: sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I must decline for myself, Brother Lin will have much need for spirit stones in the future. As for these two storage bags, I will keep them on behalf of my fellow sect members, and you may visit my residence again in three days.¡± Listening to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s words and seeing him accept two of the storage bags, Lin Shilu breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°One does not thank for great kindness; rest assured, Brother Li, wherever you may need the Lin Family, we will not refuse!¡± Lin Shilu earnestly expressed his gratitude. ¡°Hmm¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s settle it then; we shall meet again in three days.¡± Li Xiuyuan said. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the other two wisely rose to their feet, exchanged salutes, and promptly left his residence. Once outside the residence, the trio walked along a deserted cobblestone path. With no one around, Lin Shilu took out another prepared storage bag and handed it to Ye Pinghai, then said: ¡°Brother Ye, your assistance has been invaluable this time. This modest gesture is not nearly enough to show my appreciation, but please accept it.¡± Upon witnessing this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression turned displeased: ¡°What are you saying, Brother Lin? If I offer help, I do not expect anything in return. Besides, all I did was say a few words and didn¡¯t provide any real assistance. Please, take it back!¡± Seeing Ye Pinghai¡¯s adamant attitude and the slight anger on his face, Lin Shilu had no choice but to nod and take back the storage bag. ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Ye Pinghai said with a chuckle. Before they realized it, half a quarter of an hour had passed, and the three returned to Ye Pinghai¡¯s residence. Before parting ways, Ye Pinghai spoke: ¡°Brother Lin, rest assured, I know Li well enough to say that since he has accepted the other two storage bags and confidently invites you over in three days, he most certainly has a nine out of ten chance.¡± ¡°Given that, let me congratulate you in advance, Brother Lin!¡± Find more to read at Lin Shilu chuckled, clasping his hands in salute: ¡°Then I¡¯ll take your auspicious words, Brother Ye. Once the matter is resolved, I will surely come to express my thanks in person!¡± After speaking, the two exchanged salutes and turned to walk towards their respective rented residences. Back at his residence, Lin Shilu called together the members of his clan and briefly outlined the results of the trip. Upon hearing this news, Lin Tianfeng and the others were overjoyed. In the past few days, they had been lingering in every corner of the Market City, running about and working hard for this very matter, and now they had another substantial breakthrough¡ªhow could they not be thrilled? The matter of the store was finally about to be settled, and amidst their happiness, the group started with their compliments. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is mighty, Fifteenth Grandfather has worked hard¡­¡± Lin Shilu smiled knowingly; he was very aware that even though Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t said much, his role had been even more significant than Lin Shilu¡¯s own. Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan were interested in the Lin Family¡¯s potential, as well as Lin Tianming¡¯s potential, which is why they helped so unreservedly, without even wanting any benefits. If it were him, he would do the same. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was exceptional¡ªfor someone so young to have achieved so much, should he succeed in reaching the Golden Core Stage, the returns he could bring would be even greater. Looking at the group beside him, bubbling with excitement, Lin Shilu smiled knowingly and sent them away. Once the others had left, only Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu remained seated in the small courtyard. Then, Lin Shilu began to speak: ¡°Tianming, of the forty thousand Spirit Stones we prepared, we¡¯ve only used twenty thousand. Ye and Li Xiuyuan did not take any compensation¡ªwhat do you make of this?¡± After pondering for a moment, Lin Tianming began to respond. ¡°Both of them are indeed cunning with age, not taking any compensation. Clearly, they see the potential in our family. Both are close to making a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm and will surely need substantial resources. Being on good terms with the Lin Family and putting us in their debt benefits them greatly. Once our family advances further, their gains will be immensely substantial¡­¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s reply, which understood the entire benefit relationship so thoroughly, felt profoundly reassuring to Lin Shilu. ¡°Be that as it may, whatever their reasons, a mutually beneficial relationship is also the best outcome for us.¡± ¡°We will wait for news and then pay them a visit in three days.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and after chatting idly for a while, they both returned to their rooms for a brief meditation. ¡­ Unbeknownst to them, three days passed quickly. When the appointed time with Li Xiuyuan arrived, Lin Tianming and company once again left the small courtyard and headed towards his cave dwelling. In a short while, the two appeared in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s courtyard. At this moment, only the three of them were present; Ye Pinghai did not join the gathering. After they exchanged greetings with cupped fists and took their seats, Li Xiuyuan joyfully said: ¡°I have not failed in my task; after much cajoling and persuasion, I finally convinced two fellow Sect brothers to rent the Lingxiao Tower from the Gao Family to the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Here I congratulate Lin on achieving his wish,¡± Li Xiuyuan said with a fist salute. Although they had been prepared on their way over, it was only upon hearing these words that Lin Shilu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then Lin Shilu earnestly said: ¡°I¡¯m at a loss for words, immensely grateful. Once the shop is up and running, I will surely host Li at the reception hall to show our appreciation and hope that Li will honor us with his presence!¡± ¡°Definitely, definitely¡­¡± Li Xiuyuan accepted his invitation and then took out a Golden Token, handing it over to Lin Shilu. He said: ¡°This token is a symbol for the Market City; every individual or power with a store in the Market City has one. It grants free entry without paying Spirit Stones and allows you to bring up to five people at a time.¡± ¡°After discussions with two other fellow Sect brothers, it¡¯s been decided to entrust the Lingxiao Tower to the Lin Family. The Gao Family has not yet vacated the premises, we estimate it will take a few more days. In the meantime, remember to go to the Market City Hall to pay ten years¡¯ worth of store rent and complete the leasing procedures.¡± ¡°Good¡­ I will take care of this matter as quickly as possible!¡± Lin Shilu responded. Seeing that everything was now settled, they made small talk for a while before they felt it was time to leave. The two of them stood up, cupped their fists in farewell, and left Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave dwelling. Chapter 193 - 193 - 156 Luoyun Pavilion_1 Chapter 193 ¨C 156 Luoyun Pavilion_1 Two days later, in the square outside the Qianchuan Market City Hall. Continue reading stories on Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu stood still, watching the incessant flow of cultivators coming and going, their faces revealing excitement. Thanks to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s manipulation behind the scenes, the Lin Family had secured a place in Lingxiao Tower. Today, they had come to pay the shop¡¯s rental fee, intending to finalize the matter swiftly to avoid any unforeseen incidents. With their minds made up, the two men didn¡¯t hesitate and stepped towards the grand hall. Upon entering the hall, the enormous lobby was bustling with people. Over ten cultivators, dressed in Zhenyang Sect uniforms, were attending to those who had come to conduct business. Looking around, the hall was filled with dozens of cultivators, most of whom were above the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, and there were even over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming thought to himself. ... ¡°Qianchuan Market truly is formidable. In the Luoyun Market City Hall, there are scarcely any Foundation Establishment Cultivators conducting business, even those above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining are rare, yet here I easily see over ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators.¡± Soon, it was Lin Shilu¡¯s turn to step forward, so he approached. A Qi Cultivation Eighth Level disciple of the Zhenyang Sect stood up and spoke in a flat voice, ¡°Elder, may I ask what brings you here today?¡± Lin Shilu took out the token that Li Xiuyuan had given him and handed it to the attending Zhenyang Sect disciple. ¡°I am a member of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, here to pay the shop¡¯s rental fee. I hope you can accommodate me, young friend,¡± Lin Shilu said kindly. Before he finished speaking, many cultivators in the entire hall suddenly stopped their tasks, turning their attention this way. Due to the Lin Family¡¯s low profile, and although the family¡¯s founding ancestor was a Golden Core expert, the family had been silent for too long, and many younger cultivators had yet to hear of the Lin Family¡¯s prestigious name. However, the battle a few years ago in the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family eliminated the Jin Family, earning fame in one fell swoop, had caused a sensation across several surrounding regions. Lin Shilu¡¯s appearance and the matter of renting a shop caught the attention of many, and the attending Zhenyang Sect disciple was also quite surprised. After a few moments, the attending Zhenyang Sect disciple regained his composure and then proceeded to inspect the token. A day earlier, he had received instructions from Li Xiuyuan, detailing the affairs of the Lin Family, which had shocked him greatly, prompting him to readily agree to the request. Once he confirmed the token was correct, he said with a respectful expression, ¡°Elder Lin, I have already received a message from Uncle Li. The Gao Family¡¯s cancellation has been handled properly. You need only pay the rental fee for ten years, a total of thirty thousand spirit stones.¡± Lin Shilu nodded and let out a sigh of relief. The fifty thousand spirit stones the family brought were just enough, leaving thirty thousand to pay the rental fee. If it had been more than thirty thousand spirit stones, he would have had to borrow spirit stones from other family members, which would disrupt their plans and be quite troublesome. Regaining his composure, he took out a prepared storage bag and handed it to the attending cultivator. The attending cultivator took the spirit stones without even looking and said a few words before leaving his seat to go deeper into the hall. In a short while, he returned to his seat, holding a golden yellow token in his hand. The attending executive officer handed the token to Lin Shilu with a bow, then politely said, ¡°Elder Lin, this is the restriction order token for the shop in Lingxiao Tower. If you change the shop¡¯s name in the future, remember to register it with the Market City Hall. As for the shop¡¯s rental fee, it should be renewed one year before the end of each ten-year term.¡± Lin Shilu nodded slightly, looking completely unpretentious and kindly spoke, ¡°Very well, young friend, you have my gratitude. When you have some free time, you are welcome to visit the Lin Family¡¯s shop.¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s offer of friendship, the attending cultivator did not dare to neglect it and quickly responded, ¡°Thank you for your generous offer, Elder. My name is Zhao Qianfeng. Whenever I find leisure time, I shall surely pay a visit.¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± Lin Shilu chuckled happily, feeling very pleased. He chatted idly with Zhao Qianfeng for a few more moments, which helped close the distance between them, effectively fostering connections for the younger members of the Lin Family. For the Lin Family to gain a firm footing in the market, forming ties with more cultivators, especially ones like Zhao Qianfeng who have the backing of a major power, was essential. Just as this time, having such relationships could be useful in many critical moments and might provide some assistance. After a short while, Lin Shilu took his leave from Zhao Qianfeng, and the two of them left the Market City Hall together. As soon as they were out of sight, the entire Market City Hall started to buzz with whispers. A Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator muttered in confusion, ¡°The Lin Family? Could it be the very same Lin Family that triumphed in the Luoyun Mountain battle a few years ago?¡± No sooner had he spoken than another Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator replied with a smug look, ¡°Indeed, it is that Lin Family. I¡¯ve heard that this family is not simple; their founding ancestor was a Golden Core Cultivator who was once renowned throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve produced a Golden Elixir Expert!¡± ¡°Exactly! It is said that the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family has six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the most formidable among the clan members is at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level with exceedingly powerful strength. Such capability places them at the forefront among all the Foundation Establishing Families in the entire Wei Kingdom.¡± The clamorous hall was abuzz, everyone trying to find out more about the Lin Family. And as some cultivators left, they began to spread news of the Lin Family. The departing Lin Tianming and his companion were long gone, utterly unaware of this. ¡­ Upon leaving the Market City Hall, the two men headed straight for the street where Lingxiao Tower was located. Soon, they arrived in front of Lingxiao Tower. Lin Shilu took out the restriction order token, opened it, and they walked in. The Lingxiao Tower was now deserted as the Gao Family had removed all the remaining items for sale, leaving behind a cluttered space. Chapter 194 - 194 - 156 Luoyun Pavilion_2 Chapter 194 ¨C 156 Luoyun Pavilion_2 Although the site was a mess, the facilities inside were essentially intact; they just needed to be cleaned and reorganized before they could be used again. It took the two of them half an hour to go through the entire Lingxiao Tower from top to bottom before finally returning to the main hall. The location of Lingxiao Tower was close to the market square, an excellent spot, and the interior space was not small at all, with the trading hall alone being over ten zhang in length and width, and having a storeroom, reception room, and rest area, all complete with various enchantments and formations. It wouldn¡¯t be long before they could open for business. Lin Shilu nodded, very satisfied with this. ¡°Tian Ming, gather Tianfeng and the others, let¡¯s all get together and discuss the next step of the plan,¡± Lin Shilu instructed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send them a message right now!¡± Lin Tianming replied, and with a single-handed seal, sent out a message. Toward evening, within the Cave Mansion Courtyard of the North District. ... Lin Tianming and his clan members gathered together, and Lin Shilu, with a smile on his face, addressed them: ¡°With the shop¡¯s affairs settled, you can all breathe a sigh of relief. However, should we change the name of Lingxiao Tower? What are your thoughts on this?¡± After a moment of contemplation, Lin Tianming said: ¡°Tian Ming suggests we change it. After all, Lingxiao Tower was a name chosen by the Gao Family, and since the Lin Family has taken over the shop, it¡¯s as if a new dynasty has begun¡ªit¡¯s only natural we change the name.¡± Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded in agreement, indicating their approval of Lin Tianming¡¯s statement. ¡°Since everyone feels this way, let¡¯s come up with a name and decide on it quickly,¡± Lin Shilu said. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others began to contemplate. After more than ten breaths of time passed, Lin Tianfeng was the first to suggest a name, which was quickly rejected by everyone else. Then Lin Tianming said: ¡°The Lin Family hails from the Luoyun Mountain Range, so why not call it Luoyun Pavilion?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good one¡­¡± Lin Tianhong was the first to speak up in agreement. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t really care. The Lin Family¡¯s shop in Luoyun Market had been called Hundred Treasures Building for hundreds of years without a name change. He also felt that the name Hundred Treasures Building was too ordinary, but it had been chosen by his ancestors, and he didn¡¯t feel it was right to change it. Now that there was this opportunity to open a new shop, naturally, a name that was elegant and meaningful was desired. ¡°Not bad, I have no objections!¡± Lin Shilu said. Discover more stories at ¡°We have no objections either!¡± Lin Xingli and the others also spoke up in agreement. With the shop name decided, Lin Shilu began to inquire about everyone¡¯s opinions regarding the opening of the shop. Lin Xingli, having dealt with the Hundred Treasures Building¡¯s transactions in Luoyun Market many times, had quite a bit to contribute on the matter. Lin Tianming also expressed: ¡°On the opening day, it certainly needs to be grand. I suggest that all treasures be sold at a ten percent discount for one month. In just half a month, the market assembly will be upon us. If nothing unexpected happens, the number of people in the market will increase several fold. We can take this opportunity to make a name for Luoyun Pavilion!¡± Before he finished speaking, Lin Xingli voiced his objection. ¡°Tian Ming, won¡¯t one month be too long? If business is too good, think how many spirit stones we will lose out on!¡± Lin Tianfeng and the others also seemed reluctant but did not state their position. After some thought, Lin Tianming then proposed a compromise. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s take a step back. Only elixirs will be sold at a ten percent discount for one month; all other treasures will be sold at normal price. This way, the loss will be much smaller!¡± Seeing that Lin Xingli did not hold any further objections, Lin Tianming continued: ¡°Do not mind the small profit for now; we have a long way ahead of us. Luoyun Pavilion is just starting out; how can we compete with those shops that have been open for over a hundred years?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Xingli hesitated for a moment. Lin Shilu nodded, obviously agreeing with Lin Tianming¡¯s view. Lin Tianming chuckled and added: ¡°Besides, we can offer Alchemy services, limited to First Order Elixirs only and without charging any fees, using a thirty percent success rate as the baseline; any extra produced will belong to us. This will be a great opportunity for Tianhong and me to practice our alchemy skills while earning spirit stones!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s idea, Lin Shilu¡¯s eyes lit up, and he silently thought: If they took advantage of Lin Tianming¡¯s terrifying rate of successful elixir creation, they could certainly profit greatly while also building Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s reputation. Besides, since Lin Tianhong was currently a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist, if he had a large supply of Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice with, it was imaginable that his alchemy skills would quickly advance, and he could possibly break through to a First-Order Superior Grade Alchemist within a year or two. Considering these points, Lin Shilu spoke seriously: ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with the suggestions as Tian Ming said. Xing Li will be responsible for the shop¡¯s early affairs while Tianfeng will handle the promotions. Go ahead!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng bowed and took their leave, before getting up to pay their respects to Lin Shilu and then departing. ¡­ Before they knew it, ten days had passed and today was the grand opening of Luoyun Pavilion. Early in the morning, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had already left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and were heading towards Luoyun Pavilion. Over these days, Lin Tianfeng and others were active in every corner of the market, spreading the news of Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s opening. Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t been idle either; he helped out at Luoyun Pavilion during the day and returned to the Cave Mansion at night to meditate and cultivate, leading a leisurely yet fulfilling life. Walking down the street, a large number of cultivators were heading in the same direction toward Luoyun Pavilion. As the day for the market assembly drew nearer, the vibrancy in the market had significantly increased. In less than half an hour, the two reached the entrance of Luoyun Pavilion. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were preparing to hang a large signboard above the gatehouse. In no time, the large signboard was appropriately hung above the gatehouse. Chapter 195 - 195 - 156 Luoyun Pavilion_3 Chapter 195 ¨C 156 Luoyun Pavilion_3 Outside the attic, a large number of cultivators were watching, many of them seemingly unable to wait any longer. Lin Shilu looked at the bustling scene, estimating that there were a few hundred people in the crowd. Once he collected his thoughts, he proceeded to walk to the front with Lin Tianming. The two of them stood on either side of the entrance, and at this moment, Lin Xingli gave them a nod, indicating that everything was ready. Lin Shilu smiled satisfyingly and then, cupping his fists in salute to the crowd below, he shouted loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am Lin Shilu of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family. Today is the auspicious day of our store¡¯s opening. I hereby promise that for one month starting from today, all elixirs will be sold at a 10% discount, and we will also provide free alchemy services for First Order Elixirs. Second Order Pills will follow market rules!¡± Before he could even finish, the cultivators below erupted in astonishment, hardly believing their ears, and many groups started discussing among themselves. ... At this time, a cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement bowed to Lin Shilu and said, ¡°Elder Lin, is what you said true?¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± ¡°Rest assured, young friend. Our Lin Family has a heritage of nearly a thousand years. How could we speak falsehoods in front of so many fellow Daoists?¡± Lin Shilu said. His words seemed to alleviate many people¡¯s doubts, but there were still some cautious cultivators who didn¡¯t quite believe it. After all, offering to help with alchemy for free without taking any payment was unheard of. Just then, a figure appeared at the back of the crowd and with a leap, appeared next to Lin Shilu. After steadying himself, Ye Pinghai came into view. He took out three Jade Bottles and handed them to Lin Tianming, then said, ¡°I came uninvited, brother, to congratulate the Lin Family on your opening day and present three bottles of Second Order Pills!¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°Brother Ye¡¯s presence brings honor to us. I am truly grateful. Once the opening ceremony is over, we must share a few drinks!¡± Lin Shilu said with a hearty laugh, and then instructed Lin Tianhong behind him, ¡°Tianhong, take Ye to rest inside. I will be with you shortly!¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianhong bowed to both Ye Pinghai and Lin Shilu, then led Ye Pinghai into the Luoyun Pavilion. With the appearance of Ye Pinghai, personally delivering a congratulatory gift, the cultivators below no longer harbored any doubts. After all, Lin Shilu and the Lin Family were not very famous in Qianchuan Market, but Ye Pinghai¡¯s cultivation and alchemy skills were renowned, his reputation in the area as clear as thunder. It could be said that within Qianchuan Market, aside from Golden Elixir Experts, Ye Pinghai¡¯s fame was almost universally known. The first cultivator to speak out, overjoyed, hurriedly took out three sets of Spirit Essence Pill Materials, expressing his wish for the Lin Family to assist in making the Lingshen Pills. Enjoy exclusive content from Seeing this, Lin Shilu was very pleased and said, ¡°Young friend, there is no need to hurry. Once I unveil the signboard, you may enter our store to register. Once the alchemy is complete, we will send for you to retrieve your elixirs!¡± The first cultivator to speak was overwhelmed with joy and spoke immediately, ¡°Then I ask Elder Lin to unveil the signboard first. Although I have limited means, I will definitely be the first to enter the store and purchase some treasures!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled, nodded at Lin Tianming, and the two of them pulled on the red ropes at the same time. The red curtain covering the signboard fell, revealing the sparkling golden characters written with a flourish, ¡°Luoyun Pavilion¡­¡± At that moment, cheers erupted from below, and the excitement reached its peak. Seeing the scene exceed expectations, Lin Shilu was thrilled and then spoke, ¡°On the day our store opens, I invite all fellow Daoists to move inside for a small gathering. Those who need alchemy services may also enter the store to register!¡± As soon as Lin Shilu finished speaking, the cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement was the first to rush forward, followed by a large number of cultivators who began to approach the Luoyun Pavilion. The crowd soon grew to dozens and more cultivators were quickly on their way. Meanwhile, Lin Xingli and the others were all set, and various treasures had already been placed on the display tables, just waiting for customers to arrive. Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming entered the Luoyun Pavilion and quickly made their way to the third floor, leaving Lin Xingli and his group bustling about. Chapter 196 - 196 - 157 Booming Business_1 Chapter 196 ¨C 157 Booming Business_1 In the reception room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai were casually chatting in the chief seats, while Lin Tianming sat below, chiming in from time to time. To Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu¡¯s surprise, the arrival of Ye Pinghai brought much interest to the store¡¯s grand opening today. Lin Shilu looked excited and cupped his fists in thanks to Ye Pinghai, saying, ¡°Thanks to Brother Ye for taking the time to come here amidst your busy schedule, I am truly grateful!¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Ye Pinghai chuckled and replied, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I was merely in a good mood and came over to ask for a drink!¡± ... ¡°Excellent, tonight I will hold a banquet at the Welcoming Guest Building, and Brother Li will also be there. We must drink to our heart¡¯s content!¡± Lin Shilu said. ¡­ At the same time, within a tavern in the market, more than a dozen cultivators were gathered, engaging in spirited discussions. They ranged from talking about the Four Arts of Cultivation to great battles with demonic beasts, finally leading to scenes of Golden Core experts engaging in duels. ¡°Golden Core experts are formidable beings, we must be cautious in speaking of them!¡± a cultivator interjected. Hearing the caution, the person who spoke first revealed a look of fear and hastily changed the topic. ¡°I heard that the Lin Family from the Luoyun Mountain Range has taken over the Lingxiao Tower from the Gao Family. What are your thoughts on this?¡± A Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator in the crowd, seemingly with some prestige, resolutely said, ¡°I hear that today is the day of the store¡¯s grand opening. I also heard that for this occasion, the Lin Family has decided to offer a ten percent discount on all elixirs in the store for an entire month!¡± ¡°Really?¡± A Qi Refinement Sixth Level cultivator seemed incredulous. The Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator looked a bit displeased but did not lose his temper, and then said, ¡°It should be true. A few days ago, I met a young cultivator from the Lin Family named Lin Tianfeng, whose cultivation is at least at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. He personally mentioned it, so it must be true!¡± Before he had finished speaking, other cultivators who had not yet spoken started asking for information about the Lin Family, as previously many loose cultivators had not paid much attention to them. ¡°The Lin Family is no small clan. They have had a Golden Core expert among their ancestors. Although they have declined now, their power remains formidable, with as many as six Foundation Establishment cultivators¡­¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s formidable!¡± Upon hearing this, the cultivators who were unaware of this fact exclaimed in surprise. This scene was repeated in various corners of the market, and news about the Lin Family began to spread widely. ¡­ As news of the grand opening of Luoyun Pavilion spread through the market, many cultivators came to visit. Inside the sales hall on the first floor of Luoyun Pavilion, sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dozens of people were selecting various treasures, and more cultivators were still making their way towards the Pavilion. Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng were busy and thrilled. ¡°Esteemed friend, this Spirit Sword is a First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instrument, forged primarily from Second Order Qingling Bamboo and infused with Earth Mysterious Crystal as well as many precious materials. Its attack power is extremely formidable. With this weapon, even a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator may not be your match¡­¡± Listening to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s introduction, a Qi Refinement Seventh Level cultivator wielded the blue and yellow Spirit Sword, swung it around a few times, and then showed a look of satisfaction. After a short while, he put down the Spirit Sword and asked, ¡°Indeed, a fine piece! What is the price for this sword?¡± Lin Tianfeng smiled and said without hesitation, ¡°This sword was refined by our Lin Family¡¯s Second Order Artifact Refiner, involving a significant amount of precious materials. Even among First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Instruments, it is a genuine masterpiece.¡± ¡°As today marks the lucky day of our store¡¯s opening, since you have taken an interest in this item, I too wish to make a friend. How about a deal at 260 Spirit Stones?¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s price, coupled with his delightful demeanor, the man considering the sword felt tempted. He had come to Qianchuan Market specifically to attend an auction, hoping to win a suitable Spiritual Instrument. Considering the competitive pressure at the auction, even if a good Spiritual Instrument became available, he might not succeed. With these thoughts in mind, he made up his mind and then said, ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll take the sword for the price you¡¯ve offered!¡± Find more to read at After speaking, he took out the Spirit Stones and handed them directly to Lin Tianfeng, promptly acquiring the Spirit Sword. He chatted with Lin Tianfeng for a while after buying the sword, then took his leave, as many more cultivators continued to inquire about prices. Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng were relatively free, occasionally finding brief respite amidst the bustle, but Lin Tianhong had a long queue in front of him. A Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator brought out several portions of Lingshen Pill materials and handed them respectfully to Lin Tianhong. Lin Tianhong took the materials in a calm manner, examined them carefully, and then asked, ¡°How may I address this friend?¡± ¡°I am Duan Qiu. How long will it take before I can collect my pills?¡± the cultivator replied nervously. After pondering, Lin Tianhong explained, ¡°Due to the large number of friends commissioning alchemy, and limited number of alchemists in our shop, it could take as little as half a month to several months to complete the alchemy. Leave your name and a way to contact you, and as soon as the pills are ready, I will send you a message for you to come and collect them!¡± Hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s explanation, Duan Qiu quickly accepted, nodding his head and confirming the commission for alchemy. Lin Tianhong nodded, recorded Duan Qiu¡¯s name and the quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials in the book, and then noted down the contact method. After exchanging a few polite words, Duan Qiu cupped his fists in thanks and then headed toward the sales area of the hall, intending to purchase some treasures. Chapter 197 - 197 - 157: Booming Business_2 Chapter 197 ¨C 157: Booming Business_2 Watching the queue of people waiting to commission alchemy, Lin Tianhong shouted excitedly, ¡°Next¡­¡± Such a bustling scene continued until dusk. As the sky darkened, there were fewer and fewer people on the street, and many shops closed their doors, ending a day¡¯s business. Half a quarter of an hour passed¡­ Outside Luoyun Pavilion, a young cultivator at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, with a determined expression and seemingly weathered by the elements, yet his eyes faintly revealed a calm demeanor. After gazing at the entrance of Luoyun Pavilion and hesitating, he seemed to have made up his mind and stepped inside. ... At this moment, Luoyun Pavilion was devoid of customers, seemingly about to close for the day. Inside the main hall, Lin Xingli was holding a book and carefully counting the various Spiritual Objects on the shelves. Upon seeing the cultivator enter, he immediately set down the book and asked, ¡°Fellow Daoist, may I know what you need?¡± The entering cultivator bowed with hands clasped and said, ¡°I am Li Rong, a Loose Cultivator. I wonder if the matter of representing in alchemy is true?¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingli let out a chuckle and calmly replied, ¡°Today is the grand opening of our shop. I¡¯ve made a promise in front of hundreds of fellow Daoists; of course, it¡¯s true. Not to worry, Li Daoist, today alone, dozens of Daoists have entrusted our shop to help with their alchemy!¡± Upon hearing Lin Xingli¡¯s explanation, Li Rong was thrilled and quickly took out more than ten portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, expressing his wish to have alchemy conducted on his behalf. Lin Xingli was somewhat surprised to find that this cultivator at merely the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement was able to present so many Spiritual Medicine Materials. He took out the book for recording alchemy commissions, noted Li Rong¡¯s identity details, and left behind a way to transmit messages. Li Rong, overcome with excitement, hesitated as if he wanted to say more, which made Lin Xingli curious. ¡°Li Daoist, is there another matter?¡± After hesitating, Li Rong finally spoke, ¡°Lin Daoist, as a Loose Cultivator, I have only recently come to Qianchuan Market. I wonder if your esteemed shop is hiring staff? I seek a stable job to establish a footing in the market?¡± Hearing Li Rong¡¯s request, Lin Xingli began to ponder. Not many from the Lin Family had come to Qianchuan Market, and naturally, neither Lin Shilu nor Lin Tianming would attend to these matters, and while Lin Tianhong also needed to perform alchemy, only the three of them could manage the shop, which would greatly delay their own cultivation. Considering that Lin Shilu had mentioned hiring staff before, an idea formed in his mind. He was about to send a transmission when Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming descended from the third floor. Seeing them come down, Lin Xingli quickly approached and inquired, ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, Li Daoist here wishes to apply for a job as a shop assistant. What are your thoughts on this matter?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Lin Shilu chuckled and then asked, ¡°Where are you from, young friend Li? Are you familiar with various treasures?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s question, Li Rong remained composed, inwardly joyful, and then began to speak of his background. ¡°Elder Lin, I come from the Qingfeng Mountain Range and identify as a Loose Cultivator. I have been traveling around the surrounding regions for years, surviving by hunting Demonic Beasts for cultivation!¡± ¡°Although I am a Loose Cultivator, I have often consulted various annals. I am quite familiar with the common Spiritual Objects of the Cultivation World. I believe I am more than capable of the job.¡± At these words, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were immediately astonished, and Lin Xingli nearly cried out in surprise. Lin Tianming even imagined a Loose Cultivator, at just the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, beginning to roam the surrounding areas and relying on hunting Demonic Beasts to earn Spirit Stones for a living, a life lived on the edge of a knife. Consider that many of the Lin Family Disciples at this cultivation level and age had not even experienced a real life-or-death combat. Yet here was someone in his twenties who had been traveling through several regions and reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, showing his considerable talent and a survival ability that many from the family did not possess. After asking a few more questions, Lin Shilu was very satisfied with Li Rong¡¯s performance. His fondness for talent quickly led him to a decision. ¡°Young friend Li, I¡¯ve heard enough to understand your situation. I am very pleased. Luoyun Pavilion happens to be hiring shop assistants. The annual salary will be one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. Come over tomorrow and give it a try!¡± Hearing the generous terms Lin Shilu offered, Li Rong was over the moon. A salary of one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones was no small amount. Although it would delay his cultivation, it was very stable. He wouldn¡¯t have to live the rough life he used to lead, always on the edge, tasting blood for survival. Once he¡¯d calmed down, Li Rong said nervously, ¡°Elder Lin, my younger sister has always followed me. She¡¯s at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, and her knowledge of Spiritual Objects is no less than mine. May I ask if it¡¯s possible to employ her as well?¡± Considering that Lin Xingli and the others also needed to cultivate, Luoyun Pavilion would probably need to hire at least two shop assistants, or it would definitely interfere with their cultivation. With that in mind, he nodded and then said, ¡°Your siblings have indeed not had it easy. Come together tomorrow. Her salary will be one hundred Spirit Stones a year!¡± After Lin Shilu spoke, Li Rong let out a long sigh of relief, his face alight with ecstasy, and then he said earnestly, ¡°Thank you, Elder Lin. I definitely won¡¯t let you down!¡± ¡°Go on then!¡± Lin Shilu waved his hand, and Li Rong quickly made a fist and palm salute before leaving Luoyun Pavilion. After Li Rong left, the spacious hall of Luoyun Pavilion was left with just a few of them. Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming sat in the shop, waiting for Lin Xingli to finish tallying the various Spiritual Objects. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Xingli quickly completed the tally of Spiritual Objects and the sales for the day. Looking at the thick book listing all kinds of Spiritual Medicine and the sales records for the day, Lin Xingli was beside himself with excitement. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, the business today was too good!¡± Lin Xingli said. ¡°Oh, is that so? Give me a report!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled as he ordered. Enjoy exclusive adventures from Lin Xingli flipped open the book, then began to report loudly. ¡°Today we sold First Order Elixirs and collected a total of over four thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, mainly consisting of Elixirs used in daily cultivation and fighting.¡± ¡°For Second Order Pills, it was over one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, mainly composed of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills.¡± ¡°Eighteen pieces of First Order Spiritual Tools were sold, and just one Second Order Low-Grade Artifact, totaling over four thousand six hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°More than two hundred First Order Talismans and six Second Order Talismans, totaling over two thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, along with various other Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore, totaling over one thousand four hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°In summary, today¡¯s total sales reached over fourteen thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.¡± Before the echo of his voice faded, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were ecstatic, shocked by the sales figures. In one day, the total reached over fourteen thousand Spirit Stones. After deducting the costs, there would still be a net profit of several thousand Spirit Stones. This rate of earning Spirit Stones was significantly more than the daily profits from Luoyun Market. Of course, they also understood that this was only due to the opening day special of selling Elixirs at low prices and with the market conference about to take place, which more than doubled the market¡¯s popularity. That¡¯s what drove such high sales figures. Once the conference was over and the market returned to its usual quiet, the sales figures would definitely drop by several times, and maintaining a few thousand Spirit Stones a day would already be considered good. Lin Shilu was very satisfied and then asked about the Alchemy commissions. Lin Xingli took out the recorded book and began to report. ¡°Today, the number of Cultivators who commissioned for Alchemy reached sixty-four. The Spiritual Medicine Materials provided varied, with some bringing over ten portions and others only one or two. After calculating, we have a total of over two hundred and twenty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials.¡± After he finished speaking, Lin Shilu chuckled and teased, ¡°Tian Ming, you¡¯ll be busy now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless. He had initially thought that a hundred portions of materials would have been good, but who knew that these Cultivators would go so crazy, easily surpassing two hundred portions. However, since he¡¯d promised, he had to deliver; otherwise, if Luoyun Pavilion went back on its word, it would have no standing in the market. Lin Shilu felt a touch of schadenfreude in his heart, chuckled and then said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and the time we agreed upon with Ye has come. Call up Tianfeng and the others; we have to celebrate tonight.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xingli nodded, then after sending out the message, the group of them closed the doors of Luoyun Pavilion and headed towards the guesthouse. Chapter 198 - 198 - 158 Dragon Bone Pill_1 Chapter 198 ¨C 158 Dragon Bone Pill_1 Welcome Pavilion, a private room. The successful opening of Luoyun Pavilion and its impressive sales had excited all members of the Lin Family, with smiles beaming on their faces all the time. Lin Shilu stood up, and Lin Tianming and several family members rose together, each holding a jade cup in their hand. Lin Shilu turned to Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan beside him and said earnestly, ¡°Today is an auspicious day for the opening of Luoyun Pavilion. On behalf of the Lin Family, I thank you both for your great support. If there is ever anything that the Lin Family can assist with, we will not hesitate to go through fire and water!¡± Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan exchanged smiles, quickly responding in kind. ¡°It was just a small effort, no trouble at all, not worth mentioning. Brother Lin, you don¡¯t have to be so polite!¡± As for their modesty, Lin Shilu was not completely convinced. Ye Pinghai¡¯s likely reason for helping was gratitude for the kindness of the Lin Family, while Li Xiuyuan definitely saw the potential of the Lin Family. ... No matter what the motivation was, they had contributed significantly to the Lin Family¡¯s establishment in the market, so it was proper to show courtesy and make some promises. The group finished their Spiritual Wine in one go. Lin Tianming quickly stepped forward to pour more wine and also offered a cup, expressing his gratitude. Lin Tianfeng and others also came forward one by one. Aside from toasting, it was a chance to get acquainted with others, which could help build connections in the market later on. Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan, with smiles on their faces, looked quite satisfied with the younger generation of the Lin Family, and their estimation of the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength had increased, so they were quite courteous in their demeanor. The ambiance of the banquet was harmonious and joyful, lasting until late into the night. With bellies full of food and drink and the night growing quiet, the banquet came to an end and Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan stood to bid farewell. After exchanging pleasantries, they bowed their fists in departure, left the Welcome Pavilion, and went their separate ways. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Back at the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Shilu gathered a few people together. Explore stories on After scanning the group, Lin Shilu, still unable to conceal his excitement, spoke up, ¡°The sales on the opening day were beyond our expectations. I believe you all are aware of this. From tomorrow, Xing Li and Xing Yao will be responsible for the shop¡¯s business, rotating every three months to be replaced by Tianfeng and Li Rong, whom we have recruited to manage the shop.¡± ¡°Tianming and Tianhong will have to work a bit harder, as there¡¯s a large amount of alchemy to do; otherwise, it will take a long time to complete the materials entrusted to us by the cultivators.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianhong felt mixed emotions. He was excited to finally have a large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials for alchemy, allowing himself to practice his Alchemy without restraint and quickly improve, but it would also mean sacrificing a lot of cultivation time. Lin Tianming was indifferent. With his current cultivation level and alchemy efficiency, crafting First Order Elixirs was hardly challenging, and he could use this opportunity to amass considerable wealth. Despite the interference with their cultivation, the benefits were significant, and they believed their wealth and value would substantially increase before long. Thinking this way, for the family and to earn Spirit Stones, everyone was at ease and filled with enthusiasm. ¡°Xing Li, distribute the elixirs collected today to Tianming and the others!¡± Lin Shilu ordered. Without delay, Lin Xingli quickly took out a storage bag and laid out the two hundred and twenty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials received by Luoyun Pavilion in front of everyone. Lin Shilu examined the Spiritual Medicine Materials and, after some thought, began to allocate them. ¡°Tianming, you refine pills quickly, and both your rate of success and the number of pills are high. You¡¯ll be responsible for one hundred and fifty portions, and Tianhong will take care of the remaining materials!¡± ¡°As for the materials we receive later, we¡¯ll bring them back every ten days for Tianming to distribute!¡± Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s arrangement, Lin Tianming and the other had no objections. They each gathered their share of the Spiritual Medicine Materials and placed them into their storage bags. Watching the night grow misty and the sky darken, Lin Shilu said no more and then dismissed everyone. ¡°It¡¯s getting late; everyone can go back to their tasks!¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The group responded in unison, then stood and returned to their respective rooms. Back in his room, Lin Tianming did not go to rest immediately but began to plan his upcoming cultivation. Due to the lack of superior pill formulas to aid his cultivation, his progression was not fast. ¡°In a few days, there will be a market conference and an auction. I must participate to see if I can find some pill formulas or suitable elixirs.¡± He thought to himself, but with several days remaining and nothing much to do, he decided to refine pills¡ªaccumulating Spirit Stones while awaiting the auction. Resolved, he immediately took action. He left his room and headed towards the Pill Refining Room in the Cave Mansion. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he routinely cultivated and regulated his breathing, reaching the optimal state before beginning. He took out the Four Symbols Furnace, started the Earth Fire, and then one Law Decree after another bombarded the Pill Furnace. When the timing was about right, the Spiritual Medicine Materials were methodically broken down and purified, eventually turning into Elixir Essence. Making First Order Lingshen Pills and other consumable pills was indeed effortless for him. Efficiently and methodically, the fragrant smell of elixirs wafted throughout the Pill Refining Room. The next morning, as sunlight pierced through the clouds, Lin Tianming finally opened his eyes. Despite being somewhat tired, he showed a satisfied smile upon seeing the dozen Jade Bottles in front of him. After a night of alchemy, he had finished processing seven portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, succeeding in five batches. Each batch had at least six elixirs, totaling thirty-three Lingshen Pills. Chapter 199 - 199 - 158: Dragon Bone Pill_2 Chapter 199 ¨C 158: Dragon Bone Pill_2 After setting aside the ten elixirs for the client, he could obtain twenty-three elixirs, which, when converted into Spirit Stones, amounted to nearly two hundred Spirit Stones. Nowadays, crafting First Order Elixirs was a breeze, and his speed had improved considerably from before; an evening¡¯s work almost equaled the harvest of a previous day. Looking at the remaining Spiritual Medicine, still over a hundred and forty portions, he helplessly stored the elixirs into his storage bag. After tidying up the Pill Refining Room, he began a new round of alchemy. Time flew by, and three days had passed in the blink of an eye. Tomorrow would be the day of the auction. Having furiously crafted elixirs for three days, Lin Tianming was exhausted. He decided to come out of seclusion first and wait to resume after the auction was over. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming packed a large number of Jade Bottles into his storage bag. ... For three whole days, Lin Tianming had not stepped out of the Pill Refining Room. Working ceaselessly day and night, his gains were significant. He had crafted fifty portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials and obtained over two hundred elixirs in total. After setting aside the portion for the client, he could gain around one hundred and thirty elixirs, claiming a sixty percent share. Such hard work had yielded immense results, not only in the form of elixirs but his cultivation had also steadily improved. After organizing the cluttered Pill Refining Room, he stepped out and then sat in the small courtyard. It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Tianhong also emerged from another Pill Refining Room. Seeing Lin Tianming come out of seclusion, Lin Tianhong cheerfully asked, ¡°Sixth brother, how was your harvest these past few days?¡± Lin Tianming pursed his lips with a smile, not wanting to discourage Lin Tianhong and dampen his enthusiasm. ¡°Second brother, let¡¯s not discuss my situation; rather, how about your harvest these days? How many batches of elixirs did you refine?¡± Seeing that Lin Tianming did not give a direct answer and considering his grotesque efficiency, Lin Tianhong had a rough idea in his mind. ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Tianhong could hardly hide his excitement, chuckling as he said, ¡°In these past three days, I crafted eighteen portions of materials, garnering over forty elixirs in total. Setting aside those for clients, I could also get nearly twenty for myself!¡± Read the latest on ¡°Second brother is truly impressive!¡± Lin Tianming offered a complimentary remark offhand. Lin Tianhong smiled knowingly, then continued, ¡°You just love to tease me. I¡¯ve been a First-Order Medium Grade Alchemist for a long time now, so achieving this result was expected. I plan to finish crafting these Spiritual Medicines and then attempt a First Order Superior Grade elixir.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, offering words of encouragement, ¡°With so many Spiritual Medicine Materials to practice with, second brother will sooner or later become a First Order Superior Grade Alchemist!¡± ¡°Then I shall take your auspicious words to heart!¡± Lin Tianhong replied with a bow, before shifting the topic. ¡°Sixth brother, tomorrow is the market assembly. Are you going to the auction?¡± Facing Lin Tianhong¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°Of course, I am going. This is a biennial small assembly, which will certainly feature many rare treasures. If I miss it, I¡¯d have to wait another two years.¡± ¡°That is true!¡± ¡°However, you¡¯ll surely be attending the Foundation Establishment Area, while we can only participate in the Qi Refining Area,¡± Lin Tianhong said with regret. Lin Tianming chuckled and comforted, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry too much, second brother. The treasures appearing in the Qi Refining Area are sufficient for your use. The key is whether you have enough Spirit Stones to purchase them!¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ha ha, let¡¯s head to Luoyun Pavilion and see!¡± Lin Tianhong suggested. ¡°Exactly my intention!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. With the conversation finished, the two left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed to Luoyun Pavilion together. Upon entering Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Xingli and Lin Xingyao were extremely busy. Looking around, the store was still bustling with activity, comparable to the day of its opening. After making a round and seeing Lin Xingli overwhelmed with work, Lin Tianhong volunteered to help. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming bid farewell to the others and left Luoyun Pavilion. Standing on Bluestone Street, observing the bustling flow of cultivators, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless considering his own cultivation issues. ¡°The increase in traffic at the marketplace might bring out some treasures. It seems my only hope lies in the deals at the stalls and the auction.¡± After talking to himself, Lin Tianming stepped towards the Southern District of the Market City. In no time, he arrived at the stall area of the marketplace. As it was the time of the big market assembly, the stall area was extremely lively with hundreds of stalls, and despite not being as busy as the first time he had set up a stall, it was not much different. Looking over the vast square with its many stalls, numerous Qi Refining Cultivators were shouting out their wares in a vibrant scene. After looking around with hopeful eyes, he picked a direction and began to wander. He browsed dozens of stalls in a row, which almost exclusively sold items used by Qi Refining Cultivators and lacked any precious items, let alone any Pill Formulas that could aid his cultivation. Nevertheless, he still spent over two hundred Spirit Stones to buy some Spiritual Medicine Materials he could use. At this point, he navigated through the stall area, seemingly undiscouraged, and continued towards the most densely packed part of the crowd. Half an hour later, he arrived at the best location in the entire stall area, close to the central square. As the stall locations improved, so did the cultivation levels of the owners, ranging from the third level of Qi Refining at the outskirts to those at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. In the northern part of the area, at a conspicuous stall, a black-robed elder was resting with his eyes closed. In front of him, several Qi Refining Cultivators were selecting treasures. The elder acted indifferently and did not bother to explain his wares. When faced with price inquiries from Qi Refining Cultivators, he merely stated a number lukewarmly, prompting the cultivators to leave immediately. Chapter 200 - 200 - 158 Dragon Bone Pill_3 Chapter 200 ¨C 158 Dragon Bone Pill_3 Standing on the nearby corridor, feeling the faint presence of the elderly man, though it was well-hidden, he still detected something unusual. ¡°This person seems to be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. In fact, although there were not many Foundation Establishment Cultivators within the entire trading area, there were still more than a dozen of them, but none were as indifferent as this elderly man. Lin Tianming, curious, approached the man. His arrival did not attract the elderly man¡¯s notice, only causing him to frown slightly before he disregarded it. ¡°This man is quite interesting!¡± Lin Tianming looked at the items in front of him, then picked up a damaged Jade Slip and held it in his hand. ... Examining its ancient material, it seemed to have some age to it. He projected his Divine Sense to read the contents of the Jade Slip, but there was a restriction making it so he could only get a rough idea. ¡°This seems to be a pill formula?¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself with a frown. ¡°Fellow Daoist, does this Jade Slip contain a pill formula? What is its purpose?¡± Lin Tianming asked. The robed elder¡¯s expression remained calm, and after opening his eyes, he still spoke indifferently about the general content of the Jade Slip. ¡°This is an Ancient Pill Recipe named the Dragon Bone Pill, Second Order Medium Quality, and it¡¯s a formula to aid in Body Refinement.¡± Upon hearing the elder¡¯s introduction, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with ecstasy. It was as if he had found exactly what he had been thinking of. If he could acquire this item, his cultivation dilemma would be resolved as well. Before he could speak, the robed elder continued: sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Do not get too excited, fellow Daoist. This pill is not so easily concocted; its main ingredient is the inner core of the Second Order Demonic Beast Qinglong Jiao, which is nearly extinct. It is almost impossible to find, otherwise, I would not have sold it.¡± The elder¡¯s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Lin Tianming¡¯s head. The Qinglong Jiao, as an ancient demonic beast, although not of a high order, was exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming, having cultivated for over a decade, had never even heard of it. It was said to be extinct on the Nine Provinces Continent, with perhaps only those Ancient Forbidden Lands or central areas of the Demon Race still harboring it. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression immediately darkened. It had not been easy to find a suitable pill formula, yet there seemed to be little hope of actually concocting it. Even so, he still did not want to give up. Whether he could concoct it or not, he wanted to purchase the pill formula for study. There might be a chance, after all, and currently, he had no way of finding another pill formula. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming inquired about the price. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what price do you ask for this pill formula?¡± Upon hearing this, the robed elder¡¯s expression showed a hint of peculiarity, then restored to normal. ¡°One thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!¡± the elder said. Your adventure continues at Hearing this price, Lin Tianming could barely accept it, given that even a typical Second Order pill formula would cost over a thousand Spirit Stones. ¡°Fellow Daoist, this pill formula has very little hope of being concocted. How about a cheaper price, one thousand Spirit Stones to make a deal?¡± The robed elder¡¯s expression was unchanged, and then he spoke: ¡°Forget it, the old man keeping it is of no use anyway; let¡¯s make a deal at the price you suggest!¡± ¡°However, fellow Daoist, don¡¯t blame me for not warning you, if you can¡¯t concoct the pill after buying this formula, do not bother me with your troubles.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, taking out the Spirit Stones and handing them to the elder, while saying: ¡°Rest assured, fellow Daoist; once bought, any oversight is my own volition and has nothing to do with you!¡± Hearing this, the elder rarely smiled, then began to count the Spirit Stones. Shortly after confirming the Spirit Stones were correct, the elder erased the restriction on the Jade Slip, and then handed it over to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the Jade Slip, projecting his Divine Sense to read it. In a short while, he confirmed that the content recorded in the Jade Slip was basically the same as what the elder had said. He then gave the elder a cupped fist salute and left the vendor¡¯s stall. Looking at the few remaining stalls he had yet to visit, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t feel much interest anymore. After scanning the entire trading area, he left and walked towards his rented cave dwelling. Chapter 201 - 159: Flame Fruit_1 Chapter 201: Chapter 159: Flame Fruit_1 After returning to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming immediately entered his room. He had only briefly looked over the pill formula he acquired earlier, but now that he was back in his abode, it was time to study it in detail. Sitting upright on the stone bed, he took out the pill formula he had bought from the stall area and extended his Divine Sense to peruse it. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming withdrew his Divine Sense and fell into a deep contemplation. The Dragon Bone Pill formula was complete and, according to his estimation, it was undoubtedly a genuine article. However, where would he find the main ingredient for this formula, the Demon Core of the Qinglong Jiao? ... Without finding a Qinglong Jiao, he would be unable to obtain its inner core, and thus be unable to concoct the pill. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless and could only put the matter out of his mind for now, to be addressed when an opportunity arose later. While Qinglong Jiaos were rare, it wasn¡¯t entirely hopeless to find one. In the still silence of the night, with eyes tightly closed, Lin Tianming circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation and began to meditate to pass the time, while waiting for tomorrow¡¯s auction. The next day, Lin Tianming opened his eyes that had been closed all through the night, tidied up his room, and ended his cultivation to step out of his room. As soon as he did, Lin Shilu also came out from the neighboring room, not far away, and the two of them met. Lin Shilu¡¯s face showed a trace of excitement, and he casually said, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s go to the auction together. There might even be an exchange event organized by fellow sects, and we must not miss it.¡± Lin Tianming let out a chuckle and walked out of the courtyard together with Lin Shilu towards the central auction house in the market city. There were quite a few cultivators along the way, all heading in the same direction. After passing several Bluestone streets, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the plaza in front of the entrance to the auction. As the two paused, a voice came over. ¡°This is quite the coincidence, running into Brother Lin wherever I go.¡± Turning around, they saw Ye Pinghai approaching and immediately went forward to greet him with a salute. ¡°Brother Ye, the auction is quite dull. Why don¡¯t you join me? We¡¯ll at least have a chat to relieve the boredom.¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s invitation, Ye Pinghai did not decline his hospitable offer. Since Foundation Establishment Cultivators didn¡¯t need to queue, the three of them passed the line of Qi Training Cultivators and headed towards the entrance. An Executive Officer at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation, who apparently recognized the two, immediately greeted them warmly, ¡°Greetings to Elder Ye and Elder Lin, please come inside.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, but still presented his Market City Token, followed by handing over thirty Spirit Stones to the speaking cultivator. The Executive Officer responsible for collecting the admission fee respectfully took the Spirit Stones and then instructed a cultivator beside him to show them the way. The three followed the Qi Training Cultivator ahead of them, walked straight to the second floor, and finally entered a private room. Everyone took their seats, and the cultivator who led the way stood by the entrance. Since there was some time before the auction began, Lin Shilu brought out some Spiritual Tea, and the three chatted leisurely while drinking tea. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming reflected on the matter of the Dragon Bone Pill, and considering Ye Pinghai¡¯s mastery in Second Order Superior Alchemy, who had immersed himself in alchemy for over sixty years, he might have some methods or pill formulas. With this thought, Lin Tianming turned to Ye Pinghai and said, ¡°Grandpa Sea, do you have any Second Order Pill Recipes for elixirs that aid in Body Cultivation?¡± ¡°Pill recipes for Second Order elixirs for Body Cultivators to consume?¡± Ye Pinghai looked startled, and after contemplating for a while, he directly stated he did not have any, dashing Lin Tianming¡¯s hopes. Second Order pill formulas were precious to begin with, and those suited for Body Cultivators were even more exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a hint of disappointment, but he did not lose heart. Thinking of the Dragon Bone Pill formula, he asked, ¡°Grandpa Sea, Tianming came across an Ancient Pill Recipe yesterday. Could you help the youngster take a look at it?¡± At the mention of this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. An alchemy enthusiast with exceptional talent, he was thrilled to have an Ancient Pill Recipe to study and suddenly became eager. ¡°Oh? Let me have a look.¡± Lin Tianming, pleasantly surprised, promptly took out the Dragon Bone Pill formula and respectfully handed it over. Ye Pinghai took the Jade Slip, extended his Divine Sense, and started to read the contents recorded within. A little while later, with a regretful expression, Ye Pinghai said, ¡°The pill is genuine indeed, but where shall we find the inner core of the Azure Dragon Jiao required as the main ingredient? The chances of concocting this pill are practically non-existent.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face grew even grimmer upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s explanation. Suddenly, Ye Pinghai seemed to recall something, and his tone changed. ¡°I once acquired the notes of a Third Order Alchemy Master. This alchemist was an oddball; he, too, encountered situations where he couldn¡¯t find the main ingredients for his recipes. Eventually, he sought out Demons Cores with similar attributes to substitute, and astoundingly, he was still able to concoct pills with the same medicinal effect.¡± Upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, enlightenment dawned upon Lin Tianming. There was almost no chance of finding a Qinglong Jiao¡¯s Demon Core, but he couldn¡¯t wait much longer. He had been at the first level of Foundation Establishment for nearly two years and, although he could still slowly increase his cultivation by meditating, he¡¯d rather not dwell on the sluggish pace of his progress. There was no waiting around¡ªYe Pinghai¡¯s suggested method might just be worth a try. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s face regained its luster. Seeing that Lin Tianming remained silent, Ye Pinghai then took out a Jade Slip from his storage bag and handed it to him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This?¡± Lin Tianming asked in confusion. ¡°This is the very set of notes from the Third Order Alchemy Master that I mentioned. Although the recorded methods are unconventional, there¡¯s still much of value within.¡± Ye Pinghai explained. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 202 - 159: Flame Fruit_2 Chapter 202: Chapter 159: Flame Fruit_2 Seeing that Lin Tianming did not take the Jade Slip or show any reaction, Lin Shilu hurriedly reminded him. ¡°You lad, don¡¯t you hurry up and thank your Grandpa Sea? This is summarized by a Third Order Alchemy Master,¡± he urged. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming finally came back to his senses and said with utmost sincerity, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Sea. Once I have understood its contents, I will surely return it to you, sir.¡± Ye Pinghai chuckled and said, ¡°No worries, I have already comprehended it. Just take it, and you decide how to deal with it.¡± ... Thinking of how Ye Pinghai was all alone in the world yet had repeatedly provided help, Lin Tianming felt deeply moved. He indeed needed this handwritten note at the moment. As for repaying the favor in the future, he would make it a point to do so when he was capable. With this thought, Lin Tianming did not play coy any longer. He respectfully accepted the Jade Slip and then placed it into his storage bag. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai nodded in satisfaction and continued to chat leisurely. A short while later, bursts of noise came from the auction hall, and the few people quickly shifted their gaze. Looking over, the entire second-floor auction hall was more than half as small as the first floor. In the center was a similar high platform surrounded by hundreds of seats and over a hundred private rooms. At this moment, only around a hundred of the seats in the public area were occupied, the rest were empty. With the appearance of an old man with the demeanor of an immortal on the central high platform, the clamor throughout the hall quieted down. The old man had a composed demeanor, his aged face constantly adorned with a smile. He bowed to the hundred or so cultivators below and the surrounding private rooms, then he began to speak, ¡°I, Xue Chong, am honored to host the Foundation Establishment Area auction today. As all of you are Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the rules of the auction need not be repeated as you¡¯re doubtless informed,¡± he said. ¡°Hehe, many fellow cultivators can¡¯t wait, so I won¡¯t talk nonsense. Let¡¯s start with the first auction item,¡± he declared. No sooner had he finished speaking, the old man produced a piece of demonic beast skin in his hand. The whole piece was dark brown and well-preserved. ¡°One piece of Superior Second Order Savage Spirit Bull beast skin up for auction. The defensive capabilities of this beast are extremely formidable; its skin is an excellent material for crafting inner armor or for Talisman Making. The starting bid is eight hundred Spirit Stones, with each subsequent bid to be no less than ten Spirit Stones,¡± he announced. Before the echo faded, several cultivators immediately began to bid, seemingly all Artifact Refiners or Talisman Makers. ¡°Eight hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Eight hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± The first auction item was a Superior Second Order beast skin, and the price continued to climb, indicating the auction¡¯s emphasis on this sale. Lin Tianming and the others, sitting in the private room and chatting idly, watched the heated scene below, and Ye Pinghai joked, ¡°Brother Lin, this Savage Spirit Bull¡¯s skin is quite fine, and quite large, too¡ªit¡¯s great material for crafting inner armor.¡± Lin Shilu laughed heartily, then replied, ¡°I, too, plan to secure this item. If used properly, it should be enough to craft two sets of Lower Second Order inner armor.¡± In just over ten breaths¡¯ time, the price of the Savage Spirit Bull¡¯s skin had reached one thousand one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. At such a price, the number of bidding cultivators below was dwindling, leaving only three who were still persistent. Lin Shilu also made his first bid. ¡°One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°One thousand two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones,¡± a cultivator immediately called out. ¡°One thousand three hundred Spirit Stones.¡± With Lin Shilu¡¯s significant increase in the bid, the cultivators who had been bidding seemed to give up. After several breaths with no further bids, Xue Chong declared the first auction item sold. Lin Shilu prepared his Spirit Stones and completed the transaction with Xue Chong through a barrier, both parties obtaining the Spirit Stones and the auction item. With the first treasure settled, Xue Chong was very satisfied with the price and continued to host the event. ¡°The second treasure, a plant of Six-leaved Purple Sandalwood, a Second Order spirit material, is an exceptional material for Artifact Refining. The starting bid is three hundred Spirit Stones, with increments no less than ten Spirit Stones,¡± he introduced. Although the first treasure ignited the atmosphere, the second one was somewhat less impressive. Nevertheless, several cultivators were eagerly bidding. ¡°Three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ Below, the cultivators continued to bid fiercely. Lin Tianming, who did not practice Artifact Refining, naturally had no interest, and Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai also looked down upon these items. The second treasure was won by a Third Level Foundation Establishment Cultivator for five hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. The fiery auction continued, and in a blink of an eye, it had reached the last ten items, the climax of the event. After auctioning off hundreds of treasures, nearly all of them were Second Order Spiritual Items, including a considerable amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials, various Spirit Ore Materials, and many parts of Demonic Beasts¡¯ bodies. During this time, Lin Tianming spent over a thousand Spirit Stones, acquiring several strains of Spiritual Medicine Materials and one Second Order low-quality Demon Beast Inner Pill, which he planned to feed to the Purple Gold Eagle in hopes of it breaking through to the second order. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai also made a few bids, each securing some Spiritual Medicine Materials and Artifact Refining Materials. They were not exceptionally precious, but were also not ordinary items. As the auction of the common items concluded, everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the grand finale items. After a brief rest, Xue Chong took out another Jade Box and opened it. In the Jade Box held by Xue Chong, a fist-sized Spirit Fruit lay inside, its entire form crystal clear and translucent, also emitting an enticing fragrance. Xue Chong¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of fervor, but he quickly regained his composure and began the introduction. ¡°A Second Order Medium Quality Spirit Fruit, the Flame Fruit, extremely rare, enhances vitality and blood, as well as benefits skin and Divine Sense. The starting bid is one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, with each increment not less than twenty Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as the words fell, many cultivators¡¯ faces flushed, and their breathing quickened. Seeing this item, Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. He had long come across this fruit in various tomes; it could strengthen the body as well as fortify the Divine Sense, with very significant effects. However, only one could be consumed, and the effects would halve with each additional ingestion. Even so, the effects of the fruit were excellent, and cultivators who had never used it would not easily give up the chance to attain it. Although he had attended several auctions and exchange events before, he had never come across such a fruit. Now that he had finally found one, he naturally wouldn¡¯t let it slip away. While Lin Tianming was momentarily lost in thought, over ten cultivators began bidding fiercely, and the price of the Flame Fruit had already risen to over fifteen hundred Spirit Stones, and it was still climbing. Determined to obtain the fruit, Lin Tianming immediately joined the bidding. ¡°One thousand six hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!¡± He raised the bid by a full hundred Spirit Stones in one go, causing many cultivators in the audience to speculate in whispers. However, there were still seven or eight cultivators unwilling to give up. Among these bidding cultivators, many came from clans, sects, and other powerful forces, with considerable backing and financial resources not much inferior to his. ¡°One thousand six hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°One thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ The price continued to soar, and after more than a dozen rounds of bidding, the Flame Fruit¡¯s price had reached one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, about to break the two-thousand barrier. By this time, the majority of cultivators had already withdrawn. Now somewhat overpriced, only three people, including Lin Tianming, were still in the bidding. All of them were cultivators from private rooms. ¡°One thousand nine hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, raising the bid by one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones and causing the whole audience to gasp. He had already consumed many Body Refinement Spirit Fruits and elixirs and was very clear about the benefits they brought to the body and Divine Sense. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if the price was steep, he was willing to pay, knowing well that treasures like this were hard to come by. After he called out his bid, the cultivators in the other two private rooms fell into brief silence, seemingly willing to give up. Three breaths passed, and just when Xue Chong was about to announce the auction result, one of the private rooms called out a price, seeming to make a final bid. ¡°Two thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Before the voice had finished, Lin Tianming instantly upped the bid by another hundred Spirit Stones. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s new bid, the last bidding cultivator fell completely silent. Five breaths went by, and Xue Chong bowed towards the private room where Lin Tianming was located and proceeded to announce the auction result. ¡°Congratulations to the Daoist friend in the private room on securing the Flame Fruit for two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Hearing Xue Chong declare the result, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. Overjoyed, he quickly took out two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones and, with a flick of his hand, sent them all through the restrictive light screen, landing steadily in Xue Chong¡¯s hands. After a sweep with his Divine Sense and confirming that the number was correct, Xue Chong flung the Jade Box through the light screen as well, which Lin Tianming caught. At that moment, Lin Tianming was somewhat excited, picking up the blood-red Flame Fruit and lovingly admiring it. In the center of the auction house, Xue Chong chuckled and resumed hosting the auction. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 203 - 160 Making Friends_1 Chapter 203: Chapter 160 Making Friends_1 The explosive auction continued. The first climax treasure sold for a high price of two thousand one hundred spirit stones, satisfying all cultivators in attendance. Xue Chong was very satisfied. By presiding over this auction, he would receive a generous reward. As the atmosphere on the scene gradually relaxed, Xue Chong took out the prepared treasure, the second climax item. Looking over, he revealed a fiery red spirit sword about three feet long in his hand, encircled by faint sword qi, clearly an attack talisman. Seeing this item, many cultivators flashed eager spiritual light in their eyes. ... Xue Chong waved his hand once, twirling the blade, then started to introduce it. ¡°The second climax item, a Second Order Low Grade Artifact, named Fire Cloud Sword, renowned for its formidable attack power; it¡¯s considered an exquisite piece among Second Order Low Grade Artifacts. The starting bid is three thousand spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than twenty spirit stones,¡± he announced. As soon as the words fell, a cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment from the public area couldn¡¯t wait to bid. ¡°Three thousand one hundred spirit stones,¡± he shouted. The first bid emerged, and an elderly cultivator at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment mocked: ¡°Bidding so slowly is a waste of time, let an old man bid three thousand five hundred spirit stones,¡± he declared. The elder sharply raised the price by several hundred spirit stones, making some eager cultivators give up on bidding. Second Order Magical Artifacts are not easily refined and are very precious in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment exhaust all their wealth and even incur debts for the sake of Foundation Establishment. Those who have just reached Foundation Establishment typically aren¡¯t wealthy, and hence many cultivators at the Initial and even Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment find it hard to possess a magic artifact. That¡¯s why many cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment attend auctions specifically for Second Order Magical Artifacts. Despite the significant price jump made by the elder, many people were not willing to give up easily, for the auction recognized spirit stones, and the one who offered the highest price would obtain the treasure. ¡°Three thousand six hundred spirit stones,¡± a middle-aged cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer bid loudly. ¡°Three thousand seven hundred spirit stones,¡± ¡­ Lin Tianming and his two companions sat in the private room, watching the intense bidding among cultivators below, looking on as if enjoying a show. They had not made a bid throughout, nor did they have any intention to participate in the auction. After all, Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai had entered Foundation Establishment quite early. Lin Shilu was a Second Order Refiner, and Ye Pinghai was a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, both extremely wealthy, each already possessing Second Order Magical Artifacts, and of not low quality either. Lin Tianming himself used a complete set of spirit swords and had the Second Order Medium Quality Tiangang Sword for exhibiting his divine skills. The Fire Cloud Sword was decent but of little use to him. More importantly, his spirit stones were limited, and after purchasing the Flame Fruit, he only had a little over two thousand spirit stones left. The bidding scene at this moment was extremely hot, and the price was quickly raised to four thousand four hundred spirit stones. By this point, the price of the Fire Cloud Sword was somewhat inflated, and many cultivators with limited means had long given up the idea of bidding. Only two cultivators remained in the competition: the afore-mentioned cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer and the old man who had been fiercely raising the price. The two competing cultivators were at odds, neither willing to back down. Seeing the middle-aged cultivator increase the bid by fifty spirit stones, the elder¡¯s face started to look rather unpleasant. Thinking of the thousands of spirit stones he had painstakingly saved, he yelled to the bidding cultivator: ¡°Daoist Zhu, give me some face and let me have this sword, how about it?¡± ¡°Hmph, the rule of the auction is that the highest bidder wins. If you don¡¯t have spirit stones, you shouldn¡¯t participate,¡± the man surnamed Zhu flatly refused, without giving any face to the elder. The elder had assumed that since he was two minor realms higher than Daoist Zhu and had asked personally, Daoist Zhu would retreat. But he didn¡¯t expect the man to completely disregard him, which took him by surprise. Seeing that Daoist Zhu was not giving in, the angered elder threatened: ¡°Fine, fine, there will be other days. Daoist Zhu, you¡¯d better watch yourself when you go out, lest something unfortunate happen to you,¡± ¡°Four thousand six hundred spirit stones,¡± ¡°Four thousand seven hundred spirit stones,¡± Daoist Zhu remained undeterred and continued to increase the bid. A few moments passed. At this point, the elder¡¯s face was flushed red. After sweeping his divine sense over the spirit stones in his storage bag, he no longer raised the bid, clearly giving up on the auction. Xue Chong, seeing that the two contenders were silent, publicly announced the auction result. Daoist Zhu was all smiles as he handed over the spirit stones to Xue Chong and then received the Fire Cloud Sword. Meanwhile, the elder¡¯s face was red with rage; having lost face, he was fuming and wished he could tear Daoist Zhu to pieces. Noticing the elder¡¯s demeanor, Xue Chong¡¯s expression turned cold, and he spoke: ¡°Daoist Xu, this is an auction. Any resentments should be resolved outside the market,¡± Hearing Xue Chong¡¯s reminder, Daoist Xu forcibly suppressed the agitation in his heart. Knowing the consequences all too well, no one dared to cause trouble within the market, and he sat down without saying another word. Xue Chong nodded and continued to preside over the auction, Time slowly passed, and soon an hour had gone by. During this period, seven treasures had been consecutively auctioned off, one of which was the Hun Tian Pill that fetched a high price. The other treasures were no ordinary items either. Two more Second Order Magical Artifacts, some precious Spiritual Medicine Materials, a Yellow Grade Technique, and a Foundation Establishment Pill were sold. The Yellow Grade Technique was bought by a cultivator in a private room for twenty-three thousand spirit stones, and the Foundation Establishment Pill was taken by another in a private room for thirty-one thousand spirit stones, bringing in high prices for all the treasures. COMMENT 0 comment Vote S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 204 - 160 Making Friends_2 Chapter 204: Chapter 160 Making Friends_2 Among the finale items up for auction, Lin Shilu had not made a move, and although his family still coveted the Foundation Establishment Pills, considering the intense competition from several private rooms and the challenge of safely transporting it back to the family, it was simply too hot to handle for the Lin Family at present, so Lin Shilu could only give up. Ye Pinghai, on the other hand, spent thousands of Spirit Stones without so much as blinking an eye to win the bidding for two stalks of Third Order Spiritual Medicine Material, evidently showcasing the deep pockets of a Second Order High-Grade Alchemist. By this time, the auction had reached its concluding phase, with just one final treasured item yet to be auctioned off. The last item to end the auction was always the most precious treasure. All the cultivators present fixed their eyes on the final item, with many spectators looking forward with great anticipation. The highlight of the Qi Refining Area¡¯s auction was almost a no-brainer¡ªit was definitely either a Foundation Establishment Pill or another Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object. ... And Lin Tianming, attending the Foundation Establishment Area¡¯s auction for the first time, was also curious about what the treasure would be. Once the cultivators in the hall had calmed down, Xue Chong decided to skip the preliminaries, took out a Jade Box, and opened it so that all the cultivators could see the item inside. Lin Tianming peered intently inside the Jade Box and saw a Jade Slip. A prohibition kept him from knowing whether it contained a cultivation technique or a tome. ¡°Brother Xue, what exactly is this Jade Slip?¡± a cultivator in the hall asked. With a chuckle towards the entire hall of cultivators, Xue Chong began his introduction. ¡°The tenth and final treasure of the auction is a Water Attribute Mysterious Grade Cultivation Technique called ¡®Thousand Water Decree¡¯, accompanied by Divine Skills offensive and defensive in one, with considerable power. The starting bid is forty thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than fifty Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Mysterious Grade Technique?¡± This was something that hadn¡¯t appeared for a long time. The number of Foundation Establishment Pills and cultivation techniques at small gatherings would sharply decrease, and Mysterious Grade Techniques were even rarer. Many cultivators thought they would only appear at the major gatherings held every ten years. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were also somewhat surprised, but neither of them was particularly interested. After all, the starting bid was forty thousand Spirit Stones, and one could imagine how high the final bid would go. Moreover, the Lin Family already possessed a complete set of Mysterious Grade Cultivation Techniques for the Five Elements, so they weren¡¯t too keen on this one. However, their thoughts differed from those families lacking a Water Attribute Mysterious Grade Technique. Sure enough, as soon as Xue Chong finished introducing the technique, bids started coming from within the private rooms, and soon, new bidders joined the auction. ¡°Forty-one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Forty-two thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ The prices continued to escalate, with each new bid coming from private rooms whose affiliations were unknown, turning the entire auction hall of about a hundred cultivators into mere spectators. ¡°Forty-seven thousand Spirit Stones!¡± The bid came out higher by more than ten thousand Spirit Stones than the Foundation Establishment Pill, causing a stir among the numerous cultivators. Lin Tianming was equally astonished; this was his first time witnessing the successful auction of a Mysterious Grade Technique. After more than ten rounds of bidding, the Mysterious Grade Technique was won by a cultivator in one of the private rooms for a price of forty-seven thousand Spirit Stones. Xue Chong and the successful bidder in the private room completed the exchange of Spirit Stones and the technique. At this point, all the highlight items had been successfully auctioned off, along with nearly a hundred other spiritual objects, and not a single treasure failed to sell. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Chong was visibly excited; the auction had concluded successfully, which meant he would receive a substantial amount of salary. Once he calmed down, Xue Chong cupped his fists and bowed towards the numerous cultivators sitting below. ¡°Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your participation. With all the treasures auctioned off, this auction has come to an end. Until next time!¡± As Xue Chong announced the conclusion, some cultivators who knew each other greeted one another and then started to leave the auction. Inside the private room, Lin Tianming and the other two remained seated, casually chatting, not in a rush to leave, as they were waiting to attend the exchange meet for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. A quarter of an hour later, many of the cultivators had left the venue, but there were still more than ten who remained where they were. After surveying the hall, Ye Pinghai turned to Lin Shilu and said: ¡°It¡¯s about time, Brother Lin, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shilu nodded and followed Ye Pinghai out of the private room. The Qi Refining Cultivators waiting outside saw the three men exit and immediately came forward to greet them. Without a word, Lin Shilu waved his hand, and ten Spirit Stones appeared out of thin air in the hands of the Qi Refining Cultivator. The Qi Refining Cultivator was overjoyed upon seeing the Spirit Stones given by Lin Shilu and repeatedly thanked him with a bow. ¡°Thank you, three seniors!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, and afterwards the three of them no longer paid attention to the Qi Refining Cultivators, directly passing by them towards the depths of the passageway. After more than ten breaths of time had passed, the three, having traversed several corridors, appeared outside a private room. Given Ye Pinghai often stayed in the market and had attended many auctions and exchange meetings, he led the way, and now they arrived outside a private room. With a single-handed seal, he sent a message into the room¡¯s protective restrictions. In less than a breath¡¯s time, an opening appeared in the protective restrictions of the room, and the three walked in together. They entered a huge private room, already filled with more than ten Cultivators sitting inside, many of whom were engaged in casual conversations with acquaintances. Lin Tianming also looked over the numerous Cultivators, and noticed that aside from himself, all the others were at least at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment or above. It was clear that the exchange meeting Ye Pinghai had brought them to was of a higher caliber, most likely not the kind of venue for Cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. Seeing Ye Pinghai enter, many Cultivators hurriedly stood up, proactively greeting him as if they were very familiar with him. Ye Pinghai also greeted them in return and then in front of all the Cultivators, began to introduce Lin Tianming and the other. ¡°Fellow Daoists, these two represent the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family¡¯s Lin Shilu, and beside him is his nephew¡ªallow me to introduce them to everyone!¡± ¡°So, you are the Daoist friends from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, I have long heard of you!¡± Some Cultivators also took the initiative to greet Lin Shilu, and both he and Lin Tianming returned the gesture with a clasped fist, behaving quite courteously. Feeling the influence of Ye Pinghai, indeed, was powerful, as the majority of the Cultivators they met were quite polite. This was a good opportunity for networking. For the Lin Family to gain a foothold in the market, it was indispensable to cultivate good relations with these highly cultivated Foundation Establishment Cultivators, thereby expanding the Lin Family¡¯s influence. The atmosphere was congenial and enthusiastic, and in a short while, Lin Tianming and the other had met over a dozen Cultivators, including Loose Cultivators and several from other families. Half a quarter of an hour passed. By this time, two Cultivators entered the room, one of whom was Li Xiuyuan, and the other also wore the attire of the Zhenyang Sect, his cultivation having reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Lin Tianming guessed that the other Cultivator must be one of the three Executive Officers of the market. As the two entered and saw the entirety of the Cultivators, including Ye Pinghai, stand up to welcome them, they greeted Li Xiuyuan and the others. ¡°Ye, Lin, you two indeed came as well!¡± Before he was close, the hearty laugh of Li Xiuyuan could be heard. The other Cultivators present were somewhat surprised as it made sense for Li Xiuyuan to be courteous to Ye Pinghai, a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master with a powerful cultivation. However, it was unexpected that Li Xiuyuan would be as polite to this unfamiliar Lin Family Cultivator, which made some who hadn¡¯t befriended Lin Shilu regret not doing so. While some Cultivators were still stunned, Li Xiuyuan also began introducing his fellow Sect member to Lin Shilu and the other. ¡°Lin, this is my fellow Sect brother Song Xun. He helped a lot with the store matter last time. Now that we¡¯ve met today, we should visit each other more often if there¡¯s a chance!¡± Both Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming, looking excited, hurriedly greeted Song Xun. ¡°So it¡¯s Brother Song. I¡¯ve already heard from both Ye and Li about you. It¡¯s truly an honor to meet you today. Regarding the store matter, I am indebted to Brother Song¡¯s assistance, and when I have leisure time, I will certainly make a visit.¡± Song Xun waved his hand, saying with a very courteous expression: ¡°It was but a trifle, Brother Lin need not be so formal. Actually, I¡¯ve met your elder brother Lin Shikang before, but it¡¯s been many years since I last saw him, and I suppose he is about to challenge the Golden Core Path soon, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Haha, so Brother Song and my clan brother are old acquaintances. Once I return to the family land, I will surely convey your message on Brother Song¡¯s behalf. As for the Golden Core Path, it¡¯s not that easy. But someone like Brother Song, at such a young age nearing the Golden Core barrier, I admire that immensely,¡± Lin responded. Hearing what Lin Shilu had said, Song Xun expressed: ¡°As Brother Lin mentioned, how could the Golden Core Path be so easy to challenge? I have only reached where I am by relying on the Sect¡¯s support and having good luck, in truth, it is nothing noteworthy.¡± Lin Shilu chuckled and replied: ¡°That may be true, but by my estimations, the three young friends have reached the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. With the help of heaven-defying elixirs, the hopes of successfully breaking through to the Golden Core are not small at all!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so¡­¡± Song Xun shook his head, a hint of longing visible in his eyes. After a few moments of casual chat, they temporarily parted ways, with Li Xiuyuan and his companion also engaging in idle conversation with other Cultivators. Lin Tianming and the other sat with Ye Pinghai, chatting with some new friends while waiting for the exchange meeting to start. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 205 - 161 Note_1 Chapter 205: Chapter 161 Note_1 After casually chatting for a short while and seeing that the time was about right, Li Xiuyuan stood up and said, ¡°Thank you, fellow cultivators, for attending this exchange meeting that I¡¯ve organized. It has allowed everyone to make some new acquaintances. Let¡¯s get started, and I hope that each of you will find some gains.¡± As soon as his words ended, an elderly man with a kindly expression turned to Lin Shilu and said with a smile, ¡°Indeed, every time I attend, I get to meet some new friends, which is truly fortunate.¡± The person who spoke was named Wei Liqiong, a family cultivator with Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer cultivation, hailing from the Wei Family of the Hengyang Mountain Range, a family whose strength was not inferior to the Lin Family. Since this person was interested in making connections, Lin Shilu naturally would not reject him. They nodded to each other as a greeting. ... Lin Shilu responded with a nod to the goodwill expressed by the other cultivators. Seeing the warm atmosphere, Li Xiuyuan, as the organizer, began the exchange meeting, and he was the first to present his items for trade. With a wave of his hand, three treasures landed steadily on the stone table in front of everyone. They were a Second Order Medium Quality Demon Beast inner pill, a Third Order Low Grade Spiritual Medicine, and a fist-sized golden ore. Observing the three treasures, Li Xiuyuan spoke with a smile, ¡°I assume I need not mention what these three items are, as everyone likely knows. I¡¯m willing to trade them for Third Order Spiritual Medicine Chunyang Grass, or the Autumn Jade Fruit. If you possess such items, you can trade one for all three.¡± Hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s proposal, not a single cultivator in the room spoke up, evidently because the items he sought were too precious. Lin Tianming also eyed these treasures with great desire, but alas, he had nothing of equal value to offer and could only be a spectator. A few moments passed in silence, seeing that no one was speaking up, Li Xiuyuan felt a tinge of disappointment, but he quickly came to terms with it, given the rare nature of his requested items. Even within the Zhenyang Sect, they were hard to come by, and cultivators in the market, even if they had what he needed, would probably not be willing to trade them. He reluctantly put away the three treasures, and then it was Song Xun¡¯s turn. He took out two items, a Second Order Low Grade Demon Core and a Third Order Spiritual Medicine. Song Xun¡¯s items were of slightly lesser value than Li Xiuyuan¡¯s and didn¡¯t come with any special requirements. As long as the trade was of equal value and he needed the items, he was willing to exchange. Soon enough, two cultivators traded goods with Song Xun, each obtaining one of his treasures. Then Ye Pinghai also displayed a Hun Tian Pill and a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, looking to trade for the Third Order Spiritual Medicine he needed. The Hun Tian Pill, which could directly raise the cultivation of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator by a minor realm, was highly sought after in the Cultivation World. It was quickly traded away by Wei Liqiong at no small expense, while the medium-grade magic artifact was acquired by a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivator. In just a short while, Lin Shilu took out two items. One was Golden Tide Sand, and the other was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. Both items were extraordinary, with the Golden Tide Sand being rather precious and the Second Order artifacts always in high demand. Many cultivators, regardless of already possessing a magic artifact, would still be eager to obtain another, either for personal use or to purchase for their kin. ¡°Fellow cultivators, I am looking to trade these two treasures for Second Order Qi Cultivation materials. As long as the values are equivalent, I¡¯m willing to trade. If the item provided is of greater value than mine, I can compensate with spirit stones.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Xiuyuan, with a single wave of his hand, revealed a blood-red stone in his palm. ¡°Brother Lin, how about trading this Golden Blood Stone for your Golden Tide Sand?¡± ¡°Mm, then I would be at an advantage, wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Lin Shilu replied with a chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Golden Tide Sand is not easy to come by. I don¡¯t mind taking a small loss.¡± Li Xiuyuan didn¡¯t mind and proceeded to trade with Lin Shilu. The remaining Second Order artifact was also quickly traded away by a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, who offered the body of a Second Order Demonic Beast in exchange. Lin Shilu was very pleased, as he managed to trade both of his items for things he needed. Time flowed on slowly, and the entire exchange meeting lasted for half an hour, featuring treasures that were no less inferior than those auctioned in Foundation Establishment auction houses. Lin Tianming witnessed the whole event, his eyes nearly dazzled by the array of treasures. As the exchange drew to a close, most cultivators didn¡¯t immediately get up to leave; instead, they engaged in discussions about cultivation and the Four Arts of Cultivation. Lin Tianming listened intently, soaking in the many cultivators¡¯ insights on cultivation and alchemy, as well as conversations with a few Second Order Alchemists. In just half an hour, he gained a lot of knowledge. The fervent atmosphere lasted until late afternoon. As dusk approached, it was time for the exchange meeting to wind down. Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun, as hosts and organizers of the exchange, got up and exchanged greetings with the other cultivators. Ye Pinghai and Lin Shilu also stood up, cupped their fists, exchanged a few words with Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun, and then prepared to leave. The three of them left the auction, and the bustling plaza outside the auction house quieted down significantly, marking the end of the grand gathering. Some cultivators also slowly departed from the market. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By now, evening had arrived; the auction and exchange meeting had lasted nearly half a day. After parting ways with Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming and his companion returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once inside the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were already seated in the courtyard. Seeing the two return, they quickly got up to greet them. Lin Shilu nodded and then asked about their whereabouts and gains for the day. Lin Tianfeng and his companion had attended an auction at the Qi Refining Area and, with their assets, managed to bid on several treasures. After the auction ended, they too participated in an exchange and met several Zhenyang Sect Disciples and family cultivators, ending the day on a very positive note. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 206 - 161 Notes_2 Chapter 206: Chapter 161 Notes_2 Lin Shilu nodded, reminded everyone to be cautious and careful, and then left first. As soon as Lin Shilu left, Lin Tianfeng began to talk non-stop, excitedly recounting the auction¡¯s events. ¡°Sixth brother, the auction at Qianchuan Market really can¡¯t be compared to that of Luoyun Market. The treasures that appeared were simply a feast for the eyes.¡± ¡°Indeed, the Pozhang Pill, Yellow Grade Technique, and Foundation Establishment Pill also appeared. The cultivators were crazy enough, with each round of bidding driving prices higher than the last,¡± Lin Tianhong chimed in. Lin Tianming understood their astonishment very well, as it was also their first time attending the auction at Qianchuan Market. ... When he first attended the Qianchuan Market auction, his reaction was almost the same¡ªthe plethora of items nearly dazzled his eyes. ¡°So, what treasures did you both manage to win?¡± Lin Tianming asked. Still excited, Lin Tianhong hurriedly said: ¡°Big brother and I jointly won a complete demonic beast carcass. With Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s help, we should be able to refine two decent Spiritual Artifacts.¡± ¡°Besides that, we each won a Second Order Talisman to add some life-saving measures for ourselves.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and congratulated them. Lin Tianfeng was not of low cultivation, and even though he had no special talents, his participation in the family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad made his fortune quite substantial. Lin Tianhong was a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, and his alchemy had improved significantly, placing him at the forefront among his generation in the clan. In their generation, whether in terms of cultivation or cultivation technique, they had already far surpassed the previous generations of their clan. Thinking of this, he wore a face full of gratification. ¡°Big brother, second brother, now that the market assembly is over, what are your plans next?¡± Lin Tianming inquired. After contemplating, Lin Tianfeng answered: ¡°This place isn¡¯t like the clan, otherwise I could still hunt demonic beasts. Now that¡¯s not possible, so I plan to occasionally help out at Luoyun Pavilion and spend the rest of the time in seclusion and cultivation. In three months, I¡¯m due to replace Uncle Xing Li to take care of the shop.¡± After Lin Tianfeng finished speaking, Lin Tianhong shared his own plans. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather has given us quite a few tasks. I¡¯ll be refining pills during the day and cultivating at night.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, fully approving of Lin Tianhong¡¯s arrangement. ¡°That¡¯s right, we all have our tasks to attend to, plus we need to cultivate, so there¡¯s hardly any time to idle away.¡± Afterward, the three of them chatted for a while before going their separate ways. Lin Tianming returned to his room, sat at the edge of his bed, and pondered his upcoming cultivation schedule. Having acquired the Flame Fruit from the auction, he naturally had to consume it as soon as possible to enhance his strength, and he also needed to study the notes given to him by Ye Pinghai, aiming to find suitable elixirs to assist in his cultivation at the earliest. Moreover, the number of Spiritual Medicine Materials commissioned for pill refining at Luoyun Pavilion was still over a hundred and increasing daily. Thinking about this, Lin Tianming felt quite a headache. ¡°Well, first I¡¯ll take the Flame Fruit to enhance the strength of my body and Divine Sense. Then, during the day, I¡¯ll refine the collected Spiritual Medicine Materials into elixirs. At night, I¡¯ll study the notes and cultivate.¡± Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming began to regulate his state, aiming to reach his peak before consuming the Flame Fruit. Unconsciously, he had been meditating and cultivating for half an hour. At this moment, his state had reached its peak; feeling it was about right, he hurriedly took out the Flame Fruit and held it in his hand. Feeling the cool touch of the Flame Fruit and looking at its blood-red flesh, it seemed very appetizing. Without any hesitation, he swallowed the Flame Fruit in a single gulp. The cool Flame Fruit, upon entering his mouth, immediately felt like he had eaten a mouthful of flame, nothing like the previously cool sensation. Lin Tianming bore the pain and swallowed the fist-sized Flame Fruit. As the Flame Fruit descended into his belly, a massive amount of heat spread out, intensifying the scorching sensation. Not only that, but his entire body, as well as his soul, felt as if they were being roasted by fire. At this time, he felt as though he was being cut a thousand times; sweat poured out all over his body, quickly soaking his clothes. Lin Tianming gritted through the pain as he furiously circulated his cultivation technique, refining the energy released by the Flame Fruit into a gentle force, which he then used to pound every part of his body. Unbeknownst to him, another hour quickly passed by. The intense heat of the Flame Fruit seemed to gradually subside, but he couldn¡¯t tell if he had simply grown numb or if it genuinely wasn¡¯t scalding anymore. Lin Tianming remained unmoved, his furrowed brow indicating his determination as a unique energy continued to hammer his internal organs. Time hurried away, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had gone by. In the training room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile. He extended his divine sense to examine the meridians and internal organs throughout his body. After the vigorous tempering by the Flame Fruit¡¯s power, the color of his organs had deepened, with hints of gold now appearing in certain areas. Not only that, but his meridians had expanded slightly, his skin and bones had strengthened, and even his divine sense had marginally increased. At that moment, he felt his body brimming with strength, as if he would never run out of it and could not feel fatigue at all. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± Exhaling several breaths of turbid air, Lin Tianming returned his focus and realized his clothes were soiled with impurities that had seeped from his body. He got up to stretch his limbs, then with a single-hand seal, cast a water-based magic spell to wash away the dirt from his body, followed by using a fire-based spell to dry off. He changed into a clean set of clothes and tidied up the cluttered room. Sitting on the ground, he took out the note gifted by Ye Pinghai and placed it before him. He explored the ancient jade slip given by the old man with his divine sense, perusing the contents it held. An hour later, Lin Tianming withdrew his divine sense and fell into deep thought. Through his comprehension, the Third Order Alchemy Master¡¯s note revealed to be left by someone called Lingfeng, a Golden Elixir expert from tens of thousands of years ago. This person was a Golden Core Cultivator in life, a Third Order Medium Grade Alchemist, and an alchemy fanatic who immersed himself in the Alchemy Dao. He was obsessed with creating and improving pill formulas. Although he didn¡¯t invent any high-order formulas, he did achieve some success in improving existing ones. The note specifically detailed his insights and methods for improving the Dragon Bone Pill, but it was uncertain whether they would be successful or not. According to Lingfeng¡¯s records, the primary material for refining the Dragon Bone Pill was the inner core of an Azure Dragon Jiao, a creature that was already scarce tens of thousands of years ago and even rarer in the cultivation world of today. He believed that the Azure Dragon Jiao, being a fire-attribute spirit beast with a trace of true dragon bloodline¡ªalbeit extremely diluted¡ªwas undoubtedly unique. However, there was another demonic beast in the cultivation world called Qingxu Jiao, which greatly resembled the Azure Dragon Jiao. Not only were they both of the fire attribute, but their divine abilities were also very similar, and so were their habits and appearances. He speculated that tens of thousands of years ago, both species might have evolved from the same lineage. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, given how rare the Azure Dragon Jiao was, the relatively more common Qingxu Jiao might serve as a substitute. Lingfeng¡¯s views and conjectures seemed to have some merit. Stowing the note into his storage bag, Lin Tianming pondered deeply. Currently, he didn¡¯t have any better solutions. His cultivation had been consolidating for over a year, relying entirely on meditative practice, with the breakthrough to the second layer of Foundation Establishment seeming infinitely far away. Under these circumstances, regardless of whether Lingfeng¡¯s speculated method was viable, he had to attempt it, as he didn¡¯t have time to seek alternative solutions. However, he was presently too preoccupied; since Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s opening, especially in the few days before the auction, there were tens of commissions for refining spiritual medicine materials every day. Though the flow of people to the market had significantly diminished thereafter, resulting in a sharp decrease in cultivators requesting alchemy services, the accumulation of half a month had left him with more than three hundred batches of spiritual medicine materials awaiting refinement. With Lin Tianhong¡¯s speed of alchemy, who knows how long it would take to complete the refinement. Besides, he also needed to practice cultivation and couldn¡¯t refine continuously day and night. Before he addressed the matter of the pill formula, it was necessary to refine as much of the commissioned elixirs as possible, to maintain Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s credibility. Lin Tianming now slightly regretted his boastful claim from the past that had led to such strenuous work. No one expected so many cultivators to request alchemy services. Nevertheless, having given his word, he needed to do his best. Otherwise, Luoyun Pavilion wouldn¡¯t be able to establish a foothold in the market. Upon further thought, considering he could earn a substantial amount of spirit stones, he didn¡¯t find it too taxing. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming left the room and headed to the Pill Refining Room. Entering the Pill Refining Room, he took a brief moment to adjust his breathing, waiting until he was in optimal condition before starting the alchemy process. He brought out the Four Symbols Furnace, casting numerous spells upon the pill furnace and the earth fire beneath it. After making all the preparations and following a well-versed routine, he proceeded to separate and purify the spiritual medicine materials one by one, until finally solidifying the pill successfully. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 207 - 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_1 Chapter 207: Chapter 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_1 Time hurried by, and one and a half months had passed. Inside the Pill Refining Room, the fragrance of elixirs wafted from the Four Symbols Furnace, quickly filling the entire room. Upon lifting the lid of the Furnace Cauldron, one could see seven Lingshen Pills lying at the bottom, each one full in color with clear patterns encircling the pills. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve finished refining all four hundred batches of materials.¡± Lin Tianming talked to himself, then stood up to stretch his limbs, looking at the hundred or so Jade Bottles in front of him with a weary expression. Secluded for one and a half months, he had accelerated the pace of his alchemy, ensuring the completion of ten rounds of pill concoction each day before beginning his cultivation. ... Luckily, he had refined First Order elixirs hundreds of times before and was quite familiar with the process. It was such frantic alchemy that further improved his efficiency, ensuring his cultivation was not delayed. Over the past month, he had refined most of the over four hundred batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, including the three hundred plus batches left over from his business with Luoyun Pavilion and the hundred batches from the opening day, leaving only a few dozen batches for Lin Tianhong to refine. Through his efforts, he had completed the refining of four hundred batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, resulting in more than one thousand five hundred pills, almost all of which were of superior quality. After setting aside the elixirs meant for the client, he could at least keep one thousand pills for himself, worth nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones. Thinking of the hardships of the past month and earning nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, a smile emerged on his face. ¡°Huff¡­ It¡¯s time to leave seclusion.¡± After tidying up the cluttered Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming returned to his own room. Falling onto the stone bed, he soon slept soundly. This sleep lasted a full day and night, and he only got up the next morning. Feeling the fatigue lifted from his body, and his condition back to its peak, he got up and walked out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Walking on the cobblestone road, he headed towards Luoyun Pavilion. The biennial Market City meeting had ended, and the flow of people in the Market had significantly decreased. There were noticeably fewer Cultivators he ran into on the road than at peak times. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at Luoyun Pavilion. With the Market City meeting over, the business at Luoyun Pavilion seemed to have declined quite a bit. At this moment, a few Qi Refining Cultivators were chatting with the hired shop assistant, Li Rong. Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng were sitting idle in the shop, chatting. Seeing Lin Tianming approach, a hint of joy crossed their faces. After exchanging greetings, they all headed to the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion together. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Uncle, how has the business been in the shop recently?¡± Lin Tianming inquired. Upon hearing this question, Lin Xingli answered with a somewhat helpless look, ¡°The business at Luoyun Pavilion was very good for the first few days after it opened, with tens of thousands of treasures sold every day and a sizable profit. However, after the Market City meeting, coupled with the dwindling inventory of treasures in the shop, our business has dropped by half.¡± Lin Xingli¡¯s explanation indeed had its reasons. The business was so good during the first few days after Luoyun Pavilion opened that many of the treasures brought from the family were sold out quickly, and many of the best-selling products were out of stock, leading to a decrease in regular customers over time. Hearing Lin Xingli¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming consoled, ¡°Uncle, this was expected. After all, no one could have anticipated how smoothly the shop would open before coming to the Market, let alone how good the business would be.¡± Lin Xingli nodded, then continued, ¡°Although the business has not been great these past days, since we are no longer accepting elixir refining commissions for free, there are quite a few Cultivators still selling Spiritual Medicine Materials, indirectly boosting some business. Maintaining an income of three thousand Spirit Stones a day is still not difficult.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already quite good to be able to do this, at least several times better than the shops in Luoyun Market.¡± Lin Tianming said casually before inquiring about the status of Lin Shilu and others. According to what Lin Xingli said, Lin Shilu had not been seen for a month and was constantly in the Artifact Forging Room, seemingly crafting Magic Artifacts. Lin Tianhong was also furiously engaged in Alchemy, although he occasionally came out to have a look, he quickly re-entered the Pill Refining Room. Aside from cultivating, Lin Tianfeng occasionally helped out at Luoyun Pavilion and spent his time at various venues in the Market. With his cultivation level and personality, he soon made a large number of acquaintances among the Qi Refining Cultivators. Hearing what the two had to say, Lin Tianming felt quite moved. In the two months since they had arrived at the Market, it was clear that all of the family members were diligently cultivating and had adapted to the life in the Market. Luoyun Pavilion had also fully entered the right track. When business was good, they could earn tens of thousands of Spirit Stones a day. Even when it was not, a daily income of a thousand or two thousand Spirit Stones was still possible. Over a year, this would amass a large profit in Spirit Stones for the family. The Lin Family had successfully established a foothold in the Market and made a vast number of Loose Cultivators and other power¡¯s members its allies. The influence of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family was also gradually expanding. Perhaps in just a few decades, the name of the Lin Family would once again influence the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Snapping back to reality and casually chatting with Lin Xingli for a few moments, he left Luoyun Pavilion and walked down the Market¡¯s main street. The task of pill concoction was finished, and Luoyun Pavilion was on track; now it was time to consider the issue of the Dragon Bone Pill Formula. Having made up his mind, he quickly headed towards the Market City Hall. In no time at all, he appeared at the Market City Hall. He came here because there was a task hall within the Market where one could post tasks they needed help with or accept tasks posted by other Cultivators. Whether seeking Spiritual Medicine Materials or information about Demonic Beasts, commissioning Alchemy or Artifact Refining, forming teams for exploration, or even hunting down criminals in the Cultivation World, all could be posted or accepted here as missions. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 208 - 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_2 Chapter 208: Chapter 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_2 ¡°` He came here to see if there was any news of the Qingxu Jiao, after all, this beast was not found everywhere, and it wasn¡¯t easy to find one. If there was ready information, he wouldn¡¯t have to blindly search for it. It was because of this task board that many cultivators looking for specific spiritual objects could save a lot of trouble, which was why this place was very popular among loose cultivators. He entered the second floor of the Market City Hall and looked at a huge light screen in the hall, which displayed thousands of text-recorded tasks. ¡°Looking for traces of the Variegated Beast, commission one hundred spirit stones, complete demonic beast carcases are also accepted for direct exchange¡­¡± ¡°Searching for traces of the Purple Ratan Flower, commission eighty spirit stones, those who have this item can trade directly¡­¡± ... ¡°Forming a team to go to the Qianchuan Mountain Range for cultivation experience, five people in total, requires at least Seventh Level of Qi Refinement¡­¡± ¡°Track and kill the evil cultivator Gu Tong, those who claim his life will be rewarded ten thousand spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk¡­ Ten thousand spirit stone reward?¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. According to the information recorded on the light screen, this evil cultivator Gu Tong was a loose cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, who for some reason, had killed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Meng Family years ago, completely infuriating the family, which then spent a huge amount of money to issue the bounty for his apprehension. This Gu Tong was cunning by nature, had no attachments, and lived a nomadic life. Coupled with his formidable strength, although the Meng Family was powerful and had as many as seven members at the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was not easy to locate him within the vast Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Understanding the reason, Lin Tianming realized this was the case but had no interest; with his own cultivation at the Foundation Establishment First Level, seeking out such a vicious individual was clearly asking for trouble. Lin Tianming put the matter aside and continued to look through the tasks. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and he had rapidly reviewed over a hundred tasks; most were looking for spiritual medicine materials or demonic beasts, with a few dangerous missions like hunting evil cultivators. The rewards also varied, ranging from fifteen spirit stones to several thousand spirit stones. After reviewing many tasks, he decided to also post one looking for the Qingxu Jiao by assembling a large number of experienced people to help him search, which would save a lot of time. Resolved, he approached the area where tasks were posted and started chatting with a Zhenyang Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Lin Tianming was not well-known in the market, but many Zhenyang Sect Disciples had still heard of him, especially since he had made several public appearances in the market lately and had been seen with Li Xiuyuan and Ye Pinghai a few times. Seeing him personally coming to post a task, the Executive Officer who was serving him was very polite and subsequently explained to him the process of posting tasks. ¡°Elder Lin, posting a task in the market requires five spirit stones and a deposit of one hundred spirit stones; when the task is completed, the remainder of the commission is paid,¡± the officer said. ¡°I¡¯d like to post a task for searching for the Qingxu Jiao, the commission is only needed for providing the trail of this beast, how much would be appropriate?¡± Lin Tianming asked. After considering, the receptionist answered: ¡°The Qingxu Jiao is a Second Order Demonic Beast. Those who can discover its trail must have at least the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, otherwise, they may not be able to make it out alive. In my humble opinion, a reward of at least several hundred spirit stones is needed to entice someone to take such a risk!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt it made sense and then said: ¡°Then let¡¯s set a commission of eight hundred spirit stones. As long as the information is accurate, anyone can claim the commission.¡± After finishing his statement, Lin Tianming took out a hundred and five spirit stones and handed them to the receptionist. The receptionist took the spirit stones, recorded the transaction, and after leaving a way for him to be messaged, he took his leave. Soon, through the execution of the officer, his task also appeared on the light screen for task posting. ¡°Looking for traces of Qingxu Jiao, anyone providing information, as long as it¡¯s accurate and true, can claim eight hundred spirit stones, within a three-month period¡­¡± Lin Tianming looked at the task he had posted and was satisfied; after a brief pause, he returned to his cave dwelling, he only needed to wait for the news now. Several days later, Lin Shilu emerged from meditation, which had lasted for over a month, and the two sat down to drink tea and chat in the small courtyard. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the hand scroll you gave has been fully comprehended, and the methods recorded in it may be feasible,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Oh? If it really works, then our family will have another Second Order Pill Recipe!¡± Lin Shilu said, somewhat excited. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup and then started talking about his plans. ¡°However, according to the hand scroll, the substitute for the main drug in the Dragon Bone Pill is the Qingxu Jiao Inner Pill. This beast is not easy to find, I have already posted a task in the market. If its trail can be found, I must trouble you, elder, to join me in hunting a few demonic beasts!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Good, you didn¡¯t get carried away and knew to measure your abilities!¡± ¡°` Lin Shilu nodded in praise and then said, ¡°I¡¯ve been in closed-door cultivation recently to refine my magic artifact. The piece of Golden Blood Stone I got from the exchange meeting has been incorporated into my artifact. After re-sacrificing it, its power has significantly increased, which is perfect for accompanying you on your journey!¡± ¡°Then I must thank Fifteenth Grandfather in advance!¡± Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly rose to give a respectful bow. Lin Shilu waved his hand dismissively and then began to instruct him earnestly, ¡°Hmm¡­ as soon as you receive news of the Qingxu Jiao, send a message to me. Remember not to act alone, understand?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Lin Tianming respectfully responded. After chatting casually for a while, they each returned to their own cultivation rooms. Sitting in the cultivation room, Lin Tianming performed a Grand Circulation. After about a quarter of an hour, once his condition reached its peak, he took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill and began his cultivation with some difficulty. If there was evidence of the Qingxu Jiao¡¯s whereabouts, he would have to leave Qianchuan Market. Before leaving, he wanted to improve his cultivation as much as possible. Despite the excruciating pain he was about to endure, he could not care less, as having even a sliver more of spiritual power meant additional safety. As the elixir entered his mouth, intense pain followed immediately, with large beads of sweat falling from his forehead. He did not dare to be careless, swallowing a Body Strengthening Pill and frantically running his cultivation technique, all the while enduring the agony to refine the medicinal power. Over ten days slowly passed¡­ One day, a messaging aura entered his cultivation room, hovering in front of him. He sent out his divine sense to check the message recorded by the Spiritual Light. ¡°There¡¯s a message!¡± Lin Tianming was thrilled and immediately rose to leave the cave dwelling, rushing toward the Market City Hall. After finding the executive officer who had received him, the two struck up a conversation. The obsequious executive officer said, ¡°Elder Lin, you are in luck. It¡¯s only been just over ten days, and already a cultivator has happened upon the whereabouts of the Qingxu Jiao!¡± ¡°Oh? Bring me to see that cultivator at once!¡± Lin Tianming urged. ¡°Yes!¡± Following the executive officer, he was led to a private room where he was to meet alone with the cultivator who provided the information. Inside sat a middle-aged cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, who quickly stood up to pay respects to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming gestured for him to sit and then spoke with a grave expression, ¡°It was you who found the trace of the Qingxu Jiao? Speak in detail, and remember not to attempt to deceive me. If I find out there is any falsehood, you will bear the consequences!¡± At Lin Tianming¡¯s threatening words, the cultivator quickly assured him of his honesty and then relayed how he came across the Qingxu Jiao. ¡°Elder, half a year ago I was training in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, when by chance I stumbled into a ravine and happened to spot the trace of a Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Jiao. Luckily, I was cautious enough to flee without looking back and managed to narrowly escape with my life.¡± As he spoke, his face went pale, displaying an appearance of lingering fear. ¡°After I returned to the market city, I learned of the task you had posted. But before I encountered the beast, I had no idea you were seeking the Qingxu Jiao, otherwise the news would not have come so swiftly.¡± Listening to the cultivator¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming was skeptical, but he had no other options at the moment. Whether true or false, he needed to verify for himself. With this in mind, Lin Tianming did not make things difficult for the man, promptly paid him a deposit of two hundred Spirit Stones, and promised to pay the rest upon confirmation of the accurate information. After sending the man away, he had the executive officer withdraw his task. After everything was settled, he returned to his cave dwelling to prepare with Lin Shilu before searching for the Qingxu Jiao. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 209 - 163 Sword Array Displays Its Power_1 Chapter 209: Chapter 163 Sword Array Displays Its Power_1 Back in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming immediately reported the situation of the Qingxu Jiao. Lin Shilu had already been aware of this matter and had instructed him to be cautious. Upon learning that someone had provided information about the Qingxu Jiao, he instantly left his closed-door cultivation, deciding to head to the inner parts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range as soon as possible to find the beast, to prevent any mishaps. Early the next morning, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu bade Lin Tianfeng farewell and left Qianchuan Market quietly without any fuss. The two rode on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, heading west towards the Qianchuan Mountain Range. After two full days of travel, the two of them, along with the beast, appeared on the outer edges of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, close to the inner regions. ... Along the way, they encountered many Qi Refining Cultivators hunting Demonic Beasts on the outskirts, but they ignored them all, pressing on in a particular direction. After a night of rest, Lin Tianming stored the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, and the two of them continued on their journey, stepping into the more vast and lush inner regions. Along the way, the two were quite cautious, their Magic Artifacts at the ready, prepared to respond quickly to any noise, not as carefree as they were in the outer regions. After several days of cautious exploration and nearly circumventing encounters with Second Order Demonic Beasts, they arrived smoothly at the outside of a valley. Gazing at the valley overgrown with the ruins of broken walls and boulders, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn. ¡°Tianming, is this the place that cultivator provided information about?¡± Lin Shilu inquired. Lin Tianming looked at the simple map in his hands, observing the valley in the distance before recalling the words of the cultivator who had provided the information. After a brief moment, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, according to the map and the description given by the cultivator providing the information, it should indeed be this place.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Shilu gazed ahead thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s already late in the day, and not suitable for entering, so let¡¯s rest here for the night and restore our spirits before going in to take a look.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Tianming complied. Having made up their minds, the two searched for a suitable location nearby and prepared to dig out a Temporary Cave Abode to spend the night. They quickly found a hidden spot against a cliff face, and Lin Tianming swiftly dug out a cave several meters wide, adequate for an overnight stay. Looking at the excavated Temporary Cave Abode, the two entered and settled down for the night. ¡°Tianming, you keep watch during the first half of the night, and I will take over in the latter half. At dawn, we¡¯ll venture into the valley to explore,¡± Lin Shilu instructed. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s orders, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed wholeheartedly. The expanse of the Qianchuan Mountain Range dwarfed that of the Luoyun Mountain Range by several times over. It was said that at its center, even Third Order Demon Beasts were not uncommon. Although this place was just a few hundred miles into the inner regions, Third Order Demonic Beasts may not be present, but there would certainly be a fair number of Second Order ones. Apart from Demonic Beasts, cultivators also had to be on guard, as this was not the market town, and occurrences of murder and looting were not infrequent. Giving the situation the gravity it demanded, they had to be extra careful. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sitting at the entrance of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully deployed, keeping constant vigilance on the outside. The night passed quietly, and the two took turns meditating through the night. As morning light pierced through the dense fog and shone into the cave, the two got up and looked out over the distant valley. Lin Shilu took out a golden greatsword, his own Magic Artifact of Second Order Medium Quality. With preparations made, Lin Shilu began giving instructions. ¡°Tianming, a Qingxu Jiao is a social beast with varying numbers in a group, ranging from over a dozen to hundreds, and their grades vary too. However, one thing is certain, in every group there is at least one male and one female that are of Second Order grade. Their Divine Skill is of the fire element, which is very powerful, but their weakness is poor perception. We mustn¡¯t confront them head-on but instead move flexibly¡ªunderstand?¡± Lin Tianming nodded confidently and said, ¡°Rest assured, Fifteenth Grandfather, I¡¯ve already consulted many texts about this beast and am quite familiar with its habits. I am swift in escaping, and with a precious treasure to protect me, I can even fight a moment with a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast.¡± Lin Shilu gave a chuckle, feeling very reassured about Lin Tianming. He was quite clear about Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skills. Currently, even if faced with a Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator, it would be difficult to say who would win. ¡°You will follow me later, I will take the lead, and you will watch our back. Although we¡¯re not deep inside the mountain range, we can¡¯t let our guard down. Should things turn south, we have to make a quick escape,¡± Lin Shilu stated earnestly. Lin Tianming nodded, not daring to be careless in the slightest as he saw Lin Shilu¡¯s serious demeanor. Some time passed, and once they were ready, they began to probe their way towards the distant valley. The two made their way through dense woods, covering several miles before gradually approaching the valley. Observing the massive area filled with ruins, with many peaks flattened or snapped in half, the craftsmanship seemed supernatural, not likely to be naturally occurring. Lin Tianming speculated that this place must have witnessed a monumental battle many years ago to turn the vast valley into what it looked like now. And to accomplish this, it would have required the intervention of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators at the very least. With a brief feeling of awe, they continued to make their way into the valley. After half a day, they proceeded with extreme caution for about ten miles without encountering any problems. Pausing briefly, they stared into the somewhat eerie valley, and Lin Shilu said, COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 210 - 163: Sword Array Demonstrates Power_2 Chapter 210: Chapter 163: Sword Array Demonstrates Power_2 ¡°` ¡°Tian Ming, have you noticed anything unusual?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming reflected on all the encounters along the way. Three breaths of time passed, and Lin Tianming seemed to have noticed something different. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, on our journey, not to mention demonic beasts, we haven¡¯t even seen a wild sparrow, nor have we found any Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures. Such a strange situation is something I have never encountered before,¡± said Lin Tianming. ¡°Hmm,¡± ... Reminded by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu also felt it was somewhat incredible. ¡°There must be a demonic beast in this place, one that even eats ordinary wild sparrows; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be this clean,¡± he said. ¡°Although we haven¡¯t found it yet, there is definitely a demonic beast active nearby. We need to be careful,¡± Lin Shilu warned. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue on our way.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and followed Lin Shilu¡¯s pace. The two were less than a few zhang apart, one behind the other, heading deeper into the valley. Unnoticed, the two walked for more than an hour, moving several more miles. As the vegetation grew sparser, the scene inside the valley became even more desolate. After delving over twenty miles ahead, they still hadn¡¯t been attacked or noticed any movement. At this moment, Lin Tianming also began to waver, starting to doubt the cultivator who had provided the information. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turning somewhat grim, Lin Shilu was just about to say something comforting when he heard a faint noise that, though minimal, he still detected. ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s a noise,¡± Lin Shilu said with a serious expression. Hearing the warning, Lin Tianming immediately started looking around, and sure enough, he too soon heard the rustling sound. ¡°Sha¡­ shasha¡­¡± The noise grew clearer, and both of them felt something from deep within the valley approaching rapidly. ¡°Tian Ming, get ready to make a move.¡± After giving a reminder, Lin Shilu stared intently ahead, holding the Golden Greatsword, and positioned Lin Tianming behind him. Feeling the presence getting increasingly closer, Lin Tianming held nothing back. He waved his hand, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out instantly, revolving around him before scattering swiftly and finally hiding beneath the ground. Having done this, he formed a single-handed seal, and the Tiangang Sword appeared in his hand out of thin air. The blade vibrated wildly as if it couldn¡¯t wait to attack, eager to taste the flavor of blood. Several breaths of time later, the movements in the deep valley became more pronounced. It was only then that they saw what was coming. At this point, a few thousand zhang ahead, dozens of large snakes with alternating blue and red bodies were slithering rapidly towards them, twisting their barrel-thick bodies. As they drew nearer, the true form of these snakes was revealed; they were unmistakably the Qingxu Snakes they had been searching for. Upon seeing the Qingxu Snakes, a smile appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. It seemed that the cultivator who provided the information had not deceived him. He wondered how that youngster had managed to survive in the territory of such an assembly of the Qingxu Snake Clan. Without time to ponder further, his expression soon turned solemn again. Looking around, he realized the Qingxu Snake Clan consisted of dozens of formidable snakes. Leading them were seven Second Order Demon Snakes, one at the Second Order Middle Stage and six at the Second Order Initial Stage, while the rest were made up of First Order Middle-Late Stage Monster Serpents. Fortunately, there were no Second Order Late Phase Demon Snakes; otherwise, it would be very difficult for him and Lin Shilu to retreat unharmed. Seeing such an assembly of Qingxu Snakes, Lin Shilu also had a serious look, ready to face the snake clan¡¯s attack at any moment. ¡°Tian Ming, I will take on that Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. You just hold off the others, and as long as you don¡¯t get defeated, that¡¯s enough. Once I¡¯ve killed that beast, I¡¯ll come and help you!¡± After dropping those words, Lin Shilu leaped dozens of zhang forward and charged towards the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t even have time to respond when Lin Shilu had already engaged with the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. Lin Shilu¡¯s sword dance unleashed a hundred streaks of Golden Sword Qi that exploded with loud bangs, furiously charging at the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. ¡°` ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­ Hiss, hiss¡­¡± Multiple streaks of Sword Qi bombarded the Qingxu Snake¡¯s body, shearing off its scales and revealing the snake¡¯s greenish-yellow hide beneath. In pain, the Qingxu Snake opened its blood-spraying maw, hissing a few times before lunging straight for Lin Shilu¡¯s bite, while at the same time, its barrel-thick tail swept across, as if trying to send the infuriated Lin Shilu flying. Just one attack, merely slicing off a few scales, hardly causing any substantial injury? Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression grew even graver. Faced with the Qingxu Snake¡¯s counterattack, Lin Shilu generated wind under his feet and rapidly retreated dozens of yards, dodging the Qingxu Snake¡¯s assault. Once stable, he flipped his hand and threw out several Second Order talismans and more than ten First Order talismans, forming a huge rain of swords that engulfed the Qingxu Snake. Simultaneously, he leaped up and once again engaged in fierce battle with the Monster Serpent. Man and serpent fought vigorously, with earth-shattering noises spreading throughout the valley, the aftermath of the battle shattering the giant green rocks around them. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While Lin Shilu was entangled with the Qingxu Snake, several Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes below rushed towards Lin Shilu, seemingly wanting to aid their leader. ¡°Evil beasts, you shall not succeed!¡± Lin Tianming bellowed angrily and then charged towards the Qingxu Snakes ahead. Clasping the Tiangang Sword in his hands, he spun it into a Sword Lotus, and numerous streaks of Sword Qi swept out wildly. For a time, a ferocious wind blew through the valley, the green Sword Qi was majestic and overwhelming, stopping the rapidly moving Second Order Qingxu Snakes in their tracks. ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft¡­¡± A powerful blast repelled several Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes, with the intense shockwaves of the Gang Wind lifting the hem of his robe. Even so, one Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snake managed to slip through his hands and charged towards Lin Shilu. Seeing this, he had no time to intervene again; he assumed the Fifteenth Grandfather would be able to handle it. After quick contemplation, he fixed his gaze on the Qingxu Snake Clan ahead. After his attack, the enraged snake clan seemed furious. They all opened their gaping maws, launching a fierce attack on him like a swarm of locusts passing through. For a moment, all he could see were the figures of Qingxu Snakes, darkening the sky and dimming the sunlight. Lin Tianming dared not be careless. He opened the Eye of Five Colors and moved through the gaps in an astonishing manner, narrowly avoiding the numerous biting and sweeping tails of the Qingxu Snakes. Once stable, he pressed his palms together and pushed his Cultivation Technique to the extreme, the robes whipped by the wildly circulating Spiritual Power around his body. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, trap!¡± As soon as the Law Decree was uttered, the long-hidden Earth Evil Swords burst out from the ground below and began spinning wildly, enveloping an area of a thousand yards nearby. Due to the limited Spirit Wisdom of the Qingxu Snakes, equivalent to the intelligence of children, they failed to notice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation hidden beneath them. It wasn¡¯t until the Sword Array started operating and they felt its restrictive force that they began to struggle fiercely to break free. Lin Tianming, who had long planned and even risked his life to lure them into the trap, certainly wouldn¡¯t let them get away so easily. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, slay!¡± As he uttered the Law Decree, the area covered by the Sword Array began to shrink gradually, with the Qingxu Snakes inside twisting their bodies and crashing against the barriers of the Sword Array. Suddenly, bursts of explosive sounds were heard. The range covered by the Sword Array was so vast that it was somewhat weak on the outermost edges, and under the powerful body impacts of the Qingxu Snakes, Lin Tianming was mentally shaken even if they did not break free. Enduring the pain, Lin Tianming forced the Cultivation Technique to stabilize the Sword Array, controlling the Sword Qi within to strike the Qingxu Snake Clan. Under the fierce movement of the Sword Qi, some First Order Qingxu Snakes were slain in a single contact. In just a few breaths, more than twenty First Order Qingxu Snakes had perished, leaving behind only some Middle-Late Stage First Order Monster Serpents, many of which were already heavily wounded, and two Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes had been injured. As the number of snakes decreased, the overall strength of the snake clan weakened, the range of the Sword Array reduced, it became more stable, and his situation improved significantly. In just a single encounter, more than a dozen First Order Qingxu Snakes were killed, and five Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes were trapped. After being re-forged, the Earth Evil Swords were fully activated for the first time, the Sword Array composed of fifty-six blades was terrifyingly powerful! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 211 - 164: The Entire Snake Swarm is Wiped Out_1 Chapter 211: Chapter 164: The Entire Snake Swarm is Wiped Out_1 With the addition of new Earth Evil Swords, their number significantly increased, causing the Sword Array¡¯s power to grow exponentially. In his first real battle, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with such results. At this moment, more than thirty Qingxu Snakes within the Sword Array frantically tried to escape, but the space they could live in was steadily shrinking. Their massive bodies had become a burden, resulting in the Monster Serpents biting and attacking each other. Seeing this, Lin Tianming showed no mercy. He had to end the battle quickly to prevent any unexpected changes from arising. Making up his mind, he tossed the Tiangang Sword into the sky and then swiftly formed hand seals, chanting the Law Decree. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword¡­ go!¡± ... In an instant, the Tiangang Sword glowed with a brilliant golden light, surrounded by numerous streams of Sword Qi. As the Law Decree was fully chanted, the Tiangang Sword disappeared from above his head and in the blink of an eye, it went through the Sword Array Barricade and attacked a Second Order Qingxu Snake. ¡°Hiss hiss!¡± The Qingxu Snake that was targeted by the Tiangang Sword was in utter terror. As it struggled furiously, it spat out a fireball from its gaping maw, aiming at the Sword Array Barricade that bound it. ¡°That Qingxu Snake is fighting desperately!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned solemn; he knew that was the Qingxu Snake¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, which was tremendously powerful. However, he had no choice but to endure the damage, as he couldn¡¯t cancel the Sword Array to dodge the attack. Otherwise, if the Qingxu Snake broke free from the Sword Array¡¯s confines, he would be in danger. In a split second, Lin Tianming made his decision; even if it meant getting hurt, he had to keep the group of Qingxu Snakes trapped and even aim to kill them. When he refocused his mind, the Tiangang Sword struck the Second Order Qingxu Snake at its vital seven-inch area, followed by a thunderous explosion. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± The Qingxu Snake couldn¡¯t dodge in time and the Tiangang Sword decapitated it. The bucket-thick snake head fell to the ground, and simultaneously, a large amount of snake blood sprayed out, quickly pooling into a blood lake. Meanwhile, the Qingxu Snake¡¯s desperate attack, the fireball, collided with the Earth Fiend Sword Array¡¯s Barricade at the same time. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Another explosion echoed, and under the Qingxu Snake¡¯s Innate Divine Ability attack, the Earth Fiend Sword Array¡¯s Barricade shook violently. Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale; he strenuously steadied the sword bodies, with his entire True Yuan running at its limit. After three breaths of time, the Sword Array Barricade¡¯s shaking stopped, and it remained stable. Simultaneously, as the Sword Array continued to shrink, all the Qingxu Snakes inside were injured, and their numbers were greatly diminished once more. Lin Tianming was elated, then sighed with relief; he was truly worried the Sword Array would be breached, allowing the Demonic Beasts to escape, which would have caused even more trouble. Within the Sword Array, seeing their fellow decapitated, the remaining Demonic Beasts became even more violent. The remaining four Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes frenziedly rammed into the Sword Array Barricade. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Under the furious assaults of the desperate Qingxu Snakes, the sound of collisions echoed through the valley, causing the Sword Array to shake wildly. Lin Tianming firmly maintained the Sword Array¡¯s operation, gradually reducing its scope and depleting the snakes¡¯ vitality. As long as he could hold on until Lin Shilu was free to assist, they could annihilate all the Qingxu Snakes. Time slowly passed¡­ At a mound a thousand zhang away, Lin Shilu was engaged in a fierce battle with two Qingxu Snakes. He had been fighting the two Second Order Qingxu Snakes for dozens of rounds. Initially overbearing against the Medium Stage Qingxu Snake, the situation changed when another Second Order Initial Stage Monster Serpent joined the fray compelling him to fight two against one, significantly increasing the pressure, leaving the outcome of the battle hanging in the balance for the time being. Even though he was fully engaged in battling the two Demonic Beasts, he was also constantly aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s situation. Knowing that Lin Tianming alone was holding off several Second Order Demonic Beasts, along with dozens of First Order Demon Beasts, although a single First Order Demon Beast wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat, the collective numbers were not to be underestimated. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s precarious situation, and with his Spiritual Power depleting rapidly, prolonged conflict would be disadvantageous to them, so he had to resolve the battle quickly to assist Lin Tianming. With that thought, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned serious, and he rallied his peak momentum. As he swung his Spirit Sword, the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth around him became utterly chaotic. ¡°Die, beasts!¡± In a flash, several streaks of Golden Sword Qi shot out from his Magic Artifact, each with extreme speed, targeting the Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snake. ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡­¡± Across from Lin Shilu, the two Second Order Qingxu Snakes opened their moon-sized jaws. As the attack drew nearer, the Medium Stage Qingxu Snake swayed its body, shifting more than ten zhang away. But the Second Order Initial Stage Monster Serpent, trying to dodge the Sword Qi, found it moving too fast. Unable to avoid in time, three streams of Sword Qi struck its vital parts, causing flesh to tear and blood staining its body. ¡°Hiss hiss¡­¡± The Initial Stage Monster Serpent screamed and writhed wildly. Lin Shilu¡¯s forceful strike had critically wounded the Initial Stage Monster Serpent, rendering it incapable of fighting and effectively achieving his objective. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression remained intense; he felt it was a bit regrettable, but with the Initial Stage Monster Serpent nearly out of combat, his goal was reached. He turned to face the remaining Monster Serpent, his gaze filled with a fighting spirit. Without any hesitation, he once again wielded his Magic Artifact, charging towards the Monster Serpent. The Monster Serpent was both frightened and infuriated, its companions dead and its body riddled with bloody holes, it was overtaken by an overwhelming rage, determined to devour that human in revenge. The Monster Serpent swung its tail, sweeping directly toward Lin Shilu. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 212 - 164 Mass Extermination of the Snakes_2 Chapter 212: Chapter 164 Mass Extermination of the Snakes_2 Lin Shilu soared dozens of feet into the air in a single leap, dodging the Monster Serpent¡¯s tail. Beneath him, a giant boulder tens of feet wide exploded with a roar. Thwarted in its attack, the Monster Serpent grew furious. It opened its huge, blood-spitting maw and spat out two fireballs one after the other, coming at him in quick succession. Lin Shilu knew well the formidable Divine Skills of this beast; he dared not be careless. He threw out two Second Order Defense Talismans, transforming into two grey barriers that protected him in front. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Two consecutive explosions sounded as the grey barriers were shattered by the fireballs in an instant, creating a massive shockwave. The moment the grey barriers exploded, he had already shifted dozens of feet to the side, avoiding the fireballs¡¯ onslaught. ... The hill below was not so fortunate; struck by the fireballs, it was blasted into a deep pit over ten feet wide, and the scorched earth looked ghastly. Once he stabilized himself, Lin Shilu¡¯s fingers flickered rapidly, summoning a rain of fire from the sky. Then with a sweep of his robe, he sent a myriad of talisman papers transforming into a torrential Sword Array raining down upon the Monster Serpent. For a moment, light from the fire dazzled in all directions, and a series of collision sounds echoed through the gorge. The Qingxu Snake was powerful in Divine Skills attacks but was not as agile as other serpent Demonic Beasts. The Monster Serpent, unable to dodge in time, sustained numerous additional wounds on its body. Before the Monster Serpent could catch its breath, Lin Shilu¡¯s relentless assaults overwhelmed it, the Five Elements Spells mixed with Sword Qi consuming it entirely. ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± The thunderous sounds of explosions never ceased. When the firelight dissipated, the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake had lost most of its scales, and its body was densely covered in wounds, flesh torn and skin split, and its aura significantly weakened. ¡°This beast is still not dead?¡± Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but exclaim; the Monster Serpent¡¯s vitality was truly formidable. He had used up dozens of talisman papers, more than ten of which were Second Order, and despite his wave after wave of attacks, he still hadn¡¯t managed to kill the Qingxu Snake. ¡°Hmph, You beast, you will die today!¡± Lin Shilu cursed, then his hands formed seals and he made a strange gesture, all the while chanting a special Law Decree. After a moment, a silver-white Sword Qi condensed above Lin Shilu¡¯s head. Suddenly, the valley was filled with flying sand and stones as a wild wind arose, and the Sword Qi above his head grew increasingly fierce. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, Kill!¡± Lin Shilu bellowed, and the silver-white Sword Qi above his head tore through the air towards the Qingxu Snake with the speed of a meteor. This Sword Qi was none other than the Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art that Lin Tianming had acquired, having been nurtured within his Qi Sea for several years. Now unleashed, the power of the Sword Qi seemed beyond imagination. Seeing the terrifying Sword Qi slashing at it, the Qingxu Snake struggled frantically to escape, but it was severely injured, and its speed was inherently slow. Realizing that it could not evade, the Qingxu Snake opened its mouth again, ejecting several enormous fireballs, each bigger than the last, in a desperate final stand. Several fireballs streaked across the sky, clashing with the silver-white Sword Qi. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A deafening explosion darkened the skies, and the earth seemed to lose its color. Following the explosion, a massive blast wave came rolling through, forcing Lin Shilu back dozens of feet before he could stabilize his form. By then, his face was pale, and a trickle of fresh blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. When the firelight vanished, the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake lay in two pieces, its massive body still convulsing, as if expressing the Monster Serpent¡¯s unwillingness to die. Seeing the only Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake cut down, Lin Shilu¡¯s face lit up with wild joy, and without any hesitation, he swung his sword again, piercing through the twisting body of the Monster Serpent. He leaped to the side of the Monster Serpent¡¯s body, extracted its gallbladder, and only then did the creature¡¯s body stop twitching. Having done this, Lin Shilu casually exterminated another Monster Serpent that had lost its fighting power, then flew towards Lin Tianming. In less than the time of three breaths, he arrived behind Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming was in a critical situation; several Monster Serpents inside the Sword Array were frantically attacking the Sword Array Barricade. To survive, they seemed to have realized that concentrated attacks at one point were the key. Under the assaults of the five Monster Serpents, the Sword Array¡¯s stability continued to weaken; after another two strikes, it would surely disintegrate. Again, five fireballs bombarded the same spot on the Sword Array, and after a loud explosion, the Sword Array vibrated wildly, teetering on the brink of shattering. Lin Tianming¡¯s face was ashen, and a mouthful of fresh blood burst forth. At that moment, Lin Shilu arrived on horseback, and with his addition, the pressure on Lin Tianming greatly diminished, and the Sword Array resumed its smooth operation. ¡°Tianming, you trap them, and I¡¯ll handle the attack!¡± Lin Shilu hastily shouted, then swung his greatsword, arousing several streaks of Sword Qi, attacking several Second Order Demonic Beasts. Lin Tianming was not to be outdone, steadying the Sword Array while his Tiangang Sword repeatedly lashed out. ¡°Puff, puff, puff¡­¡± With the two of them striking in quick succession, screaming incessantly emanated from within the Sword Array. Within the Sword Array, three Second Order Monster Serpents had already been sliced apart by the Sword Qi, while the First Order ones fared even worse, with many being chopped into more than a few segments. The gruesome scene did not cease, and the few struggling serpents hardly stirred up any waves. Under the joint efforts of the pair, the Demonic Beasts within the Sword Array were like lambs to the slaughter, and death was their inevitable end. After less than half an hour, the previously noisy valley suddenly quieted down. At this point, looking out over the valley, it was riddled with holes, and deep pits were everywhere, with broken boulders strewn all around¡ªthe valley was a scene of utter devastation. Lin Tianming paid it no mind. With a casual wave of his hand, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords quickly converged and began to rotate around him. He stowed all the Spirit Swords into his storage bag and then sat down on a fragmented rock, breathing heavily. Both were in poor condition, though Lin Shilu was better off, merely having expended a great deal of Spiritual Power but otherwise uninjured. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had operated the massive Earth Fiend Sword Formation while contending with the attacks of five Second Order Demonic Beasts and dozens of First Order ones, completely depleting his Spiritual Power. Now his body was battered in numerous places, with some bones visible on his arm, leaving him with less than twenty percent of his strength. Had it not been for his strength in Body Cultivation, his powerful vitality and quick recovery, he would not have held on at all. The pair had fought against a Qingxu Snake Clan and, after a fierce battle lasting over half an hour, they finally emerged victorious. Lin Shilu took out an elixir to restore Spiritual Power and swallowed it, then spoke, ¡°Tianming, this place is unsafe, other Cultivators might hear the commotion at any time. We must quickly meditate to restore our Spiritual Power to be ready for any imminent dangers.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, already holding an elixir, which he swallowed before beginning to meditate and cultivate. After half an hour, Lin Tianming¡¯s Spiritual Power had recovered somewhat, and the flesh wounds on his body had also healed quite a bit. He got up and walked towards a corpse of one of the Monster Serpents. He alone sufficed to clean up the battlefield, allowing Lin Shilu to restore more Spiritual Power to face potential threats. He approached the corpse of a Second Order Middle Stage Monster Serpent, his Tiangang Sword swinging rapidly, cutting the serpent¡¯s body, as thick as a water bucket, into segments before stowing them inside his storage bag. Even the scattered Scales on the ground needed to be collected; they were excellent material for Artifact Refining. As long as they were plentiful, they could be turned into armor or crafted into shields with exceptional defensive power. He did not overlook the small pools of Snake Blood either, collecting them all. Such treasures were hard to come by, and the Purple Gold Eagle was not picky. With so much snake blood, he could swiftly enhance his strength. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After gathering the Medium Stage Second Order Monster Serpent, he moved to the body of an Initial Stage Second Order one, repeating the process and collecting all usable materials. He busied himself for half an hour just to collect the bodies of the dozens of Monster Serpents. After completing these tasks, he slightly altered the shocking scene and then walked toward Lin Shilu. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Lin Shilu opened his eyes, showing a satisfied smile. ¡°Finished clearing the battlefield?¡± asked Lin Shilu. ¡°Hehe¡­ all of it has been collected!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled back, and in turn, Lin Shilu smiled meaningfully and said, ¡°This group of Demonic Beasts was quite powerful. Let¡¯s explore the territory of the Qingxu Snakes; maybe we¡¯ll find something good!¡± With that, Lin Shilu walked deeper into the valley, and Lin Tianming quickly followed, soon disappearing from the spot. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 213 - 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_1 Chapter 213: Chapter 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_1 The two left the battlefield and headed into the valley. With the Qingxu Snake Clan wiped out, there should no longer be any danger within the valley. By this time, Lin Shilu had recovered most of his spiritual power, and Lin Tianming had also recovered some. As long as they didn¡¯t encounter a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator or a Second Order Late-Phase Demonic Beast, they wouldn¡¯t have problems ensuring their own safety. Shortly, the pair advanced more than ten li deep into the valley along the base of the mountain. They arrived at a massive stone forest that was much larger than the one near the battlefield and had denser bushes. At the center of the stone forest, there were many caves a few zhang wide, distributed around the center, each one a snake burrow. ... S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Standing atop a huge rock, Lin Shilu surveyed the stone forest ahead and said: ¡°Tianming, this vast stone forest must be the Qingxu Snake¡¯s nest. I estimate that a hundred li around are their territory!¡± Lin Tianming nodded. Demonic Beasts had their own territories and usually would not leave them unless driven away by more powerful beasts; otherwise, they would stay and breed within their own lands. The territories of Second Order Demonic Beasts ranged from a hundred li to several hundred, while most First Order Demonic Beasts had territories spanning only several tens of li. Looking at the stone forest thousands of zhang wide before him, Lin Tianming¡¯s face brimmed with excitement. They had expended considerable effort and treasures¡ªjust the talisman paper alone cost them hundreds¡ªto eradicate a clan of snakes, all for the spoils of war. Yet, the bodies and inner cores of the Qingxu Snakes alone had brought them substantial rewards. Moreover, there was the vast territory of the eradicated clan to explore, perhaps yielding some rarely-seen treasures. Grinning mischievously, Lin Shilu was also excited but chose not to show it. ¡°Tianming, the territory of this snake clan is vast. If we were to inspect it all, we would spread ourselves too thin. Plus, with the surrounding Demonic Beasts eyeing us covetously, let¡¯s just explore a twenty li radius around the stone forest. We can give up on the rest¡ªafter all, our haul is already substantial enough!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded; he too believed it was wise to be cautious. Because within a Demonic Beast¡¯s territory, treasures almost always appeared within a ten li radius of its lair. As for the outer regions, there was hardly anything of value to be found, and venturing out to explore posed significant risks. If they encountered other cultivators or nearby Demonic Beasts, a safe retreat would not be easy. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming spoke up: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, with the snake clan destroyed, there should not be any dangers within. Let¡¯s each take a direction and scout thirty li around. Should there be any danger, we¡¯ll immediately regroup at the center of the stone forest!¡± ¡°Alright, search quickly and signal at once if there¡¯s any trouble!¡± After replying, Lin Shilu immediately flew off to the left, quickly disappearing from sight. Lin Tianming wasted no time, swiftly heading in the opposite direction. While there shouldn¡¯t be any dangers, Lin Tianming remained cautious, clutching the Earth Evil Sword, ready for any potential threats. He weaved through the stone forest, crossing several tens of zhang with each step, quickly covering over ten li. In this period, he discovered two Second Order Spiritual Medicines¡ªcommon items, but still worth several hundred Spirit Stones. Suddenly, Lin Tianming halted his steps and landed on a rock. A hundred zhang ahead, in a crevice between stones, grew a tree about one zhang tall with over ten bright red fruits. Seeing the tree one zhang tall in front of him, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help exclaiming excitedly. ¡°Qiuxing Fruit!¡± Elated, Lin Tianming leaped high, darting towards the fruit tree. Qiuxing Fruit, a Second Order fire-attribute Spirit Fruit, could aid the cultivation of both cultivators and Demonic Beasts, ripening once every sixty years. Since it was a naturally formed Spiritual Object, its effects were comparable to a Second Order Spirit Origin Pill, and even stronger, making it particularly effective for fire-attribute cultivators, a truly rare treasure. Moreover, unlike the Lingshen Pill, it could be eaten directly without any discomfort. And the fruits on this Qiuxing Fruit Tree were all ripe, a timely bounty for him. ¡°No wonder such a number of Qingxu Snakes could emerge here, and even seven Second Order Demon Snakes, this tree must have played no small part!¡± After talking to himself, Lin Tianming immediately began to pick the Qiuxing Fruit. He took out over a dozen Jade Boxes and, with the Earth Evil Sword in hand, carefully plucked the Qiuxing Fruits one by one before delicately placing them into the boxes. A short while later, he had collected twelve Qiuxing Fruits. Looking at the one zhang tall Qiuxing Fruit Tree, Lin Tianming frequently stabbed the Earth Evil Sword into the ground, the rugged stone cleaved easily as if it were tofu. Having picked the fruits, he wouldn¡¯t pass up the chance to transplant the Qiuxing Fruit Tree. If relocated to his family¡¯s orchard, it could bear fresh Spirit Fruit after sixty years. In just over a dozen breaths¡¯ time, a pit a zhang wide appeared in the ground, and the Qiuxing Fruit Tree was extracted roots and all, placed into a prepared storage bag. Having done all this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, then turned and left the area without a backward glance, resuming his search. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. The area of over twenty li radius had been scouted by the two, who then reconvened at the point of separation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 214 - 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_2 Chapter 214: Chapter 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_2 At this moment, Lin Shilu¡¯s face was flushed with color, indicating a bountiful harvest. Lin Tianming was equally excited. Seeing the expression on Lin Shilu¡¯s face, he initiated a conversation. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how was your harvest this time?¡± Lin Shilu chuckled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve collected eleven second-order Spiritual Medicines and dozens of first-order ones, though they¡¯re all common and not of high value.¡± ¡°Moreover, I found a Qiuxing Fruit Tree that bore twelve Spirit Fruits, all ripe!¡± After sharing his own findings, Lin Shilu also asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s gains. ... Lin Tianming grinned from ear to ear, all but his eyes was smiling. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, my gains are nearly the same as yours. However, I found not one but two Xingxing Fruit Trees. Their fruits, also ripe, have all been picked by me, and I even uprooted the trees, ready to bring them back and replant them in the family lands!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s report, Lin Shilu was overjoyed, his face blooming with smiles. The two of them had collected three Qiuxing Fruit Trees and thirty-six ripe Qiuxing Fruits just by raiding the Qingxu Snake Territory, and they hadn¡¯t even explored the entire snake den yet. It was unknown what other treasures they might find inside. ¡°Ha ha¡­ You¡¯re ruthless, my boy, but that¡¯s what I like about you!¡± Lin Shilu teased. A smile crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s lips, yet his heart remained undisturbed. Lin Shilu said no more; instead, he regarded the changing sky and spoke. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late. We shouldn¡¯t linger here too long. Let¡¯s finish scouring the Qingxu Snake Cavern, and leave before dark to return to the Temporary Cave Abode where we stayed overnight. After a night¡¯s rest, we¡¯ll head back to Qianchuan Market early tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. ¡°We don¡¯t know what lies inside these caverns. It¡¯s better if we don¡¯t split up. We¡¯ll check them one by one, which I believe won¡¯t take long!¡± After Lin Shilu made this suggestion and saw no objection from Lin Tianming, he walked towards one of the caverns. Lin Tianming did not hesitate and immediately followed. Inside the cavern, the light was dim, but this posed no problem for the cultivators. With caution, the two progressed along the cavern that was a bit taller than a man, covering a hundred paces before reaching the end. The journey was uneventful, which relieved them. They then came upon a larger cave, akin to a vast secret chamber, with enough space to fit two large rooms. After circling inside, they found only some Qingxu Snake Scales, which seemed to have been shed by the Monster Serpents. Collecting the Monster Serpent Scales casually, they left the cave and entered another. Half an hour quickly passed, and they had explored most of the cavern without finding any valuable items, though they did collect quite a number of Qingxu Snake Scales. Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised; traditionally, the probability of finding treasures within a monster¡¯s lair was much higher than within its territory. The Qingxu Snake Cavern was filled with scales, and not even a single first-order Spirit Grass could be found, which was wholly unexpected. Seeing the disappointment on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, Lin Shilu reassured him: ¡°Tian Ming, the caverns we¡¯ve explored are smaller ones. The largest ones are yet to come, and I¡¯m sure the treasures must be concentrated in the caverns of the second-order Qingxu Snakes!¡± Heartened by Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming felt a little better. Facing a larger cavern, anticipation filled their expressions, and without hesitating, they entered. Likewise uneventful, their journey soon reached its end, arriving at a vast chamber. Upon seeing the cavern, which was obviously larger than the others, Lin Tianming and his companion were certain that this was the lair of a second-order Qingxu Snake. With a calm demeanor, Lin Tianming quickly surveyed the interior of the cavern. Under the gaze of his Eye of Five Colors, the pitch-dark cavern was as clear as daylight; no movement could escape his eyes. Along the cave, scales were plentiful, all of which were collected by the two of them. In addition to that, some incomplete bones and fragments of Spiritual Artifacts lay scattered amidst the soil. It seemed this Qingxu Snake had swallowed many cultivators, along with their Spiritual Artifacts. Over time, both bones and fragments were no longer intact, nor could the identity of the unfortunate be discerned. ¡°` Walking along, Lin Tianming suddenly pointed to a deep pit at the far end of the cave and shouted, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, look there!¡± Lin Shilu followed Lin Tianming¡¯s pointed direction and saw several oval eggs in the pit more than ten meters away, each as large as a water bucket. The two hurried over and began examining the eggs in the pit, circling the cave. ¡°These are Qingxu Snake eggs!¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed with delight. Lin Tianming was also overjoyed and reached out to touch the eggs, feeling the warmth and assessing the condition inside the eggs. After three breaths had passed, he said excitedly, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, these eggs are viable, they should be able to hatch!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu quickly reached out and picked up an egg to investigate. ¡°Indeed, they hold life force!¡± Overjoyed, Lin Shilu then said, ¡°These eggs must have been here for a while, and if it hadn¡¯t been for this great battle, they would likely have hatched soon. Now that we have found them, we must quickly take them back to the clan to be incubated, and then feed them with Lifeblood Essence. This cannot be delayed!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, fully aware of the importance of this matter. Taming demonic beasts is not easy. Besides those with great strength forcefully bonding, and giving sufficient benefits to prevent being devoured by a Spirit Beast, there is still the possibility of being devoured if the Spirit Beast¡¯s cultivation is too high. However, a Spirit Beast hatched from an egg with one¡¯s Lifeblood Essence, under any circumstances, will not turn on its master. Moreover, acquiring a Spirit Beast egg is difficult. They¡¯re either found dead, unable to hatch a Spirit Beast, or the potential of the Spirit Beast is too low, making the egg meaningless. A hatched beast that cannot significantly assist its master is a burden. Considering the strength and talent of the Qingxu Snake, though not particularly outstanding, such an opportunity is rare and cannot be sought. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two then collected all the eggs and searched the entire cave. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the vast cave had been meticulously searched by the two, and they collected numerous scales, but still no other treasures. The two left the snake cavern and quickly moved on to search another cave. An hour passed in this way, with every cave being searched thoroughly, and soon all caves had been scoured. Emerging from the caves, their faces brimmed with broad smiles. In the subsequent twenty-odd caves, they found six more serpent eggs, all with powerful life force and all likely to hatch successfully. In addition, they collected a vast number of Qingxu Snake Scales, which serve as the best food for young Qingxu Snakes. With these scales, the newly hatched snakes would not lack for food for quite some time, and it is believed that they would grow rapidly, possibly reaching the first-order late stage easily sustained on the scales. After exploring the caves, they found no other treasures of the earth but were not the least bit concerned, because the eleven serpent eggs and the huge number of scales were invaluable, almost comparable to a dozen cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining. Outside the cave, the setting sun cast its residual glow in the valley, and the sky gradually darkened. With a smile on his face and his heart pounding with excitement, Lin Shilu managed to calm himself and then said, ¡°Tian Ming, it¡¯s dusk now, and we should not linger here. Let¡¯s set off immediately, return to the Temporary Cave Abode where we rested last night, spend the night, and set off for Qianchuan Market first thing in the morning to plan our next move!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and the two immediately leapt up and hastened toward the direction they came from. With practiced ease, they made good progress and returned to the Temporary Cave Abode before dark. Lin Shilu sat down on the floor and said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tian Ming, you will take the first watch tonight as before, and I will take over in the second half of the night!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, sat at the entrance of the abode, closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense constantly monitored the surroundings. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 215 - 166 Sword Drawn, Crossbows Cocked_1 Chapter 215: Chapter 166 Sword Drawn, Crossbows Cocked_1 A night of calm passed as the two took turns standing guard. At the break of dawn the next day, Lin Tianming and his companion left the temporary cave shelter. After a night of meditation and cultivation, Lin Shilu had completely recovered his spiritual power, and Lin Tianming was also in good shape. Although there were still some minor flesh wounds on his body that hadn¡¯t fully healed, given his strong recovery ability, it would take no more than a couple of days for him to fully recover. Feeling the surging spiritual power and vitality within his body, those small injuries had almost no effect on his combat ability. Lin Tianming was in good spirits, and the trip had been highly rewarding, which brought a constant, satisfied smile to his handsome face. Looking back at the cave shelter they had stayed in for two nights, he then took the initiative to conceal any traces of their dwelling. ... After covering up the cave, Lin Shilu took out the map, they glanced at it briefly, then put it away again. The route they had taken on their way here had been almost uneventful, and they decided to continue along the same path back to Qianchuan Market. ¡°Let¡¯s set off!¡± Lin Shilu commanded. As soon as he was done speaking, Lin Shilu took the lead, striding away with leaps covering dozens of meters, and Lin Tianming quickly followed suit. The two of them swiftly passed over rocks and giant trees, soon disappearing without a trace. After half a day of travel, they had covered several hundred miles. During this time, they encountered only a few low-order demonic beasts, which they dispatched with ease and quickly moved on, but despite their rapid pace, they still hadn¡¯t exited the most dangerous inner region. The sun blazed overhead, in a sky clear of clouds. At this moment, they found themselves in a vast swamp. The swamp was massive and endless at first glance, peppered with dirt mounds tens of meters high within its confines. The two crossed over a mound, planning to thread their way through, but they halted their steps less than a thousand meters in. In front of them, two huge and strange demon insects were baring their teeth and blocking their path. Both demon insects were about nine meters long, with dark, glossy bodies and hundreds of feet, exuding a fierce and terrifying aura. They had passed this way upon entering and hadn¡¯t encountered these two demon insects; unexpectedly, they met them now on their way out. They thought to bypass the two demon insects, but, undiscouraged, the insects chased after them for a while, occasionally spitting out ice swords to attack them. Lin Tianming was somewhat exasperated. The gains they had made this trip were already substantial. If it were a normal encounter, he wouldn¡¯t bother with them, but surprisingly, these two demon insects were relentless. He couldn¡¯t understand why these two Second Order Initial Stage demon insects were trying to trouble them, as it was no different from seeking death. Seeing this, it was becoming comical that two cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level were being pursued by two Second Order Initial Stage demon insects. Lin Shilu said helplessly, ¡°Tian Ming, these are Black Carapace Demon Insects. They like to attack cultivators. Their defensive power is extremely formidable, and they¡¯re also very fast. But since we¡¯ve run into them, we might as well finish them off quickly!¡± Lin Tianming nodded. They each took out their magic artifacts and directly charged at the two Black Carapace Demon Insects. Lin Tianming, holding the Tiangang Sword, unleashed three slashes of sword qi that ferociously attacked one of the insects. Dealing with these two insects, they were under no pressure, so Lin Tianming did not plan to use the Earth Evil Sword. ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡­¡± Seeing the silver-white sword qi slashing towards it, the demon insect emitted a strange cry and quickly moved its hundred feet, lithely shifting dozens of meters to the side with hardly a sound and easily evading Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Lin Tianming was taken aback, not expecting the demon insect¡¯s speed to be so fast. It also highlighted his own shortcomings. In previous battles, he had relied on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap his opponents, attacking them when they were bound, and even cultivators or demonic beasts stronger than him found it hard to survive long in the sword formation. But without the suppression of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the demon insect had easily dodged the attack. Missing his initial strike, Lin Tianming dropped his playful expression and got serious. With a single-handed seal, a barrage of fireballs rained down from the sky, while at the same time, he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand anew. The demon insect, equally unyielding, raised its head and spat out several ice swords, shooting straight towards Lin Tianming at an incredibly fast pace. Lin Tianming raised his hand and conjured a firewall in front of him, and in the instant the ice swords collided with the firewall, made of Five Elements Spiritual Power, they pierced through it. ¡°Puff¡­¡± A soft sound followed, the ice swords slowed slightly, giving Lin Tianming the chance to retreat over ten meters. Where he had been standing was now blasted into a deep pit, with mud spewing out to form a small pool. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained calm as he gripped the Tiangang Sword tightly and once again unleashed several slashes of sword qi. Then, as if riding the wind, he leaped tens of meters toward the demon insect. The demon insect bared its teeth and dribbled saliva on the ground, eyeing Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful vitality with evident desire. As Lin Tianming approached, the demon insect squirmed all over and spat out a few more ice swords at him. In less than a moment, the sword qi and ice swords collided. Explosions rang out, sending splashes up from the swamp below. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, a wave of sword qi triumphantly shattered the demon insect¡¯s ice swords, striking the shell of the demon insect. ¡°Clang¡­¡± A metallic clashing sound erupted, and a palm-sized crack appeared on the demon insect¡¯s shell. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 216 - 166 Tense Situation_2 Chapter 216: Chapter 166 Tense Situation_2 The demon insect, writhing in pain, let out a piercing scream and, after settling down, glared maliciously at Lin Tianming, seemingly very wary of him. Then man and insect clashed once more, spells and Sword Qi attacking wildly. The whole swamp was filled with earth-shattering explosions. While Lin Tianming was engaged in fierce battle, atop a mountain several miles away, an elder in black was observing the faint glow of fire in the distance, revealing a bloodthirsty smile. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Looks like there¡¯s some strength there; let¡¯s sneak over and see if there¡¯s an opportunity!¡± After muttering to himself, the elder leaped a hundred meters into the air and quickly disappeared into the dense forest. Swamp¡­ ... Lin Tianming and the Black Armored Beetle fought for over ten rounds, both sustaining injuries. However, Lin Tianming largely maintained the upper hand, mostly pressing the demon insect in battle. Lin Tianming, getting serious, didn¡¯t hold back any longer. He made a move, preparing to settle the battle quickly. He tossed the Tiangang Sword into the air and made a special hand seal with both hands, all the while chanting a Law Decree. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword, kill!¡± Suddenly, countless fireballs appeared in the sky, and amidst a fiery rain, a Golden Light Greatsword plunged down with extreme speed. The Black Armored Beetle, sensing the impending powerful aura, frantically wriggled its body in a vain attempt to escape the mud beneath its feet. The Black Armored Beetle was unable to evade and could only watch as the Golden Greatsword struck it squarely on the head. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A sharp and loud explosion sounded, and the head of the Black Armored Beetle was cleaved off, falling into a puddle, causing a splash. The beetle¡¯s body twitched a few times before becoming motionless, clearly dead beyond any doubt. Lin Tianming leapt forward, coming to the side of the demon insect to inspect it. On the other side, Lin Shilu finished his battle quicker than Lin Tianming; after all, with his Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivation, taking down a Second Order Initial Stage Black Armored Beetle was effortless. Seeing that Lin Tianming had ended his battle, Lin Shilu was very satisfied with his performance and said excitedly: ¡°Tianming, peel off the insect¡¯s carapace and then extract its inner core. This corpse is also a good thing; I¡¯m sure the Purple Gold Eagle and the Soul Devouring Bead would like it. It¡¯s perfect to let them each swallow one.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, his face showing a delighted expression. This journey yielded not only several Qingxu Snake bodies but also this Second Order demon insect; the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s food supply was secured for a short while. He quickly removed the inner core of the Black Armored Beetle, then, wielding the Tiangang Sword in his hand, he skilfully removed the insect¡¯s hard shell along with its numerous legs, leaving nothing behind. Although he could not forge high-quality Spiritual Artifacts, letting the Artifact Refining learners of the clan practice was still good. If their refining skills were adequate, it was possible to forge First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Artifacts. In less than half a quarter of an hour, the shells and limbs of the two Black Armored Beetles were removed and stored in a storage bag, which he handed over to Lin Shilu to take back to the clan. The corpses of the demon insects, on the other hand, were kept by Lin Tianming himself. After busying himself for a while, all useful parts were gathered, and the signs of battle were concealed. Lin Tianming dusted off his hands and walked over to Lin Shilu, saying: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, let¡¯s set off!¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, about to turn and leave when suddenly he seemed to sense something. ¡°Tianming, be careful!¡± As he exclaimed, he pushed Lin Tianming with a palm strike, sending him flying back ten yards. He too used the recoil to retreat a dozen yards and landed in a small clearing. Just as they left their original positions, nine flying needles struck with terrifying speed, blasting nine deep holes in the ground where they had just been standing. ¡°A complete set of Flying Needle Magical Tools?¡± Once stable, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed. Holding a Spirit Sword, he tensely stared at a mound in front of him and said: ¡°Fellow Daoist, since you¡¯re already here, why hide any longer!¡± From behind a dirt mound hundreds of yards away, an elder in black emerged from the soil, his face full of frustration. Earlier, he heard the commotion of Lin Tianming¡¯s battle with the Black Armored Beetle, and using his movements and cultivation, he had sneaked to this hiding spot. Upon realizing that Lin Shilu and his companion¡¯s cultivation was weaker than his and that they had expended quite a bit of spiritual power, he harbored malicious intentions. Little did he know that Lin Shilu seemed to have been on alert all along, maintaining vigilance and causing his deadly strike to miss and fall short. Now that they were at odds, hoping to leave unscathed was no longer within his control. The black-robed elder¡¯s face remained calm as he emerged with dignity and gave Lin Shilu a cupped fist salute, saying, ¡°Esteemed fellow Daoist, I harbored no ill intentions. It was merely an accidental slip of the hand. Since we are both unharmed, perhaps we can let bygones be bygones, what say you?¡± Hearing the shameless explanation from the black-robed elder, Lin Shilu¡¯s face was full of disdain. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator like himself, how could he ¡°accidentally slip up?¡± Such an explanation was far too far-fetched. ¡°Humph!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s face showed a trace of anger as he glared at the black-robed elder, his mind racing with thoughts. The elder was at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, a full stage higher than him. If he were alone, he would probably not be a match for him. But with Lin Tianming here, with his divine skills, he was almost a match for a Third Level of Foundation Establishment, or even a Fourth Level Cultivator. Together, they weren¡¯t entirely without a chance of victory. What was more important was that if it wasn¡¯t for his early vigilance, Lin Tianming might have been gravely injured or even killed. If Lin Tianming were to fall, the family¡¯s hope for further advancement would be shattered, and he would become the sinner of the family. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shilu said with intense anger: ¡°A failed strike, and you propose reconciliation, do you truly take me for a clay figure?¡± As Lin Shilu spoke, he unconsciously began to move slowly towards Lin Tianming. Joining together, each held their weapon in hand, warily watching the black-robed elder¡¯s every move. Although not entirely without a chance of winning, if a fight really broke out, their chances of victory were at best thirty percent, and more likely both would end up injured. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, they had to be cautious, ready to respond to any threat posed by the elder. Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, the black-robed elder let out a cold chuckle. Although he entertained thoughts of abandoning the fight, his cultivation level was such that even if he could not win, his life would not be in danger, and escaping was still an option. It was precisely this cautious, even cowardly, disposition that had allowed him to live for over a century despite having made numerous enemies, and to even cultivate to the late stages of Foundation Establishment. Seeing the elder make no rebuttal nor movement, Lin Tianming began to observe the black-robed elder with increased tension. He opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards the black-robed elder. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze, the black-robed elder¡¯s Disguise Technique and the Spiritual Artifact that concealed his aura were rendered ineffective. Gazing at his true appearance, Lin Tianming exclaimed. ¡°Gu Tong!¡± Lin Shilu stood by with a puzzled expression, but after recalling what Lin Tianming had mentioned upon returning from the Market City Hall, he quickly remembered Gu Tong¡¯s identity. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s exclamation, the elder¡¯s face changed dramatically, losing the composure he had moments before. The fact that he had been able to walk the Cultivation World and commit acts that could not stand the light was due to his reliance on his Disguise Technique and Spiritual Artifact for masking his aura. Never had he imagined that the Disguise Technique he took pride in would be so easily seen through by Lin Tianming, a thought that terrified him. Considering his identity was exposed and the idea that his enemies, if informed, would definitely cause him much trouble, even endangering his life, he decided not to let the two go. ¡°To think they have discovered me, these two cannot be spared. If they escape, the trouble will be endless!¡± Making up his mind, his expression turned sinister. He took out a small seal that glinted with golden light from his storage bag, ready to make his move at any moment. Seeing the elder¡¯s reaction, Lin Tianming and his companion also braced themselves for a crisis. Lin Tianming held the Tiangang Sword tightly, ready for battle, while Lin Shilu gripped his Spirit Sword, vigilantly watching Gu Tong. Both sides thus stood in a standoff, neither daring to make a rash move. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense as if swords were drawn and bows were bent. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 217 - 167 The Final Trump Card_1 Chapter 217: Chapter 167 The Final Trump Card_1 After a brief standoff, Gu Tong made the first move. Facing Lin Shilu and his companion, even with a higher cultivation level, he didn¡¯t dare to be careless. A wave of his sleeve sent the Golden Seal flying in front of him, and a spell struck it, causing it to grow to half a zhang in size instantly. ¡°Overturning Mountain Seal, Suppress!¡± With a loud shout from Gu Tong, the Golden Seal soared into the sky and then slammed down towards Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu remained calm as he wielded his Spirit Sword, slashing furiously at Gu Tong, releasing several fierce Sword Qi. ... At the same time, he stomped his foot and retreated over ten zhang to stabilize his figure. When the Sword Qi collided with the Seal, a crackling sound erupted, and flames shot up around them. While the two of them were testing each other out, Lin Tianming also sprang into action, moving close to Lin Shilu, with the two forming a pincer attack. He did not dare to venture too far away, fearing that if Gu Tong targeted him alone, Lin Shilu wouldn¡¯t be able to look after him. Just as Lin Shilu and Gu Tong¡¯s initial exchange ended, and amidst the marsh, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords silently emerged from beneath the ground. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hm?¡± A frown creased Gu Tong¡¯s brow as if he had noticed something unusual about Lin Tianming, but he didn¡¯t see him as a threat, considering Lin Tianming¡¯s mere Foundation Establishment first stage could at most cause him a bit of trouble. Even though he wasn¡¯t concerned, he still wasn¡¯t going to sit back and be captured without a fight, letting himself fall into a passive position. With a single hand forming a law decree, a fireball ignited in his palm and exploded in size after being hit with the spell, surrounded by terrifying high temperatures that dried out the mud around. Looking at the terrifying fireball, he smugly slapped it out with his palm, sending it smashing towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming kept his expression calm, surprised that Gu Tong would underestimate him so greatly, thinking to finish him off with just a Five Elements Spell forged fireball. However, this might be good for him, perhaps at the crucial moment, he could deliver a fatal blow, and thus potentially turn the tide of the battle. Refocusing, as the fireball drew closer, Lin Tianming coolly sent out a Sword Qi to collide with it. The fireball burst into flames, and Gu Tong¡¯s nonchalant attack was neutralized by Lin Tianming. Once the fire and smoke cleared, Lin Shilu and Gu Tong had already engaged in fierce combat, with Gu Tong¡¯s Golden Seal pounding down relentlessly, seemingly determined to crush him there and then. Lin Shilu did not dare to hold back either, his Spirit Sword overflowing with Sword Qi as he fought fiercely with Gu Tong. Watching Lin Shilu being suppressed by Gu Tong, Lin Tianming became anxious and hurriedly joined the fray to assist him. With the battle reignited and his participation, the two of them didn¡¯t suffer any disadvantages, exchanging blows with great enthusiasm. A stick of incense time passed. Gu Tong was surprised by the prolonged fight; despite being a whole level above, he wasn¡¯t gaining much of an advantage against the two of them. Although there was only one level difference, he was at the Foundation Establishment late stage, and Lin Shilu was only at the middle stage; the gap between the sixth and seventh levels was definitely more than just two ordinary levels. In such a situation, with the assistance of Lin Tianming, the two of them managed to avoid defeat. Seeing the stalemate continue, Gu Tong appeared unwilling to waste more time. A prolonged fight might expose his identity, attracting numerous enemies all too eager to tear him to pieces. With this in mind, he resolved to take care of the problem quickly. He took out five small flags of different colors from his storage bag, each embroidered with dense runes. As soon as the flags appeared, an icy chill permeated the air, indicating they were no ordinary items. Both Lin Shilu and his companion warily watched Gu Tong¡¯s every move, their expressions extremely solemn. Gu Tong let out a cold laugh, brimming with confidence. His Five Elements Flag was a rare gem even among Second Order Medium Quality magic artifacts, almost comparable to a Second Order Superior artifact. Sealing numerous cultivators and demonic beasts¡¯ souls within had made the flags incredibly powerful, capable of trapping enemies and muddling their minds; it was with these flags that he had turned the tide in dangerous situations many times. Gu Tong threw the Five Rod Flags into the air, hitting them with a spell, and immediately, the flags shone with a mass of green light. After a moment, a strong wind began to howl in the sky, and billows of black fog sprayed out of the flags, quickly enveloping the entire sky. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the other hurriedly retreated, but the black fog surged too rapidly and soon shrouded them within. Feeling the piercing sensation from the fog, which also greatly affected their Divine Sense. Besides, it seemed as if a barrier trapped them inside; no matter how they moved, the black fog would immediately catch up, and they just couldn¡¯t shake it off. Lin Tianming and his companion were horrified, scrambling through the fog while trying to come up with a solution. ¡°Tian Ming, this black fog is very strange!¡± Lin Shilu warned. Lin Tianming nodded, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and looking at the green dots appearing within the fog, he said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not just affecting our Divine Sense; it can also disturb our minds. Once we¡¯re lost in it, we¡¯ll be like lambs to the slaughter!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s face turned incredibly grim, at a loss for what to do. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was greatly affected, his Eye of Five Colors could still clearly see the surroundings. Feeling the black fog weakening slightly, covering only a few hundred zhang around them and not expanding further, it seemed the fog could only maintain this extent. Although it could move and suppress their Divine Sense and speed, it wasn¡¯t without flaws. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 218 - 167: The Final Trump Card_2 Chapter 218: Chapter 167: The Final Trump Card_2 Just then, he distinctly felt that the barrier of the black fog had some obvious weaknesses, with the area right in front of Gu Tong being notably thinner. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened as he said to Lin Shilu, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, there¡¯s temporarily no black fog near Gu Tong, and it looks weaker. We can only break through the fog as quickly as possible to stand a chance at killing him. Otherwise, if we continue to drag this out, it¡¯ll be extremely disadvantageous for us.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu replied, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll protect you while you break the black fog¡¯s barricade!¡± With those words, Lin Shilu¡¯s steps shifted as he positioned himself in front of Lin Tianming. He stimulated his Spirit Sword and slashed out several beams of Sword Qi, then led Lin Tianming in a charge towards Gu Tong¡¯s position. ... At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword had already left his hand, and he formed hand seals, casting Law Decrees upon the Tiangang Sword. The Tiangang Sword, infused with a massive amount of Spiritual Power, began to vibrate wildly, as if sensing its master¡¯s will. Outside the black fog, Gu Tong chuckled coldly, seemingly believing that the two men were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, with no possibility of passing through the fog. He let out a strange laugh and then spat a mouthful of blood essence onto the Five Rod Flag. A chill wind swept by, accompanied by sounds of wailing and shrieking intertwined with the roars of Demonic Beasts. Suddenly, a multitude of Monster Beast Souls surged out from within the black fog, along with the souls of countless cultivators and ordinary people, all densely clustered into a swarm that was at least tens of thousands strong. Among them, over thirty souls bore astonishingly powerful auras, clearly having been Second Order Demonic Beasts or Foundation Establishment Cultivators when alive. Faced with so many ferocious souls rushing at them, Lin Tianming and his companion felt a wave of horror gripped their hearts. Seeing this, Lin Shilu cursed with a fragrant breath, ¡°This evil beast, just how many cultivators has he slaughtered, not even sparing ordinary folks who couldn¡¯t even truss a chicken!¡± Lin Tianming also felt sickened, unable to fathom how Gu Tong could be so heartless and maniacal. You should know that there was an unspoken rule in the Cultivation World stipulating that cultivators must not harm ordinary people. If one were to massacre ordinary people on a large scale and get caught, it would lead to a combined attack from the entire Cultivation World. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there were not a few demonic cultivators exterminated each year for slaughtering ordinary people on a large scale. Yet Gu Tong had secretly mass-murdered tens of thousands of ordinary people and sealed their souls within a Magic Artifact. Such actions were nothing short of lunacy and aroused the ire of both gods and men. However, this was not something they needed to consider at the moment. The most important thing was to get out of the range of the black fog and quickly execute this man. Fully aware of this, the two made their way through the black fog, with Lin Shilu leading and clearing a safe path for Lin Tianming. Inside the black fog, Lin Shilu was the first to engage in fierce combat with a mass of lower-tier souls. He casually threw out more than a dozen talisman papers that transformed into a torrential rain of swords to meet the souls. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± Mournful cries echoed as the lower-tier souls within the black fog were slashed into pieces en masse. Lin Shilu¡¯s Spirit Sword moved swiftly, its Sword Qi colliding with several formidable souls above. Although these souls had been Second Order Demonic Beasts or Foundation Establishment Cultivators in life, their strength as souls after death was greatly reduced, most likely only displaying about ten to twenty percent of their original power. Nevertheless, there were just too many souls in the black fog, and as they rushed forward fearlessly, Lin Shilu¡¯s Spiritual Power was rapidly drained. After a dozen or so breaths, swathes of souls perished, and they were getting closer and closer to the weaker part of the fog. By this time, Lin Shilu¡¯s body was covered in numerous wounds, lying in his own blood, all inflicted by the tearing and biting of the souls. Gu Tong saw that most of the souls had died, with only a handful of more powerful ones remaining. The souls of the ordinary people had been wiped out by Lin Shilu. Although the lower-tier souls had weak strength, they were all ordinary folks he had kidnapped in small-scale raids. He had spent considerable effort and risked great danger to accumulate such numbers. To think that Lin Shilu had depleted the majority of them to deal with the two men, it was painful for him to accept. With this in mind, Gu Tong¡¯s face turned red as he slapped out several Law Decrees, and the Golden Seal left his hand, plunging into the black fog. Within the black fog, just as Lin Tianming and his companion were about to reach that weaker barrier, Gu Tong¡¯s Golden Seal descended from the sky, bearing down on Lin Shilu with a ferocious strike. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, be careful!¡± Lin Tianming was the first to spot the golden seal descending swiftly and promptly warned. However, Lin Shilu had already been injured and was distracted by his need to protect Lin Tianming. In addition, without the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, his divine sense was greatly impaired, preventing him from detecting the danger in time. Despite Lin Tianming¡¯s warning, the golden seal¡¯s speed was simply too fast; Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t even had a chance to react before it was already upon him. Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s face changed drastically, but he quickly calmed down. With a resolute expression, he forcefully slapped Lin Tianming¡¯s back, pushing him towards the weaker part of the black fog. As he saw Lin Tianming reach the position, a flash of red light flickered around him, and a blood-colored jade pendant transformed into a red light that shielded him in the front. A loud bang ensued, the light from the jade pendant shattered, and the golden seal struck him. After a pitiable scream, Lin Shilu spat out mouthfuls of blood and, like a kite with a broken string, was flung away, soon hitting the ground motionless. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu hit by the golden seal, his life or death unknown, Lin Tianming shouted with eyes bloodshot. At this moment, Lin Tianming was incredibly furious. He didn¡¯t have time to check on Lin Shilu¡¯s condition; he only had to shatter the black fog¡¯s barrier, or they would both certainly die there. Lin Shilu had pushed him away in the critical moment just to create an opportunity for him to break through the black fog¡¯s barrier. For this purpose, he had disregarded his own life and death; for this moment, Lin Tianming could not forsake this sole chance. He turned his head, his blood-shot eyes emitting a terrifying murderous aura. He began forming hand seals, and with a mouthful of blood on the Tiangang Sword, it started to vibrate madly while emitting a series of sword cries. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword released a beam of light that pierced through the sky, ruthlessly striking the weakest part of the black fog barricade. ¡°Pff¡­¡± A massive sound echoed as the black fog disappeared without a trace. The black fog dissipated, and the five rod flag in front of Gu Tong fell to the ground, his complexion changing. The black fog that had never been broken was now shattered by Lin Tianming, whom he hadn¡¯t taken seriously. Gu Tong had no time to contemplate as, before him, Lin Tianming¡¯s body erupted with a fearsome murderous intent. Just as the black fog cleared, Lin Tianming formed hand seals, making a strange gesture while chanting an unusual incantation. At that moment, suddenly, a dazzling silver light filled the sky, as blinding as if the sun were right before his eyes. Simultaneously, a terrifyingly powerful sword qi took shape above his head, devouring the surrounding spiritual energy. This sword qi was the Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art. Lin Tianming had been condensing it for a long time, having nurtured it within his Qi Sea Dantian for several years. With Lin Shilu¡¯s life hanging by a thread, and Lin Tianming unable to match Gu Tong using his usual methods, at this moment, to save his own life, he could not worry about anything else. This strongest trump card was now his last hope in such a dire situation. Sensing the monumental sword qi, several times more potent than Lin Shilu¡¯s attacks, it was hard to imagine that it had been launched by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. At this instant, Gu Tong¡¯s face turned ashen. Without any hesitation, he immediately fled in a panic. Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed red, his eyes filled with murderous intent, he pointed in the direction Gu Tong was escaping and bellowed: ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, kill!¡± Before the words even faded, the fearsome sword qi streaked across the sky at extreme speed, slashing towards Gu Tong. ¡°Aaargh¡­¡± An utterly miserable cry sounded as the sword qi vanished and the sky returned to normal. In a mound a thousand feet ahead of him, Gu Tong¡¯s severed limbs were scattered aside, evidently dead beyond any doubt. COMMENT 0 comment S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 219 - 168: Return to the Market Town_1 Chapter 219: Chapter 168: Return to the Market Town_1 Upon witnessing Gu Tong¡¯s definitive demise, Lin Tianming immediately turned and rushed toward Lin Shilu. At that moment, Lin Shilu was covered in blood, his body riddled with wounds, his aura utterly wilted, and a bloody hole directly caved into his chest, where stark white bones could be clearly seen. He knelt beside Lin Shilu, calling out anxiously as he checked on him. After a little over ten breaths¡¯ time, a bit of color finally returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s pale face. Based on his assessment, the situation, although not terrible, was not cause for optimism either. Since the Blood-colored Jade Pendant blocked the majority of the Golden Seal¡¯s potency, Lin Shilu was not killed on the spot, but he had still sustained serious injuries. ... At present, his body had numerous wounds and he had lost too much blood, yet for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, these injuries were not fatal. What was critical was that the remaining force of the Golden Seal, having penetrated the protection of the Jade Pendant, struck his chest with solid impact, severely damaging his internal organs and severing many of his meridians. It would take some time to fully recover from these injuries, and without at least half a year¡¯s care, it would be difficult for him to return to his peak condition. With Gu Tong dead and Lin Shilu still alive, Lin Tianming finally let out a long sigh of relief. The situation had been dire at the time, with Lin Shilu risking his life to create an opportunity for him, fortunately aided by the Eye of Five Colors, which revealed the weak point in the Black Fog Barricade. More importantly, it was the Sword Qi he had condensed for several years that erupted with staggering potency, ultimately slaying Gu Tong. The power of the Spirit Art exceeded his expectations; prior to this, he had only seen Lin Shikang use it once, and the Sword Qi he had cultivated for two years outright killed a Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake. As for himself, after carefully nurturing it for several years, the unleashed power far exceeded his expectations, striking down Gu Tong in one blow, leaving him somewhat incredulous. Gu Tong was also too foolish, panic-stricken by the power of the Spirit Art, even attempting to flee. If he had shown some courage and relied on some Defense Treasures or talisman paper, with his cultivation base to support him, he might have sustained serious injuries at most, and wouldn¡¯t have met such a tragic death. Fortuitously relying on the Spirit Art to survive the ordeal, joy washed over him, but then Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale. After two consecutive battles, although he wasn¡¯t much injured, his Spiritual Power had been depleted, and they were still not out of danger; he needed to quickly recover his Spiritual Power to face potential threats. He fed a healing elixir to Lin Shilu and also swallowed a Huiyuan Pill himself, immediately sitting down to meditate and restore his energy. After half an hour, Lin Tianming had regained about twenty to thirty percent of his Spiritual Power, barely enough to defend himself. He got up and went over to where Gu Tong had died, pocketing his storage bag and collecting the Five Rod Flag and Golden Seal. He clasped the Five Rod Flag in one hand and started examining the Golden Seal with the other. Although the Five Rod Flag was an evil Magic Artifact, its power was indeed formidable, with the emitted black fog being extremely elusive and easy to fall for if one was not cautious. However, after Lin Shilu¡¯s slaughter, almost all the Monster Beast Souls within were depleted, greatly reducing its power. If he could capture a large number of Monster Beast Souls to seal inside, it might restore its potency and become an artifact for orthodox use. The Golden Seal was also a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, equally potent, suitable for both offense and defense, a comprehensive tool indeed. After clearing the battlefield and erasing any traces of the fight, seeing Gu Tong¡¯s remains, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the past events. When he saw the bounty issued by the Meng Family at the Market City Hall, this man had been at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm several years ago; unexpectedly, in just a few years, he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, possessing many formidable methods and an array of precious treasures. No wonder he managed to live well despite having made so many enemies. This magical duel had truly been fraught with peril; Gu Tong¡¯s methods were endlessly surprising, and with his cultivation surpassing Lin Shilu, if it weren¡¯t for the might of the Spirit Art and Gu Tong¡¯s cowardice and foolishness, they would have undoubtedly perished here. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a surge of alarm and silently counted his lucky stars. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming released a fireball that burned Gu Tong¡¯s remains to ash. After completing these tasks, he pondered their next move. They were still in the swamp, inside the Qianchuan Mountain Range¡¯s inner region, the territory of the Black Armored Beetle. Given the current situation, there was no time for searching; Lin Shilu needed a safe place to recover from his injuries. The danger had not yet passed, but they were close to the outer region. If they pushed themselves, they might be able to leave this perilous area before dark and then rest at the edge of the outer region. Having made up his mind, he lifted Lin Shilu and, after consulting the map, immediately set off toward the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Lin Tianming pushed hard all the way, and, fortunately, he encountered little trouble, barely running into any Second Order Demonic Beasts, and easily shook off any First Order Demon Beasts he did meet. Without any hesitation, Lin Tianming finally reached the edge of the outer region just before nightfall. He found a secluded valley, hurriedly created a simple cave dwelling in a rock wall, and the two of them quickly entered. Lin Shilu was still unconscious, but he had been given a Consolidating Essence Pill, his wounds had begun to scab over, and his condition slowly stabilized, leaving nothing else but to patiently wait for his natural awakening. After making sure he was settled, Lin Tianming sealed the entrance to the cave dwelling and sat down on the ground to cultivate through meditation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 220 - 168: Return to the Town Market_2 Chapter 220: Chapter 168: Return to the Town Market_2 Time flitted by, and five days had passed¡­ In the stillness of the cave dwelling, a cough echoed. Hearing the sound, Lin Tianming was overwhelmed with joy. He quickly ended his cultivation and hurried towards Lin Shilu. At this moment, Lin Shilu had woken up. He tried to sit up unsteadily, but his injuries were too severe, making it a struggle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming hastily helped him sit up properly, and then with a choked voice, he said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I¡¯ve been so worried these past days. You were gravely injured but thankfully, you¡¯re finally awake!¡± ... sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu patted Lin Tianming¡¯s shoulder, his face carrying a trace of a warm smile. ¡°Child, do not worry. I¡¯m not dying yet. We are both still alive!¡± Looking at Lin Shilu¡¯s heartwarming smile, Lin Tianming felt a twinge in his heart and his eyes moistened with tears. In the midst of the battle, his elder was constantly looking out for him, creating opportunities for him even at the brink of life and death, disregarding his own safety. It wasn¡¯t just him. Back in the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Shiji had also risked his life for the younger generation of the Lin Family. There were numerous such examples. Lin Shilu had fought alongside him many times, always selflessly sacrificing for him, treasuring his life more than his own. Considering this deep affection, Lin Tianming was greatly moved. It was only because the Lin Family valued loyalty and sacrifice that he could understand this sentiment. At that moment, he had an insatiable desire for strength, wishing he could protect his family and carry on this spirit. Lin Tianming¡¯s determination was resolute, his demeanor radiating a special aura. While he was lost in thought, Lin Shilu began inquiring about what happened during his unconsciousness, and Lin Tianming recounted the whole process without any reservation. After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Shilu was overjoyed. He then sucked in a breath of cold air, also filled with anticipation for the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Lin Tianming had obtained the Great Sun Sword Qi Art several years ago. All the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family had studied it, but the time it took them to condense the Sword Qi varied. Lin Shilu had only managed to condense Sword Qi for just over a year; its power was limited, so he did not use it in battle. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve done very well. You are truly the prodigy of our family!¡± Lin Shilu said, his face beaming with pride and relief. Lin Tianming chuckled and then asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what are our next steps? Do we wait for your injuries to heal before returning to the market town, or do we depart right away?¡± Lin Shilu raised his eyebrows slightly, his face a bit pale. He waved his hand and said, ¡°My injuries won¡¯t heal quickly, and it¡¯s not advisable for me to travel in this state. How about we recuperate here for a few days? You can also take this time to consume a Qiuxing Fruit for cultivation. What do you think of this arrangement?¡± ¡°Good, I will follow your esteemed guidance!¡± Lin Tianming nodded his approval of Lin Shilu¡¯s plan. They were already away from the inner parts of the mountain range and the likelihood of encountering Second Order Demonic Beasts was not high. With his own cultivation, he could manage. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming sat down and began cultivating, operating his Cultivation Technique. Lin Shilu took out an elixir and swallowed it, closing his eyes to meditate and recover from his injuries. An hour later, Lin Tianming had adjusted himself to the best state. He then took out a Qiuxing Fruit and swallowed it whole. Upon consuming the Spirit Fruit, a gentle energy quickly spread, coursing through his meridians, bringing about an almost heavenly tingling sensation that nearly made him groan aloud. The energy of the Qiuxing Fruit was vastly different from that of the Lingshen Pill. Every time he took even a First Order Lingshen Pill, it caused him unbearable pain. Feeling this unique energy, he focused fully on his Cultivation Technique to assimilate it, channeling the gentle Spiritual Power into his Seven Sea Dantian. With the help of the Qiuxing Fruit, just an hour of cultivation allowed him to refine enough Spiritual Power to match half a month of hard training. Lin Tianming was overjoyed. Since the beginning of his Foundation Establishment, he had never used proper elixirs for cultivation, nor had he exploited any gifted treasures. As the parched Seven Sea Dantian encountered the Spirit Fruit¡¯s energy, it greedily absorbed the gentle Spiritual Power. Inside the cave dwelling, the breathing of the two was steady as they cultivated and healed. Time slowly passed, and another ten days went by. One morning, Lin Shilu was the first to open his eyes, his pale cheeks showing more color. At this time, the flesh wounds on his body had all healed, and most of the meridians within had recovered. Avoiding battle was enough; normal activities posed no problem. Lin Tianming also opened his eyes then, his face brimming with smiles. After ten days of cultivation, the powerful energy contained in the Qiuxing Fruit was fully refined. Now he felt full of power, his mental state reaching an unprecedented peak. Just one Qiuxing Fruit had allowed his cultivation to advance a small step, almost reaching the peak of the First Layer. With a few more, he might take this opportunity to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied. Seeing that Lin Shilu had finished his cultivation, he quickly asked how he had recovered. Responding to Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned words, Lin Shilu said, ¡°Tianming, my injuries have stabilized. As long as I avoid fighting, there will be no issue, and we can set off. Tianfeng and the others must be worrying by now!¡± ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve been away for over twenty days, which is ten days more than expected. It¡¯s time to leave!¡± Lin Tianming agreed with a word, then started tidying up the cave dwelling. After that, the two of them walked out together and concealed the entrance of the cave once more. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 221 - 168: Return to the Town Market_3 Chapter 221: Chapter 168: Return to the Town Market_3 After doing this, the two immediately set out, swiftly heading in the direction of Qianchuan Market. Considering Lin Shilu¡¯s injuries, the two did not travel fast, taking two days to leave the more dangerous area. Lin Tianming checked the map and ensured that their location was safe, he then released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. After feeding it two sections of late-stage Qingxu Serpent Meat, the two jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which then soared into the sky, heading towards Qianchuan Market. ¡­ At Qianchuan Market, in a secret room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion, ... Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingli, along with a few others, were seated, all looking somewhat anxious. Lin Tianfeng stood up and looked out the window, speaking apprehensively, ¡°Uncles, before Fifteenth Grandfather and Tianming left, they said that this trip would take at most ten to fifteen days, yet it¡¯s been almost a month now and they still haven¡¯t returned. What shall we do?¡± Lin Xingsu and the others also showed nervous expressions but were at a loss for what to do. After all, with their cultivation, they could only move around the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. To enter and search for the two would be like finding a needle in a haystack, truly a hopeless endeavor. Seeing the low morale of the clan members, Lin Xingli spoke to comfort them, ¡°Everyone, Fifteenth Uncle and Tianming are not weak in cultivation. Together, they could even handle a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. It¡¯s just over ten days; perhaps they are delayed by some unexpected treasure!¡± On hearing this, the others finally heaved a sigh of relief. It was indeed very possible; an adventure in the Qianchuan Mountain Range could lead to unexpected delays due to treasures and opportunities. Seeing everyone relax a little, Lin Xingli continued, ¡°Let¡¯s all return to our cultivation. In another half-month, if they still haven¡¯t returned, we¡¯ll either request Elder Ye to search for them or go back to the clan for help!¡± ¡°That¡¯s all we can do!¡± Lin Tianfeng replied. The rest nodded their heads in agreement, ready to take their leave, when the ward at the door flickered, and Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. After a dusty and swift journey, with the help of the Purple Gold Eagle, their speed increased substantially. It only took them two days to return to Tianchuan Market. Seeing Lin Tianming return, everyone was overjoyed and hurried to greet him. After returning the greetings with a fist salute, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Fellow clansmen, Fifteenth Grandfather was severely injured during the trip and has already returned to his cave dwelling to close up and recover!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How is the elder¡¯s condition? Is it serious?¡± Hearing Tianming¡¯s statement, the clan members asked anxiously. ¡°Everyone, there is no need to worry too much. Although Fifteenth Grandfather is quite injured, his condition has stabilized. With a few months of quiet cultivation, he should be able to recover to his peak.¡± Relieved by Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, everyone sighed in relief. Each Foundation Establishment clan member was too important to the clan, especially someone like Lin Shilu, who with high seniority was the clan¡¯s only Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner. With his talent and cultivation, aside from Lin Tianming, he was the clansman most likely to advance to the Golden Core Realm. Once the others regained their composure, Lin Tianming revealed part of what had transpired on their journey but did not mention Gu Tong. After all, that man was too evil and had attracted many enemies; who knew what kind of grudges and grievances he had. Besides, killing a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator would certainly cause a sensation; for the safety of the clan, it was wiser not to bring this up. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s account, everyone was shocked. The two had actually wiped out a Qingxu Snake Clan, an achievement beyond imagination. And upon learning they acquired several Qingxu Snake Eggs and some Qiuxing Fruit Trees, the clan members were over the moon with excitement, following which they became incredibly joyful. Seeing everyone¡¯s happy expressions, Lin Tianming instructed, ¡°Fellow clansmen, Fifteenth Grandfather has ordered that nothing about this journey is to be revealed to outsiders, not a single word, otherwise clan law will be enforced!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The clan members nodded in response, then chatted casually. After half an hour had passed, everyone dispersed, and Lin Tianming led a few people back to the cave dwelling to cultivate. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 222 - 169: Dividing the Spoils_1 Chapter 222: Chapter 169: Dividing the Spoils_1 Back to his cave abode, Lin Tianming set aside all minor matters and started taking Qiuxing Fruit, wholeheartedly beginning his closed-door cultivation. Time flew by, and a month had passed. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out a bright light. ¡°Exhilarating¡­¡± Feeling the strength in his body increase yet again, his heart surged with excitement, full of praise for the effect of the Qiuxing Fruit. Before this, he had been consolidating for almost two years, with extremely slow progress in his cultivation. ... After a month of closed-door cultivation, he had refined two more Qiuxing Fruits, and the effects of cultivating with Qiuxing Fruit were surprisingly good, whether it was because he had consolidated for too long, or the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage was naturally not difficult to cultivate in. At this moment, he was getting closer and closer to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. If he were to cultivate in closed-door isolation for a long period and consume a large number of Qiuxing Fruits, he was confident he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. However, now was not the time for long-term closed-door cultivation. Today, Lin Shilu made a brief exit from his own cultivation retreat and specifically convened him to discuss sect affairs. He stood up and left the secret chamber, appearing in the small courtyard. Lin Shilu was already sitting in the courtyard waiting; he stepped forward and respectfully bowed, then the two of them took their seats. Over the month, Lin Shilu¡¯s complexion had improved a lot, seemingly well on the way to recovery. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shilu began speaking: ¡°My injuries have healed considerably, and now there are two important matters to address!¡± Finished speaking, Lin Shilu took out a dark green storage bag, which belonged to Gu Tong, and casually tossed the storage bag to Lin Tianming, motioning him to do an inventory of the items within. Lin Tianming received the storage bag, wiping away the remaining Divine Sense on it. He then extended his own Divine Sense to check the items inside. He hadn¡¯t thought it important, but upon examination, he couldn¡¯t help but take in a sharp breath¡ªthey were so numerous that it was staggering to comprehend what Gu Tong must have done to accumulate such wealth. Seeing the color rise to his cheeks, Lin Shilu quickly pressed him with questions. Without beating around the bush, Lin Tianming upended the storage bag and poured out its most important contents. In no time at all, a multitude of treasures¡ªSpirit Stones, elixirs, Spiritual Medicine materials, and Artifact Refining materials¡ªwere spread out before them. ¡°What on earth did Gu Tong do, to have such an overwhelming collection of treasures on him?¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed with an agitated tone. As Lin Tianming looked over the vast treasure, he began to tally them up, while Lin Shilu sat beside him taking notes. ¡°Thirty-one thousand two hundred and a bit Spirit Stones, one hundred and fifty bottles of First Order Elixir, thirty bottles of Second Order Pills.¡± Lin Tianming recited the quantity and type of the treasures, while Lin Shilu recorded them on a piece of Beast Skin. ¡°A combined total of several hundred First and Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, three pieces of Third Order Spirit Medicine Material, four Second Order Magical Artifacts, sixteen First Order Spiritual Tools¡­¡± After half an hour, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had finally finished taking the inventory of Gu Tong¡¯s storage bag. Looking at the quantity and types noted on the Beast Skin, they took another sharp breath. There were simply too many treasures, with an estimated value of at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Included among the more valuable items were Third Order Spiritual Medicine, Second Order Magical Artifacts, various amounts of elixirs, as well as seven corpses of Demonic Beasts at the Second Order Initial Stage, and two bodies of Demonic Beasts at the Second Order Middle Stage, well-preserved enough for Artifact Refining and Talisman Making. After inspecting the basic treasures, Lin Tianming and his companion turned their attention to the remaining three Jade Slips and one grey-brown Token. ¡°What is this?¡± Lin Shilu picked up the Token, a puzzled expression on his face, before something seemed to dawn on him. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tianming, doesn¡¯t this Token look similar to the Mysterious Moon Order you acquired several years ago?¡± Lin Shilu inquired. Reminded by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming took the Token and then opened his Eye of Five Colors to inspect it. Looking at the familiar text inside the Token and the lifelike Spirit Beast patterns on its surface, Lin Tianming retrieved the first Token he had acquired and compared them side by side. After comparison, he was certain it was indeed the Mysterious Moon Order he had obtained previously. Fiddling with the two Orders, Lin Tianming said with a sense of frustration: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, it is indeed the Mysterious Moon Order, but the specific use of this Token is still unknown.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu started to reassure him. ¡°In the Cultivation World, many Secret Realms require either Bloodline Power or a Token to enter. Given how extraordinary this Mysterious Moon Order is, it must be one such item. Although we are not clear on which Secret Realm the Token belongs to, nor do we know the timing and requirements to activate it, it is undeniable that this item is invaluable. You must take good care of it.¡± ¡°Besides, since Gu Tong died at our hands and we gained this Mysterious Moon Order, remember that this matter must not be disclosed. Forget the bounty offered by the Meng Family; you only need to inform Elder Wu and the others, so they are aware of the situation!¡± Understanding the gravity of the situation, Lin Tianming nodded and then pondered over Lin Shilu¡¯s elucidation of the Mysterious Moon Order. In the Cultivation World, Secret Realms were exceedingly rare, existing within special spaces. It was said that within them lay treasures of the world, but also filled with immense dangers. Those who could enter and emerge alive often brought back precious items, catapulting their status skyward. However, Secret Realms were not easy to enter. Many imposed restrictions on the cultivation level of the entrants. Some Realms¡¯ spaces were unstable and could only withstand a certain number of Qi Refining Cultivators, while others were extremely robust and could even permit Divinity Transformation Stage old monsters to enter. The timing and location of a Secret Realm¡¯s opening were unfathomable, with some being suppressed by powerful factions through Formations, fixing their locations for thousands or even tens of thousands of years without moving. Meanwhile, ownerless Secret Realms would shift their locations after every opening, retrieving the Tokens that allowed entry and subsequently scattering them anew along the moving path of the Realm. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 223 - 169: Dividing the Spoils_2 Chapter 223: Chapter 169: Dividing the Spoils_2 In summary, the probability of encountering a Secret Realm greatly increases in the vicinity of where a Token is found, and no one who has obtained a Mysterious Realm Token is willing to forfeit such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Having obtained the Mysterious Moon Order within the borders of the Wei Kingdom, it was very likely that a Secret Realm would open nearby. They only needed to discretely gather information, closely monitor the situation, and wait for the Secret Realm to manifest. Lin Tianming gathered his thoughts, tucked the two Tokens away, and patted his chest to assure they would be carefully guarded. After Lin Shilu gave a few instructions, the matter of the Tokens was temporarily concluded. Examining the remaining three jade slips, each of them picked up one to peruse. A tea time passed, and after going through the three jade slips, they finished tallying everything. ... Among these jade slips, one contained a fire attribute Yellow Grade Technique called ¡°Tian Li Fire Scripture,¡± known for its formidable attack power and considered a fine piece among Yellow Grade Techniques¡ªpresumably the one practiced by Gu Tong. The other two jade slips, however, were ordinary: one was the insights of a Second Order Artifact Refiner. The other was the insights of a Second Order Inscription Master; the quality was limited but still had worthwhile aspects. It could only be taken back to the clan for the members to study, which would enhance their cultivation techniques to some extent. Lin Shilu took the Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights and glanced over it before putting it into his storage bag, clearly planning to delve into it. After all, he was a Refinement Maniac. Even though the Refiner who left these insights might not be at his level, there was still potential learning to be had that could be helpful. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming retrieved from his storage bag the Magic Artifacts used by Gu Tong: the Five Rod Flag and a Golden Seal named the Overturning Mountain Seal. He lined up the two Magic Artifacts in front of him. All the treasures obtained from Gu Tong were now collected in front of the two of them. Gazing at the six different kinds of Magic Artifacts, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was one of great excitement, and Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. The Lin Family had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators. During the family battle on Luoyun Mountain, several newly advanced Foundation Establishment members of the clan had only First Order Spiritual Tools to confront their enemies. It was after the annihilation of the Jin Family that they acquired several Magic Artifacts, allowing every Foundation Establishment member to wield a Magic Artifact. Now, acquiring six more Magic Artifacts, with the Five Rod Flag and Overturning Mountain Seal both being Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifacts, and a set of nine flying needles that formed a complete Spiritual Tool, the craftsmanship was quite impressive. They were fine artifacts even among those of the same caliber. The remaining three Magic Artifacts consisted of two Spirit Swords and a Spiritual Whip over ten yards long, all of which were First Order Inferior Magic Artifacts with average quality, but they were still much better than First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments. Looking at the numerous Spiritual Tools and Magical Treasures, Lin Shilu pondered before saying: ¡°Tian Ming, let¡¯s each select two pieces among these Magic Artifacts. As for the Spirit Stones, we¡¯ll each take ten thousand. How about we submit all the remaining treasures to the clan?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s proposal, Lin Tianming did not hesitate a moment before gladly agreeing. Although these spoils of war were obtained through their joint efforts and rightfully belonged to them¡ªmoreover, the clan had no rules forcing members to hand over their treasures¡ªthe Lin Family had been established for over eight hundred years, and the members traditionally volunteered their contributions, with only the amount varying. As Lin Shilu was the main contributor to their gains on this mission and had suffered severe injuries as a result, he showed no concern for the vast amount of treasures. Lin Tianming felt even less entitled to care. In terms of power, even if Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t mentioned such an arrangement, Lin Tianming was planning to submit most of his share of the loot. However, he also had to consider his own needs, especially since the effects of the Qiuxing Fruits were excellent and he desperately needed them to sustain his cultivation until he found a solution to the elixir issue. With this in mind, Lin Tianming hesitated. Seeing his manner of holding back, Lin Shilu had already guessed what was on his mind. ¡°The Qiuxing Fruits are highly beneficial to you, I¡¯m well aware of that. There are thirty-six in total; take out ten as a share for your Third Brother and the others, and keep the rest for your own cultivation!¡± said Lin Shilu. ¡°Thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming removed ten Qiuxing Fruits, placing them amongst the many treasures, then sincerely bowed to him. Lin Shilu nodded, then motioned for him to select a Spiritual Tool. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t too sentimental. He looked at the six magic artifacts on the field and hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to choose. He had experienced the bizarre attacks of the Five Rod Flag, and the soul attacks within it were also very powerful. However, they had been largely destroyed by Lin Shilu, causing their power to greatly diminish. After some thought, Lin Tianming still decided to choose the Five Rod Flag, mainly because the prospects of this artifact were very good. As long as he kept adding souls to it, its power could be quickly enhanced. Besides, this artifact could complement his Earth Fiend Sword Formation. With both at his command, enemies simply couldn¡¯t react in time. Moreover, he had plenty of Qingxu Snake souls and Black Armored Beetle souls in his possession. If he sealed them all into the flag, its power would surely be no less than during Gu Tong¡¯s period. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming collected the Five Rod Flag and then glanced at the Golden Seal before looking at the nine silver-white needles. In the end, he chose the nine silver-white needles. The reason was simple, if he took the two best artifacts for himself, it would be rather unseemly. Furthermore, he already had plenty of magic artifacts, and acquiring the Overturning Mountain Seal wouldn¡¯t significantly increase his strength. Since his father still lacked a suitable artifact and it was quite dangerous for him to be alone, he planned to take the nine matching needle artifacts as a gift for him. That way, his father¡¯s safety in defending Golden Horn Mountain would be assured. With this in mind, he immediately collected the nine needles and then waited for Lin Shilu to pick his artifact. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t hesitate and directly put the Overturning Mountain Seal and the Spirit Sword artifact into his storage bag. With the distribution of artifacts complete, Lin Shilu waved one hand and grabbed twenty thousand spirit stones, taking ten thousand from them to give to Lin Tianming. Having done all this, he waved his hand again, pulling out several jade bottles from his storage bag, which contained souls he had collected. However, they were mostly from First Order demon beasts, with only two from the Second Order. Lin Tianming received the items, feeling incredibly moved. Whatever was on his mind, Lin Shilu seemed to understand clearly, always giving him what he needed without any hesitation. Lin Shilu chuckled and gave him a comforting look before speaking, ¡°All these things have been distributed now. Leave the First Order elixirs in Luoyun Pavilion and send the elixirs you¡¯ve refined back to the family for our people to use. Sell the inferior ones in the market square!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and put all the treasures into a storage bag. After finishing this, Lin Tianming took the initiative to say, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, your injuries aren¡¯t fully healed yet, and the Qingxu Snake eggs cannot be delayed. Tianming wishes to leave the market square in half a month to return to the family land, deliver the items we¡¯ve obtained this time, and bring back a batch of spiritual objects to replenish Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s stock.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s offer to volunteer, Lin Shilu hesitated for a moment. He was concerned about letting Lin Tianming leave the market square alone to return to Green Bamboo Mountain, but under current circumstances, a trip back to the family land was indeed necessary. Since he was injured and unable to exert even a third of his strength and could not recover to his peak in a short time, it was not appropriate for him to travel. After pondering for a good while and considering that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was not much less than his, Lin Shilu sighed deeply. ¡°So be it!¡± ¡°You should cultivate in seclusion these next few days to properly re-refine your artifacts and adjust your condition, then you can set out!¡± After saying this, he spoke earnestly and instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for Xing Li to prepare the family¡¯s elixirs and spirit stones at Luoyun Pavilion. Remember to be careful on this trip; don¡¯t delay too much on the road. When you return, have your Third Uncle bring Xing Ping to the market square as well. With him accompanying you, it will be a bit safer.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, and he bowed respectfully to Lin Shilu, then pledged confidently, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, Tianming will not disappoint and will return to see you as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ go and cultivate!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then bowed with a fist, stood up, and walked towards his training room. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 224 - 170 Thousand Beast Banner_1 Chapter 224: Chapter 170 Thousand Beast Banner_1 Back in the practice room, Lin Tianming sat on the ground, took out the Five Rod Flag and the Nine Silver Needles, and carefully observed them in his hands. After the battle in the swamp, most of the souls within the Five Rod Flag had been lost, with only a few Monster Beast Souls remaining, which was not a large number, causing the power of the flag to decrease significantly. However, this was also good, for if he used it after sacrificial refining, he wouldn¡¯t be mistaken for an evil cultivator, otherwise, he would attract some troubling attention. He then looked at the nine silver-white needles, which also formed a set of magic artifacts. Each silver needle was one foot long, its surface carried a bone-chilling coldness, and was also highly poisonous. This set of silver needle magic artifacts was exquisitely crafted; its main material must have been the tail stinger of a Myriad Poison Bee at the Second Order Middle Stage or higher. The intense poison, coupled with the unique properties of the sting, made the power of the silver needle set extremely formidable, and when used properly, they were not much less effective than a Second Order Medium Quality magic artifact. ¡°Gu Tong was also a ruthless and fierce man, involving himself in many sly deeds, obtaining so many treasures and magic artifacts. He met his end due to his greed, and in the end, it all fell into our laps; fate truly plays with people,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. ... S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regaining his composure, there was no time to spare; he needed to quickly complete the sacrificial refining of the Five Rod Flag, and would personally deliver the Nine Silver Needles to his father once he passed by Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming smiled knowingly, wasting no more time, and began to operate his Cultivation Technique, preparing to sacrificially refine the Five Rod Flag. He circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and once his state reached its peak, he first erased the residual Divine Sense left on the Five Rod Flag. After doing these things, he threw the Five Rod Flag into the air, then formed a spell with one hand and continuously cast spells onto the flag. ¡°Crackle pop.¡± A few light crackling sounds were heard, and the Five Rod Flag immediately began to rotate around him. Lin Tianming opened his mouth and spat out a few mouthfuls of essence blood, which quickly merged into the flag, and then into the core of the magic artifact. His Divine Sense flared, as he inscribed his own Consciousness Imprint on the core of the Five Rod Flag. As long as he completed this step, the refining would be done. The Five Rod Flag seemed somewhat resistant, also violently vibrating as if trying to escape his control. Lin Tianming¡¯s nerves were tense, his hands frequently slamming spells onto the flag. Time slowly passed, and five days swiftly went by. In the practice room, the vibration of the Five Rod Flag stopped, and it joyously revolved non-stop around him. At this moment, the flag¡¯s surface was bright and lustrous, far more vibrant than when it was unclaimed, clearly indicating that the refining was complete. Lin Tianming waved his hand and held the Five Rod Flag in his grasp, showing a loving, reluctant-to-part smile. After spending days refining it, there was still the need to seal Monster Beast Souls within it; only after completing this step would the flag¡¯s power be restored, and it would be able to assist him during magical duels. Without delay, Lin Tianming immediately set out to do just this. He took out nearly a hundred Jade Bottles, each containing the soul of a Demonic Beast. Nearly half of these were the souls of Qingxu Snakes, the rest were those he had collected over the years, and some given by Lin Shilu. Among these Monster Beast Souls, ten were of the Second Order, stronger but not less potent than what Gu Tong possessed. If all were sealed, their power would certainly be formidable. Lin Tianming thought to himself, his hands moving non-stop, releasing the souls from the Jade Bottles. The shadows of the Monster Beast Souls emerging from the Jade Bottles immediately lunged at him with bared fangs and claws, appearing extremely fierce. ¡°Hmph, already dead and still daring to rebel,¡± he snorted. Lin Tianming reached out with one hand, drawing in the struggling Monster Beast Souls into his grasp, condensing them into a sphere of light. He cast several spells with one hand, then projected the light sphere into the flag¡ªsoon, the light sphere vanished without a trace. At the same time, his fingers flicked continuously, casting spells onto the flag, inscribing special sealing runes. When a small cluster of dense golden runes were etched on the surface of the flag, the Five Rod Flag vibrated joyously, as if they were famished chicks, obviously very eager to devour the Monster Beast Souls. Lin Tianming was very pleased; he continued to release the Monster Beast Souls, following a proficient process to seal the souls within the flag. Five days later, in the secret chamber. Lin Tianming held the Five Rod Flag, his face filled with excitement. He had spent several more days sealing nearly a hundred Monster Beast Souls within the flag. The Five Rod Flag was now brightly colored, its surface covered with dense, refined golden runes, looking quite delicate, and even its aura had changed a lot. Before, the Five Rod Flag¡¯s surface was dark, as if it belonged to something evil, but now its surface shimmered with golden light, incomparable to its previous state. Lin Tianming was very satisfied and was almost eager to test its power, but since he was in the market, he had to suppress this thought for now. With the Five Rod Flag refined, he prepared to leave his retreat and hurry back to Green Bamboo Mountain as soon as possible. However, the Five Rod Flag had been without a name, and now that he would be using it, it naturally needed a name; after all, he would be using it for a long time to come. Once he made up his mind, he began to ponder. During the family battle, the magical treasure Zhuang Zhenxin used was the Green Jiao Flag, which had a mysterious similarity in function and attack methods to these five flags; they were both sets of magical artifacts with exceptionally potent power. After much thought, considering the flag came from the Qianchuan Mountain Range, Lin Tianming suddenly had an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s call it the Thousand Beast Banner; it¡¯s quite fitting considering there are a large number of Monster Beast Souls sealed inside,¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, deciding on the name Thousand Beast Banner. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 225 - 170 Thousand Beast Banner_2 Chapter 225: Chapter 170 Thousand Beast Banner_2 He was quite satisfied with the name, though now the number of soul banners was not many, but in time, it would definitely reach into the thousands. At that point, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner would undoubtedly become even more formidable. After a ten-day closed-door session came to a close, the Thousand Beast Banner was successfully refined, and the collected monster beast souls were all sealed within. His goal had been achieved, and it was time to set off. Before leaving, he decided to first go to Luoyun Pavilion to retrieve the treasures and spirit stones he was taking back to the Lin Family, and also to purchase some second-order talismans. After all, the condensed sword qi had already been exhausted, and it would not be of much use for two years. Being alone and leaving Qianchuan Market, he still needed to make more preparations. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming got up, tidied up the practice room, and walked out the door. After leaving the cave mansion courtyard, Lin Tianming walked the streets of the market, heading towards the commercial area. Before long, he arrived at a grand street. Although he had been here several times already, he still looked around at the shops that had been there for hundreds or even thousands of years. ... This street was not far from Luoyun Pavilion, but it was in a slightly better location. The powers that could occupy this place and set up shops for hundreds or thousands of years, without exception, were renowned sects or families of Wei Kingdom. Treasure Pavilion, Thousand Medicine Pavilion, Myriad Treasures Shop, Sky Dragon Pavilion¡­ Dozens of sumptuous shops lined both sides of the street, each name more resounding than the last. But the strength behind these shops was indeed very formidable. Treasure Pavilion was the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s only shop in the market, doing extremely booming business with a multitude of treasures available, though the prices were also incredibly high. The Thousand Medicine Pavilion was the Golden Core Sect¡¯s Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s shop, and Myriad Treasures Shop was the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s. The power behind Sky Dragon Pavilion was even more terrifying than the three great sects of Wei Kingdom. For Sky Dragon Pavilion was backed by the Sky Dragon Commerce Association, and the association was the reputed business of Qingzhou¡¯s Tang Family. Their businesses were active across Qing and Ji provinces, and it was said they also had dealings in other major provinces. With the Tang Family¡¯s formidable strength, having been passed down for tens of thousands of years and numbering tens of thousands of members, with at least dozens of Golden Core cultivators, and supposedly even Nascent Soul cultivators among them. With such strength, they could rank among the foremost powers in Qing and Ji provinces. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt immense aspiration in his heart, and also profound determination, making the Tang Family his goal. Lin Tianming put aside his distracting thoughts for the moment, paused to collect his thoughts, and then lifted his feet and walked towards Sky Dragon Pavilion in the middle. Upon entering Sky Dragon Pavilion, the interior was buzzing with noise. Over thirty cultivators were selecting various treasures, and several Qi Refining cultivators as receptionists were bustling about. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, a Qi Refining cultivator of the sixth level immediately stepped forward to greet him warmly. ¡°Esteemed senior, I am Sun Jie at your service. What treasures do you require? Would you care to enjoy a cup of spiritual tea in one of our elegant private rooms while I retrieve the items for you?¡± Lin Tianming, seeing the person¡¯s respectful and thorough service, nodded his head. He then followed Sun Jie upstairs to find a private room and entered. As they settled into the private room, Sun Jie immediately prepared a pot of spiritual tea and then stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions. Lin Tianming sat on a chair made of precious wood and stated his purpose. ¡°Young friend Sun, I¡¯m in need of some second-order talisman paper, the higher the grade the better. Does your pavilion have any for sale?¡± Sun Jie hurriedly introduced a batch of second-order talismans, though they were only lower and medium-grade ones. Lin Tianming felt somewhat disappointed as he had come here to see if there were any superior second-order talismans available. If there was a second-order high-quality attack talisman, its power wouldn¡¯t be inferior to the sword qi that previously killed Gu Tong. Noticing the look of disappointment on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, Sun Jie spoke, ¡°Senior, our Sky Dragon Pavilion does have some high-quality second-order attack talismans. However, I do not have the clearance. How about I invite the chief steward here to discuss directly with you?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming finally showed a smile. He then took out five spirit stones and handed them to Sun Jie as a tip. Sun Jie¡¯s face brightened with joy as he accepted the spirit stones and bowed before leaving the room to presumably fetch the chief steward of the shop. After a short while, the sound of footsteps approached the private room, and then a white-robed elder in the Foundation Establishment Stage entered. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianming immediately rose to his feet to greet him. After all, the visitor could possibly be a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Tang Family, and the Lin Family couldn¡¯t afford to offend them. Respect was due. The elderly man saw that Lin Tianming was so young, yet he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, such a cultivation speed was definitely not ordinary among Loose Cultivators, he must be a scion of a Sect or a family. The white-robed elder had a smile on his face, appeared very courteous, and was also quite curious. Both seated themselves and began to drink tea, the white-robed elder picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip before he asked: ¡°This Daoist friend, I am Tang Xiuyuan, Chief Steward of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. May I know your esteemed name? I heard that you want to purchase a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman?¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm¡­ my surname is Chen, as for my given name, it¡¯s not important. I wonder if you have any Second Order Superior Talismans for sale? And what would be the price?¡± Lin Tianming got straight to the point and asked about the Second Order Talismans, without revealing his own identity information. After all, the Tang Family was too powerful, and it was wiser for him to be cautious. Seeing that Lin Tianming was unwilling to reveal his name, Tang Xiuyuan did not press further. After all, many Loose Cultivators have such a temperament, asking too much could easily offend someone, and since they were in the business of selling, they were used to such behavior. Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, then with a flick of his sleeve, several talismans of different colors appeared, suspended in the air between them. Five talismans, all Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, each containing powerful forces. Among them, there were two Fire Attribute Talismans, two Metal Attribute Talismans, and one Water Attribute Talisman. Looking at the talismans, Tang Xiuyuan, with a calm and confident demeanor, said: ¡°Daoist Chen, these five Second Order Superior Talismans are the best ones in our store. I am not being boastful, but such talismans are hard to find throughout the entire Qianchuan Market.¡± Lin Tianming nodded without disputing the claim. Second Order Superior Talismans were not common items, the higher the grade, the rarer they were. Even at an auction, they were not often seen, and even for the powerful Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom, Second Order Superior Talismans were in limited supply. Only the Tang Family and the Golden Core Forces could afford to sell them. Regaining his composure, he took one of the talismans and examined it. Feeling the immense power of the flames contained within the talisman, it was many times stronger than any he had acquired before. After a while, he showed a satisfied expression. ¡°Daoist Tang, how much for one Fire Attribute Talisman and one Metal Attribute Talisman?¡± Lin Tianming asked directly. Seeing that Lin Tianming seemed quite satisfied, Tang Xiuyuan answered composedly: ¡°The Fire Attribute Talisman is 3,000 Spirit Stones each, and the Metal Attribute Talisman is 3,300 Spirit Stones each.¡± When Tang Xiuyuan announced the prices, Lin Tianming was inwardly shocked. Although he had expected it, the Second Order Superior Talismans¡¯ prices were still exorbitant; buying ten of them would almost cost as much as one Foundation Establishment Pill. However, upon further contemplation, a Second Order Superior Talisman, at a critical moment, could match the strike of a Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator, potentially altering the outcome. With this in mind, he reluctantly accepted the price and said: ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯ll take one Metal Attribute and one Fire Attribute Talisman. Can the price be a little cheaper? How about 6,000 Spirit Stones for both?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming haggle, Tang Xiuyuan thought it over secretly. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s young age and his ability to reach Foundation Establishment, his talent must be extraordinary. Purchasing two Superior Talismans in one go, he surely had a substantial wealth and might be worth befriending. Making up his mind, Tang Xiuyuan smiled and nodded: ¡°As you say, Daoist friend, let¡¯s make it a good connection. If you want to purchase any treasures in the future, just come to me, and I will offer you the lowest price.¡± ¡°Haha, then I must thank Daoist Tang. If there¡¯s anything I need in the future, I will surely return.¡± Lin Tianming laughed. The two exchanged smiles, and Lin Tianming took out 6,000 Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan, then took the two Second Order Talismans and put them into his storage bag. After completing the transaction, they chatted idly for a while, and despite Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s roundabout inquiries, Lin Tianming still did not disclose any information, which left him quite helpless. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Tang Xiuyuan, left the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and headed straight towards Luoyun Pavilion. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 226 - 171 Father-Son Bond_1 Chapter 226: Chapter 171 Father-Son Bond_1 It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived inside Luoyun Pavilion. At this moment, there were more than ten Qi Refining Cultivators in the Luoyun Pavilion, selecting the goods for sale, while Li Rong was busy attending to customers; the scene was bustling. Lin Tianming, who rarely had leisure time, had barely inquired about the operation of the shop. Apart from making pills for a fee, he hadn¡¯t been much help. The shop was mainly managed by a few of his uncles from the Lin Family, such as Lin Xingli. With the assistance of Lin Tianfeng, everything was orderly and the profits were considerable. However, with his talent and cultivation, the family wouldn¡¯t agree to his involvement in these trifles. The Clan Leader had instructed him multiple times to focus on cultivation, for only with higher cultivation could he provide greater assistance to the family. Understanding this well, he had never slacked off, devoting all his thoughts to cultivation and alchemy. As for clan affairs, there were elders to worry about them, so he didn¡¯t need to trouble himself. ... Nevertheless, as a member of the Lin Family, he couldn¡¯t be indifferent, lest his clan members thought him too arrogant. It had been a long time since he last visited the shop, and the business seemed to be doing well recently, probably due to restocking the treasures they acquired from Gu Tong. With more treasures, the business naturally improved. Li Rong and her sibling were modest and courteous with exceptional abilities to read situations and manage the shop. After working as clerks in Luoyun Pavilion for a few months, they had become particularly familiar with its operations, which had significantly boosted the business. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, Li Rong quickly set aside his tasks to greet him with a clasped-hands salute. Lin Tianming nodded, asked briefly about the state of Luoyun Pavilion, and then went straight to the third floor. Entering the secret room on the third floor, Lin Xingli and Lin Xingsu were seated inside with thick books in front of them, apparently recording some accounts. Seeing Lin Tianming come in, both men stood up to greet him. After exchanging formalities and salutes, the three of them sat down for tea and casual conversation. Lin Xingli had been prepared for Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Several days earlier, Lin Shilu had specially instructed him to have the Spirit Stones earned during the past few months ready; apart from retaining twenty thousand for turnover, all the rest were to be handed over to Lin Tianming to take back to the family. After a bit of small talk, Lin Xingli took out a storage bag and an account book, handing them over to Lin Tianming. Looking through the account book, Lin Tianming scanned it and, noting the one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones inside, showed a look of surprise. Luoyun Pavilion had been open for over four months, and the results greatly exceeded their expectations with an average monthly sale of treasures worth tens of thousands. In just a few months, Luoyun Pavilion had accumulated over one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. The initial shop cost for the family and various treasures worth over one hundred thousand had been almost entirely cashed in. In this way, in just four months, they had sold most of the treasures provided by the family and made a profit of at least thirty to forty thousand, enough to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. ¡°No wonder so many Foundation Establishing Families are eager to establish themselves in medium to large-sized markets. This truly is a profitable place!¡± In reality, the thriving business of Luoyun Pavilion didn¡¯t mean that all shops were doing well; some made losses or even closed down. It just so happened that Luoyun Pavilion was lucky; they encountered the market¡¯s biennial small gathering, bolstered by Ye Pinghai¡¯s powerful influence, and the strategy of commissioned pill making, which all contributed to the shop¡¯s booming business. Focusing his mind, Lin Tianming clasped his fists toward Lin Xingli and said, ¡°Uncle, I will depart tomorrow. With Fifteenth Grandfather injured, the market will be hard work for you all!¡± Lin Xingli and Lin Xingsu shared a smile and waved their hands to say, ¡°Tianming, you exaggerate. As members of the Lin Family, you, the cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage, have made greater contributions to the family. We are merely doing what we can!¡± After talking, Lin Tianming saluted the two men and left the secret room. After leaving Luoyun Pavilion, he didn¡¯t linger but went straight back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Upon entering the training room, he sat down on the floor and then laid several storage bags in front of him. One of these was the one given to him by Lin Xingli, containing the Spirit Stones earned by Luoyun Pavilion over the past few months, totaling an impressive one hundred and fifty thousand. The other storage bags contained six Qingxu Snake Eggs and a large quantity of items from various parts of the Qingxu Snakes, along with three Qiuxing Fruit Trees and some treasures obtained from Gu Tong. Staring at the extraordinarily valuable treasures that he was to bring back to the family alone, facing more than ten days journey ahead, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was incredibly serious. This trip was of great responsibility, and he couldn¡¯t guarantee there wouldn¡¯t be any accidents. Fortunately, he had prepared, having purchased two Second Order Superior Talismans from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. With these talismans for protection, he was slightly relieved. ¡°Hopefully, everything goes well!¡± Muttering softly to himself, Lin Tianming put away all of the storage bags and then began to practice his cultivation. Early the next morning, after notifying Lin Shilu and altering his appearance, Lin Tianming directly left the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Having left the market, Lin Tianming flew south for a distance, then released the Purple Gold Eagle. Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back and reviewing the map, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully open, constantly monitoring the surroundings. The duo, man and beast, streaked across the skies a thousand feet up, heading straight for the south. Time flew, and half a month passed by in a flash. That evening, a sharp cry rang out as the Purple Gold Eagle appeared above Golden Horn Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 227 - 171 Father and Son Bonding_2 Chapter 227: Chapter 171 Father and Son Bonding_2 Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming looked quite fatigued; glancing at the familiar mountain gate, he silently let out a sigh of relief. For half a month, he had been traveling alone, his Divine Sense greatly drained. Without Lin Shilu to take turns on watch, he didn¡¯t dare to let the Purple Gold Eagle fly at full speed without reservations, fearing any sudden troubles that might arise. Fortunately, the journey went relatively smoothly, although it was slower compared to the trip there, but he had successfully reached Golden Horn Mountain. Upon reaching the vicinity of Golden Horn Mountain, this area was part of the Luoyun Mountain Range territory, mostly controlled by the Lin Family; it was considered safe. The Purple Gold Eagle landed at the entrance of Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Tianming jumped down from its back. Lin Xingyou, who was responsible for patrolling Golden Horn Mountain, was quite surprised to see him since they had left Golden Horn Mountain only four months ago, and it was unusual for him to return so quickly. ... However, seeing Lin Tianming looking normal, as if nothing significant had happened, Lin Xingyou didn¡¯t ask any further. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming directly inquired about his father. Lin Xingyou chuckled and then said, ¡°Tianming, your father has been in closed-door cultivation all this time. You¡¯ve had a tiring journey, so you might as well rest for the night. I¡¯ll send a message to him. If there¡¯s nothing urgent, we can talk tomorrow!¡± Lin Tianming nodded; now that he had arrived at Golden Horn Mountain, he was not far from the clan estate, out of the danger zone, and there was no need to hurry. He was indeed tired, so resting for the night seemed reasonable. ¡°Then I will take Uncle¡¯s advice and rest for today!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Afterwards, Lin Xingyou led Lin Tianming towards the depths of Golden Horn Mountain, quickly arriving at the cave dwelling where Lin Xingrong was in secluded cultivation. Lin Xingyou cast a Law Decree, opening Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling, then said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, go inside by yourself. I still have duties to attend to, so I won¡¯t stay long!¡± ¡°Uncle, you go ahead with your tasks, we¡¯ll meet again another day!¡± Lin Tianming gestured his thanks and said goodbye. After seeing Lin Xingyou off, Lin Tianming entered his father¡¯s cave dwelling. Upon entering the room, he went straight to sleep, releasing the tension he had been holding, and quickly fell into a deep slumber. The next morning¡­ Lin Tianming opened his eyes, and after a night¡¯s sleep, the fatigue from the past half month vanished without a trace. He stretched leisurely and then got up and left the room, entering the small courtyard. His father had already come out of seclusion and was sitting in the courtyard drinking Spiritual Tea, seemingly waiting for him. Lin Tianming immediately approached and bowed deeply, ¡°Father, your son pays his respects!¡± Lin Xingrong smiled and motioned with his hand, ¡°Sit down, was your journey smooth?¡± Lin Tianming sat across from Lin Xingrong, and after pouring a cup of Spiritual Tea for his father, he said, ¡°To reply to father, the journey was quite smooth!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ family protocol is to return to clan lands once a year, and it hasn¡¯t even been half a year yet, did something happen?¡± Lin Xingrong asked, puzzled. Lin Tianming had anticipated this question and had nothing to conceal, especially from his father, who was one of the high-ranking members of the Lin Family and entitled to know the most classified information. Lin Tianming took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then began recounting the events of the past few months. Hearing of the bustling business at Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Xingrong became excited, and upon learning that Lin Shilu had nearly perished in the swamp, his face darkened with anxiety, he asked, ¡°How is your Fifteenth Grandfather now?¡± ¡°Father, Fifteenth Grandfather has already recovered a great deal, but he won¡¯t be able to fully recuperate in a short time; to completely recover, he will need at least a few months of dedicated cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming hastened to explain, putting Lin Xingrong at ease at last. After talking for nearly half an hour, Lin Xingrong finally understood the course of events and the reason for the rushed return. With the trip to Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming made another contribution, bringing back a plethora of treasures for the family with Lin Shilu, and making the business of Luoyun Pavilion so successful. As a father, his face beamed with pride seeing his son work hard and bring honor to the family. With that, Lin Xingrong became exhilarated. ¡°This is a matter of great importance. Tomorrow, I shall return to Green Bamboo Mountain with you, especially since it¡¯s been a long time since I last went back!¡± Lin Xingrong said. ¡°Good, we¡¯ll set off tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Tianming finished speaking and then took out the nine silver needles he had prepared and handed them to Lin Xingrong, saying, ¡°Father, this set of silver needle Magic Artifacts is part of my share. You are safeguarding our territory, and with this treasure, I am sure you will be safer.¡± Seeing that Lin Tianming was gifting him a Magic Artifact, Lin Xingrong felt touched but also somewhat embarrassed. As a father, he hadn¡¯t been able to help Lin Tianming much in recent years. Now, he often had to rely on his son¡¯s accomplishments. Despite coveting the Magic Artifact, he waved his hands and refused, saying, ¡°I have a Magic Artifact which I got from the Jin Family. The clan has allocated it to me. Although it is only Second Order Low Quality, it is enough for now. You should keep this set for yourself!¡± Seeing that Lin Xingrong refused to accept it, Lin Tianming knew his father was too proud to accept it. However, for the sake of his safety, he still wanted to persuade him further. After a moment of silence, an idea suddenly struck Lin Tianming, and he said with a bright smile, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve obtained two Magic Artifacts. The other one, the Thousand Beast Banner, is even more powerful than this set of silver needles. Plus, Fifteenth Grandfather custom-made a Second Order Medium Quality Tiangang Sword for me, so I truly don¡¯t need this one!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t take it, I¡¯ll gift it to Grandfather!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face flushed with color, and he grabbed the nine silver needles before saying in a pretentiously old-fashioned manner, ¡°Never mind, never mind, the old man has been living in the clan¡¯s land; he doesn¡¯t need such a fine Magic Artifact!¡± Seeing his strategy work, Lin Tianming¡¯s face blossomed with joy. He found his father very interesting: clearly caring about him a lot yet always coming across as remote and stern. However, with his grandfather, he could live off of his resources, never feeling that it was too much or feeling embarrassed. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s mischievous grin, Lin Xingrong chided him tersely, ¡°You little rascal, what are you laughing at?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ nothing¡­ nothing¡­¡± Lin Tianming quickly changed his expression, regaining his composure. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Lin Xingrong, holding the nine silver needles about a foot in length, examined them affectionately. Next to him, Lin Tianming, seeing his father¡¯s fondness for the Magic Artifact, in high spirits, then suggested, ¡°Father, this set of silver needle Magic Artifacts hasn¡¯t been named yet. Why don¡¯t you name it?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Xingrong fell into thought. After a few moments, he seemed to have an idea. ¡°This Magic Artifact is used for sneak attacks, extremely stealthy. When activated, it¡¯s without a shadow or a trace. How about calling it Shadowless Needle?¡± Remembering how Gu Tong had ambushed them, he hadn¡¯t reacted at all. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Shilu¡¯s powerful Divine Sense detecting something amiss a step ahead and pushing him away at the critical moment, he certainly would have lost his life. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Shadowless Needle¡­ truly without shadow or trace!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Then it¡¯s settled!¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Shadowless Needle!¡± Lin Xingrong said excitedly. With the name of the Magic Artifact decided upon, Lin Tianming and his son exchanged a smile and then began to chat over tea. The father and son enjoyed their conversation immensely, their relationship drawing closer. It was rare for the two of them to sit down together like this, but as their encounters increased, their bond seemed to grow tighter. Now they could even share jokes, which would have been impossible in the past. After chatting for half an hour, Lin Xingrong finally got up, ready to leave. After all, he was to return to Green Bamboo Mountain with Lin Tianming, so the affairs here had to be properly arranged. ¡°Father, this Qiuxing Fruit works wonders. Give it a try!¡± Lin Tianming called out to Xingrong, who, with a single wave of his hand, caught two Qiuxing Fruits in his hand. Lin Xingrong didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and put the Qiuxing Fruits into his storage bag, giving a smile before turning to leave. Lin Tianming chuckled, watching his father leave the cave. Afterward, he returned to the training room. The next morning¡­ As the daylight dawned with the morning glow piercing through the clouds, and the warm sunlight shone upon the land, the leaves of the Golden Flower Trees swayed in the breeze. Within the peaceful Golden Horn Mountain, Lin Tianming and his son left the mountain gate quietly, slipping away unnoticed. Sitting astride the Purple Gold Eagle, they flew into the clouds, turning into a fading shadow heading south towards Green Bamboo Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 228 - 172 Decision_1 Chapter 228: Chapter 172 Decision_1 Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain¡­ Lin Tianming and his companion were seated on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, descending at the gate of their clan¡¯s mountain. The disciples of the Enforcement Hall responsible for patrolling the gate immediately approached to greet them. Lin Tianming and his companion were in great spirits, having successfully returned to the gate with immense wealth, allowing them to relax their tense minds. Lin Tianming raised his hand to send out a transmission, then instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to leave on its own; the two of them flew together to the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At the peak of the main mountain, within Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. ... He sat on a straw mat with hands clasped in prayer, entering a deep state of cultivation¡ªas such closed-door cultivation was a routine affair for him. As the clan member with the highest cultivation, he had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level two years ago with the aid of a Hun Tian Pill. As the clan¡¯s power grew stronger and more clan members reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, there was less need for him to handle everything personally. He only needed to make major decisions with the Shi generation clan members and to hold the general direction of the clan¡¯s development. As for specific execution, that was carried by the Xing generation clan members. Thus, a few of the Shi generation clan members, led by him, rarely had idle time and also began to cultivate diligently. When the restriction flashed, a transmission entered the training room. Lin Shikang opened his eyes and saw the transmission sent by Lin Tianming, revealing a puzzled expression. At the same time, Clan Leader Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong felt equally baffled by Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission. With a puzzled look, Lin Shikang released a Law Decree after finishing his cultivation and stood up, stepping out of the training room. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his son had not gone directly back to their own cave dwelling but had come to his small courtyard to wait while drinking tea. Upon seeing Lin Shikang come out, both of them quickly got up to pay their respects with a salute. Lin Shikang laughed heartily, gesturing them to sit down, and then asked, ¡°Xing Rong, why did you and your son come back so suddenly?¡± ¡°Third Uncle, it¡¯s great news!¡± Lin Xingrong said impatiently. Hearing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face brightened with joy as he eagerly inquired, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the good news? Speak up and let me hear it!¡± Just then, hearty laughter echoed through the courtyard. ¡°What¡¯s this good news? Why such an upheaval?¡± Before the words were finished, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong stepped into the courtyard together, followed by Lin Xingping. Seeing Lin Tianming and his son returning together, Lin Shigong¡¯s face was filled with smiles. Lin Tianming and his son quickly stood up to greet them, then exchanged pleasantries with Lin Xingping. Lin Xingping replied with a smile, then asked, ¡°Tian Ming, how was everything at the market? Tianhong didn¡¯t slack off, did he?¡± Hearing Lin Xingping¡¯s caring words, Lin Tianming completely understood; after all, it was Lin Tianhong¡¯s first time going to Qianchuan Market and the first time leaving the clan for an extended period. As his father, it was only natural for him to constantly worry about Lin Tianhong. Thinking of how Lin Tianhong, although toiling hard at alchemy in the market, had not neglected his cultivation, and even improved his alchemy skills while earning a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, Lin Tianming anticipated great growth. With that in mind, Lin Tianming spoke reassuringly, ¡°Uncle Xing Ping, rest assured, everything at the market is fine. Second Brother has been very diligent, dedicating himself daily to alchemy and cultivation. I believe it won¡¯t be many years before he can impact the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± Relieved to hear about Lin Tianhong from Lin Tianming, Lin Xingping replied with a laugh, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear¡­ Having Tian Ming as a role model, that kid has finally learned to put in some effort!¡± In response to Lin Xingping¡¯s praise, Lin Tianming exchanged pleasantries before they all took their seats. In the courtyard, six clan members were now present. Except for Lin Shilu and Lin Xingyuan, who were each in different markets, all the Foundation Establishment clan members of the family had arrived. Seeing everyone assembled, Clan Leader Lin Shihua, who could hardly wait any longer, urgently asked about the purpose behind Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission to them. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the eager eyes of the clan members upon him, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare beat around the bush; he started by recounting his entry into Qianchuan Market. Knowing the business at Luoyun Pavilion on its opening day was booming, everyone was excited. Lin Shikang thanked Ye Pinghai for his help while also praising their accomplishments. On the side, Lin Shihua expressed his thoughts, ¡°It seems the clan¡¯s decision to develop in Qianchuan Market was correct. Now that Luoyun Pavilion has established itself, the clan has gained an additional source of income!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ the Luoyun Mountain Range is too small, and the traffic in Luoyun Market is limited. Simply relying on Luoyun Market, the clan won¡¯t advance any further!¡± Lin Shigong joined in agreement. Lin Tianming nodded, feeling that the family¡¯s decision was indeed wise. Although the clan had integrated Luoyun Market and secured a greater dividend right, bringing in a considerable profit over the year¡ªmore than at the peak of the Jin Family¡ªit wasn¡¯t enough. But as the clan¡¯s territory and the scale of clan members were rapidly growing, relying solely on the wealth source of Luoyun Market couldn¡¯t support them for long. Taking advantage of the clan¡¯s current capital to consider the problems they would face decades later and to take precautions would certainly not be mistaken. Seeing Lin Tianming lost in thought, Lin Shigong drew him back, urging him to continue with the rest of the story. The mention of Qingxu Snake Eggs and the acquisition of three Qiuxing Fruit Trees left the clan members shocked but then overjoyed. When they learned that Lin Shilu had been gravely injured by Gu Tong, everyone¡¯s face turned pale with shock, aside from Lin Xingrong, who already knew. ¡°What? Shilu was injured?¡± Lin Shigong asked anxiously, his expression not much different from Lin Xingrong¡¯s when he first heard the news. Seeing their concern, Lin Tianming did not delay and quickly shared the details of Lin Shilu¡¯s injury. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 229 - 172 Decision_2 Chapter 229: Chapter 172 Decision_2 ¡°Elders, Fifteenth Grandfather was seriously injured, but fortunately, his foundation was not damaged. With half a year of quiet cultivation, he should fully recover!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone let out a long sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from their hearts, and their complexions returned to normal. Lin Tianming did not say much and simply took out several storage bags and laid them out one by one in front of everyone. Then he took out the account book that recorded their contents and handed it to Lin Shihua. At the same time, he pointed to the storage bags and explained the details and quantities of the treasures inside. It took a full quarter of an hour to clearly explain the origins and circumstances of these items. ... Lin Shihua and the others also took turns examining the storage bags, their faces filled with uncontainable excitement. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and said with excitement, ¡°Tianming, you and the others have made another great contribution!¡± Lin Shihua also laughed heartily, saying with emotion, ¡°Yes¡­ Luoyun Pavilion has been successfully launched, the business is booming, and we¡¯ve obtained so many treasures. Our Lin Family¡¯s foundation has been further strengthened. We are truly on the rise!¡± Remembering the struggles of the clan decades ago, the remaining members grew contemplative, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber for a moment. Lin Tianming was deeply moved, understanding the sentiments of his elders, and he felt a measure of consolation when thinking of the rewards gleaned from each life-and-death struggle. A quarter of an hour later, the clan members had regained their calm and began to discuss what to do with this batch of treasures. As the stabilizing force of the Lin Family, Lin Shikang scanned the room before asking, ¡°What do you all think about this matter?¡± After a moment of thought, several clan members began to voice their opinions, offering suggestions and strategic reforms for the family. Seeing that Lin Shihua had not yet spoken, Lin Shikang asked, ¡°Shihua, as the Clan Leader, what are your thoughts?¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shihua was silent for a moment before saying, ¡°The success of Luoyun Pavilion in securing a stable position in the market is of utmost importance for the Lin Family. In the next few years, if all goes well, we can expect a steady income of spirit stones, ensuring that the family won¡¯t have to worry about resources for the time being!¡± ¡°Looking at our current situation, the family is not short on resources. It¡¯s time to focus on nurturing some of our people, to help them accelerate their cultivation!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang looked toward Lin Tianming, his thoughts unreadable. Lin Shikang always held Lin Tianming in high regard, and since Tianming always made incisive and correct judgments, his opinions naturally carried significant weight. ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s hear your thoughts!¡± Lin Shikang asked, his eyes filled with expectation. Lin Tianming was calm, lost in thought. He had many ideas about the development of the clan. The clan used to be too poor, and the treatment of the clanspeople was not high, which was an unfortunate reality. After the great battle of the Luoyun Mountain, the family made several changes. They organized the Monster Hunting Squad, improved the basic welfare of the clanspeople, and even increased the Merit Points for various clan services significantly, greatly enhancing their enthusiasm. Over the years, the results had been quite remarkable, with a significant increase in the number of Foundation Establishment Clan Members and an overall improvement in the cultivation of Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. However, such development made it difficult to nurture High Order Cultivators. To go further, it was necessary to select several individuals with exceptional talents for intensive training, putting the best steel to its best use, to achieve greater returns. He had these thoughts not out of any selfishness but simply from considering the best interests of the family. Considering these points, Lin Tianming spoke frankly, ¡°My opinion aligns with the Clan Leader¡¯s. Currently, the family has sufficient resources and income. In terms of nurturing the junior members with higher talents, it is possible to ramp up efforts. Only with more Foundation Establishment Cultivators can we obtain more resources and a greater say!¡± ¡°By doing so, we can choose a few key individuals from among the clanspeople for intensive cultivation, making preparations to break through to the Golden Core Stage!¡± After he spoke, the room fell into a deep silence as everyone considered his words. In the past, the situation was different; the family was too poor, and the goal was merely to develop Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to stand firm against fierce enemies on Luoyun Mountain. The Golden Core Stage was an unimaginably distant dream. Now, the times had changed. Within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family held an overwhelming advantage and had also established a foothold in Qianchuan Market. With both the internal and external situations unfolding favorably, the Golden Core Stage no longer seemed impossible under such fortuitous conditions. ¡°Golden Core Stage¡­¡± Lin Shikang murmured softly to himself, his eyes revealing a longing gaze as they became fervent. Seeing this, Lin Shihua also spoke up, ¡°Indeed¡­ Now is the time for the family to look further ahead. The difficulty of reaching the Golden Core Stage is evident¡ªonly five Golden Elixir Forces in the entire Wei Kingdom,¡± he said. The others nodded in agreement, seeming to concur with this sentiment. After all, in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, aside from the three Great Sects, there were only two Golden Core Families. This showed the immense difficulty of achieving the Golden Core, difficult by hundreds of times more than Foundation Establishment, requiring not only a great deal of resources but also talent and opportunity! If the family were to return to its former glory, it was imperative to marshal the entire clan¡¯s efforts, focusing on nurturing the promising individuals to potentially take that step forward. After a moment of silence, with no one else speaking, Lin Shikang spoke up, ¡°Tianming¡¯s view is certainly logical. I agree with his suggestion. What do you all think? If there¡¯s no objection, let¡¯s settle on this!¡± ¡°I agree!¡± Lin Shihua said, taking a stance. ¡°I agree too,¡± Lin Shigong naturally wouldn¡¯t oppose and immediately voiced his opinion. ¡­ Soon, the rest followed suit, unanimously agreeing, and the matter was officially decided. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 230 - 172 Decision_3 Chapter 230: Chapter 172 Decision_3 Lin Shikang nodded with satisfaction before speaking with a firm attitude, ¡°Now that this matter is settled, let¡¯s decide on the number and the candidates for key training!¡± ¡°As for the number, three from the Foundation Establishment Stage and seven from the Qi Refinement Realm, forming the Family Elite Ten. They will be exempt from some clan duties and focus solely on cultivation. The first among our clansmen to reach the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, the family will unconditionally provide them with one Foundation Establishment Pill.¡± ¡°For the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, upon reaching the late stages of the Foundation Establishment, they will be given a Hun Tian Pill. As for breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, that is still a bit far off. Moreover, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are not something that can be obtained with Spirit Stones.¡± Before he finished speaking, the others nodded their heads in agreement. At this moment, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, as he had not expected Lin Shikang to make such a decisive decision on the matter. ... Lin Shigong was not surprised at all. He understood Lin Shikang¡¯s character quite well. Though usually reticent and unassuming, he had more determination than Lin Shihua, which was why he managed to reach the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment within a mere century. ¡°Third brother, how will we select the candidates?¡± Lin Shihua asked. Lin Tianming then took over the conversation and said, ¡°Amongst the Qi Refinement Realm clansmen, we¡¯ll set the age limit at sixty. We¡¯ll choose from the clansmen above the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, selecting the youngest clansman from each level as key training targets. Starting from a subsidy of one hundred Spirit Stones, for each level, we will add an additional hundred Spirit Stones. This will greatly increase their enthusiasm for cultivation and help accelerate their progress!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, Lin Shikang¡¯s eyes brightened. This method of Lin Tianming¡¯s would sufficiently motivate the clansmen; to receive the subsidy, they would need to outpace their peers in cultivation, and competition among them would be more effective than anything else. With this in mind, he then added, ¡°From the Fourth Level to Great Perfection, there are exactly seven realms, which is indeed fair. However, we must set a limit as well: we¡¯ll settle accounts once a year. Those who are already enjoying support must wait until the end of the current year¡¯s benefits before being replaced.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, otherwise it would be too chaotic!¡± Lin Shihua said with a nod and a smile. Lin Shikang chuckled, then added, S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As for the candidates from the Foundation Establishment Stage, it will be Shi Lu and Tian Ming, father and son, with an annual subsidy of five thousand Spirit Stones each. When we have more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, we will need to select three candidates from the first, fourth, and seventh levels. And this policy will take effect from the beginning of next year!¡± ¡°Moreover, to prevent clansmen from resorting to unscrupulous methods for the sake of cultivation progress, leading to instability in their realms, we can set up a sparring system, where no external means are allowed. The winner will receive the family subsidy!¡± Lin Shihua nodded and said, ¡°If someone is less skilled, resorts to trickery and cunning, they will be directly disqualified from the benefits of this policy!¡± Everyone nodded their heads, made a few more comments, and then decided on the outcome of this matter. With the family policy matters concluded, Lin Shikang was in high spirits. He then instructed Lin Shihua, ¡°Shihua, make sure to inform all the clansmen about the Family Elite Ten as soon as possible. There¡¯s only a little more than half a year left until the beginning of next year, which is enough time for them to prepare!¡± ¡°Besides, the Qingxu Snake Eggs that Tian Ming brought back need to be hatched immediately, and the Qiuxing Fruit needs to be transplanted as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Good¡­ I will arrange this right away!¡± Lin Shihua replied with a nod. After finishing, Lin Tianming remembered the words entrusted to him by Lin Shilu and then said, ¡°Third Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather asked me to convey that in a few days when I return to Qianchuan Market, Uncle Xing Ping will accompany me to the market for cultivation and to also prepare for taking over the guard duties there.¡± ¡°Good¡­ You and Shi Lu have been on guard for several years; it¡¯s time for you to come back and focus on your cultivation!¡± ¡°Xing Ping, in a few days, you will depart with Tian Ming; in a few years, that place will rely on you!¡± Lin Xingping stood up and cupped his fists, agreeing to the arrangement. With all matters settled, the assembled clansmen also rose to take their leave, exchanging fist salutes before departing in their respective directions. After leaving the courtyard, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping agreed on the day of departure, then returned to his father¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 231 - 173: Hot Discussion_1 Chapter 231: Chapter 173: Hot Discussion_1 After leaving Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard, the grandfather and his two grandchildren returned to the father¡¯s cave dwelling. The mother and sister had already received news of their return to the family, and they both came out of seclusion to prepare for a reunion. The five family members sat in the courtyard chatting idly; it had been half a year since they last saw each other. The mother¡¯s cultivation level was still at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement. With her Four Spirit Roots talent, if not for the aid of Pozhang Pills, breaking through just by meditating would take at least several years. The sister had undergone considerable changes over the years. Now twenty-four years old, she had grown tall and slender, her features growing increasingly delicate and charming, and her personality had matured significantly. She always regarded her brother as a role model, aspiring to follow in his footsteps. With a plentiful supply of elixirs for cultivation and her penchant for adventure, she had repeatedly joined peers from the clan in monster hunting squads for trials in the mountain range. Over the years, her cultivation level had soared, reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. Her strength firmly placed her among the top three female cultivators of her generation in the clan, and alongside Lin Tianqin, she was known as one of the Lin Family¡¯s two golden flowers. ... As their cultivation levels grew higher, the siblings spent more time in secluded cultivation and rarely saw each other. Lin Tianming looked at his sister and teased her, saying, ¡°Tian Yue, you¡¯ve done well for yourself over these years, daring to venture into the Luoyun Mountain Range?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming looking down on her, Lin Tianyue was reluctant to accept it and pouted in retort. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Brother¡­¡± ¡°We are all from the same family. You dared to guard Qingfeng Town alone at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, and even ventured into the mountains. I¡¯m already at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, and I have clan members teaming up with me, so why can¡¯t I enter the mountains for trials?¡± Lin Tianming was suddenly at a loss for words, not expecting his sister to rebut him so fiercely and without reservation. Recognizing his sister¡¯s courage and her fondness for trial through combat, Lin Tianming actually approved. It was for the best, lest she waste her talent and become someone with cultivation but no real strength. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt quite relieved. Seeing Lin Tianming no longer continuing the conversation, Lin Shigong chuckled and then brought up the subject of the Family Elite Ten. ¡°Tian Yue, your brother is a key cultivation focus in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and there are seven spots in the Qi Refinement Realm. The youngest among the Qi Refinement Seventh Level clan members gets an annual subsidy of four hundred Spirit Stones from the family, which is no small amount,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, you need to work hard and strive to secure one of those spots. With that, you can advance your cultivation faster,¡± added Lin Xingrong. ¡°Grandfather, is that true?¡± Lin Tianyue asked excitedly. Faced with Lin Tianyue¡¯s eager question, Lin Tianming interrupted and affirmed, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. The three of us just came out from Third Grandfather¡¯s cave dwelling, where we were discussing the Family Elite Ten affairs. I expect the family will officially announce it tomorrow.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianyue, upon hearing this significant news, became extremely excited and started dancing around. Previously, her cultivation speed had been quite fast; if she could be selected for the Family Elite Ten, it would not only bring honor to her grandparents but also allow her to rapidly increase her cultivation with the help of the family¡¯s rewards. At this thought, Lin Tianyue¡¯s excitement was uncontainable, and a confident smile was always present on her face. Lin Tianming and the others, seeing her smile, were influenced by her joy, and each of them showed a look of contentment. Indeed, once the family policy was implemented, it would surely cause quite a stir. After all, a Qi Refinement Fourth Level got a subsidy of a hundred Spirit Stones a year, which was already a considerable sum. Many Loose Cultivators in the Late Stage of Qi Refining didn¡¯t even have a few hundred Spirit Stones to their name. And the Lin Family Members, by displaying their talent, could earn a hefty sum of Spirit Stones from the competition. It was expected that no clan member would forgo this significant benefit. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but conjecture that with this policy, after a few years of competition, the overall strength of the family would surely rise to another level. Regaining his composure, the mother also got up and left to prepare the evening meal, while Lin Tianming and the grandparents leisurely discussed their respective cultivation progress. The grandfather had long been living with the Lin Family, without major affairs to attend to, almost never leaving clan territory. In terms of cultivation, he seemed to be aware of his limited talent, dedicating a few days each month to teaching the Family Alchemists, focusing most of his energy on nurturing clan members and on the Alchemy Dao. Only with the remaining time did he go into secluded cultivation. Though his advancement was slow, he led a comfortable life. Lin Xingrong¡¯s situation was much simpler. In the past, he spent years busy with family affairs at Luoyun Market, but recently he had more leisure time. When in charge of guarding Golden Horn Mountain, he could cultivate wholeheartedly. With the help of a substantial amount of elixirs, his cultivation level had rapidly advanced, and he was the first among the subsequent Foundation Establishers to break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. That night, the family of five sat down together for a meal and, after a satisfactory dinner, they parted ways. Lin Tianming returned to his own cave dwelling and lay sprawled on his stone bed. He pondered the arrangements for the future. He planned to rest for a few days and then set off again, returning to Qianchuan Market. There, he would start concocting Dragon Bone Pills, and afterward, with the help of Sparse Star Fruits, he would strive to break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer as soon as possible. Before he knew it, the one lost in thoughts drifted off to sleep. ¡­ The next morning, large notices were posted prominently in front of the doors of various major family institutions. In front of the Family Affairs Hall, at a peak time when clan members were coming and going, the posted notice was drawing a large crowd of onlookers. Seeing the gathering crowd, some family members who were passing by were drawn over, soon amassing a large group of onlookers. In front of the notice, every clan member carefully scrutinized the golden characters, and they were quickly shocked by what they saw. One Qi Refinement Fourth Level family member seemed somewhat incredulous. Looking at the stunned crowd, he said, COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 232 - 173 Discussion_2 Chapter 232: Chapter 173 Discussion_2 ¡°Do you think the announcement about the Family Elite Ten is true?¡± ¡°Nonsense, how could it not be true? Everything¡¯s written so clearly on the notice; is there even need for doubt?¡± ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s blatantly posted right at the entrance of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, how could it be false?¡± ¡­ As the crowd regained their composure, they discussed the matters mentioned in the announcement animatedly. The first person who spoke was visibly excited as he said to a fellow clan member: ... ¡°The clan¡¯s subsidy is really not small, one hundred Spirit Stones a year for the Fourth Level Qi Practice, plus the basic stipend provided by the family. In one year, one can save up a substantial amount of Spirit Stones and quickly enhance one¡¯s cultivation.¡± But then, thinking of his own age¡ªover forty and still at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement¡ªhe said with a mix of helplessness and regret: ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that with my talent and cultivation, there¡¯s absolutely no chance of obtaining a seat.¡± ¡°Yeah! Our talent destines us to have no part in such benefits!¡± said another clan member who was at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement. At this time, a clan member at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement spoke up. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the family distribute these Spirit Stones evenly, like last time, to enhance the basic welfare and mission rewards? That way, we could also benefit, right?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing these words, many in the crowd changed their expressions. Lin Xingqu, who was standing among them, immediately interrupted: ¡°Mind your words!¡± ¡°You should know that the family has already raised the basic welfare of clan members twice. As far as I know, our family¡¯s basic welfare is much higher than that of other families in Luoyun Mountain. Even the previous Jin Family is far behind!¡± ¡°Indeed, being born into the Lin Family is already a huge stroke of luck, how can you still expect absolute equality?¡± ¡°Keep in mind that Tianming is only in his twenties and has already reached Foundation Establishment, and he¡¯s even a Second Order Alchemist. He has made so many contributions to the family. Should a Hidden Dragon like him be treated the same as you?¡± Immediately, several clan members with the Xing generation sharply rebuked the one who made the suggestion. He left the place in shame, unable to bear the embarrassment. Seeing this turn of events, Lin Xingqu then spoke, ¡°My fellow clan members, there¡¯s no need to be disheartened. Having a high talent simply means getting a head start. With the right opportunities, those with lesser talents may not fall far behind those prodigies!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± another clan member chimed in. ¡°Many Loose Cultivators with lesser talents have also managed to achieve Foundation Establishment, and even those who have broken through to the Golden Core Stage. So there¡¯s no reason for us to waver in our determination to pursue the path!¡± Energized by these words, some of the disheartened clan members picked themselves up, resolving to work hard at their cultivation regardless of whether they could be selected as one of the Qi Refining Seven Champions. As some clan members left, news about the Family Elite Ten quickly spread throughout the entire family, becoming a hot topic of discussion. And some clan members who had different views even took their grievances to Clan Leader Lin Shihua, hoping the family would treat everyone fairly. Almost all of these dissenting clan members had poor talent, and were usually lazy, having contributed little to the family. Lin Shihua spared no courtesy for these high-minded clan members, and after a severe scolding, they all fell in line. With this lesson before them, those who had been waiting to see how things would unfold no longer dared to voice their objections. After all, the upper echelons of the family were resolute in their stance, and with their cultivation, these onlookers couldn¡¯t stir up any trouble. One morning, Lin Tianming emerged from his cave dwelling and made his way to the Elders¡¯ Council. Along the way, he encountered many clan members, which caused quite a stir. Many young cultivators of the family had heard of the reputation of the family¡¯s foremost talent but had never seen him in person. Lin Tianming greeted the clan members and encouraged some of the younger ones before leaving with a breezy demeanor, leaving only his dashing figure behind. It didn¡¯t take long for him to arrive at the Elders¡¯ Council. He was mainly there today for the Qingxu Snake Eggs and the Qiuxing Fruit Tree. Before departing from Qianchuan Market, Lin Shilu had repeatedly emphasized the importance of overseeing this matter. He also wanted to visit the family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden, so he came to see the Clan Leader. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shihua was quite pleased. Knowing his purpose, he immediately agreed to accompany him to the Spiritual Medicine Garden. The two left the Elders¡¯ Council Hall and soon arrived at a secluded ravine in the back mountain. Looking at the valley teeming with bird songs and wildflowers, Lin Tianming scrutinized the place carefully. As it was his first visit to the Spiritual Medicine Garden, he was quite curious about what it was like inside. Lin Shihua chuckled, then took out a token, imbued it with a Law Decree, and suddenly an invisible, intangible barrier at the edge of the valley revealed a stone gate. Feeling the rich Spiritual Energy and scent of medicines wafting towards them, Lin Shihua stepped in, walking and explaining: ¡°Tianming, our family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden is located in this ravine. It is protected by wards all year round, and there are also several clan members who guard it day and night.¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded and showed an expectant look. In the Cultivation World, each family or sect places great importance on their Treasure Vaults and Spiritual Medicine Gardens. They are highly valuable and are usually given the best protection. Lin Tianming thought to himself that the Lin Family must have a lot of precious items, given the resources they had acquired over the years. After a short while, the two reached deep inside the valley. In front of them was a large area of mounds and expansive Spirit Fields. The squared Spirit Fields were arranged neatly, and a vast array of Spiritual Medicine Materials were planted within. Gazing out, he saw Golden Bull Grass, Earth Mysterious Mushrooms, Golden Flower Treasures, Mystical Vine Flowers¡­ COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 233 - 173: Hot Discussion_3 Chapter 233: Chapter 173: Hot Discussion_3 There was no shortage of main medicines, ranging from the most basic Fasting Pills to Third Order Spiritual Medicines. Hundreds of types of Spiritual Medicine Materials were categorized and planted in the planned Spirit Fields. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the leaves of the Spiritual Medicines to flutter and sending a rich medicinal fragrance throughout the entire valley. ¡°Hidden Spirit Grass!¡± Lin Tianming discovered the young Hidden Spirit Grass he had originally obtained, growing in the place with the richest Spiritual Energy. However, its medicinal age was still too short. To reach a medicinal age of two hundred years, which was necessary for refining Minor Foundation Building Pills, it would take almost a hundred years. Not far from there, a large amount of Third Order Spiritual Medicines were growing, many of which were precious varieties obtained from the Jin Family. Looking at the hundreds of High Order Spiritual Medicines, as well as a large amount of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, Lin Tianming was thrilled. ... This was just a portion of the Lin Family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Materials. In the clan lands of the Jin Family and the Wu Family, there were two sizable Spiritual Medicine Gardens. However, those gardens planted common varieties, and except for the Spiritual Medicines and Fruits that couldn¡¯t be transplanted, the slightly more precious ones were all gathered here. Regaining their composure, the two of them walked through the medicinal fields toward the hillocks deep in the valley. Upon reaching the depths of the valley, the terrain was different from the medicinal fields. The fields were flat and delicate, whereas the hillocks appeared naturally formed. Besides that, the soil in the medicinal fields was dark brown, while that on the hillocks was distinctly yellowish-green. Looking up, each hillock had various quantities and varieties of Spirit Plants. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Jade Spirit Fruit Tree that he had obtained earlier was also growing on one of the hillocks, its green leaves looking healthy and thriving. At that moment, several clan members were seen holding tools and digging holes in the hillocks, seemingly transplanting something. The two of them didn¡¯t stay and threaded through the paths between the hillocks, arriving where several people were working. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, the busy workers promptly stopped what they were doing and jogged over to greet them. Lin Shihua acknowledged their greetings with a nod, and then took out three Xingxing Fruit Trees and placed them in front of the workers. ¡°Xing¡¯an, these three Xingxing Fruit Trees are quite important and very precious. They need to be transplanted immediately. Take two people and start on this now!¡± Lin Xing¡¯an, the leader, nodded and instructed his team to carry the Xingxing Fruits to a bare hillock. Feeling the rich Spiritual Energy of the place, he waved his Spiritual Artifact in hand and dug a deep pit on the hillock. After that, he took out dozens of Spirit Stones and threw them all into the deep pit before placing the Xingxing Fruit Tree inside and covering it with soil. After transplanting the Xingxing Fruit Tree, Lin Xing¡¯an clasped his hands and cast a Five Elements Spell, summoning a large cloud overhead that irrigated the tree thoroughly with rain before he finished his work. Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua watched the whole process, with Shihua explaining along the way. ¡°Planting Spiritual Medicines and transplanting Spirit Plants is not particularly difficult, as long as there are good Spirit Fields and Spirit Land, you should have no problems. The main thing is long-term maintenance, which requires investing a large number of Spirit Stones to increase the Spiritual Energy and periodically checking the growth of the Spirit Plants, ensuring timely exposure to sunlight and rain. It¡¯s a long-term process!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, quickly grasping the procedures. Whether it was Spiritual Medicine Materials or Spirit Fruit Trees, the requirements for the medicinal fields and Spirit Land were quite demanding. For several years after transplantation, they needed a lot of resources and maintenance to survive. However, once they made it through the first few years, the subsequent period would become much easier. Half a day went by quickly, and the three Xingxing Fruit Trees were successfully transplanted. After giving a few instructions and telling Lin Xing¡¯an to take good care of them, Lin Shihua left the Spiritual Medicine Garden with Lin Tianming. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 234 - 174 Golden Core Duel_1 Chapter 234: Chapter 174 Golden Core Duel_1 Having left the Spiritual Medicine Garden, Lin Tianming and his companion walked and chatted. Although Lin Xing¡¯an¡¯s cultivation talent was only average, his gift for planting Spiritual Medicines was exceptional. The survival rate of the young spiritual medicine plants and various spirit vegetation under his care was extremely high, which was considered a unique technical talent within the family. Lin Shihua introduced him to the scale and planting methods of the Spiritual Medicine Garden along the way, which excited Tianming greatly. According to him, the higher the grade of the transplanted Spiritual Medicines and Fruits, the better the soil containing Spiritual Energy needed to be; this was why Spirit Stones had to be added to the spiritual soil. Following the end of the battle at Luoyun Mountain, the scale of the Spiritual Medicine Garden had exploded, even harboring a large number of Third Order Spiritual Medicines. The enormous amount of Spiritual Energy required for the growth of so many medicines could no longer be satisfied by a Second Order low-grade Spirit Gathering Array. The level of the Spirit Gathering Array in the family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden was too low. It was the same array which the ancient ancestor had asked someone to help set up when the family was founded, and it hadn¡¯t been upgraded in hundreds of years. ... Thus, the act of adding Spirit Stones to the soil to temporarily alleviate the issue of insufficient Spiritual Energy was a helpless move. At this point, Tianming inquired, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, does our family have any promising Array Masters?¡± Seeing him ask this question, Lin Shihua¡¯s bitter face tinged red, and soon after he sighed with emotion. ¡°There¡¯s not much hope in the Xing generation, but there are two clansmen from the Tian generation who have fairly good talents in Formation. They have already become First Order Medium Grade Array Masters. However, this is because the earlier stages are not difficult. Whether they can break through to the Second Order is still hard to say.¡± ¡°Formation and Talisman Making have always been weak points for our family, which need long-term accumulation, and we need talented family members to explore it. However, we have made significant progress in these past years, and I believe that in a few decades, we will produce our own Second Order Array Master.¡± Tianming nodded, understanding that this matter couldn¡¯t be rushed. As long as the family continued to develop in a positive direction, there would eventually be a clansman with outstanding talent in Formation to make up for the family¡¯s shortcoming. Without realizing it, after half a quarter of an hour of flying, following Lin Shihua, the two arrived at the entrance of a valley deep within Green Bamboo Mountain, not far from where Tianming often practiced his Divine Skills. However, in his more than twenty years of life, he had never been to this place. After all, Green Bamboo Mountain covered dozens of miles, and there were still many areas he had not set foot in. The two paused outside the valley, and then Lin Shihua took out a Token, entered a spell, and opened the barrier to enter the valley. Tianming stepped forward to follow, entering the valley with him. Inside the valley, the dense forest and rock walls became apparent, the terrain complex and ever-changing, with a plethora of mundane wild animals running about. Seeing this, Shihua laughed heartily and began to explain. ¡°Tianming, this is the family¡¯s Spirit Beast Garden. The Soul-eating Spider almost lives here as well. Apart from it, the rest are mundane wild animals and some Low-order Monster Beasts, serving as its food.¡± Upon hearing these words, Tianming¡¯s interest soared. He had never seen the Soul-eating Spider itself, only hearing about it from other clan members. During the last battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, he was scavenging for treasures with Lin Shilu at Golden Horn Mountain and did not partake in the battle here; naturally, he could not witness its true form. Just then, a distinctive hissing sound came, and a giant spider appeared in front of the two. It was undoubtedly the Soul-eating Spider. The Soul-eating Spider moved its terrifying limbs, baring its fangs and claws at Tianming, giving him quite a scare. Seeing this, Shihua chuckled and took a few sections of Crimson Gold Snake corpses from his storage bag, tossing them in front of the spider. Only then did the Soul-eating Spider turn around, bite into a piece of Qingxu Serpent Meat, grabbed the remaining sections with its claws, and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Watching the direction in which the Soul-eating Spider disappeared, Shihua spoke up, ¡°The Soul-eating Spider was a Spirit Beast subdued by our ancient ancestor. At first, it was only at the initial stage of the Second Order. Although our ancient ancestor has been gone for hundreds of years and the Spirit Beast contract has expired, it did not leave the family. After hundreds of years of family provision, its grade has also significantly improved to the Second Order¡¯s late phase.¡± ¡°Now, even though the Soul-eating Spider has not taken a new master and is free, it has recognized the family and has even defended the family on multiple occasions. During the last battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, it was even seriously injured, but luckily in recent years, our family acquired plenty of Spiritual Objects, and it quickly recovered from its injuries.¡± At this, both became solemn. In the Cultivation World, it is not easy for Spirit Beasts to recognize a master. Once the master falls, and the Spirit Beast regains its freedom, most would leave without hesitation. It was rare to see a Spirit Beast like the Soul-eating Spider. Although it stayed with the family and accepted the resources provided by the family simply out of mutual needs, during times of family crisis, the Soul-eating Spider played a significant role. Just for this alone, the resources provided by the family were in no way wasted. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, how then should the Qingxu Snake Eggs be hatched? Why choose this place?¡± Tianming asked. Shihua frowned and replied without hesitation, ¡°We are here only to select a place for the Qingxu snakes. I have studied those Serpent Eggs for a whole night. They need a large amount of essence blood smeared on the eggshells, so that the hatched Qingxu snakes will be in tune with you and naturally attached to you.¡± ¡°Moreover, hatching a Spirit Beast is a long-term process. To meet the hatching requirements for these six Serpent Eggs, we¡¯ll also need a vast amount of treasures for assistance. At the very least, it will take several months to hatch.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 235 - 174 Golden Core Duel_2 Chapter 235: Chapter 174 Golden Core Duel_2 Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming felt somewhat embarrassed. His knowledge about Spirit Beasts was limited to the basic information recorded in books, and he had not anticipated so many conditions. The value of these Serpent Eggs was not low, and once the hatchlings reached maturity, it would be equivalent to raising a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Even if he hadn¡¯t brought it up, the family elders wouldn¡¯t have overlooked such an important matter. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming did not ask further. The two made a round in the valley before returning to where they started. Lin Tianming actually found the valley quite to his liking. The enclosed area was not small, and it was home to a large number of common wild animals, making it very suitable for the existence of Spirit Beasts. Lin Tianming even secretly thought that if he stayed with the clan for a long time, he could send the Purple Gold Eagle in, and perhaps even mix in the Soul-eating Spider. Regaining his composure, the two left the valley together. ... Walking along, Lin Shihua fully promised that he would definitely hatch the Qingxu Serpent as soon as possible. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt at ease. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lin Shihua, he returned to his cave dwelling first. There were still two days left before the day agreed with Lin Xingping to leave the clan. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming entered the training room and began to cultivate. Two days later, in the early morning, on the plaza of the clan gate. Lin Tianming was the first to wait there. The Purple Gold Eagle stood by his side, nuzzling his clothes with its large beak in a pleasing manner. He waved his hand and took out two pieces of First Order Qingxu Serpent Meat, fed them to the Purple Gold Eagle, and finally calmed the greedy creature down. In a short while, his father and Lin Xingping arrived in step, landing before him. Lin Tianming immediately approached and gave them his respects. ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s no need for such formalities!¡± Lin Xingping said with a wave of his hand and a smile, apparently in a very good mood. His father chuckled, then took out two storage bags and a ledger, handing them to Lin Tianming, saying: ¡°The treasures in here are the clan¡¯s resources prepared for the operation of the Luoyun Pavilion. The quantity is considerable, so you must take good care of them!¡± ¡°Father, rest assured, your son will surely deliver these treasures intact to Qianchuan Market and hand them personally to Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a resolute expression. ¡°Brother Twelve, don¡¯t worry. With me and Tianming together, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems!¡± Lin Xingping also said, clasping his fist. Lin Xingrong nodded, glanced back at the clan grounds, then declared: ¡°Hmm¡­ Time is ticking on, let¡¯s set off!¡± Upon finishing, the three of them and the beast exited the protective clan formation. They then mounted the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, with the eagle carrying them northward. In less than two days, they smoothly arrived at Golden Horn Mountain. After a short rest overnight, Lin Xingrong watched the two leave until they disappeared into the northern sky, then he returned to his cave dwelling. Lin Tianming and the other sat on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, casually chatting as they felt the rushing mountains and rivers around them. Although he had traveled this route to Qianchuan Market several times and had never encountered any danger, Lin Tianming still did not dare to let down his guard. He took out a map and pointed to a mark on it, saying: ¡°Uncle, this journey is long. We should take turns being on alert!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingping naturally had no objections. He replied seriously: ¡°Of course. Although I have never been to Qianchuan Market, I gathered quite some information before leaving the clan. The Hengyang Mountain Range that we will pass through is not exactly peaceful, so being cautious can do no harm!¡± ¡°Yes, indeed¡­ But no need to be too nervous. A party with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators isn¡¯t one that is easily provoked!¡± Lin Tianming said with a light smile. ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± A party of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators ranks considerably high among the forces within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Unless there are life-and-death grudges, almost no one would provoke them. The two exchanged smiles, sitting on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back as they flew northward at high speed. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days passed¡­ At the border of the Hengyang Mountain Range and the Luoyang Mountain Range, in a tranquil valley. It was now evening, and Lin Tianming and his companion landed atop a mountain peak. Lin Tianming surveyed the thickly forested valley, then swept the area with his Divine Sense, and after confirming there was no danger around, he said: ¡°Uncle, let¡¯s rest here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow!¡± ¡°Good, after several days of travel, I¡¯m indeed a bit tired. Besides, since the Qianchuan Market is still at a distance, even if we travel all night, we can¡¯t reach it in a short time. Let¡¯s just rest here for the night!¡± Lin Xingping said with a smile. Once he had finished speaking, Lin Tianming took out the Earth Evil Sword and swiftly carved out a simple cave in a stone wall. After casually setting up a couple of concealment Illusion Techniques, the two of them entered, one after the other. They then sat down, preparing to meditate and cultivate. Before one Grand Circulation was complete, a thunderous noise suddenly filled the air, and the valley began to shake violently. The expressions of Lin Tianming and his companion changed; they quickly ended their cultivation and went to the cave entrance, cautiously checking the situation outside. By now, it was dark, and the night was shrouded in a dense fog, making it hard to discern the situation. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare use his Divine Sense, lest he be detected. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards two glowing masses in the distance, his face immediately turning pale. On two mountain peaks several miles away, two elders were fighting fiercely. One of them was wearing a golden Taoist robe with a sun pattern on his chest, exactly like the one on Li Xiuyuan¡¯s robe, clearly identifying him as a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect without a doubt. The other elder wore black and held a glittering golden mirror; when he cast a Law Decree, a silver-white beam of light shot out towards the Zhenyang Sect cultivator. The cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect was unruffled. He quickly took out a small umbrella and protected himself with it. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The beam of light hit the umbrella and exploded into a tremendous noise. Beneath the feet of the Zhenyang Sect cultivator, the ground suddenly split open, creating a crevice several zhang wide. The Zhenyang Sect cultivator¡¯s face darkened, and he immediately unleashed a sword strike, sending out a tremendous number of Sword Qi, beginning to counterattack. Sparks flew from the fierce exchange between the two, their brightness like the brilliance of the sun, illuminating a radius of several tens of miles as if it were daylight. Meanwhile, thunderous rumblings could be heard, and the earth shook violently. Based on the fluctuations from their battle, they were at least Golden Core Stage seniors. Lin Tianming watched with a solemn expression. Although he had been on the cultivation path for some time, this was the first occasion he had witnessed Golden Core Stage cultivators, and, moreover, his first time observing a duel. At this moment, he held his breath, not even daring to let out a sigh, his eyes fixated on the distant battle, his mind racing with thoughts. He had no idea why those two Golden Core Stage seniors were fighting, nor whether they had noticed them. They might have even already spotted them but simply didn¡¯t care about their presence. No matter what the possibility, if the seniors decided to cause trouble, their own levels of cultivation were completely incapable of handling it, and they could only pretend not to see and pray that the two would leave soon. After a short while, following a loud explosion, the elder in the black robe shouted angrily and alarmedly at the Zhenyang Sect cultivator: S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Chen Jingtian, do you really intend to fight to the death with me over a piece of the Mysterious Moon Order?¡± Upon hearing this, the cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect sneered, and then, with determination in his voice, said: ¡°Old Monster Gu, why waste time delaying? You are no match for me. Hand over the Mysterious Moon Order obediently, and I can let you leave. Otherwise, today might not end well for you!¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s impervious attitude, the cultivator surnamed Gu¡¯s face darkened as he took out a bead with a grey-white pattern and threw it straight at Chen Jingtian. Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression turned extremely grim as he hurriedly protected himself with the umbrella, then rapidly retreated. ¡°Boom¡­¡± When the grey-white bead exploded between them, the cultivator surnamed Gu struck out with another beam of light and fled westward without looking back. Chen Jingtian leaped to avoid the attack from the cultivator surnamed Gu and immediately pursued the fleeing cultivator. Before long, the land quieted down, and the night returned to normal. The two Golden Core cultivators had completely vanished without a trace. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 236 - 236: 175 Chapter 236: 175 Within the Spartan cave abode, Lin Tianming and his companion dared not even let out a heavy breath. When the disturbance outside ceased and the darkness fell upon the land once again, the Golden Core Cultivator was nowhere to be seen. They did not know how much time had passed with absolute silence surrounding them before Lin Tianming and his companion finally let out a sigh of relief and plopped down onto the ground. At this moment, Lin Xingping wore a puzzled expression. With his limited Divine Sense and lacking treasures like the Eye of Five Colors, he could only sense the outbreak of a fierce battle outside but knew none of the specifics. Yet with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming managed to glean some basic information about the battle. Based on the course of the battle and the conversation between the two Golden Core cultivators, it seemed that they fought over the Mysterious Moon Order, and eventually, the one surnamed Gu appeared to be outmatched by Chen Jingtian. In a desperate move, he used a grayish-white pearl to create an explosive distraction, allowing him a moment to flee in panic, while Chen, unwilling to let go of the Mysterious Moon Order, pursued relentlessly without a second thought. ... Lin Tianming thought to himself that if even Golden Core cultivators were willing to fight over the Mysterious Moon Order, the two tokens in his possession must be of immense value. As he speculated in secret, Lin Xingping beside him asked, ¡°Tian Ming, what was the cause of the commotion just now, and what was the outcome?¡± Lin Tianming regained his focus and replied, ¡°There was a battle between two Golden Elixir Experts. One of them was Chen Jingtian, a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect. The other, surnamed Gu, I¡¯ve never heard of before. There are no Golden Core Cultivators with the surname Gu in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, so he must not be from here!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingping¡¯s face showed a shocked expression. Golden Core Cultivators were absolute top-tier experts in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, often elusive and rarely engaging in open conflict. Such disregard for secrecy in battle was exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming, however, was much calmer by then and continued, ¡°The two Golden Core Cultivators fought several rounds, but the one surnamed Gu didn¡¯t seem to be a match for Chen Jingtian and ended up fleeing in a panic!¡± ¡°It¡¯s unclear why they appeared here or fought so fiercely, and the outcome remains unknown. But these matters are none of our concern!¡± Lin Xingping nodded, finally regaining his composure from the shock. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Lin Tianming spoke gravely, ¡°Uncle, whether those elders have discovered us or simply don¡¯t care about our presence, it doesn¡¯t matter. We can¡¯t stay here any longer. If they return and find us, it could spell trouble!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s serious words, Lin Xingping agreed there was a good chance of that happening and promptly said, ¡°At this moment, we can¡¯t worry about anything else. For safety¡¯s sake, we should leave immediately and travel through the night to reach Qianchuan Market as soon as possible!¡± With those words, Lin Tianming and his companion left the temporary cave abode and released their Purple Gold Eagle. Hopping onto its back, they turned into a shadow under the hazy moonlight and vanished into the valley. Days flew by, and with no other incidents on the way, they safely arrived on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After placing the Purple Gold Eagle into the Spirit Beast Bag, they hurried to the market entrance, paid the entrance Spirit Stones, and entered the market. Stepping onto the Bluestone Street and into the market, they breathed a sigh of relief and headed straight for the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once home, Lin Shilu was deep in cultivation practice. Lin Tianming sent a message without disturbing him. A short while later, Lin Shilu emerged from the practice room, and they quickly stepped forward to greet him. Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion return safely pleased Lin Shilu greatly. ¡°Tian Ming, you¡¯ve returned rather swiftly. It hasn¡¯t even been a month, and you¡¯ve already made a round trip!¡± Lin Shilu said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming has some important matters to report to you!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming, usually so composed, being so cautious, Lin Shilu promptly invited them to sit and speak. The three sat in the courtyard, and Lin Tianming recounted everything they had seen and heard on their journey. Upon hearing the recount, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed dramatically, his face reflecting his shock. Although Lin Tianming was detailed in his recounting, he did not mention the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order. The fight over the token by the two Golden Core cultivators revealed the significance of the matter. For safety¡¯s sake, it was better that fewer people knew. ¡°Tian Ming, for the next few days, the two of you should avoid showing your faces, lest someone recognizes you and trouble arises!¡± Lin Shilu cautioned. Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, agreeing to seclude themselves for a period of time to let the issue pass. After temporarily setting aside the matter of the Golden Core cultivators¡¯ fight, Lin Tianming handed over the two storage bags brought from the family to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu took the storage bags, and after finalizing the transfer of an enormous amount of cultivation resources, Lin Tianming reported on the family¡¯s matters. Learning of the decision to nurture the Family Elite Ten, Lin Shilu was very pleased and agreed wholly with the strategy. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the subsidy for the Family Elite Ten will start next year. You and I will receive an allocation of five thousand Spirit Stones annually. Before leaving, Third Grandfather had instructed that if it¡¯s inconvenient to collect the subsidy from the family, we could take it from the profits of Luoyun Pavilion!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shilu nodded and, after instructing them to practice diligently, Lin Xingping was the first to rise and take his leave. After he had left, Lin Tianming set up a barrier to ensure privacy, then started speaking about the Mysterious Moon Order. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 237 - 175: Breakthrough to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment_2 Chapter 237: Chapter 175: Breakthrough to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment_2 ¡°` ¡°What? Those two Golden Core Cultivators actually came to blows over the Mysterious Moon Order?¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed. ¡°` ¡°` Although he had long suspected that the Mysterious Moon Order was no small matter, he had not expected that two Golden Core Cultivators would fight over it. With this development, the Mysterious Moon Order must be extremely important. ¡°` ... ¡°` Lin Tianming nodded, recalling the events, and then said, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what I¡¯m telling you is absolutely true. I was watching the battle from a distance and also vaguely heard what the Cultivator with the surname Gu said¡ªit was indeed about the Mysterious Moon Order without a doubt!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lin Shilu naturally did not doubt Lin Tianming¡¯s words and immediately said, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°It seems the Mysterious Moon Order really is extraordinary. The Zhenyang Sect must certainly know the purpose of the token. Even Golden Elixir Experts must take it seriously. Looking at this, the Mysterious Moon Order might soon come into use!¡± ¡°` sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` Lin Tianming nodded, somewhat excitedly saying, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s just that we don¡¯t know what level this Secret Realm is or what the entry conditions are!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s remark, Lin Shilu recalled the past and then spoke. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°This old man has consulted many texts before, and it is said that when an ownerless Secret Realm emerges, there will be a preparatory period before it officially opens. During this time, the entry restrictions can be discerned from the token allowing entrance!¡± ¡°` ¡°` As soon as his words fell, Lin Tianming eagerly asked, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Then by that logic, if even Golden Core Stage Cultivators can enter the Secret Realm, wouldn¡¯t we have slim hope even if we had the token?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Indeed, if truly even Golden Core Cultivators can enter, then those at the Foundation Establishment going in would surely be taking a near-certain death risk!¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°In that case, we can only hope that the Secret Realm is limited to those in the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refinement Realm; otherwise, we would have to hand over the Mysterious Moon Order to the Zhenyang Sect in exchange for some cultivation resources.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Having said that, even Lin Shilu showed a hint of worry in his voice. After all, even in the lowest Yellow Grade Secret Realm, the treasures within were extraordinary. Having obtained the Mysterious Moon Order, they would not give up on such a rare opportunity unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, they would opt to hand it over to the Zhenyang Sect. ¡°` ¡°` Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming felt helpless and could only pray for good luck to be able to enter the Secret Realm and explore it. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s worried expression, Lin Shilu comforted him, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Tianming, the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order cannot be forced. If it¡¯s our chance, we won¡¯t give up. If not, it just means we were not fated for it, so there¡¯s no need to overthink it!¡± ¡°` ¡°` After nodding, Lin Tianming showed a slight smile and then said, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, Tianming understands. I plan to go into seclusion to cultivate during this period. Please keep an eye on the Mysterious Moon Order in secret. As soon as there is any news, immediately inform me!¡± ¡°` ¡°` After chatting idly for a bit longer, Lin Tianming prepared to stand up and take his leave. ¡°` ¡°` Before leaving, Lin Shilu repeatedly urged, ¡°The matter of the Mysterious Moon Order must not be revealed at all, and don¡¯t try to inquire about it everywhere. It¡¯s easy for people with motives to notice, and if it¡¯s discovered that we own the Mysterious Moon Order, it will definitely provoke other Cultivators to attempt to seize it. If the Zhenyang Sect becomes aware, the trouble will be even greater, and we might not find refuge anywhere in the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Fully aware of the importance of this matter, Lin Tianming nodded, promising to keep it to himself. Then he bid farewell to Lin Shilu and returned to his own cultivation room. ¡°` ¡°` Once inside his cultivation room, he sat down cross-legged, contemplating his cultivation plan going forward. ¡°` ¡°` After much thought, he decided to enter closed-door cultivation to raise his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. The matter of the Dragon Bone Pill would be set aside for the time being. Currently, he had more than twenty Qiuxing Fruits, so there was no shortage of treasures needed for short-term cultivation. ¡°` ¡°` Having made up his mind, he began the Grand Circulation, waiting until his condition reached its peak before taking out a Qiuxing Fruit. ¡°` ¡°` Looking at the Qiuxing Fruit brimming with Spiritual Energy, a sight for sore eyes, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to swallow it whole. ¡°` ¡°` As the Spirit Fruit entered his mouth, a gentle energy quickly spread out, traveling along his meridians. ¡°` ¡°` Although this was already the fourth Qiuxing Fruit he had consumed, the tingling sense of satisfaction still brought him immense comfort. ¡°` ¡°` Feeling this special energy, he wasted no time, fully operating his cultivation technique to refine it¡ªturning the energy within the Qiuxing Fruit into gentle Spiritual Power, which ultimately converged in his Seven Sea Dantian. ¡°` ¡°` Time flew by, and thus a year passed. ¡°` ¡°` Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation room, he sat on the ground, his breathing steady and calm. ¡°` ¡°` Sensing the state of his entire body, Lin Tianming looked into his Seven Sea Dantian, where the abundant Spiritual Power was almost becoming liquid. The Spiritual Power within his Dantian was on the verge of overflowing. ¡°` His face was calm, and a trace of resolute determination shone from his eyes. For the past year, he had ingested a Qiuxing Fruit every month to cultivate, spending the remaining time meditating or crafting elixirs for the Luoyun Pavilion. Throughout this time, he had remained in the market district to cultivate, never venturing beyond his own doorsteps, embodying the essence of ascetic practice. In the past six months, he had several times forcefully suppressed his cultivation level. After half a year of tempering and settling, feeling that he could no longer hold back, he decided to break through in one fell swoop. Having made up his mind, he retrieved another Qiuxing Fruit and, without any hesitation, swallowed it in one gulp. As the Spirit Fruit dissolved in his mouth, he familiarly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it, and streams of gentle Spiritual Power flowed into his Qi Sea Dantian. Feeling that gentle Spiritual Power, he repeatedly washed against the barriers of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Time slowly passed, and three days later, the potency of the Qiuxing Fruit was dwindling, soon to be exhausted. Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes reflected unwavering determination as he gathered the Spiritual Power he had refined over the past few days, preparing for the final assault. Feeling the vast Spiritual Power, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and directed the flood of power straight into the pinnacle of his Qi Sea Dantian. A sharp pain surged, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turned pale, and soon, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead and evaporated upon hitting the bluestone floor. He endured the pain, controlling the now-liquid Spiritual Power as it bombarded the barriers. After who knows how many assaults, suddenly a warm current burst forth, and his Qi Sea Dantian began to expand once more. At the same time, the originally liquid Spiritual Power flowed into the expanded Qi Sea Dantian, swiftly becoming even more viscous. Not only that, but as the barriers were breached, a torrent of energy surged within his body, cleansing his flesh. A foul smell permeated, and his body oozed a stinky black muck, evidently cleansing his body again with the aid of the Spiritual Power combined with the medicinal properties within him. Lin Tianming did not dare to delay, swiftly circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, finally exhaling a long breath when his True Yuan flowed through his veins to his entire body. At this moment, feeling the vigorous Spiritual Power in his body, clearly thicker and more substantial than before, and containing even greater energy, he was filled with emotion. Having successfully broken through to the second layer of Foundation Establishment, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion became rosy, his heart brimming with excitement. It had been nearly three years since he entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, and with the aid of over ten Qiuxing Fruits, he had successfully broken through to the second layer at this moment. Over these years, his cultivation journey was fraught with difficulty. Before breaking through the early stages, he had to rely solely on meditation for cultivation advancement, which was extremely slow. However, this laid a solid foundation for him, and with the aid of the Qiuxing Fruits, he was able to make a breakthrough. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming did not immediately rise but continued cultivating to consolidate his position, ensuring he would not suffer a setback from an unstable realm post-breakthrough. He circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, rapidly redistributing the Spiritual Power throughout his body. Half a month swiftly elapsed¡­ In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming, who sat cross-legged on the floor, opened his tightly closed eyes, and a flash of light shot from the corners of his eyes. Lin Tianming stood up, feeling the vigorous Spiritual Power within his body circulating with exceptional smoothness, and even his slightest movements contained immense energy. He clenched his fist, and his body crackled with several snapping sounds, Lin Tianming¡¯s face brimming with joy. After a month of confinement to solidify his practice, his cultivation was now stable at the second layer of Foundation Establishment, and it was very solid. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± he exhaled deeply. Seeing the foul-smelling black muck on his body, he then made a Single-handed Seal, casting a Five Elements Spell, conjuring a sphere of rainwater to comfortably bathe himself, then changed into a clean set of green robes. Feeling refreshed, he next cast a fireball, which quickly dried the rainwater on the ground with its intense heat. After completing these tasks, he tidied up the disordered cultivation room before stepping out. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 238 - 176: Undercurrents Surge_1 Chapter 238: Chapter 176: Undercurrents Surge_1 Lin Tianming left the training room and came to the courtyard. At that moment, Lin Shilu was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t expect to bump into Lin Shilu as soon as he left seclusion. With a smile on his face, he immediately walked up to greet him. Feeling the aura emitted by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu rejoiced and exclaimed, ¡°Tianming, have you made a breakthrough, my boy?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion looked good, and the joy from his breakthrough had yet to subside. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s question, he nodded and smiled, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, if I hadn¡¯t been suppressing my cultivation in order to consolidate it, I might have broken through half a year ago!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ not bad. Even so, breaking through a realm every three years is still quite fast!¡± Lin Shilu said. ... Lin Tianming nodded; the Foundation Establishment Stage wasn¡¯t as easy to break through as the Qi Refinement Realm. He was fairly satisfied with a progression of one stage every three years. After sitting down to chat and drink tea for a bit, Lin Tianming began to inquire about the Mysterious Moon Order. Seeing Lin Tianming ask about this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression grew serious, and he then said, ¡°In the marketplace, there have sporadically been rumors about the Mysterious Moon Order for nearly a year now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately became interested! Lin Shilu picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and continued, ¡°According to the rumors, a few months ago in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, a Mysterious Moon Order appeared out of nowhere, leading to a frenzied struggle for it. As a result, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators perished, and the Mysterious Moon Order eventually ended up in the hands of a Loose Cultivator named Liu Zhong. This person disappeared with the token, seemingly finding a place to hide, waiting for the Secret Realm to open!¡± ¡°Liu Zhong?¡± Hearing this name, Lin Tianming carefully thought it over but didn¡¯t recall any information about the man. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, who is this Liu Zhong, and how come I have never heard of him?¡± Lin Tianming asked. When it came to Liu Zhong, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned grave, seeming to hold considerable wariness towards him. ¡°Curiously enough, he and that ancient-surnamed Golden Core Cultivator you¡¯ve met are both from the Huangyang Country Cultivation World in Jingzhou. However, Liu Zhong frequently mingles within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Though a Loose Cultivator, his talent and cultivation are not low; he managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level before the age of one hundred. Moreover, this individual is extremely dangerous, quite powerful, and ruthless. To gain opportunities, he would stop at nothing, having committed numerous murderous and plundering acts. If by chance you encounter this man, you must be very careful!¡± After listening to Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded, taking mental note of this person¡¯s name to avoid being oblivious when meeting this dangerous figure. After advising Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu¡¯s topic subtly shifted. ¡°This matter of the Mysterious Moon Order is causing quite a stir in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Cultivators from other regions are flooding into the Qianchuan Mountain Range, hoping to try their luck. The currents are turbulent in Wei Kingdom now, with a vast number of Cultivators gathering here. After all, securing even one token, even if they can¡¯t enter themselves, allows them to trade it with the Great Sects or other forces in exchange for a wealth of resources!¡± It came as a surprise to Lin Tianming that the news of the Mysterious Moon Order was now common knowledge. Now that the word had spread, and so many Cultivators had come to the Qianchuan Mountain Range, he wondered what stance the Zhenyang Sect, the local power, would take. With this in mind, Lin Tianming asked: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what are the attitudes of the three Great Sects and the two Great Golden Core Families regarding this issue?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s brows furrowed, then he replied: ¡°At present, Zhenyang Sect has shown no particular stance. After all, there are too many people coming, and even Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke public anger. They¡¯ve merely declared that whoever brings in the Mysterious Moon Order will receive spirit stones or treasures worth tens of thousands, or even choose a Foundation Establishment Pill!¡± ¡°Moreover, Myriad Medicine Valley, Golden Sword Sect, and the two Great Sects, as well as the Yingchuan Chen Family and the West River Li Family, have all put out similar words; whoever submits the Mysterious Moon Order will also receive a vast quantity of spirit stones or treasures.¡± Upon hearing all this from Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming immediately understood that every Golden Elixir Force was highly valuing the Mysterious Moon Order, even willing to trade Foundation Establishment Pills for it. The preciousness of the Foundation Establishment Pill was self-evident. Even for Golden Elixir Forces, the amount produced each year was very limited, and those pills that made it to the market would inevitably cause fierce competition. For the Mysterious Moon Order, they were indeed investing heavily! However, upon careful consideration, although the Foundation Establishment Pills were valuable, if they could obtain more Mysterious Moon Orders, they would be able to send more Cultivators into the Secret Realm to hunt for treasures. The more people entering the Secret Realm, the safer it would be, and the greater the odds of finding treasures. If they could find Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, then what they paid for a Foundation Establishment Pill would be negligible. Viewed this way, it was understandable why the Golden Elixir Forces attached so much importance to it. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a rush of excitement. They had obtained two Mysterious Moon Orders. If they could enter and find a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they might help Lin Shikang break through to the Golden Core Stage, and then the Lin Family could return to glory and become the third Golden Core Family in the Wei Kingdom! But for now, the Secret Realm had yet to appear, and the entrance conditions were unknown. Weighing these possibilities seemed futile. With this thought, Lin Tianming asked with a sense of resignation: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, does the frequent appearance of the Mysterious Moon Order indicate that the Secret Realm is about to open?¡± Lin Shilu nodded and then said: ¡°Indeed, that is very likely. This realm is definitely an unclaimed Secret Realm. With the Mysterious Moon Order emerging in large numbers, it will appear in the world within a few months at the earliest, or three years at the latest!¡± ¡°We have two Mysterious Moon Orders, and under no circumstances can we pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we can enter and obtain Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, Elder Brother¡¯s chances of Core Formation will greatly increase!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 239 - 176: Undercurrents Surge_2 Chapter 239: Chapter 176: Undercurrents Surge_2 At this point, Lin Shilu¡¯s gaze was resolute, with a hint of longing flashing in his eyes. The Lin Family had languished in obscurity for far too long. Such an opportunity was rare and sought after¡ªperhaps this was the chance their family had been waiting for. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I implore you to keep a close eye on this matter. As soon as the Secret Realm opens and we learn of the entry requirements, we must act swiftly. We can¡¯t afford to miss this opportunity!¡± Lin Tianming said with excitement. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s earnest instructions, Lin Shilu smiled faintly and replied: ¡°Rest assured, my boy. I have already instructed Tianfeng and the others to keep a close watch on any news regarding the Mysterious Moon Order. As soon as we receive word, we¡¯ll consult with you on our next steps immediately!¡± ¡°I will enter seclusion to engage in Alchemy and then cultivate, striving to enhance my cultivation as much as possible and make preparations in advance!¡± Lin Tianming stated. ... ¡°Go ahead!¡± Lin Shilu waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Tian Ming takes his leave!¡± Lin Tianming bowed and then left the Cave Mansion Courtyard, emerging onto the streets of the marketplace. With Lin Shilu attending to the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t need to be distracted by it. Now that he had made a breakthrough in cultivation, and despite having more than ten Qiuxing Fruits left, the priority was to attempt producing Dragon Bone Pills as soon as possible, in anticipation of what was to come. Otherwise, once he ran out of Qiuxing Fruits and without the aid of elixirs, his cultivation would stagnate, wasting precious time. Fortunately, he had already acquired the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill, and most of the other Spiritual Medicine Materials were nearly all collected, only lacking Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit to start the alchemy process. Although these two ingredients were not exceedingly rare, they were also not commonly found. He planned to visit Sky Dragon Pavilion to see if they stocked these items. If they did, he would buy them immediately and return to refine pills. Settling on his plan, he strode briskly down the streets, heading towards the commercial district of the marketplace. On the way, the streets bustled with crowds of cultivators, the flow of people significantly increased by two or three times the usual, presumably because of the Mysterious Moon Order, attracting many cultivators to try their luck here. He paid them no heed, quickly arriving at Sky Dragon Pavilion where he was led by the receiving cultivator to a private room on the second floor. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon after, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s hearty laughter reached his ears. ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t Daoist Chen! It¡¯s been a long while; you have my salutations!¡± Tang Xiuyuan greeted, bowing with his hands clasped and a smile on his face. Lin Tianming stood to return the gesture and then both men sat opposite each other. He took a sip of the Spiritual Tea before him and said: ¡°Hehe, indeed, it¡¯s been over a year. I¡¯m here today to look for two types of Spiritual Medicine Materials!¡± Hearing this, and recalling Lin Tianming¡¯s generous spending in the past, Tang Xiuyuan immediately showed interest. ¡°Oh? What might those be?¡± ¡°Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit! Does your esteemed establishment carry these items?¡± Lin Tianming asked expectantly, getting straight to the point. ¡°Autumn Night Grass? Xing Luan Fruit?¡± Tang Xiuyuan seemed surprised, but he didn¡¯t show any particular reaction as he said: ¡°These items may not be of high tier, merely Second Order inferior grade Spiritual Medicines, and indeed they aren¡¯t common. But, Daoist Chen, you¡¯re in luck¡ªour shop happens to have three stalks of Autumn Night Grass and five Xing Luan Fruits!¡± Lin Tianming, excited to hear that these two types of Spiritual Medicine Materials were available, inquired: ¡°May I know the price?¡± ¡°Each stalk of Autumn Night Grass is priced at two hundred and ten Spirit Stones, and each Xing Luan Fruit at one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± Tang Xiuyuan replied forthrightly. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by the prices. Ordinary Second Order inferior grade Spiritual Medicine Materials would typically cost just over a hundred Spirit Stones, but the two types he sought were rarer, hence the higher prices. Still, he decided to purchase these Spiritual Medicines. Although he would only have materials for three batches, considering that he was merely attempting to produce Dragon Bone Pills for the first time, and unsure of its feasibility, it made sense to try out three batches. If they proved to assist his cultivation, he¡¯d then purchase materials on a larger scale for pill refining. ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯ll take three portions of each of these two Spiritual Medicine Materials!¡± Having made his decision, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t bother to negotiate and directly handed over one thousand one hundred and seventy Spirit Stones to Tang Xiuyuan. Tang Xiuyuan received the Spirit Stones, then with a wave of his sleeve, six Jade Boxes appeared in his hand. Lin Tianming took the six Jade Boxes, checking the contents to confirm they were indeed Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit of the correct medicinal properties, then stowed them in his storage bag. With the transaction complete, Lin Tianming exchanged some pleasantries with Tang Xiuyuan before leaving the Sky Dragon Pavilion and returning to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming sat on the floor and ran the Cultivation Technique for a cycle of Grand Circulation, bringing his body to its peak condition. Opening his eyes, he suddenly produced two Jade Slips. One contained the Dragon Bone Pill Formula he had bought from the stall area, and the other recorded the Alchemy Experience gifted by Ye Pinghai. Even though he had already reviewed both Jade Slips several times, committing their contents to memory, he sent out his Divine Sense to go over the recorded information once more. After a quarter of an hour had passed, Lin Tianming put away the two Jade Slips and then took out the Four Symbols Furnace. He made a Single-handed Seal, expertly ignited the Earth Fire, and then tossed the Four Symbols Furnace to hover steadily above the Earth Fire¡¯s opening. Effortlessly completing the preparatory steps before pill refining, he then picked up a Second Order Qingxu Serpent Demon Elixir, examining it in his hand. Looking at the grey-white inner core, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the difficulty of its acquisition. Regaining his focus, he arranged all the necessary materials for the Dragon Bone Pill, setting them neatly on the nearby stone platform. Now, everything was in place, except for the eastern wind. Taking a deep breath, he began warming the furnace, and when the temperature reached the desired level, he tossed a stalk of Spiritual Medicine Material into the Four Symbols Furnace. The initial stages of decomposition and purification were no different from regular elixir production, posing no challenge for him. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 240 - 176 Undertows_3 Chapter 240: Chapter 176 Undertows_3 Soon, after an hour of high-intensity decomposition and purification, batch after batch of Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Fruits were broken down completely. At the bottom of the Four Symbols Furnace, a multicolored blob of Elixir Essence lay within the furnace. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead, then tossed the Second Order Qingxu Snake Inner Pill into the Four Symbols Furnace. As the ash-white Qingxu Snake Inner Pill entered the incredibly hot furnace, it suddenly came to life, bouncing around wildly. Lin Tianming dared not be careless, for a Demon Beast Inner Pill was not as gentle as Spiritual Medicine Materials, and a slight misstep could cause an explosion. The energy contained within a Second Order Demon Core was terrifying; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator might face mortal danger at such close proximity. He focused all his attention on maneuvering his Divine Sense, forcibly suppressing the inner core before starting to break it down. ... As half a day passed, inside the Four Symbols Furnace, the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill had completely disappeared, and the original Elixir Essence had expanded in size, its color also undergoing a drastic change to greenish-red. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. The most dangerous step was over, and what followed was the most critical Solidifying Pill process. He took a deep breath, then performed a Single-handed Seal, striking a Law Decree on the Earth Fire vent. With a quiet sound, the Earth Fire spurted out, raising the temperature inside the Four Symbols Furnace to another level. Lin Tianming had a grave expression, constantly sensing the changes within the Four Symbols Furnace. Once the temperature was about right, he slapped the Four Symbols Furnace, unleashing a stream of Spiritual Power from his hand that plunged into the furnace and vanished without a trace. With the Infusion of Spirit complete, he controlled the temperature of the Earth Fire while chanting to himself. ¡°Solidify!¡± A piercing sound emanated, followed by several crisp pops from within the Pill Furnace. Hearing the noise, Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed color. After the sounds ceased, he immediately lifted the lid of the furnace. All that lay inside were a pile of medicinal dregs mixed with two broken pills. He picked up one of the shattered elixirs, holding it in his hands and pondering over it carefully. ¡°It seems possible to have successfully concocted it; it was just that I didn¡¯t control the temperature and timing of the Infusion of Spirit well, causing the Alchemy to fail!¡± ¡°It looks like the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill can indeed replace the Qinglong Jiao Inner Dan, and it really can be used to concoct the Dragon Bone Pill,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, a smile flashing across his face. Although the first batch of elixirs was a failure, it was close to being a success, giving him unlimited hope. After cleaning up the wasted medicinal dregs, he began to recuperate, waiting until his condition was at its peak before continuing with the concoction. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°With three sets of materials, I must successfully create a batch of pills!¡± he thought to himself, then began to recover his energy. Half a day later, Lin Tianming¡¯s condition had recovered, and he once again dove into the intense process of pill concoction. Having learned from the first failure, he was extremely cautious while concocting the second batch of elixirs, doing his best to execute each step perfectly. With familiarity and diligent effort, he saw his work pay off, successfully solidifying the second batch of pills. In the Pill Refining Room, when a unique medicinal fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace, he didn¡¯t care about his profuse sweating and hastily uncovered the lid of the furnace. Inside were five greenish-red pills suspended in the furnace. He immediately took out one pill and carefully examined it. ¡°This is certainly a finished product, no doubt about it, but I wonder if it will be effective!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, his face expressing excitement. However, not being in good condition at the moment, he could only try it out another day. With that thought, he closed his eyes and began to meditate, preparing to refine the remaining set of materials and then to test the finished elixirs. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 241 - 177 The Secret Realm Appears_1 Chapter 241: Chapter 177 The Secret Realm Appears_1 Two days later¡­ In the alchemy room, a fragrance wafted from the Four Symbols Furnace, quickly filling the entire alchemy room. Lin Tianming was overjoyed and hastily lifted the lid of the furnace, only to see five pills, intermingled with shades of green and red, lying at the bottom. He stored the pills in a jade bottle, then took out two to carefully compare. The results showed that the pills from both batches were identical, each one saturated with color, indistinguishable from the description of the Dragon Bone Pill. From three sets of materials, two successful batches yielded ten pills; both the success rate and quantity of pills were quite impressive. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, then tidied up the pill refining room, and moved on to the cultivation chamber. ... Sitting on a meditation mat in the cultivation chamber, he closed his eyes to regulate his breathing until he reached his peak condition, then opened his eyes. Lin Tianming then took out a Lingshen Pill and, without hesitation, swallowed it. As soon as the pill entered his mouth, he began to channel his energy to refine it, and the power contained within the pill started to flow through his meridians, bringing on a familiar sense of pain. Sweat began to seep out of Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead; clenching his teeth, he quickly swallowed a prepared Dragon Bone Pill. The moment the Dragon Bone Pill was ingested, he started to refine it. Within a few breaths, the energy from the Dragon Bone Pill was gentle, like stepping into warm water, the comfortable sensation slowly suppressing the pain in his body. ¡°This improved Dragon Bone Pill really works.¡± Lin Tianming was ecstatic, and he then started to fully operate his cultivation technique, refining the potency of both the Lingshen Pill and the Dragon Bone Pill. As the speed of refinement increased sharply, the power of the Dragon Bone Pill took effect, suppressing the pain from the Lingshen Pill while also improving his physique. Crackling sounds came from inside his body. He extended his Divine Sense to observe the energetic flow of the pill¡¯s potency quicken within him, eventually seeping into his skin, bones, and organs. A unique sensation reached his mind, and simultaneously, assisted by the pill, his sinews and bones began to strengthen until they became more solid and powerful. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t contain his delight, and he retracted his Divine Sense, wholeheartedly devoting himself to cultivation. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Several days later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and a smile spread across his face, his heart trembling with excitement. The effects of the Dragon Bone Pill were truly unexpected; it not only perfectly suppressed the pain during cultivation but also further strengthened his body, surpassing the Body Strengthening Pill by quite a margin. Just one Dragon Bone Pill had made his physique stronger by a notch, an outcome he had never anticipated. However, on reflection, the Dragon Bone Pill was hard to come by and quite valuable. The spiritual medicine materials used in a single batch were worth hundreds of Spirit Stones, and more importantly, a Second Order Qingxu Snake Demon Core was valued at over a thousand Spirit Stones. Hence, for this batch of five pills, the cost per pill was several hundred; such an effect was actually to be expected. Currently, with nine Dragon Bone Pills and over ten Qiuxing Fruits remaining, he wouldn¡¯t lack resources for cultivation for a few years. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming closed his eyes and resumed cultivation. Months later¡­ At the southern border of the Wei Kingdom, near the boundary with Jingzhou¡¯s Huangyang Kingdom, a sudden ear-splitting rumble echoed from a colossal canyon. The ground shook violently, fissures spreading for several miles around the valley, eventually giving way to a flash of golden light, followed by the sudden appearance of a barrier of light. This scene unfolded simultaneously across the vast expanse of land straddling the border between the Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom. The Whirlwind Mountain Range, located at the border of Jingzhou¡¯s Huangyang Kingdom and the Wei Kingdom, and only a thousand miles from the Luoyun Mountain Range of the Wei Kingdom, is a rarely populated and lawless region. The same upheaval occurred here as well, the ground splitting open as a barrier of light emerged. At that moment, the nearby cultivators quickly detected the disturbance and all rushed towards its source. A middle-aged cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining flew on a sword towards the heart of the Whirlwind Mountain Range. This man was named Li Zhen, a Loose Cultivator who had spent years roaming between the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and the Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Upon noticing the commotion, he was certain that a treasure had emerged and flew straight toward the interior of the Whirlwind Mountain Range without hesitation. In no time, he reached the vicinity of the newly formed light barrier. By then, over a dozen Qi Refining Cultivators had gathered, all cautiously observing the barrier, hoping to discover something from it. All the cultivators present were of the Qi Refining Cultivation level, with limited experience, and were unable to discern anything about the sudden appearance of the light barrier. Among the crowd, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining became impatient. With a single-handed seal, he unleashed a blast of Sword Qi at the barrier. ¡°Clang¡­¡± With a resounding bang, the Sword Qi rapidly rebounded upon hitting the light barrier, hurtling back towards the cultivator who released it. The cultivator let out a scream; unable to dodge in time, his arm was severed by the rebounding Sword Qi. He turned pale and his face revealed a look of terror; had he not shifted his body just in time, he might have fallen right there. With this earlier example set, everyone else was afraid to act rashly. Seeing Li Zhen arrive, the assembled Qi Refining Cultivators stepped back and showed a wary expression. Li Zhen looked at the light barrier here and, thinking of the rumors of a secret realm opening in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, swiftly concluded that this was indeed the opening of a secret realm. However, seeing the vigilant eyes of the crowd and the injured cultivator, he did not betray any unusual reaction. Casting another glance at the cultivators present, he no longer paid them any attention and flew away on his sword, disappearing from their sight. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 242 - 177: The Secret Realm Appears_2 Chapter 242: Chapter 177: The Secret Realm Appears_2 Qianchuan Market¡­ In the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard¡¯s training room, there was some strange movement coming from the Mysterious Moon Order inside the storage bag. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and he quickly took out the Mysterious Moon Order, then held it in his hand to inspect it. At that moment, the patterns on the Mysterious Moon Order became clear. Not only that, as he infused Spiritual Energy, he distinctly felt waves of fluctuation emanating from the token. The Mysterious Moon Order, silent for several years, reacted for the first time. A few breaths¡¯ time passed, and Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed ecstatic joy. He immediately sent out a message and then hurriedly rushed out of the training room. ... In no time, in the courtyard of the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were sitting opposite each other. Seeing the expression on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, Lin Shilu was instantly alarmed and quickly thought of the reason. ¡°Tianming, has the Mysterious Moon Order responded?¡± he probed. After nodding, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the Mysterious Moon Order just stirred. When I infused it with Spiritual Energy, the patterns on it became clear. From the aura emitting from the token, it is clear that the Secret Realm has materialized!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After speaking, Lin Tianming took out a Mysterious Moon Order and passed it to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu¡¯s face lit up with joy as he took the Mysterious Moon Order and began to examine it carefully. Indeed, he quickly noticed the aura emanating from the Mysterious Moon Order and also sensed the conditions for entering the Secret Realm. At this time, Lin Shilu¡¯s face showed wild excitement as he spoke to himself. ¡°This Mysterious Moon Order is truly miraculous. If nothing unexpected occurs, there will be many entrances to the Secret Realm, and the conditions for entry are quite lenient. As long as one is not over a hundred years old, they can carry the token and enter the Secret Realm!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu affirm this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was also filled with excitement. An age limit of one hundred years was, by the standards of the Cultivation World¡¯s many Secret Realms, not high at all. It is said that some Secret Realms have very peculiar entry requirements, and often not many people meet the criteria, only able to watch helplessly as opportunities slip away before their eyes. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what should we do next?¡± ¡°Such an opportunity, even if it is filled with extreme danger, we must not forsake it!¡± ¡°From the current situation, there is a month from the materialization to the opening of the Secret Realm. We need to immediately return to the family and inform the Third Brother and the others, then hasten to find the entrance to the Secret Realm and wait for its opening!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, aware of the urgency and that they had no time to delay. ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose; let¡¯s set off for the family at once!¡± Lin Tianming declared. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s take action immediately!¡± responded Lin Shilu, then issued a transmission, summoning Lin Xingping over. Seeing the firm joy on the faces of Lin Tianming and another, Lin Xingping asked curiously: ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, I¡¯ve heard many rumors about Secret Realms recently. Does our family have a way to get in?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ indeed, that¡¯s the case!¡± Lin Shilu nodded in confirmation, then instructed: ¡°Tianming and I must rush back to the family immediately. I leave Qianchuan Market in your hands, Xingping. Remember not to stir up trouble or reveal our whereabouts. Just say we¡¯re in closed-door cultivation if anyone asks. If there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t deal with, you can seek the help of Daoist Ye!¡± Hearing the instructions, Lin Xingping stood up, his expression resolute as he said: ¡°Rest assured, Fifteenth Uncle, I will take good care of the market. Please, be safe!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set off right away!¡± Having spoken, Lin Tianming and the other person immediately got up and left the courtyard of the Cave Mansion. After changing their appearance, they quickly made their way to the market entrance. Having left the market, the two of them did not stop for a moment, mounted the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, and turned into a dark shadow flying towards the south. Riding on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu¡¯s Divine Sense was fully open, constantly monitoring every movement around them. And just like that, ten days passed in a blink of an eye¡­ During this period, both the Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom were abuzz with activity as over ten entrances to the Secret Realm appeared, the news quickly spreading throughout these two regions. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and the other were blissfully unaware, as they were in the midst of hastened travel. With Lin Shilu accompanying him, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have to worry too much about safety, as the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle was pushed to its limit. In ten days, they had travelled from Qianchuan Market to the edge of Green Bamboo Mountain, and even passed by Golden Horn Mountain without having time to stop and greet Lin Xingrong. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his companion looked exhausted, but they forewent rest and dove straight into the Protective Clan Formation. Shortly thereafter, at the Cave Mansion Courtyard atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, where Lin Shikang resided. Lin Shikang, Lin Shihua, and Lin Shigong were gathered in the courtyard, staring wide-eyed at the two who had hastily returned. Knowing the urgency of the situation, Lin Shilu didn¡¯t hold back and immediately spoke up about the matter at hand. ¡°Third brother, the Mysterious Moon Order has activated, the Secret Realm has appeared!¡± ¡°What? The Secret Realm has appeared?¡± ¡°When? And what are the entry restrictions?¡± Upon hearing the news, the others exclaimed in shock, their faces filled with incredulous expressions. Lin Shilu was inundated with questions before he could even catch his breath. Seeing this, Lin Tianming interjected with information about the Mysterious Moon Order. ¡°Ten days ago, the Mysterious Moon Order suddenly became active. We confirmed the requirements and restrictions for entering the Secret Realm, and without delay, we rushed back to the family to discuss the matter with our elders!¡± ¡°As for the restriction on entering the Secret Realm, any cultivator below the age of one hundred can enter freely!¡± Upon hearing these restrictions, the Lin Family was completely eligible, and the faces of Lin Shikang and the others were overjoyed. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and immediately said: ¡°Shilu, among our family members under a hundred years old, your cultivation is the highest. My age doesn¡¯t meet the requirements, so it looks like we must rely on you!¡± Before he finished speaking, Lin Shihua also chimed in. ¡°Indeed, the Secret Realm is filled with unimaginable dangers. You must be careful on your own. If it truly becomes unsustainable, find a place to hide. When the Secret Realm closes, you will be transported out!¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu frowned, remembering that they only knew of Lin Tianming acquiring one Mysterious Moon Order, but were unaware that over a year ago, the two of them had obtained another token from Gu Tong. He chuckled and said, ¡°Third brother, after we killed Gu Tong in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, we acquired another token. We didn¡¯t pay much attention to it at the time and therefore didn¡¯t inform everyone!¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± Lin Shikang was somewhat incredulous. Lin Tianming promptly took out both tokens and placed them before everyone. Lin Shikang picked up both tokens to examine them, and then laughed heartily. ¡°Truly, the heavens bless our Lin Family. With two tokens, our chances of seizing opportunities have greatly increased!¡± Lin Shihua was also thrilled and quickly added: ¡°Tianming¡¯s cultivation is not low, and he has fought side by side with Shilu on many occasions. Let¡¯s settle on these candidates for entering the Secret Realm.¡± Lin Shikang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the pair before asking for their opinions. Lin Tianming and his companion naturally wouldn¡¯t decline. Although entering the Secret Realm was fraught with immense danger and could even cost them their lives, among the family members under a hundred, only their cultivation was somewhat higher. Beyond that, the Secret Realm also offered vast opportunities. If they obtained treasures, they could keep a portion for themselves, which would be of great assistance on their path of cultivation. ¡°As Lin Family members, it is our bounden duty!¡± the two declared in unison. Lin Shikang nodded and then instructed: ¡°Shihua, you and a few others immediately gather some clanspeople above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Search around Luoyun Market and the nearby Qianchuan Mountain Range. Once the Secret Realm Entrance is found, report back to the family without delay!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it!¡± After responding, Lin Shihua stood up and left to summon family members and search for news. With Lin Shihua¡¯s departure, Lin Shikang began to issue orders: ¡°Shigong, I must stay to guard the family. You and a few others also need to go out and search for the Secret Realm Entrance. The Qi Refining Clanspeople¡¯s search is too slow; they can hardly gather any news. It will be easier for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to search!¡± ¡°Remember to focus on searching the major mountain ranges. Do not venture too deeply into the mountains and prioritize the mission over everything else!¡± Lin Tianming and the others nodded, understanding the urgency. Despite their fatigue and not having time to rest, they stood up and left the courtyard. After exiting the Protective Clan Formation, they briefly discussed before each chose a direction and hurriedly set off. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 243 - 178 Preparation_1 Chapter 243: Chapter 178 Preparation_1 In the southern part of the Luoyun Mountain Range, above a mundane city. Through the thick clouds, a Purple Gold Eagle swiftly flew over Qingfeng Town, heading straight towards the south. It had been nearly ten years since Lin Tianming last visited Qingfeng Town. Returning to this place and looking down at the vast range of buildings below, he felt a great sense of nostalgia. Following the end of the clan war within the Luoyun Mountain Range, many mortals from the Jin and Wu Families had been relocated, gathering in the five major towns of their clan. Now, Qingfeng Town had further expanded in size and its population had noticeably increased. Gazing at the newly-built wooden pavilions below and the city having expanded by a third, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t stay long before continuing to fly southward on the Purple Gold Eagle. Half a day later, Lin Tianming arrived at the southern part of Qingfeng Town, near the edge of the Whirlwind Mountain Range close to Huangyang Kingdom. ... He stopped atop a hill and gazed at the lofty, distant mountains on the horizon, lost in thought. Just then, three Qi Refining Cultivators flew in his direction as a group, their expressions showing some excitement. The three cultivators failed to notice Lin Tianming at all until they were a few hundred zhang away, when they finally realized he was standing with his arms folded, waiting for them to approach. Seeing Lin Tianming, the fact that they hadn¡¯t detected him sooner surely meant that he must be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, without a doubt. The highest-cultivated among them, Xiao Jingshan, looked somewhat nervous upon realizing this and did not dare to leave directly. He bravely came forward to pay his respects, followed closely by the other two who stepped up to the front of Lin Tianming. ¡°This younger generation pays respect to the senior!¡± The three, led by Xiao Jingshan, bowed respectfully with clasped hands. Lin Tianming waved dismissively, adopting an indifferent demeanor as he spoke, ¡°Why are you three in such a rush? Has something significant occurred?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s interrogating words, the faces of Xiao Jingshan and the other two turned pale, and they immediately divulged the strange occurrences within the Whirlwind Mountain Range without any reservations. Hearing this, Lin Tianming was puzzled, but at this critical juncture, all peculiar events had to be thoroughly investigated. With this in mind, he asked, ¡°Is there a treasure that has appeared? In what exact location?¡± ¡°Senior, the three of us encountered it while cultivating in the Whirlwind Mountain Range. The location is at the edge of the mountain range, roughly a few hundred li to the south,¡± they replied. Before they had finished speaking, Lin Tianming remained composed and then spoke, ¡°Tell me the details. If I find this information interesting, I could reward you generously!¡± Hearing the promise of a reward, one of the Qi Refining Cultivators at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement immediately started speaking, eager to make a good impression. ¡°Senior, it was ten days ago when suddenly, there was a huge noise in that mountain range. The ground shook violently, and a crack opened on the valley floor out of nowhere. Soon after, a light screen appeared between heaven and earth that could reflect attacks. It is very bizarre!¡± ¡°Yes, at the time, many cultivators were drawn over, but no one could do anything about the light screen that appeared out of thin air. Some even had their arms severed by the rebounding attacks!¡± The three took turns explaining the strange happenings, providing far more detail than they had initially offered. In no time, Lin Tianming had a rough understanding of the situation and also knew the exact location of the valley. ¡°Without a doubt, the strange disturbances within the Whirlwind Mountain Range are the signs of a Secret Realm¡¯s emergence!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Excited by the thought, Lin Tianming kept his emotions hidden, maintaining a distant expression. ¡°This information you¡¯ve provided is indeed interesting to me. Here is a little token of appreciation,¡± Lin Tianming said, and casually took out three hundred Spirit Stones, distributing them to the three Qi Refining Cultivators. Each person received a hundred Spirit Stones, which was nearly equivalent to several months of their earnings. Seeing the Spirit Stones, Xiao Jingshan and the others showed delighted expressions and quickly bowed to express their gratitude. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming gestured dismissively, then paid them no more attention. Now that he had found the entrance to a Secret Realm, he naturally wanted to investigate it immediately. After that, he would rush back to his clan. His time was pressing, and he needed to reach the Whirlwind Mountain Range with Lin Shilu as soon as possible. It would be a pity to miss the opportunity to enter the Secret Realm due to any delay. With this thought, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger and, with a great leap covering a hundred zhang, he quickly disappeared into the sky. Watching Lin Tianming vanish, Xiao Jingshan and the other two let out a sigh of relief, their faces filled with joy as they left together. ¡­ By evening half a day later, Lin Tianming followed the directions provided by Xiao Jingshan and his companions, quickly arriving near the entrance to the Secret Realm. From a distance, he could see the earth cracked open, revealing a light screen with golden light twinkling and emitting faint fluctuations of a prohibition, easily discernible even from behind a small hill. ¡°It seems these three had the sense not to deceive me!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, having confirmed the location of the Secret Realm Entrance. He didn¡¯t care for the darkness of night and turned directly north, flying away. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t too far from the Luoyun Mountain and no powers resided in this area. With the Purple Gold Eagle flying at full speed, it wouldn¡¯t take long to enter the territory of his clan. ¡­ Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming, who had rushed back from the edge of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, plunged into the Protective Clan Formation. Once back on clan grounds, he immediately sent messages to several elders and made his way to Lin Shikang¡¯s abode to gather. In no time, he arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwellings. Seeing Lin Tianming return first, Lin Shikang quickly pressed, ¡°Tianming, have you located the Secret Realm Entrance?¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, your nephew found an entrance to a Secret Realm at the border of Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom, within the Whirlwind Mountain Range!¡± Lin Tianming reported. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 244 - 178 Preparation_2 Chapter 244: Chapter 178 Preparation_2 Before the sound of his words faded, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression grew overjoyed, and his stern face instantly flushed with color. ¡°Are you certain you saw it with your own eyes?¡± Lin Shikang asked. As Lin Tianming recalled the scene he had witnessed, he assuredly replied: ¡°Third Grandfather, even from several miles away, I could easily detect the ripples of the barrier around the entrance to the Secret Realm and that golden glimmering light; I am definitely not mistaken!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s utterly affirmative words, Lin Shikang nodded, his heart brimming with joy. Lin Tianming, just as overjoyed, had sent out messages for a long time yet without seeing Lin Shilu and his grandfather arrive. He then asked: ... ¡°Third Grandfather, have my grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather not returned yet?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming bring up this matter, Lin Shikang said: ¡°You were all spread out in search of the Secret Realm Entrance; they probably haven¡¯t found it yet. You stay with the family, I¡¯ll immediately go and find Shilu!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then instructed: ¡°Before we split up, I was responsible for searching the south, and Fifteenth Grandfather went to the Luoyun Mountain Range in the west. If nothing has gone wrong, he should still be in that direction!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back quickly!¡± With that reply, Lin Shikang immediately vanished from his side, moving so quickly that even Lin Tianming could not detect him. ¡°Third Grandfather¡¯s Ninth Layer ability is truly terrifying!¡± Lin Tianming muttered softly to himself, then left his cave dwelling and returned to his own small courtyard. Sitting in the training room, Lin Tianming took out the Thousand Beast Banner as well as two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans and placed them before him. The entrance to the Secret Realm awaited, and what lay inside would certainly be fraught with deadly perils; he had to make full preparations. Gazing at these treasures, he fell deep into thought. Currently, in terms of attack, he had the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to entrap enemies, and the Thousand Beast Banner to assist; unfolding both tactics simultaneously would make it exceedingly difficult for foes to dodge. The Tiangang Sword would be utilized for launching attacks, and having reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, he could now conjure an additional sword strike; he hadn¡¯t tested the power of two conjured swords overlapping, but undoubtedly, it would be astonishing. Beyond that, the two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans were the cards up his sleeve for saving his life, not to be used lightly unless in a critical moment. It was only a pity that the sword qi generated by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had already been used, and reassembling it quickly would yield sword qi that was too immature; barely a year and a half old, forcefully conjuring it would probably barely exceed the strength of an ordinary attack¡ªit would be impossible to use it against enemies. After reviewing his attack methods, Lin Tianming thought to himself. With his strength, he estimated that handling a Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator wouldn¡¯t be a problem, and even if he faced a slightly weaker Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivator, he could manage some resistance. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming started to organize his defensive measures. The defensive artifacts on his person were few, consisting only of two First Order Top-Quality Defensive Spiritual Weapons and three Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans. Since Defense Talismans of Second Order Medium Quality and above were particularly rare, he had not prepared any, but with the Eye of Five Colors to spot flaws, attacking him wouldn¡¯t be so easy either. Though his defensive artifacts were few, as long as he did not encounter a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivator, escaping defeat should be no issue. Having gathered his thoughts, Lin Tianming brought his palms together and began to cultivate, circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. Three days later¡­ A Messaging Aura flew into his training room, causing Lin Tianming to furrow his brows, then he stood up and left the training room. In a short while, he arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. By then, Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang were sitting in the courtyard, both looking somewhat weary. Lin Tianming stepped forward and bowed to the two of them, saying, ¡°I greet Third Grandfather, I greet Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, motioning him to sit down, while Lin Shilu smiled and then asked: ¡°Tianming, you found the entrance to the Secret Realm?¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Third Grandfather didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Lin Tianming asked, somewhat surprised. ¡°Of course he did, but it¡¯s just to confirm in passing!¡± Lin Shilu replied. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Alright, Shihua and the others have not yet returned to the family; with time pressing, we cannot wait for them. You two should set out for the entrance to the Secret Realm immediately; as soon as the moment arrives, enter the realm at once!¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, he took out two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans and two Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans and handed them to Lin Tianming and the other person. At the same time, he also took out two fiery red beads and handed one to each of them. ¡°Fire Spirit Pearl?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was rosy with delight. The Fire Spirit Pearl was a one-time offensive treasure, made from the inner core of a Second Order Fire Elemental Demonic Beast. The higher the grade of the inner core, the greater the power of the Fire Spirit Pearl that was refined, and the greater the difficulty of its creation, making it quite precious. The Fire Spirit Pearls that Lin Shikang took out were clearly refined from the inner cores of Late Stage Second Order Demonic Beasts, so their power was naturally significant. Neither person acted pretentiously and casually accepted the talismans and beads. Lin Shikang then spoke again, advising them: ¡°There will definitely be many Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators entering the Secret Realm, as well as people from the Five Great Golden Core Forces; their strengths are very strong. The slightly better treasures from our family are these. You should carry them all, and remember to prioritize your safety. After the Secret Realm closes, I will wait at the entrance to pick you up!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, then stood up and clasped his fists, replying with a resolute expression: ¡°Third Brother, rest assured, Tian Ming and I will definitely be cautious and ensure our safe return!¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, don¡¯t worry, we will definitely return safely!¡± Lin Tianming said with equal firmness. ¡°Go then!¡± Lin Tianming and the other stood up, clasped their fists, and together walked out of Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. Once out of the clan¡¯s territory, the two of them wasted no time mounting the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, and then they turned into a streak of afterimage before disappearing from Green Bamboo Mountain. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu took out the two talismans given by Lin Shikang, and then pulled out a blue shield, which was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. ¡°Tian Ming, last time we killed quite a few Qingxu Snakes and obtained many scales. I used Second Order scales and added a lot of valuable Spirit Materials to refine two Second Order Magical Artifacts. I kept one of the Second Order Medium Quality ones for myself, and this Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifact was specially refined for you,¡± said Lin Shilu. As he finished speaking, Lin Shilu passed the little blue shield and the two talismans to Lin Tianming. Second Order Defense Artifacts were rare; many Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Loose Cultivators didn¡¯t even have a Second Order Low Grade Attack Artifact, much less a Defense Artifact. Yet Lin Shilu always considered Tian Ming¡¯s best interests, unhesitatingly giving the precious Second Order Defense Artifact to him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes turned slightly red, and he quickly spoke up: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the Secret Realm is full of dangers, and even you dare not say that it will be safe. You should keep it for yourself!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled heartily, speaking earnestly: ¡°Silly boy, I have a Second Order Medium Quality Artifact. These talismans are actually not so useful for me; they are better off with you. Only if you are safe will I have no concerns, won¡¯t I?¡± After Lin Shilu said this much, Lin Tianming was no longer ceremonious. He took the small shield and talismans, then waved them around, showing a look of loving them dearly. After a hearty laugh, Lin Shilu spoke, reminding Lin Tianming. ¡°Name this Defense Artifact and refine it as quickly as possible. This journey is fraught with immense danger but also huge opportunities. Once again, grandfather and grandson fight side by side!¡± ¡°Yes, with grandfather and grandson working together, we will definitely return safely!¡± Lin Tianming said with determination. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the other chatted for a few moments, named the small shield the Green Scale Shield, and then began to close their eyes and rest. With the Green Scale Shield, his defense for the trip was further strengthened, taking his strength up another notch. Pleased beyond measure, Lin Tianming played with the shield for a while, then circulated his cultivation and rested, waiting for his condition to reach its peak before he began to refine the Green Scale Shield. Holding the Green Scale Shield, he cast several Law Decrees, then spat fresh blood onto the shield and began the refinement process. One day later, the luster on the Green Scale Shield was bright, and the densely packed runes on its surface became even more lively. Seeing that the refinement was almost complete, Lin Tianming began imprinting his Divine Sense into the core of the Green Scale Shield. Two days later, the refinement of the Green Scale Shield was completed. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming struck the shield with a Law Decree, then infused it with Spiritual Energy. The Green Scale Shield instantly expanded and quickly formed a solid shield in front of him. Lin Tianming slammed a Sword Qi against the shield, which was easily blocked without leaving even a faint mark. Lin Tianming was very satisfied and gained some understanding of the Green Scale Shield¡¯s defensive power. By his estimation, the shield could easily withstand attacks from someone at the Foundation Building Fourth Level, and even to break through it with his full-powered attack would take considerable effort. After handling the shield for a while, Lin Tianming stored it away, and then he closed his eyes to cultivate and rest. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 245 - 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_1 Chapter 245: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_1 Huangyang Kingdom, Whirlwind Mountain Range. The Purple Gold Eagle carried Lin Tianming and his companion southward. After three days of flying with a brief rest overnight, they finally arrived near the Secret Realm Entrance in the evening. By that time, more than twenty days had passed since the Secret Realm became visible. When a month was reached, they would be able to enter the realm with the Mysterious Realm Token. Lin Tianming and his companion landed in a small valley outside the Secret Realm Entrance, preparing to cultivate there and wait out the last ten days. The place was less than fifty miles from the Secret Realm Entrance and far from the land of disputes, which made it relatively safe for the time being. They quickly set up a simple cave dwelling in a nearby valley and both entered to begin seclusion. ... The long journey had left Lin Tianming and his companion quite exhausted, with significant consumption of spiritual power and Divine Sense, leaving them in poor condition. Both sat cross-legged in the cave. Lin Shilu took out an elixir, swallowed it, and quickly entered a state of cultivation. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t idle either. With ten days left, he wanted to enhance his cultivation as much as possible to survive in the Secret Realm. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that thought in mind, he casually took out a Sparse Star Fruit and swallowed it without hesitation. Inside the cave dwelling, the sound of their even breathing carried through as they both entered a deep state of cultivation. At this moment, many mountain ranges in both Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom had visible entrances to Secret Realms, the news of which had spread quickly throughout the Cultivation World. From Golden Elixir Experts to Qi Training Cultivators, everyone was paying attention to the affairs of the Secret Realm. In the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, within the layers of overlapping mountains shrouded in year-round dense fog, lay a scene that looked like a paradise on earth. Before a vast square, Zhenyang Sect¡¯s gate looked majestic and solemn, filled with an ancient air. More than ten cultivators stood respectfully on the white jade square, each with a different expression¡ªsome brimming with excitement, others filled with worry, though most remained calm. In front of them stood an old man with thinning white hair and a Daoist bearing, hands clasped behind his back. The breeze lifted his robe, revealing an aura of a formidable being. This man was named Du Qiong. An old Golden Core Cultivator and the Second Elder of Zhenyang Sect, he had held a high position and had broken through to the Golden Core Stage over two hundred years ago. Turning his head to gaze at the more than ten people before him, Du Qiong then spoke seriously, ¡°The Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm has opened. This is an unclaimed Profound Secret Realm, extremely dangerous within. Apart from Demonic Beasts, there will also be disciples from other forces!¡± ¡°According to my knowledge, other Golden Core Forces in Wei Kingdom will have varying numbers of disciples entering, and even the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom has many forces that have obtained the Mysterious Moon Order. They too will be involved.¡± Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the more than ten people on the field changed somewhat, but none retreated. Observing his disciples and Sect members, a fleeting and almost imperceptible smile crossed Du Qiong¡¯s aged face. ¡°Chu Jie.¡± Hearing Du Qiong¡¯s call, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level stepped forward, standing respectfully before the elder, awaiting orders. ¡°Though this journey is fraught with dangers, it also contains great opportunities. As the disciple with the highest cultivation in the team, you will take charge of leading them.¡± ¡°I will heed the Second Elder¡¯s decree,¡± Chu Jie replied firmly and respectfully. With a nod, Du Qiong continued, ¡°All disciples must follow orders, work together with sincerity, both for yourselves and to obtain more treasures for the Sect. Understand?¡± ¡°We will honor the Second Elder¡¯s decree,¡± all of them answered in unison with a salute. Turning away, Du Qiong waved his sleeve, and a palm-sized, intricately crafted boat appeared in his hand¡ªit was a Flying Artifact. He sent a spell into the miniature boat, which immediately expanded countless times in size. It quickly transformed into a Spirit Boat over thirty feet long, suspended above the square, and sporadically flickering with the light of runes. Seeing the Spirit Boat grow, the eyes of the surrounding cultivators burned with desire, as such Spirit Artifacts¡ªlet alone Magic Artifacts¡ªwere rare, and typically only Golden Elixir Experts could afford to use them. ¡°Set off!¡± Without paying further attention to the crowd, Du Qiong leapt up after his light command and landed steadily on the Spirit Boat. Hearing Du Qiong¡¯s order, the cultivators gathered their focus and one by one jumped onto the Spirit Boat, then stood to one side. As Du Qiong looked westward, he cast a spell on the Spirit Boat, which until then had been motionless. Suddenly, the craft shot forward, becoming a blur, and vanished from its original spot. As the Secret Realm manifested and its opening approached, such scenes unfolded simultaneously in several Golden Elixir Forces within Wei Kingdom. Not just them, but also Foundation Establishing Families and Loose Cultivators rushed in large numbers toward the Secret Realm Entrance. Although many came just for the excitement, there were also cultivators with ulterior motives mixing in among them. ¡­As ten days passed in a flurry¡­ Whirlwind Mountain Range at dawn, with night not yet completely gone and the early morning light just starting to rise. Inside the simple cave where Lin Tianming and his companion had secluded themselves, Lin Shilu was the first to open his eyes, feeling the state of his body, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. During these few days, he hadn¡¯t been idle either, cultivating diligently, doing everything possible to improve his cultivation level in preparation for entering the Secret Realm. At that moment, Lin Tianming heard movement and also awoke from his deep state of cultivation. After ten days, having consumed a Sparse Star Fruit, he had elevated his spiritual power cultivation and organized his offensive and defensive methods, fully preparing himself. Lin Tianming got up and walked to the entrance of the cave, where it was just starting to get light. The dim sky was growing brighter as the light screen at the Secret Realm Entrance turned more substantial. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 246 - 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_2 Chapter 246: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_2 ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, is today the day the secret realm opens?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Hmm,¡± Lin Shilu nodded, then stood up and, as he walked away, he said: ¡°Tianming, today is indeed the day the Secret Realm Entrance opens. Are you prepared?¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming has been prepared for a long time. To others, the secret realm may indeed be dangerous, but it also presents a great opportunity. The path of cultivation is inherently against the natural order, and if we, as cultivators, lose our adventurous spirit, we are bound not to get far,¡± Tianming replied. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s bold and vigorous words, Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, feeling immensely gratified in his heart. However, considering how important Lin Tianming¡¯s talents were for the family, he could not help but caution: ... ¡°Tianming, I¡¯m very pleased with your ambition and spirit, but don¡¯t be overly confident. There are countless strong figures in this world, and many genius cultivators with outstanding talent have fallen halfway.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming remembers your advice,¡± Lin Tianming responded. Lin Shilu nodded with a smile, feeling very reassured about Lin Tianming, but he still tirelessly reminded him: ¡°The secret realm is full of dangers. The Five Great Golden Core Forces will surely enter, and we must be cautious. Don¡¯t come into conflict with the big powers and prioritize our own safety above everything else.¡± Lin Tianming knew that Lin Shilu was nagging him for his own good. Touched by his concern and with a resolute attitude, he said: ¡°Understood, please rest assured, elder.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confident demeanor, Lin Shilu said no more. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let us set off now.¡± With that, Lin Shilu strode out of the cave, with Lin Tianming following closely behind without delay. Outside the cave, after concealing the entrance, the two of them quickly headed toward the distant light barrier. An hour and a half later, they arrived at the valley where the Secret Realm Entrance was located. By now, dozens of people had already gathered at the valley entrance. They were either alone or in small groups, with more people continuously arriving. Looking around, the majority of those present were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with a few Qi Refining Cultivators standing by and watching from a distance. Fortunately, not spotting any trace of the Golden Elixir Forces, the group of cultivators each occupied a small area on the hillside and sat down to meditate, waiting for the secret realm to open. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion let out a sigh of relief and landed on an unoccupied hilltop. Their arrival only caused the cultivators present to frown slightly before disregarding them. The two of them naturally did not seek trouble and found a flat spot to sit down and meditate, while also covertly keeping an eye on the activity around them. Time slowly passed by, and an hour went by. At noon, the sun shone brightly. The scorching sunlight shone down on the earth, and the pale golden rays penetrated through the clouds, illuminating the golden light barrier. As the color of the light barrier became more solid, everyone knew that the secret realm was about to open. At this moment, a black-robed figure suddenly descended from the sky, stopping on a hilltop not far from the Secret Realm Entrance. ¡°Long Hai?¡± a cultivator exclaimed. Seeing Long Hai, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator who occupied this hilltop dared not show any dissatisfaction and quickly vacated the spot, moving elsewhere. The Black Robed Cultivator ignored everyone¡¯s gazes and sat down on a rock to meditate. His reputation seemed to be quite significant, as he made no effort to disguise himself, allowing the cultivators present to recognize him easily. Lin Tianming and his companion also had their attention drawn to this person. As they knew, most people would enter the secret realm stealthily, not showing their true appearance, and would even conceal their aura. The fact that this person did not bother to hide indicated great confidence in his strength, not worrying about being targeted or robbed. Observing Long Hai from several hilltops away, Lin Tianming sent a telepathic message to Lin Shilu. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, have you ever heard of Long Hai?¡± Upon being asked, Lin Shilu pondered for a moment before replying telepathically: ¡°Looking at his demeanor, his cultivation is not low, at least at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, yet within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, I have never heard of this name. He is most likely from the Huangyang Country Cultivation World!¡± After hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave. A Loose Cultivator with a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivating in this place likely possessed a Mysterious Moon Order. If they encountered this person in the secret realm, their chances of victory were slim. ¡°The opening of this secret realm has indeed attracted a large number of cultivators. Apart from the Golden Core Forces, even among the Loose Cultivators, there are some with profound cultivation. It seems this journey is fraught with extreme danger!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the number of cultivators in the canyon had increased significantly. From a few dozen at the beginning, there were now more than a hundred waiting. ¡°Giggle giggle giggle¡­¡± At that moment, a light laughter came along. A richly dressed young woman suddenly appeared on one of the hilltops, attracting the gaze of most cultivators. This woman was dressed in blue palace robes, her eyes were like silk, and she twisted her slender waist as she looked over the crowd. Any cultivator her gaze touched, especially those below the late Foundation Establishment stage, could not help but become entranced, falling into a daze. Only after a few breaths did the affected cultivators regain their clarity. Those who came to their senses changed their expressions dramatically and no longer dared to look directly into her eyes. ¡°Giggle¡­ I didn¡¯t expect Brother Long Hai to be here as well. It seems I won¡¯t be lonely on this trip!¡± The laughter of the richly dressed young woman echoed around, drawing the attention of Lin Tianming and his companion as well. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 247 - 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_3 Chapter 247: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_3 Lin Tianming and his companion also opened their eyes, sizing up the palace-dressed young woman and casting a wary look at the momentarily bewildered cultivators around them. Meanwhile, Long Hai regarded the enchanting woman opposite him with an unchanging expression. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°Yun Xianzi, there¡¯s no need to put on an act before me. Your little tricks have no effect on me. It would be best for you to keep your distance in the Secret Realm, otherwise I don¡¯t mind destroying beauty!¡± Long Hai coldly uttered these words and then paid no further attention to Yun Yanrong across from him. On the surface, he seemed indifferent, but internally, he was filled with apprehension. ¡°Giggle¡­ Brother Long really doesn¡¯t spare any pity for beauties¡­ how boring!¡± ... Yun Yanrong retorted and then her expression turned serious. She closed her mesmerizing eyes as she waited for the Secret Realm to open. Lin Shilu was sizing up this unfamiliar female cultivator when he secretly sent a message to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tianming, this female cultivator is not simple. She is skilled in Illusion Technique; once affected by it, even for just a moment or two, one could lose their life!¡± Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming nodded. Inwardly, he was curious whether his Eye of Five Colors, which could see through restrictions and formations and had a great suppressing effect on illusions, would be effective against Yun Yanrong whose cultivation far exceeded his own. ¡°I hope I don¡¯t run into these two ruthless individuals,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. ¡°Tianming, once we enter the Secret Realm, it¡¯s best if we don¡¯t separate. If we do get separated, it¡¯s very dangerous to act alone. We should leave bamboo markers to indicate our path and so facilitate a quick reunion,¡± Lin Shilu instructed via a mental message. After receiving Lin Shilu¡¯s orders, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and, after giving a few instructions, ceased the mental communication as he waited for the Secret Realm to open. Time slowly passed, half an hour went by. The sunlight was at its peak at this time of the day, and as the golden yellow light on the barrier grew deeper, the opening of the Secret Realm was imminent. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Once again, the ground began to shake, and a ten-zhang-wide gap slowly formed on the golden yellow barrier. ¡°The Secret Realm has opened!¡± A few cultivators in the crowd pointed at the gap on the barrier, shouting excitedly. At that moment, all the cultivators present opened their eyes, their gazes fervently fixed on the gap in the barrier. On two mountain peaks, Long Hai and Yun Yanrong each took out a Mysterious Moon Order, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the token. The blood quickly disappeared into the tokens. In an instant, the tokens emitted a bright light and then released a sphere of light that directly entered their foreheads and vanished. Long Hai and Yun Yanrong leapt up and rushed into the gap in the barrier, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. Watching the two enter the Secret Realm, cultivators holding the Mysterious Moon Order began to follow suit. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer stood atop a mountain peak, taking out a Mysterious Moon Order and spewing blood onto it. Just as the blood was about to fall onto the Mysterious Moon Order, a shadow flashed from behind on another peak, snatching the token directly from his hand. The blood sprayed onto the stones in front of the cultivator. Realizing what had happened, the shocked cultivator hastily shot out a fireball towards the shadow. The shadow turned back and with a slash, a Sword Qi engulfed the panic-stricken cultivator. ¡°Ahh¡­ Ahh¡­¡± Two agonized screams sounded. When the dust settled, the silhouette of the cultivator emerged. Struck back by the shadow, the young cultivator had lost an arm and lay weakened on a stone. While everyone was still in a state of shock, the shadow had already taken out blood to activate the token and then dashed as a phantom into the gap of the barrier, vanishing from sight. From the token being snatched to the young cultivator being injured, then to the activation of the token and entry into the gap of the barrier ¨C all of these events happened in the blink of an eye. Before the crowd could react, a series of actions had been completed. With the token snatched and the cultivator wounded, his expression sullen, he immediately took to his flying sword and left. This person was quite decisive. Now injured and with his power halved in the presence of so many covetous cultivators, he did not leave, perhaps even his life would have been forfeited there. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the departure of the injured young cultivator drew everyone¡¯s attention, Lin Tianming and his companion quickly took out their Mysterious Moon Orders, spitting blood onto the tokens. By the time the others reacted, several ferocious-looking cultivators had already rushed over, each clutching a Magic Artifact in their hands. For a moment, the flashing of blades and swords seemed to engulf them both. Learning from the earlier example, Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared, with Second Order Talisman paper in hand, they activated it, forming several barriers in front of them. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± With several loud crashes, the barriers blocked the attacks. At that moment, the tokens shot out two Spirit Groups. As the light spheres entered their foreheads, the two immediately felt a warmth on their brows, and the Spirit Groups eventually vanished into their minds. Lin Tianming and his companion dared not delay; Lin Shilu grabbed Lin Tianming with one hand and a Spirit Sword with the other, unleashing a tremendous Sword Qi as they both charged into the gap in the barrier. Not until their figures disappeared did the several cultivators who had tried to intercept them curse in frustration. At this time, the expressions on the faces of the cultivators at the scene were all tense, witnessing such a scenario, some cultivators with Mysterious Moon Orders began to hesitate. If they activated their tokens, they would inevitably attract the attention of others, possibly even losing their lives if they failed to rush into the Secret Realm Entrance. If they didn¡¯t try to use the token, the Mysterious Moon Order in their hand could turn into a mere fantasy, missing out on this opportunity for nothing. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 248 - 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_4 Chapter 248: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_4 Watching as the tear in the light screen gradually shrank, if they didn¡¯t make a move now, it would be too late. Some cultivators seemed to have made up their minds. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level was the first to act, but those with impure motives weren¡¯t going to give up the dwindling opportunity. Soon, the scene turned chaotic, as cultivators took advantage of the turmoil to activate their tokens, hoping to rush into the Secret Realm Entrance amidst the confusion. As the tear at the Secret Realm Entrance slowly closed, the light screen returned to its original form. After a chaotic battle, several cultivators still risked their lives to charge into the Secret Realm Entrance, and everyone was above the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level in cultivation, having gone through a baptism of blood and blade to complete the feat perilously. The valley at this time was a sorry sight, littered with ruins and over a dozen corpses sprawled on the ground. ... In addition, there were dozens more injured cultivators, each regretfully looking at the restored light screen, their hearts filled with unknown thoughts. To obtain opportunity one had to pay a bloody price, but such a shocking scene had nothing to do with Lin Tianming and his companion. When Lin Tianming and his partner entered the Secret Realm Entrance, and after a dizzy spell, Lin Tianming found himself in a swamp with no one else around. As expected, upon entering the Secret Realm, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were randomly separated. Once everything returned to normal, Lin Tianming started to survey this utterly unfamiliar place. It was a vast swamp, as far as the eye could see, shrouded in a pale green poison fog, which even affected his Divine Sense, reducing it by at least a third, he estimated. Seeing this, Lin Tianming looked tense, quickly taking out a dark green pill from his storage bag¡ªbefore this, he had specially prepared a few such elixirs, spending a hefty sum, and each had retained three pills, in case they encountered this kind of poisonous fog. In just a short while, Lin Tianming felt the inhaled poison fog causing a throbbing pain in his chest; his expression grave, he didn¡¯t hesitate to swallow the Detoxifying Pill in his hand. Having done all this, he gripped the Tiangang Sword in his hand and swung it a few times, creating a discreet bamboo mark on the ground. ¡°I hope Fifteenth Grandfather quickly discovers my mark so we can meet up soon; it¡¯s too dangerous to be alone!¡± After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming, looking at the mark hidden on a mound of dirt, shot off in the direction the bamboo point was indicating. After walking for half a day, Lin Tianming arrived beside a pond. Standing on a rock at the edge of the pond, Lin Tianming fell into a moment of contemplation. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Strange¡­ this swamp is too big. Half a day¡¯s journey and I haven¡¯t reached the edge, nor have I encountered any other cultivators, not even the shadow of a demonic beast!¡± ¡°Is this the legendary, peril-filled Secret Realm?¡± ¡°It feels too unreal!¡± While Lin Tianming talked to himself, he scrutinized the pond spanning tens of feet before him. ¡°Eh¡­ This pond seems rather strange!¡± Lin Tianming murmured softly, noticing something odd about the pond in front of him; despite a breeze blowing by, the not-so-small pond remained completely waveless, calm as a mirror, which was simply too eerie. Under normal circumstances, winds would create ripples across a body of water of this size, but this pond was too still, unsettlingly so. ¡°No matter¡­ this place is too strange. Best to leave for now!¡± Lin Tianming made up his mind; since nothing had emerged, no demonic beasts or treasures, he wouldn¡¯t go looking for trouble. Just as he turned to leave, the undisturbed water surface produced a single ripple, and then, from the center of the pond, a seven-colored lotus emerged. This lotus had only seven petals, each a different color, swaying in the light wind, casting a beautiful seven-colored halo on the surface of the pond. Seeing the lotus appear on the still water, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy as he exclaimed. ¡°The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus!¡± The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was a Third Order Spiritual Material, with every part valuable; its petals could be used to refine elixirs, many of which used these petals as auxiliary materials. Consuming the petals could also enhance one¡¯s cultivation. Beyond that, once the Golden Lotus¡¯s petals fell, they would form varying numbers of seeds. These seeds were truly precious, each capable of strengthening a cultivator¡¯s vital energy and refining their internal organs with remarkable effects, a rare treasure for Body Cultivators. Lin Tianming, watching the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, started to breathe more heavily. ¡°I must obtain it!¡± Lin Tianming thought resolutely. However, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was still not fully ripe and probably needed more time before it could form the seeds¡ªan ordeal that could take half a day to several days. Apart from that, once the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus matured, it was bound to attract demonic beasts, certainly leading to a struggle for possession. Even so, Lin Tianming was not about to pass up such an excellent opportunity. Deciding, he took out fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and covertly positioned all the Spirit Swords in the swamp surrounding the pond, just in case he encountered other cultivators or demonic beasts, so that he could be prepared. After doing all this, the Earth Evil Swords were hidden in the mud, nearly undetectable to the unwary eye. Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then quietly found a small mound, dug out a few feet deep cave, reclined within, and closed in on his mind, concealing his breath as he began to wait. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 249 - 180 Innocent Bystander_1 Chapter 249: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_1 In a valley within the secret realm, Lin Shilu¡¯s steps were light as he flitted across the treetops. From the moment he entered the secret realm until now, when his figure emerged, he was constantly on edge, navigating through this vast valley. His luck had been fairly good, not being thrown directly into the path of any demonic beasts, but it wasn¡¯t exceptionally good either, as he hadn¡¯t appeared directly in front of a treasure of heaven and earth. At this moment, he had already been traveling through the valley for two days, covering hundreds of miles. He hadn¡¯t encountered any demonic beasts on his way but had collected a few Second Order spiritual medicines, which was somewhat of a reward. ¡°Huh? Seems like there¡¯s some noise!¡± Lin Shilu thought he had discovered something! He quickly turned his body and concealed himself within the dense foliage of a large tree, gazing intently ahead. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Before long, a blue-robed cultivator passed by in front of him, his expression looking somewhat odd, as if, like him, he was puzzled by the lack of living creatures around. This was the only cultivator Lin Shilu had discovered in the two days since he had entered the secret realm, and the only living creature he had seen. Apart from this person, there wasn¡¯t even a bird in sight. Lin Shilu concealed his presence extremely well; the passing cultivator did not notice him. ¡°Forget it, the most important thing now is to find Tian Ming. It¡¯s too dangerous to wander in this vast secret realm alone, I should not create unnecessary complications for now!¡± Lin Shilu secretly thought to himself, and only after the person disappeared in the distance and he could no longer sense his presence, did he emerge from the dense foliage and continue on his way. After one day had passed, Lin Shilu finally crossed the vast valley and arrived at a swamp. Stopping at the edge of the swamp and looking at the thick poisonous fog before him, he hurriedly took out a Detoxifying Pill and swallowed it, then continued to move forward. After walking for a day, he still hadn¡¯t crossed the swamp. Looking around at the poison fog, he felt a bit lost. The situation was too peculiar; he had thought the secret realm would be full of dangers at every turn, but to his surprise, he hadn¡¯t encountered anything along the way. He had barely left the valley and now arrived at this swamp, which he had no idea how large it was. Having walked for so long and still not out, he was now at a loss about where to go next, making him feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Lin Shilu looked resigned as he was about to adjust his direction and prepare to leave when he quietly discovered a discreet marking on a nearby mound. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seeing the marking, he didn¡¯t hesitate a moment and immediately dashed over, arriving at the marked mound. Looking at the bamboo marking on the ground, Lin Shilu¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he immediately looked in the direction it pointed. ¡°Finally found traces of Tian Ming!¡± Lin Shilu murmured to himself, his heart filled with excitement. He had assumed that the secret realm would scatter them far and wide, but unexpectedly they weren¡¯t too far apart; a few days¡¯ travel, for this secret realm of unknown size, could be considered relatively close. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because the two of us entered together that we weren¡¯t scattered too far apart, otherwise it really would have been troublesome!¡± Lin Shilu muttered softly to himself and then quickly followed the direction indicated by the marking. ¡­ At the swamp, beside a placid pond. Time slowly passed, and night gradually fell. In the cave by the pond, Lin Tianming¡¯s divine sense was fully activated, constantly monitoring every movement in his surroundings. It had been two days since the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had surfaced, and there was still no sign of a lotus pod forming, let alone seeing the shadow of a lotus seed. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus formed yet? If this continues, other cultivators will be attracted, which could spell trouble!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, feeling helpless. Despite his urgency, all he could do was wait patiently. Deep into the night¡­ The petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus deepened in color, their multicolored light shining like a bright lamp in the darkness, visible from a hundred yards away. A breeze swept by, and the petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus began to fall, floating on the calm surface of the water, with a unique fragrance drifting through the air. Seeing this, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Tianming¡¯s face, but it quickly turned serious. The blooming of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus in the night was so eye-catching that it was bound to cause trouble, especially since demonic beasts were accustomed to being active at night. There was a chance that the beasts would smell the unusual fragrance or see the dazzling light. Under such circumstances, obtaining the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus would likely entail a significant struggle! ¡°Fortunately, although this poisonous fog brings trouble, it also effectively shields the bright light and prevents the strange aroma of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus from spreading. Only by approaching this pond can the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus be discovered!¡± Hidden in a cave, Lin Tianming thought to himself, praying that no trouble would come his way. Unfortunately, his wish was not granted. Ripples suddenly formed on the previously undisturbed water surface, and a large snake covered in green spots emerged from the water, opening its huge mouth as snake saliva dripped from its green-spotted hide onto the pond bank, making one¡¯s scalp tingle. ¡°Green-Spotted Poison Python!¡± Upon seeing the snake¡¯s head emerge, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned anxious, but he dared not make any rash moves. The Green-Spotted Poison Python was a water-attribute demonic beast and contained a faint trace of an Ancient True Dragon¡¯s blood. Although diluted, it was not to be underestimated and was quite rare in the current Cultivation World, likely only present in some secret realms. And this Green-Spotted Poison Python was a Second Order Late-Stage demon beast. The divine skills of ancient monster serpents were strong, and this snake¡¯s power was probably not less than that of a cultivator at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. Thinking this, Lin Tianming inwardly felt alarmed. Fortunately, he had not stayed by the pond; otherwise, being discovered by this serpent, he might already have become its prey. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 250 - 180 Innocent Bystander_2 Chapter 250: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_2 Just as his mind wandered beyond the earthly plane, the Green-Spotted Poison Python in the water pool moved. It swam around the pool as if patrolling its surroundings. After circling around, the Green-Spotted Poison Python didn¡¯t seem to detect anything abnormal and returned to the side of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. Looking at the seven colorful petals that had fallen into the pool, the Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its mouth wide and sucked forcefully, causing several petals to slide over along with the water flow. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt a pang of regret. If Lin Shilu were here, the two of them together might have been able to snatch a few petals, but with his strength alone, he dared not reveal even a breath of his presence, which would be no different from seeking death. He could only watch as the precious petals were swallowed by the monster serpent. Just as the monster serpent was about to swallow the petals, a sound of breaking air came. ... A grey-robed cultivator emerged from the poison mist, holding a Crescent Hook Artifact in his hand, and on his Daoist robe hung a dark green gourd. ¡°Evil creature, dare not!¡± The grey-robed cultivator shouted angrily, and the Crescent Hook Artifact in his hand shone brightly, sending moon-shaped spots of light directly at the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Meanwhile, the Green-Spotted Poison Python, seeing the moon-shaped spots of light coming at high speed, had no choice but to abandon the petals at its mouth. Raising its head, the Green-Spotted Poison Python saw the approaching spots of light and spat out a green mist, engulfing all the light spots within it. ¡°Ssssss¡­Sss¡­¡± A series of strange sounds came as the light spots in the green mist corroded, producing a plume of black smoke that rose up. Although the attack from the magic artifact was corroded away, the grey-robed cultivator did not panic at all, instead revealing an expression of great joy. He slapped his palm towards his waist, and the dark green gourd hanging there suddenly appeared in his hand. The grey-robed cultivator formed a single-handed seal, mumbling an incantation, then spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the dark green gourd. The dark green gourd instantly glowed with green light and began to swell crazily until it reached half a zhang in size and then hung suspended in front of the grey-robed cultivator. Facing the approaching poison mist, the grey-robed cultivator issued a Law Decree, striking the dark green gourd. The gourd immediately opened its mouth, sucking in the oncoming poison mist. Soon¡­ the poison mist sprayed by the Green-Spotted Poison Python was completely absorbed by the gourd, and the scene regained its normal state. Seeing this, the monster serpent thrashed its body, as thick as a water bucket, and stirred up waves. ¡°Heh heh¡­ This Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s toxin is of good quality, enough for this old man to use for a few days!¡± The grey-robed cultivator laughed contentedly, speaking to himself while watching the enraged Green-Spotted Poison Python. This gourd of his had a special ingenious use; it was specifically designed to counter all kinds of poisonous mists. It could not only collect the toxic mist of demonic beasts but also release them. It was a nefarious weapon against cultivators. He had used this object multiple times to turn danger into safety, and the role of this dark green gourd was indispensable. In the water pool, the infuriated monster serpent would not give up. It swung its massive body, churning up waves, and quickly formed ice walls that covered the sky and whistled towards the grey-robed old man. It seemed that the monster serpent possessed not insignificant Spirit Wisdom, knowing that the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s gourd could suck in the poison mist, so it switched to a different method of attack. The grey-robed cultivator¡¯s expression became serious as he faced the serpent¡¯s changed method of attack. Faced with the overwhelming ice balls, while he retreated, the magic artifact in his hand once again burst forth with spots of light aiming at the monster serpent. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud explosions sounded as the moon-shaped spots of light collided with the oncoming ice balls. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few moments later, the moon-shaped spots of light were worn down to nothing, but there were still a considerable number of ice balls hurtling towards the grey-robed man. The grey-robed man¡¯s face showed a trace of seriousness. He hadn¡¯t expected the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s other means of attack to be so ferocious, momentarily putting him at a disadvantage. However, being a Loose Cultivator who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level and had slain many powerful enemies and Second Order Demonic Beasts, he had already seen all sorts of strange and wonderful methods. As he retreated explosively, he waved his sleeves, and several Second Order Talismans suddenly appeared in his hand, which he triggered without hesitation and threw out. As the ice balls slammed into the barriers created by the Second Order Talismans, deafening blasts rang out. One by one, the barriers shattered, and the ice balls broke into fragments or fell directly into the mire. For a time, the battlefield was splattered with mud, and numerous deep pits appeared, obviously created by the impact of the ice balls. At that moment, the grey-robed cultivator stabilized his stance. With a slap to his storage bag, he produced a blood-red curved saber in his hand. It emitted a strong evil aura, causing the temperature in the vicinity to involuntarily drop a few degrees. Hidden in the cave, Lin Tianming held his breath, bearing witness to the fierce battle between the grey-robed cultivator and the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Seeing this man take out the evil-filled Curved Saber Artifact, which was irrefutably a Second Order Medium Quality Artifact and a powerful Blood Evil Blade at that, it seemed he was about to get serious. The grey-robed cultivator laughed wildly, with spells flying from his hands and incantations coming from his mouth. ¡°Ice Blood Evil Saber, kill!¡± The Blood Evil Blade in his hand glowed intensely, releasing terrifying Blade Qi that shot straight toward the Green-Spotted Poison Python. In the water pool, the monster serpent moved its body, raising its massive head and spraying out a large amount of dark green liquid, corroding much of the surrounding air. In an instant, the blood-colored Blade Qi arrived above the head of the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The Green-Spotted Poison Python twisted its massive body, desperately trying to dodge the terrifying blood-colored Blade Qi. However, the speed of the Blade Qi was astonishingly fast. While its massive body had explosive force during attacks, at this crucial moment, it became a burden. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 251 - 180 Innocent Bystander_3 Chapter 251: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_3 ¡°` After a piercing screech, the Green-Spotted Poison Python writhed its body desperately, trying to dodge the fatal attack. Alas, having left the water, its flexibility was hindered, and although it avoided the vital parts being hit, its tail was struck by the bloody Blade Qi. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± In pain, the Green-Spotted Poison Python fell back into the pool, rolling about wildly. The dark green liquid it spat out enveloped the grey-robed man like a downpour. ... sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± An acrid stench permeated the air. Only when the dark green poison landed on the swamp did the figure of the grey-robed man become visible again. At this moment, his complexion had turned a bit pale with numerous holes in his Daoist robe, revealing the flesh underneath, much of which was burnt and charred, portraying a somewhat tragic sight. However, the grey-robed cultivator seemed to pay no mind to the minor injuries on his body as he raised his hand to inspect the gourd, a satisfied look appearing on his face. ¡°Heh heh¡­ This poison is quite good, many times stronger than the previous poison mists.¡± He muttered to himself before raising his eyes to look at the pool where the Green-Spotted Poison Python was. The water churned, mixed with scarlet blood, looking quite gorgeous, yet somewhat unnerving. Only when the waves had subsided a little did the shape of the Green-Spotted Poison Python reveal itself. The Monster Serpent seemed weakened, with an injury several inches long on its tail, revealing the flesh inside, almost being decapitated. The serpent no longer dared to expose most of its body, only poking its head above the surface, glaring at the grey-robed cultivator with a malevolent look. At this time, the scent of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus in the middle of the pool became even more potent. The proud lotus pod¡¯s color grew even more vibrant, with the seeds inside breaking free from the confines of the pod, revealing translucent seeds. Seeing the seeds start to emerge, he estimated that in half an hour, they would be fully exposed and ripe. Witnessing this, the grey-robed man¡¯s face lit up with joy as he thought to himself. ¡°I can¡¯t delay any longer. This Secret Realm is filled with danger, and many disciples from the Golden Core Forces have come in. I must fight quickly and decisively, or if discovered by the major powers, all treasures will be lost.¡± Determined, his Ice Blood Evil Saber glowed intensely in his hand as a torrent of Sword Qi and fireballs erupted in the sky, charging towards the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The Green-Spotted Poison Python, eying the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus nearby, became extremely agitated, evidently unwilling to relinquish the treasure it had guarded for many years. Seeing the human approaching again, the serpent opened its mouth to spray poison, turning into a rain of toxic liquid that shrouded the grey-robed man. At the same time, it thrashed its massive tail, sweeping towards the grey-robed man. Obviously, with the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus about to ripen, both the grey-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python had become desperate for the chance, sparing no effort in the fight. For a time, the swamp shuddered non-stop, and flashes of light zipped through the night. Lin Tianming watched the entire scene, not daring to breathe. With such a commotion, neither the grey-robed man nor the Green-Spotted Poison Python was something he could contend with alone. He simply wished for the battle to end quickly, for the victor to collect the spoils and leave so that he might be free to find as many treasures as possible in this incredibly precious time. ¡­ On a mound in the northwest corner of the swamp, Lin Shilu¡¯s feet lightly touched the ground, leaping dozens of feet to land atop a hill. After exiting the ravine, he had come to the midst of this vast swamp, following the markers left by Lin Tianming to his current location. His luck had been far better than Lin Tianming¡¯s. Following a similar path through the swamp, he encountered several Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts, which he killed without exerting much effort, gaining numerous Second Order spirit materials, all prized among their tier. Standing on the mound, Lin Shilu looked thoughtfully at the faint bamboo patterns beneath him. Three days had passed since entering the Secret Realm, and he had traveled nearly a hundred miles in the swamp, spending a whole day without a trace of Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Shilu felt worried as he gazed in the direction indicated by the markers. Just then, a glimmer of light flashed in the night in the direction he was looking at. Despite its briefness, he noticed it. ¡°There¡¯s a disturbance. I wonder if it¡¯s Tianming. It looks like I need to quicken my pace.¡± His face grew serious, filled with anticipation and concern, his emotions complex. Taking a deep breath, he hastened towards the direction of the bamboo markers and soon vanished into the night. By the pool, the waves surged, and the sky was ablaze with light. The grey-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python had fought dozens of rounds, each giving as good as they got. The battle had reached a fever pitch. By now, the grey-robed man¡¯s clothes were torn, his flesh a bloody haze, with large areas corroded by the serpent¡¯s poison. His complexion was pale, and his overall aura was much deflated. Conversely, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was in an even more wretched state, its body covered with dense cuts, most of its scales shed, and a small section of its tail already missing. The Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its maw and let out a shriek, looking at the cultivator in the distance, seemingly considering retreat. Shooting forth a barrage of ice arrows towards the grey-robed man, it then turned and bit towards the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus on the verge of ripening. Seeing the serpent¡¯s actions, clearly not intending to wait for the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus to mature, it was preparing to swallow the most precious part, the pod, and flee. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 252 - 180 Innocent Bystander_4 Chapter 252: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_4 Although the lotus seeds were not fully mature, falling just short of ripe and thus their effect greatly diminished, they were still far better than obtaining nothing at all, or even perishing here. If the monster serpent succeeded, even if he killed the Green-Spotted Poison Python, he would fail to secure the most precious thing. As a result, his loss would be significant. Thinking of these things, the gray-robed man was both shocked and enraged, baring his teeth and grimacing. He waved his sleeve, and several Second Order talismans flew out, transforming into various forms of barriers in the path of the ice arrows, while simultaneously, his Ice Slaughter Knife shone brightly as he furiously slashed at the Green-Spotted Poison Python, intent on stopping the monster serpent¡¯s actions. The gray-robed man, having employed his most powerful efforts, attacked the Green-Spotted Poison Python with a frenzy. Seeing that the ice arrows were mostly dissipated by the barriers formed from the talismans, what remained posed no real threat to the gray-robed man. ... With a storm of attacks arriving, if it still forcefully swallowed the lotus pod, it would surely not have time to escape and its fate would be death right here. In that instant, the Green-Spotted Poison Python seemed to recognize the dire situation, and under immense pressure, temporarily gave up on swallowing the lotus pod. Even so, under the relentless onslaught of blade Qi and talismans, it had to fight desperately to survive. The monster serpent let out a piercing shriek, spitting out a blood arrow that struck with extreme speed, aimed directly at the gray-robed man. This blood arrow was the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, its strongest strike, used only in desperate times to carve a bloody path for its escape. Seeing the blood arrow coming at an alarmingly high speed, the gray-robed man¡¯s expression turned extremely grave. As he retreated, he pulled out the few remaining Defense Talismans, activating them, which transformed into various barriers in front of him. After doing all this, he still did not feel assured, and quickly took out a small turtle shell shield, pumping it full of vast spiritual power, until the turtle shell expanded and formed a large shell that covered him before he felt somewhat relieved. ¡°Boom¡­¡± a thunderous and earthshaking noise erupted. The gray-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s strikes met at the same time. In the blink of an eye, the barriers formed from the talismans shattered one after another, and the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s blood arrow slammed into the turtle shell. Although the barriers formed from the talismans had absorbed some of the power of the blood arrow, its force was still incredibly potent, ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise echoed, and a crack suddenly appeared in the turtle shell, while the red ice arrow began to dissipate. At the same time, the gray-robed man was flung dozens of meters back by the impact of the ice arrow on the turtle shell, barely managing to steady himself. The gray-robed man now looked pale and powerless, with fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, clearly having sustained serious injuries. He raised his hand and saw the crack on the turtle shell, which was about to break apart, resulting in the shell¡¯s defensive power being greatly weakened, probably retaining less than thirty percent of its defensive capacity. Second Order Defense Artifacts are not commonly seen, even a lower-grade Defense Artifact is nearly equivalent to a medium-grade Attack Talisman. Even though he was a cultivator at the late stages of Foundation Establishment, with considerable wealth and status, losing a Defense Artifact was still a painful blow. But he didn¡¯t even have time to feel the pain, as the miserable cries of the Green-Spotted Poison Python came from the water. Looking over, the monster serpent was twisting its body wildly; almost none of its skin was intact. It writhed vigorously, drenched in blood, making no hesitation to flee, no longer caring about the now-ripe Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. The monster serpent turned and twisted, moving rapidly through the mud, heading straight in the direction where Lin Tianming was hiding. Suddenly, a distinct trail of blood-red colored the swamp, evidently the monster serpent¡¯s blood mixing with the mud. For some reason, apart from the direction of the gray-robed cultivator, the monster serpent could have escaped any other way, yet it chose to head in Lin Tianming¡¯s direction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was shocked and horrified. ¡°Why drag me into this mess, you beast!¡± Lin Tianming cursed under his breath, seething with anger. He was a bystander caught in the crossfire, initially considering giving up this opportunity, but now he found himself unexpectedly entangled. More importantly, even if the gray-robed cultivator was injured and his power somewhat diminished, a cultivator at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment was beyond his ability to confront. If it were a Fifth Level Foundation Establishment, he wouldn¡¯t have given up on this chance, willing to take the risk, but against an Eighth Level, he knew very well that he was no match. ¡°How can I escape this!¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming was extremely anxious, pondering over strategies in his mind. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 253 - 181: Annihilate the Enemy_1 Chapter 253: Chapter 181: Annihilate the Enemy_1 Swamp¡­ The grey-robed man¡¯s mouth twisted into a malicious grin upon seeing the Green-Spotted Poison Python attempting to escape. After all, the battle had taken a great deal of effort; he had exhausted an array of tactics and spent a significant amount of treasures, and he had also sustained serious injuries. Thus, the gravely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python had to die to quench his fury. The grey-robed man put away the turtle shell he had in his hand, then grasped the Ice Slaughter Knife, unleashing a terrifying Blade Qi, which he directed at the fleeing Green-Spotted Poison Python. At this moment, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was less than three hundred yards from Lin Tianming, a distance it could quickly cover. ... Lin Tianming¡¯s heart raced with anxiety, uncertain of what to do. If he revealed himself, he could hardly guarantee that the grey-robed man would spare him; if he remained hidden, he could only hope that the grey-robed man would kill the Green-Spotted Poison Python before it discovered him. Seeing the grey-robed man in pursuit, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was also extremely angry. However, with its strength greatly depleted, the Monster Serpent wanted nothing more than to escape this place as quickly as possible, rather than entangle with the grey-robed man. Yet the injured Monster Serpent slowed down, its power greatly diminished, unable to break free. Just then, the grey-robed man caught up, his presence bursting with Blade Qi, his hands conjuring various Five Elements Spells like fireballs and ice swords. ¡°Monster, you think you can escape? No way!¡± The grey-robed man roared in anger, the Ice Slaughter Knife in his hand ablaze with blood light, as he poured down all his methods, instantly engulfing the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The fury of the storm was clearly intended to kill the Green-Spotted Poison Python in one strike. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Red and yellow light flashed in the night, dazzling like shooting stars. The trapped Green-Spotted Poison Python turned its head and spat out another Ice Arrow, confronting the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s attack head-on. Unfortunately, the severely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s strength was greatly diminished, and its Ice Arrow was immediately overwhelmed by the storm-like Blade Qi, quickly dissipating in the blood light. The relentless Blade Qi struck with the speed of lightning. In this desperate situation, the gravely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python had no way to dodge; it could only try to move away from its vital areas to find a slim chance of survival. In an instant, the blood-colored Blade Qi enveloped the Monster Serpent, countless Blade Qi nicks marking its body as flesh flew and large patches of scales and flesh fell into the mud, staining a large area of the swamp red. ¡°Hss hss hss¡­¡± The Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its mouth, hissing frantically, appearing as if in unbearable pain. The Green-Spotted Poison Python struggled mightily, twisting its riddled body, seemingly still desirous of living. Meanwhile, the grey-robed man¡¯s face wore a stern expression as he watched the Monster Serpent crawl towards Lin Tianming, a hint of mockery in his eyes. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression darkened, his inner hopes completely shattered. The situation was developing in the worst possible way. As the Monster Serpent and the grey-robed man drew closer, Lin Tianming would eventually be discovered if things continued this way. Sure enough, the grey-robed man grasping the Snow Evil Blade leapt forward, releasing a burst of Blade Qi that pierced through the Monster Serpent¡¯s vital spots. The Green-Spotted Poison Python cried out several times, its enormous body struggling a few moments before it lay still, lifeless. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The grey-robed man sighed with relief, walked over to the corpse of the Monster Serpent, and began to extract its inner core. At that moment, the grey-robed man¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked toward the mound where Lin Tianming was and sneered. ¡°Fellow Daoist, show yourself!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned extremely solemn as he reluctantly emerged from the cave and stood atop the mound, warily watching the grey-robed man across from him. Their eyes met, and Lin Tianming maintained his composure, bowing to the grey-robed man and explaining, ¡°Esteemed fellow Daoist, I was simply here first and happened upon you arriving. However, I mean no harm and do not intend to interfere. As for the spoils of this place, they are all yours, and regarding this matter, I will absolutely not reveal a single word.¡± Hearing this, the grey-robed man chuckled, also weighing the pros and cons in his heart. Since he couldn¡¯t see through Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation, he hesitated, and since Lin Tianming had stayed hidden, if he had intended to attack, he would have done so by now. Since he had not attacked, it was clear that he wasn¡¯t confident, hence his continuous backing down. ¡°Enough, let¡¯s test the waters first!¡± The grey-robed man thought to himself, then with a smile, he respectfully replied to Lin Tianming, ¡°I see, you may leave at your leisure.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he appeared very nonchalant. He bowed to the grey-robed man and then said casually, ¡°Ha ha¡­ thank you for understanding, fellow Daoist¡­ I shall take my leave now.¡± With that, Lin Tianming turned to leave, but remained vigilant of the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s every move. He was well aware that this man was likely a Loose Cultivator with unpredictable and vicious methods; probably he hesitated to act rashly because he could not fathom Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation. But such a ruthless person would not let him leave so easily, that much was certain. As expected, just as Lin Tianming turned around, the grey-robed man¡¯s Blood Evil Blade surged with blood light. Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed, and as he retreated, he clenched several talismans in his hand, and without any hesitation, activated them. After a loud explosion, the Blade Qi pierced through the barrier formed by the talismans and slashed toward Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming swiftly dodged the greatly weakened Blade Qi, landing on a small mound. Once he had steadied himself, Lin Tianming stared at the grey-robed man, his expression one of shock and anger as he said, ¡°What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoist? Why go back on your word?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 254 - 181 Extinguishing the Enemy_2 Chapter 254: Chapter 181 Extinguishing the Enemy_2 Upon hearing these words, the man in the gray robe looked at Lin Tianming with a mocking expression. Clearly, after a probing strike, he had gauged Lin Tianming¡¯s approximate strength and knew that in a one-on-one fight, Lin Tianming was absolutely no match for him. With this in mind, he no longer pretended to play nice and scoffed, ¡°Only the dead tell no tales, so prepare to leave your life behind!¡± Before his words had even finished, the cultivator in the gray robe¡¯s Blood Evil Blade burst into a bright blood light, emitting a multitude of Blade Qi, and slashed toward Lin Tianming. Seeing that the gloves were completely off and fearing that turning to run would only hasten his death, Lin Tianming realized the situation was grim. Yet, as his opponent was likely heavily drained of both Spiritual Power and talisman paper after the previous battle, there was still hope to repel him head-on. ... Thinking this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart hardened and he decided to fight with all his might, holding nothing back for the sake of himself. With a wave of his hand, his Tiangang Sword shone brilliantly as it too burst into a barrage of Sword Qi, colliding head-on with the oncoming Blade Qi. The two forces exploded upon impact in the sky, with successive booms echoing out. The Blade Qi clearly had the upper hand, breaking through the Sword Qi and continuing its path toward Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming¡¯s face grew stern as he hastily retreated, simultaneously hurling forth the talisman paper in his hand to envelop the cultivator in the gray robe. After making these moves, as the Blade Qi drew perilously close, Lin Tianming pulled out his Green Scale Shield and poured in a copious amount of Spiritual Power, causing the shield to bulge and protect him from behind. The Blade Qi, weakened by the Sword Qi, struck the Green Scale Shield with a thunderous crash, pushing Lin Tianming back dozens of feet before he could steady himself. The swamp was left in shambles, presenting a harrowing sight. Following the clash, Lin Tianming felt numbness in his arms and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He forcibly suppressed it and continued to watch his opponent warily. Merely one exchange had resulted in minor injuries for Lin Tianming, confirming the formidable strength of the cultivator in the gray robe. Upon seeing the Second Order Magical Artifact, the Tiangang Sword, and the Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, in Lin Tianming¡¯s possession, the cultivator hesitated for a moment. ¡°This person¡¯s cultivation might not be high, yet he carries such treasures. Could he be a young master from a Golden Elixir Force?¡± ¡°Forget it, no matter which force¡¯s offspring he is, if he dies in the Secret Realm and the job is done cleanly, even the Golden Elixir Experts won¡¯t be able to trace a thing!¡± ¡°If I can obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item in the Secret Realm, I can flee far away. After all, I¡¯m just a lone cultivator.¡± The cultivator in the gray robe thought greedily to himself. Little did he know, these treasures were but a small part of Lin Tianming¡¯s wealth. Because this person possessed the Dark Green Gourd, designed specifically to counter poison mists, Lin Tianming dared not use his Thousand Beast Banner for fear that the other could capture its black mist and Soul within the gourd ¨C that was the sole reason he hadn¡¯t employed it. After another round, both fighters lapsed into a brief interlude, during which Lin Tianming pondered his strategy. No longer capable of withstanding a frontal assault, he needed to lure his opponent into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation; with the Sword Array, there might be a sliver of hope. Lin Tianming quickly assessed the situation and decided on a plan. He took out several more pieces of talisman paper, activated them, and threw them at his adversary. His Tiangang Sword then burst forth with Sword Qi, assaulting the cultivator in the gray robe. When Lin Tianming took the offensive, the cultivator was somewhat surprised, but he retaliated with a cold laugh and waved his Blood Evil Blade, unleashing a torrent of Blade Qi again. The two of them threw themselves into battle, a whirlwind of attacks igniting the sky as if flowers blossomed in the night. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With frequent swings of his Blood Evil Blade, the cultivator in the gray robe kept the onslaught of Blade Qi coming, while Lin Tianming was just barely able to hold his ground using a multitude of talismanic weapons and the Green Scale Shield. Several rounds of intense fighting rapidly depleted their Spiritual Power. Even though the cultivator had deeper reserves, the successive battles wore him down, preventing him from holding out for much longer. Moreover, after several rounds of attack, the power of the cultivator¡¯s offensive visibly weakened, which was indeed good news. After exchanging blows, Lin Tianming used his Green Scale Shield to block a strike, and exploiting the rebound force, he leapt towards the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming appeared above the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, reaching out to snatch it from the air. Seeing this, the cultivator in the gray robe¡¯s complexion darkened, and he surged with Spiritual Light as he leaped toward Lin Tianming. The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was not yet ripe; naturally, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t truly destroy the immature plant. His actions were merely to lead the cultivator into the center of the Sword Array. As expected, in desperation, the cultivator failed to think it through and, with the Blood Evil Blade in hand, entered the center of the Sword Array. A hint of joy flashed over the pale-faced Lin Tianming as he pinched a Law Decree and chanted sotto voce. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With the sound of swords humming, the Earth Evil Swords flew up from the depths of the mud, swiftly spinning and quickly forming a Barrier. Lin Tianming released a Law Decree with his hands, striking the operating Sword Array. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, entrap!¡± Lin Tianming shouted forcefully while exerting all his strength to command the Sword Array, trapping the cultivator in the gray robe securely within it. Feeling the constriction of the Sword Array and the wandering Sword Qi inside, the cultivator¡¯s countenance turned exceedingly gloomy. However, he did not panic. Although the Sword Array operated smoothly, it covered a wide area, making it somewhat unstable. While the roving Sword Qi was not weak, it was still not too difficult for him to dodge. It didn¡¯t take long for the cultivator to assess his situation; his Blood Evil Blade glinted red as he fired Blade Qi against the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Under frenzied attacks, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shake violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 255 - 181 Annihilate Enemy_3 Chapter 255: Chapter 181 Annihilate Enemy_3 Lin Tianming dared not be careless, ignoring the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, desperately maintaining the stability of the sword array. ¡°Simply trapping him like this isn¡¯t a solution, the sword formation must be narrowed quickly, otherwise it won¡¯t be long before he breaks through the barrier and comes out!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and immediately started swinging the Tiangang Sword in an attempt to push back the grey-robed cultivator, to buy himself some time. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords Second Sword!¡± A terrifying burst of Sword Qi shot towards the grey-robed cultivator, its speed so fast it was frightening. After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, this was the first time he had used this Divine Skill. The combined power of the two swords exceeded his expectations. ... Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s face turned solemn, and he took out the damaged turtle shell to shield himself. In an instant, the Sword Qi struck the turtle shell, leaving a deep crack and causing the already weakened shell to sustain more damage. The grey-robed man was forced back several zhang by the Tiangang Sword Qi, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, evidently suffering an internal injury. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Tianming quickly reduced the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, soon reaching a range of several dozen zhang. The grey-robed cultivator turned, his ferocious face glaring at Lin Tianming, looking extremely enraged. With a flick of his fingers over the Law Decree, he spat out blood onto the Blood Evil Blade, which then merged into the blade and disappeared without a trace. At that moment, the Blood Evil Blade began vibrating intensely, letting out series of piercing cries, its blood light growing even more vivid. ¡°Blood Evil Heavenly Blade, break for me!¡± A dreadful moonlight shot up into the sky, then burst forth, slamming into the walls of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face filled with horror; he operated the sword formation with all his might in hopes of withstanding this terrifying strike. In less than a moment¡¯s time, the already stable Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shake violently, then it stopped functioning, and the fifty-six Earth Evil Swords fell from the sky, dropping into the mud. With the Earth Fiend Sword Formation broken, Lin Tianming¡¯s mind was hit hard. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his breath instantly weakening. The grey-robed cultivator, now free from confinement, looked even paler. To escape the sword formation, he had been forced to use all his strength, resulting in greater consumption of his spiritual power and further aggravating his injuries. His angry gaze fixed on Lin Tianming, now that he had witnessed his Divine Skills, he would no longer take him lightly. At this point, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was dark. Having spent most of his spiritual power and his injuries worsening, he had less than thirty percent of his strength remaining. He gripped the Tiangang Sword, eyeing the grey-robed cultivator in the distance, brainstorming ways to survive. However, with limited strength and severe injuries, this situation clearly seemed like a dead end. And the grey-robed cultivator would not give him any more chances. As he struck the Law Decree on the Blood Evil Blade, a fierce Blade Qi was unleashed, intending to take Lin Tianming¡¯s life. Facing the terrifying Blade Qi, Lin Tianming was all too aware of its power. As the ferocious Blade Qi approached, he bore the intense pain throughout his body and poured a great amount of spiritual power into the Green Scale Shield, desperately blocking this lethal strike. ¡°Pu¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Where the Blade Qi struck, a crack opened up in the Green Scale Shield. Lin Tianming flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing into the mud, immediately spewing several mouthfuls of blood, nearly vomiting his internal organs. Lin Tianming lay in the mud, his body riddled with open flesh wounds, exposing pale golden bones. The grey-robed cultivator¡¯s full-powered strike had been blocked by Lin Tianming using the Green Scale Shield, but the violent force had injured him, and the shield¡¯s defensive power was greatly reduced, unlikely to withstand a second attack. Fortunately, the injuries he sustained were external; his meridians were almost unharmed, and with his robust physique, recovery should not be difficult. He propped himself up with the Tiangang Sword, shakily standing up from the mud, his eyes bloodshot, staring down the grey-robed cultivator. ¡°Hm?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming still alive and able to stand up on his own, the grey-robed cultivator looked utterly incredulous. ¡°No matter the reason, meeting me was your bad luck. But considering your exceptional talent, I¡¯ll grant you a quick end!¡± After muttering to himself, the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s Blood Evil Blade once again unleashed a wave of Blade Qi, slashing straight down. Lin Tianming watched the oncoming Blade Qi with a wry smile, then closed his eyes to await death. Just then, a sound of tearing through the air arrived. Lin Shilu shot towards him at lightning speed, positioning himself firmly in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Shilu steadied himself, his spiritual power surged, and he expanded the Green Scale Shield immensely, shielding both of them behind it. ¡°Bang¡­¡± With a loud noise, the Green Scale Shield remained intact, effortlessly blocking the terrifying Blade Qi until it completely dissipated into spots of spiritual light in the night. Lin Tianming, who hadn¡¯t felt the separation of his body from his head, opened his eyes to see Lin Shilu¡¯s towering figure and wondered if he was hallucinating. He shook his heavy head and lamented, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming is going to meet the ancestors, I¡¯m going to break my promise to protect our family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu immediately slapped his cheek, hoping to wake him up. ¡°Tian Ming, you lad aren¡¯t dead; I¡¯ve arrived in time!¡± Feeling the real sensation on his face and hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s voice, Lin Tianming finally realized that he indeed hadn¡¯t died. At the critical moment, Lin Shilu arrived to block the fatal strike, then he turned to inspect Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries. Thankfully, they had not reached the meridians; healing the external wounds wouldn¡¯t be difficult. He took out two elixirs and stuffed them in Lin Tianming¡¯s mouth, settling him down before turning around, angrily eyeing the grey-robed cultivator. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 256 - 181 Exterminate Enemy_4 Chapter 256: Chapter 181 Exterminate Enemy_4 At this moment, upon seeing Lin Shilu rush over, the complexion of the gray-robed cultivator turned extremely ugly. He had previously been locked in intense battle with the Green-Spotted Poison Python for quite some time, already depleting a large amount of Spiritual Power and Talismanic Weapons. In his attempt to kill Lin Tianming, he had exhausted all his methods, leaving his Spiritual Power nearly spent. Now, with Lin Shilu arriving, possessing even stronger strength and Magic Artifacts, under such relentless attack, there was no way he could be his opponent. Thinking of this, the cultivator in the gray robe had already developed the intention to retreat, yet he dared not show it, for fear of betraying his weakness to Lin Shilu. He feigned composure and, with a calm expression, greeted Lin Shilu with a clasped fist: ¡°Fellow Daoist, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus has matured. Why don¡¯t we stop here and share the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus equally, what do you say?¡± ... ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Shilu let out a mocking laugh. ¡°You nearly took the life of my junior, and had I not arrived in time, even extracting your soul and refining your spirit would not quell my anger!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, the gray-robed cultivator realized the gravity of the situation, and he knew that today¡¯s matters could not be resolved amicably. He sighed inwardly, no longer saying much, as the red light from the Blood Evil Blade in his hand intensified and he took the initiative to attack. Seeing the corpse of the Green-Spotted Poison Python on the ground, as well as Lin Tianming¡¯s condition, Lin Shilu knew that this man¡¯s power must have been greatly diminished, not worth fearing at all. ¡°Hmph¡­ merely the last burst of a dying flame. I will send you on your way and avenge my grandson!¡± Lin Shilu let out a cold chuckle, his Spirit Sword emitting waves of sonorous sword cries while Spiritual Power frantically poured into the sword. In an instant, the Spirit Sword blazed with Golden Light and the wind rose fiercely, billowing his robes and revealing a terrifying intent to kill. Without any reservations, his move was the strongest attack, intending to end the battle with a single strike. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A thunderous roar echoed, as blood-red Blade Qi collided with the Golden Sword Qi, exploding in the night sky and forming a huge and dazzling fireball. After the strike, neither had the upper hand. Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed and he felt the fearsome strength of the man in the gray robe, wondering how Tian Ming had managed to endure for so long against him. Regathering his focus, he did not give his adversary any chance to catch a breath as his Spirit Sword once again burst forth with power. In an instant, the two were locked in combat, the night sky flashing with light, each burst signifying a fierce clash. After nearly ten rounds, the gray-robed man managed to block a strike but his face turned pale and bloodless, gasping for air. After a fierce exchange, initially, the two were almost evenly matched, but as the fight progressed, his Spiritual Power depleted rapidly and hit bottom, constantly pressured by Lin Shilu, forcing him into a defensive position. At this moment, he felt incredibly stifled. Had he been in peak condition, Lin Shilu would not have been a match for him. Now, with little Spiritual Power left and no Magic Artifacts or talisman paper to help, he found himself on the brink of life and death. Lin Shilu¡¯s condition was still much better. Although he also had several wounds and had consumed a lot of Spiritual Power, his combat strength was hardly affected. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Well aware of the dangers in the Secret Realm, he sighed a breath of murky air, resolving to finish off this man quickly. Making up his mind, his Spirit Sword glittered with Golden Light, holding a few more talisman papers in hand, and he showered them down on the man in gray, vowing to thoroughly exterminate him. Seeing Lin Shilu pull out all the stops without reservation, the man in gray turned deathly pale, knowing his chances were slim. The Spiritual Light of his turtle-shell artifact flashed as he poured all of his remaining Spiritual Power into it. The inflated turtle shell protected him from behind, awaiting the judgment of fate. At that moment, the gray-robed man intensely regretted not having settled the Green-Spotted Poison Python and that junior earlier. Alas, time could not flow backward, and what was done could not be undone. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A loud boom erupted, lighting up a thousand zhang radius in the night with a massive fireball. As the firelight dissipated and the sky returned to pitch black, it was revealed that many charred limbs were scattered, falling haphazardly among the swamp¡¯s muddy terrain. And then, in the night, all fell silent once again, everything returning to calm¡­ COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 257 - 182 Collaboration_1 Chapter 257: Chapter 182 Collaboration_1 Seeing the gray-robed man¡¯s head severed from his body, not a single limb remained intact. Lin Shilu let out a long sigh of relief and walked towards Lin Tianming¡¯s location. At that moment, Lin Tianming was sitting cross-legged on a mound. Due to the healing pills he had taken earlier, his injuries had slightly improved. Although unable to fight, he was now able to move normally. Seeing Lin Shilu kill the gray-robed man without any harm, Lin Tianming was extremely excited inside. ¡°Tianming, how are your injuries?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s concerned greeting, Lin Tianming felt warmth in his heart, and then said: ... ¡°They are mostly superficial wounds, it won¡¯t take long for me to recover to my peak condition.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, gave a few instructions for him to rest and recover from his injuries, and then stepped towards the body of the gray-robed man. The two of them had finally decided the outcome after a fierce battle. However, this was truly a close call. If he hadn¡¯t arrived in time, Lin Tianming might have already fallen. As for the gray-robed man, his luck was extremely bad. Despite being a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, after several battles, he was actually killed by Lin Shilu, whose cultivation was two realms lower. ¡°This truly is the capriciousness of fate!¡± Lin Shilu sighed, and then collected the storage bag of the gray-robed man. After doing these, he immediately went to the edge of the pool, looking at the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus with a face full of ecstasy. The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had now fully matured, and its plump lotus pod was embedded with five crystal-clear seeds. The seven colorful petals that had already fallen were floating on the clear water surface. Lin Shilu reached out his palm and, through the air, he gathered the seven petals, then plucked the plump lotus pod. Looking at the lotus vine with its petals and pod collected, Lin Shilu felt a bit of regret; it would have been great if he could bring it back to his clan. Unfortunately, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had extremely high requirements for its growing environment and couldn¡¯t be transplanted, so he had no choice but to leave the vine there. Lin Shilu turned around, then walked towards the body of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, collecting the scales that had fallen along the way. These scales were treasures, even higher grade than those of the Qingxu Snake. Lin Tianming¡¯s Green Scale Shield was severely damaged, so it was a good idea to collect some scales to repair his defense artifact. Soon, he had gathered enough scales to repair the Green Scale Shield. He then swung the Spirit Sword in his hand, cutting off parts suitable for artifact refining, and then chopped the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body into segments to collect. In less than half an hour, the corpse of the monster serpent had vanished without a trace, and the body of the gray-robed cultivator was burnt to ashes by a fireball. Lin Shilu did a simple cleanup of the battlefield, erasing a lot of traces. After clearing the battlefield, Lin Shilu scanned the pond and the surroundings once more, but unfortunately, did not find any more treasures. After a complete search, Lin Shilu finally returned to the original spot. After a short rest, Lin Tianming finally regained some spiritual power, the injuries on his body stopped bleeding, and he could move freely. The two of them gathered together, with Lin Shilu looking at the calm pond and suddenly speaking: ¡°Tianming, this place is extremely dangerous, we must leave immediately and find a place to recuperate and prepare.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and after discussing with each other, they chose a direction and hurried away. Half a day later. The two of them finally exited the swamp and entered a beautiful valley. Lin Shilu¡¯s Divine Sense spread wide, checking the surrounding situation, and found no anomalies. After ensuring safety, they immediately found a spot to set up a simple cave abode. He raised his hand to cast a few Illusion Techniques, then took out a set of First Order Array Flags and arranged them around the cave. After doing these, he felt somewhat at ease, and the two of them then entered. Sitting in the cave, Lin Shilu took out the lotus pod of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, and a special fragrance emitted, soon filling the entire cave. Seeing this item, Lin Tianming showed a look of longing. Lin Shilu chuckled, and then carefully handed over a lotus seed to Lin Tianming. ¡°The time that the Secret Realm is open is limited. We can¡¯t afford any delays now. This lotus seed is extremely effective; it can rapidly restore spiritual power and accelerate injury healing. More importantly, it can assist your physical body in breaking through.¡± He listed many benefits in one breath. Then he instructed: ¡°Time is of the essence. Use it to recover from your injuries while enhancing the strength of your physical body. Also, bring your Green Scale Shield over, and I will repair it for you.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, his complexion filled with excitement. With Lin Shilu¡¯s help, the damaged Green Scale Shield could be used again. Otherwise, it would be way too dangerous in the perilous Secret Realm. After taking the lotus seed, he handed his Green Scale Shield to Lin Shilu, and then immediately sat down and began rotating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation to adjust his condition. Seeing this, Lin Shilu wasn¡¯t idle either. He sat down, adjusted his own condition, and then took out a large number of Green-Spotted Poison Python scales and the materials needed for Artifact Refining from his storage bag, and began repairing the Green Scale Shield for Lin Tianming. After nearly half an hour, Lin Tianming felt his condition had reached its peak. He looked at the lustrous and transparent lotus seed in his hand and swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the lotus seed entered his mouth, a powerful energy immediately burst forth, like a raging fire, extremely domineering. Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned red, as the violent energy coursed through his meridians. Not daring to delay, he quickly operated his cultivation technique to begin integrating the energy. After half a beat, the energy had become milder after integration but was still domineering. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 258 - 182 Cooperation_2 Chapter 258: Chapter 182 Cooperation_2 He carefully manipulated the stream of energy, guiding it through the seven meridians and eight collaterals, finally converging in the Qi Sea Dantian. However, as the energy flowed through, a peculiar sensation reached his mind, and he felt as though he was drifting atop the clouds, experiencing an ultimate level of comfort. Not only that, but as more and more energy was refined, his wounds began to tingle pleasantly, visibly healing at a speed visible to the naked eye, quickly scabbing over. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with great joy, astonished at the unexpectedly powerful effect of the lotus seed. Once he collected his thoughts, he focused all his efforts on refining the lotus seed¡¯s energy, further healing his injuries and tempering his own body. ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± ... Sounds resonated as his organs, skin, and meridians were all effectively strengthened by the powerful energy transformation from inside the lotus seed. Time quietly slipped away, and three days passed in the blink of an eye. In the simple cave abode, Lin Tianming breathed steadily, and from within his body, sounds echoed at intervals with each deep breath. After a series of sounds, he opened his tightly shut eyes, and a flash of brilliance flickered through them. By then, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus seed had been completely refined. Feeling the quick flow of spiritual power throughout his body, as well as the further strengthened organs and meridians, Lin Tianming clenched his fist, revealing a gratified smile. Within three days, his injuries had largely healed, and his strength was now greater than before. Lin Tianming stood up and twisted his slightly stiff body, then turned to look at Lin Shilu. At this moment, Lin Shilu was busily engaged in repairing the Green Scale Shield, seemingly at a crucial juncture. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was seen flickering the spells in his hand, emitting talismans that flew out and then disappeared into the surface of the Green Scale Shield. Half a quarter of an hour later, a piercing noise sounded, and the Green Scale Shield lit up with spiritual light before returning to normal. With a single wave of his hand, the Green Scale Shield quickly shrank and he grabbed it in his hand. After a close examination, Lin Shilu revealed a satisfied expression. With the addition of scales from the Green-Spotted Poison Python, the defensive power of the Green Scale Shield, although slightly inferior to before, could still reach about eighty to ninety percent of its original strength, which was very impressive. If not for the limited time and materials, restoring the Green Scale Shield to its peak condition was absolutely possible, or even surpassing its previous state wasn¡¯t impossible, considering the scales of the Monster Serpent belonged to a Second Order Late Stage Beast, which was much stronger than those from the initial or middle phases. ¡°Tianming, give it a try,¡± Lin Shilu said, chuckling as he tossed the Green Scale Shield to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming caught the Green Scale Shield, activated the spell, and then channeled a large amount of spiritual power into it, causing the palm-sized shield to swell rapidly. After a moment, he retracted the shield, sporting a satisfied look on his face. ¡°How is it? Are you satisfied?¡± Lin Shilu asked with a smile. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, to restore the shield¡¯s defensive power to eighty or ninety percent in such a short time exceeds my expectations,¡± Tianming replied. ¡°Hmm, indeed it does,¡± Lin Shilu said chuckling again, before taking out the storage bag of the man in the grey robe and handing it to Lin Tianming, gesturing for him to open it and check the spoils of the battle. To count their loot was certainly something Lin Tianming enjoyed. He took the storage bag and effortlessly wiped away the remaining Divine Sense from it. He extended his Divine Sense and took out the items one by one from inside the storage bag, arranging them before both of them. At that moment, the duo looked at the treasure spread before them with an exceptionally thrilled expression. The belongings of the cultivator in gray robes were extremely wealthy. After all, as a Loose Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level who had cultivated for nearly a hundred years to reach this realm, he must have done many heinous and murderous acts. Just from his storage bag, they obtained more than thirty thousand Spirit Stones, one Third Order Spiritual Medicine, dozens of Second Order Spiritual Medicines, and a complete variety of Second Order Pills, numbering over twenty in total, mostly used for everyday cultivation and combat. Besides these, there were varying amounts of Artifact Refining Materials and Demon Beast Corpses, clearly accumulated from his years of hunting or acquired from other cultivators. Regrettably, they did not find any high-grade Cultivation Techniques or advanced insights; they only acquired two Yellow Grade Techniques and some experiences from a Second Order Inscription Master, all of which were quite ordinary and not very useful for the Lin Family at this point. As for magic artifacts, there were just his eerie Dark Green Gourd and the Blood Evil Blade. The defensive tortoiseshell artifact was already badly damaged, nearly reduced to junk, and other defensive measures like talismans had long since been used up. Even so, the gains from the battle were still beyond imagination, and excluding the magic artifacts and technique insights, the treasures acquired were worth at least sixty to seventy thousand Spirit Stones. Looking at the treasure scattered on the ground, Lin Shilu, with an excited grin, said: ¡°Tianming, we¡¯ll split the magic artifacts and Spirit Stones between us, and we¡¯ll divide the pills as well. We¡¯ll select some useful items for ourselves from the rest, and contribute the remainder to our family. What do you think?¡± Naturally, Lin Tianming had no objections, and with understanding smiles, the two of them began the division. In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had completed their division, each stowing their treasures in their storage bags. Lin Tianming obtained the mysterious gourd and was also allotted ten thousand Spirit Stones, while all the pills went to Lin Shilu, since Lin Tianming, being an Alchemist, found the pills relatively unnecessary. Apart from this, his greatest interest was in the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus; the effect was simply too beneficial. Just one lotus seed had significantly increased the strength of his body, and if all were refined, he would undoubtedly become even stronger. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 259 - 182 Cooperation_3 Chapter 259: Chapter 182 Cooperation_3 Lin Shilu knew that Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, so he only took a petal and a lotus seed, leaving the rest to him. From the remaining treasures, Lin Tianming took more than ten relatively uncommon spiritual medicines and the inner core of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, while Lin Shilu accepted several pieces of precious spirit material and some Demonic Beast materials. After the allocation, both of them obtained a great number of treasures. Lin Shilu gave a knowing smile, then changed the topic to discuss the next plan. ¡°Tianming, we have been in the Secret Realm for more than seven days, a quarter of the time has passed. What do you think should be our next move?¡± Lin Tianming pondered for a moment before speaking: ... ¡°We obtained the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, as well as so many treasures; this journey has already been quite fruitful. If we stay here safely until the Secret Realm closes, that would be the most prudent.¡± ¡°However, the Secret Realm is full of opportunities, and such a chance is rare. It would be a pity to waste time just like that.¡± Upon hearing this, a flash of spiritual light gleamed in Lin Shilu¡¯s eyes, and he nodded, saying: ¡°I have the same considerations. Although we have already gained a lot, these things alone are not enough to raise our family to a new level.¡± ¡°Moreover, there¡¯s still plenty of time. If we give up this opportunity, who knows how many years it might be before we can enter a Secret Realm again.¡± Lin Tianming nodded his head, finding Lin Shilu¡¯s thoughts aligned with his. In the remaining time, as long as they were cautious, and avoided provoking those major forces¡¯ descendants, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about their lives when encountering ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, since the two of them could join forces. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming immediately discussed the next detailed plan with Lin Shilu. Half an hour later, the two left the makeshift cave dwelling and appeared in the valley. The harsh sun beat down on the quiet, beautiful valley. Lin Shilu glanced at the scorching sun overhead, chose a direction, and then entered the dense forest. Lin Tianming quickly followed him, and the two disappeared from the spot. Time slowly passed, and several days went by. They had now reached a vast forest, where they paused atop a tree canopy, pondering the endless forest in the distance. After trekking for several days, they still hadn¡¯t left the forest. Gazing at the boundless jungle ahead, Lin Tianming felt a sense of helplessness. Over the past few days, they hardly rested, searching for treasures during the day and finding places to rest at night, never wasting a moment. Along the way, they encountered a few Loose Cultivators, all of whom wisely avoided each other, and no unnecessary conflicts occurred. Lin Tianming and his companion were especially cautious. When they encountered two Second Order Demonic Beasts, they killed them. With such efforts, they both gained a fair bit, acquiring dozens of Second Order Spiritual Medicines, most of them quite rare. Just then, a series of loud noises came from a valley ahead, alerting both of them instantly. ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s noise ahead; it seems like there¡¯s a fight going on,¡± Lin Shilu said. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming nodded and asked with curiosity: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what shall we do next?¡± Lin Shilu furrowed his brows, feeling somewhat conflicted in his heart. The situation was still unclear, and rash involvement could mean danger. However, before he could ponder further, the commotion ahead grew louder, and it was clear that it was moving rapidly. Lin Tianming and his partner quickly hid in the nearby bushes and then vigilantly watched ahead. In a short while, they saw a man in black hurrying towards their location, his expression quite panicked. It wasn¡¯t until the man got closer that the two recognized him; it was Long Hai, whom they had seen at the Secret Realm Entrance. It seemed Long Hai had discovered them beforehand, as he came straight towards the bushes, pausing several hundred yards away and looking intently at what was pursuing him. At that moment, a group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts, each about a zhang in size, chased after him. Seeing Long Hai stop fleeing, they halted, baring their teeth and watching him warily, seemingly hesitant to approach. Long Hai¡¯s expression grew serious. He turned and addressed the bushes: ¡°There¡¯s no need for you two fellow cultivators to hide any longer. I have come here because I¡¯ve already spotted you.¡± At these words, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s expressions shifted, and they unwillingly emerged from the bushes, then cautiously eyed Long Hai and the Dragon-Eyed Beasts before them. Maintaining some distance from Long Hai, they prepared themselves for possible action. ¡°What do you mean, Long Dao-you? We are just passing through, and we bear no grudges against you, nor are we interested in getting involved in your affairs,¡± Lin Shilu said coldly. Hearing this, Long Hai maintained a calm expression and looked at them with a wry smile: S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Now it¡¯s not a matter of whether you want to be involved or not. The Dragon-Eyed Beasts are not weak and have already set their sights on us. It won¡¯t be easy to retreat unharmed without fighting them off.¡± Lin Tianming and his partner¡¯s expressions darkened at this, as they looked towards the Dragon Eye Beast Clan opposite them, feeling a touch of helplessness. Long Hai¡¯s words weren¡¯t untrue; the power of this group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts was extremely formidable. Fifteen Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts were among them, including two at the Late Stage, and the rest at the Medium Stage and the Initial Stage. As for the First Order, there were nearly a hundred of them. Although the strength of the First Order beasts was not a significant threat to them, the sheer number was still quite formidable. And such a mighty clan of Dragon-Eyed Beasts was indeed terrifying. More importantly, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts were Ancient Exotic Beasts. Although not known for their attack power, they were incredibly fast. Even a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast could move faster than a Medium Stage Cultivator, making it easy to imagine the difficulty of retreating unharmed from their clutches. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 260 - 182 Cooperation_4 Chapter 260: Chapter 182 Cooperation_4 No wonder Lian Longhai, a Loose Cultivator with such a formidable reputation, fled at the wind. Lin Tianming muttered to himself internally. Well aware of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts¡¯ formidable strength, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned unpleasant as he spoke to Long Hai: ¡°Dragon friend, by drawing disaster toward us and involving us innocents, shouldn¡¯t you give us an explanation?¡± ¡°An explanation?¡± Long Hai let out a chuckle, then said: ¡°In the nest of these Dragon-Eyed Beasts, there is no shortage of treasures, among which is White Jade Grass. How¡¯s that for an explanation?¡± ... Hearing mention of White Jade Grass, the two Lin Tianming were shocked. White Jade Grass is the main ingredient in crafting Foundation Establishment Pills. Apart from Golden Core Forces, it¡¯s almost impossible to find in the Cultivation World and only appears in such Secret Realms. What the Lin Family currently lacked was White Jade Grass. If they could obtain some and craft Foundation Establishment Pills, the clan¡¯s foundation would reach a new level. Thinking this, Lin Shilu was very clear-headed. How could one easily believe the words of a stranger? Seeing the expression on their faces, Long Hai continued: ¡°Although these Dragon-Eyed Beasts are strong, with our combined efforts, it¡¯s not like we have no fighting chance. How about we join forces to kill them and then divide the treasures within?¡± Upon hearing Long Hai¡¯s words, the two Lin Tianming did not believe him and began to communicate in secret. ¡°Tianming, do you think there¡¯s truth or deception in his words?¡± Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming communicated back: ¡°Regardless of truth or falsehood, we have no choice now. With his deep cultivation, if he were to leave directly, it would not be easy for us to retreat unharmed. Although cooperating with him is akin to seeking skin from a tiger, it¡¯s still better than facing the Dragon-Eyed Beasts alone.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s communication, Lin Shilu secretly nodded. Then, he asked aloud: ¡°Dragon friend, words alone are no proof. If there really is White Jade Grass, I¡¯m willing to take a chance. But if there isn¡¯t, the two of us will definitely not take the risk.¡± Long Hai seemed to anticipate their worries. He waved his sleeve, and suddenly, a spiritual plant about one foot tall with a body of pure white appeared in his hand. Seeing this item, it was undoubtedly genuine White Jade Grass, and the two Lin Tianming¡¯s breathing quickened. Long Hai put away the White Jade Grass and then asked: ¡°How about it? Have the two fellow Daoists thought it through?¡± Lin Shilu nodded, having made up his mind, he replied, ¡°Dragon friend, let¡¯s speak frankly. If we succeed, how shall we divide the spoils of war?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu speak of cooperation, Long Hai smiled and said: ¡°Since I discovered this item and my strength is superior to yours, naturally, I should take the larger share. Of the treasures we obtain, I will take seventy percent, and you will take thirty percent.¡± As soon as Long Hai proposed his division scheme, Lin Shilu immediately protested. ¡°Dragon friend, your words are unfair. It¡¯s true that you discovered this, but seventy percent is too much. Our contribution to the effort should at least give us fifty percent.¡± Before he could finish speaking, Long Hai¡¯s expression changed. However, he also had concerns¡ªshould Lin Tianming really decide not to cooperate, it would be impossible for him to escape unscathed alone. With this in mind, his attitude softened considerably, and he began to bargain. Soon, they reached an agreement: Long Hai would receive sixty percent, and they would get forty percent. To this division of spoils, the two Lin Tianming were quite satisfied. Given the current situation, it was unlikely for either party to succeed against the Dragon-Eyed Beasts alone. Only by cooperating could they achieve greater results and was the most advantageous approach. Long Hai and Lin Shilu both chuckled, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed. They then looked toward the group of Dragon Eye Beasts ahead. Neither side launched an attack, and the Dragon-Eyed Beasts did not dare to initiate one either. The two sides were at a standoff, with a big battle on the verge of erupting. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 261 - 183: Join Forces to Exterminate Demons_1 Chapter 261: Chapter 183: Join Forces to Exterminate Demons_1 As the standoff ensued, Lin Tianming was sizing up the Dragon-Eyed Beasts on the opposite side. Each of these Dragon-Eyed Beasts was baring their teeth and snarling, with the two strongest at the Second Order Late Phase having an aura almost as formidable as that of the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Among the dozen or so other Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, each radiated a robust presence, clearly indicating they were not to be trifled with. In the current situation, fraught with extreme risk, Lin Tianming clenched his Tiangang Sword tightly, his expression immensely solemn. ¡°Long Hai, since we have decided to make a move, let¡¯s do it quickly and decisively,¡± Lin Tianming said. No sooner had Lin Shilu spoken than he was the first to strike. ... With a flick of his Law Decree, his Spirit Sword glowed brightly with golden light, and the Golden Sword Qi burst forth, cutting towards the group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts in an instant. Lin Tianming was no less decisive. With a slap to his storage bag, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out and scattered, quickly forming a Sword Array that enveloped an area several hundred zhang around. With the Dragon-Eyed Beasts all clustered together, they were unable to react to Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden move. Only the Dragon-Eyed Beasts of the Medium Stage and above managed to escape the range of the Sword Array; the majority were ensnared within it. Only when the Sword Array began to operate did the Dragon-Eyed Beasts feel the constraints it imposed, desperately trying to break free. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming and another make their move, Long Hai wasted no time. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He waved his sleeve and out came a three-foot-long Curved Saber from his hand, emanating a fierce Blade Qi that devoured the surrounding Spiritual Energy, revealing it to be a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact. He struck the back of the saber with his palm, unleashing a powerful Blade Qi that slashed at the Dragon-Eyed Beasts trying to break the constraints. Where the Blade Qi passed, the Dragon Demonic Beasts scattered to avoid it, but there was still a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast that couldn¡¯t escape in time and was cleaved in two by his single strike. In a single blow, none of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts below the Late Phase of Second Order proved a match for him, and his Eighth Level Foundation Establishment might was fully showcased. Long Hai¡¯s actions, which not only killed an Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast, alleviating a great deal of pressure for himself, but also blocked those attempting to escape from the Sword Array, bought him enough time. Seeing the Sword Array begin to function, Long Hai leapt into action, charging toward the two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts that had escaped. The two Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts gathered together. They seemed to recognize Long Hai¡¯s prowess, surrounding him and lunging with their formidable claws towards him. The remaining four at the Middle Stage, recklessly charging over, sought to rescue their trapped kin but were intercepted by Lin Shilu. In a moment, the entire battlefield was divided into three areas: Long Hai dealt with the two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts, Lin Shilu with the four at the Second Order Medium Stage. And Lin Tianming contended with the remaining eight at the Second Order Initial Stage, as well as a large number of First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Witnessing a multitude of Demonic Beasts within the Sword Array, Lin Tianming¡¯s countenance was grave, not daring to be the least bit careless. While controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his Tiangang Sword moved frequently in his hands, steadily repressing those Dragon-Eyed Beasts and confining them firmly within. For a time, the sky was filled with swirling Sword Qi, and the growls of many First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts being slaughtered filled the air. Seeing a large number of First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts dying, the eight Second Order ones inside became completely enraged. Though restricted by the Sword Array, there was still a large area for them to maneuver around with their remarkable speeds, and the density of the Sword Qi within the array was insufficient to catch them. Moreover, the sheer number of the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts put so much pressure on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation that it began to tremble violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Observing this, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, casting several Second Order Attack Talismans from his hand, which transformed into copious Sword Qi to block several Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts from completely breaking through the Sword Array¡¯s defenses. In the gap created as these Demonic Beasts were thwarted, he stabilized the faltering Sword Array. However, even though the Sword Array was made stable once more, it would likely collapse again without some means of suppression. With this in mind, he patted his storage bag and the Thousand Beast Banner appeared in his hand instantly. The Law Decree in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flickered and struck the Thousand Beast Banner, infusing it with a massive amount of Spiritual Power. The banner radiated a glow, sending a wave of black mist towards the nine Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. At the same time, within the black mist, spheres of light transformed into fearsome giant beast illusions that savagely pounced on the opposing Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Inside the Sword Array. The eight Dragon-Eyed Beasts roared and lunged, fangs bared and claws waving, engaging in fierce combat with the multitude of Monster Beast Souls. ¡°Roar, roar, roar.¡± Intense roars erupted as one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts raised its powerful claws, swatting away a Qingxu Snake Soul from the Initial Stage of the Second Order. At that moment, more Monster Beast Souls converged, bounding and tearing into a Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast, trapping it in their midst. The pained Dragon-Eyed Beast grew wildly agitated, struggling hard to break free. Despite its speed, however, it was hard-pressed to escape due to the roaming Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the relentless biting of the Monster Beast Souls. Under this double pressure, escape was near impossible. Seeing this, the remaining Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts joined the fray, fighting ferociously with the Monster Beast Souls. With the addition of these few Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, the battle took a sharp turn. Despite the large number of souls and a fair number of those at the Second Order, their attacks were considerably weaker than when they were alive, rarely reaching even twenty percent of their original strength. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 262 - 183: Joining Forces to Exterminate the Demon_2 Chapter 262: Chapter 183: Joining Forces to Exterminate the Demon_2 For a time, the souls within the Thousand Beast Banner were at a disadvantage, with the souls of the First Order Demonic Beasts dying in great numbers. Only the Second Order managed to hold on, but the entire group of souls was beaten back steadily. Lin Tianming showed no panic. He spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Thousand Beast Banner, and the dark green flag suddenly burst into bright light. A thick black fog surged out, quickly enveloping a large area within the sword array. As soon as the black fog appeared, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts¡¯ speed was affected, and they barely managed to stop the decline. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword flickered with silver light and shot towards the Dragon-Eyed Beasts within the black fog. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Second Sword.¡± The sword qi moved with incredible speed, stabbing towards a Dragon-Eyed Beast that was surrounded by monster beast souls. ... The targeted Dragon-Eyed Beast panicked upon seeing the attack of the Tiangang Sword coming, frantically biting at the souls around it, trying to break through and escape. However, although the souls¡¯ strength was limited, they were not easily letting it escape due to their overwhelming numbers. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword pierced through the body of the Dragon-Eyed Beast, and a pitiful howl sounded as the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast was slain by the Tiangang Sword. As the Dragon-Eyed Beast fell to the ground, the Tiangang Sword, dripping with blood, returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. With the suppression of the sword array and the black fog, and the relentless entanglement by the souls, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts¡¯ speed no longer held any advantage. Although Lin Tianming possessed only the strength of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, the power he burst forth with was definitely not inferior to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator. Under such circumstances, dealing with a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast was naturally not a problem. However, such a confrontation caused him a great drain on his spiritual power. With the overwhelming number of Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, relying on the Tiangang Ninth Sword to slay them all would likely be somewhat laborious. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not use the Tiangang Ninth Sword again, but instead, he steadily controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, starting to shrink it. In the blink of an eye, the range of the sword array shrank to just over two hundred zhang and had become extremely stable. As the sword qi inside became more dense, the pressure on the Dragon-Eyed Beasts intensified. The Dragon-Eyed Beasts were now extremely terrified, as the remaining seven Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts simultaneously opened their huge maws, spewing out fireballs towards the Sword Array Barricade. Seeing the Dragon-Eyed Beasts unleash their Innate Divine Abilities, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew extremely grave. The attacking power of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts was otherwise not remarkable, but the fireballs produced by the collaborative effort of the seven would certainly be formidable. He feared the Earth Fiend Sword Formation might not withstand their relentless onslaught. Thinking this, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and a Flaming Red Talisman suddenly appeared in his hand, which was a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman he had purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. As he looked at the fire attribute attack talisman in his hand, a look of pain flickered across his face. He had not used it even during the fierce battle with the grey-robed cultivator, considering that a talisman capable of a strike akin to a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn¡¯t be very effective against the grey-robed man at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. That¡¯s why he had kept it until now. ¡°This cost three thousand spirit stones,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Meanwhile, he threw the talisman into the air and followed by a spell that he cast on the Flaming Red Talisman. The talisman instantly shot out countless flames, forming a vast sea of fire that poured down upon the Dragon-Eyed Beasts within the sword array. ¡°Boom, rumble¡­¡± The flames produced by the talisman and the fireballs spat by the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts collided fiercely, creating a massive mushroom cloud. For a moment, the sky was ablaze with red, the heat from the explosion so intense that it roasted the First Order Medium Grade Dragon-Eyed Beasts alive. After the explosion subsided into torrents of flaming rain, it covered the entire sword array, drenching any surviving Dragon-Eyed Beasts, leaving them soaking wet. Just one Second Order Superior Attack Talisman had killed eighty percent of the First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Only a few from the First Order Late Stage remained alive, each with varying degrees of injuries. The Divine Skills of the seven Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts were interrupted, and they roared in fury; but, upon looking at Lin Tianming again, a trace of fear appeared in their eyes. Lin Tianming¡¯s face brightened with joy. Although he had used the precious Second Order Talisman and failed to kill any Second Order Demonic Beasts, it essentially wiped out the First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts and stopped the Second Order¡¯s Divine Skills, achieving his goal. Taking advantage of the moment of dread among the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts, Lin Tianming reduced the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation even further, down to a hundred zhang. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt secretly delighted, his hand brewing another wave of attack, preparing to further expand his victories. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His Tiangang Sword glowed brightly as he launched several beams of sword qi, then with a leap, he charged into the sword array. He had consumed a fair amount of spiritual power, and with the need to cooperate with Long Hai, with whom he had no previous interaction, he had to reserve some spiritual power to face any crisis that might arise at any time. Seeing Lin Tianming actively charge into the sword array, the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts resumed their snarling and became agitated once more. Cultivators and Demonic Beasts usually fought from a distance; Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had charged directly into the midst of seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts for close combat. The frenzied Dragon-Eyed Beasts immediately sprang into action, their strong paws lashing out toward Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead. If hit, his head would likely explode in an instant. The attack of the Dragon-Eyed Beast was incredibly swift, its paw a mere blur under the sunlight. Lin Tianming was not startled; he opened his Eye of Five Colors and effortlessly dodged the furiously swiping paw of the Dragon-Eyed Beast. Then he took to his heels, putting a slight distance between them. After a brief disengagement, the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts were quite surprised. They were known for their speed and yet they did not expect this human cultivator to be equally fast and incredibly precise. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 263 - 183: Joint Effort to Exterminate the Demon_3 Chapter 263: Chapter 183: Joint Effort to Exterminate the Demon_3 Little did they know that Lin Tianming had the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, no matter how fast they were, he could predict their trajectories in advance and make the most ideal evasions. Stabilizing his stance, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with silver light, and he followed with a slash that repelled the two pursuing Dragon-Eyed Beasts. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pained Dragon-Eyed Beasts let out a shriek and then surged forward once more, surrounding Lin Tianming. The Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand swung frequently as he engaged in close combat with the attacking Dragon-Eyed Beasts. For a time, the silvery white sword light flashed, colliding with their iron-hard claws. ¡°Clang, clang, clang.¡± ... The sound of metal colliding, thousands of pounds in forces clashing, came like music from the heavens. After dozens of exchanges, Lin Tianming, with his powerful physique, did not fall into disadvantage. At this point, his body was drenched with sweat, and the temperature of the Tiangang Sword had reached a terrifying level; sweat droplets evaporated into steam as soon as they landed on the sword. ¡°Haha, exhilarating!¡± Lin Tianming let out a long howl towards the sky, and as his physique further strengthened, he could match a Second Order Demonic Beast with just his bodily strength. With the aid of the Eye of Five Colors and a vast amount of magic artifacts, his combat power peaked. While the fierce battle raged, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation revolved continuously, slowly reducing the area it enveloped, compressing the living space of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts along with the Thousand Beast Banner. At this time, the area of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a hundred feet, the Sword Qi within was dense and exceptionally stable. By now, the seven surviving Dragon-Eyed Beasts gradually fell into disadvantage and soon began to sustain injuries, forcing the entire group to further retreat. Having gained the upper hand, Lin Tianming did not give the Dragon-Eyed Beasts a chance to catch their breath. While controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, he unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword again. With the suppression and binding of the Sword Array, he successfully inflicted severe wounds on two of the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The gravely wounded Dragon-Eyed Beasts lay on the ground, struggling and howling, their bodies torn in several places, one even having its tail severed, presenting a dismal sight. Seeing their compatriots in such a state, the few Dragon-Eyed Beasts still capable of fighting rushed over in fury, gnashing their teeth. Lin Tianming remained calm, clashing with them while wielding the Tiangang Sword. With two Dragon-Eyed Beasts rendered powerless, the rest of the group steadily retreated, trapped beasts in a fight. The remaining five Dragon-Eyed Beasts, in sheer terror, began frantically ramming the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in a last-ditch effort. Lin Tianming¡¯s sword light flickered as he obstructed them, simultaneously controlling the Sword Array to continuously shrink their living space. The current situation was akin to a frog being boiled in warm water, it was only a matter of time. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea¡­ As the Sword Array narrowed to an area of several dozen feet, a miserable cry echoed from within. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation also ceased operating and all flew to Lin Tianming¡¯s side, beginning to rotate around him. Simultaneously, he put the Thousand Beast Banner into his storage bag, finally letting out a sigh of relief. His battle had ended, with all eight Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beasts vanquished. Looking across the battlefield on his side, there were corpses everywhere, lying in disarray. The flesh of many lower-order Dragon-Eyed Beasts had been scorched dry by a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, leaving only a pile of desiccated skeletons. Gazing upon this hellish scene, Lin Tianming did not have time to clean up the battlefield as he rushed towards a nearby battle group. At this moment, Lin Shilu was locked in fierce combat with three Dragon-Eyed Beasts, and judging from the situation, he seemed to have the upper hand, with one already slain and the rest wounded. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this since Lin Shilu was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, already nearing the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and with a plethora of magic artifacts assisting him, dealing with four Second Order Medium Stage Dragon-Eyed Beasts was not challenging. With Lin Tianming joining the fight, the struggling Dragon-Eyed Beasts had little power left to resist. ¡°Tianming, make it quick!¡± Lin Shilu uttered as he enlarged the Golden Seal in his hand and slapped it down on one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The targeted Dragon-Eyed Beast, seeing this, frantically tried to flee but was blocked by Lin Tianming who had come to assist. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud bang, the three-foot tall body of the Dragon-Eyed Beast was sent flying by the Golden Seal, crashing heavily to the ground and leaving a deep pit upon impact. Under the attack of the Overturning Mountain Seal, the robust Dragon-Eyed Beast was still struggling, though it had lost its ability to fight. Lin Tianming rushed over and delivered an angry slash, ending the life of the Dragon-Eyed Beast conclusively. The remaining two Dragon-Eyed Beasts, sensing the situation, thought of escaping, but it was already too late. Lin Tianhong had already laid down the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, cutting off their escape routes completely. Subsequently, the two men repeated their tactics, skilfully coordinating to slay the two Dragon-Eyed Beasts one by one. Soon, Lin Tianming and his companion were free to act. After swallowing a Huiyuan Pill each, they started paying attention to the major battle above. At that moment, Long Hai was engaged in combat with two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts and was gradually gaining the upper hand. Long Hai¡¯s three-foot long saber emitted intense Blade Qi, slicing off the tail of one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The pained beast howled in agony. Witnessing Long Hai¡¯s upper hand and fearsome strength, the two felt extremely apprehensive. ¡°Fellow Daoists, come over and lend me a hand!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 264 - 183 Join Forces to Eliminate the Demon _4 Chapter 264: Chapter 183 Join Forces to Eliminate the Demon _4 Hearing Long Hai¡¯s call, Lin Shilu said to Lin Tianming: ¡°Tian Ming, I will go and lend a hand so we can quickly end the battle, and you should not get involved!¡± Lin Tianming nodded. Facing a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demonic Beast was still too risky for him; any accidents could lead to more loss than gain, especially since Long Hai was not at a disadvantage even by himself. More importantly, he could recover his Spiritual Power as soon as possible, so if Long Hai went back on his word, he could be prepared. Watching Lin Shilu join the fray, Lin Tianming did not clean up the battlefield but started meditating on the spot to recover. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± ... Explosive noises emanated from the sky, lasting the time it took to drink a cup of tea before stopping. After a short while, Lin Shilu descended from the sky, landing beside Lin Tianming with a flicker of exhaustion in his eyes. Soon, Long Hai also descended from the sky, stopping at a distance opposite to the duo. The battle over, Long Hai appeared rather pleased, addressing Lin Tianming and company: ¡°Fellow cultivators, quickly tally your spoils of war, and after that, we shall enter the lair of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts to plunder.¡± Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, beginning to count their spoils of war. In less than half a quarter hour, they had collected all the inner cores from the Dragon-Eyed Beasts, stuffing the bodies wholesale into storage bags to be divided up when they had more time. After all, these spoils of war were nothing compared to the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, the White Jade Grass. After gathering the spoils of war, Lin Shilu addressed Long Hai: ¡°Lead the way, Brother Long. I hope you won¡¯t play any tricks, or we certainly won¡¯t let it go easily!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s threatening words, Long Hai did not respond, but simply chuckled wryly and led the way north. Lin Tianming and his companion hastily followed, not daring to let him out of their sight before seeing the White Jade Grass. With Long Hai guiding them, it didn¡¯t take long for the trio to arrive at a valley spanning several miles. The three stopped, and Lin Tianming and his companion took in their surroundings. Looking ahead from about a hundred yards away was a lush, rushing gorge filled with dense vegetation, towering trees, and vibrant flowers, presenting a breathtaking view. ¡°Brother Long, is this where the lair of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts is located?¡± asked Lin Shilu. It was hard to believe that the massive population of the Dragon Eye Beast Clan inhabited such a small area. ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t believe me, let us go in and see for ourselves!¡± With those words, Long Hai left them behind and headed into the gorge filled with flowers. Lin Tianming and his companion exchanged glances before following. Soon, they reached the deepest part of the valley, stopping atop a hill with red soil. The soil here was markedly different from that outside the valley, growing darker in hue the deeper one went¡ªquite a peculiar sight. Long Hai pointed toward a small area at the top of numerous mounds and said, ¡°Fellow cultivators, please look over there!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion lifted their gaze, looking toward the direction Long Hai indicated. They saw a patch of blood-red soil at the top of the mounds, covering an area of several acres, sparsely dotted with snow-white Spirit Grass. ¡°White Jade Grass!¡± ¡°Indeed, it is White Jade Grass!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed with excitement. Overjoyed at the sight, Lin Shilu rushed over to inspect it closely. Long Hai remained calm; the White Jade Grass in his hand had been collected here, and the sight of it no longer thrilled him as it once had. ¡°Fellow cultivators, have I not been true to my word?¡± he said. Lin Shilu, looking much pleased, laughed in response, ¡°Ha-ha¡­ Brother Long, you indeed keep your promises!¡± ¡°I had discovered this place earlier and collected a plant, but then the Dragon-Eyed Beasts detected me and pursued me relentlessly, which is why I sought cooperation with you,¡± Long Hai explained, recounting his harrowing experience and lightening the atmosphere. Having joined forces, Long Hai was no longer as indifferent as before. He reminded them with a smile: ¡°Fellow cultivators, our recent battle made quite a commotion. If other cultivators, especially those from the Golden Elixir Forces, are attracted, our troubles could multiply!¡± Lin Shilu and his companion nodded. They needed to remain vigilant; encountering the Golden Elixir Forces could mean getting nothing and possibly even losing their lives here. Considering this, he said: ¡°Let us quickly gather the grass and then divide our shares afterward!¡± Long Hai naturally had no objections, and taking the lead, he began collecting White Jade Grass. Lin Tianming and his companion, not wanting to fall behind, spread out to collect their own shares. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 265 - 184 The gathering of the strong _1 Chapter 265: Chapter 184 The gathering of the strong _1 With Long Hai occupying this hilltop, Lin Tianming and his companion continued to walk deeper into the area. Soon, they spotted White Jade Grass on different hilltops and began to disperse to collect it. Lin Tianming arrived at a hilltop and dug up a mature White Jade Grass, observing it in his hands. Aside from seeing the White Jade Grass from afar before the big battle at Long Hai, this counted as his second encounter with this precious Spirit Grass. Looking at the snow-white body of the White Jade Grass, Lin Tianming was thrilled. Just on this hilltop, he found three mature White Jade Grass plants, and more than ten saplings¡ªan abundant harvest indeed. With several such red-soiled hilltops in this small valley, if they could all yield a few plants, they would be able to divide up quite a number of Spirit Grasses among themselves. ... With that thought, he stored the precious White Jade Grass in a prepared Jade Box, and then began to collect the others. As for the White Jade Grass saplings, he naturally wouldn¡¯t overlook them. Although the survival rate of this Spiritual Medicine was frighteningly low, even if only one were to survive, it might bring a Foundation Establishment Clan Member to the family, wouldn¡¯t it? On two nearby hilltops, Lin Shilu and Long Hai were also busy at work. They worked efficiently and meticulously, their faces showing excitement throughout the process. Although Long Hai had succeeded in Foundation Establishment and was still a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator, he had no use for White Jade Grass. However, one plant could easily fetch tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, making it extremely valuable. Moreover, he needed to prepare for his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, which required accumulating a large amount of Spirit Stones, so the White Jade Grass was essentially bundles and bundles of Spirit Stones to him. An hour later, the three of them regrouped. ¡°Let¡¯s all take out the White Jade Grass we collected!¡± After Long Hai spoke, he took out more than twenty Jade Boxes and opened them to reveal the White Jade Grass he had collected. Lin Tianming and his companion glanced over them¡ªfive mature White Jade Grass plants and twenty-one saplings. Following Long Hai, Lin Tianming and his companion also took out all the White Jade Grass they had collected and placed them together. ¡°Nine mature White Jade Grass plants, and thirty-seven saplings!¡± Long Hai nodded; the three hadn¡¯t been far apart while collecting, and each had a clear idea of how much Spiritual Medicine the others had obtained. They had quite a haul this trip, with fourteen mature White Jade Grass plants and fifty-eight saplings in total. Long Hai smiled and said to Lin Tianming and his companion: ¡°Fellow cultivators, according to our agreement, I get sixty percent of these White Jade Grass. Eight mature plants are mine, and I¡¯ll take thirty-five saplings, unless there are any objections!¡± Upon hearing Long Hai¡¯s words, Lin Shilu calculated carefully and found the distribution to be fair according to their agreement. ¡°Of course, we always keep our word and will not go back on our promises,¡± he replied. Long Hai nodded, waved his sleeve, and collected his share of White Jade Grass. Without delay, Lin Shilu collected all the remaining Jade Boxes into his storage bag and then addressed Long Hai with a cupped fist: ¡°Fellow Daoist Long, I wonder if you would consider selling some of your White Jade Grass to me? I¡¯m willing to pay a high price!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh?¡± Long Hai was somewhat surprised. Lin Shilu¡¯s statement, along with the fact that Lin Tianming had been acting in concert throughout, indicated that there was at least one Foundation Establishment Power behind them. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be buying White Jade Grass from him, clearly gathering it for the power behind them, since White Jade Grass was otherwise nearly impossible to find outside. Since he himself had reached Foundation Establishment and was not an Alchemist, he had almost no use for White Jade Grass and ultimately intended to sell it. As long as the price was right, it mattered little who the buyer was. With this in mind, Long Hai inquired: ¡°What price do you offer?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu became even more excited. Long Hai wasn¡¯t opposed to selling to them, otherwise, he could have just refused. However, White Jade Grass was not cheap; if the offer was too low, he likely wouldn¡¯t agree. ¡°Fellow Daoist Long, for mature White Jade Grass, eleven thousand Spirit Stones per plant, and for the saplings, eight hundred Spirit Stones each. What do you think?¡± Lin Shilu asked. Long Hai found Lin Shilu¡¯s price to be reasonable, even slightly higher than the market rate, so he quickly made up his mind. ¡°I agree to your terms without objection,¡± he said. Lin Tianming and his companion were overjoyed to learn that Long Hai was willing to sell, as White Jade Grass was extremely important to the Lin Family, and they were willing to buy it at any cost. Fortunately, they had recently killed a gray-robed cultivator and obtained thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and with their accumulations over the years, as well as the family¡¯s subsidies of Spirit Stones, they could indeed gather a large fortune. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his companion communicated privately to arrange the payment of Spirit Stones. They quickly reached a consensus, and Lin Shilu took out all his Spirit Stones, a total of sixty thousand. Lin Tianming also took out all his Spirit Stones, a total of fifty thousand, collecting a total of one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones. They placed all the Spirit Stones in a storage bag, ready to trade with Long Hai for the White Jade Grass. ¡°Fellow Daoist Long, we¡¯ve gathered one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones in exchange for all your White Jade Grass, and we¡¯ll take the excess in saplings!¡± Long Hai was stunned to hear Lin Shilu¡¯s words, as even he could not produce such a vast fortune. Regaining his composure, Long Hai said: ¡°I can only sell a maximum of eight mature White Jade Grass plants, but there¡¯s no limit on the saplings.¡± Lin Shilu and his companion, seeing Long Hai¡¯s resolute gaze, did not press further and traded for the eight mature White Jade Grass plants and twenty-eight saplings from him. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 266 - 184 Gathering of the Mighty_2 Chapter 266: Chapter 184 Gathering of the Mighty_2 The exchange between the two men had nearly depleted Long Hai¡¯s stock of White Jade Grass, leaving him with only one mature plant and eight seedlings. After completing the exchange and verifying that the Spirit Stones and White Jade Grass were correct, they walked out of the canyon together. As the three of them walked and chatted, Long Hai asked Lin Shilu: ¡°Fellow Daoists, this Secret Realm is fraught with danger. What are your plans now?¡± It seemed Long Hai was interested in joining them; after all, the strength of a single person was ultimately limited. If the three worked together, at the very least, their chances of survival would be greater. Considering Long Hai¡¯s strength, which both had seen before, Lin Shilu was somewhat tempted to cooperate for the long term. ... Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After discussing it with Lin Tianming, they decided to go it alone. Although it was riskier, their origins and movements would not be exposed. Lin Shilu then politely declined Long Hai¡¯s offer, and Long Hai did not insist. After exchanging a fist salute, Long Hai took his leave. Watching Long Hai depart, Lin Tianming did not linger either and quickly vanished on the spot. After parting with Long Hai, the two did not wander aimlessly but found a secluded valley and carved out a simple cave dwelling. The great battle had just ended, and both of their Spiritual Powers were not at their peak; Lin Shilu had also suffered a light injury. It would be very dangerous to move around blindly in this perilous Secret Realm. Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu sat on the ground, their faces full of excitement. Lin Shilu took out a mature White Jade Grass, examining it carefully in his palm with an expression of cherishing fondness. Lin Tianming watched silently, knowing full well what White Jade Grass meant for people of their stage, so he did not interrupt him. Time passed, and Lin Shilu finally looked up, addressing Lin Tianming: ¡°Tian Ming, what should we do next? Continue to explore the Secret Realm or stay here and wait for it to close?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s question plunged Lin Tianming into deep thought. They had been in the Secret Realm for less than ten days, and their harvest was enormous. Even if they left now, it would still be a successful trip. Moreover, carrying so much White Jade Grass, encountering big trouble and dying in this place would mean the family would gain nothing. Considering these things, Lin Tianming felt conflicted; time was plentiful, but running around with so many treasures was incredibly risky. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming doesn¡¯t really mind. Staying here is not a bad idea!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s view, Lin Shilu made his decision not to wander further and stayed to wait for the closure of the Secret Realm. The two smiled at each other, then, with a unified opinion, they began to meditate and cultivate. Lin Tianming sat on the ground, began to operate Heaven¡¯s Will, and when his state reached its peak, he took out a lotus seed from the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and swallowed it in one gulp. A familiar energy burst forth, which he slowly refined; soon, the Spiritual Power formed and circulated through his meridians. Time flew, and more than ten days passed. The ten-plus days of fierce fighting at the beginning of their Secret Realm journey made this period of quiet cultivation a rarity. During this opportunity, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu each refined a lotus seed, further increasing their Spiritual Power. Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them, indicating considerable progress in his cultivation. Feeling the enhancement of his Spiritual Power throughout his body, he was extremely excited. After ten-plus days of arduous cultivation, he had reached the pinnacle of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment. With one or two more lotus seeds, he was confident that he could make a breakthrough. Feeling that Lin Tianming had finished cultivating, Lin Shilu opened his eyes and teased the excited Lin Tianming: ¡°Tian Ming, you seem to have made great progress. You must be close to reaching the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ If I consume two more lotus seeds, I am confident I can break through within half a year!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh, his eyes filled with confidence. ¡°That is incomparable indeed!¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed, then said: ¡°I took more than ten years to advance from the first to the third layer of Foundation Establishment, while you, you rascal, are likely to reach that stage in just a few years. Indeed, you are a monster¡­¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming humbly replied: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather flatters me. What were the cultivation conditions like for you back then? I am simply relying on a large number of elixirs and treasures!¡± Before his words had finished, Lin Shilu¡¯s face changed, startling Lin Tianming. Seeing the serious expression on Lin Shilu¡¯s face, he asked puzzledly: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, has something gone wrong?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s expression returned to normal, and then he exclaimed, looking somewhat crazed. ¡°Tian Ming, an incredible opportunity¡­ An incredible opportunity!¡± Hearing this news, Lin Tianming was completely baffled but quickly guessed something. ¡°Could it be a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item?¡± ¡°Only a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item could make Fifteenth Grandfather so crazed. If this is true, then indeed, it would be an incredible opportunity!¡± Lin Tianming pondered to himself, and before he could speak, Lin Shilu began to explain. ¡°Just now, several people rushed past not far from us. Among them, two cultivators mentioned that they discovered a Star Moon Fruit Tree near a colossal lake to the north!¡± ¡°What? A Star Moon Fruit Tree!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed in shock, his face showing disbelief. The Star Moon Fruit Tree, a Third Order Spiritual Fruit tree, blooms once a millennium and bears fruit only once another millennium, producing only nine fruits each time. One fruit could increase a simple 30% chance of making a Golden Core breakthrough¡ªit was considered Heaven-Defying Treasure within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Quickly regaining his composure, Lin Tianming asked with an excited expression: COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 267 - 184: A Gathering of the Strong _3 Chapter 267: Chapter 184: A Gathering of the Strong _3 ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, it seems we can¡¯t just wait here for the Secret Realm to close!¡± Before the sound of his voice had faded, Lin Shilu, with a face full of longing, hesitantly began to speak: ¡°Indeed¡­ Even if we are crushed to pieces, we must strive for the Star Moon Fruit at all costs. Third brother has reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and if he obtains a Star Moon Fruit, he will have a chance to break through to the Golden Core Stage!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming quickly thought of something and, with a worried expression, said: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, this thing is truly a hot potato. Whoever obtains it will not have an easy time. Do we still have time if we go now?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ This news must have already spread throughout the Secret Realm by now; otherwise, the person who just passed by wouldn¡¯t have blurted it out like that!¡± ... ¡°The cultivator who just passed by might have spotted us, yet he spoke without restraint. It¡¯s likely he intended to spread the news¡­¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words confounded Lin Tianming. Who would reveal such crucial information without good reason? ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, please quickly clarify what has happened!¡± urged Lin Tianming. Reminded by Lin Tianming¡¯s urgency, Lin Shilu remembered he had only shared half of the information and then continued to speak: ¡°According to those two, the Star Moon Fruit Tree is guarded by a group of Tianluan Turtles, among which there is one at the Third Order Early Stage!¡± ¡°A Third Order Early Stage Tianluan Turtle?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed red, once more overwhelmed with shock. That¡¯s right¡­ A complete group of Tianluan Turtles, including a Third Order one at that. With such a lineup, even if the disciples from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom joined forces, they might not succeed. Only under such circumstances would they spread the news everywhere, presumably to gather everyone¡¯s strength and obtain the treasure smoothly!¡± With the full explanation, Lin Tianming finally saw the light and then said: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, this matter is extremely important. Whether true or false, we must go and verify it before making plans. What do you think?¡± ¡°That is exactly what I intend to do!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, as his thoughts were the same. If the news was true, whether loose cultivators or people from Sect Families, at the very least, they would need to gather a large number of cultivators to participate. Otherwise, they could not hope to successfully obtain the Star Moon Fruit! This was destined to be a fierce competition, but they first needed to unite and deal with the Tianluan Turtle group. ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s no time to lose; let¡¯s set out immediately!¡± commanded Lin Shilu. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming nodded, and then the two of them left the cave dwelling together. For their own safety and to avoid exposing family information, they disguised themselves and swiftly headed north. Along the way, they crossed many mountains and rivers. They encountered many cultivators who, just like them, were all converging toward the north. For several days the two traveled nearly a thousand miles, meeting more and more cultivators. Many groups of cultivators discussed the matter of the Star Moon Fruit. As they traveled, everyone¡¯s focus was on hurrying on their way, and harmoniously so, without any thought of starting trouble. Lin Tianming quite understood this unusual situation; after all, compared to the Star Moon Fruit, petty profits and personal grudges were simply insignificant. Moreover, the cultivators who could partake were all at least at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and above. When it came to an opportunity to advance to the Golden Core Stage, no one could ignore it. Under such circumstances, no one would actively start trouble at this time. Early this morning, after traveling non-stop on horseback, the two of them arrived at the outskirts of a massive lake. By now, over a hundred people had gathered on the shore, among them were sect members, as well as clan disciples. Beyond that, there was also a considerable number of cultivators acting alone or in groups who had hurried over. It was foreseeable that the number of people would continue to increase, and although many cultivators were only there to watch the excitement, those with a desire to compete were certainly not in the minority. The hundred-plus cultivators scattered about, each finding a spot to wait, and discussed the matter of the Star Moon Fruit without any reservations. By this point, one could almost confirm that the news of the Star Moon Fruit was true; otherwise, there would not be so many cultivators waiting here. The two chose a spot to settle down, maintaining a safe distance of several hundred zhang from the nearby cultivators, and then began to assess the cultivators and forces present at the scene. Before long, he spotted the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect and Golden Sword Sect, as well as clan members from the West River Li Family, all wearing uniform Daoist robes with distinct insignias, easily identifiable at a glance. However, among the multitude of cultivators, there was no sign of anyone from Myriad Medicine Valley or the Yingchuan Chen Family. It was unclear whether they chose not to participate or were simply too spread out to receive the news. Lin Tianming surveyed the entire venue, and from the number of people present, there were eleven cultivators from Zhenyang Sect, eight from Golden Sword Sect, and four from the West River Li Family. Although it was difficult to discern the cultivation level of most Golden Elixir force¡¯s disciples, one could presume that they definitely possessed cultivation of at least Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Besides that, he also noticed the Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom; Qingyun Valley and Purple Yin Sect were in no way inferior to Zhenyang Sect in strength. Another Golden Elixir force was the Pengcheng Liu Family, which also had two Golden Core cultivators from the clan overseeing it, their strength exceeding that of the West River Li Family of the Wei Kingdom. Among the Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom, the number of people was also sizeable: Qingyun Valley had ten, Purple Yin Sect had nine, and Pengcheng Liu Family had five. In total, they came close to matching the number of disciples from the Golden Elixir forces of Wei Kingdom. Three out of the five Golden Elixir forces from Wei Kingdom were present, and similarly, three out of the six major Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom were there, with dozens of disciples from these forces combined. Among the remaining hundred or so loose cultivators, there were certainly quite a few at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and while no one revealed their true identities, it was certain that many were from Foundation Establishing families. The Golden Elixir forces of both countries¡¯ cultivation worlds had each occupied a vast area of the ground, seemingly reaching an unspoken agreement as they awaited the arrival of more cultivators. Although having more cultivators join would affect their gains, the more people there were, the smaller their losses would be. As for the intentions of the Golden Elixir forces, the loose cultivators and Foundation Establishment Stage families present were well aware, yet no one was willing to give up on such a rare opportunity. Seeing so many disciples of the Golden Elixir forces, as well as a great number of loose cultivators and cultivators of unknown origins, Lin Tianming had a serious expression, inwardly murmuring to himself. ¡°Such a formation indeed is a gathering of powerful individuals!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s heart was similarly churning with tumultuous waves, filled with unease. In such a setting, they were as ordinary as could be. To gain something in this situation was exceedingly difficult! Nevertheless, for the sake of the Star Moon Fruit, they would not easily give up. After exchanging views, they unanimously decided to wait and see what moves the Golden Elixir forces would make next. Having made up their minds, the two sat cross-legged on the ground, closed their eyes to rest, and waited for the next move. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 268 - 185 Planning_1 Chapter 268: Chapter 185 Planning_1 One day later¡­ Since Lin Tianming and another had arrived here, they had been waiting on the side. Except for the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces, everyone was waiting for the actions of the Golden Elixir Forces. Within this day, there were still sporadic cultivators rushing over. After several days of waiting, there were already more than two hundred cultivators gathered here. Now, only three days were left until the one-month deadline! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they didn¡¯t take action now, or if the process of collecting the Star Moon Fruit wasn¡¯t smooth, they would miss this rare opportunity. On the shore of the vast lake, the Six Major Golden Core Forces occupied the best observation spots. ... The eleven disciples of the Zhenyang Sect were sitting together, excitement written on each person¡¯s face. Chu Jie sat squarely in the center. He scanned over the Zhenyang Sect members and then fell into deep thought. Upon entering the Secret Realm, they had an average harvest in the first half of their journey. Although they had gathered some White Jade Grass, they hadn¡¯t found anything particularly precious, which had worried him considerably. Before entering the Secret Realm, the Second Elder had repeatedly instructed him to seize this opportunity to obtain more treasures for the Sect. There were not a few disciples within the Sect with outstanding talent, and the competition was particularly fierce; there were many with greater talent and cultivation than him. Under these circumstances, only by securing enough treasures to make a significant contribution to the Sect could he possibly be cultivated as a key figure and be assisted in reaching the Golden Core Stage. This time, discovering the Star Moon Fruit was a rare opportunity. Just obtaining a single fruit would suffice as an explanation to the Sect; if they could get two, the reward would be substantial, and with three, his chances of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would greatly increase. Conversely, if he didn¡¯t make enough of a contribution, relying on the Sect to form a Golden Core would be almost unrealistic. He recalled again the earnest words of the Second Elder before entering the Secret Realm, as if they had been spoken just yesterday. ¡°This time, having discovered the Star Moon Fruit Tree, we must obtain more than two fruits no matter what!¡± Chu Jie silently made up his mind, his expression filled with a fighting spirit. Quickly, Chu Jie regained his focus and looked towards the occasionally visible island in the middle of the lake. After erecting a soundproof Barrier, he spoke: ¡°Fellow disciples, this news has been spreading for a few days now, and fewer and fewer cultivators are arriving. I don¡¯t think anyone else will come, and the Secret Realm will close soon. If we don¡¯t take action now, there will be no time left!¡± Chu Jie¡¯s words calmed his fellow disciples, and they each began to ponder internally. In the crowd, an ordinary-looking man spoke up to remind: ¡°Chu, the Tianluan Turtle is very powerful; I¡¯m afraid no one dares to act rashly. We must not become the sacrificial pawns!¡± Before he had finished speaking, another Zhenyang Sect disciple also chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ Although the Tianluan Turtle is not known for its offensive power among Third Order Demon Beasts, its defensive power is definitely at the top. If we want to kill this beast, ordinary methods will be like scratching an itch.¡± ¡°We had people spread the news with the very aim of gathering everyone¡¯s strength. Otherwise, just relying on a few dozen cultivators attacking, it¡¯s simply not going to be successful!¡± another Zhenyang Sect disciple said. Chu Jie was well aware of what his fellow Zhenyang Sect disciples said, but he didn¡¯t feel confident himself. Chu Jie looked around and then said: ¡°Fellow brothers, the defensive power of the Tianluan Turtle is terrifying. It¡¯s not something that any one or two Golden Elixir forces can handle. We must find allies and cooperate if we are to succeed; what do you think?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone nodded thoughtfully. Having cultivated to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, they were naturally no fools. The Tianluan Turtle was a Third Order Demon Beast, known for its defense, and there were also many Second Order Tianluan Turtles. Just with these people, even possessing treasures left by the Sect, it was impossible. With that in mind, everyone spoke in unison: ¡°We will follow whatever instructions you give, Brother Chu!¡± Seeing this, Chu Jie nodded in satisfaction and then looked towards the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect and the clan members of the West River Li Family not far away. If they wanted to form an alliance, the Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom were, of course, the first choice. Although they were all from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and had minor frictions from time to time, there had been no great wars for a thousand years. In this view, the Golden Sword Sect and the West River Li Family were much more reliable than the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. In fact, every one of the Golden Elixir Forces was well aware of his thinking. He opened the Barrier, intending to communicate secretly with the people from the Golden Sword Sect and the Li Family. Just then, two voice transmissions reached his ears, exactly from Su Yunlong of the Golden Sword Sect and Li Wenyi of the Li Family. In a short while, after he had re-established the Barrier, he then said to his fellow disciples: ¡°Fellow disciples, Su Daoyou of the Golden Sword Sect and Li Daoyou of the Li Family have just communicated with me to discuss an alliance, which I have agreed to!¡± Upon hearing this, the disciples seemed unsurprised and showed no intention of disagreement. Forming an alliance was inevitable; they weren¡¯t concerned about which power to form an alliance with, but about how the benefits would be distributed. If too much of the benefit was given away, they would have less to gain. In the crowd, Jia Yuanchun stood up to inquire: ¡°Brother Chu, if we succeed, how will the benefits be distributed?¡± Before he could finish, another figure stood up and said fervently: ¡°Our Zhenyang Sect has the most people; splitting the benefits equally would not be fair to us!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes¡­¡± The crowd agreed one after another. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 269 - 185 Plotting_2 Chapter 269: Chapter 185 Plotting_2 Seeing everyone turning to him for advice at ordinary times, only to clam up when it came to discussing interests, he felt utterly disgusted. However, despite his annoyance, he did not show any abnormality outwardly; after all, he still relied on them to establish great achievements for his sect! Thinking of this, he chuckled and expressed with a rather satisfied expression, ¡°I dare not make promises lightly, hence I gathered the opinions of all my fellow disciples to discuss this matter with you!¡± ¡°Elder Chu handles matters with utmost care. Coupled with Second Elder¡¯s previous instructions to follow your commands, the alliance is entirely up to you to decide!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Elder Chu¡¯s cultivation is profound; just take charge directly, we have no objections!¡± ... Despite not knowing how sincere the flattering words were, Chu Jie was still very satisfied. He nodded, scanned his fellow sect members, and then communicated with Su Yunlong and Li Wenyi through voice transmission. Within moments, based on the number and strength of disciples from all three sides, they reached a simple agreement regarding the alliance. If they succeeded in killing the Tianluan Turtle, the scene was bound to spiral out of control; at that time, the three families would move forward or retreat together to deal with the Golden Core Stage cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom. As for the treasure distribution, regardless of the quantity of Star Moon Fruits obtained, the Zhenyang Sect would take forty-five percent, Golden Sword Sect forty percent, and the Li Family, fifteen percent. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they were fortunate enough to acquire the Star Moon Fruit Tree, given the immense value of the tree, it couldn¡¯t be split into three parts; any distribution would have to be decided by the Golden Core Stage Cultivators of each party. Moreover, in cases where it was impractical to split equally, the party obtaining the Star Moon Fruits must provide treasures of equivalent value as compensation. But all these terms were predicated on having killed the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, otherwise, all would be but idle chatter. As the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom formed an alliance, the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom also secretly reached an agreement, with terms similar to theirs: the forces with more people got a larger share, while those with fewer got less. After all, in the Cultivation World, it has always been might that makes right, and the stronger one¡¯s fist, the greater one¡¯s say. Half a quarter hour later¡­ By the lakeside, cultivators from Qingyun Valley, Purple Yin Sect, and Pengcheng Liu Family gathered together, putting the other cultivators on alert. Among the crowd, Xu Hua of Qingyun Valley stood up and addressed the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s side: ¡°Fellow Daoist Chu, the Tianluan Turtle is a Water Attribute Demonic Beast, and its attack power will slightly weaken at noon, which will be our best opportunity to make a move!¡± Hearing Xu Hua¡¯s remarks, no one in the crowd contradicted, evidencing their agreement. Chu Jie, along with Su Yunlong and Li Wenyi, nodded to each other and then gathered their disciples, positioning themselves in a stand-off against the cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom. The Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom had more than twenty cultivators, all of which were at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. Similarly, the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom had about the same number of cultivators, all Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, creating a balanced power on both sides. However, the two countries¡¯ cultivators were unlikely to spark any conflict for the time being. Before the Third Order Tianluan Turtle was killed, they needed to restrain themselves and even cooperate sincerely. Seeing the movements of the Golden Elixir Forces of the two countries, everyone could guess that it was probably time to take action. Lin Tianming and another person were sitting on an open space in the northwest corner, eyeing the cultivators from both sides while remaining vigilant. Lin Tianming, observing the dynamics of the scene, voice transmitted to Lin Shilu and asked: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, looking at the scene, the Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom are numerous and immensely powerful. Do you think they stand a chance of success?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Lin Shilu frowned and then responded: ¡°The Third Order Tianluan Turtle is certainly formidable, but facing the onslaught of over a hundred mid- to late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it is likely to be overwhelmed. However, this battle is sure to result in a substantial number of cultivators falling here!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming looked puzzled and said, ¡°You¡¯re so confident about this, Fifteenth Grandfather?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was serious, and his eyes revealed wariness as he explained: ¡°Tianming, do you think the Golden Elixir Forces have no trump cards?¡± ¡°Based on my estimation, before entering the Secret Realm, they must have been given powerful treasures by their sects, which will be the key to determining the outcome of this battle!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded. Zhenyang Sect and Golden Sword Sect of Wei Kingdom, as well as Qingyun Valley and Purple Yin Sect of Huangyang Kingdom, have at least several millennia of inheritance as Golden Elixir Forces. Entering such an ownerless Secret Realm, they were sure to hold some trump cards; only then could they acquire more treasures and reduce the losses of their disciples. Just as he was speculating about their trump cards, the conversation between the cultivators of the two countries interrupted his thoughts. At this time, the Golden Elixir Forces of both countries were gathered together, discussing strategies for attacking the Tianluan Turtle. Xu Hua chuckled, then decisively addressed Chu Jie: ¡°Fellow Daoist Chu, since this place was first discovered by you, could you share some insights into the strength of the Tianluan Turtle herd?¡± After exchanging smiles with Su Yunlong, Chu Jie said: ¡°Fellow Daoists of Huangyang Kingdom, it is true that we were the ones to find this place, but we also do not have detailed knowledge of the Tianluan Turtle herd¡¯s exact strength!¡± Upon hearing this, the cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom displayed distinctly displeased expressions. The outspoken voice of Wu Xu, the leader of Purple Yin Sect, rang out, directly questioning: ¡°Is Fellow Daoist Chu playing with us? We have been waiting here for several days; surely we haven¡¯t been wasting our time for nothing!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 270 - 185 Strategy_3 Chapter 270: Chapter 185 Strategy_3 ¡°Wu Daoyou¡¯s words are very true!¡± Liu Kaiquan of the Pengcheng Liu Family agreed. ¡°Then why do you go around spreading rumors that there is a Star Moon Fruit Tree in the lair of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle?¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s scorn and ridicule, Chu Jie¡¯s face changed, and he immediately sneered back. ¡°It¡¯s true I was the one who released the news, but I never forced anyone to come. It was you who coveted the Star Moon Fruits, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t discover any treasure, would you still vent your anger on me?¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± ... Hearing Chu Jie¡¯s mocking words, Wu Xu became infuriated but was unable to retort. Seeing the situation getting out of control, Su Yunlong hurriedly stepped in to mediate. ¡°Fellow Daoists from Huangyang Kingdom, do not be irritated. Daoist Chu did not deceive us. Think about it, haven¡¯t the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also been waiting here for such a long time?¡± Even though Su Yunlong¡¯s words were reasonable, they managed to calm the atmosphere. Xu Hua nodded and then spoke: ¡°Daoist Chu, no more beating around the bush, just be straightforward. Tell us about the situation with the Tianluan Turtle clan. Without killing a Third Order Demonic Beast, our cooperation is necessary, isn¡¯t it?¡± As soon as these words were uttered, Liu Kaiquan echoed them. ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m not hiding anything either. As long as the Third Order Demonic Beast is not dead, we won¡¯t conflict with each other. Even if we do kill the Third Order Demonic Beast, it will still be based on our abilities. Aren¡¯t we all just trying to fulfill our Sect¡¯s mission?¡± The frankness of these blunt words made people less repelled. Chu Jie and the others nodded, their expressions gradually easing. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I don¡¯t intend to hide it from you, the matter of the Tianluan Turtle is indeed absolutely true,¡± Chu Jie said, then his expression turned mournful. ¡°Twelve of us entered the Secret Realm, and one of our fellow disciples died on the small island in the middle of the lake. Before that disciple perished, he sent back a message using a secret technique, and by judging the disturbances at that time, it was indeed an Early Stage Third Order Tianluan Turtle without a doubt!¡± No sooner had he finished than Xu Hua hurriedly asked, ¡°Was there any mention of the overall strength of the Tianluan Turtle clan?¡± Seeing Xu Hua¡¯s inquiry, Chu Jie¡¯s expression became solemn, and then he responded: ¡°According to the description from our perished fellow disciple, there is only one at the Third Order, but there are likely many at the Second Order¡ªno less than dozens of them. Their strength is formidable. That¡¯s the reason why we haven¡¯t driven away so many Loose Cultivators who have come here!¡± Upon hearing Chu Jie¡¯s explanation, everyone seemed to awaken from a dream. No wonder he had spread such important news far and wide. ¡°That makes sense¡­ With a Tianluan Turtle clan of such strength, even we, the Six Major Golden Core Forces, might not be able to handle it,¡± said Xu Hua. Chu Jie nodded and then shifted the topic. ¡°Fellow Daoists, that¡¯s the situation. We don¡¯t have much time. You may want to think of a plan. We must finish this within three days, or we will waste this opportunity!¡± On hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought, and then some suggestions were made, only to be quickly dismissed. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed¡­ Seeing that they could not find a reliable method, Xu Hua finally spoke up: ¡°If we forcibly attack the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s territory, the risk is too great, and even if we succeed, our losses will certainly be huge. We can try to lure them out!¡± ¡°How do you suggest luring them out? Who would be willing to seek death?¡± Su Yunlong said. ¡°Exactly¡­ Even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection would be practically going to their death by entering the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s cave in the middle of the lake!¡± Li Wenyi commented as well. ¡°Hehe¡­ take a look at this!¡± Xu Hua chuckled, then took out a jade box, opened it, and placed it in front of everyone. Within the jade box lay a spirit grass, half a foot long, entirely water-blue in color, with patterns of clouds adorning it, looking quite peculiar. Seeing the spirit grass in the jade box, Chu Jie asked with a surprised and pleased expression, ¡°Is this Tianluan Grass?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Chu Daoyou, you have a discerning eye indeed!¡± Xu Hua responded. Tianluan Grass is a Third Order Water Attribute Spirit Grass. Although it¡¯s not of much use in alchemy, with only a scant few elixirs requiring it, it has immense attraction for water attribute demonic beasts, especially the Tianluan Turtle. It¡¯s nearly their favorite spirit material, easily capable of drawing water attribute demonic beasts from a distance. ¡°Haha¡­ with this, we can indeed lure the Tianluan Turtles out¡­¡± Chu Jie said with a hearty laugh. Su Yunlong was also very happy, and then spoke up: ¡°We can find a place rich in Fire Attribute Spiritual Energy, set up a Second Order Formation, and then use the Tianluan Grass to attract the Tianluan Turtle clan. With the power of the formation, we might be able to reduce our casualties significantly!¡± Hearing Su Yunlong¡¯s plan, everyone¡¯s expression turned excited, with Xu Hua speaking up: ¡°Exactly¡­ That¡¯s also what I was thinking. It is said that Su Daoyou is a Second Order Medium Quality Array Master, so I¡¯m certain he will have a very powerful formation.¡± Before he had finished speaking, everyone present was fixating their gaze on Su Yunlong, apparently eager to hear his thoughts. Seeing this, Su Yunlong confidently stated: ¡°I have a complete set of Second Order Medium Quality Array Flags on me, which can be used to set up a Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. Although only relying on this formation wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill a Third Order Tianluan Turtle, with the advantage of the right timing and location, restraining its power for a period of time is doable!¡± ¡°Good¡­ This plan is solid!¡± Chu Jie said. ¡°Yeah¡­ Does anyone else have anything to add?¡± asked Xu Hua. Seeing that no one spoke, Chu Jie and the others began to discuss the specific implementation plan. Half a quarter of an hour later, the Golden Core forces¡¯ disciples of the two countries reached a consensus: using the Tianluan Grass to attract the Tianluan Turtles into the formation, then combining the power of many cultivators, they planned to kill the Third Order Tianluan Turtles. As for the Star Moon Fruit and the spoils of the big battle, it would come down to each person¡¯s capabilities. After working out the results and methods, representatives from the Six Major Golden Core Forces gathered together, surveying the loose cultivators present. All six were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, their strength undeniably among the strongest of the over two hundred cultivators present. With solemn expressions, Chu Jie among them, addressed all the cultivators present with a fist salute, laying out their plan in full and inviting everyone to join in the fight against the Tianluan Turtle clan. As for those who did not want to take action, they had to leave this place by a hundred miles now. If they did not heed the advice and lingered, they would immediately be driven away. Those who were unwilling to take action but dared to lay hands on the Star Moon Fruit and spoils after the successful killing of the Tianluan Turtle clan, no matter their background or cultivation, would face pursuit and attack by the Six Major Golden Elixir Forces. However, those who did participate would have the right to vie for the Star Moon Fruit and spoils; whether they could obtain them would depend on their own abilities. Of course, if they died here, it wouldn¡¯t be the fault of the Six Forces. Hearing Chu Jie¡¯s threats and incentives, along with the stern expressions of the other five, it didn¡¯t seem like a bluff. Instantly, the cultivators present began discussing amongst themselves, with many hesitating, although some had no intention of leaving from the start. Some cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level were very aware of their own limitations; they had come to watch the excitement and maybe pick up some bargains. If they perished here, what use would the Star Moon Fruit be to them? Quickly, nearly a hundred people left the scene, yet still, more than a hundred people remained, seemingly reluctant to give up on this opportunity. Seeing many cultivators leaving, Lin Tianming was in a dilemma. He then sent a message to Lin Shilu asking: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what should we do, give up participating, or join their camp?¡± After pondering for a while, Lin Shilu spoke resolutely: sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hearing their plan, the feasibility is quite good, and there¡¯s even a considerable chance of success. We¡¯ve come all this way, for the sake of the family¡¯s centuries of effort, I¡¯m willing to stake everything!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s determined expression, a fierce fire suddenly ignited in Lin Tianming¡¯s chest, and a surge of momentum arose. ¡°For the sake of the family¡¯s long-held expectations, let¡¯s stake everything¡­¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s message, the two grandparent and grandchild shared a smile! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 271 - 186 Siege_1 Chapter 271: Chapter 186 Siege_1 Lin Tianming and his companion made up their minds to get involved. Although the hope was slim, if they did not try, there would be no hope at all. By trying, at least there was a glimmer of hope, wasn¡¯t there? After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, led by the six major Golden Core forces, they planned to temporarily leave the lakeside to find a location rich in fire properties to set up the formation. With a small portion giving up the opportunity and those with ulterior motives leaving, those who confirmed their participation followed Chu Jie and the others away. The two followed behind a group of cultivators, walking for half an hour before they arrived at a valley filled with boulders. About a hundred cultivators stood at the top of the valley, then surveyed the surroundings. Looking around, there was a seemingly bottomless canyon with boulders scattered on both sides, and even the ground was reddish-brown soil. A stream of heat wafted out from the depths of the canyon, clearly a natural spirit land of fire. ... At this moment, Su Yunlong, standing at the forefront, smiled joyfully and then said to the cultivators beside him: ¡°Fellow daoists, this is a natural fire spirit land I stumbled upon by chance. It is quite suitable for setting up the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. As long as that Third Order Tianluan Turtle enters the formation, we can certainly weaken its strength within a short time.¡± Feeling the intense fire properties of the spiritual power enveloping them, Chu Jie and Xu Hua couldn¡¯t help but reveal a trace of satisfaction. ¡°With such a natural spot, our chances of success have greatly increased. As long as that Third Order Tianluan Turtle comes here, it will surely leave its life behind,¡± Chu Jie said excitedly. Xu Hua nodded and looked up at the scorching sun overhead, then said as a reminder: ¡°We should not delay. Let¡¯s set up the formation before noon and do our best to lure the Third Order Tianluan Turtle here.¡± ¡°Indeed, after today¡¯s time passes, we would have to wait another day, and we don¡¯t have much time left,¡± Li Wenyi chimed in. ¡°Let¡¯s trouble Su Daoyou to take action and set up the formation, and then place the Tianluan Grass within the formation.¡± Xu Hua waved his sleeve, handing over a jade box containing the Tianluan Grass to Su Yunlong, signaling him to quickly set up the formation. Su Yunlong took the Tianluan Grass and without hesitation leaped from the mountaintop, landing at the bottom of the valley. He scanned the area at the bottom, picked a relatively small and uneven location, and then took out five fire-red flags and a dark-colored array plate. After surveying his chosen spot, Su Yunlong nodded with satisfaction, then threw the five flags into the sky, which then steadily disappeared into the soil beneath some boulders. At the same time, he made a spell gesture with his hands, light after light of spiritual light bombarding the array plate. ¡°Hum hum hum¡­¡± Some time passed, and a few unique humming sounds emanated. A faint red light screen suddenly appeared over the valley, covering a large area. The formation light screen showed briefly before dissipating, and the valley returned to calm. He nodded in satisfaction, then took out the Tianluan Grass and placed it at the center of the formation. Feeling the formation activate, he then left the formation¡¯s interior and came to the front of the group of cultivators. Looking at his handiwork, Su Yunlong¡¯s eyes gleamed with pride as he said to the cultivators: ¡°Fellow daoists, the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation has been activated, and the Tianluan Grass has also been placed inside. Let us all retreat deep into the valley and conceal any traces of our presence, lest we startle the beast unnecessarily.¡± ¡°Everyone retreat deep into the valley, and remember to collect your composure so as not to disturb the Tianluan Turtle. Otherwise, if our plan fails, the consequences need not be mentioned by me!¡± After saying this with a threatening tone, Chu Jie led the Zhenyang Sect cultivators away, and the disciples of the other Golden Elixir Forces hurriedly followed suit. The remaining cultivators of unknown origin quickly followed; Lin Tianming and his companion blended among them, disappearing in the sky above the canyon. They reached deep into the canyon, a few miles away from the formation, where everyone subdued their minds and spirits, waiting for any movement within the formation. In the blink of an eye, it was already midday. The sun shone brightly at this hour, generating massive amounts of heat from the depths of the canyon. The heat evaporated into dense mist, enveloping the whole valley as if it were a mystical land of immortals. Lin Tianming and his companion sat inconspicuously at the back of the crowd, keenly observing any movement at the entrance of the canyon, ready to flee at any moment. Although they had a Second Order Formation and over a hundred cultivators to attack the clan of Tianluan Turtles, no one could guarantee that nothing unexpected would happen. If two Third Order Demonic Beasts appeared, all their planning would be in vain. At that time, they would not stay to fight to the death; likely everyone was thinking the same. Chu Jie and Xu Hua kept their eyes wide, staring at the dense fog ahead, full of worry. After some time had passed at the edge of the valley, one by one, immense turtles appeared. They were huge, each several meters in size, with blue and white intermingled shells easily identifiable on their backs. ¡°The Tianluan Turtle clan has finally arrived,¡± Chu Jie and Xu Hua were excited, and spiritual light twinkled faintly from the magic artifacts in their hands, clearly ready to strike. All the cultivators on the scene noticed the arrival of the Tianluan Turtles and prepared themselves accordingly. However, the figure of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle was still nowhere to be seen, causing the cultivators to feel somewhat helpless, continuing to wait. After a short while, a deep and unique sound came. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 272 - 186 Siege_2 Chapter 272: Chapter 186 Siege_2 A Tianluan Turtle, some ten zhang in size, made its way towards the entrance of the gorge, causing the smaller Tianluan Turtles scattered about to make way for it, seemingly fearful. The largest Tianluan Turtle, though immense in size, was surprisingly agile, instantly shifting a hundred zhang to the side and appearing just outside the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. The gigantic Tianluan Turtle seemed to loathe the place, but at the sight of the Tianluan Grass in the dense mist, it became extremely excited. However, this huge Tianluan Turtle was quite cautious. It stretched out its head, staring intently at the Tianluan Grass within the formation, neither stepping inside nor turning away. This largest Tianluan Turtle was undoubtedly Third Order, its aura exceptionally strong and easily distinguishable. Everyone held their breath at this moment, not daring to make a sound, quietly waiting for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to enter the formation. ... This was the first time Lin Tianming had seen a Third Order Demon Beast, especially one with such a long lifespan and remarkable resilience. He even thought that if he could subdue this Third Order Tianluan Turtle, his family wouldn¡¯t have to fear the Golden Elixir Forces for a thousand years. But he quickly abandoned the idea: A Third Order Demon Beast wouldn¡¯t easily accept a master, and without the strength of the Golden Core Stage to suppress it, subduing it was impossible. As he was lost in thought, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle made a move. Perhaps the Third Order Tianluan Grass was too tempting for it. After pacing back and forth outside the formation, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle finally decided to swallow the grass. All held their breath, waiting for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to take that step. Finally, the Tianluan Turtle raised its massive head, leading a few Second Order Tianluan Turtles into the formation, while the majority remained outside. Just as everyone tensed up, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle moved at an astonishing speed, charged to the side of the Tianluan Grass, gulped it down, and then let out a satisfied roar. Seeing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle enter the formation, Chu Jie and Xu Hua, among others, grew excited, waiting for Su Yunlong to give the signal to strike. As the Third Order Tianluan Turtle entered the formation, an Array Plate flew out of Su Yunlong¡¯s hand, followed by several Law Decrees hitting it. The light screen, which had previously dissipated, shone brightly once more, with colors even more vibrant than before. ¡°Boom rumble.¡± After a ground-shaking tremor, the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation was successfully activated before the Tianluan Turtles inside could react. As the formation activated, the temperature within its embrace soared, and countless fireballs fell from the sky, pouring down towards the ground. Under the fierce attack of the massive fireballs, the Tianluan Turtles started to dodge, but the fireballs were dense, and many Second Order Tianluan Turtles were hit, quickly getting injured. The huge Third Order Tianluan Turtle, despite its speed, was still hit by some fireballs on its shell. Yet these terrifying fireballs only left a tiny wound on its carapace, posing no threat to its life. ¡°Fellow cultivators, strike quickly!¡± Chu Jie let out a loud shout and then leaped forward, heading towards the entrance of the gorge. Behind him, a multitude of cultivators followed closely behind the juniors of the Six Major Golden Core Forces. Lin Tianming and his companion symbolically followed suit, always staying alert. More than ten breaths later, Chu Jie and the others arrived first at the formation, having rushed there at full speed. Inside the formation, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, greatly irritated, began to ram the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation while dodging the fireballs, leading its juniors. In the time it took for them to arrive, the formation had already been struck several times by the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, each impact shaking the earth, teetering on the brink of collapse. Seeing this, Su Yunlong quickly shouted: ¡°Everyone, act quickly to stop them from breaking out of the formation. Once they escape, it will be difficult to deal with this creature.¡± Before his words fell, Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others from the Golden Core Forces began to attack frantically. With a wave of his robe, Chu Jie sent out a set of nine Circular Ring Artifacts, then cast several spells on them. The Nine Ring Artifacts rapidly enlarged and hurtled towards the Third Order Tianluan Turtle at lightning speed. Xu Hua was not to be outdone. As the leader of Qingyun Valley, he couldn¡¯t let Chu Jie of Wei Kingdom take all the spotlight. He slapped his storage bag, then pulled out a Spirit Sword gleaming with red light and brimming with Spiritual Energy, obviously also a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact. Injecting a great amount of Spiritual Power, the entire Spirit Sword flickered, slashing angrily toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle inside the formation. While the two took action, the remaining cultivators each made their move. Lin Tianming took out an Earth Evil Sword. The pair launched a few symbolic attacks, not using even a third of their strength. Many cultivators probably shared this mindset, as no one wanted to lead the charge or reveal their strength and methods. Still, the combined attack of over a hundred cultivators was terrifying nonetheless. For a moment, the entire formation was ablaze, various magic and spiritual artifacts emerged, and countless exotic attacks were unleashed, quickly engulfing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± Explosions rang out, darkening the sky within the formation. The multitude of spells and attacks from Spirit Instruments washed over the area, and in just a moment, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles suffered horrific casualties, with nearly only those at the late phase of Second Order surviving, albeit injured. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 273 - 186 Siege_3 Chapter 273: Chapter 186 Siege_3 The Third Order Tianluan Turtle, however, had hardly sustained any damage. The attacks from Foundation Establishment Cultivators had limited destructive power, and when faced with a defensive creature like this turtle, even the combined assaults from Chu Jie and Xu Hua merely left tiny cracks on its shell. After one strike, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle became incredibly furious. It lifted its head and let out a shrill screech, then swung its powerful limbs and charged at the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud bang erupted, and the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation began to tremble wildly, intense light flickering over the barrier of the formation. Meanwhile, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles outside the formation launched an attack at the cultivators, seemingly attempting to coordinate with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle inside. Seeing this, Chu Jie and the others wore grave expressions. Su Yunlong quickly shouted loudly: ... ¡°All cultivators except for those from the Six Major Golden Core Forces, focus on exterminating the peripheral Tianluan Turtles!¡± Chu Jie and Xu Hua wore cold expressions as well, speaking in a threatening tone: S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Do not try to hold back or hide your strength. If the Third Order Tianluan Turtle breaks free, nobody will get their hands on the Star Moon Fruit, and nobody will have an easy time!¡± Hearing the words of Chu Jie and the rest, and considering the terrifying power of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, the cultivators began to fight more fiercely. Lin Tianming and his companion also unleashed seventy percent of their full strength, at least appearing like typical Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators. As the battle intensified, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles on the periphery were vastly outnumbered by the cultivators and quickly suffered heavy casualties. The key to the battle still lay with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle within the formation. As dozens of cultivators from the Six Major Golden Core Forces joined forces, various moves bombarded in a frenzy, and the Second Order Tianluan Turtles were almost completely torn apart, with very few surviving. As for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, its famously defensive shell now bore numerous cracks. Though they weren¡¯t deep, it had still suffered some minor injuries. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle was unusually angry at this point. In this place rich in fire-attributed spiritual power, the effect on it was not small, and the restrictions of the formation imposed yet another handicap on its strength. The enraged Third Order Tianluan Turtle, a mighty Third Order Demon Beast, found it humiliating to be besieged by so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators and to have sustained injuries, which was incredibly frustrating. As the infuriated Tianluan Turtle continued to ram the formation relentlessly, the stability of the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation also began to weaken. Seeing this, Su Yunlong¡¯s expression became grave, and he quickly explained the situation to the Six Major Golden Core Forces, who all realized the importance of the formation to them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, do not hold back any longer. This Third Order Tianluan Turtle is stronger than we expected, and it must be close to the Third Grade Medium Stage!¡± Chu Jie spoke up. Xu Hua and the others exchanged glances, then the magic artifacts in their hands glowed with increased spiritual light, their attacks becoming even more fierce. After two rounds of assaults, the Tianluan Turtle seemed to realize that its situation was also dire. Although the regular methods of Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn¡¯t kill it, if the fight dragged on, unpredictable incidents could occur. At that moment, the furious Third Order Tianluan Turtle became even more agitated, suddenly shooting out a barrage of Cold Jade Arrows from its mouth, which heavily bombarded the formation¡¯s barriers. ¡°Not good¡­ the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s Innate Divine Ability!¡± Chu Jie cried out in alarm. ¡°Thump, thump, thump¡­¡± Thunderous booms resounded, and the formation shook violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Chu Jie and the others¡¯ faces changed drastically, their magic artifacts shining brightly, attempting to stop the Third Order Tianluan Turtle from continuing its assault. However, it seemed that the Tianluan Turtle was determined, withstanding their attacks in its resolution to break the formation. As a torrent of attacks poured down, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, the Cold Jade Arrows, struck the formation once again. For a moment, the colors of the sky and earth shifted, and a flurry of attacks slammed against the thick shell of the Tianluan Turtle. A section of the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s hefty shell shattered, revealing flesh white as jade. The frenzied onslaught from Chu Jie and the others wounded the disregarding Tianluan Turtle, which let out a crazed howl from the pain. At the same time, the Cold Jade Arrows also broke through the formation¡¯s barriers. Just as the formation shattered, the light screen in the sky dissipated, and the Jade Staff Small Flags burst into flames, quickly burning into ash. At that moment, with the formation broken, the enraged Tianluan Turtle turned its head, staring at the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces who had injured it. They had underestimated the strength of the Third Order Demon Beast, thinking that with a Second Order Formation and the advantage of terrain they could succeed, but they never imagined that the Third Order Tianluan Turtle would be so powerful and resolute. They had held back throughout the fight, which resulted in the Tianluan Turtle breaking free. At that point, the faces of Chu Jie and the others turned pale, and they started to retreat frantically. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 274 - 187 Collapse_1 Chapter 274: Chapter 187 Collapse_1 S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle break free, the cultivators who were besieging the remaining demonic beasts immediately ceased their attacks. Lin Tianming and his companion hastily retreated, positioning themselves behind the forces of the Six Major Golden Core Powers at the first opportunity. With the Tianluan Turtle free and no longer restrained, if it were to go on a rampage, staying within its sight was an invitation to death. They were prepared to flee for their lives at the first sign of danger, letting the Golden Elixir Forces bear the brunt. As expected, over a dozen cultivators who were late to retreat, caught off guard, were effortlessly slain by the escaped Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Those quick enough to evade scrambled away in panic, eventually taking their place behind the Six Major Golden Core Forces, their faces pale as they looked upon the mangled corpses on the ground, all revealing expressions of lingering fear. Some of the surviving cultivators, witnessing this scene, immediately wavered in their resolve and, seizing the moment of shock and confusion, stealthily left the valley, evidently abandoning their plans to continue the siege. ... Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and others turned cold, watching the deserting cultivators with faces ashen. They were unable to prevent their departure, as there was no time to deal with the faint-hearted and fearful. In the blink of an eye, dozens feared the power of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle and hastily left, leaving behind mostly cultivators above the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Even so, nearly a hundred cultivators remained, and the overall strength had not diminished by much. Those willing to stay were still reluctant to give up this opportunity for a breakthrough to the Golden Core. After cursing the fleeing cultivators, Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others turned their gaze to the Tianluan Turtle flock. At this moment, the surviving peripheral Tianluan Turtles, given a chance to breathe, quickly regrouped with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. With more than ten cultivators slain and dozens abandoning the siege out of fear of the Third Order Demonic Beast¡¯s power, the conflict subsided for a moment. The cultivators and the Tianluan Turtle flock were now facing each other across the valley, the atmosphere extraordinarily tense. The current situation was still difficult to predict. From a strength perspective, there were still over a hundred cultivators, most being above the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, their power still formidable. While the Tianluan Turtle flock, despite the Third Order Tianluan Turtle having some injuries, was not significantly affected. Aside from that, with the aid of several dozen Second Order Tianluan Turtles, their strength was no less impressive than that of the cultivators. Both sides occupied their own hilltops, prepared for the impending battle. Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others wore somber expressions as they cautiously observed the enraged Tianluan Turtle flock, ready to engage at any moment. After a few moments passed, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle launched its attack, spitting out a barrage of Cold Jade Arrows towards the cultivators. ¡°Everyone, be careful, strike quickly and vanquish them!¡± Xu Hua warned, as the Magic Artifact in his hand radiated intensely, slashing furiously at the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. ¡°All Golden Core disciples, join me in attacking the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, the rest focus on quickly exterminating the Second Order Demonic Beasts, then we¡¯ll all combine forces to deal with the Third Order,¡± Chu Jie bellowed, as he flung his Hoop-shaped Magical Artifact which, after expanding in size, smashed toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Simultaneously, all disciples from the Golden Core Forces made their move. Suddenly, a myriad of attacks from various magical artifacts clashed with the Cold Jade Arrows spewed by the Tianluan Turtles. ¡°Boom, boom, boom.¡± The sky echoed with successive explosions, the Cold Jade Arrows colliding with the Six Forces¡¯ attacks, generating explosive shockwaves, sending debris flying throughout the valley, and the heavens ablaze. At this moment, the intense battle was initiated by the Cold Jade Arrows launched by the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, entering a thrilling stage. Lin Tianming and his companion remained vigilant, targeting some of the injured Second Order Tianluan Turtles, making their battle surprisingly effortless while conserving their strength and not arousing suspicion among the other cultivators. In less than half a quarter of an hour, the valley was littered with corpses, both demonic beasts¡¯ and cultivators¡¯. The Tianluan Turtle flock suffered heavy losses, fewer than fifty capable of fighting remained, each bearing some injuries. Yet despite the relentless attacks, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle had not sustained fatal damage. The cultivator¡¯s side also suffered significant losses, with dozens falling there, including over ten offspring of the Six Major Golden Core Forces, most killed by the Divine Skills of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. At this point, the showdown between cultivators and demonic beasts reached its climax. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle didn¡¯t hesitate to unleash a flurry of Cold Jade Arrows at Chu Jie and the others. With the Third Order Demonic Beast¡¯s Spirit Wisdom comparable to that of a human child, it seemed to know which cultivators posed a greater threat, and began to target them. As the Third Order Tianluan Turtle adjusted its tactics, Chu Jie, and the others had their complexions change drastically, scattering in haste. However, once their formation was broken, the pressure on the Third Order Tianluan Turtle eased, affording it an opportunity to retaliate. Seizing this chance, the Tianluan Turtle moved with astonishing speed towards Chu Jie and the Golden Core disciples, intent on wiping them out completely. But the Third Order Demonic Beast was too fast, and in the blink of an eye, two more disciples from the Zhenyang Sect had fallen, leaving the rest pale and huddled together. Stabilizing their positions, Jia Yuanchun¡¯s face was pale with fright. If not for his quick reflexes dodging a lethal blow, he might well have perished. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 275 - 187 Collapse_2 Chapter 275: Chapter 187 Collapse_2 Thinking back to the recent peril, his face gloomy, he spoke to Chu Jie: ¡°Brother Chu, the defensive power of this Third Order Tianluan Turtle is too strong; ordinary methods simply can¡¯t kill it, and if we continue like this, it will be impossible to slay it.¡± ¡°Indeed, if the Third Order Demon Beast doesn¡¯t die, none of us will get the Star Moon Fruit,¡± another person chimed in. Hearing the words of his fellow brothers, Chu Jie¡¯s face turned sour, but he had to face the reality that if they continued this way, not only would they fail to obtain the treasure, but they might also lose their lives here. He was extremely conflicted at this moment. If he used the trump card given by his sect, he would inevitably be at a disadvantage when it came time to compete for the Star Moon Fruit. ¡°No, the trump card can only be used once; once used, it¡¯s gone. It must be used by everyone together, otherwise, we can¡¯t afford to lose our lifesaving trump card.¡± ... Chu Jie thought to himself, clearly having made up his mind. He shouted to Xu Hua and the others: ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t hold back any longer. I believe your elders have surely given you a trump card. Whatever the means, we must bring them all out, slay the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, and then we will each rely on our own abilities.¡± Chu Jie¡¯s words made the descendants of the other Golden Elixir Forces hesitate; none wanted to lose their trump card, but the current situation didn¡¯t allow them to ponder any longer. ¡°Alright¡­ Qingyun Valley agrees!¡± Xu Hua spoke up. ¡°The Purple Yin Sect also agrees¡­¡± ¡°Golden Sword Sect agrees too¡­¡± As the Four Great Golden Core Sects showed their stance, the representatives from Pengcheng Liu Family and West River Li Family had no choice but to reluctantly agree. Seeing this situation, Chu Jie and the others were very satisfied. Their cultivation and strength were the strongest and their numbers the most, so even without their trump cards, it would be easier for them to get the Star Moon Fruit than it would be for the Liu or Li families. ¡°Everyone, take action quickly. The six major forces will take care of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. As for the Second Order ones, they will be left to those Loose Cultivators!¡± Chu Jie said. As he finished speaking, Chu Jie released the Nine Ring Artifacts from his hands, and with a spurt of blood, the nine rings rapidly grew in size and smashed toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. At the same time, the remaining cultivators struck again, their attacks clearly stronger than before. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle, seeing the cultivators¡¯ attacks, moved swiftly to try to avoid their sharp edges. However, the Nine Ring Artifacts unleashed by Chu Jie were incredibly fast and, after striking its shell, ensnared its body. Seeing the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s speed greatly reduced, Chu Jie¡¯s face lit up with ecstasy. The greatest capability of his Nine Ring Artifacts was not to kill the enemy but to trap them. Once entangled by the rings, the speed of escape would greatly diminish, and over time, it would even restrict the Spiritual Power, causing the trapped demon beast to lose its strength¡ªan extremely peculiar power. But before he could rejoice, the Nine Ring Artifacts broke two of their number under the violent struggle of the Tianluan Turtle. Chu Jie spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, for when the artifacts were damaged, he too suffered a backlash. It was then that he realized he had been too naive; with his Second Order Medium Quality artifacts and his Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivation, trying to trap a Third Order Demon Beast with just his artifacts was impossible. After all, a Third Order Demon Beast is formidable, and if faced alone, it could likely kill him in an instant. Although unable to trap the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to death, before the Nine Artifacts completely shattered, they could still greatly reduce the turtle¡¯s speed, serving some purpose. ¡°Everyone, seize this opportunity to use your trump cards and completely eliminate this brute,¡± Chu Jie urged. ¡°Good¡­ Let¡¯s do it together!¡± several leading figures replied in unison, preparing to employ their trump measures. Seeing everyone¡¯s resolute expressions and agreement to use their trump cards, Chu Jie was thrilled. He slapped his storage bag and a talisman paper flashing with red light appeared in his hand, clearly a Golden Core Talisman. As soon as the Golden Core Talisman appeared, the surrounding Spiritual Energy was stirred up, and a wild wind howled around Chu Jie. All the cultivators turned their attention to the Golden Core Talisman in Chu Jie¡¯s hand, revealing a look of fear. At this time, Lin Tianming remained calm while pursuing the Second Order Tianluan Turtle, having already guessed in their hearts that the trump card Chu Jie produced would definitely be either a Third Order Talisman or a Golden Core Talisman condensed by a Golden Core Cultivator. After all, the Four Great Golden Core Sects here have been heritage forces for more than a thousand years, and the lineage of Golden Core Stage Cultivators has never been broken; each dying Golden Core Cultivator would condense a Golden Core Talisman, serving as their final contribution to their sect. The Patriarch of the Lin Family also left behind a Golden Core Talisman, which on multiple occasions saved the family from danger and preserved their ancestral business. Seven or eight years ago, when the Lin Family faced the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family, it was by employing this treasure that they directly killed the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Jin Zhiying without giving him a chance to fight back. The power of the Golden Core Talisman was well known to everyone. But the three offensive uses within the family¡¯s Golden Core Talisman had been expended, and the Lin Family had lost their protective trump card. As for the Golden Core Talisman that Chu Jie produced, whether it had been condensed by an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator or by an even more powerful Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator was yet to be determined; only after activation could a rough judgment be made. It did not take long for him to know the result. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the Golden Core Talisman in Chu Jie¡¯s hand was activated, a gigantic fireball descended from the sky. The entire fireball moved incredibly fast, engulfed in surging flames, with a terrifying temperature that vaporized the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Seeing the Terrifying Fireball, it appeared to be left behind by a fire-elemental Golden Core Expert, and judging by the fearsome temperature, it was very likely condensed by a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. It was clear that with the Secret Realm appearing near Wei Kingdom, the Zhenyang Sect, as the local authority, had made extremely thorough preparations and heavily invested in them. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 276 - 187 Collapse_3 Chapter 276: Chapter 187 Collapse_3 Chu Jie was thrilled beyond measure, his eyes fixated on the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, eager to witness whether the power of the Golden Core Talisman was as terrifying as the legends suggested. Not only that, Xu Hua and others also activated their trump cards. In Huangyang Country Cultivation World, Xu Hua and Wu Xu¡¯s trump cards were also Golden Core Talismans, though their power seemed slightly weaker than those of the Zhenyang Sect, while the other three factions¡¯ trump card was a Lower Third Order talisman paper, not as powerful as the Golden Core Talismans, but their might was still formidable. The combined trump cards of the Six Major Golden Core Forces created a terrifying momentum that shattered the rocks and vegetation within the gorge. At that moment, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, seeing the terrifying fireballs and Sword Qi above, struggled frantically, clearly aware that these attacks could threaten its life. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle writhed intensely, with the Circular Rings binding its body shattering one after another, leaving only the last two intact. ... Although only two Circular Rings remained to bind it, under normal circumstances, it would hardly need a moment to break free, but there was simply no time to spare in the current situation. Facing the all-encompassing attack, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle made a decisive move, retracting its entire body into its massive shell to withstand the trump cards of the six powers. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The massive fireballs were the first to hit the shell of the Tianluan Turtle, instantly engulfing it in a sea of flames. At the same time, the other attacks arrived as expected, striking the shell of the Tianluan Turtle from all directions. For a moment, the sky was ablaze with fire, and the powerful aftermath opened a deep abyss in the gorge, the resulting surge instantly killing the nearby cultivators and Second Order Demonic Beasts. Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared early on, hiding behind the Golden Elixir Forces, protected from being used as cannon fodder. After more than ten breaths, the scene became very quiet, everyone waiting for the firelight and smoke to dissipate. As the fire died down and the smoke cleared, a miserable cry rang out. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle was now in a terrible state, its thick shell mostly shattered, two of its limbs severed, as it howled in agony, its aura significantly weakened compared to before. Seeing this, everyone was overjoyed. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle had suffered an unprecedented blow, and with the surrounding humans¡¯ onslaught, killing it was only a matter of time. Although Chu Jie¡¯s magic artifact had been destroyed, seeing the main culprit in such a state made him burst into crazed laughter. ¡°Strike now, finish this beast!¡± Chu Jie bellowed, pulling out a Second Order Lower Magic Artifact and launching the first attack, with the other cultivators also acting quickly, surrounding and attacking the severely injured Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Soon, the critically wounded Tianluan Turtle was overwhelmed by a sky full of magical attacks and sword rain. Under such heavy injuries, it was difficult to escape, let alone resist the attacks from so many people. However, the dying Third Order Tianluan Turtle, acutely aware of its plight, became insanely fierce, obviously intending to drag some cultivators down with it. Cold Jade Arrows shot out in large numbers from its mouth at an incredibly fast speed, assaulting the surrounding cultivators. The death-fueled attack of a Third Order Demon Beast was extraordinarily fearsome. Some of the cultivators who were too close couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were directly pierced through by the Cold Jade Arrows, falling dead on the spot. Meanwhile, the cultivator¡¯s attacks arrived as scheduled, each one draining away at its life force. A few breaths later, the ground was littered with corpses and severed limbs, with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle lying lifelessly at the bottom of the gorge, surrounded by the bodies of dozens of cultivators sprawling in all directions. In its dying moments, the Third Order Demon Beast took the lives of dozens, with all Six Major Golden Core Forces facing varying degrees of casualties. With the death of the Third Order Demon Beast, the Cultivator Alliance instantly crumbled. Chu Jie and Xu Hua were the first to act, vying for the inner core of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Since Chu Jie¡¯s magic artifact had been destroyed, and his injuries slowed him down, he ended up losing the inner core to Xu Hua. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Hua let out a triumphant laugh, then abruptly turned and shot towards the lair of the Tianluan Turtle, not even bothering to contest the corpse. Seeing Xu Hua¡¯s action, which was clearly premeditated, the faces of the heirs of the several Golden Core Forces changed, cursing loudly before immediately giving chase. Lin Tianming and his companion made a decisive move at the moment Xu Hua turned around, already leaping a hundred yards away. Suddenly, a portion of the Loose Cultivators abandoned the corpse of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, rushing towards the beast¡¯s cave as well, their speed not at all inferior to Xu Hua¡¯s, clearly also at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level or above. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 277 - 188 Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_1 Chapter 277: Chapter 188 Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_1 At this moment inside the canyon, corpses were strewn everywhere, with nearly a hundred Tianluan Turtle carcasses as well as a great number of cultivator limbs. As the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces and those cultivators intent on competing for the Star Moon Fruit left, the nearly hundred cultivators remaining fought each other without any reservations, vying for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle carcasses and the numerous deceased cultivators¡¯ belongings. Those who stayed in the canyon were very clear that with their cultivation, hoping to compete with the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces for the few Star Moon Fruits was extremely unlikely. In light of this, it was better to aim for the Tianluan Turtles and the possessions of the dead cultivators. After all, nearly a hundred cultivators had perished here, along with a large number of demon beast corpses, which amounted to a considerable fortune, not to mention the high value of a single Third Order Tianluan Turtle carcass. There were no shortage of cultivators with such thoughts, but only the top Foundation Establishment Cultivators would gamble on the chance for the Golden Core Path. At this time, the entire canyon was in utter chaos; in the sky, a multitude of spells and magic artifacts collided thunderously. Every cultivator held nothing back, unleashing lethal moves and displaying the full extent of human greed. ... However, Chu Jie and Xu Hua paid no heed to this, considering these treasures to be insignificant compared to the Star Moon Fruits. Lin Tianming did the same; in the moment Xu Hua turned around, he hurriedly took a few storage bags from the cultivators and immediately gave chase. Chu Jie and others were also infuriated, quickly securing any convenient valuables and chased after them, turning into lingering shadows. Xu Hua led the way, racing towards the location of the Tianluan Turtle den, which was that vast lake. Following behind him were Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and Wu Xu. Lin Tianming and his companion were also in pursuit, maintaining an above-average speed, with more than a dozen cultivators trailing behind them. The group whistled past, arriving in a majestic procession at the lakeside, surpassing the spot where they had initially stopped. Xu Hua and others looked at the vaguely visible island in the center of the lake, showing no signs of pausing as they blasted towards it. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the group of cultivators arrived above the small island. Looking around, the island was now enveloped in a dense fog, with numerous caves evident throughout the area. With the Tianluan Turtle clan wiped out, the whole island was eerily silent, save for some Tianluan Turtles guarding the nests who looked ferociously at the newcomers, spitting out Cold Jade Arrows to try and blast those who dared to enter their caves. Upon seeing a Second Order Tianluan Turtle attacking him, Xu Hua snorted coldly; a flash of spiritual light from the great sword in his hand and a face-to-face strike killed the Second Order Initial Stage Tianluan Turtle. The moment he was briefly slowed down, Chu Jie and the others arrived, their faces grim as they looked at Xu Hua. At this time, Chu Jie had seven Zhenyang Sect Disciples by his side. Nearby, Su Yunlong of the Golden Sword Sect also had several cultivators, while only three remained from the West River Li Family¡¯s Li Wenyi. Opposite them, Xu Hua was accompanied by cultivators from the Purple Yin Sect and the Pengcheng Liu Family, adding up to seventeen cultivators from the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. After the brutal battle in the canyon, the cultivators from both sides had been visibly diminished, all having died at the mouths of Third Order Tianluan Turtles. Currently, the strengths of both parties were evenly matched; in terms of numbers, Xu Hua¡¯s side seemed to have a slight advantage. However, even though the Golden Elixir Forces were powerful, they couldn¡¯t afford to be complacent. Cultivators with unclear backgrounds like Lin Tianming were also present, numbering over thirty people, among them many above Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Given the circumstances, it was still uncertain who would ultimately claim the Star Moon Fruits. At this point, the Loose Cultivators were subtly gathering together, showing no inferiority in momentum compared to Chu Jie and Xu Hua. Seeing this, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Xu Hua¡¯s face, as he secretly communicated with Chu Jie and others, seemingly discussing something. With the weird atmosphere and the changing expressions of Chu Jie and others, Lin Tianming and the majority of the Loose Cultivators wore serious expressions, readying themselves for an imminent battle. As expected, Xu Hua and Chu Jie seemed to have reached some agreement, launching an attack on the nearest cultivators without anyone noticing. In an instant, the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces who suddenly took action successfully killed several cultivators. Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared, immediately retreating to quickly create distance. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following the surprise attack, the remaining twenty or so Loose Cultivators had grim expressions, with someone angrily cursing: ¡°Xu Daoyou, what is the meaning of this? We had agreed that upon the death of a Third Order Demon Beast, everyone would have the right to compete for the Star Moon Fruit.¡± Hearing these words, Xu Hua and the others sneered, ¡°How naive you are!¡± ¡°With the Third Order Tianluan Turtles dead, what use are you?¡± Infuriated by Xu Hua¡¯s scoffing taunt, the assembled Loose Cultivators were seething with anger, but being overpowered, they could only unite with other Loose Cultivators to confront Xu Hua and his group. Xu Hua and his peers were ungentlemanly, seeing that masks were torn off, they attacked directly. The Loose Cultivators did not shrink back, retaliating and engaging in a fierce battle. Lin Tianming and his partner teamed up against a disciple from the Purple Yin Sect. With their close coordination, they stood toe-to-toe with the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator without falling behind. By now, the situation had become chaotic again, and the previously ceased combat reignited once more. Although the average cultivation level of the Six Major Golden Core Forces was superior, there were still more than twenty extra people among the Loose Cultivators. Under this situation, the entire battle became even more intense. Flares burst in the sky above the island as massive spells and talisman papers collided, and the explosive waves uprooted flowers, plants, and trees from the ground. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 278 - 188: Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_2 Chapter 278: Chapter 188: Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_2 In just a short moment, the picturesque island lay in ruins. Meanwhile, screams echoed from time to time, with cultivators from both sides falling here. After a small quarter of an hour of intense battle, the fight had reached a fever pitch. Xu Hua leapt up, his spirit sword radiating brilliantly, and then a golden sword qi shot out, piercing through the chest of a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator. The defeated cultivator fell to the ground unwillingly, blood gushing from the chest wound, creating a truly desolate scene. Seeing the cultivator¡¯s death, Xu Hua sneered and picked a new target, then struck again. ... At this moment, all the loose cultivators were in utter panic, except for a few who remained composed; the rest were ashen-faced, and some even started to beat a retreat. As another Foundation Establishment Seventh Level loose cultivator fell to Chu Jie, their body was pierced directly by a spirit sword, and the unwilling cultivator¡¯s body convulsed on the ground in a terrifying sight. Seeing this, the remaining alive loose cultivators completely gave up on competing for the Star Moon Fruit. With the first cultivator fleeing, it quickly triggered a chain reaction, and another one dashed away in the direction they had come from. Soon, the initially numerically superior group of loose cultivators, with some dead and others escaped, was reduced to just over twenty who still held on. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that they had the absolute upper hand, Xu Hua refrained from making another move and instead turned to rush alone towards the center of the island. At the same time, Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and others followed suit, leaving their brothers and sisters to block the loose cultivators. Lin Tianming and his companion quickly deduced their intent, which was to leave people to hinder the loose cultivators, while the leaders of the Six Major Golden Core Forces went to seize the Star Moon Fruit. Not just them, some among the loose cultivators had also figured it out, soon someone shouted: ¡°Fellow daoists, Xu Hua, Chu Jie, and the others have gone to find the Star Moon Fruit, hurry and break through their blockade, or we¡¯ll have no hope at all!¡± Before the words had even faded, the loose cultivators spontaneously converged together, launching an attack on the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces that were blocking them. At this critical juncture, no one hid their cultivation level or held back their strength anymore. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave as fifty-six Earth Fiend Swords shot out, trapping several cultivators who were in their way. At the same time, the Second Order Talisman in his hand flew out, transforming into a sea of fire that engulfed the enemy. After one strike, his attack was easily caught by the enemy; after all, his cultivation was too low, and these techniques were merely time-consuming for them. However, before the cultivators within could celebrate, Lin Shilu¡¯s attack had already arrived in haste. The sky erupted in Golden Sword Qi, and the Overturning Mountain Seal slammed down furiously. A cultivator failed to dodge in time and was directly killed by the sword light and sword qi, his body torn to pieces, a sight most miserable indeed. The remaining two¡¯s complexions changed dramatically, then they began attacking the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, trying to break out. But at that moment, a blood-colored blade qi shot towards them with extreme speed. The two inside the sword array had not anticipated a third person attacking them and couldn¡¯t react in time; they could only try to dodge vitally. Yet the blood-colored blade qi was too fast. A scream pierced the air as one cultivator was unable to dodge in time and was struck dead. The other, more decisive, twisted his body to dodge the fatal blow but lost an arm in doing so. Inside the sword array, the sole surviving cultivator went pale with a look of terror, fortunate to have kept his life. Seeing the blood-colored blade qi, Lin Tianming and his companion immediately recognized that the attacker was none other than Long Hai, with whom they had previously cooperated. Similarly, Long Hai, upon seeing the fifty-six Earth Fiend Swords launched simultaneously, knew that the person whose face had changed was the pair who had battled alongside him against the Dragon-Eyed Beast. Noticing Long Hai¡¯s intervention, the pair looked towards the approaching Long Hai and then heard his transmitted message. The three nodded to each other, seemingly in tacit understanding, and together they shot towards the direction where Xu Hua and the others had fallen. Due to their sudden burst of power, they killed two of the three that blocked them, leaving the surviving one injured and unable to stop them further. The cultivators who wanted to provide support were also busy dealing with the frenzied loose cultivators and couldn¡¯t spare their hands to close the gap. Under the watchful eyes of many cultivators, Lin Tianming and the other two quickly disappeared from their view. Lin Tianming and the other two¡¯s successful breakthrough also gave the loose cultivators renewed confidence, and their attacks became increasingly fierce. Under such circumstances, the pressure on the disciples of the Golden Core Forces doubled, and they began to fall into a disadvantage. Meanwhile, the three paid no attention to this, flying towards the center of the island, and subsequently searching for the Star Moon Fruit Tree. After more than ten breaths had passed, booming noises echoed from the center of the island, evidently, Chu Jie and his six companions were also fighting fiercely for the chance. The trio carefully made their way over, stopping by a hidden cave entrance to watch the intense battle unfolding before them. Looking over, Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and Li Wenyi were fighting together against Xu Hua, Wu Xu, and Liu Kaiquan. The six Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level unleashed powerful fluctuations as they clashed, significantly stronger than the Cultivators trying to hold them back. Behind the six people, an eye-catching golden fruit tree about three meters tall stood out, with nine silvery-white fruits hanging from its golden trunk. Each fruit was the size of a child¡¯s head, covered in dense patterns, and surrounded by a great amount of Spiritual Energy, appearing extremely tempting. ¡°Star Moon Fruit!¡± Seeing this, the three were extremely excited, almost wishing they could rush over and uproot it at once. However, they forcefully suppressed the restlessness in their hearts, as it was not the right moment to act. It would be better to wait until the others were embroiled in a critical moment of their battle, increasing the likelihood of obtaining the Star Moon Fruit. Soon enough, their opportunity arrived. In front of the trio, Chu Jie wielded a large number of Second Order Talisman, at least ten, and without hesitation, he launched them. They transformed into a rain of swords that enveloped Xu Hua and the others. At the same time, Su Yunlong slapped his storage bag, and several pale gold beads appeared in his hands¡ªthese were Gold Spirit Beads refined from Demon Beast Inner Pills. They shared some similarities with the Fire Spirit Pearls in Lin Tianming and his companions¡¯ possession, differing only in attributes. He threw the Gold Spirit Beads towards Xu Hua and the others, then prepared an even more violent assault. Seeing Chu Jie and the others¡¯ strike, Lin Tianming was inwardly amazed. ¡°These leaders of the Golden Core Forces truly are extravagant, casually throwing out over a dozen Second Order Talisman and several Gold Spirit Beads. Just these attack methods have already cost tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, it¡¯s simply too wasteful.¡± While he was astounded, Xu Hua¡¯s expression turned very grim under the relentless attack, but he didn¡¯t seem overly panicked. All he did was wave his robe¡¯s sleeve, and a small umbrella-shaped Defense Artifact covered him, blocking the offensive from Chu Jie and the others. After the blow, a series of explosive noises followed, as the umbrella withstood the attacks from Chu Jie and his group. When the dust cleared, Xu Hua and the others were still standing. At this point, Xu Hua and his companions¡¯ faces were grim as they took out a large number of treasures and began to counter-attack. Xu Hua¡¯s Spirit Sword burst forth with earth-shattering Sword Qi, furiously slashing towards Chu Jie and the rest. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Chu Jie and his companions each pulled out their own Defense Artifacts to resist the onslaught from Xu Hua and his group. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The Golden Sword Qi slammed against the Defense Artifacts, and the resultant shockwaves lifted a huge amount of sand and stones, whirling them through the air. For a time, the sky was ablaze with fireballs, turning it red. Taking advantage of this, Lin Shilu dashed towards the Star Moon Fruit. And the several individuals still engaged in fierce combat had not expected someone to have already broken through the blockades and arrived at the scene. While the Cultivators were astonished, Lin Shilu quickly surpassed them, reaching the Star Moon Fruit Tree. At this moment, without any time for joy, Lin Shilu hesitated not a moment, grabbing three Star Moon Fruits and rapidly retreating. Seeing Lin Shilu take away three Star Moon Fruits, everyone¡¯s faces changed dramatically. They immediately stopped their battle, aiming to kill Lin Shilu in order to obtain the fruits. Witnessing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression drastically changed, his Fire Spirit Pearl flying out of his hand towards Chu Jie and the others. At the same time, a blood-red long blade in Long Hai¡¯s hand glowed fiercely, unleashing a torrent of terrifying Blade Qi. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t dare delay, hurling a handful of talisman paper he had in hand, raining them down on the group like a storm. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Flames soared to the sky, and with the help of numerous treasures, as well as Lin Tianming and Long Hai¡¯s support, Lin Shilu successfully broke through the encirclement and joined his companions. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 279 - 189 Escape from Death_1 Chapter 279: Chapter 189 Escape from Death_1 S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The Fire Spirit Pearl and a large number of Second Order talismans exploded in the sky, unleashing horrendous waves of fire that instantly illuminated the entire small island. In order to help Lin Shilu break through the encirclement, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about anything else; he threw the only Fire Spirit Pearl he had, just to make the attackers give up on Lin Shilu. At this moment, with grim expressions, Chu Jie and Xu Hua watched the terrifying fireball erupt from the Fire Spirit Pearl, helplessly ceasing their attacks on Lin Shilu and each took out a Defense Artifact to block the assault. Fortunately, the power of the Fire Spirit Pearl and the talismans was limited. Had they been Third Order talismans, even a body protected by a magic artifact would have been like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. As time silently passed, with the flames gradually dying down, a figure emerged from the remnants of the inferno, clothes in tatters and body charred. ... ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how are you!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu in such a tragic state, with even his breath weak, Lin Tianming hurriedly went to meet him. ¡°There¡¯s no time to talk right now, they¡¯ll catch up soon, we need to run!¡± Lin Shilu secretly transmitted his voice to Lin Tianming, then took out a Star Moon Fruit and unhesitatingly handed it to Long Hai, who was beside him. Long Hai, upon seeing the Star Moon Fruit, was ecstatic, and without hesitation swallowed the fruit. Then he heard Lin Shilu¡¯s secret message, his expression became extremely grave. In an instant, whatever Lin Shilu had told him, Long Hai, pulling along Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming, turned into a blurred shadow and shot away. The faces of Xu Hua and the others, having regained their senses, grew exceedingly dark. To think that the core disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces would be played by a Loose Cultivator and even had three Star Moon Fruits snatched from right behind them. For whatever reason, if this incident were to spread, they would lose all face in the Cultivation World. Thinking this, Chu Jie and his group looked especially ugly. Just when they were preparing to flee, the magic artifacts in their hands started flickering with light. Chu Jie and Xu Hua attacked first, followed closely by Wu Xu and Su Yunlong. When the six Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators made their move, it shook the heavens and earth, vowing to stop the trio. At that moment, the sky was filled with frenzied Sword Qi, and a barrage of talismans and Law Decrees came at them, sending Lin Tianming and his companions into a state of alarm. In his heart, Lin Tianming¡¯s pulse raced. As the three of them made their retreat, Long Hai waved his sleeve and a gray-white talisman paper suddenly appeared in his hand. Seeing the gray-white talisman paper, which was actually a Second Order Superior Defense Talisman, the complexion of Lin Tianming and the other man finally calmed down. Long Hai was well aware of their predicament. Facing the joint attack of six cultivators superior to him in cultivation, even with Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, a moment of carelessness could lead to his demise here. In a crisis, the three were tied together. Whether for his own sake or for Lin Tianming and the other man, he had to give it his all. Understanding this, Long Hai dared not hold back. He released the gray-white talisman paper from his hand, flung a Law Decree upon it, and the talisman paper immediately flickered with light, then swiftly transformed into a gray barrier behind them. At the same time, the attacks from Chu Jie and the others arrived as expected. Explosions sounded as their attacks slammed into the barrier created by the Second Order Superior Talisman. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The defense of the Second Order Superior Talisman was indeed formidable, successfully blocking the attacks of the six for a moment. And though that moment was extremely brief, for Foundation Establishment cultivators in a life-and-death situation, it was enough to cross a distance of several dozen feet. Lin Tianming and the other man had fought side by side many times and were in perfect harmony, naturally not letting such a rare opportunity slip by. As for Long Hai, it goes without saying. As a Loose Cultivator who managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level before the age of a hundred, his path of cultivation was filled with countless trials of life and death. Under the assault of the six, he naturally seized the slim chance of survival. With the help of the explosive force created by the talisman¡¯s destruction, Lin Tianming and his companions had already moved over a hundred feet away from the six, and the distance was still increasing. After the flames dissipated, seeing Lin Tianming and his companions growing ever more distant, the faces of Chu Jie and the others darkened to their limits. However, each harboring their own schemes at this moment, actively giving up the struggle against the other Golden Elixir Forces to chase after Lin Tianming did not necessarily guarantee they would be able to kill the three. After all, the strength they had shown was not to be underestimated. Thus, the difficulty of seizing the three Star Moon Fruits from them was equally immense. But if they stayed here, competing for the remaining six Star Moon Fruits among the Six Major Golden Core Forces, even with extraordinary luck, they couldn¡¯t possibly obtain two or three. The six individuals were entangled in their decision, with Chu Jie and Xu Hua and the others being somewhat better off, as they held an absolute advantage among the Sect Cultivators. Even at their worst, securing one Star Moon Fruit was a sure thing. But Liu Kaiquan from the Pengcheng Liu Family and Li Wenyi from the West River Li Family made a decision in a very short time. They were painfully aware that although they too belonged to the Golden Core Forces, they were at the bottom of the Six Major Golden Core Forces. Not only that, but Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others, as leaders among the Great Sect Cultivators, were not as simple as they appeared. The difficulty of securing one Star Moon Fruit from the other four was self-evident. Considering this, pursuing Lin Tianming and his two companions, despite the dangers, could result in a more substantial reward if successful. Thus, taking the smallest risk for the greatest gain was undoubtedly the wisest choice. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 280 - 189: Escape to Freedom_2 Chapter 280: Chapter 189: Escape to Freedom_2 At that moment, Liu Kaiquan and Li Wenyi didn¡¯t pause for a second; the instant they stabilized their figures, they turned into lingering shadows in pursuit. Soon, relying on their superior cultivation, they slowly closed some distance. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his two companions, who were frantically fleeing ahead, hadn¡¯t even the chance to catch their breath before having to face a new crisis. On their left, the loose cultivators and the Golden Elixir Forces disciples, who had been embroiled in a fierce battle, seemed to have reached a conclusion. Several of the loose cultivators were already heading their way, clearly having broken through the blockade to compete for the Star Moon Fruit. The ones in mad pursuit behind them were six disciples of Golden Core Cultivators. Besides, Li Wenyi and Liu Kaiquan were getting closer and closer. If they were held up even for a moment, they would be surrounded and meet with even greater trouble. Seeing this, the expressions on the faces of Lin Tianming and his two companions were extremely troubling. ... They had managed to obtain the Star Moon Fruit with great difficulty, burst out from Chu Jie and the others¡¯ encirclement, and now faced these aggressive loose cultivators and a host of Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ descendants. The Golden Elixir Forces wouldn¡¯t hold back against them, and if the loose cultivators learned that they had the Star Moon Fruit, they certainly wouldn¡¯t lend a hand. Instead, they would make a move to snatch it, after all, no one would give up such a treasure. ¡°It¡¯s truly like facing wolves in front and tigers behind, such ill-fortune!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself in despair while anxiously trying to figure out a way to escape. Watching Li Wenyi and the loose cultivators get closer, Lin Shilu once again took out a Star Moon Fruit, his face showing an unwillingness to part with it. Seeing Lin Shilu taking out the Star Moon Fruit, the breath of everyone on the scene quickened, and like ravenous wolves, they pounced towards it. For a moment, a myriad of attacks filled the sky as if they couldn¡¯t wait to tear them to shreds on the spot. Lin Tianming and Long Hai¡¯s expressions were grave as they simultaneously attacked, trying to carve out a path. Sword Qi and Blade Qi burst out from their hands, slashing towards the direction with the fewest people. At the same time, Lin Shilu tossed one of the Star Moon Fruits towards the approaching Li Wenyi. Suddenly, Li Wenyi¡¯s face was full of confusion. Facing the Star Moon Fruit coming straight at him, he did not hesitate to catch it in his hand. Li Wenyi, who had caught the Star Moon Fruit, showed an ecstatic expression, never expecting that the Star Moon Fruit would fall from the sky right into his palm so perfectly. ¡°To think it arrived without any effort at all!¡± However, before he could even feel happy, his face turned to one of horror. At that moment, apart from a few individuals from the West River Li Family, the eyes of all cultivators greedily fixed on him. Only then did he understand that at this moment, the Star Moon Fruit was a hot potato, as well as a death knell. And at this time, although the cultivators¡¯ gaze shifted, their attacks arrived as promised, and Lin Tianming and his two companions were still not out of danger. The frenzied attacks of more than twenty people created a true crisis. The trio dared not be careless; if they lost their lives, what use would it be to keep the treasures? Lin Tianming, fully aware of this, used up all prepared measures in one breath. Whether it was First Order Talismans or Second Order Talismans, any method that could attack or defend was activated without reservation. Lin Shilu did the same; he threw out his only remaining Fire Spirit Pearl without any hesitation, hoping to clear a path to survival. At the same time, his Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, was already protecting the three of them, ready to face the cultivator¡¯s attacks. Long Hai also spared no measures; he threw out several Second Order Talismans and then frantically infused a vast amount of spiritual power to activate his defense artifact, forming a gigantic shield in front of the trio. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Pops and crackles erupted in the sky as a myriad of attacks broke through the barriers formed by the Defense Talismans and a mass of fireballs, ice swords, and various Sword Qi and Blade Qi hammered against the Defense Artifact. At this moment, both the sky and the ground erupted into an endless sea of flames, violently shaking the entire battlefield. After enduring for three breaths¡¯ time, the attacks from the sky ceased, and tranquility returned. Then, under such an onslaught, Lin Tianming and his companions each spat out a mouthful of blood, their faces quickly paling. Taking advantage of a brief lull, and the fact that a great number of cultivators were distracted by the Star Moon Fruit in Li Wenyi¡¯s hands, the three turned into lingering shadows and shot towards a forest-covered mountain range. For a full breath¡¯s time, by the time everyone returned to their senses, the trio had vanished into the dense woods, leaving the crowd with faces of disbelief. Soon, the cultivators snapped out of it; several chased in the direction Lin Tianming and his party had fled, seemingly unwilling to give up on the murder and robbery. The remaining cultivators launched attacks at Li Wenyi, converging on him in a mad pursuit of the Star Moon Fruit. At this moment, the most miserable was Liu Kaiquan; empty-handed, he not only failed to catch up with Lin Tianming and his group but also faced the collective onslaught of a large number of cultivators. The battle erupted once again, throwing the scene into renewed chaos. As for Lin Tianming and his companions, after exhausting all means to escape death, they cared not who would end up with the Star Moon Fruit they had surrendered. The trio crazily scurried through the expanse of forest-covered mountains, heedless of any danger along the way. Thus, their speed was incredibly fast, with Lin Tianming being dragged through the air by Lin Shilu and Long Hai for the entire journey. Time passed quickly, and in half a day, they had traversed several large mountains and covered a few hundred li, putting considerable distance between them and the land of strife. Fortunately, the journey was smooth, and the cultivators chasing them, slower than them in escape speed, were shaken off in less than an hour, finally losing track of the trio completely. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 281 - 189 Escape from Death_3 Chapter 281: Chapter 189 Escape from Death_3 After that, they encountered several lone travelers on the road, who were all frightened to see the trio¡¯s fierce and villainous appearance. Fortunately, both parties had no particular intentions, and they quickly disengaged from each other. As evening approached, the three had also left danger behind. Lin Tianming and his companions landed on a secluded mountain peak, then they all took a long breath and showed smiles of someone who had survived a calamity. Long Hai took a Huiyuan Pill and looked at Lin Tianming and his companion with a hint of admiration in his eyes. He knew that Lin Shilu and his companion¡¯s cultivation was not as advanced as his, but combined, their strength was no less than his own. Under such dangerous circumstances, to be able to obtain three Star Moon Fruits despite the attacks from the Six Major Golden Core Forces was an extremely difficult feat. ... Even more precious was the fact that without hesitation he had made a choice in a desperate situation, trading one Star Moon Fruit for a chance at their lives. In this respect, both in terms of strength, courage, and character, the two had reached the pinnacle. Having cooperated twice, both parties had reaped exceedingly rich rewards. Thinking of these things, Long Hai couldn¡¯t help but admire them. On this trip to the Secret Realm, he had gained a wealth of treasures and the priceless Star Moon Fruit; he was very content. With these thoughts in mind, he cupped his hands towards the two and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, we have now left danger behind, and the Secret Realm will close in two days. Let us part ways here!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion showed expressions of regret. Although the Secret Realm was about to close, the three of them were all somewhat injured, and with two days remaining, the danger was still unpredictable. Given that Long Hai was not weak and they had cooperated several times, if the three of them were to move together and watch out for each other, it would certainly be safer. However, a stranger was after all a stranger. Each carrying a Star Moon Fruit, it would be easy to share misfortune together, but sharing fortune was difficult, and it was impossible for either side to be completely unguarded. Perhaps it was better for each to go their own way. With these thoughts, Lin Shilu no longer insisted on staying. After exchanging methods of communication with Long Hai, they prepared to say their goodbyes and leave. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fellow Daoists, if fate wills it, we shall meet again!¡± Long Hai said with a cupped fist, not asking about their backgrounds or identities. Then, after tossing out eight Jade Boxes with a hearty laugh, he disappeared from their sight. Watching Long Hai leave, Lin Shilu opened the Jade Boxes, which contained one mature White Jade Grass and seven seedlings left by Long Hai. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion showed astonished expressions. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect this person to be so loyal and righteous. Although we didn¡¯t discuss rewards when cooperating with him, he still took the initiative to gift us the White Jade Grass in his possession, truly commendable!.¡± After sighing, Lin Shilu said, ¡°Tianming, Long Hai is indeed worth getting to know deeply!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, agreeing inwardly. Although most Loose Cultivators were selfish and unscrupulous in achieving their goals, there were also many who were free-spirited. Character is a very mysterious thing; often, those who are free-spirited have an easier time overcoming the Heart Demon when breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, such loyal and righteous Loose Cultivators are indeed rare, we may meet again in the future!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shilu smiled knowingly, then instructed, ¡°We have gained much from this journey, but the danger is not yet over. Let¡¯s immediately find a safe place to retreat for healing. Don¡¯t wander around anymore, just wait for the Secret Realm to close.¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu stepped away, followed by Lin Tianming. The two headed rapidly into the depths of the mountain range. As night fell, the entire sky turned completely dark. The two traveled dozens of miles, hastily rushing into a quiet canyon. With the sky growing darker, it was time for Demonic Beasts to appear, so it was not suitable to wander about anymore. The two found a hidden natural cave on the spot and set up several Illusion Arrays and a First Order Formation. Having taken precautionary and protective measures, they entered the cave and began to close-off for healing, waiting for the end of their time in the Secret Realm. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 282 - 190 Convergence_1 Chapter 282: Chapter 190 Convergence_1 Time flew by, and soon two days had passed. In a secluded cave, Lin Tianming and his companion sat on the ground, their breathing steady and regular, the pallor of their faces having returned to a normal, healthy flush. After parting ways with Long Hai, the two of them had hurriedly found a natural cave to shelter in before nightfall. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over the past two days, all had been rather calm; no accidents had occurred, and they did not step foot outside the cave. At that moment, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes, and a satisfied smile flashed across his face. After two days of meditative recovery, the injuries sustained from being attacked had mostly healed, and he could walk and fight normally again. ... Seeing Lin Tianming emerge from his meditation, Lin Shilu also opened his eyes, which flashed with a bright light, indicating that he had also made a good recovery. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened with joy as he quickly asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how are your injuries?¡± Moved by Lin Tianming¡¯s concern, Lin Shilu laughed heartily while waving his hand, indicating that he was fine. Seeing this, Lin Tianming could not hide his excitement and blurted out: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, today is the day the secret realm closes. Our journey here has yielded incredible treasures. Once we return to our family, we will surely surprise Elder Wu and the others!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu nodded. They had been too weary to rejoice previously. Now that the closing of the secret realm was imminent, they could finally leave this dangerous place and return to familiar territory. How could they not be thrilled? Lin Shilu¡¯s calm face was infected by Lin Tianming¡¯s enthusiasm, and a smile flickered across it. Looking at Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu produced several storage bags and said: ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s still some time before the secret realm closes. We should take this opportunity to inventory the storage bags we¡¯ve obtained before!¡± Reminded by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming recalled that, starting from their ambush of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, they had collected a few unlucky cultivators¡¯ belongings. Now that they were out of danger and had nothing else to do, they naturally should sort out their loot. With this in mind, Lin Tianming chuckled and took out two storage bags, quickly wiping away the remaining Divine Sense on them. Lin Shilu also got busy, swiftly cleaning off the Divine Sense from the storage bags before tallying the contents inside. In a short while, the two had finished inventorying the five storage bags they had acquired. A mountain of treasures was piled up, including Spirit Stones, elixirs, various Artifact Refining Materials, and a large number of Demonic Beast Materials, nearly blocking the entrance to the cave. At this point, both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were excited. One sorted the items while the other recorded the ones to be handed over to the family. Before long, the two had gone through the five storage bags and determined the amount and types of their unexpected windfall. The wealth of the five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including both Loose Cultivators and Sect Cultivators, was substantial, with the combined value of Spirit Stones alone reaching an impressive total of more than 130,000! Beyond that, there were over twenty bottles of Second Order Pills, a large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Ore, including three mature White Jade Grass plants and seven seedlings, though the rest weren¡¯t particularly rare or valuable. Apart from cultivation resources, there were numerous Magic Artifacts and talisman papers that could enhance their strength. They secured two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Artifacts and two Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts, with even one Attack Artifact being quite a treasure. However, they were somewhat disappointed not to find any Mysterious Grade Techniques or insights from a Third Order Master. They only obtained one Yellow Grade Technique and insights from a Second Order Refiner, which were of marginal value to the family. After all, these were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, some of whom were strong individuals above the fifth level, who should have possessed high-grade Techniques or insights. Yet, they only acquired a few things that were of little significance to the family. But the two soon came to terms with it. After all, the treasures they had acquired were numerous enough, and most of these storage bags had been picked up effortlessly. Aside from the most precious Star Moon Fruits and White Jade Grass, just the Spirit Stones and various treasures and Artifacts combined were worth over 200,000 Spirit Stones. Looking at the small mountain of Spirit Stones and treasures, Lin Shilu¡¯s face blossomed with happiness. Once he regained his composure, he then said: ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s divide these Spirit Stones and talismans between the two of us, and we can hand over all the rest, including the Artifacts, to the family. Those in Xing Ping¡¯s generation don¡¯t have many Artifacts. With this batch, every Foundation Establishment Clan Member in the family will have two Artifacts each, which can greatly enhance our strength!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s suggestion, Lin Tianming naturally had no objections. Over the years, the two of them had fought in many battles together, experiencing numerous life and death situations. They had acquired so many Spirit Stones and far more Artifacts than even their fathers, so they had more than enough. As for the cultivation elixirs and lower-grade Artifacts, they had no shortage and didn¡¯t mind giving them away to their clanspeople. With this in mind, Lin Tianming readily agreed. Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, and they each received three Second Order Talismans: two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans and one Second Order Low Grade Defense Talisman. During the previous attacks by a group of cultivators, fortunately, part of the damage was blocked by Long Hai¡¯s Defense Artifact. Although their Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, had sustained some damage, Lin Shilu had already repaired it with some Spirit Ore, and it was still usable for the time being. With the addition of these few Second Order Talismans, if they had to fight again, they would barely be adequate. After dividing the Spirit Stones, Lin Shilu received 70,000, while Lin Tianming got 60,000. They picked out a few useful items from the remaining treasures, and collected the rest into different storage bags. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 283 - 190: Convergence_2 Chapter 283: Chapter 190: Convergence_2 The two busied themselves for a good quarter of an hour, classifying and recording all the treasures. After completing these tasks, they began to close their eyes to conserve energy, waiting for the secret realm to close and teleport them out. Less than half an hour later, a series of rumbling sounds came, and the earth began to shake violently. Lin Tianming and his companion opened their eyes and could clearly feel that the spiritual light that had submerged into their Sky Spirit Covers when they entered the secret realm was stirring. Lin Shilu exclaimed with a look of surprise and excitement, ¡°Tianming, the secret realm is about to close, let¡¯s get out immediately!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with excitement. They had waited two days for this moment. Both nodded to each other and immediately dashed out of the natural cavern. Soon, the ground stopped shaking, and a dazzling light flashed across the clear blue sky. ... As the light in the sky grew stronger, the two experienced a sharp pain in their divine sense, followed by a bout of dizziness in their minds, and their bodies uncontrollably swept toward the void as if yanked by some force. When the two regained their normal senses, they found themselves in an unfamiliar valley. Fortunately, there were no other people around, and they both heaved a sigh of relief. Lin Shilu extended his divine sense to search the surroundings of the two of them, detecting no abnormalities. Regaining his composure, he spoke in an even tone, ¡°Tianming, we are still unable to determine our location, but according to the records, when a secret realm closes, cultivators inside are most likely to be teleported near the entrance.¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded, his tense nerves relaxing a bit. He had been genuinely worried that they would be separated upon exiting the secret realm, as was the case when they entered. At such a critical moment, it was certain that some cultivators with impure motives would be out to kill and rob. After all, those cultivators with impure motives could not enter the secret realm, but by killing just one person, they could opportunistically seize the fortune obtained from within the realm. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming said to Lin Shilu, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the crisis is not yet over. Let us have the Purple Gold Eagle fly us north immediately. Once we determine our location, we¡¯ll head straight back to the family!¡± Lin Shilu nodded. They carried treasures that were immensely important to the family, and there was no time for consideration; they needed to return to the family as quickly as possible. Understanding this, Lin Tianming swiftly released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. After feeding the Purple Gold Eagle a segment of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body, the two mounted its back, and the eagle swiftly ascended into the clouds, heading north. Sitting on the broad back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu kept his divine sense fully extended, ever vigilant of their surroundings. The Purple Gold Eagle carried the two for nearly a hundred miles. Using the features of the surrounding mountain ranges to guide them, they quickly determined their precise location¡ªwithin the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom. However, their position was somewhat deeper in the mountains than the entrance to the secret realm. The journey home would take them across a vast expanse of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, possibly encountering other cultivators. Fortunately, as they traveled together, and as long as they did not come across cultivators above the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, they should have nothing to fear with their strength. Moreover, within these vast mountains, who would know whether they were of any particular identity or if they had entered the secret realm. With this in mind, as long as they remained cautious, they would be able to enter the territory of Wei Kingdom after traveling more than eight hundred miles. Once within Wei Kingdom, they would not be far from the Luoyun Mountain Range. Should they successfully rendezvous with Lin Xingrong, they would be completely safe. Resolving to do this, the two decided to fly in a straight line and return to their clan¡¯s territory at top speed. Having made up their minds, Lin Tianming signaled to the Purple Gold Eagle, which, understanding his intention, picked up speed and continued flying north. ¡­ In the Whirlwind Mountain Range, near a valley on the side closer to Wei Kingdom. This place was only a couple hundred miles from the edge of the Purple Sun Mountain Range, still at the border between the two countries. In the beautiful valley, where vegetation was lush, occasional common wild beasts scurried, unaware of two figures lurking atop a large tree. One of them, looking toward the depths of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, mumbled, ¡°Third Uncle, Tianming and his companion should pass by here, shouldn¡¯t they?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong maintained a calm demeanor. Lin Xingrong had already asked this question three times, and each time he had answered, yet he was being asked again. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator who can¡¯t remember things? Clearly, Lin Xingrong was excessively worried; after all, entering the Secret Realm was too dangerous, and with the large number of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators entering, even if the two of them joined forces, they couldn¡¯t guarantee their safety. Being fully aware of this, Lin Shikang did not get angry, and instead spoke to reassure him, ¡°Xingrong, I had an agreement with Tianming before they left, that as soon as they come out of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, they will definitely meet up here. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s response, Lin Xingrong finally felt somewhat relieved. The family had temporarily summoned him back from Golden Horn Mountain to facilitate their return, and with Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu entering the Secret Realm, the overall strength of the family was now higher with just the two of them. With their departure from the family land, the entire family now relied on Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua to oversee the premises, significantly reducing the security of Green Bamboo Mountain. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, this was a necessary move. Although the family had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they had broken through too recently, so their cultivation was not high. Additionally, they were spread too thin, with Lin Xingyuan presiding over Luoyun Market and Lin Xingping in Qianchuan Market, so he could only be temporarily reassigned. However, the family had made considerable progress over these past ten-plus years, with those advancing from the Qi Refinement Realm to the Foundation Establishment Stage experiencing a qualitative leap in overall strength. What the family lacked now was time, since ten-plus years were still very brief for Foundation Establishing Families. Given another fifty years, the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators would definitely be able to enter the mid to late phase of the stage. By then, the family would no longer face restrictions as they did now. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, nearly two days have passed since the Secret Realm closed. If they are still in the area of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, they should have arrived by now!¡± Lin Xingrong said. Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang¡¯s normally unflappable face briefly revealed a hint of concern, but he quickly regained his composure. He had always had great confidence in Lin Tianming and the others, especially Tianming. As the most talented member of the family since its foundation, Tianming had been through many battles and his strength far surpassed cultivators at the same level. His quirky, unfettered ideas often led to unexpected advancements. Besides these, with the experienced Lin Shilu accompanying him, it was unlikely there would be any mishaps. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression brightened. Seeing the faint worry on Lin Xingrong¡¯s face, he said, ¡°Xingrong, extend your reach a bit more toward the depths of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, but don¡¯t go too far. If any unforeseen incident occurs, I won¡¯t be able to support you in time!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s instruction, Lin Xingrong nodded and then swept toward the deeper parts of the mountain range. Just as he was turning to leave, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression suddenly turned ecstatic, and he immediately shot off at an unbelievably fast speed. Seeing this, Lin Xingrong guessed the reason and immediately followed. An hour later, atop a mountain, Lin Shikang stood with his hands behind his back, watching as a black shadow in the sky grew larger, his face brimming with excitement. The pursuing Lin Xingrong, seeing the shadow in the sky, took a long breath of relief. Soon, the shadow grew larger, and finally, it landed in front of Lin Shikang. The two people who approached were indeed Lin Tianming and another. After two days of continuous travel, they had managed to journey without rest, and thankfully, with their not insignificant cultivation levels and having disguised their appearances, they had a relatively smooth journey, even though they encountered several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After some probing attacks, realizing the strength of the two, the blocking cultivators had no choice but to watch them leave. Having travelled for two days, they finally crossed the Whirlwind Mountain Range safely and without mishap, meeting up with Lin Shikang, whose cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, thus eliminating their immediate danger. At this moment, they could finally relax their constantly tense expressions. When they reached Lin Shikang, Lin Tianming immediately greeted with a fist and palm salute. ¡°Tianming pays respects to Third Grandfather, and to Father!¡± Before the words fell, Lin Shikang stepped forward, taking their hands and asking eagerly, ¡°Was your journey smooth? Have you been injured?¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s concerned manner, which did not mention any gains at all, Lin Tianming felt deeply gratified. Lin Shilu felt the same, but he was well aware of Lin Shikang¡¯s nature. He chuckled, then said, ¡°Third Brother, we are both unharmed. It¡¯s not safe to linger here, so let¡¯s return to the family land first. As for the expedition to the Secret Realm, we can talk on the way!¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± ¡°Although we have successfully gathered, we must not be complacent. Let¡¯s set out immediately and head back to the family first!¡± Following Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the group of four hopped onto the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, ready to travel through the night back to Green Bamboo Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 284 - 191 Shock_1 Chapter 284: Chapter 191 Shock_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. After two days of non-stop travel, the Purple Gold Eagle carried a group of four and dashed straight into the Protective Clan Formation. Their hurried journey over the past two days had been quite smooth. With four Foundation Establishment Cultivators moving together, and with Lin Shikang, a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator, as their rear guard, nobody foolish enough sought to court death by approaching them. During the journey, Lin Tianming and his company mentioned nothing of their adventures in the Secret Realm, and Lin Shikang did not inquire. However, their ever-present smiles spoke volumes, and knowing them as he did, he was certain their venture had been abundantly fruitful. The reason Lin Tianming and his companion didn¡¯t bring it up was simply because they were too exhausted. ... They had spent the last few days burdened with heavy responsibilities and nerves stretched thin. They were utterly drained, both mentally and physically. Since the treasures were already in their possession, there was no harm in waiting a few more days until the arrival of other important clan members to share their story in detail. Understanding this, Lin Shikang and Lin Xingrong kept silent, all wearing looks of anticipation for the day they would reunite with family. As the four men and one eagle entered the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming and his companion let out a long sigh of relief, allowing their tense nerves to finally relax. Atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, on the Bluestone Plaza, Lin Shikang saw the still weary expressions of the two and said, S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Shilu, you two have worked hard these past days. Go back and rest; we¡¯ll meet at my cave mansion in two days.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the two men didn¡¯t decline but nodded and bowed before heading towards their respective cave mansions. Lin Tianming returned to his cave mansion, without any delay, dove into his room, and collapsed onto the stone bed he hadn¡¯t seen in so long. It wasn¡¯t long before he fell into a deep sleep, his room filled with the sound of his even and rhythmic breathing. Two days later, early in the morning, Lin Tianming finally opened his eyes and awoke. He had slept for a full two days, and the feeling of exhaustion had completely vanished from his body, leaving him in peak condition. Lin Tianming got up, stretched, then left his cave mansion and made his way to Lin Shikang¡¯s abode. Before long, he arrived at the courtyard of Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. At that time, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong were seated in the courtyard, sipping tea and chatting leisurely as they waited for others to arrive. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, their faces lit up with joy, and they hastily invited him to sit down. Lin Tianming promptly approached to pay his respects, and afterward sat down to join in their idle chatter. Soon, Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and Lin Xingrong arrived together. After a brief exchange of greetings, the six of them each found seats and continued their conversation. With the exception of Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan, who were still at Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Market respectively, all six Foundation Establishment Clan Members were now gathered together. As the junior among them, Lin Tianming got up to pour tea for his elders. When he came to serve Clan Leader Lin Shihua, he discreetly noticed that in just over a month¡¯s time, the Clan Leader had successfully made a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. A surge of happiness washed over Lin Tianming, who then asked, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, have you successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer?¡± Lin Shihua chuckled and then said reflectively, ¡°We broke through too late and can¡¯t compare to the potential of you youngsters. It has been six or seven years since I entered Foundation Establishment, and it would have been improper not to make a breakthrough.¡± Lin Tianming felt helpless hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s reply. Many clan members of the Shihua generation were held back by the Lin Family¡¯s lack of resources. Clan Leader Lin Shihua had been tied down with clan obligations, spending at least half the year on affairs other than cultivation¡ªfar less time than Lin Xingrong devoted to his own. From the perspective of the cultivation path, the position of Clan Leader was even a heavy burden. Grandfather Lin Shigong was in the same boat, serving as the Alchemy Hall Master while being responsible for training the younger generation as well as studying Pill Formulas and conducting Alchemy. Additionally, he was older when he reached his breakthrough, and thus his cultivation progress naturally lagged behind the younger generation. With this in mind, Lin Tianming offered consolation, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, having been a long-serving Clan Leader, you¡¯ve shouldered the burden and concerns of the family, it¡¯s the family that has held you back.¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face shone with joy, and he was deeply touched by these words. Ten years ago, the family was on the brink of collapse, and he had resigned himself to the possibility that he would die at the Qi Refinement Realm. Who could have imagined¡­ That the family would rise so meteorically within such a short span of time, giving him a glimpse of hope for reaching Foundation Establishment, which both he and Lin Shigong managed to seize. Meanwhile, Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin failed in their breakthroughs and sacrificed their last bit of strength for the clan during the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. At the thought, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, and he spoke with a regretful tone, ¡°Fate is indeed mysterious. It¡¯s just a pity for Elder Shi and the others¡­¡± Seeing Lin Shihua¡¯s choked speech and his reminiscing expression, Lin Shikang quickly offered a few comforting words. Lin Shihua knew he had lost his composure but soon recovered, then he started discussing more pressing matters. Seeing the eager looks from the clan members, Lin Shilu chuckled and began recounting their experiences in the Secret Realm. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Tian Ming fought alone against a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator and obtained the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus!¡± Facing Lin Shigong¡¯s exclamations, Lin Tianming replied with an embarrassed smile, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Fifteenth Grandfather, I might¡¯ve not made it!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu solemnly said, ¡°This kid is really bold¡­ Staying near that pool was so dangerous. Next time, you should keep your distance. That way, if things get impossible, you can still make an escape, right?¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, recalling the situation. In such a dangerous Secret Realm, with his own level of cultivation, he indeed should have kept his distance. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t get the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus on his own, he should have been ready to flee rather than staying there and almost losing his life. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 285 - 191 Shock_2 Chapter 285: Chapter 191 Shock_2 Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming spoke up, ¡°The lad will remember not to take risks lightly in the future!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shilu nodded and moved past the subject, continuing to share their experiences, from the two of them partnering up to search for treasures, to their encounter with Long Hai, and finally their cooperation in attacking the Dragon-Eyed Beast tribe, which led to them obtaining more than ten mature White Jade Grasses. Upon hearing this news, Lin Shikang and the rest of the clan members were beyond shocked. They originally thought that acquiring the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and some Second Order Spiritual Medicine was decent enough, but they had not expected to obtain the primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, which the family was in desperate need of. With this, the clan now had the ability to refine Foundation Establishment Pills on their own, and these more than ten mature White Jade Grasses could at least create several Foundation Establishment Clan Members. ... Thinking of this, Lin Shikang and a few others laughed heartily, their emotions running high. However, before they could celebrate for long, Lin Shilu started talking about the encirclement of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, causing everyone¡¯s heart to once again hang in suspense, as if they were experiencing it themselves. If it weren¡¯t for seeing the two return safely and without any major injuries, they would surely think they were joking. Only after Lin Shilu mentioned the Star Moon Fruit did they understand why the two had been so reckless, even driving the usually prudent Lin Shilu to take such risks. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t stop there; he recounted the entire battle as well as their adventurous feat of obtaining three Star Moon Fruits with Long Hai. Hearing this earth-shattering news, all four were breathing rapidly, their faces soon flushing red. After a silence lasting more than ten breaths, none of them spoke until Lin Shikang was the first to come around, asking in a probing tone, ¡°Shilu¡­ is this¡­ is this true?¡± ¡°Tian Ming¡­ are you not joking?¡± Hearing these hesitant words, which clearly lacked confidence, Lin Shilu frowned, took out the Star Moon Fruits from his storage bag, and placed them in Lin Shikang¡¯s hand. Felling the substantial weight in his palm, as well as that peculiar energy fluctuation, Lin Shikang finally believed it. Lin Shihua and the rest, seeing the Star Moon Fruit, cautiously approached and inspected the fruit thoroughly, understanding it completely. At that moment, the scene was very quiet until everyone confirmed the authenticity of the Star Moon Fruit, and then it completely erupted into excitement. Watching Lin Shikang laugh heartily, even with tears brimming in his eyes, Lin Tianming also felt extreme excitement. Seeing the thrilled expressions on everyone¡¯s faces and recalling their own nerves stretched tight during those days and the moments seeking a lifeline on the verge of death, they felt that their efforts were entirely worthwhile. They were even immensely relieved that they had made the right decision and that their hard work had paid off accordingly. Soon, the crowd calmed down from their euphoria, and Lin Shilu continued with what happened next. Upon learning that he traded a Star Moon Fruit for a thread of survival, everyone looked relieved, showing not the slightest hint of regret for the loss. ¡°Shilu, you both did well. In such a moment of crisis, even if you had to throw away everything, it was necessary!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shihua chimed in as well. ¡°Yes¡­ having life is better than any treasure!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, recalling the situation at the time, knowing that if one Star Moon Fruit couldn¡¯t resolve the crisis, he would not hesitate to throw away the rest to secure a chance at life. He himself wasn¡¯t afraid of death, but given that Lin Tianming was with him, if they had died in the Secret Realm, the loss to the family would certainly exceed a Star Moon Fruit. Considering his own talent and the potential he had demonstrated, not to mention the Star Moon Fruit, even for a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, he would naturally give it up without hesitation. Bringing his mind back to the present, Lin Shilu changed the topic and said, ¡°Elders, although our journey to the Secret Realm was treacherous, the outcome was very satisfying, and it wasn¡¯t in vain that Tian Ming and I walked through the gates of death twice!¡± Before the words had even finished, Lin Tianming also interjected, saying: ¡°Indeed¡­ we must quickly transplant the White Jade Grass seedlings. Although they may not all survive, even if a single plant does, it could create one or two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the future!¡± After saying this, Lin Shilu handed over all the White Jade Grass seedlings to Lin Shihua and gave the mature White Jade Grass to Lin Tianming to prepare him to refine the Foundation Establishment Pills for storage within the clan. Lin Tianming accepted the fifteen mature White Jade Grass plants. Now that his success rate in refining Second Order lower-grade elixirs was quite high, such precious elixirs naturally had to be refined by him. However, he planned to enter secluded cultivation for a time. After breaking through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, he would practice refining some elixirs to warm up before he began refining the Foundation Establishment Pills, to make the process as foolproof as possible. After arranging for the White Jade Grass, Lin Shilu subsequently took out several prepared storage bags, which contained the spiritual objects they had obtained during this period. However, the treasures beneficial to them had already been picked out and distributed. Apart from the Second Order Magical Artifacts and elixirs, there were not many valuable items left, but the quantity was exceptionally vast, a rare find for the clan¡¯s Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. Lin Shilu passed the storage bags to Lin Shihua, then spoke: ¡°Twelfth Brother, these items were acquired by Tian Ming and myself in the Secret Realm. Apart from the Second Order Magical Artifacts and elixirs which are prepared for you, the rest will be unconditionally turned over to the clan.¡± As soon as Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Shikang first took the storage bags. After a sweep with his Divine Sense, he found that the treasures inside were numerous, and their value was not at all insignificant. Lin Shikang handed the storage bags to Lin Shihua and said: ¡°Shilu, let Shihua deposit these treasures into the clan¡¯s treasury. Besides the Spirit Stones you spent on purchasing White Jade Grass, the clan will reward you with thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and Tian Ming with twenty thousand. How does that sound?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shilu began to refuse. ¡°Elder Brother, there¡¯s no need for a reward. We already obtained plenty from our trip; this is something we willingly offer to the clan!¡± ¡°Yes, Third Grandfather¡­ Tian Ming and Fifteenth Grandfather don¡¯t lack Spirit Stones. Let¡¯s forego the rewards!¡± Lin Tianming also chimed in. In the Secret Realm, they had each gathered tens of thousands of Spirit Stones from several storage bags they had picked up, along with many treasures. At present, they were not in need of Spirit Stones or cultivation elixirs. As for the clan¡¯s rewards, they had no intention of accepting them before they made their offer, let alone after. Hearing the response from Lin Tianming and the others, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression turned serious as he said: ¡°How could that be acceptable? You¡¯ve already done so much for the clan, it¡¯s only right if you¡¯d accept regardless of the amount!¡± ¡°Stop being so formal. Over the years, you two have toiled and traveled far for the clan, gone through numerous skirmishes, and established countless merits. No matter how small, do not refuse this token of appreciation!¡± ¡°Moreover, now that the clan has the income from Luoyun Market and Luoyun Pavilion, we¡¯re not in the same financial strain as before!¡± Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong, due to their status, did not speak much, but they also persuaded Lin Shilu to accept, while suggesting that Tian Ming¡¯s reward be skipped since he was already wealthy and did not require much. ¡°What do you think, Tian Ming?¡± Lin Shilu left the decision to him, and Lin Tianming hesitated. Faced with Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua¡¯s stern expressions, he was at a loss for words. ¡°This¡­ this¡­ alright then!¡± With Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua persistently persuading, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming had no choice but to accept the reward situation. In the end, Lin Shilu took out a storage bag containing the Second Order Pills and several Second Order Magical Artifacts. He handed the storage bag to Lin Shihua, then said: ¡°Shihua, these Second Order Magical Artifacts are exquisite treasures, used by cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. When you have time, distribute them to Ninth Brother and Xing Yuan!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ then I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of Xing Yuan and the others!¡± Lin Shihua, not one to be overly courteous, accepted the storage bag on behalf of the clan members who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, promising to pass it on to them. ¡°Heh heh¡­ I only have one Attack Talisman myself, previously used by a Jin Family Cultivator, indeed its power is quite ordinary. With this Second Order Magical Artifact, my strength can also increase somewhat!¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Faced with Lin Shihua murmuring to himself, everyone smiled knowingly, and securely stored their treasures away. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 286 - 192 Breakthrough_1 Chapter 286: Chapter 192 Breakthrough_1 The matter of contributing treasures came to a conclusion, and everyone was in high spirits, sitting down to enjoy tea and chit-chatting about the Star Moon Fruit. Lin Shilu picked up the teacup, took a slight sip, and then asked about Lin Shikang¡¯s plans. Lin Shikang gave a bitter smile, then began to speak, ¡°I am currently at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, it was only with the help of a Hun Tian Pill that I broke through five years ago, and only five years have passed since then, and it¡¯s still uncertain when I¡¯ll enter the Great Perfection Realm, maybe one or two years, or it could take up to ten years, it¡¯s too early to talk about this now!¡± ¡°What¡¯s more important is, it¡¯s not so easy to break through to the Golden Core Stage, and just preparing for it takes a considerable amount of time. Your cultivation is increasing rapidly; I expect it won¡¯t take twenty years for you to attempt breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. And this Star Moon Fruit, let¡¯s leave it for Shilu and Tianming!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, it was clear he planned to give the opportunity to break through to the Golden Core to those with a higher probability of success, Lin Shilu or Lin Tianming. ... His reasoning was indeed sound. After all, Lin Shilu was not yet ninety years old and had already reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, not far from the Seventh Level. Once he breaks through, he could then use the Hun Tian Pill to break through another realm. If all went well, there was indeed a very high probability of him attempting to impact the Golden Core Stage within twenty years. Although Lin Tianming was not yet thirty years old and only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, his cultivation speed was unbelievably fast. With his talent, it was very possible he would be ready to impact the Golden Core Stage within thirty years. From the perspective of potential, the probability of Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was indeed higher than Lin Shikang¡¯s, especially for Tianming, who had at least a seventy percent chance, provided there were no accidents. In this light, entrusting this heavy hope to the more promising Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu was also a prudent approach. The family would just need to wait longer and plan more meticulously. Although the emergence of a Golden Core Stage family member would be delayed, this arrangement offered a greater assurance. Those who were aware of the situation said nothing, and the room fell into silence. Lin Tianming too was thinking about this matter, though he was not particularly concerned about the hard-won Star Moon Fruit. He was well aware that although Lin Shikang was over a hundred years old, that age was not considered old, and the probability of breaking through with the help of the Star Moon Fruit was not low. It was just that he felt too much pressure, wanting to give this rare opportunity to a clan member with a better grasp on success. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Third Grandfather, you should break through to the Great Perfection Realm as soon as possible and then attempt the Golden Core Stage with the Star Moon Fruit. If we delay for decades, it may become even more difficult to break through.¡± As soon as he finished, Lin Shilu also began to persuade. ¡°That¡¯s right, Third Brother¡­ Tianming and I share the same view. Even if you fail, at the worst, we can wait a few more decades. With Tianming¡¯s talent and cultivation, it¡¯s completely worth the wait!¡± Soon, others like Lin Shigong also started to agree. Seeing the clan members all speaking up and persuading, and even Lin Shilu indicating that if he failed to break through, it would be okay if their generation never progressed beyond the Foundation Establishment Stage, Lin Shikang was deeply comforted and also quite fearful at hearing this. To say he didn¡¯t want to break through to the Golden Core Stage would be a lie; no one would easily give up that slim chance of breakthrough, and he felt the same. And breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would not only fulfill the centuries-old aspirations of the family but also double his lifespan, allowing him to live up to five hundred years. If he found an elixir that could extend life, he might even be able to protect the family for several hundred years. It was because of this that he dared not gamble with the family¡¯s fate on this hard-won opportunity. At this point, Lin Shikang let out a rueful smile, then spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s too early to discuss this now. Let¡¯s wait until I reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection before we decide. What do you all think?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, though it sounded like he might be buying time, he hadn¡¯t outright refused, showing some signs of relenting. Lin Shilu chuckled and then adopted a serious demeanor, ¡°Then, for now, let¡¯s follow Third Brother¡¯s words. However, I have to make it clear upfront, you better not slack off. Although it seems calm now, and the family is thriving, no one can be certain when a crisis might arise. Don¡¯t let it be that when the moment of danger comes, our opportunity is lost because our cultivation was insufficient!¡± ¡°Indeed, Third Grandfather¡­¡± Lin Tianming smiled and then sternly said, ¡°Our ancestors broke through to the Golden Core Stage at the age of one hundred and sixty, and you are not even one hundred and thirty years old. Even if you delay for another twenty years, would you still not be younger than the ancestor at that time?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words elicited laughter from the clan members, and Grandfather Lin Shigong also joined in, ¡°Third Brother¡­ listen to this, wasn¡¯t it even harder for our ancestor all alone? And yet he managed to do it. Now with the substantial support of the family, you shouldn¡¯t have any psychological burdens!¡± After this, the usually silent Lin Shihua chimed in. ¡°Exactly¡­ if you ask me, with this Star Moon Fruit, Third Brother¡¯s probability to break through to the Golden Core Stage is at least forty percent or more, which is much higher than what our ancestor had.¡± Listening to his clan members, a fierce fire ignited deep inside Lin Shikang, and his conviction seemed to become even firmer. Lin Shikang stood up, bowed with cupped hands to everyone present, and then confidently said, ¡°Very well¡­ since everyone has such faith in me, I will borrow your auspicious words and give it my best effort!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ that¡¯s more like it¡­¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 287 - 192 Breakthrough_2 Chapter 287: Chapter 192 Breakthrough_2 Lin Shilu chuckled, and everyone¡¯s faces were filled with excitement; the entire scene was bustling and lively. Shortly after a brief chat of half an hour, they exchanged information about some clan affairs and then left with cupped fists. Before leaving, Lin Shikang instructed him and Lin Shilu to stay in the clan for a few years of cultivation. Lin Xingping would be stationed in Qianchuan Market for several years. With Luoyun Pavilion establishing a foothold, their presence there would no longer make much difference. As for his task, it was, of course, to focus on cultivation and the preparation of Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, the family already had quite a few members above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, all waiting for the Foundation Establishment Pills for breakthrough. Both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu nodded and agreed to this matter, as it was a good opportunity for cultivation. In the end, Lin Tianming and his two grandchildren left the cave dwelling together, heading toward his father¡¯s dwelling. ... With the secret realm journey over, Lin Tianming would also likely stay within the clan for long-term cultivation for a few years. However, before starting his seclusion, he would first reunite with his family and then commence closed-door cultivation and the preparation of Foundation Establishment Pills. That night, upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s safe return, his mother and sister hurriedly came out of seclusion. Seeing Lin Tianming return unharmed, his mother¡¯s worried heart could finally relax. From his departure to Qianchuan Market to now, after not seeing him for two years, his mother¡¯s cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, not far from the Great Perfection Realm. Following this rate of cultivation, she would likely make a move to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage within three years. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And his sister had seized a spot amongst the Qi Refining Seven Champions. With the resources provided by her grandfather and brother Lin Tianming, she had made rapid progress in the past two years, also reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Level, becoming one of the fastest cultivating women of the Tian generation in the clan. With the current cultivation levels of the mother and daughter, plus an abundance of resources, it was highly probable they could impact the Foundation Establishment Stage together. In the evening, the family of five finished their dinner and sat in the small courtyard chatting about everything from clan members to cultivation and even to the Four Arts of Cultivation, talking for quite some time. In the two years he had been stationed in Qianchuan Market, apart from sending serpent eggs and Spirit Stones back to the clan and quickly returning from the last secret realm affair, he had no time to attend to the clan¡¯s internal matters. Listening to the others, the selection of the Qi Refining Seven Champions had taken place last year. Except for the Great Perfection slot, which was secured by Lin Xingzhi, the six slots from the Fourth to Ninth Layer of Qi Refining were all taken by members of the Tian generation. Lin Tianfeng was the one who obtained the Ninth Layer slot, while Lin Tianqin took the Eighth Layer. It was a pity for Lin Tianhong; although also at the Eighth Layer, he was a year older than Lin Tianqin and had to concede. Despite his likely superior strength at the same realm, as a male member of the clan, it was difficult for him to challenge her. And Lin Tianyue, his sister, won the Seventh Layer slot. Now that she had broken through to the Eighth Layer, Lin Tianqin no longer had a chance past this year, especially since Lin Tianyue, his sister, was seven years younger than this elder sister of the Tian generation. As for the clan members below the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, apart from Lin Tianhu at the Sixth Level being a familiar face, the rest started cultivation after the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain and all had the talent of Three Spiritual Roots, also all exceptionally talented young cultivators. With lesser hardships in their cultivation journey and the clan doubling the monthly stipend and merit points for services over the past ten years, the resources for the new generation¡¯s cultivation significantly increased. With resource assistance, their pace of cultivation was much faster than during the times of Lin Tianfeng and his peers. This is the result of the clan¡¯s strength; they were also fortunate to live in a good era where the resources for cultivators in the clan currently far exceeded those of the other two major clans by several times. At this rate, the disparity between the three major clans of Luoyun Mountain would only grow wider and wider. Before they knew it, the night grew quiet¡­ The casual conversation was drawing to a close, and Lin Tianming took out a large number of Spirit Stones and elixirs to distribute to his family members. He did not share the petals and seeds of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus with his grandfather and father, not because he was stingy, but because there were too few of them. Moreover, since he practised Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, it would have the greatest effect if he used them himself. Seeing the vast number of Spirit Stones Lin Tianming brought out¡ªtotally thirty thousand¡ªand more than ten bottles of Second Order Pills, as well as some Qi Refinement elixirs for his sister and mother to use. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s current cultivation and wealth, probably only Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu could surpass him. Under such circumstances, his grandfather did not refuse, and each of them accepted some Spirit Stones and elixirs before putting an end to their chat. After his grandfather gave several words of advice, they finally got up to leave his father¡¯s small courtyard. The two grandchildren walked on the road, then parted ways at the empty Bluestone Plaza, each returning to their own cave dwellings. Lin Tianming entered the training room, sat on the meditation cushion, and reflected on his cultivation schedule. After experiencing trials in adversity, he felt that he was not far from the third level of Foundation Establishment, and decided to attempt a breakthrough first. With his mind made up, he began to cultivate and breathe deeply, rotating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and when his condition reached its peak, he immediately took out a petal of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and held it in his hand. Looking at the brightly colored petal emanating bursts of special fragrance, it was refreshing and delightful to the senses. He had previously consumed lotus seeds and was extremely satisfied with the effects, and with six petals left that he had never used before, his anticipation for these petals began to rise. Regathering his focus, he swallowed the petal without hesitation. The bright petal dissolved in his mouth, a special sweetness spread, refreshing the mind and spirit. The energy from the petal was gentle and began to overflow soon after consumption, not at all violent like the lotus seeds. Lin Tianming did not hesitate to start refining it, the energy contained in the petal was slowly refined and then transformed into spiritual power that flowed along his meridians, eventually converging in his Seven Sea Dantian. Feeling the refined spiritual power and its effects, it was somewhat inferior to that of the lotus seeds, but still significantly better than the effects of Second Order Pills. Moreover, refining such heaven and earth treasures did not cause any discomfort or side effects, making the use of Dragon Bone Pills unnecessary. In light of this, even he did not want to endure the previous agonizing pain. Returning to his task, Lin Tianming did not pause and continued to cultivate at full strength, quickly refining the energy contained within the petal. Time passed slowly, and half a year went by in this way. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming was statue-like, having remained in seclusion without moving an inch for half a year. At this moment, he was at the very peak of the second layer of the Foundation Establishment, on the verge of a breakthrough at any time. During the half-year period, he had consumed three petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, and this was the fourth. Feeling that the energy of this petal was nearly refined, yet still without a successful breakthrough. Lin Tianming increased his pace, frantically refining the remaining energy, and then marshaled the immense spiritual power to mount one final assault. By now, the spiritual power in his Dantian had reached its limit; all it needed was an infusion of even greater spiritual energy to break through the shackles. With a determined expression, he controlled the accumulated vast spiritual energy, pouring it into his Qi Sea Dantian, and then began to impact the barrier of the third level of Foundation Establishment. Time and again, he sweated profusely, the accumulated spiritual energy began to wane a little, still without a successful breakthrough. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned frenzied. ¡°Today, I must break through the third level of Foundation Establishment¡­ break for me!¡± Lin Tianming gritted his teeth and concentrated all his spiritual energy together, charging madly against the realm¡¯s barrier. After an indeterminate amount of time, a peculiar sound emanated. His Qi Sea Dantian suddenly broke its restraints, like a dam bursting, and a great flood of river water poured into a vast lake or sea. Feeling the increase in spiritual power throughout his body, he was much stronger than before, and moreover, the exhilaration of the breakthrough filled him with immense excitement. Now that he had successfully broken through, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. It was not easy to make a breakthrough, and if his realm was not stable, causing a fall back, it would waste another year or two to re-cultivate. If he fell back in his realm, although he would be free from the boundaries of that realm, wasting two precious years to re-cultivate was not desirable, so naturally, he had to solidify his cultivation as soon as possible. With this in mind, he dared not be careless and instantly set out to cultivate and regulate his breath, running his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and started to consolidate his cultivation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 288 - 193: Foundation Establishment Pill Success_1 Chapter 288: Chapter 193: Foundation Establishment Pill Success_1 Half a month later. Inside the training room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing briefly through his clear gaze. Sensing the formidable strength after his breakthrough, he stood up and clenched his fists, his true yuan swiftly circulating throughout his body. ¡°Crack, crackle¡­¡± The sounds of bones vibrating and popping resonated, his spiritual power flowing extremely smoothly throughout his body. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile knowingly and began to talk to himself. ... ¡°This Third Level of Foundation Establishment is indeed much stronger than the Second Layer, my strength has doubled, and I should be able to hold my own against a cultivator at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment without falling into a disadvantage,¡± he mused. Previously in the secret realm, he had already sparred with Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts and had not fallen into a disadvantage either. According to his judgment, after breaking through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, relying on a few Second Order magical artifacts and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in his hands, he would not be at much of a disadvantage when fighting against cultivators below the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment. However, this was just a rough estimate, after all, there were many core disciples from great sects whose talents were even higher than his, and they possessed a multitude of precious treasures, capable of unleashing even more formidable power. Regaining his composure, he tidied up the training room before walking out. As he walked, he pondered his future cultivation plans. Now that he had successfully broken through, and as he would not be leaving the clan¡¯s territory for a short time, it was naturally time to start preparing to forge Foundation Establishment Pills. For half a year, the family had been collecting auxiliary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill, which were not considered extremely rare. Over the years, the family had acquired quite a few spiritual medicines, and now they were fully capable of gathering them together. Moreover, there were already clan members who met the requirements for impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, so forging Foundation Establishment Pills had become a matter of urgency. Thinking of this, he changed direction and flew towards the towering mountains behind the main peak. The Purple Gold Eagle had reached the First Order Peak Period a while ago, and when he returned to the clan after the secret realm had ended, he had intended to help it break through to the Second Order, making future travels faster and safer. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at the valley where he once practiced his divine skills. Looking at a huge cave on the side of the mountain, he called out loudly, and the Purple Gold Eagle quickly flew over and landed in front of him, rubbing its enormous beak against his clothes in an almost comical manner. Lin Tianming caressed its feathers, with a doting expression on his face. The Purple Gold Eagle had been with him for nearly ten years, and as the gap in their combat abilities grew wider, although it hadn¡¯t provided much help in battle, it had been quite useful shuttling through various markets and mountain ranges over the years. One could say that the Purple Gold Eagle had contributed significantly not just to him, but to the entire family as well. From any perspective, helping it break through to the Second Order was only right and proper. With these thoughts, he patted his storage bag and took out two gray-white demon cores. Advancing as a demonic beast was even harder than for cultivators. The Purple Gold Eagle had consumed many First Order demon beast inner pills before, and its realm growth had been quite slow. Fortunately, they had long lifespans, and with these two Second Order demon cores, coupled with some demon beast corpses and blood, it should be enough to help it break through to the Second Order. At this moment, seeing the two Second Order Initial Stage demon beast inner pills in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s eyes gleamed, clearly impatient. It excitedly screeched, seemingly aware that Lin Tianming was going to help it break through, and began rubbing its beak against his clothes again. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming touched the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s slightly golden feathers, finally calming it down. Over the years, he had traveled far and wide and been through many great battles. During his journey in the secret realm, he had also obtained many Second Order demon cores. Among them, the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s inner core was at the Second Order Late Phase, and it was the only Second Order Late Phase inner core he had. Beyond that, Lin Shilu had given him two of the Second Order Middle Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast inner pills, and during the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s great battle, he had acquired three Second Order Middle Stage Tianluan Turtle inner pills, as well as numerous Second Order Initial Stage inner pills. With more than ten Second Order monster beast inner pills at hand, including several Second Order Middle Stage demon cores, he had plenty. With so many demon beast inner pills, as well as a considerable number of demonic beast corpses and blood, it was more than enough to help the Purple Gold Eagle advance to the Second Order Middle or Late Phase. Lin Tianming chuckled and took out several portions of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body, tossing them to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle, thrilled, swallowed the monster serpent¡¯s body in one gulp and then eagerly fixed its gaze on the two demon cores in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Seeing this, Lin Tianming laughed and teasingly chided: ¡°Hey hey¡­ after eating so many good things, if you can¡¯t advance to the Second Order, watch how I¡¯ll deal with you.¡± Without waiting for the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s reaction, he threw the two demon beast inner pills straight to it. The Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t hesitate to gulp down the two Second Order demon beast inner pills, unfazed by the risk of the explosive energy from the cores potentially bursting its body. ¡°This bird¡­ truly worthy of being a demonic beast!¡± Lin Tianming laughed and cursed. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator were to swallow these Second Order inner cores whole, they would certainly lose their life, and even a Golden Core Cultivator could suffer serious injuries or be on the verge of death. Yet, the path to advancement for demonic beasts was so simple and brutal¡ªeither the bodies of cultivators or heavenly treasures, as well as demonic beasts¡¯ bodies and inner cores, were all consumed directly. Relying on their unique natural gifts, they could easily convert it to the energy needed for their breakthroughs. Coming to his senses, the Purple Gold Eagle took Lin Tianming around Green Bamboo Mountain for a flight, and finally, they returned to the original spot. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to immediately start refining the demon beast inner pills and to break through to the Second Order as soon as possible. The Purple Gold Eagle screeched a few times, conveying a sense of utter confidence. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 289 - 193: The Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_2 Chapter 289: Chapter 193: The Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_2 Lin Tianming nodded, then left the familiar small valley without looking back and headed to the Hall of Merit. It wasn¡¯t long before he saw Lin Xingcheng, and the two sat opposite each other, making small talk. Lin Tianming chuckled, then teased Lin Xingcheng by saying, ¡°Uncle, having not seen you for a few years, you must be close to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?¡± Lin Xingcheng laughed wryly, then responded, ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. Although with your alchemy skills, it won¡¯t take long to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, but looking at the current situation, it seems like it will take at least a few years of preparation for a successful breakthrough!¡± Hearing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement¡ªmore preparation was definitely safer; unless absolutely necessary, rushing a breakthrough was indeed dangerous. ... After exchanging a few more words, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s tone shifted, already anticipating the purpose of Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. As the Clan Leader of the Hall of Merit and one of the high-ranking members of the clan, he was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s return to the clan and the White Jade Grass he had brought with him. Moreover, half a year earlier, the Clan Leader had instructed him to gather the auxiliary herbs for more than ten batches of Foundation Establishment Pills in the shortest time possible, clearly intending to refine Foundation Establishment Pills without doubt. Knowing this, he was immensely excited; the Minor Foundation Building Pills that Lin Tianming had obtained earlier, after being distributed by the clan, left no more exchange quotas for the Xing clan members. Now that the clan had obtained White Jade Grass and had the capability to refine it, they would have more effective Foundation Establishment Pills to use; even if the exchange for Merit Points was higher, clan members would prioritize the Foundation Establishment Pills over the Minor Foundation Building Pills. After all, the Minor Foundation Building Pills could only increase the chances of breakthrough by twenty percent, while Foundation Establishment Pills could reach fifty percent, a significantly better outcome. With this in mind, for their own successful breakthrough, most would choose the Foundation Establishment Pills first, unless clan members who lacked enough Merit Points would opt for the Minor Foundation Building Pills. Regaining his composure, Lin Xingcheng, looking excited, greeted Lin Tianming and then headed straight to the storeroom. In a short while, he came out with a storage bag, which he then handed to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the storage bag and swept it with his Divine Sense, confirming the count and medicinal properties of the fifteen batches of Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯s auxiliary herbs met the refining requirements. After the handover was complete, Lin Xingcheng began to give additional instructions. ¡°Tianming, the Clan Leader has instructed that once you refine the Foundation Establishment Pills, aside from contributing thirty percent to the clan, keep three for yourself, and if there are more Foundation Establishment Pills, exchange them all at the Family Merits Hall¡ªthe clan will repurchase each one for thirty thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded and accepted the task. In fact, even if the clan didn¡¯t mention it, he would have done the same, for Foundation Establishment Pills were tremendously valuable and fundamental to a clan. Even if the surplus Foundation Establishment Pills were his, he wouldn¡¯t let them out of the clan. He couldn¡¯t forget the scene of the family¡¯s plight over a decade ago, nor the history of the sacrifices of many ancestors for a single Foundation Establishment Pill. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger long. After bidding farewell to Lin Xingcheng, he headed to the Alchemy Hall. Soon, he arrived inside the Alchemy Hall. At the moment, Lin Shigong was teaching a few young clan members about alchemy. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t disturb them and stood quietly to the side, waiting. Finally, after the grandfather dispatched the youngsters, they found a spot to sit down, drink tea, and chat casually. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup, enjoying the rich aroma of the Spiritual Tea, the unique taste lingering in his mouth. ¡°Not bad¡­ This Spiritual Tea is excellent!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed, then said, ¡°Grandfather, I plan to start refining the Foundation Establishment Pills and would like to borrow the Three Star Furnace. My Four Symbols Furnace is somewhat lacking in grade. Although it is not unusable, it would still be advantageous to increase the success rate of the pill formation as much as possible!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s request, Lin Shigong promptly took out a fiery red Pill Furnace, which was the very Three Star Furnace he had used for many years. Lin Shigong handed the Three Star Furnace to Lin Tianming and then asked, ¡°You¡¯re starting the refining so soon, kid?¡± ¡°If you need this old man¡¯s help, just say the word. I¡¯ve got plenty of time. Although my alchemy skills aren¡¯t as good as yours, I¡¯ve got no problem assisting you!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and quickly replied, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ve got it under control. With the Three Star Furnace, I have even greater confidence. You should take this opportunity to go into seclusion and strive to break through to the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming decline his offer graciously, Lin Shigong didn¡¯t insist. After a few simple admonishments, Lin Tianming finally got up, bowed with cupped hands. Having bid farewell to his grandfather and leaving the Alchemy Hall, he returned to his own cave dwelling. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he sat cross-legged on the ground, running his cultivation techniques to breathe and adjust his condition. When his condition reached its peak, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t immediately begin refining but took out a large number of Jade Slips and books, all of them containing Pill Formulas and Alchemy Experiences. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed an Alchemy Experience in hand and began to ruminate and comprehend it. Although he had already gone over these experiences several times and knew their contents by heart, when it came to refining Foundation Establishment Pills, he preferred to be more meticulous; producing one more pill might result in one more Foundation Establishment Cultivator. In such circumstances, it was only natural to be cautious, striving for perfection without fail. Several days quickly passed by. Lin Tianming reviewed all the Pill Formulas and Alchemy Experiences in his possession, whether they were for Second Order or Third Order Alchemists, all over again. COMMENT 0 comment Vote sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 290 - 193: Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_3 Chapter 290: Chapter 193: Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_3 Although he had reviewed it many times, each time he delved into it, he felt his understanding of the Alchemy Dao deepened. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s an illusion or if there really is progress!¡± After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming then put all of the pill formulas and insights into his storage bag. Having done that, he began the preparations for alchemy, taking out a complete set of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials and placing them on the stone platform beside him, sorted into different categories. Next, he checked the Earth Fire and the Pill Furnace. After making sure all the details were perfect, he began to adjust his state. It was unclear how much time had passed, but he eventually reached his peak condition. ... All was ready except for the right opportunity! Lin Tianming opened his eyes, formed seals with his hands, and struck the Earth Fire¡¯s vent with a Law Decree. As the Earth Fire erupted, the temperature in the Pill Refining Room began to slowly rise. He placed the Three Star Furnace above the Earth Fire, starting the various preparations for alchemy. When the temperature inside the Three Star Furnace reached a critical point, he immediately took out a piece of Spiritual Medicine Material and tossed it into the furnace to begin the basic decomposition process. The procedure was the same as for other elixirs; he had already successfully refined numerous Second Order Pills, so decomposing these auxiliary medicines wasn¡¯t difficult. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, after over an hour of intense decomposition, each Spiritual Medicine Material and Spirit Fruit was processed. At the bottom of the Three Star Furnace, a mass of multicolored Elixir Essence lay there. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead and gazed at the liquid essence of the Spiritual Medicine, showing a satisfied expression. With the auxiliary medicines decomposed, the main medicine, White Jade Grass, was left to be processed. He looked at the Spirit Grass with a jade-like sheen and took a deep breath. This White Jade Grass had cost him 11,000 Spirit Stones to purchase from Long Hai; its value was certainly not low. After a brief distraction, he quickly regained his calm and resolutely threw the White Jade Grass into the Three Star Furnace. At that moment, he opened his Eye of Five Colors to observe the White Jade Grass inside the Three Star Furnace, focusing his Divine Sense to start the decomposition. Half a day passed. Inside the Three Star Furnace, the Elixir Essence had grown larger in volume and changed dramatically in color, becoming a mix of blue and white that looked akin to a piece of Supreme Quality jade. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. With all the Spiritual Medicine Materials decomposed, the next crucial step was the Solidifying Pill. He took a deep breath and formed a Single-handed Seal, then struck the Earth Fire¡¯s vent with another Law Decree. A soft sound followed, and the Earth Fire burst forth, raising the temperature in the Three Star Furnace by another notch. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became serious, attentively sensing every change inside the Three Star Furnace. When the temperature seemed right, he slapped the Three Star Furnace with his palm, and a burst of Spiritual Power shot out from his hand into the furnace and disappeared without a trace. ¡°Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡­¡± A few noises sounded out, marking the completion of Infusion of Spirit. While controlling the Earth Fire¡¯s temperature, he murmured to himself. ¡°Solidify the pill!¡± In an instant, a distinct sound echoed, followed by a few crisp crackles from within the Pill Furnace. The noise suggested that the pills might have shattered. Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed, showing an expression of distress. As the noise subsided, he promptly lifted the lid off the furnace to look inside. He saw a pile of residue mixed with some broken pieces of a pill, emitting an unpleasant odor. He picked up a fragment of the failed elixir, holding it carefully in his hand to ponder over. ¡°This Foundation Establishment Pill is indeed difficult; failure to control the temperature and timing of the infusion of spirit led to the failure of the alchemy process!¡± Lin Tianming talked to himself, thereafter contemplating the reasons for failure in his mind and summarizing the issues to watch out for next time. The entire process of this batch of pills was smooth; the decomposition and purification were done meticulously¡ªhow could it have failed? Lin Tianming wore a puzzled expression as he recalled the entire procedure and pondered over the reasons for the failure. ¡°It seems that during the pill solidification, the timing of the spirit infusion and the Earth Fire didn¡¯t match, leading to the failure of this batch!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, quickly pinpointing the problem. ¡°Let¡¯s try another furnace and hope for success!¡± Though the first batch had failed, he was not discouraged at all. After all, it was his first attempt at producing this pill, and failure was nothing unusual. Moreover, although the Foundation Establishment Pill was classified as a Second Order Inferior Grade Pill, the difficulty of its refinement could rival many Second Order Medium Quality pills. After clearing out the wasted residue, he took out another set of Spiritual Medicine Materials and placed them on the stone platform. Once that was done, he began to recuperate until his condition peaked before continuing to refine. ¡°Materials are hard to come by; they must be refined successfully soon so as not to waste them. This complete set of materials cost more than 10,000 Spirit Stones!¡± he muttered to himself, thinking in his heart. Half a day later, Lin Tianming recovered, and once again, he plunged into the intensive alchemy process. With the lesson learned from the first failure, he was extra careful with the second furnace, striving to perfect every step. The entire process went smoothly, as familiar as the path beneath one¡¯s feet, with each step of decomposition, purification, and the control of infusion and Earth Fire right on point. His efforts bore fruit; his cultivation made a breakthrough, and aided by the Eye of Five Colors, he succeeded in solidifying the pills in the second furnace. In the Pill Refining Room at that moment, a unique fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace. Not caring about his sweaty forehead and weary expression, he quickly lifted off the furnace lid. He saw three pills with a blue and white hue suspended inside the furnace, immediately taking one out and comparing it with the Pill Formula, examining it in great detail. ¡°After careful verification, this is undoubtedly a finished product. I just don¡¯t know how effective it is yet!¡± Lin Tianming thought excitedly, his face expressing immense joy. The process of refining two batches of Foundation Establishment Pills¡ªfailing the first and succeeding the second¡ªcould be considered a smooth start. Though he usually managed to produce about five pills of Second Order Inferior Grade elixirs, and this batch only yielded three, considering the difficulty of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Tianming was still extremely satisfied. He placed the three Foundation Establishment Pills into a prepared Jade Bottle, then began to recuperate, waiting for his condition to recover before starting to forge ahead and refine a few more batches. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 291 - 194 Announcement of News_1 Chapter 291: Chapter 194 Announcement of News_1 One day later. As his condition recovered, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and took out three plump Foundation Establishment Pills, looking overjoyed. Feeling that his state was just right, he planned to refine a few more batches of elixirs, striving to improve both the pill concoction rate and the number of successful pills. Having made up his mind, he took out another portion of Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill and began pill refining. Familiar with the procedure, one by one, the Spiritual Medicine Materials were decomposed and purified into differently colored liquid essences, which settled at the bottom of the Three Star Furnace, waiting for the infusion of spirit and pill solidification. Two months hurried by. ... In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming looked at the seventeen Jade Bottles laid out before him, his expression quite satisfied. Since he had entered the Pill Refining Room for secluded cultivation, nearly three months had passed. The difficulty of refining Foundation Establishment Pills was not small; only three to four batches could be refined each month. Forcing more could affect both the rate of pill success and the number of pills, so he wasn¡¯t in a rush. He proceeded carefully and steadily, always waiting to return to his peak condition before starting on the next batch of elixirs. After all, the auxiliary herbs for Foundation Establishment Pills were the lesser concern, but the main herb, White Jade Grass, was limited. Wasting one meant one less available; refining an extra one could potentially create another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the clan. Under such cautious conditions, he successfully refined four batches from seven portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, yielding a total of seventeen Foundation Establishment Pills, all of good quality. While not reaching the highest quality, they were still quite rare. With these seventeen Foundation Establishment Pills, even if the restrictions were completely lifted, the clan wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Foundation Establishment for its members for the next ten years. Contemplating this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became ecstatic as he put the Jade Bottles into his storage bag, then tidied up, preparing to end this period of pill refining. The reason he was emerging from seclusion now, aside from having addressed the urgent need for Foundation Establishment Pills, was because he wanted to save half of the Spiritual Medicine Materials until he became a Second Order Medium Quality or Second Order Superior Alchemist before continuing refining. By then, if he could refine top-quality Foundation Establishment Pills, the medicinal power within them would be stronger, increasing the odds of breakthrough just a bit. And that slim chance, in many instances, could change a person¡¯s destiny. Back then, when Lin Shixin was breaking through to Foundation Establishment, if he had used such a pill, his odds of success would have greatly increased, with at least a sixty to seventy percent chance of entering the Foundation Establishment Realm. Regrettably, the clan¡¯s resources were insufficient at the time, and even the Minor Foundation Building Pill was their last lifeline. Under the pressure of formidable enemies and advancing age, they had no choice but to stake everything on one gamble. Under the same age constraints, Lin Shigong seized that final opportunity, breaking through at the last moment and thus changing his own fate. Recalling Lin Shixin¡¯s unruly character and his amiable face, always fooling around and joking with him, and the many times he had offered assistance, Lin Tianming¡¯s bright eyes were filled with a reflective look. His thoughts returning, he sighed helplessly. ¡°Perhaps this is destiny; it¡¯s such a pity for Tenth Uncle.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Listening to his own sigh echoing in the Pill Refining Room brought him back to reality. Having tidied up the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming then left his cave residence and headed towards the Family Merits Hall. Soon, he met Lin Xingcheng. The two of them sat opposite each other, exchanging greetings, and then Lin Tianming directly took out fifteen Jade Bottles and passed them to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took a bottle and opened it, his breathing becoming hurried at once. Even though he knew he would eventually see the real Foundation Establishment Pills and was also preparing to exchange Merit Points for them, the sight of these actual elixirs still thrilled him immensely. Seeing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s excited expression, Lin Tianming spoke up, ¡°Uncle, out of the fifteen portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, seven have been refined. The rest will be continued after my alchemy skills have further improved.¡± After speaking, he passed a storage bag containing the remaining eight portions of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took some time to calm down before taking the storage bag and checking its contents. He then said, ¡°The fifteen Foundation Establishment Pills you¡¯ve given are for the clan, fulfilling the requirements. These remaining eight portions of materials, strictly speaking, belong to you personally.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t refuse and said, ¡°These Spiritual Medicine Materials are extremely valuable and unsafe to carry on me. I will leave them with the clan for safekeeping and will come to collect them when I plan to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.¡± After he spoke, Lin Xingcheng put away the storage bag and personally assured that he would take good care of the materials and report honestly to the Clan Leader. Lin Tianming nodded, and after a few more casual words, he said his goodbyes and left. Watching Lin Tianming depart, Lin Xingcheng hurriedly took the Foundation Establishment Pills that Lin Tianming had brought to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly to report in person. He soon arrived at the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. At that moment, Lin Shihua was discussing something with several clan members. After giving a few instructions, he turned around. Seeing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s arrival, Lin Shihua seemed a bit surprised, chuckled, and asked, ¡°Xingcheng, what brings you here today? It¡¯s not yet the day for the monthly report, is it?¡± Lin Xingcheng stepped forward and respectfully bowed, then took out the storage bag Lin Tianming had given him and handed it to Lin Shihua for inspection. Lin Shihua furrowed his brow, wondering what could have happened so recently, but when he saw the Foundation Establishment Pills inside the storage bag, his breathing immediately quickened. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 292 - 194 Announcement of News_2 Chapter 292: Chapter 194 Announcement of News_2 Several breaths of time passed, Lin Shihua calmed down before instructing, ¡°Xingcheng, I will temporarily keep the Foundation Establishment Pill. After I discuss it with the Third Brother and the others, I will message you, and then we can announce the exchange price.¡± ¡°By the Clan Leader¡¯s decree.¡± Lin Xingcheng respectfully complied, then cupped his fist and left the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. At this point, Lin Tianming had already returned to his own cave dwelling. He sat cross-legged in the secret chamber, pondering his next arrangements. Over the past few years, he had been running around everywhere: markets, taking part in secret realms, refining pills for the Luoyun Pavilion and the clan, indeed delaying a lot of time. ... Now that the Foundation Establishment Pill had been refined, there were enough for the clan to use for a very long time. Next, he should also go into secluded cultivation, practicing Divine Skills in his free time to exert the power of Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. There were still two petals left of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. He planned to fully refine them before going to the back mountain to practice the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. Once the Divine Skills were completely mastered, he could lead the clan¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad to train in the Luoyun Mountain Range, experiencing real combat while doing some things within his ability for the clan. Having made up his mind, he sat up straight, then started to form hand signs and ran the Cultivation Technique for a Grand Circulation. When his state reached its peak, he took out a petal of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and swallowed it. A special energy poured out, and he immediately cycled the Cultivation Technique to refine it into Spiritual Energy, eventually gathering it in the Seven Sea Dantian. Feeling the slowly increasing Spiritual Power within the Seven Sea Dantian, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful as he continued to refine. In the secret chamber, the even breathing of Lin Tianming could be heard, clearly indicating he had entered a deep state of cultivation. At the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, in the cave dwelling of Lin Shikang. A few Xing Clan Members of the Shi generation were sitting together chatting casually, with more than a dozen Jade Bottles placed in front of them¡ªthese were the Foundation Establishment Pills that Lin Tianming had refined. At the moment, the few of them had smiles on their faces, looking quite excited. Lin Shihua picked up a Foundation Establishment Pill, examined it in his hand, and then asked, ¡°The Foundation Establishment Pills that Tianming refined are of good quality. Now, there are also a few people in the clan who are prepared to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. How should these pills be distributed, and at what price shall they be exchanged?¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°In the Qianchuan Market auctions, a Foundation Establishment Pill basically goes for around thirty thousand Spirit Stones each. This price is not small pressure for those younger clan members; I¡¯m afraid the vast majority of the clanspeople won¡¯t be able to offer that much.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong also began to voice his opinion. ¡°Indeed, thirty thousand Spirit Stones is not a small amount. When I exchanged for a Minor Foundation Building Pill, I took out all the Spirit Stones I had and sold quite a few treasures before I could afford the Spirit Stones for the exchange. Those younger generations who have been cultivating for decades would still find it unaffordable, even if they took out everything they had.¡± As his words ended, Lin Shihua also spoke up, ¡°Yes, I suggest we adjust the exchange prices of all treasures. In the past, the Hall of Merit used to buy them below market price and sold them at the same price. We resorted to this last-ditch strategy because the clan was too poor.¡± ¡°Now that the clan is better than before, with extra income, let¡¯s also make an adjustment. Whether buying or exchanging, we will use the market price as the standard. For high-value treasures like the Foundation Establishment Pill, we will sell it at 80% of the price to reduce the pressure on the younger generations as much as possible.¡± Hearing the suggestions discussed by the few, Lin Shikang gave it some thought before speaking, ¡°I have no objections. On top of that, we can make some further adjustments. Those clanspeople who do not have enough Spirit Stones can first pay more than half of the Stones, and the remaining half can be repaid slowly over time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, the young ones won¡¯t have any worries now,¡± Lin Shilu chuckled. Hearing this, the rest of the group smiled knowingly and decided on the matter. Then, Lin Shikang spoke again. ¡°In half a year, Tianfeng and Tianhong¡¯s three-year term will be up,¡± Lin Shikang said. ¡°Those two should also be close to meeting the conditions for impacting the Foundation Establishment stage. It¡¯s time to call them back and prepare for their Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Then, which clanspeople should we send to Qianchuan Market for some experience?¡± Lin Shihua asked. After contemplating for a moment, Lin Shikang opened his mouth and said, ¡°Tian Qin and Tian Yue, the two girls, are quite good. One is an alchemist, and the other is a talisman maker. Their cultivation is not low, and with Xing Ping leading in the market, and the Luoyun Pavilion increasingly stable, they can indeed go there and prepare for Foundation Establishment.¡± Upon hearing this, several people nodded. The two golden flowers of the family had considerable cultivation and possessed not-to-be-snubbed skills. After cultivating for so many years, apart from joining the Monster Hunting Squad into the Luoyun Mountain Range, they had never gone out to gain experience. Taking this opportunity to visit Qianchuan Market was indeed a good choice. Lin Shihua chuckled and stored all the Foundation Establishment Pills, then said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll choose some of the clanspeople to go with Tian Yue in half a year to Qianchuan Market to replace Tianfeng and the others.¡± ¡°At that time, let Tian Ming escort them to Qianchuan Market and bring back Tianfeng and the rest.¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s arrange it this way,¡± Lin Shikang nodded and said with a smile. Once the conversation was finished, they chatted idly for a few moments and then left, each returning to their own cave dwellings. The next day, outside the main halls of the family¡¯s major institutions, notices posted attracted many clanspeople to gather around. Previously, the news about the White Jade Grass was known only to a few of the family¡¯s upper echelons. But now, the news about the Foundation Establishment Pills was made public, as was the adjusted exchange price at the Hall of Merit. The two explosive pieces of news quickly spread throughout the entire family, causing a great commotion. Outside the major institutions, the gathered clanspeople were excited and discussed the news about the Foundation Establishment Pills. The news about the Foundation Establishment Pills had all the clanspeople thrilled. With these pills, the Xing clan members saw reignited hopes for achieving Foundation Establishment. Previously, although there were three Minor Foundation Building Pills left, those were allocated to the Tian clan members. With Lin Xingping¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, the Xing clan members had already used up their quota. But now, with the even more effective Foundation Establishment Pills available without any exchange restrictions, as long as clanspeople reached Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage and were under a hundred years old, they could exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Under such circumstances, for those clanspeople above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, a mere decade or so of diligent cultivation could give them hope to breakthrough. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, the Foundation Establishment Pill was priced at an exchange rate of 24,000 spirit stones, a price that brought even more joy to the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople of the family. Before, many were worried they might meet the required cultivation level but couldn¡¯t gather enough spirit stones to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill, causing unnecessary delays. Now, with an 80% discount on the pill and the option to pre-pay half the price, meaning just 12,000 spirit stones, they could exchange for the pill in advance. With the family¡¯s twice-increased salaries, the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople now had the capability to accumulate spirit stones. For those clanspeople at the Eighth or Ninth Levels of Qi Refinement, gathering seven or eight thousand spirit stones was not difficult at all. With some borrowed spirit stones, they could quickly gather enough for the advance payment. As expected, right after the announcement regarding the exchange of Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Xingzhi was the first to find Lin Xingcheng, easily producing 12,000 spirit stones and exchanging them on the spot for the first Foundation Establishment Pill. Under the envious gaze of his fellow clanspeople, he accepted the precious pill, equally excited and ready to begin preparations for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, ready to impact the stage whenever conditions permitted. Besides Lin Xingzhi, Lin Xingcheng had also reached the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refining and was the second to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, he had just broken through to the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refining; he would need at least two to three years to consolidate before attempting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. The remaining clanspeople above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement were all like chickens injected with adrenaline, preparing to cultivate crazily, as well as accumulate the 12,000 spirit stones necessary to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Instantly, the entire family was once again caught up in a frenzy of cultivation and training, all striving desperately to advance their cultivation and accumulate spirit stones, making preparations for the future. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming knew nothing of this, still immersed in his secluded cultivation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 293 - 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_1 Chapter 293: Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_1 Three months hurried by. Inside the practice room, Lin Tianming sat upright on the cushion and then opened his eyes. ¡°Huu huu¡­¡± He exhaled a breath of foul air, then stood up and exited the secret chamber, ending his three-month cultivation. During these three months, the last two petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus he had left were also consumed and refined; thanks to his hard cultivation, his cultivation became even more solid. Although he was still far from reaching the Foundation Building Fourth Level, he was still immensely satisfied with this speed. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... The reason he was emerging now was to practice his Divine Skills, as mastering them soon would increase his strength a bit more. Having made up his mind, he left his cave dwelling and flew towards the rear mountain. In a short while, he arrived at the valley where he had practiced his Divine Skills before. Not far from the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s cave, Lin Tianming called out, but for a long period, there was no response from the Purple Gold Eagle. It seemed that the Purple Gold Eagle was sleeping or perhaps at a critical moment of breaking through to the Second Order. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t disturb it; he chose another valley not too far away and relatively quiet and began practicing his Divine Skills there. In the valley, Lin Tianming was bare-chested, revealing his explosive muscles and aesthetically-pleasing lines, drenched in sweat. He formed a Single-handed Seal, and the Law Decree slammed into the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword, strike!¡± In an instant, the surface of the Tiangang Sword in his hand glowed brightly, transforming into a phantom shadow, shooting towards a large tree a thousand feet away. ¡°Puff¡­¡± A loud noise rang out as the half yard thick tree exploded from the middle and then fell, creating a deep pit on the ground. Lin Tianming leaped over, and seeing the tree that was easily broken, he revealed a contemplative expression. The power of the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword was truly formidable, definitely the strongest Divine Skill he possessed currently. However, it consumed a lot of Spiritual Power to execute, and the casting speed wasn¡¯t fast enough; the Sword Qi was easy for the enemy to dodge. But this was just the beginning; he was still not very accustomed to it, after practicing more, he should be able to bring it to the Minor Achievement Realm and use it in combat. With these thoughts, he was not at all discouraged; on the contrary, he was full of confidence. Lin Tianming retreated a hundred yards, and then once again he wielded the Tiangang Sword, beginning to practice his Divine Skills repeatedly. Each time he would deplete all the Spiritual Power in his body, then meditate and cultivate until he fully recovered, then start practicing again. Time flew by, and another two months had passed. In the valley, Lin Tianming was sweating profusely, practicing the Tiangang Sword Qi over and over again. The Tiangang Sword in his hand flashed with silver light, turning into a phantom that streaked toward a large tree a thousand yards away. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud explosion, the entire giant tree burst apart, turning into scattered wood chips, floating through the valley like celestial flowers. Lin Tianming ceased his practice; although he appeared quite exhausted, he still had a satisfied smile on his face. After two months of arduous practice, not stepping out of the valley once, practicing Divine Skills, and waiting for the Purple Gold Eagle to break through. Unsure of how many times he had practiced, but with his efforts, the casting speed of the Tiangang Sword Qi had greatly improved, and its power and accuracy had also significantly increased, clearly reaching the Minor Achievement Realm. The current Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword, with its triple overlay, was exceptionally powerful. Having reached the Minor Achievement Realm, it was more than enough to handle cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and if he met slower enemies, he could easily kill them. Lin Tianming was very pleased, stored the Tiangang Sword away, and prepared to meditate and restore the nearly depleted Spiritual Power in his body. As he was about to turn around, a sharp screeching sound spread throughout the valley, familiar yet piercing. At the same time, an aura of the Foundation Establishment Stage rushed towards him. ¡°The Purple Gold Eagle is breaking through!¡± Upon hearing this commotion, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, not minding his fatigue, and flew towards the valley where the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s nest was located. Soon, he arrived at the valley. By then, the Purple Gold Eagle had already left its nest, emanating a strong presence. Seeing Lin Tianming come, it was extremely excited, dragging its huge body unsteadily towards him. Looking over, many feathers from the Purple Gold Eagle had fallen onto the ground, and its expression looked somewhat listless. However, from the eyes of the Purple Gold Eagle, there was clearly an excited look. Apparently, after several months of slumber, the Purple Gold Eagle had successfully advanced to Second Order Lower Grade. Seeing the successful breakthrough of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming was very happy. He walked up, took several sections of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body from his storage bag, and tossed them to the Purple Gold Eagle. Then he took out several First Order Demon Beast Inner Pills and let the Purple Gold Eagle swallow them all at once. The Purple Gold Eagle swallowed the snake meat and Demon Beast Inner Pills in one gulp, affectionately nuzzling his clothes, appearing very excited. Lin Tianming patted the beak of the Purple Gold Eagle and then said, ¡°Xiao Diao, you, this bird, have finally broken through, and it wasn¡¯t in vain that I invested so many resources in you!¡± Hearing this, the Purple Gold Eagle cried out grievously, as if to say that for a Demonic Beast, breaking through was even harder than for a cultivator. Lin Tianming chuckled, naturally not about to argue with a bird. Just then, several figures flew towards them; it was Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and two Qi Refining Stage clanspeople from the Enforcement Hall. Seeing them approach, it was obvious they were alerted by the disturbance caused by the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s breakthrough, and so they came to check. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 294 - 195 Purple Gold Eagles Breakthrough_2 Chapter 294: Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s Breakthrough_2 Lin Tianming immediately approached and saluted the several people with clasped hands. Lin Shilu waved his hand, and next to him Lin Shihua, wearing a smile, then began to speak: ¡°Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle has broken through to Second Order, this is indeed a cause for great celebration!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and waved his hand as he spoke: ¡°Xiao Diao has indeed made quite a few contributions over the years. I used two Second Order Monster Beast Inner Pellets and added some of the body of a Green-Spotted Poison Python, finally helping it break through to the Second Order. It was worth the effort of nurturing it so diligently!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua chuckled and said: ... ¡°Hmm¡­ the Purple Gold Eagle indeed played a significant role for our clan, consider this Yunshang Grass as a reward for it from our family!¡± With that said, he took out a water blue Spirit Grass and handed it to Lin Tianming. Yunshang Grass is a Second Order High Grade Spiritual Medicine Material with a stabilizing effect on the injuries of Demonic Beasts; though it is of little use to a cultivator, for a Demonic Beast, it is an excellent healing medicine. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing the Yunshang Grass, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of delighted surprise; with this grass, the Purple Gold Eagle could recover from its injuries quickly and stabilize its newly advanced rank. ¡°Then, I shall thank the family on behalf of the Purple Gold Eagle!¡± Lin Tianming said, cupping his fist in gratitude. ¡°Oh, and Tianming, in a month¡¯s time, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s injuries should be mostly healed. At that time, you¡¯ll represent the family on a trip to escort Tian Qin and the others to Qianchuan Market and collect the past year¡¯s Spirit Stone earnings from Luoyun Pavilion to bring back with your brother Tianfeng and the others!¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed to the task. With the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s breakthrough, its flying speed was certain to increase significantly. The Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword had also been cultivated to the Minor Achievement Realm. Presently having no pressing matters, Lin Tianming found it convenient to make the trip for the family, as coming and going would not take more than a month. Seeing Lin Tianming agree promptly, Lin Shilu chuckled and said: ¡°Tianming, hand over your Green Scale Shield to me. It was hastily repaired during our last venture into the secret realm. Since you¡¯re going to Qianchuan Market, I¡¯ll take the time to fully repair it for you. In case any mishap occurs, it will provide you with some safety.¡± The Green Scale Shield had proved quite useful during their venture into the secret realm. After several major battles, it had only been simply repaired once. However, it could currently exhibit only about eighty percent of its defensive power. With Lin Shilu¡¯s repairs, this trip would surely be safer. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and began to express his thanks graciously. ¡°I thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather.¡± Afterward, he slapped his storage bag and hurriedly handed the Green Scale Shield to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu accepted the shield. The two did not stay long and, after a few more words of instruction, left the valley with the patrolling clan members. As he watched them leave, Lin Tianming held the Yunshang Grass in hand and instructed: ¡°Xiao Diao, this Yunshang Grass can help stabilize your realm and injuries quickly. Take this medicine, and after one month¡¯s time, we¡¯ll be heading to Qianchuan Market again.¡± The Purple Gold Eagle looked at the blue Yunshang Grass with an almost instinctive longing, and as soon as Lin Tianming tossed it, the eagle swallowed it immediately. After swallowing the Yunshang Grass, the Purple Gold Eagle gave an excited cry and, with a flap of its massive wings, easily stirred up a whirlwind in the valley. ¡°This silly bird¡­¡± Watching the excited Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming lightly scolded with a laugh and then gave a few more instructions before leaving the valley. Having returned to his own cave dwelling, Lin Tianming once again entered the secret chamber. Sitting cross-legged, he took out many jade bottles from his storage bag, all filled with Monster Beast Souls obtained from the venture into the secret realm, tallying up to well over a hundred. Most of these Monster Beast Souls were those of Tianluan Turtles, some of which he had slain together with Lin Shilu. Though fewer in number, they were basically all Second Order Demonic Beasts. Among the souls taken from the Tianluan Turtle group, the Second Order ones were few, numbering only about twenty; the rest were First Order. Otherwise, amid such chaos, the stronger Monster Beast Souls would have already been targeted by other cultivators. He saw no need to fight over such little things. Besides, among these hundred-plus Monster Beast Souls, the most powerful were those of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, which were also the rare Second Order Late-Stage Monster Beast Souls. Looking at the multitude of glowing orbs, within which were fierce and translucent shadows, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful as he took out the Thousand Beast Banner, preparing to seal all the Monster Beast Souls inside to further enhance the artifact¡¯s power. He tossed the Thousand Beast Banner into the air, sprayed a mouthful of essence blood onto the Five Rod Flag, and then pinched a spell, sending strands of Spiritual Light blasting onto the flags. In an instant, the Five Rod Flags shone brightly and started to revolve around him at an incredibly fast speed. Without pause, Lin Tianming continued to throw Monster Beast Souls at the spinning Thousand Beast Banner and frequently issued sealing inscriptions with his hands, merging them onto the banner. The Thousand Beast Banner seemed quite spirited, joyfully swallowing the Monster Beast Souls and merging them into the vast pool of souls. Wearing a pleased smile, Lin Tianming once again took out a Monster Beast Soul from a jade bottle and skillfully sealed it within the Thousand Beast Banner. After more than ten days, the hundred-plus Monster Beast Souls had all been sealed. At this point, the Thousand Beast Banner radiated layers of Spiritual Light, looking as though its power and spirituality had once again increased. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming looked at the Five Rod Flags circling around him, displaying special luminescence, and then showed a satisfied expression. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 295 - 195: Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_3 Chapter 295: Chapter 195: Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_3 Before this, the Thousand Beast Banner already contained the souls of several hundred demonic beasts. Although the overall strength of the beast souls was rather weak, the addition of this batch of powerful souls greatly enhanced the power of the banner, which also possessed immense potential for further growth. ¡°If this Thousand Beast Banner had tens of thousands of demonic beasts within it, how great would its power be? Maybe it could even advance to the level of a Second Order Superior,¡± Lin Tianming mused to himself, envisioning the day when the number of beast souls in the Thousand Beast Banner would break through ten thousand. After a short while, he collected his thoughts, tidied up the messy cultivation room, and then settled back onto the cushion. There were still twenty days left before the trip to Qianchuan Market. By now, he had completed cultivating his Divine Skills, the Purple Gold Eagle had broken through to the Second Order, and the Thousand Beast Banner had been re-cultivated. Most of the preparations were done. With nothing else to do, he decided to engage in a brief period of cultivation, waiting for the day of departure to draw near. ... Having made up his mind, he took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. As the elixir entered his body, it turned into a furious energy that raced along the pathways of his meridians. Soon, the familiar feeling of intense pain arrived. His face grew pale, and large beads of sweat dripped onto the bluestone floor. ¡°This damned cultivation technique is practically torture!¡± Lin Tianming cursed internally, but he quickly regained his composure. After all, when he had decided to cultivate this technique, it had been made clear to him, and it was his own choice. With the great strength it provided, enduring such inhuman pain seemed worth it. He gritted his teeth against the pain until his body was nearly numb, then quickly took out a Dragon Bone Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it. As soon as the Dragon Bone Pill was consumed, he began to refine the energy contained within the elixir. Not long after, as the medicinal power of the Dragon Bone Pill spread, the pain in his body began to ease, returning to normal shortly after. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, then concentrated on refining the energy and strengthening his physique. The twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Tianming left his dwelling and came to the valley where the cave of the Purple Gold Eagle was located. As soon as he appeared, before he could call out, the Purple Gold Eagle had already flown out of the cave and was heading towards him, clearly having sensed his arrival. Looking at the Purple Gold Eagle now, its feathers were even brighter than before. Previously, only a small patch on its head had golden-yellow feathers, but now its entire head was covered with them, giving it a rather majestic appearance. Moreover, the current aura of the Purple Gold Eagle was quite formidable, giving him the impression that it was no weaker than those demonic beasts that had been in the Second Order for a long time. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming smiled and, after forming a spell with his hands, shot a fireball towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The sudden appearance of the massive fireball, filled with terrifying heat and explosive power, would have turned the large Purple Gold Eagle into a roasted bird if hit directly. The Purple Gold Eagle showed no panic. It flapped its huge wings, retreating a bit, and spat out successive large fireballs that collided with the fireball Lin Tianming had fired. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The two fireballs collided in the sky, instantly exploding into a sea of fire that rained down, burning all the trees on the hillside to ashes. For a time, the entire hill became barren. The excited Purple Gold Eagle let out a triumphant cry, evidently seeking praise for showcasing its strength. However, before it could delight in its achievement, Lin Tianming charged over. His skinny fists, seemingly harmless, smashed directly against the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s body. In an instant, the mournful cries of the Purple Gold Eagle echoed as its large body was sent flying, crashing into a small hill and leveling the entire mound in an instant. Flapping its wings a couple of times, just as the Purple Gold Eagle was about to rise, Lin Tianming¡¯s teasing voice rang out. ¡°Heh heh¡­ You big yellow bird, just after breaking through to the Second Order, let¡¯s see how you handle this!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and struck the Purple Gold Eagle with his clenched fist. Soon, the valley was filled with the bird¡¯s pitiful cries. At that moment, several clan members from a nearby patrol heard the huge commotion caused by the exploding fireballs and quickly rushed over to investigate. Seeing Lin Tianming beating up the massive Purple Gold Eagle stunned the patrolling clan members, and their admiration for him deepened. The watchers stayed where they were, not daring to get close or interrupt. One of them, a Sixth Level of Qi Refinement clansman, observing the battered Purple Gold Eagle, said to his companions: ¡°Let¡¯s move on. Tian Ming seems to be sparring with the Purple Gold Eagle. With his strength, no accidents are likely to happen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ We still have our patrol duties. Let¡¯s leave,¡± another clan member replied. With that, the five of them engaged in Sword Flight and quickly disappeared into the mountain ranges. A tea-time later, the wails in the valley finally ceased. By this point, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers were disheveled, many on the ground, and its aura had diminished, looking quite sorry for itself. Lin Tianming was also panting heavily, with most of his clothes shredded, revealing his bronze-skinned body, and several long wounds on both his arms and chest, clearly inflicted by the claws of the Purple Gold Eagle. Just moments ago, in the valley, one man and one bird engaged in fierce combat. Lin Tianming had suppressed his strength to the level of Foundation Establishment, fighting dozens of rounds with the Purple Gold Eagle to test its capabilities. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 296 - 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_4 Chapter 296: Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_4 Even though he had suppressed his cultivation realm, having battled extensively and being a dual cultivator of body and law, Lin Tianming was bolstered by his strong life force and experience. The Purple Gold Eagle was simply no match and spent most of the time on the receiving end of the attack. However, the Purple Gold Eagle wasn¡¯t weak either. After taking beating after beating, it finally erupted in a rage, unleashing a fierce counterattack that even managed to wound Lin Tianming. At this moment, both man and bird stopped fighting and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air heavily. ¡°Not bad, Xiao Diao. To have sparred with me until now and not fallen behind much,¡± Lin Tianming said with a chuckle. He then took out a piece of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s carcass and tossed it to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle quickly stood up, clamped the snake meat in its beak, and gobbled it down without a tremor, soon emitting a satisfied sound. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly. The attacking talents of flying monster beasts lie not in close combat but in their long-range attack capabilities and rapid flight. ... The Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s innate physique wasn¡¯t bad either. It must have consumed a large amount of elixirs and heavenly treasures, making its body extremely formidable. Its offensive and defensive power were both quite impressive and obviously, it wasn¡¯t any weaker than those monster beasts that specialized in close combat. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After his assessment, the Purple Gold Eagle could stand toe to toe with him in close combat despite his suppressed cultivation level, and didn¡¯t fall behind much. Given this, the strength of the Purple Gold Eagle was undoubtedly stronger than a cultivator who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and it might not necessarily lose even if it faced a Second Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator alone. In this regard, Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied with the growth rate and strength of the Purple Gold Eagle; all the resources he had expended to help it break through were not in vain. After a while, Lin Tianming recovered his strength. With a casual wave of his hand, he changed into a clean, green shirt and then rose to walk towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle immediately stood up and rubbed Lin Tianming¡¯s clothes with its beak, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud. ¡°Come, take me for a flight around, let¡¯s see how fast you are,¡± Lin Tianming said and leapt onto the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, standing there quietly. No sooner had he settled than the Purple Gold Eagle began flapping its gigantic wings and soared into the sky, flying towards the distant mountain range. Lin Tianming stood on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, circling around the vast Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory on its back. Feeling the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle as it flew, it was more than three times faster than before its breakthrough. Lin Tianming thought to himself that with this speed, he could travel from his family to the Qianchuan Market in five days at full speed, which was beyond reproach. At least in the Wei Kingdom, apart from flying artifacts and more powerful flying spiritual birds, there was nothing faster than the Purple Gold Eagle. While Second Order Demonic Beasts were perhaps not rare within Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom, flying Second Order Demonic Beasts were extremely scarce. Besides the Golden Elixir Forces possessing varying numbers of Second Order flying spiritual birds, only a few top-tier Foundation Establishing families owned them. Not only did the Lin Family possess a late-phase Second Order Soul-Eating Spider, but they also had an early-phase Second Order Purple Gold Eagle. Additionally, they had as many as eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators with a projected exponential growth in the coming decades. From this angle, as long as a Golden Core cultivator emerged within the family, they could ascend to the forefront of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. With this thought, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement, and his blood boiled unconsciously. Unknowingly, the Purple Gold Eagle had already soared past the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain with its wings that could blot out the sun, and the winds stirred by its flapping swiftly caught the attention of the tribe members. ¡°Look¡­ that¡¯s Tianming and the early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle,¡± an excited Xing Clan member shouted. A young tribesman, looking up at Lin Tianming in the sky, exclaimed with an admiring expression, ¡°It¡¯s Sixth Brother; he¡¯s so strong! His own strength is formidable, and he even has a Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as his spiritual pet.¡± At the foot of the peak, many tribespeople lifted their heads to gaze at the Purple Gold Eagle and Lin Tianming in the sky, their faces filled with excitement and admiration. The crowd stopped in their tracks, looking up at the pair in the sky, and burst into discussions. A Fifth Level of Qi Refinement Xing Clan Cultivator looked up at Lin Tianming above him and then spoke to his companion beside him: ¡°Tianming has been in the Foundation Establishment stage for about five years now, hasn¡¯t he? With his talent, he should have reached the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment by now,¡± he said. Hearing these words, a middle-aged cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement immediately responded, ¡°Xing Ya, you¡¯re really underestimating our clan¡¯s Hidden Dragon. Although none of us know Tian Ming¡¯s exact level of cultivation, judging by his past speed of cultivation, he must be at least at the second layer of Foundation Establishment by now, and there¡¯s even a great chance he¡¯s reached the third layer.¡± Upon hearing this, the surrounding clan members gasped in surprise, and soon someone else spoke up. ¡°No way? How old is Tian Ming, just over thirty years old, and already so formidable?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± The cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement furrowed his brows, a smug smile spreading on his face as he spoke: ¡°You need to realize that Tian Ming was only twenty-six when he established his foundation. It¡¯s impossible for any of us to break through two layers in five years, but for him, it¡¯s entirely possible.¡± Before he had even finished speaking, everyone took a deep breath. A youth under twenty from the clan bowed to the speaker and then asked: ¡°Uncle, does Sixth Brother really cultivate so quickly? At this rate, if everything goes well, wouldn¡¯t he be able to attempt the Golden Core Stage within a hundred years?¡± These words from the young cultivator aroused the interest of everyone present, and a cultivator at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement also interjected a word. ¡°Yes, assuming he¡¯s now at the second layer of Foundation Establishment and has nearly sixty years left, there¡¯s great hope that he¡¯ll reach the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment,¡± they said. At that moment, the cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement gestured with his hand, and everyone ceased their discussions to listen attentively to his words. Seeing this, he resolutely said, ¡°In my opinion, under smooth conditions, Tian Ming has at least a 70% chance of reaching the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment before the age of one hundred, and even breaking through to the Golden Core Stage is highly possible.¡± ¡°What?¡± The gaping mouths of several people revealed their shock. Seeing this, a clan member at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, excited, then said: ¡°The Golden Core Stage? If that day really comes, our clan could restore its former glory and once again become the sixth Golden Elixir Force in the Wei Kingdom.¡± At that time, aside from those Xing clan members above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, everyone was greatly astonished. The older clan members had almost all witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s meteoric rise and had immense confidence in him. As for the younger Tian clan members, apart from a few who were about the same age as Lin Tianming, many had never even seen him in person and only heard about the clan¡¯s Hidden Dragon from their elders. But today, not only did they witness his true face, but also heard a great deal about his feats from the Xing clan members, making their admiration for him grow even stronger. Seeing the worshipful gazes of the Tian clan members, the Xing clan members spoke seriously: ¡°You youngsters should take Tian Ming as your example. It¡¯s not realistic to say you¡¯ll surpass him, but as the clan¡¯s foundation grows stronger and the rewards and benefits improve, it¡¯s absolutely possible for you to break through to Foundation Establishment with a bit more diligence.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Back when the clan¡¯s foundations were poor, the same-level rewards barely reached half of what they are now, and with our lack of talent and no resources, we wasted many years,¡± another member added. ¡°So, the situation is different now. Even those with average talent, as long as they work hard and with the support of the clan¡¯s resources, have a great chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment,¡± they continued. Hearing these words, the young clan members all bowed in thanks, their expressions becoming resolute. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had already soared past over their heads, quickly arriving at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. The Purple Gold Eagle carried him around the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory for a full quarter of an hour, proving to be much faster than before. This speed excited Lin Tianming. He ordered the Purple Gold Eagle to land on the Bluestone Plaza at the peak, hopped off its back, and made his way to his father¡¯s cave dwelling. The Purple Gold Eagle, without delay, continued flying toward the rear mountain, quickly disappearing from sight. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 297 - 196 Leaving_1 Chapter 297: Chapter 196 Leaving_1 ¡°` It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived at his father¡¯s cave mansion courtyard. Sitting in the courtyard, his mother and younger sister also came out upon hearing the news, and the three of them sat in the yard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Lin Tianming lifted his teacup to taste a sip, and then took out two Second Order talismans and five thousand spirit stones from his storage bag, handing them to Lin Tianyue. ¡°Tianyue, you will be going to Qianchuan Market to gain experience tomorrow, Take these two Second Order talismans, they will make you a bit safer out there!¡± Seeing the two Second Order talismans in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, one a Second Order Low Grade Attack Talisman and the other a Second Order Low Grade Defense Talisman, Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression lit up with joy. ... ¡°Brother¡­ I¡¯m already a First Order Superior Grade talisman maker, and I¡¯ve saved up some spirit stones over the years, I¡¯ll take the talismans, but let¡¯s forget about the spirit stones, I still have quite a few!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist. Although five thousand spirit stones did not mean much to him, relying too much on her brother would not be beneficial for Lin Tianyue¡¯s growth. Thinking this, he didn¡¯t persist and put the spirit stones away. Lin Tianyue took the two Second Order talismans, inspecting them carefully in her hands and showing a look of adoration. As a talisman maker herself, she certainly had seen many Second Order talismans, but Second Order Defense Talismans were rare, and it was perfect that Lin Tianming had given her one, which she could study to perhaps enhance her own talisman-making skills. Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming felt very gratified. Their mother also took out several pieces of Late Stage First Order Demonic Beast skins, and then said meaningfully: ¡°Tianyue, this is your first time going to Qianchuan Market, and you¡¯ll be gone for three years. I can¡¯t compare to your brother and don¡¯t have anything nice to give you, but since you¡¯re a talisman maker, take these beast skins for talisman making!¡± After speaking, she handed the pieces of beast skin to Lin Tianyue. ¡°Mother, why say such things? Even a single spirit stone is the most precious gift in your daughter¡¯s eyes!¡± Lin Tianyue spoke joyfully, then took the beast skins from her mother¡¯s hands and placed them into her storage bag. Afterward, the three of them sat together chatting leisurely, and Lin Tianyue spoke up: ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve been in Qianchuan Market for a few years, tell me about the situation there.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled. Even if his sister hadn¡¯t asked, he still would have told her ¡ª why else had he come so early that day? ¡°Qianchuan Market is one of the two medium-sized markets governed by the Zhenyang Sect of Wei Kingdom, also a renowned existence throughout the entire kingdom, with numerous powerhouses, including Golden Core Cultivators!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression brightened with excitement and she looked forward to the trip even more. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush and continued: ¡°Generally speaking, the market is relatively safe, with fighting prohibited inside. There are many Loose Cultivators and countless treasures, and business is extremely prosperous¡ªit really is a paradise for cultivators.¡± As he spoke, Lin Tianming seemed to remember something and said excitedly: ¡°You¡¯re in luck, in half a month¡¯s time, the ten-year market fair will take place!¡± Hearing about the market fair, Lin Tianyue immediately showed interest. She had attended Luoyun Market¡¯s fair the year before last and witnessed many extraordinary treasures and events, so the thought of a fair was always memorable to her. ¡°A market fair? Is it like the one at Luoyun Market?¡± Lin Tianyue inquired. As Lin Tianyue asked this, Lin Tianming frowned slightly and then explained: ¡°The market fair at Qianchuan Market can¡¯t be compared to Luoyun Market¡¯s; not only are there more participants, but the rank of the treasures appearing is also several levels higher. It¡¯s said that even Golden Elixir Experts might participate!¡± Before he could finish, Lin Tianyue was visibly shocked, clearly overwhelmed by the revelation. Lin Tianming continued to speak: ¡°You think that¡¯s all there is? Qianchuan Market is filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators are countless, and the number of natural treasures is beyond measure. Every market fair draws cultivators from surrounding areas, and even from the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom. With every fair, the number of people in the market easily surpasses tens of thousands!¡± ¡°A market with tens of thousands of people, that certainly exceeds Luoyun Market!¡± Lin Tianyue said with emotion upon hearing this. ¡°Brother, how is the Lin Family perceived in Wei Kingdom nowadays?¡± ¡°How is the business in Luoyun Pavilion?¡± ¡°Is the competition fierce among the shops inside the market?¡± One question after another rolled off Lin Tianyue¡¯s tongue, rendering Lin Tianming momentarily speechless. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t withhold anything, taking an hour to share all he knew. He detailed the forces in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the background of the market, and the well-known cultivators and shops inside it, explaining all the crucial information once over. In doing so, Lin Tianyue was no longer completely ignorant and gained a deeper understanding of her family and the Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom, leaving her better prepared to survive on her own without feeling utterly in the dark. Unbeknownst to them, the sky had already darkened. At that moment, Lin Shigong walked in, his expression looking rather excited. Seeing Lin Shigong enter, the three rose to greet him respectfully. Lin Shigong waved his hand and then sat down, and Lin Tianming promptly offered a cup of Spiritual Tea with all due respect. Lin Shigong took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then said to Ren Yuxuan sitting beside him: ¡°Yuxuan, go prepare dinner, let¡¯s give Tianyue a proper send-off!¡± ¡°Father, please rest, I¡¯ll go prepare the dinner now!¡± Ren Yuxuan replied respectfully and then headed deeper into the courtyard to prepare dinner for them. Watching their mother leave, Lin Tianming chuckled and asked: ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 298 - 196: Departure_2 Chapter 298: Chapter 196: Departure_2 ¡°Grandfather, have you broken through to the second layer of Foundation Establishment?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong¡¯s expression slightly changed as he spoke: ¡°You rascal, I haven¡¯t leaked a hint of aura, how did you detect it?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ It might seem to you that you haven¡¯t leaked, but at such a close distance, your grandson naturally has a way to sense it,¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Seeing this explanation, Lin Shigong furrowed his brows, said nothing more, then took out a defense artifact from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming¡ªit was the Green Scale Shield that Lin Shilu had taken away. Lin Tianming took the Green Scale Shield and casually played with it, then revealed a satisfied smile. ... After Lin Shilu¡¯s repairs and the addition of some precious treasures, the Green Scale Shield was now thoroughly repaired, its defensive power even stronger than before it was damaged. Seeing this, Lin Shigong also took out two Second Order Talismans and handed them to Lin Tianyue, saying: ¡°Tian Yue, you¡¯re going to the market for three years, and your grandfather doesn¡¯t have much to give. Take these two Second Order Talismans and carry them with you!¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianyue quickly thanked him and then took the two talismans from Lin Shigong, revealing an overjoyed smile. ¡°Tian Ming, remember to stop for a night when you pass by Golden Horn Mountain tomorrow and take the opportunity to visit your father!¡± ¡°Grandfather, rest assured, I will definitely visit Father!¡± Lin Tianming said. Lin Shigong nodded and started to give long and earnest instructions, no different from when he had set off for Qingfeng Town. After speaking for nearly half an hour, the brother and sister kept nodding their heads, occasionally interjecting a few words. Seeing that Lin Shigong showed no sign of stopping, Lin Tianming helplessly said, ¡°Grandfather¡­ rest assured, Qianchuan Market is not a desolate wilderness. As long as we don¡¯t leave the market, there won¡¯t be any danger!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming speak up, Lin Tianyue also chimed in. ¡°Yes, Grandfather¡­ with Uncle Xing Ping watching over us in the market, and in case of any unresolved major issue, we can still ask Venerable Ye for help, right!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming and his sister speak to this point, Lin Shigong nodded, his heart somewhat relaxed, and he stopped his relentless talking. Then, Lin Tianming changed the subject, chatted leisurely for a while, and then began to have a meal. Except for Lin Xingrong, who was stationed at Golden Horn Mountain and had not returned, the family of four ate and chatted, the atmosphere very harmonious. After a satisfying meal, the grandfather and grandson left the courtyard of the cave mansion where their mother lived. As the two walked along the road, Lin Shigong took out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming, saying: ¡°The vast resources from these past years have all been collected by the clan. The Clan Leader asked me to pass them to you to bring to Luoyun Pavilion for Xing Ping.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming took the storage bags and inspected them. They indeed contained a huge amount of resources; by his estimate, they were worth nearly a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming put away the storage bags and then said: S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Grandfather, this trip coincides with the great assembly period of Qianchuan Market. I shall catch the auction and will need to stay for some days. Adding on the accumulated Spiritual Medicine Materials of Luoyun Pavilion, I have to help with the refinement. After busying with all that, it will take at least a month, but I will return with Tianfeng and the others within two months at most.¡± ¡°Hm¡­ Try not to cause trouble and come back early!¡± After Lin Shigong gave his advice, the two went their separate ways, each heading back to their own cave mansion. In no time, Lin Tianming was back at his cave mansion. Instead of continuing with his cultivation, he lay straight on his stone bed, ready to rest well for the night. Soon, he fell into a deep sleep, snores filling the room. The next morning, at the clan¡¯s entrance gate plaza. Five clan members were already waiting there, including both men and women. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were among them. Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi were also present. As members of the clan selected to go to Qianchuan Market, the pair, being of an older generation and age, were clearly part of a team composed of middle-aged clan members. The remaining clan member was Lin Tianhu. In just over a decade, his cultivation had soared, reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. At such a speed, even the well-resourced Lin Tianyue was slower, which was quite inconceivable. Apart from Lin Tianhu, who was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, the other four were at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, making it a team of no weak strength. This lineup was in no way inferior to the group of clan members like Lin Tianfeng and the others. They chatted with each other while waiting for Lin Tianming to arrive. After a short while, Lin Tianming arrived on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, landing before everyone. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, the group greeted him with formalities. Lin Tianming laughed and exchanged greetings with them. ¡°Uncles, second sister, and Tianhu, Tian Ming greets you all!¡± Seeing how polite Lin Tianming was, Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi did not dare to be casual. They immediately clasped their fists and bowed: ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s no need for such courtesy. In terms of cultivation, we two cannot compare to you!¡± Tian Ming joked in response, ¡°Uncle speaks jestingly. We are a family, not a sect. The rules of the clan must not be overstepped. Even if Tian Ming were a Golden Core Cultivator, he would still regard himself as a junior in the presence of family elders.¡± Hearing this, the expressions of Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi eased, and they started chatting casually with Lin Tianming. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and then spoke up: ¡°The hour is late. Let¡¯s set out!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± they replied in unison. Although privately they observed seniority, Lin Tianming was courteous, but as the leader and the highest cultivator in the team, even the elders had to obey. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 299 - 196: Departure_3 Chapter 299: Chapter 196: Departure_3 Lin Tianming nodded and led several people towards the Protective Clan Formation, with the Purple Gold Eagle following behind. They quickly arrived at the edge of the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming took out the Family Token, cast a Law Decree, and a gap opened in the light screen of the Protective Clan Formation. The group leaped through, exiting the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the formation, they all jumped onto the back of the massive Purple Gold Eagle. Lin Tianming gave a command, and the eagle immediately soared into the air, flying into the clouds a thousand feet high, before it turned into a black shadow, heading towards Qianchuan Market in the north. Seated on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, everyone settled into a lotus position, forming a small circle. The speed of the Purple Gold Eagle was incredibly fast, as fierce winds swept past them and the surrounding mountains gradually receded into the distance. ... Lin Tianming looked over the group and then began to talk, sharing basic information about Qianchuan Market and the Cultivation World. Everyone listened intently, afraid to miss any information. As Lin Tianming spoke, various strange and unusual questions were raised by the others. Lin Tianming patiently explained everything, not holding back any answer he knew. Soon, thanks to his meticulous explanations, everyone¡¯s understanding of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and Qianchuan Market had deepened, and aside from the already knowledgeable Lin Tianyue, the rest had learned a great deal. A day later, the Purple Gold Eagle had already appeared above Golden Horn Mountain. The clan members responsible for patrolling saw the figure of the Purple Gold Eagle and immediately sent a message to Lin Xingrong, then waited at the mountain gate. The Purple Gold Eagle landed at the mountain gate. Everyone jumped down and greeted Lin Xingyou. After exchanging pleasantries and discussing some family affairs, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Uncle, has my father finished his secluded cultivation?¡± ¡°Tianming, I¡¯ve already sent a message to your father, and he has replied that he¡¯s on his way here!¡± Before the voice faded, Lin Xingrong¡¯s figure appeared before the group. Lin Tianming and his sister Lin Tianyue immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, ¡°We greet father!¡± Lin Xingrong chuckled as he saw his children, helped them up, and then greeted the other clan members behind them. After chatting casually for a few moments, Lin Xingrong turned to Lin Xingyou and instructed, ¡°Let¡¯s rest here for the day. Xingyou, immediately have someone prepare the evening meal. Tonight we¡¯ll take the opportunity to gather.¡± Hearing the order, Lin Xingyou nodded. ¡°Good! This is a rare chance, I¡¯ll immediately send a message to the clan members who aren¡¯t in seclusion. Tonight, a grand gathering!¡± Then the group headed towards the interior of Golden Horn Mountain, quickly arriving at Lin Xingrong¡¯s Cave Mansion District. That evening, over ten clan members who guarded Golden Horn Mountain gathered with the six people from Lin Tianming¡¯s group to toast and enjoy themselves, creating a harmonious atmosphere. The discussion covered everything from cultivation exchanges and the Four Arts of Cultivation to the odd tales and gossip of the Cultivation World. They also organized a small clan cultivator exchange meeting, as those who usually stayed on Golden Horn Mountain seldom returned to their family, often running out of Spiritual and Elixir Pills. As alchemists, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue naturally had a good stock of pills, which they sold on the spot at friendly prices to their clansmen, making everyone very happy. As the night fell and the lively banquet ended, Lin Xingyou led everyone away to arrange accommodations for them. Naturally, Lin Tianming and his sister stayed overnight in Lin Xingrong¡¯s Cave Mansion. In Lin Xingrong¡¯s courtyard, Lin Tianming recounted everything about the Foundation Establishment Pill and the reforms made by the family, which delighted his father immensely. Then Lin Tianming produced two bottles of elixirs and handed them to his father, claiming they were from grandfather to be given to him. Lin Xingrong didn¡¯t make a fuss, took the two bottles of elixirs, and began to give instructions. In the past, Lin Xingrong was reticent with Lin Tianming, but as his son grew increasingly mature and had surpassed him in cultivation, he completely let go of his worries. Lin Tianyue, as a woman, had hardly ever left the family during her more than ten years of cultivation, and the furthest she had gone was to Luoyun Market, and that too, under the supervision of family elders. Given this, she had virtually no experience in handling matters, which made it hard for him to rest at ease. In response to her father¡¯s words of advice, Lin Tianyue confidently assured him that she would be careful. Lin Tianming also spoke up to reassure their father, finally putting Lin Xingrong¡¯s mind at ease. ¡°Well, if Yue¡¯er is confident, then as a father, I am relieved!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll leave tomorrow, and I won¡¯t see you off. Just be careful, both of you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue nodded, bowed to their father, and then each returned to their rooms to rest. Once in his room, Lin Tianming immediately fell asleep, preparing to fully rest up for the journey ahead tomorrow. Early the next morning. It was just getting light, and the morning glow, piercing through the dense morning fog, shone onto the main peak of Golden Horn Mountain. Occasionally some mundane wild beasts would shuttle back and forth in front of the mountain gate. In silence, Lin Tianming and his group of six left Golden Horn Mountain, carried by the Purple Gold Eagle as they flew towards Qianchuan Market in the north. With the eagle flying at full strength, their speed was incredibly fast. The mountains, with their layers upon layers, whizzed by below, while the Gang Wind in the high altitude tossed their hair about. Sitting upright on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense covered the surrounding area, capturing every rustle of grass, making him appear as steadfast as a bamboo, unaffected by the roaring Gang Wind. The others, however, were struggling. Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi momentarily lost focus but quickly stabilized their postures. Being relatively older, they had gone through numerous battles and had plenty of experience, so they adapted quickly to the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s sudden burst of speed. Lin Tianhu might have had the lowest cultivation, but he seemed to have good experience. His Spiritual Power flowed slowly through him, and he quickly stabilized his posture, earning a new level of respect from Lin Tianming. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 300 - 196: Departure_4 Chapter 300: Chapter 196: Departure_4 Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were buffeted by the strong Gang Wind, which made them lose their composure as they had not yet adapted. Lin Tianyue steadied herself and said indignantly, ¡°Hmph, that darn Xiao Diao, why wasn¡¯t it this fast yesterday? It suddenly sped up, making this young lady look bad.¡± Her words made everyone burst into laughter. Lin Tianming said, ¡°We weren¡¯t in a hurry to travel quickly yesterday. With its breakthrough to the Second Order, it could easily reach Golden Horn Mountain, so there was no need to fly so fast. Now, we¡¯re headed to Qianchuan Market, and the journey is far. If we flew at the same speed as before, it would delay us a lot of time.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianyue nodded helplessly, and then she sat cross-legged on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, stabilizing herself with her spiritual power without speaking. Each of them stabilized their own postures as the Purple Gold Eagle accelerated greatly, flying northward over numerous mountains and rivers. ... Time slowly passed by, and several days went by in this manner. In a mountain valley on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, the Purple Gold Eagle descended from the high sky, and Lin Tianming, along with the group, dismounted from its back and gathered together. Thanks to the significant increase in the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flying speed, just a few days of travel had smoothly brought them to the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. With a clear route and a smooth journey, no mishaps occurred along the way. Atop a quiet hill, Lin Tianming looked up at the edge of the sky where the outlines of a city could be faintly seen and said to the others, ¡°The city that can be vaguely seen ahead is our destination, Qianchuan Market. Next, we will proceed with Sword Flight. Remember not to cause any trouble and avoid unnecessary problems.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Tian Ming. We all know the rules of the market, we won¡¯t cause any trouble,¡± Lin Xingqi said with a smile. Lin Tianming nodded. He had already told them this several times, but he just couldn¡¯t help worrying. Seeing that everyone was resolute and their cultivation wasn¡¯t low, and with elders watching over, he said no more and immediately took off into the air, flying towards the entrance of Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianyue and the others quickly followed suit, and the six of them shot towards the market entrance. As they neared the entrance of the market, there were several cultivators flying by on the road, some in groups, others alone, each hastening on their way. Clearly, as the days of the grand market assembly were drawing near, loose cultivators and family-team cultivators alike from the outskirts of Qianchuan Market were all rushing to participate and witness the grandeur of the event. Lin Tianming and his group had disguised themselves and were heading towards the market entrance as a team. At the entrance, there was already a long line of cultivators waiting to enter the city. When Lin Tianming and his party of six arrived, they immediately attracted a great deal of attention from the other cultivators. Their group was too eye-catching. All six members had high cultivation levels, while those in line were all at the Qi Refinement Realm, unable to discern the true cultivation of Lin Tianming¡¯s group. But it was certain that they were a family team, presumably comprised of cultivators at least at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Under such circumstances, many cultivators were secretly guessing the background of this team. Lin Tianming, seeing this, paid no mind and led his group straight past the line of cultivators to the Market City Supervisor who was collecting the entrance fee. Now that he was quite wealthy, he didn¡¯t intend to make everyone wait in line. By paying some extra Spirit Stones, they could gain priority entry into the city. At that moment, he took out several dozen Spirit Stones and handed them to the collecting officer, exchanging a few words with him through a secret transmission. The officer, upon seeing the Spirit Stones and after exchanging a few words with Lin Tianming, instantly brightened up with joy and did not hesitate to let them through. After Lin Tianming thanked him, he led the group towards the inner sections of the market, appearing among the shops. Upon entering the market, the bustling crowds filled the streets; numerous cultivators moved between the various shops, giving the market a very lively atmosphere. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin began to look around eagerly, as if they were impatient to experience all that the shops had to offer. Lin Tianming laughed softly to himself, as it was their first visit to Qianchuan Market, and such reactions were normal out of curiosity. He recalled his first time visiting Qianchuan Market; he had been no different from them. With that thought, he said nothing more and looked at Luoyun Pavilion, which was now so close. He decided not to visit any shops at first, but instead to go directly to the Cave Mansion Courtyard they had rented. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°After several days of travel, everyone must be tired. Let¡¯s first head to the family¡¯s rented Cave Mansion Courtyard in the market. Tomorrow, Tianfeng can take you all to look around. He has many friends in the market and can help you integrate quickly into this place.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement and followed Lin Tianming¡¯s steps toward the Cave Mansion Courtyard. COMMENT 0 comment sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 301 - 197 Rumors and Gathering_1 Chapter 301: Chapter 197 Rumors and Gathering_1 In the market cave dwelling, the figures of Lin Tianming and a few others appeared. Upon hearing that several people had arrived at Qianchuan Market, Lin Xingping and many clan members stopped their cultivation one after another, rushing over from their training rooms or Luoyun Pavilion. The clan members simply greeted each other before all gathering in the courtyard to chat idly. Lin Tianming and a few others of the Tian generation formed a small group, each sharing the various events of the past two years. Lin Xingping and his peers of the Tian generation sat together, discussing the recent developments. Having not seen each other for a long while, everyone was in a great mood, with Lin Tianfeng laughing throughout, sharing amusing stories from the market and delighting both Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue. ... In the midst of casual conversation, Lin Tianming also inquired from Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingping about any news, looking to see if, following their journey to the Secret Realm, there had been any reaction from Qianchuan Market, and if they could gather some useful information. Since Lin Tianfeng often mingled in various places within Qianchuan Market and was acquainted with many cultivators of different statuses, his information was certainly well-informed. Seeing that Lin Tianming was so concerned about this, Lin Tianfeng did not dare to withhold anything, divulging all the news he had learned. As expected, during the time in the Secret Realm, many powerful Loose Cultivators took part, and some obtained a great deal of treasures and left unscathed, later spreading the news widely, creating a buzz in the Cultivation World that even the Golden Core Forces couldn¡¯t stop. There had also been rumors about the Luoyun Mountain Range a while before, which were quickly discovered by the clanspeople in the market and then reported to the family, hence Lin Tianming and the others were aware of this. However, it was unknown who had spread these rumors, nor was it possible to discern their truth, but everything remained calm and so eventually, the matter was forgotten. According to Lin Tianfeng, after the journey to the Secret Realm, some significant events that took place there were being circulated in the market, causing quite a stir. Among the swirling rumors, two major incidents had become the talk of the town, discussed for a long time. The first involved the Zhenyang Sect discovering a Star Moon Fruit Tree, spreading the news to gather a large force of cultivators and Loose Cultivators to besiege a Third Order Tianluan Turtle. After the Third Order Tianluan Turtle perished, several Golden Core Forces vied for the Star Moon Fruit Tree and its nine fruits. Following a fierce battle, three of the nine Star Moon Fruits vanished without a trace, the remaining six being divided between the Wei Kingdom and the Golden Core Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. Qingyun Valley acquired two Star Moon Fruits, whereas the West River Li Family fared the worst, with Li Wenyi perishing under the onslaught of many cultivators; this resulted in the loss of the Li Family Cultivators¡¯ qualification to vie for the Star Moon Fruits. The remaining four Golden Core Forces each secured a Star Moon Fruit, whereas the other three Star Moon Fruits and the inner core of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle were said to be obtained by Loose Cultivators who changed their appearance and went to great lengths to hide their identities, hence no one knew who they were. At that point, Lin Tianming chuckled, for what they didn¡¯t realize was that one of the Star Moon Fruits had been obtained by the Lin Family. What was even less known was the pivotal role he and Lin Shilu played in the entire siege of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle; otherwise, the West River Li Family wouldn¡¯t have met such a dire fate, and Li Wenyi wouldn¡¯t have perished within the Secret Realm. As for the precious Star Moon Fruit Tree, after intense contention, it was acquired by the Zhenyang Sect. However, the other Golden Core Forces wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily, and high-ranking members, undoubtedly, would negotiate over this object. As for the ultimate outcome, aside from the Golden Core Forces involved, no one else knew. The second significant incident was equally unbelievable: Myriad Medicine Valley, in alliance with Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Liujin Gate and several other Golden Elixir Forces, jointly attacked the lair of a Third Order Wind Xun Beast, acquiring several Yuqiong Fruits. The Yuqiong Fruit, also a Spirit Fruit meant to aid Core Formation, wasn¡¯t far behind the Star Moon Fruit in effectiveness, making it one of the treasures of immense value as well. However, they did not have the best of luck, as this Wind Xun Beast was remarkably swift and formidable in its attacks. Despite their numerical advantage, killing it was no easy feat. Ultimately, the descendants of the Golden Core Forces had to reveal their trump cards, forcing the Wind Xun Beast to abandon its lair¡¯s Yuqiong Fruits. Only after a hard-fought battle did it manage to escape their siege. While the cultivators¡¯ goal was achieved, with each Golden Core Force involved acquiring a Yuqiong Fruit, the fierce battle resulted in nearly half their members perishing, with tremendous losses sustained. After Lin Tianfeng finished reporting all the news about these matters, the weight on Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was finally lifted. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Previously he and Lin Shilu, along with a few family higher-ups who were privy to the facts, had been quite worried that their identities would be exposed, attracting the greed of other forces, or even the Golden Core Forces. Now it was all good, as it had been over half a year since the incident, and throughout the Wei Kingdom, there had been no talk of any forces or renowned Loose Cultivators being killed. Clearly, the Golden Core Forces were uncertain about the identities of those who obtained the Star Moon Fruits. They could not possibly exterminate all Foundation Establishing Families based on baseless speculations; if they really did so, even the Golden Core Forces would become the public enemy of all Loose Cultivators and would have difficulty establishing themselves in the Cultivation World. At this point, Lin Tianming heaved a long sigh of relief, then proceeded to tell of his and Lin Shilu¡¯s experiences after leaving the market, including their venture into the Secret Realm. Except for the number of Foundation Establishment Pills they crafted from the Star Moon Fruits and White Jade Grass, which was kept secret, he disclosed almost everything else. Upon hearing the thrilling tale of the journey to the Secret Realm, aside from Lin Tianyue who was already informed, the other clan members were overwhelmed with shock. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 302 - 197 Rumors and Gathering_2 Chapter 302: Chapter 197 Rumors and Gathering_2 Upon learning that the clan had liberalized access to Foundation Establishment Pills and greatly reduced the burdens on the clanspeople, the few Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople staying behind in the market let out a long sigh of relief, their hearts swelling with excitement. Their cultivation had reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement or Great Perfection Realm, and making a move to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage was to be put on the agenda, allowing them to start making early preparations. Overwhelmed with excitement, and finally gathering their spirits, Lin Tianfeng chuckled and turned to Lin Tianming to ask, ¡°Little Brother Six, it¡¯s been a long time since we saw each other, and how do I feel that you seem to have become stronger again? Have you possibly broken through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Purely by good fortune, I managed to break through, that¡¯s all.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng inquire about his cultivation level, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t conceal it, nor did he have anything to hide, and he simply acknowledged the fact. ... When Lin Tianfeng and the others heard Lin Tianming generously admit this, they were incredibly astonished, secretly thinking, ¡°Is this kid even human? His rate of cultivation is just too fast, and the gap between their cultivation levels is growing larger and larger.¡± However, none of them displayed their thoughts, merely teasing him a few times, taking it all as a joke. Lin Tianming chuckled and inquired, ¡°Big Brother, returning to the clan this time, you should be starting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming ask, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression immediately grew solemn as he then said, ¡°I have already broken through to the Great Perfection Realm. As long as I have a Foundation Establishment Pill, I would be able to retreat and impact the Foundation Establishment Stage within two years. For this, I have been preparing for a long time. Having been on the cultivation path for over thirty years, I¡¯ve been waiting for this day.¡± To this, Lin Tianming had already anticipated. While Lin Tianfeng¡¯s talent wasn¡¯t considered outstanding in the clan, it was still quite good, and with his traditionally diligent cultivation practice and frequent participation in the clan¡¯s training, his cultivation was incredibly solid. With the assistance of a Foundation Establishment Pill, the chance of breakthrough would likely not be small. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming said with great confidence, ¡°Big Brother, your cultivation is solid, you¡¯ve participated in many major battles, and your foundation is extremely stable. The probability of breaking through the Foundation Establishment is at least sixty percent, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s comforting words, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s confidence soared, and his desire to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage grew even more fervent. ¡°Haha, then I¡¯ll take the good words of Little Brother Six. With your encouragement, my heart feels much at ease,¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a cupped-fist laugh. Lin Tianming nodded and then changed the topic, addressing Lin Tianhong, ¡°Second Brother, with Big Brother working so hard, you must also be close to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming turn to him, Lin Tianhong responded solemnly, ¡°I can¡¯t compare to Big Brother. It was only recently that I broke through to Qi Refining Great Perfection. I¡¯m not yet equipped to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage in the short term. I plan to consolidate for two or three years before considering it. After all, we¡¯re still young. Consolidating for a few years will increase the likelihood of a successful breakthrough when the time comes.¡± Hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s sensible plan, Lin Tianming nodded, inwardly giving his approval. Then, Lin Tianming began to inquire about the cultivation realms of Lin Xing Li and the others. Lin Xing Li and his peers were overjoyed, each sharing their own circumstances. Before they came to Qianchuan Market, they each were at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refinement. After three years of cultivation, Lin Xingyao¡¯s cultivation had also reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, even almost touching the edge of the Great Perfection Realm. As for Lin Xingsu and Lin Xing Li, they were currently at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm and would only need to calmly prepare for two years, appropriately consolidating their cultivation, to have a not low chance of making a successful breakthrough. After listening to their perspectives, Lin Tianming felt he understood the situation quite well, and his heart was filled with satisfaction. Given the current state, although no new Foundation Establishment Stage members had appeared in the clan in the past few years, a solid foundation had been laid. Lin Xing Li, Lin Xingsu, Lin Xingcheng, and Lin Xingzhi, these four members of the Xing generation, had preliminarily met the conditions to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Beyond that, among the Tian generation of clanspeople, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were also at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm. In the years ahead, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue, among others from the Tian generation, will also successively reach the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm and begin to emerge as a large group of seeds ready to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Looking at it now, the various policies and reforms that the clan began a decade ago are about to yield a rich reward. At this thought, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was filled with intense excitement, and he couldn¡¯t help but envision a scene where Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the clan filled the sky. Unconsciously, the group of clanspeople engaged in a long exchange, each obtaining a great deal of insight. Through introductions from Lin Tianfeng and the others, Lin Tianyue and her peers came to have a deeper understanding of the basic situation of the market. The atmosphere at this moment was excellent, Lin Tianming¡¯s mood was buoyant, and a reassuring smile was constantly on his face. Watching the lively scene, Lin Tianming said to Lin Tianfeng with a smile, ¡°Big brother, these next few days you take Tianqin and the others around the market to get familiar with the situation at Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Pavilion. When the auction starts, you all can participate together. It¡¯s not easy to come upon such a grand meeting that happens only once every ten years. We must not give up this opportunity.¡± Before he had finished speaking, the hearty voice of Lin Tianfeng rang out. ¡°Sixth brother, rest assured, the grand market meeting is just a few days away. In these days, I will definitely take Tianqin and the others for a good stroll, and I¡¯ll introduce a few female cultivators to them as well.¡± ¡°Then, thank you, big brother.¡± Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue said excitedly, expressing their thanks. Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and nodded toward Lin Xingping before saying, ¡°That¡¯s all for today. Everyone is tired from traveling these past few days. Go back and rest.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After he finished, Lin Tianfeng left with several clanspeople to select their rooms and prepare to rest, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping behind without departing. After everyone had left, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags he had brought from the family and handed them to Lin Xingping, then inquired about the business situation of the Luoyun Pavilion. Lin Xingping took the storage bags and began to report on the business of Luoyun Pavilion. After Lin Xingping¡¯s introduction, Lin Tianming basically understood the overall situation of the Luoyun Pavilion for the past two years. The business was similar to what it was when he was there, quite stable over the past two years. However, there had been some improvements lately, entirely due to the influence of the grand market meeting. Generally speaking, making a few thousand spirit stones in profit each month was hardly difficult. During the time of the market meeting, that could go up to several tens of thousands of spirit stones in a month, but such opportunities were not many. Lin Tianming picked up his tea cup and took a sip of spiritual tea before saying with a smile, ¡°This is already quite good. Business can¡¯t be booming every day; there are always slow and busy seasons. All of this relies on the strategic operation by Uncle.¡± Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s compliment, Lin Xingping waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s the foundation you and Fifteenth Uncle laid down, along with everyone¡¯s efforts, that led to the results today. I¡¯m just doing my duty.¡± Then, Lin Xingping changed the subject and said, ¡°Tianming, many cultivators have come to Luoyun Pavilion these past few days, all of them loose cultivators looking to request alchemy services. Since you were not around, I did not have Xing Li and the others take on this business. What do you think?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Let Uncle Xing Li handle this matter. Now that Tianqin and I have come to Qianchuan Market, along with Tianhong, the three of us can do the alchemy for about a month, and that won¡¯t leave much left over.¡± When Lin Tianming spoke up, Lin Xingping was delighted. With Lin Tianming joining in, the matter would be much easier to handle. Attracting those cultivators commissioning alchemy would not only enhance the reputation of Luoyun Pavilion but would also indirectly boost the shop¡¯s business. Plus, it would allow the alchemists to quickly improve their alchemy skills¡ªit was a win-win-win situation. Although the alchemists in the family might be a bit tired, the benefits were plenty and well worth expanding the business for. Thinking of this, Lin Xingping excitedly said, ¡°Good, I will arrange this matter as soon as possible and before you leave, I will hand over the accounts and profits for the last two years of Luoyun Pavilion to take back to the family.¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and then invited Lin Xingping to attend the auction together, and they quickly set a date to meet in a few days¡¯ time. ¡°Alright, let us call it a day. Tianming, you should rest early, and we will meet again in a few days,¡± said Lin Xingping. ¡°Uncle, have a good rest. Tianming takes his leave.¡± Lin Tianming cupped his hands towards Lin Xingping, then stood up and walked toward the rooms deeper inside the courtyard. Once back in his room, he lay straight down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 303 - 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_1 Chapter 303: Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_1 The next day, Lin Tianming left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed towards the market district. As the grand gathering at the market drew closer, the streets were bustling with cultivators, and the market¡¯s foot traffic had further increased, noticeably busier than the day before. During his expedition to the Secret Realm, his Second Order talismans had all been consumed. Of the few storage bags he had found, he had originally divided three talismans and even given two of those to Lin Tianyue, leaving him with only one Second Order Low Quality Attack Talisman. In his storage bag now, apart from Spirit Stones and elixirs, there were hardly any consumable treasures. If he were to encounter a fierce battle, relying solely on his own abilities would require considerable effort. Since he had enough Spirit Stones, it was natural to make ample preparations for his own safety. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having made up his mind, he headed straight for the Sky Dragon Pavilion without any hesitation. ... Before long, he arrived in front of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. As he stepped in, a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator came forward to greet him. ¡°Is Daoist Tang in?¡± ¡°If senior is looking for Daoist Tang, please follow me!¡± the welcoming cultivator replied respectfully and led the way to the second floor, with Lin Tianming following behind. The cultivator showed him to a private room, served a pot of Spiritual Tea, and then retreated. Lin Tianming had been sitting quietly for a while when a hearty and familiar voice reached his ears. ¡°It turns out to be Daoist Chen visiting us, my apologies for the oversight!¡± When Lin Tianming saw Tang Xiuyuan coming over, he quickly got up, clasped his fists in greeting, and then said with a smile, ¡°Haha¡­ not at all, I am sitting in this private room being served excellent Spiritual Tea, enjoying such leisure and elegance. How could there be any neglect!¡± Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, invited Lin Tianming to sit down, and after pouring him a cup of Spiritual Tea, said, ¡°I¡¯m glad you don¡¯t mind, Daoist Chen. It¡¯s rare to see you today, and we should definitely take the opportunity to meet up and relieve the longing I¡¯ve been feeling!¡± Hearing these insincerely flattering words, Lin Tianming¡¯s hair stood on end, although his expression remained as usual, showing nothing out of the ordinary. He took a sip from the teacup and went straight to the point. ¡°Here I am. Today I¡¯m looking to purchase some treasures, and I hope Daoist Tang can offer me a good deal!¡± ¡°What do you need, Daoist Chen? I will certainly offer you a favorable price!¡± asked Tang Xiuyuan. ¡°Either Second Order talismans or other one-time consumable treasures would be fine. I need both Attack Talismans and Defense Talismans, the higher the grade the better!¡± ¡°Besides that, there¡¯s also the Autumn Leaf Grass and Xing Luan Fruit that I asked you to look out for, the more the better!¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s complexion lit up with joy, deducing from Lin Tianming¡¯s tone that a big business deal was coming. He suppressed the joy in his heart and said, ¡°Please wait a moment, Daoist Chen. I¡¯ll prepare the Autumn Leaf Grass and Xing Luan Fruit for you, and I¡¯ll bring out a precious treasure that will surely not disappoint!¡± With that, Tang Xiuyuan left the private room. Lin Tianming sat and drank his tea, his face full of anticipation. Less than the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, Tang Xiuyuan returned to the private room, carrying a storage bag with unknown contents. Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and then took out over a dozen stems of Autumn Leaf Grass and eight Xing Luan Fruits, placing them on the stone table in the mountain retreat. He then brought out more than twenty Second Order talismans, including several High Quality Attack Talismans; the rest were Medium Quality Talismans, and among them were some Defense Talismans, with even two Second Order Medium Quality Talismans present. Looking at the more than twenty Second Order talismans, all of which were rare and valuable, Lin Tianming was very satisfied, but he didn¡¯t show any particular reaction. Lin Tianming carefully examined the High Quality Attack Talismans he held in his hand and then asked, ¡°What are the prices for these talismans and Spiritual Medicine Materials?¡± Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and then announced the prices, which were almost the same as those from previous purchases. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded. These were higher grade talismans, usually hard to come by, and since they were available, he naturally wanted to purchase some for potential emergencies. Having made up his mind, he began to discuss the types and quantities of talismans he wanted. ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯ll take all these Spirit Grasses. I want three Superior Attack Talismans, three Medium Quality Talismans, and all of the Defense Talismans!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s request to buy eleven Second Order talismans in one go, including five Superior Attack Talismans, Tang Xiuyuan was ecstatic. It didn¡¯t take long for Tang Xiuyuan to calculate that the eleven Second Order talismans Lin Tianming wanted were worth nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones, truly a significant transaction. Lin Tianming was evidently willing to spend Spirit Stones, clearly intending to diversify his offensive methods as much as possible. Lin Tianming toyed with several High Quality Talismans and, remembering Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s previous mention of a precious treasure, asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, may I know what the precious treasure you spoke of is?¡± Daoist Tang chuckled, promptly took out a grey talisman from the storage bag, and handed it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming took the grey talisman and examined it carefully, revealing a pensive expression. The grey talisman was surrounded by Spiritual Power, occasionally devouring the faint Spiritual Energy around it. Its surface color was somewhat dull, giving it a peculiar feeling. After a moment, he tentatively asked, ¡°Could this be a Golden Core Talisman? Yet it doesn¡¯t quite seem like it.¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled ambiguously, remained silent for a moment, and then answered, ¡°Daoist Chen has a discerning eye indeed. This is indeed a Golden Core Talisman.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was astonished and was just about to speak when Daoist Tang continued, ¡°However, strictly speaking, this talisman cannot be considered a true Golden Core Talisman, since the attack sealed within it does not reach the level of Golden Elixir Experts. It can only be seen as a semi-finished product, also known as a Fake Golden Core Talisman.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 304 - 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_2 Chapter 304: Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_2 With Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming, puzzled, asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, why is this so? Can Golden Core Talismans also have incomplete products?¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled and then began to narrate the origin of the Golden Core Talisman. ¡°This talisman is condensed by a Fake Core Cultivator, whose effects are significantly less than those of a true Golden Core Cultivator, but it¡¯s much more powerful than the attacks of a common Great Perfection Cultivator. Compared to a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, this one is incomparable.¡± ¡°Fake Core Cultivators are those who have failed to break through to the Golden Core Realm. They have condensed a Golden Core but failed to withstand the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Nevertheless, the True Essence Spiritual Power inside their bodies has already been formed, maintaining a Fake Elixir Realm. Their strength lies somewhere between that of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator and a Golden Core Cultivator,¡± he explained. ¡°As for this Fake Golden Core Talisman, it is a concentration of the Fake Core Cultivator after they passed on. Although its effects cannot surpass a true Golden Core Talisman, its power should certainly not be underestimated.¡± Once Tang Xiuyuan finished speaking, Lin Tianming completely understood the origins of the talisman and then said: ... ¡°Daoist Tang indeed has broad vision. In this light, it¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re willing to part with this talisman. If it were a complete Golden Core Talisman, I¡¯m afraid your pavilion wouldn¡¯t sell it at all.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ That goes without saying. If it were a real Golden Core Talisman, even we, the Sky Dragon Pavilion, or any Golden Elixir Forces, wouldn¡¯t easily part with it,¡± Tang Xiuyuan said with a smile. Lin Tianming nodded, then asked, ¡°So, at what price is this Fake Golden Core Talisman being sold?¡± ¡°Since Daoist Chen has asked, I won¡¯t ask for too much¡ªthirteen thousand Spirit Stones for you,¡± Tang Xiuyuan said. ¡°Thirteen thousand Spirit Stones?¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed in surprise. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s astonished expression, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s face changed slightly, then he said: ¡°This is a Fake Golden Core Talisman, after all, not something that a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman can compare with. At an auction, this item could easily go for more than fifteen thousand Spirit Stones. I¡¯m giving you this low price because I feel a sense of kinship with Daoist Chen.¡± Thinking it over carefully, Lin Tianming then felt reassured. While the price of this Fake Golden Core Talisman could compare to more than four Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, those talismans could at best injure a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator and would struggle to directly kill one. However, even an incomplete Golden Core Talisman could unexpectedly kill a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. With such a comparison, spending thirteen thousand Spirit Stones for such a deadly weapon was certainly not a loss. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming promptly took out thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan, signaling he would buy the Fake Golden Core Talisman along with the Spiritual Medicine Materials and Second Order Talismans. Tang Xiuyuan received the hefty amount of Spirit Stones, verified the quantity, and then looked surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Lin Tianming to be so decisive and affluent. He wondered whether Lin Tianming was a core disciple of some Golden Elixir Force or a direct heir of a prominent Foundation Establishing Family. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming did not reveal any information from beginning to end, nor did he expose any cultivation or secrets, leaving Tang Xiuyuan rather helpless. Returning to his senses, Tang Xiuyuan handed over the Fake Golden Core Talisman and all other talismans and spiritual medicines to Lin Tianming. The transaction was complete¡ªLin Tianming acquired a large number of talismans, and Tang Xiuyuan sold treasures for a substantial amount of Spirit Stones. At this point, Lin Tianming, despite having spent over thirty thousand Spirit Stones, did not feel any pain at the cost. He was now exceedingly wealthy, having received fifty thousand Spirit Stones for advancing the White Jade Grass purchase for his family. Before coming to Qianchuan Market, he had collected that sum, and together with several storage bags from the Secret Realm, his personal Spirit Stone tally had increased by more than sixty thousand. In total, he had over a hundred twenty thousand Spirit Stones. In addition to that, he had many treasures. The Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials stored by his family were, strictly speaking, his personal possessions; he wasn¡¯t short on Spirit Stones for the time being. Gathering his thoughts, while chatting casually, Lin Tianming then inquired, ¡°Daoist Tang, does your shop also have any Second Order Alchemy Furnaces for sale? The higher the quality, the better.¡± ¡°Second Order Alchemy Furnace?¡± Tang Xiuyuan pondered. After a short while, he replied, ¡°Second Order Pill Furnaces are not easy to find. Even in our Sky Dragon Pavilion, they are rare. We only have two Second Order Inferior Grade Alchemy Furnaces, which I¡¯m afraid might not meet Daoist Chen¡¯s standards.¡± At this, Lin Tianming was somewhat disappointed. He still relied on the Four Symbols Furnace, a First Order Superior Grade Pill Furnace, for alchemy. It could barely be used to concoct Second Order Inferior Grade Pills, but its pill formation rate and yield were impacted. As his alchemy skills improved, the Four Symbols Furnace no longer met his needs. Second Order Pill Furnaces were hard to acquire. A furnace of the same grade was worth at least several times more than a magic artifact of equivalent grade, especially those of Second Order Medium Quality or above, which were even rarer and more precious. However, he didn¡¯t think much of Second Order Inferior Grade Pill Furnaces¡ªif he bought one, it would only be a matter of a decade or so before it ceased to satisfy his needs. Previously when he concocted Foundation Establishment Pills, he had borrowed his grandfather¡¯s Three Star Furnace; otherwise, the pill formation rate and yield would have been even lower. His grandfather had even suggested that he use the Three Star Furnace himself, an offer he directly declined. Under these circumstances, he would need at least a Second Order Medium Quality Pill Furnace to last him a few decades; so that he wouldn¡¯t need to search for a new furnace before entering the Golden Core Stage. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s slightly disappointed expression, Tang Xiuyuan suddenly thought of something and then spoke up: S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 305 - 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_3 Chapter 305: Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_3 ¡°Daoist Chen, there¡¯s no need to be disheartened,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°To my knowledge, in a few days at the auction, there will be a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace up for bid. You might try your luck there. With your financial resources, it should not be too difficult to secure the item.¡± Hearing this news, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy. He hadn¡¯t expected Tang Xiuyuan to be privy to such information, much less to share such favorable news with him. However, considering the terrifying background of Sky Dragon Pavilion, it wasn¡¯t strange for them to know such information. After all, at the Luoyun Market auction, local powers with some strength generally had access to the list of key auction items before the event, and this unspoken rule was equally applicable to the larger Qianchuan Market. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming cupped his hands and bowed to Tang Xiuyuan, ¡°I thank Daoist Tang. I have reaped much today and won¡¯t stay long. I shall come to visit you at the pavilion another day.¡± ¡°Farewell.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having expressed his intentions to leave, Tang Xiuyuan also stood up and returned the gesture, cupping his hands and bowing. He then watched Lin Tianming leave the Luoyun Pavilion and disappear into the bustling crowd. ... Upon leaving Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming stood on the bluestone-paved street and observed the cultivators coming and going, lost in thought. Having frequented the market, he knew that every time there was a gathering, the vending area would be bustling with popularity. Even though the peddling cultivators had lower cultivation levels and their treasures weren¡¯t considered remarkable by his current standards, they weren¡¯t entirely useless. With some luck, he could find overlooked treasures, although the chances were slim. However, since the auction wouldn¡¯t start for a few days, and he was idle anyway, he thought a quick stroll wouldn¡¯t take much time. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming followed the crowd and headed towards the vending area¡¯s plaza. In less than half an hour, he arrived at the vending plaza and stood at its edge. Looking out, he saw that the numerous stalls were already crowded with people, and the noisy flow of individuals, mixed with a few shouts from Qi Refining Cultivators, resembled a worldly marketplace. He glanced over the vending area and then walked in a particular direction, soon arriving at a cultivator¡¯s stall. Upon seeing Lin Tianming approach, the sitting cultivator immediately stood up and enthusiastically introduced the herbs and ores laid out in front of him. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t speak and scanned the beast skin that displayed various Spiritual Medicine Materials and ores, showing a look of disappointment. While the displayed items might be considered decent for Qi Refining Cultivators, they were quite ordinary and even somewhat unnecessary to someone with high standards like himself. Nevertheless, out of respect for the eager Qi Refining Cultivator¡¯s enthusiasm, he spent several dozen Spirit Stones and bought a few herbs that he could use. After paying the Spirit Stones, he collected the Spiritual Medicine Materials and, under the grateful gaze of the vendor, headed deeper into the vending area. In less than half an hour, as he wandered around, he had already covered a large part of the vending area. During this time, he bought some Spiritual Medicine Materials and a few pieces of Beast Skin, intending to give the latter to Lin Tianyue for Talisman Making, and keeping the former for his own use. Beyond that, he didn¡¯t come across anything exceptional. Common items were not in short supply for him, but he wasn¡¯t surprised. One couldn¡¯t always be lucky, nor could one expect to encounter great finds every time. He stood at the edge of the vending area and sighed. Glancing at the scorching sun in the sky, he headed back to his Cave Mansion Courtyard. It wasn¡¯t long before he returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Only Lin Xingyao was on duty at the courtyard; Lin Xingping was cultivating, and the other clan members had been taken out by Lin Tianfeng to enjoy themselves. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the on-duty Lin Xingyao, he planned to refine a portion of the Spiritual Medicine Materials collected from the Luoyun Market as soon as possible, so that after the auction ended, they could quickly return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Resolved, he went straight into the Pill Refining Room. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he looked at the hundreds of portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, most of which were First Order, with only a small fraction tailored for Second Order Pills. He habitually exercised his cultivation to regulate his breathing and peak his condition. After making a series of preparations, he started with the more challenging types of materials to refine, leaving the simpler ones to Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong. Before long, the Earth Fire was burning in the Pill Refining Room, and batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials were being broken down and purified. With practiced ease, a distinct fragrance of elixirs emerged from the Four Symbols Furnace every few half-days, and pill after pill was thus created. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 306 - 199: The Lin Familys Name_1 Chapter 306: Chapter 199: The Lin Family¡¯s Name_1 Several days later, the market auction was held as scheduled. At this time, Qianchuan Market was bustling with activity, its foot traffic more than doubling the usual amount. On this day, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion, and together with Lin Xingping, led a mighty procession of clan members out of the cave dwelling, towards the location of the auction. Their group was grand in scale, and the subtle aura emanating from Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping caught the attention of many cultivators. Some Qi Refining Cultivators who were acquainted with the group greeted Lin Tianfeng and others warmly; Lin Tianfeng responded with equal courtesy, surprising many Loose Cultivators with his grace. It wasn¡¯t until they disappeared into the crowd that some unfamiliar Loose Cultivators began to inquire about their origin and background with the surrounding cultivators. ... S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A cultivator who had just greeted Lin Tianfeng chuckled and then, with a look of surprise, said: ¡°Friend, have you been in seclusion for so long or have you not visited Qianchuan Market for over a decade to not have heard the name of the Lin Family from the Luoyun Mountain Range?¡± Upon hearing this, the inquiring cultivator showed an embarrassed expression and then spoke up: ¡°I am Feng Meng, I haven¡¯t been to Qianchuan Market in a long time. I¡¯ve been active near Liuyun Market, so I¡¯m out of the loop!¡± ¡°Can it be the same Lin Family from Green Bamboo Mountain that rose like a comet over ten years ago?¡± Before the question was finished, a Qi Refining Cultivator with a reverent look and tone said, ¡°That¡¯s precisely the Lin Family that Daoist Feng mentioned!¡± Hearing this, Feng Meng suddenly realized and remembered how, ten years ago, the Lin Family had quietly risen, uprooting the once-dominant Jin Family and revealing their collective strength. Furthermore, the Luoyun Pavilion had gained a considerable reputation in the market over the years, selling treasures that were both fine and inexpensive, and helping cultivators with alchemy, accumulating a vast amount of popularity and goodwill. With Lin Tianfeng being adept at networking and having made many cultivator acquaintances over the years, the reputation of the Luoyun Pavilion had spread far and wide, making the Lin Family behind it well-known and further expanding their influence. Aside from Feng Meng, other Loose Cultivators who were unaware of the Lin Family¡¯s details also showed expressions of awe and began inquiring about the various deeds of the Lin Family with the cultivators beside them. Informed cultivators also took delight in recounting the various deeds and rumors of the Lin Family, further dispersing their influence. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his party had long since walked away, utterly unaware of these discussions. The group walked along the Bluestone Street. Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue chattered incessantly, while Lin Tianfeng patiently introduced the various aspects of the market to the two golden flowers of the family. Lin Tianming chatted idly with Lin Xingping, leading the clan members through the crowd towards the auction. Soon, they arrived at the square in front of the auction house. At that moment, a large number of cultivators were standing in a long queue, orderly handing over Spirit Stones before being allowed passage by the Market City Supervisor. Lin Tianming and the others bypassed the line and headed towards the interior. Upon reaching the Market City Supervisor, Lin Xingping immediately took out the Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s shop Token and handed it to him. Upon seeing the Luoyun Pavilion Token, the Market City Supervisor¡¯s expression changed instantly, and he respectfully said: ¡°So it is the Elders from the Lin Family. I am Song Yunzhi, Uncle Li¡¯s junior. He has instructed that if Daoists from the Lin Family come to participate in the auction, they should be allowed to pass directly, and two VIP rooms shall be arranged for the Lin Elders!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, appreciating the gesture from Li Xiuyuan, acknowledging that even though arranging two VIP rooms did not cost much in terms of Spirit Stones, for someone of his stature to extend such a courtesy meant a great deal. However, they could not blatantly disregard the rules and cause Li Xiuyuan to be the subject of gossip. With that in mind, he quickly took out two hundred Spirit Stones and handed them to Song Yunzhi, then said: ¡°Li is too courteous. I accept his kindness on behalf of the Lin Family, but the market¡¯s order must not be broken. These Spirit Stones will reserve two VIP rooms, and the rest is for you, young friend Song, and your fellow disciples, to buy some Spiritual Wine. After the auction is over, I will treat Li to a drink of Spiritual Wine.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ In that case, I thank Elder Lin on behalf of my juniors!¡± Song Yunzhi nodded, expressed his thanks with a cupped fist salute, and then respectfully accepted the Spirit Stones, instructing two Qi Refining female cultivators at the Third Level to lead the way. Seeing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and said: ¡°Good¡­ You young friends should often visit the Luoyun Pavilion and share some cultivation insights with our younger generation!¡± ¡°I have already met Daoist Tianfeng and will certainly visit at a later date!¡± replied Song Yunzhi. After the conversation, Lin Tianming nodded and led the clan members, following the Qi Refining female cultivators into the inner part of the auction. As they left, the cultivators in line started whispering among themselves, many showing envious expressions. In the Cultivation World, this is the display of strength. For those formidable Foundation Establishing Families or long-established cultivators, even those with Golden Core Strength would not ignore them. While the market has rules, many conveniences are offered to attract those powerful Foundation Establishing Families, and such matters are an open secret. In the grand hall on the first floor of the auction, after instructing Lin Tianfeng on a few matters, Lin Tianming alongside Lin Xingping went straight to the second floor and finally entered one of the VIP rooms. Both settled into their seats, and the guiding female cultivators respectfully stood by the entrance. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 307 - 199: The Name of Lin Family_2 Chapter 307: Chapter 199: The Name of Lin Family_2 As there was still some time before the auction started, Lin Shilu took out the Spiritual Tea, and the two of them chatted idly while drinking tea. At this moment, the main hall of the auction house filled with the sound of a bustling crowd, and the two shifted their gaze toward the noise. Looking around, the seats in the public area were already filled with a majority of cultivators; some of them were dressed in odd and unusual clothes, and did not seem to be from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Apart from that, the cultivators¡¯ levels of cultivation varied greatly, with some above the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, and a few whose aura was chaotic, as if they had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and had not yet consolidated their cultivation. Seeing the variety of attire and exchanging information with other cultivators, Lin Tianming and his companion exchanged smiles, discussing the state of the cultivation world in various countries. A quarter of an hour later, as the seats in the auction house were filled, an elder emerged from behind the curtain; it was Xue Chong, who had previously hosted the auction, and he made his way to the central stage while greeting the attendees with folded hands. ... With the elder¡¯s appearance, the noisy atmosphere gradually calmed down, and occasionally, a few cultivators greeted Xue Chong. Xue Chong¡¯s expression was serene, and a smile was ever-present on his face. He bowed to the hundred or so cultivators below and the private rooms around before speaking: ¡°I, Xue Chong, am honored to host today¡¯s Foundation Establishment Area auction. Many of you are familiar faces, and a lot have attended auctions multiple times. As for the rules, I believe there¡¯s no need to repeat them, as you all know them well!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ The treasures this time are all rare and unprecedented; many fellow cultivators can hardly wait any longer, so let¡¯s get straight to the point. Let us begin the auction with the first item.¡± After he spoke, an elder¡¯s hand revealed a fiery red talisman paper, surrounded by dazzling Spiritual Light, looking quite powerful. ¡°One Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman for the starting bid of one thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than twenty Spirit Stones.¡± No sooner had his voice fallen, a few cultivators immediately started bidding, all of them being at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment or below. ¡°One thousand and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°One thousand and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± The first item for auction was a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman; a Medium Grade Defense Talisman was quite valuable and not easy to come by. In the Qianchuan Market, only some large stores had them, and the prices were not low. As the opening item of the auction, the prices continued to climb, indicating the significance the auctioneers placed on this sale. While Lin Tianming and his partner chatted in their private room, they observed the fiery bidding below. Lin Tianming had plenty of Second Order Talismans on him, and even more so, he had as many as five Defense Talismans, which were enough for a while, so he had no intention of bidding. Lin Xingping, on the other hand, seemed to be considering making a bid. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said to Lin Xingping: ¡°Uncle, Medium Quality Defense Talismans are rare, and the power of this talisman seems impressive. It looks like the cultivator who made this talisman is quite skilled. If you like it, don¡¯t let the chance slip by!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, let¡¯s see how it goes first ¨C if the price is right, I might just make a bid¡­¡± Lin Xingping replied. Just then, the price of the Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman had reached one thousand three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. Such a price had already surpassed the value of a typical Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, and the number of cultivators below still bidding was dwindling, with only two remaining persistent. Seeing the two bidders hesitating, Lin Xingping made his first bid. ¡°One thousand three hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± With Lin Xingping significantly raising the price, the cultivators who had been bidding seemed to give up on continuing their bids. After a few breaths with no further bids, Xue Chong announced the first item sold on the spot. Lin Xingping prepared the Spirit Stones, completed the transaction with Xue Chong through a barrier, and both parties obtained the Spirit Stones and the item. The first treasure sold for a high price, satisfying Lin Xingping, while Xue Chong continued to preside over the auction. ¡°The second treasure, a Second Order Spirit Material Mature Millet Seed Tree, an excellent material for Artifact Refining. The starting bid is three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than ten Spirit Stones.¡± The first item had whipped up enthusiasm, and although the second was somewhat less exciting, there were still many cultivators bidding fiercely. ¡°Three hundred and seventy Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ The cultivators below continued their intense bidding, and neither Lin Tianming nor Lin Xingping, who weren¡¯t into Artifact Refining, had any intention of bidding. They drank their Spiritual Tea as mere spectators, thoroughly enjoying themselves. The second treasure was acquired by a cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment for five hundred and forty Spirit Stones. The heated auction continued and, in the blink of an eye, it was time for the last ten showstopping items. After auctioning off hundreds of treasures, nearly all Second Order Spiritual Items, there were plenty of Spiritual Medicine Materials, various Spirit Ore Materials, and numerous Demonic Beast bodies. During this period, Lin Tianming spent more than three thousand spirit stones to purchase a few stalks of Spiritual Medicine Materials, all rare and precious varieties. Besides, Lin Shilu was busy with his cultivation and had no time to attend the auction; he specifically bid on two fist-sized pieces of Obsidian Iron to prepare for gifting Lin Shilu for Artifact Refining. After all, the elder had been very generous to him, going all out to forge the Earth Evil Sword and Tiangang Sword for him, and had repaired his Magic Artifacts many times, not to mention how many cherished treasures he had spent on his behalf. Now that such an opportunity had arisen, he naturally wanted to express his gratitude. Lin Xingping also made several bids, acquiring some fairly good treasures to further strengthen his power. As the auction of ordinary items concluded, everyone¡¯s anticipation grew for the climactic final items. After a brief rest, Xue Chong took out a Jade Box again and opened it. Inside the Jade Box held by Xue Chong lay a fist-sized Spirit Fruit, the whole fruit appearing translucent and emitting an enticing fragrance. It was yet another Flame Fruit; previously, he had successfully bid for one at a high price of two thousand one hundred spirit stones. The effect of the Flame Fruit was notable, and he had been longing for it ever since; unexpectedly, another one appeared as the finale of this auction. However, only one Flame Fruit could be consumed, and the effect was greatly diminished with repeated use, which was truly a pity. As he was momentarily lost in thought, many cultivators in the auction hall had flushed faces, their breathing suddenly quickened. The Flame Fruit held little allure for those cultivators who had already consumed it, but more than ninety percent of the cultivators, including Lin Xingping, were drooling over it. As expected, as soon as Xue Chong announced the starting bid, more than ten cultivators immediately began a heated competition, and after a dozen rounds of bidding, the price of the Flame Fruit had already risen to more than one thousand six hundred spirit stones and was still climbing. At this point, Lin Xingping was resolute, having made up his mind to obtain the fruit, he joined the bidding straight away. ¡°One thousand seven hundred twenty spirit stones!¡± He raised the bid by one hundred spirit stones in one go, leading many cultivators to secretly speculate. Even so, there were still several cultivators who were not ready to give up easily; after all, the Flame Fruit was quite rare, hardly seen in ordinary times, and it was only during market gatherings that it might appear. Missing this opportunity meant waiting several years. ¡°One thousand six hundred fifty spirit stones!¡± ¡°One thousand seven hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡­ The price continued to rise; after several more rounds of bidding, the Flame Fruit¡¯s price had reached over one thousand nine hundred spirit stones and was about to break the two-thousand-mark barrier. By then, with such a price, most cultivators had decided to give up on further bidding. Lin Xingping seemed hell-bent on winning; as soon as the last bid was called, he was the first to call out his bid, raising the price by dozens of spirit stones each time, suppressing those cultivators who were still hesitant. ¡°Two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones!¡± After three rounds of bidding, once he called out the price, the remaining two competing cultivators did not raise their bids any further. As five breaths of time passed with no further bids, Xue Chong bowed toward the VIP room where Lin Tianming was, and then announced the result of the auction. Upon hearing Xue Chong¡¯s announcement of the successful bid, Lin Xingping let out a long sigh of relief. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Surprised and delighted, he quickly took out two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones and completed the transaction with Xue Chong across the restrictive barrier. In the VIP room, Lin Xingping was excited, holding the blood-red Flame Fruit and admiring it lovingly. The first finale treasure sold for the high price of two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones, much to the thrill of all the cultivators present. This price was more than two hundred spirit stones higher than when Lin Tianming bid for the Flame Fruit, showing that the same treasure sold for a higher price at large gatherings than at smaller ones. However, Lin Xingping didn¡¯t mind in the least¡ªhe was willing to pay more if necessary, as treasures were serendipitous; once missed, who knows how long it would be till the next opportunity. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 308 - 200 Blueflame Furnace_1 Chapter 308: Chapter 200 Blueflame Furnace_1 ¡°` The first star item was successfully auctioned, snapped up by Lin Xingping through spirited bidding at a high price, igniting the atmosphere of the auction hall. In the center of the auction, Xue Chong looked around at the excited crowd with a satisfied smile, continuing to preside over the proceedings. He waved his hand for silence; as the room¡¯s excitement calmed down, he promptly brought out the second star item. Looking over, he revealed a silver-white Spirit Ruler in his hand about two-feet long, its surface covered with dense, golden runes, an impressively Second Order Lower Quality Attack Talisman. Many cultivators¡¯ eyes lit up with avid spiritual light at the sight of the glittering small ruler. ... Although the attack treasures of Lin Tianming and his companion were numerous and the power of the Spirit Ruler was not weak, they were not keen on wasting Spirit Stones. However, many Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivators in the audience, still utilizing First Order Spiritual Tools against their enemies, burst into fierce bidding the moment Xue Chong announced the starting price. ¡°Five thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°I bid five thousand four hundred Spirit Stones,¡± shouted a cultivator rising from the crowd. ¡­ Lin Tianming and his companion sat in the VIP room, observing the intense bidding below as they chatted leisurely over tea, waiting for the dust to settle on this item. A teatime later, the small ruler was bought by a Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator for four thousand four hundred Spirit Stones. With the second star item settled, the third item was taken out by Xue Chong, yet another piece the pair showed no interest in. They still had no intention of bidding, quietly waiting for the remaining star auction items. Time gradually passed, and soon an hour went by. In this period, five star items had been consecutively auctioned off, each fetching a high price. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the time of the fifth item, Lin Tianming finally took action, expending over nine thousand Spirit Stones to win a fierce competition for a Third Order Spirit Ore Red Copper Crystal as a filial gift for Lin Shilu. Red Copper Crystal is a high-quality material used in Artifact Refining, able to greatly enhance the toughness and power of magical instruments; even some Golden Elixir Experts¡¯ Magical Treasures incorporate this material. Among Third Order Spiritual Ores, it is considered top-notch. In the VIP room, Lin Tianming, holding the red stone, imagining the scene where he would present the Black Meteoric Iron and Red Copper Crystal to Lin Shilu, couldn¡¯t help but show an excited expression on his face. The auction continued, with Lin Tianming and his companion in the VIP room looking on expectantly. Before they knew it, it was nearing the end of the auction. The first eight items featured many rarely seen treasures: Hun Tian Pill, Second Order Medium Quality Offensive Magical Instruments, Three Sessions Spiritual Medicine Materials¡ªeach commanded a high price. Now, the atmosphere in the venue was boiling with anticipation, with only the last two star items left to be auctioned. The final two star items have always been the most precious, and each time they met with bids that reached astronomical prices. All the cultivators in attendance fixed their eyes on Xue Chong, their expressions filled with eager anticipation. Many who did not have the means to participate in the bidding felt just witnessing such a spectacle was worth their while. In the center of the auction, Xue Chong chuckled and then placed a little cauldron that was red and blue in color in his palm. As soon as the small cauldron appeared, it immediately elicited gasps from the cultivators in attendance, drawing Lin Tianming back to reality from his reverie. Gazing at it, the small, palm-sized, red and blue cauldron was extremely delicate, covered with dense runes, and was clearly a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemy Furnace. Xue Chong struck it with a Law Decree, and the little cauldron instantly shone with Spiritual Light, then began to enlarge until it was the size of a table before it stopped growing. Looking at the exquisite little cauldron, Xue Chong¡¯s expression turned eager as he reluctantly shifted his gaze from it to the cultivators in front and began to introduce the item. ¡°This furnace is named the Blueflame Furnace, Second Order Medium Quality, capable of significantly increasing pill-concocting success rates and pill quantities. It¡¯s a rare treasure; fellow daoists who practice Alchemy shouldn¡¯t miss it,¡± explained Xue Chong. Even Second Order Medium Quality Magical Instruments were rarely seen, let alone a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace, which was extremely rare. Many well-known Second Order Medium Grade Alchemists, and even High Quality Alchemists, often use Lower Order Alchemy Furnaces. And a Second Order Superior Alchemy Furnace is so valuable that it¡¯s almost always a hereditary treasure, almost never auctioned. Amongst the circulating pill furnaces within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace was already the best available. Furthermore, there were plenty of Alchemists in the Cultivation World, but good Alchemy Furnaces were scarce. One could say a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace was in high demand within the entire Wei Kingdom Cultivation World, always sparking fierce competition whenever it became available. ¡°Brother Xue, what¡¯s the starting price? Stop beating around the bush,¡± an impatient cultivator called out, pressing for an answer. ¡°Hehe¡­ The Blueflame Furnace will start at thirty-three thousand Spirit Stones, and each bid must be at least one hundred Spirit Stones higher,¡± Xue Chong detailed. Before his words fell, numerous bids were already being called from several VIP rooms, heating up the scene instantly. Many cultivators breathed rapidly, ready for an intense bidding war. Lin Tianming, equally thrilled, sighed in relief when he saw the Blueflame Furnace featured as the ninth star item. He had been tipped off by Tang Xiuyuan back at the Sky Dragon Pavilion and, now that he had personally witnessed it, began to prepare himself resolutely to win it. While he was contemplating, the bidding for the Blueflame Furnace had already gone through several rounds, shooting up to thirty-seven thousand Spirit Stones, with numerous cultivators on stand-by, ready to jump into the fray. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 309 - 200 Blueflame Furnace_2 Chapter 309: Chapter 200 Blueflame Furnace_2 After several more rounds of bidding, a voice from a VIP room called out a price of 41,000 spirit stones, pushing the atmosphere in the hall to a climax. Inside the VIP room, Lin Xingping was so shocked that he could hardly take it anymore. The price of the Blueflame Furnace had already reached the amount required to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, with more than 10,000 spirit stones to spare, and it was still increasing. Seeing the cultivators in these VIP rooms bid so ferociously, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue, thinking that these people really didn¡¯t consider spirit stones as anything important. But after thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t surprising. A Second Order Low Quality Magic Artifact cost several thousand spirit stones, and a Second Order Medium Quality artifact went for over ten thousand. Considering that pill furnaces have always been rare and precious, and that they are valued several times higher than attack artifacts of the same grade, it was not strange that a Second Order Medium Grade pill furnace would fetch tens of thousands of spirit stones. True to expectations, there were still over a dozen VIP rooms persisting in the bidding war, clearly not willing to give up easily. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t planning to just watch the fun unfold. The moment the previous VIP room announced their price, he called out a bid of 46,000 spirit stones. ... Hearing the price from Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP room, which increased by 3,000 spirit stones in one go, many cultivators were immediately stunned. At this moment, Lin Xingping was again shocked beyond belief. He had already spent most of his savings on second order talisman paper and Flame Fruits, yet Lin Tianming kept his composure even after calling out more than ten thousand spirit stones. ¡°This young man is really too rich!¡± Lin Xingping thought secretly, but he didn¡¯t say anything. After all, Lin Tianming was always prudent, and since he made a bid, he surely had his reasons. Regaining his composure, the whole auction house suddenly fell silent, the faces of cultivators who came to enjoy the show flushed and their breathing quickened. In a certain VIP room, two Foundation Establishment cultivators sat side by side. One of them was grim-faced, swearing profusely. The other, an old man with a bitter smile, noticing his companion¡¯s restlessness, took the opportunity to advise, ¡°Hong Hao, this is an auction, where the highest bidder wins by rule. Besides, every alchemist powerful enough to join this bidding war is overflowing with wealth. Although your cultivation is strong and you are a young Second Order Alchemist, the cultivation world is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. There are many talented individuals out there who surpass you, and you really need to change your arrogant ways. Otherwise, if you clash with someone formidable, you¡¯ll be at a disadvantage.¡± Seeing the old man¡¯s advice, the young cultivator¡¯s expression eased slightly, but he still looked rather displeased. ¡°I understand, but I¡¯m determined to get this Blueflame Furnace, no matter the price,¡± Wei Honghao said emphatically. Thereupon, seeing the young man¡¯s resolve, the old man shook his head helplessly and said nothing more to avoid upsetting him further. ¡°47,000 spirit stones!¡± The young cultivator remained unyielding. Although he did not raise the bid by much, adding a thousand spirit stones in one breath was still significant. Lin Tianming remained unphased and instantly matched the increased bid with an additional thousand spirit stones of his own. As the two of them continued to bid, raising the price by a thousand each time, the Blueflame Furnace¡¯s price had already broken the fifty-thousand threshold, reaching a frightening 54,000 spirit stones. By this point, the entire auction had fallen into absolute silence, with only Lin Tianming and the young cultivator still in competition, all eyes fixated on the two VIP rooms. Encountering someone so determined to win, Lin Tianming felt a slight irritation but quickly calmed down. When it comes to a contest of spirit stones, he was by no means inferior. Although he had spent tens of thousands on Second Order Talismans earlier, he still had seventy to eighty thousand spirit stones on him and was not worried about running out. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though the Blueflame Furnace had sold for an exorbitant price, if he managed to produce just two more Foundation Establishment Pills with it, he would recover the cost. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming remained unwavered and raised the bid once again. ¡°55,000 spirit stones!¡± Hearing the price, the young cultivator could not contain himself any longer, crushing the spirit stone he had been toying with into dust. ¡°56,000 spirit stones!¡± the young cultivator called out his bid once more. ¡°Hong Hao, just let it go. The cultivator you¡¯re bidding against clearly has far greater wealth than you, and it¡¯s very likely he comes from a Great Sect or one of those top Foundation Establishment families.¡± Hearing these words, the young cultivator¡¯s face turned displeased, as if he had lost his rationality. Seizing the lull, he said towards the elder: ¡°Fourth Grandpa, if we don¡¯t bid for the Blueflame Furnace, it won¡¯t be easy to find another Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace. How many more spirit stones do you have? I want to take one more gamble!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the elder¡¯s expression became grave, and he then earnestly cautioned: ¡°I¡¯ve already loaned you more than ten thousand spirit stones, and now I only have two thousand left. We simply don¡¯t have the confidence to engage in a dogfight with them to the end!¡± Upon hearing this, the young cultivator¡¯s expression dimmed. He called out another price, then fixed his gaze in the direction where Lin Tianming was seated. ¡°Fifty-nine thousand spirit stones!¡± Lin Tianming declared his bid without hesitation, prepared to increase his offer at any moment. However, as soon as he made his bid, the other party did not raise the price any further; it seemed they had given up. Within the private room where Wei Honghao was, his face was exceedingly grim. The elder beside him began to advise him. After a few words of persuasion, Wei Honghao reluctantly nodded his head. The Wei Family was also one of the Foundation Establishing Families of the Hengyang Mountain Range, and their influence ranked high even throughout the Wei Kingdom; however, the price of the Blueflame Furnace was too steep, his personal supply of spirit stones limited, so he could only abandon the idea of continuing the bidding. Xue Chong looked towards the direction of the young cultivator, wearing an expression of anticipation. He truly wished for the other party to keep raising the bid, further driving up the price of the Blueflame Furnace, so that he could receive a more substantial reward. However, his hopes were not met. A few moments passed, the auction hall remained silent, and no cultivator advanced the bid beyond fifty-nine thousand spirit stones offered by Lin Tianming. Xue Chong sighed helplessly, then publicly announced that the ninth auction item, the Blueflame Furnace, was sold for fifty-nine thousand spirit stones. Hearing Xue Chong¡¯s resonant voice, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then prepared the spirit stones, completing the transaction through the barrier of the private room. Not long after, Lin Tianming received the Blueflame Furnace and began to closely inspect it, his expression extremely excited. He casually played with it for a while; satisfied with the Alchemy Furnace despite the heavy expenditure of spirit stones, he still felt it was worth it. With the transaction of the treasure completed, the suffocating atmosphere in the auction hall was lifted, and a host of cultivators began murmuring amongst themselves. Many were secretly speculating about the identity of the person who had won the bid. Unfortunately, with the barrier in place, no one could know their identity information, except for the Zhenyang Sect behind the auction. Returning his focus, the auction continued. Lin Tianming was also filled with anticipation, reasoning that since the ninth item was a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace, the final auction treasure should be even more precious. While he was speculating, Xue Chong had already brought out a water-blue jade box adorned with myriad runes, clearly indicating it was no ordinary object. ¡°The final star item, a Gold Fruit, with a starting bid of one hundred thousand spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than two hundred spirit stones!¡± As soon as he finished, the entire hall of cultivators gasped, many completely astounded. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping both breathed heavily, equally shocked. The Gold Fruit was a Third Order Spiritual Fruit that matured once every five thousand years, and it was one of the rare items that could increase the chances of advancing to the Golden Core Realm by ten percent. Although just a one in ten chance, it was still the dream treasure of all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After all, often times, a ten percent chance is enough to change a person¡¯s fate. If one could step into the Golden Core Realm, their lifespan would greatly increase, propelling them into the ranks of High Order Cultivators and becoming a powerful figure revered by thousands. In light of this, no matter how many spirit stones it cost, no one would be stingy with such external possessions. Although the Lin Family already had a Star Moon Fruit, they still coveted any treasure that could aid in Core Formation. At this moment, the auction hall was deathly silent; needles could be heard dropping, and the atmosphere had fallen into a strange calm. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 310 - 201 - Belonging_1 Chapter 310: Chapter 201 ¨C Belonging_1 sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time passed indiscernibly when Xue Chong, seeing the situation, let out a cough, and only then did he bring the mesmerized cultivators back to their senses. Soon, the bidding started like a tempestuous storm, with the price of the Gold Fruit skyrocketing, quickly surpassing 120,000 Spirit Stones. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces flushed with health as they sat in the VIP room drinking Spiritual Tea and watching the intense bidding among the cultivators, without any intention to participate. Despite their intense desire for it, hearing the fierce bidding, they could only express regret. More importantly, this Gold Fruit was a hot potato¡ªeven if they could successfully win the bid, there was no way to safely bring it back to their family. At this time, the number of cultivators bidding below gradually lessened, with only a few VIP rooms still participating, each belonging to either the top families of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World or Loose Cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. ... In one of the VIP rooms, Ye Pinghai sat on a precious wooden armchair, staring at the intense bidding below and showing a pensive expression. He had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and was very close to reaching the Great Perfection Realm, so he needed to prepare in advance for the impact of the Golden Core Stage. He had been preparing for more than ten years, accumulating a significant amount of wealth. He attended the auction today because he had learned of the Gold Fruit¡¯s presence through Li Xiuyuan in advance. Not just him, many top Foundation Establishing families and Loose Cultivators from Qianchuan Market, who got wind of it early, aimed precisely for the most precious items like the Blueflame Furnace and this Gold Fruit. Although the Gold Fruit could only increase the Core Formation rate by ten percent, in today¡¯s Cultivation World, it was one of the rare Nascent Soul Spiritual Items that even a Golden Core force like Zhenyang Sect could not easily obtain in sufficient quantities. As for why a Gold Fruit would appear in this auction, no one knew for sure¡ªit could be to attract popularity for the market, or the item might have come from the hands of a Loose Cultivator. Regardless of the reason, his goal was very straightforward. If he gave up the chance to bid for the Gold Fruit now, he would have to wait another ten years until the next grand meeting¡ªmoreover, he might not be successful in the bid, further delaying several years. With these thoughts, he firmed his resolve. With the wealth that he had amassed as a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master over many hard years, it was worth it to bid for the Gold Fruit. After an unknown passage of time, he regained his composure and joined the fierce bidding. ¡°146,000 Spirit Stones.¡± Ye Pinghai announced his price, increasing it by 3,000 stones in one breath to a staggering almost 150,000, plunging the whole venue into a brief silence again. At this point, many cultivators breathed rapidly, not even daring to let out a loud breath. The previous bids were mere child¡¯s play¡ªit was only now that the real top forces had joined the battle. ¡°147,000 Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°149,000 Spirit Stones.¡± After more than ten rounds of bidding, the price of the Gold Fruit had reached 163,000 Spirit Stones. At this stage, including Ye Pinghai, only three were still bidding, the rest of the bidders having been deterred by the frightening price. Both Lin Tianming and his companion were also shocked; the price of over 160,000 Spirit Stones was enough to purchase several Foundation Establishment Pills. Each bid was increased by thousands, and the price was still climbing. ¡°This Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and Qianchuan Market really are places full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; to nonchalantly offer tens of thousands of Spirit Stones without a second thought, it seems our previous assessment on the family¡¯s strength was too optimistic.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, yet his heart remained undisturbed, after all, the family was on the rise. Given another ten years, the family would reach a new peak and could match the standard of the top Foundation Establishing Families. In the VIP room where Ye Pinghai was, he appeared extremely composed, displaying the courage of a sinking ship, and bid 175,000 Spirit Stones, raising the stakes by 6,000 at once. A few breaths passed without another bid from any VIP room; the whole scene descended into silence. Xue Chong was excited at this point. Seeing that no one else was bidding, he publicly announced the results of the auction. Upon hearing the announcement, Ye Pinghai was thrilled, hastily taking out 175,000 Spirit Stones. Through the restrictions of the VIP room, he threw his storage bag out, and it landed firmly in Xue Chong¡¯s hands. Xue Chong received the storage bag, used his Divine Sense to count the Spirit Stones and, confirming the correct amount, immediately threw the Jade Box containing the Gold Fruit towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s VIP room. Ye Pinghai caught the Jade Box, opened it at once, and looked at the golden fruit inside, containing powerful energy, his expression one of unrestrained excitement. Not knowing how much time had passed, atop the auction stage, Xue Chong surveyed the whole venue, then announced the end of the Foundation Establishment Area auction. In the public seating area, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had yet to regain their senses, clearly shocked by the astronomical price of over 170,000 Spirit Stones. Only when some cultivators stood up and greeted Xue Chong did they come back to themselves. After exchanging pleasantries with some acquaintances, they orderly left the venue. In the VIP room where Lin Tianming was, the two watched the cultivators gradually leaving and were in no rush to leave themselves. At this moment, Lin Xingping was extremely excited. Attending the auction had been quite rewarding for them, and they had witnessed such an intense bidding process, making the trip worthwhile. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, Lin Tianming finally stood up, turned to Lin Xingping, and said, ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s a swap meet next. Do you want to take a look?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingping nodded, agreeing with the idea. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 311 - 201 - Belonging_2 Chapter 311: Chapter 201 ¨C Belonging_2 Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up and walked toward the exit of the VIP room, with Lin Xingping following closely behind. Upon leaving the VIP room, the female cultivator standing at the door had not left. Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion emerge, she immediately greeted them. Lin Tianming casually took out twenty spirit stones and handed them to the female cultivator, and then he led Lin Xingping further down the corridor. After a short while, they entered a secret chamber where more than ten cultivators were already engaged in casual conversation, some of whom were familiar faces. Upon seeing the two men enter, several Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately stood up to welcome them, specifically those they had met at a previous exchange meeting, showing great courtesy. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping did not dare to act arrogantly and immediately performed a fist-and-palm salute in greeting, then started to chat with the familiar cultivators. ... As this was Lin Xingping¡¯s first time attending an exchange meeting and he was unfamiliar with many of the cultivators, the intention today was to introduce him to some so that his future guardianship of the market would be more convenient. Seeing Lin Xingping¡¯s unfamiliar face, a cultivator promptly asked, ¡°Lin, it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen Daoist Lin Shilu. Who might this fellow Daoist be?¡± Lin Tianming let out a chuckle and then earnestly replied, ¡°Daoist Meng, my Fifteenth Grandfather is currently in secluded cultivation, and this person beside me is my uncle Lin Xingping. From now on, our Lin Family will have him stationed in the market. I hope fellow Daoists can do us the honor of lending a hand in times of crisis.¡± ¡°No problem at all. The name of the Lin Family is well-known to all. I presume there are no fools bold enough to cause trouble,¡± said Meng Zhaosong, the first to compliment. The rest of the cultivators were also very polite, echoing the sentiment. ¡°Indeed, the Lin Family is thriving like the midday sun, rising swiftly among the many Foundation Establishing families in the Wei Kingdom. Nobody dares to offend them lightly,¡± they said. Lin Tianming and his company¡¯s faces flushed with modesty as they continuously waved their hands, displaying great humility. While Lin Tianming and the others were chatting leisurely, some previously unacquainted cultivators, seeing the respect shown to Lin Tianming, quickly exchanged whispers with nearby cultivators to inquire about the background of the two. After learning that Lin Tianming and his companion were from the recently prominent Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain, some cultivators took the initiative to come over and greet them. Lin Tianming was very courteous in response to these kind gestures, engaging in mutual exchange. At this moment, Ye Pinghai also entered the secret chamber, seeing that Lin Tianming had already arrived, he greeted him with a smile. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong quickly got up and returned the salute with a fist-and-palm salute, then laughed and said, ¡°Grandpa Sea, as I expected, how could you possibly miss this rare opportunity for a gathering?¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and replied with a hearty laugh. ¡°Of course, this grand market meeting happens only once every ten years. With so many Daoists rarely gathering, it¡¯s only natural for an old man like me to join the fun,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s right, a rare opportunity indeed. Usually, everyone is busy with their cultivation; such chances are indeed few and far between,¡± agreed the other cultivators. Everyone nodded, then took their seats and chatted briefly, waiting for the exchange meeting to begin. Soon after, Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun walked into the secret chamber together, accompanied by Tang Xiuyuan. Seeing the three arrive, all the cultivators in the chamber promptly stood up to welcome them. After saluting the crowd with a fist-and-palm greeting, the three made their way directly towards Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai. Seeing Tang Xiuyuan attending the exchange meeting and coming with Li Xiuyuan was not a surprise to Lin Tianming. Given his role as the person in charge of Sky Dragon Pavilion in Qianchuan Market and his origin from the top-tier Tang Family of Qingzhou, his status was naturally not to be taken lightly, not even by the Zhenyang Sect. When Tang Xiuyuan saw Lin Tianming, he chuckled and took the initiative to greet him. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Daoist Chen to be from the Lin Family. No wonder the first time we met, I had the impression of your extraordinary background.¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan, Song Xun, and the other cultivators were taken aback. Li Xiuyuan then asked with a smile, ¡°Daoist Tang, you¡¯re acquainted with young Lin?¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯ve had the fortune of meeting Daoist Tang a few times before. I had always concealed my true name and background, which has led to some misunderstandings. If I¡¯ve given any offense, I hope Daoist Tang can forgive me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯s perfectly normal for cultivators to hide their identities from one another. Lin, don¡¯t give it another thought, it¡¯s no big deal to me,¡± Tang Xiuyuan replied with a smile. Listening to Tang Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, several cultivators nodded, understanding the reasons behind it. They all laughed, dissolving the awkwardness, and after exchanging formalities, they began to chat casually. Many cultivators present were unfamiliar faces, and upon hearing the conversation among several people and seeing that renowned cultivators from Qianchuan Market were very polite to Lin Tianming, many noted Lin Tianming and the Lin Family in their minds. In the future, they would naturally be more cautious to avoid provoking these powerful Foundation Establishment families. After a short while, as Li Xiuyuan and two others entered, no other cultivators continued to come. Finding that no more were joining, Li Xiuyuan stood up and announced the start of the exchange meeting. Once everyone had settled down, he waved one hand and two treasures landed steadily on the stone table in front of the crowd. Looking over them, both items were extraordinary: one a Second Order Medium Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill, and the other a Second Order Medium Grade Attack Magical Artifact. Admiring the two treasures, Li Xiuyuan smiled and then said, ¡°These two items of mine are but ordinary, so there are no restrictions. As long as I deem the items offered in exchange satisfactory, anything can be traded.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, a cultivator took out a Third Order Spirit Medicine Material and a cultivation-enhancing Spiritual Fruit to trade for his two treasures. Next, Song Xun also brought out two treasures, and after some comparison, successfully traded for two items he wanted. In a short time, several well-known Foundation Establishment cultivators completed their trades, and Ye Pinghai brought out a Hun Tian Pill and a Second Order Spiritual Fruit, exchanging them for a precious Third Order Spirit Medicine Material. What Tang Xiuyuan put forth was also impressive: a Third Order Solid Gold Stone and a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill. Soon, Song Xun traded for the Solid Gold Stone, and the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill was traded to a Loose Cultivator. As several renowned cultivators looked at him with anticipation, Lin Tianming felt embarrassed. He hadn¡¯t planned on acquiring any particular treasures at the exchange meeting, as aside from Demon Beast Inner Pills and talismans, he didn¡¯t have much suitable for trading. Still, with many eyes on him, he took out a Second Order Mid-tier Dragon Eye Beast Inner Pill, as well as an ordinary Third Order Spirit Medicine Material, and placed them on the stone platform in front of him. Although these items were not the most precious, they were above average among the treasures and were swiftly traded away by several Loose Cultivators. In return, Lin Tianming acquired a Third Order Spiritual Ore and several pieces of Second Order Initial Stage Beast Skin Armor, planning to gift the ore to Lin Shilu and the beast skin to Lin Tianyue. As Lin Tianming completed his trades, when it was Lin Xingping¡¯s turn, he decisively stated that he would not participate. Lin Tianming had anticipated this. His Foundation Establishment phase was still short, and having spent all his Spirit Stones on Second Order Talismans and the Flame Fruit, he had no high-value treasures that could interest these cultivators. It seemed better to abstain than to be the subject of ridicule. Seeing Lin Xingping abstaining from trading, the next cultivator moved past him and continued the exchange meeting. An hour later, the exchange meeting concluded. Except for Lin Xingping, all the cultivators had traded for items they desired, though a few treasures remained unclaimed. In the private room, Li Xiuyuan and the others chatted briefly, then organized a sharing of cultivation experiences, including discussions on the Four Arts of Cultivation. As Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping¡¯s cultivation levels were too low, they didn¡¯t show off unnecessarily, instead absorbing the experiences shared by others with patience. As dusk approached, the day-long auction and exchange meeting drew to a close. Laughter echoed through the large private room with the atmosphere among the cultivators being extremely amiable. Lin Tianming and his companion made a few more acquaintances and gained much experience, sparing them some detours on the cultivation path. After half a quarter of an hour, Li Xiuyuan stood up, bowed with cupped hands to the group of cultivators, and then said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, this exchange meeting has concluded successfully. As we have all gathered here and each has gained something, I look forward to continuing our interactions next time!¡± As his words ended, some cultivators greeted each other and then stood up to leave. Lin Tianming and his companion bid farewell to the other cultivators and also stood up to leave, departing the auction with Ye Pinghai. While walking through the streets of the market, Lin Tianming arranged to visit Ye Pinghai another day, who graciously agreed to the invitation. Only when the two reached the Cave Mansion District did they part ways, each returning to their own caves. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 312 - 202 Extensive Alchemy_1 Chapter 312: Chapter 202 Extensive Alchemy_1 Having returned to the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianfeng and the other members of the family had already returned in advance. Seeing the lively group sitting in the courtyard chatting idly and sharing amusing stories from the auction, Lin Tianming and his companion joined in. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming inquired about everyone¡¯s gains. Lin Tianfeng let out a chuckle and then took out a Second Order Junior Attack Talisman and a crystal clear Spirit Fruit, excitedly discussing the auction process at the Qi Refining Area. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin also had fruitful results, each snapping up some good materials for alchemy and talisman making. During the subsequent exchange meeting, they also obtained some elixirs and Spirit Fruits that would enhance their cultivation, reaping a rich harvest indeed. The rest of the group had also gained considerably, acquiring various treasures and becoming acquainted with many cultivators from the Sect Families, as well as some highly skilled Loose Cultivators. ... Through these days of understanding and connections made with other cultivators, the new family members were able to integrate more swiftly into the Qianchuan Market. As they listened to the accounts, Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, feeling much reassured. Lin Tianming then asked about the recent cultivation plans of the family members, in preparation for their return to the Lin Family. Upon Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianfeng immediately responded, ¡°Sixth Brother, just give your instructions. I don¡¯t have any specific plans for this period. I will cultivate by assimilating the Spirit Fruit I have, and then get Tianhu and the others acquainted with the business at the Luoyun Pavilion.¡± Before he finished speaking, Lin Tianhu chimed in, ¡°Yes, Sixth Brother, if you, Second Brother, and Third Sister are going to do alchemy, just give us your direct orders.¡± Lin Tianming nodded then began to think about his own arrangements. In the past few days, he had nearly completed making half of the Second Order Pills, and there were still many left, including the accumulation from recent days, plus a lot of materials for First Order Elixirs. Fortunately, with Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong, who were both First Order Superior Grade Alchemists, the making of First Order Elixirs could be left to them. Beyond that, he had acquired the Blueflame Furnace from the auction. He believed that, once he had bonded with it and started refining elixirs, his speed would increase significantly. With these thoughts in mind, he said, ¡°Next, Second Brother and Third Sister will start making First Order Elixir materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion. I will handle the Second Order ones. Uncle Xing Ping will be in closed-door cultivation, and the Pavilion is quite busy right now, so the rest of the family should take turns helping out at the Luoyun Pavilion.¡± Hearing the orders, Lin Tianfeng and the others immediately agreed and then stood up to leave, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping sitting in the courtyard. After the departure of the others, Lin Xingping still looked excited. After calming down, he said, ¡°Tianming, you better start your closed-door cultivation to assimilate the Blueflame Furnace as soon as possible. I will also assimilate the Flame Fruit. It should not take many days before I can leave seclusion. I¡¯ll pay attention to the market in the meantime, and I believe nothing unexpected will happen.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and responded, ¡°Alright, Uncle, go ahead with your cultivation in seclusion. Once I have assimilated the Blueflame Furnace, I¡¯ll also have to refine elixirs for a while. Once we have processed a good amount of the Spiritual Medicine materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion, I will take Tianfeng and the others back to the family.¡± After a few more words, the two said farewell with clasped hands and headed towards their respective training rooms. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay either. He had been eager to get the Blueflame Furnace since the moment he received it. If it were not for the fact that he was still at the auction and didn¡¯t have the conditions to assimilate the pill furnace, he would have wanted to begin immediately. Now back in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, he naturally wanted to start assimilating it right away. Thinking this, he immediately entered a training room. Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he took out the blue and red Blueflame Furnace and placed it in front of him. Excitement filled his expression as he looked at the exquisite Blueflame Furnace. With this Blueflame Furnace, the Lin Family possessed its third Second Order Pill Furnace, in addition to the Three Star Furnace used by himself and his grandfather, while another Second Order Junior Pill Furnace was in use by Lin Xingyuan. Moreover, the Lin Family was making equal strides in alchemy and Artifact Refining. Lin Shilu, as a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner, was highly skilled in the Way of Artifact Refining and was regarded as preeminent in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. In the sphere of alchemy, they had Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan, both Second Order Junior Alchemists, and with the assistance of the Blueflame Furnace, breaking through to Second Order Medium Quality should not take long. At most five years, or perhaps ten years, they would surely step into the rank of Second Order Medium Quality. As for First Order Alchemists, there were many clan members with considerable talent. Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin were both First Order Superior Grade. As long as they successfully established their Foundation, becoming Second Order Alchemists should be a natural success. At that time, the family¡¯s alchemy domain would have several Second Order Alchemists, and this alchemic strength would be sufficient to step onto a new stage. He did not know how much time had passed before he came back to his senses and began to regulate his breath and circulate his cultivation technique. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half an hour later, after circulating his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation and ensuring that his state reached its peak, he formed hand seals and cast spells which transformed into beams of Spiritual Light bombarding the Blueflame Furnace. ¡°Humming¡­¡± The Blueflame Furnace emitted a series of sounds, its surface gleaming brightly, followed by intense vibrations, as it swelled to the size of a table before quietly settling in front of him, motionless. On closer inspection, the exquisite patterns and tiny inscriptions on the Pill Furnace were clearly visible, and numerous lifelike depictions of Demonic Beasts emerged, lending the entire Pill Furnace an air of indomitable grandeur. Looking at the hard-earned Blueflame Furnace, his expression was one of excitement. He then spat a mouthful of blood essence onto the Blueflame Furnace. In an instant, as the blood essence touched the surface of the Pill Furnace, the entire furnace erupted with an invisible aura, creating gusts of wind that stirred the faint Spiritual Energy of the training room. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 313 - 202: Alchemy on a Large Scale_2 Chapter 313: Chapter 202: Alchemy on a Large Scale_2 ¡°` Seeing this, Lin Tianming grew even more excited, thinking to himself, ¡°It seems that the Blueflame Furnace¡¯s grade is unexpectedly high, almost reaching the level of a Second Order Superior artifact.¡± Recollecting his mind, at this moment, the surface of the Blueflame Furnace burst with spiritual light and began to spin wildly. Lin Tianming brought his palms together and then cast a series of spells onto the pill furnace. At the same time, he started to focus his consciousness, controlling his divine sense to penetrate the central system of the Blueflame Furnace. As long as he could imprint his consciousness on it and refine it once more, his great accomplishment would be complete. By then, the entire cultivation room was flickering with light, and strange sounds were emerging. Lin Tianming was in the midst of intense refining. ... Time flew by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming looked somewhat weary, but he did not mind it. After casting another spell, he slowly began to wrap up his work. Lin Tianming felt the Blueflame Furnace in tune with his mind, as if it were a part of his own body, clearly indicating successful refining. At this point, the Blueflame Furnace stopped spinning, silently standing on the floor before him. Looking at it, the previously unclaimed Blueflame Furnace, though lively in appearance, had a somewhat dim luster. But now, after his refinement, it looked more spirited, with a bright surface sheen and occasional flashes of demonic beast phantoms that seemed to have come back to life. Looking at the successfully refined Blueflame Furnace, Lin Tianming waved his hand, and the Blueflame Furnace instantly shrank dramatically, turning back to palm-size, and he caught it in his hand. He infused it with spiritual power, the entire Blueflame Furnace glowed brilliantly and swelled rapidly before starting to spin alongside him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled, and he took the Blueflame Furnace back into his hands for a close inspection, appearing to be utterly lovestruck by it. After several days of refining, he finally succeeded in claiming and refining the Blueflame Furnace. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and then began to meditate with closed eyes, waiting to return to peak condition. Then he would start alchemy to test the effect of the Blueflame Furnace. Half a day later, once his condition had fully recovered, he went to the pill refining room. After sitting on the cushion, he took out some Second Order Lingshen Pill spiritual medicine materials, ready to begin alchemy. With preparations complete, he performed a Grand Circulation, and then cast a spell onto the Earth Fire vent. When the Earth Fire erupted, a wave of heat spread, and the temperature in the pill refining room began to rise gradually, the high temperatures created by the flowing heat waves causing his robe to billow. Then, unhurriedly, he took out the Blueflame Furnace and cast a spell onto it, making it rapidly inflate before it was suspended in the air above the Earth Fire. Once the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace reached the required threshold for alchemy, he immediately threw in a piece of spiritual medicine material into the furnace. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle.¡± The spiritual medicine materials entered the Blueflame Furnace and were quickly refined by the high heat, emitting a faintly special fragrance. He ignored this and began the most basic process of decomposition and purification, turning each piece of spiritual medicine material into essence that collected at the bottom of the furnace. Soon, after more than an hour of intense decomposition and purification, the pieces of spiritual medicine material were completely broken down. At the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace, a multicolored mass of elixir essence lay within. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead, gazing at the essence of the spiritual medicine, showing a satisfied expression. With the Blueflame Furnace, his impression was that this pill furnace was better than his grandfather¡¯s Three Star Furnace; it was more intuitive to use, the efficiency of the decomposition and purification was improved by more than thirty percent, and the resulting elixir essence was purer. This significant change was a great help and enhancement to his alchemy. At this thought, he was extremely excited and prepared to complete the final steps of Infusion of Spirit and Solidifying Pill to see the results of this batch of pills. He took a deep breath and with a single-handed seal, cast another spell onto the Earth Fire vent. With a soft sound, the bright red Earth Fire burst forth, directly heating the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace skyrocketed within a very short time. Seeing that the temperature was about right, he struck the Three Star Furnace with his palm, and immediately, a blast of spiritual power surged into the furnace and disappeared. Suddenly, Lin Tianming shouted, ¡°Solidify the pill!¡± In an instant, a unique fragrance of elixirs emanated from the furnace, quickly filling the entire pill refining room. ¡°` Seeing this, he didn¡¯t bother about the beads of sweat on his forehead and hurriedly lifted the lid of the furnace to take a look. Inside the furnace, eight dull gray pills were suspended. He immediately took out one and began to carefully examine it in his hand. After a short while, Lin Tianming¡¯s face revealed an extremely excited expression. This batch of pills had been refined incredibly smoothly. Even though they were just ordinary Second Order Lingshen Pills, which he had refined many times before, the energy contained in the pills refined with the Blueflame Furnace seemed somewhat higher. Not only that, the yield was typically six pills, with seven occurring in rare cases, but this first batch yielded eight. This made it clear that with the help of the Blueflame Furnace, his yield and the success rate of pill production might have both improved. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt joyful and was very pleased with the Blueflame Furnace¡¯s performance. ¡°Each time I can produce one or two more pills, and if they are valuable pills, in one or two instances, I could make back the nearly sixty thousand Spirit Stones spent to buy this Blueflame Furnace. Indeed, it was worth it,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. He then collected the pills from the bottom of the furnace, ready to strike while the iron was hot and promptly refine all the materials. Determined, he immediately sprang into action. In no time, the Pill Refining Room was engulfed in waves of heat. Every half day, bursts of medicinal fragrance spread out. The days of frenzied pill refining quietly passed by, and without realizing it, a month had gone by. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming had several hundred Jade Bottles arranged in front of him¡ªall the fruits of his labor over the past month. During this month, he spent his days pill refining and his nights in meditation, not wasting a single moment. With such hard work, he achieved tremendous gains. All the Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials accumulated by Luoyun Pavilion had been fully refined by him, and he had also managed to refine more than a third of the First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. He left the rest for Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin to refine. Since acquiring the Blueflame Furnace, there had been a slight increase in both his pill success rate and yield. After a month of continuous pill refining, he had crafted over a hundred Second Order Pills and just as many First Order Pills. After setting aside those owed to the people who commissioned the pills, he could keep over sixty percent. With over two hundred pills, their value had already surpassed twenty thousand Spirit Stones, earning him back nearly half the capital for the Blueflame Furnace. At this moment, Lin Tianming was exhilarated and in high spirits. After tidying up the cluttered Pill Refining Room, he took all the pills and left. Shortly after, he arrived at the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Seated in the courtyard, he sent out several messages to gather his family members. Before long, except for Lin Xingyao and Lin Tianhu, who were guarding the Luoyun Pavilion, the others had all arrived in haste. They exchanged greetings and then sat down to chat leisurely for a while. Lin Tianming handed over the hundred-plus bottles of pills he had prepared in advance to Lin Xingping and then asked Lin Tianhong about his and the others¡¯ accomplishments over the month. Lin Tianhong chuckled and said, ¡°The First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion have been mostly refined by us. Aside from the portion we owe to those commissioning pills, the two of us have acquired close to a hundred pills. The remaining twenty percent of the materials will be left for Tianqin. I believe it won¡¯t take long for her to finish refining them all!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and felt happy for them. Although their pill refining was arduous, after a month, not only could they improve their pill production skills, but they also obtained a large number of pills. Nearly a hundred pills were worth close to a thousand Spirit Stones. With more opportunities like this, it would take less than ten years to gather enough Spirit Stones for the Foundation Establishment Pills. Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and then said, ¡°It¡¯s been over a month since we left the family. The auction has been attended, the Spiritual Medicine Materials have been almost fully refined, and all matters are settled. Tomorrow morning, let us set out to return to the family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, everyone was overwhelmingly excited. They had left the family three years ago, and finally, they could return. ¡°We¡¯re going home tomorrow!¡± Lin Tianfeng said excitedly. ¡°Everyone should go and rest. We¡¯ll gather tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded, stood up, and left one after another. After a short time, only Lin Tianming and his siblings, along with Lin Xingping, remained in the courtyard. Seeing everyone depart, Lin Tianming spoke, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ve already messaged Old Ye. Let¡¯s set out!¡± ¡°Mm¡­ let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Xingping nodded in response. With that, the three of them left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s abode. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 314 - 203 Guess_1 Chapter 314: Chapter 203 Guess_1 In the North District of Qianchuan Market, outside a delicate and quiet residence. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and his two companions paused for a moment before a message was sent out, and the residence¡¯s gate swiftly opened automatically. The three stepped in. At that time, Ye Pinghai was sitting in the small courtyard, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Upon seeing the three enter the courtyard, he politely stood up, greeting Lin Tianming and the others. ¡°Tian Ming has met Grandpa Sea,¡± Lin Tianming saluted with folded hands, and Lin Xingping also greeted Ye Pinghai with clasped fists. Ye Pinghai waved his hand in a dismissing gesture and then turned to Lin Tianyue, asking, ¡°Heh heh, I am truly delighted by the visit of the three young friends. Is this Elder Shi Gong¡¯s granddaughter?¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianyue nodded and then bowed respectfully, ¡°Tian Yue has seen Elder Ye. I have often heard grandfather and my brother mention the elder. I have been in the market for some days now, and it is only today that I have come to pay respects. I hope elder will not blame the younger generation for any disrespect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. Your grandfather and your elders are very good friends of mine, and the Lin Family has been kind to me, so there¡¯s no need for such politeness. Just call me as Tian Ming does from now on,¡± Ye Pinghai replied. ¡°I will follow Grandpa Sea¡¯s instructions,¡± said Lin Tianyue, once again bowing respectfully. ¡°Hmm.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and then with a wave of his sleeve, a rather exquisite silver-white small sword and a jade bottle appeared in his hand. Ye Pinghai waved the spirit sword in his hand, its nimble blade quickly turning into a series of afterimages, clearly a supreme quality spiritual artifact. ¡°This Ice Sword was obtained by me in my early years; among supreme quality spiritual artifacts, it¡¯s considered a fine item. This Jade Ring Pill in the bottle will benefit your cultivation. Consider them a meeting gift from me,¡± Ye Pinghai said. Seeing the Ice Sword and Jade Ring Pill, Lin Tianming was excited. The aura from the spiritual artifact suggested it was very close to the standard of a Second Order Magical Artifact, extremely nimble yet possessing formidable piercing power¡ªindeed, it was a rare treasure among spiritual artifacts. The Jade Ring Pill was an elixir that improved cultivation, its effects even stronger than the Lingshen Pill. However, spiritual medicine is hard to find, and only a few Golden Elixir Forces had a small reserve of it. Both items were exceptional treasures. It was clear to see that Ye Pinghai was very pleased with Lin Tianyue to present such valuable items. ¡°Tian Yue, Grandpa Sea is quite generous; you should accept these,¡± Lin Tianming said. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianyue, looking delighted, quickly took over the Ice Sword and Jade Ring Pill and thanked Ye Pinghai respectfully. Ye Pinghai nodded, very satisfied, and then invited the three to sit down and chat casually. After conversing leisurely for a while, Ye Pinghai changed the topic and solemnly asked, ¡°Tian Ming, what is Daoist Shi Kang¡¯s current cultivation level? If nothing unexpected happens, he should be close to reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Does he have any chance of impacting the Golden Core Stage?¡± These words made Lin Tianming¡¯s heart tighten. The family had always kept the advancement of Shi Kang to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment a secret, known only by the most core members. Ye Pinghai¡¯s direct inquiry was puzzling, leaving Lin Tianming uncertain of his intentions and what his plans were, yet it was inappropriate to outright reject answering. Musing over these thoughts, Lin Tianming said with a wry smile, ¡°The younger generation is not clear about Third Grandfather¡¯s exact cultivation level. At your level, every step forward is extremely difficult. As for the Golden Core Stage, without heaven-defying treasures, it¡¯s an unreachable realm and not something easily achieved.¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Quickly recovering, he said with a resigned tone, ¡°That¡¯s true, without heaven-defying treasures, the hopes of impacting the Golden Core Stage are slim.¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and then said, ¡°Today, I came to visit you, Elder, because I will return to my family tomorrow. My sister and uncle will remain in the market. I earnestly request Grandpa Sea to look after them. If there¡¯s an opportunity in the future, we will invite Grandpa Sea to visit Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± After finishing, Ye Pinghai maintained his composure, then firmly added: ¡°As long as your family members do not provoke the Golden Core Forces, there won¡¯t be any danger in the market. Even the Golden Core Forces will give this old man some face. Rest assured and go in peace.¡± ¡°Moreover, in a few years, perhaps less than five or within ten, I plan to visit Green Bamboo Mountain to meet with your elders and discuss some important matters.¡± Hearing that Ye Pinghai intended to visit Green Bamboo Mountain and had significant matters to discuss with his Third Grandfather and others, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but speculate. After pondering carefully, given Ye Pinghai¡¯s status and cultivation, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t fathom what matter would require the Lin Family¡¯s assistance. ¡°Could he be planning to impact the Golden Core Stage?¡± Lin Tianming thought suddenly, feeling a spark of realization. That was the only possibility; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t see any reason for Ye Pinghai to seek help from the Lin Family. Keeping his expression neutral without directly addressing the issue, since no one would lightly disclose such significant matters, Lin Tianming said, ¡°I will then thank Grandpa Sea in advance for his help. Once I have returned to my family, I will surely mention this to Third Grandfather and the others and await Grandpa Sea¡¯s arrival at Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°In no more than five or ten years, I shall surely make the personal visit,¡± Ye Pinghai said excitedly. Then, after chatting casually for half an hour and as the evening approached, they got up to say their goodbyes and returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Sitting in the courtyard, Lin Tianming took out the acquired Second Order Demonic Beast skin armors from the exchange and handed them to Lin Tianyue, then instructed her, ¡°These beast skins were specially prepared for you by your brother. I will return to the family tomorrow. Spend the next three years peacefully cultivating in the market. The outside world is too dangerous; never leave on your own. Always follow Uncle Xing Ping¡¯s arrangements and hopefully, when you return to the family after three years, you can directly impact the Foundation Establishment Stage.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 315 - 203 Guessing_2 Chapter 315: Chapter 203 Guessing_2 Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianyue nodded her head and took the demonic beast skin armor he handed over, saying: ¡°Understood, brother. You can rest assured, I will definitely follow the arrangements. Be careful on your journey.¡± ¡°Alright, go cultivate. We are leaving tomorrow morning, so we won¡¯t be disturbing you anymore,¡± Lin Tianming said. Lin Tianyue nodded her head, then walked towards the depths of the courtyard, disappearing into the night. At this moment, Lin Xingping also took out a book and three storage bags, handing them to Lin Tianming and saying, ¡°This is the profit from Luoyun Pavilion for the past two years, totaling over eighty thousand spirit stones, as well as a batch of precious cultivation resources. The details are all recorded in the book. Be careful on the road.¡± Lin Tianming accepted the storage bags and the book, his Divine Sense sweeping through them to verify the contents, then spoke, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. Tianhong is returning to the family with me tomorrow. I believe it won¡¯t be more than a few years before he can attempt to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. With his talent and age, the chance of success is great, so you need not worry too much.¡± ... ¡°As for Tianyue and the others, and Luoyun Pavilion, I¡¯ll leave them in your care, Uncle. If there is anything you can¡¯t resolve, you can go ask Elder Ye for help.¡± ¡°Mm, rest assured. I won¡¯t see you off when you leave the market tomorrow,¡± said Lin Xingping. ¡°Alright, Uncle, rest early. I should head back, too.¡± With those words, Lin Tianming bowed with clasped hands, then headed to his own room, and both men returned to their rooms. That night, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t cultivate but went to bed early, preparing to rest well. The next morning, dawn was just breaking. Lin Tianfeng and the others were ready to go, sitting in the courtyard waiting for Lin Tianming to come out. After a short while, Lin Tianming came out and greeted everyone with a smile, ¡°Everyone looks spirited!¡± Lin Tianfeng laughed and said with an excited expression, ¡°Well, of course! It¡¯s been three years since we¡¯ve been home, and I do miss the days on Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°Since everyone is eager to return home, let¡¯s not delay any longer. Let¡¯s go home!¡± With those words, Lin Tianming took the lead, and Lin Tianfeng and the others followed closely behind. Soon, they left the market in a grand procession and arrived in a valley more than ten miles outside the market. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from its Spirit Beast Bag, and then they all jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle. Feeling the aura of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and blurted out, ¡°It has broken through to Second Order?¡± ¡°Mm¡­ has been for half a year!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmative words, the others were visibly excited. With the breakthrough of the Purple Gold Eagle, the family had added another Foundation Establishment combat power, and it was a flying Spiritual Bird at that. Seeing the excitement of his companions, Lin Tianming glanced at the map and then issued a command to the Purple Gold Eagle. Understanding, the Purple Gold Eagle with everyone on its back soared into the sky, entering the thousand-foot-high clouds and reaching its top speed as it shot towards the south. A few days later, Lin Tianming and the others successfully returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. After entering the mountain gate, Lin Tianming bade farewell to the others and then hastened to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode. It wasn¡¯t long before he saw Lin Shikang, and Lin Shihua, having heard the news, hurried over as well. The three of them sat in the courtyard chatting over tea. Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Is Fifteenth Grandfather in secluded cultivation?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded and said with a laugh, ¡°After coming out of the Secret Realm, Shi Lu showed signs of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. With everything going smoothly, it¡¯s time for him to go into seclusion to attempt the breakthrough!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. If Lin Shilu broke through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, the family would have an additional Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, raising the family¡¯s strength to a new level. Given this, the family¡¯s two Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators were stepping into the threshold of the top Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement, Lin Shihua asked about the trip to the market, ¡°Tianming, was the trip to Qianchuan Market smooth?¡± Lin Tianming collected his thoughts and then reported the entire process of the trip to Qianchuan. At the same time, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Shihua. After listening to the whole process, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua nodded. Lin Shihua checked the storage bags and then expressed satisfaction. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve worked hard on this trip. Now you can focus on cultivating in the family, aiming for an early breakthrough to the Foundation Building Fourth Level,¡± Lin Shikang said. Lin Tianming nodded, ¡°Third Grandfather, rest assured. Tianming won¡¯t neglect his cultivation!¡± ¡°Hmm, go ahead!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand and said. Just as Lin Tianming was about to get up, he remembered the words of Ye Pinghai and spoke: ¡°Right, Third Grandfather, before I left the Qianchuan Market, I made a special trip with Uncle Xing Ping and Tian Yue to pay a visit to Elder Ye!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded, extremely satisfied with how Lin Tianming had handled things. ¡°You did well; he has been of great help to the family over the years, and he indeed deserves a visit!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and began to talk about what Ye Pinghai had mentioned during the visit. ¡°Elder Ye said he would be back to Green Bamboo Mountain in the coming years to visit you and a few other elders, as he has important matters to consult about, though he didn¡¯t mention what it was about!¡± ¡°Ye Pinghai inquired about my cultivation level? He even asked about my confidence in reaching the Golden Core Stage and intends to visit Green Bamboo Mountain?¡± Lin Shikang was somewhat surprised; Ye Pinghai had not visited Green Bamboo Mountain for over thirty years, and with his cultivation level and influence, his sudden visit must have some motive. After reflecting for several days, Lin Tianming had an uncertain idea, but he could not confirm it. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these thoughts, he immediately said: ¡°Third Grandfather, didn¡¯t the auction at the market convention feature a Gold Fruit?¡± ¡°In my opinion, with Elder Ye¡¯s cultivation and wealth, I think he must have participated in the auction, and he might even have acquired the Gold Fruit!¡± ¡°As for his reasons for visiting, it¡¯s very likely related to his impacting the Golden Core Stage and perhaps seeking assistance from the Lin Family!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang and another person did not speak but started to ponder over the possibility. After a short while, Lin Shikang nodded and then said, ¡°This speculation of yours is indeed very plausible!¡± At this time, Lin Shihua also spoke up: ¡°Third brother, impacting the Golden Core Stage, loose cultivators always do so in secret, seeking a quiet and safe place to break through, who would make a big show of it and spread the word around!¡± ¡°Yes, Third Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming echoed: ¡°Even though Elder Ye has always had a good relationship with our Lin Family, and is even close friends with a few of the elders, the importance of the Golden Core Stage is too great. Would he really disclose this matter to you?¡± As soon as the words fell, Lin Shikang smiled and then shared his own opinion. ¡°What Tian Ming said does make some sense, but impacting the Golden Core Stage is extremely tough, especially during the final Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Many cultivators can condense a Golden Core but fail to successfully pass the tribulation and ultimately perish, leaving only a very small number who survive with the aid of treasures and remain in the Fake Elixir Realm!¡± ¡°It can be said that this Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation is the biggest obstacle on the path to the Golden Core!¡± ¡°And as a loose cultivator, Ye Pinghai cannot impact the Golden Core Realm within the market; without a stable and safe place for the breakthrough and no one to protect him, rashly attempting it would be incredibly dangerous.¡± ¡°If he comes to the Lin Family for help and borrows some high-quality defensive artifacts, his chances of breaking through the Golden Core Stage will greatly increase!¡± ¡°Considering this, that¡¯s very likely the reason for his visit!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang discuss this matter, Lin Tianming and the other person suddenly saw the light and felt that it was indeed a strong possibility. However, Lin Tianming still had some doubts, and he then asked: ¡°Third Grandfather, Elder Ye is well-known in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and many powers owe him favors. If he seeks help from other forces, shouldn¡¯t it be easy?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ If he seeks help from the Zhenyang Sect, wouldn¡¯t the breakthrough be even more secure?¡± Lin Shihua said. ¡°Zhenyang Sect?¡± Lin Shikang snorted coldly and explained: ¡°You think the Zhenyang Sect would be that benevolent?¡± ¡°Even if they were willing to help, he¡¯d probably have to pay a heavy price, or they might even kick him when he¡¯s down.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and the other person nodded, fully agreeing with his statement, knowing the complex inner workings of sects, with various factions and the constant undercurrent of power struggles, it indeed wasn¡¯t a guarantee of safety. Seeing that Lin Tianming and the other person had no further questions, Lin Shikang continued: ¡°These are all our speculations, after all. If it¡¯s really as suspected, helping him would be to our advantage, but whether it is so or not, we¡¯ll know when he actually visits!¡± ¡°Also, this matter should not be spread around. Only the few of us should know, understand?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lin Tianming and the other person nodded in agreement, chatted for a bit longer, and then left Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling together, each returning to their own. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 316 - 204: Training Once Again_1 Chapter 316: Chapter 204: Training Once Again_1 Back to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming lay on his stone bed, relaxed his tense nerves, and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, after a night of rest, Lin Tianming stepped out of his cave dwelling, feeling no trace of fatigue. It was early morning, and the warm sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on his mature face. He stretched lazily, his entire body relaxed, and he exuded a vibrant vitality. Over the years, bustling about ceaselessly, he was now at ease with all affairs smoothly handled and calm both inside and outside the family; his leisure was incomparably comfortable. Looking around at some of the empty courtyards, perhaps in a few years, the Tian-generation family members would successively break through to Foundation Establishment, bringing new occupants here and enlivening the area. ... He strolled through the courtyard, idly wandering while contemplating his next plans. With no clan tasks for the short term and no worries about resources for cultivation, he could finally devote himself to uninterrupted cultivation for a few years. Unconsciously, he arrived at his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. His sister had gone to Qianchuan Market, and these past few years his mother had peacefully secluded herself, preparing to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a brief reunion, Lin Tianming left behind some top-quality elixirs and then departed. Afterward, Lin Tianming paid a visit to his grandfather. The grandfather and grandson sat sipping tea and chatting in the small courtyard. Lin Shigong lifted his teacup and took a sip, then asked, ¡°Tianming, now that you¡¯re quite free, what are your plans for the future?¡± Lin Tianming thought for a moment; he had originally planned to temper himself in Luoyun Mountain Range but had his schedule disrupted by the trip to Qianchuan Market. Now with ample time, he could perhaps lead family members who were above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining to the Luoyun Mountain Range for experience, meanwhile consolidating their cultivation and honing their divine skills. Having thought this through, Lin Tianming shared his thoughts, quickly gaining Lin Shigong¡¯s approval and encouragement. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this, as experience was beneficial for both the family and himself; it could not only enhance combat experience but also consolidate cultivation. And with some luck, it could yield heaven-sent treasures, accumulating wealth. More importantly, it could strengthen the faith of family members on the cultivation path, helping them to understand the purpose of cultivation¡ªtruly a case of killing several birds with one stone. At that moment, Lin Shigong looked at his grandson with a satisfied expression. He was very proud and comforted by his grandson, whose cultivation advanced rapidly, who always considered the clan in every regard, who was indifferent to personal gain or loss, and who had become increasingly mature and stable with age, displaying a character and temperament beyond reproach. ¡°Tianming, experience is a good thing, but you must be careful. Go and discuss the matter with your Twelfth Grandpa. I believe he will also support this initiative,¡± Upon hearing his grandfather¡¯s words, Lin Tianming immediately stood up to take his leave and headed towards the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. In no time, he met with Clan Leader Lin Shihua. The two sat in the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, and Lin Tianming proposed the idea of the venture, then awaited the Clan Leader¡¯s directives. Lin Shihua chuckled and said, ¡°That¡¯s a good thing. The clan¡¯s ventures have never ceased over the years, but none with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, only those above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement attending in groups; their strength is limited, and they have not ventured deep into Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± In the past, the clan¡¯s expeditions were almost always on the fringes of the internal regions. After years of hunting, the outer demonic beasts were reduced to one-tenth of their original number, making it relatively safe as long as one remains cautious of the Second Order Demonic Beasts inside. ¡°Since you are willing to lead the venture, you can advance toward Golden Horn Mountain. With your strength, there is no difficulty in clearing out the Second Order Initial Stage beasts around the periphery, and even a singular Second Order Middle Stage beast is unlikely to match you,¡± Hearing what the Clan Leader said, Lin Tianming nodded. Now, with his Third Level of Foundation Establishment and being a Dual Cultivator of Body and Law, ordinary Second Order Initial Stage demonic beasts were no match for him; even if he faced a Second Order Middle Stage beast, he could retreat intact. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confident expression, Lin Shihua continued; ¡°Pushing toward the direction of Golden Horn Mountain has many benefits. After sweeping through those demonic beasts, a safe route to Golden Horn Mountain can be opened. With the explosive growth of mortal family members in recent years, some of them can be relocated to live around the area. If we come across some rivers and mountains with richer Spiritual Energy, we can develop Spirit Fields or Spiritual Medicine Gardens, growing Spirit Valley Elixirs and accumulating Spirit Stones for the clan.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming strongly agreed. The family¡¯s numbers were growing quickly, and their annual consumption of Spirit Stones was vast. If they relied solely on Luoyun Market and Luoyun Pavilion, they would eventually be unable to sustain the clan¡¯s expenses; they needed to put those with poor talent and low cultivation to good use. Their cultivation was low and their talent lacking, rendering them unremarkable in the Four Arts of Cultivation, but they were quite sufficient for planting Spirit Valley crops and guarding the lower-order Spiritual Medicine Gardens. ¡°It¡¯s perfect timing. Tianfeng and Tianhong are about to meet the requirements for Foundation Establishment, along with some Xing Clan Members whose cultivation is all above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. We can assemble some clan members to open up Luoyun Mountain, simultaneously tempering them,¡± Lin Shihua said. Lin Tianming nodded. The clan¡¯s current generation was advancing rapidly in cultivation. Aside from some Xing Clan Members who had participated in the battle of Luoyun Mountain, many had not undergone much life-or-death experience, like Lin Xingqi and Lin Tianhong, who had been secretly taken away by Lin Xingrong as the clan¡¯s lifeline and thus missed the thrilling battle of Luoyun Mountain. As their cultivation had reached the threshold for Foundation Establishment, leading them to experience and settle would perhaps ease their own impacts on the Foundation Establishment Stage. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 317 - 204 Again Training_2 Chapter 317: Chapter 204 Again Training_2 Returning his attention, Lin Tianming spoke, ¡°The Clan Leader has issued an order that all clan members above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining must participate in a trial within two years, barring special circumstances. Please ask Fifteenth Grandfather to lead the mission; we will clear the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range and, incidentally, forge a safe passage to Golden Horn Mountain.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I will arrange this matter later,¡± Lin Shihua nodded in response. ¡°Then, Twelfth Grandpa is busy, Tianming will take his leave first.¡± Lin Tianming stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and walked out of the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. After leaving the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, Lin Tianming walked on the paths of Green Bamboo Mountain. It was exactly noon, and a large number of clan members were bustling between various clan institutions, making the clan¡¯s atmosphere seem very lively. At that moment, a voice came from behind. ... He turned his head to see Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong approaching him side by side, greeting him from a distance away. Lin Tianming returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute and immediately asked, ¡°Big brother, second brother, what brings you here?¡± Excited after returning from Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianfeng spoke, ¡°The two of us are preparing to exchange for some treasures at the Hall of Merit and then enter seclusion to cultivate for a while.¡± Hearing this, it seemed the two brothers were not here to find him; it was merely a chance encounter. However, thinking of the trial discussed with the Clan Leader, Lin Tianming mentioned the matter to them. After all, they would soon be informed and needed to participate in this trial. After a short while, Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded. They naturally had no objections to the clan¡¯s arrangements, nor did they dare to have any. ¡°Sixth brother, we¡¯ll participate in the first batch of the trial. Let us reunite in three months, hoping to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage after this trial,¡± Lin Tianfeng said. No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianhong excitedly added, ¡°Yes, I wanted to consolidate my cultivation; this is a great opportunity.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Use these next few months to prepare well. In three months, we will enter the mountains for the trial,¡± Lin Tianming said, and after bidding farewell to the two, he returned to his cave dwelling. Back in his cave dwelling, he went straight to the training room and began another session of seclusion, striving to further improve his cultivation. The next morning, notices were posted at the entrance of every clan institution. Crowds of clan members gathered to observe, and although the mountain trial wasn¡¯t directly relevant to cultivators below Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, it did not stop everyone from discussing it. Soon, the news of the clan organizing those above Ninth Layer of Qi Refining for the mountain trial spread throughout the clan, drawing a lot of attention. Aside from those in seclusion or not present in the clan, the rest of the clan was informed about the matter. Moreover, the members in seclusion would eventually learn about it, as there were still three months before the mountains were to be entered, and since the groups were being split into two waves, there was ample time to prepare. Meanwhile, those eligible for the trial rushed to the Hall of Merit to extensively prepare elixirs and talismans, readying themselves for departure at any moment. As for Lin Tianming, he was in seclusion in the training room, oblivious to these developments. Time flew by swiftly, and three months passed just like that. On this day, in the plaza in front of the clan gate, Lin Xingzhi stood at the forefront, his gaze sweeping over the gathered cultivators. At that moment, the plaza was filled with more than a dozen people. As the Enforcement Hall Master, Lin Xingzhi was also there with his Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage cultivation. Below him were Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong, as well as Lin Xingyu, who was also at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, totaling four clan members with that level of cultivation. And the remaining individuals, all at the Ninth Layer Qi Refining stage, were all backbone forces of the clan. Lin Xingzhi and the others struck up casual conversation, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival. After a short while, Lin Tianming arrived via Sword Flight and landed beside Lin Xingzhi. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°Clan Uncle, long time no see, and now even you are participating!¡± ¡°Even though I serve as the Enforcement Hall Master, I still meet the requirements for this trial. It¡¯s a good opportunity to venture out in the trial and then return to the clan to seclude myself and impact the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± responded Lin Xingzhi. Lin Tianming nodded, glanced at the nine people on the field, and said to Lin Xingzhi: ¡°Uncle, have all the clansmen for this training gathered?¡± Lin Xingzhi chuckled, and then responded, ¡°Fifteenth Uncle is still in secluded cultivation. We are the first group of clansmen to enter the mountain, and we have all assembled here. Another group of clansmen will be led by Fifteenth Uncle to replace us in half a year.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, no wonder Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingshun, and the others with Great Perfection cultivation weren¡¯t seen. After scanning the crowd of clansmen, Lin Tianming suddenly spoke up: ¡°This mountain training will last for half a year; the purpose needs no further explanation. Everyone here is the backbone of the family. I hope you seize this opportunity to temper yourselves, so that upon returning to the clan, you can breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage at the earliest.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set off!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand and stepped past the Protective Clan Formation, followed by a crowd of clansmen who promptly disappeared from the spot. Once out of the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, leading everyone towards the bordering Luoyun Mountain Range. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, fierce winds howled past their ears, and the rivers and valleys behind them gradually receded into the distance. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The group sat together, discussing matters related to their training. Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Does anyone have any suggestions for this training?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi spoke up, ¡°For this training, the family hasn¡¯t set any particular goals. We will clear out the demonic beasts along the way towards Golden Horn Mountain, penetrating deeper into the mountain range according to our strength¡ªthere are no mandatory requirements.¡± ¡°We can infiltrate a few dozen miles into the interior, and then advance towards Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s direction. With our line-up, and having Little Sixth Brother anchoring us, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult,¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a smile. After hearing the thoughts of the few, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°A few dozen miles¡­ let¡¯s see. If the demonic beasts are not too strong, even infiltrating two hundred miles shouldn¡¯t be a problem!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi and the others had solemn expressions on their faces, seemingly apprehensive. Although the Luoyun Mountain Range isn¡¯t as vast as the Qianchuan Mountain Range, it still covers a thousand miles or so, and the core interior is home to a large number of Second Order demonic beasts¡ªits strength should not be underestimated. And Lin Tianming¡¯s words about infiltrating two hundred miles would nearly reach the territories of those Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts. Considering this, Lin Xingzhi quickly said, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s first test out the actual situation with the demonic beasts. If conditions allow, we still have no objections!¡± ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s go see what we¡¯re up against first,¡± Lin Tianming replied. Seeing that Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist, the others breathed a sigh of relief. After half a day, the Purple Gold Eagle with all the clansmen arrived in a valley. With the high-speed flight of the Purple Gold Eagle, coupled with the near-eradication of the outer demonic beasts, they didn¡¯t need to worry about danger and thus moved quickly. In just half a day, they had reached the borderline between the outer and inner areas of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Standing on top of a small hill, Lin Tianming took out a map to check their location with Lin Xingzhi. Behind them, Lin Tianfeng and the others were cleaning up the battlefield, taking down demon cores and useful materials from some First Order demonic beasts. This place bordered the inner region, and it was also the territory of a First Order demon beast tribe with just over twenty members and not particularly strong. He didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger, and his clansmen tackled them effortlessly. In no time, Lin Tianfeng and the others finished cleaning up the battlefield and gathered together. Looking at his excited companions, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°How did the battle go, and how is everyone¡¯s condition?¡± Lin Tianfeng, energized, began reporting the results. ¡°All twenty-seven First Order demonic beasts have been slaughtered, including four at the First Order Late Stage, seven at the Middle Stage, and the rest were all at the Initial Phase!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, then instructed, ¡°Search their lair thoroughly but safely, heed no carelessness. After the cave is searched, we¡¯ll camp here for tonight. Tomorrow, we will infiltrate deeper into the mountain range!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Tianfeng replied and led a few men deeper into the valley, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi standing there. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 318 - 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_1 Chapter 318: Chapter 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_1 The next morning, in the misty canyon, Lin Tianming and his clanspeople gathered together. After scouring the dens of the Demonic Beasts the previous day, they had acquired some Spiritual Medicine Materials. These were all rather common varieties, and the quantities were not significant; the harvest was quite average. The night passed peacefully, with no unexpected incidents. The clanspeople convened, and among them, Lin Tianming¡¯s seniority was not the highest, but his cultivation was. Everyone eagerly awaited his instructions. As the leader of this expedition, Lin Tianming scanned the crowd and quickly made a decision¡ªto continue deeper into the Luoyun Mountain Range. ... After briefing the clanspeople, the group set off, swiftly making their way into the dense forests deep within the mountain range. The clanspeople moved swiftly¡ªevery one of them was at least at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. With Lin Tianming, who was at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, leading them, they felt much more assured and ventured on with few concerns. While the clanspeople were at ease, Lin Tianming dared not be careless; the Tiangang Sword was always in his hand, and his Divine Sense enveloped their surroundings, alert to any potential dangers. The group proceeded without incident, pushing deeper into the mountain ridges. Three days flew by in a flash. Over these few days, Lin Tianming and the others had traveled over a hundred miles, encountering only a lone Demonic Beast at the First Order Late Stage, which was swiftly slain by the group. Now, they arrived at a hill, where Lin Tianming stood on the summit, gazing thoughtfully at the dense mounds in the distance. ¡°Tianming, is there something moving?¡± Lin Xingzhi asked. After a moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze shifted back, his expression somewhat solemn. ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle!¡± With that command, Lin Tianming immediately took out fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and tossed them into the air. The swords quickly scattered, then disappeared underground. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction and his verbal warning, Lin Xingzhi and others promptly got ready for combat. Just then, the ground began to tremble. Their expressions changed as they focused on the noise coming from ahead. Lin Tianming, who had been through numerous life-and-death battles, stayed calm. He pivoted, shielding his fellow clanspeople behind him, ready for the appearance of the Demonic Beasts. In no time, dust kicked up into the air. Once the dust settled, the silhouettes of dozens of Demonic Beasts became visible as they converged, fixing their gaze on Lin Tianming and his companions, poised to attack at any moment. ¡°Scorpion Clan beasts!¡± Lin Tianfeng shouted. Surveying the scene, it was indeed a Scorpion Clan group, numbering over fifty, among which were two Second Order Initial Stage beasts, evidently a male and a female pair. Beyond them were more than ten First Order Late Stage beasts, and the rest were at the Initial Phase and Medium Stage¡ªhardly a threat. ¡°Leave those two Second Order beasts to me; eliminate the rest as quickly as you can!¡± After shouting his orders, Lin Tianming, gripping the Tiangang Sword, charged forth with the speed of an arrow. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianfeng were the first to engage, unleashing a flurry of attacks and charging towards two First Order Late Stage Sword Venom Scorpions. Upon witnessing Lin Tianming and his kinsmen take action, the two Second Order Scorpions let out a shrill cry, wielding their giant pincers, and leaped a hundred yards towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming snorted coldly. His Tiangang Sword radiated a brilliant Spiritual Light, sending out streaks of Sword Qi at extreme speed, slashing towards the Scorpions. ¡°Boom!¡± The Scorpions hastily dodged the attack and then swiped their massive pincers towards Lin Tianming. Seeing the incoming giant pincers, Lin Tianming knew a direct hit could cause serious damage, even with his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. Fortunately, the Scorpions weren¡¯t very fast, and their Second Order Initial Stage wasn¡¯t very high, making them not too difficult to dodge. Lin Tianming, unruffled, dodged and released multiple bursts of Sword Qi from his Tiangang Sword. This time, one Scorpion wasn¡¯t so lucky. Under the barrage of Qi, it failed to evade in time and was struck by a burst of Sword Qi on its tail. ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± A series of metallic clangs rang out as cracks formed on the Scorpion¡¯s black shell-tail. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The Scorpion writhed in pain, wildly swinging its venomous tail spike like an invisible sword, stabbing towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave. His attack failed to sever the Scorpion¡¯s not-so-large tail, which was somewhat unexpected. This was his first encounter with such a beast. Although he had heard of them and seen descriptions in books, after one exchange, it was clear their attack and defensive power were extremely strong, but their speed was a significant weakness. Now, as the Scorpion¡¯s venomous tail spike drew near, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, slowing the seemingly lightning-fast attack. Elated, Lin Tianming moved like the wind, effortlessly dodging the furious blow. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the other Scorpion¡¯s attack promptly followed. Facing the fierce onslaught of the two Scorpions, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming became a blur, weaving between them. Meanwhile, he seized every opportunity to counterattack. At this time, the entire mound was under siege. Lin Tianming fought fiercely with the two Second Order Scorpions at the edge, with constant, thunderous blasts echoing as countless mounds were battered into a mess by their respective attacks. Not far from them, Lin Xingzhi and his fellow clansmen battled with the First Order Scorpions. Although the Scorpions had a numerical advantage, Lin Xingzhi and the others were not outmatched in cultivation. With experience in battle and strength nearly at the limit of the Qi Refinement Realm, they held their own. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 319 - 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_2 Chapter 319: Chapter 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_2 Under such circumstances, the Sword Venom Scorpions were being suppressed by them; the corpses of early to mid-stage Demonic Beasts lay scattered everywhere, with only a few mid-stage or higher beasts clinging to life thanks to their tough defensive carapaces. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt relieved. He no longer needed to split his focus on the clan members and could concentrate fully on dealing with the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions. After dodging another strike, the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions were squeezed together, getting closer and closer to the center of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Perfect opportunity! Lin Tianming performed the hand seals, chanting under his breath. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, activate!¡± ... The Earth Evil Swords hidden beneath the ground shot into the sky, spinning rapidly in an exceedingly short amount of time. Quickly, the sword array was activated, and an invisible barrier enveloped the area within several hundred yards. At the moment the sword array was activated, a pressing feeling came over them, with copious amounts of Sword Qi roaming about. The two Sword Venom Scorpions seemed to realize that something was amiss and scrambled, in a panic, to escape the coverage of the sword array. Seeing this, how could Lin Tianming let them have their way? ¡°Tiangang Ninth Sword, third strike!¡± Lin Tianming thundered, the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand, carrying silvery-white light and shooting towards the Sword Venom Scorpions within the sword array. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword was already in front of the Sword Venom Scorpion. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted. In their panic, the Sword Venom Scorpions were too slow to evade, hampered by the constricting sensation of the sword array, and harassed by the Sword Qi within it, leaving them unable to dodge. The Tiangang Sword, carrying an earth-shattering momentum, directly struck the back of one of the Sword Venom Scorpions. With a wretched cry, the scorpion¡¯s back shell split open over a large area, exposing the flesh underneath. At this point, the Sword Venom Scorpion, struck by the Tiangang Sword, writhed painfully, severely injured but not yet dead. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. This was the first time he used the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword in combat, and the power of the three overlapping strikes was indeed fierce, causing severe damage to the defensively impressive Sword Venom Scorpion. The other Sword Venom Scorpion that had evaded the attack saw its companion severely wounded and immediately became enraged. It let out an angry hiss and then raised its terrifying stinger, spewing out a large amount of dark brown venom. As soon as the venom was released, a pungent, fishy smell spread, and the air itself seemed to corrode with a sizzling sound. For a creature like the Sword Venom Scorpion, its venom is the most dangerous weapon. If one were covered in its venom head-on, even cultivators at the Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment would be gravely injured, if not killed. Seeing the venom spurting towards him at a terrifying speed, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to be careless. As he retreated explosively, he threw out a Second Order inferior-grade Defense Talisman, which after infusing it with Spiritual Power, rapidly turned into a light screen in front of him. In the blink of an eye, the dark brown venom came into contact with the light screen. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± A series of harsh sounds echoed. The light screen instantly burst into flames and could only hold for a brief moment before the venom corroded it into a puff of black smoke that dissipated between heaven and earth. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knit, not expecting the venom to be so terrifying that a Second Order inferior-grade talisman was so easily destroyed. Facing the continuing onslaught of venom, he quickly brought out the Green Scale Shield in front of him. In that instant, a small amount of the venom splashed onto the Green Scale Shield causing more black smoke to billow, disappearing quickly. Fortunately, the Green Scale Shield blocked the horrific venom, but a small amount of venom still corroded a part of the shield, reducing its spirituality and thereby decreasing the shield¡¯s overall defensive power. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have time to lament the damage to the Green Scale Shield; filled with anger, he once again unleashed the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. At the same time, with a pinch of his Law Decree, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a range of a hundred yards. Inside, the Sword Qi was incredibly dense, and the barriers were exceptionally solid. Watching the sword qi roaming inside the formation becoming stronger and the even more terrifying Tiangang Sword assaulting, the trapped Sword Venom Scorpion frantically charged at the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, struggling desperately to break free. Regrettably, its strength was limited, and under such an overwhelming attack, any response was already too late. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded as the Tiangang Sword directly struck the head of the Sword Venom Scorpion. A miserable scream was heard, and the scorpion¡¯s head instantly shattered. The Tiangang Sword had pierced through its head, and its three-zhang-long body fell to the ground. After a few instinctive twitches, there was no more movement; it was clearly killed by the Tiangang Sword. Seeing this, another Sword Venom Scorpion dead and one severely injured and deprived of its fighting ability, the outcome of the battle was decided, and Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was filled with surprise and joy. Facing the only dying Sword Venom Scorpion left, he leaped forward, the Tiangang Sword in his hand piercing straight through the heavily injured scorpion, ending its life. Having dealt with the two Sword Venom Scorpions, he then turned his head to observe the battle of his clan members. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingzhi¡¯s First Order High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts in their hands burst forth with powerful Sword Qi, stirring up dust clouds and alternating flashes of firelight and the sounds of explosions. The Lin Family members held an absolute advantage, with many of the low-order Monster Beasts already dead. The Scorpion Clan was already no match for the power of the Lin Family, and now they were in even more of a retreat, likely unable to hold out much longer before being completely annihilated. Lin Tianming stood on top of a mound, and although he had expended over half of his Spiritual Power, his own strength still peaked. He had no intention of joining the battle, as this trial was meant to temper his clan members. Besides, they held a definitive upper hand; steady and assured victory was just a matter of time as long as they eradicated the remaining members of the Scorpion Clan. In such a situation, he had no reason to intervene. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng, seeing that the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions had been killed, was surprised and delighted, suddenly laughing heartily: ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, let¡¯s have a little competition to see who can end the battle faster, shall we?¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi, after repelling a First Order Late Stage Sword Venom Scorpion with his sword, responded with a chuckle, ¡°Hehe¡­ you lad dare to challenge me, if you lose, you have to give me two jars of Jade Flower Brew!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fine¡­ we¡¯ll bet two jars of Jade Flower Brew!¡± After Lin Tianfeng shouted, the Spirit Sword in his hand erupted with even more intense Spiritual Light, a shocking golden Sword Qi shot out, cutting towards the Sword Venom Scorpion in front of him. Seeing Lin Tianfeng going all out with his strongest Divine Skill, Lin Xingzhi did not show weakness either. He poured a massive amount of Spiritual Power into his Spirit Sword, causing his First Order High-Grade Spiritual Artifact to burst with Spiritual Light, unleashing countless tiny silvery Sword Qi projectiles, bombarding his targeted Sword Venom Scorpion. Lin Tianming, watching the battle from the side, judged their strength. ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, who has reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage longer, has had two more years of experience. Plus, he has been battle-hardened and shone brilliantly in the great battle at Luoyun Mountain. He should be the first to finish the battle!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Sure enough, as his mind returned to the present, Lin Xingzhi¡¯s Sword Qi struck the head of the Sword Venom Scorpion. A metallic clash resonated, followed by a scream. The head of the Sword Venom Scorpion hit by Lin Xingzhi¡¯s Sword Qi shattered, with copious amounts of blood and dark brown fluids spewing out, the mixture immediately corroding the mound beneath the beast into a deep pit. Meanwhile, the scorpion twitched a few times and then laid still, evidently dead from Lin Xingzhi¡¯s attack. On the other side, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s attack struck the Sword Venom Scorpion at the same time. However, the outcomes were different. The carapace on the back of the scorpion struck by Lin Tianfeng broke apart, exposing the internal organs, and it struggled on the ground without dying immediately. With this, the difference between their strikes was clear. ¡°Haha¡­ Tianfeng, you better not back out!¡± Lin Xingzhi shouted excitedly. ¡°I, Tianfeng, a man of my word, will accept the loss!¡± After replying, Lin Tianfeng swung his Spirit Sword once more, bringing an end to the life of the injured Sword Venom Scorpion. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 320 - 206 Qilin Beast_1 Chapter 320: Chapter 206 Qilin Beast_1 Lin Tianming stared at the battlefield of his fellow clansmen, as Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingzhi finished their battle, the entire Sword Venom Scorpion Clan was already at the end of its road. ¡°Tianfeng, quickly help our clansmen finish the battle!¡± After Lin Xingzhi shouted, he pounced toward the remaining Sword Venom Scorpions like a tiger descending the mountain. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng was not to be outdone, and with a wild laugh, he too joined the fray. With the addition of Lin Tianfeng and another, what was already a winning situation for Lin Tianhong and the others became an overwhelming rout, encircling and slaughtering the remaining Sword Venom Scorpions. Fire soared to the sky amidst the mounds, screams mingled with the clanging of metal echoed forth. ... After the time it takes to brew a pot of tea passed, all movement stopped on the hills, signaling the end of the battle. Looking around, the hills were now riddled with holes¡ªmany of them caused by attacks from various Lingjian Spells, resulting in a lot of deep pits either blasted by Sword Qi or corroded into existence by the venom of the Sword Venom Scorpions. At this time, Lin Tianfeng and the excited clansmen gathered around Lin Tianming. Seeing that everyone had finished the battle without major injuries¡ªonly Lin Tianhong and Lin Xingxiao looked a bit pale, but they appeared to be alright¡ªLin Tianming swept his gaze over the people and carelessly asked out of concern, ¡°The battle is over, did anyone get hurt?¡± Lin Tianhong took out a Consolidating Essence Pill and swallowed it before replying, ¡°The venom of those Sword Venom Scorpions is quite tricky, barely a touch and it corroded a small part of my arm. But it¡¯s not serious, I only need a few days of rest to recover!¡± No sooner had his words fallen than Lin Xingxiao spoke, ¡°Tianhong and I have similar injuries, just some minor ones. It won¡¯t take long to recover!¡± After Lin Tianhong and the other had spoken, the rest remained silent, clearly indicating that they were uninjured. Lin Tianming nodded, approving of his clansmen¡¯s performance, and then ordered, ¡°Everyone, quickly clean up the battlefield. After that, find their nests, collect all the treasures, and then we can rest here overnight!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s be swift and avoid wasting time!¡± Lin Xingzhi followed up right after speaking and took some people with him to collect the corpses of the demonic beasts. Seeing everyone busily getting to work in their excitement, Lin Tianming headed toward the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions he had killed. Arriving beside a Second Order Sword Venom Scorpion, he swung his Tiangang Sword, extracted the demon beast¡¯s inner pill, and then easily sliced off the creature¡¯s shell to store in his storage bag. Every part of this Sword Venom Scorpion was treasure; its shell was extremely tough and could serve as a main material, combined with some Spirit Ore Stones to refine a shield. The other parts such as the venomous stings and pincers were also good Artifact Refining Materials, useful for making attack-type weapons. Soon, he had finished dissecting the corpse of a Second Order Sword Venom Scorpion, collecting all usable parts, including the soul and flesh, as they also contained a considerable amount of energy. Although cultivators couldn¡¯t consume it, the Purple Gold Eagle was not picky, and it would make a fine meal for it. After a quarter of an hour, the battlefield was cleansed. The ground was littered with the limbs of Sword Venom Scorpions, mostly Low-order Monster Beast bodies, and numerous discarded items. At this time, every clansman was brimming with excitement; the spoils from this battle were not small. A clan of over fifty Sword Venom Scorpions could fetch a good number of Spirit Stones from just their corpses, not to mention their yet-to-be-collected nests. With the thought of the Sword Venom Scorpion Clan¡¯s nests, Lin Tianming wore an expectant look and led several people in the direction the demonic beasts had come from. In a short time, they arrived at a place crisscrossed with ravines. Looking around at the edge of the ravine, there were many holes of varying sizes, scattered in every direction with nearly a hundred in number. From the aura emanating above and the size of these caves, they were positive these were the nests of the Sword Venom Scorpions. Lin Tianfeng and the others couldn¡¯t contain their excitement, showing eagerness to begin. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking into the unfathomable caves, Lin Tianming deployed his Divine Sense to scan the area and detected nothing unusual. ¡°I¡¯ve already checked, there¡¯s no danger in the ravines, but as for inside the caves, that¡¯s unknown. Everyone split up into pairs, stay alert, and go gather the treasures inside!¡± After Lin Tianming gave the command, Lin Xingzhi and the others nodded in acknowledgment and quickly formed four teams. Lin Xingzhi and four other Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage clansmen each took a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining clansman; the one extra person was allocated to Lin Tianhong¡¯s team. After all, it was obvious that Lin Tianhong¡¯s strength was somewhat weaker after the group battle. Having an extra person on his team meant their overall strength improved, nearly matching the other three teams. Following their descent into the ravine, Lin Tianming also jumped down, heading straight for the two largest caves. Entering one of the caves, Lin Tianming carefully proceeded deeper, his Tiangang Sword in hand. Soon, he reached the end and found several stalks of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, all of fairly good quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming remained calm. Although he didn¡¯t find anything of high value, the discovery was still satisfying. He quickly collected the Spiritual Medicine Materials and then moved on to another cave. The second cave was the same, containing several stalks of the same variety of Spiritual Medicine Materials and nothing else. Not discouraged by this, Lin Tianming pressed on. After all, the Sword Venom Scorpion Clan¡¯s strength was limited. The two highest-ranked demonic beasts were only at the Second Order Initial Stage and were unlikely to possess any remarkable treasures. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 321 - 206 Qilin Beast_2 Chapter 321: Chapter 206 Qilin Beast_2 He finished collecting the spiritual medicine materials within the two caves and, instead of exploring the empty ones, he patiently waited for his clan members, leaving the opportunities to them. Half an hour later, his clan members had collected everything from all the caves and gathered around Lin Tianming, reporting their individual findings. After the clan members¡¯ reports, they had found over twenty Second Order spiritual medicine materials, along with some seedlings, which were estimated to be exchangeable for over three thousand spirit stones. Such a haul, along with the demonic beast corpses, was indeed very satisfying. Lin Xingzhi and the other clan members were extremely content, their faces brimming with hearty smiles. Influenced by them, Lin Tianming was equally excited. After a casual chat with his clan members, Lin Xingzhi inquired about their next move, the most important of which was whether to continue delving deeper. ... Lin Tianming took a moment to think, considering they had already encountered such a large Sword Venom Scorpion clan. If they continued further, it was quite possible they might run into a Second Order Middle Stage demon beast tribe. If the tribe was too large, with too many Second Order demonic beasts, it might lead to casualties among the clan members. Keeping these things in mind, and for the safety of his clan members, he decided not to venture deeper. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming said, ¡°For the sake of safety, let¡¯s not go any deeper. There should be no danger here, so let¡¯s rest for a few days before continuing northward in search of greater gains!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingzhi and the others nodded in agreement. They tended to be conservative by nature, so since Lin Tianming decided to stop while ahead, naturally, they had no objections. The group then sought out a quiet and hidden place to create several temporary cave abodes for a brief rest. Although the Sword Venom Scorpion clan in the vicinity had been completely killed off, leaving a vast territory of over a hundred yards in diameter without any obvious danger, the clan members still did not dare to let their guard down. They took turns assigning a member to guard day and night, so they could sound an alarm at the first sign of danger. Inside one of the secret chambers, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, his hands forming the gesture of holding a treasure vase, and the steady sound of his breathing could be heard, signaling he had entered a deeply focused state of cultivation. Days of tranquil cultivation passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, several days had gone by. On this day, Lin Tianming¡¯s brief seclusion came to an end. He emerged from the secret chamber and gathered all his clan members together. After scanning everyone, Lin Tianhong and Lin Xingxiao, who had suffered some minor injuries, now had rosy complexions. After several days of recovery, they seemed to be out of danger. Seeing their condition, Lin Tianming asked about their state, and only after confirming that both were indeed at their peak did he feel at ease. As the leader of this expedition, he had the responsibility to bring the clan members back to their family safely. If anyone were gravely injured or fell in this place, the leader of the Monster Hunting Squad could not shirk the blame. Therefore, he was always on edge, cautious about making any risky moves, prioritizing safety over all else. After all, the clan had ample time to develop and further exploit these potential resources. Having discussed with his clan members, he decided to lead them north, methodically killing off any demonic beasts they were capable of handling, and avoiding the territories of any more powerful beasts, leaving them to be dealt with later when they could gather more of their people. Having made up their mind, the group of clan members bid farewell to the land and resumed their journey. Time flew, and months passed in the blink of an eye. During these months, Lin Tianming and his clan members lived a life of sleeping rough, exploring northward during the day and searching for Heaven and Earth spiritual treasures, and for safety, creating temporary cave abodes to rest at night. They did not have an easy time during this period either, having endured over a dozen large and small battles, with a fight breaking out every few days on average. The most heart-stopping battle they faced was against a powerful demon beast tribe, led by three Second Order Initial Stage demon beasts, supported by nearly a hundred First Order demonic beasts, and even included over a dozen First Order Late Stage beasts. This formidable demon beast tribe forced Lin Xingzhi and the Qi Refining clansmen to use all their techniques. Lin Tianhong and several other clan members all sustained various injuries, with Lin Tianhong suffering severe wounds that required nearly half a month to recover eighty percent of his strength. The other members also had significant injuries, but despite the ferocity and frequency of these battles, Lin Tianming and his people gained a lot. Throughout these months, they had accumulated a considerable amount of demonic beast corpses, spiritual medicine materials, and various low-grade spirit ores. A preliminary estimation showed that this massive wealth was worth at least seventy to eighty thousand spirit stones. During this period, Lin Tianming led his clanspeople in a frenzied hunt of demonic beasts, advancing more than two and a half thousand six hundred li toward the north in the direction of Golden Horn Mountain. Amidst such fervent warfare, the entire clan¡¯s combat experience rapidly improved. Lin Tianming himself also worked hard to refine his divine skills. He could now cast the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword instantly, and their power had significantly increased. The effort yielded rich rewards. He felt that the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was about to break through to the Great Achievement Realm, at which time its power would become even more formidable and stable, further enhancing his strength. In terms of the spoils, as the team leader, Lin Tianming played an essential role in the entire Monster Hunting Squad and thus rightfully claimed more than thirty percent of all the treasures, at the very least receiving no less than twenty thousand spirit stones worth of loot. The remaining clanspeople shared the other seventy percent, with each person also reaping several thousand spirit stones, which could be considered a bountiful harvest. That day, Lin Tianming and others found themselves in a mountain valley. Standing atop the mountain and looking around, they saw a canyon filled with huge boulders, surrounded by towering trees. A thick mist pervaded the area, so dense that even the midday sun couldn¡¯t penetrate it, and even divine sense was greatly affected. With Lin Tianming¡¯s Third Level of Foundation Establishment and divine sense far stronger than cultivators of the same level, he could only cover a few li in radius. Lin Xingzhi and the others were probably even more heavily affected, considering it quite remarkable to cover a single li. A valley as strange as this was clearly a haven for demonic beasts, a territory where human cultivators dared not tread lightly. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave, sensing danger in this unfamiliar and unknown canyon. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s solemn expression, and knowing him well, Lin Xingzhi and the others immediately tensed up. Lin Xingzhi took a deep breath, calming himself first as a battle-hardened veteran, ¡°Tianming, I feel a chill here that¡¯s eerily uncomfortable, as if it¡¯s unnaturally affecting the body!¡± ¡°Yes, this place gives off an incredibly strange feeling; it must be extremely dangerous!¡± Lin Tianfeng added. Hearing what they said, Lin Tianming collected his thoughts and then spoke, ¡°This place is too unusual. I sense a crisis. Let¡¯s quickly retreat several ten li to avoid this area for now!¡± No sooner had his words fallen than, just as they were preparing to turn and leave, the valley was rocked by tremors, followed by sounds akin to a thundering stampede. ¡°Thud thud¡­ thud thud thud¡­¡± The noise drew closer, growing louder, and a powerful blast of air swept over them. Although it was not yet clear what kind of formidable demonic beast tribe was inside the canyon, judging from the momentum and sound, this tribe was definitely not an easy adversary. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face drastically changed, and he cried out in alarm. ¡°Not good, this is clearly the sound of footsteps from overly large demonic beasts running, and there¡¯s a huge number of them!¡± ¡°We need to retreat quickly!¡± In the instant after alerting everyone, Lin Tianming waved his hand and launched a gust, propelling the Qi Refining clanspeople nearly a hundred zhang away. With the boost from the gust, Lin Xingzhi and the others¡¯ escape speed increased greatly, turning into a blur as they shot back in the direction they had come from. At the same time, he waved his hand, releasing two lower Second Order and one medium Second Order attack talisman paper. They turned into a rain of swords that poured down toward the misty canyon. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having done all this, he fled without looking back, with no hint of reluctance. Just then, behind him, a burst of fire lit up the sky in the valley, accompanied by a series of continuous sounds and a few sparse cries of agony. However, before the clanspeople had scattered even several hundred zhang away, numerous demonic beasts began to emerge out of the mists. Lin Tianming glanced back slightly, and his face immediately turned pale. He exclaimed in shock, ¡°Qilin Beast!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 322 - 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_1 Chapter 322: Chapter 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_1 Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s cry of alarm, Lin Xingzhi and all the clan members turned back, spotting the Qilin Beast Horde whose numbers far surpassed any they had encountered before. Not only that, but the overall strength of this Qilin Beast Horde was also a whole tier stronger than any Demon Beast Tribe they had previously met. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Faced with such a terrifying Demon Beast Tribe, everyone¡¯s face turned pale instantly. At the moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was also grim, and as he forced himself to stay calm, he shielded his clanspeople behind him while thinking of a strategy to escape. However, the Qilin Beasts did not give him any time to react. After pausing for just a moment, they launched an attack as if wanting to test their strength. Seeing this, Lin Tianming shouted, ¡°The Qilin Beasts¡¯ speed is incredibly fast, we can¡¯t safely escape unless we kill or severely injure them. All clanspeople prepare for a fight to the death.¡± ... Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi and the others were well aware that what he said was true. The Qilin Beasts were descendants of Ancient Exotic Beasts, with extremely powerful divine skills, and their speed was among the top within the Demon Beast Race. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation, leading all Qi Refining Clanspeople to retreat safely was almost a certainty of death. If they faced other Demon Beasts with ordinary talents and fewer in number, they certainly would not be so shocked. As such, encountering such a powerful Qilin Beast Horde and simply running away would put them at a disadvantage, causing the group to fall apart. Since the battle was inevitable, their only option was to give it their all and fight for a slim chance of survival. Thinking of these, Lin Xingzhi and the other clan members had solemn expressions, immediately preparing themselves for a fight to the death. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming felt heartened. Including himself, after such a long period of hardship, all the clan members had greatly improved their combat experience. They understood that the current situation was not in their favor, they were prepared to fall there, and they had the courage of a last stand. The bigger reason for deciding to fight to the death was that he had many aces up his sleeve, including the many Second Order talisman paper he had purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. The power of the Fake Golden Core Talisman had yet to be revealed, but it was expected to be formidable. In addition, the Silver-White Sword Qi that had been nurtured by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art for a few years would also be quite powerful once unleashed. And these methods unknown to others were his biggest confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll take on those three Second Order Qilin Beasts, you all cooperate with the Purple Gold Eagle and quickly injure the First Order Demon Beasts severely, then spare some people to help me!¡± After Lin Tianming¡¯s shout, with a wave of his sleeve robe, the Purple Gold Eagle appeared directly above Lin Xingzhi and the others. There was no time to hold back in the current situation, nine clanspeople facing nearly a hundred First Order Qilin Beasts was too much pressure, the Purple Gold Eagle had advanced to Second Order, although it might not be a match for a Medium Stage Second Order Qilin Beast, it could easily handle First Order Demon Beasts. No sooner had the Purple Gold Eagle appeared, it let out a sharp screech. Flapping its massive wings, it created gusts of wind and lunged directly towards several First Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts. Meanwhile, Lin Xingzhi and the others also made their moves, each picking varying amounts of First Order Demon Beasts as their opponents. In an instant, the entire canyon was filled with sparks and the deafening sounds of explosions came one after another. The intense battle grew fiercer and fiercer, but the key to this battle lay with Lin Tianming. If he couldn¡¯t hold off the attack from the three Medium Stage Second Order Qilin Beasts, even if Lin Xingzhi and the others killed all the First Order Demon Beast Tribe, they still could not change the outcome. At this time, in a corner of the canyon, Lin Tianming had already engaged fiercely with three Second Order Qilin Beasts. Fifty-six Earth Evil Swords hung above his head, rotating a few times before scattering like flowers thrown by heavenly fairies, finally plunging into the ground and disappearing from sight. Having set up the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in advance, he did not immediately activate it, because he was well aware that relying on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap Medium Stage Second Order Qilin Beasts was too unrealistic when they were prepared. The Qilin Beasts, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, retreated about a dozen yards, seemingly slightly afraid, but since they did not feel any fluctuations, they began to surround him again. After a brief probe, the Qilin Beasts seemed to understand the overall strength of Lin Tianming and the others; they moved again, and their attack became even more powerful. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, he pinched his Law Decree, pouring a large amount of Spiritual Power into the Tiangang Sword in his hand, which then erupted with numerous powerful Silver-White Sword Qi. The terrifying Sword Qi appeared, evaporating a portion of the surrounding mist and, after lingering for an instant, shot toward the Qilin Beasts. Simultaneously, he also unleashed the Thousand Beast Banner. With over five months of training, the Thousand Beast Chess had gained the Souls of more than ten Second Order Monster Beasts, with innumerable First Order Monster Beast Souls, further enhancing the power of the Thousand Beast Banner. When the black fog released from the Thousand Beast Banner covered a large area, filled with numerous raging Monster Beast Souls, it assaulted the Qilin Beasts in a frenzy. The Qilin Beasts, seeing the ceaseless Sword Qi and the vicious Monster Beast Souls coming, spat out a great number of light orbs, crashing into the Silver-White Sword Qi and Monster Beast Souls. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom¡­¡± A series of earth-shattering noises resounded, as numerous towering trees fell in response, smashing into the ground and creating deep pits. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 323 - 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_2 Chapter 323: Chapter 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_2 The silver-white Sword Qi collided with the light orbs spat out by the Qilin Beast, creating an explosive noise that mingled with the sound of falling trees and shattering boulders, forming a sort of symphony that sounded quite peculiar and wonderful. Little did one know, behind these seemingly wonderful sounds, was a heart-stopping scene. After several rounds of fierce combat, the silver-white Sword Qi was completely exhausted, and a large number of First Order Monster Beast Souls were reduced to ash, dissipating into the atmosphere. In the ferocious battle, the Qilin Beast truly had an extraordinary talent; its strength was beyond imagination. Despite Lin Tianming unleashing a plethora of techniques, he still found himself at a disadvantage. At this moment, his spiritual power was depleting at a rate visible to the naked eye, and with every exchange, the formidable impact would cause internal injuries to his organs, and wounds covered his entire body. If it weren¡¯t for his reliance on the Eye of Five Colors to dodge most of the attacks, and his dual cultivation of body and law which far surpassed fellow cultivators of the same rank, any ordinary Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivator would have likely fallen prey to the demonic beasts, leaving not even bones behind. ... After another round of exchange, Lin Tianming retreated a hundred zhang backwards, his expression growing even graver as he looked around at the several agitated Qilin Beasts. ¡°It seems I was too optimistic, having underestimated the strength of this Qilin Beast horde!¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do¡­ if the battle continues in this manner, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t last much longer. The situation is critical, and there¡¯s no room for holding back!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and immediately, several Second Order Talismans appeared in his hand, including two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans. Without time to feel distressed, he formed a Law Decree with his fingers, and without hesitation, activated several Second Order Talismans. Instantly, the two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans shone brightly and, in a very short period, they conjured up a golden Sword Qi and a huge red fireball. Now, as the two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans were activated, the originally cold temperature within the canyon rose slightly. Looking up at the two formidable attacks, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied and muttered to himself, ¡°That¡¯s thousands of spirit stones worth of attack; it better not disappoint me!¡± ¡°Vajra Sword Talisman¡­ Heaven-burning Flame Talisman¡­ go¡­¡± Lin Tianming chanted under his breath as the two attacks split the sky, hurtling towards the Qilin Beasts at a terrifying speed. Seeing the terrifying golden Sword Qi and the massive fireball coming their way, three Qilin Beasts let out a piercing scream, then quickly shuffled their feet, trying to dodge the horrifying attacks. Their speed was fast, their huge bodies unexpectedly agile, but the speed of the Second Order Superior Attack Talismans was even faster; in an instant, they were already before the beasts. Realizing they could not escape the incoming attack, the Qilin Beasts reacted quickly, spewing out a large number of orbs that looked rather like ice but contained powerful energy within. ¡°The Qilin Beasts¡¯ Innate Divine Ability!¡± Lin Tianming observed the incredibly powerful orbs, his expression extremely grave. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A continuous barrage of thunderous noises erupted. The golden Sword Qi and massive fireball collided with the orbs, their explosion generating powerful shockwaves that broke off the towering trees in the canyon at their bases, and even the ancient boulders weathered by countless years of wind and rain were shaken into rubble. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming, too, was knocked back tens of zhang, his blood churning within him. As he steadied himself, he couldn¡¯t help but spew out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion turning even paler. The power of the Second Order Superior Talismans was indeed formidable. The golden Sword Qi and massive fireball broke through many of the orbs, and although they consumed most of their energy, a small part of their attacking force remained. At this time, both the golden Sword Qi and the massive fireball had weakened significantly, their sizes much reduced. However, the remaining energy was still strong, pouring down onto the two Qilin Beasts. Two of the three Qilin Beasts were locked onto by the attack and had no chance left to evade. In their panic, the golden Sword Qi and the massive fireball arrived as expected, one striking the back of a Qilin Beast, the other the leg of another. ¡°Ao ao ao¡­¡± Two of the qilin beasts that were hit let out agonized screams, and the one that escaped injury also cried out, as if calling for its companions. As the dust and flames dissipated, three qilin beasts revealed themselves. One qilin beast had lost a leg, while another had a charred patch on its back, with a blood hole as large as a bucket caused by the fireball¡¯s impact. However, the bucket-sized blood hole didn¡¯t seem severe on the large body of the qilin beast; it still appeared vigorous, only its breath was slightly weaker. At this moment, the three qilin beasts were incredibly angry, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws as if they wanted to tear Lin Tianming limb from limb. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed. He hadn¡¯t expected that after such a terrifying attack, the two qilin beasts would only suffer some moderate injuries. This showed how incredibly strong the vitality of these qilin beasts was. At this time, the three qilin beasts grouped together, growling while they glared at Lin Tianming with wary eyes. Just then, Lin Tianming cast the Law Decree with his hands, and channeled his spiritual power from within. The fifty-six Earth Evil Swords hidden underground suddenly burst forth, encircling the three qilin beasts in a frenzy, covering an area of over a thousand yards. Feeling the oppression from the sudden activation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, as well as the Sword Qi roaming within, the qilin beasts, whose souls were known for their fearlessness in the face of death, suddenly sensed a threat of death. Their spirit wisdom was slightly higher than that of other demonic beasts. Instinctively, they clumped together and fiercely rammed into one of the barricades of the Sword Array. Seeing the qilin beasts¡¯ frenzied actions, Lin Tianming¡¯s face paled. He immediately infused a massive amount of spiritual power, controlling the Sword Array firmly, hoping to trap them. After all, for the qilin beasts, known for their incredibly fast speed, the Sword Array was an essential tactic. It could effectively counter the qilin beasts¡¯ strengths. As long as they couldn¡¯t escape, his attacks would hit their mark, and he could thus turn defeat into victory. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the attack, if they dodged it, it would be a completely ineffective maneuver and a waste of opportunity and spiritual power. Hence, there was absolutely no room for failure with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At this moment, Lin Tianming brought his palms together, his spiritual power running in overload. Not content with just that, he spat out several mouthfuls of his essence blood onto the barricade of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. As the fresh blood entered the light screen of the sword array, the originally invisible screen suddenly flashed brightly, its spirituality greatly increased, and the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation became more stable. Meanwhile, the qilin beasts were navigating within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Given their terrifying speed, the roaming Sword Qi could hardly deal any substantial damage. As for the bites of the Second Order demonic beast souls, their numbers had greatly reduced, making their attacks feel like mere tickling. Soon, they collided with the Sword Array barricade. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± Three consecutive loud impacts echoed. The uninjured qilin beast was the first to crash against the barricade, followed by the one with a wound on its back, and lastly, the beast with a severed leg, obviously impeded by its injury. When the first crash sounded, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s barrier shook due to the strong impact force of the qilin beast, while the subsequent two collisions were clearly weaker. However, with these continuous impacts, the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was wavering, on the verge of shattering. Hit by the strong backlash from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, Lin Tianming turned extremely pale, unable to help spurting out several mouthfuls of blood, his internal organs nearly shifting out of place. Taking advantage of the qilin beasts¡¯ reformation to ram the Sword Array¡¯s barricade again, Lin Tianming gathered his will to steady the Sword Array while releasing the Tiangang Sword from his hand. ¡°Tiangang Ninth Sword, the third strike¡­ Exterminate!¡± As the Tiangang Sword shot out, it sliced directly toward the qilin beast with a severed leg, aiming to momentarily halt the beast¡¯s frenzied ramming or even kill it, easing the pressure on him significantly. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 324 - 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_1 Chapter 324: Chapter 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_1 In an instant, the Tiangang Sword broke through the Sword Array Barricade, and under the cover of the black mist, it was just a whisper away from the Qilin Beast with the severed leg. Facing the sudden Tiangang Sword, the Qilin with the severed leg was thrown into a panic, its injury severely hindering its speed. Too late to dodge the attack, it was helpless to avoid it. In a flash, the Tiangang Sword cleaved directly onto the head of the injured Qilin Beast. A loud boom echoed as the Tiangang Sword struck precisely on the beast¡¯s head. ¡°Aow.¡± With a pained roar, the Qilin Beast¡¯s massive body swayed and finally collapsed to the ground, twitching occasionally. Although it didn¡¯t breathe its last, its fighting strength was utterly spent. ... At this moment, Lin Tianming lifted his eyes to the beast, seeing its massive head covered in blood, a grotesque wound so large it almost pierced through completely. The remaining two Qilin Beasts, seeing their companion incapacitated, for some reason became blood-red with rage and unbearably frenzied. They seemed to understand that if they didn¡¯t break through the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the longer they dragged on, they too would share their companion¡¯s fate. The two Qilin Beasts spat out masses of light, bombarding the Sword Array Barricade, while their formidable bodies also charged towards the point of impact over and over. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. Clenching his concentration, he stabilized the operation of the Sword Array. Then, the Tiangang Sword in his hand flew out again, slashing towards the Qilin with the back injury. Just then, the first Qilin Beast¡¯s body slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, quickly followed by its mountain-like body. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± Series of loud noises continued to sound. The Sword Array shook violently, its barrier rapidly dimming and wavered treacherously before finally stabilizing with difficulty. Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes were wide with fear, hardly daring to breathe, forcibly suppressing the intense pain and the blood that had reached his mouth. Fortunately, the attack of the second Qilin Beast was interrupted by the projectile Tiangang Sword, otherwise another charge would have certainly shattered the Sword Array, and the situation would be far worse. But the current predicament was still far from optimistic for him. Lin Xingzhi and the others were also in dire straits; the clansmen were caught in hard battles and couldn¡¯t regroup to help him in the short term. With his Spiritual Power running low, unless he used the Fake Golden Core Talisman or relied on the remaining talismans and the Sword Qi formed by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, if he could slay another Qilin Beast, he might bridge the gap between them. Otherwise, he saw no chance of reversing his fortunes. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned unprecedentedly solemn, closely watching the Qilin Beast¡¯s every move. Before he could catch his breath, the two Qilin Beasts launched another attack, seemingly tireless. Lin Tianming could not afford to hold back, producing over ten Second Order talismans. Most of them were of medium and lower quality, with only one being a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, the strongest method he had besides Spirit Art and the Fake Golden Core Talisman. Looking at the talismans, valued at nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, he did not hesitate to activate the spell, turning all talismans into various Sword Qi and fireballs, launching them at the Qilin Beasts inside the Sword Array. ¡°Roar boom.¡± Explosions sounded. As far as the eye could see, the Sword Array was a sea of fire, with attacks filling every inch of space, leaving no escape for the two massive Qilin Beasts, which were entirely engulfed by the attacks unleashed by the Second Order talismans. Once the firelight dispersed, the figures of the two Qilin Beasts were revealed. At that point, the breaths of the two Qilin Beasts seemed weaker. The one with back injuries now had more and more blood holes, its injuries increasingly severe. The other, however, fared much better with only several wounds opening up, none of which were fatal. Seeing the vigorous figures of the two Qilin Beasts, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a tingling on his scalp. ¡°These two beasts are outrageously strong; no matter how much they¡¯re hit, they just won¡¯t die. This is preposterous,¡± Lin Tianming cursed inwardly, his face incredibly grim. Common Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts would have perished under such intense bombardment, yet these three Qilin Beasts had rendered more than ten of his Second Order talismans useless. Even three High Quality Attack Talismans had only managed to injure them without taking their lives. He had never encountered such a situation before. Previously, while searching for Purple Yin Grass with Lin Shikang, he had witnessed the strength of a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast. Moreover, during his journey to the Secret Realm and battles with the Qingxu Snake Clan, he had also seen the might of the Green-Spotted Poison Python and the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast. With such experience, he considered himself battle-hardened and experienced. But the current Qilin Beasts were incredibly formidable, giving him the impression that even a common Seventh Level Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a match for them. ¡°Do I really have to use the precious Fake Golden Core Talisman to overcome this difficulty?¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. At that moment, the two Qilin Beasts grew exceedingly furious, not giving him time to think. Roaring in rage, they charged again towards the barrack of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°You vile beasts shall not escape!¡± Lin Tianming shouted, as the Tiangang Sword left his hand, unleashing the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword at the more severely injured Qilin Beast. At the same time, he had to attend to the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Even if he couldn¡¯t hold on, he had to delay as much as possible, waiting for Lin Xingzhi and the Purple Gold Eagle to come to his aid. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. SEND GIFT Chapter 325 - 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_2 Chapter 325: Chapter 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_2 ¡°Clang clang¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword repelled a Qilin Beast, forcing it back again. However, the bigger problem was the Qilin Beast that was not seriously injured. Its strength was clearly superior to the other two, evidently the leader of the Qilin Beast Horde, its power belonging to the top of the Second Order Middle Stage. This Qilin Beast recklessly charged at the Sword Array Barricade, and Lin Tianming, spitting out a mouthful of blood, strenuously stabilized the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, struggling hard to withstand the impact. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was pale, his body¡¯s Spiritual Power wildly circulated, bearing the brunt of the Qilin Beast¡¯s collision. The Qilin Beast would not give up easily, regrouping and charging at the Sword Array Barricade once more. Lin Tianming roared angrily, his hands forming seals, his mouth reciting a special Law Decree. ... Then, a majestic and chilling Sword Qi slowly appeared above his head, exuding an astonishing aura. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, annihilate!¡± Lin Tianming bellowed, his single hand furiously smashing down towards the injured Qilin Beast. The massive Sword Qi above his head shot out, directly striking the back of the injured Qilin Beast. The Qilin Beast let out a tragic cry, as the bloody hole on its back further widened, almost half of its body being sliced off by the Sword Qi, exposing its internal organs and presenting a very gruesome sight. It staggered a few steps before collapsing unwillingly, struggling on the ground. Seeing that this Qilin Beast was severely injured by the Spirit Art, breathing more out than in, and had completely lost fighting capability, Lin Tianming breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The Sword Qi that he had nurtured for several years indeed did not disappoint him with its displayed might. Meanwhile, inside the Sword Formation, the last Qilin Beast started to panic, its companions being consecutively heavily injured, shocking it greatly. The look in its eyes towards Lin Tianming was filled with fear. Seizing this gap, Lin Tianming quickly took out a Consolidating Essence Pill, swallowing it in one gulp, trying to recover some injuries and Spiritual Power as much as possible. Time was uncertain, and when the Qilin Beast regained its senses, it launched an attack, charging toward the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave, facing the tireless Qilin Beast, his situation growing increasingly difficult. Now with all his tactics used up, he only had one last Fake Golden Core Talisman, which he did not want to employ unless it was a life-and-death moment. Fortunately, the range covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was shrinking, no longer as fragile as it was initially. Moreover, his own physique was strong, his injuries and Spiritual Power slowly recovering, and with only one Qilin Beast left, the threat was greatly reduced. If he really couldn¡¯t beat it, he would have no choice but to use the Fake Golden Core Talisman to eliminate it¡ªafter all, preserving his life was more important than anything else. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes became resolute, watching the Qilin Beast drawing nearer, he circulated his Spiritual Power within his body, firmly controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The Qilin Beast repeatedly crashed into the Sword Array Barricade, each collision firmly stabilized by the Sword Formation at the critical moment. At that time, it was like a tug-of-war, seeing who could persist longer. Then, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned extremely pale; he clenched his teeth and persisted, his body¡¯s Spiritual Power operating to its limit, fighting desperately to survive. In the midst of this battle of attrition, Lin Tianming suddenly entered a state of trance-like emptiness. And he was completely unaware of it himself¡ªonly Lin Xingzhi and the others nearby noticed something special. At this moment, the Sword Qi within the formation moved faster, its power continuing to grow. Furthermore, the invisible light screen formed by the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation occasionally flickered with Spiritual Light, looking as if its Spirituality had increased. The Qilin Beast also noticed the changes in the Sword Formation, becoming more frightened, crashing into it frantically, totally going all out to survive. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Its repeated impacts made the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation as solid as a fortress, incomparable to its former self. Time passed, and Lin Tianming awoke from his empty state, feeling the changes in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his expression filled with joy, he immediately exclaimed. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Heavens truly favor me, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation has broken through to the Great Achievement realm!¡± He had been cultivating the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, this Divine Skill, for over ten years, having gone through more than a dozen heart-pounding battles. Up until now, he had always been stuck at the minor completion stage and had not managed to break through to the Great Achievement realm. Unexpectedly, on the brink of death and through a fortunate coincidence, he had successfully made a breakthrough! He laughed heartily, a hint of color returning to his pale face, as he simultaneously cast the Law Decree in his hand. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, slaughter!¡± Lin Tianming shouted loudly, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords started to spin furiously, their speed increasing exponentially, creating cyclones sharp as ordinary blades that shredded the surrounding trees and rocks to pieces. Within the Sword Array, vast amounts of Sword Qi and Spiritual Light flared dramatically, as its power and speed continued to escalate, furiously slaughtering the Qilin Beast. Seeing its living space rapidly diminishing, and the terrifying Sword Qi weaving around, the Qilin Beast was struck with panic and struggled fiercely. Unfortunately, its efforts were ineffective. The Sword Qi, which had previously felt like mere tickles, had greatly increased in power. Each strike of the Sword Qi left a bloody wound on its body. The Qilin Beast howled miserably, while Lin Tianming showed no signs of relenting, controlling the Sword Array and slaughtering it madly. After more than a dozen breaths of time, as the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s range grew smaller, shrinking to less than a hundred yards, the pathetic cries inside also ceased. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief and slumped to the ground, sitting heavily. Once the smoke and dust cleared, three massive Qilin Beast corpses lay inside, all of them breathless, utterly dead by his hand. The three corpses were riddled with injuries, drenched in blood, without a single spot intact, looking unspeakably pitiful. With the greatest threat eliminated, Lin Tianming then turned to check on the situation of his clansmen. At that time, the entire canyon was strewn with corpses, a complete mess; numerous giant trees had fallen, trenches had formed, and the battlefield resembled a hell on earth. Lin Xingzhi and the others, under the lead of the Purple Gold Eagle, had gained an absolute advantage. The First Order Initial Phase Qilin Beasts had been wiped out, and all that remained alive were those from the First Order Middle Stage and above. The Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings, spewing out huge fireballs from its mouth, engulfing the two Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts ahead. After the blaze dissipated, the bloody Qilin Beasts were revealed. Lin Xingzhi and the others wielded their Spiritual Artifacts, unleashing a variety of attacks and completely annihilating the critically injured Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was excited. He was utterly exhausted, his Spiritual Power completely depleted, and he truly had no capacity left to fight. Fortunately, even if he could not act, his clansmen, under the leadership of the Purple Gold Eagle, would likely achieve victory. So there he sat on the ground, recovering his Spiritual Power, while observing the battle. ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, the Qilin Beasts possess powerful innate abilities and are very formidable. Now that all Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts are annihilated, see if you can subdue the ones in the First Order Middle Stage!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi nodded and took the opportunity to reply during a lull in the battle. ¡°Okay¡­ There¡¯s no chance of subjugating Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts, but perhaps we can try with the First Order Middle Stage ones!¡± After replying, the Purple Gold Eagle overhead seemed to understand and dove from the sky. Its claws struck a Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beast with a thunderous blow. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± The Qilin Beast struck by the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s claws howled in agony, its back instantly splitting open, flesh and skin flayed. The Purple Gold Eagle did not intend to spare it; its other claw struck like lightning, grabbing the beast¡¯s head and after a fierce struggle, the Qilin Beast was dead. At that moment, the Purple Gold Eagle was like a god of war, harvesting lives within the Qilin Beast Horde with its terrifying speed and powerful claws. By then, the Qilin Beast Horde was in total chaos; more than half of about a dozen Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts had perished, the number of Demonic Beasts drastically reduced to less than fifty. Meanwhile, Lin Xingzhi and his people were in high spirits, hitting even harder, and under the seamless cooperation with the Purple Gold Eagle, the entire Qilin Beast Horde was in retreat. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 326 - 209: Huge Harvest_1 Chapter 326: Chapter 209: Huge Harvest_1 Half an hour later, Lin Xingzhi, after slaying a Qilin Beast, withdrew from the battle group. The remaining twenty or so Qilin Beasts, being surrounded and attacked by Lin Tianfeng and others, were already sufficiently handled. Gasping for breath, he approached Lin Tianming, looking quite exhausted. Seeing Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming, having slightly recovered some spiritual power, stood up out of concern and courtesy, and asked, ¡°Uncle, are you hurt?¡± Lin Xingzhi responded with an understanding smile, his expression brimming with excitement. ¡°Just some minor injuries, they will heal in a few days.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and the two shifted their gaze back to observe the ongoing battle. ... With the combined effort of Lin Tianfeng and the Purple Gold Eagle, they killed the last First Order Late Stage Qilin Beast, leaving over ten Qilin Beasts of the First Order Medium Stage. By then, the Purple Gold Eagle and Lin Tianfeng stopped taking action, and the group of Lin Family Members surrounded the ten or so Qilin Beasts, beginning to exert pressure. The Qilin Beasts that remained alive huddled together, glaring balefully at the surrounding Lin Family Members, their expressions actually quite enraged. Lin Tianming and one other walked over and stopped beside the Purple Gold Eagle, assessing these Qilin Beasts. This battle had indeed given them a hard time; nearly every clan member was injured, with two of them seriously so, requiring at least ten to fifteen days of closed-door healing to fully recover. And he himself, after fighting against three Second Order Middle Stage Qilin Beasts, was completely exhausted, with his life force depleted, spiritual power and divine sense greatly consumed, and injuries all over his body; he had almost exhausted all his techniques. If it wasn¡¯t for his array of techniques and trump cards, along with a breakthrough in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation at the critical moment, the outcome of this battle would still be uncertain. Looking at those frightened yet ferocious Qilin Beasts opposite them, all the people showed expressions of covetous longing. These Qilin Beasts had extraordinary talents, their skin tough and their meat thick, and both their speed and attack power were formidable. Their strength far surpassed that of other Demonic Beasts of the same order, and they had great potential for growth. If they had enough opportunities, it was not impossible for them to advance to Third Order. If the Lin Family could subdue some Qilin Beasts, they could be used to defend Green Bamboo Mountain. Furthermore, they could carry people and goods, allowing clan members traveling back and forth to Qianchuan Market to save a lot of time and spiritual power. The safety of short-distance travel would also greatly increase, which would bring many benefits. However, these Qilin Beasts were fierce and proud by nature; subduing them was not so simple. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming¡¯s presence suddenly became formidable, pressing down like Mount Tai upon those Qilin Beasts. Feeling Lin Tianming¡¯s strong Foundation Establishment Stage pressure, all of the Qilin Beasts became frightened. They wanted to resist and struggle, but the pressure was too overpowering, on par with that of their leader. Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation poured out, and his divine sense pierced into the sea of consciousness of all the Qilin Beasts, attempting to forcibly imprint the submission to the Lin Family. ¡°Submit to our Lin Family or die.¡± Soon, after a fierce struggle and resistance, all the Qilin Beasts went into a brief stupor, the scene of the battle between Lin Tianming and their leader echoing in their minds. Looking around, all the Qilin Beasts appeared pained, desperately enduring the pressure and the strong divine sense imprint within their sea of consciousness. After a few breaths, one Qilin Beast bled from the seven orifices and then collapsed, motionless. Following that, several more Qilin Beasts fell one after another, their deaths nearly identical to the first¡ªunable to withstand the strong pressure and divine sense, their souls were killed, and they bled from the seven orifices and died. Seeing this, Lin Tianming somewhat relaxed, and the situation started to improve; otherwise, if all of the Qilin Beasts were to die, finding such a rare opportunity again would be difficult. A quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Tianming had been at a stalemate with the Qilin Beasts for quite some time. ¡°Submit to the Lin Family. With our clan¡¯s support, your achievements will definitely not be low, and we will treat you well. Submit.¡± The alluring voice of Lin Tianming echoed over and over again in the minds of all the Qilin Beasts. Finally, unable to resist the invasion of divine sense, one Qilin Beast folded its legs and prostrated itself on the ground. As it opened its sea of consciousness, Lin Tianming¡¯s divine sense directly invaded and swiftly imprinted his own divine sense imprint. Once the divine sense imprint was successfully inscribed, this Qilin Beast signaled its submission, and Lin Tianming then released it. With the first Qilin Beast submitting, and spurred on by Lin Tianming¡¯s tempting voice, successive Qilin Beasts opened their sea of consciousness and lay prostrate on the ground to signal their submission. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression lit up with joy. He hurriedly inscribed his divine sense imprint and planned to hand them over to the Clan Leader for arrangements once back with the clan. Half an hour later, the remaining Qilin Beasts had all submitted. Nine Qilin Beasts lay united on the ground, no longer bearing ferocious expressions. Seeing this, Lin Xingzhi and the others were overjoyed. With these Qilin Beasts, and given some opportunities, it was very possible for them to enter Second Order, which would significantly strengthen the clan¡¯s power. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that those Second Order Qilin Beasts couldn¡¯t be subdued, that would have been¡­¡± Lin Tianhong mumbled to himself softly. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing these words, Lin Tianming frowned and then spoke, ¡°Qilin Beasts are born with outstanding talents and extremely proud natures. Even these First Order Medium Stage Qilin Beasts have strong convictions to never submit, preferring to explode into death rather than yield. There¡¯s no need to even think about those in the First Order Late Stage or Second Order. Unless it is a Golden Elixir Expert, even Third Grandfather¡¯s cultivation might not be enough to subdue a First Order Late Stage Qilin Beast.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 327 - 209 Enormous Harvest_2 Chapter 327: Chapter 209 Enormous Harvest_2 ¡°Yes, although First Order Demon Beasts are not highly intelligent, they are inherently fierce and explosive, and it is not so easy to force them into submission,¡± Lin Xingzhi added a sentence of agreement. Hearing what the two had said, the clanspeople all nodded their heads, taking these experiences to heart. Lin Tianming then proceeded to put the nine Qilin Beasts into the Spirit Beast Bag, which could just accommodate these Qilin Beasts, but the Purple Gold Eagle was too large to fit and could only follow beside them. Fortunately, after this battle, it wasn¡¯t long before the half-year period was up, they needed to explore the Qilin Beast¡¯s lair and recover from their injuries for a short time, so they wouldn¡¯t continue to head north for trials. In such a situation, keeping the Purple Gold Eagle by their side, with its alert nature and Second Order realm, was perfect for a guard duty. Lin Tianming, his spirits excited, swept his gaze over everyone before saying, ¡°Now that the crisis has been resolved, but danger still lurks at every moment, let¡¯s quickly clean up the battlefield, and then go scavenge the Qilin Beast¡¯s lair.¡± ... Upon hearing this, everyone had rosy complexions, the Qilin Beast Horde¡¯s strength was so formidable, and they were located at the border of Luoyun Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain, deep within the two mountain ranges¡ªsurely there would be some treasures that were rarely seen. Thinking of this, everyone could hardly contain their joy, and they began to tidy up the chaotic valley with swift and efficient movements. Lin Tianming also walked towards the corpses of the three Second Order Qilin Beasts, reaching the carcasses quickly. A quarter hour had passed since the three Second Order Qilin Beasts were slain, Lin Tianming had consumed too much spiritual power earlier and hadn¡¯t cleaned up the battlefield immediately, but now that the fight was over, it was naturally time to tidy up the battlefield without delay. Looking at the scars covering the bodies of the three Qilin Beasts, Lin Tianming had an expression of pain. Earlier, the three Qilin Beasts had borne the brunt of numerous talismans and the wounds from the Tiangang Sword, and afterwards, they were brutally ground down by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡ªthe precious beast skins were now torn and tattered, with many parts of their bodies outright missing. Having spent so many treasures, just the talismans alone were worth tens of thousands of spirit stones; if they couldn¡¯t obtain some good items, it would be such a pity. Luckily, the most valuable horns and Demon Cores were well-preserved, enough to make up for his losses, otherwise, he would be beside himself with regret. Gathering his wits, Lin Tianming wielded the Tiangang Sword in his hand to extract the Demon Cores from the three Qilin Beasts, and then chopped off the precious horns¡ªthese were excellent materials for refining a Second Order Magic Artifact. Crafted properly and with the addition of some rare materials, refining a lower quality Second Order Magic Artifact would be no trouble at all. Although the hide was battered and torn, it was still usable for Talisman Making; given the Qilin Beast¡¯s defensive power, the talismans produced would certainly be extraordinary and could be taken back to the clan, later to be given to his sister. As for the remaining Monster Beast Souls and flesh, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t waste any of it, collecting everything. The souls could be sealed into the Thousand Beast Banner to compensate for the souls it had lost, and the flesh could be swallowed by the Purple Gold Eagle to help it accelerate its breakthrough in the realm. Soon, Lin Tianming had processed the corpses of the three Second Order Qilin Beasts; turning his gaze, he saw his clanspeople busily engaged. Although the battle had been perilous, and every Qi Refining Clansperson had given their all, with many suffering serious injuries, the rewards were substantial. The clanspeople were thrilled, their faces brimming with joy as they collected all the useful items. After a quarter hour, the disorderly valley had been tidied by the clanspeople, its appearance greatly improved. Though it was far from the state before the great battle, at least it didn¡¯t look as desolate anymore. The clanspeople gathered around Lin Tianming, their faces beaming with the joy of victory. ¡°Have we finished tallying?¡± queried Lin Tianming. Lin Xingzhi nodded and then replied: ¡°We¡¯ve collected all the usable items, and the traces of battle in the valley have been erased. We can now search for the Qilin Beast¡¯s lair!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming surveyed the area to ensure nothing was missed, then began to give instructions. ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, let¡¯s divide into three teams and search deeper into the valley. The Qilin Beasts were powerful, so there should be some good items!¡± Upon hearing this, several people were excited, quickly forming three teams, eager to start their search as if they had forgotten their injuries. Lin Tianming did not delay either and led the others deeper into the valley, planning to find a safe place to recuperate and heal wounds after the search was complete. Shortly, they had traversed more than ten miles and arrived at the deepest part of the valley. Looking around, the terrain here resembled that of the valley entrance, but there were differences¡ªthe fog was thicker, and the temperature much cooler, with an immediate chill that made it slightly uncomfortable. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even stranger was the fact that his Divine Sense was even more restricted here, the covered range significantly reduced compared to the entrance, barely extending a few hundred yards, and for Lin Xingzhi and the other Qi Refining Clanspeople, their Divine Sense probably covered an even smaller area, almost no different from being blind. Lin Tianming stopped with his clanspeople on a large boulder, his gaze intently fixed ahead, a thoughtful expression on his face. After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Tianming slowly spoke: ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, this must be the lair of the Qilin Beast Horde, but it¡¯s quite peculiar. Let¡¯s split into three groups to be cautious and quickly gather everything in this place, then regroup here!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ everyone, be careful!¡± After Lin Xingzhi and several others responded, they led their groups in different directions to explore. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 328 - 209: Huge Reward_3 Chapter 328: Chapter 209: Huge Reward_3 Lin Tianming then looked at the Purple Gold Eagle and instructed it to stay put and keep watch. If there were any movements in any direction, it should rush over to provide support immediately. After arranging this, he chose a direction and started walking towards the deepest part of the canyon. Walking on this road filled with dense fog, his Divine Sense was fully open, and although its covered range was limited, it was still better than being completely in the dark. With his Divine Sense and the Eye of Five Colors¡¯ attention, every movement in the surroundings was clearly visible. Soon, he reached the very center of the canyon. At that moment, he watched the depths of the canyon with vigilance, and began searching the area. ... Just ahead, there was a land of Ice. Chilling, bone-piercing cold air spurted from underneath the ground and finally converged within the thick fog. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with excitement, and he immediately rushed towards the cold. Looking at the cold air gushing from beneath the ground, he became thoughtful. ¡°There must be something extremely cold of the Water Attribute under the ground. The fog here is formed from the essence released by whatever is below, creating such a large expanse,¡± he thought. ¡°And the Qilin Beast, being a Water Attribute Demonic Beast that has taken over this area, could only have grown such a large group because of the extraordinary thing beneath us!¡± Thinking of this, he was overjoyed and quickly took out the Tiangang Sword, ready to excavate the area and see what treasures lay within. The hard Magic Artifact, the Tiangang Sword, struck the ground and quickly dug a deep pit several tens of meters deep. But as he dug deeper, the difficulty increased dramatically, and with his strength, a strike of the sword barely scraped away a bit of soil. ¡°Why is this place so hard!¡± Noticing that the color of the soil beneath was gradually becoming lighter, Lin Tianming muttered quietly to himself. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t give up. Despite the slow pace of excavation, it wasn¡¯t completely impossible to dig. He kept swinging the sword, one strike after another. Who knows how long had passed when he dug several meters deeper again, the soil inside grew even lighter in color, with strands of water blue. With another swing of the sword, he struggled to cut out a large chunk of crystal-like soil, revealing a water-blue stone at the bottom that had a cool, translucent spiritual essence. ¡°Ice Crystal!¡± Seeing the stone that was partially exposed below, Lin Tianming¡¯s face blossomed into euphoria, and he promptly swung the Tiangang Sword to excavate the Ice Crystal. In a short while, he had dug out the brick-sized Ice Crystal and started examining it closely in his hands. Ice Crystal was a Second Order Superior Spirit Ore, a Water Attribute Artifact Refining Material containing extremely strong chill. Given its great hardness, whether for offense or defense, it could be extensively applied in making various treasures and was considered one of the best Artifact Refining Materials. Just this piece of Ice Crystal alone was worth at least several hundred Spirit Stones, far surpassing the value of the previously obtained Earth Mysterious Crystal. The Ice Crystal in his hand had an excellent color, full of Water Attribute energy, and with a clear, translucent appearance, it was quite attractive to the eye. It was uncertain just how much Ice Crystal there was to be mined. Should he be able to excavate a hundred or so pieces, the losses from the previous tough battles could be compensated. And if he could dig up several hundred pieces, this hardship would turn into a huge profit. Lin Tianming thought about this with an involuntary smile creeping across his lips. At that moment, Lin Xingzhi emerged from the dense fog. Seeing Lin Tianming there, he quickly approached. Lin Xingzhi looked at the Ice Crystal in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands with an incredulous expression and stammered to ask, ¡°Tian Ming¡­ this¡­ this is¡­ Ice Crystal?¡± Lin Tianming nodded, almost in jest, before saying: ¡°Uncle Xing Zhi, go and find Tianfeng and the others immediately. Leave a team to search this area, and gather everyone else here to dig out these crystals and see how much Ice Crystal we can find.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi was instantly ecstatic, fully aware of the significance, he did not hesitate to turn around and look for Lin Tianfeng and the others. As Lin Xingzhi left, Lin Tianming continued swinging the Tiangang Sword, laboriously digging. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword struck the hard layers of rock and soil methodically. Half a moment later, Lin Tianming was gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his forehead, and his face a shade paler. His injuries and Spiritual Power had not had the chance to recover before he began this high-intensity mining of the Ice Crystal, making the process exceedingly slow. If he kept at this rate for much longer, there was a chance that his injuries could worsen. Considering all this, he stopped digging, plopped down on the ground and took two more elixirs, beginning to cultivate while waiting for his clansmen to arrive. Soon, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion slowly became ruddier, and his body¡¯s Spiritual Power also gradually recovered somewhat. At that time, Lin Xingzhi, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and a few others, arrived. They were clearly overjoyed, already informed by Lin Xingzhi about the discovery of the Ice Crystal¡ªeach person showed ecstatic expressions. The group gathered around Lin Tianming, waiting for his instructions. Lin Tianming opened his eyes, looked over everyone, and then said, ¡°How did everyone¡¯s search go? Have you found any treasures?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and the rest of the clansmen began reporting their findings. Their haul from this trip was mediocre, having only found some Second Order Water Attribute Spirit Medicine Materials, totaling up to several dozens of plants, which were just common varieties, barely worth almost a thousand Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming nodded, expecting as much since this place was the lair of the Qilin Beast, but with the presence of Ice Crystals, ordinary Spiritual Medicine Materials simply could not grow, with only a rare few Water Attribute Materials able to survive here. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 329 - 209: Huge Harvest_4 Chapter 329: Chapter 209: Huge Harvest_4 He began by reassuring everyone with a few words, then went on to recount how they had discovered these Ice Crystals. Lin Tianfeng and the others could hardly contain their joy, having initially thought they had suffered a huge loss, they hadn¡¯t expected that the real treasure wasn¡¯t those Spiritual Medicine Materials. Seeing the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces, Lin Tianming spoke: ¡°It¡¯s not easy to excavate these Ice Crystals. We¡¯re all injured, so let¡¯s divide into two groups to take turns digging. Those with minor injuries can start excavating first, and those with more serious injuries can rest up a bit before switching in. Let¡¯s work around the clock to try to extract all of it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The tribe members responded in unison. After that, everyone naturally divided into two groups. Lin Xingzhi, with light injuries, led Lin Tianfeng and three other tribe members into the pit, starting the excavation of the Ice Crystals with great excitement. ... Meanwhile, Lin Tianming sat down with Lin Tianhong and a few others to begin cultivating. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed. After two days of recovery, Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries had largely healed, and his strength had returned to about eighty percent of its peak. Except for two family members who were too severely injured to join the digging, the remaining eight members were all enthusiastically excavating. In several days of continuous excavation, they managed to unearth dozens of Ice Crystals, each as large as a brick and of exceptional quality. During this time, they also roughly explored the extent and reserves of the Spirit Vein. If nothing went wrong, this Ice Crystal vein was a small-scale vein. At the very least, they could extract two hundred Ice Crystals, and if the density of the Spirit Ore was high enough, extracting several hundred wasn¡¯t out of the question. Despite their exhaustion, no one was slacking off; everyone was giving it their all, chiseling through the hard rock layers. With the highest cultivation, Lin Tianming worked the fastest due to his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, wielding physical strength of several thousand pounds, while the speed of the rest, working together, wasn¡¯t far behind. Time flew, and more than twenty days had passed. It had been half a year since they left Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, and now only a small portion of the Ice Crystal vein remained unexcavated. ¡°Everyone come down and give it your all. We can¡¯t afford to delay much longer, or the family might think we¡¯ve run into some serious trouble!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi and the others took a brief rest before rejoining the excavation. With all tribe members digging together, the speed indeed increased, and one after another, the Ice Crystals were unearthed. A few days later, the entire Ice Crystal vein was depleted. Now, the surface of the ground had completely transformed. What had appeared to be a rather flat canyon floor had been turned into a deep pit spanning hundreds of yards and reaching depths of a hundred yards, like a man-made abyss. Wearily, Lin Tianming gathered all the tribe members to hand over the excavated Ice Crystals. Lin Xingzhi led the charge, producing over thirty Ice Crystals and neatly arranging them on the ground. Upon seeing so many Ice Crystals, the complexions of the other tribe members flushed with satisfaction, clearly pleased with the haul. Lin Tianfeng was the next to produce Ice Crystals, totaling thirty, only four less than Lin Xingzhi, also reaping a rich harvest. After that, one by one, the tribe members took out their Ice Crystals, with Lin Tianming counting alongside and recording the numbers on a Beast Skin so that they could be exchanged for Spirit Stones or meritorious service when they returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. As the remaining nine people took out their Ice Crystals, the count reached two hundred eleven, far exceeding their expectations, and Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t even taken out the Ice Crystals he had obtained. Watching the eager eyes of the tribe members, Lin Tianming chuckled and then produced his own haul, albeit secretly keeping a few Ice Crystals aside to bring back for Lin Shilu¡¯s Artifact Refining. Soon, a staggering one hundred sixty-five more Ice Crystals appeared on the ground. Lin Xingzhi and the others were completely astounded; together with his haul, they had obtained three hundred seventy-six Ice Crystals, far surpassing their original estimates. Looking at the small mountain of Ice Crystals, everyone was overjoyed, as their value alone exceeded 150,000 Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming had taken the lead in this venture, spent a great deal of treasures, and alone slain three Second Order Medium Quality Qilin Beasts. In terms of merit, he was due to receive at least half of the profits, and the treasures he had used paled in comparison to the gain. Even so, the remaining merit distributed among the others would still afford each a hefty reward. Under the excited gaze of the tribe members, Lin Tianming gathered up all the Ice Crystals. Glancing at the tribe members, Lin Tianming, exhilarated, said: S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The matter is resolved, our gains far exceed expectations, it¡¯s time for us to return home!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ this experience has greatly advanced my skills, I¡¯ll be ready to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage once we get back to the family!¡± Lin Xingzhi excitedly added. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s make our way home!¡± With that, Lin Tianming led the tribe members back to the canyon entrance, where they rejoined the Purple Gold Eagle and took off directly for Green Bamboo Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 330 - 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_1 Chapter 330: Chapter 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_1 Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. After two days of travel, the Purple Gold Eagle safely returned with a group of clan members from the border of the Luoyun Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain. As the Purple Gold Eagle flew into the Protective Clan Formation and they saw the familiar Bluestone Plaza, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief. In recent days, they had been digging every day, exhausting themselves to the bone. Initially, they didn¡¯t even have time to care for their injuries, all in the hopes of finishing the excavation of the Ice Crystals so they could return to the family. Now that they had finally returned smoothly, they could enjoy some peaceful cultivation time. Once inside the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming bid farewell to the clan members, and after exchanging greetings, they dispersed. ... Lin Tianming instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to return to the back mountain, and then he headed directly to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly. In a short while, he arrived at the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly and met with Lin Shihua, and the two sat down for a chat in a secret chamber of the Council. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others return safely excited Lin Shihua tremendously, and when he learned what they had acquired from their journey, it shocked him. An elated Lin Shihua, taking Lin Tianming with him, went straight to the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, entering Lin Shilu¡¯s courtyard. Upon seeing Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming immediately sensed that he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and began to confirm it. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t hide it and had no need to; he readily admitted to his breakthrough. With nearly half a year of seclusion and a successful breakthrough, Lin Tianming was mentally prepared and quickly moved on from the topic. The three chatted idly for a while without mentioning the details of their adventure. Soon, Lin Shigong also rushed over upon hearing the news, and the four sat in the courtyard. Seeing the excited smiles on Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua, both Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong were puzzled and began to speculate in their hearts. ¡°Could this youngster have stumbled upon another treasure?¡± Lin Shigong could hardly wait and said with a laugh and slight reprimand, ¡°Third brother is in seclusion, preparing for the Assistant Great Perfection; he won¡¯t be emerging in the short term. You rascal, no need to beat around the bush, just spill all the details of your adventure!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and started from the entry into Luoyun Mountain. The uneventful beginning and the ordinary gains didn¡¯t interest the other two much. Learning that at the last moment, they had encountered a formidable horde of Qilin Beasts, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong¡¯s hearts leaped to their throats. Knowing Lin Tianming had led the clan members to escape unscathed further stunned them. ¡°You lad, you¡¯ve really got guts, fighting one against three and managing to annihilate them all!¡± Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but say. Although he was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, he could never have imagined the young man being so fierce as to once again shatter his perceptions. Recalling the hair-raising battle, Lin Tianming also felt a wave of fear and reflected gravely, ¡°Indeed, the battle was extremely dangerous. If it weren¡¯t for the more than ten Second Order talismans I had stockpiled, including three High Quality Attack Talismans, as well as the Sword Qi released by the Spirit Technique Condensation, and the crucial breakthrough of the Sword Array to the Great Achievement Realm, I might have really been in trouble!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take such risks in the future!¡± Lin Shigong advised. ¡°Understood, Grandpa!¡± Lin Tianming replied, and then continued to talk about the Ice Crystals. In just a short time, upon hearing that they had obtained more than three hundred Ice Crystals and subdued nine First Order Middle Stage Qilin Beasts, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong were once again staggeringly shocked and speechless. Lin Tianming let out a sly chuckle and quickly took out a few Ice Crystals, handing them to everyone for inspection. Lin Shilu took up an Ice Crystal and, as a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner, he was naturally very familiar with all types of Artifact Refining Materials. After a quick examination, he soon affirmed the veracity of Lin Tianming¡¯s words. Lin Tianming then handed over the storage bag containing three hundred seventy-six Ice Crystals as well as another storage bag full of Demonic Beast Materials and Spiritual Medicine Materials to Lin Shihua. After handing over all storage bags, including the Beast Skin listing the number and types of treasures, they completed the transfer process. Then Lin Tianming led everyone out of the dwelling, heading to the back mountain of Green Bamboo Mountain. The four appeared in front of the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s dwelling. Lin Tianming released the nine First Order Qilin Beasts from the Spirit Beast Bag. Before long, the nine Qilin Beasts emerged in front of them, their massive stature imposing. However, in the presence of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they dared not make any movement and meekly lay on the ground. Seeing these nine Qilin Beasts, everyone was enormously excited. In recent years, not only had the cultivation of the clan members advanced by leaps and bounds, but the number of Spirit Beasts had also grown. With one Second Order Late Phase Soul-eating Spider in the family, an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, and several Qingxu Snake Eggs from before, successfully hatching four Qingxu Snakes, although they were of a lower rank at the First Order Initial Stage. Now, with nine more Qilin Beasts, each at the First Order Middle Stage and endowed with sufficient talent¡ªstronger than the Qingxu Snakes¡ªif nurtured properly, breaking through to the Second Order was almost a certainty. Basing on the strength of the Spirit Beasts alone, the Lin Family could now compare to the Foundation Establishing Families of the Luoyun Mountain Range. At this moment, everyone was thrilled, and Lin Shihua was so happy stroking the fur of the Qilin Beasts that he was at a loss for words. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, these Qilin Beasts have submitted, and I¡¯ve already imprinted them with my Divine Sense. Now, I hand them all over to you, elder. From now on, they¡¯re members of the Lin family, so please treat them well,¡± Lin Tianming said. COMMENT 0 comment Vote sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 331 - 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_2 Chapter 331: Chapter 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_2 Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua finally regained his composure. He nodded and said, ¡°You can rest assured, but as the family¡¯s spirit beasts continue to increase in number, it looks like the area of the Spirit Beast Garden will need to be expanded!¡± ¡°The area behind Green Bamboo Mountain is vast. We can allocate thirty percent of it as a habitat for the spirit beasts. After all, the family doesn¡¯t need that much space,¡± Lin Shilu added. Lin Tianming nodded, showing his full agreement. In fact, the territory of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan was not small; within a hundred li, there were mountains of varying heights. Apart from the Qingling Bamboo Forest, most of the area was vacant, and not to mention these spirit beasts, even if another hundred or so were added, it wouldn¡¯t feel crowded. After a brief exchange between the two, even with Lin Shikang absent, the four agreed unanimously to expand the Spirit Beast Garden. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming and his grandfather bade farewell to Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua and made their way to his father¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. ... His father had been stationed at Golden Horn Mountain for many years. Although it wasn¡¯t far from Green Bamboo Mountain, he rarely returned home due to his long-term cultivation seclusion, perhaps only once a year. His sister had gone to Qianchuan Market and wouldn¡¯t return for three years, and his mother was also busy, in seclusion to strike at the Great Perfection Realm to prepare for Foundation Establishment. He was accustomed to visiting his mother in her cave mansion to pay his respects after each period of seclusion or training. After all, as their cultivation levels rose higher, the lengths of their seclusions also tended to increase. More importantly, the elders were aging. If they couldn¡¯t break through to the Golden Core Stage, they would only have a little over a hundred years of life left. While that may seem like a lot, Foundation Establishment Cultivators often spent years in a single session of seclusion, so the opportunities for family gatherings in over a hundred years were very limited. Although the path of cultivation favors a clear mind and few desires, it is not devoid of emotion. Those with a firm Dao heart gain twice the result with half the effort in their cultivation. Moreover, they have a greater chance of breaking through to higher realms. Therefore, frequent gatherings with the elders were necessary, not only to show filial piety but also to offer a glimmer of hope and warmth amidst the dull and monotonous journey of cultivation. That evening, upon receiving Lin Tianming¡¯s message, his mother also briefly left seclusion, and the three generations sat together in the courtyard to chat leisurely. Lin Tianming shared the events of his training journey, although he kept silent about the more perilous and bloody incidents. He mainly discussed the more mundane moments and his gains, much to his mother¡¯s delight. His grandfather didn¡¯t spill the beans either, instead, he greatly admired his idea, understanding that discussing certain matters too much could worry his mother. As the night became still, Lin Tianming shared a bit about his cultivation plan, and only after that did he and his grandfather bid his mother farewell, each returning to their own cave mansions. Sitting in his Cultivation Room, Lin Tianming exhaled a breath of turbid air and thought about his upcoming cultivation plans. With injuries still unhealed, he naturally prioritized their recovery. Once he returned to peak condition, he planned to enter seclusion for a few years, hoping to make a breakthrough to the Fourth Level of Foundation Building. Resolved, Lin Tianming immediately began the practice of his Cultivation Technique. Once he felt slightly better, he took out an elixir for healing and without hesitation swallowed it. As the medicinal power of the elixir diffused through his body after being refined, it slowly healed his wounds. A soothing sensation spread throughout his body. Lin Tianming breathed evenly, entering a deep state of cultivation. Several days later in the early morning, on the plaza in front of the clan¡¯s mountain gate. Today was the day the second group of Ninth Layer Qi Refining clansmen were to set out for their training. A group of eligible clansmen gathered in anticipation of the arrival of their leader, Lin Shilu. In a short while, Lin Shilu arrived on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, landing on the expansive Bluestone Plaza. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was calm as he looked over the seven clansmen present, Lin Xingzhi, Lin Xingyou, each one excited and with an eager expression and passionate eyes. The success of Lin Tianming and his peers from their recent excursion had spread throughout the clan in the few days, inciting envy in many and rekindling the interest in training among numerous clansmen. The tale of Lin Tianming taking on three opponents had once again shocked the clan, with many members from the Tian generation admiring him even more. However, Lin Tianming was unconcerned with all this; he had just collected his share of gains from the training at the Hall of Merit, a whopping ninety thousand merit points, constituting more than half of the total gains. Back at his cave mansion, he entered his Cultivation Room and began to focus on his cultivation in seclusion. At the plaza by the mountain gate, Lin Shilu held a map in his hands, on which Lin Tianming and others had carefully marked various mountain ranges and river details. He looked up at the eager clansmen and then stepped out of the Protective Clan Formation with the Purple Gold Eagle, the clansmen eagerly following suit, their faces full of excitement. Once outside the Protective Clan Formation, everyone mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which transformed into a vast shadow that headed north towards Golden Horn Mountain. As Lin Shilu and the others departed, life within the clan continued as normal, with cultivators who had finished their training, like Lin Xingzhi, entering seclusion to prepare for their breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. Everything was going smoothly, and the clan remained peaceful. Lin Tianming also began his long-term cultivation in seclusion. As spring turned to autumn, two years swiftly passed by. At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, several clansmen stood respectfully in a courtyard. In front of them, Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua sat facing each other, appreciating Spiritual Tea. Their sharp gazes lingered on Lin Xingzhi and the others, revealing a look of satisfaction. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. SEND GIFT Chapter 332 - 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_3 Chapter 332: Chapter 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_3 Lin Shihua set down his teacup and promptly took out a large stack of thick books from his storage bag, then handed them out to several people. ¡°Since you are all prepared, after you comprehend these breakthrough insights, get ready to go into seclusion and impact the Foundation Establishment stage,¡± he said. Beside him, Lin Shilu also smiled, his kindly face full of anticipation. With the family clan¡¯s monster hunting experience coming to an end, he led Lin Xingcheng and others, spending over half a year starting from the valley where Lin Tianming discovered the Ice Crystals, pushing northward all the way to Golden Horn Mountain. Their journey was not without challenges. The further north they went, the stronger the Demonic Beasts they encountered. Fortunately, Lin Shilu had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and with Lin Xingrong, who had joined upon hearing the news, they killed a large number of Demonic Beasts, including dozens of Second Order creatures. They were not as lucky in other areas, aside from encountering several Third Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, they did not find any treasures more valuable than the Ice Crystals. However, they did acquire numerous Spiritual Medicine Materials and innumerable Demonic Beast Materials, as well as finding many places rich in Spiritual Energy. ... And for the past two years, the clan had organized many of its members to go into the mountains and reclaim land. They cultivated exceptional quality Spirit Fields in places where the Spiritual Energy was dense. As time passed, it was foreseeable that these areas, once occupied by Demonic Beasts, would soon be developed by clan members, bringing substantial profits to the clan. Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng, along with Lin Tianfeng who had accumulated experience for quite some time, had been in the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage for a few years by now. They had long accumulated enough Merit Points to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills, and already had them in hand, ready to go into seclusion at any time to impact the long-anticipated Foundation Establishment Stage. However, despite being fully prepared, they still lacked the guidance and protection of their elders. The clan¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, Lin Shikang, was still in seclusion, so they came together to seek out Lin Shilu, the most advanced in cultivation, to follow his guidance and have him guard over their breakthrough. Lin Shilu looked at the few family members before him. Lin Xingzhi, who had served as the Enforcement Hall Master for many years, had performed outstandingly during the family clan¡¯s battle at Luoyun Mountain and was very stable in his cultivation, so there was no need to worry about him. Lin Xingcheng, also the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master, had followed Lin Shilu closely during their experience and had fought bravely against several First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, also putting in a splendid performance. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng, the highest in cultivation among his generation beneath Lin Tianming, joined the Enforcement Hall twenty years prior, also battle-hardened. Among them, Lin Xingcheng was the oldest at just over sixty years of age, while Lin Tianfeng, the youngest, had just entered his early forties. With the more effective Foundation Establishment Pills to aid them, their chance of breakthroughs was significant, at the very least, over sixty to seventy percent. This kind of breakthrough condition was much stronger than it was more than a decade ago. Within the clan, the last person to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage was Lin Xingping, several years ago. During these intervening years when no clan members attempted a breakthrough, now that these three were impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage together, and with several more clan members meeting the conditions for doing so, the clan¡¯s strength was poised to improve qualitatively within a few short years. The clan¡¯s golden age was finally upon them. Thinking about this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression eased a great deal, and he suddenly spoke, ¡°The family has been thriving these years, and your conditions for breakthrough improve continuously. I shall not say much more, only hope that you do not let down the expectations of all the clan members, choose a small courtyard next door to go into seclusion, and the Clan Leader and I will take turns guarding over you.¡± ¡°Yes, we thank the Elders for their guidance,¡± replied Lin Xingzhi and the others in unison, then slowly left the courtyard, heading toward a nearby complex of buildings. Before long, each of them chose an unoccupied Cave Mansion and entered, thereafter going into the secret chambers to commence their comprehension of the breakthrough insights. In the courtyard, Lin Shilu lifted his teacup to take a light sip and spoke to Lin Shihua across from him, ¡°Twelfth brother, with the family affairs keeping you so busy, let me handle this guardianship.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lin Shihua didn¡¯t refuse, the clan was becoming increasingly powerful, and no Foundation Establishment Cultivator dared to cause trouble on Green Bamboo Mountain. With this batch of clan members¡¯ talents and the assistance of more effective Foundation Establishment Pills, within at most a month¡¯s time, the results of their attempts to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage would be known. In reality, having someone to guard over them did not matter much, but it was insisted upon as a precaution against sudden emergencies and to reassure them. ¡°Then brother, I shall take my leave. Contact me if there¡¯s anything,¡± Lin Shihua said, then left his Cave Mansion Courtyard. After Lin Shihua had left, Lin Shilu continued to sit in the courtyard, his gaze fixed on the nearby courtyards, lost in thought. Inside the Cave Mansion where Lin Xingzhi was, he sat cross-legged, holding the breakthrough insights left by his ancestors, meticulously contemplating them. It was half a month later that he finally put away the breakthrough insights, then took a long, deep breath, showing a determined expression. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had already reviewed these cultivation insights once before, and having rehearsed them once more, he had committed them thoroughly to memory and was now ready to take the Foundation Establishment Pill to prepare for impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. Having made the decision, he clasped his hands together and began the process of meditative breathing to reach his peak state. When ready, he waved his sleeve robe, and a Jade Bottle appeared in his hand, containing the precious Foundation Establishment Pill. He took out the Foundation Establishment Pill and placed it in his palm, its fragrance wafting up, immediately making one feel refreshed and uplifted. Gazing at the Foundation Establishment Pill, he didn¡¯t hesitate and swallowed it whole. Once the elixir entered his mouth, the rich energy contained within started to spread. He didn¡¯t dare to delay and began to refine it immediately. The energy, once refined, converted into gentle Spiritual Power, slowly gathering in his Seven Sea Dantian. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 333 - 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_4 Chapter 333: Chapter 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_4 Time slowly passed, and the energy within the Foundation Establishment Pill gradually transformed into spiritual power, filling up his Qi Sea Dantian. Scenes like this unfolded at the same time in two other courtyards. Lin Shilu sat in the small courtyard, taking out some of his artifact refining insights, comprehending them while keeping an eye on the movement in the neighboring courtyard, and incidentally protecting the three. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Days passed, and for over a month, he didn¡¯t move from his spot. On this day, inside the secret chamber of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cave abode, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face was pale, his robe soaked with sweat. He had refined his own cultivation¡¯s spiritual power and combined it with the spiritual power extracted from the Foundation Establishment Pill for an assault. ... Sure enough, the first assault failed, but fortunately, the energy contained in the Foundation Establishment Pill was enormous. Despite some losses, he could still persist for a while. He was not discouraged. Looking at the denser spiritual power in his dantian, he hesitated not at all, organizing a large mass of spiritual power and relentlessly assaulting the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment. After several days of continuous assaults, finally, at one moment, he suddenly felt a warm current spread throughout his body, and his spiritual power surged with a floodgate-opening sense of liberation. At the same time, his divine sense also increased explosively; every flower and blade of grass, every movement, was clear in his mind. The moment he made his breakthrough, his cultivation radiated outwards, and the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was instantly detected by Lin Shilu. ¡°It¡¯s that youngster Tianfeng; youth really is an asset,¡± Lin Shilu remarked with a laugh and a sigh of relief, then leapt up from the cave and stood outside the courtyard where Lin Tianfeng was in seclusion. At that time, the nearby clan members felt the aura of a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator and were overjoyed, each secretly guessing who the person breaking through was. ¡°The clan member has just broken through to Foundation Establishment. Everyone, stay away from here and do not make loud noises, lest you disturb them. Go about your own business,¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s stern and excited voice came, and the nearby clan members didn¡¯t dare to breathe loudly, quickly leaving the area. Lin Shilu nodded and looked worriedly at the other two courtyards. At that moment, Lin Shihua sensed the breakthrough aura and suddenly arrived at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, appearing beside him. Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s concerned expression, he reassured, ¡°Tianfeng is younger, after all, facing slightly less resistance in his breakthrough. It¡¯s not surprising that he broke through first. However, although they differ in seniority, their ages are not that different. Xing Zhi and Xingcheng should also be close.¡± Lin Shilu nodded; what Lin Shihua said was indeed true, and he himself was well aware of it. He quickly regained his composure. Seeing that the neighboring courtyards were still quiet and that Lin Tianfeng had no intention of coming out, it was obvious he intended to continue consolidating his cultivation. ¡°Brother, come to my courtyard and wait. Xing Zhi and the others should be breaking through soon,¡± said Lin Shilu, inviting Lin Shihua. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s invitation, Lin Shihua nodded, and the two walked towards Lin Shilu¡¯s courtyard. A few days went by, and while the two sat in the courtyard drinking tea and chatting, they felt another oppressive aura belonging to the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was brief and quickly returned to normal. ¡°It¡¯s Xing Zhi.¡± No sooner had he spoken than from another courtyard adjacent to the one they were watching, the pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator emanated anew. ¡°Haha, Xingcheng has succeeded as well.¡± The two men had broken through on the same day, and together with Lin Tianfeng who had broken through several days prior, all three had achieved Foundation Establishment. Such a success rate had Lin Shilu and the other man excited beyond measure. And as the pressures of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators spread, clan members all over the place felt it, each filled with elation. Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s loud voice echoed across the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, as all clan members went about their own business. Lin Shilu and the other man returned to the courtyard, discussing the family¡¯s strength over their tea. With the three consecutive breakthroughs to Foundation Establishment, the family¡¯s overall strength surged once again, with the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators reaching eleven, and in the next ten years, this number would only increase further. With over ten Foundation Establishment members, even within the whole Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family should rank in the top five. Thinking of these matters, Lin Shihua was thrilled, eagerly awaiting Lin Tianfeng and the others to emerge from seclusion. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 334 - 211: Foundation Establishment Fourth Level_1 Chapter 334: Chapter 211: Foundation Establishment Fourth Level_1 One month later, within a secret chamber of a certain courtyard at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s hands were clasped together, his breathing even, as he was consolidating his cultivation. Unaware of how much time had passed, he finished his practice and opened his tightly shut eyes, feeling the potent strength throughout his body and a broad smile spread across his face. This attempt at breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm had gone smoothly; he had broken through the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment after only a few attempts, which was somewhat unexpected. However, feeling the effect of the Foundation Establishment Pill and recalling the gentle flow of spiritual power and the immense energy during his breakthrough, he came to terms with it. Lin Tianfeng chuckled softly and murmured to himself, ... ¡°No wonder those Golden Core Sects can endure for so long; the Foundation Establishment Pill plays a crucial role. Together with their naturally gifted disciples and numerous followers, the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Realm is hardly a hindrance to them.¡± Regathering his focus, he stood up and left the secret chamber. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he arrived at the cave dwelling where Lin Shilu resided. At that moment, Lin Shilu was sitting opposite Lin Shihua, chatting and laughing over tea, looking very pleased with themselves. Lin Tianfeng hurried forward, clasping his fists in a respectful salute, and said, ¡°Tianfeng pays respects to Twelfth Grandpa, and to Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled, waved his hand, and said, ¡°Tianfeng, no need for such formalities, come sit!¡± Only then did Lin Tianfeng lift his head, move over, and take a seat without saying another word. Seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s somewhat reserved manner, Lin Shilu smiled and signaled for him to relax. Lin Tianfeng nodded awkwardly and then engaged in casual conversation with the two elders, sharing some of his experiences and feelings about the breakthrough. Soon, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng, who had consolidated their cultivation, arrived together to pay their respects to the elders. They were visibly excited, their emotions not yet settled, and they paid their respects earnestly and with great sincerity. With an affable smile, Lin Shilu pulled them up and invited them to sit, and after a few moments of idle talk, began imparting some of his cultivation experience, benefiting them immensely. Three generations chatted leisurely for quite some time before parting ways to attend to their own concerns. Several days later, in the secret chamber where Lin Tianming was staying. He sat on the floor, his expression slightly pale, sweat from his forehead dropping to the ground, his clothes already drenched with sweat, but he remained as still as an old monk in meditation, his sturdy body appearing very upright. In this posture, he had persisted for a whole year. For the past year, he hadn¡¯t left the house, deeply engrossed in secluded cultivation. With such hard work, his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, and he was preparing to attempt breaking through to the Fourth Level. By now, he had already attempted the breakthrough several times, all ending in failure. He wasn¡¯t surprised by this; entering the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, the medium stage of Foundation Establishment, was particularly difficult, far more challenging than breaking through from the Second to the Third Level. Undeterred, he mustered his courage for the fifth attempt, which was at the critical moment of breaking through. He now looked resolute, gathering his spiritual power to launch the final onslaught. Within his Seven Sea Dantian, the converged spiritual power surged like a flood, directly striking at the bottleneck of the Fourth Level of Foundation Building. Over and over again, with no awareness of how much time had passed. Just when his body was nearly numb and his consciousness was beginning to scatter, suddenly a warm current spread throughout his body. It was as if a mass of mud had suddenly been submerged in warm water¡ªthe feeling of comfort was immensely satisfying. Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly directed his Divine Sense inward to observe. Inside his Dantian, the once solidified spiritual power merged into a larger Qi Sea Dantian and then quickly became more viscous. Furthermore, as the barriers were broken, a tremendous amount of energy emerged within his body, cleansing his flesh. A foul smell arose and his body exuded some smelly impurities¡ªclearly, after the breakthrough, the spiritual power combined with the medicinal power inherent in his body had strengthened him once more. This was a frequent occurrence which he didn¡¯t take to heart. His hands clasped together, he cycled the Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and after the True Yuan had flowed through his veins and spread throughout his whole body, he exhaled a long sigh. It had been almost five years since he broke through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. In those years, he endured the trials of his journey, his cultivation becoming incredibly consolidated. Having refined the seeds of the two remaining Seven-Colored Golden Lotuses and spent three years in dedicated seclusion, he had finally broken through the bottleneck smoothly. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was fortunate that his efforts had been duly rewarded. Feeling the vigorous spiritual power surging through his body along with the explosive strength, which was now much denser and contained more energy than before, he felt more than twice as strong as he had been at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. As his emotions finally settled, he didn¡¯t get up immediately, but started to run his cultivation to regulate his breath, aiming to consolidate his cultivation to avoid instability and a potential fall in his realm after the breakthrough. He sat serenely, cycling the Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, quickly circulating the spiritual power throughout his body. Half a month passed in this manner¡­ In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming, who sat serenely, opened his tightly shut eyes, with two flashes of sharp light darting from his eyes. Lin Tianming stood up, feeling the robust spiritual power throughout his body, which now flowed more smoothly with every movement, each filled with immense energy¡ªmore than double the strength he had at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Now that he had broken through to the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, he had also entered the medium stage of Foundation Establishment. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 335 - 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_2 Chapter 335: Chapter 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_2 If he were to battle those three Second Order Middle Stage Qilin Beasts once more, he feared he wouldn¡¯t even need to use Spirit Arts to defeat them with ease. He clenched his fist, and several cracking sounds echoed throughout the quiet chamber. After consolidating his cultivation for a period, his cultivation had now stabilized at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, and it was very solid. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± He exhaled a breath of air. Looking at the smelly black mud on his body, he formed a seal with one hand and cast a Five Elements Spell to clean off the filth and changed into a fresh set of blue robes. After getting these matters in order, he tidied up the quiet room once more before stepping out, emerging in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. ... ¡°It¡¯s been a long while since I came out of seclusion. Tian Yue and the others should have returned to the Lin Family by now. I wonder how their cultivation has progressed over the years, whether they have reached the basic requirements for impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. After sending out two messages, he quickly left the cave dwelling to check on his grandfather first. Before long, he arrived at the Alchemy Hall and met Lin Shigong. Seeing Lin Tianming come out of seclusion and having broken through to the Foundation Building Fourth Level, Lin Shigong was extremely satisfied. Yet, despite his own hard work in cultivation over the years, Lin Shigong¡¯s cultivation had been stuck at the peak of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment without any signs of breaking through to the Third Level. ¡°Alas¡­ it surely is due to my age, and the considerable gap in talent that each advancement becomes exceedingly difficult,¡± Lin Shigong thought to himself. He quickly collected his thoughts; grandfather and grandson sat opposite each other as Lin Tianming began to inquire about the various happenings in the family over the past few years. It was only after Lin Shigong finished speaking that Lin Tianming learned, to his shock, that Lin Tianfeng, Lin Xingzhi, and Lin Xingcheng had all successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage without fail a year ago. ¡°The success rate is incredibly high. Are the effects of the Foundation Establishment Pill that strong?¡± Lin Tianming wondered. He soon returned to normal, his face filled with excitement as he asked about his parents¡¯ and sister¡¯s well-being. According to Lin Shigong, his father had come back once during his seclusion and had broken through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, being transferred to Qianchuan Market to replace Lin Xingping. Golden Horn Mountain was handed over to the now-replaced Lin Xingping to guard. Both his mother and sister had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage for a while now; they needed to settle for two years before attempting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. At that moment, Lin Tianming felt a sense of emotion, realizing that the upcoming few years remained critical for the Lin Family. Even though Lin Tianfeng and the others had broken through to Foundation Establishment, there were likely even more clan members preparing to do the same. Clan members like Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, and many of the Xing Clan Members were also at this stage. As long as the Foundation Establishment Pills were sufficient, the family would not lack people above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. A few years ago, the family was in a transitional period lacking people above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Now, such a situation marked an enormous shift; the family was truly beginning to take a qualitative leap forward. Thinking of this, his excitement was palpable, and influenced by Lin Tianming¡¯s mood, Lin Shigong also became emotional. After calming down from their excitement, the grandfather and grandson chatted idly for a while before leaving the Alchemy Hall and heading towards the Cave Mansion Courtyard where his mother lived. Having received his message, his mother and sister had ended their seclusion and were waiting in advance for their arrival. Having not seen his mother and sister for several years, Lin Tianming felt some longing and quickened his pace. In a short while, the two entered the familiar courtyard to find his mother and sister eagerly coming forward to greet them. Seeing his mother and sister, Lin Shigong smiled and waved his hand; the four of them sat down in the courtyard to chat. Upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s smooth breakthrough to the Foundation Building Fourth Level, his mother¡¯s face was brimming with gratification. She had always been reassured about Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation; he was far ahead of his peers, and had even left the Xing Clan Members behind. These thoughts filled her with immense pride. His sister, however, felt somewhat disheartened. As siblings, her talent was also not inferior, and even though she couldn¡¯t compare to her brother, she was still among the top in her generation. Previously, during the Qi Refinement Realm, the difference in their cultivation wasn¡¯t as conspicuous. Now, it had widened even further, surpassing several levels. ¡°Alas¡­ if I don¡¯t make an effort now, it will be even harder to catch up with my brother!¡± Lin Tianyue frowned slightly as she thought to herself. Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression, Lin Shigong quickly guessed her thoughts and began to comfort her. ¡°Cultivating is not just about secluded cultivation. It requires experience and opportunity. Besides, among your peers, your cultivation speed is already extremely fast. With only a few being able to match you, that¡¯s already quite an accomplishment,¡± Lin Shigong said. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before he finished speaking, Lin Tianming also began to console her. ¡°Yes, Tian Yue, blindly cultivating in seclusion will make your cultivation unstable. Without facing life-and-death crises, even if you had an endless supply of elixirs, your progress would be limited,¡± Lin Tianming added. Hearing the words of the grandfather and grandson, she realized she had not undertaken trials for a long time. Lin Tianyue nodded thoughtfully, firmly resolving to undergo a proper trial, sharpen her cultivation, and then attempt the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thinking this, she spoke up, ¡°Grandfather, brother, tomorrow I will invite Sister Three and the others to train in the Luoyun Mountain Range. What do you think?¡± Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s determined eyes, Lin Tianming naturally didn¡¯t want to undermine her confidence; he promptly made a suggestion. ¡°It¡¯s definitely feasible. However, the Luoyun Mountain Range has already been cleared out once. The former safe line has extended hundreds of miles inward, but the Demonic Beasts on the fringes are far different from before. Their strength is formidable, and I wouldn¡¯t dare to enter lightly,¡± Lin Tianming said. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 336 - 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_3 Chapter 336: Chapter 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_3 ¡°If you form a team and go to the outer periphery, it won¡¯t really serve the purpose of training, and going to the inner area is too dangerous.¡± Thinking about the embarrassing and difficult situation when battling the three Qilin beasts, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but shudder with fear, and he immediately continued: ¡°If you really want to train, you can consider the remote branches of the Luoyun Mountain Range, where not many cultivators have set foot. You might encounter some treasures that no one has discovered.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more important is that the strength of the Demonic Beasts is not high, only one or two at most are Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts, and most are First Order Late Stage or Second Order Initial Stage. If you form a team, you should be able to deal with a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast.¡± ¡°Yes, Yueyatou, Tianming is right, going to the inner parts of the Luoyun Mountain Range is too dangerous, those branches are very good!¡± Lin Shigong echoed. ¡°Got it, we¡¯ll go to those branches. I have quite a few Second Order talismans, and countless First Order ones. Together with third sister and Tianhu and them, handling a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± ... ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand, don¡¯t be rash and reckless, and be as careful as possible!¡± Lin Shigong cautioned. Seeing Grandpa had spoken, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t say more. He had already heard that Lin Tianhu was very talented, shining among the Tian Clan Members, his cultivation having reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, and he had rich experience in fighting, no less skilled than Lin Tianfeng. Such a fierce person, whose cultivation speed was second only to Lin Tianming, even the historically advantaged Lin Tianyue felt inferior; his strength was unmatched among his peers. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With him participating in the training, the clan members involved should not be in great danger. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming changed the topic, and started discussing the way of Alchemy Dao with Grandfather. After more than a decade, Lin Shigong had immersed himself in Alchemy Dao, and his success rate in refining lower grade Second Order elixirs had become very high. With an increasing number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family, there was a large consumption of elixirs, plus the need to train the young clan members in alchemy, cumbersome clan duties seriously hindered his own cultivation. However, he didn¡¯t care about this. He was very clear that breaking through Foundation Establishment had been extremely difficult for him, his potential almost exhausted, and the hope for advancing to the Golden Core Stage was too slim. He might as well devote himself to studying alchemy and do his best for the family. Lin Tianming also tried to persuade him, saying he was still young, and with some Heaven-Defying Treasures, it wasn¡¯t impossible to have a breakthrough. However, Grandfather was not swayed at all, so there was nothing he could do. Lin Shigong chuckled, temporarily sidestepping the subject and finally lightened the heavy atmosphere. An hour later, Lin Tianming and his grandfather left the cave dwelling to busy themselves with their own affairs. After leaving his mother¡¯s cave dwelling, he walked on the Bluestone Plaza atop the main peak. Just before reaching his own cave dwelling courtyard, he bumped into Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong. Seeing Lin Tianming, faces of Lin Tianfeng and the others lit up with joy, and they hurriedly walked up to greet him. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯re out of seclusion?¡± ¡°Big brother, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment!¡± Lin Tianming cupped his fist and smiled. Lin Tianfeng forced a smile and then said, ¡°Sixth brother, there¡¯s no need to be so formal, you¡¯re already at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, the difference in our cultivation is growing bigger and bigger!¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Sixth brother is getting stronger and stronger, and our gap is widening. I¡¯m afraid that gap will only grow more, and we might never catch up!¡± Lin Tianhong chimed in. Seeing what they said, Lin Tianming felt a bit helpless but could only comfort them with a few words. ¡°You both are overthinking it. As cultivation progresses toward the later stages, breakthroughs become increasingly difficult. It took me five years to break through a single realm, and the intervals following will be even longer. Without the aid of treasures, it could take ten years to break through a single level.¡± ¡°Once you enter the Foundation Establishment Stage, the initial cultivation shouldn¡¯t be hard, and you will soon catch up to me!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s comforting words helped firm their resolve, and a glimmer of hope sparked in their hearts. Afterward, Lin Tianfeng invited Lin Tianming and himself to his cave dwelling for a small gathering, to which both readily agreed. Soon, the three of them arrived at a courtyard, not far from Lin Tianming¡¯s dwelling within the same area. With Lin Tianfeng¡¯s successful foundation building, the Tian branch welcomed its second Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and the empty courtyard gradually gained an occupant. Sitting in the courtyard, the three brothers had tea and chatted leisurely, enjoying their rare moments of relaxation. Soon, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng also rushed over. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingzhi excitedly said, ¡°Tianming, I thought you hadn¡¯t left seclusion. It¡¯s great we¡¯ve met today, we must have a proper gathering.¡± Lin Tianming laughed. He had only come out of seclusion today, and only Grandfather and a few others from his mother¡¯s side were aware. Lin Tianfeng had merely come across him by chance, so it was normal for them to be unaware. However, upon hearing about their foundation building, he was also ecstatic, having intended to congratulate them in person, he didn¡¯t expect to encounter them here. His thoughts returning, he laughed and replied, ¡°Congratulations to the two Elder Uncles on your breakthrough in Foundation Establishment, the family has gained a few more pillars.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ pillars, I dare not claim to be. It was just luck, but we have all benefited from your light these years. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for us to achieve Foundation Establishment in this lifetime,¡± Lin Xingcheng sincerely said. No sooner had he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhi also reflected, ¡°Indeed¡­ without the White Jade Grass Tianming obtained from the Secret Realm, it would have been a tough call whether we could have established a foundation at all!¡± Gathering together brought the atmosphere to a high point. The five enjoyed drinks while chatting and sharing cultivation insights, each gaining a lot from the exchange. The spirited gathering continued late into the night, and only then did everyone rise to say their farewells and leave. Ling Tianming walked alongside them on the Bluestone path, with Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingzhi heading to the Xing Clan Members¡¯ courtyard area, while Lin Tianhong, yet to establish a foundation, lived in his father¡¯s courtyard. Lin Xingzhi and the other invited Lin Tianming to get together another day, and he generously accepted the invitation before saying goodbye to them all and returning to his dwelling. Sitting on the meditation cushion in his secret chamber, he brought his hands together and smoothly ran his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and began his cultivation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 337 - 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_1 Chapter 337: Chapter 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_1 The tranquil cultivation days continued, and two years had passed since Lin Tianming broke through to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. During these two years, he would emerge from seclusion every six months for a brief period, assisting the family in making Second Order Pills during his spare time, and sometimes visiting the Alchemy Hall to help his grandfather instruct some of the younger clan members in alchemy. He would also visit some of the elders or help the family handle some simple affairs, leading a life that was quite fulfilling and peaceful. By this time, he had been on the cultivation path for nearly thirty years, and his age had quietly approached forty. If judged by a cultivator¡¯s lifespan, he was still young, at a golden age, but in the secular world, being forty meant reaching middle age, potentially with a wife and children, and grandchildren filling the household. At the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling. ... He completed his cultivation and left the secret chamber, sitting down in the stone pavilion within the small courtyard. Five years had passed in the blink of an eye; he had only entered seclusion a few times, and time had passed like this. Although such a daily routine of cultivation was nothing unusual for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he realized that such peaceful and comfortable days were something he was experiencing for the first time. It was good, nevertheless. Too much fighting and killing could lead to weariness, and if not for the pursuit of opportunity and longevity, who would want to risk their life for it? Lin Tianming looked up at the noon sun and then let out a long sigh, pulling back his wandering thoughts. ¡°Sister and mother should be preparing to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage; I should go and check on them,¡± he murmured to himself. After speaking to himself, Lin Tianming left the courtyard and walked along the path on the peak¡¯s summit. As he walked, he observed the newly-built courtyards around him¡ªthese were the cave dwellings that the family had built in recent years. They didn¡¯t differ much from the old courtyards that had stood for hundreds of years in style and decoration, the only difference being they did not bear the traces of time. With the increasing number of Foundation Establishment Cultivator clan members and the explosive growth expected in the next few years, the original twenty or so courtyards had become insufficient. Therefore, dozens of new courtyards were constructed and planned anew, still divided into four large areas, each with over twenty courtyards. Looking around, the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain had been transformed, with a larger Bluestone Plaza and a unified architectural complex, appearing quite majestic and befitting of a Foundation Establishing Family. As he walked, it didn¡¯t take long for him to arrive at his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sitting in the courtyard and having tea, his mother and sister ended their seclusion and joined him in the yard shortly after. Just as the three of them were about to take their seats, grandfather arrived, and they all hurried forward to pay their respects. Seeing Lin Tianming and his family, Lin Shigong had a smile on his face and seemed to be in a good mood. Noting such an expression, Lin Tianming vaguely felt an unusual aura emanating from him. ¡°Grandfather, have you broken through to the third level of Foundation Establishment?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s been several years since I¡¯ve been stuck at the second layer of Foundation Establishment. I thought it would take a few more years of cultivation, but when I tried during my recent seclusion, I broke through unexpectedly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just like they say, sometimes flowers don¡¯t bloom when you want them to, and trees you plant without thought suddenly provide shade,¡± Lin Shigong said with a smile. Lin Tianming chuckled, realizing that such occurrences weren¡¯t unusual in cultivation. Often, after failing to break through, a cultivator might succeed if they tried again after some time; indeed, it was unpredictable. ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve made a breakthrough!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Lin Shigong nodded and then asked about Lin Tianyue and her daughter¡¯s plans for Foundation Establishment. Ren Yuxuan considered for a moment before responding, ¡°I reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage around two years ago, and after half a year of adventuring outside with clan members, I plan to choose a date to begin seclusion and impact Foundation Establishment.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Lin Tianyue also said, ¡°Mother and I have discussed it and tentatively decided to begin seclusion in half a month!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his grandson were visibly excited. Both of them had already achieved Foundation Establishment, and now, with mother and daughter still at the Qi Refinement Realm, they had waited many years to finally attempt Foundation Establishment. If successful, their little family would include five Foundation Establishment members, an exciting prospect indeed. What was more important was that even if there was no hope of Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong, his wife, breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shigong would live for at least another hundred years, giving the family plenty of time to live together. After all, no one is indifferent to longevity, nor does anyone wish to be eternally separated from their loved ones. Now that the mother and daughter were planning to take that step, it was crucial for the family and the clan. Lin Tianming, eager and impatient, quickly took out two Foundation Establishment Pills he had made and handed them to the mother and daughter. These two pills were reserved specifically for this day. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s gesture, his mother Jiao Nan spoke, ¡°Mother has prepared quite a bit of merit over the years, and Tianyue is ready too. We were planning to go to the Hall of Merit to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills. Keep these pills for yourself!¡± ¡°Yeah, brother,¡± ¡°We can¡¯t always rely on you to bail us out. I¡¯m a First Order Superior Grade Talisman Maker myself, and I¡¯ve managed to save up twenty thousand points of merit,¡± Lin Tianyue added. Hearing their words, Lin Shigong, who had been listening, became serious and then spoke persuasively, ¡°You two should not refuse Tianming¡¯s generosity. The wealth accumulated on him is probably the most in our entire clan. Even Shi Lu and your third uncle might not match up!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 338 - 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_2 Chapter 338: Chapter 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_2 Lin Tianming didn¡¯t refute this, as over the years he had experienced numerous battles, obtained many cultivators¡¯ storage bags, and during his adventures, acquired numerous heavenly and earthly treasures. The cumulative amount of spirit stones and merits reached over a hundred thousand, along with many elixirs and spiritual medicines, the value of which was now difficult to estimate. Not only that, but over the past few years he had refined a large number of elixirs, and with his breakthrough in cultivation, becoming a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist was not far off. With his terrifying success rate and quantity of elixirs produced, he could accumulate a vast fortune just through alchemy. With his current value and wealth, it could be said that he was not short of spirit stones. Thinking of this, he then gently persuaded, ¡°Grandfather is right. Apart from these elixirs, with the yellow spirit stones and merits combined, there are over a hundred thousand. Even the Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s worth is not necessarily comparable to mine, so Mother and Tian Yue, you shouldn¡¯t refuse!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming say this, and remembering the large amount of Ice Crystals he had gained during his adventures years ago, with his share of merits then amounting to eighty thousand, plus the annual family subsidies of spirit stones and salary, he indeed was a wealthy man. ... Thinking of all this, Lin Tianyue finally accepted a Foundation Establishment Pill and then tightly placed it into her storage bag. Seeing Lin Tianyue accept the Foundation Establishment Pill and considering the look in the eyes of Lin Tianming and his grandson, Ren Yuxuan couldn¡¯t refuse anymore. She resolutely took the Foundation Establishment Pill and put it into her storage bag. Lin Tianming and his grandson laughed heartily and then sat down to chat casually, sharing their experiences of impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage with the mother and daughter. Knowing the difficulty of Foundation Establishment, the mother and daughter listened intently, afraid of missing a single detail. Although they were worried about Foundation Establishment, Lin Tianming was quite confident. Lin Tianfeng had said before that the effect of the Foundation Establishment Pill was very good and the entire breakthrough process went smoothly. As for Lin Tianyue, who was only in her thirties with a decent Spiritual Root Talent, breaking through should not be difficult at all. Though the mother was nearly seventy years old and her Spiritual Root Talent was not as good as Lin Tianyue¡¯s, that age was not really considered too old. Previously, the Fifteenth Grandfather, at the age of a hundred, managed to succeed with the help of a Minor Foundation Building Pill with only half the usual efficacy, a difficulty which simply couldn¡¯t compare to the mother¡¯s situation. Therefore, the probability of Mother¡¯s breakthrough in Foundation Establishment was at least fifty percent or more. Unknowingly, evening had arrived, and Lin Tianming and his grandson had spent half a day sharing all their experiences. The mother and daughter took it all to heart, making ample preparations. As the evening approached, the mother finally left to prepare dinner for them. That night, three generations of the family had dinner together and afterward returned to their respective caves. Lin Tianming briefly cultivated, waiting for the moment his mother and sister entered seclusion to break through, so he could come out and protect them. Half a month passed, and Lin Tianming, along with his grandson, their mother, and sister, rushed to the cave where Lin Shilu stayed. After greeting each other, they sat down to drink tea and chat casually. The mother and sister stood aside, busily preparing the tea, clearly enjoying themselves. Shortly after, Lin Shihua arrived with several clan members, all of whom were old acquaintances of Lin Tianming. Amon the Xing generation were Lin Xingyu, Lin Xingyao, Lin Xingqi, Lin Xingshun, and others. There were also three members of the Tian generation, including Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianqin, and Lin Tianhu. Together with the mother and sister, there were nine clan members in total, all at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage. The clan members respectfully greeted the elder Shi generation and then stood aside reverently. Lin Shilu and the others nodded in response to the greeting from the clan members. Then, Lin Shihua stood up, glanced over all the clan members and spoke, ¡°To prepare for today, the family has worked diligently for over twenty years, improving many clan rules and policies, and provided extensive support. The family¡¯s strength has risen steadily, and now the time has finally come to bear fruit.¡± As he spoke, Lin Shihua wore a look of reminiscence, recalling the difficult situation of the family twenty years ago, his eyes filled with complex emotions. Returning his focus, he continued, ¡°This time nine clan members are secluded for Impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, such an unprecedented event has never occurred in the over eight hundred years since our family¡¯s founding!¡± At this moment, all the clan members were visibly excited, and Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. This time, with nine people simultaneously impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage and all of them being young with significant potential, assisted by Foundation Establishment Pills, their chances of success were at least over sixty percent. By conservative estimates, four or five individuals were expected to break through successfully, and that would bring the count of Foundation Establishment Clan Members in our family to nearly seventeen or eighteen. With such strength, we have far surpassed any Foundation Establishing Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. The family had been developing rapidly for over twenty years for this day, and had finally made significant progress. Seeing the clan members so excited, Lin Shihua, the Lin Family Patriarch, also felt immense excitement. After calming himself down, he then took out a large number of books made from beast skin, all specially printed by the family, and distributed them one by one to the nine clan members. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the clan members in the courtyard, Lin Shihua said, ¡°These are the breakthrough insights left by our ancestors, which I believe many of you have already reviewed.¡± ¡°Whether you have committed them to memory or not, I hope you will read them over carefully before your breakthrough so that you can recall them with ease and thereby successfully break through to Foundation Establishment,¡± he said. Having said these words, his expression became solemn as he loudly asked, ¡°Do you understand?¡± Before the echo of his words faded, the ten clan members responded in unison, their voices firm, ¡°Understood!¡± Hearing the clan members¡¯ resounding reply and feeling the strong confidence that radiated from them, his heart was greatly comforted. Lin Shilu also stood up at this moment and offered words of encouragement, further boosting everyone¡¯s confidence. Half an hour later, after Lin Shihua had given several instructions and spoken earnestly, he said, ¡°Next, each of you should select a courtyard for secluded cultivation. Elder Shi Lu and I will stay here to protect you from external disturbances!¡± ¡°The path of cultivation spans a lifetime; whether for the family or for yourselves, I hope you will break through in one fell swoop and contribute further to our family!¡± With that, he waved his arm, and seven clan members filed out of the courtyard in an orderly fashion, heading in various directions to select their own caves for seclusion, leaving behind only his mother and sister in the courtyard. Lin Tianming walked over to his mother and sister, took their hands in his, and although he felt some worry, he dared not show any sign of it so as not to add to their psychological burden. A failure due to this would be a loss too great to bear. He feigned calmness and with a warm smile, said to his mother and sister, ¡°You will definitely succeed. I¡¯ll be right here waiting for you!¡± Seeing his warm and soothing smile, the mother and daughter nodded firmly and said, ¡°Definitely!¡± Having said their piece, the two of them turned and walked out of the courtyard towards two vacant courtyards nearby. Lin Tianming and his grandfather watched as their mother and sister left. Everything that needed to be reminded and said was already done half a month ago; now there was nothing left that he could do, except to rely on them. Before long, as the nine people each chose their caves for seclusion, Lin Shihua ordered the clan members to seal off the top of Green Bamboo Mountain and deployed members of the Enforcement Hall to patrol, not allowing any other clan members to disturb them during this time. With so many clan members attempting to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage together, the family took this matter seriously, and the security throughout the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was extremely strict. Many of the clan members with lower cultivation levels were not privy to this information and began to guess the family¡¯s motives. However, since the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was very calm and no major events happened within the family, many clan members soon speculated that some were impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. Yet they could never have imagined that there would be so many clan members attempting at the same time, a total of nine pursuing a breakthrough, an impressive show of force rarely seen even among Golden Elixir Forces. Lin Tianming and his grandfather did not leave, but chose to cultivate in seclusion within Elder Shi Lu¡¯s dwelling, waiting for the outcome of their breakthroughs. After the Patriarch held a brief conversation with Lin Shilu and the grandfather, he left the area, leaving only Lin Shilu and the grandfather sitting in the courtyard, protecting the clan members as they cultivated. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 339 - 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_1 Chapter 339: Chapter 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_1 Day by day, time passed peacefully. The entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was exceptionally calm; the clan members had adapted to the family¡¯s state of martial law, which hardly affected them as long as they stayed within the clan territory. Those who needed to undergo secluded cultivation did so, everything was as quiet as usual, no different from peacetime. After thirty-five days. At noon, under the blazing sun, beams of sunlight pierced through the dense clouds, shining on every corner of Green Bamboo Mountain. At that moment, from a courtyard at the summit of the main peak, an aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread out but soon dissipated. ... Feeling this familiar presence, Lin Tianming, who was in the midst of cultivation within Lin Shilu¡¯s cave dwelling, opened his eyes and left the secret chamber. In the courtyard, Lin Shilu had already sensed this pressure and immediately turned his gaze towards that cave dwelling. After greeting Lin Shilu with a clasped fist and bow, Lin Tianming said, ¡°It¡¯s only been forty days, and Tianhu has indeed broken through to Foundation Establishment first. In the next half month, I¡¯m afraid many more clanspeople will make their breakthrough!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, not surprised that Lin Tianhu was the first to achieve Foundation Establishment. Although Lin Tianhu came from the Lin Family¡¯s ordinary town, Qingfeng Town, his Spiritual Root Talent was extraordinary, ranking among the top three of his generation, plus he was very diligent in cultivation, often participating in family trials, experiencing numerous battles, and thus, his cultivation was extremely solid. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such repeated tempering, he faced less resistance in breaking through, and being the first among the clan members was within expectations. As the aura inside the dwelling receded without incident, Lin Tianming¡¯s face glowed with health, and the two of them became excited. Lin Tianhu had set a good precedent, and if nothing went wrong, more clanspeople would continue to break through in the following days. With the critical moment approaching, he decided not to enter seclusion anymore; after all, it was at most just half a month, and he planned to wait here until all the clan members in seclusion had completed their cultivation. Just three days passed, and another Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s aura emanated from a cave dwelling, undeniably belonging to Lin Tianhong. The two rejoiced, but before they could catch their breath, more good news followed. Lin Tianyue¡¯s dwelling also exuded the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Feeling the presence of Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue breaking through one after another, Lin Tianming and the others became even more excited. Soon after, they both contained their aura, still consolidating their cultivation in seclusion. Lin Tianming and the others sat down again for tea and a casual chat, while waiting for the outcomes. Time flew by, and ten days passed. Following the breakthroughs of Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue, during these ten days, Lin Tianqin, Lin Xingyu, and others had successively made their breakthroughs. Out of the nine clan members who entered seclusion together, only three had yet to show any signs. Among these three, his mother was one, and the remaining two were Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao. At this point, Lin Tianming felt worried. Before their seclusion, he wasn¡¯t worried about his sister, for she was not even forty years old and her Spiritual Root Talent was good. As long as there were no accidents, a successful Foundation Establishment breakthrough shouldn¡¯t be difficult. Indeed, his sister lived up to expectations. Although she wasn¡¯t the first to break through, being the third was expected and a natural progression. In contrast, his mother was the oldest among those in seclusion, plus her Four Spirit Roots talent, and her limited life-and-death experiences, with only the Luoyun Mountain family battle, and a few excursions into the mountains to hunt Demonic Beasts. In terms of the solidity of cultivation, she couldn¡¯t compare at all with the male clan members. Even with the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills, her chances of breaking through were only about sixty percent. More than forty days had gone by, and yet there was still no movement from his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. If this breakthrough failed, his mother would have less than fifty years left of her lifespan. While all their relatives had already achieved Foundation Establishment, they could only watch helplessly as she passed away, unable to reverse such an outcome. For the family and for herself, everyone hoped to advance further, not only to increase their cultivation but also to double their lifespan. What¡¯s more, if the breakthrough failed, they would have to face a painful parting after decades. Just the thought of that day ¨C when loved ones would be powerless and forced to say an eternal goodbye ¨C was unbearable. ¡°How excruciating that would be!¡± Thinking of this, Lin Tianming, as a son, was deeply concerned, yet felt helpless, silently praying in his heart. Seeing this expression on Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong shared the same grave and worried look, wanting to comfort his grandson but was unable to find the words, instead, he just let out a long sigh. Seeing their downcast faces, Lin Shilu quickly spoke up to comfort them. ¡°Tian Ming, your mother is not that old, and considering her situation, she has better odds than your grandfather had when he broke through. He managed to overcome that hurdle, and I believe your mother can too,¡± said Lin Shilu. ¡°Yes, back in the day when I was breaking through, that situation was so terrifying, it still gives me the shivers. The current situation, no matter how bad, is still better than what I went through!¡± Lin Shi Gong added. ¡°So don¡¯t worry too much, just wait patiently!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s firm words, Lin Shi Gong also chimed in. Though worried himself, he knew that worry was pointless ¨C they could not help with this challenge; all they could do was wait patiently. Lin Tianming also understood this reality and, after looking towards his mother¡¯s cave dwelling and letting out a sigh, gradually calmed down in his heart. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 340 - 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_2 Chapter 340: Chapter 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_2 At this moment, not far from next door, within a secret chamber of a cave dwelling. Ren Yuxuan sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her complexion somewhat pale, sweat dripping from her forehead onto her robe, dampening her white palace attire and revealing her mature and graceful figure. More than forty days had passed since she entered the secret chamber. In the first half month, she had repeatedly reviewed the breakthrough experiences left by the cultivators of her family until she knew them by heart, only then did she take the Foundation Establishment Pill. She was well aware of her own talent and age, and had not undergone much life-or-death training. Among the family members who had entered closed-door cultivation this time, her challenge was the greatest, so she was especially careful and cautious. She had to be fully prepared, all to spare her relatives the pain of parting and the anguish of death. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a situation, her progress was very slow, and she, who moved cautiously step by step, had not made any disturbances. More than twenty days had passed since she took the Foundation Establishment Pill, and under her determined refinement, the spiritual power within her body had become exceptionally condensed. ... At this time, her spiritual power had been successfully condensed and she had already experienced several impacts, but each time she had failed to breach the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was as if she was missing something! Feeling the dwindling energy from the Foundation Establishment Pill, which likely wouldn¡¯t support many more attempts, if she didn¡¯t seize these last two chances, this breakthrough would have to be declared a failure. Thinking of the regretful eyes of a loved one, she suddenly became anxious, but quickly regained her calm and started to meditate deeply. Time passed, and her face showed a delighted expression, as if she had an epiphany. ¡°I understand now¡­¡± ¡°My experiences are too few, the life-and-death situations I¡¯ve faced are limited, and I haven¡¯t even gone through a true parting of life and death. I lack that kind of courage that is resolute and ready to cut all means of retreat!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ the courage to ¡®burn all bridges¡¯ in order to succeed!¡± Ren Yuxuan murmured to herself, an epiphanic joy flickering across her face. At the same moment, with a resolute expression, she merged a portion of the Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯s energy with the condensed spiritual power within her body, preparing to launch another assault. Half an hour had passed, and the newly refined spiritual power merged with the cultivated spiritual power, once again reaching the limit of the Qi Refinement Realm. At this point, the tremendous spiritual power inside her reached its peak, almost as if it was about to overflow from her body. Feeling this spiritual power, Ren Yuxuan¡¯s expression was determined, and her pale face looked a bit crazed. ¡°To not disappoint my clan and family¡­ I¡¯ll stake everything¡­¡± After silently repeating this phrase in her heart, she resolutely controlled the massive spiritual power within her body and charged at the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Stage. At this time, the massive spiritual power battered against the bottleneck over and over again. Waves of pain surged through her, turning her cheeks, which had barely regained a hint of color, deathly pale once again. Moreover, as long as the onslaught continued, the unbearable pain would not cease, growing more intense instead. Soon, her white forehead was covered in sweat, and large beads of perspiration, like raindrops, dripped onto the blue stone floor without making a ripple, absorbed by the ground and vanishing without a trace. Her teeth clenched tightly, she persevered through the agony. Time passed, and the breakthrough continued. By now, she was drenched in sweat, with blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, looking not much different from a beggar who hadn¡¯t eaten for several days. However, she didn¡¯t care about her appearance, for the critical moment had arrived. With her persistence, there was an obvious improvement this time, giving her the illusion that she could break through at any moment. Her expression excited, she controlled the spiritual power within her body to launch a crucial assault. ¡°Break for me!¡± She whispered quietly to herself, then launched a frenzied assault that looked both decisive and fearsome. God knows how much time had passed. As a warm current flowed within her body, her original Seven Sea Dantian suddenly expanded several times in size. The spiritual power that had been assaulting the bottleneck rushed into this enlarged Qi Sea Dantian, covering only a thin layer, in stark contrast to the previous state of overflowing. At the same moment, Ren Yuxuan¡¯s Divine Sense surged, multiplying several times over. Everything around her¡ªevery blade of grass, every move¡ªbecame crystal clear in her mind. Just then, without any warning, the aura and oppressive might of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread out rapidly in all directions. Besides, the few strands of white hair mixed within her lustrous black locks quietly turned dark, and the faint lines that had begun to appear on her cheeks also disappeared without a trace. At this moment, she radiated an aura of spiritual light, full of vitality and radiance. If Lin Xingrong were here, he would notice that her appearance and vital signs had scarcely changed since her girlhood, though the charm of a mature woman remained, now more enchanting and captivating than ever. ¡°Is this breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage?¡± ¡°Did I break through?¡± Ren Yuxuan could hardly believe it. As she felt the significant increase in spiritual power and divine sense throughout her body, she became overjoyed, and tears of happiness started welling up in her beautiful eyes. ¡°I broke through¡­ I did it¡­¡± In just a breath¡¯s time, she calmed herself down and quickly retracted the outward flow of her aura, careful not to affect the other clan members. Having done this, her slender jade hands formed the gesture of a treasure vase, and after activating her cultivation technique, she hastily immersed her divine sense to inspect the inside of her body. Outside in the courtyard, within Lin Shilu¡¯s cave mansion courtyard. Lin Tianming, with his grandchild Lin Shigong and Lin Shilu, sat in the pavilion of the yard, with cups of fine, now cold, spiritual tea in front of them. The grandchild and grandparent both wore expressions of unease, creating an atmosphere of incredible heaviness, so quiet it was almost terrifying. Lin Shilu, seated nearby, shook his head and poured them each a new cup of spiritual tea. Caught up in their state of worry, even the typically composed Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. ¡°Could it truly be a failure?¡± Lin Shilu muttered to himself, though he dared not voice a single word aloud. Right then, footsteps were heard in the small courtyard. Preoccupied with clan affairs, Lin Shihua also took time from his busy schedule to join them, all for awaiting the final outcome of the last three clan members¡¯ breakthroughs. Before he arrived, his resonant voice echoed, ¡°Ninth Brother¡­ any sign yet?¡± Lin Shigong shook his head but said little else; Lin Shihua had no choice but to start offering words of comfort. Just as he was about to speak, the distinct presence and aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator emerged from Ren Yuxuan¡¯s courtyard, quickly retracting. Lin Tianming and the others felt this aura immediately; it was undoubtedly Ren Yuxuan¡¯s. An excited look instantly flashed across everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°Mother has broken through!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed. Both grandparent and grandchild were ecstatic, with Lin Tianming¡¯s hand crushing the fine tea cup into powder. This showed just how excited and thrilled he was at this moment. After half an hour, the four finally regained their composure. The atmosphere in the courtyard was no longer as oppressive, but their worries hadn¡¯t completely vanished¡ªfor two clan members¡¯ results were still uncertain, signaling an ominous situation. It was hard to say whether they would succeed in their breakthroughs to Foundation Establishment. Though seven out of the nine who went into seclusion had already succeeded, this success rate was quite satisfying, even exceeding expectations. But until the final outcome was determined, no clan member wished to accept a failed result. As long as hope wasn¡¯t shattered, everyone harbored the fantasy of all nine succeeding; after all, cultivation to this point was not easy, and every additional Foundation Establishment Clan Member would strengthen the clan¡¯s collective power. These were Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts at the moment. The two remaining had deep ties with him: Lin Xingshun had managed the Luoyun Market shop, and before the great clan war, they had worked together overseeing the shop¡¯s operations for some time. Lin Xingyao was also a close friend; they had joined hands on the Qianchuan Market venture and were responsible for establishing Luoyun Pavilion, forging a profound friendship over three years. Publicly and privately, he hoped for no clan member to fail. Unfortunately, his fantasy was soon shattered. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 341 - 214 Clan Meeting_1 Chapter 341: Chapter 214 Clan Meeting_1 Several days later, commotion arose from the two remaining courtyards, but it wasn¡¯t the aura and pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao emerged from the courtyard one after the other, with merely a quarter of an hour¡¯s difference between them. Inside Lin Shilu¡¯s cave mansion, Lin Tianming and three other Foundation Establishment Clan Members were seated around a stone table. In the center of the yard, Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao stood side by side, both wearing expressions of utter dejection. Given the circumstances, Lin Shihua sighed helplessly, then began to offer words of comfort. ¡°Xingshun, Xingyao, you two mustn¡¯t be disheartened. Although you¡¯ve failed once, it¡¯s not unheard of for someone to succeed at Foundation Establishment on the second attempt. Cultivate diligently. If you can obtain Heaven-Defying Treasures, you might still have a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ do not lose heart, dear uncles¡­¡± Lin Tianming also chimed in comfortingly. ... What Lin Tianming and the others said was meant as comfort, as most people had heard of instances where the second attempt at Foundation Establishment was successful. However, the chances of this were exceedingly slim. Those who had failed once found it doubly difficult to break through again, and the use of Heaven-Defying Treasures was required, at the very least Fourth Order treasures of such power. The two were mere scions of a Foundation Establishing Family, where even Third Grade Treasures were rare, let alone Fourth Order Heaven-Defying Treasures for aiding Foundation Establishment, which even Nascent Soul Forces might not possess. Aware of this, Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao had already accepted their fate. They nodded to the others, bowed respectfully, and said in unison: ¡°We have taken your teachings to heart. We have accepted the outcome and will not lose our Daoist will because of it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded. Though their breakthrough had failed, their Daoist will remained firm, making them suitable for taking on important responsibilities in clan affairs. Regaining his composure, he spoke, ¡°Hmm¡­ You two are injured. You should withdraw and enter seclusion to heal your wounds.¡± ¡°We shall take our leave!¡± Lin Xingshun and his companion bowed to everyone one by one, and then, in each other¡¯s company, they left the courtyard, vanishing atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. The matter of the nine clan members¡¯ breakthroughs had settled, with seven succeeding and Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao failing. This outcome, having exceeded expectations, was considered satisfactory despite some regrets. Ren Yuxuan and Lin Tianyue had both achieved breakthroughs and would need at least another month to consolidate their cultivation, hence they wouldn¡¯t be emerging from seclusion anytime soon. Lin Tianming and his grandson also stood to bid farewell. Seeing them about to leave, Lin Shihua planned to depart with them. After greeting Lin Shilu, the three companions left Lin Shilu¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard together. Their spirits lifted as they chatted and laughed along the way. Soon, each returned to their respective cave mansions to attend to their own affairs. Two months later¡­ On this day, inside the Family Elders¡¯ Hall, over twenty clan members gathered joyously. The hall was bustling with voices as clan members chatted in groups of threes and twos, either discussing recent events in the Cultivation World, exchanging cultivation methods, or sharing leisure pursuits from the Four Arts. The lively scene mirrored that of the Secular World. Within the hall, six chairs were placed side by side at the high table, five of which were already occupied. Only the central seat remained vacant. Of the five seated clan members, three looked like middle-aged cultivators¡ªLin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and Lin Shigong. The other two, with greying temples and beards, exuded the air of the aged. They were Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe. With nearly 120 years under their belts, they were only a few years away from the lifespan limit of Qi Refining Cultivators. The five members of the Shi clan generation chatted idly, Lin Shihe clutching Lin Shigong¡¯s hand, reminiscing fragmented memories from their youth while Lin Shihua occasionally added his input. Lin Shilu listened quietly by the side, scarcely speaking a word. With a considerable age gap between himself and Lin Shigong and others, he was barely over ninety, not yet even a centenarian. Thus, he was entirely unfamiliar with his elder brothers¡¯ younger days and had only heard some anecdotes from them. Below them, more than twenty chairs stretched out in rows, filled with cultivators. The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was nearly equal to that of Qi Refining Clanspeople, each group with more than ten members. Lin Tianming was among them, seated next to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong, with Lin Tianyue and other recently advanced Foundation Establishment clan members nearby. Since Lin Tianhu¡¯s breakthrough, more than two months had passed, and their cultivation had stabilized. They had secured their Foundation Establishment first-layer realm and emerged from seclusion. This assembly was clearly convened for an important family meeting and to celebrate the seven newly inaugurated Foundation Establishment members. Lin Tianming and the other Tian clan generation members sat together chatting leisurely while the Xing generation members also whispered amongst themselves, everyone in high spirits. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the bustling atmosphere, clan members bonded while awaiting the arrival of Lin Shikang, the occupant of the last vacant chair, signaling the official commencement of the clan meeting. Half a quarter of an hour passed. Laughter rang out, and the entire hall instantly fell silent. As the new arrival approached, clan members stood and saluted with cupped fists, welcoming Lin Shikang. Having not been seen for six years, Lin Shikang¡¯s reappearance gave the illusion of an ordinary mortal. Lin Tianming understood that this was the effect of a breakthrough in cultivation, reaching an unfathomably profound level, where one¡¯s aura becomes so condensed and controlled as to create this illusion. Lin Shikang surveyed the entire assembly, his eyes meeting those of his younger kindred, then strode energetically toward the high chair waiting for him, looking thrilled. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 342 - 214 Clan Meeting_2 Chapter 342: Chapter 214 Clan Meeting_2 ¡°` As he walked past Lin Tianming, a glint of Spiritual Light flashed in his tiger-like eyes, revealing an almost imperceptible aura. Lin Tianming nodded toward Lin Shikang, his heart brimming with joy as he thought to himself, ¡°Third Grandfather has truly lived up to our expectations. After six years of closed-door cultivation, he has successfully broken through to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.¡± While he was lost in his thoughts, Lin Shikang had already approached Lin Shilu and a few others, his equally sharp gaze becoming noticeable to them. All three of them didn¡¯t say much, as they knew the gravity of the matter was best kept among as few people as possible, and it was enough that key members of the family like Lin Tianming were aware. Fully aware of this, Lin Shihua, his face flushed with health, pulled on Lin Shikang¡¯s sleeve, urging him to take the high seat in the center, with Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe respectively occupying seats to his left and right. He, Lin Shilu, and Lin Shigong casually took their places beside them. ... Lin Tianming now turned his attention to those seated in the high positions, noticing that the seating order was not arranged by cultivation level but by generational seniority and age within the family. Lin Shikang, being the oldest and with the highest cultivation, naturally sat in the center. Lin Shihe ranked fifth, and Lin Shigang ranked seventh in the Shi generation¡ªjust above the ninth-ranked Lin Shigong. Considering their limited remaining lifespans, it seemed only proper for them to sit by his sides. Lin Tianming was very familiar with these two senior elders, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe, as they each managed important family institutions and often provided guidance to the younger members of the family. It was fair to say that they had made outstanding contributions to the stable development of the family. Now that their time was drawing near, with at most a few years or as little as one to two years left, it was hard not to feel a sense of poignant melancholy. A short while passed, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The hall fell silent with the ringing of Lin Shihua¡¯s resonant voice, and everyone turned their attention to him, awaiting his direction. ¡°It has been a long time since we gathered everyone together. Today is truly a good day, as most of the core members of our family are here. Such grand family gatherings are rare indeed,¡± Lin Shihua said with a hint of emotion. His booming voice then continued to echo through the hall, with all present listening intently and some occasionally echoing his sentiments. Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, the family hadn¡¯t held a gathering of this scale in many years. Policies and major family matters were typically discussed with just a few members of the Shi generation, and only occasionally would Lin Tianming attend to offer his advice. Most of the younger generation were not involved. Although major family decisions were primarily made by the few members of the Shi generation along with Lin Tianming, Qi Refining clanspeople felt no involvement; they simply carried out the Clan Leader¡¯s decisions. If this were to continue for an extended period, it could potentially dampen their enthusiasm, which wouldn¡¯t bode well for the stable development of the family. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And this family meeting was significant. The intention was to gather everyone together, involve the clan members, foster relationships, and discuss a few important matters. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shihua then said, ¡°I see that all the family members have arrived, aside from Xing Yuan who is guarding Luoyun Market, and Xing Rong who is at Qianchuan Market. Nearly all the core members of our family are present.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming began to survey the clanspeople in the great hall. It was indeed a gathering of elites. There were sixteen Foundation Establishment clan members with the remaining twenty-something Qi Refining clanspeople, all above the Qi Refining Eighth Level except for Lin Shigang and one other whose time was near. They either held important positions within the family institutions or were promising clanspeople with decent talent and young age. The assembly of members indeed represented the family¡¯s elite forces. He couldn¡¯t help but speculate that the Lin Family¡¯s current strength must rank at the forefront of the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Even compared to the Golden Core families like the West River Li Family, excluding their Golden Core Stage clansmen, they might not be able to best the Lin Family. ¡°How shocked would the external forces be to see such formidable strength in the Lin Family?¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. As he pondered, Lin Shihua took out a book made of beast skin, flipped through a page, and began to speak, ¡°Let¡¯s skip the pleasantries and allow me to report on the basic situation of our family first, followed by discussions on a few important matters.¡± ¡°Starting with the scale of our clanspeople, after more than a decade of stable development, our family now has a registered population of eight hundred seventy-seven members. Among them, six from the Shi generation, one hundred thirty-five from the Xing generation, seven hundred thirty-six from the Tian generation; we have thirty-two Mortal Towns with an estimated population of around three million mortals.¡± Hearing this, all the clanspeople couldn¡¯t contain their excitement. Judging by the current number of clanspeople, the policies to encourage childbirth and support mortal marriage over the past decade or so since the Green Bamboo Mountain battle had been effective. Following the battle, the Lin Family acquired the mortal towns of the Jin and Wu Families, which at one time had reached a combined population of two million. As the number of mortals increased, the frequency of Spiritual Root testing was changed from once every three years to annually. It had only been just over a decade, but the family had already restored its Yuan Qi. The number of its members had almost quadrupled, and the population of mortals had increased by nearly a million. The overall strength far exceeded previous levels, even surpassing the collective strength of the three big families before the war. One could imagine that such explosive growth, though not lasting, meant maintaining a modest natural increase would not be difficult. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 343 - 214: Clan Meeting_3 Chapter 343: Chapter 214: Clan Meeting_3 The lively atmosphere finally calmed down, and Lin Shihua chuckled, continuing to deliver his report. ¡°Now, the clan¡¯s Yuan Qi has fully recovered, and our overall strength has surged further, not just in the number of clan members, but especially in a qualitative leap in quality,¡± he said. ¡°Following a period of seclusion by a group of our clan members, we now have eighteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators and nearly eighty of our members are at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation or above, and this number is still growing,¡± he added. Before his words had settled, apart from a handful of informed clan members, the vast majority were so shocked by the news that they couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in astonishment. ¡°Eighteen?¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s eighteen? You didn¡¯t read it wrong, did you?¡± ... Many clan members were ecstatic, and they could hardly believe the result for a moment. A few months ago, although they had guessed that the clan¡¯s activity was an attempt by clan members to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, they never thought it would be on such a large scale, much less that the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the clan would have soared by so much. ¡°Read it wrong? How could a dignified Foundation Establishment Cultivator make such a mistake.¡± Some clan members quickly accepted this explosive news, their joy intermingled with whispering and sharing their excitement with the clan members beside them. Upon hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement of the clan situation and seeing the ecstatic scene of the clan members, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe, who were seated in high positions, found their eyes turning red, and they couldn¡¯t help but weep with happiness. ¡°Fifth Brother, Seventh Brother, didn¡¯t you learn about this a long time ago?¡± Lin Shigong said, holding Lin Shihe¡¯s hand. Lin Shihe raised his sleeve, wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes, and then said, ¡°Third Brother, Shigong, we are just too excited, seeing the prosperous state of the clan fills us with pride, and after we pass away, we will have the face to meet our ancestors.¡± Hearing this, more clan members of the Shi generation felt even more bitter, but there was nothing they could do about it. Cultivation is inherently tough; out of the billions of cultivators in the world, how many can truly achieve immortality? Seeing the bitterness on their faces, Lin Shihe continued: ¡°Third Brother, Ninth Brother, you don¡¯t need to be sad for us. The day we gave up on Foundation Establishment, we already laid the groundwork for today¡¯s outcome. We have come to terms with it over the years.¡± ¡°Now that the clan¡¯s strength has surged and we are witnessing prosperity, we have no concerns left. The only thing is that the talents and cultivation of our two descendants are rather poor. If there are outstanding talents among later generations, we hope you can provide them with some extra care,¡± he said. Both of them currently have several descendants, but only one direct blood relative possesses a Spiritual Root, and it is the least desirable Five Spirit Roots. They don¡¯t have much time left, and cannot hope to witness the emergence of a talented descendant in their lifetime. They could only place their hopes on the grandchildren or great-grandchildren. These thoughts were quite natural for them as elders, considering a bit more for the descendants was the last thing they could do. Lin Shikang, who fully understood this sentiment, nodded in agreement, gripping the hands of the two men firmly, promising that he would help their descendants as much as possible, allowing them to rest assured. A tea time passed, and the emotions of several people gradually stabilized. Lin Shihua continued to preside over the clan meeting. After a sweeping glance over everyone, he waved his hand, and the entire hall returned to silence. ¡°The number and specific levels of cultivation of Foundation Establishment Clan Members within our clan are strictly forbidden to be revealed to outsiders. Anyone who disobeys will face the family¡¯s punishment!¡± he declared with sharp words. After these stern statements, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes suddenly turned cold, and he sharply inquired, ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°We shall abide by the Clan Leader¡¯s decree!¡± the younger clan members answered in unison, their voices echoing in the grand hall for a long time before gradually fading. He nodded in satisfaction, then said, ¡°Fifth Brother and Seventh Brother have been managing the Skill Transmission Hall and the Scripture Pavilion for more than fifty years. Given their advanced age, it¡¯s no longer appropriate for them to continue enduring hardships for the clan.¡± ¡°We will now discuss their successors. The requirements are to have a cultivation level above the Seventh Level Qi Cultivation and be under eighty years old. Feel free to voice any recommendations or nominate yourself!¡± he announced. Upon hearing this, the vast majority of clan members had already anticipated this matter, knowing the ages of the two elder Lin Shihe well. Electing new heads for these two major family institutions was just a matter of time. Such positions were high in status and influence, and came with generous family rewards. Securing one of these roles would not just elevate one¡¯s status within the family but also provide resources to accelerate the improvement of cultivation. Therefore, numerous clan members began to speak up, with some nominating themselves and others recommending fellow clan members. After a quarter of an hour and some discussion among the clan members, several candidates were quickly selected. Among them, Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao had the highest support, both of whom had failed in their attempts at Foundation Establishment. Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao, both under sixty years old with a cultivation level at the Qi Cultivation Great Perfection, stood little chance of achieving Foundation Establishment again. Since they wouldn¡¯t need to spend much time on cultivation, taking on the role of managing the Scripture Pavilion and Skill Transmission Hall would allow them to wholeheartedly nurture the clan¡¯s younger generation, making them exceedingly suitable candidates. Indeed, after a brief exchange among the senior Shi generation clan members seated in high positions, they decided on the matter. Lin Shihua then stood up and asked Lin Xingshun and his companion for their opinions. For them, these positions were indeed suitable, and both Lin Xingshun and his companion readily accepted the roles. The younger generation was not surprised by this outcome. Although many clan members met the requirements, taking up a managerial role would take up a great deal of time that could be spent on cultivation. Only those with limited potential and slim hopes for Foundation Establishment would vie for these positions. As for the two of them, their path was nearly cut off, so taking on these positions was indeed fortunate. With their acceptance, Lin Shihua nodded and publicly declared the decision. The rest of the clan members offered their congratulations, and Lin Xingshun and his companion quickly stood and returned the courtesies, behaving very politely. With the replacement for Lin Shigang and others decided, the matter came to a close, and Lin Shihua continued to preside over the clan meeting. COMMENT 0 comment Vote S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 344 - 215 New Policy_1 Chapter 344: Chapter 215 New Policy_1 After a brief rest, Lin Shihua once again brought up a discussion topic, which was to find new ways to earn Spirit Stones and encourage every clansperson to offer their opinions and suggestions. Over these past ten years, the number of Lin Family Members had increased substantially. Although most of the clanspeople were young with low cultivation, they would inevitably grow up in time. When that time came, the family¡¯s expenses would also rise significantly. The Spirit Stones and resources that had been accumulated over the years would not last for long. Therefore, it was urgent to plan ahead and find new avenues for making money. In the grand hall, as the clanspeople heard Lin Shihua¡¯s topic, some of them quickly began to express their opinions. For a while, numerous clanspeople offered their advice, but most opinions were not very reliable. However, there were some suggestions that were rather interesting and could serve as inspiration. A period of time enough to sip a cup of tea passed. ... The once lively hall grew gradually quiet, with only a few members¡¯ ideas gaining everyone¡¯s approval. Lin Shihua now sat in the seat of honor, pondering the suggestions from several members and discussing them intermittently with a few other clanspeople of the same generation. After a while, Lin Shihua stood up and looked down at the silent Lin Tianming before asking, ¡°Tian Ming, what is your view on this matter?¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s question, Lin Tianming began to ponder for a moment. He was roughly aware of the family¡¯s situation. Currently, the main economic sources were focused on sharing profits from Luoyun Market, the earnings of Luoyun Pavilion, and the cultivation of Spiritual Medicines and Materials on several of the family¡¯s lands. The Green Bamboo Mountain was known for its prolific Qingling Bamboo, which could be harvested each year to craft Spiritual Artifacts, later to be sold in the family¡¯s various shops. Both Golden Horn Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain possessed vast areas of Spirit Materials, particularly Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s Golden Flower Trees. Having been maintained by the Jin Family for a thousand years, they were more extensive than the Lin Family¡¯s Qingling Bamboo, yielding nearly double the profit annually. This was why the Lin Family valued Golden Horn Mountain so highly and why they stationed a Foundation Establishment cultivator and more than ten Qi Refining clanspeople there year-round. As for Jiuhua Mountain, its Spirit Material resources were small. After its destruction at the hands of the Jin Family, they cut down many of the older Double Cherry Wood trees, leaving only younger saplings that would likely need decades to return to their former glory and start generating a substantial income. Thus, for these years, the Lin Family hadn¡¯t prioritized Jiuhua Mountain, with just over a dozen Qi Refining clanspeople stationed to safeguard the remaining Spiritual Medicines and Materials. With the family¡¯s overall strength having surged, they were no longer lacking in High Order Cultivators like at the end of the great war. Back then, the family¡¯s elite were either injured or dead, and suddenly inheriting a vast amount of territory and Spirit Lands, they faced a shortage of personnel, which led to some wasted time and benefits. Given the current situation, the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family reigned supreme, with the remaining two Foundation Establishing Families unable to compete. Fortunately, they were all sufficiently wise, and over the years they subtly followed the Lin Family, not coveting the wealth that the Lin Family had acquired. Now with strong forces, it was also time to properly maintain and utilize the acquired Spirit Lands. If developed correctly, they would become a source of economic income for the Lin Family in the coming decades. With these thoughts, he then said, ¡°The methods summarized by our clanspeople are feasible. Previously, with insufficient strength and personnel, we couldn¡¯t take big steps. But now that we have matured, we naturally should develop and maintain all the areas we can utilize properly.¡± ¡°Several years ago, when I and Fifteenth Grandfather were on our journey, we secured a vast territory. Some places rich in Spiritual Energy have already been developed, and though they don¡¯t yield profits in the short term, that doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t in the future.¡± ¡°Now, we should replicate this method in all the territories we control. As long as the Spiritual Energy meets the cultivation requirements, we should make full use of them, preparing for the future.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s detailed explanation, all the clanspeople in the hall nodded in agreement, clearly finding the ideas acceptable. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Xingzhi also spoke up, saying, ¡°Tian Ming has already given a detailed introduction. I think in addition to the integration of resources, we should also focus on developing Luoyun Market.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Xing Zhi, if you have a good plan, feel free to share,¡± Lin Shihua said with some surprise, followed by excitement. Lin Xingzhi chuckled and then continued, ¡°I have paid close attention before, and the popularity of Luoyun Market has been steadily increasing each year. This may have something to do with the market¡¯s stable operation over the years, but a more significant reason is the appearance of more precious and rare treasures in the shops and auction house, which attracts many Cultivators.¡± ¡°We can enhance the quality of the auction items by purchasing some essentials for Qi Training Cultivators from Qianchuan Market, creating an atmosphere for the auction and thereby attracting merchants and Loose Cultivators to settle in.¡± ¡°As long as we persist for a few times, we can further increase the market¡¯s popularity, and the Lin Family can gain more profit.¡± Before he finished speaking, a member of the Xing Clan Members nearby said, ¡°We, the Lin Family, work tirelessly to devise plans to increase the market¡¯s popularity, even offering up rare treasures. Yet some of the profits would be taken away by other family powers for nothing.¡± ¡°Why should that be so?¡± ¡°Exactly, why should they reap more benefits without doing anything? It¡¯s unfair,¡± another clansperson chimed in. Hearing these members¡¯ remarks, many clanspeople found them reasonable and began to ask about the family¡¯s countermeasures. Watching the noisy scene, Lin Shihua exchanged a few words with some of his generation members before saying, ¡°It would certainly be inappropriate for our Lin Family to exert effort and gain nothing in return. We can discuss this with the other families involved, and if they wish to gain greater benefits, they need to bring something valuable to the table.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 345 - 215: The New Policy_2 Chapter 345: Chapter 215: The New Policy_2 ¡°Given the overall strength of the Lin Family, I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t dare to have any objections.¡± Hearing this, a group of clansmen voiced their agreement. After a while of discussing the details, Lin Shihua declared the arrangements on the spot. Green Bamboo Mountain, Golden Horn Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain, including the vast lands rich in Spiritual Energy conquered through trials, selected several clanspeople to reorganize them. The task of pioneering each major Spirit Land was entrusted to the leaders in charge. The family set a term limit of ten years, after which the achievements of each area would be rewarded handsomely based on their performance. Before they realized it, half a day had passed. The solemn clan meeting was drawing to a close. After half a day of exchanging ideas, the family discussed and summarized many matters and altered many policies. Most changes were for the benefit of the clanspeople, modestly improving their treatment. But also, many rules were added, completely eliminating some clanspeople¡¯s wishful thinking. As per the current family regulations, those who have not broken through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement by the age of fifty will have their stipends halved. Additionally, they will be required to guard the family¡¯s Spirit Lands and are responsible for planting Spiritual Medicine and maintaining the Spirit Plants. ... Such strict regulations completely cut off the hopes of those who were just coasting by, giving up on themselves. To receive high stipends and rewards from the family, one must cultivate diligently without the mentality of letting things fall apart, only looking to take advantage of the family. Only with effort can one receive the family¡¯s support. Although this policy change will inevitably face resistance and opposition from some, those who oppose are the ones with low cultivation and poor talent. They practically have no say within the family. This change has no impact on those with higher cultivation. It even improves some benefits for them, so even if those who oppose feel dissatisfied, they can only let it go under the resolute decision of the family¡¯s upper echelons. Inside the great hall. As Lin Shihua announced the end of the clan meeting, the vast majority of clanspeople stood up, bowed with a clasped fist towards the seated elderly members of the Shi Generation, greeted the familiar clanspeople around, and then slowly exited the great hall. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng and the others didn¡¯t leave with the group. All the Foundation Establishment Clan Members waited in place, as if they had agreed to do so. After most of the clanspeople had left, they too stood up and made their way towards the seated elders. Lin Tianming approached Lin Shikang. After bowing to the elders, the remaining clanspeople followed suit and paid their respects. Sitting beside Lin Shikang, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe looked at their junior clansmen with satisfaction, nodding their heads in approval, their hearts once more filled with emotion. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a moment of calm, Lin Shihe spoke, ¡°Tianming, Tianfeng, you younger generations have done well, not disappointing us old folks who are halfway into the grave.¡± Lin Shigang, looking upon several Tian Generation clansmen, also expressed his sentiments, ¡°Indeed, seeing this group of talented Tian Generation clansmen, this old man can depart without worries.¡± ¡°Elder Wu, Seventh Grandpa, what are you saying? Without your teachings, how could we juniors have cultivated so rapidly?¡± ¡°I vividly remember when I was eleven; just after I learned the Fireball Technique, I accidentally set your wooden hut ablaze,¡± Lin Tianming said, his eyes reflecting a nostalgic glimmer. He had been quite mischievous as a child. Growing up in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, he often lived with his grandfather, making him very familiar with the Shi Generation of the Lin Family, whom he was particularly fond of. After his talent of Dual Spiritual Roots was detected at the age of ten, he became the darling of the clan. His mischief had led to quite a few outrageous incidents. ¡°Ha-ha, you were just like a monkey when you were small. Every lesson turned into utter chaos, and it was your father who ended up giving you a good thrashing,¡± Lin Shigang said with a laugh. Hearing this, many of the clanspeople around them started laughing as well, surprised to hear about such episodes from Lin Tianming¡¯s youth. Lin Tianming nodded awkwardly. In his memory, that thrashing from his father had been so severe that he wouldn¡¯t have been able to get out of bed for days if it weren¡¯t for Lin Shixin¡¯s protection. However, it was from then on that he no longer indulged himself and became focused on his cultivation. As these memories came to him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel nostalgic. When he thought of Lin Shixin¡¯s kind face and the realization that these two elders would pass away in a few years, his heart ached. As he reminisced, one by one, the clanspeople around him paid their respects to Lin Shihe and the others, almost as a premature farewell. After all, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were busy. They had to cultivate and take on tasks assigned by the family, so this goodbye could well be the last. The mood was somewhat mournful; Lin Shikang witnessed the whole ceremony, feeling reluctant to let go, as his generation of family members deeply shared these emotions. Perhaps in a hundred years, they too would experience this same sad scenario. After a short while, the clanspeople finally left the great hall. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng, with the other Tian Generation family members, returned to the Cave Mansion District. As Lin Tianhong and the others succeeded in their Foundation Establishment, except for his mother who did not choose a new Cave Mansion Courtyard, the rest picked their own. His sister¡¯s Cave Mansion was right next door to his, and Lin Tianhong¡¯s was not far away; they all gathered together, making the Tian Generation¡¯s Cave Mansion District very lively. After exchanging pleasantries with the clanspeople, everyone returned to their Cave Mansion Courtyards. Lin Tianming went straight into the secret chamber. He sat cross-legged on the cushion, pondering over his cultivation plan going forward. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 346 - 215 New Policy_3 Chapter 346: Chapter 215 New Policy_3 Over these past few years, in terms of his cultivation journey, it had been an unprecedented period of tranquility, almost entirely spent in closed-door cultivation. After much thought, and with no tasks assigned by the family at present, he had intended to venture out for some experience. However, the Luoyun Mountain Range had been cleared of Demonic Beasts, leaving only those in the Second Order Middle Stage, which were quite powerful. It would be too dangerous to go alone. There wasn¡¯t much point in visiting Qianchuan Market either, as there hadn¡¯t been any major gatherings for the past two years. A trip there would only be to replenish some expended treasures, a waste of time without much meaning. After contemplating for a long time and finding no desirable destination, he could only continue his closed-door cultivation for another year or two, then prepare some Second Order Pills for the family. Having made up his mind, he placed his hands together in prayer and circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, slowly entering a state of deep cultivation. ¡­ ... Qianchuan Market. Inside a secret room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Xing Rong and Ye Pinghai were sitting opposite each other. Lin Xing Rong respectfully poured Spiritual Tea for Ye Pinghai, contemplating the purpose behind Ye Pinghai¡¯s sudden visit in his heart. Years ago, he had learned from Lin Tianming that Ye Pinghai planned to visit Green Bamboo Mountain in a few years. Now, nearly six years had passed, and if the visit were for this matter, the timing would align. Ye Pinghai chuckled at that moment, looking across at Lin Xing Rong, then said, ¡°I have come today to ask for a favor. I wonder if Lin, my young friend, has heard any news from his son?¡± Seeing Ye Pinghai¡¯s direct approach, Lin Xing Rong immediately understood that he indeed planned to visit Green Bamboo Mountain to seek assistance from Lin Shikang. ¡°Could it really be for the breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm?¡± Lin Xing Rong thought secretly, but maintained his composure on the outside. Regaining his focus, he didn¡¯t conceal the truth, nor was there any need to. Lin Xing Rong spoke, ¡°To be honest with you, Uncle Ye, I indeed heard from my nephew that my third uncle and father have been looking forward to Uncle Ye¡¯s visit. May I ask when you plan to set off to Green Bamboo Mountain?¡± After contemplating briefly, Ye Pinghai replied directly, ¡°I plan to depart in half a month. If my young friend has anything to send, he can entrust it to me to deliver to your elders at Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°Leaving in half a month? That¡¯s about the right time.¡± Lin Xing Rong nodded. He had planned to return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, and this timing was not far off from his own expectations. It would be feasible to travel back with the company, and with Ye Pinghai accompanying him, the journey would certainly be safer. Returning to his senses, he said, ¡°I was actually planning to make a trip back home. Would Uncle Ye mind taking me along?¡± ¡°Good, with my young friend as a companion, the journey will not be lonely,¡± Ye Pinghai replied delightedly. Hearing the response, Lin Xing Rong chuckled and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s meet at the peak ten miles outside of the market in the early morning half a month from now.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ it¡¯s decided then.¡± With a hearty laugh, Ye Pinghai finished his Spiritual Tea and stood up to leave. Lin Xing Rong offered some polite words and then quickly rose to see him out. As they both exited Luoyun Pavilion and watched Ye Pinghai disappear around the corner, Lin Xing Rong returned to the secret room on the third floor. In the early morning half a month later, within the Lin Family Courtyard at the Cave Mansion. After giving a few instructions to some clan members stationed at the market, Lin Xing Rong changed his appearance and stepped out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard, heading for the market entrance. Outside the Qianchuan Market, on a small hill, Lin Xing Rong¡¯s figure emerged. He looked ahead as a dark shadow flew towards him, undoubtedly the expected Ye Pinghai. Before the figure arrived, he stepped forward to meet him, then bowed and said, ¡°My respects to Uncle Ye. Right on time as expected!¡± ¡°My young friend need not be so polite. Having made an appointment with you, I will naturally be on time,¡± Ye Pinghai said. After saying this, Ye Pinghai waved his sleeve, and a dark green boat appeared in his hand. At a glance, the little boat was covered in golden inscriptions, and judging by the aura it emitted, it was a Second Order lower-quality Flying Artifact. This was Lin Xing Rong¡¯s first time seeing a Flying Artifact up close, and he couldn¡¯t hide the envy in his eyes. Ye Pinghai chuckled, then with a Single-handed Seal, a Law Decree struck the boat. Suddenly, the boat flashed golden-yellow and instantaneously enlarged to a thirty-foot long boat floating in mid-air. Looking at the dark green boat, Ye Pinghai said to Lin Xing Rong, ¡°Our journey spans over two thousand miles. We shall use my Inkwind Spirit Boat!¡± With excitement showing on his face, Lin Xing Rong nodded before replying, ¡°It couldn¡¯t be better. With Uncle Ye¡¯s Flying Artifact, our journey will certainly be much faster!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Pinghai affirmed with a sound, then leaped aboard the Inkwind Spirit Boat first, followed closely by Lin Xing Rong. Standing on the Spirit Boat, Ye Pinghai unleashed a Law Decree in his hand, striking the surface of the Boat. ¡°Weng weng weng¡­¡± The Inkwind Spirit Boat hummed a few times, then flickered with light before shooting southward like a fleeting shadow. As Lin Xing Rong stood on the Spirit Boat, the mountains and rivers below gradually receded. The strong Gang Wind whipped through his robe, and as he heard the whistling by his ears, he mentally compared the speed of the Inkwind Spirit Boat with the Purple Gold Eagle. The boat was swift, not much slower than the full-speed flight of the Purple Gold Eagle. By his estimation, the speed of the Inkwind Spirit Boat was at least eighty percent that of the Purple Gold Eagle, which was very impressive. Spiritual Birds suitable for flying were rare; they could be found deep within the major mountain ranges, and chances of encountering them on the outskirts were slim. A Second Order lower-quality Flying Artifact commanded a higher price than a Mid-tier Second Order Attack Magical Artifact, often fetching staggering bids at auction that were almost priceless. Such an item only appeared at the large markets of Qianchuan Market, selling at incredibly high prices each time. Given Ye Pinghai¡¯s wealth, cultivation level, and his powerful influence, obtaining a Flying Artifact did not come as a surprise. Snapping back to his senses, the Inkwind Spirit Boat had already carried them more than ten miles away. With Ye Pinghai to accompany him, there were no concerns for safety. Lin Xing Rong sat cross-legged, eyes tightly shut, seizing the opportunity to engage in brief cultivation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 347 - 216 Ye Pinghais Request_1 Chapter 347: Chapter 216 Ye Pinghai¡¯s Request_1 ¡°` Golden Horn Mountain. As evening fell, the Inkwind Spirit Boat crossed over a range of mountains and rivers. Lin Xingrong opened his tightly closed eyes and looked out at the familiar valleys and rivers ahead. They were just as they had always been, and his expression became excited. This journey, after five days of flight and smooth progress, found them traveling by day and resting briefly at night, arriving at Golden Horn Mountain just as evening approached. He had guarded the mountain for many years, and under the Lin Family¡¯s management for over a decade, it had stabilized; some clan members had lived there long-term. Golden Horn Mountain had truly become an important stronghold for the family. ... Now that they had arrived, they were completely safe. They prepared to rest overnight and would head directly to Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory the following day. At the mountain gate. Lin Xingyou, as usual, was leading several Qi Refining Clanspersons in Sword Flight, planning to patrol the vast area tens of miles around Golden Horn Mountain. After half an hour of patrolling, they returned to the mountain gate. As he was about to send the others away and leave, one of the clanspersons by his side suddenly turned serious. He pointed at the rapidly moving shadow in the distance and said, ¡°Uncle Xingyou, look quickly, what is that swift shadow in the distance? It seems to be heading this way!¡± Hearing the clansperson¡¯s warning, Lin Xingyou quickly turned his gaze, watching the approaching shadow turn from serious to joyful. Upon recognizing the arrival, he immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s twelfth brother and his companions, and it seems that the person with him is Elder Ye!¡± ¡°Elder Ye?¡± ¡°Could it be Ye Pinghai, who is friendly with our Lin Family?¡± The clansperson seemed uncertain and asked with doubt. Lin Xingyou nodded his head and softly explained, ¡°Exactly, in the whole Wei Kingdom, apart from Ye Pinghai who has a good relationship with our family, there are no other renowned figures with the surname Ye!¡± While they were whispering among themselves, Lin Xingrong and another person landed at the mountain gate. Seeing them from a distance, Lin Xingyou and the others hurried forward, first saluting Ye Pinghai with clasped hands and then greeting Lin Xingrong. Lin Xingrong nodded and casually introduced the few clanspersons, and Ye Pinghai also returned the greeting one by one, leaving them quite touched. With their modest cultivation, it was rare to receive such courtesy from a renowned cultivator like Ye Pinghai in Wei Kingdom. Seeing the excited group of people, Lin Xingrong said, ¡°Xingyou, hurry and arrange a cave residence for Elder Ye. We¡¯ll rest here tonight, and then set off for Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory in the early morning.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s instructions, the clanspersons reacted and quickly led the way. Shortly after, the group arrived at the cave residence where Lin Xingrong had once lived. Lin Xingping, who had been informed in advance, was already waiting at the entrance to greet them. After seeing the arrivals, he smiled warmly and stepped forward to greet Ye Pinghai and the others, seeming to be in a good mood. Ye Pinghai likewise courteously returned the greeting. Lin Xingping had been stationed at Qianchuan Market for several years, and their frequent interactions meant that they were quite familiar with each other. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Xingyou also arranged a cave residence for Ye Pinghai, and everyone retired to their rooms to rest. The next morning, Lin Xingping and another person set off again, continuing their journey south. Standing on the Inkwind Spirit Boat, watching the mountains and rivers below, from time to time they could see some Lin Family Members working in areas rich with Spiritual Energy, clearly developing Spirit Fields according to the family¡¯s policy in suitable locations. Seeing the bustling scene below, Lin Xingrong felt a surge of excitement. Noticing this, Ye Pinghai asked curiously, ¡°This place used to be the territory of Demonic Beasts, how has it completely changed now?¡± Lin Xingrong chuckled and explained, ¡°In recent years, my family has cleared the vast area between Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain of Demonic Beasts. Nearly all of them above the First Order Middle Stage have been eradicated. We now plan to develop these usable Spirit Lands, plant a large number of low-grade Spiritual Medicines, and reap some benefits in the years to come.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded, remembering that the power of the Demon Beasts in this region was not insignificant. Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts were plenty, and there were even more powerful Demon Beast Tribes with exceptional talents inhabiting the area. But upon further reflection, considering the current overall strength of the Lin Family, it didn¡¯t seem strange that they had taken some time to conquer this land. As the two stood on the Inkwind Spirit Boat, they chatted casually from time to time. In the face of Ye Pinghai¡¯s indirect probing about the situation among the Lin Family¡¯s higher echelons, Lin Xingrong did not divulge any important information. He particularly avoided mentioning sensitive information such as the number and cultivation levels of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Although Ye Pinghai had indeed provided considerable help to the Lin Family over the years, human nature is unpredictable; being a bit more cautious and maintaining a sense of mystery wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Unknowingly, after spending the better part of the day, they arrived in the vicinity of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. After that matter, the clanspersons patrolling the mountain gate weren¡¯t surprised to see Lin Xingrong appear with them. After exchanges of greetings, with Lin Xingrong leading the way, the two entered the mountain gate smoothly. Walking on the stone path of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, Lin Xingrong introduced Ye Pinghai to some of the family¡¯s institutions without revealing any significant details. Ye Pinghai nodded, observing the greatly changed surroundings and the bustling scenes, as well as the busy Lin Family members, which led him to deep contemplation. It had been decades since he last visited the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and this rare visit now presented a stark contrast to what he had seen in the past. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 348 - 216 Ye Pinghais Request_2 Chapter 348: Chapter 216 Ye Pinghai¡¯s Request_2 Before, the Lin Family Clan Grounds seemed lifeless, with not many members and all at low levels of cultivation, nowhere near the bustle we see today. Beyond that, even the cultivation levels of the clan members have visibly risen by several notches, with just anyone you see being at least at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, and there¡¯s even a considerable number of members above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Looking at the expressions of these clan members, and the Spirit Swords beneath their feet, all of Second Order High Quality, it was clear their worth had greatly increased. From the excitement of every member, it was evident that the atmosphere within the family was superb. Seeing this scene, so starkly different from decades ago, he couldn¡¯t help but hold the Lin Family¡¯s strength in even higher regard. By the time he had gathered his thoughts, the two of them had already arrived at the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. ... At this time, several elders of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation had been waiting before the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, standing in a row, looking at the two men as they slowly approached. Lin Shikang greeted them with a smile and his loud voice rang out, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s been decades since I¡¯ve seen Brother Ye, I¡¯ve missed you a great deal.¡± Upon seeing Lin Shikang and the others, as well as hearing his loud voice, Ye Pinghai also burst into laughter, walking forward to greet the elders of ¡®Shi¡¯ generation. He took Lin Shigong¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Indeed, it has been many years since we last met, Brother Shikang, Brother Shigong, Brother Shihua, how have you been recently?¡± ¡°And Brother Shilu, it¡¯s been a few years since we last met, and it seems your cultivation has improved further, the Lin Family truly harbors hidden dragons.¡± Lin Shigong replied with a twinkle in his eyes, ¡°Thanks to Brother Ye¡¯s blessing, I fortuitously broke through to the Foundation Establishment over a decade ago, I have to thank you, Brother Ye. Without the Minor Foundation Building Pills you helped refine back then, Shihua and I might have been sitting on the brink of death.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua chimed in, ¡°Yes, it was a perilous breakthrough back then, that Minor Foundation Building Pill was our lifesaver, without it, it would have been difficult to say whether we could meet Brother Ye once more.¡± ¡°Haha, I merely did what I could, it was nothing significant. You two are fortunate men, and it¡¯s clear that fortune has favored you with a successful breakthrough,¡± laughed Ye Pinghai. ¡°Alright, since Brother Ye has kindly visited, I happen to have some treasured tea to share. Let¡¯s go inside to enjoy the tea and rest for a bit, and we will entertain Brother Ye well at dinner later.¡± ¡°Shihua, instruct them to prepare some fine ingredients for the dinner, we must do our best to show hospitality,¡± Lin Shikang said and grabbed Ye Pinghai by the hand, heading toward the interior of the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, with Lin Shigong and the others quickly following behind. Lin Shihua promptly gave a few instructions to the clansmen beside him and then followed them inside, disappearing in front of the grand hall. Elders¡¯ Council Hall, inside an austere and dignified reception room. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai sat in the high seats while Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua took their places on either side. As they chatted casually, Lin Xingrong stood by, offering tea and pouring water for the elders. Lin Shikang was excited, and while attending to Ye Pinghai, he soon said, ¡°This Dragon Stream Flower Tea is part of my personal collection, harvested from a Second Order Dragon Stream Tree, a legacy from our ancestors. I¡¯m only willing to share it when Brother Ye visits, so take a sip quickly and let me know how it tastes.¡± ¡°Oh? Second Order Dragon Creek Tea.¡± Ye Pinghai was excited, as he was also a tea aficionado. Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, he promptly took the jade cup and tasted a sip of the tea. As the Spiritual Tea entered his stomach, a scalding energy moved through his meridians and finally settled slowly into his Seven Sea Dantian, causing his complexion to grow rosier. After a few moments, he nodded in satisfaction and then said, ¡°Not bad at all, this Dragon Creek Tea is truly exceptional, the peculiar aroma is pervasive, and just smelling this natural fragrance is refreshing to one¡¯s spirit.¡± ¡°Not only that, but after drinking the Spiritual Tea, I can clearly feel my blood flowing more swiftly. It¡¯s like having consumed half a Lingshen Pill; without even cultivating, the energy contained within has already taken root in my body, slowly transforming into spiritual power¡ªno doubt, it is indeed a High Quality Spiritual Tea.¡± Lin Shikang nodded and replied, ¡°Brother Ye, you are right, this Dragon Creek Tea indeed has its unique uses. Seven leaves to a pot, its effects when consumed regularly are outstanding, although it is a pity the quantity is too little, only about half a pound left. If Brother Ye likes it, I will give it to you.¡± Upon hearing this, Ye Pinghai chuckled and, after declining several times, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t insist further ¨C after all, it was but a courteous offering, and Ye Pinghai certainly wouldn¡¯t take it seriously. The group then went back to leisurely sipping tea and chatting. After Ye Pinghai took another sip of the Spiritual Tea, he changed the topic. ¡°Brother Shigong, is your grandson Tian Ming at the family grounds? It¡¯s been several years since I last saw the lad,¡± said Ye Pinghai. Upon his mention of Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong chuckled and replied, ¡°Thank you for remembering him, Brother Ye. I have already sent a message to him, and he should be here to pay his respects shortly. Let¡¯s drink tea and wait a moment.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s wonderful, I haven¡¯t seen the boy in a few years and I¡¯d bet his cultivation has significantly improved. The Lin Family is indeed like a dragon lying in wait, destined to return to its former glory one day,¡± Ye Pinghai said with a chuckle. ¡°Brother Ye flatters us. The boy indeed cultivates swiftly, but the path to the Golden Core is not so easily trodden. From what I see, Brother Ye, you¡¯ve been at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment for many years and must have reached the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm by now,¡± interjected Lin Shikang, probing for more information about Ye Pinghai¡¯s condition and trying to gather as much news as possible. Ye Pinghai looked serious in response to Lin Shikang¡¯s inquiry, about to speak, when Lin Tianming entered the room. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 349 - 216 Ye Pinghais Request_3 Chapter 349: Chapter 216 Ye Pinghai¡¯s Request_3 He strode forward and gave Ye Pinghai a bow, then spoke, ¡°Tian Ming greets Grandpa Sea. Just six years apart, and you seem to have grown even stronger.¡± Ye Pinghai waved his hand modestly and said, ¡°You¡¯re really impressive, young man. A few years go by, and your cultivation has broken through to the Foundation Building Fourth Level. When I was your age, I had just broken through Foundation Establishment. Compared to you, I¡¯m hardly in the same league.¡± ¡°Haha, Grandpa Sea overestimates me.¡± Lin Tianming replied and proceeded to greet the elders, then sat down with his father at the lowest seating, waiting for something. Seated in a high position, Ye Pinghai surveyed the few people in the hall, and Lin Shikang immediately understood. He spoke with a grave expression, ¡°The people here are all core members of our Lin Family and those familiar to Brother Ye. If there¡¯s anything you need help with, just speak frankly. Over the years, you¡¯ve gone to great lengths for the Lin Family. As long as it¡¯s within our power, I can speak on behalf of the Lin Family and promise to do our utmost.¡± ... Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s earnest expression and firm tone of voice, Ye Pinghai let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°If the brothers speak so straightforwardly, then I won¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming and all the other clan members perked up, all eager to learn if Ye Pinghai¡¯s reason for visiting was indeed for the Golden Core Path as they had guessed. Ye Pinghai pondered for a moment, then made up his mind. ¡°I do have a matter to discuss on this visit. If Tian Ming had attended the major auction at Qianchuan Market several years ago, perhaps you could guess some of it. I did indeed obtain the Gold Fruit.¡± ¡°And this visit is to make preparations for my impact on the Golden Core Stage.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s expression grew serious. The Gold Fruit had indeed been obtained by him, and the impact of reaching the Golden Core Realm was no trivial matter. The entire Wei Kingdom had only a few dozen Golden Core Cultivators, which showed how much attention this matter would attract if it got out. Ye Pinghai seemed to have anticipated the crowd¡¯s reaction and continued while they were in astonishment; ¡°As a Loose Cultivator, my situation is well known to everybody. I plan to make an attempt on the Golden Core Realm in three years¡¯ time, for which I wish to rely on the Lin Family Treasured Land and the wisdom of Ancestor of the Lin Family. The spiritual energy in Green Bamboo Mountain is rich enough to support my advancement. ¡°As for the actual process of reaching the Golden Core Stage, I do not need any help from you all. If I die under the Heavenly Tribulation, consider my possessions as compensation. If, by chance, I succeed, I shall not hesitate to face death for any crisis the Lin Family might face in the future.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Should there be any falsehood in my words, may I never advance an inch on my path again. I wonder if Brother Lin and everyone present is willing to help me out?¡± No sooner had the words fallen than Ye Pinghai looked at Lin Shikang with an anxious yet hopeful expression. He had made full preparations for his attempt on the Golden Core Realm. Although it was possible to forge ahead alone, finding a spiritually abundant and safe locale was not easy. Beyond that, more crucial was the breakthrough wisdom left by the ancestor of the Lin Family. Such knowledge was rare throughout the Wei Kingdom, and he dared not seek help from Golden Elixir Forces. There were other families with ancestors who had reached Golden Elixir Experts, but his relationships with those families were mediocre. They would not help without receiving some treasure in exchange, and he had to be wary of them coveting the Gold Fruit. In such circumstances, the Lin Family was his first choice. His interactions over the years had shown that the Lin Family Members were of good character and the family¡¯s reputation in the Cultivation World had always been excellent; they were unlikely to commit avarice. If the Lin Family were to turn greedy and snatch the Core Formation treasures, he wasn¡¯t completely powerless to resist. He had prepared a trump card capable of inflicting severe damage on the Lin Family, which was extremely important. If the Lin Family refused his request for help, he had other families in mind. If there was truly no suitable option, he would have to take a risk and find an appropriate Spirit Land to attempt the Golden Core alone. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Shikang, sitting nearby, did not seem to ponder much. He exchanged nods with Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu, and finally turned to Lin Tianming, seemingly seeking his opinion. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, as they had discussed and reached a unanimous decision beforehand, if Ye Pinghai sought help, they would agree immediately. Whether he succeeded or not, there would be no loss for the Lin Family; once he made a breakthrough, remembering the previous life-saving grace and the assistance of Core Formation this time, the Lin Family would have a slim chance of survival in any future crisis. Besides, him attempting a breakthrough in the Lin Family Clan Grounds meant all Foundation Establishment Clan Members could closely witness the Power of the Threefold Thunder Tribulation, an extremely rare opportunity. In time, when someone from the Lin Family made an impact on the Golden Core Realm, they could make advance preparations. No matter the outcome of the impact on the Golden Core, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t be at a loss and would even gain a lot of experience. Having thought this through, Lin Tianming nodded without hesitation to express his opinion. Seeing Lin Tianming confirm, Lin Shikang spoke up, ¡°Brother Ye has been kind to the Lin Family over the years, and now that he needs the Lin Family, naturally, we should lend a helping hand. Brother, you can represent the Lin Family and accept this matter; we hope Brother Ye can step onto the Golden Core Path in one fell swoop.¡± When Lin Shikang agreed to the matter, Ye Pinghai breathed a sigh of relief. As he was getting older and his potential was dwindling, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste much time. If the Lin Family refused to help, it would have caused him much trouble and delayed him unnecessarily. Fortunately, the Lin Family nearly agreed without a second thought, which was somewhat unexpected for him. Regaining his composure, he laughed heartily and then said, ¡°A great kindness does not warrant thanks; if by some fluke I succeed, I will definitely not forget the grace of the Lin Family.¡± Lin Shikang laughed as well, ¡°Brother Ye, no need to overthink it. Helping out is just a minor effort. Honored that Brother Ye holds the Lin Family in such regard, just focus on your Golden Core breakthrough with peace of mind. I here make a promise, there will be no vile intentions, and should I harbor any malevolence, may my path in cultivation not advance a single inch.¡± Seeing Lin Shikang state his position so clearly and make such a promise, if he harbored any greedy thoughts and acted against him, it would be difficult to make further progress with his state of mind damaged. At this thought, he was somewhat moved and let down his guard. What followed was a lively scene, as the clan members and Ye Pinghai exchanged cultivation experiences, with Ye Pinghai having no reservations. In his Second Order Superior Alchemy Expertise, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong absorbed a lot of experience in the art of Alchemy. The lively exchange continued well into the day, with everyone reaping benefits. As evening approached, accompanied by the family¡¯s senior members, they warmly hosted a banquet for Ye Pinghai, where the clan members also had the rare opportunity to gather and heartily drink Spiritual Wine, creating an extremely warm atmosphere. In a moment filled with laughter, the wariness between them melted away, and their affection deepened. Time flew swiftly, and half a month passed quickly. On this clear morning, on the Bluestone Street of the clan grounds, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were walking in front, followed by several key clan members, with Lin Tianming among them. Soon after, they arrived at the plaza in front of the mountain gate. With a smile, Ye Pinghai clasped his fist towards Lin Shikang and the others and said, ¡°Brother Shi Kang, fellow daoists, thank you for your warm hospitality. I need to make further preparations, and in three years, I will come on time as agreed.¡± ¡°Take care, I shall take my leave.¡± The Lin Family members on the other side nodded, returned the gesture with clasped hands, and then Lin Shikang gave a few instructions to Lin Xingrong beside him. Lin Xingrong nodded and then approached Ye Pinghai, ready to accompany him back to Qianchuan Market. After the two nodded to each other, they left the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the Protective Clan Formation, Ye Pinghai summoned the Inkwind Spirit Boat, and the two hopped on, one after the other. Then, turning into a dark shadow, they flew toward the northern Qianchuan Market. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 350 - 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_1 Chapter 350: Chapter 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_1 At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within the cave mansion courtyard of Lin Tianming. With Ye Pinghai leaving Green Bamboo Mountain, half a month had already passed, and the family had returned to peace. The clan members cultivated as usual, everything as it was in the past. In a pill refining room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, with his hands joined together. He began the process of circulating his energy and breathing, soon entering deep cultivation. Half a day went by. When his condition reached its peak, he opened his eyes and felt his body¡¯s state. Then he took out a large quantity of Spirit Essence Pill materials, totaling dozens of portions. In the years since he had become a Second Order Junior Alchemist, he had refined a large number of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills. The pills consumed by the family, as well as those sold in various shops, were mostly produced by him. ... However, the pills he refined were for the family¡¯s use. Both his grandfather and Lin Xingyuan were also Second Order Junior Alchemists, but the quality of the pills they refined could not compare to his, so they all went for sale. After so many refining sessions, refining Second Order Inferior Grade Pills had almost become a sure thing for him. Moreover, the pills produced by his hands were all of superior quality, with a potency a notch stronger than those refined by ordinary people. This time the family had accumulated some spiritual medicine materials, including twelve portions of a type of Elixir Essence called Melting Yuan Pill, all slowly collected over the years by the family. The Fusion Spirit Pill was a Second Order Medium Quality elixir, also used to aid cultivation just like the Spirit Origin Pill, but its potency and value differed greatly. The potency contained in a single Fusion Spirit Pill was at least worth more than two Spirit Origin Pills, and it was also smoother to refine. Therefore, the price of a Fusion Spirit Pill was more than three times that of a regular Spirit Origin Pill. Since the spiritual medicine materials needed for the Fusion Spirit Pill were hard to collect, such pills only circulated in small quantities among the Golden Core forces. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under normal circumstances, considering its stronger medicinal properties, those who had the Fusion Spirit Pill were almost unwilling to trade it, preferring to keep it for their own cultivation. After more than ten years of gathering little by little, the family had finally obtained enough materials for more than a dozen Fusion Spirit Pills. Taking advantage of this time, he planned to refine all the Spirit Essence Pill materials and then try his hand at the Second Order Medium Quality Fusion Spirit Pill to see if he could produce it and advance to a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Regaining his focus, he made a single-handed seal and cast a spell at the Earth Fire inlet. When the Earth Fire surged out, the temperature in the pill refining room slowly rose. He then took out the Blueflame Furnace, made all the necessary preparations, and began refining the Spirit Origin Pills. With adept experience, one after another, the spiritual medicine materials were decomposed and purified into Elixir Essence lying at the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace. He then skillfully infused them with his spiritual power, completing the Solidifying Pill process. At this moment, the pill refining room was bustling with activity, and every half a day, a fragrance indicated that a batch of pills had successfully solidified and come out of the furnace. ¡­ Time flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed. In the pill refining room, Lin Tianming still sat on the cushion. In front of him, numerous Jade Bottles were neatly placed, emitting a special Elixir scent that was refreshing. After a month of intensive refining, he had completed the refining of fifty portions of Spirit Essence Pill materials. He refined pills during the day and meditated at night. Engaged in dual management of both alchemy and cultivation, he wasted not a single moment, living quite a fulfilling life. Under such diligent efforts, the fifty portions of spiritual medicine materials resulted in nearly three hundred pills, all of them rare high-quality products. After setting aside a third for the family, he himself was left with almost two hundred pills, earning a substantial fortune. Looking at the large number of pills in front of him, he was pleased, then stored them in two different storage bags, planning to deliver them to the Hall of Merit once he emerged from seclusion. With the refining of the Spirit Origin Pills completed, he prepared to strike while the iron was hot and give the Fusion Spirit Pills a try to see if he could refine them. If he could produce them, he would use the Fusion Spirit Pills to cultivate for a while, aiming to push his cultivation toward the peak of the Foundation Building Fourth Level. Once that happened, he planned to venture out and after a round of battles, he might have an opportunity for a breakthrough. Having made up his mind, he began to circulate his energy and adjust his state. Four hours later, his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power had fully recovered, returning his condition to its peak. Feeling the state of his entire body, he waved his sleeve, and a pale gold Jade Slip appeared in his hand. This Jade Slip contained the Pill Formula for the Fusion Spirit Pill. It was unknown how the family had obtained it. No matter how, now that the Pill Formula and spiritual medicine materials had been collected, it was only natural to refine them as soon as possible to help the Foundation Establishment Clan Members accelerate their cultivation. Refocusing his mind, he began to comprehend the formula. Although he had already read through it several times, the spiritual medicine materials were not easy to collect, so he had to be well-prepared, increase his chances as much as possible, and avoid wasting the materials. After half a day, he reviewed the Pill Formula for the Fusion Spirit Pill several times until he could recite it by heart and felt that his understanding of the formula had reached a certain level. Only then did he put away the Jade Slip. Now everything was ready, except for the Wind. Lin Tianming took a deep breath, then made a seal with his hands, casting a Law Decree at the Earth Fire outlet. As the Earth Fire erupted, a fiery red Earth Fire scorched the bottom of the yet unmoved Blueflame Furnace. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 351 - 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_2 Chapter 351: Chapter 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_2 For a moment, the temperature within the pill refining room began to rise again. He then slapped his storage bag, and the spiritual medicine materials for the Fusion Spirit Pill appeared on the stone platform. Feeling that the Earth Fire was about the right temperature, he didn¡¯t hesitate. He picked up a piece of spiritual medicine material and tossed it into the Blueflame Furnace. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± The spiritual medicine quickly began to decompose under the high temperatures. He controlled his Divine Sense with precision, carefully separating the impurities from the essence within the spiritual medicine material. Soon, the first piece of spiritual medicine material was fully decomposed, leaving a small glob of greenish liquid at the bottom of the furnace. Following that, another piece of spiritual medicine material was thrown into the furnace, and he skillfully decomposed it. ... Four hours passed, and all of the spiritual medicine materials had been decomposed, leaving a fist-sized glob of Elixir Essence at the bottom of the furnace, teeming with a great deal of both main and auxiliary medicine¡¯s essence. Observing the glob of Elixir Essence, with its purity gathered together, Lin Tianming felt quite elated. After calming himself down and feeling that the Blueflame Furnace was reaching a critical temperature, he could not afford to care about the sweat on his forehead and began to inject Spiritual Energy. With a slap on the Blueflame Furnace, a faint ball of Spiritual Power passed through the body of the furnace, accurately entering the Elixir Essence. At the same time, he controlled the Earth Fire once more, instantly raising both the flame¡¯s temperature and size. Just when he was about to solidify the pill, he activated his Eye of Five Colors, concentrating intently on the changes within the Blueflame Furnace. Feeling the Earth Fire reaching the level required for solidifying the pill, he made his preparations for the pill solidification without hesitation. ¡°Solidify the pill!¡± With his shout, the Earth Fire surged out fiercely, and the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace peaked. After a brief moment, a special fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He immediately sensed the fragrance, and his complexion flushed with excitement. ¡°The first furnace seems to have succeeded directly!¡± He murmured to himself, then hurriedly removed the lid of the furnace. Inside lay two golden-yellow elixirs, roughly the size of apricot kernels, with surfaces marked by fine lines, looking quite attractive. Indeed, the first furnace had succeeded, something Lin Tianming himself hadn¡¯t expected to happen so easily. Overjoyed, he took one elixir into his hand and began to study it closely. Looking at the patterns on the elixir and its unique fragrance, compared with the records in the Pill Formula, he was certain that it was undoubtedly a genuine Fusion Spirit Pill. Being successful with the first furnace was a bit of a surprise to him as well, but after thinking about it, this elixir was very similar to the Lingshen Pill, only higher in grade and made with more precious spiritual medicine materials. Having refined countless furnaces of Lingshen Pills himself, his alchemy skills had long reached the standards of Second Order Medium Quality. With the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he had somehow managed to refine it successfully. However, the number of pills was a bit low; at the very least, reaching three pills would be considered formally entering the realm of Second Order Medium Quality. Even so, he was still very satisfied with such an achievement. Once his mood had settled, he stored the two Fusion Spirit Pills into his storage bag, then began to sit in meditation to restore his spent Divine Sense and Spiritual Power. Once his condition had recovered, he continued while the iron was hot, striving to refine the remaining ten plus batches of spiritual medicine materials into elixirs. Another month went by. In the pill refining room, as another fragrance permeated the air, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned excited, and he eagerly lifted the lid of the furnace. At this time, four golden-yellow elixirs lay inside the Pill Furnace, each one full of color and undoubtedly genuine Fusion Spirit Pills. With this batch of spiritual medicine materials successfully refined, twelve batches of materials were all completed, yielding a total of five furnaces of pills. The first two furnaces had produced only two elixirs each, followed by two furnaces with three each, and as he refined more, the number of elixirs slowly increased, with the last furnace yielding four, totaling fourteen Fusion Spirit Pills. Having to contribute twelve to his clan, keeping two for himself was quite a good outcome. Now that his alchemy had successfully advanced to Second Order Medium Quality, overall, the pill formation rate had reached thirty percent, but it was still short of forty percent. He would need to practice a bit more, and reaching forty percent shouldn¡¯t take too long. However, lacking the materials to refine Second Order Medium Quality elixirs, it was not as easy to make rapid progress in his alchemy skills as before. After storing the elixirs into his storage bag, he habitually tidied up the messy pill refining room. Lin Tianming then left the room and entered his own bedroom. After two months of pill making, even though the frequency wasn¡¯t high, as he spent most of his nights in cultivation, the duration still left him a bit weary. Now that the pill making was done and there wasn¡¯t much else to do besides cultivating, he planned to rest well for a few days. Once he was fully rejuvenated, he would start testing the effects of the Fusion Spirit Pill and also focus on secluded cultivation for a while. Making up his mind, he directly lay on the stone bed, and within just a short period, he fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ Luoyun Mountain Range. In a small valley where Green Bamboo Mountain and Luoyun Mountain meet. This was the very valley where Lin Tianming and his companions had fought the Qilin Beast Horde and acquired a great quantity of Ice Crystals during their training. Seen from high above, this petite valley was shrouded in mist and rich in Spiritual Energy. Although it didn¡¯t match the standards of Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, it was still considered an excellent Spirit Land outside the wilderness. Thanks to the policies issued by his clan over the years, this small valley had been designated as one of the Spirit Lands to be developed by the clan and had been given a new name¡ªIce Valley. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 352 - 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_3 Chapter 352: Chapter 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_3 After the concerted efforts of many lower-ranked clan members, the once dense towering trees were cut down by the Lin Family Members, clearing a large expanse of rough spiritual medicine fields. It was now evening, and dozens of Lin Family Members were swinging specially made spirit shovels, turning over the grey-brown soil, after which blocks of spirit stones were buried in the pits, followed by the addition of some special powdery substances. This step was part of the process to cultivate the soil, and after such a series of procedures, only one or two years of careful maintenance were needed for the clan to obtain a fertile spiritual medicine garden. Looking around, orderly spiritual medicine fields layered like terraces wrapped around the peaks on both sides of the valley. At the edge of one spiritual medicine field, Lin Tianfeng stood side by side with Lin Xingyou, watching the people working below, with a look of satisfaction on their faces. Lin Tianfeng looked at the slowly setting sun overhead and said to Lin Xingyou beside him, ¡°Uncle, if this progress continues, it should be finished in a few months, and then we can report back.¡± ... ¡°The sky is getting dark, let the clansmen return to camp for a rest,¡± he added. Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Xingyou nodded. They were tasked by the Clan Leader with the defense of this place. Having been here for over half a year, fortunately, the reclamation went smoothly without attacks from powerful demonic beasts. They only encountered a few first order demon beasts straying into the area, which Lin Tianfeng easily killed. Today¡¯s progress was not bad, and both their moods were quite pleasant. Lin Xingyou then shouted, ¡°Fellow clan members, it¡¯s getting late, prepare to return to camp, and continue work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Haha¡­work¡¯s over¡­work¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Time to rest¡­I¡¯m really a bit tired today, we¡¯ll continue tomorrow!¡± Upon hearing that work was over, the clansmen were in a good mood, joking and playing with each other. In a short while, dozens of clansmen had already gathered together. After Lin Tianfeng and the others checked that everyone was present, they prepared to lead the clansmen towards the valley. Just at that moment, a roar from demonic beasts came, quickly followed by the sound of pounding footsteps. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression drastically changed, and in a hurry, he shouted, ¡°Uncle Xingyou, take the clansmen and quickly retreat to the valley! Relying on the formation protection, it might be safer.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyou¡¯s expression became grave, and he quickly led the clansmen toward the valley. At this time, the Qi Refining Clanspeople appeared slightly panicked, but they did not dare to delay, following Lin Xingyou in haste. However, the demonic beasts were too fast. Just when the clansmen had descended the terraced fields and were yet to reach a safe area, two second order initial stage Iceflame Lions had appeared at the distant entrance of the valley. When the two sides met eyes, there was a brief pause. Soon after, a tide of first order Iceflame Lions rushed over from behind the two leaders, with at least dozens in number. Seeing the scale of the oncoming Iceflame Lion tribe, both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyou¡¯s expressions turned incredibly solemn. The Iceflame Lions were also social demonic beasts, their tribe sizes varying. Adult Iceflame Lions were at the second order initial stage, very powerful, favoring water attribute spirit lands and rare treasures. This tribe was of medium size, aside from the two second order initial stage Iceflame Lions, there were also several at the first order late stage, a force that should not be underestimated. They appeared here likely because they sensed the rich water attribute spiritual energy of the place. If they could claim this land, the advancement of their offspring would be much faster. Lin Tianfeng thought to himself, contemplating countermeasures. But the Iceflame Lion tribe was approaching quickly, giving him little time to react. Led by the two second order initial stage Iceflame Lions, they advanced like a swarm of locusts towards them. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression changed as he hurriedly made his way towards the interior of the valley, soon joining the clansmen. Lin Xingyou¡¯s face darkened, his eyes fixed on the approaching Iceflame Lion tribe as he asked, ¡°Tianfeng, what should we do next? The strength of this Iceflame Lion tribe is too formidable. If Tian Ming or Fifteenth Uncle were here, we wouldn¡¯t fear them, but our clansmen are too weak. Relying solely on the three of us, even with the formation, we definitely won¡¯t hold out for long.¡± Lin Xingyou¡¯s words added to the gravity of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression. Among the clansmen arranged here, he himself was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment first layer, and Lin Xingyou was at the peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, with one more Qi Refining clansperson from the Xing clan at the Ninth Layer, and the rest all below the Fifth Level of Qi Refining. Against the opposing Ice Flame Lion Tribe, their strength was indeed strained. The only good news was that considering the low strength of the clansmen, the family had brought a First Order Superior Defense Formation specifically for this land reclamation. He had not expected it to be needed so soon. It was uncertain whether it could hold off the Ice Flame Lion Tribe for a few days. However, there was no better plan at the moment, and all he could do was try his best and hope it would work. With these thoughts, he quickly decided on a plan. ¡°Uncle Xingyou, I¡¯ll help you leave this place. You must travel to Green Bamboo Mountain for reinforcements as quickly as possible. Uncle Xing Luan and I will hold the fort using the formation. If we can last two or three days, we may just overcome this crisis.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Xingyou knew the situation was urgent and that there was no time to waste. He nodded in haste and said, ¡°Then take care of yourselves and be sure to hold on for a few days until I bring back reinforcements.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianfeng gave Lin Xingyou a push on his back, using the force to send him over a ridge and disappear into the gloomy sky. The approaching Iceflame Lions had no time to react, powerless to stop Lin Xingyou from vanishing from their sights. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng had already led all the clansmen deep into the valley, drawing ever closer to the area protected by the Formation. The focus regained, the Iceflame Lion tribe charged after them, ready for a fight. ¡°Uncle Xing Luan, lead the clansmen into the formation, I¡¯ll hold off these beasts for a while,¡± instructed Lin Tianfeng. Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s order, Lin Xing Luan quickly led the clansmen towards the edge of the formation, leaving Lin Tianfeng to guard their retreat. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 353 - 218 Situation_1 Chapter 353: Chapter 218 Situation_1 As the Iceflame Lion Tribe surged forward, Lin Tianfeng was already prepared for a great battle. He gripped a Spirit Sword in one hand and a handful of talismans in the other, among them three talismans of the Second Order Lower Grade. The current situation left him no room to hold back. If he didn¡¯t take this opportunity to test and significantly weaken the overall strength of the Iceflame Lions, they would face great pressure if trapped later on. Once the Formation they relied on was compromised, he might escape, but the dozens of Lin Family members here would likely suffer heavy casualties. Therefore, as soon as he made a move, it was a lethal one, aiming to achieve the greatest victory. ... Looking at the approaching Iceflame Lion Tribe, they had entered the optimal range for attack. He made up his mind and released the handful of talismans, which turned into a sky full of Sword Qi and fireballs raining down on the oncoming Iceflame Lion Tribe. Simultaneously, his Spirit Sword shone brightly as he infused massive amounts of Spiritual Power into it; the Sword Qi overflowed from the sword, stirring the surrounding Spiritual Energy. ¡°Kill!¡± With an angry shout, he swung his Spirit Sword, unleashing terrifying Sword Qi that shot toward two Second Order Iceflame Lions. The two Second Order Iceflame Lions sensed the threat immediately. They roared towards the heavens, and their offspring seemed to understand something as they scattered in all directions. At the same time, the two Iceflame Lions dashed away, swiftly leaving the land to avoid the horrifying Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianfeng. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky filled with Sword Qi and fireballs exploded upon the land beneath the Iceflame Lions¡¯ feet, illuminating the dim sky with fire and turning the entire valley bright. At that moment, a series of screams sounded, causing one¡¯s scalp to tingle. When the light of the fire dispersed, the two Second Order Iceflame Lions burst out of the smoke, their huge maws open as if to swallow Lin Tianfeng whole. Seeing the two attacking Second Order Iceflame Lions, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression grew solemn. His initial barrage of attacks had succeeded in killing more than a dozen First Order Initial and Medium Stage Iceflame Lions, but the two Second Order Iceflame Lions had only sustained minor injuries and were not fundamentally harmed. By now, the majority of his people had entered the area covered by the Formation, but about ten had not yet made it inside. For the lives of these few, he had no room to retreat. He had to figure out a way to block the two Second Order Iceflame Lions to buy them time. Determined, he brought his palms together and began chanting a special incantation. In an instant, a silver-white Sword Qi slowly appeared above his head, a concentration of Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art. This Spirit Art, which he was arranged to study after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment, had been successfully cultivated with ease and nurtured within his Dantian for over two years. It was one of the few trump cards he had. Watching the approaching Iceflame Lions, he unhesitatingly activated the terrifying Sword Qi. He roared, ¡°Beasts, die!¡± In a flash, the silver-white Sword Qi burst forth at an inconceivably fast speed. The two Second Order Iceflame Lions sensed the fatal danger, hurriedly turned their bodies, trying to dodge this horrifying strike. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The silver-white Sword Qi struck, and despite the Iceflame Lions¡¯ speed being exceptional among the Demon Beast Race, one weaker Lion didn¡¯t manage to avoid it and was struck in its sturdy leg. The pained Iceflame Lion screamed sharply, then wildly twisted its body in painful howls. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s horrific strike injured the slightly weaker Iceflame Lion. Although it didn¡¯t lose its fighting ability altogether, its strength was greatly reduced, making it less troublesome to deal with. During this brief respite, the Qi Refining clanspeople had entered the area enveloped by the Formation, temporarily escaping danger. Lin Tianfeng finally let out a long breath, surprised at how terrifying the Great Sun Sword Qi Art was. No wonder the Lin Family restricted its cultivation to Qi Refining people. If this got out, or if some Golden Core Stage Expert discovered it, the Lin Family couldn¡¯t avoid a clan extinction crisis. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, the Lin Family had the foresight: this terrifying Spirit Art was known only to the core members of the family. Otherwise, if any clansperson could practice it, it would always be a potential danger. With these thoughts, his tense nerves relaxed slightly, and his expression finally eased a bit. Across from him, the other Iceflame Lion, seeing its companion injured, became very angry. It fixed its gaze on Lin Tianfeng and with a leap, charged towards him. Lin Tianfeng snorted coldly, moving his Spirit Sword to release several Sword Qi to block the Iceflame Lion. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A few explosive sounds followed as the Sword Qi clashed with the Iceflame Lion¡¯s sharp and fierce claws. A strong blast of air pushed Lin Tianfeng back dozens of yards, and the Iceflame Lion was similarly repelled more than ten yards. After this exchange, their relative strengths became somewhat clear. Lin Tianfeng might not lose in a one-on-one fight, but winning would undoubtedly be very difficult. On the other hand, this Iceflame Lion had reached the pinnacle of the Second Order Initial Stage, not far from the Middle Stage. In a one-on-one fight, its odds of winning were a bit higher. Knowing this, Lin Tianfeng used the force of the blast to retreat to the edge of the Formation-covered area, putting a safe distance between himself and his opponent. ¡°Thank goodness that strike injured the weaker Iceflame Lion; otherwise, if the two joined forces, I would definitely be no match for these two beasts!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 354 - 218 Situation_2 Chapter 354: Chapter 218 Situation_2 He muttered to himself inwardly and then lifted his foot to step into the area enveloped by the formation. As they watched him enter the formation, the waiting clansmen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Under the current circumstances, Lin Tianfeng represented their hope for survival. Although their powers were not great, and they had no prospect of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in their lifetimes, nobody wanted to die. After entering the formation, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression grew solemn. The defensive array, a First Order Superior Grade, was under siege by so many Iceflame Lions that it was uncertain whether it could hold for more than three days. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By now, the injured Iceflame Lions had calmed down. One glared angrily at Lin Tianfeng and charged at him, accompanied by another Second Order Iceflame Lion and a large number of First Order Iceflame Lions. Soon, one Iceflame Lion after another slammed into the formation¡¯s barrier. ... ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Loud collision sounds rang out, shaking the formation with each strike. Especially the impacts of the two Second Order Initial Stage Iceflame Lions were considerable; every hit caused the First Order defensive array to vibrate violently, teetering on the brink of collapse before stabilizing once more. At that moment, including Lin Tianfeng, every clansman took a long breath and relaxed their tense nerves for a short while. ¡­ South of the Cold Ice Canyon, atop a mountain. Lin Xingyou, whom Lin Tianfeng had sent out, was speeding on his Flying Sword, skimming over the mountaintops. No sooner had he escaped than he shot towards Green Bamboo Mountain at the fastest speed possible, fully aware of his clansmen¡¯s dire situation and the urgent need for help. In this situation, his speed reached its maximum, not a bit slower than when fleeing for life. However, the distance to Green Bamboo Mountain was over five hundred li, and even at his speed, he would need a full day to arrive, even if he traveled without stopping day and night. It was already night, and though this land was originally the domain of Demonic Beasts, some Low-order Monster Beasts still roamed, and night was their peak activity period. Unless he continued flying southeast for two hundred li, he wouldn¡¯t be completely safe. With time so pressing, there was no time to consider the dangers. He flew at full strength through the hazy night, all to return home as soon as possible. Beneath him, the successive peaks grew distant, while he drew ever closer to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Within the cave residence of Lin Tianming at Green Bamboo Mountain. He had slept for two days straight. When Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance passed through them. He stretched his back, his body reaching peak condition. He rose from his room, preparing to deliver the elixirs he had refined to the Hall of Merit and pay a visit to his elders. Soon after, he made his way into the Hall of Merit. At that time, the Hall of Merit was bustling, with numerous clansmen busy exchanging various Spiritual Objects, their activity was a sight to behold. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, some of the younger cultivators immediately became excited, as if they were seeing an idol. Not just them, but several Xing Clan members were excited too. Many clansmen familiar with Lin Tianming greeted him one after another. Lin Tianming also returned their greetings with a fist and palm salute, acting very courteously. Afterwards, he directly approached the deeper part of the hall to chat with the attending Hall of Merit Executive Officer. This person, named Lin Xingquan, with a Fifth Level of Qi Refinement cultivation and at the age of seventy, knew that Foundation Establishment was out of reach. Supported by his keen eye and ranking by age, the clan valued him and appointed him as the Executive Officer of the Hall of Merit. With Lin Xingcheng¡¯s advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had to focus on cultivation, so the Hall of Merit underwent some changes, adding a few Qi Refinement Realm clansmen as Executive Officers, rotating in charge of the hall¡¯s affairs. Other clan institutions did the same. As soon as the person in charge broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, they couldn¡¯t afford to be as leisurely as before and had to accelerate their cultivation. Thus, the number of Executive Officers in those institutions increased as well. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags, which contained the fruits of two months of labor. He handed the storage bags to Lin Xingquan and said, ¡°After setting aside what should be submitted to the clan, exchange all the remaining Lingshen Pills for Merit Points. Also, there are twelve Fusion Spirit Pills which have all been refined; they all are handed over now.¡± Lin Xingquan accepted the storage bags and swept them with his Divine Sense, his expression turning excited. He already knew Lin Tianming had a high level of Alchemy skills and worked faster than ordinary people; it took just over two months for him to refine everything. Besides the higher-grade Fusion Spirit Pills, the rest were all high-quality elixirs. ¡°This quality and efficiency, it¡¯s truly terrifying!¡± Lin Xingquan couldn¡¯t help but utter in amazement, then he began to record in the ledger. After a short while, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingquan and, after exchanging pleasantries with familiar clansmen, he left the Hall of Merit. Having exchanged all the Lingshen Pills he had refined for Merit Points, keeping only thirty for his personal cultivation, he accumulated over fourteen thousand Merit Points. Combined with the Spirit Stones he had, his available assets reached a staggering one hundred and fifty thousand. That didn¡¯t even include the remaining eight batches of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials and the Spiritual Objects he carried. If everything were totaled, his wealth was truly formidable. An excited Lin Tianming walked on Bluestone Street, in an extraordinarily good mood. As he walked, he arrived in front of Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode, and sent his Divine Sense into the cave¡¯s restrictions. Quickly, the restrictions of the cave¡¯s door opened, and he stepped in right away. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode, Lin Shilu was also present. Lin Tianming walked up with a smile and respectfully greeted the two with a fist and palm salute. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 355 - 218 Situation_3 Chapter 355: Chapter 218 Situation_3 ¡°Hehe¡­ Tian Ming, no need to be polite, come over and have a seat!¡± Lin Shikang beckoned, and only then did Lin Tianming walk over to pour a cup of Spiritual Tea for both of them before sitting down in the chair opposite. Lin Shilu took a sip of his tea, then started to inquire, ¡°What have you been busy with lately, has your cultivation made any progress?¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling Lin Shilu¡¯s concern, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°My cultivation level has improved slightly but not by much. I attempted to refine the Second Order Medium Quality Fusion Spirit Pill a while ago and have now successfully produced it!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were astonished. Lin Shikang said with a smile, ¡°How long has it been, and you¡¯ve already concocted the Fusion Spirit Pill? What¡¯s the success rate?¡± ... Lin Tianming laughed, then honestly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve just broken through a thirty percent success rate, barely approaching forty!¡± Before he could finish, Lin Shilu laughingly scolded, ¡°You kid, are truly a monster. I really don¡¯t know how you cultivate!¡± Lin Tianming gave a wry smile, then continued, ¡°The twelve batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials that our family collected over the years have been used up by me in refining, and have already been handed over to the Hall of Merit, twelve pills in total. Third Grandfather¡¯s cultivation level temporarily has no potential for improvement, but Fifteenth Grandfather could give them a try to see the effects!¡± Lin Shikang nodded, then said, ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°Shi Lu, you¡¯ve been at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level for several years now. If you continue to cultivate with the Fusion Spirit Pill for a long time, perhaps in a few years, your cultivation level could take another step forward. Once you break through to the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, you can utilize the Hun Tian Pill to advance another realm, possibly reaching the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level within a few years!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu waved his hand with a laugh, then said, ¡°Third brother, you jest. You know how hard it is to cultivate at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Indeed, the effect of the Fusion Spirit Pill is several times better than the Lingshen Pill, but with these many pills, even if all were given to me to cultivate, I¡¯m afraid it would not be possible to break through the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Furthermore, progressing too swiftly might leave behind hidden troubles, and it might be easier to reach the Golden Core Realm later on, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in relief. It was commendable that Lin Shilu was not impetuous and still intended to make steady progress. Many cultivators neglect the cultivation of their mind, eager for quick success and instant benefit, leading to an unstable realm. Once they encounter a major bottleneck, they might not make any progress for the rest of their lives. Besides, with Lin Shilu¡¯s current level of cultivation and talent, there was simply no need to be so anxious. A steady enhancement was all he needed, and the push towards the path of the Golden Core would be easier in the future. I recall when I myself advanced from the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level to Great Perfection, it took me over twenty years from the great battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. Only then did I lay down a solid foundation. Lin Shilu¡¯s prudence, with his long-term considerations, was indeed the most secure approach. Shifting their thoughts, the three of them resumed their casual conversation. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming was preparing to take his leave. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression suddenly turned grave. Lin Tianming¡¯s heart jolted, and he immediately asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, has something serious happened?¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s face returned to normal, and he said to Lin Shilu, ¡°Tianfeng and the others have been attacked by Demonic Beasts in the Cold Ice Canyon, and they urgently need clan members to support them.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming¡¯s expressions also turned solemn. An anxious Lin Shilu immediately inquired, ¡°How¡¯s Tianfeng¡¯s situation, and what¡¯s the strength of the Demonic Beasts?¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, the current situation wasn¡¯t very clear to him either; he had just received a magical communication from Lin Xingyou, who was in such a rush that he didn¡¯t explain clearly. But now, these details were no longer important. No matter the situation, they must hurry there as soon as possible. With that in mind, he instructed, ¡°Shi Lu, you stay and guard the family, Tian Ming, take the Purple Gold Eagle, and accompany me on a trip!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move out immediately!¡± Lin Tianming, along with another person, acknowledged the command and followed Lin Shikang out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once outside the mansion, Lin Tianming sent a signal to the Purple Gold Eagle, instructing it to wait for him in the clan¡¯s gate plaza. Soon, the trio arrived at the clan¡¯s gate plaza, and the Purple Gold Eagle also arrived at the same time. Just then, Lin Xingyou happened to pass through the Protective Clan Formation and appeared in front of them. To quickly inform the family, he had flown all of last night and half of the day, finally arriving safely at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. He did not dare to stop along the way, having expended all his Spiritual Power, and nearly fell from the sky as he approached the clan territory. As he was within the communication range when he neared the clan territory, he immediately sent out a message to save time. It so happened that Lin Shikang quickly came along. Seeing him, Lin Xingyou wore a look of joy, but before he could speak, he fainted, collapsing on the ground completely passed out. Lin Shikang and the others quickly rushed over, and after examination, they found Lin Xingyou extremely pale. It seemed like spiritual exhaustion had taken its toll, but he was not in any mortal danger. Lin Shikang gave Lin Xingyou an elixir and then instructed Lin Shilu on what to do, telling him to take care of Lin Xingyou before leading the way out of the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle followed close behind, stepping outside the Protective Clan Formation. The two jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which took to the skies and shot towards the direction of Cold Ice Canyon. The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to understand the urgency, speeding to its maximum. The mountains below quickly receded, and soon they disappeared from sight. ¡­ COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 356 - 219: Scattered Escape_1 Chapter 356: Chapter 219: Scattered Escape_1 Cold Ice Canyon. It had been a day and a half since Lin Xingyou had left. The Iceflame Lions incessantly rammed against the formation, with one wave following another, almost without respite. As the strikes accumulated, the spirit stones within the formation depleted rapidly. Whenever the spirit stones were replaced, the formation¡¯s defensive power reached its weakest. Moreover, the house¡¯s formation had suffered some damage, and it had become unstable. Within the formation, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was grave; he distinctly felt the defense of the formation weaken. ... While enduring the impact from two second-order Iceflame Lions, he began to feel outmatched. With the recent strikes, the formation hovered on the brink of collapse. As the two Iceflame Lions continued their onslaught without breaking the formation, they became even more frenzied and vicious, putting more force into each consecutive strike. After several more impacts. At this point, the two second-order Iceflame Lions shared a glance, seemingly wiser now. They roared up at the sky, then simultaneously charged in the same direction, followed by a large number of first-order Iceflame Lions. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face drastically changed; at this rate, the formation would not be able to withstand many more strikes. Lin Tianfeng, with a solemn expression, said to the clan members beside him, ¡°This formation might not last much longer. Once it breaks, I will do my best to hold off some of the Iceflame Lions. You all must follow Uncle Xing Luan and immediately escape towards our clan lands. If the family¡¯s reinforcements arrive in time, perhaps you can retreat unharmed!¡± Hearing this, and seeing the ferocious Iceflame Lion Tribe outside the formation, many clan members panicked. They knew the disparity between their own cultivation and the might of the Iceflame Lion Tribe. Once they were outside the protective formation, the demonic beasts would swarm them. At that time, it would be like lambs entering the tiger¡¯s den. With these thoughts, the clan members grew pale, and two of them nearly fainted. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng bellowed angrily, subduing everyone and restoring a measure of calm. Lin Xing Luan also spoke up, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic. The situation is critical now; maintain your formation.¡± ¡°If the formation breaks, follow me and leave quickly. Don¡¯t stay here and add to Tianfeng¡¯s burden, understand?¡± Hearing this, some of the clan members finally faced reality. They each took out their spiritual artifacts, preparing for battle. Lin Tianfeng nodded, gripping the spirit sword in his hand, holding a large amount of talisman paper, ready to give it his all. Outside the formation, the two second-order Iceflame Lions collided against it several times, and on the sixth strike, the entire formation shook violently and finally broke. The moment the formation fell, the Iceflame Lions surged in like a flood. Lin Tianfeng charged at the oncoming Iceflame Lions, leading the charge. The situation was urgent; he had to buy time for his clanspeople to escape. Otherwise, how many of them would make it out alive remained uncertain. Fully aware of this, his every move was a lethal attack. Numerous talisman papers flew from his hand, followed by fierce gusts of sword qi sweeping across. With his wave-like assault, the two second-order Iceflame Lions dared not get close to the force of his attacks and thought only of evading for the moment. But the first-order Iceflame Lions struggled to avoid them and were decimated by his ferocious attack, leaving a trail of severed limbs and bodies strewn across the ground. As Lin Tianfeng held off the lions for a moment, Lin Xing Luan led the clan members past the cleared Spirit Fields, escaping towards Green Bamboo Mountain. Once Lin Tianfeng¡¯s attack subsided, the herd of first-order Flame Ice Beasts immediately pursued the Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. The two second-order Flame Ice Beasts then charged at Lin Tianfeng, quickly pinning him down in a pincer movement. Lin Tianfeng glanced back at the escaping clanspeople, feeling helpless and praying that his clan would arrive soon to rescue them. Returning his focus with a grave expression, his own situation was just as dire. If he were delayed for too long, he, too, could perish here. At that moment, the two second-order Iceflame Lions unleashed a roar and initiated their attack. Both lions, waving their razor-sharp claws, struck from different directions. If hit, one would likely be severely injured, if not killed. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianfeng dared not be careless. His spirit sword swung, releasing bursts of sword qi, and he engaged the two Iceflame Lions in a fierce battle. For a moment, the canyon was filled with the flash of swords and the roar of explosions. Lin Tianfeng fought and retreated, struggling valiantly against the encirclement of the two Iceflame Lions. ¡­ A few miles away, in a hilly region, Lin Xing Luan led dozens of clanspeople over a small hill. Not far behind them, more than thirty first-order Iceflame Lions caught up, now significantly faster than before. At this pace, it was feared they wouldn¡¯t make it five miles before being overtaken. Realizing the impending crisis, the clan members turned very pale. Seeing the rapidly approaching Iceflame Lions, one clansperson said, ¡°Xing Luan, at this rate, we¡¯re not going to make it. Those beasts are too fast; we can¡¯t possibly escape.¡± ¡°Yes, we can¡¯t run away now. We have to fight with everything we¡¯ve got and see if we can repel them. Otherwise, if they catch up while we¡¯re running, we¡¯ll die even quicker!¡± another clansperson added. Hearing the other clanspeople¡¯s comments, Lin Xing Luan nodded, then steeled his resolve, ready to fight to the death. Deciding, he said, ¡°Everyone is aware of our current situation. Don¡¯t hold back anything; use all your lifesaving means. Only by surviving can we have the chance for any treasures.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 357 - 219 Fleeing in All Directions_2 Chapter 357: Chapter 219 Fleeing in All Directions_2 Before his words had fallen silent, Lin Xing Luan gripped his spirit sword and immediately set off a great number of First Order talismans, utilizing all of his techniques in one go. Behind him, a large number of clan members, wielding spiritual artifacts and talismans, struck out at the same time. Although the cultivation levels of the clan members were not high, their wealth allowed them to have an abundant array of First Order talismans, and the grades of the spiritual artifacts they used were also quite decent. In their desperation, the attack power they unleashed far surpassed anything from before. For a moment, the sky above this stretch of hilly terrain was filled with sword qi and seas of fire, mixed with a great number of Five Elements Spells, engulfing the oncoming Ice Flame Lion Tribe. ¡°Boom Boom Boom.¡± ... The sound of explosions continued one after another, occasionally pierced by the agonized roars of Ice Flame Lions, the sound of which was enough to make one¡¯s heart go numb. Once the dust settled, the figures of the Ice Flame Lion Tribe could be seen, almost every one of them had sustained injuries to varying degrees. However, the defensive power of the First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions was so strong that these injuries were negligible, and their strength was hardly affected at all. At this juncture, the Ice Flame Lion Tribe was in a state of extreme rage. The first round of attack had reduced their numbers somewhat, the First Order Initial Phase lions were basically wiped out by their attack, but the remaining twenty or so were all of a grade above the First Order Middle Stage, with as many as six at the First Order Late Stage. Underneath their ferocious expressions, sharp claws were brandished, and at the moment the dust cleared, they charged forward to attack. Seeing this, Lin Xing Luan¡¯s expression grew taut, aware that the true test was just beginning. At the moment, however, there wasn¡¯t time to think further. He moved swiftly, charging ahead first, with his spirit sword shining brightly, he intercepted three First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions. When the three Ice Flame Lions saw him approaching, they roared with excitement as if encountering delicious prey. They then swung their paws in a fierce blow, clashing with the oncoming sword qi. ¡°Bang Bang Bang.¡± The collision of sword qi and the Ice Flame Lions¡¯ claws sounded like metal striking metal. The strength of the Ice Flame Lions was astonishing, and their defensive power was extremely strong. They withstood his sword qi without any sign of injury. Seeing this, Lin Xing Luan¡¯s face darkened. He had exerted all his strength, but he struggled to pose a fatal threat to the three Ice Flame Lions. If things continued like this, not to mention defeating them, it was doubtful if he could even survive. Indeed, while he was barely managing to hold on, the situation of the clan members was even more dire. Despite their advantage in numbers, they simply could not compare when it came to high order combat power. The other three First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions pounced like tigers descending the mountain, each swipe injuring a clan member. Only those at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement could barely withstand a few attacks, but for those at the Third Level of Qi Refining, a single touch meant certain death. As Lin Xing Luan watched his clan members fall one by one, his heart raced with urgency, but he too was in a perilous situation, quickly sustaining serious injuries under the onslaught of three Ice Flame Lions. He could only watch as another clan member was impaled through the body by the claws of a First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lion, dying reluctantly in the end. This scene, along with the desperate gazes of his fellow clan members, struck him with immense shock. He let out an angry roar, and the sword qi in his hand grew even more fierce. He attacked recklessly, as if betting his life, which finally made the Ice Flame Lions that were attacking him somewhat wary. Despite his frenzied state, he was unable to stop the tide of battle, and the clan members were also in retreat, with more than a dozen having already perished. In a short amount of time, the battle continued unabated, and it had escalated to an intense level. At this point, the entire area in the hills was stained red with blood, the corpses of clan members and Ice Flame Lions lay scattered haphazardly on the ground. After a brief respite, Lin Xing Luan gathered the remaining twenty or so people together and looked angrily at the Ice Flame Lion Tribe. On the other side, the Ice Flame Lion Tribe fared much better. They still numbered over twenty, all of which were of the First Order Middle Stage, they had the Lin family members completely encircled, ready to continue their attack at any moment. After fierce fighting, the Lin family members were clearly at a disadvantage. From the original count of over fifty, less than thirty remained, most of them wounded and their reserves of spiritual power nearly depleted, greatly diminishing their overall strength. Such a great loss, the Lin Family hadn¡¯t suffered in over ten years. As for the Ice Flame Lion Tribe, only more than a dozen had died, and the strength of the surviving demonic beasts remained formidable. Lin Xing Luan¡¯s face had turned utterly pale at this point; he knew the situation had become irreversible. If help didn¡¯t arrive soon, a total annihilation of his forces was highly likely to ensue. With a helpless sigh, he considered that if he only looked after his own escape, there might be a slim chance of survival. But he didn¡¯t want to abandon his clansmen, to watch them die right before his eyes. He couldn¡¯t do it; he didn¡¯t want to live as a coward, abandoning his people. At this moment, one of the clansmen spoke up to persuade him, ¡°Xing Luan, we have no hope of breaking through the encirclement. With your cultivation not low, and having the potential for Foundation Establishment, we will find a way to hold off the Ice Flame Lions for a moment, and you take the chance to break out.¡± Among the crowd, the clansmen began to echo in agreement, ¡°Yes, since there¡¯s no hope, don¡¯t burden yourself with guilt. Don¡¯t give up your path for us. When you are safe, let Uncle San avenge us by wiping out this tribe.¡± Hearing his clansmen¡¯s exhortations, Lin Xing Luan felt warmth in his heart but was all the more resolved in his decision. That was to live or die with the clansmen present. With these thoughts in mind, he laughed heartily and said, ¡°My fellow clansmen, how could I, Xing Luan, abandon you to save my own life? I have been on the cultivation path for over seventy years; it is fine to end it here.¡± Before he finished speaking, the clansmen were touched in spirit, and smiles flashed across their faces. But the more he spoke, the more they tried to convince him; being of low cultivation, they couldn¡¯t contribute much to the Lin Family, but Lin Xing Luan was different. As someone in the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm, he was the backbone of the current family. However, before they could speak again, the ferocious Ice Flame Lions launched their attack. Watching the oncoming fierce Ice Flame Lions, Lin Xing Luan swung his Spirit Sword, releasing a mass of Sword Qi sweeping across them. At the same time, he patted his storage bag, and his hand produced a large number of talismans, including a blood-red talisman, which was actually a Second Order low-grade Attack Talisman. This Second Order low-grade Attack Talisman had always been his life-saving trump card, never to be used unless it was absolutely necessary. In the current hopeless situation, it was useless to hold back; he had to use everything, even if it meant dying, to inflict heavy damage on the Ice Flame Lions. Making up his mind, he didn¡¯t hesitate to activate the talismans in his hand, transforming them into a huge fireball that he smashed down towards the Ice Flame Lions facing him. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Two tragic cries were heard as two Ice Flame Lions at the First Order Late Stage couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were directly hit by the massive fireball. When the firelight dissipated, the figures of the Ice Flame Lion Tribe were revealed. Lying on the ground were two enormous Ice Flame Lions, their bodies charred black, with a hole as big as a bucket in their stomachs, from which large amounts of blood poured out, quickly pooling into a blood pond. They struggled unwillingly for a moment, before becoming motionless, clearly dead. Seeing their companions¡¯ tragic state, the remaining four Ice Flame Lions let out a furious roar and swung their sharp claws from different directions, raging towards Lin Xing Luan. At this moment, Lin Xing Luan¡¯s expression turned eerily calm; his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted, and all his methods had been exhausted, leaving him no way to evade so many simultaneous attacks. Yet, in this life and death crisis, he released all his Spiritual Power, activating one of the Defensive Spiritual Tools in his hand to inflate into a brown shield, doing his best to protect as many clanspeople as possible. In an instant, several sharp and forceful gigantic claws struck the shield. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of booming sounds followed; the shield in front of Lin Xing Luan held up for just a moment before shattering completely. The Ice Flame Lions¡¯ terrifying claws paused briefly and then continued their assault on his flesh, ready to smash him to death with one swipe. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 358 - 220 Rescue, Search_1 Chapter 358: Chapter 220 Rescue, Search_1 Lin Xing Luan gave a bitter smile, and with a palm strike, collided with the oncoming claws. This final blow was also his last act of defiance; he absolutely wouldn¡¯t just stand by and wait for death. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah!¡± When intense pain shot through his arm, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a wretched scream as his body was sent flying backward, crashing into a mound and creating a ten-foot deep crater, burying him within. At that moment, the clanspeople who had witnessed this scene hurried toward Lin Xing Luan. They arrived at the edge of the mound, their palms digging away the soil covering Lin Xing Luan. ... They saw his face pale to the extreme, his entire arm severed, blood slowly seeping from the wound and quickly soaking his robe. Seeing Lin Xing Luan unconscious and grievously injured, but still breathing, the clanspeople desperately shouted his name. After several calls with no response, everyone¡¯s faces grew grim, their eyes filled with murderous intent as they stared at the approaching Ice Flame Lion Tribe. Lin Xing Luan had sustained severe injuries while protecting them; his life hung in the balance. Lin Tianfeng was being besieged by two Second Order Ice Flame Lions and was equally in danger, unable to attend to their plight. Before the clan¡¯s rescue could arrive, their last straw of hope had vanished. In the crowd, one clansperson roared, ¡°Fellow clan brothers, let¡¯s fight them with all we¡¯ve got¡­¡± ¡°Fight them¡­¡± With those words, the Spiritual Artifacts in the clanspeople¡¯s hands flickered with Spiritual Light as they fearlessly charged toward the Ice Flame Lion Tribe. At that moment, they seemed to forget the huge disparity in strength between them, as their valiant charge was nothing but a futile effort. Just as the clanspeople were willing to die heroically, a massive dark shadow descended from the sky at an extreme speed. As the shadow drew nearer, the clanspeople realized that the two figures standing atop it were the clan¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, Lin Shikang, and Lin Tianming. The Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s speed was astonishingly fast, plummeting from a thousand feet in the blink of an eye. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, ten miles away, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming were the first to spot the clanspeople below. Seeing the tragic scene below, the color drained from their faces. Since leaving Green Bamboo Mountain, they had been flying non-stop, and in just half a day, the Purple Gold Eagle had covered hundreds of miles. Finally, at this critical moment, they arrived on the battlefield. Even before they landed, Lin Tianming shouted fiercely, ¡°Evil beasts, courting death.¡± The clanspeople below, hearing this angry shout and seeing them arrive at this life-or-death moment, were overjoyed and their expressions instantly lit up with ecstasy. They had already resigned themselves to their fate and accepted death, but to their surprise, Lin Tianming had arrived in time. With him here, there was no chance for the Ice Flame Lions to survive, and they too might live. After all, no one wishes to die easily, not even the weaker clanspeople. In mid-air, Lin Tianming leapt from the Purple Gold Eagle, his powerful Foundation Establishment Stage might pressing down fiercely. Feeling the terrifying might, all the Ice Flame Lions were momentarily petrified, panicked and disoriented, with some First Order Medium Stage Ice Flame Lions unable to withstand the horror and bleeding from all seven orifices, ending up writhing on the ground. With a pat on his storage bag, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords flew out in an instant, quickly spinning a few circles before dispersing, encompassing most of the Ice Flame Lions. In a fleeting moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation activated, and the majority of the Ice Flame Lions trapped couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure of the formation, faced with inevitable death. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, only a few Ice Flame Lions could still move, among them, just four First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions struggled mightily against the barriers of the Sword Array, attempting to escape. But sadly, no matter how they struggled, they could not change their fate. Not only that, their leader¡¯s fate was equally tragic, targeted by Lin Shikang and the Purple Gold Eagle who had rushed to support Lin Tianfeng. Under the terrifying power of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, it was likely that not even remnants would be left. Lin Tianming, at that moment, spared no mercy. Seeing his dead clanspeople, he was filled with rage and resolved to claim the lives of all the Ice Flame Lions. Suddenly, wretched cries echoed from within the Sword Array. Under the wandering Sword Qi, even Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts would suffer grave injuries or death upon contact, let alone these weaker First Order Demon Beasts. Some clanspeople who had come to their senses also joined the battle, unleashing their remaining Spiritual Power in fierce attacks, slaughtering the weaker Ice Flame Lions on the periphery. With Lin Tianming¡¯s might suppressing them, the Ice Flame Lions¡¯ power was greatly diminished, their escape speeds reduced, leaving them with no chance to flee. The clanspeople struck decisively and ruthlessly, as if venting the hatred in their hearts. A quarter of an hour passed, and the battle ceased, leaving silence in its wake. Lin Tianming waved his hand, summoning all the Earth Evil Swords back into his storage bag. Looking around, the ground was littered with Demon Beast Corpses. Those that had been trapped in Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Array met particularly gruesome ends, bodies drenched in blood, riddled with holes. The materials once valuable for Artifact Refining and Talisman Making were almost completely ruined, leaving little of use. Although these materials were of little concern to Lin Tianming, for the Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople, they were precious commodities. Nevertheless, none of the clanspeople seemed upset about this, as the Ice Flame Lions had killed more than twenty of their kin, their claws drenched with the blood of their people. Even hacking the beasts to pieces wouldn¡¯t quell the hatred burning in their hearts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 359 - 220 Rescue, Search_2 Chapter 359: Chapter 220 Rescue, Search_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression gradually calmed down. He immediately ran to Lin Xing Luan¡¯s side and thoroughly examined his injuries. One after another, the clan members also gathered around, looking at Lin Xing Luan with concern without uttering a word. After Lin Tianming¡¯s examination, he furrowed his brows and then took out a Consolidating Essence Pill for him to swallow before laying him flat on the ground. From the crowd, a clansman asked, ¡°Tianming, how serious are Xing Luan¡¯s injuries? Are they serious, and will they affect his cultivation path?¡± Another clan member joined in, ¡°Yes, Xing Luan got so seriously injured for our sake; he mustn¡¯t be left with any hidden ailments.¡± Hearing the clansmen¡¯s concerned words, Lin Tianming helplessly shook his head. ¡°Uncle Xing Luan¡¯s injuries are severe. Not to mention the loss of an arm, the meridians inside his body have been damaged to varying degrees. Although it¡¯s not fatal, it will be very difficult for him to make further progress.¡± ... Hearing this, all the clansmen¡¯s faces darkened. They had noticed the severity before but didn¡¯t dare to believe it, clinging instead to the hope of a full recovery. Since Lin Tianming, who had such discerning eyes, had said so, it was feared that Lin Xing Luan¡¯s cultivation path would be difficult to advance further. Perhaps he could cultivate to Complete Qi Refining, but the difficulty of breaking through Foundation Establishment would be doubled, almost certainly ending in failure. For a moment, all the clansmen showed a look of regret, but when they looked at Lin Xing Luan, a warm smile appeared on their faces involuntarily. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instructed, ¡°All fellow clansmen, start cleaning the battlefield immediately, bring back the remains of our deceased clansmen to rest in our clan¡¯s land, and as for those Demonic Beast Materials, just take care of them along the way.¡± After he spoke, the clansmen nodded and began to clean the battlefield. Lin Tianming stood on top of a small hill, contemplating the origins and the whereabouts of the Iceflame Lion Tribe. Just then, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianfeng came over, followed by a Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing that Lin Tianfeng was safe and sound, aside from being pale and having some minor injuries, looking like he was overexerted, Lin Tianming immediately went up to greet the two of them. ¡°Big brother, are you alright?¡± With a wry smile, Lin Tianfeng said, ¡°Nothing too serious, just overexertion and some minor wounds. I was surrounded by two Second Order Initial Stage Iceflame Lions. If Third Grandfather hadn¡¯t arrived just in time, I¡¯m afraid I would have been left behind here.¡± As Lin Tianfeng spoke, recalling the perilous scene, his expression showed fright. At that time, when the formation was breached, he was surrounded and fought bitterly against the two Iceflame Lions while constantly being overpowered. Fortunately, he had been through many fierce battles and had rich combat experience. In addition, the attack power of the Iceflame Lions was not too formidable, which allowed him to hold on until the rescue arrived. Otherwise, if it had dragged on for half an hour and his Spiritual Power had been exhausted, he might have ended up in the maws of the demon beasts. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianfeng wore an uncomfortable expression and said with regret, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that we still couldn¡¯t protect the clansmen, leading to the loss of more than twenty in this battle.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shikang consoled, ¡°Tianfeng, you¡¯ve done your best. Those two Iceflame Lions were among the stronger Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts.¡± ¡°Especially the uninjured Iceflame Lion, its strength almost reached the level of the Second Order Middle Stage. You managing to protect yourself is already a success. As for the lower-cultivation clansmen, it truly was beyond help.¡± Upon hearing this comforting response, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s complexion finally improved. On the side, Lin Tianming was pondering. They had just exterminated the Qilin Beast Horde and hadn¡¯t had time to explore the surrounding area. When the family sent people to reclaim the land here, they had surveyed it, finding no trace of Second Order Demon Beasts within dozens of miles. Moreover, with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading, they had let down their guard. But where did this massive Iceflame Lion Tribe come from? Beasts of the Demon Beast Race generally didn¡¯t leave their own territory, much less easily set foot in another demon beast¡¯s territory. If it were a small demon beast tribe, or just a single beast or two, there might be wandering ones. This Iceflame Lion Tribe was of moderate size and was likely a group that had long lived in the Luoyun Mountain Range. It could be that they just happened upon the territory whose owner had died, setting their sights on this land rich in Water Attribute Spiritual Power. After much thought, he still couldn¡¯t come up with any possibilities, so he could only speculate. Lin Shikang, who was next to him, was also pondering this slightly eerie matter, and when he failed to come to a conclusion, he exchanged a glance with Lin Tianming, as if they were telepathically in sync. Lin Tianming voiced his thoughts, ¡°Third Grandfather, I always feel that this ambush was rather strange. For the sake of long-term safety, let¡¯s have Tianfeng lead the clan back to the sect after a while. We¡¯ll explore the nearby area to see if we can discover anything.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in agreement and replied, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking. Tianfeng, you and the Purple Gold Eagle take the clan back to the mountain. We¡¯ll abandon this place for now and once we have thoroughly scouted the surroundings, we¡¯ll make further plans.¡± After receiving the instructions, Lin Tianfeng nodded and then sat down to meditate and recover from his injuries and spiritual power. Half an hour later, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s spiritual power had recovered somewhat, and the clansmen had also finished cleaning up the battlefield. At this time, on the mountainous terrain, there were hardly any remaining traces, and the seriously injured Lin Xing Luan had also regained consciousness. Lin Tianming and others approached to check on him, and seeing that his condition was temporarily stabilized, Lin Shikang uttered a few words of comfort before instructing the Purple Gold Eagle to lead the clan members back to Green Bamboo Mountain. The two watched as the Purple Gold Eagle took off with the clansmen, flying towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Shikang shifted his gaze and said to Lin Tian Ming, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s get moving, and scout out the Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± After speaking, he took out his Golden Wind Sword and strode rapidly into the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Lin Tianming, not daring to be careless, had already experienced the demonic beasts in this mountain range. He drew his Tiangang Sword and held it in hand, stepping forward to follow Lin Shikang¡¯s pace. The two turned into two shadows leaping across the mountain tops and disappearing into the dense fog. Time flew by, and two months had passed. In the Luoyun Mountain Range, within a dense forest, the figures of Lin Tianming and another appeared. They had reached the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range, far from the Hanbing Mountain Range. By their estimation, they had ventured at least three hundred miles. Although they hadn¡¯t reached the center of the range, they were not far off. Having travelled this far, the two dared not venture any further. Going a hundred more miles forward, they might encounter Third Order Demon Beasts. Once confronted, even with Lin Shikang by their side, escape would likely be difficult. The two stood atop a pair of large trees, scrutinizing their surroundings deep in thought. In these two months, the two had traversed many peaks and crossed numerous rivers within the vast Luoyun Mountain Range. They had explored a large region and gathered basic information on various demonic beasts, which they recorded in a specially crafted book. During this time, they had fought more than a dozen battles. Fortunately, with Lin Shikang¡¯s Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivation to back them up, they did not covet the Second and Third Order Spiritual Medicines¡ªthey were merely exploring. As such, no life-threatening battles occurred. With their careful investigation, they discovered that the number of demonic beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range had notably increased, and their overall strength had become stronger. There were quite a few tribes of Second Order demonic beasts, and they also found many Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. Lin Shikang had even had a few skirmishes with Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. After brief encounters, he would take Lin Tianming and hastily retreat. At this moment, Lin Shikang looked at the fog-enshrouded dense forest ahead and then said, ¡°Tianming, going any deeper would be too dangerous. We have roughly scouted the situation in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Let¡¯s head back.¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Mm¡­ This place is too dangerous, let¡¯s immediately return to the mountain,¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response, aware of the peril. The central area could harbor the presence of Third Order Demon Beasts. Though their combined strength was nearly a match for any Second Order demonic beast, facing a Third Order would likely leave them with no chance of escape. Thus, venturing any further would be too risky, and with their objective achieved, it was time to pull back. Already in agreement, after a brief exchange, they turned around and hastened back along the route they had come from. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 360 - 221 Precautionary Measures_1 Chapter 360: Chapter 221 Precautionary Measures_1 Half a month passed. In the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, Lin Tianming and another flew on their swords and landed outside the Protective Clan Formation. One after the other, they entered the formation, looked at the familiar family scenes, and immediately let out a sigh of relief. After nearly three months of living on the wing and being constantly on edge, even fighting a fierce battle with a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, the high-intensity journey of exploration left them utterly exhausted. It wasn¡¯t until they entered the clan gate that the crisis from the outside world was completely lifted, allowing them to finally relax. After sending out several messages, Lin Shikang led Lin Tianming to fly towards the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. ... In a short while, the two of them returned to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. Soon after receiving the message, Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and Lin Shigong arrived one after another. After exchanging greetings, the group of five sat in the courtyard and started to chat casually. Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang immediately inquired about Lin Xingluan and the deceased clan members. According to Lin Shihua, Lin Xingluan¡¯s injuries had stabilized. However, as he had previously speculated, due to the severity of the injuries, even if he recovered, the hope for advancing far on his cultivation path was still very slim. The more than twenty deceased clan members had been buried, and their compensation had been distributed to their descendants according to the clan rules; those without direct descendants with Spiritual Roots had their portion temporarily held by the clan. If a descendant with Spiritual Roots appeared within a hundred years, the full compensation would be given to them. Hearing the Clan Leader¡¯s arrangements, which seemed quite appropriate, it was just a pity that the Lin Family had lost a Foundation Establishment seed. However, that Lin Xingluan managed to survive was a piece of fortunate news amidst the misfortune. At that moment, Lin Shikang nodded with a look of regret and then sent a message to Lin Tianfeng. Soon after, Lin Tianfeng arrived, greeted everyone, and sat aside waiting. As for being summoned, Lin Tianfeng was well-prepared, certainly to inquire about the incident where they were attacked by the Ice Flame Lion Tribe in the Hanbing Mountain Range and then to discuss it with the clan members. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected. Once everyone had arrived, Lin Shilu was the first to inquire about the attack on Lin Tianfeng and the others. Although Lin Tianfeng had reported the incident to his family as soon as he returned, he himself was quite baffled by the Ice Flame Lions¡¯ attack and had no idea why it had happened. In this way, since Lin Tianming and another had entered the mountain range to investigate, with their cultivation and strength, they might uncover some clues. Listening to Lin Shilu¡¯s tone, which also revealed some unusual undertones, Lin Shikang immediately said, ¡°I and Tianming also find this matter quite strange!¡± ¡°After more than two months of investigation by me and Tianming, we did discover some peculiarities.¡± ¡°Based on some ancient records in the Cultivation World, we found that the number of Demonic Beasts in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range has clearly increased compared to before, and their strength has also improved somewhat.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s brows furrowed, sensing the matter to be even more unusual. Lin Shikang chuckled and continued, ¡°However, we did not go to the center of the Luoyun Mountain Range, so the situation inside remains unknown, and we cannot confirm it!¡± ¡°These changes could be the natural patterns of Demonic Beasts, but it does not rule out the possibility that the higher-ups of the Demonic Beasts Race might be planning something!¡± This remark from Lin Shikang caused Lin Shilu and the other older clan members to tremble inwardly, leading them to think of the dreaded beast tides in the cultivation world. Beast tides, almost universally known in the cultivation world, are irregular and incomprehensible in their patterns. Sometimes, there is a beast tide every century, but their scale varies; a minor beast tide might involve only some Third Order Demonic Beasts while during a major one, even Fifth Order Demonic Beasts have emerged. Legend has it that ten thousand years ago, there was a major beast tide with as many as three Fifth Order Demonic Beasts involved. At that time, the territory of Qingzhou was not even a third of what it is now; that one major beast tide directly took over part of the adjacent Yunzhou, with the lives of Golden Core Stage cultivators being as dispensable as grass. A large number of high-order cultivators perished at the maws of the Demonic Beasts. In the critical moment, several Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Human Race came forth, leading powerful beings from several continents to engage in a fierce battle with the Demon Beast Army. After a brutal fight, the Human Cultivators emerged victorious. That battle was earth-shattering, with two of the Fifth Order Demonic Beasts being slain and one Nascent Soul Cultivator gravely wounded. Finally, the Demonic Beast Race withdrew of their own volition, giving up a large expanse of territory. Much of the current Qingzhou¡¯s land was gained during that time, and after thousands of years of struggle and evolution, it eventually formed several nations. These rumors are recorded in the annals, although there might be some discrepancies due to the long passage of time. However, in the treasure vaults of the ancient Sect Families, there must be more detailed historical documents. Beyond that, there are no patterns to the outbreak of beast tides; the records in the cultivation world indicate that there have been many places where beast tides have erupted. The vast areas of Qingzhou and Jizhou bordering the Demonic Lands have the highest probability of experiencing beast tides and have done so most frequently. Wei Kingdom has not experienced a beast tide in hundreds of years, causing many newer generations of cultivators to nearly forget about it; only those who are Golden Core Stage cultivators might have the chance to have lived through one. Coming back to the moment, upon seeing everyone¡¯s serious expressions, Lin Shikang started to offer reassurances. ¡°This is only speculation, because the number of Demonic Beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range has not doubled, it¡¯s just a bit abnormal.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 361 - 221 Precautionary Measures_2 Chapter 361: Chapter 221 Precautionary Measures_2 ¡°` ¡°Furthermore, if a beast tide were to erupt, not to mention the Lin Family, even a Golden Elixir Force would be but a trifle in the vast ocean, instantly swallowed by the beast tide!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded and said, ¡°Third Brother speaks the truth!¡± ¡°If a real beast tide is approaching, it¡¯s very difficult to say from which direction their main force would attack the heartland of the Human Race.¡± ¡°If it does happen, this isn¡¯t something within our control. When the sky falls, the tall ones will handle it, so let¡¯s not borrow trouble!¡± As soon as these words fell, the faces of Lin Shihua and the others finally returned to normal. ... Lin Shikang chuckled, then spoke seriously, ¡°What Shilu has said is exactly my point.¡± ¡°However, for safety reasons, our family must further strengthen its defenses and send more clan members to patrol the mountain gates.¡± ¡°Besides, we are not short of elixirs; we need to extensively purchase talisman paper and other consumable war resources as a precaution.¡± After speaking, Lin Shikang looked up at Lin Shihua, signaling for his opinion on the matter. Lin Shihua nodded and said, ¡°I will arrange for clan members to secretly handle this. But what about those external territories and the Spirit Lands we¡¯re preparing to cultivate? How should they be disposed of?¡± With this question, Lin Shihua posed a challenging problem for the others. The family had just planned to focus on these industries and had already invested a lot of manpower, resources, and financial efforts into them. It would be a pity to give them up. As expected, everyone fell into silence, evidently lacking any good solutions. Seeing that no one was speaking, Lin Shikang broke the silence, ¡°Everyone, please share your thoughts and let¡¯s try to work out a reliable solution.¡± One by one, the clan members expressed their opinions, and Lin Tianming was not left out. His view on the matter was rather bold. There were no signs of the Demon Beast Tide, and even if it were true, it was difficult to pinpoint the location and timing of the beast tide¡¯s eruption. If they were to hunker down and waste precious time, it would be a case of lost gains. In addition, the family had been developing smoothly over the years, with overall strength on the rise. If their progress were to be disrupted, getting back on track would take a lot more time. Thinking about this, he began to share his thoughts, and soon they were acknowledged by everyone. Seeing this, Lin Shikang made up his mind and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s follow Tianming¡¯s suggestion. The family will strengthen its defenses and secretly accumulate war resources.¡± ¡°As for those territories and Spirit Lands, we¡¯ll proceed as normal with their development. However, everything must prioritize safety, whether it¡¯s the Luoyun Market, Golden Horn Mountain, or Jiuhua Mountain, all must heighten their defenses.¡± ¡°As for cultivating those Spirit Lands, we must be more careful. Currently, the clan has enough Foundation Establishment Clan Members. We should investigate the surroundings of the Spirit Lands more thoroughly, assign more people to lead teams, and prioritize prudence to avoid repeating the mistakes that happened to Xing Luan and his group.¡± Upon hearing the instructions, the clan members all nodded and then discussed some finer details. The sun set in the west, and they talked until evening, arranging many family affairs before finally greeting each other and leaving Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng walked together, discussing their cultivation plans for the coming period as they went. Lin Tianming smiled. The family and the outside world had been relatively stable these past years, and he rarely had a chance to relax. With no urgent business requiring him to go out, he planned to continue his closed-door cultivation, striving to elevate his strength as much as possible. If a beast tide were indeed to happen, an extra measure of strength would make his family and himself a bit safer. On the other hand, Lin Tianfeng had family duties; the cultivation of Spirit Lands must continue, and his experience and strength were the foremost choices besides Lin Tianming. Therefore, he and Lin Tianhong had more family responsibilities assigned to them, and if he wanted to cultivate in peace like Tianming, he might need to wait a few more years. To this, Lin Tianfeng felt no dissatisfaction. In his heart, he felt he had not contributed to the family as much as Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu. Having made his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, it was natural for him to start repaying the family for their years of nurturing. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words deeply moved Lin Tianming, who thought that if every clan member had the same awareness as Lin Tianfeng, ¡°` The family has nothing to worry about its prosperity! As time passed by unknowingly, the two of them reached the Cave Mansion District. After giving each other a few reminders, they entered their respective cave mansions. Lin Tianming returned to his cave mansion, feeling somewhat weary from his three-month exploration journey. Now that he was back in his own abode, he naturally wanted to rest properly. Having made up his mind, he walked into his room and lay down on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Two days later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and climbed out of bed. A two-day sleep had completely dissipated all feelings of fatigue, and he felt his condition return to its peak. He exhaled a breath of stale air and stretched languidly before heading to the training room. Sitting on the meditation cushion with his hands clasped and eyes tightly shut, he began to meditate and regulate his breathing, appearing ready to enter a closed-door cultivation. He planned to cultivate with the help of the Fusion Spirit Pill and concurrently test the effects of the elixirs he had concocted. After half an hour, once his condition reached its peak, he took out a Fusion Spirit Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. Once the elixir entered his mouth, its energy slowly began to spread. After refining it through cultivation, the energy transformed into gentle spiritual power, eventually converging in his Seven Seas Dantian. Feeling this spiritual power, he realized its quality was indeed much stronger than that of the Lingshen Pill, and it was refined faster as well. Upon careful observation, he could even feel his cultivation level slowly rising. Although it was slow, the increase was distinctly noticeable. By now, he had taken too many Lingshen Pills. Only the Superior Spirit Essence Pills he concocted himself had some effect; the ordinary Lingshen Pills were remarkably ineffective, only slightly better than pure meditation. Thinking about it, this wasn¡¯t surprising. The Lingshen Pill was the most common elixir in the Cultivation World. As long as the Spiritual Medicine Materials were old enough, even fourth-order pills could be produced. However, Spiritual Medicine Materials capable of producing fourth-order Lingshen Pills were extremely rare in the Cultivation World, almost impossible to come by. Moreover, once one reached the Golden Core Stage realm, there were hardly any cultivators who would choose to cultivate with Lingshen Pills. After all, there were many types of elixirs to aid cultivation, and from the perspective of Golden Core Stage cultivators and the energy required for cultivation, Lingshen Pills were simply inadequate. Instead of looking for third-order Lingshen Pills, they could completely replace them with other elixirs. And Lingshen Pills of average effect were generally only found among lower-level cultivators. Many cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, who had a decent wealth, switched to better elixirs like the Fusion Spirit Pill or other cultivation aids. Regaining his focus, he had already been cultivating for a short while. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the long-lost pain began to gradually arrive, although it came later and was less intense than what he experienced when taking Lingshen Pills. The current pain was not strong, but Lin Tianming endured it, wanting to persist as long as possible. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the pain intensified. His complexion turned a bit pale, and sweat began to pour from his forehead, soaking his robe. When the pain became unbearable, he took out a Dragon Bone Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. As the elixir took effect, the medicinal power of the Dragon Bone Pill began to emerge, and its gentle energy covered the painful sensations in his body. Soon, the severe pain gradually subsided and eventually returned to normal. Afterward, Lin Tianming circulated his cultivation technique, voraciously refining the energy contained within the two kinds of pills. Under the Heavenly Grade Technique, the energy within the pills visibly diminished at a swift pace. At that moment, he could clearly feel his spiritual power increasing slightly, advancing towards the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. Although there was still some distance to breakthrough, his long-stagnant cultivation level was also slowly climbing. A look of joy crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s face as he inwardly exclaimed, ¡°The effect of the Fusion Spirit Pill is indeed much stronger than the Lingshen Pill, one pill is comparable to three, and the refinement is faster with fewer side effects, truly worthy of its grade and price!¡± Regathering his focus, he continued to operate his cultivation technique, refining the medicinal power contained within the Fusion Spirit Pill. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 362 - 222 Funeral_1 Chapter 362: Chapter 222 Funeral_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. On a mountain peak outside the Protective Clan Formation, several clan members were practicing Sword Flight as they swept across the peak. These individuals were members of the Lin Family¡¯s Law Enforcement Hall. Following Lin Shikang¡¯s orders to strengthen the security, the Enforcement Hall temporarily issued many tasks, recruiting a number of cultivators at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and above to take turns patrolling. Today, it was Lin Xingpu¡¯s turn to lead the patrol. Following the arrangements made by the Law Enforcement Hall Master, Lin Xingzhi, they split into two groups to patrol the expansive area spanning tens of miles beyond the Protective Clan Formation. Regarding these orders, Lin Xingzhi didn¡¯t offer any explanation. Although Lin Xingpu was somewhat puzzled in his heart, he still carried out his duties as usual. Today marked the tenth day he had led the patrol. Accompanied by several members, he arrived at a location tens of miles from the Protective Clan Formation as required and began the patrol. ... At this moment, within the patrolling group, one member was murmuring something as they practiced Sword Flight. Lin Xingpu frowned upon hearing this idle chatter. His expression serious, he immediately said, ¡°Xing Ji, the patrol duty is an arrangement from the family. Don¡¯t speak carelessly anymore. If Xingzhi finds out, be careful the family rules and laws don¡¯t come after you.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, another member chimed in, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve even heard about a Tian Clan Member who made a mistake, had their cultivation sealed, and was sent to a secret chamber to face the wall and reflect for three years.¡± Another clan member, hearing this and with a look of terror, couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Three years, if it were closed-door cultivation for three years, that would be one thing. But being sealed and facing the wall for three years is no different than being an ordinary person. I can¡¯t even begin to imagine what that would feel like over these three years.¡± Hearing these words from his fellow members and thinking about Lin Xingzhi¡¯s usual stern and serious way of handling things, Xing Ji¡¯s complexion changed, and he quickly looked around cautiously, afraid that some clan member passing by might hear the complaints he had just uttered. Seeing his expression, the rest of the clan members started to laugh. ¡°Alright, stop talking about useless things. Patrolling is the family¡¯s arrangement. Everyone must do their duty, and not bring trouble to the family by neglecting your responsibilities or harboring complaints. After all, having received the family¡¯s salary, we must do our jobs well with peace of mind,¡± they said. ¡°Understood?¡± Hearing Lin Xingpu¡¯s stern words, the several members immediately responded with a grave expression, ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xingpu nodded his head, then resumed Sword Flight, leading the members to continue patrolling around the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Time slowly passed, and a year went by in tranquility. ¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On this day, within the cave dwelling of Lin Tianming. In the Pill Refining Room, he sat cross-legged on the floor. Spiritual Power flashed in his hand, striking the Blueflame Furnace until a scent of elixirs wafted out, and he ceased his efforts. Lifting the lid of the furnace, several Lingshen Pills lay at the bottom. He collected the elixirs and stored all of them in a Jade Bottle. Just as he was about to strike while the iron was hot and continue with alchemy, a message pierced through the prohibitions and hovered before him. Pausing, he then cast a Law Decree to read the content of the message. After a few moments, his expression turned mournful. After tidying up the chaotic Pill Refining Room, he pushed the door and walked out. Before long, he arrived in a courtyard located halfway up the mountain. By this time, more than a dozen clan members had gathered in the courtyard. They were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family, and apart from those who had been dispatched elsewhere, nearly everyone in the Clan Grounds was there. Seeing Lin Tianming arrive, Lin Xingzhi and a few others came up and nodded greetings to each other. Lin Xingzhi¡¯s face was touched with sorrow as he said, ¡°Tianming, Seventh Uncle¡¯s time is drawing near, and he has only a few days left. He specifically asked to see you. Hurry inside!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and proceeded toward the depths of the courtyard. After passing through several long corridors and pavilions, he arrived at a quiet chamber. At this point, several members of the Shi Clan were present, as well as one member of the Xing Clan, the only descendant of Lin Shigang with a Spiritual Root. His name was Lin Xinghan, more than eighty years old, with a cultivation at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Xinghan was kneeling in front of the bed, his eyes red and tears streaming down his face as he waited quietly. Above, the elderly and haggard Lin Shihe with white hair sat at the head of the bed, with Lin Shikang on the other side. One on the left and one on the right, they held Lin Shigang¡¯s hand, occasionally nodding and saying something. But most of the time, it was Lin Shigang speaking. He was apparently giving instructions concerning his last wishes. Lin Shigang, a year or two younger than Lin Shihe, was facing the end of his life sooner than the older Lin Shihe, which is not unusual in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators of the same age, with deeper cultivation or having consumed some genius treasures, generally possess stronger vitality and can live a few extra years. Since Lin Shihe previously served as the head of the Scripture Pavilion and compared to the overworked Lin Shigang of the Skill Transmission Hall, he had a somewhat easier time, with more opportunities for cultivation and a marginally deeper cultivation. Therefore, it was not surprising that he could live a few years longer than Lin Shigang. However, now that Lin Shigang¡¯s end was near, it meant that Lin Shihe, who was even older, wouldn¡¯t have much time left either. Aware of this, Lin Shihe gripped Lin Shigang¡¯s hand tightly. Both had given up on the attempt to reach Foundation Establishment more than twenty years ago and could only wait for their natural end. They both had long since come to terms with this reality and had accepted it, so there was no expression of reluctance on their faces. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, Lin Shikang waved his hand, indicating for him to hurry over. Lin Tianming did not delay, quickly stepping forward to come to Lin Shigang¡¯s bedside. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 363 - 222 Funeral_2 Chapter 363: Chapter 222 Funeral_2 Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, a flush of red briefly passed over Lin Shigang¡¯s pale face. Lin Tianming bowed to Lin Shigang and then said, ¡°Seventh Grandpa, your nephew Tianming has come to see you!¡± With Lin Shikang¡¯s support, Lin Shigang slowly leaned against the wall, nodded after looking at Lin Tianming, and revealed a satisfied smile. ¡°Tianming, my time is nearly up, and I don¡¯t have many days left. The family has prospered and grown stronger, which puts my mind at ease,¡± he said. ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s just a pity that I won¡¯t have the chance to see the family produce a Golden Core Clan Member. Otherwise, after I pass away, I could share this joy with our ancestors.¡± ¡°What a pity¡­ such a pity¡­¡± ... Hearing Lin Shigang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge in his nose and said with tear-filled eyes, ¡°Seventh Grandpa, what are you saying? In my eyes, your time is still far away!¡± Lin Shigang chuckled bitterly a few times. He was well aware of his own condition ¨C his life force was dwindling, and he didn¡¯t have much time left. He lifted his head to look at the clan members around him, seemingly trying to memorize their faces. Time passed, and out of the silence in the side room, Lin Shigang¡¯s voice could be heard. ¡°Tianming, everyone, there¡¯s no need to be sad. Although I won¡¯t witness a clan member break through to the Golden Core Realm, with Tianming here, it¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± ¡°Now that I¡¯ve seen you all, I consider my wish fulfilled. I¡¯ve said and arranged everything that needed to be said and arranged. Everyone, please go back to your tasks!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang also gestured with his hand and said, ¡°Tianming, you should leave first.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, bowed three times respectfully to Lin Shigang, and then slowly left the room. Back in the small courtyard, Lin Xingzhi and some others came up to greet him and started asking about Lin Shigang¡¯s condition. Lin Tianming candidly shared some details about Lin Shigang¡¯s physical state, causing the clan members present to tear up and sigh. As the Head of the Skill Transmission Hall, Lin Shigang had taught the first lessons of the Immortal Path to most of the clan members. For this elder, who had dedicated most of his life to the family, all of the Lin Family Members felt a mixture of love and gratitude. Now that his last moments were approaching, despite having anticipated this day and believing they were prepared, the clan members still found it hard to let go. Lin Tianming said a few words of comfort, and the moods of the clan members finally began to settle somewhat. As Lin Shikang and a few others exited, the rest quickly went up to greet them with clasped fists. Lin Shikang waved his hand, instructing everyone to disperse, and they all left Lin Shigang¡¯s cave abode. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t go into seclusion, and neither did the clan members in the courtyard, as they all knew that in just a few days, Lin Shigang would pass away completely, and they would have to see him off on his last journey. He returned with his grandfather, mother, and sister to his father¡¯s cave, taking the opportunity to rest and spend some quality time with his family. Three days later, Lin Xinghan sent a message announcing Lin Shigang¡¯s passing. Upon hearing this news, Lin Shigong wore a sad expression and hurriedly led Lin Tianming and the others to the Spirit Hall to pay their respects. Before long, the four of them arrived at Lin Shigang¡¯s cave abode, and outside the courtyard, a large number of Qi Refining Clanspeople bowed deeply, their faces filled with sorrow. These were all Qi Refining members of the Lin Family, each had stepped onto the path of cultivation under Lin Shigang¡¯s guidance. Learning of their mentor¡¯s demise from their elders, they had set aside their work and come to pay their last respects, sending him off on his final journey. Seeing the large number of clan members outside, Lin Shigong nodded and led the others into the courtyard. By this time, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had arrived, and several core members of the family had come to pay their respects and offer incense to Lin Shigang. Lin Tianming and the others joined in, and even the Foundation Establishment Clan Members adhered to the customs of the Secular World in such a solemn and serious situation. Here, it was only one¡¯s seniority that mattered, not one¡¯s cultivation level, and even Lin Shilu, at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, still had to pay homage to Lin Shigang¡¯s Spirit Tablet. After the rituals were performed, they sat on the stone benches to the side, chatting casually as they waited for all the clan members to finish their respects before burying Lin Shigang¡¯s remains in the family cemetery. Following Lin Shigang¡¯s burial, his Spirit Tablet would be moved to the family ancestral hall. This process held a profound significance for all Lin Family Members. Only with the Spirit Tablet placed in the ancestral hall could one receive recognition from the family and the ancestors. Since the establishment of the Lin Family, there had been no shortage of treacherous individuals who, during their lifetime, had done things detrimental to the family¡¯s interests or unity. In the end, their Spirit Tablets were not permitted in the ancestral hall. This kind of punishment, in some sense, was much more severe than being confined or stripped of one¡¯s cultivation and cast into the mundane world. For the vast majority of clan members, as long as they diligently practiced cultivation, even with modest cultivation levels, their Spirit Tablets would smoothly enter the ancestral hall after they passed away. The placement of a Spirit Tablet in the ancestral hall symbolized recognition from both the ancestors and the descendants. Some clan members who had made significant contributions to the family would even be revered by the future generations. Only by completing this step could one¡¯s life be considered truly concluded. Once Lin Shigang¡¯s Spirit Tablet was enshrined in the ancestral hall and the clan members paid their respects, this process was considered complete, marking the end of the events. The clan members returned to their peaceful lives, focusing on cultivation once again, and Lin Tianming prepared to go into seclusion. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 364 - 222 Funeral_3 Chapter 364: Chapter 222 Funeral_3 However, Elder Wu, Lin Shihe, didn¡¯t seclude himself for a few days when his time ran out; he personally witnessed Lin Shigang passing away. After Lin Shigang¡¯s funeral was over, Lin Shihe followed suit in just a matter of days and passed away directly through meditation. As the head of the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Shihe guarded the pavilion for decades and made significant contributions to the family. With his age only second to Lin Shikang, he was both virtuous and highly esteemed. Having attended Lin Shigang¡¯s funeral, it was natural not to neglect this revered ancestor. Lin Tianming had no choice but to end his seclusion and participate in Lin Shihe¡¯s funeral. All the procedures were as before, and after a few days of busy preparations, things gradually returned to calm. With the passing of both Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe, only four Foundation Establishment stage Clan Members of the Shi generation remained, so there wouldn¡¯t be any more elder deaths in the short term. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... However, the Xing generation Clan Members were aging, with the eldest among them nearing a hundred years old, but fortunately, they still had some years left. Moreover, not every Clan Member¡¯s funeral would be so solemn¡ªonly those who had made great contributions to the family would receive such treatment. The funerals of the ordinary Clan Members were mainly attended by close relatives and intimately associated Clan Members. Otherwise, if the hundreds of Lin Family members had to participate in every single funeral, they would hardly have the peace of mind to cultivate. With the passing of the two Shi generation elders, the Tian generation stepped into middle age, which signified a new starting point for the family. Currently, the Tian generation had the most members, totaling over seven hundred, with Lin Tianfeng, the oldest, now in his forties. In a few years, the family would welcome a new Chang generation. At the moment, there were six Foundation Establishment Clan Members among the Tian generation, eight among the Xing generation, and four from the Shi generation. The Tian generation was rapidly catching up to the Xing in numbers and would easily surpass them in a few years. What¡¯s more, among the Tian generation were many who were at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement and some with excellent Spiritual Root Talent. They were still young, and given enough resources, their potential to breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage wasn¡¯t low; successful or not, they would become the backbone of the family. Indeed, the Tian generation brimmed with talent, forming the foundation and hope for the family¡¯s continued strength. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and a year and a half went by in tranquility. The sadness from the loss of the two Shi generation elders gradually faded into oblivion, and the family enjoyed peace. Each Clan Member resumed their normal lives and cultivation practices. On this day, it was Lin Xingpu¡¯s turn to lead the patrol team. Early in the morning, at the break of dawn, the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was shrouded in thick fog while hints of morning twilight began peeking through the clouds, casting a soft glow on the peak of the main mountain. In a courtyard at the mountainside, Lin Xingpu arrived at the Enforcement Hall with several Clan Members to meet the ones they were replacing, ready to begin their patrol duty for the next six months. Looking at the few Clan Members of the enforcement squad, who had already served two terms, each term lasting six months, it was acknowledged that patrolling delayed their cultivation progress. However, the family provided generous subsidies, allowing them to purchase elixirs for cultivation. Calculating it out, the difference from secluding themselves in meditation wasn¡¯t that big. After surveying everyone, Lin Xingpu waved his hand and led the Clan Members toward the mountain gate. They left the gate and started patrolling the very familiar Green Bamboo Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 365 - 223 Sworn Siblings_1 Chapter 365: Chapter 223 Sworn Siblings_1 As evening descended upon the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within a courtyard¡­ Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes suddenly fluttering open, revealing a trace of joyous smile on his steadfast cheeks. For over a year, he had been in seclusion, emerging briefly only twice to reunite with his family and elders before resuming his closed-door cultivation. During this period, he not only refined pills for the clan but also began to engage in arduous cultivation, and the Fusion Spirit Pills he produced mostly ended up back in his own hands. With the aid of eight Fusion Spirit Pills provided by the clan, and two from his own stock, he intermittently secluded himself for over two years. After assimilating a considerable amount of Lingshen Pills and ten Fusion Spirit Pills, his cultivation astonishingly broke through to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. ¡°It truly is a case of ¡®the flowers blooming effortlessly when least tended, and the willows forming a shade when unbidden¡¯,¡± he reflected with a light-hearted chuckle. ... Upon further thought, perhaps it was because the progression from Foundation Building Fourth Level to Fifth Level remained within the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and not as challenging as the transition from the Third to Fourth Level, or Sixth to Seventh Level. After all, the breakpoints from early to middle stage, or middle to late stage, proved more difficult and yielded greater strength increases. ¡°Never mind¡­ a breakthrough is a good thing. Being overly concerned would just be too sentimental!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and then began to conclude his practice, tidying up the training room before walking out the door. At a mountain top a hundred miles outside the Protective Clan Formation of Green Bamboo Mountain, an ink-colored Spirit Boat whizzed past the peak. On the Spirit Boat stood two people, none other than Ye Pinghai and Lin Xingrong. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three years had passed, and the time for the agreement between Ye Pinghai and the Lin Family had arrived. He had made all the necessary preparations, ready to attempt the Impact of the Golden Core Stage at Green Bamboo Mountain. Gazing at the nearing Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, Ye Pinghai furrowed his brows, contemplating internally. Breaking through to the Golden Core Realm was no small feat. Success would grant him entry into the ranks of High Order Cultivators and elevate him among the top experts of the entire Wei Kingdom, not to mention even among the teeming masses of cultivators in Qingzhou, he would no longer be an unknown figure. Hence, this hurdle was twice as difficult compared to Foundation Establishment. Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators numbered at least a hundred in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, yet together, there were barely over twenty Golden Core Cultivators. Moreover, among those who achieved Golden Core Stage as Loose Cultivators, outside of the Golden Elixir Forces, the last was Real Person Lingxiao from several decades ago. This individual possessed extraordinary talent, a startling genius native to the Wei Kingdom. As a Loose Cultivator, in scarcely less than a hundred years, he broke through to the Golden Core Stage; afterward, he roamed frequently between Qing and Ji states. And the Golden Core Cultivators residing in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World were almost all from sects or clans, as resources there were rather scarce, with the majority held by those with Golden Elixir Forces. With limited resources in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it was profoundly difficult for Loose Cultivators to practice cultivation. By the time one reached the Golden Core level, the need for resources grew exponentially. Unless competing for opportunities with the Golden Core Sects, one would have to venture elsewhere for a chance at breakthrough. As such, the majority of Loose Cultivator Golden Core Masters, after breaking through, would leave the Wei Kingdom for broader horizons. From this, one could comprehend the immense difficulty Loose Cultivators faced in the Wei Kingdom attaining the Golden Core Realm. ¡°Uncle Ye¡­ we¡¯re almost at the clan¡¯s mountain gate,¡± Lin Xingrong remarked, pulling Ye Pinghai back from his reverie. Ye Pinghai nodded and smiled, his expression filled with determination. Soon, the pair drew closer to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain looming vaguely in the distance. Lin Xingpu and several other patrolling members were performing Sword Flight, circling a large portion of Green Bamboo Mountain. Everything appeared normal, and they were about to head back to the gate. At that moment, they happened upon Lin Xingrong and Ye Pinghai, heading their way. Recognizing Lin Xingrong on the Inkwind Spirit Boat, Lin Xingpu immediately led his fellow clan members to welcome them, bowing respectfully to Ye Pinghai. Ye Pinghai returned the gesture with a wave and a smile, and after exchanging pleasantries, they flew together towards the mountain gate. In the Elders¡¯ Council Hall located mid-slope of the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain¡­ Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai sat in two high seats, with a few members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation seated below, and Lin Tianming and his son at the very bottom. Having learned of his father and Ye Pinghai¡¯s return to Green Bamboo Mountain, and with his seclusion freshly concluded, Lin Tianming had come to greet Ye Pinghai at the special request of Lin Shikang. Ye Pinghai chuckled, inspecting Lin Tianming for a moment before turning his head to Lin Xingrong and commenting, ¡°Xingrong, it has only been three years, yet Tianming has once again broken through in his cultivation.¡± ¡°Your talent may be ordinary, but Tianming is truly extraordinary, a blessing for the Lin Family indeed,¡± he added teasingly. Lin Xingrong responded humbly to Ye Pinghai¡¯s playful words, ¡°You flatter him too much, Uncle Ye.¡± ¡°While Tianming¡¯s talent is not bad, it¡¯s certainly not exceptional either. Among the known cultivators in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there are at least dozens with Dual Spiritual Roots Talent like his, not to mention the unknown cultivators, making such talent hardly something noteworthy,¡± he explained. Hearing this, Ye Pinghai did not say much more. Instead, he took out a Jade Box and three Jade Bottles and held them in his hands. ¡°Tianming, I no longer have any use for these items, so I¡¯m giving them to you,¡± he said. After saying that, he tossed the Jade Box and three Jade Bottles to Lin Tianming, who caught them steadily. Glancing briefly at the two sets of items, Lin Tianming expressed his surprise, ¡°Grandpa Sea, the Demon Soul Fruit and the Fusion Spirit Pills are far too precious, I simply cannot accept them.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 366 - 223 Becoming Sworn Siblings_2 Chapter 366: Chapter 223 Becoming Sworn Siblings_2 ¡°¡±Hehe, I have already reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, I¡¯ve had these items for some time now, and indeed, there is no use for them anymore.¡± ¡°Furthermore, I wish to take your father as my sworn son, and as several fellow Daoists are here today, I wonder if you could all indulge this junior brother.¡± After Ye Pinghai finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong, one being the strongest in the Lin Family and the other the father of Lin Xingrong; naturally, their opinions were to be sought. Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong exchanged a glance, each pondering for a moment. They were very clear about the profound meaning behind Ye Pinghai¡¯s actions. He was now aiding the Lin Family, proactively taking Lin Xingrong as his sworn son as a gesture of goodwill and as a promise. He also saw potential in the Lin Family. As long as they nodded their agreement, it meant that Ye Pinghai would be considered half a member of the Lin Family, and he could then pursue the Impact of Golden Core Stage without worrying about the Lin Family harboring any ill will toward him. ... Moreover, such a sworn kinship was greatly beneficial for the Lin Family. Even if he failed to break through, the mere news of this relationship would greatly bolster the reputation of the Lin Family. At the very least, they would be seen as a family with the strength of three individuals at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, most certainly standing out among all Foundation Establishment Families in the Wei Kingdom. If Ye Pinghai were fortunate enough to break through to the Golden Core Stage, it would be like adding wings to a tiger for the Lin Family, firmly positioning them at the forefront of all Foundation Establishment Families. Considering these points, the two quickly returned to their senses, and only after Lin Shigong nodded did Lin Shikang smile and say, ¡°Since we¡¯ve had many dealings and share a tangled web of connections, honored by brother Ye¡¯s high regard, brother Xing and I have no objections to this sworn kinship.¡± No sooner had these words fallen than Lin Shigong, with a hearty laugh, chimed in, ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve been associating with each other for decades, and we¡¯ve always gotten along well. Establishing this sworn kinship will bring mutual support in the future. What greater fortune could there be?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Upon hearing the words from Lin Shikang and the others, Ye Pinghai was thrilled, then turned to Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Now that I have taken your father as my sworn son, you are like my sworn grandson, and these items are my meeting gifts to you.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± Lin Tianming hesitated for a moment. Although he was very tempted by these treasures, they were all quite valuable. It goes without saying for the Fusion Spirit Pill¡ªit has a great effect on cultivation. Even more precious is the Demon Soul Fruit. This fruit is a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit, born where the souls of Monster Beasts have perished, and collecting it is extremely difficult. It has the effect of refining vitality and tempering both skin and muscle, serving a very powerful and precious purpose. Both these items would greatly enhance him, and with his powerful Divine Sense and physique, having this Demon Soul Fruit could further enhance him. Its benefits for both combat and Alchemy were clear. For Ye Pinghai to offer such treasures off the bat, if it were ordinary items Lin Tianming would have had no need for courtesy, but these two items were so valuable that to accept them too casually might incur displeasure. With these thoughts in mind, he looked towards his grandfather, Lin Shigong, as if seeking his approval. As Lin Shikang nodded and chuckled, he looked at Lin Tianming and his son, saying, ¡°Xingrong, Tianming, won¡¯t you come forward and pay your respects to your elder?¡± Reminded by Lin Shikang, Lin Tianming then accepted the Demon Soul Fruit and three bottles of Fusion Spirit Pills. Afterward, father and son hurriedly stepped forward, presenting the Spiritual Tea with great respect to Ye Pinghai, before bowing deeply to him. ¡°Sworn son Xingrong pays respect to Uncle Ye, and sworn grandson Tianming to Grandpa Sea.¡± Seeing the sincere salutations from father and son, Ye Pinghai was overjoyed and quickly got up to pull them to their feet. The two treasures given away were actually obtained through numerous auctions and exchange meets over the years, specifically intended for Lin Tianming, all to bring himself closer to the Lin Family. Ye Pinghai was very satisfied with taking Lin Xingrong as his sworn child, and he had his own considerations for the gifts he gave away. With Lin Xingrong¡¯s frequent stays at Qianchuan Market over the years, their interactions had increased considerably. Moreover, Lin Xingrong¡¯s shrewdness in dealing with people and his keen observation won Ye Pinghai¡¯s admiration. Add to that his need for the Lin Family¡¯s support, and having no direct descendants, he took Lin Xingrong as his sworn son. This was not only to put the Lin Family at ease, but also for his own peace of mind as he pursued the Golden Core Realm. Besides, Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and the overall strength of the Lin Family were also of great interest to him. If all went well, with the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength, they could very well help Lin Tianming, who was blessed with extraordinary talent, achieve Core Formation with a high success rate and possibly even reach the Nascent Soul Stage in the future. For a Loose Cultivator like himself who had cultivated to his current level, no one knew better than he the hardships encountered along the way. The Lin Family had been good to him, and it was these factors together that were the primary drivers for establishing this sworn kinship. In this way, forging a strong relationship with the Lin Family in advance would offer him something to rely on in the future, creating a win-win situation.¡± Returning his focus, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were genuinely interested in fostering a good relationship with Ye Pinghai, given that the elders of the Lin Family were very supportive, resulting in a further warming of relations between both parties. After some casual conversation, the atmosphere gradually settled down. Lin Shikang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then got straight to the point. ¡°Ye, the three-year agreement is fast approaching, have you made your preparations, and how confident do you feel about it?¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression grew solemn, and after a wry laugh, he said, ¡°You all should be well aware of how difficult it is to break through to the Golden Core Realm, lacking either Nascent Soul Spiritual Items or defensive treasures is out of the question.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made quite a few preparations in these past few years. Although I have a Gold Fruit to aid me, and several defensive magic artifacts, I still don¡¯t feel confident about succeeding. At most, I have a thirty percent chance!¡± ¡°A thirty percent chance is already quite high,¡± Lin Shikang replied. ¡°The longer one lingers in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the lower one¡¯s potential becomes. I¡¯m risking it all, hoping for success this time.¡± Ye Pinghai responded with a wry smile after hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words. But upon further thought, a thirty percent chance was quite good; many people didn¡¯t even have such an opportunity, resorting to a forced breakthrough on the verge of dying, which is immensely more difficult. Ye Pinghai¡¯s words also served as a wake-up call to Lin Shikang, who was over a hundred years old. If he didn¡¯t attempt to reach the Golden Core Realm soon, as his potential gradually diminished, it would become even harder to make a breakthrough. Refocusing his mind, Lin Shikang then asked, ¡°Ye, our ancestors¡¯ insights on breakthroughs have been readied. When do you plan to start your attempt to enter the Golden Core Realm?¡± Ye Pinghai calmly replied, ¡°I have made all the necessary arrangements. After a period of seclusion to recuperate and studying the breakthrough insights, I can try to impact the Golden Core Realm.¡± ¡°As for the timing, it should be roughly half a year at the shortest, or a year at most.¡± ¡°When the time comes, I will have to trouble the elders to arrange a suitable place for my seclusion and to guard it for a while.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then discussed with Lin Shihua and the others about the location for the breakthrough. Considering the density of spiritual energy, as well as the destructive power of the Golden Core Tribulation, the Protective Clan Formation would need to be deactivated for a while before the Tribulation, and then reactivated afterward. Otherwise, the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation would likely be destroyed by the Golden Core Tribulation. If the formation were to be destroyed, losing the foundation of the clan would be a tremendous loss for the Lin Family. While there have been examples of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation with the aid of formations, the requirements were excessively stringent and not something the Protective Clan Formation of the Lin Family could handle. Ye Pinghai did not insist, as he had never considered using a formation to survive the Golden Core Tribulation. After some deliberation by everyone involved, it was decided to choose a secluded valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain as the location for the breakthrough. Not far from the main peak, the valley was filled with bird songs and floral fragrances, rarely trodden by clan members, and its spiritual energy density was comparable to that at the peak¡¯s summit. Besides, if the Threefold Lightning Tribulation were to come, its potent destructive force would not cause much damage to the main peak. Ye Pinghai was very satisfied with this arrangement after inspecting the site and quickly finalized the place and time for the seclusion, deciding to commence in two days. With the seclusion arrangements concluded, several family members spent some time chatting leisurely with Ye Pinghai. In the evening, Lin Shihua organized a lavish dinner to entertain Ye Pinghai, with Lin Tianming and his son taking turns toasting with spiritual wine. The Lin Family¡¯s warm hospitality and the joyful atmosphere delighted Ye Pinghai throughout the evening. Being a loose cultivator with mortal parents who had passed away early in life, he had devoted himself to his cultivation path for nearly a century without ever having a companion. It was through such diligence that he was able to advance swiftly to his current realm. Now, with the Lin Family and in such an atmosphere, he felt a sense of warmth he had not experienced in a long time. The lively atmosphere persisted, and after they were full and merry, everyone returned to their respective residences to rest. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 367 - 224 Seedlings_1 Chapter 367: Chapter 224 Seedlings_1 The next day, within the cave abode of Lin Shikang. Several clan members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation gathered together, with Ye Pinghai and father and son Lin Tianming among them. After exchanging a few words of small talk, Lin Shikang took out a golden-yellow jade slip, precisely the ancestral breakthrough knowledge left by the Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch. This breakthrough knowledge left by the Ancestral Patriarch had not been comprehended by anyone for more than two hundred years. Over the past two hundred years, the Lin Family had not produced even one person at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and therefore it remained in the hands of the clansman with the highest cultivation, untouched by anyone else. As Lin Shikang had made his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, he immediately spent over half a year comprehending it and had long since memorized its contents. Although this object could not increase cultivation, its value was extremely high, and it was rare even throughout the Wei Kingdom, having always been kept by Lin Shikang. ... The fact that Ye Pinghai had chosen to seek help from the Lin Family, this jade slip was one of the key factors. Looking at the golden-yellow jade slip, Ye Pinghai appeared excited, already somewhat impatient to comprehend it. Seeing his eagerness, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t keep him in suspense and directly tossed the jade slip to Ye Pinghai. After Ye Pinghai caught the jade slip and briefly examined it, he cupped his fists in a bow toward the other clan members present and started to earnestly express his gratitude. Lin Shikang waved his hand, and then spoke up, ¡°Brother Ye, now that the knowledge has been passed to you, I hope you can breakthrough at an early date.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded, feeling very excited in his heart, and then responded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take your auspicious words, Brother Lin. I will now start my seclusion for comprehension. Please take care of the protective spell on my behalf!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Ye, I will designate your seclusion area as a forbidden zone and protect the law for you, until your breakthrough is complete.¡± After Lin Shikang responded, he turned to Lin Shihua and instructed him on a few things, commanding him to restrict the clan members from approaching Ye Pinghai¡¯s secluded valley for the next two years, so as not to disturb his tranquil cultivation. Lin Shihua nodded and then agreed to see to the matter. Seeing these arrangements, along with Lin Shikang, whose cultivation was not lower than his, acting as his protector, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. After Ye Pinghai stored the breakthrough knowledge in his storage bag, he took his leave to immediately enter seclusion. Lin Shikang and the others nodded, then got up and accompanied him out of the courtyard to the designated seclusion spot. Lin Tianming stood behind the senior members, looking up at the selected spot and discovered that it was not far from where he had once cultivated his Divine Skills. The tranquil and elegant environment, along with the rich concentration of Spiritual Energy, was slightly inferior to the main peak¡¯s summit but, in comparison with other places in the Family, it was considered to be exceptionally good. Within this small valley, a Temporary Cave Abode had already been prepared in advance for Ye Pinghai¡¯s secluded breakthrough. Ye Pinghai stepped forward to inspect it and then nodded in satisfaction. He had no particular requirements for the cave abode, as long as it was secluded, safe, and undisturbed, providing shelter from the wind and rain. Though the place was somewhat simple, it met all his expectations and was sufficient for his secluded breakthrough. After surveying the terrain and bowing to the clan members present, Ye Pinghai entered straight into the cave abode. Lin Shikang and the others watched as Ye Pinghai disappeared from view, then he continued to delegate a few tasks to Lin Shihua and finally dismissed everyone, choosing to stand guard there alone. Lin Tianming returned to his own cave abode and directly entered the training room. He sat cross-legged, took out the Demon Soul Fruit and the Fusion Spirit Pill given to him by Ye Pinghai, his expression revealing his excitement. He took out the Demon Soul Fruit and carefully examined it in his hand. The chilly and piercing sensation of the Demon Soul Fruit, along with a unique fragrance, made one feel refreshed and invigorated with just a whiff. Such items were rare; among the many treasures he had consumed, it was second only to the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus seeds, and in some ways, it was not even inferior to them. Because this fruit could enhance Divine Sense, and throughout the years, he had never stopped consuming Strong Spirit Pills. However, the effects of the Strong Spirit Pills had dwindled after he entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and even if he consumed them like candy, the increase in Divine Sense was extremely limited and could be considered negligible. It might also be due to his exceptionally strong Divine Sense that these minor enhancements were too insignificant for the large base number; therefore, progress felt slow. In such a situation, he was thinking about discontinuing the Strong Spirit Pills when he received this Demon Soul Fruit, which came just in time. With nothing else pressing at the moment, he planned to utilize these elixirs and Spirit Fruit to enhance his strength. Although certainly unable to advance to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level was still a substantial hope. Having made up his mind, he immediately started regulating his breathing to reach his peak condition, preparing to consume the Demon Soul Fruit and to strengthen his Divine Sense and physical veins. Half an hour later. Feeling that his body had reached its peak condition, Lin Tianming took out the Demon Soul Fruit and swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the icy, bone-chilling Demon Soul Fruit was swallowed, his body instantly felt frosty, as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his blood almost freezing. Simultaneously, the powerful energy from the Demon Soul Fruit surged out, fiercely impacting every meridian and internal organ in his body. Soon, his insides were burning hot while his skin remained icy and piercing; the two opposing energies of cold and heat coexisted within his body. At this moment, his surface was frosted over, while the heat inside him roiled; beads of sweat the size of beans fell from his forehead, quickly turning into icicles that hung beneath his eyelids. COMMENT 0 comment Vote S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 368 - 224 Sprout_2 Chapter 368: Chapter 224 Sprout_2 Under the stimulation of two different energies, his face alternated between red and white, accompanied by intense pain. Only now did he truly understand the meaning of ¡°Ice and Fire Duality.¡± He forcibly suppressed the agony, running his Cultivation Technique at full capacity to refine and dissolve these energies. The refined energy became milder, a warm current flowing within his body, while another force nourished his Divine Sense, strengthening his sea of consciousness. At the same time, the sensation of pain in his body weakened, and a comfortable feeling stimulated both his body and sea of consciousness¡ªan extreme sense of comfort, akin to wandering among the clouds. He expanded the use of his Cultivation Technique, further refining the energy within him. When the energy reached a certain level, it actively scoured his flesh, transforming his skin and meridians, and by extension, also reinforcing his internal organs. ... The strength of Divine Sense, refined from the Demonic Soul Fruit, surged into his sea of consciousness, becoming increasingly formidable. Time slowly passed, and several days went by. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat in meditation like an ancient monk, motionless for several days. At this moment, his hands still joined in prayer, the pallor on his face had long since vanished, replaced by a rosy hue. After several days of refining, the energy contained within the Demonic Soul Fruit was nearly depleted. It wouldn¡¯t take much longer to completely refine it. A tea-time later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes after completing his practice, his face brimming with excitement. The complete refinement of the Demonic Soul Fruit yielded indeed a powerful effect. His physical body had once again been strengthened. Feeling the great power throughout his body, he believed that his physical form alone could withstand the attack of a Cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment without any difficulty. Even against a Cultivator at the Foundation Building Fourth Level, he was confident he could rely on his physical strength to battle them. Besides the growth of his physical body, his Divine Sense had also increased by nearly ten percent. His Divine Sense was now vaster, which provided, albeit modestly, an improvement in both operating a Sword Array and performing Alchemy. This single Demonic Soul Fruit brought significant progress, far exceeding his expectations. Elated, Lin Tianming stood up, cast a spell to cleanse the dirt from his body, and then resumed his seated cultivation. With no plans to go out, he decided to continue his closed-door cultivation, attempting to push his cultivation towards the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. He then took out three bottles of elixirs that Ye Pinghai had given him, initially intending to share them with his grandfather and father, but they had flatly refused to accept them and insisted that he uses them for his own cultivation. Unable to convince them otherwise, he had no choice but to accept them begrudgingly, resolving to gather some Spiritual Medicine Materials and craft some Fusion Spirit Pills for them once his own cultivation improved. With this belief in mind, Lin Tianming swallowed a Fusion Spirit Pill and began his closed-door cultivation. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had passed. Today was the day Lin Xingrong was to return to the Lin Family with the profits from the Luoyun Pavilion. Early in the morning, he and a few Lin Family Members sat in the rented Cave Mansion Courtyard, chatting idly. After several years of development, the Lin Family had moved from a temporary abode in the market to a larger residence, which stood just across the street from Ye Pinghai¡¯s former courtyard, positioned diagonally. With his efforts, Luoyun Pavilion, after accumulating steady clientele over the years, saw a stable customer flow and a steady increase in sales volume, generating substantial profits for the family each year. In the beginning, it was a group of five accompanying the family on these excursions. As more family members took part and the number of Lin Family Members venturing out to gain experience increased, those who accompanied him to the market for training had changed several times, with almost every person facing the trials of the Cultivation World. This broadened their horizons and allowed them to make connections with numerous Cultivators, turning them into the elite members of the family. Furthermore, with the Lin Family¡¯s gratuitous Alchemy services, coupled with the fair prices for quality treasures sold at the Luoyun Pavilion, the family¡¯s reputation was firmly established. This significantly expanded the Lin Family¡¯s influence, making them almost a household name in the peaceful Southern Wei Kingdom. During this round of market training that had just passed a year, nearly half of the ten family members were from the Tian generation, all with a cultivation at or above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, including two Xing Clan Members at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Unnoticed, the Tian clan members had been operating extensively in the outside world, becoming the backbone of the family. In the courtyard, after sweeping his gaze over all the clan members, Lin Xingrong began to issue instructions to Lin Xinghuan by his side. ¡°This time, my return to the family territory will take at least a month, there and back. Stay calm in the market city, don¡¯t run around, and keep a good watch over the business of the Luoyun Pavilion.¡± ¡°If you encounter any issues you cannot resolve, seek refuge at the Market City Hall. I¡¯ve already briefed a few executive officers. As long as you don¡¯t provoke those top-tier forces, your safety is guaranteed.¡± ¡°Xingyan, you are a bit older, and after I leave, you will be responsible for all the affairs of the market city and also keep an eye on several clansmen, understand?¡± Upon hearing the instructions, Lin Xingyan bowed with folded hands and then said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, elder cousin. I will definitely manage the Luoyun Pavilion well with the clan members. Just have a quick and safe trip.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Xingrong nodded, having spent time with him over the past few days, seeing Lin Xingyan as the oldest among them and a person who handled matters with steady prudence. His cultivation level was also quite good, so entrusting him felt reassuring. After giving a few more instructions, he left the cave mansion courtyard and hurried to the entrance of the market city. Once out of the market city, he rose into the air and flew on his sword, shooting towards the south. Since he had traveled the route back to the family many times before, he had committed it to memory. Besides, with his cultivation level having reached the peak of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, his speed was quite swift. Ten days passed, and Lin Xingrong made good progress through the borders of the Hengyang Mountain Range and the Luoyang Mountain Range. Gazing at the towering peaks vaguely visible ahead, he knew that once he crossed this area, one more day of flying would bring him smoothly to the territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Standing on his spirit sword, as he looked at the mountains, rivers, and streams whistling beneath him, his expression turned unusually solemn. ¡°Strange, I never saw these low-order demonic beasts before when I passed through these areas. Why are there suddenly some First Order demonic beasts this time, even a few at the First Order Middle Stage?¡± Muttering to himself, he then thought of what Lin Shikang had mentioned about the beast tide, and his expression became extremely grave. Though these low-order demonic beasts posed no threat to him¡ªhe could wipe out a great number of them with a mere flick of his hand¡ªthe phenomenon clearly indicated a major disturbance within the beast mountain ranges. With these thoughts, the speed of the spirit sword beneath him increased significantly. Perhaps the family had already noticed and taken action, but this was a situation that he must report on as quickly as possible. That day, as he hastened his sword flight, after he crossed distant peaks and entered the range of the Luoyun Mountain Range, he found the situation here to be somewhat better compared to the Hengyang Mountain Range, which was closer to the Qianchuan Market. He silently breathed a sigh of relief. The further north he went, the denser the population of demonic beasts seemed. It looked like the Luoyun Mountain Range was not a concentration area for the beasts. After two days of flight, he finally arrived at Golden Horn Mountain. Entering Golden Horn Mountain, he met Lin Xingping at once, and the two sat in the courtyard, exchanging the information they wanted to convey to each other. According to Lin Xingping, he had also noticed the abnormalities in the demonic beasts only yesterday, suggesting that the event was quite recent. The family had been prepared for years, constantly monitoring the movements within the Luoyun Mountain Range. Any changes would likely be detected very quickly. After listening to Lin Xingrong¡¯s account, Lin Xingping also realized the gravity of the situation and knew that they must make thorough preparations. After exchanging a few words, Lin Xingrong gave his instructions with a solemn expression. ¡°Xing Ping, I am afraid I can¡¯t rest. I have to rush back to the family to report the situation. Since Golden Horn Mountain is close to the north, it serves as the family¡¯s front station. If the chaos of the demonic beasts is concentrated in the north, this place will be in danger.¡± ¡°Gather the clan members ahead of time and prepare any resources that can be taken away. If any emergency arises or if the demonic beasts¡¯ strength is too great, we should be ready to retreat to the family territory at a moment¡¯s notice.¡± Lin Xingping nodded, and then said, ¡°Alright¡­ You set off right away. I will immediately arrange for the clansmen to prepare for this!¡± After finishing their conversation, the two left the cave abode together. Lin Xingrong rushed towards the mountain gate, while Lin Xingping gathered the clan members at that location. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 369 - 225 Countermeasures_1 Chapter 369: Chapter 225 Countermeasures_1 ¡°` One month ago. Qingzhou, Yuanwu Kingdom. Yuanwu Kingdom is one of the forty-eight countries in Qingzhou, located in the northwestern part of Qingzhou, far from Wei Kingdom in the southern Qingzhou, with several countries of varying sizes in between. The Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm is full of sects, with more than a dozen Golden Elixir Forces, even the weakest among them is a bit stronger than the Zhenyang Sect of Wei Kingdom. With such strength, the overall power of the Yuanwu Kingdom is considered mid-tier among the forty-eight countries of Qingzhou. ... Wei Kingdom, on the other hand, is situated at a corner, bordering Jingzhou, with extremely limited cultivation resources, completely a barren place, its overall strength is at the very bottom of the vast Qingzhou. At this time inside Yuanwu Kingdom, with the outburst of the Demon Beast Tide, a large number of cultivators spread out across the region, fighting with groups of demonic beasts of various sizes, throwing the whole Yuanwu Kingdom into chaos. Led by dozens of Third Order Demon Beasts, several Golden Elixir Forces hadn¡¯t even reacted before their sect gates were breached, and their entire sects were almost wiped out in silence, thus vanishing from the Cultivation World. Eastern Yuanwu Kingdom. On a sprawling plaza by a massive sect gate, a great number of Liyang Sect disciples gathered, most with faces pale with shock, seemingly aware of the arrival of the beast tide. Standing on the high platform before them was an old man with white hair and a saintly aura. The elder¡¯s name was Zheng Yuanfeng, at the ninth layer of Golden Core cultivation, having served as the Great Elder of Liyang Sect for many years. Behind him stood eight Golden Core Cultivators, all elders of the Liyang Sect, six men and two women with varying levels of cultivation and ages. On the high platform, Zheng Yuanfeng scanned the multitude of sect disciples below, and then a resonant voice rang out. ¡°All disciples of the sect, the beast tide has erupted suddenly, and several Golden Core Sects in Yuanwu Kingdom have been wiped out, with Foundation Establishing Families suffering countless deaths and injuries.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Liyang Sect, with a nearly ten-thousand-year legacy, now faces a crisis of extinction, truly a stroke of misfortune.¡± Hearing this, the faces of many disciples in the plaza grew even paler. The Golden Core Sects within the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm were almost all at comparable strength, and with several sects already annihilated, how could the Liyang Sect withstand the coming beast tide? At this moment, everyone was deeply worried; even the sect leader himself spoke so, what chance did they, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators or even the Qi Refining Cultivators, have of surviving the beast tide? Then, with the faces of the cultivators in the plaza growing paler and some even considering fleeing, devoid of any will to fight. Seeing their morale, the elder on the high platform shouted, pulling the disciples back to reality from their reverie. Looking at the thousands of disciples, after a brief pause, the elder solemnly said: ¡°Do not panic like this, though the Demon Beast Army is formidable, I judge this to be only a minor or medium-sized Demon Beast Tide.¡± ¡°Word of Yuanwu Kingdom¡¯s plight will soon spread, and the sects are already joining forces with other Golden Elixir Forces to fight the enemy; we only need to hold our ground and wait for help for a while.¡± ¡°When the Nascent Soul Experts from Qingzhou arrive, and with the concerted efforts of the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Forces, all difficulties shall be effortlessly resolved!¡± Hearing this, the Liyang Sect disciples on the plaza finally breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions gradually returning to normal. They knew that without reinforcements, relying solely on Golden Core Sects, they would not be able to hold out for long. But if Nascent Soul Cultivators joined the fight, this might also be an opportunity; as long as they could survive the beast tide, the gains would undoubtedly be substantial. Thinking this, some cultivators in the crowd were already eager to try, planning to seize this opportunity to make a fortune in Spirit Stones. However, what they did not know was that these words spoken by the elder were merely consolatory. The lower-order cultivators might not understand the current state of Yuanwu Kingdom, nor grasp the cruelty of the Cultivation World; these Golden Core Cultivators, however, were all too clear. They knew that the Nascent Soul Forces would eventually take action but would demand a price. The support from neighboring countries was difficult to predict, and surely many would wait and see, some sects even hoping for their demise so they could swoop in to exploit the aftermath, gaining more territory and resources. In the Cultivation World, such occurrences were commonplace, without offering up benefits, no sect or family would kindly lend a hand. This would happen only if a large beast tide was encountered which would eventually affect them too, compelling them to offer proactive aid. Otherwise, staying out of the fray would already be considered quite decent. This beast tide at the moment, appeared to be a minor one, with not many high-order demonic beasts, just some Third Order Demon Beasts mobilized; although the numbers were not small, without Fourth Order Demonic Beasts, their destructive power was extremely limited. Yet, this could just be the vanguard of the demon beasts, maybe an even larger force would follow, potentially escalating into a medium or large beast tide. At present, Golden Elixir Forces of Yuanwu Kingdom were arranging to deal with the crisis, they had to unite and confront the beast tide head-on, or if they failed, at least hold out as long as possible. No one was willing to give up their sect gates that had been established for thousands of years unless absolutely necessary, for they represented the heart¡¯s blood and wealth of the sect over many years. With these thoughts, he momentarily lost himself in contemplation, a subtle concern growing inside. It was only when his junior reminded him that he snapped back to awareness and began to issue a series of strategies in response. The senior disciples under him responded one after another to his call, joining the ranks to resist the beast tide. The entire Liyang Sect, like a war machine, began to turn into action. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 370 - 225 Countermeasures_2 Chapter 370: Chapter 225 Countermeasures_2 And this scene was enacted across numerous sect families in the Yuanwu Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World as they began to pour into the struggle against the demonic beasts. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. Lin Xingrong, traveling by Sword Flight, neared his family increasingly with less than a hundred miles to go. Throughout these days, he had hardly taken any breaks, almost relentlessly on the move. From the moment he noticed the abnormality in the demonic beasts to these past few days, most of his time had been spent in flight without proper rest. Along the way, he kept his nerves tightly wound, trying to capture as much information as possible to make more accurate judgments. ... Indeed, on his flight back to the family from Golden Horn Mountain, he had encountered numerous tracks of demonic beasts, but their number and rank had gradually decreased. The further south he went, the less dense the demonic beasts became, mostly consisting of First Order Initial Phase demon beasts. Such a situation also corresponded with his own guess. Fortunately, he had not encountered any Second Order Demonic Beasts on his way until he arrived at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, where he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. As he drew nearer to the clan territory, he encountered a clansperson patrolling the mountain entrance. Ignoring his fatigue, he swiftly flew over. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After greeting a few fellow clanspeople, Lin Xingrong urgently inquired, ¡°Has anything happened in the Luoyun Mountain Range recently, or has any disturbance been reported?¡± Hearing this, the leading clansperson looked puzzled. The family had been on edge in recent years, significantly increasing the scope and number of people patrolling the mountain entrance, yet there had been no sign of stopping or changing for so long. Nothing unusual had appeared in the family recently, everything was calm. The clanspeople went about their cultivation uninterrupted, and no incidents had been reported. The puzzled clansperson laughed and then asked proactively, ¡°Clan brother, you seem weary from your hasty journey; has some major event occurred?¡± Lin Xingrong did not elaborate but simply instructed them to patrol the clan grounds well and not to inquire too much. Having said that, he had already disappeared, leaving the other clanspeople even more puzzled as they stayed in place. Half an hour later, in the secluded valley where Ye Pinghai was in seclusion, several Lin Family members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation had already arrived. Lin Tianming also had just come out of seclusion, and upon receiving Lin Shikang¡¯s message, he immediately rushed to the valley. Seeing Lin Xingrong¡¯s pale face, the several clanspeople quickly realized that something serious had happened. The anxious Lin Shihua quickly asked, ¡°Xingrong, has some major event happened, causing you to rush back in such a panic?¡± Lin Xingrong¡¯s expression was solemn as he spoke, ¡°Elder, after I left Qianchuan Market and was passing through the border of the Hengyang Mountain Range and Luoyun Mountain Range, I discovered a large number of First Order demon beasts.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang and the other clanspeople¡¯s expressions changed, immediately bringing to mind the previously mentioned beast tide attack. ¡°Xingrong, what about the Golden Horn Mountain and Luoyun Mountain on this side, have you noticed anything abnormal?¡± Lin Shihua asked. Lin Xingrong, not daring to delay, quickly relayed his observations and findings. ¡°While passing through here, I paid special attention to this matter. The situation on Luoyun Mountain¡¯s side was evidently better than on our own Luoyang Mountain Range and the Hengyang Mountain Range.¡± ¡°Based on what I understand, this is indeed a prelude to a beast tide, and the outbreak point is in the north; the specific location is, as of now, unknown.¡± ¡°The north?¡± Lin Shikang pondered for a moment, then followed up with a question, ¡°When you left Qianchuan Market in the north, did you notice any irregularities?¡± Lin Xingrong recalled carefully for a moment to ensure no oversight and then replied, ¡°When I left Qianchuan Market, everything was normal, and there seemed to be nothing unusual about the market itself.¡± ¡°Besides that, I didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary on my way, only encountering changes in the demonic beasts at the junction of the three great mountain ranges.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the other clanspeople fell into deep thought. Clearly, the changes in the demonic beasts had only emerged while he was en route. After all, it took him nearly ten days of flight upon leaving Qianchuan Market to arrive at the junction of the three great mountain ranges, where he had first noticed the abnormal situation. So it turns out, these peculiar changes started only in the past few days. ¡°Shi Lu, what do you think about what Xing Rong said?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s inquiry, Lin Shilu was the first to speak. ¡°Xing Rong¡¯s judgement is probably correct. The epicenter of the beast tide is in the north; it may have already erupted, and for only a short time at that. The signs are just beginning to emerge here.¡± Having said that, Lin Shihua also agreed, ¡°I concur with this opinion. Our earlier assessments were correct. The only unknowns are where the eruption point is located, how large the scale of the beast tide attack will be, and whether it will impact the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Verifying these points as soon as possible is critical right now.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shikang nodded and then said, ¡°You¡¯re right. We don¡¯t know the details yet, but it¡¯s certain that the beast tide has erupted.¡± ¡°The task at hand is to gather information as soon as possible and then make preparations in advance.¡± Having said this, Lin Shikang¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°Tian Ming, what are your thoughts on this? Do you have any good strategies to suggest, feel free to share for our reference.¡± Lin Tianming thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Currently, Grandpa Sea is attempting to break through to the Golden Core Stage. Should he succeed, our family¡¯s crisis might be averted.¡± ¡°However, it¡¯s hard to say when this will happen, and no one knows when he¡¯ll break through. Third Grandfather is protecting him, so he certainly won¡¯t be able to leave his side.¡± ¡°Sitting idly by will only make us passive. We can¡¯t afford to concern ourselves with other places for the time being. We should take the initiative to attack and clear some of the demonic beasts around Luoyun Mountain as soon as possible. If we do that when the number of demonic beasts increases, the pressure on our family will be reduced.¡± After Lin Tianming finished speaking, all the clanspeople present nodded their heads, clearly in agreement. After scanning the audience, Lin Shikang spoke, ¡°The arrangements made by Tian Ming are indeed comprehensive, so let¡¯s settle on that.¡± ¡°However, what about those Spirit Lands and Luoyun Market our family holds? Do we abandon them, or do we send people to guard them?¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words caused everyone present to fall into deep thought. Lin Tianming was no exception; Qianchuan Market was not for them to worry about, with Zhenyang Sect at the forefront. If they were to give up, then no matter how hard the Lin Family tried, it would be a futile effort. What they needed to consider the most were Golden Horn Mountain, Luoyun Market, and the region around Jiuhua Mountain. After thinking for a while, Lin Shilu took the lead and said, ¡°Given our limited manpower at present, we can only temporarily abandon the Spirit Lands our family has developed. However, Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain are of utmost importance and cannot be forsaken.¡± Before he finished speaking, Lin Tianming also offered his support. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is right. Those developed Spirit Lands, while they have consumed some resources, have not yet formally generated value; abandoning them now is a reluctant but necessary action.¡± ¡°But Golden Horn Mountain and Luoyun Market are too important for the Lin Family, producing a large amount of Spirit Materials and Spiritual Medicine every year. It would indeed be too regrettable to give them up.¡± ¡°For Luoyun Market, we must inform the other family powers as quickly as possible, asking them to send some of their people to defend the Market. Those who are unwilling to make a move should either contribute Spirit Stone resources or be directly deprived of their rights to share the market profits,¡± ¡°after all, we can¡¯t be the only ones worrying about it while they reap the benefits without lifting a finger!¡± After pondering for a moment, Lin Shikang found that his own thoughts aligned with the arrangements proposed by Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu. With these thoughts, he immediately instructed, ¡°Then we¡¯ll proceed as Tian Ming and Shi Lu have suggested. Contact the other families and bring back all the Spiritual Objects from Jiuhua Mountain to our clan.¡± ¡°Call back everyone developing the Spirit Lands and dispatch more clanspeople to defend Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain. Strengthen the defenses of these two critical areas.¡± ¡°In addition, immediately send out elite clanspeople to hunt down those demonic beasts in the mountains, and for those that infiltrate the secular world, dispatch Qi Refining Clanspeople to deal with them.¡± ¡°In a nutshell, we must take advantage of this lull before the full outbreak of the beast tide, to weaken their forces as much as possible, minimizing the threat.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else to add, then let¡¯s proceed with these arrangements. Everyone agrees, right?¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, Lin Tianming and others nodded in response. ¡°No objections!¡± After Lin Shikang gave a few more instructions, all the clanspeople dispersed from the valley. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 371 - 226 Call to Action_1 Chapter 371: Chapter 226 Call to Action_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, the clan¡¯s gateway plaza. Many people, upon receiving the Clan Leader¡¯s summons, hastened to leave their seclusion. Dozens of clanspeople gathered here, all possessing cultivation levels above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. At this moment, those standing in the field were all the elite forces of the family, with the Xing Clan Members making up the majority, and the Tian Clan Members accounting for about thirty percent. The gathered clanspeople were discussing in groups of twos and threes, speculating about the reason behind the Clan Leader¡¯s call. Before long, Lin Shihua and a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators arrived. Seeing several people approaching, the clanspeople on the field stopped their whispering conversations. Lin Shihua looked over the crowd and then walked up to a high platform in front of them. ... Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lin Shihua¡¯s resonant voice spread throughout the field, informing everyone about the threat of the Beast Tide. Lin Shihua didn¡¯t conceal anything, clearly understanding that what lay ahead was a significant test for the Lin Family. Upon learning the news of the Beast Tide, some clanspeople looked horrified, their expressions extremely solemn, utterly shocked by the news. Seeing their reaction, Lin Shihua offered a few words of comfort, finally stabilizing the clanspeople. Afterward, he explained the family¡¯s preparations from a few years back and their predictions about the Beast Tide. The clanspeople then breathed a sigh of relief, realizing the Lin Family had made ample preparations with a wealth of resources accumulated over the years for war. Moreover, the specifics of the Beast Tide were still unknown¡ªit might well be small-scale or far from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In such a case, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t be in any danger. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co However, Lin Shihua dare not be careless. According to the results of their consultation, he began to issue commands. As orders were dispatched one after another, the clanspeople started to carry out the family¡¯s arrangements methodically and orderly. Subsequently, in accordance to the predefined plan, the clanspeople began to leave the family lands in batches¡ªsome to locate other clanspeople, some to visit other families, preparing to rally these forces for a preemptive strike against the Beast Tide. ¡­ Hanbing Mountain Range. Lin Tianming and Lin Xing Rong were seated atop the Purple Gold Eagle, with more than ten clanspeople behind them, all with cultivation levels beyond the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. At this time, the clanspeople had solemn expressions, observing the increasingly close Hanbing Mountain Range. The Purple Gold Eagle soon descended within the mountain range, coming to rest on the peak of a mountain. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was discussing something with several clanspeople as they sat together in a circle. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and the other person, Lin Tianfeng and the others in charge of defending the area quickly rose to greet them. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming first asked about the situation of Lin Tianfeng and the others. Lin Tianfeng was puzzled to see Lin Tianming suddenly arrive with so many clanspeople; perhaps some unforeseen event had occurred. Thinking of the recent changes in the Hanbing Mountain Range, he promptly said, ¡°Recently, the surrounding Demonic Beasts have noticeably increased, occasionally launching attacks here. Fortunately, their ranks are not high, and we can still cope for now.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Sixth Brother? Has something happened?¡± Relieved that no mishap had befallen the clanspeople, Lin Xing Rong on the side began to issue instructions. ¡°Tianhong, the threat of the Beast Tide may be imminent. Immediately organize all clanspeople to take away anything that can be carried and rush back to the clan lands as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Tianfeng, you come with us to Golden Horn Mountain, to prepare for support over there!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and the others immediately looked serious. Although they had never witnessed a Beast Tide, they were well aware of its horror from the records in ancient texts and the legends in the Cultivation World. Seeing Lin Xing Rong¡¯s serious demeanor, coupled with such a grand mobilization, it was clear the matter was of great importance. Regaining their composure, Lin Tianfeng and others nodded their agreement. They then turned and departed, starting to look for clanspeople scattered in the vicinity. Soon, the group tasked with pioneering the land gathered together, each of them utterly clueless, obviously unaware of the reason they were summoned. Lin Xing Rong surveyed the group, ensuring no one was missed, and after giving a few instructions, he let Lin Tianhong lead them away from Cold Ice Canyon. ¡­ Luoyun Mountain Range, at the base of a certain mountain peak. Lin Shikang and Lin Xingzhi led more than twenty Qi Refinement Clanspeople above the Seventh Level, riding on Qilin Beasts as they swept over the mountain head in a formidable procession. Following the family¡¯s orders, they were heading to some slightly renowned families in the Luoyun Mountain Range to discuss alliances against the Beast Tide. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shilu, seated on a First Order Late Stage Qilin Beast, instructed Lin Xingzhi beside him: ¡°I¡¯ll head to the Sun Family lands, while you split into several teams and make rounds to various Qi Refining Families.¡± ¡°Remember to explain the situation of the Beast Tide. Any family unwilling to participate should withdraw from Luoyun Market and forfeit their rights to the market¡¯s profit shares.¡± ¡°Once the mission is complete, everyone should gather in Luoyun Market.¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded in acknowledgment, then gathered the people and began allocating targets. A quarter of an hour later, the more than twenty clanspeople, divided into groups of three, flew off in different directions. Watching the departing clanspeople, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingzhi did not linger¡ªthey too had their tasks. Lin Shilu was to head to the Sun Family lands, and Lin Xingzhi to the Luo Family. After all, both of these great families had Foundation Establishment Cultivators, though not as powerful as the Lin Family, they were still significant support against the Beast Tide. One day passed. Spirit Turtle Mountain is situated in a valley on a spur of the Luoyun Mountain Range and was named because the mountain¡¯s shape resembles a giant turtle. According to legend, a Fifth Order Spirit Turtle once fell here, its massive body transforming into this mountain peak, but this is just a myth with no records in any official texts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 372 - 226 Call to Action_2 Chapter 372: Chapter 226 Call to Action_2 Spirit Turtle Mountain is now the territory of the Chen Clan, having proliferated here for more than three hundred years. Among the many Qi Refining Families, it is considered to be one of the more long-standing families. Due to the relatively dense spiritual energy of Spirit Turtle Mountain¡ªalthough it cannot compare with the land of Foundation Establishment families¡ªit is among the best treasured lands of the numerous Qi Refining Families¡¯ territories. The entrance to the Chen Clan¡¯s mountain. At this time, Lin Xingzhong, accompanied by two clan members, had finally arrived at the territory of the Chen Clan after a full day¡¯s travel. With the appearance of the three, the Chen Clan members patrolling the mountain¡¯s entrance immediately took notice. Chen Yusong, who was responsible for patrolling the entrance, relaxed his vigilance upon seeing that they were Lin Family members. ... In recent years, the Lin Family has strongly supported several Qi Refining Families, and because the Chen Clan has always been a vassal and sided with the Lin Family since the battle at Luoyun Mountain, it was naturally favored by the Lin Family as a key entity to support. Such actions were taken after the family had made its considerations. With the Lin Family¡¯s current strength, they already occupied roughly sixty percent of the Luoyun Mountain Range¡¯s territory, and their population accounted for about fifty percent. Even if they were opposed by all the families of Luoyun Mountain, they were strong enough to confront their combined forces and could even achieve an overwhelming victory if need be. However, over the years, the Lin Family had not done so. Instead, they allowed the Sun Family and Luo Family to recover their strength and nurtured some other Qi Refining Families loyal to the Lin Family. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because the family needed a stable environment¡ªif things were handled too harshly, it would not only provoke public anger but also be unfavorable for the development of Luoyun Market. After all, the Lin Family took the lion¡¯s share of the market¡¯s profits, and their overall strength far surpassed the others. As long as they developed steadily, there was no need to be utterly ruthless. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Besides, keeping these families around would serve as a buffer against external forces. The only potential threat was the two Foundation Establishment families of the Sun and Luo Families. After all, they had a certain amount of territory and various levels of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If they managed to cultivate a Golden Core Cultivator, the situation would immediately flip. But such a possibility was extremely slim; the Luo Family, before the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, was already weaker than the Lin Family. Even if they did not suffer much loss during the battle, with their strength and resources, it was practically impossible for them to cultivate a Golden Core Cultivator. The same held true for the Sun Family. Although Sun Dingxian of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level survived the war, and along with Foundation Building Fourth Level¡¯s Sun Dingfeng, the Sun Family remained powerful. But at that time, Sun Dingfeng was seriously injured. Given his age, it would be good enough if he could maintain his cultivation level; there was no chance for him to reach Golden Core. As for Sun Dingfeng, being more than ten years older than Lin Shilu, even Lin Shilu did not have much confidence in such a rapid progression. With the diminishing family fortune of the Sun Family, whether Sun could advance to the late stage of Foundation Establishment in his lifetime was in question. Under these circumstances, the threat the Sun and Luo Families posed to the Lin Family was not significant. The Lin Family only needed to guard against the growth of the Sun and Luo Families and discreetly weaken their power, preventing their rapid development, to avoid any dangers. Outside the mountain gate of the Chen Clan. Chen Yusong walked out from within the Protective Clan Formation with a smile, warmly greeting Lin Xingzhong from a distance. ¡°Haha¡­ I didn¡¯t expect a visit from a Daoist of the Lin Family. I am Chen Yusong, and I greet the three Daoists!¡± Lin Xingzhong chuckled, approaching with the two clan members and making a gesture with his hands clasped in front as a way to return the greeting. Both parties were enthusiastic. Lin Xingzhong did not belittle them for being a Qi Refining Family nor did he look down on someone in charge of patrolling the gate because of the difference in cultivation. Such an approachable yet noble guest made Chen Yusong very happy. After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Yusong directly asked about the purpose of Lin Xingzhong and the others¡¯ visit. Lin Xingzhong chuckled and said, ¡°Lin Mou has come today to discuss an important matter with Daoist Chen Yuqiang. I wonder if Daoist Chen is within the clan?¡± Seeing how solemn Lin Xingzhong was and that he had no intention of revealing anything, Chen Yusong did not dare to ask further, lest he upset Lin Xingzhong and affect the relationship between the Chen Clan and Lin Family. He said with a smile, ¡°Our Clan Leader happens to be within the clan these days, so the three esteemed Daoist friends may follow me into the mountain gate to rest for a moment. I will then inform the Clan Leader to come and receive you.¡± As soon as he had finished speaking, Chen Yusong sent out a message, and then gestured for them to follow him, leading Lin Xingzhong and the other two into the Chen Clan¡¯s Protective Clan Formation. Entering the Chen Clan¡¯s mountain gate, Lin Xingzhong and the others walked within the Chen Clan¡¯s territory, observing their surroundings. The Chen Clan¡¯s land was not large, estimated to be only about ten to twenty percent of the Lin Family¡¯s territory. A large plot of flat land on the mountain top housed quite a few courtyards, perhaps a few dozen, scattered across different corners of the mountaintop. It was the first visit for all three of them to the Chen Clan, and seeing the internal state of the Chen Clan, it was apparent that they could not compare with the Lin Family. However, the Chen Clan¡¯s infrastructure was fairly good. At least the important institutions and defense mechanisms were in place, there was a hint of historical presence, and the basic elements of a family were established. Many small Qi Refining Families didn¡¯t even have a Protective Clan Formation, and their territories often changed. These families had few members and relatively low strength, just over a dozen members opening up a few Spirit Fields constituted a small family. And there were quite a few such small families in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Although called families, in reality, they were not much stronger than Loose Cultivators. Throughout the walk, Chen Yusong was very enthusiastic, introducing the Chen Clan¡¯s situation to Lin Xingzhong and the others. Before long, the four of them arrived in front of a large hall made of green stone. Chen Yuqiang, the Clan Leader of the Chen Clan, was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Lin Xingzhong, he immediately came forward to greet them. After exchanging pleasantries, he invited the three inside the hall to rest. Inside the hall, Lin Xingzhong sat in the high seats with Chen Yuqiang, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. Soon, Chen Yuqiang tentatively inquired about the purpose of Lin Xingzhong and the others¡¯ visit. Lin Xingzhong had no intention of hiding anything. With a grave expression, he directly informed them of the Lin Family¡¯s judgment and asked the Chen Clan to send members to the Luoyun Market to strengthen the market¡¯s defensive capabilities. Upon hearing what Lin Xingzhong said, it suddenly dawned on Chen Yuqiang, and he couldn¡¯t help but start to view the Lin Family with even more regard. He had also noticed the changes in the Demonic Beasts of Luoyun Mountain recently and had been secretly guessing the reasons. His speculation was similar to what the Lin Family had said, but this made him even more worried. After all, even the Lin Family was taking this so seriously; clearly, the destructive power of the beast tide was extremely formidable. With the Chen Clan¡¯s limited strength, how would they survive the crisis? Thinking of these concerns, Chen Yuqiang was deeply troubled. Facing the demands presented by the Lin Family, he had no choice but to take them seriously. After all, the Chen Clan had been supported by the Lin Family over the years and had developed quite quickly. Plus, they had a share of the market¡¯s profits, so it was reasonable to deploy members to strengthen the defenses of Luoyun Market. Whether it was due to the pressure from strength or to fulfill the Chen Clan¡¯s obligations, it was necessary to deploy some family members. After much thought and faced with Lin Xingzhong¡¯s mix of soft and hard tactics, Chen Yuqiang readily agreed, promising to send five Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivators and two members above the Qi Refinement Seventh Level to the Luoyun Market within the agreed time. With satisfactory results negotiated on this matter, Lin Xingzhong was very pleased and promptly revealed some more important information, also casually giving Chen Yuqiang a few pointers. Chen Yuqiang was overjoyed, knowing that as long as they closely followed the Lin Family, the Chen Clan could, given a few more decades, cultivate their own Foundation Establishment members. At that time, they would be able to become the fourth Foundation Establishing Family of the Luoyun Mountain Range, fulfilling the Chen Clan¡¯s centuries-old aspiration. With these thoughts, Chen Yuqiang was so excited that he repeatedly thanked them. Lin Xingzhong waved the matter off. Disclosing some information to a family loyal to the Lin Family was no big deal. After exchanging a few more courteous words, Lin Xingzhong broached the subject of leaving. Their task was heavy, and time was pressing. Each small team had to visit at least two or three Qi Refining Families, and the more families they could mobilize to resist the tide of beasts, the less pressure there would be on the Lin Family and the smaller the losses for the Luoyun Mountain Range would be. As a result, they had to hasten their pace and quickly move on to the next family, continuing to call on more Qi Refining Families to join the fight against the beast tide. Chen Yuqiang also knew the situation was urgent and did not detain Lin Xingzhong and his companions, personally seeing them off from the Chen Clan¡¯s territory. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 373 - 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_1 Chapter 373: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_1 Flying Eagle Mountain, Sun Family ancestral land. Since the end of the great battle at Luoyun Mountain Range, the Sun Family had suffered heavy losses, with eighty percent of their clan members perishing, leaving only a few dozen scattered in different places to avoid disaster. At that time, the number of clan members in the Sun Family was even less than that of some of the more powerful Qi Refining Families. Fortunately, their Mortal Town had not been greatly affected by the devastating conflict, and with Sun Dingxian¡¯s deep and cunning plans, he had previously sent away several clan members with higher talents before calling them back after the battle ended. After more than twenty years of recovery, the Sun Family had regained its vitality. The number of clan members had reached over a hundred, which was about seventy to eighty percent of what it had been before the battle, not as much as before, but still quite impressive. In addition, with the limited resources left to them, the Sun Family had managed to cultivate another Foundation Establishment Clan Member, none other than Sun Ruiyang, who had once participated in the Luoyun Market¡¯s grand competition. ... With Sun Dingxian and Sun Dingfeng present, the Sun Family¡¯s High Order Combat Power was still formidable, retaining their position as second in strength within the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, the Sun Family was currently in an awkward phase, lacking talented clan members, with a too hollow core of strength, and with both Sun Dingxian and Sun Dingfeng having no potential for breakthroughs and being quite old. In a few decades, once Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Sun Dingxian passes away, the Sun Family¡¯s overall strength will continue to decline. And such an embarrassing situation was not known to last for how long. ¡­ Inside a large hall at the mountaintop. Lin Shilu and Sun Dingxian sat opposite each other, with several Qi Refining Clanspeople standing behind them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Sun Dingxian was quite surprised by Lin Shilu¡¯s visit to the Sun Family after many years. Normally, Foundation Establishment Cultivators like themselves rarely visited in person, usually only meeting in the Market, and trade or favors between families were mainly handled by the Qi Refining Clanspeople. Lin Shilu¡¯s personal visit meant there must be a significant reason, prompting Sun Dingxian to start guessing. According to the recent anomalies that occurred in the Luoyun Mountain Range, Sun Dingxian had also noticed, but, unlike others, he hadn¡¯t made a decisive judgment and took it as a normal occurrence within the mountains. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two made small talk for a while, exchanging some news about the Cultivation World, after which Sun Dingxian finally asked about the purpose of Lin Shilu¡¯s visit. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush and directly stated the Lin Family¡¯s speculation and arrangements, requesting that the Sun Family dispatch some clan members to enter the Luoyun Market to strengthen its defensive capabilities. Upon hearing this, Sun Dingxian thought it over, and combined with the information provided by Lin Shilu, quickly realized the seriousness of the matter. The Sun Family had been developing in obscurity for twenty years since the end of the great battle, never daring to clash with the Lin Family. Just as they had finally regained a bit of Yuan Qi, they now faced the terrifying threat of a demonic beast tide, an exceptionally unfortunate turn of fate. At this moment, Sun Dingxian¡¯s face showed worry as he pondered how to send out as few clan members as possible. Afterward, he asked Lin Shilu about the number and strength of the clan members the Sun Family needed to dispatch. Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°One Foundation Establishment Clan Member, or fifteen Qi Refining Clanspeople of the Late Stage. The spoils from the beast tide belong to those who earn them, and the Market will also reward those who distinguish themselves during the beast tide.¡± Hearing this, Sun Dingxian did not immediately promise to dispatch clan members, nor did he outright refuse. While silent, he was also secretly considering his options. Although the Sun Family bore the name of a Foundation Establishing Family, apart from Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they really did not have many late-stage Qi Refining Clanspeople to spare for dispatch. Dispatching fifteen late-stage Qi Refining Clanspeople would almost require the entire layer of the Sun Family¡¯s clan members of that cultivation level to be sent out, making the internal functioning of the family somewhat strained. Lin Shilu had anticipated this and hence provided two options. If they didn¡¯t want Qi Refining Clanspeople to take the risk, then the only choice was to send out Foundation Establishment Clan Members. If the Sun Family dispatched a Foundation Establishment Clan Member, their effectiveness would be much greater than that of fifteen Qi Refining Clanspeople. In the Luoyun Market, there were always thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators gathered, with at least a few hundred of them being of the Late Stage. The Market was not lacking in Qi Refining Cultivators, but in combat power at the Foundation Establishment Stage. After all, the destructive power and damage a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could cause were at least dozens of times more than a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator. Thus, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were the key factor in whether they could withstand the onslaught of the demonic beast tide. It didn¡¯t take long before Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder brought Sun Dingxian back to reality. He was conflicted, not wanting to send Qi Refining Clanspeople into danger, but the Sun Family¡¯s ancestral land also couldn¡¯t lower its guard. If they were besieged by demonic beasts, resulting in the destruction of their headquarters, the consequences were unimaginable. However, the Sun Family had always reaped profits from the Market, and it was indeed unreasonable not to send clan members there. Seeing that Sun Dingxian was still silent, Lin Shilu directly asked, ¡°Daoist Sun, have you decided whether to send a Foundation Establishment Cultivator or Qi Refining Cultivators to support the Market?¡± Coming back to his senses, Sun Dingxian gave a wry smile, then in a probing tone asked, ¡°Lin, you are aware of the Sun Family¡¯s situation. Is there any chance you could lower the requirements?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Shilu looked embarrassed, but considering that the Lin Family had dispatched quite a few clan members to the Market, deploying much more force than what he was asking for. ¡°Daoist Sun, our Lin Family, including myself, have dispatched three Foundation Establishment Clan Members, along with dozens of Qi Refining Clanspeople. By this count, the Lin Family has indeed given its all for the Market.¡± Upon hearing that the Lin Family, including Lin Shilu, had dispatched a total of three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Sun Dingxian was immediately taken aback. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 374 - 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_2 Chapter 374: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_2 The Lin Family had unexpectedly exposed six Foundation Establishment clan members back then and, in alliance with the Sun Family, vanquished the Jin Family, which was already beyond belief. It revealed the overall strength of the Lin Family. It was unexpected that this time, including Lin Shilu, the deployment of three clanspeople, while guarding various territories, would surely necessitate considerable power for protection. From this, one could deduce that the strength of the Lin Family had increased again. Besides the eight Foundation Establishment clan members who had already made their presence known, there must be other hidden forces. It¡¯s just that the exact number and cultivation levels were unknown. Thinking of these, Sun Dingxian was extremely shocked, and the confidence to haggle further drained from him. ¡°Forget it, the Sun Family wanted to catch up to the Lin Family but is being left further and further behind. From now on, we can only avoid their edge and follow the lead of the Lin Family.¡± ... Sun Dingfeng muttered to himself, his demeanor significantly weakened. ¡°Lin, the Sun Family truly does not have the strength to support the market, but since the Lin Family is so devoted to it, the Sun Family will not stand idly by. In two days, we will send a junior in the Foundation Establishment Stage, who is inexperienced in the ways of the world and whose strength is quite weak. At that time, we will have to rely on your assistance, Lin, in times of crisis!¡± After finishing his speech, Sun Dingxian took out two fist-sized stones with a golden color¡ªremarkably, they were Jindun Stones, Third Order Forging Materials. Jindun Stones are Metal Attribute materials for Artifact Refining, both very ductile and extremely hard, making them high-quality materials. This particular Jindun Stone was not small and could be used separately, to be incorporated into several Second Order Magical Artifacts to enhance their power and toughness. It was very valuable. If auctioned in the cultivation world, it could fetch at least ten thousand Spirit Stones, a price beyond measure. This Jindun Stone, being one of the few remaining Third Order items of the Sun Family, had to be presented as a gift to ensure Lin Shilu would not interfere, in hope of his solicitude. Thinking of this, Sun Dingxian¡¯s face showed a pained expression, and he reluctantly handed over the Jindun Stone to Lin Shilu. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Moreover, Sun Dingxian¡¯s gesture had a deeper meaning; it was akin to bowing and recognizing fealty. The reason for offering such benefits was to ensure Lin Shilu would look after the Sun Family members and not let his juniors die in vain. After all, seizing the opportunity to weaken them in such a manner, if a clansperson were to die in the beast tide, it would be a meaningless death. Additionally, given the strength of the Lin Family, there was no way for the Sun Family to seek justice. Fortunately, there was no animosity between the Sun Family and the Lin Family, nor any grudges. If it were a rival power faced with such an opportunity, they would definitely not miss this chance to weaken them openly and justly. As expected, Lin Shilu had no intention of making things difficult for the Sun Family. The Lin Family merely wanted to limit the Sun Family¡¯s development and would not take any excessive actions. After a few courteous words, and Sun Dingxian¡¯s insistence, he finally accepted the Jindun Stone, and even patted his chest as a promise not to let the junior take any risks. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Sun Dingxian finally breathed a sigh of relief. Afterwards, following a brief conversation, Lin Shilu rose to take his leave with the two clanspeople, leaving Flying Eagle Mountain and hurrying toward Luoyun Market. ¡­ Golden Horn Mountain, inside a bluestone attic. Lin Tianming, his son, Lin Xingping, and Lin Tianfeng were seated together, with some thirty Qi Refining clanspeople gathered in small groups in front of them. After a day of hurried travel, Lin Tianming arrived at Golden Horn Mountain with his clanspeople, in line with the family¡¯s plan to support Lin Xingping, preemptively exterminating low-order Monster Beasts around the area, to avoid a passive situation when the beast tide erupts. At the moment, the hall was silent, all clanspeople waiting for Lin Tianming to distribute tasks. Among the assembly, although Lin Tianming was not of high rank, and both his father and Lin Xingping, two Xing-generation Foundation Establishment clan members were present, the clan had entrusted the management of affairs here to Lin Tianming before leaving the family home. Given that his cultivation was highest and his experience in battle was rich, he often came up with unexpected good strategies. As a result, the clan had entrusted him with full authority over matters at Golden Horn Mountain, while Lin Shilu led Lin Xingcheng and a group of clanspeople to support Luoyun Market. In the great hall, Lin Tianming scanned the crowd and then began to speak, ¡°You are all presumably aware of the situation regarding the beast tide and the family¡¯s arrangements. Next is how we shall proceed.¡± ¡°I wonder if our fellow elder clanspeople have any good strategies?¡± With that, Lin Tianming looked to the several Foundation Establishment clan members, clearly wanting to hear their opinions. Seeing no one speaking, Lin Xingrong was the first to break the silence. ¡°There¡¯s no denying that we must urgently eradicate the low-order Monster Beasts. Fortunately, their ranks aren¡¯t high, but they are spread out everywhere, even appearing in some Mortal Towns.¡± ¡°Thus, to quickly eliminate them in a short time will be a strain on our manpower indeed!¡± Lin Xingrong¡¯s words initiated a discussion among the clanspeople, who started voicing their own thoughts. Lin Xingping nodded in agreement. He had been stationed at Golden Horn Mountain for several years and had become very familiar with the territory. Golden Horn Mountain was even larger than Green Bamboo Mountain, and with over ten Mortal Towns scattered throughout, with a vast number of mortals living in various corners, searching and accounting for them required the deployment of numerous clanspeople. Yet, within Golden Horn Mountain, there were only just over forty clan members, among whom more than ten were not even at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. The members available for dispatch were only around thirty. Given this, there were indeed not enough clan members for the task. This was clear to everyone, but there was no solution at hand¡ªafter all, the family only had so many members available for deployment. COMMENT 0 comment sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 375 - 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_3 Chapter 375: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_3 Thinking of this, Lin Xingping immediately expressed his opinion, and Lin Tianfeng by his side also added some thoughts. Hearing the suggestions from the others, Lin Tianming fell into deep thought. Over at Mortal Town, there was no need for them, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to take action. They could divide the clanspeople who were at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement or higher into pairs, and together with the clanspeople who were stationed there, form three-member teams for the extermination. With some time, they should be able to complete the task. However, the number of demon beasts around Golden Horn Mountain was immense, and their grades were evidently higher than those around the mundane towns. As time went on, even Second Order Late Stage demon beasts began to appear in small numbers. Presumably, if they were to delay for another ten days or half a month, perhaps even Second Order Demonic Beasts would emerge, and by then, if they rushed en masse towards the mundane towns, the clan would face even greater trouble. If three out of the four Foundation Establishment Clan Members were to take action, they might not be able to exterminate all of them, but they could inflict heavy damage, and by then, wait for the Qi Refining Clanspeople to finish clearing the demonic beasts in the mundane towns before coming to reinforce them, forming a defensive line, it should be somewhat easier. ... As of now, there wasn¡¯t much time left for them, and under the constraints of limited time, they must act swiftly. Upon deciding on this, Lin Tianming split the Qi Refining Clanspeople into pairs to enter the ordinary towns for their beast-cleansing mission. He rode the Purple Gold Eagle, with Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng by his side. They divided into two groups and started eliminating demon beasts from both sides of Golden Horn Mountain, killing as many as they could before any outbreak occurred. Lin Xingping took charge of the remaining Qi Refining Clanspeople stationed at Golden Horn Mountain, prepared to take action if necessary, but not venture too far out to avoid being attacked by demonic beasts. Having made up his mind, he began discussing the plan with several clan members. Soon, everyone was in agreement, and so the matter was settled. Immediately after, Lin Tianming began assigning the Qi Refining Clanspeople, trying to balance their cultivation levels, dividing them into fifteen teams¡ªperfect for one team per town. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Looking at the arranged clanspeople, Lin Tianming gave them a few more instructions before sending them off from Golden Horn Mountain to start their extermination of the demonic beasts in their respective assigned areas. With the Qi Refining Clanspeople gone, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s group also immediately sprang into action. Soon, the majority of the people from Golden Horn Mountain left, leaving behind only Lin Xingping and a dozen other Qi Refining Clanspeople to keep watch. To the north of Golden Horn Mountain, in the direction of Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming left Golden Horn Mountain and continued to fly northward for over two hundred li before spotting traces of demon beasts in a valley. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, while Lin Tianming stood on its back, looking down at the valley below. Gazing down, the valley seemed to be bustling with some dozens of First Order Demon Beasts, most of them in the Initial Phase, with only seven or eight in the Middle-Late Stage, merely a small demon beast tribe. With a piercing cry from the Purple Gold Eagle, the demon beast tribe was momentarily thrown into a brief halt. Immediately after, the Purple Gold Eagle dove down. Its massive wings thundered down, killing more than ten demon beasts before they could react. Sitting cross-legged on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming continuously flicked his fingers, and one by one, magical rockets shot out, bombarding the demon beasts in all directions. With his Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivation, even the most common Fireball Technique was too much for these First Order Demon Beasts to handle. As the fireballs exploded on their bodies, the demon beasts were immediately showered with sparks, many of them killed directly by the blasts. In no time, the valley echoed with pitiful screams. Very soon, the dozens of demon beasts were easily eradicated under the relentless attacks of both man and eagle. After wiping out the demon beasts, Lin Tianming¡¯s spiritual power was not significantly exhausted. A flying demonic beast like the Purple Gold Eagle, with speed as fast as lightning, was simply a massive weapon in such a slaughter. Looking at the scorched remains of demon beasts and the tragic scene, Lin Tianming quickly collected their demon cores, and then gathered the souls and more valuable parts for Artifact Refining Materials. Although these materials were not worth much in terms of Spirit Stones for him, it would be a pity to waste them. He did not, however, care for the flesh of the demon beasts. The Purple Gold Eagle, on the other hand, was not picky. With its appetite, it easily swallowed more than ten demon beasts, along with their demon cores and flesh, until it could eat no more. Only then did Lin Tianming cast a fireball to turn the remaining carcasses into ashes. After cleaning up the scene, the Purple Gold Eagle carried him into the clouds. With its terrifying vision, it easily covered targets within a range of several li. The man and the eagle flew northward, beginning their search for demonic beast groups. At the same time. To the south of Golden Horn Mountain, a hundred li away, in a dense forest, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng were in a fierce battle with a tribe of over a hundred demon beasts. With Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation at the peak of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, plus the Second Layer Lin Tianfeng, they were relentless in their attacks, leading to a multitude of low-order monster beasts falling on the spot. However, their speed of killing couldn¡¯t compare to Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle. Given the sheer number of beasts, sensing the terrifying presence of the two men, the demon beasts fled in all directions from the beginning. Even with their formidable cultivation and strength, facing such large numbers, they couldn¡¯t manage everything at once and could only target those Middle-Late Stage First Order demon beasts. As for the Initial Phase ones that escaped, they were too weak to cause much damage even if they got away. Quickly, the two men killed about eighty percent of the demon beasts. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, they only collected the demon cores and souls, as well as the more valuable parts of the bodies that could be used as Artifact Refining Materials. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 376 - 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_4 Chapter 376: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_4 Even if these materials can¡¯t be used to refine high-quality Spiritual Artifacts, they could serve as practice for low-level Artifact Refiners. After collecting these items, the two quickly burned the corpses, disposed of the scene, and began to seep around the area once more, continuing their search for traces of Demonic Beasts. Nanshan Town. Nanshan Town is one of the fifteen major towns of Golden Horn Mountain. It was once a mortal town under the Jin Family, with a population exceeding one hundred thousand. Among the many towns controlled by the Lin Family, it has a relatively large population. Outside the town, in a vast expanse of farmland. Lin Xingpu, along with two Lin Family Members, was exterminating some Low-order Monster Beasts, numbering only seven or eight, ... clearly having strayed from the Luoyun Mountain Range. ¡°Act quickly and eliminate them, there are still many places waiting for us to clear!¡± At that command, Lin Xingpu brandished his Spirit Sword, reaping the lives of the Demonic Beasts. With the Demonic Beasts eradicated, Lin Xingpu led his clanspeople once again in searching for traces of beasts in the vicinity of Nanshan Town. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain. Outside the Lin Family Clan Grounds, within several different valleys, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianhu, Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Xingcheng, five Foundation Establishment Clan Members, were leading groups of more than fifty clansmen at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement or above, divided into five teams, to start clearing the Low-order Monster Beasts around the clan territory. For the clan territory, the family had dispatched the most people, all of whom were recent breakthroughs to the Foundation Establishment within the family. Considering the relative safety around the clan territory, these clan members, who needed to be hidden, were sent out, leading middle-generation Qi Refining Clanspeople to exterminate the Monster Beasts near the family. Under such a sizable assembly, the efficiency of these teams was high, and a large number of Demonic Beasts were slain. With each group of Monsters defeated, the five teams continued to infiltrate deeper into the Luoyun Mountain, striving for even greater victories. ¡­ Luoyun Market. In the Market City Hall, Lin Shilu sat in a high seat, with people like Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingzhi seated below him. Further down, Luo Chenggu of the Luo Family and Sun Ruiyang of the Sun Family were also sitting. Below the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the spacious and grand hall was lined with over a hundred seats, each occupied by a Cultivator. After several days of waiting, the majority of Qi Refining Families from the Luoyun Mountain Range had responded to the call of the Lin Family, and sent clan members to station in the Market, assisting in defending against the Beast Tide. There were also some Qi Refining Families who made excuses and refused the summoning of the Lin Family Members in secret. As for this, the Lin Family Members in charge sneered inwardly, knowing that even a family with the strength of the Lin Family dared not take the slightest risk under the onslaught of the Beast Tide. It was precisely because of this that they had notified these families in advance, aiming to gather the strength of everyone, not only to preserve the strength of the Lin Family as much as possible but also for the greater good, to preserve the overall strength of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Yet there were still those self-righteous families who thought the Lin Family was crying wolf. As for those in charge of summoning the families, they did not persuade them too much; if they participated reluctantly, having such thoughts, they would hardly be effective with their discontent and disaffection. Furthermore, the absence of a few Qi Refining Families had virtually no impact on Luoyun Market. And these Qi Refining Families still believed they were indispensable, which was a joke indeed. Inside the hall. Lin Shilu sat in the high seat, his potent aura subtly revealed. Among the numerous Cultivators below, feeling this alternatingly tangible and intangible oppressive aura, many were overcome with inner trepidation. At this time, Luo Chenggu was immensely shocked. Before the great battle at Luoyun Mountain, Lin Shilu and he had both been at the Foundation Building Fourth Level. Now, barely twenty years had passed, and Lin Shilu had already reached the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. Such a terrifying pace of advancement was indeed horrifying. As for himself, having been injured in the great battle, twenty years on, he had managed to cultivate only to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and simply couldn¡¯t compare. Sun Ruiyang was equally taken aback by Lin Shilu¡¯s cultivation. He had also participated in the Market City¡¯s competition, with the Sun Family being led by Sun Dingfeng and the Lin Family by Lin Shilu. Back then, Sun Ruiyang¡¯s elder Sun Dingfeng was a level higher in cultivation than Lin Shilu. In all these years, Sun Dingfeng had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level two years ago, yet Lin Shilu had unexpectedly surpassed him in cultivation. Moreover, the aura that Lin Shilu revealed was as intimidating as Sun Dingxian¡¯s, who was at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a scenario, the most powerful member of the Lin Family, Lin Shikang, might have already reached the complete Foundation Establishment realm. Considering the Lin Family¡¯s publicly known eight Foundation Establishment Clan Members, such formidable strength was even stronger than the Jin Family at their peak. With these thoughts, Sun Ruiyang inwardly sighed: ¡°The Lin Family has soared to the skies and risen irresistibly. The power dynamics among the Luoyun Mountain families are no longer as evenly matched as before!¡± Such thoughts were shared by Luo Chenggu, who inwardly thought that once the Beast Tide ended, the Luo Family might not be able to engage in the little maneuvers they used to, as angering the Lin Family could mean the Luo Family, even if allied with the Sun Family, would not be a match for the Lin Family. With this in mind, keeping a low profile and discreetly developing one¡¯s clan members was the strategy the Luo Family ought to implement. At this moment, as Luo Chenggu and Sun Ruiyang harbored such thoughts, the representatives of the Qi Refining Families were similarly relieved that they had heeded the call of the Lin Family; otherwise, when the Beast Tide was over, if the Lin Family settled accounts afterward, how could they resist? Meanwhile, they also worried for those families who refused to heed the call, even hoping that the Lin Family would deal with those with grievances or friction between them. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 377 - 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_5 Chapter 377: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_5 At this moment, everyone fell into contemplation, and the entire scene was as quiet as a graveyard. Apart from the Lin Family members, no one dared to make eye contact with Lin Shilu; they were all intimidated. And he had deliberately exuded this imposing aura; these families sent representatives who each had their own stance and schemes. If they were to actually command them, it was inevitable that some would lose loyalty and work without effort. Therefore, it was necessary to display some strength and intimidate them so that they could exert greater fighting power. Clearly, his goal had been achieved, and to an extent beyond expectations. After scanning the crowd with his gaze, he saw that almost all family powers had sent representatives, and everyone who made eye contact with him responded with a smile. ... He nodded in satisfaction, then spoke, ¡°Xing Zhi¡­¡± ¡°Report on the defensive forces of Luoyun Market so we can make a thorough plan and ensure Luoyun Market can withstand this beast tide attack,¡± he said. Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instruction, Lin Xingzhi stood up and retrieved a book from his storage bag. After flipping through it, he projected his loud voice throughout the entire hall, ensuring everyone could hear him clearly. ¡°The previous defensive forces of Luoyun Market were as follows: one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one hundred ten Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level, of which fifty were Late Stage Qi Refinement Cultivators,¡± he announced. ¡°With the response of all Daoist friends to the call, there have been an additional four Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than six hundred twenty Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level added, including more than one hundred eighty at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement,¡± he continued. ¡°After the additions, Luoyun Market currently has five Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than seven hundred thirty Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level, with more than two hundred thirty being in the Late Stage or above,¡± he concluded. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Upon hearing the report, the Cultivators in the hall were overjoyed, such a formidable force, not even including the Loose Cultivators within the Market. Under this formidable force, even if two Second Order Late Stage Beasts came, they would probably perish here. Lin Shilu nodded and then said, ¡°Daoist friends, your support for Luoyun Market is deeply appreciated and I thank you all for honoring the call!¡± With that, Lin Shilu stood up and bowed with cupped fists towards the Cultivators below. Seeing this gesture, the Cultivators below also rose to their feet and returned the salute with cupped fists. In the crowd, Chen Jingshan from the front row even spoke up to flatter, ¡°Elder Lin and the Lin Family have taken great pains for the safety of the Luoyun Mountain Range, even deploying such a powerful arrangement for its defense.¡± ¡°As people of the Luoyun Mountain, the Luoyun Market holds great significance for us all. For juniors like us to respond to the call of the Lin Family and strive to maintain the market¡¯s safety is only right!¡± he said. No sooner had his words fallen than another family Cultivator at the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­it is only natural for us juniors to take action; I just hope that Elder Lin won¡¯t look down on us for our lower strength,¡± he added. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Witnessing the Chen Clan and Liu Family representatives speaking ingratiating words, many representatives of Qi Refining families spoke up as well. In an instant, the once silent hall was filled with various flattering remarks. Hearing the compliments from the Cultivators below, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°I am very gratified that everyone holds the Lin Family in such high regard.¡± This statement from Lin Shilu seemed very sincere and was well received by the Qi Refining Cultivators present. Everyone reveres the strong, and since Lin Shilu didn¡¯t belittle them at all, it left the Qi Refining Cultivators quite excited. Then, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed, and he said gravely, ¡°I do not wish to conceal anything. The dangers of the beast tide are well known to everyone, so there¡¯s no need to repeat it. Let¡¯s begin to arrange our course of action.¡± ¡°We have five Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. Apart from me overseeing the market, the remaining four will each lead one hundred Qi Refining Cultivators to clear Low-order Monster Beasts in the four directions from the west side of the market.¡± ¡°As for the area to the east of the market, which falls under Human Race control, only a small number of demon beasts have infiltrated, and it will only require dispatching one hundred Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level to clear them,¡± he finished. Upon hearing this, Luo Chenggu, sitting in front of him, spoke up, ¡°Then which Daoist friend will take responsibility for the area due west of us, close to the Luoyun Mountain Range, where encountering large Demon Beast Tribes is highly probable?¡± His remarks and question reflected the truth, as the Luoyun Mountain Range itself was irregularly shaped, with a massive area in front that was a gathering place for demonic beasts. It was certain that this direction was the most dangerous side, and although the dangers of the other three directions were not as severe, they were roughly comparable in the peril they posed. Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s brows furrowed. He then spoke, ¡°I wonder if Luo Daoyou has any wise suggestions?¡± Seeing that Lin Shilu had addressed him, Luo Chenggu found himself at a loss for words. If his suggestion benefited the Lin Family, it was fine, but if it made it seem like he was using the Lin Family as a pawn, he was bound to offend them. After all, Lin Shilu was astute. Attempting to deceive him would certainly offend the Lin Family. The Sun Family was already having a hard time, and facing sanctions from the Lin Family would only make matters worse. At this moment, Luo Chenggu was filled with regret, questioning why he had spoken out of turn. Now, whether he moved forward or retreated, he found himself in an exceptionally awkward position. Faced with Lin Shilu¡¯s somewhat oppressive gaze, Luo Chenggu let out a bitter laugh before continuing, ¡°Since Daoist Lin is holding the fort at Luoyun Market, among the remaining four, I have the highest cultivation.¡± ¡°In doing so, it is my unavoidable responsibility to take on the area directly ahead.¡± Upon hearing these words, the Qi Training Cultivators in the hall burst into cheers, with many cultivators standing up to bow towards Luo Chenggu, followed by a flurry of compliments. ¡°Luo is deeply aware of the greater good, a role model for our fellow cultivators¡­¡± ¡°Luo is truly a blade of fervor, worthy of all fellow Daoists¡¯ admiration for his spirit that fears not the danger ahead, all for the sake of the many cultivators and mortals of Luoyun Mountain¡­¡± The ceremonious praise twisted Luo Chenggu¡¯s heart, as he inwardly cursed himself for speaking up, inadvertently creating trouble for himself with no easy way to express his distress. Seeing Luo Chenggu take initiative, Lin Shilu chuckled, then cupped his hands and said, ¡°I have great admiration for Luo Daoyou¡¯s action. Once you return victorious, I shall personally come out of the city to greet you.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll leave the frontline to Luo Daoyou. Now, let¡¯s arrange Qi Refinement Realm teams for you.¡± Without waiting for Luo Chenggu¡¯s response, Lin Shilu decided on the spot, which complicated Luo Chenggu¡¯s expression even further. After a moment to compose himself, Luo Chenggu, with a gloomy face, said, ¡°I have no objections to Daoist Lin¡¯s arrangement.¡± ¡°However, the situation at the frontline is still unclear; no one knows if Second Order Demonic Beasts are present. Therefore, I suggest allocating more Qi Refining Cultivators under my command so that we can complete the task given by Daoist Lin more efficiently.¡± After considering the proposal, Lin Shilu thought Luo Chenggu¡¯s request to be reasonable and well-founded. He chuckled and said, ¡°Then, let¡¯s assign twenty Qi Refining Cultivators each from the forces of two Lin Family members to you, Luo Daoyou. No more objections then, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Chenggu was about to further negotiate, but the thought of Lin Shilu¡¯s Foundation Establishment Seventh Level strength deflated him. With a bitter smile, he nodded and conceded, ¡°I am impressed by Daoist Lin¡¯s understanding of my predicament, I will comply with Daoist Lin¡¯s decision.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Lin Shilu smiled, finding Luo Chenggu quite decisive¡ªone who dared not offend the Lin Family; therefore, he was forced to suffer in silence without means of retort. He nodded and declared, ¡°Then that¡¯s settled. Luo Daoyou has the front, and two Lin Family members will handle the area from here to Green Bamboo Mountain, while Daoist Sun will take the section down to Flying Eagle Mountain.¡± ¡°Do Daoist Sun and Luo Daoyou have any objections?¡± ¡°No objections.¡± Then, Lin Shilu began to assign Qi Refining Cultivators to the teams of the four individuals. After some negotiation, the final team compositions were established. Families close to the Lin Family naturally followed the Lin Family¡¯s lead. Families like the Chen Clan and Liu Family, which had some strength, were assigned under Lin Xing Yuan and Lin Xingcheng. Other Qi Refining Families that had been close to the Sun and Luo Families, who now sought to cling to the Lin Family, were ruthlessly rejected and, with no choice, continued to join the ranks of the Sun or Luo Families¡ªhoping that their old masters would not disregard their lives. An hour later, the arrangements for the extermination of the demonic beasts were thoroughly settled, and all cultivators started to take action. After many cultivators had left the hall, Lin Shilu then instructed Lin Xing Yuan and Lin Xingcheng to be cautious and complete the extermination tasks swiftly. After that, Lin Xing Yuan and the others left, leading the allocated Qi Refining Cultivators in grand processions towards the Luoyun Mountain Range. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 378 - 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_1 Chapter 378: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_1 Luoyun Market southwest corner. This place is 300 Li away from Luoyun Market and not too far from the edge of the Green Bamboo Mountain of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, less than 200 Li. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, a figure emerged in an area of hills formed by mounds of earth, revealing Lin Xingyuan. Behind him, eighty Qi Refining Cultivators stood in line, tightly grasping Spiritual Artifacts in their hands, ready for a great battle at any moment. Among this group of Qi Refining Cultivators, more than twenty were Lin Family Cultivators, with the rest being nearly all from the Lin Family¡¯s vassal clans. After several days of searching, they encountered several small tribes of Demonic Beasts along the way and effortlessly exterminated them all. ... As they continued to venture deeper, they finally came across an even larger Demon Beast Tribe, made up of over three hundred Demonic Beasts, nearly half of which were in the Middle-Late Stage of First Order, with formidable strength. This was the strongest tribe they had encountered in several days, practically a Monster Beast Legion. Looking at the vast group of Demonic Beasts in the distance, a group of Qi Refining Cultivators rubbed their hands in anticipation, as if they had spotted some kind of natural treasures. They had easily suppressed the Demonic Beasts in their previous few encounters and thought that this group would be as easily exterminated as before. However, Lin Xingyuan didn¡¯t see it this way. Even though the group of Demonic Beasts didn¡¯t include any of Second Order, their numbers were overwhelming, with each Qi Refining Cultivator having to face the onslaught of at least three Demonic Beasts on average. Even though they had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading them, they would definitely achieve victory, but it was inevitable that some Qi Refining Cultivators would be wounded or killed. Even with his presence as a Third Level Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was unrealistic to expect that he could attend to everyone, nor was it possible. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co In this way, maintaining the integrity of their formation would be difficult. But he had no choice but to engage in battle; if he let this Monster Beast Legion go unchecked, in just a few days, they could gather into an even larger group, making them even more troublesome to deal with. Thinking of this, he immediately said, ¡°Gentlemen, we must not underestimate the strength of this Monster Beast Legion, we must eradicate them quickly.¡± ¡°Everyone be cautious, don¡¯t fall here, let¡¯s make it a quick battle!¡± Before his voice fell, Lin Xingyuan leapt forward, his mighty Foundation Establishment Stage presence instantly suppressing a large number of Demonic Beasts. At the same time, Lin Xingyuan¡¯s Spirit Sword erupted with tens of thousands of Sword Qi, bombarding the Demonic Beasts ahead. With a series of pitiful screams, large numbers of Demonic Beasts, before they could react, were penetrated by the Sword Qi, immediately falling dead on the spot. ¡°Good¡­ with Elder Lin leading us, let¡¯s strike and wipe them out!¡± Seeing Lin Xingyuan take the lead, a Qi Refining Cultivator shouted loudly, then charged forward, rushing toward the Demonic Beasts opposite him. Following that, the Qi Refining Cultivators behind him seemed inspired and surged forward. The Demonic Beasts that recovered also became agitated, forgetting their previous fear, and surged forward like a tide, clashing fiercely with the Qi Refining Cultivators. Seeing the Qi Refining Cultivators had already engaged, the Lin Family Qi Refining Clanspeople also began to join the fray. At that moment, the entire hilly region was engulfed in battle, with numerous Spiritual Artifacts and talisman papers releasing a wealth of attacks entwined with the Demonic Beasts. For a time, the whole area was ablaze with fiery lights, and the ground was littered with Demonic Beast corpses. The Lin Family Members formed a small group, lending support to each other, and with superior Spiritual Artifacts and talisman papers, were noticeably a cut above the other Qi Refining Cultivators. Under these circumstances, the Lin Family Members¡¯ efficiency in killing Demonic Beasts was much higher, and none were injured. Half an hour later, the screaming stopped, and the battle came to an end. Now, among the scattered cultivators on the field, many had pale faces, and even some bore injuries. There were also several cultivators¡¯ bodies lying on the ground, surrounded by a few of their kin, their expressions filled with sorrow. However, most of the cultivators were excited; they had won the battle and obtained a large number of Demon Beast Corpses that could be exchanged for Spirit Stones for cultivation. While some rejoiced, others mourned. The surviving cultivators were extremely excited, and those who had kin perish had to accept the outcome after their grief had passed. After all, in a campaign to eradicate Demonic Beasts, there would always be casualties. If a true beast tide had erupted, the number of deaths would have likely been many times higher. Moreover, they all entered the campaign with the awareness of the potential for loss, and the Lin Family Cultivators had also done their best, slaughtering nearly half the Demonic Beasts, significantly reducing their pressure; otherwise, the casualties would have been even higher. Thus, although the outcome was regrettably anticipated, it was also not unexpected. As the battle concluded, Lin Shilu descended from the air, landing on a hilltop. Gazing over the scene, the ravines of the vast hilly region were filled with Demonic Beast corpses, presenting a chaotic and pitiful scene to behold. As for the Human Cultivators, as previously anticipated, among the other Qi Refining Cultivators, several at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement had perished in the battle. Depending on superior Spiritual Artifacts and talisman papers along with adept cooperation, and occasionally aided by Lin Xingyuan, the Lin Family Qi Refining Clanspeople miraculously suffered no injuries. Besides, they achieved excellent battle results, having killed nearly half of the Demonic Beasts and obtained nearly half of the spoils of war. Standing on a small hilltop, Lin Xingyuan surveyed the scene full of corpses and began instructing the Qi Refining Cultivators below. ¡°Gentlemen, clean up the battlefield quickly. As for the clan members who fell here, I, as the commander, express deep regret. Once we return to Luoyun Market, you may collect your compensation according to market rules,¡± he said. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 379 - 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_2 Chapter 379: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_2 Upon receiving the command, a group of Qi Refining Cultivators sprang into action, each beginning to clean up the battlefield. Soon, the corpses on the field were cleared, and anything of use was collected by the people. Lin Xingyuan gathered everyone together, and after half a day of recovering from injuries and replenishing Spiritual Power, once more than seventy to eighty percent was restored, they continued to explore the surroundings. ¡­ Qianchuan Market. In a valley outside the market, three men in green robes were using Sword Flight, sweeping over the mountaintops. ... The trio were Lin Family Members. With Lin Xingrong staying behind in the Luoyun Mountain Range to aid the family in resisting the potential beast tide, those in the market were unaware of the situation. Therefore, Lin Xingmin and two others were arranged by Lin Shihua to head to Qianchuan Market to join forces with family members stationed there, on one hand to convey the arrangements on their side, and on the other to gather intelligence regarding the beast tide. Should there be any significant developments, they needed to relay the information back to the family at the first opportunity. After nearly twenty days of travel, with the sight of the vast city beginning to loom, Lin Xingmin breathed a sigh of relief. Being assigned this task at such a critical juncture carried no small risk for the three of them. Were they to encounter a large group of Demonic Beasts, they faced the risk of perishing. With the precise map left by Lin Xingrong, their luck had been good. Along the way, they only encountered a few First Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts, which they managed to kill with ease using their Qi Refining Eighth and Ninth Level strength. As they drew closer to Qianchuan Market, they descended from the sky and walked toward the market entrance. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Soon, after paying the Spirit Stones as an entrance fee, the three of them smoothly entered the market. Walking on the cobblestone streets, they did not rush to Luoyun Pavilion or the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Lin Xingmin observed the situation within the market to gauge the reactions of the Zhenyang Sect and other Foundation Establishing Families. After observing for a while, they went to the Welcoming Guest Tower, where the flow of people was heavy, and all kinds of individuals were present, making the information here extremely well-connected. Through his meticulous observation and the topics of casual conversations among passersby, he also gleaned some useful information. Currently, everything in Qianchuan Market was normal, with all major shops still conducting business as usual, and the market¡¯s ins and outs were no different from ordinary times. Perhaps some clan powers had also speculated that a beast tide might occur, but most clans did not take this matter to heart. Families reacting as the Lin Family had were even rarer; clearly, the vast majority of clan powers weren¡¯t concerned, focusing on their cultivation without planning any preemptive measures. It was not until evening that the three of them left the Welcoming Guest Tower and headed towards the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. At this time, Lin Xinghuan was standing in the courtyard, while several other family members were sitting together, all with furrowed brows and very worried expressions. In the silence of the atmosphere, a Tao Clan Member glanced at the pacing Lin Xinghuan and asked softly, ¡°Uncle¡­ It¡¯s been more than forty days since Uncle Xingrong left the market, and we haven¡¯t seen him return. Could something have happened?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xinghuan, already in a state of turmoil, had an even uglier expression. When Lin Xingrong left the market, he had made it clear that he expected to return within a month. However, it had been over a month since Lin Xingrong left, and he had yet to return, exceeding the expected time by almost ten days. Without a Foundation Establishment Clan Member in the market to take charge, they were almost leaderless, and the lack of clear messages made them very worried. Lin Xinghuan looked up at the southern night sky, knowing he needed to stay calm under the current circumstances and provide a sense of reassurance to the family members here. With these thoughts in mind, he gradually calmed down. Lin Xinghuan offered a confident smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s astronomy¡­ Perhaps Twelve Brother got held up by some urgent business and that¡¯s why he¡¯s a few days overdue. Let¡¯s wait patiently a bit longer; he may return tomorrow!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ It¡¯s only a matter of a few days, and currently, the market is very peaceful. No major events should occur, so let¡¯s not add to our worries unnecessarily!¡± another Xing Clan Member chimed in. Hearing the words of the two Xing Clan Members, everyone indeed relaxed, and their sorrowful expressions gradually returned to normal. At that moment, a messaging token flew into the courtyard and steadily hovered in front of Lin Xinghuan. He quickly read the contents, and his face lit up with joy. He hurriedly took out the Restriction Order Token and cast a Law Decree. Soon, Lin Xingmin and the other two entered the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Seeing Lin Xingmin, all the family members¡¯ faces burst into elation¡ªas if thinking of something would make it come true. Now that family representatives had arrived, their worries were alleviated. Lin Xinghuan settled himself first, then after greeting them, he asked, ¡°Xingmin, why have you come instead of Twelve Brother?¡± ¡°Twelve Brother is tied up with other important matters. Let us catch our breath first, and then I¡¯ll explain everything in detail!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xinghuan invited the three to sit down, then poured a cup of Spiritual Tea and waited quietly for Lin Xingmin¡¯s explanation. Subsequently, Lin Xingmin began to recount everything about the family¡¯s arrangements and matters of the beast tide, also explaining their mission in coming to the market. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When they heard that the beast tide might be returning, Lin Xinghuan and the uninformed family members were utterly shocked. They had only read about the beast tides in books, never imagining a phenomenon that occurred once every few centuries would be encountered by their generation. Fortunately, the family had made some preparations in advance, accumulated a substantial amount of wartime resources, and had already formulated a thorough plan. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 380 - 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_3 Chapter 380: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_3 ¡°` However, even so, the family¡¯s crisis had not been lifted without confirmation of the scale of the beast tide; it was no wonder Lin Xingrong couldn¡¯t make it back to the market city on time. Afterward, the group discussed some arrangements. Those from the family in Qianchuan Market must continue to hold their ground, maintain the business of Luoyun Pavilion as much as possible, and according to the family¡¯s demands, use the reserve of Spirit Stones in the shop to secretly acquire consumable war resources like talisman paper. What¡¯s more important, Lin Xingmin needed to gather intelligence in a timely manner; as the largest market in the southern Wei Kingdom, the Cultivation World was undoubtedly the most well-informed in this region. As soon as they obtained specific information, they must send it back to the family immediately to allow the family to prepare in advance for overcoming the crisis. ... In the dead of night, when everything was quiet, all the family members arranged all matters and plans, and then dispersed. ¡­ Time passed day by day, and in a blink of an eye, half a month had elapsed. During these days, Lin Xingmin and three other family members mingled in various parts of the market city every day. Auction houses, street stalls, the Market City Hall, and various restaurants and shops all saw the figures of these people. Their purpose was clear: to mingle wherever there were crowds of people and to interact with Loose Cultivators who liked to travel or undergo training. That day, on the square outside the Market City Hall. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co At that moment, Lin Xingmin was planning to cross the square to check the street stalls, intending to both purchase some cultivation necessities and to continue gathering intelligence. For several days in a row, there had been no news about the beast tide, which made Lin Xingmin suspect that his family might have made a misjudgment. However, considering that this matter was too crucial¡ªif they encountered a medium or large beast tide, advance preparation could greatly increase the chances of surviving the crisis¡ªhe thought that even if it was a misjudgment, the family would only be sacrificing some resources and manpower, which was surely better than losing the lives of family members. With these thoughts, he understood the painstaking efforts of the family. Regathering his focus, he took steps towards the street stall area, ready to continue his intelligence gathering. Just as he was about to cross the vast plaza and enter the street stall area, three powerful rings of a bell sounded. Immediately after, several Cultivators wearing golden Daoist robes appeared in front of the doors of the Market City Hall; embroidered on their chests was a round sun, marking them undoubtedly as disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. Upon hearing these three bell rings, Cultivators in every corner of the market, who were busily engaged in their own affairs, ceased their activities, and some of the Cultivators who had been staying there for years suddenly turned pale. They knew what the three bell rings signified. Usually, in the market city, if a fight broke out among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, there would be at most one bell ring. Only in the event of a major incident that could threaten the safety of the market would the bell be rung thrice in succession. Some Cultivators walking on the streets even quietly speculated whether these three bell rings signified an attack on the city¡¯s Formation by a Golden Elixir Expert. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Xingmin also paled considerably upon hearing the bells. Seeing the Zhenyang Sect disciples outside the Market Hall who seemed to be about to post an announcement, he rushed over, eager to find out what was happening to warrant such an alarm. Since he was not far away, he was one of the first to reach the front, securing an excellent vantage point. Behind him, a large number of Cultivators flowed towards the area like waves, soon resulting in nearly a thousand people gathered here, and the number continued to rise. On the raised platform outside the great hall, two Zhenyang Sect disciples put up a huge announcement on a carved pillar. Lin Xingmin checked the contents of the announcement immediately, and as his gaze swept over it, his face turned white in an extremely short time. Not only him, but all the Cultivators present, whether in the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refinement Realm, all turned an ashen color. At that moment, a huge number of Cultivators reading the brief message on the announcement couldn¡¯t help but mutter to themselves. ¡°The Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm was destroyed by a beast tide outbreak?¡± ¡°The beast tide erupted in Qingzhou of the Yuanwu Kingdom and is rapidly spreading to the surrounding areas; it is assessed that it could be a medium-sized beast tide.¡± Some Cultivators who arrived heard the murmured words, and all were shocked beyond measure. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Xingmin considered the message announced and the discussions among the Cultivators. He fell into contemplation. While the outbreak was in Yuanwu Kingdom, the beast tide was not small in scale and was still expanding. Even though several countries separated the Wei Kingdom from Yuanwu Kingdom¡ªmaking it unlikely to be the primary battleground¡ªthe Wei Kingdom would definitely experience some impact and shock. This made the medium-sized beast tide a serious test for the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. However, thus far in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there had been no news of large-scale Demonic Beast attacks, and the Sect Families and powers had some time to react. That being the case, this could be considered somewhat good news. Nevertheless, a beast tide outbreak was a matter of when, not if, and the attitudes and responses of the Golden Elixir Forces within the Wei Kingdom were extremely important and could be considered the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World¡¯s main force against the beast tide. After all, in the face of the vast Demon Beast Army, if ordinary Foundation Establishment Powers were attacked, they would easily be annihilated. Moreover, within the Cultivation World, aside from the Golden Elixir Forces and some family powers, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World also had a vast number of Loose Cultivators. When a beast tide broke out, they either had to leave the Wei Kingdom for places like Qingzhou or stay in medium to large market cities, fighting alongside Golden Elixir Forces to survive the crisis. Otherwise, going alone outside, encountering a Demon Beast Army, was absolutely a deadly situation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 381 - 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_4 Chapter 381: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_4 Indeed, some cultivators had already thought of this and promptly asked the Zhenyang Sect disciples their opinions and plans regarding the beast tide and the market. On hearing the inquiries, the leading Zhenyang Sect disciple replied gravely, ¡°Currently, the sect hasn¡¯t communicated any specific arrangements.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°However, fellow daoists, a target as large as the Qianchuan Market is highly likely to attract the attack of the Beast Tide Army, and thus requires substantial support from cultivators.¡± ¡°Moreover, it is far too dangerous for loose cultivators to remain outside alone; we hope that unless it¡¯s necessary, no one will leave the market rashly.¡± At this point, he spoke earnestly, ¡°Many of you have long been residents here, with no shortage of family members among you, regardless of whether you have properties here or not, we hope you can stay and join us in repelling the attacks of the beast tide!¡± ¡°In addition to this, I believe the market will issue a statement later on, promising rewards for those who contribute significantly to repelling the beast tide. The sect will not let you down, and may create an exception to include you within the sect, or bestow heavenly materials and earthly treasures, even possibly Foundation Establishment Pills as rewards.¡± ... ¡°Foundation Establishment Pills?¡± ¡°Joining Zhenyang Sect, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple!¡± Hearing these words, some Qi Refining cultivators were thrilled, their fear instantly dissipating, and some even began to look forward to the arrival of the beast tide. The cultivators with such thoughts were almost all those with lower cultivation levels, not blessed with great talent and leading difficult lives for the sake of cultivation and survival. If they could join a Golden Core Sect, they would be able to make use of the sect¡¯s resources for cultivation and also earn respect from other cultivators. Even if they could not join Zhenyang Sect, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill might also allow them to defy the heavens and transform their fate, becoming Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such a beast tide could thus be seen as an opportunity for them to leap over the dragon gate. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co An opportunity that might change their destiny! And there were not a few people who harbored such thoughts. However, more cultivators were sober-minded, fully aware that obtaining rewards from Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t be easy, and if they lost their lives in the process, no amount of glory would be of any use. There were also some cultivators with calm expressions, who started to contemplate quietly. Their cultivation wasn¡¯t high, and leaving the market, they had nowhere else to go. If they didn¡¯t leave, they would have to share their fate with a significant target like the market; if the Defensive Great Formation was breached by the demonic beasts, they might also face life-or-death straits. Their dilemma was reasonable, for everyone strives for survival. Meanwhile, Lin Xingmin had no time to entertain such considerations, as he hurried away from the crowd towards the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Half an hour later, a group of family members gathered together. Lin Xingmin relayed everything he witnessed and heard in the Market City Hall from the Zhenyang Sect disciples to the family members without omitting a word. As expected, the family members were all shocked, their previous wishful thinking shattered by this explosive news. Once they had regained their composure, they began to discuss their next steps. They were acutely aware of the importance of this news; it had to be communicated to the family immediately so that a comprehensive plan could be formulated. Besides, they had to make arrangements for Luoyun Pavilion to minimize the family¡¯s losses. At this moment, family members put forward suggestions, and it was swiftly decided that three people would stay behind in Qianchuan Market. The rest of the family members would leave with the vast wealth inside Luoyun Pavilion and relay the message to the family in the shortest time possible. However, no consensus had yet been reached on who would stay behind in the market. Staying in Qianchuan Market during such a crisis was perilous for Qi Refining clanspeople; they might well end up as cannon fodder. Even if the Lin Family had some connections with the higher-ups in the market and weren¡¯t used as cannon fodder, without the help of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the situation would still be highly dangerous. In such circumstances, those staying in the market would cut off contact with the family and would struggle to receive any support from them; everything would depend solely on themselves. In this situation, our clan members are almost completely isolated and without support. If the market city is breached by the demonic beasts, we might perish right here. At this time, everyone was arguing heatedly over who should remain behind. Lin Xingyan waved his hand to calm everyone down and then said, ¡°You are all young, and your strength is not high, staying behind is too dangerous!¡± ¡°And I am nearing eighty years old. My cultivation progress is very slow, and it¡¯s possible I may not break through to Foundation Establishment in this life. It¡¯s most appropriate for me to stay!¡± Before he could finish speaking, a Xing Clan Member objected, ¡°Uncle, precisely because your cultivation is relatively high, you should return to the family to contribute to its safety!¡± Another Xing Clan Member chimed in, ¡°Yes¡­ even if we fall here, it would be for the family, we are not afraid of death!¡± ¡°What a joke¡­ as Lin Family Members, if I allowed you juniors to stay behind, how could I have the face to return to the family?¡± ¡°If anything happens to you, when we are dead, how could we face your parents?¡± Lin Xingyan¡¯s rebuttal left the crowd of Xing Clan Members at a loss for words. After a few moments of silence, Lin Xingyan spoke, ¡°No matter what your thoughts are, I¡¯ve made my decision. Before Twelfth Brother left, he entrusted me to take care of Luoyun Pavilion and all our fellow clansmen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine under normal circumstances, but at this time, I will absolutely not allow a junior to take the risk!¡± Lin Xingyan¡¯s resolute words stirred a fiery passion in the hearts of the few Xing Clan Members present. A Xing Clan Member said, ¡°Fellow clansmen, time is of the essence. Our family does not have much time left, we must settle this matter and send the news back to the family as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Yes¡­time is life, arriving at the family even a moment sooner could save a life!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyan¡¯s expression was serious, and he spoke in a very decisive tone, ¡°Xing Zhou, Xing Pu, do you have the courage to stay behind in the market city with me?¡± Lin Xingpu burst into a hearty laugh and said, ¡°Haha¡­ what¡¯s there to fear!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhao also let out a laugh, then said imposingly, ¡°Brother Fifteen¡­ in terms of talent and cultivation, we Xing Clan Members indeed can¡¯t compare to the Xing Clan Members, but when it comes to courage and spirit, we refuse to be left behind!¡± ¡°This¡­is not proper¡­¡± Just as a Xing Clan Member began to speak, he was loudly rebuked by Lin Xingyan. ¡°We three have already decided. I am the oldest here, so no more discussion is needed. Carry out the orders!¡± Seeing the determination and the firm, non-negotiable tone of the other Xing Clan Members, the Xing Clan Member¡¯s face flushed, and he wanted to persuade further but was silenced by Lin Xingyan¡¯s resolute gaze. With Lin Xingyan¡¯s decision on who would stay behind, the eyes of the Xing Clan Members reddened, and spurred by his urging, the clan members all sprang into action. Quickly after, the clan members collected all the valuable resources they could carry from Luoyun Pavilion, preparing to take them back to the family. If this tremendous wealth were left in the market city and something unexpected happened, it might all be in vain. An hour later. Under Lin Xingyan¡¯s watchful eye, a group of ten people, reluctant to leave, left the Cave Mansion Courtyard together and made their way to the entrance of the market city. At that moment, the entrance of the entire market city was chaotic. A large number of cultivators were rushing out, almost all of whom were family cultivators. Fortunately, the news had not completely spread yet. The cultivators outside did not know about the imminent arrival of the beast tide. Otherwise, even more loose cultivators would have gathered at Qianchuan Market City, hoping to rely on the market to survive the calamity. By then, it would have been very difficult to get out. Lin Xingmin, leading the Lin Family Members, found the Zhenyang Sect Disciple responsible for overseeing entry to the market city and showed the token left by Li Xiuyuan, swiftly gaining passage through the market city entrance. Otherwise, following the queue to get out would have delayed them significantly. Once out of the market city, the clan members did not dare to delay. They flew non-stop towards the south. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 382 - 229 Escort_1 Chapter 382: Chapter 229 Escort_1 Golden Horn Mountain. Over three hundred li from Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, a massive swamp, the Purple Gold Eagle waged a fierce battle against an early Second Order Kui Yin Python. Not far away, Lin Tianming was swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand, rapidly clearing the body of another Kui Yin Python, stripping off all the useful Artifact Refining Materials from it. In the midst of the intense battle, the Purple Gold Eagle flapped its huge wings, stirring up a massive amount of mud which cascaded down onto the Kui Yin Python like a deluge. At the same time, its large beak spewed out numerous fireballs, continuously bombarding the Kui Yin Python. This was the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s Innate Divine Ability. As its cultivation level increased, so did the power of its ability. ... At that moment, the Kui Yin Python, its face obscured by the muck, was unprepared for the rain of fireballs striking it. The fireballs hit the body of the Kui Yin Python and then erupted in a series of explosions. The Python¡¯s scales were blasted off along with its flesh, leaving behind charred, bloody holes. The Kui Yin Python writhed in agony upon being attacked by the fireballs, its movements tragic. Unable to help itself, it opened its mouth wide and let out one piteous scream after another, a sound that chilled anyone who heard it. The Purple Gold Eagle, having the upper hand, did not stop and swooped in for the kill. After dozens of rounds of battle, the Purple Gold Eagle, relying on its speed and slightly greater strength, finally managed to severely wound the Kui Yin Python. Seeing the Kui Yin Python grievously injured, the Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t hesitate and dived down from the sky, its claws, sharp as knives, aiming for the Python¡¯s vital points. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co In this sight, the Kui Yin Python was terrified, watching the Purple Gold Eagle draw nearer and intensely twisting its body in an attempt to dodge the fatal blow. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the Kui Yin Python, already injured and slower than the Purple Gold Eagle, found escape impossible. In its desperate plight, it was well aware that survival was unlikely, but it could still try to avoid its vital parts and look for another opportunity. In an instant, as the sharp claws of the Purple Gold Eagle descended, the Kui Yin Python managed to dodge the blow to its vital areas. Nevertheless, its tail was firmly grasped by the claws. With a fierce twist by the Purple Gold Eagle, the large body of the Kui Yin Python snapped into two unequal lengths. The Kui Yin Python cried out one last time and then spurted a profuse amount of dark brown liquid. The Purple Gold Eagle, swift as before, easily evaded the venom. It turned around and came back once more, ready to end the life of the Kui Yin Python for good. The heavily injured Kui Yin Python, suffering another fatal wound and its speed greatly reduced, had no hope of escape anymore. As the massive claws approached, it struggled in vain, unable to avoid the inevitable. In the blink of an eye, those giant claws gripped the Kui Yin Python by the head. After a miserable shriek, the large body of the Kui Yin Python fell to the ground. After a few twitching movements, it lay still, clearly dead. By this time, Lin Tianming had finished clearing the other Kui Yin Python, and seeing the Purple Gold Eagle victorious, he hurried over. He wasn¡¯t surprised by the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s victory. These two Kui Yin Pythons were the seventh wave of Second Order Demonic Beasts they had encountered this month. With extensive practice against same-class Demonic Beasts, the fighting skills of the Purple Gold Eagle were highly prominent. And with its strength on the verge of breaking into the Middle Stage of the Second Order, defeating this ordinary early-stage Kui Yin Python was just a matter of time. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, the Purple Gold Eagle stretched its beak to nuzzle the hem of his clothes, apparently seeking praise. Lin Tianming chuckled and affectionately stroked its beak, then took out the Demon Core of the Kui Yin Python and tossed it to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle excitedly flapped its wings, swallowed the Demon Core in one gulp, and couldn¡¯t help letting out a triumphant cry. Lin Tianming nodded and, without further attention to the Purple Gold Eagle, began to clear the body of the Kui Yin Python. Soon, the battlefield was cleared, and the Purple Gold Eagle, carrying Lin Tianming, soared into the sky, continuing to fly northward. Sitting on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, Lin Tianming pondered. After a long month of exploring and exterminating, he had lost count of the number of Demonic Beasts he had killed. He had started from Golden Horn Mountain, ventured hundreds of li deep into Luoyun Mountain Range to the west, then headed north, covering a linear distance of more than six hundred li, approaching Hengyang Mountain Range territory. As time passed and the further north he traveled, the stronger the Demonic Beasts became, having encountered seven waves of Second Order beasts already. Given the situation, a beast tide erupting was a foregone conclusion. Now, nearing the junction of the two great mountain ranges, the clearing mission on the side of Luoyun Mountain Range was successfully accomplished. Continuing north would be unnecessary. He wasn¡¯t so idle, nor did he have the power to worry about the fate of Hengyang Mountain Range. With these thoughts in mind, he planned to survey the tall mountains ten li ahead, the junction of the two ranges. If no Demonic Beasts were found, he would start his return journey to Golden Horn Mountain. Once decided, he flew northward and soon reached the summit of the high mountain. Indeed, there was no further incident, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he gave the command, the Purple Gold Eagle was about to turn around to return when a party of seven appeared in his line of sight. ¡°Eh¡­ those people have changed their appearance, but they¡¯ve left a hidden mark of Green Bamboo Mountain on their bodies!¡± Recognizing the familiar mark, he was certain that this group was none other than the Lin Family Members. Since many cultivators needed to go out, often changing their appearance and even concealing their cultivation, Lin Tianming thought. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 383 - 229 Escort_2 Chapter 383: Chapter 229 Escort_2 Therefore, the family had its members create unique markings to distinguish friends from foes when encountered outside. Although these markings could sometimes expose the family¡¯s secrets, they were changed every three years, with a total of ten different markings completing a cycle every thirty years. Under such circumstances, as long as a cultivator remembered the markings and their order of change, they could safely identify a person¡¯s affiliation without revealing themselves in inconvenient situations. Many families and sects used this method of marking. However, this method was of little use against cultivators whose power far surpassed others; they only needed to capture the target individual and use Divine Sense to search the soul, thus gaining all of the targeted person¡¯s memories. But soul searching was not so easy; at minimum, a great disparity in Divine Sense was required for success, otherwise it was very difficult to achieve. ... S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For example, an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator trying to search the soul of a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator might be able to do it, but after the search, they would definitely suffer weakness in their Divine Sense for a while. However, the difficulty was not as great when searching the soul of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator, and the impact would be smaller as well. In other words, to perform a soul search without leaving any problems behind, there must be at least a gap of two major realms. In addition, the technique of soul searching required a strong Divine Sense, at least the strength of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator¡¯s Divine Sense. Thus, unless it was essential to know particularly important news, few people would resort to soul searching. And in the entire Wei Kingdom, there were not many individuals with the capability to conduct a soul search. In this way, using these markings to hide the identities of cultivators was a very good strategy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Regaining focus, the distance between the two parties grew closer. Having confirmed that they were Lin Family Members and that they were coming from the Hengyang Mountain Range in this direction, it was certain that they were people returning to the family from Qianchuan Market. However, their powers were limited and they failed to notice Lin Tianming among the clouds. Having discovered his clansmen, he naturally could not leave alone. He instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to fly towards the group of family members. As they descended, the family members saw the Purple Gold Eagle flying straight towards them, identical to Lin Tianming¡¯s own. Whether it was the grade¡¯s aura or the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s unique cry, everything matched perfectly, so they immediately understood who the unfamiliar face on the eagle¡¯s back was. At that moment, Lin Xingmin and a few others were overjoyed, a hint of color returning to their pale faces. Cautious and vigilant on their journey, they had encountered several waves of First Order Demonic Beasts, including some in the Late Stage. After a hard fight, they had emerged victorious without incident. Then, ignoring their minor injuries, they continued to hasten on their way, now finally approaching the border of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Meeting Lin Tianming here greatly increased their safety, how could they not feel unexpectedly elated? Once Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle reached them, and after exchanging greetings, he led the group into the clouds, heading towards Green Bamboo Mountain. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, everyone gathered together. Lin Xingmin began to report on what he had seen and heard in Qianchuan Market, shocking Lin Tianming beyond measure upon learning that the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm had been annihilated by Demonic Beasts. Following that, upon hearing about the movements in Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. He estimated that there could not be many safe havens left in Qingzhou, unless one moved far away from Yuanwu Kingdom, otherwise they were bound to be affected somehow. And Qianchuan Market was also preparing to deal with the Beast Tide by calling in Loose Cultivators to join them inside the market, fighting together against the oncoming Beast Tide, which was an expected move. After all, Zhenyang Sect had a large establishment to protect, not only the territory of the sect but also two major markets and various mining Spirit Lands; relying solely on sect disciples for protection was never going to be enough. In such a situation, it was very clear to him that the decisions made by his family members were indeed prudent. These family members could only leave a small part of their people to guard the market and look after the family¡¯s businesses. The rest had to take the many resources from Luoyun Pavilion and this explosive news back to the family, to allow for more comprehensive planning and measures. Understanding the critical importance of this information, he praised everyone for their efforts and instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to fly at full speed to escort the group back to the family as quickly as possible. Sensing Lin Tianming¡¯s urgent emotions, the Purple Gold Eagle responded with a sharp cry. Then it picked up speed dramatically, becoming like a blurred shadow as it flew southward. Golden Horn Mountain. After a day of flight, the group of family members arrived above the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Lin Tianming stood on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking down at the scenery below, which appeared normal, with no Demonic Beasts in sight. He breathed a sigh of relief. Recently, they had divided into two teams from two different directions to cleanse the monster menace, and he had almost completed his planned tasks. However, since the Beast Tide was bound to strike sooner or later, the areas he had cleared might once again see the emergence of Demonic Beasts. Therefore, they had to be vigilant at all times, guarding against any stragglers and the impending onslaught of the Beast Tide Army. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, the family members gathered together. Due to the urgency of time, he had no intention of stopping. After hurriedly signaling to his family members and explaining his plans, he flew directly past the clan territory, continuing southward. One day later. The Purple Gold Eagle landed on a mountaintop, meeting with Lin Xingrong, who had circled back to Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming immediately went up to meet his father, exchanged greetings, and then began to talk about the news Lin Xingmin had brought back from Qianchuan Market. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 384 - 229: Escort_3 Chapter 384: Chapter 229: Escort_3 Hearing the news that the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm had been destroyed, both were equally shocked. Because the incident was indeed too appalling, a nation formed of over a dozen Golden Elixir Forces, with such powerful strength, had actually been trampled flat by the iron hooves of the Beast Tide Army in just a short half-month time. An earth-shattering event like the destruction of a country last occurred in the Qingzhou Cultivation World over a thousand years ago, during a medium-sized beast tide. The previous beast tide was merely a small one, not very strong, and a country with above-average strength had managed to hold it off. Yet this time, a medium-sized beast tide erupted in Yuanwu Kingdom, and once again followed the same pattern of devastation seen over a thousand years ago. If the beast tide had broken out in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, Wei Kingdom might not even have been able to hold out for three days. ... But fortunately, Wei Kingdom is located in a remote place; although it is in a barren land, there are advantages as well. At least there have been no High Order Monster Beasts or those powerful beast races born in this region. Thus, the likelihood of a beast tide endangering the Cultivation World emerging in Wei Kingdom is not very high. Perhaps, this is what is meant by blessings and misfortunes relying on each other! Having finally calmed down, Lin Xingrong hurriedly inquired about Qianchuan Market and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s plans regarding the beast tide. Clearly, he was very concerned about Zhenyang Sect¡¯s attitude, as all the family forces surrounding the market were very attentive to this matter. It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say that their stance would determine the families¡¯ plans to combat the beast tide, even affecting the destiny of these family forces. The Foundation Establishing Families were better off; if they didn¡¯t run into a large troop of monster beasts, they might not suffer too much damage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co But for those Qi Refining Families, it was completely a matter of luck. If they encountered even a moderately large group, they might be directly annihilated. Therefore, the Golden Core forces of Wei Kingdom were absolutely the main force against the beast tide. If they were indifferent and did not resist, it would be a truly isolated and unsupported situation. Seeing his father so anxious, Lin Tianming continued to explain. Learning that Qianchuan Market was gathering cultivators to join and had made some reward-based arrangements was more or less in line with the practices recorded in the classics. However, this approach was a win-win situation for both cultivators and Zhenyang Sect. After all, under the formidable strength of the Beast Tide Army, discarding past grudges and uniting to survive the crisis became a much more likely possibility. In this way, Zhenyang Sect¡¯s response was also within expectations. Thinking of these things, Lin Xingrong said, ¡°Tianming, you must immediately take Xing Min and the others back to the clan, and tell Third Uncle to immediately make a meticulous plan.¡± ¡°Tianfeng and I have already cleared a large area in the southern part of Golden Horn Mountain, connecting it with the cleared area of Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Before the beast tide breaks out in Wei Kingdom, this place should be safe. ¡°And with the Purple Gold Eagle with you, you can serve as a bridge between us. Wherever support and message delivery are needed, you can carry out these tasks more safely.¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded. If the beast tide erupted, Qianchuan Market and Golden Horn Mountain would be virtually in a state of isolation and without aid. The transmission of messages between the three locations would be very difficult. Resorting to Sword Flight or relying on Spirit Beasts to travel on the ground would be very dangerous. Given this, entrusting him with this arduous and dangerous task would be most appropriate. Fully aware of this, he and Lin Xingrong exchanged a few more instructions, then continued on with a group of clan members towards Green Bamboo Mountain. ¡­ COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. SEND GIFT Chapter 385 - 230: Asking for Orders_1 Chapter 385: Chapter 230: Asking for Orders_1 Within half a day, the Purple Gold Eagle successfully entered the Protective Clan Formation. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the clan, everything seemed normal; cultivators occasionally flew over, people continued their cultivation practices, and although the number of clan members patrolling had increased, it appeared they were not impacted by the beast tide. In the square behind the mountain gate, Lin Tianming dismissed the gathered clan members and then took Lin Xingmin with him as they flew towards the valley where Ye Pinghai was in seclusion. Soon, the two arrived at the valley, and shortly after receiving his message, Lin Shihua and a few others also hurried over. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and Lin Xingmin, their expressions turned grave, as if they were expecting significant news. Indeed, learning about the beast tide that had erupted in Yuanwu Kingdom and that it had overwhelmed the powerful Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm in a short period of time, even those who were prepared couldn¡¯t help but gasp in shock. ... Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure, urgently asking about Zhenyang Sect¡¯s stance on this matter. Lin Tianming repeated the information he knew, and the group fell into silence, seemingly contemplating their next move. After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Shikang addressed Lin Xingmin, suggesting he rest, and then asked the others for suggestions, bringing everyone back to reality. Lin Shihua sighed and then spoke, ¡°Due to the outbreak point of the beast tide being far from Wei Kingdom, it¡¯s difficult to say how quickly the Beast Tide Army is advancing. No large tracks of demonic beasts have been discovered here, making it hard to judge the situation.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone nodded. Yuanwu Kingdom was a great distance from Wei Kingdom, with several countries larger than Wei Kingdom lying between them. Since teleportation formations are rare, with only a few large markets or Great Sects possessing them, even using teleportation, it would still take at least half a month to transmit messages to this side. As such, it was difficult to predict the Beast Tide Army¡¯s next move, but based on previous beast tides, it was highly likely they would spread outwards, specifically targeting medium to large markets and Great Sect powers. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co After all, the Demon Race¡¯s purpose in initiating a beast tide was to seize resources and covet the bodies of the Human Cultivators. For the Demon Beast Race, their lengthy lifespans meant they had an overwhelmingly large population. With limited resources, the bodies of Human Cultivators were a precious commodity, and the abundance of Spiritual Objects stored within mid to large-sized powers was precisely why they instigated the beast tides without restraint. Their vast numbers and frightening reproduction rate meant that any offspring of the demonic beasts had the potential to advance in rank. Although the Human Race was also numerous, the chances of being born with a Spiritual Root were too low, and it was uncertain whether the offspring of cultivators would have them. Competition within the Demon Beast Race was even more ruthless and violent than among the humans. Unleashing beast tides to attack humans not only reduced their own numbers but also gained them resources, serving as an ideal means for High Order Monster Beasts to maintain balance. At that moment, Lin Shikang frowned and said after looking at everyone, ¡°Unless things go unexpectedly, Wei Kingdom might not face the danger of extinction, but it will surely be affected.¡± ¡°Fortunately, the family had made some preparations in advance. We must quickly complete the tasks previously planned and then wait to see how the beast tide develops.¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Tianming also chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ with the family¡¯s large businesses and population, it¡¯s impossible to seek refuge at Qianchuan Market. ¡± ¡°Therefore, we can only stay in the Luoyun Mountain Range, trying our best to protect key industries and strength, believing that this beast tide won¡¯t last too long before it ends.¡± Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Lin Shihua continued, ¡°Luoyun Market is crucial to our family. Like Qianchuan Market, we must gather the Qi Refining Families and Loose Cultivators to fend off the attacks of the demonic beasts together.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then added, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa is right. The more help we have, the better our chances. Calling upon Loose Cultivators and those Qi Refining Families is a win-win strategy.¡± ¡°But without incentives, I fear we cannot sway them. For Loose Cultivators and those with lesser powers, seeking safety in Qianchuan Market would be a preferable option.¡± As soon as he spoke, Lin Shikang thought for a moment and then added, ¡°Then we¡¯ll introduce some reward policies. If they join Luoyun Market in resisting the beast tide, those Cultivators with significant merits can receive rewards.¡± Everyone strongly agreed with Lin Shikang¡¯s suggestion, and they immediately began discussing the terms of the rewards and the treasures to be offered. Choosing the right incentives was not easy; if the clan offered items of high value, it could severely impact its finances. On the other hand, if the incentives were too meager, they would fail to attract people to join Luoyun Market. After some time, and much discussion, it was Lin Shikang who finally made a decision. He announced that the family would offer three remaining Minor Foundation Building Pills as a reward for the Qi Refining Cultivators. Anyone who made significant contributions in the upcoming defense of Luoyun Market would receive a pill free of charge. Though a Minor Foundation Building Pill was not as potent as a Foundation Establishment Pill, its appearance in Luoyun Market would still provoke strong competition among Qi Refining Cultivators. The Foundation Establishment Pill was too valuable and the competition too fierce, causing many Cultivators to miss the optimal period for Foundation Establishment, leading to lifelong regret. Although the Minor Foundation Building Pill was not as powerful, it was still a rare treasure that held immense allure for all Qi Refining Cultivators. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 386 - 230 Requesting Orders_2 Chapter 386: Chapter 230 Requesting Orders_2 If a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator joins the market, we must spare no effort to win them over, after all, the strength of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is far stronger than that of a Qi Refining cultivator. As long as the market remains unharmed, even if it costs us something, it is completely worth it. Afterward, the few people discussed some details and the progress of the extermination mission, and then the meeting came to an end. Before leaving, Lin Tianming said to Lin Shikang, ¡°The cleaning operation at Golden Horn Mountain is already completed; the other places must continue to speed up their progress.¡± ¡°Elder Wu cannot leave the family, Fifteenth Grandfather is in charge of Luoyun Market, and I plan to shuttle between Golden Horn Mountain, the family, and Luoyun Market, responsible for delivering messages and providing timely support. I hope Elder Wu permits this!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang was briefly silent. ... What Lin Tianming had said was indeed a fact; the family¡¯s overall strength was too dispersed, even after giving up the Wu Family¡¯s clan lands and some of the developed Spirit Lands, otherwise it would be even more scattered. As a result, the risk of guarding these places greatly increased, but they had no choice but to do so, as it was impossible to give up these hard-won treasures. However, the thought of assigning Lin Tianming such a dangerous task made them hesitate. It was okay for him to go out on missions normally, but this was a crucial period during the beast tide. If unlucky, encountering a Third Order Demon Beast would be far too dangerous; if anything happened to him, the loss would be much greater than the entire Luoyun Market. Seeing their indecision, Lin Tianming urged sincerely yet firmly. After a long silence, seeing how insistent Lin Tianming was and unable to find anyone more suitable in the family to take on the task, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Lin Shikang let out a long sigh before he instructed, ¡°Since you are so confident, then I will agree for now.¡± ¡°However, while shuttling between the three locations, remember to not be careless. Although I have not experienced a beast tide, the horror of a beast tide is clearly recorded in various documents and books.¡± ¡°If you encounter a larger tribe of demon beasts, don¡¯t bother with anything, just run for your life, understand?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded his head and then said with a smile, ¡°Elder Wu, rest assured, with my current strength, plus the Purple Gold Eagle, as long as I don¡¯t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast or a Second Order Late Phase flying Spiritual Bird, my chance of escaping is still very good!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua did not object. They had heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; when he was at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, he dueled with a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and did not fall much behind. Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and had the assistance of the Purple Gold Eagle, ordinary Second Order Late Stage beasts probably could not trouble him. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang gave a few earnest reminders before finally letting Lin Tianming leave the valley. Lin Tianming bowed respectfully to the others, and then left the valley to rush to his father¡¯s Cave Mansion. In a short while, he arrived at his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion, with his grandfather and sister also having hurried over. In the small courtyard, as they sat opposite each other, learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s upcoming mission, Lin Shigong was very concerned about his safety. However, as Lin Tianming was adamant, and since no suitable family member could be found for the task, even if he wanted to persuade, he couldn¡¯t prevail over his own grandson. There was nothing to do but to repeatedly give his warnings, and then the matter was put to rest. Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then changed the topic to inquire about the progress of clearing the demonic beasts in Green Bamboo Mountain. Seeing Lin Tianming asking about this, Lin Tianyue chuckled and then recounted her experience participating in the clearing of demonic beasts. Their extermination team was strong and had many hands, thus they completed the cleaning operation earliest within the three main areas. And the squad she led performed very well, killing a large number of demonic beasts. Although not as many as Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianhu, it was still quite impressive. Unknowingly, Lin Tianyue had also become a mainstay of the family, capable of handling things on her own, no longer the naive and innocent sister of the past. ¡°` Seeing his sister¡¯s progress, Lin Tianming was greatly excited. He sincerely praised her a few times, which made everyone¡¯s faces look much better. Lin Tianyue, after being praised by Lin Tianming, was equally thrilled and immediately took out a handful of second-order low-quality attack talisman paper, more than ten sheets in total, and handed them to Lin Tianming without hesitation. Seeing so many second-order talisman papers, Lin Tianming was puzzled, but judging from the residual aura on the talisman papers, he quickly guessed that they were made by Lin Tianyue¡¯s hands. ¡°Tian Yue, have you entered the second-order low-quality talisman maker level?¡± he asked. Lin Tianyue nodded her head at Lin Tianming¡¯s question, exciting him even more. As her cultivation progressed, she successfully became a second-order low-quality talisman maker, and her success rate at drawing second-order low-quality attack talisman paper wasn¡¯t low either. Now, the family had two second-order low-quality talisman makers, both of whom had advanced in the past ten years. Initially, the Jin Family got many classics and skills from the Sun Family, which ultimately fell into the hands of the Lin Family. These items have played a significant role in the four arts of cultivation for the Lin Family. Coupled with the family providing a large number of materials for training, there was considerable progress. Now, except for an Array Master, the family had at least two second-order practitioners in the other three arts, meaning that in terms of cultivation resources, the family could essentially be self-sufficient. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming refused his sister¡¯s kindness; to him, the second-order low-quality attack talisman paper wasn¡¯t very useful anymore, almost negligible. Unless it was second-order medium-quality talisman paper which could still be somewhat useful, the low-quality ones were basically like scratching an itch for those second-order middle-stage demonic beasts; he really didn¡¯t need them. It wasn¡¯t easy for Lin Tianyue to make talisman paper; it was better that she keep them for self-defense or give them to their mother. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s refusal, Lin Tianyue immediately said, ¡°Then take these talisman papers to father. He and brother Tianfeng are defending Golden Horn Mountain. The pressure on both of them is great. With these talisman papers, they might be able to get some help.¡± ¡°We, staying in the family lands, face basically no great danger. Moreover, I will continue drawing them in this period and will soon replenish them!¡± Hearing his sister¡¯s words, his mother also persuaded him. Only then did Lin Tianming accept the talisman papers, and after chatting casually with everyone for a while, he finally bid farewell to his mother and sister and returned to his own cave mansion courtyard. Once back at the cave mansion, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t cultivate. He had been clearing demonic beasts for days and traveling everywhere; he wasn¡¯t in great shape and felt somewhat exhausted. Entering his room, he directly fell onto the bed and deeply slept. The next morning. Early at dawn, as the sky was still dim, Lin Tianming, together with the Purple Gold Eagle, left the family lands and flew towards Luoyun Market. Along the way, he was very cautious, first circling a hundred miles around Green Bamboo Mountain to scout the nearby situation with the demonic beasts. With Lin Xingzhi leading the clan¡¯s people divided into five teams, and with the family¡¯s thunderous moves, most of the demonic beasts around Green Bamboo Mountain had been cleared, with only a few low-order stragglers left. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, these beasts were few in number and not strong, scattered around the outskirts of Luoyun Mountain. With the family continuously sending people for patrols and clearing, these low-strength demonic beasts posed no threat to the Lin family, so Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pay them much mind. After spending an hour to ensure the safety of the family, confirming no second-order demonic beasts were around, he then continued flying to Luoyun Market. On the way, Lin Tianming encountered several groups of Qi Refining cultivators traveling together towards the north and south. They all looked panicked, hurrying on their way as if they were fleeing for their lives. He stopped them to ask a few questions, learning that the news of a demon beast army erupting in Yuanwu Kingdom had leaked, and even the secluded Luoyun Mountain had already heard about it; presumably, the entire Wei Kingdom was already aware. These hurrying Qi Refining cultivators were either headed to Qianchuan Market or to the relatively close Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, traveling to larger markets or to the Huangyang Kingdom, which had overall stronger strength, was much safer than staying in Luoyun Mountain. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t stop them. After clarifying some nearby situations, he let them go. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 387 - 231 A Huge Upheaval_1 Chapter 387: Chapter 231 A Huge Upheaval_1 Watching the Qi Refining Cultivators gradually move farther away, he couldn¡¯t help but worry about the safety of Luoyun Market. Afterward, he ordered the Purple Gold Eagle to fly at full speed, to arrive at Luoyun Market as quickly as possible and to urgently announce the Lin Family¡¯s plan to resist the Demonic Beasts Tide. At the same time, with generous rewards, they aimed to retain as many Loose Cultivators and members of Qi Refining Families as possible; if they could enlist a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the market¡¯s security would be even more assured. With these thoughts, their speed of escape increased yet again. In just over half a day, he and the Purple Gold Eagle had smoothly reached the outskirts of the market. He didn¡¯t rush to descend but instead circled around Luoyun Market once. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking down, he saw that Luoyun Market was already on alert. ... A large number of cultivators responsible for defense were walking on the tall city walls, each one with a solemn expression, looking deeply concerned. At the entrance of the market, it was bustling and even somewhat crowded at the moment, with a large number of cultivators coming and going. However, only a small number entered, most of them around the Fourth or Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, with only a few of higher cultivation. The number of people leaving Luoyun Market was several times greater than the number of those entering, and their cultivation was generally above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. It was evident that the cultivators within the market had likely received news about the outbreak of Demonic Beasts and the destruction of Yuanwu Kingdom by the Beast Tide Army. Some higher-level cultivators and those from the Qi Refining Families who acted more decisively had already prepared to leave the market first. However, judging from the current flow of people, not many in the market were aware of the news yet, which was good. Otherwise, it would not be so easy to retain them with rewards after everyone else had left. Regaining his composure, he exhaled deeply and commanded the Purple Gold Eagle to land at the market entrance. At the entrance of the market, Tian Jingshan was queuing to leave the city. Seeing the giant Purple Gold Eagle descending from the sky, followed by a young cultivator in a blue robe jumping down from the back of the spirit bird and putting the Purple Gold Eagle into a Spirit Beast Bag, he started walking slowly toward the entrance of the market. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co The young cultivator exuded a faint but formidable presence, causing all the cultivators who were preparing to leave the city to halt, standing still, not knowing what to do. Tian Jingshan, looking at the young cultivator¡¯s resolute face, felt it seemed somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. As the young man approached closer, Tian Jingshan suddenly remembered who he was and exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s Lin Tianming of the Lin Family, it¡¯s said he succeeded in Foundation Establishment in his early twenties, and in just ten-plus years, he has already reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level.¡± Tian Jingshan¡¯s words made some of the more obtuse cultivators¡¯ faces change, displaying expressions of disbelief. A Qi Refining Cultivator at the Sixth Level cried out, ¡°Foundation Establishment in his early twenties, and Foundation Establishment Fifth Level before forty?¡± ¡°Such a rate of cultivation, even in the Zhenyang Sect, must be a rare existence!¡± Before his voice fell, another Qi Refining Cultivator sneered and said, ¡°That rate of cultivation, even Zhenyang Sect might not necessarily have, right?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ This is truly a talented youth, and he¡¯s from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. If he¡¯s fortunate, maybe he can break through to the Golden Core Stage within a few decades. The Lin Family will then rise to its peak again, becoming the third Golden Core Family in Wei Kingdom!¡± One by one, the cultivators seemed to forget Lin Tianming¡¯s presence, discussing in low voices, directly interrupting the flow of people entering and leaving. Because Lin Tianming rarely appeared in public places and never took action in front of other cultivators, this led to the fact that his reputation and exact cultivation level were generally only known to the higher echelons within the Lin Family, with the outside world being unaware. Now, by deliberately revealing himself and his strengths, Lin Tianming had a purpose. At that moment, the cultivators all stopped in their tracks, all eyes on the approaching Lin Tianming, showing respect and admiration in their eyes. In the Cultivation World, strength has always been paramount, and Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and cultivation level inspired genuine admiration from everyone. And this time, by showing himself without reservation, he aimed to demonstrate the strength of the Lin Family, thus gathering more Loose Cultivators and family members to join Luoyun Market, uniting everyone¡¯s strength to resist the Beast Tide attack. With such intentions, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance of the market and greeted the two Executive Officers from his family. Afterward, with a calm demeanor, he looked at the assembled cultivators and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am Lin Tianming of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family!¡± Hearing this, those who found it hard to believe no longer had any doubts as Lin Tianming openly acknowledged his identity. Lin Tianming chuckled, waved his hand to the crowd, and then earnestly said, ¡°I believe many of you are already aware of the Beast Tide outbreak!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Indeed, this is absolutely true!¡± ¡°The destructive power of the Beast Tide, I trust you all know well. Luoyun Market is our market, and the scale of the Beast Tide within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is still unknown.¡± ¡°Luoyun Market¡¯s foundation is not deep, and the resources of the entire Luoyun Mountain are scarce, making cultivation difficult for cultivators. These factors, among others, lead to the weakness of the cultivators¡¯ powers in the entire Luoyun Mountain.¡± ¡°Therefore, during the outbreak of the Beast Tide, Luoyun Market needs everyone to stay and fight alongside the vast number of Luoyun Mountain cultivators to resist this attack from the Beast Tide.¡± ¡°For this visit to Luoyun Market, I have come to announce the family¡¯s arrangements. If you stay to help defend against the Beast Tide and perform exceptionally, you may be rewarded with a Minor Foundation Building Pill!¡± ¡°A Minor Foundation Building Pill!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 388 - 231 Turmoil_2 Chapter 388: Chapter 231 Turmoil_2 ¡°Could it be the Minor Foundation Establishment Pill that aids Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Exactly, this elixir, when auctioned in medium to large markets, commands a price of at least ten thousand Spirit Stones, and some are even priceless¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words caused quite a stir among the crowd, with some cultivators of higher cultivation and broader horizons discussing animatedly. This lively scene attracted even more cultivators to gather, and upon hearing the topic of discussion among the cultivators, many were thrilled, including some loose cultivators at the Eighth or Ninth Level of Qi Refinement. Their age meant they couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer; if they couldn¡¯t obtain Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, they might be stuck at the Qi Refinement Realm forever. However, Foundation Pills were too precious; relying on hunting Demonic Beasts and exploring, they had accumulated some Spirit Stones over decades but were still far from the thirty thousand Spirit Stones needed. ... They had thought they might never have a chance to obtain Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects in their lifetime, but to their surprise, the Lin Family was so invested in the Luoyun Market that they were willing to offer a Minor Foundation Building Pill as a prize. After all, Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects were a limited resource for the Lin Family as well, and it wasn¡¯t possible to have too many; being willing to offer a Minor Foundation Building Pill already demonstrated the Lin Family¡¯s sincerity. As the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects were limited, and many cultivators were present, the competition to receive a reward was fierce indeed. Thinking this, some cultivators seemed not to want to give up, though there were still some with higher cultivation who wanted to stay in the Luoyun Market to try their luck. In their view, even if they did not receive the Minor Foundation Building Pill as a reward, they could still take the opportunity to earn some Spirit Stones. Seeking shelter in a larger market might be safer, but they wouldn¡¯t have as many opportunities to earn Spirit Stones. Besides, leaving the market now was also very dangerous; encountering a Demon Beast Tribe en route, even a small one, would be extremely dangerous for these Qi Refining Cultivators. Seen this way, risk and opportunity coexisted; it was an unchanging truth that the greatest rewards could only be found in the most dangerous places. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co In the crowd, a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator thought for a moment and then cupped his hands in a bow to Lin Tianming, asking, ¡°Elder Lin, may I know the specific details of this reward and the conditions for making merit?¡± ¡°Could you please elaborate a bit more, so that our juniors have a clearer understanding to make a decision!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming remembered that he had only mentioned offering a Minor Foundation Building Pill as a reward, without specifying the quantity; it was understandable for some less confident cultivators to have their concerns. He chuckled and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, no one can predict this Demon Beast Tide. Our Lin Family has gone to great lengths for the cultivators of the Luoyun Mountain Range! With this emotional appeal and reasoned persuasion, Lin Tianming urged the many cultivators to stay in the market and make a modest contribution for the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. He continued, ¡°In response to this Demon Beast Tide, the Lin Family is willing to offer three Minor Foundation Building Pills as rewards for the three Daoists who contribute the most during the effort to fend off the Monster Beast Tide.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In addition, Daoists who perform outstandingly will receive varying amounts of elixirs and Spirit Stones, from Lingshen Pills to Pozhang Pills, and Spirit Stones ranging from five hundred to ten thousand.¡± ¡°As long as the merits you earn rank within the top thirty, excluding the three major Foundation Establishing Families, you all have a chance at a reward!¡± No sooner had his voice fallen than some cultivators who were prepared to leave stopped in their tracks, clearly attracted by Lin Tianming¡¯s words. If there were only a few rewards, they might not have had any chances, but as long as it was within the top thirty, they saw a lot of opportunities. If they were lucky enough to be among the top three, they could get a Minor Foundation Building Pill, and even just within the top thirty, they could still receive some rewards. With these thoughts in mind, some of the Late Stage of Qi Refining cultivators in the crowd changed their minds about leaving the Luoyun Market and were keen to participate. Seeing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief; he wasn¡¯t really concerned about the cultivators below the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement. Their cultivation and strength were limited, making it difficult for them to contend with the immense Monster Beast Legion. Only those at the Late Stage of Qi Refining could make a difference. However, he did not show any unusual expression; facing the inquiries of the cultivators, he still explained the Lin Family¡¯s policies patiently, reassuring the cultivators. In the crowd, Li Yuancheng and his wife stood in a corner, silent and seemingly lost in thought. After more than twenty years, both had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. They had spent years adventuring in the Luoyun Mountain Range, treasure hunting, and had accumulated a large number of Spirit Stones. However, they had never managed to find the Spiritual Objects necessary for Foundation Establishment. Their brief stay in Luoyun Market coincided with the news of a Demon Beast Tide erupting. The couple had planned to leave Luoyun Market for Whirlwind Market in Huangyang Kingdom to take refuge, when they happened upon a large gathering of cultivators at the entrance of the market. Out of curiosity, they came closer and happened to hear the reward promised by the Lin Family¡¯s genius, Lin Tianming, which aroused their interest. After a moment of silence, Song Yurong¡¯s complexion rosy, she sent a message to Li Yuancheng with her inner voice, ¡°Husband¡­ what do you think the credibility of Lin Tianming¡¯s words is?¡± Li Yuancheng frowned, recalling the behaviors and styles of the Lin Family in recent years. A moment later, he replied, ¡°Wife¡­ in my opinion, there¡¯s a seventy to eighty percent chance they¡¯re credible!¡± Upon hearing this, Song Yurong was surprised. She knew her husband to be very cautious, rarely trusting others so easily, let alone someone offering three Minor Foundation Building Pills in one go. Such a generous Foundation Establishing Family was a rarity in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Regathering her thoughts, Song Yurong spoke up, ¡°Seventy to eighty percent¡­ You trust the Lin Family to such an extent?¡± ¡°Wife¡­ you must not underestimate the Lin Family, for they have produced an expert at the Golden Core Stage,¡± he reminded her. ¡°Just consider how the Lin Family, after years of silence, has recently risen like a comet with an unstoppable momentum,¡± he continued. ¡°Recall how the Lin Family quietly uprooted the once foremost clan of the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Jin Family, and has since secured over sixty percent of the profits of Luoyun Market. The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators openly acknowledged in their family has reached as many as eight, with certainly one or two more concealed,¡± he added. ¡°All these developments have taken place over the past twenty years. Imagine how terrifying that is!¡± he concluded. Before he finished speaking, Song Yurong replied, ¡°Is that why you rate them so highly?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ that¡¯s only one aspect!¡± ¡°The Lin Family has kept a very low profile these recent years; with their strength, they could totally dominate the Luoyun Mountain Range, but they choose not to,¡± he explained. ¡°Moreover, the Lin Family has been around for over eight hundred years. We might not have been aware before, but in the last fifty to sixty years, there¡¯s been no talk of the Lin Family bullying others with their power or breaking their word,¡± he recounted. ¡°Even when they were at a low point, the Lin Family, now so powerful, still maintains a modest and honest demeanor. Such families are hard to come by!¡± he stressed. ¡°What¡¯s more important is that they¡¯ve made this promise in front of so many people; they are highly unlikely to renege on it,¡± he asserted. Listening to Li Yuancheng¡¯s explanation, Song Yurong nodded in agreement. If she were the leader of the Lin Family, she wouldn¡¯t announce such a thing so openly either. If they broke their word, though the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t necessarily be in danger, their continued development would become very difficult. After all, at the level of the Lin Family, reputation plays a huge role in their growth, and it just wouldn¡¯t make sense to sacrifice the Lin Family¡¯s bright future for a few Minor Foundation Building Pills. Which was more important was clear to a family as vast and with as much potential as the Lin Family, they were sure to know the difference. This line of thought wasn¡¯t unique to her; many people in the crowd were considering the same thing. The credibility of the Lin Family wasn¡¯t built overnight but over hundreds of years. Loose cultivators might not be clear on this, but the old families were well aware. Considering these points, Song Yurong communicated with her inner voice, ¡°Husband¡­ why don¡¯t we stay in Luoyun Market? It might be difficult for us to obtain two Minor Foundation Building Pills, but securing one should be well within our reach!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Wife, we truly think alike; I was thinking the exact same thing!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 389 - 232 Recruitment_1 Chapter 389: Chapter 232 Recruitment_1 Li Yuancheng smiled as he said this, and then continued: ¡°Despite some opportunities over the years, as we age, our potential only diminishes¡ªit¡¯s definitely not the time to dally!¡± ¡°While this opportunity does involve some danger, if the Lin Family values the Luoyun Market so highly, with Elder Lin Shilu and Elder Lin Tianming there, plus the Market¡¯s formation, unless a Third-Order Demon Beast attacks, or perhaps several dozen Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, it¡¯d be hard to break through the formation.¡± ¡°So perhaps inside the Luoyun Market, it might not be that dangerous!¡± ¡°If we can obtain a Minor Foundation Building Pill, we can first attempt Foundation Establishment with one person. If successful, it will be easier for the others to make their breakthroughs!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Li Yuancheng¡¯s words, Song Yurong¡¯s face lit up with joy. Over the years, the two had lived on the brink of death and had long become numb to unknown dangers. ... Now that such an opportunity had presented itself, why not forsake the Foundation Establishment Pill for the slightly less effective Minor Foundation Building Pill? Succeeding first with one person would make it easier for the others to make their own breakthroughs. With the same idea in mind, after a short exchange, the couple quickly made their decision. Soon after, the husband and wife moved slowly to the forefront of the cultivators, not far from Lin Tianming. Seeing the crowd buzzing with discussion, Li Yuancheng and his wife stepped forward to greet Lin Tianming with clasped hands and said, ¡°Elder Lin, junior Li Yuancheng would like to join the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad with his humble wife!¡± Before he even finished speaking, the scene became lively, and cultivators who had heard of the couple started discussing among themselves. ¡°Li and his wife are willing to join the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad!¡± ¡°With the combined strength of the husband and wife, even a Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beast might not be a match for them! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Hehe¡­ With the strength of Li and Fairy Song joined together, a Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beast would certainly be no match for them. Facing slower and less formidable beasts, it¡¯s not impossible for them to take on two at once!¡± In the midst of the discussions, Li Yuancheng and his wife instantly became the focus of the crowd, as cultivators familiar with them began to talk. The couple were frequent fixtures at the Luoyun Market, going into the Luoyun Mountain Range with other Loose Cultivators to gain experience, thus they had a wide network. Seeing their willingness to risk it all for a Minor Foundation Building Pill, it encouraged other hesitant cultivators to make up their minds. At the entrance of the market, seeing the bustling activity, Lin Tianming chuckled and then said, ¡°Li and I have cooperated before!¡± Hearing this, Li Yuancheng and his wife looked puzzled. They thought for a long time but could not recall anything. Seeing their expressions, Lin Tianming explained, ¡°We went to Luoyun Mountain together to harvest the Sky Fei Fruits. You should remember that.¡± Upon hearing the explanation, Li Yuancheng quickly remembered. Back then, Lin Tianming had been in disguise, looking nothing like he did now, with vastly different strength. In just over twenty years, he had cultivated to the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, which was quite unbelievable. But reflecting on the process of harvesting the Sky Fei Fruits and the strength that Lin Tianming had exhibited at the time, he knew this person was exceptionally talented, a formidable individual indeed. Now that Lin Tianming had revealed his identity, it was not surprising that he could accomplish those feats. Regaining their composure, Li Yuancheng and his wife happily approached and respectfully greeted Lin Tianming with clasped hands, not daring to presume upon their past cooperation. Lin Tianming chuckled and chatted casually with Li Yuancheng and his wife, then started conversing with other cultivators who wished to join the Monster Hunting Squad. The lively scene of recruitment continued. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s approachable demeanor, some cultivators felt lucky he didn¡¯t carry the arrogance typical of genius cultivators. Lin Tianming also promised substantial rewards, increasing the prestige of the Lin Family while also drawing in a large batch of cultivators, including some at the Late Stage of Qi Refining and even beyond the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. After half an hour had passed, Lin Tianming held a thick registry, looking over the more than two hundred names with satisfaction. In just half an hour, the number of cultivators who had signed up for the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad had reached over two hundred and sixty, with the majority being cultivators of the Sixth or Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, and less than twenty above the Ninth Layer. However, that was just half an hour¡¯s work. Given more time to spread the news through the market, perhaps they could recruit more cultivators. Lin Tianming thought to himself, pleased with the outcome so far. Watching as the cultivators conversed energetically, he handed over recruitment to the family members at the market entrance and then bid farewell to the crowd, heading towards the Market City Hall. Before long, he arrived at the Market City Hall. In a secret chamber, Lin Shilu sat in the highest seat, with Lin Tianming and Lin Xingcheng seated below him. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu was quite happy. He chatted with the two before asking, ¡°Tianming, did your third brother give any instructions for your visit to the market? How¡¯s the situation at home and at the Golden Horn Mountain?¡± Lin Tianming promptly relayed the status of the key industries within the family and the internal affairs before discussing the purpose of his visit to the market. Learning about the recruitment policy the family had issued, Lin Shilu nodded in approval and fully supported the decision. The situation with the beast tide was still unclear, and the significance of the market to the Lin Family went without saying. Preparing well in advance would help minimize losses during the imminent beast tide. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 390 - 232 Recruitment_2 Chapter 390: Chapter 232 Recruitment_2 Regaining his focus, Lin Shilu instructed Lin Xingcheng with a few words, asking him to oversee the recruitment of the Monster Hunting Squad in Luoyun Market. Lin Xingcheng clasped his fists to accept the order and then stood up to leave the secret chamber, ready to begin the work of recruitment. As Lin Xingcheng left, Lin Shilu said, ¡°Tian Ming, solely recruiting Qi Refining Stage Cultivators for the Monster Hunting Squad cannot provide strong support for the market¡¯s safety. What are your thoughts on recruiting Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators to join the Monster Hunting Squad?¡± His words made Lin Tianming fall into deep thought. Although the family had discussed this matter before and agreed to recruit Foundation Establishment Cultivators as much as possible, it was not an easy task to accomplish. After all, the Minor Foundation Building Pill wasn¡¯t so attractive to Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators unless they were for their offspring or their companion, which might persuade some cultivators to join. Otherwise, for the lone Loose Cultivators, with their capabilities, they could easily head to larger markets or seek temporary refuge in the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World to avoid danger, rather than join a small market and put themselves in peril. ... Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how many Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators are currently in Luoyun Market, and what do they think of the upcoming beast tide?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu pondered for a moment and then said, ¡°Currently, there are three Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators in the market. Their cultivation is not very high, including one at the Initial Foundation Establishment Stage, one at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, and the remaining one is the previously traded Su He!¡± ¡°Su He?¡± Lin Tianming recalled and quickly remembered that this person had attended a trade meet and provided information about mature Purple Yin Grass. To acquire some mature Purple Yin Grass, the Lin Family had sent Lin Shikang, who had exerted considerable effort to obtain it, and then refined some Hun Tian Pills, allowing Lin Shikang to break through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regaining his focus, he then said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, since there are a few Loose Cultivators in the market, we must bring them over by any means and strive to have them stay within the market to rise or fall together with our Lin Family!¡± Lin Shilu nodded and then frowned, showing a thoughtful expression. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Tian Ming, this matter is indeed very important. However, what benefits we can offer is somewhat troublesome. If the item is too precious, our Lin Family can¡¯t afford it; if it¡¯s too trivial, it will not move them!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag and from it, he retrieved a Hun Tian Pill, passing it along with the storage bag to Lin Shilu. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, before I left the family, Third Grandfather gave me this Hun Tian Pill and two Second Order Low Grade Artifacts to bring to you, Elder. As for the matter of recruiting Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, you have full authority. And this Hun Tian Pill is among the treasures the family can offer, with relatively high value and appeal!¡± Lin Shilu accepted the storage bag and the Hun Tian Pill, showing a satisfied look. The value of this Hun Tian Pill was not low, in no way inferior to a Foundation Establishment Pill, and for all Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, it was a rare treasure. And Second Order Low Grade Attack Talismans also have some appeal for cultivators at the initial stages of Foundation Establishment, with these treasures in hand, convincing those Loose Cultivators might not be impossible after all! Regaining his focus, he smiled and said, ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s no time to lose; the beast tide could happen at any moment. Let¡¯s go pay a visit to the three of them right away!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and left the secret chamber with Lin Shilu. Less than half a moment later, the two came to a residence within the market. Standing in a corner, Lin Shilu sent out a message, and soon a figure emerged from the residence, it was the previously dealt with Loose Cultivator, Su He. Before he even arrived, his hearty laugh could be heard: ¡°Ha ha¡­ I¡¯m honored by the visit of the two fellow Daoists!¡± Lin Shilu gave a chuckling smile as well, joining Lin Tianming in clasping fists and bowing to greet Su He. Su He quickly returned the gesture, then ushered the two into his residence with an inviting wave of his hand, and went on to serve them Spiritual Tea. The three sat down in the courtyard, and after some small talk, Su He inquired about their visit. Lin Shilu took a light sip of tea before getting straight to the point, ¡°Su Daoyou must already be aware that a beast tide has erupted in the Yuanwu Country, and within a mere month¡¯s time, it overran the mighty Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm!¡± Su He nodded; this news had spread like autumn leaves scattering in the wind, quickly reaching the surrounding areas from Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm. The moment he heard the news in Luoyun Market, he knew about it and planned to leave for a while to seek refuge in the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World. After all, as a Loose Cultivator without any ties, where he cultivated made little difference to him¡ªit was merely a waste of some time and a minor loss. There was no need to stay in the weak Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, where a beast tide could come crashing down their way and possibly bring about mortal danger. ¡°Lin, we¡¯ve had many dealings, and I won¡¯t hide it from you. I plan to leave for Huangyang Country Cultivation World as soon as possible, to take refuge for several years!¡± Su He said. Hearing this, Lin Shilu seemed to have anticipated the reply; he immediately said, ¡°Su Daoyou doesn¡¯t have to be so anxious. The Yuanwu Country is far from the Wei Kingdom, and although the beast tide is indeed terrifying, it¡¯s still uncertain whether it will reach the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°And the reason for our visit today is indeed to discuss a matter, and we hope Su Daoyou will consider our proposal carefully before making your plans!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°If you have something to say, Lin, please speak your mind. Though I am of low strength, I still have some affection for my homeland, Luoyun Mountain, and given the many dealings our Lin Family has had with you, as long as it¡¯s within my power and I am not putting myself at risk, there¡¯s no issue in lending a hand!¡± Su He stated. Su He¡¯s words were well-spoken, but he also made it clear he would only help if his safety was assured. If it involved risking his life, it wouldn¡¯t be so simple. However, he didn¡¯t outright refuse, and with the promise of substantial rewards, there might still be room for negotiation. Returning to the matter at hand, Lin Shilu chuckled and then said, ¡°Su Daoyou truly is a man of sentiment, which I greatly admire!¡± ¡°The reason we¡¯ve come to visit is indeed to ask for assistance. While the matter of the beast tide is uncertain, if it turns out to be a false alarm, naturally all is well. However, our Lin Family has been established here for more than eight hundred years, and all our roots and property are here, so we need to make comprehensive preparations!¡± ¡°In preparation for this potential crisis, the Lin Family has made some arrangements. I and two younger Foundation Establishment members will be stationed in the market, and we have also summoned two daoyou, Luo Chenggu and Sun Ruiyang.¡± ¡°Moreover, the market has spent a great deal of treasures, and the Lin Family has even offered Minor Foundation Building Pills, recruiting a large number of Qi Refining Cultivators to stay in the market with us, to jointly defend against the beast tide attack!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s remark startled Su He. It was evident that the Lin Family valued Luoyun Market highly. Not only did they dispatch Lin Shilu, who was at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, but they also deployed two Foundation Establishment Family members. In addition to that, they had gathered a substantial force of elite members from their family, and even provided all their scarce Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects to strengthen the market¡¯s defenses, having put their utmost effort into this task. Seeing that Su He remained silent, Lin Shilu continued, ¡°As a local family, the Lin Family has the responsibility to protect the land of Luoyun Mountain Range; even if it requires some sacrifice, it¡¯s only right.¡± With those words, he seized the moral high ground. Although to Cultivators, power was everything and there was no place for morality, in some cases, moral standings did have their influence. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Su He nodded, his demeanor becoming somewhat more conciliatory¡ª at least not as resistant as before. Observing this, Lin Shilu seized the moment to persuade him, mentioning the matter of rewards. If Su He helped Luoyun Market survive the beast tide attack, whatever Demonic Beasts he killed, their spoils would be his to keep, and he would be offered a Hun Tian Pill as compensation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 391 - 233 Song Family Attacked_1 Chapter 391: Chapter 233 Song Family Attacked_1 ¡°¡±¡± ¡°Hun Tian Pill!¡± Upon hearing that the Hun Tian Pill was offered as a reward, Su He¡¯s expression remained unchanged, yet excitement was already surging within him, although he did not betray any sign of it. Having cultivated to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, the prospect of reaching the Seventh Level seemed distant and without any sign of a breakthrough. Over these ten-plus years, he frequently roamed the Luoyun Mountain Range and had encountered some opportunities, but even so, he had only managed to advance two levels in that time. A Hun Tian Pill, with its potential to directly grant a breakthrough of one level, was extremely expensive and rare in the cultivation world, virtually priceless. ... It was precisely because of this that every Foundation Establishment Cultivator found it impossible to resist the opportunity to break through in their cultivation. He himself had found it difficult to make any progress, and with a Hun Tian Pill, there was a high probability of entering the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment and becoming a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Although there was only a one-level difference, in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators were few and far between, possessed only by a few major Foundation Establishing Families. Among known loose cultivators, they were an exceedingly rare breed. Under these circumstances, this Hun Tian Pill was of immense importance to him. Thinking of this, he had already made plans, but he did not show it. At that moment, Lin Shilu was still speaking, promising that after the demonic beast attack had passed, the Hun Tian Pill would be offered as compensation, and he pledged that the Lin Family would honor the agreement. Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s sincere words, Su He pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, ¡°Since Lin has made the request, as a native of Luoyun Mountain, it is only right for me to contribute my modest efforts to my homeland!¡± ¡°But let me be frank, my abilities are limited. If the demon beast tide is too vast, and even the market city cannot withstand it, if I am unable to save the situation, then I will only be able to look after myself!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Su Daoyou is truly a man of character. Rest assured, this undertaking is about doing our best within our capabilities. If the situation is dire and beyond our control, then it is enough to just look after oneself. It would be best if you could lend a hand, but there¡¯s no harm if you can¡¯t!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s statement, Su He nodded. The credibility of the Lin Family was indeed good, and it made sense for him to do his part out of a heartfelt desire to help his homeland. Besides, as a solitary individual with no attachments, if the situation turned grim, he could leave the market city at any moment. Even if he were alone, surviving wouldn¡¯t be that difficult. Thus, he clarified this matter with Lin Shilu ahead of time to avoid any unpleasantness. Lin Shilu nodded. After discussing some details, they confirmed the arrangements for Su He to stay and protect Luoyun Market. With Su He joining, boosting their ranks with his Sixth Level Foundation Establishment cultivation, combined with Lin Shilu and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed in the market, their lineup was already quite impressive. After a successful recruitment, Lin Tianming and his colleague left, feeling upbeat, and continued on to the Cave Mansion Courtyard of another independent Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Shortly after, they arrived at a cave mansion and met with the independent Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Li Hongliang. Li Hongliang was also a native cultivator of the Luoyun Mountain, having reached the Foundation Establishment Stage for over thirty years, with a Second Layer Foundation Establishment cultivation. He was a frequent visitor around Luoyun Market and had some acquaintances with Lin Shilu. Li Hongliang was excited to see the visitors. After all, the strength of the Lin Family was well-known to the people of Luoyun Mountain, and the cultivation of the two men greatly surpassed his, which somewhat flattered him. After a brief chat, Li Hongliang was well aware of the purpose of their visit. With the promise of substantial rewards and Lin Shilu¡¯s sincere attitude, Li Hongliang was easily recruited into the Lin Family¡¯s fold. The two men departed soon after and continued to visit the last independent Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Liu Zhirong. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liu Zhirong¡¯s background was a mystery. It was said that he was from Huangyang Kingdom and had been forced to leave the Huangyang Country Cultivation World after offending a powerful Foundation Establishing Family. After many twists and turns, he eventually settled in Luoyun Market. He was over a hundred years old with a Third Layer Foundation Establishment cultivation. Though his exact strength was unknown, the mere fact that he had established himself in the Luoyun Mountain Range indicated that he was no pushover. Seeing Lin Shilu coming to visit, he was very composed and just as aware of the purpose of their visit. But considering the formidable strength of the Lin Family, he hardly hesitated and easily agreed to stay in the market city and face challenges alongside the Lin Family. His readiness was somewhat surprising to Lin Shilu and company as they had not interacted much before and thought it might take some effort to convince him, but this saved them a great deal of trouble. Successfully recruiting three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the safety of the market city was more assured. Lin Shilu and his colleague felt pleased and, after saying goodbye to Liu Zhirong, returned to the Market City Hall. ¡­ Half a day later, in a secret chamber. Lin Xingcheng, Lin Shilu, and Lin Tianming sat opposite each other, each sipping Spiritual Tea as they chatted leisurely. ¡°Xingcheng, how goes the recruitment of Qi Refinement Cultivators to form the Monster Hunting Squad?¡± Lin Shilu asked. Faced with Lin Shilu¡¯s inquiry, Lin Xingcheng looked solemn. He then took out a thick tome from his storage bag and, after flipping to a page, began to report. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle¡­ After one day¡¯s efforts, we have recruited a total of over eight hundred and eighty people. Among them, three hundred and seventy-two cultivators are above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, and more than five hundred and ten cultivators are between the Fourth and Fifth Levels of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°With the limited population of the market city, the numbers are unlikely to grow much more. Other cultivators below the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement are of little help to the city¡¯s defense!¡± ¡°¡±¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 392 - 233: Song Family Attacked_2 Chapter 392: Chapter 233: Song Family Attacked_2 Hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded his head. Indeed, the number of cultivators in Luoyun Market was limited. Even a few years ago, the population of the entire market did not exceed a few thousand people, among whom Qi Refining Cultivators below the fifth level accounted for more than half. The actions taken by the Lin Family initially had already caught the attention of a small portion of cultivators, and some of them left at the first sign of trouble. Over the years, the number of cultivators within the market had dwindled, so the number of recruited cultivators was within expectations. Thinking of this, he immediately smiled and said, ¡°Xingcheng, you¡¯ve done your best, and we cannot force these matters. Having this number has already met our predetermined goal, so there¡¯s no need to fuss over it any longer!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Recruiting those low-level cultivators is also meaningless. Under the vast demon beast tide, they simply can¡¯t resist, and there¡¯s no need to sacrifice them¡­¡± Lin Tianming and another casually exchanged a few words. By now, Luoyun Market already had nearly ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators defending it, plus the nearly thousand Qi Refining Cultivators and the protection of the Defensive Array, its overall strength wasn¡¯t much less than that of the Lin Family Clan Grounds. With this matter concluded, the two chatted idly for a while before Lin Shilu asked Lin Tianming about his plans going forward. ... Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll rest tonight, and tomorrow I¡¯ll return to Golden Horn Mountain to join my father. There are fewer clan members there, and their defensive power is limited, so I cannot be away for too long.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Then be careful. The defenses at Golden Horn Mountain are indeed a bit weak, but having a smaller target has its advantages. If you¡¯re lucky, maybe no demonic beasts will attack after all!¡± Lin Shilu comforted him. Lin Tianming nodded, and after a few more casual exchanges, they each returned to their private chambers. The next morning, Lin Tianming quietly left Luoyun Market, appearing on a mountain peak outside the market. Looking at the vast city that was barely visible in the distance, he immediately turned and left, flying toward the direction of Golden Horn Mountain. The Purple Gold Eagle flew into the clouds, with the fierce wind howling past him as he carefully observed every movement around him. Heading north, despite the clan¡¯s clearance, demonic beasts still appeared from time to time. They were either in groups of two or three or in small groups of over a dozen. Fortunately, he did not encounter many demonic beasts in the First Order Late Stage or Second Order. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows furrowed. He knew that the demonic beast tide was imminent. With this in mind, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s speed greatly increased, turning into a blur as it shot northward. In just one day, he smoothly arrived at Golden Horn Mountain. Looking at the familiar mountain gate, everything was as usual without a trace of beasts having been there; he breathed a sigh of relief. Entering the mountain gate, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng, who had been notified of his safe return, immediately gathered. Seated in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, they chatted, exchanging recent news. Everything was peaceful, and they only needed to wait for further updates on the beast tide. Learning that the family had recruited cultivators to remain at Luoyun Market, Lin Xingrong and the other person were very satisfied, fully approving of this strategy. Currently, the clan¡¯s strength was most potent, and Luoyun Market was also formidable¡ªonly Golden Horn Mountain was relatively weaker. Observing the two with furrowed brows, Lin Tianming quietly pondered countermeasures. Their combined strength, including the Purple Gold Eagle, amounted to merely four combatants at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so their overall strength wasn¡¯t considered high. If they encountered a large-scale demon beast tribe, even with the former Jin Family¡¯s Protective Formation, the situation would still be quite perilous. However, regarding the situation at Golden Horn Mountain, he felt relatively helpless. The family members still lacked time to grow; most were at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, many having just broken through in the past few years, making them the strength the family needed to keep hidden, afraid to reveal themselves lightly. Seeing the atmosphere turn somewhat melancholic, Lin Xingrong chuckled reassuringly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so pessimistic. Golden Horn Mountain has unique terrain. Forming a triangular standoff with the clan grounds and Luoyun Mountain, should any danger arise, I believe the family will sense it and come to support us!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ A full-speed flight on the Purple Gold Eagle is just a day¡¯s journey. This distance isn¡¯t very far, so there¡¯s no need to worry so much!¡± Lin Tianming echoed the sentiment, and gradually, everyone¡¯s faces looked better. Lin Xingrong nodded, and they began discussing the matters of defense. After consultation, they decided to rotate one person every ten days to take charge of patrolling and defending, while the other two cultivated. The two naturally had no objections, and with one accord, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianming then took their leave. Before leaving, Lin Tianming took out the talisman paper drawn by his sister and handed most of them to his father before returning to a secret chamber to begin his cultivation. Time flew by, and before he knew it, half a month had passed. Wei Kingdom, Yunyang Mountain Range. The Yunyang Mountain Range is located on the northern edge of the Wei Kingdom, its area roughly comparable to that of the Luoyun Mountain Range, and it borders the Cultivation World of Xi Country in Qingzhou, known as well for its barren lands. On this day, in a corner of the Yunyang Mountain Range, a large number of demonic beasts, for some unknown reason, suddenly surged out in groups from the depths of the mountain, launching an attack towards the heartland of the Wei Kingdom. Song Family¡¯s mountain gate¡ªthis is a corner of the Yunyang Mountain Range and a place rich in spiritual energy. As one of the four Foundation Establishing Families of the Yunyang Mountain Range, the Song Family had stood for over five hundred years and was considered an established clan. Early this morning, outside the Song Family¡¯s grounds, a massive number of demonic beasts had gathered. Among them were three Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts, over a dozen Second Order Middle and Initial Stage demonic beasts, and more than a thousand First Order demon beasts. This formidable demon beast tribe attacked the Song Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation without any reservations. After a round of earth-shaking tremors, a large number of Song Family cultivators inside the mountain gate were ashen-faced. Among the crowd, an elderly man with white hair stood with an extremely grave expression. This man was one of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Song Family, Song Zhiying, who was at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment and had served as the Clan Leader of the Song Family for nearly a hundred years. Seeing the panicked clan members, he forced a composed demeanor, and his resonant voice was heard. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fellow clansmen, our family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation is of Second Order Medium Quality, and if nothing goes awry, it should be able to withstand the beasts for a while.¡± ¡°As long as we hold firm for a few months, once the Myriad Flames Sect becomes aware of the demonic beast invasion, they will surely send out their elite disciples to eradicate them!¡± Hearing this, the clan members calmed down a bit, but most were still heavily worried, seeming not to have much confidence in the Song Family¡¯s future. Their concern was understandable; though the Protective Clan Formation was strong, these beasts were no trifles, and the destructive power of the Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts was unimaginable. Besides, with the large number of Second Order Initial and Middle Stage demonic beasts in this group, it was entirely feasible for them to muster enough strength over time to break through the Song Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation. Under such circumstances, the crisis was upon the Song Family. To strike out was to court death; they could only stand firm and await aid, praying for the Myriad Flames Sect to dispatch their best to help. Just as everyone was in a daze, a loud voice rang out, bringing relief to the Song Family members. Above everyone¡¯s head appeared a scholar-like middle-aged man; this was Song Zhiwen, the highest cultivator of the Song Family, at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, who had been in seclusion and would only emerge when the family was in dire straits. Upon seeing the newcomer, Song Zhiying¡¯s face regained calmness. He then turned and spoke to several clansmen nearby: ¡°All clansmen must emerge from seclusion immediately, prepare for battle as soon as possible, and distribute all the family¡¯s stored resources to our members. If the Protective Clan Formation is breached, be ready to break out! After issuing several commands, Song Zhiying¡¯s voice echoed with responses from the crowd. Soon, once the arrangements were made, the clan members dispersed, leaving Song Zhiying and Song Zhiwen standing there. Seeing the clan members leave, Song Zhiying furrowed his brow tightly and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Eighteenth brother, I fear the Song Family will suffer heavy losses this time!¡± Upon hearing this, Song Zhiwen¡¯s face also grew dark. The moment the Protective Clan Formation was struck by the demonic beasts, he had already perceived the overall strength of this group of beasts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 393 - 234 Strategy_1 Chapter 393: Chapter 234 Strategy_1 He was equally pessimistic about this group of demonic beasts. The power of this group of demonic beasts was beyond imagination; both in terms of numbers and quality, they were very strong. Although the Song Family had a legacy of hundreds of years and had developed extremely rapidly in recent years, their overall strength was still not strong enough. There were too few cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the reserves of war resources were very limited. Only their Protective Clan Formation was considered decent among the Foundation Establishing Families. In such a situation, he had no confidence that they could withstand the attack of this group of demonic beasts. Besides, waiting for reinforcements was merely a comforting lie to the clan members. Although the situation outside was unknown, it could be deduced from the current circumstances that there were definitely various sizes of demon beast tribes that had erupted in the outside world, even the dominant force, Myriad Flames Sect, had been attacked by the demonic beasts. ... Under such circumstances, the situation of the Myriad Flames Sect was also hard to say¡ªthey simply didn¡¯t have the time or energy to care about their life or death. Such thoughts of his were both rational and well-founded. According to the records of past demonic beast attacks, there would be many Monster Beast Legions. They formed legions of various numbers and scales, attacking lands rich in Spiritual Energy without restraint. The more Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands there were, the more likely they were to be attacked by demonic beasts. Having a legacy of over five thousand years, the Myriad Flames Sect occupied one of the best Spirit Lands in the Wei Kingdom. The likelihood of it being attacked was extremely high. When they themselves were hardly able to ensure their own safety, how could they care about others? Regaining his composure, Song Zhiwen let out a long sigh and then said, ¡°Elder Brother, we should prepare for a breakout in advance!¡± ¡°Gather the elite members of the clan. If the Protective Clan Formation is breached, take the clan members out through the secret passages immediately and act according to the family¡¯s emergency plan!¡± Hearing this, Song Zhiying nodded helplessly. Even Song Zhiwen at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment said so, implying that the Song Family likely had little hope of being saved. He sighed deeply and, after a few exchanges with Song Zhiwen, turned and left, leaving Song Zhiwen alone at the gate. ¡­ At the same time, at Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming had replaced Lin Xingrong and had been patrolling around Golden Horn Mountain for a hundred miles for a period of four days; today was the fifth patrol. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, he watched as a large number of low-order demonic beasts shuttled through the dense forest below, his brows deeply furrowed and his heart somewhat worried. Over these days, he noticed that the density of demonic beasts had increased significantly again and they were beginning to gather together. It was clear that there was the potential for an outbreak. Although he had been mentally prepared, the worrying situation was still imminent. Helpless, he could only accelerate to gather more information in order to make accurate judgments. Before long, he arrived at a valley to the north of Golden Horn Mountain. The huge figure of the Purple Gold Eagle emerged from the clouds, with Lin Tianming sitting on its back. His Eye of Five Colors opened, peering down at nearly a hundred demonic beasts below, his face somewhat grim. Below, in that valley, hundreds of demonic beasts had gathered, among them a Second Order Late-Stage demonic beast, along with one of the Middle Stage. Besides, there were several at the Initial Stage of Second Order, with the rest being First Order demon beasts, most of which were in the Early or Middle Stages. This was a medium-sized demon beast tribe, extremely powerful and heading towards Golden Horn Mountain, clearly preparing to attack. Upon seeing the demonic beasts set off, Lin Tianming immediately turned around and hurried towards Golden Horn Mountain. He had to get back to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory ahead of the demonic beasts and, with the help of the formation, might be able to make a clean escape. Otherwise, if the demonic beasts spotted him, even with the Purple Gold Eagle, it would take some effort to break free. With these thoughts, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s speed increased further, clearly sensing the urgency of the situation. The speed of one man and one eagle was quick, and in an instant, they left hundreds of zhang behind, leaving the angry demon beast tribe in the dust. Luckily, the speed of the demon beasts was not fast. As long as there were no hindrances along the way, it was not difficult at all to return to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory unharmed. After half a day¡¯s time, the Purple Gold Eagle carried Lin Tianming into the defensive array of Golden Horn Mountain. Once back at Golden Horn Mountain, he hurriedly summoned Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng, and the three of them sat in the cave dwelling. Seeing his solemn expression, Lin Xingrong immediately sensed something and then asked, ¡°Tianming¡­ has there been any movement?¡± Lin Tianming nodded and replied, ¡°Today during my patrol, I already discovered a group led by a Second Order demonic beast heading our way. If nothing unexpected occurs, they may arrive near Golden Horn Mountain in no more than a day¡¯s time!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words made both of them look extremely solemn. The onset of the Demon Beast Tide had been hinted at several months ago, though everyone held onto some fantasy that it would turn out to be a false alarm. However, after months of waiting, the fantasies were shattered, and the beast tide arrived as expected. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingrong sighed deeply and then asked, ¡°What¡¯s the strength of the discovered demon beast tribe?¡± ¡°One at the Late Phase of Second Order, one at the Middle Stage, several at the Initial Stage, and hundreds of First Order beasts!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expressions changed and they couldn¡¯t help but be secretly startled. This roaming demon beast tribe was powerful, and within the entire Golden Horn Mountain, there were only three of them who were Foundation Establishment cultivators, with the highest-cultivated Lin Tianming being only at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Both he and Lin Tianfeng, one at the Peak Third Level of Foundation Establishment and the other at the Second Layer, with only dozens of Qi Refining Stage clanspeople, were simply not strong enough to compare with the demon beast tribe. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 394 - 234 Strategy_2 Chapter 394: Chapter 234 Strategy_2 ¡°` Thinking of these matters, his expression darkened and he immediately began to give orders. ¡°Tianfeng, immediately summon all the clansmen out of seclusion and activate the full power of the Defensive Great Formation.¡± ¡°Furthermore, distribute all the various war resources brought by the family and prepare for battle!¡± Hearing the commands, Lin Tianfeng stood up, saluted with a clenched fist, responded, and then immediately left the courtyard to prepare to gather all the clansmen and get ready for defense. ¡°Tian Ming, facing such a strong demon beast tribe, what are your plans?¡± ... Hearing his father¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming began to ponder. The strength of this group of demonic beasts was not low; he might be able to withstand the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, but there were too many at the Initial Stage, and there was also one at the Medium Stage. With the strength of Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng in comparison, the pressure would undoubtedly be immense. In addition to this, the number of First Order Demon Beasts was more than ten times that of their clansmen. If they didn¡¯t take this into account, they could very well be completely wiped out. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At present, it seemed that Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market might both suffer attacks from demonic beasts, and the pressure there would be considerable. They likely wouldn¡¯t have the capacity to provide support to Golden Horn Mountain. With these situations in mind, his expression grew serious, yet he had no strategy to counter them. He could only take one step at a time. Lin Xingrong felt the same. The majority of Qingzhou, a vast area, was suffering from demonic beast attacks. Wei Kingdom was relatively on the fringe, which was somewhat fortunate in comparison. Considering Yuanwu Kingdom, which was the first to be destroyed, the situation in Wei Kingdom was relatively better. If the beast tide had erupted in Wei Kingdom, the whole of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would have likely been wiped out by now. Regaining his focus, Lin Xingrong spoke a few words of comfort and, after exchanging some suggestions with each other, they left the cave mansion courtyard and went to the plaza at the mountain gate. At this time, the plaza was already filled with dozens of people, all of whom had heeded Lin Tianfeng¡¯s call to assemble there. Learning that demonic beasts were very likely to attack the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, every person¡¯s expression turned solemn. Seeing Lin Tianming and the other arrive, the clansmen¡¯s faces regained some color, especially when they saw the two powerfully cultivated Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Lin Tianming looked over the fully prepared clansmen and turned to look outside the formation. ¡°Tianfeng, has the Protective Clan Formation been deployed and the combat resources distributed?¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianfeng nodded and replied, ¡°Following your orders, all the usable talisman paper, Spiritual Artifacts, and a large number of elixirs have been distributed to the clansmen.¡± ¡°Everything is ready now; we just wait for the demonic beasts to come!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong nodded slightly, then ceased to speak further. Lin Tianming looked at the Protective Clan Formation. This formation was once the Protective Clan Formation of the Jin Family. Although he had broken it, all the equipment was intact, requiring only simple repair and reinforcement to restore it to its glory. Feeling the fluctuations from the formation, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. The grade of this formation was not low; it was of a Second Order Superior grade, just like the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation. Although its defensive power was not as formidable as the family¡¯s, it was still a rare treasure. With the three of them holding the fort, resisting the Second Order Late-Stage attack for a while would not be a problem. They just needed to wait until the family could spare some forces, at which point they could coordinate from inside and outside and annihilate this horde of demonic beasts. However, the strength of this group of demonic beasts was indeed extraordinary. If Lin Shikang were here, there would be no need for worry. The reality of the situation was that everything depended on themselves. If they could defeat the beasts head-on, they could spare more forces to support the family. Defending passively was not his style. A proactive strike might achieve surprising effects. With these thoughts, he considered the strategy for defeating the enemy. He had the speed advantage of the Purple Gold Eagle. As long as he wasn¡¯t surrounded by the demonic beast tribe, he could use hit-and-run tactics to exhaust the strength of this group of demonic beasts as much as possible. This way, the pressure on Golden Horn Mountain would be reduced, and if they really couldn¡¯t hold out, they could still persist for a while longer. Having made up his mind, he immediately discussed this plan with Lin Xingrong. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s plan, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression changed and he immediately began to persuade him otherwise. ¡°` ¡°Tianming, this is too risky,¡± someone pleaded, ¡°let us stay within the great formation. At least it¡¯s safer here, and even if we can¡¯t hold out, we could still lead a part of the clan to escape from this place!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Xingrong also began to urge. ¡°Yes¡­it¡¯s too risky for you to go alone. If there were any mishaps, it would be fatal for the family!¡± Hearing the solemn words of the two, Lin Tianming said with focused determination, ¡°Sitting idly by is not a solution, either. We must take the initiative and relieve as much pressure as possible on the family and Luoyun Market.¡± ¡°Moreover, we don¡¯t know how vast this beast tide will be, nor how long it will last. We must seize the early advantage to overcome this crisis!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s earnest words left the two hesitating. They also knew the situation was unpredictable, and the family was under great pressure; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have made such extensive preparations. Seeing the two fall silent, Lin Tianming continued to persuade, ¡°Time is pressing. You can rest assured that without flying demonic birds in this demonic beast horde, with the speed advantage of the Purple Gold Eagle, I won¡¯t take unnecessary risks!¡± ¡°As long as we¡¯re careful and pick off some demonic beasts, then switch locations, we can delay time with hit-and-run tactics. As this drags on, our chances of success will grow!¡± Hearing this dense plan, Lin Xingrong and company hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement, unanimously approving Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, giving them a reassuring smile. Lin Xingrong sighed deeply, repeatedly admonishing with utmost concern, and watched as Lin Tianming left Golden Horn Mountain and disappeared into the forests before him. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. On the clan square, Lin Shihua¡¯s face was stern as he watched the enormous demonic beast horde outside the Protective Clan Formation, his brows tightly furrowed. At this moment, the entire Protective Clan Formation was in full operation, and a large number of clan members had assembled at the square at the mountain gate, each of them above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Outside the great formation, three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts led a multitude of demonic beasts, charging towards the Protective Clan Formation again and again. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A tremor shook the ground and the mountains, and the Protective Clan Formation began to quiver slightly, ripples appearing on the dazzling golden light screen. Lin Shihua watched the fluctuations coming from the Protective Clan Formation, feeling somewhat weighed down. The strength of this demonic beast horde was formidable; in addition to the three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, there were several at the Medium Stage, and more than a dozen at the Initial Stage. As for the lower ranked First Order Demon Beasts, there were well over a thousand of them; their strength was truly formidable. Among the clan members at the mountain gate, other than Lin Shikang who was guarding Ye Pinghai, all Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered here. At this time, the faces of the clan members were solemn. When the demonic beasts came within a hundred miles of the clan territory, patrolling clan members discovered them and reported back to the family at the first opportunity. Lin Shihua immediately gathered all clan members above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, ready for a great battle. Luckily, the family was well-prepared, and after several drills, the response to emergencies was very well coordinated. Now that the crisis had arrived, the entire family operated like a vast war machine, running smoothly and orderly. Lin Shihua nodded with satisfaction. Although the demonic beast horde was strong, the overall strength of the Lin Family was not weak either. Lin Shikang¡¯s cultivation was at the Great Perfection Stage of Foundation Establishment, and with the Ancestor¡¯s left behind Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, the Qingfeng Sword, even facing three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, he would not be at too much of a disadvantage. Although among the rest of the clan members, no one could handle those dozen plus Initial and Medium Stage Demon Beasts by themselves, Ye Pinghai was in the midst of his retreat; once he broke through, all the demonic beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range would be unable to escape their fate of annihilation. The family here should be fine, but Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain might be under great pressure. After all, the family had too many places to defend, and the clan members were spread too thin. Moreover, there weren¡¯t many at the Medium or Late Stages of Foundation Establishment. If faced with a large horde of demonic beasts, it would likely be challenging to withstand. At this moment, Lin Shihua was deeply concerned, secretly sweating for Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 395 - 235 Deployment and Strike_1 Chapter 395: Chapter 235 Deployment and Strike_1 As he was lost in thought, a breeze swept by, and Lin Shikang and the Soul-eating Spider appeared before everyone. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression lit up with surprise, and he hurried forward to give a respectful bow. ¡°Third brother, you¡¯re finally out. How is Daoist Ye doing?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Shikang chuckled and said, ¡°He has been in closed-door cultivation for half a year by now. Theoretically, there should be some activity, and currently, it has caused the convergence of Spiritual Energy but there are no signs of a breakthrough!¡± ¡°It looks like it will take at least another half-year to see any prospects. For now, we still have to rely on ourselves!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded helplessly. If Ye Pinghai were to come out of seclusion, these Demonic Beasts could be eradicated in an instant. Given the current situation, it seems to be a war of attrition. ... Seeing Lin Shihua¡¯s changing expression, Lin Shikang spoke to comfort him, ¡°Have our clanspeople prepare for the battle. Daoist Ye doesn¡¯t need my protection for now. I¡¯ll go scout out the situation later before making a plan!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it now!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shihua replied and then his booming voice spread throughout the plaza, assigning tasks to some important Lin Family Members. Hearing the orders, each clansperson¡¯s expression was solemn as they quickly took out various weapons and talisman paper from their storage bags, ready for battle. Behind the crowd, the large limbs of the Soul-eating Spider moved menacingly. Lin Shikang stepped forward, and after looking over everyone, he said, ¡°Fellow clansmen, you all see the situation before us!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to elaborate on the threat of the Demonic Beast Tide. All of you are well aware that the situation does not allow us to shrink back; we must repel them or even exterminate them.¡± ¡°I will also join the battle personally. Leave the three Second Order Late Stage Beasts to me and the Soul-eating Spider. Do not hold back, aim to break them in one fell swoop!¡± ¡°For the sake of our family, give it your all!¡± Before his words had even finished echoing, the faces of all the Lin Family Members flushed with determination, and the tension immediately disappeared, some even bubbled with high spirits and full confidence. ¡°For the sake of our family, give it your all!¡± ¡°For the sake of our family, give it your all!¡± ¡­ Seeing the clanspeople shouting loudly, Lin Shikang surveyed all the Lin Family Members, a satisfied look on his steadfast face. The Lin Family had experienced many battles over the years, from the great battle at Green Bamboo Mountain to the trials organized by the family, and they had fought extensively with a multitude of Demonic Beasts. Facing the Demonic Beasts again, they were no longer as fearful. Watching the fearless clanspeople, Lin Shikang let out a long howl to the sky. Next to him, Lin Shihua slapped his storage bag, and a green-yellow Token immediately appeared in his hand. He cast a Law Decree, and a light golden barrier opened up a crack, through which the fierce wind raised by the charging Demonic Beasts howled through. Seeing this, Lin Shikang was the first to charge, his Qingfeng Sword flashing with terrifying beams of Sword Qi, transforming into a blur as he shot forward, Following Lin Shikang out of the Protective Clan Formation, all the clanspeople kept up the pace, swarming out like locusts, and they appeared outside the formation in just a few breaths¡¯ time. As soon as the clan members appeared within the sight of the Demon Beasts, all the beasts ceased their attack on the formation, turned around, and charged towards the clanspeople. Looking ahead, this was a Biyun Beast Tribe, numbering over a thousand, with more than a dozen Second Order Beasts among them, posing a fearsome collective strength. The Biyun Beast, a common Second Order Demon Beast resembling a crocodile, has adult beasts that are all of the Second Order Late Phase, widely spread throughout the Cultivation World. With their vast numbers, even the smallest of the Biyun Beast Tribes would not have fewer than several hundred members. This tribe was only of moderate size. However, the ratio of Second Order Beasts within the Demon Beast Tribe is quite high, making its power among the mid-sized tribes extremely formidable. At this moment, three Second Order Late Phase Beasts bared their teeth and swung their blade-like tails viciously at Lin Shikang. With a cold snort from Lin Shikang, his Sword Qi burst forth, striking directly at the tail of a Second Order Late Stage Beast. A series of crackling noises followed, accompanied by flames, as a bright light streaked across the sky, a dazzling sight to behold. After the strike, two Second Order Late Stage Beasts were pushed back, and Lin Shikang, too, took a step back, distancing himself from the beasts. Meanwhile, the other Second Order Late Stage Beast and the Soul-eating Spider were locked in a fierce battle, clashing back and forth, enjoying themselves thoroughly. Below the Soul-eating Spider, a large number of Lin Family Members were already face to face with a crowd of Demon Beasts. Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong vied to take the lead, followed closely by Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao, who were equally unwilling to be outdone. The ¡®Tian¡¯ generation members were also quick to act, with Lin Tianhu leading the way, followed by Lin Tianyue and others, striking decisively and ruthlessly. The Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople, relying on a wealth of talisman papers, unleashed a sky full of Sword Qi that covered most of the Demon Beast Tribe. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The battle outside the Protective Clan Formation was chaotic, with each clansperson fiercely engaged with the Demon Beasts, entering a phase of intense confrontation from the start. With the coordination of the family¡¯s cultivators, the Demon Beasts and the clanspeople fought evenly, neither side gaining much of an advantage. In such a situation, the outcome of the battle was still unpredictable. However, as the exhaustion of the clanspeople increased, the Demonic Beasts were bound to gain the upper hand. Lin Shikang was very aware of this. Leveraging the Qingfeng Sword, he engaged the two Second Order Late Stage Beasts in fierce combat, with both sides unleashing deadly moves without holding back. For a time, above all the clanspeople, world-shaking fluctuations erupted. Lin Shikang, a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, had reached the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment Stage, and his unleashed attacks were terrifying. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 396 - 235: Deployment and Strike_2 Chapter 396: Chapter 235: Deployment and Strike_2 And the strength of two Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts should also not be underestimated; among the Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts, they were certainly among the best. Between Lin Shikang and the two Second Order Demonic Beasts, both sides went back and forth, employing various tactics. The fluctuations from their fight were earth-shattering. Neither the Lin Family Members nor other Demonic Beasts dared to come close. After a quarter of an hour of bitter fighting, as the Spiritual Power and talisman papers of Lin Family Members were partly depleted, their overall defense line started to show signs of strain. Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople began to suffer casualties; even more critical were the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, aside from Lin Shikang and the Soul-eating Spider who were not at a disadvantage, the rest, including Lin Shihua and others, began to steadily retreat. Lin Shihua, with his peak Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivation, already had some difficulty dealing with a single Second Order Middle Stage Biyun Beast. Facing the assault of three Second Order Demonic Beasts, his situation became perilous. Not just him, Lin Shigong¡¯s cultivation was even slightly lower than his. Facing the attack of two Second Order Middle Stage Biyun Beasts, he could only defend passively and in just a few dozen exchanges, he had already sustained heavy injuries! ... The situation of other Foundation Establishment Cultivators was not any better, each person had to face the assault of two to three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts, all teetering on the edge of defeat. High in the sky, Lin Shikang repelled the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts with a single blow. Taking advantage of this brief respite, he turned his attention to his clansmen below, his brows furrowed with worry. He had underestimated the strength of this group of Demonic Beasts. As time went on, their disadvantage would only increase, leading to an inevitable collapse. The current situation dictated that they either retreat back to their clan¡¯s territory to wait for another opportunity or lay all their cards on the table and attempt a heavy blow to the Biyun Beast group, making them realize the difficulty and possibly retreat. With these thoughts in mind, he leaped towards the Soul-eating Spider. Seeing him break away from the battle, the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts mistook it for an attempt to flee and immediately gave chase. Soon, Lin Shikang converged with the Soul-eating Spider, and the three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts also converged, giving him no chance to catch his breath as they aggressively pursued him in a menacing attack. Lin Shikang slapped his storage bag, and his hand appeared filled with Second Order talisman papers, dozens of them. These Second Order Talismans were the war resources accumulated secretly by the family over the years, and each member had received some, varying from three to over a dozen. As for him, being the Stabilizing Sea Needle of the family, it was only after decades of accumulation that he could afford to expend so many talisman papers. Among these dozens of Second Order Talismans, even though most were of lower Second Order, the number was substantial, and the combined attack power was formidable! Without the slightest hesitation, he activated them all at once, not sparing a thought for his sinking heart, as the Biyun Beasts launched their assault. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sky immediately filled with a torrent of Sword Qi, mingled with countless fireballs and ice arrows, raining down mercilessly on the Biyun Beasts that advanced head-on. Due to the density of these attacks, even though the Biyun Beasts were fast and had powerful defensive abilities, they still couldn¡¯t evade a portion of the attacks. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of violent explosions rang out. Only when the blaze dissipated did the figures of the three Biyun Beasts become visible. Each of the Biyun Beasts was wounded, their bodies covered with dense scars, and one even had a piece of its tail severed off. A furious roar escaped them; they were completely enraged by Lin Shikang and continued their attack with bared fangs and claws. Lin Shikang¡¯s expression darkened. Such tactics still hadn¡¯t severely injured them; it seemed that the battle to come would only grow more brutal. Hesitation could lead to being devoured by the Demonic Beasts, falling completely here. However, given the circumstances, there was no time for second thoughts. The situation of his people was deteriorating, and withdrawing from the fight was not as easy as imagined. He forced himself to remain calm and then pinched a Law Decree; a large amount of Spiritual Power surged into the Qingfeng Sword. In an instant, the Qingfeng Sword radiated Spiritual Light. A strong fluctuation of Sword Qi whipped up the surrounding sand and trees in a frenzy under the clear sky. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Qingfeng Sword, kill!¡± With a furious shout, he swung the Qingfeng Sword in his hand, unleashing powerful sword qi that cleaved towards the three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts. At this very instant, the Soul-eating Spider opened its mouth and spat out a vast quantity of spider silk, transforming into a series of huge webs that hurtled towards the Biyun Beasts at an extreme speed. ¡°Pffft pffft pffft¡­¡± The spider webs were too fast; two of the Biyun Beasts failed to dodge in time and were ensnared by several webs, trapping most of their bodies. Quickly, the Biyun Beasts struggled violently, attempting to break free from the indestructible webs and regain their normal speed of movement. Regrettably, the Soul-eating Spider was also at the Second Order Late Phase; its webs were highly effective for trapping enemies. It was impossible for them to break through this binding force in a short amount of time. Seeing the Biyun Beasts¡¯ speed drastically reduced, nowhere near sixty percent of their peak speed, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Shikang¡¯s face. With two of the Biyun Beasts restricted by the spider webs, he alone dealing with these three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts should be relatively safe as long as he remained cautious. And the freed Soul-eating Spider could help Lin Shihua and the others. With the addition of the Second Order Late-Stage Soul-eating Spider, none of the remaining Biyun Beasts was a match. If things went smoothly, at the very least, it could significantly reduce the pressure on the clanspeople, potentially turning the tide in their favor. With a bit of luck, they might even seize this opportunity to repel the powerful enemy. With this in mind, he cast a Law Decree, and the Soul-eating Spider disengaged from the fight, hastening towards Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong. Soon, the Soul-eating Spider joined the fray. The several Second Order Medium Stage Biyun Beasts that were assailing Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong converged and clashed with the oncoming Soul-eating Spider. The pale complexions of Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong regained some color. After exchanging glances, they tacitly moved towards the other clan members to assist Lin Xingshun and the rest against the Second Order Initial Stage Biyun Beasts. With their cultivation at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, they drew a great number of Demonic Beasts to assault them. Fortunately, neither was short of wealth; possessing numerous quality Magic Artifacts, and their strengths weren¡¯t too shabby, facing several Second Order Initial Stage Biyun Beasts wasn¡¯t too much pressure. A little over half a quarter of an hour passed, and the great battle continued. By now, outside the mountain gate, the corpses of Demonic Beasts were strewn haphazardly across the ground, some still twitching and struggling, a sight most pitiful. After a harrowing bout, the numbers of the Biyun Beast horde had sharply declined to fewer than two hundred, reducing their overall numbers by more than eighty percent. On the side of the Lin Family Members, the losses were substantial as well; more than forty Qi Refining Clanspeople had perished in battle, with the majority of the survivors injured. Lin Shihua and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were all pale-faced. They were nearly drained of all their Spiritual Power, and every talisman they carried had long been expended. High above, Lin Shikang¡¯s face was pale as he looked at the three heavily wounded Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts. Without hesitation, he brought his hands together and chanted under his breath. Instantly, a silver-white sword qi coalesced out of thin air above his head, hovering vertically above him. As the silver-white sword qi grew more substantial, the entire sky erupted with a fierce wind, whipping up dust and debris. After an indeterminate amount of time, he released a Law Decree from his hands and bellowed, ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, kill!¡± In that moment, the silver-white sword qi shot skyward, transforming into an invisible meteor, furiously descending upon the three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts. Seeing this terrifying sword qi approach, moving at an extreme speed, the three Biyun Beasts immediately felt a threat of death. They had already been fighting Lin Shikang for dozens of rounds before this. Although they had sustained some injuries, none were fatal, and their strength wasn¡¯t greatly affected. But now, faced with this powerful silver-white sword qi that seemed capable of cleaving heaven and earth, they were stricken with fear and couldn¡¯t muster the will to resist. Under this lethal threat, the three Biyun Beasts fled in a frenzy, not wanting to linger a moment longer. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 397 - 236 Facing the Battle_1 Chapter 397: Chapter 236 Facing the Battle_1 ¡°` Unfortunately, except for the one that wasn¡¯t bound by the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s web, the speed of the other two Biyun Beasts was significantly reduced, unable to escape the area within a short time. At that moment, silver-white Sword Qi, moving at an extremely fast velocity, struck directly at the head of a Biyun Beast. In the blink of an eye, a scream of agony resounded! S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The entire battlefield fell silent in a very brief moment, with some Qi Refining Stage clanspeople having their eyes wide open, watching the terrifying Sword Qi slash with uncontrollable excitement. While some Lin Family members had witnessed the Spirit Arts of their family, the majority were completely uninformed about them. ... At this time, everyone was speculating whether that terrifying attack was a Divine Skill attached to a Cultivation Technique or some secret technique, not daring to even entertain the possibility of it being a Spirit Art. As everyone looked on in amazement, Lin Shikang, possessing a Foundation Establishment Great Completion cultivation, unleashed a power that shook the heavens and the earth, cultivated for many years, which was now comparable to the Golden Core Talisman left over from the great battle at Luoyun Mountain. Time passed, and the two Biyun Beasts that had escaped death had already left the battlefield and were now angrily staring at Lin Shikang from atop a hill. The Biyun Beast struck by the silver-white Sword Qi had fallen, not rising again, with a gaping bloody hole on its massive head, its body still twitching. After struggling for a few moments, it moved no more. At this point, Lin Shikang was suspended in mid-air, his complexion slightly pale. After this difficult battle, having fought one against three, lightly injuring two, and slaying one Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beast, it was quite satisfying to have achieved such a result. However, his current situation was not very good, as only less than half of his Spiritual Power remained, and his consumable treasures were all used up. Having exhausted all his moves, the outlook for what was to come was still unpredictable. In this brief respite, the Lin Family Members regrouped, led by the Soul-eating Spider. Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong along with other members responded, attacking all the Second Order Biyun Beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Seeing this development, the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts roared and spat out a massive number of Spirit Groups, surging towards Lin Shikang. Subsequently, the remaining Biyun Beasts joined the fray, unleashing a variety of attacks. On the clan¡¯s side, Lin Shikang leaped skillfully, dodging most of the Spirit Group attacks; those he couldn¡¯t avoid were blocked by the Defense Artifact in his hand. On the other side, the Soul-eating Spider let out a series of shrieks, while simultaneously extending its blade-like legs, moving with extreme speed. With such terrifying speed and strength, the Soul-eating Spider occasionally reaped the lives of several lower-level Biyun Beasts. As the battle erupted once more, both sides commenced another round of fierce combat. However, since there were no Biyun Beasts capable of containing the Soul-eating Spider, their offensive faltered, and they soon found themselves at a disadvantage. The entire Lin Family exhibited a tremendous momentum at this time, almost ready to completely wipe out the entire Biyun Beast group. Above them, Lin Shikang and the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts were deeply engaged in a fierce battle. Without any powerful moves left to inflict major damage, Lin Shikang did not gain much of an advantage. While the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts were injured, and wary of Lin Shikang¡¯s terrifying silver-white Sword Qi, they fought cautiously, always on the defense, which affected their performance. Even so, with the formidable endurance of demonic beasts and their thick hides, they weren¡¯t afraid of common attacks. Few things could threaten their lives, and if the battle dragged on until Lin Shikang¡¯s Spiritual Power was exhausted, the situation with the entire Biyun Beast group would immediately reverse, potentially increasing the Lin Family¡¯s losses. Aware of this, Lin Shikang was also struggling to hold on. Given his current state, killing two more Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts seemed too difficult; he could only try to delay as much as possible. The Lin Family side had the unstoppable Soul-eating Spider, so the pressure was only on the Biyun Beast group. As long as the Soul-eating Spider could severely damage the whole Biyun Beast group before his Spiritual Power was depleted, the clanspeople would surely come to assist and secure the final victory. With these thoughts, his attacks had gradually changed, prioritizing survival over power. Down below, the clanspeople also understood the urgency of the situation and knew that they had to fight quickly and decisively. Even if they could not kill all of them, they had to inflict heavy losses on the Biyun Beast group or even drive them back. Consequently, the attacks from the Soul-eating Spider and people like Lin Shihua became exceedingly decisive and ruthless, suppressing the remaining Biyun Beasts. After half an hour, the fierce battle continued. By this time, the area outside the Protective Clan Formation was a mess, littered with the corpses of Demonic Beasts and Lin Family Members. At the crests of two hills, both sides gathered, cautiously watching each other, and neither dared to make any rash moves. After a round of extremely brutal combat, the entire Biyun Beast group had dwindled to less than a hundred, with over ninety percent perishing there. Besides the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts, there were only six Second Order Biyun Beasts left, which included two Second Order Middle Stage and four Second Order Initial Stage. Apart from the eight Second Order Biyun Beasts that escaped, the rest were First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, each one heavily scarred and greatly weakened. As for the Lin Family Members, their situation was far from optimistic. After the fierce battle, Lin Shikang was almost completely drained of strength, significantly weakened. The Soul-eating Spider was also not without serious injury; three of its blade-like legs were broken, and its body riddled with large wounds, with its aura significantly weakened. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 398 - 236 Facing the Battle_2 Chapter 398: Chapter 236 Facing the Battle_2 Fortunately, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were alive, but Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were gravely injured and had almost lost their combat ability. Besides that, other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were all wounded, with their strength reduced to less than half; over sixty Qi Refining Clanspersons, all above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, had perished. In the more than twenty years since the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, the Lin Family had never suffered such heavy losses. To see such a large number of clanspeople fall, all of them being their main force, truly was a first. Lin Shikang stood on the mountaintop, his Qingfeng Sword in hand with Sword Qi swirling around it. His eyes bloodshot with anger, he glared at the Biyun Beast Clan ahead. Behind him, each clansperson gritted their teeth, putting aside their sorrow, already engulfed in hatred. In the ranks of the Biyun Beast Clan, there was no longer the unstoppable momentum they had had initially. In their eyes seemed to be a mixture of fear and reluctance. ... On the eerily silent battlefield, neither side dared to initiate hostilities. Lin Shikang turned to look at Lin Shihua and others, silently pondering the next move. In the current situation, if the battle continued, the Lin Family might be able to achieve victory, but the loss of clanspeople would only increase further. If they gave up on annihilating the struggling Biyun Beast Clan, the clanspeople could retreat to the Protective Clan Formation. With the protection of the Protective Clan Formation, this severely damaged Demon Beast Tribe had no chance of breaking through the formation. However, even so, the demonic beast attacks would not cease. If they were unlucky enough to encounter an even larger Demon Beast Tribe joining in, it was very possible. If the next wave of demonic beast attacks came quickly and the two large tribes joined forces, the clan territory would once again be plunged into crisis. Considering these factors, Lin Shikang hesitated slightly, uncertain of what to do. Among the Biyun Beast Clan, two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts growled at each other, seemingly communicating. After a few breaths, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts took the lead, shooting towards the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Following them, the rest of the Biyun Beast Clan kept pace, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from sight. Seeing this, the clanspeople were dumbfounded, not expecting the Biyun Beast Clan to retreat on their own, which took them by surprise. At this moment, Lin Shikang breathed a sigh of relief. The voluntary retreat of the Biyun Beast Clan avoided an even more brutal battle. This couldn¡¯t have been better, otherwise, he would have had a hard time making a decision. As for pursuing these Biyun Beast Clan members, he had no interest whatsoever. Currently, all the clanspeople were exhausted, and with the injured injured and the dead dead, the strength they could muster was very limited. Even if they managed to kill those First Order Demon Beasts, the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts remained powerful. His own condition was greatly diminished, and even with the combined efforts of the Soul-eating Spider and the clanspeople, they still couldn¡¯t ensure the beasts were left behind. Further, it¡¯s unwise to chase a desperate enemy, as it might provoke the Biyun Beast Clan into a deadly counterattack in their desperation, which would only lead to even greater losses for the family. Therefore, pursuing them was extremely unwise. Gathering his thoughts, he turned and instructed Lin Shihua, ¡°Immediately collect the remains of the clanspeople and bury them in the family cemetery; make sure the compensations are delivered promptly.¡± ¡°And these Demon Beast corpses, we must also deal with them quickly. Everyone should recover from their injuries as soon as possible to be prepared for the next crisis!¡± Hearing the orders, Lin Shihua nodded and immediately turned to direct some clanspeople to clean the battlefield. The clanspeople behind him busied themselves, with some collecting the bones of the fallen clanspeople, others gathering all the useful Demonic Beast Materials, and finally burning the useless parts of the demon beast corpses. After looking over the busy crowd, Lin Shikang stepped into the Protective Clan Formation and disappeared from the sight of the clanspeople. ¡­ Golden Horn Mountain. A river valley, located over a hundred miles away from the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, formed by the confluence of three rivers. Due to the abundance of water resources, after the water vapor evaporated, it condensed into a thick fog that enveloped an area spanning dozens of miles. In the midst of the dense fog, a Purple Gold Eagle was circling, with Lin Tianming standing on its back, using his Eye of Five Colors to size up what lay beneath the fog. Directly below, a group from the Golden Fang Beast Clan was gathering together. The Golden Fang Beasts were Metal Attribute social demonic beasts that enjoyed consuming minerals rich in Metal Attribute and would store the ingested minerals. When engaged in combat, they could spit them out with formidable power. Their bodies were not large, adult Golden Fang Beasts were only about a zhang in size, but they had sharp teeth and beaks capable of crushing even Second Order magical artifacts without much effort, making their offensive power extremely strong. Adult demon beasts could reach the Second Order Late Phase, and the size of the tribe varied, usually numbering around 300. Slightly larger groups could reach over 500. This cluster of Golden Fang Beasts was a particularly vast group, nearly 500 in scale, which was extremely rare in the Cultivation World. This demon beast tribe was the one he had previously discovered. After leaving the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, Tian Ming took advantage of the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flying capability and followed behind this group of Golden Fang Beasts. He was very aware of his own strength; handling a tribe led by a Second Order Medium Stage demon beast would not pose much danger. However, this group of Golden Fang Beasts included a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast along with other Second Order demonic beasts. If he wasn¡¯t careful and got surrounded, he might end up dying here. Thus, he was not in a hurry to act but instead followed behind, waiting for the opportunity. Thanks to the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flying speed, along with the thick fog, the demonic beasts had yet to discover him. After tracking the Golden Fang Beast Clan for a long time, he arrived at the core area of this river valley. Under the influence of this thick fog, the perception of the Golden Fang Beasts was weakened. Although his Divine Sense was also reduced, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, the fog did not greatly affect his strength. If it came to a fight, his strength would not diminish, and with the Golden Fang Beasts¡¯ reduced perception, their strength would certainly not be as formidable as in other areas. Consequently, this river valley became an opportunity. If used correctly, he might be able to complete his plan ahead of schedule. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became excited. He silently took out the Tiangang Sword and several Second Order talisman papers, readying himself to attack at any moment. As time slowly passed, the Purple Gold Eagle stealthily descended further, bringing them closer to the beasts. With the Purple Gold Eagle having descended to less than a thousand zhang, the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast seemed to notice something and looked up at the dense fog with a puzzled expression. Seeing that the Golden Fang Beast might have noticed him, Lin Tianming frowned and immediately decided to attack first. He made up his mind, pinched a Law Decree, and the Second Order talisman papers in his hand flashed brightly, followed by a downpour of sword qi from the sky. At the same time, he patted his storage bag, and fifty-six Earth Evil Artifacts shot out, swiftly disappearing into the surroundings under the cover of the fog, quickly concealing themselves. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After completing these preparations, he recited an arcane incantation without holding anything back, and the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand. It immediately unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, slicing towards the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back at all when he made his move. He was so resolute in his attack to see if he could try to kill the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast, or at the very least, severely injure it. If he succeeded, without a Second Order Late-Stage demon beast to lead them, dealing with the remaining First and Second Order Initial and Medium Stage Golden Fang Beasts would be much easier with his strength. As the Tiangang Sword created intense fluctuations, the ambushed Golden Fang Beast reacted. It let out a sky-piercing roar, alerting the nearby demon beast tribe to quickly disperse to avoid being affected by the attacks coming from above. Hearing the roar from the Golden Fang Beast leader, the nearby beasts turned and scrambled in different directions to escape. The Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast then leaped forward and spat out a golden stone, seemingly a Second Order Superior Metal Attribute Spirit Ore. The stone moved swiftly, colliding with Lin Tianming¡¯s sword qi in a brief instant. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 399 - 237: The Tactics of Harassment (1) Chapter 399: Chapter 237: The Tactics of Harassment (1) ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± An explosion echoed, spreading out an air wave that engulfed some of the Goldfang Beasts that failed to dodge in time. Screams followed, as numerous First Order Late Stage Goldfang Beasts were directly shaken to death by the blast, and more than a dozen spat out fresh blood with their vitality rapidly waning. However, the Tiangang Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianming was powerful, piercing through the protruding rocks of the Goldfang Beasts, and still heading towards its target. But, delayed for just a moment and its trajectory slightly altered, the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast easily dodged the attack. After this lethal attack was avoided, the Second Order talisman paper detonated, unleashing a sky of Sword Qi and fireballs, enveloping a vast area. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The explosions were incessant, and under this massive attack, the physique of the Second Order Goldfang Beasts wasn¡¯t greatly harmed, whereas the First Order beasts couldn¡¯t withstand it at all. A large number of First Order Goldfang Beasts were directly pierced by the Sword Qi and fireballs, dying unwillingly. As the explosions ceased and the fire and smoke cleared, Lin Tianming and a group of Goldfang Beasts were revealed. After Lin Tianming¡¯s sneak attack, the Second Order Goldfang Beasts hadn¡¯t sustained much damage, but nearly a hundred First Order beasts had died, which was almost two-tenths of the entire Goldfang Beast clan¡¯s number. Among the dead were mostly beasts at the early and mid-stages of the First Order; their strength was too low. While the attack from the Second Order talisman paper could hardly deal with Second Order Demonic Beasts, it was still lethal for the First Order beasts. Among these dead Goldfang Beasts, only about a dozen were at the late stages of the First Order, and though the quantity was considerable, it did not greatly impact the strength of the entire Goldfang Beast Clan. After all, whether it was Demonic Beasts or cultivators, High Order combat power was the decisive factor in overall strength. At this moment, the Goldfang Beasts were converging, with the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast snarling and staring at Lin Tianming angrily. Lin Tianming, however, was somewhat surprised. Before he launched his attack, the distance between them wasn¡¯t far, and with each breakthrough in his cultivation, his Tiangang Sword Qi could layer on an additional level. Now, at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, with the five layers added together, the power and speed of the Tiangang Sword Qi had undergone a qualitative leap, many times stronger than when he previously cast the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. Even so, his ingenious attack hadn¡¯t achieved significant results, which disappointed him. But there was no time to think too much about it, as the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast launched an attack first. Suddenly, hundreds of Goldfang Beasts opened their mouths and spat out a mass of golden stones in a dense assault, bombarding Lin Tianming. At the same time, a few Second Order beasts leaped a thousand feet into the air, opening their gaping maws to bite at the Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows furrowed and his expression became serious. His original intention was to harass this group; if he could drive them into another area, or inflict serious damage, he would consider his objective accomplished. But now, having completely enraged them and facing the concerted attack of these Goldfang Beasts, he hesitated. Had he decided to leave immediately, relying on the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, he should be able to retreat safely. Yet, this Goldfang Beast clan was located close to Golden Horn Mountain. If he didn¡¯t try to stop them, they might discover and attack the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory before long, and at that time, Golden Horn Mountain would also be in trouble. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these thoughts, he still decided to attempt an intervention. If it proved impossible, he would have to retreat to Golden Horn Mountain and rely on the Protective Clan Formation to hold out for reinforcement. Having made up his mind, he slapped his storage bag and brought out three Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans, which transformed into several barriers, briefly stopping the stones. Shortly afterward, the Purple Gold Eagle flapped its huge wings and retreated like a flash of lightning. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± As deafening sound erupted, the three barriers quickly shattered, but the attacks of the First Order Goldfang beasts were all blocked, leaving only a few stones spat by Second Order Goldfang Beasts to pierce through the barriers and continue hurtling towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming remained calm and collected, drawing out the Green Scale Shield and pouring a large amount of Spiritual Power into it, turning it into a sturdy and immense shield that covered the Purple Gold Eagle. Meanwhile, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, flying towards higher altitudes. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The golden stones struck the shield formed by the Green Scale Shield, and fortunately, their weakened attacks were limited, so all were blocked by the Green Scale Shield. Using the repelling force, the Purple Gold Eagle created some distance and incidentally avoided those gaping maws. Frustrated by their failed attempt, the Goldfang Beasts became even more frenzied. Enraged and humiliated, the Goldfang Beast Clan, though large in numbers and nearly having ten Second Order beasts, only those Second Order beasts posed any threat to Lin Tianming, while the First Order beasts could do nothing but endure the attacks and were completely powerless to retaliate. As the Purple Gold Eagle entered the clouds, Lin Tianming, on its back, was overjoyed. These beasts, unable to fly and with limited attack range, found it extremely hard to fight against him, their strength barely usable. The moment he dodged their attacks and hid in the dense fog, he lay in wait for an opportunity to further assault the Goldfang Beast clan. The Goldfang Beast clan at this point was angry yet helpless. Despite their vast numbers and nearly ten Second Order Demonic Beasts, only the Second Order beasts posed any threat to Lin Tianming, while the First Order beasts could only take hits passively, entirely lacking the power to fight back. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 400 - 237: The Tactics of Harassing_2 Chapter 400: Chapter 237: The Tactics of Harassing_2 As time passed, Lin Tianming struck time and time again with sneak attacks, executing each move just right. After achieving some results, he never lingered in battle or acted recklessly in his pursuit of success. In this way, the entire Golden Fang Beast Clan was constantly on the receiving end of the onslaught, one by one the Golden Fang Beasts fell to his burst attacks. After half an hour, of the original hundreds of Golden Fang Beasts, only slightly more than two hundred remained¡ªtheir total numbers were reduced by a staggering sixty percent, and those that survived were all beyond the First Order Middle-Late Stage. Atop a hill at the bottom of the valley, the leader of the Golden Fang Beasts, a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, lifted its head to the sky and let out a long howl at Lin Tianming, its eyes filled with wariness. Within the clouds, the Purple Gold Eagle zoomed past, flapping its enormous wings, spitting out a mass of fireballs, violently bombarding the Demon Beast Tribe below. Lin Tianming was now on its back, frequently swinging the Tiangang Sword in hand, unleashing blades of Sword Qi that mercilessly swept over everything. ... Seeing the fierce attack approaching, the Demon Beast Tribe below was thrown into commotion. Some Second Order Golden Fang Beasts bared their teeth and grimaced as they dodged the attacks, while opening their mouths to spit out a large number of fireballs at the Purple Gold Eagle in the sky. Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh. After several rounds of harassment, he had come to understand the weak points of this group of demonic beasts. Although their attacks were very powerful, typical Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts or Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators would find themselves in great danger against them. But for those spiritual birds flying at high altitudes, coupled with the dense fog, the attacking power of the Golden Fang Beasts was indeed limited. As long as he didn¡¯t become overzealous and get surrounded, there generally wouldn¡¯t be much danger. With this in mind, Lin Tianming found it easier to deal with them, making his moves with proper measure and control. Watching various attacks soar towards the heavens, Lin Tianming once again unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, killing several First Order Demon Beasts and severely wounding a Second Order Initial Stage Golden Fang Beast before retreating with ease. Seeing Lin Tianming skillfully evade the attacks, the leader of the Golden Fang Beasts felt an exceptional rage. Its eyes turned blood red as it leapt a thousand feet into the air, lunging towards Lin Tianming¡¯s direction to attack. By now, Lin Tianming had already spotted the movement of this Golden Fang Beast. He signaled the Purple Gold Eagle to slow down slightly, intending to let it come closer. The reason for this maneuver was that he had already silently laid out the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, but due to the vast size of the Demon Beast Tribe, he couldn¡¯t suppress too many of them. Choosing this Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast was the target he had carefully considered. If he could trap it within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation for a while, he might be able to take its life directly. Once this most threatening Golden Fang Beast was grievously injured or dead, relying on the few remaining Second Order Demonic Beasts would hardly inflict fatal damage to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, thereby resolving the threat posed by the Golden Fang Beast Clan. This move was extremely risky, but after much deliberation, Lin Tianming decided to give it a try. He had been preparing for a long time, with the specific aim to lure this Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast into the center of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and strike it severely, catching it off guard. As the target drew nearer, Lin Tianming maintained his composure. He certainly did not want to spook the target and miss this rare opportunity. In the blink of an eye, the Golden Fang Beast Leader was getting closer to him; its terrifying maw was almost at the tail of the Purple Gold Eagle, ready at any moment to bite off a chunk of flesh. The Purple Gold Eagle suddenly accelerated, shaking off the Golden Fang Beast Leader and vanishing into the dense fog once again. Still, propelled by inertia, the Golden Fang Beast Leader continued to move forward. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As it landed firmly on the ground, it found itself almost at the center of the Sword Array. Seeing the Golden Fang Beast Leader fall for the trap, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and hastily started to operate the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Humming noises¡­¡± A series of sounds emanated, and a pale golden light shield appeared in the sky, engulfing the whole area within hundreds of feet. At the same time, the Sword Qi within the formation began to move, attacking the Golden Fang Beast Leader. At this moment, the Golden Fang Beast Leader felt an invisible constriction and instantly panicked, starting to thrash about wildly. Lin Tianming snorted coldly, and with a single-handed seal, the Thousand Beast Banner flew from his hand, quickly distributing itself in every corner of the Sword Array. The Thousand Beast Banner began to operate in an extremely short time, containing a vast number of Monster Beast Souls that viciously tore at the Golden Fang Beast Leader. Trapped by both the Thousand Beast Banner and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the Golden Fang Beast was both shocked and enraged. It opened its mouth to spit out some golden stones, shattering some of the Monster Beast Souls. However, there were too many souls within the Thousand Beast Banner. Having acquired a large number of Monster Beast Souls from the clan¡¯s extensive culling of beasts over the past few years, he had almost exclusively bought them all, refining them into the Thousand Beast Banner. The current Thousand Beast Banner had long been incomparable to its past self, truly containing the souls of over a thousand demon beasts. Although the newly replenished Monster Beast Souls were mostly First Order Middle-Late Stage beasts, their overwhelming numbers, when fearless of death, could still inflict massive damage. Within the Sword Array, as each Monster Beast Soul was slain by the Golden Fang Beast, even more surged forward, overwhelming it in a short period of time. Not only that, the Sword Qi roaming within the Sword Array was also immense. Occupied with fending off the Monster Beast Souls, the Golden Fang Beast Leader could hardly pay attention to much else. The Golden Fang Beast Leader finally realized the gravity of its situation. It struggled furiously, trying to break the bonds of the Sword Array and reunite with its descendants. Outside, upon seeing their leader trapped, the Golden Fang Beasts surged forward in an attempt to aid its escape. The vast Demon Beast Tribe, still numbering over a hundred and all above First Order Middle-Late Stage, charged with such force that their onslaught was incredibly powerful. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn. Having planned for so long, he wouldn¡¯t let the Golden Fang Beasts get their way easily. He slapped his storage bag and tossed out several Second Order talisman papers to block the Demon Beast Tribe momentarily, followed swiftly by unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword Fifth Sword to buy time. With the talisman papers and the Tiangang Ninth Sword Fifth Sword¡¯s assault, the Second Order Demonic Beasts dared not be careless and had to either dodge or rely on overwhelming offensive to preserve their lives. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Some of the Demon Beast Tribe dodged the attacks, while others spat out golden stones, colliding head-on with the incoming assaults. Lin Tianming remained unrelenting, pushing his strength to the limit, blocking the beasts¡¯ attacks while intensifying his assault on the Golden Fang Beast Leader. Inside the Sword Array, swathes of Monster Beast Souls perished, with over two hundred dying in a matter of moments. The Golden Fang Beast began to sustain injuries, its body covered with numerous wounds inflicted by savage tearing, bleeding profusely, and presenting a terrifying sight. It twisted its body, frantically rampaging within the Sword Array, trying to shake off the locust-like souls. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of sounds echoed as the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook slightly, but fortunately, the attack from the sole Golden Fang Beast Leader was hindered by the souls, lacking the force to break free. Nevertheless, with the overwhelming number of the Demon Beast Tribe, Lin Tianming could not block all the beasts. Several Second Order Middle Stage Golden Fang Beasts breached his defense, their bodies as hard as iron, simultaneously striking against the Sword Array Barricade. Amid several explosive noises, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook violently, at constant risk of being breached. Lin Tianming, with madness in his eyes, clenched his teeth and unleashed several Sword Qi attacks, trying to interrupt the Second Order Middle Stage Golden Fang Beasts rushing to rescue their leader. Simultaneously, he pressed his hands together and started to chant. After an indeterminate time, a silver-white Sword Qi slowly condensed above his head, suspended midair. Once the silver-white Sword Qi appeared, a gentle breeze swept by, stirring unease among the surrounding demon beasts. In the current situation, he couldn¡¯t focus on both fronts. If he didn¡¯t use his trump card, it would be nearly impossible to severely injure the Golden Fang Beast Leader. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 401 - 238 Goal Achieved_1 Chapter 401: Chapter 238 Goal Achieved_1 In a moment of desperation, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression darkened, utterly unfazed by the oncoming Golden Fang Beast Clan charging toward him. This rare opportunity must yield certain results; otherwise, taking this risk wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Having made up his mind, he resolved to both fend off the Demonic Beasts attacking the Sword Array¡¯s perimeter and to stabilize the operation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Meanwhile, the condensed silver-white Sword Qi had reached its peak, ready to be activated at any moment to severely injure the Golden Fang Beast Leader. As the momentum of the condensed silver-white Sword Qi peaked, the entire sky suddenly brightened, and the fog was stirred by the Sword Qi until it finally dispersed. Feeling this formidable Sword Qi, all the Golden Fang Beasts were struck with immense fear, halting in place, having forgotten both to attack and to flee. ... Seeing this, and sensing the familiar power stronger than ever before, Lin Tianming was thrilled and couldn¡¯t wait to see the Golden Fang Beasts being slain by the Sword Qi. Taking advantage of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ momentary daze, he released a stroke of Sword Qi to temporarily block the outer Demonic Beasts, and then he roared aloud. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, annihilate!¡± With a single wave of his hand, he made a strange gesture and activated the condensed Sword Qi. As a flash of silver light passed, the terrifying silver-white Sword Qi shot out with extreme speed, quickly disappearing into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud noises thundered continuously as he opened his Eye of Five Colors and closely monitored every movement within the Sword Array. The silver-white Sword Qi moved incredibly fast, and the focused Golden Fang Beast Leader recovered its senses right away. Watching the approaching silver-white Sword Qi, it was filled with terror and struggled desperately to evade the strike. In this dire situation, the Golden Fang Beast Leader¡¯s speed increased even more, like a bolt of lightning, dodging the Sword Qi within the Array and attempting to escape the attack of the silver-white Sword Qi as well. However, the Sword Array had already shrunk to a certain range, the Sword Qi inside was too dense, and fearless Monster Beast Souls kept on assaulting, even if one batch perished, more came to take their place. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The relentless tearing and biting of the Demonic Beasts fueled the fury of the Golden Fang Beast Leader, yet it couldn¡¯t break free from these restraints and entanglements. As the silver-white Sword Qi drew closer, the fear in the eyes of the Golden Fang Beast Leader grew, and it struggled frantically to dodge. In an instant, the silver-white Sword Qi struck with incredible speed, hitting the back of the Golden Fang Beast in the blink of an eye. A scream ensued as the massive body of the Golden Fang Beast Leader collapsed to the ground, its entire backside and half of its body torn open, revealing internal organs with blood gushing out, quickly pooling into a puddle. Even in its downfall, the Golden Fang Beast Leader continued to thrash and roar, not yet breathless. As it convulsed and struggled, the pitiful cries of the Golden Fang Beast Leader echoed through the entire valley, causing all of the Golden Fang Beasts to become even more terrified, their eyes full of fear as they looked back at Lin Tianming. Seeing the Golden Fang Beast Leader gravely wounded by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, and having accomplished his goal, Lin Tianming was thrilled and immediately shrank the Sword Array further, intending to end its life. He snorted coldly and then urged on the Sword Array to start grinding down the Golden Fang Beast Leader. As the Sword Array further shrank, the eyes of the Golden Fang Beast Leader filled with terror. It struggled to rise, but after several attempts, it still couldn¡¯t stand up. The outer Golden Fang Beasts recovered their senses and launched an attack, charging at the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all their might, trying to prevent Lin Tianming from continuing his attack on their leader. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The impacts of the Golden Fang Beast Clan came one after another, and with such an overwhelming number of Demonic Beasts and Lin Tianming focused on finishing off the Golden Fang Beast Leader, he no longer had much energy to block the beasts. In such a state, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook violently, and the backlash from the Demonic Beasts¡¯ collisions caused Lin Tianming¡¯s mind to suffer, unable to help but spew a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning pale. At that moment, he didn¡¯t have time to think too much; he must seize the opportunity to kill the Golden Fang Beast Leader. If so, the Demon Beast Tribe would break without an attack, and he would be able to retreat gracefully. With firm conviction, fortunately, the area of the Sword Array had already been reduced to less than a hundred zhang, greatly increasing its stability compared to before. As the Sword Array¡¯s range got smaller and smaller, Lin Tianming held the Sword Array steady, unwilling to give up halfway even though his mind had been wounded. In an instant, the Sword Array shrank even more, the Sword Qi inside becoming incredibly dense, a myriad of Sword Qi darted around, leaving the immobilized Golden Fang Beast Leader with nowhere to hide. When the thick Sword Qi pummeled the Golden Fang Beast Leader, flesh and blood flew in all directions, and the suffering leader seemed to muster strength from nowhere, struggling and screaming fiercely. After several heartrending cries, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation ceased operations in that moment, and the fifty-six Earth Evil Swords converged together, then spun madly before vanishing into the clouds, returning to the space above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. With the Array stopped, the dust on the ground slowly dispersed, revealing the figure of the Golden Fang Beast Leader. Looking over, the Golden Fang Beast Leader was now lifeless, its massive body lying on the ground, completely battered and torn, with hardly any intact spot left, the blood on the ground forming a horrifying pool. Seeing this, all the Golden Fang Beasts present were in extreme terror, with some First Order Demon Beasts starting to flee, seemingly scared out of their wits. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Paragraph copied Chapter 402 - 238 Achieving the Goal_2 Chapter 402: Chapter 238 Achieving the Goal_2 With the Golden Fang Beast Leader¡¯s death, their target had been achieved, and the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain was temporarily resolved. Thinking of these things, he began contemplating his next arrangements. His spiritual power had nearly run out, all his Second Order talismans had been used up, and the sword qi he had gathered had already been deployed. Besides a Fake Golden Core Talisman, he had practically exhausted all his methods. Although unharmed, his current condition was very poor. Luckily, the demon beasts were now without a leader. Even if pursued, he could make a full retreat relying on the Purple Gold Eagle. With these thoughts, he let out a long sigh of relief, and his tense nerves relaxed. A few breaths passed, and as a roar echoed, Lin Tianming¡¯s attention returned. ... By this time, the Golden Fang Beast Clan was in complete disarray. Nearly half of the First Order Demon Beast had vanished without a trace, but a few Second Order Goldfang Beasts had yet to leave. The Medium Stage Second Order Goldfang Beast let out a roar, seemingly calling the remaining demon beasts to regroup. A series of harsh roars followed, and the majority of the demon beasts shifted and gathered around the Second Order Demonic Beasts. Many let out cries as if responding to it. At this moment, a large number of beasts were roaring, and the entire valley was filled with thunderous howls, even the ground seemed to tremble. Soon, the howling stopped. The demon beast tribe had regrouped, numbering just over a hundred. However, all the Second Order Demonic Beasts were present; it was only the First Order Middle Stage beasts that had left. Even with just over a hundred beasts, their strength was still formidable. Subjugated by the Medium Stage Second Order Goldfang Beast, the Golden Fang Beast clan regained its cohesion with a leader once again. The Medium Stage Second Order Goldfang Beast looked up to the sky and let out a long howl, then set its eyes on Lin Tianming, its expression seeming somewhat angry. With a roar, the Golden Fang Beast Clan began moving again. A barrage of golden stones shot out, covering the sky as they assailed Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn. Given his current state and having used all his methods, clashing head-on with them was unwise. He unleashed a few sword strikes to block for a moment, and the Purple Gold Eagle also spewed out a multitude of fireballs, coming head-to-head with the golden stones. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky erupted in fierce collisions, and for a moment, the sky was alight with flames, smoke mixed with mist, dazzlingly brilliant. Taking advantage of this, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, reaching thousands of feet in mere moments. As the dust settled, Lin Tianming¡¯s form was no longer visible. All the Golden Fang Beasts looked up to the sky, howling with rage and indignation, while venting their fury. Under the watchful eyes of the Golden Fang Beasts, the Purple Gold Eagle sped away swiftly toward the north. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking down at the demon beast tribe below, as well as the body of the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast, Lin Tianming thought to himself what a pity it was. The body of this beast was quite valuable, and the souls and flesh of the many low-order Monster Beasts were treasures. Gathered together, they would represent a considerable fortune. However, the strength of the beasts below was still formidable, and with his condition, he was really not a match for them. With no other choice, he had to abandon them. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, swallowed two elixirs, and began to recover with his eyes closed. The Purple Gold Eagle circled the vicinity, not wishing to reveal their traces and also to survey the situation nearby, in order to make an accurate judgment. After half a day had passed, the Purple Gold Eagle plunged with Lin Tianming into the Protective Clan Formation of Golden Horn Mountain. At this time, Lin Xingyou was patrolling the clan territory. Seeing Lin Tianming return safely, he immediately went to greet him. The two exchanged greetings and chatted for a few moments. Lin Tianming also asked, ¡°Uncle, is everything in the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory normal?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyou responded with a serious tone, ¡°Everything is normal; we¡¯ve encountered no demon beasts. Although some low-level beasts have intruded into the clan territory, there has been no appearance of any large-scale tribe!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and let out a long sigh of relief. Although he had successfully blocked the Golden Fang Beast Clan, their location was not too far from the Gengyang Mountain Range in the north. Considering the overall strength of the clansmen guarding this place was not strong, it was highly possible that a Second Order Demon Beast leading a tribe could break into the territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range. In such a situation, Golden Horn Mountain faced a significant pressure as it was the family¡¯s frontline stronghold. Fortunately, everything at Golden Horn Mountain was normal, which allowed him to relax the heavy burden on his heart. Just then, an anxious voice came through, ¡°Tian Ming, how are things? Are you injured?¡± Lin Tianming turned around to see Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng quickly walking towards him. Ever since Lin Tianming had left Golden Horn Mountain, they had been extremely worried. If he had been injured or fallen, it would have been like a bolt from the blue for the Lin Family. Seeing Lin Tianming return with a seemingly good spirit and apparently unscathed eased their tense nerves. Upon seeing the comers, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Father, big brother, Tian Ming encountered the Golden Fang Beast Clan. After a fierce battle, I killed a Second Order Late-Stage Gold Fang Leader and hundreds of First Order Gold Fang Beasts have perished or been wounded, temporarily lifting the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianfeng¡¯s incredulous voice sounded, ¡°The Golden Fang Beast Clan? You killed a Second Order Late-Phase Gold Fang Beast Leader?¡± The disbelief in Lin Tianfeng¡¯s voice, compounded with Lin Xingrong¡¯s astonished expression, made it seem as though they couldn¡¯t believe what they were hearing was true. Lin Xingrong was the first to regain his composure and asked casually, ¡°Tian Ming, is what you say really true?¡± The news was simply too unbelievable, even though they knew well of Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful strength. With his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, facing a Second Order Late-Phase Demon Beast wouldn¡¯t put him at much of a disadvantage. But this was a huge beast tribe comprised of hundreds of demon beasts, which included not only a Second Order Late-Phase Demon Beast but also a considerable number of Second Order Early and Middle Stage Demonic Beasts. With such formidable strength, Lin Tianming still managed to kill the leader and heavily injure the Demon Beast Tribe. Seeing their expressions, Lin Tianming nodded and then added, ¡°Father, big brother, what Tian Ming has said is absolutely true. Relying on the Purple Gold Eagle to soar high into the sky, and considering that the Gold Fang Beasts¡¯ attack range was too short, I exploited our strengths and avoided weaknesses. Although it was somewhat risky, the outcome indeed turned out to be perfect!¡± Upon hearing this affirmative explanation, Lin Xingrong and others were overjoyed. Had they not known Lin Tianming to be someone who never spoke falsely or exaggerated to deceive them, they might have truly thought it was a joke. The crisis had been temporarily resolved, and the clansmen avoided a major battle, which left everyone excitedly buzzing with joy. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a moment of cheer and laughter, the four of them made a round of inspection around the clan territory together. Everything as usual, the clansmen stepped up their patrolling, and the Protective Clan Formation was fully operational, with all clansmen entering a state of combat readiness. Having ascertained the temporary safety of the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory and that all defensive operations were normal, the four returned to the square in front of the mountain gate. Lin Xingrong looked at the others and then spoke up, ¡°Tianfeng, although the crisis is temporarily lifted, we can¡¯t be lax. The demon beast attacks are probably not that simple. According to the records of past Demon Beast Tides, this is likely just the beginning. The real test is still to come.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianming chimed in, ¡°Indeed, Golden Horn Mountain is at the very north of the Luoyun Mountain Range and is the most likely to encounter the beast tide. If the two areas behind us do not exert enough strength to exterminate the demon beasts, the pressure on us will increase.¡± ¡°Thus, we must be completely vigilant and help alleviate some pressure from the family.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded in agreement. He took their words seriously and did not dare to treat the matter lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, uncle. Tian Ming has just been through a big battle and needs to rest properly. I¡¯ll take care of the mountain gate. If there¡¯s any sign of trouble, I will immediately inform you both!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Lin Tianming and his father both nodded in response and then left Lin Tianfeng at the mountain gate to constantly monitor every move outside the formation. Along the way, father and son chatted idly for a bit before returning to their respective caves. Sitting in the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat crossed-legged and circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, then entered into a brief state of cultivation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 403 - 239 Cedar Beast_1 Chapter 403: Chapter 239 Cedar Beast_1 One day, at noon. The sky above Luoyun Market was clear and boundless, the scorching sun piercing through the clouds, shining in every corner of the market. As the news of the Demon Beast Tide outbreak spread throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the bustle of Luoyun Market also diminished, some decisive cultivators left for the larger Qianchuan Market, or went to the nearby Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Now, the foot traffic in Luoyun Market was less than seventy percent of its peak, business in the shops of all sizes was sluggish, except for wartime resources such as Elixir Charms which were in high demand and nearly out of stock. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regarding other resources, such as Spiritual Medicine or various tomes and documents, hardly anyone was spending resources to purchase them at this critical time. The once bustling streets were now desolate, with only the occasional panic-stricken cultivator passing by or market-organized patrol teams moving about. ... Outside the market, atop a mountain several dozen miles to the west, several cultivators were seated inside a simple cave, including a member of the Lin Family. Lin Xinglei, as the person in charge of this outpost for the Lin Family, with a cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, had been stationed there for several years, responsible for monitoring a vast area of over a hundred miles. His responsibility was significant; he had to send an emergency message to Luoyun Market immediately upon any trace of demon beasts, to ensure they were prepared. Besides him, there were several Loose Cultivators who were recruited, with cultivations around the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, who would not have taken on such a dangerous task during this sensitive period if not for the substantial compensation offered by the market. Lin Xinglei sat in the chief seat, and two cultivators below were reporting on their patrol situation. Before he had left Green Bamboo Mountain to follow Lin Shilu to Luoyun Market, the Clan Leader had made it clear, entrusting him with this arduous and dangerous task. Therefore, he had been very attentive to patrol duties over the years, never daring to be negligent. He was well aware of the horrors of a beast onslaught; an early warning could prevent many sacrifices if Luoyun Market were attacked by a large-scale Demon Beast Tribe. After several years, the patrol duties had to be carried out every few days, and today was another day scheduled for patrol. Hearing the cultivators below report that everything was normal and no large-scale Demon Beast Tribe traces had been found, Lin Xinglei nodded and after letting the two leave, his tense nerves relaxed slightly. However, considering there was still one cultivator who had been out patrolling in one direction for half the day, who should have returned by now but had been delayed by a quarter of an hour with no sign of return, he couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s been some delay!¡± Lin Xinglei thought to himself, offering some reassurance. Regaining his composure, at this moment, a transmission came through and hovered before him; it was from the cultivator who was late and hadn¡¯t returned. Without hesitation, he cast a Law Decree, reading the content inside. Suddenly, his face changed dramatically, and he turned, exiting the secret chamber and appearing outside the Temporary Cave Abode. Seeing him emerge, frantic and pale-faced, the several Loose Cultivators gathered around, then began to ask what had happened. Lin Xinglei urgently said, ¡°Daoist Hu has discovered traces of the Demon Beast Tribe, heading towards Luoyun Market from the west, a legion of over a thousand Cedar Beasts. We must hurry back to Luoyun Market to report!¡± ¡°A Demon Beast Tribe made up of over a thousand Cedar Beasts?¡± ¡°To think it¡¯s Cedar Beasts, and such a large scale!¡± Hearing Lin Xinglei¡¯s words, two cultivators couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, their faces filled with disbelief. Cedar Beasts were Second Order Demonic Beasts, attaining the Second Order Late Phase upon maturation, with terrifying attack power. With their tribe often being large, even a small one could easily surpass a hundred beasts, and a large-scale tribe made of a thousand was not unusual. This time, however, there was a legion of over a thousand Cedar Beasts headed for Luoyun Market, surely possessing formidable strength. Although the cultivator who sent the message did not reveal the strength of the demon beasts, one could imagine that, with such a large tribe, Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts would definitely be present, and likely even more than one. Considering this, Lin Xinglei glanced over the others and quickly instructed, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the situation is too urgent, staying here would be a near-certain death. We must set off immediately, not only to seek refuge but also to ensure the message is delivered as soon as possible.¡± Hearing this, the others regained their senses, and even without Lin Xinglei¡¯s warning, they dared not stay any longer, knowing a direct encounter with the Demon Beast Tribe would obliterate them instantly with their cultivation level. Each nodded in agreement, responding in turn. Seeing they were all on edge, he said no more, immediately summoning a Supreme Quality First Order Flying Sword and leaping aboard, becoming a fleeting shadow headed in the direction of Luoyun Market. The Loose Cultivators behind him each summoned a Spiritual Artifact and leaped up, following Lin Xinglei¡¯s lead and leaving the place. ¡­ Luoyun Market. The market¡¯s formations were running at full power, and atop the tall city walls, patrols crisscrossed, their expressions solemn, ever-vigilant to the slightest movement around them. Among the crowd, a member of the Lin Family was the first to spot a red light shooting towards them from outside the market. As the red light closed in, he recognized the figure standing on the Spirit Sword. It was undoubtedly Lin Xinglei. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 404 - 239 Cedar Beast_2 Chapter 404: Chapter 239 Cedar Beast_2 Before he had even arrived, Lin Xinglei took out his Family Token, and then a clear voice rang out, ¡°Open the formation immediately, I must report urgent matters to the elders!¡± Seeing Lin Xinglei¡¯s anxious expression, the clan member in charge verified the authenticity of the Family Token and then opened the formation to let Lin Xinglei in. He immediately went up to him and then asked in a private transmission, ¡°Xinglei, has something big happened?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Xinglei hastily replied, ¡°Brother, the Demon Beast Tribe is attacking, prepare for battle quickly, I must see Fifteenth Uncle immediately!¡± After Lin Xinglei finished transmitting the message, he immediately rushed towards the inner parts of the market, leaving behind a clan member with a grave expression. In no time, Lin Xinglei had reached Lin Shilu, with several Lin Family Members also present, along with Su He and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Foundation Establishing Families. ... Seeing his panicked look, Lin Shilu thought to himself, could it be that the beast tide is upon us, they have discovered the traces of the Demon Beast Army, or else I would not have such an expression. Sure enough, Lin Xinglei, with no regard for propriety, spilled all the news he knew, startling several Loose Cultivators. Hearing the report, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned equally serious. With his insight and experience, he could imagine that such a vast Cedar Beast Tribe would certainly have more than one Second Order Late Phase Demon Beast. With such a massive tribe and terrifying collective strength, the pressure on Luoyun Market can be imagined. ¡°Who knows how Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain are faring, since we¡¯ve discovered traces of the beasts here, the other two places must have some movement as well. Tian Ming is under the most pressure, I don¡¯t know how the situation is, whether they can withstand the pressure!¡± Lin Shilu thought to himself, his frowning face making everyone present worried. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, let¡¯s go to the city wall first to take a look, and then quickly come up with countermeasures!¡± Hearing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s reminder, Lin Shilu came back to his senses, immediately nodded, and led several people out of the great hall to the entrance of the market. On the high city walls, Lin Shilu stood in the sky above the city head, accompanied by a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides the cultivators from the three major Foundation Establishing Families, Su He and several other Loose Cultivators were also present. The group was grave, with tightly furrowed brows, gazing in the direction of the west. Lin Shilu hovered in midair, and the city wall was already gathered with thousands of people, all of them were clan Cultivators or Loose Cultivators staying behind in Luoyun Market to participate in the resistance against the Demon Beast attack. He scanned the crowd, and his loud voice echoed, ¡°Fellow Cultivators, according to the information received, it won¡¯t be long before the Demon Beast Army arrives, everyone prepare for battle!¡± Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the Cultivators changed. Although they had been summoned and psychologically prepared, hearing Elder Lin Shilu speak unequivocally, they all still became anxious. Seeing that many Cultivators were pale and some even seemed terrified, Lin Shilu continued to speak, ¡°Fellow Cultivators need not panic, with me and seven other Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed here, and the Formation Protection, it should not be difficult to overcome this crisis!¡± Upon hearing this, the faces of the vast majority of Cultivators looked much better. Luoyun Market had attracted a large number of Cultivators to stay behind by relying on various generous rewards and had also drawn in several Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivators, making its overall strength one of the very best among the nearby markets. If even Luoyun Market could not resist, the situation of other smaller markets was likely to be even worse. With these thoughts, some Cultivators on the scene started to echo a few words, ¡°With Elder Lin and several other Cultivators here, and the protection of a Second Order Superior Defensive Array, even if led by a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, they will definitely be unable to break through the array!¡± ¡°Indeed, unless it is a powerful tribe composed of thousands of demon beasts, for any ordinary tribe of beasts to trouble us, what difference is there from seeking death!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a few joking remarks and some light-hearted banter, the scene finally regained calmness, with some Cultivators eager for glory even looking forward to the arrival of the Demon Beast Tribe. Lin Shilu nodded his head in satisfaction. He would not interrupt these people, nor would he throw cold water on them at this time. Most of the time, confident people could burst out with a more formidable fighting strength. However, it is also not good to take the Demon Beast Tribe too lightly. Those who are arrogant and complacent can suffer losses when they encounter tough challenges. He coughed once, breaking through the clamor, and then he began to speak, ¡°Fellow Daoists are not wrong; compared to other small markets, the overall strength of the Luoyun Market is at least twice as strong.¡± ¡°However, we must not underestimate the power of the demon beast tribes. After all, there¡¯s no telling what they will do. If Luoyun Market has the misfortune of encountering a powerful demon beast tribe, that too is entirely within the realm of possibility!¡± ¡°So, everyone need not worry too much, nor should we belittle those beasts. No matter the size or strength, let¡¯s work together to get through this crisis.¡± ¡°Rest assured, all the conditions promised by the Lin Family and the market are valid at any time. As long as you meet the reward requirements, you will certainly be acknowledged and rewarded post-success, without any delay!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words neither discouraged the crowd¡¯s confidence nor understated the demon beasts¡¯ strength and emphasized the Lin Family¡¯s promise with ardor, reigniting the cultivators gathered there. ¡°We will abide by Elder Lin¡¯s decree!¡± A chorus of cultivators responded in unison, then each began to take out their various spiritual artifacts, talisman papers, and other means of confronting the enemy. By then, everyone was nearly ready for the great battle, prepared to strike immediately should the demon beast tribe not be strong enough, ready to deliver a thorough and satisfying thrashing. Seeing this, Lin Shilu nodded and began to discuss tactics with the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators beside him. A few breaths later, whatever Lin Shilu had said made Su He and Luo Chenggu nod their heads, and the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators also began pulling out their weapons, preparing for the impending battle. An hour had passed. ¡°Thud, thud, thud¡­¡± With an orderly rhythm, the sound came forth, and the earth began to tremble faintly. Lin Shilu was the first to feel it. Soon, the sound grew louder and the trembling more distinct. Su He and Luo Chenggu both felt the commotion as well, their brows furrowed tightly as they peered into the distance, vigilant to every move. A dense cloud of dust approached, spreading over the sky and sweeping towards them. The fierce Gang Wind struck an invisible barrier, creating a series of noises as the wind was absorbed by the formation, dissipating into the atmosphere. The Qi Refining Cultivators within the formation could only see the overwhelming dust and discern nothing special about it. The strong Gang Wind was a clear sign that the demon beast tribe was on the move, stirring up the dust like wavering billows sweeping forward. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was grave. Though he hadn¡¯t yet seen the shadows of the demon beast tribe, he surmised from the heat wave that the tribe¡¯s strength must be exceptionally formidable, likely comprising a large number of Second Order demonic beasts. He took a deep breath, showing no sign of concern, and exchanged a few words with the cultivators beside him. Quickly, the Gang Wind became more turbulent, and the earth-shaking noise intensified, indicating that the demon beast tribe was closing in on the city. Due to the dense dust, Lin Shilu and the others dared not act rashly, keeping their eyes fixed on the movements within the dust cloud, waiting for it to clear and reveal the demon beasts¡¯ silhouettes. It wasn¡¯t long before the uproar gradually subsided; the dust slowly dispersed, revealing a portion of the demon beasts¡¯ figures. Lin Shilu was the first to spot the approaching demon beasts: indeed, it was a tribe of Cedar Beasts. Gazing forward, two Second Order Late-Phase Snow Cedar Beasts raised their heads, looking directly toward where Lin Shilu and the others were. Behind the two Cedar Beasts, four Second Order Medium-Stage and nine Second Order Initial-Stage demon beasts sat on the ground with savage faces displaying a hint of avarice. Beyond that, as the dust settled, the figures of more than a thousand First Order Snow Cedar Beasts were revealed. They were seated on the ground, seemingly waiting for the tribe leaders to sound the horn of attack. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 405 - 240 Fierce Battle_1 Chapter 405: Chapter 240 Fierce Battle_1 Seeing such a formidable Cedar Beast Tribe, with no fewer than fifteen Second Order Demonic Beasts, just the middle and late-stage beasts amounted to six, Lin Shilu and his companions¡¯ expressions immediately turned grave. By their side, Su He and the rest were equally shocked and seemed lost in thought. At this moment, the scene became extremely quiet, whether it was the Lin Family Members, members of other families, or those Loose Cultivators¡ªeveryone was silent. As the dust settled, the entire Cedar Beast Tribe came into view, over a thousand Demonic Beasts neatly seated on the ground, stretching as far as the eye could see. The two Cedar Beasts sitting side by side at the very front looked at the people within the Formation, their expressions greedy. The bodies of Cultivators were also greatly nourishing for Demonic Beasts, and despite their covetousness, they did not immediately launch an attack. ... After all, at this level of power, their Spirit Wisdom was not low, and the faint aura emanating from the Cultivators inside the Formation was in no way inferior to theirs. In this situation, attacking rashly could lead to passivity if the Human Cultivators were well-prepared or had laid a complex trap. So they did not make a move. Furthermore, the market was such an enormous target that it was impossible to move, and since they had already reached this point, the beasts had plenty of time and energy. At this time, each side was sizing up the other; the silence felt somewhat eerie. Within the Formation, Lin Shilu¡¯s brows were tightly knit as he occasionally communicated in whispers with Lin Xingcheng at his side. The surrounding Foundation Establishment Cultivators all remained silent, though it was hard to say whether they had been communicating in secret. Lin Shilu was not surprised by this. The situation could certainly be described as facing a formidable enemy. The Qi Refining Cultivators¡¯ strength was limited, and perhaps they had no ideas of their own. They were stuck here, firmly tied to the fate of the market; they could not leave without repelling the Demon Beast Tribe, and attempting to leave by force would also mean a nine out of ten chance of death. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators were different. If the array protecting the market was breached by an overwhelmingly powerful Demon Beast Tribe, they would not risk their lives for the market. Consequently, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators had their own thoughts and were even prepared to flee. The Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Sun and Luo Families were better off since their ties were too great. If they left without permission, and the Lin Family settled scores in the autumn, how could they ward off the formidable strength of the Lin Family? The Loose Cultivators, however, were a different story. Unfettered by bonds, they could simply leave the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Lin Family might be powerful, but it was unlikely to go through great lengths to hold a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator accountable. Lin Shilu was well aware of this and did not show any sign of surprise. Maintaining his composure, he then spoke up: ¡°Fellow cultivators, I didn¡¯t expect this group of Demonic Beasts to be so formidable; it¡¯s completely beyond our expectations.¡± ¡°As everyone can see the current situation, I won¡¯t say more than necessary. Although they are powerful, we are not weak. Relying on the Formation Protection, holding out for some time is not an issue.¡± ¡°However, waiting passively for help is too reactive. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to speak them out, no matter if they are useful or not, the Lin Family will not take offense.¡± Once he finished speaking, the several Foundation Establishment Cultivators all remained silent, with no one rushing to speak first. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the atmosphere turn a bit cold, Lin Shilu shook his head in resignation, as it seemed that nobody had any ideas or strategies to repel the enemy. He sighed and then took the initiative to speak: ¡°Luo Daoyou and Su Daoyou both have Medium Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. Both of you are experienced and knowledgeable, why not share your thoughts!¡± Upon hearing this, the two silently chuckled, then each began to express their opinions. Seeing the two speak up, the rest of the group also started sharing their views. In a short while, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators expressed their opinions, and among them, Su He and Luo Chenggu, with their higher cultivation levels, had particularly important views. According to them, they advocated against any reckless actions, neither to take the initiative to attack nor to wait for help. They both suggested observing the intensity of the Demon Beasts¡¯ attack first. If it were too strong, certain changes would need to be made, possibly taking the initiative to strike and weaken the power of the Cedar Beasts. This plan was indeed prudent, and Lin Shilu and Lin Xingcheng had the same thought. Regaining his composure, Lin Shilu scanned the crowd and eventually agreed with Su He and Luo Chenggu¡¯s suggestions. With that settled, everyone looked out at the Cedar Beasts outside the Formation, ready to act at any moment. An hour passed in silence. Seeing that no one inside the Formation was making a move, the two Cedar Beast leaders growled at each other as if communicating something. After a few breaths, the two Demonic Beasts seemed to have made up their minds. With two roars that echoed through the heavens and earth, the originally calm Cedar Beast Tribe suddenly became restless. Quickly, the entire Demon Beast Tribe stood up, focusing intently ahead. The two Cedar Beasts howled to the sky, then spat out a large number of ice orbs, each the size of a bucket and covered in a layer of cold mist, bombarding the Formation¡¯s light barrier. Following the two First Order Demonic Beast leaders, all of the First Order Demonic Beasts also spat out ice orbs, though these were smaller and clearly less powerful than those from the Second Order Late Phase Cedar Beasts. But the sheer number was overwhelming; over a thousand Demonic Beasts¡¯ ice orbs poured down like a torrential downpour. In an instant, the entire sky was filled with ice orbs raining down in a surge toward the Formation¡¯s light barrier. Upon seeing this, the faces of Lin Shilu and others changed, many of them astonished beyond measure. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 406 - 240 Intense Battle_2 Chapter 406: Chapter 240 Intense Battle_2 Unexpectedly, the demonic beasts only ceased their assault for a moment before they began to attack the formation again, relying on their innate divine abilities, seemingly in an attempt to break through the grand formation in one fell swoop. As everyone watched, a barrage of ice spheres bombarded the formation¡¯s light screen. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The numerous ice spheres exploded upon impact with the formation, creating waves that spread outwards. A thunderous noise echoed, the invisible light screen flickered with light, and the ground shook. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open, watching to see if the formation could continue to operate under such an attack and the extent of the damage it would cause. ... After a few moments, the majority of the ice spheres had exploded and dissipated, the formation was still in operation, but a faint color appeared on the invisible light screen. It seemed the formation¡¯s energy was greatly depleted. Although it wasn¡¯t immediately breached, if it were to endure many more such relentless bombardments, it likely wouldn¡¯t last long. Having withstood a volley of the Cedar Beasts¡¯ ice spheres, the formation held up against this round of bombardment, and the anxiety of Lin Shilu and the others was somewhat eased. Lin Shilu chuckled wryly before speaking: ¡°Luo Daoyou, Su Daoyou, it seems that these demon beasts possess great offensive power. If we allow them to keep bombarding the formation, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t last half a month, and our situation will become even more difficult!¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su He and Luo Chenggu both nodded. After a round of probing, the strength of the Cedar Beasts was indeed terrifying, and hiding within the formation without going out was just delaying the inevitable. Sooner or later, they would still have to meet in battle and experience a fierce slaughter. Otherwise, there was no possibility of driving the enemy back. Thinking of this, Luo Chenggu nodded and said, ¡°Lin Daoyou is correct; awaiting reinforcements while holding our ground may bring temporary safety, but it¡¯s just living on borrowed time. We must find a way to weaken them, or we won¡¯t last long.¡± Following his words, Su He also said, ¡°Lin Daoyou, just give your orders. Since I have promised to advance and retreat together with the market town, I will not go back on my word.¡± ¡°Whether we launch a proactive attack or hold our ground awaiting reinforcements, you have but to command it, Daoyou Lin, and I will not hesitate.¡± At this time, Su He¡¯s words significantly improved the spirits of the worried group. The two Loose Cultivators, who had been lacking in fighting spirit, remembered Lin Shilu¡¯s promise and quickly regained their composure. Hearing these words, and as several cultivators stood taller, their morale surged. Lin Shilu let out a hearty laugh and then began to give orders. ¡°Since everyone is so generous, let¡¯s take the initiative to strike and see if we can weaken the strength of the demon beast tribe. If we manage to kill some Second Order demonic beasts, I believe the market town will be temporarily safe.¡± ¡°Once we break out of the formation, those two Second Order Late Phase Cedar Beasts will be left to me to hold off.¡± ¡°Su Daoyou and Luo Daoyou will each face one of the Second Order Middle Stage Cedar Beasts. We only need to hold them off, and the rest of us will do our best to eradicate the Second Order Initial Stage demonic beasts.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re losing or suffer too many casualties, we¡¯ll immediately retreat back inside the formation, and we can then plan our next move.¡± Following Lin Shilu¡¯s orders, the cultivators nodded in agreement, and Lin Xingcheng promptly relayed the commands, with all the Qi Refining Stage Cultivators responding. Seeing the high spirits of the crowd, Lin Shilu took out his attack talisman, and then he stepped forward, the formation¡¯s light screen briefly opening a gap through which he stepped outside. The rest of the cultivators followed behind, with Su He and Luo Chenggu also crossing through the light screen. Lin Xingcheng, along with the Qi Refining Cultivators, emerged from the formation one after another, like locusts. In an extremely short amount of time, thousands of cultivators reached outside the formation, and upon seeing the cultivators from inside the formation appear before them, the Cedar Beast Tribe also halted their attack. The two sides faced each other directly, creating a tense atmosphere. Lin Shilu stood at the forefront, eyeing the demon beast tribe, his gaze filled with a thick fighting spirit. With the beast tide underway, he had no idea how the situation was at Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain. He must break the stalemate to free up his forces to aid the other territories. In such a situation, he had no room for other thoughts; he merely wanted to achieve victory as quickly as possible. Gathering his focus, he spoke a few words to give the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators a bit of comfort. Soon, after a brief restraint from both sides, as the leader of the Cedar Beasts made the first move, the immense Monster Beast Legion behind it also began to move. Their snarling and ferocious charge came forth, and the two sides immediately engaged in an intense slaughter. Lin Shilu, as the person with the highest level of cultivation on the field and a member of the Lin Family, took the lead and charged towards the two Cedar Beast leaders approaching him. Following suit, Su He and Luo Chenggu each found their targets and tasks, intercepting two Medium Stage Second Order Cedar Beasts. Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng exchanged a glance, immediately invoking their Attack Talismans, charging toward the Initial Stage Second Order Cedar Beasts like tigers descending the mountain. The Qi Refining Clanspeople behind them sprang into action, with the Lin Family Cultivator setting an example, the other family members and Loose Cultivators didn¡¯t hesitate, launching into fierce attacks. In the high skies, Lin Shilu waved the Magic Artifact in his hand frequently, clashing the astounding Sword Qi with the Ice balls spat by the Cedar Beasts. With his Seventh Level Foundation Establishment cultivation, along with a formidable Attack Talisman and a variety of strange treasures, he initially held some advantage. Below him, the situation for Su He and Luo Chenggu was somewhat more difficult; as a Loose Cultivator, Su He¡¯s Attack Talisman was too simplistic, relying on two Initial Stage Second Order Talismans to barely block the two Medium Stage Cedar Beasts. Though Luo Chenggu was a cultivator from a family, having a wider array of offensive methods, his cultivation was only at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. The two Medium Stage Cedar Beasts were very quick and coordinated exceptionally well, soon putting him at a disadvantage. However, fortunately, the members of the Lin Family were relatively strong, relying on a myriad of Magic Artifacts and talisman paper, they suppressed their opponents. At this moment, the sky above was filled with battles between Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Second Order Demonic Beasts, each occupying a spot, unleashing earth-shattering attacks, clashing directly with the demonic beasts. ¡°Boom-boom-boom¡­¡± The sky outside the Formation flashed with dazzling, multicolored lights as various talisman paper spells and Divine Skills from the demonic beasts collided. For a time, screams were heard, belonging both to the demonic beasts and the Human Cultivators. The battle continued, both sides plunging into a fierce phase. After nearly half a quarter-hour of fighting, the ground was riddled with holes, and everywhere were the bodies of demonic beasts and Human Cultivators, with rivers of blood and mountains of corpses, a sight too horrendous to endure. In the high sky, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was grave. Faced with a mass of oncoming Ice balls, he called forth the Green Scale Shield, transforming into a massive shield barrier, blocking all attacks. Using the rebound force, he managed to pull away somewhat, and both sides briefly came to a halt. After a dozen rounds of fighting, both Cedar Beast leaders had sustained some minor injuries. He himself had not come out unscathed, with over half of his Spiritual Power depleted and some injuries on his body, but they did not affect his combat power. Seizing this opportunity, he began to pay attention to the state of the surrounding cultivators. Glancing around, there were skirmishes everywhere, with the ground beneath littered with countless corpses. Both Su He and Luo Chenggu were struggling to hold on; while it seemed they were not gaining any advantage, they wouldn¡¯t be in mortal danger for the time being. As for the key Lin Family members, Lin Xingshun, relying on his Third Level Foundation Establishment cultivation, had already killed an Initial Stage Cedar Beast and severely injured another, having the absolute upper hand. Lin Xingcheng had also achieved victories, severely wounding an Initial Stage demonic beast, while the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators hadn¡¯t severely injured any beasts, they were not at a disadvantage either. Surprisingly, on the side of the Qi Refining Cultivators, the Human Cultivators had gained the upper hand. The lower-order Monster Beasts had limited Spirit Wisdom, and in such a crowded battlefield, their speed couldn¡¯t be fully utilized. Facing overwhelming attacks, they could only rely on their defensive power to clash head-on. The Human Cultivators were comparatively more agile and could cooperate with nearby cultivators, cross-attacking, yielding doubly effective results. At this moment, the entire Qi Refining side was roaring with momentum, pressing down on the Demon Beast Tribe with frenzied attacks. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 407 - 241 Weaken_1 Chapter 407: Chapter 241 Weaken_1 Under the leadership of the Qi Refining clanspeople of the Lin Family and the married couple Li Yuancheng, Qi Refining Cultivators and the Demon Beast Tribe engaged in fierce combat. Disciples of the Lin Family gathered together, relying on the many talisman papers and even better Spiritual Artifacts, plunged into the heart of the Demon Beast Tribe like a sharp blade. Lin Xingshun, having failed in his attempt at Foundation Establishment previously and due to his long-term defense of the Luoyun Market, was incredibly familiar with the area. After the beast tide erupted, he followed Lin Shilu to the market, taking charge of managing all the Qi Refining Cultivators. Even though his breakthrough failed, with his cultivation at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, he was far stronger than an average Qi-Refining Cultivator. Under his leadership, the clanspeople struck decisively and ruthlessly, each of them unleashing their strongest abilities. For a while, the entire land was engulfed in intense battle, the sky filled with all manner of attacks. ... Lin Xingshun took the charge, fighting like an untiring beast using his full strength to its limit. With each powerful strike, First Order Demon Beasts were nearly scared out of their wits. One after another, First Order Demonic Beasts were slain; even the ordinary Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts couldn¡¯t hold out long under his attack before swiftly having their lives taken. At this time, the battlefield presented a polarized situation; on the side of top combat power, the Human Cultivators hadn¡¯t managed to break through. Ironic as it was, the lower-ranked cultivators were gaining the upper hand, but this situation was still insufficient to alter the ultimate outcome of the grand battle. High in the sky, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was grave. After battling for so long, he and the two Cedar Beast leaders had both sustained injuries, neither gaining an advantage. It was clear that relying on him alone would be difficult to secure victory. Thinking of this made him somewhat anxious. Although he had Spirit Arts that he had not used, in front of so many people, he dared not reveal them casually, unless it was a life-and-death situation. Now was certainly not the time. Facing the continuous assault of the two Cedar Beast leaders, Lin Shilu¡¯s Magic Artifact and Overturning Mountain Seal were frequently employed, launching strong attacks and clashing fiercely with the two beasts. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sound of explosions rang frequently throughout heaven and earth, like the horn of battle, stirring the fighting spirit of the many cultivators. At this point, the great battle had been raging for a while, with both Humans and Demonic Beasts paying a price, both sides suffering losses. Overall, apart from Lin Shilu and Su He himself, Luo Chenggu, the other Human Cultivators had gained a slight upper hand. Not far away, Su He¡¯s sword released an attack, the Sword Qi colliding head-on with an incoming ice ball. As the two powerful attacks collided, the ice ball broke through the obstacles, with a small part of them already nearing him. Realizing it was too late to dodge, he didn¡¯t hesitate to pull out a shield made of turtle shell, infusing it with a large amount of Spiritual Power to form a barrier in front of himself. With a loud crash, the ice ball bombarded the turtle shell shield, the powerful impact flipped Su He over, smashing him directly into the ground. The Demonic Beasts¡¯ Divine Skills were extremely powerful, and even though the turtle shell shield blocked it, the resulting rebound force was still so powerful that it injured him. He couldn¡¯t help but spit out a mouthful of blood, climbing out of the deep pit with difficulty, looking helplessly at the two Cedar Beasts attacking him with eyes full of dread. He was already not a match for the two Cedar Beasts, and had been passively defending against the attacks of the beasts; with the increased consumption of Spiritual Power, his situation became increasingly difficult. After a long battle, he had already begun to sustain injuries under the combined attack of the two beasts. Given the current situation, relying solely on this power to wipe out all the beasts at once seemed difficult; if the battle continued, he might even fall here. With these thoughts in mind, Su He had already begun to consider retreating, but out of concern for face and because it was not yet a life-or-death moment, he said nothing about retreating. It wasn¡¯t just him, Luo Chenggu felt the same. Both men faced attacks from two Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts and were constantly in a defensive position. Fortunately, Luo Chenggu had more means to defend himself, and for the time being, there was no danger to his life. High in the sky, the Overturning Mountain Seal above Lin Shilu¡¯s head slammed down, colliding with the Cedar Beast¡¯s attacks. The immense destructive power created gusts of wind, whipping up the surrounding sand and stones, and the whole sky dimmed. With the repelling force of the attacks, Lin Shilu put some distance between them, hovering in mid-air with a pale face. Having fought for so long, he had nearly exhausted all his means besides his Spirit Arts and still hadn¡¯t gained a significant advantage. As time went on, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he would be at a disadvantage. Aware that the longer the battle dragged on, the worse it would be for him, and considering that the Human Cultivators had already achieved some results at this time, Lin Xingyuan had slain a Second Order Demonic Beast and severely injured a Second Order Cedar Beast, achieving brilliant results. Lin Xingcheng also killed a Second Order Demonic Beast and was intensifying his attacks on the remaining beasts, all to alleviate his clanspeople¡¯s pressure. Apart from the two from the Lin Family, Independent Cultivator Liu Zhirong had also killed a Second Order Cedar Beast, and severely wounded another, achieving results no less impressive than Lin Xingyuan¡¯s. Such achievements had everyone looking on with newfound respect. Clearly, among the Loose Cultivators, there were indeed some extraordinary individuals. Liu Zhirong¡¯s ability to come to the Luoyun Mountain Range from other regions and thrive meant he had some skills indeed. Other Loose Cultivators, like Li Hongliang and Sun Ruiyang from the Sun Family, though their achievements weren¡¯t as spectacular, had also severely wounded a Second Order Demonic Beast and were hot on the pursuit, striving to further expand their victories. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 408 - 241: Weakening_2 Chapter 408: Chapter 241: Weakening_2 Apart from Lin Shilu and two other Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators all achieved certain results, almost reaching their pre-battle goals. At this point, the Human Cultivators successfully weakened the Demon Beast Tribe, killing two Second Order Initial Stage Cedar Beasts and severely injuring four Initial Stage Demon Beasts. If the battle continued, the situation could likely turn around, with losses only increasing. Thinking of this, Lin Shilu already had plans for a temporary retreat. Making up his mind, he bellowed, ¡°All Qi Refining Stage Cultivators prepare to retreat back into the Formation, I will temporarily hold off the Demon Beasts with Su Daoyou and Luo Daoyou. Seize the time to retreat!¡± As soon as his words fell, the market¡¯s Defensive Array once again opened a gap, temporarily maintaining the pathway for the cultivators¡¯ retreat. Lin Shilu repelled the two Cedar Beast leaders with one strike, then leapt forth, converging with Su He and Luo Chenggu. ... The Qi Refining Cultivators below, upon hearing the news of the retreat, were all excited. Although they currently had some advantages, when it came to the endurance of a large-scale battle, the Human Race couldn¡¯t compare to the Demon Beast Race; the longer the fight was dragged out, the more unfavorable it would be for them. The Qi Refining Cultivators, keenly aware of this, involuntarily converged together, forming a long dragon, retreating while fighting, slowly entering the Formation. Seeing the Human Cultivators wanting to retreat, the Second Order Cedar Beasts seemed a bit annoyed. Their tribe had suffered more losses than the Human Race, and with the upper hand in high-order combat power, how could they possibly let the Human Cultivators retreat so easily? At this time, a few Second Order Demonic Beasts bared their teeth and converged, charging toward Lin Shilu and the others as if they intended to retain them and salvage some face. Facing the surging Cedar Beast Tribe, Lin Shilu and his companions had extremely grave expressions. They were already at a disadvantage prior to this and now had to face even more desperate attacks from the Demon Beasts, all to buy time for the Qi Refining Stage Cultivators to retreat, which only increased the pressure. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï Lin Shilu gave a bitter smile, then spoke up, ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t hold back anymore. As long as we retreat unscathed, our mission will be fully accomplished, and the remaining Demon Beasts are nothing to fear!¡± Hearing this, Su He and Luo Chenggu nodded, fully agreeing with his words. Now that their goal had been reached and Lin Shilu had issued the retreat order, it allowed the two of them to breathe a sigh of relief. Otherwise, if they continued to fight, they would be severely injured, likely having to reveal some of their trump cards, and even use some of their life-saving measures. The two agreed to advance and retreat together with the market, and were willing to wade through this muddy water, but if this were the result, it was not what either of them desired. Regaining their focus in the face of the oncoming Demon Beast Tribe, Su He and Luo Chenggu had no time to think further or dare to hold back, suddenly unleashing even more formidable power. Together, the three mustered a powerful attack, forming a protective wall to block the vast Demon Beast Tribe, fighting to buy time for the Qi Refining Cultivators. Accompanied by a series of earth-shattering sounds, their attacks collided with the Demon Beast Tribe. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Explosions echoed throughout the heavens and earth, the powerful clash kicking up a mass of dust and obscuring everyone¡¯s vision. Seizing this opportunity, the Lin Family members rushed into the Formation first, followed by a large number of Qi Refining Cultivators entering the Formation. At this moment, Lin Shilu and the others launched their fierce attacks in succession, frequently bombarding the Demon Beast Tribe with Sword Qi and the Overturning Mountain Seal. Amidst the wails of agony, aside from the Second Order Demonic Beasts that could withstand an attack, the First Order Demon Beasts met certain death upon contact. Witnessing their offspring and progeny being slaughtered, the two Second Order Demonic Beasts¡¯ eyes turned blood red as they bared their teeth at Lin Shilu and the others, appearing extremely angry. The two Cedar Beast leaders roared to the sky, spitting out a large quantity of ice balls, far more than any previous time. It was evident they were enraged; facing the grim massacre, they completely released any reserve, expelling nearly all their limited ice balls, vowing to take the three with them. Facing this even more terrifying attack, Lin Shilu and his companions¡¯ expressions turned solemn, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t hold back. If we join forces to block this strike, we should be able to retreat unscathed!¡± Lin Shilu shouted loudly, his Spirit Sword unleashed a massive amount of Sword Qi, and the Overturning Mountain Seal above his head also pressed down on the Cedar Beasts. His goal was simple: to make the Demonic Beasts hesitate in their attacks for fear of damaging their own, to halt their assault on them; otherwise, under the combined force of so many desperate Demonic Beasts, the pressure on them was enormous. A moment¡¯s carelessness could lead to severe injury or even death. Hearing these words, Su He and Luo Chenggu, who stood beside him, dared not take any chances. They each brought out their trump cards, evidently fighting for their lives. Su He waved his sleeve, and a pale golden Token flew from his hand, transforming into a wall that stood in front of the three men. This Magic Artifact was one of his trump cards, containing a wealth of earth-property spiritual objects. It had been refined over a long time and at great expense. It consumed significant energy with each use and was extremely troublesome to replenish. He was reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary. Facing such a terrifying attack, in the current situation, he had no choice but to use it. Luo Chenggu was not to be outdone, as a gourd-type Magic Artifact appeared in his hand. Following a Law Decree, a large amount of blood-red smoke erupted and poured towards the oncoming Demon Beast horde. As the smoke and Lin Shilu¡¯s attacks arrived as expected, all the Demonic Beasts dared not take them lightly. Some First Order Demon Beasts couldn¡¯t avoid in time, falling directly to the ground dazed by the smoke and soon died silently. Seeing the smoke so eerie, some Second Order Demonic Beasts also started to panic. Two injured Second Order Demonic Beasts tried to dodge but were pierced through the head by the Sword Qi blasted by Lin Shilu. With their dying cries, they fell unwillingly, provoking the two Cedar Beast leaders once again. The two Demon Beast leaders roared angrily, intending to continue their assault on Lin Shilu and the others, but a golden Seal descended from above, pressing down like a massive mountain. Despite their rage, they had to halt their attack, as this was an assault from a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, one they couldn¡¯t simply ignore. Both Demon Beast leaders twisted their bodies, moving at extreme speed, and narrowly avoided the Overturning Mountain Seal¡¯s strike. At that moment, the ice balls they had spat out also descended in front of Lin Shilu and the others. Confronted with ice ball attacks far superior to the earlier ones, Lin Shilu¡¯s Green Scale Shield shone with Spiritual Light, transforming into a huge shield that protected the three men behind it. In an instant, the ice balls bombarded the shield and the wall barrier. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The explosion was deafening, incessant to the ear. The Green Scale Shield blocked a majority of the ice ball attacks. However, the sheer number of ice balls, most of them aimed in his direction, was overwhelming. Fortunately, the Green Scale Shield¡¯s defensive power was exceptionally outstanding. After being carefully refined by Lin Shilu, containing a large number of spiritual objects, and having withstood many great battles, it had repeatedly blocked powerful attacks. This time, it did not disappoint, blocking all of the incoming ice balls. The remaining ice balls hit the wall barrier. The Defense Artifact that Luo Chenggu had summoned had some tricks, blocking all of the ice ball attacks with practically no damage, only dimming the light on the Token slightly. As the last ice ball exploded, this round of terrifying ice ball attacks temporarily ceased. When the dust cleared, Lin Shilu withdrew the Green Scale Shield and, seeing the several cracks on it, had no time to feel distressed. Although the Defense Artifact was damaged, as a Second Order Refiner, with the right Artifact Refining Materials, it wouldn¡¯t take him long to repair it. Lin Shilu turned around to see that nearly a thousand people had almost all successfully entered the Formation. It was time for the three of them to start their retreat. ¡°Fellow Daoists, it¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s retreat!¡± Lin Shilu called out loudly, and then he hurriedly retreated, moving with extreme speed. Su He and Luo Chenggu were not slow either. The two of them followed Lin Shilu¡¯s lead, one in front, one behind, and turned into blurs as they rushed straight into the Formation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 409 - 242 Victory_1 Chapter 409: Chapter 242 Victory_1 As the three individuals safely retreated back within the formation, the crack that had opened on the light curtain immediately sealed, and a complete pale golden light shield reappeared, with the formation once again set into motion. Watching the three slip away right before its eyes and return to the formation, the Cedar Beast chieftain seethed with rage. It opened its mouth and spat out several ice orbs, attacking the defensive array and venting its fury upon it. A few loud noises were heard, but the light of the formation only flickered a few times, without any excessively violent reaction. However, the ice orbs spat out by the demonic beasts were limited and could not be used endlessly. The two beast chieftains had already expended a large number of ice orbs during the fierce battle, so there were not many left for attacking in the short term. With just these two beasts attacking, the power was very limited; against this defensive formation, there was simply no solution. The two Cedar Beast chieftains stared at the indifferent formation. Despite their anger, they were helpless. ... Shortly thereafter, after the Cedar Beast chieftain roared a few times, a large number of demonic beasts gathered in response to its call. They rallied the entire Demon Beast Tribe and spat out a great number of ice orbs, attempting to attack the defensive array once more. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky filled with ice orbs bombarding the formation; explosion after explosion was heard, and as a burst of light flashed, the formation blocked all attacks. Even with the entire tribe attacking together, they only managed to slightly shake the formation, which quickly returned to normal. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, to fully break the formation, it would require an uninterrupted attack for a very long period. The unyielding Cedar Beasts continued attacking the formation, seemingly determined not to stop until achieving their goal. Meanwhile, Lin Shilu and the other Qi Refining Cultivators had all successfully retreated inside the formation. Watching the ripples emanating from the formation, and relying on the remaining Demon Beast Tribe, it was impossible to break through in a short time. Lin Shilu¡¯s pale complexion regained some rosiness, and he soon let out a sigh of relief. At this moment, on the city walls within the market, Lin Shilu and few Foundation Establishment Cultivators were seated together. Having successfully weakened the Cedar Beast Tribe¡¯s strength, they had achieved their goal. The cultivators present were joyful, and their moods were quite good. Below the city walls, numerous Qi Refining Cultivators were clustered in groups. Within this large gathering of cultivators, the majority were thrilled, as quite a few had reaped substantial rewards from the battle. However, some cultivators were pale, many had sustained injuries, and more still had fallen in the battle. Overall, compared to those who had fallen, being alive was the greatest fortune. Looking around, the atmosphere among the cultivator group was lively. Some cultivators were chatting, while others sat cross-legged, immediately meditating in place to recover from their injuries. On the city wall, Lin Shilu looked out over the group of cultivators below, then turned to ask Lin Xingshun about the Lin Family Members¡¯ losses in this great battle. Lin Xingshun paused for a moment, then slapped his storage bag, took out a book of records, and began to report as he flipped through it. ¡°According to the statistics, in this battle, eighteen Lin Family Qi Refining clanspeople fell, seven were severely injured, and the rest of our people suffered injuries, more or less.¡± ¡°Among the fallen clanspeople, twelve were of the ¡®Xing¡¯ generation, six were of the ¡®Tian¡¯ generation, all above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement. However, those above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining are all alive, and our clan¡¯s core strength has not suffered major losses.¡± Hearing the report, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned sorrowful. The Lin Family had not faced such a large loss in years; at least some twenty-odd cultivators had died at the claws of demonic beasts, but mostly those of lesser talent and cultivation. This battle, however, had claimed the lives of the clan¡¯s core strength. Yet on reflection, given the scale of the Demon Beast assault, some casualties were to be expected. The Lin Family Members are flesh and blood, too, and they had to lead by example. Under such a brutal battle, such a loss was already very low. With these thoughts, he slowly regained composure, only feeling pity for the fallen clanspeople. ¡°Alas¡­ if Tian Ming were here, he and I joining forces might well have wiped out this Demon Beast Tribe!¡± Lin Shilu murmured this thought to himself, his mournful expression causing several Lin Family Members to feel regret as well. Gathering his thoughts, he sighed deeply and then addressed his kin: ¡°With limited options at this crucial time, first cremate the remains of our clanspeople and temporarily store them within the market. Once I return to our clan, we¡¯ll give them a proper burial and enter their spirit tablets into the ancestral hall with the witness of our people.¡± ¡°By Fifteenth Uncle¡¯s command!¡± Lin Xingshun nodded, replying respectfully, as that was indeed the only arrangement that could be made at the moment. Seeing Lin Shilu looking at him, Lin Xingshun sighed and continued to report the losses and outcomes for the other cultivators. After a while, Lin Xingshun finished reporting the results of the great battle. According to his tally, in addition to the Lin Family¡¯s losses, more than one hundred sixty other Qi Refining Cultivators had perished, most at the Sixth or Seventh Layer, but more than ten cultivators of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement had also fallen. The Cedar Beast Tribe had suffered even greater losses: four Second Order Initial Stage beasts had died, over sixty of the First Order Late Stage, and as for lower order beasts, several hundreds had perished. Now, the Cedar Beast Tribe¡¯s numbers had dwindled to less than sixty percent of their peak. Nevertheless, those that survived were all First Order Medium Stage and above, and their overall strength remained formidable. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 410 - 242 Battle Achievement_2 Chapter 410: Chapter 242 Battle Achievement_2 As for the human cultivators, though nearly two hundred of them also fell, their top combat forces had not decreased. When comparing these losses to those of the demon beast tribes, they simply cannot be mentioned in the same breath. This fierce battle can be said to have ended in a phased victory for humanity, perfectly achieving the goals set before the great war. Some well-known cultivators achieved glorious records in battle, among them, Li Yuancheng and his wife stood out remarkably, slaying as many as seven Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts, with a considerable number of Initial and Medium Stage First Order beasts as well. In addition, the Chen Clan, a subsidiary family of the Lin Family, led by Chen Jingshan, also killed several Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts, and more than a dozen of the lesser Medium Stage beasts. Such achievements, while incomparable to those of Li Yuancheng and his wife, are enough to rank them among the top few outside of the Foundation Establishing Families. ... Following this battle, the crisis of Luoyun Market has been temporarily resolved, but they still cannot afford to take it lightly. After all, the beast tide attack has not yet passed, and they could encounter other demon beast tribes at any time; if these tribes attack the market together with the Cedar Beast Tribe, their troubles would be even greater. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of these possibilities, Lin Shilu dared not take it lightly; he heaved a long sigh and then spoke, ¡°Xingshun, those Qi Refining Cultivators made an effort for the market¡¯s safety as well, distribute some of the family¡¯s elixirs from our reserves to aid their quick recovery and breakthroughs in cultivation.¡± ¡°As for those cultivators who have fallen, arrange the compensation according to the rules previously set; if there are Loose Cultivators with no next of kin, convert their compensation into elixirs and distribute them to all the Qi Refining Cultivators.¡± ¡°In addition, make sure to accurately tally all the cultivators¡¯ contributions and battle achievements so that, after the tide attack, rewards can be disbursed according to the rules.¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words were extremely sincere, there was not the slightest hint of concealment, and all cultivators present heard them loud and clear. At this moment, those Qi Refining Cultivators were greatly moved. Originally, they stayed in the market for the generous rewards, and even if the Lin Family did nothing, they wouldn¡¯t have any complaints. After all, it was their own choice to be cultivators; if their lack of strength led to their fall, no one else could be blamed. Unexpectedly, the Lin Family handled matters so fairly and humanely. During the great battle, the Lin Family members took the lead without discriminating against them. Moreover, the Lin Family not only provided them with elixirs to heal their wounds but also distributed additional compensations meant for other cultivators to them. This act showcased the strength and credibility of the Lin Family, which truly surprised them. At that time, some cultivators were deeply touched and felt fortunate that they had stayed to defend Luoyun Market. Otherwise, with their low level of cultivation, even if they went to other places, they likely would have been cannon fodder and perhaps would have already perished. Among the crowd, some Qi Refining Cultivators, with genuine attitudes, respectfully bowed in the direction of Lin Shilu. Clearly, the Lin Family¡¯s way of handling matters had thoroughly won over the vast majority of cultivators, and in future fights, they would not hold back. Seeing the sincere attitudes of the cultivators below, Lin Shilu chuckled and spoke loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, you have all worked hard. Rest assured, I have seen your efforts, and as long as Luoyun Market overcomes this disaster, the Lin Family will not be stingy. The rewards and compensation will not be lacking.¡± ¡°For now, everyone take a good rest, hurry and heal your wounds and make breakthroughs in your cultivation.¡± ¡°Although we have severely damaged the demon beast tribes, the crisis is not completely over. We cannot let down our guard; I look forward to fighting side by side with you again.¡± These words promised many benefits but also reminded everyone not to be complacent, earning the cultivators¡¯ favor. In the crowd, a Seventh Level Qi Refining Cultivator was the first to speak up with extreme sincerity. ¡°¡±Elder Lin is indeed magnanimous. We, the juniors, will surely continue to strive and pledge to stand or fall together with the market!¡± No sooner had the voice faded away than someone in the crowd echoed, ¡°Yes¡­ Under the leadership of Elder Lin, we have already inflicted heavy losses on the Demon Beast Tribe. With a few more attacks, we will definitely be able to annihilate the Cedar Beast Tribe in one fell swoop!¡± With that said, the scene became suddenly lively. Many cultivators started speaking up, chiming in one after another, and the entire group of cultivators was suddenly emboldened. At this moment, the crowd of cultivators was almost mobilized by his speech, some promises, and the actions of the Lin Family. It was an excellent start, and even those who had been muddying the waters began to work wholeheartedly for the sake of the market. Lin Shilu was secretly pleased in his heart; his goal was achieved. Now, all the cultivators were united, and as long as they persevered and worked together to resist the attacks of the Demonic Beasts, the chances of the market surviving this crisis significantly increased. Regaining his focus, he immediately sent Lin Xingshun away to manage the Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople, while he casually chatted with Su He and Luo Chenggu. Although Su He and his companion did not achieve any spectacular results in this battle, they had given it their all. Lin Shilu expressed his gratitude and did not forget to mention the promises he had made before, which caused several Loose Cultivators and Luo Chenggu and his companions to breathe a sigh of relief. Then, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned solemn, and he said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, we have achieved our objective in this battle, but the Demonic Beasts have not retreated. I wonder what everyone plans to do next; feel free to speak your minds!¡± Hearing these words, the group fell silent for a moment, with no good solutions readily coming to mind. Lin Xingcheng, who was nearby, turned his head and then said, ¡°Considering the current situation, everyone has suffered some injuries and the expenditure of our resources has been considerable. In the short term, we are likely inadequate for organizing another attack!¡± Hearing this, Luo Chenggu also started to chime in, ¡°Yes¡­ Our consumption has been no small matter, but the Demonic Beasts have also suffered heavy losses, with four Early Stage Second Order Demonic Beasts killed and another two severely wounded.¡± ¡°If these beasts don¡¯t intend to leave this place, once we¡¯ve recovered, it¡¯s absolutely necessary to attack again and further weaken their strength. If we can kill a few more Second Order Demonic Beasts, perhaps we really could break them altogether, maybe even annihilate them!¡± Luo Chenggu put forward this suggestion also with the Luo Family¡¯s interests in mind, speaking candidly. If this group of Demonic Beasts chose to leave, they could potentially attack other Spirit Lands in the Luoyun Mountain Range. And if it happened to be the Luo Family¡¯s territory, the Luo Family might not be able to withstand it and could suffer even more devastating losses. Putting themselves in others¡¯ shoes, with the Demon Beast Tribe right there, eliminating them with the help of everyone would be a boon for the Luo Family and other family forces, with no drawbacks. This line of thinking was well understood by Sun Ruiyang and the people from the Qi Refining Families, so during the major battle, the cultivators with backing from powerful factions spared no effort, not only for the Lin Family but also for the greater good and for their own families. With these considerations in mind, Luo Chenggu, Lin Shilu, and the other family members quickly reached a consensus: they decided to wait until everyone had recovered somewhat before acting again, aiming to eliminate the Cedar Beast Tribe as much as possible. For this decision, Su He and Liu Zhirong, three Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, were somewhat hesitant, but since they had already promised to stay and guard the market, despite some reluctance, they eventually agreed, constrained by face and the Lin Family¡¯s influence. As the discussion yielded a result, Lin Shilu was very satisfied. After chatting with a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he instructed Lin Xingcheng: ¡°Xingcheng, we all need to recover our Spiritual Power and heal our injuries. You should select some family members to stay here and be responsible for guarding the Formation. With the current strength of these beasts, they are unlikely to break through our Formation in the short term. However, we can¡¯t let our guard down; if other Demonic Beasts come, the trouble will be even greater!¡± ¡°In this way, focus wholeheartedly on this task. If there is any change, send word to me immediately!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Fifteenth Uncle, I will take charge of this matter. Please concentrate on your cultivation!¡± Lin Xingcheng replied, cupping his fist in salute. Hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded, greeted the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and then they all left the city wall to return to their respective caves to recover from their injuries and restore their Spiritual Power. The Qi Refining Cultivators below, seeing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators leave and under the arrangements of Lin Xingshun, dispersed from the spot and all retreated to their caves to cultivate in seclusion. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 411 - 243: Towering Figure_1 Chapter 411: Chapter 243: Towering Figure_1 Golden Horn Mountain. In a small courtyard, Lin Tianming sat opposite his father, and Lin Tianfeng was also present. Half a month had passed since Lin Tianming had returned to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory after battling the Golden Fang Beast Clan. After a brief period of secluded cultivation, his injuries and spiritual power had fully recovered, giving him a slight edge in strength compared to before. Today, upon leaving his seclusion, Lin Tianming¡¯s first act was to visit his father, and it just so happened that Lin Tianfeng was also there. The three of them sat in the courtyard, chatting over tea. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup and then began inquiring about the recent developments at Golden Horn Mountain and within the Cultivation World, knowing it was a critical time during the beast tide attack; the crisis was not yet over, and they had to remain vigilant, paying close attention to every move of the beast tide. ... Upon hearing the question, Lin Xingrong chuckled and started discussing the recent events and developments. According to him, the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory had been tranquil during this half-month, with few demonic beasts appearing. The occasional First Order Demon Beast that did appear was easily slain by the patrolling clan members without even breaking a sweat. However, the situation at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market was still unclear, as there had been no news from them. At this, Lin Tianming and the others were silent, their brows furrowed, each harbouring their own worries. Time passed until a long sigh broke the silence. ¡°Father, brother, the Golden Fang Beast Clan has been severely damaged, and they are incapable of stirring up any trouble now,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Since Golden Horn Mountain is temporarily safe, I plan to go on a patrol and take a look at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng exchanged glances. They were generally confident in Lin Tianming¡¯s decisions and arrangements, especially since they were equally concerned about the situation in the other two territories. Moreover, with the precedent set by Lin Tianming¡¯s abilities, it seemed unlikely that ordinary demon beast clans could detain him. Therefore, letting Lin Tianming go out and look around would not only offer timely support to the other two locations, but also allow for mutual reassurance of safety. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Xingrong looked at Lin Tianfeng, and the two quickly reached an agreement. Then, with a smile, Lin Xingrong earnestly advised, ¡°Be cautious on your journey. Tianfeng and I will stay and guard Golden Horn Mountain. Try to go and return quickly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, father. With the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, it will only take a few days at most to go and return. As long as I don¡¯t encounter a demonic beast attack, I¡¯ll surely be back here within ten days,¡± Lin Tianming assured him. ¡°Once I leave, don¡¯t you two wander off. If demonic beasts attack our territory, don¡¯t engage them rashly. Wait for me to return before deciding what to do,¡± Lin Tianming added, then he instructed his father and Lin Tianfeng on what to do in his absence. ¡°Alright, make it a swift journey!¡± responded Lin Xingrong. Once everything was arranged, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng stood up to take their leave from the courtyard together. Without delay, Lin Tianming, under Lin Tianfeng¡¯s watchful gaze, crossed the Mountain Protection Array with the Purple Gold Eagle and flew towards the surrounding mountains. Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming surveyed the rapidly receding landscape below, meticulously scanning for any signs of demonic beasts. Before leaving, he had to check the surroundings of Golden Horn Mountain one more time to ensure temporary safety before he could depart with peace of mind. If he had just left and demonic beasts attacked Golden Horn Mountain, and if the beasts were powerful, it would mean great pressure for Tianfeng and the others. In this way, although the search was time-consuming, it greatly increased the safety of the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory and was absolutely necessary. Considering this, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, and his sharp gaze pierced through the clouds, with every flower and blade of grass on the ground coming into clear view. With his careful investigation, the situation below was thoroughly surveyed. Half a day passed, and Lin Tianming appeared in a valley at the northern part of Golden Horn Mountain, close to the Luoyang Mountain Range. Here, amidst numerous peaks, it was close to the boundary between two mountain ranges. A few more miles ahead would bring him into the Luoyang Mountain Range, a no-man¡¯s land. His journey thus far had been smooth, with no sighting of Second Order Demonic Beasts, only encountering a few small groups consisting of First Order Demon Beasts. Pressed for time, he ignored them, as such roaming beasts were unlikely to trouble the Lin Family and were not worth the time. Standing atop a barren peak, Lin Tianming gazed at the northern Luoyang Mountain Range, lost in thought. It had been about a month since news of the beast tide had spread, and the current state of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was still unknown. If nothing was amiss, the situation in other regions would be similar to that of Luoyun Mountain, where everyone was fighting their own battles against the demonic beasts, leading to an information blackout in the Cultivation World. Even the Zhenyang Sect, the powerhouse in the southern Wei Kingdom, hadn¡¯t made any moves or sent elite disciples to aid the big and small forces of the Cultivation World in fighting against the demon beast attacks. At this moment, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t know what Zhenyang Sect was up to, whether they had encountered attacks from demonic beasts, and even less about the plans of other Golden Core forces. Lost in these thoughts, a breeze came by, bringing Lin Tianming back to reality. ¡°Forget it, I can¡¯t control what happens elsewhere. I¡¯ll just focus on Luoyun Mountain for now, and as for the life and death of other forces, it¡¯s not something we should concern ourselves with,¡± he muttered to himself, then prepared to turn around and head in the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a short while, as he crossed a mountain ridge, he suddenly heard the roar of demonic beasts and explosions, causing the ground and the mountains to shake violently. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 412 - 243 The Majestic Figure_2 Chapter 412: Chapter 243 The Majestic Figure_2 Lin Tianming stopped in his tracks and landed on a mountaintop, immediately opening his Eye of Five Colors to scan the distance, searching for the origin of the sounds made by the Demonic Beasts. Soon, the sounds grew louder, accompanied by several swooshing noises through the air. A few miles away on a mountaintop, several Yinming Beasts bared their teeth and leapt agilely as they pursued a female cultivator, their speed extraordinarily strange. In the chase, several dark figures were hurtling towards him. As they looked on, the speed of the Yinming Beasts was clearly faster than that of the female cultivator. With time passing in this chase, the quickest among them, a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast, was already less than thirty meters away from her. In such a critical moment, the woman¡¯s face was pale; it was evident she was injured. ... Her blue robes were now heavily stained with blood, the collar at her chest area tattered, revealing skin pale as snow. The Demonic Beast was getting closer, its terrifying claws already lashing out. A moment¡¯s delay and it might very well pierce through her body. At this moment, it was apparent she could no longer escape the fearsome Demonic Beast. In this desperate moment, the woman¡¯s expression darkened, slightly panicked for a moment before calming down. Before this, she had already sustained injuries, and her cultivation was not strong enough to stand up to this group of Demonic Beasts. As the pursuit continued, her injuries worsened and her Spiritual Power was depleted. Even if she kept running, it seemed unlikely that she would escape. In such dire straits, it might be better to go all in. If she could kill the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast, there might still be a chance for survival. Having made up her mind, she turned and unleashed a sword strike, bursting forth with a pale blue Sword Qi that blasted towards the Yinming Beast. Faced with the woman¡¯s sudden Sword Qi, which was steeped in fearsome Ice chill, it was far more formidable than any attack she had made before. At that moment, the Yinming Beast preparing to attack her became extremely wary. Their advancement was not easy, and faced with Sword Qi that threatened their lives, the Yinming Beasts weren¡¯t foolish enough to continue the attack and were forced to dodge in haste. In an instant, the decisiveness of the Yinming Beast allowed it to dodge successfully. The terrifying Sword Qi brushed past the body of the Yinming Beast and struck the ground, easily carving out an abyssal pit. Seeing the Yinming Beast avoid the attack, the woman¡¯s face turned grim. Seizing the brief respite, she turned to continue her escape. However, just as she turned, the Yinming Beasts that had fallen behind caught up and encircled her completely. Witnessing this, the woman, who had so far been undisturbed, couldn¡¯t help but start to panic. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If there had only been one Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast pursuing her, there might have been hope for escape. Following a struggle, the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast dodged her desperate attack, and the four Yinming Beasts at the rear took advantage of the momentary delay to catch up, surrounding her from different directions. With enemies in front and predators behind, had it been dealing with a single Second Order Initial Stage Yinming Beast, she still could have hoped to escape. But this was a Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast, along with a group comprising four Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts. Now, with severe injuries and depleted Spiritual Power, she was backed into a corner with no way out, no capacity for counterattack. Seeing the bared teeth of the surrounding Yinming Beasts as they rushed over, seemingly ready to devour her. At this moment, the woman¡¯s face turned deathly pale, standing motionless in the middle of the circle. ¡°Grandfather, your granddaughter can¡¯t avenge you, but if there¡¯s an afterlife, Xi¡¯er will definitely annihilate the entire Chen Clan to avenge you!¡± The woman murmured in her heart, resigning to her fate in the face of certain doom. As the Yinming Beasts closed in, she could even sense the various scents emanating from their bodies, fearing that in the next instant, she would be torn to pieces and meet her end here. ¡°Haha¡­ since death is inevitable, the manner in which I die holds no fear for me!¡± The woman let out a self-deprecating laugh, her pallid complexion momentarily regaining some color, and a brief smile that flashed across her brows shone as brightly as the most radiant star in the nine heavens, extremely charming. Just as the Yinming Beast¡¯s blade-like claws were about to touch the enchanting body of the woman, a powerful pressure swept through. Following that, several pale golden Sword Qi tore through the sky, directly bombarding the bodies of a few Yinming Beasts. Several screams resounded, but the woman, who felt no pain whatsoever, stood frozen, making no move. As moments passed, she remained unmoved, until a breeze stirred her hair across her cheeks, and only then did she notice something amiss. ¡°How am I not dead? And I can¡¯t feel any pain at all!¡± ¡°Why is this happening? Could this be an illusion?¡± The woman pinched her breathtakingly beautiful face, and upon feeling a faint pain, she finally opened her eyes and saw a man in a blue robe standing in front of her. The man in the blue robe was none other than Lin Tianming, currently holding the Tiangang Sword in one hand, while the breeze fluttered the hem of his robe, his towering figure like a fortress. He had noticed the woman being besieged by the Demonic Beasts, nearly a certain death situation. And he happened to realize that, as both were from the Human Race and it was a critical moment during an invasion, one more cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage would increase the chances of the Luoyun Mountain Range surviving the onslaught. Besides, the woman¡¯s appearance somehow felt familiar, and moreover, he was not the type to commit evil deeds, let alone watch a beauty perish before his eyes. Thus, under these various factors, he was moved to lend a hand. At the moment, as she looked at his upright silhouette standing before her, even without seeing his face, she felt an inexplicable familiarity, as if they had met somewhere before or had some past encounter. However, there was no time to ponder further, as the noises around her interrupted her speculation. By this time, two of the five Yinming Beasts had died, with the remaining three all injured, and only the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast was not seriously hurt. The rest were lying on the ground, severely wounded, and unable to exert much strength. The Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast climbed up from the ground, baring its teeth in a furious snarl, clearly enraged. It had thought the woman would surely die under its claws, but at the crucial moment, she was saved by several sword energies. If it hadn¡¯t sensed the attack in advance, it might well have been killed on the spot under such a sneak attack. The Yinming Beast, livid with rage, glared at the man and, in the blink of an eye, launched another attack. Facing the oncoming attack of the Yinming Beast, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh. The strength of this Demonic Beast was admittedly remarkable, but it paled in comparison to the Demonic Beasts he had fought before; they were simply not in the same league. Furthermore, it was already injured. Even at its peak, it would not be a match for him. If he took the fight seriously, killing it would not be difficult. ¡°Dare to attack me? You¡¯re courting death!¡± After Lin Tianming coldly uttered those words, he leapt into action, the Tiangang Sword already in his grip as he charged towards the Yinming Beast. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of collision sounds erupted; Lin Tianming did not use any Spiritual Power but relied on his physical body to engage in close combat with the Yinming Beast. In previous fights with Demonic Beasts, he was always at an absolute disadvantage and never had the opportunity to fight with his physical body. This time, he finally encountered a Demonic Beast that was a match for him, the perfect opportunity to test his physical strength. At that moment, Lin Tianming gripped the Tiangang Sword and swung it, clashing directly with the claws of the Yinming Beast. Sounds of metal against metal echoed through the field, and with every sweep of the Tiangang Sword, sparks flew. Feeling the recoil force in his hand that numbed his palm, he knew the force was limited and wouldn¡¯t cause much damage. After the clash, the Yinming Beast was forced back dozens of yards, while Lin Tianming himself only retreated a few yards. In the first exchange, both the Yinming Beast and Lin Tianming retreated a bit, but neither was injured. Feeling the explosive power coursing through his body, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and then ferociously shot toward the Yinming Beast. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 413 - 244 The Lin Family Genius Cultivator!_1 Chapter 413: Chapter 244 The Lin Family Genius Cultivator!_1 At that moment, his hand gripping the Tiangang Sword tirelessly swung it, its dance intertwining with the sharp claws of the Yinming Beast. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Man and beast had already exchanged several rounds of blows, nearly matching each other in strength, but Lin Tianming, relying on his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, subtly held a slight advantage. ¡°Heh, I¡¯m done playing with you. Die!¡± Lin Tianming said with a laugh, before getting serious, once again shifting his footing to strike the Yinming Beast with his sword. As the Tiangang Sword made contact, Wind sprang up beneath his feet, and his speed increased by a thread. ... Simultaneously, he punched out, his fist as hard as iron and incredibly fast, catching the Yinming Beast completely off guard. The beast, already larger than Lin Tianming, was also slower, and unable to dodge in time, it was directly hit by his steel-like fist. A miserable scream rang out as the massive body of the Yinming Beast was sent soaring into the air, crashing down into the ground with such force that it made a large pit on impact. Lin Tianming¡¯s physical strength was immense¡ªthis punch carried the weight of ten thousand pounds. An ordinary Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast relying only on its physicality would likely perish from a single punch. At that moment, the full force of his punch bore through the Yinming Beast¡¯s back, immediately blowing a hole through it. Flesh and blood flew, briefly exposing horrifying white bone and internal organs. Behind him, the woman watched with sparkling eyes as the beast writhed in misery, a joyful smile flickering across her face. Earlier, she had nearly perished at the jaws of the demonic beasts. In her time of dire need, the Blue Robed Cultivator had appeared out of nowhere, taking the initiative to rescue her. Upon reflection, she still could not recall any past interactions between them. Under the circumstances of being strangers, his current efforts to injure the Yinming Beast that had nearly claimed her life moved her deeply. As a woman, a Rogue Cultivator, she had spent years in hiding, bearing a vendetta and enduring countless hardships, often falling victim to the schemes of other cultivators. Today, in a moment of despair when she had given up the struggle, a man unexpectedly emerged to save her from a perilous fate, an occurrence which was indeed astonishing. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s not my time to die yet,¡± the woman mused silently to herself. Coming back to her senses, she looked towards the pit where the pained Yinming Beast bared its teeth and howled miserably. Having just risen, the beast staggered and struggled to stand. Before it could steady itself, Lin Tianming was already upon it, faster than before, and his Tiangang Sword was slashing down, mere feet from striking the beast¡¯s head. In its panic, the Yinming Beast tried to evade, but wounded and weaker, evasion was impossible. Under its gaze of utter despair, the Tiangang Sword did not slow down, striking decisively upon its head. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± A light sound marked the moment the Tiangang Sword pierced through the demonic beast¡¯s skull. Immediately following, there was a thud¡ªno cry of agony was heard as the large body of the Yinming Beast collapsed to the ground; the impact sent dust rising, drifting into the sky. As the dust settled, the form of the Yinming Beast was revealed. Now the beast lay on the ground, its vast head almost split in two, while fresh blood pooled on the ground. It had long been devoid of any sign of life. Seeing the creature lifeless, dead beyond doubt, Lin Tianming turned to look at the other two grievously wounded beasts struggling on the ground. With the death of the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast, the remaining two at the Initial Stage, already seriously injured¡ªand unable to match Lin Tianming even at full strength¡ªwere simply biding their time until death. Lin Tianming casually walked over, his sharp and steely gaze akin to that of the Grim Reaper himself. The two wounded Yinming Beasts watched him approach at a slow pace, and terror seized them. They struggled fiercely, but with such debilitating injuries, they could not manage to stand. After an indeterminable period, Lin Tianming reached the two beasts, and without a shred of mercy, he decisively lifted the Tiangang Sword, effortlessly ending their wretched lives. Then, the sword kept moving, harvesting any useful materials from the carcasses of the beasts and placing them into a prepared storage pouch. Having completed this task, he finally turned and looked at the woman who stood frozen in place. Now, the two sized each other up in silence, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere. The woman, recalling their past encounter, finally remembered that over ten years ago, they had interacted in the Luoyun Market stall area. She had bought a Pill Formula from his grandfather back then; it was no wonder the sense of familiarity washed over her upon their reunion. Though they had met only once before, and his appearance seemed upright¡ªnot resembling that of a deceitful person¡ªshe remained guarded. She didn¡¯t wish to escape one calamity only to fall prey to another, especially since her Spiritual Power was nearly depleted. Her power now less than that of a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, any ill intent from him could lead to an outcome far worse than being devoured by a beast. ¡°Enough, I was as good as dead anyway. Having been saved by him, even if I were to die right now and give my life back to him, it would be only right. Besides, even at my peak, I¡¯d stand no chance against him. There¡¯s no point in such caution when there¡¯s nothing I can do,¡± she thought to herself. After this consideration, she first composed herself. The blushing woman bowed gracefully and then spoke, ¡°My name is Qin Xi; I am a First Order Rogue Cultivator!¡± COMMENT 0 comment S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 414 - 414: Lin Familys 244th Genius Cultivator!_2 Chapter 414: Lin Family¡¯s 244th Genius Cultivator!_2 ¡°At the critical moment, I must thank the cultivator for your generous rescue. I am deeply grateful, and should an opportunity arise in the future, this young lady will surely repay your kindness.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming snapped out of his reverie. Gazing at the lady¡¯s beauty that could overthrow states, and the large expanse of her chest revealed, his cheeks suddenly flushed, and he hurriedly turned his head away. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction and the change in his complexion, the woman then remembered her own injury, the hurried escape that left her with no time to cover the exposed charm in front of her chest. Moreover, in the heat of the fierce battle just now, she had been too shocked to think of changing her clothes; thus, her beauty had remained revealed, showing a fierce weapon no one else had seen before. At that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s face underwent a swift change. The originally somewhat pale cheeks suddenly blushed, becoming hot to the touch instantly. She hurriedly turned, took a set of blue robes from her storage bag, and in the blink of an eye, she had changed into them. ... Soon, she turned back around, with the exposed skin now covered, and her flushed cheeks returning to normal. Looking at Lin Tianming, who was still facing the distance, she smiled awkwardly, ¡°Fellow cultivator¡­ you can turn around now!¡± As her words fell, Lin Tianming then turned back to look at the woman anew. By then, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion had greatly improved. A green gown concealed her jade-like skin, giving her a fresh and unblemished look as if untouched by mud. Her demeanor granted a refreshing feeling to the onlooker, a stark contrast to the blood-quickening sight from before, showing two entirely different states. However, Lin Tianming did not pay much attention to her dazzling beauty, as he was in a state of shock. Fortunately, his exterior remained calm, showing no sign of agitation. Upon reflection, they had interacted some twenty years ago, when Qin Xi was but a cultivator at the Second Level of Qi Refining. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 And now, in such a short time, she had advanced to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment. ¡°What kind of cultivation speed is this?¡± Lin Tianming wondered to himself. He had been fighting battles in all directions over the years, faced countless life-or-death situations, and aside from that, he had the support and guidance of family elders. In twenty years, he had only cultivated from the Eighth Level of Qi Refining to the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment. Comparing this, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation speed seemed not at all inferior, even perhaps a little faster than his own. ¡°Perhaps her talent is equally remarkable, and she has had her share of fortunes. After all, in the vast cultivation world, there are always higher heavens and more capable people, and my achievements are nothing extraordinary,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself with amazement. Regaining his composure, and not daring to look too long at the delicate jade beauty that was Qin Xi, Lin Tianming was cautious not to give the wrong impression and be thought of as a frivolous dandy. And Qin Xi, after taking a glance at Lin Tianming, opened her mouth again to express her thanks, her tone genuinely sincere. ¡°You have been righteous in coming to my aid, yet I do not know your esteemed name. May I ask it, so I can surely repay this life-saving grace in the future?¡± In the face of the lady¡¯s inquiry about his name, Lin Tianming smiled openly. It was a critical time, as the beast tide had not passed and the Lin Family¡¯s crisis had yet to be resolved, urgently requiring the assistance of cultivators from all walks of life. Now that he knew of Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation and background, it was crucial to vigorously befriend such a gifted loose cultivator. He hadn¡¯t expected any reward for helping earlier; it was just lending a hand as the situation called for it, also serving as fostering goodwill for himself and the Lin Family. At this time, facing Qin Xi¡¯s questions about his identity, there was indeed nothing to hide. He had already appeared publicly at the Luoyun Market, and his cultivation level was more or less known to all; it wouldn¡¯t be long before this information spread throughout the southern regions of the Wei Kingdom. Considering this, his expression changed, he revealed his true appearance, and then he spoke: ¡°I am Lin Tianming, a member of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. Passing by this place by chance and encountering Fairy Qin in danger, it was a simple effort to lend a hand. There is no need for such courtesy!¡± Hearing this and again observing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute and youthful appearance, Qin Xi herself was equally surprised and found it somewhat incredible. The Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain¡¯s great name was almost universally known in the southern regions of the Wei Kingdom, and Lin Tianming was no stranger to her either. Among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who frequented the southern Wei Kingdom, there were already rumors that Lin Family had a genius cultivator, who likely shone brightly in the great battle at Luoyun Mountain, Lin Tianming. Although Lin Tianming rarely made public appearances in the Cultivation World in recent years, and his exact cultivation and strength were not known to others, it could be inferred that the genius cultivator of the Lin Family, often discussed secretly among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, was very likely Lin Tianming himself. With these thoughts, Qin Xi took another look at Lin Tianming, deducing from his age that he was not much older than herself, barely forty years old. So young, yet already at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, his strength was terrifying. With just the power of his body alone, he had beaten a Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast with almost no effort. The genius cultivator who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, one could only imagine how strong he would be if he used his full strength. As she collected her thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s revelation of his true face and his forthright introduction reassured her of the rumors¡¯ accuracy. Now calm, Qin Xi¡¯s face was placid, and she let out a long and involuntary sigh of relief. The reputation of the Lin Family was excellent, and Lin Tianming¡¯s face seemed kind; plus, her intuition told her that Lin Tianming was not a wicked person and probably harbored no ill intentions towards her. Keeping these considerations in mind, Qin Xi courteously smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that Lin Family has a genius cultivator, I had no idea it was indeed Lin.¡± ¡°No matter the reasons Lin offered help, the fact remains that you saved my life, a truth that I will never forget. Should Lin ever encounter any difficulty, do not hesitate to ask for my aid, even if it means going through fire and blade, I shall not refuse.¡± ¡°Fairy Qin, there¡¯s really no need to take it so seriously!¡± Lin Tianming replied, then steered the conversation in another direction. ¡°Fairy Qin, I have some questions, why did you fall into danger, and where did these Yinming Beasts come from?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi remained composed and fell into recollection. For years, she had frequented the Hengyang Mountain Range, holding a grudge against the Chen Clan, a Foundation Establishing Family in the range. With the Chen Clan¡¯s significant strength, which openly included several Foundation Establishment Cultivators and even a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, she dared not linger long in marketplaces. Hence, for years she stayed incognito, cultivating on the fringes of the two large mountain ranges, all the while evading the Chen Clan¡¯s searches. In doing so, she found a site with relatively abundant Spiritual Energy to engage in closed-door cultivation. Due to her extensive two-year cultivation period, by the time she emerged, a beast horde had erupted. Unfortunately for her, as soon as she left her seclusion, she encountered a group of Yinming Beasts passing by her dwelling, forcing her to leave prematurely. After a fierce battle, she was no match and managed to shake off the main force of the Demon Beast Tribe, but she was chased by Second Order Demonic Beasts. Fleeing all the way, fortunate to have had some heaven-defying opportunities, she eventually broke through the siege using every trick at her disposal and headed south. Finally arriving here, her Spiritual Power almost depleted, she found herself in dire straits. She thought she would perish under the claws of the beasts, only to be saved by the timely intervention of Lin Tianming. Collecting her thoughts, Qin Xi began to recount her harrowing experiences being chased by the Yinming Beasts, though without revealing the hatred in her heart. She had kept these memories buried deep inside, never sharing them with anyone. Years of arduous cultivation were all for the day when she could root out the Chen Clan from Hengyang Mountain Range to avenge her grandfather¡¯s death. Qin Xi continued to narrate her ordeal of being pursued by the beasts, her expression unchanged, revealing nothing out of the ordinary. As time equivalent to the burning of an incense stick passed, Lin Tianming learned of the circumstances behind Qin Xi¡¯s pursuit. From his guess, the current situation saw various regions and powers within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World threatened by the beast horde. Fighting independently, neither the descendants of the powers nor the Loose Cultivators were moving around much, causing information within the Cultivation World to become scarce. COMMENT 0 comment Vote S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 415 - 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_1 Chapter 415: Chapter 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_1 Qin Xi had been in closed-door cultivation for nearly two years and had not gone to the deeper areas of the Hengyang Mountain Range, let alone the more distant Qianchuan Market. As such, she hardly had access to any news from the Cultivation World, or else she might have been able to learn about the situations in other regions. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he immediately asked, ¡°Fairy Qin still has injuries, may I know how severe they are? What are your plans for the future?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s caring words, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned slightly red, seeming somewhat reserved. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Lin,¡± she replied, ¡°my injuries are not a hindrance. I¡¯ve only consumed a great deal of Spiritual Power, and with a short period of closed-door cultivation, I should be able to recover as usual!¡± After saying this, Qin Xi changed the subject, ¡°Lin, may I inquire about the situation with the demonic beast tides in the Luoyun Mountain Range?¡± ... Hearing this question, Lin Tianming felt puzzled, but after thinking it through, he was able to deduce her intention. The demonic beast tides hadn¡¯t subsided yet and seemed far from over. With her current injuries, the priority must be to find a safe place to engage in closed-door cultivation. After all, it was perilously dangerous to be alone outside. With her current level of cultivation, if she encountered a group of Second Order Demonic Beasts, she could very well be in danger of falling. Considering this, Lin Tianming thought about recruiting Qin Xi. If she was willing, she could stay at Golden Horn Mountain to cultivate and incidentally help defend against the demonic beast tide. With a Foundation Establishment Cultivator at Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, safety would be more assured, and it would also make her owe another favor, reaping both reputation and benefits. Such a move would be mutually beneficial for both parties. With this in mind, he spoke warmly and earnestly. ¡°Fairy Qin, with the demonic beasts running rampant, everyone in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s mountain ranges is in danger. It¡¯s too risky for you to be outside alone. Why not come with me back to Golden Horn Mountain? We have two fellows of the Foundation Establishment Stage there to defend the place. You can cultivate in peace there, and when the beast tide passes, you are free to leave whenever you like,¡± he said. After finishing his invitation, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi with an expectant expression. And this sincere invitation from Lin Tianming did not seem false, which rather moved Qin Xi. Given her current predicament, her intermediate Foundation Establishment Level Two cultivation meant that staying alone outside was indeed dangerous; joining some faction¡¯s territory or market was a good choice. However, under the current circumstances, the markets or families of Luoyun Mountain were not the best choice since the overall strength of the forces there was not very robust, and whether they could safely weather the beast tide was questionable. Normally, the Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom or even the stronger and larger Qianchuan Market would be more suitable for her. But under special circumstances, with her injuries and her Spiritual Power drained, her strength was not at its peak, and she couldn¡¯t travel too far. Moreover, to go to Qianchuan Market, she would inevitably have to pass through the border of Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges, and even a small part of Chen Clan¡¯s territory. If she was not careful and her tracks were discovered, it would be like a lamb walking into the mouth of a tiger, with no possibility of escape. She could either take a detour to Qianchuan Market or go directly south to the more powerful Huangyang Country Cultivation World, or accept Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation, enter Lin Family¡¯s territory to help resist the beast tide, and conveniently engage in cultivation. At this moment, Qin Xi hesitated, unsure of which option to choose. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s prolonged silence, Lin Tianming beside her was quite patient and did not urge her. After a while, Qin Xi, who had been thinking for a long time, made up her mind and decided to accept Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation. The reasons she accepted Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation were key factors that influenced her decision. Firstly, the reputation of the Lin Family had been circulating in the Cultivation World for a long time. Although it was just a Foundation Establishing Family that lived in seclusion, its thunderous action that annihilated the Jin Family twenty years ago shook the major powers of the southern Wei Kingdom. Since then, the Lin Family emerged suddenly, moving into Qianchuan Market shortly thereafter, becoming the focal point of the southern Wei Kingdom¡¯s powers, enjoying the limelight. Such a dark horse family, with its strength ranking high among many Foundation Establishing Families, had a great likelihood of safely enduring the beast tide. Secondly, the beast tides¡¯ attacks were unpredictable, with danger everywhere. Unable to travel far, she couldn¡¯t directly cross the Hengyang Mountain Range to reach Qianchuan Market, nor could she go to the more distant Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Thirdly, Lin Tianming gave her an unusual feeling; an instinct told her he bore no malice or ulterior motives, and his presence felt quite pure. This unique sensation existed from their first meeting, and upon meeting again, the strange feeling persisted, which was somewhat bizarre. Fourth and most importantly, Lin Tianming had shown her kindness. No matter what his intentions, his proactive invitation was exceedingly generous. Being someone who returned favors, and since the Lin Family generally had a good reputation, it was unlikely they would do anything excessive. In such a situation, accepting Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation was also a gesture; it not only acknowledged his kindness but also contributed a modest effort to the Lin Family¡¯s cause. Additionally, it could help establish good relations with the Lin Family, so if the Chen Clan pursued her in the future, she could seek refuge from a willing protector. Resolved, Qin Xi spoke softly, ¡°Lin has shown me kindness, but with my injuries and moderate strength, I am touched that you think highly of a minor woman like myself.¡± ¡°Furthermore, being a person of Luoyun Mountain, I am willing to accept your invitation to resist the demonic beast attacks for the sake of Luoyun Mountain Range, to offer a thin strand of my humble strength!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 416 - 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_2 Chapter 416: Chapter 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_2 Hearing that Qin Xi had accepted the invitation, the always composed Lin Tianming became extremely excited and couldn¡¯t help bursting into hearty laughter. ¡°Haha¡­ with Fairy Qin joining us, our Lin Family¡¯s strength grows stronger, and our confidence in overcoming crises is much greater!¡± Hearing this, and seeing the man¡¯s excited demeanor, a warmth began to soften Qin Xi¡¯s usually guarded heart, making her feel a bit excited as well. Ever since her grandfather died at the hands of Chen Clan cultivators for her sake, she had spent the years living austerely and had been resistant to outsiders, focused only on taking revenge. Yet, encountering the man before her, she couldn¡¯t muster the slightest resistance; it was as if there was a natural attraction, making her forget her deep hatred, which was quite inconceivable. After finally calming herself down, Qin Xi then said, ... ¡°Fellow Lin, this place isn¡¯t safe to linger in, we should leave. I will now follow your arrangements.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming also regained his composure. At this moment, he too felt puzzled, wondering why he, who was usually so calm, was acting so out of the ordinary, far from his usual self. Turning around, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi before him, then whistled, and the Purple Gold Eagle hidden among the clouds swooped down, landing in front of them. Previously, when Lin Tianming rescued Qin Xi, the Purple Gold Eagle had been hidden high in the sky to keep watch. Should a powerful Demon Beast Tribe approach, it could sound an alarm in time for them to escape. However, at the instant the Purple Gold Eagle appeared, it gave Qin Xi quite a start; she thought they had encountered another attack from demonic beasts, and it was a skilled flyer, the Purple Gold Eagle at that. But seeing the Purple Gold Eagle land in front of them and affectionately nuzzle Lin Tianming¡¯s robe, she let out a sigh of relief, and couldn¡¯t help but hold Lin Tianming and his Lin Family in even higher regard. After all, to possess a Second Order demonic beast as a spiritual pet, especially a flying one like the Purple Gold Eagle, was rare even in the entire Wei Kingdom. Regaining her focus, she immediately exclaimed, ¡°Noble houses indeed possess great strength, to have a Second Order flying spiritual bird is quite rare in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin flatters me; Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is vast and full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Our Lin Family is just a small clan; we really don¡¯t count for much!¡± Lin Tianming said with a wave of his hand and a smile. ¡°Well, with the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flight, we¡¯ll be able to return to Golden Horn Mountain quickly. Let¡¯s set off!¡± With that, Lin Tianming leaped onto the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back first, followed closely by Qin Xi, who stepped up and sat behind him on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back. The Purple Gold Eagle then soared into the sky and soon entered the clouds, becoming a black shadow as it flew towards Golden Horn Mountain to the south. Seated on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and continued to watch every move in the surroundings vigilantly. Meanwhile, Qin Xi sat nearby, entering a state of meditative breathing; clearly, she intended to cultivate and recover from her injuries. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not disturb her, allowing the Purple Gold Eagle to carry them through the flight. ¡­ Half a day later. After half a day¡¯s journey without mishap, the Purple Gold Eagle appeared over the airspace of Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. On the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Qin Xi was still sitting upright. Following half a day of meditation and cultivation, her complexion looked much better; her spiritual power had recovered by a good half, and her injuries had also improved significantly. At that moment, Lin Tianming, standing with his hands behind his back, gazed at the scene below and coughed to interrupt Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation. Hearing the sound, Qin Xi opened her eyes and then stood up, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lin Tianming. Seeing Qin Xi rise with improved complexion and aura, Lin Tianming immediately began to introduce the place. ¡°Fairy Qin, this is Golden Horn Mountain. It used to be the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, but after their downfall twenty years ago, it fell into our Lin Family¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°With twenty years of development, along with the restoration of the might of the Jin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation, this place has returned to its former glory, becoming a very important domain for our Lin Family.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s introduction and learning that the Jin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation still existed with its strength undiminished, Qin Xi nodded, feeling even more thankful for her decision. A Defensive Formation is of paramount importance to a power; it is often the key to surviving major crises. And the Lin Family had almost wholly secured the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, protected by the original Protective Clan Formation, this place now possessed a decent measure of self-defensive capability. Thus, with the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family and with her standing guard together, the security of this place had significantly increased, and her safety too was reasonably guaranteed. Regaining her focus, she looked at the solemn and majestic sect entrance, and feeling the rich Spiritual Energy of this place, she couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡°This place indeed has rich Spiritual Energy, no wonder the Jin Family stood tall for a thousand years. With such a treasure ground and the powerful strength of the Lin Family, the nobility will probably rise thoroughly!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin overpraises, the Jin Family committed many evils, and we the Lin Family were merely executing justice on behalf of the heavens. Fortunately, luck was on our side, and we were able to annihilate the Jin Family, hence acquiring this precious land!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled in response and then the Purple Gold Eagle dived down, revealing its form from among the clouds. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng who was sitting on the Sect Entrance Plaza, saw the appearance of the Purple Gold Eagle and couldn¡¯t help but feel shocked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Tianming planning to return to Green Bamboo Mountain? It hasn¡¯t been long since he left, and now he¡¯s returning so soon, could it be that some unforeseen events have occurred?¡± While he was speculating, the Purple Gold Eagle had already entered the Defensive Great Formation, and Lin Tianming walked up with Qin Xi. Lin Tianfeng immediately went up to greet them, bowing with a fist in his palm and then asked what had happened to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming was quite composed, returning the greeting before saying, ¡°Big brother, everything around Golden Horn Mountain is normal, there hasn¡¯t been a new emergence of Second Order Demon Beast Tribe.¡± ¡°And my sudden return was to escort Fairy Qin here, she accepted my invitation to come to Golden Horn Mountain for cultivation, and to help stand guard at this place!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng finally let out a sigh of relief, and then quickly became surprised. ¡°Fairy Qin?¡± ¡°Tianming, what¡¯s this all about?¡± ¡°You rarely interact with female cultivators, let alone bring a female cultivator to the family¡¯s territory!¡± Faced with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s questioning, Lin Tianming waved his hand and did not directly begin to explain. ¡°Big brother, let¡¯s go see our father first, then I will explain, and incidentally introduce Fairy Qin!¡± Lin Tianming said and then walked with Qin Xi towards the depths of the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, leaving Lin Tianfeng stunned in his place. Unknown time had passed before Lin Tianfeng finally came back to his senses and quickly followed after them. In no time at all, the four of them were seated in Lin Xingrong¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Gathered together, Lin Tianming pointed at Qin Xi and began to introduce, ¡°Father, big brother, this is Fairy Qin, Qin Xi, also a local cultivator from the Luoyun Mountain Range!¡± At this point, Qin Xi stood up, graciously bowing to Lin Xingrong and the other, displaying calm composure. Lin Xingrong, who sat to one side, furrowed his brows at that moment, guessing inwardly. ¡°Looking at their demeanor, it feels quite unusual!¡± ¡°This block of wood, Tianming, is bringing a female cultivator before my eyes for the first time; moreover, a Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivator. What exactly happened between them?¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hehe, with such exceptional talent and cultivation, this lady seems to be a good match for that boy, Tianming!¡± The disrespectably aging Lin Xingrong allowed his thoughts to run wild, secretly conjecturing. Lin Tianfeng, on the other hand, was also making guesses, with all sorts of thoughts passing through his mind, his interest greatly piqued and he eagerly anticipated Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation. Seeing the two of them looking like this, Lin Tianming was somewhat speechless, worried they might misunderstand that there was some involvement between him and Qin Xi. After finally calming down, he began to narrate the encounter between them and how he invited her to Golden Horn Mountain. ¡°Father, big brother, after I left Golden Horn Mountain to patrol our territory, I happened to meet Fairy Qin at the border between the Luoyun Mountain Range and the Hengyang Mountain Range.¡± ¡°At that time, she was being pursued by several Second Order Yinming Beasts, among them was a Second Order Middle Stage demonic beast, and after an intense battle¡­¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 417 - 246 Hui Ethnicity_1 Chapter 417: Chapter 246 Hui Ethnicity_1 Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. About half an hour later, having heard Lin Tianming¡¯s complete explanation, the two of them finally understood the events and reasons behind them. Looking at Lin Tianming, who seemed a bit embarrassed, Lin Tianfeng chuckled and then said, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin truly understands the greater good, and since she has accepted Tianming¡¯s invitation, she should stay at Golden Horn Mountain with peace of mind.¡± ¡°With Fairy Qin joining us, our overall strength has greatly increased, and the hope of surviving the tide attack is much greater.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingrong also began to chime in with a smile. ¡°Yes¡­ Fairy Qin, rest assured, this place is quite safe. There¡¯s no need to worry about safety, and if you need anything, just ask. Our Lin Family takes the treatment of our guests very seriously!¡± ... The earnest words and sincere attitudes of the two men made Qin Xi feel somewhat embarrassed. Having calmed down, Qin Xi smiled knowingly and then replied: ¡°I thank all members of the Lin Family for their kindness. This young lady will respectfully accept your invitation. Lin Tianming, Lin, has saved my life, so if the two gentlemen have any requests, just let me know and I will not refuse!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ All right, all right, Fairy Qin is still injured and needs to begin closed-door cultivation for recovery as soon as possible.¡± Lin Xingrong responded and then turned to Lin Tianfeng and instructed, ¡°Tianfeng¡­ prepare a cave mansion for Fairy Qin immediately. Unless it¡¯s a matter of great importance, do not disturb her cultivation!¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianfeng nodded fervently like a pecking chicken, eager to show his enthusiasm. He patted his chest and quickly replied, ¡°Twelfth Uncle, don¡¯t worry, leave it to me. I¡¯ll make sure everything is arranged perfectly and won¡¯t cause even the slightest discomfort for Fairy Qin!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin, please follow me!¡± Lin Tianfeng got up, cupped his fists towards Lin Xingrong as a salute, and then gestured for Fairy Qin to follow, taking the lead towards the outside of the courtyard. ¡°Gentlemen, I take my leave. If there is something, you can pass a message to me!¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Qin Xi got up and said a word, then left her contact method, and immediately left the courtyard, led by Lin Tianfeng away from the place. Watching Qin Xi and her companion leave, Lin Xingrong still looked somewhat excited. With Lin Tianfeng there, he was embarrassed to ask too much. Now that they were gone, and only father and son were left, there were no concerns about asking anything. Turning his head, he glanced at the expressionless Lin Tianming and then began to speak. ¡°Tianming, have you and this lady encountered anything?¡± Hearing these words, his father was obviously too sensitive, still incessantly asking questions, as if he somewhat disbelieved his explanations. Lin Tianming sighed helplessly and then stated righteously, ¡°Father¡­ don¡¯t overthink it, the account I just gave of the incident is absolutely true and just a coincidence.¡± ¡°My relationship with Fairy Qin is extremely straightforward and pure, inviting her to Golden Horn Mountain was also a mutually beneficial outcome, with no personal grudges or considerations involved.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words were sincere and devoid of any emotion; indeed, as he had said, Qin Xi, whether in looks or cultivation talent, was an outstanding choice. But one couldn¡¯t develop feelings just by meeting twice, could they? The fact that they met again was a coincidence, his intervention to save her was instinctual, and inviting her to Golden Horn Mountain was out of safety considerations¡ªall this was to establish a collaborative relationship. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanations that did not seem false, it was clear that it was a misunderstanding. Lin Xingrong felt slightly disappointed. In his heart, he actually hoped that Lin Tianming would proactively entertain the idea of finding a partner; after all, he was nearly forty years old and at a marriageable age. Furthermore, a partner was incredibly important for a cultivator. If he found a partner to cultivate with, mutual support could help them both progress further on the path of cultivation. Beyond that, his inherited cultivation potential was very limited and hopes of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage in this lifetime were slim. Therefore, of course, he hoped Lin Tianming would marry soon and have children, enjoying a house full of descendants and fostering even more outstanding offspring¡ªthese were their heartfelt desires. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Xingrong began to give his advice. ¡°You¡¯re not old yet, and matters of affection are still a blank slate for you. Keep your eyes peeled and don¡¯t get lost in beauty. Reflect thoroughly before acting on anything.¡± ¡°However¡­ don¡¯t be too sensitive either. If you encounter a female cultivator you like, take action, and if you really can find a good match, your mother will definitely be happy!¡± Listening to his father¡¯s words, Lin Tianming was speechless once again, and could only agree to everything, before changing the subject to bring the awkward conversation to an end. He let out a long sigh of relief and then said, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve already patrolled the surroundings of Golden Horn Mountain, everything is normal. Now that I¡¯ve arranged everything here, it¡¯s time for me to continue on my way!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Be careful on the road and return quickly!¡± Lin Xingrong nodded and replied. After acknowledging his father¡¯s words, Lin Tianming stood up to bid farewell and left the cave mansion courtyard to head towards the gate of the mountain. Before long, he and the Purple Gold Eagle were high in the sky outside the gate, and with the eagle¡¯s high-speed flight, man and bird set off once again on their journey back to the Hui Ethnicity. ¡­ Half a day later, Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. In the valley where Ye Pinghai was in closed-door cultivation, Lin Tianming came to visit Lin Shikang. Learning of his return to the clan¡¯s territory, Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua also hurried over, and the four men sat together for a leisurely chat. Lin Tianming first inquired about the progress of Ye Pinghai¡¯s closed-door cultivation. After Lin Shikang¡¯s explanations, it was known that Ye Pinghai had almost been in seclusion for a year, and during this time, there had been little disturbances, nor signs of an impending Heavenly Tribulation, just that the spiritual energy gathered here was becoming increasingly dense, surpassing the most concentrated area of spiritual energy in the entire Green Bamboo Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 418 - 246 Hui Ethnicity_2 Chapter 418: Chapter 246 Hui Ethnicity_2 Regarding this, Lin Shikang was equally helpless; after all, he had never attempted to break through to the Golden Core Realm. All he knew about the breakthrough process were some secrets from the ancestral legacy, which was far from a deep understanding. Besides, everyone¡¯s situation is different, and the process of breakthrough varies immensely. It is said that some can draw the Heavenly Tribulation for the Golden Core within half a year, while others may need several years. Therefore, it was not surprising that there had been no news from Ye Pinghai, who had been in seclusion for almost a year. Following that, they exchanged some information about the beast tide attack, and Lin Shikang was particularly concerned about the situation at Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming then shared his experience of the fierce battle with the Golden Fang Beast Clan and how he had saved Qin Xi. Upon learning of this, Lin Shikang and the others were shocked. ... It was hard to believe that Lin Tianming alone had inflicted heavy damage on the Golden Fang Beast Clan, played them like a fiddle, and cleverly resolved the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain. This was a clan led by a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, with seven others from the Initial and Middle stages of the Second Order! Such formidable strength was heavily wounded, the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast Leader killed, and the whereabouts of the Demon Beast Tribe were unknown. They might have retreated deep into the Luoyun Mountain Range or attacked other branches to strike other forces, or moved to other areas. In any case, the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain was resolved for the time being. Whether the Demon Beast Tribe went to other mountain ranges or attacked other forces was not something the Lin Family needed to worry about. After calming down from their shock, Lin Shikang could not help but exclaim, ¡°Tianming¡­ you truly have the guts and the strength, extremely formidable indeed!¡± ¡°But don¡¯t take such risks in the future, it¡¯s not shameful to hunker down within the clan¡¯s territory given the overall lack of strength at Golden Horn Mountain!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ If something were to happen to you, the family¡¯s loss would be tremendous!¡± Lin Shihua also started to instruct. Seeing the two elders giving earnest admonishments, Lin Tianming nodded, patted his chest, and said, ¡°Elders, please rest assured¡­ Tianming knows his limits, and he values his life too much to clash head-on with those beasts!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s sincere attitude, Lin Shikang finally relaxed and then smiled satisfactorily. Lin Tianming also smiled, feeling good, and inquired about the situation of the clan¡¯s territory. ¡°Third Grandfather, has the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory been attacked by the Demon Beast Tribe?¡± On hearing the question, Lin Shihua also started talking about the clan¡¯s territory being attacked, sharing the story of how the clan members fought the Biyun Beasts. Learning that three Second Order Late-Phase Biyun Beasts led the Demon Beast Tribe¡¯s attack on the territory, he couldn¡¯t help but be astounded. Hearing that Lin Shikang alone had fought against three, killing one Second Order Late-Phase Biyun Beast, and that the clan members, together with the Soul-eating Spiders, combined their efforts to kill many Second Order Biyun Beasts. At that moment, Lin Tianming was similarly overwhelmed with shock; it was evident that the Green Bamboo Mountain side also faced a major test. Fortunately, with the united efforts of the clan and at a certain cost, they repelled the Biyun Beast Tribe, thus resolving the crisis. The only regret was that more than forty clan members had perished in the battle, all of whom were the core strength of the family. Such a heavy loss had not even occurred during the great battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. With mixed emotions, the group fell into a brief silence, each harboring a fiery resentment towards the demonic beasts in their hearts. After a while, they calmed down somewhat. Looking at the three elders, Lin Tianming also asked for permission to set off for Luoyun Market as soon as possible. Lin Shikang almost immediately agreed to the request. He was just as concerned about Lin Shilu, considering that both Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain had faced groups led by Second Order Demonic Beasts, indicating the scale of the beast tide should not be underestimated. Given its size, Luoyun Market is particularly susceptible to attracting demonic beasts. In light of this, it was certain that Luoyun Market would be attacked by demonic beasts, possibly by an even stronger tribe than the one faced by the family. Thus, the challenges Lin Shilu faced were no less significant, and his safety was of concern to everyone. At this moment, Lin Shihua spoke up, admonishing him to be extra careful and not take unnecessary risks. Lin Tianming nodded, then stood up to take his leave, preparing to immediately set off for Luoyun Market. Given the urgency of the situation, there was simply no time for a reunion with his mother and the others, he had to hurry to Luoyun Market as fast as possible. Outside the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming sat atop the Purple Gold Eagle, gazing down at the familiar scenery below, no time for nostalgia. After giving the Purple Gold Eagle an instruction, it soared into the clouds, turning into a black shadow, flying at the ultimate speed towards the direction of Luoyun Market. ¡­ Luoyun Market. Outside the Defensive Array, led by two Second Order Late-Stage Cedar Beasts, the rest of the Cedar Beasts gathered together. At this moment, two Cedar Beast leaders bared their fangs and grimaced, looking at the city walls revealed within the formation, their expressions extremely furious. In the great battle ten days prior, several of their Mid Stage and higher demonic beasts even held some advantages. Yet, despite such circumstances, they ended up being taken advantage of by the Human Race, with four First Order Cedar Beasts killed and two other First Order demonic beasts seriously injured. In addition, nearly half of their First Order offspring had died, hugely discounting the strength of the entire Demon Beast Tribe. Having suffered a loss, even Second Order Demonic Beasts with their limited Spirit Wisdom were enraged. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Consequently, the Cedar Beast leader ordered its progeny to form groups, relentlessly ramming the Defensive Array at intervals. After nearly ten days, the defensive formation of the entire market had also been affected to some extent. From the outside, the energy on the surface of the array¡¯s light screen had obviously been significantly weakened, the shield turning from invisible and colorless to a pale yellow now. If the battering continued, it was likely that within half a month, the formation could be completely breached. At this moment, within the formation, atop the massive city walls. Under the leadership of Lin Shilu, eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered together, while hundreds of Qi Refining Cultivators sat neatly arranged in the plaza below the walls. After ten days of recovery, nearly all the cultivators who had been injured in the previous battle had recovered, with only a few who had been severely wounded still not fully healed. At this time, the cultivators couldn¡¯t help but feel angered as they looked at the Cedar Beast Tribe outside. These demonic beasts were too stubborn, having taken a loss they refused to back down and continued to retaliate against the Defensive Array. At that moment, Lin Shilu, watching the demonic beasts outside, furrowed his brows, turned his head to look at the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and then began to ponder. After ten days of recovery, the fighting capability of the Human Cultivators had rebounded to over ninety percent. While the Cedar Beast Tribe had also gained a respite, their strength had been greatly reduced. Aside from the two Second Order Late-Stage beast leaders and four Second Order Mid-Stage Cedar Beasts, the remaining demonic beasts were not a significant threat. However, the way he, along with Su He and Luo Chenggu, had managed to hold their ground for a while previously, they could do the same now. Though their Talismanic Weapons had been somewhat depleted, weakening their strength, resisting for a period of time was not a problem. Under such circumstances, it was worth considering making another sortie to battle the Cedar Beast Tribe once more. Having made up his mind, he voiced his thoughts, seeking the opinions of the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. For the cultivators with clan backgrounds, his idea was no issue at all; in essence, he was merely soliciting the opinions of Su He and the other two Loose Cultivators. Especially Su He, who was tasked with holding off two Second Order Mid-Stage Cedar Beasts, a critical component of their strategy. And with the diminished number of First Order Cedar Beasts, with four dead and two severely injured out of the nine, Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingyuan were more than enough to handle them. The remaining Sun Ruiyang, Li Hongliang, and Liu Zhirong were entirely capable of freeing their hands to alleviate some pressure from Lin Shilu¡¯s trio. Therefore, without question, Li Hongliang and Liu Zhirong were willing to fight again, to further extend their battle achievements. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 419 - 247: Just in Time_1 Chapter 419: Chapter 247: Just in Time_1 At that moment, Lin Shilu looked at Su He with a smirk, his intentions clear without words. Su He turned his head, glancing at everyone, and seeing that all eyes were on him, he thought of how having Liu Zhirong and others to aid in the upcoming battle would also alleviate some of their pressure. With these considerations, he had nothing to worry about and straightforwardly agreed to fight. As Su He agreed to join the battle, Lin Shilu was quite excited. He chuckled, his eyes ablaze with the desire for battle, longing to avenge the deceased Lin Family Members and annihilate the entire Cedar Beast Tribe in one fell swoop. Surveying the crowd and then looking down at the Qi Refining Cultivators, he projected his sonorous voice across the entire plaza. ¡°Everyone¡­ We¡¯ve almost recovered, and the Demonic Beasts still refuse to leave!¡± ... ¡°Since that¡¯s the case¡­ then let us thoroughly exterminate them and avenge our fallen comrades!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, Lin Xingshun was the first to raise his arm and cry out: ¡°Revenge¡­ Slaughter them!¡± Following suit, a host of Lin Family Members began to shout, and in their loud and synchronized voices was a profound aura of murderous intent and vengeance. Inspired by them, the other Qi Refining Cultivators also cheered, and in no time, the battle spirit of the Human Cultivators reached an unprecedented peak. Seeing this scene, Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, feeling very pleased. He slapped his storage bag, took out a Magic Artifact in hand, and then shouted loudly: ¡°Then follow this old man and let¡¯s break out!¡± As his voice fell, Lin Xingcheng waved his sleeve and took out a Token, inputting a Law Decree to open up the market¡¯s Defensive Array. As a gap appeared in the light screen, Lin Shilu leaped forward, leading the way out of the range the Defensive Array covered. Behind him, Su He and Luo Chenggu hastily followed suit, soon joined by Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingyuan leading the throngs of Lin Family Members. The other Qi Refining Cultivators didn¡¯t want to be left behind either, quickly following the Lin Family Members¡¯ lead and emerging outside the array. At that moment, seeing the massive surge of Human Cultivators suddenly appearing before them, the Cedar Beasts, with their fierce and fiendish appearances, seemed somewhat taken aback. Apparently, they hadn¡¯t expected the Human Cultivators to take the initiative to come out and prepare to strike at them. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two Late-Phase Second Order Cedar Beast leaders looked at Lin Shilu and let out a roar to the sky, as if to express their rage. Seeing this, Lin Shilu gave a cold snort, appearing utterly disdainful. And so, neither the Humans nor the Demonic Beasts made a move immediately; deep down, both sides seemed to understand the other¡¯s substantial overall strength. The awkward standoff persisted, with both parties gazing at each other, waiting for an opportunity. Just then, a shadow suddenly appeared thousands of feet in the sky, accompanied by a pleasant chirping sound. At once, every Cultivator, including the Cedar Beasts, looked up into the sky. The shadow, which had been a mere speck, grew larger as it plunged toward the marketplace entrance at an incredibly fast speed, taking form in just a short amount of time. As the distance closed, Lin Tianming could be seen astride the familiar giant bird, the Purple Gold Eagle, and Lin Shilu, one of the first to notice, was immediately overjoyed. He burst into wild laughter, declaring: ¡°Haha¡­ Tian Ming has arrived at such a pivotal moment; these beasts won¡¯t be able to escape now!¡± Hearing this bold proclamation, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng¡¯s eyes widened as they gazed into the sky, indeed spotting the unmistakable figures of the Purple Gold Eagle and Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng also became elated, unexpectedly seeing Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle arriving just in time during this crucial juncture. Others might not be aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, but the core members of the Lin Family were well informed. Lin Xingyuan and his partner understood in their hearts that with Lin Tianming¡¯s addition, the strength of the Human Cultivators would significantly increase. About this imminent battle, with the Cultivators¡¯ side almost holding a sure victory, and with little cost expected. Looking at the excited Lin Family Members, Su He, Liu Zhirong, and the three Loose Cultivators, upon seeing Lin Tianming on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, their formerly solemn expressions began to reveal a hint of a smile. Su He in particular, who had some concerns about the battle, now felt assured of victory with the addition of a Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivator to their side; the fight against the Demonic Beasts was almost a sure win. With these thoughts, any previous complex emotions vanished, his eyes filled with eagerness to start the fight. On the side of the Cedar Beast Tribe, the two leaders, witnessing Lin Tianming¡¯s figure, sensed his not-to-be-underestimated strength merely from the aura he emitted. The two Demonic Beast leaders realized this man was undoubtedly a formidable opponent and couldn¡¯t help but show a look of wariness. Under the watchful eyes of both Cultivators and the Demon Beast Tribe, the Purple Gold Eagle circled over the head of Lin Shilu, with Lin Tianming disembarking to stand shoulder to shoulder with Lin Shilu. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu felt extremely content and laughed, saying, ¡°Tian Ming, your timing couldn¡¯t have been better!¡± ¡°Tian Ming greets Fifteenth Grandfather¡­ How has the market fared recently?¡± Lin Tianming said, bowing in greeting before asking. Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression suddenly shifted slightly before he succinctly recounted the events of the great battle from ten days prior. Learning of the fierce battle his kin had faced and the loss of some Family Members, Lin Tianming felt a heavy weight in his heart. His eyes fixed on the Cedar Beast Tribe opposite him, filled with murderous intent. Seeing his expression, Lin Shilu knew that Tian Ming was truly enraged. A furious Lin Tianming was known to be extremely ruthless and bloody. Lin Shilu patted Lin Tianming on the shoulder, then reminded him, ¡°All right¡­ Now that you¡¯re here, we¡¯ve got a great chance of winning; it¡¯s time to settle the score!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 420 - 247: Just in Time_2 Chapter 420: Chapter 247: Just in Time_2 Lin Tianming nodded, his sharp eyes fixed on the Cedar Beast Tribe, and immediately drew out the Tiangang Sword, ready for a great battle. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing his actions, Lin Shilu shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone, it¡¯s time to make a move!¡± Right after, he leaped forward and charged towards the Cedar Beast Tribe on the opposite side. As Lin Shilu took the lead, the silence was suddenly broken, and the two Cedar Beasts leaders also roared angrily and launched an attack on Lin Shilu. At that moment, Lin Tianming also burst forth, blocking a Cedar Beast that was at the Second Order Late Phase. Behind him, all the cultivators struck out, each choosing their own opponent. The great battle ignited in that instant, with various attacks frequently crisscrossing the sky, and the Cedar Beasts were not to be outdone, their attacks intertwining with those of the cultivators. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky resounded with bursts of explosions, and colorful lights flickered, with the ground shaking from time to time. On the outskirts of the battlefield, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were each engaged in fierce combat with a Cedar Beast leader. The two of them were powerful, and their attacks far surpassed others, inflicting even more damage. As mighty attacks swept out, the terrifying force made one¡¯s scalp tingle. Looking around, within a hundred yards of their vicinity, there were basically no living creatures. Both Demonic Beasts and Human Cultivators all stayed far away, not daring to approach the slightest, since any one of the attacks, if it hit them, would likely result in severe injury or death. Not far from their battlefield, Su He and Luo Chenggu were also embroiled in combat with Cedar Beasts at the Second Order Middle Stage, assisted by Lin Xingyuan and Liu Zhirong, two cultivators at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï With the joint efforts of the four, the previously disadvantaged Su He and his companion managed to gain some upper hand, suppressing the four Medium Stage beasts. Seizing the moment when the Demonic Beasts were repelled, Su He and the others spared some attention to pay heed to Lin Tianming¡¯s battle. By then, Lin Tianming had already exchanged several rounds of fierce blows with the Cedar Beast leader, and under his frantic assault, the Cedar Beast leader was actually at a disadvantage and even sustained some minor injuries. Feeling the burst of his immense strength and repelling the Cedar Beast leader, this scene left Su He and the other cultivators utterly shocked. Before this, they had imagined that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was definitely not weak, but it was beyond their expectation that he, with the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, could actually suppress a Cedar Beast leader at the Second Order Late Phase. ¡°To fight across ranks and still have the upper hand, what kind of terrifying strength is this!¡± Su He couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. Luo Chenggu and Liu Zhirong thought the same, especially Luo Chenggu, who was greatly shaken by the strength Lin Tianming displayed. One had to know that the Lin Family¡¯s power was already formidable, and with a junior like Lin Tianming possessing such terrifying talent, the Lin Family boasted three cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and their strength was still growing. Besides, among the Lin Family Members, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng showed prominent prowess, all displaying exceptional strength. With this in mind, one could imagine, to occupy such a vast territory, the Lin Family must have other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, otherwise, how could they defend such a large ground. Contemplating these matters, Luo Chenggu¡¯s emotions stirred, and he could not help but feel inwardly moved. ¡°The Lin Family¡¯s overall strength, just thinking about it is frightening!¡± ¡°It looks like when I get back to the family, I must discuss with my second brother. From now on, the Luo Family must keep a low profile, or even be prepared to bow down to the Lin Family!¡± While Luo Chenggu harbored such thoughts, the others were all unaware, busy dealing with the Demonic Beasts. Above in the high sky, Lin Tianming repelled the Cedar Beast leader with a sword strike, and the pained beast couldn¡¯t help but let out a piercing roar. Seeing this, Lin Tianming shouted loudly, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, let¡¯s finish this quickly and see who among us gets rid of this beast first!¡± Confronted with the contest proposed by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu replied with a cold laugh, ¡°Hmph¡­ You¡¯re indeed strong, young man, but this Demonic Beast isn¡¯t a pushover either. You think you can beat me? That¡¯s absolutely impossible!¡± After saying that, Lin Shilu¡¯s Overturning Mountain Seal glowed brightly with golden light, as he forcefully smashed it down onto the Cedar Beast leader opposite him. Lin Tianming, too, refused to fall behind. Since a competition had begun, he naturally exerted all his strength to win. Indeed, his actions were purposeful. Since he could not conceal his cultivation strength, he might as well display it to everyone present, letting them witness the Lin Family¡¯s power, so that in the future, all within the Luoyun Mountain region would hold the Lin Family in awe. Thus, when Lin Tianming and the others acted, they held nothing back, putting forth their full strength with every strike. With earth-shattering sounds echoing around, like the war drums of cultivators, everyone¡¯s morale surged, and they pushed the already faltering Cedar Beast Tribe into further retreat. Above in the sky, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword moved swiftly in his hands, and the dense Sword Qi covered the heavens, engulfing the body of the Cedar Beast leader. On the ground, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had started to operate, covering a vast range that encompassed the Cedar Beasts, then began to slowly constrict the space. In addition, with the aid of the Thousand Beast Banner, a torrent of Demonic Beast Souls surged forth, attacking and tearing at the Cedar Beast leader. Meanwhile, the Cedar Beast leader was dodging the bombardment of Sword Qi while frantically destroying the Demonic Beast Souls. With each swipe of its claws, a varying number of Demonic Beast Souls were burst asunder, eventually dissipating into the cosmos. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was not the least bit distressed. The souls within the Thousand Beast Banner had reached a considerable number, and he still had many more Demonic Beast Souls that had yet to be refined into it. Although the assault of the Demonic Beasts was fearsome, it allowed for the collection of a large quantity of Demonic Beast Souls, quickly enhancing the power of the Thousand Beast Banner. Such an opportunity was not easily found under normal circumstances. Given this, the early losses were inconsequential, for if they could eradicate this group of Demonic Beasts, they would soon be replenished. Without any remorse, Lin Tianming controlled the Demonic Beast Souls to recklessly charge forward, and soon a portion of them broke through and latched onto the body of the Cedar Beast leader, starting to tear and bite. In pain, the Cedar Beast leader thrashed angrily and spat out a great number of ice spheres in retaliation, clashing with the Sword Qi released by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The fiery Sword Qi and the ice spheres collided violently, with the ice spheres immediately bursting apart, scattering across the ground like a celestial maiden spreading flowers, creating numerous holes in the terrain. The Cedar Beast leader swiftly maneuvered to avoid the falling shards of ice spheres from the sky. Before it could catch its breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s next attack swept over. The previous move was merely a probe to attract its attention; this one was even more powerful, unleashing the fifth of the Tiangang Ninth Swords. With a stunning, dragon-like stream of fiery Sword Qi shooting forth, all eyes were drawn to it. Those lower-order Demonic Beasts and cultivators, upon seeing the terrifying pale-gold Sword Qi, ceased their attacks and became momentarily dumbfounded. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the formidable Sword Qi moved incredibly fast, emerging from the dense mass and charging directly towards the Cedar Beast. Feeling the Sword Qi¡¯s speed and fearsome power, the Cedar Beast leader became panicked, attempting to flee in its alarm. But Lin Tianming would not let it escape so easily. While managing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to suppress the beasts, he also urged the souls within the Thousand Beast Banner, firmly dragging the Cedar Beast leader, leaving it no time to deal with the incoming Tiangang Sword Qi. As the Sword Qi drew ever closer, the Cedar Beast leader could feel the blazing heat it emitted. Desperate to live, it knew it had to dodge; otherwise, it would surely die here. It twisted its body with all its might, moving faster than ever before. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword Qi accelerated even more, silently descending. In utter despair, recognizing it could not dodge the attack, the Cedar Beast leader made a decisive choice immediately. If it could not avoid it, it had to minimize the damage; life could yet offer a chance to turn things around, but death would leave no opportunities. In the critical moment, it flipped and arched its back, evading its vital areas. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 421 - 248 Victory_1 Chapter 421: Chapter 248 Victory_1 In that instant, the Tiangang Sword Qi had already descended quietly, striking directly at the tail of the Cedar Beast Leader. ¡°Pu¡­¡± A grating sound, followed by the wails of the Cedar Beast Leader, carried through the air. Upon closer inspection, the Tiangang Sword Qi had pierced right through the tail of the Cedar Beast, leaving behind a bloody hole as large as a bucket. Simultaneously, scalding blood spurted out, its crimson color appearing exceedingly vivid and delivering a profoundly shocking visual impact. The enormous body of the Cedar Beast Leader lay half in a deep pit, writhing in agony, struggling to stand up, and hobbling towards another comrade. ... It hoped to regroup with its kind and seek help, but the other Cedar Beast Leader was also in a dire state, being forcefully driven back by Lin Shilu and incapable of attending to it. At this moment, Lin Tianming watched the Cedar Beast Leader attempting to flee, his resolute face breaking into a gratified smile. He was very satisfied with the power of his sword strike, as it had severely injured the beast leader. Although it did not take the Cedar Beast Leader¡¯s life outright, it was clear that the injured beast¡¯s strength was greatly diminished. The struggle was merely a desperate gasp for survival, and death was simply a matter of time. The cultivators who witnessed this strike were all stupefied, unable to believe that a Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beast could be so easily incapacitated. They had assumed that even if Lin Tianming emerged victorious, it would require considerable effort; however, the difference from what they expected left them reeling once more. While the cultivators were still marvelling, Lin Tianming walked towards the stumbling Cedar Beast, intending to end its life. Gazing at the approaching Lin Tianming, whose expression bore not a hint of vivacity, and his cold, merciless eyes, the Divine Cedar Leader felt a sense of terror and finally sensed the approach of death. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It struggled furiously, seeking to flee the dreadful human, but injured as it was, its speed was too slow. Not just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even a Qi Refining Cultivator could catch up with it. In its desperation, the Tiangang Sword Qi in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand descended once more, cleaving the head of the Cedar Beast right off. With the thud of a blood-drenched head hitting the ground, the body of the Cedar Beast Leader fell, stirring up a cloud of dust that obscured everyone¡¯s vision. When the dust settled slightly, they found that the demonic beast no longer moved, its scarlet blood pooling into a puddle on the ground. This bloody scene, alongside the large eyes on the severed head still wide open, definitively declared the fact of the beast¡¯s death. Just then, another gruesome cry echoed from not too far away, followed by the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground. Lin Tianming looked up to see Lin Shilu withdrawing his Overturning Mountain Seal, and the Cedar Beast he had been fighting lay motionless on the ground, evidently slain by him. Lin Shilu, looking towards Lin Tianming with a somewhat joyous expression, said, ¡°You lad, you were a hair faster than me!¡± ¡°It was just luck. The one that Fifteenth Grandfather fought was clearly more powerful!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t wrong; though both Cedar Beast Leaders were Second Order Late Phase, there were distinct differences in their strength. Despite Lin Tianming killing his opponent first, when it came to real power, he was still no match for Lin Shilu. However, he estimated that the gap between them was not large. In a life-and-death struggle, victory and defeat could hinge on a single thought; often, one moment of hesitation could affect the final outcome. Under such circumstances, who could ultimately emerge victorious among them was truly unpredictable. Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts and assessments weren¡¯t much different from Lin Shilu¡¯s, but Lin Shilu knew well that even if his own strength had a slight edge, his chances of victory were not as good as Lin Tianming¡¯s. He understood Lin Tianming too well after fighting side by side with him for many years and experiencing numerous life and death crises together. To Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming was meticulous, cunning, resolute, and audacious. Such a character could often unleash greater strength at critical moments. Thus, Lin Tianming¡¯s power was not inferior to his own, and with each advancement in cultivation, the gap would only widen further, eventually far surpassing all Lin Family members. Thinking of these things, Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. ¡°This kid has grown up now, surpassing the older generation in strength. He no longer needs us old folks to shield him from the wind and rain.¡± Lost in his thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s words brought him back to reality. ¡°Elder Wu, let¡¯s quickly help the others eliminate the Demonic Beasts to avoid any mishaps and to prevent further sacrifice among our clansmen.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, and then they both stepped forward, heading towards where Su He and Luo Chenggu were fighting. At that moment, Luo Chenggu and Su He were each battling a Demonic Beast, with Lin Xingyuan and Independent Cultivator Liu Zhirong assisting nearby. Two Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivators and two at the Third Level were split into two groups, each facing a Second Order Middle Stage Cedar Beast. With their paired efforts, they both gained the upper hand and tightly suppressed the Cedar Beasts. As Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu joined the battle, the already disadvantaged Cedar Beasts were further besieged, with no chance or means to resist. They lasted only two more strikes before they were ruthlessly slain by the two men. Following the demise of several High Order Cedar Beasts, the surviving Cedar Beast Tribe, already at a disadvantage, were killed off one after another under the ferocious assault of the cultivators. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 422 - 248 Victory_2 Chapter 422: Chapter 248 Victory_2 Now that the Demon Beast Tribe was headless, it began to collapse, and many demonic beasts were scared out of their wits, fleeing in all directions. In the midst of the chaos, Lin Xingshun leapt into the air and his booming voice resonated. ¡°Fellow cultivators, the Demon Beast Tribe has completely collapsed and has begun to scatter and flee, we must not miss this opportunity, let¡¯s chase them down and eliminate them all!¡± In fact, it made no difference whether Lin Xingyuan said this or not! Because whether it was members of family powers or loose cultivators, everyone was well aware that these defeated demonic beasts were on their last legs, dying or injured, and could barely exert any strength at all. In the eyes of the cultivators now, they were nothing but moving Spirit Stones or resources; if someone was slow to act, they might not get anything at all. ... Therefore, no one would miss this opportunity to kick someone when they were down, let alone pass up these resources. As expected, once the demonic beasts began to escape, many cultivators chased after them. Loose cultivators Li Yuancheng and his wife were the first to charge. The couple worked together, and no Late Stage First Order demonic beast could withstand their attacks for more than a few exchanges. Around them, a large number of cultivators were hunting down demonic beasts, and the whole scene was in utter chaos. In the few directions where demonic beasts were fleeing, only the Lin Family Members were faring a bit better, under the speed and strength of the Purple Gold Eagle, not a single demonic beast could escape and was easily killed by the Purple Gold Eagle. At this point, atop the city walls of the Market City, Lin Tianming and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood together, each watching the battle ahead. As expected, in this great battle, the side of the cultivators would emerge completely victorious. It was not hard to imagine that, under such pursuit by the cultivators, very few of the Cedar Beast Tribe would be able to escape, and they might even be wiped out entirely. At this moment, the crowd¡¯s expression relaxed; the gloom before the great battle had already dissipated, replaced by knowing smiles. Lin Tianming was in good spirits. While keeping an eye on the Lin Family Members with Lin Shilu, they chatted casually, waiting for the great battle to conclude. Soon, the noises gradually ceased, the light streaking across the sky faded, and the sky slowly returned to normal. This brutal battle ended with the cultivators¡¯ victory, and ninety-nine percent of the Cedar Beasts lay dead, with only a few scattered demonic beasts escaping. Now, looking outward from the city wall, one could see a vast area littered with corpses, the ground stained red with blood, a scene that resembled a purgatory on earth. At this time, many cultivators were clearing the battlefield, each scavenging useful items from the demonic beasts, from Demon Cores to Artifact Refining Materials, and even Souls and flesh were not spared. All the cultivators were visibly joyful; they had survived the grim battle and were now basking in the joy of victory and the rich spoils of war. However, as the uncontested spoils were scavenged, those put to death in the siege or killed separately ¨C owned by those who perished in the ensuing battle ¨C these spoils became ownerless and were soon contested by the cultivators. It¡¯s easy to share hardships, but sharing wealth is hard; people are inherently selfish and greedy, and that is human nature. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some Qi Refining Cultivators fought over the ownerless items, attracting the attention of all cultivators and once again stirring up the silence. Soon, Lin Xingshun arrived at the scene with a few clan members and managed to stop the fighting cultivators. After understanding the situation, Lin Xingshun comprehended the course and cause of the events. Clearly, those who took action were coveting more spoils of war, seeking loopholes. Although the Lin Family had set rules before the great battle, they had not actually specified the ownership of these ownerless items. In this way, their scramble was not in violation of the Lin Family¡¯s regulations. Luckily, it was just loose cultivators who were involved, without any background powers to complicate matters further. Nevertheless, the situation was not easy to handle; there were not a few ownerless Demon Beast Corpses, at least a hundred, and though they were just First Order, their cumulative value was also quite high. Even for a family like the Lin Family, it was impossible to remain indifferent and simply overlook this. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, if the Lin Family were to claim all the spoils, it would likely cause public outrage, while distributing them to the cultivators would also be challenging due to the difficulty in measuring fair shares, and uneven distribution could easily cause dissatisfaction among the cultivators. Therefore, Lin Xingshun felt helpless about the outcome of the matter and could only ask Lin Shilu to make a decision. Soon, Lin Xingshun arrived at the top of the city wall. In the presence of several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he explained the cause and effect of the matter to Lin Shilu and asked for his decision. At that moment, Lin Shilu let out a wry smile to himself. The situation was indeed tricky; before the previous battle, there simply hadn¡¯t been the mood or time to set these terms, and now it had become an issue. He turned his head, communicating privately with Lin Tianming, asking for his opinion and decision on the matter. Lin Tianming pondered for a moment and felt that if the Lin Family alone kept the spoils, although others might not dare to say anything, they would definitely feel discontent. The Lin Family had always been known for its sincerity and had never intended to oppress Loose Cultivators or other families excessively. In that case, it would be better to openly distribute some to them, while also winning their hearts. After all, the onslaught of the Demonic Beasts had not completely subsided, and they might be attacked by other Demon Beast Tribes at any moment. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming transmitted his opinion to Lin Shilu, and then they discussed the specific distribution proportions for the various groups. Quickly, the two reached a consensus on the matter, and Lin Shilu, in front of everyone, began to instruct Lin Xingshun. ¡°This victory was achieved through the efforts of everyone, whether from the major families or the Loose Cultivators, all did their utmost,¡± ¡°Since everyone has made an effort, they should indeed receive a share of the spoils!¡± Lin Shilu first recognized everyone¡¯s merits, also praising the Qi Refining Cultivators, which elicited excitement and emotion from the crowd. At this point, some Cultivators even began to cheer, clearly very much appreciating the Lin Family¡¯s decision and praising Lin Shilu¡¯s character. Lin Shilu waved his hand to interrupt the cheering Cultivators and continued: ¡°As for the unclaimed items, they will first be recorded in the ledger by the Lin Family. In the end, the Lin Family will take forty percent, and another twenty percent will be distributed among the major families; the remaining forty percent will go to the Qi Refining Cultivators!¡± Hearing these words, some Qi Refining Cultivators were surprised; they hadn¡¯t expected the Lin Family to be so generous, offering a full sixty percent to the Qi Refining Families and Qi Refinement Realm Loose Cultivators, which was beyond their expectations. But with the Lin Family being so generous, they certainly wouldn¡¯t refuse; no one would think they had too many spoils. Soon, the outcome of the matter was decided, and Lin Xingshun carried out the distribution according to this plan. With clear regulations and a distribution plan in place, no one objected or obstructed, making the process much smoother. Under the leadership of Lin Xingshun, the Cultivators began to clean up the battlefield with great vigor, followed by the distribution of the spoils. ¡­ Half a day later. In a grand hall of the Market City Hall, Lin Shilu sat in the highest seat, surrounded by Lin Tianming, Su He, and others in order. Below them, representatives of the Qi Refining Cultivators sat neatly on cushions. Li Yuancheng and his wife were seated in the front row, mostly surrounded by Qi Refining Clanspeople of the Lin Family or other Cultivators with distinguished battle achievements. In these two rounds of battles, the couple had distinguished themselves. They had slain no fewer than twenty Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts. With such incredible battle achievements, their place in the front row did not elicit any skepticism. It could be said that, except for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and people from Foundation Establishing Families, no one wanted to provoke them, nor dared to question this outcome. Sitting in this position was also an affirmation of their fierce battle achievements. After all, in the Cultivation World, strength is paramount, and the strong are respected everywhere. At this time, the entire hall was quite silent, except for a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were conversing above, the Qi Refining Cultivators below did not even dare to breathe loudly, all sitting quietly, waiting for the small meeting to begin. With the battlefield cleaned up and the distribution of ownerless items completed, everyone was satisfied with their lot, and the Market City had returned to its normal operation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 423 - 249 Post-Battle Gathering_1 Chapter 423: Chapter 249 Post-Battle Gathering_1 Now that the busy work was over, it was natural for the cultivators to gather. Lin Shilu summoned several Foundation Establishment Cultivators and representatives of the Qi Refinement realm in order to report on the post-battle results, the cultivators¡¯ losses, and to discuss the subsequent arrangements. After all, the beast tide had not yet passed, and the market needed to maintain constant vigilance. It was also crucial to understand their own strength to make the right preparations to cope with the next crisis. Looking over the crowd, Lin Xingshun confirmed that all the participants had arrived before standing up to announce the start of the meeting. As the host and de facto controller of the market, Lin Xingshun began with some pleasantries, which the Qi Refining Cultivators greatly appreciated. Some of the Qi Refining Cultivators even took this opportunity to offer compliments and ingratiate themselves. ... Lin Xingshun smiled and waved his hand to stop the flattery before saying, ¡°The Cedar Beast Tribe has been exterminated; it¡¯s time to report the results and losses of the battle!¡± Upon hearing these words, the vast majority suddenly took a keen interest, eagerly focusing their attention. Clearly, the cultivators were more concerned with the reports of the battle¡¯s outcome, listening intently to every word. Though the beast tide was not yet over, everyone was deeply invested in the roster of battle results, as it related to the ultimate honors and rewards. At that moment, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming sat with composure, their satisfied smiles reflecting the fiery enthusiasm in the eyes of the cultivators below them. Lin Xingshun gestured, and the hall quieted down once more. He walked in front of Lin Shilu and bowed before reporting on the situation of the Lin Family members. According to Lin Xingshun¡¯s report, with this battle concluded, the Lin Family had lost three Qi Refining clanspeople: one at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement and two at the Sixth Level; there were four seriously injured, but the number of those lightly wounded was negligible. The losses were much less than during the first battle. This level of casualty, given the scale of the skirmish, was not significant and provided some relief to Lin Tianming and his peer. As for the gains, they greatly exceeded expectations. Besides the two Second Order Late Phase Cedar Beasts killed by the two of them, the Purple Gold Eagle had independently slain a Second Order Initial Stage Cedar Beast, in addition to a kill from Lin Xingyuan in the first encounter. As for the demise of other Second Order Demonic Beasts, members of the Lin Family were involved, able to claim a significant share of the spoils. From this perspective, the high-order combat power of the Demon Beast Tribe had essentially fallen at the hands of the Lin Family, which was a weighty presence in the larger battle. On the part of the Qi Refining clanspeople, through proficient cooperation, they had accumulated a significant kill count over the two battles: nearly a hundred First Order Late Stage beasts, and altogether more than four hundred of the early and medium stage beasts, amounting to roughly forty percent of the total. It could be said that in the team resisting the beast tide assault, the Lin Family members had contributed the most, both the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the Qi Refining members, achieving astonishing battle accomplishments and gains. By this time, hearing Lin Xingshun¡¯s report on the Lin Family¡¯s battle results, the hall buzzed with discussion amongst the Qi Refining Cultivators. The strength of the Lin Family was overwhelming, achieving such dazzling accomplishments in this battle, profoundly impacting many in their hearts. And for the safety of Luoyun Market, the Lin Family had truly given their all. It was conceivable that with increased security, more loose cultivators and shops would be attracted to settle in the market over time. The populace of the market would grow, and the Lin Family¡¯s power would further increase. Consequently, most people began to hold the Lin Family in even higher regard. At this time, seeing the reaction of the cultivators in the hall, Lin Shilu was genuinely moved and relieved. Lin Tianming felt the same. After this battle, the image and influence of the Lin Family would definitely rise, and their efforts were rewarded. Regaining his focus, Lin Xingshun calmed the excited cultivators before continuing to report on the achievements of the other cultivators. According to his tally, during this battle, over one hundred and ten other cultivators had fallen, with more than sixty seriously wounded. The loss was less than the first, and within their expectations. After all, the strength of the Demonic Beasts was considerable. Had it not been for the timely arrival of Lin Tianming and the involvement of the Purple Gold Eagle, victory would have been uncertain, and the casualties would likely have been greater. The announcement of the cultivators¡¯ achievements attracted considerable attention. As expected, Li Yuancheng and his wife topped the rankings among those other than the Foundation Establishment Cultivators through their formidable prowess. With their overwhelming strength and seamless cooperation, they managed to kill fifteen First Order Late Stage Cedar Beasts over the two rounds of battle. Such achievements were incredibly fearsome, drawing the focus and hot discussions among numerous loose cultivators. Following the couple, Lin Xingshun, with his Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, also killed eleven First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, closely followed by Chen Jingshan with eight kills. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides that, many of the Lin Family members ranked high in battle results, and those from other Qi Refining families also had notable performances. Pure loose cultivators who made it into the top thirty were few. This was not surprising, as there were already few loose cultivators at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining in the market, and with lower strength and treasures, it was difficult to stand out among many competing cultivators from the families. As the report on achievements concluded, the lively atmosphere persisted. With a look to Lin Shilu, Lin Xingshun then found a spot to sit down. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 424 - 249 Post-war Gathering_2 Chapter 424: Chapter 249 Post-war Gathering_2 Lin Shilu also stood up, his stern gaze sweeping over the cultivators present, instantly silencing the gathering. Seeing this, he let out a chuckle and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, after these two consecutive battles, we have finally eradicated the Cedar Beast Tribe. I am very gratified and wish to thank everyone for their contributions to the market.¡± ¡°Rest assured, fellow Daoists; your efforts are well remembered by our Lin Family, and we will not forget the promises we made!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words once again excited the Qi Refining Cultivators, who also felt much relieved; a few even began to offer compliments. Lin Shilu waved his hand to cut off those who were speaking and then continued, ¡°Although the Cedar Beast Tribe has been wiped out, the beast tide has not passed. We will still need everyone to unite and continue to defend our position until the tide has completely receded.¡± ¡°As for the promised rewards, they will be distributed to everyone according to their achievements as soon as the beast tide is over!¡± ... No sooner had the words been spoken than some cultivators smiled and said, ¡°Elder Lin, rest assured, if there are more demonic beasts attacking, we shall give it our all!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ even if another Cedar Beast Tribe comes, we will surely exterminate them and catch up to the combat achievements of that couple, Li and his wife!¡± Listening to the words of the cultivators, Lin Shilu chuckled and did not interrupt; instead, he chatted casually with everyone, further closing the distance between them. The lively meeting continued for half an hour, during which many issues concerning the market were discussed, and numerous arrangements were made. Seeing that matters were nearly settled, Lin Shilu then announced the conclusion of the meeting and dismissed the cultivators. As the Qi Refining Cultivators exited, Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming, Su He, Luo Chenggu, and others chatted leisurely for a while before, after a few formalities, they departed from the Market Hall, leaving a few Lin Family Members behind. Once the others had left, Lin Shilu, looking at the few core family members who remained, started chatting with a smile. Previously occupied with the great battle, the family members had had no time to sit down together; now that they were at ease, it was natural to exchange some news. Particularly Lin Shilu, who had considerable concerns about the family and Golden Horn Mountain, inquired about the situation at the first opportunity. Lin Tianming chuckled and then shared the situation at Golden Horn Mountain and the course of his battle with the Gold Fang Beast Clan, eliciting shock from everyone. Even Lin Shilu, who knew Lin Tianming very well, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°This youngster truly has boundless courage, but his strength is indeed formidable!¡± Lin Xingyuan and the others were still in shock at this point, despite having witnessed his great strength in the earlier battle with the Cedar Beast Tribe. But it was still hard for them to imagine that he, at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, had confronted an entire Gold Fang Beast Clan alone. Lin Xingyuan clenched his fists, his heart murmuring, ¡°What kind of courage and strength is this? Ordinary people can¡¯t even think of killing a Second Order Late Phase Gold Fang Beast, let alone escaping unscathed!¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s faces flush with excitement, Lin Tianming coughed, pulling them back to reality. Lin Tianming continued to share his experiences after leaving Golden Horn Mountain, encountering Qin Xi, rescuing her, and bringing her back to Golden Horn Mountain. Hearing this part of the story, Lin Shilu¡¯s interest was piqued, his eyes fixed on Lin Tianming, his mind evidently calculating something. Seeing him with this expression, Lin Tianming¡¯s face reddened, and he began explaining hastily, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Time passed as they talked over a cup of tea, and eventually, the topic was settled, and everyone finally returned to calm. Lin Shilu breathed a sigh of relief; with another cultivator joining Golden Horn Mountain, their safety could be further enhanced. ¡°Tianming, how is the situation with our family?¡± Lin Shilu asked. Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming then continued his story, recounting his experience upon returning to Green Bamboo Mountain and the family¡¯s battle against the Biyun Beasts. This time, everyone was not too shocked, perhaps because they had been desensitized by Lin Tianming¡¯s earlier battle with the Gold Fang Beasts. Learning that the family¡¯s elite had mobilized in full force to defeat the Biyun Beast Clan, but had also lost several dozen of their own, their expressions grew somewhat melancholy. Lin Tianming offered a few words of consolation; as cultivators, they knew that making sacrifices during a beast tide was all too normal, so they quickly recovered. Thereupon, Lin Shilu changed the subject and asked, ¡°Tianming, what are your plans moving forward?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the market is safe for the time being, and I plan to rest here for the night to adjust my condition. I will return to Golden Horn Mountain tomorrow.¡± Lin Shilu nodded his head, aware that the defenses of Golden Horn Mountain were the weakest and that it was indeed inappropriate to stay away for too long, so he didn¡¯t consider asking him to stay. Returning his focus, he instructed, ¡°Then rest assured and depart after a good night¡¯s rest. Be careful on your way, and don¡¯t take any more risks!¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming nodded, and the conversation among them shifted as they began to make small talk. As a pot of tea time passed and the sky grew dark, Lin Tianming and his fellow clan members stood up to say their farewells. Seeing their tired expressions, Lin Shilu did not hold them back any longer, immediately allowing everyone to go and rest. Before leaving, Lin Shilu took out a storage bag filled with Monster Beast Souls that he had instructed Lin Xingshun to collect, specially prepared for Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the storage bag, and upon scanning it with his Divine Sense, he was overjoyed. This storage bag contained quite a number of Jade Bottles, nearly several hundred in quantity. Each Jade Bottle contained a Cedar Beast Soul of varying ranks, with the lowest being at the First Order Middle Stage. Not a single Second Order Demonic Beast Soul was spared, all were included. It was evident that they had been collected specifically for him; this quantity almost made up the majority of Cedar Beast Souls above the First Order Middle Stage within the entire Cedar Beast Tribe. Appreciating Lin Shilu¡¯s kindness, Lin Tianming did not decline. The Thousand Beast Banner had lost many Monster Beast Souls after several rounds of fierce battles, resulting in a decrease in the banner¡¯s power. With this batch of large quantity and high-quality Monster Beast Souls, as long as he refined all of them into the banner, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner would undoubtedly return to its peak, or even further enhance its power. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was quite excited, almost wishing he could begin refining the Thousand Beast Banner right then and there. However, now was not the time; he needed to hurry back to Golden Horn Mountain, and the refining would have to wait a few days. Gathering his thoughts and seeing that he indeed needed these and could make the best use of the Monster Beast Souls, he stopped being polite with Lin Shilu. He pocketed the storage bag and after giving Lin Shilu a fist salute to express his thanks, he left the great hall. It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived at the Cave Mansion District where the Lin Family Members resided. This place was located at the southernmost part of the market¡¯s residential area, where the concentration of Spiritual Energy was one of the densest in the entire market. As the Lin Family intensified their presence in Luoyun Market, the number of clan members visiting each year increased, and the original cave mansions were too small to accommodate everyone. Therefore, they cordoned off this area specifically as a resting place for Lin Family Members. Looking at the tidy courtyards, Lin Tianming walked to the farthest reaches and stopped in front of one. He produced the Family Token and activated the Law Decree. As the barrier opened, he stepped inside. After walking down a long corridor, he chose a room, entered, and collapsed onto the bed to sleep. Having been on the road for several days and after experiencing a major battle, he was not injured, but his spirit was utterly exhausted. He closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep slumber, as even breathing sounds began to emanate from the room. The next morning. As dawn broke, while others were still cultivating or deep in sleep, the quiet Luoyun Market saw the figure of Lin Tianming emerge. After a night¡¯s rest, his spirits had greatly recovered, his body shone with vitality, and he was nearly at his peak condition. He decided not to disturb the other clan members and planned a stealthy exit from the market to return to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Shortly, he left the market without any issues and arrived at a mountain top outside, using the dim morning light to release the Purple Gold Eagle. Lin Tianming mounted the Purple Gold Eagle, and as it soared into the sky, it turned into a dark silhouette, flying towards the direction of Golden Horn Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 425 - 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_1 Chapter 425: Chapter 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_1 At dusk, within a courtyard in the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, Lin Tianming and his son sat opposite each other, enjoying tea and casual conversation. Since Lin Tianming had left Luoyun Market, the cautious man made a round trip around the vicinity of the market to ensure there were no traces of large-scale Demon Beast Tribe, before he embarked on his journey back to Golden Horn Mountain. After spending the better part of the day traveling, he finally managed to return to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory before twilight. Upon learning of his return, Lin Xingrong, who had been worried, relaxed. He promptly asked for a gathering and remembered to send word to Lin Tianfeng to join them. While the father and son chatted, Lin Tianming first inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s condition. ... According to his father, Qin Xi was still in seclusion and definitely would not make an appearance in the short term unless there was a Demon Beast attack on the clan territory. Lin Tianming nodded; Qin Xi had been injured, and it had only been a matter of days since his departure. Such a short time would not be enough for her to recover to peak condition. Furthermore, as a Loose Cultivator, she wouldn¡¯t often join them. She would undoubtedly be cultivating in seclusion, only appearing when necessary. While he pondered, the protective formation flickered and then Lin Tianfeng entered the small courtyard. Seeing Lin Tianming had returned, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face brightened, and he immediately greeted him with a smile. Lin Tianming gave a cupped-fist salute in return, then invited Lin Tianfeng to sit and drink tea. Now that everyone was present, Lin Xingrong nodded and first asked about the situation at Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianfeng reported that the area around Golden Horn Mountain had been quiet lately. Clan members responsible for patrolling the gates had not spotted any large-scale movements of Demonic Beasts, encountering only some First Order Demon Beasts wandering around, posing no threat to Golden Horn Mountain. The whole of Golden Horn Mountain was as usual, with everyone focusing on their cultivation. However, there was no slack in defense and patrol. Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his father nodded in agreement; they were confident in leaving this matter to Lin Tianfeng. After all, Lin Tianfeng had previously served in the Enforcement Hall, and his experience in defense matters was much richer than theirs. Next, Lin Xingrong asked Lin Tianming about the situation at the family clan and Luoyun Market. Lin Tianming did not hold back, revealing every detail about the situation in both places. Learning that the family and Luoyun Market had experienced a great battle, where dozens of clan members had fallen, the mood of both men became somewhat somber. Lin Tianming offered some words of comfort, aware that conflict would inevitably lead to sacrifices, and even as Foundation Establishment cultivators, they still risked falling during a beast tide. Fortunately, everything was fine in both places, and the sacrifices, they concluded, were not too substantial. Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng then accepted reality. Once calm had been restored, the three began discussing their plans for what was to come. For this matter, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have many ideas. Given that the beast tide had not yet passed, they had no choice but to remain on guard at Golden Horn Mountain. Sometime later, after chatting for half an hour and confirming their duties, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong would continue their seclusion for cultivation, Lin Tianfeng would be responsible for overseeing the clan members, and they could communicate with each other if anything arose. With everything arranged, they each stood up and then left the small courtyard. Lin Tianming returned to his Temporary Cave Abode and immediately entered the secret chamber. Sitting on the meditation mat, several Jade Bottles were arrayed before him, containing Monster Beast Souls given to him by Lin Shilu. Current circumstances were not suitable for long-term seclusion; beast fights could happen at any moment. In such a situation, his time was short and unstable; it was an ideal time for alchemical work or Magic Artifact enhancement. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It so happened he had many Monster Beast Souls on hand. Even if he fully committed to the task, it would still take ten days to half a month. He planned to use this time to refine the Monster Beast Souls into the artifact to quickly enhance the power of the Thousand Beast Banner, preparing for any upcoming confrontations. Having made up his mind, he closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and began performing breathing exercises. An hour passed, and Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his condition at its peak. He took out the Thousand Beast Banner, casting Law Decrees upon it, and its fabric blazed with Spiritual Light, illuminating the dim chamber. Then, he picked up a Jade Bottle and released the Monster Beast Soul. The Monster Beast Soul floated mid-air, its ephemeral shadow flashing within a sphere of light, screeching ferociously at Lin Tianming, baring its fangs. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Lin Tianming scoffed. This was the Soul of a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, which couldn¡¯t even be his match while alive, much less in death. With a single sweep of his hand, Lin Tianming grabbed the Monster Beast Soul; it struggled fiercely the moment he grasped it, attempting to break free. Unconcerned, Lin Tianming continued to enhance the Thousand Beast Banner. When the timing was right, he began sealing the Monster Beast Soul within it. Already accustomed to the process, his expertise meant that even the Beast Soul¡¯s resistance was a futile act. At this moment, Lin Tianming flicked his fingers repeatedly, striking the Thousand Beast Banner with Law Decrees. The Monster Beast Soul resisted in vain, ultimately succumbing to the successful refinement. After an hour, the Thousand Beast Banner glowed, signifying that the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Soul had been successfully sealed inside. Feeling the fluctuations coming from the Thousand Beast Banner, and seeing its dazzling brilliance, Lin Tianming was very pleased. The power granted by this Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast was comparable to that of several hundred First Order Demon Beasts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 426 - 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Chapter 426: Chapter 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Looking at the remaining spheres of light, along with the numerous Second Order Demonic Beast souls, he was overjoyed, thinking how much the power of the Thousand Beast Banner would increase if he refined and sealed all the souls. Regaining his focus, he did not rest for a moment, and continued the refining process. In the chamber, bursts of light and low roars of Demonic Beasts emanated repeatedly; every so often, the light from the Thousand Beast Banner grew brighter, and with it, its aura became increasingly formidable. ¡­ The Yuxu Mountain Range. Located in the eastern part of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the Yuxu Mountain Range¡¯s vast territory, filled with dense forests and terrain of thousand oddities, spanned several times the size of the Luoyun Mountain Range. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... In the southeastern corner of the Yuxu Mountain Range, within a beautiful valley, appeared an enormous cluster of buildings, majestic and ancient, exuding a sense of time-worn grandeur. Looking around, the valley was rich in Spiritual Energy, with large Spirit Fields and scattered building complexes reflecting off each other, presenting a unique charm and elegance. At the entrance of the valley, a massive stone bore the vigorously carved characters of Myriad Medicine Valley. This was the location of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s sect gate, which had dominated this land for tens of thousands of years. Among the Golden Core forces of Wei Kingdom, Myriad Medicine Valley had the most ancient history and formidable foundation and strength, often being the strongest force among the three major sects. However, despite its formidable strength, Myriad Medicine Valley acted very discreetly, seldom participating in struggles among forces and rarely reported to have bullied the weak. Its just and low-profile manner of conduct, coupled with an aversion to making enemies, garnered widespread approval from the Cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. This might be the reason why Myriad Medicine Valley had thrived for so long, standing tall over the millennia without falling. On this day, the sky was clear, and beams of sunlight pierced through the clouds to shine on Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s sect gate. In the central region of the valley, within the core area of Myriad Medicine Valley. A row of wooden pavilions stood behind a vast square, and upon closer inspection, every pavilion was constructed from centuries-old Tianyou wood. Tianyou wood, being Second Order Superior wood-attributed Spirit Material, possessed excellent flexibility and hardness, and was extremely valuable, ranking as one of the top Artifact Refining Materials. Myriad Medicine Valley had used such precious Spirit Material to construct more than a dozen pavilions of various sizes, truly reflecting the strength and wealth of a Millennium Sect. This area with the pavilions was the core area of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s sect gate, accessible only by the Sect Elders and True Disciples. Ordinary cultivators had no qualification to enter. In a secret chamber of one of the pavilions. Seated at a higher position was an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a grey Daoist robe, his stern face betraying the strength and vicissitudes of a seasoned powerhouse. This person was none other than Zhou Yunxiao, the current Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley. He had led Myriad Medicine Valley for over a hundred years, with his Mid Stage Golden Core realm cultivation, making him a veteran Golden Core Cultivator in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Below him, two other Golden Core Cultivators sat. One was Zhu Yun of the Zhenyang Sect, whose cultivation was at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. Holding a position of great authority within the Zhenyang Sect, he was ranked as the Third Elder and was a seasoned Golden Core Cultivator. The other was Song Hanchun from the Golden Sword Sect, also at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. As the fourth elder of his sect, he was renowned in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Inside the grand hall, the three nodded to each other. As the host and the one who initiated the invitation, Zhou Yunxiao promptly opened his mouth to express his welcome. At this moment, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun exchanged glances and then turned their heads toward Zhou Yunxiao, reciprocating with a clasped fist in return. Observing the eerily quiet atmosphere, Zhou Yunxiao chuckled and directly spoke to break the stalemate. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the beast tide has now fully erupted, and our respective territories have suffered ferocious attacks from the Demonic Beasts. May I inquire about your situations?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he then roughly recounted the situation of the Zhenyang Sect. According to his description, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s territory had been fiercely attacked by Demonic Beasts. Led by four Third Order Demon Beasts, several mountain ranges had been trampled, and more than ten Foundation Establishing Families were exterminated. After they received the news, Zhenyang Sect didn¡¯t only defend their sect gate. Instead, they sent several Golden Core Cultivators along with over a thousand sect disciples to fight a fierce battle against the Monster Beast Legion in the Hengqiu Mountain Range. Both sides sustained injuries, and the situation had been at a stalemate. Immediately after, Song Hanchun and Zhou Yunxiao also shared the situation of their own sects. The circumstances of the Golden Sword Sect were similar to those of Zhenyang Sect, but the Golden Sword Sect faced even greater pressure. Although there were only three Third Order Demon Beasts, the scale of the Monster Beast Legion was extremely large, and they had paid a significant price to temporarily hold back the beasts. Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s situation was not much better. Although they had temporarily fended off the beasts, the demonic beasts would launch an attack every so often, and each battle resulted in the loss of many sect disciples. If this continued for an extended period, even if they managed to annihilate all the demonic beasts and secure victory, the elite progeny of Myriad Medicine Valley would likely suffer great losses. Such a victory would also be a pyrrhic one for the Golden Elixir Forces, who would take more than a hundred or two hundred years to recover their Yuan Qi. As the few of them exchanged information about the beast tide, their expressions turned ugly as they pondered counterstrategies. Soon, each of them offered several suggestions but, due to their respective standpoints, the three parties were unable to reach a consensus. At this point, the meeting reached an impasse, and no one spoke further, plunging the room back into silence. Seeing the silent Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun, Zhou Yunxiao sighed, then spoke up to break the deadlock. ¡°I wonder¡­ what do the two fellow Daoists think about forming an alliance between our three factions?¡± Hearing this, it was clear that Zhou Yunxiao had long held this idea, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have invited them to discuss negotiations. Understanding this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded, then fell into deep thought. Currently, across the entire Wei Kingdom, almost every place was resisting the beast tide. Among them, the battles on the lands of the Golden Sword Sect to the north and Myriad Medicine Valley were particularly fierce. The beast tide had been raging for nearly a month, and the powers of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World were essentially scattered like a sheet of loose sand, each fending for itself. Under such conditions, quite a few of the capable Foundation Establishing Families had been wiped out by the demonic beasts. Overall, although the Wei Kingdom had not completely collapsed, if the situation continued like this, the kingdom would suffer heavy losses, even if not entirely destroyed. And now, as the scale of the beast tide grew larger, the pressure on all the forces, including the Golden Elixir Forces, was mounting as well. Amidst such grim circumstances, if they did not take some measures, the losses would surely continue to climb. Thinking about all this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun furrowed their brows, feeling a tinge of anger toward the beast tide assault in their hearts. While the two were silent, Zhou Yunxiao continued, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the purpose of inviting you here was to discuss forming an alliance. Since you both have come, I assume you share this sentiment to some extent.¡± ¡°Since that is the case, let¡¯s not beat around the bush and directly discuss our conditions and suggestions!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun exchanged glances, as if they had reached some sort of agreement. At that moment, Zhu Yun took the lead and said, ¡°An alliance is not out of the question, but we can¡¯t let our three Great Sects fight valiantly at the forefront while those Loose Cultivators and families pick up easy gains!¡± As soon as the words were out, Song Hanchun chimed in agreement. ¡°Exactly, we¡¯re fighting to the death up front while those family forces and Loose Cultivators do nothing and still make it through the crisis. That¡¯s hardly fair.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao silently nodded in agreement; he himself thought the same. Despite the fact that the strength of the several Golden Core Forces was among the best in the Wei Kingdom, in addition to the three major Sects, there were also Two Great Golden Core Families present in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Beyond that, there were several hundred Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and together with those Loose Cultivators, they could form a powerful alliance that could instantly overwhelm the three Great Sects. In such a situation, it was indeed difficult for them to accept being the ones who put everything on the line. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 427 - 251 Recruitment Order_1 Chapter 427: Chapter 251 Recruitment Order_1 Having regained his composure, Zhou Yunxiao said, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for us Three Great Sects to risk our lives in vain. Why don¡¯t we issue a Recruitment Order to gather Foundation Establishing Families and Loose Cultivators to fight against the beast tide together!¡± ¡°A Recruitment Order?¡± Zhu Yun couldn¡¯t help but be stunned, summoning other family forces and Loose Cultivators to battle had not happened in the Wei Kingdom for several hundred years. In the Cultivation World, a Recruitment Order, to put it simply, means offering some recompense to forcibly mobilize those forces or Loose Cultivators weaker than them to join their camp. Fearing their strength, these families or Loose Cultivators, even if reluctant and unwilling, would send people to participate to avoid being targeted or retaliated against later, not wanting to offend the forces at the Golden Core Stage. Considering this, Zhu Yun spoke up, ¡°The beast tide attack is vexing, but surely it doesn¡¯t warrant issuing a Recruitment Order!¡± ... After he had finished speaking, Song Hanchun nodded and then added a sentence. ¡°Daoist Zhu speaks the truth, issuing a Recruitment Order can easily offend others and is generally reserved for crises that threaten the entire Cultivation World. We shouldn¡¯t issue it lightly!¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No sooner had the words fallen than Zhou Yunxiao rebutted with a smile, ¡°The beast tide doesn¡¯t only threaten our Three Great Powers; other forces are also under attack. Isn¡¯t this a crisis that endangers the whole Cultivation World?¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun couldn¡¯t help but smile, seeming somewhat tempted. The beast tide had emerged not only on their territories, but in over ninety percent of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s land, there had been incidents of Demonic Beasts attacking. Under the ferocious onslaught of the Demonic Beasts, numerous forces had been annihilated or had suffered tremendous losses. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a major event? Doesn¡¯t it endanger the entire Cultivation World?¡± With this thought, the two no longer opposed the idea of the Recruitment Order and promptly expressed their agreement. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao chuckled and the group began discussing the specifics of the Recruitment Order and the compensation needed. In a short while, they had initially agreed on the terms, but there was some disagreement over the price to be paid for the Recruitment Order. After all, there were quite a few families and Loose Cultivators to be summoned, and with other forces also in dire straits, offering just Spirit Stones and ordinary treasures was unlikely to attract Cultivators to join. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao thought for a moment and then had a sudden flash of inspiration. He smiled and then said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the Tianfeng Secret Realm is about to open. We could offer some entry spots as rewards. I¡¯m sure that could attract many family forces and Loose Cultivators to respond to the Recruitment Order!¡± ¡°Using entry spots for the Tianfeng Secret Realm as rewards?¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun were intrigued and began to ponder. The Tianfeng Secret Realm is a Profound Secret Realm and is the only known realm of its kind within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Inside the dangerous realm, there is a wealth of Demonic Beasts as well as many opportunities, including Spiritual Medicines and Fruits that assist in the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. The Tianfeng Secret Realm opens once every two hundred years, offering only one hundred spots for entry. Any Foundation Establishment Cultivator, whether at the first layer or at Great Perfection, can enter smoothly without any age restrictions. Unlike wandering secret realms that leave no trace and whose opening times can¡¯t be predicted, the Tianfeng Secret Realm is nothing like unclaimed property. This realm opens at fixed times and at a specific location, jointly owned by the Three Great Golden Core Sects, thirty spots each, with the remaining ten spots auctioned off. The proceeds from the auction are then divided evenly amongst the Three Great Sects. The origin of the Tianfeng Secret Realm dates back three thousand years when it was discovered by a Loose Cultivator. It quickly became famous, eventually sparking a great conflict among the Three Great Sects. Initially, the three powers sustained losses against one another, and the ownership of the realm remained undecided. Finally, after the strongest members from the Three Great Sects clashed and nearly came to a draw, and considering their forces were evenly matched with each restraining the others, none wanted to let other powers reap the benefits. Since neither was assured of vanquishing the others, they eventually came to a peace agreement, each obtaining thirty entry spots. The issue of the secret realm was thus settled and has been stably opening for three thousand years. The Three Great Sects have been able to maintain their power for nearly three thousand years, bolstered by this realm. The use of entry spots to the realm to issue a Recruitment Order does have precedent; the most recent being a thousand years ago when the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Country Cultivation World united to invade the Wei Kingdom. At first, the Three Great Sects joined forces to fight back, but the overall strength of Huangyang was superior to that of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, resulting in a series of defeats with heavy losses for the Three Great Sects. In desperation, the Three Great Golden Core Sects of Wei Kingdom jointly issued a Recruitment Order, offering entry spots to the Tianfeng Secret Realm as a reward. They amassed many Foundation Establishing Families and Loose Cultivators into the Wei Kingdom¡¯s army. With the advantage of fighting on their own terrain and after a prolonged hard battle where many Cultivators fell, they finally repelled the invading forces from Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Back then, the Lin Family had not yet officially established itself, and could only learn of this sensational battle through historical records. After much contemplation, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded at each other, as if they had made a decision. Seeing this, Zhu Yun said, ¡°Using entry spots to the Tianfeng Secret Realm as rewards to issue a Recruitment Order is indeed feasible.¡± ¡°However, this matter is of great importance. As a mere individual, I cannot make the decision alone; I must return to my Sect and report to the elders before we can confirm.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 428 - 251 Recruitment Order_2 Chapter 428: Chapter 251 Recruitment Order_2 As the words fell, the person beside him, Song Hanchun, nodded and agreed. ¡°Indeed¡­ This matter is of no small importance, and we alone cannot bring it to pass; it must go through the Elders¡¯ Council¡¯s deliberation. Only if more than half of the elders agree can it be confirmed!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao smiled and then nodded, saying, ¡°What the two Daoist friends have said, Zhou naturally understands.¡± ¡°The intensity of the beast tide attacks is increasing by the day, and the Recruitment Order matter cannot be delayed. The two Daoist friends might as well set off for the sect immediately, to discuss with several fellow Daoists. Once there¡¯s a result, notify me at the earliest convenience.¡± ¡°At that time, we will join hands to issue a notice and then dispatch some disciples to visit those family clans worth inviting to formalize the matter of the Recruitment Order.¡± ... ¡°Hmm¡­ that is indeed feasible!¡± Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded in response. ¡°Haha¡­ There¡¯s no time to delay. I won¡¯t hold you two Daoist friends any longer, and once there¡¯s a result, our three parties will dispatch a Golden Core Stage Cultivator at the earliest time to take charge of preparing this matter!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said. Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded, then got up and cupped their fists. Zhou Yunxiao returned the gesture and personally escorted the two out of the great hall. Outside the great hall, Zhou Yunxiao instructed a disciple waiting outside, Zhao Mingli, ¡°Mingli, see Daoist Zhu and Daoist Song off for me!¡± ¡°As per the master¡¯s command!¡± Zhao Mingli bowed and replied, then faced Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun with a cupped-fist salute, ¡°Please, two senior predecessors!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Daoist Zhou, we shall meet again later!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°We shall meet again later!¡± Zhou Yunxiao replied, then watched as Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun and their companions left the pavilion, flying towards the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. ¡­ Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed. Zhenyang Sect. That day, at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, on a vast square. At this moment, the square at the mountain gate was already filled with dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, both men and women, whose cultivation uniformly was at the Fourth Level of Foundation Building or above, all of them the backbone of the Zhenyang Sect. Dozens of cultivators, dressed uniformly, sat neatly on the ground, some familiar ones started to chat idly, guessing at the purpose for which the Sect Leader had summoned them. There were various discussions among the crowd, with many guessing that they were going to be sent out of the sect to fight on the frontline against the Demon Beast Army; the cultivators with this thought wore somewhat melancholic expressions. In the crowd, some cultivators inquired with each other or discussed the situation on the frontline, making the scene extremely lively for a time. As a whooshing sound approached, everyone promptly stood up and saluted the man in front of them with cupped fists, bowing in greeting. ¡°Junior greets Uncle-Master Zhu (or Grandmaster)!¡± The newcomer was Zhu Yun, who had been invited to the Golden Core gathering at Myriad Medicine Valley. He stood in front of everyone and, after nodding and scanning the assembled cultivators, projected his booming voice. ¡°At ease!¡± As everyone completed their salutations and looked up at Zhu Yun, their expressions varied, but most of them appeared nervous, seemingly fearful that Zhu Yun would assign them to the frontline to partake in the great battle. Seeing this expression on everyone¡¯s faces, Zhu Yun¡¯s own countenance grew displeased, thinking to himself that these disciples were too lacking in resolve, one and all too fond of life and afraid of death, and really not cut out for significant tasks. He snorted coldly, silencing those with pale faces, but he didn¡¯t say much more, considering that most of these disciples were the personal successors of his fellow senior brothers or were their recorded disciples. If he spoke too much, it could easily offend others. After all, they weren¡¯t his disciples. Whether or not they shaped up had nothing to do with him, as long as his own¡­ Regaining his composure, Zhu Yun looked at the several disciples among the crowd. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he nodded his head in satisfaction. A moment later, as the crowd fell into silence, he finally spoke, ¡°Everyone, the Sect Leader has summoned you because there is a very important task for you all!¡± ¡°There is no need for me to explain the situation with the beast tide, as I¡¯m sure you are all well aware. The sect, in order to cope with the increasing pressure on the front lines, has already formed an alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley and the Golden Sword Sect. We plan to issue a Recruitment Order to summon those families with fairly strong abilities and Loose Cultivators to join the Demon-Hunting Army.¡± Upon hearing this, many disciples showed expressions of shock, not expecting that the Recruitment Order, which hadn¡¯t been issued in nearly a thousand years, would now be issued again at this time. ¡°Has the situation at the front deteriorated further?¡± ¡°Or perhaps the Human Race has suffered heavy losses; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t resort to using this Recruitment Order!¡± Many Cultivators secretly speculated but dared not show any peculiar expressions, obviously fearing another reprimand from Zhu Yun. At this time, Zhu Yun spoke again, ¡°You have been summoned here to assign tasks to you. Each pair of you will be responsible for the Foundation Establishment Families of one mountain range and the propaganda tasks for both large and small markets.¡± Having said this, Zhu Yun waved his hand and took out a book from his storage bag, flipping it open casually. After perusing a moment, he found a particular line on the third page that mentioned the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, as well as the Sun Family of Flying Eagle Mountain, including Luoyun Market. It seemed that both the Lin Family and Sun Family were targets for the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s impending Recruitment Order, while the Luo Family, still existing, was not on the list, seemingly not valued enough by the Zhenyang Sect. After flipping through a few more pages, Zhu Yun then began to read out the names of some Cultivators and the areas they were responsible for. ¡°Zhou Ke¡­ responsible for the propaganda task in Flame Residence Mountain Range for the Liu, Luo, Gu, and Hu Families, as well as Flame Residence Market!¡± ¡°Su Muxue¡­ responsible for the propaganda task in Blue Moon Mountain Range for the Li, Chen, and He Families, as well as Blue Moon Market!¡± Zhu Yun read out the names of more than a dozen disciples in one breath, also mentioning the names of more than a dozen family areas. The disciples whose names were called stepped forward, responding with a cupped fist and then quietly waiting on the side. At this moment, Zhu Yun nodded and then continued with a loud voice before the crowd. ¡°Li Huafeng¡­ responsible for the propaganda task in Luoyun Mountain Range for the Lin Family, Sun Family, and Luoyun Market.¡± ¡­ A quarter of an hour passed, and all the family names and market names recorded in the book had been read out. More than twenty Zhenyang Sect disciples responded with a cupped fist, accepting the task of conveying the Recruitment Order. Zhu Yun looked at the disciples who had their names read, then took out more than twenty golden tokens, throwing them toward the disciples, who caught them steadily. Following that, Zhu Yun said, ¡°Those who have been named, pick a partner each, and then head to the Spirit Beast Garden to claim a Cloud Luan Crane. Set off tomorrow morning and rush to the families and markets you need to convey within one month.¡± ¡°As long as you show the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Token, they must dispatch at least one member above the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level to Qianchuan Market or Dragon Mountain Market within two months!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Furthermore, it is essential to clarify one thing: any Cultivator participating in the Recruitment, be they Loose Cultivators or from family clans, if they make significant contributions in the battle against the beast tide, the top thirty will receive either one Foundation Establishment Pill or a Hidden Dragon Pill.¡± ¡°Those who rank in the top ten for contributions in the entire Demon-Hunting Army organized by the three Great Sects can earn a spot to enter Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Those with exceptionally great merits will not only receive a spot but will also be awarded a significant amount of cultivation resources.¡± The disciples showed surprise and shock once again upon hearing this. Unexpectedly, the Sect and the other two Great Golden Core Sects had agreed on such rewards, for without them, those families or Loose Cultivators would not easily agree. If some incentives weren¡¯t provided, their tasks would not be so easily accomplished. At this time, the disciples refocused their minds, answering with a cupped fist, and then under Zhu Yun¡¯s supervision, they began choosing their partners. Soon, dozens of Cultivators picked their partners, and after arranging their tasks, Zhu Yun didn¡¯t delay any further, directly dismissing everyone. At Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate and Golden Sword Mountain Gate, a similar scene unfolded. Under the summons of the sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators, disciples of their respective Sects took on the task of recruitment. Subsequently, these disciples tasked with duties set out in different directions at different times. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 429 - 252: Qin Xis Provocation_1 Chapter 429: Chapter 252: Qin Xi¡¯s Provocation_1 Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Inside a secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with a jade bottle haphazardly toppled over in front of him on the ground. Above his head, the Thousand Beast Banner hung in mid-air, rapidly spinning as he hammered it with Law Decrees, one after another. Time was difficult to track, but eventually, a flash of light sparked, and the banner of the Thousand Beast Banner glinted with golden light, followed by the sounds of demonic beasts¡¯ roars. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, he opened his eyes and looked at the brightly shining Thousand Beast Banner, a satisfied smile on his face. He had been in secluded meditation for more than twenty days, refining the Thousand Beast Banner during the day and taking elixirs to cultivate at night. After more than twenty days, he had sealed all the monster beast souls he had into the Thousand Beast Banner. ... As the number of monster beast souls increased, including the souls of nine second-order Cedar Beasts, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner surged insanely. By his estimation, the current power of the Thousand Beast Banner was at least more than twice as strong as before. Such an increase in power was beyond his expectation and pleasantly surprising. Yet this was a good thing; with such a boost, the Thousand Beast Banner, combined with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, would make him even more formidable in battle. Regaining his focus, he waved a single hand and caught the Thousand Beast Banner that hung above his head, then fondled it lovingly. After a moment, he collected the disarrayed jade bottles in front of him and then stepped out from the secret chamber. It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived at Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling. Upon hearing of his emergence from seclusion, Lin Xingrong came out of his secret chamber, summoned Lin Tianfeng as well, and the three of them sat in the small courtyard, drinking tea, chatting leisurely and exchanging news about recent developments. According to Lin Tianfeng, over these past twenty days, Golden Horn Mountain had been lucky to remain calm and peaceful. Despite occasional small-scale demonic beast attacks on the clan territory, these beasts were not in large numbers and were easily slaughtered by Lin Tianfeng leading some of the clansmen or driven away from around the territory. Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected that after encountering the Golden Fang Beast Clan and a fierce battle that left them severely wounded, they would disappear without a trace. He had anticipated that in the near future, other large groups of second-order demonic beasts would attack, but instead, they hadn¡¯t encountered any demon beasts of considerable strength. Unless led by a second-order late-phase demon beast or in overwhelming numbers, second-order demonic beasts posed no real threat to Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Refocusing, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Father, Brother, this beast tide feels a bit strange¡­ After the first wave of strong demonic beasts, the rest seem to get weaker, and it¡¯s unclear where they have gone.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded and continued. ¡°It¡¯s too strange. I stayed near the mountain gate for nearly two months and, aside from encountering a group of over a hundred beasts led by a first-order demon beast that attacked our clan territory ten days ago, we haven¡¯t seen any other groups of powerful beasts.¡± ¡°Since the largest demon beast tribe was not very strong, there was no need to disturb you.¡± ¡°I led the team myself, and with the help of our clansmen, we easily defeated this beast tribe. That second-order initial stage beast was severely wounded by me. Had that creature not fled so quickly, it would have surely died at Golden Horn Mountain.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong was also surprised. After regaining his composure, he inquired, ¡°How are the casualties among our clansmen?¡± ¡°No one has fallen; only four clansmen suffered severe injuries. However, they should recover with some time spent in secluded cultivation!¡± Lin Tianfeng replied. Lin Tianming and his father both nodded, then breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Tianfeng was still quite prudent in his actions. Since he had led the clansmen into battle alone, he must have been fairly confident; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have initiated an attack that would result in pointless sacrifices among their people. Returning to the matter at hand, Lin Xingrong said, ¡°This beast tide is indeed strange. It might be that the Luoyun Mountain Range is more remote, so the density of demonic beasts is lower here.¡± ¡°Or perhaps the demon beast army has gathered them together to attack the more powerful families and clans!¡± ¡°Or they¡¯re conserving power, readying themselves for an even larger attack in the near future!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°Father¡¯s predictions are quite likely!¡± ¡°Given the massive scale of the demonic beasts, it shouldn¡¯t be this simple. Although Wei Kingdom is not the epicenter of the demonic beast outbreak, such a mild response is indeed unexpected.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ it¡¯s been too quiet lately, eerily quiet!¡± said Lin Tianfeng. Lin Xingrong nodded and then declared, ¡°No matter the reason, we will meet the challenges as they come. We must remain vigilant at all times, and keep up with our scouting and defense protocols!¡± ¡°Father¡¯s right, the more it stays like this, the less we should relax, and the more cautious we need to be.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, I will go out for a thorough inspection and scout for new information; you and Brother continue guarding the clan territory!¡± ¡°Good¡­ With your absence, we haven¡¯t expanded our scouting range for a while, and it¡¯s time for a detailed survey,¡± Lin Xingrong replied. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and then said: ¡°Then it¡¯s decided; I will set out early tomorrow morning, scouting as thoroughly as possible, and I¡¯ll inform you both immediately if there are any developments!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s prepare to depart,¡± Lin Xingrong said. Waving his hand, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianming got up, bowed, and then left their father¡¯s cave dwelling together. ¡­ On the next day at dawn, with the morning glow already risen, Lin Tianming walked out of his dwelling into the streets paved with blue stone. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 430 - 252 Provocation by Qin Xi_2 Chapter 430: Chapter 252 Provocation by Qin Xi_2 He glanced around at the several cave abodes nearby, which belonged to the Lin Family members at the Foundation Establishment stage who were cultivating. Among them, Qin Xi had also been arranged to cultivate in one of the cave abodes. During this nearly one-month period, she had never left the courtyard and had no idea how the situation was now. As Lin Tianming was pondering, a beautiful figure accompanied by a faint fragrance appeared before him. Lin Tianming looked up and saw the person coming, it was undoubtedly the Qin Xi he had been thinking about. At this moment, with a smile on her lips, Qin Xi had concluded her one-month retreat, her injuries and spiritual power fully recovered, radiating an indescribable glow. And today, as she came out of her retreat, she coincidentally met her savior, Lin Tianming, which couldn¡¯t help but bring her some secret joy. ... She came back to her senses and graciously bowed toward Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, this young lady pays her respects.¡± Seeing Qin Xi approach, Lin Tianming smiled and promptly cupped his hands in return, saying, ¡°Fairy Qin, there is no need for such formality.¡± ¡°How is Fairy Qin¡¯s injury? Has it fully recovered?¡± ¡°Are you accustomed to Golden Horn Mountain?¡± Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s several caring inquiries, Qin Xi felt a warm current surge in her heart. She giggled and said, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Lin. My injuries have all recovered.¡± ¡°As for cultivation, the scenery of Golden Horn Mountain is like a beautiful painting, and it¡¯s so safe. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve troubled your noble clan, and for that, I¡¯m somewhat embarrassed!¡± Looking at Qin Xi¡¯s enchanting smile, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart skip a beat, then he waved his hand and said, ¡°That¡¯s just a trifle, Fairy Qin needn¡¯t worry about it. Moreover, should a Demon Beast Tribe attack this place, we would hope for Fairy Qin¡¯s assistance!¡± ¡°Giggle¡­ That¡¯s only natural!¡± Qin Xi covered her mouth with a laugh in response, then continued to ask, ¡°Lin, how has the beast tide been recently? Has anything major happened?¡± ¡°Fairy Qin is overly concerned, Golden Horn Mountain has been quite peaceful lately; we haven¡¯t found any large-scale tribes¡¯ tracks, and I don¡¯t know why.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi had anticipated this. If there had been any demon beast attacks on the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory during her seclusion, Lin Tianfeng and the others would have surely sent her a message. Since she hadn¡¯t received any messages, it naturally meant everything was normal. Her active inquiry regarding this matter was also to show that she cared about the situation, leaving a good impression on the Lin Family, lest by not inquiring she might be misunderstood. Regaining her composure, she chuckled and then asked a question. ¡°Lin, where are you off to now? Do you have time to join my mother and Daoist Tianfeng for a gathering at my retreat? It would serve as a small token of my gratitude too, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a look of surprise, and after pausing for a moment, he regretfully said, ¡°Fairy Qin, I¡¯m about to patrol outside the clan, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have time to attend!¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi puckered her cherry lips, then replied, ¡°Is that so¡­ then I¡¯ll make a special invitation to you another day!¡± ¡°However, Lin, I don¡¯t have anything to do right now, so why don¡¯t you take me with you, as a way to contribute even a little to your noble clan?¡± ¡°Fairy Qin plans to accompany me on the patrol?¡± Lin Tianming asked with some confusion. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded and then said somewhat helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ve just recovered from my injury, and apart from cultivation, I have nothing else to do.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve been in seclusion for cultivation for a few years now, and I¡¯m a bit bored. I plan to go out with you to clear my mind, and accompanying you would also provide some mutual support, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not directly refuse Qin Xi¡¯s request, but he also didn¡¯t immediately agree. He was very aware that long-term seclusion for cultivation was not necessarily a good thing for one¡¯s state of mind. If one were to remain in seclusion for many years, the improvement in cultivation would usually be very limited. More importantly, being in seclusion for too long without undergoing trials and gaining experience could lead to stagnation in cultivation at best, or at worst, to becoming possessed, turning into a bloodthirsty creature. At that point, such individuals would be shunned by all cultivators and even become enemies of the Cultivation World, facing endless pursuit and attack. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming found no reason to refuse. Regaining his composure, he showed an expression of difficulty and said, ¡°Fairy Qin, are you sure you¡¯ve considered this thoroughly? Once we leave Golden Horn Mountain, it will not be as safe without the protection of the formations.¡± ¡°If we encounter a large-scale demon beast tribe, or even several Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, it could be life-threatening!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi pursed her lips as if a bit annoyed. She herself was at least a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and although her strength did not match Lin Tianming¡¯s, dealing with an ordinary Second Order Middle Stage Demon Beast was still well within her capabilities. Following Lin Tianming, as long as they did not encounter too powerful a Demon Beast Tribe, she still had the confidence to come back unscathed. Regaining her composure, she put on an upset expression and said, ¡°Lin, you must not look down on me. Although I am no match for you, dealing with a Second Order Middle Stage Demon Beast is a piece of cake.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Lin, if we encounter a powerful Demon Beast Tribe, you can just leave me behind, I absolutely won¡¯t hold you back!¡± Upon hearing these resentful words, Lin Tianming¡¯s old face reddened. As a man, how could he abandon her and flee alone? He also wouldn¡¯t let Qin Xi look down on him, or else it would be too shameful. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming then spoke up, ¡°Alright, isn¡¯t it okay if I agree!¡± When Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement, her heart blossomed with joy. It was unexpected that this despicable ruse would be so effective. She rejoiced secretly in her heart but did not show it, for fear that Lin Tianming would notice. At that moment, Qin Xi looked up to see Lin Tianming¡¯s cheeks slightly red and excitedly said, ¡°You said it yourself, Lin. Then let¡¯s set out as soon as possible!¡± Lin Tianming nodded his head and then took the lead with a step, flying in the direction of the sect¡¯s gate. Following behind him, Qin Xi kept pace with his steps, and the two arrived at the plaza behind the gate very quickly. At that time, Lin Tianfeng was sitting in the plaza, meditating with his eyes closed, constantly attentive to every move at the sect¡¯s gate. Seeing Lin Tianming and Qin Xi landing in the plaza, he immediately went over to them, greeting with a salute from a distance. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi returned the gesture, greeting each other with clasped hands. The three of them gathered together, and Lin Tianfeng, seeing Qin Xi after many days, asked with concern about her injuries. Qin Xi smiled lightly and replied, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Daoist Tianfeng. My injuries have healed, and I can now relieve our family of some worries!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded and then turned to Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tianming, are you planning to take Fairy Qin with you to patrol the sect¡¯s gate?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said somewhat helplessly, ¡°Fairy Qin said that being in seclusion for too long has made her feel restless. She wants to join me for a walk outside, to do something for the family as well.¡± Hearing this explanation and finding it reasonable, Lin Tianfeng nodded without asking further. ¡°Then take care and make it a quick trip!¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Brother, we¡¯re off then!¡± Lin Tianming clasped his hands in farewell and then took out the token, opening a gap in the Defensive Array. With a swift movement, he appeared outside the array. Qin Xi also made a formal salute, then without looking back, followed Lin Tianming¡¯s steps and flew out of the array. Outside the array, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side; Lin Tianming looked composed, while Qin Xi seemed excited. Seeing her slightly flushed face, she was rather charming, stirring his spirit unexpectedly. For some reason, every time he saw her profile, his heart surged uncontrollably. Lin Tianming collected his spirit, finally managing to calm himself, then released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. Looking at the Purple Gold Eagle before him, it had become even more powerful, almost reaching the limit of the Second Order Initial Stage. Lin Tianming¡¯s face revealed a gratified smile. Since the Purple Gold Eagle had advanced to the Second Order, it had swallowed many Second Order Demon Cores and consumed countless Second Order Demon Beasts. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With several Second Order Late-Phase Demon Cores in his hands, he planned to keep them for the Purple Gold Eagle to use in breaking through minor boundaries; for now, Second Order Initial or Middle Stage cores would suffice. ¡°After this patrol mission is over, we can try letting the Purple Gold Eagle consume one or two Second Order Middle Stage cores to see if it can reach the Second Order Middle Stage,¡± he thought. ¡°If it can successfully break through, it will be able to provide even greater help in future battles.¡± Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, and Qin Xi immediately followed suit. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the Purple Gold Eagle instantly took off and darted toward a certain direction outside. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 431 03-25 - 253: An Unexpected Encounter with Li Huafeng_1 Chapter 431: Chapter 253: An Unexpected Encounter with Li Huafeng_1 S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The following day, at noon. The scorching sun shone upon the earth, gradually increasing the temperature. A large cluster of clouds gathered in the sky, covering a vast area. It seemed that a downpour was soon to arrive below the clouds. North of Golden Horn Mountain. At this moment, on a mountain peak near the Luoyang Mountain Range, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle was revealed. With their backs on the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, gazing thoughtfully at a distant mountain peak. ... Since they left Golden Horn Mountain, they first flew south for more than three hundred li, then began circling around, using Golden Horn Mountain as the center point for their surveillance. After a day and a half of searching, they had almost completed their patrol of an area spanning over seven hundred li in radius. Reaching the borders of the Luoyun Mountain Range and two other major mountain ranges also signaled the nearing end of their surveillance mission. Despite their meticulous investigation, they had discovered very few Demonic Beasts. Not even a single Second Order Demonic Beast had been found, which was quite strange. At that time, Lin Tianming looked in the direction of the Luoyang Mountain Range and said to Qin Xi beside him, ¡°Fairy Qin, this area is eerily calm, what are your thoughts on this?¡± After hearing the inquiry, Qin Xi pondered for a moment before starting to express her view. ¡°The first wave of the moisture assault has already passed, and the Demonic Beasts are likely accumulating strength, or they have all gathered in some place to prepare an attack on a bigger target!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? The opinions expressed by Qin Xi were similar to those of Lin Xing Rong. At present, family powers within the Cultivation World, including Loose Cultivators, were all plunged into deep trouble. Communication between Cultivators was scarce, and news about other regions and forces was hard to come by. Therefore, families like the Lin Family could only blindly speculate about the progress of the attacks by the Demon Beast Tribes. Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. For now, all they could do was speculate. Since they couldn¡¯t get accurate information, they had to make their defensive measures even more meticulous to prevent any opportunity for Demonic Beasts to exploit. ¡°Fairy Qin, ahead is the Luoyang Mountain Range. We have already patrolled a sufficient area, we just need to search this remaining bit and then we can return,¡± Lin Tianming said. Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, and the two of them hopped back onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, preparing to make their way back to Golden Horn Mountain. Just as the Purple Gold Eagle was about to take off, Lin Tianming had it stop, then stared intently in the direction of the Luoyang Mountain Range, a cautious look on his face. Seeing his sudden expression, Qin Xi was clearly puzzled. ¡°Lin, has there been some major event or have you found traces of a Demon Beast Tribe?¡± Upon hearing these questions, Lin Tianming regained his composure. He raised his hand, pointing ahead, and said leisurely, ¡°There are fellow Zhenyang Sect Cultivators approaching from ahead!¡± When Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming¡¯s reminder, she frowned slightly. Her cultivation and Divine Sense were far inferior to Lin Tianming¡¯s, so it was natural that she hadn¡¯t noticed. She looked up ahead and indeed saw a dark shadow flying towards them, it seemed the other party had also discovered them. The two of them stood solemnly on the mountain top, cautiously awaiting the newcomer¡¯s arrival. Soon, the dark shadow got closer, revealing its form¡ªit was a Cloud Luan Crane at the Second Order Initial Stage, carrying a male and a female Cultivator from Zhenyang Sect on its back. Riding the Cloud Luan Crane, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu stood side by side. They had been dispatched by their Sect to the Luoyun Mountain Range to communicate a conscription mission formulated by the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. After spending more than twenty days on their journey, with some close calls but no actual peril, they finally arrived in the area of the Luoyun Mountain Range smoothly. Li Huafeng glanced at a distant mountain peak which was faintly visible, took out a map to look at it, and then his expression turned to joy. ¡°Junior Sister, we¡¯ve almost reached the boundary of the Luoyun Mountain Range,¡± he said. Upon hearing his words, Shen Yu nodded, and was about to speak when Li Huafeng interrupted her. ¡°Junior Sister, I¡¯ve found a Second Order Demonic Beast and two Foundation Establishment Cultivators ahead!¡± Hearing the alert, Shen Yu then turned her attention to the dark figures on a distant mountain peak. If not for the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s substantial size, it would have been difficult to spot. At this moment, Li Huafeng looked serious. The instant Lin Tianming spotted them, they also noticed him and his companion. Not knowing the strength and origin of the other party, they had to be careful. Although backed by a powerful Sect, aside from disciples from the other two Great Sects, ordinary Cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World wouldn¡¯t dare to offend them. But with the Luoyun Mountain Range being so remote, if they encountered a powerful evil presence, the name of an Inner Sect Disciple from Zhenyang Sect might not be of much use. Furthermore, with Demonic Beasts rampant at this time, if they were to die here, it would be difficult for Zhenyang Sect to investigate the cause, and the case might just be dismissed without resolution. Regaining their senses, the two of them looked solemn, closely watching every move of the figures ahead, ready to turn tail and flee at any moment. Soon enough, neither side made any further moves, causing both parties to internally let out a sigh of relief. At this point, Lin Tianming looked at Li Huafeng and his companion, confirmed they had no malicious intent, and then stepped forward to introduce himself. ¡°Fellow Cultivators, I am Lin Tianming from the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain. May I approach for a discussion?¡± ¡°The Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming declare his origin, Li Huafeng and his companion relaxed, their expressions brightening with excitement. Their first destination for this mission was precisely the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, and they could not have expected that just upon entering the Luoyun Mountain Range, they would encounter Lin Family Members. From a distance, Li Huafeng observed Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, as well as the Purple Gold Eagle not far away, his expression one of surprise. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 432 03-25 - 253: An Unexpected Encounter with Li Huafeng_2 Chapter 432: Chapter 253: An Unexpected Encounter with Li Huafeng_2 At this crucial moment, two members of the Lin Family who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage and an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle were out on an assignment. ¡°It seems the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength is much stronger than it appears on the surface!¡± Li Huafeng silently marveled to himself. Regaining his focus, he said to Shen Yu beside him, ¡°Junior Sister, the other party is from the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain. Let¡¯s go over and exchange a few words!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­whatever Senior Brother decides is fine,¡± Shen Yu nodded in response. Li Huafeng chuckled softly, and the Cloud Luan Crane he was mounted on continued flying towards the peak where Lin Tianming was. A few moments passed and Li Huafeng, along with his companion, arrived at the peak where Lin Tianming was located. They sized each other up from about a hundred yards apart. ... Lin Tianming eyed the two, confirmed that they had no prior encounters, but he saw that they were indeed dressed in the Zhenyang Sect attire. Considering their cultivation level and his mount, the Cloud Luan Crane, they were undoubtedly disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. After all, there weren¡¯t many forces that simultaneously met these several conditions within the entire Wei Kingdom, and no one would dare to impersonate a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect lightly. Meanwhile, Li Huafeng and his companion examined Lin Tianming, showing an expression of half-belief and half-doubt upon seeing the unfamiliar faces. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°I am Lin Tianming. I have had quite a number of interactions with Daoist Li Xiuyuan from your sect, so there is no need for Daoist friends to be overly nervous.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Hearing this, Li Huafeng laughed awkwardly. ¡°So, you¡¯re a friend of Brother Li¡¯s. My name is Li Huafeng, and this is my Sect Junior, Shen Yu,¡± he said. ¡°I am Lin Tianming, I¡¯ve met Daoist Li and Fairy Shen!¡± Lin Tianming greeted with a clasped fist salute. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Li Huafeng returned the gesture, then glanced at Qin Xi beside Lin Tianming, with a hint of ardent desire flickering in his eyes. This woman¡¯s appearance and aura were indeed extraordinary; she was most certainly deserving of phrases like ¡®nation-toppling beauty¡¯ and ¡®calamity of the state¡¯. Li Huafeng forced himself to calm down and then asked, ¡°May I inquire about the identity of this fairy?¡± At this, Qin Xi took a small step backward, and Lin Tianming immediately understood her intention. He chuckled and then explained. ¡°Daoist Li, this is my younger sister Lin Tianxi. She has been quite bored within the clan, so she followed me to oversee the family¡¯s domain,¡± he said. Following this, Lin Tianming gently patted Qin Xi¡¯s shoulder, signaling her to greet Li Huafeng and his companion. Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, surprised that Lin Tianming noticed her reluctance to reveal her identity and used the Lin Family to cover for her, even referring to himself as her elder brother, making her feel a bit embarrassed. Gathering herself, she came forward promptly and offered a salute, ¡°I am Tianxi, I¡¯ve met Daoist Li and Fairy Shen!¡± Li Huafeng nodded, finding the appearance of the handsome man and beautiful woman quite sibling-like, and thus harbored no further doubts. He and Shen Yu likewise returned the salute, then walked towards Lin Tianming and his company. As they came together, Lin Tianming inquired about the situation in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, including the latest news of the Qianchuan Market incident. Being a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, Li Huafeng had a clearer understanding of the beast tide attack. Having encountered one another, it was natural for him to inquire about it, to better prepare himself psychologically. Li Huafeng furrowed his brows, then relayed some of the information he had learned. According to him, the main force of the demonic beasts was concentrated around the territories of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, and there had been several major battles with casualties on both sides. Fortunately, there had been no casualties among the Third Order demon beasts and Golden Core cultivators. It seemed that both sides were intentionally restraining themselves; otherwise, there would have been earth-shattering and devastating battles. In the various mountain ranges, many families had suffered heavy losses, and quite a few had been wiped out by the demonic beasts. It was said that at the onset of the beast tide in the Wei Kingdom, the powers in three mountain ranges in the northern part of the kingdom were nearly completely destroyed, with very few surviving. As the major clans quickly responded, by joining forces to eliminate some of the demonic beasts, the beast tide had mostly stabilized. Under such circumstances, any family with a bit of strength and foundation was basically still holding on, and if the scale didn¡¯t continue to expand, things shouldn¡¯t worsen. At this moment, hearing Li Huafeng¡¯s message, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°` However, considering that Li Huafeng arrived at the Luoyun Mountain Range during such a precarious time, he definitely wasn¡¯t here for training; there might be some major decision-making among the Golden Elixir Forces. After all, the beast tide had not yet passed, and the areas where the three great sects¡¯ gates were located were the focal points of the Beast Tide Army, so it was entirely possible that there were plans in place. Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed as he clasped his hands towards Li Huafeng and tentatively asked, ¡°Daoist Li, have the two of you come to Luoyun Mountain on a mission?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Li Huafeng laughed and then said, ¡°Lin Daoist is right, we are indeed tasked with an important matter and have come to discuss it with the nobility and Daoist Lin Shikang.¡± ¡°By the way, is Daoist Lin Shikang on your noble territory?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart tightened, and he couldn¡¯t help but think that Li Huafeng¡¯s arrival in Luoyun Mountain was definitely no simple matter; there might be a significant event about to occur. He forced himself to be calm and did not show any anomalies, responding with a smile, ¡°The elders at home are currently repelling a demonic beast attack. Since Daoist Li has taken the trouble to visit, I suggest you proceed directly to them. If there is any inconvenience, feel free to speak directly to me as well.¡± Lin Tianming continued to fish for more information indirectly, yet Li Huafeng remained tight-lipped, refusing to disclose the specifics of his mission. Lin Tianming did not dare to probe too aggressively, to avoid any misunderstandings, so he had to let it be. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, having exchanged a few words, Li Huafeng took his leave from the two, preparing to head immediately to Green Bamboo Mountain. He specifically invited Lin Tianming to pass through. However, Lin Tianming still had patrol duties to fulfill, and if he were to leave for several days and not return, Lin Xingrong might worry. Therefore, he did not accept the invitation to accompany him, instead giving a few words of caution with clasped hands and then watching as Li Huafeng and the other left, flying towards Green Bamboo Mountain and eventually disappearing into the hazy distance. As Li Huafeng and the other left, Lin Tianming let out a wry smile of resignation, before continuing the patrol of the territory with Qin Xi. Half a day later, at evening time, Lin Tianming and the other returned to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. After two full days of scouting, they found no trace of large-scale demon beast activities within the vast area surrounding Golden Horn Mountain. Upon returning to the clan territory, Lin Tianming immediately went to visit Lin Xingrong with Qin Xi, informing him of the unexpected encounter with Li Huafeng and all the news he had brought. Hearing what Lin Tianming reported, Lin Xingrong became deeply concerned, his sense of helplessness growing. It is said, ¡°No one visits a temple without a cause.¡± Given that someone had taken the initiative to go to Green Bamboo Mountain and considering the usual conduct of Golden Core Sects, it was indeed rather unusual. Thinking of this, Lin Xingrong said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, the situation is too strange; I can¡¯t help but feel uneasy.¡± ¡°Now that the attack of the beast tide is gradually stabilizing, you should immediately return to the clan to see if something significant occurs so you can share the burden with your third uncle and the others.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming reluctantly replied: ¡°What about you then? If I leave and Golden Horn Mountain is subjected to a large-scale demonic beast attack, we could suffer heavy losses, couldn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°First, don¡¯t worry about that; besides, with the Purple Gold Eagle for travel, a few days back at the clan shouldn¡¯t pose any danger.¡± ¡°Furthermore, with the Defensive Great Formation for protection, even if we encounter very large demon beast tribes, holding out for ten days to half a month should not be difficult.¡± Lin Xingrong spoke earnestly, trying to persuade Lin Tianming, who found it hard to decide. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it too much; Green Bamboo Mountain is always more important than Golden Horn Mountain. As for what¡¯s more significant, you should be able to discern that,¡± Lin Xingrong said with a stern face. At that moment, Lin Tianming sighed deeply, then nodded and agreed to the plan to return to the clan immediately. ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose; set off immediately and if anything happens, send someone to Golden Horn Mountain to report immediately.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming agree, Lin Xingrong sighed in relief and then instructed him with a few words, gesturing for Lin Tianming to depart without delay. Lin Tianming said no more and promptly got up with clasped hands, leaving Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling. Upon exiting Golden Horn Mountain, he released the Purple Gold Eagle and then, with it carrying him, flew towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 433 03-25 - 254: Volunteering for the Task_1 Chapter 433: Chapter 254: Volunteering for the Task_1 The next morning. After a night¡¯s journey, Lin Tianming successfully returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. At this time, the overnight downpour had just cleared, and the pure sunlight once again spread across the land. In a grand hall on the mountainside of the main peak within the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, this place was the family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Palace for hosting visitors. At this moment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua sat at the higher seats in the hall, with Lin Tianming, who had returned to the clan overnight, sitting below them. Opposite him, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu sat side by side, sipping tea while sizing up Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua. ... As for Lin Shikang, it was Li Huafeng¡¯s first time meeting him, but he had long heard of Lin Shikang¡¯s great reputation. In the southern region of the Wei Kingdom, Lin Shikang¡¯s name resonated like thunder. Twenty years ago, the Lin Family gained fame through a battle, with Lin Shikang being the key to the victory. Although it is unknown by what means he slew Jin Zhiying, it is certain that Lin Shikang was at least at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. With such cultivation strength, he is definitely a top-notch powerhouse in the southern Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom, and a well-known figure. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s calm-as-water expression, and feeling that barely discernible powerful aura, Li Huafeng was even more convinced of his speculation. ¡°Absolutely at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and very likely has already reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm!¡± ¡°This Lin Family seems quite extraordinary. It looks like I should be a bit more polite to avoid unpleasantness,¡± thought Li Huafeng silently. Shifting his thoughts, Li Huafeng took another look at Lin Tianming and seemed slightly surprised by his appearance. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 It made sense, after all, since Lin Tianming had refused his invitation to travel together and had rushed back to the clan through the rain at night, disregarding fatigue. Ultimately, he arrived at Green Bamboo Mountain around the same time as Li Huafeng and also sat in on this meeting. Clearly, Lin Tianming held a high position in the Lin Family, or he would not have been given such priority, let alone be here. At this time, Lin Shihua glanced at Li Huafeng and Shen Yu, then spoke, ¡°I am Lin Shihua, serving as the Lin Family Patriarch. The person beside me is my third brother, Lin Shikang, and opposite Li, is my younger relative, Lin Tianming.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin and I have already met before,¡± said Li Huafeng with a smile. ¡°Oh? Li has had an encounter with my young relative?¡± Lin Shihua appeared puzzled. Lin Tianming had returned in haste and had not yet reported back to Lin Shikang and himself, so some surprise was to be expected. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smilingly recounted the chance meeting they had earlier. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, your nephew had an encounter with Li at the edge of Golden Horn Mountain. I had patrol duties in Qianchuan Market, so I couldn¡¯t travel back to the clan with him,¡± he explained. Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, showing a surprised expression. ¡°No wonder¡­ Today Li and Fairy Shen¡¯s sudden visit brings glory to our humble clan.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± chuckled Li Huafeng. ¡°Chief Lin is being too modest. My junior sister and I came to visit your noble house indeed with important matters to discuss.¡± ¡°Regarding the beast tide, I imagine everyone here knows something about it, and our visit to your house is to convey the Sect¡¯s summons for your house to join the effort against the beast tide¡¯s onslaught.¡± ¡°Summoning the Lin Family?¡± Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua¡¯s expressions changed abruptly, thinking it was as they had expected. Throughout the beast tide¡¯s outbreak, there had been several council meetings within the family¡¯s higher echelons, and the possibility of a summons had been speculated. It was unexpected that the summons would come so swiftly; after all, only a little over two months had passed since the beast tide began, and it had already progressed to the point of requiring summons? ¡°It¡¯s utterly inconceivable!¡± exclaimed Lin Tianming and the others, silently marveling in their hearts. Regaining his composure, Lin Shikang then asked, ¡°Li, has the beast tide attacked your Sect? Or does your Sect need to temporarily avoid the brunt of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ onslaught?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ With your Sect¡¯s strength, wouldn¡¯t handling the Demonic Beasts be troublesome?¡± Faced with Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua¡¯s questions, Li Huafeng waved his hands and began to explain the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s overall plan, including the number of Cultivators being summoned and the various reward mechanisms. A pot of tea later, Lin Tianming and the others were informed of the reasons and details behind the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Recruitment Order, and subsequently, they too fell into deep thought. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect and the other Great Sects were not incapable of resisting the beast tide. The launch of the Recruitment Order was to minimize their own losses, to avoid the Sects being greatly weakened afterwards. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the summons¡¯ rewards, although they were very appealing, at the moment, the various major clans and powers were not certain that they could secure their own safety, let alone have the extra capacity to heed the call of the Three Great Sects. Although the Lin Family was currently stable, and the intensity of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ attacks had weakened, no one could predict the subsequent developments. If they were to heed the call and send clansmen to the front lines to participate in the battle, the overall strength of the family would be affected, as those clansmen sent must be with a cultivation of at least the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment. Besides Lin Shikang, only Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming met these requirements from the Lin Family. However, if they refuse the call, they might offend the Zhenyang Sect. Although the Zhenyang Sect might not be able to act against the Lin Family at the moment, once the beast tide¡¯s assault passes, they will inevitably target the Lin Family. And whether the Lin Family had any Golden Core Cultivators, with businesses in Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Pavilion bringing in wealth, if they were targeted, there would indeed be no way to respond. From a holistic viewpoint, the Lin Family, whether in terms of overall strength or influence, was leagues apart in comparison. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 434 03-25 - 254: Volunteering for the Task_2 Chapter 434: Chapter 254: Volunteering for the Task_2 Thinking of these matters, Lin Tianming and his two companions found themselves in a thorny situation and were at a loss for an immediate countermeasure. After a moment of silence, Lin Shikang glanced at Li Huafeng, then spoke up, ¡°Fellow Daoist Li, this matter is of great importance. May we discuss it amongst ourselves before giving you an answer?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Fellow Daoist Lin, please feel free to discuss. There¡¯s no need to give me a response!¡± ¡°I am merely conveying the conscription notice. If your esteemed clan is unable to participate, there¡¯s no need to force yourselves,¡± said Li Huafeng. Upon hearing this, the expressions of Lin Shikang and his two companions shifted slightly, but they did not show any further reaction. Li Huafeng sounded relaxed, without any hint of coercion. He said that if they couldn¡¯t spare the manpower, they didn¡¯t have to join¡ªthe mistake would be to actually believe that. ... Suppressing their internal thoughts, Lin Shikang turned to Lin Shihua and said, ¡°Shihua!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist Li and Fairy Shen have taken the trouble to come to Green Bamboo Mountain. Arrange for them to rest within the clan for a day, and ensure they are well attended to, fulfilling our duty as hosts.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Huafeng¡¯s smile deepened slightly, thinking that the status of a Zhenyang Sect Disciple really did wonders. The Lin Family¡¯s top brass were all very courteous and did not dare to offend him in the slightest. Seeing Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua¡¯s behavior, Li Huafeng knew that the Lin Family needed to discuss internally. He had no intention of staying long, and even less of making them uncomfortable. Thus, understanding the situation, he stood up and cupped his fists, saying, ¡°Your clan¡¯s sincere invitation is appreciated. I will thank you for your hospitality then.¡± ¡°My junior sister and I are indeed a bit weary. We will stay with your esteemed clan tonight, and tomorrow we will visit the Jiuhua Mountain Sun Clan. Once the tasks of conveying the messages to both your clans are completed, I shall return to the sect to report back.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Fellow Daoist Li¡¯s efforts for the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World are truly exemplary for our generation!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Lin Shihua complimented him, then made a welcoming gesture and left the great hall with Li Xiuyuan, personally arranging accommodation for the two of them. A quarter of an hour passed. Lin Shihua returned, and Lin Shigong, having received a summons, rushed over. All three elders of the Lin Family with ¡®Shi¡¯ in their generational names were present. Joining Lin Tianming, the four of them sat together, repeated the entire sequence of events, and discussed the conscription conveyed by Li Huafeng. At this moment, all present furrowed their brows, their expressions grave. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang sighed. His previous conjectures had been entirely confirmed. At this critical juncture, the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom had issued a recruitment order, seriously disrupting the clan¡¯s plans. Lin Shihua¡¯s face was also dark. He looked at the few worried people and initiated the discussion, ¡°What are everyone¡¯s thoughts? Shall we respond to the conscription?¡± ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, from the current situation, not responding is definitely not an option. Although it is said we are not obliged to, is that really the case?¡± ¡°That¡¯s merely a courtesy. If we really refuse to respond, we will undoubtedly infuriate the Zhenyang Sect, and in such a case, our Lin Family doesn¡¯t have the capability to contend with the Zhenyang Sect,¡± Lin Tianming said. No sooner had he finished speaking, than Lin Shigong, who had been silent, chimed in with his own agreement. ¡°Third Brother, Tianming is right. We can¡¯t afford to offend the Zhenyang Sect right now. If there are repercussions in the future, both the family and Luoyun Pavilion will likely be affected,¡± Shigong added. Hearing the explanations from his grandson and peers, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Shihua as if exchanging opinions. Lin Shihua nodded and said, ¡°Third Brother, even if we don¡¯t want to answer the call, we have no choice but to send someone to the front lines to join the battle!¡± ¡°What Tianming and the others have said is correct, regardless of the reasons, we currently cannot afford to offend the Zhenyang Sect. Not just our Lin Family, but hundreds of families in the southern region look up to the Zhenyang Sect. It¡¯s not bad to keep a low profile when we don¡¯t have enough capital¡ªat least, not until someone from our clan reaches the Golden Core Stage. We shouldn¡¯t antagonize the Zhenyang Sect,¡± he added. Hearing the continuous reasoning from the others, Lin Shikang nodded. He was well aware of the apparent circumstances. ¡°Sigh¡­ When one¡¯s strength is insufficient, this is all we can do!¡± Lin Shikang sighed. As things quieted down, Lin Shikang asked, ¡°Now that we¡¯ve decided to answer the call, who shall the clan send?¡± This question once again plunged Lin Shihua and the others into a difficult dilemma. According to the Recruitment Order¡¯s requirements, currently in the Lin Family, the only ones who met the cultivation level were Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu, and Lin Tianming. Among the other clan members, Lin Xingyuan, Lin Xingrong, and Lin Shihua were all at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment and did not meet the minimum cultivation requirement of the recruitment decree. And among the many clan members, Lin Shikang had to preside over internal family affairs, Lin Shilu oversaw the Luoyun Market, and Lin Tianming likewise had the task of guarding Golden Horn Mountain. Under such circumstances, since everyone had their own responsibilities, it was not convenient for them to leave their posts. Moreover, with the front lines fraught with danger, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were like small fish crossing the river, where a slight lapse could lead to their downfall. It was truly a conundrum as to who should be sent to the front lines to participate in the great war. After a long silence, Lin Shihua spoke up, ¡°Third brother, let me undertake the recruitment mission!¡± ¡°Shihua¡­ You are still at the Foundation Establishment Third Level, you do not meet the minimum cultivation requirements of the recruitment order!¡± Lin Shigong reminded. ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Shihua chuckled. Then he began to explain. ¡°Our family still has two Hun Tian Pills. If I take them, I can definitely break through to the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level in a short period of time, thus meeting the requirements of the Recruitment Order.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression changed slightly. He sternly rebuked, ¡°No¡­ Even if you break through to the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level, going to the battlefield to resist the beast tide, what difference would it be from seeking death?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Lin Tianming agreed with a nod. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, the beast tide assault on the main battlefield is a completely different matter from the clan¡¯s situation. For the horrifying meat grinder of a battlefield, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator amounts to nothing.¡± ¡°Tianming is right, when the great battle erupts on the main battlefield, even Golden Elixir Experts are at risk of falling. The Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator is merely part of the main force.¡± ¡°If you rely on the Hun Tian Pills to forcefully advance a realm, this level of strength, fighting against the Demon Beast Army on the main battlefield, would be far too dangerous. The hope of surviving would be slim.¡± Lin Shigong also spoke up to persuade. Hearing his clan members¡¯ successive attempts to persuade him, Lin Shihua smiled helplessly. The truth was as they said, but since he had brought up this proposal, he hadn¡¯t expected to survive the journey back. He merely wished to complete the recruitment task, to lessen the losses for the family as much as possible. After all, the family was growing stronger and the loss of one Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn¡¯t have too much impact. At this point, Lin Tianming lapsed into silence, deep in thought. Given the current situation, the clan members who qualified all had their own tasks. To send any other members to undertake the recruitment task would almost certainly result in a nine in ten chance of death. He sighed, then stood up and bowed to the elders, saying, ¡°Third Grandfather, Twelfth Grandpa, let me undertake the recruitment task!¡± ¡°You? No way!¡± Before Lin Shikang could speak, Lin Shihua flatly refused, his tone severe as if there was no room for discussion. Seeing this, Lin Tianming began to persuade, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, given the current situation, no one is more suitable than I am!¡± ¡°Third Grandfather must preside over the family and act as a guardian for Grandpa Sea as he attempts the Golden Core Stage, so it¡¯s not possible for him to leave.¡± ¡°And with Fifteenth Grandfather in charge of the Luoyun Market, he needs to lead the overall situation and simply can¡¯t spare the time. As for the importance of the market, there¡¯s no need for me to say more!¡± ¡°Tianming, combined with the Purple Gold Eagle, possesses strength almost on par with Fifteenth Grandfather. As for Golden Horn Mountain, if it truly cannot be defended, letting it go wouldn¡¯t be much of a loss.¡± ¡­ ¡°In that case, it seems I am the most suitable person to go!¡± Lin Tianming expounded on his own strengths in one breath, even detailing his counter-strategies for an escalated beast tide assault in great detail. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s watertight arguments, Lin Shikang and the others fell silent, uncertain of what to decide. Seeing their expressions, Lin Tianming continued to urge, ¡°Third Grandfather, make a decision. A cultivator¡¯s life is all about defying fate. Others might see this as a calamity, but I view it as a potential opportunity. ¡± ¡°For the sake of the family and the path to immortality, Tianming is confident of returning safely, perhaps even securing an entry spot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 435 03-25 - 255 Qingyu Fruit_1 Chapter 435: Chapter 255 Qingyu Fruit_1 Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s impassioned speech, Lin Shikang¡¯s face flushed with excitement, and a surge of hot blood boiled within him. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Alas¡­ it¡¯s really a tough decision!¡± ¡°If only I could step into the Golden Core Stage, or Daoist Ye could break through to the Golden Core Stage, all problems would be easily solved.¡± Regrettably¡­ regrettably, time does not wait for the Lin Family!¡± At that moment, Lin Shikang longed intensely for the path to the Golden Core. If the family had a Golden Core Cultivator, the three great sects would not dare to offend the Lin Family lightly, and things would not be so difficult. Regaining his composure, Lin Shikang scanned the few people present and finally nodded, saying, ¡°Enough¡­ since you, Tianming, have such confidence and are willing to take this risk, I will agree to your request.¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, feeling a surge of warm blood rushing to his heart. ¡°Third Grandfather, Twelfth Grandpa, rest assured, I will definitely return safely, and the family here can only rely on you!¡± Lin Shihua waved his hand in response, ¡°Since Tianming is confident, we old folks won¡¯t say much else!¡± ¡°At Golden Horn Mountain, we¡¯ll send out Xing Zhi and Tianhu to strengthen their defenses. With Formation Protection, they shouldn¡¯t encounter any powerful Demon Beast Tribes, and there should be no trouble for a short time.¡± Lin Shikang nodded and then instructed, ¡°Alright¡­ Tomorrow, let Shihua receive Li Huafeng, and Tianming, rest in the clan for two more days before departing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the arrangement, everyone go about your tasks!¡± Lin Tianming and the others stood up one after another and left the great hall. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Exiting the grand hall, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong returned together to the dwelling of their mother. Having been constantly at war in the south and north, or in seclusion for cultivation, he definitely needed to prepare well before leaving and take the time to reunite with his mother and others. That night, except for Lin Xingrong who was not back from Golden Horn Mountain, Lin Tianyue also emerged from seclusion to gather with them. After dinner, the family of four sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting. Learning that Lin Tianming was going to the front lines to participate in the war, the mother and sister¡¯s expressions were less than pleased, aside from Lin Shigong. At this moment, both mother and sister were persuading him, hoping he would give up the idea. Seeing the stiff expressions on the faces of Lin Tianyue, Lin Shigong began to speak. ¡°Yuxuan, this matter has been discussed by Third Uncle and Shihua, and given Tianming¡¯s personality, persuasion is pointless, so let¡¯s not say anymore.¡± ¡°Mother, rest assured, I know my limits. Now I¡¯ve cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and the resources needed for further cultivation are becoming increasingly substantial.¡± ¡°Granted, participating in a major battle is risky, but doesn¡¯t it also come with opportunities?¡± ¡°We cultivators should always forge ahead. If we shrink back when we face challenges, how can we make progress?¡± Lin Tianming spoke sincerely, displaying extreme determination, without any thought of retreating. Seeing him so resolute, and considering the situation in the clan, Ren Yuxuan was very helpless but had to give up on the idea of continuing to persuade him. Lin Tianyue sighed helplessly and then took out a large number of Second Order talisman papers from her storage bag, easily over a dozen, and judging by the residual aura, they appeared to be drawn by her. This time, Lin Tianming did not refuse his sister¡¯s kindness and took all of the talismans. Although these lower-grade Second Order talismans were of limited use to himself, he took them to put his sister¡¯s mind at ease. Then, the grandfather and mother took out some treasures, including some talismans and elixirs. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t pretentious and took the useful items. He did not accept the cultivation and healing elixirs, since he had a surplus of these resources, which were mostly provided by him and would last for several years. Afterward, the grandfather and mother gave a few words of advice, and Lin Tianming earnestly promised he would be careful, only then did they leave the matter. As night fell, each returned to their own rest, and Lin Tianming left the courtyard with his grandfather to return to his own dwelling. The next day, in the family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Palace. Several members of the family with the surname ¡®Shi¡¯ sat together, including Lin Tianming. In the guest¡¯s chair, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu were seated. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shihua said to Li Huafeng, ¡°Li, after discussion within the family, Tianming will be sent to Qianchuan Market in a couple of days, and at that time, we hope you and the rest will take good care of him!¡± Once he finished speaking, Lin Shihua threw two storage bags at Li Huafeng and Shen Yu. Li Huafeng and Shen Yu each caught a bag and briefly glanced at the Spirit Stones inside before revealing a knowing smile. The Lin Family was generous; twenty thousand Spirit Stones was not a small amount. For an ordinary Foundation Establishment Medium Stage cultivator, twenty thousand Spirit Stones could be nearly their entire wealth apart from their Magic Artifacts and elixirs. Although they were Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, the Spirit Stones they had on hand were quite limited. If they attempted to advance to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, they would need plenty of resources, so these twenty thousand Spirit Stones were a significant fortune to them. They had a not insignificant status within the Sect. Undertaking this transmission task, although it came with some risks, was considered an easy job. Many families, for the safety of their members participating in the big war, had to offer some treasures to win their favor, and they didn¡¯t need to be polite. Collecting his thoughts, Li Huafeng stowed the storage bag and then said with a smile, S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Haha¡­ Chief Lin, you¡¯re too kind. Rest assured, brethren. My mentor is also participating in the great battle at the front lines and commands a small team.¡± ¡°Once I return to the Sect, I will surely introduce Tianming to my mentor and put in some good words. If all goes smoothly, arranging some simple tasks for Tianming will not be difficult at all.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 436 03-25 - 255: Qingyu Fruit_2 Chapter 436: Chapter 255: Qingyu Fruit_2 Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others all let out a long sigh of relief. To win over Li Huafeng and his companion, the family had taken out forty thousand Spirit Stones as a bribe, allowing Lin Tianming to go to the battlefield and potentially arrange some safe and relaxing tasks, so he wouldn¡¯t be treated as cannon fodder. After all, on such battlefields, many tasks were fraught with danger, and even used as sacrificial ploys. For Tianming¡¯s safety, it was necessary to bribe and win people over. Such unwritten rules were not exclusive to the Lin Family; other families would surely do the same, though the value of the treasures they offered might vary. After all, nothing is more important than staying alive. ... What are a few ten thousand Spirit Stones in the grand scheme of things, and besides, the Lin Family¡¯s current wealth was not what it used to be; giving away several tens of thousands of Spirit Stones wouldn¡¯t cripple them. Recovering his composure, Lin Shihua nodded and said, ¡°Then I must thank Li for his help. If there¡¯s a chance in the future, please visit our Lin Family again.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Chief Lin¡¯s hospitality is much appreciated, I will surely visit again if there¡¯s an opportunity,¡± Li Huafeng said in return, glancing at Shen Yu beside him before continuing, ¡°Lin Tianming need not rush to the frontline; arriving at Qianchuan Market within a month will suffice.¡± ¡°Once the cultivators participating in the war have gathered, they will likely move to the frontline. At that time, you can pay a visit to my senior brother, Xu Chengli.¡± After saying this, Li Huafeng took out a dark-colored stone which was, unmistakably, a Soundstone. A Soundstone was a fairly common auxiliary Spiritual Object that could capture sounds, including the voices of cultivators, and usually preserve them for several months before they naturally dissipated. Its utility may seem minor yet peculiarly significant. Li Huafeng cast a Law Decree on the Soundstone and then spoke a few words to record on it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï After making sure nothing was missed, he handed the Soundstone to Lin Tianming, then prepared to stand and take his leave. As the two rose to their feet, Li Huafeng gave a fist-and-palm salute and said, ¡°Since everything has gone smoothly, my sister and I should start our journey!¡± ¡°Fellow cultivators, we take our leave!¡± ¡°Farewell!¡± Lin Shikang and the others also stood up and responded in unison, after which Lin Shihua personally escorted Li Huafeng and his companion off the clan grounds. In no time at all, Lin Shihua returned, and everyone sat around Lin Tianming. After some casual conversation, Lin Shikang took out a storage bag and passed it to Lin Tianming, gesturing for him to take it. Lin Tianming accepted the storage bag, sent his Divine Sense inside to take a quick look, and found that it contained a good number of treasures, including more than thirty Second Order Low-grade Attack Talismans and as many as six Second Order Medium-grade ones. These talismans were not particularly valuable, but what was precious were the two Second Order High-quality Attack Talismans, which were obviously among the rare treasures of the family. Besides those, the storage bag also contained a light blue fruit, a red jade pendant, and a gray bead that looked like a Demon Core but had no aroma of Demonic Beasts; it was unclear what kind of treasure it was. Nevertheless, coming from Lin Shikang, it was surely not ordinary. Looking at these treasures, Lin Tianming did not fuss but simply put away the storage bag to examine later in his cave dwelling. Seeing him accept the treasures, Lin Shikang and the others nodded with satisfaction. Tianming¡¯s journey was filled with uncertainties, and it was unknown what kind of trials and dangers he might face, so these treasures were specially prepared for him, almost depleting the most precious items from the family¡¯s Treasure Vault. ¡°Tianming, there is a Qingyu Fruit among them. Consume it immediately and try to increase your cultivation within half a month. Once you come out of seclusion, you should have enough time to rush to Qianchuan Market,¡± Lin Shihua instructed. ¡°Alright, no time like the present; I¡¯ll start preparing right now!¡± Lin Tianming replied and stood up, giving a fist-and-palm salute to the others before walking out of the hall. Returning to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming entered his secret chamber without delay. Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he took out the storage bag Lin Shikang had given him, then removed and laid out all the items before him. Earlier, he had only glanced at the contents briefly and had no time to inspect them closely. Now, he¡¯d cleared his own storage bag to get a good sense of all the treasures and means of combat he possessed, to avoid overestimating his strength. Lin Tianming first took out the lustrous and translucent Qingyu Fruit, observing it closely in the palm of his hand. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Qingyu Fruit is a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit that contains powerful energy; one fruit is equivalent to a year of arduous cultivation, and there is no diminishing effect from consuming it in excess, making it one of the best treasures for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to rapidly enhance their cultivation. No one knows where this Qingyu Fruit came from, but such a rarely seen treasure, besides being ineffective for a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, is an extremely precious existence for any Foundation Establishment Cultivator. ¡°No matter, advancing my cultivation is the priority right now!¡± Refocusing his mind, Lin Tianming stowed away the Qingyu Fruit, then picked up the blood-red jade pendant in front of him to examine it. This was a defensive treasure, comparable to a Second Order Superior Defense Talisman. Judging from the energy within, it should be able to be used twice without issue; it¡¯s a rare defensive treasure. ¡°With this blood-red jade pendant, as long as I don¡¯t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast or a large group of Second Order Late Stage Beasts, survival shouldn¡¯t be difficult,¡± Lin Tianming thought. It was evident that the Lin Family had pulled out all the stops to ensure his safety on the battlefield. Looking at the two valuable treasures, Lin Tianming felt moved and reassured. After storing the treasures in front of him, he proceeded to examine his original storage bag. A little less than a quarter of an hour later, after tallying his resources, he found that his wealth was quite considerable; he had over one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones, a veritable fortune. In terms of offensive capabilities, he had the Tiangang Sword and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, as well as the greatly empowered Thousand Beast Banner to assist him. He had dozens of Second Order Talismans, including two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans. Besides these, he had one more truly deadly weapon ¨C the Fake Golden Core Talisman purchased from Tianfeng Pavilion that he hadn¡¯t had a chance to use yet. Regrettably, the Sword Qi condensed from the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had been used up during the previous battle with the Golden Fang Beast Clan, and it wouldn¡¯t be able to provide assistance in the short term. Otherwise, if he had a Spirit Art up his sleeve, his safety on this trip could be greatly enhanced. But after careful consideration, in a battlefield teeming with Demonic Beasts and Cultivators, and potentially Golden Core Cultivators present, a Spirit Art truly shouldn¡¯t be revealed lightly; otherwise, attracting the attention of Golden Core Cultivators could bring about a disaster more terrifying than an attack from Demonic Beasts. With these treasures and trump cards, for now, he wasn¡¯t lacking in attack methods. As for defense, he had the blood-red jade pendant, along with the Green Scale Shield and several Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans, which should be barely sufficient. In terms of various elixirs, he was hardly lacking. Even if something was missing, being a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist himself, he could produce whatever was needed provided he had the materials. Furthermore, carrying quite a number of Spirit Stones and Demon Cores, once he reached Qianchuan Market, he could make grand purchases of more treasures for thorough preparation if conditions allowed. After all, on this trip to the battlefield, he would have no backing; everything would rely solely upon himself, so utmost caution was required. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming packed all the treasures and picked out some items of little use to give his father when they passed Golden Horn Mountain. After all, once he left, his father would bear great pressure, and leaving behind more treasures might prove crucial. Having completed these tasks, he began to meditate and adjust his breath until his condition reached its peak, then took out the Qingyu Fruit. Beholding the lustrous, translucent Qingyu Fruit exuding bursts of refreshing aroma, one couldn¡¯t help but become elated and refreshed. ¡°With this Spirit Fruit, my cultivation might reach the peak of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment,¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself. No sooner had the words left his mouth than he swallowed the Qingyu Fruit without hesitation. As soon as the fruit entered his mouth, a surge of overwhelming energy burst forth, making his blood boil. Lin Tianming concentrated intently and began to circulate his cultivation technique, slowly refining this energy, which, through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, finally pooled into the Seven Sea Dantian. Feeling this formidable energy, which was countless times stronger than the Fusion Spirit Pills he had taken before, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. He focused on refining the energy with all his might, and his Seven Sea Dantian, like a parched pond, greedily absorbed the Spiritual Power that formed. At this instant, the energy contained within the Qingyu Fruit gradually dwindled. And as this vast energy flowed into the Seven Sea Dantian, he could feel his cultivation, which hadn¡¯t changed much for a long time, slowly improving, drawing ever closer to the peak of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. At this moment, the sound of breathing emanated from the secret chamber, and Lin Tianming was absorbed in the intense process of cultivation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 437 03-25 - 256 Departure_1 Chapter 437: Chapter 256 Departure_1 Luoyun Market. With the annihilation of the Cedar Beast Tribe, the entire Luoyun Market experienced a brief period of tranquility. The cultivators returned to their normal lives and cultivation, everything remained as usual, except that their vigilance had not decreased, and the majority of cultivators had gone back to their everyday routine. One day, in one of the grand halls of the Market City Hall, Lin Shilu and a few other Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat together. Opposite them, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu sat side by side. While sipping tea, they were also observing the several Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. As soon as the brother and sister duo left Green Bamboo Mountain, they made their way to the Sun Family estate and met with the helmsman of the Sun Family, Sun Dingxian, informing him about the recruitment order. ... Upon learning about the demands and rewards of the recruitment order, Sun Dingxian felt extremely helpless. At present, the Sun Family was beset with internal and external troubles. As the beast horde erupted, the Sun Family estate also did not escape unscathed, enduring attacks from a myriad of demonic beasts. Relying on a large number of Second Order talismans and consuming the accumulation of many years, the Sun Family lost quite a few members, but they managed to repel the demon beast tribe that assaulted their lands. Just as they were catching their breath, the three Great Sects issued the Recruitment Order, which undoubtedly added insult to injury for the already distressed Sun Family. Under pressure and afraid of post-conflict targeting by the Zhenyang Sect, no matter how reluctant he was, Sun Dingxian had no choice but to arrange for Sun Dingfeng, at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, to join the frontline battle. Having delivered their message, Li Huafeng and his companion bade farewell to Sun Dingxian and left the Sun Family estate, immediately heading for their final destination, Luoyun Market. In just half a day, they arrived smoothly at the Luoyun Market, and due to their status, Lin Shilu received them warmly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 At this moment, Li Huafeng once again explained the recruitment issue and the situations of both the Lin Family and the Sun Family, shocking the gathered cultivators beyond measure. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned melancholic, deeply concerned about Lin Tianming¡¯s safety. However, since the family had already determined the participants, and Luoyun Market required his presence to deal with threats of demonic beast attacks at any moment, he felt stuck. Otherwise, he even contemplated leaving his post and returning to his family to replace Lin Tianming in the battle. At this time, besides the distressed Lin Family Members, Sun Ruiyang from the crowd looked pale, her demeanor one of disarray. The Lin Family, being a large family with vast resources, could spare a Foundation Establishment Clan Member of the Fourth Level or above without greatly affecting the overall situation. The Sun Family, however, was a different story. With only three Foundation Establishment members, each stationed in different locations, and only Sun Dingxian left to defend the family lands alongside a group of terrified members, the pressure on Sun Dingxian and Sun Dingfeng could only be imagined. Another family member, Luo Chenggu, rejoiced in secret that the Luo Family, being the weakest among the three major families, had avoided this crisis incidentally. Although the Zhenyang Sect looked down on the Luo Family¡¯s strength, causing some loss of face, it also indirectly helped them. If the Luo Family had to participate in the recruitment, their situation would have been even worse than that of the Lin and Sun families. At this moment, members of the three major families each harbored different mindsets, all falling into a deep silence. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After an unknown length of time, Li Huafeng glanced at Liu Zhirong and a few other Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, as if curious whether they were willing to go to the frontline. Liu Zhirong and his two companions decisively refused Li Huafeng¡¯s invitation in a subtle manner before everyone. Li Huafeng seemed to have anticipated the attitudes of Liu Zhirong and his group. After all, the influence of Luoyun Market was minimal, and the Loose Cultivators it attracted were very limited. Those who chose to stay in Luoyun Market weren¡¯t powerful. In that case, those at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment going to the frontline battle was nearly the same as seeking death. Anyone who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage was definitely not a fool and would not seek out trouble for themselves. Being Loose Cultivators without ties, they didn¡¯t have to fear the Great Sects too much, and those with lower Foundation Establishment levels were unlikely to head to the frontline voluntarily. Only a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator might risk going into battle for a chance at the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm entry slot and perhaps find a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item which, with a bit of luck, could be an opportunity to impact the Golden Core Stage. But for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators, participating in the frontline battle would likely mean being cannon fodder, with slim chances of securing a slot in the secret realm. Su He and Liu Zhirong were well aware of their limitations. With their level of cultivation, they had no interest in diving into these troubled waters. As for the Qi Refining Cultivators of the marketplace, Li Huafeng didn¡¯t bother spending time or energy on them. Since even Su He at the Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment was unwilling to get involved, Qi Refining Stage Cultivators stood no chance on the frontline and wouldn¡¯t even qualify as cannon fodder. Moreover, given the remote location and lower quality of cultivators in Luoyun Market, it was impossible to rally a significant number of practitioners. Considering this, Li Huafeng lost any interest in speaking further, giving the Lin Family face in the process. In the grand hall, seeing Su He and the others had no intention of joining the battle, Li Huafeng took the initiative to express his intention to take his leave. Lin Shilu made a token effort to retain him, but Li Huafeng and his partner naturally wouldn¡¯t linger, politely declining Lin Shilu¡¯s hospitality. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t have much to say and personally ushered Li Huafeng and his companion to the entrance of the marketplace. As they walked along the streets of the market, Lin Shilu even took out two pieces of rare Artifact Refining Materials to give to Li Huafeng, hoping he could somehow look out for Lin Tianming. Li Huafeng didn¡¯t refuse his kindness, unabashedly accepting the gifts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 438 03-25 - 256: Departure_2 Chapter 438: Chapter 256: Departure_2 At last, under the gaze of everyone, he boarded the Cloud Luan Crane and left the Luoyun Market. Not until the figures of the two had disappeared without a trace did Lin Shilu lead everyone back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. ¡­ Half a month had passed. On this day, in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, on the plaza at the mountain gate. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming appeared on the spacious plaza, accompanied by more than a dozen clan members, with his grandfather, mother, and sister naturally among them. ... Besides them, the long-unseen Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong were also present, and even the busy Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua had come to see him off. After half a month of seclusion, he had successfully refined the Qingyu Fruit, and his cultivation had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment Fifth Level as expected. If he had some high-quality Spiritual Medicines and Fruits to aid him, it might be possible for him to step into the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm within a year. The procession made its way to the Bluestone Plaza, and Lin Tianming chatted with several Shi generation clan members, with most of the conversation consisting of stern exhortations from his elders. This journey¡¯s duration was uncertain, filled with both danger and opportunity. In a foreign land, without the support of his clan, he could only rely on himself. Under such circumstances, though they knew his strength was comparable to Lin Shilu¡¯s, it was difficult for the elders to be at ease. After all, Lin Tianming was the Lin Family¡¯s guarantee of rising to power, and it was very likely that he could enter the Golden Core Stage within several decades if he continued his cultivation in an orderly fashion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Regrettably, contrary to their wishes, the surge of Demonic Beasts had completely disrupted the peace, utterly derailing the family¡¯s plans. The possibility of cultivating peacefully was no longer an option. Walking along, the group reached the edge of the plaza, not far from the Protective Clan Formation. ¡°My fellow clan elders, don¡¯t worry, for the family, Tianming will definitely return safely.¡± With a deeply respectful bow, Lin Tianming addressed Lin Shikang and the others with unwavering conviction. Seeing his resolute expression and utmost faith, Lin Shikang and the others nodded, then began to offer words of advice. ¡°Tianming, we¡¯ve said what needs to be said, I won¡¯t say more. Be careful in everything you do outside!¡± Lin Shigong advised. ¡°Xingzhi, Tianhu, on your journey to Golden Horn Mountain, do not slacken. Make a trip back every so often. With Tianming absent, we can only count on you two!¡± Lin Shihua advised Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianhu. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s departure, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianhu headed to Golden Horn Mountain to fill the void left by Lin Tianming. ¡°My fellow clan elders, rest assured. At Golden Horn Mountain, I will certainly, together with the twelfth brother, keep the clan members in check and ensure the safety of Golden Horn Mountain.¡± ¡°Without the Purple Gold Eagle to hasten our journey, this time I have brought two First Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts. Although their speed and safety are lesser, without accidents, we will have someone return to the clan to report periodically.¡± Lin Xingzhi said, his fists clasped, arranging to report back to the clan at regular intervals, setting Lin Shihua and others at ease to let them depart. Hearing Lin Xingzhi¡¯s words, Lin Shihua nodded. Both Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong had experience managing the Luoyun Market, having considerable strength in cultivation and abundant experience in handling affairs. With Golden Horn Mountain guarded by these two, assisted by the experienced fighters Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, and the cooperation of the younger and older generations of the Lin Family, protected by a formation not inferior to the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation, as long as they did not encounter too powerful a Demon Beast Tribe, there should be no danger. ¡°I won¡¯t say more, just be careful in everything you do outside!¡± ¡°Depart!¡± Lin Shikang looked up at the sunlight overhead and commanded with a wave of his hand. Lin Tianming and the other two bowed to the clan members and replied in unison, ¡°Take care, my fellow clan elders!¡± Immediately after, Lin Tianming was the first to step into the fissure of the formation¡¯s light screen, followed by Lin Xingzhi and the others. Lin Shikang and others watched the departing trio, their eyes filled with reluctance, and only after they had vanished from sight did Lin Shikang dismiss the crowd. After exchanging a few words with Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong beside him, he too left the plaza and headed to the entrance of Ye Pinghai¡¯s seclusion valley. ¡­ Outside the Protective Clan Formation. With the Purple Gold Eagle at their back, the three of them sat together, looking back at the receding clan territory with solemn expressions. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s state of mind had undergone significant changes. In the past, whenever he left the clan territory, he was always accompanied by a few clan members, with the more powerful Lin Shilu often providing protection. If any danger arose, there were always people to shield him from the wind and the rain. But this time, there was no shelter from the storm; he had to rely entirely on himself for life or death opportunities. Seeing his solemn expression, Lin Xingzhi understood very well, and he was both envious of and admiring toward Lin Tianming. As the pride of the Lin Family, Lin Tianming was steady and composed, neither arrogant nor rash in his cultivation practice, which he pursued with great dedication. The indefatigable Tianming had cultivation strength that surpassed his peers, and even the older Xing clan members could only sigh and look on in admiration. He had even begun to catch up with the pace of the Shi clan members. One could imagine that in not more than a decade, he might likely surpass the older generation in the family and become the family¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle. Regaining his composure, Lin Xingzhi started to offer words of comfort. ¡°Tianming, when the soldiers come, block them, when the water comes, cover it with soil, I believe you will definitely rise against the current, making all clan members proud of you!¡± No sooner had his voice faded than Lin Tianhu, who was at his side, also spoke up in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right, Sixth Brother, I¡¯ve always taken you as my example over the years, never daring to slack off, just to catch up with your footsteps.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Uncle, Tianhu, I¡¯m just a little emotional, don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, his eyes shining with a different light. He was, in fact, looking forward to this experience. Seeing his resolute gaze, Lin Xingzhi and the other man were influenced, their previous concerns vanishing, replaced by a strong sense of confidence. The three lapsed into silence, watching the peaks below gradually recede as the Purple Gold Eagle carried them rapidly northward. After half a day, Lin Tianming and his two companions arrived at Golden Horn Mountain smoothly. Following tradition, they first scoured the area around the clan territory, casually eliminating a few low-order monster beasts to ensure that there were no potential threats, before entering the clan territory together. In Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation cave dwelling courtyard, five Foundation Establishment clan members were sitting together, sharing recent news. Upon learning of Li Huafeng¡¯s call to arms, Lin Xingrong¡¯s and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expressions changed dramatically, both becoming worried about Lin Tianming. It was only after Lin Tianming¡¯s persistent persuasion, and with the situation being inescapable, that they reluctantly accepted the outcome. Lin Xingrong sighed deeply, then asked, ¡°Tianming, when do you plan to depart?¡± ¡°I will rest here for a day, and set off tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Tianming replied truthfully. ¡°Well¡­ Given the circumstances, I won¡¯t say more, just be careful out there! When you encounter danger, don¡¯t think too much, preserving your life is the most important thing, regardless of how the beast tide develops,¡± Lin Tianfeng advised. Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and reassured them both, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing. The matter of defending Golden Horn Mountain now falls on you.¡± ¡°Just as you advised me, if it¡¯s impossible, lead the clan members to retreat from here. As long as we have the green hills, we won¡¯t fear running out of firewood!¡± ¡°Yes, everyone be careful!¡± Lin Xingrong responded. After some idle chat, Lin Xingzhi and the others stood up to leave, leaving Lin Tianming alone with his father. Once they had left, Lin Tianming fetched a large amount of cultivation resources, including elixirs and Second Order low-grade talisman paper, which were not very useful to him and could be considered dispensable treasures. Though they were of little use to himself, they were extremely valuable treasures for his father, who was at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment in his cultivation. Lin Tianming handed all the treasures to his father, but Lin Xingrong promptly refused to accept them, feeling it inappropriate to do so. Lin Tianming was about to go to the frontline to fight, and as a father, he felt it was somewhat inappropriate to take the treasures his son left behind since he couldn¡¯t offer any help. Seeing his father refuse firmly, Lin Tianming felt quite helpless. He could only put away the talisman paper and other treasures that were meant to boost combat strength and leave behind the treasures useful for cultivation. Finally, Lin Xingrong, though reluctantly, accepted them. Straight after, the father and son chatted casually for a while before Lin Tianming bade farewell and left. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 439 03-25 - 257 Stubborn Woman_1 Chapter 439: Chapter 257 Stubborn Woman_1 Having left his father¡¯s courtyard, Lin Tianming came to the entrance of his own cave dwelling. Just as he was about to lift his foot and step into his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming stopped in his tracks and then turned to visit another cave dwelling not far from his. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s emotions were rather complex, and for some reason he couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint, he just felt the need to see Qin Xi. Since he was due to leave Golden Horn Mountain tomorrow, he intended to visit Qin Xi. After all, they had become acquainted, and Qin Xi still resided on Golden Horn Mountain. The journey ahead was fraught with life and death uncertainties and with no clear return date. If he left without saying goodbye, it would likely create an awkward situation should they meet again. Lin Tianming thought to himself and soon displayed a slight smile as he sent a message through the restrictive spell around the dwelling. In a short while, the restriction was lifted, revealing a familiar figure. ... Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed slightly red as she hurriedly waved and said, ¡°Lin, please come in quickly!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled softly and immediately stepped through the restriction, as the two took seats in the exquisitely arranged courtyard. ¡°Lin, please try the fruit wine I¡¯ve made myself!¡± Qin Xi took out a beautifully crafted wine pot and poured two cups of Spiritual Wine, inviting Lin Tianming to taste it. Lin Tianming nodded and then picked up the wine cup to take a sip, immediately praising, ¡°It¡¯s fragrant on entry, sweet and delicious, and it contains a faint energy within, truly a rare delicacy.¡± This assessment from Lin Tianming genuinely came from the heart. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Over the years, he had tried many precious Spiritual Wines. The energy contained in Qin Xi¡¯s Spiritual Wine was not abundant, clearly indicating that the materials used for brewing were not of high rank. However, the intense aroma of the wine was captivating, providing an unforgettable aftertaste with a distinct charm. Therefore, while this Spiritual Wine may not be as precious as the treasures presented by Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan, in terms of the experience it brought to the drinker, it was absolutely no less pleasing than any other fine wine he had tasted before. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s evaluation, Qin Xi became very excited. She had always harbored a passion for brewing fruit wine, but unfortunately, the rank of the Spirit Fruit she had on hand was limited, and they were barely sufficient for her cultivation, let alone any surplus for brewing wine. Luckily, her skills were commendable. With only some lower grade Spirit Fruits, she managed to produce a taste that resembled high-quality fruit wines, which was an unexpected joy. At this point, Qin Xi displayed a charming smile as she poured more wine for Lin Tianming, gently urging him to drink a few more cups. Lin Tianming, too, was not one to refuse, drinking down the Spiritual Wine in one gulp, and then he began to discuss the purpose of his visit. ¡°Fairy Qin, tomorrow I shall be heading to Qianchuan Market, and then to the front lines of the great battle!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi looked slightly puzzled and then asked, ¡°At a time when Demonic Beasts constantly threaten us, the Lin Family is hard-pressed to manage its own affairs. Why would you go to the front lines of the battle?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Fairy Qin may not be aware, but the two men we encountered previously, Li Huafeng and his companion, were on their way to deliver the Great Sects¡¯ Recruitment Order to the Lin Family,¡± Lin Tianming explained. ¡°Recruitment? A summons for the Lin Family to send people to resist the Demonic Beasts in battle?¡± Qin Xi pressed further. ¡°Exactly, the Lin Family is currently in no position to refuse the Recruitment Order from the Great Sects. Should we decline, it¡¯s likely that we would face the Sects¡¯ censure.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, the consequences for the Lin Family would be inconceivable!¡± Lin Tianming explained the process of the recruitment in one breath, including the conditions and the rewards involved. After half a quarter-hour had passed and Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming¡¯s detailed introduction, she finally understood the entire incident. She sighed deeply, also feeling concerned for the Lin Family¡¯s situation. Seeing his demure expression, Lin Tianming gave a wry smile and then said, ¡°Fairy Qin, I shall be leaving Golden Horn Mountain, but you are free to stay here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already informed my father. As long as the Demonic Beasts do not attack our clan¡¯s lands, they will not disturb your cultivation, nor will they coerce you to join the battles.¡± ¡°Lin, you¡¯re too kind. I have been cultivating on your territory, and with Lin saving my life, it is only natural that I should lend a hand,¡± Qin Xi replied. ¡°However, hearing what you¡¯ve said, Lin, I have a rather audacious request, if you¡¯re willing to hear it?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming asked, clearly surprised, and pursued the matter with a smile. ¡°Fairy Qin, please speak. If it doesn¡¯t harm my family¡¯s interests and I¡¯m capable of it, I¡¯ll consider it. Should the conditions permit, I will not refuse.¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi nodded and then mustered the courage to express her thoughts. ¡°Lin, I would like to join the battle under the name of the Lin Family, alongside you.¡± ¡°You? To voluntarily participate in the battle at the front lines?¡± Surprised by her words, Lin Tianming found it incredulous that while others avoided the battle, she sought after it willingly, prompting him to wonder about her motivations. Seeing his puzzled expression, Qin Xi explained, ¡°Lin, not to contradict you, but I have several reasons for this idea.¡± ¡°Firstly, you¡¯ve shown me kindness, Lin, and joining you in the battle is also a way to contribute to the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Secondly, I haven¡¯t had the opportunity to gain experience for a long time; this would serve as a chance to accumulate wealth and maybe even secure an entrance spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming was half convinced, yet still found it somewhat unbelievable. Seeing his silence, Qin Xi continued, ¡°Lin, you need not be so skeptical. Although my strength is not on par with yours, I definitely won¡¯t hold you back.¡± ¡°Should any danger arise, feel free to leave on your own. I will bear no resentment.¡± ¡°Moreover, any gains I make on the front lines, regardless of whether they¡¯re from Demonic Beasts or storage pouches, I will give half to you, Lin, as a gesture of repaying the Lin Family¡¯s kindness.¡± COMMENT S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 440 03-25 - 257: Stubborn Woman_2 Chapter 440: Chapter 257: Stubborn Woman_2 Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s successive remarks, Lin Tianming felt a complex mix of emotions, his expression filled with great confusion. He simply couldn¡¯t understand what confidence Qin Xi had to survive on a battlefield as deadly as a meat grinder, where even a Cultivator at the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment would be eager to avoid such a conscription mission. He, at least, had some means to protect himself and could understand going to the front lines for the sake of his family; but she, merely at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, would be better off practicing safely at Golden Horn Mountain¡ªyet she insisted on stirring into this muddy water. What exactly was her reason? Seeing that the dumbfounded Lin Tianming didn¡¯t express his stance, Qin Xi reminded him, ¡°Lin, let me go with you!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Why go through all this trouble?¡± ... ¡°The front lines are fraught with danger. You really don¡¯t need to do this. Although I did save you once, there¡¯s truly no need for you to follow me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to lose your life in vain, let alone make a needless sacrifice!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s earnest persuasion continued, hoping Qin Xi would change her mind to prevent him from watching this devastating beauty¡¯s demise. ¡°Lin, if you don¡¯t take me with you, I¡¯ll go by myself as a Loose Cultivator. There are no restrictions on Loose Cultivators by the three Great Sects, as long as one volunteers to join. What¡¯s the difference?¡± Qin Xi said resentfully, revealing a determination not to give up until her goal was reached. Seeing this, it was clear that Qin Xi had set her mind on going, and although Lin Tianming wanted to persuade her, he didn¡¯t know how to begin. In the silence, Qin Xi continued to press on persistently, resolved not to give up, leaving him without any viable options. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? After what felt like ages, weary of her bothering him, Lin Tianming said helplessly, ¡°I really can¡¯t be the one to decide on this matter. Let me discuss it with my father and others. How about I give you an answer tomorrow?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming put it that way, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t force the issue too much and agreed to let him discuss it first. Seeing her agree to his suggestion, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t want to stay there any longer; he immediately got up to take his leave and left her Cave Mansion. Before long, Lin Tianming returned to his father¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard, where Lin Xingzhi happened to be present. Seeing him return abruptly, both Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi were puzzled and promptly asked what had happened. With a resigned expression, Lin Tianming sat down with them in the courtyard and relayed Qin Xi¡¯s request, inquiring about the thoughts of Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi. At that moment, both Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi were similarly conflicted. From the perspective of the Lin Family, it was unexpectedly good news that Qin Xi was willing to follow him to the battlefield. However, they were equally aware that Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation level was not high, and going there might lead to a pointless sacrifice. They were not heartless and certainly couldn¡¯t bear to watch such a distinctively gracious woman perish in vain. After a moment of thought, Lin Xingrong spoke up, ¡°Tianming, leave quietly at the break of dawn tomorrow, without alerting anyone, especially Qin Xi.¡± ¡°Her claim of going to the battlefield alone is likely just a ploy, fearing your disagreement, intended to force your hand. There¡¯s no need to take it to heart.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhi also added his voice in agreement. ¡°Yes¡­ Although we too hope that some of our clan members can accompany you, we really don¡¯t want to see her sacrifice herself in vain, so it looks like you will have to go to the battlefield alone.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, feeling that what they said made sense and quickly decided to leave in secret. ¡°I hope she can understand my goodwill and won¡¯t actually venture there alone!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. Regaining his composure, he then stood up to bid farewell and left his father¡¯s courtyard. Returning to his own Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming entered his room, planning to rest well and leave Golden Horn Mountain first thing in the morning. Determined, he lay down on the bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory was serene. At that moment, it was time for sleep or cultivation for some clan members. Lin Tianming left his Cave Mansion quietly and walked towards the mountain gate of the clan¡¯s territory. As he was about to step out of the Defensive Great Formation, a graceful figure interrupted his step. Seeing the person approaching, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened, and he looked hesitant and utterly resigned. He hadn¡¯t expected this woman to be so stubborn or to have arrived here to wait in ambush, fearful that he would leave without her. Under the dim moonlight, Qin Xi approached Lin Tianming, and at the same time, a resentful voice came through. ¡°Lin, you actually left without saying goodbye. Fortunately, I was prepared, otherwise, you would have slipped away unnoticed!¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Lin Tianming let out a helpless sigh. His attempt to leave secretly had been caught by Qin Xi, and his original plan dissipated like bubbles. ¡°Fairy Qin, are you really so insistent on following me?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of death?¡± Upon hearing these frank words, Qin Xi let out a cold snort, then firmly said, ¡°Death?¡± ¡°Ever since I was chased by Demonic Beasts, I had already accepted the outcome of dying.¡± ¡°But having been saved by you, I am not afraid of death!¡± Hearing this, and seeing Qin Xi¡¯s faintly evident determination, Lin Tianming wavered. ¡°So be it¡­ Since you are always ready to fall, then come with me.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement, a touch of moving joy flashed across Qin Xi¡¯s face. ¡°You can follow me, but let¡¯s get one thing straight first, no conditions, all actions must follow my arrangements.¡± ¡°Otherwise¡­ I will never agree!¡± Lin Tianming said righteously. Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s serious eyes, chuckled, and then sincerely replied. ¡°I understand. Just rest assured, whatever you tell me to do, I¡¯ll do it without any objections, is that okay?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then sent a message, explaining to Lin Xingrong that Qin Xi would be leaving with her. Otherwise, if they couldn¡¯t contact Qin Xi, it might cause some trouble. After sending the message, Lin Tianming turned back to look at Qin Xi and took the lead in stepping out of the Formation. Following closely, Qin Xi matched his pace and the two disappeared from the square together. Outside the Formation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle. The two of them jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle in succession. Then, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, flying into the clouds thousands of feet high. Under the bright moonlight, it shot towards the north. Sitting side by side, Lin Tianming took out a map to have a brief look. Since he had been to Qianchuan Market several times, he was relatively familiar with the route and quickly put away the map. Looking at Qin Xi beside him, Lin Tianming smiled helplessly, then waved his sleeve and more than ten Second Order low-grade talismans appeared in his hand, with a majority being Attack Talismans and only two being Defense Talismans. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°These Talismans are for your protection!¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming handed the talismans to Qin Xi. Touched by his gesture, Qin Xi knew talismans were consumables that no one would ever have too many of, and even the most talented members of the Lin Family would have limited consumables on them. Yet here he was, before a battle filled with unknown dangers, giving her more than ten Second Order Talismans, seemingly without a second thought about their worth. It was evident that Lin Tianming was quite concerned about her safety; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t give away talismans worth thousands without even blinking an eye. ¡°Take them¡­ I don¡¯t want you to become a burden to me!¡± Lin Tianming urged somewhat impatiently. Qin Xi puffed her cheeks, just about to retort, but quickly halted her intention to speak, taking the talismans from Lin Tianming¡¯s hand and storing them in her own storage bag. ¡°Thank you, Lin!¡± With a faint blush of gratitude, Qin Xi thanked him and then, opening her bright eyes, she looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s handsome profile, her mind seemingly preoccupied with thoughts. Lin Tianming did not engage in conversation either; he closed his eyes to meditate, his Divine Sense searching the movements around them. He could not afford to be careless; they were about to enter the unknown conditions of the Luoyang Mountain Range not far ahead. That place was not like the Luoyun Mountain Range; he had to be extra careful, guarding against both Demonic Beasts and other Cultivators. Seeing his cautious expression, Qin Xi knew better than to interrupt him. The two sat cross-legged on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, rushing towards their destination. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 441 03-25 - 441 258 Return to Qianchuan Market_1 ?Chapter 441: Chapter 258: Return to Qianchuan Market_1 Chapter 441: Chapter 258: Return to Qianchuan Market_1 More than ten days had passed. Atop a mountain located over ten miles from the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Zhenyang Sect had gathered numerous cultivators who had responded to the recruitment order, providing two assembly points to choose from. Qianchuan Market was closer to the Lin Family, so the Cultivators of the surrounding families and the Loose Cultivators naturally gathered nearby. There was no need to travel a greater distance to a farther place. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, gazing at the faintly visible colossal city in the distance. After more than ten days of travel, Lin Tianming and his companion had successfully arrived at their destination, Qianchuan Market. During their journey, they passed through the territories of the Luoyang and Hengyang Mountain Ranges and encountered two groups of Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushing on their way¡ªZhang Changfeng of the Zhang Family from the Hengyang Mountain Range, and Meng Nanhe from the Meng Family of the Luoyang Mountain Range. The Zhang Family¡¯s strength was average, slightly stronger than the Luo Family of the Luoyun Mountain Range, and they were also within the scope of invitation by the Zhenyang Sect. ... The strength of the Meng Family was not to be underestimated, much more formidable than the Jin Family was twenty years ago, naturally making them a target of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s recruitment. After Lin Tianming initiated a conversation for an exchange, he learned that they had all responded to Zhenyang Sect¡¯s recruitment order and were family members heading to assemble at Qianchuan Market. Having witnessed things firsthand and combined with the information divulged by Zhang Changfeng and Meng Nanhe, he also learned the general situation of Luoyun Mountain Range¡¯s two large neighbors. The situation in the Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges was similar, both had been fiercely attacked by Demon Beast Tribes, with many familial forces suffering heavy losses; more than ten Qi Refining Families had been wiped out. However, some Foundation Establishing Families had only suffered severe injuries and had not been exterminated because of it. On reflection, it was quite normal; the several large mountain ranges south of Qianchuan Market were not too far apart. Judging from the scale of the Demon Beast Tribe in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the situations in the other two mountain ranges were probably similar. Although the Demonic Beasts that appeared were not weak, even the major forces of the impoverished Luoyun Mountain Range were able to withstand their assaults, so the stronger Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges were unlikely to be annihilated by the Demon Beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As the families that reacted began to act, the chaotic situation in the two mountain ranges gradually calmed down, thereby stabilizing the situation. Subsequently, Zhenyang Sect issued the Recruitment Order. Even if the heavily afflicted families were reluctant to send members to participate, they had no choice but to respond to the summons due to the strength of Zhenyang Sect. Without surprises, at this moment, virtually all the Foundation Establishing Families with some strength in Wei Kingdom had begun to take action. On the hilltop outside Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming looked at the outline of the vast city in the distance and said to Qin Xi, ¡°Let¡¯s go in!¡± Qin Xi nodded. Lin Tianming stored the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, and then the two headed towards the market entrance. As they got closer, they met a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the road, all of whom seemed to be responding to the recruitment call. Given the special circumstances of the time, each of them was likely of at least the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, and their identities were either family members or Loose Cultivators with some strength. After all, during these perilous times, ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn¡¯t roam around carelessly. Without at least the Fourth Level of Foundation Building cultivation, it was too dangerous to venture outside, as one could lose one¡¯s life upon encountering a Demon Beast Tribe. Lin Tianming and his companion minded their own way, as Cultivators did not interfere with each other, all moving towards the market entrance. In a short while, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the entrance. Standing outside the city gate entrance, looking out, the entrance was sparsely populated at this time, with only occasional Cultivators entering¡ªa stark contrast to the usual bustle of the everyday scene. On the towering city walls, some Cultivators were constantly watching every move outside, appearing very cautious, obviously defending against attacks from the Demon Beast Army. Lin Tianming and his companion paused only briefly before walking towards the market entrance. At the market entrance, a few Cultivators dressed as Zhenyang Sect executives were stationed, responsible for verifying the identities of those entering the city and for registration. Every person entering took out two Tokens; one of them was a golden Token engraved with the three big characters of Zhenyang Sect, evidently left by the Cultivators heeding the recruitment call, As for the other Token, it was presumably the Family Token of the person entering. Clearly, at this critical juncture, Zhenyang Sect¡¯s defensive posture was very cautious, constantly controlling any uncontrollable factors, to avoid disaster for the thousands of years old Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and three Tokens appeared in his hand, including one Zhenyang Sect Token left by Li Huafeng; the other two were the Family Tokens of the two individuals. He led Qin Xi to the Market City Supervisor and presented the Zhenyang Sect Token, along with his own Identity Token. At this moment, Chen Shengping took the three Tokens and checked them carefully before asking, ¡°Are both of you Taoist friends from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family? Are you responding to the Recruitment Order to join the Demon-Hunting Army?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Indeed!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then introduced himself and his identity. ¡°I am Lin Tianming, and this is my younger sister, Lin Tianxi. We have responded to your esteemed sect¡¯s Recruitment Order to participate in the great war!¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Fei was a bit perplexed and even more so astonished. The reason was simple: while other families were reluctantly sending one member, the Lin Family had proactively sent two members to participate in the war, which was somewhat extraordinary. Apart from that, the Lin Family¡¯s influence had been growing among the more than ten mountain ranges surrounding Qianchuan Market. In the nearly twenty years since he last came to Qianchuan Market on a mission, it was the first time he was receiving Cultivators from the Lin Family, which was rising like the sun at noon, inevitably making one somewhat emotional. Chapter 442 03-25 - 442 258 Return to Qianchuan Market_2 ?Chapter 442: Chapter 258: Return to Qianchuan Market_2 Chapter 442: Chapter 258: Return to Qianchuan Market_2 Having finally calmed down, Chen Fei courteously said, ¡°I am Chen Fei, an Inner Sect Disciple of Zhenyang Sect. Could the two Daoist friends please declare their cultivation levels so that I may complete the registration procedures?¡± ¡°I am at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and my younger sister is at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Hearing Lin Tianming declare his cultivation level, Chen Fei nodded, his expression becoming even more amiable, clearly different from his attitude toward other cultivators entering the city. While registering Lin Tianming and his companion, he cast a Law Decree, etching their names onto the Zhenyang Sect Token. As a light flashed across the Zhenyang Sect Token, the token visibly changed. After completing these steps, he handed the three tokens back to Lin Tianming, then warmly said, ¡°Daoist friends, your information has been successfully registered.¡± ¡°This token has been specially crafted to serve as proof of your identity and strength, and can also be used for communication.¡± ... ¡°If all goes well, once the recruitment deadline passes in a few days, there should be instructions issued by a senior sect brother. At that time, the two of you should assemble at the designated location to await further arrangements.¡± ¡°In the meantime, you are free to move about within Qianchuan Market. Just do not leave the market area on your own, and if you have any issues, feel free to head to the Market Hall for inquiries.¡± Listening to this detailed explanation, it was clear that Chen Fei was intent on forging a relationship with the Lin Family; otherwise, he would not have been so patient in his introduction. Knowing this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t reject his kindness. He clasped his hands in a salute, taking the tokens from Chen Fei¡¯s hands. Then, with a smile, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Daoist Chen, I thank you in advance!¡± ¡°Luoyun Pavilion is a property of the Lin Family. If Daoist Chen has time, please come over for a visit. You are welcome at any time!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Certainly, certainly!¡± Chen Fei replied with a clasped hand as well. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Lin Tianming nodded, then continued deeper into the market with Qin Xi, disappearing from Chen Fei¡¯s sight. Within the market, the familiar streets and the hustle and bustle of the crowd allowed Lin Tianming to breathe a sigh of relief. With the outbreak of the beast tide, a large number of cultivators had flooded into Qianchuan Market, and the overall quality of these cultivators¡¯ cultivation was quite high. Typical Qi Refining Cultivators simply couldn¡¯t travel in the perilous outside world, so those who could move around on a large scale were generally cultivators above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. In a very short period of time, loose cultivators from over a dozen surrounding mountain ranges had sought refuge in Qianchuan Market, causing its population to reach a peak, almost comparable to the market¡¯s decennial grand assembly. If one were to add up the collective strength of these cultivators, Qianchuan Market at that time was even more powerful than during the grand market gatherings. Walking along the wide streets, watching the endless stream of people, Qin Xi¡¯s gaze wandered around, seeming quite excited. Lin Tianming was much more composed. He led Qin Xi through several streets before pausing in front of Luoyun Pavilion. At that moment, Luoyun Pavilion didn¡¯t appear to be very popular. Occasionally, some cultivators would enter, but upon leaving, they seemed disappointed, evidently having failed to find any satisfactory treasures, hence leaving disheartened. To this, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised. Several months prior, when the beast tide had fully erupted, Lin Xingmin had taken the vast majority of Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s assets back to the family, leaving Lin Xingyan and three Xing Clan Members to hold the fort at Luoyun Pavilion. In the subsequent months, Luoyun Pavilion didn¡¯t replenish any treasures. With the increased flow of people in the market and the threat of the beast tide, all resources for warfare were incredibly scarce. As a result, after several months of selling, there was probably not much left in Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s inventory. Under these circumstances, entering Luoyun Pavilion now and hoping to find good items was hardly possible. Upon further thought, the shops of other familial powers were likely in a similar situation. After all, the reaction of the Lin Family had also occurred to other families, who surely would have moved most of their treasures back to their own clans. However, it was hard to say for certain. Although the risks were significant at this time, it was also an opportunity to make a fortune, and inevitably some families would take the gamble to earn Spirit Stones by going against the norm. For instance, some deeply entrenched shops, such as the auction houses set up by Zhenyang Sect and Sky Pavilion established by the Tang Family of Qingzhou, with their powerful backgrounds, normal attacks by Demonic Beasts were unlikely to impact their business significantly. On the contrary, they could take advantage of the situation to make a substantial profit. Thinking about these matters, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but reflect inwardly. ¡°This is the advantage of being powerful, for ordinary cultivators, the beast tide is a crisis, yet also an excellent opportunity for development.¡± ¡°However, the current situation is not suitable for the Lin Family to take risks, the lives of my clan members are simply not comparable to those Spirit Stones!¡± Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming took the lead in entering Luoyun Pavilion, with Qin Xi hurrying to follow his footsteps. Inside Luoyun Pavilion, Li Rong was settling accounts with a troubled expression. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the few months since the beast tide erupted in Wei Kingdom, Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s business had suffered greatly, all the items of slightly higher value had been taken away by the Lin Family. Without outstanding treasures to attract clientele, the business of Luoyun Pavilion was dismal, barely maintaining basic cash flow, unable to generate much value. As a clerk, the quality of business was heavily tied to his salary. During better times, he and his sibling could earn nearly a hundred Spirit Stones each month on average. In addition to generous rewards from some well-off patrons, their income was considerable, almost comparable to clerks of major powerhouse shops. It was with this substantial income that he could exchange for a large amount of resources, allowing him to reach the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement in just under ten years, and the Eighth Level was not far off. He had thought that guarding Luoyun Pavilion, which was like a cash cow, he could cultivate to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage in another ten or so years. If he was lucky enough to get a Foundation Establishment Pill, he might even be able to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Once successful, he could become a somewhat famous cultivator, with a lifespan of over two hundred years. Unfortunately, the beast tide¡¯s attack on Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had disrupted his plans, and with things going the way they were, he didn¡¯t know how many years his dream would be delayed. ¡°Ah¡­ this damned demonic beast attack!¡± Li Rong cursed inwardly. Just then, a figure silently approached, startling the distracted Li Rong. He looked up displeasedly, and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s calm face, he jumped up in a panic. Seeing that Lin Tianming had a calm demeanor and seemed not to blame him for his previous absentmindedness, he finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯ve seen¡­ Elder¡­ Elder Lin!¡± Li Rong bowed with clasped hands, paying respect to his employer with an exceptionally reverent manner. Lin Tianming nodded slightly, gestured for him to sit, and then began to inquire about the whereabouts of Lin Xingyan and the others. ¡°To report to Elder Lin, in recent days Daoist Lin Xingyan is on duty at Luoyun Pavilion and is currently cultivating in seclusion on the third floor. As for the whereabouts of the other Daoists, this junior does not know!¡± Li Rong answered honestly. Although Lin Xingyan and the others were also Qi Refining Cultivators, their status was much higher than his. He only knew that many cultivators from the Lin Family had not shown their faces recently, and he did not know their whereabouts, nor did he need to know. Being a clerk recruited by the Lin Family, he was very clear about his status and what he should and should not do. It was precisely because of his reliably dutiful character and his ability to read the room that he had managed to secure his position in Luoyun Pavilion and had been validated by several batches of Lin Family members. At this moment, hearing Li Rong¡¯s reply, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. He had spent several years in Qianchuan Market; Li Rong was clever, had boldness coupled with meticulousness, but most importantly, he was reliable. After working together for several years, Li Rong had given him a satisfactory impression. His talent was not bad either; he practiced cultivation diligently and might have the chance to succeed in Foundation Establishment in the future. Supporting him with some resources now could foster his gratitude and nurturance towards the Lin Family, tying him firmly to the Lin Family¡¯s camp. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming took out a bottle of Lingshen Pills he had previously refined and placed it in Li Rong¡¯s hand before speaking. ¡°The shop cannot be neglected, and neither can your cultivation, go attend to your duties!¡± With that, Lin Tianming, without waiting for Li Rong¡¯s reaction, led Qin Xi towards the Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s third floor, leaving Li Rong standing there, at a loss for what to do. Chapter 443 03-25 - 443 259 Reunion Auction News_1 ?Chapter 443: Chapter 259 Reunion Auction News_1 Chapter 443: Chapter 259 Reunion Auction News_1 Luoyun Pavilion, third floor. At this moment, Lin Xingyan was sitting on the stone platform by the window, looking at the grand Market Hall not far away, his face full of worry. Since the news of the demonic beasts¡¯ attacks reached Qianchuan Market, it had been several months since Lin Xingmin left with the members of the clan. During this time, the three relatives remaining at the market had been extremely careful and cautious, ensuring the normal operation of Luoyun Pavilion while also gathering information about the beast tide attacks, paying particular attention to the situation at the Luoyun Mountain Range. Because the Luoyun Mountain Range was rather remote with few cultivators of higher cultivation, the strength of the cultivators there was relatively low. Moreover, during such a critical time, it wasn¡¯t conducive to large-scale movements of cultivators, leaving them almost completely in the dark about their family¡¯s circumstances. However, the Recruitment Order had been the talk of the town these days. Many family cultivators and loose cultivators responded to the call and gathered at Qianchuan Market, reaching its peak number of people. They were able to gather some information from some Qi Refining Cultivators who had arrived earlier, but those they were in contact with were all of the Qi Refinement stage, and all of them had arrived shortly after the outbreak of the demonic beast attacks. ... Under such circumstances, the information they had was limited. They only knew that Luoyun Market had offered quite a few rewards and retained some cultivators ¡ª but as for the situation of the battle that broke out afterward, they had no idea. ¡°Alas¡­ I wonder how the clan is doing? Did the Zhenyang Sect include our Lin Family in their Recruitment Order?¡± ¡°I hope not!¡± Lin Xingyan muttered to himself. Just then, a familiar voice resonated from the secret chamber, pulling the deeply preoccupied Lin Xingyan back to reality. ¡°Uncle! ¡± Lin Xingyan looked up to see Lin Tianming approaching with another person, his expression filled with excitement. However, it only lasted a moment before his face turned pale again. He wasn¡¯t sure why Lin Tianming had come. Was he appointed by the family to guard Luoyun Pavilion, or was he responding to the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Order? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? It was difficult for him to determine for the moment. If it was the former, he would naturally be excited, as it would indicate that the family was faring well and still had the resources to dispatch someone as capable as he to Luoyun Pavilion. If it was the latter, however, the situation was entirely different. Responding to the call and going to the front lines implied obvious dangers. With Lin Tianming being a core member of the family, any mishap could indefinitely postpone the family¡¯s rise to power. At that moment, with mixed feelings, Lin Xingyan silently prayed that Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose was the former. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Uncle¡­ Uncle?¡± Seeing Lin Xingyan¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming called out twice, and Lin Xingyan finally snapped back to the present. Right now, Lin Xingyan couldn¡¯t care less about proprieties or ask who the person with Lin Tianming was. He urgently wanted to know Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions. He sighed, then asked, ¡°Tianming¡­ why have you come to Qianchuan Market at this critical time? How is the family?¡± Lin Tianming, seeing his condition, knew what he was thinking. But now that he was here, even the worst outcome couldn¡¯t be changed. He took a seat across from Lin Xingyan, with Qin Xi following suit, sitting silently beside them. Then, Lin Tianming started to explain the reasons behind the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Order and his own purpose for coming to the market. His suspicions confirmed, Lin Xingyan¡¯s face grew pale once more, and he looked deeply concerned. ¡°It is what it is¡­¡± ¡°The matter is settled. Our family isn¡¯t in a position to provoke the Zhenyang Sect, so we might as well accept reality!¡± Lin Xingyan exclaimed. Eventually calming down, he continued to inquire, ¡°What about the clan? Have we been attacked by demonic beasts?¡± Lin Tianming responded immediately, outlining the overall situation of the family. ¡°Uncle, rest assured¡­ the family made quite a few preparations before the beast tide erupted. When the beast tide assault occurred, all three key clan territories were attacked by the demonic beasts, but fortunately, there were no disasters, and all three territories repelled the Demon Beast Tribe.¡± ¡°However, in these battles, the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market both suffered some losses. Dozens of our clan members fell in defending against the beast tide, a truly regrettable loss!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyan¡¯s expression turned mournful, and he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Alas¡­ life and death are ruled by fate. Given such a massive beast tide assault, they died for the clan and deserve to be remembered by all!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ our family¡¯s situation is somewhat better. Other mountain clans suffered even greater losses, with some Foundation Establishing Families nearly ceasing to exist,¡± Lin Tianming replied. Lin Xingyan nodded. Overall, the Lin Family¡¯s losses were not significant; their top combatants of the Foundation Establishment Stage were unharmed, and the loss of a few cultivators of the sixth or seventh Qi Refinement levels had a negligible impact on the current overall strength of the Lin Family. Regaining his composure, Lin Xingyan glanced at the silent Qin Xi beside Lin Tianming, wearing a thoughtful expression. He had had quite a few interactions with Lin Tianming but had never seen him bring a female cultivator before the clan, discussing internal affairs of the Lin Family in front of them. Typically, the clan members were cautious, but Lin Tianming was so casual, which took him by surprise. ¡°Clearly, this woman is no ordinary individual,¡± Lin Xingyan thought to himself. Qin Xi, under his scrutiny and seeing the change in Lin Xingyan¡¯s demeanor, felt her cheeks flush slightly, somewhat embarrassed. Chapter 444 03-25 - 444 259 Reunion Auction News_2 ?Chapter 444: Chapter 259 Reunion Auction News_2 Chapter 444: Chapter 259 Reunion Auction News_2 Seeing her like this, Lin Tianming chuckled and began to introduce Qin Xi¡¯s identity as well as the fact that the two of them were representing the Lin Family in the great war. Soon, Lin Xingyan understood the whole story, and since Lin Tianming had made the decision, he naturally did not have any objections; he just needed to follow his orders. Subsequently, the two began to chat idly. Lin Tianming inquired about the situations of the other family members and the recent events that had occurred in the market. According to Lin Xingyan, over the past few months, those in the family who remained to look after the market had not been idle, operating Luoyun Pavilion on one hand and gathering information on the other, compiling all major events occurring around the market to seek an opportunity to send back to the family so that they could make the right decisions. After a short while, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. Thanks to Lin Xingyan¡¯s briefing, he had learned a lot of useful information, which brought him great comfort. Although Lin Xingyan and a few other family members did not have a Foundation Establishment Clan Member to lead them, they had played a significant role in the market, ensuring that Lin Tianming did not feel completely helpless upon his arrival. Looking at Lin Xingyan¡¯s somewhat weary face, Lin Tianming felt great respect in his heart. He cupped his hands in a traditional gesture and then began expressing his admiration. ... ¡°Clan Uncle, in this critical time, all of you have done very well. Luoyun Pavilion has operated smoothly, and we¡¯ve obtained a lot of useful information.¡± ¡°Once we return to the family, I will surely inform Twelfth Grandpa of this matter, and the rewards then should not disappoint you!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Xingyan¡¯s face. He chuckled and then responded. ¡°As members of the Lin Family, at any time, someone needs to make sacrifices and contribute. We might be of average talent, but it is our duty to make contributions to the family.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming felt a surge of passion in his chest and an invincible aura manifested. The members of the Lin Family had always been united and willing to contribute to the family, even at the cost of their lives if necessary. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? And he had volunteered to come to this perilous battlefield, also to strive for the family because, in times of danger, someone always needed to lead the charge. At this moment, Qin Xi, who had been sitting quietly to the side, felt envious upon seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s aura. With her grandfather¡¯s death, she now had no attachments and had been alone for a long time, keeping solitary company, longing for the warmth of kinship. However, after being saved by Lin Tianming and spending some time with him, her mindset began to shift subtly. It was as if ripples had disturbed the previously calm waters of her life, creating a wonderful sensation. Yet, all these changes were subtle and imperceptible, unknown to others. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed slightly as she continued to silently watch Lin Tianming and Lin Xingyan chat. At this time, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag filled with a considerable number of valuable treasures, all of which the Clan Leader had specially prepared for him before he left the family. He handed the storage bag and the record book to Lin Xingyan, instructing, ¡°Clan Uncle, here are some treasures. Restock them into Luoyun Pavilion as soon as possible. If the beast tide can¡¯t be repelled shortly, these treasures might be the only batch we can supplement for a while.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan accept the storage bag and nodded, his Divine Sense briefly scanning it before his expression turned to one of delight. The inventory of items for sale in Luoyun Pavilion was minimal, sustained only because they were intentionally managing their supply. If they had opened sales fully, they would have likely run out long ago. Now with these treasures, although none were of high value, the quantity and variety were considerable, and they would certainly alleviate the immediate crisis. Lin Xingyan stored the bag and account book and then said, ¡°I will arrange these treasures immediately. Tianming, you all must be tired from your travels these days. Go back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard to rest first. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll gather Xing Pu and the others to discuss the subsequent arrangements.¡± Lin Tianming nodded. Indeed, the journey of more than ten days had been tiring, and there were still several days left before the end of the conscription. There was nothing much to do in this timeframe. In any case, it was best to rest and adjust their condition before making further plans. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingyan and then left the secret room with Qin Xi. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In no time, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi passed through several streets to reach the Cave Mansion Courtyard rented by the Lin Family. As soon as they entered the mansion, Lin Tianming settled Qin Xi into her accommodations before finding a room and going straight to bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep due to exhaustion. The next morning. After a full night¡¯s sleep, Lin Tianming¡¯s condition returned to normal. He got up from the bed and stepped out into the courtyard. At that moment, Lin Xingyan and Lin Xingpu were already sitting in the courtyard, chatting leisurely, evidently waiting for him. Seeing him emerge, Lin Xingpu and Lin Xingzhao became excited and quickly rose to greet him. Lin Tianming smiled and returned their gesture, greeting the family members warmly. ¡°Tian Ming greets the three Clan Uncles.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Tian Ming, you young fellow, have had us worried. Come, come, take a seat,¡± urged Lin Xingyan, motioning for Lin Tianming to sit and then pouring him a cup of Spiritual Tea, waiting for him to give instructions. Seeing everyone gathered, Lin Tianming took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then asked Lin Xingpu about the latest information gathered in the market. Chapter 445 03-25 - 445 259 Reunion Auction News_3 ?Chapter 445: Chapter 259 Reunion Auction News_3 Chapter 445: Chapter 259 Reunion Auction News_3 Lin Xingpu offered a faint smile and then spoke, ¡°These past few days, I¡¯ve been lurking in every corner of the market, inquiring with several Qi Refining Cultivators and learning a good deal of news, but nothing significant has happened.¡± ¡°However, it¡¯s said that Elder Zhu Yun from the Zhenyang Sect has arrived at Qianchuan Market, presumably to take command of the cultivators in this area who will participate in the recruitment.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded. Since the three great sects had issued the Recruitment Order, naturally, they had to dispatch Golden Core Cultivators to lead. Otherwise, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators at Great Perfection would not be able to keep the many clan cultivators or Loose Cultivators in check. Then, as if remembering something, Lin Xingpu looked at Lin Tianming and spoke again. ¡°Besides that, it is rumored that a grand auction is being organized in the market three days from now. There should be many treasures surfacing then, and the number of cultivators participating will probably not be small!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately became interested. Before coming to the market, he had wanted to replenish his supplies in Qianchuan Market, especially in terms of offensive methods. Now in possession of a considerable amount of Spirit Stones, if he could acquire one or two Fake Golden Core Talismans, he would be safer in the upcoming battle. ... At the very least, acquiring some Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, or a large quantity of Second Order Medium Quality Talisman Papers, would significantly enhance his strength. Thinking about these things, Lin Tianming felt somewhat excited and then took the initiative to say, ¡°This auction event doesn¡¯t seem to be of a small scale. You all might want to take a look; perhaps there will be some gains!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ We must definitely attend. The cultivators participating in this auction are generally of high cultivation; it surely won¡¯t disappoint everyone,¡± Lin Xingyan added with a laugh. Lin Tianming quite agreed with this statement. As the deadline for the Recruitment Order drew closer, a large number of clan Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered in the market, along with many well-known Loose Cultivators. Furthermore, in the last few days, more cultivators would continue to arrive for assembly. It was easy to imagine that in two days, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators congregating in the market would increase even more. Under such circumstances, the standard of the auction would be on par with a grand market gathering. As for the exchange event to follow, it would also be well-attended, and no doubt some fine items would appear. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement. He looked at the several clan members and began to give instructions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°From now on, everyone has their duties. Someone from the clan must take turns guarding Luoyun Pavilion while the rest engage in closed-door cultivation. Just keep an eye out for any news on beast tides.¡± ¡°As for Fairy Qin, I will arrange everything for her. All you need to do is show her respect. If there is any significant news, we will discuss it privately. For minor matters, there¡¯s no need to exclude her!¡± ¡°Get to work!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ we¡¯re off then,¡± Lin Xingyan responded, then got up, cupped his fist in respect, and left the courtyard with Lin Xingpu. Lin Tianming watched as the three of them left the courtyard one after the other, contemplating his next steps. He had nothing to do for the next few days and could only engage in short-term cultivation, waiting for the auction to start. However, he planned to visit Sky Dragon Pavilion to meet with Tang Xiuyuan and inquire about the beast tide news since the Sky Dragon Pavilion, as a property of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, had news sources even more informed than the Zhenyang Sect. Perhaps there would be significant news. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In addition, he could see if Sky Dragon Pavilion had any worthwhile items for sale. If there were, he would pay the necessary price to acquire them to increase his arsenal against enemies. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming rose to his feet and began to walk out of his cave dwelling. Chapter 446 03-25 - 446 260 Blue Star Armor Gathering ?Chapter 446: Chapter 260 Blue Star Armor, Gathering Information_1 Chapter 446: Chapter 260 Blue Star Armor, Gathering Information_1 Sky Dragon Pavilion. In a VIP room on the second floor, Lin Tianming and Tang Xiuyuan sat opposite each other, sipping tea and making casual conversation. After leaving his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming had headed straight to the Sky Pavilion. His appearance had somewhat surprised Tang Xiuyuan, but he quickly understood the reason. After all, with the outbreak of the beast tide, all cultivators in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had been affected. Lin Tianming, a rising star of the Lin Family with considerable strength, was inevitably on the list for the Recruitment Order. His presence at the marketplace was highly likely in response to the Recruitment Order issued by the Zhenyang Sect to participate in the front-line battle. Without a good reason, one does not visit a temple. After the pleasantries, Tang Xiuyuan soon asked Lin Tianming about his visit. Lin Tianming chuckled. At this critical juncture, the cultivators who came to the Sky Dragon Pavilion were all after treasures, and he was no exception. ... At that moment, Lin Tianming took a sip of tea and then smiled, ¡°Daoist Tang, my visit this time is naturally to purchase some treasures, and also to catch up with you!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s brow furrowed. Lin Tianming¡¯s mention of catching up was undoubtedly just polite chitchat and certainly not to be taken earnestly. Whether it was true or not, he didn¡¯t mind. With a calm demeanor, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, ¡°Lin, what do you need?¡± ¡°Elixirs? Talisman paper? Or magic artifacts?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s smile was wry. Without beating around the bush, he inquired straightforwardly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? ¡°I wonder if you still have the Fake Golden Core Talismans I bought from you before? If not, Second Order Medium or High Quality Attack Defense Talismans will do. Any treasures that can enhance strength are acceptable; the more, the better!¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan remained composed. The financial strength Lin Tianming had previously demonstrated made such a bold request quite normal. Otherwise, most people would have thought such words empty talk. Regaining his composure, Tang Xiuyuan took out a ledger, inserted his Divine Sense to check it, and then put it away. Then, he smiled, ¡°Lin, there are some Second Order Talismans available, but unfortunately, I don¡¯t have any more Fake Golden Core Talismans. That item is quite rare. The only one we had in years was acquired by you, and we haven¡¯t replenished our stock.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was slightly disappointed, but upon reflection, he could understand. Fake Golden Core Talismans were not common, and the Sky Dragon Pavilion wouldn¡¯t sell too many of them. Especially now, such powerful treasures were coveted by everyone. He and Tang Xiuyuan didn¡¯t have a strong relationship, being merely a major customer. Whether Tang was telling the truth or not, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to press the issue too far or to express doubts, as it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Seeing his expression, Tang Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, as if remembering something. ¡°Lin, although we don¡¯t have Fake Golden Core Talismans, our store does have several other treasures that are not too shabby. Might you be interested?¡± At these words, Lin Tianming appeared much more pleased. He looked earnestly at Tang Xiuyuan and then pressed for details. ¡°Daoist Tang, feel free to show them. As long as the items are satisfactory, the price is no issue!¡± ¡°Alright¡­please wait a moment, I¡¯ll be right back!¡± After responding, Tang Xiuyuan stood up and left the reception room, disappearing from his view. Lin Tianming waited patiently for Tang Xiuyuan to return with the treasures, his face full of anticipation. Soon, after a short while, Tang Xiuyuan came back, holding a storage bag, the contents unknown. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s hopeful gaze, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and took out two different treasures and more than ten Second Order Talismans from the bag. Upon seeing the numerous talismans, including two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, Lin Tianming remained calm. But when his gaze shifted to the other two different treasures, his eyes blazed with eagerness, looking as if he couldn¡¯t wait to have them. Among the two treasures, one was a grayish-white bead that was identical to one found in the storage bag given to him by Lin Shikang. This type of bead was known as a Spirit Detonation Bead, a consumable treasure with many grades. They were said to be refined from Demon Beast Inner Pills using a special method, ranging from First to Fourth or Fifth Order. The higher the grade, the more powerful they were. The bead that was the same as the one given by Lin Shikang was a Second Order Superior grade, its power surpassing that of an ordinary Second Order Superior Talisman. For Lin Tianming at the moment, such a Spirit Detonation Bead could indeed be considered an invaluable treasure. The other item was a piece of blue armor, seemingly made from the hide of some beast, a defensive garment. Tang Xiuyuan placed the two treasures in front of Lin Tianming, then began to introduce them. ¡°Lin, you must be familiar with this bead. As for the Blue Star Armor, it¡¯s a Second Order Medium Quality garment, crafted from a complete Blue Horned Rhinoceros Hide. Its defensive power is exceptionally impressive, making it a rare defensive item.¡± Hearing the introduction, Lin Tianming picked up the blue armor and examined it closely. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Based on the remnants of aura on the armor, the beast from which the hide came was not to be underestimated; it most likely had been a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, crafted from the tough hide of a Blue Horned Rhino. Lin Tianming placed the armor back where it was and then began to inquire about the prices of the two treasures and the Second Order Talismans. Chapter 447 03-25 - 447 260 Blue Star Armor Gathering ?Chapter 447: Chapter 260: Blue Star Armor, Gathering Information_2 Chapter 447: Chapter 260: Blue Star Armor, Gathering Information_2 Tang Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Second Order Superior Spirit Detonation Beads are priced at five thousand Spirit Stones each.¡± ¡°This Blue Star Armor, created from the hide of a Blue Horned Rhino in the Second Order Late Phase, possesses exceptionally strong defensive power, and is priced at eleven thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°As for these Second Order Superior Attack Talisman papers, they are three thousand Spirit Stones each, while the Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman papers are two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones each.¡± Upon hearing the prices quoted by Tang Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming furrowed his brows and then immediately questioned, ¡°Daoist Tang, why are these talisman papers so much more expensive than before?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, you are not taking into account the current situation. The beast tide attacks continue, and the prices of all treasures such as Spirit Fruits, elixirs, Magic Artifacts, and talisman papers that can swiftly enhance strength have started to skyrocket.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I hit it off with you right away, coupled with your generous spending and forthright personality, I would definitely charge others more than this.¡± Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s flattery and his reasoned and emotional explanation slightly improved the look on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ... In reality, Lin Tianming also knew what Tang Xiuyuan was saying wasn¡¯t wrong. Not just in Qianchuan Market, but in any small and medium-sized market within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the prices for such war preparations and resources had all substantially increased. Take the Luoyun Market under the control of the Lin Family, for example, the prices of these treasures had generally risen by thirty percent compared to normal times. Considering this, the prices given by Tang Xiuyuan were fairly honest, and he wasn¡¯t asking for an exorbitant amount. At that moment, Lin Tianming began to consider that although the prices of these treasures were not low, as time went on, if the beast tide attacks did not recede shortly, the prices of these treasures might very well continue to climb. Furthermore, these treasures at this time were almost as rare as hen¡¯s teeth, becoming more scarce as time went on. If he didn¡¯t act now, after a while, he might not even have the opportunity to replenish his supplies. With these thoughts, he quickly made up his mind. Regardless of the cost, he must acquire them to enhance his strength as much as possible. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Having decided, Lin Tianming spoke, ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯ll take the Spirit Detonation Beads and Blue Star Armor, along with these two Second Order Superior Attack Talisman papers, and three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman papers.¡± ¡°This is a large transaction for me, so I expect you to offer a fair price!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Naturally, you certainly spend like no other, Lin,¡± Tang Xiuyuan nodded and complimented. ¡°The Spirit Detonation Beads and Blue Star Armor together are priced at sixteen thousand Spirit Stones, and these five Second Order Talisman papers combined are thirteen thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, making a total of twenty-nine thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Since you are so straightforward, I won¡¯t say much more. Let¡¯s settle the total for twenty-nine thousand Spirit Stones, how about that?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan reduced the price by five hundred Spirit Stones in one go, and Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Let¡¯s do as you say, Daoist Tang. However, the next time you have a Fake Golden Core Talisman or any other outstanding treasures, remember to keep them for me, or at least give me an advance notice!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Upon hearing Lin Tianming agree to the substantial transaction, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression was one of joy, as he stood to extract a sizeable number of Spirit Stones from the deal, which would also lead to obtaining more resources in the Sky Dragon Pavilion in the future. Gathering his wits, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and patted his chest in response, ¡°No problem, Lin. Rest assured, I¡¯ll notify you as soon as there¡¯s anything good!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then took out a large number of Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan on the spot. Tang Xiuyuan received the substantial number of Spirit Stones, quickly verified the amount with his Divine Sense, and handed over the treasures that Lin Tianming had purchased. The transaction completed, both parties reaped considerable benefits, leaving them both in good spirits. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, regarding the beast tide attacks, does your noble family, as one of Qingzhou¡¯s top powers, have any significant news to share?¡± Hearing the question, Tang Xiuyuan appeared bewildered. As a power in Qingzhou likened to a towering giant, the Tang Family naturally had a more detailed grasp of the events occurring throughout the entire region. However, he was merely a peripheral member of the Tang Family, with neither outstanding talent nor cultivation, which is why he became one of the consuls at the Qianchuan Market for the Sky Dragon Pavilion. This status afforded him a middle-ground standing in the Qianchuan Market, but even Golden Core cultivators treated him quite courteously. Yet all this was only because he was born into the Tang Family, which provided a powerful background to support him. Without the Tang Family¡¯s backing, his cultivation talent would hardly be worth mentioning. As for the information Lin Tianming was seeking, he indeed knew a bit more than the average person. That¡¯s because the Tang Family¡¯s caravans would periodically travel through Qingzhou¡¯s major and large markets, responsible for allocating various resources and collecting treasures, which would ultimately be sent back to the Tang family clan lands. As one of the few consuls in Qianchuan Market, he could get some of the latest news about the Qingzhou land from the leaders in charge of transporting goods. Regaining his composure, he looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s seemingly amused expression and thought that since Lin Tianming approached him for several major business dealings, it would not hurt to reveal some information. After all, this news would eventually spread far and wide. Revealing some information earlier might obligate Lin Tianming to owe him a favor, so why not do it! With these thoughts, he immediately began to speak, ¡°Daoist Lin, the annihilation of Yuanwu Country¡¯s cultivation realm has already been reported.¡± ¡°As far as I know, the Beast Tide Army is currently in Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s cultivation realm. Thanks to the support of several neighboring countries¡¯ forces, numerous cultivators have been dispatched, and the Beast Tide Army has been caught in a stalemate with the Human Race¡¯s powers.¡± ¡°Yuanzhen Kingdom is too far from Wei Kingdom to significantly affect Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world, so we needn¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°However, Daoist Lin should pay close attention to what¡¯s happening on the Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivation side. After all, the nobility¡¯s survival and development here are closely bound to the situation of the beast tide,¡± he noted. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming smiled, then bowed in response, ¡°Daoist Tang is correct. The outside world is indeed too distant for a minor clan like ours. We should focus all our attention on the immediate issues!¡± ¡°The Lin Family has limited strength and hardly understands the basic situation in the southern Wei Kingdom, so I would appreciate any insights from Daoist Tang!¡± Tang Xiuyuan nodded and then began to explain, ¡°Here in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world, the Three Great Golden Core Sects have had several rounds of clashes with the Monster Beast Legion at three locations, with both sides sustaining injuries, resulting in a temporary deadlock. ¡°In the mountains below, family forces have all suffered losses to varying degrees. However, these places are not the main battlefield, and if they survive the first wave of demonic beasts, the subsequent intensity should weaken,¡± he added. Lin Tianming sighed with relief upon hearing this. If the beast tide attacks were as ferocious as the first time, the pressure on the Lin Family would be enormous. Regathering his thoughts, Tang Xiuyuan changed the topic to the Zhenyang Sect. Tang Xiuyuan said, ¡°The Three Great Sects issuing the Recruitment Order is also to minimize their own losses.¡± ¡°Next, the cultivators gathered here in Qianchuan Market are likely to join the Golden Core cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect and converge at the main battlefield west of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate, the Songling Mountain Range,¡± he continued. ¡°The Songling Mountain Range?¡± Lin Tianming pondered the situation regarding the Songling Mountain Range. The Songling Mountain Range, situated near Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate in the western part, is several times larger than the Luoyun Mountain Range and hosts many powers, including seven Foundation Establishing families, each stronger than the Jin Family had been. Then, Tang Xiuyuan went on to say, ¡°Things are chaotic at the Songling Mountain Range, with five of the major families already destroyed and the remaining two also suffering heavy losses.¡± ¡°If not for Yangzong¡¯s proactive deployment of cultivators, it¡¯s likely that the entire Songling Mountain Range¡¯s families would have ceased to exist!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was shocked. Seven families, each with respectable strength and guarded by Protective Clan Formations, had been wiped out by the demonic beasts¡ªfive of them completely. It was almost unbelievable. Chapter 448 03-25 - 448 261 Auction (Subscription and ?Chapter 448: Chapter 261 Auction (Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_1 Chapter 448: Chapter 261 Auction (Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_1 With great difficulty calming down, Lin Tianming continued to ask, ¡°Daoist Tang, what about the situation in the territories of the other two Great Sects?¡± ¡°The situation in the territories of the other two Great Sects is even more serious, especially in the Myriad Medicine Valley. Although the Myriad Medicine Valley is powerful, the attacks they¡¯ve suffered are even stronger,¡± Tang Xiuyuan said with a grave expression. ¡°Several mountain range families have been directly annihilated, even the Golden Core Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts have clashed fiercely,¡± Tang Xiuyuan said seriously. Hearing this explosive news, at this very moment, Lin Tianming was almost numb. Nowadays, battles raged everywhere in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, whether it be Qi Refining Stage Cultivators or the lofty Golden Core Cultivators, none could escape unscathed. It was evident that as the summoning of cultivators for assembly progressed, the Beast Tide Army was also building up its strength. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unless unexpected, the great battle that was about to begin would be a clash between two grand camps, erupting in an earth-shattering conflict, with the Human Cultivators reaching a critical moment. ... One could imagine just how many cultivators would fall on that terrifying battlefield, and how many would rise to fame and prominence. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming wore a serious expression, beginning to worry about the upcoming battle. He was only at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and while dealing with a Second Order Late Stage Beast was not an issue, the Demon Beast Army included several tens of thousands, not to mention a substantial number of Second Order Beasts, and even a few Third Order Beasts. Against such a formidable Monster Beast Legion, with his current level of cultivation, one careless move could spell his doom. ¡°Alas¡­ my strength is still too weak!¡± Lin Tianming sighed to himself. Gradually regaining composure, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression recovered somewhat, and then he asked a few topics of more concern. Seeing his serious demeanor, Tang Xiuyuan did not hold back, virtually sharing all the news he knew with Lin Tianming. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? After half an hour, having learned a lot of useful information, Lin Tianming stood up, cupped his fists in salute to Tang Xiuyuan, preparing to take his leave. ¡°Daoist Tang, I will remember the advice you gave today in my heart. Should an opportunity arise, I will certainly repay your guidance,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Daoist Lin, you are too courteous. This information will eventually spread across the entire market city, so there¡¯s no need to take it too seriously,¡± Tang Xiuyuan replied with a smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ then I¡¯ll take my leave now, looking forward to our next meeting!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and politely expressed his thanks. Then, he stood up and left the reception room. Walking on the broad Bluestone Street and watching the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, it seemed to him that these cultivators had yet to anticipate the coming storm. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn as he started contemplating his next arrangements. Despite the treacherous frontlines, fortunately, he was not completely unprepared. He had bid on a few treasures at the Sky Dragon Pavilion and replenished some Second Order Talisman paper, trying his best to enhance his own strength. Besides, at the auction and exchange meetings in two days, some good items might surface, and he must prepare some more to get through this difficult battle. Without realizing it, he returned to his Cave Mansion Courtyard, where Lin Xingyan and the others were all busy. Finding himself with nothing to do, he went back to his own cultivation room. Sitting on the meditation cushion, Lin Tianming took out the treasures he had just purchased, carefully inspecting them one by one. Among these treasures, he was highly satisfied with the Second Order Medium Quality Blue Star Armor. You should know, as a Dual Cultivator of Body and Law, his physical body was no weaker than that of an ordinary Second Order Initial Stage Beast. With this Blue Star Armor, facing attacks from a Second Order Middle Stage Beast should not cause him much harm. Now that he had added a Spirit Detonation Bead, in terms of attack capability, with a Fake Golden Core Talisman and two Spirit Detonation Beads, his combat power was not to be underestimated. And in defense, with a Blood-red Jade Pendant and a Green Scale Shield, plus this Blue Star Armor, if he only faced a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, he would be able to hold his ground. After inspecting each of the treasures, Lin Tianming had a clear understanding of his various capabilities, making it easier to act with certainty. After taking stock of his belongings, Lin Tianming closed his eyes and began to meditate, waiting until he reached his peak condition, then took out some elixirs and undressed to start closed-door cultivation, waiting for the auction to commence. Two days later. In the central auction venue in the market city, a huge square, the figures of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi appeared. Behind the two of them, Lin Xingpu and Lin Xingzhao followed, and apart from Lin Xingyan, who was left to guard the Luoyun Pavilion, several clan members from the market city were all planning to join the auction. Looking at the long queue ahead, Qin Xi wore an excited expression. Although she had been successful in Foundation Establishment for several years, she had not participated in many auctions of this caliber. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was very calm at this time. He had attended such auctions several times, and even though this time¡¯s popularity was exceptionally high and the cultivators participating were generally of higher cultivation than any previous occasion, he was undisturbed by it. After scanning the forefront, Lin Tianming led the group past the lining queue, heading straight to the entrance. Upon his arrival, the Zhenyang Sect Executive Officer in charge of collecting the entrance fee seemed to recognize him and immediately greeted him cordially. Lin Tianming chuckled and handed over his Token to the Market City Supervisor and paid for two VIP rooms with Spirit Stones. The Executive Officer in charge of the Spirit Stones was also tactful, promptly allowing them through and even arranging two young maids to lead the way. In the main hall on the first floor of the auction, Lin Tianming instructed Lin Xingpu on a few things before heading to one of the VIP rooms on the second floor with Qin Xi, following the female cultivator leading the way. Chapter 449 03-25 - 449 261 Auction (Subscription and ?Chapter 449: Chapter 261 Auction (Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_2 Chapter 449: Chapter 261 Auction (Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_2 ¡°Senior has arrived!¡± the maid said respectfully. ¡°Hmm¡­ Wait here for me, I will instruct you further if there¡¯s anything!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and spoke a sentence, then the two, one in front and the other following, entered the VIP room, leaving the maid to stand guard alone at the entrance. Once inside the VIP room, he and Qin Xi each took a seat on a peach wood chair, watching the bustling public area below and started chatting idly. By that time, the hundreds of seats in the entire public area were nearly filled with cultivators, and there were still cultivators continuously filing in. Given the popularity of the scene and the cultivations of those who came to participate, the auction indeed seemed to be very promising. At a glance, one could spot a number of cultivators in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, a scene hotter than the decennial grand assembly auction. ... ¡°Fairy Qin, this time it truly is a gathering of talents, there must be many treasures rarely seen; be sure not to miss them,¡± Lin Tianming reminded her. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, then smiled and said, ¡°That is of course natural, for the sake of the auction, these past few days I have also made quite the preparations, they surely won¡¯t disappoint us, right!¡± Lin Tianming smiled and changed the subject, then closed his eyes to rest in the lively scene below. A little half an hour passed. At this moment, the auction venue was packed to the brim, the public seating area was completely full, and even nearly a hundred extra seats had been temporarily added, which were also filled with people. With just the public area alone, there were more than six hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, adding in a hundred or so people from the VIP rooms, the cultivators gathered here were no fewer than seven or eight hundred. One must know that in Luoyun Market, on regular days it¡¯s not easy to gather ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet here there were so many, and all with considerable cultivation levels. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Although there were factors such as the Recruitment Order and the beast tide, this fundamentally demonstrated just how popular Qianchuan Market was. At this time, the auction was in full swing, and many cultivators chatted with each other as if they were not affected in the least by the beast tide¡¯s assault. Following a loud voice, an elderly figure emerged from a corner of the auction venue¡ªundoubtedly, it was Xue Chong who had hosted several Foundation Establishment Area auctions. Xue Chong cupped his hands in a salute, walking around and greeting some acquaintances among the cultivators. Several cultivators returned the gesture, it was evident that Xue Chong had a good reputation in the market. Thinking about it, it made sense, with the number of auctions Xue Chong had hosted at least a hundred times, he had been active in this field for nearly a century, so naturally, he knew a considerable number of cultivators. Soon, Xue Chong reached the central stage of the auction venue, surveyed the entire gathering of cultivators, and then began to deliver the opening remarks with formal courtesy. ¡°Hehe¡­ Old Daoist Xue Chong is honored to host this auction. Many of you here are old acquaintances,¡± he said. ¡°This time, as fellow Daoists have gathered, the auction has also prepared many rare and precious treasures, even I myself am quite envious!¡± At these words, many cultivators in the venue showed expressions of anticipation, some could hardly wait. Xue Chong was very pleased, his few words had ignited the desires of the cultivators, and going by this trend, the subsequent bidding section was bound to be fierce. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk¡­ Enough of the idle chatter, let us begin the auction!¡± Xue Chong called out loudly. As soon as his voice fell, the cultivators below started cheering, making the already started auction even livelier. Seeing this, Xue Chong wore a smug expression, chuckled, and then waved his hand to interrupt the cheering cultivators. Then, he flung his sleeve and his resonant voice filled the entire auction venue. ¡°The first item for auction, a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, starting bid is one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than twenty Spirit Stones! Immediately, cultivators began to call out bids, as a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, at such a critical time, was very much in demand; it might save a life at times. ¡°` ¡°One thousand eight hundred fifty spirit stones!¡± ¡°One thousand nine hundred twenty spirit stones!¡± ¡­ Cultivators were raising the bid by no less than fifty stones each time, and the price continued to climb, soon reaching as much as two thousand six hundred spirit stones. Clearly, with the great battle approaching, such consumable treasures were highly sought after, even if the price was far higher than usual, there were still many cultivators willing to pay. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi witnessed the whole process, but Lin Tianming was not interested; he already had several Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans on him, and one more or one less did not make much difference to him. Under their watchful eyes, the first item, the Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, was sold for two thousand eight hundred spirit stones, which was even higher than the price Lin Tianming had paid for it alone at the Sky Dragon Pavilion. At that moment, in the public area of the auction hall, a Third Level Foundation Establishment Cultivator joyfully handed over spirit stones and received the talisman paper from Xue Chong, examining it with great fondness amidst envious glances from those around him. In the center of the hall, Xue Chong nodded his head in satisfaction. The first item had fetched a high price and had successfully boosted the atmosphere in the hall. Immediately afterward, Xue Chong continued to preside over the auction, presenting the second item, which was a Second Order Superior metal ore. Although at this moment, ores for Artifact Refining were not in high demand, since treasures were hard to come by, many cultivators still competed fiercely in bidding, and in the end, a Second Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator acquired it for two thousand two hundred spirit stones. The first two items were of good quality and sold for relatively high prices, which made the atmosphere in the hall extremely lively. Lin Tianming sat in the VIP room, watching the fervent atmosphere below with a look full of anticipation. Below them, Xue Chong was in high spirits, as the auction¡¯s atmosphere was enthusiastic and the selling prices were higher than usual. Once all the items were auctioned off, he could expect a generous commission reward. Collecting his thoughts, Xue Chong continued to oversee the auction. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, he brought out the third item, which was a Second Order Superior Spiritual Medicine Material. Upon seeing the Spiritual Medicine in his hand, Lin Tianming remained very calm. This plant was too common¡ªtheir Clan Spiritual Herb Garden had more than a dozen mature ones, so there was no need to waste spirit stones. However, while he was not interested, there should be plenty of Alchemists below, or other cultivators collecting this medicine, who drove the price of the Spiritual Medicine quite high. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After seven or eight rounds of competitive bidding, a female cultivator purchased the plant for one thousand eight hundred spirit stones. The auction continued at a brisk pace. The regular auction items had all been sold, a good hundred or more items, all rarities that were hard to see on ordinary days. In this process, Lin Tianming did not bid often, spending only a little more than seven thousand spirit stones to acquire several Second Order Superior Spiritual Medicine Materials and a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pill. The Spiritual Medicine Materials were the kinds he could use and were acquired for reserves. Beyond that, he gained almost nothing, mainly because his tastes were too refined, and the things he was missing would not appear among these regular items; the inferior ones did not catch his eye. His attention was focused only on the last ten showcase items. Not just him, out of about seven to eight hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the hall, at least half were there for the final showcase items. Meanwhile, Qin Xi had not done badly at this bustling auction, coming across rare treasures during the middle and latter stages of the auction, which included all kinds of elixir charms. After fierce competition, Qin Xi, well-prepared, triumphantly secured the items she wanted, leading to a rewarding experience. At this moment, with the regular-stage items auctioned off, more than a hundred treasures had been sold without a single pass, each for a price above thirty percent higher than usual. In such circumstances, the atmosphere of the entire auction had reached a whole new level. All the cultivators present, whether they were just onlookers or were there for the final showcase treasures, were all eager and ready to try their luck. In the VIP room on the second floor, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi perked up and focused their attention on Xue Chong below, their expressions filled with anticipation. ¡°` Chapter 450 03-25 - 450 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for ?Chapter 450: Chapter 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for last month¡¯s leave)_1 Chapter 450: Chapter 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for last month¡¯s leave)_1 Atop the auction stage, Xue Chong looked at the cultivators below, his expression showing peak excitement. At this moment, many cultivators¡¯ eyes shone brightly, all of them fixated on every move Xue Chong made, as if afraid to miss anything. Seeing this scene, Xue Chong was very satisfied. As an experienced professional auctioneer, to have a firm grasp over the atmosphere of the entire venue was a confirmation of his profession. Observing the eager expressions of the audience, he dared not delay too much, lest he offend some quick-tempered cultivator and bring unnecessary trouble upon himself. He chuckled and then loudly announced, ¡°Now we will proceed to the final ten key treasures of the auction, everyone, please pay attention!¡± As soon as these words fell, a pretty female cultivator emerged from a corner, holding a tray with a jade bottle on it, which appeared to be an elixir. The cultivators in the audience stared intently at the jade bottle, silently guessing what treasure it could be. ... ¡°The first key treasure, one Hun Tian Pill, I trust everyone here is familiar with it!¡± Xue Chong began his introduction. ¡°He he¡­ Friend Xue, no need for mysterious airs, state the starting price quickly so that I can secure this item as soon as possible,¡± a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level interrupted Xue Chong¡¯s words, attracting the attention of many cultivators. At that moment, some cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage exhibited an expression of both envy and fear. Those who didn¡¯t know the name of this person also began whispering, inquiring about his background from the cultivators nearby. The cultivator who had spoken listened to the flattering words around him, his face showing a smug expression. His cultivation was a bit away from reaching the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, but if he managed to win the Hun Tian Pill, he could step into the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and his strength would undergo a qualitative change. Although they were only separated by one stage, the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level represented the middle stage of cultivation, while reaching the Seventh Level meant entering the late stage. The difference of one stage could at least double one¡¯s strength, and during this perilous time, it would significantly increase the chances of surviving any conflict. Moreover, breaking through from the Sixth to the Seventh Level without external help posed a considerable challenge, and many cultivators with inadequate potential might be forever stuck at this point. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 His goal was very clear, even if using the Hun Tian Pill at this stage was somewhat wasteful, he still wanted to take the gamble. After all, crises could arise at any time, and it was crucial to break through in cultivation first to increase the chances of survival. Seeing this person¡¯s impatient demeanor, Xue Chong also didn¡¯t dare prolong the matter. After taking a look at the audience¡¯s expressions, he chuckled and then declared, ¡°One Hun Tian Pill, starting at nine thousand spirit stones, each bid must be no less than fifty spirit stones!¡± ¡°Nine thousand five hundred spirit stones!¡± No sooner had the words dropped than the previously urging cultivator immediately placed a bid, raising the price directly to nine thousand five hundred spirit stones. This person seemed determined to win, and by raising the bid by five hundred spirit stones in one go, the bidding process instantly reached a fever pitch. In a public seating area, a middle-aged burly man immediately started to bid, clearly unwilling to back down, drawing the gaze of everyone present. ¡°Nine thousand eight hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡°Ten thousand spirit stones!¡± The first cultivator to bid didn¡¯t give in, and as the two competed, the value continued to climb, soon reaching eleven thousand five hundred spirit stones. Inside the VIP room, Lin Tianming and his companion watched the fierce bidding below, completely detached, as if they were enjoying a show. Just when everyone thought that a little over eleven thousand spirit stones was already the limit, several more cultivators joined the battle for the Hun Tian Pill. Clearly, it was only now that the real competition began, the previous fierce bidding having been merely a warm-up. With a few cultivators joining the bidding, the price of the Hun Tian Pill surged again. After more than ten rounds of bidding, it was now heading towards fourteen thousand spirit stones. At this moment, the two cultivators who had started the bidding wore somber expressions. They had thought the bid for the Hun Tian Pill would be a show between the two of them, never expecting they were merely part of the prelude, and when the real battle began, they were no longer involved. Under the constantly rising price, the two cultivators helplessly looked on; they had a limited number of spirit stones, and the price had already far exceeded their limits, leaving them no choice but to give up on the auction for the Hun Tian Pill. With their withdrawal, the price stabilized after several rounds of changes and was eventually won by a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level for fifteen thousand two hundred spirit stones. The auction of the first key treasure fetched a high price, satisfying all in attendance. Seizing the moment, Xue Chong immediately began the auction for the second key treasure, an Attack Talisman of the Second Order inferior quality. Giving the excellent quality of the magic artifact, loose cultivators made up a significant portion of those present, and many cultivators of modest strength still lacked suitable artifacts. The intense competition further heated up the already fervent atmosphere, taking it to new heights. At this time, the bustling auction continued, with each key treasure being sold, and the prices growing round after round. Before long, five key treasures were auctioned successfully, and half of the ten key treasures had been sold. The remaining five treasures were undoubtedly priceless items. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the atmosphere at its peak, Xue Chong was thrilled and very satisfied with the atmosphere and prices achieved during this auction. Amidst the audience¡¯s urging, he gestured grandly, and a female cultivator emerged from the rear passageway, walking towards the stage. Looking over, the female cultivator held a tray with a fist-sized orb on it. Around the orb swirled copious amounts of vapor, accompanied by the sound of water and the rolling of waves, echoing throughout the venue. Chapter 451 03-25 - 451 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for ?Chapter 451: Chapter 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for last month¡¯s leave)_2 Chapter 451: Chapter 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for last month¡¯s leave)_2 As soon as this item appeared, it immediately caught the listless attention of Qin Xi, who stared intently at the sphere and revealed a delighted expression. Below them, numerous cultivators watched the sphere with their eyes tightly fixed, many breathing rapidly with a look of impatience. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also looked up and noticed that the sphere was, in fact, a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact with Water Attribute. Based on the strong aura emanating from the sphere, its attack power was extremely formidable; within Second Order Medium Quality artifacts, it definitely ranked as a premium. On the high platform, Xue Chong was excited. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he introduced the sixth and final auction item. ¡°The sixth and final auction item is named ¡®Heavenly Water Pearl¡¯, a Water Attribute Second Order Medium Quality artifact, with a starting bid of twenty thousand spirit stones, with each bid increment being no less than one hundred spirit stones!¡± The moment his words ended, several cultivators immediately started bidding, none willing to be outdone. ... In no time, the bidding became even more intense, far surpassing that for any previous item. In this situation, the price of the Heavenly Water Pearl continued to rise, and in an extremely short period of time, it broke through twenty-three thousand spirit stones and was still climbing. Inside the VIP room, Qin Xi looked at the Heavenly Water Pearl and listened to the continually climbing prices below, her expression complex. She turned to look at Lin Tianming, then back at the Heavenly Water Pearl, seeming as if she had something to say but hesitated. Seeing her expression, Lin Tianming immediately understood something. ¡°Fairy Qin, if you like this treasure, you should try to obtain it. If you don¡¯t have enough spirit stones, I can lend you twenty thousand to start with!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi felt somewhat embarrassed, but the Heavenly Water Pearl was powerful and perfectly matched her attributes; it was indeed very suitable for her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Until now, she had always lacked an appropriate magical artifact, which significantly diminished her strength. At this auction, she had finally come across such an artifact, and missing out on it would mean that finding another suitable one wouldn¡¯t be easy. With these thoughts, Qin Xi¡¯s expression firmed, and she was determined to win the Heavenly Water Pearl at all costs. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Making up her mind, she resolutely joined the bidding war for the artifact. ¡°Twenty-four thousand spirit stones!¡± Qin Xi increased the bid by a thousand stones in one go, stunning many people present, who looked in the direction of the voice, trying to figure out who the bidders were. Unfortunately, due to protective restrictions, the aura of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi was blocked, and the onlookers couldn¡¯t discern any information or guess their identities. In the brief silence that followed, the price called out by Qin Xi indeed deterred several competing cultivators, but there were still many determined bidders, and the price continued to climb. After several rounds of competition, only three cultivators, including Qin Xi, still refused to give up on the Heavenly Water Pearl. As the previous bidder in another VIP room called out twenty-five thousand five hundred spirit stones, Qin Xi¡¯s face looked a bit upset. A typical Second Order Mid-tier Attack Talisman would usually be worth around twenty thousand spirit stones, and this bid had already reached more than twenty-five thousand. Although the Heavenly Water Pearl was of exceptional quality and a rare Water Attribute artifact, it made sense to be a bit more expensive. But the current price was now substantially inflated, surpassing her limit. With a sigh of resignation, despite her attachment, Qin Xi was ready to give up bidding. Just then, Lin Tianming promptly spoke up, bidding on behalf of an indecisive Qin Xi. ¡°Twenty-six thousand spirit stones!¡± ¡°Twenty-six thousand five hundred spirit stones!¡± Another cultivator in a separate secret chamber didn¡¯t back down and continued raising the bid right after Lin Tianming spoke. ¡°Twenty-eight thousand five hundred spirit stones!¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly and immediately upped the bid by two thousand stones, his authoritative and undeniable voice completely stunning all the cultivators present. At that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s beautiful eyes were fixed intently on Lin Tianming; her breathing was even a bit rapid. In the venue, a silence had fallen, and after a few moments passed, no cultivator spoke up, seemingly giving up on continuing the bidding. Xue Chong, watching the private room competing with Lin Tianming, appeared to be enjoying the show, not minding the chaos at all. He did hope others would continue to bid, so he could take a larger cut. Regrettably, with a price approaching thirty thousand spirit stones, it was already very high. If the bidding continued, it would definitely easily surpass thirty thousand spirit stones. Beyond that, combined with Lin Tianming¡¯s determined tone and the price he showed no sign of relinquishing, cultivators who initially planned to compete hesitated. A few more moments went by. Seeing that no one else spoke up to continue bidding, Xue Chong was slightly disappointed and could only helplessly announce that the private room where Lin Tianming was located had successfully won the auction. Upon hearing Xue Chong declare the result, Lin Tianming chuckled, casually taking out twenty thousand spirit stones and handing them to Qin Xi. ¡°Here are twenty thousand spirit stones, quickly seal the deal on the Tian Water Pearl!¡± Urged by Lin Tianming, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed, and she took the spirit stones from his hand, then took the rest from her storage bag, and threw them together at Xue Chong. Xue Chong caught the spirit stones, confirmed the correct amount, and casually tossed the Tian Water Pearl back, which Qin Xi took through the air. At this time, Qin Xi held the smooth and round pearl, her expression one of irresistible fondness. Lin Tianming glanced at the Tian Water Pearl and then smiled, ¡°This item is indeed extraordinary, among Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifacts, it¡¯s definitely a rare treasure!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Congratulations to Fairy Qin on acquiring a valuable treasure!¡± ¡°I must thank Lin for lending me the spirit stones. Otherwise, no matter what, I could not have afforded this treasure!¡± ¡°As for the spirit stones, I will find a way to repay them as soon as possible. If it causes any inconvenience, please bear with me!¡± Qin Xi replied sincerely. ¡°Fairy Qin is too courteous. Next, we should travel together and even depend on each other for survival. Enhancing your strength can also be of some help to me, greatly increasing our chances of survival,¡± Lin Tianming responded. ¡°As for the spirit stones¡­ I should not lack them in the short term, so Fairy Qin need not worry about this matter!¡± In fact, when he said this, it was true. Before leaving his clan, he had carried more than a hundred thousand spirit stones. After arriving at the market, he had already spent over thirty thousand and lent twenty thousand to Qin Xi, and he still had sixty or seventy thousand left to use. Furthermore, he had many demon cores and treasures on him, so in the short term, he shouldn¡¯t lack spirit stones. Moved by these words, Qin Xi felt a great deal of gratitude. Lin Tianming had not only saved her life but also lent her twenty thousand spirit stones in one go, which was no small sum. Many cultivators in the initial stages of Foundation Establishment would consider twenty thousand spirit stones practically their whole net worth. Even she herself only had a little more than twenty thousand at first. After bidding on some treasures previously and adding this Tian Water Pearl, she had drained all her savings and was now steeped in debt. At this moment, Qin Xi had a helpless expression, but fortunately, she obtained a suitable treasure that greatly enhanced her strength. As for the debt, there was no choice but to pay it off slowly afterward! Regathering her thoughts, she noticed Lin Tianming watching Xue Chong below, with an expectant look on his face. On the auction stage, Xue Chong was pointing to a jade box, starting to introduce the seventh and final highlight item. ¡°The seventh highlight item, a Sky Rainbow Fruit, starts at a bid of eighteen thousand spirit stones, with each increase no less than a hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡°What?¡± A cultivator exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Sky Rainbow Fruit? Is that for real?¡± At this moment, the already lively atmosphere in the venue instantly erupted with various exclamations; many cultivators¡¯ eyes were fervent, staring fixedly at the fruit on the stage, their expressions revealing intense desire. The Sky Rainbow Fruit is a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit that contains potent energy, capable of cleansing and cutting the meridians and purifying mana. Beyond that, once the energy inside is refined, it can improve a portion of one¡¯s cultivation, making it a powerful, multifaceted enhancer. Compared with the Qingyu Fruit, though both belong to Second Order Superior, the Sky Rainbow Fruit¡¯s effects are more comprehensive and provide an even greater enhancement. Chapter 452 03-25 - 452 263 Blood Crow Grass_1 ?Chapter 452: Chapter 263: Blood Crow Grass_1 Chapter 452: Chapter 263: Blood Crow Grass_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes were burning with passion as he stared eagerly at the Sky Rainbow Fruit, impatient to claim it for himself. Before this, he had consumed a Qingyu Fruit, pushing his cultivation to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. If he were to get this fruit, he was highly confident he could step into the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm with a single leap. In the venue, as everyone marveled, Xue Chong spoke up to remind them, ¡°Fellow cultivators, it¡¯s time to start bidding!¡± Hearing this, the cultivators snapped to their senses and began calling out their bids. In an instant, the price surged like towering waves, each bid higher than the last, and it quickly reached twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones. Inside the VIP room, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was glowing as he watched the intense bidding unfold, ready to join the auction. ¡°Twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ... The familiar dominant tone and bidding style, instantly raising the bid by two thousand Spirit Stones, silenced the cultivators with shallower pockets. Nevertheless, there were still many wealthy individuals present. Facing this rare Sky Rainbow Fruit, no one knew when they¡¯d encounter such an opportunity again. ¡°Twenty-five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Twenty-five thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ Lin Tianming was determined to win, and several other cultivators were not to be outdone. Each raise was at least three hundred Spirit Stones¡ªunder such a frenzied atmosphere, the price continued to climb. At this point, not many cultivators with both the intention and financial resources to bid remained. Including Lin Tianming, only a mere five people were left, each with at least Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation and considered outstanding among their peers. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Within the venue, the intense bidding thrilled some of the lower-level cultivators who were watching. When Lin Tianming once again called out a bid of twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones, the atmosphere reached a new climax. Many cultivators looked towards the VIP room where Tian Ming was situated with envious expressions. Because the bidder was too conspicuous. Earlier, when bidding for the Heavenly Water Gem, Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP room had attracted the attention of many cultivators. This time, the price of the Sky Rainbow Fruit was even higher. Nearly thirty thousand Spirit Stones¡ªa price already comparable to one Foundation Establishment Pill, and there was still room for it to rise. Following a brief silence, two of the five bidding cultivators bowed out, leaving only Lin Tianming and two others from different VIP rooms contesting for the Sky Rainbow Fruit. By this time, ordinary cultivators could only watch; the price was too high, surpassing the fruit¡¯s intrinsic value. However, during the era of the beast tide, the price of all treasures grew to some extent, especially for Spiritual Objects that could enhance cultivation¡ªthose prices were even more exorbitant. Having come across such a treasure, the cultivators from powerful families, willing to spare no expense, could likely drive the price even higher. Clearly, Lin Tianming and the two bidding cultivators were among such individuals. At this moment, with Lin Tianming raising the price once more, a new round of bidding began. ¡°Thirty-one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as the price was announced, many cultivators in the venue were so shocked they couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. ¡°Such profligacy!¡± Qin Xi included, was also stunned by his bid and couldn¡¯t help muttering to herself, ¡°What kind of monster is this guy?¡± Unaware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was resolute, facing the pressing bids from the opposing cultivators; he had to secure the item no matter what. The reason for his madness was crystal clear¡ªhe knew that under the current circumstances, nothing was more solid than cultivation. In preparation for the upcoming battles, what did Spirit Stones matter? Life was more important than anything. In such a situation, he couldn¡¯t care less about squandering wealth or whether the price was worth it. His sole focus was on obtaining the Sky Rainbow Fruit to push his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. Regaining his focus, the cultivators opposite him called out their next bids. However, judging by their tones, both seemed to lack confidence; evidently, they were overwhelmed by Lin Tianming¡¯s extravagant bidding style. At this time, Lin Tianming chuckled and his loud voice resonated throughout the venue. ¡°Thirty-four thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Upon hearing this, the venue fell into sudden silence. Everyone, including Xue Chong and the cultivators enjoying the spectacle, was mute¡ªto the point where one could hear a pin drop in the empty venue. A few breaths passed, and as the impactful scene remained still, no sound came from the two other competitive VIP rooms. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was calm. As no one else spoke up, he promptly reminded Xue Chong that the time for the auction had elapsed. ¡°Xue, the time is up. If no one else is bidding, then the Sky Rainbow Fruit belongs to me!¡± Hearing this, Xue Chong finally came around, and the cultivators in the venue regained their senses, waiting for Xue Chong to announce the outcome. Xue Chong smiled awkwardly and then declared the result of the auction, settling the dust. Inside the VIP room, hearing that he had won the bid, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. He then took out thirty-four thousand Spirit Stones and threw them down to Xue Chong below. Xue Chong caught the Spirit Stones, verified the count, and then tossed the Sky Rainbow Fruit in its Jade Box down to Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP room. Lin Tianming waved his sleeve and caught the Jade Box securely, then eagerly opened it. Looking at the brightly colored Sky Rainbow Fruit with its radiating aura, he couldn¡¯t help swallowing before stowing it away. At that moment, Qin Xi congratulated him, ¡°Congratulations, Lin, on acquiring the treasure. It seems breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level is now well within reach, isn¡¯t it?¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 453 03-25 - 453 263 Blood Crow Grass_2 ?Chapter 453: Chapter 263: Blood Crow Grass_2 Chapter 453: Chapter 263: Blood Crow Grass_2 ¡°Hehe¡­ I do have some confidence, but it¡¯s also hard to say, nobody can predict until the very end!¡± Lin Tianming humbly replied. ¡°Lin is being too modest!¡± Lin Tianming smiled faintly, then looked down at Xue Chong, unable to resist secretly speculating. Since the seventh treasure to appear was the Sky Rainbow Fruit, what could the last three treasures possibly be? But at the moment, he didn¡¯t have many spirit stones left, just over twenty thousand, and if he wanted to bid for the upcoming treasures, he would have to put up some other treasures as collateral. As he pondered, Xue Chong¡¯s loud voice spread across the entire square, introducing the eighth and final treasure. Lin Tianming looked up to see that the eighth treasure was actually a Second Order Medium Quality Alchemy Furnace, which seemed about the same quality as the Blueflame Furnace he had successfully auctioned before. ... However, the starting price of this pill furnace reached 36,000 spirit stones, a full 3,000 more than the starting price of the Blueflame Furnace back then. Even so, this pill furnace still received fierce bidding, surpassing the bidding for the Sky Rainbow Fruit just earlier. Although an alchemy furnace didn¡¯t offer much help to cultivation in these times of impending war, there were many family members and a good number of alchemists present. Alchemists were already quite wealthy, and encountering such a grade of alchemy furnace, they certainly wouldn¡¯t give up the opportunity easily. At this moment, bids kept coming in the venue, and the price of the Second Order pill furnace rapidly increased, soon surpassing 40,000 spirit stones. Lin Tianming sat in his chair, watching the fierce bidding below, without any intention to participate. He already had a Blueflame Furnace that was no worse than this pill furnace, and considering his limited spirit stones, there was no point in purchasing another unnecessary item. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Besides, if he were to join the bidding again, he would surely attract some people with malicious intentions, as he had already revealed too much wealth. There were always some malicious individuals willing to risk much for numerous treasures. A stick of incense¡¯s time passed. After fierce competition among over a dozen cultivators, the Second Order pill furnace was sold for 52,800 spirit stones, once again setting a new highest transaction record. As for the buyer, it was also someone from one of the private rooms, and their specific identity was hard to guess. Probably only the Zhenyang Sect, who was behind the market, would know. At this time, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue. The price of this pill furnace was several thousand spirit stones higher than when he had bid for the Blueflame Furnace. ¡°These people are really insane!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°However, the Cultivation World indeed hides dragons and crouching tigers, with quite a number of wealthy individuals!¡± Lin Tianming mused inwardly. Regaining his focus, on the stage below, Xue Chong had already brought out the ninth and final treasure, a complete Metal Attribute Profound Grade Technique, starting at 30,000 spirit stones. Seeing this, Lin Tianming had no interest, because the techniques in his family were quite comprehensive, and they were not short of Profound Grade Techniques. If it were an Earth-grade Technique, he might have competed for it, but otherwise, it was pointless to make the effort. However, there were always some family forces that were interested. After all, it¡¯s not every day that Profound Grade Techniques came up, and many Foundation Establishing Families didn¡¯t have a complete set of Five Elements techniques, wasting their members¡¯ cultivation time. Under such circumstances, complementing a full attribute technique was something these Foundation Establishing Families had to do sooner or later. In the venue, Xue Chong was hosting the auction, with fierce bidding taking place in several private rooms. As time passed, the ninth and final treasure was acquired by a cultivator in one of the private rooms for 45,000 spirit stones, not reaching the price paid for the Second Order Alchemy Furnace earlier. This price, in fact, wasn¡¯t very high. It could be because techniques like these didn¡¯t yield quick results, and some families didn¡¯t want to spend too many resources on techniques at this critical period. Therefore, bidding for techniques at this time was undoubtedly a good opportunity to save a lot of spirit stones. At this time, the atmosphere in the venue briefly eased. Following the conclusion of the eighth finale treasure, although the final price wasn¡¯t too high, it still reached the value of the Mysterious Grade Technique itself. On the high platform, Xue Chong glanced at the group of cultivators below, then proceeded to start the auction for the ninth finale treasure. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the female cultivator behind Xue Chong swayed her waist and then lifted the red cloth in front of her, revealing a blue array plate and five small flags of different colors. Xue Chong looked at the array plate and the flags, then began to introduce them. ¡°Fellow daoists¡­ this is a set of Second Order Medium Quality defensive array instruments, named Five Elements Rotation Array. As long as you insert spirit stones, it can be activated immediately, and its defensive power is extremely strong. Even an attack from a Third Order Demon Beast can be withstood for a short while,¡± he said. ¡°The starting bid is thirty-five thousand spirit stones, with each bid increase not less than one hundred spirit stones!¡± he declared. Upon hearing this, the majority of cultivators in the public area remained calm as formations were of little use to them as loose cultivators. However, among those cultivators in the private rooms, there were quite a few whose expressions were one of excitement; they all came from clan backgrounds where the role of formations was incredibly important. Often, a good formation could change the fate of a family. Unexpectedly, a Second Order Medium Quality defensive formation had appeared this time, which was an opportunity not to be missed for those families whose formation grades were not high enough. Indeed, just like the previous technique, the array instruments formed an extreme scene. The vast majority showed no interest at all, yet a small portion engaged in a heated competition, driving the price continuously higher. At this moment, Lin Tianming sat in the VIP room, thoughtfully watching the bidding below. Such a set of Second Order Medium Quality formations was indeed rare in the Cultivation World, especially during the period of beast tides. Families with insufficiently powerful formations should consider bidding for this item. If successful, the probability of the family surviving the beast tide would also increase. As for himself, he likewise would not bid. The Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation was not of a low grade and had been running smoothly for hundreds of years; it had also been improved to fix many hidden issues and had reached a state of perfect harmony. To replace it would be an unnecessary move. Having refocused his mind, the set of formations had already been won by a cultivator from one of the private rooms. The final price of forty-eight thousand spirit stones brought the somewhat subdued auction back to a climax. At this moment, all the cultivators were staring intently at Xue Chong, anticipating the last and most precious treasure of the finale. Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Xue Chong did not dare delay. With a wave of his hand, a jade box appeared in it; he then opened it up to reveal a strand of blood-red spirit plant material in front of everyone. An observant cultivator caught sight of the blood-red plant and displayed an incredulous expression, murmuring to himself, ¡°This¡­ Could this possibly be¡­ Could it be the legendary Blood Crow Grass?¡± ¡°Blood Crow Grass!¡± Several cultivators who heard this trembled in their minds, then showed shocked expressions. ¡°It is indeed Blood Crow Grass!¡± one cultivator finally confirmed, shouting out loud. Soon, some cultivators quickly recovered from their astonishment and stared intently at the spirit grass with crazed expressions. In the meantime, Lin Tianming was also frowning. He looked at the blood-red plant; it was indeed Third Order Blood Crow Grass without a doubt. Blood Crow Grass was a Third Order Low Grade Spiritual Medicine. Although not very high in grade, it was extremely precious; it contained a powerful essence of blood within it and had formidable effects, its greatest use being to assist cultivators in breaking through to the Golden Core Realm. This item, although only increasing the probability by a mere ten percent, was still regarded as one of the once-in-a-lifetime treasures amongst Foundation Establishment Cultivators, every bit as effective as the Gold Fruit they had encountered before, if not even more powerful. In the auction hall, seeing many people¡¯s incredulous reactions, Xue Chong smiled and then introduced the final masterpiece. ¡°Hehe¡­ A strand of Third Order Low Grade Blood Crow Grass with a starting bid of one hundred thousand spirit stones, and each bid must not be less than one hundred spirit stones,¡± he said. No sooner had his words fallen than several cultivators began bidding against each other, creating an atmosphere that far surpassed that of any previous finale treasure. Chapter 454 03-25 - 454 264 Exchange Meeting_1 ?Chapter 454: Chapter 264 Exchange Meeting_1 Chapter 454: Chapter 264 Exchange Meeting_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming, despite his covetous desire, was powerless. He had a very limited number of spirit stones on him, and should he succeed in acquiring this item, he would become the target of envy for all cultivators. Among these bidding cultivators, there were surely many desperate individuals; facing their open attacks and hidden threats, he feared it would be difficult to safely return it to his clan. In such a situation, he could only stand by and watch as those frenzied cultivators vied for the Blood Crow Grass. In the venue, a bid had barely been announced when it was immediately replaced by a new one; the price of the Blood Crow Grass continued to climb, easily reaching as much as 140,000. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi watched, their blood boiling with excitement, unable to help but curse inwardly, ¡°Are these people insane, do they think spirit stones are carried in by the wind!¡± Even though Lin Tianming had already experienced an auction of Gold Fruit, the auction for the Blood Crow Grass was even more intense than that of the Gold Fruit. ... Under the watchful eyes of the two, the final price of the Blood Crow Grass kept climbing, soon reaching more than 170,000, now nearly equal to the final price of the Gold Fruit. However, this time, there were many cultivators participating in the auction, and overall, their cultivation was impressive, with Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators being a dime a dozen. Under such circumstances, the final price of the Blood Crow Grass skyrocketed, quickly reaching 190,000 spirit stones, easily breaking the previous record. In the venue, there were still several cultivators vying for the item; each one was a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, and three had even reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, looking ready to make a bold move. As the bidding entered an intense phase, several cultivators put forth their utmost effort, each with a determination to win at all costs. They were very aware that if they missed this opportunity, the next chance would be hard to predict, perhaps three to five years away, or even more than a decade. However, they could not afford to wait! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Knowing this well, the cultivators had no reservations; they were willing to spend nearly all their wealth to acquire the Blood Crow Grass. The fierce auction continued, everyone had become numb, all were focused on the final price of the Blood Crow Grass and who would take it home. A period for drinking a cup of tea passed by. With a bid of 210,000 spirit stones coming from a VIP room, the entire venue fell utterly silent, everyone gasping for breath, staggered beyond measure by the astounding price. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue, having thought his own wealth to be substantial, only to find that among Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, someone had bid 210,000 for the Blood Crow Grass. Although his own entire wealth amounted to no less than 200,000, how could someone who could afford to spend 200,000 spirit stones at once be an unknown individual. Regaining his composure, he saw the person who had won the bid exchanging with Xue Chong, handing over a large number of spirit stones to obtain the Blood Crow Grass. As the final coveted treasure settled, the entire auction came to a close. On the stage, Xue Chong was ecstatic, the auction had been filled with treasures, and the final prices had repeatedly hit new highs, his own earnings were definitely not insignificant. Thinking of this, he was somewhat impatient to conclude the auction, eager to collect his earnings from the Market Hall. He managed to suppress the excitement within, bowing with his hands clasped towards the assemblage of cultivators, he began with some formal remarks, and then announced the successful conclusion of the auction. Subsequently, the cultivators from the public area began to stand up, chatting briefly with familiar cultivators before leaving the venue. Within the VIP room, Lin Tianming watched the departing crowd but did not leave immediately. After a period long enough to drink a cup of tea, with most of the cultivators from the venue having departed, Lin Tianming led Qin Xi out of the VIP room. At the entrance, the female cultivator responsible for guiding them stood respectfully, hurrying to greet them with flirtatious eyes as she saw Lin emerging. Lin was not stingy, casually handing over twenty spirit stones to the female cultivator, sending her on her way. The woman knew to take a hint; a one-time tip of twenty spirit stones was more than usual, and furthermore, the beautiful woman beside Lin had been staring at her, the slightest display of power making her heart tremble with fear. In such a case, she dared not linger, taking the spirit stones and vanishing from before them. Lin gave a wry smile and led Qin Xi deeper into the corridor, stopping in front of the innermost secret chamber. ¡°Lin, is this the designated location for the exchange meeting?¡± Qin Xi asked. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and began to explain. ¡°This place is different from those spontaneously organized exchange meetings; those who can participate in this kind of exchange meeting either have profound backgrounds or are among the mighty,¡± he said. ¡°Later, we should pay attention if there¡¯s anything particularly needed, and actively inquire whether it can be exchanged!¡± he added. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯m just here to join Lin for the excitement and to broaden my horizons!¡± Qin Xi said with a laugh. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t respond further, then sent a message. Soon, the chamber¡¯s restrictions opened, and he and Qin Xi stepped in together. Upon entering the secret chamber, there were already more than a dozen cultivators gathered inside, chatting. Many were acquaintances, all of whom had attended exchange meetings together before. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Lin Tianming enter, those familiar cultivators all got up to greet with clasped fists from afar, being very cordial. Lin Tianming was affable as well, leading Qin Xi to reciprocate with clasped fists, returning greetings with Li Jiliang and a few perfunctorily polite cultivators. Chapter 455 03-25 - 455 264 Exchange Meeting_2 ?Chapter 455: Chapter 264: Exchange Meeting_2 Chapter 455: Chapter 264: Exchange Meeting_2 ¡°Hehe, Daoist Lin, who is this fairy?¡± Li Jiliang looked at Qin Xi¡¯s unfamiliar face and asked with a smile. ¡°This is my junior sister, Lin Tianxi, it¡¯s her first time coming to Qianchuan Market, so it¡¯s normal for you all not to recognize her,¡± Lin Tianming said, pointing to Qin Xi beside him, and introduced with a smile. ¡°The young lady has seen all the fellow daoists,¡± Qin Xi also greeted with a smile, and then stood next to Lin Tianming without saying more. ¡°So she is a golden flower of the Lin Family, my apologies for the oversight!¡± another cultivator said with a laugh. Lin Tianming waved his hand and immediately shifted the topic, not dwelling on Qin Xi¡¯s identity anymore. Seeing that no one continued to ask, he then began to inquire about some information from Li Jiliang and several Lin family cultivators, also taking the opportunity to learn about the matter of the recruitment. After all, at this time, most of the cultivators still in Qianchuan Market were those who were going to join the war at the front lines. Gathering more information and making acquaintances with new cultivators would help each other during the upcoming war, significantly increasing their chances of survival. ... At this point, Li Jiliang and the others became serious, each sharing bits of insider news they had gotten hold of. A little while passed, and the group exchanged quite a bit of the information they had, mostly aligning with one another, each person gaining some insights. After Lin Tianming summarized it, he gathered a few pieces of seemingly credible news. Coupled with his own knowledge, he didn¡¯t have to face the upcoming recruitment completely blind. Just then, as a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect entered the private room, they ended their casual conversation. All the cultivators stood up and greeted the newcomer from the Zhenyang Sect. The person who entered was neither Li Xiuyuan nor Song Xun, but an unfamiliar face; however, his cultivation was not weak, at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. He was probably one of the executive officers from the Zhenyang Sect in Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming, bringing Qin Xi with him, stepped forward and saluted the Zhenyang Sect cultivator with a fist and palm greeting, ¡°Lin Tianming at your service, I have seen this daoist friend!¡± ¡°The Luoyun Mountain Lin Family?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Wang Zhi thought for a moment and quickly recalled Lin Tianming from the Lin family, a person who Li Xiuyuan had mentioned to him as a prodigious individual with extraordinary talent. Regaining his composure, he looked at Lin Tianming and felt his subtly exposed aura, which was not inferior to his, perhaps even denser, indicating that his strength was definitely not low. ¡°Indeed a remarkable person!¡± Wang Zhi silently exclaimed in his heart. Gathering his thoughts, he then politely said, ¡°So it is Daoist Lin Tianming, I am Wang Zhi from the Zhenyang Sect!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve previously heard brothers Li and Song mention Daoist Lin¡¯s great reputation. Seeing you today, you truly stand out from the ordinary!¡± Hearing these flattering and courteous words, other cultivators showed looks of envy. All being Foundation Establishment Cultivators with similar backgrounds, and with so many people present, Wang Zhi was exceptionally polite to Lin Tianming, prompting some cultivators to regard Lin Tianming even more highly. Lin Tianming waved his hand with a smile, ¡°Daoist Wang thinks too highly of the Lin Family and of me.¡± ¡°My cultivation and strength are modest, nothing of note in front of your sect¡¯s disciples, whereas Daoist Wang, so young and yet possessing such cultivation, must undoubtedly have a great chance at advancing to the Golden Core Path.¡± ¡°The Golden Core Path!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not so easy, but for Daoist Lin, being so young with such cultivation, I suspect you have quite a good chance as well!¡± Wang Zhi said politely. Lin Tianming chuckled, then changed the subject by asking, ¡°For this exchange fair, why are Daoist Li and Daoist Song not in attendance?¡± Hearing this, Wang Zhi started explaining. ¡°Brothers Li and Song have already rushed to the front lines. Perhaps Daoist Lin will be joining them shortly, and you might meet up!¡± ¡°I see, that explains why the two daoist friends are not here. They must have been called away due to the demonic beast attack,¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. ¡°Hmm¡­ Let¡¯s set aside this matter for now and proceed with the exchange fair!¡± Wang Zhi proposed. Lin Tianming and others nodded in agreement, and then they each took their seats. As the host, it was still the Zhenyang Sect cultivator who began by showcasing treasures first. Wang Zhi looked at the cultivators present and then took out two items from his storage bag: one was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact shaped like a curved hook, and the other was a piece of Third Order Ore. Although the ore was of a high grade, it was not particularly cherished. ¡°Fellow Daoists, these two treasures can be exchanged for anything as long as the value is comparable,¡± he said. ¡°Hehe¡­ Everyone, feel free to display your own treasures. If you see something of interest, you can directly ask to exchange!¡± Wang Zhi suggested. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and others nodded in agreement. This way of exchanging was good; there was no need to showcase one by one, saving a considerable amount of time and potentially allowing for a quick exchange for the desired item. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and the others took out their treasures and placed them in front of themselves. Qin Xi had no intention of participating and quietly waited on the side. Looking around, various Spiritual Medicines, Magic Artifacts, and ores were dazzling to behold, all of them rare and good items. In front of Lin Tianming was a Third Order Spirit Medicine Shadow Flower, a treasure he had cherished for many years, and two inner cores from Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts. While not extremely valuable, they were also rare treasures, good for use in Alchemy and Artifact Refining. Lin Tianming scanned the crowd and saw several bundles of Scales in front of Li Jiliang. Judging from the aura preserved on them, he surmised they must be the scales of a Blackwind Python at the Second Order Middle Stage. Seeing these, Lin Tianming became interested in exchanging; there were quite a few scales from the defense-renowned Blackwind Python, and they were of high quality. If he could obtain these scales, he could look for an opportunity to reforge his Green Scale Shield, possibly upgrading it to a Second Order Medium Grade Artifact. Determined, he sent a message to Li Jiliang to ask if he was willing to trade. Soon, Li Jiliang replied, expressing willingness to trade for his Third Order Spirit Medicine Material. Lin Tianming was delighted and handed over the Third Order Spiritual Medicine to Li Jiliang, receiving in exchange a large bundle of Blackwind Python Scales. No sooner had he exchanged the Monster Serpent Scales than a Loose Cultivator sent a message to trade a small piece of Third Order Ore for the two Demon Beast Inner Pills he held. After a brief consideration, Lin Tianming agreed to the trade. Even though he was not an Artifact Refiner and the use of Artifact Refining Materials was not significant for him, he had a lot of Demon Beast Inner Pills in his possession, and their value would only decrease over time. Under such circumstances, it was better to trade for some Spirit Medicine Materials or Artifact Refining Materials. After all, he was about to go to the frontlines to join the great battle and, barring any accidents, there certainly would be no shortage of Demon Beast Inner Pills. After completing his exchanges, Lin Tianming then turned his attention to other cultivators who had not yet finished trading. A quarter of an hour later, the majority of cultivators had completed their exchanges, turning idle treasures into urgently needed items, with only a few leaving disappointed. Once the exchange meeting was over, Wang Zhi, as the host, began to share cultivation experiences, with the participating cultivators also sharing some of their cultivation experiences. As Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation was not very high and he hadn¡¯t been cultivating for long, he learned a lot of valuable lessons from the interactions. The lively exchange meeting lasted for more than half an hour and was finally concluded by the host, Wang Zhi. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a brief chat among the cultivators and introductions from Wang Zhi and Li Jiliang, Lin Tianming got to know many family cultivators and Loose Cultivators. These individuals were either pillars of great families or well-known Loose Cultivators. For these cultivators, it was a pleasure to form ties with Lin Tianming. After all, the Lin Family had become quite prominent over the years in the Southern Wei Kingdom. Even if they wished to keep a low profile, their fame had spread throughout the region. Lin Tianming was very polite with the cultivators who were interested in forming connections with him and the Lin Family. They exchanged contact methods and agreed to meet frequently before slowly dispersing. Seeing only a few people left in the now-empty secret chamber, Lin Tianming was about to stand up and bid farewell to Wang Zhi when he was interrupted by a transmission from Wang Zhi, who requested him to wait until the other cultivators had all left. The purpose of Wang Zhi keeping him behind was likely concerning the matter of the beast tide attack. As the strongest force in the region, Zhenyang Sect, and with Wang Zhi being a core member of the Sect, he surely had more and quite accurate information than the average person. Thus, Lin Tianming intended to inquire about it and make the necessary preparations. Before long, everyone had left, leaving only Lin Tianming and Wang Zhi in the secret chamber. Chapter 456 03-25 - 456 265 Arrangements Before Departure_1 ?Chapter 456: Chapter 265: Arrangements Before Departure_1 Chapter 456: Chapter 265: Arrangements Before Departure_1 Seeing no one around, Lin Tianming tentatively asked, ¡°Daoist Wang, are you detaining me for any specific commands?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, don¡¯t panic. I presume you already have some guesses in mind,¡± ¡°The reason I¡¯ve detained you is none other than for the ongoing monster tide attack, and the Sect¡¯s issuance of the Recruitment Order!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in understanding; with Wang Zhi¡¯s status, it was sure to be about this matter at such a critical juncture, or else he wouldn¡¯t have made such a fuss. ¡°Daoist Wang, if you have any commands, just say them. If it¡¯s within my power, I shall not refuse!¡± Lin Tianming said determinedly. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi nodded, then went straight to the topic at hand. He first shared some frontline information that Lin Tianming had not been aware of, much to Lin Tianming¡¯s delight. Immediately after, Wang Zhi finally addressed the main reason for keeping him behind. ... ¡°In two days, the cultivators responding to the summon will head to the frontlines. At that time, you will be assigned to multiple squads. When facing the demonic beasts, you will also fight as squads, helping each other out as a team, which can also lessen the losses on the cultivators¡¯ side.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve detained you to relay a message from Brother Li, inviting you to join his Monster Hunting Squad!¡± ¡°Li Xiuyuan, Daoist Li?¡± ¡°To join Daoist Li¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad!¡± Lin Tianming wore an expression full of confusion and disbelief. Seeing his expression, Wang Zhi explained, ¡°Before Brother Li was urgently summoned by the Sect to the frontlines recently, he made a special request to me. If any of the Lin Family Members respond to the Recruitment Order, I was to inform you of this matter ahead of time!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Besides that, to proactively inform you and invite you to join his squad. As for the terms of joining, Lin, feel free to ask, and I can make arrangements on Brother Li¡¯s behalf.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianming, after a moment of thought, began to ask more questions. ¡°Daoist Wang, hearing you say this raises several doubts in my mind,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°You should know that there are at least hundreds of cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order, including some at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. With so many talented individuals, why specifically recruit members of the Lin Family?¡± ¡°Although our Lin Family has a good private relationship with Daoist Li, I really can¡¯t understand why he would specifically choose me.¡± ¡°That is something you don¡¯t know!¡± Wang Zhi laughed softly. ¡°With so many cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order, plus our own Sect sending Foundation Establishment Cultivators to resist the monster tide, there are at the very least hundreds to thousands of people.¡± ¡°With so many cultivators, they obviously can¡¯t be allowed to move freely; they must be led by the sect¡¯s disciples, formed into several squads, and assigned precise tasks for their strikes.¡± ¡°As for why you¡¯ve been recruited, it¡¯s not only because of the good personal relationship but also because of your strength.¡± ¡°Since the leading sect disciples¡¯ squads are competing for the top ten spots, they can receive generous rewards from the sect and the opportunity to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± ¡°Brother Li¡¯s cultivation is close to reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection; to gain resources for the Impact of Golden Core Stage, he must obtain significant credit and rewards.¡± ¡°And within Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, there are Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. To achieve this goal, he actively volunteered to be sent to the frontlines to participate in the great battle.¡± ¡°Thus, Lin, you should now understand Brother Li¡¯s purpose in recruiting you, right?¡± After Wang Zhi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming sank into thought. Their response to the Recruitment Order was not only out of fear of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s retaliation against the Lin Family afterward but also to obtain entry into the Tianfeng Adverse Realm. Inside the Zhenyang Sect, there is competition among disciples as well. The resources for Core Formation are tremendously precious; even an established sect like Zhenyang Sect, which has existed for thousands of years, has limited quantities of Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects. However, there are many talented disciples and with factions entrenched within the Sect, absolute fairness is impossible to achieve. For Inner Sect Disciples, to gain the sect¡¯s support and acquire Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, this monster tide attack is also an opportunity. As long as the squad they lead gains significant merit, they can earn a slot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and possibly obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. At the very least, they can receive enough rewards to accumulate resources for future attempts at the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, Zhenyang Sect has established this fair and just competitive opportunity, where everything is spoken for by achievement. Those with merit will naturally receive opportunities. On the other hand, those without contributions will lose the chance to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and thus drift further away from the Golden Core Stage. Such a system is fair and just for the elders backing these disciples and serves as a way to filter out who to focus on cultivating. If one¡¯s own disciple does not perform well under the same conditions and falls behind other sect brothers and sisters, they cannot blame the Sect, not even the Great Elder¡¯s Disciples. Thinking this through, Lin Tianming nodded, finding Wang Zhi¡¯s explanations quite credible. However, he did not rush to express excitement. They had not yet reached the frontlines, and it was uncertain what might unfold. Joining a squad that could be assigned extremely dangerous tasks without careful consideration would not be wise. But Li Xiuyuan had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch through Wang Zhi. If Lin Tianming rejected it outright, he might easily offend someone. At this point, Lin Tianming thought it over and decided to inquire more about the specifics and see what benefits Li Xiuyuan could offer him. After all, he couldn¡¯t simply agree to everything just because of a good personal relationship. ¡°Daoist Wang, if I join Daoist Li¡¯s team, what would I gain? Will we be assigned particularly dangerous tasks?¡± Chapter 457 03-25 - 457 265 Pre-departure Arrangements_2 ?Chapter 457: Chapter 265 Pre-departure Arrangements_2 Chapter 457: Chapter 265 Pre-departure Arrangements_2 ¡°` ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Seeing that Lin Tianming was indeed cautious, Wang Zhi smiled without revealing anything out of the ordinary but patiently explained. ¡°If Daoist Lin doesn¡¯t join a team, it will be very difficult to obtain a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°This time, aside from Li, there are at least a dozen other senior brothers inviting external cultivators to form teams. In such a situation, no matter how strong you are alone, how can you compare with a team?¡± ¡°Besides, regarding the dangers, whether following the main force or teaming up with the senior brothers to fight the demonic beasts, how could there not be danger?¡± ¡°Risk and reward coexist, Daoist Lin has been cultivating for decades, so you shouldn¡¯t need me to remind you of this!¡± Having said all this, Wang Zhi changed his tone and then sincerely added, ¡°As for the benefits, Li didn¡¯t say much.¡± ... ¡°However, at the very least, in Qianchuan Market, Daoist Lin can rest assured. As long as the market doesn¡¯t encounter any accidents and the Lin Family Members don¡¯t stir up trouble, as one of the Market City Supervisors, I can certainly assist your Lin Family and ensure the safety of your family members.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was somewhat tempted. Before leaving, he had also been worried about Lin Xingyan and the others. Having someone like Wang Zhi, with his status, looking after them meant he would have no worries. Moreover, speaking of the dangers at the front lines, whether joining or not, they would all be at great risk. Upon arriving at the battlefield, one must follow the orders of the Zhenyang Sect. If the higher-ups intended to target him, he would have no way to resist. With lower strength, he would have to carry out even the most dangerous missions. In this way, since there were risks either way and he couldn¡¯t control the situation, he might as well join Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team. Maybe, given his disciple status, he could be a bit safer. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming made up his mind to temporarily join the team, relying on the warmth of the group for possible unexpected benefits. Deciding, Lin Tianming immediately said, ¡°Daoist Wang, I am willing to join Li¡¯s team!¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi smiled knowingly and then responded, ¡°Daoist Lin doesn¡¯t need to make a statement right now. I am just informing you in advance. When you get to the front lines, you can visit Li. He will clarify this matter in person!¡± ¡°When the time comes, there might be other brothers recruiting you, so you can make your decision then; there¡¯s no hurry!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and smiled, ¡°In that case, that¡¯s for the best.¡± ¡°However, I still have to thank Daoist Wang for the reminder. Li has been very kind to me and Luoyun Pavilion. As long as it doesn¡¯t involve life and death, I won¡¯t hesitate to join his team.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Li has indeed not misjudged you!¡± Wang Zhi laughed and praised. At this point, Lin Tianming bowed with clasped hands and then took out twenty thousand spirit stones from his storage bag and handed them to Wang Zhi. Afterwards, he sincerely said, ¡°Daoist Wang, this is a small token from our Lin Family. Please accept it and, when circumstances permit, help keep an eye on Luoyun Pavilion and our Lin Family Members. Once the demonic beast tide recedes, our Lin Family will certainly offer significant gratitude!¡± Hearing these sincere words, Wang Zhi nodded appreciatively of Lin Tianming. After all, he took the polite words he had said for real and generously offered tangible benefits. This kind of upfront person, unconcerned about small gains and losses, combined with his exceptional talent, was indeed worthy of making a deeper connection. Regathering his thoughts, Wang Zhi didn¡¯t play coy, smiling as he took the spirit stones from Lin Tianming¡¯s hand and accepted them, then reassured him that he would keep his promises. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded. With no further worries, he could now head to the front lines to participate in the great battle with peace of mind. Then, Lin Tianming gave a few instructions, confirming the arrangements for Luoyun Pavilion and Lin Xingyan and the others. After making sure everything was taken care of, Lin Tianming clasped his hands to say goodbye. After some pleasantries, the two left the secret chamber together, and Lin Tianming returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard with Qin Xi. By this time, the sky had gradually darkened. After a whole day of attending the auction and the exchange meeting, they had been busy until now. Only then did Lin Tianming and his companion get a chance to relax. Back at the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Qin Xi exchanged a few pleasantries and then returned to her own secret chamber to cultivate. Lin Tianming called over Lin Xingyan and the two other family members, and they sat down in the courtyard to chat. Looking at the three slightly excited faces, Lin Tianming chuckled and asked, ¡°Seeing the uncles¡¯ expressions, you must have had a good haul at the auction today, right?¡± ¡°` Upon hearing this, Lin Xingpu immediately became interested, eagerly chatting away non-stop. ¡°Hehe¡­ Don¡¯t think that just because this auction was hastily organized, it didn¡¯t have its fair share of rarely seen treasures¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ items like the Sky Fei Fruit, Pozhang Pill, and those last few Foundation Establishment Pills, they all fetched sky-high prices!¡± Lin Xingzhao also said excitedly. ¡°How did it go for the two of you, uncles?¡± Lin Tianming asked. At these words, Lin Xingpu glanced at Lin Xingzhao and then said, ¡°Xingzhao, you won a Sky Fei Fruit. If you focus on seclusion for half a year, you should be able to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, right?¡± Lin Xingzhao nodded excitedly, saying, ¡°If I¡¯m in seclusion for half a year, indeed, I do have a fair chance!¡± Hearing his affirmative response, it won¡¯t be long before Lin Xingzhao advances to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Several Qi Refining clanspeople here are all of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation. Perhaps upon returning to the family lands, they could break through to the Great Perfection Realm and start impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thinking of this, Lin Xingyan and the others couldn¡¯t hide their excitement, and smiles of long absence appeared on their faces. However, with Lin Tianming leaving the market city in a few days, only a few Lin Family members will remain here without a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to support them. Their power would be too weak, and should anything happen, the pressure on them would be immense. With these thoughts, Lin Xingyan¡¯s smile faded slightly, and he looked visibly worried. Seeing the change in his expression, Lin Tianming looked at his family members and then said with a smile, ¡°Uncle Xingyan¡­ I estimate that in two days I will leave the market city. The heavy responsibility of Luoyun Pavilion will fall upon the three of you elders.¡± ¡°However, before I leave, Wang Zhi, one of the current Market City Supervisors, has promised to give the Lin family members, as well as Luoyun Pavilion, some special consideration.¡± ¡°Everyone, rest assured, as long as there¡¯s no major trouble and you don¡¯t invite disputes, the safety of our family members and Luoyun Pavilion is absolutely guaranteed!¡± Hearing this, the worry on Lin Xingyan¡¯s face was swept away. ¡°Really? The current Market City Supervisor is willing to offer us some special treatment?¡± Lin Xingyan asked further. ¡°Really!¡± ¡°We had a good personal relationship with the former Market City Supervisor. Before Li left, he specifically instructed his junior brother, so the current Supervisor is also willing to make friends with the Lin Family and is happy to grant us some small favors.¡± Lin Tianming confirmed with a response, but he didn¡¯t mention the private agreements to avoid giving the family members any trouble. Hearing his confirmed response, Lin Xingyan and the others smiled again, and the tension that had been in their hearts eased. Lin Tianming also smiled following this, and then he inquired about the Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s business situation over the past few days from Lin Xingyan. Lin Xingyan took out the account book and handed it to Lin Tianming to review before reporting. ¡°The large batch of treasures you brought in was quickly placed in the shop, and business has significantly improved in recent days. Even though it hasn¡¯t reached its peak, it¡¯s about seventy to eighty percent there.¡± ¡°I believe that as time goes on and more of our regular customers hear about it, business will continue to pick up in the following days, gradually returning to its former glory.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then said, ¡°The only issue is that we don¡¯t know when this beast tide will end. At this rate, this batch of treasures might not last a year.¡± ¡°But while I¡¯m at the front lines, I¡¯ll have chances to visit the market city. Moreover, I discussed with the Clan Leader before leaving our family home; if I haven¡¯t returned in half a year, depending on the Demonic Beast attacks, and if the conditions allow, we may send a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to the market city.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyan nodded and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ Tianming, you¡¯ve arranged everything so thoughtfully; we can rest easy now.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stick to this plan then. In a few days when I leave the market, I won¡¯t say goodbye to everyone.¡± ¡°The situation here in the market will be entrusted to the three of you, uncles!¡± Lin Tianming stood up, cupped his hands respectfully, and spoke sincerely to Lin Xingyan and the others. ¡°Then you be careful, Tianming!¡± Lin Xingyan cautioned. ¡°Hmm¡­ I will!¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming stood up and moved deeper into the courtyard, entering his private chamber for seclusion. Chapter 458 03-25 - 458 266 Departure_1 ?Chapter 458: Chapter 266: Departure_1 Chapter 458: Chapter 266: Departure_1 Two days later. In the secret room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with his hands together, fully immersed in his cultivation. After two days of cultivation, he had not immediately consumed the Sky Rainbow Fruit he had obtained from the auction. Since the time when cultivators would gather was uncertain, if he received the summons while in the midst of refining the Sky Rainbow Fruit, he might not achieve the best effect and would waste the fruit¡¯s energy. Hence, he was not anxious. He planned to wait until he reached the front lines and had more than ten days of free time before refining the fruit. At this moment, while Lin Tianming was cultivating, he felt a token inside his storage bag stir. He immediately ended his cultivation, slapped his storage bag, and took out the Zhenyang Sect Token that Chen Fei had given to him when he entered Qianchuan Market. ... At that moment, the token flashed with spiritual light, and soon after, a commanding voice emanated from it. ¡°All cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order, gather at the Market Hall¡¯s plaza within half an hour, latecomers will not be entertained!¡± Hearing this commanding voice, Lin Tianming silently guessed which Golden Core Stage Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect it might be. ¡°Oh well¡­ whoever it is, I don¡¯t have the capital to defy them!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, then got up, tidied up the secret room, and sent a message to summon Qin Xi. After both joined up, they left the Cave Mansion Courtyard together and headed toward the plaza of the Market Hall. Walking the familiar streets, numerous unfamiliar cultivators, scattered here and there, were converging in the direction of the Market Hall. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï It was unclear whether they were gathering for the summons or just to watch the excitement. The two paid no heed and soon arrived at the bottom of the plaza outside the Market Hall. Looking around, the plaza was already filled with more than a thousand people, many of whom concealed their aura so well that even Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t discern their exact cultivation. As for those he could see through, they were uniformly Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the majority of whom were at the second or third level. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These people were clearly Loose Cultivators who volunteered to go to the front line to fight, as the minimum requirement for the summoned family cultivators was to be at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment. At that time, over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat scattered across the plaza, each silent and apparently waiting for something. Beneath them, a large crowd of cultivators gathered, some groups of whom were discussing some well-known Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Of course, the ones discussing were of limited strength, and their words were full of flattery. Otherwise, for these Qi Refining Cultivators to discuss Foundation Establishment Cultivators was akin to courting death. In the noisy crowd, several Qi Refining Cultivators were discussing a topic when Lin Tianming became aware of their conversation. ¡°Lu Daoyou, since you¡¯re from the Luoyun Mountain Range, do you know which member of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family will respond to the Recruitment Order?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s keen gaze pierced through the crowd in front of him and landed on the few discussing cultivators. Among the Qi Refining Cultivators, one at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement asked, ¡°Lu Daoyou, the Lin Family has risen rapidly over the past few years and has become quite famous in Qianchuan Market!¡± ¡°Since you come from the Luoyun Mountain Range, have you seen any Elders from the Lin Family come here?¡± On hearing the inquiries from the few cultivators, Lu Feng nodded and then looked over the thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the plaza, searching for members of the Lin Family. Soon, he confirmed that he had not seen any Lin Family Members, and then spoke, ¡°Among the elders up there, I don¡¯t see any from the Lin Family.¡± ¡°However, given the Lin Family¡¯s strength, they must be on the list of families summoned. Logically, the Lin Family will definitely send members, and it should be either Lin Shilu or Lin Tianming who will come.¡± Hearing this, the other two Qi Refining Cultivators nodded, and someone asked, ¡°Elder Lin Shilu is renowned, but this Elder Lin Tianming seems quite reclusive, and I wonder what his cultivation and strength are like?¡± ¡°Yeah, this Elder Lin Tianming, does he have any exceptional abilities?¡± another Qi Refining Cultivator chimed in. ¡°Heh heh¡­ You all are really out of the loop!¡± Lu Feng said with a hint of scorn. ¡°Oh? Then Lu Daoyou, please enlighten us about the Lin Family, and talk about Elder Lin!¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Feng suddenly remembered when Lin Tianming had appeared publicly in Luoyun Market; he happened to be there. However, he did not stay in Luoyun Market but took a risk and came to the larger Qianchuan Market to seek refuge. When Lin Tianming made his public appearance and demonstrated his cultivation, he came into the view of many cultivators and stunned quite a few people. Including himself, who was greatly shocked back then and even admired him. Regathering his thoughts, Lu Feng laughed and said, ¡°Heh heh¡­ do you know how terrifying Elder Lin Tianming is?¡± This statement from Lu Feng immediately attracted the attention of several surrounding cultivators, and soon a group of Qi Refining Cultivators gathered around, all looking at him and eager to hear about Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lu Feng was quite excited. With his low level of cultivation, when had he ever felt like this, surrounded by a group of cultivators who were of similar or higher levels than him? After calming down a bit, he then spoke, ¡°According to reliable information, as well as what was publicly shown by Elder Lin Tianming, he is not yet fifty years old and has already reached the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, truly a genius with extraordinary talent!¡± ¡°What!¡± ¡°Not yet fifty years old and already cultivated to the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°What kind of terrifying cultivation speed is that? With this kind of cultivation speed, even in the Zhenyang Sect, it must be an extremely rare occurrence!¡± Chapter 459 03-25 - 459 266 Departure_2 ?Chapter 459: Chapter 266 Departure_2 Chapter 459: Chapter 266 Departure_2 Hearing Lu Feng¡¯s words, a group of Qi Refinement Cultivators all showed expressions of shock, their faces filled with disbelief. Soon, some Qi Refinement Cultivators were the first to calm down. Then someone said, ¡°Not even fifty years old, and to have reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, such speed, even in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, though not leading the pack, should certainly be among the best.¡± ¡°Yes, with Elder Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and sufficient resource support, following the correct steps in cultivation, it¡¯s quite possible that he¡¯ll break through to the Golden Core Stage before the age of a hundred!¡± ¡°The Golden Core Stage!¡± Upon hearing this, all the cultivators instantly wore solemn expressions, no longer daring to speak further, as the words ¡°Golden Core Stage Cultivator¡± were too distant in their world. Reverence was the only appropriate response, not flagrant discussion. ... At this moment, seeing that the crowd had stopped discussing Golden Core Cultivators, Lu Feng continued, ¡°The cultivation of Elder Lin Tianming, I have seen it with my own eyes, there is not the slightest falsehood!¡± ¡°Moreover, for this recruitment of families to join the demon-hunting team, the Lin Family will certainly be among the invited, and Elder Lin Tianming might possibly appear!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If Elder Lin indeed makes an appearance, I will have to take a good look and admire such an exciting and peerless cultivator!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ such a genius cultivator is truly the envy of others!¡± Cultivator after cultivator could not help but sigh, their expressions incredibly sincere and full of envy. As several people discussed, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile openly, not paying attention to them as he led Qin Xi through the crowd to the square. By that time, there were already many cultivators gathered in the square, including some that Lin Tianming recognized. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Lin Tianming and his companion found an inconspicuous spot to sit down, and soon, cultivators like Li Jiliang discovered them and came over to greet them immediately. Lin Tianming greeted them with a smile, then chatted casually with them while waiting for the arrival of the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect. After an unknown amount of time had passed, down below in the square, Lu Feng and others seemed to have discovered Lin Tianming¡¯s whereabouts, promptly informing the cultivators around them, attracting quite a few Qi Refining Cultivators¡¯ attention. To this, Lin Tianming chuckled. The content of their conversation had nearly all passed by his ears and none of it had offended him. After all, his movements and true appearance were now completely public at the Foundation Establishment Cultivator level, so there was no need for subterfuge. Compliments from those cultivators, or discussions for that matter, were completely unworthy of his care. As time passed and with cultivators gradually arriving, the time set by the token was drawing closer. Amidst the noise, as several cultivators dressed in golden robes from the Zhenyang Sect arrived, all the cultivators immediately stood up, and the previously lively scene instantly quieted down. Lin Tianming raised his head and looked at the five Zhenyang Sect cultivators dressed in uniform Daoist robes, displaying a sun embroidery on their chests. Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator, undoubtedly the Golden Core Stage Cultivator Zhu Yun from Zhenyang Sect. Almost all cultivators were extremely familiar with the publicly known Golden Core Stage Cultivators of Wei Kingdom, as the images of such powerful individuals had long been disseminated. Although it was his first time seeing Zhu Yun¡¯s true face, he recognized him at first glance. At this moment, all cultivators stood up to pay their respects to Zhu Yun, leading the way, and said in unison, ¡°We¡¯ve seen Elder Zhu!¡± Zhu Yun nodded, his deep gaze sweeping over all the cultivators present. Then, he turned to a cultivator behind him and said, ¡°Chen Shuo!¡± ¡°Your disciple is here!¡± Chen Shuo took a step forward, respectfully waiting by the side, ready to follow orders. Zhu Yun took out a shimmering golden token, gave it a satisfied glance after inspecting it, and nodded approvingly. Immediately after, he instructed Chen Shuo beside him, ¡°Everyone has arrived, lead all recruited cultivators out of Qianchuan Market, then board the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, and let¡¯s hurry to the Songling Mountain Range.¡± ¡°Your disciple obeys!¡± Chen Shuo responded with respect, then walked to the front of all the cultivators, his loud voice ringing out. ¡°Fellow daoists, follow me out of the market, and we¡¯ll board the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat shortly. Once we reach the frontline, we¡¯ll arrange the next steps.¡± ¡°` No sooner had the words been uttered than Chen Shuo shot towards the direction of the market entrance. At this time, the cultivators in the square also began to lift their feet and follow suit, leaving the square in an orderly manner. Within the crowd, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi exchanged a glance, and under the gaze of some Qi Refining Cultivators, they followed the pace of the main force as well. Before long, all the cultivators had gathered outside the market, many with solemn expressions, their state of mind seemingly undergoing some changes. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, upon leaving the market, they were also about to embark on a journey to the front lines; from this moment on, they would need to be prepared for battle at any time, even ready for the possibility of falling. In the crowd, Lin Tianming looked back at the market and then let out a long sigh. He was relatively calm, even though among such a vast number of cultivators he was certainly the youngest; but when it came to experiences of life and death, he was certainly no less experienced than others. ¡°Well¡­ life and death are decreed by fate, wealth and honor are in the hands of heaven. What is meant to come will eventually arrive,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Regaining his composure, he looked around; at this moment, Zhu Yun was instructing something, with Chen Shuo nodding from time to time at his side. A little more time passed. Zhu Yun ceased speaking, and after sweeping his gaze over everyone, he slapped his storage bag, and a dark-colored Spirit Boat appeared in his hand. As he executed a Law Decree, the palm-sized flying boat suddenly expanded, quickly transforming into a nearly hundred-zhang-long flying ship, hovering in the sky outside the market. Feeling the aura emanating from the flying boat, it was clearly a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact, leaving everyone with expressions of shock and envy. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, Second Order Superior Flying Artifacts were extremely rare, incredibly valuable, and normally only Golden Core Stage Cultivators possessed flying artifacts of such high quality. Ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had a Second Order Lower Quality Flying Artifact were already considered quite remarkable; those with Second Order Medium Quality Flying Artifacts were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. It was also Lin Tianming¡¯s first time witnessing such a high-quality magical artifact, and for a moment, he was astonished as well. ¡°This is the foundation built by a sect over thousands of years; this is the might of a Golden Core Cultivator¡ªtruly impressive!¡± ¡°If only the Lin Family had a few such treasures, how great that would be,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. At this time, not only he, but all the cultivators present were deeply shocked, their hearts coveting such a flying treasure. While everyone was still in a daze, Zhu Yun¡¯s clear voice rang out, urging the cultivators to board the flying boat. Hearing the order, the cultivators dared not delay, and led by Chen Shuo, they boarded the flying boat in an orderly fashion. Soon, everyone had boarded one by one, and the thousands of people standing on the spacious deck scarcely made it seem crowded. Under Zhu Yun¡¯s watchful eye, everyone sat down on the floor, awaiting his dispatch. Zhu Yun did not say much; he sat at the very front, controlling the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, flying into the high sky. At that moment, the flying boat was like a black lightning bolt, heading towards the Songling Mountain Range in the northwest, its speed reaching the utmost limit. Lin Tianming, seated in a corner of the deck, witnessed the surrounding scenery rapidly receding, and couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in amazement. This Second Order Superior Flying Artifact was several times faster than the Purple Gold Eagle and extremely steady; not even a whisper of Gang Wind could be felt, which was quite novel indeed. It should be known that this was not his first time aboard a flying artifact. Previously, he had ridden on Ye Pinghai¡¯s flying artifact as they traveled from Qianchuan Market back to Green Bamboo Mountain¡ªa journey that lasted over ten days and felt entirely different. Not only in speed, but the comfort level was also worlds apart. This Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat could accommodate a thousand people at a time, its speed was incredibly fast, and it was remarkably steady; it was truly an excellent means of travel. In contrast, Ye Pinghai¡¯s flying boat could barely fit a dozen people, and riding it was nowhere near as comfortable; the difference was stark. However, possessing a flying artifact was already a symbol of status and strength and was extremely impressive in itself. Finally regaining his focus, Lin Tianming then tightly grasped his composure, closed his eyes to rest, and awaited the arrival at their destination. ¡°` Chapter 460 03-25 - 460 267 Yuyao City_1 ?Chapter 460: Chapter 267 Yuyao City_1 Chapter 460: Chapter 267 Yuyao City_1 Songling Mountain Range. The Songling Mountain Range was located to the west of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, forming a triangle with the Dragon Spring Mountain Range and the Yuexiu Mountain Range. It was one of the three mountain ranges closest to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. These three great mountain ranges occupied no small territory, ranking among the top even among dozens of mountain ranges in the southern part of the Wei Kingdom. Owing to their proximity to the Zhenyang Sect and the fame of Phoenix Mountain¡ªone of the renowned mountains of the Wei Kingdom¡ªthe land was fertile and densely populated. With numerous and powerful cultivation forces present, it was an area with an exceptionally superior level of cultivation. Ever since the beast tide erupted in the Wei Kingdom, the Songling Mountain Range had suffered greatly from the havoc caused by the demonic beasts. Nearly half of its land had been flattened by the Monster Beast Legion, with only the part closer to the Zhenyang Sect still unoccupied by the beasts. With the support of forces from Zhenyang Sect and the other two mountain ranges, coupled with the remaining two Foundation Establishing Families in the Songling Mountain Range, human cultivators had managed to barely hold off the footsteps of the demonic beasts after a hard battle. Since then, the two camps of the human race and the Monster Beast Legion had been in a stalemate for a month or so. The conflict had subsided temporarily, with both sides showing some restraint. ... On this day. Near a subsidiary vein in the eastern part of the Songling Mountain Range, atop a vast mountain peak, which had originally been a barren wasteland. As the beast tide erupted, numerous cultivators gathered here, and on this flat and open mountaintop, they used bluestone to build up towers and pavilions, forming a fortress. This was the frontline for resisting the Monster Beast Legion, a temporarily constructed small city known as Yuyao City, enveloped by a formation. At this moment, high above in the sky, a Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat swept through the air, eventually coming to a halt above the city. After traveling for more than ten days, they had now arrived at this gathering place in the Songling Mountain Range. With a Golden Core Cultivator in transit, the journey was quite smooth, and with the speed of the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, they had traveled tens of thousands of miles in just over ten days, moving from the southernmost tip of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World to the central heartland near the Wei Kingdom. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 At that time, on the huge deck, a group of cultivators all stood up, curiously staring down at the city below, taking a careful look. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi looked down, sensing the faint aura of the Defensive Array, which seemed to be a Third Order Great Array. Inside the formation, squads of cultivators were occasionally shuttling around the city, looking quite vigilant, probably on guard against attacks from demonic beasts. On the deck, Zhu Yun looked at the city below and then scanned the people around him. He then controlled the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat to land on a clearing outside the city. ¡°Everyone disembark and assemble on the ground!¡± Hearing Zhu Yun¡¯s order, the cultivators did not dare delay and began to disembark, gathering on a patch of open land, waiting for Zhu Yun¡¯s next instruction. Lin Tianming and another stood shoulder to shoulder in the crowd, waiting while also observing their surroundings. Their arrival quickly caused a stir among the cultivators inside the city, with many gathering on the city walls. With reinforcements arriving, everyone¡¯s face in the city seemed excited and somewhat thrilled. Just as the sky had calmed down, another gust of wind whistled through. Following that, the clouds dispersed, revealing another Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat in the sky, hanging over the heads of the crowd. Zhu Yun was the first to sense the existence of this flying boat. He remained calm, quietly waiting. Lin Tianming soon felt it too. He looked up into the sky and noticed that this flying boat was exactly the same grade as the one Zhu Yun had, both in appearance and in overall aura, with no difference between them. Clearly, both flying boats belonged to the Zhenyang Sect and were crafted by the same Artifact Refiner. As for the people on the flying boat, by now a large number of cultivators had gathered, each observing the city and the cultivators below with different expressions¡ªsome were composed, while others looked uneasy. Lin Tianming watched as the flying boat slowly descended and then noticed the large number of figures on it. There seemed to be several thousand people, many more than on their flying boat. Obviously, this flying boat likely carried the cultivators gathered from another large market of the Zhenyang Sect, the Dragon Spring Market. The Dragon Spring Market and Qianchuan Market were both medium-sized markets, but when it came to overall strength, the difference was quite clear. The Dragon Spring Market was closer to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, situated in the heartland of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, with a much higher overall standard of cultivation. Whether it was Loose Cultivators or family forces, they were much stronger than those around the Qianchuan Market. In such a case, the families and Loose Cultivators who were conscripted were stronger and more numerous. So, it was quite normal for so many of them to rush here. As he was momentarily distracted, the flying boat had already landed in front of them, and a number of cultivators disembarked. Leading them was an old man with white hair who also had a Medium Stage Golden Core cultivation. Recognizing the man, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment and then recalled the person¡¯s name¡ªit was Wang Hengqiu, a Golden Core Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect. Wang Hengqiu was also a veteran Golden Core Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect. In terms of age, he was a century older than Zhu Yun, but their cultivation was both at the Medium Stage Golden Core. As for who was more powerful, that was hard to say. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regaining his focus, everyone watched as Wang Hengqiu approached, their faces filled with respect. From a distance, Zhu Yun walked forward to greet him with a smile and a salute, ¡°Senior brother, what a coincidence today, I¡¯ve just arrived and you¡¯re already here!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Wang Hengqiu laughed and replied, ¡°Qianchuan Market is quite a bit farther than the Dragon Spring Market I went to. Junior brother Zhu¡¯s speed is indeed not slow!¡± ¡°Considering Qianchuan Market¡¯s relative remoteness and the urgent situation up ahead, I was afraid of delay, so I set off early. And with more than ten days left before the deadline, I thought senior brother you would arrive a few days later!¡± Zhu Yun replied. Chapter 461 03-25 - 461 267 Yuyao City_2 ?Chapter 461: Chapter 267 Yuyao City_2 Chapter 461: Chapter 267 Yuyao City_2 Hearing these words, Wang Hengqiu nodded and then said, ¡°Junior brother speaks the truth!¡± ¡°The front lines are eagerly awaiting our reinforcements. Every day of delay is an added danger. Arriving here earlier is certainly the right move!¡± After finishing his words, Wang Hengqiu approached Zhu Yun, looked at the cultivators behind him, and began to size them up carefully. While Wang Hengqiu was observing everyone, Lin Tianming and the others also folded their hands and bowed in greeting to Wang Hengqiu. Wang Hengqiu waved his hand, signifying a response. Then he turned around, standing together with Zhu Yun, and walked towards the entrance of the city. At that time, the Defensive Great Formation opened a gap, and more than ten Zhenyang Sect cultivators came out, led by two Golden Core cultivators. ... One of these two Golden Core cultivators, a middle-aged scholar named Lan Yu, was among the current elders of Zhenyang Sect and the last to break through to the Golden Core Stage; his cultivation was at the Early Stage Golden Core. The other Golden Core cultivator was a middle-aged Taoist, the same Chen Jingtian Lin Tianming had once witnessed battling in magic. Years ago, when Lin Tianming was returning to Green Bamboo Mountain from Qianchuan Market, he fortuitously encountered Chen Jingtian fighting another Golden Core cultivator from Huangyang Kingdom over an unclaimed Mysterious Moon Order and engaging in fierce combat. At that time, Lin Tianming held his breath and hid in a cave dwelling until Chen Jingtian and the others left, unsure whether he had been discovered or not. Seeing Chen Jingtian again, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he did not show any irregularity to avoid being noticed by Chen Jingtian. Luckily, it was a false alarm; perhaps too much time had passed, and Lin Tianming back then was not worth his attention. Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu now approached Zhu Yun and began chatting pleasantly with them, showing no particular interest. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that after all this time, Chen Jingtian probably did not care about the past incident. Having barely calmed his mind, Lin Tianming looked at the four Golden Core cultivators present, and even his firm face could not help but reveal shock. This was his first time seeing so many Golden Core cultivators, three of whom had Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation. Such immense power all came from the Zhenyang Sect. Clearly, there were only these four Golden Core cultivators here, but this was not the full extent of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s strength. At the very least, the Great Elder of Zhenyang Sect had yet to make an appearance, certainly presiding over the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. With the presence of these four Golden Core cultivators here to deal with the Demon Beast Army, there should not be much of a problem. This line of thought was similar to many other cultivators present. Seeing such overwhelming force vastly raised the morale of the cultivators and gave them a sense of security. Otherwise, this group would already be nervous enough, and if they were to really fight the demonic beasts, they would suffer immense losses. Presumably, the Golden Core cultivators also knew the disadvantages of this situation, which is why they came out together, to stabilize the people¡¯s minds and ensure that these loose cultivators and family members could perform to their full abilities in the later stages of the great battle. Some time passed. The four Golden Core cultivators turned around, and Chen Jingtian stepped forward, looking at the two groups of cultivators gathered before him, his resonant voice carrying forth. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I am Chen Jingtian, the commander of the front-line army, and I welcome you here.¡± ¡°You have long lived within the boundaries of Wei Kingdom and fully understand the greater good. In the face of the Beast Tide Army¡¯s threat, you heeded the call of our sect, and for this, I am very gratified.¡± ¡°Next, I hope everyone will share a hatred for the enemy and join forces to repel this Demon Beast Army, restoring peace to the southern part of Wei Kingdom.¡± As soon as the words fell, all the cultivators replied in unison, ¡°We will carefully follow Senior Chen¡¯s command!¡± Hearing the sound and momentum, Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction and then instructed several Zhenyang Sect disciples beside him. Afterward, he led Zhu Yun and others into the city, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. After several Golden Core Cultivators left the area, a few Zhenyang Sect Disciples stepped forward. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of them had clear brows and handsome features, dressed in Zhenyang Sect attire, exuding an impressive aura, and was a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, with an identity and status that seemed quite high. He swept his gaze over everyone, then a loud voice followed. ¡°Fellow Daoists, my name is Long Qingshui, please follow me into the city to assign residences for rest, and within three days head to the Zhenyang Hall in the city center to register and arrange teams.¡± No sooner had the words settled than the cultivators beside Long Qingshui sprang into action. The Zhenyang Sect Cultivators split into groups and gathered the cultivators in an area together, then led them away from there and into the city. The Cultivator leading the group from Lin Tianming¡¯s area was also at Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. According to his introduction, his name was Zhou Xing, also an Inner Sect Disciple of Zhenyang Sect, responsible for settling these several hundred people. Lin Tianming, along with a few acquaintances, followed Zhou Xing¡¯s lead and entered the city. Walking on the streets within the city, surrounded by numerous stone halls, with many cultivators shuttling on the streets. Among them were many in Zhenyang Sect attire, as well as some Loose Cultivators and family cultivators, who seemed to have come earlier to provide support. As they walked along, Zhou Xing also simply introduced the basic situation of the city to the cultivators. According to him, this city was temporarily built, also divided into four major areas: east, west, south, and north. In the very center were the living quarters of the Golden Core Elders and the important institutions of the entire Demon-Hunting Army, which also included a temporarily constructed auction house. In the other directions, the east and south sides were the residential areas of the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, the north side had some shops, not many, only several dozen, all of which belonged to deep-rooted powerful factions. And the area to the west was the residential area for the numerous Loose Cultivators and family cultivators. It was the largest area, occupying half of the entire city¡¯s territory. Since the summoned cultivators and Loose Cultivators were numerous, outnumbering the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, the land needed for their settlement was also more, which made such an arrangement seem quite fair and reasonable. This city was somewhat similar to a market layout, but with not many commercial areas and a relatively smaller overall size. Lin Tianming and his companion mingled quietly in the crowd, taking in the surrounding buildings, their moods very calm. Soon, under Zhou Xing¡¯s guidance, they arrived at a vast residential area. Looking around, the area was filled with stone palaces, neatly arranged in an overwhelming number, easily many thousands. In front of the crowd, Zhou Xing glanced at the people before speaking, ¡°Fellow Daoists, as the stone halls in the city are limited, everyone is free to form pairs and select a stone hall in this area to serve as your dwelling in the city.¡± ¡°After making your selection, mark the stone hall, remember its number, come to me to register it, and then within three days proceed to the Zhenyang Hall for your team assignments.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, along with other cultivators, began to disperse, each in search of a stone hall to use as dwelling. The two of them, claiming to be siblings to outsiders, naturally remained together for the free pairing and hence did not seek others to team up with. Under these circumstances, they walked into the deeper parts of the residential area and soon came across numerous unoccupied stone halls. A short while later, they chose a secluded corner, selected an unoccupied stone hall, made their mark, and noted the number of the hall. After completing these tasks, they returned to where they started and saw Zhou Xing. By now, many of the original several hundred cultivators were no longer present, presumably having chosen their dwellings or still in the process of selecting. Once the cultivators in front had left, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi approached Zhou Xing. Lin Tianming cupped his fists in salute, then took out a wooden plaque that bore a series of numbers, corresponding to the chosen stone hall¡¯s door number. He then took out the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s issued Token, handed them to Zhou Xing, and said, ¡°Daoist Zhou, my sister and I have already chosen our dwelling, here is the number, please kindly register it for us!¡± Chapter 462 03-25 - 462 268 Visit_1 ?Chapter 462: Chapter 268 Visit_1 Chapter 462: Chapter 268 Visit_1 Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing accepted the token and the wooden plaque, then he reached out to probe the token with his divine sense, and a smile soon appeared on his face. He then returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute and asked, ¡°Are the two Daoist friends from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family?¡± ¡°Precisely, I am Lin Tianming, and this is my younger sister, Lin Tianxi!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Zhou Xing nodded and, after giving a smile, said, ¡°How remiss of me. The Lin sibling Daoists truly are as outstanding as dragons and phoenixes among men. Once the dwelling distribution is complete, if there¡¯s anything you need, feel free to come and find me.¡± ¡°Certainly, we will. Then we¡¯ll take our leave first and thank Daoist Zhou in advance!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Zhou Xing nodded and, without saying much more, showed considerable politeness. He returned the token to Lin Tianming and then took out the wooden plaque, examined the number on it, and thereafter noted down the number of the gateway in an account book. ... Having done this, he immediately took out two pale golden tokens and handed them to Lin Tianming and the other person. After that, Zhou Xing said, ¡°The dwelling registration is complete. You two Daoist friends can go and rest first, but remember to register at the Zhenyang Hall within three days!¡± ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Zhou. I understand!¡± Lin Tianming replied and then, with a cupped fist and a bow, he turned with Qin Xi and left, heading towards the stone hall they had selected. In a short while, they arrived in front of the stone hall they had chosen. Lin Tianming took out one of the tokens given by Zhou Xing, unlocked the restriction on the stone hall, and they both entered one after another. Upon entering the stone hall, they first made a round inside and out to familiarize themselves with the basics. From their investigation, they found that the hall was not small and even included several training rooms, alchemy and artifact forging rooms, and everything needed for Earth Fire, basically equipped to function as a normal dwelling should. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? After casual conversation, they each picked a room to enter; Lin Tianming lay directly on the stone bed, and the tiredness of more than ten days quickly showed. He forced himself to perk up, thinking over his plans for the coming days. There were still several days left before the team allocation registration, so there was no need to rush. He decided to take a nap to replenish his energy and, after returning to his usual state, he would first visit Li Xiuyuan before going to Zhenyang Hall. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming then closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep. The next day, at noon. Lin Tianming emerged from his room after half a day¡¯s sleep, now appearing well-rested and back to his normal spirits. After stretching, he went to a nearby room and, with a message sent indoors, Qin Xi soon walked out. Glimpsing her, Qin Xi¡¯s whole body radiated with luster, her previous fatigue nowhere to be found, enhancing her already stunning beauty. Watching Qin Xi approaching, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but gaze at her for a moment, causing her to blush with shyness. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming gave an awkward smile and started a new topic just to ease the embarrassing silence. ¡°Fairy Qin, did you rest well yesterday?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I was indeed a bit tired, but now I feel quite spirited. But it seems, Daoist Lin, you¡¯ve also recovered quite nicely!¡± Qin Xi responded with a smile. Lin Tianming nodded and chatted with Qin Xi for a while, casually mentioning his plan to visit Li Xiuyuan and invited her to accompany him. Qin Xi didn¡¯t refuse. They had come to Yuyao City together, and before the demonic beast tide receded, they could only rely on each other for survival. No matter where Lin Tianming was, she had to stay with him. Whatever they did together, it would be more convenient and without worries. After confirming these plans, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi left the dwelling and started wandering around Yuyao City. They had never had the chance to explore before, and since they would be living here for the time being, naturally they wanted to quickly familiarize themselves with the area to prepare for cultivation and defense against enemies. Walking on the bluestone-paved paths, many cultivators bustled about in all corners, and they walked among them, exploring various places and observing interesting establishments. Before they knew it, they arrived at the shopping area in the northern part of the city. By now, this place had gathered a significant number of cultivators, each of the dozens of shops bustling with popularity. Out of curiosity, they looked around and soon recognized the names of some familiar shops, which nearly all had Golden Core forces behind them. It made sense, considering this was the front line and the beast tide had not been raging for long. The city was built temporarily and had to defend against potential demonic beast attacks at any time. In such circumstances, it would be impossible for ordinary forces to have the leisure and strength to open shops in such a perilous place. Those who had businesses in Yuyao City were backed by Golden Core cultivators, and many were famous forces from Qingzhou, including properties belonging to Nascent Soul forces. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides these well-known powers, at the very least, there were shops run by notable Foundation Establishing families from Wei Kingdom, whose strengths were not negligible and who could manage their business activities while coping with demonic beast attacks. As they walked, upon seeing the sign for the Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi entered together. Inside the Sky Dragon Pavilion, a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator greeted them. Lin Tianming browsed through some treasures and noticed that the prices here were astonishingly high. Ever since the outbreak of the demonic beast assault, the prices of treasures sold in the Qianchuan Market were several percent higher than usual. Chapter 463 03-25 - 463 268 Visit_2 ?Chapter 463: Chapter 268 Visit_2 Chapter 463: Chapter 268 Visit_2 Here, the prices of treasures were significantly higher, often nearly double the usual rate. Even so, the business here was enough to make any power envious. Upon reflection, Lin Tianming could understand why. The dangers here were self-evident, and the risks involved in moving treasures were much higher, compounded by the limited number of shops and the overall strength of Foundation Establishment Cultivators far surpassing any market in the Wei Kingdom. Given these reasons, such high prices were normal, and such bustling business was the due reward for those involved. After all, ¡°Where there is risk, there is opportunity¡± was no lie; the more dangerous the place, the easier it was to earn Spirit Stones. Fortunately, he had made ample preparations before coming to Yuyao City, with a good supply of Elixirs and talisman paper, so he wouldn¡¯t need to restock on treasures for a while unless he suffered a significant loss. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Otherwise, with prices like these, even though he had plenty of Spirit Stones and treasures, spending them would be painful enough. The two strolled around the Sky Dragon Pavilion and left empty-handed, continuing their leisurely walk through the shop district. Soon, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the East District of Yuyao City, where Zhenyang Sect Disciples resided. Glancing around, the layout here was similar to their own living area, with numerous stone halls arrayed together, but here the buildings were larger and appeared more exquisite. The two approached a secluded stone hall. Lin Tianming cast a Law Decree, and soon the hall¡¯s protective spells receded, revealing an entrance. Stepping through one after the other, they entered, where Li Xiuyuan was already waiting at the entrance, calling out warmly from afar. ¡°Lin, it¡¯s been a while. To think that you representing the Lin Family in this war against the Demon Beasts!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°Hehe¡­ Our Lin Family¡¯s strength is limited. The elders truly couldn¡¯t spare the effort, so I had to join the battle myself!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, then respectfully clasped his hands and exchanged pleasantries with Li Xiuyuan. ¡°And who might this be?¡± Seeing the woman by Lin Tianming¡¯s side, Li Xiuyuan was very curious, as he had never seen Qin Xi before, which prompted his question. ¡°Li, this is my cousin, Lin Tianxi, who has joined me in responding to your Sect¡¯s call to arms.¡± ¡°Hurry and greet Li!¡± urged Lin Tianming, looking at Qin Xi by his side. ¡°I offer my greetings to you, Li!¡± Qin Xi curtseyed graciously, with all the poise expected of a Lin Family member. ¡°Haha¡­ So this is Lin¡¯s cousin, truly a lady of talent and beauty, a genius with both gifts combined, truly the envy of others!¡± Li Xiuyuan couldn¡¯t help but praise her as he looked at Qin Xi. Indeed, he was captivated by her beauty upon first sight. Moreover, she was younger than Lin Tianming yet had already reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, which was simply unbelievable. Lin Tianming¡¯s talents had already impressed many, but here was a female member of the Lin Family with frightening abilities. One could imagine that with its pool of talented individuals, the Lin Family would certainly rise to prominence and perhaps even become a Golden Core Family if they had a hundred years of stable development. Such fortune of the Lin Family was indeed enviable. Regaining his composure, Li Xiuyuan exchanged pleasantries with Lin Tianming and then promptly invited Lin Tianming and his cousin into his abode. Lin Tianming was not one to stand on ceremony, so he and his cousin followed Li Xiuyuan deeper into the stone hall, while he began to introduce the place to them. Through Li Xiuyuan¡¯s introduction and his own observations, it was indeed clear that the treatment Zhenyang Sect Disciples received was much better; not only were their private abodes larger, but each also had their own stone hall. Besides, the Spiritual Energy in this area was even denser than where they resided. Although it¡¯s not obvious, if one stays here to cultivate for a long period, the difference will become apparent over time. But there¡¯s nothing to be done about it, who would that person be if not a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. As the overlord of the Southern Wei Kingdom, it¡¯s natural to give priority to disciples from their own sect, so such a disparity is to be expected. Before long, the three people including Lin Tianming were seated in the reception room, where Li Xiuyuan served his treasured Spiritual Tea as hospitality, and then they started to chat leisurely. After exchanging pleasantries, Li Xiuyuan got straight to the point. ¡°Lin, I assume that during our meeting at Qianchuan Market, my junior brother Wang Zhi might have shared some matters with you. What are your thoughts on this?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Li, I¡¯m not opposed to joining your team.¡± ¡°However, could you disclose a bit more information, so that I can make a clearer decision before committing?¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and responded, ¡°Your concerns, Lin, I fully understand. Even if you hadn¡¯t asked, I would not have concealed anything.¡± ¡°You must be aware of the reason behind my envy to form a team, and why I¡¯m making such a grand effort for this task.¡± ¡°Frankly speaking, with the battle against the Demon Beast Army at the front lines involving thousands or tens of thousands of cultivators, forming teams of a certain size is quite common.¡± ¡°The sect encourages us disciples to use this opportunity to compete for merits and talents, in preparation for the upcoming exploration of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°As for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, you¡¯ve certainly heard of it. The top three contributors, be they from families or Loose Cultivators, can enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°This time, my goal is to prepare for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage in the future. As long as my recruited team is among the top ten in terms of the number and quality of Demonic Beasts killed, I will earn a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°So, this opportunity is something I¡¯m pursuing with clear purpose, that¡¯s why I¡¯m recruiting cultivators, to take a chance for my own path.¡± Li Xiuyuan explained earnestly, with a detailed introduction, sharing almost everything he knew and his plans without reservations. Soon, Lin Tianming understood the arrangement of the Zhenyang Sect and was somewhat interested in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s earnest invitation. Still, he remained prudent and didn¡¯t immediately agree. At this time, Lin Tianming asked with a perplexed expression, ¡°Li, may I know how many teams the Zhenyang Sect will organize this time, and are there any restrictions on the teams you¡¯re recruiting?¡± ¡°Besides, in the upcoming battles against the Demon Beasts, will it be fair among the teams, and are there chances we¡¯ll be assigned to some dangerous tasks?¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back, laying out all the questions he wanted to know. Hearing these questions, Li Xiuyuan nodded. He did not seem reserved about Lin¡¯s caution and inquiries. Li Xiuyuan thought for a moment and then began to explain patiently. ¡°For this frontline resistance against the Demon Beast Army, besides our Zhenyang Sect, the other two Golden Core Sects have made similar arrangements.¡± ¡°Regarding the issues you¡¯re concerned about, Lin, I can tell you clearly that this time our sect has deployed two hundred disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage, all with the qualifications to recruit a team.¡± ¡°Each disciple can recruit up to fifty Foundation Establishment Cultivators to form a team, without a limit on the level of cultivation.¡± ¡°As for whether we will be assigned to execute special tasks, it¡¯s hard to say. However, if there are dangerous tasks assigned, the sect will provide compensation accordingly, and won¡¯t let us perish for nothing.¡± Relieved by Li¡¯s words, Lin Tianming could see that the Zhenyang Sect took this matter seriously, with well-thought-out and relatively fair rules. As Li had said, this was not only a test for their disciples but also for the summoned cultivators. To secure a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, one must achieve enough merit. Given how difficult it is for a cultivator alone to rank among the top three, due to the large base of summoned cultivators and the inclusion of many at the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage, it indeed seemed a wise choice to join a team formed by disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, to cooperate and fulfill mutual needs. Chapter 464 03-25 - 464 269 Impacting the Boundary_1 ?Chapter 464: Chapter 269: Impacting the Boundary_1 Chapter 464: Chapter 269: Impacting the Boundary_1 His mind returned to focus. Lin Tianming suddenly remembered Li Huafeng¡¯s once-mentioned Senior Brother Xu Cheng, who had also left behind a Soundstone. He had also mentioned that if Lin Tianming arrived at the front line, he could seek him out. Therefore, since Xu Cheng also participated in the great battle on the front line, he must have plans to recruit a team as well. It might be worthwhile to inquire with Li Xiuyuan about Xu Cheng¡¯s situation, to find out who joined his team and what their strengths were. After all, under the principle of mutual benefit, joining a stronger team would provide greater opportunities to achieve merits and ensure more safety. Having made up his mind, he immediately asked, ¡°Li Daoist friend, the Li Huafeng who went to the Lin Family to issue the call for recruits mentioned his Senior Brother Xu Cheng. Are you aware of his background?¡± ... ¡°Xu Cheng?¡± Li Xiuyuan shook his head, then explained, ¡°Xu Cheng is indeed a disciple of our sect with a cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, and he is also recruiting a team.¡± ¡°As for my side, more than twenty fellows have joined my team, most of them being at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, with two at the Seventh Level, one at the Eighth Level, and one at the Ninth Level.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised; obviously, Xu Cheng¡¯s cultivation level would not match his own. One must know that Li Xiuyuan was at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment a few years ago and must now be infinitely close to reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Furthermore, having been the Market City Supervisor for many years, his wide range of connections and acquaintances meant that the cultivators he could recruit were certainly not ordinary. In such a short time, Li Xiuyuan had already recruited more than twenty cultivators, including four at the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Comparing the two, Xu Cheng¡¯s team¡¯s overall strength was definitely not on par with Li Xiuyuan¡¯s. In addition, Li Xiuyuan put in a great deal of effort for the Lin Family¡¯s Luoyun Pavilion in establishing itself in Qianchuan Market, both before and after. Coupled with his upright character and popularity¡­ Looking at it this way, joining Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team seemed like the most prudent choice from every aspect. ¡°Lin Daoist friend, although there are many people in our sect¡¯s team, the majority do not have a higher cultivation than me,¡± Li Xiuyuan offered. ¡°Moreover, given our relationship, I can promise that if my team eventually ranks in the top ten and secures entrance to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, I will certainly provide a reward,¡± he continued. ¡°If I¡¯m fortunate enough to break through to the Golden Core Stage, I will forever remember the assistance of the Lin Family and will never refuse to help when needed in the future.¡± Hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s sincere persuasion, Lin Tianming nodded his head. The reason he had not yet agreed to join was to wait for Li Xiuyuan to mention the matter of compensation; after all, it would be somewhat embarrassing to bring it up himself and he would not have the initiative. If Li Xiuyuan brought it up himself, it couldn¡¯t be more perfect for him. This mattered a great deal to Lin Tianming. In his eyes, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s talent was not lacking, and if he truly had treasures to aid in Core Formation, his chances of success were considerable. In such circumstances, even without providing material treasures, a promise had self-evident value once he broke through to the Golden Core Stage in the future. For the Lin Family, a promise from a Golden Core Cultivator could sometimes change the family¡¯s fortunes. With this in mind, he had no reason to insist any further. At that moment, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and said, ¡°I am flattered by Li Daoist friend¡¯s high regard for the Lin Family and for me!¡± ¡°Li Daoist friend, you¡¯ve already been a great help in the Market City. Given such an opportunity, I naturally wish to offer my assistance and am willing to join your team to fight side by side as a way of repaying your kindness,¡± Lin Tianming continued. Hearing that Lin Tianming was willing to join his team, Li Xiuyuan nodded, his mood considerably brightened. He had been planning and working hard for this great battle for a long time, and he had made great efforts to win over many cultivators. Beyond those at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, the Lin Family was also a key focus of his attention. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t the strongest among cultivators, it was certainly not to be underestimated. Apart from that, the potential that Lin Tianming and his sister showed was simply astonishing. Their mutual cooperation was an opportunity for both sides. If the Lin Family fully rose to prominence, it would be a tremendous help in his own pursuit of the Golden Core Stage. Now, having received Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmation, Li Xiuyuan was overjoyed, and in his elated mood, he treated the two siblings with great hospitality. ¡­ An hour passed. In a harmonious atmosphere, they exchanged many details about the front line. Li Xiuyuan also introduced a few of the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage team members to him, and mentioned the list of teams they were focusing on this time. According to him, among the disciples sent by the Zhenyang Sect to the front line this time, there were more than twenty at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection alone. Many of these twenty disciples were the personal disciples of Golden Core Cultivators, all brilliant and outstanding, and held high status within the Zhenyang Sect. These people, with their talents and cultivation levels, had attracted many cultivators to join their teams, with many teams exhibiting exceptional overall strength. Aside from these twenty or so disciples, there were also quite a few at the Eighth and Ninth Levels of Foundation Establishment. However, these individuals had limited strength and influence, mostly attracting unknown cultivators to join their ranks. Such teams did not compare in strength to theirs and were not worth their attention. It was only the teams formed by those more than twenty Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators that posed as their most significant competitors, whom Lin Tianming should be particularly wary of. Chapter 465 03-25 - 465 269 Assaulting the Realm_2 ?Chapter 465: Chapter 269: Assaulting the Realm_2 Chapter 465: Chapter 269: Assaulting the Realm_2 Afterward, Li Xiuyuan also brought up the matter of registration. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since Lin Tianming had volunteered to join his team, he naturally wouldn¡¯t be mixed in with those cultivators who hadn¡¯t been recruited. All they needed to do was to go to Zhenyang Hall to register, stating their willingness to join the team, and they could then stay in Yuyao City with peace of mind, waiting for the senior cultivators¡¯ strategic plan and be ready to fight when needed. In the reception room. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan were having a pleasant conversation; both were in a good mood. Li Xiuyuan was very forthcoming in response to Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiries, explaining in great detail. As the day grew late, on Li Xiuyuan¡¯s suggestion, the three of them left his cave dwelling and headed for the Zhenyang Hall at the center of the city to take care of the registration. ¡­ ... Before long, the three of them arrived at Zhenyang Hall. At this time, there were already quite a few cultivators registering inside Zhenyang Hall; it was bustling with activity. Under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s lead, they didn¡¯t need to wait in line and quickly completed the registration process. It was clear to see that Li Xiuyuan held a not insignificant position within the Zhenyang Sect and had an extremely wide network of connections¡ªotherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to influence other cultivators so readily. This was a good thing; the greater his influence, the higher the likelihood of achieving his goals, and it made his choice worthwhile. Having finished with the registration, the three left Zhenyang Hall and walked along the streets. While chatting as they walked, Li Xiuyuan inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s plans for the coming days. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 ¡°Li, do you have any actions planned for the next while?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Actions? Hard to say¡­¡± ¡°However, as far as I know, the cultivators who have just been summoned to Yuyao City aren¡¯t familiar with the situation here. In the short term, it seems that the higher-ups don¡¯t have plans to launch an offensive.¡± ¡°But while we cultivators may not take the initiative to strike, the movements of the demonic beasts are another story¡ªthey attack unpredictably and are difficult to understand.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt a bit helpless. He had wanted to take a short retreat to assimilate the Sky Rainbow Fruit and break through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, but it looked like that would have to be delayed. ¡°What, Lin, do you have plans of your own?¡± Seeing his look of resignation, Li Xiuyuan asked with concern. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Tianming laughed wryly and said, ¡°Before coming to Yuyao City, I won a Sky Rainbow Fruit at the Qianchuan Market, and I haven¡¯t had the chance to assimilate it yet.¡± ¡°If there are no imminent plans for action, I might take this opportunity to digest the fruit and boost my cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level! However, if the demonic beasts attack while I am in the middle of a breakthrough, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to join the fight, and I might just have to postpone my retreat.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°Lin, you don¡¯t have to worry so much. It hasn¡¯t been long since the last demonic beast incursion; they probably won¡¯t attack again so soon. Besides, if the demonic beasts do attack while you¡¯re in retreat, you don¡¯t need to force yourself into battle. I will explain to the sect, and they won¡¯t blame you.¡± ¡°You just need to focus on your breakthrough. With stronger power, you¡¯ll be able to achieve greater feats in battle!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his face showing a slight excitement. If that was the case, it was exactly what he wanted. He could first retreat for cultivation, raising his power to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. If the demonic beasts did attack, he would join the fight if he could; if not, Li Xiuyuan would manage the situation on his behalf, and he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about it. After all, there was no specific rule in the Zhenyang Sect stating one must join the fight during a beast tide. Many times, a cultivator might have a breakthrough or even be injured, which could lead to various reasons for not participating in battle. Under such circumstances, not everyone could go into battle, and special reasons were understandable. Thinking this over, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, no longer harboring any concerns. With a major battle looming, there was no time to delay; he needed to close off and rush his cultivation breakthrough! Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming bowed to Li Xiuyuan with a fist in palm, proposing to head back for his retreat. Li Xiuyuan chuckled and did not reject the idea, agreeing to his request on the spot. Lin Tianming was very pleased. The three exchanged courtesies and then went their separate ways, each hurrying back to their respective cave dwellings. ¡­ Returning to their cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi exchanged a few casual remarks before immediately entering the training room and beginning their closed-door cultivation. In the training room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the floor, circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and then started to adjust his state. Not much time had passed. Feeling that he had reached his peak condition, he calmly took out a jade box which contained the Sky Rainbow Fruit. He opened the jade box, revealing the crystal-clear Spirit Fruit. A unique and refreshing fragrance assaulted his senses, invigorating his mind. Looking at the Sky Rainbow Fruit, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turned rosy. With this item, his cultivation, which had been stagnant for several years, could finally advance further. To obtain this Spirit Fruit, he had paid a significant price¡ªmore than thirty thousand Spirit Stones, almost equivalent to the cost of one Foundation Establishment Pill. However, despite the great cost, as long as it could enhance his cultivation, Spirit Stones were nothing more than external possessions, hardly worthy of concern. Regaining his focus and feeling enticed by the fragrant aroma of the Sky Rainbow Fruit, excitement stirred within him, and he began to grow impatient. He took out the Sky Rainbow Fruit and placed it on his palm. After observing it for a moment, he swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the Spirit Fruit entered his mouth, the energy within it immediately spread out, traveling along his meridians. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare delay and hurriedly activated his cultivation technique to refine this powerful energy. At this moment, the energy gradually transformed into new Spiritual Power and finally converged in his Seven Sea Dantian. The Spiritual Power that had already reached the brink began to expand further. At the same time, this roaming energy also tempered his internal organs, seven meridians and eight channels, and even his skin, bones, and hair were somewhat enhanced. It should be known that his cultivation level had already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, needing only a supplement of Spiritual Power to meet the requirements to attempt the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. As the energy from the Sky Rainbow Fruit tempered his body and refined his soul, with every bit of Spiritual Power he assimilated, his cultivation level saw a slight increase, and he felt the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level drawing ever nearer. Feeling this tremendous and inexhaustible energy, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart throbbed with excitement; the effects brought by the Sky Rainbow Fruit were beyond his expectations. Continuing at this rate of improvement, he felt that after refining just thirty percent of the energy, he would possess the basic condition to make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. And with the remaining energy, if utilized properly, he could further enhance his cultivation after the successful breakthrough, allowing him to be even more powerful in the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. At this moment, the sheer enjoyment of increasing his cultivation level made him feel as if he was soaring unrestrained in the sky, an extremely comfortable sensation. Lin Tianming was so immersed in this wonderful world that he found it hard to extract himself. Lin Tianming eventually came to his senses after some indeterminable time, becoming more serene. He focused his mind, operating his cultivation technique to the limit, which again accelerated the speed of the energy refinement process. Looking down at his Dantian once more, he saw the speed of the circulating Spiritual Power increase, the Seven Sea Dantian nearing the critical point and seemingly about to overflow at any time. ¡­ Time flew by, and the day passed just like that. In the training room, Lin Tianming sat motionless like an old monk in meditation, having maintained the process for a whole day, refining nearly thirty percent of the energy contained in the Sky Rainbow Fruit. The Spiritual Power within his Seven Sea Dantian had reached a critical point, and after another half an hour of refinement, it no longer continued to grow. Clearly, he was at the critical point now, and refining any more Spiritual Power wouldn¡¯t result in further improvement. ¡°It¡¯s time to attempt the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Then, he began to manipulate the vast Spiritual Power within his Seven Sea Dantian, launching an assault on the barrier to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. ¡°Bang¡­ bang¡­ bang¡­¡± At this moment, the usually silent training room echoed with a series of special sounds. Although not loud, they were indeed there. After more than ten consecutive attempts, each more forceful than the last, there was still no sign of a breakthrough. Clearly¡­ breaking through as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was not that easy! Even someone like him, who could be considered exceptionally talented, was no exception and faced obstructions. Chapter 466 03-25 - 466 270 Breakthrough Team Member_1 ?Chapter 466: Chapter 270: Breakthrough, Team Member_1 Chapter 466: Chapter 270: Breakthrough, Team Member_1 At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was somewhat pale, with sweat frequently dripping down his forehead onto the ground, where it quickly evaporated. ¡°Without breaking, there can be no establishment¡­ break and then establish!¡± With a cold snort, he pushed the Cultivation Technique to its limit. Even though the refining speed had already reached its peak, under his relentless squeeze, the speed actually increased slightly. Although the gap didn¡¯t seem large, that slight acceleration had a noticeably different effect. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of joy as he tirelessly manipulated the Spiritual Power, launching another assault. At every moment of decline, he immediately replenished the refined Spiritual Power, incessantly hammering at the barrier. Time ticked away second by second, and before long, the third day had arrived. ... By now, he had launched countless assaults, so many that even he had lost count. Even in such a state, nearly numb to the process, he still didn¡¯t stop. And then, at some unknown moment, accompanied by a piercing yet distinctive sound, a rosy hue flashed across his pale face. Following that, his Seven Sea Dantian suddenly expanded, with the previously refined Spiritual Power reconvening in a new spiritual pool. At the same time, his Divine Sense was sublimated in an instant, and all of his meridians and organs were strengthened at that moment. Feeling the changes in his body and soul, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. ¡°I¡¯ve finally broken through!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï He murmured to himself, then continued to operate the Cultivation Technique to refine nearly half of the remaining energy within the Sky Rainbow Fruit. After ten days. In the training room, Lin Tianming ended his session and opened his eyes, a sharp light shooting out from his bright pupils. The piercing gaze stirred the air, forming an invisible blade that swept over the spot in front of him, and carved a faint trace with sheer force. With his Divine Sense, he surveyed his inner and outer body and discovered that his original Qi Sea Dantian had expanded significantly, with the stored Spiritual Power becoming more consolidated. Moreover, every bit of skin over his body, from inside out, had been tempered, leaving a thick layer of grime on his whole body, emitting an offensive odor that was quite revolting to behold. ¡°The human body is truly marvelous, with each breakthrough strengthening the physique to some extent.¡± ¡°And this grime seems endless, but it is said that when Body Cultivation reaches its pinnacle, as with those Fourth Order Body Cultivators and above, no grime will appear anymore.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That level of state is the foundation of a natural body and signifies reaching a perfect, flawless realm.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, looking forward immensely to reaching that legendary state one day. Collecting his thoughts and looking at the filth on his body, he cast a spell with a hand gesture and quickly cleaned his body. In no time, he had changed into a clean Blue Taoist Robe, looking very spirited. Now, feeling the full Spiritual Power within his body and the further enhanced soul, his entire being felt refreshed and comfortable, void of any fatigue. And the aura emanating from his body steadily settled at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm without the faintest sense of instability. It was obvious that the foundation he had laid for himself was solid enough. Although there were some obstacles in breaking through, it was a smooth process and expected. After more than ten days of seclusion, his cultivation had successfully broken through, and he had also completely refined the remaining nearly half of the energy from the Sky Rainbow Fruit. Following the breakthrough, the refinement of Spiritual Power had further improved, significantly reducing the energy required to reach from the Sixth to the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment. Feeling the Spiritual Power throughout his body and the strength gained after the breakthrough, he was ecstatic and in an extremely good mood. ¡°I wonder how the beast tide is going? Has there been a great battle?¡± Lin Tianming pondered silently. ¡°Never mind, I should leave seclusion first and visit Li Xiuyuan to look around and gather some information!¡± Gathering his thoughts, he stood up to tidy the training room before heading outside. In a short while, Lin Tianming appeared in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave abode, without bringing Qin Xi along. Seeing Lin Tianming and learning of his successful breakthrough, Li Xiuyuan was thrilled and immediately invited him into the guest room. At that time, several Cultivators were already sitting in the guest room; among them were four men and one woman, all of them at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Li Xiuyuan let out a chuckle, introduced Lin Tianming to the few, and then proceeded to introduce their backgrounds. After Li Xiuyuan¡¯s introductions, it turned out that these five were Cultivators he had recruited: two from clans and three being Loose Cultivators. The two clan Cultivators were Tang Liusheng from the Longgang Mountain Range¡¯s Tang Family and He Qiancheng from the Tiantai Mountain Range¡¯s He Family. The power of their respective families was considerable; they were well-known entities in the Qianchuan Market vicinity. Knowing that Lin Tianming was from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family, perhaps because of the Lin Family¡¯s rising fame in recent years, Tang Liusheng and He Qiancheng were quite polite, seemingly eager to make connections. Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t reject their goodwill and exchanged pleasantries with Tang Liusheng, quickly closing the distance between them. As for the three Loose Cultivators, they were Hu Yuan, Liu Zhenshan, and He Hongfu, all of whom were recluses who regularly roamed the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. Although Hu Yuan and the others were alone, being able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage on their own meant they were quite powerful. Chapter 467 03-25 - 467 270 Breakthrough Team Member_2 ?Chapter 467: Chapter 270 Breakthrough, Team Member_2 Chapter 467: Chapter 270 Breakthrough, Team Member_2 Hu Yuan had reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, while Liu Zhenshan and He Hongfu were both at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, making them somewhat stronger than the cultivators with family backgrounds. Although the three of them were Loose Cultivators, their strength was undeniable, and even Li Xiuyuan, with his identity and cultivation, had to rely on them to achieve a significant result. In this situation, Li Xiuyuan was very courteous towards the six of them, actively matchmaking, so they could cooperate sincerely in the likely upcoming battle. Lin Tianming and the others, of course, had no objections; everyone shared the same goal, and with these individuals¡¯ extraordinary strength, they quickly became acquainted. The group chatted over tea for a while, exchanging many cultivation-related questions, and everyone gained something from the discussion. A pot of tea time passed. Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Li Xiuyuan was very satisfied, then he began to speak about serious matters. ... ¡°Fellow Daoists¡­ Today, Lin has just left seclusion, and the core members of my team are all present here, which is indeed very rare,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ve been in Yuyao City for nearly half a month, and I¡¯m afraid such peaceful days will not last much longer!¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Liusheng frowned and quickly followed up with a question. ¡°Li, are the demon beasts preparing to launch an attack?¡± he asked. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded, his expression suddenly becoming serious. ¡°According to reliable information, while our Human Race is mobilizing troops, the Demon Beast Army is also expanding its strength. With many mountain ranges within the Wei Kingdom, numerous beasts with higher Spirit Wisdom are gathering together.¡± ¡°Given this situation, the next battle will likely escalate, and it won¡¯t be the minor skirmishes we¡¯ve had before!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Upon hearing this, Tang Liusheng nodded his head. ¡°No wonder the number of demon beasts in the various mountain ranges has noticeably decreased recently; it turns out that those with some strength have moved locations and joined the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°Alas¡­ With the pressure greatly reduced in the various mountain ranges below, the Songling Mountain Range here might face a great deal of pressure,¡± Tang Liusheng said helplessly. Hearing Tang Liusheng¡¯s words, the expressions of everyone present became serious, and they started to worry about the ensuing battle. ¡°Fellow Daoists, although the power of the Monster Beast Legion has increased significantly, our side is no weaker. With four Masters guarding this place, I believe the Monster Beast Legion won¡¯t be able to make big waves!¡± No sooner had the words fallen than Hu Yuan, who had been silent for a while, smiled calmly and then chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ With four Golden Core seniors stationed here, and with Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect also gathering a large number of cultivators, even though the strength of the demon beasts is formidable, the human side is not unprepared!¡± Hu Yuan spoke with ease, his confidence stemming from his own strength. As a Loose Cultivator with no ties, in the event of a great crisis, he could simply flee if need be. With his cultivation strength, thinking only of escaping, ordinary Second Order demonic beasts couldn¡¯t possibly stop him. Hu Yuan¡¯s displayed confidence had an impact on the others, settling their minds somewhat. Lin Tianming also felt this to be true, as he was quite confident in his own strength. Before his breakthrough, he was capable of handling one or two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts; even if he couldn¡¯t emerge victorious, his life wouldn¡¯t be in jeopardy. With his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, his strength had further improved, so unless it was a demon beast about to break through to the Third Order, he probably wouldn¡¯t be threatened. This was the intense self-assurance that came with increased strength! With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s serious expression relaxed, and the melancholy in his heart also vanished. Refocusing, Lin Tianming looked at the people sitting around and then asked, ¡°Li, when is the beast tide likely to erupt? Is there a specific time?¡± ¡°Yes, if there¡¯s a specific time and scale, it would help everyone to prepare!¡± Tang Liusheng added. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say right now!¡± ¡°Based on the actions of the Demon Beast Army, the sects can only anticipate that the attack is coming soon, but they are still unable to precisely predict the specifics,¡± explained Li Xiuyuan. Hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding; the situation was indeed as such. The Demon Beast Army was mighty, with many Third Order Demon Beasts. Ordinary cultivators did not dare to scout for information; if discovered by a Third Order Demon Beast, a careless mistake could lead to their demise. Under such circumstances, information was hard to come by and subject to great change, making it extremely difficult to accurately predict the actions of the demon beasts. Then, Li Xiuyuan looked at everyone and laughed lightly, saying: ¡°My friends, there¡¯s no need to worry too much. Whatever is coming will come; we simply need to wait for instructions from above.¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ If they don¡¯t come, we can relax a bit more. But if they do, it¡¯ll be another tough fight!¡± Tang Liusheng remarked. Lin Tianming nodded and said nothing further; the conversation among the group shifted, and they casually chatted for a while. An hour had passed. The sky neared noon, and after this gathering, everyone had become more acquainted with one another. Tang Liusheng glanced at the people present and then stood up, expressing his intention to take his leave. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others also spoke up, expressing their own intentions to leave and planning to return to their caves for some cultivation, while they waited for the arrangements of the higher-ups. Out of courtesy, Li Xiuyuan tried to persuade them to stay longer, but was declined by everyone. After some polite exchanges, they said their goodbyes and went back to their own caves. Lin Tianming returned to the stone hall, where Qin Xi, having not been seen for a long time, had just emerged from seclusion. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and sensing the faint aura emanating from him, Qin Xi was slightly puzzled and quickly asked about his breakthrough. ¡°Lin, have you successfully broken through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ By a stroke of luck, I did!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmative response, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion glowed with excitement. She had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength with her own eyes, and now that his strength had increased, he was undoubtedly going to be even more terrifying. With this, their chances of surviving the upcoming battle had greatly increased, and they might even achieve impressive results and consequently receive generous rewards. Thinking of these possibilities, Qin Xi felt excited and extremely fortunate about her decision. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Seeing her slightly excited expression, Lin Tianming smiled and then asked, ¡°Fairy Qin, it seems your cultivation has improved during these few days you¡¯ve been out of sight. You¡¯re not far off from the Third Level of Foundation Establishment now, are you?¡± ¡°Lin, your Divine Sense is indeed powerful, you can¡¯t be deceived by even the slightest growth!¡± Qin Xi replied with a sense of helplessness. She had been in seclusion, refining the Spiritual Objects she had and pushing her cultivation to the peak of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment, very close to the Third Level. She had hoped to press on and break through to the Third Level in one go, but since she had only progressed beyond the Second Layer less than two years ago, her foundation was not solid enough, preventing her wish from being fulfilled. However, she believed that with only half a year¡¯s consolidation and some battles of life and death, her breakthrough should not be too difficult with her talent. When Lin Tianming heard her reply, he could not help but be amazed. Qin Xi¡¯s talent was truly fearsome, she was a few years younger than him, yet her cultivation at the same period wasn¡¯t much different from his. It¡¯s worth mentioning that he cultivated a Heavenly Grade Technique, had been through numerous life and death battles, had several fortuitous encounters, and with support from his family, managed to cultivate at such speed. Yet Qin Xi, a Loose Cultivator, had to rely on herself for all opportunities and also guard against enemies seeking revenge. Such comparison showed that her cultivation speed was in no way inferior to his, perhaps even more significant. ¡°This lady¡¯s Spiritual Root Talent must be extraordinary, and she must have great fortune as well!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. At the moment, Lin Tianming was intensely curious about Qin Xi, and even considered asking about it. But delving into such sensitive matters was easily offensive and could create misunderstandings, making her think he coveted her opportunities. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming suppressed the impulse within him, maintaining a calm demeanor. Unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts, Qin Xi finally calmed down and then shifted the conversation towards the subject of the approaching monster onslaught. During this period, Yuyao City had been unusually calm, completely contrary to her expectations. ¡°Lin, is there still no movement from the monster onslaught?¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s question, Lin Tianming gave her the information he had obtained from Li Xiuyuan. Soon, Qin Xi nodded, knowing that with Lin Tianming taking care of the matter, there was no need for her to worry. As long as there were no movements from the Demonic Beasts and they had no tasks assigned to them, she just needed to focus on her cultivation. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi and Lin Tianming exchanged some information. After chatting casually for a while, Lin Tianming suggested Qin Xi go back to seclusion to cultivate, and she had no objections. With everything settled, the two went back to their respective training rooms. While they cultivated, they also made some preparations, waiting for what was likely to be an impending great battle. Chapter 468 03-25 - 468 271 Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_1 ?Chapter 468: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_1 Chapter 468: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_1 Yuyao City. The tranquil days continued past, and since the Cultivators had come, more than half a month had elapsed. During this time, the vicinity of Yuyao City was particularly calm, with no outbreaks of Demonic Beast attacks, and the fierce slaughtering the cultivators had anticipated had not occurred. Under these circumstances, all the cultivators remained within Yuyao City. Apart from strengthening patrols, most were cultivating as usual, living rather peacefully. On this day, the Songling Mountain Range. Several hundred miles to the west of Yuyao City, a vast array of towering mountains served as a gathering place for a large number of Demonic Beasts. Looking over this extensive forest, Demonic Beasts were everywhere, as far as the eye could see, numbering at least tens of thousands. ... The types of Demonic Beasts were diverse, including the three-headed Night Wolf, the Red-tailed Poison Scorpion covered with dark brown venom, as well as various grotesque and vicious species. Diamond Giant Ape, Blood Jiao, Xuanbing Crocodile¡­ The species of Demonic Beasts varied, and their sizes were extremely different. Some of the largest were almost as big as a hundred-foot-tall hill, while the smaller beasts were only half a Zhang in size, with a shocking contrast in scale. However, despite the vast size differences among these beasts, their strength was not necessarily proportional. Some smaller species were quite a few Second Order Demonic Beasts, whereas many of the larger ones were First Order Demon Beasts, with their strength being completely opposite to their sizes. In the center of this huge group of Demonic Beasts, a dozen or so were particularly conspicuous. Although not the largest, they exuded an extraordinarily strong aura. Around them, several Second Order Demonic Beasts showed a look of fear, consciously keeping their distance, appearing quite terrified. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 If there was someone here, they could easily discern that the strengths of those Demonic Beasts in the middle of the group were undoubtedly that of Third Order Demon Beasts. At this moment, these dozen or so Third Order Demonic Beasts were gathered together. A few of them were growling at each other, as if they were communicating something. A short while passed. Suddenly, as a Blazing Flame Celestial Lion at the center of the beast horde let out a mighty roar to the sky, the entire massive group of Demonic Beasts began to stir. Clearly, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, being at the Late Stage of the Third Order, was the temporary leader of this vast Demon Beast Army, and its roaring was a command. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, under the orders of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, the Demon Beast Tribe began to move, all heading towards the east. ¡°Stomp stomp stomp¡­¡± As the massive horde of Demonic Beasts started to move, the entire forest echoed with earth-shattering noises, as if a swarm of locusts was passing through, and with increasing speed, a thunderous clamor ensued. The dust stirred by the Demon Beast Tribe rose hundreds of Zhang high, resembling a storm, surging forward in the direction they advanced. Above the Demon Beast Army, a dozen Third Order Demonic Beasts began to move; with each leap, they would appear miles away, their speed reaching its extreme. In this moment, the long-silent Monster Beast Legion finally made their move. However, the Human Cultivators remained completely unaware of this development. In the western direction of Yuyao City. Two hundred miles away, on the summit of a mountain, Lu Hong and several other Cultivators stood on the peak, gazing toward the west with grave expressions. Lu Hong was a core disciple of Zhenyang Sect, and his cultivation was not weak. With his cultivation realm at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he was considered one of the top existences below the Golden Core Cultivators. In recent days, Yuyao City had increased its patrol forces, issued several patrolling missions, and further expanded the range of patrols, all in preparation for the upcoming Demonic Beast attacks. Under these circumstances and with hefty rewards being offered, Lu Hong led his assembled team to take on the task of watch duty in this area. Atop the mountain, Lu Hong wore a solemn countenance. For some reason, his eyelids kept twitching involuntarily, and he felt an inexplicably growing tension in his heart. ¡°Could it be that something big is about to happen?¡± ¡°According to the messages from above, there shouldn¡¯t be any major incidents in the next few days¡­then why this uneasy feeling?¡± Lu Hong pondered silently. While he was lost in thought, a Cultivator next to him pointed toward the end of their line of sight at the gray shadow and stuttered out a cry. ¡°Quick¡­quickly look¡­what¡­is that?¡± Regaining his composure, Lu Hong and several Cultivators lifted their heads and looked in the direction indicated by the speaker. At that moment, in front of them, gray shadows slowly rose from the horizon, quickly-reaching dozens of Zhang in height and becoming increasingly discernible. In an instant, the shadow grew larger, forming a hundred Zhang high storm and Gang Wind that swept towards them with terrifying speed. Lu Hong widened his eyes, trying to see what lay behind that storm. However, the dust was too extensive and moved too quickly; bare eyes could hardly discern anything, and even Divine Sense was greatly affected, unable to clear up what lay beyond. Soon, the storm drew closer, and in the blink of an eye, it reached a few miles in front of them. ¡°Stomp¡­stomp stomp stomp¡­¡± The Monster Beast Legion¡¯s thunderous charge only now reached them, accompanied by an even more intense Gang Wind that blew them all off their feet. The disheveled Lu Hong swiftly stood up, steadying himself, and his complexion instantly turned pale. ¡°The Demon Beast Army is coming¡­¡± ¡°Everyone, run for your lives!¡± He hastily dropped these words, then immediately turned and shot towards the direction of Yuyao City at breakneck speed, with no desire to look back. In the blink of an eye, he had run a thousand Zhang away, frantically fleeing for his life without a second glance. Hearing Lu Hong¡¯s warning and seeing his speed in flight, the few Cultivators beside him only then came to their senses. Chapter 469 03-25 - 469 271 Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_2 ?Chapter 469: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_2 Chapter 469: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_2 Just as a few people turned to run, a deafening roar, like thunder blasting beside one¡¯s ear, pierced the air. Immediately after, a huge red shadow flashed and pounced toward them. At this moment, the people desperate to escape turned deathly pale. The thunderous roars knocked them dizzy and disoriented, leaving them frozen in place for a moment. Before they could regain their senses, the vast red shadow had opened its massive jaws and lunged to bite at them. The dazed individuals raised their hands and threw out several Second Order Talismans, which formed a thick wall to shield them at the back. However, the wall was like paper and was effortlessly pierced by the demonic beast¡¯s gigantic mouth. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­¡± ... Screams followed as several cultivators were bitten and held in the grasp of the red shadow. The red shadow shook its enormous head and then snapped its jaws several times, easily crushing and swallowing the cultivators. A thousand feet away, Lu Hong, who narrowly escaped a calamity, heard the screams and looked back only to witness his companions¡¯ tragic deaths, which left his face extremely pale. In that instant, he had no time to grieve for the deceased companions. With just a quick glance, he continued to flee for his life. He was well aware that the Demon Beast Army was vast in number. The red shadow from before was a Third Order Late Stage Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Furthermore, among the demonic beasts that were following, there were several with immense presences, undoubtedly all from the Third Order. With such terrifying strength, with his level of cultivation, if he slowed even slightly and was surrounded by the demonic beasts, he would undoubtedly meet his end here. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? In this critical moment, whether to save his own life or to quickly relay the message to Yuyao City, he had to escape from this place as soon as possible. It was a time for survival, and he summoned the wind beneath his feet, fleeing relentlessly. However, the terrifying Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, without any effort, killed several cultivators in one breath, swallowing three of them. It was not satisfied, showing a ravenous look. It raised its head and looked toward Lu Hong, its wrath further incited upon seeing the cultivator escaping. With a furious roar, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion chased after Lu Hong in the direction he fled, its speed even faster than his. In just a few breaths, the distance between them had closed significantly. Had Lu Hong not been decisive enough to have fled a few thousand feet from the start, with the speed of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, he would have already been caught by now. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion drew ever closer, Lu Hong¡¯s inner turmoil grew, his face darkening to the extreme. Soon, the distance between them narrowed even further, reaching just about a thousand feet. For a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, this distance was merely a couple of strides. ¡°No good¡­ I must find a way to block it for a moment, otherwise, with this kind of escape, there¡¯s no way I can shake it off,¡± thought Lu Hong to himself. ¡°Roar¡­ Roar¡­¡± The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion roared in fury and leapt toward Lu Hong with its gaping maw snapping at him. In his urgency, Lu Hong waved his sleeve, and a large handful of Second Order Talismans appeared in his hand, numbering over twenty. Then, with a movement of his Law Decree, he let go of the talismans in his hand, casting them at the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± The sky suddenly filled with a rain of fire, mixed with sword qi, pouring down like a deluge. Seeing the flashes of fire in the sky, Lu Hong spared nothing, producing another shimmering talisman. Upon closer inspection, it as well was a Fake Golden Core Talisman, a treasure Lu Hong had obtained at great expense and kept as a last resort for saving his life. He understood the power of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Although the Second Order Talismans he had thrown out weren¡¯t few, and even included two Second Order Superior ones. If taken by surprise, such a handful of Second Order Talismans could damage even Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts. But to a robust and powerful Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, such an attack was little more than a tickle, at best causing a fleeting delay. ¡°` But even so, he dared not hold back. The Second Order Talismans were used to buy time, while the reserve Fake Golden Core Talisman created trouble for the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. He just needed to delay for a bit, so he could take the chance to escape, to widen the distance as much as possible, and even shake them off. In such a situation, even if he was extremely reluctant, to survive, he had to make a desperate bid and seek a sliver of a chance for life. Lu Hong, who was well aware of this, didn¡¯t hesitate to activate the Fake Golden Core Talisman in his hand. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The firelight in the sky dissipated, revealing the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion unscathed. As expected, the ocean of fire and Sword Qi created by the Second Order Talismans had no effect on it, not even a scratch, and only succeeded in delaying it for an instant. However, Lu Hong¡¯s purpose had been achieved. In that precious instant, the Fake Golden Core Talisman in his hand had been successfully activated. At this moment, with a flash of golden light on the Fake Golden Core Talisman, at some point, a Golden Light Greatsword had condensed above his head. At a glance, the aura emanating from the Golden Light Greatsword was immense, swallowing even the faint Spiritual Energy in the vicinity, its power formidable, far beyond what the previous Second Order Talismans could compare to. At this time, Lu Hong let out a loud shout, and the Golden Light Greatsword, condensed above his head, shot out, transforming into a heaven-piercing Sword Qi that furiously slashed towards the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion charging at him. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion hadn¡¯t expected the human before it to be so cunning. The attacks before were just to delay it, and the real threat was this terrifying Sword Qi. Seeing the Sword Qi coming straight for it, it let out an angry roar, seemingly without any intention to dodge. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise rang out as the Golden Sword Qi struck the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s back without deviation. In an instant, sparks flew in all directions, and the powerful collision between the two created a deep ravine in the ground. With flying sand and rocks, the sky suddenly became overcast. By the time the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was pushed back a hundred yards by the Sword Qi, it steadied itself and merely grunted in pain, without any cries of agony. Seeing this, Lu Hong knew the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion wasn¡¯t injured, just in pain. Lu Hong¡¯s face showed helplessness. To him, the incredibly valuable life-saving Fake Golden Core Talisman had, astonishingly, only managed to push back the Celestial Lion without causing injury. But after careful consideration, this Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was a creature in the Late Stage of the Third Order, its aura seemingly at the peak of this stage, not too far from the Fourth Order. Against such a fearsome demonic beast, even a Third Order Talisman might not achieve a significant effect. That his own Fake Golden Core Talisman could stop the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion in its tracks and push it back a hundred yards was already quite an achievement. Thinking this way, Lu Hong¡¯s pained expression eased slightly. Regathering his focus, he glanced at the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion faintly visible within the dust storm and took out a grey-white talisman paper. This was a Second Order Medium Quality Godspeed Talisman, with a special function to greatly enhance a cultivator¡¯s speed of escape. Although only Second Order Medium Quality, its value was higher than that of a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, exceedingly precious. This was also one of the most valuable possessions he had, obtained at a great cost and always kept as a means of escape. At this time, he couldn¡¯t afford to fret over its value. To survive, he didn¡¯t hesitate to cast the Law Decree. Upon the flash of Spiritual Light from the grey-white talisman paper, an invisible, colorless light entered his chest. Immediately afterward, he turned and continued his escape, his speed now significantly enhanced, almost more than double the previous rate. In just a few breaths, before the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion could react, Lu Hong had already escaped thousands of yards away, quickly disappearing into the dense forest. When the dust finally settled, the angry figure of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was revealed. It roared with fury in the direction of Lu Hong¡¯s escape, as if venting its dissatisfaction. Then, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion leapt into the air, chasing after Lu Hong. However, with Lu Hong¡¯s speed doubled and the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s delayed reaction, catching up to Lu Hong was not so easy anymore. ¡°` Chapter 470 03-25 - 470 272 Beast Approaching the City_1 ?Chapter 470: Chapter 272 Beast Approaching the City_1 Chapter 470: Chapter 272 Beast Approaching the City_1 Flameguard City. Within the cave dwelling of Lin Tianming, in a certain secret room, he sat cross-legged, his hands forming seals as he cultivated. Fine strands of spiritual energy entered from his slender palms, flowing through his meridians and ultimately converging into his Seven Sea Dantian. Just as he was immersed in his cultivation, three urgent, deep bell tolls rang out, clearly audible in every corner of Flameguard City. At this moment, a great number of cultivators poured out from their dwellings, rushing toward the city walls. Upon hearing the bell tolls, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help furrowing his brow, his previously calm face suddenly tensing. Having arrived at Flameguard City almost a month ago, he had been peacefully cultivating as if the threat of demonic beast attacks didn¡¯t exist. ... Yet this moment shattered the calm; the sudden tolling of the bells was a warning signal, with each toll representing the severity of the situation. When three tolls rang out urgently, it meant that Flameguard City faced an unprecedented threat. ¡°Alas¡­ it has still come!¡± Lin Tianming sighed involuntarily. At that time, a message entered the secret room. He swept his Divine Sense across the content and promptly got up and left the room. Outside the secret chamber, Qin Xi had emerged from seclusion a step earlier and was waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s appearance. The moment she saw him, Qin Xi¡¯s expression was grave, and she promptly asked, ¡°Lin, could it be that the demonic beasts are attacking Yuyao City?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming helplessly nodded. Joined with his combat-ready expression, Qin Xi¡¯s face darkened. ¡°The three urgent bell tolls probably mean the long-silent Demon Beast Army has mobilized!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°The situation is critical. Let¡¯s quickly head to the city walls to see for ourselves and meet up with Li and the others on the way.¡± Lin Tianming spoke briefly before immediately striding out, with Qin Xi closely following behind as they left the dwelling. Before long, the two arrived at the vast plaza beneath the city walls. Looking around, the plaza already teemed with numerous cultivators, most of whom possessed Qi Refining Cultivation. In several directions not far away, even more cultivators were gathering. On the higher city walls, it was equally crowded. Thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood atop, gazing into the distance, each one with a grim expression, exchanging speculations with the cultivators nearby about what was to come. On the plaza, Lin Tianming quickly located Li Xiuyuan and several others, including Tang Liusheng. He pulled Qin Xi with him as they leaped onto the city wall, landing steadily beside Li Xiuyuan and the group. ¡°Lin, you and your sister have finally arrived!¡± Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Li Xiuyuan greeted them with cupped fists, speaking while also acknowledging them with a nod. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi returned the gesture, and then Lin asked, ¡°Li, are the demonic beasts about to attack? What¡¯s the current situation?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s pressing questions, Li Xiuyuan let out a wry smile before responding, ¡°Lin, I don¡¯t know the specifics either. Presumably, no one present does.¡± ¡°However, let¡¯s not panic. If nothing unexpected occurs, our sect¡¯s Martial Uncle should soon appear to take charge and provide accurate information.¡± ¡°As for what we should do next, there will be instructions from above. We only need to patiently wait.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others nodded in agreement. The current situation was beyond their control. What to do and what decisions to make were for the Golden Core Cultivators to decide; they just had to follow orders. Just as everyone was momentarily lost in thought, a streak of light shot toward the city wall at an incredible speed, quickly attracting everyone¡¯s attention. As it drew closer, they could make out that it was unquestionably Wang Hengqiu, whom they had seen once before upon arrival at Flameguard City. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s complexion was pale and, even while flying at high speed, he was holding a cultivator drenched in blood. Due to the severity of the injured cultivator¡¯s wounds and his chaotic aura, his clothes were torn to shreds, and his face was obscured by clotted blood, leaving the majority unable to identify who it was or their status. Not until Wang Hengqiu approached within a hundred feet of the city wall did Li Xiuyuan recognize the insignia of the Zhenyang Sect on the tattered Daoist robe, and, judging by the faint aura of the blood-covered person, he seemed to know who it was. ¡°Lu Hong¡­ it¡¯s actually Lu Hong!¡± Li Xiuyuan muttered under his breath. Although his voice was low, those nearby heard it clearly. ¡°Judging by the aura, it is undoubtedly Senior Brother Lu!¡± In the crowd, another Zhenyang Sect Disciple confirmed the identity of the bloodied person, unable to help but exclaim. Soon, several disciples of the Zhenyang Sect on the city wall confirmed that the bloodied person was indeed their fellow sect member, Lu Hong. Having substantial cultivation, each Foundation Establishment Late Stage Disciple was a core force of the Zhenyang Sect. Even if they hadn¡¯t interacted much, they were all quite familiar with him, or at least had heard his name. At this moment, the cultivators who didn¡¯t know Lu Hong began inquiring about his identity from the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, and the wall was suddenly abuzz with speculation, as if they had forgotten about the alarm that had sounded. Lin Tianming and others were also greatly interested, and Li Xiuyuan didn¡¯t keep them in the dark, providing information about Lu Hong¡¯s condition. Before long, after learning about Lu Hong, Tang Liusheng and others were astonished at the seriousness of his injuries. If he managed to survive, his path of immortality would most likely end here, with little hope for further advancement. Chapter 471 03-25 - 471 272 Beast Approaching the City_2 ?Chapter 471: Chapter 272: Beast Approaching the City_2 Chapter 471: Chapter 272: Beast Approaching the City_2 Yet Lu Hong, with his Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment status, possessed such incredible strength that he was an absolute pinnacle presence, second only to Golden Core Cultivators. Even so, no one knew what had happened to Lu Hong for him to have sustained such grave injuries, and it was presumed that if it hadn¡¯t been for the rescue of a Golden Core Cultivator, his fate would surely have been sealed. As everyone was discussing fervently, an opening was made in the Defensive Great Formation, and Wang Hengqiu, holding the unconscious Lu Hong, landed on the city wall. With the arrival of the Golden Core Cultivator, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples quickly gathered around, surrounding Wang Hengqiu and his charge so tightly that not even water could seep through. Li Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming greeted them and moved closer to Wang Hengqiu and the others, leaving them standing there, uncertain of what to do next. Though Lin Tianming and his group did not approach, they were close enough to have a clear understanding of the exchanges between Wang Hengqiu and the others. At that time, with a pale face, Wang Hengqiu waved his hand to lift up the kneeling Zhenyang Sect Disciples and then glanced at some of the faces in the crowd. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... ¡°Long, nephew, quickly take Lu Hong down for treatment!¡± Upon hearing the command, Long Qingshui, who was not far in front of him, hurriedly stepped forward, picking up the unconscious Lu Hong, and then made his way past some fellow disciples toward the central Zhenyang Hall in the city. With Long Qingshui¡¯s departure, Wang Hengqiu finally let out a long sigh of relief, and a trace of color slowly returned to his pale face. ¡°Elder Wang, are you injured? What exactly happened?¡± In the midst of the crowd, a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level Zhenyang Sect Cultivator with a grim expression couldn¡¯t help but ask Wang Hengqiu. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded slightly and then began to explain. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°The Demon Beast Army has mobilized. Nephew Lu encountered the Monster Beast Legion while patrolling and was pursued by a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast. Had it not been for good fortune, encountering me as he fled for his life, he would have faced certain death.¡± After saying this, Wang Hengqiu no longer paid attention to the horrified looks on everyone¡¯s faces. He leaped up and hovered over the city wall, scanning the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators below, his voice authoritative and loud as it spread among them. ¡°The Demon Beast Army is on its way. All of you, whether you are disciples of our sect or Loose Cultivators, quickly prepare to meet the enemy!¡± As soon as his words fell, the complexions of all the Cultivators present drastically changed. Even though they had some inklings when the bells tolled, hearing it from a Golden Core Cultivator directly shattered any illusions of luck they still held onto. At this point, the faces of many Cultivators turned pale, and some Qi Refining Cultivators simply collapsed on the spot in the plaza, seemingly at a loss for what to do. However, the majority of Cultivators remained relatively calm. Under the direction of the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, they took out their weapons, forming groups of a hundred, and readied themselves for the impending assault of the Demon Beast Army. While everyone was busy, three figures flew over the heads of the Cultivators, heading towards Wang Hengqiu. From afar, Chen Jingtian¡¯s voice could already be heard. ¡°Brother Wang, what¡¯s the situation? How strong are the Demonic Beasts that have invaded this time?¡± ¡°Alas¡­¡± When Wang Hengqiu saw the newcomers, he sighed helplessly and then said, ¡°The specifics are not yet clear! When I was patrolling, I happened to encounter the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, chasing after Nephew Lu. I tried to intervene and managed to save him. Knowing I was no match, I had to leave first.¡± ¡°Fortunately, at that time, I only encountered that one beast or else even I would have perished under its claws!¡± ¡°However, due to this, the details of the Monster Beast Legion are unknown, but based on earlier assessments, we can expect that there will be at least five Third Order Demonic Beasts!¡± Hearing these words, Chen Jingtian¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, and his face involuntarily showed a grave expression. Previously, they had already clashed with the Demon Beast Army twice, and at that time, there were only four Third Order Demonic Beasts of varying strengths. Neither side had gained an advantage over the other. Now, after a month of silence from the Demonic Beasts and the core areas of the major mountain ranges housing a small number of Third Order Demonic Beasts, the Monster Beast Legion must have grown stronger over time. Just as the Human Race would marshal its forces, the Demonic Beasts were not to be outdone. It could be anticipated that this attack by the Demonic Beasts would exceed the number of Third Order Demonic Beasts from the first encounter and might even reach double digits. Given this, with only four Golden Core Cultivators present to face such a powerful Demon Beast Army, the pressure they were about to face was unimaginable. With these thoughts, Chen Jingtian felt extremely helpless and stared intently into the distance, lost in contemplation. Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Wang Hengqiu spoke up to remind him. ¡°Brother Chen, as the leader of all the cultivators of Yuyao City, quickly mobilize all the cultivators and prepare for the enemy!¡± Hearing the reminder, Chen Jingtian came back to his senses and nodded his head, then began to issue orders with his authoritative and resonant voice. ¡°Everyone, form teams according to the predetermined plan, with the help of the Defensive Great Formation, fight to the death against the incoming enemies!¡± His loud voice spread across the entire plaza and over the walls, his penetrating voice pulling the distracted cultivators back to reality. A group of Qi Refining Cultivators all looked up, gazing towards the sky at Chen Jingtian, who was standing with his hands behind his back. With several Golden Core Cultivators present, the cultivators in this moment seemed to have forgotten fear itself. At this time, thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators began to move, forming into groups of a hundred, lining up spontaneously. In no time at all, nearly ten thousand people had formed into ranks. At the forefront of each team, there were three Zhenyang Sect Qi Refining Cultivators leading. On the vast plaza, hundreds of teams were neatly arrayed. Each person¡¯s face was filled with a deadly seriousness. Nearly ten thousand Qi Refining Cultivators gathered, all at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Such a grand lineup spontaneously burst forth an imposing aura that could make any Foundation Establishment Cultivator feel oppressed. On the city walls, Lin Tianming, Li Xiuyuan, and others stood shoulder to shoulder, with over forty Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered behind them, most of them at the fourth or fifth level of Foundation Establishment, with only a dozen or so at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. These were all Loose Cultivators recruited by Li Xiuyuan, who were now comrades of Lin Tianming and others, standing side by side in the upcoming slaughter. Although some were meeting for the first time, Li Xiuyuan had long introduced them to Lin Tianming¡¯s identity and strength. With his strength at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, coupled with the Lin Family¡¯s well-known reputation, when these people looked towards Lin Tianming, they all showed eyes filled with both envy and respect. At this moment, the Defensive Great Formation was fully operational. A pale golden light dome enveloped the entirety of Yuyao City, with everyone ready for action, focusing on the noises coming from afar. The scene was extremely calm at this moment, including Golden Core Cultivators like Chen Jingtian, all gazing into the distance, waiting for the Demon Beast Legion to appear. Time passed slowly, and the time it took to brew a cup of tea went by. Above the city walls, Chen Jingtian watched as a sandstorm slowly appeared on the horizon, his face immediately turning somewhat solemn. ¡°Brothers¡­ The Demon Beast Army is here!¡± As soon as his voice fell, expressions changed on the faces of Wang Hengqiu and others as they widened their eyes to look ahead. Sure enough, there appeared a vast sandstorm in the distance, with no visible end, making it impossible to determine its scale. As they observed, the speed of the sandstorm was incredibly fast. In just a few breaths, what was a thin grey line skimming the ground transformed into a wave tens of feet high, surging toward them. Feeling the wind speed picking up and carrying with it faint sounds, Zhu Yun, who had been silent until now, couldn¡¯t help but comment. ¡°It¡¯s definitely the Demon Beast Army, no doubt. The scale seems to have multiplied several times from before. It looks like we¡¯re in for a fierce battle indeed!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded and added his own words. ¡°My fellow brothers, let the formation first wear down the Demon Beasts¡¯ vitality. We¡¯ll then make arrangements based on the actual strength of the Beasts!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Everyone be careful!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded in response. ¡°Thump thump thump¡­¡± The sound grew louder, and the approaching storm increased in height as the Demon Beast Legion drew ever nearer to Yuyao City. At this time, the ground began to quake, and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the walls could also feel this strong disturbance. ¡°They¡¯re coming¡­ they¡¯re here!¡± With a grave expression, Li Xiuyuan watched the massive storm approach, unable to resist giving a warning. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan felt the disturbance at the same moment. He remained calm and then patted Qin Xi on the shoulder to alert her. Subsequently, some of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind them also detected the disturbance. Everyone wore an extremely solemn expression, as if facing a great enemy. Under such an atmosphere, the approaching storm was almost upon them. At that moment, a strong Gang Wind hit their faces but was blocked by the pale golden light dome, while the earth trembled under the trampling hooves of the Demon Beast Army. Chapter 472 03-25 - 472 273 Testing_1 ?Chapter 472: Chapter 273: Testing_1 Chapter 472: Chapter 273: Testing_1 How much time passed was unclear, but the noise significantly decreased, although the dust and smoke were too vast and dense to dissipate quickly. Even someone with the cultivation of Li Xiuyuan found it impossible to make out the specific conditions of the demonic beasts. However, Lin Tianming remained unaffected. He had already noticed the changes in Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression and had some guesses in his heart. Driven by curiosity, he had previously opened his Eye of Five Colors and intently watched every movement within the dust. Through the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, at this time, tens of thousands of demonic beasts had gathered, occupying a vast area with no end in sight. Besides, at the very forefront of the demon beast army, the auras of nine Third Order demonic beasts were incredibly strong and easily detectable. They stood side by side, each beast staring at the light barrier in front of them, as if assessing something. ... Among these fierce beasts, the leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was massive, with its hundred-yard-high body engulfed in flames, its powerful strength at the Late Stage of the Third Order on full display. Besides this single Third Order Late Stage demonic beast, the rest of the Third Order beasts were equally formidable, including two at the Medium Stage and six at the Early Stage. Just the terrifying strength of these nine Third Order beasts alone was enough to make a Foundation Establishment Cultivator tremble, with no thought of resistance. Apart from these Third Order beasts, the number of Second Order beasts was equally terrifying, conservatively estimated to be no less than three thousand, among which quite a few had auras no weaker than a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level Cultivator like Li Xiuyuan. With such a powerful demonic beast lineup, no wonder even a formidable being like Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t help but reveal a wary expression. Finally having calmed down slightly, he then turned his attention to the situation on the cultivators¡¯ side. At this time, aside from a few Golden Core Cultivators and himself, it was estimated that no one at the scene was aware of the shocking scene within the dust. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Once the dust settles in a while, the expressions of the cultivators will definitely be quite amusing!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Qin Xi, who stood by Lin Tianming, noticed the change in his complexion and her beautiful eyes stared at the dust in front of them, showing a curious expression. ¡°Lin, have you discovered something? Why does your face suddenly look so awful?¡± Qin Xi communicated telepathically. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but give a wry smile and then relayed what he saw through telepathic communication to Qin Xi. Mentioning just the situation with a few Third Order demonic beasts was enough to shock Qin Xi to the core, her face turning alternately pale and flushed. Originally, she thought that four or five Third Order demonic beasts would have been enough to trouble the Human Race on this side. According to what Lin Tianming said, there were a total of nine Third Order demonic beasts, including one powerful Late Stage creature, this scale of power completely beyond her expectations. Such shocking news left her stunned for a long time until Lin Tianming reminded her, and she came back to her senses. By this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression had gradually calmed, and the shock in his heart had also settled, because he knew that although the human cultivators seemed to be at an absolute disadvantage, they were not without the power to resist, protected by the Third Order Defense Array. After regaining his composure, he glanced over the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the city wall and found, as he had anticipated, each person¡¯s face was expressive, all showing different emotions, some calm, some fearful, and others full of fighting spirit. Thus, the crowd with their complex emotions and expressions continued to stare intently at the dust, awaiting the commands of the Golden Core Cultivators. After an indeterminable amount of time, Chen Jingtian in the sky made up his mind. He glanced at the Third Order Demon Beast Blazing Flame Celestial Lion on the opposite side and then shouted loudly, ¡°Immediately launch formation attacks, the rest wait for orders!¡± No sooner had his voice fallen than the originally pale golden defensive barrier suddenly burst into dazzling light, with a mighty aura breaking through the skies, causing the air within several miles outside Yuyao City to inexplicably tremble violently. At the same time, countless beams of light and fireballs erupted from the barrier, each as thick as a bucket and radiating terrifying heat, indiscriminately attacking everything within the dust. At this moment, everyone¡¯s eyes widened in shock as they sensed the terrifying beams and fireballs, each displaying an expression of disbelief. It was said that formations of the Third Order and above generally possessed offensive capabilities, but the power was unknown. This was also Lin Tianming¡¯s first time seeing a formation launch an active attack. The Protective Clan Formation of the Lin Family was merely a Second Order Superior with only defensive capabilities, lacking such overwhelming powers. Yet even so, the Family¡¯s formation was exceptionally strong in defense, helping the clan through many crises. Such an outstanding formation was extremely rare among Foundation Establishing Families, making many other families envious. And a Third Order Great Array was even rarer, only possessed by forces with thousands of years of heritage such as Zhenyang Sect, or those ancient family powers that could feature a small number of Third Order Great Arrays. Previously, the Wei Kingdom had always been peaceful, with few major conflicts arising between powerhouses, and since the forces with Third Order Formations were so few, such offensive capabilities were unseen without a war leading to the destruction of an entire family. In light of these circumstances, he was inwardly assessing the effects of this formation, wondering whether it could deal fatal damage to the Second Order demonic beasts. However, it was foreseeable that although the attack launched by this formation was not weak, its impact on the Third Order demonic beasts would surely be negligible. After all, demonic beasts were innately tough and exceptionally strong in defense; ordinary attacks either couldn¡¯t keep up with their speed and were easily dodged, or they lacked enough force to inflict fatal damage. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 473 03-25 - 473 273 Testing_2 ?Chapter 473: Chapter 273: Testing_2 Chapter 473: Chapter 273: Testing_2 As he pondered, the Formation¡¯s attack arrived as expected. Within the dust and smoke, the Third Order Demon Beasts reacted first, with the leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion letting out an angry roar, seemingly issuing commands. As the roaring echoed across the land, the huge group of Demon Beasts behind the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion started to move, attempting to avoid the attacks of the light beams and fireballs. Atop the city walls, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, closely observing every move within the dust, unwilling to miss the slightest action. Under his watch, he saw those Third Order Demon Beasts effortlessly dodge the light beams and fireballs, navigating through them with ease. However, Third Order Demon Beasts could easily avoid them, even using their bodies to block some of the attacks. Those First Order Demon Beasts would die upon contact, while ordinary Second Order Demon Beasts, if struck directly, could be severely injured or even killed instantly. ... Only those Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts could withstand some attacks. However, being hit a few times was not significant, but if struck too many times, they could still be injured or even die. At this moment, as the more powerful Demon Beasts avoided the attacks, the weaker ones behind them were not so fortunate. As soon as they were hit by the light beams and fireballs, screams would immediately follow, and for a time, continuous cries of agony permeated outside Yuyao City, chilling even the Human Cultivators who heard them. Soon, the first round of attack ended and the dense dust dissipated significantly, revealing the outline of the entire Demon Beast Army. At a glance, the ground was littered with corpses of Demon Beasts, at least three thousand had fallen, and many Second Order Demon Beasts also met their doom under the Formation¡¯s barrage of light beams and fireballs. It was apparent that the first round of attack was effective; although the number of Second Order Demon Beasts killed was limited, the overall number was staggering. If the attacks continued for several more rounds, even a Demon Beast Army as large as this could not withstand such a loss. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï However, such a tactic was merely wishful thinking, for the Demon Beasts would not just stand still and be hit. The first round of attack was completely unexpected, but once the Demon Beasts were prepared, the effectiveness of the Formation¡¯s attack would be greatly reduced, and to expect to achieve the same result was unrealistic. Sure enough, while he was contemplating, the Formation¡¯s second round of attack had already been launched. The prepared Demon Beast Army was no longer in chaos. The leading Third Order Demon Beasts showed no sign of dodging; instead, they stood side by side at the forefront, using their mountain-like robust bodies to form a barrier, shielding the Demon Beasts behind them from the attacks. Clearly, their Spirit Wisdom was not low, and they understood that the effect of these attacks was almost negligible, so they ignored them, even shielding the ones behind them. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The explosive sounds continued, with the light beams and fireballs dissipating upon striking the bodies of the Third Order Demon Beasts, fading away into the world. To the Third Order Demon Beasts, these seemingly fearsome light beams and fireballs were indeed just a tickle. Within the dust, since the battle line of the Demon Beast group was too long, the bodies of the Third Order Demon Beasts could only block a small part of it. As a result, a large area was still exposed to the Formation¡¯s attacks, and in the second round, nearly a thousand Demon Beasts were killed by the light beams and fireballs. With the two rounds of attacks over, the original tens of thousands of Demon Beasts had directly lost a tenth of their power. By this time, the Demon Beasts had already moved away from the range of the Formation¡¯s light screen, being pushed back several miles. At this moment, the Demon Beast Army stopped advancing and made no further moves, with only a few Third Order Demon Beasts glaring at the Formation light screen and roaring furiously, looking rather enraged. In the sky above the city walls, Chen Jingtian¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his face showing no emotion, and no one knew what he was thinking. He surveyed the Demon Beast Army in front, then looked at the Formation¡¯s light screen where its power had obviously weakened, and instructed Wang Hengqiu beside him. ¡°Cease the Formation¡¯s attack for now. Launch the attack again if the Demon Beasts advance several miles closer; otherwise, don¡¯t waste the energy of the Formation!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded and responded. Wang Hengqiu agreed with Chen Jingtian¡¯s decision, understanding that the Formation¡¯s attacks also required energy consumption. If there were no energy limitations and attacks could be launched continuously, even Third Order Demon Beasts could be ignored, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to effectively attack Yuyao City. In that case, wouldn¡¯t it mean that as long as the city¡¯s defenders kept launching attacks without venturing out, Yuyao City would never fall? Clearly, that was unrealistic. Even a Third Order Formation was not invincible. Whether on defense or offense, the consumption of stored energy in the formation was significant. Once the stored energy was depleted, merely relying on High-Quality Spirit Stones would decrease its power and it wouldn¡¯t last long. Moreover, the number and overall strength of Human Cultivators were already inferior to the Demonic Beasts. Under the current circumstances, the Third Order Great Array was their reliance. With such constraints, they had to manage their energy consumption well, leveraging the formation¡¯s greatest power to inflict maximum damage, thereby lessening the losses of the Human Cultivators. With these thoughts in mind, Wang Hengqiu took out the token that controlled the Third Order Great Array and immediately shut down the formation¡¯s offensive capabilities. As the offensive force was cut off, the spiritual light on the formation¡¯s protective screen seemed to rise, strengthening its defensive capability. Such changes were noticed by all Cultivators, who felt relieved in their hearts. They were fortunate to have the Formation Protection¡ªif they had to engage in direct combat, the losses on the Human side would be unimaginable. At this moment, with the formation¡¯s attack halted, the Demon Beast Army retreated several miles. For a time, there was a brief calm as both sides sized each other up, also contemplating their next move. The silent time slowly passed, with only the scent of blood lingering in the air. It was as if to remind both sides that the glorious scene that had occurred was real and that it would continue to unfold. After half a quarter of an hour, with a deafening roar, the brief tranquility was once again shattered. Looking ahead, nine Third Order Demon Beasts took the lead in the attack. Among them, several Third Order Demon Beasts spat out orbs of various colors, along with some Second Order Demonic Beasts capable of long-range attacks, unleashing a variety of bizarre techniques, bombarding the formation¡¯s protective screen in front of them. At the same time, several Third Order Demon Beasts led a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts charging forward, striking the formation¡¯s screen with their thick and powerful bodies. The First Order Demon Beasts remained where they were, not moving an inch, seemingly not intending to join the attack. Clearly, the Spirit Wisdom of this Late Stage Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was high. Those First Order Demon Beasts were too weak and wouldn¡¯t be of much use under the formation¡¯s defense and offense. Advancing would have only meant a needless sacrifice. It was better to preserve these numerous First Order Demonic Beasts. If the Human Cultivators were to leave the formation later, they could then launch these creatures in an attack, potentially achieving a greater victory. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The various attacks of the Demon Beasts tore through the void, and those relying on their bodies impacted the formation¡¯s screen, erupting with earth-shaking noises. At that moment, the ground shook violently, and countless flashes of light from the explosions streaked across the screen. Lin Tianming stood on the city wall, his eyes fixed intently on the front, his heart lifted to his throat. This first round of attacks was critical. If the power of the Demon Beasts¡¯ attack was too strong and sustained, the formation might not hold on for long. In that case, holding their ground was not a long-term solution¡ªthey had to make a change, find a way to weather the crisis. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were many with similar thoughts, each one closely watching the intense reactions from the formation¡¯s screen. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The sounds of explosions continued incessantly, the screen pulsating with light that illuminated the entire sky. Under the attack of the Demon Beasts, the formation¡¯s screen trembled, and the air inside Yuyao City became chaotically turbulent. A few breaths of time passed, and the Demon Beasts¡¯ first round of attacks temporarily ceased. Seeing that the ground was no longer shaking and the formation was still smoothly operating, most people couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. However, Chen Jingtian and several Golden Core Cultivators, along with those with keen sight, including Lin Tianming, had more grave expressions. Chapter 474 03-25 - 474 274 The Great War Begins_1 ?Chapter 474: Chapter 274 The Great War Begins_1 Chapter 474: Chapter 274 The Great War Begins_1 The first round of attack had ended, and the formation appeared to have sustained minimal damage, but the keen-eyed could clearly sense a difference. It was evident that the energy flow in the formation had visibly slowed, and its defensive power had weakened. If the demonic beasts¡¯ attacks were not halted, and continued like this, I fear it wouldn¡¯t withstand much longer. At this moment, sensing these changes, Lin Tianming felt somewhat pessimistic. High above, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression was grave as he secretly communicated with Wang Hengqiu and a few others using his divine sense. Aside from the Golden Core cultivators, no one knew what they were thinking or planning. Meanwhile, the attack of the demonic beasts did not cease, led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, they relentlessly assailed the Defensive Great Formation. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± ... The booming noises continued, the bright lights in the sky never ceased, and the earth trembled along with them. Under the assault of the demon beasts, the formation¡¯s screen flickered with streaks of light, causing many to clench their hearts in distress, yet feeling helpless about the situation. At this time, Chen Jingtian and the few other Golden Core cultivators nodded to each other as if reaching some consensus. At that moment, Chen Jingtian glanced at the cultivators below the city wall and suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Everyone, heed my command!¡± This sudden voice pulled the multitude of cultivators, with their mixed feelings and scattered thoughts, back to reality. Each person looked up at Chen Jingtian in the sky, the fear on their faces temporarily dissipating as they waited for his orders. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded, and then his loud voice carried out, audible in every corner of the city. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Fellow Daoists¡­ You have all seen the strength of the Demon Beast Army; I do not wish to conceal the truth from you!¡± ¡°To be frank, the situation for us human cultivators is still dire, the Defensive Array can only hold off for a short while, if no measures are taken, in at most ten days¡¯ time, the formation will likely fail! Hearing this, many were inwardly shocked, but they did not dare reveal it, so as to not add more pressure to the cultivators¡¯ side. Lin Tianming, quite calm, found Chen Jingtian¡¯s assessment similar to his own analysis, making it easier to accept. Regaining his focus, he patted Qin Xi¡¯s shoulder in a comforting manner and continued listening to what Chen Jingtian had to say next. Chen Jingtian said, ¡°That¡¯s the situation, though the circumstance is disadvantageous for us, there¡¯s no need for excessive worry!¡± ¡°I disclose this only to inform everyone of the actual situation, so you can prepare yourselves to fight with all your might. ¡°After all, we are all in the same boat. At the brink of desperation, we must have the courage to sink our boats and fight bravely to repel the formidable enemies. As for the promises of my sect, they will absolutely be fulfilled, and you can rest assured.¡± As soon as these words fell, many cultivators, moved by Chen Jingtian¡¯s impassioned speech, began to respond. ¡°Chen, rest assured, since we younger generations have answered the summons of your esteemed sect, we have already made preparations for the possibility of falling¡­¡± ¡°Yes¡­ the demonic beast assault is a great concern to all human cultivators. From any perspective, retreat is not an option¡­¡± ¡°Right¡­ As cultivators, we do not fear death. Since there is no retreat, we can only fight with everything we have¡­¡± Firm voices rang out across the area, and under their influence, the morale of the entire human cultivators surged dramatically. Hearing these stirring words, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained calm, though he admired the attitude of these people, he did not truly believe them. For Golden Core cultivators, no matter how dire the situation, they could just avoid the sharp edge for the time being and if they truly could not hold back, they were completely able to leave these external cultivators behind with ease. It would be tragic for those of lower strength, who would find it nearly impossible to escape the demonic beasts¡¯ attacks and ultimately fall here. Lin Tianming thought to himself, his expression still calm without making any declarations. High above, seeing that the cultivators were emboldened by his speech, Chen Jingtian was quite satisfied, and a hint of color passed over his solemn face. ¡°Fellow Daoists, since everyone is so confident, then neither I nor the disciples of my sect will fall behind you!¡± ¡°After discussing with several brother cultivators, we have decided to take the initiative to strike, first to probe the depth of the Demon Beast Army and weaken their strength as well. ¡°If our losses are too great, we will fall back and recuperate for a few days before making further plans. If we hold a decisive advantage, we will seek to expand our victory and strive to crush them! ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± Upon saying these four words, Chen Jingtian¡¯s voice rose even further, inciting the cultivators, who had been riled up by his speech, to even greater fervor. Immediately after, the Token in Wang Hengqiu¡¯s hand shone brightly, and a gap suddenly opened in the Formation¡¯s screen, with the obstructed dust and debris pouring in. Chen Jingtian took the lead, passing straight through the gap in the Defensive Array, closely followed by Wang Hengqiu and others. ¡°Fellow Daoists, it¡¯s time for us to move!¡± Li Xiuyuan called out to Lin Tianming and his teammates, then followed the steps of the Golden Core cultivators, crossing through the gap in the formation. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, led by the Golden Core cultivators, several thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators began to step forward, followed by nearly ten thousand Qi Refining cultivators, all of them pouring towards the perimeter protected by the Formation. Soon, all of the human cultivators had exited the formation, gathering on an open field outside the city. At this time, the forces of both humans and demons had assembled here, facing off across a vast plain. On the human cultivators¡¯ side, the immense power comprised of four Golden Core cultivators at the forefront, more than two thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators, and nearly ten thousand Qi Refining Cultivators. Chapter 475 03-25 - 475 274 Great War Begins_2 ?Chapter 475: Chapter 274 Great War Begins_2 Chapter 475: Chapter 274 Great War Begins_2 Even though thousands of Demonic Beasts had fallen to the Formation, the remaining force was clearly more superior, consisting of nine Third Order Demon Beasts, several thousand Second Order Demonic Beasts, and over forty thousand First Order Demon Beasts. Such a massive force, in both number and quality, clearly demonstrated that the Demon Beasts¡¯ overall strength was stronger than that of the Cultivators present. At this moment, the two sides looked at each other. Even though the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was angry, it did not rashly launch an attack, seemingly wary of any tricks the Human Race might play. This cautious behavior was, after all, normal, since a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast possessed Spirit Wisdom not inferior to humans. Seeing the Human Cultivators walking out from the Formation, it wasn¡¯t a three-year-old child, so naturally, it dared not take risks lightly. As a result, neither side took the initiative to attack, and the situation momentarily entered a deadlock, the atmosphere turning somewhat eerie. The Human side, of course, was pleased to see such a stalemate. ... Chen Jingtian was very cautious. If the Demonic Beasts did not launch an attack, the Human side also would not act recklessly. The standoff continued for a short while, with neither side able to advance or retreat. Seeing the Human Cultivators making no moves and showing no intention of attacking, it seemed that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was growing impatient. After all, they were Demonic Beasts, inherently irritable, perhaps a flaw in the nature of Demon Beasts. It growled lowly at the few Third Order Demon Beasts nearby, seemingly discussing tactics. As time quickly passed, the Third Order Demon Beasts growled at each other and then simultaneously turned their heads to stare at Chen Jingtian and his companions, their eyes filled with a fighting spirit. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian and his companions were taken aback, their eyes filled with wariness, seemingly understanding that the Demon Beasts were about to attack. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? As expected, unable to contain its impatience, the Third Order Demon Beast launched an attack with the angry roar of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. At that moment, the Third Order Demon Beasts charged at Chen Jingtian and his companions, but they were cautious, their advance was limited and they did not directly rush into the Formation¡¯s attack range. Clearly, the Third Order Demon Beasts did not want to give the Human Cultivators the geographical advantage, and only moved forward a small step. With the battle horn sounding, the vast Demon Beast Tribe surged forward toward the Human Cultivators like endless waves. The sight of thousands of beasts stampeding was an overwhelming and awe-inspiring spectacle. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing this, everyone¡¯s faces turned incredibly grim, waiting for the Golden Core Cultivators to give orders. At the very front of the Cultivators, with the Demon Beasts initiating the attack, Chen Jingtian and the others refused to fall behind. After issuing the attack command, Chen Jingtian leaped forward as four Golden Core Cultivators joined forces to advance, clashing with the nine Third Order Demonic Beasts high in the sky. Immediately following, the tens of thousands of Cultivators behind them all stepped forward, each activating various techniques, engaging in a fierce battle with the oncoming Demon Beast Army. Just outside Yuyao City, scenes of battle were everywhere, with Third Order Demon Beasts and Golden Core Cultivators fighting in the highest skies, and Second Order Demonic Beasts occupying the vast southern region with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Meanwhile, the remaining Qi Refining Cultivators and First Order Demon Beasts occupied the largest territories, in the western and northern directions, all filled with the figures of these Cultivators and Demonic Beasts. Both sides seemed to agree tacitly; every group had a clear target and did not often see Second Order Demon Beasts running into First Order Demon Beast¡¯s fighting locations. It was clear that both sides understood that High Order Cultivators going to the battle sites of Low Order Cultivators could achieve greater victories, but the Demon Beast side would not allow Cultivators to slaughter Low Order Demon Beasts at will. If the Human Cultivators acted recklessly, the Demon Beasts would similarly deploy Second Order Demonic Beasts to the Qi Refining Cultivators¡¯ battleground to slaughter Cultivators. Thus, unless one side gained an overwhelming advantage, it would be unlikely to witness such a reckless scene. The spectacle was truly magnificent, with three groups fighting among each other, trying not to affect other areas as much as possible. Even with both sides exercising restraint, whether it was Human Cultivators or the Demonic Beasts, a large number of lives were still being lost. However, across the entire battlefield, once the battle commenced, the key to victory lay with the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Qi Refining Cultivators lacked the strength to influence the final outcome. In the high sky, Chen Jingtian and several others joined forces against the enemy. Unbeknownst to them, two Third Order Demonic Beasts appeared within the cultivators¡¯ field of vision. Looking out, both were at the early stage of the Third Order, fighting together against the three demonic beasts they faced. Many cultivators were puzzled, but as the fight went on, they realized that these two suddenly appearing Third Order Demonic Beasts were Spirit Beasts raised by the Zhenyang Sect. That the Zhenyang Sect possessed Third Order Spiritual Beasts was no secret; at the very least, powers with a legacy spanning over a thousand years knew something of it. Seeing this development, many cultivators couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh of relief. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect had come prepared, and not only had they deployed four Golden Core Cultivators, but they also brought Third Order Spiritual Beasts with Chen Jingtian to Yuyao City. With the addition of these two Third Order Demonic Beasts, the top fighting strength of the Human Cultivators increased significantly, with four Golden Core Cultivators and two Third Order Demonic Beasts, at least not much weaker than the opposing Third Order demonic beasts. No wonder Chen Jingtian, facing nine Third Order Demonic Beasts, still had plans to take initiative in the attack; it turns out he had some assurances. ¡­ The Southern Battlefield occupied by Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Second Order Demonic Beasts. In the southernmost corner, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi closely followed Li Xiuyuan, fifty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and nearly a hundred Second Order Demon Beasts were locked in battle. Near them, there were other Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, almost all part of varying-sized groups, each battling against their own demon beast tribes. In their combat area, Li Xiuyuan, as the leader and the strongest among them, took on three Second Order Late Stage beasts by himself without falling into a disadvantage. Besides Li Xiuyuan, Hu Yuan and a few other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also key figures on whom Lin Tianming focused. Hu Yuan and Liu Zhenshan were among the top-tier in terms of strength within their team, each dealing with varying numbers of Second Order Late-Stage beasts. Apart from Hu Yuan who had the upper hand, the situation for the others was also favorable; they wouldn¡¯t be defeated so easily in a short time. However, some cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment within the team were not faring well. With their limited strength, they faced attacks from two or more Second Order Demon Beasts. Some cultivators were getting injured, and a few had even fallen. Powerless, Lin Tianming helped when he could, but if someone was too far to reach in time, he could only stand by and witness their demise. In one corner, Lin Tianming was entangled in a fight with a demon beast. He was not far from Qin Xi, who was fiercely battling three Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts. Given that Qin Xi¡¯s strength was only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, she seemed rather frail on this battlefield littered with Second Order Middle Stage beasts. As a result, Lin Tianming frequently swung his Tiangang Sword, simultaneously handling three Second Order Middle Stage beasts and reducing the pressure on Qin Xi. Facing the three Middle Stage beasts, Lin Tianming was quite at ease. However, despite his strength, it wouldn¡¯t take him long to kill them if he really fought desperately. Still, he deliberately kept a low profile, not revealing too much of his power, just holding off several Second Order Middle Stage beasts and having a slight advantage. Even so, the strength he displayed still astonished his teammates. Li Xiuyuan was not surprised by this; he had interacted with Lin Tianming plenty, and the occasional hint of aura that Lin Tianming let slip made his heart race. As such, with Lin Tianming¡¯s strength at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, along with his numerous treasures and methods, he could truly fight, and even the common Second Order Late Stage Demon Beast might not be his match. Knowing this, Li Xiuyuan began to fight more freely, engaging fiercely with his opponents. Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t be outdone either; he suppressed the three beasts he faced, waiting for the right moment to end their lives, then to assist Qin Xi. Chapter 476 03-25 - 476 275 Testing the Knife_1 ?Chapter 476: Chapter 275 Testing the Knife_1 Chapter 476: Chapter 275 Testing the Knife_1 At the corner edge. Lin Tianming was engaged in a fierce battle with three Gale Rats, both sides exchanging blows. Relying on their speed, the rats managed to evade his attacks each time. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t get irritated but progressively increased the force of his attacks. At that moment, his Tiangang Sword burst with surges of red light, each beam stacking upon the previous one, rapidly accumulating five beams in a short span of time. Following his breakthrough in cultivation, he could stack six sword Qi, but to deal with these three Gale Rats, he didn¡¯t need to go all out. Moreover, he didn¡¯t use the Earth Fiend Sword Formation or Thousand Beast Banner, merely relying on the Tiangang Sword to contend with three Second Order Middle Stage Gale Rats. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword!¡± ... With a roar of rage, the Tiangang Sword shot out with five beams of sword Qi, slashing towards the oncoming trio of Gale Rats. Perceiving the terrifying flying sword and the immense sword Qi on it, they knew a direct hit would result, if not in death, then at least grave injury. As the Tiangang Sword drew closer, the three Gale Rats became panicked and scrambled away in different directions in fright. The three rats twisted their bodies, their nimble forms instantly covering more than thirty feet. Famous in the Cultivation World for their speed, though not particularly remarkable among Second Order Demonic Beasts in attack power, they were definitely renowned for their speed and defensive capabilities. As the dreadful Tiangang Sword approached, under this threat, the three Gale Rats managed to increase their speed once more. Eventually, before the Tiangang Sword Qi could reach, all three Gale Rats miraculously dodged the lethal attack. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? But before they could stabilize their forms, Lin Tianming had already stepped forward to follow up, his piercing gaze locking onto one of the Gale Rats. At this moment, Lin Tianming swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand once more, unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, charging toward the focused Gale Rat. That previous strike had been dodged, which took Lin Tianming by surprise; he had thought that exerting sixty percent of his strength would be enough to eliminate a Second Order Demonic Beast with minimal effort. However, he had underestimated the speed of the Gale Rats, and continuing the same level of attack would make killing them a considerable challenge. Thus, Lin Tianming increased his speed and power in his attacks, using almost eighty percent of his strength. ¡°Squeak, squeak¡­¡± Following a shriek, one Gale Rat was too slow to dodge and got hit in the back by the enhanced Tiangang Sword Qi, blowing a bloody hole through it. Crimson blood gushed out, presenting a ghastly sight. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The seriously wounded Gale Rat collapsed to the ground, trying desperately to struggle to its feet, but the severity of its injuries meant it could only howl in agony and writhed in pain. Seeing their companion severely wounded and utterly devoid of combat strength, the other two Gale Rats felt a mix of rage and helplessness. They had been on the defensive from the start, constantly being suppressed by Lin Tianming, and now with their companion on the brink of death, they could offer no assistance. With this, their situation became even more dire; whether they could survive was a big test. At this time, the two Gale Rats glared fiercely at Lin Tianming, their eyes full of fear and apprehension. Seeing the expression of the two Gale Rats, Lin Tianming snorted coldly. Now in control, he wouldn¡¯t give them any chance to catch their breath. He swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, cutting through the air with numerous Tiangang Sword Qi, blocking the Gale Rats¡¯ escape routes. Simultaneously, he leapt forward towards the remaining two Gale Rats, his agile figure as fast as lightning. In their desperation, the two Gale Rats exchanged glances before turning their heads to spit a dark brown earth ball toward Lin Tianming. At first glance, the earth ball looked ordinary, about the size of a head, and no different from a regular clod. However, under the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, one could see that the earth ball contained astounding energy within. If a common Foundation Establishment Cultivator failed to notice it and got hit, they would undoubtedly be injured, perhaps even facing death. Seeing this, presumably a Gale Rat¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, cleverly disguised to conceal its true nature, Lin Tianming did not dare to take it lightly; after all, what a Second Order Demonic Beast spat out couldn¡¯t possibly be common. But the Gale Rats¡¯ attack power was not strong, and he himself practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, possessing formidable defensive capabilities and vitals, plus he had discovered the plot of the Gale Rats in advance. Under such circumstances, there was obviously no way for them to inflict a heavy blow on him. As the earth ball drew nearer, Lin Tianming calmly took out the Green Scale Shield and infused it with a large amount of Spiritual Power. The Green Scale Shield shone brightly with Spiritual Light and transformed into a massive barrier, thoroughly shielding his body. ¡°Bang, bang¡­¡± After two loud impacts, the earth ball spat by the Gale Rats was blocked by the Green Scale Shield. The enormous impact force only paused Lin Tianming¡¯s advance momentarily before he continued his pursuit of the Gale Rats. Seeing that Lin Tianming had easily blocked their attack, the Gale Rats became even more panic-stricken, immediately beginning to flee. Regrettably for them, Lin Tianming had already locked onto them and had preemptively unleashed a vast amount of Sword Qi to firmly block their path. In an instant, Lin Tianming was less than thirty feet from the Gale Rats, and his Tiangang Sword was almost upon one of the fleeing creatures. In a moment of despair, that Gale Rat turned around, opened its massive jaws, and launched a desperate final strike. ¡°Pff¡­¡± Chapter 477 03-25 - 477 275 Trial of the Novices_2 ?Chapter 477: Chapter 275 Trial of the Novices_2 Chapter 477: Chapter 275 Trial of the Novices_2 The light on the Tiangang Sword surged brilliantly, and a terrifying Sword Qi shot out from the tip of the blade, piercing straight through the gaping maw. At the same time, Lin Tianming immediately halted his movement, so as not to charge into the gaping maw of the Gale Rat. Stabilizing his stance, he heard a scream followed by a crisp sound¡ªthe noise of the Gale Rat¡¯s body falling to the ground. Looking over, the body of the Gale Rat laid on the ground, stirring up clouds of dust. It struggled in agony for a moment before breathing its last. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was filled with joy. With this Gale Rat dead and another critically injured, the remaining rat was hardly worth mentioning. Just then, as the last Gale Rat was trying to flee, it heard its companion¡¯s scream. ... It involuntarily turned its head to look and, seeing the plight of its companion, knew that it was no match for Lin Tianming. Staying here would surely result in death at his hands. Thus, the surviving Gale Rat lost all fighting spirit and immediately spun around to flee for its life without looking back. Seeing the Gale Rat flee, Lin Tianming smiled indifferently and immediately began to pursue it. The Gale Rat was fast, but Lin Tianming, when chasing with all his might, was a bit faster. As the distance between them closed, and with the obstruction of Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Qi, the Gale Rat was utterly overwhelmed. Lin Tianming firmly locked onto the remaining rat, giving it no chance whatsoever. By now, the last Gale Rat was at a dead end with no chance of escape. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï In an instant, Lin Tianming closed to within less than fifty yards of the Gale Rat¡ªa distance he could cover in a blink of an eye. With a leap, he increased his speed by a notch, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand was already flying out. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, Annihilate!¡± The Tiangang Sword shot forward, its terrifying Sword Qi swirling around it, moving several times faster than any flying speed. In the blink of an eye, the Sword Qi appeared directly above the head of the Gale Rat, ready to strike down at any moment. Sensing the threat of the Sword Qi, the Gale Rat panicked, attempting to flee. Lin Tianming gave it no opportunity. In desperation, the Gale Rat spat out another earth ball, trying to shatter the oncoming Tiangang Sword¡ªit had no other choice but to wait for death otherwise. In this do-or-die moment, the earth ball was much larger than any before, clearly showing that the Gale Rat was making its last stand. If it could break the Tiangang Sword, it might survive a little longer; otherwise, it would perish under the sword. However, how could it possibly match Lin Tianming. Even three Gale Rats together couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand, much less a solitary one making a desperate final gamble¡ªit was nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot. At this moment, time seemed to stretch out, yet also pass in an instant. In no time, the Tiangang Sword descended vertically, colliding with the earth ball spat out by the Gale Rat. A loud explosion sounded, and the Tiangang Sword paused for only an instant, consuming a fraction of its power before piercing straight through the earth ball and continuing its descent toward the Gale Rat. Seeing this, the Gale Rat was utterly stunned, as if it had even forgotten to flee. In reality, it wasn¡¯t that it didn¡¯t want to escape; rather, there was simply no time. Although the Tiangang Sword¡¯s power and speed were somewhat reduced due to being momentarily obstructed, the two were far too close to each other; even with its speed, the Gale Rat couldn¡¯t dodge at such a short distance. In this dire moment, with no escape to heaven or earth, the Gale Rat could only twist its agile body, try to dodge its vital points, and delay the inevitable as much as possible. ¡°Pfff¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword struck the back of the Gale Rat, its formidable Sword Qi instantly slicing off a large chunk of flesh from its hindquarters. The Gale Rat screamed in pain as its three-yard-long body heavily crashed into the ground, leaving a deep pit in the hard earth. After several agonized howls and struggles, it managed to climb up with great effort. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Gale Rat that had struggled to stand, with its breath utterly chaotic and its body trembling, showed it was grievously wounded, completely incapable of mounting any further attacks. Despite its grave injuries, the Gale Rat still fixated on Lin Tianming, growling lowly as if venting its emotions. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh and then stepped forward, intent on putting an end to the Gale Rat¡¯s life. Watching Lin Tianming move slowly, like the Grim Reaper, each step he took struck at the heart of the Gale Rat, pressing on its nerves. Even though it was unwilling and filled with despair, the Gale Rat was powerless to change the outcome. Under its desperate gaze, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword pierced directly through the Gale Rat¡¯s head. As the body of the Gale Rat fell, blood spilled onto the ground, quickly pooling into a puddle, signaling the end of the battle. Seeing that this Gale Rat no longer struggled, Lin Tianming then turned around, focusing his attention on the first severely wounded Gale Rat. At this time, that Gale Rat was still struggling, trying hard to stand up. However, its injuries were too severe, half of its body had been cleanly severed by the Tiangang Sword, and blood kept gushing from the wound, thoroughly drenching its surroundings in red. Seeing Lin Tianming approach, it struggled violently, its eyes full of terror. Lin Tianming remained unmoved, taking steps forward, then swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand, chopping down at the now defenseless Gale Rat. Mercy towards enemies is irresponsibility towards oneself. Having experienced many life-and-death situations, how could Lin Tianming not understand this principle. His actions were incredibly decisive; his strokes were quick, accurate, and ruthless, the sword light from his Tiangang Sword flashing. The Gale Rat felt no pain as its massive head fell clean off, thumping to the ground with a muffled sound, presenting a shocking image in death. With the three Gale Rats dead, Lin Tianming finally diverted his attention to observe the battle status of his teammates. Looking around, aside from himself, who had finished the battle first, the others were still engaged in fierce combat. However, some Cultivators in the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment had gained a definite advantage, victory being just a matter of time. Yet, the outcome for their team hinged on the battle involving Li Xiuyuan and a few other Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators. As long as the Demonic Beasts they were fighting hadn¡¯t lost their fighting ability, the combat wouldn¡¯t cease. At this time, the three Second Order Demonic Beasts battling Li Xiuyuan were at a disadvantage, with one seriously injured and at less than half strength. The other two also bore many wounds, remaining on the defensive under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s relentless attacks, constantly in a passive situation. Hu Yuan was likewise gaining the upper hand; the three Demonic Beasts he was fighting were all injured. Without any accidents, he should be able to win. As for Tang Liusheng and He Qiancheng, their situations were similar. Facing uneven numbers of Demonic Beast assaults, their chances of victory were slim, but their lives were not at risk. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not interfere, nor did he have any intention of stepping in to help. He turned and headed towards Qin Xi not far away, not even taking the time to deal with the corpses of the three Gale Rats. At this moment, there was no time to clean up the battlefield; after all, the Demonic Beasts were dead, the corpses couldn¡¯t run away, and no one would dare humiliate his achievements or do something as despicable as to steal them. In such circumstances, he had nothing else to consider and planned to first help Qin Xi finish her battle, then assist some of the other Cultivators who were at a disadvantage. As he arrived, Qin Xi was in the midst of an intense battle with three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts. Expecting Qin Xi to be struggling, he was surprised to find that she, too, was not to be underestimated, gaining the absolute upper hand amidst the encirclement of three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts. The three beasts attacking her were formidable, with two at their peak and not far from mid-Second Order. Such strength, among the beasts of the Second Order Initial Stage, was considered exceptional. Even so, Qin Xi still maintained the advantage, which made Lin Tianming take another look at her prowess. With Lin Tianming joining the fray, Qin Xi did not reject his assistance. With the two working together, backed by Lin Tianming¡¯s terrifying power, the three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts had no chance of escape and couldn¡¯t inflict any real damage on them. At this moment, Lin Tianming weaved through the three Demonic Beasts, frequently swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand. Under the dreadful Sword Qi, none could withstand a single exchange. Chapter 478 03-25 - 478 276 Admirable Strength_1 ?Chapter 478: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_1 Chapter 478: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_1 Under Lin Tianming¡¯s lead attack and Qin Xi¡¯s interference, the two had no trouble eliminating all three demonic beasts. After the battle ended, they temporarily regrouped. At this time, Lin Tianming, with a calm expression, asked about Qin Xi¡¯s condition. Qin Xi laughed and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve used up most of my spiritual power, but thankfully, I¡¯m uninjured, which is a stroke of luck.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and sighed in relief. He then looked around at his nearby teammates and decided on their next target. Not far from them on another battlefield, several Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivators were being suppressed by two Second Order demonic beasts and were retreating in a very problematic situation. ... Elsewhere, Tang Liusheng was being attacked by three Second Order demonic beasts and was in an extremely bad situation, barely holding off their attacks and unable to launch any effective counterattacks. If this continued, it wouldn¡¯t be long before these teammates would be defeated and even lose their lives. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instructed Qin Xi, who was by his side, to go help some of the weaker cultivators while he rushed over to Tang Liusheng nearby. Soon, both joined their teammates in battle. Seeing Lin Tianming coming to help, Tang Liusheng¡¯s expression brightened, and he silently breathed a sigh of relief. Before this, he had been attacked by three Second Order demonic beasts, including two from the Second Order Late Phase. Being at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, he could barely hold off the two Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts, but it was difficult to win relying on his own strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? However, his opponents weren¡¯t just two Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts; there was also a Medium Stage beast assisting them. Already at a disadvantage, he found it even more challenging. After dozens of rounds of fighting, he had drained a lot of his spiritual power and had also accumulated some injuries, putting him at a significant disadvantage. Now with Lin Tianming joining, his pressure was greatly reduced, and the situation began to turn around. At that moment, Lin Tianming joined the fray with thunderous might, planning to first deal with the Second Order Middle Stage demon beast. Under his formidable strength, this Second Order Middle Stage demon beast, weaker than the previous Gale Rats, was no match for Lin Tianming. He didn¡¯t need to exert much effort before he successfully killed the Second Order Middle Stage demon beast, then regrouped with Tang Liusheng. Side by side, they faced the two Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts, and the atmosphere was tense. Then, Tang Liusheng, with a sincere look, thanked Lin, saying, ¡°Thank you, Daoist Lin, for your generous help. Otherwise, I would have been injured, or even perished here.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and appeared quite nonchalant. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re too courteous, Daoist Tang. We¡¯re all human cultivators and teammates. It¡¯s only right to do what one can to help.¡± ¡°Daoist Lin understands the greater good, but now is not the time to delay. Let¡¯s join forces to kill these two beasts first. As long as we survive, my Tang Family and I will surely repay you handsomely,¡± Tang Liusheng responded with a smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take down these two beasts first,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a hearty laugh, and then he took the lead in attacking the two demonic beasts. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s decisive action, admiration filled Tang Liusheng¡¯s eyes, and he promptly followed suit. The two of them made their moves, each choosing a demonic beast to fight against. At that moment, a series of loud noises erupted on the field, and a great deal of Sword Qi filled the sky. With their combined mighty strength, they easily turned the tables. Under Tang Liusheng¡¯s watchful eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword slashed out time and time again, and the terrifying Sword Qi forced the demonic beast he was fighting to retreat frequently. Even though Tang Liusheng had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength before, being so close this time, he realized that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was definitely not inferior to his own. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about that; the strength he unleashed now was almost the same as when he had killed the Gale Rats. Facing this late-stage demonic beast, he had a slight edge. As time passed, Tang Liusheng was not to be delayed. Facing a demonic beast alone, he had no reservations and his attacks became increasingly fierce, seemingly venting the anger from being previously surrounded. A short time later, Lin Tianming and his partner had successfully dealt with their opponents. With the two demonic beasts dead, the duo then turned to concern themselves with the grand battle of their comrades. Looking around, at this moment, many demonic beasts lay slain, their battlefield littered with corpses. Pools of crimson blood had formed, belonging both to demonic beasts and human cultivators. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of the nearly hundred Second Order demonic beasts that initially entered the battle, less than half were still alive, and many were injured, with their strength greatly compromised. Their team of fifty cultivators had also sustained some losses, with a total of eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators perishing here, including two from the Foundation Building Fourth Level, who were individuals with family backgrounds. The rest of the fallen were Loose Cultivators with cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer or Third Layer. Fortunately, there were no casualties among the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, and the loss of a few Initial and Medium Stage cultivators didn¡¯t greatly impact the overall strength of the team. At this time, Lin Tianming looked calm as he gazed at the bodies of the fallen, with a hint of sorrow in his eyes. Chapter 479 03-25 - 479 276 Admirable Strength_2 ?Chapter 479: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_2 Chapter 479: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_2 Although the fallen cultivators had no ties with him, nor were they acquaintances, the stark contrast between them being alive just moments ago and their demise now was still hard for him to accept. However, upon further reflection, in the face of such a massive beast tide attack, casualties were only too normal. And since he did not possess the power to do everything and save everyone, not to mention that these losses were not substantial, there was no need for him to dwell on it. As such, there was no need for him to overthink things, it was enough to do his best, and as for the outcome, he could only leave it to fate. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes regained their brightness. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Tang Liusheng exchanged a glance and immediately headed towards the location of Li Xiuyuan and others. At this point, their team¡¯s morale was soaring, each person ready to take down the remaining demonic beasts. ... With cultivators freed up to join the battle, under the ferocious onslaught, the remaining few demonic beasts began to crumble. The intense battle reignited, and with the addition of Lin Tianming and other cultivators who were now free to fight, the situation swiftly tipped in one direction. The surviving Second Order demonic beasts attempted to regroup, yet Li Xiuyuan and other Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivators gave them no chance. They were well aware that these Late-Stage demonic beasts were the key to victory, especially now that their fellow team members had gained an absolute upper hand. Whether it was to compete for the entry spots to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, for rewards, or to avenge their fallen comrades, with such a favorable opportunity to kill these demonic beasts, they could not pass up the chance. Only with the death of these Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts would come the true victory. Knowing this, Li Xiuyuan and the others unleashed an even stronger fighting force, tenaciously entangling the Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts, offering them not the slightest chance to breathe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? And Lin Tianming and his peers went all out, coordinating both from the inside and out, trapping and attacking each demonic beast with cultivators of superior strength. Lin Tianming had now joined Li Xiuyuan¡¯s combat group; both were very strong. Li Xiuyuan, facing the combined attack of three Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts, was already at a slight advantage. With Lin Tianming¡¯s participation, distracting one beast, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s pressure significantly decreased, allowing him to attack without any restrictions ¡ª truly a case of adding wings to a tiger. Although it was the first time the two cooperated against an enemy, they worked in perfect harmony. Suddenly, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s golden spirit ruler gleamed and a terrifying blade of energy shot forth, slashing towards the two opposite beasts. Watching the energy blade fly, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s face was full of excitement and his eyes shone with confidence. The spirit ruler he was using now was his strongest magic artifact, of exceptionally high quality, and a rare fine piece among the Second Order Superior magic artifacts. For this spirit ruler alone, he had expended a great cost, using numerous whole artifact refining materials and having an Third Order Artifact Refining Master from the Zhenyang Sect refine it for him. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, as a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect and serving as an Executive Officer in the Qianchuan Market with a fair amount of gray income, his wealth was naturally considerable. An ordinary cultivator¡¯s wealth could hardly bear the cost of this spirit ruler. Under his gaze, the energy blade moved at great speed; the two beasts, sensing the threat of death, tried to flee in panic. Li Xiuyuan let out a cold snort, immediately formed a single-handed seal, and two Second Order High-Grade Attack Talismans flew from his hands, transforming into two streaks of sword qi to block the escape path of the beasts. At that moment, the demonic beasts, throwing caution to the wind, charged forward. They spat out a large volume of spirit groups colliding with the sword qi, then tried to twist their bodies to dodge the energy blade attack. Unfortunately, the speed of the energy blade was extremely fast, much quicker than their escape, and given the large size of their bodies, made them too big of a target. In an instant, at such terrifying speed, they simply could not dodge in time. ¡°Roar¡­¡± A wretched scream sounded. The beast struck by the energy blade lay on the ground wailing, its huge body convulsing violently. Looking closely, the wound on the beast was severe; a horrific wound at its belly, with crimson blood ceaselessly seeping out, revealing some internal organs, the sight horrendously pitiful. It lay there on the ground, struggling with an extremely ferocious expression, trying a few times in succession. Alas, the injury was too serious for it to stand and continue the fight. At this point, the beast fortunate enough to escape the attack was panicked, not daring to remain. Seeing it attempting to abandon its companion and flee, Li Xiuyuan immediately gave chase. On the battlefield, Li Xiuyuan doggedly pursued the fleeing beast, seemingly determined to claim its life. The beast, in blind flight, careened directly towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan was filled with joy and shouted, ¡°Lin, block this beast for a moment!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled. The moment the beast began its flight, he had already anticipated its escape route, and immediately channeled the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword. By the time Li Xiuyuan¡¯s reminder had just been uttered, the Tiangang Sword Qi had descended from the void, striking the beast¡¯s head with precise accuracy. With a scream, the fleeing beast collapsed straight to the ground, its hefty body creating a deep pit. A bloody hole could now be seen on the beast¡¯s head, the wound still oozing blood, quickly pooling into a bloody basin. The beast writhed unwillingly a couple of times, then the eyes the size of its head closed, losing the breath of life altogether. Chapter 480 03-25 - 480 276 Admirable Strength_3 ?Chapter 480: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_3 Chapter 480: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_3 Seeing the demonic beast slain, Li Xiuyuan was excited and began to praise from afar. ¡°Lin¡¯s divine skills are indeed formidable. This creature¡¯s strength was not weak, yet it was slayed by your single sword strike. Truly astonishing!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming smiled indifferently and said, ¡°The demonic beast was caught off guard, it was just luck on my part!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words were modest, and although there was indeed an element of luck involved, it also required sufficient strength to seize the opportunity. If it had been a cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, even if afforded the chance, they probably couldn¡¯t stop the escaping demonic beast, let alone kill it with ease. Li Xiuyuan had witnessed the entire process and saw how effortlessly he killed the beast. How could he not understand this principle? ... Regaining his focus, Li Xiuyuan did not say much more. He saw the remaining demonic beast being suppressed by Lin Tianming and promptly went over to help. With the addition of Li Xiuyuan, the sole remaining demonic beast had no way to escape. Caught in the pincer attack of the two men, it revealed a crazed look, ready to fight to the death. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care at all, his moves thunderous and swift. Li Xiuyuan was not to be outdone, his Spirit Ruler unleashing terrifying blades of qi. Two attacks descended from the sky, the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast desperately spat out Spirit Group in an attempt to block. However, before the Spirit Group could fully emerge, the two attacks they had launched had already penetrated its head, with bright red blood gushing out, drenching the surrounding area. Despite its unwillingness, the demonic beast had no means to resist and could only let its head and body fall to the ground in succession. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï With the demise of the demonic beast, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan immediately turned around and rushed towards Hu Yuan not far away. ¡°Daoist Hu¡­ let us assist you with all our might!¡± Li Xiuyuan shouted from a few hundred feet away, then joined the fray with Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others coming to support him, Hu Yuan was thrilled, his attacks becoming even fiercer. Under the combined efforts of the three, the three demonic beasts facing Hu Yuan were continuously pushed back, their injuries worsening. Hu Yuan laughed heartily, then shouted loudly, ¡°Daoist Li, Lin, let¡¯s see who amongst us can slay their foe first!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ surely it will be I who finishes the battle first!¡± As Li Xiuyuan fought, he replied in the midst of the beast¡¯s attempt to flee and gave chase. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, did not respond, his Tiangang Sword leaving his hand even earlier, blocking the path of the fleeing demonic beast. As time passed, in less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, three cries of despair were heard in quick succession. Li Xiuyuan¡¯s target was the first to be slain, followed closely by Hu Yuan, with Lin Tianming completing his last. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the time when the three demonic beasts they were pursuing died was very close, with only slight intervals between them. ¡°Haha¡­ I indeed reached the goal first!¡± Hearing Li Xiuyuan, Hu Yuan smiled helplessly and then said, ¡°Daoist Li¡¯s divine skills are truly mighty, I am outmatched!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled and waved his hand, then spoke. ¡°I was joking, don¡¯t take it seriously. In my view, Lin should rank first!¡± As he approached, Hu Yuan spoke in agreement. ¡°I agree¡­ Lin, with your Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation, you casually killed three Second Order Medium Stage demonic beasts and assisted us in slaying two more in the late stage. Such strength shames us!¡± Hearing the courteous words of the two, Lin Tianming waved his hands and humbly said it was luck, then expressed that it was they who thought highly of him. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s humbleness, Li Xiuyuan and the other person didn¡¯t say much more. However, in their hearts, they had a newfound appreciation for Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and felt great admiration. At this time, Li Xiuyuan looked at the other major battles of his teammates and then made a suggestion to Lin Tianming and the others. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s go help the others and quickly end the fighting here!¡± ¡°Good, swift and decisive!¡± Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming replied in unison, and the three of them immediately fled in different directions. Chapter 481 03-25 - 481 277 Profound Righteousness_1 ?Chapter 481: Chapter 277: Profound Righteousness_1 Chapter 481: Chapter 277: Profound Righteousness_1 On the battlefield. With Lin Tianming and a few others freed to join the fight, the morale of the remaining cultivators surged dramatically, and their strikes became even more fierce. Soon, cries of agony were heard nonstop, each one signifying the death of a demonic beast. Through the cooperation of the cultivators, in less than half a moment, all the resisting demonic beasts were killed. As the last demonic beast fell and did not rise again, the prolonged battle finally came to an abrupt halt. Looking around, the battlefield was littered with the corpses of Second Order Demonic Beasts, the land for miles around stained red with blood, various limbs and severed arms lay scattered about, a scene too horrific to bear. At this time, the expressions of the surviving cultivators were grave and complex, some mourning for fallen companions, others feeling fortunate to be alive. ... After a moment of silence, the cultivators took a deep breath and then focused on the fighting conditions of other Human Cultivators. At this time, within a huge range of dozens of miles outside of Yuyao City, battles were everywhere, with Foundation Establishment Cultivator teams in the Southern District engaged in fierce combat with a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts. Among them, a portion of teams suffered heavy losses with barely more than ten people remaining, also in a precarious and defensive situation under the fierce attack of the demonic beasts. Without any reinforcements, these weaker teams were at risk of being wiped out at any moment. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, there were a few teams like theirs that had already killed the opposing demonic beasts. These completed missions were generally accompanied by the presence of at least a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, if not several at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, an average team¡¯s overall strength would be limited, making it difficult to achieve victory under the powerful collective attacks of the demonic beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? As for those teams that finished their battles first, the leading late-stage cultivators were in good shape and began to support the other teams. The lower-cultivation level cultivators retreated to the rear of the many cultivators, began to meditate and rest, and started to recover their consumed Spiritual Power and injuries. ¡­ At this time, Lin Tianming also redirected his attention to keep an eye on the great battle involving Qi Refining Cultivators and Golden Core Cultivators in the high sky. Thousands of feet up in the sky. Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu cooperated with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, engaging in fierce battle with the opposing Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. At this moment, the sky above was constantly flashing with light, the air between heaven and earth turbulent, and the fierce Gang Wind and fluctuations from the battle swept all around. Under the terrifying battle, the clear and sunny sky actually turned dark. Feeling the tremendous fluctuations from the Golden Core Cultivators and the Third Order Demonic Beast clashing, no matter whether they were Second Order Demonic Beasts or Human Cultivators, even a brush with a remnant ripple could result in death there and then. In such a situation, all cultivators and demonic beasts wisely kept their distance, fearful of unwarranted calamity. And at this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was ruddy, and his heart was incredibly shocked. This was the second time he had witnessed a Golden Core Cultivator in action; Chen Jingtian, with his Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, unleashed an attack that seemed even more powerful than the encounter he had stumbled upon before. The strength of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was equally formidable, with a cultivation at the Late Stage of the Third Order, surpassing Chen Jingtian in every way. Their powerful strengths clashed, and the resulting shockwaves resounded throughout heaven and earth, even causing the ground to tremble slightly. Watching the fierce battle, Lin Tianming managed to regain his composure and continued to follow the progress of the conflict. Clearly, the Demon Beast Race had the advantage in numbers among the Third Order Demonic Beasts, and together with the powerful Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, the overall strength of the Demon Beast Race seemed a bit stronger. Chen Jingtian, being only at the Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, was also powerful but visibly strained dealing with the attack of the Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast on his own. However, Chen Jingtian and his team did not fight individually; instead, they came together. The four brothers cooperated with each other, providing timely support and fully leveraging the advantage of teamwork among the Human Race, thus avoiding collapse for the time being. Under these circumstances, the Demonic Beasts led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion couldn¡¯t find a breakthrough. Unable to break through after a prolonged attack, the Lion became enraged yet helpless. Seeing this, Lin Tianming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Clearly, on the crucial front of the Golden Core Cultivators, there would be no sign of collapse in the short term. However, demonic beasts were undoubtedly formidable, with better defensive power and stamina, and with their numerical advantage, they had the means to prolong the battle. If the conflict dragged on, Chen Jingtian and others¡¯ depletion would continue to increase, and their defense would collapse without being attacked. By then, even if the Foundation Establishment Cultivators gained an upper hand, it wouldn¡¯t prevent the retreat of the Human Race. Having cultivated for hundreds of years, Chen Jingtian was well aware of these potential dangers. However, the truth was that the Demon Beast Army was too massive, and hoping to win in a single battle was clearly unrealistic. Luckily, on the side of Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators, they had gained some advantage, desperately holding on with a very clear purpose¡ªto weaken the strength of the Demon Beast Army. As long as they achieved their goal before their exhaustion became too severe, they could retreat first, At that time, the Human Cultivators could withdraw to defend Yuyao City, relying on the protection of the Defensive Array for the long-term strategy. After all, Chen Jingtian and his brothers had made preparations for a protracted battle before they set out. In this moment, Lin Tianming watched Chen Jingtian and others engage in the fierce battle, confirming his judgment, and then turned his attention to the Qi Refining Cultivators. Chapter 482 03-25 - 482 277 Profoundly Understanding the ?Chapter 482: Chapter 277 Profoundly Understanding the Principles_2 Chapter 482: Chapter 277 Profoundly Understanding the Principles_2 In the vast northern region, this was the main battlefield for Qi Refining Cultivators. Across the field of view, the scene of battle here was even more bloody and brutal, with nearly ten thousand Qi Refining Cultivators and tens of thousands of First Order Demonic Beasts engaged in a slaughter akin to a gigantic meat grinder. Under the intensity of the great war, every minute and every second saw a large number of Qi Refining Cultivators and First Order Demonic Beasts fall. After just half an hour of fierce battle, the conflict among the Qi Refining Cultivators had reached a fever pitch. The situation for both sides seemed to be at a stalemate with neither gaining much of an advantage. Although the Demonic Beasts outnumbered the Human Race five to one, among them were many at the initial and medium stages of First Order. On the side of the Human Cultivators, the vast majority involved in the battle were at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement or higher, with those below the Seventh Level accounting for less than thirty percent of the total. ... S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, the collective strength of the Human Qi Refining Cultivators was composed of elites; though fewer in number, the power they unleashed was by no means inferior to that of the Demonic Beasts. As time progressed, the morale of the Human Cultivators reached its peak, with every Qi Refining Cultivator fully engaged, delivering increasingly fierce attacks. After a tough fight, the Cultivators united and exploited the weakness of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ uneven strength, slowly suppressing the Demon Beast Race. Following several rounds of attacks by the Qi Refining Cultivators, a large number of Demonic Beasts at the initial and medium stages of First Order died off, drastically reducing their numbers, and the entire legion even showed signs of collapse. Finding a moment to catch their breath, the First Order Demonic Beasts grouped together to reorganize their defenses and clashed with the Cultivators once again. At this moment, some Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had freed themselves turned their attention to the side of the Qi Refining Cultivators. As the battle went on, the corpses of both humans and beasts had piled up into mountains, and a vast amount of blood gathered, silently forming a river of blood in the lower terrains. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Yet amidst such a bloody scene, those Qi Refining Cultivators, preoccupied with fending off the Demonic Beasts, were completely unaware. Clearly, both sides had long since become enraged, paying no heed to the gruesome sight, as the Qi Refining Cultivators and the Demonic Beasts continued to slaughter each other. Even someone like Lin Tianming, who had witnessed many gruesome scenes, couldn¡¯t help feeling his scalp tingle with shock at the sight. Not just him¡ªLi Xiuyuan and several others also turned pale, with two Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivators unable to bear the bloody scene and started vomiting. Yet the brutal battle continued, with neither the Human Golden Core Cultivators nor the Third Order Demon Beasts issuing new commands, making withdrawal for both sides impossible. However, such significant decisions regarding retreat were not something these Foundation Establishment Cultivators needed to worry about. Realizing this, Lin Tianming gradually calmed his mind. Following that, he approached Li Xiuyuan, and the other Cultivators also walked over, gathering around Li Xiuyuan spontaneously, intending to listen to his arrangements. At that moment, Li Xiuyuan glanced at the more than forty Cultivators beside him, noting that most were safe and sound, and nodded in satisfaction. The strength displayed by the Cultivators he had recruited during this battle had completely exceeded his expectations. Especially Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡ªwhile the former casually killed three Second Order Medium Stage Demon Beasts and even a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast proved no match for him, his strength was almost comparable to his own. As a Loose Cultivator, Hu Yuan¡¯s strength was similarly formidable; he dominated in battle against three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, and although he did not single-handedly kill them, the strength he demonstrated was such that even Li Xiuyuan himself might not be able to best him. With these two, along with several other Cultivators of decent strength, as long as they proceeded with a steady and firm approach and achieved some results, they stood a good chance of earning a place in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. With these thoughts, excitement bubbled in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s heart, and the somber look on his face gradually disappeared. He forcibly suppressed his inner excitement, turned his attention to the Cultivators present, then looked at other groups and saw that some were in dire straits. After a moment of thought, Li Xiuyuan opened his mouth and said, ¡°Fellow daoists, although our side¡¯s battle has ended, the overall battle for the Human Race has not stopped.¡± ¡°You have all seen the situation of the other teams¡ª¡¯When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,¡¯ I believe we are all clear about this principle, so I will not belabor the point.¡± ¡°As Cultivators of the Human Race, facing the assault of Demonic Beasts, we should stand on the same front. My condition is still good, so I have decided to help the other teams and kill as many Demonic Beasts as possible.¡± ¡°As for all of you, it would be best if you¡¯re willing to take action, but no one is compelled against their will!¡± Hearing this, the cultivators present showed various expressions, with some at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment having expended a great deal during the previous major battle, and many cultivators still bore injuries. In such a state, even if they joined the battle, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily be able to exert much strength. However, there were also some cultivators with decent strength who were still in good condition, although not at their peak, but they could easily restrain one or two Demonic Beasts of the same order. As for Lin Tianming¡¯s condition at this time, it goes without saying that he had merely consumed some of his spiritual power. If he went all out, his strength would be several times stronger than during the earlier battle, but others didn¡¯t know that. At this moment, Hu Yuan was the first to take a stance, stating his willingness to join the battle alongside Li Xiuyuan. Lin Tianming pondered for a moment, considering his good condition, and then decided to join the battle as well. The reason for his decisive action was not only confidence but, more importantly, for the sake of obtaining an entry spot into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Just in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team, there was a powerful Loose Cultivator like Hu Yuan. It was conservatively estimated that there were more than twenty such capable teams. To secure one of the three entry slots into the Secret Realm from such competitive conditions, the number of Demonic Beasts that needed to be killed was certainly significant. Thus, he had to accumulate some achievements against Demonic Beasts as much as possible to gain an advantage in the subsequent competition. Besides, considering the greater good of the Human Race, it was not wrong for him to do his best. Moreover, helping others was also a way for him, and the Lin Family, to form good connections; if he faced any difficulties in the future, these people might be able to lend a hand and offer an extra layer of security in a crisis. Understanding this, he agreed to join without hesitation, leading many cultivators to look at him in a new light. Influenced by Lin Tianming¡¯s decisiveness, some hesitant cultivators also made up their minds. Soon, more than twenty cultivators voiced their stances one after another, most of them being at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. They agreed to join Li Xiuyuan and assist those teams that were struggling. As for the remaining twenty-odd who were unwilling to join, they were either in poor condition, injured, or simply lacked the strength. Li Xiuyuan understood their choices as well, because after all, everything should be considered with one¡¯s own safety in mind; one could only be more useful if they were alive. Thinking this way, their decision seemed all the more human and was easily understandable. At this time, seeing everyone agreeing to help, Li Xiuyuan was very pleased inside. He smiled and then gave a sincere salute to the crowd, saying, ¡°I am truly impressed by everyone¡¯s understanding of the greater good!¡± Seeing Li Xiuyuan being so polite, Lin Tianming and the others hurriedly returned the salute. Li Xiuyuan waved his hand, then began to give instructions. ¡°Very well¡­ everyone, remember to prioritize your own safety above all else. If the situation is hopeless, there is no shame in giving up the rescue!¡± ¡°As for the Demonic Beasts killed by everyone, or those who participate in it, I can guarantee a fair distribution of the spoils!¡± Hearing this, those willing to join the rescue team breathed a sigh of relief. After all, they were willing to help not without purpose; nearly everyone had their own agenda and were willing to take risks for rewards. Since Li Xiuyuan made a point of clarifying this before they set out, they felt reassured and could fully commit to the task at hand. At this moment, everyone was full of spirit, with satisfied expressions on their faces. ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose, let¡¯s make our move immediately!¡± Having said that, Li Xiuyuan was the first to dash off in a certain direction, swiftly joining the battle group of other cultivators. Right behind him, Lin Tianming and others like Hu Yuan wasted no time and charged in different directions. Chapter 483 03-25 - 483 278 Temporary Retreat_1 ?Chapter 483: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_1 Chapter 483: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_1 In a corner of the battlefield, Lu Qiao¡¯s face was pale. Surrounded by three Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts, he struggled to hold on. Had it not been for several Defense Artifacts of decent quality on him, plus his ample experience in magical combat, he would have probably been heavily injured or even fallen by now. However, aside from his own dire situation, his teammates were in an even worse state; more than half of his team members were lost, and those who were still alive were all wounded to varying degrees. The main reason they were so passive was that his team as a whole wasn¡¯t strong enough. Even though his own cultivation was not bad, he only had forty people recruited in his team, and their powers were generally on the lower side. There were only two Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, and the number of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators didn¡¯t even make up half. With such team strength, they were at the bottom of all teams recruited by the core disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. At this moment, after battling with the Demonic Beasts for dozens of rounds, most of his Spiritual Power was drained, and there were several wounds on his body still bleeding profusely, leaving him in a state of extreme weakness. ... As a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect with the reputation of a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, he was in quite a sorry state at this desperate moment. As the fierce battle continued for half an incense stick¡¯s time, the occasional screams of agony around him made him increasingly anxious. There was nothing he could do since his team was on the verge of collapse. If this continued, they were likely to be wiped out before any side had the chance to retreat. ¡°Damn these beasts!¡± Just as he was cursing under his breath, the Demonic Beasts surrounding him launched another attack. His expression somber, he watched the three beasts swing their massive tails at him from different angles, sweeping across at an incredibly fast speed, stirring up the Spiritual Energy in the air. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï At this moment, Lu Qiao¡¯s face tensed as he hurriedly twisted his body, trying to dodge the terrifying tail attacks. His speed was fast as well, but the angles of the beast¡¯s attacks were cunning, and the timing was perfect. Dodging the attacks without a scratch would be extremely difficult. But he had no other choice. He had to avoid at least two attacks and use a Defense Artifact to fend off the remaining one for even a glimmer of hope to escape unscathed. Otherwise, he might be seriously injured by these Blackwind Lizards. Aware of this, he did not dare to be careless. As he moved, he hastily conjured up a Black Shield and poured in a large amount of Spiritual Power, positioning it in front of him. He was very cautious. Having battled with these Demonic Beasts for dozens of rounds, he was well aware of the strength of the Second Order Late Stage Blackwind Lizards. These beasts were incredibly fast, their huge bodies full of strength, and their attacks were extremely powerful, causing his spirit to tremble with every hit, making him suffer greatly. While he was pondering, the attack from the three Blackwind Lizards arrived as expected. He turned his body and, in an instant, moved a dozen yards to the side, narrowly missed being hit by the two tails. ¡°Boom¡­¡± a loud noise erupted. The other tail slammed onto his shield, creating a shallow crack, and the tremendous impact threw him several dozen yards away. In that moment, his body, like a leaf in the autumn wind, spun out of control and ultimately crashed harshly onto the hard ground, embedding him into a deep pit. Lying in the pit, his face even paler than before, he couldn¡¯t help but spit out a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. The joint attack from the Blackwind Lizards worsened his injuries, exacerbating the already disadvantaged position he was in. He felt helpless and anxious, but with the overwhelming power against him, there was little he could do for the moment. Watching the Blackwind Lizards preparing to attack again, he couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh. It had already been difficult enough to dodge their last onslaught. How would he fend them off this time? S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rising to his feet with a restless heart, he watched the approaching tails of the Demonic Beasts, his eyes filled with determination. At that moment, he channeled all his available Spiritual Power into the shield in his hand. In an instant, the shield in his hands shone brightly, expanding a hundredfold and enveloping his entire body in its protective embrace. In the nick of time, the three tails got closer to the shield, their tremendous force almost vaporizing the air around them. ¡°Is my nearly a hundred years of cultivation coming to an end here?¡± Lu Qiao thought to himself. Just as the tails were about to blast into the shield, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan suddenly appeared in front of him. Each conjured their own two Defense Artifacts, blocking the tail of a Blackwind Lizard each. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Three explosive sounds rang out, and Lu Qiao felt a numbness in his palms, and like a kite with its string cut, he was thrown backwards, landing a hundred yards away. He lay in the pit, blood at his mouth now darker, and his face even paler. Feeling the force of the attacks that had just occurred, he noticed something out of the ordinary. ¡°The force isn¡¯t right. Though still powerful, it wasn¡¯t as strong as the last hit!¡± Regaining his senses, he finally noticed the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. The two, along with Li Xiuyuan and others, observed the surrounding battle situation and then joined Lu Qiao¡¯s fight in unison. They arrived just in time, coming to Lu Qiao¡¯s aid in his moment of crisis, each taking on a tail attack, and thus saving him from danger. Looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat unfamiliar face, his expression mixed with excitement, a surge of post-disaster emotions overwhelmed him. Chapter 484 03-25 - 484 278 Temporary Retreat_2 ?Chapter 484: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_2 Chapter 484: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_2 Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, a cultivator rushed to the rescue, completely beyond his expectations. ¡°Two Daoist friends¡­ Thank you for righteously lending a hand!¡± Lu Qiao clasped his fists in salute towards Lin Tianming and the other, speaking with utmost sincerity. ¡°Daoist Lu is too polite, now is not the time for thanks. Let¡¯s deal with these beasts first!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lu Qiao nodded, and glancing at the three Blackwind Lizards with wary eyes, his own gaze was filled with rage. ¡°Good, let¡¯s get rid of these beasts first, and then I will express my gratitude!¡± After Lu Qiao replied, the Attack Talisman in his hand shone with brilliant Spiritual Light, as he took out several Second Order talismans and launched them all at once. ... At this moment, Lu Qiao was seriously provoked, using all his moves as if to avenge the recent grudge. Seeing Lu Qiao make the first move, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were not to be outdone; they consecutively brought out their Magic Artifacts, selecting a Blackwind Lizard to kill. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sky erupted with bursts of explosions as a great deal of Sword Qi and other attack methods illuminated the battlefield. Hu Yuan held formidable strength, each of his strikes contained immense power, forcing the Demonic Beast he targeted into constant retreat. Lin Tianming was still using only eighty percent of his strength, and although he did not blow the Demonic Beast apart immediately, he still held an absolute advantage. And the enraged Lu Qiao was extremely fierce in his attacks; while he could not defeat three Demonic Beasts, a single one was no match for him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Under such circumstances, the Blackwind Spirit Beast targeted by him was in a dire state, barely able to parry any attacks. As time passed, the three strongest Demonic Beasts were suppressed by the trio, and the other cultivators also burst out with stronger strength, quickly turning the tide of the battle at this location. Lu Qiao¡¯s teammates followed suit with overwhelming momentum, each gaining the upper hand. After several exchanges, the wails of the Demonic Beasts came one after another. The Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand glowed fiercely, unleashing waves of Sword Qi in an instant, engulfing the injured Blackwind Lizard opposite him. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The attacked Blackwind Lizard let out a painful roar. Following the burst of Sword Qi, the Blackwind Lizard¡¯s body was left with few intact spots, and blood seeped from its skin, presenting a gruesome sight. Seeing the severely injured Demonic Beast, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give it any chance to catch its breath and rushed over immediately, aiming to end the battle with one strike. In an instant, he launched an attack; five strands of Tiangang Sword Qi overlapped to form a terrifying blast of Sword Qi that shot forward, beheading the Blackwind Lizard. A scream rang out, followed by the sound of a body falling to the ground. Looking over, the Blackwind Lizard was already lying motionless on the ground with a gaping hole in its neck, blood pooled all around it, having lost all signs of life. At the moment Lin Tianming killed the Demonic Beast, Hu Yuan and Lu Qiao had each killed their respective opponents just a moment before. The interval between the three slaying their Demonic Beasts was short; Hu Yuan, being the most powerful, finished his battle first, followed closely by an angry Lu Qiao. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, the three of them looked at the situation of the other cultivators and joined the fray without hesitation. After a short while, the battle here also came to a complete end. More than twenty cultivators gathered together, and aside from Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, the others had more or less sustained some injuries. The survivors wore various expressions, looking at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, their eyes full of gratitude. As the organizer of the team, Lu Qiao clasped his fists towards Lin Tianming and the other, saying, ¡°Thank you, two Daoist friends, for your timely help. I am extremely grateful, and when we return to Yuyao City, I shall invite you both to gather together so that I may express my thanks properly!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming responded courteously. ¡°Daoist Lu need not be so polite. As fellow Human Cultivators facing a crisis that concerns the Cultivation World, it is only right to lend a hand!¡± ¡°What Lin Daoist said is true. In the face of the Human Race¡¯s greater good, we should temporarily set aside our differences and support each other through this calamity,¡± Hu Yuan added. As soon as these words were spoken, Lu Qiao and the others were deeply touched, their admiration for the two men growing even more. ¡°` At that moment, Lin Tianming immediately said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now is not the time for celebration. There are still many among us in peril, and those who can should offer their help. We can have a detailed chat after the battle ends.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ That is indeed true, helping others now is helping ourselves!¡± Lu Qiao nodded and expressed his agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s words. The other people present had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage, obviously not a bunch of fools, after all, what Lin Tianming said was extremely correct for all Human Cultivators. Realizing this, apart from those who genuinely lacked the ability to lend a hand, the rest of the crowd began to voice their consent, willing to contribute their efforts. Soon, the people present made up their minds to assist other cultivators who were in trouble. Then, under the leadership of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, more than ten cultivators formed a team on the spot, moving around above the battlefield. Meanwhile, those cultivators with more severe injuries or in poor condition retreated and gathered at the edge of the formation to recuperate. As the grand battle continued, half a quarter of an hour passed. By then, the battle had been raging for quite some time, and the battlefield was like a meat grinder, with significant losses on both the human and beast sides, with numerous cultivators perishing here, and the Demon Beast Race suffering heavy damage. Above in the high skies, Chen Jingtian and others were entangled in a fierce fight with Third Order Demon Beasts. During a lull in the demon beasts¡¯ attacks, he took the chance to observe the situation on the Human Cultivators¡¯ side of the grand battle. Surveying the entire field, both Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gaining the upper hand, with the number of demonic beasts dropping sharply, essentially achieving the goal set before the battle. However, there was still no significant progress on the critical front of the Golden Core Cultivators. He and his fellow disciples had been resisting strongly, focusing on buying time for the other Human Cultivators to increase their victories as much as possible. But Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not influence the ultimate outcome of the grand battle; all the hopes lay on them, the few. As the leaders of the Human Cultivators, Chen Jingtian¡¯s role was vital and very apparent. It was then he felt his Spiritual Power was almost depleted. The cultivation and strength of the other disciples didn¡¯t differ much from his, and even he was persisting with gritted teeth, so Zhu Yun, Wang Hengqiu, and the others were likely nearing their limits as well. Although they had gained some advantages over the demon beasts, they had yet to crush them completely. But now the situation seemed somewhat mysterious; continuing to persevere until their Spiritual Power was exhausted made retreating unscathed rather unrealistic. Thinking this over and glancing at his younger disciple Lan¡¯s somewhat pale face, Chen Jingtian began to consider a retreat. Deciding on a plan of action, Chen Jingtian then spoke earnestly: ¡°Fellow senior disciples, we have reached our initial objectives. Let¡¯s hold out for another half quarter of an hour, to buy the youngsters some time to retreat to Yuyao City!¡± ¡°Right, everyone hang in there a little longer!¡± Wang Hengqiu immediately replied. As soon as these words fell, a golden light flashed from the token in Wang Hengqiu¡¯s hand, and a great gap once again appeared in the Defensive Great Formation of Yuyao City. At this moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s resonant voice echoed to every corner of the battlefield; both Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators could hear him. ¡°The objective has been achieved, all personnel orderly retreat back into the range of the Defensive Great Formation.¡± Upon hearing this message and seeing the entrance to the formation had been opened, the cultivators who had been resting at the edge due to injuries were overjoyed and immediately rushed into Fhe formation. At this time, Lin Tianming was still with Hu Yuan and others, helping other cultivators, and had been engaged in fierce combat for a long time. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s order, Lin Tianming too was excited, finally able to exit the battlefield and take a temporary respite from the brutal combat. ¡°Daoist Hu, the Monster Beast Legion here has already lost more than half its forces, they should hardly be able to stop us now.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Let¡¯s take this opportunity to retreat!¡± Hu Yuan nodded back. With that, a flash of Spiritual Light burst forth from Hu Yuan¡¯s magic artifact, unleashing a powerful attack that pushed away the demonic beasts obstructing their path. Lin Tianming reacted quickly, seizing the opportunity and, alongside Lu Qiao, led dozens of cultivators in the team to quickly break away. The cultivators were swift, with Lin Tianming and several other powerful cultivators leading the way, breaking through the demonic beasts¡¯ blockade and converging with the other retreating cultivators. ¡°` Chapter 485 03-25 - 485 279 The Four-Wheeled Scorching Sun_1 ?Chapter 485: Chapter 279: The Four-Wheeled Scorching Sun_1 Chapter 485: Chapter 279: The Four-Wheeled Scorching Sun_1 At this time, the cultivators on the field, retreating while fighting like a receding tide, had already seen many successfully retreat back within the range of the formation¡¯s coverage. However, the demonic beasts understood the intentions of the human cultivators, and they tenaciously pursued the retreating army, clearly not willing to allow them to withdraw so easily. Nevertheless, the human cultivators were also prepared; under the leadership of Chen Jingtian, several Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators immediately changed the defensive formation. At this moment, they lined up in a straight line at the forefront of the cultivator army, relying on their own strength to resist the Third Order Demonic Beasts. Apart from this, Chen Jingtian and a few others also activated several Third Order Attack Talismans, unleashing torrents of attacks and holding back the enraged Monster Beast Legion. Because the attacking power of Golden Core cultivators was too formidable, even the slightest touch would result in the complete destruction of the low-order monster beasts. Under such circumstances, the low-order demonic beasts dared not approach and could only rely on the Third Order Demonic Beasts to launch attacks, hoping to inflict heavy damage on the human cultivators. ... At this time, Lin Tianming and the others had entered the defensive array, and they turned their heads to look back at the cultivator army, their faces filled with shock. Looking out, the number of human cultivators in the army seemed to have decreased by about thirty percent, but the total was still considerable; the movement of thousands of people was like an eclipse of the sun. Behind them was an even larger number of demonic beasts; tens of thousands of them used all kinds of bizarre attacks, completely illuminating the dark sky. Seeing this situation, Chen Jingtian and the others furrowed their brows tightly, pushing their magical treasures to the limit, and unleashed several Third Order Talismans, thinking only of blocking the demonic beasts for a while longer to buy time for the great retreat of the human army. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The Third Order Demon Beast, Blood Jiao, released countless ice arrows from its mouth, which collided with the Jiaolong Soul unleashed by Wang Hengqiu, creating massive fluctuations that tore open a deep ravine in a large expanse of the ground. This was a contest between Wang Hengqiu, a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator, and the Blood Jiao, a Third Grade Medium Stage beast. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï The Blood Jiao was a descendant of the ancient demonic beast Red Blood Jiao. Although the ancient bloodline had vastly diluted, even a faint trace was extremely rare, greatly enhancing the Blood Jiao¡¯s strength. This Blood Jiao was extremely powerful, and its formidable divine skills were a testament to its strength. While the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was strong in close combat and lacked long-range divine skills, its destructive power, even when impeded by Chen Jingtian, was still not as formidable as the Third Grade Medium Stage Blood Jiao. As the Third Order Demonic Beasts attacked wantonly, Chen Jingtian and others faced enormous pressure. Still, the human cultivators needed time to retreat, and these cultivators were also crucial for the battle. Under such circumstances, they had to persevere long enough to secure time for the cultivators. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian and his companions all unleashed unprecedented power, firmly blocking the Third Order Demonic Beasts. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The continuous thunderous booms mingled with screams; it sounded as if both the human and beast clans were in anguish. In this manner, under Chen Jingtian¡¯s support, the army of cultivators retreated in an orderly fashion and soon completed the retreat of more than half the contingent, leaving only about thirty percent of the cultivators still beyond the formation¡¯s range. At this time, the attacks from the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao became even more fierce, seeking to kill more cultivators to appease their fury. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Jingtian did not retreat at all; his powerful attacks cut through the void, staunchly blocking the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were equally formidable, and with their cultivation strength being not insubstantial, they each dealt with one Third Grade Medium Stage and Early Stage demonic beast. The remaining four Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts were blocked by Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect and two Sect Guardian Spiritual Beasts at the Third Order Early Stage. Nine Third Order Demonic Beasts clashed with four Golden Core cultivators and two Sect Guardian Spiritual Beasts. The earth-shattering noises deafened everyone, the ground cracked frequently, and intense fluctuations enveloped large areas that no one dared to approach. Seeing such a scene, the retreating cultivators did not dare to delay, but still, some areas were fiercely attacked by Second Order Demonic Beasts. After all, the battlefront was far too extensive, and the number of Golden Core cultivators was limited; it was impossible to attend to all areas. Under such circumstances, the human cultivators could not solely rely on the Golden Core cultivators; powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators were needed to withstand the demonic beasts¡¯ assaults on the front lines. Looking across, in the northern zone of the battle line, dozens of cultivators dressed in the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s attire gathered, with Li Xiuyuan among them. Apart from him, the rest were all at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, likely to be core disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. As disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, at such a critical juncture, Chen Jingtian ordered these core disciples to block the Second Order Demonic Beasts for a moment to buy time for the other retreating cultivators. For them, this task was exceedingly arduous. But the situation was indeed dire, and ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn¡¯t hope to hold the line; even if they reluctantly went up, it would be no more than a futile sacrifice. Besides, in such a crisis, if Loose Cultivators from the Loose Cultivators¡¯ Hall were dispatched afterward, it could easily arouse public indignation, causing resistance among the loose cultivators, leading to the disintegration of the entire army of cultivators. Therefore, even if the core disciples of the Zhenyang Sect had any grievances, they had to face it due to Chen Jingtian¡¯s authority and taking on the challenge. At this time, dozens of Zhenyang Sect core disciples, as well as tens of Foundation Establishment Late Stage loose cultivators and clan members, stood at the rear of the cultivator army, engaging in a fierce battle with a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts. Chapter 486 03-25 - 486 279 Four Wheels Blaze Sun_2 ?Chapter 486: Chapter 279: Four Wheels Blaze Sun_2 Chapter 486: Chapter 279: Four Wheels Blaze Sun_2 Although the battlefield here was far less terrifying than that of the Golden Core cultivators, the bloodshed was much more severe. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, among others, were inside the formation, focusing on the intense battle unfolding before them. The other cultivators, like them, had their hearts in their throats, sweating for the Golden Core cultivators of Zhenyang Sect, as well as other Foundation Establishment cultivators. As for Zhenyang Sect¡¯s arrangements, the loose cultivators and family cultivators were also very satisfied, as they were not forcibly sent out to resist the demonic beasts at the very back. Otherwise, it would have been far too dangerous. Lin Tianming felt the same way; his impression of Zhenyang Sect had greatly improved. In his heart, although the Golden Core sects and such powers usually acted very domineeringly, even forcibly conscripting many families to join the battle, but upon arriving at Yuyao City, the Zhenyang Sect acted without discrimination, and at least in the matter of retreat, they were quite fair. Feeling this way, many cultivators shared his sentiment. Their hearts were not so resistant anymore, and they seemed to accept the leadership of Zhenyang Sect. ... Turning his attention back, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze towards the retreating army of cultivators. By this time, under the resolute resistance of Zhenyang Sect, ninety percent of the cultivator army had already retreated within the range of the formation. The only remaining cultivators were almost all those in the Qi Refinement realm and those associated with the Zhenyang Sect. At this, the demon beast army, despite their rage, also started to feel somewhat helpless. Obviously, the arrangements that even the core disciples of Zhenyang Sect were clueless about, Chen Jingtian had already planned ahead. In this manner, the operation proceeded swiftly and silently, with the human cultivators seizing the initiative and pulling the demon beast army by the nose. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï At this moment, seeing that his objective was about to be completed, Chen Jingtian nodded to Wang Hengqiu and a few others, and passed a few words through a voice transmission to confirm the specific timing of their retreat. Less than the time it takes for a cup of tea to brew. The remaining human cultivators had almost all successfully retreated, leaving not many behind, all of whom were Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators from Zhenyang Sect, as well as several dozen loose cultivators. Seeing his struggling sect disciples, the magical treasure in Chen Jingtian¡¯s hand erupted with a stronger light, exerting all his might to stop the increasingly furious Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Since the cultivator troops had already retreated, the battle line had significantly shortened, and Wang Hengqiu and others once again changed formation. Four of them, along with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, formed a formation and stood in front of the sect disciples. With these few top tier combatants taking on the pressure, Li Xiuyuan and others finally felt a sense of relief. Otherwise, if they were to fight with Third Order demonic beasts, even these nearly a hundred people might not be able to stop a Third Order Early Stage demon beast. As time passed, the great battle approached its climax. With Chen Jingtian¡¯s watertight defense and his disregard for the cost of resistance, the Third Order demonic beasts, after a long attack that showed no effective results, could only watch helplessly as Li Xiuyuan and the others retreated back within the range of the formation. Seeing almost all the sect disciples were now safe, a flush of rosiness crossed Chen Jingtian¡¯s pale face. He looked at Wang Hengqiu and others, then at the furious Blazing Flame Celestial Lion; thereafter, his resonant voice echoed across the land. ¡°Fellow brothers, let¡¯s join forces to repel these beasts, and then retreat back into the formation!¡± Hearing this, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were equally excited. Both patted their storage bags, and several Third Order talisman papers flew out from their hands. Lin Tianming and the others were all watching the movements outside the formation, their faces showing shocked expressions. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, among the numerous Third Order talisman papers, three were Defense Talismans, which turned into two huge walls in an extremely short period of time, shielding Chen Jingtian and the others in front of them. The remaining two Attack Talismans turned into two streaks of silver-white Sword Qi that shot out, slashing towards the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. In an instant, a heaven-shaking sound echoed throughout the earth. The Sword Qi, transformed from the Third Order Attack Talismans, collided with the tail of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, and in a flash, flames surged to the sky like mighty waves. Witnessing this terrifying collision, Lin Tianming wore a solemn expression, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel inwardly. ¡°This time, Zhenyang Sect has indeed exerted its full strength, using over a dozen Third Order talisman papers, truly bringing out their family heirlooms.¡± ¡°Worthy of being a top force that has stood among the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom for thousands of years!¡± Just as Lin Tianming was marveling, the attacks from Chen Jingtian and the others arrived as expected. In their eyes, the Third Order talisman had merely been a delay tactic, a means to sap the attack strength of the Third Order demon beast. After all, although the destructive power of a Third Order attack talisman was great, it was difficult to pose a fatal threat to a demon beast of the same level. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian harbored no hope that the Third Order talisman could achieve any substantial progress. Therefore, after the attacks transformed from the talismans ended, the attacks they had been brewing were the real killing moves. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± At this moment, the combined attack from the four cultivators collided with the oncoming Third Order demon beasts. While the demons were busy dealing with this, Chen Jingtian waved his hand, and two Third Order attack talismans appeared out of thin air. Upon closer inspection, these two talismans were fire-red, with faint sparks floating around them, occasionally devouring the surrounding fire-attribute spiritual energy. The flames seemed ordinary, but they possessed a terrifying temperature. All the cultivators within Yuyao City recognized these two attack talismans as being Third Order Medium Grade Fire Talismans. While everyone was astounded, Chen Jingtian formed a single-handed seal, and the two fire-red talismans in his hand shone brilliantly with spiritual light. Immediately afterward, countless fireballs appeared out of nowhere and quickly enlarged a hundredfold in size, suspended in the clouds like fiery clouds. Without any hesitation, he released them, and thousands of fireballs rained down on the ground where the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was located. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The ground instantly turned into a sea of flames, countless Second Order demon beasts frantically fled, and numerous First Order demon beasts who couldn¡¯t avoid in time were instantly turned to ashes by the terrifying heat. Under such a horrifying talisman attack, only Third Order demon beasts could cope, and even Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts could end up pulverized if they weren¡¯t careful. Two breaths passed. The sea of flames gradually died down, revealing the landscape and the figures of the demon beast army. Looking around, the earth was scorched black, with many demon beast corpses devoid of flesh, and only white, jade-like skeletons scattered across the land, presenting a sight of extreme misery. Not only were the corpses of the demon beasts evaporated by the sea of flames, but many of the human Qi Refining Cultivators suffered the same fate. Even the bodies of the human cultivators at the center of the inferno didn¡¯t leave behind bones; they were directly turned to ash by the high temperatures. In such indiscriminate attacks, neither demon beasts nor human cultivators could evade. Knowing this, the myriad of cultivators also understood Chen Jingtian¡¯s drastic actions and showed no resentment. At this moment, nearly ten thousand cultivators stared at the gruesome battlefield, troubled at heart for a long time. Just those two talismans alone had killed thousands of demon beasts, although most were low-order. The backbone of the force, like the Second Order Late Phase, had suffered few casualties. And as the two talismans dissipated, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lions and other Third Order demon beasts broke through the many obstructions and attacked Chen Jingtian and his group. Seeing the distance between the two parties closing, Wang Hengqiu and his companions, who had been preparing for a long time, exchanged glances and then all four made the same strange hand gesture. Suddenly, four suns appeared in the dark sky, all of different sizes, although the differences weren¡¯t too substantial. Looking up, the four suns hung high in the clouds, their fiery red light illuminating the entire battleground. At this time, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was chaotic, the already dry air became scorching with heatwaves, and the parched, blackened earth cracked even further. Many cultivators witnessing this unusual spectacle revealed expressions of shock. Some cultivators, not understanding what was happening, couldn¡¯t help but question the cultivators next to them. ¡°Why are there four suns in the sky? And why do I feel the temperature rising so rapidly?¡± To this, the cultivators nearby were just as clueless, left speechless by the query. Upon witnessing this earthshaking commotion, Lin Tianming noticed it was somewhat similar to the scenes he¡¯d caused when he¡¯d used the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Chapter 487 03-25 - 487 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven ?Chapter 487: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_1 Chapter 487: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_1 He stared intently at the scene unfolding before him, his face involuntarily changing as he couldn¡¯t help but cry out in his heart, ¡°A Spirit Art?¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely a Spirit Art, and a Profound Grade one at that!¡± As he was caught in a daze, among the nearly ten thousand cultivators present, some with keen eyesight also began to cry out in alarm. ¡°Could this be the legendary Spirit Art?¡± Hearing these words, like a spark igniting a prairie fire, it drew the attention of all the cultivators and stirred up numerous discussions. ¡°What? Is this a Spirit Art?¡± ¡°Which grade could it be? Yellow Grade? Or Profound Grade?¡± ... ¡­ While the cultivators were shocked and discussing intensely, Chen Jingtian and his companions were chanting under their breaths, followed by their voices thundering through heaven and earth. In unison, they shouted, ¡°Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art!¡± No sooner had the words left their lips than the four suns hanging high in the sky transformed from the size of fists to several dozen zhang across in an instant. At the same time, the four suns brought with them a terrifying high temperature that evaporated and devoured the air, and then they fiercely smashed down toward the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. As the four scorching suns drew ever nearer, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion finally lost its rage and composure. They looked up at the terrifying four suns, feeling the overwhelming heat waves from each, knowing that any one of them had the power to grievously injure or even obliterate them in a single strike. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï At that moment, the nine Third Order Demonic Beasts could hardly care about pursuing Chen Jingtian and his friends, hastily turning tail to flee in all directions. Clearly, these four scorching suns presented an unprecedented threat to the demonic beasts, and even their formidable bodies struggled to withstand the force of the Spirit Art. Though they possessed long lifespans, advancing in their cultivation was extremely arduous; having reached this level and gained a certain degree of Spirit Wisdom, how could they not understand the value of choice and sacrifice? After all, chasing down Chen Jingtian and his group was far less important to them than their own lives, for as long as they survived, the Human Cultivators would still struggle to defeat the Demon Beast Army. Given this, they had ample time and energy to lock horns with the Human Race, so there was no need to take such a risk. Understanding this, the nine Third Order Demonic Beasts moved with astonishing speed, scattering in a flurry. However, the speed of the scorching suns was extraordinary, and under Chen Jingtian and his friends¡¯ control, targets for their attack were soon identified. At this time, the four scorching suns each pursued one of the Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, intentionally avoiding the strongest Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao. Clearly, Chen Jingtian and the others understood that while Spirit Arts were powerful, attacking the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion might end fruitlessly, thus wasting their precious trump card. In such a situation, it was better to be cautious, selecting the most likely successful targets to either kill them or at least inflict heavy damage. If they could take down a few Third Order Demonic Beasts, the pressure on them would greatly diminish. Once back in battle against the Demon Beast Army, whether they fought head-on or a war of attrition, the Human Cultivators would no longer be at a disadvantage. With such decisive action, the four scorching suns bombarded the four Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, rapidly catching up with the fleeing creatures. By now, the four targeted Demonic Beasts, seeing the scorching suns closing in and feeling their dreadful presence, were unable to dodge in time. Instantly, they were seized by terror, frantically trying to avoid their vital points, hoping to stay alive. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, having escaped to the outskirts, turned to watch the assaulted beasts, torn between relief and rage. ¡­ Within Yuyao City. All the Foundation Establishment Cultivators flocked to the city walls, eyes wide, witnessing with their own eyes the Spirit Art attacking the Third Order Demonic Beasts, afraid of missing any detail. Under the watchful gaze of thousands of cultivators and demonic beasts, the four scorching suns silently bombarded the bodies of the beasts. Ear-splitting explosions resounded one after another, and the parched, scorched earth became an utter mess. Suddenly, several screams echoed through heaven and earth, audible clearly from any corner of the battlefield. The mournful howls sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Looking over, the four targeted beasts all lay in deep pits; two were struggling painfully, while the other two showed no signs of life. At this sight, all the cultivators stared blankly ahead, their expressions stunned. After several breaths¡¯ time had passed, the watching cultivators gradually regained their senses, immediately erupting into a deafening cheer. Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flushed with color. The Spirit Art invoked by Chen Jingtian and his companions¡ªthe fearsome attack of the four scorching suns on the four Third Order Demonic Beasts that had resulted in two dead and two injured¡ªcaused him immense shock. And the earth-shattering strike prepared by Chen Jingtian and his fellows had obviously achieved an unprecedented victory. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, and he couldn¡¯t help but compare the power of Chen Jingtian¡¯s Spirit Art with his own practice of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Judging from the Spirit Art used by Chen Jingtian, it was no ordinary technique. But it felt less powerful than the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, though the difference wasn¡¯t vast, probably due to the disparity in their cultivations. Besides, the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had its limitations on accumulation; if one didn¡¯t accumulate for long enough, it might not even compare to a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. But with an accumulation of ten or eight years, its power would definitely surpass that of the Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art. Clearly, judging from the power and outcome of this Spirit Art, it was undoubtedly a genuine Profound Grade Spirit Art. And the preciousness of Spirit Arts goes without saying; even Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques are extremely rare within the Wei Kingdom. Chapter 488 03-25 - 488 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven ?Chapter 488: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_2 Chapter 488: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_2 Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts are even more extremely rare, and even a Golden Elixir Force like Zhenyang Sect, with its thousands of years of heritage, might not have a second one. Originally, it was thought to be quite remarkable for Zhenyang Sect, with its thousands of years of history, to possess one or two Yellow Grade Spirit Arts, but unexpectedly, they also had a Mysterious Grade Spirit Art. It was truly beyond anyone¡¯s expectations! At this moment, not only did Lin Tianming broaden his horizons, but the other cultivators, whether Zhenyang Sect disciples, family cultivators, or those Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, were all shocked. It was simply because Spirit Arts are too rare and not easily seen. Even if Zhenyang Sect had Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts, they would definitely not be something that ordinary disciples or even core disciples could cultivate. It is estimated that at the very least, it would be the direct disciples of Golden Core cultivators, or the Golden Core cultivators themselves who are qualified to cultivate it, while the others might not even be aware of the existence of Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts. ... In such a situation, including the core disciples of Zhenyang Sect, the vast majority of people exhibited expressions of shock. While everyone was stunned and overwhelmed, Chen Jingtian and a few others, taking advantage of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s evasive movements, had already successfully retreated back within the range covered by the formation. Once inside the formation, Wang Hengqiu immediately took out the Token and reactivated the Defensive Array. By the time the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion realized what had happened, the formation had already been reactivated, and a pale golden light shield once again protected Yuyao City. Despite its anger, it could only helplessly ram against the light shield in a kind of venting frenzy. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds followed, and the pale golden light shield merely vibrated slightly a few times before returning to calm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? After several rounds of ramming by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, seeing that the Array was unshaken and the effects far less significant compared to the beginning, it was clear. The strength of these Third Order Demon Beasts, two dead and two seriously injured, even the ones that had not received fatal attacks, had some flesh wounds and were no longer at their peak condition. Furthermore, with their numbers reduced, the threat they posed to the Array was further weakened. If this continued, even if they rammed day and night for one or two months, there was no guarantee they could break the Array. Aware of this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion roared several times at the direction of Yuyao City inside, finally having to retreat unwillingly and meet up with the other Third Order Demon Beasts. Inside Yuyao City. In a pavilion upon the city wall, Chen Jingtian and a few Golden Core Cultivators were seated together. At that time, apart from Chen Jingtian, Wang Hengqiu and the others all looked pale, their breathing somewhat disordered. From his higher position, Chen Jingtian scanned the others before speaking, ¡°How are my fellow brothers doing?¡± On hearing the inquiry, some color returned to Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face as he glanced at Zhu Yun and Lan Yu beside him, before responding. ¡°The consumption was too great, but I am still alright. Just need to rest quietly for ten to fifteen days, and I should be able to recover to peak condition.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I am almost the same!¡± Zhu Yun replied. Chen Jingtian then turned his gaze toward Lan Yu, the weakest in strength, and asked, ¡°What about you, Junior Brother Lan?¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brothers, for your concern. The Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art requires immense Spiritual Power. After this battle, it will be difficult for me to return to my peak condition within six months!¡± No sooner had the words fallen than Zhu Yun nodded sympathetically, then revealed a look of regret and unwillingness. ¡°Sigh¡­ Zhu Yun sighed helplessly, then said, ¡°It¡¯s truly a pity. With nine Third Order Demon Beasts, two dead and two grievously wounded, their strength has substantially weakened.¡± ¡°If we brothers were all in our peak condition, we could have launched an offensive and wiped out this swarm of demon beasts in one fell swoop!!¡± Upon hearing this, the expression on Chen Jingtian¡¯s face changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. Chen Jingtian comforted, ¡°Junior Brother Zhu, achieving such results was already somewhat unexpected.¡± ¡°Moreover, even if we were still at our peak, it is uncertain whether we would have much advantage against the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and those Demon Beasts.¡± Upon finishing, Wang Hengqiu, who had been silent until then, also began to concur. ¡°` ¡°Yes¡­ The main reason we could achieve such results is due to the Spirit Arts,¡± ¡°However, although two of those beasts are dead and two injured, the strongest among them, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, are completely unharmed, their combat strength hasn¡¯t been diminished at all,¡± ¡°Under these circumstances, without the Spirit Arts up our sleeve in the short term, even if we join forces against those beasts, it¡¯s unlikely we will gain much advantage!¡± Upon hearing this detailed analysis, Chen Jingtian nodded his head, deeply agreeing with the words. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his heart, Wang Hengqiu deserved to be amongst those with the longest cultivation periods and plentiful combat experience. His analysis was extremely cautious and thoroughly insightful, he had almost predicted the specific situations of both sides with pinpoint accuracy. After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yun understood the rationale behind Wang Hengqiu¡¯s words. Indeed, their overall strength was at a disadvantage. If it weren¡¯t for the might of Spirit Arts and their timely retreat, a full-on clash with the Demon Beast Army would only lead to the Human Cultivators suffering losses. Even now, with the Demon Beast Army severely wounded, they were still not a force that could be easily annihilated by just a few of them. Understanding this and recognizing the gap between their powers, Zhu Yun no longer insisted on his previous stance, even feeling somewhat fortunate. At this time, Chen Jingtian looked at his fellow sect members before speaking, ¡°Fellow senior and junior brothers, what should we plan for the next step?¡± ¡°Does anyone have any good strategies? Feel free to share them.¡± Hearing the inquiry, Wang Hengqiu thought for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Given the current situation, we¡¯ve expended a great deal. Having used Spirit Arts, there¡¯s no chance to use them again for a year and a half!¡± ¡°With things as they are, we shouldn¡¯t act rashly. At the very least, we need to recover to our peak condition before we try to further weaken the Demon Beasts¡¯ power. When the conditions are right, we can eliminate them all at once!¡± Nodding at the conclusion of his words, Zhu Yun expressed approval and then introduced his own perspective. ¡°Wang, you¡¯re correct. The Demon Beasts have also suffered heavy casualties, and Yuyao City¡¯s Defensive Array should be safe for a month or two,¡± ¡°By that time, we should have mostly recovered, and even if the array is breached, we shouldn¡¯t be easily defeated!¡± Seeing that Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun both made such suggestions, Chen Jingtian nodded in agreement, highly approving of their views. He shared the same belief. In this battle, they had paid a lot and achieved their goal: they had brought the weaker Human Cultivators and the Demon Beast Army to the same starting line. Next, both humans and beasts were nearly equal in strength, hinting at the possibility of a protracted war. However, for the Human Cultivators, this was both expected and a welcomed scenario. Regaining his composure, he expressed his agreement with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s and Zhu Yun¡¯s views, suggesting that Human Cultivators should leverage Yuyao City¡¯s Defensive Array to recuperate and adjust their state. After all, they, including the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, needed to heal their injuries and restore their Spiritual Power¡ªit would be difficult to exert their full strength for some time. In that case, recuperation was the top priority and an unavoidable matter. The timing for resuming the battle would depend on the movements of the Demon Beast Army. Soon enough, Chen Jingtian and the other three reached a unanimous decision and made many corresponding arrangements. After setting the strategy and arrangements, Chen Jingtian glanced at Lan Yu, who looked pale, as if drained of Spiritual Power. Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu exchanged glances, and then he said, ¡°Lan, you¡¯re not in good condition; you should go rest first.¡± ¡°After we summon the Sect Disciples and assess the losses on the Human side and make some arrangements, we too shall begin our seclusion for cultivation!¡± Hearing this, Lan Yu nodded, not refusing Chen Jingtian¡¯s kindness. He stood and bowed to everyone before departing from the pavilion and disappearing into the crowd. Once Lan Yu had left, Chen Jingtian called out to several Zhenyang Sect Disciples in the distance, ¡°Long Qingshui, come over here, you and the others!¡± Hearing the summon, Long Qingshui, not far off, promptly approached with several fellow disciples. ¡°Disciple pays respects to Master and all senior sect members!¡± Long Qingshui, leading several fellow disciples, respectfully saluted Chen Jingtian and the others, then stood aside waiting for orders. Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction. His True Disciple¡¯s talent and cultivation were excellent, and his strength was formidable among peers of the same level. And in the great battle, his True Disciple had shone brilliantly, completing the tasks assigned to him to his utmost satisfaction. ¡°` Chapter 489 03-25 - 489 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_1 ?Chapter 489: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_1 Chapter 489: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_1 Having regained his focus, Chen Jingtian looked at his personal disciple and began giving instructions with a smile. ¡°Qingshui, how are the casualties on the side of the Human Cultivators? Has the count of the battle¡¯s achievements been tallied up?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Long Qingshui didn¡¯t dare to delay, hurriedly taking out a book from his storage bag and respectfully handing it over. After receiving the book, Chen Jingtian flipped it open and looked through it, soon showing a pleased expression. Standing to the side, Wang Hengqiu, seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s demeanor, knew he must be quite satisfied, and he was also very interested, quickly asking for details. ¡°Brother Chen, how is the outcome of this great battle?¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Chen Jingtian tossed the book to Wang Hengqiu for him and Zhu Yun to examine it amongst themselves. ... In a short time, Wang Hengqiu and the others had finished looking through the book and had learned the details of the battle¡¯s outcomes. In this battle, the Human Cultivators had achieved remarkable results, with two Third Order Demonic Beasts dead and two injured, over one thousand two hundred Second Order Demonic Beasts killed, and a staggering approximate fifteen thousand First Order Demonic Beasts. On the side of the Human Cultivators, no Golden Core Cultivators fell, it was merely that their energy was greatly depleted. Among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, over four hundred perished, while Qi Refining Cultivators suffered over two thousand casualties. It seemed like the Human Cultivators also suffered significant losses, but compared to the Demon Beast Army, it was hardly comparable. In just this first battle, nearly thirty percent of the Demonic Beasts were killed. Such an outcome was a serious blow to the massive Demon Beast Army, which had suffered a significant loss. On the Human Cultivators¡¯ side, the top combat powers were completely unscathed, and losses among the main forces were within expectations, even lower than anticipated, which could be considered a pleasant surprise. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï In the case of the Qi Refining Cultivators, the number of casualties didn¡¯t carry much significance given that their power was limited and couldn¡¯t have much impact on the overall result of the war. Wang Hengqiu closed the book with a slightly pale face, a touch of joy flashing across his features. Zhu Yun, standing beside him, was equally elated. He glanced at his two seniors and couldn¡¯t hold back a sigh of admiration. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Though this battle was perilous, the result is indeed satisfying!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ the achievements have exceeded expectations!¡± ¡°Now, with the aggregate strength of the Human and Beast Clans nearly on the same starting line and the protection of Yuyao City¡¯s Defensive Array, winning the final victory of the war is only a matter of time!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded, sharing his analysis with Chen Jingtian, who very much agreed. ¡°Brother Wang is right, we¡¯ve perfectly achieved our objective with this battle, and indeed the results are satisfying!¡± Chen Jingtian said with a smile. After saying this, Chen Jingtian looked at his beloved disciple, then instructed, ¡°Qingshui.¡± ¡°Disciple is present!¡± Long Qingshui replied respectfully with a bow. ¡°Once the Demon Beast Army has fully retreated and the battlefield is safe, you must immediately lead a group of disciples and Loose Cultivators to clean up the battlefield. Be extremely thorough in verifying the Cultivators¡¯ merits in the shortest time possible.¡± ¡°Especially regarding the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, extra caution is necessary, and fairness and justice must be enforced. Do not allow any unnecessary rifts to form between the Loose Cultivators and our Sect¡¯s disciples, lest the martial spirit be shaken!¡± ¡°Once the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ achievements are tallied, hand them to me for inspection. Then, directly compile a Demon Hunter Leaderboard and post it at the entrance of the Demon-Defying Palace and other key institutions.¡± ¡°Demon Hunter Leaderboard?¡± Long Qingshui and the others were somewhat puzzled but not surprised. They knew that the results of the great battle would certainly be made public, it was just that they hadn¡¯t expected it to be announced in such a manner. At that moment, Chen Jingtian paid no mind to their surprise and continued, ¡°It must be done in this open and honest way to show all Cultivators that our Sect handles affairs fairly and justly, and to encourage them to redouble their efforts to repel the Demon Beast Army quickly!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Hengqiu immediately voiced his agreement. ¡°Indeed, Brother Chen¡¯s arrangements are impeccable. Let us proceed in this manner, and remember not to stir up conflicts that could fragment the favorable situation on our side!¡± Hearing this series of instructions, Long Qingshui and the others promptly nodded with respect, repeatedly assuring that they would fulfill the task satisfactorily. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded with satisfaction, then dismissed Long Qingshui and his group. At that point, Long Qingshui retreated back to the city wall, exchanging a few words with the fellow Sect members waiting there, and biding his time for the Defensive Great Formation to open. Time passed by in a moment. The battlefield outside the city was exceptionally quiet; the Demon Beast Army had vanished without a trace, leaving only the corpses scattered across the land and the heavily damaged earth. From the towers on the city walls, Chen Jingtian extended his Divine Sense, ensuring that no dangers lurked for dozens of miles outside the city, then he breathed a long sigh of relief. It looked like the Demon Beast Army had retreated for the time being, but their next move was still indeterminable, so heightened vigilance was the plan for now. Refocusing, Chen Jingtian exchanged a few words with Wang Hengqiu, finalizing the arrangements for what was to come, with Wang Hengqiu taking charge of the defense. Once this was settled, Chen Jingtian instructed Wang Hengqiu to open the Defensive Array, planning to let Long Qingshui lead the Cultivators to clean up the battlefield first. After all, there were two Third Order Demon Beast Corpses outside, a considerable treasure, too significant even for someone of his status and cultivation to overlook. Having refocused, and with the battlefield appearing calm, he transmitted a message to Long Qingshui to head out and clean up the battlefield. Upon hearing the summons, Long Qingshui didn¡¯t dare to hesitate and quickly led a large group of people out of the Formation¡¯s area. Followed by more than three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect and over two hundred Loose Cultivators, they began the large-scale task of collecting Demon Beast Corpses as well as gathering the remains of Human Cultivators. At that time, the battlefield was busy with activity, with Li Xiuyuan and Lu Qiao among them, each cleaning up the Demonic Beast Corpses in the areas they were initially responsible for. Chapter 490 03-25 - 490 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_2 ?Chapter 490: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_2 Chapter 490: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_2 In the towers atop the city wall, Chen Jingtian and a few others kept a vigilant watch on every movement in front, guarding against the return of the demon beasts. As time slowly passed, there were no signs of the demon beasts mobilizing, and Wang Hengqiu also stepped out of the formation to collect the corpses of two Third Order demon beasts. Half a day went by. With the efforts of hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the battlefield was mostly cleaned up, and over ten thousand demon beast corpses were collected. The bones of the fallen human cultivators were also gathered and buried in an open space below Yuyao City. After these tasks were completed, the land, once riddled with holes and laden with tragedy, looked much better, at least not so heart-wrenchingly shocking. The numerous cultivators, having returned to the formation, congregated together, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators still on the city walls and Qi Refining Cultivators gathered in the square. ... In the pavilion, Chen Jingtian and the others stood side by side, scanning all the cultivators present. Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction, his loud voice reaching every corner of Yuyao City. ¡°Fellow Daoists, in this battle, our Human Race has achieved a great victory, a result of everyone¡¯s combined efforts, which I find very comforting!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s words were sincere and did not omit to acknowledge the contributions of loose cultivators and clan cultivators, sparking a round of cheers from the many cultivators. In the bustling scene, numerous cultivators started to offer their compliments, creating an extremely warm atmosphere. ¡°The seniors are too modest; we juniors have low cultivation and strength. If not for the seniors disregarding the cost, we might not have been able to repel the demon beast army!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Indeed¡­ The seniors¡¯ great strength and the slaying of two Third Order demon beasts are truly the greatest contributions to this battle!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°That¡¯s right; it is precisely under the leadership of the seniors that we were able to win a great victory¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hearing the flattering remarks, Chen Jingtian was quite pleased, but he also remembered to further enhance his authority and win the good will of the cultivators. ¡°Hehe¡­ No need for such praise, the victory belongs to us all.¡± ¡°However, although we have won this battle, the demon beast army has not collapsed and is likely to not retreat easily. They may return at any moment.¡± ¡°Therefore, everyone should not relax their vigilance too soon. What follows is still a tough fight, and I hope everyone will redouble their efforts to repel the demon beast army as soon as possible and restore peace to the Wei Kingdom!¡± His words were heartfelt and equally factual, acknowledging the cultivators¡¯ sacrifices while also reminding everyone of the continued threat. No sooner had he finished speaking than the cultivators¡¯ enthusiasm ignited once more, and cheers erupted anew. ¡°Repel the demon beast army, restore peace to the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the midst of the noisy ambiance, Chen Jingtian gestured with his hand to calm the crowd. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the great battle has come to a temporary halt, and I will not say more. Everyone should find the leader of their team, claim your spoils of war, and then promptly enter closed-door cultivation to recover to your peak condition, preparing for the upcoming battles.¡± ¡°Additionally, in a few days, our sect will release the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. At that time, everyone will be ranked according to their achievements. I hope you will all continue to strive for excellence!¡± ¡°Rest assured, the distribution of the spoils and the Demon Hunter Leaderboard will be fair and just. There will be no favoritism or cheating, nor any concealment from you!¡± Upon hearing this, a wave of excitement swept through the cultivators, with many inquiring about the details of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Chen Jingtian did not put on airs and began to explain some basic questions, making the rules of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard clear to everyone. Soon, the basic understanding of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was known, and the cultivators grew impatient. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian smiled calmly and then proceeded to dismiss all the cultivators. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were gathered with their teammates, including Li Xiuyuan. From the initial departure to battle, their fifty-person team had only forty return safely, although some cultivators came back with injuries and were in urgent need of secluded cultivation for recovery. Li Xiuyuan swept his gaze over everyone and chatted with Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan, and a few others, inquiring about their specific conditions. Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming were unharmed, while Tang Liusheng and a few other Late Foundation Establishment cultivators had expended a great deal of energy but were not in serious trouble, needing only a few days of rest to recover. Seeing this situation, Li Xiuyuan nodded in satisfaction, feeling very comforted inside. According to the exchanges with his fellow sect members, their team had suffered relatively minor losses and ranked among the top in terms of demonic beasts slain, so when the final results were in, they should be able to achieve a good standing. If they continued to maintain this momentum, by the time the Demon Beast Army fully retreated, they could likely be listed among the top ten in their sect. As the organizer of this demon-hunting team, with such outstanding achievements, he might even earn a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Thinking of these prospects, he was extremely excited, even somewhat impatient to see the leaderboard for the first stage. Once he calmed down, Li Xiuyuan exchanged a few pleasantries with some cultivators he considered less important, gave instructions about the day to claim their spoils, and then let them leave to pursue their cultivation in seclusion. After most of the team members had left, he then laughed and chatted leisurely with Lin Tianming and the others, displaying a strikingly different attitude. It was quite normal when one thought about it, though. While those at the initial and middle stages of Foundation Establishment belonged to the same cultivation level as Lin Tianming and the others, the gap in strength was substantial. Both Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were extremely strong, ranking among the elite of all Foundation Establishment cultivators in Yuyao City. Their strength was such that each of them could match the might of ten to twenty Late Foundation Establishment cultivators, playing a pivotal role for the whole team. Understanding this, Li Xiuyuan was very courteous to them, and even though his own status and strength were considerable, he did not dare offend them and even relied on their support. In response to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s politeness, Lin Tianming and the others did not dare to put on airs and were very warm. After all, Li Xiuyuan also demonstrated his strength admirably in this battle, his talent was not weak, and his status and position were notable too. From any perspective, befriending him would be of great help for establishing themselves in the Southern Wei Kingdom in the future. Under such circumstances, the group talked and joked around in a very harmonious atmosphere. While they were chatting, Lu Qiao arrived with the only two Late Foundation Establishment cultivators in his team. Seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan as well as Li Xiuyuan, Lu Qiao quickly greeted them with a cupped fist salute. ¡°Daoist Li, Daoist Lin, Daoist Hu, greetings to you all!¡± Upon the newcomer¡¯s arrival, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan quickly returned the salute with a cupped fist. Li Xiuyuan, smiling at their side, cupped his fists in return before asking, ¡°Daoist Lu, how are you? Any serious issues?¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Brother Li. I¡¯ve only sustained some minor injuries; a few days of cultivation in seclusion should see me recovered!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded and then introduced Tang Liusheng and the others, encouraging them to get to know each other better. Lu Qiao likewise introduced the two Late Foundation Establishment cultivators from his team to everyone, and they exchanged communication methods, so they could assist each other in the future. After the introductions, the two brought by Lu Qiao were found to be at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. One was a family cultivator named Han Yongyang from the Han Family of the Lianhua Mountain Range. The Lianhua Mountain Range, located north of Qianchuan Market, was home to several Foundation Establishing Families with considerable strength, the renowned Han Family had a thousand-year heritage and was not to be underestimated. The other was a Loose Cultivator, a practitioner of ascetic cultivation, who frequently roamed the areas surrounding Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming was very pleased to make their acquaintance, behaving extremely politely without bringing up the previous incident where he had lent a hand. Unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s background, Han Yongyang and the other were quite surprised and did not dare underestimate the Lin Family or him. Moreover, Lin Tianming had come to their rescue at a critical moment, turning the tide against a small squadron of demonic beasts, thus they owed him a favor. As a result, Han Yongyang and the other spoke with great deference, eagerly inviting Lin Tianming to visit them sometime so they could properly host him. Seeing their sincere invitation, Lin Tianming found it difficult to decline and so agreed to the visit, which put Han Yongyang and the other at ease. Chapter 491 03-25 - 491 282 A Place on the List_1 ?Chapter 491: Chapter 282: A Place on the List_1 Chapter 491: Chapter 282: A Place on the List_1 A little less than half an hour passed. Li Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming, among other cultivators, were having a pleasant conversation, exchanging a wealth of battle experiences, with each person gaining something from the discussions. As cultivators gradually began to disperse from the city walls and nearly a thousand had already left, Li Xiuyuan finally spoke up. ¡°Lu, fellows, the demonic beasts have temporarily retreated, and there should be no tasks for a short while. Everyone might as well return to closed-door cultivation and rest for a bit. Let¡¯s get together when we have time!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and a few others nodded in agreement, naturally having no objections to this proposal. At this moment, Lu Qiao glanced at Lin Tianming and the other cultivators, then cupped his fists and spoke, ¡°Brother Li, fellow Daoists.¡± ¡°One of these days, I shall host a gathering at the Welcome Banquet Hall to express my gratitude. I sincerely hope that all fellow Daoists will be sure to come.¡± ... After speaking, Lu Qiao looked at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan with an expectant expression. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded and said with a smile, ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lu, your kind invitation is much appreciated, I will certainly attend!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I would be disrespectful to decline!¡± Hu Yuan said. Hearing their acceptance, Lu Qiao showed a delighted expression, then exchanged a few courtesies with them before leaving the city wall with Han Yongyang. As a few people left, Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t plan to stay much longer. After exchanging a few polite words with Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, he left the city walls with Qin Xi and hurried back to his cave dwelling. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the two walked through Yuyao City, Lin Tianming¡¯s demeanor was calm, and as he watched the bustling crowd, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. With the temporary retreat of the demon beast army, Yuyao City had regained its tranquility. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 In such circumstances, cultivators were returning to their closed-door cultivation or their practice routines, as the flow of people surged through the institutions in various districts, Yuyao City once again thrived with vitality. Before long, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi had returned to their cave dwelling. After exchanging a few words, they entered their respective cultivation rooms and began a brief period of practice and adjustment. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, his somewhat pale face flashing with a hint of rosy color. In the previous battle, he faced demonic beasts that were not very strong, and he handled them relatively easily, without having to use his full strength, so his spiritual power wasn¡¯t completely expended, and his condition wasn¡¯t bad. Under such circumstances, he only needed to cultivate in seclusion for two days, and he should be able to return to his peak condition. The same went for Qin Xi. With his care, her consumption wasn¡¯t significant in the grand battle, and she would be able to recover after two days in seclusion. Regathering his focus, he then brought his hands together and circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. At that moment, the faint spiritual energy in the cultivation room began to slowly flow toward various parts of his body, eventually vanishing as it merged into him. With divine sense looking down at the Dantian, the absorbed spiritual energy was refined into wisps of spiritual power, which flowed through the network of meridians and converged into the Dantian. Soon, as spiritual power replenished, his complexion gradually recovered, and his presence became heavy and solid. Just like that, with steady breathing sounds coming from the cultivation room, Lin Tianming fell deeply into his cultivation. ¡­ Two days later, in the early morning. In the reception room of the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sat facing each other, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi¡¯s rosy cheeks, which seemed to have recovered to their peak condition. He nodded and said, ¡°Fairy Qin seems to have returned to peak condition, and has your cultivation even made some progress?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi giggled, her already exceptional beauty becoming even more prominent. For a moment, Lin Tianming was mesmerized, staring dazedly, his behavior causing Qin Xi¡¯s face to turn red with embarrassment. Lin Tianming then came to his senses, hurriedly turning his head to ease the somewhat awkward atmosphere. Seeing his expression, Qin Xi said, ¡°Daoist Lin truly has a keen eye. Though my strength did not increase from this battle, I settled my cultivation and had some realizations, which is a small step forward!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, fully appreciating what Qin Xi had said. Many cultivators progress too fast, resulting in an unstable foundation, but after a big battle, when their cultivation is consolidated, their strength naturally increases, and it was the most normal outcome. Clearly, Qin Xi was such an individual; with her cultivation consolidated, her foundations became sturdier, making it quite a small advance. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°With these two days passed, the Demon Hunter Leaderboard arranged by Yuyao City should be out by now, right? ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look, what do you think, Fairy Qin?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded, having no objections. She was very aware of her own strength; facing a few Second Order Initial Stage demonic beasts wouldn¡¯t be difficult. However, with thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the area, including hundreds in the late stage, competing for a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm or even to rank among the top in the Foundation Establishment cultivators was practically impossible. As such, before joining the grand battle at Yuyao City, she hadn¡¯t set overly ambitious goals for herself, aiming only for experience and to repay Lin Tianming for his help. Nevertheless, she was still very much in admiration and curious about those strong and exceptionally talented cultivators who might have earned a spot on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Moreover, she was also looking forward to seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s results, to see if he could rank among the top and possibly earn a spot in the secret realm. With this curiosity in mind, Qin Xi accompanied Lin Tianming out of the cave dwelling, heading toward Zhenyang Hall in the city center. They strolled through the streets, taking a leisurely walk and observing the somewhat quiet Yuyao City. By now, two days had passed since the end of the grand battle, and with the demon beast army showing no signs of movement, Yuyao City once more found itself in serene calm. Chapter 492 03-25 - 492 282 Famous on the List_2 ?Chapter 492: Chapter 282: Famous on the List_2 Chapter 492: Chapter 282: Famous on the List_2 The number of pedestrians on the road was not very many; they walked in groups of three or two. Clearly, little time had passed, and many cultivators were still in closed-door cultivation. Those who were out and about were almost all those who had come out unscathed from the great battle or had only suffered minor injuries. Looking around, the flow of people in the Cave Mansion District was small, but the shop area was bustling with popularity. It seemed that some cultivators were busy replenishing treasures consumed in the big battle or selling their spoils of war. After all, too many demonic beasts had died in this battle, and a myriad of artifact refining materials had emerged. Lin Tianming was indifferent to this; his war loot was still with Li Xiuyuan, and even after receiving it, he had no intention of selling it in Yuyao City. The reason was simple. During the great battle, the supply of demonic beasts¡¯ materials for artifact refining had surged, far exceeding demand. ... As such, it was predictable that selling now would not fetch a high price; it would be an insult to these hard-won spoils of war. In such a situation, it was better to keep them and, after the battle ended, take them back to his clan to have Elder Wu refine them into Spiritual Artifacts or Magic Artifacts. There were many Artifact Refiners in the clan, and their value would skyrocket immediately after being crafted by an Artifact Refiner. Whether for sale or for contribution to the clan, this would maximize the benefits; anyway, he was not short of Spirit Stones or treasures for the time being. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming strolled leisurely with his companion, blending into the crowd, and soon arrived at the location of Zhenyang Hall. By this time, a considerable number of cultivators had already gathered here, a large crowd that could not be less than a thousand people. Thousands of people assembled here, chatting in small groups¡ªit was quite lively. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The two made their way through the crowd to the front of Zhenyang Hall. Some familiar cultivators saw them and hurriedly greeted Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming looked up and saw Hu Yuan was also there; he hurriedly clasped his hands and reciprocated the salute. ¡°Daoist Hu, is the Demon Hunter Leaderboard about to be released? Why have so many people gathered here?¡± Hearing the question, Hu Yuan smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s said that the rankings will be released today, should be soon, I guess!¡± As soon as the words fell, Lin Tianming nodded, and his heart couldn¡¯t help but speculate whether his achievements in battle could make it onto the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. After all, in the previous great battle, he had single-handedly slain three Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts and then helped Tang Liusheng and Li Xiuyuan kill several more. Beyond that, he had led his team to join Lu Qiao¡¯s combat group, killing another Second Order Late Stage Beast. In total, he had slain seven or eight beasts, including those at the Second Order Middle Stage and Late Stage, putting him at the top of the list in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team. However, the subsequent battle spoils involved help from other cultivators, and how they would be distributed was hard to say; it would depend on Li Xiuyuan and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s decisions. Considering these matters, Tian Ming was very curious and looked forward to the announcement of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Hu Yuan, asking about his achievements in battle, while waiting for Yangzong to announce the rankings. Through casual conversation with Hu Yuan, he learned that the latter had killed four Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts and three Second Order Initial Stage beasts. With such battle exploits, Hu Yuan¡¯s results were not much different from his own, and perhaps Hu Yuan had a slight advantage. To this, Lin Tianming was not surprised. He had concealed some of his strength during the battle, whereas Hu Yuan was a genuine Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator with profound and unfathomable strength. It was to be expected that he would achieve such results. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming gave a compliment with a smile and then exchanged information with Hu Yuan, inquiring about potential competitors. Time slowly passed, and half an hour went by. As cultivators continued to arrive incessantly, the number of people in the square further increased, quickly doubling several times over, conservatively estimated to be more than three thousand people. The noisy scene and the chattering cultivators conversed, creating a very lively atmosphere. Lin Tianming also learned quite a bit, focusing his attention on those cultivators above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. After all, these powerful cultivators were strong contenders for spots in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, and ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators only took note of a few well-known ones, paying no mind to the rest. Just then, several men in uniform attire came out from Zhenyang Hall; among them, four men and one woman had embroidery on their chests that made their identities clear¡ªthey were undoubtedly cultivators from Zhenyang Sect. As these individuals appeared, the originally noisy scene suddenly quieted down, and everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on Long Qingshui at the forefront, showing an expectant look. At the square, Long Qingshui swept his gaze across the crowd, spotting many familiar faces. A calm smile spread across his face as he nodded in greeting, as if to acknowledge them all. Following that, seeing the anticipatory looks in the cultivators¡¯ eyes, Long Qingshui didn¡¯t plan on delaying and risking offense. He gave a calm smile, then took out a golden yellow scroll, which turned out to be a Second Order Magical Artifact. The item had hardly appeared before all eyes were wide open, fearing they would miss something. Everyone was determined to witness the names and achievements on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard the instant they were revealed. Seeing the reaction of the cultivators, Long Qingshui cast a Law Decree onto the golden yellow scroll, which slowly unrolled, its surface flashing brilliantly with golden light. Afterwards, he tossed the scroll towards a pillar at the entrance of Zhenyang Hall. The scroll unfurled completely and adhered straight onto the pillar. As the light dimmed, the scroll fully opened, forming a scroll painting several zhang in length, which looked ancient and majestic, exuding a profound world¡¯s atmosphere. Immediately after, Long Qingshui formed seals with his hands and made a specific gesture. Then, uttering words under his breath, he seemed to be reciting some kind of special incantation. With his incantation concluded and his hand movement ceased, the scroll painting once again radiated dazzling golden light. Having done all this, Long Qingshui¡¯s expression remained calm, his sonorous voice echoing across the entire square. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the Demon Hunter Leaderboard is now presented, please feel free to peruse at your leisure. If there are any questions, you may come to Zhenyang Hall with your leader to consult with me,¡± ¡°If no inquiries are made within half a month, it will automatically be assumed that you all accept the allocation. After that, no further adjustments will be made.¡± After speaking, Long Qingshui bowed with clenched fists to the many cultivators and, without waiting for their reactions, re-entered Zhenyang Hall with several fellow sect members. Only then did the cultivators react, hastily shifting their gaze towards the scroll hanging on the pillar. Looking over it, the scroll depicted two large sections, each with dozens of lines, with each line featuring a cultivator¡¯s name along with a detailed explanation of their achievements. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the square, everyone stared intently at the scroll, scrutinizing every name and achievement, not wanting to miss even a single word. Lin Tianming stood in a corner, his sharp eyes piercing through the dozens of zhang, scanning from the top downwards, the words on the scroll coming into view quite clearly. Rules: Demonic Beasts are calculated by points, a Second Order Initial Stage Beast is worth ten points, a Second Order Middle Stage Beast is worth fifty points, a Second Order Late Stage Beast is worth one hundred points. Rules: In cases where Demonic Beasts are slain collectively, points will be distributed by Golden Core Cultivators. If not accepted, one may go with the leader to Zhenyang Hall to request a review. Seeing these rules, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have any doubts, as Chen Jingtian had mentioned them before, so there were no surprises. Regaining his composure, he continued to look down anxiously, still uncertain whether his own name would appear or not. He took a deep breath, finally calming down, and then looked further down. Demon Hunter Leaderboard First Place: Long Qingshui, seven hundred forty points. Achievements: Individually killed five Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted in killing numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. Demon Hunter Leaderboard Second Place: Jun Buhui, six hundred fifty points. Achievements: Individually killed four Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted in killing numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. Demon Hunter Leaderboard Third Place: Jiang Yuyao, six hundred twenty points. Achievements: Individually killed four Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted¡­ ¡­ Demon Hunter Leaderboard Sixteenth Place: Lin Tianming, four hundred seventy points. Achievements: Individually killed three Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted in killing numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. ¡­ Lin Tianming read through the scroll from top to bottom, from left to right, examining it in great detail. Having seen his name on the list, and placed at sixteenth overall, he finally couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh of relief. Chapter 493 03-25 - 493 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_1 ?Chapter 493: Chapter 283: Claiming the Spoils of War_1 Chapter 493: Chapter 283: Claiming the Spoils of War_1 His mind refocused, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was somewhat excited, with a faint smile always on his face. Concerning his ranking and the points distributed by Li Xiuyuan, his heart was very satisfied. Actually, right after the battle ended, he had some guesses about his score, an approximate figure in mind. As long as Li Xiuyuan distributed the points fairly, it should be just over four hundred. And yet, he had not expected to reach four hundred and seventy points, a bit more than he had predicted. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan was quite fair after all, and even took good care of him, truly worthy of deep friendship. As for the ranking, it was a bit unexpected. He had thought that reaching the top thirty would have been achieving his goal, but entering the top twenty was indeed satisfying. ... It wasn¡¯t that he was complacent, but given his cultivation strength, securing this rank among the thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was not easy. After all, those ranked in the top ten of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard were basically Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators. People like Long Qingshui, Jun Buhui, and Jiang Yuyao, all direct disciples of Golden Core Cultivators, had talents and cultivation that, along with various Magic Artifacts for combating enemies, nearly reached the limit of what a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could achieve. In addition, those in the overall top ten were already well-known, famous figures in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Under such circumstances, it was extremely difficult to compete with Zhenyang Sect Disciples for a spot in the top ten. Knowing all this, such a ranking still meant reaching his goal, even exceeding expectations. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming cast another glance over the scroll, looking at a few familiar names, and then fell into contemplation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among the cultivators he knew, aside from himself, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan were also on the list. Li Xiuyuan was powerful, one of the best among the Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, ranked eighth overall. Hu Yuan, a Loose Cultivator, was also unfathomably strong. Throughout the great battle, he had mostly been with Lin Tianming, slaughtering many Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, thus ranking fourteenth overall. Lu Qiao, whose strength was not outstanding, had relied on Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡¯s help to overcome difficulties and thus did not make it onto the list. As for these acquainted few entering the list, it had been within his expectations, not particularly exciting. However, the ones at the top of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard did arouse his keen interest. Looking over, the names among the top ten on the leaderboard were all individuals of exceptional talent and brilliance. The top-ranked Long Qingshui, whose fame preceded him, possessed extraordinary talent and was a True Disciple of Chen Jingtian. It was said he had Dual Spiritual Roots and, at just the age of twenty, had already reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, an extremely talented and powerful cultivator. Both Jun Buhui and Jiang Yuyao were also Dual Spiritual Root cultivators and True Disciples of Golden Core Masters. Around the same age as Long Qingshui, they were also at the stage of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, showcasing formidable natural talent. At this moment, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but compare himself to them, secretly wondering whether he had the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm before sixty years of age. Now approaching forty, he had just broken through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, with a considerable distance still to go to reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. With only twenty years left until sixty, he needed to break through four realms, which would not be difficult if things went smoothly. If not, it would be hard to say. However, he was quite confident in his own natural talent and cultivation. As long as he cultivated systematically, achieving a realm every five years was entirely possible. On the bustling square, Lin Tianming, looking at the chattering crowd and then at the list of genius cultivators on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, felt a surge of overwhelming pride well up inside him. Just on this battlefield alone, there were several Dual Spiritual Root cultivators present, a gathering of the strong. One could imagine, within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World or even among the Three Great Golden Core Sects, there might well be Single Spiritual Root genius disciples. Throughout his years of cultivation, although he could be considered diligent and hardworking, his journey had been relatively smooth overall, without facing any significant bottlenecks. Moreover, having never ventured far or met many genius cultivators, he stood unrivaled in cultivation among his peers and in his area of residence, scarcely meeting any rivals. Thus, secluded in his own world, his understanding of the outside realm was limited, and his perspective exceedingly narrow. Now, having the rare opportunity to compete with these geniuses, equals in talent, was also a great test for him. Thinking of this, he was also somewhat excited, feeling a surge of blood rush to his heart. As he was lost in thought, Daoist Hu, standing beside him, interrupted his musings. ¡°Lin, it¡¯s truly admirable that you¡¯ve secured a place on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard with such results!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and smiled, ¡°Daoist Hu jests. It was just a stroke of luck.¡± ¡°But as for you, Daoist Hu, your position is even higher than mine. With your strength, you surely have a good chance of securing an entry spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, right?¡± These words of Lin Tianming invigorated Hu Yuan, igniting a fire within him. Once he had calmed down, he replied, ¡°I hope so. But this great battle was truly a crouching tiger, hidden dragon situation, teeming with geniuses. It won¡¯t be so easy to obtain that spot!¡± ¡°However¡­ it is a good start, and no matter the odds, I shall strive for it with all my might!¡± This statement resonated with Lin Tianming¡¯s own thoughts. After all, everyone knew the competition would be fierce before coming here, but they still chose to risk participating for this precious opportunity. Chapter 494 03-25 - 494 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_2 ?Chapter 494: Chapter 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_2 Chapter 494: Chapter 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_2 Not only he, but probably the majority of cultivators thought the same way. You must know, advancing in cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage is very difficult, and one must seize every opportunity. The Tianfeng Secret Realm contains many such opportunities, even including Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, which no Foundation Establishment Cultivator can ignore. Even though joining the intense competition for an entry slot is indeed difficult, it is still better than having no chance at all. However, within the Zhenyang Sect, there are thirty entry slots that won¡¯t be part of the fierce competition for these hard-to-come-by three slots. Otherwise, if they had to compete for these three slots against cultivators of exceptional talent, and those with strong backgrounds, one could basically assume they would stand no chance. For these family-affiliated cultivators, as well as the Loose Cultivators, fighting over three slots in the Secret Realm¡ªalbeit an elusive hope¡ªis still better than competing with Zhenyang Sect disciples. ... Realizing this serves as both a consolation and a goal for themselves; no matter how tough it might be, they must give it a try. With this mindset, after an intense battle, Lin Tianming ranked sixteenth on the individual Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Regarding this result, he was indeed very satisfied. Moreover, setting aside the Zhenyang Sect disciples, only four people scored higher than him, two of whom were from families and two were Loose Cultivators, all possessing cultivation at or above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Among the two Loose Cultivators with higher scores than him, Hu Yuan was one, and the other, named Zheng Xiao, with five hundred seventy points, ranked sixth overall, even two places above Li Xiuyuan. At the same time, in the rankings of all family-affiliated cultivators and Loose Cultivators, Zheng Xiao was first, and in the top ten overall, the only non-Zhenyang Sect Cultivator. The other two family-affiliated cultivators were named Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun, both well-known figures, hailing respectively from the Northern Ridge Mountains¡¯ Deng Family and the Luoping Mountains¡¯ Yang Clan. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Both these mountain ranges, located near the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, are among the top forces in Wei Kingdom, relying on the Dragon Mountain Market for strength. However, they were far from Qianchuan Market and even further from the Luoyun Mountain Range where the Lin Family was located. Therefore, Lin Tianming had only seen their names on the map of Wei Kingdom, and was not very familiar with the specifics of the two major families. Nevertheless, Deng Guanghua ranked eleventh overall, and Yang Tongshun thirteenth, with a fifty-point lead over the sixteenth place Lin Tianming. Under such circumstances, with Zheng Xiao ranking sixth, Deng Guanghua eleventh, Yang Tongshun thirteenth, Hu Yuan fourteenth, and Lin Tianming with four hundred seventy points at sixteenth place overall. It was these four individuals ranked ahead of him, as well as the closely scored non-Zhenyang Sect cultivators behind him, who were his main competitors for the slots. For this reason, Lin Tianming made sure to remember the names of potential competitors, always keeping an eye on their status. Bringing his mind back, Lin Tianming exchanged a few words with Hu Yuan, then left with Qin Xi, heading towards their residence. In no time, the two chatted calmly as they walked, and quickly returned to their abode. Lin Tianming said nothing more; they each returned to their practice rooms and began a brief period of cultivation. ¡­ Two days later. Inside a residence in the East District of Yuyao City, Li Xiuyuan and several team members, including Lin Tianming, sat together chatting leisurely. This morning, Lin Tianming received a message from Li Xiuyuan, summoning him to his residence for a gathering. As for the purpose of this visit, Lin Tianming had anticipated it; it was likely because Li Xiuyuan was back in peak condition and wanted them to collect their respective spoils of war. As expected, after a few polite exchanges, Li Xiuyuan glanced at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, a few of his teammates in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and then got straight to the point. He smiled and greeted them with a cupped-hands salute, then began to speak, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the first battle has ended perfectly, and our Human Race side has achieved a complete victory.¡± ¡°Regarding the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, I believe everyone has already taken a look. Myself, Daoist Lin, and Daoist Hu, we have all placed within the top twenty of the overall individual leaderboard.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In addition, in the teams leaderboard recruited by our sect, our team also ranks eighth overall.¡± ¡°One could say that the team I recruited has performed exceptionally well, far exceeding my expectations.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Li Xiuyuan chuckled mischievously, a face full of tenacious features adorned with a smug expression. It was evident that as the team leader, Li Xiuyuan was indeed very satisfied with this achievement. Upon reflection, it was quite easy to understand. Among the numerous teams, at least ten had leaders like Long Qingshui who were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection level. Yet, Li Xiuyuan, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, worked hard with his recruited team members and surpassed many other Foundation Establishment Great Perfection fellows, achieving eighth place on the team leaderboard. It truly wasn¡¯t easy. As such, if the competition were to end with their current results, his team¡¯s achievement would definitely secure a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Therefore, it was only natural for Li Xiuyuan to feel excited and satisfied with this outcome. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and the others all smiled and handed out a few compliments, which made the already delighted Li Xiuyuan burst into uproarious laughter. After a short while, the lively atmosphere finally settled down. At this moment, Li Xiuyuan took out several storage bags and handed them one by one to Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan, and others. Lin Tianming and the rest did not stand on ceremony and each accepted a storage bag, their faces soon displaying satisfaction upon inspection. Upon his inspection, Qin Xi¡¯s storage bag had an abundance of Demon Beast Corpses. Most of them were personally slain by her without support from others, so there were no complications, and the points she received were equivalent to the value. As for his own storage bag, it contained the perfectly preserved corpses of three Gale Rats, with the Demon Cores and Souls all intact. In addition, there were some materials from the Second Order Late Stage Beast that he supported Li Xiuyuan and Lu Qiao in killing. Although some of the Demon Beast Corpses weren¡¯t complete, after all, some beasts were jointly slain, and both parties had contributed, so they each needed to take some spoils of battle. Therefore, with the value of materials from a single beast differing, it wasn¡¯t easy to allocate, but Li Xiuyuan made up for it with items of equivalent value, even slightly more than the original value, ensuring they didn¡¯t suffer an obvious loss. In this way, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s distribution was relatively fair, and he showed tact by not being overly concerned with petty profits. His actions indeed resulted in Lin Tianming and the others having nothing to say and even feeling a sense of gratitude. With the spoils fully distributed, everyone was overjoyed as they began discussing potential competitors on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Li Xiuyuan said with a smile, ¡°Our first phase yields are fruitful. Now, let¡¯s see if everyone can continue to maintain this, striving for good results both in the team and individual rankings to secure a place in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Tang Liusheng nodded and chimed in. ¡°Daoist Li is right. In our team, both Daoist Lin and Daoist Hu have decent achievements,¡± he said. ¡°In the upcoming battles, if they slay a few more demonic beasts, it¡¯s possible that both could enter the top three together and secure a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ That¡¯s indeed possible!¡± He Qiancheng giggled as she began to share her analysis. ¡°Aside from those from our noble sect, these two rank fourth and fifth on the individual leaderboard, merely a difference of a few dozen points from the top three,¡± she said. ¡°Such a gap isn¡¯t much; it¡¯s equivalent to the points for a Second Order Late Stage Beast. As long as we seize the opportunity, they can certainly push their way in,¡± she added. Upon hearing this, Liu Zhen, who was usually quiet, also spoke up in agreement. ¡°Yes¡­ If that happens, our team would have two fellow cultivators securing spots. Just the thought of it is exciting!¡± he exclaimed. At this point, as everyone exchanged their thoughts, both Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming gave a wry smile. They knew that while such thoughts were pleasant, putting them into action would not be that easy. After all, the people ahead of them in ranking were very formidable in terms of cultivation strength, not the slightest bit inferior to Hu Yuan, and perhaps even stronger. Chapter 495 03-25 - 495 284 Transaction_1 ?Chapter 495: Chapter 284: Transaction_1 Chapter 495: Chapter 284: Transaction_1 Especially Zheng Xiao. He should be the only one among the many non-Zhenyang Sect cultivators who has reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. With such strength, even the always proud Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh with admiration. He was very clear about his own capabilities, if it was the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he might be able to compete without falling short. However, even though Foundation Establishment Great Perfection only seemed a small realm above the Ninth Level, and couldn¡¯t even be considered a full realm, the gap was still significant. Anyone who took that step, whether it was during the Qi Refinement Realm or the Foundation Establishment Stage, it meant that their spiritual power had reached the limit within that realm, and there was no possibility for further improvement. In such a situation, this small realm difference was like the difference between heaven and earth, and crossing over was not easy. ... Knowing this, Lin Tianming dared not be too ambitious; he didn¡¯t entertain the thought of pushing Zheng Xiao out of the top three. Instead, he set his sights on Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun, who were at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, as his targets to catch up to. Hu Yuan felt the same way, and he even considered Lin Tianming as a potential rival; however, that did not affect their cooperation. After all, Hu Yuan had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. The two working together would be safer in a big battle and could unleash stronger power, thereby achieving better rewards. Thinking of this, Hu Yuan had made up his mind. He planned to actively seek out Lin Tianming after the gathering was over to see if they could cooperate further. Half an hour later. Everyone ended the gathering, and Tang Liusheng and others said their goodbyes and left Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave residence together. Seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan getting up to leave, Li Xiuyuan quickly called out to them, seemingly having something to discuss. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan stopped in their tracks, looking puzzled, and retook their original seats. At this time, Li Xiuyuan smiled, took out a pot of Spiritual Tea, and brewed it anew, pouring a cup for each of them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, this is Second Order Medium Quality White Dew Tea, I normally wouldn¡¯t bring this out for just anyone, so you must savor it!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately became interested. He was very fond of Spiritual Tea, but Second Order Spiritual Tea was not commonly seen, and one would only have the chance to taste it when entertaining extremely important guests. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Hu, seems like we are in for a treat!¡± As soon as Lin Tianming¡¯s joking words fell, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression showed excitement, and he then spoke up. ¡°That¡¯s right, White Dew Tea is a rare variety. A pot of Spiritual Tea like this has effects comparable to several Fusion Spirit Pills, without any side effects!¡± Li Xiuyuan on the side nodded and urged: ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t be shy, please taste it!¡± Thereupon, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan no longer stood on ceremony and each lifted their jade cups to take a sip. Upon tasting the Spiritual Tea, its refreshing fragrance overwhelmed the senses, with a delightful sweetness amidst the bitterness, and the tea water also contained a gentle energy. Feeling a hot sensation in his Dantian, Lin Tianming¡¯s face gradually turned a flushed red. This peculiar sensation was extremely profound, with ancient and persistent energy, naturally flowing through the meridians, bringing utmost comfort. Soon, Lin Tianming calmed down and opened his mouth to offer praise. ¡°This Spiritual Tea, upon drinking, brings a fragrance that overwhelms the senses, bitterness with a hint of sweetness, and contains a gentle energy¡ªeven just a sip refreshes the spirit and saves decades of hard cultivation, truly a rare and commendable tea!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s evaluation, Hu Yuan nodded and also shared his opinion. ¡°Indeed, indeed¡­ I am also a lover of tea, and this tea is definitely a precious rarity among Second Order Spiritual Teas!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Since both of you seem so satisfied, feel free to drink more. I only hope you¡¯ll do your best to secure a spot on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard in the upcoming battles.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan nodded, understanding Li Xiuyuan¡¯s reason for keeping them behind. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan, to secure a spot, had a hard time contending with other teams on his own, and hence he was pulling them in to join forces. However, from any perspective, Lin Tianming and his peers saw no reason to refuse. After all, he and Hu Yuan themselves aimed to secure a spot. Therefore, they must make every effort, in order to score more points in the coming battles. And their performance would also be linked to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team, helping him to obtain a spot within the Zhenyang Sect. It could be said their goals were aligned and they were in the same boat. With this in mind, Lin Tianming responded with a cupped fist: ¡°Daoist Li, rest assured, even without you saying so, we would have tried our best anyway.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ gathering together, striving for the same goal, there¡¯s really no conflict.¡± Hu Yuan echoed. Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expression brightened with excitement, very satisfied with their attitude. At this moment, Hu Yuan smiled faintly, then spoke of his idea of traveling together with Lin Tianming. ¡°Daoist Lin, what do you think?¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming pondered for a moment, feigning hesitation, then finally spoke: ¡°I have no objections!¡± ¡°However, regarding the spoils of battle, could Daoist Hu let me have the Monster Beast Souls in your possession, as well as those you will acquire later?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming agree, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression lit up with excitement. He was curious about why Lin Tianming wanted the Monster Beast Souls, but he didn¡¯t outright reject the request nor did he ask for an explanation. Regaining his composure, Hu Yuan said: ¡°Daoist Lin, I could let you have the Monster Beast Souls.¡± ¡°However, regarding other spoils of war, I hope you could let me have a larger share. If it¡¯s hard to divide, I don¡¯t mind taking a slight loss!¡± Chapter 496 03-25 - 496 284 Trade_2 ?Chapter 496: Chapter 284: Trade_2 Chapter 496: Chapter 284: Trade_2 Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded his head, his heart filled with satisfaction at Hu Yuan¡¯s statement. He himself had no intention of taking advantage, after all, Hu Yuan was a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator with formidable strength, a Loose Cultivator without any encumbrances, and it wasn¡¯t worth offending him over trivial gains. Since he agreed to his request and wasn¡¯t concerned about some small gain or loss, that was all the better. Returning to his senses, Lin Tianming clasped his fists in thanks and then said, ¡°Thank you, Daoist Hu.¡± ¡°In addition, if the two Daoist friends wish to sell the Second Order Demon Beast Souls you have, I am willing to exchange them for elixirs or Spirit Stones, and the price will definitely be fair!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan seemed to understand that Lin Tianming needed a large number of Second Order Demon Beast Souls and was willing to purchase them in bulk. However, the use of Demon Beast Souls wasn¡¯t very widespread, and they were only used in some special Magic Artifacts to enhance the power of the weapons, but during major battles, they could be consumed in great amounts. ... Thus, with such limitations, the value of Demon Beast Souls wasn¡¯t very high under normal circumstances, and during the year the Demon Beast Tide erupted, a large number of souls flooded the market, making it even harder to sell them at a good price. The value of the more than ten Second Order Demon Beast Souls held by the two of them would only decrease over time. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of this, the two no longer intended to hold onto them, especially since their value wasn¡¯t very high, and it was a perfect opportunity to forge a bond with Lin Tianming. Making up their minds, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan each took out over ten Jade Bottles, with each bottle containing a Second Order Demon Beast Soul. Li Xiuyuan looked at the Jade Bottles and then handed them over to Lin Tianming without hesitation, showing no sign of distress. Immediately after, Li Xiuyuan said, ¡°Lin, please accept this small token as a gesture of goodwill from your brother!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Li is right, I have no use for these Demon Beast Souls, so since Lin needs them, I¡¯ll give them to you!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Hu Yuan laughed heartily and then likewise handed his Jade Bottles to Lin Tianming. ¡°This?¡± Lin Tianming looked at the Jade Bottles before him, and although he coveted them, he did not immediately take them. After hesitating for a moment, he took out some Second Order Monster Beast Inner Pellets from his storage bag, giving each person three as a trade for these souls. Seeing his actions, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan¡¯s faces reddened, and they feigned anger. Li Xiuyuan said with displeasure, ¡°Do you perhaps look down on us, Lin?¡± ¡°Li is right, not to boast, but even though we¡¯re not the strongest, there aren¡¯t many below the Golden Core Cultivators who surpass us in strength or wealth,¡± said Hu Yuan. ¡°And these few Demon Beast Souls are hardly worth mentioning. Lin, please don¡¯t be so modest, otherwise, it¡¯ll look bad!¡± Seeing that they had spoken to this extent, Lin Tianming no longer insisted, so as not to seem insincere and repulsive. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll not stand on ceremony, I thank you both in advance!¡± After accepting the Jade Bottles and clasping his fists in thanks, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll take these Demon Beast Souls; if you acquire more later, please be sure to reserve them for me.¡± ¡°At that time, I must exchange them for treasures of equivalent value; otherwise, I definitely won¡¯t accept them!¡± Listening to his words and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute expression, Hu Yuan didn¡¯t persist any longer. ¡°Well said, we¡¯ll do as Lin suggests!¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Given there are quite a few cultivators in our team, since Lin is in such need of Demon Beast Souls, I¡¯ll mention it to them and exchange their Demon Beast Souls for Demon Cores,¡± Li Xiuyuan said with a smile. Hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming became even more excited. A great amount of Demon Beast Souls would be available after this grand battle. Depending solely on their few people, the number of Second Order Demon Beast Souls they could get was limited. To significantly enhance the power of the Thousand Beast Banner, a vast quantity of souls was necessary. And Li Xiuyuan¡¯s offer was indeed a helpful reminder. With his help in collecting them, if he also established contact with a few other teams, he could indeed amass a large quantity of Demon Beast Souls in a short time, thereby increasing the power of the Thousand Beast Banner. Excited by these thoughts, Lin Tianming was eager to get started. ¡°Haha¡­ That¡¯s really a great help, thank you, Li!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded, as the leader of the team, such a small matter was really nothing to him, it was merely a matter of speaking up. Furthermore, not everyone needs the souls of demonic beasts; if they can be exchanged for more useful demon cores or artifact refining materials, it simply meets different needs. For those who have no use for the souls of the demonic beasts, there is no reason to refuse this trade. Refocusing his mind, Li Xiuyuan continued to entertain Lin and Hu Yuan, chatting over cups of spiritual tea. The three conversed for half an hour, exchanging a good deal of news and reaching many common understandings. Feeling the time was right, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan stood up to take their leave, planning to depart together from this place. Just then, three messages flew in simultaneously and stopped in front of them. After each had checked their messages, they exchanged smiles; it turned out to be an invitation from Lu Qiao for them to gather at the Welcome Pavilion. They had expected Lu Qiao to invite them in a few days, but to their surprise, it came so soon after the battle, which had only ended a few days ago. ¡°Since Brother Lu has invited us, why don¡¯t we all go to the feast together?¡± Li Xiuyuan said with a smile. ¡°Sure!¡± Lin and Hu Yuan nodded, and then the three of them stood up and left the cave abode, hurrying towards the street where the Welcome Pavilion was located. Before long¡­ In a private room on the second floor of the Welcome Pavilion, a massive stone table was already filled with fragrant and tempting dishes. At this moment, more than twenty cultivators were seated together, chatting. Aside from the late-stage cultivators in Lu Qiao¡¯s team, those attending the feast were the ones who had provided support during the big battle. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan sat together among the cultivators, talking and laughing, creating a very lively atmosphere. Seeing that all the invited guests had arrived, Lu Qiao stood up with his wine cup, and everyone gradually fell silent to listen to him. ¡°Hehe¡­ today we have a full house of distinguished guests, and I am both thrilled and honored!¡± ¡°Taking this opportunity with Brother Li present, I wish to express my gratitude to all the fellow Daoists for their generous assistance during the great battle¡­¡± From his high seat, Lu Qiao spoke sincerely, his expression and tone genuine, seemingly moved by the sentiment. Lin Tianming listened quietly, not caring much for these formalities. In his heart, such receptions were less practical than helping collect the souls of demonic beasts. With Lu Qiao¡¯s pleasantries over, he scanned the crowd and then raised his glass: ¡°Let me offer a toast to all of you!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, everyone, including Li Xiuyuan, picked up their cups and stood up to have a drink of spiritual wine together. As the spiritual wine, brewed from spiritual medicine, was consumed, its energy spread instantly, causing everyone involuntarily to flush with warmth. Then, under the hosting of Lu Qiao, everyone took their seats again and began tasting the dishes made from the flesh of demonic beasts. Having not eaten spirit beast meat for a long time since leaving his family, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back and began eating heartily. After three rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes, everyone ate and drank without restraint, immersing themselves in the food. During this time, they exchanged cultivation insights, discussed the Four Arts of Cultivation, and even shared various rumors and interesting stories from the world of cultivation, creating a lively atmosphere. Through their conversations, it was learned that Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team had become quite famous among the many teams. Being led by two Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators, and achieving such a high rank on the overall leaderboard, surprised and envied many. In addition, the names of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan spread throughout Yuyao City. For a time, they attracted the attention and discussion of many cultivators, as both of them were ranked high on the individual leaderboard. Especially Lin Tianming, who achieved such a dazzling result and won the gold medal with merely a Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation Realm, was indeed incredible to many. To this, Lin Tianming felt helpless; although he did not want to be high-profile, he had to display his strength to compete for a spot. In such circumstances, attracting attention was unavoidable and there was nothing that could be done about it. Seeing that the situation had reached this point and was unchangeable, Lin Tianming did not think too much about it and accepted it as it was. ¡­ Chapter 497 03-25 - 497 285 Refining the Thousand Beast ?Chapter 497: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_1 Chapter 497: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_1 Immediately following, Lin Tianming, in front of everyone, brought up the matter of exchanging demon beast inner pills for second order demon beast souls. Those seated here were either his teammates or people he had helped. Faced with such a mutually beneficial request, it quickly received everyone¡¯s consent. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and the cultivators reached an agreement on the details of the trade with remarkable smoothness. Lin Tianming was very pleased with this and looked forward to it greatly. As the banquet drew to a close, everyone was full and satisfied with the hospitality provided by Lu Qiao. At this moment, Li Xiuyuan took the lead in expressing gratitude to Lu Qiao and then requested to take his leave. ... Seeing this, Lu Qiao and Li Xiuyuan exchanged a few courtesies, followed by everyone asking to be excused and leaving the scene. Lu Qiao did not insist on detaining anyone and, after greeting them, left the Guest-Receiving Palace along with the crowd. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Strolling leisurely down the streets of Yuyao City, Lin Tianming felt quite content. His day had been fulfilling; he had collected the spoils of the great battle, enjoyed the finest spiritual tea courtesy of Li Xiuyuan, and was still harboring a surge of energy within. Then, he accepted Lu Qiao¡¯s invitation to the banquet, indulged hugely in the delicacies, and secured a source for monster beast souls, reaping a rich harvest. On the streets, Lin Tianming appreciated the surrounding shops and soon returned to his own cave dwelling. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Inside the Guest-Receiving Palace. Lin Tianming stood with his hands clasped behind his back; it had been two days since he had gone to Zhenyang Hall to check the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Seeing that Qin Xi was still in closed-door cultivation and showed no sign of coming out, he did not wish to disturb her and planned to directly enter the training room for cultivation. As for the spoils of war that Li Xiuyuan had given him to bring over, he would hand them over when they met next; there was no need to rush. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming turned and headed towards the deeper training room. Just then, the door to Qin Xi¡¯s closed cultivation chamber opened, and that familiar silhouette appeared in his field of vision. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Qin Xi¡¯s face showed a flash of joy, but she quickly returned to calmness. ¡°Fairy Qin, what a coincidence that you have just finished your cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming greeted her with a smile and then took out the storage bag that Li Xiuyuan had entrusted to him and handed it to Qin Xi. ¡°This is from Li Xiuyuan for you, the spoils of your battle contributions. Take it and have a look!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, took the storage bag, and released her divine sense to inspect it, revealing a look of surprise. ¡°Lin, before we came to Yuyao City, we agreed on an even split of the spoils. Not only are the demon beast corpses in this storage bag intact, but their number is even slightly more than agreed.¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming frowned, recalling the agreement they had made initially. At the time, his proposal was more of a test; he wasn¡¯t truly concerned with the division of spoils. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about the initial agreement on the distribution. Your spoils of war are all yours; I don¡¯t want a single bit of it!¡± ¡°How can that be? We should divide it as agreed!¡± ¡°Although my strength is not great and the spoils I can obtain are limited, a promise once made must be kept!¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Qin Xi took out several second order monster beast inner pellets and some parts from demon beast corpses, almost half the value of the entire loot. She glanced at Lin Tianming¡¯s dumbfounded expression and unhesitatingly handed them over to him. Seeing her determination and that she had no intention of changing her mind, Lin Tianming felt quite satisfied with her actions. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming said calmly with a smile, ¡°Fairy Qin, let¡¯s do it this way. ¡°From this point on, and in the future, I¡¯ll only take monster beast souls from your spoils; everything else is yours. Can we agree on this?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi frowned and then inquired, ¡°The value of monster beast souls isn¡¯t high. Are you sure you¡¯re not at a loss?¡± Laughing heartily, Lin Tianming felt a bit helpless regarding Qin Xi¡¯s stubbornness. ¡°Fairy Qin, as a loose cultivator and a woman alone, it is not my style to take advantage of you. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss it further; it is decided!¡± Overwhelmed by Lin Tianming¡¯s assertive and incontrovertible words, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks flushed with color, and she was momentarily at a loss. Seeing that Qin Xi had no rebuttal, Lin Tianming felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± At this time, Lin Tianming chuckled mischievously, feeling very relaxed. ¡°Fairy Qin, quickly hand over my share of the monster beast souls, so that I may begin my cultivation right away!¡± Upon the prompting, the daydreaming Qin Xi, somewhat helplessly, took out a jade bottle containing the souls and handed it to Lin Tianming. Without being courteous, Lin Tianming took the jade bottle, exchanged a few pleasantries with Qin Xi, and advised her not to wander off unnecessarily. Qin Xi nodded, and then watched Lin Tianming stride away from the Guest-Receiving Palace toward his training room. As he departed, she stood there alone, a peculiar feeling welling up inside her. This sensation was strange, indescribable, and difficult to express. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± With flushed cheeks, Qin Xi let out a long sigh and then turned to leave the Guest-Receiving Palace. ¡­ Inside the training room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, with his hands together, engaging in his breathing exercises, and the even sound of his breath filled the training room. At this time, his body was filled with a great amount of energy, the result of the fine spiritual tea and spiritual wine he had consumed during the day¡¯s gathering and hadn¡¯t yet had time to refine. Chapter 498 03-25 - 498 285 Refining the Thousand Beast ?Chapter 498: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_2 Chapter 498: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_2 Now that he had some free time, Lin Tianming began to refine the stored energy within his body, trying his best to increase his cultivation. Under his methodical refinement, he saw the energy within his body gradually transform into spiritual power, converging within his Qi Sea Dantian through the meridians. At the same time, the spiritual power in his Dantian slowly increased, and his aura also rose gradually. Although it was hard to notice, he could still feel these subtle changes himself. Feeling this, Lin Tianming was excited and began to fully operate his cultivation technique, entering a deep state of cultivation. Several days passed quietly. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes leisurely and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. ... After several days of secluded cultivation, he had refined all the stored energy in his body, and his cultivation had increased significantly. Although there was still a long way to breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, the results of these few days of cultivation were at the very least equivalent to several months of arduous meditative cultivation. ¡°Hehe¡­ Li and Daoist Lu have hosted me well, and the effects and benefits of this Spiritual Tea and Spiritual Wine are not small, comparable to cultivating with elixirs!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then took out the Thousand Beast Banner from his storage bag and held it in his hand. He needed to begin with refining the energy inside him in order not to waste it, and now that the goal was achieved, it was time to seal the Monster Beast Souls into the Thousand Beast Banner. Having made up his mind, he immediately took out nearly a hundred Jade Bottles, most of which contained a soul of a Second Order Demonic Beast, with only a very few holding souls of First Order Demonic Beasts. Looking at so many decent-grade Monster Beast Souls, aside from about ten that were his own spoils of battle, the rest had all been acquired through exchanges or gifts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Before leaving his family, the Thousand Beast Banner had already been upgraded once, when his family obtained many Monster Beast Souls while resisting an attack by demonic beasts, which ultimately fell into his hands. However, although that batch of Monster Beast Souls was abundant, their quality fell far short of this current batch. In this batch of Monster Beast Souls, there were more than twenty from Second Order Late Phase beasts, with quite a few from Mid Stage, and the worst were from the Initial Stage of Second Order. Among the previous batch of souls, the majority were from First Order beasts, with only a small percentage from Second Order, and souls from Second Order Late-Stage beasts were particularly rare. Under these circumstances, if he were to seal these Monster Beast Souls into the Thousand Beast Banner, the increase in power should not be inferior to the improvement from the previous time. Thinking of this, and looking at these Second Order Monster Beast Souls, Lin Tianming was excited and somewhat impatient. Once he had calmed down, he immediately threw the Thousand Beast Banner in front of him, followed by several Law Decrees bombarding the banner. ¡°Hum hum hum¡­¡± The banner glowed brilliantly, then hovered above his head, spinning rapidly around him. Seeing that the time was about right, he took a luminous orb from the Jade Bottle and held it in his palm. This orb contained the soul of an Initial Stage Second Order demon beast, its semi-transparent form snarling and struggling as it looked at him. However, the struggle was meaningless, as such a beast would not be his match even in life, let alone in death. Watching the angry and resentful beast soul struggling, he certainly had no pity in his heart. Despite the beast soul¡¯s roars, he released a Law Decree from his hand and then decisively sent it into the Thousand Beast Banner. As a beam of light flashed by, the Thousand Beast Banner trembled slightly, seeming very pleased with the entry of the Monster Beast Soul. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not pause; he continued to imprint inscription upon inscription, the glow on the Thousand Beast Banner growing brighter and emanating spirituality. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand movements were relentless, not paying any attention to these changes. In less than half an hour, the Thousand Beast Banner stopped spinning and quietly hovered above his head. The first Monster Beast Soul was successfully sealed inside, and Lin Tianming held the Thousand Beast Banner in his hand to examine it. Feeling the increased aura and inherent spirituality of the banner compared to before, it had obviously improved. That was just from one Initial Stage Second Order Monster Beast Soul, and the Thousand Beast Banner had already shown significant changes; how much would its power increase if all these souls were sealed inside? It was hard to imagine! Thinking of this, he felt very satisfied and looked forward with even more anticipation. Looking at the vast number of Monster Beast Souls remaining, he planned to strike while the iron was hot, until all the souls were sealed inside. Having made up his mind, the movements in his hands started anew. Familiar with the process, he began supplementing them again, and the speed and efficiency of the sealing improved significantly. At that time, inside the cultivation room, the sealing of Monster Beast Souls was in full swing, and every half hour or an hour, a flash of light would pass over the body of the Thousand Beast Banner. Simultaneously, the color on its body became more vivid and its aura increasingly powerful. ¡­ Half a month passed. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming held five dark green flags in his hand, his expression brimming with excitement. After half a month of refining, nearly a hundred Second Order Monster Beast Souls were all sealed within the Thousand Beast Banner. Now, the color on the Thousand Beast Banner was even more vivid and bright, and its aura was incredibly substantial, a great difference from before, making it obvious at a glance that it was no ordinary object. Though the Thousand Beast Banner was still of a Second Order Low Grade, due to the sealing of numerous powerful Monster Beast Souls, its might had increased tremendously. At that moment, Lin Tianming clenched the Thousand Beast Banner in his hand, silently guessing if its power could compare to the Tiangang Sword. Upon reflection, the Tiangang Sword was of a Second Order Medium Quality, and it was specially custom-made for him by Lin Shilu using many precious materials. Besides, the Tiangang Sword had been through many battles, making it handy in use and his primary method against enemies; its offensive power went without saying. While the Thousand Beast Banner was of a slightly lower grade and more of a restraining artifact, its offensive power naturally couldn¡¯t match that of the Tiangang Sword. In the past, the Monster Beast Souls sealed in the Thousand Beast Banner were too weak and not numerous, so it hadn¡¯t been used much. However, now that it had received a supplement of Monster Beast Souls, its grade might not rise, but its power had reached the limit for a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. Such an artifact, when facing particular opponents or during chaotic battles, could both attack and restrain the enemy, possibly producing unexpected effects. At this time, Lin Tianming fondly touched the Thousand Beast Banner, muttering to himself, ¡°If there¡¯s an opportunity later, I must ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help raise the grade of the Thousand Beast Banner.¡± ¡°With the Monster Beast attack this time, Monster Beast Souls were easy to obtain. If I truly seal tens of thousands of Monster Beast Souls, its power might be comparable to a Second Order Superior Artifact.¡± With these thoughts, Lin Tianming was quite excited and very satisfied with the results of the refining. Managing to contain his excitement, he put away the Thousand Beast Banner, planning to test its actual power the next time there was a great battle. At this moment, he sat down on the floor, lost in thought. Over twenty days had passed since the first battle. During this period, Yuyao City was quite peaceful, and he had spent the majority of his time in closed-door cultivation, receiving no summons to battle. It seemed the Demon Beast Army posed no significant threat; otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t have been complete silence. He just didn¡¯t know what the Demon Beast Army¡¯s next move would be, nor what arrangements the Golden Core Cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect had in store! ¡°Sigh¡­ It¡¯s been several months since I left my family, I wonder how things are at Luoyun Mountain, whether Grandpa Sea has made a breakthrough?¡± ¡°Enough of that¡­ I¡¯ll go out and gather some information later!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself with a worried look on his face. Bringing his mind back to the present, he got up, tidied the cultivation room, and then stepped out. Before long, after leaving his cave residence, he strolled through the streets inside Yuyao City. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the goal of gathering information, he went to the busier commercial district. As he wandered, he overheard some conversations among Qi Refining Cultivators, but none contained any noteworthy information. It was quite normal; these people¡¯s cultivation was not high, and they were unlikely to know about critical information. To really understand the situation, he needed to visit the Zhenyang Sect cultivators or those shops with deep backgrounds. With this in mind, he turned around and headed towards the location of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Chapter 499 03-25 - 499 286 News_1 ?Chapter 499: Chapter 286: News_1 Chapter 499: Chapter 286: News_1 Sky Dragon Pavilion, ground floor hall. At this moment, the place was bustling with noise, as a large number of cultivators strolled inside, and the atmosphere seemed lively. Lin Tianming stepped in, casting a glance around the ground floor hall. Seeing his imposing entrance, a Qi Refining cultivator immediately approached to greet him. ¡°Welcome to our establishment, this humble one is Tang Jinhua. It¡¯s an honor to meet the elder!¡± Hearing this, and looking at the respectfully clasping-handed and neither overbearing nor servile Tang Jinhua, he indeed had the demeanor of a Tang Family member. Lin Tianming nodded, then gestured with a wave of his hand as a greeting. ... ¡°Elder, if you have any requests, just mention them. If I can resolve them, I certainly will not be stingy, and if not, you may discuss them with the store owner.¡± ¡°Store owner?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained calm, for he was out to casually explore and learn about the situation in Yuyao City. Coming to the Sky Dragon Pavilion, he had also intended to visit the person in charge of this establishment and inquire about news of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since Tang Jinhua brought it up, he seized the opportunity to express his wish to visit. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Tang, my young friend, who is the person in charge of this establishment? Could you please take me to meet them?¡± ¡°Elder, may I ask who you are?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Tang Jinhua looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s face and tentatively asked, seemingly trying to ascertain his identity. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, and then revealed his identity. ¡°I am Lin Tianming, a member of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, and a good friend of your family¡¯s Tang Xiuyuan in the Qianchuan Market!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming declare his identity and his connection with a member of their Tang Family, Tang Jinhua immediately became much more accommodating. Besides, Lin Tianming¡¯s name and his prominent achievements on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard were recently hot topics among cultivators. Although he was just a cultivator with Qi Refining cultivation, he paid close attention to the significant events in Yuyao City and was of course aware of the great reputation of Lin Tianming and the Lin Family. With these thoughts, Tang Jinhua smiled and his tone became much more respectful. ¡°It turns out to be Elder Lin from Luoyun Mountain, and even a friend of my clan uncle. I have been disrespectful!¡± ¡°Not at all, not at all, Tang, my young friend, there¡¯s no need for formalities!¡± Lin Tianming smiled and waved his hand before adding, ¡°I¡¯m here today with the main purpose of visiting the person in charge of this establishment. I hope, Tang, my young friend, you can make the introduction!¡± ¡°Please follow me, Elder Lin!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Tang Jinhua took the lead, walking through the main hall and guiding Lin Tianming through a passageway to the second floor. In no time, the two arrived in front of a private room on the second floor. At that moment, Tang Jinhua sent out a message, and soon the room¡¯s restrictive spells were lifted, and they both entered, one after the other. Upon entering the room, they saw a middle-aged cultivator sitting inside. He turned around without speaking, just appraising Lin Tianming. The middle-aged cultivator wore a blue robe embroidered with a small mountain on the chest, which must be the Tang Family of Qingzhou¡¯s clan emblem. His aura was quite reserved, with only a faint trace showing sporadically. Those with much weaker cultivation or insufficient Divine Sense would find it hard to detect. However, Lin Tianming was already at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, and his Divine Sense was certainly not weaker than a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. He caught the slight traces of the man¡¯s aura. Based on his estimation, this person¡¯s cultivation was likely at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, definitely not inferior to Tang Xiuyuan, who was also in charge of a shop. While he was absorbed in his thoughts, the store owner clasped his hands and took the initiative to break the silence. ¡°I am Tang Xiuhe, in charge of the Sky Dragon Pavilion in Yuyao City. I pay my respects to Daoist Lin!¡± ¡°Daoist Tang, you¡¯re too polite. I am Lin Tianming from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family, a good friend of Tang Xiuyuan. I hope you¡¯ll forgive my unsolicited visit today,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. ¡°Haha¡­ not at all¡­ Daoist Lin, your talent is extraordinary, and your reputation now echoes throughout the entire Yuyao City. You¡¯re well known to everyone!¡± Tang Xiuhe said with a laugh, then gestured for Tang Jinhua to leave and immediately invited Lin Tianming to sit down for tea. As Tang Jinhua left, only Lin Tianming and Tang Xiuhe remained in the private room. At this point, Tang Xiuhe directly asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions. Seeing his straightforwardness, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t intend to withhold anything. He took a sip from his tea cup before saying, ¡°Daoist Tang, with your noble family¡¯s deep resources and excellent information network within the Cultivation World, might you share some news, especially regarding the situation around Qianchuan Market?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Daoist Tang, I will not let you exert effort for nothing. Whatever the cost in Spirit Stones, I shall pay as usual!¡± Upon hearing these words, Tang Xiuhe¡¯s expression remained steady; he neither refused nor took up the offer. After a brief silence, he finally spoke, ¡°Daoist Lin, you needn¡¯t be reserved. Since you and my clan brother are good friends, it¡¯s no issue to share some news with you, especially since this information will soon be public knowledge in the Cultivation World anyway!¡± Elated by Tang Xiuhe¡¯s willingness to share some news, Lin Tianming managed to regain his composure and did not rush him, so as not to breach decorum. Tang Xiuhe, observing Lin Tianming, was quite satisfied internally. His willingness to share the news was not only due to the Lin Family¡¯s reputation but also because he recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s exceptional talent and strength. With Lin Tianming¡¯s rise to prominence in the ongoing conflict, it was certainly worth fostering a connection with him. After all, he was merely an outer disciple of the Tang Family, and although he managed the Sky Dragon Pavilion in Yuyao City, his cultivation and strength meant little amidst the multitude of powerful members within the Tang Family. Chapter 500 03-25 - 500 286 News_2 ?Chapter 500: Chapter 286: News_2 Chapter 500: Chapter 286: News_2 Apart from that, if he wanted to obtain clan resources for cultivation and make further progress, he had to contribute first. Therefore, he needed to expand his network and manage the Sky Dragon Pavilion well. As long as he broke through to the Golden Core Stage, he would also enter the higher echelons of the family. Under such circumstances, making friends with cultivators of strong talent and strength was something every member of the Tang Family was eager to do. For this reason, using some prophetic information to gain the support of these cultivators was a bargain too good to miss. Thinking of this, Tang Xiuhe had no reservations, and immediately began to speak. ¡°Daoist Lin, the beast tide attack in Qingzhou is now in full swing.¡± ¡°The main battlefield in Yuanzhen Kingdom sees a major battle erupting every now and then. As the Human Race¡¯s army strikes back, both sides suffer losses. The Demon Beast Army has not spread further but has also not retreated.¡± ... ¡°At this rate of attrition, unless something unexpected happens, the defeat of the Demon Beast Army is just a matter of time.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Demon Beast Army had not retreated, from the current situation, the Human Cultivators were prepared and had organized a large number of cultivators to rush to the battlefield. If things continued this way, even if the beast tide¡¯s attack worsened, the effect would not be devastating. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming continued to ask, ¡°Daoist Tang, since things have stabilized in Yuanzhen Kingdom, there shouldn¡¯t be too much impact on the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, right?¡± ¡°How about the overall situation on the side of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World?¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, Tang Xiuhe picked up the conversation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡°Hehe¡­ Wei Kingdom?¡± ¡°The Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, along with the progress in Yuyao City, have temporarily narrowed the overall strength gap between the two sides, which is quite a surprise!¡± ¡°However, the situations in Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect are not looking optimistic. The Human Cultivators are at an absolute disadvantage, but it is not yet a rout!¡± Hearing this news, Lin Tianming, who had only just calmed down, felt his heart suspended once again. In his heart, if the weakest among the three Great Sects, Zhenyang Sect, could achieve a victory and pull themselves to an evenly matched position, Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, with their longer heritage and thicker annals of strength, surely should be at least doing better than Zhenyang Sect. To think that they were actually performing worse than Zhenyang Sect was completely unexpected. Returning to his senses, wearing a puzzled expression, Lin Tianming inquired. ¡°Daoist Tang, it is said that Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect are stronger. Families in their areas also have higher overall strength. Although the Demon Beast Army is more formidable, they shouldn¡¯t be completely inactive, right?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Tang Xiuhe replied with a resigned smile, somewhat dismissive of Lin Tianming¡¯s doubts. ¡°Daoist Lin, you are not aware of the whole picture.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect have greater overall strength, and the scale of the demonic beasts is also larger.¡± ¡°The lack of progress is due to the people, due to the human leaders and participants.¡± ¡°You must understand, they do not possess the desperate courage like Zhenyang Sect; all have ulterior motives, aiming to preserve their own strength, and the results are as you might expect.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming actually agreed. The leaders on the Yuyao City side, such as Chen Jingtian, and Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun, were indeed decisive and had invested considerable effort and resources before and after the battle. Caught off guard by such a fierce offensive, the Demon Beast Army suffered a setback and lost the initiative. The intense response was likely because Zhenyang Sect understood the situation and pressure here and dared not hold back. Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, apparently too arrogant and manipulative, missed the prime opportunity and thus the army of cultivators fell into a disadvantageous position. Looking at it this way, such an outcome was indeed understandable and served as a lesson. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming fall silent, Tang Xiuhe offered a word of comfort. ¡°Daoist Lin, you need not be pessimistic. In my view, Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect do indeed have formidable strength, and if they really got serious, sparing no expense, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to defeat the demonic beasts.¡± Lin Tianming nodded. Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect weren¡¯t his concern; as long as they didn¡¯t affect Yuyao City and the Luoyun Mountain, that would suffice. Thinking of the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a touch of melancholy, filled with a sense of longing. ¡°Daoist Tang, how is the situation with the Luoyun Mountain Range, where my Lin Family resides? Has there been any news?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Lin worries too much!¡± ¡°At present, the main force of the Demon Beast Army in the Wei Kingdom is entangled with the Three Great Sects. Unless one is near the main battlefield, most other places are actually quite tranquil and safe, with hardly any strong demonic beasts causing chaos!¡± Before the words were finished, Lin Tianming asked anxiously, ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°True? It is indeed so at the moment!¡± Tang Xiuhe responded affirmatively. Then he changed the subject, saying, ¡°However, no one can predict the movements of the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°If the Demon Beast Army changes their plan and begins targeting the territories of various families, it will depend on the choices and response speeds of the different Great Sects!¡± Hearing this information and analysis, Lin Tianming nodded, his heart involuntarily releasing a sigh of relief. His greatest concern remained with his family. As for the demonic beasts changing their plans to attack those families, in the short term, it likely wouldn¡¯t pose a great threat to the Lin Family. After all, Yuyao City was no short distance from the Luoyun Mountain Range, separated by several vast mountain ranges. Any sudden incidents would first affect them. The life and death of others had little to do with the Lin Family; at most, they would offer some assistance. ¡°Hehe¡­ Although the Luoyun Mountain Range is remote and barren, it is quite safe at times like these. There are bigger concerns to deal with before it comes to the Lin Family¡¯s turn to take action!¡± Muttering this to himself, the melancholy on Lin Tianming¡¯s face faded, and he appeared quite spirited. At this moment, he looked at Tang Xiuhe with an expression of gratitude. Without hesitation, he took out three thousand spirit stones from his storage bag, ready to give them to Tang Xiuhe as a token of his thanks. ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯m very grateful for the information you¡¯ve provided. Please do not disdain this small token of appreciation!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming handed over the spirit stones with utmost sincerity. Seeing his gesture, Tang Xiuhe waved his hand and smiled, making a gesture of refusal. ¡°Daoist Lin, there¡¯s no need for courtesy. This news will soon spread throughout Yuyao City, even across the Cultivation World. It¡¯s not worth such a sum!¡± ¡°Furthermore, before I spoke, I had no intention of asking for any reward, and I certainly won¡¯t now.¡± ¡°Besides, Daoist Lin is exceptionally talented, and you are also friends with my clan member. You really don¡¯t have to be so courteous!¡± Hearing this and seeing that Tang Xiuhe did not appear to be pretentious, Lin Tianming did not insist further. However, he felt that it was proper to express his gratitude somehow, and not doing so would seem unappreciative. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that in mind, Lin Tianming praised, ¡°Daoist Tang is truly magnanimous and understands the greater good. I admire you immensely.¡± ¡°I will remember your advice today, and should you ever find yourself in difficulty, please feel free to mention it. If I am capable, I will not hesitate to help.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ certainly, certainly!¡± Tang Xiuhe laughed heartily, very satisfied with Lin Tianming¡¯s attitude, and was secretly glad he had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of the exceptionally talented Lin Tianming and even have him owe a small favor. At that moment, he poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for Lin Tianming with a smile and then started to chat leisurely with him. After a short while, The two exchanged quite a bit of news. Having achieved the purpose of his visit, Lin Tianming had the thought of bidding farewell. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming stood up, cupped his fists towards Tang Xiuhe, and then announced his departure. ¡°Daoist Tang, it¡¯s getting late, and I must leave now. I am deeply grateful for your generous hospitality today!¡± ¡°There will be other days ahead. Should you have the chance, please visit my cave dwelling so that I may return your kindness in kind!¡± ¡°Good words, good words. I will surely call upon you if I have the chance. Seeing as you are busy, Daoist Lin, I won¡¯t keep you any longer. Let me escort you out!¡± Tang Xiuhe replied, then walked out of the secret chamber with Lin Tianming, personally seeing him to the grand hall on the first floor. Lin Tianming bowed his thanks, and under Tang Xiuhe¡¯s watchful gaze, he disappeared into the crowd. Chapter 501 03-25 - 501 287 Assault Again_1 ?Chapter 501: Chapter 287: Assault Again_1 Chapter 501: Chapter 287: Assault Again_1 Yuyao City. In Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, within a training room, he sat cross-legged with his hands clasped, deeply immersed in cultivation. After returning to his cave dwelling from the Sky Dragon Pavilion, he immediately began a closed-door cultivation, which had now lasted half a month. During this period, he had not left his dwelling, dedicating himself to cultivation and preparing for another great battle. At that moment, the stillness of his sitting meditation was quietly broken by the sound of a bell tolling. ¡°The assembly bell tolls, it¡¯s been quiet for quite a while, the demon beasts must be on the move again!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, then swiftly rose to his feet and left his cave dwelling. ... Outside, Qin Xi had been waiting for him. Seeing him emerge, she promptly approached him. ¡°Lin, could it be that the demon beasts are about to attack Yuyao City again?¡± Qin Xi asked with a grave expression. ¡°It must be so!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response. ¡°Since the end of the first great battle, more than a month has passed. With their ferocious nature, the demon beasts would certainly not retreat so easily.¡± ¡°Their return, in my view, is also within expectations!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi nodded, knowing the situation was such, but she had not expected the demon beasts to return so soon. ¡°The situation is still unknown, but since the assembly bell has sounded, let¡¯s first go to the city walls and see!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Lin Tianming said calmly, then turned to leave the cave dwelling. Qin Xi sighed with resignation and immediately turned to follow his steps, the two of them departing the dwelling together and heading off into the distance. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shortly after, the two arrived atop the city walls of Yuyao City. By then, a large number of cultivators had gathered at this location. On the streets within the city, cultivators swarmed like locusts, still with a great many rushing towards this side. Li Xiuyuan and most of the teammates had already arrived, all gathered in one area of the city wall. Lin Tianming, accompanied by Qin Xi, slowly approached them and soon reached their presence. Seeing the teammates all looking ahead, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have the time to greet them. Like the other teammates, he too focused his attention on the situation outside Yuyao City. Looking out, at that moment, on the plain several miles away from the city, the demon beast army had reassembled, led unquestionably by the fearsome Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Apart from that strongest being, all six of the previously seen Third Order demon beasts were present here. In the previous battle, two Third Order beasts were injured by the Spirit Arts unleashed by Chen Jingtian and others. Now, judging by the appearance of the two beasts, their wounds seemed to have mostly healed. Judging by their aura, although not at their peak, their strength remained formidable. ¡­ Inside the pavilion atop the city wall. With the discovery of the demon beast army, Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu were among the first to receive the news, and they quickly arrived at this place. At this time, the four Golden Core Cultivators stood side by side, and including the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the walls, everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on the demon beast army outside the Formation, expressions of apprehension on their faces. As for the numerous Qi Refining Cultivators in the city plaza, lacking sufficient Divine Sense and eyesight, they couldn¡¯t penetrate the Formation to clearly see the demon beast army several miles away. In such a situation, they all gathered in the plaza, unaware of what was happening outside the city, left only to speculate and discuss quietly among themselves. At this moment, Lin Tianming was still surveying the opposing demon beast army. While the others showed signs of apprehension, his expression appeared more composed. From his observation, the scale of the demon beast army this time hadn¡¯t changed much from before; there was only a slight increase in numbers. Fortunately, it was still the same few Third Order beasts, and overall, it was mostly those who had survived the previous battle, with little change in their overall strength. Seeing this, Lin Tianming slowly let out a breath, not overly pessimistic about the upcoming battle. After all, in the last battle, the Human Cultivators had emerged victorious, killing two Third Order demons, and injuring two Third Order demon beasts, bringing both sides¡¯ overall strength back to an even keel. Given such a disadvantage, the Human Cultivators had still managed to win; now, with the protection of the Defensive Array and the peak condition of the cultivators¡¯ strength. It could be said that the overall strength of the Human Race now was in no way inferior to the demon beast army. Under such conditions, there was no reason to fail in the upcoming battle. However, his optimism was entirely based on the information he got from Tang Xiuhe; if not for that, he might not have been so hopeful. Because the Wei Kingdom was relatively isolated and not the main battlefield of the beast tide, the strength of the demon beast army here was quite limited. The longer the siege dragged on, the weaker their attacks would become. With time on their side, and the cunning strategies of the Human Cultivators, it was only a matter of time before the demon beasts would retreat. Regaining his composure, he turned his head to look in Chen Jingtian¡¯s direction, curious to see the response and plans from the leader of the Human Cultivators. Inside the pavilion atop the city wall. Chen Jingtian glancing at the motionless demon beast army opposite him, seemed relieved that they had no immediate plans to attack. Then, turning to look at Wang Hengqiu and the others, he spoke, ¡°The demon beast army seems poised to launch an attack, what are my Martial Brothers¡¯ thoughts?¡± Hearing his inquiry, Wang Hengqiu pondered for a moment, then spoke his thoughts. ¡°Chen Junior Brother, we had the advantage in the last battle and achieved a rich military success, indeed leveling the field for the Human Race,¡± he said. ¡°However, the overall strength of the demon beast army remains robust, not least the strength of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, which are quite troublesome to deal with.¡± Chapter 502 03-25 - 502 287 The Second Assault_2 ?Chapter 502: Chapter 287: The Second Assault_2 Chapter 502: Chapter 287: The Second Assault_2 ¡°Under such circumstances, the situation ahead is still severe, and we need to exercise caution,¡± As soon as the voice fell, the taciturn Zhu Yun echoed the sentiment. ¡°Wang is right. It¡¯s been calm for over a month. During this time, the Demon Beast Army must have been adjusting their condition and healing their wounds. Now that they¡¯ve recovered, they are ready to attack again.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our own substantial consumption and lack of certainty in a decisive battle, otherwise, we would have wiped out these monsters before they had a chance to recover.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing these words, Chen Jingtian nodded his head, remembering the scenes from the first battle. At that time, after the first battle ended, the consumption of the Human Cultivators, especially the few Golden Core Cultivators, was too great, leaving them with scarcely any spiritual power. You could say they were completely out of condition. The consumption of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who were the backbone of their power, was also not small, with many cultivators heavily wounded. In a fight, they could not last as long as the Demonic Beasts. Otherwise, taking advantage of the victory and following through with a chase, since the Demon Beast Army was weary from battling, they might have actually been able to expand their victory, or even completely crush them. ... But the Human Cultivators couldn¡¯t take risks. Without this geographical advantage and facing considerable exhaustion, a hasty chase could lead to an unexpected accident, potentially widening the gap they had so difficultly narrowed once again. In that case, it would be too passive. Precisely because of this, they didn¡¯t act rashly, but stuck to a steady approach, as the Human Cultivators could afford the consumption. Returning to the present, Chen Jingtian looked at the eager Demon Beast Army and then began to speak, ¡°What you said is right. Although we won a victory before, the Demonic Beasts are well aware that they still hold the initiative.¡± ¡°To expect a single victory to deter them is unrealistic!¡± ¡°In this situation, the Demonic Beasts won¡¯t retreat easily. In my opinion, we need at least two more significant victories before there¡¯s a chance they will recognize the difficulty and retreat.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Upon hearing this, Lan Yu nodded and then offered a compliment. ¡°Chen has analyzed it well. We must face reality. However, I believe that under Chen¡¯s leadership, the upcoming battles will still be ours to win!¡± As the youngest Golden Core Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect and the one with the least authority, flattering a bit at this moment could help to bridge relations. ¡°Haha¡­ Lan speaks well. With Chen strategizing, the Demon Beast Army is no cause for concern,¡± Zhu Yun laughed appreciation. Having said that, Chen Jingtian waved his hand with a smile, feeling inwardly gratified. Collecting his thoughts, he looked at the several people present and expressed his satisfaction with their grandeur. Then, getting straight to the point, he said, ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s set the jokes aside and discuss our countermeasures!¡± ¡°Wang, as the eldest among us with rich experience, why don¡¯t you share your thoughts?¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian calling upon him, Wang Hengqiu remained calm and considered the matter for a moment, also feeling undecided. However, the current situation was unavoidable; they would have to face the battle sooner or later. ¡°Chen, looking at the current situation, if we do not engage in battle, the Defensive Great Formation will last at most a month. After that, we still cannot avoid a major battle, and acting hastily will put us in a disadvantageous position,¡± said Wang Hengqiu. ¡°It¡¯s better to be well-prepared in advance, maybe even repeat the trick, and further weaken the power of the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°As long as we take the advantage several times, once we have fully gained the upper hand, then we can come out in full force and completely eliminate the Demonic Beasts.¡± Upon hearing these words, Chen Jingtian and the others all nodded in agreement, highly approving of Wang Hengqiu¡¯s views. In their minds, Wang Hengqiu, having lived for over four hundred years, was rightfully simple and steady in his style, with a composed demeanor that was fitting for moments like these, capable of offering incisive and reasonable advice. At this time, Chen Jingtian was also pondering internally about what goals to set for this critical battle and how much loss they could withstand. After all, in the previous battle, their capacity for a full retreat was crucially dependent on the use of a Spirit Art. And now, the Spirit Art had been used already; it would be unfeasible to employ it again for at least a year, and furthermore, the Demonic Beasts were now on guard. Without this powerful trump, how could they withstand the pursuit of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion when they decided to retreat? After deliberating for a while and being fully aware of the power of the Demonic Beasts, he had no great strategy to cope with them. Snapping back to reality, he asked, ¡°Engaging in battle is naturally not a problem, but when we retreat, we will inevitably be obstructed by the Demonic Beasts. How then do we withstand the pursuit of the Demonic Beasts at that time?¡± At these words, the normally composed Wang Hengqiu also found himself at a loss for a secure solution. At that moment, everyone was silent, all deep in thought over the most critical issue. Chen Jingtian was also hesitating, his own strength was not weak, and in his earlier years, he had acquired a powerful weapon, one he was reluctant to use unless absolutely necessary. However, at this point, the situation was quite thorny, and if things became truly dire, he would have no choice but to use his concealed tactics. While he thought this, Wang Hengqiu and the others were unaware. But having cultivated to the Golden Core Stage, which one of them wasn¡¯t cunning and deep? Aside from the obvious tactics, each had their own hidden trump cards. It all depended on the situation, whether they were willing to reveal them when backed into a corner. At this time, amidst the imbued silence, Chen Jingtian and the others had different expressions, each running their own calculations. After an unknown amount of time, several roars snapped everyone back to reality. Looking over, the Demon Beast Army had already formed up, led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, it appeared they were ready to attack the Defensive Array. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression became solemn, his heart seemingly making a resolute decision. ¡°Fellow brothers, it seems the demonic beasts won¡¯t give us a chance to consider our options or countermeasures. Since a decisive battle is inevitable, let¡¯s confront this horde of beasts,¡± he announced. As his voice fell, Wang Hengqiu and the others furrowed their brows, their faces showing a hesitant expression. Seeing the reaction of the crowd, Chen Jingtian changed his tone, and with a laugh, he added, ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± ¡°I know everyone has their own cards to play and tactics to use. At this critical moment, I hope no one holds back. If we eliminate these Third Order Demon Beasts, all losses will be replenished, and we might even come out ahead,¡± he said. Hearing these straightforward words, Wang Hengqiu and the others had awkward expressions on their faces. But they were all shrewd people. With things having come this far, and being from the same sect with over a hundred years of camaraderie, they were well aware of each other¡¯s schemes. Having cultivated to the Golden Core Stage, none of them were fools, all holding back some of their trump cards to tide over an emergency. And Chen Jingtian, being the strongest among them, was the first to broach the subject and willing to go all out for the battle. Under these circumstances, any further hesitation from them would seem rather unappreciative. Considering this, Wang Hengqiu made up his mind and was the first to express his readiness to fight with all his might. Seeing the elder Wang Hengqiu take a stance, Zhu Yun did not hesitate either and agreed to go all out. At that time, Lan Yu, being the weakest, naturally wouldn¡¯t fall behind, lest he be looked down upon by the others. Soon, Chen Jingtian and the others reached an internal consensus and prepared to lead the Cultivators¡¯ army to meet the enemy, aiming to further weaken the beasts¡¯ strength. With a unified front, Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu discussed some details and arrangements with each other. Shortly thereafter, at that point, Chen Jingtian gazed at the ready Cultivators and his loud voice spread throughout Yuyao City. ¡°Fellow cultivators, the demonic beasts are attacking once again. This battle is unavoidable. To drive them back swiftly, a few of us have decided to go all out. Are you willing to give your all as well?¡± he asked. Hearing his words, the numerous cultivators below responded, and the scene became incredibly noisy for a time. ¡°The seniors¡¯ strengths are formidable, willing to risk their lives for the Cultivation World is truly admirable,¡± they said. ¡°Though we juniors may lack in strength, our resolve is no weaker than that of our seniors; of course, we wish to follow the seniors¡¯ steps and fight to the death against the demonic beasts,¡± they declared. ¡­ In the pavilion atop the city walls, Chen Jingtian¡¯s speech had secured the Cultivators¡¯ support and ignited their battle spirit. And as Wang Hengqiu and the others heard the flattering words and resolute statements of many Cultivators, they all showed satisfied expressions. ¡­ Chapter 503 03-25 - 503 288 Old Tricks Repeated_1 ?Chapter 503: Chapter 288: Old Tricks Repeated_1 Chapter 503: Chapter 288: Old Tricks Repeated_1 A little less than half an hour passed quietly. On the vast field outside the city, a multitude of demonic beasts glared at Yuyao City in the distance, growling furiously. Tens of thousands of demonic beasts roared in unison, the sound deafening, so much so that even within Yuyao City several miles away, it could be heard loud and clear. This massive scene and momentum invisibly created a tremendous pressure on those Qi Refining Cultivators within Yuyao City who were unaware of the circumstances. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ Atop the city walls within the city. As Chen Jingtian¡¯s words ignited the cultivators¡¯ fighting spirit, the cultivators quickly assembled in a very short time. ... At this moment, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, among others, came back to their senses, greeted each other, and chatted casually for a moment. As the leader of their team, just before the outbreak of the impending great battle, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expression became slightly solemn. However, upon seeing that only a little over forty people remained in his team, his expression eased considerably. After the last great battle, their team had suffered minimal losses and had thus achieved significant results. Some teams were in dire straits, with more than half of them wounded or killed, and there were many weaker teams that had been reduced to just a few people, almost in name only. Thinking of these circumstances, Li Xiuyuan felt much calmer, and looking again at his teammates, he clasped his fists and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists.¡± ¡°As Elder Chen has already said, the great battle is inevitable. We¡¯re about to face another fierce fight, and I hope we can once again unite and cooperate to achieve rich battle results!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Moreover, there¡¯s no need for everyone to worry too much, after all, the number of demonic beasts has greatly decreased. This battle should be somewhat easier than the last one.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming and others nodded, and the expressions of some Cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment looked much better. Seeing the change in many of the cultivators¡¯ expressions, Li Xiuyuan let out a long sigh of relief, then turned his gaze to the Demon Beast Army outside the city. ¡­ At this moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion lost its patience as it looked at the still quiet Yuyao City. It had thought that its roaring and clamoring would draw the Human Cultivators out to battle. Little did it know that the high-ranking Human Cultivators were indeed planning to respond to the challenge. In such a situation, if the Demon Beast Army did not take the initiative to attack and forcibly assault the Defensive Array of Yuyao City, they were not likely to go out and fight easily. After all, the Human Cultivators were protected by a Formation; there was no need to be so anxious. They could fully leverage the power of the Formation to deplete a wave of the demonic beasts¡¯ living forces and reduce the burden on the cultivator army as much as possible. Under these circumstances, Chen Jingtian and a few others were completely calm and not affected by the vile tricks of the demonic beasts. Outside the city. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, whose temperament was volatile, and whose Spirit Wisdom could not be compared with that of the Human Race, had very little patience to speak of. Seeing that Yuyao City remained silent for a long time, they growled angrily, but their provocations were futile. At this time, the lion roared furiously at Yuyao City a few times, wanting to vent its dissatisfaction. To no avail, Yuyao City remained calm, not showing any sign of coming out to face them. Seeing this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion turned its head and growled a few times at several Third Order Demon Beasts not far away, as if communicating something. Following the exchange of growls among the several Third Order Demon Beasts, they soon reached an agreement. However, these movements among the Third Order Demon Beasts were seen clearly by Chen Jingtian in the pavilion, and he understood immediately that the demonic beasts were about to make a move. At this time, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression remained calm. He looked at his still composed fellow disciples, and then began issuing instructions. ¡°Wang, it looks like the demonic beasts are about to attack. Like before, let¡¯s use the Formation to drain them first, then we¡¯ll go out and confront these beasts!¡± ¡°Good¡­ don¡¯t worry, brother Chen, leave this to me!¡± After Wang Hengqiu responded, he immediately took out the Token to control the Formation, readying for an attack. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± Just then, another deafening roar sounded from outside the city, accompanied by vibrations from footsteps that drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°The attack from the Demon Beasts is coming!¡± Chen Jingtian muttered to himself, then looked at the approaching Demon Beast Army with a wary expression. At this moment, Lin Tianming and others had a similarly serious look, their eyes wide open, watching every move of the Demon Beast Army. Glancing over, the numerous demonic beasts under the leadership of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion surged toward Yuyao City. The charge of tens of thousands of demonic beasts, their formidable momentum, and the scene still made people¡¯s scalp tingle and breaths quicken. Even though many cultivators had already witnessed such a scene before, the repetition was still awe-inspiring. ¡°Thump¡­ thump, thump¡­¡± As the Demon Beast Army drew closer, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s hands formed a Law Decree, and Spiritual Light bombarded the prepared Token. In an instant, the invisible and colorless Formation light screen flashed with Spiritual Light, its color becoming more vibrant. Simultaneously, within the area covered by the Formation, the Spiritual Energy suddenly became chaotic, accompanied by gusts of Wind howling through. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The Demon Beast Army was fast, with the powerful body of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion smashing against the light screen of the Defensive Array. At the same time, tens of thousands of demonic beasts, incapable of long-range attacks, followed behind it. Those demonic beasts capable of long-range attacks, led by the Blood Jiao, launched a multitude of attacks, smashing towards the light screen of the Formation. Chapter 504 03-25 - 504 288 Repeating an Old Trick_2 ?Chapter 504: Chapter 288 Repeating an Old Trick_2 Chapter 504: Chapter 288 Repeating an Old Trick_2 Such a massive number of demonic beasts attacked indiscriminately from all angles, filling the sky and casting a veil of darkness over the clear blue day, plunging the world into sudden darkness. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A succession of explosive sounds ensued as the powerful impact of the demonic beasts caused the ground to tremble. Following one wave of attacks, the defensive array vibrated slightly before quickly returning to its original state. Previously, the formation had already been tested, and these reduced numbers of demonic beasts attempting to breach the formation in a short time was simply too unrealistic. However, before everyone could catch their breath, the demonic beasts¡¯ assault came again, relentless as if they would not stop until their goal was achieved. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu let out a cold snort and the token in his hand shone brightly, activating the formation once more. ... ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Thunderous sounds echoed in the sky. Immediately after, the light of the formation screen continued to flicker, with pale golden beams contrasting sharply against the gloomy sky. Looking up, the darkened sky was filled with a barrage of fiery balls of light raining down upon the demon beast army below. At that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lions and several other Third Order Demon Beasts remained unaffected, continuously assaulting the formation¡¯s screen. Although these attacks were not weak, they were ineffective against them, and there was no need to dodge. However, the First and Second Order Demon Beasts behind the Third Order could not ignore these attacks, hitting the formation¡¯s screen while quickly moving to evade the attacks launched by the formation. Yet, with the sheer number and density of the Demon Beast Army, even though some beasts managed to escape, many were still obliterated by the formation¡¯s offensive. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 In an instant, the battlefield was filled with screams of agony as a multitude of demonic beasts met their end. At this moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, as the leader of the Demon Beast Army, remained unfazed by this turn of events. After all, the Demon Beast Army had already experienced one encounter, and thus was quite aware of the formation¡¯s offensive might. In such a situation, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion continued to initiate attacks, evidently ready to provoke the human cultivators and prepared to sacrifice a portion of the demonic beasts. Inside the pavilion atop the city walls, Chen Jingtian watching the scene below couldn¡¯t help but sigh. With the first round of attacks over, it was clear the outcome was nowhere near as effective as any of the previous ones. Obviously, with the reduction in the number of besieging demonic beasts, there was more room to maneuver, making it much easier for them to dodge. Beyond that, a more significant reason was that the Demon Beast Army had gained a substantial understanding of the formation¡¯s attacks, and achieving the same effect as the first time was indeed not very realistic given their preparedness. Looking at the formation¡¯s screen gradually fading in color, its power diminishing over time, it was clear that if this continued, its energy would eventually be depleted. Considering these factors, Chen Jingtian and the others felt somewhat helpless and lacked any means to change the situation. Collecting his thoughts, Chen Jingtian sighed once more, then gave an order, ¡°Wang, hold out for a few more rounds of attacks, then prepare to have the army of cultivators launch their assault!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded in response and began to control the formation, launching another offensive. ¡­ After the time it takes to brew a pot of tea had passed. After several rounds of formation attacks, the size of the Demon Beast Army had diminished somewhat, with a large number of First Order Demon Beasts dead outside the city. Although the number of demonic beasts had noticeably decreased, the Second Order, which formed the core strength of the Demon Beast Army, had not suffered much loss, merely around three hundred or so. As for the peak force of the Third Order Demon Beasts, they had not been affected at all. Atop the city walls, everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open, monitoring every move of the demonic beasts outside the city. Looking out, the ground was littered with demon beast corpses and severed limbs, and the soil stained red with blood, which was still a ghastly sight to behold. Lin Tianming gazed at the blood-soaked battlefield, frowning deeply, and couldn¡¯t help but murmur to himself. ¡°The traces of the previous battle had barely been cleansed, and it hasn¡¯t been long before it has once again become like this.¡± Luckily, no one knew of his thoughts, as others would surely be amazed¡ªafter all, at such a critical juncture, who would care about such trivial matters? Refocusing, he observed the changes on the formation¡¯s screen, thinking that the formation¡¯s attacks were no longer very effective. Under such circumstances, the army of cultivators should be about to deploy. With his own predictions in mind, he turned his head to look at Chen Jingtian and the others in the attic, silently preparing himself. Just then, Chen Jingtian, who had been silent for a long time, boomed his voice throughout Yuyao City. ¡°Everyone, get ready. After the next round of attacks ends, follow this old man out of the city and into battle!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, all cultivators drew their weapons and gathered with their team members, preparing for the upcoming battle. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan exchanged glances with each other and nodded in agreement. Li Xiuyuan had already said what needed to be said earlier, and team members had gone through a round of coordination, achieving significant effects, and were mentally prepared for the impending battle. Soon, as the formation¡¯s light barrier ripped open a giant fissure, the bloody smell of the battlefield, along with dust and smoke, surged into the formation. Chen Jingtian and a few other Golden Core Cultivators took the lead, charging out of the range covered by the light barrier of the formation first. As the Golden Core Cultivators made their move, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the city walls did not want to be outdone, quickly following Chen Jingtian and the others¡¯ footsteps. Lin Tianming closely followed Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan¡¯s footsteps, taking Qin Xi out of the formation with him. Behind them, Qi Refining Cultivators poured out like a flood from the gaping opening. Soon, the army of cultivators quickly exited the formation, lining up on the open space outside the formation. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the Demon Beast Army retreated a few miles away in an instant, as the formation¡¯s light barrier began to crack open. The massive Demon Beast Tribe waited in groups, and the leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, cautiously staring at Chen Jingtian in the forefront, showed an expression of wariness. The might of the Spirit Arts wielded by Chen Jingtian and his peers still lingered in their minds. Even the Late Stage of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion felt the breath of death under the Spirit Art Chen Jingtian wielded. This way, despite its formidable strength, it still dared not take things lightly for fear of dying on this battlefield. Watching the extremely wary Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, Chen Jingtian also wore a solemn expression. The Third Order Demon Beasts probably did not realize that they couldn¡¯t activate that Spirit Art again in a short time. Otherwise, they would not have retreated to maintain a safe distance. This hidden danger was only known to them, and without this trump card, the upcoming battle certainly would not be easy. As he lost himself in thought, the Demon Beast Tribe also dared not act rashly. At this time, the Human and Beast Clans confronted each other in place, sizing up and probing one another, creating an atmosphere that was quite strange, and the situation momentarily fell into a deadlock. Lin Tianming, witnessing the tense standoff, knew that this was merely the calm before the storm. Given the volatile nature of a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, it certainly would not be intimidated by the aura of the Human Cultivators; initiating an attack was merely a matter of time. As expected, after a period of silence, with a roar from the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, the vast Demon Beast Tribe began to advance forward, appearing to launch an attack. And the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion leading the charge targeted Chen Jingtian with its first attack. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian bellowed, ¡°Attack!¡± Before his voice died away, he leaped forward, the Law Decrees in his hands being cast out, sending a series of light beams flying forth. Following him, Wang Hengqiu and several others immediately followed his lead, adopting the same strategy as in the first battle. During the first great battle, four of them had worked with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to form a battle array, mutually supporting each other to withstand the more numerous and stronger Third Order Demon Beasts. Now it was the same, the four of them formed a battle array that covered each other, trying to maximize the advantage of teamwork. Following Chen Jingtian and his peers¡¯ engagement, higher up in the sky, they clashed with the Demon Beasts led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Lin Tianming and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, along with their teammates, also engaged in battle with the Second Order Demon Beasts, becoming entangled in a fierce melee. At this time, the battlefield was in utter chaos; across a vast area, the clashing of the two sides could be heard everywhere. ¡­ Chapter 505 03-25 - 505 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 ?Chapter 505: Chapter 289: Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 Chapter 505: Chapter 289: Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 A small area in the southern part of the battlefield, this is where the Foundation Establishment Cultivators primarily engage in combat. Just like the previous battle, Golden Core Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts were fighting fiercely above. With each move they made, powerful shockwaves spread out, and whether it was the thick-skinned monsters or the relatively agile Human Cultivators, none could dodge in time, let alone rush towards the fray. Otherwise, how would that be any different from seeking death? In the vast area to the south, that was the main battleground for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while Qi Refining Cultivators occupied a large portion of the north. At this moment, the team Lin Tianming was part of was fiercely battling over sixty Bloodthirsty Jiaos. This round of battle was different from their previous opponents, composed of a dozen different monster races. ... This time, however, they were facing beasts from the same species, and even though their overall number was smaller, their cooperation with each other was incredibly tacit. It was this powerful Bloodthirsty Jiao Tribe, whose collective strength was by no means weaker than the monster group they had faced before, piling on more pressure on his team. At this time, Lin Tianming pinched his Law Decree, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand immediately burst forth with radiant light. Shortly after, a powerful burst of Sword Qi shot out, its pale white light particularly noticeable in the slightly gloomy sky. In the blink of an eye, the silver-white Sword Qi slashed towards two opposing Bloodthirsty Jiaos with incredible speed. On the opposite side, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos twisted their bodies, their barrel-thick forms surprisingly agile, moving with astonishing quickness. The levels of these two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were not low; both were powerful beings in the Second Order Late Phase, with extremely ferocious and irritable temperaments and formidable strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 As the attack closed in, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos, sensing the presence of the Sword Qi, didn¡¯t dare to take it lightly despite their notable strength. At the same time, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos quietly dodged the assault, lingering on the side, staring menacingly at Lin Tianming, as if searching for an opportunity. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed, but he wasn¡¯t too surprised. After all, this was merely a probe, and given the strength of those two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, it was expected they would dodge it. Regaining his focus, he looked at the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos with a wary expression. The pressure on him during this round of battle was not insignificant; the grade and strength of these two monsters were formidable, their attacks were incredibly powerful, and compared to the Second Order Middle Stage beasts they faced earlier, it was a world of difference. However, even so, Lin Tianming was unafraid. As long as he didn¡¯t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast, with his own strength, he should not fear for his life. ¡°Roar Roar¡­¡± Two roaring growls arose, and the Bloodthirsty Jiaos, after sizing things up for a moment, began to launch their attack proactively. At that time, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos opened their massive maws, spewing out a cluster of blood-red liquid. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± Looking on, the blood-red liquid seemed to possess intense corrosiveness, dissolving the air itself, spreading a foul stench that quickly encompassed the area. Simultaneously, the blood-red liquid shot out at an incredibly fast pace, rushing towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, it was clearly the Bloodthirsty Jiaos¡¯ Innate Divine Ability, with tremendous killing power. If one were to get even slightly touched, it¡¯s likely that even a Second Order Magical Artifact would suffer a great loss of spirituality. If one were unlucky enough to have their body come into contact, they might very well lose their life. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. ¡°These two beasts really don¡¯t hold back, launching their killing moves without even the patience for probing!¡± Mentally cursing, Lin Tianming dared not delay, quickly twisting his body to dodge the attack of the blood-red liquid. At this time, facing the terrifying blood-red liquid, a gust of wind was born under his feet, and his speed also reached the limit. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The blood-red liquid he dodged then struck an empty spot on the ground, corroding into a deep, bottomless pit in an instant. Seeing the frightening corrosiveness and such destructive power, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened. Fortunately, he was fast enough. If he had been touched even slightly, even with his strong physical body from Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and even with Blue Star Armor, he likely would have been severely injured. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Coming back to his senses and noting the Bloodthirsty Jiaos¡¯ missed strike, they gave him no opportunity to catch his breath. The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos glanced at each other, then swung their whip-like tails toward him in a sweeping motion. Though their bodies were only as thick as a bucket, they were very long, longer than those of other Monster Serpent races, and possessed both fearsome defensive power and formidable attack power. Watching as the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao got increasingly close, compressing the air and making sharp, cracking sounds, there was an obvious, terrifying force behind it. Lin Tianming looked serious, and as his figure retreated explosively, he wildly swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, releasing a barrage of Sword Qi to clash with the iron-hard tail of the monster snake. ¡°Clang clang clang¡­¡± a series of metallic clashing sounds echoed. The Sword Qi struck the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao, only to be repelled by the great force, ultimately dissipating into the ether. And yet the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s tail appeared entirely unscathed, its speed only slightly slowed, but still swept towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming acted without panic, moving quickly to evade. As the tails of the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were momentarily hampered by the Sword Qi, even though no actual damage was inflicted, evading became considerably less difficult. The strike missed, Lin Tianming, relying on his own methods, perfectly dodged, surprising the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Chapter 506 03-25 - 506 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 ?Chapter 506: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 Chapter 506: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 In their eyes, the cultivator¡¯s body was a source of great nourishment; several Foundation Establishment cultivators had perished in their jaws during the previous battle. Yet now, as the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos joined forces to attack, he had easily dodged, which seemed absolutely incredible. Little did they know, Lin Tianming had relied on the Eye of Five Colors; such attacks, against ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, would naturally be unstoppable. But with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming was able to find the most perfect timing and routes in the shortest time possible, thereby rendering the Bloodthirsty Jiaos¡¯ attacks fruitless. At this moment, having avoided the strike, Lin Tianming created a safe distance from the beasts. He stared at the Bloodthirsty Jiaos opposite him, his expression somewhat solemn. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After two rounds of probing, he realized that these two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were indeed formidable, noticeably stronger than the average Second Order Late Stage Beast. ... It seemed that these Bloodthirsty Jiaos had been in the Second Order Late Phase for quite some time, and they also possessed exceptional talents. One must know, in the Cultivation World there are myriad Demonic Beasts, and the strength of beasts within the same rank can also vary greatly. This is due to the length of time spent breaking through and the natural talents of the Demonic Beasts themselves. Just like these two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, their attack speed was incredibly fast, and they possessed an extremely formidable defensive ability; their combined might was significantly stronger than most Second Order Late Stage Beasts he had faced before. Under such circumstances, if he relied only on eighty percent of his power, it would probably be very difficult to exterminate them here. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming hesitated and was quite conflicted. If he suppressed his cultivation level, it might take a great deal of effort and still not necessarily succeed in killing them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? In that case, this fight might not yield much in terms of results and thus not earn many points. On the other hand, if he revealed his cultivation strength now and couldn¡¯t use Spirit Arts, in case of an unexpected event in the future, there would be no hope of turning defeat into victory. ¡°Forget it¡­ It¡¯s better to keep some of my cultivation strength hidden, after all, the Cultivation World is full of crises, especially on such a dangerous battlefield, where no one can guarantee what might happen.¡± ¡°However, some of my other offensive techniques can be revealed moderately to see if I can achieve my goal.¡± Having made up his mind, he slapped his storage bag and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords immediately appeared above his head. Once the Earth Evil Swords were unleashed, they began to spin wildly, stirring up the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth. At the same time, with a thought, he produced five dark green banners in his hand, which were the re-refined Thousand Beast Banners. In the previous battle, he had not activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, thinking to keep some unknown tactics in reserve. But now, without using some of his treasures and techniques, it would be truly difficult to kill the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. At this moment, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos stepped back involuntarily, revealing a wary look upon seeing the Sword Array and the Thousand Beast Banner activated by Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, formed a single-handed seal, and beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the spinning Earth Evil Swords above him. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The fifty-six Earth Evil Swords received the command and shot out in all directions, swiftly enveloping thousands of feet around. Immediately after, the Thousand Beast Banners were also activated, and a sky full of black mist shrouded a large area around. All this happened in the blink of an eye; despite some preparation, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos were astounded by the speed of the expanding Sword Array and black mist. Before they could escape, they were enveloped within it. Fortunately, the black mist only covered them and nothing untoward happened, so they didn¡¯t react too violently. To this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help sneering. The Thousand Beast Banner and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation were merely activated and set up, covering a wide area; if he launched an immediate attack, the effect might not be very good. Therefore, he was in no hurry, planning to wait for the right moment to activate them fully, trapping them completely, and then gradually wear down their strength before ultimately exterminating them on the spot. However, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos clearly did not anticipate this, and they had no idea about the Sword Formation¡¯s and the Thousand Beast Banner¡¯s formidable power in the latter phase. When they realized what was happening, it would be too late. At this moment, having set up the Earth Evil Swords and the Thousand Beast Banner, Lin Tianming uncharacteristically charged towards one of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Upon seeing this, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was even more surprised. When humans and Demonic Beasts normally engaged in battle, cultivators would attempt to create distance from the beasts. After all, Demonic Beasts had stronger bodies, and a casual strike held immense energy. Yet Lin Tianming did the opposite, taking the initiative to attack, going against the norm with an unknown purpose. As distance between them narrowed, despite their confusion, they had no time to ponder. The Jiaos growled at each other and then opened their massive jaws, biting at Lin Tianming from two different directions. Lin Tianming remained unfazed, swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand repeatedly, covering one of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos in Sword Qi. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds erupted. In a flash, they were less than ninety feet apart¡ªa distance negligible for both parties. At that moment, a flash of light shone from Lin Tianming¡¯s body as he wielded his sword with one hand and punched with the other, engaging in close combat with one Bloodthirsty Jiao. Seeing this, the Bloodthirsty Jiao became furiously enraged, its massive head and tail lashing out wildly. Clearly, for the Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were not only a blatant provocation but also an insult. Chapter 507 03-25 - 507 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_3 ?Chapter 507: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_3 Chapter 507: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_3 Although their spirit wisdom is inferior to that of the Human Race, by the Second Order Late Phase, they are not at the intelligence level of a three-year-old child anymore. However, after several rounds of fierce combat and feeling the pain in its body, the Bloodthirsty Jiao realized the prowess of this human. Lin Tianming, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, could unleash immense power with a casual punch from his physical body alone; even a Second Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast would not dare to claim it was stronger than him. At this moment, the Bloodthirsty Jiao dared not harbor any more luck or contemptuous thoughts; it fought with all its might. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Fist collided head-on with the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao, the powerful impact made even the ground tremble slightly. On closer inspection, despite Lin Tianming¡¯s small fists, a single punch possessed the strength to kill a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast. ... After a few rounds of attacks, with the force of one strike, Lin Tianming used the recoil to put some distance between himself and the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. When he stabilized his stance, Lin Tianming was already panting heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead, his tattered robe soaked through. Underneath that tattered robe lay countless wounds of varying depth, exposing his bronzed skin. Luckily, these injuries were inconsequential, only requiring some time to rest for a complete recovery, thus they were almost negligible in terms of his overall strength. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the Bloodthirsty Jiao, it also suffered numerous flesh wounds, with lots of scales fallen on the ground. The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos looked somewhat bedraggled, but their bodies were incredibly strong; these injuries hardly counted for anything. After several rounds of combat, Lin Tianming, utilizing the Eye of Five Colors, grappled with the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, with neither side gaining much of an advantage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Now, having deliberately put some distance between himself and the Jiaos, Lin Tianming, who had steadied himself, watched the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos carefully and revealed a cunning smile. In front of him, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos had blood-red eyes and were growling angrily, yet were extremely wary of him. After a moment of silence, Lin Tianming looked at the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos and channeled a large amount of Spiritual Power into the Tiangang Sword. As the Tiangang Sword began to tremble slightly, he shouted loudly, ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword!¡± The Tiangang Sword blazed with spiritual light, the hilt flew out of his hand, transforming into a dazzling rainbow that furiously struck down at the Bloodthirsty Jiao opposite him. In the blink of an eye, while the Tiangang Sword descended, the targeted Bloodthirsty Jiao scrambled to dodge. However, because the distance between them was too close and the speed of the Tiangang Sword too fast, completely evading it was basically unrealistic. In desperation, the Bloodthirsty Jiao rolled to the ground and then burrowed into a shallow ditch, attempting to use the advantageous terrain to avoid some damage. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword struck down, but the Bloodthirsty Jiao, taking advantage of the shallow ditch, managed to avoid the vital areas. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack angle was incredibly tricky, and the timing was impeccably grasped; the Tiangang Sword hit directly on the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud blast had just sounded, followed by a painful roar. As the fire and dust settled, it was revealed that the Bloodthirsty Jiao lay in the ditch, a long wound on its tail, showing the flesh within. At the same time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s blood sprayed out, staining a small patch of land, and a large number of blood-red scales fell off, scattering on the ground. The Bloodthirsty Jiao struggled and howled in pain, looking quite pitiful. Chapter 508 03-25 - 508 290 The Submission of the ?Chapter 508: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 Chapter 508: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 Seeing his own attack succeed, Lin Tianming felt somewhat excited. ¡°Kick them when they¡¯re down, take their lives!¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao any chance to catch a breath; he had to seize the opportunity and try to kill it if possible. At the very least, he intended to deprive it completely of its combat ability. In doing so, the other Bloodthirsty Jiao would definitely not be able to hold out for long, and it would eventually meet its end at his hands. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Knowing this, he leaped into the air, the Tiangang Sword in his hand once again blazing brightly. As the Sword Qi reached its peak, he gripped the Tiangang Sword and charged at the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao, aiming to further expand his victory. ... This relentless strike was even more ruthless than before. Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful momentum was unstoppable, filled with the determination to succeed at all costs. In the shallow ditch at this moment. The injured Bloodthirsty Jiao struggled and roared before lifting its dirt-covered head, appearing extremely enraged. The previous strike had injured its tail, causing it to lose a significant number of protective scales and Yuan Qi. But its defensive power was astounding, and thanks to its decisive evasion, it hadn¡¯t completely lost its fighting ability from that hit. Before it could react, Lin Tianming¡¯s fierce attack was already following up, clearly intending to finish it off. Feeling the powerful aura emanating from the Tiangang Sword, the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao was in a state of panic, ignoring the pain from its body as it crawled towards its companion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Seeing this action, if it were to join up with the other Bloodthirsty Jiao, he feared it would take additional effort to defeat them. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t allow them to get their way, quickening his attack speed even further. However, just as the Tiangang Sword was about to land, for some unknown reason, the speed of the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao suddenly doubled. In the blink of an eye, the Bloodthirsty Jiao appeared several dozen yards away. The Tiangang Sword Qi boomed onto the ground, its powerful attack force slicing open the soil and forming a canyon. But the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao had narrowly dodged his attack and managed to join up with its counterpart as it wished. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming was greatly surprised, not expecting that the Bloodthirsty Jiao would have such an innate divine ability to double its speed instantly in a critical moment. But upon further thought, this was not too strange. There are countless odd occurrences in the Cultivation World. Just as there are humans with unique talents and strong bloodlines, there are also Demonic Beasts with peculiar innate abilities. Besides their innate divine abilities, they also have a slim chance of acquiring additional divine skills. This particular Bloodthirsty Jiao was a descendant of an ancient Monster Beast, and it was likely that its thick bloodline had awakened some divine skills at a critical moment. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dwell on the matter any longer. When he looked again at the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos opposite him, they appeared to him like treasures waiting to be claimed. And at this moment, although the beast had escaped a fatal blow, its injuries seemed even more serious. The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, having joined together, stared at him in both shock and anger, their eyes full of wariness. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, with no intention of holding back, he prepared to resolve the fight quickly to assist his other teammates. At this time, the Spiritual Light shining from the Tiangang Sword in his hand burst forth, releasing a vast amount of Sword Qi that slashed towards the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Meanwhile, the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had considerably diminished, and the black mist emitted by the Thousand Beast Banner continued to envelop the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Before the great battle, he had been waiting for an opportunity. Now that one monster was injured and both were together, it was the perfect chance to net them both in one swoop. In an instant, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner sprang into action, the Sword Array Barricade steadily contracting and along with a multitude of Sword Qi and Monster Beast Souls, they fiercely attacked the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Looking around, the area within a thousand yards had become incredibly dark. Streaks of silver-white Sword Qi flashed through the darkness, and roars could be heard as a surge of Monster Beast Souls emerged. At this very moment, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos reacted as soon as Lin Tianming moved. Feeling the oppressive force from the Sword Array¡¯s operation, their speed increased dramatically as they struggled to escape the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s coverage. But by now, the range of the Sword Formation had shrunk to less than a thousand yards, and the barricade was extremely solid. Furthermore, the Sword Qi roamed densely within the Array, and a massive number of Monster Beast Souls wandered through the black mist. With Lin Tianming¡¯s determined efforts to obstruct them, the difficulty of breaking out under such circumstances was unimaginable. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos collided with the Sword Array Barricade, which shook with each impact, nearly breaking each time, but always just a bit short of doing so. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation, having reached the Minor Achievement Realm and being extremely stable under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, did not give them any chance to escape. Within the Sword Array, they dodged the roving Sword Qi while resisting the assault of the Monster Beast Souls. Looking around, Sword Qi would sometimes slice across their scales, sparking off flares of light. Following that, before they could take a breather, a multitude of Monster Beast Souls swarmed in, gnawing at their flesh. Experiencing the endless gnawing of Monster Beast Souls, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were in agony, desperately trying to break free but finding themselves unable to shake them off. In a panic, the Bloodthirsty Jiao attempted to sway its tail to smash the pesky Monster Beast Souls like plaster. With one swipe, some Monster Beast Souls that couldn¡¯t dodge in time perished, yet new ones continued to replenish their ranks. Seeing this, fear seemed to flash through the eyes of the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos as they began to flee recklessly. Chapter 509 03-25 - 509 290 The Submission of the ?Chapter 509: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 Chapter 509: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 ¡°` But they had endured a barrage of sword qi; despite their rapid evasive speed, it was simply unrealistic to dodge everything. In addition, a large number of monster beast souls surged out of the black fog, fearlessly attacking with considerable force. One must know that this Thousand Beast Banner had been re-refined by Lin Tianming, replenishing it with a large number of monster beast souls over the past few years. Especially recently, he had added nearly a hundred Second Order Demonic Beasts, including some from the late phase of the Second Order. As the number of monster beast souls substantially increased, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner greatly enhanced, and now, when used against the enemy, its might was truly satisfying. According to his estimate, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner had more than doubled compared to before he arrived at Yuyao City. Watching the oppressive force brought by the combined might of the sword array and the Thousand Beast Banner, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of joy, and he felt extremely excited. ... At this moment, under the crushing pressure, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos desperately resisted, putting up a fight to the death. Inside the formation, the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was continuously shrinking, soon reaching a size of just over a hundred zhang. By that point, the sword qi within the sword array had become extremely dense, leaving the Bloodthirsty Jiaos with limited room to move, making it extremely difficult for them to hide. Besides, there were too many Second Order Demonic Beasts within the Thousand Beast Banner, and the relentless Demonic Beasts kept them constantly restrained, leaving no room to escape. Feeling an ever-increasing sense of restraint, and the tiny space for survival closing in, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos were filled with terror. In their desolation, they opened their massive jaws and once again spat out several blobs of blood-red liquid, smashing them into a specific area of the Sword Array Barricade. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± Strange noises followed by bursts of blue smoke issued forth. The Sword Array Barricade seemed to have suffered severe corrosion, looking ready to collapse, and its operations were also hindered. Seeing this, Lin Tianming spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, sprinkling it over the Sword Array Barricade. The sword array immediately stopped shaking and quickly returned to normal, resuming its suppressive effect. Seeing that his blood had the desired effect, Lin Tianming¡¯s pale face gradually regained its color. At this time, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, realizing their dire situation, frantically slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, but they struggled to achieve any significant effect. Lin Tianming had no pity in his heart, and he controlled the sword array, step by step, reducing their living space. As the space became smaller and smaller, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos nearly stuck together. At this point, they had no way out, and their struggle was merely a delay of the inevitable. Watching the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos being bombarded by sword qi and torn by monster beast souls, Lin Tianming coldly smiled, pushing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to its limit. At the same time, his Tiangang Sword shone brightly, as he once again unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, slashing directly at the less injured beast. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword Qi descended upon the target¡¯s head, ready to take its life at any moment. At that moment, the targeted Bloodthirsty Jiao felt an indescribable despair. It opened its mouth wide, attempting to fight back using its innate divine ability. If it could repel the Tiangang Sword Qi, it might still live, but otherwise, it was destined to die here. In desperation, the Bloodthirsty Jiao spat out a vast amount of liquid, far exceeding any previous attempt. Clearly, it was truly fighting for its life. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword Qi collided with the liquid, and despite being severely corroded and hindered, it did not dissipate, continuing its furious slash towards the target. At once slow and swift, the Tiangang Sword Qi struck the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s head. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud noise emanated as the Tiangang Sword Qi directly pierced through the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s head. In that instant, the massive head of the Bloodthirsty Jiao burst open, with flesh and blood spraying everywhere, the scene was exceedingly gory. Soon, another scream echoed through the heavens and earth, followed by the sound of the Bloodthirsty Jiao collapsing. When the dust settled, the corpse of the Bloodthirsty Jiao was revealed, lying motionless in a ditch, apparently lifeless. Seeing his strike succeed, Lin Tianming felt a rush of joy and couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Inside the formation, the other surviving Bloodthirsty Jiao, the one that had been injured first, saw its companion die and was completely hopeless. It seemed to understand that even without injuries, facing Lin Tianming alone, it had little chance of winning. ¡°` Moreover, now that it had sustained injuries, trapped by this powerful Sword Array, there was an endless number of Demonic Beast Souls that it couldn¡¯t shake off or destroy. In such a predicament, it had no hope of escape by relying solely on its remaining strength. Nevertheless, there was nothing it could do to change the situation; it could only try its best. At this moment, Lin Tianming ignored the dead Bloodthirsty Jiao and gradually narrowed the Sword Array. As the range of the Sword Array decreased, the bombardment of Sword Qi within reached an ultimate density. After resisting for just a few moments, the Bloodthirsty Jiao sustained numerous wounds, and countless blood-colored scales fell off. With the Bloodthirsty Jiao having nowhere to escape, as the Sword Array shrank to a range of fifty zhang, Lin Tianming had no plans to proceed further. While stabilizing the Sword Array, he held the Tiangang Sword and entered the range of the Sword Array, approaching the Bloodthirsty Jiao at a location not far from it. At that time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao had blood-red eyes, staring fixedly at Lin Tianming, who hadn¡¯t made any move, displaying an expression of rage. Lin Tianming just gave a cold laugh in response, completely unaffected. The reason he hadn¡¯t immediately ended the life of the Bloodthirsty Jiao was that he had his considerations. In his eyes, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s innate bloodline was not low, its rank was quite good, and it was also very powerful; given enough opportunities, there was a high probability it could advance to Third Order. If he could try to subdue it and make it his Spirit Beast, that would naturally be the best outcome. After all, having subdued the Purple Gold Eagle years ago had brought him great convenience and served his family well. Yet now, he only had the Purple Gold Eagle as a Spirit Beast, which was of the avian type, lacking an attack-oriented Spirit Beast. If a Bloodthirsty Jiao were to submit to him, with its powerful Second Order Late-Stage strength, it would provide considerable help in combat. However, achieving this goal wouldn¡¯t be easy, as the higher the rank and strength of the Demonic Beast, the less likely it could be subdued. Despite this, Lin Tianming still wanted to make an attempt. If it really proved impossible, he would have to give up this chance and wait until he had the conditions in the future to subdue a powerful Spirit Beast adversary. Having made up his mind, he trapped the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, then extended his Divine Sense, forcefully plunging it into the consciousness of the Bloodthirsty Jiao. At that time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao desperately resisted, trying to stop Lin Tianming from entering its sea of consciousness. However, Lin Tianming had consumed a large number of Strong Spirit Pills over the years, along with many treasures that increased Divine Sense. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His Divine Sense was now exceptionally strong, comparable if not superior to that of Cultivators at the Eighth or Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. In such a state, when Lin Tianming released his Divine Sense, it was like a sharp blade aiming to pierce the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s defensive barrier. Nevertheless, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, being of Second Order Late-Stage rank with exceptional talent, did not make it easy to imprint a Consciousness Imprint within its sea of consciousness. Thus, a struggle ensued between the two, with no immediate success. Seeing that he had not achieved his goal after some time, Lin Tianming frowned deeply, suspecting that he might have trouble succeeding this way. He sighed, then immediately stimulated the Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, crazily lashing at the Bloodthirsty Jiao. But he did not deliver a killing blow, the force applied was just right ¨C enough to not kill it, but also enough to ensure it didn¡¯t have it too easy. With this, his action was merely meant to intimidate it, so as to accomplish his goal. The defiant Bloodthirsty Jiao naturally wouldn¡¯t submit easily, resisting the Sword Qi attacks while fiercely opposing Lin Tianming in its sea of consciousness. Regrettably for it, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was too strong, and resisting it resulted in immense pain. Unknown time passed. At this point, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was full of wounds and blood, with scales scattered all around, its aura growing weaker, clearly having suffered a great loss of vitality. Now, after being tormented by Lin Tianming and facing both kindness and severity, finally, the Bloodthirsty Jiao growled low at him, seemingly agreeing to let him imprint his Divine Sense, submitting to him to become his Spirit Beast. Feeling the intentions conveyed by the Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming was exceedingly excited. After calming himself down, he promptly imprinted his Consciousness Imprint within the sea of consciousness of the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Only with the Consciousness Imprint set in place would the recognition of the master be complete; otherwise, anything could happen. Understanding this, he dared not relax and hastened to complete the process. Since he had previous experience with recognition, he was fairly familiar with the process. Soon, after the Consciousness Imprint was engraved, he immediately felt the connection between them. Chapter 510 03-25 - 510 291 Sun Linger_1 ?Chapter 510: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_1 Chapter 510: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_1 Soon, the Consciousness Imprint was engraved within the consciousness sea of the Bloodthirsty Jiao, and the entire process went very smoothly. Not until Lin Tianming felt the connection of minds did he know that the recognition of the master was successful, the life and death of the Bloodthirsty Jiao were now at his whim. Having confirmed the successful recognition multiple times, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and heaved a long sigh of relief. In fact, from the moment the Bloodthirsty Jiao suddenly understood the technique of escaping, he had intended to subdue it as a Spirit Beast. After all, the strength and the natural bloodline of the Bloodthirsty Jiao were of a rare variety, and combining that with his own strength, subduing the Bloodthirsty Jiao was definitely more beneficial than killing it. However, before this, he was not very certain, merely trying with hopeful intent. But unexpectedly, under his combined hard and soft threats, the Bloodthirsty Jiao submitted so easily, which indeed surprised him. ... And now, with the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Purple Gold Eagle as his Spirit Beasts, if coordinated properly, his overall strength could rise to another level. Thinking of these, Lin Tianming was ecstatic, with the excitement in his heart lingering for a long time. Finally calming down, he looked at the Bloodthirsty Jiao lying prostrate in front of him, its injuries quite severe. Although not life-threatening, they could not be neglected for too long, lest they result in lasting damage and decrease its strength. Now that it had become his Spirit Beast, with substantial innate strength, it was only natural to treat it well. Given sufficient opportunities, there was a real possibility for it to advance to Third Order. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming took several healing elixirs from his storage bag and without hesitation, tossed them to the Bloodthirsty Jiao. The Bloodthirsty Jiao swallowed the elixirs in one gulp, and its previously fierce and evil expression softened considerably. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Looking at the content Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly and fell into thought. Now, as the battle on his side had ended, his teammates were still embroiled in combat, with many Cultivators at a disadvantage. The situation was urgent and time was of the essence; he could not afford to waste any. However, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was injured and not yet able to fight alongside him. The immediate priority was to give the Bloodthirsty Jiao a name and then place it into the Spirit Beast Bag for healing. As for himself, once the Bloodthirsty Jiao was taken care of, he would assess the situation and decide whether to assist Qin Xi in dealing with her opponent or to help the others. Making up his mind, he slapped the Spirit Beast Belt at his waist and took the Bloodthirsty Jiao into it. As the Bloodthirsty Jiao disappeared from its spot, he retracted all fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, as well as the Thousand Beast Banner. Having done this, he then turned his attention back to the combat situation of Qin Xi and his teammates. Looking over, the entire battlefield was in chaos at this moment, with figures of Cultivators fighting everywhere within sight. Looking at the overall situation, although the numbers of the Human and Beast Clans had decreased by more than thirty percent compared to the first battle, the intensity of this battle was in no way inferior to the last one. At that moment, on a battlefield not far from him. Qin Xi was working together with a woman at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, facing several Bloodthirsty Jiaos of the early to middle stages of Second Order. They faced a considerable number of opponents, including two of the middle-staged Second Order, clearly possessing a somewhat stronger overall strength. Fortunately, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation was not weak. Despite being only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, her combat power was strong. Holding her own against a middle-staged Second Order Demonic Beast, she was not at much of a disadvantage. The other woman, surrounded and attacked by four Second Order Demonic Beasts, struggled to cope in the skirmish, hence in a less favorable position, and could only forcefully persevere, waiting for her teammates¡¯ assistance. Seeing this, if the fight dragged on, their situation would get progressively worse. Lin Tianming did not dare delay and hurriedly charged in, activating the Tiangang Sword in his hand from a distance. In an instant, a silver light flashed across the dim sky like a meteor, its speed reaching the limit. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud explosion sounded. The Demonic Beast engaged in fierce battle with Sun Ling¡¯er fell to the ground at the sound, a bloody hole appearing on its neck from which hot blood still spurted, and after a couple of struggles, it breathed its last. Seeing this, both Qin Xi and Sun Ling¡¯er turned their beautiful eyes and looked overjoyed. They turned their gaze and saw Lin Tianming rushing over, continuously wielding the Tiangang Sword in his hand and slashing towards their opponents. ¡°Fairy Qin, let¡¯s work with Lin and quickly resolve the fight!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er was the first to react and immediately joined the fray, her attacks growing even more ferocious. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi was not to be outdone, infusing her Spiritual Power into the Magic Artifact and engaging the Demonic Beast before her in combat. With Lin Tianming¡¯s entry into the fray and his silent dispatching of a middle-staged Second Order Demonic Beast, the three of them working together against the remaining beasts was akin to a hot knife through butter. In just a matter of more than ten breaths, under Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength, all the Second Order Demonic Beasts were vanquished. After exterminating the beasts in that location, the chaotic sky finally quieted down, leaving only the corpses of the beasts lying on the ground. As the battle ended, Lin Tianming dusted off his hands and then looked in Qin Xi¡¯s direction, walking over to her. Soon, he stood before Qin Xi. At this very moment, Qin Xi, who had just finished the fight, her ample chest heaving up and down, appeared to be quite drained. And the panting Qin Xi, upon seeing Lin Tianming arrive, had eyes filled with gratitude. In the previous battle, Lin Tianming, while fighting, had never forgotten to keep an eye on her, including this time. After each fight, he rushed over to provide support as soon as possible. Chapter 511 03-25 - 511 291 Sun Linger_2 ?Chapter 511: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_2 Chapter 511: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_2 Clearly, although there was no significant entanglement between them, they kept each other in mind and helped each other in times of crisis. Thinking of this, Qin Xi was deeply moved as she recalled their interaction over the past few days. She looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s unflappable face, and inexplicable emotions surged within her resilient heart. Finally calming down, the two of them exchanged glances and then asked in unison, ¡°Brother (Sister), are you alright?¡± As soon as the words were out, Lin Tianming replied with an embarrassed smile, ¡°No¡­ no problem!¡± Hearing this and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s feigned composure, Qin Xi also felt equally awkward. For a moment, Qin Xi¡¯s exquisite cheeks flushed rapidly, and her heart was in turmoil as if a deer were prancing about within. ... Seeing that Qin Xi did not reply, Lin Tianming asked again, ¡°And you, little sister? Are you injured? Is it serious?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned inquiry, Qin Xi felt a warmth in her heart and replied. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just a considerable consumption of spiritual power and some minor physical injuries, no big deal!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and didn¡¯t say much more to avoid another awkward situation. At this time, both turned their gaze toward Sun Ling¡¯er, who was not far off. Lin Tianming was not familiar with Sun Ling¡¯er, knowing only that she was a loose cultivator, travelling around Dragon Mountain Market, with average strength and talent, able to reach the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level solely through various experiences and opportunities. Thus, there wasn¡¯t much connection between them; they were just teammates recruited by Li Xiuyuan, with whom they had had a few encounters recently. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In fact, he had very little communication with most of his teammates. After all, in the Cultivation World, one¡¯s status and strength speak for themselves; people at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage often found it hard to mix with those at the Medium Stage. Similarly, though Sun Ling¡¯er was not weak at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, she was simply not on the same level as team leader Li Xiuyuan and others like Hu Yuan. Sun Ling¡¯er had joined Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team merely to earn points to gain rewards from the Zhenyang Sect and didn¡¯t have overly ambitious goals. As for Lin Tianming, although he had not reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, he possessed great talent and a not insignificant family background. More importantly, his strength was not less than Li Xiuyuan¡¯s; even Tang Liusheng and others in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage were not his match. With such strength, he initially aimed for a place in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, and he had a fair chance of achieving his goal. Under these circumstances, his strength and objectives were not on the same level as Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s, so naturally there was not much interaction. As for Qin Xi, being a rogue cultivator at the same stage as Sun Ling¡¯er, in such a perilous battlefield, it was natural for them, as women, to gravitate towards each other. Thus, by joining forces against enemies, they were able to reap more substantial battle rewards. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to help Sun Ling¡¯er, thinking of it as a favor to Qin Xi. At this moment, Sun Ling¡¯er was curiously staring at Lin Tianming, her beautiful eyes filled with envy. With Qin Xi present, she had always been considered Lin Tianming¡¯s sister, and it was only natural for Lin Tianming to come to her aid. Being a First Order rogue cultivator and a woman at that, she was incredibly vulnerable in the dangerous Cultivation World. As the saying goes, ¡°beauty loves heroes¡±; genius cultivators, no matter where they are, are the objects of many female cultivators¡¯ admiration. And Lin Tianming, with his extraordinary talent, whether it¡¯s in terms of cultivation strength or his family background, was an excellent choice for a cultivation partner. If she could become partnered with a genius cultivator like Lin Tianming, once he reached the Golden Core Stage, his assistance would enable his partner to cultivate faster, and perhaps even step onto the Golden Core Path. With these thoughts, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s gaze towards Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but carry a special brilliance. However, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s watchful eyes, she repressed the slight stirring in her heart and greeted Lin Tianming enthusiastically. ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lin, for lending a hand. Sister is truly grateful!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand with a smile in response, ¡°Fairy Sun is too polite. Sister has taken good care of me, so it¡¯s only right that I repay the favor!¡± ¡°Kekeke¡­ Lin¡¯s words are indeed very pleasing to the ear!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s polite remarks, Sun Ling¡¯er laughed heartily, feeling very delighted inside. ¡°Fairy Sun, now is not the time for idle chatter. I must go and help Li and the others. You all have exhausted quite a bit of energy, so retreat to the back and rest!¡± With that said, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi beside him. The two exchanged looks and then nodded to each other. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming turned around without looking back, transformed into a residual shadow, and shot toward the nearby battlefield. Soon, he arrived at the battlefield where Li Xiuyuan was fighting. At that time, Li Xiuyuan was battling fiercely with three Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Both sides fought openly and ferociously, taking pleasure in the battle. His opponents were Bloodthirsty Jiaos, beasts of significant rank and strength. Relying on his powerful magic artifacts and a myriad of strategies, Li Xiuyuan was able to handle the attack of three demonic beasts without falling into much of a disadvantage. Li Xiuyuan was neither surprised nor dissatisfied with Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, but instead overjoyed. ¡°Lin, let¡¯s join forces to slay these beasts quickly and go assist the other cultivators!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily, ¡°Haha¡­ That is exactly my intent!¡± As soon as the words fell, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flew out, emitting a powerful Sword Qi, and charged toward the Bloodthirsty Jiao opposite Li Xiuyuan. With Lin Tianming joining in, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s momentum surged, and he fought without any hesitation. The two coordinated exceedingly well. Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were equally fierce, with each Sword Qi he casually slashed leaving wounds on the Bloodthirsty Jiaos. At this moment, the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos began to retreat step by step, barely resisting a few rounds of attacks as their injuries worsened. Facing the continuous attack of Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, they grew extremely angry, but were helpless. In a desperate situation, the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos once again activated their innate divine ability, spitting out a large amount of red liquid. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan did not dare to be careless, each activating two Second Order Defense Talismans, forming several barriers in front of them. ¡°Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡­¡± A series of corrosive sounds came, accompanied by green flames, illuminating the dim world. Taking advantage of the red liquid being blocked by the barriers formed from the talisman paper, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan took the opportunity to escape dozens of feet away. Waiting for the dust and firelight to disperse, the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos searched for Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan¡¯s figures. Just then, a silver-white Sword Qi descended from the sky, and before they could react, one of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos let out a miserable scream. ¡°Roar, roar!¡± Immediately afterward, the Bloodthirsty Jiao with its head pierced by the Sword Qi fell to the ground, its vast body hitting the earth and stirring up a breeze that swept out. The other two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, seeing their companion dead, became panic-stricken and started to flee in chaos. However, when it rains it pours, and Li Xiuyuan¡¯s attack had already blocked their escape route. In desperation, another Bloodthirsty Jiao failed to evade and was directly pierced through the body by Li Xiuyuan¡¯s magic artifact. By this point, the only remaining Bloodthirsty Jiao was thoroughly frightened and started to flee without choosing its path. However, with the strength of Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, there was no way they would let this Bloodthirsty Jiao escape. Watching the fleeing Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan chased at the same time, forming a pincer movement and blocking its escape from different directions. Seeing no escape, the Bloodthirsty Jiao opened its huge maw, ready for a final gamble. To this, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan shared a cold smile. Before the Bloodthirsty Jiao could successfully launch its attack, they ended its life. Following the thorough extermination of the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan did not rush to clean up the battlefield. They exchanged a smile, and without uttering a word, both shot towards Hu Yuan¡¯s location not far away. Chapter 512 03-25 - 512 292 Tragic_1 ?Chapter 512: Chapter 292 Tragic_1 Chapter 512: Chapter 292 Tragic_1 In a corner of the Southern Battlefield, Hu Yuan was also deeply engaged in an intense battle with three Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Both sides were fighting fiercely with each other, exerting their full strength in every strike, causing great destruction. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan finished their battle and arrived at Hu Yuan¡¯s side immediately afterward. In their minds, it was a priority to deal with the powerful Bloodthirsty Jiaos first. Once their strongest members were free, they planned to assist their comrades who were at the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment. By freeing up their High Order combat power, they would be able to end the battle in the shortest time possible and achieve the greatest results. Knowing this, they came to assist Hu Yuan. After all, his strength was in no way inferior to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s and might even be stronger. At that moment, upon seeing Lin Tianming and another person arrive, Hu Yuan exclaimed with joy, ¡°The two Daoist friends have arrived with incredible speed. I hope you can lend a hand!¡± Before his voice had even faded, Hu Yuan moved quickly, with no hesitation. ... Lin Tianming and his companion wasted no words either. Each selected a Bloodthirsty Jiao as their target and began their attack without delay. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Bright flashes crossed the dark sky while bursts of explosive sounds followed one after another. Their assault was like a tidal wave. The Bloodthirsty Jiaos were forced to retreat again and again. None of them could stand alone against any one of the three men. Even though they were furiously angry, they could only put up a defensive fight. However, Lin Tianming and his two companions wouldn¡¯t give them any chance to catch their breath, attacking with all their might. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Soon, after several rounds of fierce attacks, a grievous scream could be heard every few breaths. The intense battle was nearing its end. Hu Yuan was the first to finish his fight, followed by Li Xiuyuan, with Lin Tianming right after. From the moment the two joined the battle, it took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The three Bloodthirsty Jiaos couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and died reluctantly amid their unwillingness. With the death of the last Demonic Beast, the slaughter temporarily came to a pause. Looking over the tragic battlefield, Lin Tianming and the others retrieved their Magic Artifacts, then regrouped together. At this time, Li Xiuyuan looked at Tianming and the other with a knowing smile, feeling immense relief inside. As the team leader, he had been dutiful and responsible in the great battle. Whenever a stronger Demonic Beast appeared, he was always the first to rush in without shirking his duty. His teammates were equally outstanding. Among them, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were incredibly strong, achieving great results on the battlefield and reaping rich rewards. It was noteworthy that in almost every battle, Lin Tianming was the first to open the situation. This was indeed a rare quality. Although it was also a result of their subconscious arrangement to block the strongest Demonic Beasts, the strength of the beasts Lin Tianming faced was formidable as well. Yet, he was still able to fight swiftly and decisively, then join their battle group to eventually exterminate these significantly powerful Demonic Beasts with united strength. Thinking of all this, Li Xiuyuan was truly grateful. It was fortunate that he had helped the Lin Family Members during their arrival in the Qianchuan Market and formed a deep connection with them. Otherwise, for this beast tide attack, the difficulty for his team to achieve great results and win a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm would have been unimaginable. Regaining his focus, he looked at Lin Tianming and the other and then asked with concern, ¡°How are you two Daoist friends? If you still have the strength to fight, let¡¯s help our other friends as soon as possible!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much¡­ These few beasts couldn¡¯t possibly make me exert myself too much!¡± Hu Yuan laughed heartily, brushing it off casually as if it were nothing. Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan chuckled and held Hu Yuan in even higher esteem. Lin Tianming felt the same. To him, Hu Yuan really did seem carefree and possessed tremendous strength. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming looked around at the still ongoing battles and casually reminded them, ¡°Let¡¯s save any discussions for after the great battle has ended. The urgent task at hand is to finish this fight quickly!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ indeed!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded and added, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move immediately and completely exterminate this Bloodthirsty Jiao Tribe!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Li Xiuyuan turned into a fleeting shadow and disappeared from in front of them. ¡°Daoist Hu, we can¡¯t fall behind!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile, then swiftly stepped forward and dashed off. Hu Yuan followed closely, each heading in different directions. After they left the place, they roamed the battlefield, rushing to help wherever their comrades were in dire straits. Now that the strongest of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos had fallen by their hands, the majority of the remaining Demonic Beasts were Second Order at the initial and middle stages. Only Tang Liusheng and several other Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators were still fighting with a few Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiaos. However, they weren¡¯t in a bad situation. Although they might not be able to triumph, they also weren¡¯t in immediate danger for their lives. Under these circumstances, the three only needed to assist teammates with lower cultivation. With their cultivation level, Second Order Middle Stage Bloodthirsty Jiaos couldn¡¯t last more than a few moments against them and were quickly eliminated. At the present moment, Lin Tianming and the others were like reapers, harvesting the lives of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos with abandon. The time for a cup of tea passed. As the final ten or so Second Order Bloodthirsty Jiaos were surrounded and killed by the united cultivators, the area suddenly fell silent. At that time, the entire team was visibly excited and couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Soon, under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s direction, they all gathered together and joined Lin Tianming and the others. Chapter 513 03-25 - 513 292 Gruesome_2 ?Chapter 513: Chapter 292: Gruesome_2 Chapter 513: Chapter 292: Gruesome_2 As this round of intense battle ended, a glance across the field revealed a further reduction in the number of cultivators. Originally, before the battle began, the team had as many as forty members, but after this fight, only thirty-six remained, with four having fallen on this land. When one thinks about it, it¡¯s somewhat acceptable, as battles inevitably lead to casualties. Moreover, the Bloodthirsty Jiao Tribe possessed formidable strength. Not to mention their speed, their defensive power was extremely tough, making them comparatively more difficult to kill than the group of Demonic Beasts they had encountered in the previous battle. Thus, the loss of only four people in this battle was actually not that significant. Nevertheless, everyone¡¯s expression was rather grim, especially Li Xiuyuan¡¯s, considering that every cultivator present was his asset in contending for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Seeing the somewhat low spirits of the crowd, Li Xiuyuan couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth to offer a few words of consolation. ... Immediately thereafter, under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s leadership and with representatives like Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, more than ten cultivators above the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment prepared to support other teams. Soon, they formed a trio and rushed in all directions, joining the battlefields of other teams. As the ferocious battle continued, corpses lay strewn across the vast battlefield, countless lights pierced the sky, and various forms of attacks interwove with one another. For a time, earth-shattering sounds, accompanied by the frequent screams of both Human and Beast Clans, filled the air. In the blink of an eye, a small quarter of an hour passed. By now, the entire battle had reached its climax, with both the Human Cultivators and the Demon Beast Army suffering substantial losses. At that moment, in the highest battleground above. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? This was the area where the top combat forces of both clans were engaged in a fierce struggle. Chen Jingtian, together with Wang Hengqiu and a few other brothers, as well as two Third Order Spiritual Beasts from the Sect, were battling against the lead of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and other Demonic Beasts. With their combined efforts, they formed an impenetrable defense, holding back the opposing Third Order Demonic Beasts. Even with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s supreme strength and numerical advantage, it still failed to break through their defenses. However, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was not foolish enough to persist in ineffective attacks. If it could not land a deadly blow on Chen Jingtian and the others, it planned to shift focus and exterminate the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After all, with their strength and formidable defensive abilities, they had virtually no concerns. Even if they simply charged wildly across the battlefield, they could cause widespread damage, and even the stronger Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be unable to withstand them. Thus, under the leadership of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, seven Third Order Demonic Beasts scattered and began to slaughter the Foundation Establishment Cultivators with abandon. At this very moment, Lin Tianming and others who were supporting other teams fortunately detected this in time. They reacted immediately, hastily retreating to take refuge behind Chen Jingtian and the others. Across from them, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was relying on its powerful body to rampage among the cultivators, and many Foundation Establishment Cultivators were knocked senseless before they could react. Not just the Human Cultivators, but also those Demonic Beasts of the Demon Beast Race who failed to dodge in time, were equally trampled to death. It was an indiscriminate attack on both the Demon Beast Race and the Human Cultivators. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s actions undoubtedly aimed to make Chen Jingtian and his companions hesitate, thereby dividing their formation. While many cultivators were still unresponsive, dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already been trampled recklessly by Third Order Demonic Beasts, thus losing their lives. And in this great battle, although Foundation Establishment Cultivators occasionally fell, overall, the rate of sacrifice was not fast. Compared to the previous battle, almost all who survived were those with strong cultivation and abilities. Yet in that instant, nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators died under the bodies of the Third Order Demonic Beasts. Even the Inner Sect Disciples of Zhenyang Sect, those elite Disciples at the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, were not all fortunate enough to escape. Clearly, the actions of the Third Order Demonic Beasts played right into Chen Jingtian¡¯s hands. At this moment, the battlefield was a brutal, bloodstained scene as one after another of the human race¡¯s main forces fell. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face became extremely gloomy, forced to contrive a response in haste. In urgency, looking at the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were scattering in flight, Chen Jingtian¡¯s resonant voice spread across the entire battlefield. ¡°All listen to my command, Foundation Establishment Cultivators who can¡¯t find a place to hide quickly gather behind me, and those with the ability along with Qi Refining Stage Cultivators retreat into Yuyao City!¡± After speaking, Chen Jingtian looked toward Wang Hengqiu, signaling him to arrange for the retreat. Not far away, Wang Hengqiu tacitly understood and nodded at Chen Jingtian. Then, Wang Hengqiu controlled the token of the formation, opening the entrance to its widest to allow Qi Refining Cultivators to retreat as quickly as possible. Having done this, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun took action, sweeping toward the battlefield where the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gathered. At this moment, with Chen Jingtian¡¯s retreat order issued, the style of the entire battlefield suddenly changed. Upon receiving the command, the Qi Refining Cultivators, covered by Wang Hengqiu, retreated toward Yuyao City like a tide. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered together, protected by a few Golden Core Cultivators like Chen Jingtian and the Third Order Spiritual Beasts from Zhenyang Sect. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, among others with faster speeds, reacted first and successfully made it to the rear of Chen Jingtian and his group. Qin Xi, who did not join them in supporting the other teams, had already retreated into Yuyao City with many Qi Refining Cultivators. In front of them, Chen Jingtian and others intercepted the charging Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. By now, these Golden Core Cultivators did not dare to hold back anymore. A massive amount of Third Order talisman paper exploded forth, with formidable attacking force streaking across the sky. Besides that, Lin Tianming and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also weren¡¯t idle, unleashing a multitude of attacking methods, striking at the Demon Beast Tribe and incoming Third Order Demonic Beasts from a great distance. For a moment, dense attacking methods converged, producing earth-shattering noises that made one¡¯s scalp tingle involuntarily. The Demon Beast Army too made changes, Blazing Flame Celestial Lion ferociously attacked Chen Jingtian and his party, while several Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts roamed the battlefield, specifically to exterminate Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Soon, almost all Foundation Establishment Cultivators escaped the pursuit and gathered behind Chen Jingtian. However, under the pursuit of the Third Order Demonic Beasts, still hundreds of people were too slow to evade and died under the claws of the Third Order Demonic Beasts. Latterly, the Third Order Demonic Beasts, finding no targets, did not trouble the Qi Refining Cultivators, seemingly aware that those people would not have any significant impact on the overall situation. Following that, the Third Order Demonic Beasts quickly gathered together and fiercely engaged with Chen Jingtian and his group. Under such circumstances, the originally segmented battlefield completely transformed into two opposing, powerful forces. As time passed, Chen Jingtian and his party exchanged several rounds of fierce blows with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, and relying on a few treasures they had, both the human and beast clans suffered some injuries. Among them, Lan Yu, who had not fully recovered, was wounded again, and one of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beasts was also seriously injured, its strength halved directly. On the side of the beasts, the Blood Jiao was also severely injured, its entire tail severed by Wang Hengqiu, its strength greatly diminished, and it would probably take three to five years to recover. After this great battle, it seemed neither the strongest forces of the human nor beast clans had gained much advantage. After repelling the demonic beasts with a single strike, both parties retreated a bit, standing off against each other. At this moment, looking at the snarling Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression was incredibly grave. This battle showed they had still underestimated the strength of the demonic beasts and did not expect the beasts to be so cunning; a mere change in strategy had thrown the human forces into complete disarray, resulting in such heavy losses. However, even so, on the whole, the Demon Beast Army too suffered heavy losses, with a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts obliterated and countless First Order Demonic Beasts killed or injured. Although they did not achieve their expectations before going to battle, this mutually detrimental outcome was still not unacceptable. Regaining his composure, Chen Jingtian looked at the severely wounded Human Cultivators, realizing that continuing the fight would hardly solve the Demon Beast Army completely. In his heart, the lives of demonic beasts were simply incomparable to those of the human race. With this in mind, and then looking at his fellow disciples struggling to cope, as well as the terrible battlefield, he could not help but contemplate a retreat. Chapter 514 03-25 - 514 293 Blue Star Bead_1 ?Chapter 514: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_1 Chapter 514: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_1 Outside Yuyao City. Chen Jingtian glanced at the army of human cultivators. The Qi Refining Cultivators had all completed their retreat, with only a few hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind them, assisting in fending off the Demon Beast Army. This group of people was the true backbone of the human race¡¯s strength, each of them at least at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and many were disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. Their overall strength was even stronger than the thousands who had already retreated. Thus, the role of these people in a battle with an unknown duration was self-evident. Now, their few top fighters had expended a great deal of energy. Once these core forces had successfully retreated, they must return to Yuyao City to recuperate. As for repelling the Demon Beast Army, that would require further plotting. ... ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®As long as the green hills last, there will be wood to burn!''¡± Having cultivated for hundreds of years, he understood this truth all too well. After much thought, Chen Jingtian sighed with reluctance, having made up his mind. Decided, he immediately shouted: ¡°All those who have not yet retreated, fall back to Yuyao City immediately. We will stop the demonic beasts from attacking you!¡± Upon hearing this, the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind him ceased their attacks on the demonic beasts and hastily began to retreat. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan were among the fastest, taking the lead, ahead of the majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Thankfully, the human cultivators were agile and flexible in their retreat, and with only a few hundred people, they were not too crowded. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Otherwise, with so many people running together while trying to ensure their own safety, the efficiency would have been notably lower. At that moment, Chen Jingtian and his comrades watched the orderly retreat of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, without dragging their feet. Satisfied, Chen Jingtian nodded and turned his full attention to the Third Order Demon Beasts ahead. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion howled at the sky, seemingly unwilling to let the retreating cultivators go easily. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression grew stern, and he murmured to Wang Hengqiu and the others beside him. ¡°Fellow brothers, let¡¯s join forces to stop them, and then find an opportunity to retreat!¡± ¡°Understood. Everyone, be careful!¡± As Wang Hengqiu responded, he was the first to initiate an attack. Seeing his brother act, Chen Jingtian did not delay. He waved his sleeve, and several Third Order Talismans appeared in his hand. Spiritual Light burst forth from the talismans upon Chen¡¯s Law Decree, transforming into a sky filled with a downpour of fire that rained down upon the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Loud explosions sounded, and the sky turned fiery red in an instant. Many demonic beasts were unable to avoid the deluge and were directly ignited by the sea of flames. Screams filled the air as numerous First Order Demon Beasts were evaporated by the fire, leaving no remains behind. Underneath the terrifying sea of fire, only the demonic beasts at or beyond the middle and late Second Order could resist a little, but even then, they were severely wounded if not killed outright. In such a situation, the battlefield at that moment resembled a purgatory on earth. Now, seeing Chen Jingtian and his comrades strike with such ferocity, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion became utterly enraged, its blood-red eyes fixated on the retreating crowd, clearly intending to retaliate against the humans. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Chen and his comrades had anticipated this and had made ample preparations in advance for the demonic beasts¡¯ attack. With a clear goal in mind, and considering their considerable expenditure of spiritual power, they aimed only to lead the human cultivators back to Yuyao City. Therefore, they did not overestimate themselves, still prioritizing defense and avoiding rash actions. After several rounds of intense combat, even though the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was the most powerful, it could not breach the immaculate defenses, and the Demon Beast Army still did not achieve success. Seeing the gradual retreat of the hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, if they did not inflict significant damage, the Demon Beast Army would still fail to gain the upper hand in this battle. In such circumstances, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, extremely aggravated, led the entire Demon Beast Army and numerous demonic beasts to unleash their strongest attacks. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky continued to rumble with thunder, the very air filled with various means of attack, each strike gathering the power from all sides. At this moment, neither demonic beasts nor humans would easily yield to the other. ¡°Crackle¡­¡± The attack unleashed by Chen Jingtian was furiously powerful, colliding fiercely with that of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. The affected area shook. Many lower-level demonic beasts unable to evade the shockwave were left dead in its aftermath. At this sight, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion roared in complete fury. With a bellow to the sky, the Blood Jiao behind it was similarly enraged. Each of the seven Third Order Demon Beasts activated their Innate Divine Abilities. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Various peculiar attacks manifested, every one capable of obliterating a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator without leaving even dust behind. At this critical juncture, Chen Jingtian and his comrades, faced with the divinely powerful attacks of the demonic beasts, looked extremely solemn. ¡°Brothers, the juniors have almost completely retreated. Let¡¯s not hold back any longer. After this strike, we¡¯ll retreat immediately!¡± Chen Jingtian shouted loudly. He then patted his storage bag, and a faint blue bead appeared in his hand. ¡°Blue Star Bead!¡± ¡°Brother Chen is indeed willing to part with such a treasure!¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s action and the brightly colored bead, everyone recognized its purpose and exclaimed in unison. The Blue Star Bead, similar to a talisman in function, was a one-time consumable item. Its difficulty in crafting was immense, relying entirely on the inner cores of numerous late-stage Third Order water-attribute demonic beasts. Its value was self-evident. Chapter 515 03-25 - 515 293 Blue Star Bead_2 ?Chapter 515: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_2 Chapter 515: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_2 Just a single bead, and when speaking purely of its power, a Third Order Superior Attack Talisman can¡¯t hold a candle to a Blue Star Bead. Therefore, the value of the Blue Star Bead is extremely high, and within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it¡¯s an exceedingly rare existence. Such a high-value treasure can only circulate in small quantities in the central region of Qingzhou, and more often than not, it is found in the auctions of large markets, where every bidding war ends undoubtedly with a sky-high price. Thinking of these, Wang Hengqiu and the others couldn¡¯t help but smile with satisfaction, the tension on their faces easing considerably. Having finally calmed down, they no longer held back and each took out their most treasured possessions. In the blink of an eye, each of the four had several different treasures in hand, and none of them was ordinary. Apart from the bead offered by Chen Jingtian, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun each produced two Third Order Superior Attack Talismans. ... As for Lan Yu, whose cultivation was lower than the others and whose personal wealth was limited, he also brought out two Third Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans. Though his trump card was obviously inferior to Wang Hengqiu and the others, and even more so compared to Chen Jingtian, a Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman is already not something ordinary for a Golden Core Cultivator. If a Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast let its guard down, it might very well lose its life in his hands. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The demon beasts¡¯ attacks drew closer and closer, and Chen Jingtian, facing forward, reached the pinnacle of his aura under this oppressive force. ¡°Attack!¡± Upon his loud command, the Blue Star Bead in his hand suddenly burst into radiant light and was filled with an extremely terrifying chill. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï As the Blue Star Bead unleashed a trace of its aura, the temperature in the battlefield dropped significantly in an instant, making it hard for one to avoid feeling a hint of chill. At this moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion sensed the change in the Blue Star Bead and its eyes immediately filled with a look of dread. However, at this critical juncture, Chen Jingtian was not about to make any changes. Seeing the demon beasts¡¯ attacks approaching, he did not hesitate to activate the Blue Star Bead and hurled it towards the oncoming Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. At the same time, Wang Hengqiu and the others were also quick to act, activating the Third Order Talismans in their hands without delay. In an instant, the dim sky was illuminated by a dazzling blue flash, along with numerous colorful attacks transformed from the talismans. At this time, seeing the multitude of talisman attacks, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion remained relatively calm, seemingly not taking them too seriously. But when it saw the terrifying Blue Star Bead morph into a massive iceberg and smash towards the Demon Beast Army, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion suddenly became extremely panicked. Without any hesitation, it immediately abandoned its attack on the Human Cultivators. Not only did the lead Blazing Flame Celestial Lion move swiftly, but the Blood Jiao, being powerful, also possessed excellent judgement in the face of danger. It recognized the power of the Blue Star Bead was not to be underestimated, and it definitely had the potential to severely injure or even kill it. It dared not take the risk! Consequently, the Blood Jiao¡¯s actions were equally swift; it had no plans to engage directly and fled at the first opportunity. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The multitude of demon beasts¡¯ attacks collided with those launched by Chen Jingtian and company. The entire sky suddenly became resplendently bright, and the earth started to shake violently as screams of agony rang out. Lin Tianming had already successfully returned to Yuyao City at this time. Standing on the city wall, his eyes were firmly fixed on the battlefield, and he was beyond shocked. The commotion up ahead was truly immense; Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack, along with the Blue Star Bead, was even more fierce than the one they had encountered previously. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, the Third Order Talismans transformed into an attack that spread like wildfire, instantly killing a large number of demonic beasts, while only the Third Order Demonic Beasts could rely on their speed and strong defensive power to resist for a moment. But before they could even react, the iceberg formed by the Blue Star Bead came crashing down on the Third Order Demonic Beasts like Mount Tai. Clearly, Chen Jingtian¡¯s target was the Third Order Demonic Beasts; he did not even consider the First Order Demonic Beasts as his targets. Such a move was completely within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the value of the Blue Star Bead was too high. To use it against those First Order Demonic Beasts would indeed be an overkill. Good steel is used on blade¡¯s edge, and these practitioners who have cultivated for decades or even a century are all too clear on this principle. As the iceberg descended, at that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao had already fled from the attack, halting on an open piece of ground, their eyes full of shock and horror. However, two Third Order Demon Beasts were not quick enough to escape and were directly hit by the sharp edges of the iceberg. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Two loud noises sounded, and the sharp edges of the iceberg crushed half the body of a Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast, causing a great amount of flesh and blood to be exposed under the broad daylight. This sight, of flesh blurred and blood soaring and spraying, appeared incredibly tragic. Another Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast had it even worse; it had already been injured in a previous battle, which significantly weakened its strength. Under the terrifying attack of the iceberg, they became prime targets, with numerous Third Order Talismans all around, attacking and cornering. Even against a single Third Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman, it had to exert all its effort. Yet among all these attacks, there were quite a few Third Order Superior Talismans, and even the more fearsome Blue Star Bead. Under such ferocious attacks, how could it withstand? It could only be struck, dying reluctantly in the end. The Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast that was hit by the iceberg struggled for a few moments before it also breathed its last. ¡°Rumble, rumble¡­¡± As the attacks from the iceberg and numerous Third Order Talismans neared their end, the trembling of heaven and earth gradually ceased. At this moment, the previously continuous noise also gradually stopped, leaving only the cries of some injured demon beasts on the noisy battlefield. A short while passed. The dust in the sky dispersed, the darkened sky gradually brightened, and the figures of both the Human and Beast Clans came into view. At this time, on the Demon Beast Race¡¯s side, a great number of demon beasts lay dead, with the large bodies of two Third Order Demon Beasts lying on the ground, especially conspicuous among the corpses strewn across the battlefield. The leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, along with the remaining Demon Beast Army, gathered on the plains a few miles outside of the city. Most of them bore some injuries, and after this battle, the number of the entire Demon Beast Army had once again sharply decreased by nearly thirty percent, leaving only a little over thirty thousand. On the side of the Human Cultivators, Chen Jingtian and the others had already returned to the inside of the formation when the demon beasts were dodging. At this moment, the two sides looked at each other, their gazes filled with great fury. Inside the tower of Yuyao City. Chen Jingtian and the others looked pale and seemed to be in a bad state. Especially Lan Yu, whose cultivation strength was clearly a great deal weaker than Chen Jingtian¡¯s. With old injuries compounded by new ones, his entire being was in turmoil, his realm even showing signs of instability. Chen Jingtian looked at everyone, then at the Demon Beast Army. His brows, previously furrowed in worry, relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief. This battle had originally not favored the Human Race, but fortunately, he and his peers had sacrificed many precious treasures and had killed two Third Order Demon Beasts, one of which was a powerful Third Order Medium Stage existence. Besides, the number of Second Order Demon Beasts that died was not small. Although in total it was less than the first battle, this result was still quite remarkable. After all, as the war dragged on, those who survived from the first battle were demon beasts of not inconsiderable strength. In addition, the numbers of Human Cultivators were also steadily decreasing. Therefore, as the battle dragged on further, with the decreasing numbers, the outcome of the battle would only shrink. Nevertheless, even though the number of slain demon beasts in this battle was less than that in the previous one, in terms of top combat power, it was even better than the first. After all, the Demon Beast Race had lost two Third Order Demon Beasts, including one powerful Third Order Medium Stage presence. On the side of the Human Cultivators, only Lan Yu and one Third Order Spiritual Beast were injured, with no direct fatalities. Given time to recuperate, they would eventually return to their peak or even advance further. In this way, overall, the Human Cultivators achieved their pre-set goal for the battle and won the victory in this fight. Chapter 516 03-25 - 516 294 Move Up One More Place_1 ?Chapter 516: Chapter 294: Move Up One More Place_1 Chapter 516: Chapter 294: Move Up One More Place_1 In the attic atop the walls of Yuyao City, Chen Jingtian glanced at the unwilling Demon Beast Army, feeling a surge of excitement deep within. This battle had seen them repel the Demon Beast Army, thus achieving their pre-war goals and obtaining a wealth of spoils. As his emotions surged and thoughts flew in disarray, the sound of explosions came from outside the Formation. Chen Jingtian turned his head and saw that at that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion leading a multitude of Second Order and higher Demonic Beasts was angrily attacking the Defensive Array, seemingly to vent their frustration. However, Chen Jingtian and others, having already retreated from the battlefield, had long since reactivated the Defensive Array, which now once again shrouded the entire Yuyao City in its protective light. Outside Yuyao City, Despite the still vast number of the Demon Beast Army, the energy of the Defensive Array had also been significantly drained, diminishing its defensive power compared to before. Yet, this Defensive Array remained quite stable, withstanding multiple attacks, with the light of the Formation only trembling slightly, showing no signs of collapse. ... Clearly, with the number of Demonic Beasts further diminishing, and especially with four fewer Third Order Demon Beasts, relying solely on this power, it would be very difficult to breach the Defensive Array. If things continued this way, just a few more major battles, and perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be long before the struggle at this part of the Songling Mountain Range could be concluded. Thinking of this, and looking at the furious Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face was brimming with smiles, his excitement long unable to subside. Not just him, but Wang Hengqiu and the others could also foresee this, equally exhilarated. Time passed, unknown how long. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Chen Jingtian was the first to regain his composure from the joy, and seeing the expressions on the faces of the many Cultivators within Yuyao City, he soon addressed his companions. ¡°Wang, Brother Lan and the Spirit Beast have been seriously injured and urgently need to recuperate¡ªthey cannot afford any delay!¡± At these words, Wang Hengqiu came back to his senses. He nodded and then replied, ¡°Indeed, with this battle over and no reinforcements arriving for the Demon Beast Army, they should no longer pose a threat!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Zhu Yun, his face flushed and expression excited, chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ With more of the elite Demonic Beasts lost in this battle, especially the Third Order Demonic Beasts, those few that are still alive hardly seem a match for our frontal array.¡± Even with Chen Jingtian¡¯s conservative approach to matters, he deeply agreed with this analysis. He chuckled and then said, ¡°My fellow brothers are absolutely right, we now have the initiative and are in an invincible position!¡± ¡°However, Brother Lan is not lightly wounded, he should immediately go into cultivation to recover. As for the Human army here, everyone should start recuperating and restoring their condition.¡± ¡°When the right opportunity arises, we will strike with a heavy blow and completely annihilate the Demon Beast Army in one fell swoop!¡± Having finished speaking, Wang Hengqiu nodded in agreement and then volunteered himself for the task. ¡°Good¡­ Yuyao City is safe for the time being, everyone should return to closed-door cultivation, and leave the post-battle tasks to me!¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded in approval and then gave some instructions to Long Qingshui waiting atop the city wall. ¡°Qingshui, the task of battlefield cleanup and the distribution of spoils will be entrusted to you¡ªremember to be fair and just, and assist your Teacher Wang well.¡± ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°Your Disciple obeys!¡± Long Qingshui bowed in response and then stood quietly to one side, ready to act according to Wang Hengqiu¡¯s commands. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded with satisfaction, then exchanged a few words with Wang Hengqiu before leaving the attic with Zhu Yun and others. Once Chen Jingtian and the others had left, Wang Hengqiu turned his attention to the Demonic Beasts outside the Formation. At that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, having attacked the Formation for a long time to no avail and not able to provoke the humans, seemed to be considering a retreat. After a fierce blow, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion halted its advance. With a roar to the sky, it then turned around, leading the Demon Beast Army to slowly withdraw, quickly vanishing without a trace. It seemed that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had realized that such collisions with the Formation were largely ineffective and came with significant risk. After all, if they delayed for too long and the spiritual power of the Human Cultivators recovered, they might launch a counterattack with the help of the Formation, leading to even greater losses for the Demon Beast Army. Understanding this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion merely hit the Formation symbolically for a while¡ªas a venting of fury, not daring to linger too long or to provoke the Human Gold Core Cultivators. Watching the retreating Demon Beast Army, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face was full of smiles, and he let out a long sigh of relief inside. ¡°All Zhenyang Sect Disciples, follow me later to clean up the battlefield; the rest of you may leave!¡± With his loud voice echoing across the walls and the square, Wang Hengqiu, in the presence of the numerous Cultivators, gave a few instructions to Long Qingshui and then sent everyone away. Soon, a vast number of Cultivators began to depart from the walls and the square, and the once quiet Yuyao City suddenly bustled with activity and noise. On the city walls, Li Xiuyuan, involved in the task of cleaning the battlefield with limited time, exchanged a few words with Lin Tianming and others before heading in the direction of Long Qingshui. Seeing the leaving Cultivators, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger. Since the Zhenyang Sect Cultivators were responsible for cleaning the battlefield and distributing the spoils, there was no need for him to worry. In such circumstances, it would be better for him to return to his cave dwelling and cultivate without delay. Having made up his mind, he said goodbye to the teammates he knew well and quickly disappeared into the crowd with Qin Xi. Chapter 517 03-25 - 517 294 Advance One More Step_2 ?Chapter 517: Chapter 294: Advance One More Step_2 Chapter 517: Chapter 294: Advance One More Step_2 Not long after, the two returned to their cave abode. In the main hall of the cave abode where guests were received, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sat opposite each other, both with calm expressions and steady breaths. It seemed that neither of them had expended much in the great battle they had just fought. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi, whose expression was as usual, and asked with concern, ¡°How are you, Fairy Qin?¡± Upon hearing this caring inquiry, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, and a touch of joy stirred secretly within her heart. Yet she maintained her composure, forcibly suppressing the agitation inside, and then responded. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Lin. The demonic beasts weren¡¯t very strong in this battle, and with Lin¡¯s timely support, combined with Fairy Sun, our expenditure wasn¡¯t substantial,¡± she replied. ... ¡°Hehe¡­ that¡¯s good, that¡¯s good!¡± Lin Tianming smiled and nodded, then pondered the next moves of the demonic beasts in order to make his arrangements. The great battle had just concluded, and the Demon Beast Army had retreated once again. Considering the remaining power of the demonic beasts, breaching Yuyao City would be no small feat. However, with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao unharmed, the overall strength of the demonic beasts remained formidable. Yet, barring any surprises, the demonic beasts would not easily withdraw, nor would they launch an immediate attack. Under such circumstances, the Human Cultivators also had a brief period to rest and reorganize. As for the duration, it might be similar to the last time, perhaps ten days to half a month in the short term, or even two to three months in the long term. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï No matter how long it was, he had to seize the time for cultivation, to improve his strength as much as possible in order to survive in the great battle and even compete for a spot in the Tianfeng Secret Realm. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these thoughts in mind, he then said to Qin Xi, ¡°Fairy Qin.¡± ¡°There should be a period of calm coming up. Once the new Demon Hunter Leaderboard is out, I intend to go into closed-door cultivation for a while. If Fairy Qin has nothing urgent, you might also seize this time for cultivation,¡± he suggested. Upon hearing his words, Qin Xi nodded. She had also come to a similar conclusion to what Lin Tianming had said. Besides, she would have made this plan and arrangement herself even if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi replied with a smile, ¡°As it happens, I have planned the same, but for the matter with Li, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to speak to him, Lin!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Fairy Qin, I will take care of it!¡± Lin Tianming replied, then stood up, gave her a bow with his fists clasped, and headed to his cultivation room. Watching Lin Tianming stand up and leave, Qin Xi¡¯s bright eyes flashed momentarily before she too walked towards her cultivation room. Two days later, on the plaza in front of Zhenyang Hall. By this time, a large number of cultivators had gathered, including both loose cultivators and members of various families and sects. The scene was bustling with small groups here and there engaged in lively discussions. Lin Tianming blended into the crowd, his sharp eyes fixed on the leaderboard in front of him, a slight smile flickering across his face. Today was the day the results of the second great battle were unveiled. Although he had a rough idea of the points he had earned for the demonic beasts he killed, he had no way of predicting other people¡¯s results. Some might fall in rank, or others might surpass them¡ªit was all possible. With potential changes like these, only the leaderboard could provide the most accurate information. So, early in the morning, he had left the cave abode to check the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Looking over the leaderboard, the names were still familiar, with the majority of rankings unchanged and only the points continually rising. However, there was still a small portion of unfamiliar names that had entered the top fifty, placed in relatively lower positions. As he expected, the top five positions were still occupied by the genius cultivators, with no change in their rankings. Long Qingshui was in the first place with one thousand and sixty points, the only cultivator among all whose points had surpassed a thousand, clearly in a league of his own. Jun Buhui and Jiang Yuyao followed closely behind with 970 and 930 points, respectively. Further down, among people familiar to him, Zheng Xiao¡¯s rank fell from sixth to seventh, while Li Xiuyuan maintained his eighth-place ranking. Other cultivators who ranked higher than him in the first round of scoring saw varied changes: Deng Guanghua fell one spot to twelfth, Yang Tongshun remained at thirteenth, and Hu Yuan continued to hold the fourteenth place. As for himself, in this round of the great battle, he killed a Second Order Late-Stage Bloodthirsty Jiao and subdued another; later, he supported Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, and together they killed two more Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beasts. Therefore, his points should have increased by at least two hundred, very likely approaching or even surpassing seven hundred points. As expected, after this battle, his points reached seven hundred and fifty, and his ranking rose one place to fifteenth on the overall leaderboard, only twenty points behind Hu Yuan in fourteenth place. Continuing the comparison upwards, he was only fifty points behind Yang Tongshun, who was ranked higher. Above him, the point difference between the tenth and fifteenth positions was small, spanning only over a hundred points; killing one or two more Second Order Mid to Late Demonic Beasts could greatly boost one¡¯s ranking. Clearly, the duration of this second round of the great battle wasn¡¯t long, due to the strategy changes of the Demon Beast Army, plus the surviving Second Order Demonic Beasts from their ranks were becoming stronger. Therefore, it became even more strenuous for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to kill them, leading to a significant difference in point increase compared to the first round. Under such circumstances, it was hard for large-scale changes in the high rankings on the leaderboard to occur ¨C at most, a swap between one or two ranks. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming¡¯s ranking and points were still quite considerable. In the next great battle, if he maintained this momentum and state, it was very possible he could surpass Deng Guanghua and a few others ahead of him, thus breaking into the top ten of the overall leaderboard. Besides the cultivators from the Zhenyang Sect, among the many Loose Cultivators and those with family sect backgrounds, only Zheng Xiao, who ranked higher, led by a considerable margin in points, making it difficult to catch up with him in the short term. However, there were three spots for the Tianfeng Secret Realm allocated to them, and as long as some steady progress was made in accumulating points and displacing a few people ahead, securing an entrance spot into the secret realm wasn¡¯t an extremely difficult task. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming felt excited, and even looked forward with some anticipation to the upcoming great battle. After calming himself down, he glanced at the crowd that was engaged in various discussions, exchanged pleasantries with a few Cultivators he knew, and then left the square, walking towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave dwelling. A short while passed. Inside Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat opposite Li Xiuyuan; the two sipped tea and chatted casually. At that moment, Li Xiuyuan picked up his teacup, invited Lin Tianming to taste it, and joked with a smile. ¡°Lin, congratulations, your ranking on the overall leaderboard has advanced even further!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming took a light sip of his tea and then responded with a smile. ¡°Heh¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Li¡¯s help. When assigning tasks, you handed over some lesser demonic beasts for me to deal with and generously allocated points for the assistance provided. Without that, advancing further wouldn¡¯t have been so easy!¡± His honesty was evident; he himself had speculated about his score before looking at the leaderboard. By his estimates, an increase of two hundred and fifty points in the second round would already be decent. Yet, after the post-battle point distribution, his score went up by a hefty two hundred and eighty points, thirty more than expected. Though those thirty points might not seem like much, equivalent to just one or two Second Order Demonic Beasts, after three rounds, it almost amounted to the score of a Second Order Late beast. In addition, even though thirty points seemed negligible, the difference between almost every rank on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was merely thirty to fifty points. For some, just a ten-point difference meant being two ranks apart. As time went on and the Demonic Beasts grew stronger, gathering points became more challenging, and a surplus of one hundred and eighty points could lead to very different outcomes. In such a situation, even the slightest subconscious bias from Li Xiuyuan could have a massive impact on his subordinates. Chapter 518 03-25 - 518 295 Xins Secret _1 ?Chapter 518: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret _1 Chapter 518: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret _1 Li Xiuyuan did this because he saw the potential in Lin Tianming¡¯s talent, as well as the overall potential of the Lin Family. Undertaking such a risk came with significant pressure and hazard, but these actions needed to remain subtle, to avoid stirring controversy. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s own strength was indeed remarkable, and his performance and achievements in the great battle were there for all to see. Plus, with his network and popularity, even if there was some small favoritism, the cultivators under his command wouldn¡¯t offend Li Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming over such a trivial amount of points. After all, among the remaining thirty or so team members, only Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming possibly had a chance to enter the Tianfeng Secret Realm. Among the others, including Tang Liusheng who was at the same late stage of Foundation Establishment, clearly did not possess the strength to vie for the Tianfeng Secret Realm quota, and could only settle for ordinary rewards. In this way, considering Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and strength, along with the overall strength of the Lin Family, no one was foolish enough to take this matter too seriously. ... It was better to be generous, so when Lin Tianming stepped into the Golden Core Stage, these people might reap a larger reward. It was because he understood this that Li Xiuyuan showed some favoritism, albeit with certain goals in mind. But in his view, all these risks should be worth it. Thinking of this, Li Xiuyuan immediately waved his hand, smiling as he replied, ¡°Lin, there¡¯s no need for formalities.¡± ¡°My actions are only in the hopes that I can join hands with Lin to enter the Tianfeng Secret Realm, and I even aspire to embark on the Golden Core Path alongside you!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ then I¡¯ll take Li¡¯s auspicious words to heart!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, clasping his fist in a gesture of sincere gratitude, and then continued, ¡°Li, rest assured, whether we succeed or not, I and the Lin Family will never forget the help you provided today.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï ¡°No more need be said¡­ no more need be said, it¡¯s enough that we understand each other!¡± Li Xiuyuan quickly waved his hand, signaling Lin Tianming to tacitly gloss over the matter. Lin Tianming understood this perfectly well; after all, having the matter widely known wasn¡¯t good for either of them. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded with satisfaction, and then took out two storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, these are your share of the spoils from the battle, and regarding the Second Order Demon Beast Souls you requested, I managed to exchange quite a few for you. See if they meet your satisfaction.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy. He accepted the storage bags and sent his Divine Sense into them to check. He was immensely satisfied with what he found. The items within these two storage bags were indeed their loot from the second round of the battle. Qin Xi¡¯s share could be disregarded, but his own was substantial. In this battle, he had slain a Blood Jiao, whose corpse was intact within the storage bag. Besides that, there were numerous Second Order Demon Beast Souls¡ªno fewer than a hundred, including more than twenty from Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, with the rest being from the early to mid stages. During the great battle, his team had encountered just over seventy Second Order Demonic Beasts, but there were more than a hundred Second Order Demon Beast Souls in this storage bag. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan had leveraged his connections to acquire at least seventy to eighty Second Order Demon Beast Souls for him. From any perspective, Li Xiuyuan had indeed given him substantial help. After recovering his composure, Lin Tianming looked at Li Xiuyuan with a smile that was not quite a smile, feeling deeply moved in his heart. At that moment, he did not hesitate to take out ten thousand Spirit Stones and hand them over to Li Xiuyuan. ¡°Li, I won¡¯t say much more, please accept this small token of my appreciation!¡± Hearing this, and seeing his earnest expression, Li Xiuyuan promptly refused the generous offer. In his heart, even though ten thousand Spirit Stones was not a negligible amount, it was inconsequential to his current status. Ten thousand Spirit Stones, where could they compare to the goodwill of Lin Tianming, let alone the value of the debt of gratitude owed! At this moment, seeing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s steadfast refusal, Lin Tianming did not insist further and reluctantly took back the Spirit Stones. Following that, the two of them chatted over tea, exchanged a great deal of information, and arranged many matters. Seeing that their business was nearly concluded, Lin Tianming then stood up, cupped his fists, and took his leave. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Xiuyuan exchanged pleasantries and did not overly insist on keeping him, promptly standing up to see him off, watching as Lin Tianming left his cave abode. Less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Lin Tianming returned to his own cave, had a detailed exchange with Qin Xi, shared some information, and handed over the spoils to her. Afterward, they both returned to their individual training rooms and began to immerse themselves in cultivation. ¡­ Time flies, and a year passes by in a blink. In the western part of Qingzhou, the region is filled with mountains, rivers, and vast primeval forests. The lush environment, enriched with relatively dense Spiritual Energy, causes the flora to grow extraordinarily large, and the land is teeming with numerous rare and Exotic Beasts. This place is home to Demonic Beasts, housing a massive number of creatures. Second Order Demonic Beasts are as common as weeds, almost always within sight, and even Third Order Demonic Beasts occasionally make appearances. Some ancient Demonic Beasts and even Fourth Order Great Demons also reside in this land. This region, densely populated and terrifying with Demonic Beasts, is a forbidden zone for most Human Cultivators. Even Nascent Soul Cultivators do not dare to enter lightly; one moment of carelessness could lead to a catastrophic end. ¡­ In the boundless forests, Where Spiritual Energy is extremely rich, a dazzling silver hall stands out prominently. Chapter 519 03-25 - 519 295 Xins Secret_2 ?Chapter 519: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_2 Chapter 519: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_2 If a cultivator approached and looked closely, they would realize that this vast great hall spanned several miles. What was even more incredible was that the entire hall was built from low-grade spirit stones. Such a large area, constructed mainly from spirit stones, caused the spiritual energy here to nearly solidify. In such a treasure land, anyone cultivating here would find their cultivation speed difficult to slow down. It goes without saying that just the spirit stone-built great hall, along with the cultivation environment here, would be worth an immense number of spirit stones. Even a Qi Refining cultivator estimating its value would likely come up with an astronomical figure! At this moment, within the hall constructed of spirit stones, several individuals with strange appearances were sitting together in a circle. ... Their features were peculiar, and while their stature wasn¡¯t much different from human cultivators, some had horns on their heads or others had abnormally large eyes or ears; it was unclear what race they belonged to. However, even if their race was difficult to discern, based on their aura, there was no doubt that these strange individuals were Fourth Order demonic beasts. According to ancient texts and high order cultivators, once demonic beasts of the Demon Beast Race entered the Third Order, their spirit wisdom would greatly increase and their bodies could change shape. They would fight in their true forms during great battles and could transform into several zhang in size when in deep cultivation. Once they reached the Fourth Order, the demonic beasts¡¯ innate capabilities and appearance further evolved, enabling them to transform into human form, although there were still some obvious differences from true humans. At the very least, their external features made it clear that there were significant differences between these Fourth Order Great Demons and Human Cultivators. Therefore, it was nearly impossible for them to conceal themselves in front of cultivators of the same order, and even some Foundation Establishment Cultivators could easily distinguish them if they observed carefully. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Within the spirit stone hall. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, the atmosphere in the great hall was rather silent; the demonic beast powerhouses were each seated solemnly, none spoke as if they were waiting for something. A period of time as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea passed. With the flash of a red light, a middle-aged man with two horns on his head silently appeared in front of the group. This man had a determined expression, no emotion visible on his face, and just by standing there, he exuded a powerful aura and presence. Upon his arrival, the others in the hall quickly stood up and cupped their fists in salute, then quietly waited by the side, not daring to make a sound, and they were extremely respectful in their demeanor. Clearly, to command such respect from Fourth Order Great Demons, this beast¡¯s status and strength were certainly not low. And indeed, this was the case. This beast was named Yan Qian, a late Fourth Order Great Demon of the Flame Wind Jiao lineage, only one realm away from the strongest Fifth Order demonic beasts of the Huarong Realm. Flame Wind Jiaos were descendants of the ancient dragon race, containing innate bloodlines that bestowed them with various dragon talents and divine skills. With their formidable strength, the Flame Wind Jiao clan possessed several Fourth Order Great Demons, ranking them at the forefront of the entire Demon Race. This strong and well-established demon powerhouse made the other Fourth Order Great Demons present treat him with utmost respect, fearing to offend him. In the silent atmosphere. Yan Qian looked at the few Demon Race powerhouses present and then spoke, ¡°I have obtained ¡®that thing¡¯, and the main force of the Demon Beast Army has been brought back by me. You may instruct the juniors to retreat back to their territories.¡± Upon hearing this, the faces of the few Fourth Order Great Demons present lit up with joy as they started to offer flattery. ¡°Though the beast tide we launched was not of a large scale, several Nascent Soul Human Cultivators also made a move.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Even so, Brother Yan Qian managed to obtain that item right from under their noses and even came back unharmed. Your strength is extraordinarily formidable!¡± ¡­ No sooner had the voice faded, a crafty-eyed old man spoke up with a mix of emotions, ¡°Indeed¡­ the strength of those human cultivators in Qingzhou is not weak. Just last time, I almost fell into Tang Tianlong¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Had I not been resolute enough, plus having a precious item for escaping, I might have really fallen for that old Tang¡¯s trap!¡± Speaking of this, the old man¡¯s face darkened, and his tone became fiercely grim. But on closer inspection, the old man¡¯s face showed a mix of resentment and fear; it was clear that he had yet to forget the dire straits of his hasty flight. Listening to the old man, the other Demon Race powerhouses present couldn¡¯t resist teasing him a few words. ¡°Haha¡­ Brother Wu Xun may be mediocre in direct combat, but there¡¯s no doubt that your ability to flee is unmatched.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Inside the great hall. Hearing the flattering remarks from the other Great Demons, Yan Qian didn¡¯t interrupt but rather seemed to become lost in deep thought. This beast tide that had affected half of Qingzhou Land was indeed of his own doing, having secretly instigated several relatively weaker races, leading to the outbreak. The reason for this was that he had discovered a Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine in a hidden location within the cultivation world of Nanfeng Country on Qingzhou Land. This stalk of Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials was extremely precious and was instrumental for his breakthrough to the Fifth Order. Currently, he had been cultivating for over two thousand years without any sign of breaking through to the Fifth Order. Having come across such a treasure, he could not let it go, especially since he had made no progress for so long. This stalk of Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, located in the cultivation realm of Nanfeng Country at the heart of Qingzhou, wasn¡¯t too far from the cultivation realm controlled by the Tang Family, the top clan of Tang Country, with only one country separating them. Therefore, to obtain this stalk of Spiritual Medicine Materials unnoticed under the watchful eyes of human powerhouses was not an easy task. Chapter 520 03-25 - 520 295 Xins Secret_3 ?Chapter 520: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_3 Chapter 520: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_3 Therefore, it had incited several subordinate tribes to launch a medium-scale beast tide in the Yuanzhen Kingdom and Yuanwu Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm, not too far from Tang Country, thereby diverting the attention of the Tang Family and other powerful human cultivators. Its purpose in doing so was very simple; it was to take advantage of the chaos to obtain those Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. However, at the beginning of the beast tide, human cultivators did not react violently, and top-notch Nascent Soul cultivators were unwilling to act. Especially Tang Tianlong, the elder ancestor of the Tang Family, whose strength and cultivation were not low, had never shown his face, and his exact whereabouts were unknown. Yan Qian, who was afraid of startling the snake by beating the grass, did not dare to act rashly, lest he was detected by human cultivators. He was well aware that it was alright if he temporarily could not obtain that treasure. Once his whereabouts and the news of the treasure leaked out, trying to obtain those Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials from the prepared human cultivators would not be as simple as launching a medium-scale beast tide. ... As a result, he could only be more patient, intensifying the beast tide¡¯s onslaught to attract the attention of Tang Tianlong and other powerhouses. As time passed, it had been almost half a year since Yuanwu Kingdom was eradicated. Seeing the war between the two races getting increasingly fierce, both sides had paid a price. And the Demon Beast Army continued its onslaught deep into human territory. Even with Yuanwu Kingdom eradicated, there were still no signs of retreat. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, Qingzhou¡¯s top human powerhouses were finally paying attention to the progress of the beast tide¡¯s attack. Eventually, the Demon Beast Army continued to advance, entering the Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm and getting not too far away from Tang Country. Seeing that Tang Family¡¯s territory was about to be threatened, Tang Tianlong had no choice but to get involved. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 He had to come forward, inviting top forces from the surrounding areas for support, before sending out a large number of elites to join the resistance against the beast tide in Yuanzhen Kingdom. Tang Tianlong himself took the field, took charge within Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s borders, and led the many cultivators who had come to support, to cope with the Demon Beast Army¡¯s attack. However, such a move played right into Yan Qian¡¯s hands. Taking advantage of the human cultivators¡¯ diverted attention, Yan Qian stealthily infiltrated Nanfeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm and successfully obtained those Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. However, upon obtaining the treasure, he caused quite a stir and attracted the attention of some Golden Core Forces. Yan Qian couldn¡¯t be bothered with them and, having gained the treasure, promptly left Nanfeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Even though those Golden Core Forces noticed the commotion and reported it to Tang Tianlong at the earliest opportunity, the speed of human cultivators was no match for the Fourth Order late-stage Yan Qian. They were simply not on the same level. By the time Tang Tianlong received the news and wanted to give chase, Yan Qian had long since joined up with the Demon Beast Army. With his goal achieved, continuing the fight had little meaning. Moreover, not wanting to waste any time, Yan Qian led the Demon Beast Army to slowly retreat from the mountains, rivers, and lands within Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s borders back to the Demon Race¡¯s heartland. Seeing this, human cultivators at the center of the great battle naturally would not let things go easily. They poured out in droves, keen to kill as many of the demonic beasts as possible. Yan Qian had anticipated this and ordered some demonic beasts to cover the rear while leading the main forces to successfully retreat back into Demon Race territory. As for the abandoned Monster Beast Legion, as well as those branch legions distributed across various countries, they would retreat if possible. If not, they were to be sacrificed to quell the fury of the human powerhouses. ¡­ Recalling these secrets unknown to the human race, Yan Qian couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of emotions. But now that the matter had come to an end, even the top human powerhouses, despite any complaints, could not do anything to him. Returning to the present, Yan Qian exchanged a few words with the few strong members of the Demon Race by his side, confirming some details about the remnants of the Demon Beast Army. Soon, high-level consensus within the Demon Race was reached; they would abandon some of the less important Demon Beast Tribes, leaving them to fend for themselves. However, the human cultivators were unaware of these decisions. In the vast majority of regions, they were still resisting the invasion of the demonic beasts. Chapter 521 03-25 - 521 296 Year 1 ?Chapter 521: Chapter 296: Year 1 Chapter 521: Chapter 296: Year 1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. It has been more than half a year since the Demon Beast Tide erupted in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. During this period, Green Bamboo Mountain has been relatively calm, despite the occasional incursion of demon beasts into the nearby forests, which were quickly exterminated by a combined force of Lin Family Members. In a valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At this very moment, it was noon. Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua sat opposite each other, sipping tea while casually chatting. Lin Shikang lifted his teacup for a light sip, then looked in the direction of the valley, revealing a thoughtful expression. ... He then let out a long sigh and asked Lin Shihua opposite him, ¡°Shihua, how have the family¡¯s major strongholds been holding up recently?¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyebrows relaxed, and after pondering for a moment, he began to respond. ¡°Third Brother¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain is relatively peaceful, occasionally, some groups led by Second Order Demonic Beasts would intrude near Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°However, the demon beasts¡¯ ranks aren¡¯t high. Under the leadership of Ninth Brother and myself, our clanspeople, with excellent coordination, have repelled the demon beasts multiple times.¡± ¡°Quite a few Foundation Establishment Clan Members remain in the family to guard our home, and with the help of the Soul-eating Spider, Ninth Brother and I were able to cope without alarming you, Third Brother.¡± ¡°As for Shi Lu, according to what people say when they return to the clan, everything seems to have been quite uneventful, given that the strength of Luoyun Market is not to be trifled with.¡± ¡°Xing Rong, on the other hand, faces a slightly more severe situation as their power is relatively weak, and the pressure on Xing Rong is greater.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Nevertheless, both Xing Rong and Tianfeng are experienced, and together with Tianhu, who has both talent and strength, and their rich combat experience, they can barely manage.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded, showing a satisfied smile. For nearly a year, he has been guarding Ye Pinghai while also paying attention to the movements of the demon beast attacks. He thought he would be overwhelmed, but unexpectedly, the intensity of the beast tide at Luoyun Mountain continued to weaken. Thanks to Lin Shihua¡¯s rich experience and strategic planning, things turned out to be rather leisurely. Still, this was ultimately a good thing. Snapping back to reality, he quickly followed up with, ¡°Everyone has worked hard. How have the casualties been among our clanspeople?¡± Upon finishing, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, a trace of sorrow on his face. He took a deep breath and then reported back truthfully. ¡°Based on preliminary counts, nearly dozens of our Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople have perished in battle this year. Among them, many were at the later stages, with as many as eight, and the rest were mostly around the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°Luckily, none of the clanspeople above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining were sacrificed, and the Foundation Establishment Clan Members mostly suffered minor injuries, nothing serious.¡± Hearing the report, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but turn slightly pale at the loss of so many clanspeople over the past year or two. But after careful thought, Defending so many treasures under the shadow of the beast tide, and the fact that the clanspeople were completely dispersed made it very difficult to cope. If it weren¡¯t for the significant improvements in the overall strength of the Lin Family over the past few decades and occupying such a vast territory, it truly would have been difficult to manage. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shikang gradually calmed down, and color slowly returned to his pale face. He turned his head to look silently towards the north, his mind filled with countless thoughts, unknowing of what he was pondering. Seeing his state, Lin Shihua seemed to understand that he was worrying about Lin Tianming¡¯s safety. Lin Shihua thought silently, as Lin Tianming had been away for no short amount of time, and his face also showed a touch of melancholy. After regaining his composure, he saw Lin Shikang still silent, and began to offer reassurance. ¡°Third Brother, the intensity of the beast tide has been weakening recently, it should be approaching its end.¡± ¡°Moreover, news came a few days ago that a Yuyao City was established in the Songling Mountain Range. The Zhenyang Sect mobilized four Golden Elixir Experts and two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to fight two battles against the Demon Beast Army.¡± Before he could finish, The previously silent Lin Shikang immediately returned to normal and eagerly inquired, ¡°What was the result? Is there any news of Tianming?¡± Seeing this, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t dare to delay and quickly began to convey the message. ¡°It is said that Tianming broke through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level and shone brilliantly in the great battle, ranking among the top twenty amongst all cultivators.¡± ¡°What? Is this news true?¡± ¡°That lad Tianming is truly that formidable, with his battle achievements ranking at the top among thousands of cultivators of the same stage?¡± Lin Shikang was visibly excited and even in disbelief, so he pressed for confirmation. At that moment, Lin Shihua recalled the excitement and disbelief he had felt when he first received the news. After careful confirmation and inquiries, he finally came to believe the explosive news. He was thrilled and also breathed a sigh of relief. The importance of Lin Tianming to the entire Lin Family was critical. As long as he smoothly continues his cultivation and has access to a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, given Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and cultivation speed, it was highly likely he could successfully impact the Golden Core Realm. For this reason, Lin Shihua also had to be extremely cautious, always paying attention to Lin Tianming¡¯s movements. Thankfully, his persistent efforts finally led to accurate news, which eased his anxious mind. Regaining his composure and hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s expectant inquiry, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t hold back. With a brisk demeanor and a healthy flush on his face, he explained, ¡°The person who delivered the news is from a merchant caravan belonging to a Golden Elixir Force; they have set up shop in Yuyao City, so the news should not be false.¡± ¡°Good! Good¡­ Good¡­¡± Lin Shikang exclaimed three ¡®good¡¯s in a row, his previously pale face now suffused with a healthy glow, clearly overwhelmed with excitement. Chapter 522 03-25 - 522 296 One Year_2 ?Chapter 522: Chapter 296 One Year_2 Chapter 522: Chapter 296 One Year_2 After finally calming down a bit, he burst into hearty laughter, as if driven to madness. ¡°Haha¡­ good lad, I just knew it, our Hidden Dragon from the Lin Family will shine brilliantly wherever he is!¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s appearance, Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but be influenced, and what¡¯s more, when he received the accurate news, his own expression was not in the least bit worse than Lin Shikang¡¯s. At this time, he too laughed out loud, and the two of them continued laughing for a long time before returning to normal. As they calmed down, Lin Shihua then shifted the topic, inquiring about Ye Pinghai¡¯s breakthrough. Speaking of which, it had been two years since Ye Pinghai entered the valley to adjust his state. During this period, they paid close attention, and some even guarded the place day and night. ... But even so, including Lin Shikang, they knew nothing about the progress of Ye Pinghai¡¯s Golden Core breakthrough. The Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation showed no signs of happening, and it was very calm within the clan territory, with no signs of a breakthrough nor of failure. However, it wasn¡¯t without changes. At the very least, the Spiritual Energy converging in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory became increasingly dense, reaching an abnormally intense state. At this moment, after much consideration, Lin Shikang, recalling many insights left behind by the ancestors, also had some speculations. Regaining his focus, he then began to voice his thoughts. ¡°Shihua, Daoist Ye has been in seclusion for more than two years now, and the Spiritual Energy in this area has reached its pinnacle.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°From my estimation, whether Daoist Ye succeeds or not, there will definitely be some clear movements within a short time span of ten days to a half month, or at most within a year.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded. Taking into account the rumors in the Cultivation World and the insights left by the ancestors, indeed, whether Ye Pinghai succeeds or not, there should be some movements by this point in time. Regaining his composure, Lin Shihua said with a light smile: S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Third brother, we are at a critical juncture now. I¡¯ll leave this place in your hands; I will go take care of clan affairs.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve taken good care of the family affairs, if there¡¯s any major news, especially regarding Tian Ming, inform me immediately!¡± ¡°Go!¡± Lin Shikang nodded, giving a serious and earnest instruction, his demeanor extremely serious. ¡°Third brother, rest assured, I understand the priorities!¡± Lin Shihua responded, then cupped his hands in salute and left the valley without looking back. ¡­ In Yuyao City. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, he sat cross-legged with his hands forming seals, clearly engaged in deep cultivation. Time flew by; it had been over a year since the beast tides erupted in the Wei Kingdom. And it had been nearly a year since he came to Yuyao City to take part in the great battle. As the war continued, he had experienced several major battles, appearing in every one of them. The latest major battle between both sides had ended just a few days ago. As expected, after several battles, the overall strength of the Demon Beast Army had further weakened, and the Human Cultivators had firmly gained the upper hand. Furthermore, after the great battle that ended two days prior, the attacking force of the Demon Beast Army seemed extremely fatigued, nearly collapsing. If the combat endurance of the Human Cultivators had been sufficient, Chen Jingtian even contemplated unleashing the full force in a decisive battle to end the war. However, the cautious Chen Jingtian did not act rashly; he further suppressed the restlessness in his heart, stopping the frenzied cultivator army. In his mind, he planned to wait until there was a near certainty before launching a final decisive battle, to crush this group of demonic beasts thoroughly, and even leave most of their lives behind. In such a situation, although the army of cultivators was as mighty as a rainbow, they dared not defy Chen Jingtian¡¯s command. ¡°` After all, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator had been fierce in this year of resisting the Demonic Beasts, and his reputation had long been established. Therefore, even if the army of cultivators had any objections, they had no choice but to retreat to Yuyao City to rest and recuperate before making any further plans. Of course, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t dare offend a Golden Core Cultivator, so he obediently took Qin Xi and returned to Yuyao City as well. In the practice room. After resting for two days and feeling his condition return to its peak, Lin Tianming let out a slight sigh and immediately fell into deep thought. At present, the combat power of the Demon Beast Army had sharply declined, and if nothing unexpected happened, perhaps after one or two more battles, the human cultivators would be able to annihilate them. During this past year, he had experienced numerous skirmishes, and his points on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard had steadily increased. Up to now, not counting the large battle from two days ago, he had accumulated 1,850 points, ranking twelfth overall, surpassing both Yang Tongshun and Hu Yuan, and was only twenty points behind Deng Guanghua, who was in the previous position. Although this result was slightly below his expectations, it was not unacceptable. As the great battle continued, the surviving Demonic Beasts grew stronger through the baptism of prolonged combat. As a result, it became significantly more difficult for cultivators to earn points. Thus, earning 300 points from one tough battle in the later stages of the war was considered quite an achievement for Lin Tianming. If luck was not on their side and they encountered a Demon Beast Tribe that was too strong, they might not even secure 200 points. Under such circumstances, having participated in seven large battles and totaling 1,850 points, thus advancing two places forward, was indeed noteworthy. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming decided not to dwell on his achievements and leaderboard points. ¡°The Demon Hunter Leaderboard is updated today; I should go check the specifics before making any plans!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, then stood up, tidied up the practice room, and left the cave dwelling headed towards the Zhenyang Hall. ¡­ Before long, Lin Tianming arrived at the familiar square. At this time, the square was bustling with noise as a large number of cultivators gathered, discussing the various feats of the genius cultivators listed on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. From a distance, Lin Tianming could clearly hear a few men discussing amongst themselves with great admiration in their tone and expression. ¡°Daoist Long Qingshui truly deserves to be a True Disciple of Chen; his points lead the way by a large margin, leaving the second and third places far behind!¡± ¡°That goes without saying¡­ Daoist Long is a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection level.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ both Daoist Long¡¯s cultivation strength and magic artifacts, as well as his combat experience, are among the strongest in his class. To achieve such results is completely within expectations.¡± ¡­ Elsewhere, a few other cultivators were discussing something different, their topic revolving around Loose Cultivators and family cultivators instead of Zhenyang Sect disciples. Soon, their topic attracted the attention of many cultivators, drawing a large crowd and making the scene even livelier. Lin Tianming became interested, and he blended into the crowd while waiting for the Zhenyang Sect cultivators to update the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. At that moment, a Foundation Building Fourth Level cultivator looked at the crowd and then spoke to his companion, ¡°It looks like the Demon Beast Army won¡¯t last much longer, which means the great battle is nearing its end. What do you all think about how our family cultivators and Loose Cultivators will fare in competing for the Demon Hunter Leaderboard?¡± This topic indeed sparked a lively debate among many cultivators. After all, it was expected for Zhenyang Sect cultivators to occupy the top spots; for Loose Cultivators and family cultivators to climb to the high ranks was quite challenging. Under these circumstances, these cultivators spoke their minds freely, without the caution shown when discussing Zhenyang Sect cultivators. In the midst of the boisterous atmosphere, an excited cultivator suddenly spoke up, ¡°Speaking of which, Daoist Zheng Xiao is truly a role model for our peers. As a mere Loose Cultivator, it¡¯s incredible that he could rank seventh among thousands of peers!¡± No sooner had these words been uttered when another cultivator seemed to recall something and, with a look of envy, said, ¡°Daoist Deng and Daoist Lin are no less formidable. ¡°In particular, Daoist Lin, so young yet so powerful, given another twenty or so years of cultivation, he might even surpass Daoist Long Qingshui!¡± These words immediately ignited a flurry of comments from the many cultivators, making the noisy scene even more enthusiastic. ¡°` Chapter 523 03-25 - 523 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_1 ?Chapter 523: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_1 Chapter 523: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_1 Clearly. There was a large base of cultivators within Yuyao City, yet despite the widespread reputation of Lin Tianming, some ascetics coming from around the Dragon Mountain Market had never seen him. With a sizable assembly of cultivators gathered here, many were unfamiliar with Lin Tianming. Upon hearing discussions about him, they quickly converged. ¡­ Less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed. The number of cultivators congregating in the plaza had reached over a thousand, but the majority were Qi Refining Cultivators. It was now high noon, and Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators each occupied their own territories, forming small groups here and there and chatting among themselves. ... In the crowd, a cultivator who regularly roamed the Qianchuan Market overheard the conversations and added his own comment. ¡°Li is right. The current thirteenth-ranked Lin Tianming hails from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family.¡± His words instantly opened up the floodgates for conversation among many cultivators, and those unfamiliar with Lin Tianming eagerly started asking questions. ¡°The Lin Family? Which Lin Family?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ there are quite a few Lin families in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World¡­¡± Seeing this, the speaking cultivator, face flush with excitement, immediately began to recount the details of Lin Tianming and the Lin Family. ¡°Hehe¡­ The Lin Family from Luoyun Mountain Range produced Golden Core experts in the past.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡°As you¡¯ve seen, the prowess of our friend Lin Tianming is formidable; breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level in his forties, his strength is terrifying. His talent is simply frightening!¡± ¡°If you ask me, he¡¯s one of the strongest contenders for a spot in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, among both clan cultivators and loose cultivators.¡± Upon hearing this, many previously uninformed people were filled with astonishment. Now looking at the Demon Hunter Leaderboard¡¯s names and ratings, they showed envious expressions. Some of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators with lower cultivation also did not forget to offer a few compliments, and there were even cultivators who took the opportunity to cozy up for no apparent reason, as if they were very familiar with the Lin family. In the midst of the crowd, Lin Tianming was quietly listening, not bothering to expose the rumors and hearsay. It was, after all, a bit of amusement during the tedious wait. ¡­ Less than half an incense stick¡¯s worth of time had passed. As several Zhenyang Sect Disciples emerged from the Zhenyang Hall, the bustling atmosphere finally broke. Seeing this, it was clear that the achievements from the previous battle had been announced, and these individuals were here to update the scores on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. The multitude of cultivators stopped their conversations, focusing intently on the leaderboard in front of them, their faces filled with anticipation. At this moment, Lin Tianming also perked up with impatience evident on his face, eager for the upcoming update of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. His purpose for being here was clear, simply to see how his own points stacked up against the gap with potential competitors. Knowing this swiftly was vital for those with clear goals and significantly important. After all, the situation with the demonic beasts could take a dramatic turn potentially not lasting much longer. Therefore, quickly being informed allowed for adjustments and enabled one to give their all in the upcoming battles. Here, many, including Lin Tianming, shared this sentiment. With everyone watching, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples clasped their fists in greeting before skillfully casting their spells. In just a short while, the updated Demon Hunter Leaderboard reappeared before everyone. At a glance, the top five remained unchanged, with Long Qingshui leading by a considerable margin with 2720 points. Chasing behind him, Jiang Yuyao with 2510 points had overtaken Jun Buhui, who had long held second place. Further back, Zheng Xiao with 2240 points ranked sixth overall, while Deng Guanghua with 2110 points claimed the tenth spot. As for himself, he climbed further, landing at the eleventh position on the overall list, still ten points behind Deng Guanghua in tenth. Right after him, Hu Yuan took the twelfth spot, with Yang Tongshun closely behind him. The difference between the two was minuscule; one or two early-stage demonic beasts could switch their positions. Not just them, the whole leaderboard from ninth to fifteenth place was separated by a mere hundred points, indicating that slaying a single Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast could leapfrog someone from fifteenth to the top ten. Such a small margin meant the competition was particularly fierce. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. Unexpectantly, as the great battle was drawing to a close, those previously stable positions had seen numerous shifts. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Initially, he thought that Jiang Yuyao, being a woman, did well to maintain third place. However, outdoing his expectations, Jiang Yuyao had surged forward at the tail end of the battle, surpassing Jun Buhui who had been suppressing her. Besides her, Zheng Xiao¡¯s point growth was remarkably stable, and his ranking was steadily rising, threatening to break into the top five soon. Deng Guanghua¡¯s score was stable as well, stepping firmly into the top ten, becoming the non-Zhenyang Sect cultivator following right after Zheng Xiao. ¡°It seems that Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World indeed hides dragons and crouching tigers. Among loose cultivators, there are also those with tremendous natural talent and strength!¡± Lin Tianming mumbled to himself, his eyes brimming with admiration. Zheng Xiao¡¯s point lead among non-Zhenyang Sect cultivators was significant, and barring any surprises, he was highly likely to secure one of the spots to enter the Tianfeng Secret Realm. As for the remaining two positions, it was still too early to tell. However, among those with the capability to compete, apart from himself, were Deng Guanghua, Hu Yuan, and Yang Tongshun. And within the Yangzong team¡¯s board, the competition was not fierce. Chapter 524 03-25 - 524 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_2 ?Chapter 524: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_2 Chapter 524: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_2 After all, there were just over a hundred people in the teams from Yuyao City, and they were given quite a few spots; a conservative estimate would be around ten or so. As for the remainder, those were certainly the internally arranged spots by Zhenyang Sect, not partaking in this competition. Li Xiuyuan, who was leading their team, could be said to have achieved outstanding results, both personally and as a team. According to the points on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, Li Xiuyuan ranked seventh on the individual list, slightly ahead of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. In the team rankings organized by Zhenyang Sect, Li Xiuyuan also held the sixth position. The teams ahead of his were led by genius cultivators who were at the top of the individual rankings. Among them, the team organized by Long Qingshui and others still held a place within the top three, having pulled ahead by a considerable margin. From the current situation, the gaps between the ranks on the team list were significant. Trying to make a substantial leap during the final moments would be considerably more challenging than in the individual competition. ... In such circumstances, all Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team needed to do was stay the course and maintain their ranking. Once the great battle concluded, Li Xiuyuan, as the recruiter of the team, would have a high probability of directly securing a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Compared to loose cultivators and those from family clans, the disciples within Zhenyang Sect with higher talent didn¡¯t need much competition to obtain better opportunities. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming felt some envy and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°We are all fighting for opportunities, yet look at them; this is the deep heritage of Golden Elixir Forces!¡± After sighing, watching Zhenyang Sect cultivators depart, Lin Tianming decided not to linger for long. Determined, he immediately turned around and stepped away from the square. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡­ Several days passed. In the practice room of the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut, as still as an old monk in meditation. In front of him, the Thousand Beast Banner hung above his head, occasionally flashing with light. Following that were the roars of demonic beasts, their echoes floating around the practice room before gradually fading away. This state had continued for several days. After leaving the square in front of Zhenyang Hall, Lin Tianming had made his usual visit to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave dwelling to collect the spoils of war for himself and Qin Xi. After some small talk and exchanging quite a bit of news from the Cultivation World, he returned to his own dwelling to seclude himself for cultivation. With no shortage of spoils in hand, and a recent end to a great battle, it was unlikely there would be combat soon. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t one to sit idle. He took advantage of this lull to seal the Monster Beast Souls into the Thousand Beast Banner, and then to refine it thoroughly to maximize its power. After several days of refinement, the newly acquired Monster Beast Souls had all been sealed. As the Thousand Beast Banner stopped spinning, Lin Tianming waved a hand and grasped the Five Rod Flag in his hand. Feeling the aura emitted by the Thousand Beast Banner, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, revealing a satisfied smile. Throughout the year since the Demon Beast Tide erupted, many Monster Beast Souls of considerable grade had been sealed within the Thousand Beast Banner. Previously, the majority of souls in the Thousand Beast Banner were First Order Monster Beast Souls, with a not so high proportion of First Order Late Stage ones. Since the outbreak of the Demon Beast Tide, through his family and Yuyao City, he had obtained a significant number of Monster Beast Souls, including quite a few Second Order Demon Beast Souls, conservatively estimated at several hundred. And the strongest of the Second Order Late Stage Beasts had now accumulated to dozens, with no small number of Second Order Medium Stage as well. Under these conditions, the current Thousand Beast Banner was several times more powerful than before. It was safe to say that aside from the Tiangang Sword, the Thousand Beast Banner had become Lin Tianming¡¯s most powerful Attack Talisman. The only regret was that the level of the Artifact Refiner who had created the Thousand Beast Banner seemed not that high, and the materials used were not the best, resulting in a not so high grade. With the number of Monster Beast Souls sealed within skyrocketing, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner seemed to have reached its limit. If the grade of the Thousand Beast Banner itself wasn¡¯t improved, even increasing the Monster Beast Souls wouldn¡¯t lead to much more enhancement. ¡°After the Demon Beast Tide battle is over, I must ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help raise the grade of the Thousand Beast Banner, otherwise, this Magic Artifact might not be able to keep up with my strength!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, then put away the Thousand Beast Banner and prepared to start meditating for cultivation. Just at that moment, a sudden ringing of bells echoed throughout Yuyao City. ¡°Hm?¡± Hearing the bell, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed confusion, and he began to ponder. The last battle had just taken place a few days ago and, based on past patterns, it seemed very unlikely that demonic beasts would be attacking Yuyao City so soon. Furthermore, with the war dragging on for so long, the overall strength of the Demonic Beast Army has been decimated by more than half. Aside from the few top Third Order Demon Beasts that are still alive and capable of exerting formidable power, the number of Second Order Demonic Beasts has been greatly reduced, simply no match for the Human Cultivators. ¡°Could it be that the Demonic Beasts have a large number of reinforcements?¡± ¡°Or have they gone mad? Or are the Demonic Beasts trying to flee?¡± Lin Tianming conjectured three possibilities in succession. Based on his own judgment, he felt it was more likely that there was a new development within the Demonic Beast Army. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s go out and take a look first!¡± Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming immediately got up and left the training room. Outside the house, Qin Xi, who had also heard the bell, was already waiting at the door ahead of time. Upon seeing him come out, she greeted him promptly, her eyes also filled with a puzzled look. ¡°Lin, what¡¯s going on now?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming shook his head and said helplessly, ¡°I have no idea, but whatever happens, there are Golden Core Cultivators up front to deal with it, so there¡¯s no need to panic.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go out and see!¡± Qin Xi nodded, and then the two of them left the cave dwelling one after the other and headed towards the city walls of Yuyao City. Along the way, many Cultivators gathered in small groups, everyone wearing puzzled expressions, all moving in the direction of the city walls. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and his companion did not delay and soon arrived at the city walls. By then, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, along with some teammates, had already arrived, and a small portion of people were still on their way. Lin Tianming and his companion went up to greet everyone and then gathered together. In a short span of time, more and more Cultivators gathered on the city wall, and the members of their team were all present. Looking around from the initial fifty people at the beginning of the war, now only a little more than thirty people had survived, with nearly twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators having fallen on this battlefield. The majority of those who had survived were Cultivators with a cultivation of Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and above. For a Cultivator like Qin Xi at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, if it were not for Lin Tianming¡¯s constant protection, she might have perished in this brutal war long ago. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s primary focus was on the direction outside the city. Using both his Divine Sense and the Eye of Five Colors to their fullest, he seemed to want to see what exactly was going on. However, outside Yuyao City, within the range of his exploration, all was silent, showing only signs of damage from the war, with no unusual activity detected. He withdrew his Divine Sense and turned to Li Xiuyuan beside him, ¡°Li, what is the reason for suddenly assembling everyone? What exactly happened?¡± The moment he finished speaking, Hu Yuan also asked with confusion. ¡°Indeed¡­ Under normal circumstances, this isn¡¯t the time for Demonic Beast attacks, and no traces of any Demonic Beast movements have been detected!¡± Hearing their questions, Li Xiuyuan looked at the tranquil outdoors and appeared quite helpless. In truth, he was also puzzled, as no message had come from above, nor were there any signs. ¡°Fellow Cultivators, I also haven¡¯t received any news and am just as puzzled,¡± he said. ¡°However, it shouldn¡¯t be anything serious. After all, everyone is aware of the state of the Demonic Beast Army, and everything is calm outside the city. It¡¯s unlikely to be bad news.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone nodded and couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Subsequently, people stopped their inquiries, chatting with each other and waiting for the Golden Elixir Experts to make an appearance, at which point everything would naturally be explained. A short while, no longer than the time it takes to brew tea, passed. With the sound of the bell signaling assembly, a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already gathered on the city walls. In the square below the wall, thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators also gathered, discussing among themselves. With a few flashes of light, several figures of Golden Core Cultivators, including Chen Jingtian, quietly appeared in the pavilions atop the city walls. At that moment, Chen Jingtian and the others were beaming with smiles, apparently in high spirits. Seeing this, the crowd below didn¡¯t dare to make a sound, all waiting patiently. After some time passed, Chen Jingtian and his peers concluded their casual chat and then looked in the direction outside the city. Chen Jingtian turned around, looked at the many Cultivators present, and his resonant voice rang out. ¡°Young ones, we have just received reliable news that for some unknown reason, the Demon Beast Army has suddenly retreated.¡± Before his words even finished, the place erupted into deafening cheers. Chapter 525 03-25 - 525 298 Pursuit_1 ?Chapter 525: Chapter 298 Pursuit_1 Chapter 525: Chapter 298 Pursuit_1 The sudden news was extremely important for everyone present. It was something they had long hoped for. After all, the war had been going on for over a year, and the cultivator army had also suffered significant losses, with at least thousands of cultivators falling in battle, including many Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Among them was Sun Dingfeng from the Luoyun Mountain Range, who had also fallen on this battlefield. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling a rush of emotions. Initially, Lin Tianming had first gone to Qianchuan Market to gather before finally arriving at Yuyao City to join the great battle. In that period, he had occasionally run into Sun Dingfeng a few times, and since they both hailed from the Luoyun Mountain Range, there was no deep-seated enmity between the Lin Family and the Sun Family¡ªon the contrary, they had even allied during the previous great clan battle at Luoyun Mountain. ... In the midst of this perilous battlefield, knowing each other¡¯s background, the two exchanged some information. Unexpectedly, during the third round of the great battle, Sun Dingfeng had fallen, catching him by surprise. However, from the family¡¯s perspective, this wasn¡¯t exactly bad news for the Lin Family. Although the Lin Family had previously formed an alliance with the Sun Family, as the Jin Family perished and the Lin Family suddenly rose to power, the Sun and Luo Families began to distance themselves and regarded the Lin Family as a thorn in their side. It was only because they feared the Lin Family¡¯s formidable strength that they dared not take any action, to avoid being targeted for revenge. Now with the fall of Sun Dingfeng, the once powerful Sun Family had only the aging Sun Dingxian and the young Sun Ruiyang left among its Foundation Establishment Clan Members, a truly awkward situation of lacking a suitable successor. Moreover, during the battle, many of the Sun Family¡¯s Qi Refining Clanspeople were either killed or injured. They hardly had any talented descendants left, and in terms of numbers, they were even fewer than some Qi Refining Families. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï If this continued, the Sun Family would only grow weaker. Eventually, without the Lin Family having to resort to force, they would degrade into an ordinary family and then vanish from the Cultivation World. ¡­ On the city walls. Upon hearing the news of the demon beasts¡¯ retreat, Lin Tianming¡¯s face brightened slightly, his heart filling with excitement. And it wasn¡¯t just him¡ªmost of the people were overjoyed, sharing their happiness with each other. At that moment, the sonorous voice of Chen Jingtian once again echoed from the tower, cutting through the commotion of the cultivators. ¡°Fellow cultivators, although the Demon Beast Army has retreated, the crisis has not been completely resolved. There¡¯s a strong possibility they may return.¡± ¡°Therefore, for the stability of the Cultivation World, I have decided to lead you out of Yuyao City to pursue them and take their lives, if possible.¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd buzzed with renewed fervor as many privately exchanged their opinions through voice transmission. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian remained calm, betraying no sign of his thoughts. Soon enough, a cultivator raised a question, asking whether participation was mandatory or voluntary. Clearly, Chen Jingtian seemed to have anticipated the cultivators¡¯ queries. He swept his piercing gaze across all the cultivators and then explained. ¡°Qi Refining Cultivators may participate voluntarily, but Foundation Establishment Cultivators and disciples of my sect must join unless there are special circumstances!¡± Upon hearing this, the Qi Refining Cultivators immediately erupted in an uproar of cheers. As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, each wore a hesitant expression, their feelings extremely complex. Lin Tianming felt the same, his emotions particularly conflicted. The reason for this was easy to understand. After all, the war had dragged on for so long, and many were weary of it. Moreover, the horrific nature of the war was evident to all, with the majority having witnessed comrades and teammates perish by their side. Just when the demon beasts had voluntarily withdrawn and everyone could finally cultivate in peace, here they were, tasked with pursuing the beasts. If the demon beasts were driven into a corner, they would not submit to slaughter and would undoubtedly fight desperately. To perish in the pursuit of these beasts would be a major loss indeed. At that moment, Chen Jingtian, seeing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ expressions, appeared to understand their reluctance all too well. He chuckled and said, ¡°The Qi Refining juniors are too weak, and the pursuit of the demon beasts needs to be swift¡ªthey would struggle to keep up.¡± ¡°Even if they did keep up, it would only lead to unnecessary casualties. Hence, there¡¯s no need to enlist their service.¡± Having said that, Chen Jingtian¡¯s demeanor suddenly turned stern, his tone brooking no argument. ¡°As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, you are the mainstay of our Demon-Hunting Army and absolutely crucial. For the safety of the Cultivation World, you must contribute your strength.¡± ¡°During this pursuit, the squads composed of my disciples will serve as the foundation. All achievements will be calculated as points, contributing to eligibility for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± After these words, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators looked helpless but dared not show it, lest they incur Chen Jingtian¡¯s displeasure. The difference in power was clear¡ªafter all, a Golden Core Cultivator is a Golden Core Cultivator; if they wanted to reason with you, fine, but if not, there¡¯s nothing you could do. Lacking the strength, you don¡¯t even have the right to refuse. At that point, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the situation. Although he longed to return to his family immediately, it seemed he would have to delay for some time and involve himself in the great battle against the demon beasts. Aside from him, there were also cultivators who didn¡¯t mind undertaking this mission. After all, many Loose Cultivators had chosen to come to Yuyao City with their own goals in mind. If the war ended abruptly, those with the ability to vie for a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm would lose their chance. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now this pursuit was their last opportunity to strive for a spot in the realm. Besides, there were also many who loved adventure and rarely found an opportunity for training against such a multitude of demonic beasts. Moreover, with the Demon Beast Army at a distinct disadvantage, hunting them down would likely result in greater rewards. Chapter 526 03-25 - 526 298 Pursuit_2 ?Chapter 526: Chapter 298 Pursuit_2 Chapter 526: Chapter 298 Pursuit_2 As long as they survived, their strength would improve, and treasures would not be scarce. From this perspective, chasing down the Demon Beast Army was also a rare opportunity for this group of people. Risk and reward have always been directly proportional, a fact well understood by everyone. It is unknown how much time had passed, but the noisy and chaotic scene gradually quieted down. By then, those who were hesitant seemed to have made their decisions, accepting Chen Jingtian¡¯s arrangements. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction. In fact, he had made this decision after careful deliberation. ... In his heart, there was consideration for the Cultivation World as well as private concerns for Zhenyang Sect and himself. After all, the Demon Beast Army was at an absolute disadvantage, which had come at a great cost. It must be understood that Zhenyang Sect and the few Golden Core Cultivators had expended quite a few treasures in this great battle. Just the Third Order Talisman alone had used up dozens of sheets, not to mention other various treasures. Now that they had finally gained the upper hand, it would be a pity to let them retreat easily. Besides, the cultivators who fell in the great battle had left behind many unclaimed items. Although there might not be many good items, the large number of resources accumulated was a substantial wealth, and the value of the Demon Beast Corpses themselves was an extremely large sum. As leaders, the Golden Core Cultivators, apart from handing over a portion of resources to the Sect, could also retain a portion for themselves. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Even a very small portion was a substantial benefit. Thus, as long as the great battle continued, each faction could scoop up resources. From their standpoint, they were sure not to lose but instead stand to gain abundantly. It was precisely because of this that Chen Jingtian was so decisive and firm, not allowing any room for rebuttal. Regaining his composure, Chen Jingtian exchanged smiles with Wang Hengqiu and the others, with a slight hint of excitement in their expressions. Once calm had been restored, Chen Jingtian then began to speak, organizing the details and arrangements for chasing the Demon Beast Army. ¡°Gentlemen, your profound understanding pleases me greatly!¡± ¡°Follow me out of the city shortly, track the footprints of the Demon Beast Army along the Songling Mountain Range, and be ready to confront them at any time.¡± ¡°I hope everyone will not hold back but also not be careless, and try to kill as many demon beasts as possible.¡± ¡°Understood?¡± Chen Jingtian said sternly. ¡°We will follow the senior¡¯s command!¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s sharp words, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present dared not oppose and responded in unison. Up in the attic, Chen Jingtian nodded satisfactorily and then instructed Lan Yu beside him. ¡°Junior Brother Lan, your injury has not recovered, and I fear you can¡¯t exert more than fifty percent of your strength. Stay and guard Yuyao City and keep an eye on those Qi Refining Cultivators. Leave the pursuit of the Demon Beast Army to the three of us.¡± ¡°As the Senior Brother commands!¡± Lan Yu bowed in response. Immediately after, Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu next to him exchanged a few words, confirming many details about the pursuit of the beast army. A little time passed. With the Defensive Great Formation of Yuyao City opening, Chen Jingtian waved a single hand, and then he and Wang Hengqiu led the way out of the Formation-covered area. Atop the city walls, upon seeing the Golden Core Cultivators mobilizing, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators did not delay and followed their steps, appearing on the open ground outside the city. Outside the city, over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators were divided into several groups, neatly waiting for orders. At the forefront, Zhu Yun took out the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, and after casting a Law Decree, the boat quickly expanded, turning into the first shape seen. Following that, Chen Jingtian and the others leapt aboard, boarding the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat first. As the three appeared on the deck of the boat, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators below began boarding as well, and the assembly was completed promptly. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sat side by side on the ground, not far from Li Xiuyuan and the other teammates, everyone quietly waiting. Then, seeing the timing was about right, Zhu Yun manipulated the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, turning into a blur as it shot towards the west. The Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat was fast, covering a hundred zhang in the blink of an eye, piercing through the clouds. ¡­ Two days quietly passed by. On this day, the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat appeared above a range of towering mountains. Chen Jingtian and a few others stood on the deck of the flying boat, gazing down below. They extended their Divine Sense in all directions, apparently in search of traces of demonic beasts. Below them, amidst the lush green valleys, a path suddenly appeared. On both sides, several towering trees were snapped in half, and the ground was littered with countless broken rocks and some peculiar footprints, which looked incredibly clear. Clearly, such obvious traces had to be left by demonic beasts as they passed through. Chen Jingtian was the first to finish scouting and now furrowed his brows, wearing a reflective expression. ¡°Wang, there are obvious traces of demonic beasts passing below, and the tracks are fresh. The air is even filled with the scent of demonic beasts.¡± ¡°If everything goes as expected, we should be able to catch up with the main forces of the Demon Beast Army not far ahead.¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Hengqiu nodded his head in agreement, showing great trust in Chen Jingtian¡¯s judgment. The Demon Beast Army was too large and included many low-order demonic beasts. If the Third Order demonic beasts didn¡¯t leave them behind, their speed definitely couldn¡¯t be very fast. But they were light on their feet, relying on the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat for travel, making them at least several times faster than the Demon Beast Army. After two days of pursuit, they theoretically should have indeed been very close to the Demon Beast Army. ¡°Chen, this is definitely a Monster Beast Legion; the only question is whether they will disperse and retreat,¡± Wang said. ¡°If it¡¯s a mass retreat, we must be careful. If they scatter, I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have enough hands to hold them all back.¡± Chen Jingtian nodded to this, finding it a reasonable point. After all, the number of the Demon Beast Army was still massive; the movements of tens of thousands of demonic beasts were inevitably too conspicuous. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Furthermore, the speed difference between high-order and low-order demonic beasts was too great; they were likely not to retreat together. Considering these, Chen Jingtian spoke up, ¡°No matter, regardless of the size or intent of this monster beast legion, all of our elites are here. Let¡¯s catch up first and then see.¡± His words were considered and left little room for worry. Wang Hengqiu and the others naturally had no objections. Without delay, Chen Jingtian instructed Zhu Yun to control the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat and shoot along the traces below. Quickly, in less than a quarter of an hour, the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat appeared in front of a canyon. Standing on the deck and looking down, the canyon was flanked by high mountains on both sides, with dense jungles covering the peaks and thick fog enveloping the vast canyon. As it scarcely received any sunlight throughout the year, the dark and damp canyon seemed even colder than other places. The clear traces also abruptly ended as if they had vanished into thin air. Looking at this eerie valley, coupled with the dark terrain, one couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill run down their spine. At that moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s brows were deeply furrowed. He looked toward the canyon, spreading his Divine Sense into it and thoroughly scouted the surroundings. Suddenly, he seemed to have discovered something. With a cold snort, he leaped from the deck as Spiritual Light blazed brightly around the Magical Treasure in his hand. ¡°Still hiding here, seeking death!¡± As the words fell, a colossal beam of Spiritual Light tore through the sky, striking deep into the recesses of the canyon. In an instant, a deafening explosion was heard, with flames shooting high into the sky, lighting up the darkened skies abruptly. At that moment, numerous cultivators on the flying boat stood on the deck, each one gazing intently at the commotion below, their expressions filled with confusion. As everyone watched, the flames quickly dissipated, followed by a crescendo of intense screams. Then came the sound of demonic beasts running, chaotic and loud, making it unclear how many there were. A few breaths passed in the blink of an eye. Shortly after, a large number of demonic beasts emerged from the dark canyon, about a few thousand in number. Seeing this, everyone was surprised and even more puzzled. It was somewhat unexpected that among the demonic beasts appearing here, no Third Order demonic beasts were found, and there were not many Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts either. The majority were First Order demonic beasts, or those at the Second Order Initial Stage. Clearly, the Demon Beast Army had split into several groups, or perhaps this group of demonic beasts had been intended as sacrifices to hinder their pursuit. Chapter 527 03-25 - 527 299 A Trap_1 ?Chapter 527: Chapter 299: A Trap?_1 Chapter 527: Chapter 299: A Trap?_1 ¡°` Seeing this situation, Chen Jingtian was quite calm as he had surmised this earlier. ¡°Roar roar¡­¡± As the deafening roar echoed, some of the dazed people finally snapped back to reality, looking at the group of demonic beasts with mocking eyes, showing an air of indifference. Yet, these demonic beasts, unaware of their imminent death, stayed in place, seemingly knowing they couldn¡¯t escape, or perhaps they were intentionally waiting for them here. At this time, Chen Jingtian surveyed the monster beast legion in the valley and discussed with Wang Hengqiu and a few others beside him. ¡°Wang, the strength of this monster beast legion is not high, do we bypass them to pursue the main force or eradicate this group first?¡± Upon hearing the question, Wang Hengqiu nodded and pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Despite their strength not being high, their numbers are still considerable. Even if we take action, along with the younger generation, it will take some effort to eradicate them.¡± ... ¡°However, if we ignore them, these demonic beasts may wander around and the nearby forces might suffer.¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded, obviously understanding Wang Hengqiu¡¯s point. He looked at the unassuming demonic beast legion opposite them¡ªwithout even a single Third Order Demon Beast among them. Even if there were one or two Third Order Demon Beasts, they couldn¡¯t possibly be a match for them. Under these circumstances, if they took action and focused on exterminating the stronger demonic beasts, The remaining demonic beasts could be dealt with by some of the less powerful younger cultivators, while they continued to pursue the main force of the demon beast army. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It was a plan that ensured nothing was neglected. With that decision made, he quickly began to give orders. ¡°First, let¡¯s strike them hard together, then leave some people behind to finish them off. Our main force will set off immediately to chase after the elite of the demon beast army.¡± ¡°Good, such an arrangement is excellent!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded in response. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s resonant voice spread out, instructing all cultivators to disembark from the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat and join this certain victory in annihilation. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immediately after, Chen Jingtian and a few other Golden Core cultivators took the lead. Their powerful attacks ripped through the sky, descending oppressively upon the demonic beasts across. Seeing Chen Jingtian and the others taking action, a great number of cultivators leaped from the flying boat, rushing their attacks toward the demonic beast legion. As the cultivators struck collectively, the sky was brilliantly alight, the temperature in the dark, gloomy canyon rose sharply, completely different from before. Upon witnessing Chen Jingtian¡¯s initiative, the terrifying attacks sweeping in, the demonic beast legion began to desperately resist. Unfortunately, without the presence of a Third Order Demon Beast, faced with Golden Core cultivators¡¯ attacks, these Second Order Demonic Beasts had no way to resist. Before long, many demonic beasts lay dead in the valley, their screams filling the canyon, which was quite unsettling to hear. Clearly, this was purely a one-sided slaughter. Yet, Chen Jingtian and the other Golden Core cultivators still showed no intention of relenting or subduing them. In less than half a quarter hour, the screams in the valley grew noticeably sparser. Now, looking back at the canyon, it was torn asunder, ravines running crisscross. On both the inside and outside of the canyon, the scene of corpses strewn everywhere and blood flowing into rivers was unspeakably tragic. Upon closer inspection, the vast majority of the corpses on the ground were demonic beasts, with human cultivators making up less than half the total. However, the slaughter had not yet ended. At this time, only less than thirty percent of the several thousand demonic beasts remained, all of them wounded and their expressions filled with panic. They attempted to break free and escape, but with the clear disparity in strength, they could not make it a hundred paces before being repulsed by the tempestuous attacks of the human cultivators. Clearly, they were no match for the human cultivators, and their stubborn resistance only served to delay the inevitable. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian let out a cold snort, unleashing an incredibly powerful attack that obliterated nearly a hundred demonic beasts. Having done this, Chen Jingtian leaped up and hovered in midair. ¡°All younger cultivators of at least Foundation Building Fourth Level, retreat to the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat with me to pursue the main force of the demon beasts!¡± ¡°The rest of you, stay here to exterminate these beasts, and after they are dealt with, catch up with the main force as quickly as possible!¡± As soon as his words fell, a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators heeded his command, leaving the battleground and flying towards the flying boat in the sky. Lin Tianming also ceased his attacks, exchanged a glance with Qin Xi, and after conveying a few instructions through a transmission, they rushed towards the flying boat. Very quickly, nearly half of the original thousand-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators left the battleground and entered the boat. And on this battlefield, there were still nearly six to seven hundred cultivators remaining, most of whom were at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. Qin Xi was among them, and at this moment, she was fiercely attacking the opposing demon beast army. Without Lin Tianming¡¯s protection, she seemed even more cautious, and the strength she exhibited was stronger. Clearly, excessive protection had only made her hesitate. Separated from Lin Tianming, she had to put forth her full effort, or else she risked falling at any moment. In this state, she attacked without reservation, her strength at the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment surging forth in attacks that were almost stronger than most cultivators at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, letting out a sigh of relief, and felt reassured. ¡­ On the deck. Chen Jingtian looked over the neatly arranged Foundation Establishment cultivators, then back at the intense fight below, showing a satisfied expression. Here, there were still six to seven hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators remaining. Although the cultivators at the Middle and Late Stages were few, there were several Inner Sect Disciples from the True Yang who led the way, all of them at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. ¡°` Chapter 528 03-25 - 528 299 Trap_2 ?Chapter 528: Chapter 299 Trap?_2 Chapter 528: Chapter 299 Trap?_2 The number of remaining demonic beasts barely approached two thousand, but the majority were First Order Demon Beasts. Within the Second Order Demon Beasts, those with considerable strength had nearly all been exterminated. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although they held the advantage in numbers, there were less than six hundred Second Order Demon Beasts, each bearing wounds of varying severity. Their overall strength was clearly not a match for the Human Race. After all, quality was the key factor that determined overall strength. With these six to seven hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators expending a bit more energy, it would be sufficient to annihilate this group of demonic beasts clinging to life. Considering this, Chen Jingtian decided not to delay any further and immediately ordered Zhu Yun to control the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, heading in the western direction. As the flying boat departed, the canyon continued to resonate with the tumult of battle as cultivators and demonic beasts clashed once again. ¡­ ... A day passed. In the heartland of the Tianluan Mountain Range, within a vast expanse of mountains and seas, the silhouette of the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat appeared. This place was located in the southwestern part of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, adjacent to the Songling Mountain Range and the Lianhua Mountain Range, and was slightly smaller compared to the neighboring larger areas. This Tianluan Mountain Range was close to the edge of Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory; with their current speed of flight, two more days of travel westward would bring them to the outskirts of the Boundless Western Region. In other words, this place was not too far from the dwelling of the demon beasts in the Boundless Western Region. It was a vast distance from Yuyao City, virtually spanning across two large regions. After traveling for several days, with the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat¡¯s remarkable speed, and only a brief delay the day before, they continued westward and finally arrived at this location. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï On the deck of the flying boat, Chen Jingtian and several Golden Core Cultivators stood shoulder to shoulder, all staring into the distance at a valley with contemplative expressions. After an unknown period, Chen Jingtian was the first to break the silence. ¡°Brother Wang, do you also feel that the valley ahead has an eerie sense about it?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Wang Hengqiu did not respond immediately. Instead, he released his Divine Sense, meticulously scrutinizing every movement, every hill, and every water body ahead. In front of them was a seemingly endless range of peaks. To be precise, they weren¡¯t towering mountains but resembled hills about a hundred zhang tall. However, their sheer number made it impossible to determine the specific boundaries. A moment later. Wang Hengqiu withdrew his Divine Sense and then took out a map made from beast skin, examining it carefully, as if trying to discern their location. Soon, he discovered something unusual. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, according to the map, this place is indeed a hilly area,¡± ¡°However, these hills seem rather unusual, extending over a much larger area than what is recorded on the map.¡± Having said this, Wang Hengqiu handed the map to Chen Jingtian, gesturing for him to take a look. Chen Jingtian took the map, compared it closely, and then agreed with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s statement. Indeed, he had initially felt something amiss; it was just a guess, somewhat uncertain. Now, after comparing with the map, his observations coincided with what Wang Hengqiu had said and matched his own speculation. With these thoughts, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but caution, ¡°Brother Wang, there may be deceit ahead!¡± ¡°Although the strength of the demonic beasts has greatly diminished, the might of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao is genuinely not weak. And the Demon Beast Army is still formidable; we must be on our guard!¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Hengqiu nodded, highly approving of Chen Jingtian¡¯s cautious attitude. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, what you say is indeed true. Third Order Demon Beasts possess significant Spirit Wisdom, and this place is so close to the den of the beasts. If there is any ambush that catches us off guard, the losses would be great.¡± ¡°As your elder brother, I think it¡¯s best to be cautious, whether there¡¯s deceit or not!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Everyone, prepare for battle just in case anything unexpected occurs!¡± Chen Jingtian spoke with a heavy heart, and although his voice was not loud, everyone on the deck of the flying boat could hear him clearly. At this time, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators took out their magic artifacts and clutched talisman paper in their hands, obviously prepared. Lin Tianming also held the Tiangang Sword in his grasp, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and stared intently at the numerous hills ahead with a solemn expression. From his observations, he too had detected some unusual spots, but the distance was too far to make an accurate judgment. Regathering his focus, the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat continued to fly westward at a speed that was several times slower than its peak velocity. Chen Jingtian and several others each took out their magical treasures, ready to act at any moment to deal with any sudden developments that might occur. Clearly, everyone was very cautious, afraid of encountering an ambush. As the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat moved slowly, the distant, hazy hills got closer and closer, now visible enough to make out some of their features with the naked eye. Soon, when the flying boat was less than three thousand zhang (approximately 9,840 meters) away from those hills, Chen Jingtian at the forefront finally saw the specific situation clearly. On the deck, at this moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face turned pale, and he couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. ¡°Ahead is a Demon Beast Army, and their numbers are vast, even greater than those we left at Yuyao City. Everyone, be careful!¡± Hearing this, it seemed indeed as anticipated, that the Demon Beast Army had new contingents join them. At this very moment, it was unclear whether the monsters, realizing they couldn¡¯t escape, were mounting a passive defense, or whether they had come prepared, laying a trap with the intention of taking this opportunity to defeat them. If it were the former, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad, but if it were the latter, wouldn¡¯t that be playing right into the monsters¡¯ hands? And now, whether it was a trap or not, there was no time or energy left to investigate these matters. Thinking of these things, Wang Hengqiu and several others, including the multitude of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, all turned pale. ¡°Roar roar¡­ thud thud thud¡­¡± Just as they brought the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat to a halt and before they could catch their breath, a series of deafening roars accompanied by a noisy rush of footsteps arrived. Immediately following was a scene akin to a stampede of ten thousand horses, as tens of thousands of demonic beasts surged toward them like a tidal wave, with just their momentum kicking up Gang Wind and sending clouds of dust into the air, causing the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat to shake slightly. As the distance between the two sides narrowed, Chen Jingtian and a few others were the first to perceive the strength of the Demon Beast Army. There were exactly six Third Order Demonic Beasts, and nearly twenty thousand First and Second Order Demonic Beasts¡ªsignificantly more than when they had departed from Yuyao City¡ªby an extra ten or twenty percent. The number was not much of a concern; the main issue was that among the six Third Order Demonic Beasts, four had survived from Yuyao City. As for the other two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, they had not appeared in Yuyao City before and it was unknown where they had emerged from. Seeing this, for a moment, their complexions turned rather pale. Chen Jingtian, after all, had the highest cultivation strength and had experienced many major scenes, so he was the first to regain his composure. He looked at the rapidly approaching Demon Beast Army and was the first to remind everyone, ¡°Everyone, this Monster Beast Legion is powerful, and it won¡¯t be easy to get away.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s no need to panic too much. We have all witnessed their strength, and with the addition of two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, we are not without the power to fight!¡± Hearing these comforting words, Wang Hengqiu and a few others were the first to calm down, and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also became less tense. Seeing this situation, Chen Jingtian nodded in relief. In reality, he didn¡¯t have much certainty, but he was not so panicked that he would flee in disarray. After all, the human side also had three Golden Core Cultivators and two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Although they were still at a numerical disadvantage, it did not mean they had no fighting chance. Beyond this, they had the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, as well as over a year¡¯s worth of understanding of the Demon Beast Army, and abundant combat experience. If they really couldn¡¯t overcome the enemy, they could leave with their sect disciples and potentially even take these family cultivators and Loose Cultivators. After all, there were no low-level Qi Refining Cultivators in this place. With the overall power they had now, whether attacking or retreating, they possessed great maneuverability and were fully equipped for a quick resolution. With these thoughts in mind, Chen Jingtian was extremely calm inside, a strong fighting intent radiating from him, infecting many cultivators. ¡­ Chapter 529 03-25 - 529 300 Going All Out_1 ?Chapter 529: Chapter 300 Going All Out_1 Chapter 529: Chapter 300 Going All Out_1 At this moment, he glanced at the Demon Beast Army, his loud voice resonating through the entire sky. ¡°Everyone, these beasts aren¡¯t as dumb as they seem, whether they came prepared or are on the defensive. Let¡¯s not hold back, follow me and take this opportunity to finish them off in one fell swoop!¡± Before his voice faded, he slapped his waist, and the Spirit Beast Bag immediately appeared in his hand. As soon as the Law Decree was executed, two Third Order Spiritual Beasts silently appeared beneath the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat. Soon after, the Magical Treasure in his hand also erupted with Spiritual Light, launching the first attack on the Demon Beast Army. Just as Chen Jingtian made his move, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were not to be outdone; they leaped from the flying boat and joined forces with Chen Jingtian. At the same moment, the two also unleashed a myriad of techniques, in response to Chen Jingtian, engaging the Third Order Demon Beasts in the Demon Beast Army head-on. ... ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Chen Jingtian and the other two struck in succession, coordinating with the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, and fiercely clashed with the six incoming Third Order Demon Beasts. For a while, a torrent of powerful attacks rained down, causing shockwaves that were truly earth-shattering. At this moment, the dark sky suddenly brightened, with Sword Qi pervading a sea of flames¡ªa spectacular sight. Above in the sky, the scene of Golden Core Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts battling was terrifying to the extreme, no one dared to come close. Meanwhile, the six or seven hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had disembarked from the flying boat were also engaged in fierce battle with the Demon Beast Army. The number of Demon Beasts was too great, and they could run fast. Soon, they formed a large circle enclosing all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the center. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They fearlessly assaulted the Human Cultivators¡¯ defenses, and on the outskirts, a large number of Demon Beasts launched Divine Skills from afar, coordinating with the inner Beasts to attack the group of Cultivators. At this moment, the sky was interwoven with myriad Divine Skill attacks; the densely packed skyline was enough to make one¡¯s scalp tingle just by looking at it. At this time, the entire battlefield was in utter chaos; from the start, it had entered an intense phase. Lin Tianming, still side by side with Hu Yuan, Li Xiuyuan, and other teammates, formed a circular battle formation. Having cooperated for over a year and been through many brutal battles, they covered each other with remarkable tacit understanding, fearlessly slaughtering the Demon Beasts. Screams echoed as a multitude of First Order Demon Beasts, not yet in close quarters, were killed by the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, causing no harm. However, the quantity of Demon Beasts was overwhelming. For every group slain, immediately, more surged forward. In addition, there were still many Second Order Demonic Beasts, not to be underestimated, capable of posing a lethal threat to the Cultivators. Therefore, under such intense pressure, the Cultivators unleashed their full might, utilizing all sorts of talisman papers and lifesaving trump cards without any hesitation. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± At this moment, the sky was already filled with the Divine Skill attacks of both Human Cultivators and Demon Beasts, intense like a torrential downpour, colliding with each other. After waves of earth-shattering sounds, screams echoed through the heavens and earth, some belonging to the Demon Beast Race, others to Human Cultivators. At this instant, both sides resembled war machines, mutually harvesting each other¡¯s lives. In the blink of an eye, both parties had been in combat for nearly half a quarter of an hour. After the first round of fighting, the battlefield was littered with a multitude of corpses, most of which were First Order Demon Beasts, with only a few from among the Human Cultivators. Clearly, in the first round of battle, Human Cultivators relied on their good condition and a multitude of talismans and trump cards to easily fend off the Demon Beasts¡¯ onslaught. As time passed and consumption by the Cultivators increased, important factors like Spiritual Power and talisman papers were affected. The pressure on the Cultivators would only grow as the battle continued. As expected, after a period of mutual attacks, the pressure on most Foundation Establishment Cultivators became substantial. They had to fend off the Demon Beasts¡¯ charges and the deluge of Divine Skills raining down from above. In such a situation, everyone exerted themselves to the utmost, their Spiritual Power draining rapidly, showing signs of fatigue. If this continued, it was doubtful they could hold on for much longer. At that point, it would be difficult to ensure their own safety, let alone eradicate the more than twenty thousand Demon Beasts. Compared to others, Lin Tianming was in a relatively good situation. After all, his strength was sufficient, his Spiritual Power was profound, and with Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, he could manage without using Spiritual Power at many times, relying solely on his Physical Strength to deal with one or two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. Thus, in this battle that had already escalated to an intense stage from the very beginning, Lin Tianming was able to cope quite comfortably, not so overwhelmed as to fall into crisis. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with countless manifestations of Spiritual Light from both the attacks launched by the Demon Beasts and those of the Human Cultivators, intermingling to the point where one could hardly distinguish the specific sides. At this time, nobody was concerned with this; they were all focused on confronting the enemy before them. In the midst of the crowd, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword shimmered with a flash of Spiritual Light, unleashing a powerful burst of Sword Qi that swept across the battlefield. Across from him, dozens of First Order Demon Beasts, along with two Second Order Demon Beasts, clearly sensed the fatal threat and began to flee immediately. However, the Tiangang Sword Qi was incredibly fast, and the small gaps between the Demon Beasts left no room for them to dodge in time. Chapter 530 03-25 - 530 300 Going All Out_2 ?Chapter 530: Chapter 300 Going All Out_2 Chapter 530: Chapter 300 Going All Out_2 A series of wails came. Looking down, dozens of fresh corpses had been added to the ground, each death a grisly sight, some bodies cut in half, others with heads flying off. With that one sword strike, dozens of First Order Demonic Beasts were killed, and two Second Order Demonic Beasts were also slashed by the Sword Qi, barely escaping with their lives. After the strike, Lin Tianming glared ferociously at the opposing Demonic Beasts, managing to momentarily stun them. Clearly, the beasts were intimidated by his formidable strength as well as the tragic demise of their companions. Taking advantage of this brief respite, Lin Tianming also turned his gaze to get a sense of the overall situation in the battle. From his investigation, he found that the intensity of this battle far surpassed any before. ... By now, even the Golden Core Cultivators were fighting desperately. Especially Chen Jingtian, with his Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, was fiercely contending with the Late Stage Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. As the strongest existence on the side of the Human Cultivators, his victory or defeat was tied to the fate of all the cultivators present. Therefore, Chen Mingtian fought with exceptional brutality, revealing all his trump cards from his arsenal. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was not to be outdone. Although it did not have powerful Divine Skills to attack, its very body was the most effective weapon, with both its defense and attack being incomparably strong. Their fight, heedless of consequences, was at a stalemate. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Among the other Golden Core Cultivators, Wang Hengqiu was dealing with the Third Order Medium Stage Blood Jiao, while Zhu Yun tackled two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts simultaneously. Plus, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s two Third Order Spiritual Beasts were each fighting a Demonic Beast of the same order. The several top combatants, except for Chen Jingtian¡¯s disadvantageous cultivation, were not able to gain a significant upper hand, while the other two had a slight advantage. However, it was hard to tell what the outcome would be if this continued. Especially for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the casualties among the Human Cultivators were severe after this round of battle. According to his exploration, a conservative estimate suggested that nearly a hundred people had fallen, nearly amounting to two-tenths of the cultivators present. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those who were alive, many were wounded, and not at their peak condition. Moreover, most groups were at an absolute disadvantage. Only the teams organized by those ranked high on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, relying on their strong overall strength, were able to remain relatively unharmed, not on the brink of defeat. As for the reason behind such a situation, it was simple. From their side, nearly half of their force had already stayed in Songling Mountain Range, to kill those Demon Beast Legions that had been abandoned. Those who could make it here were all people above the Foundation Building Fourth Level, and there were only six or seven hundred of them. And the number of Demonic Beasts was too large, simply impossible to eliminate in a short time. Furthermore, the Demon Beast Army boasted nearly two thousand Second Order Demonic Beasts, most of which had survived numerous battles through Yuyao City. Their survival proved the strength of this group of Second Order Demonic Beasts. As a result, each person present had to face three times their number in Demonic Beasts, while also guarding against the fearlessly ferocious First Order Demonic Beasts. One could imagine, as time went on and the consumption of Spiritual Power and personnel increased, how great the pressure on the cultivators would be. ¡­ Coming back to his senses. By that time, the Demonic Beasts opposite him, which had paused momentarily, stirred once again. Inside their ranks, it seemed that they had forgotten their fear and surged forward once more, giving the Human Cultivators hardly any chance to catch their breath. At a glance, the group of Demonic Beasts that had come up was even more powerful than the last. Among them, there were two Second Order Late Phase Green Wave Beasts, plus three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts joining forces, including the two previously slain by him, a total of seven Demonic Beasts, along with dozens of First Order Demonic Beasts attacking him all at once. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew grave, and his Tiangang Sword burst forth with Sword Qi, blasting towards the oncoming Demonic Beasts. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The advancing Green Wave Beasts, unyielding, met the Tiangang Sword Qi attacks head-on, causing massive explosive sounds upon impact. After the strike, the Sword Qi dispersed, and the oncoming Demonic Beasts were slightly halted, also briefly pausing. At this moment, Lin Tianming regarded this group of Demonic Beasts with furrowed brows, the look of someone facing a formidable enemy. Just then, as the recruiter of this expedition, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s voice rose among them all. ¡°Fellow cultivators, we can no longer hold back. If this continues, our comrades won¡¯t last much longer!¡± Hearing these words, everyone had a solemn expression, with no room for complacency. At that moment, Hu Yuan repelled a Demonic Beast with a single strike, then turned his gaze towards the others and spoke. ¡°Everyone, if we want to survive or wait for Senior Chen and the others to achieve victory, we can only rely on ourselves for this period!¡± ¡°That part of our team in Songling Mountain Range likely can¡¯t catch up anytime soon, so we must give our absolute effort without any reservations, or else we definitely won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°The two fellow cultivators are right, this battle is incredibly important for us all. There¡¯s no Yuyao City or Third Order Formation here to stall the Demonic Beasts.¡± ¡°Everything relies solely on ourselves!¡± Lin Tianming chimed in. No sooner had he spoken than Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan expressed their agreement, and then said, ¡°Lin is right!¡± ¡°This battle could very well be the final confrontation between the Human and Beast Clans, and we cannot afford to retreat in any way.¡± ¡°Therefore, this battle is a rare opportunity for both the Demonic Beasts and us.¡± Chapter 531 03-25 - 531 300 Going All Out_3 ?Chapter 531: Chapter 300 Going All Out_3 Chapter 531: Chapter 300 Going All Out_3 ¡°The final victory and defeat shall be determined in this battle!¡± With that conclusion, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s voice grew louder, his momentum surging, it was clear that he had made up his mind and was prepared to fight desperately. At this moment, influenced by Li Xiuyuan and others, everyone understood that his words made sense. And in that instant, everyone made their decisions, with no thoughts of holding anything back. In such a case, the whole team¡¯s spirit was like a rainbow, their moves became even more fierce, with almost every strike as a killing blow. Lin Tianming also started to employ the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, after all, both these means of attack were suitable for large-scale attack, and with the number of low-order demonic beasts, they were perfectly suited for such an occasion. On the battlefield. ... Lin Tianming¡¯s spiritual power was fully channeled, covering a thousand zhang around him, all enveloped by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At the same time, the black mist released from the Thousand Beast Banner covered several hundred zhang around him, with a multitude of monster beast souls roaming within. In that moment, under the pressure of dual methods, the sky was filled with Sword Qi and monster beast souls, slaughtering the demonic beasts that were enveloped from every angle. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, seven Second Order Demonic Beasts were trapped, and among them, only two at the Second Order Late Phase could still face it with composure while the other five were greatly affected. As for the First Order Demon Beasts, they had nowhere to hide and were easily slain by the Sword Qi or the monster beast souls. With pitiful cries coming through, a large number of corpses lay on the ground inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, clearly lifeless. Seeing this gruesome scene, those eager demonic beasts outside did not dare to approach. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Meanwhile, inside the Sword Array, several Second Order Demonic Beasts felt a great threat and began desperately attacking the Sword Array Barricade, seemingly realizing that if they continued to remain inside, they would eventually meet the same fate as the First Order Demon Beasts. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Five Second Order Initial and Medium Stage demonic beasts slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, causing the Sword Array to shake violently, nearly collapsing, but it soon returned to normal. Seeing the Sword Array still operating normally and continuing to shrink its area, Lin Tianming¡¯s suspended heart was also relieved as he couldn¡¯t help but heave a long sigh of relief. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn¡¯t noticeably obstruct the attacks of these Second Order Initial and Medium Stage demonic beasts, only firmly controlling the Sword Array, using the Sword Qi and monster beast souls inside to hassle them a bit. He placed his hopes on the Sword Array; as long as he dealt with the two Second Order Late-Stage Green Wave Beasts, the rest of the demonic beasts wouldn¡¯t be able to stop him. And for the attacks of the two Green Wave Beasts, Lin Tianming dared not let them have their way. The strength of these two Green Wave Beasts was not to be underestimated; if he allowed them to attack the Sword Array with their companions, the Earth Fiend Sword Array might not be able to withstand the attack simultaneously. If it collapsed, he would be trapped again, and from then on, his pressure would only grow, and he probably couldn¡¯t last long. Therefore, when the two Green Wave Beasts attacked, Lin Tianming madly spurred the Tiangang Sword, erupting with a large amount of Sword Qi to fend off the two demonic beasts. As for the other several Second Order demonic beasts, he could only temporarily ignore them, having to deal first with the most threatening ones. In such a situation, Lin Tianming did not have any reservations, with all his spiritual power unleashed to the utmost. This battle was unlike any other he had fought before; in the past, to conceal his strength, he only employed eighty percent of his power. But now, except for Spirit Art and the Fake Golden Core Talisman, he planned to use up his full force, going all-out in this decisive battle between the Human and Beast Clans. Chapter 532 03-25 - 532 301 Sharp Edge Revealed_1 ?Chapter 532: Chapter 301 Sharp Edge Revealed_1 Chapter 532: Chapter 301 Sharp Edge Revealed_1 As several sword qi obstructed the two demonic beasts momentarily, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate at all and promptly took out several Second Order Attack Talismans, casting them immediately. Right after, with a clench of his Law Decree, the Tiangang Sword suddenly burst forth with a brilliant radiance. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword!¡± With a loud shout, the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand, hurtling towards the opposing Green Wave Beast. In that instant, the figure of the Tiangang Sword appeared within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Looking on, the speed of the Tiangang Sword was incredibly fast, like a bolt of lightning, descending upon the head of a Green Wave Beast in the blink of an eye, poised to strike at any moment. At this moment, feeling the sharp and formidable aura of the Tiangang Sword, the targeted Green Wave Beast distinctly sensed the taste of death. ... S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a state of panic, it hastily twisted its body, generating wind under its feet in an attempt to evade this lethal attack. However, this sudden assault caught them completely off guard, and coupled with the extremely fast attack speed and the Sword Array and Monster Beast Souls binding within the formation, their movement speed was significantly reduced. Ordinarily, such minor interference wasn¡¯t fearsome, and dodging the Tiangang Sword would naturally be easy. But now, the situation was vastly different; even the slightest binding sensation could be fatal. In an instant, as the Tiangang Sword descended from the sky, carrying an overwhelmingly powerful momentum, it thrust directly at the vital areas of the Green Wave Beast. At this time, the targeted Green Wave Beast was in utter panic, pushing its movement speed to the limit. Yet the Tiangang Sword was already thrusting down; it could feel the coldness above its head, which caused it to shiver in fear. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The other Green Wave Beast was equally anxious, desperately trying to aid its companion. Despite its efforts, Lin Tianming had already invoked a barrage of sword qi and Second Order Attack Talismans, firmly holding it back, leaving no opportunity for it to provide any assistance. In desperation, the Green Wave Beast targeted by the Tiangang Sword realized that hope for escape was exceedingly slim¡ªit was better to fight back with all its might. Swiftly, it made a resolve to battle to the death. In a flash, it fiercely turned its body and let out a low roar, unleashing a special sonic attack. Once the sonic attack was launched, the Tiangang Sword indeed was affected, as if it had plunged into a quagmire, its speed and might both diminished. Not only that, the Sword Qi and Monster Beast Souls within the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation were also affected, not to mention a slowdown in attack speed¡ªsome First Order Monster Beast Souls even exploded and dissipated on the spot. Outside the formation, Lin Tianming was also greatly affected. As the sonic attack spread, at that moment, he felt as though his orifices were about to burst, and the spiritual power within his body suddenly became turbulent, nearly causing an explosion. In urgency, Lin Tianming steadied his mind, driving his Cultivation Technique to its limit while continuing to control the Tiangang Sword and suppressing the violent reactions in his body. He was well aware that the sonic attack was the Green Wave Beast¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, capable of severely affecting a cultivator¡¯s spiritual power and harming the soul. If one¡¯s cultivation was insufficient or their soul was not strong enough, they could accidentally explode and die. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to be careless, holding back the discomfort brought by the sonic attack while securing the Tiangang Sword, continuing his thrust towards the Green Wave Beast. However, at this moment, with the Tiangang Sword being influenced by the sonic attack, whether it could be effective was uncertain. At this point, he couldn¡¯t help but frown deeply, his heart hanging in his throat. Clearly, if this continued, the strike would hardly be able to kill the Green Wave Beast. Just as expected, as the Tiangang Sword thrust down, it directly bombarded the back of the Green Wave Beast. A loud noise erupted, and the body of the Green Wave Beast was blasted dozens of feet away, eventually crashing into the ground, creating a big crater on impact. Looking over, the Green Wave Beast was half-lying in the crater, a thick blood hole gaping on its wide back, with crimson blood trickling from the wound. Inside the crater, the Green Wave Beast was roars in pain as it struggled miserably. A few breaths passed, and it seemed to endure the damage from the Tiangang Sword, as it stood up again, its eyes blood-red and casting an exceedingly wary look at Lin Tianming. In the nick of time, its rapid use of the sonic attack caused the Tiangang Sword to be greatly affected, reducing the damage significantly. Therefore, the strike only inflicted a wound, and relying on its strong defensive power, the neither light nor serious injury didn¡¯t significantly affect its combat power. Outside the Sword Array, seeing the Green Wave Beast escape disaster, Lin Tianming felt greatly disappointed and sighed again. But upon reflection, the strength of the Green Wave Beast was indeed remarkable, able to survive many battles over the year, naturally not just any ordinary demonic beast could compare. Furthermore, the Green Wave Beast¡¯s attacks were indeed bizarre; seemingly invisible sonic attacks hid tremendous threats. If it weren¡¯t for his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law and his strong soul power, ordinary cultivators would easily fall prey if they were not careful. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming glanced at the two enraged Green Wave Beasts and his expression grew somewhat solemn. Since the attack didn¡¯t achieve a fatal effect, he feared the battle ahead would be a tough one. But now was not the time for him to ponder further, for the Green Wave Beasts had already gone berserk, jointly attacking the Sword Array Barricade. Seeing this, Lin Tianming once again issued several Second Order Attack Talismans, targeting the uninjured Green Wave Beast, needing only to hold it off for some time. Chapter 533 03-25 - 533 301 The Sharp Edge is Fully ?Chapter 533: Chapter 301: The Sharp Edge is Fully Revealed_2 Chapter 533: Chapter 301: The Sharp Edge is Fully Revealed_2 He made his move with all his might, aiming to quickly slay the injured Green Wave Beast before dealing with the remaining one. Once successful, the solitary Green Wave Beast, coupled with the few Second Order Demonic Beasts that he did not regard as a threat, would pose no danger to his safety. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was extremely decisive in his actions. Taking advantage of the moment when the Green Wave Beast was blocked by the Second Order Talisman, Lin Tianming first swung the Tiangang Sword, releasing numerous bursts of Sword Qi to block the injured beast¡¯s path of escape. Immediately after, he threw the Tiangang Sword into the air and swiftly cast several Law Decrees. The entire sword body of the Tiangang Sword flashed with light, spinning wildly, creating a tornado that pierced the ground with numerous holes around it. At the same time, sand and rocks flew within a hundred paces of him as the air around became incredibly chaotic. ... Feeling the fluctuations emanating from the Tiangang Sword, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression solidified, revealing a look of determination. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword, execute!¡± With a loud shout, the light from the Tiangang Sword grew even more blinding, like a meteor in the night sky, transforming into a streak of silver-white Spiritual Light that shot out fiercely. At that moment, the dim sky brightened considerably, as the Tiangang Sword¡¯s attack wildly disturbed the space enveloped by the Sword Array. The Green Wave Beast, now targeted by Lin Tianming, had completely lost its nerve. It seemed to understand how terrifying this attack was, far surpassing the previous one. Even with its formidable defensive power, it made no attempt to resist and started to desperately flee. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Seeing the Green Wave Beast¡¯s actions and once more feeling the fluctuations from the Tiangang Sword, Lin Tianming was not surprised. This was the first time he had used the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword since his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. In the past, to conceal his strength, he had only ever used up to the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword. The power from stacking five swords was already terrifying; the power from stacking six swords would, at the very least, double in strength compared to five. Thus, with this sword, he had put forth all his strength, determined to kill the beast and open the battle situation for himself. With such expectations, Lin Tianming watched intently, not missing the slightest movement of the Tiangang Sword¡¯s trajectory. It wasn¡¯t just him; a few teammates nearby sensed the powerful fluctuations the instant the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was stirred by the Tiangang Sword¡¯s release. Everyone, including Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, was shocked by the attack Lin Tianming had launched. At this moment, the gazes of Li Xiuyuan and the others were all drawn over, all watching on his side, to see if this ultimate strike would end the life of the Green Wave Beast. Under the watchful eyes of several teammates and Lin Tianming, the Tiangang Sword arrived as promised. Within the Sword Array, under the lethal threat, the Green Wave Beast fled in a panic, its speed reaching its peak. However, before it could get far, the Tiangang Sword descended, slamming directly into its neck. ¡°Bang¡­ Roar¡­¡± A loud boom followed by a scream resounded through the area. The Tiangang Sword pierced through the massive head of the Green Wave Beast, finally returning to Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. The huge body of the beast fell to the ground with a large hole in its neck, clearly the result of being slain by the piercing strike of the Tiangang Sword. It lay motionless on the ground as scarlet blood flowed, signaling the end of its life. Seeing the beast dead, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of great excitement, and he breathed a sigh of relief. At that time, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but draw a breath of cold air, their feelings complex, and even could not help but think, ¡°Is Lin this strong?¡± ¡°Could it be that he has hidden much of his strength over this past year?¡± ¡°If he goes all out, under such a powerful attack, I might not be able to withstand it either!¡± Clearly, though Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation was three minor realms lower than theirs, his strength was sufficient to have the means to kill them. With these thoughts, when they looked at Lin Tianming again, their eyes revealed a hint of fear. As for Tang Liusheng and the other Foundation Establishment Late Stage teammates, including the ordinary cultivators, they were utterly shocked by Lin Tianming¡¯s splendid display of aggressive tactics and had no way to recover from their astonishment. In the past, they had only thought that Lin Tianming, being at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, was comparable in strength to them, at most slightly superior. However, as they interacted over the past year, Lin Tianming had time and again shattered their perceptions. Before this battle, they were also aware that Lin Tianming was immensely powerful, almost on par with the strongest of the team, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan. Yet they never imagined he had still hidden much of his strength. And judging from the strength Lin Tianming had just unleashed, even Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan would probably not dare claim they had the confidence to withstand it. Now, it seemed that Lin Tianming was possibly the strongest individual within this team. What¡¯s more, he was just over forty years old; achieving such cultivation and terrifying strength in a mere thirty years of cultivation was truly astonishing, on par with the genius cultivators from Wei Kingdom. Thinking of this, when his teammates looked at Lin Tianming again, their eyes were filled with awe and reverence. Including Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, as well as Tang Liusheng and several others of family heritage, they had all made up their minds: after the great battle ended, they must visit Luoyun Mountain to make connections with the Lin Family, and even establish business dealings. All of this, however, was unknown to Lin Tianming. At this moment, he had no intention of stopping. He was engaged in a fierce battle with the living Green Wave Beast. Having seen what had happened to its companions and looking at their pitiful corpses, the Green Wave Beast already wanted to retreat. While coping with Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks, it was also trying to move closer to the other few Second Order Demonic Beasts, evidently planning to gather their strength and break free from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s confines. Nevertheless, at this critical juncture, Lin Tianming had already gained the upper hand and naturally would not give them any chance. Seeing this, the Green Wave Beast was filled with rage but also helplessness. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword moved swiftly, each strike powerful. Except for the Green Wave Beast, which could resist somewhat, the other Second Order Demonic Beasts dared not come into contact with it in the slightest. After several rounds of attacks, the two Initial Stage Second Order Demonic Beasts couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and were annihilated by the Tiangang Sword Qi. Meanwhile, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was slowly contracting, covering an area of only about less than five hundred feet. At this moment, the roaming Sword Qi inside had become very dense, and with thousands of Monster Beast Souls restraining, the space for the Demonic Beasts to exist was getting smaller and smaller, and the Sword Array Barricade was becoming as solid as a fortress. Watching its companions die one after another, and the Sword Array further pressuring in, the Green Wave Beast felt both anger and a sense of despair. In its desperation, the Green Wave Beast let out another low roar, a wave of invisible sonic energy spreading outward. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was well prepared. He immediately focused his mind, easily withstanding the sonic attack. Then, not intending to sit idly by, he took the chance to summon the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword once again. With this terrifying sword strike unleashed, the Green Wave Beast panicked, starting to flee recklessly. Lin Tianming let out a cold snort, without any hesitation, and propelled this most potent attack, aiming to end the life of the Green Wave Beast completely. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword, carrying boundless might and stirring up intense waves of Sword Qi, shot down towards the Green Wave Beast. Feeling the powerful attack, the Green Wave Beast could neither evade nor escape, frozen in place. ¡°Roar¡­¡± a miserable scream was heard. The Tiangang Sword had directly beheaded the Green Wave Beast, with its scarlet blood spraying out on the spot. Concurrently, the immense body of the Green Wave Beast fell straight to the ground, motionless; it was clearly dead as dead can be. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, seeing the Green Wave Beast dead, a hint of rosiness passed across Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat pale face. Looking at the two corpses on the ground, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily, feeling extremely elated. With the two strongest Demonic Beasts vanquished, the remaining few Second Order Demonic Beasts were like fish on the chopping block to him, utterly at his mercy. Chapter 534 03-25 - 534 302 Consecutive Kills_1 ?Chapter 534: Chapter 302 Consecutive Kills_1 Chapter 534: Chapter 302 Consecutive Kills_1 Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze toward the several Second Order Demonic Beasts that were struggling to survive, and holding the Tiangang Sword, he walked towards them. At this moment, he seemed like the Grim Reaper harvesting lives, with each step heavily oppressing the nerves of the Demonic Beasts. Within the Sword Array, the few remaining Second Order Demonic Beasts desperately launched attacks at Lin Tianming, showing a posture of fighting to the death. However, Lin Tianming simply smiled indifferently, appearing completely unconcerned. He didn¡¯t use any Spiritual Power at all, relying solely on his Physical Strength. Ordinary Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts could hardly injure him. Among these several Demonic Beasts, the strongest was only at the second Order Middle Stage; he could block these attacks with his body alone, which also saved the little remaining Spiritual Power for the ensuing slaughter. In this way, with one hand tightly gripping the Tiangang Sword and the other swinging an iron fist, he clashed directly with the attacks of the Demonic Beasts. ... ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of metallic impacts sounded. It was visible that when the tails or sharp claws of those Demonic Beasts intermingled with Lin Tianming¡¯s fists, the ones that screamed in agony were all on the side of the Demonic Beasts. Under such circumstances, the few Second Order Demonic Beasts were no match at all and kept being pushed back. A short while later, The Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a distance of a hundred zhang, within which the Sword Qi was extremely dense and filled with a large number of Second Order Demon Beast Souls, leaving hardly any room to survive. And now, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï There were only two Second Order Demonic Beasts left, and they had both been severely injured by him using just his physical strength, with barely any combat power left. As he punched out, one of the Second Order Demonic Beasts was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, and as it struggled in pain, it vomited large amounts of blood. The other Demonic Beast, while filled with fear and rage, was helpless in the face of its companion¡¯s plight. Regarding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, waving the Tiangang Sword in his hand, and ended the life of the seriously wounded beast. After dealing with this beast, he immediately turned around and casually threw out a punch. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded. Lin Tianming¡¯s fist, as hard as iron, clashed with the sharp claws of the Demonic Beast. In an instant, the beast let out a miserable shriek, its body, as large as a few zhang, flying out like a kite with a broken string before finally crashing heavily to the ground. After this strike, Lin Tianming only felt a sharp pain before briefly pausing his movement, then slowly returned to normal. Clearly, the power of the beast¡¯s attack caused him limited damage and was hardly effective. He didn¡¯t waste any time watching the continuously screaming Demonic Beast, but immediately pursued to continue the kill. Before it could even rise, Lin Tianming had already caught up, and the Tiangang Sword in his hands descended upon the Demonic Beast¡¯s head. Under such despair, the Demonic Beast, despite being unwilling, had no chance to escape and could only watch helplessly as the Tiangang Sword fell, taking its life. With the last Second Order Demonic Beast dead, the seven Second Order Demonic Beasts at Lin Tianming¡¯s side had all been executed. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were no survivors left, all buried by his hand. At this moment, he looked calm, his face brimming with a satisfied smile. He had given this battle his all, bringing his strength to its limit and securing rich spoils of war. It could be anticipated that by the end of the battle, his points would increase by more than three hundred. This significant rise was the first of its kind since the first battle, throughout the year. Regaining his focus, he glanced over the battlefield, riddled with holes. The nearby First Order Demon Beasts were clearly terrified, merely his gaze alone thoroughly intimidated these low-order Monster Beasts, keeping them from daring to take a step forward. And those wandering Second Order Demonic Beasts, seemingly aware of his formidable strength, had recognized him as a tough character. Thus, before the battle had even ended, they had already run without a trace. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and had no intention of killing these low-order Monster Beasts, to avoid wasting his time. In such a state, he looked at his teammates next to him, intending to go and help out first. Having made up his mind, he retrieved all his Magic Artifacts and then immediately turned around, shooting towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s location. At this time, Li Xiuyuan was engaged in a fierce and perilous battle with four Second Order Late Phase Thousand Blade Beasts. As a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s strength need not be mentioned, whether Magic Artifacts or treasures, he was the foremost among the team. And his opponents in this battle were the extremely troublesome Thousand Blade Beasts. The beast¡¯s attacking power was incredibly fierce, and its speed was also very fast, with Divine Skills that possessed great lethal force. Ordinary Cultivators, even faced with just one, would find it extremely difficult to cope with. Despite his many Magic Artifacts and consumable treasures, the significant number and strength of the Thousand Blade Beasts were still overwhelming. Handling the attacks from four Thousand Blade Beasts simultaneously was extremely perilous, several times putting him in dangerous predicaments. Ultimately, relying on his trump cards and treasures, he had managed to turn danger into safety, securing his life. However, even so, his current situation was still very critical. If it were to continue like this, without the support of his teammates, he might not last long. At this time, being attacked by several Thousand Blade Beasts no weaker than himself, Li Xiuyuan inwardly cursed his bad luck, forced to persevere. Apart from Li Xiuyuan, the situation of the other ten-plus teammates was not optimistic, each one struggling to hold on. However, the number of Demonic Beasts they faced in this battle was too massive, and they seemed to keep coming incessantly. Chapter 535 03-25 - 535 302 Consecutive Slayings_2 ?Chapter 535: Chapter 302: Consecutive Slayings_2 Chapter 535: Chapter 302: Consecutive Slayings_2 After much difficulty, they had killed a few Second Order Demonic Beasts, only to have their ranks immediately replenished, leaving no chance to catch their breath. In the continuous flow of battle, the situation was grim for everyone, yet there was nothing they could do. It wasn¡¯t until Lin Tianming unleashed an unprecedented attack, killing his opponent with the swift ferocity of thunder and not giving it a chance to cover its ears. Li Xiuyuan glimpsed hope at that moment, and it also gave the team the confidence to win. At this point, with Lin Tianming freed up to join Li Xiuyuan¡¯s battle group, their circumstances immediately changed. Seeing Lin Tianming coming to his aid, Li Xiuyuan was overjoyed, and his offensive power surged, turning the tide of the battle. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Explosive sounds rang out one after another. ... On this battlefield, Lin Tianming and another each dealt with two Second Order Thousand Blade Beasts, coordinating tacitly. As soon as they made their move, they suppressed the two beasts. With a strike that fended off the monster, Lin Tianming once again brought out the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and, aided by the Thousand Beast Banner, used these two wide-ranging offensive tools to reap the lives of low-order monsters on the battlefield. Besides, the Thousand Blade Beasts already had some light injuries, and under the dual pressure of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, they were being dominated by Lin Tianming. As the binding sensation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation grew stronger, their speed was hindered, and the Thousand Blade Beasts started to panic. In their desperation, they let out a roar. Suddenly, thousands of invisible and colorless blades of light burst forth from their mouths, akin to flying needles, bombarding Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï This blade of light was the Thousand Blade Beasts¡¯ Innate Divine Ability, not only numerous but also possessing a colossal destructive power. If struck by the light blades, even just one, he might be seriously injured or even fall here. Realizing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be complacent. Using the Eye of Five Colors, he discerned the optimal route to dodge and narrowly avoided the attack. Seeing Lin Tianming easily evade, the Thousand Blade Beasts were visibly surprised, momentarily stunned in place. ¡°Good opportunity!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. The brief moment of daze from the two Thousand Blade Beasts was an excellent opportunity to attack. If he wasted this chance, it would take much more effort to claim their lives later. In that brief instant, Lin Tianming had already activated the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword, slashing at one of the Thousand Blade Beasts. By the time the Thousand Blade Beast reacted, it was already hindered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and many Second Order Demon Beast Souls, making escape difficult. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud bang, the head of the Thousand Blade Beast fell to the ground, and its blood spurted out, quickly forming a pool of blood. The massive body of the Thousand Blade Beast lay in the bloody pool, twitching slightly, as if to express its unwillingness. At this time, having witnessed its companion¡¯s death, the other Thousand Blade Beast had fallen into madness. It roared furiously and began spewing out a massive number of light blades, seemingly determined to overwhelm Lin Tianming. It was very clear that the fate of its companion could be a harbinger of its own; if it couldn¡¯t escape or kill the Human Cultivator before it, it would meet the same fate, or something even more bloody and miserable. Therefore, at that moment, the Thousand Blade Beast unleashed an unprecedented attack, desperate to continue living. At this very moment, Lin Tianming, seeing the dense array of light blades, had a very grave expression on his face. This monster beast seemed stronger, releasing not just more light blades but also possessing greater destructive power. He couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. The instant the light blades shot out, the Eye of Five Colors had already pierced through their trajectories, finding the optimal path to dodge. With a pivot and the creation of a gust beneath his feet, his body moved with incredible flexibility, and he passed through the tiny gaps at an unbelievable angle. After a moment, Lin Tianming reappeared dozens of yards away. Now, his face was slightly pale, with several wounds of varying depth on his arms. Fortunately, these were only flesh wounds that were not fatal for him, a cultivator who pursued the dual cultivation of body and law. At this very moment, the Thousand Blade Beast was greatly disappointed that Lin Tianming had evaded its divine skill attack. It let out a low growl and immediately turned to flee. However, how could Lin Tianming let this perfect opportunity slip away? He sneered coldly and immediately gripped the Tiangang Sword like a ferocious beast, charging forward with the speed of an arrow. The Thousand Blade Beast, bound by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and relentlessly harassed by an endless stream of monster beast souls, couldn¡¯t shake them off, let alone dodge the attack. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of cracking and explosive sounds followed as the Tiangang Sword and fists as hard as steel ferociously hammered the body of the Thousand Blade Beast, causing a tremendous disturbance. Then, the beast let out a pitiful, blood-curdling howl that was truly hair-raising. Time passed, and eventually, the screams subsided, returning this small battlefield to a brief moment of tranquility. Looking across the field now, there lay a fresh corpse on the ground, undoubtedly that of the Thousand Blade Beast slain by Lin Tianming. At this time, the beast lay askew in a ravine, half its body embedded in the deep trench, most of its skin a bloody mess, and from its huge mouth blood gushed out, quickly staining a large area of the ground red. Lin Tianming stood next to the body, gasping for breath, clearly exhausted. Looking at the lifeless demonic beast, he took several deep breaths, and his hurried breathing gradually returned to normal. This final battle was extremely dangerous; had it not been for the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors, he might have been seriously injured by the divine skill attack unleashed by the Thousand Blade Beast, or even have lost his life. Fortunately, without mishap, he had dodged the attack and, seizing the opportunity, had exploded with all his physical strength. Relying solely on hand-to-hand combat, he had bombed the beast to death on the spot. Such an exhilarating battle experience¡ªwith his blood boiling and power erupting wildly¡ªgave him a different sensation. Reflecting on the course of the battle, he felt a distinct yearning for power in his body and the slight increase in strength also made him somewhat infatuated with it. However, as pleasing as this sensation was, he couldn¡¯t be overly confident, nor could he afford to take risks lightly. After all, if the enemy¡¯s strength was too great, such direct, brute force combat would be no different from courting death. Only when there wasn¡¯t much spiritual power left, or when he was sufficiently confident, should he try this approach more often. It would not only save spiritual power but also give him the chance to temper his own physical body and gain more rich combat experience. It was indeed a case of killing three birds with one stone, making it worth taking some risks! Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was excited, and his blood surged once again. After calming down, he turned to look towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s side and saw that he had also finished his battle and was walking over. At this time, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s face bore an excited expression, and his eyes were filled with envy and admiration as he looked at Lin Tianming. From afar, Li Xiuyuan called out with a smile, ¡°Lin, you¡¯ve really hidden your strengths deeply!¡± In response, Lin Tianming gave an embarrassed smile, then began to explain. ¡°Haha¡­ Li, don¡¯t take it amiss. I had a breakthrough in my divine skills just a while ago, and just in time for this battle. The strength of the demonic beasts wasn¡¯t high; it was just a stroke of luck that I managed to succeed!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded, not pursuing the veracity of the statement any further. After all, such sensitive topics could easily cause misunderstandings. Since Lin Tianming had put it this way, any clever person would choose to drop the subject. Nevertheless, he was very clear in his heart that Lin Tianming was likely hiding some of his abilities. Based on the strength that Lin Tianming had displayed, he was certainly not any weaker than himself, perhaps even stronger by a margin. This conclusion was deducible from the progression of the intense battle, during which Lin Tianming had successively slain several Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts. Having calmed down, Li Xiuyuan hurriedly changed the subject. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After some polite conversation, the two of them checked on the condition of their companions and exchanged glances before quickly making a decision. Immediately after, they both leapt up and shot towards the locations of their teammates. ¡­ Chapter 536 03-25 - 536 303 Golden Core Self-Destruction_1 ?Chapter 536: Chapter 303 Golden Core Self-Destruction_1 Chapter 536: Chapter 303 Golden Core Self-Destruction_1 On the battlefield. At this point, the intense battle between the Human and Beast Clans had reached a feverish stage. Everywhere one looked, the riddled ground was littered with corpses, and the blood had long since dyed the land red. High in the sky, at a certain location, Chen Jingtian and the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion were engaged in fierce combat, exchanging blows without holding back. The commotion seemed to indicate their intent to end the fight in one fell swoop, thus taking the victory of the great battle. Clearly, Chen Jingtian was very aware that the longer the fight dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for the Human Race. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s momentum was like a rainbow, and one magical treasure after another was offered from his hands; he was obviously ready to spare no expense. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... In such a crazy bout, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, despite being the highest rank and the strongest in the field, also began to fall slightly behind. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were overjoyed and began to attack with even more decisiveness and fierceness. They were clearly intending to take advantage of the situation to suppress the Demonic Beasts. As time passed, in the blink of an eye, both sides had been locked in battle for over a dozen rounds. From the overall situation, Chen Jingtian and his companions had taken the upper hand thanks to their fierce offensive and their willingness to attack regardless of the cost. And at this time, among the Third Order Demon Beasts, aside from the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao showing no signs of collapse, the rest were being suppressed and accumulating severe injuries. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± After a full-powered strike, Chen Jingtian and the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion both retreated a hundred yards and finally steadied themselves. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? At this moment, Chen Jingtian was suspended in midair, blood churning within him, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. After struggling to keep it down, his pale face finally looked a bit better, but he still appeared extremely grave. Just now, he had seized a rare flaw in the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s defense to deliver his strongest blow, finally managing to directly injure the beast. At this time, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was half-crouching on the ground with a huge wound on one leg, from which blood seeped down and quickly formed a small pool. Its massive body trembled slightly, and it occasionally let out low growls, appearing to be in pain. However, despite the injury to its leg, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s defensive power and vitality were incredibly strong, and it soon stood up again. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian could not help but let out a wry smile. Overall, achieving such an advantage was already quite difficult. Therefore, he was quite satisfied with the outcome. Turning his attention back to the battle, Chen Jingtian¡¯s gaze swept across the entire battlefield, assessing the situation of the Human Cultivators. Looking around, the Human Cultivators as a whole seemed to be at a bit of a disadvantage. Of the original six to seven hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, under the massive onslaught of the Demonic Beasts, the majority of the groups were in critical condition, teetering on the brink of collapse. However, there were also some groups whose overall strength was formidable, almost effortlessly killing their adversaries with the ease of pulling up withered weeds. Long Qingshui, Jiang Yuyao, and several others represented this strength. And Lin Tianming, who had suddenly demonstrated impressive strength, as well as his remarkable achievements, was not inferior to Long Qingshui and the others. Such a performance also attracted Chen Jingtian¡¯s attention for a moment. After pondering briefly, he recalled the struggle against the Golden Core Cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom for the Profound Learning Command and realized that he had coincidentally encountered this person before, thus having had an interaction. At that time, Lin Tianming was merely in the Qi Refinement Realm, and his abilities seemed as insignificant as ants to him. As a result, he hadn¡¯t taken the matter seriously. Yet unexpectedly, in just over a decade, the once inconsequential figure had developed such impressive and dazzling strength. ¡°This young man¡¯s cultivation has advanced so rapidly, his talent is definitely not weak, and his strength is extremely outstanding, ranking him among the top of the Cultivators in his order.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just not clear what his background is. Does he have a sect or a master?¡± At this time, Chen Jingtian also became interested in Lin Tianming, even murmuring to himself inwardly. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± A series of roars snapped Chen Jingtian out of his reverie. He looked at the enraged Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, silently planning his next move. At present, with the three of them working together and aided by two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, they had gained some advantage. Such an opportunity naturally should not be missed. After all, the great war had been ongoing for a year, and the Demonic Beasts were also planning to retreat. Both sides were hoping to gain a little more in what could be the final battle. However, the current situation still favored the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion with its overwhelming strength. Even if one person was to help him, killing it would be extremely difficult. It would be better to target the other Third Order Demon Beasts, combine everyone¡¯s strength to first eliminate the weaker ones, and then consider how to deal with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion based on the situation. Having made up his mind, Chen Jingtian started to communicate his plan to Wang Hengqiu and the other person beside him via message transmission. Soon, Wang Hengqiu and the other person received the message and immediately indicated that they had no objections. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian took advantage of the moment the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was wary of attacking him, and abruptly shifted his attention. He leapt into the air, disappearing before the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s eyes at an unbelievable speed. Quickly, he appeared hundreds of yards away beside Zhu Yun. At the same time, with a loud shout, his magical treasure descended from the sky, striking before two Second Order Initial Stage Third Order Demon Beasts could react. ¡°Bang¡­ Roar¡­¡± Two distinct sounds echoed. One Third Order Demon Beast lay on the ground, struggling and howling, with a huge bloody cavity exposed, some of its organs spilling out through the wound. Chapter 537 03-25 - 537 303 Golden Core Self-Destruct_2 ?Chapter 537: Chapter 303: Golden Core Self-Destruct_2 Chapter 537: Chapter 303: Golden Core Self-Destruct_2 It was clear that the Third Order Early Stage Demon Beast had completely lost its fighting ability. However, the vitality of a Third Order Demonic Beast was extremely tenacious; despite such severe injuries, it hadn¡¯t died immediately. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun were overjoyed, a hint of a smile flashing across their faces. It was at this moment that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion finally realized what had happened, noticing that Chen Jingtian had shifted his target and attacked its companion instead. Not only that, but his attack was earth-shattering, catching it off guard and seriously injuring its companion in one fell swoop. At this point, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was extremely enraged. With blood-red eyes, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion let out a furious roar and suddenly disappeared from where it was. ... The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, it was near Wang Hengqiu, who was fiercely battling. When Chen Jingtian saw that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had also shifted targets, hurtling toward the direction where Wang Hengqiu was fighting, it was clear that it was employing the same strategy he was ¨C to attack those with lower strength. Obviously, the spirit wisdom of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was not low, knowing that the strength of both Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun was formidable, and together they were even stronger. If it forcefully withstood attacking Zhu Yun directly, it would be difficult to achieve much, and it might even suffer a significant loss. Therefore, Wang Hengqiu, who was in a fierce fight with the Blood Jiao, was its best choice for an attack. After all, though Wang Hengqiu was not weak, the Blood Jiao was also powerful. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, there was a considerable hope of achieving a result in battle. As long as Wang Hengqiu was seriously injured or fell, the Demon Beast Race would still have the advantage in this round. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With that in mind, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion made its target clear and acted decisively, without any hesitation. Seeing that the distance was getting closer and closer, it opened its massive jaws and aimed to bite at Wang Hengqiu¡¯s head. In that instant, Chen Jingtian, who had been the first to perceive everything, was extremely anxious. ¡°Brother Wang, watch out behind you!¡± Having heard Chen Jingtian¡¯s warning from a distance, coupled with the chilly sensation at his back, Wang Hengqiu reacted immediately. He twisted his body and his feet sprang up windily, making a strange evasive maneuver. However, the speed of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion surpassed his expectations, and as its mouth came up empty, its whip-like tail had already swept over. Before he could even run ten-odd zhang, the tail of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had already lashed out at him. At this moment, feeling the horror of the approaching tail, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale, and he hastily summoned a green and red shield for defense. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise rang out as the chain-like tail struck the shield with a tremendous booming sound. Wang Hengqiu¡¯s body was sent flying backward, and before even touching the ground, he was spewing blood in great gouts. He crashed into the ground with a heavy thud, one arm completely severed, while blood continuously dripped from the corner of his mouth, his eyes reflecting a look of sheer terror. In his hurried defense, his Magical Treasure had not been fully activated before being struck by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s tail. Under the immense impact, the Defense Treasure suffered severe damage, causing a significant loss of spirituality; however, it managed just enough to protect his vital area, sparing his life. Yet, that terrifying tail was incredibly agile, rebounding off the Defense Treasure and returning at an odd angle to slice off one of his arms directly. If not for his resolute decision-making and timely evasion, he might well have perished at that moment. Now, the narrowly surviving Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face was somber, his wariness towards the powerful Blazing Flame Celestial Lion unmistakable. He had barely breathed a sigh of relief when another attack from the Blood Jiao arrived, clearly aiming to take his life while he was severely wounded. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu was horrified. He was now injured, an arm severed, causing his strength to drop significantly. And the strength of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was immense; even Chen Jingtian, the strongest among them, could not confidently claim the upper hand. Besides, there was also the equally formidable Blood Jiao attacking jointly. Bear in mind that even if he were in peak condition, handling an attack from either of these Demonic Beasts alone would be an extremely difficult situation, let alone now that he was wounded. In such circumstances, for him to survive this storm-like assault was exceedingly difficult. Realizing this, Wang Hengqiu was frantic. All he could do now was to try and escape from there and join up with Chen Jingtian. As long as he could join forces with them, he might leverage their strength to survive. With his mind made up, he raced with the speed of wind, dragging his injured body toward the direction where Chen Jingtian was located. As he ran, Wang Hengqiu shouted, ¡°Junior brother Chen, save me!¡± At this moment, Chen Jingtian, who had heard the call for help, also quickly moved forward to meet him. He had anticipated the outcome the moment Wang Hengqiu¡¯s arm was severed by the tail of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. To know, he had fought the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion for a year, and during that time, he had gone through several life-and-death battles, so he was very aware of its strength. Although Wang Hengqiu was also at the Mid Stage of Golden Core cultivation, his strength and combat experience were evidently much less than his. Even he had to be extremely careful in dealing with it, so it was unavoidable for Wang Hengqiu to get injured without any preparedness. Therefore, he took the initiative to move first, making preparations in advance to back up Wang Hengqiu. As Wang Hengqiu drew ever closer to him, with the distance between them just over a hundred yards, and could be reached in one breath¡¯s time, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s expression finally improved somewhat. However, unexpectedly, a Third Order Early Stage Wind Dusk Beast blocked their path. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face turned pale once more. He had not expected another Third Order Demonic Beast to join in at this critical juncture. Right now, he must kill the Wind Dusk Beast in the shortest time possible to meet up with Chen Jingtian. Otherwise, should he be delayed even for an instant, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao would catch up. By then, with his Defense Treasure damaged and having lost an arm, how could he, severely injured, withstand their attack? At this very moment, Wang Hengqiu felt a desperate urgency and once again sensed the breath of death. In this critical moment, he burst out with incredible momentum, his Spiritual Power operating to its utmost limit. At the same time, the Offensive Magical Treasure in his hand shone brightly as he furiously smashed it down towards the blocking Wind Dusk Beast. And at this time, the Wind Dusk Beast was quite cunning, having no intention to forcefully resist. Its appearance was merely to stall for time. If Wang Hengqiu were delayed even for a moment, its companions would catch up and launch a deadly strike. Under such circumstances, before Wang Hengqiu could even activate his treasure, the beast had already made its move to flee. Regrettably, with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s all-out attack from such a close distance and Chen Jingtian backing him up with an attack from behind, even its swift speed could not avoid this retaliatory strike. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise resounded as the Wind Dusk Beast avoided Wang Hengqiu¡¯s attack but had one of its hind legs and its entire tail chopped off by the strike from Chen Jingtian behind. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the hit Wind Dusk Beast, like a kite with its string cut, heavily crashed to the ground not far away. Looking over, its tail was soaked red with blood, but even though these parts were lost, it was not fatal. It lay on the ground wailing, then dragging its wounded body, it got up and quickly retreated. Meanwhile, on the battlefield. Wang Hengqiu missed his strike, and the Wind Dusk Beast was hit by Chen Jingtian, creating an escape path. His expression filled with joy, he hurriedly attempted to cross the hundred-yard distance to converge with Chen Jingtian. However, before he had gone even several dozen yards, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had already caught up. At this moment, he felt a chill once again on his back. This was clearly the premonition that comes between life and death! Wang Hengqiu glanced from the corner of his eye and saw the colossal head of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion descend above his head. At the same time, the Blood Jiao, lagging a body length behind, spat out a giant blood clump, cutting off his escape route from another angle. At this moment, two deadly attacks came at tricky angles, assaulting him simultaneously. And right now, Chen Jingtian, who was coming to rescue him, was still some distance away; meeting up with him before the attacks landed seemed impossible. With these thoughts, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face turned deathly pale. He knew that the remaining several dozen yards, which seemed short, were actually an insurmountable divide between heaven and earth. With no way out, his complexion suddenly flushed, and he quickly made a decision. At that moment, with a determined expression, he shouted towards Chen Jingtian approaching him, ¡°Brother Chen, my life is over!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face turned pale. When he looked at Wang Hengqiu again, he saw his face flushed red, Spiritual Energy crazily pouring into his body, quickly reaching a terrifying level. Such an action clearly indicated his intention to overload his body with Spiritual Energy, preparing to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. ¡­ Chapter 538 03-25 - 538 304 Ruthless Killing_1 ?Chapter 538: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_1 Chapter 538: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_1 The battlefield overhead. At this moment, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face was incredibly flushed, a frenzied expression on his wrinkled, aged face. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All around him, within a thousand zhang radius, Spiritual Energy crazily surged into his Sky Spirit Cover. In this moment, the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth was in total chaos, an intense wind howling as a dazzling light shone upon the entire land. Seeing this terrifying situation, Chen Jingtian became even more certain of his conjecture. This formidable preparation was undoubtedly for a Self-Detonating Golden Core! In an instant, Chen Jingtian was shocked and angry, immediately turned around, and shot backwards, attempting to create a safe distance. ... Having cultivated for a hundred years, he was acutely aware of the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-destruction. One must know that in the Cultivation World, the self-detonation of a Golden Core is extremely powerful, and it is the last life-risking move of every Golden Core Cultivator. However, once the Golden Core is detonated, it¡¯s a certain death situation, with neither treasured artifacts of the immortals nor heaven-defying elixirs capable of saving the life of the one who detonates. Under normal circumstances, unless one is in an utterly dire situation, no one would use this method that ensures death. Especially with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, the power unleashed by the self-detonation of his Golden Core would be unimaginable. And according to hundreds of thousands of years of experience in the Cultivation World, the might of a self-detonated Golden Core exceeds even the strongest attack unleashed by a Golden Core Cultivator. Therefore, the power of Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core would at least rival his own strongest attack. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? In this way, even with his greater strength, at such a close distance, chances were that he would be gravely injured, or even perish here. Under these circumstances, Chen Jingtian¡¯s speed was exceedingly fast, retreating over a hundred zhang in an instant. Not just him, but the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao, which were about to swallow Wang Hengqiu whole, also rapidly pulled back. At this moment, the attacks of the two Third Order Demon Beasts were just an inch away, where only a moment was needed to claim Wang Hengqiu¡¯s life. However, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao also felt the breath of death and immediately retreated explosively. Even the Late Stage of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion recognized the might of Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core. If they continued their attack, even if they could forcefully take Wang Hengqiu¡¯s life, it would inevitably delay them for a few moments. By then, once the Golden Core detonated, being so close, they might withstand the blast¡¯s injury, but would still be wounded at the very least. By that time, how could they be a match for Chen Jingtian? Understanding this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao¡¯s speed reached its peak, no less desperate than if fleeing for their lives. Clearly, they too were determined to escape at all costs to avoid as much damage as possible from the Golden Core¡¯s explosion! At this precise moment, with Wang Hengqiu at the center, everyone, whether it was Chen Jingtian who came for rescue or the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao who wanted his life, began to rapidly retreat, increasing the distance between them. Including Zhu Yun and the other battling Demonic Beasts from both sides, they all spontaneously ceased their fighting and scattered around the perimeter. As time went on. Inside Wang Hengqiu¡¯s body was a complete upheaval, with Spiritual Power hidden within his body crazily pouring into the Golden Core, incapable of stopping. Soon, he found his Golden Core, which had been greatly depleted of Spiritual Power, had become fully recharged once again. In this instant, he could clearly feel that the Spiritual Power within his Golden Core was chaotic and complex, yet the accumulated energy was unmistakably more than what it had been at its peak. As the energy reached its zenith, seemingly about to overflow at any moment. By now, the crazed Wang Hengqiu had calmed down, yet his eyes revealed a complicated look, as if he were filled with regret or unwillingness. In fact, in that moment of absolute desperation, he had no choice but to avoid the fatal attack, and the decision to Self-Detonate the Golden Core was a forced choice. And now, his Golden Core being charged with Spiritual Power, had reached the condition for detonation. Everything was set in stone, even if he regretted it, nothing could be done now. Since that was the case, might as well make a decisive move, using his own life to gain the greatest advantage possible. After all, he only had a few decades of his lifespan left, and without any hope of advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage, he could at least make some contributions for his juniors and disciples. By then, considering his sacrifice, the Zhenyang Sect would likely provide significant support to his descendants and juniors. Thinking of this, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s expression was resolute, ready to trigger the explosion of his Golden Core. Having made up his mind, Wang Hengqiu looked at the retreating Chen Jingtian and suddenly shouted loudly. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, please report the truth to the Sect Leader, and take good care of my descendants in the future!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ this brother is going!¡± With a hearty laugh, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s gaze shifted, his blood-red eyes staring at the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, revealing a maniacal smile. By this time, many at the fringe of the battle group were at a safe distance. Whether Demonic Beasts or Human Cultivators, all stopped their actions and turned their gaze unifiedly towards Wang Hengqiu in the sky. Under everyone¡¯s watch, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s momentum climbed to the apex. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A thunderous explosion resounded. One could only see the overcast sky suddenly filled with a radiant, scorching sun. Immediately after, a mushroom cloud surged into the sky, swiftly expanding in an exceedingly short time until it shrouded the entire battlefield¡¯s sky. At that moment, looking around, the sun was exceptionally blinding, and the powerful shockwave scattered in all directions, stirring heaven and earth into chaos. At this time, many First Order Demon Beasts were left dizzy and disoriented just by the sound of the explosion. Chapter 539 03-25 - 539 304 Ruthless Killing_2 ?Chapter 539: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_2 Chapter 539: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_2 ¡°` Amidst the powerful shockwave that swept through, the First Order Demon Beasts were simply too weak to resist. They were shaken until blood flowed from all seven orifices, and many of the low-order Monster Beasts were killed outright. On the side of the human Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who were at a considerable distance from the center of the explosion, and without any Qi Refining Cultivators present, with the cultivation and strength of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it wasn¡¯t difficult to defend against the ever-weakening shockwaves, as long as they made some effort to protect themselves. At the moment Wang Hengqiu self-detonated, Lin Tianming resisted the sweeping shockwave while opening his Eye of Five Colors to observe any movements from Wang Hengqiu¡¯s side. In his field of vision, the instant Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Golden Core exploded, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao had just managed to escape a distance of a hundred yards. As the vast shockwave from the self-detonating Golden Core spread, both Third Order Demon Beasts were still at the edge of the central area. In particular, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, which was not particularly fast among the Third Order Demon Beasts, had sustained almost the full brunt of the damage. The Blood Jiao fared slightly better; it was further away from Wang Hengqiu to begin with, and its speed was among the top in its order. ... Therefore, the instant the explosion occurred, the Blood Jiao bolted over a hundred yards away, barely escaping the core area affected by the blast. As for Chen Jingtian, his reaction was quicker than that of the two Blazing Flame Celestial Lions. The moment Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Golden Core detonated, he fled hundreds of yards away. Given his cultivation and the preparations he had made, he managed to withstand the shock relatively easily, barring any unforeseen circumstances. At that moment, time seemed to stand still. It wasn¡¯t until the mushroom cloud in the sky gradually dispersed that the sounds of wails and screams reached the ears of the people on the battlefield. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Following the roars and cries, everyone noticed the figures of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao. At this point, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was sprawled on the ground, covered in gaping wounds, charred black with blood nearly covering every inch of its body. It was truly a blood-drenched giant lion! Besides this, its aura had significantly weakened, evidently suffering from severe injuries. The condition of the Blood Jiao was equally pitiful, with a large number of its scales shed and over ten wounds oozing blood, with part of its tail broken off as well. Based on its aura, even if it wasn¡¯t critically injured, its strength had dropped by at least twenty to thirty percent. As for Chen Jingtian, in the instant the Golden Core exploded, he had deployed several Third Order Defense Talismans in front of him. Still not reassured, he pulled out a Defense Treasure to protect himself at the center, sparing no expense. His cautious actions indeed had the desired effect. Under the terrifying force of the exploding Golden Core, he was only pushed back over a hundred yards by the shockwave. After steadying himself, his internal energy churned and, unable to hold back, he spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood. Nevertheless, he did not sustain any serious injuries. As the sky slowly returned to calm, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun, without a second thought, took advantage of the moment and charged towards the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao. Both knew very well that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao were seriously wounded and their strength had greatly diminished. If they did not take this opportunity to kill them, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s self-detonation of his Golden Core would have been for nothing. One could say that it was the best possible moment, and their chance of success in killing them had significantly increased, as long as they seized it. Realizing this, both were extremely determined in their targets, striking fiercely with a relentless fervor. Yet at that time, even though the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was enraged, at the instant they made their move, it forcibly dragged its wounded body and fled towards the west. The Blood Jiao was not to be outdone, having no intention of fighting, it immediately followed the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s lead and fled for its life. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao were extremely fast and in the blink of an eye had escaped several hundred yards. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian and his partner were both shocked and angered. With the death of Wang Hengqiu and the loss of his Golden Core combat strength, they were left with only himself and Zhu Yun, along with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. With their limited strength, and the presence of four Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts in the vicinity, one of which had lost its combat effectiveness and could be ignored, if the two of them pursued the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, it was feared that few of the Sect Disciples here would survive. If they chose not to pursue, merely killing the remaining Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts would clearly not achieve the best outcome. Hence, both halted in their steps, their faces showing the difficulty of decision. Chen Jingtian, watching the fading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, made a decision on the spot. There were only three Demon Beasts left here capable of fighting, one at the Third Grade Medium Stage and two at the Third Order Early Stage. None of these three Demon Beasts were particularly strong, and all had sustained varying degrees of injuries. If Zhu Yun stayed behind along with the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, they could easily gain an absolute advantage over them. ¡°` If that were the case, he could free his hands to pursue and kill the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion or the Blood Jiao and strive for the greatest battle results. After all, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao were fleeing in the same direction, even if they joined forces to deal with him, given their strength after being severely injured, they were not necessarily a match for him alone. If he really couldn¡¯t beat them, at least he was confident he could retreat in one piece. Having made up his mind, his figure twisted and he immediately chased in the direction of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. The moment he shot off, his loud voice echoed across the entire battlefield. ¡°Brother Zhu, I¡¯ll go after those two beasts!¡± ¡°Leave this place to you, all sect disciples will assist you, try to kill all these Third Order Demon Beasts!¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun was just about to reply when Chen Jingtian had already disappeared without a trace. He looked in the direction Chen Jingtian had chased after, let out a helpless sigh, and caught his breath. Then, he turned his attention to the battlefield below, preparing to make the final attack arrangements based on the situation. Under his watch, the entire battlefield once again plunged into chaos. Human Cultivators had already initiated an attack before he could give an order, with an extremely ferocious momentum, pinning down the already Golden Core self-detonating wounded Demon Beast Army. Seeing this, he no longer delayed and immediately joined the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to attack the Third Order Demon Beasts. At this moment, the three Third Order Demon Beasts left on the field were both shocked and enraged and immediately began a counterattack. For a time, high above the battlefield, Zhu Yun was locked in battle with a Third Grade Medium Stage Diyan Tiger. Meanwhile, the other two Third Order Spiritual Beasts respectively faced the injured Wind Dusk Beast and an early stage Third Order Spotted Spirit Tiger. The clash was incredibly intense, as if both sides harbored deep-seated hatred. Suddenly, the scene became earth-shattering, and the hard-earned peace was once again broken. Below them, the attacks of Human Cultivators were unceasingly fierce, and Foundation Establishment Cultivators suddenly unleashed even greater strength. At this very moment, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan had helped Hu Yuan and his teammates eliminate all the enemy¡¯s Demonic Beasts. Having freed themselves, they immediately joined other teams, harvesting the lives of Demonic Beasts. As the strongest Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao fled, the remaining three Third Order Demon Beasts, each injured, were clearly outmatched compared to the Humans¡¯ side. After a few rounds of fierce combat, the three Third Order Demon Beasts were directly suppressed by Zhu Yun leading the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. On the side of the Demon Beasts, with their leadership gone, the ranks of the Low-order Monster Beasts descended into complete disarray, and their momentum hit rock bottom. Seeing this, the Human Cultivators redoubled their assault, seemingly determined to wipe out the entire Demon Beast Army in one breath. Lin Tianming at this moment was like a fierce beast, recklessly charging into the horde of Demonic Beasts. His Earth Evil Sword Array ran wildly, coupled with the Thousand Beast Banner, he subdued several Second Order Demon Beasts. At the same time, he also wielded the Tiangang Sword, crazily spewing attacks, with no intention of conserving any Spiritual Power. He knew very well that the current situation provided no more chances for the Demon Beast Race. If he didn¡¯t seize the opportunity to score more points, it would be very difficult to improve his ranking later on. Besides, even without Spiritual Power, relying on his Physical Strength, he was more than capable of dealing with a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast. In such a situation, there was no need for him to hold back; he simply needed to indulge in the killing. At the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ battlefield, Lin Tianming was like Death incarnate, vigorously reaping the lives of Demonic Beasts. His actions, the commotion he caused, attracted the gaze of many cultivators. Some lower strength cultivators, upon witnessing this scene, couldn¡¯t help but mutter in their hearts. ¡°He really is a fierce one, too brutal!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too bloody! He¡¯s like an unfeeling killing machine with no emotions whatsoever!¡± Some cultivators had complex expressions in their eyes as they looked at Lin Tianming, with fear, envy, and awe! As for this, Lin Tianming had no idea, still engrossed in his own slaughter. ¡­ Chapter 540 03-25 - 540 305 Siege_1 ?Chapter 540: Chapter 305: Siege_1 Chapter 540: Chapter 305: Siege_1 Time slipped away quietly. Half an hour had passed with an intense battle raging on. The battlefield was now riddled with holes, endless corpses of Demonic Beasts piled up like mountains. The fresh blood of Demonic Beasts, mixed with that of Human Cultivators, pooled into a long river, slowly flowing towards the lower grounds. In some depressions, the blood collected into pools, eventually cooling into a sticky substance, creating a nauseating sight. Looking down from the sky, describing the scene as a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood was by no means an exaggeration. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, at the highest point of the battlefield, Zhu Yun was locked in fierce combat with the Diyan Tiger. ... After over ten rounds of brutal fighting, The Diyan Tiger was now covered in numerous wounds, missing a limb, its tail gone, and a fist-sized hole in its neck was still oozing crimson blood. The blood-soaked Diyan Tiger was low in spirit, its energy halved, appearing in an exceptionally dismal state. From its aura, the Diyan Tiger looked truly pitiable. On the opposite side, Zhu Yun¡¯s face was alternating between shades of green and white, with blood beginning to churn inside him, a few streaks of fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. At this time, he was staring at the Diyan Tiger opposite him, breathing heavily. He was clearly exhausted, his Spiritual Power nearly depleted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? However, his condition was far superior to that of his opponent, the Diyan Tiger. As he pressed his frenzied attacks, the already wounded Diyan Tiger struggled to cope, being suppressed throughout the fight. In the end, having used all his valuable treasures, Zhu Yun finally managed to inflict severe injuries on the Diyan Tiger. Zhu Yun looked at the severely wounded Diyan Tiger, a trace of color flashing across his pale face. Now, with the Diyan Tiger grievously injured and the other two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts also suppressed, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gained the absolute upper hand, mercilessly slaughtering the defeated Demon Beast Army. In this way, the side of the Human Cultivators could be said to have the situation well in hand, with victory almost a certainty. Considering this, Zhu Yun became excited, eager to use what little Spiritual Power he had left to end the Diyan Tiger¡¯s life and secure a decisive victory. He laughed heartily, the Magical Treasure in his hand gleaming brightly as he unleashed all his strength, pressing down on the Diyan Tiger before him. At this instant, seeing his actions, the Diyan Tiger let out a furious roar, spewing out a volley of stone pellets, colliding head-on with Zhu Yun¡¯s Magical Treasure attack. Seeing this, Zhu Yun sneered coldly, thinking to himself that the Diyan Tiger was trying to stop a car with its mantis arm, overestimating itself. After such a lengthy battle, Zhu Yun was very clear about the strength of the Diyan Tiger. If it were at its peak, with the Diyan Tiger¡¯s rank and astonishing defensive power, blocking his attack would be no problem. But now, things were vastly different. Given its grievous injuries and the strength it had left, it was no match for him. Under his gaze, Sure enough, his Magical Treasure pierced through the incoming stone pellets and then directly struck the Diyan Tiger¡¯s head. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise, followed by a scream of utmost misery, echoed across the entire battlefield. Immediately after, the Diyan Tiger¡¯s massive body fell to the ground, its head, a bloody mess, no longer recognizable. With such injuries, the Diyan Tiger twitched a few times then lay still, as if in a final expression of its unwillingness to die, before it breathed its last. Seeing this, Zhu Yun could not help feeling overjoyed, heaving a long sigh of relief, a faint smile appearing on his pale face. He then turned his attention to the battle involving the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts of the Sect. Under his scrutiny, he noticed the Wind Dusk Beast moving incredibly fast, breaking away from the fight in an instant and shooting toward the south the moment the Diyan Tiger fell. This action clearly indicated that the Wind Dusk Beast knew the tide had turned against the Demon Beast Race and that staying would end in the same fate as the Diyan Tiger. Since the Wind Dusk Beast did not flee to the west, it was obvious it knew about Chen Jingtian in that direction and that encountering him would mean certain death. Therefore, it chose to flee south, greatly increasing its chances of survival. The Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s movements also drew the attention of the other Third Order Demon Beast. As the Wind Dusk Beast made its escape, the other also increased its speed dramatically, dragging its injured body to the north without any hesitation. Seeing this, Zhu Yun, like Chen Jingtian, found himself in a difficult situation for a moment. With the Wind Dusk Beast and the other Third Order Demon Beast fleeing in opposite directions, Moreover, although both Third Order Demon Beasts were wounded, their remaining strength was not to be underestimated. Too much pressure could result in a scenario of mutual destruction. Furthermore, with his own Spiritual Power nearly spent, he could not pursue too far. If his Spiritual Power were to be exhausted, he might even risk falling himself. However, letting them get away so easily was too regrettable. After all, the corpse of a Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast was a treasure trove in itself, and his fellow disciples had laid out their treasures lavishly for this battle to level up. Wang Hengqiu had even fallen here. Having paid such a price, they needed to secure sufficient gains, otherwise, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s death would be meaningless. With these thoughts, he commanded the Third Order Spiritual Beasts and then shouted to Long Qingshui and the others below. ¡°Long Qingshui, heed my command. Have all the disciples and cultivators follow your lead, and eradicate as many of the Demon Beast Army as possible!¡± As soon as the words were out, Zhu Yun, along with one of the Third Order Spiritual Beasts, shot off towards the north, evidently in pursuit of the fleeing Third Order Demon Beast. Chapter 541 03-25 - 541 305 Encirclement_2 ?Chapter 541: Chapter 305: Encirclement_2 Chapter 541: Chapter 305: Encirclement_2 As for the other Third Order Spiritual Beast, as per his instructions, it chased the fleeing Wind Dusk Beast to the south. The reason for this arrangement was considering the speed of the Wind Dusk Beast, which was very fast. If he had gone after it himself, it was very likely he would have returned empty-handed. On the other hand, the demonic beast that fled north had strong defensive power but was not very fast, so the likelihood of capture was clearly higher compared to pursuing the Wind Dusk Beast. The most prudent arrangement was to have another Third Order Spiritual Beast from Zhenyang Sect go after the Wind Dusk Beast. This was merely an attempt, and if it could achieve success, that would naturally be best; if it really couldn¡¯t catch up, then they would give up. With this in mind, Zhu Yun and the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts of Zhenyang Sect each went after their respective targets. As they left one after another, only the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators and those Second Order Demonic Beasts abandoned by the Third Order Demonic Beasts remained. ... At this moment, the battle was still raging on. As the leader designated by Zhu Yun before he left, and with cultivation strength that stood out among all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, Long Qingshui took up the task of commanding everyone. Following Zhu Yun¡¯s instructions, he organized the many teams to encircle and attack the pack of demonic beasts from different directions. And with the Third Order Demonic Beasts having fled, the Human Cultivators held an absolute advantage. The group of Second Order Demonic Beasts, facing these exceedingly mad Cultivators, clearly lost all will to fight and began to retreat in an organized manner. Lin Tianming¡¯s and Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team, along with a few other teams, took the south side, responsible for blocking in that direction. Long Qingshui, Jiang Yuyao, and Jun Buhui, these top Zhenyang Sect Disciples, each led their own teams, responsible for the other three directions. For a time, most of the demonic beasts were trapped by the Cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? As they became surrounded, the Monster Beast Legion fell into chaos, with many First Order Demonic Beasts not even dying at the hands of the Cultivators but rather under the feet of their comrades. However, the more chaotic the scene, the more frenzied the demonic beasts became. In such a situation, the demonic beasts, pushed to desperation, fought back crazily, attempting to carve out a bloody path. As time slowly passed, with the combat reaching a fever pitch, a large number of demonic beasts fell. In just half a quarter of an hour, many First Order Demonic Beasts suffered heavy casualties, and the number of Second Order Demonic Beasts had been reduced by fifty percent, leaving only around a thousand or so. On the other hand, the losses of the Human Cultivators were much smaller in comparison, with nearly several hundred surviving. Only just over two hundred Cultivators had fallen, and they were generally the ones with mediocre strength among their peers. This had not a great impact on the overall strength of the Human Race. It was clear that those who had survived until now had all gone through the test of a grueling battle, with strengths that were relatively outstanding among their rank. Thus, having gone through another brutal battle, very few demonic beasts managed to escape. The situation became increasingly dire for the Demon Beast Army, completely suppressed by the Human Cultivators, with scores of beasts dying without taking many Cultivator lives in exchange. At this point, the losses of the two sides were not even on the same scale. If it continued like this, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the remaining demonic beasts would be completely annihilated, barring any unexpected developments. ¡­ On the battlefield. As time went on, the losses to the demonic beast army were severe, with less than three thousand combatants left. Among them, a little over a thousand Second Order Demonic Beasts were the absolute main force, and the remaining two thousand or so were mostly First Order Late Stage existences. At this point, those who had survived on the side of the demonic beasts were also their elite forces. Looking at the overall situation, the number of the Demon Beast Army had almost reached twenty thousand before the battle began. Yet now, they had been largely annihilated, leaving less than twenty percent of their original numbers. This exhilarating battle, as well as the victory that was about to be achieved, was simply unimaginable. In the heart of the battleground. Lin Tianming was frantically suppressing the demonic beasts with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, preventing them from breaking through from the south side. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, too, were giving it their all, organizing beast charges while reaping the lives of the doomed demonic beasts. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Thunderous roars echoed in the sky. Among the top cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage, Long Qingshui¡¯s moves were terrifyingly powerful, with each strike containing immense might. Even Lin Tianming, who always had confidence in his own strength, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration. ¡°True disciples of the Zhenyang Sect really do have some abilities!¡± Snapping out of it, Lin Tianming wildly brandished the Tiangang Sword in his hands, severely injuring the Second Order Demon Beasts opposite him. Li Xiuyuan was not to be outdone. Their strength was not much weaker than that of Long Qingshui, apart from a few top individuals, they were almost the highest presence there. Including them, the leaders of some teams kept their eyes fixed on those Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. Under the concerted effort of everyone, the demonic beasts were driven into a desperate situation. At this moment, on the western side of the battlefield. Since it was close to the demonic beasts¡¯ territory, this was where the demonic beasts focused their efforts to break through. Within the chaotic horde of demonic beasts, a few Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts gathered together. From their auras, it was evident that these beast¡¯s strength was not weak, edging infinitely close to Third Order Demon Beasts. It seemed that these were beasts that had been in the late phase of advancement for many years and possessed extremely powerful innate strength. Given the right opportunity, it was very likely that they could step into the Third Order within a few decades. At that time, these beasts were growling low at each other, with sounds that were rather peculiar, seemingly communicating messages. After an unknown amount of time, these Second Order Demon Beasts seemed to have reached a consensus. ¡°Roar¡­ Roar¡­¡± Following a prolonged howl to the sky from one of the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, the chaotic Monster Beast Legion suddenly quieted down significantly. Then, before the crowd had time to react, all the Second Order Demon Beasts within the Demon Beast Army turned around and, as one, charged towards the western direction. Seeing this scene, many people present deduced that this was the demonic beasts unifying their powers to attempt a breakout from the west. In this moment, Long Qingshui¡¯s expression grew solemn, pondering countermeasures. Given the current situation, although the beasts¡¯ side was in disarray, even headless, it was impossible for this to continue indefinitely. And for the Demon Beast Army to temporarily appoint a new leader was just a matter of time. Now, they had chosen a new leader and had made a desperate move. In light of this, he had to be more cautious, as if the Monster Beast Legion regrouped, they could still muster quite a bit of strength. If they could hold on for a while or tear open a safe passage, then many demonic beasts could escape later. And by that time, human cultivators would be completely exhausted, and with the constraint of weaker strength, it would become extremely difficult to annihilate them completely. Besides, if the Demon Beast Army gathered the remnants of its strength to attack in one direction, their impact would undoubtedly be strong. Therefore, before reinforcements from the army of cultivators could arrive, the pressure on the western position would be immense. Thinking of this, Long Qingshui¡¯s face darkened, and he immediately shouted, ¡°All cultivators, hurry and move towards the west to hold back those demonic beasts!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Long Qingshui led his team, shooting towards the west ahead of the others. Meanwhile, in several other directions, many disciples from Zhenyang were leading their teams to the west, preparing to respond to Long Qingshui¡¯s call. At this time, Li Xiuyuan glanced at Lin Tianming and the others, then quickly telepathically communicated a few words before leaving the team alone to assemble to the west. Soon, the regrouped Demon Beast Army had reached the position of the teams on the west side and engaged in fierce combat. And at this juncture, the reinforcements led by Long Qingshui had yet to arrive in significant numbers. For a time, the defensive power on the entire western front was extremely limited. Under the relentless assault of the fearless Demon Beast Army, the formation began to show signs of collapse. Seeing this turn of events, the leading Second Order Demon Beasts seemed to see a glimmer of hope for survival. When they attacked again, they became even more frenzied. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Explosions resounded across the battlefield; the cultivators on the west suffered horrendous casualties. Those who were alive still desperately held on, hoping to last a few more breaths until Long Qingshui and the others arrived. Unfortunately, they had underestimated the willpower and explosive power of the Second Order demonic beasts. Chapter 542 03-25 - 542 306 The Great War Concludes - 1 ?Chapter 542: Chapter 306: The Great War Concludes ¨C 1 Chapter 542: Chapter 306: The Great War Concludes ¨C 1 ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± With the lead of several Second Order Demonic Beasts launching further attacks, they finally broke through a three-hundred-zhang-wide space at this moment, and it was still expanding. At this time, the grim-faced Long Qingshui, who rushed to provide support, involuntarily quickened his pace. A few breaths of time passed, and he finally arrived at the western front. Before he had time to catch his breath, he immediately joined the battlefield, and after his frenzied large-scale attacks, he finally managed to temporarily plug the gap. Nevertheless, in the few breaths before, some of the stronger Second Order Late-Phase Demon Beasts had broken through the encirclement and were fleeing in all directions. Among them were those leading Second Order Demonic Beasts, as well as over a hundred of medium and late-stage beasts that had taken the opportunity to slip away. ... Looking at the rapidly escaping Demonic Beasts, which had pulled away to an uncatchable distance, the difficulty of pursuing them was not small. Long Qingshui was greatly disappointed, yet he had no good solution and could only deal with the remaining beasts first. After he finished killing the Demon Beasts here, he could consider the plan for pursuit. Determined, Long Qingshui unleashed a powerful attack, venting all his anger on these beasts. At this moment, with Long Qingshui joining in, the arrival of a large number of teams followed on the western battlefield. With the escape of the hundred or more Second Order Demonic Beasts, most of the remaining beasts were Second Order Middle Stage or lower. Besides, with no leaders left in the Demon Beast Legion, they fell back into chaos during the continuous siege. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Seeing this, Long Qingshui snorted coldly and charged madly into the Demon Beast Tribe, attacking those Second Order beasts without restraint. His strength was formidable; almost every strike could severely injure a Second Order Middle Stage beast, if not outright kill it. Thus, he vented his anger while reaping the lives of the Demon Beasts. Meanwhile, under his leadership, the Cultivators attacked the remaining Demon Beast Tribe without hesitation. By this time, with the elite of the Monster Beast Legion gone, most remaining monsters were of average strength. Facing opponents several times stronger than themselves, they were completely out of options. It was a situation of no escape to heavens or earth, with no possibility of fleeing. In the blink of an eye, a quarter of an hour passed. As time went on, the thunderous noise gradually decreased, and the vibrations on the ground were noticeably reduced. Soon after, the battlefield fell silent with only an occasional whimper, seemingly from those beasts that had not died completely, suffering greatly and letting out the sounds involuntarily. Looking around, the battlefield was in complete disarray, covered with the remnants of tens of thousands of Demon Beast corpses, which nearly piled up into small hills. The whole land had been dyed red with blood, with some low-lying areas or ditches even forming pools of blood. The corpses of all kinds of strange Demon Beasts lay exposed before everyone¡¯s eyes. Their deaths were varied: some bodies were severed into several pieces, some were missing heads, some were riddled with holes, and others had their bodies almost disassembled, while some of the low-order beasts were left without even scraps remaining. All in all, the Demonic Beasts met their ends in a myriad of ghastly ways, each more tragic than the last. However, the Human Cultivators would not harbor any pity in their hearts. Towards those beasts that were still gasping for life and wailing in agony, some Cultivators did not hesitate to finish them off with ease. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, seeing that all the beasts had been wiped out, the hundreds of people present were very excited. Though many had pale faces, they couldn¡¯t hide their feelings of excitement and joy, with satisfied smiles spilling over their faces. The Cultivators spontaneously gathered, seeming to forget the known ones who had perished, as they shared their joy with one another. In the southern part of the battlefield, Lin Tianming was equally elated. This frontline battle that had lasted over a year, with several fierce fights in the meantime, had each person pouring their heart into it and facing life and death crises. Finally, with the Third Order Demon Beast fleeing and nearly ninety-nine percent of the others eradicated, Dead, injured, or escaped, the Human Cultivators claimed victory in this battlefield. And now, with the end of the great battle in this region, the surviving Cultivators would receive bountiful spoils of war and rewards. Besides, these Loose Cultivators and those with family backgrounds could leave Yuyao City and return to the places they yearned for. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was animated, and his emotions took a long time to settle down. It was only when Li Xiuyuan approached, gathering many Cultivators to come together, that he finally snapped back to reality. At this time, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expression was animated, and when he looked at Lin Tianming, his eyes were filled with gratitude. From leaving Yuyao City until now, they had been through two major battles, with Lin Tianming¡¯s strength nearly maximized. Especially in this last battle, Lin Tianming, who killed with abandon, dazzled and stood unmatched for the moment, almost rivaling True Disciples like Long Qingshui. Such a Lin Tianming was simply spectacular, breaking all expectations and deeply shocking him. Although the detailed tally of the battle results had not yet been done, a rough estimate could be inferred from the outcomes of his fighting. He preliminarily estimated that Lin Tianming¡¯s achievements in this battle would surely place him in the top five of the individual rankings for this war, inevitably boosting his overall points once more. Chapter 543 03-25 - 543 306 ?Chapter 543: 306 Chapter 543: 306 As the team leader, he was a direct beneficiary and could further improve the team¡¯s points on the leaderboard. In doing so, he would also receive generous clan rewards, but more importantly, he would gain access to an entry spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Thinking of these imminent rewards, Li Xiuyuan felt thrilled inside, his face always wearing a smile, his joy indescribable. Influenced by his mood, the members of the team also burst into laughter, congratulating each other and chatting leisurely. Li Xiuyuan glanced at Lin Tianming, cupped his hands in a salute, and then said in an amiable tone, ¡°Lin, you¡¯ve really shocked me time and time again!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Li is right, Lin¡¯s strength is formidable, enviable indeed!¡± Hu Yuan added with a laugh. In fact, what he said was indeed what he thought in his heart. ... He had already been shocked by Lin Tianming time and again, but he hadn¡¯t expected that Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t done yet, continuously surpassing their understanding and leaving them even more astounded. Especially in this battle, Lin Tianming¡¯s unmatched stance and his figure entwined in the act of slaying left many cultivators unable to forget for a long time. It was precisely Lin Tianming, with his family cultivator identity, who possessed such strength at such a young age¡ªit was truly dazzling. He knew all too well that, as a loose cultivator himself, every minor breakthrough required enormous effort and precious resources. Compared to Lin Tianming, there was simply no competition. Realizing this, beholding Lin Tianming¡¯s natural talent and strength filled him with immense envy and admiration. At this time, hearing the flattering and admiring words of others, Lin Tianming simply smiled faintly, without any insincere politeness. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After all, in the Cultivation World, strength was the highest authority, and since one could cultivate to the Medium Stage or beyond, nobody was there by being foolish. Understanding this, Lin Tianming merely responded with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to everyone¡¯s help that I can fight without worries!¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming smoothly changed the topic, ¡°Now it¡¯s not the time for everyone to celebrate!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before his words fell, Li Xiuyuan took over the conversation. ¡°Exactly, Brother Long has messaged me to have everyone clear the battlefield, and once the clearing is done, to gather all the Late Foundation Establishment cultivators together!¡± Hearing this, the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, including Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, began to speculate about Long Qingshui¡¯s purpose. After some thought, Lin Tianming guessed that it was very likely a pursuit of the hundred plus fleeing demonic beasts. Although cleaning the battlefield would delay them and they¡¯d need some time to recover their spiritual power, the demonic beasts, moving as a group, would be much slower. Furthermore, the Tianluan Mountain Range was not small, certainly much larger than the Luoyun Mountain Range. For Second Order Demonic Beasts, reaching the safe area to the west would take at least several days. Besides, Chen Jingtian, the strongest among them, was in the direction to the west. If these wounded beasts were unlucky enough to encounter him, they would likely meet a total annihilation. In such a scenario, as long as they didn¡¯t delay too long, there was still a good chance they could catch up. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t spell it out, and everyone tacitly followed Li Xiuyuan¡¯s lead to begin cleaning up the battlefield. An hour passed. By this time, the battlefield had been largely cleared, with the bodies of all the Second Order Demonic Beasts collected, and various Artifact Refining Materials filling their storage bags. The remaining First Order Demon Beasts were numerous, but their materials were no longer very attractive to Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Then, Li Xiuyuan gathered together a few of the strongest Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including Lin Tianming. He glanced over the group. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were notably present, as were Tang Liusheng and others. Following this battle, their team¡¯s ranks were rather intact. Although several had fallen, all the Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators had survived. Still, the original group, prior to the massive battle, numbered in the dozens. Now, only half remained alive here, with more than twenty having perished on this battlefield. As for the other teams, the losses varied. Teams like Long Qingshui¡¯s, comprised of True Disciples from the Zhenyang Sect, had lost only about a dozen, all of them at the Initial-Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, so their losses were indeed not significant. Some teams suffered great losses, with the better ones keeping a dozen or so members, and the weakest teams facing complete annihilation. This demonstrated just how devastating the beast tide attack was and how ferocious the battle had been. But on reflection, the Cultivation World was a place where the strong preyed upon the weak, and with the uneven strength levels of different teams, varying outcomes were to be expected. Just like Long Qingshui, a genius cultivator who is a disciple under Chen Jingtian, whether in terms of strength or influence, naturally had to be stronger than him. Having such favorable conditions naturally attracted more formidable people to join, resulting in a stronger overall team strength. After all, it¡¯s always nice to be in the shade under a big tree; having a good platform also makes it easier to achieve better team results, and personal achievements become easier too. Understanding this, Li Xiuyuan felt relieved. Beyond this, he was quite satisfied with the achievements his team had made. Regathering his focus, Li Xiuyuan said a few words to his Foundation Establishment Fifth Level teammates, tasking them with staying behind to continue harvesting artifact refining materials from the demonic beast carcasses. Having arranged this, he then took Lin Tianming with him and left to hurry in the direction where Long Qingshui was. ¡­ Soon, everyone arrived at the western part of the scene. By now, over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered here, nearly every one of them at or above the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. A glance around revealed only a very few, like Lin Tianming, who were at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Clearly, these Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivators also possessed formidable combat capabilities, otherwise they would not have entered such a circle. Li Xiuyuan, with Lin Tianming and a few others, greeted some familiar cultivators and then waited to the side. In a short while, more Late Foundation Establishment cultivators hurried over, with the number of Late Foundation Establishment cultivators nearly reaching two hundred. At this moment, Long Qingshui, who had been sitting in the middle of the crowd, stood up, surveyed the gathered cultivators, and found that nearly everyone had arrived. He nodded in satisfaction, and then his loud voice rang out. ¡°Fellow daoists, after enduring for more than a year, the beast tide that attacked the Southern Wei Kingdom has finally been vanquished by us.¡± ¡°Hehe, this is a victory for us all!¡± Hearing these indifferent words, some cultivators began speaking, their language full of complimentary and polite phrases. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, did not speak, quietly waiting for the main issue to be addressed. Soon, Long Qingshui seemed to feel it was about enough, and he continued, ¡°The battlefield here has been cleared of Second Order demonic beast corpses, and the First Order ones are almost dealt with as well.¡± ¡°Besides that, everyone has recovered some of their spiritual power by now. Those escaping Second Order demonic beasts shouldn¡¯t have gotten far. I wish to lead a group of us to pursue those beasts. I wonder if you would be willing to follow?¡± After he spoke, Long Qingshui looked at the many cultivators with an expectant expression, smiling. ¡°Under Long Daoist¡¯s leadership, I naturally will follow!¡± replied a Loose Cultivator with a smile from behind Long Qingshui. ¡°If Brother Long is leading, Junior Brother naturally has no objections!¡± ¡­ After a while, over a hundred people had indicated their willingness to follow, almost all being Zhenyang Sect disciples, or from Long Qingshui¡¯s team. At this time, seeing that those agreeing were Sect disciples or from his team, with Loose Cultivators and family-affiliated cultivators seemingly hesitant, He laughed, appearing quite easygoing, and then said, ¡°Hehe¡­ it¡¯s all voluntary, I absolutely do not insist!¡± ¡°However, one thing to note, if we kill demonic beasts during the pursuit, those will also count towards the points.¡± Hearing these words, the cultivators who had been reticent to commit themselves no longer held reservations and began to voice their agreement to be dispatched. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, he practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, not too reliant on spiritual power, and this seemed a not very dangerous task that would also not be unrewarded. Working a bit more did not seem too bad. Shortly after, over ninety percent of the cultivators present agreed to participate, and the remaining few, feeling the pressure even though they were reluctant, had no choice but to agree to the matter. Seeing this, Long Qingshui nodded in satisfaction. His confidence in accomplishing the task Zhu Yun gave him greatly increased. Once the situation calmed down, Long Qingshui gave a few instructions to his Sectmates nearby and then took out the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat that Zhu Yun had left behind. He then led everyone aboard. An hour went by. The Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat turned into a lingering shadow, chasing after the traces left by the fleeing demonic beasts toward the west. Chapter 544 03-25 - 544 307 Omens_1 ?Chapter 544: Chapter 307 Omens_1 Chapter 544: Chapter 307 Omens_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. In a valley behind the main peak, Ye Pinghai sat on the ground, his pale face alternating between shades of green and white. Fresh blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, and large beads of sweat continuously dripped from his forehead. His gray-white Daoist robe was already drenched through. Clearly, he seemed to be in some pain at the moment. In fact, that was indeed the case. At this time, his body had undergone a complete transformation. His Seven Sea Dantian had shattered, and the pure Spiritual Power he had cultivated was compressed to its limit, vaguely taking on the form of a nascent Golden Core. However, this nascent form was too transparent, its ethereal and substantial quality suggesting it still lacked a final touch. Unbeknownst to others, during his more than two-year retreat, he had completely refined the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, the Gold Fruit, and he had never ceased to refine the Spiritual Power within his body. ... No further progress had been made in this half a year, signifying that he had reached his limit, with no possibility of further improvement. At this moment, Ye Pinghai gazed inward at his body, his eyebrows tightly knitted together in a frown as he showed a hint of confusion. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the years before his seclusion, he had made quite a few preparations for the Impact of the Golden Core Realm. During this period, he visited many Golden Core Forces and some declining families, expended considerable resources, and consulted numerous ancient texts and records of breakthrough insights. However, the content recorded in many ancient texts was vague and ambiguous, and some insights were entirely misleading, as if they had been tampered with. Only the legacy left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family was the most complete, covering everything from purifying Spiritual Power to the Heavenly Tribulation, with the most detailed and accurate content. If not for the legacy from the Patriarch of the Lin Family being so precisely recorded, he would have even doubted whether something had gone wrong during his two years of seclusion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Why does the Golden Core look like this? The aura it emitted was clearly much weaker than that of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Yet, when he carefully reflected on the content from other texts, such an occurrence did not seem so surprising after all. If nothing unexpected happened, he should already meet the basic requirements to condense a Golden Core. Next, all he needed to do was to continue to top up with Spiritual Energy, relying on the Spiritual Energy attracted over these two years to forge the Golden Core in one fell swoop. As long as the Golden Core formed and the Spiritual Power flowed in and could operate normally, he would have completed most of the process, becoming the so-called Fake Core Cultivator as rumored. However, a Fake Core Cultivator was not yet a Golden Core Cultivator. The difference was not just nominal but more importantly in the disparity between their power and lifespan, which was still worlds apart. Therefore, he was still missing two critical steps: reshaping the Golden Core and enduring the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Only by calmly surviving the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, further refining the True Essence Spiritual Power with the power of thunder, letting lightning forge the Golden Core, Primordial Spirit, and even the organs and body, could one become a true Golden Core Cultivator. This Threefold Lightning Tribulation is feared by all cultivators, and it is an inevitable challenge for anyone seeking the Golden Core Path. For those about to reach the Golden Core Stage, this is a tribulation and also an opportunity. If they survive, they will ascend the Golden Core Path, from where their lifespan and strength will increase greatly, becoming well-known powerhouses in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If they fail, the worst outcome is death and the destruction of their path. At best, their meridians will be shattered, they¡¯ll never progress an inch in cultivation, losing their peak fighting prowess, and can only live out the remainder of their lives in a pathetic struggle for survival. Once failed, even if they are lucky to survive, the result is barely better than death. And this Heavenly Tribulation is certainly not easy to overcome. After all, there are more than a million cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, among which are no shortage of prodigiously talented individuals, but only about a dozen or so can successfully step onto the Golden Core Path. Such a low ratio indicates that the Golden Core Path is not so easily conquered. Thinking of all this, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Soon, he managed to calm himself down, and his eyes shone anew with fighting spirit and brightness. Immediately after, he released his Divine Sense, beginning to investigate his surroundings, readying himself for reshaping the Golden Core. At this time, he sensed through his Divine Sense that Lin Shikang was sitting at the entrance to the valley, calmly protecting his breakthrough. Above their heads, the Spiritual Energy over the entire valley was extremely rich, with clouds and mist swirling around, tightly enveloping an area of several miles. It should be known that although the density of Spiritual Energy was quite good in the past, it was unquestionably different than now. And all these changes were because of him. Since the Spiritual Energy needed for breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was so immense, besides the Spiritual Energy he absorbed himself, the Protective Clan Formation of the Lin Family also contributed significantly, continuously gathering Spiritual Energy from other areas to this place, and locking it here. Now, the Spiritual Energy was almost tangible. Such safe and abundant conditions greatly increased the likelihood of his success. Clearly, the Lin Family had also made a lot of effort and resources available for his breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. Seeing this scene, Ye Pinghai¡¯s heart was filled with great emotion. After all, as a Loose Cultivator, having practiced cultivation for nearly a hundred years, he had always been a lone wanderer, detached and drifting with no attachments. Therefore, when dealing with anyone, whether it was Golden Core Forces or other Loose Cultivators, he always kept his guard up. Conversely, the same was true for others when dealing with him. There weren¡¯t many who would truly do their utmost for an outsider, let alone give without asking for anything in return. And a family force like the Lin Family that had, from beginning to end, not made a single demand, had been so considerate, and had put in so much effort, was indeed very rare to come by. Chapter 545 03-25 - 545 307 Omens_2 ?Chapter 545: Chapter 307: Omens_2 Chapter 545: Chapter 307: Omens_2 Although he and the Lin Family members had become sworn kin, they often had dealings with each other over the past decades, providing mutual assistance on numerous occasions. In consideration of the long term, the Lin Family¡¯s full support now was also common human sentiment. In any case, regardless of whether the Lin Family had an ulterior motive or not, he had indeed received their kindness. If he were to break through to the Golden Core Realm, by both sentiment and reason, he would owe the Lin Family a debt of gratitude. Regaining his focus, a trace of a smile crossed Ye Pinghai¡¯s face, his eyes filled with unyielding determination. He looked around and then felt the abundant spiritual energy nearby, fully sufficient for his breakthrough attempt. Under these conditions, he had no intention of delaying any longer and prepared to immediately attempt to reshape his Golden Core. ... Once he made up his mind, his expression turned resolute as he began to operate his cultivation technique. A short time, about the length of brewing a cup of tea, passed. His cultivation technique had completed a Grand Circulation, and the spiritual power within his body also slowly began to revolve. Feeling his state, Ye Pinghai formed seals with both hands, twisting them into an arcane gesture. Following that, his complexion suddenly reddened, his eyes widening as if in great agony. Simultaneously, a spiritual light suddenly condensed at his Sky Spirit Cover, suspended directly above his head. Just then, the spiritual energy above the valley began to surge tumultuously. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï The previously still spiritual energy, as if finding an outlet, poured crazily into the cave where he was in seclusion. Within the cave, a massive amount of spiritual energy flowed in from his Sky Spirit Cover, eventually converging into his somewhat ethereal Golden Core. At this moment, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face reddened once again, fresh blood continuously spilled from the corners of his mouth, his countenance twisted in pain. He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with a maniacal fervor. Clearly, at this stage, there was no turning back. Either he would leap over the dragon gate to become a lofty Golden Core Cultivator, or he would die and his path would end here. Knowing this, Ye Pinghai dared not delay, furiously absorbing the spiritual energy entering his body. At the same time, he pushed his cultivation technique to the limit, refining the influx of spiritual energy and eventually focusing it within the nascent Golden Core. In that moment, his body began to undergo a transformation, as the newly added spiritual power was further refined into an extremely dense liquid, where even the slightest bit held a higher quality than before. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And the new spiritual power gradually filled the ephemeral Golden Core; with every strand of spiritual power integrated, the incorporeal Golden Core slowly became more substantial, seemingly enhancing its quality. Surely, once the Golden Core was filled, reshaping it successfully, it would provoke the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Acutely aware of this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s confidence soared as he hastened the process, refining the surging spiritual energy within him. ¡­ At the entrance of the valley. At this moment, Lin Shikang sat cross-legged at the valley¡¯s entrance, his eyes tightly shut, deep in cultivation. At some point, the copious spiritual energy above him began to converge toward the depths of the valley. At this very moment of change, he immediately felt the clear disturbance. He hurriedly opened his eyes and stood up, gazing thoughtfully into the interior of the valley. Quickly, based on the change in spiritual energy and the ancestral breakthrough wisdom passed down, he surmised that these signs likely indicated Ye Pinghai was preparing to form his Golden Core. With this thought, Lin Shikang became quite excited, inwardly exclaiming. ¡°Over two years inside, and finally there are signs of a breakthrough!¡± Coming back to his senses, he immediately sent a message, summoning Clan Leader Lin Shihua over. In just a short while. Lin Shihua hastened over, sensing the changes within the valley from a distance, his face brightening with excitement. ¡°Third Brother, Brother Ye has been in seclusion for over two years, without a hint of activity. Now it looks like he might have reached the step to form his Golden Core, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s question, Lin Shikang nodded then responded, ¡°According to the records of ancestral experience left to us, coupled with the changes in the spiritual energy, it is very likely the case!¡± Hearing these affirmative words, Lin Shihua recalled the statements recorded in his insights and combined them with the current changes, finally confirming the truth of the matter. Coming back to his senses, Lin Shihua was overjoyed, as if the Lin Family Members had taken this step themselves. Seeing his reaction, Lin Shikang gave a faint smile, then instructed. ¡°Shihua, Brother Ye is approaching the critical moment in his breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm. If all goes well, he may be able to forge a Golden Core within a month or so.¡± ¡°By that time, I¡¯m afraid the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation will also be upon us.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, clearly understanding the terrifying nature of the tribulation. ¡°I called you here today to discuss the tribulation in advance. If you have any opinions, feel free to speak up and discuss!¡± As Lin Shikang brought up the matter, Lin Shihua thought it over and then replied, ¡°Third Brother is right!¡± ¡°The power of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation goes without saying. If not handled properly, our clan territory could suffer heavy losses.¡± ¡°The loss of the clan territory is the lesser concern; we can always rebuild. What I fear most is that if the tribulation¡¯s power is too great and our people are harmed, that would be the worst outcome.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ thus, we must take some precautions to avoid unnecessary losses to the family!¡± Lin Shikang echoed. As soon as Lin Shikang finished speaking, Lin Shihua continued, sharing his own thoughts. ¡°Third Brother, I suggest expanding the restricted area and strictly notifying everyone that entry within a twenty-mile radius of the valley is strictly forbidden during this period.¡± ¡°Furthermore, we should strengthen the internal vigilance of the entire clan territory, deploying more family members to widen the patrol areas.¡± ¡°In addition, replenish the spent spiritual power of the Protective Clan Formation as much as possible. If necessary, we can use spirit stones to create spiritual energy to aid Brother Ye.¡± ¡°As for when the tribulation begins, we will likely need to temporarily deactivate the Protective Clan Formation and reopen it once the tribulation ends.¡± Hearing these careful and cautious arrangements, Lin Shikang nodded in approval. In his eyes, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, might not be the most powerful, but his management of clan affairs was always meticulous and watertight. At this moment, Lin Shikang chuckled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s do as you say. Arrange for this as soon as you leave here.¡± ¡°Alright, rest assured, Third Brother!¡± Lin Shihua replied. After concluding, Lin Shikang changed the subject and inquired about the development of the beast tide attack and Lin Tianming¡¯s participation in the war at the front. Hearing the inquiry, Lin Shihua nodded and spoke truthfully. ¡°Third Brother, the situation in the Luoyun Mountain Range is becoming more stable. Although traces of Demonic Beasts appear from time to time, there haven¡¯t been many Second-Order Demonic Beasts showing themselves; the family¡¯s key territories are not encountering any major problems.¡± ¡°At this rate, the beast tide should end soon!¡± ¡°As for the frontlines, according to the latest news, there have been several major battles in Yuyao City, with the Human Race consistently gaining the upper hand.¡± ¡°Tian Ming is quite strong and has slain numerous Demonic Beasts in these battles, rising to prominence and maintaining a steady spot at the top of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Lin Shikang was still somewhat concerned and couldn¡¯t help but press for more details. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely true, the family has spared no effort in tipping off people from the Commerce Alliance for this latest information,¡± Lin Shihua responded. Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Pleased, Lin Shikang laughed heartily for a while before sharing his own thoughts. ¡°The current situation is excellent; signs show that the beast tide attack is receding.¡± ¡°Our family has been quite stable over the past few years, and overall, the losses have not been significant.¡± ¡°Most critically, Tian Ming has achieved such great success, and if he keeps it up, he might even compete for a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°And with Brother Ye finally showing signs of activity, once he breaks through to the Golden Core Stage, the wealth and resources we¡¯ve invested may well yield a good return!¡± Hearing these comments and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s knowing smile, Lin Shihua was also swept up in excitement. Then, in high spirits, the two conversed back and forth for a short while. Seeing that things had been sufficiently arranged, Lin Shihua then proposed to take his leave. Seeing this, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t hold him back but instead, gave a few more instructions before letting Lin Shihua depart from the valley. Chapter 546 03-25 - 546 308 Thunder is Coming_1 ?Chapter 546: Chapter 308 Thunder is Coming_1 Chapter 546: Chapter 308 Thunder is Coming_1 Luoyun Mountain Range, northern part. At the border between Luoyun Mountain Range and Hengyang Mountain Range, within a vast valley. Here, life thrived; towering trees were everywhere, rivers and lakes densely scattered, and colorful plants dotted the landscape between the mountains and waters. It was now noon, sunlight scattered across the ground, reflecting a picturesque scene. Yet within this beautiful valley, a fierce battle was erupting. Looking over, two demon beasts, one large and one small, were locked in combat. From their auras, it was clear that they were undoubtedly Third Order demon beasts. ... S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, anyone who had participated in the defense against the beast tide in Yuyao City would recognize the origins of these two Third Order demon beasts. The two embattled Third Order demon beasts were none other than the Third Order Wind Dusk Beast that had fled during the great battle in the Tianluan Mountain Range, and the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order spiritual beast, the Tyrant Spirit Ape. After the battle in the Tianluan Mountain Range, several Third Order demon beasts had scattered in all directions, and among them, the Wind Dusk Beast had fled south for thousands of miles, reaching the border between the Hengyang and Luoyun Mountain Ranges. At that time, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun were each chasing after the escaping Third Order demon beasts, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape relentlessly pursuing this way. During the chase, the two Third Order demon beasts had fought several rounds, and the Wind Dusk Beast had been wounded before and was constantly at a disadvantage. However, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s speed was extremely impressive, and even when suppressed, it was still able to break free from the Tyrant Spirit Ape and continue its escape. As the Tyrant Spirit Ape gave chase all this way, it had never managed to catch the Wind Dusk Beast and had itself accumulated many injuries. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Therefore, the infuriated Tyrant Spirit Ape kept up its relentless pursuit of the Wind Dusk Beast, vowing to take its life. In such a situation, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s predicament became more and more difficult, with each battle adding to its injuries, causing a decline in its speed as well. In their most recent skirmish, the Wind Dusk Beast, exhausted and severely injured, had nearly lost its life to the Tyrant Spirit Ape. At the critical moment, the Wind Dusk Beast devised a plan and deliberately fled towards the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. Depending on its speed and destructive power, even the Defensive Great Formations of the Foundation Establishing Families were mercilessly trampled by it. Capitalizing on the chaos and with the Tyrant Spirit Ape somewhat reluctant to involve humans, the Wind Dusk Beast temporarily shook off the pursuit and finally escaped all the way here. Believing this place to be safe, it thought that as long as it could hold on for half a day, with its speed, it could easily enter the territory of the demon beasts. However, before it could catch its breath and stop, the Tyrant Spirit Ape caught up once again. Seeing no chance to shake it off, the two beasts were forced into a great battle right there. Under the relentless assault of the angry Tyrant Spirit Ape, the Wind Dusk Beast was still no match; its injuries were now too severe to bear. If this continued, it wouldn¡¯t last much longer, and the Wind Dusk Beast was sure to meet its end here. ¡°Roar, roar¡­¡± At this moment, the confidence of the Tyrant Spirit Ape surged; it thumped its chest and roared furiously, then swung its enormous paws, charging at the Wind Dusk Beast. Though the Tyrant Spirit Ape was not known for its speed, it was clearly less injured than the Wind Dusk Beast. Thus, the Tyrant Spirit Ape was still quite fast, and its attacks were filled with powerful force. Seeing the paw drawing nearer and nearer, if struck by it, even at the same Third Order Early Stage rank, the Wind Dusk Beast would undoubtedly die on the spot. Seeing this, the Wind Dusk Beast was infuriated but did not dare waste time. At this moment, it suddenly whipped up the wind beneath its feet, its speed surged dramatically, and in a rush, it moved a hundred zhang away. Seeing the danger averted, the Wind Dusk Beast hesitated not at all and spat out a grey gas from its mouth, shooting it towards the Tyrant Spirit Ape. Having done this, the vitality of the Wind Dusk Beast decreased significantly, which meant it had activated its Innate Divine Ability, and its wounds had worsened. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The grey gas flew swiftly, instantly forming a fierce tornado that enveloped the Tyrant Spirit Ape. Having fought many times before, the Tyrant Spirit Ape could not have expected the Wind Dusk Beast to still be able to activate its Innate Divine Ability, and it was caught off guard. In that instant, unable to dodge and with no way to escape, it had to rely on its defensive power to withstand this counterattack. ¡°Roar, roar¡­¡± No sooner said than done, the tornado, like countless blades, cut numerous wounds into its body, each one deep enough to reveal the flesh beneath. At that moment, the expression of the Tyrant Spirit Ape was ferocious, as though it was undergoing intense pain. The tornado came swiftly and dissipated just as quickly; and after it faded, the Tyrant Spirit Ape was revealed once more. Now, the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s body was covered in blood, and it was riddled with wounds, as if shredded by a thousand knives. Luckily, its defensive power was exceptionally strong and its vitality robust, plus the Wind Dusk Beast had already activated its Innate Divine Ability multiple times, reducing its potency significantly. Otherwise, with the Innate Divine Ability at its peak, even with its strong defensiveness, the Tyrant Spirit Ape wouldn¡¯t have dared to withstand it so boldly. Even with the weakened potency of this attack, the symmetry managed to just increase its injuries, unable to kill it outright. ¡°Roar, roar¡­¡± The surviving Tyrant Spirit Ape roared angrily and immediately turned its gaze around, searching for the Wind Dusk Beast with its blood-red eyes. However, in the instant it was attacked by the tornado, the Wind Dusk Beast, without looking back, hesitated not and forced its severely injured body to continue fleeing southward. It was clear that the Wind Dusk Beast seemed to know the tornado wouldn¡¯t be enough to deal with the Tyrant Spirit Ape and, before the attack was over, had already turned into a fleeting shadow, widening the gap between them. Chapter 547 03-25 - 547 308 The Approach of the Heavenly ?Chapter 547: Chapter 308: The Approach of the Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 547: Chapter 308: The Approach of the Heavenly Tribulation_2 By the time it realized what happened, the Wind Dusk Beast had already dashed a thousand zhang away, leaving only its silhouette and the traces under its feet. Seeing this, the Tyrant Spirit Ape became even angrier. It had assumed that the Wind Dusk Beast, already injured and seemingly out of strength to fight back, would not escape its pursuit. Yet, to its surprise, the Wind Dusk Beast in its dire situation managed to unleash a divine skill attack, buying itself some time. At this moment, the Tyrant Spirit Ape thumped its chest and stomped its feet a few times, as if to vent its emotions. Then, not bothering with its own injuries, the Tyrant Spirit Ape took the first step and hurried after the Wind Dusk Beast in the direction it had fled. ¡­ ... Green Bamboo Mountain. In a valley behind the main peak, Ye Pinghai sat on the ground in meditation, as still as an old monk. At this time, his breathing was steady and the paleness on his face had faded, revealing a hint of color. Beyond that, his previously chaotic body seemed to have stabilized, with a hidden strength in his formidable aura that involuntarily made others feel a sense of dread. Time passed quickly; three months had gone by since he began channeling Spiritual Energy into his body to form the Golden Core. Throughout this period, Ye Pinghai had not stopped for a moment, refining all the gathering Spiritual Energy for the creation of the Golden Core. After such a long time of refinement, he was quite pleased with the progress. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Now, as Ye Pinghai looked down at the illusory Golden Core within him, he saw that it had drastically changed in appearance. Initially, the Golden Core was only in its rudimentary form, looking extremely ethereal, as if it could shatter at any moment. But now, the Golden Core appeared much more stable; it had taken on a golden luster, with indescribable patterns upon it. Moreover, the biggest change was the Spiritual Power within the Golden Core. Though the Spiritual Power inside looked far from abundant, even the slightest bit contained energy far surpassing what it held before. Looking at this potent Spiritual Power and the nearly complete patterns on the Golden Core, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he began to feel a surge of excitement. ¡°At this rate, I might reach completion in just a few days and thus invite the Threefold Lightning Tribulation!¡± Ye Pinghai thought to himself. Having calmed down, he immediately gathered his focus and swiftly entered a deeper phase of the refinement process. ¡­ At the entrance of the valley. Lin Shikang was sitting on a rock, and as he opened his eyes, his sharp gaze fell upon the diminishing Spiritual Energy above him, revealing a thoughtful expression. Over the months, he had distinctly felt a change in the Spiritual Energy in the air; the Spiritual Power here was still rich, but there was a noticeable decrease compared to before. ¡°With such a large amount of Spiritual Energy refined, the Golden Core Tribulation is likely imminent!¡± Lin Shikang muttered to himself. As he was lost in thought, several Lin Family Members approached the valley. They dispersed to different locations and began to place a vast number of Spirit Stones around the edges of the valley. Simultaneously, one among them arranged the scattered Spirit Stones into a basic Spirit Gathering Array. Soon, the Spirit Gathering Array activated, refining the placed Spirit Stones into Spiritual Power, which was then channeled into a Spirit Group in the air, locking it in this area. After completing these tasks, several individuals passed by Lin Shikang, saluting him with a bow, and then left towards different directions inside the clan grounds. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang nodded and watched as his clan members left the valley, disappearing from sight. Subsequently, he sent several messages to Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, informing them of the changes here and instructing them to prepare for the approaching Golden Core Tribulation. Once that was arranged, Lin Shikang turned his gaze to the interior of the valley, perking up and staying focused on the surroundings and the sky above, ready for any sudden developments. ¡­ Three days later. At noon, when the sun was blazing high in the sky, searing rays illuminated every corner of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Above the valley, a large mass of Spiritual Energy gathered together; some were condensed by the Protective Clan Formation, and others were refined from Spirit Stones by the Lin Family Members through their formation. Looking over, this large group of Spiritual Energy seemed peaceful, steadily flowing into the center of the valley. Suddenly, the vast Spiritual Energy started to churn, and then it rapidly accelerated into the valley. Upon witnessing this unusual change, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression drastically shifted, filled with concern. Meanwhile, inside the valley, Ye Pinghai was sitting cross-legged, his face flushed with an exceedingly complex expression, as if he was feeling a sensation of being on the cusp of emergence. At the same time, his body was radiating brilliantly, with a tumultuous upheaval occurring within. Just then, he looked within his body and discovered a Golden Core radiating golden light and brimming with intricate patterns. ¡°This¡­ could this truly be the formed Golden Core?¡± Ye Pinghai was somewhat uncertain and even somewhat incredulous. After calming down with some difficulty, he promptly circulated his cultivation technique to give it a try, and immediately felt an overwhelming surge of spiritual power. At this moment, his whole body seemed filled with strength, inducing a feeling of comfortable ecstasy. Unsure how much time had passed, he recalled the Patriarch of the Lin Family¡¯s breakthrough insights combined with this exhilarating sensation, and this affirmation settled in him. ¡°Ha¡­ hahaha¡­ the Golden Core has been successfully formed!¡± Unable to contain himself, Ye Pinghai laughed heartily, his expression exceptionally excited as he could not help but exclaim aloud. After an entire two and a half years in closed-door cultivation, at this moment, he finally succeeded in forming his Golden Core, taking a significant step forward. As long as he could peacefully overcome the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation, he would become a Golden Core Cultivator, looked up to with admiration and awe. And he, a mere Loose Cultivator who had stumbled upon the cultivation path by chance, had cultivated for a hundred years and faced countless life-or-death crises, of which only he himself was truly aware. Thinking of these things, tears streamed down Ye Pinghai¡¯s face, an indescribable feeling welling up inside him. However, before he could regain his composure, a clap of thunder suddenly sounded in the sky, followed by a raging wind. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Subsequently, the previously clear and azure sky suddenly darkened with the rapid gathering of thunderclouds. In an instant, the sky flashed with thunder and howled with fierce winds. Yet these thunderclouds refrained from descending, as if still brewing for what was to come. At this time, Ye Pinghai snapped out of his excitement, his face immediately taking on a gravely serious expression. He had been too thrilled before, nearly forgetting the most crucial matter: the successful formation of the Golden Core would immediately attract the Golden Core Tribulation. One is not truly considered a Golden Core Cultivator until they safely weather the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Though he had never experienced nor witnessed it firsthand, the records in various texts, as well as the rumors circulating in the Cultivation World, had given him a clear understanding of the sheer terror of the Heavenly Tribulation. In that instant, not daring to be careless, he quickly got up to check all the items he had prepared to cope with the tribulation and made all preparations to deal with it. ¡­ Outside the valley. When the Spiritual Energy suddenly shifted, followed by a thunderous clap that arose from nowhere, Lin Shikang was jolted awake, as were the rest of the Lin Family Members on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. At this time, with a serious expression, Lin Shikang looked up at the thunderclouds brewing in the sky, his face showing a look of horror. This was clearly a precursor to the imminent arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation! Having been through his share of storms and life-or-death crises, he typically faced them with unflappable calm. But this was the first time he had witnessed the Golden Core Tribulation with his own eyes. Thinking that he might face such a day himself, Lin Shikang wore a complex expression, filled with surging heroic passion as if ready to charge forward, yet tinged with a hint of fear at the same time. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sound of thunder continued, and the long-brewing thunderclouds seemed to signal their impending descent. In a hurry, Lin Shikang quickly retreated, reaching the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain in the blink of an eye. At that point, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were already waiting there. Upon seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s arrival, Lin Shihua and the other immediately approached, their expressions brimming with excitement. From afar, Lin Shihua¡¯s urgent voice carried over, seemingly quite agitated. ¡°Third Brother¡­ Ye has successfully formed his Golden Core, he¡¯s about to undergo the tribulation, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang smiled faintly, nodding his head to confirm the truth of the matter. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s nod, Lin Shihua and the other became certain of their guess, their expressions filled with indescribable excitement. Chapter 548 03-25 - 548 309 The Terrifying Thunder ?Chapter 548: Chapter 309 The Terrifying Thunder Tribulation_1 Chapter 548: Chapter 309 The Terrifying Thunder Tribulation_1 Immediately following that, he urgently continued to question, ¡°How are the preparations for dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation coming along that I asked you to arrange?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Lin Shihua nodded and began to report truthfully. ¡°Third Brother, rest assured, almost all of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who can be mobilized within the clan lands have gone out with varying numbers of elite forces, constantly guarding a hundred-mile radius around our territory in recent days. The Qi Refining Stage clanspeople have also been moved to a safe location.¡± ¡°In addition, the Protective Clan Formation has been temporarily shut down, and all measures are in place!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and showed a satisfied expression. ¡°We will wait here for Ye¡¯s good news and prepare to observe his Golden Core Tribulation and make records.¡± ... Having said that, Lin Shikang seated himself at the highest point of the main peak, his gaze fixed in the direction of the valley, unwilling to miss any slight movement. Lin Shihua and the other person did not delay either, they approached and sat beside him, watching the same direction. Under their watchful eyes, the thunderclouds in the sky, which had been inactive for a long time, began to surge downward. Clearly, the Heavenly Tribulation was about to descend imminently. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Feeling the movement of the thunderclouds, Ye Pinghai leaped up and stood atop a mountain in the valley. At this moment, as he looked at the thunderclouds in the sky, his expression was complex, showing both joy and anxiety. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± As the rumbling of thunder continued, one could tell from the sound that the Heavenly Tribulation was getting closer. By now, the thunderclouds in the sky had descended significantly, covering several nearby mountain peaks with dark clouds, indicating the impending storm. Ye Pinghai gazed upward at the sky, his mana in his Dantian becoming increasingly restless. At this time, even though the spiritual power drawn from the Golden Core during the operation of his cultivation technique was clearly purer and more powerful than before, it still showed signs of instability. This was not something Ye Pinghai could fully control with his Primordial Spirit or Soul alone; he knew that only by enduring the baptism of the tribulation could the power of the Golden Core be truly consolidated. Quietly, the time it took to brew a cup of tea passed. After amassing energy for nearly half a quarter of an hour, suddenly the thunderclouds started churning violently, revealing flashes of lightning power apparent to the onlookers. ¡°Sizzle sizzle¡­¡± The sound of electric arcs resonated. Seeing these signs, it was evident that the Heavenly Tribulation was about to descend. From this moment on, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression grew even more solemn, gripping firmly in his hand the defense artifacts needed to face the tribulation. And sure enough. Just as he readied himself, thick bolts of lightning emerged quietly from the thunderclouds and began to strike down towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. At a glance, each streak of lightning was golden yellow, with arcs flickering across them, their terrifying aura chilling to the bone. Not only that, the speed of the lightning was incredibly fast, arriving above his head in the blink of an eye. By his estimations, there were at least a hundred bolts of lightning, each with immense destructive power, capable of easily killing even Mid to Late Second Order Demonic Beasts without question. At this time, Ye Pinghai remained unperturbed, showing no fear or hesitation. For he knew that retreating was meaningless; only by directly withstanding the tribulation could he resolve the problem once and for all. Understanding this, Ye Pinghai let out a long howl toward the heavens, his eyes immediately revealing a strong confidence. ¡°Heavenly Tribulation, come!¡± With a loud shout, he hastily slapped his sleeve, and several artifacts flew out at once¡ªall of them Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts. Over the years, Ye Pinghai had slain no small number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among them many strong ones, and acquired artifacts of very good quality. Some of lesser quality were directly disposed of, while those of decent quality were consecrated and prepared for this very tribulation. Furthermore, as a Second Order Superior Alchemist, he had done alchemy for many in exchange for compensation and accumulated quite a wealth over a hundred years. With the wealth he¡¯d accrued, he had made special preparations of valuable items for this attempt at the Golden Core. The several Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts were rare treasures to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but they might be insufficient against the Golden Core Tribulation. Nevertheless, the defense artifacts of Second Order Medium Quality were valuable and not common, and these were all he could collect, a compromise in absence of better options. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± The five Second Order Low Grade Artifacts faced the descending tribulation lightning in succession. There was a succession of crackling and popping sounds in the air as the Second Order Low Grade Artifacts were shattered into fragments by several dozen bolts of the tribulation, falling scattered across various corners of the valley. The remaining bolts of lightning paused slightly, then continued to pound down relentlessly. Facing the subsequent waves of thick lightning that were faster than the last, Ye Pinghai remained calm as if he had anticipated this. According to the records, and the rumors of the Cultivation World, the first round of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation was also the least powerful. However, even the first round of lightning was not something that a few Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts could withstand. Knowing this, he did not lift an eyelid as he once again brought out three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifacts. These three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifacts were apparently three identical Jade Pendants, exuding the same aura, clearly a set of defense artifacts. These artifacts, being not only a set but also of a higher tier, might be able to withstand the first round of the tribulation. With that hope, Ye Pinghai immediately deployed the Jade Pendant artifacts. Chapter 549 03-25 - 549 309 ?Chapter 549: 309 Chapter 549: 309 In an instant, the three jade pendants grew frantically in size, then hovered over his head, emitting a sheet of jade light that welcomed the descending heavenly lightning. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz.¡± The radiating jade light dimmed continuously over the azure pool. Ye Pinghai¡¯s complexion shifted slightly; the power of the subsequent strikes of the first wave of tribulation lightning was seemingly even more formidable than he had anticipated. This was only the first wave of the heavenly tribulation, and these defensively powerful artifacts were already struggling to withstand it. Before long, the jade pendants pulverized into dust, but the first strike of tribulation lightning had also dissipated. Seizing the brief respite, Ye Pinghai immediately swallowed a Huiyuan Pill, recovering a bit of spiritual power to make even more thorough preparations. Quickly, right after the first wave of the heavenly tribulation, the second wave thunderously descended, giving him no chance to catch his breath. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom.¡± The sound of thunder continued to explode. At this time, many members of the Lin Family began to show shock on their faces around Green Bamboo Mountain. Although their divine sense couldn¡¯t extend very far due to the influence of the tribulation lightning, the commotion caused by the heavenly tribulation couldn¡¯t be concealed from them. The sound of the descending tribulation lightning was deafening, each burst stronger than the last, leaving no respite whatsoever. ¡°This tribulation of the Golden Core is truly terrifying. Any single strike could annihilate a Foundation Establishment Cultivator,¡± muttered a member of the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement from one of the mountaintops. No sooner had these words fallen when a nearby member nodded and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth.¡± ¡°You know, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World has seen only a few Golden Core Cultivators over the years. From this alone, the horror of the Golden Core Tribulation can be appreciated.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï While the cultivators scattered across several mountain peaks were freely criticizing the fearsome heavenly tribulation, Ye Pinghai had already faced the third wave of tribulation lightning. In the first two waves, he had used up more than a dozen Second Order Defense Artifacts and a good number of Second Order Talismans. By now, the treasures left in his hands were extremely limited. Facing this most terrifying third round of tribulation, he was not certain he could survive. In that instant, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face appeared calm, but inside, a trace of anger stirred. As a Loose Cultivator, he had practiced cultivation for a hundred years, surviving by a hair¡¯s breadth on multiple occasions to reach his current realm. Though he had never witnessed the tribulation of the Golden Core, he had made ample preparations and believed in his strength, which gave him some hope of success. Yet, the tribulation he was now encountering proved to be incredibly formidable, causing his heart to palpitate uncontrollably. Caught in a moment of distraction, a vast amount of electrical energy filled the air around him and small relentless bolts of lightning penetrated his body, leaving a tingling numbness across Ye Pinghai¡¯s skin. Ye Pinghai¡¯s attention was entirely fixed on the thunderclouds above, rendering him incapable of dealing with these minor, less lethal bursts of lightning. Witnessing how terrifying the tribulation of the Golden Core was, clearly intent on snuffing him out in his cradle, dozens of tribulation lightning strikes rained down in succession. Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression changed dramatically. Both people and artifacts have their limits of endurance. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± The heavenly tribulation didn¡¯t give him time to think or react much. As the third round of terrifying golden lightning poured down, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression turned grave as he swiftly wielded his Attack Artifact. For a moment, several sharp silvery lights slashed through the air, cleaving the tribulation lightning descending upon his head. With a rolling explosion in the sky, the silvery light collided with the tribulation lightning with force, but the speed of the tribulation lightning was ultimately too fast; even Ye Pinghai could not manage to shatter all of it in time. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Ye Pinghai raised his hand and threw a punch, his strong fist-force scattering two more strikes of tribulation lightning. However, his arm and leg were still struck by two relentless bolts of lightning one after another. A regular Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator, faced with such an onslaught, would be lucky to survive, let alone escape without serious injury. Ye Pinghai, struck by two bolts of lightning, was dealt a harsh blow to his body. He was thrown into the air from the ground, and the mighty force of the electrical energy penetrated through a Second Order Medium Quality Nail Protector on his body, causing havoc. At that moment, Ye Pinghai spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, a bloody hole appeared in his arm, and his entire body convulsed. Then, several more bolts of tribulation lightning struck, and Ye Pinghai¡¯s body rolled uncontrollably on the ground, leaving trails of blood where he tumbled. In the midst of incessant lightning and thunder in the sky, massive lightning balls thick as buckets fell one after another. Since the heavens didn¡¯t afford him time to recover, and no one was able to help withstand it, everything was solely reliant on himself. At this moment, Ye Pinghai had gained some experience, using magic artifacts in conjunction with defense talismans to alternately dissipate some of the lightning balls, winning more time for himself and avoiding unnecessary damage from the lightning. Although he had been hit by the tribulation lightning twice just now, receiving injuries consecutively, the force of that lightning seemed to have also purified the mana within his body. He distinctly felt that the mana, refined by the force of the lightning, had become purer and more concentrated, and his Primordial Spirit, after being numbed by the lightning, had become stronger. His perception of his surroundings had also become unprecedentedly clear. A hint of an unusual glint flashed through Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes, suggesting that blocking all the tribulation lightning might not necessarily be a bad thing after all. How can one see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain? However, the destructive power of the lightning was equally terrifying; if it exceeded the body¡¯s capacity, he would meet the same fate as other cultivators who had failed their tribulation¡ªutterly destroyed, with little chance of survival. In fact, as Ye Pinghai looked up at the thunderclouds in the sky, he couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. He feared that he didn¡¯t need to purposely let the lightning balls come down, as whether he could ultimately endure was still uncertain. Ye Pinghai had an indomitable spirit ever since he was a child. If he had surrendered easily, he wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. Gazing at the powerful thunderclouds in the sky, Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes were firmer than ever before¡ªwhen the heavens don¡¯t help, one must help oneself. The fact that he had reached this point was partly due to luck, but more so because he had fought hard for it. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The same was true for the current heavenly tribulation. When there was no path left, he was determined to cut through the thorns to carve out his own. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The lightning from within the clouds seemed to have gathered enough energy and once again hurtled towards him, giving the impression that it was determined to destroy him on the spot. As the lightning balls approached, Ye Pinghai raised both hands upward; the magic artifact in his hands shot up, emitting a blinding sword light that was nearly too bright to look at with the naked eye. Not only that, but the sword light also resonated with a series of gentle hums, defying the descending tribulation lightning by surging upward! Explosions resounded in the sky, with other lightning bolts sneaking through the gaps in the flying sword and hitting the ground; some were dispersed by Ye Pinghai using his magic artifact, while some hit him directly. One after another, the sky was filled with flashes and rumbles of thunder. Wave after wave of thunderous explosions left the family members at the edge of their territory only able to watch from a distance, their faces filled with nothing but shock. The commotion here vividly conveyed the sensation of a ground-shaking event, as if a Golden Core expert was making a move without any restraint. And that terrifying heavenly tribulation seemed endless at this point. Under such intense lightning strikes, could a Foundation Establishment Cultivator still survive? These were members of the Lin Family, who, to varying degrees, had heard rumors about the Cultivation World, with many having directly heard their Foundation Establishment Stage elders speak of the Golden Core Tribulation. Yet, they had never witnessed such a shocking scene with their own eyes. At this moment, Ye Pinghai truly found himself in an extremely sorry state. Under the barrage of lightning strikes, his body was riddled with bloody holes, and a Second Order Medium Quality defensive inner armor he wore was torn and tattered, diminishing its defensive power. Nevertheless, the thunderclouds in the sky had yet to disperse. Although they felt weaker than at their peak, they were still very strong, creating a suffocating pressure that made it difficult for him to breathe. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Ye Pinghai¡¯s body was once again struck in the chest by thick bolts of lightning, and he was sent flying, his body completely numb. Lying semi-prone on the ground, Ye Pinghai spat out blood, his eyes stubbornly fixed on the oppressive thunderclouds. In this moment, the look in Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes seemed to be even sharper than the sword qi in his hands. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The thundercloud continued to churn relentlessly. At this moment, the thick lightning illuminated the entire mountain peak where Ye Pinghai was, creating a stark contrast with the oppressive clouds and the dark surroundings. The Lin Family members watching from afar could only discern, amidst the frenzied dance of electric serpents, a figure drenched in blood, appearing frail yet stubbornly and proudly resisting. It seemed he could be extinguished by the wild lightning at any moment. Even some family members who watched a bit longer had their eyes dazzled by the brightness of the lightning-formed light. By now, even though these people did not know who the cultivator undergoing the tribulation was, what remained in their hearts was only horror and awe. After all, how many could withstand such powerful attacks from the lightning balls? Chapter 550 03-25 - 550 310 Thunders Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 550: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_1 Chapter 550: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_1 For a brief moment, even the clansmen who were watching the Heavenly Tribulation from afar felt as if several years had passed, so lengthy had it seemed. Even when the lightning that had nearly illuminated the central area dissipated, these clansmen were still immersed in the unprecedented shock brought by the Heavenly Tribulation. At this time, on the small summit where Ye Pinghai was, one¡¯s naked eye could no longer clearly make out anything. The surroundings were only filled with a large amount of ash that had disintegrated into dust and the occasional flickering of residual sparks. A clear and piercing cry rang out from that hazy area, causing the spreading smoke and sparks to shake and scatter, revealing a man with tattered clothes, his body covered in blood. That cry vibrated through the land, a complete release of an unyielding, indomitable, and unresigned will. Not until his strength was utterly depleted did Ye Pinghai collapse to the ground, utterly exhausted, his limbs clinging to the hard, cold rock. ... At this moment, Ye Pinghai felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body, and given his normally reserved disposition, he would seldom lose control to such an extent. However, the Heavenly Tribulation had seemed determined to destroy him, shaking even his usual calm and inducing fear within him. Fortunately, it was all over now. This very moment, feeling the Golden Core within his body, which radiated an entirely different sort of brilliance, he realized that the faint spiritual power that remained was several times more potent than before. Not only that, but the surface of the Golden Core shone with a golden glow and was filled with mysterious patterns, clearly a world apart from its previous ethereal state. More importantly, as the thunderclouds dissipated in an instant, a formidable pressure overflowed. The vast majority of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was enveloped by this incredible aura. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Is this the power of a Golden Core Cultivator?¡± Ye Pinghai casually formed a Spirit Group, looking at the terrifying aura it emitted. He still couldn¡¯t quite believe it and was softly muttering in disbelief. ¡°Ha¡­ hahaha¡­¡± After an unknown period, he suddenly burst into long laughter, the corners of his eyes tinged with tears, evidently overwhelmed by emotion. It was not until he had somewhat calmed himself that he accepted the fact that he had successfully achieved a breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± He coughed out two mouthfuls of fresh blood, a tumultuous surge of qi and blood within him causing his face to turn pale. In the excitement of earlier, he had forgotten that his body was already overwhelmed after enduring the Heavenly Tribulation. Presently, even though he had passed the tribulation, his realm was somewhat unstable, and his injuries were indeed severe. His current state could be described as extremely pitiful. If he didn¡¯t immediately go into seclusion to stabilize his condition, there was even a risk of falling from his current realm. Thinking of this, he forced himself to stand up, found a relatively flat stone to sit upon, and then took out several healing elixirs to consume. Having done all this, he immediately joined his hands together and began to circulate his cultivation technique, assuming the posture of someone engaged in cultivation. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, as spiritual power began to flow, his pale face slowly regained some color. ¡­ At the summit of the main peak. The three Lin Family members, Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, and Lin Shihua, were standing side by side, all gazing towards the direction of the valley and witnessing the entire process of the tribulation. As they watched the terrifying thunder descend, the powerful force shook the ground beneath them. Although the three of them were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with Lin Shikang at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, they too were incomparably shocked. Not until the clouds of thunder gradually disappeared and the gloomy sky regained its brightness did the land also reveal its usual tranquility. After a long while, their minds were still absorbed in the aftershock of what they had witnessed. After an indeterminate time, Lin Shikang was the first to come back to his senses. He lightly coughed, pulling Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua back to reality. Seeing the paleness of the other two¡¯s faces, Lin Shikang had already regained his composure, and his expression had returned to its usual fervor. ¡°Third brother, Brother Ye has succeeded; he actually managed to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation and became a Golden Core Cultivator!¡± Lin Shihua exclaimed with excitement, and he danced with joy, seemingly in disbelief that this was true. Seeing his reaction, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong also shared a knowing smile, feeling a similar surge of excitement. After all, Ye Pinghai and the Lin Family had a deep connection. The Lin Family had been kind to him, and later they had become sworn kin, establishing a very solid framework for cooperation. Although Ye Pinghai was ultimately an outsider to the Lin Family, regardless of his cultivation strength, and even as a sworn kin, it was unlikely that he would become a core member of the family. But after decades of interaction, at the very least, Ye Pinghai was affable and valued loyalty, far from being a villainous character. The Lin Family had expended so much for Ye Pinghai¡¯s attempt at the Golden Core Stage, and now that he had successfully advanced, he would be expected to at least provide some care for the Lin Family in the future, facilitating quicker development. It just so happened that in recent years, the Lin Family had expanded rapidly. The size of the clan and the strength of their cultivations had both increased swiftly. Therefore, the cultivation resources accumulated over the years from the family¡¯s battles in all directions were nearly exhausted. It could be said that if things continued this way, the Lin Family would enter a bottleneck period once again. And for this very reason, the Lin Family was so invested in Ye Pinghai¡¯s breakthrough effort this time, not just because of their relationship but also for the subsequent development, making preparations on both sides. If he were to break through to the Golden Core Stage, especially as an Alchemist, this favor would be well worth the Lin Family¡¯s time and effort. And now, with Ye Pinghai¡¯s advancement in cultivation, this would become a reality. Thinking of all this, Lin Shikang and the others felt somewhat relieved, grateful that the Lin Family had made such a decisive and greatly rewarding decision. Chapter 551 03-25 - 551 310 Thunders Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 551: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_2 Chapter 551: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_2 Having finally calmed down, Lin Shikang glanced at the valley, thinking that since Ye Pinghai had just broken through, under normal circumstances, he shouldn¡¯t come out to meet anyone. The most urgent task at hand must be to close off and consolidate his cultivation. Once that¡¯s stable, they could then invite each other for a gathering. Having made up his mind, he turned to Lin Shihua and gave an instruction. ¡°Shihua, immediately gather the clan members to return to normality. The Protective Clan Formation must also be reactivated to prevent any accidents,¡± he ordered. Hearing the instruction, Lin Shihua dared not delay, quickly sending out several messages before taking out the token that controlled the Protective Clan Formation and reactivating the defensive formation. Soon, the Protective Clan Formation was reactivated, and the invisible and colorless defensive light screen once again enveloped the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Feeling the world return to normal and the clan territory unharmed, the scattered clan members began to gather again. ... Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction and took a long sigh of relief inwardly. Subsequently, the three of them exchanged a few words and discussed some arrangements for clan duties before Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong took their leave. Watching them leave the mountaintop, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t stay long in the area, shooting towards the direction of the valley to continue acting as a guardian for Ye Pinghai, who was consolidating his cultivation, until he emerged successfully. ¡­ Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. This morning, with a gentle breeze and the sun filtering through the thick clouds, shone into every corner of Green Bamboo Mountain. Flowers and green plants decorated the landscape, and strangely shaped rocks scattered across the paths, while some ordinary wild beasts lurked in the dense woods of the clan territory. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 At such times, numerous clan members shuttled through the core institutions of the clan territory, their busy figures harmonizing with the tranquil and peaceful sunlight, presenting a scene out of a celestial blessed land. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ On a plain over a hundred miles away from Green Bamboo Mountain, the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape were chasing and fleeing towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. The two Third Order Demon Beasts, after a fierce battle in the Hengyang Mountain Range, were frantically fleeing nearby, causing unwarranted disasters to many clan settlements before finally breaking into the Luoyun Mountain Range. At this moment, the injuries of the Wind Dusk Beast were becoming increasingly severe, and the Tyrant Spirit Ape was also not lightly wounded, with its strength significantly reduced. The two demon beasts fled aimlessly and appeared near Green Bamboo Mountain. However, the Lin Family had no inkling of the imminent crisis and continued with their cultivation and routine patrol duties as usual. The speed of the two demon beasts was incredibly fast, covering a thousand zhang in the blink of an eye. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before they were discovered by the patrolling Lin Family Members. As expected. When the two demon beasts approached within several tens of miles of the Protective Clan Formation, several clan members in the late stage of Qi Refining were performing their routine patrol duties. The leading clansperson, named Lin Tianqin, was flying over a mountaintop with Sword Flight, and while flying, was also scouting for any traces of demon beasts. If there was any disturbance, the first thing to do was report back to the family in order to prepare for defense. At that moment, the shadows of the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape, transformed into two dark figures, appeared in their line of sight. Their speed was incredibly fast, and they brought with them a terrifying aura that swept in. Within just a few breaths, the two demon beasts had arrived in front of them. Before Lin Tianqin and the others could react, several of the clan members couldn¡¯t resist the terrifying pressure and directly fell from their spiritual tools to the ground. Immediately after, mouthfuls of fresh blood spilled out, and their complexions turned instantly pale. Lin Tianqin, being slightly stronger, was also subjected to overwhelming force, causing turbulence of qi and blood in his body and a steady flow of blood from the corners of his mouth. But he reacted quickly enough so that before losing consciousness, he used the spiritual power in his hand to pick up the four clan members and hide them away. Fortunately, the two terrifying demon beasts seemed not to pay any heed to their lives. In the course of their pursuit, they did not strike out to attack, otherwise with their level of cultivation, facing such terrifying power, they would have had no power to fight back and would have been easily killed on the spot. At this moment, Lin Tianqin and a few clan members who had survived the ordeal hid in the crevice between two mountains, their faces pale and their hearts filled with fear. Watching the demon beasts soar overhead and feeling their powerful aura made it impossible for them to harbor any thought of resistance. The expressions of Lin Tianqin and his clan members changed dramatically as they speculated about the rank of the two demon beasts and their intentions. At that time, an experienced Lin Family Clansperson was the first to recall something and hurriedly reminded Lin Tianqin, ¡°Tianqin, these two demon beasts are at least at the late phase of Second Order, and they¡¯re heading towards the clan territory. We must inform the family of this as soon as possible,¡± he said. ¡°Yes¡­ We don¡¯t yet know the purpose of the demonic beasts, so we must inform the family to prepare for defense as soon as possible!¡± As the two family members started speaking, Lin Tianqin did not dare to delay, and immediately took out the specially made Communication Disc, launching several Law Decrees onto it. Light flashed on the Communication Disc before slowly returning to normal. After doing this, Lin Tianqin¡¯s complexion regained a bit of color, and the surging spiritual power inside him also began to stabilize. Luckily, before this patrol mission began, the family had equipped the Enforcement Hall with two Communication Discs. The Communication Disc, a Magic Artifact for communication, is at least Second Order inferior quality. Although its value doesn¡¯t compare to a common Attack Talisman, it is much more valuable than an ordinary First Order Spiritual Tool. It has a much longer communication range, and in the past two years, in order to resist the onslaught of the beast tide, the family spared no expense to specially equip the Enforcement Hall and some core family members with it. With the Communication Disc, the distance for messaging between them and the family members increased significantly, allowing them to send back the latest news in the first instance. Otherwise, even though the family has the Protective Clan Formation for defense, they would still be thrown into disarray, leading to unnecessary trouble. After regaining his senses, Lin Tianqin, pressing down the pain from his injuries, quickly led several family members toward the direction of the clan¡¯s territory. Their speed was fast, choosing not to follow the route the demonic beasts had taken. If they accidentally ran into the demonic beasts returning, they might very well lose their lives. Soon, they disappeared from the spot, flying toward another hidden entrance to the family¡¯s territory. ¡­ Valley behind the main peak. At the entrance of the valley, Lin Shikang had been seated in meditation, not having moved his body for a long time. It had been over half a month since Ye Pinghai had passed the Golden Core Tribulation. During this period, the entire Lin Family had returned to normal. Inside and outside the clan territory, all was peaceful, with only occasional low-order monster beasts appearing within the territory, which would be eradicated by the Enforcement Hall¡¯s dispatched clanspeople. At this moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s hands were clasped together, and ripples of energy were occasionally emitting from his body, clearly deep in cultivation. Just then, a loud noise erupted, and quickly spread to every corner of the Green Bamboo Mountain. At the same time, the ground of the entire clan¡¯s territory shook ever so slightly, and the sky rapidly flickered with light. Clearly, it was the noise of the formation¡¯s light screen being attacked. In an instant, Lin Shikang¡¯s eyes flew open, his face clouded with anger, and his expression exceedingly grim. He immediately rose to his feet and shot out at an extreme speed. In the blink of an eye, Lin Shikang arrived at the square where the mountain gate was located. At this point in time, quite a few family members had already gathered, each looking pale with faces filled with fear. Upon seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianyue, who was leading them, seemed a bit relieved and quickly went to meet him. From a distance, Lin Tianyue¡¯s voice reached out, ¡°Third Grandfather¡­ These two demonic beasts turn out to be Third Order, why have they appeared in our clan territory?¡± Hearing her words, the family members present couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply, obviously shocked by Lin Tianyue¡¯s statement. Yet, their reaction was understandable. After all, most of these family members were at the Qi Refinement Realm, and none had ever seen Third Order Demonic Beasts, let alone two appearing at the same time. Such a scene, if not for this moment, they might have never witnessed it in their lifetimes. At this moment, faced with Lin Tianyue¡¯s question and looking at the unwelcome guests outside the formation, Lin Shikang was equally puzzled. He took a deep breath and then instructed, ¡°Tian Yue!¡± ¡°This place is very dangerous. You must immediately take the other family members away from here. After making sure they are settled, proceed to the back mountain and wait for Brother Ye to come out of seclusion.¡± Hearing his instructions and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s solemn expression, Lin Tianyue dared not ask further questions. However, she was very clear in her mind that Lin Shikang wanted them to leave for their own good. After all, with the appearance of two Third Order Demonic Beasts, with her at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, along with those Qi Refining clanspeople, remaining here would be no help but rather a burden. Once the demonic beasts attacked the Protective Clan Formation, even Lin Shikang would be in grave danger, and he would have to guard them while worrying about his own safety. Understanding this, Lin Tianyue didn¡¯t hesitate, quickly leading the other family members away from the square. Chapter 552 03-25 - 552 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_1 ?Chapter 552: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_1 Chapter 552: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_1 As Lin Tianyue led the clanspeople away from the plaza, Lin Shihua, who had heard the commotion, and Lin Shigong had also rushed over. At this moment, the expressions on their faces were somewhat panicked. It was clear from the collision sound that had just come through and the violent upheaval it caused that the approaching enemy meant ill and possessed formidable strength. Before the person arrived, Lin Shihua¡¯s voice was already carried over from afar. ¡°Third brother, how come these two Third Order Demonic Beasts have appeared here?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ The Tyrant Spirit Ape from the battlefield is the Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect!¡± ¡°Our place is so far away from Yuyao City. How could they appear in the Luoyun Mountain Range, and what¡¯s more, coincidentally show up in our clan¡¯s territory?¡± ... Hearing Lin Shigong¡¯s corroborating words and his reminder, Lin Shikang looked both innocent and helpless. Considering the appearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape here, he pondered many reasons carefully and had some speculation in his heart. After all, the Tyrant Spirit Ape being the Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect was common knowledge throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Since the Tyrant Spirit Ape appeared near Green Bamboo Mountain during this period, it was unlikely that the Zhenyang Sect had any plots against the Lin Family. After all, although the Lin Family¡¯s reputation had risen in recent years, it still wasn¡¯t enough to make the Zhenyang Sect wary, let alone be troubled by them at the critical time of a Demon Beast Tide. Thus, the presence of these two Third Order Demonic Beasts here might have been due to them pursuing each other after battle in Yuyao City. During the chase, it was obviously apparent the Wind Dusk Beast was no match for the Tyrant Spirit Ape and fled in panic without choosing a path. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? By a twist of fate, it ended up in the Luoyun Mountain Range. As for the Lin Family, their luck was simply too bad. Just when they saw indications of the Demon Beast Tide receding, they got caught in this calamity without reason. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression darkened, his heart filled with helplessness and anger. At this time, the three people with complex expressions stood shoulder to shoulder, sighed deeply, and then gazed together into the distance, beyond the protective formation¡¯s light screen. They saw the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape fiercely battling. The two demonic beasts clashed mightily, exchanging blows without a care for their own injuries. As they fought, their bodies kept moving, only a thousand zhang away from the formation¡¯s light screen, and the distance continued to close. As for the attack that caused the violent upheaval, it seemed to be the inadvertent result of the demonic beasts¡¯ actions. Clearly, their arrival here was also by chance, and their attack on the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation was due to the overpowering impact of the battle that they couldn¡¯t control. However, now wasn¡¯t the time to fret over these causes. Looking at the situation, the urgent task was to come up with a strategy to prevent the Lin Family from suffering any losses. Realizing this, Lin Shikang put aside those trivial thoughts and focused on the condition of the demonic beasts¡¯ battle. At this point, from the overall situation in the skirmish, the Wind Dusk Beast was grievously injured. If it weren¡¯t for its incredible speed, it likely wouldn¡¯t have lasted long under the ferocious attacks of the enraged Tyrant Spirit Ape. After two rounds of collision, it was evident that the Tyrant Spirit Ape had a more formidable attack capability and was determined to take the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s life. As such, every move the Tyrant Spirit Ape made was a deadly blow, each strike filled with immense power. The severely wounded Wind Dusk Beast was basically struggling to defend itself. At that time, the cornered Wind Dusk Beast, equally enraged, had no choice but to fight back against the tide-like assaults of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud noise, the Wind Dusk Beast was thrown backward, and its massive body crashed into the formation¡¯s light screen. For a moment, the protective light screen trembled once more, taking several breaths to gradually stabilize. This caused Lin Shikang and the others to furrow their brows tightly, displaying extremely unsightly expressions on their faces. Witnessing the fluctuations transmitted through the light screen and the large amount of stored energy being consumed, Lin Shihua¡¯s face darkened. In his eyes, the energy contained within the formation had been accumulated by the family over years. Even a year ago, when a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts attacked their land, the Lin Family hadn¡¯t used up much. Now, to be implicated like this and lose so much energy in the Protective Clan Formation was truly infuriating. ¡°These two beasts!¡± Lin Shihua cursed under his breath before he couldn¡¯t help reminding Lin Shikang. ¡°Third brother, if it continues like this and they keep fighting, I¡¯m afraid the Protective Clan Formation won¡¯t last much longer!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang felt helpless as well. He gave a wry smile and immediately began to ponder the strategy to repel the enemy, to prevent the Lin Family from getting harmed. Looking at the situation, if the two demonic beasts left on their own, it would be a cause for celebration, and the Lin Family could avoid any damage. But if the demonic beasts continued to fight here, even if they didn¡¯t aim to attack the Protective Clan Formation, it would still be difficult to avoid being affected. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering the worst-case scenario, if the beasts fought for long enough, it was very likely that the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation would be breached. At that time, many Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople might not be able to escape, leading to unnecessary sacrifices. However, whether the demonic beasts would leave or not was completely beyond the control of the Lin Family. Even with his Foundation Establishment Great Perfection strength, he couldn¡¯t intervene in their struggle. Only if Ye Pinghai came out of seclusion, with his Golden Core Stage strength, could he drive the two Third Order Demonic Beasts away from this place and resolve this potential crisis. Otherwise, the Lin Family¡¯s situation could only remain passive, waiting and watching to see if the demonic beasts would retreat. But for the time being, with Ye Pinghai having just survived the Golden Core Tribulation and still in seclusion consolidating his cultivation, it was hard to tell when he might emerge. Chapter 553 03-25 - 553 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_2 ?Chapter 553: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_2 Chapter 553: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_2 With this in mind, trying to buy as much time as possible was the priority right now, the longer they could hold out, the safer the Lin Family Clan Grounds would be. Having thought this through, Lin Shikang looked toward the direction of the valley and immediately said, ¡°Shihua, activate all the power of the Protective Clan Formation, hold out for as long as possible.¡± ¡°As long as Brother Ye comes out of seclusion successfully, all our problems will be easily solved!¡± Hearing these words, the Lin Family wasn¡¯t completely without the means to resist, and Lin Shihua¡¯s face finally looked a little better. Right after that, he fully activated the Protective Clan Formation, and then he turned his attention to the battle outside. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape clashed fiercely, and the force of their impact swept through the entire battlefield. ... At that moment, the impact created a massive wave that surged violently toward them, only to be blocked by the Protective Clan Formation. After one round of attacks, the colors on the formation¡¯s light screen faded slightly once again, and the formation¡¯s defensive power was clearly further weakened. Faced with this outcome, all three members of the Lin Family were helpless. The Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape, however, didn¡¯t care about these issues. They fought recklessly without any regard for the Lin Family¡¯s losses or life and death. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± While they were reduced to mere spectators, earth-shattering noises continued to come from outside the formation as two Third Order Demon Beasts fought each other. The Tyrant Spirit Ape let out a roar and its gigantic fist, like a huge rock, violently smashed down toward the Wind Dusk Beast. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The Wind Dusk Beast didn¡¯t dare delay, and while dodging, it didn¡¯t forget to counterattack. At that time, with its back toward the Lin Family Clan Grounds, the Wind Dusk Beast was less than a few hundred yards away. As the fist drew closer and closer, it suddenly dodged, once again activating its Innate Divine Ability. In an instant, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s speed surged dramatically. As the Wind Dusk Beast evaded the attack, the Tyrant Spirit Ape missed its strike. Before it could retract its strength, its steel-like fist directly hammered onto the formation¡¯s light screen. A loud boom echoed, and the Protective Clan Formation violently shook. A few breaths later, the formation¡¯s light screen returned to normal, and the ground stopped shaking. Seeing this, the usually calm and experienced Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but curse, his face looking extremely grim. Just that one strike had reduced the Protective Clan Formation¡¯s defensive power. A few more like that, and it definitely wouldn¡¯t hold. Having calmed down a bit, Lin Shikang said to the Lin Shihua next to him, ¡°Immediately organize the clan members to gather and prepare to leave through the secret passage.¡± ¡°Once the formation can¡¯t hold any longer, directly take the clan members and leave.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the other person knew the situation was not optimistic. Although they were reluctant to leave their well-built clan grounds and were worried about Lin Shikang staying alone, they didn¡¯t hesitate at his command. After all, their own strength was extremely limited; staying here would only be a burden. Understanding this, the two nodded toward Lin Shikang and flew directly toward the back mountain, soon disappearing from sight. Watching them leave, Lin Shikang waved his sleeve robe, and the Qingfeng Sword appeared in his hand. Then, he held a large amount of Second Order Talisman paper in his hand, clearly ready to act. ¡°Roar rumble¡­¡± The fierce battle outside continued. Soon, half an hour passed. At that moment, the battle between the two demon beasts had reached a feverish stage. In the meantime, the Protective Clan Formation had withstood several more rounds of attacks from the beasts, with both the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape contributing. By now, the formation¡¯s energy had been greatly depleted, teetering on the brink of collapse. Under his watchful eye, the Tyrant Spirit Ape struck again, and after the Wind Dusk Beast dodged it, the force directly hit the formation¡¯s light screen. ¡°Boom!¡± After a loud explosion, the formation¡¯s light screen shattered into countless points of light, which then dissipated between heaven and earth. Simultaneously, the entire scene of the Lin Family Clan Grounds was exposed to the sight of the two Third Order Demon Beasts. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s face darkened, his heart filled with immense rage. Lin Shikang had initially fantasized that after a few rounds of the demonic beasts¡¯ battle, they would leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds and, by then, the Lin Family would have been spared from calamity. In the end, they still couldn¡¯t avoid this unnecessary involvement. At this moment, the two demonic beasts continued their relentless battle, utterly disregarding whether Lin Shikang was present. It seemed as though they didn¡¯t even consider him worthy of their attention, utterly disdainful. Lin Shikang didn¡¯t dare to delay either; the moment the formation broke, he immediately retreated explosively and flew towards the valley behind the main peak. Facing the battle of two Third Order demon beasts, he dared not stay in the area. Once entangled in their skirmish, even with his Foundation Establishment Great Completion cultivation, he could still lose his life. His plan was to first create a safe distance, as long as their fight didn¡¯t disturb Ye Pinghai¡¯s secluded cultivation. As for the clan¡¯s houses, cave mansion courtyards, and even those valuable Spiritual Medicine Gardens, if they had to suffer losses, so be it. If one were to die, all the treasures in the world would be meaningless. Conversely, as long as one lived, with some time, effort, and financial resources, one could always restore things to their former state. Knowing this, his speed was swift, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared atop a mountain outside the valley. He looked from afar at the family¡¯s mountain gate, where occasional massive fluctuations and sparks of light were erupting, his expression filled with worry. Before he could even catch his breath, his face turned pale again, and he couldn¡¯t help but curse loudly. ¡°These two damn beasts, it was bad enough they broke through our Protective Clan Formation, but they¡¯re relentlessly pursuing this and have even started fighting inside the clan grounds!¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, he stared angrily ahead. In front of him, just over a thousand zhang away, the Wind Dusk Beast was fleeing, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape hot on its tail. Beneath them, more than a dozen clan members¡¯ dwellings and Cave Mansion Courtyards collapsed, with a large amount of trees and stones scattered around. Fortunately, he had timely instructed Lin Shihua to relocate the clan members. Otherwise, under such an onslaught, even Foundation Establishment Stage members would have been injured, if not lost their lives senselessly. But even so, the current situation was still dire. Because the two Third Order demon beasts were fast approaching the valley where Ye Pinghai was in secluded cultivation. If left unchecked, they would certainly disrupt his consolidation of cultivation. Should he be disturbed at a critical moment, leading to an unstable consolidation, there was a risk of falling back in cultivation levels. At this very moment, Lin Shikang found himself once again faced with a dilemma. If he chose to fight, with his level of cultivation, intervening might mean a near-certain death. If he chose to retreat, he himself would be unharmed, but it would inevitably force Ye Pinghai to emerge and interrupt his cultivation. In that case, at best Ye would face a fall in his cultivation realm, and at worst, he could be at risk of perishing. Understanding this, Lin Shikang¡¯s complexion turned extremely unsightly, his heart filled with complexity. However, the Wind Dusk Beast and Tyrant Spirit Ape didn¡¯t give him time to react; in just a few breaths, they came to a place not far in front of him. At that moment, Lin Shikang stood in the way of the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s path of escape, finding himself in an embarrassing situation where he could neither advance nor retreat. As the Wind Dusk Beast was about to break into the valley entrance, Lin Shikang, after pondering repeatedly, decided to take the risk and intercept them. In his eyes, killing the Wind Dusk Beast was the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s objective in this pursuit. As long as the Wind Dusk Beast died, the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s goal would be achieved, and likely it would avoid mindless killing, sparing the Lin Family unnecessary losses. After all, the Tyrant Spirit Ape was a Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect, fundamentally different from those ferocious Third Order demon beasts. Furthermore, from the standpoint of the greater good of the Human Race, it was only proper to intervene against these demonic beasts if it was within his power to do so. More importantly, by taking this risk to buy time for Ye Pinghai, though extremely dangerous, it would leave Ye indebted to him, thus binding him more firmly to the Lin Family¡¯s ship. Having made up his mind, he immediately activated the Law Decree, unleashing all the Second Order talisman papers he had prepared. Beyond that, he channeled spiritual power to its limit and stimulated the Qingfeng Sword in his hand, which erupted with numerous sword qi. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Part of the sky at the entrance of the valley was completely engulfed by the various Second Order Talisman attacks. Instantly, multicolored rays scattered, and countless Sword Qi and fireballs streaked across the sky, completely sealing off the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s escape route. Chapter 554 03-25 - 554 312 Misunderstanding_1 ?Chapter 554: Chapter 312: Misunderstanding_1 Chapter 554: Chapter 312: Misunderstanding_1 Seeing this, the already heavily injured Wind Dusk Beast was infuriated. Its situation was already critical, and escape was fraught with peril, where every moment was of essence. If it were at its peak, with its speed, even if it couldn¡¯t defeat the Tyrant Spirit Ape, it could naturally leave unharmed. But now, its situation had changed drastically, its body was severely wounded, and its strength greatly diminished. The power of these Second Order Talismans was not strong, they couldn¡¯t inflict significant damage, but their sheer numbers and cumulative power couldn¡¯t be completely ignored. In such a case, it was very likely to delay it for a moment or two. Under these circumstances, the pursuing Tyrant Spirit Ape would catch up, leading to yet another bitter fight. ... S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By that time, its chances of escaping would be virtually non-existent. Perhaps realizing the direness of its situation, the Wind Dusk Beast unleashed unprecedented power in the face of Lin Shikang¡¯s blockade, along with the relentless pursuit of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The frantic beast dodged attacks while counterattacking like a mad creature, each strike bursting with immense power. A few breaths of time passed just like that. After an earth-shattering sound, the talisman paper Lin Shikang activated dissipated. Only when the sky had returned to a brief calm did the figures of the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape emerge. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï At a glance, the leg of the Wind Dusk Beast had been completely severed, its body covered in wounds of varying depths, dripping with blood in a grisly sight. The Tyrant Spirit Ape was also spewing blood, with many wounds clearly inflicted by the Wind Dusk Beast. However, its defensive power was extremely high, and its injuries were evidently much lighter than those of the Wind Dusk Beast. As for Lin Shikang, he had been knocked back dozens of meters, his body smashing against several rocks before halting, all due to the clash between the two Third Order Demon Beasts and the attack from the Wind Dusk Beast. He lay there half-prostrate, his face ghastly pale, coughing up blood continuously, his eyes filled with a look of shock. He had thought that with his Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivation, catching a few rounds of the injured Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s attacks shouldn¡¯t have posed a problem. Yet, he had underestimated the power of the Wind Dusk Beast. Just that last strike from the Wind Dusk Beast had seriously wounded him, almost costing him his life. One could imagine, if the Wind Dusk Beast had been at its peak, targeting him alone, it could have killed him in a single round. The gap between them was beyond imagination. ¡°Roar roar¡­¡± A few low growls sounded out. At this moment, the eyes of the Wind Dusk Beast were blood red, its expression extremely angry. Lin Shikang¡¯s reckless intervention had only delayed the inevitable for moments, leading to the attack from the Tyrant Spirit Ape that it couldn¡¯t avoid, causing the loss of its leg. After this round, its injuries had deepened further, and its survival-dependent speed was greatly reduced; there was no longer any chance of escape. The Tyrant Spirit Ape seemed to comprehend this but showed no intention of stopping. After all, the night was long and filled with dreams, and it had let the Wind Dusk Beast slip away several times before. Now with Heaven and Earth on its side, it naturally wouldn¡¯t waste this rare opportunity. Before the Wind Dusk Beast could catch its breath, the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s attacks arrived on schedule. Seeing this, Lin Shikang ignored his injuries. He forced himself up and, from a distance, launched attacks to harass the Wind Dusk Beast, creating better opportunities for the Tyrant Spirit Ape. This time, he had clearly become much more prudent. He knew his own strength, and understood the vast difference between himself and a Third Order Demon Beast. Therefore, he wouldn¡¯t recklessly enter the fray but instead provided long-range support to assist the Tyrant Spirit Ape. Besides, as long as the Wind Dusk Beast didn¡¯t approach Ye Pinghai¡¯s closed-off valley, his purpose would be considered fulfilled. In essence, his actions prioritized his own safety and guarding the valley. If he could provide some assistance, that would be best, but if it really wasn¡¯t feasible, he would certainly not risk himself again. Knowing this, Lin Shikang was extra cautious, and his subsequent attacks were noticeably weaker compared to the first round. And at this point, facing the successive strikes from the Tyrant Spirit Ape and Lin Shikang, the Wind Dusk Beast, though enraged, was helpless. It could only passively defend and dodge, trying to drag out the fight, waiting for an opportunity to flee. However, the Tyrant Spirit Ape wouldn¡¯t afford it even a glimmer of hope, its strikes becoming increasingly fierce, vowing to take the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s life in the shortest possible time. Under such circumstances, after several rounds of attacks, the Wind Dusk Beast was in a complete retreat and soon found itself in an inextricable predicament. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds erupted. The entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory trembled slightly, the sky lighting up with fire, accompanied by the roars of demonic beasts, reverberating through every corner of the territory. After several rounds of attacks, the Wind Dusk Beast was severely injured, and the battlefield had been pushed closer to the valley. Seeing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned rather unsightly. It was clear that this outcome was not what he had hoped for. He had only wanted to stop the demonic beasts from advancing, even if it meant getting injured in the process. But he hadn¡¯t expected that the Wind Dusk Beast would be forced back step by step by the Tyrant Spirit Ape. At that moment, Lin Shikang even doubted whether he should have intervened, wondering why, despite his desperate efforts, he was still unable to prevent it. However, despite being so grievously injured, the Wind Dusk Beast still possessed formidable strength, which meant that the combat situation was beyond his control. Chapter 555 03-25 - 555 312 Oolong_2 ?Chapter 555: Chapter 312 Oolong_2 Chapter 555: Chapter 312 Oolong_2 Not only that, but the Tyrant Spirit Ape acted without any hesitation, completely indifferent to the damage to the Lin Family Clan Grounds and unconcerned about the true purpose of its actions. Perhaps the Tyrant Spirit Ape did not know its own intentions, which is why it was so ferocious, driving the Wind Dusk Beast even further towards the direction of the valley. However, for whatever reason, the actions of the Tyrant Spirit Ape completely chilled Lin Shikang¡¯s heart, fueling a hint of anger within him. But at the moment, he didn¡¯t dare to directly confront the Tyrant Spirit Ape, since after all, it was the Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect with a rather profound background. More crucially, as a Third Order Early Stage beast, its strength was not significantly different from that of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Although fundamentally, as a Demonic Beast, a Tyrant Spirit Ape is subdued and of a status clearly beneath that of a Human Race Golden Core Cultivator. But its strength was still something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator or a Foundation Establishing Family could not afford to offend. ... Therefore, even though Lin Shikang had opinions, he dared not express them, lest he make an enemy for the Lin Family. As he was lost in thought, the two Demonic Beasts clashed with each other once more. Under the overwhelming onslaught of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, the situation of the Wind Dusk Beast was perilous, and it could be killed at any moment. However, in its desperate situation, the Wind Dusk Beast seemed to go mad. Its eyes blood-red, it stared intently at Lin Shikang, as if it was blaming him for its dire circumstances. Or perhaps it sensed Ye Pinghai in the valley and was trying to take advantage of his strength to find an opportunity to escape amidst the chaos. No matter the reason, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but be alarmed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tyrant Spirit Ape charged in for another attack, its formidable strike aiming straight for the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s head. This attack was relentless, carrying a mighty force as if it sought to claim the life of the Wind Dusk Beast directly. At that moment, facing this fatal blow, the Wind Dusk Beast forcibly dragged its injured body towards the direction where Lin Shikang was. Along the way, the Wind Dusk Beast showed no intention of stopping or retaliating, focused only on breaking through Lin Shikang¡¯s blockage, hoping to make the Tyrant Spirit Ape hesitate. Seeing the Demonic Beast¡¯s actions, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned pale, and he was somewhat at a loss. However, the current situation did not allow him the luxury of time to think of a countermeasure. In desperation, Lin Shikang could only steel himself to go forward. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang¡¯s spiritual power surged to the extreme, and his Qingfeng Sword burst forth with powerful Sword Qi. At the same time, he didn¡¯t dare to hold anything back, using all available offensive and defensive treasures he had at his disposal. Under these circumstances, the sky above the valley entrance was filled with numerous talisman papers and Sword Qi tearing through the void. For a moment, a dense array of attacks completely overwhelmed the oncoming Wind Dusk Beast. With a series of crackling sounds, the whole world was thrown into chaos, countless rocks and trees scattered in all directions. After the ground shook a few times, the figure of the Wind Dusk Beast burst out from the dust and smoke. At this time, the skin of the Wind Dusk Beast was scorched black, and the blood on its body had already clotted, as if it had been rapidly dried by the rising temperatures. It angrily charged towards Lin Shikang, fleeing towards the valley while its tail whipped toward Lin Shikang¡¯s head. A whooshing sound reached Lin Shikang¡¯s ears, and the iron-chain-like tail shattered the surrounding air, clearly containing immense power. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s feet seemed to catch the wind as he frantically started to dodge the terrifying attack. Nevertheless, even injured, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s speed was still not something Lin Shikang could easily avoid. As the approaching tail drew closer, Lin Shikang¡¯s face displayed great alarm, hastily bringing out a blood-red jade pendant, transforming it into a thick barrier to encase himself within. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A crisp explosion sounded. The barrier in front of Lin Shikang shone brightly, and after resisting for a brief moment, it cracked apart. Taking advantage of the brief delay from the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s attack, Lin Shikang pivoted to avoid his vital areas. In an instant, The tail of the Wind Dusk Beast struck true, hitting Lin Shikang¡¯s shoulder. In that moment, Lin Shikang let out a pained roar and his body described a parabola as he was sent flying, eventually crashing heavily into the valley. As his body hit the ground, he immediately began to cough up copious amounts of blood, his complexion turning an extreme shade of pale, and his breath becoming exceedingly feeble. At this time, he shakily climbed to his feet, looked at the wound on his body, and let out a bitter laugh. Upon inspection, he found an extremely deep wound on his shoulder, within which the white glint of bone was faintly visible, looking particularly striking. And his arm had nearly been snapped off by the tail of the Wind Dusk Beast, if he hadn¡¯t dodged the vital spot, that strike would have undoubtedly taken his life. After that blow, he had sustained severe injury, his strength had definitely been reduced by more than 30%. Watching the Wind Dusk Beast still flying toward him, Lin Shikang¡¯s face was ashen, and he wanted to forcefully launch an attack to see if he could stop the beast. Just as he was about to make his move, a hot wind suddenly blew over from behind him. Without knowing when, a man in a gray robe suddenly appeared beside him. ¡°Lin, you step back, I¡¯ll take on these two beasts!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang quickly turned his head back and found Ye Pinghai looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, his expression filled with confidence. At this moment, he was certain that the person was indeed Ye Pinghai, with a powerful and stable aura, showing no signs of an unstable realm. Lin Shikang¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. Now that Ye Pinghai had successfully exited his closed-door cultivation, with his strength after the breakthrough, killing the injured Wind Dusk Beast should not be an issue. ¡°Ye, be careful, the Wind Dusk Beast is fighting for its life!¡± With these thoughts, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t insist any longer, he admonished Ye Pinghai and then quickly retreated to a rock behind him. Immediately after, he hurriedly took out healing elixirs to consume and then watched every move in front of him with vigilance. At this moment, with the appearance of Ye Pinghai, the dynamics on the field suddenly changed dramatically. The Wind Dusk Beast, as if anticipating Ye Pinghai¡¯s possible appearance, abruptly stopped its forward momentum at that instant. However, the Tyrant Spirit Ape had already caught up, and its claws were already slamming toward it. Not only that, but Ye Pinghai, fresh from his closed-door cultivation, also made his move. He looked furious and launched a powerful attack from the magic artifact in his hand towards the Wind Dusk Beast. From Ye Pinghai¡¯s mannerisms, one could tell that his strength was formidable, not at all like a Golden Core Cultivator who had just broken through. In that moment, under the pincer attack of Ye Pinghai and the Tyrant Spirit Ape, the Wind Dusk Beast seemed to have nowhere to escape. However, as the attacks of both were about to land, the Wind Dusk Beast let out a low growl, and suddenly, its massive body appeared a hundred yards away in an open space. The Wind Dusk Beast, having dodged the attack, started to cough up large mouthfuls of blood, its breath once again becoming feeble. In this desperate situation, the Wind Dusk Beast had once again unleashed its Innate Divine Ability, causing its injuries to worsen and its strength to further diminish significantly, down to less than 50% of its peak. At this time, both the Tyrant Spirit Ape and Ye Pinghai had not expected that the Wind Dusk Beast would be able to dodge the fatal attack in such a dire situation. ¡°Bang¡­¡± As they were taken aback, a loud noise came. Ye Pinghai¡¯s magic artifact glowed brightly, its powerful attack clashing hard against the claws of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. In an instant, a scream was heard. The enormous body of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, like a parabola, fell from the sky and eventually slammed heavily onto the ground, creating a crater several yards deep. Upon closer inspection, the ape¡¯s claw was nearly severed, and its entire arm swung like a tree branch. As it couldn¡¯t help but spit out blood, the aura of the Tyrant Spirit Ape rapidly decreased, clearly having suffered a heavy injury. At this moment, the Tyrant Spirit Ape, which had withdrawn nearly half of its strength when the Wind Dusk Beast dodged, was stricken by Ye Pinghai¡¯s blow, losing an arm. Otherwise, with its strength, even when injured, it wouldn¡¯t have been so severely wounded by Ye Pinghai, who had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage, with just one hit. At that time, the Tyrant Spirit Ape looked up in pain at Ye Pinghai, growling repeatedly, seemingly venting the dissatisfaction in its heart. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but darken his face, revealing an expression of helplessness. He had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage and wasn¡¯t precise enough in controlling the strength of his attacks. Moreover, he had not anticipated that the severely injured Wind Dusk Beast would be able to rely on its inconceivable divine ability to escape under such dire circumstances. Thus, the blow was not intended; it was merely a misunderstanding. Chapter 556 03-25 - 556 313 Both Perish_1 ?Chapter 556: Chapter 313 Both Perish_1 Chapter 556: Chapter 313 Both Perish_1 But in reality, this blunder had already occurred, and it had even dealt a heavy blow to the Tyrant Spirit Ape. At this moment, he was afraid that the Tyrant Spirit Ape might have misunderstood his intentions, and how would he explain himself to the Zhenyang Sect? Moreover, explaining might not even be useful! With these thoughts, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face grew a bit grim, and for a while, he couldn¡¯t think of a solution. ¡°Roar roar¡­¡± Several roars of Demonic Beasts could be heard, followed quickly by the sound of intense collisions, which brought Ye Pinghai back to his senses. He turned his gaze and looked up at the scene before him. ... At this time, he saw the Wind Dusk Beast, having narrowly escaped disaster, was again changing its position, fleeing towards where the Tyrant Spirit Ape was. Clearly, with Ye Pinghai¡¯s emergence from seclusion, and judging from the power he displayed, he seemed to be somewhat stronger than the heavily injured Tyrant Spirit Ape. The Wind Dusk Beast seemed to understand its dire situation, realizing that breaking through Ye Pinghai¡¯s side was no longer realistic. Moreover, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape already injured and having been further wounded by Ye Pinghai¡¯s strike, its ability to exert power compared to itself was, presumably, not much stronger. Therefore, the Wind Dusk Beast made a decisive move and ferociously attacked the Tyrant Spirit Ape while it was still unresponsive. Seeing this, the Tyrant Spirit Ape, both shocked and enraged, ignored its injuries and hastily entangled with the Wind Dusk Beast in battle. Once they engaged, the battle between the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast was brutally intense, with both sides fighting without any restraint. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï They fought as if they cared not for their lives, seemingly trying to vent the rage accumulated from the relentless chase and escape. Seeing this sight, Ye Pinghai frowned, also shocked by the two Demonic Beasts¡¯ battle. Having barely calmed down, he prepared to join the fray, to help the Tyrant Spirit Ape annihilate the Wind Dusk Beast and thus end this battle. ¡°Roar¡­ roar¡­¡± At that moment, two sounds, mournful to the ear, came through. Hearing the noise, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression changed slightly as he looked in the direction of the screams. He saw the Tyrant Spirit Ape lying on the ground with a huge hole in its chest, exposing its internal organs. At the same time, the ground was soaked with blood, and the Tyrant Spirit Ape lay in the pool of blood, struggling weakly. Its movements were not great, and its breaths were already significantly weaker, appearing to have more difficulty inhaling than exhaling, looking extremely sorrowful. From his perspective, it might not be long before the Tyrant Spirit Ape would breathe its last. Meanwhile, not far from the Tyrant Spirit Ape, in an open space, the Wind Dusk Beast was also lying on the ground. The contrast was clear, the Tyrant Spirit Ape on the verge of death was still struggling and crying out, whereas the Wind Dusk Beast lay motionless on the ground, silent, evidently having no breath left. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai was taken aback. He had thought that although both Demonic Beasts were severely wounded, the outcome should not have come so swiftly. However, in just a short span of a few breaths, the battle between the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast had concluded, and they had nearly perished together. Ye Pinghai found this outcome somewhat unbelievable. But as things stood, with the result before his eyes, he could only accept the fact. He looked at the dying Tyrant Spirit Ape, whose cries of agony made Ye Pinghai sigh helplessly, feeling somewhat at a loss inside. Just then, Lin Shikang behind him stood up and walked towards him, quickly arriving in front of him. From a distance, Lin Shikang clasped his hands in salute and then said, ¡°Congratulations, Ye, on reaching the Golden Core Great Achievement!¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression turned cold as he said sternly, ¡°Lin, if you keep mocking me like this, I might get angry!¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Shikang smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Ye, with your breakthrough to Golden Core, according to the Cultivation World¡¯s rules where strength dictates seniority, it is indeed proper to refer to you as a senior.¡± Before he could finish, Ye Pinghai quickly waved his hands, speaking earnestly. ¡°Lin, please don¡¯t be like this!¡± ¡°You must know, for my attempt to reach the Golden Core, the Lin Family went to great lengths to provide a sacred place for my breakthrough, not to mention lending me the ancestral insights for my perusal.¡± ¡°Besides that, the Lin Family has already shown great kindness to me, and with this added, I fear I might never be able to repay it.¡± Hearing these sincere words, Lin Shikang¡¯s pale face regained some color, feeling very satisfied with Ye Pinghai¡¯s attitude. In the Cultivation World, it was not uncommon for cultivators who had been on good terms to drastically change after advancing to a higher realm. Some even turned against friends who had helped them, going as far as to retaliate against their benefactors, and even kin has been killed in such cases. Such extreme acts of treachery and malevolence could be found in the complex hearts of the Cultivation World. Although Ye Pinghai did not outwardly show any signs of change, at the very least, he was still very courteous on the surface, and he always remembered the Lin Family¡¯s kindness, making their assistance not in vain. In truth, Ye Pinghai was indeed grateful. He was aware of how much effort and resources the Lin Family had spent on his advancement to the Golden Core Realm. Aside from their previous kindness to him, for this advancement, they provided a safe haven for cultivation and used numerous Spirit Stones to enhance the Spiritual Energy needed for his breakthrough. Just these factors alone, for someone with no blood relation, were already not easy. In addition, the Lin Family had lent him the precious insights on breakthroughs, offering significant help during his critical moment. More critically, during his consolidation period, the intense battle between the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape could have affected the valley, and the desperate Wind Dusk Beast even nearly barged in. Chapter 557 03-25 - 557 313 Both Die_2 ?Chapter 557: Chapter 313 Both Die_2 Chapter 557: Chapter 313 Both Die_2 At that moment, he had entered a state of deep cultivation, on the brink of a critical juncture, with no strength to mount an effective counterattack. Under such circumstances, should he be disturbed and forced to exit his retreat to engage in battle, there was a genuine risk he might suffer a decline in his realm of power. It was at this critical moment that Lin Shikang, with his cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, braced himself against the risk of perishing, desperately guarding the entrance to the valley. Lin Shikang did this solely to buy him time, and in the process, sustained significant injuries. From any perspective, the Lin Family, including Lin Shikang himself, had made indelible contributions to his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Thinking of this, Ye Pinghai was deeply moved and solemnly resolved that even though he had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, he would definitely stand with the Lin Family. In doing so, he was not only repaying the Lin Family¡¯s efforts, but also remaining true to his Daoist heart, which would further aid him in the pursuit of immortality. ... Collecting his thoughts, Ye Pinghai looked at Lin Shikang with concern and asked, ¡°Lin, how are your injuries?¡± ¡°Take this Nourishing Yuan Pill as soon as possible, with it, your injuries should recover before long!¡± As he finished speaking, a jade bottle appeared in Ye Pinghai¡¯s hand, containing the very Nourishing Yuan Pill he had mentioned. ¡°Nourishing Yuan Pill?¡± Lin Shikang blushed slightly, surprised inwardly. Nourishing Yuan Pills were revered elixirs for healing, of second-order superior grade, with excellent restorative effects, certainly the strongest among all second-order healing elixirs. Such sacred healing elixirs were exceedingly rare, and needless to say, valuable. Only alchemists of Ye Pinghai¡¯s caliber would possess a few in their collection. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Ordinary cultivators, in general, could only acquire them at auctions in mid to large market fairs. Such a revered healing elixir, needing just one dose, could heal common injuries within a few days, as long as one¡¯s meridians were not completely severed or the body dismembered. There were even claims that after taking one Nourishing Yuan Pill, even severed limbs could regrow. Ye Pinghai had just undergone the Heavenly Tribulation, sustaining severe injuries, and certainly, he would not have many Nourishing Yuan Pills left. At this moment, though Lin Shikang greatly coveted the pill, he also felt somewhat embarrassed and thus repeatedly refused Ye¡¯s kind offer. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai feigned anger and said, ¡°Lin, do you look down upon me, brother?¡± ¡°The Lin Family has bestowed upon me both the favor of saving my life and rebirth. Now I wish to repay the Lin Family, and you won¡¯t even allow me that small gesture of gratitude?¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang was at a loss for words, stammering uncertainly. After several remonstrations from Ye Pinghai, he finally forced the jade bottle containing the Nourishing Yuan Pill into Lin Shikang¡¯s hands. Seeing his sincerity, and acknowledging that the Lin Family truly had made great sacrifices on his behalf, Lin Shikang accepted the elixirs with a bow of thanks, no longer demurring. Satisfied with this, Ye Pinghai nodded, but his expression suddenly turned grave as he glanced at the wailing Tyrant Spirit Ape not far off. He sighed and then said, ¡°Lin, what shall we do about this Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang also let out a long sigh, his expression complicated and troubled. He had speculated earlier that these two Demonic Beasts had fled from the battlefield and ended up dying on the Lin Family Clan Grounds by a twist of fate. It was a poignant reminder of the fickle nature of fortune. Yet on reflection, whether they died from mutual destruction or were slain by others, once the Zhenyang Sect learned that the Tyrant Spirit Ape had perished on Lin Family grounds, the Lin Family could not shirk responsibility. After all, a third-order Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast was nearly as formidable as a Golden Core Cultivator. Such a grave loss, even for a lineage like Zhenyang Sect that had lasted for thousands of years, could not be ignored. Facing this reality, Lin Shikang turned pale, uncertain of what to do. At that moment, both of them fell into a pensive silence, clearly faced with a difficult dilemma. Unable to decide, Lin Shikang pondered and resolved to collect the corpses of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and Wind Dusk Beast before devising a strategy, in an attempt to erase any traces and prevent word from getting out and bringing unnecessary trouble to the Lin Family. Fortunately, the particulars of this battle were witnessed only by the two of them. Lin Shihua and the other clan members had already evacuated from the clan grounds, and no one else was aware of the details and outcome of the battle. With this arrangement, as long as a few core clansmen and Ye Pinghai kept quiet, no one else would be the wiser. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang spoke, ¡°Ye, let¡¯s first collect the corpses of these two Third Order Demonic Beasts.¡± ¡°As for how to deal with them and how to face the Zhenyang Sect, let¡¯s have me and a few clan brothers discuss and then make an arrangement, alright?¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai nodded his head. He understood the gravity of the situation. The Lin Family¡¯s fear of trouble from the Zhenyang Sect made such caution only natural. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s indeed what we should do!¡± replied Ye Pinghai. With no further delay, the two of them went toward the lifeless bodies of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast. At this moment, the life force of the Tyrant Spirit Ape was fading fast, its body barely moving, with only a weak breath left. Even if they did nothing, it would naturally die within half a quarter of an hour. In its current state, unless there was a heaven-defying Spiritual Medicine, there was no hope for it to survive. Without hesitation, Ye Pinghai walked up to the Tyrant Spirit Ape and launched an attack, his strike ending its life. His movements were smooth and decisive, without any hint of reluctance. In fact, by doing so, he was signaling to Lin Shikang that he had personally ended the life of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and would naturally stand with the Lin Family. Even if the Zhenyang Sect learned of the battle¡¯s details, he was willing to bear the consequences. After all, the death of the Tyrant Spirit Ape was to some extent directly related to him. Seeing his actions, the signal he intentionally released was far more effective than any words could be. Lin Shikang sighed in relief internally, fully approving of Ye Pinghai¡¯s action. In his heart, he also firmly believed that the Lin Family had not misjudged him, and the risks taken would receive their due rewards. Refocusing his mind, Lin Shikang no longer delayed and quickly set about cleaning the body of the Wind Dusk Beast. His movements were fast, meticulously collecting every valuable part of the beast, leaving nothing behind. The inner core, in particular, was extremely precious; for a Foundation Establishing Family, its value was immeasurable. Since the two demonic beasts were already dead, clinging to these treasures would not change the outcome. This thought lifted the burden from Lin Shikang¡¯s shoulders, and within half a quarter of an hour, he had completed the collection. Ye Pinghai did likewise a short distance away. Both men finished processing the bodies and then erased much of the evidence of their fight. Soon, they regrouped with expressions filled with excitement and a tinge of anxiety. Just then, Lin Shihua stealthily crossed over from a mountain peak, flying towards them. Following Lin Shikang¡¯s orders, he led the clansmen to retreat from the Lin Family Clan Grounds and hide in a valley outside Green Bamboo Mountain. Concerned that Lin Shikang had not yet joined him, Lin Shihua entrusted Lin Shigong with leading the clansmen to stay put. He then sneaked back to the clan grounds to assess the situation of the battle and to look for Lin Shikang. Arriving at the outskirts of the clan grounds and finding no more commotion from the battle, he made his way deeper inside. Upon seeing Lin Shikang and another person there, Lin Shihua was overjoyed and quickly flew over. From a distance, his anxious voice reached them, sounding very worried. ¡°Third Brother, Ye, how are you? What about the two Third Order Demonic Beasts?¡± Noticing the confusion on Lin Shihua¡¯s face, Lin Shikang let out a wry smile before saying, ¡°Shihua!¡± ¡°Immediately organize the clansmen to return to the clan grounds and then swiftly rebuild the areas that were destroyed by the demonic beasts.¡± ¡°As for the specifics, I will explain them to you later!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua¡¯s confusion deepened, but as Lin Shikang had spoken, he refrained from pressing further. Presumably, what needed to be said, Lin Shikang would not hide; what didn¡¯t need to be known, there was no necessity for him to inquire. In all these matters, Lin Shikang¡¯s judiciousness ensured he would measure his actions properly. With these thoughts, Lin Shihua nodded and then turned around, flying back towards the area outside the clan grounds. Chapter 558 03-25 - 558 314 Strategy_1 ?Chapter 558: Chapter 314 Strategy_1 Chapter 558: Chapter 314 Strategy_1 Half a day later. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling, Ye Pinghai and Lin Shihua were seated opposite each other. At this moment, the four of them had calm expressions, except for Lin Shikang, whose face was slightly pale; the others had their aura withdrawn, and they all seemed to be in good spirits. ¡°Third Brother, how are your injuries? Are they serious?¡± Lin Shigong, who had been called back from outside the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory by Lin Shihua, asked with a concerned tone, his face showing some worry. Seeing Lin Shigong¡¯s anxious look, warmth filled Lin Shikang¡¯s heart. There weren¡¯t many of the ¡°Shi¡±-generation left in the Lin Family and they were always very close. Lin Shigong had always been very supportive of him. The fact that he was more concerned about his injuries than the matter of the demon beasts showed his genuine concern. ... With these thoughts, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Shigong and the others and then showed a comforting smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯m alright for now, just need to rest for about a month, and I should be healed.¡± Hearing his understatement, combined with his genuine expression, Lin Shigong and the others finally felt relieved. Following that, they congratulated Ye Pinghai with joined hands. Ye Pinghai responded with a light smile, without any airs of a Golden Core Cultivator, and repeated the conversation he had with Lin Shikang to Lin Shigong and the others. He also stated that Lin Shigong and the others would always be his sworn brothers, regardless of their cultivation or strength, and insisted they shouldn¡¯t be too formal with him. Hearing his heartfelt speech, Lin Shigong and the other person felt excited and somewhat moved. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Having sworn brotherhood, and with Ye Pinghai¡¯s emphasis on loyalty¡ªcoupled with his Early Stage Golden Core strength¡ªit had significant implications for the Lin Family at the moment. The efforts previously made by the Lin Family were finally paying off. Thinking of this, the people in the Lin Family felt very excited and almost forgot about the matter of the Tyrant Spirit Ape dying in their territory. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and interrupted the excited Lin Shigong and the others. Snapped back to reality, Lin Shihua remembered something and began to inquire about the whereabouts of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast. At this time, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression suddenly became solemn, his face turning a bit paler. He sighed helplessly and then informed Lin Shihua and the other person about the whole course of the battle. Hearing that both the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast had been killed, it shocked Lin Shihua and the other person beyond all measure. ¡°Third Brother, is this news true?¡± Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t seem to believe it and asked again in a questioning tone. Clearly, his expression couldn¡¯t be faulted. Indeed, the news was too astonishing and unbelievable. One must know that the fall of a Third Order Demon Beast was a huge event that usually only occurred during rare chances in a beast tide and was almost unheard of at other times. At least the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had not heard any news of a Third Order Demon Beast or a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s death in decades. And now, two Third Order Demon Beasts had died in the Green Bamboo Mountain Tribe Territory, which was beyond their comprehension. It wasn¡¯t just them; if this news were to spread throughout the Cultivation World, it would undoubtedly astonish many. At this moment, Lin Shihua spoke up, ¡°Ninth Brother, Third Brother has always been prudent. Since he has personally recounted the events, he would not deceive us.¡± ¡°Besides, given the gravity of this situation, how could Third Brother make a joke of it!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong took a deep breath and accepted the reality. Having calmed down somewhat, both Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua displayed worried expressions, clearly realizing the potential crisis behind this event. Now, Lin Shihua let out a bitter laugh and got straight to the point. ¡°Now that things have come to this, the question is how to deal with the bodies of these two demon beasts, and how to handle the investigation by the Zhenyang Sect!¡± Upon this statement, they each frowned deeply and fell into contemplation. Being a witness, Lin Shihua was clear about the cause and the course of events and secretly had some countermeasures in mind. After a long while, they still remained silent, so Lin Shihua took the initiative to break the brief quiet. ¡°Third Brother, if we proactively hand over the corpses and inner cores of the Third Order Demon Beasts, can this matter be considered resolved?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shigong chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ after all, our Lin Family was also involuntarily involved and even assisted in killing the Wind Dusk Beast while suffering some losses.¡± ¡°Although both demon beasts have perished, the death of the Tyrant Spirit Ape has no direct connection to our Lin Family!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Ye, who had been silent, smiled faintly and then spoke up, ¡°The two elder brothers have oversimplified the matter!¡± ¡°If any suspicion were to fall on the Lin Family, given my understanding of the Zhenyang Sect, the Lin Family¡¯s explanation would likely not convince them.¡± ¡°Furthermore, even if you proactively surrender the bodies and inner cores of the demon beasts, the Zhenyang Sect would not consider the difficult position the Lin Family was in at the time, after all, what died were Third Order Demon Beasts.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In that case, taking the initiative to report the matter would probably not be feasible!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the previously silent Lin Shikang nodded and added his agreement. ¡°Ye is right. The matter is now set, and hoping that the Zhenyang Sect will let us off easily is perhaps too optimistic.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the other person fell silent again, pondering the feasibility of the situation. Chapter 559 03-25 - 559 314 Countermeasures_2 ?Chapter 559: Chapter 314 Countermeasures_2 Chapter 559: Chapter 314 Countermeasures_2 After a while, Lin Shihua said incisively, ¡°Third brother, if we don¡¯t take the initiative to report this, once Zhenyang Sect finds out the outcome, how shall we deal with them?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression subtly changed, and his aura suddenly became much sharper. He let out a cold laugh and then answered, ¡°By the time that moment comes, it will no longer be realistic to expect that this matter can simply be brushed aside, we would have no choice but to stand in opposition to Zhenyang Sect!¡± Upon hearing this, even the normally composed Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but feel a jolt of fear. The power of Zhenyang Sect was indeed tremendous; in the entire southern region of Wei Kingdom, it was nearly an invincible presence. Even Golden Core Families of Wei Kingdom wouldn¡¯t dare to offend a Sect that had thousands of years of heritage and several Golden Core Cultivators at its helm. And with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s enduring and unyielding legacy, it had brought immense pressure to Foundation Establishing Families within Wei Kingdom. ... Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, no one wished to incur the life-and-death enmity of the Zhenyang Sect. At this point, Ye Pinghai, seeing the expressions of Lin Shikang and the other two, naturally understood their concerns. He suddenly stood up, a look of unwavering resolve on his face as he said, ¡°My brothers, this matter, after all, arose because of me, leading the Lin Family to face this crisis.¡± ¡°I can swear on my Dao heart that no matter when Zhenyang Sect learns of the details, or how they choose to deal with the Lin Family, I will stand with the Lin family,¡± he continued. ¡°Even if it means shattering to pieces, I will not hesitate.¡± Hearing these words and seeing Ye Pinghai¡¯s resolute demeanor, the hearts of Lin Shikang and the others eased. After much deliberation, Lin Shikang also carefully pondered Ye Pinghai¡¯s words. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï It wasn¡¯t long before he made up his mind to conceal the details and outcome of the affair for the time being. The biggest reason he had the confidence to make this decision was threefold. First was Ye Pinghai himself; with his current cultivation at the Early Stage Golden Core, coupled with the status of a nearly Third Order Alchemy Master, he commanded tremendous deterrent power and influence and stood firmly with the Lin Family. If Zhenyang Sect really did come to know of the matter, having a Golden Core Cultivator on their side would make them hesitate to move against the Lin Family. After all, dispatching a Golden Core Cultivator is no easy feat, and should one be pushed to self-detonate their Golden Core, even a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator could be severely injured if caught off guard. Second was the hidden dragon Lin Tianming of the Lin Family, which was the most crucial point. Considering that Lin Tianming had already reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, with his talent and the family¡¯s treasures, there was a complete possibility that within ten years, he could meet the requirements to attempt advancing to the Golden Core Stage. Furthermore, with the Star Moon Fruit that had been kept in the family for several years, Lin Tianming had a sixty to seventy percent chance to break through to the Golden Core Stage in one fell swoop. Once a Golden Core Cultivator emerged in the Lin Family, along with Ye Pinghai, even if Zhenyang Sect wished to take action against the Lin Family, facing two Golden Core Cultivators, they would likely have to let the matter go. As for the third point, it lay in the fact that no outsiders had witnessed the battle between the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Ape, nor did anyone know the outcome. Under such circumstances, if Zhenyang Sect were to investigate the matter, there was no certainty that it would lead back to the Lin Family. Thus, the Lin Family could only feign complete ignorance, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, without revealing even the slightest anomaly. Even if Zhenyang Sect uncovered some clues, the Lin Family couldn¡¯t admit to being involved. Given the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength, claiming to have killed two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts in one fell swoop would hardly be believed by anyone. So, as long as the Lin Family could produce a member at the Golden Core Stage within the next decade or so, the details and results of this event would become insignificant. However, for all these factors to be implemented, there was one vital point: Ye Pinghai must be stationed in the Lin Family for ten years. Beyond that, unless absolutely necessary, he should not show himself in public or expose his Golden Core Stage cultivation. Considering all this, Lin Shikang sincerely shared his thoughts with Ye Pinghai, who was at his side. Without any hesitation, Ye Pinghai agreed, allowing Lin Shikang to be fully reassured. As the details of the matter were discussed and settled, worry faded from the faces of those present. Subsequently, Lin Shikang inquired about the resettlement of the clan members and the reconstruction of the damaged buildings with Lin Shihua. Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded and indicated that all these family affairs had been properly arranged and there was no need for Lin Shikang to worry. As for the damaged buildings, they wouldn¡¯t take long to restore to their original state with the abilities of a cultivator. Hearing the results reported by Lin Shihua, Lin Shikang nodded with relief, and the pallor on his face faded significantly. Then, he remembered that the Protective Clan Formation had been breached during the battle with the demonic beasts and asked about the situation. Lin Shihua frowned slightly and responded with some helplessness, ¡°The Protective Clan Formation was indeed breached, and it suffered considerable damage to its structure. Without repairs, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be able to protect our clan territory.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in resignation. The impact wave from the battle of the two Third Order Demonic Beasts was indeed strong, and it had also withstood a direct attack from the Tyrant Spirit Ape. Considering the Formation was only of Second Order Superior quality, it had resisted for quite a long time. The breach was, after all, an unavoidable outcome. After all, he had witnessed the power of Third Order Demonic Beasts himself. Even now, the mere thought of it still sent chills through him. However, even though the Formation was temporarily out of operation and the dampness was not completely resolved, with Ye Pinghai in charge of the clan grounds, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger in the short term. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shikang asked, ¡°Is there any difficulty in repairing the Formation? How long might it take?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua began to reply. ¡°The damage to the Formation is manageable, not too severe. At most half a year to a year, and it can certainly be completely restored!¡± ¡°Good, make sure to have our clansmen prioritize this!¡± Lin Shikang said, his tone extremely stern. In the Cultivation World, Defensive Arrays are crucial to any power, for without them, it¡¯s difficult to feel secure. He was no exception. In his heart, even though there were Golden Core Cultivators sitting in the clan territory, it was imperative to get the Defensive Formation operational as soon as possible. After all, Golden Core Cultivators need to cultivate too; they can¡¯t be disturbed all the time. Moreover, the Defensive Great Formation serves to gather Spiritual Energy. Therefore, if one strays from the formation for a long time, it can affect the cultivation speed of the clansmen and the spiritual plants in the Spiritual Medicine Gardens, more or less. Thus, the importance of the Formation goes without saying. Lin Shihua was also acutely aware of this and promptly reassured everyone present with a pat on his chest. Seeing this, Lin Shikang nodded, then casually chatted with the three of them. In a short while, they discussed numerous matters. As the arrangements were nearly complete, Ye Pinghai expressed his wish to leave and go into cultivation. Lin Shikang laughed and promptly got up to make a respectful gesture, saying, ¡°Brother Ye, please feel free to go into seclusion. Unless there is a major event, our clansmen will not disturb your cultivation.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ then I¡¯ll be troubling you!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Pinghai returned the gesture and then took out a storage bag containing the corpse of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, passing it to Lin Shikang. Immediately after, with a smile on his face, Ye said earnestly: ¡°Lin! I believe that whether or not it¡¯s reported to the Zhenyang Sect, this beast¡¯s corpse should be handed over to the Lin Family.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang hurriedly waved his hands to refuse. ¡°The Tyrant Spirit Ape fell to Brother Ye¡¯s hand. Besides, I also have the complete body of the Wind Dusk Beast. It wouldn¡¯t be right for me to accept this one as well.¡± ¡°This¡­ How can this be acceptable¡­¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s resolved attitude, Ye Pinghai insisted a few times before finally giving up. He took back the storage bag, then exchanged greetings with the three men and left Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. As Ye Pinghai departed, Lin Shigong and the other person also did not linger any longer, promptly advising Lin Shikang to focus on recovering from his injuries. Lin Shigong then took out two treasured healing pills and handed them to Lin Shikang. Warmed by the gesture, Lin Shikang did not stand on ceremony with them. After laughing and taking the pills, he watched the two leave his cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 560 03-25 - 560 315 News_1 ?Chapter 560: Chapter 315 News_1 Chapter 560: Chapter 315 News_1 Yuyao City. In the center of the city, within the Zhenyang Hall, there was a secret chamber where Chen Jingtian sat in the seat of honor. Beneath him, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu sat opposite each other, all three looking somewhat melancholic, as if they had concerns weighing on their minds. In the dim light and the silent atmosphere, the scene appeared rather somber. At that moment, Chen Jingtian let out a long sigh, then spoke up, ¡°Junior Brother Zhu!¡± ¡°It has been nearly two months since the battle at the Tianluan Mountain Range ended. Is there still no news of the Tyrant Spirit Ape?¡± ¡°None,¡± Zhu Yun replied helplessly. ... Initially, they had pursued several fleeing Demonic Beasts from different directions, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape following his instructions to chase the Wind Dusk Beast to the south. They had thought that with the strength of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, even if it could not catch up with the Wind Dusk Beast, there would be no danger. Yet unexpectedly, after more than a month had passed, all of them had returned to Yuyao City, still without any sign of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. During that final great battle, the Human Race had an absolute advantage, and the Wind Dusk Beast pursued by the Tyrant Spirit Ape was seriously wounded. Logically, there should not have been any danger. In fact, apart from the Tyrant Spirit Ape not returning, their battle could indeed be considered a triumphant victory. Among them, Chen Jingtian took a huge risk to slay that Third Grade Medium Stage Blood Jiao. Afterward, he engaged in a fierce battle with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. However, the lion¡¯s strength was too formidable, and in the end, it managed to escape. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Nevertheless, killing the powerful Blood Jiao was also considered achieving his goal, and he eventually withdrew back to Yuyao City. Apart from Chen Jingtian, he and another of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Sect Guardian Spiritual Beasts worked together to destroy a Third Order Demon Beast that fled northward. By the time the two of them joined forces, the entire battle had already come to a complete end, with only some Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators responsible for mopping up the fleeing Second Order Demonic Beasts. Given the situation at the time, with most Third Order Demonic Beasts exterminated, the Second Order posed no threat whatsoever. That being said, the Beast Tide at Yuyao City could also be considered truly over. After waiting for more than a month with no sign of the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s return, they were quite surprised and worried. At this very moment, Chen Jingtian, sitting in his high seat, furrowed his brows, speculating about the situation of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. After a good while, he still had no clue, and no plan of action. ¡°Junior Brother Zhu, now that the Beast Tide at Yuyao City is basically over, we can dismiss those Loose Cultivators and clan cultivators after distributing rewards according to the preliminary plan,¡± he said. ¡°In addition, send more people to the Southern Wei Kingdom to gather information to see if we can find any traces of the Tyrant Spirit Ape.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun nodded and promptly replied, ¡°Rest assured, Senior Brother Chen, I will arrange for this immediately.¡± ¡°But¡­ could the Tyrant Spirit Ape have encountered any danger after being missing for such a long time?¡± ¡°Danger?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Chen Jingtian was startled, and calculations began to race through his mind. In this battle, they had altogether slain seven Third Order Demon Beasts, which certainly counted as a great victory. However, they had also lost Wang Hengqiu, a Mid Stage Golden Core. Compared to what the Demon Beast Race had lost, this was still an acceptable loss. But if the Tyrant Spirit Ape were also dead, it would truly be a devastating blow for Zhenyang Sect, as losing two significant Golden Core Combat Strengths at once was a loss that likely exceeded their expectations. As the leader of this battle, how would he report such a loss to the Sect Leader? Pondering these concerns, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression grew increasingly grim. Seeing his state, Zhu Yun quickly spoke up to comfort him, ¡°Senior Brother Chen need not worry too much.¡± ¡°As I see it, the Wind Dusk Beast was already injured. It was at only seventy to eighty percent of its peak strength and could not be a match for the Tyrant Spirit Ape.¡± ¡°Besides, there are no Golden Elixir Forces in the Southern Wei Kingdom, nor are there Golden Core Cultivators stationed there permanently. If the Tyrant Spirit Ape went there, there should be no danger.¡± ¡°The reason for its prolonged absence could be that it has chased too far and gotten trapped somewhere. Once I dispatch our elite disciples to investigate, we would surely uncover some clues.¡± Hearing this series of reassuring words, Chen Jingtian reluctantly nodded, thinking that for the moment, that was all they could do. ¡­ In the city center. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, he sat with palms joined, in a state of deep cultivation. Soon, he opened his eyes, which had been closed for two days straight. His sharp gaze swept over the practice room, and he smiled with satisfaction. It had been two months since the battle at Tianluan Mountain Range, where Third Order Demonic Beasts fled in all directions. During this time, along with Li Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming had heeded the call of Long Qingshui, participating in the final task of purging the enemy. After spending a month, under the extermination carried out by a group of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, most of the more than a hundred fleeing Second Order Demonic Beasts had been killed. Only a small number of powerful Late Phase Second Order beasts escaped their pursuit, entering territories inhabited by the Demon Race and thus preserving their lives. In this final conflict, Lin Tianming once again displayed his prowess. Relying on his formidable strength and even more enduring combat power, he once again killed three Second Order Demonic Beasts, including two Late Second Order and one Middle Second Order beasts. His achievements were remarkable, and he truly stood out. In the end, on the battlefield managed by Zhenyang Sect, the Third Order beasts had either been killed or had fled. The entire Beast Tide Army was nearly annihilated. Thus, the grand battle between the Human and Demon Races ended with the Human Cultivators achieving a decisive victory. Following the end of the battle, all Foundation Establishment Cultivators returned to Yuyao City, waiting for the final tally of their battle contributions, as well as the announcement of those selected for entry into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Chapter 561 03-25 - 561 315 Message_2 ?Chapter 561: Chapter 315 Message_2 Chapter 561: Chapter 315 Message_2 And according to the arrangements of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s cultivators, today is the day to regularly update the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Even though he already had an idea, with his battle achievements, securing a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was practically a done deal. Therefore, Lin Tianming had ended his cultivation early, specifically to head to Zhenyang Hall and witness the final ranking on the list. Thinking about these things, Lin Tianming felt excited, his eyes filled with longing. Without realizing it, a year and a half had passed since he left the Lin Family. During this time, he had to join battles intermittently and had sustained some injuries, also going through many life and death trials. Though it was hard, the rewards were substantial. ... Now that the great battles had finally ended, only the results needed to be announced, and many cultivators might be able to leave Yuyao City, and he could return to the Lin Family, whom he missed day and night. Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming did not delay any further, quickly got up to tidy up the practice room a bit, and then sent a message to Qin Xi. A short period of time passed. The two of them sat in the reception room, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At that time, Lin Tianming, looking at the excited Qin Xi, teased her with a smile, ¡°Fairy Qin is truly gifted. Having been in Yuyao City for a year and a half, you¡¯ve managed to break through successfully!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin is joking!¡± ¡°This past year, I¡¯ve been through numerous battles and got quite a few demon beast corpses, which I exchanged for several cultivation-enhancing spiritual fruits. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? ¡°Thanks to the sufficient accumulation of my cultivation, it was merely by chance that I made the breakthrough!¡± Qin Xi, brushing her hair with one hand and laughing like silver bells, replied. Hearing her words, Lin Tianming waved his hand and then offered a compliment. ¡°Fairy Qin is too modest!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin was already at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer two years ago when we met, and it¡¯s been over two years since then.¡± ¡°With Fairy Qin¡¯s talent, braving such intense battles for two years, breaking through would naturally come as easily as a stream flows into a river, there¡¯s no luck about it!¡± Blushing slightly at this, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh. ¡°Giggle¡­ Lin really knows how to flatter someone!¡± Hearing this delightful laughter, and looking at Qin Xi¡¯s stunningly beautiful face, Lin Tianming found himself momentarily captivated. After finally regaining his composure, Lin Tianming felt a bit embarrassed, thinking to himself that his willpower seemed to be getting weaker and weaker. He laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Fairy Qin, today is the day the Demon Hunter Leaderboard is updated; there might be significant news. Let¡¯s go together and see!¡± ¡°Alright, I was just thinking of going out to see for myself Lin¡¯s battle achievements,¡± Qin Xi nodded in response. No sooner had she spoken than Lin Tianming rose to his feet, leading Qin Xi out of the cave dwelling and heading in the direction of Zhenyang Hall. Along the way, scattered cultivators were all heading towards Zhenyang Hall, evidently wanting to witness the prowess of the cultivators on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Following the crowd, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chatted and laughed as they walked, the atmosphere very harmonious. In less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the two arrived at the square in front of Zhenyang Hall. Looking around, the place had already gathered a lot of cultivators by now, with those at the Foundation Establishment Stage in the front and Qi Refining Cultivators standing further back, watching. In the meantime, many cultivators whispered excitedly, discussing the war that had persisted for a year and a half. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi made their way to the very front, and familiar cultivators greeted them, expressing both flattery and envy. In response, Lin Tianming remained calm, smiling and returning the greetings, appearing very amiable without displaying the airs of a genius cultivator. Such a modest demeanor, combined with the way the Lin Family handled matters, garnered the goodwill of all the cultivators. A while later. As time went by, more and more cultivators arrived, and the square became crowded with people. His teammates, Hu Yuan and Tang Liusheng, also made their way here, and upon seeing Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, they immediately came over. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From a distance, Hu Yuan¡¯s hearty laughter could be heard. ¡°Lin, I didn¡¯t expect you to arrive so early today!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ you fellows are not slow either!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. As more people gathered, their small team grew larger, occupying a considerable piece of territory. The group started to chat casually, exchanging cultivation experiences while discussing the rankings on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, all the while waiting for the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect to arrive. Half a quarter of an hour later, Several cultivators emerged from within the Zhenyang Hall, including Long Qingshui; the others were also ranked individuals on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. As they appeared, the cultivators on the square stopped their conversations and fell into silence. Despite the quiet atmosphere, everyone¡¯s face was flushed, and their eyes were brimming with excitement. Clearly, they were all incredibly eager about the final rankings of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. On the high platform, Long Qingshui surveyed all the cultivators and greeted some familiar ones. When he saw Lin Tianming, he also nodded politely, showing great friendliness. In the last few rounds of battle, Lin Tianming had shone brightly, attracting the notice of many genius cultivators with his impressive strength and astonishing achievements. Even those prodigious talents ranked highly on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, like Long Qingshui, couldn¡¯t help but admire him. In the final elimination task, Lin Tianming had fought side by side with Long Qingshui, cooperating and forming an acquaintance with him. Therefore, faced with Long Qingshui¡¯s goodwill, Lin Tianming did not dare to act arrogantly and quickly returned the salute with clasped hands. He saluted everyone on the field with clasped hands, and then his loud voice spread throughout the entire square. ¡°Fellow cultivators, the Demon Beast Army has been vanquished, the great battle in Yuyao City has finally ended, and we, the cultivators of the Human Race, have achieved a decisive victory.¡± ¡°According to the instructions of our sect¡¯s elders, the individual rewards on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard can be claimed within one year at the main hall of either Dragon Mountain Market or Qianchuan Market.¡± ¡°In addition, the top three individuals on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard will obtain entry quotas to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. In two years, gather at the gates of our sect, where the elders of our sect will lead you to the Secret Realm Entrance.¡± ¡°Next, once the Demon Hunter Leaderboard has been announced, if you have no other business, you may leave Yuyao City directly.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the cultivators on the field burst into cheers, clearly too excited upon hearing the final arrangements. At this moment, Lin Tianming, like everyone else, felt very excited. With the clear directions from the high ranks of the Zhenyang Sect, they could finally leave Yuyao City and return to their normal cultivation. For this moment, numerous loose cultivators and family cultivators had been eagerly awaiting this day. Now, having finally achieved their wishes, how could they not be overjoyed? At this point, the many cultivators present were swept into a celebration, forgetting all about the soon-to-be-updated results on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. In the lively atmosphere, the cultivators conveyed their joy to each other, reigniting the previously calm scene with enthusiasm. After a while, the excitement gradually subsided. The cultivators returned to normal, their eyes intently fixed on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, showing anticipation. Then, Long Qingshui, seeing the eager eyes of the crowd, didn¡¯t dare to delay, lest he displease anyone. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, he skillfully cast several Law Decrees, striking the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. In a few breaths¡¯ time, the Demon Hunter Leaderboard shone brightly, and the names and achievements of many cultivators were revealed. Having done this, Long Qingshui glanced at the names on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard and then saluted Lin Tianming with a fist: ¡°Lin!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ my congratulations to you in advance, and I look forward to fighting alongside you once again in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and promptly returned a sentence. ¡°Long, your esteem for me is an honor, Lin Mou is very flattered. Just as you said, I too look forward to fighting side by side with you again!¡± ¡°Indeed, indeed!¡± Long Qingshui laughed in agreement. The two exchanged smiles, their eyes revealing mutual admiration, seeming to have a tacit understanding of one another. Amidst the hubbub, Long Qingshui did not linger and, after greeting a few familiar cultivators, left the square with the Zhenyang Sect cultivators. ¡­ Chapter 562 03-25 - 562 316 Final Rankings_1 ?Chapter 562: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_1 Chapter 562: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_1 As Long Qingshui and others left, the cultivators in the square turned their attentions to the recently updated Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Lin Tianming did the same, looking at the list at the first opportunity, searching for his own name. Looking at the top of the list, the first position was still firmly held by Long Qingshui, whose score of 3,350 points was significantly ahead of Jiang Yuyao in second place. Still in third place was Jun Buhui, with a total score of 3,020 points; together with the first two, they were the only Foundation Establishment Cultivators to have broken through the 3,000-point mark. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but marvel. ¡°Three thousand points means they have killed thirty Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts with their own hands!¡± ¡°Thirty of them!¡± ... In fact, Lin Tianming¡¯s amazement was not unwarranted. Imagine, if these thirty were to form a Monster Beast Legion, they could easily sweep through the Luoyun Mountain Range and even the nearby areas. Such formidable strength was not something one mountain range could withstand alone, and even if several great mountain ranges joined forces, victory was not guaranteed. Thus, the impressive battle achievements of people like Long Qingshui did indeed seem somewhat inconceivable. Coming back to reality amidst the lively atmosphere, he continued to gaze down the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, his familiar name emerging in his mind. At the fifth position, he saw his own name on the list. His total score was 2,820 points, making him the top-ranking cultivator among all those who were not Zhenyang Sect Disciples. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Seeing his name on the list and placed fifth overall, Lin Tianming felt very excited, with a composed smile flashing across his face. After calming his emotions, he continued to examine the positions later in the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. A tea¡¯s time passed, and Lin Tianming had thoroughly reviewed the entire Demon Hunter Leaderboard. From what he saw, the former Loose Cultivator Zheng Xiao had fallen to seventh place in the overall rankings, Li Xiuyuan was in eighth, and Hu Yuan stood at tenth. The formerly high-ranking Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun had dropped to twelfth and fifteenth respectively. Looking at the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, Lin Tianming felt somewhat surprised, which then led him into deep thought. Unexpectedly, following the last few major battles, the always consistent Deng Guanghua and his companion slipped beyond the top ten. But upon closer consideration, the gap between the cultivators on the list wasn¡¯t large to start with; just over a hundred points could drastically improve their rankings. Moreover, the key factor was that the final battle spanned a long time, and cultivators were spread out, with their collective strength not fully concentrated. Under such circumstances, those with good luck could achieve more, while those with less luck met lower-ranked Demonic Beasts or fewer in number, and naturally earned fewer battle achievements. Therefore, such significant changes in the rankings during the most crucial sprint phase were within reason. As for Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun, originally strong contenders for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, they were overtaken by Hu Yuan, who was previously behind them, due to their lesser fortune. And as Lin Tianming¡¯s teammate, Hu Yuan¡¯s ranking climbed further, securing the last available spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. For this, Hu Yuan was extremely excited, showing a look of gratitude in his eyes when he turned to Lin Tianming. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lin my friend, thanks to Brother Lin¡¯s wholehearted support this year, I might not have been able to secure my spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm otherwise!¡± said Hu Yuan with clasped hands and a sincere expression. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming modestly waved his hand, then smilingly replied, ¡°Daoist Hu, you¡¯re too kind!¡± ¡°Daoist Hu is powerful, and I too have been fortunate to receive your help this past year, allowing me to achieve a respectable ranking.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If you ask me, it¡¯s a win-win situation, we¡¯ve helped each other achieve success!¡± ¡°You make a good point, Lin,¡± Hu Yuan said with a laugh. ¡°We¡¯ve cooperated quite tacitly over the past year or so, and the results have indeed been satisfying!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, feeling quite in agreement with the sentiment. Gazing upon every name on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, each had more or less cooperated with others to achieve such impressive results. There were probably only a few such as Long Qingshui who could achieve such success on their own. In most instances, when cultivators cooperated, their strength increased and they could gain better rewards. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming felt a tinge of sentiment. This was the foundation of the Zhenyang Sect; aside from a few Golden Core Cultivators, there was also no shortage of talented Foundation Establishment Stage disciples. Zhenyang Sect dominated much of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, with Loose Cultivators and clan members comprising less than a third of listed names. Especially those top-ranked individuals, with their substantial cultivation and strength, could score points that left others in the dust, creating a gap between them and the rest. Although, in this great battle, figures like Long Qingshui benefited from their status as Inner Sect Disciples and team leaders, granting them some advantages. Yet, considering their cultivation and strength, it was evident they were genuinely formidable. Every person within the top ten of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was no pushover, with their strength by no means inferior to his own. Like such talented disciples, apart from those who appeared on the battlefield, the Zhenyang Sect undoubtedly had at least a dozen more within who did not participate in the battle. Chapter 563 03-25 - 563 316 Final Rankings_2 ?Chapter 563: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_2 Chapter 563: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_2 Clearly, this was the true foundation of the Zhenyang Sect, one that could not have been established in a short period of time. The reason why it had developed to this scale and such formidable overall strength was due to thousands of years of effort and the collective endeavor of hundreds of generations of disciples. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of longing and his fighting spirit was even more aroused¡ªhe aspired to lead the Lin Family to become a powerful Golden Core Family, or even a Nascent Soul Family. ¡­ While he was lost in thought, the bustling atmosphere on the plaza gradually settled down. At that moment, Hu Yuan turned to Lin Tianming with a proposal, ¡°Lin, I am going to pay a visit to Daoist Li. Would you care to join me?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed to his suggestion. ... He planned to visit Li Xiuyuan, pick up his own loot, and after resting for a day or two, he would take Qin Xi back to Qianchuan Market. Having been away from his family for so long, it was time to return to that place that weighed on his mind day and night. Soon, both men hit it off and, after greeting some familiar cultivators, left the plaza and headed towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave residence. In a short while, the three appeared inside Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave residence. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others, Li Xiuyuan was overjoyed and quickly took out some fine Spiritual Tea to serve them. The four sat down in his guest room, sipping tea while casually chatting. At that moment, Lin Tianming took a sip of his tea and then smiled as he said a sentence. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Daoist Li, first let me congratulate our team for ranking sixth on the team leaderboard!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Daoist Hu chuckled and chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ As our lead, Daoist Li, you must be receiving generous Sect rewards and an entry spot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily, feeling very delighted, and responded, ¡°Congratulations to you as well, fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°If I may say so, Lin ranked fifth on the individual leaderboard. It can be described as soaring to the sky, an achievement that I greatly admire.¡± ¡°Daoist Hu is also a powerful contender, as expected, claiming a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm amidst many Loose Cultivators.¡± ¡°And our team¡¯s achievement in getting such a team result greatly relies on you two as the main force and the greatest contributors, right?¡± ¡°When it comes down to it, our team has reaped a rich harvest, and everyone has received the reward they deserve.¡± Upon hearing this succession of statements, both Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, clearly in full agreement. Indeed, that was the case. Before the great battle, their team¡¯s overall strength was only middle-to-upper among all teams. Yet by the end of the battle, their team¡¯s overall ranking had shot up to the sixth place on the leaderboard. Obviously, achieving such results was far beyond Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expectations. Therefore, in addition to the inherently splendid figures like Long Qingshui, as the team leader, he was arguably the biggest winner of this Demonic Beast Hunt. After this battle, he stood to gain not only the Sect¡¯s rewards but also an entry spot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. The rich results were achieved entirely thanks to the efforts of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. Moreover, their team¡¯s overall synergy, coupled with meticulous strategy, made correct arrangements every time, minimizing losses while maximizing gains. Thinking of these things, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s excitement took a long time to subside. Once he calmed down, Li Xiuyuan casually pulled out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming and the others. After scanning the contents with their Divine Sense, they all showed satisfied expressions. The storage bag Lin Tianming received contained the spoils from the last two battles, with a significant number of Demonic Beast Materials distributed very reasonably and even exceeding his expectations. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan was very generous, conducting his affairs magnanimously, without skimping on their loot. Little did they know that Li Xiuyuan had taken out half of his own loot to subsidize the cultivators in his team. Especially for Lin Tianming and his sister, as well as the powerful Loose Cultivator Hu Yuan, he gave even more. He was well aware that cultivators like Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, with exceptional talents and formidable strength, were destined to be extraordinary. By giving away some negligible benefits now, he could obtain greater profits in the future. His actions indeed earned the recognition and goodwill of Lin Tianming and the others. At that moment, Daoist Hu and Qin Xi also smiled contentedly, and the atmosphere became extremely harmonious. In the lively atmosphere, Lin Tianming and his friends chatted casually for half an hour, during which they exchanged many insights on cultivation as well as news from the Cultivation World. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming was most concerned about news from the other two battlefields, of which Li Xiuyuan was completely unaware. Perhaps his status did not grant him access to the latest information, which was somewhat disappointing. However, on further thought, since Chen Jingtian had dismissed the many cultivators who had responded to the call, it surely indicated that the other two battlefields were not facing any major problems. Lin Tianming guessed that the battles in the other two places might not have ended, but they were certainly not on the losing side. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to leave Yuyao City so soon. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming did not dwell on the matter. According to his plan, before leaving Yuyao City, he could visit Tang Xiuhe, the Executive Officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. With the formidable strength of the Sky Dragon Pavilion and its well-informed sources, he might be able to find out the latest news. It was then that Li Xiuyuan asked with a smile, ¡°Fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°Now that the great battle has ended and many Daoists are leaving Yuyao City in succession, I¡¯m not sure what plans you have or where you intend to go?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ I and Daoist Hu indeed came to bid farewell to Daoist Li,¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hu Yuan chimed in afterward. ¡°Yes, after two years of battle, it has finally come to an end, and it¡¯s time for us to leave!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and then added, ¡°Since the two of you are determined to leave, I will not detain you any longer!¡± ¡°Your Sect rewards can be collected within a year, at either Qianchuan Market or Dragon Mountain Market.¡± ¡°Moreover, in just over two years, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm will open. Please remember to arrive early at our Sect¡¯s mountain gate, and be sure not to delay.¡± Although Lin Tianming and the other knew about this, they nodded in satisfaction at Li Xiuyuan¡¯s repeated instructions. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others chuckled, then stood up and expressed their intention to take their leave. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan did not hold them back. He stood up, cupped his hands in salute, and then, from his storage bag, took out three blood-red fruits and handed them to the three of them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, as you¡¯re leaving Yuyao City, I don¡¯t have much to give. These three Spirit Fruits are a token of my goodwill; please do accept them.¡± Seeing his gesture, Lin Tianming and his friends quickly turned their gaze to the object in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s hand. At a glance, they saw a fruit that was blood-red, crystal-clear, and contained rich energy and vitality. ¡°Blood Crow Fruit?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened as he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. The Blood Crow Fruit was also one of the heaven and earth Spirit Fruits. Metabolizing its energy and vitality could speed up cultivation and enhance one¡¯s own vitality. Although at their level of cultivation, the effects of consuming a Blood Crow Fruit would probably be extremely limited, it was still a rare treasure. Especially for Lin Tianming, who was not like Hu Yuan and Li Xiuyuan. Both Li and Hu were at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, while he was still only at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. The benefits he would gain from the Blood Crow Fruit would definitely be much greater than those of Li and Hu. At that moment, even though Lin Tianming was quite tempted, he also felt somewhat embarrassed to refuse the offer. ¡°Daoist Li, after this great battle, I have already received what I should have, and this fruit is quite valuable. I thank you for your kind intentions!¡± Lin Tianming said as he waved his hand to decline. No sooner had he finished speaking than Hu Yuan also waved his hand and echoed the sentiment. ¡°Yes¡­ Daoist Li, you are too kind. Please take it back!¡± ¡°Do you look down on me?¡± Li Xiuyuan feigned anger and said, before continuing to persuade them. ¡°The rewards from my Sect are definitely far superior to these Blood Crow Fruits, so please don¡¯t be shy!¡± ¡°If you refuse, I¡¯ll be truly upset!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan looked at each other and smiled, then laughed heartily and no longer refused. The three of them each took a Blood Crow Fruit and stored it in their storage bags. ¡°Daoist Li, I thank you in advance. We shall meet again in two years!¡± Lin Tianming and the others said in unison. ¡°Good, in two years, at the mountain gate of my Sect, let¡¯s not miss it!¡± Li Xiuyuan responded with a cupped hand salute. After speaking, the three of them cupped their hands in a fist salute, bid farewell to Li Xiuyuan, and walked toward the exit of the dwelling. Chapter 564 03-25 - 564 317 Preparations Before Returning_1 ?Chapter 564: Chapter 317 Preparations Before Returning_1 Chapter 564: Chapter 317 Preparations Before Returning_1 Having left Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave abode, Lin Tianming and his two companions walked together toward their respective dwellings. Along the way, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan chatted as they walked, discussing the topic of departing from Yuyao City. ¡°Daoist Hu, the great battle has ended, and everyone is free to leave now; what are your plans going forward?¡± ¡°If Daoist Hu plans to return to Qianchuan Market, would you care to join me on the journey?¡± Lin Tianming inquired. Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled helplessly and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to decline your kind offer this time, Lin.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised and promptly asked with curiosity, ¡°Does Daoist Hu perhaps have some other plans?¡± ... Hu Yuan chuckled and then began to explain. ¡°As a loose cultivator, I can truly say I have no ties or obligations!¡± ¡°In the past, I have lived around Qianchuan Market for so long that I¡¯ve grown tired of it.¡± ¡°With more than two years left until the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opens, I want to go to the area around Dragon Mountain Market to train and see if I can break through to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm in one fell swoop.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m fortunate enough to succeed, then when I enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, I¡¯ll also have a greater chance of surviving.¡± Hearing this detailed explanation, Lin Tianming did not insist any further. In his opinion, Hu Yuan¡¯s plan for travel was both decisive and correct. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? After all, once one had reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, the increase in spiritual power was incredibly limited; only by experiencing life-and-death trials or cultivating one¡¯s state of mind while traversing the world could one hope to achieve the Great Perfection Realm. Reflecting on these thoughts, Lin Tianming chuckled and then said, ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t try to keep you.¡± ¡°In a few days, I too will be leaving Yuyao City. I plan to return to Qianchuan Market first and go from there.¡± ¡°As such, the next time I might see Daoist Hu could very well be in two years!¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan stopped walking and nodded. Then, looking at the cave in front of him, he pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Hmm¡­ this is the place!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Hu Yuan slapped his storage bag, took out the Blood Crow Fruit that Li Xiuyuan had gifted, and handed it to Lin Tianming. ¡°Before we part, this Blood Crow Fruit is a token of my goodwill, presented to you, Lin!¡± ¡°I hope that in two years, you can reach the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and when the time comes for venturing into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, we can continue to cooperate.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, and taking a closer look at the Blood Crow Fruit which was within arm¡¯s reach, Lin Tianming quickly began to refuse. ¡°Daoist Hu, this Blood Crow Fruit is beneficial for enhancing your cultivation; I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t accept it!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s refusal, Hu Yuan feigned a persuasive tone. ¡°Hehe¡­ As you¡¯re aware, at my level of cultivation, the benefits from this single Blood Crow Fruit will likely be extremely limited!¡± ¡°Given this, if I were to consume the fruit, it wouldn¡¯t yield its maximum effect, and that would be quite a waste!¡± ¡°How¡­ How could I accept this?¡± Lin Tianming appeared troubled and quickly began to refuse. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute attitude, Hu Yuan felt slightly embarrassed, but then he shifted the conversation. ¡°Please don¡¯t be formal, Lin. I¡¯m not forcing this fruit upon you!¡± ¡°I happen to need a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast¡¯s inner core, and the Sword Spirit Tiger¡¯s inner core that you possess is just right. How about we trade?¡± After hearing this, Lin Tianming hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement to the trade. He knew in his heart that although the Sword Spirit Tiger¡¯s inner core and the Blood Crow Fruit had similar value, the Blood Crow Fruit was more significant in effect and its potential value was higher. Hu Yuan¡¯s offer to trade was also a way of giving himself a way to retreat and was meant to help Lin Tianming. But after Hu Yuan had gone to such lengths, if Lin Tianming were to still refuse his generosity, it would show a complete lack of appreciation. Soon, Lin Tianming took out the Sword Spirit Tiger¡¯s inner core and completed the exchange with Hu Yuan. Subsequently, the two men bowed with clasped hands to each other and then turned around and departed in their respective directions. Back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat in the reception room with Qin Xi, chatting idly over tea. Both wore rosy complexions and appeared to be in good spirits. ¡°Fairy Qin, I intend to refine the Blood Crow Fruit before leaving Yuyao City and then head back to Qianchuan Market from there!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and replied, ¡°I have no obligations and no plans for the near future. Whatever is convenient for you, Lin, is fine by me. I have no objections.¡± After she spoke, Qin Xi took out the Blood Crow Fruit and handed it to Lin Tianming. Seeing her do this, Lin Tianming did not immediately take it but asked with puzzlement, ¡°What do you mean by this, Fairy Qin?¡± ¡°Li only gave me one because we claimed to be brother and sister to the outside world. Otherwise, with my level of cultivation, it¡¯s unlikely I would have received one.¡± ¡°In a way, I was also riding on your coattails. Now that I¡¯m returning it to its rightful owner, it¡¯s only right.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming frowned and immediately began to refuse. ¡°Fairy Qin, please keep it. I have two Blood Crow Fruits, and I fear that the effects will diminish significantly with the consumption of a third.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need for you to be so discerning. Just refine it with integrity and focus on enhancing your cultivation!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s firm stance and the non-negotiable tone in his voice, Qin Xi nodded reluctantly. At that moment, Qin Xi put away the Blood Crow Fruit and her eyes covertly sought Lin Tianming once more, stirring an inexplicable flutter in her heart, which caused a blush to appear on her face. Lin Tianming turned his gaze away, and as their eyes met, the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward. After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Tianming abruptly dropped a sentence and directly left the reception room, heading toward the training room. Chapter 565 03-25 - 565 317 Preparations before Returning_2 ?Chapter 565: Chapter 317 Preparations before Returning_2 Chapter 565: Chapter 317 Preparations before Returning_2 As Lin Tianming left, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion finally returned to normal, but her rapidly beating heart betrayed her inner turmoil. Qin Xi let out a long sigh of relief and soon after fell into deep thought. In her heart, after over two years of interaction, Lin Tianming¡¯s personality and the way he handled things left her with a greatly favorable impression. Sometimes he was considerate, sometimes domineering, other times a bit cold-hearted¡ªit seemed complex, but was indeed genuine. And Lin Tianming¡¯s assistance to her was absolute; he never asked for anything in return or made any demands. She had only felt this sense of protection and importance when her grandfather was still alive. After her grandfather passed away, she cultivated alone, wandering the Cultivation World. ... Throughout the years of her trials, as a Loose Cultivator, with insufficient power and cultivation, she faced endless oppression and hardships, unimaginable to many. Yet, she persevered, overcoming countless difficulties and life-threatening crises. The sole reason she struggled so desperately was to achieve a higher realm of cultivation, to seek revenge for her grandfather. Living with this hatred was exhausting, and incredibly taxing, like carrying a heavy burden that sometimes felt so overwhelming that she could hardly breathe. But since meeting Lin Tianming, it seemed as if she had placed the hatred at the bottom of her heart, and her spirit had revived. This feeling of trust and protection was wonderfully uplifting and allowed her to appreciate the true meaning of cultivation. At this moment, a subtle change began to take root deep within her heart, softening her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Finally regaining her composure, she looked towards Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation room before turning and walking towards her own secret chamber. ¡­ Inside the cultivation room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, holding a Blood Crow Fruit in his hand. Gazing at the lustrous fruit, smelling its unique fragrance, his eyes sparkled with longing. The last breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Sixth Level happened soon after he arrived in Yuyao City, facilitated by a Sky Rainbow Fruit that enabled him to advance in one go. Now, nearly a year and a half had passed. During this period, aside from engaging in major battles, he spent all his time cultivating, leading a life of great fulfillment. A year and a half of intense battles had solidified his foundation mightily. And the cultivation realm, which was once somewhat tentative, had now reached the medium stage of Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, and he wasn¡¯t far from the latter stage. Now, with these two Blood Crow Fruits, he felt confident that he could reach the peak of Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. If lucky enough, he might even break through to Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. Thinking this, Lin Tianming was excited, clearly somewhat impatient. Resolved, he promptly straightened his posture and began circulating his cultivation technique. Once he reached his peak condition, he swallowed a Blood Crow Fruit without hesitation. As the Blood Crow Fruit entered his mouth, a sweet taste overwhelmed his senses with extreme comfort, blushing his face rapidly. Immediately, powerful energy burst forth from the fruit and spread rapidly along his meridians throughout his body. Sensing this energy, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression lit up with excitement, and he quickly began to circulate his cultivation technique, refining the energy. Soon, the refined energy transformed into surging spiritual power, starting to gather within his Seven Sea Dantian. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked down at his Qi Sea Dantian, the newly refined spiritual power began filling it. Beyond that, his aura was slowly becoming more solid as well, appearing increasingly condense. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not stop, but began to circulate his cultivation technique with all his might, aggressively refining the remaining energy. ¡­ Time swiftly passed, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had elapsed. Qianchuan Market. In the square before the market¡¯s auction house, numerous cultivators gathered. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open as they gazed at the notices posted on the square, sparking a flurry of discussions. Suddenly, the whole square buzzed with excitement as everyone engaged in heated debates about the content of the notices. At that very moment, Lin Xingpu was blending in with the crowd, looking at the contents of the notice, falling into a frenzy of elation. On closer inspection, the content posted on the notice detailed the final results of the battle in Yuyao City, rankings on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, as well as achievements and spoils of war. At that moment, a Qi Refining cultivator standing by Lin Xingpu¡¯s side seemed to recognize him and had also heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s illustrious name. He gazed at Lin Xingpu, who was standing there in a daze, and then congratulated him warmly, ¡°Lin, congratulations on your senior¡¯s tremendous achievement!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than another Qi Refining cultivator chimed in. ¡°Indeed, Lin Tianming has made a name for himself in Yuyao City, becoming renowned among many recruiters and landing the top spot. He truly is a role model for our peers!¡± Hearing these complimentary words, the distracted Lin Xingpu finally snapped back to reality. Listening to the familiar cultivators around him speak words of congratulations and envy, he smiled, his face beaming with pride. Soon, he regained his composure and replied politely, ¡°You flatter me, fellow cultivators!¡± ¡°Today, I received good news that has greatly excited me. I must return home to share the joy, and I hope to invite you all to gather another day when the opportunity arises.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, please feel free to go ahead!¡± A Ninth Layer Qi Refining Loose Cultivator said politely with a cupped-hand salute. Seeing this, Lin Xingpu did not linger and, after greeting a few familiar cultivators, hurriedly made his way to the Trading Quarter¡¯s Luoyun Pavilion. Inside a secret room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion. Lin Xingpu had just returned from the auction, his expression excited as he chatted with a few clan members stationed in Qianchuan Market. Seeing him like this, it was apparent something positive had happened. The oldest among them, Lin Xingyan, was quite puzzled. He looked at the mysterious Lin Xingpu and asked, ¡°Xing Pu, did you come across some treasure on your trip out?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ indeed, it¡¯s a treasure, a heaven-shaking treasure!¡± Lin Xingpu replied, laughing heartily, his excitement at its peak. Seeing him still beating around the bush, Lin Xingyan¡¯s face darkened, and he scolded, ¡°Stop the nonsense and spill it out, I¡¯m still busy here!¡± Seeing this, Lin Xingpu dared not delay and quickly recounted the details of the announcement he saw before the auction. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Tian Ming is actually ranked fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard and the first among all the recruited cultivators?¡± The faces of Lin Xingyan and the others showed disbelief, clearly shocked by the explosive news. Even though there had been rumors in Qianchuan Market about Lin Tianming ranking among the top ten on the leaderboard, these rumors had been merely circulating among cultivators and had never been officially confirmed by the Zhenyang Sect. Therefore, hearing this news, the group found it somewhat hard to believe at first. However, at that moment, seeing the shocked expressions on his clan members¡¯ faces, Lin Xingpu emphatically stated, ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± ¡°I just passed by the market after the auction and saw it with my own eyes, the Zhenyang Sect posted the announcement, and the details were very clear.¡± Hearing this and observing Lin Xingpu¡¯s earnest demeanor, the group finally accepted the truth of the matter. ¡°Haha¡­ Tian Ming indeed does our family proud as a Hidden Dragon, outshining numerous Loose Cultivators and those from many clans!¡± Lin Xingyan exclaimed excitedly at that moment. As he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhao, equally thrilled, quickly agreed. ¡°Yes¡­ I thought it was mere rumor, but who could have imagined it was true, and even beyond our expectations.¡± ¡°Since it comes from the Zhenyang Sect, then there¡¯s no doubt about its authenticity!¡± ¡°This means that Tian Ming will soon return to the clan or Qianchuan Market!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan and the others nodded, sharing the same belief. As they calmed down, Lin Xingyan, being the leader of the market, said to Lin Xingpu and the others, ¡°The great battle in Yuyao City has concluded, and unless something unexpected happens, Tian Ming won¡¯t stay there for long. He will most likely return within the next six months!¡± ¡°However, the specific timing is still unknown.¡± ¡°Now that the beast tide has mostly receded and safety is temporarily ensured, I suggest we send a clan member to deliver this good news back to the family, so that third uncle and the others can rejoice!¡± No sooner had these words left his mouth than Lin Xingpu spoke up, ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°This is the perfect opportunity to replenish Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s stock of sale items!¡± Lin Xingyan nodded upon hearing this and with an excited tone began to give orders. ¡°Good¡­ Xing Pu, Xingzhao, you two will set out tomorrow morning. Make it a quick trip!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s settled then!¡± Lin Xingpu and Lin Xingzhao both agreed to the plan, confirming the arrangement. Chapter 566 03-25 - 566 318 Buy and Sell_1 ?Chapter 566: Chapter 318: Buy and Sell_1 Chapter 566: Chapter 318: Buy and Sell_1 Yuyao City. Inside the cave mansion where Lin Tianming was located. After a month of secluded cultivation, he opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing across them. Lin Tianming finished his cultivation and a subtle smile emerged on his face, looking rejuvenated and at the peak of his energy. He exhaled a breath and immediately grasped the Thousand Beast Banner that he had refined in his hands. Observing the newly refined Thousand Beast Banner, it emitted strong fluctuations, along with the roaring sounds of the Demonic Beasts from within. He was brimming with excitement, his brows filled with a look of satisfaction. ... Over the month, he spent the first half refining two Blood Crow Fruits, raising his cultivation to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer. In the remaining ten-plus days, he re-refined the Thousand Beast Banner, replenishing it with a large amount of Second Order Demon Beast Souls. After the refinement, the Monster Beast Souls depleted in the previous wars were replenished, and their power was even slightly stronger. In terms of cultivation, just as he had anticipated, he still hadn¡¯t managed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, which was slightly regrettable. However, he had been aware of this possibility before he began his seclusion. The rank of the Blood Crow Fruit was limited, and its effects were not particularly impressive. Even if he consumed one or two more, it was unlikely he would break through. After all, he wasn¡¯t even at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer before his attempt at a breakthrough. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï And achieving the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm was a leap across a major realm. The chances of breaking through with just two Blood Crow Fruits were slim to none. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, not breaking through in cultivation this time around did not disappoint him. Turning his attention back, Lin Tianming put the Thousand Beast Banner back into his storage bag and then checked the various treasures inside it. After a short while. After making an inventory, the treasures in the more than ten storage bags were numerous in both amount and variety. In the battles over the past year, he had killed more than a dozen Second Order Demonic Beasts, and the count for First Order Demonic Beasts was even in the hundreds. Just the Artifact Refining Materials from these beasts alone filled ten storage bags, and accumulated value could be a terrifying amount. Besides, he had also casually acquired some Spiritual Medicine Materials, along with various Artifact Refining Materials and ores, also filling several storage bags. However, the number of expendable treasures meant for combat purposes that were left was indeed not much. Most of the Second Order talismans were nearly exhausted, with only a few Second Order Defense Talismans and two Spirit Detonation Beads remaining. One of the beads was given to him by Lin Shikang when he left his family; the other was specially purchased at the Sky Dragon Pavilion for five thousand Spirit Stones during his visit to Qianchuan Market. Yet, the power of these offensive treasures may not be as great as the most precious Fake Golden Core Talisman he initially bought from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. In terms of defensive treasures, Lin Shikang had given him a Blood-red Jade Pendant before leaving his family. After several battles, most of the energy inside the Blood-red Jade Pendant was spent, and it probably could only endure one more fight before being completely worn out. As for the Green Scale Shield, which had always been his reliable defense, it had become worn-out and its Spirituality was noticeably weaker, resulting in very limited defensive power. Currently, the most effective defensive item he had was probably the Blue Star Armor he obtained at the Qianchuan Market auction. This piece of defensive treasure, which he wore on his body all the time, had rarely faced the attacks of Demonic Beasts head-on. Therefore, its defensive power and Spirituality had barely diminished, making it his most powerful piece of defensive equipment. Luckily, he was about to leave seclusion and planned to return to Qianchuan Market. Although most of his treasures were nearly consumed, he had yet to use his most powerful treasures and techniques. With these, he could still unleash even stronger power. Even when facing a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, if he could not win, he was fairly confident he could still retreat with his whole body. As for the Spirit Stones and elixirs in his storage bag, after the intense battles over the past year, he still had more than sixty thousand Spirit Stones, although the elixirs were mostly consumed. After calculating, he could sustain normal cultivation for over half a year without any issues. As for the absence of elixirs for cultivation, he could entirely refine them from the materials he had in hand. Therefore, none of these were problems. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming stood up, tidied the somewhat disordered training room, and then stepped out. Standing at the entrance of the training room, he looked towards the secret chamber where Qin Xi was still in secluded cultivation. Without contact from him, there was no telling when Qin Xi would emerge. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming had no intention of disturbing her and headed straight for the exit of the cave mansion. Shortly after, he appeared on the streets outside the cave mansion. Gazing around, the Cave Mansion District seemed rather quiet at the moment, with only a few Cultivators moving around. Clearly, it had been a full month since the Demon Hunter Leaderboard had been released. Many Loose Cultivators and family Cultivators, unless necessary, had largely left the area. That included the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, who had returned to their Sect¡¯s location or to Qianchuan Market or Dragon Mountain Market. As a result, Yuyao City, which temporarily housed more than twenty thousand Cultivators, had quieted down significantly in a short period. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by this. He moved forward and quickly arrived at Yuyao City¡¯s commercial district. Standing at the entrance of Sky Dragon Pavilion, he noticed that there were significantly more Cultivators in the commercial district, regaining some of the peak period¡¯s liveliness. However, these passing Cultivators were seventy to eighty percent unfamiliar faces, seemingly not those who participated in the war. Chapter 567 03-25 - 567 318 Buy and Sell_2 ?Chapter 567: Chapter 318 Buy and Sell_2 Chapter 567: Chapter 318 Buy and Sell_2 Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was puzzled, but after careful thought, he could understand the reason. Clearly, even though the battle for Yuyao City had ended, this temporary city, established by the Zhenyang Sect, was not going to be allowed to fall into desolation. After all, Yuyao City had a solid foundation and already possessed the scale of a small market town. With a bit of expansion, combined with the Third Order Great Array for defense, it could easily meet the requirements of a medium-sized market town. All that was needed was to further boost commerce and attract Loose Cultivators to reside there, and it could be developed into a small-to-medium-sized market town capable of generating a substantial amount of wealth each year. Therefore, the Zhenyang Sect would naturally take this opportunity to fully activate Yuyao City¡¯s potential. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the matter and stepped into the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Upon entering the first floor of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, there were over a dozen Qi Refining Cultivators picking out treasures. ... Lin Tianming did not hesitate to walk inside, and soon a Qi Refining Cultivator hurried over to attend to him. Seeing Lin Tianming, the Qi Refining Cultivator was very polite, obviously recognizing him or having heard of his achievements. To this, Lin Tianming was not surprised. After all, he had been a frequent occupant of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard this past year, consistently appearing at the top. Many cultivators in Yuyao City knew him, whether they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Qi Refining Cultivators, or even Golden Core Cultivators, who would pay attention to those with outstanding talent and strength. And the people of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, doing business in Yuyao City, would naturally pay attention to this as well. Since they were in business, they naturally had the ability to read people and pick up on subtleties, and they would certainly focus on Genius Cultivators or those with formidable power. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï They did this to avoid showing neglect when meeting them in person, causing them to lose customers or even offend these cultivators. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was at ease. ¡°Senior, if you need anything, you can go directly to the second floor, where this junior can give you an introduction!¡± Seeing the eagerness of the Qi Refining Cultivator, Lin Tianming spoke directly, ¡°Is Daoist Tang Xiuhe present?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ Allow this junior to send a message, and senior can follow this junior to rest on the second floor for a moment!¡± The Qi Refining Cultivator replied respectfully, then sent a message and led Lin Tianming towards the second floor. Shortly after, the Qi Refining Cultivator ushered Lin Tianming into a guest room on the second floor to wait for Tang Xiuhe, the Executive Officer of Sky Pavilion, to arrive. Time for a cup of tea passed by. From a distance, a friendly laugh could be heard at the doorway. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin graces us with his presence, I regret not having greeted you from afar, my apologies!¡± Seeing that it was Tang Xiuhe, whom he had planned to visit, Lin Tianming quickly got up, cupped his fists, and greeted him. ¡°I¡¯ve met Daoist Tang!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been some time, Daoist Tang, how have you been lately?¡± ¡°Very well¡­ I am quite fine, just a bit lonely, that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°With the war over, many Daoist friends have left Yuyao City, and I¡¯ve had some idle time on my hands.¡± ¡°I¡¯d never thought Daoist Lin would stay, let alone visit my Sky Dragon Pavilion to spend some time with me; it seems you¡¯ve been thinking of me.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, then sat down with Tang Xiuhe, chatting over tea as if they were quite familiar with each other. A short while passed, and after exchanging a few courteous but insipid pleasantries, Tang Xiuhe finally asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions. Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush, saying directly, ¡°Today¡¯s visit is not only to catch up with Daoist Tang but also to do business with you.¡± ¡°With Daoist Lin¡¯s formidable power, I assume ordinary items wouldn¡¯t catch your eye.¡± ¡°Feel free to speak up; my pavilion has just received a batch of goods that might satisfy Daoist Lin,¡± Tang Xiuhe replied with a smile. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was immediately intrigued. The purpose of his visit to Sky Pavilion was firstly to gather information on the Cultivation World. Secondly, it was to see if there were any treasures worth acquiring. After all, as a well-known Commerce Alliance in Qingzhou, Sky Pavilion had a relatively high chance of presenting valuable items. Aside from a few medium-sized marketplaces that have a Sky Dragon Pavilion, smaller-sized markets generally don¡¯t have many big shops and it¡¯s hard to come across fine items. It happens that I¡¯ll be leaving Yuyao City in a few days. It would be safer on the road to have a few more methods prepared. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming got straight to the point, ¡°I would like to stock up on some Second Order Talismans, be they for attack or defense, or other consumable treasures.¡± ¡°As long as they can enhance my strength or improve my cultivation, I¡¯m interested.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuhe nodded and then took out a ledger made of beast skin to examine it carefully. Soon, he laid out more than ten Second Order Talismans in front of himself. Upon a cursory glance, each talisman was at least of Second Order Medium Quality, with as many as four Second Order Superior Attack Talismans among them. ¡°Daoist Lin, the common items won¡¯t catch your eye. These are some talismans that might just meet your requirements,¡± he said. ¡°As for items that can enhance cultivation, we¡¯ve recently gotten a batch of Blood Crow Fruits. Would you be interested?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s demeanor showed excitement, clearly very much interested. Before coming, he had roughly guessed that what Sky Dragon Pavilion could sell were probably items of moderate value. Yet, he had not expected that there were quite a few Blood Crow Fruits for sale. However, he had already consumed two of them not long ago; even if he took a few more, the effect would be very limited. Still, despite this, he decided to inquire about the price of the Blood Crow Fruits. If the price was right, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to buy a few and take them back for his parents to use. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming directly asked about the prices of the various talismans and the Blood Crow Fruits. Tang Xiuhe pondered for a moment, then began to explain. ¡°Daoist Lin, you and I are old friends. Quite a few cultivators have left Yuyao City, and the prices of treasures have uniformly dropped,¡± he said. ¡°These Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans are two thousand Spirit Stones each, while the Defense Talismans are three thousand Spirit Stones each.¡± ¡°Second Order High Grade Attack Talismans are priced at three thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones each, and Blood Crow Fruits are five thousand Spirit Stones a piece.¡± At Tang Xiuhe¡¯s quoted prices, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow. The prices were indeed lower than during the great war, but still a bit more expensive than before the outbreak of the beast tide. Although he had over sixty thousand Spirit Stones in his storage bag, if he bought a lot, he would still be reluctant to spend that much. After considering for a bit, Lin Tianming finally said, ¡°I¡¯ll take all four Second Order Superior Talismans and four Second Order Defense Talismans.¡± ¡°I also want four Blood Crow Fruits. These treasures don¡¯t come at a low total price, so Daoist Tang, you should offer a fair discount.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ since Daoist Lin has made a request, naturally I should show some regard!¡± Tang Xiuhe replied with a hearty laugh and an excited tone. Soon, after some calculations by Tang Xiuhe, Lin Tianming got the treasures he specified for a total of forty-four thousand Spirit Stones. Tian Ming was quite satisfied with the deal, as Tang Xiuhe had reduced the price by one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones in one go. Afterwards, Lin Tianming immediately took out enough Spirit Stones and received the items he had purchased from Tang Xiuhe. With the transaction complete, Tang Xiuhe was quite excited inwardly. After all, a deal involving more than forty thousand Spirit Stones was exceptionally rare for a store in Yuyao City since its opening. Ordinarily, only core disciples from the Zhenyang Sect with substantial wealth or some strong Loose Cultivators could afford to spend like this. Therefore, when he looked at Lin Tianming once more, his attitude became even more enthusiastic. Seeing the change in Tang Xiuhe¡¯s expression and tone, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised. While his ties with Tang Xiuyuan weren¡¯t shallow, after coming to Yuyao City, he hardly brought any substantial benefits to Tang Xiuhe. So it wasn¡¯t realistic to expect that Tang Xiuhe would voluntarily share some information just based on their not-so-profound connection. In such a situation, he was willing to spend a large sum of money on these treasures as a way to repay Tang Xiuhe for the information about the cultivation world provided over the past year. Sure enough, before he could speak up, Tang Xiuhe took the initiative to introduce the recent situation in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Chapter 568 03-25 - 568 319 Xu Haiqiao_1 ?Chapter 568: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_1 Chapter 568: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_1 Half a quarter of an hour later. Under the enthusiastic farewell of Tang Xiuhe, Lin Tianming left Sky Dragon Pavilion feeling satisfied and content. Just now, according to the information revealed by Tang Xiuhe, it seemed that the beast tide in the Wei Kingdom was under control. In Yuyao City, Chen Jingtian had led the team and was the first to eradicate the Monster Beast Legion, ensuring that in the vast region of southern Wei Kingdom, the sight of these legions had nearly vanished. Only some First Order Demon Beasts occasionally appeared in the lands of the Human Race, but the beasts¡¯ strength was so feeble that it couldn¡¯t shake the foundation of Human Cultivators in the slightest. As for Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, although the scale and strength of the beast tide were greater, the power of these two Great Sects was just as formidable. As the great battle intensified, both Sects regained their footing and even gained an absolute upper hand. ... Continuing at this rate, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be long before the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would completely calm down and return to its former state. As for the Luoyun Mountain Range, which he was particularly concerned about, he didn¡¯t get much specific news, after all, this barren land was insignificant to the colossal Tang Family. According to Tang Xiuhe, the Luoyun Mountain Range didn¡¯t suffer much loss and the Lin Family was perfectly normal, without any significant events occurring. Therefore, the anxiety in Lin Tianming¡¯s mind finally eased. Returning to his cave abode, Qin Xi had just come out of seclusion as well. The two sat in the reception room, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi¡¯s expression and joked with a smile, ¡°Not seeing you for over a month, Fairy Qin¡¯s cultivation seems to have improved again!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Giggle¡­¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement as she responded flirtatiously. ¡°Lin is indeed perceptive; thankfully, that Blood Crow Fruit has brought my cultivation to the peak of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Had it not been for the fact that my last breakthrough was not long ago, I would have even considered attempting the Fourth Level!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his heart not at all surprised. Although the Blood Crow Fruit, among the many Second Order Spiritual Fruits, was not the top-tier, it was still distinct from ordinary ones. While its effectiveness on his own progress was quite limited, Qin Xi was still only at the Foundation Establishment Third Level, so naturally, the effects were substantial. It wasn¡¯t surprising that she achieved better results. Snapping back to reality, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°Fairy Qin¡¯s talent is not bad after all; the Blood Crow Fruit is just the icing on the cake!¡± ¡°Giggle¡­¡± Qin Xi¡¯s bell-like laughter filled the air, once again drawing Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. At that moment, Lin Tianming, gazing at her exquisite beauty, couldn¡¯t help but flush a tint of red on his face. He hurriedly changed the subject to prevent himself from acting improperly and falling into an awkward situation. ¡°Fairy Qin, I plan to set off in the next two days, first resting for a few days in Qianchuan Market before rushing back to my clan. Do you have any objections to this?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Qin Xi nodded and replied, ¡°This humble girl has no objections. I shall follow Lin¡¯s arrangements!¡± ¡°Good, things in Yuyao City have been mostly taken care of; without delay, let¡¯s depart early tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Tianming declared. ¡°Mmmhmm¡­¡± With that, Lin Tianming exchanged a few more words with Qin Xi, smiled slightly, and then left the reception room to return to his training room. Early the next morning. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi first went to Zhenyang Hall to return the token assigned to them for their cave abode, and then, taking advantage of the hazy morning light, they hurried out of Yuyao City. A few miles outside Yuyao City, atop a hill, the two of them appeared. Standing on the hilltop and watching, they saw a few cultivators occasionally passing by in the distance, seemingly heading towards Yuyao City. Just like them, there were only a few leaving Yuyao City, while more were entering. Clearly, most of the cultivators who had participated in the great battle had already left, and those coming to Yuyao City now were there to tour around or to conduct business. But this was no longer related to him and posed no conflict. Without any accidents, he did not plan on returning to Yuyao City in the coming years. Regathering his thoughts, he released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. An excited screeching sound resounded as the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s vast body appeared before them, nearly blotting out the sky. In the recent years, Lin Tianming had been traveling extensively and had been through many great battles, while also killing a large number of Demonic Beasts. With the help of the ample spoils of war, the growth rate of the Purple Gold Eagle was impressive, seemingly reaching the pinnacle of the Second Order Initial Stage. If it were to swallow a few more Second Order Medium Stage inner cores, it would have completely had the chance to break through this initial stage. In fact, Lin Tianming had considered allowing the Purple Gold Eagle to break through before setting off. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the timing of a demonic beast¡¯s breakthrough was unpredictable; it could take months, or even one to two years. If he were to delay here for too long, his family elders would likely worry. Besides, although Yuyao City was far from Qianchuan Market, given the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s current flying speed, if all went well, it would take about a month to return either to his clan or Qianchuan Market. Therefore, he did not plan to continue waiting in Yuyao City any longer. Looking at the excited Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming took a First Order Late Stage Demon Beast Corpse from his storage bag and tossed it to the bird. The Purple Gold Eagle caught the corpse reluctantly, seemingly a bit disdainful. Seeing this, a shadow crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s face, and he slapped the Purple Gold Eagle on the head. ¡°You mangy bird, now that your wings have hardened, you even disdain the corpse of a First Order Late Stage Demon Beast!¡± Lin Tianming scolded, half in jest, half in anger. Chapter 569 03-25 - 569 319 Xu Haiqiao_2 ?Chapter 569: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_2 Chapter 569: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_2 Indeed, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s fierce and malevolent expression, the Purple Gold Eagle no longer dared to look as it did, hastily swallowing the remains of the Demon Beast in its mouth. Then, it knew to use its beak to affectionately nuzzle Lin Tianming¡¯s hem, making a pleasing expression. Lin Tianming gave a faint smile, indulgently stroking the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers. The false anger on his face dissipated immediately. In his heart, the Purple Gold Eagle had followed him through thick and thin over the years, and it had even accompanied Lin Shilu on journeys. To him and his family, the eagle had indeed rendered distinguished service. The words he had spoken earlier were nothing but jests, and he was not truly angry with the Purple Gold Eagle. Qin Xi, standing beside them, watched Lin Tianming and the familiar Purple Gold Eagle, unable to hold back a giggle. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming finally spoke, ¡°It¡¯s getting late; let¡¯s set out!¡± ... Having said this, Lin Tianming leaped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle first, and Qin Xi followed closely in his steps. Soon, the Purple Gold Eagle took to the sky with both of them, shooting off in the direction of the south. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming gazed into the distance ahead, watching as the surrounding mountains and rivers gradually faded into the background. Having left his family for more than a year, he was finally on the journey home. At this moment, his mind was a whirl of thoughts, his heart was filled with excitement, and he felt a keen sense of eagerness. The Purple Gold Eagle was fast. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, it had already flown several miles. With the improvement in its strength, the Purple Gold Eagle was noticeably faster than before. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï At this speed, reaching Qianchuan Market within a month might not be difficult. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, then began to extend his Divine Sense outward, alert to the movements around him, ready for any sudden incidents. The Purple Gold Eagle turned into a shadow within the thousand foot high clouds, flying towards the southwest. ¡­ Time flew swiftly, and half a month passed in a blink. Jinping Mountain Range. Within a vast marshland, three shadows, one after another, fled and pursued toward the north. Looking closely, one of the figures, a blue-robed middle-aged man, appeared disheveled with ragged breathing, multiple wounds on his body oozing blood, presenting a rather pitiful sight. Behind him, two Black Robed Cultivators sat on a black Flying Artifact, clutching Magic Artifacts with a look of mockery in their eyes, chasing after the wounded blue-robed Cultivator. ¡°Xu Haiqiao, I advise you to stop struggling pointlessly,¡± ¡°Just surrender to our Blood Red Alliance. If you hand over what we want, perhaps your sorry life can be spared!¡± Xu Haiqiao, fleeing ahead of them, was pale-faced, blood constantly dripping on the ground. Hearing this, he retorted disdainfully and angrily. ¡°Surrender?¡± ¡°Do you think I am a naive three-year-old child?¡± ¡°Expecting me to hand over the treasures? Only over my dead body, it¡¯s simply impossible!¡± He was clear in his mind that these people were desperados; his family had been wiped out without a trace. Even if he surrendered to the Blood Red Alliance and gave up the treasure, there was no chance of survival. ¡°Hmph!¡± Hearing Xu Haiqiao¡¯s words, one of the Black Robed Cultivators snorted coldly, his expression darkened, readying himself to strike once more. ¡°Since you¡¯re courting death, we brothers don¡¯t need to waste words on you!¡± The moment their statement ended, the two Black Robed Cultivators attacked together, their Magic Artifacts bursting with intense light, assaulting Xu Haiqiao. Their attack was extremely fierce, each strike imbued with immense power. Seeing this, Xu Haiqiao turned even paler, hastily engaging in combat despite his injuries. For a time, the three of them were locked in combat once again. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The Magic Artifacts in their hands emitted dazzling light, and fireworks burst forth, an enveloping dust cloud shrouding the entire battlefield. From the fluctuations of their battle, it was evident that all three were at least Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. In the midst of battle, Xu Haiqiao spat out a mouthful of fresh blood after a strike, his complexion turning a few shades paler once again. At this moment, Xu Haiqiao was extremely angry, yet felt utterly helpless. Their chase had persisted for several days now. Initially, he had been able to resist Zhou Xuan with the treasures accumulated by his family. But as time passed, his treasures and spiritual power were greatly depleted, and under the attack of two cultivators, he quickly fell into a disadvantage, also sustaining serious injuries. If there had been only one person pursuing him, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this dire situation. However, there were two of them, and each one¡¯s cultivation strength was not weaker than his. Besides, the forces behind the two men in black were clearly very strong, possessing a Second Order Medium Quality Flying Artifact for travel. Already injured, he simply couldn¡¯t escape with such a magical flying artifact at their disposal. In such circumstances, he felt wronged and was extremely frustrated. In his heart, he had no clue about the intentions of the two men in black robes. However, upon reflection, and considering his family had been attacked by an unknown Golden Core cultivator, he could guess it likely had something to do with a treasure he had acquired a few years back. And the ins and outs of this matter made for quite a long tale. He hailed from the Xu Family of the neighboring Baotai Mountain Range, a Foundation Establishment family within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and he was the highest-cultivating member of his family. The overall strength of the Xu Family was also not weak; though not among the very top of the numerous Foundation Establishment families, they were by no means obscure. Several years prior, his family had explored an ancient cultivator¡¯s cave dwelling, planning for several years and expending a great deal of effort to open it. Regrettably, due to the antiquity of the cave dwelling, all the treasures had turned to ashes, and they found nearly nothing, save for a fiery red stone. At first, they didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, only later to discover the stone¡¯s unusual nature. Despite its ordinary exterior, he had tried various methods to refine it, using Earth Fire or even his full-powered attacks, but the stone could not be melted down, nor could any marks be left on it. Clearly, being preserved from tens of thousands of years, or even longer, spoke to the unique nature of this stone. During the few years since acquiring the treasure, he kept it as the family¡¯s top secret, very well hidden, intending to slowly study and explore it in the future. With some time, he might have been able to uncover its secrets, thus obtaining a tremendous opportunity. Unfortunately, before a few peaceful years could pass, the Xu Family was mysteriously attacked, led by an unknown Golden Core cultivator, accompanied by more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. In less than an hour, the Xu Family¡¯s gate was breached, and nearly all members, regardless of age or gender, were dead or wounded. Only he, under the desperate protection of numerous family members, with a portion of the family¡¯s treasures in tow, managed to flee through a hidden passageway. However, before he could even leave the bounds of the Baotai Mountain Range, he was found by the men sent out by the Golden Core cultivator. After several rounds of fierce battle, he was seriously injured and could only hastily flee towards the gateway of the Zhenyang Sect. If he could just reach the vicinity of the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s gate, he might be able to escape with his life. If it really came down to it, he could also offer up that unknown treasure. With the power of several Golden Core cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect, he might receive protection. This was why he was so determined to escape northward. And that was the entire story behind these events. Piecing together these clues, it was very likely the treasure obtained by his family had been leaked or the Blood Red Alliance had some unknown means of discovering the treasure within their possession. But at the moment, all of this no longer mattered. The situation now was grim; reaching the mountain gate of the Zhenyang Sect seemed utterly hopeless, and he was being pursued by two cultivators. Clearly, he was severely injured and at a critical juncture where his life was at stake. At this moment, his face pale, he used up the few treasures he had left to create a chance to flee for his life. He knew in his heart, with every moment he could persevere, his chances of surviving increased slightly. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± With an attack that repelled the two black-robed cultivators, he didn¡¯t care about his bodily injuries and forcibly seized this brief respite to continue his desperate flight northward. Chapter 570 03-25 - 570 320 Forced to Get Involved_1 ?Chapter 570: Chapter 320: Forced to Get Involved_1 Chapter 570: Chapter 320: Forced to Get Involved_1 However, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s intentions seemed to be already anticipated by the man in the black robe. As he made his move to escape, he hadn¡¯t even covered a thousand zhang before his path was blocked. ¡°Xu Haiqiao, you can¡¯t escape; resign yourself to death!¡± A man in black shouted angrily, followed by a fierce strike, intending to severely injure him, or even to take his life in one fell swoop. However, at that moment, all three present furrowed their brows, as if they had discovered something. At this time, on a mountain peak outside their battlefield, Lin Tianming wore an expression of helplessness. He looked at the fluctuations coming from ahead, smiled bitterly with helplessness, and couldn¡¯t help but talk to himself. ... ¡°Ah¡­ such bad luck, to accidentally stumble upon such a trivial matter!¡± Earlier, he had brought Qin Xi to this place and, with his stronger Divine Sense, was the first to detect the presence of the three people. Faced with this sudden situation, Lin Tianming dared not make any moves, choosing instead to hide there. He had thought that the grievances between the three had nothing to do with him and perhaps after a fight, they would leave indifferently. The two parties would not interfere with each other, each treating the other as a passerby. However, as it turned out, the Divine Sense of the three was not much weaker than his, and, because of a pursuit, the safe distance between them had been shortened. Up until this moment, all three had sensed his presence, and he could no longer hide. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï In such a situation, his desire to remain a bystander seemed impossible. Realizing this, Lin Tianming smiled bitterly with resignation, then stepped out from hiding behind the small mountain. Looking at the gloomy faces of the two men in black robes, and Xu Haiqiao¡¯s slightly pleased expression, Lin Tianming gave an awkward smile, then cupped his fists and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am unaware of your grievance and have no wish to get involved.¡± ¡°I am merely a passerby. I know nothing about the events of today and shall take my leave immediately!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming, regardless of the various expressions of the three, immediately started retreating with Qin Xi. At this moment, Xu Haiqiao, seeing that Lin Tianming was leaving without hesitation, anxiously shouted out. ¡°Fellow Daoist, those two are from the Blood Sea Alliance. Under the leadership of a Golden Core Cultivator, they wiped out my entire Xu Family over an item of unknown purpose!¡± ¡°If you save my life, I will definitely reward you generously in the future.¡± Hearing Xu Haiqiao¡¯s words, the faces of the two men in black robes changed dramatically, their expressions filled with murderous intent. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also changed and he looked somewhat angry for a moment. Clearly, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s actions were a deliberate attempt to drag him into the fray. However, if one considered Xu Haiqiao¡¯s perspective, his actions were also acts of desperation. After all, under the siege of the two men in black robes, he had already sustained heavy injuries and could fall at any moment. At this dire juncture, Lin Tianming, a chance encounter, was undoubtedly his last lifeline. And Lin Tianming had just made it clear that he would not get involved, directly shattering his last hope. Since he was doomed either way, he might as well take a gamble and drag Lin Tianming into the mess; perhaps there was a sliver of chance for survival. Under these circumstances, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s actions were undoubtedly an opportunity for himself. Yet, much as this was the case, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s actions were shocking and enraging for both Lin Tianming and the two men in black robes, who probably wished they could tear him apart. After all, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s words not only revealed the mission of the men in black but also leaked secrets that should not have been divulged. On Lin Tianming¡¯s side, even if he did not plan to get involved, it seemed inevitable that he would have to become entangled in this troublesome situation. As expected, as he turned to leave, Xu Haiqiao also chased after him in the direction he was retreating. Obviously, Xu Haiqiao was insisting on sticking with him. As they set off, the expressions of the two men in black changed, and they hurriedly pursued them. In the blink of an eye, the original situation of two chasing one turned into two chasing three. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the distance between them narrowed. At this rate, if Xu Haiqiao did not fight back and kept following him, it would be impossible for them to shake off the two men in black robes. Thinking this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression darkened, and he felt anger building inside. However, given the current situation, it was not the time to blame Xu Haiqiao. They had to quickly come up with a plan, or perhaps join forces to kill the two men in black robes. Otherwise, continuing to flee like this was meaningless and would hardly change the outcome. After giving it some thought, Lin Tianming decided to join forces with Xu Haiqiao to take a stand and deal with the two men in black robes first. The reason for this decision was, in fact, well-considered. He was very aware of their current predicament. Although the two men in black robes were powerful, he alone was no match for them. But with Qin Xi¡¯s assistance, the Purple Gold Eagle, and the tamed Bloodthirsty Jiao on his side, plus the seriously injured Xu Haiqiao, they might have a chance to fight. Especially the Bloodthirsty Jiao, who was at the Second Order Late Phase, had the potential to be his greatest aid upon full recovery. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming suddenly halted in his tracks and prepared for combat. ¡°Fellow Daoist, prepare to join forces against the enemy!¡± bellowed Lin Tianming. He then slapped his storage bag, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords immediately flew out, quickly dispersing around them. He then grasped the Tiangang Sword in his hand, unleashed a surge of Sword Qi, and attacked the two men in black robes who were in pursuit. Chapter 571 03-25 - 571 320 Forced into the Fray_2 ?Chapter 571: Chapter 320 Forced into the Fray_2 Chapter 571: Chapter 320 Forced into the Fray_2 ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± Potent sword qi slashed across the sky, shooting directly over the head of Xu Haiqiao. Seeing this, Xu Haiqiao was overjoyed, thinking to himself that his shameless strategy had indeed worked. At this moment, the faces of the two black-robed men darkened as they swiftly stabilized their postures and unleashed powerful attacks, clashing with the sword qi driven by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud explosive noises erupted, the forceful pressing action sweeping out, spattering the surrounding marshland with mud. As the exploratory attacks ceased, Xu Haiqiao also joined up with Lin Tianming. ... At this moment, both parties locked eyes, and within each pair of eyes, there was a mix of wariness and fury. Behind Lin Tianming, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Purple Gold Eagle had appeared at some point. One circled overhead, while the other reared its huge head, its blood-red eyes fixedly staring at the two black-robed men. The tense atmosphere hadn¡¯t lasted long before it was disrupted by the attacks of the two black-clad men. After exchanging glances, the two black-clad men began to activate their magic artifacts. They each wielded a blood-red short blade covered in a cold, sinister aura, which seemed somewhat malevolent. However, judging from the aura, these two blood-red short blades were actually second order superior attack talismans. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï ¡°If you¡¯re seeking death, don¡¯t blame us brothers for not being polite!¡± shouted one of the black-robed cultivators as he activated his magic artifact, unleashing countless red blade qi that resembled thin rain. As the two black-robed men made their move, Lin Tianming and Xu Haiqiao took action at the same time. ¡°Fellow daoists, these two brothers are very strong; the attack power of their blood blades is extremely formidable. I¡¯ve already suffered a great deal from them numerous times. You must be very careful,¡± warned Xu Haiqiao as he then activated his own magic artifact to meet the oncoming rain of red blade qi. Simultaneously, the Bloodthirsty Jiao behind Lin Tianming followed his command to assist the severely injured Xu Haiqiao by holding off one of the black-robed men. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, faced the other black-robed cultivator alone. As for Qin Xi and the Purple Gold Eagle, they followed Lin Tianming¡¯s orders, launching attacks from a safe distance to create some minor distractions for Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The massive battle commenced, with both sides split into two groups, fiercely fighting against each other. In the battle group where Lin Tianming was, after several rounds of probing attacks had ceased, the two opponents¡¯ expressions became dead serious. Clearly, after several exchanges, they seemed to have gauged each other¡¯s strength. Xu Haiqiao wasn¡¯t lying; the strength of the two black-clad men was indeed formidable. The one Xu Haiqiao fought was actually at the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Completion. The cultivator battling Lin Tianming was at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Beyond their cultivation levels, both men came from exceptional backgrounds and wielded second order superior attack talismans. And according to Xu Haiqiao, they were from the powerful faction of the Blood Red Alliance, with even a Golden Core Cultivator leading the team. They had backgrounds, strength, and the aid of high-grade magic artifacts. Such powerful opponents were the most challenging Lin Tianming had encountered in years. Knowing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to be negligent. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The attacks of the black-robed man were relentless like the tide, barely giving Lin Tianming any chance to react. As the sky once again filled with red blade qi, Lin Tianming held nothing back. His Tiangang Sword radiated spiritual light as sword qi burst forth, clashing with the oncoming blade qi. At the same time, he took out several Second Order Attack Talismans, including two of superior quality. With a pinch of the Law Decree, he activated the talismans without hesitation. In an instant, the talismans transformed into countless fireballs, and the sky was suddenly full of fireballs raining down on the black-robed man. Right then and there, the gray sky blazed with fire, and powerful oscillations spread out, causing the marshland around them to churn violently. After the strike, the sky returned to a brief calm. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knotted, and his heart could not help but feel a sense of surprise. The pressure from the man in black was too great; aside from not resorting to his last-ditch effort, there was basically no way to harm him. And on the other side, the man in black was equally astonished. To him, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation obviously did not match his own, but the strength he displayed seemed hardly inferior. Thinking this, the man in black instantly withdrew the slight arrogance in his heart and became serious. Their mission was critical, and failure, even with their brothers¡¯ level of ability, would definitely lead to severe punishment once back at the Blood Red Alliance. Given this, he had to act quickly; capsizing in a gutter was not an option. Understanding this, the man in black no longer held back and channeled his spiritual power to its peak, planning to end the fight quickly. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± In an instant, waves of blood-red saber qi coalesced from the black-robed man¡¯s magic artifact, quickly forming nine blood-red giant dragons. At that moment, the black-robed man¡¯s face flushed red as he suddenly bellowed, ¡°Bloodthirsty Jiao Invades the Heavens!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than the nine dragons opened their gaping maws, coming at him with immense momentum. Seeing this, and feeling the endless momentum that seemed to want to devour him in one fell swoop¡ª If he were to be struck by the nine blood dragons, even his robust body would have no possibility of survival. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew somber. But he did not panic. After all, he had been through numerous life-and-death battles, each time turning peril into safety, which enriched his combat experience. As the blood dragons drew closer, their tremendous momentum instantly evaporated the mud around them. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors. With a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, he directly unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword. He was well aware that ordinary attacks were of little use now; under such pressure, he had to exert all his strength and aim for a swift resolution. Realizing this, he hesitated no longer and spurred the Tiangang Sword Qi, clashing with the oncoming blood dragons. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds rang out, the intense explosion obscuring their vision. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Lin Tianming, relying on the Eye of Five Colors, saw through this barrier and clearly observed the Tiangang Sword Qi easily shattering six blood dragons. But by the seventh, it seemed its might had been exhausted too much, barely breaking the seventh before dissipating. The remaining two blood dragons, their speed unabated, continued their fierce advance toward him as if intending to swallow him whole. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s feet became swift, and he instantly shifted dozens of yards away. Yet, like living creatures, the two blood dragons followed the trajectory of his movement and pursued. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression slightly shifted. In haste, he swung the Tiangang Sword, unleashing a torrent of sword qi to intercept one blood dragon. As for the impending other, he had already activated two Second Order Defense Talismans, forming barriers in front of him. In the blink of an eye¡ª A vast amount of Tiangang Sword Qi whittled away at the power of the blood dragon, while the other broke through the barrier formed by the Defense Talismans. For a moment, the two weakened blood dragons collided head-on with Lin Tianming¡¯s fists. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two loud thuds followed, with Lin Tianming staggered back dozens of yards by the force of the blood dragons, finally regaining his balance after a few stumbles. By then, the two blood dragons, their might spent, dissipated before his eyes. In that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s arms went numb and blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, his inner energy turbulent. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the sensation of shock within his body. As his inner energy circulated once more, his arms regained sensation and strength. With this most powerful strike concluded¡ª It was evident that despite having used many treasures and his physical strength, he was still suppressed by the black-robed man. Looking again at the black-robed man opposite him, his expression turned exceedingly grim, and his face filled with wariness. Chapter 572 03-25 - 572 321 Treasures Appear_1 ?Chapter 572: Chapter 321 Treasures Appear_1 Chapter 572: Chapter 321 Treasures Appear_1 Across from him, the black-robed man¡¯s expression shifted, betraying a hint of surprise. ¡°Dual Cultivation of Body and Law?¡± The black-robed man muttered to himself in a low voice. At this moment, following that last strike, the black-robed man was shocked once again. You should know, the attack he had just used would typically leave a Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator with very few able to handle it as calmly as Lin Tianming had. For instance, when he used his strongest strike against Xu Haiqiao, also at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, he had inflicted severe injuries. Furthermore, some Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators were unable to withstand even one hit and were directly killed by the Blood Dragon. ... Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s current state seemed to be nothing more than impacted by some recoil. This trivial amount of damage had virtually no significant effect on his combat power. While he was momentarily distracted, Lin Tianming initiated his attack. At this time, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, grasping all of his remaining Second Order Attack Talismans in his hand. More than ten Second Order Attack Talismans, among them three of Superior quality, the rest were of Second Order Medium Quality. He chanted the Law Decree, activating all the Attack Talismans in one go. ¡°Boom¡­Boom¡­Boom¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The heavens and the earth were once again dominated by the various attacks produced by the talismans, a sky-obscuring frenzy that seemed wild to behold. Yet, merely these Attack Talismans were not enough to satisfy Lin Tianming. As the black-robed man dealt with the talismans, Lin Tianming had already activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. In addition, the Thousand Beast Banner was also unleashed, engulfing the black-robed man in a vast expanse of black fog. All these countermeasures were executed in an extremely short span of time. Before the black-robed man could react, he was already suppressed by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner. At this point, the black-robed man¡¯s face darkened, staring at the continuously shrinking Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the numerous Second Order Demon Beast Souls lunging towards him with their gaping jaws, revealing a look of extreme wariness. Moreover, the Sword Qi from inside the Sword Array bombarded him relentlessly, bringing with it intense feelings of constraint and pressure, posing a great trouble to him. However, being a veteran of countless battles, even though he found the situation problematic, he didn¡¯t lose his composure entirely. As the dense attacks continued to bombard him incessantly, the black-robed man began to rely on some consumable treasures to buy himself time. ¡°Boom¡­Boom¡­Boom¡­¡± echoed from within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. The Sword Qi circulating inside the Sword Array clashed violently with the black-robed man¡¯s Blood-colored Short Blade¡¯s Qi. In the blink of an eye, many strands of Sword Qi were deflected and eventually dissipated completely. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel helpless. The range covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was still too large, making the Sword Qi insufficiently concentrated. And the black-robed man¡¯s Blade Qi was extremely formidable, both in strength and number. Therefore, relying solely on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s current Sword Qi might be inadequate to fully block the black-robed man¡¯s attacks. Realizing this, Lin Tianming pushed his Spiritual Power to its limit, firmly stabilizing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At the same time, he sprayed a mouthful of his blood essence onto the surface of the Thousand Beast Banner. In an instant, the Thousand Beast Banner shone brightly, and a vast number of Monster Beast Souls surged out of the massive black fog once again. At a glance, there were nearly ten thousand Monster Beast Souls, the majority of them being First Order Monster Beast Souls. Yet, there were also three to four hundred Second Order Late Stage Monster Beast Souls. Such a multitude of Monster Beast Souls rushed toward the black-robed man ferociously, swarming him in endless waves like an overwhelming tide. At this moment, the black-robed man was not about to simply wait for death. He frantically deployed Second Order Talismans, their powerful attacks annihilating swathes of Monster Beast Souls in sheets. In a blink of an eye, thousands of First Order Demon Beasts were reduced to ash. Still, the Monster Beast Souls, fearless, surged forward relentlessly, giving the black-robed man no chance to catch his breath. They savagely tore at the barriers before the black-robed man, gradually gnawing away these unique energy bodies. A Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman could barely last a moment before completely collapsing. It was only then that the black-robed man truly understood the terrifying nature of these Monster Beast Souls. In desperation, a bright light emanated from his body and his Blood-colored Short Blade moved feverishly. Waves of Blood Blade Qi spread outwards in all directions. ¡°Bang¡­Bang¡­Bang¡­¡± With each booming sound, a substantial number of Monster Beast Souls dissipated completely into the black fog. However, the sheer number of Monster Beast Souls was too vast to be eradicated in a short period. At that moment, seeing the black-robed man struggle to keep up, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t idle either. He firmly controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, reducing its range as quickly as possible. He was all too aware of just how strong the black-robed man was. Moreover, the situation with Xu Haiqiao was also dire; already severely injured and stripped of his treasures, his strength was significantly reduced. If he delayed too long and Xu Haiqiao was killed, he would have to face an even greater crisis. Therefore, he had to seize the opportunity, shrinking the range of the Sword Formation as much as possible before his opponent could free himself. Once it reached a hundred zhang in range, he could gain the upper hand and kill the black-robed man as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they would likely be drawn into an arduous battle. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare hesitate. In haste, he produced a gray-white bead that he hadn¡¯t used for a long time, the Spirit Detonation Beads. Chapter 573 03-25 - 573 321 Treasures Emerge_2 ?Chapter 573: Chapter 321 Treasures Emerge_2 Chapter 573: Chapter 321 Treasures Emerge_2 At this moment, his hand clutching a Spirit Detonation Bead, he infused a stream of pure spiritual power into it. Immediately after, the Spirit Detonation Bead started to turn a deep red. Seeing this, he didn¡¯t hesitate and threw the Spirit Detonation Bead towards the black-robed man. At that time, the black-robed man was still mired in the quagmire of attacks from the Monster Beast Souls. However, he was constantly monitoring Lin Tianming¡¯s every move while contemplating countermeasures. In the moment he saw the Spirit Detonation Bead, the black-robed man¡¯s complexion suddenly changed, revealing a look as if facing a formidable enemy. Clearly, he knew the great power of the Spirit Detonation Bead, and even at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he didn¡¯t dare to directly withstand the damage from this treasure. ... As he watched the Spirit Detonation Bead draw ever closer, the black-robed man grew slightly anxious. He was still trapped in the morass formed by the Monster Beast Souls¡¯ assault, and the toll it took was not small; fighting his way out and escaping the beasts¡¯ entanglement would truly require a desperate effort. Making up his mind, the black-robed man slapped his storage bag and pulled out a Second Order Medium-Quality Defense Artifact, placing it firmly in front of him. Then, not feeling entirely secure, he hastily brought out several Second Order Talismans, forming two barriers in front of him again. Seeing this, that the black-robed man brought out a Second Order Medium-Quality Defense Artifact and even needed to add a few Second Order Defense Talismans, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but frown, feeling incredibly surprised. After all, he had always had a considerable stockpile of expendables and Second Order Magical Artifacts were of extremely fine quality, giving him no small advantage in a fierce battle. And this fight had revealed the black-robed man¡¯s wealth to be beyond his expectations. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? A never-ending supply of magical artifacts, all of Medium to High Quality, coupled with what seemed to be an inexhaustible use of Second Order Talismans¡ªcontrasted with his own resources, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but murmur to himself. ¡°Who is this guy, to be so incredibly rich!¡± Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression hardened, and his determination to quickly kill the black-robed man grew even firmer. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud explosion resounded. The Spirit Detonation Bead, carrying a terrifying power and moving at an incredibly fast speed, pierced straight through the riddled barriers and slammed against the Defense Artifact summoned by the black-robed man. Brilliant colors streaked across the sky, and suddenly the entire sky lit up brightly. When the light had dissipated, the figure of the black-robed man was revealed. He had been blasted dozens of feet away by the terrifying shockwave of the explosion. Finally stabilizing himself, the black-robed man looked terrified, vomiting blood in mouthfuls, his face instantly turning pale. Just that one strike had inflicted serious injuries on him, causing his power to decrease. Furthermore, his Second Order Defense Artifact in hand had also sustained damage, resulting in a significant loss of spirituality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and extremely satisfied with the power of the Spirit Detonation Bead. He estimated that the power of the Spirit Detonation Bead was at least equivalent to two or three Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, indeed making it a rare consumable treasure. But with only two of these beads, and having used up one already, he still hadn¡¯t critically injured the black-robed man. Under such circumstances, he feared that relying solely on himself, without investing considerable effort, would still not be enough to kill the black-robed man. With that in mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, taking out another Spirit Detonation Bead, adeptly activating it, and then hurling it towards the black-robed man. His actions were resolute, without a hint of regret. At this sight, the black-robed man completely panicked. He knew his injuries were serious, and that the Second Order Defense Artifact had also been damaged to various extents, causing a decline in its spirituality. If he were to forcibly withstand another hit from the Spirit Detonation Bead, it was likely that the artifact would be utterly ruined. And for himself, under the assault of the terrifying Spirit Detonation Bead, it was extremely probable that at least he would be severely wounded, losing his combat effectiveness, or at worst, it could cost him his life. In his haste, disregarding his injuries, he began to flee. However, after investing so much, Lin Tianming was not about to easily let go of the advantageous situation he had created. At this point, as he watched the black-robed man flee in a panic, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword burst forth with a ray of Spiritual Light. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword!¡± With a loud shout, he unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi. The combined power of the six swords was terrifying; it had speed and immense destructive force. Charged with this powerful momentum, the Tiangang Sword Qi shot towards the black-robed man, relentlessly blocking his path. As the saying goes, slow in speech but swift in action, the Tiangang Sword Qi was already inches away. Besides, the Spirit Detonation Beads were getting closer and closer to exploding at any moment. In this instant, the black-robed man finally felt the breath of death. In such a desperate moment, the black-robed man was completely terrified. Seeing that there was no escape, the black-robed man forcibly calmed himself and then held his Second Order Medium-Defense Artifact in front of him. He knew very well that escaping at this stage was meaningless and would only hasten his death. Better to resist fiercely against one attack; perhaps there was still a chance to live. Therefore, he had to make the choice to stake everything and brace himself for the attack of the Spirit Detonation Beads. At this moment, time seemed to stop, yet it also seemed to stretch on for a long time. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Following a loud noise, the world was once again illuminated by a bright red light. A few moments passed. By then, tranquility had briefly returned to the heavens and earth. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± A few faint coughs sounded. Only when the dust had settled could one see the black-robed man lying on the ground, coughing while spitting blood, with his body already covered in scattered patches of fresh blood. Looking around, the black-robed man was drenched in blood, his body riddled with wounds, and half of his arm had vanished, making his flesh a blurry mess, presenting a truly pitiable sight. He lay on the ground with a sullen appearance, stubbornly raising his head and glaring at Lin Tianming with eyes that seemed intent on annihilating him. But it was only a look, devoid of any real threat. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. In his view, the black-robed man was now gravely injured and had lost his fighting ability. With such wounds, even if he did not continue to attack, the black-robed man had little hope of returning to his peak. If not tended to swiftly, he would most likely die outright. Under these circumstances, after depleting many precious treasures, he had finally achieved his goal. At this moment, he finally relaxed, preparing to shift his attention to the battle not far away. It was then that a scream pierced the air. He hurriedly redirected his gaze and discovered the source of the scream. Looking ahead, Xu Haiqiao, like a kite with its string cut, had crashed heavily into the marshland. The soft mud simply couldn¡¯t withstand such a powerful force, resulting in Xu Haiqiao disappearing from view. Several moments passed without a sign of Xu Haiqiao, nor could any breath be felt from him, as a torrent of blood gushed continuously from the hole. The crimson blood, mixed with the dark mud, was starkly conspicuous. Obviously, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s adversary had killed him with one strike, leaving no opportunity for him to struggle. At this time, the plight of the Bloodthirsty Jiao nearby was equally tragic, with a large number of scales fallen off its body and more than a dozen wounds of varying depths bleeding on its back. Gazing upon it, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s breath was weak, and its massive body lay half-prostrate on the ground, still groaning in pain. Clearly, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was also deeply wounded. Looking at the gravely injured Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was dark, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he stared at the black-robed man. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, he dared not act rashly at this moment. After all, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was his Spirit Beast, and he was very familiar with its strength. Together with the severely injured Xu Haiqiao, they had only held on until now, yet the situation was one dead and one critically injured. And that injured black-robed Cultivator, with merely the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, already possessed such formidable strength. Then how powerful must he be, having reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment? It was clear that the black-robed man¡¯s strength was beyond imagination. Chapter 574 03-25 - 574 322 Hesitating to Take Action for ?Chapter 574: Chapter 322: Hesitating to Take Action for Fear of Harming Something Valuable_1 Chapter 574: Chapter 322: Hesitating to Take Action for Fear of Harming Something Valuable_1 At this moment, across from him, the black-robed man was similarly enraged, as if he wanted to hack him to pieces. Thus, the two exchanged glares, the atmosphere taut with tension, making the scene somewhat eerie. It was hard to say how much time passed, but amidst the bizarre atmosphere, the black-robed man broke the rare calm and initiated an attack. At that instant, the blood-red short blade in the black-robed man¡¯s hand burst forth with bursts of spiritual light, unleashing a great amount of blood-red saber qi that pressed down towards Lin Tianming. The blade qi unleashed by the black-robed man looked incredibly sharp. The moment it appeared, the temperature of the entire world plummeted as if suddenly falling into an ice cave. Clearly, his red blade attack was much more formidable than the one unleashed by the black-robed Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator who had been heavily injured by Tian Ming earlier that day. ... It was obviously apparent that the same attack methods, when used by someone of Foundation Establishment Great Completion, had a gap in power that was clear at a glance, compared to those at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew that the hard fight to come was sure to be fraught with danger, and his expression grew solemn. In his haste, he promptly turned and, with the significant help of the Eye of Five Colors, found the best route to dodge. Even though the black-robed man¡¯s attacks were powerful and dense, Tian Ming¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, his agile steps as unpredictable as the autumn wind. On the surface, each step he moved appeared to teeter on the brink of extreme danger, but with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, the deadly blood-red saber qi could never draw near him. Soon, as all the red blade qi dissipated, the land gradually returned to calm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï And Lin Tianming had already appeared a hundred yards away, having narrowly escaped the attack unscathed. Even as Lin Tianming steadied himself, the black-robed man wore an expression of disbelief. He was clear about the extent of his younger brother¡¯s abilities. He knew that while there was a realm¡¯s difference between them, both cultivated the same cultivation technique, including similarities in their magic artifacts and divine skills. Nonetheless, the gap between his brother¡¯s strength and his own was still significant. Under such circumstances, for Lin Tianming to have escaped his attack was not something he could easily accept. However, the reality of Lin Tianming easily dodging the attack was right before his eyes. By this moment, he realized that his younger brother being severely injured by Lin Tianming was no accident. At this time, he exhaled a long sigh, his expression growing ever more grave. On the other side, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was full of wariness, much like that of the black-robed man. But before he could even catch his breath, the black-robed man attacked again, not intending to give him any chance to rest. Seeing the incoming red blade qi, Lin Tianming snorted coldly and quickly counterattacked. He reached into his storage bag and activated all the remaining Second Order Attack Talismans at once. Then, the Tiangang Sword in his hand vigorously swung, releasing a massive amount of sword qi that clashed with the incoming red blade qi. ¡°Boom¡­¡± For a time, the two engaged in a fierce exchange, with fire lighting up the sky, and the swamp once again splattering with mud. At a glance, Lin Tianming, with the help of some consumable treasures, was barely able to match the black-robed man attack for attack. However, a closer observation would reveal that Lin Tianming¡¯s ordinary attacks were still hardly a threat to the black-robed man. The black-robed man, on the other hand, appeared to have no major concerns or much consumption, pressing the attack on Lin Tianming throughout the fight. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming was clearly at a disadvantage. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not far from their battle, a period equivalent to the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, and the struggling Bloodthirsty Jiao that had finally recovered, pushed itself up. It glared angrily at the black-robed man who was fighting with Lin Tianming, its gaze filled with a thirst for blood. With a shrill cry, it twisted its body and charged at the black-robed man. Soon, with the Bloodthirsty Jiao joining in, Lin Tianming had an extra helper. One seeking to attack, the other focusing on defense; the two coordinated rather well. At this point, they once again faced the black-robed man¡¯s attacks, no longer so hard-pressed. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming¡¯s consumption was substantial; his Second Order Attack Talisman had been completely used up. Besides that, his spiritual power was draining rapidly. After all, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation and, coupled with the previous burst of battle, the remaining spiritual power in his body barely reached about thirty percent. Meanwhile, the black-robed man at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, with spiritual power and soul having reached the limit of the Foundation Establishment Stage, was certainly more solid than his. If it continued this way and his spiritual power was depleted first, he would only be able to rely on his physical strength to withstand the black-robed cultivator¡¯s attacks. By that time, relying solely on his physical strength, he would definitely be no match for the black-robed man. Beyond that, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was already severely injured; its strength greatly compromised, and the longer the fight dragged on, the more limited the help it could provide. As for the Purple Gold Eagle and Qin Xi, their strength was truly limited, and they couldn¡¯t get involved in their fight at all. In this way, if no breakthrough was found, their situation would become very dangerous, and they might even face total annihilation. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming was extremely anxious. And on the outskirts, Qin Xi and the Purple Gold Eagle, seeing Lin Tianming in a passive position, were likewise burning with anxiety. Despite their insufficient strength, they could only fret or occasionally launch a few attacks to harass the black-robed man¡¯s assault. Chapter 575 03-25 - 575 322 Hesitant to Take Action for Fear ?Chapter 575: Chapter 322: Hesitant to Take Action for Fear of Endangering Valuables_2 Chapter 575: Chapter 322: Hesitant to Take Action for Fear of Endangering Valuables_2 ¡°Boom¡­¡± In Qin Xi¡¯s hands, the magic artifact flashed intensely, and following that, with a pinch of her jade hands, a great number of Second Order Attack Talismans appeared. Without the slightest hesitation, she activated them all. In an instant, the sky was engulfed in a sea of fire as a mass of silver-white Sword Qi converged and ferociously poured down upon the Black Robed Cultivator. At that moment, the Black Robed Cultivator, who was in a fierce battle with Lin Tianming, let out an angry shout. He then slapped his hand, releasing a vast amount of blood-colored gas, which dismantled Qin Xi¡¯s attack. After the gas passed through the sea of fire, it continued to hurtle toward Qin Xi¡¯s position. ... The gas was fast; in the blink of an eye, it was about to hit Qin Xi square on. ¡°Fairy Qin, be careful!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who was the first to perceive the danger, cried out anxiously. By that time, Qin Xi had already reacted. Seeing the gas nearly upon her, her face instantly turned pale. In her urgency, she did not sit waiting for death; she immediately activated a Second Order Medium-Defense Talisman, creating a barrier in front of her. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 The red gas directly penetrated the barrier formed by the defense talisman and then struck Qin Xi¡¯s chest with precision. In an instant, Qin Xi was sent flying like leaves swept away by the autumn wind, tumbling outwards. Under the gaze of Lin Tianming and the others, Qin Xi¡¯s graceful body heavily crashed into a mound of earth. Lying in the pit, she looked disordered, with a bloody hole showing on her shoulder, and her torn clothing soaked red with blood. She coughed up several mouthfuls of blood essence and then struggled desperately to stand. However, her injuries were severe; even a casual strike from a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator was not something she, at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, could withstand. Had it not been for Lin Tianming¡¯s warning and her decisive actions to dodge the vitals in time, the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s attack might have very well killed her in one blow. At this time, seeing Qin Xi seriously injured, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and a surge of indescribable fury ignited within him. He turned his gaze, his eyes blood-red, staring at the Black Robed Cultivator. At this time, the Black Robed Cultivator, gazing at the partially exposed Qin Xi, said with a lewd smile, ¡°Fairy, once I dispose of this guy, I¡¯ll come and spend a wonderful night with you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was overcome with rage, his already bloodshot eyes becoming even more terrifying. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± He cursed angrily and then stimulated the Tiangang Sword in his hand, unleashing Tiangang Sword Qi. In that moment, the power of the six overlapping swords seemed too much for even the surrounding air to withstand, as it was devoured by the sharp Sword Qi. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword!¡± With his loud shout, the Tiangang Sword flew out from his hand, transforming into a long rainbow that shot toward the Black Robed Cultivator. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Opposite him, the Black Robed Cultivator sneered, seemingly not worried about the attack. As the Tiangang Sword approached, the Black Robed Cultivator swung his blade, unleashing a huge tide of Blade Qi that collided with the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword pierced through the Blade Qi, continuing with tremendous force toward the Black Robed Cultivator. ¡°Hmm?¡± The Black Robed Cultivator was slightly surprised, not expecting Lin Tianming¡¯s outburst to be so much stronger. Still, he didn¡¯t take it too seriously, seeming to feel that the threat Lin Tianming posed was still insignificant. As the Tiangang Sword reached above his head, the Black Robed Cultivator finally slapped his storage bag and took out a Second Order Medium-Defense Artifact to protect himself. This Second Order Medium-Defense Artifact, like the one his comrade used before, seemed to be crafted by the same person. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, fearing this strike would be futile once more. ¡°Bang¡­¡± As expected, the Tiangang Sword struck the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s artifact, and with just one breath, it was immediately repelled, eventually being retrieved by him. This attack merely pushed the Black Robed Cultivator back several tens of meters, leaving only a crack in his Defense Artifact. As the round of attacks came to an end, the two once again created a distance between them. At this point, Lin Tianming already had a pale face and couldn¡¯t help feeling powerless. The opponent was simply too strong; with the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, coupled with the endless magic artifacts, and those consumable treasures, he felt unprecedented pressure after the intense battle. It seemed that without using his trump card, he had absolutely no hope of victory. With this realization, Lin Tianming quietly pondered his strategy in his heart. Currently, he had basically run out of consumable treasures in his hands, with only a Fake Golden Core Talisman left. Besides that, his strongest divine skill that he hadn¡¯t used for several years was the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. However, to use this technique, he would need to at least delay the black-robed man for a moment. Otherwise, the attack of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art might fail against the highly cultivated black-robed man. As for the means to trap the enemy, he had only the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner. But whether the Earth Fiend Sword Formation could trap him or not, he had no confidence. After all, facing a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator whose strength made him struggle immensely. To set up the Earth Fiend Sword Formation right under his nose and trap him inside was extremely difficult. If the containment wasn¡¯t strong enough and the Great Sun Sword Qi Art couldn¡¯t kill him, then the outcome of this battle would be completely determined. Considering all this, Lin Tianming was undecided for a long time. However, the black-robed cultivator did not give him time to think and made the first move towards him. Looking over, the black-robed cultivator once again stimulated a vast amount of Red Blade Knife Qi, even more terrifying in number than before, engulfing him in a barrage. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned to the utmost severity. Seeing the reflection getting closer and closer, he dared not delay; he quickly turned around and nimbly wove through the multitude of Blade Qi. At this moment, the black-robed man, as if anticipating his moves, didn¡¯t stop his handiwork for even a moment as Knife Qi continuously appeared, bombarding from all directions, aiming to cut off his escape route. This instant, Lin Tianming felt the pressure on him multiplying; every dodge was incredibly strenuous. Several breaths passed, and the overwhelming Knife Qi still did not cease, firmly blocking his path. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the taste of death. This sensation was something he had not experienced in recent years. Confronted with this kind of crisis, he suddenly became extremely calm, with no ripples in his heart. Seeing that he was about to have no way out, Lin Tianming almost instinctively noticed the black-robed man he had severely injured. They were only a hundred zhang apart, and that area was not covered by the Blade Qi. Relying on the Eye of Five Colors, he could certainly transfer there. With a flash of movement, he found a gap and quickly arrived not far from the black-robed man. Looking at the unconscious black-robed man on the ground, the Tiangang Sword in his hand shone brightly as he slashed down towards him. This action caused the complexion of the black-robed man attacking him to change instantly. ¡°You dare!¡± The black-robed man let out a loud shout and then shot towards him madly, reaching extreme speeds. Clearly, the black-robed cultivator was deeply concerned about the life and death of the man on the ground; otherwise, he would not have been so alarmed, nor would he have acted so recklessly. Seeing the black-robed man getting closer and closer to himself, a look of joy appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. A good opportunity! At that moment, Lin Tianming deployed the Earth Fiend Sword Formation he had prepared in advance, and immediately began to activate it. At the same time, he deliberately slowed down the Tiangang Sword in his hands, as if it was an intentional move. Indeed, seeing Lin Tianming activating and running the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the black-robed man seemed to hesitate. However, after only a half breath of delay, he still charged into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation without any concern for his own safety. Such an action clearly indicated that he held Lin Tianming¡¯s countermeasures in contempt, which explained the absence of any hesitation. And his actions played right into Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, fulfilling the plan he had envisioned. Watching the black-robed man drawing near, Lin Tianming quickly operated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, reducing the scope of its coverage. Simultaneously, he unleashed the Thousand Beast Banner, releasing a mass of Monster Beast Souls to envelop the black-robed man. Chapter 576 03-25 - 576 323 Spirit Art Reappears_1 ?Chapter 576: Chapter 323 Spirit Art Reappears_1 Chapter 576: Chapter 323 Spirit Art Reappears_1 As the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner began to operate, the man in the black robe was immediately caught in a dilemma. At this time, Lin Tianming also switched his target and did not go after the man he had seriously wounded. Watching the man within the Sword Array, he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand frequently, unleashing a large amount of Sword Qi, shooting towards the man in the black robe. Seeing Lin Tianming give up on his initial target, the man in the black robe breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. However, his expression grew more solemn in face of his own situation, clearly understanding that he was being led by the nose by Lin Tianming. But in his heart, that was no longer so important. After all, he had some confidence in his own strength, and after several exchanges, he had formed a rough assessment of Lin Tianming¡¯s power. ... At this moment, facing the Tiangang Sword Qi that was getting closer and closer, the man in the black robe swung his blood-red short blade, which also erupted in bursts of shocking rainbows, slashing towards the incoming Sword Qi. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud noises reverberated, as the Tiangang Sword Qi and the man¡¯s Blade Qi violently collided with each other. For a moment, the area shrouded by the Sword Array was filled with flashes of light, and the ground was turned upside down. As the clash ended, the dissipating Blade Qi and Sword Qi gradually revealed the figure of the man in the black robe. At this point, his expression was somewhat grave; he was fending off the attacks of the Monster Beast Souls while unleashing various techniques in retaliation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened, and his Tiangang Sword burst forth with Spiritual Light, once again urging the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? This sword, likewise a combination of six swords, carried an unstoppable momentum as it shot towards the man in the black robe. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From the richness of the Sword Qi and its sharp aura, this attack seemed to be stronger than any before. Clearly, by now, he was desperately expending his Spiritual Power to its limit. He was acutely aware that he didn¡¯t have much Spiritual Power left and needed to create favorable conditions for his final move before it ran out. Under such circumstances, his use of the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword seemed more skillful, and its might was also increasing. At this time, Lin Tianming sensed the change and was immediately filled with surprise and delight. ¡°Could it be that the Tiangang Sword Qi has reached the Minor Achievement Realm?¡± He looked at the increasingly powerful Tiangang Sword, also somewhat incredulous that this was reality. It was only when the Tiangang Sword pierced through the Blade Qi and struck the man¡¯s Defense Artifact that Lin Tianming confirmed it. This sudden strike severely damaged the man¡¯s Second Order Defense Artifact, leaving a huge crack that severely hurt its spirituality. The man in the black robe spat out a mouthful of blood, and the look of horror on his face obviously conveyed his disbelief. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and finally accepted the fact that the Tiangang Sword Qi had achieved the Minor Achievement Realm. With this breakthrough, the power of the Tiangang Sword Qi greatly increased, further enhancing his strength. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s momentum was like a rainbow, continuously spurring the Tiangang Sword, seeking to expand his victory further. At this very moment, the man in the black robe was extremely furious. Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden increase in attack power caught him off guard, resulting in damage to his Second Order Defense Artifact and indirectly causing him to sustain injuries. Seeing the relentless attacks approaching, he finally lost his composure and began to fight back frantically. He realized that the situation was gradually slipping out of his control; if he remained indifferent, he could very well end up capsizing in the ditch. Under such circumstances, the man in the black robe¡¯s moves became increasingly fierce, each one carrying the momentum to kill Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A multitude of Sword Qi and Blade Qi intertwined, along with a massive amount of Attack Talisman. Looking over, the man in the black robe¡¯s attacks were exceptionally strong, attacking Lin Tianming with everything he had without reservation. And at this time, Lin Tianming was also unreserved. Despite the great pressure, he still persisted, waiting for the right opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged blows for several more rounds. As the two engaged in close combat, they were both pushed back by the powerful shockwaves, creating a safe distance between them. Having stabilized himself with great difficulty, Lin Tianming gasped for air, his chest rapidly heaving. His breathing was a little erratic, and his body bore wounds of varying depths; blood also oozed from the corner of his mouth. This appearance clearly indicated extreme exhaustion and light injuries. In contrast, the man in the black robe also had a restless breath and some injuries on his body. However, his condition was slightly better than Lin Tianming¡¯s; at least the injuries were superficial and his combat power had not decreased much. At this moment, Lin Tianming stared in the direction of the man in the black robe, silently planning in his heart. Having fought until now, his Spiritual Power was almost exhausted, and after a few more rounds of attack, he would enter a weakened state. Luckily, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had been reduced to a range of just over a hundred yards. It was operating very steadily. Combined with the Monster Beast Souls from the Thousand Beast Banner, it could greatly suppress the man¡¯s attacks and his movement speed. And for this goal, he had exerted all his strength, expending a great deal of Spiritual Power and sustaining serious injuries. Besides, the consumption of the Monster Beast Souls in the Thousand Beast Banner was enormous. Its attacking power was clearly a level below its peak, but it had achieved his goal, creating a condition favorable to himself. Chapter 577 03-25 - 577 323 Spirit Art Reappears_2 ?Chapter 577: Chapter 323: Spirit Art Reappears_2 Chapter 577: Chapter 323: Spirit Art Reappears_2 ¡°` As for the next part of the plan, it was to find a way to hold off the man in the black robe, giving him a chance to use his trump card. After much deliberation and assessing the entire state of the battle, he finally made up his mind. At all costs! Even if the Monster Beast Souls in the Thousand Beast Banner were to die out, or even to be destroyed, he would complete his plan. Furthermore, he intended to use the long-preserved Fake Golden Core Talisman to create the most secure opportunity. The reason for such decisiveness was that the black-robed man¡¯s strength was simply too formidable, putting him under immense pressure. Having fought up to now, he had been at an absolute disadvantage, basically getting pressed and hit with little chance to counterattack. ... And the black-robed cultivator¡¯s formidable power, as well as his endless attacking methods, had completely exceeded his expectations. Therefore, such a costly action was an act of desperation. Otherwise, he really would have been reluctant to use this rare Fake Golden Core Talisman. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming immediately began to execute his plan. At once, he unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword, putting enormous pressure on the man in the black robe head-on and diverting his attention. At the same time, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and Thousand Beast Banner were also pushed to their limits, quickly shrinking in size while causing trouble for the black-robed man, keeping him too busy to notice his movements. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï With a powerful attack descending, the black-robed man was completely surrounded by an endless tide of Monster Beast Souls and a sky filled with Sword Qi. His expression dark, spiritual power inside him rampaged, desperately killing those tirelessly emerging Monster Beast Souls. His offensive power was very strong; each strike dissipated hundreds of Monster Beast Souls. Unfortunately for him, the Monster Beast Souls had no fear and kept surging like a tide, gnawing at his protective barrier. On their own, one or two Monster Beast Souls seemed to have limited strength, but in numbers reaching tens of thousands, they were truly terrifying. Occasionally, some Monster Beast Souls broke through the blockade, latching onto the black-robed man¡¯s body and gnawing at a piece of defensive inner armor he wore. Soon, some unprotected parts of the black-robed man¡¯s body began to turn into a bloody pulp. If he hadn¡¯t had the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and, although not specializing in body cultivation, had cultivated for a hundred years with a consequently strong physique, these Monster Beast Souls alone would have been enough to devour him. At this critical moment, the black-robed man roared furiously, and his body abruptly shone with blood light, repelling many of the Monster Beast Souls. Having barely freed himself from these annoying Monster Beast Souls, before he could even catch his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword had already descended above his head. At such close proximity, with the speed of the Tiangang Sword, it was only a matter of an instant before it could reach him. At this moment, the black-robed man finally experienced the taste of death. Facing the sudden crisis, the black-robed man panicked but quickly calmed down relying on his abundant experience in magic combat. With a flick of his Law Decree, streams of spirit power poured into the defense artifact in front of him. ¡°Boom¡­¡± a thunderous sound followed. The Tiangang Sword struck the defense artifact, and the strong impact force repelled him dozens of feet backward before he stabilized his figure. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and his face gradually turned as pale as a fish¡¯s belly. This strike was indeed formidable, leaving deep cracks in his defense artifact, which further weakened its spirituality. He didn¡¯t even have time to grieve before he fell into even greater trouble. Since his position had moved closer to the center of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, which was also the area with the densest movement of Sword Qi, in addition, he was surrounded by an endless tide of Monster Beast Souls that were eating away at his protective barrier. By now, Lin Tianming had shrunk the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to a hundred feet in scope, truly possessing a strong suppressive power. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and the Fake Golden Core Talisman immediately appeared in his hand. Looking at the shining Fake Golden Core Talisman, Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, cast a Law Decree onto it. Suddenly, the talisman flashed with golden light and then condensed into a giant Golden Light Greatsword between heaven and earth, hovering above his head. ¡°A Fake Golden Core Talisman?¡± As the Fake Golden Core Talisman appeared in an instant, the black-robed man¡¯s face drastically changed, becoming incredibly frightened. Clearly, he knew very well what a treasure the Fake Golden Core Talisman was and possessed what sort of offensive power. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have shown such a reaction. At this moment, the normally unruffled black-robed man suddenly became frantic. ¡°` He lashed out in madness, attacking the barricades of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation recklessly in hopes of breaking the bind quickly to escape this dangerous place. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of explosions resounded, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook crazily, teetering on the verge of collapse, as if on the brink of shattering. At this moment, Lin Tianming, while stimulating the Fake Golden Core Talisman, was distractedly operating the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Suddenly, he spat a mouthful of fresh blood on the Sword Array Barricade in front of him. In the blink of an eye, the aura of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation surged, and the previously crumbling formation began to stabilize. Seeing this, Lin Tianming held no more reservations. With the final Law Decree slamming out, the Golden Light Greatsword condensed from the Fake Golden Core Talisman soared into the sky, shooting toward the Black Robed Cultivator at an unthinkable speed. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, the dim sky suddenly brightened, the marshy mud evaporated into nothing, revealing the dark ground underneath. As the two of them watched, the Golden Light Greatsword had already descended above the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s head. At this moment, the Black Robed Cultivator, fully aware that his life hung by a thread, had exhausted all his methods solely to ward off this fatal blow. Looking over, numerous Second Order Defense Talismans had condensed in front of him, along with the repeatedly used Defense Artifact. ¡°Bang!¡± A thunderous noise erupted. The Golden Sword Qi, in the blink of an eye, shattered the Defense Talisman. Immediately after, the Golden Sword Qi continued along its predetermined trajectory, stabbing towards the vital points of the Black Robed Cultivator. The Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s face turned pale as he watched the unstoppable Golden Light Greatsword approach, feeling its sharp aura, he spat a mouthful of essential blood onto the Defense Artifact in front of him. In an instant, the aura of his Defense Artifact rose sharply, and its defensive power seemed to have increased significantly. Under his watch, the Golden Light Greatsword arrived as expected, slamming directly into his Defense Artifact. At that moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely, yet also feel incredibly brief. ¡°Bang!¡± Another loud sound boomed. His Defense Artifact, after persevering for but a moment, exploded into pieces. The Golden Light Greatsword that had originated from the Fake Golden Core Talisman continued forward, although its formidable penetrating power was much reduced after meeting the resistance of the Defense Artifact. However, he was left with no defense mechanisms now, and, being too close, he had no possibility to use any other techniques. In such a dire situation, he could only rely on his speed to dodge and the Defensive Inner Armor he wore to protect him. At this time, the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s figure twisted, attempting to flee from the spot. Yet, the Sword Qi from within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had long been assaulting from every corner, along with the persistent Monster Beast Souls blocking his way, leaving him no time to evade. In his desperation, he could only twist his body, trying to protect his vital areas from being fatally wounded. As he struggled to adjust, the Golden Light Greatsword struck, hitting squarely on his shoulder. The Black Robed Cultivator let out a miserable scream, his body sent flying backward, eventually falling into a pit of mud. Lying in the pit, the Black Robed Cultivator spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his face turning pale and powerless. The Fake Golden Core Talisman had directly broken through his meticulously prepared defenses, and even shattered a corner of his inner armor. Had he not dodged in time, that strike could have taken his life. Yet, the blow still inflicted severe damage on him, causing a considerable decline in his strength. In the pit, he rolled over, struggling to his feet from the mud, staring intently at Lin Tianming. When he looked at Lin Tianming, the slight joy of a narrow escape from his expression instantly vanished. Opposite him, Lin Tianming had, at some point, condensed a silver-white Sword Qi above his head. Upon closer inspection, this silver-white Sword Qi looked as cold as ice yet as fiery as the blazing sun, carrying boundless momentum, stirring the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth. ¡°Spirit¡­ Spirit Art?¡± ¡°Is this actually? It¡¯s actually an Earth-grade Spiritual Art!¡± The Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s face turned to terror as he blurted out with a stutter. Feeling the oppressive force of the silver-white Sword Qi, the Black Robed Cultivator could no longer care about anything else; he frantically tried to flee. He knew full well that with the formidable power of an Earth-grade Spiritual Art, even with his cultivation, getting hit would leave no hope of survival. Under these circumstances, his speed soared to the extreme; he had probably never moved faster in his life. ¡­ Chapter 578 03-25 - 578 324 Tallying the Harvest_1 ?Chapter 578: Chapter 324 Tallying the Harvest_1 Chapter 578: Chapter 324 Tallying the Harvest_1 However, Lin Tianming had already activated the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, unleashing the sword qi he had nurtured within his body for over two years. At this moment, the silver-white sword qi, like a meteor, tore through the void. The powerful momentum completely stirred up the heavens and the earth. The black-robed man was extremely terrified and tried to flee, but the speed of the silver-white sword qi was too fast for him to escape. Under his desperate gaze, the silver-white sword qi came crashing down. ¡°Ah¡­¡± a horribly miserable voice sounded. The black-robed man was hit by the silver-white sword qi and his body fell straight from the sky, ultimately landing in the marsh. Looking around, the black-robed man¡¯s head and body were separated, the fresh blood dyeing the surrounding mud red. The dense and numerous wounds on his body were a ghastly sight to behold. ... Furthermore, the black-robed man lay motionless, clearly having no breath of life left. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, the operation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation ceased, and the black fog of the Thousand Beast Banner re-entered the banner itself, both falling to the ground. Lin Tianming also fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto a small hillock. He lay in a pit, with his insides churning like turbulent waters, continuously spitting out blood from his mouth, his chest clothing already soaked red. His condition seemed very poor. Unbeknownst to others, after a series of fierce battles, he had activated countless amounts of sword qi and numerous talisman papers. The spiritual power inside his body was long exhausted, even surpassing his limits. Looking at the dead black-robed man, Lin Tianming struggled to get up, shakily walking over to the heavily injured black-robed man. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Even with no spiritual power left in his body, his strong physique allowed him to summon all his strength to deliver a punch that ended the black-robed man¡¯s life. Then, with several coughs of essence blood, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground and fell into a deep sleep. At this time, not too far away, Qin Xi, with a pale face, disregarded her own injuries and ran over. Seeing Lin Tianming unconscious with his chest still heaving, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly took out a few elixirs and fed them to Lin Tianming, then made sure he was settled. After doing all this, Qin Xi hurriedly got up and began to clear the battlefield. Half an hour later. Qin Xi, holding the unconscious Lin Tianming, sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, flying toward the west. Two days later. Shuirou Mountain Range, within a canyon densely covered in forests. Qin Xi, who had left the battlefield, did not dare to stay in the Jinping Mountain Range any longer. After all, according to Xu Haiqiao, a Golden Core Cultivator had led a team, and several Foundation Establishment Cultivators as accomplices, almost wiped out the Xu Family without a trace. She feared staying near the scene might lead to encounters with companions of the black-robed cultivators, risking another crisis. Therefore, with the Purple Gold Eagle hastening the journey, she traveled non-stop, fearing any trouble. Thankfully, after two days, she was able to exit the Jinping Mountain Range with Lin Tianming and finally arrived here. At this moment, inside a simple cave dwelling. Lin Tianming lay on a stone bed, his facial complexion seemed much better. At this time, Qin Xi sat beside Lin Tianming, her beautiful eyes fixed on his sleeping figure, lost in her memories. Recalling how she had been injured by the black-robed man and Lin Tianming¡¯s angry demeanor, she couldn¡¯t help but show a sweet smile. She was fully aware that Lin Tianming had been in a desperate situation himself, with no capacity to care for her. Yet, despite that, his angry expression upon seeing her wounded and his frenzied attack deeply moved her heart. The care Lin Tianming had provided her over the past two years allowed her to experience an unprecedented sense of family. More importantly, she had developed a fondness for the exceptionally talented Lin Tianming. Now, having gone through life and death together, she unconsciously harbored an indefinable sentiment toward Lin Tianming. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± A few coughs interrupted her reverie. She looked down and saw Lin Tianming staring at her with wide eyes, his face slightly flushed, not knowing how long he had been watching. Seeing this, Qin Xi¡¯s heart fluttered, her face quickly blushing to her neck, and she hastily turned her head away. But Lin Tianming pulled her down in one move. Qin Xi, caught off guard, found herself tightly embraced in his arms. ¡°Er¡­uh!¡± Instinctively, Qin Xi began to struggle by twisting her body. Lin Tianming held her even tighter, intensifying his grip with no intention of letting go. After some time passed, Qin Xi¡¯s movements ceased. Lin Tianming lowered his head to see Qin Xi also holding his neck, her head buried in his chest. At that moment, as Lin Tianming inhaled the scent from Qin Xi¡¯s hair and felt a certain sensation from his chest, his blood surged throughout his body. Feeling the change in Lin Tianming¡¯s body, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder. Lin Tianming, acutely aware of the changes in his body, unpredictably lowered his head and committed a rash act. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± In that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s mind went blank, as if she had forgotten everything. And so, the two embraced each other, pressing close without any further actions. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea passed. They both sat up, asking simultaneously, ¡°Are you alright? Is your wound still serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just some injuries and a bit of overexertion. Nothing of major concern!¡± It was as if they had a telepathic connection, their questions and answers echoing each other perfectly. Chapter 579 03-25 - 579 324 Inventory Gains_2 ?Chapter 579: Chapter 324 Inventory Gains_2 Chapter 579: Chapter 324 Inventory Gains_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming took the initiative to break the awkward silence and opened his mouth to speak, ¡°Fairy Qin, may I invite you to return with me to my family to meet my parents and all the elders?¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Qin Xi was at a loss for words, seemingly hesitant. Seeing this, Lin Tianming thought that Qin Xi did not understand his intention and hastily began to explain. ¡°Fairy Qin, I fell for you at first sight and wish to take you as my Dao companion to pursue the Dao of eternal life together!¡± As soon as these straightforward words were uttered, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed red, and her heart began to thump wildly. ¡°Would you be willing?¡± Lin Tianming pressed on. ... ¡°Mm-hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi turned her back to Lin Tianming, and then nodded her head slightly, like a pecking chicken. ¡°Haha¡­ Fairy Qin has agreed!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of excitement, and he could not help but burst into laughter. ¡°Hmph!¡± Qin Xi uttered a pretend huff of annoyance. Seeing her like this, Lin Tianming was utterly baffled, not understanding why the girl before him was angry. ¡°Fairy Qin?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, shaking her fragrant shoulders in an attempt to please her. ¡°Hmph¡­ still calling me Fairy Qin?¡± Qin Xi punched his chest with her fists, feigning anger as she spoke. Hearing this, Lin Tianming finally realized and quickly called out, ¡°My Lady!¡± At the sound of these words, Qin Xi¡¯s face grew even redder, looking very much like a bright red apple. ¡°Tian Ming, we haven¡¯t yet met your parents, nor have we had our wedding night; it¡¯s probably too soon to call me your lady.¡± ¡°Better to call me Xi¡¯er!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking to himself that indeed calling her ¡®my lady¡¯ was premature. After all, Qin Xi was a woman who surely was more shy and reserved. Even though they were cultivators, and worldly customs could no longer bind them, the appropriate ceremonies were still necessary. Otherwise, it would be too hasty and not show her due respect. Thinking this, Lin Tianming excitedly called out, ¡°Xi¡¯er!¡± ¡°Once we return to the family, I will inform my parents of this matter and ensure that you get a bustling wedding ceremony!¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, Tian Ming has it arranged then!¡± After Qin Xi spoke, she moved into Lin Tianming¡¯s embrace, hugging him and, at the same time, tears can¡¯t help but seep from the corners of her eyes. At that moment, her heart was filled with a mixture of emotions ¨C happiness, relief, joy, and also some regrets. Lin Tianming seemed to feel her emotions and gently held Qin Xi, patting her back with his broad palms softly. After a while, both of their moods gradually calmed down and they parted from their deep embrace. The two looked at each other and smiled, their faces filled with deep love. At that point, Lin Tianming suddenly remembered something and began to ask about what had happened after he had fainted. Hearing the question, Qin Xi began to speak, explaining all the subsequent events one by one. In a short while, after listening to Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming finally understood what had happened after he had lost consciousness. Back then, he had expended too much energy; although he had not been severely injured, the spiritual power inside his body was utterly drained, squeezing out every last bit of his strength. In a rush, he managed to kill two black-robed cultivators, but his body couldn¡¯t take it anymore, resulting in his fainting. Qin Xi had also cleaned up the battlefield, collecting all the spoils of war, and did not forget to erase the traces of battle. Afterward, they were carried by the Purple Gold Eagle towards the west, up to the Shuirou Mountain Range, where they found this place to serve as a temporary cave abode, allowing him to recuperate properly. And he had slept for a full three days. As for Qin Xi¡¯s decisions, Lin Tianming approved of them; after all, there were still companions of the black-robed men, including a Golden Core Cultivator leading them, and it was predictable that Xu Haiqiao would seek refuge from Zhenyang Sect in the north. Therefore, they could not continue southward, nor could they return the way they came; the best strategy was to detour to the west. And indeed, this move was the right one. At the very least, over the past few days, it had all been smooth sailing, without encountering other Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but burst into praise, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡¯s decision-making is truly wise, so completely different from mine!¡± ¡°Ming always says the nicest things!¡± Qin Xi smiled. Following that, Qin Xi took out quite a few storage bags, more than a dozen in total. She handed the storage bags to Lin Tianming, then said, ¡°Ming, these storage bags belong to two black-robed men and Xu Haiqiao. Take a quick look!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming recognized from the remaining aura and the intact Consciousness Imprints on the storage bags that Qin Xi hadn¡¯t touched them. He was deeply moved by Qin Xi¡¯s gesture. After all, this was the wealth and assets of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including some treasures from the Xu Haiqiao family. Such an abundance of treasures was likely to constitute a fortune of astronomical value. And faced with so many treasures, she did not hesitate to present them, nor did she leave him behind. Clearly, Qin Xi had given everything she had to him. His own investment had indeed paid off, as he had chosen the right person, and he had received the rewards he deserved. Considering these things, Lin Tianming chuckled, not bothering to be modest, and directly took the storage bags. He then picked up a storage bag, whose lingering aura indicated it belonged to the first black-robed Cultivator he had severely injured. Excited, he hastily extended his Divine Sense and wiped off the remaining trace of it on the bag. Soon, the storage bag was rendered ownerless. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, the contents of the bag appeared in his mind. He hadn¡¯t thought much to look, but having done so, even the usually composed him couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath. The personal wealth of the first black-robed man was incredibly substantial! Just this storage bag alone contained tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, numerous Spiritual Medicine Materials and Artifact Refining Materials, as well as some common elixirs. However, most of the items were ordinary, like some consumable treasures which had almost all been used up in the fierce battle, leaving hardly any behind. After inspecting this bag, he promptly took out the second black-robed man¡¯s storage bag and skillfully erased the remaining Divine Sense on it. Upon his inspection, the wealth in this storage bag proved even more astonishing. After all, that man was at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, so his wealth was certainly richer than his brother¡¯s. Indeed, it was so. This storage bag alone had nearly a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, plenty of commonly used Spiritual Medicine and elixirs, two volumes of insights on Artifact Refining for Second Grade Refiners, and eight Second Order Magical Artifacts. Among them, there were two Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifacts and three Second Order Low Grade Attack Artifacts, and even a Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifact. From the aura emanating from these Second Order Magical Artifacts, they seemed to be of average quality. However, the sheer quantity made their cumulative value simply unimaginable. Besides that, the myriad of Artifact Refining Materials and Demonic Beast Materials in the bag were dazzling, with nearly a hundred types of First and Second Order materials. There were several types of Third Order Spiritual Ores too, each of a not insubstantial value and quantity. From the looks of it, this black-robed man at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection was at least a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner. And the value of the treasures in just this storage bag alone, accumulated, was worth at least several hundred thousand. And that didn¡¯t even include the remaining unexamined storage bags. If each bag¡¯s worth could reach half of this one¡¯s, the total wealth of these two individuals would probably not be much less than the entire Lin Family¡¯s fortune. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, his excitement reaching a boiling point. Although he had used all his tricks in this battle, using up two Spirit Detonation Beads and even his trump card, the Fake Golden Core Talisman, and expending the Sword Qi he had nurtured for over two years. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, the value of the wealth in just these two storage bags exceeded the value of the treasures he had spent by several times over. ¡°Indeed, risk and opportunity coexist!¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t taken this risk and fought so hard, how could I have reaped such rich rewards?¡± thought Lin Tianming to himself. Collecting his thoughts, he then turned his attention to the remaining storage bags, his expression one of burning eagerness. ¡­ Chapter 580 03-25 - 580 325 Qilin Seal_1 ?Chapter 580: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_1 Chapter 580: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_1 Seeing his expression, Qin Xi next to him wore a curious look and hurriedly asked. ¡°What is it? Did you find something good?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ take a look for yourself!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile and then tossed the two storage bags to Qin Xi. Qin Xi caught the storage bags, and after a sweep of her Divine Sense, her complexion instantly turned a flushed red, evidently seeing something shocking. ¡°This¡­ so many Spirit Stones? And all these treasures?¡± Qin Xi stuttered and stammered, seemingly unable to accept or believe it. ... ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯re not seeing things, this is real!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi finally believed that these treasures were real. At this time, she couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, and began dancing with joy. Lin Tianming chuckled and paid her no mind, instead looking eagerly at the other storage bags, planning to continue his examination. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed each storage bag, his powerful Divine Sense erasing any traces of ownership. A short while passed. Apart from the three belonging to Xu Haiqiao, the remaining storage bags, which still bore traces of the two black-clothed men, had all their Divine Sense wiped clean by him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Upon scanning them with his Divine Sense, their contents filled his mind. After tallying their contents, he found that although these storage bags weren¡¯t empty, their value was obviously less than that of the two main storage bags. By his estimates, the Spirit Stones in these storage bags totaled only about ten thousand, clearly leftovers from some forgotten corners. As for the other items, they were mostly low-level Spiritual Medicine, elixirs, and Demonic Beast Materials, with hardly a few valuable items among them¡ªtheir accumulated value probably didn¡¯t even reach tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Beyond that, there were only some low-level manuals of insight and some personal belongings. From the above items, it was clear that these two black-clothed men indeed belonged to an organization called the Blood Red Alliance. Recalling various books he had read before, Lin Tianming finally found some information about the Blood Red Alliance. It was said to be a powerful force in Qingzhou with unfathomable overall strength, even boasting several Nascent Soul Elders and numerous Golden Core Cultivators. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, where Golden Core Cultivators stood at the pinnacle, in the mighty Blood Red Alliance, they were only considered mid to upper hierarchy. The Blood Red Alliance was entrenched in the heart of Qingzhou, and the vast Yuxu Country was their territory. Such a powerful force, even when compared to top forces like the Tang Family of Qingzhou, was still slightly superior in overall strength. Besides, this organization conducted itself aggressively and with a style straddling good and evil, responsible for many deeds that provoked public outrage. From a certain perspective, this organization could be characterized as a group of deviant cultivators. Yet, despite their strong presence and overwhelming might, they were virtually at the top of Qingzhou¡¯s hierarchy of powers. Even though some forces were dissatisfied with their conduct, they did not dare to voice their anger in fear of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s influence. However, upon reflection, such a powerful organization had come to the impoverished Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and even destroyed a Foundation Establishing Family like the Xu Family. Such actions made one wonder what they were plotting? Lin Tianming pondered repeatedly but could not discern their motives. It wasn¡¯t until he remembered what Xu Haiqiao had told him when they met¡ªthat the Blood Red Alliance had annihilated the Xu Family for something¡ªthat everything started to come together. Considering how powerful the Blood Red Alliance was, to humiliate themselves by covertly annihilating a Xu Family as insignificant as ants, they must be after something extraordinary. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes shifted and he fixated on Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags, an expectant look on his face. Clearly, since Xu Haiqiao was the most powerful in the Xu Family and had fought desperately to escape, he likely took the family¡¯s most important treasures with him. His actions were probably aimed at reaching the northern Zhenyang Sect to offer treasures in exchange for protection. His luck just hadn¡¯t been very good, barely escaping from his family home only to be caught by two cultivators from the Blood Red Alliance. He might have thought that meeting Lin Tianming would offer him a chance at survival. But as it turned out, it seems Heaven¡¯s Will had different plans, and fate played its hand! Ultimately, the seriously injured Xu Haiqiao died, his path ended, and all his and his assassins¡¯ belongings fell into Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. In all likelihood, the object that the Blood Red Alliance sought with great effort and cost was within his storage bags. Realizing this, Lin Tianming did not dare delay. He quickly took Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags in hand and effortlessly wiped any remaining Divine Sense from them. Then, he hurriedly projected his Divine Sense to examine Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags. After scanning several storage bags in succession, he learned of the value of the treasures Xu Haiqiao had on him. Indeed, as he had guessed, the Xu Family¡¯s treasures were all on his person. Through his examination, he found that within Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags, there were as many as one hundred and thirty thousand Spirit Stones, evidently Xu Haiqiao¡¯s personal reserves as well as some of the Xu Family¡¯s savings. The amount of Spirit Stones was almost as much as what was on the two Blood Red Alliance men. As for the other treasures, they too were varied and many were such that he couldn¡¯t help but envy. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among them, there were several bottles of Fusion Spirit Pills, with each bottle containing three pills, used for cultivation. With these at his disposal, he was confident he could break through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm before finishing them. Besides, there were two Cloud Mulberry Fruits, excellent items for enhancing one¡¯s cultivation. Chapter 581 03-25 - 581 325 Qilin Seal_2 ?Chapter 581: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_2 Chapter 581: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_2 The Second Order Superior grade of the Cloud Mulberry Fruit, with its immense energy content, was at least several times stronger than the Blood Red Fruit he had consumed a while ago. And these were only a part of all the treasures. The greater and more valuable part consisted of various cultivation methods, and the inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation, as well as a large number of treasures used for the Four Arts, such as the items needed for Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Talisman Making. Among them were seven Cultivation Methods, three Mysterious Grade Techniques, and four Yellow Grade Techniques. The rest included two sets of Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist Insights, and one set of Second Order Lower Grade Talisman Maker Insights. There were also quite a few of the First Order, but with lower grades and more varied, they could only serve as a reference and were not expected to be of much use. However, even though these items were limited in grade, they could significantly strengthen the foundation of the Lin Family¡¯s Four Arts of Cultivation, allowing the clan members to absorb the essence and rapidly improve their skills. ... Beyond these, there were numerous Third Order Treasures and Second Order Treasures that the Xu Family had accumulated over the centuries. With such an enormous collection of treasures, undeniably prized by the Xu Family, their cumulative value was estimated to be over several hundred thousand. At this moment, after having preliminarily investigated the storage bag, Lin Tianming was already over the moon, exhilarated to the utmost. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his heart, this gain was simply too astonishing. And the risk he took was well worth it. After a long time, he finally calmed down, holding a red jade stone in his hand. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 This stone appeared very ordinary, exuding no aura, indistinguishable from a commonplace jade and undetectable by any common means. But after examining it with the Eye of Five Colors, he was able to discern some clues. Upon close observation, he found that inside this jade stone was a tiny fiery red seal, covered in profound runes and numerous Demonic Beast totems. Most prominent and eye-catching was the top of the fiery red seal, which bore the form of a mythical beast that resembled a qilin, along with three characters inscribed above it. ¡°Qilin Seal!¡± He surmised that this Qilin Seal was likely a high-order cultivator¡¯s cave abode key or a token to open a secret realm. However, with only this information, the specific function of the object and the opportunities that may lie behind it remained completely unclear. Nevertheless, he was well aware that the Blood Red Alliance would not have gone to such lengths for an ordinary object. Now that this object had fallen into his hands, if the Blood Red Alliance became aware, it would be uncertain whether it would be a chance or a disaster for the Lin Family. At the very least, for the Lin Family in its current state, this object also concealed a huge opportunity, and perhaps even a crisis. Upon further reflection, the greater the danger, the greater the opportunity it usually implied. It could very well be the capital for the Lin Family to soar to new heights. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming dared not make a hasty decision. ¡°No matter, whether it be a chance or a disaster, once I return to the family, I will discuss it with Third Grandfather and the others!¡± Determined, he immediately stored away the Qilin Seal. At that time, Qin Xi, noticing his alternating flush and pale complexion, hurriedly showed concern. ¡°Ming, did you find something incredible?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming¡¯s grave expression softened, and he then smiled, ¡°Nothing¡¯s the matter, it¡¯s just that the storage bag contains an enormous amount of treasures.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming handed the storage bag to Qin Xi, suggesting that she take a look. In truth, Lin Tianming said this to avoid letting more people know about the Qilin Seal. Even though Qin Xi had already established a romantic relationship with him, such a matter was too significant, and the more people who knew, the greater the risk. At that moment, Qin Xi, hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, did not overthink it and had no intention to examine the storage bag. She smiled lightly, ¡°As a wife, I shall not look into it. Ming, please keep the storage bag safe.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not insist any further and stored the storage bag away. Only then did he say, ¡°Xi¡¯er, we have already delayed for several days, and this place still poses great danger. We should set out as soon as possible!¡± ¡°As Ming arranges, Xi¡¯er has no objections!¡± Qin Xi nodded in agreement. ¡°` ¡°Alright, let¡¯s rest for today and set off first thing tomorrow morning!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming sat down on the ground, took out a Consolidating Essence Pill and swallowed it, then immediately entered a deep state of cultivation. Next to him, Qin Xi did the same, and both soon entered into cultivation one after the other. The following morning. As dawn barely broke, Lin Tianming and his companion took advantage of the dim morning light and left their temporary cave abode. After several days of rest, his spiritual power had returned to its peak state, and there were even signs of a breakthrough. However, this place was not suitable for a long stay. Lin Tianming did not dwell on the opportunity for a breakthrough, ready to leave and head towards Qianchuan Market first. As for his injuries, they were not serious to begin with. After several days of cultivation and with the help of some elixirs, he had almost completely recovered, with only minor external wounds remaining that did not significantly affect his combat capabilities. Similarly, Qin Xi had been injured by the man in the black robe but fortunately, it was not severe. After a few days of cultivation, her injuries too had mostly healed. With that, he had no concerns about setting off right away, embarking on the journey to Qianchuan Market. After skillfully concealing the entrance to their cave, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from his storage bag. The Bloodthirsty Jiao continued to rest inside the Spirit Beast Bag, striving to recover to its peak condition as soon as possible. After feeding the Purple Gold Eagle the corpse of a Second Order Initial Stage demonic beast, one after the other, they mounted the back of the eagle. Immediately afterward, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, quickly ascending through the clouds to a height of several thousand zhang. Soon, a dark shadow flew southward in the direction of the Qianchuan Market, vanishing from the valley in the blink of an eye. ¡­ Qianchuan Market. More than two months had passed since news of the battle at Yuyao City had spread. At this moment, inside a secret chamber in Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Tianfeng, Lin Xingyan, and several members of their family sat opposite each other, their expressions filled with gloom. It was then that Lin Xingpu, who had brought back the news from Hui Ethnicity lands, looked over at Lin Xingyan with a grave expression and asked, ¡°Cousin, it¡¯s been more than two months since the battle ended. Why hasn¡¯t Tianming come back?¡± ¡°Could something have happened?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Xingyan heaved a long sigh, his tone laden with helplessness. He was completely clueless about Lin Tianming¡¯s whereabouts, and it was likely that no member of the family knew his current situation. Seeing this, Lin Xingpu couldn¡¯t help but feel helpless and worried. At this time, Lin Tianfeng also spoke up to reassure everyone, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry so much. With Tianming¡¯s strength, unless he encounters a Golden Core cultivator, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger!¡± After he had spoken, several other family members joined in to offer their reassurances. ¡°Yes¡­ Tianming stood out among many Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivators, securing a spot in the top five of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. His strength speaks for itself.¡± ¡°And how many Golden Core cultivators are there in the entirety of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World? Besides, our Lin Family hasn¡¯t offended anyone, so he must be safe!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan thought it over and his expression finally relaxed. He then changed the subject and asked Lin Xingpu about the situation after returning to the family. At the question, Lin Xingpu¡¯s interest was piqued, and he eagerly began to recount his and Lin Xingzhao¡¯s return to the family. According to him, they had taken over twenty days to safely return to Green Bamboo Mountain. Upon their arrival, they first met with Lin Shikang and a few other senior family members. After their explanation, Lin Shikang and the elders learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s accomplishment of ranking fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Knowing that Lin Tianming had distinguished himself and also greatly increased in cultivation and strength, Lin Shikang and the others burst into joyful laughter, their faces unable to contain their excitement. Especially Lin Shigong, as Lin Tianming¡¯s grandfather, his heart was filled with indescribable excitement, and he was moved to tears. After calming himself, he took out a number of elixirs on the spot and bestowed them to the family members stationed in Qianchuan Market. ¡°` Chapter 582 03-25 - 582 326 Return_1 ?Chapter 582: Chapter 326 Return_1 Chapter 582: Chapter 326 Return_1 As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua made arrangements as soon as possible, summoning both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu to return to Qianchuan Market with him. The reason for this arrangement was that the Demon Beast Tide had essentially ended, and clan members were gradually returning to the Lin Family, which meant that key assets such as the Luoyun Pavilion also needed to be guarded by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. This move was not only to give the two of them some experience but also to welcome the return of Lin Tianming. They only stayed for two days before setting off again, and when they passed Golden Horn Mountain, they conveyed Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements. Subsequently, led by Lin Tianfeng, they took the family¡¯s replenishments for Luoyun Pavilion and made a smooth return to Qianchuan Market. After learning about the tasks of Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, Lin Xingyan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He, along with Lin Xingpu and several others, had been guarding Qianchuan Market for two years. ... Without the leadership of Foundation Establishment Cultivators during these two years, and under the pressure of the beast tide, they faced difficulties in all their affairs. The business of the Luoyun Pavilion was sometimes good and sometimes bad, lacking compared to its peak, but it had managed to hold on. Now, with Lin Tianfeng bringing several Qi Refining Stage clanspeople to take over his duties, he could relax quite a bit. This time, he might even be able to return to the family with the returning Lin Tianming. It just so happened that he too had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and had amassed a significant amount of Spirit Stones. After returning to the family and settling down for a year or two, he would be able to exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill to Impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. If fortunate enough, he might become another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the family. Thinking of this, Lin Xingyan¡¯s face glowed with health, and his previous worries disappeared. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He looked at the confident expressions of Lin Tianfeng and the others and brought up a new topic, starting to discuss the upcoming arrangements. A quarter of an hour later. The clanspeople had discussed and arranged their upcoming tasks, and then dispersed. ¡­ Several days later. At noon, the blazing sunlight penetrated the clouds and shone upon the earth. In the hilly area outside of Qianchuan Market, a dark shadow grew larger and larger before finally skimming over a small hilltop and landing steadily on a relatively high peak. This dark shadow was undoubtedly the Purple Gold Eagle. At that moment, Tian Ming and another jumped down from the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking out toward Qianchuan Market, shrouded in clouds and mist, revealing faint smiles. Since leaving Yuyao City, more than a month had passed. During that time, they inadvertently got involved in the incident with Xu Haiqiao and took a detour for safety reasons. Otherwise, they could have arrived several days earlier. Now, Tian Ming looked at the familiar scenery, put away the Purple Gold Eagle into his storage bag, and led Qin Xi on a Sword Flight towards the entrance to Qianchuan Market. Along the way, many Cultivators were on Sword Flight, with the same destination as them, the nearby Qianchuan Market. Clearly, with the end of the beast tide, the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World gradually returned to its former state, and commerce between the major family powers and markets revitalized. A large number of Cultivators left the market, and a large number returned, a sight not seen for over two years. Tian Ming was not surprised by this. After all, when the beast tide broke out, many people, with thoughts of refuge in mind, had headed to Qianchuan Market from all directions. Now that the beast tide had ended, the Cultivators who hadn¡¯t experienced any significant battles in the past two years were leaving the market in groups to hunt and kill those low-order Monster Beasts lingering in the mountains. On their way back, they saw quite a few of these scenarios. As for the Cultivators along the way, the vast majority were Qi Refining Cultivators, and occasionally some Foundation Establishment Cultivators would dart past at high speeds, attracting the attention of some Qi Refining Cultivators. However, Tian Ming and his companion had concealed their true identities, revealing only the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, and flew at a relaxed pace, not intending to interact with strangers at all. Their appearance and aura gave everyone an unfamiliar feeling, and with the Foundation Establishment-level cultivation, no one dared to disturb them. In such a situation, the two quickly arrived at the entrance to the market. With their cultivation strength, there was naturally no need to queue like the Qi Refining Cultivators. Under Tian Ming¡¯s lead, they bypassed many Qi Refining Cultivators and went directly to the Cultivator in charge of collecting the entrance Spirit Stones. He casually threw a few dozen Spirit Stones to the guard and left with Qin Xi, leaving behind a crowd of envious Qi Refining Cultivators. He did not bring out the Lin Family¡¯s Token, so as to avoid unnecessary attention. Although his current strength rendered him not much of a threat by anyone below Golden Core Cultivators, his habitually low profile meant he preferred to keep his identity and whereabouts concealed. Moreover, the entry fee wasn¡¯t much in terms of Spirit Stones, and with over two hundred thousand on him, he didn¡¯t regard this expenditure as significant. Under the gazes of envy and awe from the crowd, the two quickly vanished into the entrance. Once inside the city, Tian Ming didn¡¯t delay and immediately led Qin Xi to Luoyun Pavilion. Not long after, the Lin Family members including Tian Ming and Tianfeng gathered in a private room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion. All around, clan members looked excited and immensely thrilled, with not a trace of gloom on their faces. At that moment, an excited Tianfeng grabbed Tian Ming¡¯s arm, eagerly greeting him. ¡°Tian Ming, the other companions have already returned to the market; you¡¯ve been delayed so long, could there have been some unexpected event?¡± Chapter 583 03-25 - 583 326 Return_2 ?Chapter 583: Chapter 326 Return_2 Chapter 583: Chapter 326 Return_2 ¡°Yes, Sixth Brother!¡± Lin Tianhu also chimed in from the side. ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve specifically visited some cultivators, indirectly inquiring about Sixth Brother¡¯s news, but alas, they too knew nothing, which worried everyone terribly!¡± ¡°Indeed, indeed¡­ these days have really made us anxious¡­¡± Hearing the family members¡¯ words of concern, a warm feeling surged through Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, deeply moved. This is what family is about! No matter where he went, what he did, or what his level of cultivation and strength might be, there would always be people genuinely worried about his safety. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming bowed with his fists to the many clan members and began to speak about his own arrangements, but he did not mention anything about Xu Haiqiao¡¯s matter since it was extremely serious. ... It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust people like Lin Tianfeng. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The matter was simply too serious and also a hidden crisis, which he planned to disclose only to a few Shi clan members within the family. As for the younger generation, including his own father, it was better not to reveal anything. After all, the younger generation¡¯s power was limited; the more people knew, the greater the danger. It was not long before everyone learned that he had been cultivating in Qianchuan Market for a while, and he had almost broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, causing many to involuntarily take a sharp intake of breath. ¡°Sixth Brother, just what kind of monster are you?¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng said with a mix of laughter and tears, and then he began to mutter to himself. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°More than a decade ago, there wasn¡¯t much disparity between us Tian generation clan members, but after a few years of diligent cultivation, I was fortunate enough to barely break through to the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°I thought that after the breakthrough, I would narrow the gap between us, but who could have expected the disparity to grow even further!¡± ¡°It¡¯s truly¡­ seemingly impossible to catch up!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s sighs, the Xing generation clan members¡¯ faces grew even more dejected. You see, the talents and strengths of Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, besides the monstrous Lin Tianming, lead among both the Xing and Tian generation clan members. They had been practicing thirty or forty years earlier than Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, yet they remained at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining or the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. If compared with Lin Tianming, the difference was like heaven and earth. At that moment, seeing the expressions on many clan members¡¯ faces, Lin Tianming smiled and said, ¡°My fellow clansmen, there¡¯s no need to be so disheartened!¡± ¡°Cultivation itself should follow one¡¯s heart, and doing our best is enough; this way, the reward is worth the effort. Otherwise, if one blindly pursues a higher realm, it may well backfire!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianfeng spoke with a grave voice. ¡°What Sixth Brother says is true, not everyone is born with extraordinary talent!¡± ¡°Besides, talent can only decide the lower limit, not the upper limit. Sixth Brother¡¯s achievements today have come through numerous life-and-death crises over the years, as most of you have heard more or less.¡± ¡°We may not be able to become the Lin Family¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, but we can become the core backbone of the family, and in the future, we might return to being a Golden Core Aristocratic Family.¡± ¡°Or even¡­ even become the first Nascent Soul Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± Upon saying this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was resolute, his eyes revealing an indescribable confidence. ¡°A Nascent Soul Family?¡± And upon hearing this, the clan members, inspired by his words, saw the confusion in their eyes give way to color, and they exuded renewed vigor. Indeed! Even if one could not become the most outstanding clansman, each member could still utilize their strengths and contribute their power to the family. As long as the family has a goal and the best talents to lead, with these clan members contributing, why would the family not prosper? A Golden Core Family was already within reach, and they might even become the first Nascent Soul Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in ten thousand years. Although this path is difficult and the chance of success is incredibly slim. But what of that? It was not for them to consider; they simply needed to do their utmost, give their all for the Lin Family, and leave the rest to Heaven¡¯s Will. Understanding this, the clan¡¯s morale soared, a stark contrast to the previously somber atmosphere. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction and then inquired about the situation back at the family. After all, having been away for nearly two years, he constantly worried about the family¡¯s affairs. According to Lin Xingpu and Lin Tianfeng, the Lin Family had developed tremendously over the past two years, although the impact of the beast tide had prevented new clanspeople from entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. But in these few years, the upper echelons of the family had been tempered by the demonic beasts, and with the family¡¯s various supportive policies, the cultivation strength of the members who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage in the past decade did not cease, but instead leaped up one or two realms. Among them, Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping stepped into the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, with Lin Xingrong even reaching the peak of the Fourth Level, poised to enter the Fifth Level realm, becoming the highest cultivator among the Xing Clan Members. The reason for such cultivation was thanks to the sponsorship by Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming, both alchemists. Plus, as he was stationed in Golden Horn Mountain all year round and seldom delved into family affairs, he had ample time for cultivation, which is why he could become the forerunner among the Xing Clan Members. Lin Tianfeng also stepped into the mid-stage of the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, and Lin Tianhu was notable as well. Although much younger than Lin Tianfeng, his cultivation had also just entered the Fourth Level Realm. Such a rate of cultivation was not much slower than Lin Tianming in the same age group. As for other clanspeople, like the Xing Clan Members¡ªLin Xingzhi, Lin Xingli, and Lin Xingyuan¡ªall were at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. The Tian Clan Members were not weak in their cultivation either; among them, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue had already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were nearly all at the peak of the First Layer or within the Second Layer Realm. Now, after years of covert development, the strength of the upper echelons of the Lin Family has almost seen a qualitative leap. It could be said that the family¡¯s current overall strength could definitely rank in the top ten of the several hundred Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom, even potentially in the top three. As for the losses after the beast tide, despite the fall of nearly dozens of Qi Refining clanspeople, not many potential Foundation Establishment seeds were lost. The fallen clanspeople were not highly skilled, and their talents were only average, which didn¡¯t substantially impact the overall strength or potential of the Lin Family, nor did it shake the foundation. When it comes to Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain, the losses were almost negligible, and it was believed that in less than two years, everything would return to its former glory. Relieved by this news, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but feel gratified. Immediately thereafter, he changed the topic and asked about the situation of Luoyun Pavilion. At that point, Lin Xingpu took out an account book and handed it to Lin Tianming, indicating for him to take a look for himself. Lin Tianming nodded, took the account book, and started to look over it. According to the figures recorded, the revenue generated by Luoyun Pavilion over the past two years was considerable, nearly a hundred thousand Spirit Stones a year in profit, while not as much as at its peak, it still reached about sixty to seventy percent of its former levels. That these results were achieved under the influence of the beast tide that affected the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was completely beyond his expectation. However, it was a welcome surprise. Lin Tianming handed back the account book, then he praised, ¡°The stable operation of Luoyun Pavilion and the achievement of such a profit is greatly due to the efforts of several uncles. Once I return to the family, I will certainly report this to the Clan Leader, and I believe he will credit the uncles for their contribution and provide ample rewards!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Xingyan chuckled and promptly replied in a humble manner, ¡°Tianming, you are too polite. As members of the Lin Family, these are merely our duties.¡± ¡°However, to tell the truth, that Luoyun Pavilion could achieve such results amid a beast tide that affected the entire Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom, we really need to thank Senior Wang!¡± ¡°Oh? One of the Executive Officers of Luoyun Market, Daoist Wang Wang Zhi?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised. ¡°Indeed, Senior Wang. During your absence, he has truly given us much support!¡± With those words, Lin Xingyan continued to explain the difficulties Luoyun Pavilion had encountered in the past two years, as well as the help provided by Wang Zhi. A short while passed. After Lin Xingyan¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming learned of the reasons behind everything. Chapter 584 03-25 - 584 327 Explosive News_1 ?Chapter 584: Chapter 327 Explosive News_1 Chapter 584: Chapter 327 Explosive News_1 Soon, Lin Tianming learned of the reasons behind the events. He nodded approvingly, expressing great recognition and satisfaction with Wang Zhi¡¯s actions. It was true that he had informed Wang Zhi before he left Luoyun Market to go to Yuyao City and had received a promise that Wang Zhi would take special care of the Lin Family¡¯s Luoyun Pavilion and the family members. However, his relationship with Wang Zhi was not as deep as it was with Li Xiuyuan. Still, Wang Zhi had given great care to the Lin Family Members and the Luoyun Pavilion, which was somewhat surprising. Nevertheless, it was ultimately a good thing for the Lin Family. He planned to visit Wang Zhi on behalf of the Lin Family before leaving Qianchuan Market to thank him for his help and to establish a relationship with him. ... After all, as the Market City Supervisor, Wang Zhi would be someone the Luoyun Pavilion would need to rely on for at least the next few years. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming said to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, ¡°Big brother, Tianhu, come with me tomorrow to visit Daoist Wang; you might have dealings with him for the next few years.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianfeng nodded and smiled. ¡°Haha¡­ I was intending to do just that, had I not just arrived at the market, I might have gone even earlier!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡± After making these arrangements, Lin Tianming had pretty much found out everything he wanted to know. At this point, the family members began to chat about everyday matters, creating an amiable atmosphere. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Lin Tianfeng chuckled and said, ¡°Sixth brother, you have truly made a name for yourself in Qianchuan Market this time!¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk¡­ fifth place on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard and first among Loose Cultivators and family Cultivators; such dazzling achievements have really brought great fame to our Lin Family.¡± Before he could finish, Lin Xingyan nodded in agreement. ¡°You know, since the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was published in Qianchuan Market, our business at the Luoyun Pavilion has increased significantly.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It seems to me that this has a lot to do with Tianming!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ What my cousin said is true, for a while many Cultivators were visiting, their words full of flattery; clearly they wanted to make connections with us Lin Family Members.¡± ¡°And some female Cultivators also began to make contact with us, intentionally or otherwise¡­¡± Lin Xingpu excitedly gesticulated as he recounted the glory of that period. At this moment, Lin Tianming, hearing these words, broke out in a cold sweat and smiled helplessly. Seeing his furrowed brow, Lin Tianfeng quickly changed the subject. ¡°Sixth brother, do tell your older brother about your experiences in the great battle at Yuyao City; I am quite curious.¡± Once he had finished speaking, Lin Xingzhao nodded and chimed in. ¡°Yes, although we¡¯ve heard some things in the market, the stories told by those people are too dramatized and fabricated to be believable.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming opened up and started to recount the process of the battle simply, but he did not go into detail about the extremely perilous situations. A short while later, the family members had a rough understanding of the overall process and were profoundly amazed. They were astounded to learn that the Late Stage of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion led the group, accompanied by the powerful Blood Jiao and a formidable lineup consisting of nine Third Order Demon Beasts and tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts, which stood up against five Golden Core Cultivators and two Third Order Spiritual Beasts from the Zhenyang Sect. Especially in the first two battles, the Human Race army did not have the upper hand, and it was after those two deadly fights that the Human Cultivators suffered nearly total losses. However, as the battle dragged on, the Human Cultivators turned the situation around and gained the absolute upper hand. This war lasted for more than a year, with numerous skirmishes large and small, and ultimately, thanks to the tenacious resistance of the Human Cultivators, the demonic beast tide was put to an end. Yet, although the beast tide had ended, this brutal war would sooner or later be forgotten, and the Cultivation World would gradually recover to its former glory. But for those Human Cultivators who fell in battle, their loss was real; their families and powers behind them would not forget for a long time. Although he had heard some news about the brutality of the beast tide attack before, and understood its cruelty, such battles are, after all, a matter of racial conflict, with every Cultivator, regardless of status, being involved to some extent. But it was not until they heard it from Lin Tianming himself that they truly felt the whole significance of that war, and the bloody and brutal realities behind it. After calming themselves, the family members¡¯ spirits did not sink, but soared instead. Clearly, this war, which affected many Cultivators in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, also presented an opportunity for many. Take the Lin Family as an example: although they took on great risks, many family members gained experience from life-and-death battles, and their cultivation improved rapidly. Lin Tianming had been directly involved in the war, and his cultivation had improved swiftly, while the cultivation of other family members also generally increased by one or two realms. Beyond that, many Cultivators gained considerable benefits from the aftermath of the beast tide; anyone who survived the battle received the rewards they deserved. And while the Lin Family had cast a wide net and took on great risks, the gains were truly beyond imagination, at least far exceeding expectations. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling relieved, and he sighed inwardly, ¡°Indeed, risk and opportunity coexist; the greater the risk undertaken, the greater the reward.¡± Returning to the present, Lin Tianming chatted with a few family members for a while before leaving Luoyun Pavilion first, taking Qin Xi back to Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Chapter 585 03-25 - 585 327 Explosive News_2 ?Chapter 585: Chapter 327: Explosive News_2 Chapter 585: Chapter 327: Explosive News_2 ¡°` The next morning. In one of the rooms of the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming sat upright from the stone bed. He took a long breath, feeling the abundant power within his body, and a smile crossed his face. After a night¡¯s rest, whether it was his spiritual power or divine sense, everything had recovered to its best state, and the fatigue from over a month of traveling had completely vanished. In a short while, he stepped out of the room and into the small courtyard of the Cave Mansion. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and some others were sitting together, chatting over tea. Seeing him come out, Lin Tianfeng quickly got up to greet him, then invited Lin Tianming to join them. ... Immediately after, Lin Tianfeng poured him a cup of spiritual tea, and then teased, ¡°Sixth brother, you seem to be in good spirits today.¡± ¡°Haha, the fatigue from the past few days has dissipated, so naturally, I¡¯m looking good,¡± replied Lin Tianming with a laugh, before turning his head and noticing Qin Xi standing at the entrance of the corridor. His spirits lifted, he waved and called out, ¡°Xi¡¯er, come over and sit.¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er?¡± At this address, Lin Tianfeng looked puzzled as if he had heard some explosive news. His eyes were fixed on Lin Tianming, as though he was waiting for an explanation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï That was when Lin Tianming realized that all the clan members present were staring, their eyes wide and faces wearing a somewhat strange expression mixed between a smile and confusion. Feeling his face turn red with embarrassment, Lin Tianming introduced, ¡°You are all aware of Xi¡¯er¡¯s situation and have met her before, so I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much need for me to say more.¡± ¡°After living together for the past two years, I plan to take Xi¡¯er as my Taoist companion as we pursue the great path of immortality together.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of hearty laughter filled the air from all around, and the atmosphere was lively and warm. Lin Tianfeng laughed heartily and then stood up, running over to Qin Xi, bowing with his hands clasped and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ Sister-in-law, please come over and sit.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks also turned red, but she quickly returned to her usual composure. She bent slightly in return and said, ¡°Big brother, there¡¯s no need to be so formal, I should be the one greeting you all as part of the family.¡± ¡°Sister-in-law is too polite, please, take a seat,¡± said Lin Tianfeng. Welcomed by Lin Tianfeng, Qin Xi bowed to the clan members, her attitude extremely sincere, without any hint of arrogance despite her superior cultivation level. Her demeanor was extraordinary and her humble manners ensured she was not seen as an outsider. Moreover, as Lin Tianming¡¯s Taoist companion, whether it was her own cultivation status or this new identity, no one would dare to pull rank on her. Under such circumstances, the other clan members quickly responded with earnest bows, very satisfied in their hearts. As Qin Xi sat beside Lin Tianming, the others finally settled down, but the constant smiles on their faces showed the clan members were in great spirits. At that time, the always easygoing Lin Tianfeng laughed and said, ¡°Sixth brother, once you return to the family in a while, if Ninth Grandpa and the others learn about Sister-in-law, they¡¯ll probably be eager to arrange your wedding.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly, as he was already prepared, and being pushed into marriage was no big deal to him. Moreover, members of their family¡¯s Tian generation were gradually reaching the age for marriage. Although marrying in their forties was considered relatively early in the history of their family, it wasn¡¯t uncommon and there was nothing to be averse to. With this in mind, Lin Tianming said, ¡°I¡¯m not opposed to getting married. If conditions allow it, all of you must come and join in my wedding celebrations.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a must. As a Hidden Dragon of the Lin family is getting married, such joyous occasion cannot be missed. When the time comes, we will definitely attend,¡± Lin Xingyan and the other clan members chimed in one after another. ¡°As for me and Tianhu, we¡¯ve been stationed in the Qianchuan Market for the past few years and might not be able to attend, which would really be a pity,¡± Lin Tianfeng added. ¡°But even if I might not make it to the wedding ceremony, I must attend when that little nephew comes along.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t do to miss both the joy of the wedding and the joy of welcoming a child,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi blushed slightly, wishing she could disappear into a hole. ¡°` ¡°Hehe, brother, you need to pick up the pace and find us a sister-in-law soon.¡± Lin Tianming said with a chuckle. As soon as these words came out, Lin Tianfeng was at a loss for words and could only respond with an awkward laugh. Seeing Lin Tianfeng at a disadvantage, the family members all burst into laughter, and the scene became extremely lively. A short while passed. The chatter ended, and Lin Tianming, along with Qin Xi, Lin Tianfeng, and Lin Tianhu, left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed toward the location of the auction. Walking on the streets along the way, Lin Tianming did not conceal his cultivation level or his face, quickly attracting the attention of many cultivators. In fact, he did this intentionally. With his cultivation level about to break through to the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment and strength not inferior to a Great Completion Qi Refining Cultivator, in the absence of Golden Core Cultivators, he was essentially the strongest around. And in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there were only so many Golden Core Cultivators, with hardly any stationed in Qianchuan Market during normal times. It could be said that his cultivation strength was basically at the top within the Southern Wei Kingdom and Qianchuan Market. Following the announcement of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, his cultivation strength had long since spread throughout Qianchuan Market; there was really no need to hide. Moreover, his public appearance also served to promote the reputation of Luoyun Pavilion and even deter petty criminals, to avoid unnecessary trouble from those who are seeking it. In such a situation, his bold appearance in the busy market attracted many cultivators¡¯ gazes and even led to much discussion. In the crowd, a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Fifth Level looked at Lin Tianming with awe in his eyes and said, ¡°Is that the Elder Lin who ranks fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard?¡± ¡°Indeed, Elder Lin has already risen to fame,¡± a voice replied. As soon as the voice fell, an elderly Qi Refining Cultivator, who seemed to be a regular at Luoyun Market, heard this nearly universally known question and immediately began an endless introduction. ¡°Yes¡­ Even before the great battle at Yuyao City, many cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage were discussing Elder Lin.¡± ¡°In the battle at Yuyao City, it¡¯s said that Elder Lin faced three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts at once, and without much effort, he killed them all!¡± ¡°What? He faced three and still easily killed them?¡± ¡°How strong must Elder Lin be?¡± Hearing this, some uninformed cultivators seemed incredulous. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯m afraid that below the Golden Elixir Experts, he¡¯s an invincible presence,¡± the Qi Refining elder spoke gravely. Hearing this, the group of Qi Refining Cultivators¡¯ breathing quickened, clearly shocked. Once they had calmed down, another Qi Refining Cultivator asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Luoyun Pavilion the property of Elder Lin¡¯s family?¡± ¡°Exactly¡­ Luoyun Pavilion has been open for nearly ten years now, doing very well business-wise, earning a significant profit every year¡­¡± ¡­ At that moment, Lin Tianming, who was passing by, heard the conversation between the cultivators but did not pay any attention to it. With a faint smile, he led Lin Tianfeng and the others across the street and quickly disappeared from view. Not long after, the group of four made their way through several streets and arrived at the auction square. The place was bustling with a large crowd, many cultivators coming and going in a lively scene that seemed very popular. As people came and went, they too noticed his presence, and many stopped in their tracks, apparently curious to see the recently famous Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming chuckled and greeted the many Qi Refining Cultivators with a cupped fist salute before leading his companions directly into the auction hall. His purpose here remained to collect the spoils of the great battle at Yuyao City. After all, these cultivation resources came from the Zhenyang Sect, and given the strength of Zhenyang Sect, the rewards would certainly be substantial. Furthermore, before leaving, it had been explained that the items should be collected within a certain period. And this time returning to his family and coming back to Qianchuan Market might be two years later, when it would be time to gather at Zhenyang Sect. In such circumstances, he naturally wanted to claim his rewards this time, so as not to waste this hard-earned opportunity. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 586 03-25 - 586 328 Visit_1 ?Chapter 586: Chapter 328 Visit_1 Chapter 586: Chapter 328 Visit_1 With such a purpose in mind, Lin Tianming led several people into the auction hall. Upon arrival and his emergence, a Qi Refinement Realm disciple from the Zhenyang Sect immediately greeted them. ¡°Greetings, elders! May I know if there is anything I can assist you with?¡± ¡°Please come to our inner parlor to sit for a moment. I will immediately call for my uncle to keep you company!¡± The person¡¯s attitude was respectful, and his tone was filled with reverence. Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°You are too kind, young friend! Please lead the way then!¡± ¡°Elder Lin, you flatter me too much. This is what I should do!¡± ... The Qi Refining disciple replied, then led Lin Tianming and others deeper into the grand hall. Soon, the group entered a reception room, where the Qi Refining Cultivator prepared some Spiritual Tea, then excused himself. After a while, a loud, hearty laugh came from the entrance. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin, your visit today has indeed left me waiting quite some time!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming turned around and saw Wang Zhi stride in with an expression of pleasant surprise. ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you, Daoist Wang, for your concern!¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lin Tianming got up, cupped his hands with a smile, then explained, ¡°Recently, I had some insights, so I specifically stayed in Yuyao City to cultivate for a while; that¡¯s why I¡¯m a bit late returning to the Qianchuan Market!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? No sooner had the words left his mouth than Wang Zhi politely responded. ¡°Daoist Lin truly deserves his place at the forefront of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, always prioritizing cultivation. It¡¯s no wonder you have achieved such brilliant success.¡± ¡°My senior brother is indeed lucky!¡± Wang Zhi sighed sincerely from the bottom of his heart, and soon, he had already approached the front, his gaze fixed on Lin Tianfeng and others besides Lin Tianming, and he then inquired. ¡°I am not familiar with these fellow Daoists; who might they be?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming quickly pointed to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, introducing them: ¡°These two are my clan brothers of the same lineage, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu.¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s introduction, Wang Zhi¡¯s mind stirred, but inwardly he was quite surprised. According to the information he had, the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators were very limited, and plainly did not include these two. Yet the strength of these two seemed far from weak, certainly above the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, apparently not those who had just entered the stage. With this in consideration, the Lin Family¡¯s publicly known cultivators now numbered over ten, including later-stage existences such as Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, coupled with Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful combat capabilities in the late stages of Foundation Establishment. Such strength was exceedingly rare among the many Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. One could imagine, how strong must the overall strength of the Lin Family be? Moreover, this was just the visibility on the surface; there might still be hidden Foundation Establishment Cultivators within the clan. It appeared that the overall strength of the Lin Family may be even more formidable than what was evident. Wang Zhi finally understood why his senior brother Li Xiuyuan valued the Lin Family so highly, as well as Lin Tianming. In fact, his vision was indeed accurate, and he also obtained a generous reward by relying on Lin Tianming in the great battle at Yuyao City. With these thoughts in mind, Wang Zhi couldn¡¯t help murmuring to himself. ¡°The Lin Family is truly extraordinary, after all, they are a Golden Core Family, with quite a profound heritage!¡± ¡°It seems necessary to provide some support to the Lin Family and establish a good relationship with them!¡± Regaining his attention, Wang Zhi looked at Lin Tianfeng and the others, then started to greet them with a very courteous manner and expression. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng and the others did not dare to delay and promptly returned the gesture, behaving extremely politely. After exchanges of pleasantries, everyone took their seats. Then, Wang Zhi picked up a teacup, took a sip, and finally began to inquire about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions. Lin Tianming smiled lightly and spoke directly about the rewards from the great battle in Yuyao City. Wang Zhi nodded his head, having anticipated this, but asked out of routine. Following that, Wang Zhi got up and left for a short while, returning with two storage bags which he handed to Lin Tianming and Qin Xi. Lin Tianming took the storage bag, and his Divine Sense eagerly swept inside. Inside the storage bag, there was a Foundation Establishment Pill, ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and a Purple Star Fruit. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful. It was evident that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s reward, aside from the Spirit Stones, included other items that were in urgent demand by both the families and Loose Cultivators. There¡¯s no need to go on about the Foundation Establishment Pill, for it was a sought-after item among all Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Even now, the Lin Family was short of Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, in recent years, the family had consumed quite a few, and the remaining pills were extremely limited. And he had used up half of the Purple Yin Grass he had initially obtained. Considering the pace of the Lin Family¡¯s development over the years, if there is no replenishment of Foundation Establishment Pills or main ingredients for them in the next decade, the clan¡¯s growth might be greatly impacted. Although there was only one Foundation Establishment Pill, compared to the difficult times the family faced more than twenty years ago, this single pill could potentially create one more Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the clan. Beyond that, the Purple Star Fruit was also very valuable, as a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit, containing an immense amount of energy, which could be very beneficial for the cultivation of those in the late stages of Foundation Establishment. If accumulated enough, with a sufficiently stable base, it could perhaps enhance one¡¯s cultivation by a whole level without any side effects. Therefore, the Purple Star Fruit was precious, seldom circulating in the market, and even in large market auctions, it was difficult to come by. At this moment, Lin Tianming, looking at the treasures in the storage bag, was quite satisfied with the rewards from the great battle in Yuyao City. Chapter 587 03-25 - 587 328 Visit_2 ?Chapter 587: Chapter 328 Visit_2 Chapter 587: Chapter 328 Visit_2 In his heart, these treasures were not of low value. Aside from the entrance slot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, the accumulated value of these items alone was at least worth sixty thousand Spirit Stones. Although he had taken considerable risks, the rewards were indeed extremely generous. Such rewards, even for a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, were not something that could easily be offered. However, upon reflection, he was after all the person ranked first on the list, it was expected that he would receive such rewards. Otherwise, if too meager, it would be laughable especially given the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s thousands of years of heritage. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming took out the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Purple Star Fruit from the storage bag, and placed them into his own storage bag. Subsequently, he handed back the storage bag containing ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones to the nearby Wang Zhi. ... ¡°Lin, what is this?¡± Seeing this, Wang Zhi asked with a puzzled look. ¡°Heh¡­ over the past two years, Luoyun Pavilion and our family members have greatly benefited from Daoist Wang¡¯s care. This little token is a small gesture of our Lin Family¡¯s appreciation!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Hearing this, Wang Zhi waved his hand modestly, then replied, ¡°You¡¯re too polite, Lin. Those were just small favors, no need for such courtesy!¡± ¡°Not at all, not at all. What you¡¯ve done, I heard all about it from my clan members once I returned to Qianchuan Market, and I was deeply moved at the time.¡± ¡°And today¡¯s visit was also to say thanks to you, Daoist Wang, for your assistance, and to introduce my clan brothers to you. ¡°In the future, should the Lin Family or Luoyun Pavilion face any difficulties, we¡¯d be grateful for your further assistance.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï No sooner had he finished speaking, than Lin Tianfeng also offered a cupped-fists salute, echoing the sentiment sincerely. ¡°Indeed¡­ my brother and I will be stationed in Luoyun Pavilion for a few years. We¡¯ll be dealing with you a lot, Daoist Wang, so if we run into any difficulties, we hope you can make things a little easier for us!¡± At this point, Wang Zhi, having heard their words and seeing the sincere expressions of Lin Tianming and the others, felt it would be inappropriate to refuse any further. ¡°Heh¡­ then I shall humble myself and accept!¡± ¡°As long as I am in Qianchuan Market, if you brothers have any difficulties, feel free to seek me out, any matter within my power, I won¡¯t turn you away.¡± Wang Zhi replied with a polite smile, took the storage bag, and put it away. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others nodded in approval of Wang Zhi¡¯s attitude. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were also to ensure that Lin Tianfeng and the other had a support they could rely on, and that someone would look after Luoyun Pavilion in the market city. After all, Qianchuan Market had a lot of shops, and the competition was fierce. While on the surface, all shops seemed harmonious and non-interfering with each other, some would inevitably engage in malicious competition or even commit acts detrimental to others but not beneficial to themselves. So, building good relations with the Market City Supervisor like Wang Zhi had many advantages, even if it meant spending some Spirit Stones or treasures, it was no big deal. Other families would do the same if the Lin Family did not; it was almost an unspoken rule, well understood by every family and power. Returning his attention, Lin Tianming changed the topic and began to chat idly with Wang Zhi. Shortly after. After about a quarter of an hour of gathering, Lin Tianfeng, with his carefree personality, under Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangement, became more acquainted with Wang Zhi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming achieved his goal and promptly took his leave from Wang Zhi, leading the group away from the market auction. After leaving the auction, Lin Tianming did not go straight back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard but instead led the group towards the street where the Sky Dragon Pavilion was located. A quarter of an hour later. In a guests room on the second floor of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming and the others were sitting inside, chatting leisurely. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng glanced around the luxurious guests room and then asked Lin Tianming, ¡°Brother Six, who are we visiting today?¡± ¡°The Executive Officer of Sky Dragon Pavilion, Daoist Tang Xiuyuan!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng pondered for a while, then inquired, ¡°Tang Xiuyuan? A direct descendant of the Tang Family of Qingzhou?¡± ¡°Indeed, this person¡¯s identity and cultivation are not low, and his strength is definitely not weaker than mine. You all should be well aware of the Tang Family behind him, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression turned solemn, clearly understanding the might of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, and even more so, the significance of being a direct lineage member. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, younger brother, we know what we¡¯re doing!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, bringing them here was also to expand their connections. With Lin Tianfeng¡¯s current strength, befriending cultivators with profound backgrounds and formidable personal strength couldn¡¯t be anything but beneficial. Just then, Tang Xiuyuan walked in, and his hearty laughter could be heard from afar. ¡°Lin, congratulations, congratulations!¡± ¡°The battle in Yuyao City has ended, and Lin has risen to fame, becoming the topic of discussion among many cultivators in Qianchuan Market!¡± Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s words were much like Wang Zhi¡¯s, starting with pleasantries upon entering. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Regarding this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily, then waved his hand and replied, ¡°Daoist Tang is too kind!¡± ¡°This little achievement I¡¯ve earned is through desperate efforts and unlike Daoist Tang, who comes from a distinguished family, and doesn¡¯t have to take any risks to gain even greater benefits.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, you jest. Although the Tang Family is large and its business extensive, we have many family members, and the competition is just as fierce. Obtaining sufficient resources also requires great effort!¡± Lin Tianming actually agreed with Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s words. The Tang Family was a Nascent Soul Family, indeed a colossus among forces, but with a large family base and strict family rules, the competition for average talent members was just as fierce. Unlike the Lin Family, which currently had only a few hundred members and relatively simple family rules, they focused on cultivating members with exceptional talent. Over time, as the number of Lin Family Members grew, the family would have to refine their rules to better restrain the members. Returning to the matter at hand, Lin Tianming changed the subject and began introducing Lin Tianfeng and the others to Tang Xiuyuan. Tang Xiuyuan was also very polite, clearly recognizing the strength of the Lin Family and him. The group chatted idly over tea, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. After a little while, Tang Xiuyuan got straight to the point and directly asked Lin Tianming about the purpose of his visit. Lin Tianming chuckled and then opened his mouth to say, ¡°I am here today, naturally to purchase some treasures to enhance my strength.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan immediately became interested. ¡°What treasures does Lin need? Given our relationship, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied with the price!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Any treasure that enhances strength, talisman paper, elixirs, and heaven-and-earth treasures, I won¡¯t refuse them! ¡°Especially the Fake Golden Core Talisman, it would be even better with that!¡± Lin Tianming said. He had made a fortune recently and planned to take this opportunity to buy more treasures to enhance his cultivation and strength. Especially attack talismans; the consumable treasures he had been carrying were almost entirely depleted, leaving only a few low-grade attack talismans. He lacked any powerful treasures for inflicting heavy damage. At that moment, after pondering for a while, Tang Xiuyuan took out a ledger, browsed through it, and then said, ¡°Fake Golden Core Talismans are rare and we don¡¯t have any at the moment!¡± ¡°However, we¡¯ve recently stocked up plenty of Second Order Attack Talismans and spiritual fruits for enhancing cultivation. Lin might want to take a look, and if satisfied, you can use them first.¡± After finishing his words, Tang Xiuyuan took out a number of treasures from his storage bag, a decent variety of types. Looking over, among the treasures were talismans, several Second Order Spiritual Fruits, and two Spirit Detonation Beads. Seeing these treasures, there were indeed many good items among them. Although there were no high-grades talismans, the quality was not bad. Moreover, there were three Spiritual Fruits that were Second Order Medium Quality and High Quality, which would be greatly beneficial even to his current cultivation level. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful, and he was very satisfied with these items. Looking at the treasures, Lin Tianming smiled and pointed to some of them, saying, ¡°Ten Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans, eight Second Order High Quality Attack Talismans, five Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans. ¡°I¡¯ll take all these Spiritual Fruits and those two Spirit Detonation Beads as well!¡± Chapter 588 03-25 - 588 329 Inquiring News_1 ?Chapter 588: Chapter 329 Inquiring News_1 Chapter 588: Chapter 329 Inquiring News_1 ¡°` Hearing this series of statements, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s face flushed with color, clearly shocked by the boldness of Lin Tianming¡¯s offer. After all, the cumulative value of these items was such that an average Foundation Establishment Cultivator really couldn¡¯t afford them. However, once he considered that Lin Tianming possessed the strength ranked fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, he quickly came to accept it. Regaining his composure, Tang Xiuyuan let out an awkward laugh and then said, ¡°The price for these talisman papers remains the same as last time.¡± ¡°As for the Spirit Detonation Beads, four thousand spirit stones each, that one Second Order Superior Silver Sun Fruit, six thousand spirit stones each.¡± ¡°Two Second Order Medium Quality Spirit Ginseng Fruits, two thousand spirit stones each, and for the remaining two White Orchid Fruits, eight hundred spirit stones each.¡± Hearing these prices, they were still considerably cheaper than in Yuyao City. ... Lin Tianming nodded and then asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, just give me the total price!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Tang Xiuyuan laughed and said, ¡°Daoist Lin really goes all out. The total for these treasures is sixty-two thousand two hundred spirit stones, but let¡¯s settle on sixty thousand spirit stones!¡± ¡°From now on, whenever Lin Family Members come to the Sky Dragon Pavilion to purchase treasures, as long as it goes through me, they will get a discount and only have to pay ninety percent of the cost! ¡°How¡¯s that? Fair enough, right?¡± Hearing this, the price was reasonable, and the discount was indeed significant, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°All right, that¡¯s settled then!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming immediately took out sixty thousand spirit stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan. Tang Xiuyuan received the spirit stones and, after a sweep with his Divine Sense, put them away. Then, Lin Tianming also collected the treasures he had bought, and the two of them exchanged smiles, both very satisfied with the transaction. With the transaction complete, Lin Tianming looked at Tang Xiuyuan and then asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, have there been any major news from the Cultivation World lately?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan smiled lightly, thinking to himself that it was just as he expected; Lin Tianming would certainly inquire about news from the Cultivation World after purchasing treasures. He had no intention of keeping it a secret, as there was nothing wrong with sharing some information. ¡°Daoist Lin, according to the information our Sky Dragon Pavilion has, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World has been quite peaceful recently. The conflict between Myriad Medicine Valley and the Golden Sword Sect is nearing its end, and I believe it won¡¯t be long before the entire Wei Kingdom returns to normal. ¡°To speak of it, there are indeed two matters that are somewhat strange!¡± ¡°Oh? What matters do you find strange, Daoist Tang?¡± Upon hearing Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s remark, Lin Tianming immediately became intrigued. He valued intelligence highly; if anything major were to occur in the Cultivation World, having such information would enable the Lin Family to respond swiftly to crises and help lead them through danger. At this moment, Tang Xiuyuan, faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s continued questioning, pondered for a while before finally beginning to explain. ¡°Firstly, the Zhenyang Sect has been behaving abnormally lately, seemingly dispatching quite a few Inner Sect Disciples to the mountain ranges around Qianchuan Market as if they are searching for traces of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, a Third Order Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect!¡± ¡°Secondly, a Foundation Establishing Family that had a nearly thousand-year heritage in the Baotai Mountain Range was mysteriously wiped out a few days ago¡ªallegedly by a Golden Core Cultivator.¡± Hearing these two pieces of news, he, too, was puzzled by the first and began to speculate in his mind. Could it be that the Tyrant Spirit Ape that was once pursued when hunting the Wind Dusk Beast has disappeared? Or has it been slain? Or could it be that using this incident as a means to investigate the annihilation of the Xu Family? After much thought, he couldn¡¯t come up with any clues or conclusions. As for the second piece of news, he was quite clear about it, as he himself was a direct participant in the matter. Even though he was aware of the situation, Lin Tianming still showed an expression of great shock. ¡°What? A Foundation Establishing Family was quietly wiped out, and it was the work of an unfamiliar Golden Core Cultivator?¡± Seeing the surprised expressions on the faces of Lin Tianming and the others, Tang Xiuyuan seemed to have anticipated this reaction. ¡°Hehe¡­ this matter is undoubtedly true!¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, Lin Tianming, looking at Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s firm gaze, further pressed for information. ¡°Daoist Tang, in your opinion, what is behind these actions by the Zhenyang Sect? Who could be the perpetrator behind the eradication of the Xu Family? Could it be the work of a Loose Cultivator or another power? And what could their purpose be?¡± He asked these questions with the intention of using the news from the Sky Dragon Pavilion to gather useful clues. After all, he had been dragged into the incident involving Xu Haiqiao and had even obtained the storage bags of the three, possibly possessing something the Blood Red Alliance desired. And this object might be a hot potato, likely bringing danger to him or his family. Therefore, the more information he had now, the better prepared he could be to devise strategies when a crisis approached. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming subtly probed for information related to the matter. At this juncture, hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s string of questions, Tang Xiuyuan pondered a moment before starting to express his own views. ¡°According to the information we have, it¡¯s highly likely that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Spirit Beast has gone missing, and there¡¯s even a possibility that it¡¯s been killed.¡± ¡°As for the fall of the Xu Family, even our Sky Dragon Pavilion has too little information at the moment, and there¡¯s no clear idea of what happened.¡± ¡°However, based on my estimation, the perpetrator behind the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beast¡¯s demise might be significantly related to the incident with the Xu Family.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming nodded; the thought was indeed quite plausible. Recollecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming then said with a cupped fist salute, ¡°Daoist Tang, my cousin will be stationed in Qianchuan Market in the coming years. If there is any major news, please inform us promptly!¡± ¡°Certainly¡­ If you gentlemen have time, feel free to visit often. As long as it doesn¡¯t involve our store¡¯s secrets, I shall inform you about anything!¡± ¡°` Chapter 589 03-25 - 589 329 Gathering Information_2 ?Chapter 589: Chapter 329: Gathering Information_2 Chapter 589: Chapter 329: Gathering Information_2 Tang Xiuyuan smiled and politely replied. Hearing these sincere words, Lin Tianming nodded and then said goodbye to Tang Xiuyuan, taking Lin Tianfeng and the others to leave the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Before long, Lin Tianming and his two companions returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Back at the Cave Mansion Courtyard, the four of them sat in the yard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. ¡°Tianfeng, what do you two think about what Daoist Tang said?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Lin Tianfeng pondered for a while, and then spoke, ¡°Daoist Tang¡¯s speculation is indeed highly likely, after all, it concerns a Third Order Spiritual Beast, and there isn¡¯t a single power in the southern Wei Kingdom capable of slaying such a beast!¡± ¡°And the Xu Family being silently eradicated, the involvement of an unknown Golden Core Cultivator, truly has the power and motive!¡± ... As soon as he had spoken, Lin Tianhu also began to chime in. ¡°Tianfeng is right; the Xu Family may have been around for nearly a thousand years and its foundation is no worse than the Lin Family¡¯s.¡± ¡°Yet despite that, they vanished without a trace. This must be the work of a Golden Core Cultivator, and it¡¯s not impossible that someone at the Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation did it.¡± Hearing these opinions, Lin Tianming nodded; his own thoughts were along the same lines. However, what none of them knew was that the Tyrant Spirit Ape that once chased the Wind Dusk Beast had both perished on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. After half a quarter of an hour, they exchanged many ideas but still came to no conclusion, and so the topic came to a close. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, and then started to talk about the arrangements for leaving. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Tianfeng, things at the market are almost settled, and I plan to leave for the clan grounds tomorrow. I¡¯ll leave things here to you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and thumped his chest in response. ¡°Sixth brother, rest assured, the Demon Beast Tide has been mostly stabilized, and with Tianhu and me here in Qianchuan Market, with our cultivation strength, as long as we don¡¯t recklessly leave the market, there won¡¯t be any danger.¡± ¡°Yes, elder brother, with Foundation Building Fourth Level cultivation strength, you are also quite formidable. Although not the top in the market, you¡¯re certainly not bad!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, feeling quite reassured about Lin Tianfeng and the others. After all, Lin Tianfeng had been stationed in Qianchuan Market for several years some time ago, and was very familiar with the various powers within the market. Coupled with his steady character and knack for making friends among cultivators, it was certainly not difficult for him to be stationed there. Additionally, both he and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cultivation strength were not low, making them strong figures in the current Qianchuan Market. It could be said that, with the overall increase in the family¡¯s strength, the previously strenuous personnel arrangements had also become much easier. ¡°In that case, I have nothing to worry about, but if you face any difficulties, you can seek help from Daoist Wang!¡± Lin Tianming advised gravely. ¡°You can be at ease, sixth brother, it¡¯s you who should be careful. Recently, it seems that the southern Wei Kingdom has been somewhat restless. Take extra precautions!¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s arrange it this way. Everyone be careful and do not slack in cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming gave a reminder and then exchanged a few words with Qin Xi, confirming the time of departure. Subsequently, the four individuals stood up and left, entering their respective training rooms. The next morning, at dawn, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi each emerged from their training rooms. By that time, Lin Xingyan and a few other Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople were already waiting in the courtyard. Seeing Lin Tianming come out, Lin Xingyan looked flushed, his facial expression filled with impatience. These clanspeople had been in Qianchuan Market for several years, coincidentally during the outbreak of the Demon Beast Tide, and had almost never returned to the clan grounds for all those years. Lin Xingpu was somewhat better off, having returned to the clan grounds once before to deliver a message. As the leader, Lin Xingyan hadn¡¯t stepped out of Qianchuan Market¡¯s boundaries in all these years. Now that the defensive duty had come to a successful close, he could finally return to the clan grounds for closed-door cultivation, attempting to Impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. For this day, he had long anticipated. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that they were about to leave, Lin Xingyan was naturally thrilled. Seeing the eagerness of the waiting clansmen, Lin Tianming did not want to delay. ¡°Uncles, is everything arranged properly?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Xingyan responded, ¡°Everything has been arranged, everything that needed handing over has been handed over, and I¡¯ve prepared all the items that should be taken back to the clan grounds!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this and after giving a few words of instruction, he led the clan members out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard. The journey was smooth, and the group made their way out of Qianchuan Market to a mountain peak outside the market. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle and promptly jumped onto its back, followed by the others tracing his steps. At that moment, with a piercing screech, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky and quickly ascended thousands of zhang into the high altitude. Taking advantage of the faint moonlight, the Purple Gold Eagle turned into a dark shadow, carrying everyone southward, swiftly disappearing into the boundary of Qianchuan Market. ¡­ At the Luoyun Mountain Range, Golden Horn Mountain. At twilight, the setting sun¡¯s afterglow sprinkled over the peaks of Golden Horn Mountain, and clusters of red maple trees swayed in the breeze. What a splendid evening scene! At this time, several figures appeared high in the sky at the mountain gate on the outer perimeter of Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s peaks. It was Lin Tianming and the others, returning from Qianchuan Market. After ten days, the trip had gone quite well, and they had finally arrived safely at Golden Horn Mountain. Upon reaching this place, they stepped into the Lin Family¡¯s territory and were completely safe. However, now that the demonic beast tide had receded, with his cultivation strength, unless he encountered a Golden Core Cultivator, there was hardly anyone blind enough to trouble him. At this moment, viewing the familiar scenery, Lin Tianming felt elated and couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. ¡°Two years, I¡¯ve finally come back!¡± In his heart, although two years was not a long time and he had previously spent similar lengths of time away, this time was different. Before, it was nothing more than a trip to Qianchuan Market, either accompanied by Lin Shilu or fellow clan cultivators, so it wasn¡¯t a lonely journey and there were no risks. But this time, he had been to the perilous frontlines of Yuyao City. There, even a cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment could find their life terribly cheap. He estimated that, just from the battle at Yuyao City alone, nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators might have perished. These were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, essentially the mainstay and often the backbone of each Foundation Establishing Family. Yet, even so, there were so many Cultivators who fell during the battle at Yuyao City. Among them was Luo Chenggu of the Luo Family, a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who died on the battlefield. Such a dangerous place, he had traversed alone, without the company of clanspeople or assistance from family members. This was in stark contrast to being stationed in Qianchuan Market. Fortunately, during those two years in Yuyao City, although it was arduous and fraught with danger, he had persevered and survived. Beyond that, the rewards he garnered matched his expectations and even exceeded them by a good margin. Collecting his thoughts and looking at the familiar scenes before him, eager to see his long-missed father, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of excitement and impatience. The few clan members around him also wore smiles, clearly in a very good mood. Just then, several Lin Family Members were seen approaching on Sword Flight, apparently having spotted them. Even from afar, the voices of the Lin Family Members reached them. ¡°It¡¯s Tianming and the others, let¡¯s hurry over!¡± Leading the way, Lin Xingyou landed excitedly in front of Lin Tianming with his clanspeople. Seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming and the others went up to greet them and had a brief chat. After a short while, having patrol duties to attend to, Lin Xingyou and the others took their leave first. Watching Lin Xingyou and his group exit the Mountain Protection Array, Lin Xingyan smiled and said, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s go in. Your father must be waiting for you too!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, inside!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand grandly and led the others deeper into Golden Horn Mountain, quickly vanishing from the spot. Chapter 590 03-25 - 590 330 Qin Xis Meeting Gift_1 ?Chapter 590: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_1 Chapter 590: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_1 A tea time had passed. In the master peak of Golden Horn Mountain, within a certain cave abode. Lin Tianming and several clan members sat opposite each other, having received the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s return, Lin Xingrong, who was presiding over this place, along with Lin Xingzhi had all left seclusion to gather together. The mood of the clanspeople who had returned to Golden Horn Mountain was extremely good, and with the expectation of Lin Xingrong and others, the atmosphere became very lively. Especially Lin Xingrong, having learned of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi¡¯s idea of becoming dao companions, seemed quite excited, the usually cold expression on his face also became exceptionally bright. In face of his future daughter-in-law Qin Xi, Lin Xingrong could be said to have undergone a complete change in temperament, the once harsh and rigid demeanor also became friendly and approachable. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming felt quite surprised in his heart. ... Although he knew his father was stern on the outside but warm on the inside, it now appeared that Lin Xingrong¡¯s rigid demands were only directed at him alone. When it came to his younger sister Lin Tianyue, the treatment was not nearly as strict. As for Qin Xi, looking at the current situation, there was a strong contrast with how he was treated. Under these circumstances, he also gained some new understanding of his father. After the jovial greetings had ended, the Qi Refinement Realm clanspeople bid farewell and left to rest. At this time, only Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were left in the small courtyard, along with Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Then, with a calm demeanor, Lin Xingrong finally brought up serious matters. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Like the other clan members in Qianchuan Market, he first asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s experience in Yuyao City. Lin Tianming did not hold back much, just as he did in Qianchuan Market, except for the Xu Haiqiao incident, he shared all the information he could. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Quickly, having learned the basic situation, Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi were greatly relieved. However, upon hearing the news Lin Tianming had gathered from the Sky Dragon Pavilion, the two of them couldn¡¯t help but furrow their brows, their faces becoming somber. At this time, Lin Xingrong let out a sigh, and said helplessly, ¡°Tian Ming, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be long before this matter causes a huge uproar in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, after all, it involves the annihilation of a Foundation Establishing family, and Zhenyang Sect has also mysteriously lost a Third Order Spiritual Beast!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhi chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ If the disappearance of the Third Order Spiritual Beast from Zhenyang Sect is the work of the murderers behind the Xu Family, then I fear the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World may not be peaceful in the coming years.¡± Lin Tianming actually agreed with Lin Xingzhi¡¯s remarks. In his heart, he too had made many speculations about this. Although the Blood Red Alliance was powerful, they still acted stealthily within Wei Kingdom, obviously being cautious not to alert everyone to their presence. Otherwise, with the strength and style of the Blood Red Alliance, what would Zhenyang Sect count for? With just a single Nascent Soul Cultivator, they could easily annihilate them. Yet the Blood Red Alliance only sent a Golden Core Cultivator and some Foundation Establishment Cultivators to Wei Kingdom, also planning to act low-profile, secretly tracking the treasure, perhaps without any major conflict of interest with Zhenyang Sect. However, contrary to their expectations, the item they were tirelessly seeking mysteriously ended up in his possession. Besides that, right after the end of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s great battle, the Third Order Tyrant Spirit Ape disappeared, coincidentally at the same time as the Xu Family¡¯s annihilation. Such a coincidence struck everyone as unbelievable. As a result, the disappearance of the Spiritual Beast, whether it was the work of the Blood Red Alliance or not, was probably going to be unclear. Under such circumstances, it seemed Zhenyang Sect had suffered a loss in vain and, given the powerful strength of the Blood Red Alliance, they had to let the matter go, begrudgingly. And being inadvertently involved in the Xu Haiqiao incident, this matter was very dangerous; if the news leaked and the Blood Red Alliance became aware, the entire Lin Family might also be in danger. Fortunately, the disappearance of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beast muddled the waters a bit. Moreover, by sending Foundation Establishment Cultivators to investigate, Zhenyang Sect has indirectly put some pressure on the Golden Core Cultivator of the Blood Red Alliance. If the Blood Red Alliance didn¡¯t want the issue to escalate, they might temporarily drop the investigation, allowing him some time. As long as he broke through to the Golden Core Realm, perhaps the issue could be easily resolved. Otherwise, if the Blood Red Alliance did investigate thoroughly at all costs, the probability of his exposure might grow larger and larger. Therefore, the pressure on him was still substantial, and the Lin Family must have family members strive for breakthroughs to the Golden Core Stage to enhance the overall strength of the Lin Family, so as to deal with this potential crisis. In the past two years, following the end of the beast tide war, all forces in Wei Kingdom, big and small, were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow; they became more cautious at any sign of disturbance. Such conditions were precisely what he needed to buy time, which was good news for him. Thinking of these things, the weight on his heart finally eased a bit, and he felt much more relaxed. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming spoke a few comforting words to alleviate the concerns of Lin Xingrong and the others. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a while and decided to continue their journey back to the clan lands the next day. Then, everyone dispersed. Before leaving, Lin Tianming took out a Spirit Ginseng Fruit he had purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion and handed it to Lin Xingrong. These Spirit Fruits were specifically bought as gifts for his parents and sister. Initially, Lin Xingrong was hesitant to accept it until Qin Xi mentioned that he had come into a windfall, only then did he accept the gift. It happened that his cultivation had also reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level, and with this Spirit Ginseng Fruit, perhaps he could break through the realm in one fell swoop. Once he made the breakthrough, he would become the fourth member of the Lin Family to reach above the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Chapter 591 03-25 - 591 330 Qin Xis Meeting Gift_2 ?Chapter 591: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_2 Chapter 591: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_2 By then, the Lin Family¡¯s top forces above the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level had reached a pinnacle level in the Cultivation World. Realizing this, Lin Xingrong grew somewhat impatient, planning to go into seclusion to cultivate as soon as possible and return to the clan after breaking through his current realm. Afterward, Lin Tianming and another person bid their farewells and returned to their respective rooms to rest. Once back in his room, Lin Tianming did not cultivate either, he simply lay down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, at the Sect Entrance Plaza, several figures from the Lin Family appeared. After a night¡¯s rest, the weariness seemed to have vanished from the clan members, each one of them looked spirited and seemed to be in a very good mood. Looking at the buildings behind him, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, and the clan members jumped on its back one after another. ... Taking advantage of the first rays of sunrise, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky and quickly flew up into the clouds thousands of feet high. In the blink of an eye, the familiar scenery behind them became farther and farther away, until it finally disappeared completely. In the evening. The Purple Gold Eagle was swift, and after just a day¡¯s journey, everyone had arrived at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. On the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Tianming and the others from the clan stopped there. At that moment, the clan members patrolling the entrance saw that the newcomers were Lin Tianming and immediately greeted them. After exchanging greetings and chatting for a few moments, Lin Xingyan and the others went their separate ways. Looking at the all-too-familiar scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was visibly excited, and Qin Xi beside him blushed, her shy appearance sending a thrill through Lin Tianming. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s go see Mother first!¡± Lin Tianming said, then sent out a few messages and, not caring how Qin Xi reacted, took her hand and hurried toward his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. A short while later. Inside Mother¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Shigong sat in the high seat, with Ren Yuxuan and Lin Tianyue sitting on one side below him, and Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sitting on the other side. At that moment, everyone¡¯s eyes were on Qin Xi beside them, their faces filled with excitement. Especially Ren Yuxuan, who, after learning that Qin Xi and Lin Tianming planned to become Dao companions, was even more thrilled when she looked at Qin Xi. After inquiring about her family background and heritage, she seemed extraordinarily satisfied with her future daughter-in-law. Indeed, Ren Yuxuan was very satisfied. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s appearance, talent, and cultivation were all exceptional. With the talent of Dual Spiritual Roots, at the age of just over thirty, she had cultivated alone without guidance from clan elders or the help of resources. With such conditions, she had already reached the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Such innate talent and cultivation were not at all inferior to her son Lin Tianming, and if she were nurtured properly in the future, catching up to Lin Tianming was not an impossibility. Besides, Qin Xi¡¯s stunning beauty, her clear eyes, and her innocent appearance all indicated that she was also a delicate and considerate beauty. Even more crucial was Lin Tianming¡¯s firm and decisive attitude; he was protective in all he said. With that being the case, she naturally would not oppose. Lin Shigong and Lin Tianyue felt the same way, both being quite satisfied with Qin Xi. Thus, in a short time, the dear family members quickly accepted Qin Xi. In the hall, at the high seat, Lin Shigong was in an excellent mood. Not only had his eagerly awaited grandson Lin Tianming returned, but he had also brought back a granddaughter-in-law with outstanding talent and a gentle disposition, adding joy upon joy. At that moment, he took a look at Qin Xi sitting together with Lin Tianyue, took a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills and a crimson fruit from his storage bag. ¡°Xi¡¯er, since it is our first meeting, I don¡¯t have much to offer. This bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills and the Hongxing Fruit are my gifts to you!¡± Before he finished, Ren Yuxuan also took out a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills from her storage bag and handed it to Qin Xi. ¡°Hehe¡­ Xi¡¯er, since it is our first meeting, I, as your future mother-in-law, naturally can¡¯t come empty-handed. Although I can¡¯t compete with your father, this is also a gift from my heart!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Grandfather and mother-in-law are really generous!¡± ¡°Since you all are so generous, I, as her sister-in-law, can¡¯t be empty-handed either!¡± With that said, Lin Tianyue slapped her storage bag, took out more than ten Second Order lower-grade talisman papers, and handed them to Qin Xi. ¡°Sister-in-law, usually it¡¯s my brother looking out for me, but now that you¡¯ve come to our family, it¡¯s my turn to give something, even though it¡¯s modest. Please, you must accept it as a token of my heart!¡± At this moment, upon hearing the series of conversations and that new title only used after marriage, Qin Xi¡¯s face glowed with a bashful hue. Then, looking at the various treasures before her, Qin Xi¡¯s face showed a look of difficulty. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, holding Qin Xi¡¯s hand, reminded her, ¡°Since Grandpa and the rest are so generous, Xi¡¯er, you should accept it.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi then put away the storage bag. Afterward, she first walked up to Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan, respectfully offering them a cup of tea. ¡°Xi¡¯er thanks Grandpa and Mother!¡± Heehee¡­ ¡°Come here and let me take a good look at you,¡± said Ren Yuxuan, beaming with joy as she waved Qin Xi over and whispered something to her. In no time, Qin Xi¡¯s neck became even rosier. Seeing this, Lin Tianyue, curious, hurriedly took a step forward. ¡°Mother, what secret are you whispering to sister-in-law?¡± she asked. Hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face immediately turned even redder, like a bright red apple. ¡°Go on, go on¡­ There are some things a young lady shouldn¡¯t pry into!¡± Ren Yuxuan waved her hand and scolded Lin Tianyue, shooing her to one side. ¡°Hmph¡­ If you won¡¯t tell me, then don¡¯t!¡± Lin Tianyue pouted and sat down on a chair, pretending to be angry. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly came over to comfort her, ¡°Tian Yue, this is a gift I specially brought for you from Qianchuan Market!¡± With that, Lin Tianming took out two Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans and a White Orchid Fruit, handing them over to Lin Tianyue. Her excitement apparent at the sight of these items, Lin Tianyue grabbed them eagerly, looking as if she couldn¡¯t put them down. ¡°Hehe¡­ I knew it wouldn¡¯t be a bad bargain!¡± ¡°With this White Orchid Fruit, I might be able to break through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. And with these two Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans, I can study them and perhaps improve my Talisman Making skills!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming shivered at her straightforwardness, thinking how unabashed this young girl was. Lin Tianming smiled faintly, understanding it was all in jest and certainly wouldn¡¯t take offense at his sister¡¯s words. He turned around and took out another White Orchid Fruit, handing it to Ren Yuxuan. Then, he took out another Spirit Ginseng Fruit and gave it to Lin Shigong. ¡°Grandpa, Mother, these Spirit Fruits are gifts I specially brought back from Qianchuan Market, please accept them!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong chuckled and waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s the thought that counts, my boy. I appreciate it!¡± ¡°You young ones have a great need for resources to aid your cultivation. Keep them for your own use. I¡¯m old and lack potential now, so I won¡¯t waste these valuable treasures!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Ren Yuxuan also ended her secret conversation with Qin Xi and echoed her husband¡¯s words. ¡°Father is right; our natural talents and potentials have their limits. Just reaching Foundation Establishment is enough for us. Using these treasures would be a waste; better that you youngsters have them.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi picked up the two Spirit Fruits and firmly stuffed them into the hands of Lin Shigong and his wife. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Grandpa¡­ Mother, please accept these. It¡¯s the least Ming and I can do¡ªespecially since he has recently come into a small fortune, and we now have access to even better Spirit Fruits!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Xi¡¯er and I have plenty of resources for our cultivation, and we won¡¯t be in need for quite some time. When passing by Golden Horn Mountain, Father even gathered a Spirit Ginseng Fruit, so please take it!¡± After Lin Tianming added his two cents, he took out a Second Order Superior Silver Sun Fruit and flaunted it a little. Hearing this and seeing the costly Silver Sun Fruit in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, Lin Shigong and his wife finally accepted without further refusals, and they put away the two Spirit Fruits. Seeing that Grandpa and Mother had accepted the Spirit Fruits, Lin Tianming nodded and then started to chat casually with them. Chapter 592 03-25 - 592 331 Persuasion_1 ?Chapter 592: Chapter 331 Persuasion_1 Chapter 592: Chapter 331 Persuasion_1 Half an hour later, Lin Tianming briefly recounted his basic experiences of the past two years. As before, he mainly shared the good news while neglecting the worries. Even so, the expressions of the few people in the hall were varied, Lin Shigong was extremely excited, while Ren Yuxuan displayed a face full of sympathy. She knew all too well that Lin Tianming¡¯s casual talk glossed over the difficulties; upon further thought, combined with the various rumors in the Cultivation World, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators perished on the battlefield, including quite a few at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Under such circumstances, they could understand just how brutal the battle in Yuyao City must have been. Luckily, that was all in the past. Lin Tianming had fought against the current, not only achieving dazzling results but also bringing back a delicate and obedient woman with extraordinary talent. Considering this, Ren Yuxuan finally felt somewhat relieved. ... As for his sister Lin Tianyue, she was incredibly curious about his experiences and also very envious. She had reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer and was not far from the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. With such cultivation strength, she had never traveled alone, at most having only cleared out Demonic Beasts alongside Lin Xingzhi and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators during beast tides. In this situation, she had always envied her brother Lin Tianming. After all, in every family crisis, it was him who stood at the forefront, earning great achievements for the clan several times and becoming the pride and idol of all clansmen. She was no exception, also wanting to be the pride of the family and hoping one day to stand with Lin Tianming, shielding the clan from wind and rain when crisis struck. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï At that moment, seeing his sister¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming, with his understanding of her, knew what she was thinking. Lin Tianming patted Lin Tianyue¡¯s shoulder and earnestly imparted, ¡°Tian Yue, if you want to become strong, you must put forth even greater effort. Risks and opportunities exist side by side, and only by exerting extraordinary efforts can you achieve better results!¡± ¡°And as for me, I was thrust into these adversities. Just do your best in everything and leave no regrets.¡± ¡°If you fancy going through trials, you could join the older brother and the others. As long as you¡¯re careful, it shouldn¡¯t be too dangerous.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyue pouted her lips and shook Lin Tianming¡¯s shoulder, saying helplessly, ¡°My second sister and I have wanted to go to Qianchuan Market for experience for a long time, but grandfather and Twelfth Grandpa simply refuse to allow it!¡± ¡°Brother¡­ please talk to Twelfth Grandpa and persuade him, let us go, please!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ this?¡± Lin Tianming frowned, realizing this young girl¡¯s words were a ruse. He turned to look at Lin Shigong, seated at the higher position as if seeking his opinion. Seeing this, Lin Shigong chuckled and then said, ¡°Now that the beast tide has receded and the Cultivation World is temporarily stable, I have no objections.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ However, I won¡¯t be the one to arrange this. If you want to gain experience, go ask Twelfth Grandpa for permission. If he agrees, you may go; if he doesn¡¯t, I can¡¯t help!¡± Once he finished speaking, Lin Tianyue¡¯s eyes turned swiftly towards Lin Tianming; it was clear she wanted him to intercede. Seeing her expression, Lin Tianming gave a wry smile and then nodded his head. ¡°Alright, alright, but let me make it clear: you can go only after you have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Third Level.¡± ¡°Besides, it still depends on Twelfth Grandpa; if he doesn¡¯t agree, there¡¯s nothing I can do!¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Tianyue finally nodded satisfactorily, her expression quite excited. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t blame you if it doesn¡¯t work out!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± After Lin Tianming promised, he then said to Lin Shigong, ¡°Grandfather, now that we have reunited, let¡¯s go visit Third Grandfather and the others together!¡± ¡°Indeed, it is time to visit Third Grandfather and the others!¡± Lin Shigong nodded and replied. ¡°Xi¡¯er, stay here and have a good time with mother and sister. Your grandfather and I will be back soon!¡± After these words, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong left the mansion, leaving Qin Xi and the other two women behind in the hall. As Lin Tianming and the elder departed, and with no men around, Ren Yuxuan once again called Qin Xi over and began to ask her all sorts of questions without any reservations. Of this, Lin Tianming and his grandfather were completely unaware. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming and his grandfather arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s dwelling. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang was exceptionally pleased and promptly sent out a message to summon Lin Shihua, who was occupied with clan affairs, and Lin Shilu, who had just returned not long ago. With their arrival, the senior members of the Shi generation gathered together with Lin Tianming. Such a scene had not occurred for two years since the outbreak of the beast tide. Now that they were reunited once more, and with Lin Tianming returning in triumph, each person¡¯s heart was excited, making the atmosphere very lively. After exchanging greetings, Lin Shikang finally spoke, ¡°Tian Ming, we old folks have already heard of your achievements in the battle at Yuyao City, and it truly fills us with consolation and satisfaction!¡± As soon as he finished, Lin Shihua on the side eagerly chimed in, ¡°Yes, when Xing Pu specially delivered this news back to the clan, it excited us old fellows to no end!¡± Once his words ended, Lin Shilu hastily gestured and urged, ¡°Alright, Third Grandfather, let¡¯s not talk about that! Tian Ming has gone through a lot in the past two years, better tell us about your experiences.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and responded,¡±The elders¡¯ satisfaction is what matters; I will go over the past two years¡¯ events gradually.¡± Chapter 593 03-25 - 593 331 Persuasion_2 ?Chapter 593: Chapter 331 Persuasion_2 Chapter 593: Chapter 331 Persuasion_2 Lin Tianming replied with a sentence before he began to recount the experiences of these past two years. This time, the narrative he recounted differed greatly from what he told the other clan members; it was a complete account, including the brutality on the battlefield, which he didn¡¯t conceal the slightest bit. As they listened to Lin Tianming¡¯s narration, the few listeners felt as if they were there themselves, experiencing everything just as imagined, or perhaps even more realistically. A short half quarter of an hour passed by, and the group had learned about the episode at Yuyao City. At this point, Lin Shilu and the others were full of sympathy, and when they looked at Lin Tianming, their eyes were filled with tender affection. After heaving a long sigh, Lin Shihua spoke up. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve had it tough these two years!¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and replied, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa is too polite. When the clan faces danger, as a descendant of the Lin Family, it is right and necessary to confront the difficulties head-on!¡± Hearing these spirited words, Lin Shikang and the others nodded with satisfaction and then burst into hearty laughter. Seeing the excited expressions on the faces of the few clan members present, Lin Tianming, despite not wanting to interrupt this brief moment of joy, felt compelled to start talking about the incident with Xu Haiqiao. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s serious expression, Lin Shilu knew that some significant event had occurred. He waved his hand to stop Lin Shikang and the others, and then pressed eagerly, ¡°Tianming, the delay in your return, could it be that something unforeseen has happened?¡± At that question, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help thinking that Lin Shilu understood him best. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming then began to speak, ¡°Elders, on my way back, I passed by the Jinping Mountain Range and encountered the pursuit of a Blood Red Alliance member chasing a cultivator from the Baotai Mountain Range!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Upon hearing this, both Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were momentarily stunned. After considering carefully, their expressions suddenly changed. ¡°The Blood Red Alliance?¡± ¡°Could it be that ambiguous force in Qingzhou, both righteous and evil, a towering presence?¡± Lin Shikang seemed to recall something and spoke with an incredulous tone. Lin Tianming nodded, then continued to speak, recounting in detail what had happened when he encountered Xu Haiqiao. After another half quarter of an hour, Lin Shikang and the others were utterly shocked, unable to maintain the composure they had shown previously. After a long while, Lin Shikang finally sighed deeply and said, ¡°What¡¯s done is done, talking more is useless!¡± ¡°The Blood Red Alliance has acted this way, probably not wanting the matter to be widely known. Tianming has handled things cleanly and left no clues, so it might not lead back to us.¡± ¡°Even if it does lead back to our Lin Family, we are not to be compared with that Xu Family!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, Lin Shihua joined in. ¡°Indeed, we already have more than enough headaches, one more doesn¡¯t make a significant difference!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was confused and immediately inquired, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, what do you mean by more than one trouble?¡± At this question, Lin Shihua sighed helplessly and then began to explain about the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape dying on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. As a little time for a cup of tea passed. Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming furrowed his brows, his expression growing somewhat grim. In his heart, he thought the incident with Xu Haiqiao was a major trouble, but he did not expect his family to be in a similarly dire situation, inadvertently leading to the death of two Third Order Demon Beasts on their tribal lands. Although it was not the Lin Family¡¯s original intent, the event had already occurred, and whether by accident or design, it was difficult to clarify. More importantly, if the Zhenyang Sect got wind of this, they wouldn¡¯t care about the details and were very likely to vent their anger on the Lin Family. Under such circumstances, even if the Lin Family managed to survive, they would likely fall from grace, ruining the hard-won progress they had made. Fortunately, Ye Pinghai had broken through to the Golden Core Stage and was the mastermind behind the death of the Tyrant Spirit Ape; with or without the bond of kinship, he would be firmly tied to the Lin Family¡¯s fate. With Ye Pinghai steadying the Lin Family, they were at least not entirely defenseless. However, his power alone was ultimately limited, especially since the Zhenyang Sect had several Golden Core Cultivators, including those of the Golden Core Mid-Late Stage. Given these conditions, the pressure on the Lin Family remained immense. Seeing his expression, the other family members felt at a loss for words and sank into contemplation. At this time, Lin Tianming was also pondering countermeasures. After much thought, he realized that the Lin Family¡¯s current situation was indeed very bad; they dare not provoke either of the two major powers. Especially the Blood Red Alliance, their actions were exceedingly strange, and it was unclear just how much power they wielded within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If they found out that the object of their search was in his possession, they would likely attack the Lin Family as they did the Xu Family, deploying Golden Core Cultivators. And all of this was still an unknown; perhaps they would find out, perhaps not¡ªno one could control it. In any case, the Lin Family had to improve the strength of their clan members as quickly as possible, especially those with the highest combat capabilities. Currently, Lin Shilu was still at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and did not yet meet the requirements to attempt the Golden Core Stage. Only Lin Shikang qualified; he had already achieved Foundation Establishment Great Completion, and the family had that hard-won Star Moon Fruit. Besides, Ye Pinghai had recently succeeded in reaching the Golden Core Stage, and Lin Shikang had witnessed the entire process, making him exceptionally familiar with the force of the Heavenly Tribulation. With such conditions, it could be said to be great timing, favorable location, and good human relations. In light of this, Lin Shikang was undoubtedly the best candidate to quickly enhance the overall strength of the clan members. Having thought this through, Lin Tianming made up his mind. After an unknown time, with Lin Tianming finally speaking up, the quiet scene was broken. ¡°Third Grandfather, everyone understands the current situation; you must make an attempt at the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu also began to persuade. ¡°Third Brother, Tianming is right. Although the beast tide has passed, the situation that the Lin Family is facing is even more thorny than the tide itself.¡± ¡°So, no matter what you think, whether you wish it or not, it¡¯s necessary to take that step now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face showed a look of difficulty. In his heart, he couldn¡¯t allow himself to consume the hard-won Star Moon Fruit, let alone place such slim hope on his own shoulders. It wasn¡¯t just him; Lin Shilu was not the best choice either. After all, this Star Moon Fruit, obtained through the tremendous risks taken by Lin Tianming and another, was key to the Lin Family¡¯s rise to power. But now, the Lin Family had just emerged from one crisis and immediately plunged into greater trouble. Under such circumstances, he truly had no other options. At this moment, seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s distressed and hesitant demeanor, many clan members began to speak up to persuade him. Lin Tianming also urged, ¡°Third Grandfather, this matter will soon spread far and wide, and many powers are speculating that the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape is related to the hands that destroyed the Xu Family.¡± ¡°But this is not the truth after all and cannot be hidden for long!¡± ¡°One can say that now is not the time to hesitate. To protect the Lin Family and get through this crisis safely, we must act quickly. If we delay for a year or two, they really might find some clues.¡± ¡°By the time they decide to retaliate, it will be too late!¡± As his voice fell, Lin Shilu also spoke with righteous indignation. ¡°Yes¡­ time is very important right now. Neither Tianming nor I qualify. We cannot wait any longer; if we¡¯re struck before your breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, everything will be too late!¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Listening to everyone¡¯s words, Lin Shikang stuttered, torn in his heart. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up, performed a deep bow respectfully, and then spoke earnestly, ¡°Third Grandfather, you want to place the greatest chance on us; we understand that.¡± ¡°No one will say anything, whether it succeeds or fails.¡± ¡°Moreover, Tian Ming will take part in the exploration of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm in two years. Given the grade of that Earth-grade Secret Realm, perhaps we might even obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded, then solemnly said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I will risk it all!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing these words and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s determined gaze, Lin Tianming and the others let out a long sigh of relief. ¡­ Chapter 594 03-25 - 594 332 Shocking Wealth_1 ?Chapter 594: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_1 Chapter 594: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_1 As Lin Shikang began to speak, agreeing to take the Star Moon Fruit to attempt to ascend to the Golden Core Stage, Lin Tianming and the others started to discuss the specifics. At that moment, Lin Shilu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then was the first to speak. ¡°Third Brother, you must attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible!¡± ¡°I have already broken through to become a High Grade Second Order Artifact Refiner. This year, I will do nothing else but gather all the family¡¯s treasures we can afford to part with to forge several Mid to High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts for you to face the Heavenly Tribulation of the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Shi Lu is right. Shihua and I can¡¯t remain idle either; we must mobilize all family resources to prepare for your attempt at the Golden Core Stage,¡± Lin Shigong added. Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction, feeling a warm surge of emotion within. There were only a few of them left in their generation, and they had always been exceedingly close since childhood. Now, at the turning point of his fate, his brothers were all contributing their utmost. ... This was what family meant, the irreplaceable bond between blood brothers. Overwhelmed with emotion, he bowed to Lin Shigong and the others and said earnestly, ¡°Thank you for the support, my brothers. I will start the preparations in the next few days, first consulting with Brother Ye on the details of the Golden Core Stage attempt!¡± ¡°Once you¡¯ve made the preparations and have the appropriate Defensive Artifacts, I will immediately enter seclusion to attempt the Golden Core Stage,¡± he said. Then, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Shikang and the others and laughed, ¡°Since Third Grandfather has made up his mind and the elders are so generous, as the younger generation, I naturally want to offer my help as well.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags he had obtained from the great battle with Xu Haiqiao and placed them in front of everyone. Besides, the many spoils of war from the great battle at Yuyao City filled several bags, which he brought out all at once. However, the Qilin Seal that he had acquired from Xu Haiqiao was not among them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï When they discussed this earlier, Lin Shikang and the others had said that the opportunity behind the Qilin Seal was nothing small. This item would also remain in his hands; if the Blood Red Alliance indeed came for the Lin Family, he as the hope of the family might need to take it and leave. At first, he disagreed, strongly opposing the idea. But Lin Shikang and the others pleaded persistently, and in the end, he had to agree, deciding to keep the Qilin Seal on him and slowly explore its secrets when the opportunity arose. As the multitude of storage bags appeared before them, Lin Shilu¡¯s face changed slightly with surprise, hurriedly grabbing the bags to check their contents with his Divine Sense. After a few breaths, seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s ruddy complexion and his breath becoming suddenly rapid, those who were unaware urged him on excitedly. ¡°Shi Lu, did you find a huge gain? Or some remarkable item?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s not just a huge gain, it¡¯s an enormous gain. Truly, fortune favors our Lin Family!¡± Lin Shilu laughed heartily, his eyes narrowed in joy, looking entirely different from his usually reserved self. Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others each picked up a storage bag to examine. It wasn¡¯t long before all the members of their generation showed rosy complexions, their expressions filled with excitement. The treasures inside were indeed plentiful, almost like a family¡¯s treasure vault passed down for a thousand years. And in truth, it was indeed the case. The wealth of the two members of the Blood Red Alliance was extraordinary, with at least one being a Second Order Medium Artifact Refiner. Coming from the formidable and fearsome Blood Red Alliance, it was unknown how many unspeakable acts of plundering they had committed. Given these circumstances, their personal wealth far surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator. The family of Xu Haiqiao also had a long ancestry, and the treasures accumulated over a millennium were certainly remarkable. In addition, Lin Tianming had participated in the great war at Yuyao City for two years, killing dozens of Second Order Demonic Beasts, amassing materials to an astonishing degree. Therefore, the treasures within these storage bags were enough to shock any Foundation Establishment Cultivator. At that moment, the family members were extremely excited, smiling broadly, sharing their joy with one another. In that instant, they momentarily forgot the potential dangers and immersed themselves in joy. Once their excitement had settled, Lin Shihua took out some Third Order Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Ores, along with some other valuable items, placing them all on the stone table in front of him. Soon, the table was filled with a variety of treasures, mineral ores shining with different lights. As for the materials from the Demonic Beasts, there were simply too many to display, so they remained in the storage bags. However, a sweep of their Divine Sense easily informed them of the types of beasts and specific items inside. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong, as an Alchemist and Artifact Refiner respectively, checked each item with joyful expressions, repeatedly murmuring to themselves. ¡°Red Flower Grass¡­ Plain Heart Fruit¡­ Dragon Spring Stone¡­¡± ¡°And Bloodthirsty Jiao¡­ many Artifact Refining Materials from the Thousand Blade Beast¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s so much here, even a Second Order Mid Quality Flying Artifact!¡± Lin Shilu picked up the black flying boat previously used by the Blood Red Alliance cultivator, his expression showing obvious fondness. This Second Order Mid Quality Flying Artifact could be said to be the Lin Family¡¯s first flying boat. The value of Flying Artifacts was always high, and this Second Order Mid Quality Flying Artifact was definitely no less valuable than a High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifact. Chapter 595 03-25 - 595 332 Shocking Wealth_2 ?Chapter 595: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_2 Chapter 595: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_2 As for the High Grade Second Order Attack Talismans, they were even more incomparable. It is known that Ye Pinghai, a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, despite a hundred years of cultivating his path and accumulating a vast personal fortune, only possessed a lower Second Order Flying Artifact. Even many impoverished Golden Core Cultivators might not necessarily own a Flying Artifact. This Medium Quality Second Order Flying Artifact, if it were to be placed in the Qianchuan Market auction, would undoubtedly be the star item of the event. Regrettably, this immensely valuable treasure originated from the Blood Red Alliance, and although it possessed an exceedingly high flying speed, the Lin Family dared not use it, lest the Blood Red Alliance discover its use and ultimately trace it back to the Lin Family. Otherwise, Lin Tianming could have completely relied on this artifact to travel, its speed not only matching the Purple Gold Eagle but possibly even faster. Nevertheless, this item still held tremendous value and could be studied by Lin Shilu or even sold off in a black market far away from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. ... If all else failed, the item could be hidden away for a few decades until all was calm and the Blood Red Alliance had completely forgotten about it, and then it could be used once again. Half an hour later. With Lin Shihua recording at the side, the items in several storage bags were counted by Lin Shilu and another. Such an abundance of treasures, with an enormous quantity at that, including dozens of Third Order Spiritual Medicine, most of which were rare and precious items. As for Third Order Spiritual Ore, its quality was even better and the quantity extremely considerable, many of which were essential for the crafting of Third Order Magical Treasures. With so many high-quality Artifact Refining Materials on hand, crafting High Grade Second Order Defense Artifacts seemed almost too easy, and perhaps even a bit of a waste. As for the Spirit Stones and some Magic Artifacts, as well as numerous Cultivation Methods and various insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation, they can greatly enhance the clan¡¯s foundation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï By now, everyone finally understood that what Lin Tianming had said earlier was definitely not mere talk. As the treasure inventory was completed, the mood among the clan members was excellent, and each of them regained their calm from the initial shock. At this time, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Shilu and then asked, ¡°Shi Lu, with so many Artifact Refining Materials, are you confident in crafting a few High Grade Second Order Defense Artifacts?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Shilu¡¯s gaze was firm as he confidently replied. ¡°Just with these Artifact Refining Materials alone, there are plenty, not to mention the Demonic Beasts killed by Tianming on the battlefield. The ranks of many of these beasts are quite high, and some of the best materials have been well preserved. Additionally, with the family¡¯s north and south battles over the years, we have also accumulated a large amount of Artifact Refining Materials.¡± ¡°With so many materials for refining, given a few years, each clan member having two or three Second Order artifacts is absolutely no problem, and we can even sell some of the medium-quality artifacts.¡± ¡°Although I have only recently become a Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner, with these items, I am highly confident in crafting superior Defense Artifacts.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded his head in satisfaction, his heart rekindling with excitement after finally settling down. In his eyes, these treasures had arrived at the perfect time. In recent years, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family had increased rapidly, but the family¡¯s heritage was limited after all. Each member essentially only had an Attack Talisman, and many didn¡¯t have Defense Artifacts. But now, with such a massive stockpile of Artifact Refining and Spiritual Medicine Materials, the family could take another step forward, and the overall strength of the clan members could be elevated. Given time, with the addition of more Foundation Establishment Clan Members and some powerful Second Order Magical Artifacts, the overall strength of the Lin Family would grow substantially, perhaps even surpassing the two Golden Core Families of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. All of this, though, required him to advance further. As long as there was a Golden Core Cultivator present, the Lin Family would also step into the ranks of the top families in the Wei Kingdom. Considering all this, Lin Shikang¡¯s demeanor was excited, his heart incredibly agitated, and a firm belief emerged spontaneously, making him even more confident about the impact of reaching the Golden Core Stage. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong also chimed in, ¡°There are also plenty of top-notch Alchemy Materials here.¡± ¡°And with Brother Ye having broken through to the Golden Core Stage, given his Alchemy Talent, he might be able to produce Third Order Pills. With these conditions, the chances of Third Grandpa¡¯s success have greatly increased!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu and others nodded in agreement. ¡°Ninth Brother is right, Tianming brought us these treasures like coal in snowy weather, all of which are urgently needed by the Lin Family, and we also happen to have the capability to craft them.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, this might just be Heaven¡¯s Will!¡± As soon as the voice had fallen, Lin Tianming picked up the thread and said, ¡°Alright, since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s get moving as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Shihua nodded and smiled, before saying to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, all the spirit ore and spiritual medicine, as well as the numerous artifact refining materials will be collected by the family; you can keep the spirit stones for yourself.¡± ¡°In addition to this, the family will provide you with three hundred thousand spirit stones in support and from now on, just like Shi Gong and Shi Lu, as long as the family has it, you may use it unconditionally. How does everyone feel about this?¡± No sooner had the voice fallen than Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu both laughed heartily and said, ¡°Heh¡­ Tianming should have had this privilege long ago. It¡¯s just that this lad never planned to rely on the family¡¯s power but has instead been feeding the family all along.¡± ¡°Now, the family owes him more and more. It is us old folks who have relied on his conquests to the north and south and the treasures he brought back that have brought us to where we are today.¡± Lin Shikang nodded, reflecting on the years of Lin Tianming¡¯s contributions to the family and the resources he brought back, and felt somewhat guilty. He sighed deeply and then looked at Lin Tianming and said earnestly, ¡°Tianming, from now on, all the treasures of the family are at your disposal. Even if we don¡¯t have them, we can mobilize all family members to find them.¡± ¡°For many small matters, just speak to your Twelfth Grandpa to arrange for the clan members to handle them. There¡¯s no need to do everything yourself. Spend more time on your cultivation, as only you can lead the family to greater heights.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming had no intention to refuse and quickly replied, ¡°Thank you Third Grandfather for your permission. Tianming will certainly not let you down and will break through to the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang and others nodded their heads in satisfaction. Following that, Lin Shilu finally asked about the situation of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements for the next two years. After pondering for a moment, Lin Tianming then spoke, ¡°The opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is less than two years away, at which time the gathering will take place at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate!¡± ¡°Elders, during these two years, I have obtained many treasures and my cultivation has reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer. I am planning to go into seclusion for two years to break through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level and then come out to participate in the exploration of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°However, before the seclusion, I¡¯m going to get married. When the time comes, I ask that all the elders witness my wedding.¡± ¡°Oh? Our Lin Family¡¯s Hidden Dragon is getting married?¡± ¡°This is a huge celebration indeed!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang and the others were overjoyed. Seeing this, Lin Shigong nodded, folded his hands, and smilingly said to Lin Shikang and the others, ¡°Brother, since time is pressing, let¡¯s arrange the wedding ceremony as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Once the wedding wine is drunk, begin the seclusion; those who refine elixirs should proceed with alchemy, and those who refine artifacts shall continue with their craft. You should also discuss breakthrough insights with Brother Ye and prepare thoroughly.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s how it will be arranged. The wedding will be set in three days!¡± Lin Shikang announced, before instructing Lin Shihua, ¡°Shihua, you are in charge of making arrangements for Tianming¡¯s wedding; make sure it¡¯s lively and festive. Invite any clan members who can leave seclusion, as well as those who can return to the family estates to attend the ceremony!¡± Upon receiving the order, Lin Shihua nodded and patted his chest, saying, ¡°My brothers, due to the special period and the urgency of time, three days is extremely limited, and the family will not be able to invite other families to witness. But rest assured, I and Ninth Brother will arrange Tianming¡¯s wedding to make it lively and festive.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then spoke to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, your Grandfather Ye is in seclusion consolidating his cultivation. Send a message to him tomorrow, and perhaps he will emerge. When he does, you and your grandfather pay a visit to him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Third Grandfather, if Grandfather Ye comes out of seclusion, I will surely pay him a visit and invite him to the wedding banquet,¡± Lin Tianming replied respectfully. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Shikang nodded, then picked up the various cultivation techniques and insights from the table and began to examine them, expressing praise all the while. Seeing this, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong, being the best artifact refiners in the family and the family¡¯s main alchemists, also picked up some related insights and began to read with great interest. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ Chapter 596 03-25 - 596 333 Heartfelt Matters_1 ?Chapter 596: Chapter 333 Heartfelt Matters_1 Chapter 596: Chapter 333 Heartfelt Matters_1 An hour had just passed. After everyone had taken a preliminary look, Lin Shihua then put away the numerous treasures. Afterward, a few of them chatted casually amongst themselves, discussing numerous clan affairs, as well as the details of Lin Tianming¡¯s upcoming marriage. Only when the night grew deep did everyone disperse. ¡­ The next morning. As the sun rose from the east, warm rays of sunlight, from a sky clear as a mirror, shined down upon the earth. ... In the sky above a valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, a Purple Gold Eagle was circling among the layers of mountains. Standing side by side on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi held hands tightly, admiring the beautiful scene before them. Looking down, the gorge below had an odd and fantastic shape, with streams winding their way through and a blanket of blooming flowers all around, a veritable Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. At that moment, as Qin Xi¡¯s beautiful eyes took in the scenery below, she reminisced about her first encounter with Lin Tianming¡¯s mother and sister the day before, and her cheeks couldn¡¯t help but flush with color. This short span of less than a day had brought her an unprecedented sense of family. With these thoughts, when Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming again, her eyes conveyed a special kind of emotion. Seeing the enchantment in Qin Xi¡¯s eyes, Lin Tianming found it breathtaking and irresistible, his heart rippled with emotion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Finally steadying himself, he turned his gaze and then mustered the courage to call out, ¡°Xi¡¯er!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± Qin Xi turned her head, her large eyes fixed on Lin Tianming. Seeing his flushed expression, she seemed to have guessed what was on his mind. ¡°Ming, what happened?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush and said directly, ¡°Xi¡¯er, because of the clan elders, and because I need to enter closed-door cultivation to break through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level to prepare for entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm¡­¡± ¡°So, the clan elders intend to arrange our marriage ceremony in two days! What do you think?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned crimson. Although she had been prepared ever since she followed Lin Tianming to Green Bamboo Mountain, she had not expected it to happen so soon. She looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s sharply defined face, radiating with the vigor of manhood. Then, with a sigh, she spoke, ¡°Ming, I have no objections regarding when to marry.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯ve been harboring a deep hatred in my heart!¡± ¡°I want to tell you about it before we marry. If you still insist on marrying me, then you must join me in avenging my deceased grandfather!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t seem surprised. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In actuality, he had long sensed that Qin Xi had something troubling her, but since she didn¡¯t speak up, he didn¡¯t feel it was right to delve into it, lest he reopen her wounds. Now that Qin Xi had brought it up herself, he naturally wouldn¡¯t oppose. Coming to his senses, Lin Tianming revealed an affectionate look, gently patted Qin Xi¡¯s shoulder, and began to speak, ¡°Xi¡¯er, no matter what it is, no matter who the opposite side is, I will always stand behind you, your strongest support!¡± Hearing this, and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s utterly sincere and resolute gaze, a warm current surged through Qin Xi¡¯s heart. ¡°Ming, do you still remember the first time we met in Luoyun Market?¡± Qin Xi asked. ¡°Remember, of course, I remember!¡± ¡°Back then you were just a girl with youthful charm, helping your grandfather sell Spiritual Medicine at a stall, only to exchange for a few elixirs for cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming said, his eyes full of memories. ¡°Exactly!¡± Qin Xi awoke from her recollection and then talked about their first meeting and the experiences that had occurred since then. ¡°That was our first encounter, and in the following years, grandfather and I moved around Luoyun Mountain Range and Hengyang Mountain Range, killing Demonic Beasts and cultivating. My cultivation grew rapidly.¡± ¡°Years later, I reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. During one ordeal, I was seriously injured, nearly perishing.¡± ¡°To buy elixirs for me, my grandfather had to auction off some Spiritual Medicine in Hengyang Market. But we caught the attention of disciples from the Chen Clan, who followed grandfather after he left the market.¡± ¡°By the time I regained consciousness, with my injuries gradually healing, several days had passed without grandfather¡¯s return.¡± ¡°Worried, I forced myself to go out and investigate despite my injuries, and ultimately traced it back to the Chen Clan.¡± ¡°As for those members of the Chen Clan, all were slain by me, but this alarmed the Chen Clan Leader, who then sent several late-stage Qi Refining members after me.¡± ¡°Thus, I was gravely wounded and forced to flee!¡± ¡°However, for over a decade, I disguised myself and stayed near the Hengyang Mountain Range, quietly eliminating many cultivators from the Chen Clan.¡± ¡°During that time, I suffered injuries multiple times, but, luckily, I managed to escape death each time.¡± ¡°So it went¡ªI cultivated and sought revenge until the outbreak of the beast tide, and by chance, I was besieged by several Yinming Beasts. At the brink of death, I met you.¡± ¡°As for the past three years, you already know, so there¡¯s no need for me to elaborate!¡± Qin Xi spoke at length about nearly two decades¡¯ worth of events, her enmity with the Chen Clan explained clearly. As she relieved the burden that had long weighed on her heart, Qin Xi felt a sense of release, her whole being much lighter. Yet she was also hopeful and a bit nervous, afraid that Lin Tianming would be wary of the Chen Clan¡¯s strength and give up being with her. At that moment, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming held her hand tightly and pulled her into his embrace, then gently soothed her. Chapter 597 03-25 - 597 333 Heart Matters_2 ?Chapter 597: Chapter 333: Heart Matters_2 Chapter 597: Chapter 333: Heart Matters_2 Meanwhile, he spoke with grave sincerity, ¡°Xi¡¯er, be assured that your hatred is my hatred.¡± ¡°I can promise you that the Chen Clan will certainly pay a price. In the future, we must uproot the Chen Clan to avenge Grandfather and wash away the humiliation!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but have her eyes brimming with tears, feeling deeply moved. At that moment, as she sobbed softly, she said, ¡°The Chen Clan is powerful, and even though Ming is strong, I fear that even together, we might not be a match for the Chen Clan!¡± On hearing this, Lin Tianming sneered coldly, then wore an expression of disdain. ¡°The Chen Clan¡¯s strength is not bad, but to our Lin Family, they are hardly worth mentioning.¡± ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t plan on using the family¡¯s strength. Once the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm event is over, I will uproot the Chen Clan myself to avenge Grandfather.¡± ... Qin Xi stopped her sobbing after hearing this and looked at Lin Tianming with her big eyes, not doubting his words at all. In fact, during her travels over the years, she had heard many rumors about the Lin Family. Initially, it was said in the Cultivation World that the Lin Family had quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, at least several of them, and that was even twenty years ago. As time went on, more and more Foundation Establishment members of the Lin Family appeared, and their overall strength became formidable. Moreover, during their time in Yuyao City and Qianchuan Market, they also encountered many well-known Foundation Establishment Cultivators who held the Lin Family members in high regard. From their actions and behavior, it was easy to see that the Lin Family¡¯s strength was indeed high. Given this, combined with the fact that Lin Tianming was so young yet possessed the strength of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator, she could somewhat understand the power of the Lin Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Although Lin Tianming had never revealed the specific strength of the Lin Family to her, she had made guesses. Now, hearing Lin Tianming say so, she became even more certain of her thoughts. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi tightly grasped Lin Tianming¡¯s hand and said seriously, ¡°Ming, I have waited for so many years, I can wait another ten or eight years.¡± ¡°The reason Xi¡¯er spoke of this matter was not to deceive you or make you think that Xi¡¯er is seeking shelter or even wants to use the Lin Family to deal with the Chen Clan.¡± Before she could finish, Lin Tianming held her tighter and interrupted her. ¡°Xi¡¯er, don¡¯t say anymore. My determination to take you as my Dao companion will not be swayed by these matters!¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, with no living relatives, I have no objections to the family elders¡¯ arrangement or the date set for the marriage,¡± Qin Xi replied. Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and let out a hearty laugh, feeling extremely excited. Once his emotions settled, he said, ¡°That¡¯s great, then it¡¯s settled. The wedding ceremony will be arranged for the day after tomorrow!¡± After finishing speaking, Lin Tianming sent out a few transmissions, informing Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua of the matter, instructing them to immediately start preparing for the wedding. Having done that, Lin Tianming patted the Purple Gold Eagle on its back and then led Qin Xi in jumping down. Simultaneously, the Purple Gold Eagle landed on the ground, rubbing its sharp beak against the hems of their clothes affectionately. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took out a few Second Order Middle Stage demon beast inner pills, along with a few smaller Second Order demonic beast corpses, and tossed them to the Purple Gold Eagle. Lately, he hadn¡¯t planned on leaving the area for a year or two. Conveniently, the Purple Gold Eagle had also reached the peak of the Second Order Initial Stage and could take this time to advance to the next level. The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to understand, excitedly gulping down the beast corpses and inner pills. Quickly, the demon beast corpses and inner pills vanished, leaving behind the excited Purple Gold Eagle rubbing affectionately against their hems, seemingly seeking their favor. Seeing this, Lin Tianming petted the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head and said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Diao, with all these treats for you, you should work hard. Once you advance to the Second Order Middle Stage, we will set off on our journey again!¡± The Purple Gold Eagle lifted its head in joy, letting out a sharp, excited cry as if responding to him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and flew towards the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, leaving the Purple Gold Eagle behind on the mountain peak. As they left, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky and flew towards the location of the nest it had once constructed. ¡­ Two days later. In the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, today was the day of Lin Tianming¡¯s wedding ceremony. At this time, the main areas of Green Bamboo Mountain were all decked out in shining lights and colorful decorations, with bright red flowers lining the streets on both sides, and the occasional Immortal Flying Birds swooping over the mountaintops. Meanwhile, groups of children chased and played in the streets, their movements agile, clearly having practiced martial arts from a young age. Looking around, these children were only about six or seven years old and had not yet had their Spiritual Roots tested, but the mere fact that they lived on Green Bamboo Mountain meant that at least one of their direct elders must be a Lin Family Cultivator. Otherwise, it was virtually impossible for children from Mortal Towns to be seen here at such an age. With the Lin Family¡¯s population skyrocketing in recent years and family benefits improving, Green Bamboo Mountain had become increasingly lively. Such young children, mere toddlers, were several times more numerous than they had been two or three decades earlier. Under these circumstances, the vitality of Green Bamboo Mountain was extremely robust. At this very moment, a sense of peace and joy filled Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, adding a different luster to a festive day. In a cave dwelling at the summit of the main peak. The place was already bustling with noise as many Lin Family Members gathered here. In the past two days, numerous Lin Family Members had emerged from seclusion. Many representatives of those stationed in the family¡¯s Spirit Lands were also preparing to attend Lin Tianming¡¯s wedding ceremony. For the occasion, a great majority of the Lin Family had come together, creating a true feast. Although almost nearly every year, or every few years, some Lin Family Members would marry. But unless they were core family members, the scale of the wedding ceremonies was quite small, and most Foundation Establishment Clan Members would not attend. However, this time, such a grand wedding ceremony hadn¡¯t been held by the family in many years. The reason was none other than Lin Tianming, a core family member with an exceptional talent, whose own strength was even a bit stronger than Lin Shilu¡¯s. Apart from that, all of his elders were Cultivators and core family members, making their influence within the entire Lin Family extremely prominent. It was foreseeable that this wedding ceremony would be the most bustling and the largest celebration the Lin Family had seen in a hundred years. At that moment, in the courtyard of this cave dwelling, many clan members gathered to chat idly, each one looking quite excited as they discussed Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation and news about the bride. The atmosphere was incredibly lively. Having received the news, Lin Xingrong returned from Golden Horn Mountain and was now at the entrance of the cave dwelling welcoming guests. From a distance, Lin Xingyuan approached, and before he had even arrived, his hearty laughter could be heard. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xing Rong, congratulations, congratulations!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ it¡¯s Seventh Brother, please come inside quickly!¡± Lin Xingrong quickly went to greet him, chatting with Lin Xingyuan for a few moments. ¡°Seventh Brother, I appreciate you taking the time to return to the family to attend Tian Ming¡¯s wedding ceremony amidst your busy schedule!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Luoyun Market is now quite stable, with Xing Li in charge of its defense, so I came to join in the excitement!¡± After speaking, Lin Xingyuan hastily took out more than a dozen items and a card made of Beast Skin from his storage bag and handed them to Lin Xingrong. Then, he said with a smile, ¡°Xing Rong, Xing Li and many other clan members have their duties and really could not get away, but they have specifically prepared gifts and asked me to convey their congratulations.¡± ¡°This is the list I prepared in advance, please take it!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong laughed heartily and said, ¡°Why the formality between brothers and fellow clan members? They have their duties and must prioritize the greater good, naturally.¡± ¡°As for the gifts, that¡¯s really unnecessary!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lin Xingyuan waved his hand and quickly added a statement. ¡°How can that be? Tian Ming is a Hidden Dragon of our Lin Family, and his wedding is such a grand occasion, it certainly can¡¯t be too plain or hasty.¡± ¡°All right, then I¡¯ll thank all the fellow clan members on behalf of Tian Ming!¡± After returning a reply, Lin Xingrong finally accepted the gifts handed over by Lin Xingyuan and tucked them into his storage bag. He then promptly invited Lin Xingyuan into the cave dwelling. Chapter 598 03-25 - 598 334 Wedding Celebration_1 ?Chapter 598: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_1 Chapter 598: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_1 A while had passed. As the clan members gradually arrived, the number of people inside the cave dwelling had reached nearly eighty. It seemed that among the Lin Family, all the members who were in the late stage of Qi Refining and above, and who could free themselves, had all come to celebrate Lin Tianming¡¯s wedding ceremony. As for those below the late stage of Qi Refining, they did not have the privilege to sit here; Lin Shihua had unifiedly arranged for them to gather within the Family Elders¡¯ Hall. At this time, the vast courtyard was filled with tables, with many family members sitting around talking and laughing joyfully, sharing stories of the past years. In the blink of an eye, it was almost noon. Lin Xingrong still stood at the entrance of the cave dwelling, gazing far into the square ahead, seemingly anticipating something. ... ¡°The auspicious time should be about right, Third Uncle and the others should be arriving soon!¡± Lin Xingrong muttered softly. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, several figures appeared on the square, led by none other than Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, followed by Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong and other clan members of the ¡°Shi¡± generation. Seeing the arrivals, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face lit up with excitement, and he immediately went to greet them. ¡°Xing Rong pays his respects to the elders, and to Uncle Ye!¡± Lin Xingrong bowed deeply in a solemn greeting, smiling as he greeted the elders as well as Ye Pinghai, who had temporarily emerged from seclusion. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Shihua smiled and waved his hand, then instructed, ¡°Xing Rong, please lead Third Brother and the others inside!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Your father and I will take Tian Ming and the girl to the ancestral hall to pay tribute to our ancestors first; afterwards, we¡¯ll come to meet the rest of the elder clan members.¡± ¡°By the Clan Leader¡¯s decree!¡± Lin Xingrong respectfully responded and then signaled Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai to enter the cave dwelling. As a few of them entered the dwelling, all the chatting clan members inside stood up to pay their respects to Lin Shikang and the others. ¡°Today is Tian Ming¡¯s joyous day, and it is rare for all of us to be together, please sit down!¡± Lin Shikang said calmly as he waved his hand and then, along with Ye Pinghai, made his way to the main hall of the cave dwelling. Outside the dwelling, as Lin Shikang and the others left, Lin Xingrong and Lin Shihua did not linger either, starting to fly towards the direction of the family ancestral hall. It wasn¡¯t long before the two of them arrived in front of the ancestral hall. At that moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, waiting there specially. Upon seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming immediately led Qin Xi to approach them. ¡°Tian Ming pays his respects to the Clan Leader, and to father!¡± Witnessing this, Qin Xi also performed a reverent salute and said, ¡°Qin Xi pays her respects to the Clan Leader, and to father!¡± Then, Lin Shihua glanced at Qin Xi, who wore a golden robe and whose stunning beauty was strikingly well-matched with Lin Tianming at her side. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°Young lady, you need not be so formal. After paying tribute to the ancestors and meeting the family¡¯s elders, you¡¯ll be one of our Lin Family members!¡± At these words, Qin Xi blushed slightly, appearing somewhat shy. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took her hand, conveying a sense of comfort. At this time, noticing Lin Tianming¡¯s gesture, Lin Shihua chuckled heartily, then said, ¡°It¡¯s about time, follow me inside!¡± Upon finishing, Lin Shihua cast several Law Decrees to open the protective restrictions of the ancestral hall and then walked in with large strides. Following him, Lin Xingrong also waved his hand, indicating for Lin Tianming and Qin Xi to follow. ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Tianming said, then took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and walked deeper into the ancestral hall. Soon, the four of them passed through the corridors and arrived inside a hall deep within. At this moment, Lin Shihua looked around, his gaze sweeping over the myriad Spirit Tablets. Meanwhile, Qin Xi, experiencing the ancestral hall for the first time, curiously surveyed the surroundings, her thoughts unknown. As for Lin Tianming, he stood quietly next to Qin Xi, looking at the many names on the Spirit Tablets, and was lost in memories. It had been a long time since he had visited this family ancestral hall; the last time he came was after the battle on Green Bamboo Mountain with the Jin Family Cultivators, Later, when Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe¡¯s lifespans had come to an end and their Spirit Tablets were placed in the hall, he was out fulfilling a family task and did not get the chance to escort them on their final journey. Looking back, nearly twenty years had passed since his last visit to the ancestral hall. Now, re-entering the hall, it was on the day of his own wedding. After a while, he collected his thoughts and saw that Lin Shihua, with a serious expression, took out several offerings from his storage bag to refresh the sacrificial table. Having done that, he lit a few sticks of incense and, with great respect, made three bows to the central ancestral tablet of the progenitor. Behind him, Lin Xingrong stood by with reverence, his eyes filled with affectionate remembrance and a touch of joy. Time passed, unknowingly, as Lin Shihua finished the preparatory work. At that moment, he still stood in front of the sacrificial table, then, after a glance at Lin Tianming and Qin Xi below, he took on a deep and solemn tone. He then started to speak, ¡°On this most auspicious and joyful day, our clan descendant Lin Tianming and the daughter of a Loose Cultivator, Qin Xi, are united in marriage. We come to pay respect to all our forebears, marking the commencement of the wedding ceremony.¡± As his words echoed, Lin Xingrong ushered Lin Tianming and Qin Xi to bow in reverence, followed by presenting a cup of Spiritual Wine. Meanwhile, Lin Shihua continued his recitation. From his somewhat peculiar words, one could discern he was recounting Lin Tianming¡¯s contributions to the family over the years, as well as revealing Qin Xi¡¯s background. At the same time, amidst these peculiar phrases, there was also an expression of hope for a bright future. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, waiting and following the guidance of Lin Xingrong, paying their solemn respects. After a little less than half an hour had passed. Chapter 599 03-25 - 599 334 Wedding Celebration_2 ?Chapter 599: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_2 Chapter 599: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_2 As Lin Shihua let out a loud shout, ¡°The ancestral worship ceremony is complete, newcomers, kowtow!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi hurriedly bowed and paid their respectful three kowtows to the ancestral spirit tablet in the center. ¡°All right, the ancestral worship ceremony is finished, everyone stand up!¡± Following Lin Shihua¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming and the others immediately stood upright and waited quietly to the side. ¡°Hehe¡­ With the ancestral worship rites completed, the only thing left is to meet the clan elders. Once this rite is over, the formalities will be officially completed!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, the Third Grandfather and the others must be getting impatient waiting!¡± Lin Shihua said with a chuckle, then led Lin Tianming and the others out of the ancestral hall. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... A short while later, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group of four arrived at their father¡¯s cave dwelling. At this time, the cave dwelling was bustling with noise. Apart from the four of them, the rest of the clan members who should be present had pretty much all arrived. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others walk in, the crowd of cultivators cheered and shouted, each of them excited. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled and greeted the clan members, not forgetting to introduce Qin Xi to some of the more familiar ones. By his side, Qin Xi also politely smiled in return. Not only that, Qin Xi¡¯s basic details, such as her spiritual roots or cultivation, were not concealed. Soon, the small courtyard¡¯s clan members were introduced to Qin Xi through Lin Tianming¡¯s introduction. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Each of the family members voiced their feelings spontaneously, praising them as a truly talented and good-looking couple, a match made in heaven. In fact, it was true. According to what Qin Xi privately disclosed, she possessed water-wood dual spiritual roots, serendipitously obtained an earth-grade cultivation technique, and primarily engaged in hunting demonic beasts and seeking treasures in the vicinity of the Hengyang Mountain Range with her adventures. Furthermore, she had slain no less than a dozen cultivators from the Chen Clan over the years. Utilizing the resources from their storage bags, combined with her own gains from adventures, she had obtained considerable wealth. As she toiled and advanced her cultivation over more than twenty years, she had managed to reach her current cultivation realm. When Lin Tianming learned about this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity for her. One must know, his own rapid cultivation advancement, although marred by many brushes with death, was supported at least in spirit by the many elders of his family. Even if it was just spiritual support, its effect was unmistakable. Whenever he faced life and death, the thought of his family¡¯s parents and elders gave him the strength to maintain a firm Dao heart and the courage of a cornered rat. This subtle state of mind could help him break through realms and even burst forth with greater strength in times of desperation. From this, one could imagine the hardships and life-and-death crises Qin Xi faced over the years. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming sincerely admired such a woman. In such a context, what the family members said about them being a well-matched pair, a match made in heaven, was indeed true. ¡°The auspicious moment has arrived, the newlyweds pay respect to the parents and elders!¡± As a resounding voice echoed, under everyone¡¯s gaze, the four of them bid farewell to the Qi refining clanspeople and made their way to the main hall of the cave dwelling. Upon entering the main hall, there were already more than ten people seated. The two highest seats were occupied by Ren Yuxuan, with the other left vacant, clearly meant for Lin Xingrong¡¯s place. Below them, arrayed in two rows, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai sat opposite each other, with Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua, along with other members of the Shi generation, seated close by. Foundation Establishment cultivators like Lin Xingyuan and Lin Tianqin were seated according to their seniority and age. Looking around, out of the eighteen Foundation Establishment cultivators of the family, eleven were gathered here. If one were to include the Golden Core cultivator Ye Pinghai, such an assembly was certainly not much weaker than a Golden Core family from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. As Lin Tianming and the others entered the main hall, Lin Xingrong and the other family members exchanged greetings before he sat down directly in the highest open seat. Seeing this, Lin Shihua scanned the room to confirm no one was missing, then raised his voice to announce. ¡°On this auspicious day, with our ancestors¡¯ blessings, our clan¡¯s Tian Ming joins in matrimony with the daughter of the Qin Family, let the marriage ceremony begin!¡± ¡°The first bow, to heaven and earth!¡± As the words fell, Lin Tianming and his bride turned around and deeply bowed in the direction outside the house. ¡°The second bow, to the parents!¡± Lin Tianming and his bride walked forward, took the wine cups from Lin Shihua¡¯s hands, and respectfully toasted their parents. At this moment, Lin Xingrong and the others were all smiles, clearly very delighted with the couple before them. In their hearts, they had longed for this very day, and now, at last, it had come to fruition. Besides, Qin Xi was an outstanding choice in every aspect, so having her as a daughter-in-law filled them with great satisfaction. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Lin Xingrong and his partner received their cups of wine and, unable to contain their smiles, drank. ¡°The third bow, to greet the clan elders!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming once again picked up his cup and approached Lin Shikang. ¡°Third Grandfather, your junior offers you his respects!¡± Lin Tianming and his partner offered the spiritual wine with utmost reverence, speaking in unison. ¡°Ha ha¡­ good, good, good!¡± Lin Shikang accepted their gesture with uncontained joy, repeating the word ¡°good¡± thrice. Straight after, he waved his sleeve, and a light blue longsword appeared in his hand. At a glance, the sword was about one and a half feet long, its blade emanating faint hints of cold, clearly, a Second Order inferior attack talisman. Obviously, the properties of this longsword were a perfect match for Qin Xi, as if it had been tailor-made for her. ¡°Tianming, I don¡¯t have much to offer for your wedding ceremony, so let this Second Order inferior Frost Sword be my gift to you!¡± Having said that, Lin Shikang drank two cups of spiritual wine in one go and then handed the Frost Sword to Qin Xi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, not expecting Lin Shikang to present such a valuable gift. It was known that when Qin Xi met with grandfather Lin Shigong, he had only bestowed upon her a bottle of elixirs and a Second Order inferior Hongxing Fruit. Yet Lin Shikang¡¯s gift was a Second Order inferior attack talisman, and while it was of lower grade, it was certainly a prime choice within its class. In addition, the Frost Sword¡¯s attributes so closely matched Qin Xi¡¯s that the short time it took to produce such an item clearly indicated considerable effort. At that moment, Qin Xi was deeply moved and seemed to quite fancy the Frost Sword before her. However, she did not take it immediately but turned her gaze to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, with no intent of defying Lin Shikang¡¯s meaning, reminded her with a smile, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the Third Grandfather is very generous. Shouldn¡¯t you thank him quickly?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi accepted the Frost Sword and, bowing respectfully, said, ¡°Xi¡¯er thanks Third Grandfather!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded with excitement and then gestured with his hand to continue the ceremony. Seeing this, Lin Shihua continued leading Lin Tianming to Ye Pinghai. Lin Tianming and his partner once again raised their cups, respectfully offering them to the seated Ye Pinghai. As the sworn brother of Lin Shigong, and thus practically a member of the Lin Family, Ye Pinghai was extremely happy when he heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s marriage. Without waiting for an invitation from Lin Shigong, he requested to attend the ceremony. Given his status, coupled with his Golden Core Stage cultivation, Lin Shigong naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse. The only requirement was that he modify his appearance and conceal his cultivation level. Nevertheless, no clan member could see through his cultivation realm, nor would they be able to reveal his true circumstances. However, Lin Tianming, looking at the unfamiliar face, naturally knew who was capable of attending his wedding ceremony and sitting in such a position. As for some of the family members who were unaware, they could only guess in secret. At that moment, Ye Pinghai chuckled and likewise produced a gift, two Second Order Superior Beautifying Pills. Beautifying Pills had the effect of vitalizing and preserving youth. With just one pill, one could maintain their current appearance, even if their lifespan was nearing its end, with little change. Such a pill was sought after by nearly every female cultivator, as the desire for beauty is universal, regardless of whether it¡¯s in the mortal world or the Cultivation World. However, given its high grade, only a scarce number of Beautifying Pills were in circulation. Each time one appeared, it was purchased by female cultivators at sky-high prices. Only an alchemist like him might have a small number of Beautifying Pills on hand. Clearly, the gift from Ye Pinghai might not have the same utility as Lin Shikang¡¯s Frost Sword, but its value was almost comparable, and it was certainly a thoughtful choice. At that time, Qin Xi was overjoyed to see such an item, her heart filled with excitement which she managed to suppress, maintaining an undisturbed demeanor. Seeing this, Lin Tianming led Qin Xi to offer their thanks without uttering a word of address. Then, under the watchful eyes of all those present, Ye Pinghai took the two cups of spiritual wine and drank with no hesitation. Lin Tianming then took the Beautifying Pills and stored them away. Chapter 600 03-25 - 600 335 Qin Xis Sense of Belonging_1 ?Chapter 600: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_1 Chapter 600: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_1 As Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai presented their gifts, the clan members gathered in the main hall were treated to an eye-opening display. An Ice Frost Sword and two Beautifying Pills; the value of these items was no less than tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Giving such generous gifts that were also very suitable for Qin Xi, it¡¯s clear that a lot of thought had gone into them. Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, but he also felt moved. It¡¯s known that it is not uncommon for family clans to provide gifts for newlyweds, and some elders do give presents, but the gifts from other clan members are usually not very expensive, often just a bottle or two of elixirs, as a token of their sentiment. Besides, at the wedding ceremonies of most clan members, attendance is limited, and elders like Lin Shikang usually don¡¯t participate; at most, the Clan Leader would attend as a witness. Yet for his own wedding ceremony, nearly every available family member had come, and they had brought a variety of treasures with them, some giving just a few Spirit Stones, others gifting a Second Order Magical Artifact. ... Such an outpouring of lavish gifts and such a grand wedding celebration were almost unheard of in the family¡¯s nearly thousand-year history. With the lively atmosphere continuing to surge, Lin Tianming and his bride proceeded to pay their respects to several elders of the Lin Family with ¡°Shi¡± in their names. At this moment, they bowed to Clan Leader Lin Shihua. Lin Shihua saw this and chuckled, saying, ¡°My gift can¡¯t compare to those of your third uncle and the others; don¡¯t look down on it, alright?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shihua took out two Medium Quality Second Order Attack Talismans and handed them to Qin Xi. Hearing this, Lin Tianming hurriedly waved his hands and responded, ¡°How could you say that, Twelfth Grandpa? Regardless of the gift¡¯s value, it represents the thoughtfulness of our elders, and Xi¡¯er and I would never disdain it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, and then he took a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Qin Xi then accepted the Second Order Talisman gifted by Lin Shihua and, led by him, the two of them continued to Lin Shilu¡¯s presence. As the youngest elder of the Lin Family, he was also the one with the most outstanding talent. At this time, Lin Shilu looked at Lin Tianming in front of him and nodded in approval. The Lin Family had many members, but not many youngsters could interact with him. Perhaps only a few core family members like Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong were able to exchange a few words with him. As for Lin Tianming, he was someone Lin Shilu had watched grow up, personally witnessing and even participating in his cultivation. The first time he left the Luoyun Mountain Range was with Lin Shilu, and on their return, after visiting Qianchuan Market, they established the Luoyun Pavilion together. Latter on, during the expedition to the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, they faced life and death together, and Lin Shilu stood in front of him, protecting him from the elements. Putting aside their generational differences, their relationship could be described as both mentor and friend, and their affection for each other had always been strong. Now, Lin Tianming¡¯s talents and strength had surpassed Lin Shilu, leaving him far behind. To this, Lin Shilu felt sincere relief and happiness. ¡°Tian Ming pays respects to Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± With this greeting, Lin Tianming interrupted Lin Shilu¡¯s reminiscing. Then, Lin Shilu chuckled, stood up, patted Lin Tianming¡¯s shoulder, and said earnestly with a touch of sentiment, ¡°Not bad at all!¡± ¡°Who would have thought time could fly so fast; before you know it, you are now a family man.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Now that you are married, you should contribute to the family¡¯s lineage!¡± Upon this sudden change in tone, Lin Shilu¡¯s serious expression softened. This remark instantly filled the entire main hall with laughter. Clearly, the clan members understood the underlying meaning of his words. At this moment, under the gaze of all the women present, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but blush. Seeing his expression, Lin Shilu laughed heartily, completely ignoring the reactions of the clan members. He then waved his sleeve, took out the Green Scale Shield he had once used, and handed it to Qin Xi. At the same time, he said with a smile, ¡°For your wedding, your third uncle and the others have all given generous gifts.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Although my strength is not at par with your third uncle and the others, I cannot let them outdo me in terms of a gift.¡± After saying this, Lin Shilu¡¯s tone shifted as he gave a heartfelt exhortation. ¡°This Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact has been with me through many battles. Although it has sustained some damage, here and there, I have done my best to repair it to almost 90% of its full defensive power.¡± ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve acquired materials to forge new defensive artifacts, so I¡¯m passing this Green Scale Shield to Xi¡¯er.¡± ¡°I hope you and your spouse will work together in harmony and, sooner or later, both step into the Golden Core Stage to lead our family towards glory.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turned rosy, deeply moved. In his heart, Lin Shilu and the late Lin Shixin had a significant influence on his cultivation and growth. As a child, he always followed Lin Shixin around, and as he grew older, when it came time to officially enter the Cultivation World, Lin Shilu became his guide. Over the years, Lin Shilu had taken great care of him, selflessly crafting various Spirit Instruments and accompanying him on treasure hunts. He was also wholeheartedly willing to instruct him on any cultivation doubts. Though Lin Shilu was amiable towards other clan members, providing guidance and even painstakingly crafting treasures for them, No one else had received such thorough and selfless attention like Lin Tianming had. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Contemplating these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt deeply touched, and looking at Lin Shilu, he couldn¡¯t help but feel his eyes moisten. Chapter 601 03-25 - 601 335 Qin Xis Sense of Belonging_2 ?Chapter 601: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_2 Chapter 601: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_2 After a long while, when he had finally calmed down, Lin Tianming looked into Lin Shilu¡¯s sincere eyes and then nodded. Seeing this, Qin Xi then accepted Lin Shilu¡¯s meeting gift and, together with Lin Tianming, respectfully paid their respects. ¡°Hehe¡­ wonderful, what a talented man and beautiful woman, a truly well-matched couple!¡± Lin Shilu was very excited and patted Lin Tianming on the shoulder while he exclaimed sentimentally. At this moment, Qin Xi was also incredibly moved. In her heart, today¡¯s wedding ceremony had made a significant impact. She had already overestimated the strength of the Lin Family, but seeing the clan members in this main hall completely shattered her assumptions. ... The eleven clan members present were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and they were mostly above the second level. This did not include Ye Pinghai, whose identity was unknown, as well as those clan members stationed at the various territories. She knew of two in the Qianchuan Market alone, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, along with Lin Xingzhi at Golden Horn Mountain. Besides these, there were likely several Foundation Establishment clan members from the Lin Family controlling the Luoyun Market who had not returned. Aside from the known and unknown, the mere presence of so many Foundation Establishment clan members, including the Great Completion Cultivator Lin Shikang, indicated the formidable strength of the Lin Family. With these in mind, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply shocked. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Furthermore, the level of attention she received from the elders also moved her immensely. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? In her heart, the feeling of being valued was something she had only enjoyed when her grandfather was still alive. However, at this moment, the Lin Family, from top to bottom, whether elders or peers, had all accepted her and bestowed the utmost respect. It was this feeling of being valued and the care of the elders that gave her a profound sense of belonging to the clan. In this instant, she had completely integrated into the family, just like Lin Tianming, considering the clan as her backing and willing to protect it with her life. Unknowingly, her eyes had filled with tears, clearly moved by the family¡¯s atmosphere. Her emotions were noticed by many clan members, who cheered and encouraged her. Seeing this, Lin Tianming tightly grasped Qin Xi¡¯s hand, soothing her emotions. After a good while, Qin Xi regained her composure, and it seemed as if her spirit had been elevated. Now, as she looked again at the clan members in the scene, they no longer felt unfamiliar and she was no longer restrained. Clearly, she had integrated into this large family and had become a member of the clan. With the completion of the visiting ceremony by a few members of the Shi generation, the clan members who remained were of the Xing and Tian generations. According to the family¡¯s arrangements, these clan members didn¡¯t need to be so formal; a simple greeting would suffice. What remained was for the clan members to gather together, dine while chatting, and following the end of these activities, the entire ceremony would be considered complete. As for the bridal chamber and wedding candles in the mundane world, cultivators did not have such complex rituals, for the mentality of cultivators was vastly different from that of mortals. In the Cultivation World, cultivators possess firm Dao hearts, with some even being of the pure-hearted and desireless sort. Therefore, cultivators do not place as much importance on the nuptial night. And so, Lin Tianming, accompanied by Qin Xi, proceeded to greet the Xing generation clan members, chatting casually with them for a bit. These clan members were also very polite, with their words filled with congratulatory sentiments. Besides that, although they couldn¡¯t present gifts like the elders, offering a few elixirs or a Second Order Talisman as a greeting gift was still quite respectable. In such circumstances, Qin Xi received quite a number of greeting gifts that day, which almost allowed her to fully arm herself from head to toe. As the lively atmosphere continued, Green Bamboo Mountain was exceptionally bustling today. Whether at the peak¡¯s summit or the Elders¡¯ Council Hall on the mountainside, many clan members seized the opportunity to gather, exchanging experiences or news about the Cultivation World, the scene brimming with liveliness. ¡°` In the blink of an eye, the time had reached evening. As the sky gradually darkened, the half-day-long wedding ceremony had also come to an end, with many clan members bidding farewell and returning to their normal cultivation routines. In the night, within Lin Tianming¡¯s cave mansion. With the conclusion of the ceremony, he had also bid goodbye to his parents and elders, returning to his own cave mansion. By that time, his own cave mansion courtyard had already been redecorated by his mother. Looking around, the entire cave mansion, from the front hall to the backyard, was adorned with numerous gemstones, and some doors and windows were embellished with patterns made of red silk. Such decorations were somewhat similar to those of the Mundane World¡¯s weddings. To this, Lin Tianming was not surprised. Although cultivators and mortals were quite different, some customs and habits had also evolved from the Mundane World. And the mother¡¯s hard work in decorating the cave mansion was entirely different from its usual simplicity, but it did indeed have a unique charm. ¡°Ming, let¡¯s rest!¡± At that moment, Qin Xi spoke in a soft voice and then her face blushed, seemingly a bit shy. ¡°Hmm?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow and feigned anger as he said, ¡°We¡¯ve already paid homage to the heavens and our parents and elders. What should my wife call me?¡± Reminded by his words, Qin Xi¡¯s face grew even rosier. Immediately afterward, she affectionately called out in a faint voice, ¡°My husband¡­¡± ¡°Haha¡­ My wife!¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming pulled her into his embrace with a mischievous chuckle. As the two held each other, Lin Tianming stroked Qin Xi¡¯s hair and said, ¡°My wife, if you¡¯re not used to it, you can still call me Ming. I¡¯m also used to calling you Xi¡¯er, so let¡¯s just call each other Xi¡¯er in private!¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Qin Xi nodded and nestled in his arms, her face flushing with a rosy glow. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and after holding her for a while, he finally released her. At that time, he slapped his storage bag and took out a large number of treasures, laying them out on the stone table in front of him. Looking at the table filled with treasures, most were common items, without anything too valuable. ¡°My wife, these treasures are the gifts we received today from others. Now I¡¯m handing them to you!¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Ming, today the elders gave us many precious items. My cultivation and strength are still quite shallow, and I can¡¯t make much use of them. It would be better to hand them over to you!¡± After saying this, Qin Xi then took out the Frost Sword gifted by Lin Shikang and the Green Scale Shield from Lin Shilu, as well as the Beautifying Pills given by Ye Pinghai. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and said, ¡°Third Grandfather obviously knew you have Water Wood Dual Spiritual Roots, which is why he specially chose this Frost Sword for your Spiritual Root attribute!¡± ¡°This Attack Talisman is of excellent quality and extremely compatible with your spiritual roots, and only you can bring out its greatest effect.¡± ¡°And as for Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s Green Scale Shield, I have one too!¡± Lin Tianming took out his own Green Scale Shield and placed it in front of him. This Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, had made significant contributions over the years and had been significantly damaged from over a decade of use. It had also been repaired several times through refinement. Since the battle at Yuyao City, it had been in a state of disrepair, but fortunately, there were plenty of Artifact Refining Materials on hand. With a bit of help from Lin Shilu to recreate it, it might even be possible to advance it to a Second Order Medium Quality. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°My Green Scale Shield may be of a lower grade, but I have collected many excellent refining materials.¡± ¡°Over the next two years, I plan to ask Fifteenth Grandfather for help in upgrading and refining it. It is entirely possible that it will become even stronger than yours in the future.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi helplessly nodded, knowing that what Lin Tianming said made sense. With this, she no longer insisted and put away the Frost Sword and Green Scale Shield. Having done this, the couple looked at the two Beautifying Pills, exchanged a smile, and took the pills on the spot. ¡°` Chapter 602 03-25 - 602 336 Request_1 ?Chapter 602: Chapter 336: Request_1 Chapter 602: Chapter 336: Request_1 Before long, a period of time passed. As they took the Beautifying Pill, they both felt a strange energy spreading from inside their bodies to the outside. Soon, their faces felt a hint of coolness, and their overall appearance seemed to become slightly younger. ¡°Ming, is this the effect of the Beautifying Pill?¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s question, Lin Tianming nodded and then replied, ¡°This Beautifying Pill really is quite magical. When I gather enough Spiritual Medicine Materials someday, I¡¯ll also refine some. I¡¯m sure the female members of the clan would like them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure, there¡¯s not a female cultivator who isn¡¯t concerned about her appearance!¡± Qin Xi sighed, then began to tally up the numerous Spiritual Objects in front of her. ... A tea-time passed. The two of them finished tallying up the Spiritual Objects in front of them. Although there were many treasures, cumulatively, their value was probably only equivalent to that of a Second Order Magical Artifact. Still, Lin Tianming did not show any disdain for their modest value, after all, it was a gesture of goodwill from his clansmen. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you keep these things. If you encounter some young clan members in need in the future, you can give them away,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and agreed. Lin Tianming did this to help her integrate into the Lin Family faster. He wanted to use these less significant treasures to establish connections with the younger clan members to help them grow more quickly. The astute and clever Qin Xi certainly understood his intentions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 The night deepened into stillness. At this moment, Qin Xi glanced outside at the bright moonlight and then spoke, ¡°Ming, let¡¯s go rest.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Tianming laughed heartily, scooped up Qin Xi in his arms, and headed toward the bedroom. In a short while, the two of them were embracing on the stone bed. Lin Tianming¡¯s large hand had already found its way into voluptuous curves, and Qin Xi, dressed in her palace attire, began to reveal hints of spring. At this time, Qin Xi felt a tingling sensation and couldn¡¯t help but blush and pant softly. She composed herself and took out a book from her storage bag, placing it between them. This book, given to her in advance by Ren Yuxuan, was a manual for marital dual cultivation. At the time, Ren Yuxuan had specifically instructed her to practice these techniques on their wedding night, stating that by utilizing the bodies of Yuan Yin and Yuan Yang, they could nourish each other and quickly enhance their cultivation. However, Lin Tianming was unaware. It was only when he felt the cool touch of the book that he stopped, picked up the book, and began to flip through it. Glancing at the somewhat indescribable drawings, he realized what this book contained. Instantaneously, heat began to rise within him. He blushed, feeling a sudden surge of desire. Despite his restlessness, he managed to calm himself down. As a forty-year-old, his age would almost count as venerable in the Mundane World. The joys of men and women were all too familiar to him, even somewhat longed for. However, as a cultivator, especially one earnest in seeking the Dao, his views on such matters were more detached. Moreover, he had his own plan, which was to wait until the Golden Core Stage to break through this barrier, thereby leveraging the effect of the first dual cultivation to make a leap in his realm. After all, cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage wasn¡¯t difficult; using up this opportunity now would be too wasteful. Furthermore, as cultivators¡¯ cultivation increased, the difficulty of having offspring also increased. But the upside was that children born to such cultivators tended to have better talents. With both of their talents from Dual Spiritual Roots, if they were to have children during the Golden Core Stage, there was a high probability that their offspring would possess Spiritual Roots and could potentially have exceptional talents. Considering these factors, Lin Tianming stopped what he was doing and then said to Qin Xi in his arms. ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s not rush into this matter. We¡¯d better save this opportunity for the Golden Core Stage,¡± he suggested. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Our future children might also benefit from a better Spiritual Root Talent,¡± he added. Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded. In fact, she had the same idea but was worried that Lin Tianming might misunderstand, which is why she hadn¡¯t brought it up herself. Since Lin Tianming mentioned it, she naturally wouldn¡¯t object. However, if they didn¡¯t have children for a long time, she feared that the clan elders might have some thoughts about it. With these concerns, Qin Xi helplessly said, ¡°I have no objections to what Ming proposes, but I¡¯m afraid mother might not agree!¡± Hearing her, Lin Tianming smiled and then replied, ¡°Xi¡¯er, don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll explain it to her. As long as I clarify the pros and cons, I believe mother won¡¯t insist on this matter anymore!¡± ¡°Mhm, mhm!¡± Qin Xi nodded repeatedly, her smile becoming even more radiant. ¡°Hehe¡­ Even if we can¡¯t take it a step further right now, I won¡¯t miss out on the advantages I can take!¡± Lin Tianming said with a sly chuckle, then with both hands, he eagerly reached toward the enchanting figure in his embrace. For a while, the room was filled with laughter and heavy breathing. ¡­ The next morning. In the room, as the sunlight streamed through the small window and shined upon Lin Tianming and his companion. At this time, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, looked at the disheveled Qin Xi in his arms, sniffed her natural scent, and his face showed a faint smile. Qin Xi, too, opened her eyes and felt the warm heat of Lin Tianming¡¯s body, causing her to blush slightly. The night after their grand wedding ceremony, it was supposed to be their bridal chamber night, but they didn¡¯t cross the final barrier. Instead, he took some liberties, and then they fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms. Chapter 603 03-25 - 603 336 ?Chapter 603: 336 Chapter 603: 336 Now that the two were married and shared a bed, their relationship had made significant progress. ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s get up and pay a visit to my parents and then to a few of the Clan Elders with the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation name!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s reminder, Qin Xi got up from his embrace and quickly changed into a set of clean clothes. Seeing this, Lin Tianming flipped over and sprang up from the stone bed. At that moment, Qin Xi also stepped forward thoughtfully to straighten Lin Tianming¡¯s attire. Looking at the beautiful and affectionate person before him, who was also considerate and well-behaved, Lin Tianming was very pleased. Soon, with Qin Xi¡¯s assistance, the two got ready and then walked out of the cave dwelling together. ... On the streets, the lavish decorations of blooming flowers were still in place, but they encountered few clanspeople. Clearly, with the conclusion of the boisterous wedding ceremony from the previous day, most of the clanspeople had returned to their normal lives, some to cultivate and others to carry out their duties. Green Bamboo Mountain had regained its usual peace. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two arrived at the cave dwelling where Lin Tianming¡¯s parents resided. In the courtyard, his parents and younger sister were all present. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and Qin Xi come in, they immediately came up to greet them. Looking at his parents, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi bowed deeply. ¡°Greetings, Father, greetings, Mother!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ there¡¯s no need for such formalities!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï At this moment, Ren Yuxuan was quite happy and quickly took Qin Xi to a corner of the courtyard to ask her something in private. Lin Tianming could only smile helplessly at this, and then sat down to chat with his father. Before long, Qin Xi reappeared and joined them, and then the mother, although silent, made her intentions clear with her gaze. Seeing this, Lin Tianming immediately understood her meaning and quickly began to share his thoughts. After a while, upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, despite the urgency for him to produce offspring, his parents did not press the matter further. The reason for their easy agreement was simple; they had confidence in the talents of the couple. In their eyes, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were not like other clanspeople. With their exceptional talents, as long as they solidified their foundations, they had a considerable chance of reaching the Golden Core Stage in the future. Having offspring at that time would likely result in children with better Spiritual Root aptitudes. Their situation was different; when they were young, most clanspeople typically married in their fifties or sixties, and many didn¡¯t marry at all. When it came to having children, there was less concern. The reason being that those clanspeople had limited potential, and delaying the birth of their children made no significant difference. Thus, waiting several decades for Lin Tianming¡¯s descendants to inherit better talents was not unacceptable. Given the situation, his parents did not dwell on the matter. After a casual conversation, they discussed the family¡¯s plans for the coming years. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi naturally planned to go into seclusion to cultivate. With only a little more than a year left before the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opened, time was pressing. They had already fought the Demon Beast Army in Yuyao City for over a year, solidifying a strong foundation. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beyond that, Lin Tianming had purchased many treasures at Qianchuan Market, and with the Spirit Fruits bestowed by the Clan Elders, they had no shortage of cultivation resources for the time being. Now that they finally had the opportunity to rest for two years, they intended to make the most of it by cultivating in seclusion to strive for a higher realm, ensuring their survival in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and maybe even reaping greater rewards. As for Lin Xingrong, he had returned for the wedding ceremony and couldn¡¯t delay for too long. He planned to stay only for a couple of days to rest and stock up on resources before heading back to Golden Horn Mountain. Lin¡¯s mother, on the other hand, was relatively free. Aside from cultivating, she also helped manage the Spirit Fields in the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden. As for his younger sister, Lin Tianyue, she was still pleading with Lin Tianming, urging him to speak kindly on her behalf to the Clan Leader, so she could gain experience at Qianchuan Market. Annoyed by her persistence, Lin Tianming had no choice but to agree. Later, the family sat down to eat together and, after the meal, Lin Tianming said farewell to his parents and took Qin Xi toward Lin Shikang¡¯s dwelling. After visiting a few of the Shi generation clan members, they each planned to start their respective secluded cultivation. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, several Shi generation clanspeople sat together, engaged in idle chat. When Lin Tianming and his wife arrived, the group was not surprised, as they apparently anticipated the visit, having gathered in Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion in advance. At this moment, upon seeing the group of elders, Lin Tianming, leading Qin Xi, promptly went forward to greet them. ¡°Hehe¡­ no need for such formality, Xi¡¯er, come and take a seat quickly!¡± Glad to see Lin Tianming and his wife, Lin Shilu beckoned to them with a smile, motioning them to sit down. Clearly, Lin Shilu had always liked Lin Tianming and now that Qin Xi had married into the family, he developed even greater fondness for this junior. Thus, his words were even warmer than toward Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t mind and immediately took a seat next to Qin Xi in the available spaces. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shikang then inquired about the purpose of their visit. Lin Tianming responded straightforwardly, explaining his and his wife¡¯s plans to enter secluded cultivation and casually mentioned his sister¡¯s request as well. The elders naturally had no objections to his plans. After all, with Lin Tianming¡¯s level of cultivation strength, he had no need to be distracted by other matters; cultivation was his main focus. Regarding the sister who had been persistent about going to Qianchuan Market, Lin Shihua casually agreed, even sending Lin Tianhong along as well. With the strength of these two, plus the support of Lin Tianfeng and others within the market, they would be basically safe as long as they didn¡¯t take any risks. Moreover, Lin Tianyue was a Second Order Inscription Master, and Lin Tianhong was a Second Order Alchemist. With these two family members in charge of Qianchuan Market, Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s supply of elixirs and talisman paper would be replenished swiftly. In a way, this was also an experience for them and a major development of the family¡¯s enterprises. Lin Tianming, of course, wouldn¡¯t question Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements, especially since he advocated for such experiences for the clanspeople as well. As the conversation continued for half an hour, Lin Tianming also entrusted Lin Shilu with the task of enhancing his Magic Artifacts. To this request, Lin Shilu naturally did not refuse but instead took his fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and the Tiangang Sword. In addition, the Green Scale Shield, which was essential for defense, was also taken back by Lin Shilu. He explained that he planned to use the treasures accumulated by the family over the years and the abundant resources Lin Tianming had acquired to upgrade his offensive and defensive Magic Artifacts comprehensively. This undertaking aimed to enhance his strength in full preparation for the upcoming Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Hearing this, Lin Tianming could not contain his joy; he quickly handed over all his artifacts to Lin Shilu and prepared a batch of Artifact Refining Materials for him. Many of these reserved refining materials, mostly gathered from the Demonic Beasts slain in the battle at Yuyao City. The Scales from the Bloodthirsty Jiao, combined with the shell of some demonic beasts, were perfect for repairing the Green Scale Shield, and might even raise it by a minor grade. The Tiangang Sword along with the fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, including the Green Scale Shield, were all crafted by Lin Shilu. With the numerous treasures he had received from the battle with Xu Haiqiao, he was quite confident about improving the grade of these several artifacts. Thus, Lin Tianming was very reassured and even somewhat excited about the enhancements the new artifacts would bring. However, Lin Shilu now had a substantial task ahead, not only to forge defensive Magic Artifacts for Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation but also to upgrade them for Lin Tianming, likely making the next two years quite busy for him. After all, the defensive artifacts Lin Shikang needed were of no low grade, and there were more than one to be crafted. Additionally, Lin Shilu had only been a High Grade Second Order Artifact Refiner for two years. The difficulty of forging High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts and enhancing Lin Tianming¡¯s artifacts within two years was imaginable. Consequently, Lin Shilu¡¯s time was also urgent, necessitating him to begin his secluded cultivation immediately. As time passed, half an hour slipped away. During this period, the clan members shared a number of arrangements and also agreed with Lin Shilu to retrieve his artifacts within a year. Seeing that everything was well arranged, Lin Tianming did not linger long, bid farewell to the elders, and returned directly to his cave mansion. ¡­ Chapter 604 03-25 - 604 337 Foundation Establishment Seventh ?Chapter 604: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Seventh Level_1 Chapter 604: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Seventh Level_1 In the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, both wearing smiles on their faces, seemingly in a good mood. And indeed, it was so. They had just gotten married and enjoyed a rare few days of leisure. Plus, with the meeting gifts from clan members, they had received quite a few good items. Now, they had plenty of resources for cultivation in their hands. All they needed to do was to close off from the world and concentrate on their cultivation to further enhance their power. What was more important was that Lin Shilu would be enhancing his magic artifact comprehensively. If he could break through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, coupled with the greatly increased power of the magic artifact, what level would his strength reach? Perhaps he wouldn¡¯t need to use all of his techniques and could rely on his own strength to win when facing a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Peak. ... Thinking of these, Lin Tianming was both excited and looking forward to it with great anticipation. However, the enhancement of the magic artifact would take at least half a year before any results could be revealed, so no matter how much he anticipated, it was pointless. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming sent several messages to inform his parents that he and Qin Xi planned to start their seclusion for cultivation immediately. In addition, he communicated the arrangement for his sister, Lin Tianyue, and his entrusted matter had yielded results. Having taken care of these matters, he was not inclined to delay any further and had a brief chat with Qin Xi, reminding her to make use of the Spirit Fruit they had obtained to break through her cultivation as soon as possible. After giving these instructions, the married couple each went to the cultivation room. Entering the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat on a meditation cushion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï He did not start cultivating right away but was contemplating the arrangement for the next year or so. It had been over two months since the great battle in Yuyao City officially ended. Now, with about a year and a half left until the opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it would be necessary to set off in advance and gather at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. All things considered, he only had about a year and a half left for cultivation. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, he must seize the time to enhance his cultivation as much as possible to fully prepare for the upcoming Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm exploration. And this time in seclusion, breaking through the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment was almost a sure thing. However, he was not satisfied with just that. After all, he had already reached the limit of the Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment, his foundation was extremely solid, and with a Silver Sun Fruit and many Fusion Spirit Pills in his possession, breaking through the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment was not difficult. With ample time and in good condition, he might even reach the latter stages of the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. If he were to achieve that level, his strength post-breakthrough would indeed significantly increase his safety for the expedition to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and immediately started to regulate his breathing and find his state of cultivation. After some unknowable amount of time, he opened his eyes, feeling that his whole body was at its peak condition, and let out a long sigh. Then, with a sweep of his robe, he took out a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills from his storage bag, planning to first try cultivating with the help of elixirs. After the battle in Yuyao City, he had obtained quite a few Fusion Spirit Pills, including rewards from the Zhenyang Sect and a small treasure trove from the elders. Following his wedding ceremony, most likely, the treasured Fusion Spirit Pills from the elders had all fallen into his hands. With these elixirs to enhance cultivation, if he could smoothly break through, that would be best; if not, he could use the vast energy of the Silver Sun Fruit to assault the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. With his mind made up, he immediately took out a Fusion Spirit Pill and swallowed it. As soon as the Fusion Spirit Pill was ingested, energy diffused, and after a bit of refining, pure spiritual power gathered within his Dantian along his meridians. Immediately, familiar intense pain followed. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this and hastily took out some Dragon Bone Pills to swallow. Over the years of cultivation and with the help of many Dragon Bone Pills, his physical body had become increasingly strong. He was also very familiar with the side effects of this cultivation technique. Obviously, the Dragon Bone Pills played a significant role. However, as his cultivation level rose, he could distinctly feel that the effects of the Dragon Bone Pills were diminishing. When he had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was fine, but after reaching the Sixth Layer, the effects were much worse than before. He estimated that if he broke through to the Golden Core Stage, the effects of the Dragon Bone Pills would be even less significant and might not even be sufficient. In that case, he would need to find new elixirs, or cultivation would become problematic again. But that was not an issue to consider at the moment. Breaking through his cultivation was the current priority. Realizing this, Lin Tianming began to voraciously refine the power of the Fusion Spirit Pill, funneling the refined spiritual energy into his Qi Sea Dantian. Soon, a series of popping sounds echoed through the cultivation room, and Lin Tianming entered a deep state of cultivation. Time flies, and half a year passed in an instant. On this day, within his Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming was still seated atop the meditation cushion. In such a posture, he had been for half a year, not having moved even slightly during that time. Over the course of the half-year in seclusion, he had taken several Fusion Spirit Pills in an attempt to assault the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm. He thought with his substantial foundation, he might succeed without relying on the precious Silver Sun Fruit, confident he had a decent chance. But he underestimated the difficulty of breaking through this realm. Luckily, after later consuming the Silver Sun Fruit, he breezed through the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment, which was a relief. Indeed, the effects of the Silver Sun Fruit were excellent, not only breaking the barrier but also pushing his cultivation to the midpoint of the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. In addition, with the breakthrough and the energy refinement from the Silver Sun Fruit, his physical body became somewhat stronger. Chapter 605 03-25 - 605 337 Foundation Establishment Level ?Chapter 605: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Level 7_2 Chapter 605: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Level 7_2 Feeling the surging power throughout his body, Tianming thought that defeating a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast with his bare hands shouldn¡¯t be too difficult, just relying on his physical strength alone. Overall, half a year wasn¡¯t a long period of time, but the results of his seclusion were still very satisfying to him. Now, with just a little over a year left before the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm commenced, he still had time to consolidate his cultivation base. However, just when he planned to continue his seclusion, he received a transmission from Lin Shilu, informing him that his magic artifact had been refined. Therefore, this exhilarating news disrupted his cultivation plans, and he had no choice but to leave his seclusion. Upon leaving the training room, Qin Xi was still in seclusion, showing no signs of emerging. Lin Tianming did not disturb her and hurried out of his cave dwelling, making his way directly to Lin Shilu¡¯s abode. ... In no time at all, Lin Tianming arrived at Lin Shilu¡¯s Artifact Forging Room and saw him there. At this moment, Lin Shilu sat on a cushion, his robe tattered and his complexion somewhat pale, looking utterly worn and haggard. It was clear that he was severely drained, both physically and mentally, as well as in terms of spiritual power, due to high-intensity artifact refining. This was so because time was pressing, and he had to refine magic artifacts for Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming in the shortest time possible, hence the hard work. Knowing this, Lin Tianming, upon seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s current state, felt deeply moved and a look of concern appeared on his face. Seeing his expression, Lin Shilu offered a knowing smile, trying to put on a comforting facade. Immediately afterward, he waved his sleeve and took out three magic artifacts, laying them in front of them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Upon closer inspection, these three artifacts were precisely the Earth Evil Sword, Tiangang Sword, and the defensively-geared Green Scale Shield that he had often used in combats. The difference was, with Lin Shilu¡¯s re-refinement, the once First Order Supreme Quality fifty-six Earth Evil Swords had all been upgraded to Second Order Low Quality. Moreover, the number of Earth Evil Swords had increased, reaching a total of seventy-two. he Tiangang Sword had also significantly improved in might. Although it was still of Second Order Medium Quality and had not been upgraded in grade, its current quality was definitely among the top in all of the Second Order Medium Quality magic artifacts he had ever seen. With such upgrades, it was foreseeable that the attack power of the Tiangang Sword would be even more formidable than before. As for the Green Scale Shield, it had been fully repaired and its grade had been elevated to Second Order Medium Quality. The defense of the previous Green Scale Shield was already impressive, and it had accompanied him through numerous battles. In the battle of the Xu Haiqiao incident, it had almost been destroyed. It was unexpected that after Lin Shilu¡¯s re-refinement and repair, it had improved so much. At this moment, seeing these familiar artifacts once again, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he exclaimed with a smile, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, your efficiency is astonishingly fast!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been half a year, and you¡¯ve managed to re-refine these treasures and even improved them, it¡¯s truly incredible!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words of praise, Lin Shilu waved his hand and responded, ¡°Hehe¡­ the reason for the swiftness mainly lies in the fact that these three magic artifacts are all my own creations.¡± ¡°Moreover, when I originally forged them, I anticipated this day would come and deliberately left a lot of room for improvement.¡± ¡°Additionally, my familiarity with these magic artifacts is probably not much less than yours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I could achieve this level of efficiency within half a year!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, finding this explanation quite convincing. In the Cultivation World, it was definitely easier for Artifact Refiners to re-refine and upgrade artifacts that they had created themselves. If it was an magic artifact refined by someone else, the difficulty of repairing or enhancing it by a different Artifact Refiner would be almost as much as forging a new one from scratch. And since his own artifact was created by Lin Shilu, re-refining it would naturally be much easier. In such circumstances, it was possible to complete this challenging task in a mere half year. Nevertheless, Lin Shilu appeared utterly exhausted, having pushed himself so hard, clearly for Tianming¡¯s upcoming venture into the Secret Realm. Only a few devoted family elders would go to such lengths under these conditions. Considering all this, Tianming felt deeply touched and immensely grateful. ¡°You better have a look, boy, and see how the re-refinement turned out,¡± said Lin Shilu, breaking Tianming¡¯s train of thought. At this moment, Lin Tianming regained his composure and grabbed the Earth Evil Sword to begin examining it. After a quarter of an hour had passed, Lin Tianming was filled with joy, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. ¡°How is it? Are you satisfied?¡± Lin Shilu asked. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, to achieve such a great improvement in such a short time, I am naturally extremely satisfied!¡± After his response, Lin Tianming fondly picked up the Tiangang Sword and played with it. Hearing these words and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s sincere expression, Lin Shilu laughed heartily, ¡°As long as you¡¯re satisfied!¡± ¡°You must know, for the enhancement of these magic artifacts, I added quite a few precious materials, including several third-order materials.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Having invested so much, as for the results, they have indeed met my expectations!¡± Lin Shilu said proudly, his rough palm gently caressing the Tiangang Sword, satisfaction also showing on his face. Hearing this series of remarks, Lin Tianming nodded his head and then complimented, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is truly a master of Artifact Refining!¡± ¡°Stop flattering me!¡± Lin Shilu put on a serious face and interrupted Lin Tianming¡¯s speech. As soon as his words ended, his complexion turned pale, and he nearly fainted. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew it was due to a great depletion of spiritual power and Divine Sense; the man looked utterly exhausted. At that moment, Lin Tianming supported Lin Shilu, advising him, ¡°The health of Fifteenth Grandfather is of utmost importance. You should rest and recuperate for half a month before considering resuming your work at the peak condition. There¡¯s no rush to continue refining!¡± Feeling the concern in these words, Lin Shilu felt a warm current surge through him, and his pallor improved slightly. ¡°Mmm!¡± Looking at Lin Tianming, he nodded, offering a look of reassurance. Immediately after, he said, ¡°The depletion this time was indeed not small!¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°After I rest for a while, I¡¯ll need to resume Artifact Refining. By the time you leave the clan and embark on your journey to the Secret Realm, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to leave my retreat to see you off.¡± ¡°That being the case, I won¡¯t keep you any longer!¡± Lin Shilu gestured for Lin Tianming to leave while giving him some long and serious advice. ¡°You, young man, are already stronger than I am and have gone through many life-and-death crises. You¡¯re very clear about the dangers of the outside world.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t say too much more, just remember to be careful out there, act according to your capabilities, and if some opportunities are missed, then they are missed. As long as you¡¯re alive, it¡¯s more important than anything!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Fifteenth Grandfather, I will definitely return safely!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s teachings, Lin Tianming replied earnestly, a confident smile flashing across his face. Seeing this, Lin Shilu nodded. He was very concerned about this junior of his and had great confidence in him. After all, he had seen Lin Tianming¡¯s combat abilities, experience in survival, and the entirety of his growth process firsthand. One could say that Lin Tianming had surpassed him, his elder, in every aspect. Gathering his composure, Lin Shilu waved goodbye, watching Lin Tianming leave the Artifact Forging Room with his magic artifacts. After leaving Lin Shilu¡¯s cavern abode, Lin Tianming paid his respects to his mother and grandfather before returning straight back to his own dwelling. Sitting in the training room, Lin Tianming placed the three magic artifacts in front of him. Looking at the greatly enhanced magic artifacts, Lin Tianming was excited and decided to first refine them, then leave two months to find an open space behind the mountain to hone his skills. Making up his mind, he immediately stowed away the Tiangang Sword and Green Scale Shield, ready to start with the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords. With a single wave of his hand, all the Earth Evil Swords flew up and began to revolve around him. Next, he formed a Law Decree with his hand, and streams of Spiritual Light bombarded the Earth Evil Swords. Soon, Spiritual Light frequently appeared in the training room, accompanied by sharp sounds echoing throughout. Chapter 606 03-25 - 606 338 Significant Increase in ?Chapter 606: Chapter 338 Significant Increase in Strength_1 Chapter 606: Chapter 338 Significant Increase in Strength_1 In the quiet, ten months had passed by. On this day, in a valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, a young man in a green robe landed on the valley floor using sword flight. The man, graceful and with a determined face, wore a faint smile; it was undoubtedly Lin Tianming who had concluded his closed-door cultivation. After nearly half a year of seclusion, he had spent months consecrating all of his magic artifacts. In the following months, with the aid of the Fusion Spirit Pills he possessed, he had pushed his cultivation a notch further. Now, he was but a step away from the Late Stage of the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment. At present, there were only a little over three months left until the opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. ... With the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, located in the Dragon Mountain Range, tens of thousands of miles away from his clan¡¯s territory and adding the exhaustion from travel, he was left with only two months. As for these two months, they were deliberately set aside to try out the enhanced power of his magic artifacts and to refine his Divine Skills. Previously, he had only activated fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, all of them Supreme Quality of the First Order. However, he had already reached the Minor Achievement Realm with them a long time ago. Now, the number of Earth Evil Swords had increased to the optimal seventy-two, and their grade had been promoted to Second Order Lower Grade¡ªa major improvement. Yet, Lin Tianming was uncertain whether he could unleash the complete Earth Fiend Sword Formation and reach the power of Minor Achievement once more. As for the Tiangang Ninth Sword, during the recent crisis with Xu Haiqiao, under the oppressive moment of desperation, it also broke through to the Minor Achievement Realm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With the power of the Tiangang Sword increasing, it indeed needed to be well-practiced in order to bring out its strongest power. Musing on these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s face now bore a resolute expression, ready to begin his practice. Just then, a piercing cry came from a distance. He looked up to see a shadow growing larger in the distance. As it approached, the colossal body of the Purple Gold Eagle came into view. Looking over, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers had more yellow in them and were even more brilliant. Its energy also felt much more powerful. Although the Purple Gold Eagle had advanced to the Second Order over the years, its body size had stopped growing, a sign that it had reached adulthood. At this moment, feeling the breath from the Purple Gold Eagle, it was clearly at the Middle Stage of the Second Order. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he quickly called the Purple Gold Eagle down to land beside him. At that moment, Lin Tianming stroked the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers and casually said, ¡°Xiao Diao, you scruffy bird, you haven¡¯t let me down after all!¡± The Purple Gold Eagle, seemingly understanding, affectionately nuzzled his clothes with its sharp beak. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and then took out several Second Order Demon Beast Corpses from his storage bag. At the sight of the Demon Beast Corpses, the Purple Gold Eagle immediately showed interest, darting forward and tearing into the corpses decisively. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, three Demon Beast Corpses of the Initial Stage of the Second Order had vanished into thin air. Seeing this, Lin Tianming frowned, thinking to himself that the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s appetite was too good. Fortunately, during the great battle in Yuyao City, he had acquired a large number of Demon Beast Corpses, and over the years, his clan had also stocked up quite a few during the waves of beast tide attacks. Otherwise, with the eating habits of creatures like the Purple Gold Eagle and a Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiao, no matter how many Demon Beast Corpses there were, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for them. However, for the time being, there was no need to worry¡ªif there were no more corpses, it would only slow down their advancement. Lin Tianming then sent the Purple Gold Eagle away and started to refine his Divine Skills. After half an incense burn, a series of whistling sounds began to echo through the canyon. As far as the eye could see, seventy-two Earth Evil Swords, centered on Lin Tianming, began to spin rapidly. The speed of the flying swords was so fast that the Gang Wind they generated whipped up the surrounding flowers and grass, eventually turning them to dust. At the same time, the afterimages formed by the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords almost created a substantial Barrier, encircling the area for hundreds of yards around. In an instant, a huge column of light was born between heaven and earth, soaring straight up to the sky. This column, wide in scope and dazzling light blue, was astoundingly brilliant to behold. Yet beneath this gorgeous exterior hid a terrifying power¡ªjust a touch of its might, and even a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast might fall dead on the spot. At that time, sweat incessantly dripped from Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead, and his face showed an expression of pain. Enduring the agony from his Divine Sense and soul, he continued to control the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s normal operation. Shortly thereafter, the Barrier formed by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to visibly shrink. In the blink of an eye, it had already approached a hundred-yard range. By then, the terrifying suppressive power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to take effect. Once the range further narrowed to form an impregnable Barrier and disperse a vast Sword Qi, it could be considered to have successfully started operating. However, with the increase in number and grade of the Earth Evil Swords, the consumption of operating the Sword Array was immense. Especially for Divine Sense, the expenditure was extremely rapid. Even with Lin Tianming¡¯s unusually strong Divine Sense, he found the consumption taxing. At this time, Lin Tianming clenched his teeth and persevered, continuing to shrink the Barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Array. Chapter 607 03-25 - 607 338 Great Increase in Strength_2 ?Chapter 607: Chapter 338: Great Increase in Strength_2 Chapter 607: Chapter 338: Great Increase in Strength_2 ¡°` Clearly, despite feeling extremely strained, he did not want to give up. He knew very well that he had to diligently train to bring out the strongest power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. With this understanding, Lin Tianming firmly stabilized the sword formation, ensuring its normal operation. A few moments later. Lin Tianming suddenly let out a loud shout, like a clap of thunder on a clear day, echoing throughout the entire small valley. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡­ Annihilate!¡± In an instant, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation blazed with light, and the dull sky suddenly lit up with blue and white brilliance. ... At the same time, the speed of the countless sword shadows increased several times, and even more sword shadows appeared. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was delighted, but he did not dare to be careless and immediately continued to fully activate the sword formation. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± At this moment, the Sword Qi within the formation burst out wildly, like a sudden downpour, enveloping an area of a hundred zhang. After a few breaths, the area covered by the sword formation had already shrunk to about several dozens of zhang. By then, the density of Sword Qi inside had reached an extreme, each one capable of tearing a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast into shreds. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Feeling the oppressive force of the sword formation and the terrifying Sword Qi, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. ¡°Haha¡­ the full number of Earth Fiend Swords in the formation, combined with the increase brought by the upgrade in quality, is truly terrifying!¡± After saying this with a hearty laugh, Lin Tianming shouted loudly once again. In an instant, countless Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation furiously stabbed towards the ground. The solid stone, like tofu, was easily cleaved to form a bottomless cave. Seeing this, and feeling the terrifying penetrating power and formidable strength, Lin Tianming was deeply shocked. Finally calming down, he waved one hand and retracted the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Soon, all seventy-two Earth Evil Swords ceased operation and returned to his front. At this point, he reached out his palm, grabbed an Earth Evil Sword, and lovingly caressed it, unable to put it down. As expected, the fully upgraded Earth Fiend Sword Formation exceeded all expectations in power and stability. However powerful it might be, controlling it indeed placed a very high demand on Divine Sense. Just this short while had left him feeling dizzy and his head incredibly heavy. Yet on second thought, such side effects were not surprising. After all, the current Earth Fiend Sword Formation represented a comprehensive enhancement, requiring much more to properly execute. Think back to the initial attempts at practicing the formation, and that overwhelming feeling was much greater than this time. Now, though the consumption is vast, at least the operation is smoother, and the power is considerable. It could be said that now, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s power has truly started to reach a masterful level. He estimated that with the current power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, if he were to encounter that Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator from the Blood Red Alliance again, he might be able to suppress them without too much effort. With this thought, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited, his mood soaring, and he was eager to practice again. However, his Divine Sense had been significantly drained, and he had to rest at least for half a day. Forcing the activation of the sword formation might lead to adverse effects. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming did not push himself and sat down on a nearby stone, beginning to cultivate and regulate his breathing, planning to continue his practice once he had recovered a bit. After all, he still had two more months, there was no need to rush and risk setting back his progress. As a result, Lin Tianming began to recover his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power, and once he felt better, he started practicing again. Time flies, and two months passed in a blink of an eye. In the valley that day, Lin Tianming was drenched in sweat, never ceasing to practice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Skills whenever his condition allowed. At that moment, a glow flashed on Lin Tianming¡¯s fingertips, and several Law Decrees struck the Tiangang Sword on his body. The Tiangang Sword gleamed with silver light; after stacking seven times, it turned into a white dragon, bringing terrifying Sword Qi, rushing towards a mountain peak in the distance. ¡°` The Tiangang Sword transformed into a white dragon that moved incredibly fast, appearing hundreds of yards away in the blink of an eye. At the same time, wherever the white dragon passed, whether it was towering trees or hard stones, everything turned into dust. Clearly, the aura of the white dragon was magnificent, and its powerful strength directly destroyed everything in front of it. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The white dragon struck a distant mountain top, boring a large hole through it and unleashing a dazzling light with its formidable destructive power. Right after, the ground beneath shook violently, lasting for several breaths, until the white dragon disappeared into the horizon, then slowly calmed down. Looking around, the valley was now in ruins, with tops of several mountains inexplicably vanished. Furthermore, the canyon was full of holes, with gigantic trees lying around in disarray and remnants of broken walls scattered everywhere. All these changes were wrought by Lin Tianming. And at this moment, observing the devastated scene, Lin Tianming felt not an ounce of guilt but instead a grin of extreme satisfaction spread across his face. In fact, he was indeed very satisfied. For the past two months, he had been engrossed in practicing these two Divine Skills. With such dedicated cultivation, the results had met his expectations. Now, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and Tiangang Ninth Sword could be executed incredibly smoothly, activated in an instant. Beyond that, the offensive power of these two Divine Skills was indeed formidable. Especially the Tiangang Ninth Sword, with his Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment realm cultivation, coupled with the enhanced Tiangang Sword, deploying a seven-sword overlay attack, its destructive power far surpassed that of the past. It could be said that his cultivation strength and his arsenal of Attack Talismans had undergone a massive improvement. Thinking about this, Lin Tianming felt extremely content about the hard work of the past two months, quite satisfied indeed. As he reveled in his joy, several figures flew over from the distance and landed beside him. Recognizing the newcomers as clan members who regularly patrolled their territory, he hastily greeted them. The clan members who arrived appeared initially tense upon seeing Lin Tianming, but they relaxed after he greeted them and returned the gesture. After some small talk, Lin Tianming learned the reason for their hasty arrival; they had been attracted by the immense activity from his cultivation and had come to check on the situation, fearing something significant had occurred. Following his explanation that he was practicing his Divine Skills and they should not be unduly alarmed, the clan members then took their leave. This little interlude further demonstrated the formidable nature of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. Yet he was only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment realm, and the power unleashed by the seventh sword overlay was already causing such destruction; it was almost unbelievable. He even pondered secretly, if the power of nine swords were stacked, how many times greater the offensive force would be. Even so, the reforged and enhanced Tiangang Sword, combined with the seven-sword overlay he could now execute after breaking through his realm, remained extremely powerful. Now, based on his assessment of his own strength, ordinary Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators posed little threat of death to him. Unless they possessed powerfully offensive treasures, or several late-stage or Great Perfection cultivators joined forces. Otherwise, the likelihood of one or two individuals defeating him head-on was slim. And Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators were limited in number within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the majority being the strongest in Foundation Establishing Families. As for Loose Cultivators, those at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection were even less common. With that said, his current strength meant that unless Golden Core Cultivators intervened, he would scarcely encounter an evenly matched opponent. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and felt a burgeoning confidence for the upcoming journey to the Secret Realm. At this point, he glanced at the surrounding scene and muttered to himself. ¡°There is just over a month left before the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opens and we gather at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about time to prepare to set off!¡± Gathering his wits, Lin Tianming waved his hand and recalled the distant Tiangang Sword. Then, he cleaned up the battered valley a bit, at least making it less unsightly than before, and took to Sword Flight towards his own cave dwelling. Chapter 608 03-25 - 608 339 Leaving Again_1 ?Chapter 608: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_1 Chapter 608: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_1 Half a quarter hour later. In Lin Tianming¡¯s cave mansion, Qin Xi emerged from her meditation ahead of schedule, specifically waiting in the small courtyard. Seeing Lin Tianming return, Qin Xi was quite delighted and immediately went up to meet him. ¡°Ming, have you broken through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment?¡± Hearing the query, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, and then nodded, saying, ¡°Breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment was entirely within expectations!¡± ¡°On the other hand, Xi¡¯er, haven¡¯t you also made a breakthrough to the Fourth Level of Foundation Building after more than a year?¡± Lin Tianming stroked Qin Xi¡¯s hair and responded with praise. ... At this moment, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks blushed slightly, burying her beautiful face in Lin Tianming¡¯s chest, before replying modestly. Giggle¡­ ¡°Speaking of which, I owe it much to you, Ming, as well as to the spirit fruits and elixirs given by the family elders.¡± ¡°Over this past year, Xi¡¯er has barely left her room, relying on the solid foundation laid by the great battle in Yuyao City, thus achieving a breakthrough in my realm as naturally as the river flows.¡± To these words, Lin Tianming greatly agreed. If cultivation relied solely on seclusion, even with the many treasures that enhance one¡¯s cultivation, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily mean soaring to the heavens. Life-and-death experiences are crucial. Only after enduring battles and through meticulous refinement can one rid themselves of the superficiality in their cultivation and achieve a breakthrough. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Otherwise, the path of cultivation would face many bottlenecks or even completely truncate one¡¯s journey. During these years, he had always been in the throes of such challenging experiences, which was exactly why he was able to cultivate so rapidly. The same was true for Qin Xi. Before they met again, Qin Xi alone had battled with demonic beasts and had to guard against the pursuit of the Chen Clan, always hovering on the brink of life and death. It was precisely because of such pressure that she was able to forge an indestructible Dao heart. And it was under such circumstances that she had no choice but to cultivate desperately, eventually achieving continuous breakthroughs. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of heartache. He held Qin Xi tightly in his arms, enjoying this brief moment of happiness. Half a quarter hour later, the couple finally let go of each other. At that time, Qin Xi looked melancholic. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s face and thinking of his imminent departure from the family, she felt somewhat reluctant to let him go. Seeing her expression, Lin Tianming obviously perceived his own concern, and he began to offer words of comfort. ¡°Xi¡¯er, my trip won¡¯t take too long, at most a little over a year, nearly the same as this period of closed-door cultivation. There¡¯s really no need to worry,¡± he assured her. ¡°Even so, Ming, this time you are heading to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Ninety percent of the cultivators there are from the three major sects, and their strength is no small matter,¡± she said. ¡°Apart from them, those loose cultivators who can enter the secret realm are all formidable beings as well.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, for you to go alone into such a perilous realm is incredibly dangerous.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and incisively responded, ¡°You said it yourself, those loose cultivators are all formidable beings.¡± ¡°And your husband, with his Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment strength, ranks at the top of the Yuyao City loose cultivator list. What does that tell us?¡± As his words ended, the look on Qin Xi¡¯s face improved a bit. She had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength firsthand; even the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Blood Red Alliance was no match for him. This proved that Lin Tianming¡¯s power was indeed unparalleled among Foundation Establishment cultivators. At that moment, Lin Tianming shifted the topic and continued to speak. ¡°Xi¡¯er, there¡¯s really no need for such concern. Your husband has also broken through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, which is a major advancement.¡± ¡°Furthermore, Fifteenth Grandfather has improved the quality of my magic artifact, making it even more formidable!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi inquired, ¡°Ming, you¡¯ve been practicing divine skills in the back mountain lately, and you must have tested the power of the magic artifact.¡± ¡°How is it? How powerful has it become?¡± Lin Tianming replied, ¡°The increase in power is extremely significant. By my estimate, with my current divine skills, it might not be difficult to slay a Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Xi, somewhat disbelieving, then asked, ¡°Has your power reached such a level?¡± Lin Tianming chuckled confidently and nodded in reply: ¡°Since your husband says so, I indeed have that confidence, Xi¡¯er. You may rest assured.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi thoughtfully nodded her head. Knowing Lin Tianming as she did, his confidence surely meant he had substantial certainty. With these thoughts, her complexion gradually returned to normal. Afterward, the couple chatted casually, decided on a time to depart, and made arrangements for Qin Xi. Following that, they left the cave mansion together, heading towards the dwelling of Lin Tianming¡¯s mother. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. In Ren Yuxuan¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming and his wife sat among the family. On receiving his message, Lin Shigong also hurried over. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Other than Lin Xingrong, who was guarding Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Tianyue, who had left the family to gain experience in the Qianchuan Market, only a few members of this small family remained within the clan. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan naturally understood that he was preparing to take his leave. As usual, the elders gave their advice and then refrained from going on further. They were very aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and disposition; having earned the chance to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, he certainly would not give up lightly. Thus Lin Tianming enjoyed some peace, as the family of four shared a meal together. After the meal, Lin Tianming informed everyone of his decision to depart in two days, heading straight for the assembly at the Zhenyang Sect. No one objected, and after some words of advice, Lin Tianming and his wife left with Lin Shigong. Chapter 609 03-25 - 609 339 Leaving Again_2 ?Chapter 609: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_2 Chapter 609: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_2 Qin Xi went straight back to her cave dwelling, while Lin Tianming and his grandson visited Lin Shihua¡¯s cave dwelling for a gathering. Before long, the grandfather and grandson, along with Lin Shihua, were sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At that point, Lin Shihua asked, ¡°Tianming, how do you plan to arrange this trip, and do you plan to pass through Qianchuan Market?¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Tianming started to ponder. His goal for this journey was the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate in the Dragon Mountain Range. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the expanse of the Dragon Mountain Range is vast, ranking within the top three of all mountain ranges in the Wei Kingdom, and it is also the core territory of the Zhenyang Sect. The Dragon Mountain Market is also one of the renowned markets in the Wei Kingdom. ... Although the southern Qianchuan Market is also one of the medium-sized markets, it is far inferior to the Dragon Mountain Market. And the destination of his journey was even farther than the Songling Mountain Range where Yuyao City was located. However, Yuyao City and the Dragon Mountain Range are in the same direction, and with the Purple Gold Eagle advancing to the Second Order Middle Stage, its flight speed will definitely see a significant increase. As such, if all goes well, it should take about a month to get there. With nearly fifty days left before the time to converge, there was still plenty of time. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming then said, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, my time is fairly abundant. If there are any instructions, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for Tianming to delay for a few days.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua waved his hand and then laughed, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°It¡¯s just that the family members stationed in Qianchuan Market have rarely come back this year. If time permits, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to bring a batch of supplies there.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in understanding and then said, ¡°Heading north towards the Dragon Mountain Range doesn¡¯t exactly take us through Qianchuan Market, but a small detour won¡¯t cause much delay. I will take care of this matter.¡± ¡°Good, since that¡¯s the case, I will have Xingcheng prepare the supplies immediately and hand them over to you before we depart the day after tomorrow!¡± After responding, Lin Shihua then sent out several messages, clearly instructing his family members to prepare the supplies. After taking care of this, Lin Shihua was in a good mood and proceeded to talk about family matters. Shortly thereafter, Lin Tianming changed the topic and asked about the situations of Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu. Upon hearing the question, Lin Shihua said, ¡°Your Fifteenth Grandfather has been working tirelessly these past two years; I haven¡¯t seen him for nearly two years now!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming showed a look of surprise and then asked, ¡°Even if Fifteenth Grandfather is immersed in Artifact Refining, surely he wouldn¡¯t stay secluded for two full years, right?¡± Lin Shihua chuckled bitterly. He then went on to explain slowly, ¡°To allow your Third Grandfather to seclude himself as soon as possible, and to not delay your Secret Realm journey, Shi Lu indeed has not taken a single step out of his cave dwelling for the past two years.¡± ¡°Even after he finished refining the Defense Artifact for your Third Grandfather, he had Third Grandfather fetch it himself, then he resumed his seclusion right afterward.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming could imagine how Lin Shilu had spent the past two years. Clearly, the Lin Family was facing potential crises. To allow Lin Shikang to make an Impact on the Golden Core Stage, time was of the essence. And his own journey to the Secret Realm was equally important. On one side was the future of the Lin Family, and on the other was a step that had to be taken to face the crisis. Despite being exhausted, Lin Shilu had no choice but to grit his teeth and refine Defense Artifacts for them. Remembering his first sight of a haggard Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming felt a pang of heartache and a surge of fervor within him. Once he calmed down, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°How is the preparation of the Defense Artifact for Third Grandfather¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation going?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua replied, ¡°It¡¯s almost ready!¡± ¡°After Shi Lu finished refining your Defense Artifact, he has successively crafted two High-Quality Second Order Defense Artifacts over the past year. He plans to continue his seclusion for the following year, refining at least two to three more High-Quality Second Order Defense Artifacts to have some assurance of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation.¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, not surprised by this information. When Ye Pinghai faced his Heavenly Tribulation, he used up as many as seven or eight Second Order Defense Artifacts. In addition, quite a few Second Order Defense Talismans were consumed. Only by relying on so many treasures was he able to survive the Heavenly Tribulation. The same applied to Lin Shikang, who also needed to prepare several High-Quality Second Order Defense Artifacts. After all, the more Defense Artifacts and the higher their quality, the greater the chance of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming then inquired about Lin Shigong, asking whether the elixirs entrusted to Ye Pinghai had been refined. Through Lin Shigong¡¯s explanation, these past two years, Ye Pinghai has been in closed-door cultivation, using the Spiritual Medicine Materials on him and the Spiritual Objects provided by the family to refine many elixirs for Lin Shikang. During these two years, Lin Shikang had been preparing to impact the Golden Core Stage while refining the Defense Artifact that Lin Shilu had made. Therefore, when he left the family to enter the Secret Realm, he had no time to gather with them. This did not surprise Lin Tianming. At present, each of the strong members in the family had significant tasks and were under time constraints. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, not seeing Lin Shikang was within reason. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming no longer dwelt on this matter. After instructing the two elders, he then said his farewells and left. After returning to his cave residence, Qin Xi had been waiting for him all along. The couple sat together in the small courtyard, leaning against each other, while they admired the moonlight and chatted leisurely. ¡°Xi¡¯er, I will be leaving the day after tomorrow. The journey should take about a year,¡± he said. ¡°During this time, you can cultivate peacefully in the family. I have already instructed Mother and Grandpa; unless there¡¯s something important, they should not disturb you.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and snuggled closer into his embrace. ¡°Ming, I won¡¯t say much else. Just remember to be careful. I will wait for your return here at the family,¡± she said. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s hopeful gaze and hearing her heartfelt words, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze became resolute. While patting her back, he replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xi¡¯er. Just wait for me in the family!¡± The following day, instead of continuing his cultivation, Lin Tianming took this free day to wander and enjoy the scenery with Qin Xi, treating it as a time to cherish each other. On the morning of the third day, as dawn broke, Lin Tianming bade farewell to Qin Xi and appeared in the Lin Family¡¯s main gate square. After a short wait, Lin Shihua hurried over and landed next to him. After exchanging greetings, Lin Shihua took out three storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming. Then, he instructed, ¡°These three storage bags contain treasures that are meant for Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s supplies for the coming year.¡± ¡°There are quite a few items, take them to Qianchuan Market and give them to Tianfeng.¡± Lin Tianming accepted the storage bags and nodded, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, rest assured, Tianming will remember!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shihua smiled satisfactorily, then with a wave of his robe, a Jade Bottle appeared in his hand. ¡°This Jade Bottle contains three Nourishing Yuan Pills, which Elder Sea helped refine at the request of Third Grandfather.¡± ¡°Your journey to the Secret Realm will also be fraught with danger. Having these Nourishing Yuan Pills should be of some help.¡± ¡°Take them!¡± After saying this, Lin Shihua handed the Jade Bottle to Lin Tianming. Seeing this gesture, Lin Tianming was moved, thinking that though Lin Shikang hadn¡¯t seen him, he was always in his thoughts. Knowing he was about to embark on a long journey, Lin Shikang had even instructed Lin Shihua to bring the Nourishing Yuan Pills, taking the trouble to aid him for his adventure in the Secret Realm. To understand, these Nourishing Yuan Pills had excellent healing effects. Lin Shikang, himself in the process of assaulting the Golden Core Stage, also needed such elixirs. Yet, even so, Lin Shikang had given priority to him with these pills. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was deeply touched and felt profound respect for his elders. After some time, upon Lin Shihua¡¯s prompting, Lin Tianming finally accepted the Jade Bottle. Then, after receiving a few more instructions, Lin Tianming took his leave. Afterward, under Lin Shihua¡¯s watchful gaze, he walked out of the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the Formation, he released the Purple Gold Eagle and then climbed onto its back. As the familiar gateways receded, the Purple Gold Eagle understood his intentions. Carrying him, it soared into the clouds, heading northward. In the blink of an eye, the man and the bird had disappeared into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 610 03-25 - 610 340 ?Chapter 610: 340 Chapter 610: 340 Ten days later. In Luoyun Pavilion, located in Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng, along with several other family members, sat together. Lin Tianming had left the Lin Family smoothly and, relying on the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, had arrived comfortably at Qianchuan Market. As per usual routine, aside from resting for a night at Golden Horn Mountain, he continued on his journey. Upon entering the market, once the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival spread, family members put aside their work and gathered together. At this time, there were seven or eight people in the secret room, almost all from the Tian generation of the family, including Lin Tianhu, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Tianhong. And among the Lin Family members in Qianchuan Market, the vast majority were from the Tian generation, with only three or four Xing generation members, all of whom had promising potential. ... It was clear that as the Tian generation family members entered middle age, they had become the main force of the family. As for those who were older and less promising, they could only manage the Spirit Lands or engage in some more tedious tasks. Lynchpins like Luoyun Pavilion or Luoyun Market were the proving grounds for core family members. After all, these tasks were relatively safe, offered more time for cultivation, and made it easier to accumulate cultivation resources. For this reason, the core family members had to experience life in Luoyun Pavilion or Luoyun Market. If they could guarantee no losses during a few years of guardianship, it was considered a significant achievement. Thus, Luoyun Pavilion and Luoyun Market had essentially become the preferred places for family members to gain experience. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Once all the family members had greeted each other, they sat together, smiling, seemingly in good spirits. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianhong, unable to contain his excitement, couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Big brother, sixth brother, it¡¯s been a long while since we¡¯ve gathered like this!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking it was indeed the case. With the improvement in their cultivation, and the family¡¯s ever-growing affairs, these family members were scattered, either busy with cultivation or assigned tasks by the family, and rarely gathered like this. This situation was expected. After all, with their increasing cultivation, they would often go into seclusion for a year or two, or even longer. And Lin Tianming, who had been traveling outside for a long time, could not always encounter Lin Tianfeng and the others even when he returned to the family lands. Diligently striving during the family¡¯s prosperous times, it was truly the first time in years that the brothers were able to gather together like this. Reflecting on these thoughts, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°Second brother is right, it indeed has been a long time since we last gathered!¡± ¡°Moreover, this time, I cannot delay for too long, as I must set off in three days to assemble at Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, preparing to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s plans, Lin Tianfeng gave a wry smile before changing the subject. ¡°Sixth brother, it was a great regret for me not to attend your wedding due to my duties.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that big brother, family duties take precedence. Besides, the betrothal gift from you was quite generous; you¡¯ve really outdone yourself!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. ¡°Haha¡­ As long as your bride is happy, that¡¯s good!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded with an excited response. After a few moments of casual conversation, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Tianyue and others, sensed their aura, and nodded with satisfaction. It seemed that in the past two years, the cultivation of these family members had progressed. Lin Tianyue, upon reaching Qianchuan Market, had directly broken through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, which impressed Lin Tianming. Lin Tianhong had also stepped into the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, moving forward as well. Although Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had not broken through to a new realm, their cultivation had also improved, bringing them some gains. It looked like while his own cultivation had broken through, Lin Tianfeng and the others had also been active and made some progress. At this point, Lin Tianming gave out several words of praise, then started chatting with Lin Tianfeng and the others, inquiring about the events in the Cultivation World over the last two years. What he was concerned about was the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape as well as the incident involving Xu Haiqiao. After all, these two matters were significantly related to the Lin Family, and the Zhenyang Sect was also investigating. In the last two years, everything within the Lin Family had gone smoothly, and he wondered why the Zhenyang Sect had not taken any specific action; whether they could not find a cause or were misled, attributing the culprit of the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s death to Demonic Beasts or a Golden Core Cultivator from the Blood Red Alliance. If that were the case, it would be the best possible situation for the Lin Family. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, given the Lin Family¡¯s connection to the matter, over time, there was still a possibility of being exposed. Currently, with the Blood Red Alliance taking the heat, even if the Zhenyang Sect had suspicions, they dared not act rashly and could only suffer in silence while investigating this matter privately. But the Lin Family could not place all their hopes on the Zhenyang Sect; only if Lin Shikang was successful in his Impact of the Golden Core Stage could they turn danger into safety. With these concerns in mind, Lin Tianming subtly probed for information on this matter. Although Lin Tianfeng was puzzled, he did not think much of it and straightforwardly shared the information he had learned. Through introductions by Lin Tianfeng and the other family members, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was relatively peaceful, with almost everyone¡¯s attention focused on the soon-to-open Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. And the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s investigation of the Tyrant Spirit Ape incident also made waves, quickly becoming the topic of discussion for everyone. Chapter 611 03-25 - 611 340 Guessing_2 ?Chapter 611: Chapter 340 Guessing_2 Chapter 611: Chapter 340 Guessing_2 The more crucial point was that over the past two years, the Zhenyang Sect had not made any moves at all, not even a whisper of rumor had come out. Obviously, such an outcome might indeed confirm their speculations. As for the Xu Family being exterminated by the Blood Red Alliance, the news caused an uproar as soon as it spread. However, much like the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, it caused a stir for only a while before fading into oblivion. According to the information obtained, it further confirmed Lin Tianming¡¯s suspicions. These various outcomes also further demonstrated the power of the Blood Red Alliance. Otherwise, the Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t be so wary. ... For the Lin Family, this turn of events was actually rather advantageous; after all, what the Lin Family lacked was time. The more the situation dragged on, the greater their chances of weathering the crisis. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but heave a long sigh of relief. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming then took out several storage bags that Lin Shihua had given him and handed them to Lin Tianfeng. Following that, he started to inquire about the business of Luoyun Pavilion. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng took the storage bags and then reported on the situation of the Luoyun Pavilion. In a short while, according to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s report, Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s business had been very good over the past two years, earning profits of over one hundred thousand Spirit Stones each year. This result was perhaps due to the chain reaction brought about by Lin Tianming¡¯s rising reputation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Besides, the Lin Family had been established in Qianchuan Market for nearly twenty years; with the family¡¯s efforts over so long, the favor of two generations of Zhenyang Sect executive officers, and with a good reputation for cost-effective treasures, they had successfully accumulated quite a good name. Therefore, combined with the renown Lin Tianming had built, the Lin Family and the Luoyun Pavilion had become well-known throughout the Southern Wei Kingdom. Under such circumstances, Luoyun Pavilion had firmly established its footing in Qianchuan Market. Remembering the initial challenges faced when the Lin Family first entered Qianchuan Market, it had indeed taken a lot of effort from him and Lin Shilu. Fortunately, the outcome was satisfying; otherwise, the attempt to open up a new industry this time would have ended in failure. Now, with Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s business being stable, it could generate a good profit every year, greatly alleviating the family¡¯s burden. About this, Lin Tianming was very relieved and quite satisfied. With this matter concluded, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng casually chatted for a while, discussing the specifics of their travel arrangements. He planned to set off again two days later, and if all went well, he might return in about a year and a half. After all, according to the records, once the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm began, people had to stay inside for one full year before they could leave. Calculating the round trip and wait times, a year and a half seemed about right if everything went according to plan. After discussing these matters, he bid everyone farewell and returned to his cave to rest. The next day. Lin Tianming left his cave and headed towards the Sky Dragon Pavilion. In a short while, Lin Tianming was sitting in a secret chamber of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, with Tang Xiuyuan sitting opposite him. At that moment, the two men sipped tea while casually chatting. Tang Xiuyuan took a sip from his tea cup and then, looking at Lin Tianming, he smiled and said, ¡°Lin, two years have passed, and your cultivation seems to have advanced even further!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was startled inside. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s cultivation was unfathomable; not only could Lin Tianming not see through him, but Tang Xiuyuan had also immediately noticed his breakthrough in cultivation. ¡°This person must be at least at the level of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and must have reached this realm many years ago; otherwise, he would not be so perceptive,¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, keeping an even expression on his face. Thinking it over, Tang Xiuyuan was after all a core member of the Tang Family, and being able to serve as an executive officer of a branch, he was certainly no ordinary individual. With that in mind, having such cultivation was not surprising. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve improved a bit by luck, but such strength is not even worth mentioning in comparison to Daoist Tang.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, you¡¯re too modest!¡± Tang Xiuyuan laughed, casually moving past that topic. Then he cut straight to the point, asking, ¡°Lin, what brings you to visit? What matter do you have in mind?¡± Seeing Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s straightforwardness, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose. ¡°Daoist Tang, I have come today for treasures and to inquire about some news,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Oh? What treasures does Lin seek? Feel free to mention them!¡± Tang Xiuyuan became interested upon hearing that Lin Tianming intended to buy treasures. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianming thought for a moment, then said, ¡°If there are Second Order Medium Quality or High Quality Spirit Fruits, or superior attack or defensive treasures, I would not mind acquiring them.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s eyebrows twitched as he chuckled, ¡°There are indeed quite a few Second Order Treasures, but the Second Order Medium and High Quality Spirit Fruits are quite limited.¡± ¡°Right now, the highest we have in our store are two Second Order Medium Quality Luoyu Fruits, valued at two thousand Spirit Stones each. Would Lin be interested in those?¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll take them!¡± Without even blinking, Lin Tianming immediately agreed to take the Second Order Medium Quality Luoyu Fruits. Subsequently, Lin Tianming continued to inquire, ¡°What about attack or defensive treasures?¡± ¡°Currently, there aren¡¯t many great items available, and I presume ordinary wares wouldn¡¯t catch Lin¡¯s eye,¡± ¡°We do have a Spirit Detonation Bead and some Second Order Attack and Defense Talismans. Would Lin be interested in purchasing any of those?¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled as he replied and then took out the spirit fruits and some talismans, placing them in front of both of them. Chapter 612 03-25 - 612 340 Guessing_3 ?Chapter 612: Chapter 340 Guessing_3 Chapter 612: Chapter 340 Guessing_3 At this moment, Lin Tianming looked again and again, and although he was not entirely satisfied with these treasures, he decided to acquire some more since he had plenty of spirit stones on him. It was always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°I¡¯ll take this Spirit Detonation Bead, and also these Second Order talisman papers.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming grabbed five Second Order talisman papers, which included two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans and three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans. Hehe¡­ Seeing this, Tang Xiuyuan smiled and then started to calculate the price. Before long, he determined the value of these treasures and said, ¡°That will be a total of fourteen thousand spirit stones!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not say much and immediately took out the necessary spirit stones, handing them over to Tang Xiuyuan. ... Then, he stored the newly purchased Spirit Detonation Bead and the Second Order Medium Quality Luoyu Fruits into his storage bag. Tang Xiuyuan, standing to the side, did the same, smiling from ear to ear as he took the spirit stones and put away the remaining treasures. After completing these transactions, the two exchanged a smile, seemingly in good spirits. After a few moments of small talk, Lin Tianming finally asked Tang Xiuyuan about the recent news from the Cultivation World. Hearing this inquiry, Tang Xiuyuan was not surprised. He knew that Lin Tianming would inevitably ask for the news upon his arrival. After all, over the years this had become a routine. Tang Xiuyuan had no intention of holding back and shared all the information he knew. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? A short while, the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, passed. Having listened to Tang Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming felt he had a grasp on some of the Cultivation World¡¯s recent news. According to Tang, about a year ago, Chen Jingtian of the Zhenyang Sect and an unknown Golden Core cultivator engaged in a fierce battle. The clash was earth-shattering, with both parties sustaining injuries. For unknown reasons, they both departed without discussing the matter with anyone else. Although this issue was kept secret, the Sky Dragon Pavilion still managed to get wind of it and confirmed its authenticity. However, as to what identity the unknown Golden Core cultivator had or their intentions, and specifically why they parted ways, even the Sky Dragon Pavilion had no knowledge. If even they were in the dark, it¡¯s likely that other major powers were just as clueless. The details of the incident were probably known only to the Zhenyang Sect. At this point, although Lin Tianming kept a calm exterior, his mind was anything but still. He had witnessed Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength during the great battle in Yuyao City; in the entire Wei Kingdom, Chen was an exceptional Golden Core cultivator, second to none. To clash with Chen at this critical moment and to sustain mutual injuries was a sign that his opponent was no ordinary individual. Lin Tianming speculated that the unknown Golden Core cultivator might very likely belong to the Blood Red Alliance. Perhaps due to the extermination of the Xu Family, the Zhenyang Sect had uncovered some clues and suffered losses. Eventually, this led to Chen Jingtian taking action and culminating in a significant battle. As for why they both retreated, it¡¯s possible that their strengths were closely matched, with neither able to overcome the other. It could also be that Chen Jingtian became aware of the other cultivator¡¯s identity and, apprehensive of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s strength, had no choice but to step back. In any case, the exact reasons remained unknown. Since this incident had taken place a year ago and the Zhenyang Sect had made no further moves, it was assumed they lacked useful leads and had to temporarily set the matter aside. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, with the imminent opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, coupled with the recent end of the beast tide attack, the Zhenyang Sect had already sustained losses and simply didn¡¯t have the energy to pursue the unknown cultivator¡¯s trouble. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming kept his expression unchanged, tucking away these matters in his mind, careful not to reveal anything. After a few more moments of idle conversation with Tang Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming took his leave and went straight back to his cave mansion courtyard. Chapter 613 03-25 - 613 341 Cooperation_1 ?Chapter 613: Chapter 341 Cooperation_1 Chapter 613: Chapter 341 Cooperation_1 ¡°` In the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Lin Tianming summoned Lin Tianfeng, as well as Lin Tianhu and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family to gather. After a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming began to share the news he had gathered from Tang Xiuyuan. A quarter of an hour later, upon hearing what Lin Tianming had to say, Lin Tianfeng and the others wore expressions of shock. For the past two years, they had been staying in Qianchuan Market, and Lin Tianfeng had often mingled with other cultivators. It was unimaginable that such an event had erupted a year ago. What was even more unexpected was that the event had passed quietly, without the slightest stir. It should be noted that even though Lin Tianfeng had occasionally met with Wang Zhi over the previous two years, and had indirectly inquired about some news, they still remained utterly unaware. ... As for this matter, Lin Tianming was not surprised. Given the gravity of the situation, it was not expected that Wang Zhi, despite being one of the Market City Supervisors, would be privy to such secrets. In such a scenario, it only made sense that Lin Tianfeng was completely in the dark. The reason Lin Tianming brought up the matter was to urge Lin Tianfeng to pay special attention to it, and to be particularly cautious of any moves from the Zhenyang Sect, or the Blood Red Alliance. His actions were out of concern for the safety of the family and to make some preparatory arrangements in advance. While Lin Tianfeng was full of confusion regarding Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, he readily agreed. Having discussed this matter, Lin Tianming then shifted the conversation away from the topic and chatted idly for a while before returning to his room. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? ¡­ The following morning at dawn. As the sky was barely bright, he bid farewell to the clan members and left Qianchuan Market on his own. Once outside the market, he released the Purple Gold Eagle and hopped onto its back, flying northward. A month later, at Dragon Mountain Range. In the midst of majestic mountains, where thousand-foot peaks were everywhere, and towering trees were as abundant as cow hair. Within the vast expanse of mountains lay a cluster that was somewhat odd. Viewed from the sky, this cluster was composed of nine main peaks, distributed in nine directions, their positions seemingly imbued with a sense of mystery. This place was called Jiuyang Mountain, where the mountain gate of the Zhenyang Sect was located. On this day, Lin Tianming, who had departed from Qianchuan Market, entered these mountains. In an area with a hundred-foot high hillock, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. At that moment, he was flying on his sword, landing on top of a small mountain. After setting out from Qianchuan Market, it had taken nearly a month to reach his destination. Thanks to the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, he had not hurried on his journey, and things had gone smoothly. As he was about to enter the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate, he stored the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, planning to continue on by Sword Flight, so as not to attract unnecessary trouble. Standing on the mountain top, Lin Tianming gazed at the faintly visible distant peaks with a trace of a smile flickering across his face. At that point, in his line of sight, occasional cultivators flew towards Jiuyang Mountain, and some flew from Jiuhua Mountain in this direction. Among them, some were dressed in the attire of the Zhenyang Sect, while others wore strange and unique outfits, their specific identities unknown. Clearly, as one of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, the spot where the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate was located naturally thrived with vitality. Moreover, thousands of miles east of this location lay Dragon Mountain Market. Dragon Mountain Market was also a mid-sized market and one of the famed markets in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Because Dragon Mountain Market was close to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, only a few days¡¯ journey away, it could be seen as the gateway for the Zhenyang Sect, and was always bustling with activity. In such circumstances, the connection between the two valuable places was frequent, and the flow of people heading to the Zhenyang Sect was constant. At that time, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pay attention to the cultivators entering and leaving Jiuyang Mountain, keeping a safe distance from them. Not until they disappeared at the other end did he shift his gaze back towards Jiuyang Mountain. Originally, Lin Tianming had wanted to visit Dragon Mountain Market and see it for himself. After all, being one of the three great markets of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and the largest market in Southern Wei Kingdom, Dragon Mountain Market was bound to be frequented by numerous cultivators. Beyond that, Dragon Mountain Market was commercially developed, with many Commerce Alliances having interests within the market. High-value treasures would not be scarce, and a visit there might yield some unexpected findings. However, with just a few days left before the assembly, he didn¡¯t want to miss the big event and thus he gave up the idea. At that moment, Lin Tianming glanced at the distant Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate and then set off flying forward. In a short time, he arrived at a vast plaza. Standing in the plaza, Lin Tianming looked up at the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Mountain Gate. Looking around, the area where the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate was located was vast. The neat streets and numerous large stone buildings around were marked by the traces of the years. Looking at it, it seemed quite majestic. Moreover, if one took the time to feel it, the spiritual energy here was incredibly rich, much stronger than in the Lin Family¡¯s Green Bamboo Mountain or Qianchuan Market. Apparently, although no Mountain Protection Array was visible, there must be a high-grade Spirit Gathering Array in operation. That¡¯s not all; this was just the outer area of the Zhenyang Sect. If one were to go to the most central part, the spiritual energy would undoubtedly be even richer. At that time, countless cultivators were coming and going at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators as common as muck, making it seem lively. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming, visiting the Zhenyang Sect for the first time, could not help but express his admiration. ¡°Having thrived for thousands of years and still flourishing, it truly has the bearing of a Golden Core Sect.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` Chapter 614 03-25 - 614 341 Cooperation_2 ?Chapter 614: Chapter 341 Cooperation_2 Chapter 614: Chapter 341 Cooperation_2 Regaining his senses, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger and made his way deeper into the area. Soon, he arrived at a gathering place for cultivators. At that time, many disciples wearing Zhenyang Sect uniforms were attending to other cultivators. As Lin Tianming stepped forward, a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining immediately approached him from the crowd. The person¡¯s expression was calm, and with a neither servile nor overbearing bow he said, ¡°Elder, may I know the purpose of your visit to our Sect?¡± ¡°Do you have an invitation, or are you looking for a certain disciple from our Sect?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, returned the gesture with a polite bow, and did not feel that his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage warranted looking down upon the Qi Refining cultivator. ... ¡°Young friend, I am Lin Tianming of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, responding to your Sect¡¯s call to join the battle at Yuyao City, I¡¯ve hurried here to participate in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm training,¡± he said. Lin Tianming revealed his identity and also presented his Lin Family Token. The Qi Refining cultivator¡¯s face suddenly became much warmer upon hearing his words, clearly having heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s reputation. ¡°So it¡¯s Elder Lin, please come inside!¡± The Qi Refining cultivator enthusiastically ushered Lin Tianming in, displaying utmost respect and even a hint of envy. His words also attracted the attention of many, as they all turned their gazes toward them. Not just those preparing to enter the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, even Zhenyang Sect disciples were looking at Lin Tianming. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? As they sized him up, they wondered, could this be the family cultivator who rose to fame during the battle at Yuyao City? In response, Lin Tianming chuckled and offered a polite smile. Shortly thereafter, he shifted his gaze and began to chat leisurely with the Qi Refining cultivator who greeted him. A short while later, after the Qi Refining cultivator verified Lin Tianming¡¯s identity, he then led him deeper into the plaza. As the two of them left, the disciples guarding the mountain gate began to discuss among themselves. At this moment, a Qi Refining cultivator in the crowd watched the direction in which Lin Tianming had disappeared and murmured to himself, ¡°Is that Elder Lin from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family? Indeed, he¡¯s so young and yet so powerful in cultivation!¡± Before he finished, a Zhenyang Sect cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement added. ¡°That¡¯s right, although Elder Lin didn¡¯t show any aura, when he casually glanced at me, I could feel an invisible presence.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ you¡¯re not wrong, I feel that Elder Lin, being fifth-ranked in Yuyao City, probably isn¡¯t much weaker than Uncle Long and the others!¡± Apart from these hushed discussions among the Qi Refining Cultivators, some Foundation Establishment Cultivators also talked about Lin Tianming as a topic. However, their casual conversations naturally did not contain the same level of respect and envy as those of the Qi Refining cultivators. Even as fellow Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they didn¡¯t dare belittle Lin Tianming openly. They just casually commented a few words, fearing that their remarks would be passed on to Lin Tianming and provoke his hostility. ¡­ The arrival of Lin Tianming caused quite a stir. However, Lin Tianming was completely unaware of these reactions. At this time, under the guidance of the Qi Refining cultivator, he had already passed through the Sect Entrance Plaza. Straightaway, they flew for half an hour, arriving in the midst of a chain of mountains. Looking around, the nine towering peaks clearly were the same location he had previously glimpsed from afar, the core of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. Upon arriving, Lin Tianming was captivated by the rich Spiritual Energy and the imposing buildings. Besides that, the place was bustling, with people shuttling between the mountain peaks, creating an atmosphere akin to a thriving hub. Observing this scene, Lin Tianming gained a new appreciation for the Zhenyang Sect. While he was taking it all in, the two of them arrived in front of a pavilion. Looking up, the pavilion was large and majestic, and the plaque above read Guest-Receiving Palace. Following the Qi Refining cultivator¡¯s lead, the two of them walked in, one after the other. Inside, the Qi Refining cultivator exchanged a few words with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and then said goodbye to Lin Tianming. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator came over to greet Lin Tianming and they casually chatted for a while. ¡°` ¡°Daoist Lin, my name is Zhao Liqun. Please follow me to complete the check-in procedures.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming clasped his hands in thanks. ¡°Thank you, Brother Zhao, for your trouble!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ There¡¯s no need for such courtesy, Daoist Lin. Please, come with me!¡± After responding, Zhao Liqun led Lin Tianming deep into the great hall, where the procedures for entering the Zhenyang Sect were swiftly handled. Having completed this, the two left the Guest-Receiving Palace and arrived at a nearby mountain peak. There were many courtyards here, frequented by cultivators in various unique garbs, clearly a place for the Zhenyang Sect to accommodate visiting cultivators. At that point, Zhao Liqun led him to the front of a courtyard. While pausing for a moment, Zhao Liqun said, ¡°Daoist Lin, this will be your dwelling for the next few days. Please do not wander around aimlessly. Should you need anything, you may contact me.¡± ¡°As for the specific day of the assembly, we will await the elder¡¯s command. I will contact you when the time comes.¡± ¡°Thank you for your troubles, Brother Zhao!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a courtesy after asking, ¡°Daoist Zhao, have the other two who are entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm from Yuyao City arrived at your sect?¡± Upon the inquiry, Zhao Liqun smiled and answered, ¡°Daoist Hu and Daoist Zheng arrived a few days ago and have also been settled here. If you have time, Daoist Lin, you may wish to visit them.¡± With that, Zhao Liqun handed over the token of the dwelling and, after clasping his hands in a fist salute, left the place. Watching him go, Lin Tianming wasted no time in unlocking the dwelling¡¯s restrictions and entering. After touring the interior of the dwelling, Lin Tianming found it to be well-equipped with a complete set of facilities for pill concoction and weapon forging, and the spiritual energy was very rich. However, he had no intention to cultivate for the time being and planned to rest well for the night to rejuvenate his spirit. Making up his mind, he entered the bedroom, lay straight on the stone bed, and swiftly fell into a deep sleep. The next day, well after the third morning watch, Lin Tianming finally left his room. After a night¡¯s rest, the weariness from his days of travel had vanished, and he felt at his peak. Sitting in the small courtyard, Lin Tianming sent out several messages. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a short while, Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao arrived together at his dwelling. As soon as they entered, Hu Yuan¡¯s hearty voice rang out. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin, it¡¯s been two years. How have you been lately?¡± At that moment, Lin Tianming turned around, greeted Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao with clasped hands and a smile. ¡°Greetings to the two Daoists!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you, Daoist Hu, for your concern. I have been doing very well these past two years.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin, you¡¯re always so amusing!¡± Hu Yuan said bluntly, and then under Lin Tianming¡¯s hospitality, they sat in the small courtyard and casually chatted. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hu Yuan finally asked about the reason Lin Tianming had summoned them. In response, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is about to open, and as some of the few loose cultivators or family members to enter, we naturally need to exchange ideas and see if we can work together.¡± Without any hesitation, the two immediately agreed to this proposal. After all, there were only three of them. Even with the other two spots created on the battlefield by the sects, that made for only ten cultivators. Whereas each of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom had thirty spots and had amassed information from several millennia of exploration. While that information might not seem plentiful and the secret realm opened only once every few hundred years, bringing much uncertainty, even the slightest detail from earlier explorations could be immensely beneficial. Hence, with more information and a clear numerical advantage, they held a significant head start. Yet, for them, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was nearly an unknown. What was certain, though, was that where great fortunes lay within the secret realm, peril would certainly abound. Thus, more discussions and potential collaboration in this perilous adventure could significantly increase their chances of survival. Because of this understanding, for Daoist Hu, who was an acquaintance of Lin Tianming and had already cooperated sincerely for more than a year, and was thus familiar with each other, there was naturally no objection. And though Zheng Xiao had not worked with them before, faced with such a dangerous trial and sharing the status of a loose cultivator, he too had no objections. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 615 03-25 - 615 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_1 ?Chapter 615: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_1 Chapter 615: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_1 ¡°` In this situation, the two reached a consensus to stick together and hunt for treasure after entering the secret realm. With the matter settled, the mood of the three improved, and they discussed the upcoming journey to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. At this time, Hu Yuan glanced at the two of them and then took out two books, offering them to the pair. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Zheng Xiao were momentarily stunned, seemingly confused. Seeing their expressions, Hu Yuan chuckled and then began to explain. ¡°Fellow Daoists, these two tomes have taken me quite some effort to collect over the past two years.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Take a look, although it is hard to verify their truthfulness, it¡¯s better than knowing nothing at all.¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the other person exchanged a smile, seemingly surprised. However, on second thought, this was quite normal. After all, anyone entering a perilous place would first gather some information to better ensure their survival. Including himself, who had done the same. Upon his return to the clan, he had made a special trip to the Scripture Pavilion, hoping to find some literature on the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and gather as much information as possible to survive the upcoming journey to the Secret Realm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Unfortunately, even after searching the entire Scripture Pavilion, he found little useful information. At this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless. But on further thought, it seemed normal not to find detailed information. After all, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had only a three-thousand-year history, opened every two hundred years, and few cultivators who entered it survived; thus, the information obtained was naturally limited. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Furthermore, as the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was a treasured land controlled by the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, some information unearthed was not easily disclosed to outsiders. Thus, the information the Cultivation World could collect was mainly from a very few Loose Cultivators. Moreover, Loose Cultivators who entered in earlier years were mostly deceased; either they had reached the Golden Core Stage or, having entered the Secret Realm two hundred years ago, were long gone. In such circumstances, it was not easy for him to find these pieces of information. As for Hu Yuan, who had spent the last two years in Dragon Mountain Market under the watchful eye of Zhenyang Sect, it wasn¡¯t just for cultivation but also for collecting information. If he had been in Dragon Mountain Market, he would have done the same. And now, since Hu Yuan had found some information, it was better than nothing. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming became eager and quickly picked up one book to flip through. In response, Zheng Xiao also picked up a book and began to carefully inspect it. After a while, Lin Tianming and the other person finished reading the books in their hands and then exchanged them to read the other one. Soon, the contents recorded in the two books were both committed to their memory. In fact, the books did not seem very reliable, but the recorded content was not without use. According to the records in the books, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm seemed to be an unknown space. Its exact size was unknown. As for the entrance, it was located at the edge of the territories of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, within a triangular no-man¡¯s land. The window for entering the Secret Realm was one year, with no age restrictions, allowing for a maximum of one hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enter. Inside the Secret Realm, the area was vast and equally dangerous, housing many rare Demonic Beasts with formidable strength and unusual Divine Skills. Even Ancient Exotic Beasts might appear. It was said that the Secret Realm was left behind by a powerful entity from a hundred thousand years ago. Though extremely perilous, the treasures within were precious and plentiful. Since it was only discovered and opened by the Three Great Sects slightly more than three thousand years ago, in all, it had been entered only about fifteen times. It could be said that most areas within were still unknown even to the Three Great Sects. Thus, the quantity of unknown treasures inside was considerable, and they were varied and valuable. Such a place, fraught with danger and laden with treasures, was not easy to seek treasure in. Every cultivator who entered would be randomly teleported to different locations. If lucky, one might remain peaceful for a short time; if unlucky, one could be directly teleported to some Demonic Beast¡¯s lair and possibly perish in an instant. And these were just the basic contents of the books. Besides, both books contained a simple map that appeared rather crude, marking some mountain ranges and rivers, even indicating a few places where treasures might exist. However, whether these maps and marked treasures were genuine was hard to tell. Overall, the contents of these random records should not be blindly trusted but were not without their use. At least they provided a bit of information, so they wouldn¡¯t be completely in the dark. A good while later, Lin Tianming and his companion returned the books to Hu Yuan. At that moment, Hu Yuan put the books away, then looked at the two and asked, ¡°Fellow Daoists, what do you think of the contents of these books? Are they credible?¡± Upon the inquiry, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and said, ¡°They are somewhat useful for reference, but if they were reliable, they wouldn¡¯t have ended up in Daoist Hu¡¯s hands.¡± No sooner had he spoken, the silent Zheng Xiao chimed in. ¡°Lin is right; such information would absolutely be confidential to the Three Great Sects, not to be revealed lightly!¡± ¡°` Chapter 616 03-25 - 616 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_2 ?Chapter 616: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_2 Chapter 616: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_2 ¡°Being able to let this item circulate in the Dragon Mountain Market, the Zhenyang Sect is naturally aware of it.¡± ¡°In that case, since they don¡¯t intervene, they clearly believe this thing poses no great threat to their expedition into the Secret Realm.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ The two fellow Daoists speak sensibly.¡± After nodding in agreement, Hu Yuan immediately continued: ¡°I also bought this thing from an underground black market, so it¡¯s probably not genuine.¡± ¡°And the three Great Sects have already entered more than ten times, after long-term exploration they must have collected some territories, and even left behind complete map information.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, they will definitely not reveal it to us.¡± ¡°Otherwise, we could think of a way to get the information from the hands of the Sect Cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect who enter the Secret Realm.¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming knew that Hu Yuan must be thinking of people like Li Xiuyuan. He smiled faintly and said, ¡°Daoist Hu is thinking too much, there will naturally be some news within the Zhenyang Sect, but those Sect Cultivators entering won¡¯t know much either.¡± ¡°Even if they do know, I¡¯m afraid no one would dare take the risk to leak it.¡± After hearing these words, Hu Yuan also spoke up. ¡°True, they are likely to give these messages to their Disciples just before entering the Secret Realm.¡± ¡°Otherwise, nobody can guarantee that Sect Disciples won¡¯t take risks out of desperation.¡± ¡°And such an arrangement can indeed prevent Cultivators from feathering their own nests and leaking information opportunistically.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? After hearing this, Lin Tianming and Zheng Xiao both nodded, agreeing with these views. After a while, Hu Yuan continued to ask, ¡°So once we enter the Secret Realm, how should we converge together? And how should we distribute the treasures?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then echoed the sentiment. ¡°Indeed¡­ Let¡¯s agree on the distribution of benefits first, before resorting to arms, so as to not let the treasures sour the relationship!¡± After hearing both of their views, Zheng Xiao smiled faintly and then shared his own opinion. ¡°We don¡¯t have the foundation of the three Great Sects, nor do we have Magic Artifacts to sense teammates, so converging can only depend on luck.¡± ¡°As for the distribution plan, it¡¯s natural for everyone to share equally.¡± ¡°If there are items that can¡¯t be split evenly, or there are extras after the distribution, we can compensate with an equivalent amount of Spirit Stones.¡± No sooner had his words fallen than Hu Yuan frowned and said bluntly, ¡°If we are lucky enough to converge together and happen to discover a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, I¡¯m afraid neither fellow Daoist would be willing to give it up!¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s words struck at the heart of the matter; at their level of cultivation, ordinary items could naturally be split evenly, and even at a slight loss, it wouldn¡¯t matter much. But when it came to Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, it¡¯s unlikely that anyone would give up on them easily. Thus, conflict would inevitably arise. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming kept silent, the two of them then asked, ¡°Fellow Daoist Lin, do you have any opinions?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming let out a wry smile, then said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s not damage our harmonious relationship!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ To me, whether we can successfully converge together is still quite uncertain.¡± ¡°As for the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, it¡¯s not that easy to find, and even if found, it surely won¡¯t be easy to obtain!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we distribute the common treasures equally, and if we really are fortunate enough to encounter a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item with only one available, we deal with the Demonic Beasts first.¡± ¡°Once we¡¯ve cleared the obstacles, we don¡¯t need to hide, conceal, or even strike at each other in the dark.¡± ¡°In a word, life and death are fated, and each relies on their own ability; whoever gets it, it¡¯s theirs.¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s series of remarks, Hu Yuan laughed heartily and then nodded in agreement. ¡°Haha¡­ Putting oneself first before acting righteous, I have no objections!¡± Seeing Hu Yuan speaking this way, Zheng Xiao also chimed in. ¡°Since the two fellow Daoists have spoken to this extent, naturally I won¡¯t object.¡± ¡°However, we should still make a Heart Demon Oath. If we truly encounter a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, before we have cleared the obstacles, the three of us must not engage in mutual slaughter.¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s do it that way!¡± Lin Tianming nodded as he spoke. Seeing this, Hu Yuan also expressed his agreement. Soon after, the three of them took the Heart Demon Oath right in front of each other and agreed on many specific details of their cooperation. With this important matter settled, the attitudes among the three of them changed a lot, becoming much more sincere. Afterward, the three of them chatted idly for a while before Hu Yuan and another took their leave. After seeing off the two guests, Lin Tianming, now finding himself with some free time, was about to enter his practice room for cultivation. Just at that moment, a transmission flew into his cave dwelling. Quickly, Lin Tianming deactivated the security measures, and Li Xiuyuan entered the cave dwelling. From a distance, Li Xiuyuan cheerily called out a greeting. ¡°Lin, my younger brother, it¡¯s been two years, how have you been recently?¡± Seeing Li Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and hastily returned the greeting. ¡°Haha¡­ Thank you for your concern, brother Li, I am doing well!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I heard from junior brother Zhao that you¡¯d come, so I hurried over to meet you. I hope I haven¡¯t bothered you, Lin!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ With a distinguished guest like you, I¡¯m extremely welcoming, and there¡¯s no such thing as a bother!¡± ¡°Come, have a seat and try some of the Spiritual Tea you brought!¡± Lin Tianming hospitably invited Li Xiuyuan to sit opposite him as they began to sip tea and chat leisurely. In a little while, after exchanging a few courtesies, Lin Tianming then began to inquire about the purpose of Li Xiuyuan¡¯s visit. To this, Li Xiuyuan chuckled and simply said that he came by to renew their friendship. Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, and during the casual conversation, he subtly probed for information about the Tyrant Spirit Ape as well as the extermination of the Xu Family. Besides that, including the situation in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, he also discreetly raised some doubts, hoping to glean some useful information from Li Xiuyuan. Regrettably, it seemed Li Xiuyuan was not privy to the details, which were in line with their speculations. However, it was also possible that Li Xiuyuan did know something but was not willing to divulge. Seeing that it was unlikely he would obtain any information, Lin Tianming did not dwell on the matter, and hence inquired about the situation regarding the other two Great Sects. On this matter, Li Xiuyuan did not withhold anything and took a book from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming took the book and glanced through it, a hint of joy flashing across his face. The book contained a record of those from the Golden Sword Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley who might enter the Secret Realm, along with a list of their names. Some of the Cultivators with powerful cultivation were even highlighted in detail, which was exceedingly thorough. Pleased with this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and felt reconciled regarding Li Xiuyuan¡¯s actions. In truth, it wasn¡¯t that Li Xiuyuan was unwilling to reveal specific news about the Tianfeng Secret Realm. He truly did not know, with nothing to share. However, the individuals from the other two Great Sects were also potential competitors of the Zhenyang Sect and warranted close vigilance. Therefore, the Zhenyang Sect had always focused on the Genius Cultivators from the two Great Sects, spending considerable effort to collect information about their adversaries. Moreover, the other two Great Sects were likely doing the same, collecting intelligence about their competitors and perhaps even sharing some of it. After all, the enemy of one¡¯s enemy could be a friend. This way, the information about these competitors was not strictly confidential within the Zhenyang Sect. So Li Xiuyuan was willing to share with Lin Tianming, offering him intel so that he might be more cautious in the Secret Realm. Half an hour later, the two of them had exchanged plenty of information about the other two Great Sects. Thanks to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s detailed introduction, Lin Tianming gained a lot more basic information about the other forces. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Subsequently, Li Xiuyuan inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s plans in the Secret Realm. In response, Lin Tianming said with a light smile, ¡°Brother Li, I¡¯m on my own, without any teammates, so naturally, I am a lone wolf. I¡¯ll be satisfied to just find some treasures and get out alive!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and said with resignation, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that our Sect doesn¡¯t allow us to act alone; otherwise, I¡¯d truly like to continue cooperating with Daoist Lin!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ No worries at all¡­ you folks acting with fellow Sect members is certainly much safer. Those of us without that option have no choice but to go alone!¡± ¡°Indeed, this is true!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded in agreement. With that, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t press the issue, and after chatting a little longer, half an hour later, Li Xiuyuan took his leave. ¡­ Chapter 617 03-25 - 617 343 Departure_1 ?Chapter 617: Chapter 343 Departure_1 Chapter 617: Chapter 343 Departure_1 After sending Li Xiuyuan away, Lin Tianming returned to his small courtyard and sat down, immediately pondering the information they had exchanged during their casual chat. Based on what Li Xiuyuan had said, he now had a new understanding of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and the other two Great Sects. If nothing unexpected happened, the cultivators destined for the secret realm should all gather together within the next few days. Time was short. All he could do now was to adjust his state of being, make ample preparations, and then survive in the secret realm. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming immediately took out the book that Li Xiuyuan had provided and began to carefully review it. Catching his eye at the front of the book was a list of genius cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley, dozens of them, all potential candidates to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Beyond the sheer number of geniuses, their basic information was also described in great detail, such as portraits, cultivation strength, and even records of their accomplishments. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming became very interested. After all, he had always been known as a genius by his family, and indeed, he lived up to the name of a genius. At just forty years old, he managed to cultivate to the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, a strength comparable to a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. Such strength was by no means inferior to those top-notch geniuses from the three Great Sects. And having this aura of genius since childhood, his cultivation strength indeed progressed rapidly, easily outstripping his peers in the clan. However, these accomplishments were only limited to the Luoyun Mountain Range. Except for the clashes in Demon-Subduing City Battlefield with some of the top disciples of Zhenyang Sect, that time, Zhenyang Sect had only sent about a dozen true genius cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? A feast like this one, where the top disciples of the three Great Sects would gather together, had never happened before. Under such circumstances, a hundred true genius cultivators seeking treasures and gaining experience in one secret realm also posed a great risk. In such a scenario, the difficulty of obtaining treasures and retreating safely could only be imagined. For this reason, this time entering the secret realm was a banquet of geniuses in the full sense of the term. Under these conditions, Lin Tianming could finally go all out and compete against these genius cultivators. This trip to the secret realm was, for him, a truly meaningful challenge. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming felt his blood starting to boil. Once he managed to calm down again, he looked solemn, developing a keen interest in these genius cultivators. For this reason, he had to be careful, acquiring as much information as possible, so that he wouldn¡¯t be completely uninformed if he encountered them. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, Lin Tianming began to flip through the book from the beginning, committing each person¡¯s details to memory. Soon, he turned the first page, which documented a person¡¯s name and introduction. Yang Chen, a cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. Seeing this name, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was startled, as he pondered the information about this individual. After a while, he had not heard any rumors about this person and continued reading. It was only when he saw the introduction below that his expression became serious. It turned out this person was known as the number one genius of Myriad Medicine Valley, with a Single Spirit Root talent, said to be the only Sky Spirit Root cultivator in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Unsurprisingly, at just over forty years of age, he was already at the Foundation Establishment Great Completion. More crucially, rumors suggested he was extremely powerful; at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, he had single-handedly fought three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts and easily slaughtered them without effort. And now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, his strength must definitely be at the peak of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and he might even be able to exchange a few blows with those who had just stepped into the Golden Core Stage. Such a formidable figure was no wonder ranked on the first page of this book. Aside from the uniquely talented Yang Chen, every person documented in this book could potentially be his competitor in the secret realm. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was extremely solemn as he firmly memorized the information about this person. Then, he continued to read on; several cultivators that followed all possessed Dual Spiritual Roots talent and their strength was also above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. As for the cultivators mentioned later, without exception, all had a cultivation strength above the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, and there were even several who were at the Foundation Establishment Great Completion. In no time at all, Lin Tianming had gone through the page introducing cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect. Having read the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators¡¯ introductions and broadened his horizons, he knew Golden Sword Sect was not weaker than Myriad Medicine Valley. He was curious about the talent and strength of their disciples. With an expectant look, Lin Tianming continued to flip through the pages. Chen Jianbin¡­ Dual Spiritual Roots Talent, Foundation Establishment Great Completion, easily killed a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast during a great battle when beasts swarmed the land. Li Yi¡­ Dual Spiritual Roots Talent, Foundation Establishment Great Completion, once easily killed a peer cultivator of the same rank. He Yanguang¡­ Dual Spiritual Roots Talent, Foundation Establishment Great Completion, had once faced three cultivators of the same rank without falling behind in a three-against-one fight. ¡­ After half a quarter of an hour, having flipped through the book page by page, Lin Tianming had reached the last page. As he finished the last page, the information of nearly a hundred cultivators documented in the book was solidly committed to Lin Tianming¡¯s memory. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his expression a bit grave. It had to be said that these two Great Sects truly deserved their reputation as Golden Core Sects with legacies spanning thousands of years. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators listed in these books all had a cultivation of at least the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, and their talents were not low either; at the very least, they all had Three Spiritual Roots, and counting them up, there were more than a dozen talented cultivators with Dual Spiritual Roots. Chapter 618 03-25 - 618 343 Departure_2 ?Chapter 618: Chapter 343 Departure_2 Chapter 618: Chapter 343 Departure_2 Apart from this, among the individuals listed in this book, there are more than ten with the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Completion. Leaving out the Golden Core Cultivators for now, just those more than ten Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators alone are enough to sweep through all the Foundation Establishing Families in Wei Kingdom. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming sincerely exclaimed in his heart, ¡°Any one of these Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom is not to be underestimated, truly deserving of their strength inherited through thousands of years.¡± Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming put the book away and then fell into deep thought. Right now, the gathering might take place in these next few days. Having this information on potential rivals allowed him to have a deeper understanding of the people from the other two Great Sects. Next, it was just a matter of waiting for the day of assembly to embark on the treasure hunting expedition at the entrance to the Secret Realm. As for the matter of cooperation he had agreed upon with Hu Yuan once inside Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, he couldn¡¯t hold too much hope. After all, one cannot know the expanse of the Secret Realm, how many Demonic Beasts are within, nor the need to be wary of cultivators from the other Great Sects. ... Including the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, none could be fully trusted. Although he had ties with Long Qingshui, as well as Li Xiuyuan and others, they were in the end not the decision-makers, and under the pressure of absolute interests and their peers, they would not undertake actions detrimental to the Sect¡¯s interests. Due to all these reasons, he had no choice but to be extremely cautious and prepare for the worst. As for the specific plans within the Secret Realm, naturally, they involved searching for all treasures, especially Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, which was his main objective for this journey. After all, he had also reached the latter stages of the Foundation Establishment, and it might not be long before he met the requirements to attempt the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. If he could obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item beforehand, that would be the best. Otherwise, who knew how long it would be before another opportunity like this arose. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Understanding this, the trace of unease in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart gradually faded away, replaced by a surge of bold and lofty aspirations. ¡°This time, for both my family and for myself, I must go all out and make a stand!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then stood up and walked over to the cultivation room, ready to make use of the last few days of spare time for cultivation. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, several days passed by. That day, Lin Tianming was still sitting cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the cultivation room, his eyes shut tight, hands together in deep meditation. Just then, a message flew into the cultivation room. Lin Tianming waved one hand and caught the message in his grasp, immediately checking its contents. Soon after learning the contents, he stood up and swiftly exited his cave dwelling. After a short while, he first went to Zhao Liqun to return the Restriction Order Token for his dwelling, then he made his way to the plaza at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. Looking around, the place was already filled with many cultivators, among which were a few familiar faces, and a large number of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Qi Refinement disciples watched curiously. From the crowd, Lin Tianming spotted the figures of Long Qingshui and Li Xiuyuan, among others. He approached them, greeted them proactively, and then stood by Li Xiuyuan¡¯s side. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming then asked Li Xiuyuan, ¡°Li, could it be that we are preparing to assemble?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Li Xiuyuan nodded and replied calmly, ¡°Indeed, I have received a message from my master-uncle, summoning all participants of the Secret Realm to gather here!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then started to make idle conversation. A tea¡¯s time passed, and as more and more cultivators continuously arrived, the plaza filled with a substantial number of people. Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao also arrived and joined him. The three of them occupied a corner, distancing themselves slightly from the thirty or so cultivators of Zhenyang Sect. After all, although they too were allowed to participate in the Secret Realm, they were essentially external cultivators and not related to Zhenyang Sect. Otherwise, standing in their midst would seem somewhat odd. At this moment, the scene was somewhat lively, with acquainted cultivators chatting amongst themselves, waiting for a Golden Core Cultivator to take the lead. Lin Tianming also chatted with Hu Yuan, while surreptitiously sizing up the Zhenyang Sect disciples nearby. After his scrutiny, he recognized about ten or so cultivators. They were mostly those who had made an appearance in the battle at Demon-Subduing City, with Long Qingshui and Li Xiuyuan among them as representatives. The other ten or so cultivators, however, he had not seen before. Clearly, these individuals were disciples of high status and position within Zhenyang Sect, who didn¡¯t need to rely on military exploits in Demon-Subduing City to secure their place in the Secret Realm. These were the more than ten cultivators whom he had never seen before, all uniformly at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, even up to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. It was apparent that these ten-plus individuals were the strongest True Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming compared the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect with those from the other two Great Sects. After comparison, these disciples of the Zhenyang Sect were not inferior to those from the other large sects; their strength should be evenly matched. Seeing these people, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel envious, thinking that if the Lin Family Members could also reach this level, they too could secure a strong footing in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. While he was lost in thought, a commotion spread, breaking his reverie. He turned his head and saw Zhu Yun stepping through the air, eventually landing in front of the crowd. At this moment, all the cultivators present, including himself, bowed with folded hands in salute. Zhu Yun nodded in acknowledgment and then swept his gaze over all the cultivators present. ¡°Gentlemen, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is about to open; has everyone arrived?¡± No sooner had the words fallen when a Zhenyang Sect cultivator stepped forward and replied with folded hands, ¡°Reporting to Uncle-Master, all twenty-seven disciples of our sect have assembled, and the three friends who were pulled out from the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield are all present as well!¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun nodded, then turned his attention to Lin Tianming and the other two. Seeing this, Lin Tianming along with Hu Yuan and the third person, hurriedly stepped forward to bow with their hands folded. ¡°The juniors pay respects to Elder Zhu!¡± ¡°Hm¡­ Follow the main force later, once you enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, each of you will rely on your own ability; life and death will be left to fate!¡± ¡°You may retire!¡± ¡°Thank you, Elder Zhu!¡± Lin Tianming and the other two bowed with their hands folded, speaking in unison as they thanked him, then stepped to the side to wait. Afterward, Zhu Yun glanced at the disciples from his own Sect and began to admonish them. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm that opens once every two hundred years, you will represent our Sect, entering the Secret Realm to search for treasures and experience!¡± ¡°The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is very dangerous, there¡¯s no need for me to elaborate, as you are all well aware, so I won¡¯t say more!¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°However, even though it¡¯s dangerous, those who wish to seize the opportunity must take this risk!¡± ¡°So, if anyone wants to back out, it¡¯s not too late, otherwise, you¡¯ll have to go forward bravely!¡± ¡°Does anyone wish to withdraw?¡± Zhu Yun suddenly shouted. After a long while, seeing that no one responded to quit, Zhu Yun nodded his head. Then, he looked up at the scorching sun in the sky and took out the Inkwind Spirit Boat, activating it with the Law Decree. In the blink of an eye, an enormous boat expanded and then hovered above the heads of the crowd. This thing, Lin Tianming had seen before, and not just once had he ridden on it. When the beast tide erupted, the cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order had assembled at the Qianchuan Market, and it was Zhu Yun who took them to Yuyao City. The means of transportation they used at that time was still this Inkwind Spirit Boat. Seeing it again, he was quite calm, no longer having the shock he felt at first. ¡°Board the boat!¡± Following the command, the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect were the first to board the vessel. Lin Tianming came to his senses and followed along with Hu Yuan to board the Inkwind Spirit Boat. Soon, all thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators had boarded, and Zhu Yun also leaped aboard. On the deck, all thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators sat cross-legged on the ground, each with eyes closed, meditating¡ªnone dared to speak rashly. At the forefront, seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhu Yun did not delay, immediately controlling the vessel to fly past the Mountain Protection Array of the Zhenyang Sect. Once outside the gates of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, the speed of the Inkwind Spirit Boat increased significantly, heading in a northwest direction. ¡­ Chapter 619 03-25 - 619 344 Gathering of Geniuses_1 ?Chapter 619: Chapter 344: Gathering of Geniuses_1 Chapter 619: Chapter 344: Gathering of Geniuses_1 Time passed, and half a month had gone by. On this day, the figure of an Inkwind Spirit Boat appeared over a vast wilderness in the central part of the Wei Kingdom. The vast stretch of land below the flying boat was known as the Tianfeng Mountain Range, an area even larger than three Luoyun Mountain Ranges combined. The bald terrain and sparse Spiritual Energy made it utterly a barren land. The Tianfeng Mountain Rage lay in the central part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, taking the shape of a triangular vacuum zone that belonged to no particular Sect. This expanse of land, despite its vast size, had been scarcely trodden by human footsteps throughout its thousands of years of existence due to its barrenness. Consequently, not a single substantial power had emerged in such an infertile place, save for the existence of more than a dozen Qi Refining families at most. Such territory served as a buffer zone for the three great Sects¡¯ influence and, after thousands of years of friction, had ultimately become a no man¡¯s land. ... At this moment, on the deck of the flying boat. Zhu Yun stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the forefront, while thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat cross-legged on the ground behind him, each with their eyes closed in meditation. It was uncertain how much time had passed. The flying boat descended onto a gigantic platform, and only then did the Cultivators stand up to survey their surroundings. Lin Tianming also opened his eyes and discovered they were perched on a platform. Looking out, the surroundings were desolate, the barren expanse stretching as far as the eye could see. In such an open place, it was extremely rare to even spot any vegetation, and the air carried the scent of drought. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï It was quite peculiar! One must know that the borders of the Wei Kingdom stretched for a long distance alongside the habitat of Demonic Beasts known as the Endless Forest. In the past, the Wei Kingdom had also been a domain where the Demon Beast Race dwelled. There were countless mountains and steep peaks on this land, which fostered the dense vegetation and abundant water resources of the Wei Kingdom. Yet, such a region also possessed such unique climatic conditions, markedly different when compared to other nearby mountain ranges. However, upon further reflection, it wasn¡¯t incomprehensible. After all, the Nine Provinces Continent was vast, varied in terrain and landforms, and the vestiges left by powerful battles could create such curious landscapes, which was quite normal. Besides, there might be treasures or mineral veins in this place that could alter some natural conditions. Therefore, the emergence of such land was not entirely unacceptable. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming swept a glance over the surroundings and couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled in his heart. ¡°Could this be the location of the entrance to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm?¡± Lin Tianming wondered to himself. Besides him, the other Cultivators, including the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, also showed expressions of speculation. After a long while, seeing that Zhu Yun had not spoken, the crowd turned their gaze toward him, waiting for his command. ¡°We have arrived at our destination. Everyone disembark and wait on the side!¡± Following Zhu Yun¡¯s order, the Cultivators jumped off the flying boat and landed on the ground. Subsequently, the group of more than thirty Cultivators found places to descend, with Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan, and the other two sitting together at the rear, forming a small circle. At this time, the faces of the Cultivators were a mix of emotions, excitement, nervousness, and anticipation included. Lin Tianming, however, was relatively calm, continually pondering why he hadn¡¯t seen people from the other two Great Sects yet. Maybe they had not arrived? Or were there other entrances? As he was lost in thought, a shadow appeared from the north, drawing the attention of everyone. The shadow was fast, arriving before the group in the blink of an eye. Even from afar, a loud voice could be heard. ¡°Daoist Zhu, your Sect is further away than our Golden Sword Sect, yet you arrived a bit earlier than I did!¡± Following the direction of the voice, Lin Tianming looked up to see a golden flying boat in the sky. Upon closer inspection, this flying boat was also a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact, somewhat similar to the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Inkwind Spirit Boat, with the only significant difference being its color. At that moment, at the foremost position of the flying boat, a man in a white Daoist robe appeared, with similarly thirty Cultivators sitting cross-legged behind him on the deck. Most of these Cultivators were dressed in white Daoist robes, with a small sword emblem on their chests, indicative of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Disciples. The Cultivator at the front was also a Golden Core Cultivator of the Golden Sword Sect, Song Hanchun. Now, as Zhu Yun heard the incoming voice and saw the newcomer, he also spared a chuckle, ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Song isn¡¯t slow either, I too have just arrived!¡± After his response, Zhu Yun didn¡¯t wait to see Song Hanchun¡¯s reaction and swiftly changed the subject, probing with his next remark. ¡°I had thought that Elder Xue from your Sect would lead this expedition, but it turns out to be Daoist Song in charge!¡± Zhu Yun¡¯s question was loaded with significance, as the beast tide had inflicted considerable losses on the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom two years prior. Take the Zhenyang Sect for instance, the Golden Core Mid Stage Cultivator Wang Hengqiu had perished, and presumably, the other two Great Sects were aware of this news as well. After all, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core had caused a significant disturbance, witnessed by many Cultivators in person. To keep the news under wraps, it would have required the elimination of all non-Zhenyang Sect Disciples, which was impossible. Given the scale of the battle, such secrecy could not be achieved. As for the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, Zhu Yun was unsure whether the other two Great Sects knew about it or not. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And during the entire beast tide, the other two Great Sects similarly suffered heavy losses, but they too would have trouble obtaining specific details. Chapter 620 03-25 - 620 344 Gathering of Geniuses_2 ?Chapter 620: Chapter 344 Gathering of Geniuses_2 Chapter 620: Chapter 344 Gathering of Geniuses_2 Therefore, when he asked this question, it was also a probe to gauge Song Hanchun¡¯s reaction and see if he could glean some useful intelligence. As expected, upon hearing the question, Song Hanchun¡¯s face slightly changed, but he quickly returned to normal. In fact, Golden Sword Sect also suffered significant losses during the beast tide battle, and Elder Xue, whom Zhu Yun mentioned, had also perished in the conflict. Apart from that, another Golden Core Cultivator at the early stage from Golden Sword Sect also fell on the battlefield. However, the deaths of these two Golden Core Cultivators were not witnessed by external cultivators. Therefore, the news of the demise of the two esteemed Golden Core Cultivators was sealed by them; the outside world was completely oblivious. At this moment, Song Hanchun waved his hand and laughed, ¡°Elder Xue was injured in the great battle and has been in closed-door cultivation ever since, unable to extricate himself, which is why I am leading the team.¡± ... While laughing, Song Hanchun managed to appear quite composed and quickly changed the topic. However, despite Song Hanchun hiding it extremely well, Zhu Yun still detected this faint change. In truth, Zhenyang Sect had also heard some rumors and made some speculations, but alas, they had no evidence. Now, based on Song Hanchun¡¯s response, Zhu Yun was also certain of the fact of Elder Xue¡¯s demise. However, Zhu Yun remained composed and did not dwell on the matter, promptly engaging Song Hanchun in casual conversation. As the two Golden Core Cultivators chatted idly, the disciples of Golden Sword Sect jumped down from the flying boat one by one, landing on a clearing diagonally opposite the Zhenyang Sect. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They moved swiftly, and over thirty cultivators quickly found their spots, then also sat on the ground, sizing up the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect from across the way. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Lin Tianming likewise surveyed the Golden Sword Sect cultivators, assessing the strength of the opposing side in his heart. Among this group of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s cultivators, there were indeed several at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, more than ten in the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and the rest at the Seventh or Eighth Levels. The other three Loose Cultivators participating in the Secret Realm were all above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, among which there were individuals at Foundation Establishment Great Completion. On their side, Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao were both at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, a bit lacking in comparison to the three cultivators who had recently left Golden Sword Sect¡¯s battlefield. While Lin Tianming sized up the opposition, the three Loose Cultivators also looked over at them. In response, Lin Tianming looked back, locking eyes with the three directly, with only brief contact before each shifted their gaze. For some reason, as Lin Tianming observed one of the Loose Cultivators in Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, he felt a strange palpitation in his heart, sensing that this person was extremely dangerous. Yet upon closer reflection, he was certain he had never seen this person before, and all characteristics seemed ordinary, revealing nothing unusual. Nevertheless, the so-called pressure this person brought upon him was a profound sensation, albeit hard to articulate. ¡°Forget it, once we enter the Secret Realm, I must be extremely cautious, especially of this person!¡± Lin Tianming secretly thought to himself, memorizing the faces and the aura of their cultivation levels deep in his heart. This quiet waiting continued. The following day at noon, when the scorching sun was high in the sky, another flying boat descended above the crowd. This flying boat was immensely large, with its pale blue light continuously flickering, exuding a very extraordinary presence. This flying boat was indeed from Myriad Medicine Valley, and although it was also of Second Order Superior rank, the quality was obviously superior to those of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. As this grand entrance unfolded, everyone looked up, watching as the cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley descended from the boat, the last to arrive on the scene. At a glance, the cultivator leading the group wore a blue Daoist robe with pale white hair, already appearing to be of a venerable age. However, despite his old age, it was clear he was no ordinary individual. Lin Tianming had come across some records about this person in various classics. This person was a Golden Core Cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley known as Luo Anzhong, a well-established Golden Core expert, ranking within the top three oldest among all known Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom. Though he was also at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation, his appearance immediately attracted the attention of Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun. Upon spotting the newcomer, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun promptly went forward to greet Luo Anzhong with courteous salutations. ¡°Luo Daoyou, it¡¯s been many years since we last met, I hope you¡¯ve been well!¡± ¡°Indeed, Luo Daoyou is nearly five hundred years old,¡± Luo Anzhong said with a faint smile. ¡°The last time we met was over forty years ago. It¡¯s unexpected that your sect chose Luo Daoyou to lead the team this time,¡± Hearing the polite remarks of Zhu Yun and another, Luo Anzhong smiled faintly and soon started chatting with the two of them. As the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators arrived, the one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators entering the secret realm had all gathered. Among the three great sects, there were a total of ninety Foundation Establishment cultivators, with six loose cultivator spots on the battlefields of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. Only the battlefield for Myriad Medicine Valley had four loose cultivator spots. Altogether, precisely one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. And indeed, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators who came with Myriad Medicine Valley were not to be underestimated either; all had cultivation above the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, with two at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. When it came to Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, their lineup was somewhat stronger than that of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. There were as many as seven at the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm, fourteen at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and the remaining nine were all at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm. Among these Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, the legendary disciple with a Sky Spiritual Root, Yang Chen, was surrounded by fellow disciples as if stars clustered around the moon. At that moment, seeing the Foundation Establishment disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley, Lin Tianming finally saw the true features of most of the top genius cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. This scene truly embodied a gathering of geniuses. In view of this, Lin Tianming compared the overall strength of the three parties based on the cultivation of these Foundation Establishment disciples. Unsurprisingly, relying on more Foundation Establishment Great Perfection disciples, the overall strength of Myriad Medicine Valley disciples was indeed stronger than that of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. The gap between Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect was not substantial, and on the surface, Zhenyang Sect had only a slight disadvantage. This made it understandable why Myriad Medicine Valley had the most ancient heritage among the three great sects. Even though it had declined in recent years, a camel dead from starvation is still bigger than a horse, and the disciples cultivated by nearly ten thousand years of heritage were truly formidable. Understanding this, Lin Tianming paid extra attention to the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley. As they were observing the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators, the opposite was also true. Clearly, it was only during such a treasure-hunting opportunity that the top disciples from the three great sects would be convened together. Like Lin Tianming, all the cultivators present had an extraordinary bearing, seeming to await an opportunity to confront one another in the upcoming journey into the secret realm. Amidst the noisy atmosphere, the cultivators communicated privately, memorizing these potential opponents in their minds. In the blink of an eye, several days had passed. At noon this day, the blazing sunlight shone across the land. At that moment, the temperature soared rapidly, and a sandstorm raged across the barren, causing a storm to appear suddenly. With such changes, the three Golden Core cultivators present immediately sensed something. In an instant, Luo Anzhong and the other two Golden Core cultivators leaped into the sky, rising a thousand feet into the air. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the scorching sun is overhead, and the storm is upon us; the time is nearly upon us. Let us open the portal to the secret realm!¡± Luo Anzhong shouted, then took out a fiery red jade token and held it firmly in his hand. Seeing his action, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun were not to be outdone and each took out a similar jade token and held it in their hands. Then, the three nodded to each other and, in different voices, they exclaimed, ¡°Shortly, we will open the portal to the secret realm. All of you enter quickly; the portal will open again in one year¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Those who remain inside after that time will be responsible for their own life or death.¡± Hearing this, all hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators stood up, and all of them widened their eyes, staring into the void, waiting for the portal to the secret realm to appear. Seeing this, Zhu Yun and the others did not delay and threw the jade tokens they held toward the front. As the jade tokens appeared, they swiftly positioned themselves in three different directions, emitting a fiery red glow from their surfaces. Then, the three of them formed hand seals, and beams of spiritual light struck each of their jade tokens. Simultaneously, beams of light appeared in the palms of their hands, accurately striking the three jade tokens. ¡­ Chapter 621 03-25 - 621 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_1 ?Chapter 621: Chapter 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_1 Chapter 621: Chapter 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_1 ¡°` ¡°Rumble¡­¡± After the ground shook violently, the sky suddenly grew dark. Anticipating such a change, Zhu Yun and his two companions paid it no mind, continuing their actions without pause. A few breaths later, dazzling light burst from the three jade tokens, illuminating the entire land brightly. Upon witnessing this, Zhu Yun and the others shouted into the void. ¡°Activate the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± In an instant, their faces turned exceedingly red, and beads of sweat the size of beans continuously dropped from their foreheads. ... Clearly, activating the jade tokens to open the secret realm consumed a great deal of spiritual power; otherwise, even Golden Core Cultivators wouldn¡¯t struggle this much. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As time slowly passed, the glow from the jade tokens grew ever more splendid as True Essence Mana from within the three of them poured in. Eventually, it seemed the True Essence Mana absorbed by the jade tokens reached a certain threshold. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A crisp sound echoed through heaven and earth. The ground ceased its trembling, and the originally dim sky began to return to normal. At that moment, an enormous vortex appeared in the sky, motionless as it hung in midair. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Seeing this, Luo Anzhong bellowed, ¡°The passage is open, everyone hurry and enter!¡± Hearing this, the thirty disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley didn¡¯t hesitate and leapt into the vortex. Behind them, the four loose cultivators, also without any hesitation, followed into the vortex. With the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators entering the secret realm, the remaining Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect cultivators didn¡¯t delay; they surged into the vortex as well. Lin Tianming exchanged a glance with Hu Yuan beside him, then followed the Zhenyang Sect disciples¡¯ footsteps, flying directly into the vortex and vanishing from sight. Meanwhile, Zhu Yun and the other two Golden Core Cultivators outside, watching as all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators entered the passage, ceased infusing True Essence Mana for the time being. Once the three of them finished, the original vortex quickly shrank, and the void returned to calm. At this time, their faces were red, their robes nearly soaked with sweat, and their breathing somewhat disorderly, looking quite weary. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s meet here again in one year!¡± Luo Anzhong cupped his hands towards Zhu Yun and the other in farewell, then vanished in a flash. Seeing this, Zhu Yun offered a nonchalant smile, bid Song Hanchun farewell, and left the platform as well. ¡­ Inside the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. As Lin Tianming charged into the vortex, his head quickly grew dizzy, feeling an intangible pulling force tearing at him. Thankfully, this sensation was brief, lasting only a few breaths before everything returned to normal. Still, his somewhat groggy head testified to that bizarre state he had just experienced. By the time Lin Tianming regained his senses, he found himself in a wasteland covered with yellow sand. Luckily, he hadn¡¯t been transported directly into a den of demonic beasts; otherwise, troubles would have been endless. With a serious expression, he drew the Tiangang Sword and cautiously surveyed his surroundings. Looking around, all was silent, with nothing but the vast wasteland and the boundless yellow sandy ground¡ªno sign of any animals or plants. Further, the spiritual energy here was exceptionally thin, a far cry from the rich environment he had anticipated for a secret realm. In the Cultivation World, most secret realms are like Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. Even if they aren¡¯t, they are typically characterized by clear mountains, pure waters, and dense spiritual energy. Yet, this secret realm looked utterly desolate. Not a single living creature in sight, let alone any heavenly or earthly treasures. Indeed, the environment of this secret realm was far beyond his expectations. Recollecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming looked up at the sunlight in the sky, then took out the map Hu Yuan had given him for a quick review. Unsurprisingly, the map was useless; the territories depicted didn¡¯t match at all, clearly meant to deceive. Faced with this, a wry smile appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ¡°Well then, I¡¯m to stay in the secret realm for a year; there¡¯s still plenty of time. Let¡¯s pick a direction to start searching!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then set off in one direction with a gust of wind at his feet. Before he knew it, half a day had passed. During this time, Lin Tianming had traveled tens of miles, but he still hadn¡¯t left the desert. His pace was neither fast nor slow, always gripping the Tiangang Sword, ready to deal with sudden threats. With such a cautious mindset, his journey was quite smooth, encountering few attacks. Even so, he wasn¡¯t naive enough to think the secret realm lacked dangers. If that were true, it would be laughable. At that moment, he halted atop a small mound, deep in thought. After exploring for half the day, it was clear that the desert was vast, and the spiritual energy thin, without any sighting of animals or plants. Upon reflection, such conditions were indeed unsuitable for demonic beasts or the growth of precious materials. However, there are always exceptions; special environments can nurture special treasures. Since it existed, there must be a reason for it. With that realization, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give up and prepared to continue exploring ahead or at least find a way out of the desert to discover a new place. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming stepped forward, ready to leave. Just then, a sudden gust of wind stirred in the distance, rolling the yellow sand along the ground, fully capturing his attention. ¡°` Chapter 622 03-25 - 622 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_2 ?Chapter 622: Chapter 345: Earth Dragon Qiu_2 Chapter 622: Chapter 345: Earth Dragon Qiu_2 ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Tianming was momentarily stunned, and then he prepared to face the enemy. No sooner had he made his preparations than the distant yellow sand suddenly surged as if something was wriggling within it, and it rapidly approached him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face drastically changed, and he quickly leapt up, hovering in mid-air. Immediately after, he swung his sword single-handedly, releasing several Sword Qi that slashed towards the unknown creature beneath the ground. The speed of the Sword Qi was very fast; it descended to the ground in the blink of an eye. However, the creature beneath the ground was even faster; as the Sword Qi slashed down, it had already scurried more than ten zhang away, easily dodging the Sword Qi attack. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt as if facing a formidable enemy and prepared to leave this place, no longer wanting to entangle with this unknown thing. But right as he turned around, the creature wriggling underground leaped up, revealing its true form. ¡°Earth Dragon Qiu!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed. In front of him now, several dozen Earth Dragon Qiu appeared, among them three were in the Second Order Late Phase, and there were also as many as six in the Early and Medium Stage, with the rest being First Order Earth Dragon Qiu. Seeing this pack of Demonic Beasts was clearly an Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe, and their numbers and overall strength were not weak. Looking around, those Second Order Earth Dragon Qiu were several zhang long, as thick as water buckets, with dark brown bodies that looked somewhat terrifying. They burst out of the yellow sand underground, leapt up with their massive bodies, and opened their hair-raising mouths, seeking to swallow him whole. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? In desperation, he waved his Tiangang Sword frantically in his hand, releasing a great amount of Sword Qi in front of him, trying to block the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s attack. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Sounds of explosions rang out as several Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu collided with the Sword Qi, creating sparks all around. But the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s defensive power was abnormally strong; a sword strike released casually didn¡¯t injure them in the slightest. Even so, he achieved his goal, as the several Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu were repelled by the forceful impact. Meanwhile, other First Order Earth Dragon Qiu that were closer were simply not strong enough, and were directly killed by the powerful shockwaves. Lin Tianming took advantage of this brief respite to pull away to a safe distance, stopping a hundred zhang away. Now, with his stance stabilized, Lin Tianming had a grave look on his face, seeming both wary and pleasantly surprised, his emotions somewhat complex. The reason for his wariness was the formidable strength of the Earth Dragon Qiu, especially the Second Order Late Phase ones, which had extremely formidable defensive power. Even with his strength, killing one of them wouldn¡¯t be easy. Besides, with so many of this group of Earth Dragon Qiu surrounding him, it would certainly not be easy to retreat unscathed. As for his pleasant surprise, it was because the Earth Dragon Qiu were earth attribute Demonic Beasts and a gregarious type, which according to their innate habits, meant that their lair would surely have a superior Artifact Refining Material. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That material was the Earth Rampart Crystal. The Earth Rampart Crystal was an excrement of the Earth Dragon Qiu, scarce in quantity, and after accumulation and long-term storage, it would eventually turn into a crystal. If the Earth Rampart Crystal was formed over a sufficiently long time, it could reach as high as a Third Order quality, making it an extremely rare Artifact Refining Material. Moreover, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opened once every two hundred years, and this Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe was not small in number; their lair might really give birth to some Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals. If he could add this material to his Green Scale Shield, its defensive power would definitely see a significant increase. Furthermore, the Earth Rampart Crystal could also be used in impact Magic Artifacts, and even Magical Treasures used by Golden Core Cultivators could be fortified with Earth Rampart Crystal to enhance the strength of the Magical Treasure. One could say the Earth Rampart Crystal was enormously useful and very rare, and no Foundation Establishment Cultivator could easily walk away from it. However, to obtain Earth Rampart Crystal, one must find the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s lair; otherwise, it would all be in vain. As a consequence, it was necessary to defeat or even eradicate this group of Earth Dragon Qiu. Understanding this, Lin Tianming pondered for a while and then decided to give it a try. If the overall strength of the Earth Dragon Qiu was too formidable, he would simply abandon the target and flee. After all, there was a whole year for this Secret Realm excursion, and there was no need to take too great a risk. If everything went smoothly, that would be for the best. If not, he would have to give up on this opportunity. Resolved, he decided to strike first and strong, attempting to test the depth of this group of Earth Dragon Qiu. Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, quickly spreading in all directions. His fingers flicked rapidly, Law Decrees bombarding the Earth Evil Swords one after another. Soon, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was in operation, enveloping several Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qius within. Having done all this, he still didn¡¯t feel secure, and immediately stimulated the Thousand Beast Banner as well. For a while, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the black mist from the Thousand Beast Banner shrouded all the Earth Dragon Qius. His actions were quick, everything had been completed in the blink of an eye. These Earth Dragon Qius¡¯ advantage lay in their strong defensive power, while their speed and attack power were quite ordinary. Therefore, before they could react, they were already trapped by the Sword Array. Angered by this, the Earth Dragon Qius immediately launched an attack. Instantly, Earth Dragon Qius spat out some black stone pellets, smashing down on the Sword Array Barricade around them. At the same time, they twisted their bodies, slamming into the Sword Array Barricade. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Within the Sword Array, a series of explosions could be heard. The just-activated Earth Fiend Sword Formation was not very stable, and it started to wobble under the strong impact. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t sit by and do nothing. He roared, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, then bombarded it with several more Law Decrees. The previously shaky Earth Fiend Sword Formation slowly stabilized. At the same time, his Tiangang Sword radiated a brilliant light, directly unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword at a Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu inside the Sword Array. He struck decisively, using a deadly move immediately, aiming to first slay a powerful Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu to alleviate the pressure on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. As expected, his strategy worked, and one of the Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qius, upon seeing the terrifying Tiangang Sword, desperately tried to flee. However, the attack speed of the Tiangang Sword was far faster than its attempt to escape. Besides, the Earth Dragon Qius¡¯ speed on the surface was very limited, incomparable to that underground. The inescapable Earth Dragon Qiu had no choice but to endure the strike. Unfortunately, it had greatly underestimated the power of the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, especially the force of the seven swords combined. Quickly, the Tiangang Sword struck the body of the Earth Dragon Qiu, piercing through it in an instant. Yet even so, the Earth Dragon Qiu was not killed but relied on its strong vitality and defensive power to remain alive in the arena. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s full-powered strike had severely injured the Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu, nearly robbing it of its ability to fight. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, very satisfied with the strike he had unleashed. Yet, he did not indulge in self-congratulation, seizing the brief moment when the other Earth Dragon Qius were stunned to significantly reduce the extent of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At the same time, he continued to unleash attacks, crazily raining them down on the surviving Earth Dragon Qius. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± Colorful blooms burst in the sky, numerous Attack Talismans transforming into various forms of Sword Qi, bombarding the Earth Dragon Qius. In that instant, the other Second Order Earth Dragon Qius, seeing their comrade so easily gravely wounded, were immediately enraged. In addition, Lin Tianming¡¯s attitude was extremely decisive, clearly intending to obliterate them all on the spot. Faced with the myriad Sword Qi attacks, they were not fooled, aware that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was formidable; they had to break through the Sword Array¡¯s suppression quickly. Otherwise, they would die at Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Realizing this, the Earth Dragon Qius twisted their bodies to dodge these attacks, not forgetting to strike at the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in the process. Their movements were swift, with each strike exerting their full strength, a fight to the death. Chapter 623 03-25 - 623 346 Third Order Earth Rampart ?Chapter 623: Chapter 346 Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_1 Chapter 623: Chapter 346 Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_1 ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions followed one after another within the Sword Array, amid the flying sand that filled the sky intermixed with flashes of fire. These attacks included the inherent Sword Qi of the Sword Array, the Tiangang Sword Qi driven by Lin Tianming, and a multitude of Second Order Monster Beast Souls, furiously gnawing at the body of the Earth Dragon Qiu. Unfortunately, the Earth Dragon Qiu lived up to its reputation for having formidable defensive power; its hide was simply too terrifyingly tough. Even the souls of Second Order Late Stage Beasts gnawing at a Second Order Late-Stage Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s body barely left a mark. Some First Order Monster Beast Souls biting into it was akin to tickling it; they caused absolutely no harm and only amounted to a bit of pressure. As for the Earth Dragon Qiu, they responded with a barrage of dark brown stone bullets and their steel-like bodies. ... Although these Earth Dragon Qius weren¡¯t known for their offensive power, the Divine Skills attack of a Second Order Late Stage Beast was never too weak. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave as he drove his attacks to stop those Earth Dragon Qius, hoping to make them give up assaulting the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Simultaneously, he changed his strategy and withdrew all the Monster Beast Souls, using them to deal with the Earth Dragon Qius of Second Order Early and Medium Stage. He did so because the defense of the Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius were too strong, making these Monster Beast Souls practically useless. It was better to deal with the weaker Earth Dragon Qius, and he himself focused on those few powerful ones. Indeed, his change in tactic proved to be quite effective. With his readjustment, the Second Order Monster Beast Souls, biting into the Second Order Early and Medium Stage Earth Dragon Qius, managed to inflict significant harm on the beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï As for the other two Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius, they were firmly blocked by Lin Tianming. Despite their fury, they were no match for Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; relying on his Dual Cultivator of Body and Law physique, combined with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation trapping them securely. The two Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius, with very limited offensive power, could only passively take hits and were unable to inflict any fatal damage. For a while, the two strongest Earth Dragon Qius were forced into retreat. At that moment, Lin Tianming was unstoppable, swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand frequently, each strike leaving a wound on the body of the Earth Dragon Qiu. Soon enough, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation continued to shrink, and in just a short period, its range had already contracted to a hundred zhang. By then, the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had truly achieved an impregnable effect. At this point, the First Order Earth Dragon Qius had long been dead, leaving only those two Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius, along with four of the Second Order Early and Medium Stage beings. One could say that the Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe no longer had any chances of escape. In such a desperate situation, the Earth Dragon Qius had nowhere to hide; unable to flee, they could only defensively shield themselves. Under such peril, they no longer harbored any thoughts of struggle, only wishing to flee the scene. A few Earth Dragon Qius burrowed into the ground, hoping to escape the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s barrier by taking advantage of their talent for underground movement. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming coldly smiled, clearly unconcerned. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation operated fully, blockading and suppressing all directions, including the ground and the sky, which still allowed for some movement. Even beasts like Earth Dragon Qius trying to escape underground were engaging in futile wishful thinking. As expected, the Earth Dragon Qius only managed to advance a few dozen zhang underground before colliding with the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and being rebounded. Having no other choice, they attempted to stay underground to dodge attacks. But Lin Tianming, with his vast combat experience, certainly wasn¡¯t going to give them such an opportunity. Driven by wave after wave of Sword Qi, they had nowhere to hide and were forced to counterattack. To their attacks, Lin Tianming paid no heed, furiously spurring his own to quickly end the battle. ¡°Boom¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming¡¯s assault arrived as promised, suppressing the Earth Dragon Qius within the Sword Array as if caught in a tempest. By now, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation was exceedingly stable, with the internal Sword Qi densely packed to the extreme. And the power of each strand of Sword Qi far exceeded that of the past. Such a stark increase in power could be attributed to the advancement in the rank of the Earth Evil Swords, combined with having achieved the perfect number of them. Under such intense force, the size of their last resort Sword Array continued to decrease. At that moment, Lin Tianming shouted with all his might, ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, annihilate!¡± No sooner had his voice faded than the Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to spin wildly. In an instant, several pained screams sounded in succession. Hearing the commotion, Lin Tianming was visibly elated, but he did not stop, determined to eradicate them all before ceasing. In this situation, he continually swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, blasting out waves of Sword Qi. At this time, only four Second Order Earth Dragon Qius remained alive within the Sword Array, each bearing wounds, with the first one felled having lost its fighting capacity. Seeing the continuously shrinking Sword Array, and those terrifying and dense swathes of Sword Qi, they were struck with mortal fear. Desperate to escape, but utterly unable to break free from the Sword Array¡¯s confines or avoid the terrifying Sword Qi¡¯s assault. With no way out, they fought back vigorously, but it was as futile as trying to stop a car with a mantis arm, posing no threat whatsoever. In response, Lin Tianming wore a slight smile, his hands maintaining their steady pace. After a short period, the screams ceased. At that point, Lin Tianming gestured with one hand, withdrawing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and collecting all the Earth Evil Swords. After completing these tasks, his expression was one of excitement, as he couldn¡¯t help but heave a long sigh of relief. Chapter 624 03-25 - 624 346 Third Order Earth Rampart ?Chapter 624: Chapter 346: Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_2 Chapter 624: Chapter 346: Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_2 Then, he shifted his focus, searching for the silhouette of a demonic beast. As he scanned the area, the ground below was riddled with holes, and the dim sky was also gradually returning to calm. All the Earth Dragon Qius lay on the ground, covered with wounds, and had long since lost any signs of life. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and his heart was extremely satisfied with his own strength. Before making a move, he had some reservations, but it turned out he might have overestimated the overall strength of the Earth Dragon Qiu tribe. To be fair, this battle had proven the overall strength of the Earth Dragon Qius was indeed not weak, considering the presence of three Second Order Late-Stage creatures. Besides them, there were six Second Order Earth Dragon Qius as support; if it were an average Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even Hu Yuan at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he definitely would not be able to handle them. ... But they had encountered him, or rather, himself after a breakthrough in his cultivation and a significant improvement in his magic artifacts. He merely used routine tactics, relying on a few Second Order Attack Talismans, and did not even resort to powerful methods such as Spirit Arts and Spirit Detonation Beads. Moreover, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, also a Second Order Late-Stage spirit beast, was not released to assist in the battle. Even so, he had used just over half of his spiritual power to easily resolve the fight. Now, he gained a new understanding of his overall strength. If he were to use all his methods, facing several Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts at the same time, there might be a possibility for him to win. If he were up against Human Cultivators, it would probably be very difficult for three to four Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the Ninth Level to defeat him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? At this moment, Lin Tianming was filled with confidence in his strength. After calming down, he immediately walked over to the corpses of the Earth Dragon Qius. Looking at the wounded bodies of the Earth Dragon Qius, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword swung into action, collecting all the inner cores and usable materials from the bodies of the demonic beasts. The Earth Dragon Qius were rare in the outside world, and the materials from their bodies were truly hard-to-find treasures. Beyond that, the Earth Rampart Crystals that might exist in their lair were also greatly coveted by Lin Tianming. He even thought that if he could bring back Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals to his clan and give them to Lin Shilu, it would surely please him greatly. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming worked efficiently, quickly collecting all the usable items. After cleaning the battlefield, Lin Tianming stood on a dune, pondering the possible location of the Earth Dragon Qiu lair. At the time, the Earth Dragon Qius had come from directly in front of him. If nothing unexpected happened, their lair was most likely located up ahead. Additionally, the traces left by the Earth Dragon Qius as they burrowed out of the ground were also clues to follow. As long as he followed the traces they left, he should be able to find it. Deciding this, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately began his search. Soon, he followed the traces left by the Earth Dragon Qius, walking several miles forward, reaching a depression. Here, there were no longer any signs of the Earth Dragon Qius passing through. Obviously, this place was most likely the location of their lair. At that moment, Lin Tianming stood mid-air, surveying the area, searching for the shadow of the Earth Dragon Qiu lair. Looking around, the terrain here was slightly better, with air that wasn¡¯t as dry, and the ground finally had some sparse vegetation. Even so, these conditions were far better than the sandy soil he had first encountered. Moreover, the area was low-lying, slightly more humid, with a small pool of water at its lowest point, making it a suitable habitat. The place was rather quiet, with no signs of demonic beasts. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was not overly anxious; he then swung his Tiangang Sword and quickly began to dig into the ground. The Tiangang Sword was very sharp, piercing through the ground as if it were made of water. Being a body cultivator, he dug with great speed. In the blink of an eye, a deep pit appeared on the ground, and he successfully found the entrance to the burrow of the Earth Dragon Qius. At that moment, he was visibly excited, his face overflowing with a broad smile. Having confirmed there was no danger, he walked in without hesitation. Upon entering the cave, he discovered a whole different world inside; each channel was more than a yard wide, branching out in all directions, leading to unknown destinations. Besides that, the entire cave was quite serene and extremely dark. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless, he promptly pinched a magic artifact and cast a fireball deep into the cave. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As the fireball exploded without making any sound, Lin Tianming wasted no more time and continued walking deeper into the cave. Fortunately, he possessed the Eye of Five Colors, which allowed him to see clearly in the pitch-black depths without being affected at all; otherwise, it would have been a considerable risk. It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Tianming, just as he had hoped, found a round cave. The cave was not small in size, rather damp inside, and scratched marks were everywhere. Moreover, it still bore the scent of the Earth Dragon Qiu, clearly revealing it to be their nest. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled and hastily began to search within. Soon, he had completely investigated the cave and, indeed, found some Earth Rampart Crystals. However, it was somewhat disappointing that all the Earth Rampart Crystals he found were of lower quality within the Second Order, obviously due to insufficient age, not yet having formed high-quality ones. Lin Tianming did not dwell on this matter; after all, this was just the beginning, and there might be some high-quality Earth Rampart Crystals deeper inside. Comforting himself with this thought, he continued his journey deeper into the cave, meticulously searching. An hour passed. By that time, Lin Tianming had explored more than a dozen caves, still not finding any high-quality Earth Rampart Crystals. Although he had gathered dozens of medium-low and several medium-high quality Second Order crystals. Having searched more than half of the caves and yet to find any Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals, Lin Tianming was slightly disappointed. The Earth Dragon Qiu tribe was not small, and the Secret Realm only opened once every two hundred years; logically, there should have been a reasonable chance of finding Third Order crystals. Yet for some reason, he had not found any, which was somewhat unexpected. ¡°Well, there¡¯s plenty of time anyway. Since I¡¯m here, I naturally have to give it my all. It would be great to find some, but there¡¯s nothing to be done if I don¡¯t. The harvest is still considerable!¡± he muttered to himself and continued to walk deeper. While walking, Lin Tianming came across a diverging cave. At first glance, this cave was much larger than any other sub-cave discovered thus far. Seeing the cave, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, thinking that such a large cave was likely the lair of higher-order Earth Dragon Qiu. With that thought, he wasted no time entering and began to search meticulously inside. Soon enough, after having scoured most of the cave, Lin Tianming arrived beside a pit in the ground. In front of him, more than ten dark brown crystals lay in the pit, shining with a unique luster. Seeing these, he smiled and picked up an Earth Rampart Crystal, admiring it affectionately in his hand. Upon examination, he noted that the crystal was the size of a fist with a semi-translucent feature, along with a special aura, all confirming its grade. As he had anticipated, it was indeed a Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal. Although not particularly large, there were four or five more crystals of similar size here, over a dozen of the medium-high Second Order, and not even one of a lower grade. At this point, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. Having secured a few Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals meant his risk-filled skirmish had not been in vain. The amount of other grades of Earth Rampart Crystals was also considerable, along with the multitude of Demonic Beast Materials, making this journey well worth the effort. Thinking of his fortunes, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel delighted at his luck. At the very least, upon entering the Secret Realm, he hadn¡¯t been transported to any dangerous locations, and he had gained so much on the first day. Once he had composed himself, he quickly collected all the Earth Rampart Crystals. After doing so, he left the cave and continued deeper, in search of more treasures. Chapter 625 03-25 - 625 347 Wind Spirit Root_1 ?Chapter 625: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_1 Chapter 625: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_1 An hour had passed. Inside a cave, Lin Tianming was smiling as he deftly stored several Second Order Medium Quality Earth Rampart Crystals into his bag. After completing this task, he left the cave and stood in the tunnel. Walking a short distance forward, he saw a solid rock wall, and there were no signs of any other caves nearby. At that moment, he examined the wall and realized he had reached the end. ¡°That should be enough; it¡¯s time to leave!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then followed the tunnel back towards the outside. ... Soon, he emerged from the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s nest and appeared above the desolate desert. The exploration of the Earth Dragon Qiu nest took just over half an hour. But the gains were indeed exceptionally rich. After calculating, he found that the haul of Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals alone totaled seven pieces, each the size of a fist, which could be used many times for Artifact Refining. Other Second Order Earth Rampart Crystals numbered over forty pieces, and more than a hundred of First Order, all of excellent quality. This was only the first day of the journey into the secret realm, and yet the haul was already so substantial¡ªwhat would a year¡¯s worth of such good fortune amount to? Thinking about all this, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, practically itching to charge headlong and seek out trouble with the Demonic Beasts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï After calming his emotions, he looked ahead, contemplating his next moves. The journey in the secret realm had just begun, and with a long path ahead and without any intelligence, he could only wander aimlessly, striving to find fortune. If a Demonic Beast proved too strong, he would have no choice but to give up, but he would do his best to seize any obtainable opportunity. As for his next steps, he was nearing the edge of the desert, as evidenced by the sparse vegetation on the ground. If he continued in this direction, he should be able to leave the desert and enter the dense forest. Those areas are where the treasures of heaven and earth grew aplenty, unlike this desert covered in yellow sand, where the chances of finding anything valuable were lower. He didn¡¯t expect to be so lucky every day like today. Therefore, he decided to leave this place and head to the forests, where the Spiritual Energy was richer. Having made up his mind, he still held the Tiangang Sword in his hand and then lifted his feet to fly forward. ¡­ Luoyun Mountain Range, Nanyun Town. Nanyun Town was a Mortal Town with a population of over a hundred thousand, located very close to Jiuhua Mountain, nestled between Green Bamboo Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain, and only about five hundred miles from the ancestral land of the Jiuhua Mountain Wu Family. More than twenty years ago, Nanyun Town was a Mortal Town under the control of the Wu Family of Jiuhua Mountain. With the outbreak of the great clan war at Luoyun Mountain, and the downfall of both Jin Family and Wu Family, all the Mortal Towns they controlled were taken over by the Lin Family. As a result, the number of Mortal Towns under the Lin Family¡¯s control increased by more than threefold, and the population also surged several times. Initially, the Mortal Towns under Wu Family¡¯s control did not resist much against the rule of the Lin Family. After all, it was the Jin Family that had destroyed the Wu Family, and the Lin Family had avenged the Wu Family by defeating the Jin Family. Thus, the Lin Family easily took control over the Wu Family¡¯s Mortal Towns. On the other hand, the Mortal Towns that had been under the Jin Family¡¯s control reacted violently, which was expected by the Lin Family. After all, it was the Lin Family that had annihilated the Jin Family, causing the descendants of the Jin Family to want to rebel blindly against the Lin Family¡¯s rule without understanding the full context. For these people, the Lin Family showed no mercy, cleaning up these stubborn offspring with swift and decisive action. This method immediately stunned the numerous Mortal Town descendents of the Jin Family. Despite their anger and desire to resist, how could their mere Mortal bodies possibly stand against the Lin Family? It is known that to a Cultivator, Mortals are no more than ants, and not even considerable as ants. Over the past twenty plus years of rule, the Lin Family destroyed all traces of Jin Family¡¯s heritage, also relocating many of their own Mortal descendants, marrying into the compliant population, and giving birth to a new generation of Lin Mortals. Besides, the Lin Family widely propagated their own ideology and provided these Mortals with better living conditions. In time, the rebellious sentiment faded away, and all the Mortals were brought under the rule of the Lin Family. Today marked another annual Spirit Testing Convention for the Lin Family. Every year at this time, the entire Lin Family became quite busy, deploying a large number of clan members to host the Spirit Testing Conventions that all Mortals in the forty towns governed by the Lin Family looked forward to. Tasked with overseeing the Spirit Testing Convention in Nanyun Town were Lin Xingcai of the Xing generation and Lin Tianbo of the Tian generation. Lin Xingcai was no longer young and did not possess great talent, having struggled with cultivation and only reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement in his lifetime. At this rate, it was highly unlikely he would ever make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Having lost much hope, Lin Xingcai focused only on earning merits for the family to raise his children. Therefore, he eagerly took on the task of the Spirit Testing Convention in Nanyun Town this time. Lin Tianbo was much better off. Despite being one of the youngest members of the Tian generation, he had promising talent and was diligent in cultivation, with the strong support of the Lin Family¡¯s stipend, he had reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement at just over twenty years old. If he was lucky, he had a reasonable chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in his lifetime. Thus, he took the family-issued tasks to heart. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 626 03-25 - 626 347 Wind Spirit Root_2 ?Chapter 626: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_2 Chapter 626: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_2 Especially tasks like the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, although the rewards are not as high as those adventures in search of treasures, at least the time involved is not too long, and it is very safe. Therefore, tasks like the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony become the object of fierce competition among the clan members every year. He was fortunate to have greeted the elder of his clan in time, which allowed him to smoothly take on the Spirit Root Testing task for Nanyun Town. At this moment, in the central square of the main city of Nanyun Town, nearly a thousand young boys and girls had gathered, all of whom appeared to be just over ten years of age. On the streets below them, a large number of mortals sat on the ground, looking up at the two cultivators from the Lin Family on the square with eyes full of fervent desire. It was clearly a look of both envy and respect. There were also some who gazed at the young boys and girls on the square, their eyes revealing a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. ... At that time, Lin Tianbo and another were sitting upright on the square, watching the thousand young boys and girls below them and casually chatting. ¡°Uncle, this year¡¯s Spirit Root Testing Ceremony seems to have more participants than in previous years,¡± Lin Tianbo remarked as he looked down at the young men and women, unable to help himself. Lin Xingcai, who was beside him, nodded upon hearing this. He had presided over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony numerous times and was fairly familiar with the number of participants from previous years. This year, there were indeed more participants, about twenty percent more than in the past. The reason for this was likely the family¡¯s policy from a few years ago, which explicitly encouraged childbirth. For this purpose, a great deal of money, treasures, and numerous support programs were invested. After more than a decade, the family¡¯s policies had finally borne fruit. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï The effects of these plans were excellent, and if this trend continued, the number of clan members in the Lin Family would increase substantially. In time, the overall strength of the Lin Family would also grow stronger. Thinking of these things filled Lin Xingcai¡¯s heart with immense satisfaction and pride. Turning his attention back, he looked at the young boys and girls on the square and said to Lin Tianbo beside him, ¡°It¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s start presiding over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianbo nodded and then stood up and walked to the front where the young boys and girls were waiting to be tested. ¡°Everyone form a line and queue up, pay attention to the order. Those who do not follow the rules will be directly disqualified from the testing!¡± Having said this, Lin Tianbo didn¡¯t concern himself with the reactions of the crowd; he then took out a Spirit Testing Bead from his storage bag and placed it on a stone pillar in front of him. After completing these preparations, he oversaw the young boys and girls, ensuring they quickly formed lines and waited for the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony to begin. Soon, the young boys and girls were arranged into ten lines, none daring to make a sound, neatly waiting at the side. Seeing this, Lin Tianbo was very satisfied and picked out one of the lines, instructing those young boys and girls to come forward one by one and place their hands on the Spirit Testing Bead. The first boy to be tested finished quickly, and the Spirit Testing Bead remained motionless. The boy¡¯s face was filled with reluctance as he left the square in a daze. Immediately after, the next in line quickly stepped forward to take his place. Dozens of people were tested in succession, but the Spirit Testing Bead remained without any reaction, clearly indicating that they lacked Spiritual Roots. Lin Xingcai and Lin Tianbo were not surprised by this situation. After all, they, too, had gone through the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony and had presided over it several times. It was rare for even one among dozens of testees to possess a Spiritual Root. After another hundred or so people were tested, the first individual with a Spiritual Root finally appeared, a girl, with four different colors flickering, proving she possessed a Hetero-attribute Spiritual Root. With the ice broken, Lin Tianbo and the other breathed a sigh of relief, promptly recorded the girl¡¯s information, and then had her wait separately to the side. Under the envious gazes of numerous young boys and girls, the girl who had succeeded in her Spirit Testing was excited and then dutifully waited behind Lin Xingcai. Lin Tianbo then continued to preside over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Time flew by, and by the afternoon, more than half of the over thousand attendees had completed their tests, leaving only a little over a hundred people. At that time, from the only remaining queue, a filthy young boy stepped forward. His eyes were clear and, although his clothes were disheveled, like those of a beggar, his dirty face betrayed an indomitable will, clearly showing that he had endured many hardships. Seeing the boy¡¯s appearance, Lin Tianbo did not show disgust but instead patiently urged him to place his rough, pitch-black palm onto the Spirit Measuring Stone. ¡°Weng¡­¡± After a distinctive sound, a faint grey-white light flickered on the Spirit Testing Bead. The grey-white light was very weak and sporadic, almost missable if not looked at closely. The filthy boy, seeing the light on the Spirit Measuring Stone so faint and erratic, turned pale all of a sudden on his steadfast face, no longer as composed as before. He felt this way because, for this day, he had poured in an unspeakable amount of effort and undergone all sorts of miserable experiences. He had grown up in a poor family in a village outside Nanyun Town, losing his father at three and his mother to grief shortly after. At that time, he still had the care of his uncle¡¯s family and lived two years of stability. But as the tide of beasts erupted, a Monster Beast Legion trampled their ancestral village, and his uncle¡¯s family perished in the jaws of the demonic beasts. Only he and a few other children survived by hiding in the caves due to their playfulness, narrowly escaping certain death. Following that, the group of orphaned children had to beg their way to a larger place, Nanyun Town, to live. During the years in Nanyun Town, he accidentally learned of the Lin Family¡¯s annual Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, which filled him with boundless hope. To reach the eligible age, he had to cling on to life, dreaming of one day walking the elusive path to immortality, slaying more demonic beasts, and avenging his parents and uncle. Of that original group of surviving children, some died, some left, others were adopted by wealthier families and managed to lead a modest life. As for himself, he had no intention of depending on others, planning to survive on his own until he could participate in the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. That¡¯s why, through those tough years, his will had been honed, exhibiting maturity far beyond his peers. Now, seeing no significant reaction on the Spirit Testing Bead, he would just be another one with no fate for the greater path, leaving in disappointment. At this moment, he thought he had no destiny with the great path and that his last hope was completely dashed. However, the expressions on the faces of Lin Tianbo and Lin Xingcai were very strange at that moment, and they did not ask the filthy child to leave, nor did they ask him to stand behind them. For a time, the filthy boy was at a loss, uncertain whether to leave or stay. Perhaps noticing his discomfort, Lin Tianbo in front of him waved his hand, signaling the boy to come and stand behind him. Following that, he spoke with composure, quietly conversing with Lin Xingcai through voice transmission. ¡°Clan Uncle, there was only a shimmer of grey-white light just now, but it was quite faint. Could this child possibly have a Spiritual Root?¡± Lin Tianbo kept his expression calm, unsure about the test result, so he resorted to voice transmission to ask for Lin Xingcai¡¯s opinion. Hearing this, Lin Xingcai pondered for a long while, equally uncertain about the boy¡¯s condition. Only after some time did he reply through voice transmission, ¡°The situation with this child, I¡¯m not sure either, but it does resemble the legendary Hetero-attribute Spirit Root!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianbo¡¯s expression changed, reminiscing about the earlier events. Soon, he recalled the long-rumored Hetero-attribute Spirit Root in the cultivation world, which was the Wind Spirit Root. The light that flickered earlier from the boy was indeed somewhat similar to the Wind Spirit Root, albeit not as prominent. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But if it was really the Wind Spirit Root, the entire clan would be shaken. If other powers from Wei Kingdom were alerted, it could lead to bloody conflict. With these thoughts, Lin Tianbo¡¯s inner world turned upside down, feeling both excited and anxious, a mix of complex emotions. However, the matter was too significant, and no matter how excited he was, he had to maintain his composure to avoid giving anything away. Chapter 627 03-25 - 627 348 Bestow a Name_1 ?Chapter 627: Chapter 348: Bestow a Name_1 Chapter 627: Chapter 348: Bestow a Name_1 ¡°` After finally calming down, Lin Tianbo transmitted a message to Lin Xingcai: ¡°Uncle, this child¡¯s Spiritual Root is probably extraordinary!¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or false, we must send him back to the clan to the Clan Leader at the earliest opportunity!¡± Lin Tianbo¡¯s words were something Lin Xingcai very much agreed with. After all, this could be a Sky Spirit Root seed, and an anomalous one at that. If it could grow smoothly, it might provide the assurance for the clan to break out of the Wei Kingdom, or even Qingzhou. To know, with just a dual Spiritual Roots Lin Tianming, the Lin Family had risen sharply in just a few decades. If there were to come another Wind Spirit Root cultivator, why should the family worry about not prospering? Understanding the importance of this child, Lin Xingcai dared not delay and quickly transmitted a reply: ¡°Tianbo, you alone should take this child back to the clan. You must do it at the fastest speed and safely hand him over to the Clan Leader.¡± ... ¡°I will continue to stay here, wait for everyone to finish testing, and make all arrangements before returning to the clan grounds.¡± Lin Xingcai spoke thus for safety and to avoid being noticed by others, lest the opportunity for the rise of the Lin Family perish here. Clearly, Lin Tianbo also understood Lin Xingcai¡¯s concerns and approved of his plan just as much. In such a situation, the two of them quickly made a decision. Before long, Lin Tianbo, with the young man in tow, silently left the plaza and flew towards Green Bamboo Mountain, where the family was located. Two days later. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. Within the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong sat at the highest seats. Beneath them, Lin Tianbo, who had rushed back to the clan, had a somewhat pale face and was still gasping for breath, evidently exhausted. Although the journey was exhausting, by traveling day and night without stopping, he had finally arrived at the clan. At this time, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, having urgently received the message, looked at the travel-worn Lin Tianbo with puzzled expressions. After a long while, seeing Lin Tianbo¡¯s complexion gradually recovering a bit, Lin Shihua finally spoke, inquiring about the situation. ¡°Tianbo, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony has just begun, why have you returned to the clan alone? Has some mishap occurred?¡± ¡°Yes Tianbo, your hasty return to the clan lands, could it be that something has happened?¡± Lin Shigong also asked. Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianbo took a deep breath and then said: ¡°Clan Leader, this child could be a Wind Spirit Root!¡± ¡°What? Wind Spirit Root?¡± ¡°Is it true? Quickly tell us the full story!¡± Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were shocked and promptly asked for the entire account of the events. Seeing their urgent expressions, Lin Tianbo did not dare delay and hurriedly recounted everything that had happened at the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Quickly, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong learned of the entire background, but their expressions still bore disbelief. After finally steadying themselves, Lin Shihua turned to Lin Shigong and suggested: ¡°Ninth Brother, the implications of this matter are significant, true or false, we must personally test him.¡± ¡°Indeed, we should do just that!¡± Lin Shigong nodded in response, and the two reached an agreement. Soon after, Lin Shihua took out a Spirit Testing Bead, placed it on the table in front of him, and then beckoned the young man over. The young man clearly understood Lin Shihua¡¯s meaning and immediately placed his dark hand on the Spirit Testing Bead. Before long, the Spirit Testing Bead once again shimmered with a greyish-white light, and while it flickered, a slight breeze blew by. This wind, though very faint, was easily perceived by Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, who were Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Wind¡­ Wind Spirit Root!¡± ¡°This is definitely the legendary Wind Spirit Root! Absolutely!¡± At this moment, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were very excited, their speech becoming somewhat disjointed. Lin Tianbo, hearing these words, was also incredibly thrilled, thinking his luck was too good; such a genius had appeared in the Lin Family and it was he who had discovered him. Besides, he and Lin Xingcai, in discovering such a talent, had performed a great service. If all went as expected, the clan¡¯s reward would certainly be substantial. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these rewards, he could exchange a large amount of resources and maybe even manage to successfully Impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thinking this, Lin Tianbo was extremely grateful for having been assigned the Spirit Root Testing task in Nanyun Town. Meanwhile, the boy witnessing the excited expressions of the people around him, had a very ruddy complexion and occasionally uttered some strange phrases. Even though he did not understand, he was not foolish and could vaguely sense that he had a Spiritual Root, which allowed him to step onto the path of cultivation. Realizing this, the boy¡¯s face finally returned to normal, and his entire being was filled with confidence once again. After a short while, Lin Shigong and the others finally calmed down. At that point, Lin Shihua waved the boy over. ¡°Child, what is your name? Where do you live?¡± Lin Shihua, with a fervent and indulgent look in his eyes, asked the boy about his family and background. The boy, seeing the kind face of Lin Shihua, was also somewhat moved inside. Then, he replied: ¡°To inform the two Immortal Masters, my name is Tian Yun, and I am from Tian Family Village, a hundred miles from Nanyun Town!¡± After stating his origins, Tian Yun continued with the story of his life, sharing everything that had happened over the years in detail with Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong. A period of time sufficient for a cup of tea to cool passed. After hearing the boy¡¯s narrative, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t help but sigh; the child indeed had a hard lot in life. Chapter 628 03-25 - 628 348 ?Chapter 628: 348 Chapter 628: 348 Apart from that, they were both deeply moved and pleasantly surprised by Tian Yun¡¯s resolute character. At that time, Lin Shihua sent a private message to ask Lin Shigong what he thought of Tian Yun¡¯s statement. In response, Lin Shigong stated that the importance of this child to the family was self-evident. As for his identity and background, it still had to be investigated. However, in terms of future training, it naturally had to be the highest secret of the family. As long as they ensured that this child smoothly entered the Golden Core Stage, looking at the overall strength of the Lin Family at that time, they could rest assured. Lin Shigong¡¯s viewpoint was also fully endorsed by Lin Shihua. Since they had finally found a genius, the family would naturally cultivate him with all their might, and as long as he didn¡¯t die prematurely, he would have a fair chance of reaching the Nascent Soul Stage. ... It was a pity that the family did not have a Wind-attribute Cultivation Method. If he temporarily cultivated a method of another attribute, his cultivation speed would be almost the same as that of an average person, or even slightly worse. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was truly a waste of such a great talent! But there was no other way since Wind-attribute Techniques were extremely rare, with High Order ones being even rarer. Regardless of the reasons or difficulties, they must seize this opportunity and use all the family¡¯s power to cultivate Tian Yun. Understanding this, Lin Shihua and his companion quickly reached a consensus. Immediately after, Lin Shihua called Tian Yun over to his side and asked in a doting tone, ¡°Child, you possess a Spiritual Root and can cultivate with our Lin Family.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï At this point, Lin Shihua paused slightly, then continued. ¡°However¡­ since you are not of the Lin Family bloodline, you must change your surname to join our Lin Family and thus enjoy the same treatment as the Lin Family Members.¡± ¡°Are you willing?¡± Upon hearing this, Tian Yun thought for a moment and then agreed to the request. In fact, before the annual Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, the Lin Family would plainly explain the matter of changing surnames to all the boys and girls who participated. Moreover, the Lin Family had ruled Nanyun Town for decades, and 99 percent of the people of this generation, who adhered to the Lin Family¡¯s ideas, did not resist the Lin Family¡¯s rule. All of the Lin Family¡¯s policies had long been spread among the people, and he had already inquired about them and had made up his mind. Therefore, Tian Yun was not so resistant to change his name and surname. At that moment, Tian Yun took the initiative to say, ¡°Senior, these years of arduous waiting were all for the chance to one day embark on the Path of Immortality.¡± ¡°Now that I have such a rare opportunity, I naturally won¡¯t give up.¡± ¡°As for changing my name and surname, please bestow a new one, Senior. I have no objections at all!¡± Tian Yun¡¯s words were extremely sincere, and his determined face also showed true emotions. Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua, seeing how sensible Tian Yun was, were very pleased. Following that, the two of them chatted idly for a few moments and discussed Tian Yun¡¯s name. Quite quickly, they expressed their opinions to each other and came to a decision. At this time, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, said to Tian Yun in front of him, ¡°Since you already bear the surname Tian, according to the generational order, you should belong to the ¡®Tian¡¯ generation of our clan.¡± ¡°In my opinion, how about the name Lin Tianyun?¡± Upon hearing this, Tian Yun nodded in satisfaction with the name and inwardly approved of it as well. ¡°Thank you, Senior, for giving me my name!¡± Lin Tianyun bowed respectfully to Lin Shihua and his companion and then replied. ¡°Good¡­ very good!¡± Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianyun and repeated ¡®good¡¯ three times and then turned to Lin Shigong and said, ¡°Ninth Brother, we cannot reveal this child¡¯s identity yet, and before he reaches the Foundation Establishment Stage, I fear I must trouble you to take responsibility for his instruction!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong nodded. Among the Shigong generation of the Lin Family, Lin Shikang was in seclusion aiming for the Golden Core Stage. Lin Shilu¡¯s cultivation had also reached the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm and he was the family¡¯s best Artifact Refiner. Adding in his own cultivation, his time was indeed very limited. As for Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, he was managing the family¡¯s affairs and was extremely busy. As for himself, though he was an alchemist, the Lin Family truly did not lack Second Order Alchemists, people like Lin Xingyuan, Lin Tianqin, and Lin Tianhong could entirely replace him. Besides, his talent and potential were extremely limited; he feared that it would be difficult for him to enter the Golden Core Stage in this lifetime. Therefore, only he had ample time and energy to take on the task of instructing Lin Tianyun. Understanding this, Lin Shigong chuckled and replied, ¡°Shihua, rest assured, over the years, I have gradually shifted my focus to fostering the younger generation of our clan members. Adding Lin Tianyun to the group doesn¡¯t really make a difference!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ that¡¯s excellent, with Ninth Brother¡¯s guidance, I can rest easy as well!¡± Lin Shihua said with a laugh, complimenting him before chatting idly with Lin Shigong. After a short while, the two discussed many arrangements for Lin Tianyun, from his introductory cultivation education to his temporary choice of cultivation methods, planning everything quite meticulously. Beyond that, the results of their discussion also included mobilizing the full strength of the clan to secretly search for a Wind-attribute Cultivation Method for Lin Tianyun, at the very least, they had to find a Mysterious Grade Technique. If all else failed, they would at least find a Yellow Grade Technique. This matter of the Cultivation Technique was of utmost importance; the clan members in Luoyun Market and Qianchuan Market would certainly be the main force discreetly searching for techniques. Especially in Qianchuan Market, after all, there were many cultivation forces there, high-order cultivators moved about frequently, and there was no shortage of all sorts of strange treasures. Under such conditions, the probability of obtaining a Wind-attribute Cultivation Method in a short period of time was also the greatest. In light of this, Lin Shihua planned to immediately arrange for clan members to go to Qianchuan Market and inform Lin Tianfeng of this matter. After making these arrangements, the two exchanged greetings and then left the Elders¡¯ Council to attend to their respective matters. The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. At this moment, more than twenty days had passed since the day they entered the secret realm. Over these twenty days, Lin Tianming had been walking and stopping along the way, covering a great distance. His luck was extremely good during the first two days, encountering the Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe without expending much effort and obtaining a certain amount of Earth Rampart Crystals, which was a smooth start. In the following days, Lin Tianming finally crossed the wastelands and entered a vast expanse of mountains and forests. During the next half month, he continuously hunted for treasures in the dense forest, experiencing two major battles, but the demon beasts he came across were not strong, and the gains were rather limited. These two major battles accumulated less than what he gained from the first one. Such results were obviously unsatisfactory for Lin Tianming, who had high expectations. The demonic beasts he encountered in these few battles were not strong, which felt incongruent with the level of danger rumored about this secret realm. But upon reflection, perhaps it was because the secret realm was vast in size. Although there were many demonic beasts, they were spread far and wide. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be like this ¨C nearly a month had gone by, and he had only encountered three decent battles. Besides, during this time, he had not run into any other cultivators. Bearing in mind that there were as many as a hundred people entering the secret realm, wandering for a month and not meeting a single person was almost inconceivable. From various signs, this Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm might truly be immense, so much so that a hundred foundation establishment cultivators could enter and still have difficulty crossing paths with each other. However, this was favorable; by not encountering other people, the chances of conflict were low, and there was a greater possibility of acquiring treasures. Put that way, such a result was also a relatively advantageous situation for loose cultivators. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, and even hoped in his heart that it would continue this way. One day, Lin Tianming arrived in a vast canyon. At that moment, he was crawling on a huge rock, the Eye of Five Colors opening accordingly. His sharp gaze pierced through the thick fog, carefully scrutinizing the situation ahead. A short time later, after the time it takes to brew a cup of tea had passed. Lin Tianming closed the Eye of Five Colors, his expression extremely excited as if he had discovered something of great interest. In fact, though the fog in this place was very dense, the Eye of Five Colors was not affected in the slightest, capturing every movement ahead with absolute clarity. Thus, he indeed made some discoveries that left him quite covetous. Chapter 629 03-25 - 629 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_1 ?Chapter 629: Chapter 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_1 Chapter 629: Chapter 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_1 Upon his inspection, the valley ahead was thriving with a growth of Greenstone Wood, and the quantity was quite significant. Greenstone Wood is a type of wood Spirit Material and also one of the relatively common Spiritual Trees in the Cultivation World, widely used for various purposes. Whether it¡¯s Magic Artifacts for Foundation Establishment Cultivators or the Magical Treasures for Golden Core Cultivators, Greenstone Wood could be utilized, thus considered a staple among the tree-based treasures in the Cultivation World. In this valley, there were already many Greenstone Woods growing, many of which were hundreds of years old and had reached the Second Order in quality. However, as the valley was too vast to see the end, and he knew nothing about the risks hidden inside or what kind of Demonic Beasts he might encounter. Therefore, Lin Tianming was not sure whether there were higher-order Greenstone Woods deeper within. In his heart, if he could find a few Third Order Greenstone Woods here, then the gains from this trip would be on par with those from the Earth Rampart Crystal he found previously. ... At the very least, the batch of Greenstone Wood he had already detected was already of considerable value. If the Demonic Beasts were not strong, then these Second Order Greenstone Woods were definitely worth making a move for. After all, treasures were right in front of him. It would be a real pity to give them up without trying. If the Demonic Beasts were too strong, he had no intention of taking the risk and would simply run away. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming gripped the Tiangang Sword tightly and cautiously started to explore deeper into the valley. He moved quickly and lightly; in just a moment, he had already covered several hundred yards. Now, he was getting closer and closer to the outermost Greenstone Woods and would soon be able to reach these treasures. At this time, the valley was still silent, as if no Demonic Beasts were present. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? Lin Tianming was surprised by this, but over the years he had campaigned from the south to the north and had seen all sorts of strange phenomena. This place was a Secret Realm that only opened once every two hundred years, and its large area meant the Demonic Beasts inside could be powerful, with ancient Exotic Beasts of unique talents likely to appear. Knowing this, he did not believe such a place would be devoid of Demonic Beasts. With this cautiousness, he moved slowly towards the Greenstone Wood and soon safely arrived at the outer area. He stood in front of a First Order Greenstone Wood, ready to touch and even cut and collect it at any moment. Even this close, the valley remained as quiet as before, without the slightest sound. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who was always cautious, couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Could it be that the valley was truly unclaimed? Could it really not even have a single Demonic Beast? ¡°This place is too calm; something abnormal is a sign of an enigma; it¡¯s definitely not that simple!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, completely unmoved by the Greenstone Wood that he could easily collect right in front of him. Clearly, his cautious heart hadn¡¯t relaxed in the slightest. Even in such a calm situation, he didn¡¯t immediately chop down the Greenstone Wood that was close at hand. Instead, he opened his Eye of Five Colors again and closely examined the surroundings. After a careful look, everything appeared normal, but there were discoveries to be made. It turned out that at the entrance of the valley, the range the Eye of Five Colors could probe was very limited, detecting only Second Order Greenstone Wood at best. But as he moved deeper, he indeed spotted a few Third Order Greenstone Woods. Besides that, although the place was very quiet and no Demonic Beasts appeared, he did find something unusual and particularly interesting. That was, the vast expanse of Greenstone Wood turned out to be a mix of reality and illusion; some truly existed, while others were fake. Among them, the majority of the Greenstone Woods at the outermost part were illusory, with only a few being real, including the one in front of him. Lin Tianming was surprised at this and found it somewhat inconceivable. To know, with an incredible Eye of Five Colors aiding him, most Illusion Techniques and Formation Barriers in the Cultivation World could hardly elude his investigation. However, he had already walked deep into the valley before realizing that these Greenstone Woods were illusions, showing the extent of the power behind it, having achieved an effect deceivingly realistic. As for why he didn¡¯t detect these illusions with the Eye of Five Colors initially, it was because they were too far away. Even the incredible powers of the Eye of Five Colors could be hampered by distance, preventing timely discovery of any flaws. As he reduced the distance and took a closer look, he noticed these changes and the hidden dangers. At this moment, understanding this, Lin Tianming looked towards the depths of the valley with a trace of seriousness on his face. ¡°Hmph¡­ no matter what kind of creature you are, today I¡¯ll be facing you!¡± With a cold snort, Lin Tianming unleashed a blast of Tiangang Sword Qi, attacking deep into the valley. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword Qi was quick and agile, in the blink of an eye, it had passed through the mix of real and illusory Greenstone Woods and struck towards a Third Order Greenstone Wood. As the Tiangang Sword Qi drew ever closer, the Greenstone Wood that was being attacked revealed its true form, showing itself to be a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was roughly the size of a human, with silvery-white fur all over its body, appearing strikingly conspicuous. Chapter 630 03-25 - 630 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_2 ?Chapter 630: Chapter 349: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_2 Chapter 630: Chapter 349: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_2 Facing the incoming Tiangang Sword Qi, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox dodged with ease, flashing away rapidly. It was incredibly fast, appearing tens of meters away in the blink of an eye, fully utilizing its agility and speed to dodge this probing attack. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, having stabilized its form, stared at Lin Tianming with its pair of silver eyes, looking both cautious and somewhat angry. However, it seemed to understand that Lin Tianming was very strong and didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. At that moment, Lin Tianming, upon catching sight of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, immediately showed an expression of disbelief, and he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim inwardly. ¡°My goodness¡­ this is actually a Second Order Late Phase Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox!¡± The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was also an Ancient Exotic Beast, said to possess the extremely rare bloodline of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox. ... And the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, a beast said to be comparable to the True Dragon Celestial Phoenix, had adult strength that could match a Cultivator at the Divinity Transformation Stage, and was almost the pinnacle existence among the Demonic Beasts in the human realm. While it only had a faint Nine-tailed Spirit Fox bloodline inheritance, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was extremely powerful, and its innate Illusion Technique was particularly troublesome. However, the more uniquely talented the Demonic Beast, or the more powerful, the more difficult it was for them to produce offspring. In such circumstances, the number of Silver-Eyed Spirit Foxes was extremely rare, found only in the Boundless Western Region where Demonic Beasts dwelled or within the few Secret Realms. Within the regions controlled by the Cultivation World, it was almost impossible to encounter such rare species. The reason for this was due to the special talents of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which could create extremely realistic illusions, almost to the point of creating chaos with falsehoods. According to some records, if a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage fought against a Second Order Initial Stage Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, the fox could potentially influence the mind of a Cultivator of the same rank with its Illusion Technique, causing them to lose themselves in the illusion, and then be easily killed by the Spirit Fox. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Facing such peculiar and tricky Divine Abilities, if a Cultivator¡¯s Divine Sense wasn¡¯t strong enough, or they lacked special means, it was difficult to remain unaffected when of the same rank. Besides that, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s strength was also generally formidable, and Cultivators were very wary of its Divine Ability Talent. As a result, Cultivators both feared and coveted the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s Divine Skills, capturing them for use as Spirit Beasts to assist in battle. And with a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox as a Spirit Beast, a Cultivator¡¯s overall strength greatly increased, making it one of the most favored Spirit Beasts among Cultivators. With the inheritance of the Cultivation World for hundreds of thousands of years, such uniquely talented Demonic Beasts found survival extremely difficult, leading to their utmost rarity. Thinking of these rumors, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat tempted. But he wasn¡¯t so overwhelmed by this rare Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox that he lost his sense of judgment. Instead, he was carefully considering the difference in strength between them, pondering whether to capture the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. After all, this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s rank was not low, and its strength was definitely not weak. To capture it successfully was certainly not going to be easy. Given that, despite being confident in his own strength, the outcome of a fight remained uncertain. If the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was set on fleeing, capturing it would be exceptionally difficult. Nevertheless, he was quite confident in his own abilities. Even though the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was not to be underestimated, he still intended to test the depth of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. If he could succeed, he would not only gain a significant boost but also acquire a large quantity of Greenstone Wood, reaping multiple benefits in one move. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t intend to delay any further. He immediately took out the Earth Fiend Sword and spread out in all directions. Following that, he pinched a Law Decree, and several Second Order Attack Talismans flew from his hand, transforming into numerous Sword Qi that flew towards the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, blocking its escape routes from different angles. As he made his move, the surroundings descended into chaos. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, having already sensed the commotion, dodged the talisman attacks with a swift flash. True to expectation, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was very fast, making it difficult for ordinary attacks to touch it. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by this. After all, with the beast¡¯s strength laid bare, if it were so easily neutralized, it wouldn¡¯t be a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Seeing that tentative attacks were ineffective, Lin Tianming became more serious. He slapped his Spirit Beast Bag and released the Bloodthirsty Jiao that had not appeared for a long time. As the Bloodthirsty Jiao emerged, a sharp cry resonated throughout the canyon. Freed from the Spirit Beast Bag, the Bloodthirsty Jiao seemed quite excited, thrashing about with claws and teeth bared. Lin Tianming gave an order for it to guard the valley exit closely, to prevent the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox from escaping. With the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s strength at the Second Order Late Phase and its moving speed, even though it was not as fast as the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, it could still be somewhat effective. His movements were quick, and all these precautionary measures were completed in an instant. After making these preparations, he then urged the Tiangang Sword, unleashing a large amount of Tiangang Sword Qi, and attacked the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The canyon was ravaged by Sword Qi, and the entire world was filled with a powerful onslaught, pressing down on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox from different directions. Faced with this, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox naturally wouldn¡¯t just wait to be killed. It let out a sharp howl and then turned into a blur, dodging within the dense Sword Qi. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming had already exchanged several rounds with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, relying on its agility, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation could not trap it. Meanwhile, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox seemed to have plenty of leeways, focusing mainly on escaping and had yet to launch an offensive against Lin Tianming. After a futile attack, Lin Tianming, who had been unable to gain an advantage for a long time, gradually grew solemn and seemed somewhat helpless. The speed of this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was just too fast! If this kept up, even if his Spiritual Power was completely exhausted, he feared he might not achieve any substantive progress. Realizing this, Lin Tianming sighed and thought to himself that over the years, he had fought with many Demonic Beasts, and slaying enemies beyond his level was not uncommon. But he had never encountered a situation like this before. Having calmed down, he immediately activated the Thousand Beast Banner, covering different directions in combination with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, engulfing the entire battlefield. These two methods, now not used as attacks, could only broaden the covered area, aiming primarily to trap the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Only if his attacks could exert pressure on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, would there be a chance to kill or capture it. As expected, as soon as these two measures, normally used to suppress enemies, were deployed, the speed of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was greatly affected, forcing it to engage in combat with him. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and he increased the strength of his attacks. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword!¡± Lin Tianming stimulated his Divine Skills, and the Tiangang Sword, like a ghostly shadow, arrived above the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s head in a split second. Facing this terrifying sword, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox dared not be careless; it raised its mouth and spouted a red energy mass, colliding with the Tiangang Sword head-on. ¡°Puff puff puff¡­¡± Several distinctive sounds were emitted. The Tiangang Sword was firmly stuck by the gaseous mass, as if it had fallen into a quagmire, unable to advance any further. Seeing the once invincible Tiangang Sword make no progress, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. Clearly, he had underestimated the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had thought that the speed and Illusion Technique of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox were its most outstanding features. But he had not expected that the Demonic Beast¡¯s offensive and defensive capabilities would be so strong. This was still without the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox exerting its full strength; if it were to launch an attack or employ an Illusion Technique, he would likely fall into even greater trouble. If it were any other Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level encountering it, they would likely be killed by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox in an instant. It was only now that he truly recognized the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°As expected of the rumored Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, its strength is indeed enviable to Cultivators!¡± Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, his intention to capture or even subdue it becoming even more resolute in his heart. ¡­ Chapter 631 03-25 - 631 350 Cooperation_1 ?Chapter 631: Chapter 350 Cooperation_1 Chapter 631: Chapter 350 Cooperation_1 Gathering his wits, a flash of spiritual light erupted in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand as he unleashed a massive barrage of Tiangang Sword Qi from various directions, crushing down on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At the same time, he leaped into the air, using his powerful body to launch an attack on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Attacking on three fronts, his strikes were immensely forceful, with each blow containing tremendous might. If it were an ordinary Second Order Late Stage Beast, it would likely be gravely injured or even killed in a single hit. In response to Lin Tianming¡¯s renewed onslaught, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox started to counterattack as well. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s ghostly silhouette, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox refused to be outdone. Its agile body darted around like lightning, evading the bursts of attacks from Lin Tianming. Following an unsuccessful strike, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox brandished its seemingly ordinary claws, furiously swiping at Lin Tianming. In the face of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, channeling powerful spiritual power into the Tiangang Sword in his hand. ... For a moment, the Tiangang Sword shone brilliantly, clashing directly with the snowy white claws. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of clear collision sounds erupted. The Tiangang Sword and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s claws sparked flames as they met, sending powerful shockwaves sweeping through the canyon, shattering rocks and vegetation into debris. In an instant, Lin Tianming and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had exchanged several more rounds of blows, both moving swiftly, their fight brimming with lethal intent. After a fierce exchange of blows, Lin Tianming used the recoil from the head-on collision with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to create a safe distance. Steadying himself, Lin Tianming breathed heavily as his blood surged violently within him. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï His complexion was somewhat pale, and a trace of blood even spilled from the corner of his mouth. At this time, his expression was somber, his heart utterly shocked. After several exchanges, he still hadn¡¯t gained the upper hand, which thoroughly challenged his understanding of the strength of demonic beasts. Over the years, he had encountered many demonic beasts, often fighting three at a time and killing higher-order beasts was not uncommon. Yet, even so, facing a Second Order Late Phase Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and going almost all out, he still couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand. Now, it seemed the strength of this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox far exceeded his expectations. Continuing this way, without using life-saving measures, it would be difficult to make any substantive progress. During this brief pause, Lin Tianming reflected and started to entertain thoughts of retreat. As for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, it no longer looked composed. When it looked at Lin Tianming again, its eyes were filled with a hint of wariness. Almost immediately after, having pondered for a while, Lin Tianming realized the strength of this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was too formidable. With his own strength, it seemed hopeless to suppress it, not to mention capturing it. However, his ultimate goal was to obtain treasures that could aid in the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. If he used his trump cards for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and these Greenstone Woods, he might lose his fighting capability at the critical moment when competing for the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. While the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Greenstone Woods were indeed rare, compared to Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, they clearly weren¡¯t as significant. Considering that he had already reached the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm and Lin Shilu was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm, perhaps with just over a decade, they both might have the conditions to challenge the Golden Core Stage. In light of this, what the Lin Family lacked the most was not Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects or Third Order Spiritual Materials, but treasures that could aid in the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming decided to withdraw from this place. After all, if he wanted to leave, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox would have a hard time keeping him. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming was about to retract the Earth Evil Sword and the Thousand Beast Banner when his expression suddenly changed, apparently noticing something. At that moment, the sound of something cutting through the air reached him, soon revealing a figure. Looking over, this person was dressed in a white Daoist robe and had a clean and handsome face, appearing quite striking. Beyond that, there was a golden little sword emblem at his chest, which outright indicated the identity of the newcomer ¨C a disciple of the Golden Sword Sect. After recalling the book provided by Li Xiuyuan, which contained records of the top disciples from two major sects, Lin Tianming confirmed the man¡¯s identity. According to the information displayed in the records, this person should be Zhou Jin, a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect. He was very likely to be at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, also ranking among the top five elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, his strength unfathomable. This man was also the first living person Lin Tianming had encountered since he entered the Secret Realm more than a month ago. Surprised, Lin Tianming had not expected to encounter someone from the Golden Sword Sect at this critical juncture. While he was still in shock, the arriving Zhou Jin was visibly excited, evidently attracted by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the several Third Order Greenstone Woods. Having calmed himself, Zhou Jin then shifted his gaze to study Lin Tianming¡¯s unfamiliar face, pondering his identity and origin. By this time, Lin Tianming had already disguised himself as much as possible, altering all features that could potentially give away his identity. However, being a core disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, Zhou Jin¡¯s status and cultivation granted him access to plenty of information. What was more crucial was that Lin Tianming had been dazzling in the battles at Yuyao City, and such remarkable achievements made it difficult to stay under the radar. Chapter 632 03-25 - 632 350 Cooperation_2 ?Chapter 632: Chapter 350 Cooperation_2 Chapter 632: Chapter 350 Cooperation_2 Therefore, many people in the Cultivation World had grasped a lot of information about him. Even though Lin Tianming had changed his appearance and his exact cultivation level was not evident, one only needed to consider the fluctuations sensed just now as well as the weapons Lin Tianming used to ascertain his identity. Moreover, from the commotion Zhou Jin had just sensed, he was thoroughly convinced of Lin Tianming¡¯s identity. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s identity and strength should pose little threat to him, he thought. In such circumstances, Zhou Jin didn¡¯t regard him highly, merely nodding in greeting. Out of politeness, Lin Tianming also courteously returned the gesture. Zhou Jin then looked at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which he eyed with apprehension, and spoke to Lin Tianming. ... ¡°Daoist Lin, I have taken a fancy to this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. How about we join forces to capture it? The fox will be mine, and of the several Greenstone Wood plants, I will only take one of the Third Order, leaving the rest for you. How does that sound?¡± Zhou Jin¡¯s tone seemed somewhat indisputable, arousing strong aversion in Lin Tianming. However, due to the man¡¯s identity and strength, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t act out and replied politely, ¡°Daoist Zhou holds me in such high regard, naturally, I will not refuse the kindness.¡± ¡°I can only offer help within the limits of my abilities, though, and I hope Daoist Zhou won¡¯t find it too modest!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Lin is being too modest!¡± Zhou Jin chuckled, then continued, ¡°Daoist Lin¡¯s Sword Array, as well as these small flags, are quite mysterious and effective for entrapping enemies, perfect for dealing with this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled lightly, then responded smilingly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s proceed as Daoist Zhou suggests!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Lin Tianming was so decisive because he naturally wanted to use Zhou Jin to his advantage. After all, he had experienced the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox firsthand, and capturing it alone without paying a heavy price was not so easy. Including Zhou Jin, it was probable that he was not much better off than Lin Tianming. Thus, it was likely that Zhou Jin had the same mindset, desiring to use the strength of another to capture the fox before discussing it further. It could be said that, before capturing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, both parties had the same goal and could very well cooperate once. As for the sharing of spoils afterwards, the specific outcome would be difficult to predict. However, Lin Tianming was no three-year-old child and naturally wouldn¡¯t readily believe Zhou Jin¡¯s words. But that was of little concern, for he, too, had plans to use Zhou Jin; once his goal was achieved, if Zhou Jin turned on him, there was no need for Lin Tianming to hold back. After all, the Secret Realm was vast enough, and as long as his actions were clean, he didn¡¯t fear discovery. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s compliance, Zhou Jin also smiled and nodded. Yet behind that smile lay a dark heart, completely unconcerned with Lin Tianming. However well he might have concealed his malice, appearing harmless, Lin Tianming deep down never trusted him. And so, each harboring their own hidden agendas, they promptly began their assault, jointly dealing with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As Zhou Jin took the initiative to attack, Lin Tianming, not to be outdone, unleashed several streams of Tiangang Sword Qi, launching them toward the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Meanwhile, Zhou Jin slapped his storage bag, and a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman materialized in his hand. He pumped a substantial amount of Spiritual Power into it, activating his Flying Sword. Upon his engagement, Zhou Jin unleashed a ferocious attack that placed tremendous pressure on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Combined with his own Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the hindrance from the Thousand Beast Banner, as well as his Tiangang Sword¡¯s assault, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was increasingly overwhelmed, quickly becoming enveloped by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Then, after just a few exchanges, the previously confident Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox began to fall into disadvantage. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew serious, evaluating Zhou Jin¡¯s strength against that of Long Qingshui, whom he knew well. Clearly, both Zhou Jin and Long Qingshui were cultivators of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and neither was lacking in combat experience. Beyond that, the power of both men¡¯s Attack Talismans was formidable, making them standouts in both strength and talent. If one were to discuss who was the stronger, the two would likely be evenly matched. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh to himself. ¡°Daoist Zhou, as a top disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, truly has strength not inferior to Long Qingshui, and perhaps even stronger!¡± Gathering his focus, Lin Tianming also secretly thought that he couldn¡¯t exert too much effort; he had to rely on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s strength to deplete Zhou Jin¡¯s spiritual power as much as possible. If he could cause Zhou Jin to be injured, only then could he benefit from their struggle. Otherwise, even if they captured the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, a fierce battle would most likely still be unavoidable. Although his own power was not inferior to Zhou Jin¡¯s, and he wouldn¡¯t be in mortal danger, a great battle would definitely deplete some of his means. In that case, what would be the difference between that and facing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox alone? Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer put his all into the fight, but simply relied on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner to pressure the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. When the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox faced danger, he would even pull his punches, significantly reducing the number of Sword Qi within the Sword Array, just to let the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox escape its predicament. And these little maneuvers, naturally, couldn¡¯t conceal themselves from Zhou Jin¡¯s eyes. With one strike missing its mark, Zhou Jin seemed to be annoyed, but he wasn¡¯t in a position to point it out directly. But for Lin Tianming to do less work than required wasn¡¯t fair to him. Thus, he still hinted indirectly. ¡°Lin, don¡¯t waste time, in this adversity, there are more than just the two of us. If we delay too long, we may attract unnecessary trouble,¡± he reminded. Hearing this, Lin Tianming showed a bit of embarrassment, but he didn¡¯t care about Zhou Jin¡¯s opinion. Next, he replied with a helpless face, ¡°Daoist Zhou speaks the truth, however, I have consumed quite a lot during the recent great battle.¡± ¡°If we want to resolve the fight quickly, I will certainly increase my effort. You shouldn¡¯t hold back either!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ Watch me!¡± Zhou Jin said, feigning anger, then slapped his storage bag, gripping a large number of Second Order Talismans in his hand. With a pinch of the Law Decree, the talismans transformed into attacks that buried the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At the same time, the Spirit Sword in his hand shone brilliantly, unleashing a terrifying Sword Qi that shot down from the sky, directly targeting the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Clearly, Zhou Jin was no longer holding back, preparing to end the battle as quickly as possible. In response, Lin Tianming merely smiled lightly and also unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, slashing down at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand, the powerful fluctuations instantly drew Zhou Jin¡¯s attention. The strength of this strike was clearly not inferior to the fierce attack unleashed by Zhou Jin. Seeing this, Lin Tianming fully committing himself to the fight, Zhou Jin nodded his head in satisfaction. Their attacks were both swift and fierce, enough to slay the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At this moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox also recognized the power of the two attacks, knowing that if it was hit by either, it would struggle to survive. At the critical moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox didn¡¯t succumb to panic. As the two attacks drew closer, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox let out a sharp cry. Then, it opened its mouth and spewed out a large clump of gas, shooting in two different directions. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two explosions sounded, and Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were once again scattered by the powerful gas. And the gas didn¡¯t disperse, but instead continued to thrust in the direction of the two. Seeing this, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated it, swiftly evading in advance. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His speed was fast; in the blink of an eye, he had moved dozens of feet away, steadily landing on a boulder. As for Zhou Jin, he obviously hadn¡¯t expected the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to be so formidable. Taken by surprise, Zhou Jin summoned a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact, pouring a large amount of spiritual power into it, which transformed into a gigantic shield in front of him. ¡°Bang¡­¡± An explosion echoed throughout the canyon. The gas struck the shield, and though the powerful attacking force didn¡¯t break through the sturdy shield, the rebounding force still caused Zhou Jin¡¯s blood to surge, and he couldn¡¯t help but spit out a mouthful of blood. Chapter 633 03-25 - 633 351 Both Sides Suffer Losses_1 ?Chapter 633: Chapter 351 Both Sides Suffer Losses_1 Chapter 633: Chapter 351 Both Sides Suffer Losses_1 The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s fierce strike was indeed powerful. If Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t been decisive enough to promptly summon his Defense Artifact, that strike would have had a significant chance of severely injuring or even killing him. As peace briefly returned to the heavens and earth, the two balls of Qi, despite collapsing, did not immediately dissipate. As for Zhou Jin, who had managed to withstand the strike, he hadn¡¯t even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s pupils emit a ray of Spiritual Light, causing the Qi in front of him to churn violently. Immediately after, he felt the world around him start to change drastically. In that moment, he distinctly saw his master sitting before him, beckoning to him. At the same time, his master urged, ¡°Disciple, this Dragon Heart Pill was prepared for you by me, come and take it quickly!¡± ... At those words, Zhou Jin¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he began to step forward to take the elixir from his master¡¯s hand. All seemed so real that Zhou Jin hadn¡¯t the slightest inkling that this was an illusion conjured by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, meant to lure him into an unguarded approach and then take the opportunity to claim his life. At this time, Lin Tianming, who wasn¡¯t far from Zhou Jin, was also enveloped by the Qi that had yet to disperse. Similarly, a scene unfolded in front of him. There, Lin Shikang¡¯s silhouette appeared before him, seated with a Star Moon Fruit in hand, beckoning kindly to him. ¡°Tian Ming¡­ this object was not easily obtained, and I¡¯m getting old with limited talent and potential,¡± ¡°Thus, this must be handed to you, for you have a much greater chance of entering the Golden Core Stage!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In the illusion, Lin Shikang appeared amiable and his tone indistinguishable from the real Lin Shikang. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, every detail of the scene seemed as tangible as reality. In that instant, Lin Tianming, too, was immersed in the dream, unable to extricate himself, and just like Zhou Jin, began to walk forward. In the blink of an eye, Zhou Jin had covered dozens of feet in distance, with only a little more than a hundred feet remaining between him and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Such a short range was not far for a Second-Order Late-Stage Demon Beast and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Given their speed and strength, it might only take a few breaths for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to directly claim the life of Zhou Jin, who was caught in its illusion. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was in a much better situation. After all, he had taken the opportunity to create a safe distance at the moment the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox unleashed its attack with the Qi, unlike Zhou Jin who had taken the brunt of the blow head-on. Furthermore, there was a distance between the Qi ball and him initially, making the strength of the illusion significantly weaker. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming was also slowly advancing, only more than a hundred feet away from the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, albeit at a slower pace. On the other side, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, seeing the two men trapped in the illusion, seemed quite pleased with itself, ready to move closer and then directly take their lives. Time slowly passed, and after one breath¡¯s time, Lin Tianming was still in the illusion, moving toward Lin Shikang to receive the Star Moon Fruit. Upon closer inspection, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow was furrowed, clearly resisting the illusion. As for Zhou Jin, his face was pale, and his breath seemed somewhat disordered. Seeing that the two continued to move forward, they were about to reach the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s attack range. Just then, Lin Tianming, still trapped in the illusion, seemed to notice a flaw. His expression suddenly changed, the Eye of Five Colors on his forehead flashed, and the original illusion vanished, revealing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s form replacing the one of Lin Shikang. At this moment, Lin Tianming instantly regained his clarity, and seeing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox again, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a chilling alarm in his heart. The illusion had been so realistic that he had almost been fooled completely. One must know that over the years, he had never ceased in administering Dragon Bone Pills to himself, enhancing his Divine Sense significantly over time, far beyond that of his peers. It was estimated that even at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, his Divine Sense was likely no weaker than those Cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Yet even so, he had been nearly ensnared by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s illusion. If he did not possess treasures like the Eye of Five Colors that could see through empty illusions, he might have actually lost his life here. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh to himself. Not only was the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox powerful, but it was also so devious ¡ª no wonder countless Cultivators in the Cultivation World coveted the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s Divine Ability Talent over so many years. As Lin Tianming regained his senses, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, noticing his recovery, immediately resolved to attack. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox opened its mouth once more and spew out two more Qi balls, aiming to blast Zhou Jin, who was still caught in the illusion, as well as Lin Tianming. This preemptive strike was clearly to seriously injure or even kill one of them, thereby reducing its own pressure. Otherwise, if Zhou Jin came to his senses and joined Lin Tianming again, the Spirit Fox would likely be at a disadvantage. In such circumstances, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox decided not to hold back, attacking with even more ferocity, evidently willing to gamble everything at this moment. At this critical moment, with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox making its move, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of urgency, as he quickly cried out, ¡°Daoist Zhou, wake up at once!¡± After shouting, Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands, and the Tiangang Sword flew from his grip, unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, blasting toward the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Chapter 634 03-25 - 634 351 Both Lose_2 ?Chapter 634: Chapter 351 Both Lose_2 Chapter 634: Chapter 351 Both Lose_2 His voice was loud, complementing the ringing sound of the Tiangang Sword as it burst forth. Zhou Jin suddenly awoke from his surroundings. The breath sphere expelled by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had already descended, and in just a moment, it might claim his life. Seeing the terrifying sphere above his head, Zhou Jin¡¯s face turned deathly pale, his innermost heart filled with immense fear. He had already experienced the power of this sphere; initially, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had used this cluster of breath to crush his attack. The residual power had still blasted onto his Defense Artifact, directly injuring him. It could be said that the power of this breath attack was extremely formidable. Even with him being prepared, he had to give it his all and still suffered injuries. And now, in this situation, he was so close to the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and had previously been trapped in the environment with no defense at all. What¡¯s more critical was that the breath had descended directly above his head. Retreating unscathed was almost impossible. ... Understanding this, Zhou Jin also realized how dire his situation was. In this moment of desperation, Zhou Jin suddenly calmed down, more so than ever before. Watching the breath bearing down upon him, Zhou Jin slapped his storage bag, taking out the Defense Artifact he had used previously, and poured a large amount of Spiritual Power into it, transforming it into a massive shield in front of him. At the same time, he clenched his teeth, with a pale golden talisman paper appearing in his hand. Looking at the talisman paper, his face showed an expression of pain, but it quickly returned to normal. Immediately afterward, he did not hesitate to activate the talisman paper in his hand. In an instant, a silver-white great sword unexpectedly condensed above his head. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With the emergence of the silver great sword, the entire gorge instantly lit up with a burst of silver light, sending sand and rocks flying chaotically throughout the canyon. This commotion was, of course, seen by Lin Tianming. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was complex, his heart utterly shocked. He was very familiar with the stir Zhou Jin was causing and had experienced it himself. He was absolutely certain, this was undoubtedly a Fake Golden Core Talisman! While he was slightly distracted, Zhou Jin¡¯s silver great sword had already transformed into a bolt of lightning, striking towards the nearby Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Simultaneously, the breath above Zhou Jin¡¯s head descended, directly blasting onto his Defense Artifact. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion echoed. One could only see Zhou Jin¡¯s Defense Artifact barely holding up for two breaths before it burst apart. While the breath scattered significantly, the remaining portion directly hit Zhou Jin¡¯s flesh. In that instant, Zhou Jin was like a kite with a broken string, suddenly appearing hundreds of feet away in a crevice between some rocks. Looking over, Zhou Jin¡¯s face was devoid of color, his Daoist robe was already ragged, and his flesh was drenched in blood with hardly a spot intact. The boulder beneath him had already shattered, forcibly pierced by the powerful force, finally embedding him within. The ground below pooled with blood, and Zhou Jin, in the crevice, kept spewing fresh blood from his mouth. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s strike had gravely wounded him, but Zhou Jin was decisive enough and had a bit of luck, not dying under the breath sphere. Even so, his injuries were still severe, and his current strength was probably not much better than an ordinary person¡¯s. All this occurred in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had no time to attend to this as he was also facing the bombardment of the breath and had also unleashed an attack, rushing towards the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. However, his situation was much better than Zhou Jin¡¯s. After all, he had awakened from the environment much earlier, and with enough distance, he had ample time to deal with the breath attack. At this time, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming had already determined the best evasion route. His figure agile and his speed reaching the extreme, he burst forth at his quickest pace, dodging the breath¡¯s bombardment. In just a single breath¡¯s time, he smoothly appeared dozens of feet away. And the breath also struck where he had originally been, causing such a powerful disturbance that even Lin Tianming, who had evaded it, was thrown more than ten feet away. Barely stabilizing his form, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, his internal energies roiling, as he couldn¡¯t help but cough up several mouthfuls of blood. As expected, the attack of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was too formidable. Any average Cultivator struck by it would surely perish on the spot. If it weren¡¯t for the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he might have ended up like Zhou Jin. However, he had managed to survive that terrifying strike. Despite sustaining serious injuries, fortunately, he had retreated in one piece and only needed half a month of rest to recover to his peak condition. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming finally regained his usual demeanor and then focused on every move on the battlefield. Under his watchful eye, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox also appeared somewhat panicked, evidently shaken by the Fake Golden Core Talisman that Zhou Jin had activated. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was an Ancient Exotic Beast with extremely powerful innate abilities and Spirit Wisdom far beyond that of ordinary Demonic Beasts. Facing the Fake Golden Core Talisman, it too understood the terrifying nature of the attack. The moment the Fake Golden Core Talisman appeared, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had already started to flee into the depths of the canyon, hoping to evade this deadly strike. Regrettably, the Fake Golden Core Talisman was faster and immensely powerful. Even the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, a Demonic Beast without obvious weaknesses, couldn¡¯t easily dodge the attack of the Fake Golden Core Talisman. As the saying goes, it¡¯s slower to talk than happen; in an instant, the Fake Golden Core Talisman had closed the distance with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. In less than the time it took to breathe, it had descended above the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s head. At that moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was in utter terror; despite pushing its speed to the limit, it still couldn¡¯t shake off the attack of the Fake Golden Core Talisman. Seeing that escape was impossible, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox made a decisive move, turning its body around and then opening its mouth to spit out a big clump of gas that collided head-on with the Silver-White Sword Qi. After expelling the clump of gas, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s aura became chaotic, seemingly exhausted to the limit. It makes sense, after all, the Divine Skills of Exotic Beasts are not without their limits. Ever since Lin Tianming started his probing attack, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had been fighting one against two, activating its Divine Skills several times. It should be known that Zhou Jin is a genuine Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator and also a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, so his strength is naturally incomparable to those of ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for Lin Tianming, although his realm is only at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, his strength is no weaker than Zhou Jin¡¯s. Now, under the pressure of the Fake Golden Core Talisman, he too was fighting with all his might, having such a reaction was the normal response. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Silver-White Sword Qi and the clump of gas collided with a thunderous impact, and the powerful shockwave swept across a vast area. The two made contact for only an instant before the gas clump ultimately dissipated. After the Silver-White Sword Qi shattered the gas clump, it didn¡¯t stop at all and continued slashing down towards the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. However, after a round of consumption, the might of the Silver-White Sword Qi had noticeably weakened quite a bit. Still, the Sword Qi remained terrifying, powerful enough to inflict heavy damage, even kill the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As expected, the Silver-White Sword Qi clashed directly with the claws of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosions resounded as the previously dim canyon was once again illuminated by an astonishing flash of light. Immediately followed by a scream. One could see that the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had its half body directly sliced off by the Sword Qi, and two of its limbs were gone as well; the severely injured fox slammed heavily onto the ground. At that time, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox whined in agony a few times; blood flowed from its body, and its snow-white fur had been stained red, presenting a somewhat eerie sight. It struggled fiercely to rise, but its injuries were too severe; despite struggling for quite a while, it had not moved far. As tranquility gradually returned to the world, Lin Tianming too recovered from the shock. At this time, seeing the severely injured Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim internally. ¡°No wonder it is the Fake Golden Core Talisman, its attacking power is still so terrifying!¡± His remark was indeed sincere, for he had witnessed the power of the Fake Golden Core Talisman for the second time, with one of those instances being when he himself had activated it. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming glanced at the heavily injured Zhou Jin and couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate. Fortunately, he had awakened from the environment in time; otherwise, his outcome might have been similar to Zhou Jin¡¯s, or even worse. Chapter 635 03-25 - 635 352 Submission_1 ?Chapter 635: Chapter 352 Submission_1 Chapter 635: Chapter 352 Submission_1 With difficulty calming himself, Lin Tianming sheathed his Earth Evil Sword and then dashed with an arrow step to the front of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At this moment, as he watched the still struggling Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, he felt somewhat sigh with mixed emotions. This battle, when spoken of, was truly dramatic. At least before Zhou Jin appeared, no one could have anticipated such an outcome. Initially, he and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had engaged in a confrontation, yet given the formidable strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, he thought he would need to give up this opportunity. Indeed, that was the case, as he had been planning to retreat. However, the coincidental arrival of Zhou Jin led them to ally with each other for a common purpose. ... After a fierce battle, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, though powerful, was severely injured when facing Lin Tianming and Zhou Jin, who possessed the Fake Golden Core Talisman. Now, Zhou Jin was also gravely injured, with barely a tenth of his strength remaining, and had lost all ability to compete. And the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, also being severely wounded, had virtually no chance of escaping this place. It could be said that the beneficiary of this battle was still himself. What he needs to consider now is naturally to subdue the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, thus acquiring this powerful Spirit Beast. However, this process will naturally not be easy, since the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox not only has excellent talent and strength but also possesses immense pride. To make it submit will certainly not be an easy task. As for Zhou Jin, he harbored a hidden agenda from the start, and though he did not directly attack Lin Tianming, his exploitative intentions were clear. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Furthermore, with Zhou Jin desiring the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Greenstone Wood, there¡¯s no way his life could be spared; it¡¯s essential to eliminate any who are in the know right in their cradle. Thus, Lin Tianming did not intend to let him go. After all, the Secret Realm is teeming with Demonic Beasts, including powerful Third Order Demon Beasts, and the Second Order ones are as common as hairs on a cow. Even though the Golden Sword Sect is powerful, under these circumstances, losing a genius disciple is quite natural. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not delay and prepared to first end Zhou Jin¡¯s life and then quickly subdue the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. If the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox refuses to submit, he would have no choice but to kill it and then loot the area before leaving. If he could successfully make the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox submit, it would be a great help, and nothing could be better. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming approached Zhou Jin. At this time, Zhou Jin was not dead but simply too heavily injured, with most of his Spiritual Power depleted, posing no real threat. Seeing Lin Tianming walking toward him, he knew his predicament well. If they were outside the Secret Realm, perhaps Lin Tianming would have hesitated due to the influence of the Golden Sword Sect and given him a way out. But this place is a Secret Realm, rampant with powerful Demonic Beasts and filled with inexplicable dangers. If he died within, the Golden Sword Sect would have no way to investigate the cause of his death. In that case, Lin Tianming had nothing to be concerned about. Realizing this, Zhou Jin did not utter any threatening words, lest he irritate Lin Tianming. He gathered his spirits and spoke earnestly, ¡°Lin, since the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox is already seriously injured, our goal has been achieved.¡± ¡°However, my current condition is very poor. I will cede the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to you, Lin. What do you say?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming sneered playfully, thinking that Zhou Jin was indeed decisive, knowing fully well that his life was in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands and directly giving up the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Regardless, he had no intention of sparing him. Because he knew that if their situations were reversed, Zhou Jin would likely have no hesitation in directly killing him. After all, be it the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox or the Greenstone Wood, both were rare treasures. Under such benefits, no one would likely forsake the gains before them or leave any threats unchecked. Therefore, he need not feel any sense of guilt. With this understanding, Lin Tianming did not bother with more words and directly wielded the Tiangang Sword, intending to kill the defenseless Zhou Jin. And as he made his move, Zhou Jin¡¯s face turned ashen, and he immediately started to threaten him. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lin, I am a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, and my master is a Golden Core Cultivator!¡± ¡°If it were known that I died at your hand, you would definitely not survive, and neither would your family or clan members!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and his originally mild face suddenly turned gloomy. In his heart, his family and loved ones were his life, and he could not tolerate anyone joking about them. Zhou Jin had gone and directly threatened him with his family and clan members, turning the somewhat remorseful Lin Tianming instantly murderous. If they were outside the Secret Realm, for the sake of the thousands of clan members and the progress that the family had hard-won, he would actually consider the Golden Core Cultivator backing Zhou Jin. But now, in the Secret Realm, he could not let Zhou Jin live; if he got out successfully, he would surely reveal everything that happened here. By then, the Golden Core Cultivator would likely covet the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Third Order Greenstone Wood. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face grew dark with rising fury, wishing he could tear Zhou Jin to pieces. Then, he promptly raised the Tiangang Sword in his hand, intending to end Zhou Jin¡¯s life. Seeing this, Zhou Jin¡¯s expression changed, and disregarding his injuries, he forcibly released a burst of Sword Qi, slashing toward Lin Tianming. Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe, and even with all his might, the power was quite limited. Chapter 636 03-25 - 636 352 Submission_2 ?Chapter 636: Chapter 352 Submission_2 Chapter 636: Chapter 352 Submission_2 Such an attack, even if it were a cultivator at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, could easily catch it. Facing Lin Tianming, even relying on his physical body alone, he could easily crush him. Sure enough, Lin Tianming casually grasped the Sword Qi in his hand and with a slight exertion of force, crushed it into pieces. This scene completely erased the last trace of hope in Zhou Jin¡¯s heart. Seeing that he stood no chance at all, Zhou Jin was both shocked and furious; he couldn¡¯t hold back from cursing loudly. ¡°You dare, if you dare to kill me, my master will definitely investigate the cause and make the Lin Family accompany me in death!¡± ¡°You will not die well¡­¡± ... ¡°Hmph¡­ speak nicely, and maybe I¡¯ll let you off!¡± ¡°You¡¯re facing death and still dare to threaten me with your family¡¯s influence, you deserve to die!¡± Lin Tianming snorted in anger, then with a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, Zhou Jin lay on the ground, breathless. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After doing all of this, Lin Tianming took the storage bag from Zhou Jin¡¯s body, then cast several fireballs to destroy the corpse and erase all traces. Immediately afterward, he once again approached the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and inspected it carefully. At this moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was equally terrified, as it had witnessed him kill Zhou Jin and understood the predicament it would face next. It wanted to flee, but its injuries were too severe, and after struggling for a long time, it didn¡¯t get very far. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Lin Tianming didn¡¯t waste time and directly used a force to immobilize the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Then, regardless of whether the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox could understand him, he straightforwardly said, ¡°Your cultivation path wasn¡¯t easy, and this Secret Realm has trapped you within it; it¡¯s better to submit to me. I can take you out of here and assist you in breaking through to the Third Order, or even the Fourth Order!¡± His words were sincere and extremely reasonable. You should know, there are quite a few Demonic Beasts in the Tianfeng Secret Realm; if they cannot attach themselves to a cultivator to leave, they can only die trapped within it. Furthermore, the Secret Realm only opens once every two hundred years, which is a very long time even for Demonic Beasts, who live much longer than the Human Race. If the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox couldn¡¯t seize this opportunity, it would have to wait for the next one, which is two hundred years later. In this way, submitting to a human didn¡¯t seem like a bad thing at all. True to his prediction, after Lin Tianming finished speaking, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox seemed to understand and stopped struggling violently. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was pleasantly surprised and immediately continued persuading, ¡°You have seen my cultivation strength; submit to me, and I definitely won¡¯t mistreat you. I will certainly help you break through to the Third Order as soon as possible!¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming looked at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox again, awaiting its reaction. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox then prostrated itself voluntarily, clearly agreeing to Lin Tianming¡¯s terms. Seeing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox so understanding, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit incredulous. After a long time, Lin Tianming finally calmed down, then proactively extended his Divine Sense into the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s consciousness. The process was effortless, completely without any resistance. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and imprinted his Divine Sense within the consciousness of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Soon, the entire process of acknowledging a master neared its end; Lin Tianming could fully sense his mind connected with that of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and he could detonate the beast¡¯s consciousness at any moment, thus controlling its life. By now, the process of acknowledgment was officially complete. At this moment, Lin Tianming finally sighed in relief, his face filled with a joyous smile. Meanwhile, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was rubbing against Lin Tianming¡¯s robe, making a gesture of appeasement. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was even more thrilled and quickly took out several healing elixirs and a few Second Order Demon Beast Inner Pills for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to consume. Lin Tianming¡¯s generous gesture deeply moved the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which thought that following this human might not be so bad after all. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s watchful eye, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox consumed the elixirs and Demon Beast Inner Pills, and its injuries slowly started to heal. Afterward, Lin Tianming put the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao into the Spirit Beast Bag to heal inside. As for himself, he needed to promptly scour the area and collect everything that could be taken. After all, the recent commotion was not small; any nearby cultivator passing by might involve him in unnecessary troubles. Determined, Lin Tianming immediately began to act. He first approached the outermost Greenstone Wood, swinging his sword casually. The First Order Greenstone Wood was easily cut through by the Sword Qi, while the Second Order Greenstone Wood took a few more tries. Before long, he had collected dozens of Greenstone Woods, mostly of the First Order, with only a few of the Second Order. Soon, Greenstone Woods below Third Order had all been collected, totaling one hundred and fifty-six, among which one hundred and twenty-two were of the First Order, and thirty-four of the Second Order. Lin Tianming had also arrived deep in the gorge, standing in front of a Third Order Greenstone Wood. Looking up, the Third Order Greenstone Wood towered more than ten zhang high, its trunk as thick as a water bucket covered with distinctive patterns. He touched the tree trunk with his hand and was greeted by a thick wood property aura, filled with rich vitality. These Third Order Greenstone Woods were not like those of the Second Order. Not only were they much harder, but they also had stronger resilience, making them excellent materials for Artifact Refining. If Fifteenth Grandfather were to see these things, who knows how excited he would be. Lin Tianming thought inwardly, feeling very excited. After calming down, he took out the Tiangang Sword and slashed at the trunk of the Greenstone Wood. ¡°Bang¡­ Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of loud explosions followed, and the Greenstone Wood merely shook violently, leaving behind notches. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was astounded and gained a new level of respect for the Greenstone Wood. He then continued to wield the Tiangang Sword, starting to cut down the tree. An hour passed, and the first Third Order Greenstone Wood finally fell, crashing heavily onto the ground, carving a deep pit. He exerted quite a lot of effort before he managed to put this Greenstone Wood into his storage bag. Then, he continued to search in the gorge. Half a day quickly passed. With the last Greenstone Wood falling to the ground, the Third Order Greenstone Woods in the entire gorge had been felled at last. Upon verification, he had gained a total of seven Third Order Greenstone Woods this time, each over five thousand years of age, and even two that were approaching ten thousand years. Now, with these Third Order Greenstone Woods and the Earth Rampart Crystals he acquired a while back, if Lin Shilu could reforge his magic artifact, it was very possible that it would raise another grade. By then, his strength would be further enhanced. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. He thought the gains from this trip to the Secret Realm were already exceptionally rich. This was only after a little over a month, and he still had more than half a year to search for treasures. As long as he found some treasures that could advance his cultivation, this trip would be considered perfect. Bringing his mind back, Lin Tianming made sure nothing had been overlooked, then erased some traces. Without further delay, he shot off in one direction, planning to find a good place to go into seclusion and cultivate for a while. He would continue his treasure hunt once he was at his peak condition. Having made up his mind, he left the gorge and flew towards the dense forest deep within. A day later. Inside a towering mountain with lush, towering trees and various rocks standing between them. It was a place filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, quite serene and without any traces of Demonic Beasts or cultivators, an ideal location. In a hidden crevice between rocks, Lin Tianming carved out a Temporary Cave Abode and then walked inside, concealing the entrance. Inside the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, beginning to use elixirs to heal his injuries and recover the majority of his Spiritual Power that had been drained over the past couple of days. He planned to regain his peak condition before taking inventory of Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag. Given Zhou Jin¡¯s identity and strength, his worth was definitely not low. It was just unfortunate that the Fake Golden Core Talisman was used up. Otherwise, having this item in his possession would have been another significant trump card. But on second thought, he was perhaps being a bit too greedy. After all, without this item, inflicting severe damage on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox would have been much more difficult, and success was not guaranteed. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the matter and began his cultivation. Chapter 637 03-25 - 637 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_1 ?Chapter 637: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_1 Chapter 637: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_1 Half a month ago, at the Qianchuan Market. Within a Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianfeng and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators were seated together, receiving Lin Xingyan who had rushed over from the family lands. About his purpose for coming, Lin Tianfeng had pondered time and again but could think of no reason. After all, the past two years had been relatively calm, and there had been no news of any significant events occurring in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Beyond that, over the past two years, those stationed here included a Second Order Talisman Maker, Lin Tianyue, and a Second Order Alchemist, Lin Tianhong, ensuring a rather complete staff configuration, capable of being self-sufficient in the most basic treasures. Consequently, the operations in the Luoyun Pavilion were very smooth, even earning more Spirit Stones than during the beast tide attacks of the previous years. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianfeng was deeply troubled by Lin Xingyan¡¯s arrival and couldn¡¯t help but speculate wildly. ... Could it be that there was some misfortune within the family? Or was there some significant policy being communicated by the family? Or perhaps there was some kind of reassignment? Long after, still unable to figure it out, he had no choice but to directly inquire about the reason for Lin Xingyan¡¯s visit. Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan looked at Lin Tianyue and the others, then remembering the words entrusted to him by the Clan Leader before leaving the family, he showed a troubled expression. Lin Tianyue and the others naturally noticed, knowing there must be some significant matter that needed to be discussed alone with Lin Tianfeng. This certainly was a big issue, one that even they, could not be privy to. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Realizing this, Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong tactfully got up, greeted Lin Tianfeng, and then left the courtyard together, leaving only Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyan behind. Watching his fellow clan members leave, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, then he asked, ¡°Uncle, is there some grave matter at hand? Otherwise, why such formality?¡± No sooner had his words fallen than Lin Xingyan, noticing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s anxious demeanor, couldn¡¯t help but nod and laugh, ¡°Tianfeng, don¡¯t worry, this matter is a good thing for the family?¡± ¡°A good thing?¡± Lin Tianfeng was startled, thinking that aside from Lin Shikang¡¯s retreat to impact the Golden Core Stage, and Lin Tianming¡¯s entry into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, no other joyous events had happened recently! Could it be that Third Grandfather had made great progress in his impact on the Golden Core Stage? Or had Tian Ming already returned from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, reaping a rich reward? Thinking diligently, neither seemed likely! After all, Third Grandfather had only closed up for so short a time, and Tian Ming had just entered the Secret Realm as well! With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng grew even more puzzled. However, hearing Lin Xingyan speak of the good news, the previously heavy heart of Lin Tianfeng finally returned to normal. ¡°Uncle, just get straight to the point!¡± Unable to wait, Lin Tianfeng promptly urged him on. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯ll get to it, I¡¯ll get to it!¡± Lin Xingyan nodded and then recounted the recent events where the family¡¯s Spiritual Root testing ceremony took place normally, and Lin Tianyun, who had been tested in Nanyun Town, was found to have the Wind Spirit Root. In a short while, upon hearing the account, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression changed dramatically, and his heart surged with excitement. ¡°Wind Spirit Root?¡± ¡°Uncle¡­ is this really true?¡± Lin Tianfeng, who had just calmed down, seemed still somewhat incredulous and had to ask again. At that moment, Lin Xingyan smiled lightly and then said. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You, my boy, I especially came from the family for this, and have informed you with such caution. How could it be false?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng laughed awkwardly, thinking it was indeed so. To know, this was truly a momentous joy for the family, and extremely important for them. Even the identities of Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue could not be privy to this news, showing just how highly the family regarded Lin Tian Yun¡¯s identity. Thinking it over, it was quite understandable to be so cautious. Once he regained his composure, Lin Tianfeng thought that the Clan Leader must have specially dispatched Lin Xingyan here for a reason; otherwise, it would not have been made into such a grand affair. With that in mind, Lin Tianfeng tentatively asked, ¡°Uncle, have you come here to the market because there is some instruction from the family?¡± Upon the inquiry, Lin Xingyan nodded and then replied, ¡°The Clan Leader has made Tianyun¡¯s identity the highest secret of the family, known to no more than ten people.¡± ¡°The purpose of my visit today, first, is to inform you of this, and second, the Clan Leader wants you to acquire a Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique at any cost.¡± As soon as he spoke, Lin Tianfeng nodded thoughtfully, knowing well that the family had always lacked a Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique, and Lin Tianyun¡¯s progression couldn¡¯t be delayed for too long. This explained why Lin Xingyan had come to the Qianchuan Market, to convey such a task from the family to him. Returning to his senses, Lin Xingyan continued, ¡°Before leaving the family, the Clan Leader repeatedly emphasized to me, insisting I remind you of a few points.¡± ¡°Qianchuan Market is teeming with powers and many high-level Cultivators, so the likelihood of encountering Wind-attribute Cultivation Techniques is relatively high.¡± ¡°No matter what method you use, as long as you come across a Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique, regardless of its rank, you can use the Spirit Stones stored by the Luoyun Pavilion to purchase it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded, aware that the family was truly investing heavily for Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation. ¡°Rest assured, Uncle, I will personally attend to this matter diligently and, upon receiving any news, will spare no expense to obtain the technique,¡± Lin Tianfeng promised. Lin Xingyan nodded at Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, feeling quite relieved about Lin Tianfeng¡¯s responsible nature. Even so, he naturally reiterated his instruction without tiring. Chapter 638 03-25 - 638 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_2 ?Chapter 638: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_2 Chapter 638: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_2 ¡°This matter is indeed important, but we must also keep it as confidential as possible, even at the auction. We cannot easily reveal the Lin Family¡¯s intentions.¡± Lin Tianfeng was very much in agreement with this statement. After all, wind-attribute cultivation techniques are considered uncommon, and there are very few forces that can utilize them. If one were to win it at an auction at any cost, it would be tantamount to giving oneself away. Fortunately, powers in the Cultivation World, whether they are Golden Core Forces or Foundation Establishment Powers, all like to collect cultivation techniques. Even if they can¡¯t use them at the moment, they won¡¯t easily pass up the opportunity. In this way, as long as one maintains a balanced mindset, it shouldn¡¯t lead to suspicion. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and firmly committed to memory the instructions given by Lin Xingyan. ... Afterward, the two chatted idly for a few moments before leaving separately. In the days that followed, Lin Tianfeng left early and returned late every day, moving throughout every corner of Qianchuan Market. From the commercial areas of the shops to the free-trading stalls, and even the private, underground auction houses frequented by cultivators, his presence was seen everywhere. Besides this, he also visited many old friends and inquired subtly about anything concerning wind-attribute cultivation techniques. For half a month straight, he did not have a moment¡¯s rest. Even so, there was still no news concerning wind-attribute cultivation techniques. Regarding this, Lin Tianfeng dared not slacken his efforts, nor did he dare to intensify his actions carelessly, to avoid revealing the Lin Family¡¯s secrets. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? After staying in Qianchuan Market for half a month with no news of the cultivation technique forthcoming, Lin Xingyan had no choice but to return to his family. As for the cultivation technique, they would have to plan for it slowly. Lin Tianfeng understood the importance of the cultivation technique and devoted all his energy to it. Several more days passed. At the entrance of Luoyun Pavilion, Sun Ling¡¯er stood on the steps, looking at the bustling and lively scene inside. After hesitating for a moment, she stepped in. Li Rong, who was observant and perceptive, immediately went up to greet Sun Ling¡¯er upon seeing her. ¡°Esteemed senior, welcome to Luoyun Pavilion. May I know what treasures you are in need of? Please tell me!¡± ¡°Our store has recently been stocked with many treasures, including several rare items that are seldom seen, which I trust will satisfy the senior.¡± Li Rong courteously received Sun Ling¡¯er with full confidence, his demeanor filled with pride. Since the opening of Luoyun Pavilion, he and his sister had been working there for several years. Relying on the excellent treatment provided by the Luoyun Pavilion, their cultivation levels had both advanced rapidly. Li Rong, while earning spirit stones and cultivating, had reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level. As for his younger sister, Li Yuan, her cultivation exceeded that of her older brother by a few years, reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. If things continued this way, perhaps in another ten years or so, the siblings could gather enough spirit stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill, allowing one of them to undergo Foundation Establishment first. And this comfortable and satisfying life was all thanks to the Lin Family. Given these circumstances, Li Rong and his sister were very grateful to the Lin Family. Serving as executive officers in Luoyun Pavilion, they worked even harder. Over the years, the siblings developed a keen ability to appraise treasures and to read people¡¯s expressions and words. Upon seeing Sun Ling¡¯er, Li Rong immediately recognized that her cultivation level was extraordinary and her influence should not be underestimated. Indeed, this was true. In the great battle of Demon-Subduing City, Sun Ling¡¯er, as a teammate of Lin Tianming, had accumulated a large number of military exploits and formed a profound friendship. Leveraging those two years of experience and reasonably generous rewards from the Zhenyang Sect, her cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Today, she had come to experience Luoyun Pavilion for herself, as well as to get acquainted with other members of the Lin Family. Beyond this visit, she also had an important request to make. Realizing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded with satisfaction upon seeing Li Rong¡¯s courteous manner. Then she finally stated her purpose. ¡°Young friend, I wonder which Daoist friend is currently in charge of Luoyun Pavilion? Could you possibly convey a message, just say that an old friend of Daoist Tian Ming is here to visit.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Rong was thrilled at her polite demeanor, thinking that the Lin Family¡¯s influence was indeed great, as Foundation Establishment Cultivators like her often visited over the years. Realizing this, Li Rong felt immensely glad about his decision back then. Having calmed down with great difficulty, Li Rong dared not neglect and hurriedly responded, ¡°Senior, please follow this junior to the private room on the second floor for a brief rest, I will immediately send a message for the proprietor to come.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Lead the way!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Sun Ling¡¯er gave a wave of her hand, Li Rong promptly led her to the second floor, arranged a private room for her, and served her some excellent Spiritual Tea. Following that, he quickly sent a message to Lin Tianfeng, informing him of Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s arrival. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianfeng, who had been wandering outside, arrived at Luoyun Pavilion and met with Sun Ling¡¯er who had come for a visit. At this moment, after exchanging greetings, the two sat opposite each other. Lin Tianfeng was half-skeptical about Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s intentions and the things she had said. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er chuckled, then began to explain. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, this young lady has fought side by side with Daoist Lin Tianming for more than a year on the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield,¡± she said. ¡°And the Lin Family¡¯s proud daughter Lin Tianxi, she has been like my shadow, sharing everything with me.¡± On hearing this, Lin Tianfeng furrowed his brow and then remembered that Qin Xi had entered the battlefield as a daughter of the Lin Family and had changed her name to Lin Tianxi. Furthermore, Lin Tianming had indeed mentioned Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s name and distinguishing features, including revealing some of her strength. Based on this information, he was able to confirm Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s identity. Thus, since she could be considered a good friend of both Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, their idle chat became less wary and competitive. As they chatted idly for a while, they found themselves very much in accord, quickly developing an inexplicable fondness for one another. This made Lin Tianfeng feel rather strange. As for Sun Ling¡¯er, her feelings towards Lin Tianfeng were also somewhat incredible. You see, Sun Ling¡¯er had developed a great fondness for Lin Tianming, subconsciously wanting to get closer to him. After all, the overall strength of the Lin Family was strong, and Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was exceptional, making him an excellent candidate for a cultivation partner. It was a case of a beauty loving a hero; Lin Tianming was the dream partner of all female Loose Cultivators. However, Lin Tianming had somewhat deliberately kept her at bay, and considering Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and strength, as well as the power of the Lin Family, she had no choice but to let the matter go. Yet unexpectedly, she felt an inexplicable fondness the first time she met Lin Tianfeng. Although she indeed had some special hopes for the Lin Family, the inexplicable fondness that emerged for Lin Tianfeng played a big part in her feelings. Under these circumstances, they quickly became good friends and talked without any reservations. After exchanging information for a good while, Lin Tianfeng directly inquired about Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s purpose for visiting. In response, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, Sun Ling¡¯er spoke frankly about the matter. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, please don¡¯t get me wrong, but this young lady¡¯s visit is indeed to discuss a matter of great importance,¡± she said. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianfeng immediately showed interest and followed with a question, ¡°With Fairy Sun¡¯s capabilities, what matter is so serious that you approach it with such caution?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Sun Ling¡¯er smiled lightly and then said solemnly, ¡°This young lady has luckily discovered a Cave Mansion Ruin. As for how many years it has been or the identity and cultivation of the original owner, that remains unknown.¡± ¡°However, based on the fluctuations of the peripheral prohibitions, this Cave Mansion Ruin has existed for a long time, at the very least belonging to a Golden Core Cultivator.¡± On hearing this, Lin Tianfeng was greatly shocked and an incredulous expression appeared on his face. He was aware that in the Cultivation World, Cave Mansion Ruins were not scarce, but they were not easily found. Moreover, the mansions of ordinary cultivators simply could not withstand the ravages of time and would erode away. But according to Sun Ling¡¯er, this Cave Mansion Ruin seemed very ancient, and the original owner¡¯s identity and cultivation were not low. If it indeed was a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s mansion, especially one from many years ago, there truly could be precious treasures left behind, or even some superior Cultivation Techniques. After all, even in the vast Qingzhou, a Golden Core Cultivator was considered a formidable force. Such a cultivator¡¯s leftover possessions and that keen insight were absolutely incomparable to those of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Thinking of these possibilities, Lin Tianfeng became excited and grew even more interested. Chapter 639 03-25 - 639 354 Explores_1 ?Chapter 639: Chapter 354 Explores_1 Chapter 639: Chapter 354 Explores_1 However, he was not so easily swayed by what Sun Ling¡¯er had said to lose his head. He feigned composure and asked, ¡°Fairy Sun, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but this matter is of great importance. While there might be treasures, it¡¯s also filled with considerable risks.¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in understanding. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s reaction was within expectation. After all, though they could be considered friends, the hearts in the Cultivation World are treacherous, and verbal promises are notoriously unreliable. But Sun Ling¡¯er was prepared; she retrieved a beast skin from her storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianfeng. Then, with a sincere look, she said, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, I understand your concerns.¡± ¡°Therefore, to prove my goodwill, perhaps you would like to examine this map, or follow me to check the place for yourself.¡± ... ¡°If what I say proves true, perhaps we can consider joining forces to seek the treasure.¡± ¡°Regarding the distribution of spoils, I would take sixty percent. What do you think of this arrangement, Daoist Tianfeng?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng did not immediately agree, nor did he outright reject her offer. Instead, he carefully pondered her proposal. In his heart, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s gesture was indeed a sign of good faith. She likely did this because it was difficult for one person to enter the Cave Mansion Ruins, prompting her to seek the Lin Family¡¯s strength for the treasure hunt. Additionally, she did not insist on the Lin Family¡¯s cooperation and was willing to reveal so much information without knowing their stance. In this light, she indeed seemed quite sincere. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï What¡¯s more, the distribution scheme she proposed was rather generous. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng thought it over and decided to first examine the specific location of the Cave Mansion Ruins to verify its truth. If things were as Sun Ling¡¯er said, he naturally wouldn¡¯t pass up such an opportunity. With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng scrutinized the map in his hands, only to discover that the marked location was in a mountain forest tens of thousands of miles west of Qianchuan Market. This place wasn¡¯t far, situated just on the edge of the Demonic Lands, so the danger wasn¡¯t too great. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With their speed of travel, they could likely reach it within a fortnight. Such a place was too tempting not to explore. With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng chuckled and replied, ¡°Fairy Sun esteems the Lin Family, which I deeply appreciate and am grateful for.¡± ¡°It so happens that I am unoccupied, and I could take a clan member with me to accompany you to the Cave Mansion Ruins for an inspection.¡± ¡°If the situation turns out to be true, we can then plan accordingly and embark on the treasure hunt together, how does that sound?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Sun Ling¡¯er, without any hesitation, immediately responded. ¡°Let¡¯s do as Daoist Tianfeng says!¡± ¡°However, this area borders the land of the Demonic Beasts, and many cultivators come here to train. If we delay too long, others might discover it.¡± ¡°Hence, I hope Lin will be able to set off as soon as possible!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng quite agreed. After all, the location was indeed sensitive, and if discovered, it would surely invite unnecessary trouble. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and said, ¡°Rest assured, Fairy Sun, I will discuss this with my fellow clan members and give you an answer before evening.¡± ¡°If all goes well, perhaps we can depart tomorrow morning. How about that?¡± ¡°Good, very good!¡± The two reached an agreement and were both in excellent spirits. They chatted for a while longer and confirmed numerous details. Half a quarter of an hour later, Sun Ling¡¯er and Lin Tianfeng exchanged their methods of communication and she took her leave from Luoyun Pavilion. After sending Sun Ling¡¯er off, Lin Tianfeng did not dare delay and promptly returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard, where he gathered Lin Tianhu and Lin Tianhong along with a few others. Before long. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed at Qianchuan Market gathered, chatting over tea. Lin Tianfeng had no intention of beating around the bush and directly brought up Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s proposal about the Cave Mansion Ruins. Upon hearing his account, Lin Tianhu and the others looked surprised, and then overjoyed. After they calmed down, Lin Tianhong spoke up with a reminder, ¡°Big brother, it all sounds well and good, but we don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or false!¡± No sooner had he finished than Lin Tianyue also chimed in. ¡°Second brother is right; although Sun Ling¡¯er is acquainted with you and sister-in-law, we cannot fully trust her.¡± Lin Tianfeng was well aware of what Lin Tianhong and Tianyue were saying. He had gathered them to discuss the details of this proposal. In his mind, whether the information was true or false, it was essential to visit the location to find out. If it turned out to be true, the Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique might be within reach; if false, at worst it meant a wasted month. As for safety, even if Sun Ling¡¯er harbored some malicious intent and possessed strength at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, he could join forces with Lin Tianhu. Even if they couldn¡¯t defeat her, escaping with their lives wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Moreover, Sun Ling¡¯er was somewhat aware of the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength; it was unlikely she¡¯d make a bold move against the family members. With this in mind, he believed there was little to worry about regarding safety. With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng expressed his opinion to proceed and inspect the site alongside Lin Tianhu. His idea directly matched Lin Tianhu¡¯s, and although Lin Tianhong and others had some concerns, they also recognized the strength of Lin Tianfeng and Tianhu. In such a situation, after Lin Tianhong gave a few words of advice, he and Lin Tianfeng finalized the details of their plan. Chapter 640 03-25 - 640 354 Searching_2 ?Chapter 640: Chapter 354: Searching_2 Chapter 640: Chapter 354: Searching_2 The following morning at daybreak, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu left the Qianchuan Market together and met up with Sun Ling¡¯er in a valley outside the city. After the acquaintances exchanged pleasantries, Lin Tianfeng introduced Lin Tianhu. Seeing Lin Tianhu¡¯s resolute and unadorned face, coupled with his youth, Sun Ling¡¯er couldn¡¯t help feeling that his strength must be substantial. If she were to consider Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cultivation level as well, even she wouldn¡¯t dare claim certainty in defeating the two of them. However, she held no ill intentions and naturally wouldn¡¯t harbor any designs against them, instead, she began to regard the Lin Family even more highly. After all, the Lin Family truly boasted an abundance of talent. There was no need to mention Lin Tianming; his talent and strength were a rare commodity within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu were quite young, and their talents and strengths were not insignificant either. ... And how many more like them did the Lin Family possess? One should know that it¡¯s not terrifying for a single person to be strong, but when a whole group is formidable, that is truly fearsome. Given the circumstances, Sun Ling¡¯er was quite courteous, and her words overflowed with the intent to make connections. In response, despite being somewhat taciturn, Lin Tianhu was also very polite, and the wariness between the two parties significantly diminished. It didn¡¯t take long for them to become friendlier toward one another. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng looked up at the sky and then urged, ¡°Fairy Sun, it¡¯s about time we set off. Let¡¯s hurry!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Indeed, it¡¯s time to move!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? After nodding her agreement, Sun Ling¡¯er took out a map and started examining it once more. Soon, under Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s lead, the trio shot off towards the west. More than ten days passed. The figures of Lin Tianfeng and his companions emerged in a valley within the Qianchuan Mountain Range. This was the inner area of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, although it was adjacent to the outer edge, it still was not far. Even so, the place was sparsely populated, with numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts scattered about. Just along the way, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s party encountered several groups of Second Order Demonic Beasts; First Order Demon Beasts were even more common than hairs on an ox. Relying on the trio¡¯s strength, they managed to escape smoothly and thus arrived here. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng surveyed the surroundings with a puzzled look and asked, ¡°Is this the place mentioned by Fairy Sun?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Although this place is rich in spiritual energy, I can¡¯t discern anything particularly special about it!¡± Upon hearing the question, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded and then replied, ¡°It¡¯s not strange that Daoist Tianfeng can¡¯t spot anything amiss because I have laid down a concealing formation here!¡± ¡°A formation? Fairy Sun truly came prepared!¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Tianfeng, you flatter me!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s laughter, reminiscent of silver bells, rang out, before she continued, ¡°This Cave Mansion Ruin must be extraordinary. If I didn¡¯t make some preparations, and someone else discovered it, wouldn¡¯t that have wasted a great opportunity?¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking to himself that Sun Ling¡¯er, despite being a lone female cultivator, had attained her current realm with considerable merit. Indeed, that was the case. Although Sun Ling¡¯er was somewhat older than them, her realm was two levels higher. To achieve such accomplishments, she had led a perilous life, constantly seeking treasures and honing her skills in various mountain ranges, facing endless dangers and challenges. Time and again, she confronted life-threatening crises, but she persisted. Risk and opportunity are proportional; only with effort can one reap rewards. This is the law of survival in the dog-eat-dog Cultivation World. Her experiences over the years were undoubtedly richer than those of Lin Tianfeng and the others. After all, without relatives to guide and support her, she had been competing for all resources on her own. Having such experiences, so different from Lin Tianfeng¡¯s relatively comfortable upbringing, the contrast could not be more profound. With this understanding, Lin Tianfeng genuinely admired Sun Ling¡¯er, a female cultivator, from the bottom of his heart. This feeling was not merely that of romantic affection, but more so, it stemmed from the core of his being. Returning his mind to the present, Lin Tianfeng spoke promptly, ¡°We should not delay, let¡¯s explore this place as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements!¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er wasted no time, pulling a compass from her storage bag and skillfully opening a gap in the hidden formation. After confirming there was no danger in the vicinity, Sun Ling¡¯er took the lead and entered. Watching Sun Ling¡¯er depart, Lin Tianfeng glanced at Lin Tianhu beside him, and after exchanging a look, they followed Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s steps into the hidden formation without hesitation. Once inside the formation, the trio traveled several hundred feet deeper, arriving at the entrance of a gorge. The scenery before them was quite different from what they initially encountered. Outside the formation, the jungle was dense, with rocks scattered haphazardly among the thick vegetation, characterizing this large expanse of forest. Inside, however, the landscape was picturesque, with two rivers meeting and then parting ways, creating a unique tableau of nature¡¯s beauty. Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but admire the view. ¡°If this place weren¡¯t inhabited by demonic beasts, it would indeed be a great location for a temporary cave abode.¡± Returning to his senses, he and Lin Tianhu closely followed Sun Ling¡¯er, walking further into the gorge. Soon, the trio reached the depths of the gorge and paused at a natural crevice. At that moment, Sun Ling¡¯er pointed to the crevice and said, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, this is the entrance to the cave mansion, do you think you can break through these residual prohibitions?¡± ¡°Or perhaps by brute force, forcibly shatter them?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and moved forward a short distance, stopping in front of an invisible light screen. After a thorough inspection, he realized that indeed, it was a site of cave mansion ruins, with many remaining prohibitions that included both offensive and defensive capabilities and were quite powerful. These prohibitions, however, seemed quite old, reducing their attacking force and defensive power significantly. Yet even so, these prohibitions could easily stop a cultivator above the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Of course, an anomaly like Lin Tianming, with his current strength, could forcibly break through the prohibitions. But such individuals were very few and far between. Refocusing his mind, Lin Tianfeng was utterly certain that Sun Ling¡¯er was not telling lies. Judging by the state of this place, the owner of these cave mansion ruins must have been at least a Golden Core Stage cultivator; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have set up so many prohibitions with such potent force. Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s reason for seeking an alliance with the Lin Family was due to the strength of the prohibitions here. Even with her sixth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation, it would not be easy for her to forcefully break through the defense and enter smoothly. Otherwise, Sun Ling¡¯er would not have sought cooperation and could have explored on her own. After all, if she were to succeed in entering, the gains would likely be even greater. But the location of these cave mansion ruins was quite awkward, situated right on the internal edge of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, where formidable Foundation Establishment cultivators often practiced, making it easy to be exposed. Time waits for no one; she could not delay finding a partner for cooperation, even if she were reluctant. Otherwise, she would have to wait at least a decade to reach the necessary level of cultivation. Such a duration was not short and if the ruins were exposed, she might end up with nothing. Thus, after much deliberation and considering many potential allies, Sun Ling¡¯er decided to seek Lin Tianming¡¯s help. After all, the two had fought side by side on the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield and forged a strong friendship. She had a good understanding of his character and strength. Therefore, Lin Tianming was the best candidate for cooperation. Knowing that Lin Tianming had entered the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and would not emerge for some time, she decided to look for Qin Xi or other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Lin family. It wasn¡¯t until she met Lin Tianfeng and after some discussion that she considered the Lin Family¡¯s reputation and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cultivation strength, which wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat to her. With that, she settled on the matter. As for all these reasons, Lin Tianfeng, after his investigation, could only guess at them. However, that was of little concern, as both parties had their needs, and with their combined strength, they indeed had a chance to forcibly break through these defensive prohibitions. Chapter 641 03-25 - 641 355 Successfully Entering_1 ?Chapter 641: Chapter 355: Successfully Entering_1 Chapter 641: Chapter 355: Successfully Entering_1 Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng made up his mind to try to obtain some treasures. If there were any Wind-attribute Cultivation Techniques, that would be the best. If not, they could still obtain some cultivation resources. Thinking of this, Lin Tianfeng transmitted his voice secretly, asking Lin Tianhu¡¯s opinion. Soon, after reviewing the situation, Lin Tianhu generally agreed with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s decision. However, he thought the restrictions here were still very strong, and with their combined strength, the three of them might have to put in considerable effort. As for his plan, it was to return to Qianchuan Market first, discuss with the Lin Family Members, and prepare more treasures. If possible, they could even bring Lin Tianhong along. ... After all, one more family member meant additional safety for them. After some exchanges, the two reached a unanimous decision on this matter. Then, Lin Tianfeng spoke to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, the Cave Mansion Ruins do indeed exist.¡± ¡°However, as you¡¯ve seen, although these restrictions are in poor condition, they are not likely to be easily broken by just the three of us.¡± ¡°More importantly, the cave mansion is filled with uncertainties¡ªwe are not clear about the existence of Demonic Beasts and whether there are loopholes in the Formation.¡± ¡°Therefore, I suggest we go back to Qianchuan Market to prepare, preferably with a few powerful offensive and defensive treasures, to ensure more safety.¡± ¡°Besides, our clan has two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the market. If they could come and help, it would surely be safer.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? After hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er thought it over and found Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words to have some merit. Still, she had her reservations! If she misjudged them and Lin Tianfeng, along with other Lin Family Members, turned against her, she really wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in a three- or four-on-one situation. Thus, after hesitating for a moment, she spoke to Lin Tianfeng, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, your words are reasonable!¡± ¡°However, though the remnants of the restrictions here are powerful, we don¡¯t need too many people. In my opinion, adding one more member from the Lin Family would be feasible!¡± Her words were also out of consideration that if the three Lin Family Members turned against her, she could handle them with her cultivation strength or at least escape if things went south. Lin Tianfeng could also guess these concerns. In fact, in his heart, he did not believe that Sun Ling¡¯er would agree to a team of four from the Lin Family. Moreover, out of the four Lin Family Members in Qianchuan Market, at least one needed to stay at the Luoyun Pavilion, so it would not be possible for all of them to be mobilized. Internally, he thought if he could bring together three family members, that would meet his expectations. By saying so, he was also testing the waters, If Sun Ling¡¯er agreed, it would be ideal. If not, they would reduce one family member, trying to balance both sides. At this moment, when Lin Tianfeng heard Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s thoughts, his eyebrows relaxed, and he let out a sigh of relief internally. He thought as he had anticipated, under the pressure, Sun Ling¡¯er agreed to add another family member. Such a result was exactly what he wanted; achieving a balance would allow them to explore the cave mansion with more peace of mind. With this in mind, he immediately cupped his hands with a smile, ¡°Fairy Sun is truly understanding. In that case, let¡¯s get moving immediately!¡± Upon hearing these complimentary words, Sun Ling¡¯er giggled and nodded, agreeing with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s proposal. Soon, the three of them left the gorge by the same path they came and returned to Qianchuan Market together. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After half a month. Lin Tianfeng had arranged the specifics, with Lin Tianhong joining the team, leaving only Lin Tianyue to keep watch at the Luoyun Pavilion. Not only that, he specifically took a large number of items for sale from Luoyun Pavilion, found Li Xiuyuan, and purchased many High Quality Second Order talisman papers. For this exploration of the Cave Mansion Ruins, he used up all the wealth of several family members and even some of the Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s liquid assets to supplement their means of attack and defense. He prepared thoroughly. He was very clear in his heart that such cave mansion ruins, undiscovered for so long, surely had a master of no ordinary capability behind them. Such cave mansion ruins were filled with unknown dangers, but also with great opportunities. As the leader stationed in Qianchuan Market, he had to be well-prepared for the safety of his clan members. Otherwise, if any of them were to fall, it would be a severe loss for the current state of the family. Under these circumstances, he even took the liberty to use a portion of the family¡¯s funds, all to ensure a safe return to Qianchuan Market. Regarding his decision, Lin Tianhu and the others had no objections; instead, they admired his decisiveness. With preparations complete, Lin Tianfeng and the others instructed Tianyue, then left Qianchuan Market. After reuniting with Sun Ling¡¯er, the group of four made their way back to the gorge without much trouble, quite familiar with the route now. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng and the others stood outside the restrictions of the Cave Mansion Ruins, scrutinizing them closely. The concealed Formation around the perimeter still existed, and the entrance to the Cave Mansion Ruins appeared unchanged, but the power of the restrictions seemed to have declined. However, the extent of this decrease was so minor that it made virtually no difference to their overall strength. At that time, Sun Ling¡¯er looked at the three Lin Family Members before her and reminded them, ¡°Let¡¯s get started, fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°Good¡­ the energy here seems weaker. Later, let¡¯s focus our combined attack on this spot,¡± said Lin Tianfeng, pointing to a specific position. After replying, he looked to Lin Tianhu and the other family members by his side. Chapter 642 03-25 - 642 355 Smooth Entry_2 ?Chapter 642: Chapter 355: Smooth Entry_2 Chapter 642: Chapter 355: Smooth Entry_2 After exchanging glances, they all took out their attack magic artifacts and made ready to strike. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er was not to be outdone and likewise took out her own attack magic artifact, ready to launch an attack at any moment. A few breaths later. Following an order from Sun Ling¡¯er, the attack magic artifacts in the four people¡¯s hands burst forth with light of various colors. The attack magic artifact used by Lin Tianfeng was a Second Order Medium Quality, crafted by Lin Shilu, and it was quite powerful. As for Lin Tianhu and the others, they used Second Order Lower Quality attack magic artifacts, which although not of high grade, were of pretty good quality. The combined attack power of the three was, overall, still very strong. ... The attack magic artifact used by Sun Ling¡¯er was a Second Order Medium Quality flying sword. The body of the sword was a light blue color, and it unleashed a formidable attack power, clearly also a fine quality attack magic artifact. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This magic artifact was something Sun Ling¡¯er had acquired through her years of training and as a reward for her merits in the great battle at Yuyao City, adding to her wealth. She was quite satisfied with its power and wielded it boldly and decisively, matching her Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivation, making her attacks obviously stronger than those of the Lin Family members. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of loud explosions was heard, and the ground shook with the force of their joint attack. Fortunately, they were well prepared, having laid out several First Order Formations in advance, which covered the entrance to the canyon, isolating much of the disturbance. Otherwise, noises like these could easily be detected by some Foundation Establishment Cultivators without taking any measures. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Their combined attacks bombarded the barrier, causing only a ripple of energy on its surface, without breaking it. The group had anticipated such a result. After all, this was just a probing attack and lacked sufficient power, so it certainly could not succeed in one strike. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng was not discouraged but became even more resolute. ¡°Everyone, increase your strength, I believe it won¡¯t be long before we can break through it.¡± After Lin Tianfeng made this remark, Lin Tianhu and the others understood his intent and all increased the intensity of their attacks. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er also stopped holding back and continued to relentlessly attack the barrier along with the three others. ¡°Bang bang¡­ bang¡­ bang¡­¡± The sounds of explosions continued non-stop, the powerful vibrations growing incessantly, and the energy on the barrier¡¯s light screen visibly weakened. They sustained such an attack for a good half day. ¡°It seems the energy is nearly spent, let us make use of the power of talisman paper to see if we can break this barrier in one fell swoop!¡± After Lin Tianfeng spoke, Lin Tianhu and the others took out several Second Order Attack Talismans and activated them without hesitation. Sun Ling¡¯er also took out a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman and set it off. All four of them used their techniques, launching their strongest combined attack. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sky above the canyon suddenly became a blaze of colors as numerous Sword Qi, fireballs, and ice projectiles bombarded the barrier. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± a series of intense explosion sounds. The already weakened light screen rippled violently and the ground trembled several times. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng and the others all widened their eyes and stared fixedly at the light screen, holding their breath. Things happened in a flash, and after a few moments, the light screen collapsed. Immediately after, the scene within the barrier was exposed to everyone¡¯s eyes. Looking ahead, the view had drastically changed, revealing a bottomless cavernous passage. At the same time, an even denser Spiritual Energy rushed at them, refreshing everyone¡¯s spirit. Seeing this, their faces lit up with joy, and broad smiles emerged on their faces. ¡°Haha¡­ we finally broke through!¡± Lin Tianfeng laughed out loud and then said to Sun Ling¡¯er beside him, ¡°Fairy Sun, we¡¯ve broken through the barrier, let¡¯s go in and explore!¡± ¡°It should be so!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er nodded and responded. Seeing that Sun Ling¡¯er had no objections, Lin Tianfeng instructed Lin Tianhu and the others, ¡°Once we start, Tianhong will follow behind me, Tianhu will cover our rear, and everyone should be extra careful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big brother!¡± the usually quiet Lin Tianhu replied. Then, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er took the lead and rushed into the cave. ¡°Second Brother, let¡¯s get moving!¡± After Lin Tianhu spoke, Lin Tianhong nodded, and without delay, they followed Lin Tianfeng¡¯s pace, one after the other, into the passage. Inside the cave, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er probed carefully along the passage into the depths. They didn¡¯t know how long they walked, but after passing through the long corridor, they arrived safely at an even larger cave without any accidents along the way. Looking around, this cave was incredibly vast, with numerous stone tables and chairs made from artifact refining materials placed inside, and the walls were embedded with fist-sized beads, which appeared to decorate a hall. The living room area was vast and there were many items, but most of the furnishings had turned to debris on the floor. Lin Tianfeng picked up a piece of a stone table fragment to examine and couldn¡¯t help but flush with excitement. ¡°The material of this stone table is actually made from Second Order Superior artifact refining material, bronze crystal!¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Tianhu and the others also picked up some fragments to examine, and soon showed the same incredulous expressions as Lin Tianfeng. Clearly, judging by the remnants of these materials, the cave had been around for a long time, and even Second Order Superior artifact refining material like bronze crystal couldn¡¯t withstand the wear of the years. This very fact also suggested the antiquity of this cave abode, and that its owner must have been a mighty being. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been so extravagant as to use Second Order Superior artifact refining materials even for basic ornaments. Understanding this, everyone was filled with heightened anticipation for what they might encounter next. After regaining their composure, Lin Tianfeng continued to lead the group deeper into the interior. Soon, they discovered more than a dozen variously sized secret chambers along the sides of a passage. These chambers were also defended by enchantments, which left the group unable to guess the dangers or opportunities that might lie within. However, the defensive power of these enchantments had also waned significantly, and with some effort, they could be broken. Having come this far, there was no reason to give up. Knowing this, they once again began the process of breaking the enchantments. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± After half an hour, they joined forces and opened the first secret chamber. After exploring for a while, it appeared to be a bedroom, furnished with a jade bed made from high-quality artifact refining materials and other ordinary things, but nothing else. More critically, these objects were also severely weathered and valueless. Faced with this, the group felt a twinge of disappointment. Nevertheless, they quickly regained their morale and started attacking the second secret chamber. After the better part of the day, several chambers were opened in succession. Similar to the first, they found virtually nothing, nearly driving them to despair. All that effort had yielded nothing, and they had wasted quite a few Second Order talismans. If they didn¡¯t find something worthwhile, it would be an injustice to the nearly a month¡¯s worth of effort they had invested. Finally, after the sixth secret chamber was opened, they encountered some useful items. Upon investigation, this chamber turned out to be a Pill Refining Room. While there were no remaining elixirs, they found three Jade Slips. Perhaps because materials used for important hereditary treasures like Jade Slips were special, they were able to last a long time and thus were preserved. However, the content recorded on the Jade Slips appeared to be three Third Order Pill Formulas, and due to some damage to parts of the Jade Slips, the recorded content was also incomplete. As such, the value of these Pill Formulas was difficult to determine. If there was a way to fill in the missing parts, they could be quite valuable; otherwise, they were essentially useless. Even so, these three Jade Slips considerably improved the group¡¯s mood. At the very least, they broke the spell of finding nothing, keeping their hopes up for the remaining secret chambers. Chapter 643 03-25 - 643 356 Unknown Space_1 ?Chapter 643: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_1 Chapter 643: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_1 Immediately after, the four of them left the secret chamber and continued their search for the next one. As chamber after chamber was opened, by the time they reached the ninth, the quartet finally encountered something different. This secret chamber seemed to be a training room, quite spacious, and there, they discovered a skeleton. The skeleton appeared tall and slender; its owner must have been of considerable stature in life. Moreover, the skeleton was of a white jade color throughout, and in many places, it had turned pale gold. Even devoid of any sign of life, the skeleton still emitted a faint but formidable pressure. Upon encountering the skeleton, the group of four proceeded with utmost caution, daring not to let their guard down. ... After all, in the Cultivation World, some experts, even after death, might still possess unknown methods. If they were to be careless and become possessed, or attacked by any lingering traps, with their level of cultivation, they could very well fall here. Realizing this, eager as they were to discover opportunities, they dared not approach hastily for fear of losing their lives. Fortunately, after several cautious probes by Lin Tianfeng, the skeleton did not move, nor were there any signs of traps or hidden seals in the training room. Seeing that the skeleton posed no danger, Lin Tianfeng and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Big brother, the owner of this skeleton must have been at least a Golden Core Cultivator when alive, right?¡± At this moment, Lin Tianhong couldn¡¯t help but ask, looking at the skeleton before them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Lin Tianfeng nodded slightly at this remark, then shared his own thoughts. ¡°In my opinion, the owner of this skeleton must have had at least a Late Stage Golden Core cultivation level when alive.¡± ¡°It might even be possible that they were a Nascent Soul Cultivator!¡± ¡°A Nascent Soul Cultivator? Really?¡± Lin Tianhong seemed somewhat incredulous, muttering to himself in disbelief. In fact, Lin Tianhong¡¯s shock was not unwarranted; the guess was incredibly startling. Bearing in mind that the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World did not have even a single Nascent Soul Cultivator, and even across the vast expanse of Qingzhou or the Nine Provinces Continent, Nascent Soul Cultivators were top-tier powerhouses. And yet, this seemingly random Cave Mansion Ruins they were exploring might just be the abode of a Nascent Soul Expert, which was inconceivable. Hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s words, Sun Ling¡¯er, standing beside him, gently smiled and explained while pointing at the skeleton. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng¡¯s guess is quite plausible; judging by the weathered condition of these facilities, this cave mansion has existed for at least tens of thousands of years.¡± ¡°This skeleton has turned the color of white jade, which can only be achieved by Golden Core Cultivators¡¯ bodies. ¡°After all these years, the skeleton still glistens radiantly, retaining the formidable pressure of a mighty being, and it¡¯s even begun to turn a golden-yellow.¡± ¡°So, this person¡¯s cultivation level was at least Late Stage Golden Core, and perhaps even that of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.¡± Hearing Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianfeng nodded in agreement, deeply impressed by her insight. Seeing both attest to this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s face lit up with excitement, thinking that if this person was indeed a Nascent Soul Cultivator in life, then their fortune would naturally be immense. For Foundation Establishment Cultivators like them, even a tiny bit of the treasures left behind would be a Heaven-Defying Treasure. Understanding this, Lin Tianhong couldn¡¯t help but urge, ¡°Big brother, since this person was so powerful in life, there must be many treasures. Let¡¯s hurry and look for them!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, without further delay, each took out several Second Order Defense Talismans and held them in their hands. After ensuring they hadn¡¯t missed anything, they exchanged a smile and continued to approach. Soon, the four of them reached the front of the skeleton and began searching meticulously. Unfortunately, aside from finding some remnants of treasures¡¯ past glory, they found no treasures left behind. Seeing this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s face showed disappointment, and he couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°How could such a powerful person have left nothing behind?¡± Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng ignored his complaint and was intently studying a Jade Token sitting beneath the skeleton, appearing contemplative. The Jade Token¡¯s color was strikingly similar to the skeleton, and it clung closely to it, easy to overlook without a careful inspection. Quickly noticing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s lack of action, Sun Ling¡¯er followed his gaze and also spotted the Jade Token. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Her eyes dancing with curiosity, Sun Ling¡¯er pointed at the token and said, ¡°This might be the only thing left behind; it must have some special significance!¡± At this, Lin Tianhong came back to his senses and nodded to Sun Ling¡¯er, saying, ¡°Fairy Sun, let¡¯s pick up this item and take a closer look!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ be careful, Daoist Tianfeng!¡± replied Sun Ling¡¯er. Seeing no objections from Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng did not tarry and approached swiftly. With the speed of lightning, he took the Jade Token from beneath the skeleton in his hand. His movements were quick, and clutching the Jade Token caused no reaction from the skeleton, much to their relief. ¡°Big brother, have you discovered anything about the Jade Token?¡± Lin Tianhong, unable to quell his impatience, urged him on. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng began to closely examine the Jade Token. The material of the Jade Token was unknown, resembling the skeleton but slightly rougher in texture; it was covered with numerous intricate, fine talismanic inscriptions, indicating it could be a defensive artifact. However, that was all; there was no information about the skeleton¡¯s identity, nor any clue to how it might be activated. Chapter 644 03-25 - 644 356 Unknown Space_2 ?Chapter 644: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_2 Chapter 644: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_2 Seeing that he gained nothing, Lin Tianfeng had no choice but to tentatively infuse spiritual power into the jade token to see if it would react. No sooner had he tried than there indeed was a change. Accompanied by a strange sound, the jade token suddenly burst into brilliant light, instantly illuminating the entire secret chamber. At that moment, the vision of the four people blurred, and each of them felt a powerful pulling force dragging them into the endless void. In that instant, they all felt dizzy and swollen-headed, and then they lost consciousness. ¡­ Having no idea how much time had passed, when the four of them came to, they found themselves in an unfamiliar mountain valley. ... Looking around, the valley was filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, and the spiritual energy there was even denser than in the cave dwelling they had just been in. However, strangely enough, though the sky in the valley was blue, there was no sign of the sun. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng was the first to recover and couldn¡¯t help muttering. ¡°This seems to be an independent space!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianhong and the others recalled the descriptions of spaces in various classics, and their faces brimmed with ecstatic delight. It was said in the Cultivation World that treasures from independent spaces were of the Fourth or even Fifth Order rarity and value, making them extremely scarce and highly valuable. It was clear that the jade token Lin Tianfeng had just acquired was the key to entering this independent space. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï For some unknown reason, Lin Tianfeng merely infused some spiritual power into it without establishing ownership or refining the jade token, yet inexplicably transported the four of them here. Though the process was tortuous and entirely unexpected, the result turned out to be good. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but think to himself, ¡°I stumbled upon such a treasure by mistake!¡± Turning his attention back, Lin Tianfeng carefully observed the space beneath his feet. Upon his investigation, he discovered that this space was quite extraordinary, not only was it abundant with spiritual energy, but it was also a space that living beings could enter. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to survive. And such a spatial treasure is typically something only an Artifact Refiner of Fourth Order or above could create, and one must also possess Nascent Soul Stage Cultivation to construct such an item. Therefore, those who could create or possess such an item would definitely be considered powerful figures in the Cultivation World. Basing it on this information, the owner of the skeleton was most likely a Nascent Soul Cultivator in life. Otherwise, Golden Core Cultivators would probably not be able to obtain such a treasure. What¡¯s more critical is that such a treasure is extremely versatile, not only useful for storing treasures but also for keeping spirit beasts and even growing spiritual medicines, all of which could thrive normally within. In layman¡¯s terms, this was akin to the storage bags and spirit beast bags of High Order Cultivators, but with even more complete and powerful functions. Understanding all this, the four of them were excited to the extreme, their previously downcast mood instantly transformed. Once they calmed their thrilled emotions, Lin Tianfeng said to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, since the owner has been dead for many years, and no one has come in or out, there should be some good things here. Let¡¯s start looking immediately!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ indeed!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in response, her heart already brimming with anticipation. Soon, the four of them set out together, searching carefully through the valley. Not much time passed. The few searching came across a Spirit Field, and each person¡¯s face flushed red with excitement at the sight before them. It wasn¡¯t that they lacked composure, but what was in front of them was simply too enticing. Upon closer observation, the Spirit Field in front of them spanned over ten acres, with spiritual medicines growing lushly and displaying a riot of colors that looked incredibly attractive. And that rich fragrance of the medicines seemed to permeate through the barriers protecting them as if it had spread far and wide. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gazing at the large number of spiritual medicines in front of them, many of them Third Order varieties, most of which were familiar species. Through the transparent barrier, the group quickly cataloged the types and quantities of these spiritual medicines. Third Order White Orchid Flowers, Third Order Yuxu Grass, Third Order Silver Top Mushrooms¡­ The main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, White Jade Grass, Second Order Variegated Flowers, Second Order Snake Amaranth Fruits¡­ In the Spirit Fields found here, there are more than a dozen types of Third Order Spiritual Medicine, totaling over seventy plants. As for the Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, there are dozens of types, with a total of over three hundred plants. However, strangely and regrettably, there wasn¡¯t even a single plant of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine, nor was there any Second Order Spiritual Medicine or Third Grade Treasures that could directly aid in breaking through one¡¯s cultivation. Otherwise, if they could obtain the Spiritual Medicine from these Spirit Fields, they would have hit the jackpot. ¡°Big brother, hurry up and break this seal!¡± An impatient Lin Tianhong, who was also a Second Order Alchemist, upon seeing such a vast array of valuable Spiritual Medicine Materials, couldn¡¯t help but urge eagerly. It wasn¡¯t just Lin Tianhong; even Sun Ling¡¯er, who had a higher cultivation, was similarly drooling over them. If not for the barrier, she might have already charged in. Seeing the fervent looks of everyone, Lin Tianfeng also grew somewhat anxious. However, he forced himself to calm down, though he still hesitated internally. After all, the space they were brought to by the Jade Token was an ownerless item. If they could refine it, they might be able to claim everything inside as well as gain a powerful auxiliary treasure, thus there would be no need for brute force destruction. Yet, for some reason, the Jade Token had disappeared without a trace after bringing them to this space. He had tried various methods, but he was unable to summon it back, let alone refine it as his own. Not only that, they now had no way of exiting the space either. Upon thinking carefully, whether the situation in front of them was an opportunity or a crisis was still uncertain. If they forcibly broke the barriers inside, there was no telling if an accident might occur, or if it would damage the space, which was still difficult to say. After a lengthy silence, Lin Tianfeng pondered in secret, unable to make a decision for a moment. At this time, he glanced over at the still calm Lin Tianhu and privately sent a message to ask for his opinion. The same concerns Lin Tianfeng had, the usually reticent Lin Tianhu had also considered. After some discussion, both agreed that in the current situation, it wasn¡¯t up to them to choose. Since they couldn¡¯t leave anyway, they might as well make an attempt and secure the treasures before them first. Making up his mind, Lin Tianfeng then said to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, the barrier here should only be for gathering Spiritual Energy; its defensive power isn¡¯t strong, even weaker than those secret chambers outside. It probably won¡¯t take much effort to break through.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ we¡¯ve come this far, let¡¯s get started quickly!¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er naturally wouldn¡¯t object, especially since she had been itching to start. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all make a move together and claim the treasures of this place first!¡± After Sun Ling¡¯er responded, she was the first to strike. Lin Tianfeng and the others were not to be outdone and all attacked the spot Sun Ling¡¯er had chosen with ferocity. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of loud noises emanated, and ripples appeared on the light barrier protecting the Spirit Fields. The four worked together smoothly, tirelessly attacking the barrier. After only a few exchanges, the barrier of the Spirit Fields crumbled apart under their combined forces. Fortunately, the inside of the space was relatively calm, only causing a brief turbulence due to the clash of Spiritual Energy within and without, but it quickly returned to normal. And at this moment, the coveted Spiritual Medicine Materials were exposed before everyone, within arm¡¯s reach. ¡°Tianhu, you and Tianhong team up, and Fairy Sun and I will form another group. Collect all the Spiritual Medicine quickly!¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s instruction, Lin Tianhu nodded and after exchanging a glance with Lin Tianhong, they both rushed into the Spirit Fields. Their actions were swift, swiftly gathering several plants of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. Chapter 645 03-25 - 645 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute ?Chapter 645: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_1 Chapter 645: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_1 And at this time, seeing Lin Tianhu and his companion had already made their move, Sun Ling¡¯er naturally would not fall behind them. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, let¡¯s get started!¡± After speaking to Lin Tianfeng, Sun Ling¡¯er rushed into the spirit fields and began collecting the third-order spiritual medicine. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianfeng also joined her ranks, and the four of them split into two groups, energetically beginning their collection of spiritual medicine materials. Their actions were swift, and in just an hour, several hundred spiritual medicine materials had all been gathered. When the four of them came together, everyone placed the collected spiritual medicine materials into specially designated jade boxes, neatly arranged in front of them. At this moment, everyone¡¯s face was brimming with excitement, the gloom from entering the cave mansion ruins gone. ... Looking at the spiritual medicine materials in front of her, Sun Ling¡¯er was incredibly excited. It should be known that there was a great amount of spiritual medicine materials here, including many third-order ones, which were hard to come by in the Cultivation World. And as the organizer of this expedition to the cave mansion ruins, the information she provided allowed everyone to reap rewards greatly, and according to the agreement made before they entered, she could claim nearly half of the benefits. Such an abundance of treasure was invaluable. As a Loose Cultivator, she was acutely aware of the hardships she had endured over the years in her cultivation journey. One could say she had never encountered such an enormous windfall before. With such a cache of resources, advancing to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm would be incredibly easy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï If luck was on her side, it might even help her to enter the Golden Core Stage. And this was just a portion of their finds; the unknown expanse had many areas still unexplored, with the potential for even more rewards. Even if they were to leave now, the share of the loot each would receive was more than satisfying. With these thoughts in mind, Sun Ling¡¯er was extremely thrilled and very grateful to have met the Lin Family Members. After all, every time she joined forces with the Lin Family, she would gain something to various degrees. ¡°It seems that the cultivators of the Lin Family do indeed have incredible fate; every member of the family is extraordinary!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er mused dreamily to herself. Having calmed herself down, she then said to Lin Tianfeng, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, should we divide up now or wait until we leave?¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianfeng let out a chuckle in response. ¡°There are still many places here we haven¡¯t explored. How about we divide everything after we get out?¡± Listeining to this, Sun Ling¡¯er smiled indifferently, agreeing with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s thinking, and hence, she did not object to his suggestion. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s get moving quickly, secure the treasures of this place as soon as possible, and then leave this place!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er urged, taking the lead towards the deeper regions. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng let out a wry smile, and, together with Lin Tianhu and the others, followed in her footsteps. Before long, they arrived at the top of a mountain and stopped in front of a peculiar-looking pavilion. Looking over, the pavilion was oddly shaped and large, also protected by magical restrictions. Even from behind the restriction¡¯s light screen, it was hard to discern any useful information that might reveal the purpose of the pavilion. At this time, each person¡¯s brow was furrowed in deep thought, pondering something internally. ¡°Big brother, could this pavilion be where the treasures are stored?¡± Lin Tianhong was the first to speak, pulling everyone back from their thoughts to reality. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s words, they all thought it was quite possible. After all, some treasures are special and do not require specific environments like spiritual medicine or spirit beasts for storage. Cultivation techniques, elixirs, and even various weapons and talisman paper are less complex and just need a place to be kept. Clearly, the pavilion did indeed have the potential to be a treasure vault. Realizing this, the recently calmed group once again became excited. At this time, Lin Tianfeng glanced at Sun Ling¡¯er and Lin Tianhu and then said, ¡°Fairy Sun, this pavilion is surely extraordinary, let¡¯s get to work quickly!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er responded and immediately started her attack, launching a strike at the magical restriction light screen before them. Her movements were quick, not showing any hesitancy. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng smiled casually, joining in with Lin Tianhu and the others to collaborate with Sun Ling¡¯er in attacking the light screen. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Familiar sounds continued to ring out non-stop, and the energy on the restriction light screen depleted rapidly. With everyone¡¯s combined efforts, the pavilion¡¯s protective restriction began to collapse, eventually vanishing completely from view. The ground shook and the commotion was even louder than when the spirit fields¡¯ restrictions were breached. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng felt a pang of fear in his heart. Continuing this way, if they forcefully broke too many restrictions, could it cause the collapse of this space and their subsequent engulfment within? While Lin Tianfeng was lost in thought, Sun Ling¡¯er, taking the lead, was the first to rush into the pavilion. ¡°Big brother?¡± Lin Tianhong, seeing Sun Ling¡¯er disappear before his eyes, gave a reminder. Hearing the reminder, Lin Tianfeng regained his senses and then glanced at the still stable space, which didn¡¯t seem to show any signs of collapse. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m overthinking it!¡± ¡°No matter, since we can¡¯t leave, let¡¯s secure the treasures first!¡± Lin Tianfeng thought to himself, then pulled Lin Tianhu and the third person along as they too rushed in. Soon, they appeared on the first floor of the pavilion, standing side by side, eyes wide with surprise at the scene before them. A glance around revealed that the first floor of the pavilion was vast, but it was completely empty, with nothing inside. Chapter 646 03-25 - 646 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute ?Chapter 646: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_2 Chapter 646: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_2 ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°If this attic really is a treasure vault, isn¡¯t it a bit too clean? There isn¡¯t even a single spirit stone!¡± The most restless, Lin Tianhong, couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. Hearing this string of complaints, Lin Tianfeng offered a wry smile and then pointed to a passage in the corner as he said, ¡°This floor is probably meant for storing ordinary treasures. Perhaps it¡¯s because so much time has passed that ordinary items simply couldn¡¯t be preserved, and that¡¯s why it¡¯s completely empty.¡± ¡°Things that have remained through the endless ages are certainly not these first and second order spiritual objects. Perhaps only treasures of the third or fourth order could have survived.¡± ¡°Thus, it¡¯s certain that we won¡¯t find anything on the first floor. As for the second floor, or even higher, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± ¡°In any case¡­ let¡¯s go up and have a look before we draw any conclusions!¡± ... After hearing what Lin Tianfeng had to say, Lin Tianhong finally relaxed, heaving a sigh of relief. His temperament was somewhat impulsive, and he was obsessed with alchemy. He certainly didn¡¯t understand as much about the countless documents and hearsay of the cultivation world as Lin Tianfeng did. Lin Tianfeng, on the other hand, was carefree and meticulous, having made acquaintances with all sorts of people from different walks of life. This seemingly rough and hearty temperament allowed him to thrive anywhere, proving to be extremely steady. On the other side, Sun Ling¡¯er was extremely satisfied with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s perspective. Soon, the four of them went together to the attic¡¯s passage and arrived on the attic¡¯s second floor. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Just as Lin Tianfeng anticipated, the inside was empty just like below, filled only with a vast amount of debris, indistinguishable as to what treasures they once were. Fortunately, they had been prepared for this outcome, so there was no sense of disappointment. Undeterred, the group continued upwards, and it wasn¡¯t long before they arrived on the third floor. Standing in the somewhat spacious hall, they noticed that this area was much smaller than the two floors below and there were no further passages. Clearly, this was the topmost level and the most important place in the entire attic. Understanding this, everyone¡¯s expressions turned eager, and they began searching carefully throughout this floor. In a short while, they came upon a pile of colorful debris. Upon closer inspection, this pile was quite sizable, consisting of artifact refining materials, broken jade bottles, and even body parts of demonic beasts, haphazardly strewn on the ground. ¡°Big brother¡­ this piece of third order artifact refining material has weathered so badly that it hardly holds any energy. It¡¯s a real waste of natural resources!¡± Lin Tianhong extracted a blue ore from the pile and after scrutinizing it, couldn¡¯t help but curse in frustration. Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t respond. He too was holding a relatively intact jade bottle, pouring out the remnants of the elixirs inside. At that moment, the other couple were also busy sorting through the heap of rubbish. Soon, they had sifted through the debris, finding that all were items from which the energy had dissipated significantly. Many years ago, these objects might have been of great value, but now, with the passage of time, they were scarcely of any use. However, even so, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t let them go to waste, collecting everything that could be utilized. These third order ores, for instance, despite severe energy loss, could still potentially be used for artifact refining if processed properly, though they were no longer suitable for high order magic artifacts. Immediately after, the four continued to explore this floor, sequentially finding several more piles of items. As expected, items of high value were exceedingly rare. Even the few fourth order items they found had lost so much energy that they were not much different from ordinary second order treasures. In response to this, Lin Tianfeng felt rather helpless, only able to offer some words of comfort. ¡°Big brother, come over here and look!¡± Just then, Lin Tianhu found something in a corner, and his sudden exclamation drew everyone¡¯s attention. Lin Tianfeng rushed over in an instant and started examining a jade slip he picked up from a pile of objects. Soon enough, his breathing quickened, and his face flushed with excitement. Upon inspection, he found that the jade slip was actually the wind-attribute cultivation technique he had long been seeking. Named ¡®Wind-Chasing Daoist Scripture¡¯ Although the rank is only Earth Grade, it was already the Lin Family¡¯s highest grade technique available to the clan members. ¡°It¡¯s really a case of ¡®not noticing the willow tree that grows in the shade when you¡¯re just planting flowers without a care¡¯!¡± With this technique, Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation would surely progress with astonishing speed. Given his unique attribute talent, he might even catch up with Lin Tianming, the fastest cultivator among them, or even surpass him! One can imagine that under such circumstances, the breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage for the two great talents of the Lin Family was almost a sure thing, and even reaching the Nascent Soul Stage wasn¡¯t out of the question. ¡°Hehe¡­ bringing this technique back to the family, the Clan Leader and the rest will definitely be overjoyed!¡± Lin Tianfeng thought to himself with a smile that stayed on his face, looking somewhat strange. ¡°Big brother, did you find something good?¡± Lin Tianhong couldn¡¯t help asking upon seeing his expression. In response, Lin Tianfeng did not explain but simply stashed it directly into the storage bag that held his gains. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, did you find something? Won¡¯t you even let this little girl take a look?¡± Sun Ling¡¯er spoke with a tone of grievance, seemingly very dissatisfied. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianfeng quickly said, ¡°Fairy Sun, I swear by the Heavenly Dao that the item I just took is definitely of no use to you. ¡°But for our Lin Family, it is of great significance.¡± ¡°Therefore, I took it directly, but to compensate you, when we sort out the treasures later, our Lin Family will take one-tenth less, and I will owe you a favor. ¡°How does the Fairy feel about this proposal?¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression finally improved a bit. She knew in her heart that what Lin Tianfeng had taken was a Jade Slip, which was likely a Cultivation Technique or an inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation, and by not showing it to her, it was no doubt of significant rank, to avoid revealing any secrets. After all, their relationship was merely one of mutual fondness; it was purely a partnership. Thus, it made sense that he didn¡¯t involve her in the handling of important items. However, Lin Tianfeng was also tactful enough to know that taking advantage meant sharing some of the benefits and promising by the Heavenly Dao. Otherwise, how many people can stay calm when faced with absolute benefits? Besides, she did not internally insist on obtaining this item. She was aware that if it were a Cultivation Technique, it would surely be differentiated by attributes. And with her Three Spiritual Roots aptitude, not all of her root attributes were strong; the possibility of perfectly matching with that technique was quite low. If it were an inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation, it would be even less useful to her. After all, as a Loose Cultivator, she had been diligently cultivating for many years without practicing any of the Four Arts. Having that item would only mean selling it, which carries great risks, and might not bring much profit. In such a situation, the Jade Slip that Lin Tianfeng took indeed had little use for her; it was more practical to have a larger share of the benefits. More importantly, it would put the Lin Family in her debt. Considering all this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded and then replied, ¡°Since Daoist Tianfeng has spoken thus, if I persist, it would appear ungracious! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I only hope that Daoist Tianfeng remembers the promise and avoids unnecessary trouble!¡± With that, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s tone became firm, and her expression turned stern. Seeing Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression and her firm tone, Lin Tianfeng smiled and tried to ingratiate himself. ¡°Fairy Sun rest assured, the men of the Lin Family are true to their word; we will not do anything despicable!¡± Upon hearing this, the harshness on Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face slowly faded, and a genuine smile reappeared on her cheeks. ¡°The little girl indeed trusts the Lin Family and believes in the character of the fellow Daoists; otherwise, I would not have chosen to collaborate with you.¡± ¡°Since no one has any objections, let¡¯s hurry up and clear out these things to see if there are any more treasures!¡± Reminded by Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng finally came to his senses and quickly led the others to start sorting through the remaining items. Chapter 647 03-25 - 647 358 Spatial Fissure_1 ?Chapter 647: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_1 Chapter 647: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_1 A teacup¡¯s worth of time passed. The four moved swiftly, scouring through the entire third floor, nearly dismantling it completely. Such a thorough search was indeed to the utmost extreme. In such a situation, aside from the wind-attribute cultivation technique they had obtained, they also found several other fine items. The first was three oddly colored ores, each the size of a fist, each containing rich energy, clearly not ordinary. Even with their discerning eyes, they could neither name them nor recall any information about these ores. However, given these ores had survived through the years, the likelihood that they were Fourth Tier items was high. ... Even if such treasures had lost some of their energy, they were beyond compare with ordinary Third Grade Treasures. As for the other two treasures, one was a crimson token, and the other, a Golden Leaf. The token seemed quite ordinary, except for the dense, small runes inscribed on it, which displayed characters they had neither seen nor heard of before, leaving no clues as to the object¡¯s origin or purpose. As for the other leaf, it too was profoundly mysterious, with its crystal-clear appearance revealing nothing. They only knew these things were not simple, having remained through the long years, they were certainly extraordinary. Even if they did not know their uses or bring any immediate reward, perhaps in the future, they could unravel their secrets. If their luck were good enough, who knew, their harvest might be much greater than this one. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Understanding this, the group was immensely excited, quite satisfied with their gains. After scouring the attic, the group of four left the place, continuing their exploration within this ancient space. Before long, they found themselves in an open area, where they made a new discovery. This spot was no different from the others, but they detected the energy fluctuations of another prohibition. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their investigation revealed something peculiar about this prohibition, its power was noticeably stronger than anything they had previously encountered. Furthermore, this was not an invisible curtain; they could not see anything within it. As to the structure of this prohibition, it was formed by several golden pillars of energy, creating a special space. With limited vision and not being experts in formations, they could not predict whether the prohibition was concealing a Treasure Pavilion like the attic before or if it held dangers unknown. There was also no clear way to break it. At this moment, their expressions varied, caught in a dilemma. After a long while, Lin Tianhong spoke first, breaking the silence. ¡°Big brother, Fairy Sun, with your greater experience, what are your thoughts on this prohibition?¡± Lin Tianhong¡¯s implication was naturally to ask the others whether they should try to break it, to see what treasures might lie behind it. After all, they had already tasted sweetness from the previous attic, reaping many fine items. And since this prohibition was so powerful, whatever it concealed, it surely wasn¡¯t ordinary. Having come this far, it would be a pity to give up the opportunity now. At this moment, aside from Lin Tianfeng who still maintained a bit of calm, the rest of the group were eager to try. Faced with this, Lin Tianfeng was conflicted, especially as he had been worried that this space was damaged too severely and might collapse completely. Yet now, without a way out, and faced with such an opportunity that could skyrocket the Lin Family¡¯s status, he truly found it hard to let go. In this moment, Lin Tianfeng hesitated, and he couldn¡¯t make up his mind. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng? What do you think?¡± Sun Ling¡¯er, seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s prolonged silence, urged him on. Lin Tianfeng, snapping back to reality faced with the others¡¯ questions, hesitated, but ultimately decided to give it a try. The prohibition was mysterious and unique, perhaps their chance to leave. Besides, he couldn¡¯t bear to waste such a rare opportunity. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng said to the others, ¡°Since everyone wants to give it a shot, then let¡¯s try. Maybe we¡¯ll really find treasures and a way out of here!¡± Upon hearing this, the others grew excited, itching to take action immediately. Seeing their eagerness, Lin Tianfeng could only give a wry smile. A teacup¡¯s worth of time later, preparations were complete, and they were ready to launch their attack. At Lin Tianfeng¡¯s command, the four unleashed their attacks on one of the energy pillars before them, striking it with a frenzy. ¡°Boom¡­¡± After a long silence, the space erupted with the sound of explosions and the ground shook beneath them. Their coordination was skillful, with each strike delivered with full force. Though the pillar had strong defensive power, it couldn¡¯t withstand such relentless assault, its energy visibly draining. If this continued, it might not be long before they broke it. Seeing their attacks making an impact, the group became even more enthused, their assaults unrestrained. After much of the day had passed, as they joined forces for a strike, a massive sound like a thunderclap exploded overhead. In that instant, the entire space deflated like a punctured balloon, and the ground shook wildly. Simultaneously, Gang Wind rose throughout the space, and the oppressive force seemed as if it was about to tear them apart. Chapter 648 03-25 - 648 358 Spatial Fissure_2 ?Chapter 648: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_2 Chapter 648: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_2 As this catastrophe unfolded in an instant, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s complexion changed drastically, and he couldn¡¯t help but cry out loudly. ¡°No good¡­ we¡¯ve blundered into breaking the spatial nexus system; this space seems to be collapsing!¡± Upon hearing this, the three people present turned pale and couldn¡¯t help feeling some regret. Blinded by greed for the treasures in the beginning, why had they thought to tamper with these light pillars? But now there was no time to think, let alone regret. More and more spatial fissures were appearing above their heads, and the Gang Wind, like a sharp blade, carried a terrifying force. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it difficult to resist. If swallowed by them, those with good luck might survive, but the less fortunate could be torn apart by the Gang Wind, losing their lives in vain. At this critical juncture, Lin Tianfeng forcibly calmed himself down. ... He knew that the situation was urgent, and to leave this place smoothly, they must use the Jade Token that had brought them here. Otherwise, they could only rely on Heaven¡¯s Will. However, the Jade Token that had ushered them in had mysteriously vanished, and he had already tried to summon it previously, to no avail. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng felt helpless and out of options. ¡°Swish, swish, swish¡­¡± Several spatial fissures passed over their heads, and the Gang Wind nearly swept them into its grasp. Fortunately, the current density of spatial fissures wasn¡¯t very high, and the collapsing area of space was just a small part. Otherwise, the recent spatial fissures would have been enough to claim their lives. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Temporarily avoiding catastrophe, Lin Tianfeng let out a sigh and then said to those beside him, ¡°There¡¯s still some time before space completely collapses. Let¡¯s try to make it back to the starting point!¡± As soon as the words were out, he dashed forward, with the three people following closely behind. Fortunately, the expanse of this space wasn¡¯t too vast. If they flew at full force, they would quickly arrive at the starting point. By then, the collapsing space behind them was spreading over this way. It might not take long for this last piece of living space to vanish entirely. ¡°Big Brother, what should we do? The collapsing space is about to disappear completely!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianhong turned his head and saw the spatial fissures getting closer behind them, and spoke in terror. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng tried to maintain his composure, searching within his body or his sea of consciousness for the missing Jade Token. He was clear in his mind that the item was mystical; since it had led them into this space, it should also be capable of opening a passage for them to leave smoothly. The reason he couldn¡¯t find it or summon it before must be that it was of high grade and held spirituality, not acknowledging him yet. Otherwise, there was really no reason to bring them here. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng searched meticulously, again and again attempting to summon the Jade Token. ¡°Swish, swish, swish¡­¡± The spatial fissures drew closer, and in the blink of an eye, space had collapsed in front of them. At this moment, they had less than a hundred zhang of living space left. For the spatial fissures that were as fast as lightning, this distance was negligible, perhaps one or two breaths away from descending right before them. As the living space continued to decrease, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face turned ashen, inwardly cursing the Jade Token. Why bring them here if not to let them out? Was this not meant to trap them here to die? Perhaps the curse had some effect, because as the spatial fissures swept towards them, a ten-zhang-high passage appeared dozens of zhang in front of them. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng was overjoyed. ¡°The spatial passage has appeared, let¡¯s hurry over there!¡± After reminding everyone, he grabbed Lin Tianhu and Lin Tianhong with each hand, turning into a streak of afterimage as he rushed towards the location of the spatial fissures. Meanwhile, Sun Ling¡¯er, upon seeing the spatial passage, also transformed into an afterimage, darting toward the portal. In the face of great crisis, the actions of the four were swift. They were about to reach the entrance of the passage. But the collapsing pace of the spatial fissures behind them quickened further, reaching the airspace above their heads in an instant. At that time, a dense array of spatial fissures swept madly overhead like lightning. At this rate, it was impossible for all four to rush into the passage. In the face of certain doom, Lin Tianfeng was exceptionally calm. Lin Tianhu beside him also understood the dire situation they were in. ¡°Swish, swish¡­¡± A deafening noise rang out, painfully vibrating their eardrums. Above their heads, there were already two huge spatial fissures coming at them, seemingly intending to engulf all four of them. ¡°Tianhu, send Tianhong in first!¡± After yelling out, Lin Tianfeng stuffed a storage bag into Lin Tianhong¡¯s hand. Immediately after, he slapped Lin Tianhong¡¯s back. At the same time, Lin Tianhu, too, had a determined look on his face as he forcefully slapped Lin Tianhong¡¯s back. Before Lin Tianhong could react, he found his speed had increased several-fold. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, he arrived at the entrance to the spatial passage. At that moment, Lin Tianhong turned to look towards Lin Tianfeng and saw two spatial fissures closing in on their heads and had already engulfed half of them. As for Sun Ling¡¯er, though she was closer to the passage than they were, there was still some distance left. Chapter 649 03-25 - 649 358 Spatial Fissure_3 ?Chapter 649: Chapter 358: Spatial Fissure_3 Chapter 649: Chapter 358: Spatial Fissure_3 The speed of the spatial fissure was too fast; at this rate, even if she were closer and moved as fast as she could, it would still be difficult to reach the passage. At this moment, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face was also filled with the color of despair. ¡°Tianhong, no matter what, you must survive and bring the storage bag back to the Clan Leader. Other than the four elders and Tian Ming, no one should be told!¡± In that moment, as the devouring abyss loomed over them, Lin Tianfeng shouted instructions to Lin Tianhong, his eyes filled with a resolve. Hearing this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he felt an immense sense of guilt. Initially blinded by the treasure, he had urged Lin Tianfeng to attack the forbidden formation made of five pillars of light. Now, their accidental disruption had broken the hub of space itself, causing the entire space to collapse completely. And as Lin Tianfeng and the others were engulfed by the spatial fissure, the likelihood of their survival was grim. ... Realizing this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s complexion turned pale as he called out to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu incessantly. ¡°Tianhong, second brother, hurry into the spatial passage and leave!¡± The moment Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu were engulfed by the spatial fissure, both of them smiled serenely and loudly urged Lin Tianhong to move on. The smiles on Lin Tianfeng and the others¡¯ faces were calm, as if to avoid adding psychological pressure on Lin Tianhong. Clearly, they had come to understand what they would face next and had prepared themselves for life and death. Under Lin Tianhong¡¯s desperate gaze, the two of them vanished from view. And in that moment, Sun Ling¡¯er seemed to comprehend her own fate as well; after the two were consumed by the spatial fissure, the one that had swallowed Lin Tianfeng also swept her away. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Watching as the three of them disappeared before his eyes, Lin Tianhong, despite his immense grief, had no choice but to brace himself. In that instant, Lin Tianfeng and the others¡¯ parting words echoed repeatedly in his mind. Although he did not know what the Jade Slip that Lin Tianfeng had collected was, he only knew it was of extraordinary significance. Now that they had suffered heavy losses, it was imperative not to leave that crucial item that Lin Tianfeng had valued here; he had to fulfill Lin Tianfeng¡¯s last wish and deliver the storage bag intact to the Clan Leader. With this understanding, he hesitated no more and lifted his foot, stepping into the spatial passage. Just as Lin Tianhong disappeared into the passage, the entire space collapsed completely, vanishing within the spatial fissure. A few breaths later, Lin Tianhong felt dizzy and briefly lost consciousness. When he regained his senses, he found himself in the cave dwelling where the skeletal remains were located. At this moment, everything was as usual, no different from when they had entered. He could not afford to think too much and immediately left the cave dwelling. Soon, he arrived at the cave¡¯s entrance, concealed it, and then set off toward Qianchuan Market along the path they had taken earlier. He was well aware that the journey back would not be easy. After all, this was deep within the Qianchuan Mountain Range, where Second Order Demonic Beasts were commonplace; they had encountered several such beasts on their way in. And he was merely at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, his strength quite limited. If he were to encounter a Middle Stage Second Order Demonic Beast, his life might be at risk. Luckily, the route was familiar, and as long as he was careful, leaving this place successfully was not impossible. Moreover, he had no choice now. To honor the trust placed in him by Lin Tianfeng, he must return to his clan in the shortest time possible. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this in mind, Lin Tianhong transformed into a fleeting shadow, disappearing into the dense forest. ¡­ Chapter 650 03-25 - 650 359 Unfamiliar Place_1 ?Chapter 650: 359 Chapter Unfamiliar Place_1 Chapter 650: 359 Chapter Unfamiliar Place_1 Jingzhou, the Cultivation World of Huafeng Country. In a certain forest of the Suolo Mountain Range, two bodies covered in blood lay in a ravine, not more than several dozen feet apart. Looking closely, the faces of both were pale, their clothes ragged and torn, with most parts of their bodies wounded, their blood dyeing much of the soil red. The two lay motionless on the ground, clearly having fallen into unconsciousness. At that moment, the roar of a demonic beast sounded. ¡°Aooo¡­¡± A Red-tailed Wolf at the peak of First Order leapt forward, opening its bloodthirsty maw as it ran toward the direction where the two lay. ... The Red-tailed Wolf was swift; its two-yard-long body trod upon the earth, making a series of crisp sounds. In that instant, perhaps sensing an impending crisis, Lin Tianfeng suddenly opened his eyes as he lay on the ground. On the other side, Sun Ling¡¯er, who had also heard the commotion, woke up as well and opened her eyes. However, her injuries were heavy, the channels throughout her body were in disarray, and her spiritual power had already been depleted. Facing the Red-tailed Wolf, which she could usually kill with a flick of her hand, Sun Ling¡¯er tried to move her body, but it was exceedingly difficult. It was unimaginable that the two survived the terrifying spatial fissure, and together were transported here. Although they were fortunate to have preserved their lives, their injuries were so severe that the strength they could muster was perhaps not even as good as a Qi Refining Cultivator at the start of their path to immortality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï By this time, the Red-tailed Wolf had nearly reached the two of them, sensing the pungent smell of blood in the air as if it had spotted a nourishing treat. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Excitedly howling, the Red-tailed Wolf pounced fiercely at Sun Ling¡¯er, who lay still on the ground, its gaping maw nearly swallowing her in one bite. In a moment of desperation, Lin Tianfeng managed a flip and, regardless of how severe his own injuries were, instinctively lunged toward the Red-tailed Wolf¡¯s position. ¡°Bang¡­¡± a crisp sound rang out. Just as the Red-tailed Wolf was about to bite Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s fist struck the wolf¡¯s head. Instantly, the Red-tailed Wolf yelped in pain, and both it and Lin Tianfeng were knocked back more than ten yards by the rebounding force. Barely steadying his form, Lin Tianfeng clenched his fists, his face contorting in agony, a look of pain flickering across his expression. One must know that this Red-tailed Wolf was a Demonic Beast at the First Order Late Stage, possessing immense physical strength. Yet even with such grievous injuries and a cultivation that was two levels lower than Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s, he was able to stand and repel the Red-tailed Wolf. It was unknown where this strength came from, as he forced himself to use his physical body to collide fiercely with the Red-tailed Wolf despite his severe injuries. But with this outcome, Lin Tianfeng had a measure in his heart. Although he wasn¡¯t like Lin Tianming, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, when it came to the strength of his physical body, he too had used numerous treasures and elixirs. Back in the day, he had obtained some Spirit Fruits, many of which contained powers that strengthened the physical body, and with Dragon Bone Pills that Lin Tianming gave him from time to time, his physical body had been greatly enhanced. Although his physical body was far behind the realms of his cultivation, it was still much stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. In a life-or-death situation, being able to clash head-on with a First Order Late Stage Red-tailed Wolf was not impossible. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but take a long breath of relief deep inside; at the very least, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for this Red-tailed Wolf to capitalize on their injuries to take their lives. However, he didn¡¯t become reckless. After all, they were not Foundation Establishment Cultivators right now, and their strength was less than half of what it was at its peak. In such a state, to escape unscathed from the Red-tailed Wolf¡¯s attacks, they still had to endure a fierce battle. As expected, before Lin Tianfeng could even take a breath of relief, the Red-tailed Wolf charged again, with a demonic and malevolent appearance, clearly not intending to back down easily. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression became solemn, enduring the severe pain throughout his body, he resolutely guarded in front of Sun Ling¡¯er. ¡°Thump thump thump¡­¡± A series of thunderous sounds rang out as Lin Tianfeng¡¯s fists and the Red-tailed Wolf¡¯s claws clashed head-on. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianfeng had engaged in several rounds of combat with the Red-tailed Wolf. At this point, his complexion was growing paler, and his ragged clothes had few places left intact. At the same time, his body was drenched in blood, blood spilled continuously from the corner of his mouth, and his breath had become utterly chaotic. At this moment, his state was extremely poor, relying solely on his physical body and willpower to staunchly resist the ferocity of the Red-tailed Wolf, refusing to take a single step back. However, with the injuries on Lin Tianfeng growing ever more severe, and considering the Demonic Beast¡¯s physical endurance and explosive power, continuing the battle seemed unlikely to end well for him. Sun Ling¡¯er witnessed his difficult plight, her heart heavy with complex emotions. Throughout this exploration of the ancient cave, they had had smooth sailing, and their gains had been tremendously large. Yet, no one expected that by accidentally disrupting the spatial balance, they would cause a collapse, leading a spatial fissure to engulf the three of them, and only after sustaining serious injuries were they able to preserve their lives. They hadn¡¯t even had a moment¡¯s relief when they found themselves in another trouble. Furthermore, just before the spatial fissure consumed them, Lin Tianfeng handed over all their acquired treasures to Lin Tianhong, instructing him to bring them back to the Lin Family. She knew clearly that in such a desperate moment, had they not done so, they might have ended up with nothing. The reason for such an action was instinctual, merely an effort to minimize the losses. Fate is capricious; they did not die in the spatial fissure. Chapter 651 03-25 - 651 359 Strange Land_2 ?Chapter 651: Chapter 359: Strange Land_2 Chapter 651: Chapter 359: Strange Land_2 And those treasures all fell into the hands of the Lin Family, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t carry them with him. As a result, she didn¡¯t gain anything and fell into another crisis. To be honest, Sun Ling¡¯er initially harbored some resentment towards Lin Family members. After all, she provided information about the cave dwelling and spent no small amount of effort and resources, yet ended up with nothing and kept falling into life-or-death situations. Even though she had been impetuous at the time, she never expected such an outcome. In this way, even if she remained alive, she still gained nothing; even if Lin Tianfeng acknowledged her contribution, she likely wouldn¡¯t get much. But now, in such a crisis, Lin Tianfeng could have left on his own, letting her fend for herself. ... From his perspective, it would have been entirely possible to do so. However, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t do that; instead, he stood firmly in front of her without abandoning her. Despite his serious injuries and being forced to retreat step by step, he still refused to back down. Being valued and protected in this way touched the softest spot in her heart. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was still fiercely fighting the Red-tailed Wolf, landing blow after blow without holding back. Both sides were engaged in a bloody battle, determined to kill their opponent right there. It was hard to imagine such a primitive and bloody melee was being participated in by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± After several more exchanges, Lin Tianfeng was beaten back again and again, thrown through the air, and smashed heavily beside Sun Ling¡¯er. He struggled to get up, spitting out mouthfuls of fresh blood, but managed not to fall. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s tall and upright figure caused Sun Ling¡¯er to fall into a daze. ¡°Roar¡­¡± As a scream echoed, the body of the Red-tailed Wolf smashed into the ground, the sound of the impact completely pulling Sun Ling¡¯er back to reality. By the time she came to, she found the Red-tailed Wolf lying on the ground, its body separated from its beastly form, its blood staining a large expanse of earth. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face was pale, and he staggered toward her. At that moment, she found it hard to believe: how could Lin Tianfeng, who had seemed destined for defeat, have slain the fierce Red-tailed Wolf? In that brief period of time, what exactly had happened? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little did she know that Lin Tianfeng had just been driven to despair. Despite not wanting to reveal the secret of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, at that moment, Lin Tianfeng had no choice but to unleash the Sword Qi he had been nurturing for a long time. He knew very well the power of this Spirit Art. As it didn¡¯t require Spiritual Power to activate, it was often a last resort for desperate situations, even a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast might not be able to withstand this Sword Qi. To use such a life-saving tactic against a First Order Demon Beast was indeed an overkill, a waste of great resources on a minor problem. In fact, it was indeed so; the moment the Great Sun Sword Qi Art was activated, the Red-tailed Wolf was overwhelmed by the immense aura, forgetting even to run away. It might also have been the oppressive force of the Sword Qi that had immobilized the Red-tailed Wolf as well. In any case, the Red-tailed Wolf had no chance to resist and could only await the Sword Qi to swiftly decapitate it. And having used this life-saving card, exposing this secret in front of Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng had not a single regret. Perhaps it was because he understood that Sun Ling¡¯er had gained nothing and had fallen into crisis, Lin Tianfeng felt somewhat guilty. Or perhaps it was a special emotion within him that did not want to see Sun Ling¡¯er perish. No matter the reason, he had ultimately made this move. And at this time, as Sun Ling¡¯er looked at Lin Tianfeng¡¯s faltering figure, the trace of resentment in her heart disappeared completely. Replacing it was a sense of deep gratitude, and an indescribable affection. While she was lost in thought, Lin Tianfeng had already cleaned up the aftermath of the battle and once again came to her side. At that point, Lin Tianfeng looked around the unfamiliar surroundings, scooped up Sun Ling¡¯er in his arms, and then darted off in a certain direction. Being held in Lin Tianfeng¡¯s embrace, feeling his masculine scent, the heartbeat from his chest, and the hot temperature, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face turned red, her shy appearance incredibly charming. Lin Tianfeng also felt the strangeness of the delicate body in his arms, and the faint contact of skin; his heartbeat couldn¡¯t help but speed up significantly. With their faces flushed, the two of them disappeared into the woodland. Half a day later, Lin Tianfeng and his companion had traveled dozens of miles and arrived in a secluded canyon. This canyon was quite peaceful and well-hidden, with no traces of demonic beasts or cultivators nearby, making it an excellent place for a retreat. However, their condition was recovering very slowly, with their strength greatly diminished, and the unfamiliar surroundings posed a significant danger. Considering this, they decided to establish a temporary cave abode on-site and focus on healing their injuries before making any further plans. Quickly, Lin Tianfeng created a cave and entered it with Sun Ling¡¯er. Inside the cave, Lin Tianfeng and his companion sat on the ground, each taking out some healing pills and pills for recovering spiritual power to consume. Before long, the sound of steady breathing filled the cave, and both fell into a deep state of cultivation. ¡­ Jingzhou, Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Yu¡¯an Country bordered Huafeng Country, both being central states in Jingzhou with vast territories. Both the soaring cultivators and the weak mortal population had a large base number. In such a land where the Immortal Path flourished and sects and noble families were numerous, the Golden Elixir Forces were plentiful, and the overall strength of the country was much stronger than the distant Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In the Nanfeng Mountain Range west of Yu¡¯an Country, two figures appeared above a mountain top ¨C one chasing, the other fleeing. The speed of the two figures was not slow; one was panic-stricken with an exceptionally pale face. The other wasn¡¯t in a much better condition, but from his aura, it was clear that he was fairing somewhat better than the one fleeing. The one in pursuit happened to be Lin Tianhu, who had been sucked into a spatial fissure. The moment he was caught in the spatial fissure, Lin Tianhu had lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a river valley. But his luck was far better than that of Lin Tianfeng and his companion under similar conditions; at least he wasn¡¯t gravely injured, only his spiritual power was significantly depleted, and he suffered some minor flesh wounds. However, just as he planned to find a place to retreat for cultivation, he inexplicably encountered this Blue Robed Cultivator. Seeing that he was injured and guessing that his cultivation was only about the third level of Foundation Establishment, the Blue Robed Cultivator harbored malicious intent. Lin Tianhu, not knowing his whereabouts, didn¡¯t want to stir up unnecessary trouble. Yet the man was aggressive and attacked without reason, seemingly confident in his approach. Unfortunately, this person greatly underestimated Lin Tianhu¡¯s strength. Even though he was injured and his cultivation was a level lower than the aggressor¡¯s. But after just over a dozen exchanges, the man was forced to retreat with many injuries, and one arm had been severed. By now, the man had realized Lin Tianhu¡¯s strength, recognizing that he had underestimated him and provoked someone he shouldn¡¯t have. Although he initially thought to abandon his quarry and flee, Lin Tianhu was already agitated and was not one to shy away from troubles. He didn¡¯t like to cause trouble, but when faced with the enemy¡¯s malice, he was certainly not a benevolent person. Since the fight had begun and he had made enemies, not to mention his ignorance of this person¡¯s background or whether there was a family sect behind him. If this person left and returned with allies to cause him trouble, he could end up in an even bigger predicament. Rather than releasing a tiger back to the mountain, it was better to eliminate future troubles completely. Understanding this, Lin Tianhu relentlessly pursued him, chasing him for more than ten miles, until they reached this place. At this moment, the injured man¡¯s face was ashen, his expression extremely ugly, filled with immense regret. Of all the targets to choose from, he had to encounter such a tough individual! Regrettably, even cultivators have no elixirs for regret to consume. Otherwise, he would have taken one without hesitation to escape the clutches of this fearsome man. At this instant, as the gap continued to close, he feared that within a few breaths, Lin Tianhu would catch up and kill him. Considering the current situation, he was well aware that a good ending was absolutely impossible. ¡­ Chapter 652 03-25 - 652 360 Belief_1 ?Chapter 652: Chapter 360 Belief_1 Chapter 652: Chapter 360 Belief_1 At that moment, the blue-robed cultivator suddenly stopped in his tracks, forcing himself to calm down. Then, with extreme sincerity in his tone, he shouted to Lin Tianhu who was pursuing him, ¡°Fellow Daoist, I am Yuan Shuo!¡± ¡°The incident just now was all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianhu finally stopped walking, yet the distance between them was merely a hundred meters, and he could launch an attack to take Yuan¡¯s life at any moment. At that time, Lin Tianhu let out a cold laugh, his face flashing with a hint of ruthlessness. ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Daoist Yuan only speaks of misunderstandings now, but when you saw I was injured and harbored malicious intentions, why didn¡¯t you mention misunderstandings then?¡± ... Embarrassed by these sarcastic words, Yuan Shuo hurriedly responded with a forced smile. ¡°What you say is true, I was possessed by folly and had ill intentions!¡± ¡°However, I now realize my mistake and only ask for a chance to live. I am willing to pay a price!¡± Yuan Shuo¡¯s words made Lin Tianhu smile involuntarily. He thought to himself that Yuan had reached a dead end with no escape, his life entirely in Lin¡¯s hands, yet he was still trying to negotiate terms. However, now that he held the absolute advantage, it would be reasonable to first inquire about this person¡¯s identity and background, and to clarify his current whereabouts. Whether to take his life or not could be decided after getting all the information. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Having made up his mind, Lin Tianhu then asked, ¡°Daoist Yuan, where do you hail from? And what price do you propose to pay? Feel free to tell me!¡± Upon hearing this, and seeing a sign of Lin Tianhu relenting, Yuan Shuo breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he began to respond, ¡°I am from the Yuan Family of the Foundation Establishment Clan in the Nanfeng Mountain Range, just several hundred li to the west of here lies our clan territory.¡± ¡°If Fellow Daoist spares my life, I am willing to compensate with fifty thousand Spirit Stones and a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact, how does that sound?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianhu was startled, and deep thought crossed his mind. ¡°Nanfeng Mountain Range?¡± In the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, he had never heard of such a mountain range. ¡°Could it be that this is not the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World?¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this thought, Lin Tianhu was shaken, his expression turning grim. He had thought that even if he fell into a spatial fissure, he would still land within the territory of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, but unexpectedly, he had been displaced far from his homeland. Having calmed down, Lin Tianhu became impatient to ascertain his current location and which domain it was. ¡°Daoist Yuan, which state and which nation¡¯s territory is this?¡± Lin Tianhu asked bluntly. Now it was Yuan Shuo¡¯s turn to be taken aback, and he couldn¡¯t help but speculate about Lin Tianhu¡¯s identity and how he ended up here, seemingly clueless about his current location. However, he did not dare to ask too much, fearing it might irritate Lin Tianhu and ruin the atmosphere he had so difficultly managed to create. ¡°Fellow Daoist, this is a map of the central Ten Nations within Jingzhou. Take a look for yourself!¡± Before he had finished speaking, Yuan Shuo flicked his sleeve, sending a water-blue map flying, which Lin Tianhu caught securely. Lin Tianhu hurriedly opened the map and glanced at it, then his expression changed dramatically. At this moment, he was shocked. He guessed that the experience within the spatial fissure was brief, yet in such a short time, he had been swept away to the lands of Jingzhou, appearing right in the thriving heart of the central Ten Nations. Yu¡¯an Country was one of these central nations, and to be listed among them, Golden Elixir Forces must be numerous, with Foundation Establishment Powers ubiquitous. One must know, the area of just Qingzhou alone is vast, comprising at least a hundred nations. And in the Cultivation World, it is said that Jingzhou has an ancient history, not like the relatively brief span of a hundred thousand years that Qingzhou boasts. Moreover, the size of Jingzhou is far greater than Qingzhou. Although the two are adjacent, their sizes are not on the same scale. By his conservative estimate, this place is at least several hundred nations apart from the distant Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Now, finding himself inexplicably far from his clan, returning home in a short amount of time became an impossibility. In such a region where the Immortal Path thrives, with his current level of cultivation power, he would at the very least need to reach the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm to have some ability to protect himself. Only then could he use the large Teleportation Formation between Qingzhou and Jingzhou to return to Qingzhou. Even back in Qingzhou, reaching the central regions, those powerful nations might not necessarily have a Teleportation Formation that leads directly to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Thus, in order to return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, he would have to spend time improving his cultivation and then devote a lot of time to traveling. It could be said that his journey home was destined to be difficult and full of endless dangers. Yet, despite this, Lin Tianhu still worried about the safety of his clan and was unwavering in his resolve to return. After a long while, Lin Tianhu gradually calmed down, clearly understanding that the road home was long. Without the protection of his clan elders, he had to rely on himself, with enhancing his cultivation being the most pressing matter, and only then could he consider returning home. Realizing this, Lin Tianhu was unusually calm, a calmness beyond the ordinary. And at that moment, seeing Lin Tianhu¡¯s face alternating between pale and flushed, Yuan Shuo guessed that he might be a Loose Cultivator who had somehow arrived at this place. Otherwise, he would not have been so shocked upon receiving news of where he was. At this moment, after much thought, Yuan Shuo felt less wary of Lin Tianhu. After all, someone who finds himself in a strange land, unless they are highly skilled in cultivation, would not likely seek to make enemies everywhere. Chapter 653 03-25 - 653 360 Belief_2 ?Chapter 653: Chapter 360: Belief_2 Chapter 653: Chapter 360: Belief_2 So it seems he has the backing of a family; Lin Tianhu surely won¡¯t oppress him excessively. With these thoughts, Yuan Shuo took a long breath of relief, and his tone became much more casual. Not only that, he even harbored sinister thoughts, planning to lure the boy to the vicinity of his clan¡¯s territory first. If he had the support of his clan members, he could certainly kill him and thereby learn the secret of his sudden appearance here. Having made up his mind, Yuan Shuo glanced at the silent Lin Tianhu and couldn¡¯t help but urge him. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what do you think of the compensation I¡¯ve offered?¡± ¡°If you agree, I can immediately cash out a part, and as for the other Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact, you can follow me to the clan to collect it.¡± ... ¡°In addition, I can recommend you to become a Guest Elder of our clan, providing a safe cultivation environment and support from our resources.¡± ¡°What say you, fellow Daoist?¡± Yuan Shuo offered several conditions in one breath, trying in every way possible to keep Lin Tianhu. In response, Lin Tianhu sneered in his heart and naturally didn¡¯t believe his deceitful words. After all, this man was of wicked heart; otherwise, he would not have made a move against him so readily. There was already enmity between them, and if he went to their territory, he¡¯d be putting his life and death in their hands. He was offering such generous rewards, clearly not out of consideration for his well-being but definitely with ill intentions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Though he was young, he had witnessed the cruelty of the Cultivation World and understood all too well the truth that strangers should not be trusted lightly. With these thoughts, Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t bother to waste words with him, planning first to take his life and end this karma. After all, the Yuan Family was just a Foundation Establishing Family; he was alone here, free from worries, and could go anywhere. Once he left the Nanfeng Mountain Range, even if the Yuan Family sought revenge, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy to find him. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianhu also refrained from idle talk and took advantage of Yuan Shuo¡¯s moment of self-satisfaction to suddenly make his move. In an instant, the Attack Artifact in Lin Tianhu¡¯s hand burst forth with a red light, slashing towards Yuan Shuo. His speed was very fast, and the distance between them was not far. Yuan Shuo was already wounded, and even if he was on guard, he still couldn¡¯t react in time. At that moment, Yuan Shuo was both shocked and angry, spinning his body trying to flee the place. While negotiating, he swore angrily, ¡°Fellow Daoist, this is going too far! My family has many Foundation Establishment Stage kinfolk; if you lay hands on me, you¡¯ll never get out of the Nanfeng Mountain Range alive!¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing these threatening words, Lin Tianhu sneered coldly, thinking that he was here all alone, unencumbered and without fear. After killing him, he could simply leave Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Even if the Yuan Family was stronger than the Lin Family, they couldn¡¯t extend their reach beyond Yu¡¯an Country. Without further worries, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attacks were decisive, and his burst of power was exceptionally fierce. Seeing that flattery was ineffective and threats only added fuel to the fire, Yuan Shuo was utterly terrified. Despite his full attempt to escape, he couldn¡¯t shake off Lin Tianhu; the distance between them was closing, and with each attack, Yuan Shuo was pushed to the brink. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The talisman paper in Lin Tianhu¡¯s hand flew out, blocking Yuan Shuo¡¯s path from different directions. At the same time, Lin Tianhu leaped forward, an Attack Artifact in his hand bursting with red light, slashing down at Yuan Shuo with astonishing speed. Seeing no escape, Yuan Shuo smacked his storage bag and hastily summoned a Second Order Mid-tier Defense Artifact to shield himself. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The attack unleashed by Lin Tianhu hammered onto the Defense Artifact. After a loud noise, Yuan Shuo was seen spitting blood, his body violently shaken by the powerful force, flying backward and crashing heavily on the ground, kicking up a great cloud of dust. Lin Tianhu too was pushed back dozens of feet by the intense force, his qi and blood churning within him, his expression turning serious. Although this attack did not claim Yuan Shuo¡¯s life, Lin Tianhu was not disheartened. After all, Yuan Shuo might not have been very strong, but the Magical Artifacts he used were all powerful, clearly no ordinary items. All the more reason for Lin Tianhu¡¯s killing intent to intensify. Just then, Yuan Shuo staggered to his feet from the ground, his face alternating between pale and ashen. Lin Tianhu¡¯s recent blow had severely wounded him, exacerbating his injuries and greatly diminishing his strength. Before he could catch his breath, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attacks followed one after another, giving him no time to react. Clearly, to completely eliminate the problem, Lin Tianhu wasn¡¯t careless at all and had no intention of letting Yuan Shuo go. Realizing this, Yuan Shuo knew full well that he had no chance of survival, whether he tried to flee or fight back; he was no match for Lin Tianhu. In desperation, Yuan Shuo released all the offensive treasures he could use in a flurry. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sky filled with attacks from various talisman papers and expendable treasures, instantly engulfing Lin Tianhu, who was rushing forward. Although there were many of these expendable treasures, their power was truly limited, nothing as grand as the Magical Artifacts Yuan Shuo wielded. Over the years, Lin Tianhu had proven himself to be a fighter among the younger generation of his family, participating in many missions to suppress Demonic Beasts and cultivation trials, experiencing a wide array of situations. Over time, he had developed a resolute and astute nature, and his combat experience was extremely rich. Facing Yuan Shuo¡¯s desperate counter-attack, he didn¡¯t retreat but advanced, moving like a nimble fish in the water. His speed was quick, his agile body slipping through the obstacles, and in an instant, he was already in front of Yuan Shuo. Chapter 654 03-25 - 654 360 ?Chapter 654: 360 Chapter 654: 360 At that moment, seeing his ghostly silhouette and the flash of red light that arrived at his forehead in the blink of an eye, Yuan Shuo was completely panicked and stood frozen on the spot. No sooner had the red light descended than Yuan Shuo, without even time to let out a cry, was beheaded. After Yuan Shuo had been killed, peace returned to the world once more. By then, Lin Tianhu¡¯s complexion was somewhat pale; although he had succeeded in his objective, the toll had been considerable. However, with Yuan Shuo finally dealt with, the next step was to quickly clean up the battlefield and then leave this place. Determined, Lin Tianhu wasted no further time and quickly cast several fireballs to destroy Yuan Shuo¡¯s corpse and eliminate all traces. Subsequently, he collected Yuan Shuo¡¯s storage bag, as well as two magic artifacts for attack and defense. ... Both of these artifacts were of Second Order Medium Quality, with quite impressive attributes. The attack artifact was a sword, and the defense artifact was a grey small shield that had withstood his strike with almost no damage at all. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, the overall standard for cultivation in Jingzhou was stronger than that of Qingzhou, especially the Ten Nations of Central Jingzhou, which were significantly more advanced than the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Moreover, the cultivation capabilities of the Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm, particularly the Four Arts of Cultivation, were evidently much more adept compared to the remote Wei Kingdom. When Yuan Shuo deployed the two artifacts, Lin Tianhu had already been coveting them, and now at last, they were his. Once he fully refined them, it was certain that his overall strength would improve even further. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï With the cleanup of the battlefield finished and all signs of the fight wiped clean, Lin Tianhu took out the map, gave it a look, and then shot toward the north. Yuan Shuo had mentioned earlier that the Yuan family¡¯s estate was located to the west, about five hundred li away. Always cautious, Lin Tianhu feared that Yuan Shuo might have deliberately lied to mislead him. Therefore, to be on the safe side, he decided to fly north. The reason for that decision was also because the neighboring Guang¡¯an Kingdom to the north of Yu¡¯an Country, of all the bordering nations, was the closest one. Furthermore, Guang¡¯an Kingdom was also one of the Central Ten Nations of Jingzhou, its overall strength just as formidable, if not more so, than that of Yu¡¯an Country. Such a kingdom, vast in territory with numerous dangerous places and secret realms, was definitely the best destination for any Loose Cultivator to gain experience. Therefore, as he was now alone, it was the perfect opportunity for Lin Tianhu to go to the Guang¡¯an Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm and witness Jingzhou¡¯s top-tier cultivation nations. Under these circumstances, his goal was very clear¡ªto reach the borders of Guang¡¯an Kingdom as quickly as possible, all the while ensuring his safety. As long as he left Yu¡¯an Country behind, the threat of the Yuan family would be almost negligible. Once there, he would then find a way to search for news of Lin Tianfeng and prepare thoroughly for the return to his family. In his heart, Lin Tianfeng had also been swept into a spatial fissure like himself; since he had survived, Lin Tianfeng might have too. However, rumor had it that those who were lucky enough to survive being caught in a spatial fissure had no choice as to where they would end up. Moreover, even those who entered the same spatial fissure could end up landing in vastly different places. Given that, the likelihood of him and Lin Tianfeng landing in the same place was almost improbable. But he firmly believed that Lin Tianfeng was alive. He even had a premonition that they would eventually reunite and return to their family together. This belief was unwaveringly firm in his heart and became his strongest motivation as he ventured on. ¡­ Chapter 655 03-25 - 655 361 Charging into Jingzhou ?Chapter 655: 361 Chapter Charging into Jingzhou Together_1 Chapter 655: 361 Chapter Charging into Jingzhou Together_1 The Cultivation World of Huafeng Country. In a certain cave abode within the Suolo Mountain Range, Sun Ling¡¯er was the first to open her eyes, immediately looking towards Lin Tianfeng who was not far from her side. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s eyes remained tightly closed, his sharply contoured cheeks revealing a resolute hue. Since they had mysteriously arrived at this place, more than a month had passed. During this time, the two of them had been cultivating in seclusion, recovering from their injuries and from the exhaustion of their spiritual power. Sun Ling¡¯er, with a higher realm of cultivation, was the first to recover her peak condition. After surviving that ordeal, her cultivation even seemed to have improved slightly. Right now, as she watched Lin Tianfeng still immersed in cultivation, her mind flashed with images of him fighting fiercely to protect her, refusing to step back even while gravely injured. ... In a daze, a faint smile couldn¡¯t help but form on the corners of Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s lips. Time passed without knowing how long, until a light cough broke her reverie. She turned her head and discovered Lin Tianfeng gazing straight at her, causing a flush to spread across her face. Once she had collected herself, she quickly started a conversation to divert the topic and hide the embarrassment she felt inside. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, how are your injuries recuperating?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you for your concern, Fairy Sun. My injuries have recovered substantially, almost without much hindrance.¡± ¡°What about you, Fairy? How are your injuries? Are you still in discomfort?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Lin Tianfeng said with a gentle smile, his words filled with concern. Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s heart fluttered, and she quickly responded that she was fine. Seeing her like this, Lin Tianfeng breathed a sigh of relief. In his heart, he also harbored a mysterious fondness for Sun Ling¡¯er. Moreover, during this adventure to explore the cave abode, Sun Ling¡¯er had expended much effort but, unfortunately, ended up empty-handed due to unforeseen events. Under such circumstances, he felt a sense of guilt towards her. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lin Tianfeng sighed, a hint of helplessness crossing his face. Seeing his expression, Sun Ling¡¯er looked puzzled and asked with concern. Lin Tianfeng offered a wry smile, not holding anything back, and voiced his true thoughts. After a while, having listened to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s explanation, Sun Ling¡¯er was not concerned and instead began to comfort him. Through this heartfelt conversation, the resentment and guilt in their hearts faded considerably on both sides. Besides, having been through a life-and-death trial together, they also gained a new understanding of each other¡¯s character. However, unknown to them, should things continue this way, their relationship was likely to heat up quickly, ultimately leading to their complete capitulation to each other. ¡­ Unconsciously, half an hour went by. By now, their relationship had substantially softened, with both of them showing signs of admiration for each other. With a hearty laugh, Lin Tianfeng finally changed the subject. ¡°Fairy Sun, we¡¯re still unaware of our exact location. Now that we have recovered from our injuries, we should take a look around to ascertain our position, so that we can make proper arrangements.¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in agreement, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng speaks the truth, we really should first determine our location before deciding on our next steps.¡± Seeing Sun Ling¡¯er had no objections, Lin Tianfeng suggested they set out immediately. Once they left the unknown mountain range, they could seek out a cultivator to ask questions, or find a market town to rest and resupply, which would naturally reveal where they were. Sun Ling¡¯er naturally had no objections, and the two quickly came to an agreement. Under these circumstances, they wasted no time and immediately set out. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, they left the cave abode, destroying or concealing any traces until it was impossible to discern their path. Having done this, the two chose a direction and left together. Several days later, Lin Tianfeng and his companion managed to traverse the mountain range and emerged onto a plain. Gazing at the boundless expanse of the vast plain where even the spiritual energy had become much weaker, Lin Tianfeng knew they had entered the domain controlled by the Human Race. ¡°Fairy Sun, we should have left the mountains behind and entered the area inhabited by the Human Race!¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded, feeling a sense of relief within her. Since they had left the mountains, there was at least no threat from demonic beasts, and the safety had greatly increased. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, what shall we do next?¡± Sun Ling¡¯er asked for Lin Tianfeng¡¯s opinion, clearly intending to follow his lead. Even though they were temporarily out of danger, having escaped with their lives from the perilous spatial fissure, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it. In his heart, he was deeply concerned about Tianhu, who had ended up in the same predicament. But he was also well aware that surviving the horrors of a spatial fissure was akin to a one in a million chance. Still, even with the slightest possibility, he couldn¡¯t give up the search for Tianhu¡¯s whereabouts. Having brought him along, he had to ensure Tianhu¡¯s safe return home. After all, wasn¡¯t Tianhu the eldest among the Tian generation in his clan! Seeing his expression, Sun Ling¡¯er seemed to have an intuitive understanding of his thoughts. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, there¡¯s no need to worry. With Daoist Tianhu¡¯s strength, he surely will turn peril into safety just like us!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ he certainly will!¡± Strengthened by Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s comforting words, Lin Tianfeng replied with conviction. Before his words had faded, Sun Ling¡¯er seemed to have noticed something. ¡°Oh? There are people coming over there!¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianfeng regained his composure and hurriedly extended his Divine Sense to check. Indeed, several miles ahead of them, there was a group of Qi Refining Cultivators approaching together. Chapter 656 03-25 - 656 361 Venturing into Jingzhou ?Chapter 656: Chapter 361: Venturing into Jingzhou Together_2 Chapter 656: Chapter 361: Venturing into Jingzhou Together_2 They flew on their swords with casual expressions, clearly not noticing the two of them. Upon closer consideration, these people were traveling together, each strong and stable in breath, and heading toward the mountains, presumably a group of cultivators on a joint training mission. At present, the two of them were unclear about their whereabouts. Since they had encountered local cultivators, it was natural to approach them for inquiries. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianfeng said to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, let us stop those few and ask for some information!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that was indeed my intention!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er replied. Seeing she had no objections, Lin Tianfeng took the lead in stepping forward, with Sun Ling¡¯er following closely behind. A few miles distance was not long for them, and with their cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, flying at full strength took just a few breaths. ... Soon, Lin Tianfeng and his partner arrived directly in front of the five Qi Refining Cultivators, blocking their path. By the time they realized what was happening, they found a man and a woman suspended in midair, looking at them with open eyes. The auras of these two were concealed, making it impossible to discern their realm, but clearly, they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators without a doubt. In this moment, the Qi Refining Cultivators did not dare to ignore them for fear of angering their seniors and carelessly losing their lives. Under the lead of a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, the others quickly stepped forward and respectfully saluted the pair. Then, the lead Qi Refining Cultivator, with a respectful expression, clasped his hands in salute. ¡°Junior Yan Xin pays respects to the two seniors!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Hm!¡± Lin Tianfeng waved his hand to signal them not to panic. Then he began to ask, ¡°Where are you several headed? What mountain range is this, and where is the nearest trading city?¡± Lin Tianfeng bombarded them with a series of questions, leaving them puzzled. They thought it strange that Foundation Establishment Cultivators would ask such questions. However, owing to the cultivation realm of the pair, the group did not dare to act unusually, let alone express their inner thoughts. At this time, the leading Qi Refining Cultivator, with a consistent demeanor, respectfully answered, ¡°Responding to the seniors, this is the Suolo Mountain Range. We are a few Loose Cultivators planning to group together and train in the Suolo Mountain Range.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng felt a jolt in his heart and immediately recollected information about the Suolo Mountain Range. A few breaths later, after some thought, he still came up empty-handed. Clearly, the Suolo Mountain Range was not within Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory. Otherwise, every mountain range based area in Wei Kingdom would have been recorded in his map collection, or at least heard of. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng roughly understood that the spatial fissure had taken them to an unknown location. This was something he had anticipated, but only now was his suspicion confirmed. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianfeng resumed his usual expression and signaled for Yan Xin to continue answering his questions. ¡°Regarding the trading city that the senior asked about, a thousand li to the west from here is the Sole Trading City, the only trading city in the Suolo Mountain Range.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, Yan Xin hurriedly took out a map from his storage bag and respectfully presented it. Lin Tianfeng accepted the map and reviewed it, finding that the geographic information recorded was quite comprehensive. As he saw that the Suolo Mountain Range was actually situated in the midst of the Jingzhou Huafeng Country Cultivation World, and was one of the central Ten Nations of Jingzhou, he couldn¡¯t help but be astounded. Even with some forethought, he hadn¡¯t expected the spatial fissure to be so terrifying as to have taken them to the distant central region of Jingzhou. To think that even though he had lost consciousness during the fleeting moment of the spatial fissure, he didn¡¯t feel that much time had passed. In just that brief interval, they had traversed hundreds of nations, which was simply unbelievable. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, has something significant occurred?¡± Seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face turn shades of green and white, Sun Ling¡¯er inquired with concern. Lin Tianfeng came to his senses and immediately handed the map to Sun Ling¡¯er, gesturing for her to take a look. Quickly, Sun Ling¡¯er looked over the map, and her expression also turned unsightly, clearly just as shocked. Yan Xin, observing their change in expressions, feared he had offended them and asked with trepidation, ¡°Seniors? Do the seniors have any doubts?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and his partner came back to their senses. Thereafter, Lin Tianfeng casually took out thirty spirit stones and tossed them to Yan Xin. ¡°I¡¯m taking your map, and these spirit stones are for compensation. If there¡¯s nothing else, you may leave!¡± Lin Tianfeng stated and waved his hand, indicating that they could depart. Seeing the situation, Yan Xin and the others let out a sigh of relief and, after bowing to Lin Tianfeng and his companion, they quickly left the area. After everyone had left, Lin Tianfeng opened his mouth to Sun Ling¡¯er and asked, ¡°Fairy Sun, we ended up in Jingzhou Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation World, and it seems hardly possible to return home in a short time!¡± ¡°Just arrived and without any encumbrances or dependents, do you have any plans for what to do next?¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er looked startled, then fell into deep thought. Lin Tianfeng was right; looking at the current situation, it seemed impossible to return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World anytime soon. After all, she was a Loose Cultivator, truly without attachments; it made no difference where she cultivated. And this Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation World was the central state of Jingzhou, with countless dangerous and Secret Realms, and powerful Sects and noble families abound. The overall standard of cultivation was naturally incomparable to the barren Wei Kingdom. Even though the journey to explore the Cave Mansion Ruins had yielded her nothing, and she had been transported here against her will by a Spatial Fissure, for her, the situation was set, and arriving in the vast land of Huafeng Country could also be seen as an opportunity. When it came to cultivation or seeking adventure, she really didn¡¯t mind where it happened. Thinking about this, Sun Ling¡¯er then replied, ¡°It has come to this; there is not much we can do!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we might as well settle down and cultivate here, and when the opportunity arises, it¡¯s not too late to return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing her words, Lin Tianfeng nodded, knowing that what Sun Ling¡¯er said was true! Thinking too far ahead for now was not very realistic; it was better to focus on cultivation and, in passing, inquire about Lin Tianhu¡¯s whereabouts. When conditions allowed, he naturally wanted to return to his family. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng then said, ¡°Fairy Sun, you speak truly; that is also what I am thinking.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to fulfill the promise about exploring the Cave Mansion Ruins for the time being!¡± ¡°Giggle¡­ Daoist Tianfeng, you¡¯re too serious!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er giggled and then continued, ¡°Under those circumstances, I would have made the same choice as you.¡± Her words were sincere, giving no indication that she cared about the enormous treasure. What he didn¡¯t know was that her truthful words deeply touched Lin Tianfeng, causing him to hold Sun Ling¡¯er in even higher regard. At this time, Lin Tianfeng had calmed down and then said, ¡°Fate plays tricks on people, and by chance, we both ended up here.¡± ¡°Frankly, settling down for cultivation in this unfamiliar land won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°After all, this is not the Wei Kingdom; here, Foundation Establishment Cultivators are mere common fish, and securing resources will inevitably involve some fighting and killing.¡± ¡°Given that, Fairy Sun, why don¡¯t you and I join forces and try our luck together in this land?¡± Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was determined, filled with lofty ambitions. Hearing this, it did not take long for Sun Ling¡¯er to agree to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s proposal. She was well aware of the high level of cultivation in Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm and the many hidden opportunities that lay there. After all, danger and opportunity always co-exist. The two of them were only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; in the impoverished Wei Kingdom, they were considered strong in most places. But here, Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage were everywhere, so indeed, they didn¡¯t amount to much. Given this, the two understood each other, having shared life-and-death experiences together and coming from the same nation. From various angles, teaming up indeed seemed safer and more likely to encounter fortune. More importantly, the budding feelings she harbored for Lin Tianfeng in her heart were the biggest reason she followed him. Understanding this, Sun Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t hesitate and agreed to join Lin Tianfeng in his endeavors. Her decisiveness greatly pleased Lin Tianfeng. Even in a land far from his clan, his heart could still sense that warmth unique to the Wei Kingdom. In light of this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s fondness for Sun Ling¡¯er grew stronger. With their agreement set, Lin Tianfeng and his companion did not delay and decided to first head to Suolo Trading City to rest and regroup. As for their subsequent cultivation arrangements, they would adapt to the situation as it unfolded. If an opportunity arose, the two naturally would work together to seize it, and would share any dangers as well. In the coming decades, they were bound to support each other, leaving indelible memories on this land. Chapter 657 03-25 - 657 362 The Clan Leaders Shock_1 ?Chapter 657: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_1 Chapter 657: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_1 Qianchuan Market. Inside the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue sat together. At this very moment, Lin Tianhong¡¯s face was pale, and his breath was also very chaotic. After leaving the Cave Mansion Ruins, he had hurried non-stop toward Qianchuan Market, cautiously making his way and finally taking more than ten days to successfully return here. Seeing him dusty and haggard, Lin Tianyue quickly pressed with questions. ¡°Second brother, why have you returned alone? What about elder brother and the others?¡± Hearing this series of questions, Lin Tianhong let out several long sighs and then briefly recounted their experience in the Cave Mansion Ruins. ... However, he didn¡¯t mention their gains, focusing instead on the part where Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu were swept into the Spatial Fissure. ¡°What? Elder brother and Tianhu were swept into a Spatial Fissure, their life and death unknown!¡± Lin Tianyue was shocked beyond measure upon hearing this news. Her reaction was completely within Lin Tianhong¡¯s expectations, after all, the news was indeed shocking. Moreover, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu¡¯s status was not low; their talent and strength were considerable, and their cultivation ranked among the top in their generation within the clan. Such a calamity befalling two potential clan members was indeed too severe a blow for the Lin Family at the moment. Seeing Lin Tianyue turning pale, Lin Tianhong comforted her with a word and did not forget Lin Tianfeng¡¯s initial entrustment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Tian Yue, I¡¯ve been hastily traveling these past days, and I¡¯m not in good condition. For safety¡¯s sake, you must accompany me back to our clan territory to report a matter of great importance to the Clan Leader.¡± Lin Tianhong had made this arrangement out of necessity. Having just returned from the Qianchuan Mountain Range utterly exhausted, if he were to bypass Qianchuan Market and head directly to the clan territory, it would definitely take longer than expected, and Lin Tianyue might worry. More importantly, Lin Tianfeng had cautioned him repeatedly, implying that the contents of that storage bag were extraordinarily significant. In light of this, he had to be even more careful, to avoid losing the treasures they had risked their lives to obtain. With Lin Tianyue joining him, the safety factor greatly increased, and they could return to the clan territory more quickly to fulfill Lin Tianfeng¡¯s request. Therefore, his slight detour to Qianchuan Market had been a well-considered decision. At this moment, Lin Tianyue, upon hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s instructions, didn¡¯t ask any further questions. She understood that the disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and the others was indeed a serious matter that needed to be reported to the family promptly. Thus, she agreed without hesitation, which pleased Lin Tianhong. Without delay, after taking a short rest, the two summoned the other Qi Refining clanspeople together. After arranging affairs for their departure, the two no longer tarried and immediately set out on their journey back to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Half a month later. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two safely returned to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and met with Clan Leader Lin Shihua at the first opportunity. At a cave mansion on the summit of the main peak, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were sitting together, with Lin Tianhong and others, who had rushed back, standing before them. At this time, seeing the duo¡¯s dusty and travel-worn appearance, Lin Shihua¡¯s heart was filled with confusion. Could it be that the secret mission he had entrusted to Lin Tianfeng to collect Wind Attribute cultivation techniques was making progress? Or had Lin Tianming, who was far away in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, made some significant discovery or progress? With a puzzled expression, Lin Shihua motioned for the two to sit down, then asked about the reasons for their sudden return to the clan territory. Lin Tianhong did not dare to hold back, and promptly recounted the entire story of their exploration of the Cave Mansion Ruins from start to finish. Upon learning about Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu being swept into the Spatial Fissure, even Lin Shihua, who had weathered many storms, couldn¡¯t help but turn pale, and he even began lamenting repeatedly. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for elder brother and Tianhu fighting desperately, I would have certainly been sucked into the Spatial Fissure, too!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for dragging down elder brother and the others, if not for me, they would surely have escaped unscathed!¡± At that moment, Lin Tianhong¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he spoke with immense regret. Seeing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong both sighed deeply. Then, as if struck by a thought, they hurriedly led several people to the ancestral hall. Upon reaching the guardian of the hall, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t say much, merely greeted them briefly before rushing towards the inner depths. Entering a side chamber, which was decorated quite differently from the main hall, where many spirit tablets of the Lin Family ancestors were on display. The side chamber, also of considerable size, was where the Lifesoul Plaques of the Lin Family members were kept. Looking around, a circular platform in the center of the room stood upon which were erected thousands of Lifesoul Plaques, each one glowing brightly, emitting a vibrant aura of life. There were also some Lifesoul Plaques whose light was dim, and they exuded an aura of death all around. Obviously, those vibrant Lifesoul Plaques belonged to the younger generation of the Lin Family, or were those of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. And those with the aura of death were the plaques of older clan members whose potential had nearly been depleted. As for these Lifesoul Plaques, many families, as well as Sect powers, would similarly create them. This process, to speak of it, was not complicated. From the moment a Lin Family clansperson¡¯s Spiritual Root was tested, they would come to pay homage to the ancestors, and then proceed to the side chamber, where an elder would extract a strand of soul essence to serve as the spiritual guide, crafting the Lifesoul Plaque. If a clansperson were to fall in the future, the Soul Lamp within their Lifesoul Plaque would also be extinguished, signifying the loss of a Lin Family member. Chapter 658 03-25 - 658 362 The Clan Leaders Shock_2 ?Chapter 658: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_2 Chapter 658: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_2 The Lin Family was thus able to receive news of fallen clan members and track down the perpetrators to make appropriate arrangements. Lin Shihua, along with several others, hurried over precisely to check on Lin Tianfeng and his companion¡¯s Lifesoul Plaques to see if their Soul Lamps were extinguished, which would determine their general situation. With a clear objective, Lin Shihua quickly located the Lifesoul Plaques of Lin Tianfeng and his companion. Upon inspection, their Lifesoul Plaques were as usual; their vitality was also very strong, indicating they were likely safe at the moment. Understanding this, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Especially Lin Tianhong, upon seeing that their lives were not in danger, suddenly relaxed his tense nerves. At that moment, Lin Shihua glanced at the few people present and then slowly said, ¡°Hmm¡­ there¡¯s no need to worry too much now, Tianfeng and his companion are temporarily safe!¡± ... ¡°We just don¡¯t know their current whereabouts yet. With their cultivation strength, as long as they are careful and don¡¯t stir up unnecessary trouble, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues.¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lin Shigong also spoke in agreement. ¡°Shihua is right. Both Tianfeng and Tianhu are among the best of the Tian generation in our clan, and their cultivation is top-notch. It¡¯s likely nothing serious.¡± Hearing this comforting discourse, everyone¡¯s expressions relaxed, no longer as somber as they had been before arriving. Seeing this, Lin Shihua said no more and led the group back into the cave mansion. Once everyone took their seats, Lin Tianhong looked around at the core members of the Lin Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? Then, she took out the storage bag that Lin Tianfeng had entrusted to her with his dying effort and handed it over to Lin Shihua. Seeing this, Lin Shihua was momentarily stunned, showing a puzzled expression. No blame could be placed on him, as Lin Tianhong had rushed back in haste, and the first report had been about how Lin Tianfeng and his companion had been swept into the Spatial Fissure. His account was quite simple and had not mentioned the efficacious materials they had found. He also hadn¡¯t spoken of the items Lin Tianfeng had retrieved from the attic. Therefore, seeing Lin Tianhong hand over a storage bag, Lin Shihua was somewhat puzzled, wondering what could be inside it. ¡°Tianhong, where did this storage bag come from? What does it contain?¡± At that moment, Lin Shihua took the storage bag from Lin Tianhong¡¯s hand and asked a question. Seeing his puzzled look, Lin Tianhong then began to recount their extensive plundering in that unknown space. However, he was not clear about what the Jade Slip obtained by Lin Tianfeng was. Yet, judging by Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cautious attitude, it was undoubtedly not to be underestimated; otherwise, he would not have been so solemn. As Lin Tianhong narrated, the worried looks on the faces of Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong disappeared, replaced by sheer excitement. Lin Shihua was tasked with inventorying the treasures in the storage bag, while Lin Shigong took notes by his side. Indeed, just as Lin Tianhong had described, the storage bag contained a large number of Third Order Spiritual Medicines and the Artifact Refining Materials found in the attic, all far from ordinary. These Spiritual Medicines and ores alone were of great value and were rarely seen treasures in the Cultivation World. At that time, reassured of the safety of Lin Tianfeng and his companion, and having acquired such a large trove of treasures, everyone¡¯s demeanor was one of joy. Almost unknowingly, the inventory of the treasures in the storage bag was nearly complete. At that moment, Lin Shihua took out the Jade Slip, glanced over it briefly, and his face immediately flushed red. Seeing this, Lin Shigong also wore a look of bewilderment. Lin Shihua was excited to see the myriad treasures in the storage bag, but it was nothing compared to his current state of excitement. Clearly, the Jade Slip was definitely not an ordinary item. ¡°Shihua, what kind of treasure is it that makes even you so excited?¡± Following Lin Shigong¡¯s query, Lin Shihua then realized his own lapse in composure. He gave everyone an embarrassed smile and then passed the Jade Slip to Lin Shigong. ¡°Hehe¡­ Ninth Brother, Tianfeng and the others truly deserve a great merit for what they¡¯ve done this time. Take a look at this yourself!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. He took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense. Soon, like Lin Shihua, his complexion turned red, and his breathing became rapid. ¡°Ha ha¡­ These lads took great risks, but the rewards, they truly satisfy!¡± Lin Shigong laughed heartily, unable to resist praising aloud. Hearing this, Lin Tianhong was prepared, yet he couldn¡¯t help but be curious. What treasure was contained within the jade slip that made Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong praise it so highly? With this curiosity, Lin Tianhong braced himself and asked a question. ¡°Ninth Grandpa, Clan Leader, what treasure is in the jade slip that has excited both of you so much?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua said in a deliberately deep tone, ¡°This matter is not trivial, it¡¯s just a good item, that¡¯s all.¡± As soon as his voice fell, Lin Shigong also chimed in. ¡°This matter indeed has significant implications. It¡¯s not suitable for indiscriminate disclosure. You two juniors should not inquire further!¡± After speaking, Lin Shihua nodded his head and then patted Lin Tianhong on the shoulder, giving him a long and heartfelt instruction. ¡°Ninth Brother is right. This matter concerns the Lin Family¡¯s secrets. Remember to keep it in mind and not to mention it to anyone else.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°With the discovery of the Cave Mansion Ruins, each of you has made great contributions. Go to the Hall of Merit and collect fifty thousand spirit stones each. Later, when Shi Lu and the others return from seclusion, we will discuss and see how to reward you.¡± Hearing these words, both Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue were extremely satisfied with the reward and deeply understood the importance of this matter, promptly vowing to keep it firmly in mind. Seeing this, the two elders nodded and showed satisfying smiles. With this matter coming to a conclusion, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong began to discuss arrangements for finding Lin Tianfeng and others. This matter was also of great importance, as the identities of these individuals were very significant to the Lin Family. Furthermore, having just made significant contributions to the family, it would be too disheartening for the clan members if they were unsearched for. Realizing this, they knew the importance of the matter and that they had to search for them with all their might. After a while, the two reached a consensus on the matter. Then, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianhong and the others and began to instruct. ¡°Tianhong, after you and Tianyue rest for two days, set off with Tianqin. When you pass by Golden Horn Mountain, have Xingrong join you on your way to Qianchuan Market.¡± ¡°Once there, Tianqin will stay at Golden Horn Mountain, and Xingrong will accompany you to Qianchuan Market, taking full responsibility for finding Tianfeng¡¯s whereabouts.¡± ¡°Apart from you, I¡¯ll send out clan members to post rewards in Luoyun Market. We will mobilize anyone who can, searching in the Wei Kingdom and the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World.¡± ¡°In short, the Lin Family must find news of Tianfeng at all costs.¡± Upon hearing this series of instructions, Lin Tianhong and others nodded their heads and undertook the matter. With the arrangements for finding Lin Tianfeng and others made, and the family now fully devoted to the search, they finally felt relieved. Otherwise, if any harm were to befall Tianfeng and the others, Tianhong truly would not be able to rest easy. As the matter was settled, Lin Tianhong and the others bid farewell and left, leaving Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong sitting in the courtyard. ¡°Ninth Brother, how is Tianyun¡¯s training going?¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s question, Lin Shigong smiled and replied, ¡°Tianyun is exceptionally talented and perceptive!¡± ¡°Now that we have this cultivation technique, difficulties have been effortlessly resolved, and he can cultivate at the fastest speed.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If everything goes well, he has the potential to surpass Tian Ming and become the fastest in the family!¡± ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll leave this child in Ninth Brother¡¯s care!¡± Lin Shihua responded excitedly and then started a casual conversation with Lin Shigong. Two days later, having returned to the clan, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue set out again on their journey to Qianchuan Market. As directed by the Clan Leader, Lin Tianqin also set off with them, arriving at Golden Horn Mountain. After communicating with Lin Xingrong and conveying the Clan Leader¡¯s arrangements, and resting for a day, the three spent more than ten days and finally returned to Qianchuan Market. All of this happened quietly; the Cultivation World remained calm, while Lin Xingrong discreetly roamed the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, secretly investigating Lin Tianfeng¡¯s whereabouts. ¡­ Chapter 659 03-25 - 659 363 Pawn_1 ?Chapter 659: Chapter 363 Pawn_1 Chapter 659: Chapter 363 Pawn_1 Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Within a temporary cave abode hidden on a mountainside, Lin Tianming sat on the ground with his hands together as if in prayer, obviously deep in meditation. Who knew how long had passed when he opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance swept across them. ¡°Huff huff¡­¡± Lin Tianming exhaled a breath of stale air, a joyous smile flashing across his face. Since entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, three months had passed in the blink of an eye, and more than a month had gone by since he killed Zhou Jin. During that period, he took Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag and the Greenstone Wood scavenged from the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s lair before finally leaving that canyon. ... He intended to find a safe place to recuperate for a while, bringing his condition to a peak and incidentally taking inventory of Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag. Given Zhou¡¯s identity as a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect and a disciple under a Golden Core Cultivator, his wealth was certainly not low. If he could find another Fake Golden Core Talisman, his overall strength would increase significantly, making his treasure-hunting journey ahead much safer. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming was resolute and set out to find a place to cultivate. Alas, Demonic Beasts were aplenty in this secret realm. Though he had yet to encounter a Third Order Demonic Beast, there were plenty of First and Second Order beasts everywhere. Besides, he remained wary of other cultivators because anyone capable of training here was no ordinary individual. Even disciples from his own Zhenyang Sect, who he was somewhat familiar with, couldn¡¯t be fully trusted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï In such circumstances, finding a disturbance-free area for half a month of seclusion was not so easy. After much wandering like a headless fly, he encountered Second Order Late Stage beasts thrice. The first two encounters were with very powerful beasts, all of which were social and in large numbers, possessing formidable collective strength. Living by the belief of fighting if he could and running if he couldn¡¯t, Lin Tianming was not overly adventurous. In his mind, unless it was a treasure that could impact his advance to the Golden Core Stage, he did not want to get stuck in quagmire, wasting his time and energy. Most importantly, it would be a loss if he got injured. Such cautiousness led to relative success in escaping these powerful adversaries and eventually making it into this forest. Here, a solitary Second Order Late Stage beast resided, powerful though alone, posing not too great a threat. After another fierce fight, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take much effort to kill it and then occupied the place. This location was rather hidden, and after some scouting during his arrival, it proved to be an excellent shelter. After plundering the lair of the slain beast, he didn¡¯t find any particularly valuable items, just a few common ones. Seeing the relative safety of the area, he stayed and began his closed-door cultivation. After spending nearly half a month in seclusion, he reached his peak condition and felt some improvement compared to when he entered. Unfortunately, as he had not been at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level for long, breaking through in this secret realm would require a high-energy treasure that could enhance cultivation. Otherwise, there wasn¡¯t much hope for a breakthrough here. To this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give it much thought, instead taking a very relaxed approach, following his heart. A breakthrough that came naturally would allow him to go further. Understanding this, Lin Tianming took things step by step, without any undue haste. At this moment, as Lin Tianming finished his cultivation, he immediately took out Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag. Zhou¡¯s strength was not weak and his status was significant, so he probably had some good items. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With anticipation, Lin Tianming skillfully wiped away the Divine Sense from the front of the storage bag. He then extended his Divine Sense and meticulously inspected Zhou Jin¡¯s collection. Before he knew it, half an hour had passed. Indeed, just as he expected, Zhou Jin, being a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect and under the tutelage of a Golden Core Cultivator, had an extremely rich wealth. Upon his investigation, there were nearly one hundred thousand Spirit Stones alone, not to mention numerous First and Second Order treasures. Items like Second Order Talisman Papers were still plentiful, though they were common items. For Lin Tianming¡¯s current state, unless they were elixirs or Spirit Fruits that could advance his cultivation, they could only be considered ordinary. Only Zhou¡¯s Attack Artifact and Defense Artifact were of good quality, but such items with questionable origins couldn¡¯t be used rashly without inviting trouble. Thus, these unique items could only be used in special circumstances, or perhaps be sold off on the black market when it was safe. In no time, Lin Tianming collected all common items into his own storage bag. After estimating their value, he found that even these ordinary items, when accumulated, were of tremendous worth, worth at least two hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Then, he carefully calculated and found quite a few valuable items. There were several Third Order Spiritual Medicines and three types of Third Order Spiritual Ores, though all were relatively common treasures, their values were still decent. The disappointment was the lack of Cultivation Techniques or inheritances from the Four Arts of Cultivation. Otherwise, such heritable treasures were what could enhance a family¡¯s foundation. However, on further thought, Zhou¡¯s storage bag was still rich in treasures, its cumulative value making him stand out among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for the lack of inheritances, perhaps the Sect regulated these treasures strictly, not readily allowing their cultivators to carry them. Chapter 660 03-25 - 660 363 Pawn_2 ?Chapter 660: Chapter 363 Pawn_2 Chapter 660: Chapter 363 Pawn_2 Actually, including the Lin Family Members, it¡¯s the same; whether it¡¯s cultivating the Cultivation Methods or inheriting the Four Arts of Cultivation, they all learn within the clan, and they are not even allowed to be taken out of the Scripture Pavilion. Thinking about it this way, it¡¯s understandable that they don¡¯t receive the inheritance of the Sect Cultivators. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming collected all the treasures and then picked up a Crimson Token to examine it carefully. After a short while, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened as if he had discovered something extraordinarily grave. Upon his investigation, he found that this Crimson Token was virtually identical to the one obtained from the Blood Red Alliance Cultivator he had killed previously. Thinking about it this way, could it be that Zhou Jin is from the Blood Red Alliance, or a spy planted within the Golden Sword Sect? With these thoughts, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a tremor in his spirit and couldn¡¯t refrain from sighing at the wide reach of the Blood Red Alliance. ... S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To think that the Golden Sword Sect, a Great Sect with a legacy spanning thousands of years, and home to several Golden Core Cultivators, could have one of their True Disciples being a spy for the Blood Red Alliance. It¡¯s simply inconceivable! Thinking further, it seems the Blood Red Alliance has planted many pawns in the Wei Kingdom, even managing to infiltrate the Golden Sword Sect to such an extent. If the other two Golden Elixir Forces are also in such a state, what exactly is the Blood Red Alliance plotting? Even more seriously, with the appearance of pawns from the Blood Red Alliance within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it¡¯s highly likely that there¡¯s more than one person. That being said, what is the Blood Red Alliance ultimately after? With these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt a chill run down his spine as he sensed an extraordinary crisis. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? However, at present, he didn¡¯t have a solution; there were many Cultivators in this Secret Realm, and although the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s pawns were deeply hidden, their number was ultimately limited, and they definitely couldn¡¯t contend with the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom. And disciples of the Three Great Sects would definitely travel together; even if the Blood Red Alliance spies had any schemes, they wouldn¡¯t be a match for the Three Great Sects. If that were the case, the object of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s plot might be a treasure outside the Secret Realm. That means, at least temporarily, the Secret Realm is relatively safe, and it¡¯s unlikely that anything major will occur. As long as he¡¯s careful, especially about not making enemies with the people from the Three Great Sects, he wouldn¡¯t be in great danger. Understanding this, Lin Tianming gradually calmed down, and his demeanor returned to normal. Putting this matter aside, Lin Tianming then considered his next steps. Currently, about a third of the time has passed, and there¡¯s still plenty of time left; he was also at his peak condition, so naturally, he should make the most of the time and try to gain as much as possible. As for the specific action plan, he still had no particular targets, so he could only wander around and see where there might be treasures worth making a move for, and if the conditions allowed, he would certainly give it a try. Besides, he also had to be cautious on this journey, especially of the hidden pawns of the Blood Red Alliance. These people are wicked by nature and are capable of anything. If he encounters one alone, with his cultivation strength, even if he can¡¯t win, he should be able to retreat unharmed. The problem is if others are also moving together; if he gets into a fierce battle with two to three Cultivators at or above the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, then he would be under great pressure. If he¡¯s unlucky, there might even be the risk of falling. However, even so, he shouldn¡¯t be afraid; after all, the opportunity presented by this trip to the Secret Realm isn¡¯t easy to come by, and if missed, it¡¯s uncertain when the next chance will be. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming immediately got up and left the Temporary Cave Abode. After concealing any traces of the Temporary Cave Abode, he chose a direction and set out on his treasure-hunting journey once again. Several days later. Atop a hill that was neither high nor low, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. At this moment, Lin Tianming had a solemn expression, focusing on the sounds coming from the distance, a thoughtful look on his face. In the several days that had passed, he had gained nothing, nor had he encountered any Demonic Beasts or seen any other Cultivators. Now, there was a significant commotion up ahead, clearly indicating a battle between Cultivators, but it remained to be seen whether the opponents were Demonic Beasts or fellow Cultivators. At this point, he could either bypass this area, as it had nothing to do with him, or go up to check out the situation and then decide. As he was lost in thought, the noise ahead steadily grew louder, as if something was charging in his direction. Sure enough, an unknown creature approached with great momentum, the sparse trees in the vicinity toppling in response, and myriad rocks crumbling apart, clearly moving at high speed towards him. Seeing this, his expression changed, and he had just decided to turn and leave, when he spotted a familiar figure rushing towards him. Upon closer inspection, the person was Hu Yuan, whom he had not seen for a long time. Since entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, the two had not encountered each other, nor had they seen any traces of one another; unexpectedly, they had now met. At this moment, Hu Yuan was running, with over a dozen Second Order Red Flame Beasts in hot pursuit, looking quite bedraggled. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan¡¯s originally pale face suddenly flushed with color. From a distance, he shouted loudly, ¡°Lin, there are a few Third Order Spiritual Medicines in this beast¡¯s lair. Why not lend me a hand in killing it? We can share the spoils equally!¡± Upon hearing these words and seeing Hu Yuan himself, Lin Tianming immediately halted his retreat. In his mind, if it were some other unknown cultivator, he would not get involved and would leave straight away without the slightest hesitation. But Hu Yuan was different; he had fought side by side with him for several years, and both knew each other¡¯s character well. Although they were not life-and-death friends, they were still extremely good friends. With this in mind, and considering the Third Order Spiritual Medicine Hu Yuan mentioned, it was highly likely to be true. The group of approaching Red Flame Beasts, though not low in rank and numbering over a dozen, including several of the Second Order Late Phase, the rest being Early to Medium Stage, posed little threat to their combined strength. With the two of them joining forces, it was not certain that they could defeat the Flaming Beast Clan, but escaping unharmed would not be a problem. Therefore, whether it was for the Third Order Spiritual Medicine or to help Hu Yuan out of his predicament, it was worth taking a shot at these Red Flame Beasts. If they succeeded, they would gain both wealth and gratitude; if they failed, they would simply flee for their lives. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming leaped forward, charging toward Hu Yuan who was coming head-on. At the same time, he slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords immediately flew out, spreading in all directions. Besides this, the Thousand Beast Banner was activated in coordination with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, creating a barrier that enveloped a large area behind Hu Yuan. His speed was incredibly fast, completing all actions within a short time. The charging speed of the Flaming Beast Clan was also not slow. Except for a few Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beasts that avoided the suppression of the barrier, all other Second Order Demon Beasts were enveloped within it. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming make a move and witnessing those familiar combat techniques, Hu Yuan¡¯s face grew overjoyed. ¡°Haha¡­ With Lin lending a hand, these beasts are nothing to fear!¡± After a hearty laugh, Hu Yuan quickly joined forces with Lin Tianming. In that moment, looking at the excited Hu Yuan, Lin Tianming laughed and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, now¡¯s not the time for catching up, let¡¯s take care of these Red Flame Beasts first!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ That¡¯s precisely what I had in mind!¡± After responding, Hu Yuan took the lead in attacking. Looking on, Hu Yuan¡¯s actions were decisive, and his attacks burst forth powerfully, seemingly venting the frustration of being chased by the Red Flame Beasts. Seeing this, Lin Tianming would not be outdone; his Tiangang Sword emitted bursts of silver light, rushing straight towards the few Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beasts. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky immediately became tempestuous with Sword Qi, with colorful arcs of energy tearing through the void, unleashing a formidable presence. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡¯s action, a few Red Flame Beasts outside of the Sword Array seemed to grow angry. ¡°Roar¡­¡± With a roar, they split into two groups¡ªwith three attacking Hu Yuan and two lunging with bared fangs towards Lin Tianming. In response, the two snorted coldly and each countered the oncoming Red Flame Beasts. ¡­ Chapter 661 03-25 - 661 364 Fierce Battle with the Red Flame ?Chapter 661: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with the Red Flame Beasts_1 Chapter 661: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with the Red Flame Beasts_1 ¡°` ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± In an instant, a series of crackling explosions echoed, and the world suddenly became chaotic. At this time, the battlefield was extremely fierce. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were both strong, with each strike displaying formidable power. The second-order late-phase Red Flame Beasts were also indeed very powerful; if they were alone, with the strength of the two men, it wouldn¡¯t take much effort to kill them. However, there were several Red Flame Beasts here. Relying on their strong defensive power and the stamina of demonic beasts, it was no wonder Hu Yuan fled in a panic. But with Lin Tianming¡¯s intervention, at least half of the demonic beasts could be dealt with. Thus, the battle between the two sides became evenly matched. In just a few rounds, the battle had already reached a climax. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... At this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation activated by Lin Tianming trapped many second-order early and mid-stage Red Flame Beasts. The strength of these more than ten Red Flame Beasts was not very strong, and even in sizeable numbers, they could only be trapped within the double suppression of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner. If things continued like this, the longer the delay, the closer they would be to the time they were anticipating. However, it seemed they did not understand this. Even if they did understand, what could they do? Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t let them escape easily and add to his burden. As the battle continued, after more than ten rounds, both sides began to bear injuries. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? At this time, Hu Yuan was under great pressure, dealing alone with three Red Flame Beasts, with many of his prepared treasures already consumed, and his spiritual power reduced by more than half. Moreover, he had some flesh wounds on his body, fortunately, they did not have a great impact. On the other side, the three Red Flame Beasts, despite their thick hides, had many gashes and their presence and momentum had decreased significantly. As for Lin Tianming, even without the suppression of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, he still handled the situation with ease. After another strike, Lin Tianming took advantage of the lull to shout to Hu Yuan. ¡°Daoist Hu, these demonic beasts are indeed not weak. Let¡¯s not delay, and strive to end this battle quickly!¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan laughed heartily and replied. ¡°Haha¡­ stop holding back. Let¡¯s see who finishes the fight first!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Hu Yuan pinched a tactic, and several second-order talismans burst forth from his hands. With each spell he cast, the second-order talismans turned into numerous fireballs, raining down towards the Red Flame Beasts. Clearly, his preparations for the Secret Realm were very thorough. Casual use of several second-order high-quality Attack Talismans was something that an ordinary cultivator couldn¡¯t afford. But Hu Yuan, at the peak of Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, should not be too far from the Great Perfection Realm. A Loose Cultivator who could cultivate to such a realm must have something special about them, so naturally, they wouldn¡¯t be too destitute. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± With a series of loud booming noises, fireballs fell from the sky, and the heat wave spread in all directions. Many trees that had fallen to the ground could not withstand the temperature and instantly burst into flames. For a time, the battlefield was engulfed in billowing smoke, presenting a spectacular sight. Facing such an attack, the Red Flame Beasts did not dodge or evade but even swallowed some of the incoming fireballs. Immediately after, they seemed to be quite excited, showing no signs of discomfort. This action surprised Hu Yuan. In fact, the Red Flame Beasts were fire-attribute demonic beasts, almost immune to ordinary flames. The fireballs created by the second-order talisman were just common flames. If they were flames from a Golden Core Cultivator or some special Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, they would not be so easily absorbed by the Red Flame Beasts. Upon further thought, Hu Yuan understood the reason. Understanding this, he completely abandoned fire-attribute Attack Talismans, opting for other elemental attacks instead, which naturally yielded better results. Indeed, after Hu Yuan made a targeted adjustment, the effect was immediate. An unrestrained Hu Yuan became more ferocious in his attacks. Under such circumstances, even when facing three second-order late-phase Red Flame Beasts, Hu Yuan began to gain the upper hand. On the other side, Lin Tianming was also going full out, significantly increasing the intensity of his attacks. With a loud shout, his Tiangang Sword glowed brilliantly, and silver-white Sword Qi flew out in quick succession, swiftly engulfing two Red Flame Beasts. After doing this, he did not pause but once again activated the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, slashing at one of the more heavily injured Red Flame Beasts. Ordinary Sword Qi was simply minor harassment; to kill a second-order late-phase Red Flame Beast in one strike was obviously not so easy. Therefore, Lin Tianming merely used ordinary attacks to keep the beasts at bay, saving his important moves for a fatal blow at the right moment. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, the beasts¡¯ trajectories were entirely within his predictions. Moreover, Red Flame Beasts were not known for their speed, making the effect even more evident. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, it had reached the airspace above the beast¡¯s head. Accompanied by ordinary Sword Qi, the Tiangang Sword was hidden within, ready to catch the target off guard. At that moment, the Red Flame Beast targeted by his attack let out a roar, apparently unaware of the fatal threat of the Tiangang Sword. But as the Tiangang Sword fiercely slashed down, the beast finally realized. However, at such close range, any attempt to dodge the attack was clearly too late. ¡°` Chapter 662 03-25 - 662 364 Fierce Battle with Red Flame ?Chapter 662: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with Red Flame Beasts_2 Chapter 662: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with Red Flame Beasts_2 With a pitiful shriek, the scene was immediately followed by a Red Flame Beast collapsing to the ground. Seeing his strike successful, Lin Tianming felt a surge of joy in his heart, his face revealing a satisfied expression. The attack just now was swift and tricky, giving him the feeling of perfect control, as if his Divine Skills had improved. Although the improvement was minor, at a critical moment, it might represent a qualitative leap. Thrilled by these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt an explosive boost in his state of being. At this time, seeing its companion killed by Lin Tianming in one strike, the remaining Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beast became enraged. It opened its huge mouth and spat out several massive fireballs towards Lin Tianming at an incredibly fast pace. ... Looking over, the fireballs were the size of water buckets, shrouded in terrifying high temperatures. The moment they appeared, the temperature on the battlefield rose a notch. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew it was a Divine Skill attack from the Red Flame Beast, certain to possess great destructive power. Being well aware of this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare be careless and immediately calmed down from his excitement. As the fireballs drew nearer, the Eye of Five Colors on Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead pierced through the void, making the trajectory of the fireballs crystal clear. In just a moment, the Eye of Five Colors predicted the subsequent path of the fireballs, ultimately relaying it to his mind. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, leaping forward immediately with a ghostly silhouette, dodging the fireballs¡¯ attack. His speed was incredible, his agile body moving through the continuous fireballs, and he charged toward the Red Flame Beast, which was casting the Divine Skills. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming advanced dozens of feet, closing in on the Red Flame Beast, with less than a hundred feet between them, reaching the optimal attacking distance. At that moment, Lin Tianming punched out, a burst of invisible force erupting with extreme intensity. Seeing this, the Red Flame Beast, busy casting its Divine Skills, finally reacted. Seeing the fireball attack fail and Lin Tianming approaching menacingly, the Red Flame Beast hastily withdrew its Divine Skills. Following that, it also leaped forward, its claws drawing a beautiful arc as it furiously smashed down towards Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead. The Red Flame Beast¡¯s actions were also swift. Its claws were like blades¡ªif struck, any average Cultivator might be instantaneously cleaved into two halves. However, Lin Tianming was so confident in his approach because he had something to rely on. With a body comparable to a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, even if it came to a head-on clash, he would at the very least inflict serious damage on the Red Flame Beast, if not emerge unscathed. Thus, with the strengthening of his body, Lin Tianming was filled with confidence. But the Red Flame Beast seemed not to understand Lin Tianming¡¯s prowess, thinking that this human, in his panic, had chosen the most foolish method to counter its attack. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, when their attacks collided head-on, the Red Flame Beast finally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Each struck hard, Lin Tianming exerting his full power, the force of his punch like Mount Tai bearing down. The Red Flame Beast, strong and vigorous, used its body as the ultimate weapon, also possessing tremendous destructive power. After the head-on collision, Lin Tianming was jolted dozens of feet back by the powerful force. Barely stabilizing himself, he forcefully suppressed the turmoil of qi and blood within him, his expression turning solemn. The Red Flame Beast¡¯s body was indeed formidable¡ªit had not been injured in the head-on clash, merely shocked back by the force. Although this strike did not achieve substantial progress, Lin Tianming was not discouraged. After a brief adjustment, he charged forward once more. This time, he relied not only on his physical body¡ªhis magical abilities were also fully utilized. Lin Tianming, now serious, unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword with almost no reservations, in an extremely short period of time. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword, like a silver dragon tearing through the void, accompanied by attacks transformed from Second Order Talisman Paper, poured in from all directions towards the Red Flame Beast. At this moment, the Red Flame Beast was not only angry but also increasingly fearful. It had already experienced Lin Tianming¡¯s strength¡ªhis body possessed immense power, and it had witnessed the Tiangang Sword slaying its companion. Now with Lin Tianming combining both physical and magical attacks, it was given no chance at all. As the fearsome Tiangang Sword drew closer, Lin Tianming also swung his seemingly ordinary fist, and the Red Flame Beast felt a mix of shock and fury. Under the immense pressure, the Red Flame Beast actually showed no intention of fighting and turned to run away. ¡°Hmph¡­ it¡¯s already too late to run now!¡± Seeing the Red Flame Beast¡¯s actions, Lin Tianming sneered coldly and then quickened his pace, charging towards the Red Flame Beast. Though the Red Flame Beast moved swiftly, it was not faster than Lin Tianming when he accelerated his pursuit, and certainly not faster than the attacks of the Tiangang Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword arrived on schedule, cutting off the Red Flame Beast¡¯s retreat in advance. By now, with the Tiangang Sword attacking from the front and Lin Tianming himself blocking from behind, the Red Flame Beast had no way out. Trapped in a desperate situation, the Red Flame Beast stopped fleeing and turned to charge at Lin Tianming instead. Clearly, the Red Flame Beast knew the situation was dire and decided to look for a breakthrough from Lin Tianming¡¯s side. If it could break through, perhaps there was still hope for survival. Otherwise, it was undoubtedly doomed. At this moment, the Red Flame Beast let out its full power without reservation, unleashing an astonishing aura. Simultaneously, its gaping maw and sharp claws, its weapons of attack, all came hurtling towards Lin Tianming¡¯s head. In the face of these changes from the Red Flame Beast, Lin Tianming sneered mockingly and didn¡¯t take them seriously. He had already tried before and knew that in a head-on clash, he wouldn¡¯t be at a disadvantage; he would merely experience some blood boiling within and feel the backlash of the impact. With this understanding, Lin Tianming¡¯s mountain-like fists collided directly with the sharp claws of the Red Flame Beast. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise echoed, followed by a scene of sparks flying and dust billowing. This strike turned out just as Lin Tianming had anticipated, with both sides being pushed back by the tremendous force. The Red Flame Beast hadn¡¯t even caught its breath when it felt a scorching sensation on its back. As it turned its head to see, the light on the Tiangang Sword flashed, and it had already arrived in front of the beast, merely a few yards away. At that moment, it felt not only the temperature from the Tiangang Sword but also the breath of death. It turned out that Lin Tianming¡¯s two-pronged attack was completely interlinked. Even if the Red Flame Beast could momentarily fend off his frontal assault, its back was still exposed to the attack of the Tiangang Sword. Not only that, the frontal attack had repelled the Red Flame Beast, and the Tiangang Sword had further shortened the distance of its attack. It wanted to evade the lethal strike, but the distance was too short, and its body was not small enough to be agile. Moreover, the speed of the Tiangang Sword was simply too fast. ¡°Pssh¡­¡± A crisp sound reverberated, utterly distinct from the sharp metallic clash of before. Then came the wail of the Red Flame Beast, making one¡¯s scalp tingle just by hearing it. Hearing these noises, Lin Tianming, with his Eye of Five Colors, could clearly see the Tiangang Sword piercing through the neck of the Red Flame Beast. For a moment, crimson blood erupted, forming a pillar of blood that shot straight into the sky. At the same time, the body of the Red Flame Beast collapsed with a thud, creating a large pit on the ground, with fresh blood pooling inside it and quickly forming a puddle. The Red Flame Beast struggled instinctively a couple of times before lying motionless, evidently dead. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief and casually called back the Tiangang Sword. With the major battle over on this front, Lin Tianming turned his attention to the Red Flame Beasts within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Looking over, only a few Second Order Middle Stage existences remained among the Red Flame Beasts in the Sword Array. Obviously, the initial stage Red Flame Beasts simply couldn¡¯t withstand the Sword Qi within the array, nor the ferociously undying Monster Beast Souls, and they perished one after another. And the few that remained were nearly all injured. Under the intense repression, they became frightened and helpless, repeatedly charging against the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. However, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had now contracted to a range of a hundred yards and had become impregnable, so even a Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beast trapped inside would not escape easily. Chapter 663 03-25 - 663 365 Fire Dragon Grass_1 ?Chapter 663: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_1 Chapter 663: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_1 As such, the few remaining Red Flame Beasts didn¡¯t stand a chance of causing any significant trouble, and their annihilation was just a matter of time. Realizing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t make another move, his attention instead shifting to Hu Yuan¡¯s battle. At this moment, Hu Yuan was still fighting valiantly. With his cultivation and strength, he had managed to gain the upper hand with his full power unleashed. However, the Red Flame Beasts were also naturally strong, with tough skin and powerful innate Divine Skills in their attacks, far surpassing those of the same order outside the Secret Realm. In such circumstances, even with all of Hu Yuan¡¯s techniques deployed, he only managed to gain the upper hand, but couldn¡¯t rout them, much less annihilate them. If things continued this way, once Hu Yuan¡¯s Spiritual Power was further depleted, the situation might completely reverse. After all, Demonic Beasts had much stronger vitality and endurance in combat compared to Cultivators. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... By then, Hu Yuan probably wouldn¡¯t be a match for them. At this moment, Lin Tianming, assessing the situation, wasn¡¯t delaying any longer and planned to join the fray quickly to finish off the Red Flame Beasts and then ransack their lair for treasures. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped into the air, darting in Hu Yuan¡¯s direction. Even from a distance, Lin Tianming shouted. ¡°Daoist Hu, let me lend you a hand!¡± Before his words had faded, Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand burst forth with Spiritual Light and then flew from his grasp, stabbing towards one of the Red Flame Beasts. He released the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, aiming to see if an outsider could succeed with a single strike. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Seeing Lin Tianming lend his aid, along with the astonishing momentum, Hu Yuan¡¯s heart surged with excitement. ¡°Haha¡­ With Lin¡¯s help, these beasts won¡¯t be able to escape!¡± Hu Yuan was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; even if he had faced these three Red Flame Beasts alone, he would have had a good chance of killing them all. Now with his participation, the combined strength of the two of them was overwhelming; the Red Flame Beasts were like lambs to the slaughter and their demise was only a matter of time. As expected, Lin Tianming struck successfully from where the Red Flame Beasts were unguarded. With the death of that Red Flame Beast, the situation worsened for the remaining two. At this moment, they were both angry and frightened, but they were no match for the two men. Left without a choice, they attempted to escape. However, Lin Tianming and his companion had exerted so much effort, naturally they had no intent to let them escape back to their mountain. After a mere few hundred yards of pursuit, both Red Flame Beasts were killed. With the death of these two creatures, the Red Flame Beasts within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation were also eradicated by the Sword Array. By now, the great battle had ceased, and peace gradually returned to the world. At this time, Lin Tianming and his partner gathered together, their faces beaming with excitement. ¡°Lin, you truly live up to your reputation!¡± Hu Yuan, looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s calm expression that didn¡¯t show much exhaustion, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration. In fact, Lin Tianming¡¯s consumption wasn¡¯t significant at all; the battle had only depleted a little over half of his Spiritual Power, and he¡¯d hardly used any Second Order Talisman, not to mention his most powerful tricks. Moreover, of the five Second Order Late Phase Red Flame Beasts, two were killed by him alone, one of them unexpectedly in an ambush, and another one he took down by himself during the pursuit. Plus, considering those at the initial and medium stages, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that the vast majority of them were killed by him. On the other hand, Hu Yuan had used up almost all his techniques and nearly run out of Spiritual Power, and his accomplishments fell short of Lin Tianming¡¯s. Looking at this, the difference in strength between the two was clear. At this point, Lin Tianming responded to Hu Yuan¡¯s praise with a humble chuckle and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°You flatter me, Daoist Hu. I¡¯ve merely taken advantage of the moment to launch a surprise attack. Besides, you expended a lot of energy during the earlier stages.¡± Lin Tianming spoke lightly and pleasantly; naturally, Hu Yuan didn¡¯t take it seriously. In the Cultivation World, strength was the most respected. Lin Tianming was obviously stronger than him and had yet to show his full capacity. Understanding this, Hu Yuan smiled calmly and actively proposed, ¡°There is no need for such modesty, Lin!¡± ¡°In my view, we should redistribute the spoils of war. You should take sixty percent, Lin, and I would take the lesser share of forty percent, how about that?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Hu Yuan to be so sensible as to voluntarily offer up a ten percent share. However, upon further thought, it made sense that he should take the larger share, given that he had contributed more and had a more impressive record of kills. Some other person might have demanded seventy or even eighty percent without a second thought. But Hu Yuan, by offering a concession, made it awkward for Lin Tianming to haggle over the split. As for Lin Tianming, he didn¡¯t insist; he wasn¡¯t in need of that small benefit, and there was no point in antagonizing Hu Yuan over such trivial matters. It was better to be generous and create goodwill. With this in mind, Lin Tianming nodded with a smile and promptly urged Hu Yuan to finish cleaning up the battlefield. Soon, they each got to work, collecting all the corpses of the Red Flame Beasts and taking any valuable parts. Lin Tianming¡¯s collection was thorough, letting the Purple Gold Eagle out and allowing it to devour a large amount of flesh, stopping only when it could eat no more. Afterward, he collected a considerable amount of flesh to save for the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s future consumption. As for the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, they weren¡¯t released. After all, they were creatures of the Second Order Late Phase, and the energy from the flesh of the Red Flame Beasts was limited in effect. In this way, the Purple Gold Eagle had quite a feast, devouring without limit. Chapter 664 03-25 - 664 365 Fire Dragon Grass_2 ?Chapter 664: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_2 Chapter 664: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_2 As the battlefield was cleaned up, the two made sure to erase any traces of the battle. Having done this and seeing no obvious oversights, the two once again convened. At this time, Lin Tianming scanned the battlefield and then began to ask about the location of the Red Flame Beasts¡¯ lair. Lin Tianming was quite looking forward to this, considering the Red Flame Beasts¡¯ clan was not small in scale and relatively strong overall; their lair was likely to contain some valuable items. Besides, as Hu Yuan had mentioned upon meeting, there were at least a few plants of Third Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. With the carcasses of these demonic beasts included, their haul from this great battle would not be small. Knowing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t wait to ask about it. ... In response, Hu Yuan simply smiled, not daring to delay, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and prevent further complications. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, guided by Hu Yuan, the two followed the direction from which the Red Flame Beasts had come, walking for over ten miles before finally arriving at a canyon. Looking out, they found themselves within a huge ravine, with rugged stone walls on either side, an abyss below, and a wave of heat surging up from the bottom of the canyon. Clearly, the fire attribute elemental energy here was extremely rich; it was no wonder the Red Flame Beasts had chosen this place as their lair. At that moment, standing at the highest point of the canyon, Hu Yuan pointed in a direction and said, ¡°Daoist Lin, halfway up the canyon there¡¯s a sizable plateau where I found some spiritual herbs, which I believe to be Fire Dragon Grass.¡± ¡°Fire Dragon Grass?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, as the terrain and landscape did suggest that Third Order Spiritual Medicine like Fire Dragon Grass could be produced here. The Fire Dragon Grass was quite useful, being the main ingredient in the Third Order Yuan-Infused Pill. The Yuan-Infused Pill was one of the few elixirs used by Golden Core Cultivators, containing a rich energy that could assist Golden Core Cultivators in their cultivation, similar to the Fusion Spirit Pill used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but the effects were worlds apart. Moreover, at the Golden Core stage, advancement in cultivation becomes very slow, and relying on meditation and breath control was even more painstakingly slow. Elixirs that could aid in the improvement of cultivation were few, and the Yuan-Infused Pill was one of the more effective among them. Though he was currently only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm and wouldn¡¯t need Fire Dragon Grass for the moment, such a main ingredient was hard to find, and in the Cultivation World, it was a highly sought-after commodity that almost no Golden Core Cultivator would pass up. Furthermore, even if he did not need it right now, he could sell it for a large amount of Spirit Stones. However, should he truly acquire it, he certainly wouldn¡¯t foolishly sell it. After all, with Ye Pinghai¡ªa genuine Golden Core Cultivator¡ªpresent in the Lin Family, and Lin Shikang also potentially reaching the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family would be in dire need of a Spiritual Medicine like Fire Dragon Grass. Retreating a thousand steps, even if he and the Lin Family did not need it right now, he wouldn¡¯t sell it unless absolutely necessary. He had already reached this realm, and perhaps in just a few years, he could step into the Golden Core Stage. Preparing some of the materials used by Golden Core Cultivators in advance would allow his future cultivation to progress faster. In any case, this Fire Dragon Grass was something he had to acquire. Recognizing the importance of the Fire Dragon Grass, Lin Tianming was eager to go down and investigate. ¡°Daoist Hu, now that the Flaming Beast Clan has been eradicated, we should go down and search.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If it really is Fire Dragon Grass, then we¡¯ll have hit the jackpot!¡± Lin Tianming said, laughing as he urged. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s how it should be!¡± After replying, Hu Yuan took the lead and leaped into the ravine. Seeing Hu Yuan leap without hesitation, as if he had everything under control, Lin Tianming also did not hesitate, immediately following his lead and jumping down. Their movements were quick and nimble, skillfully navigating through the ravine by using protruding rocks on the walls. Descending thousands of feet this way, they arrived on a spacious plateau. The area was not small, encompassing at least hundreds of feet, with various boulders and rocks chaotically piled up, forming a natural shelter. As soon as they appeared, the plateau was thrown into disarray, with numerous First Order Red Flame Beasts scurrying around, some of which even launched attacks at the two of them. There were quite a few First Order Red Flame Beasts, amounting to dozens, yet they were all of First Order. Such strength posed no threat to them at all. At that time, Hu Yuan casually killed several Red Flame Beasts that attacked them before turning to Lin Tianming with a smile and said, ¡°Daoist Lin, do you want to subdue these little guys and take them back?¡± ¡°If not, let¡¯s just kill them all so we can go and collect that Third Order Spiritual Medicine!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a while before deciding to kill them all. The reason for this decision was that the Red Flame Beasts had specific requirements for their living environment, and if they stayed in the Spirit Beast Bag all the time, they would likely not adapt and have difficulty advancing. Besides, Green Bamboo Mountain did not provide a suitable environment for them either, and forcibly taking them back would make advancement virtually impossible. Demonic Beasts that had lost their potential to advance were not very valuable. What¡¯s more, with his strength, he had no use for these First Order Red Flame Beasts. Otherwise, he could have captured some to take back and let his clansmen subdue and recognize them as masters to strengthen their power. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming signaled Hu Yuan that there was no need to hold back, and to kill them all as quickly as possible. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming¡¯s fingers flicked rapidly, and beams of Spiritual Light shot out, bombarding the Red Flame Beasts. The speed of this Spiritual Light was so fast that the First Order Red Flame Beasts couldn¡¯t escape, and they were easily killed by him on the spot. Seeing this, Hu Yuan did not waste words. With his cultivation power, killing these Red Flame Beasts was as easy as catching fish in a barrel. The two of them attacked from both sides, and in less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea, all the Red Flame Beasts were killed. After quickly collecting some valuable Demonic Beast Materials, the two continued on deeper. Soon, under Hu Yuan¡¯s guidance, they came to a crevice in the rocks. Looking ahead, in the crevice before them, a vibrant red Spiritual Medicine stood proudly. This Spiritual Medicine was about one foot tall, and its fiery red stem occasionally had sparks flickering on it. After comparing their memories, they confirmed without a doubt that this Spiritual Medicine was indeed the Third Order Fire Dragon Grass. Furthermore, this Fire Dragon Grass was several hundred years old and fully met the requirements to concoct Yuan-Infused Pills. At this time, Lin Tianming was thrilled, and he carefully collected it and placed it in a designated Jade Box. After completing these tasks, the two dispersed and began to collect in the vicinity. Half an hour later, the two met up again, each holding several Jade Boxes. Lin Tianming found four stalks of five-hundred-year-old Fire Dragon Grass, and Hu Yuan had found the same. Unfortunately, there were also some seedlings of Fire Dragon Grass in the area, but their survival rate was extremely low when transplanted due to their stringent growth environment. Clearly aware of this fact, both of them abandoned the idea of transplanting. However, all things considered, a total of eight stalks of five-hundred-year-old Fire Dragon Grass was a bountiful harvest that greatly exceeded both of their expectations. ¡°Daoist Lin, according to our agreed method of distribution, I can take three of these eight Fire Dragon Grass stalks, and the rest belong to you!¡± Hu Yuan said, then threw a Jade Box he was holding directly to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming did not bother with false modesty, catching the Jade Box and briefly checking it before confidently collecting all the boxes. Seeing this, Hu Yuan nodded with a smile, his mood looking very pleased. ¡°Daoist Lin, what shall we do next, where do we go from here?¡± Facing Hu Yuan¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming looked down at the abyss beneath their feet and after a moment¡¯s thought, replied, ¡°Daoist Hu, have you explored the depths of this abyss? Have you discovered anything out of the ordinary?¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan was momentarily stunned, wondering if Lin Tianming had noticed something. Yet on further thought, there indeed seemed to be something peculiar about this place. Based on what they knew so far, the abyss was bottomless, and even though they were only halfway up the mountain, the temperature was already so high. As for what might be at the bottom of the abyss, that was hard to say. ¡­ Chapter 665 03-25 - 665 365 Blue Heart True Flame_1 ?Chapter 665: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_1 Chapter 665: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_1 However, one thing was certain, the further down one went, the higher the temperature would become, and Divine Sense would also be affected. Even though they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it was still difficult to say whether they could safely reach the bottom under such suppression. Considering this, Daoist Hu tentatively asked, ¡°Lin, have you perhaps discovered something?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming chuckled and began to explain. ¡°Hehe¡­ No, I haven¡¯t found anything in particular. I just feel this place is so peculiar that it¡¯s worth our while to go down and explore!¡± ¡°Lin¡¯s words make sense, but as I see it, ordinary cultivators simply can¡¯t withstand this place,¡± said Daoist Hu, finishing his sentence before turning the conversation with a flattering remark. ¡°Hehe¡­ As a body cultivator, Lin, your resistance is naturally incomparable to mine,¡± he praised. ... ¡°Thinking about it, Lin could indeed give it a try. If you manage to reach the bottom smoothly, all the better, but if it¡¯s truly impossible, then giving up is the only option!¡± Daoist Hu¡¯s opinion unintentionally aligned with Lin Tianming¡¯s own thoughts. In fact, Lin Tianming was indeed planning to give it a try. After all, he had already obtained the Fire Dragon Grass, and even if he left this place, he would still be wandering around. More importantly, he was assisted by the Eye of Five Colors, his Divine Sense was extraordinary, and his physique had undergone Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. With such favorable conditions, it was better to explore on the spot, as there might be unexpected gains. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming courteously invited Daoist Hu to join him in the attempt. Daoist Hu responded with an indifferent smile, quite aware of the limits of his own strength. Even if he wanted to, he had no choice but to give up there and then. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After all, if he were to be injured or even lose his life while exploring the abyss, it would be a loss not worth the gain. Understanding this, Daoist Hu directly declined Lin Tianming¡¯s kind offer. Seeing Daoist Hu¡¯s decisiveness, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist further. Then, he gave instructions, ¡°Daoist Hu, just wait here for a day and a half for me. If I do not return within a day, you may leave directly!¡± Upon hearing this, Daoist Hu nodded seriously and said no more. After arranging where to meet up later, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any longer and leaped directly into the abyss. As his body slowly descended, just as he expected, the temperature increased and his Divine Sense was severely suppressed. Beyond that, the fiery heat roasted his skin, causing intense pain, and his qi and blood churned incessantly inside him. At this moment, Lin Tianming operated his Spiritual Power, creating a light shield that enveloped his entire body. With the protection of this item, the acute pain from the heat was considerably alleviated. Continuing to descend relentlessly, he soon dropped by several hundred zhang. The abyss seemed bottomless, and he once again felt the intense heat, with the protective light shield barely offering any relief. At that instant, he distinctly felt his qi and blood begin to stir violently, and his whole body felt as though it was being roasted over a fire. Faced with this, Lin Tianming had no choice but to rely on the toughness of his body to endure. Luckily, his body was innately strong, constantly releasing an indescribable energy that effectively weakened the sensations of pain. Otherwise, under such intensity, an ordinary cultivator might have already fainted. Time slowly passed, and as he continued to descend, fighting through the pain, he kept sinking further down. In the blink of an eye, he had plunged several hundred zhang more. By this point, he had descended over a thousand zhang, and the temperature at this depth had risen to a terrifyingly high level. Clearly, the deeper he went, the closer he got to the source of the heat, and the temperature increased exponentially. At this time, his consciousness became a bit blurry, sweat continuously dripped from his forehead, and it was quickly evaporated by the high heat. Not only that, but flames started to emerge on some exposed parts of his body, which was an excruciating feeling, much more intense than the pain from Cultivation Method practice. Even so, he clenched his teeth and didn¡¯t entertain the thought of retreating. Perhaps having reached his limit, the energy from the elixirs he had taken before, or from the remnants of the Spirit Fruits, started to disperse, continuously strengthening his body. At that moment, he could clearly feel his body filled with strength, and both his physique and spirit seemed to be slowly improving. Although the degree of improvement was not significant, it was undoubtedly happening. If he continued like this, staying here for a while longer would advance his Body Refinement Art further. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He never expected to gain some benefits from enduring some pain. Having calmed down from his excitement, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to linger. Leaning on this surge of energy, he descended rapidly, even faster than before. After an indeterminate amount of time, his descent came to a halt. When he looked carefully, he realized he was at the edge of a fiery pit. Although the intense pain on his skin persisted, it had clearly eased compared to before. Besides, he noticed that a large amount of dirt had seeped out of his body. After cleaning it away, his skin appeared as white and lustrous as jade. Feeling his body further, he found that everything from his internal organs to his bones and spirit had significantly improved. In this moment, he felt an extraordinary surge of excitement, as if his body possessed boundless strength. By his estimate, his body had achieved a considerable upgrade. At that point, relying on his physique alone, he was nearly on par with the strength of his cultivation in Spiritual Power. Chapter 666 03-25 - 666 365 Blue Heart True Flame_2 ?Chapter 666: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_2 Chapter 666: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_2 On the basis of their mutual enhancement, his strength was bound to rise again. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming could hardly contain his joy and was also very grateful for his own boldness. Otherwise, had he not taken this journey, he would not have encountered this unexpected delight. After calming down, he immediately began to scan his surroundings, searching for any potential treasures. Looking around, all he saw was barren fire ash stone, which, although capable of surviving high temperatures, was of little use. Even Qi Refining Cultivators had no interest in collecting it upon seeing it. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the center of the huge crater, a sky-high flame burned, a strong fire attribute element coming forth, accompanied by the heat wave hitting his face. ... Sensing the scene around him, he couldn¡¯t help but speculate that just this heat wave alone would likely be too much for a Qi Refining Cultivator to withstand. They would probably be extinguished in a moment. Regaining his senses, he opened his Eye of Five Colors and resumed his relentless search. After a while, he still hadn¡¯t found anything of use. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was slightly disappointed. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, the Eye of Five Colors suddenly focused on the center of the huge crater. He hadn¡¯t considered looking at the center of the crater; after all, in such high temperatures, common treasures could hardly survive. But with a glance through the Eye of Five Colors, there was a fist-sized red fire star hidden beneath the towering flames. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? This fire star was not big and appeared very ordinary, with no special characteristics, even giving the illusion that it could extinguish at any moment. Yet upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the surrounding flames all kept their distance from it, and the flames that burned could not affect the fire in the center in the slightest. Not only that, but among the countless towering flames, it was clear that they were surrounding this fire star, as if they were stars crowning the moon. This was only the surface difference; what was more peculiar was that the Eye of Five Colors could see directly through the exterior of the fire star and found that inside the red fire star, there was a hint of light blue. Clearly, this light blue fire star was out of the ordinary! After carefully recalling, he suddenly remembered something. ¡°Blue Heart True Flame!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s it!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself in shock, his face flashing with an excited smile. In his earlier years, he had read many classic texts, among which were descriptions of Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire. The Blue Heart True Flame was one of such fires, and it was in no way inferior to a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s Golden Core Truefire; in fact, it was even more powerful. Thus, the use of the Blue Heart True Flame was particularly outstanding; it could be used not only for Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging but also for repelling enemies. Its effects were clearly stronger and more comprehensive than the Golden Core Truefire. And such Heaven and Earth treasures were also the dream of many Cultivators. Especially for him, who not only possessed Fire Wood Dual Spiritual Roots but was also a Second Order Alchemist. If he could refine this Blue Heart True Flame, it would be of great help to both his cultivation and his Alchemy. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement reached its peak. After finally calming down his agitated heart, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at his own good fortune to have discovered such an immensely helpful treasure. But now wasn¡¯t the time to be excited; he had to refine the Blue Heart True Flame before he could celebrate. And as a Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, the Blue Heart True Flame was naturally not so easy to refine. Besides, the process of refining it was filled with danger. If luck was against him, or if he couldn¡¯t withstand the soul-scorching pain of the flames, not only would he fail to obtain the treasure, but he might also lose his life in the process. Understanding this, Lin Tianming hesitated only for an instant before making up his mind to give it a try. After all, risk and opportunity often coexist, and considering the great effort it took to reach this place, not to mention the discovery of the coveted Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, there was no reason to give up, despite the dangers. Moreover, he constantly remembered the potential crisis facing the Lin Family; both he and his family had limited time, which did not allow him the luxury of an uneventful cultivation life. Thus, even if it meant traversing mountains of swords and seas of flames, facing a situation of near-certain death, he had to seize this rare chance. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew serious; he dared not take any chances and pondered how to obtain the Blue Heart True Flame. As for the refining process of this Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, he had neither experienced it before nor even heard of how to refine it. A moment later, Lin Tianming found himself at wit¡¯s end, unable to think of a good method to collect it. ¡°So be it, no matter what, let¡¯s try to gather it up first and see what happens!¡± Lin Tianming pondered in silence and then attempted to approach the center of the fire sea. From his attempts, he discovered that the fire sea was indeed a bit special. As he stepped over the fire sea on the Tiangang Sword, he was completely unharmed, and to his surprise, the closer he got to the center, the pain from the scorching heat dwindled. It was simply inconceivable! However, this was a stroke of great fortune for him, propelling him forward when he was previously at a dead end. As he reached the center of the fire sea, Lin Tianming could now observe the Blue Heart True Flame up close. At this moment, he cautiously approached, using some First and Second Order ores to test the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s reaction. He was genuinely scared that the thing might suddenly erupt, releasing a tide of flames that would burn him to death. After all, such a flame was extremely dangerous, and no one could predict if it would have any violent reaction. Thus, he was highly focused now, ready to flee at the first sign of danger. But his worries proved excessive. After all his various tests, the Blue Heart True Flame remained motionless, standing tall in its original spot without any change. At this, the highly tense Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief. Straight away, Lin Tianming extended his Divine Sense, attempting to communicate with the Blue Heart True Flame. After all, such Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires might possess some spirituality, and this simple act was done to see if it could catch its attention. But to his surprise, the Blue Heart True Flame still didn¡¯t budge, as if it were looking down on him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed red, and he couldn¡¯t help but burst into profanities. Who knew that after his bout of cursing, the Blue Heart True Flame, as if understanding him, flashed toward his forehead. This sudden movement terrified Lin Tianming so much that he felt his soul scatter. In an instant, Lin Tianming leapt up, trying to flee as quickly as possible. Yet unexpectedly, the Blue Heart True Flame moved incredibly fast, catching up to him just as he reached the edge of the large pit. And at this moment, with Lin Tianming completely unguarded, the Blue Heart True Flame plunged directly into his Sky Spirit Cover. In the blink of an eye, he felt a piercing pain in his soul, followed by immediate unconsciousness. At this time, he found the Blue Heart True Flame had entered his sea of consciousness and erupted wildly. For a moment, his sea of consciousness was turned upside down. But Lin Tianming clung tightly to his mental faculties, enduring an unprecedented intense pain, striving with all his might to contain the explosion of the Blue Heart True Flame. Luckily, his Divine Sense was strong, and his tolerance for pain had long been honed by the drawbacks of his Cultivation Technique. Even though the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s destructive power was formidable, it was held in a stalemate under his resistance. As time slowly passed, the standoff between the two showed no signs of stopping. Time was indeterminate, but Lin Tianming felt the explosive power of the Blue Heart True Flame seemed to be weakening. Although it baffled him, and he had no time to ponder nor care about the reason. He wouldn¡¯t easily give up on this rare opportunity. So, Lin Tianming began to manipulate his Divine Sense, suppressing the Blue Heart True Flame. The Blue Heart True Flame offered only a token resistance before stopping its struggle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and immediately deployed his entire Divine Sense to refine the Blue Heart True Flame. Theoretically, the refining process was not easy, but without the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s resistance, it became much less difficult. In this state, the speed of refining the Blue Heart True Flame also increased significantly. In only half a day, the Blue Heart True Flame had been refined by a fraction, which filled him with immense joy. If progress continued at this rate, maybe it wouldn¡¯t take half a month to completely refine it. Realizing this, Lin Tianming wasted no more time and focused on refining the Blue Heart True Flame. ¡­ Chapter 667 03-25 - 667 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_1 ?Chapter 667: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_1 Chapter 667: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_1 Three days quietly passed by. At the waist of the abyss, Hu Yuan, who had been waiting for three days, now furrowed his brows tightly, endlessly peering into the depths of the abyss. ¡°According to what Lin said about the one-day agreement, it¡¯s been three days and still no return. Could something unexpected have happened?¡± ¡°Could he have perished already!¡± ¡°With Lin¡¯s exceptional talent and strength far surpassing mine, to collapse halfway like this.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ such a pity, such a pity!¡± With these thoughts in mind, Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but show a regretful expression on his face. ... They had originally agreed to wait for one day, but when Lin Tianming had not returned, he thought perhaps Lin was delayed by some treasure. Therefore, he waited an additional two days, just to meet up with Lin Tianming so they could venture together into the Secret Realm. After all, he highly recognized and felt extremely reassured by Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and integrity. Following him, he had also reaped a bounty over the years, at least far beyond his expectations. He was very clear in his heart that Lin Tianming was also a person with a great destiny. Being with someone like that, he could also practice cultivation by taking advantage of the situation, which was much stronger than his own solo trials and training. He had thought they could make a big splash in the Secret Realm, but Lin Tianming had disappeared, and he was once again on his own. ¡°Ah¡­ life and death are fated, wealth and honor lie in the heavens. I, Hu Yuan, also waited two extra days, which should be considered doing all that could be expected of me. I just hope Lin is safe and returns!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Hu Yuan sighed, then turned and leaped away, leaving the abyss behind. In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by. At the bottom of the abyss, Lin Tianming was still lying unconscious on the ground, his body covered in a layer of black mud, looking just like a statue. However, upon closer inspection, one could see the chest of the statue-like figure heaving rhythmically, along with the sound of breathing. Clearly, this statue was a living being! Such a lifeless thing, fortunately, was at the bottom of this abyss. Aside from flames burning around, there were no other dangers. Otherwise, if it were in some desolate mountain or valley within the Secret Realm, he would probably have been devoured by Demonic Beasts as food by now. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few breaths later, the statue slowly crumbled, revealing Lin Tianming¡¯s body. Immediately afterwards, he opened his eyes and stood up, a look of excitement on his face. Before he even caught a few breaths, Lin Tianming looked at his body and then disdainfully said, ¡°How stinky!¡± It turns out that the black mud on his body was impurities seeping out from within. Whilst smelling the stench, Lin Tianming quickly performed a spell to clean himself up. As he cleaned himself, the malodorous black mud disappeared, replaced by skin as white and pure as jade. At a glance, this skin seemed quite ordinary, but inside, the bones had a white-gold color, emitting a tremendous energy imperceptibly. It was clear that the Body Refinement Art had once again significantly improved. Feeling the abundant strength within his body, Lin Tianming was in a great mood, his heart¡¯s excitement lingering for a long time. Ha ha¡­ it¡¯s really too incredible. At that moment, Lin Tianming pinched his fingers, and a blue ball of fire appeared in his hand. As soon as the fireball emerged, the temperature around sharply rose, and the nearby red flames all dodged away, as if they were very afraid of the fireball in his hand. For Lin Tianming, these changes had no effect on him whatsoever, and he manipulated the fireball at will, changing it into various shapes. Looking at this all-too-familiar fireball that he could easily control and manipulate its energy, At this moment, he could feel the hidden power of the Blue Heart True Flame, which if used, would definitely be a devastating weapon. Although he had yet to use it in real combat, he estimated that the destructive power of the Blue Heart True Flame, even if not comparable to the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, was much more potent than common attacks. It¡¯s even possible that it¡¯s not much weaker than the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword in might. With the Blue Heart True Flame, his combat techniques became more diverse, and his strength had also significantly improved. But the role of the Blue Heart True Flame wasn¡¯t just for attacking; it also had good effects in assisting with Alchemy. Moreover, the growth potential of all Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames was not weak. According to legends in the Cultivation World, if other Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames were available for assimilation, its attacking power could be further enhanced, and its effects in assisting Pill Concoction and Artifact Refining would also improve. In that case, the Blue Heart True Flame could also grow, thereby bringing a greater assistance to the host. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming was excited, and still somewhat in disbelief as if it wasn¡¯t real. Only when he swept his Divine Sense through his body and found a flame existing within, exactly like the flame he had seen with the Eye of Five Colors, did he accept the fact. Obviously, that was the Blue Heart True Flame. And the further improvement in his Body Refinement Art was clearly a result of assimilating the Blue Heart True Flame. Seeing that the flame remained quietly within him and had integrated with him, Lin Tianming finally accepted reality. However, he naturally found it very strange that the Blue Heart True Flame had suddenly rushed into his sea of consciousness, catching him off guard. As a result, he fell unconscious, but he remembered everything that happened in his sea of consciousness vividly, which was still terrifying to think about. What was even more strange was that the Blue Heart True Flame did not truly rebel and was easily refined by him, which was puzzling. Anyway, whether it was his own incredible fortune or the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s willingness, it didn¡¯t matter. At this point, pursuing the reason was truly meaningless. Chapter 668 03-25 - 668 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_2 ?Chapter 668: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_2 Chapter 668: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_2 ¡°` Anyway, he got a great opportunity for free, which would be of great help whether for Alchemy or for combat against enemies, thanks to the Blue Heart True Flame. Such opportunities, for a Cultivator, truly came once in a blue moon. Therefore, he should actually feel fortunate instead. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the reasons, and his entire demeanor returned to its normal state. Once his composure was regained, Lin Tianming glanced at the soaring flames around him and fell into deep thought. Counting from the time of his unconsciousness, more than half a month had passed; Hu Yuan must have left this place by now. That being said, leaving this place now and trying to find him again would probably depend on luck. ... However, that was not a major issue; with his current strength, having Hu Yuan with him would not be of much use anyway. Unless they encountered a Third Order Demon Beast, it was more convenient for him to act alone. And now, with the treasures here being thoroughly scavenged by them, there really was no need to stay any longer. After all, there was still more than half a year left of the one-year timeframe, which was enough time; he had to seize every moment to continue treasure hunting and try to acquire as many treasures as possible. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming decided to leave the area immediately and resume his treasure-hunting journey. Once he made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped up and rode the Tiangang Sword toward the heights of the abyss. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï While it had been a painful and slow descent, ascending was much easier now that he had assimilated the Blue Heart True Flame, and the high temperatures no longer affected him. Familiar with the path, Lin Tianming returned to the flat ground at the top in merely the time it took to brew a cup of tea. Just as expected, seeing that Hu Yuan had already left, Lin Tianming was calm and indifferent, without caring whether Hu Yuan had waited for him or not. After all, nearly twenty days had passed since he was last seen, so it was natural to presume he had perished. In that case, it was understandable for Hu Yuan not to wait for him. Understanding this, Lin Tianming simply smiled lightly and then chose a direction to fly off in. ¡­ Time flew, and half a year passed in a blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were traveling together, flying over a high peak. About a month prior, the two had unexpectedly rejoined each other. Seeing Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan wore a face full of surprise, having thought that Lin Tianming had met his demise in that abyss. In response, Lin Tianming made up a reason, merely saying that he had been delayed by encountering some treasures. Whether true or not, Hu Yuan naturally didn¡¯t ask further, as everyone had their own fortune to find; if he missed out, he couldn¡¯t blame others. Seeing Lin Tianming reappear with even a subtly enhanced strength, Hu Yuan was also overjoyed. Afterward, the two once again traveled together, exploring the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. In the month of their partnership, they did not gain much, obtaining only about a dozen Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. In the nearly half a year before that, Lin Tianming¡¯s gains were also modest; he acquired quite a few Second Order treasures and killed several dozen Second Order Demonic Beasts. But he obtained only six Third Order Items, and none was particularly rare. Clear enough, this was a disappointing haul compared to the first three months, which also made him somewhat discontented. But upon further reflection, perhaps due to the passage of time, the treasures of the Secret Realm had been found by other Cultivators. After all, aside from them, there were nearly a hundred Cultivators in the Secret Realm, with strengths comparable to theirs. Moreover, ninety of them were disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces, with access to comprehensive information and intelligence. With such favorable conditions, their combined power undoubtedly much exceeded acting alone. Stronger power meant bigger targets, and they didn¡¯t need to be concerned about even powerful Monster Beast Legions. As a result, with others joining forces and scouring for half a year, the good items had become increasingly scarce. Going on like this, the chances of encountering high-value treasures would become tougher as time went on! With these realizations, Lin Tianming stopped dwelling on the matter. Anyway, according to the haul from the past half year, he was quite satisfied; even if he left the Secret Realm now, it wouldn¡¯t be an unacceptable outcome. At this moment, as Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were engaged in Sword Flight, looking at the towering peaks piercing the clouds below, Lin Tianming suggested to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, this place looks good. How about we rest here for half a day?¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan thought about how they¡¯d been running around for more than ten days without proper rest, indeed feeling a bit haggard. Plus, he just happened to want to recuperate, so he immediately agreed to Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion. Seeing Hu Yuan had no objections, Lin Tianming slowly descended, and the two stopped at the top of the mountain, one after the other. Then, Lin Tianming began to survey the area, searching for any signs of Demonic Beasts. It was this kind of cautious behavior that allowed him to avoid many unnecessary dangers. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And in this Secret Realm so densely populated with beasts, it was all the more necessary to be vigilant. Hu Yuan on the other side did the same; as a Loose Cultivator who had managed to reach his current level of cultivation, he had survived countless crises. He always maintained vigilance, no matter where he was, and that was how he managed to cultivate to his current state. As the pair inspected the area carefully, the mountain peak turned out to be safe, with the exception of a fairly large plateau, no traces of Demonic Beasts were found. Once they ensured safety, they sat down cross-legged and took out some elixirs to consume, in order to replenish their spent Spiritual Power. ¡°` Chapter 669 03-25 - 669 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_3 ?Chapter 669: Chapter 366: Purple Gold Eagle Clan_3 Chapter 669: Chapter 366: Purple Gold Eagle Clan_3 By evening, the sky had gradually darkened. After sitting and regulating their breath for most of the day, both of their spiritual power had recovered to a great extent. However, as it was already late, neither of them seemed to have any intention to leave just yet, especially since the dangers of night far exceeded those of the day. Given the circumstances, they obviously planned to spend the night here. At this time, Lin Tianming also opened his eyes, Hu Yuan also ended his cultivation state, and the two of them started to chat casually as the night grew darker. After about half a quarter of an hour, both men, who were chatting idly, noticed something at the same time, and their expressions suddenly changed. ¡°There are flying spirit beasts coming our way!¡± ... At that moment, Hu Yuan, looking in the direction ahead of them, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Lin Tianming, with his powerful divine sense, had actually sensed the movements of these spiritual birds even before Hu Yuan did. ¡°Lin, let¡¯s hurry and leave!¡± Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming replied calmly with a wry smile. ¡°It¡¯s too late, these flying demonic birds are very fast. I¡¯m afraid they will fly over here momentarily!¡± Before he had finished speaking, dozens of shadows transformed from small black dots into massive creatures in front of their eyes. Looking closer, these demonic birds were enormous; the largest had a wingspan over twenty zhang wide, golden beaks, and feathers of a light golden color, all of which were strikingly familiar to him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Heh¡­ this is actually a Purple Gold Eagle Clan!¡± Upon seeing these Purple Gold Eagles, among them five were at the Second Order Late Phase and more than ten were at the Initial and Middle Stages of the Second Order, while the rest were all at the First Order. It was clear that this was a complete Purple Gold Eagle Clan, with overall power that was immensely formidable. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of surprise. In his years of campaigning in the south and north, he had visited many places, and he hadn¡¯t seen many flying demonic beasts, let alone encountered a Purple Gold Eagle clan. It is worth noting that even during the outbreak of a monster tide at the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield, with tens of thousands at stake, he had only seen two flying demonic beast tribes. Back then, when those flying demonic beasts appeared, they were considered treasures by the cultivators. Those of a slightly higher tier were quickly killed off by the Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, and the lower-tier ones were captured and tamed, barely leaving any for the others. Otherwise, he would have liked to kill a few more, or tame a few First Order or Initial Stage Second Order spiritual birds to bring back to his clan. Although he already had a Purple Gold Eagle and had nurtured Xiao Diao to the Second Order Middle Stage, no one would think of having too many of such kindred beasts. Even if they were no longer needed for traveling, they could still let Xiao Diao consume the essence blood of its own kind to refine the faint bloodline of the Golden Winged Great Peng, aiding in its successful ancestral transformation as soon as possible. The effect of devouring the essence blood and demon cores of these kindred beasts was much stronger than that of other species. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over the years, he had been looking for them but hadn¡¯t managed to find any trace of Purple Gold Eagles; otherwise, he would have really liked to search deep within the habitat of demonic beasts. And now, unexpectedly encountering a Purple Gold Eagle Clan within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was somewhat surprising. But thinking about it more carefully, the extent of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was unknown, as was how long it had existed and how many demonic beasts it contained. Even the Three Great Golden Core Sects of Wei Kingdom probably had no clear idea. In such a dangerous secret realm, the appearance of flying demonic beasts was nothing out of the ordinary. With this understanding, Lin Tianming felt at ease, his surprise turning into excitement. Chapter 670 03-25 - 670 367 Spirit Beast Assists_1 ?Chapter 670: Chapter 367 Spirit Beast Assists_1 Chapter 670: Chapter 367 Spirit Beast Assists_1 As Lin Tianming gathered his thoughts, the Purple Gold Eagle Clan had already approached not far from the two. Looking up, there were dozens of eagles. When they spread their wings and flew, their massive bodies almost blotted out the sun, making the already darkened sky turn even darker. ¡°Chirp¡­ chirp¡­¡± Piercing cries echoed through heaven and earth. Upon seeing the two people, the group of Purple Gold Eagles immediately dived down, launching fierce attacks. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened and he couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Hmph¡­ You flock of ragged birds would have been fine if you¡¯d just flown away. How dare you actively seek trouble!¡± ... ¡°You¡¯re simply courting death!¡± After Lin Tianming coldly uttered these words, he formed a Law Decree with his hand and slashed out a multitude of Sword Qi that shot out fiercely. On the other side, Hu Yuan, who was initially somewhat afraid upon seeing the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, soon had his expression replaced by excitement. Seeing so many Purple Gold Eagles appear, he was immensely eager as he did not have a flight-capable Spirit Beast of his own. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For many years, he had wanted to tame a flying Spiritual Bird to cultivate, but since flying Spiritual Birds were rare, Second Order ones with higher intelligence were not easy to tame, and First Order ones required too much time and resources to raise. Thus, he had never encountered a particularly suitable opportunity. However, there were quite a few Purple Gold Eagles here, and with both First and Second Order present, the choices and chances increased, significantly boosting the probability of successfully taming one. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Not only that, the talent and potential of the Purple Gold Eagles were quite good. With proper cultivation, they could possibly break through to Third Order. They could be used for travel, which had many purposes. Now that such an opportunity had arisen, the long-covetous Hu Yuan naturally wouldn¡¯t let it pass. Realizing this, Hu Yuan no longer hesitated and likewise unleashed a barrage of attacks, madly striking at the Purple Gold Eagles that were swooping towards them. As Lin Tianming and his companion took action in succession, Sword Qi whipped violently around the mountain peak. Not only that, but dozens of Purple Gold Eagles also flapped their wings furiously and spat out fireballs that rained down on the two of them. This fireball attack was something Lin Tianming was very familiar with. Years ago, when he first tamed a Purple Gold Eagle, he had also experienced it. But back then, the Purple Gold Eagle was only at the First Order Middle Stage, still in its juvenile phase, and the destructiveness of its fireballs was not great. But here, there were dozens of Purple Gold Eagles. The First Order ones could be ignored, but there were nearly twenty Second Order eagles as well. Their combined fireballs were tremendous in number, with terrifying temperatures on their surfaces and astonishing power within. As Lin Tianming and his partner made their moves, a mass of Sword Qi and talisman paper attacks collided with the sky-full of fireballs. ¡°Boom¡­ boom¡­¡± Explosion after explosion resounded without end. For a moment, the top of the mountain was a dazzle of Gang Wind and fire splashes, as brilliant as stars in the night. Not only that, the powerful shockwaves made the ground tremble. When the firelight dissipated, the land returned to a brief tranquility. At this time, looking around, several First Order Purple Gold Eagles had failed to evade in time and were struck by the powerful Sword Qi. They fell from the sky, their bodies smashing into the ground and creating deep pits. With this casual strike, Lin Tianming and his companion had killed a few First Order Purple Gold Eagles and injured two at the Second Order Initial Stage, but there were no other casualties. As the probing strike ended, this result was clearly unsatisfactory to them. However, upon further thought, given the talent and potential of the Purple Gold Eagles, their strength was bound to be more formidable than the Red Flame Beasts at the same rank. In addition, as flying Demonic Beasts, speed was their pride. Attacking them was not as easy as it seemed. Previously, when they battled the Flaming Beast Clan, they had faced several Second Order Late Phase beasts and more than a dozen at Second Order Medium and Initial Stages. Compared to this Purple Gold Eagle Clan, the Flaming Beast Clan was not much weaker. Yet, at that time, they had emerged completely victorious, slaughtering all the Red Flame Beasts without sustaining much injury. It could be said that the victory in that battle was relatively easy. However, now that the probing strike had ended, the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ losses were negligible, and their combat power had not diminished significantly. By that count, this Purple Gold Eagle Clan was proving to be much more troublesome than the Flaming Beast Clan. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s brows tightened, and their faces showed a solemn expression. Clearly, they had underestimated the overall strength of this Purple Gold Eagle Clan. But the two did not panic, they were also well aware that though the overall strength of this Purple Gold Eagle Clan was great, their combined force was not without the potential for victory. Even if they couldn¡¯t defeat the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, escaping them would definitely not be easy. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming said to Hu Yuan, who was not far from him, ¡°Daoist Hu, you¡¯ve seen the strength of these Purple Gold Eagles, we mustn¡¯t underestimate them; they¡¯re very fast, and escaping won¡¯t be easy!¡± ¡°Looks like we must give it our all this time!¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded. As a Loose Cultivator who had cultivated to his current realm, he had certainly experienced many crises. He knew very well that escaping from the Purple Gold Eagle Clan would be much harder than from the beast clans like the Flaming Beast Clan. After all, with the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ speed, they would likely be caught before they could get far. By that time, they would still have to fight desperately. Chapter 671 03-25 - 671 367 Spirit Beast Assists (Part 2) ?Chapter 671: Chapter 367: Spirit Beast Assists (Part 2) Chapter 671: Chapter 367: Spirit Beast Assists (Part 2) Since escape was not an option, he decided to annihilate them with thunderous means or drive them from this place. Having made up his mind, Hu Yuan¡¯s Magic Artifact in his hand frequently shone brightly, unleashing stronger attacks and locking onto two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles. Seeing Hu Yuan go all out, Lin Tianming did not delay. With a single slap on his storage bag, seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, swiftly forming a Barrier in front of him. At the same time, the Thousand Beast Banner was also summoned by him, working in conjunction with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to envelop a large area in front of him. His speed was remarkably fast, and many First Order Purple Gold Eagles were covered by the Sword Array, including those at the early Second Order stage who were unable to escape. However, the Purple Gold Eagles at the medium and later stages of the Second Order were very fast. They seemed to sense the danger at the moment the Sword Array appeared and dodged it. ... Given Lin Tianming¡¯s knowledge of Purple Gold Eagles, it was not surprising that the Earth Fiend Sword Formation failed to encompass those at the medium and later stages of the Second Order. His goal was merely to trap the First Order and early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles, so that he could attempt to tame them after the final battle had concluded. Therefore, he simply trapped them and did not trigger too much Sword Qi to roam inside, lest he kill them. As for the top combatants among the Purple Gold Eagles, which were those in the medium and later stages of the Second Order, they were considered to have reached adulthood and their Spirit Wisdom was not low, so the likelihood of directly taming them was not great. At the very least, without resorting to violent methods, there was absolutely no chance of subduing them. Understanding this, Lin Tianming focused all of his attention on those Purple Gold Eagles in the medium and later stages of the Second Order. At that moment, Lin Tianming slapped his Spirit Beast Bag and released Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï This battle was unlike the one against the Flaming Beast Clan. The Purple Gold Eagles were stronger and faster, making them not easy to kill. Therefore, he planned to let Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, who hadn¡¯t fought in a long time, come out to help, and he even considered releasing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. However, considering the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s injuries had only barely healed and that the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was too rare, easily arousing greed in others, And more importantly, the Divine Skills of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox were very strong, and he didn¡¯t want to reveal too many of his trump cards. That¡¯s why he considered letting Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao come out to help. With the Bloodthirsty Jiao being of the Second Order Late Phase, holding off a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle should be no problem. As for Xiao Diao, at the Second Order Middle Stage, though its Order was not very high amongst the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, over the years it had consumed countless Demon Cores and various elixirs, and even rare treasures. Under such circumstances, Xiao Diao¡¯s overall strength was still stronger compared to other Purple Gold Eagles of the same class and Order. Even if it couldn¡¯t match those of the same kind in the late stages of the Second Order, its fighting prowess was by no means much weaker. Lin Tianming¡¯s plan was simple: let the Purple Gold Eagle and the Bloodthirsty Jiao each hold off a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle, while Hu Yuan dealt with two other Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles. With that, out of the five Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles here, four already had their opponents. He would go all out to quickly slay or seriously injure the remaining one, as well as the six Purple Gold Eagles in the Middle Stage of the Second Order. With his strength, taking on these Second Order Medium and Late Stage Purple Gold Eagles should not be a difficult task. Once he had achieved his goal, he could go and help Xiao Diao and the others to kill their opponents one by one. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasted no time and quickly gave orders to Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Suddenly, the Bloodthirsty Jiao twisted its huge body and was the first to charge at a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Xiao Diao, receiving the command, let out an excited screech, whether out of excitement at seeing its own kind or eagerness to fight. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said to the eager Xiao Diao, ¡°Xiao Diao, this opponent is of your own kind. If you kill them, you can obtain their Blood Essence Inner Cores, which are important for your ancestral transformation, right?¡± Xiao Diao seemed to understand, as its excitement turned into a frenzied state, without a hint of fear. This behavior seemed to show it couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and unleashed a Sword Qi, slashing at a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Xiao Diao also understood and flapped its massive wings, ferociously pouncing towards the same Purple Gold Eagle. Soon, Xiao Diao and its opponent began to fight fiercely. Upon closer look, the entire process of their fight was incredibly ugly, consisting of close-range physical combat, tangling and grappling with each other. Such a method completely abandoned the use of their Divine Skills, differing as much as heaven and earth from the battlefield where the Bloodthirsty Jiao was located. It was unimaginable that two Purple Gold Eagles would not use Divine Skills and instead fought hand-to-hand like ordinary Demonic Beasts. Witnessing such a scene, Lin Tianming truly broadened his horizons. Perhaps it was a special way of fighting between the same species, after all, such strange phenomena were not uncommon among the Demon Beast Race. Snapping back to reality, with the addition of two Spirit Beasts joining the scene, each finding their own opponents, Lin Tianming did not delay any further. He leapt into the air, the Tiangang Sword in his hand swinging frequently, unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi, and he pounced toward the remaining Purple Gold Eagles. The moment he made his move, these Purple Gold Eagles naturally would not sit and wait for death; they spat out a large number of fireballs, colliding with the Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Neither of their attacks was weak. With the sheer number of fireballs, the Purple Gold Eagles easily blocked Lin Tianming¡¯s assault. Immediately afterward, they gathered together to form a formation, pouncing towards Lin Tianming. At the same time, the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ sharp talons were the best weapons, not only exceedingly hard but also possessing powerful penetrating power. They swooped down, their talons aiming for Lin Tianming¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. If they managed to land a hit, his head would likely shatter into pieces instantly. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were agile, and with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, evading was not very difficult. At that moment, he dodged the attack of the leading Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. But for the attacks of the talons from the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles, he didn¡¯t show the slightest hint of fear. He not only didn¡¯t dodge, but instead leaped forward to meet them, the Tiangang Sword in his hand thrusting out fiercely, clashing hard against their talons. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± A series of metallic clashes rang out, accompanied by sparks flickering about. This Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle clearly had not anticipated Lin Tianming to be so fierce, not evading and instead engaging in a direct confrontation. It was only after colliding with Lin Tianming that it understood the confidence Lin Tianming had. Lin Tianming¡¯s strike was not something an ordinary Cultivator could compare with. He was, after all, a practitioner of Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and not too long ago, he had obtained the Blue Heart True Flame, which elevated his physique to another level. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With his physique comparable to a Second Order Late Stage Beast, the power of this strike was naturally immense, directly chopping off the talons of this Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle. Not only that, but the Tiangang Sword in his hand seemed unsatisfied, almost severing the wing of the Purple Gold Eagle with a single slash. After letting out a miserable cry, the Purple Gold Eagle fell out of formation and plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily into the ground. A cloud of dust rose up, and when it finally settled, a deep pit appeared on the ground, with the Purple Gold Eagle half-lying in it, struggling and letting out painful screams. It tried hard to stand up and take flight. However, with its talons chopped off and one wing nearly broken, such severe injuries made it impossible to support flight. After fruitless struggles, it could only let out pitiful screams, hoping to receive help from its kin. But at this moment, the other Purple Gold Eagles were either engaged or those in the same battlefield with Lin Tianming were stunned by his fierce attacks and did not dare to approach easily. In response, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, excitement surging within him. This was the effect he wanted; he had to shock the Purple Gold Eagles with a thunderous approach so that it would be easier to subdue them later. ¡­ Chapter 672 03-25 - 672 368 Blue Heart True Flame Shows Its ?Chapter 672: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Shows Its Power_1 Chapter 672: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Shows Its Power_1 However, such a tactic was probably not enough to make the Purple Gold Eagle Clan fear him. As expected, after a brief hesitation, the group of Purple Gold Eagles launched another attack. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, they became much smarter, just keeping their distance and unleashing their innate divine skills, which were numerous and mighty fireballs. ¡°Booom¡­¡± Under the leadership of a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle, the remaining five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles spat out a large number of fireballs in succession. At a glance, the number of fireballs was immense, looking as if they obscured the sun and sky. And this scene lasted only a moment; initially scattered, for some reason the countless fireballs then converged into one gigantic fireball. ... This huge fireball was massive, even larger than the body of a Purple Gold Eagle, with flames raging on its surface, appearing extremely terrifying. Seeing this huge fireball, Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed, and his expression became very solemn. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ spirit wisdom was so great that they even knew the method of combining attacks. In his mind, if it were just a single Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle spitting out a fireball, he wouldn¡¯t need to care at all, likely able to crush it with ease. But the fireballs produced by the six Purple Gold Eagles fusing together had a power at least several times greater than that of one alone. In such a situation, the fused fireball¡¯s power was immense, and even he could sense the taste of death. The last time he had such a feeling was during the fierce battle with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï Nevertheless, even so, Lin Tianming did not fall into panic; instead, he became unusually calm. At this moment, as he watched the gigantic fireball coming at him, Lin Tianming made a strange motion with his hands. Soon, a red and blue interlaced fireball quietly appeared in his fair hands. At a glance, the fireball wasn¡¯t large, its aura did not seem strong, and it rotated slowly in his hands, occasionally swallowing the weak spiritual energy surrounding it. Others might not see anything remarkable about this fireball. But he knew very well, this ordinary-looking fireball contained a trace of the Blue Heart True Flame. Never underestimate this trace of Blue Heart True Flame, after all, it was one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, comparable to the king among fires. With this fireball, its power was probably no less than the fireball created by the combined efforts of the Purple Gold Eagles. Understanding this, Lin Tianming appeared calm and confident. Immediately, without any hesitation, he threw the fireball in his hand, colliding it with the oncoming gigantic fireball. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A boom like rolling thunder resounded through the sky. At this time, on the nearby battlefield, Hu Yuan and the two Purple Gold Eagles he was battling were attracted by the deafening explosion sound and stopped their attacks simultaneously. Staring at the tremendous firelight in the sky, Hu Yuan¡¯s face showed shock, and he couldn¡¯t help but mumble to himself inwardly. ¡°Lin is truly a master of concealment, over and over again refreshing my understanding,¡± his strength is indeed the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, utterly abnormal!¡± ¡°Hehe, those Purple Gold Eagles probably won¡¯t be able to stir up any more trouble!¡± While he was distracted, the instant the large and small fireballs made contact, a mushroom cloud rose in the sky, lighting up the world as if daylight had broken through. Meanwhile, the temperature between heaven and earth suddenly increased, reaching an incredibly terrifying level. Under the intense heat, the ground at the mountain peak melted somewhat, a charred massive pit appearing out of nowhere, filled with a large number of burning embers, and the scent of scorch hitting one¡¯s face. At that moment, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated this, retreating over a hundred yards with explosive speed before stopping. But the five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles had not the foresight. As the fireballs exploded, except for the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle that sensed the deadly crisis and managed to escape a distance with its swifter speed, Even so, it was greatly affected by the explosion, its enormous body showing many injuries. The remaining five Purple Gold Eagles were too close to the center of the explosion and were all affected by it. The power of the fireball¡¯s explosion was tremendous, achieving an extraordinarily high temperature, and even though they were fire-attributed Demonic Beasts, under this terrifying force, the several Purple Gold Eagles were dazed, their feathers igniting. Not only that, the explosion left their bodies with blurred flesh and blood, almost falling from the sky. Before they could catch a breath, the scorching embers attacked again, adding more damage to their already mutilated bodies. As the sky gradually returned to calm, the battlefield echoed with the sound of painful screams and whinnies, sounding extremely eerie. Looking over, the several Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles appeared listless, not a patch of skin on them intact. Many Purple Gold Eagles lost most of their feathers, their flesh nearly cooked, flapping clumsily in mid-air. This single strike had critically injured the five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles, their power reduced to less than a third of its potential. The Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle was in somewhat better shape but was also injured, and its power was clearly diminished. Adding insult to injury, the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ divine skills, though not weak, were greatly weakened against Lin Tianming who possessed the Blue Heart True Flame. As for Lin Tianming, that strike just now only caused his blood to surge, receiving some backlash, with almost no impact on his strength. Chapter 673 03-25 - 673 368 Blue Heart True Flame ?Chapter 673: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Demonstrates Power_2 Chapter 673: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Demonstrates Power_2 Meanwhile, Hu Yuan had gained some advantage, and although Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao hadn¡¯t gained the upper hand, they were unlikely to be defeated in the short term. In such a situation, with Lin Tianming¡¯s strength undiminished and the Purple Gold Eagle Clan all seriously injured, continuing the fight offered no chance of victory. The Purple Gold Eagle Clan seemed to understand the situation, but they couldn¡¯t retreat smoothly. After all, within Lin Tianming¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation, there were dozens of First and Second Order Purple Gold Eagles trapped, and though these eagles were not the strongest, they were the future of the clan. Moreover, with the formidable Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan present, the possibility of them shaking off pursuit was slim to none. Now, the Purple Gold Eagle Clan was stuck between a rock and a hard place, completely lacking their initial momentum. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were overjoyed and knew to press their advantage and quickly expand their victories. ... Being so cautious, the two of them didn¡¯t give the Purple Gold Eagles any time to react and hastened to strike again. Seeing this, the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, despite their anger, had no choice but to fight desperately, seeking a sliver of hope. In the blink of an eye, as Lin Tianming and his comrade acted, the battle erupted anew. Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands, and the Tiangang Sword in his grasp shone brightly, subsequently transforming into a beam of light that shot out. The vigorous Lin Tianming held nothing back, directly employing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, targeting a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming turned his body, charging at the Purple Gold Eagle with his flesh and blood body. His speed was not slow, and the Tiangang Sword was even faster, arriving above the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head in an instant. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï This Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle was already wounded, and now, with the fearsome Tiangang Sword targeting it and Lin Tianming surging forward, that iron-like fist posed a lethal threat as well. In desperation, this Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings frantically and turned to flee. This move was an outright retreat without a fight. Seeing this, an expression of surprise spread across Lin Tianming¡¯s face. At that moment, he chuckled coldly, knowing that no matter how fast the Purple Gold Eagle was, it couldn¡¯t outrun his Tiangang Sword. But this Purple Gold Eagle had been scared out of its wits and had abandoned its companions to flee. Little did it know that such a choice would not change the outcome in any way, but would only hasten its death. Its companions, witnessing this, were also filled with shock and anger, crying out frantically as if trying to call back the fleeing eagle. Sure enough, the call of its companions had an effect, and the eagle turned its head again, attempting to use its Divine Ability Talent in a bid to block the attack of the Tiangang Sword. But by then it was too late! Just as the Purple Gold Eagle opened its mouth, the Tiangang Sword descended. In that instant, the light of the Tiangang Sword flashed, increasing its speed even further. ¡°Bang¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, amidst a loud explosion, the Tiangang Sword directly struck the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head. If the Purple Gold Eagle had not fled and faced the attack, it might have been able to withstand a few rounds. Regrettably, its poor choice hastened its demise. Lin Tianming¡¯s all-out strike decapitated the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head. Not even a cry of agony could escape before the eagle tumbled from the sky, crashing heavily to the ground. This scene was brief, and it was only when they heard the sound of the fall that its companions reacted. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled triumphantly, his diving body twisting as he charged straight toward another five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. At this time, they were like frightened birds; seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s approach, their courage had already shattered. In this moment, they had no thought of resistance and scattered in all directions. But Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was astonishingly fast, and in an instant, he was already behind one of the Purple Gold Eagles. He threw a punch that the eagle couldn¡¯t evade, and it was directly struck by Lin Tianming¡¯s fist. A miserable cry came forth, as the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle writhed in agony, feeling as if it had been struck by a mountain. The seemingly ordinary fist, containing immense strength, punched through its body, creating a bloody hole. Not only that, the relentless might of the fist pierced right through its body. Already injured, the Purple Gold Eagle was devastated by this blow. It tried to escape, but no matter how frantically it flapped its wings, it couldn¡¯t take off and could only fall helplessly to the ground, crashing heavily. It attempted to struggle but was powerless, only able to screech in pain. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was undistracted, his entire being like a specter, slaughtering towards the other fleeing Purple Gold Eagles. He fought with both hands, the Tiangang Sword in his grasp swinging frequently, unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi to block the escape routes of the Purple Gold Eagles. At the same time, his body, like a fierce beast, would always explode with terrible bursts of light when he punched, targeting the vital points of the Purple Gold Eagles. These ordinary-looking fists were attacks propelled by his body, as mighty as that of Demonic Beasts, each blow capable of severely injuring or even outright killing a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast. In the blink of an eye, the two Purple Gold Eagles closest to Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were struck directly by his fists. Two more cries of agony rang out, followed by their painful screams and subsequent crash into the ground. With three Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles grievously injured in rapid succession, the entire Purple Gold Eagle Clan suffered heavy losses. But Lin Tianming had intentionally held back, otherwise, if he had gone all out, they might not have survived. Lin Tianming had done so deliberately, wanting to spare their lives to attempt to subdue them once the great battle was completely over. Even though he had held back, these Purple Gold Eagles were deterred by his violent methods, devoid of any thoughts of resistance. With three Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles dead, only two remained trying to escape. They took advantage of their comrades being attacked to fly far away, each in opposite directions. At this point, if Lin Tianming wanted to catch up, he could only choose one, while the other would have to be let go. Knowing he couldn¡¯t be in two places at once, Lin Tianming picked one closest to Xiao Diao, planning to severely injure it before going directly to help the struggling Xiao Diao. As for the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle flying in the opposite direction, he let it go. After all, as long as they killed the remaining Purple Gold Eagles, they would have enough, and the loss of one Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle wasn¡¯t significant¡ªlosing one was inconsequential. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped into the air, chasing after his target. His speed was swift, and in the blink of an eye, he had closed the gap. Upon seeing Lin Tianming catching up, that Purple Gold Eagle was a mixture of shock and rage. Already injured, it was not a match for Lin Tianming in a fight. As for escape, if it were high-speed flight, Lin Tianming naturally couldn¡¯t compare, but its current takeoff speed wasn¡¯t fast, at least not faster than Lin Tianming¡¯s. It was clear it couldn¡¯t win, nor could it escape¡ªit was a situation of certain doom. However, Lin Tianming was not one to go easy. He was not a particularly merciful person¡ªthe one that escaped did so simply because he couldn¡¯t pursue it, but the current target had to be captured at all costs. With such resolve, Lin Tianming had caught up, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand was even quicker, arriving above the head of the Purple Gold Eagle. This Purple Gold Eagle had already witnessed the power of the Tiangang Sword. Realizing it couldn¡¯t get away, it turned around and spat out a fireball, hoping to shatter the Tiangang Sword. However, this desperate counterattack was akin to a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Yet what else could it do? It had no other option. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Countless fireballs shot out, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword, and once again, explosions thundered through the sky and earth. But the fireballs could only block for a moment before being pierced by the Tiangang Sword, causing them to explode directly. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the Tiangang Sword didn¡¯t stop for even a second, its speed unaltered, stabbing towards the Purple Gold Eagle. Having just unleashed its Divine Ability Talent, the Purple Gold Eagle had no strength left to resist, apart from relying on its body. In this dire situation, the Purple Gold Eagle was decisive, stretching out its sharp claws towards the Tiangang Sword. Chapter 674 03-25 - 674 369 Excited Xiao Diao_1 ?Chapter 674: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_1 Chapter 674: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_1 In the blink of an eye, the sharp claws and the Tiangang Sword collided head-on. There were several crackling sounds, accompanied by sparks, which looked quite splendid. However, this scene quickly ended, followed by the miserable cry of the Purple Gold Eagle and the sound of its body hitting the ground. Like its companion, this Purple Gold Eagle was severely injured by Lin Tianming and could only lie on the ground, struggling and wailing. From the current situation, these Purple Gold Eagles couldn¡¯t even think about counterattacking, let alone escaping. Yet all of this was within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Seeing his goal achieved, Lin Tianming did not delay any further and directly approached Xiao Diao, which was not far away. ... From a distance, Lin Tianming noticed Xiao Diao was fighting fiercely with a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Their way of fighting was very primitive, relying entirely on close combat with their bodies. At this moment, looking over, Xiao Diao was riddled with injuries and its feathers were in complete disarray. Although its opponent was also seriously injured, it was obviously in a much better state than Xiao Diao. This would mean Xiao Diao had surely been at a disadvantage before. Thinking about it, it was quite normal, considering Xiao Diao was only at the Second Order Middle Stage, while its opponent was at the Second Order Late Phase. This difference in rank could mean a world of difference for the Demon Beast Race. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Yet even so, Xiao Diao was completely undeterred by its injuries at this time, with its momentum undiminished and even on the rise. As the battle dragged on, Xiao Diao¡¯s combat skills slowly improved, and it actually managed to fight on equal terms with the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Such a change was crucial for Xiao Diao. After all, Xiao Diao had a smooth growth over the years, with not much strife and conflict, relying solely on the resources given by Lin Tianming to advance, which led to its lack of combat experience. However, with a very good understanding, Xiao Diao slowly turned the tide from its early disadvantage. Now, with the battle at a standstill, if it continued, Xiao Diao might keep growing and eventually defeat its opponent head-on. Lin Tianming, having grasped the situation, was very pleased and thus changed his mind, deciding not to join Xiao Diao¡¯s fight. By doing so, he wanted to see what Xiao Diao¡¯s limits were, how much potential it had, and whether it could prevail against stronger opponents. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming turned around to focus on Hu Yuan¡¯s battle with the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Looking over, Hu Yuan was fighting against two on his own, but he seemed to have a slight upper hand. However, the Purple Gold Eagles were faster than ordinary demonic beasts, and a slight disadvantage posed no fatal threat to them. If he didn¡¯t intervene, at most, Hu Yuan could only hold them off. It was obviously unlikely for Hu Yuan alone to kill two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles. Of course, Hu Yuan may only appear to have such strength on the surface. Perhaps he had some hidden trump cards. After all, in the Cultivation World, cultivators have always had the habit of hiding their trump cards for safety. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unless forced into a desperate situation, no one would readily expose their full strength in front of others. Including himself, Lin Tianming also had a Spirit Art and some consumable treasures that he had not yet used. Thinking about it, Hu Yuan probably still had some means at his disposal, but whether he was willing to use them all was another matter. Regardless, it seemed there was no need to worry about Hu Yuan for the time being. Understanding this, Lin Tianming had no intention of helping out so soon. And at this time, he, being above worldly concerns, naturally had something to do. He turned his gaze to another one of his Spirit Beasts, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, at that moment. At this very moment, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was in the midst of a fierce battle with a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. At a glance, both were at the Second Order Late Phase, and both parties were very fast with equally formidable attacks. The fireballs spat out by the Purple Gold Eagle and the Blood Arrows spat out by the Bloodthirsty Jiao were both strong and of a group attack type. In such circumstances, the battle between the two was intense. As the great battle continued, both had sustained many injuries, with the Purple Gold Eagle losing many feathers and its breath weakened significantly. The Bloodthirsty Jiao was no better off, with a large portion of its scales fallen off, the unprotected areas charred black, and even the flesh a blurred mess. That being the case, the fight between the two seemed evenly matched. However, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s offensive and defensive powers, as well as its speed, were relatively balanced, with no distinct weak points. The Purple Gold Eagle had a slight speed advantage and, with its large-scale group attacks, seemed to be consuming more than the Bloodthirsty Jiao. If things continued this way, the Bloodthirsty Jiao should be able to gain the upper hand as long as it persisted longer. But if the Purple Gold Eagle wanted to leave, the Bloodthirsty Jiao would likely have a hard time keeping it. As expected, the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle, sensing Lin Tianming coming in this direction, seemed to understand its forthcoming plight. After repelling the Bloodthirsty Jiao with an attack, it used the recoil to flee backward. It wasn¡¯t just this Purple Gold Eagle, the two fighting with Hu Yuan, as well as the one fighting with Xiao Diao, did the same. Obviously, they realized that Lin Tianming was now free to act, and if they continued to fight, there was no chance of winning. At this moment, they lost their will to fight and only thought of escaping the location. However, this scene surprised Lin Tianming. Chapter 675 03-25 - 675 369 Excited Xiao Diao_2 ?Chapter 675: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_2 Chapter 675: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_2 Speaking of which, these four Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles hadn¡¯t suffered much damage, and their strength hadn¡¯t been greatly affected. Yet they were so decisive, and at this critical moment, they abandoned their kin trapped in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, not to mention those injured companions struggling on the ground. But upon closer thought, not fleeing at the beginning of the battle wasn¡¯t because they weren¡¯t intimidated by Lin Tianming¡¯s brutal tactics, nor had they reached a point of complete collapse. As the battle continued, the First Order Purple Gold Eagles were trapped with no chance of escape, and the main force of the Second Order Middle Stage was all severely injured, unable to provide further help. In light of this, continuing the fight was pointless, and fleeing became an act of desperation. After all, saving even one was better than all of them perishing here. By the time the Purple Gold Eagles thought of severing a limb to survive, it was already too late. ... The moment they turned and took flight, the Bloodthirsty Jiao immediately gave chase, blocking their path ruthlessly. Daoist Hu and Xiao Diao on the other side did the same, having anticipated the escape of the Purple Gold Eagles, and therefore were always ready. Suddenly, with their intervention, the four Purple Gold Eagles became furiously enraged, attacking even more savagely. They knew the longer they delayed, the lower the chances of escape, leaving them no choice but to fight desperately. As a result, the intensity of the battle once again escalated to a new level. With these Purple Gold Eagles back in the mire, they faced even greater trouble¡ªLin Tianming, who was ready to join the battle at any moment. At that time, he surveyed the entire battlefield and ultimately chose to head in the direction of Daoist Hu. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 ¡°Daoist Hu, allow me to lend you a hand!¡± From afar, Lin Tianming shouted loudly while rushing in this direction. Hearing these words, Daoist Hu¡¯s face lit up with excitement as he saw Lin Tianming flying towards him. ¡°Haha¡­ These beasts won¡¯t be able to run away!¡± Daoist Hu laughed heartily, his magic artifact glowing brightly in his hand, firmly restraining the Purple Gold Eagles that were fighting back desperately. At that moment, Lin Tianming also joined the battle. In the blink of an eye, his Tiangang Sword radiated a flash of silver light, and several streaks of Sword Qi, like mighty dragons, slashed towards one of the Purple Gold Eagles. Daoist Hu, equally vigorous, quickly spurred several attacks to match Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of explosions sounded off, and the sky immediately filled with dense Sword Qi, much more than at any other time. This was just the beginning for Lin Tianming; apart from ordinary Sword Qi, he once again stimulated the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, the cumulative attack¡¯s power earth-shattering and as fast as lightning. Seeing this attack, the Purple Gold Eagle that he targeted became furiously enraged, having to cope with Daoist Hu¡¯s attacks while also dealing with Lin Tianming, utterly unable to withstand the barrage from both sides. ¡°Pu pu pu¡­¡± It dodged many of the ordinary attacks, but there were just too many attacks from all directions to avoid. Even at its best, the Purple Gold Eagle couldn¡¯t avoid being struck. However, these attacks, while adding numerous wounds, were not the most lethal. The most deadly was the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword unleashed by Lin Tianming, an attack whose power and speed were incomparable to ordinary attacks. Such a fatal blow had the capacity to kill a Second Order Demonic Beast at any moment. Even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator couldn¡¯t be sure of surviving such an attack. As the Tiangang Sword came closer and closer, it descended upon the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head almost instantly. At that moment, the Purple Gold Eagle once again stimulated its Divine Skills in a desperate attempt to resist. Unfortunately, it had already used up much of its Divine Skills, and the power of the fireballs was far from what it was at the start of the battle. A tragic scream was expectedly heard! The Purple Gold Eagle resisted only a moment before the Tiangang Sword directly cleaved away half of its body. As the body of the Purple Gold Eagle fell from the sky to the ground, Lin Tianming then turned his gaze and charged towards another Purple Gold Eagle. With the combined strength of him and Hu Yuan, this Purple Gold Eagle only lasted two rounds of ordinary attacks before being killed by one of Hu Yuan¡¯s divine skills. Watching his attack take down the Purple Gold Eagle, Hu Yuan let out a hearty laugh in satisfaction. ¡°Haha¡­ truly satisfying!¡± ¡°Daoist Hu, there are still two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles, let¡¯s make haste and deal with them!¡± After reminding him, Lin Tianming immediately headed towards Xiao Diao¡¯s location. Hu Yuan quickly regained his composure, and seeing Lin Tianming had left the area, he did not delay and prepared to join the battle. Having freed up their hands, the two each chose a direction, preparing to help Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao finish their battles. With the two joining the fight, the remaining two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles were put on the retreat, their injuries continuously worsening. At this time, Xiao Diao was ferocious, paying no heed to its wounds, fighting desperately as if betting its life. With the aid of its kin, its combat skills improved rapidly; before, it was coping alone against a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle and had surprisingly not been at a disadvantage. Such a performance, seen by Lin Tianming, filled his heart with satisfaction over Xiao Diao¡¯s growth. In less than the time it took to brew a cup of tea, with the assistance of Lin Tianming and his companion, the two surviving Purple Gold Eagles were each slain by Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. The two men seemed to intentionally accommodate Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, restraining their blows, not attacking with their full strength. Otherwise, with their strength, it would probably not have come to Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s killing blow. Clearly, such actions were meant to build their confidence, which was Lin Tianming¡¯s initial intention. Both the Bloodthirsty Jiao and Xiao Diao lived up to expectations, seizing the opportunity to perform before Lin Tianming and earning his approval. With the five Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles successively killed, the battlefield had finally calmed down quite a bit, only the four gravely injured Second Order Medium Stage Purple Gold Eagles lay on the ground, struggling and wailing. What remained were the First Order Purple Gold Eagles trapped in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the more than a dozen Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles still trying to escape. After trying for so long, with the great battle already over and they still hadn¡¯t escaped, it was nothing but a futile struggle with no chance of getting out. At this moment, with the battle ended, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces were flushed, and their moods were extremely content. And Xiao Diao was more excited than ever, after all, the essence blood and even the inner cores of these kin were of great help to it; they could not only enhance its order but also aid in its Ancestral Evolution, being one of the things it desired most. If Lin Tianming was willing to let it consume them, even just half of the spoils, for Xiao Diao to break through the Second Order Late Phase was simply too easy. If it were given all of them to consume, even breaking through to the Third Order was not impossible. Xiao Diao understood this and excitedly flew around the battlefield in circles, not showing any signs of fatigue after the great battle, even forgetting about its injuries. At that moment, Lin Tianming, looking at the chaotic battlefield, said to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, would you like to tame a few of these Purple Gold Eagles?¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded with a smile and responded, ¡°Hehe¡­ I have long admired your spiritual pet Xiao Diao, Daoist Lin, the help it provides when traveling is significant. Now that such an opportunity has arisen, I certainly won¡¯t pass it up.¡± ¡°But you need not worry, Daoist Lin!¡± ¡°There are plenty of Purple Gold Eagles here, and I alone cannot compare to you in wealth and possessions, having one as a spiritual pet will satisfy me. Too many, and I simply cannot afford to keep them.¡± Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking to himself that Hu Yuan was sensible, recognizing the importance of these Purple Gold Eagles to the Lin Family and Xiao Diao. So he didn¡¯t make excessive demands but only intended to tame and cultivate one. This approach couldn¡¯t be more appropriate; had he been greedy and asked for too much, it would have easily angered others and caused their relationship to break down. Understanding this, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°In that case, Daoist Hu, try your best as soon as possible. Once you have tamed one, we still need to clean up the battlefield.¡± ¡°And my task is heavy as well. So many Purple Gold Eagles must be domesticated before I can bring them back to my people for taming.¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded contentedly, thanked Lin Tianming with a bow, and then went directly to one corner of the battlefield. ¡­ Chapter 676 03-25 - 676 370 Taming_1 ?Chapter 676: Chapter 370: Taming_1 Chapter 676: Chapter 370: Taming_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming had yet to clean up the battlefield, nor had he gone to subdue the Purple Gold Eagle first; instead, he was intently watching Hu Yuan¡¯s every move. Under his gaze, Hu Yuan approached the four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. Clearly, Hu Yuan intended to focus on these Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. It wasn¡¯t surprising when you thought about it; after all, the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles were dead, and the highest-grade among the still alive was only these four Second Order Middle Stage ones. If one could subdue a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle, the host could save many resources for its training and also gain considerable help during battles of magic. However, for a First Order or an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, for cultivators at their level of battle, they were essentially negligible, even distracting. It could be said that a First Order Purple Gold Eagle was as useless as chicken ribs; it was only the Early Second Order ones that were barely worth cultivating and using. ... Therefore, it was completely within expectations for Hu Yuan to set his sights on these four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. Yet, in his heart, Lin Tianming was not optimistic about Hu Yuan¡¯s chances of success. After all, Hu Yuan¡¯s cultivation strength and the intensity of his Divine Sense were just average, not significantly greater than that of the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. Choosing them as targets, it was highly likely he would return empty-handed. Despite understanding all this, Lin Tianming refrained from saying anything to avoid misunderstandings due to his remarks. Only by trying and realizing his Divine Sense was insufficient would Hu Yuan change his mind. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Grasping this, Lin Tianming stayed silent, quietly waiting. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Looking over, the Purple Gold Eagles were still struggling, but their reactions were not as intense as at the beginning. Seeing Hu Yuan approach, a few Purple Gold Eagles glared at him with bloodshot eyes, as if about to spit fire. Hu Yuan, however, did not care, and directly released all his Divine Sense, forcefully invading the sea of consciousness of one of the Purple Gold Eagles. His actions were straightforward and violent, showing no regard for the feelings of the Purple Gold Eagles. However, the Purple Gold Eagle he targeted struggled fiercely, showing significant resistance. Half a quarter of an hour passed. Hu Yuan had thought that with his Foundation Establishment Ninth Level power, approaching the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, he held an advantage over the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle. Such a gap in realm and strength, logically speaking, should easily make it submit. However, after three attempts, he still hadn¡¯t succeeded. After this ordeal, not only had he exhausted much effort, but he also gave Lin Tianming something to laugh at. Agitated, Hu Yuan wished he could just slay the Purple Gold Eagle with a single sword. But with Lin Tianming present and caring about the life of the Purple Gold Eagle, even though he was angered, he had to forcefully calm himself down. Not giving up, Hu Yuan quickly chose another Purple Gold Eagle as his target, seemingly determined to succeed. Another half a quarter of an hour passed, and just as Lin Tianming had predicted, Hu Yuan failed again. Having selected two Purple Gold Eagles as targets and trying several times, he ended in failure. Hu Yuan seemed to have accepted reality, wearing a look of embarrassed amusement with his bitter smile. Then, he cupped his hands towards Lin Tianming and said with a laugh, ¡°Lin, my Divine Sense is ineffective, and I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to subdue these four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles.¡± ¡°However, I do indeed like Purple Gold Eagles very much and really need one as a Spirit Beast to nurture. With my Divine Sense, since I cannot subdue those at the Second Order Middle Stage, I have no choice but to seek the next best thing and try for an Early Second Order one. I wonder if Lin would accommodate my wish and fetch a Purple Gold Eagle that meets the requirements?¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s tone was earnest, obviously determined to have what he wanted. Hearing this and seeing Hu Yuan¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming sighed, putting on a troubled demeanor. Seeing this, Hu Yuan thought Lin Tianming was unwilling and quickly forced a smile, before changing his approach. ¡°Hehe¡­ Since I¡¯ve made a request, I would not have Lin do something for nothing, nor would I let Lin suffer any losses!¡± ¡°I also exerted quite an effort in this grand battle, and by rights, I too should receive a portion of the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s corpse.¡± ¡°What if we do it like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll only take one intact Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpse, and the rest, whether alive or dead, will all belong to Lin.¡± Hearing his proposal, Lin Tianming chuckled, finding Hu Yuan to be an interesting and decisive person. To think that the battle had lasted quite some time, with Hu Yuan initially facing two enemies alone, killing a Purple Gold Eagle directly, and later, upon freeing up, aided the Bloodthirsty Jiao in slaying another opponent. Although Lin Tianming had assisted him in battle, considering the effort Hu Yuan had put into the battle, he truly had worked hard. In this light, it wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable for Hu Yuan to wish for two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpses as his spoils. Yet, he took a step back voluntarily, asking for only one intact Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpse, plus subduing an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle. Such a request was indeed not excessive, perhaps even a bit of a loss for himself. But since Hu Yuan had made the proposal and it was in Lin Tianming¡¯s best interest, Lin had no reason to object. Understanding all this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly and then charged directly into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Chapter 677 03-25 - 677 370 Taming_2 ?Chapter 677: Chapter 370 Taming_2 Chapter 677: Chapter 370 Taming_2 At this moment, the dozens of First and Second Order Demonic Beasts inside were all present, and their injuries were not severe. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, they were infuriated and launched an attack toward him in a crazed manner, seemingly venting their rage. In response, Tianming gave a contemptuous smile, then stepped forward and easily roughed up an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle using merely his physical strength. Less than the time it takes for ten breaths, Tianming opened a gap in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and walked out through it. Apart from him coming out, a huge hand formed from Spiritual Power followed, gripping an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle and flying it out of the Sword Array. At a glance, the Purple Gold Eagle was held powerless in the palm of the spiritual hand, unable to move at all, its spirit utterly deflated. Witnessing Tianming¡¯s actions, and the state of the Purple Gold Eagle, Hu Yuan¡¯s face broke into an excited expression, looking quite satisfied. ... He then hurried over with a jog. At that time, Tianming was still holding the Purple Gold Eagle and then reminded with a smile, ¡°This guy has been beaten so badly by me that he¡¯s lost all his spunk, Daoist Hu can begin now!¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm¡­ I thank you for your efforts, Daoist Lin!¡± After giving his thanks with a bow, Hu Yuan directly summoned his Consciousness Imprint and started the process of subduing the Purple Gold Eagle. The process, familiar and well-practiced, was rather quick and smooth this time. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the hand made of Spiritual Power set the Purple Gold Eagle down. With its bindings removed, the once ferocious Purple Gold Eagle had become as docile as a lamb. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï It lay prostrate in front of Hu Yuan, and with its hook-shaped beak, it rubbed against his robes in a flattering manner. This behavior excited Hu Yuan tremendously. He quickly took out a Second Order Early Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill from his storage bag and let the Purple Gold Eagle swallow it. Clearly, the successfully subdued Hu Yuan was thrilled and lavished affection on the Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing this, it was clear that Hu Yuan had successfully subdued the Purple Gold Eagle and completely controlled its life and death. However, this was to be expected given Hu Yuan¡¯s cultivation strength and the intensity of his Divine Sense; subduing an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle wasn¡¯t a difficult task for him. Regaining his composure, Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Congratulations Daoist Hu on acquiring a Spirit Beast.¡± Hehe¡­ ¡°This guy¡¯s also lucky, to get to swallow a Second Order Early Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill as soon as he acknowledges his master. If this continues, the achievements of this Purple Gold Eagle will surely not be low!¡± Hu Yuan didn¡¯t take these words seriously. The reason he was so generous was because he was in high spirits, plus having a Spirit Beast acknowledge him as master, meant it was appropriate to give a welcoming gift to quickly foster affection and help enhance the Spirit Beast¡¯s strength. However, he couldn¡¯t ignore Tianming¡¯s congratulatory gesture and forget his manners. Understanding this, Hu Yuan, while stroking the feathers of the Purple Gold Eagle, gave his thanks to Tianming with clasped hands. As for Tianming, he didn¡¯t mind such formalities. After a few idle chats with Tianming, Hu Yuan decided not to delay any longer and planned to try taming the remaining Purple Gold Eagles. If these Purple Gold Eagles were willing to be tamed by him, he could take them back to his clan lands and have the ones with exceptional talent acknowledge them as masters. If they were stubborn and refused taming, there was no need to keep them alive. He could simply give them to Xiao Diao and let it consume these obstinate creatures. After all, they were of the same kind and it could refine their Blood Essence Inner Cores to leverage the faint trace of their Ancient Bloodline to further enhance Xiao Diao¡¯s rank. Thinking of this, Tianming swept his gaze around and approached the four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. These four Purple Gold Eagles were of no low rank and would likely be the most difficult to tame, but also the most valuable. It would be a pity to kill them without even trying. Upon his arrival, the four Purple Gold Eagles became terrified as if they were quite afraid of him. Such a reaction was in stark contrast to that during Hu Yuan¡¯s approach. Although they were also fearful when Hu Yuan approached, they at least dared to struggle and resist, clearly very unreceptive. However, when Lin Tianming stepped forward, the Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t dare to move and just looked at him with a complex expression in its eyes. Obviously, Lin Tianming had previously severely injured them one by one, and even those Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles were easily killed by him. Such bloody and violent methods completely cast a psychological shadow on them. As their Spirit Wisdom was not low, to save their own lives, they dared not rebel at all. At that moment, Lin Tianming maintained a calm demeanor, glanced at the four Purple Gold Eagles for a moment, and then decided on his first target. For the first target, he planned to start with the one that Daoist Hu had attempted first, since this Purple Gold Eagle had been tormented by Hu Yuan for several rounds, and its vitality was already at its lowest point. Now was the best time to tame this Purple Gold Eagle, and the likelihood of success was clearly higher. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming released his Divine Sense, directly invading the target¡¯s sea of consciousness. In that instant, the previously calm Purple Gold Eagle started struggling wildly, and its reaction became significantly intense. Lin Tianming had anticipated this and remained unaffected. Under his powerful Divine Sense, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s frantic resistance was futile. Lin Tianming kept exerting high-intensity Divine Sense, intensely stimulating the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s sea of consciousness and nerves, but he did not imprint his Consciousness Imprint. If he wanted to, he could easily force his Consciousness Imprint upon it and successfully make it acknowledge him as its master. But with his strength already at this level, having an additional Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle was neither useful nor meaningful. What he truly wanted was to bring these Purple Gold Eagles back to his clan and let his clan members tame them, to maximize their benefits. Therefore, he always refrained from taking the final step, just to make the Purple Gold Eagles submit and be willing to serve him. If it was about acknowledging him as master, the Purple Gold Eagle might not resist since he was the one who had inflicted heavy injuries on them and had revealed his strength. In the Demon Beast Race, strength also spoke volumes, even more purely than in the Human Race. They too revered the powerful, and only by defeating them in combat could they be more easily tamed; to make them acknowledge someone they didn¡¯t accept, unless there was a great disparity in strength, was not that easy. However, this action required them to recognize someone else as their master. To say the least, whether the Purple Gold Eagle would accept such behavior was still hard to tell. But to be honest, this operation was much more difficult than directly imprinting the Consciousness Imprint and forcibly taming them. As for whether it would succeed, even he was uncertain. However, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t known for being kind or hesitant; if it really didn¡¯t work out, he would simply have to abandon the idea. Instead, he acted quickly and decisively; not submitting meant death. Perhaps sensing his determination, the Purple Gold Eagle resisted for only a few breaths before expressing a willingness to submit. Lin Tianming was quite excited about this, repeatedly conveying his intentions to the Purple Gold Eagle, signaling that he wouldn¡¯t tame them and planned to take them back to the clan to be handed over to other clan members. To go further, he stated that if the Purple Gold Eagle did not accept the person intending to become its master, it could consider sparing its life. Upon receiving this promise, the Purple Gold Eagle was quite direct: to save its life, it agreed to first depend on him as its master, and if conditions were favorable later on, it would also submit to someone it approved of. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was quite thrilled, thinking with the first Purple Gold Eagle setting the precedent, subduing the remaining ones should not be difficult. Indeed, under the same terms offered, the remaining three Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles hesitated for only a moment before quickly agreeing to his approach. With the taming of these Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles completed, only the First Order ones in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and more than a dozen Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles were left. These Purple Gold Eagles wouldn¡¯t require such hassle; with his violent methods and the promised conditions, it should all fall into place easily. Thinking this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Following that, he didn¡¯t delay any further and immediately began documenting this taming process. Chapter 678 03-25 - 678 371 All Happy_1 ?Chapter 678: Chapter 371 All Happy_1 Chapter 678: Chapter 371 All Happy_1 ¡°` Four hours passed quickly. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s combination of carrot and stick tactics, threats and temptations alike, the dozens of Purple Gold Eagles within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation were all tamed. Whether it was the First Order Purple Gold Eagles with relatively common Spirit Wisdom, or the Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles, all were moved by the conditions promised by Lin Tianming. As the dust settled on this matter, the two¡¯s goal was also achieved, even surpassing their expectations in smoothness. At this moment, Lin Tianming was beaming with joy, seemingly extremely delighted. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Standing by, Hu Yuan had witnessed the entire process, and looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s excited expression, he could only offer a helpless, wry smile in response. Lin Tianming¡¯s actions had profoundly shocked Hu Yuan, who held a great deal of admiration in his heart. ... You should know, he himself had once attempted to subdue a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle, but, lacking sufficiently strong Divine Sense, failed several times. Yet Lin Tianming, without forcefully subduing them, managed to tame all of them, and with surprising ease at that. This also proved Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and Divine Sense were formidable enough to convince these Purple Gold Eagles to submit to him. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible to succeed so effortlessly and without a hitch. In such a circumstance, and judging by the strength he had previously demonstrated, it was clear that Lin Tianming was indeed powerful. This also confirmed his speculations; Lin Tianming was as strong as he had guessed, if not stronger. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Realizing this, Hu Yuan¡¯s respect for both Lin Tianming himself and the entire Lin Family deepened further. Once he had composed himself, Hu Yuan looked at Lin Tianming and casually offered a compliment. ¡°Congratulations, Lin, these Purple Gold Eagles have rather decent strength and talent. If raised properly, the overall strength of the Lin Family can certainly be greatly enhanced!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming waved his hand and smiled modestly, thinking that if these Purple Gold Eagles were truly taken by the clanspeople as their own, the strength of the Lin Family would indeed increase significantly. After all, there were four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles here, and as many as nine at the Early Second Order, not to mention the dozens at the First Order. The First Order ones aside, if even half of these Second Order Purple Gold Eagles were tamed by the clanspeople, it would be as if the Lin Family had gained several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such an improvement, for the Lin Family as it stood now, might not be a qualitative leap, but at the very least, it greatly strengthened the family¡¯s Foundation Establishment power. Not only that, with these Purple Gold Eagles, the family¡¯s connections to various Spirit Lands and markets would be much more convenient. With the Purple Gold Eagles, the clanspeople going out could save a lot of time on the road and be safer as well. This was something he himself could attest to. After all, having traveled far and wide over the years, Xiao Diao had contributed a lot, bringing many conveniences to the family. One could imagine, Lin Family Members carrying out family missions, or going to various mountain ranges for training, or doing business in the markets could use the Purple Gold Eagles for travel. This way, the Lin Family could carry out their family missions more quickly and effectively, and further extend the Lin Family¡¯s influence in external exchanges. Understanding this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the Clan Leader would react when he brought these Purple Gold Eagles back to the family, and what the clanspeople would feel? Probably, whether they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators or those in the Qi Refinement Realm, seeing so many Purple Gold Eagles, among them over a dozen at Early and Middle Second Order, would be incredibly excited. Having the precedent of him and Xiao Diao, who had already showcased Xiao Diao¡¯s elegance, the clanspeople would likely be eager to subdue these Purple Gold Eagles and raise them as their own Spirit Beasts. Thinking of these possibilities, Lin Tianming¡¯s smile grew broader, and his heart was filled with immense excitement. Finally calming down, he modestly responded to Hu Yuan and then moved on from the subject. After all, they had already delayed for quite some time here, and it was nearly late at night. The most pressing matter now was to get those Purple Gold Eagles into Spirit Beast Bags and quickly clean up the battlefield, erasing any traces of the fight. After that, they needed to quickly recover their expended Spiritual Power and prepare for all contingencies. After all, this was the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, filled with numerous Demonic Beasts and unfriendly Cultivators lurking everywhere. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan discussed for a few moments and then settled on the arrangements for the matter. Following that, Lin Tianming looked at the dozens of Purple Gold Eagles of varying sizes in front of him and casually pulled out more than a dozen Spirit Beast Bags to hold. Luckily, space treasures like Spirit Beast Bags were relatively common and not too expensive. Though they were more than ten times more expensive than ordinary storage bags, for the wealth and status of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it wasn¡¯t much. Therefore, once someone reaches the Foundation Establishment Stage, whether they have a Spirit Beast or not, they would prepare one or two Spirit Beast Bags just in case. And in his years of battling both in the south and north, he had killed quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Over time, he had accumulated a lot of Spirit Beast Bags, some of which were given to clanspeople, some handed over to the family, and the higher-grade ones, or those that looked better, he kept for himself. Plus, after killing Zhou Jin in Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, he had obtained two Spirit Beast Bags, so altogether, he had over a dozen spare Spirit Beast Bags on hand. Otherwise, with so many Purple Gold Eagles, large in size and number, it would be exceedingly difficult to safely take them out without enough Spirit Beast Bags. Chapter 679 03-25 - 679 371 Alls Well That Ends Well_2 ?Chapter 679: Chapter 371 All¡¯s Well That Ends Well_2 Chapter 679: Chapter 371 All¡¯s Well That Ends Well_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming glanced over the Purple Gold Eagles, no longer wasting time. With a few spells cast, four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles vanished into thin air. Without pausing, he continued to store the remaining Purple Gold Eagles into different Spirit Beast Bags. The Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles were not small, with each fitting exactly into one Spirit Beast Bag, while the Early Second Order ones required three bags. As for the numerous First Order Purple Gold Eagles, several Spirit Beast Bags were needed to hold them all. Only after filling up more than half of his ten storage bags did he finally collect all forty-plus Purple Gold Eagles. After finishing this task, Lin Tianming then turned to discuss the division of spoils with Hu Yuan by his side. ... After some discussion and considering Hu Yuan had previously stated he only wanted a complete corpse of a Late Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, the rest of the spoils were all for Lin Tianming. Considering this, there was no need for Lin Tianming to say much more. According to their agreement, after a brief chat, Lin Tianming and his companion each began to clean up the battlefield. At this point, Lin Tianming summoned Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. With the battle over, both Spirit Beasts had put in a lot of effort, and their performance was quite satisfactory. Lin Tianming inspected the Bloodthirsty Jiao and noted, apart from a few injuries, it had consumed a significant amount of energy. After taking some treasures and resting for half a month, he guessed it should fully recover. Not skimping, Lin Tianming casually tossed a Second Order Late Stage Red Flame Beast inner core to the Bloodthirsty Jiao, signaling it to swallow it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? At the sight of the inner core, the Bloodthirsty Jiao became excited, promptly opening its mouth wide and swallowing it whole. Its time with Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t very long, just over two years, and initially, it was already at the Late Second Order phase. While it occasionally received some Demon Beast inner pills, those had limited effect at the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s level. Providing it with a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast inner pill for consumption was a first in all these years. The Bloodthirsty Jiao was still content; after all, its opportunities to exert itself were rare, and it hadn¡¯t been under Lin Tianming¡¯s command for long. It was already fortunate to receive such treatment. Considering the effort it had made this time, the reward it received was indeed considerable. With this inner core, its injuries would likely heal soon, and it might even make further progress. Hence, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was naturally excited and quite satisfied with Lin Tianming as its master. Seeing the Bloodthirsty Jiao swallow the inner core, Lin Tianming was satisfied and nodded in approval. He saw the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s efforts, and he initially tamed it because of the demonic beast¡¯s decent strength and not-low Bloodline Power, making it worthwhile to cultivate. Up to now, he didn¡¯t have many Spirit Beasts tamed. Given the considerable number of Demon Beast corpses he had obtained, it wasn¡¯t a problem to allocate some extra resources for their cultivation. Apart from the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s rank was not low, and it was close to reaching the Third Order. If luck served well, it might even help it break through to the Third Order. If successful, the Lin Family would gain a Third Order Demon Beast, which equates to having Golden Core combat strength. By then, all the investment would pay off. Understanding this, Lin Tianming planned to focus on cultivating the current Xiao Diao, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, and the most valued Silver-eyed Spirit Fox. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming waited for the Bloodthirsty Jiao to consume the inner core before directly placing it back into the Spirit Beast Bag. Then, he looked at the excited Xiao Diao, stroked its head with his hand, and smiled. ¡°Hehe¡­ you scruffy bird!¡± ¡°You performed well this time, encountering your own kind was also a chance for you.¡± ¡°These Second Order Purple Gold Eagle corpses, whether it¡¯s their flesh or inner cores, must be used to their full potential. Seize the moment to break through to the Late Second Order, or even aim for the Third Order!¡± Hearing this, Xiao Diao seemed to understand and rubbed its beak excitedly against his clothes, as if responding to him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpse appeared, held in the hand formed by his Spiritual Power. He removed parts of the corpse that could be used for Artifact Refining, then threw the rest of the body to Xiao Diao, signaling for it to devour it quickly. Seeing the corpse of its kind, Xiao Diao certainly didn¡¯t hesitate, rapidly consuming the Purple Gold Eagle corpse that was no smaller than itself. Having devoured this member of its species, Xiao Diao licked its beak and looked towards the distant Purple Gold Eagle corpses, seemingly still unsatisfied. This series of actions left Lin Tianming utterly amazed. He had not expected the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s appetite to be so enormous; it was able to swallow a demonic beast of comparable size entirely within less than half a quarter of an hour. But upon further reflection, it didn¡¯t seem all that strange. After all, in a world so vast and full of wonders, the Demon Beast Race is diverse and varied with all kinds of innate racial abilities. Moreover, demonic beasts have large appetites, and ordinary flesh is not their main source of strength. It is quite common for a demon beast to swallow food several or even a dozen times its own size in one go. In that light, Xiao Diao swallowing a corporeal body of the same tier was completely normal. Seeing Xiao Diao¡¯s unsatisfied look, Lin Tianming chuckled, waved his hand again, and grabbed a Second Order Late-Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpse, removed the parts that could be used in Artifact Refining, and let it swallow them together with the Demon Beast Inner Pill. Seeing this member of its own species, which was previously one small tier higher, guarantying that the energy essence and the Bloodline Power contained within was extremely rich. Xiao Diao had already been drooling with anticipation, devoured it as if it was a rare treasure, swallowing it even faster than before. Another half quarter of an hour passed. After swallowing the Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpse, Xiao Diao let out a satisfied screech, and excitedly flew a few circles around Lin Tianming before finally stopping. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stroked Xiao Diao¡¯s head, thinking to himself that the creature had just swallowed two Purple Gold Eagle corpses in a row, including a Second Order Late-Stage one, along with its inner pill. With such a large intake at once, and from corpses of its own species no less, its innate Bloodline and own tier would surely improve considerably. And with three more Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpses available, how much progress would it make if it swallowed all of them? Was it possible that it could help it break through to the Third Order? Watching with anticipation, Lin Tianming looked at Xiao Diao who had shifted from excitement to sleepiness. It was clearly starting the refinement process and about to fall into a deep sleep. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and quickly put it back into the Spirit Beast Bag. Having done this, Lin Tianming then stepped forward and began collecting all the Purple Gold Eagle corpses. Important parts such as the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s talons, beak, feathers, and wings could be removed for Artifact Refining. The Artifact Refining Materials coming from a Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle were considered very valuable treasures. With Lin Shilu¡¯s standard of Artifact Refining, adding some other treasures, crafting a few Second Order Low-Grade Artifacts would be incredibly easy. In light of this, these materials certainly should not go to waste. Understanding this, Lin Tianming worked quickly, and in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had collected all the slain Purple Gold Eagle corpses. He also separately collected the parts for Artifact Refining to take back to the Lin Family for Lin Shilu. As for the flesh and inner pills, he decided to save them to slowly feed to Xiao Diao in the future, to help it reach a higher tier. With the collection complete, Hu Yuan had also almost finished erasing the traces of the great battle. After finishing, the two joined each other again, smiles brimming on their faces, seemingly very content with their spoils from this endeavor. Indeed, this was the case. The two had decided to descend here for a rest, not expecting the Purple Gold Eagle Clan to come to them. It was like whatever they thought of came to them! After a fierce battle, Lin Tianming gained the most, especially Xiao Diao, which was almost divinely fortunate, having obtained the most useful things for itself. Hu Yuan also did well, successfully taming an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as a Spirit Beast, and also obtaining a complete Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpse. It can be said that the rewards that serendipitously came their way were beyond their expectations. Otherwise, outside of the Secret Realm, bumping into such a Purple Gold Eagle Clan would not be so easy. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, it turned out that the gains from this unexpected battle were not few. Both individuals were very satisfied, resulting in a situation where everyone was happy. ¡­ Chapter 680 03-25 - 680 372 Creation Fruit Tree_1 ?Chapter 680: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_1 Chapter 680: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_1 As the battlefield cleanup was completed, the mountain peak that had once been riddled with a thousand holes finally looked much cleaner. At this time, the brilliant moonlight pierced through the clouds and scattered onto the ground, forming an expanse of snowy white. Clearly, it had reached the late hours of the night. With the precedent of the Purple Gold Eagle attack, Lin Tianming and his companion were constantly on high alert. They chose a relatively hidden spot to sit down, laid down some warning restrictions, and planned to rest and recuperate. A whole day and two nights passed in this manner. On the morning of the third day, as a ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on Lin Tianming¡¯s resilient cheeks, he was the first to open his eyes. After surveying their surroundings, he found that Hu Yuan¡¯s complexion had returned to normal and his breath had stabilized. ... As for himself, after this period of recovery, his condition had returned to its peak, and he was fully capable of handling any sudden situations. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked up at the blue sky and breathed a sigh of relief, then sank into deep thought. The first thing to consider was, of course, the next steps, especially in terms of time. Now, most of the time in the Secret Realm had passed, with just over three months left. These last three months, although seemingly short, were crucial for everyone. He was no exception; he must make the most of this final period to find the most important Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï After all, the item for Core Formation was invaluable; it was the ultimate purpose of his journey to this place. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed tightly as a hint of urgency appeared in his heart. However, being anxious was useless. There was still no news of the item for Core Formation, and without a current solution, he could only make the most of his time exploring and training. After all, Spiritual Objects like Nascent Soul items were not ordinary. The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was just a Profound Secret Realm, and the probability of encountering too many high-order treasures wasn¡¯t great. More crucially, this realm was controlled by the Three Great Golden Core Sects of the Wei Kingdom, and after thousands of years of exploration, it was likely that most of the good items had already been discovered, with ownerless treasures being even rarer to come by. Thinking of this, it wasn¡¯t so strange that they hadn¡¯t encountered any item for Core Formation so far. However, the more this was the case, the less conservative he should be. He was very aware that the more dangerous a location, the higher the probability of finding treasures. Thus, for the next three months, he planned to take more risks and be more aggressive. As long as they didn¡¯t encounter Third Order Demon Beasts, he would try his best to see if he could find some treasures to aid with Core Formation. But with such a plan in mind, whether Hu Yuan was willing to join him on this venture was still very much in question. Nevertheless, if Hu Yuan didn¡¯t want to take the risks, he wouldn¡¯t change his mind. It would just mean he would act alone if necessary. Considering all this, Lin Tianming glanced at Hu Yuan, who was still in the midst of cultivation, and decided to test his attitude. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this very moment, perhaps sensing his gaze, Hu Yuan also opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile on his face. Hu Yuan also looked at Lin Tianming and chuckled, saying, ¡°Lin, you truly are formidable. Not only did you contribute the most in the great battle, but your energy consumption is also minimal. I¡¯m utterly impressed!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Tianming waved his hand and replied with a smile, ¡°Not at all, Daoist Hu also made considerable efforts during the battle with the Purple Gold Eagle Clan. You¡¯re overestimating me!¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan offered a faint smile, refrained from continuing the flattery, and instead deftly changed the topic. ¡°It¡¯s a pity about the battle with the Purple Gold Eagle Clan two days ago; only a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle managed to escape. I wonder, Lin, do you have any way to locate their nest?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming frowned, thinking to himself that Hu Yuan, having benefited already, was still fixated on the Purple Gold Eagle Clan¡¯s nest, looking to profit further from any treasures there. It was as if he intended to completely annihilate them! But upon further contemplation, given the innate animosity between the Human Race and Demon Race, if the roles were reversed and they were pursued by Demonic Beasts, it would be unlikely for them to be spared either. So, in that light, harboring such thoughts wasn¡¯t too excessive. Yet the battle had ended two days ago, and with the passage of time being too extensive, the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle would likely not remain in its nest. If there were any treasures, it would have consumed them and then fled far away. Moreover, creatures like the Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t have territories like ordinary Demonic Beasts. Their abodes were impermanent, and they seldom stayed too long in one place, spending most of their time roaming the skies, looking for any target they could prey upon. Be it Human Race or Demon Race, all were targets for their predation. Consequently, locating the nest of the Purple Gold Eagle would not be easy, and even if found, it was likely that no treasures would be available to collect. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming shared his views. After hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Hu Yuan did not pursue the matter further but instead inquired, ¡°Lin, where do we go from here, then?¡± Upon being asked, Lin Tianming chuckled, then responded, ¡°Time is of the essence, and the Secret Realm is vast. We have been traveling for over half a year and have barely encountered any Sect Cultivators. Don¡¯t you find that odd, Daoist Hu?¡± No sooner had he spoken, when Hu Yuan by his side, upon hearing this, also lapsed into contemplation. In his mind, what Lin Tianming pointed out was indeed a fact and something worth pondering. On reflection, given the years of exploration by the Three Great Sects, it was likely that their Disciples had already assembled to act collectively. Chapter 681 03-25 - 681 372 Creation Fruit Tree_2 ?Chapter 681: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_2 Chapter 681: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_2 Nine months had passed, and they had encountered very few cultivators; in total, only a handful of people. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As such, it revealed that the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was vast in size, and there were not many individuals venturing alone; the members of the three Great Sects must have already gathered together to act. Their large group had been without news for several months, which most likely meant they had gone to those well-known old places to search for treasure sites that had been explored by their predecessors. Or, they might be following the clues left by their forebears to search for possible treasures. Such a course of action was not surprising; instead, it was to be expected. However, this had nothing to do with them as loose cultivators; without information and not enough manpower, they could only wander around aimlessly like headless flies. With luck, they might find some decent treasures; with bad luck, they could end up in the jaws of demonic beasts. ... Understanding this, Hu Yuan could only helplessly give a wry smile, then asked, ¡°What does Lin think? What are your plans?¡± After speaking, Hu Yuan¡¯s gaze turned to Lin Tianming, somewhat expecting his plan. Seeing this, Lin Tianming began to explain with a smile. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Our remaining time is getting shorter and shorter, and in a secret realm operated by the three Great Sects for thousands of years, we won¡¯t find Third Order Treasures without taking some risks.¡± ¡°After careful consideration, I¡¯ve decided to be more aggressive. As long as we don¡¯t run into Third Order Demon Beasts, we should give it a try!¡± ¡°Would Daoist Hu be willing to cooperate with me once more?¡± After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Hu Yuan pondered carefully and realized that Lin Tianming¡¯s reasoning made sense. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The three Great Sects had controlled the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm for thousands of years and had explored it at least a dozen times. The locations where Third Order Treasures appeared were probably mostly known, and undiscovered good places were extremely limited. Under such circumstances, searching for treasures in a lawful manner was almost impossible to yield anything valuable. With time running out, maintaining the same conservative approach as before would indeed likely end in failure. As a loose cultivator who had reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he wasn¡¯t far from the Great Perfection Realm. Cultivation had not been easy over the years, and now he was over a hundred years old. Gaining access to this entry into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was hard-won. Missing this opportunity, he had no idea when the next one would arise. In that sense, he couldn¡¯t afford to delay. It could be said that he was in more of a hurry than anyone else and had a greater need for Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Thinking of this, Hu Yuan made up his mind almost without hesitation and decided to take a gamble with Lin Tianming. With his mind made up, Hu Yuan spoke with a grave expression, ¡°Since Lin is so resolute, I can¡¯t afford to delay. Since Lin is all in, naturally, there¡¯s no reason for me to retreat.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming laughed heartily. ¡°Haha¡­ Since that¡¯s the case, we needn¡¯t hide or keep a low profile.¡± ¡°In my opinion, we can even charge recklessly, deliberately attracting the appearance of demonic beasts. As long as they are not Third Order Spiritual Beasts or demonic beast tribes with overly powerful Second Order beasts, we should explore their lairs.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words and seeing his confident expression, Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of bold enthusiasm in his heart. ¡°Then I¡¯m all in too, risking my life to try it out with Lin!¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s expression was excited, and he seemed to be influenced by Lin Tianming¡¯s spirit, becoming a bit crazy. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded, and after a brief chat to confirm a direction, they quickly left the place. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Since they had changed their strategy, the two of them had been traveling with a great deal of pomp, swaggering through dense forests and valleys as if they were afraid that the demonic beasts would not be aware of their whereabouts. With such tactics, in the past half a month, they had lightly taken on the challenge and explored many places. It was indeed an uninterrupted series of troubles, encountering not a few demonic beasts along the way. However, the majority of these demonic beasts were not very powerful, and after some encounters, they casually killed a few Second Order beasts and left with some Second Order Treasures. Until today, somewhere in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, above a vast lake, the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan appeared. At this moment, earth-shattering noises filled the air, with colorful orbs of light streaking across the void, indicating that a fierce battle was underway. Looking over, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan stood shoulder to shoulder, their magic artifacts constantly unleashing large amounts of sword Qi, bombarding the lake below them in a relentless assault. Their expressions were filled with excitement, and they struck with exceptional ferocity, clearly meaning business. Beneath them, two Cold Ice Crocodiles opened their massive jaws in the water, shooting out numerous ice spikes towards Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. Both of these Cold Ice Crocodiles were at the Second Order Late Phase, their aura incredibly powerful. Although they had not broken through to the Third Order, they were considered among the top-tier Second Order Demonic Beasts they had encountered. It was evident that these two Cold Ice Crocodiles were very close to reaching the Third Order, and with the consumption of some quality treasures, they might be able to make the breakthrough in not too much time. As Lin Tianming passed by this place, his conspicuous movements did not go unnoticed and, unsurprisingly, attracted an attack. Fortunately, the two were always prepared for sudden incidents, and with Lin Tianming having a premonition, they were not successfully ambushed by the Cold Ice Crocodiles. Hu Yuan, having narrowly escaped a calamity, wore an angry complexion and burst forth with an attack, wanting to retaliate against the Cold Ice Crocodiles that had ambushed them. Lin Tianming likewise joined the fray, and after a round of intense fight, seeing the true face of the Cold Ice Crocodiles, both their expressions turned grave. The two Cold Ice Crocodiles were male and female, belonging to semi-solitary demon beasts, typically appearing in pairs. Although not abundant in number, their overall strength was no less than that of the Purple Gold Eagle Clan or the Flaming Beast Clan. In fact, they were much stronger. Facing such tough opponents, the two had originally planned to leave. However, Lin Tianming used the wondrous abilities of his Eye of Five Colors to peer through the darkened waters and spot something at the bottom of the lake that he had been desperately seeking. It was a Creation Fruit Tree! The Creation Fruit Tree was a Water Attribute Third Order fruit tree that bore fruit only once every five hundred years, and each time, it would yield only three fruits. The value of the Fruit of Fortuity was exorbitantly high; it was a treasure that could aid in Core Formation, and it was nearly as beneficial as the Star Moon Fruit he had obtained in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, similarly increasing the chances of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage by thirty percent. Such a treasure was deemed invaluable in the current Cultivation World. And Lin Tianming¡¯s luck was excellent; the Creation Fruit Tree he discovered was just about to ripen. He estimated that if things went smoothly, the Creation Fruit Tree might be able to mature completely within a month. Seeing this object was precisely what he had longed for day and night. If he got the Fruit of Fortuity, with his strength, he would be able to obtain at least two fruits, and including the Creation Fruit Tree itself, he could also bring it back to his family. If he succeeded, the chances of both Lin Shilu and his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage would increase significantly, and he could attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage within ten years. Moreover, if the Creation Fruit Tree was transplanted into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden, after five hundred years, the Lin Family would harvest three more Fruits of Fortuity. It can be said that the role and significance of this Creation Fruit Tree were also immense. At this moment, Lin Tianming, understanding this, felt no hesitation despite sensing the formidable strength of the Cold Ice Crocodiles and the enormous pressure they brought. He decided to go all out. He was clear in his mind that this object was extremely important for him and for the entire Lin Family; they must acquire the Fruit of Fortuity at all costs. Even if it meant revealing all his strength, it was worth the risk. Moreover, the maturation time of the Fruit of Fortuity did not conflict with the end of the Tianfeng Secret Realm; there was even some spare time to pursue other treasures. Thus, the emergence of the Creation Fruit Tree was like a godsend opportunity, compelling him to make his move. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming instantly unleashed a barrage of attacks, bombarding the Cold Ice Crocodiles below. ¡­ Chapter 682 03-25 - 682 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Lends a ?Chapter 682: Chapter 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Lends a Hand_1 Chapter 682: Chapter 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Lends a Hand_1 ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sky erupted with a copious amount of Sword Qi, raining down upon the two Cold Ice Crocodiles. Meanwhile, the icicles spat out by the Cold Ice Crocodiles assaulted them, colliding with the barrage of attacks unleashed by Lin Tianming and his companion. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosive sounds transmitted through the air, and the formerly calm surface of the water suddenly churned into colossal waves. The attacks from both sides were incredibly fierce, the shockwaves from the explosions flipping Lin Tianming and his ally over. Barely stabilizing their forms, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s expressions were grave, particularly Hu Yuan, whose face appeared exceptionally grim. ... The bodies of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles were immensely large, their dozens of zhang long bodies incredibly agile. As they twisted through the water, their thick and lengthy tails swept across, aiming to beat the two men to death then and there. The fierce assault of the Cold Ice Crocodiles came lunging at them, the formidable force whistling through the air, something ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn¡¯t dare to withstand head-on. Even with Lin Tianming¡¯s sturdy physique, being struck by that massive tail would surely cause injury, and possibly even threaten his life. At that moment, Hu Yuan glanced at the attack of the Cold Ice Crocodiles, his face darkening as he hastily dodged. On the other side, Lin Tianming was even quicker, retreating dozens of zhang away in advance. Once they steadied themselves, Hu Yuan frowned deeply and spoke to Lin Tianming at his side. ¡°Fellow Lin, these Cold Ice Crocodiles are no easy adversaries. Even if we join forces, it may not be easy to emerge victorious, let alone the fact that we don¡¯t have much of an advantage.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°In my opinion, if there is nothing of value, we had better leave quickly!¡± It was obvious that Hu Yuan didn¡¯t possess Lin Tianming¡¯s keen vision and had not discovered the presence of the Creation Fruit Tree at the bottom of the lake. Had he known about the tree at the lake¡¯s bottom, with three Fruits of Fortuity nearly ripe, he would never give up such an opportunity, regardless of the danger, given his level of cultivation strength. But he had not noticed, and having seen the power of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles after a round of attacks, he realized their strength far surpassed any opponent they had previously faced. As such, it was only natural for him to consider retreating. In reality, had Lin Tianming not seen the Creation Fruit Tree, he would not have wanted to engage in a major battle with the two Cold Ice Crocodiles, nor would he have wanted to waste time with a head-on confrontation. After all, there was scarcely less than three months left before the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Time had become increasingly important for them. Before encountering something worthwhile, he did not plan to overly deplete time, energy, or expendable items such as talismanic weapons. More importantly, if they were to be gravely injured, their subsequent competitiveness would be significantly weakened, and the chances of acquiring treasures would be even lower. What he desired, something Hu Yuan, who had been cultivating for over a hundred years, would also think of. Otherwise, considering his desire for Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, he probably wouldn¡¯t have suggested a retreat. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt quite torn at this moment. If Hu Yuan were to leave alone, Lin Tianming would be left to deal with the two Cold Ice Crocodiles by himself, which was a significant pressure. At the very least, he would no longer be able to reserve anything and might even have to use life-saving Spirit Arts. Despite going all out, he still might not be guaranteed victory over the two Cold Ice Crocodiles. However, a truth in the Cultivation World has always prevailed: risk and opportunity coexist! Should he manage to defeat the two Cold Ice Crocodiles on his own, he could then claim three Fruits of Fortuity and the invaluable Creation Fruit Tree for himself. But if he were to join forces with Hu Yuan, he would inevitably have to share some of the treasures, and differences might arise over the precious loot, leading to enmity. If it were just a minor disagreement, at most he would concede one Fruit of Fortuity and make some compensation. The fear was that the news would leak and reach the ears of the three Great Sects. Given their strength and modus operandi, they could totally commit acts of murder for treasures. If it came to that, how should he respond? If he were to take action, he wouldn¡¯t be their match; after all, one can hardly fight against greatly outnumbered forces, particularly here within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, sided by twelve Sect Disciples who were no less capable than he. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if he managed to secure the treasure by chance, how would he leave the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm smoothly? And what then, after leaving? If he were to truly fall out with them, how could the Lin Family alone contend with a large Sect, even if they had Ye Pinghai, a Golden Core Cultivator, stationed within? At this moment, Lin Tianming was hesitant, clearly undecided. Yet, judging by the current situation, Hu Yuan was unaware of the existence of the Fruits of Fortuity. Without seeing sufficient benefits, he was unlikely to be willing to risk it all. But if Lin Tianming insisted on staying in this place, facing attacks from the two Cold Ice Crocodiles and still unwilling to leave, Hu Yuan, upon careful thought, would realize that something extraordinary must have been encountered. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t take on such a great risk. In such a scenario, it was likely that Hu Yuan would still detect subtle clues. Instead of that, it would be better to generously invite Hu Yuan to join the fight. After slaying the two Cold Ice Crocodiles, he could share one Fruit of Fortuity with him. If that was not satisfying, he could compensate with more treasures. After all, in any case, the Lin Family must acquire two Fruits of Fortuity and firmly control the Creation Fruit Tree. As long as Hu Yuan received benefits and became tied to him, he shouldn¡¯t offend the Lin Family before his Core Formation, nor would he likely reveal the news about the Fruit of Fortuity. After all, he knew the importance of the Fruits of Fortuity and understood that it was also a matter of life and death for him. Chapter 683 03-25 - 683 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Joins the ?Chapter 683: Chapter 373: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Joins the Fray_2 Chapter 683: Chapter 373: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Joins the Fray_2 That way, he wouldn¡¯t be joking with his own life. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming instantly made up his mind, decided to explain the specifics of the Creation Fruit Tree to Hu Yuan, and invited him to join the battle against the Cold Ice Crocodiles. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming took advantage of a brief lull, turned to Hu Yuan and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, there is a treasure at the bottom of this lake!¡± Before he could finish speaking, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression changed sharply, he released his Divine Sense in full, carefully probing the lakebed beneath them. Within a few breaths, Hu Yuan¡¯s face had calmed down, and with a look of confusion, he asked, ¡°A treasure? What treasure?¡± ¡°The water in this lake is pitch black, clearly there is nothing, Lin, could it be that you are mistaken?¡± As expected, Hu Yuan¡¯s Divine Sense was limited and simply could not penetrate the dark and deep lake water, let alone see the Creation Fruit Tree at the lake bottom. ... Hu Yuan¡¯s reaction was completely within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Seeing his puzzled look, Lin Tianming spoke with a smile, ¡°Daoist Hu, please be patient. Since I¡¯ve said that there is a treasure, I naturally wouldn¡¯t deceive you!¡± ¡°Furthermore, the treasure I speak of is immensely valuable. It cannot be compared to those items we encountered earlier.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words made Hu Yuan feel even more anxious. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s excellent reputation, the likelihood that he was telling the truth was high. Thinking of the treasure being worth a fortune, Hu Yuan was immediately thrilled, his entire demeanor one of urgency. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush anymore and quickly started to explain. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? ¡°Daoist Hu, at the bottom of the lake are the very items we are looking for, and there is more than one of them!¡± ¡°I am determined to get my hands on them. Even if the Cold Ice Crocodile is powerful, we must still try our best.¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t wait to see Hu Yuan¡¯s expression or reaction and quickly changed the topic. ¡°Heh heh¡­ However, Daoist Hu, the day when the Secret Realm closes is approaching. If we miss these items, it will be difficult to come across them again in the remaining time.¡± ¡°So, I wonder if Daoist Hu would be interested in taking a risk with me this time?¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan took only a moment to consider and felt that what Lin Tianming said made sense. After all, time was of the essence. Since Lin Tianming was so serious, indicating his determination, the item was definitely extraordinary. With Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and perspective, even though he did not specify what the treasure at the bottom of the lake was, the fact that he was so cautious indicated that this was no ordinary object. Based on the information Lin Tianming had given and his reaction, it was very likely that the treasure at the bottom was an item that aided Core Formation. If it indeed was such an item, even if it only increased the chances of breakthrough by ten or twenty percent, it was worth taking the risk, no matter the danger. With these thoughts, Hu Yuan was overjoyed, and he made up his mind to take the risk. Resolved, Hu Yuan laughed heartily and asked, ¡°Is what Lin has said true?¡± ¡°True!¡± Before he finished, Lin Tianming replied resolutely, his expression extremely serious. Seeing this, Hu Yuan nodded in satisfaction, then spoke, ¡°Since Lin holds me in such high regard, I too shall express my stance!¡± ¡°If it is indeed an item that aids Core Formation, I swear upon my Heart Demon that I shall take only one, and the rest shall belong to Lin!¡± ¡°In addition, I will keep this matter strictly confidential, never revealing a single word to others. Should I break this oath, may my path in cultivation not advance an inch in this lifetime.¡± In Lin Tianming¡¯s view, Hu Yuan was tactful, seemingly aware of Lin¡¯s concerns, and voluntarily took an oath on his own path of cultivation. This act dispelled Lin Tianming¡¯s last bit of worry. From this, and also considering their past cooperation, Lin Tianming felt reassured that he hadn¡¯t misjudged him. Hu Yuan was indeed trustworthy and worth building a deeper relationship with. With both parties reaching a consensus, joining forces to confront the two powerful Cold Ice Crocodiles became the urgent matter at hand. And at the moment they came to an agreement, the attack of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles arrived as expected. ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­¡± A series of urgent whizzing sounds arose. Looking ahead, a great number of ice pillars were erupting from the lake beneath them. Each pillar carried a terrifying chill and, upon appearing, even the moisture in the air condensed into mist. The numerous ice pillars, hidden in the thick mist, shot towards them at an incredibly fast speed, as quick as lightning. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having experienced the power of these ice pillars, Lin Tianming and his companion did not dare to take it lightly. The two of them moved back and forth, one in front and one behind. While dodging the ice pillars, they unleashed a barrage of attacks toward the oncoming pillars. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The world burst into roars again as the sword Qi they casually stimulated only resisted for a brief moment before being shattered by the vast number of ice pillars. Immediately afterwards, the ice pillars continued to soar upwards, bombarding the two of them relentlessly. Lin Tianming and his companion had anticipated this, knowing that their initial attack was not strong and was just to buy time for them to avoid the ice pillars. Taking advantage of the momentary delay caused to the ice pillars, they had already flown nearly a hundred yards away, escaping the densest area of the ice pillar assault. Just as they stabilized their figures, Lin Tianming shouted loudly at Hu Yuan beside him, ¡°Daoist Hu, you must delay a Cold Ice Crocodile for as long as possible, the longer the better.¡± ¡°I will swiftly kill another Cold Ice Crocodile, then join you to encircle and suppress the next one!¡± ¡°Alright, Lin, you go ahead and make your move, I absolutely will not let the one on the left disturb you for at least half a moment!¡± After Hu Yuan replied loudly, he leaped forward, releasing a large number of Second Order talismans from his hands. At the same time, his magic artifact flashed with a dazzling light, and a surge of powerful sword Qi flew past overhead, shooting towards a Cold Ice Crocodile to the left. Upon seeing Hu Yuan¡¯s action, which was mighty and obviously several times stronger than the power he had shown in previous fights, it was clear that in face of the more powerful attack of the Cold Ice Crocodile, Hu Yuan began to reveal his true strength, no longer holding back. Observing this, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, and then didn¡¯t delay any further. While Hu Yuan was entangled in battle with a Cold Ice Crocodile on the left, Lin Tianming also began his storm-like assault. At that moment, he tapped his Spirit Beast Bag, and in a flash of light, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared, one on his left and one on his right. This battle would not be easy, and Lin Tianming valued it tremendously. He directly released his most reliable combatants, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As for Xiao Diao, he did not intend to summon it to assist. After all, Xiao Diao had just swallowed two complete Purple Gold Eagle carcasses and should be in a state of deep slumber, refining the Bloodline Power of the Gold-winged Roc. Moreover, with Xiao Diao¡¯s current strength, the help it could offer was extremely limited, and it was not in its best combat state. Thus, he only summoned the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Although the strength of the Bloodthirsty Jiao did not match that of the Cold Ice Crocodile, which was very close to Third Order, it could nevertheless provide some assistance. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was also at the Second Order Late Phase. After half a year of recuperation, its previous injuries had healed, and it was in peak condition. With the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s elusive Divine Skills, it might play a special role at a critical moment. In fact, this was the first time Lin Tianming had released his two strongest spirit beasts at the same time, with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox making its first appearance. True to expectations, the moment the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared, Hu Yuan, who was not far away fighting, sensed it and recognized the origin of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°It¡¯s actually a Second Order Late Phase Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox!¡± At that time, Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. He looked over with a complex expression, appearing both surprised and rather wary. As for Hu Yuan¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming somewhat anticipated it. He was well aware that such a special creature like the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was even rarer than flying creatures like the Purple Gold Eagle, and moreover, it was a presence of Second Order Late Phase. Such a formidable Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was an uncommon sight, and its enigmatic Divine Skills were enough to make any Foundation Establishment Cultivator wary. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming had no mind to concern himself with these matters, nor did he have time to pay attention to Hu Yuan¡¯s surprise. Chapter 684 03-25 - 684 374 The Mighty Cold Ice Crocodile_1 ?Chapter 684: Chapter 374: The Mighty Cold Ice Crocodile_1 Chapter 684: Chapter 374: The Mighty Cold Ice Crocodile_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming issued several commands consecutively, directing the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to coordinate with him and besiege the Cold Ice Crocodile on the right. Quickly, upon receiving the instructions, the two Spirit Beasts transformed and unleashed their Divine Skills, attacking the Cold Ice Crocodile below. Seizing the brief opportunity while the two Spirit Beasts were holding off the Cold Ice Crocodile, Lin Tianming slapped his storage pouch, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords along with the Thousand Beast Banner flew out. His fingers flicked rapidly, unleashing spell after spell that bombarded the Earth Evil Swords and the Thousand Beast Banner. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The Earth Fiend Sword Formation revolved around him a few times, then swiftly plunged into the lake, dispersing into every corner. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, the Thousand Beast Banner spewed out a massive amount of black fog, forming a huge sphere that shrouded the sky above the Cold Ice Crocodile. ... The time taken to employ the two Magic Artifacts for trapping the enemy was short; by the time the Cold Ice Crocodile could react, the setup was already successful. However, the Cold Ice Crocodile had already noticed his movements and, while dealing with the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s attacks, produced a large number of ice pillars, attempting to scatter the newly active Sword Array and black fog. Nonetheless, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was not one to sit still. In a flurry, it released a barrage of Blood Arrows, confronting the oncoming beams head-on. Thunderous booms rang out as flashes of red and blue light streaked across the sky. The impact of the Blood Arrows colliding with the ice pillars sent a powerful wave sweeping over, causing the pitch-black lake to churn violently. In the blink of an eye, the Blood Arrows began to crumble, while the ice pillars showed no sign of stopping, continuing to bombard the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Clearly, both the number and power of the Blood Arrows were considerably inferior to the ice pillars expelled by the Cold Ice Crocodile. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï At this point, the Bloodthirsty Jiao saw its Blood Arrows collapse and the oncoming ice pillars persisted, causing a momentary panic, clearly not expecting such a large gap between the two. It let out a fierce hiss, ready to twist its enormous body, comparable in size to the Cold Ice Crocodile, to evade the ice pillar attacks. Just then, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, on the other side, blinked in front of the Bloodthirsty Jiao with incredible speed. Immediately after, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox opened its mouth and expelled a cluster of red light, colliding head-on with the ice pillars approaching it. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud noise, the ice pillars completely dissolved, turning into a myriad of icicles that fell onto the lake¡¯s surface, splashing water everywhere. The Bloodthirsty Jiao took advantage of this opening to finally stabilize its form, hovering over the lake. At this point, its gaze fixed on the Cold Ice Crocodile below; it then let out a furious roar, seemingly venting its anger. It turns out, the Bloodthirsty Jiao had been careless, thinking that since both creatures were at the Second Order Late Phase, the gap in strength should not be so great. However, these two Cold Ice Crocodiles were among the peak existences of the Second Order Demonic Beasts, only a step away from the Third Order. Naturally, they remained here to protect the maturing Fruit of Fortuity and then bless it, hoping to utilize the energy within the Fruit of Fortuity to break through to the Third Order. Regrettably, due to a twist of fate and their poor luck, they encountered Lin Tianming just before the final moment. If the time were pushed back a few months and each of them had swallowed a Fruit of Fortuity, there was a very high chance they could have reached the Third Order. Once they overcame the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, they would truly become Third Order Demon Beasts. By that time, everything would have been settled, and even if Lin Tianming discovered them, he likely would not have stayed here, much less trouble them. But contrary to their desires, such an envious treasure-snatching situation occurred right at this critical juncture. Yet the outcome is still undecided, and no one can be sure what the final result will be. Unaware of these things, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s first round of attacks had almost resulted in a great disadvantage. Had the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox not arrived at the critical moment to directly face the attack of the Cold Ice Crocodile, it would not have been easy for it to escape unscathed. However, having suffered a setback, the Bloodthirsty Jiao became more cautious, completely devoid of its previous arrogance. At this moment, it roared angrily and whipped its massive tail towards the water, aiming directly for the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s head. The angle of the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s attack was extremely tricky, and with its naturally superior body, it was already the best offensive weapon. The Cold Ice Crocodile was no pushover either; its body was huge but immensely agile, and it was even more adept in the water. It elegantly dodged the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s thick tail with a turn of its body. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± With the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s tail attack missing, it slammed directly onto the water surface, stirring up many giant waves with the powerful impact. Not to be outdone as the Bloodthirsty Jiao attacked, the Cold Ice Crocodile, while rolling in the water, whipped its tail towards the Bloodthirsty Jiao on the lake¡¯s surface. Clearly, the tail was not only a powerful weapon for the Bloodthirsty Jiao but also for the Cold Ice Crocodile. They differ greatly from the Human Cultivators who, aside from having higher Spirit Wisdom, also rely on external forces like Talismanic Weapons to enhance their own strength. The Demon Beast Race, besides their innate Divine Skills, could only rely on their skills and body for combat. Yet their talents were equally enviable; not only did they possess long life spans, but any part of their bodies was stronger than those of the Human Race, serving as tools for both attack and defense. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The two Demonic Beasts fought fiercely, the powerful fluctuations echoing across the heavens and earth, whipping up a raging torrent in the lake. Meanwhile, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox assisted from the side, extending its terrifying claws from time to time to angrily swipe at the Cold Ice Crocodile. Chapter 685 03-25 - 685 374 The Formidable Cold Ice ?Chapter 685: Chapter 374: The Formidable Cold Ice Crocodile_2 Chapter 685: Chapter 374: The Formidable Cold Ice Crocodile_2 As the Cold Ice Crocodile and the Bloodthirsty Jiao clashed, the Cold Ice Crocodile, although firmly in the lead, was met with the swift, accurate, and ruthless attacks of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Each strike left a wound on the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile. For a time, the combined efforts of the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox didn¡¯t seem to yield much advantage against the Cold Ice Crocodile; they appeared evenly matched in strength. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had set the Earth Fiend Sword Formation into motion, enveloping the entire battlefield with the Thousand Beast Banner. With the two major enemy-binding Magic Artifacts now in operation, Lin Tianming promptly brought forth the Tiangang Sword. Observing the intense battle below, his Tiangang Sword burst forth with an abundance of silver light. In an instant, numerous streams of Sword Qi shot out at an extremely fast speed, passing over his head. The target of the Sword Qi was clear, vast in number, with each beam containing tremendous might, slashing directly toward the Cold Ice Crocodile. ... S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile seemed to be provoked, attacking even more fiercely. Even though the Bloodthirsty Jiao was a Second Order Late Phase being, its power still fell short compared to the Cold Ice Crocodile. As the great battle continued to unfold, several monsters had clashed over a dozen times. The Bloodthirsty Jiao, shouldering the brunt in close combat, now bore many wounds, and its aura gradually began to wane. Had it not been for the assistance of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, with its own strength, would probably have been forced to retreat after not much longer. However, with Lin Tianming¡¯s joining the fight, the situation immediately reversed. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Huge bursts of Sword Qi poured down, leaving the Cold Ice Crocodile struggling to cope, as numerous beams bombarded it. Faced with the sky full of Sword Qi, the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile flashed with a blue light, shielding itself. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï A burst of flame scattered, and the onslaught unleashed by Lin Tianming was actually blocked by this blue light, finally being completely rebounded. Seeing this, Lin Tianming appeared stunned, not expecting the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s defensive power to be so formidable; common Sword Qi seemed to have little effect. In that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned solemn, looking at the still-clashing Bloodthirsty Jiao. He pinched a spell, and his Tiangang Sword once again emitted a burst of silver light. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword!¡± With a loud shout, he released the Tiangang Sword from his hand, turning it into a bolt of lightning, heading straight for the Cold Ice Crocodile. Seeing this attack, the Cold Ice Crocodile understood that it was considerably stronger than the ordinary attacks it had faced before. As the Tiangang Sword drew ever closer, the Cold Ice Crocodile repelled the Bloodthirsty Jiao with a swipe of its claw, then opened its mouth to spit out a large number of ice spears, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A thunderous sound echoed, as the Tiangang Sword was blocked by an ice spear, its path deflected, grazing past the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s back. However, the ice spears unleashed by the Cold Ice Crocodile were also influenced by the aura carried by the Tiangang Sword, veering off their intended path. By the time the attack reached Lin Tianming, its strength was greatly diminished, numbering only a few spears. Lin Tianming casually raised his hand, knocking aside some ice spears, and then crushed the last one with his bare hands. After this mighty strike, both parties ended up with no gains. This result was unexpected for Lin Tianming as well. After all, in past major battles, the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword had always been unstoppable, usually drawing blood before returning. But this time, it not only failed to draw blood but didn¡¯t even touch the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body, which was completely beyond his expectations. However, he did not become disheartened, for the opponents he had faced previously were merely ordinary Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, not comparable to an entity nearing Third Order strength like the Cold Ice Crocodile. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze remained calm, showing no effects from the setback of the previous attack. Meanwhile, the fierce battle below persisted, with the Bloodthirsty Jiao accumulating more and more wounds and its aura gradually declining, tilting the overall situation in favor of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a scoff. Then he brought his hands together and murmured an incantation. In no time at all, his hands slowly began to produce a thread of red and blue flame. As the flame appeared, the temperature of the entire heaven and earth instantly rose by a level. Not only that, but the wind over the lake began to circle around Lin Tianming, as if it was intentionally fueling the fire. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors activated, as he watched the Cold Ice Crocodile still engaged in fierce battle, waiting for the best opportunity to strike. Meanwhile, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation spun wildly, its enveloping range shrinking rapidly, reaching a span of just over two hundred zhang in the blink of an eye. From the black mist emitted by the Thousand Beast Banner, countless Monster Beast Souls also surged forth, tearing towards the Cold Ice Crocodile in the lake. Now, the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s space for survival drastically diminished, combined with the relentless attack by the Monster Beast Souls from the Thousand Beast Banner. Given its massive body, it was far too large a target and utterly incapable of dodging effectively. For a time, the Cold Ice Crocodile seemed trapped in a quagmire, its space for survival ever-shrinking, making each attack increasingly difficult. Lin Tianming, while controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, also readied the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand for a lethal strike. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two violent crashes sounded as the Bloodthirsty Jiao was slapped away by the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s claw, its huge body falling at the edge of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At this time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was weak, its tail bearing numerous wounds, the bright red blood quickly staining the surrounding lake water. It writhed in agony, ignoring its injuries, eager to charge at the Cold Ice Crocodile again. Just then, Lin Tianming saw that the Bloodthirsty Jiao was severely injured and had also moved some distance away from the Cold Ice Crocodile, presenting an optimal moment to attack. He quickly issued a command to the Bloodthirsty Jiao, ordering it to stay out of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s range. Soon, the obedient Bloodthirsty Jiao calmed down and crossed the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, appearing outside. Seeing that the moment had arrived, Lin Tianming did not hesitate, casting a spell on the Blue Heart True Flame in the palm of his hand. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand trembled slightly, the world illuminated by bursts of blue light. Suddenly, a flame surged, quickly forming into a fireball. This fireball seemed ordinary on the outside, but it contained immense power within, enough to blast an ordinary Second Order Demonic Beast into dust. Lin Tianming felt the pulsing rhythm of the fireball in his hand and with a single slap, he sent the Blue Heart True Flame transformed fireball furiously smashing towards the Cold Ice Crocodile. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The fireball flew out instantly, traveling at an unbelievable speed. Almost immediately, it descended above the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s head. At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile sensed an unprecedented crisis. It twisted its body, attempting to dive into the lake, hoping to use the lake¡¯s power to escape the fireball¡¯s assault. Little did the Cold Ice Crocodile know, its intent had already been anticipated by Lin Tianming. Facing this hard-won situation, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh. With things having reached this point, how could he allow the Cold Ice Crocodile to avoid this fatal attack, wasting this excellent opportunity? Just as the Cold Ice Crocodile had plunged into the water, somehow, it suddenly stopped moving, ceasing to sink any further. The pause was short-lived, just a breath¡¯s length, after which the Cold Ice Crocodile returned to normal and continued to sink into the water. However, though the pause was brief, it was fatal during a battle between Foundation Establishment Cultivators. All the more so for someone like Lin Tianming! Taking advantage of the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s split-second pause, the fireball transformed from the Blue Heart True Flame exploded from its position above the lake¡¯s surface. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Following a loud bang, a gorgeous cloud appeared in the sky, and within the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, a sea of red and blue flames emerged. In a glance, the sea of flames engulfed everything in sight, whether it was the surface of the water or beneath it, there was fire burning everywhere. For a moment, the temperature in the sky soared to another level. And the lake seemed to be boiling, producing a massive whirlpool with hot air spurting straight up from the middle. The Cold Ice Crocodile hadn¡¯t sunk more than ten zhang when the sea of flames generated by the explosion of the Blue Heart True Flame covered it. At this moment, only a miserable cry could be heard. Immediately after, giant waves surged on the lake¡¯s surface, forcibly pulling up the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Chapter 686 03-25 - 686 375 Killing the Cold Ice Crocodile_1 ?Chapter 686: Chapter 375: Killing the Cold Ice Crocodile_1 Chapter 686: Chapter 375: Killing the Cold Ice Crocodile_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming fixed his gaze and saw that the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s entire body was charred, its massive body riddled with numerous injuries, with fresh blood gushing directly from some of the wounds. Not only that, the Cold Ice Crocodile let out several agonized roars, its huge body writhing non-stop, its tail slamming frantically into the lake water, staining a large area red with blood, appearing to be in excruciating pain. Yet, even after that blow, the Cold Ice Crocodile had not died but merely had its aura greatly diminished, clearly having sustained serious injuries. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, unable to help but feel inwardly moved. He had not expected the Cold Ice Crocodile to be so formidable, surviving an attack from the Blue Heart True Flame and only sustaining serious injuries. This outcome had been achieved only by combining the efforts of the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, plus himself. And this scene was something he had encountered for the first time since entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. ... Finally regaining his composure, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with light from the Tiangang Sword, and once again, he invoked the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. The Cold Ice Crocodile was in a bad state, its strength reduced by the wounds on its body, which put it in a passive position. He must seize this opportunity to take its life. The damage from the stacking of seven swords was no less formidable, and the wounded Cold Ice Crocodile would not be able to easily fend it off any longer. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was extremely decisive, transforming the Tiangang Sword in his hand into a long dragon, slashing directly at the Cold Ice Crocodile tumbling in the water. Facing this terrifying Tiangang Sword, the Cold Ice Crocodile was filled with fear. If it had been in its prime, then the Tiangang Sword would not have posed a threat to its life. But now that it had been injured, with its strength reduced by at least thirty percent, and with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox looming menacingly on the side, constantly using illusion techniques to influence it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Under these circumstances, evading the attacks unscathed was definitely not going to be easy. The more he realized this, the more the Cold Ice Crocodile forced itself to calm down. Immediately after, it ignored its injuries and madly fled into the depths of the water. Unfortunately, the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was only slightly larger than two hundred zhang, not much larger compared to its body. With such a size, and with Lin Tianming having cultivated it to the Minor Achievement Realm, when it came to trapping enemies, the formation was as solid as a fortified wall, far surpassing the sword array that had been deployed by fifty-six swords initially. Sure enough, after the Cold Ice Crocodile moved its body a few times, it smashed directly into the barricade of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Sounds of collision rang out, the Sword Array Barricade initially shook violently, looking as if it was on the verge of collapse. However, Lin Tianming spat out a mouthful of essence blood, and the sword array quickly returned to normal, becoming even more stable. Seeing the Sword Array Barricade become so robust, the Cold Ice Crocodile rammed into it several times but failed to break through, becoming completely panicked. However, its crisis was not limited to just these. While the Cold Ice Crocodile was in a state of panic, outside the Sword Array Barricade, the Bloodthirsty Jiao also unleashed a barrage of Blood Arrows, penetrating through the Sword Array Barricade and raining down on the Cold Ice Crocodile in the water. Not just that, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox repeated its old trick, once again using illusions to affect the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s mind and spewing out a red mist to envelop the space above its head. For a moment, the attacks from one man and two beasts converged together, filling the entire range of the sword array, an intense aura sweeping across the heavens and the earth. Under such attacks, the Cold Ice Crocodile could neither escape nor hide, especially with the added effect of the illusions from the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. The illusion technique was equally terrifying. Just earlier when Lin Tianming had deployed the Blue Heart True Flame, he had coordinated with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to use it once, momentarily paralyzing the Cold Ice Crocodile for a brief moment. In that brief moment, a complete reversal occurred. Under such circumstances, it could be said that the Cold Ice Crocodile was doomed to escape. Under the combined assault of Lin Tianming and the two spirit beasts, the Cold Ice Crocodile could not escape the range of the sword array and had no choice but to take the hit head-on. Seemingly realizing its predicament, with no escape possible, it stalwartly raised its head and spewed out a large number of ice pillars to block above its head. It moved swiftly, and the ice pillars surged into the sky just before the three attacks landed, colliding head-on with them. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Explosions echoed continually, the entire sword array turned into a sea of fire, and the intense fluctuations caused the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to violently shake. At this time, Lin Tianming, with his gaze fixated, relied on the effect of the Eye of Five Colors to capture every detail of this earth-shattering clash. Unexpectedly, in a desperate situation, the Cold Ice Crocodile also exerted its full strength, once again refreshing Lin Tianming¡¯s understanding of its power. In his view, the Divine Skills attack of the ice pillars actually withstood the assault of three opponents for quite a while before collapsing. Immediately after, the assaults from the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox continued to rain down, and although it avoided vital areas, it still ended up with an abundance of wounds on its body. However, despite the multitude of injuries, with its formidable physique and that inhuman defensive power, the impact was still tolerable. But the attack from the Tiangang Sword was the greatest threat to it. Although the power had been greatly reduced by the ice pillars, this attack was almost Lin Tianming¡¯s strongest offensive means apart from Spirit Art. Consequently, when the Tiangang Sword eventually struck the Cold Ice Crocodile, it achieved a certain degree of effectiveness. The Cold Ice Crocodile managed to dodge away from the vital parts, and under the attack of the Tiangang Sword, its tail was almost severed. Had it not made a timely evasion, this strike could have very well taken its life. Chapter 687 03-25 - 687 375 The Slaying of the Cold Ice ?Chapter 687: Chapter 375 The Slaying of the Cold Ice Crocodile_2 Chapter 687: Chapter 375 The Slaying of the Cold Ice Crocodile_2 ¡°` As the firelight settled down, peace gradually returned to heaven and earth. Looking around, the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s tail was dripping with fresh blood, its bone clearly visible from the wound, and the blood-red lake grew even redder. At this point, the Cold Ice Crocodile was raging with fury. It raised its head to let out a roar and then immediately launched an attack. With a turn of its body, its sharp claws fiercely struck at the Sword Array Barricade, the powerful force overturning the water of the lake. It seemed to understand what was most important at the moment, so its goal was very clear: to break the endless binds and thus unleash its strongest power. Lin Tianming saw its actions and intentions clearly and certainly wouldn¡¯t easily let it have its way, let alone give up on this great opportunity. After all, the Cold Ice Crocodile was already injured, having sustained his two strongest consecutive attacks, its strength was greatly reduced. ... It could be said that the Cold Ice Crocodile was now fighting a desperate battle, and with just one or two more rounds of attack, it could be completely annihilated. Understanding this, Lin Tianming issued instructions to the two Spirit Beasts, directing them to fully cooperate with him. Following this, a large amount of Sword Qi burst from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, heading straight for the Cold Ice Crocodile. At the same time, he leaped into the Sword Array, and like a fierce tiger, he charged through, preparing to engage the Cold Ice Crocodile in close combat. In his eyes, the strength of the Cold Ice Crocodile was indeed outrageously strong. If it were in its prime, even with Dual Cultivation of Body and Law and his confidence in his own strength, he wouldn¡¯t dare to engage in close combat with the Cold Ice Crocodile. But now, the Cold Ice Crocodile was injured, its strength had been significantly reduced, and there was not a small chance of victory in close combat. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Besides, his Spiritual Power was running low. There was another Cold Ice Crocodile to deal with later, and with the manifold dangers in this Secret Realm, he needed to conserve some Spiritual Power to cope with any unexpected situations. Therefore, he decided to take advantage of his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law to finish off this Cold Ice Crocodile as quickly as possible. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming was extremely decisive and pushed his power to the limit. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A large amount of Sword Qi passed through the Sword Array Barricade, coupled with the Sword Qi that was already inside the array, forming a dense net of swords that enveloped the large area where the Cold Ice Crocodile was. In the moment Lin Tianming made his move, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox seemed to have a tacit understanding and burst forth with their Innate Divine Abilities to support Lin Tianming. In an instant, the Cold Ice Crocodile, which had just taken a breath of relief, was once again trapped in layer upon layer of attacks. As the onslaught from the man and two beasts drew closer, the Cold Ice Crocodile smelled the breath of death all around. It was angry, fiercely attacking the Sword Array Barricade, but the barricade merely swayed and showed no signs of collapsing. In this dire situation, it turned its head and opened its mouth wide, once again spitting out some ice pillars, hoping to make a final stand. But a closer look revealed that there were significantly fewer ice pillars this time, and the energy in them was not as strong as before. Clearly, as the battle raged on, after several waves of Divine Skills clashing, the power of the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s Divine Skills was greatly weakened, likely due to overexertion. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. However, he didn¡¯t let his guard down. With a spell cast, the Tiangang Sword in his hand flashed, releasing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. This strike was hidden among the many Sword Qi, clearly intending to be the final straw that would overwhelm the Cold Ice Crocodile. This moment seemed lengthy, yet it was over in an instant. In an instant, the sky filled with Sword Qi and ice pillars collided. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A series of loud booms came successively, and the air was in turmoil, the strong fluctuations from the collision relentlessly assaulting the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming, still inside the Sword Array, could clearly feel the blinding light before him and a wave of air that lifted his robes. Had he not been prepared, with his robust stature, the impact alone would have been difficult for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators to ignore and might have even caused some injuries. Barely stabilizing his stance, his rapidly advancing figure didn¡¯t stop, his fist aimed straight for the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s position. At the same time, he used the Eye of Five Colors to monitor the situation before him. Under his watchful eye, the ice pillars spewed by the Cold Ice Crocodile and the large amount of Sword Qi, as well as the Divine Skills unleashed by the two Spirit Beasts, collided and dispersed. ¡°` And hidden within the Sword Qi, the Tiangang Sword accelerated suddenly, appearing above the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s head in the blink of an eye. By then, the Cold Ice Crocodile had no divine skills at its disposal and could only rely on its defensive power to survive the crisis. Indeed, just as it had anticipated, the Cold Ice Crocodile reached out with its claw, hoping to swat the Tiangang Sword away. As the Tiangang Sword came attacking, it met the claw head-on. After a burst of sparks, the Tiangang Sword was deflected by the claw, diverted from its attack path, and finally slashed into the waters of the lake. Immediately, a huge wave surged, followed by the pitiful screams of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Lin Tianming took a closer look and saw that the Tiangang Sword had cleanly severed the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s claw, which fell into the lake and quickly sank to the bottom. At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile was rolling in pain, unable to pay any attention to Lin Tianming who was approaching. As Lin Tianming drew nearer, the Cold Ice Crocodile finally regained some composure. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It twisted its head, trying to flee, and collided once more with the Sword Array Barricade. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A dull thud followed, as the Cold Ice Crocodile was repelled by the Sword Array Barricade. And right then, Lin Tianming¡¯s fist had descended, striking the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s back at a tricky angle. With no way to avoid it in such a desperate situation, the Cold Ice Crocodile could only try to protect its vital parts as best as it could. Another miserable cry rang out. The enormous body of the Cold Ice Crocodile was forcibly shifted over ten yards, stopping only when it hit against the Sword Array Barricade again. Looking over, the Cold Ice Crocodile was continuously rolling, its mouth open wide as it roared in pain from time to time. Looking down along its body, there was a bloody hole in its back, with blood pouring out and some organs plainly exposed to the air. That terrifying punch from Lin Tianming, possessing at least tens of thousands of pounds of force, would not have been much different from a small mountain crashing down. It was this terrifying punch that nearly pierced through the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body. Though the punch did not kill the Cold Ice Crocodile, it had caused severe wounds, making it incapable of stirring up any more trouble. Seeing his strike had been effective, Lin Tianming¡¯s footsteps hastened once more. He dashed forward with an explosive step, winding up his fists and raining blows upon the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of muffled impacts sounded, accompanied by the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s cries of agony, rhythmic in their own way. It¡¯s unclear how much time passed, but eventually, the noises inside the Sword Array stopped¡ªthere were neither sounds of fists colliding nor any more of the excruciating screams. Following a crisp sound, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook, and then seventy-two Earth Evil Swords flew out from the lake, revealing Lin Tianming¡¯s figure. At that moment, he waved his hand and collected all the Earth Evil Swords, including the Tiangang Sword, back into his possession. Now looking over the entire battlefield, one could see the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile amidst a vast expanse of blood-stained water, gently drifting on the surface with the breeze. Upon closer inspection, the massive body of the Cold Ice Crocodile looked utterly pitiable, with not a single spot on its body left intact. Numerous bloody holes were visible, with internal organs visible like a gruesome spectacle, hard to behold without feeling disgust. Just then, he had charged forward and battered it relentlessly, his fists flying wildly with no technique, relying solely on raw power to beat the grievously wounded Cold Ice Crocodile to death. Not until the Cold Ice Crocodile ceased moving and went silent did he finally stop his onslaught. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flushed as he looked at the still Cold Ice Crocodile, letting out a long sigh of relief. There was no denying the great strength of this Cold Ice Crocodile. The whole battle had lasted for quite some time, and under the assault of Lin Tianming and two Second Order Late Phase Spirit Beasts, it took several uses of the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, not to mention the lethal Blue Heart True Flame. And still, the Cold Ice Crocodile had persevered for a long while before it finally perished. ¡­ Chapter 688 03-25 - 688 376 The End of the Battle_1 ?Chapter 688: Chapter 376: The End of the Battle_1 Chapter 688: Chapter 376: The End of the Battle_1 With the death of the Cold Ice Crocodile, Lin Tianming finally shifted his gaze toward the battlefield where Hu Yuan was engaged in combat. Gazing over, Hu Yuan was currently battling fiercely with another Cold Ice Crocodile. As he fought, Hu Yuan had already been engaged in a prolonged struggle; now he was in a situation of constant retreat, with numerous wounds across his body, and his breath had become severely exhausted. Although the other Cold Ice Crocodile held an absolute advantage, enticed by the treasure, Hu Yuan had not held anything back, exhausting almost all his means. Relying on a large number of life-saving cards he had prepared, he had also managed to wound the Cold Ice Crocodile. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, both were bearing injuries and had expended a great deal of energy, both struggling to persevere. However, if the situation continued in this way, it was only a matter of time before Hu Yuan would be defeated. If he were unlucky, there was even the risk of falling. ¡°Roar¡­¡± ... A roar interrupted Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. Following the direction of the roar, he saw the Cold Ice Crocodile swiping a claw at Hu Yuan, with the momentum to kill him on the spot. Facing this terrifying claw, Hu Yuan¡¯s face turned pale as he hastily brought out a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact to shield himself. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud bang, Hu Yuan was sent flying backward, vomiting blood profusely even before he hit the ground, and his complexion grew even paler. As he fell from mid-air into the lake, a large splash was created. Bearing the severe pain, he tried to fly out of the water, but the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s huge tail swept toward him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Seeing this, Hu Yuan¡¯s face turned white, and in a rush, he took out two gray-white beads, tossing them out with a look of agony on his face. Recognizing these two beads, Lin Tianming quickly identified them as Spirit Detonation Beads, which he had used many times before without a doubt. As a consumable treasure, their power was several times stronger than that of a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, indeed qualifying as quite an impressive treasure. However, he estimated that these two Spirit Detonation Beads could not realistically kill the Cold Ice Crocodile, or even seriously wound it. Sure enough, under his watchful eye, the two Spirit Detonation Beads collided head-on with the tail of the Cold Ice Crocodile. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Two fiery red clouds appeared in the sky, covering a large area, looking extremely spectacular. Then, a series of explosions were heard, accompanied by the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s roars reverberating between heaven and earth. At the same time, the shock wave from the Spirit Detonation Beads¡¯ explosion swept around, causing huge waves in the lake. The strong impact flipped Hu Yuan in the water, rolling him around for a long time until the water gradually calmed, and then he floated to the surface. After this strike, Hu Yuan¡¯s internal energy was in turmoil, and he spat out more blood, his face becoming as pale as death. He shakily stood up, feet on the surface of the lake, his eyes wide open as he looked at the distant Cold Ice Crocodile, wanting to see if the two Spirit Detonation Beads had seriously wounded it. He knew well the strength of the Cold Ice Crocodile; he had exhausted all his methods, yet was still at an absolute disadvantage. The two Spirit Detonation Beads he had just thrown were the last two high-power consumables he had reserved. Now that he had used them, he had no more left. However, he also understood that Spirit Detonation Beads had great killing power against ordinary Second Order Late Stage Beasts. If used well, they could completely kill them. But the Cold Ice Crocodile, whose strength was extremely formidable and had touched the threshold of Third Order, was terrifying in terms of both attack and defense capabilities, almost reaching the limit of Second Order Demonic Beasts. Under such circumstances, he had no confidence whatsoever that the Spirit Detonation Beads could achieve any effect. However, things having reached this point, he had done his utmost, also fulfilling the time commitment he had made before the great battle. With this expectation, Hu Yuan gazed intently at the distant Cold Ice Crocodile, assessing the extent of its wounds. Following his sight, the Cold Ice Crocodile was rolling in the water, with a large area of its tail scorched black, and two huge bloody holes evident, which were obviously caused by the two Spirit Detonation Beads just now. It rolled and roared in pain, clearly having sustained serious injuries, with its strength fallen by twenty to thirty percent from its peak. Seeing that his desperate counterattack had some effect, Hu Yuan¡¯s pale complexion finally showed a trace of color. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the enraged Cold Ice Crocodile also calmed down, becoming even more frantic. ¡°Roar¡­¡± At that moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile flipped over with a roar and opened its huge mouth to spit out numerous ice pillars. Upon closer examination, it was evident that the number of ice pillars was not great, and their contained power and momentum had diminished significantly. Clearly, as the battle raged on up to this point, both the Cold Ice Crocodile and Hu Yuan themselves had expended a lot, and the attacks they launched were naturally not as strong as at the beginning of the battle. Such a transformation was a fairly normal phenomenon. Although Demon Beast Race did not have restrictions like human¡¯s spiritual power, relying more on Divine Skills and physical strength in combat, However, the Demon Beast¡¯s Divine Skills were not infinite, and if used repeatedly, their power and quantity would certainly not match their prime. And for humans, excessive consumption of spiritual power has a more significant impact on strength. If depleted, it could weaken them to the point where they would be no stronger than ordinary mortals without cultivation. Thus, both parties¡¯ current strength had declined to varying degrees compared to their peaks. Chapter 689 03-25 - 689 376 The End of the Great War_2 ?Chapter 689: 376 Chapter The End of the Great War_2 Chapter 689: 376 Chapter The End of the Great War_2 Especially Daoist Hu Yuan, who had almost depleted ninety percent of his spiritual power, and consumable treasures like the Second Order Attack Talisman were completely exhausted. Adding to his injuries, the strength he could exert now, I¡¯m afraid, was less than half of his peak level. Knowing this, facing the divine skill attack of the Cold Ice Crocodile, he clearly didn¡¯t have much confidence he could survive. Seeing the ice pillar getting closer and closer, fully aware of the severity of the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s ice pillar, Hu Yuan¡¯s already pale face instantly turned extremely grim. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Hu Yuan let out a sigh, his condition was terribly poor at the moment; he could only try to delay as much as possible, waiting for Lin Tianming to join the fight which would herald their victory. With this realization, Hu Yuan forcibly circulated most of his remaining spiritual power, pouring it all into the defense artifact in his hand, preparing for one final gamble. ... However, as to whether he could block the ice pillar and survive this terrifying attack, he truly wasn¡¯t certain. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The light beam traveled swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it had already descended in front of Hu Yuan. Just then, the sound of tearing through the air could be heard, followed by the appearance of Lin Tianming blocking in front of him. Seeing the arrival, who was none other than the eagerly awaited Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression instantly turned to joy. At that moment, Lin Tianming, gripping the Green Scale Shield in one hand and after infusing it with a vast amount of spiritual power, transformed it into a large shield firmly guarding in front of them both. As the saying goes, in the nick of time, the ice pillars all crashed against the shield. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds continued to rise, and huge waves churned across the surface of the lake. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flushed red, as he held the Green Scale Shield steady. He was well aware that the strength behind him, belonging to Hu Yuan, was limited. If he dodged, given Hu Yuan¡¯s current state, it was highly likely that Hu Yuan would perish there. Although should Hu Yuan die, he could alone claim the three Creation Fruits and the Creation Fruit Tree and wouldn¡¯t need to bear the risk of potential exposure. But after spending several years together, he had found that Hu Yuan was a man of loyalty and righteousness, who had never wronged him or the Lin Family, and had even helped him quite a bit. Such broad-minded, grateful loose cultivators were rare in today¡¯s Cultivation World. Driven by the interest in a Creation Fruit, Lin Tianming, by nature, didn¡¯t want to commit such despicable acts of kicking a man when he was down. Consequently, he exerted his spiritual power to the fullest, standing steadfastly in front of Hu Yuan, refusing to budge an inch. At this moment, his silhouette and actions were etched into Hu Yuan¡¯s vision. He was also keenly aware that he and Lin Tianming were not related by blood or friendship; their partnership was merely a cooperative relationship. Being alone without any clan or power behind him, Lin Tianming could have simply let him fend for himself, a choice that would have brought greater benefits without risk. Yet, in the face of such interests, Lin Tianming chose not to do so! This act moved Hu Yuan intensely, filling him with admiration and gratitude. Time slowly passed by. Who knew how long it had been when the explosive sounds abruptly ceased. Looking now, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan had been flung into the air by the powerful recoil force. Floating midair, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was pale as snow, his blood churning inside. A trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. Although the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s divine skill, the ice pillar, was terrifyingly powerful, at this moment, its strength was clearly not as formidable as it had been at its peak. Being a dual cultivator of body and law, he hadn¡¯t expended much in the previous battle, and his strength was almost unaffected. Therefore, after taking on the entire ice pillar attack, he had suffered only some internal injuries, and his overall consumption was not significant. As for the Green Scale Shield used to deflect the attack, it had only some cracks; it could easily be restored to its original state with some re-enchantments from Lin Shilu. Once both had regained control of their postures, Hu Yuan coughed up blood in large mouthfuls, a flush of red passing over his pale face. At that moment, he looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s silhouette, with an expression of joy emerging. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Hu Yuan coughed and then bowed in thanks, saying, ¡°Lin, I¡¯m indebted to you for arriving just in time. Otherwise, my life would surely have been lost here!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming waved his hand in response. ¡°You¡¯re overstating it, Daoist Hu. During this grand battle, the time you bought was more than sufficient,¡± Lin Tianming replied. ¡°I also underestimated the strength of these two Cold Ice Crocodiles; the battle was rather lengthy, which is why I arrived a bit late,¡± ¡°Heh¡­ However, despite that, there were no mishaps, which is indeed cause for celebration!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Hu Yuan nodded in agreement, fully endorsing his statement. After this ferocious battle, everyone, including himself, had indeed underestimated the strength of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles. While Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was superior to his, it was still not something that could be done quickly to kill a Cold Ice Crocodile. Thus, it was clear that Lin Tianming had exerted his full strength to arrive in time. Understanding this, Hu Yuan expressed his gratitude, ¡°Lin has made every possible effort, fortunately, the outcome is satisfactory!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming also nodded and then addressed Hu Yuan. ¡°Daoist Hu, there is only this injured Cold Ice Crocodile left; let¡¯s join forces to finish it quickly and avoid prolonged troubles!¡± ¡°Good, Lin can make your move, I will assist you from the side!¡± Having responded, Hu Yuan¡¯s Attack Talisman flashed with Spiritual Light, and he immediately rushed towards the location of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Seeing this, Lin Tianming followed suit, quickly reaching the vicinity of the Cold Ice Crocodile. At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile was in the middle of the lake, its huge head sticking out as it glared at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, a mix of shock and rage in its demeanor. The Cold Ice Crocodile had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and the process of killing its companion. Seeing its comrade killed and Lin Tianming now free to target it, the Cold Ice Crocodile was somewhat panicked. But even more so, it was enraged. At that moment, it wanted to eliminate these two humans right there and avenge its companion. It roared furiously and then launched an attack. In the blink of an eye, the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s huge tail swept towards the heads of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan without regard for its own wounds. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh; if the Cold Ice Crocodile had been at its peak strength, he might have had some reservations. However, it had been wounded by Hu Yuan, its abilities reduced by twenty to thirty percent, so with its weakened Divine Skills, it posed no significant threat. With this understanding, Lin Tianming performed a spell, and his Tiangang Sword flashed with silver light, followed by the release of Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, piercing towards the sweeping tail. Meanwhile, Hu Yuan unleashed several attacks from different directions towards the Cold Ice Crocodile. His Spiritual Power was greatly depleted; although his attacks were weak, they were enough to distract the Cold Ice Crocodile. This was just the assault from the two men; the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox that accompanied Lin Tianming also launched their attacks from various angles. In an instant, the Cold Ice Crocodile found itself besieged from all sides, utterly overwhelmed. Facing the onslaught of two men and two beasts, the Cold Ice Crocodile finally felt immense pressure. However, it understood that Lin Tianming was the greatest threat since he had just killed its companion, and his attack was the most formidable. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, the Cold Ice Crocodile locked its sights on Lin Tianming as its target. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± A series of explosions sounded. The Cold Ice Crocodile twisted its body to avoid the attacks from Hu Yuan and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, while the Tiangang Sword collided head-on with its tail, the force repelling the sword. However, the damaging power of the Tiangang Sword was immense, almost severing its tail in one strike. In addition, the red mist spat out by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox enveloped half of its body, the corrosive nature of it igniting some of its flesh. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± A foul odor spread as the Cold Ice Crocodile howled in pain, its already injured body thrashing violently. With the combined strike of the two men and two beasts, the Cold Ice Crocodile was no match. Especially Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, which nearly severed its tail, exacerbating its wounds even further. If the assault were to continue this way, perhaps in a few rounds of attacks, the Cold Ice Crocodile would inevitably be besieged to death. But even so, it had no room for choice. Lin Tianming had already instructed the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, including keeping Hu Yuan vigilant, to watch every move of the Cold Ice Crocodile, to prevent its escape. In such a situation, it could be said that the Cold Ice Crocodile was trapped, with no escape to the heavens above or the earth below. Chapter 690 03-25 - 690 377 True Face _1 ?Chapter 690: Chapter 377 True Face _1 Chapter 690: Chapter 377 True Face _1 The Cold Ice Crocodile, unable to fight back or escape, seemed to understand its predicament. Indeed, it was just as it seemed! It was already wounded, and its strength was greatly diminished. Here, apart from Lin Tianming, whose strength was overwhelming and who had killed its companion, there were also two Second Order Late Phase Spirit Beasts and a cultivator who had fought with it for a long time. The combined forces of four powerful opponents against a single injured Cold Ice Crocodile essentially left it with no chance of victory. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, before it could even catch its breath, a figure charged at it, fists swinging. This figure moved with astounding speed, and its momentum was like a mountain collapsing and the sea overturning, as if it intended to break through any obstacles. ... Just as the Cold Ice Crocodile was about to raise its claw in retaliation, it suddenly felt a burst of intense pain in its head. It let out an angry roar, wanting to turn over and attack, but its body felt as though it was clamped down by something, and very soon, an even more excruciating pain followed. The source of this unbearable pain was Lin Tianming¡¯s fists. At that moment, he was rolling up his sleeves, punching the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body again and again as if he was tireless. The Cold Ice Crocodile, writhing in pain, frantically rolled its body in a struggle. But Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t give it a chance to breathe; each punch was delivered with full force. With the strength of Lin Tianming¡¯s body, each punch was like a small mountain crashing down from the sky, relentlessly striking the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s vital points. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, peace was restored to the heavens and earth, and the surface of the lake no longer rippled. Looking around, only two Cold Ice Crocodile corpses could be seen drifting on the lake surface with the wind. At this time, Lin Tianming was standing on the water¡¯s surface, gasping for air, his face alternating between red and pale, seeming somewhat tired. Daoist Hu, similarly, stood frozen nearby, his face deathly pale, his mind still flashing with the scene of Lin Tianming beating the Cold Ice Crocodile. Clearly, the way Lin Tianming had just beaten the Cold Ice Crocodile was somewhat brutal and extremely bloody. This action had completely shocked Daoist Hu, leaving him somewhat dazed. It took a while for Daoist Hu to regain his composure, and when he looked at Lin Tianming again, he couldn¡¯t help but shudder. He even muttered to himself that Lin Tianming was too ruthless! Ruthless toward himself, and even more so toward his enemies! Such a person was truly frightening when making a move, yet they possessed powerful strength. However, upon careful reflection, Lin Tianming was quite a laid-back individual, with a carefree character full of loyalty, and not the treacherous kind. The recent battle was the best example; Lin Tianming did not take advantage of someone¡¯s peril, but instead stood strong without backing down. Realizing this, Daoist Hu¡¯s expression brightened with joy, and respect appeared on his face. He then bowed to Lin Tianming and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Both of these beasts are finally dead. Lin¡¯s strength really keeps refreshing my knowledge!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Hu¡¯s strength is not weak either, so don¡¯t make fun of me!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh as he waved his hand. Then, changing the subject, he said, ¡°Daoist Hu, now that the two Cold Ice Crocodiles are dead, I will collect their bodies first and then tend to serious matters!¡± As he said this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flush with excitement. Daoist Hu, on the other hand, was also elated. Thinking of the treasures Lin Tianming had mentioned before the battle, he immediately began to look all around, his breathing becoming rapid. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming had not disclosed the location of the treasure or what it was. Daoist Hu guessed that it was probably at the bottom of the lake, but standing on the lake¡¯s surface, he could not see to its deepest parts with his divine sense. Concerned about Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and his rescue at the last moment, Daoist Hu did not want to search in front of Lin Tianming and cause unnecessary misunderstandings, which would also make him seem petty. Since clearing the battlefield wouldn¡¯t take Lin Tianming long, it was a good opportunity to recover some spiritual power and wait to explore the treasure with Lin Tianming. Understanding this, Daoist Hu nodded to indicate that he would wait on the side, urging Lin Tianming to quickly clean up the battlefield. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and quickly approached the body of one of the Cold Ice Crocodiles. Looking at the still corpse of the Cold Ice Crocodile, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was rosy as he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, beginning to carve up parts of the body. The body of the Cold Ice Crocodile was indeed a valuable item for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After all, the defensive power and attack strength of the Cold Ice Crocodile were astonishing. They had endured so many attacks and yet had survived for so long. Such skin could be excellent material for refining defense artifacts. Its teeth, claws, and long tail were all invaluable materials for artifact refining. In particular, the claws and tail were very suitable for making whips or claw-like attack talismans. If the artifact refiner¡¯s skills were sufficient, combined with some good artifact refining materials, they could even refine Second Order Superior attack talismans. Knowing this, Lin Tianming worked swiftly, with the sharp Tiangang Sword quickly starting to carve. In no time, many parts of the Cold Ice Crocodile were collected, leaving behind a huge empty shell and the large mass of flesh. After cleaning the carcass of the first demonic beast, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pause and began to carve up the second Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body. Like a well-oiled machine, the second Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body was soon gathered up. Chapter 691 03-25 - 691 377 True Face_2 ?Chapter 691: Chapter 377 True Face_2 Chapter 691: Chapter 377 True Face_2 As for the remaining flesh of the Cold Ice Crocodile, it contained a lot of energy. After all, it was a Demonic Beast on the verge of reaching the Third Order, even a Bloodthirsty Jiao at the late phase of the Second Order could benefit greatly from consuming it. He planned to collect it for his own Spirit Beasts to consume, hoping it would help them improve to some extent. Understanding this, Lin Tianming used several storage bags to gather all of these items. Afterward, Lin Tianming quickly tidied up the battlefield, erasing many signs of combat. However, the blood in the lake was not insignificant, and it had yet to blend fully with the rest of the water, so it remained somewhat conspicuous. If given time, as the blood mixed thoroughly with the lake water, there would be no trace left. In any case, he did everything he could; the rest would be erased only with time. Having done that, Lin Tianming called over the Bloodthirsty Jiao and instructed it to keep watch as they went down to the bottom of the lake to collect the Fruit of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree. ... Seeing his actions, a somewhat recovered Hu Yuan was excited and seemed eager to proceed. Seeing that, Lin Tianming chuckled, pointed to a spot in the lake, and said to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, the treasure lies at the bottom of the lake!¡± Hu Yuan, already expecting this, urged impatiently. ¡°Heh heh¡­ to avoid a long night full of dreams, let¡¯s hurry down¡­ hurry down¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and spoke to Hu Yuan. ¡°Daoist Hu, the lake beneath us is very deep, and the water pressure is bound to be astonishing. We don¡¯t even know if we¡¯ll be able to reach the bottom and get the treasure!¡± ¡°But with the threat of the Demonic Beasts removed, you can give it a try. If it doesn¡¯t work out, come back to the surface and wait for a while. If I manage to obtain the treasure, I will still honor my promise and share with you a piece of the treasure!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Hearing this, Hu Yuan thought it over. Lin Tianming seemed very sincere in his words, offering reassurance and not leaving him behind, but instead actively inviting him to join the search. As for the certainty of obtaining the treasure, even Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t sure. If even Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t do it, he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the bottom either. If Lin Tianming were to take the treasure for himself and falsely claim he hadn¡¯t reached the bottom, Hu Yuan wouldn¡¯t be able to verify it. But if that were the case, he had no recourse. Who could blame him for not being as skilled! With insufficient strength, one could only be so passive, ultimately led by the nose without room for any thoughts. However, after giving it some thought, Lin Tianming¡¯s character was quite reassuring. During the great battle with the Cold Ice Crocodile, he could have completely abandoned him. Why would he bother doing more now? With these thoughts, Hu Yuan nodded at Lin Tianming and showed a grateful expression. ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s follow Daoist Lin¡¯s plan. If it doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll have to rely on Daoist Lin!¡± Hu Yuan said with a sincere look and a bow. Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, and without further delay, he leaped straight into the lake. Seeing his movement, Hu Yuan, who was nearby, didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly followed Lin Tianming, splashing into the water from the same spot. The two jumped into the lake, one after the other, Lin Tianming leading the way, surrounding himself with a ball of light created by his Spiritual Power. Immediately afterward, his body began to dive rapidly. In just a few breaths, he had descended hundreds of fathoms. At that point, Lin Tianming, surrounded by the pitch-black water, found his Divine Sense restricted, able to reach out only a hundred or so fathoms, leaving him as blind as a bat. Moreover, as the depth of the dive increased, the water pressure grew extraordinarily strong, making each step downward more difficult than when he had first dived in. Anticipating such a response, Lin Tianming activated his Eye of Five Colors, instantly broadening his vision. After his careful inspection, he found that the lake had a very peculiar terrain, large in area and incredibly deep, resembling a bucket. And the Creation Fruit Tree that he coveted so much stood proudly within the fissures of rocks at the bottom of the lake, one thousand fathoms deep. Such living conditions were not easily discovered by ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Probably only the Divine Sense of Golden Core Cultivators was strong enough to possibly detect it. Or perhaps, it was only possible for someone like him with some rare artifacts to discover it by a fortuitous coincidence. No wonder then that the creation fruit tree had remained undiscovered through several thousand years and dozens of explorations by the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. As the descent reached the depths of eight hundred fathoms, the pressure in the water grew even stronger, nearly squeezing the light shield of spiritual power to the point of breaking. Besides, the immense pressure was actually penetrating the light shield, pressing against his body. At this time, Lin Tianming continuously infused spiritual power to firmly stabilize the light shield. Simultaneously, his blood circulated rapidly, and his skin slightly bulged all over his body, resisting the oppressive force of the water pressure. Just then, Hu Yuan, who was a body¡¯s length behind him, transmitted his voice, indicating that the pressure of the water was too high, and he could no longer support it and had to return to the surface of the lake. Indeed, just as he had expected, Hu Yuan could not withstand the pressure of the lake and gave up on exploring the bottom of the lake together. Regarding this, Lin Tianming had done all that he could, fulfilling his duty. As for Hu Yuan¡¯s own lack of strength, which prevented him from reaching the bottom of the lake to witness the elegance of the Fruit of Fortuity, he could not be blamed. Understanding this, Lin replied with a transmission of his voice and then continued his descent. With the continuous descent, the pressure of the lake water was indeed great, but his body was refined through the Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and the spiritual power he had expended in the battle with the Cold Ice Crocodile was not too much. Fortunately, he had retained some spiritual power; under the current oppressive force, he was still not troubled for the time being. Another half quarter of an hour passed. After a total of a quarter hour of descending, Lin Tianming finally arrived at the depth of the lake bed. The water pressure here was very strong, but Lin Tianming¡¯s physique was astonishing, and he was basically unaffected in his freedom of movement. At this time, he approached the Creation Fruit Tree, feeling elated while also sizing up this legendary treasure. Looking around, the Creation Fruit Tree stood tall in the stone crevice on the lakebed; its trunk was silver-white, not very tall, just over a fathom, with sparse branches¡ªmerely three in total. What was more peculiar was that these lone branches didn¡¯t bear even a single leaf. Such a height of this tree, to the myriad of flowers, plants, and trees in the Cultivation World, was merely the height of a small grass. However, in the Cultivation World, with the abundance of Spiritual Plants, it would be foolish to judge treasures merely by their size and appearance. Knowing this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t judge by appearances but viewed it from top to bottom as if admiring a piece of exquisite workmanship. During his inspection, he quickly saw a fruit hanging on each of the three branches. The fruits were silver-yellow in color, completely lustrous and translucent, and despite the spiritual power light shield and the pitch-black lake water, he could still smell a unique fragrance wafting towards him. Merely catching a whiff of it made him feel refreshed, his blood and qi boiling involuntarily within him. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the creation fruits close at hand, his face becoming flushed and his breathing starting to quicken. Even his hands, excited, could not help trembling slightly. This was the true form of the Creation Fruit and its tree! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This Creation Fruit, valuable beyond measure, was the treasure that every Foundation Establishment Cultivator dreamed of obtaining. Even for the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, with their legacies spanning thousands, or even tens of thousands of years, such Nascent Soul Spiritual Items like the Creation Fruit were extremely rare. In the Cultivation World, there were many items that could aid in Core Formation, and among the numerous artifacts, the Creation Fruit was one of the best. According to the legends in the Cultivation World, among the known Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, aside from the Golden Core Pill concocted from a multitude of precious Spiritual Medicines, there were no better items for Core Formation than the Creation Fruit. Ever since Lin Tianming entered the Tianfeng Secret Realm, he had been searching arduously for more than half a year, braving who knows how many risks. Finally, he was lucky, having found a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item like the Creation Fruit. Chapter 692 03-25 - 692 378 Treasure Obtained_1 ?Chapter 692: Chapter 378 Treasure Obtained_1 Chapter 692: Chapter 378 Treasure Obtained_1 At that moment, Lin Tianming stepped forward, his hands tremblingly reaching through the barrier of spiritual energy to touch the Creation Fruit Tree. It wasn¡¯t his first encounter with a Core Formation Spiritual Item; years ago in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, he had obtained a Star Moon Fruit. But at this moment, the excitement brought by the Creation Fruit Tree before him was no less than when he had acquired the Star Moon Fruit. After all, this time it was not just one, but three. Even after promising to give one Fruit of Fortuity to Hu Yuan, he would still gain two. What¡¯s more, a transplantable Creation Fruit Tree was worth just as much as the three fruits. With this object, one could say they had the foundation of a Golden Core Family! ... Even if the family had been quiet for years or even completely faded, as long as they had the Creation Fruit Tree, it would only take a few hundred years to acquire three more Fruits of Fortuity. With this item, the family could have a complete chance of rising again. And the two fruits that belonged to him could potentially create two Golden Core Clan Members. And he would be one of them! When it concerned his own path, now that he had the assurance to break through to the Golden Core Stage, how could he not be thrilled? In that context, the gains from this time were truly substantial. Not just for him personally, but for the entire Lin Family, it could completely multiply the family¡¯s foundation several times over. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Understanding this, Lin Tianming was inwardly very excited, his face brimming with a thick smile. Once he finally calmed his excited feelings, he did not delay any longer and began to put the three Fruits of Fortuity into the prepared Jade Box. Soon, the three Fruits of Fortuity were taken down. Holding the Jade Box with the Fruits of Fortuity, it felt surprisingly heavy in his hand. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked determination, nor was it lack of ambition, but indeed, the value of these three fruits was immense. If word got out, even the old timers from the Three Great Golden Core Sects of Wei Kingdom would throw caution to the wind and compete for them. But the more it was so, the more cautious he needed to be. After all, the two Fruits of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree were too important for the Lin Family. Even though the Lin Family had been prospering over the years, with the number and overall strength of the clan members soaring. Especially the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, which was nearly twenty, and Lin Shikang, who had the highest cultivation, was currently secluding himself in an attempt to breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. But since the outbreak of the beast tide began, with third-order spiritual beasts from Zhenyang Sect dying on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, a shadow had been cast over the family, constantly reminding the upper echelons of the urgency of time. And these two Fruits of Fortuity might just be the glory the Lin Family needed to get through the crisis. Bringing his thoughts back, Lin Tianming lovingly looked at the Fruits of Fortuity a few more times before putting away the Jade Boxes. Next, he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, striking the crevices beneath the Creation Fruit Tree. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The sharp Tiangang Sword penetrated the rock, and Lin Tianming, exerting full strength, cleaved off a small piece of stone, revealing a small portion of the root system. It was indeed strange that such a treasure managed to grow in such a harsh environment. The stones beneath the Creation Fruit Tree seemed ordinary, yet they were so hard that despite his physical strength added to the sharpness of the Tiangang Sword, it took so much effort to cut off just a small piece. If he hadn¡¯t looked carefully and known that this stone was not some high-order ore, he almost thought it was some kind of treasure. However, even if it were just an ordinary object, continuing in this way, uprooting the Creation Fruit Tree with its roots intact would still take considerable effort. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t mind this, as it was unlikely that anyone else could find this place, let alone enter here. There was still some time before the end of the Secret Realm, and he had all the time he needed. With this realization, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword swung repeatedly, cutting through the rocks before him. After half an hour. The bottom of the lake was a mess, with a large number of stones scattered around, and the Creation Fruit Tree was nowhere to be seen. Having exerted considerable effort, he finally stored the Creation Fruit Tree in his storage bag. The life force of the Creation Fruit Tree was incredibly strong, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have survived in such an environment. He was very careful when collecting it, the roots were intact and undamaged, and he also collected a good amount of the surrounding soil and stones. All he needed to do was return to the Clan, transplant it into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden as soon as possible, spend some Spirit Stones to gather Spiritual Energy and take good care of the tree until it stabilized, then he could be completely at ease. After completing these tasks, Lin Tianming was excited and opened the Eye of Five Colors to search around. The bottom of the lake had given birth to a Creation Fruit Tree; there might be other good things around. However, he was being a bit too greedy. The mere appearance of a Creation Fruit Tree at the bottom of the lake was already incredible; how could there be other treasures? Once he confirmed that there was nothing there, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and began to ascend. Above the surface of the lake. At that time, Hu Yuan¡¯s gaze was fixed on the center of the lake, looking slightly nervous and expectant, as if waiting for some treasure to appear. Hu Yuan, who had returned midway, had stayed here, not daring to move an inch, always aware of every move in the center of the lake. One could understand his anxiety because when Lin Tianming emerged, he might carry the treasure he had mentioned. While he didn¡¯t articulate it clearly, a little guesswork suggested that this object was likely a Core Formation Spiritual Item. Such an item, no Foundation Establishment Cultivator would dare to take lightly. Chapter 693 03-25 - 693 378 Treasure Acquired_2 ?Chapter 693: Chapter 378: Treasure Acquired_2 Chapter 693: Chapter 378: Treasure Acquired_2 ¡°` Even the True Disciples of the three Great Sects would not be able to ignore a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. As such, this thing is crucial as to whether Hu Yuan can advance further on his cultivation path; it is inevitably very important. And his nervousness, his concern for the item, is also within reason. Time passed unnoticed, and with bubbles surfacing at the center of the lake, waves began to spread outward from the middle. Noticing this change, Hu Yuan¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he quickly made his way to the location of the bubbles. As more and more bubbles appeared, the figure of Lin Tianming soon emerged. Descending to the bottom of the lake had been difficult, but returning was much smoother. ... In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming had returned to the surface of the lake. Seeing the newcomer, Hu Yuan eagerly greeted him, and although he did not speak, his face was completely overtaken by his anxious and eager mood. In this situation, Lin Tianming merely smiled gently and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, mission accomplished!¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and a Jade Box flew out of his hand, heading straight for Hu Yuan. Seeing this object, Hu Yuan¡¯s breathing quickened and, no longer caring about appearances, he grabbed the Jade Box to inspect its contents immediately. Soon after seeing the Fruit of Fortuity inside the Jade Box, Hu Yuan¡¯s face flushed with excitement, and his breathing became even more rapid. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡°Fruit of Fortuity!¡± ¡°I never expected it to be this¡­ Hahaha¡­ This time my luck is excellent¡­ truly excellent¡­¡± Hu Yuan was visibly excited, his speech growing incoherent. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianming said nothing to interrupt him, and simply stood quietly aside. After a while, Hu Yuan put the Jade Box away and also regained his composure. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet the delighted smile on his face was proof of his mood at the moment. At this instant, when Hu Yuan looked back at Lin Tianming, his expression was filled with awe and gratitude. He was very apprehensive before, worried that Lin Tianming might not be able to reach the bottom of the lake, or even concerned that he might hoard the treasure for himself. But now, with the invaluable Fruit of Fortuity in his storage bag, all his worries dissipated as matters settled. This great turnaround left him somewhat in disbelief. Fortunately, everything happened for real, and the Fruit of Fortuity was genuinely present. With this item, once he leaves the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and finds a safe place, he may close off the world and cultivate. If all goes well, it is entirely possible that within a few years, he could reach the long-desired Golden Core Stage. Just thinking about these prospects, Hu Yuan could no longer suppress the agitation in his heart, becoming extremely excited. Over the course of a cup of tea, he finally managed to calm down from his excitement. Looking at the silent Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan gave a respectful bow with clasped hands, performing a deep salute. Then, embarrassedly, he said, ¡°Lin, I apologize for making you witness such a display!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ it¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand to indicate it was no issue and to not worry about such things. ¡°To speak the truth, I owe a great debt to Lin, without you, it would not have been possible for me to find such an opportunity!¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s words were very sincere, and his attitude extremely respectful, not at all presuming his own strength was greater despite being two levels higher in cultivation. Such heartfelt words indeed confirmed his thoughts before the opening of the Secret Realm. Lin Tianming is a person of great fortune; being with someone like this, he too was subtly influenced. In fact, the experiences over the past six months had validated his decision. Thinking this, Hu Yuan felt relieved about his own decision making. When Lin Tianming heard Hu Yuan¡¯s words, he too nodded in satisfaction, harboring no undue thoughts over a single Fruit of Fortuity. In his heart, Hu Yuan was seen as a fairly easygoing person, one of sentiment and integrity; as long as he fulfilled his promises without remorse, that was enough. Not just towards Lin, but others as well¡ªonly by building a good network of connections could the Lin Family face less difficulty in case of trouble, with friends ready to help. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt no pang of regret over the lost treasure. This mindset was very comforting, leaving him deeply contemplative. ¡°` Hu had taken all factors into consideration, and at last Lin Tianming addressed Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, please do not mind these trivial matters, after all, you have also made significant efforts during this period, and this Fruit of Fortuity is indeed something you deserve!¡± ¡°Moreover, I am merely keeping a promise. Should the Lin Family, or I, encounter difficulties in the future, I hope that Daoist Hu will lend a helping hand if it is within your power, so that my taking this risk was not in vain!¡± Before the echoes of these words had faded, Hu Yuan bowed with his hands clasped together and replied with determination, ¡°Rest assured, Lin, I will certainly remember your kindness. Should I be fortunate enough to step onto the Golden Core Path, I will surely repay the Lin Family!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Very well!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response to this, and then swiftly changed the subject to more pressing matters. ¡°Daoist Hu, now that we have obtained the treasure, our goal for entering the secret realm has been fully achieved. What are your plans going forward?¡± Once Lin Tianming had asked this, Hu Yuan fell into deep thought. Lin Tianming did the same. In his heart, before this, he had already obtained the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, quite a lot of Third Order spiritual medicine and ore, along with the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, and his harvest was already rich enough. Even if he had left the secret realm before this time, it would not be too regrettable. And now, having secured two Fruits of Fortuity, as well as a Creation Fruit Tree, the rewards of this trip were truly overflowing. In fact, these gains had far exceeded the expectations he had prior to entering the secret realm. However, there were still over two months left before the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. This span of time wasn¡¯t particularly long, but it wasn¡¯t short either. If they were to be cautious, they could find a safe place to practice closure cultivation and conveniently spend this remaining time. That would also prevent any further risks and avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, bearing significant treasures and to then perish here because of the final two months of adventure would mean all the treasures would be gone in vain, evidently an unwise loss. But securing an opportunity to enter the secret realm was truly not easy, and the next opening would not be for another two hundred years. It could be said that missing this chance meant no further opportunities to enter again. With over two months left, if they were lucky enough to find a few more Third Grade Treasures, it would represent an ideal situation. Currently, the Lin Family had limited Third Order treasures at their disposal. Once Lin Shikang succeeded in his Impact of Golden Core Stage, both he and Lin Shilu would also need to practice closure cultivation. Once the number of Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the Lin Family increased, their demand for resources would double, and ordinary items would scarcely be of use to Golden Core Cultivators. Considering this, if they were to choose to avoid battle now, wasting away the final moments, that too would seem regrettable. Thinking of these matters left Lin Tianming quite conflicted. On the other hand, Hu Yuan, after much deliberation, decided it would be more prudent to proceed cautiously. He was a Loose Cultivator after all, and the most critical matter at the moment was to break through to the Golden Core Stage; other concerns were less significant. If successful, it wouldn¡¯t be too much trouble to spend some time and energy finding more treasures. But if he failed, no matter how many Third Grade Treasures he found, they would be of no use, rendering the endeavor completely meaningless. Therefore, Hu Yuan still planned to find a safe place for closure cultivation and to use up the last of his time. Having made this decision, Hu Yuan spoke to Lin Tianming, ¡°Lin, the rewards from this journey are sufficient, and only by preserving our lives to make it out can there be opportunities to contend for more possessions once we¡¯ve stepped onto the Golden Core Path.¡± Though Hu Yuan did not explicitly state it, his meaning was clear. And upon hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming fell silent for a moment. Soon, after considering the situation, he too felt that what Hu Yuan had said made sense. If they had only acquired one Fruit of Fortuity, both Lin Shilu and he would need it in the short term. No matter how he considered it, allocating that one Fruit of Fortuity would be quite difficult. Given the situation, he might have risked searching for another Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. But having acquired two fruits, along with the even more valuable Creation Fruit Tree, taking any more risks would indeed be foolish. Considering all this, Lin Tianming also came to a decision: to follow Hu Yuan¡¯s opinion, to find a place for closure cultivation first, and to wait for the day when the secret realm closed. Once Lin Tianming was certain of his thoughts, he no longer dwelled on the matter and promptly discussed it with Hu Yuan. In a short while, the two reached a consensus. Subsequently, after gathering their belongings, they flew off in one direction and eventually vanished from the original spot. Chapter 694 03-25 - 694 379 The Three Sects Gather ?Chapter 694: Chapter 379: The Three Sects Gather Together_1 Chapter 694: Chapter 379: The Three Sects Gather Together_1 Two days later. In a certain valley of the secret realm, the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan appeared. Since leaving that lake, the two had smoothly made their way to this location. This was a place they had passed before, and because of its complex geography and topography, it was also very concealed, making it an excellent refuge. Since it was familiar territory, they could make use of it for closed-door cultivation, avoiding aimless wandering like headless flies, which could attract unnecessary troubles or even unknown dangers. After all, the goal of closed-door cultivation was to pass the days safely. With this in mind, the two quickly remembered this valley and successfully arrived here. ... At this moment, as they looked at the familiar valley, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were in good spirits, their faces always brimming with smiles. ¡°Lin, that place is not bad; how about we open up a temporary cave abode here?¡± Hu Yuan pointed to a depression deep in the valley and said with a smile. Lin Tianming looked in the direction Hu Yuan was pointing and thought that Hu Yuan was indeed a loose cultivator at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, who had spent years traveling to various places in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World; his vision was truly unique and sharp. This place was surrounded by mountains on three sides, and there was a narrow passage in the depths of the valley that cut through the mountains, very concealed; almost impossible to find without reaching the entrance. There was also a large river that flowed through the entrance, followed by an expansive open area with no visible end. Such a location was indeed perfect for a cave abode, as it would allow them to quickly leave in case of any disturbance. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Since this place was so suitable as a temporary cave abode, he naturally had no objections. Having made up his mind, he chatted idly with Hu Yuan for a few moments before they each chose a spot to start digging. In less than half an hour, the two had dug out their cave abodes, then gathered together again. Then, Hu Yuan cupped his hands towards Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Lin, I have left the Purple Gold Eagle at the entrance of the valley as a guard so we can cultivate in peace.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that using Hu Yuan¡¯s tamed Second Order Initial Stage Purple Gold Eagle as a guard was quite suitable. If the demonic beast left behind was too strong, it would instead attract stronger demonic beasts and cultivators, who might think that something incredibly valuable was hidden here. After all, the cultivators who could enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm were at least at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment and above. With their level of strength, they weren¡¯t likely to find anything valuable in the den of a Second Order Initial Stage demonic beast. So they probably wouldn¡¯t be interested in taking action. Given that the Purple Gold Eagle was fast and could hide high in the sky to provide early warning in case of danger, and with some warning restrictions in place, they could be alerted in advance. If they weren¡¯t facing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was much too powerful, or a Third Order Demon Beast, they were unlikely to be threatened. Knowing this, Lin Tianming naturally did not oppose Hu Yuan¡¯s suggestion. After chatting a bit more and confirming some protective details, they each entered their cave abodes. Sitting in the cultivation room, Lin Tianming was calm and did not immediately enter the cultivation state. He was still somewhat excited at heart, his face revealing a satisfied smile. It was truly a huge gain, and he had yet to calm down after so long. Now that he had found a place for seclusion, all he needed to do was wait for the time when the secret realm would close, and he could leave this place to return to his clan. Thinking of the Clan Leader and the other elders of his generation seeing the two Fruits of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree, what kind of expressions would they have? They would surely be shocked at first, followed by uncontrollable joy! Every time he pictured these wonderful scenes, Lin Tianming became somewhat impatient. However, there were still more than two months left, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless before returning to his clan. Only after returning to his clan¡¯s territory could he be completely safe. Understanding this, Lin Tianming steadied his mind, waited until he had fully calmed down, and then began his cultivation. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, two months passed. Now, there was only half a month remaining until the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm closed. That day, in a valley within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, the figures of dozens of cultivators appeared, forming three groups of people, each standing on a mountaintop. At a glance, each group wore uniform attire with the embroidered patterns on the chest of their daoist robes indicating their identities. Clearly, these people were disciples from Zhenyang Sect, Myriad Medicine Valley, and Golden Sword Sect. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among them, several cultivators in distinctive outfits mingled within, appearing quite conspicuous. These uniquely dressed individuals were the loose cultivators or family cultivators who had broken away from various battlefields. Among them was Zheng Xiao, sitting alone behind the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, silent. At this moment, the three groups of cultivators gathered together, all staring in the direction of the interior of the valley with odd expressions on their faces. Among them, only seventeen disciples from Zhenyang Sect were still here, nearly losing over half of their number. And Li Xiuyuan, Long Qingshui, Jun Buhui, and others familiar to Lin Tianming, all led the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, and when they looked towards the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, there was a sense of anger in their expressions. Not only the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, but the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley here only numbered twenty-two, who were sitting centered around Yang Chen. When they looked at the disciples of Golden Sword Sect, their reaction, though not as intense as the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, also appeared quite grim. Apart from the two great sects¡¯ cultivators, the disciples of Golden Sword Sect here outnumbered the other two factions, reaching a total of twenty-five. Chapter 695 03-25 - 695 379 Gathering of the Three Sects_2 ?Chapter 695: Chapter 379 Gathering of the Three Sects_2 Chapter 695: Chapter 379 Gathering of the Three Sects_2 It is evident, following this nearly year-long journey through the Secret Realm, that the disciples of the three Great Sects have all suffered losses to varying extents. However, what is unexpected is that the overall strength of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples is not the strongest, yet the number of disciples who have survived is actually the highest among the three Great Sects. It is truly incomprehensible! One wonders what they have experienced during this period? At this time, although the situation between the three parties is tense, when they converged together, they did not show any intention of initiating combat. The main reason for their mutual restraint must be something in the valley. As expected, following the sounds coming from within the valley, the cultivators from all three sides rushed into the inner part of the valley at the same time. ... Behind them, several Loose Cultivators also joined the ranks of the three Great Sects, heading towards the valley. A short while passed. Dozens of cultivators arrived at the depths of the valley, stopping on a mountaintop, each wearing a solemn expression. Following their gaze, about a thousand feet away on the ground opposite them, a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python was coiled within a pit. Its body, spanning more than twenty zhang, was curled into a circle with its massive head raised; meanwhile, a pair of blood-red eyes shot out a fierce light, angrily staring at the people present, seemingly infuriated by their disturbance. However, taking into account the mature Jiuli Star Fruit behind it, the Fire Scale Python did not act rashly. After all, this Jiuli Star Fruit tree had been under its guard for six hundred years, solely for the purpose of swallowing the fruit to make further progress. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Having waited so long for the fruit to finally ripen, it naturally would not allow Human Cultivators to get their hands on it. On the opposite side of the Fire Scale Python, upon seeing such a formidable Demonic Beast, the crowd was somewhat frightened, but they did not have any intention of retreating. Clearly, they had gathered here at the same time and had voluntarily entered the valley, surely in pursuit of some treasure, to willingly take such a risk. In fact, that was indeed the case. This valley was a known treasure land, containing a Jiuli Star Fruit tree that had been growing here. Since its discovery by people from the three Great Sects, more than a few thousand years had passed. And the Jiuli Star Fruit was a Third Order Spiritual Fruit, capable of increasing by 30% the chances of breaking through to the Golden Core stage, making it one of the well-known Nascent Soul Spiritual Items in the Cultivation World. It turns out that the effects of this fruit and the Fruit of Fortuity were nearly identical, both being among the best of the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. The difference lies in the fact that more fruits can be produced from the Jiuli Star Fruit, with a growth cycle of six hundred years per maturity, which is a hundred years longer than that of the Fruit of Fortuity. More crucially, the Jiuli Star Fruit tree cannot be transplanted. Otherwise, the cultivators who discovered it would have long since uprooted it and taken it back to their Sect to claim the credit. As for the secret of the Jiuli Star Fruit tree being here, the higher-ups of the three Great Sects are all aware of it. Six hundred years ago, by the account of the previous time of maturation, today was the day the Jiuli Star Fruits matured. In the two previous openings of the Secret Realm, despite the high-ups of the three Great Sects being aware of the Jiuli Star Fruit¡¯s existence, no one had sent their disciples to visit this place. Under such circumstances, the disciples of the three Great Sects would not have gathered here right before the Secret Realm closed, were it not for the condition of the imminent maturation of the Jiuli Star Fruit. And the cultivators of the several Great Sects, who arrived just in time, were certainly acting under the instructions of the Sect Elders, specifically to collect the Jiuli Star Fruits and take them out of the Secret Realm. After all, such Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are tremendously tempting for the three Great Sects. Even when considering the overall strength of the three Great Sects, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are exceedingly scarce, and they would naturally not let go of a known treasure, nor would they give up the struggle for it. With this goal in mind, the surviving cultivators of the three Great Sects gathered here, obviously preparing to make a move on the Fire Scale Python. As for such an action, six hundred years ago, the disciples of the three Great Sects had also undertaken it once. And this time, the disciples of the three Great Sects were still divided into three groups, coming together for the same purpose. At this very moment, every person from the three sides was extremely grave, obviously intimidated by the Fire Scale Python. In the group from the Golden Sword Sect, the leader Chen Jianbin appeared calm, discussing something with his fellow Sect brothers. On the other side, the leaders of the two Great Sects, Myriad Medicine Valley was headed by the powerful Yang Chen, while Zhenyang Sect was led by He Xin of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. At this moment, they were similarly engaged in silent transmission with their sect brothers about something. A moment as brief as the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed. Chen Jianbin of the Golden Sword Sect glanced at the cultivators of the other two Great Sects before he took the lead to speak. ¡°Daoist Yang, Daoist He, we have all seen the Fire Scale Python, and it has reached the standard of a Third Grade Medium Stage.¡± ¡°Given the strength of this Demonic Beast, why don¡¯t we set aside our prejudices and deal with the beast first? How does that sound?¡± No sooner had his words fallen than He Xin of the Zhenyang Sect, with an angry expression, snorted coldly and said mockingly, ¡°Daoist Chen speaks as if it¡¯s such an easy matter. On this expedition to the Secret Realm, a great number of our disciples have died at your hands. ¡°Hmph¡­ don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve been discreet, I am unaware of your deeds.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jianbin also sneered mockingly before replying, ¡°Hmph¡­ without evidence, Daoist He, you should not slander recklessly!¡± ¡°You should know that this is the Secret Realm, the Demonic Beasts here outnumber all three of our sects combined many times over, and their overall strength far surpasses ours. It is not so strange for some fellow cultivators to fall here.¡± ¡°Take our Golden Sword Sect, have we not also lost several brothers here? What have I said of it?¡± ¡°Furthermore, even if disciples of the two sects fought over treasures and suffered casualties, such occurrences are unavoidable, life and death are predestined, and if one lacks the strength and gets killed, one cannot blame others!¡± His words made He Xin¡¯s face turn extremely somber. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you¡¯re full of shit!¡± Pointing at Chen Jianbin and after grumbling for a long while, He Xin couldn¡¯t come up with a rebuttal and could only curse. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Jianbin¡¯s series of statements left He Xin speechless, his entire being was like a furious beast. Just then, Long Qingshui from behind He Xin, unable to contain his anger, pointed at Chen Jianbin and retorted. ¡°Chen Jianbin, including those from Myriad Medicine Valley, the majority of our fallen comrades died at your hands.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that without concrete evidence we would remain clueless, stop your sophistry!¡± Long Qingshui¡¯s words indeed had an effect. Hearing this, Yang Chen, the leader of the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s team, also had his expression darken. In fact, he had his suspicions too, judging from the traces left on the battlefields of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s fallen disciples, it was highly likely the doing of the Golden Sword Sect Disciples. However, with the dead being gone and no witnesses, the traces alone were not enough to point the finger at the Golden Sword Sect. Besides, the loss of their forces was still within expectations. Therefore, even though he was suspicious, since the Jiuli Star Fruit had not yet been obtained, he refrained from completely tearing off the mask of civility. At this moment, Long Qingshui of the Zhenyang Sect had made a pun, bringing the contradictions to light during such a time. For the sake of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s dignity, if he did not suppress the overbearing arrogance of the Golden Sword Sect, it would be too disgraceful. What¡¯s more, the Golden Sword Sect had more surviving disciples, and their overall strength was subtly beginning to surpass that of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s disciples. You should know, Myriad Medicine Valley entered the Secret Realm with thirty-one cultivators, having the most in number and strongest in overall strength. It took half a year for them to regroup, and by then, only a little over twenty remained, and those who had not rejoined the group were most likely killed in the conflicts among cultivators. Later, when hunting for treasures, they suffered more losses and ended up as the team they were now. If they were to lose too many forces in the process of encircling the Fire Scale Python, they might truly be no match for the Golden Sword Sect when it came time to compete for the Jiuli Star Fruit. Realizing this, Yang Chen quickly made up his mind. That was to form an alliance with the weaker disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, to curb the movements of the Golden Sword Sect disciples, and strive for the greatest benefit. ¡­ Chapter 696 03-25 - 696 380 Nine Stars Extermination ?Chapter 696: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_1 Chapter 696: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_1 Making up his mind, Yang Chen glanced at the smug Chen Jianbin and then spoke. ¡°Hmph¡­ It would be wise for Daoist Chen to forego this opportunity!¡± ¡°Otherwise, do not blame me and my fellow disciples from the Zhenyang Sect for joining hands to annihilate all of you right here!¡± Upon hearing these words, Chen Jianbin was unconcerned, and instead responded with ridicule. ¡°Hehe¡­ This Fire Scale Python is a powerful being at the medium stage of the Third Order, its strength is undoubtedly terrifying.¡± ¡°A Third Order Demon Beast like this, is the highest-level one we¡¯ve encountered since the discovery of the Jiuli Star Fruit tree.¡± ¡°Not to boast, but without the addition of my Sect¡¯s brothers to your group, just the combined forces of your two Sects thinking of annihilating this Fire Scale Python is wishful thinking.¡± ... After saying this, Chen Jianbin let out a ¡®hehe¡¯ laugh, then changed the subject. ¡°Hehe¡­ I wonder what the Sect Leader and the Great Elders will think when everyone returns empty-handed? How will they punish you for your incompetence?¡± Hearing Chen Jianbin¡¯s words, the faces of Yang Chen and He Xin turned pale, seemingly caught in a tight spot. As for the Cultivators of both Sects, their expressions were indeed unsightly. Although each of them was seething with anger, they were unable to come up with a retort. They were also aware that all the Demonic Beasts previously encountered when collecting Jiuli Star Fruits were at the early stage of the Third Order. But this time, a Fire Scale Python of medium stage of the Third Order had appeared. In truth, this Fire Scale Python held the highest realm among the Demonic Beasts they had encountered thus far, its strength surely beyond imagination. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 If the disciples from the three Sects united sincerely, relying on the treasures bestowed by the Elders of their Sects, they might still have a fighting chance. But if any side among the three Sects were to withdraw their forces, this treasure hunt would end in failure for all. If they really reached that point, as the leaders of the team, it would indeed be difficult to explain to the Sect Leaders and the Elders. Although with their talent and cultivation, their lives were not at risk, punishment was indeed inevitable. Beyond that, if they failed to complete this mission, the Sect would lack better Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. These items might not be highly attractive for a Golden Core Cultivator themselves, but they were deeply connected to them. If they couldn¡¯t obtain these Jiuli Star Fruits, their opportunity to advance to the Golden Core Stage would be significantly postponed. Moreover, they might only be able to rely on the most ordinary Core Formation Spiritual Items to aid their advancement to the Golden Core Stage. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The effect, of course, couldn¡¯t be compared with that of the Jiuli Star Fruit. Not only that, the Sect¡¯s supply of ordinary Core Formation Spiritual Items was extremely limited. Without these Jiuli Star Fruits, a fierce competition amongst dozens of disciples at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage would be inevitable. Indeed, these Jiuli Star Fruits were incomparably important for the Sect, and for them personally. Yang Chen, as the leader of the Myriad Medicine Valley, had managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm in just over forty years, breaking the centuries-old record of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World with his extraordinary talent. A genius Cultivator like him, how could he be a fool? And he was naturally very clear about the importance of the Jiuli Star Fruits. Thinking of the interests at stake and seeing Chen Jianbin¡¯s smug expression, Yang Chen felt furious inside, yet managed to not let it burst forth. In his eyes, Chen Jianbin wasn¡¯t as important as the Jiuli Star Fruits. And on further consideration, the immediate priority was indeed how to obtain the Jiuli Star Fruits, not the time to trouble the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. However, once their goal was achieved, there would be no harm in dealing with them then. Realizing this, Yang Chen forcefully calmed himself down, then offered a light smile in an attempt to play the mediator. ¡°Daoist He, Daoist Chen does make some sense. Now let¡¯s all set aside our prejudices and obtain the Jiuli Star Fruits first, there will be time later!¡± Upon hearing this, He Xin¡¯s expression became even uglier, but he also understood the reason in Yang Chen¡¯s words. Respecting Yang Chen¡¯s face, he swallowed his pride to avoid further embarrassment. Even if there was no immediate plan to take action, he still had to put on an angry front. ¡°Hmph!¡± Seeing this, Yang Chen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, quickly trying to mollify everyone. ¡°Let¡¯s calm down for the sake of successfully acquiring the treasure, everyone, cool off!¡± Having said this, he then secretly sent a message to He Xin, suggesting they join forces to act against the Golden Sword Sect after successfully obtaining the treasure. At this proposal, He Xin¡¯s face finally showed some relief. As for their expressions and rapid change in attitude, Chen Jianbin just smiled indifferently, showing no abnormal reaction. However, in his heart, he sneered, as if seeing right through the thoughts of Yang Chen and He Xin. ¡°Hmph¡­ Don¡¯t think you can deal with us just by joining forces, only to regret it when you make your move!¡± While Chen Jianbin silently mumbled to himself, his expression remained as calm as in the beginning, much more pleasant than when he was imposing earlier. Meanwhile, Yang Chen and He Xin were still feeling rather pleased with themselves. Little did they know that their schemes had already been seen through by Chen Jianbin, who had his own plans regarding them. But for now, as tempers had cooled on both sides and the previous disputes were put aside, the urgent task was to continue their cooperation. In such circumstances, the people from the three parties calmly discussed how to deal with the Fire Scale Python. Sometime later, it seemed they had reached a consensus. Following that, they wasted no time, immediately launching their assault on the Fire Scale Python. Soon, a fierce battle began, with an exceptionally intense scene unfolding. Looking around, various attacks poured out from all directions, targeting the Fire Scale Python. Chapter 697 03-25 - 697 380 Nine Stars Extermination ?Chapter 697: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_2 Chapter 697: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_2 ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with vibrant, colorful hues as various Second Order talismans and Spirit Detonation Beads rained down incessantly. Dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the Second Order Late Phase, all outstanding disciples from the three Great Sects, naturally possessed considerable wealth and value. With their methods, when so many of them joined forces, their attack formation was incredibly fierce. Yet even so, the Fire Scale Python seemed quite disdainful. Facing the barrage of attacks, it hardly took care, as the densely packed scales on its body were its best defense. So many attacks bombarding the Fire Scale Python¡¯s scales only left some marks. ... Even the Spirit Detonation Beads, a huge threat to the lives of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, caused limited damage to the Fire Scale Python, merely some minor wounds. This bit of damage was insignificant, and for the defensive power of the Fire Scale Python, it was as if nothing had happened. In the face of this barrage, the Fire Scale Python let out a hiss, and its tail swept across with extreme speed. Not only that, its Third Grade Medium Stage rank, comparable to a Human Golden Core Cultivator, just its powerful presence alone was enough to suppress many cultivators. Under such conditions, the cultivators¡¯ strength was suppressed, many of their attacks weak, unable to have much effect. Only those at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level could inflict a bit of damage to the Fire Scale Python, relying on their more robust spiritual power or stronger magic artifacts. However, so far, it was only some damage after all. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? In the blink of an eye, the siege battle had already lasted for a quarter of an hour. Under the countless bombardments of consumable treasures, even the Fire Scale Python with its heaven-defying defensive power began to sustain some injuries. By now, the Fire Scale Python was extremely angry, harboring a killing intent for the human cultivators before it. ¡°Hiss, hiss, hiss¡­¡± With several hisses in succession, the Fire Scale Python opened its massive mouth, spewing out a vast amount of flames, swooping toward the cultivators in front of it. As soon as the flames appeared, they moved incredibly fast, rapidly covering a large area. Moreover, the moment the flames appeared, the temperature between heaven and earth suddenly increased, and the trees around the battlefield couldn¡¯t withstand the high heat, starting to burn. Seeing these terrifying flames, the more observant cultivators immediately understood that this was clearly a Divine Skill attack from the Fire Scale Python. The Divine Skill attack of a Third Order Demon Beast, in terms of power and speed, was something they had never witnessed before. Suddenly, the cultivators were thrown into chaos, with some of the more composed ones starting to flee in all directions immediately. Cultivators like Yang Chen, Chen Jianbin, and He Xin sensed the lethal danger right away and had swiftly dodged before the Fire Scale Python could launch its Divine Skill attack. Some of the cultivators present, varying in strength and experience, failed to evade in time, and several Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivators were engulfed by the sea of fire. In an instant, a series of horrifying screams echoed non-stop. After the flames gradually subsided, looking around, only a few charred skeletons remained, scattered haphazardly on the ground. Their deaths were tragic; the flesh of their entire bodies turned to ash by the fire, leaving behind only complete skeletons, still charred and blackened. This gruesome scene turned every observer pale, and the morale immediately plummeted to rock bottom. Seeing this, Yang Chen and several other Sect leaders spoke up to boost the spirits of their fellow sect members. With the reassurance from the three, the group¡¯s morale finally began to recover. At this moment, Yang Chen glanced at Chen Jianbin and the others, then said, ¡°Fellow sect members, fellow Daoists, there¡¯s no need to hold back anymore. This demon beast¡¯s strength is too formidable; we must make use of the treasures given to us by the Sect Leader!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jianbin was the first to express his stance. ¡°Daoist Yang is right; this beast is too powerful. Even without retaliating and merely enduring our attacks, with our measly abilities, we probably won¡¯t be able to kill it even if we fought all day,¡± he said. ¡°Given these circumstances, we must utilize the trump cards prepared by our Sects!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, even He Xin, who had significant issues with Chen Jianbin, nodded in agreement and then added his own statement. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we should put aside our hidden agendas. We must work together and not hold back anymore!¡± ¡°Right¡­ Let¡¯s do it!¡± Yang Chen and Chen Jianbin, speaking in unison, then waved their sleeves, each taking out a treasure. He Xin, too, was not slow to act, producing an item in his hand. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the treasures Yang Chen and his companions each pulled out were three small flags, along with a water-blue Array Plate. Looking closely, the aura of the flags and the Array Plate was extraordinarily powerful; they were actually the tools for a Third Order Great Array. Then, Yang Chen looked at the items before him, shouted loudly, and threw the three flags into the air. Seeing his action, Chen Jianbin and He Xin were not to be outdone. They also tossed the three flags in their hands into the air, repeating the same motions as Yang Chen. The instant they completed these actions, all the flags suddenly vanished into the void. This speed was impossible to track; even the Fire Scale Python failed to react in time. Without hesitation, the three of them continuously struck the Array Plate in their hands with several Law Decrees. Simultaneously, they murmured incantations, clearly activating the Third Order Formation. Soon after, the Array Plate shone brightly, and a forceful aura descended from the heavens, quickly forming a huge light dome that enveloped the Fire Scale Python. In an instant, before the Fire Scale Python could react, the Third Order Great Array was successfully deployed. The reason for this smooth implementation was that the formation had been practiced many times. Moreover, this place had been frequented by the Great Sects, and Array Eyes had been laid here long ago. The Nine Stars Extermination Formation was a joint effort of the three Great Sects, crafted to suit the special environment of this place, made at no small cost. The control of this formation through the nine flags and the Array Plate was divided among the three Great Sects in three parts. Once activated together, they could be used to combat the Demonic Beasts that appeared here. In such circumstances, the team leaders of the three Sect¡¯s cultivators who entered this place only needed to coordinate with these Array Flags and the Array Plate for quick deployment. As for this formation, its notoriety had spread over thousands of years, with many a Third Order Demon Beast meeting its demise under its assault. For the Human Cultivators of the three Great Sects that entered this area, this was their mightiest asset. True enough, once the Fire Scale Python felt the oppressive force, it immediately became somewhat frantic, seemingly very wary of the formation. It let out an angry hiss and then swung its tail, aiming a strike at the light dome made by the formation. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of explosions rang out, and the formation¡¯s light dome shook violently. But after several simultaneous Law Decrees from Yang Chen and the others, a surge of blue light flashed over the light dome of the Nine Stars Extermination Formation. In an instant, the aura of the formation climbed even higher, quickly reaching a terrifying level. At that moment, witnessing this sudden appearance of the Array, they became horrified, clearly unaware that the formation left by the Sects was so formidable. Under their watchful eyes, as the formation¡¯s aura peaked, countless ice orbs appeared within the light dome, raining down upon the Fire Scale Python. At a glance, the ice orbs spawned by the formation were potent; each orb¡¯s power could at least match that of a Spirit Detonation Bead, and even surpassed it considerably. Not only that, but the number of ice orbs was dense and numerous, falling like hail in the formation¡¯s attack. The only difference was that these ice orbs were much larger than regular hailstones, and the destructive power was worlds apart. At this point, the Fire Scale Python, feeling the bombardment of the ice orbs, seemed to sense a deadly threat. It angrily opened its mouth to spit out a vast expanse of flames, forming a huge fiery cloud above its head, directly blocking the attack from above. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the fiery cloud appeared, those who had seen the might of these flames outside the formation were tense, concerned that the Python might neutralize the formation¡¯s attack. ¡­ Chapter 698 03-25 - 698 381 Breaking the Formation_1 ?Chapter 698: Chapter 381: Breaking the Formation_1 Chapter 698: Chapter 381: Breaking the Formation_1 ¡°` ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Countless ice balls bombarded the flame clouds above. In an instant, the sky erupted with earth-shattering noise, and the entire canyon trembled violently. Inside the formation, the flame clouds resisted for a moment, blocking this round of ice balls, before they gradually dissipated, eventually fading into nothingness. But before it could catch its breath, a new wave of ice balls gathered together, quickly forming in a short time, and then bombarded it relentlessly. Witnessing the endless ice balls within the formation, showing no sign of stopping. Having experienced the formidable power of the formation, the Fire Scale Python finally felt the threat of death and dared not take any chances. ... At this moment, watching the ice balls form clouds overhead, the Fire Scale Python was filled with both shock and rage. It wanted to dodge, but the formation tightly trapped it; despite attacking furiously several times with its body, it failed to break through the encirclement. It finally understood that the place it had guarded for hundreds of years was actually a deadly prison. But by now, such understanding was obviously too late. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The countless ice balls that had gathered in the sky came crashing down, and the scene was utterly terrifying. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Faced with this horrific attack, the Fire Scale Python, feeling utterly helpless, could only open its mouth again and spew out many flames, firmly blocking the space above its head. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The familiar explosive sounds rang out again, shaking the land that had just regained a moment of peace. This strike was still evenly matched; many ice balls were blocked, and the flames also disappeared without a trace. As this strike ended, Yang Chen and the others wore solemn expressions, their hearts also shaken. Others might not understand, but as the controllers of the Nine Stars Extermination Formation, they knew the formation¡¯s weaknesses all too well. One must know that in the Cultivation World, whether it¡¯s formations or some simple prohibitions, there¡¯s always a limit to their energy. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once consumed to a certain level, the energy of the formation becomes less and less, and the defensive power it can exert, even the Third Order Great Array¡¯s offensive power, will be weakened to a certain extent. In fact, if the consumption reaches the limit, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for the formation to collapse outright. Under such circumstances, the ice ball attacks within the Nine Stars Extermination Formation, and even its defensive capability, were not infinite. With these two consecutive rounds of ice ball attacks blocked by the powerful Fire Scale Python, the formation¡¯s energy had obviously dropped a lot. If a few more rounds of ice ball attacks still couldn¡¯t change the situation, then their predicament would become difficult. Understanding this, Yang Chen and He Xin couldn¡¯t help but start to worry. Not only him, but even the arrogant Chen Jianbin was extremely shocked, feeling a sense of fear inside. ¡°Sss¡­¡± With a hiss rising, Yang Chen and the others were pulled back from their reverie. Then, He Xin from the Zhenyang Sect was the first to speak. ¡°Daoist Yang, this creature is too strong. If the formation continues to consume energy like this, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be long before it collapses.¡± ¡°If it really comes to that, we¡¯ll all be in danger!¡± He Xin¡¯s words were clear to Yang Chen and Chen Jianbin; their understanding was as clear as a mirror. But even if they understood, they didn¡¯t have any good solutions. After all, the Demonic Beast was too strong; no one dared to enter the formation alone, let alone go toe to toe with it. However, Yang Chen¡¯s brow furrowed as if he had noticed something. ¡°Fellow Daoists, although the formation¡¯s energy consumption is large, and the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills are strong, these terrifying Divine Skills attacks are not endless either.¡± ¡°We have consumed a lot, but the Fire Scale Python is also depleting its energy; perhaps it¡¯s struggling as well!¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jianbin and He Xin recalled the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills attack and indeed noticed that the power of the flame clouds seemed somewhat diminished. It seemed that the Fire Scale Python might indeed be pushing itself to the limit. If that¡¯s the case, once the Fire Scale Python depletes its Divine Skills, relying solely on Physical Strength, its threat would be greatly reduced. Without the formidable Divine Skills attacks and relying only on Physical Strength, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s strength would inevitably decrease significantly. With so many Cultivators present, the possibility of jointly killing the Fire Scale Python was not out of reach. Thinking of this, Yang Chen and the others felt a weight lifted off their shoulders and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Yang Chen looked at the Fire Scale Python within the formation and turned to He Xin and the others, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s perform two more rounds of formation attacks to greatly deplete the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills.¡± ¡°If we find that the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills attack power is greatly weakened, we will join forces and try to see if we can seriously injure it.¡± ¡°Good¡­ very good!¡± He Xin was the first to respond, showing a ready-to-follow attitude. Although Chen Jianbin did not state his position directly, he understood that this method was indeed prudent. After all, the Nine Stars Extermination Formation was their greatest reliance and could not be overly depleted. If they could injure the Fire Scale Python by joining forces and then combining it with the formation attacks, it would be possible to inflict heavy damage on the Fire Scale Python. It was even possible to kill it on the spot. Understanding this, even though Chen Jianbin and Yang Chen did not get along, they had to cooperate. Thus, the three of them quickly reached a consensus. With the plan settled, Yang Chen and the others quickly began to implement it. For a while, the ice balls within the formation condensed, and the powerful attacks continued to descend relentlessly. ¡°` Chapter 699 03-25 - 699 381 Formation Broken _2 ?Chapter 699: Chapter 381: Formation Broken _2 Chapter 699: Chapter 381: Formation Broken _2 At this moment, the Fire Scale Python was also feeling a mix of shock and fury, forcibly drawing upon its Divine Skills to attack, seeking to buy itself some time. In the blink of an eye, two rounds of Ice Ball attacks had concluded. As expected, the further the battle went, the less powerful and numerous the flames summoned by the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills became. And by the end of the last round of Ice Ball attacks, some wounds had appeared on the Fire Scale Python¡¯s body, and its breath had noticeably weakened. It seemed that the rounds of Formation attacks had taken effect, not only greatly draining the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills but also injuring it. Seeing this situation, just as they had anticipated, Yang Chen and the two others were immediately thrilled. After calming down, they followed the plan and paused the Formation¡¯s Ice Ball attacks, focusing all their strength on defense. ... Then, the three of them took the lead, with the fellow sect disciples swiftly following up, releasing countless attacks that passed through the Formation¡¯s light screen and poured down on the Fire Scale Python. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky within the Formation displayed a myriad of colorful attacks, with various talisman papers and Spirit Detonation Beads coming one after another. For this attempt to harvest the Jiuli Star Fruit, their Sects had really splurged, providing some top disciples with many consumable treasures to deal with unforeseen needs. Now, they no longer intended to hold back, planning to strike while the iron was hot and further expand their victory. With such resolution, the Cultivators¡¯ round of attacks was even more fierce than the first. And this time, the Fire Scale Python couldn¡¯t respond as calmly as it did at first. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After all, it hadn¡¯t been injured then, and it hadn¡¯t expended much energy, its strength was at its peak. As attacks covered the sky coming for it, though the Fire Scale Python was seething with anger, it wasn¡¯t about to sit and wait for death. As the attacks drew closer, with a sweep of its tail, the long tail that caused massive waves directly smashed a large amount of attacks to pieces. Although these Second Order Attack Talismans were relied upon by Foundation Establishment Cultivators and were considerable in their level of battles, they couldn¡¯t do much against a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python. Therefore, the Python made no attempts to dodge and chose to face them head-on. In fact, it wasn¡¯t by choice; the range covered by the Formation was too small for its massive body, leaving it very limited space to move. Not only that, with over sixty Cultivators all activating various consumable attacks, once they struck within the Formation, the density of the attacks was terrifying. Under such conditions, even if it wanted to dodge, its large body couldn¡¯t avoid getting hit at all. However, the regular talisman paper attacks weren¡¯t powerful enough to pose a real threat. But the attacks from Yang Chen and Chen Jianbin still posed a significant threat. After all, these were Cultivators at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and they were amongst the elite of the Great Sects¡¯ disciples. There were even rumors that Yang Chen had once sparred with an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Although there was no detailed account of the battle, the fact that he could withstand several rounds of attacks from a Golden Core Cultivator without injury proved the strength of such Genius Cultivators. And there were over a dozen of such Great Perfection Cultivators here, although not every one of them had the same strength as Yang Chen, the damage they could inflict was still formidable. As a result, after several rounds of combined Cultivator assaults, even the impressive defensive power of the Fire Scale Python couldn¡¯t withstand their relentless barrage. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, the battlefield briefly fell into silence, and the sky regained some of its usual colors. Looking over, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s body was disheveled and riddled with numerous wounds, and many scales had fallen off onto the battlefield. And its breath had weakened even more, a stark contrast from its peak of disdainful invincibility. Through the Cultivators¡¯ combined exhaustion, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s condition deteriorated, and injuries kept accumulating on its body. At this moment, the Fire Scale Python understood its situation, realizing there was no hope in stubbornly resisting the Formation¡¯s attacks. If it continued to stay here, it would be like a frog being boiled in warm water; it still wouldn¡¯t change the inevitable deadly outcome. In dire straits, it unleashed an astonishing power. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A massive flame burst out from the Fire Scale Python¡¯s mouth, quickly condensing into a fireball. The fireball wasn¡¯t large, but its temperature was terrifyingly high, instantly raising the surrounding temperature to an extreme level. Seeing the fireball, Yang Chen and his two companions trembled, hurriedly unleashing the Ice Orbs attack from the Nine Stars Extermination Formation, hoping to destroy the Fire Scale Python¡¯s fireball attack. In the blink of an eye, numerous Ice Orbs converged, assaulting the Fire Scale Python. Just then, the Fire Scale Python directly propelled the fireball, not towards the Ice Orbs in the sky but rather at the Formation barrier. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This unexpected move caused Yang Chen¡¯s group to tremble with confusion coloring their faces. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The fireball condensed first and launched first, striking the Formation barrier at an unbelievable speed. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud crash resounded. A streak of red light flashed over the Formation¡¯s light shield, followed by violent trembling of the light screen. In less than a breath¡¯s time, the light screen shattered, and the Nine Stars Extermination Formation was unexpectedly broken. The three controlling the Formation, sharing a connection of minds, instantly spat out mouthfuls of blood as their faces turned deathly pale and their breaths weakened. And just as the Formation¡¯s light screen was broken, the large number of Ice Orbs condensed by the Formation crashed down, instantly engulfing the Fire Scale Python. Then, a flash of blue light passed by, blinding the watching cultivators for a moment. At the same time, several screams sounded in succession. When everyone¡¯s vision cleared, they found the Fire Scale Python writhing and hissing in agony on the ground. Upon closer inspection, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s body was riddled with bloody holes, with many places piercing through it, exposing organs. And the blood had already seeped from the holes, turning the already red skin even redder. It was clear that the Ice Orbs attack that formed when the Formation broke had heavily injured the Fire Scale Python, greatly diminishing its strength. The Fire Scale Python had risked its life to withstand the blow in order to break free from the Formation¡¯s restraint and escape. In its desperate situation, its risky move was fraught with peril but indeed achieved its objective. While the cultivators were still in shock, the Fire Scale Python charged at them, its massive tail sweeping across. Without the restraint of the Formation, it was unrestrained and had to exterminate these humans to quell its rage. With this purpose, even though the Fire Scale Python was gravely injured and deprived of Divine Skill attacks, its sheer physical strength was still terrifying. The Fire Scale Python was fast, its long tail sweeping across, instantly locking onto several Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators. ¡°Quick, dodge!¡± Yang Chen and his group were the first to recover their composure, promptly warning their fellow Sect brothers to avoid the frightening attack. Upon hearing this, several Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators tried to dodge, but before they could get far, four at the eighth and ninth level of Foundation Establishment were hit by the tail. In an instant, their bodies flew like kites with broken strings, flung hundreds of feet away before crashing to the ground. On closer look, it was evident that their bodies were a bloodied mess, one was even bisected, and life had obviously left them. And those who had narrowly escaped with their lives steadied themselves, faces pale as snow, inwardly rejoicing at their good fortune for being farthest away and having escaped successfully thanks to their swifter speed. If they were a moment slower, their fate would have been the same or even more tragic. The bloody scene that unfolded instantly subdued everyone present. On the battlefield, Yang Chen, observing his dead companions, wore an expression as dark as could be. At that moment, filled with anger, he inwardly cursed, ¡°You beast, there are others you could trouble, yet you had to mess with us Myriad Medicine Valley disciples!¡± Chapter 700 03-25 - 700 382 Fight of the Trapped Beast _1 ?Chapter 700: Chapter 382: Fight of the Trapped Beast _1 Chapter 700: Chapter 382: Fight of the Trapped Beast _1 Yang Chen felt rather helpless about the situation. After all, there were fifty to sixty cultivators present, with a significant number of people from all three camps. Why did the Fire Scale Python not trouble the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and instead went after them? Was Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s luck really that bad? But the fact was that their luck indeed couldn¡¯t be worse. The overall strength of Myriad Medicine Valley was the strongest at the beginning, but as they searched for treasures and underwent trials, inexplicably many had fallen. When they arrived here, there were still over twenty people alive, and their overall strength could compete with that of the Golden Sword Sect, which had the most people, or at least not fall behind. But now, after this battle, seven of their sect members had already died at the hands of the Fire Scale Python. ... Only fifteen were left, which put their numbers on par with that of the Zhenyang Sect, which initially had the fewest people. In contrast, the Golden Sword Sect had been lucky throughout the battle, losing only one disciple, leaving them with as many as twenty-four people remaining. Such a comparison only highlighted the widening gap in numbers. Thinking of this, Yang Chen felt furious. If it weren¡¯t for the immense strength of the Fire Scale Python, which made it impossible for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators to subdue it, he would have reason to suspect that someone from the Golden Sword Sect had sabotaged them. At this time, as he saw Myriad Medicine Valley suffering heavy losses, Chen Jianbin could not help feeling a little schadenfreude observing Yang Chen¡¯s livid expression. In his eyes, the overall strength of the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples was indeed formidable, and their leader, Yang Chen, represented the ceiling of Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s power. As for him, who was also at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, he had entered the realm earlier than Yang Chen and had a few more years to consolidate his power. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Even so, he was quite wary of the man. Now, seeing the overall strength of Myriad Medicine Valley further weakened, he felt even more confident about executing his plan. Just as Chen Jianbin was reveling in his secret joy, a sharp hissing sound brought everyone back to reality. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The Fire Scale Python attacked once more, charging towards the position of the Golden Sword Sect disciples with its massive body. Seeing this, Chen Jianbin, who had just been taking pleasure in others¡¯ misfortune, suddenly had a drastic change in complexion. ¡°You beast courting death!¡± After shouting, Chen Jianbin¡¯s attack magic artifact flashed, and a golden light burst forth from his hands, unleashing an astonishing Sword Qi towards the oncoming Fire Scale Python. His move immediately alerted everyone. Immediately after, all Golden Sword Sect disciples took action, displaying a multitude of attack methods. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± More than twenty Golden Sword Sect cultivators, all at the eighth and ninth level of Foundation Establishment, launched a joint attack that was earth-shattering. Taking a lesson from the fate of the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, those who survived did not dare to separate from the main group and stayed close together. Doing so not only allowed them to attack together, but in facing the severely wounded Fire Scale Python, they also had some means to retaliate. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was precisely what the Golden Sword Sect disciples were doing. They unleashed a barrage of attacks, colliding head-on with the oncoming Fire Scale Python. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A myriad of attack techniques struck directly against the scales of the Fire Scale Python, instantly causing sparks to fly. The Golden Sword Sect disciples were decisive, and the combined force of their attacks was potent. And the already severely injured Fire Scale Python, despite its reduced strength and their preparedness, only managed to injure two Golden Sword Sect disciples before it was temporarily repelled. Following this counterattack, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face darkened as he looked at Yang Chen and others who remained indifferent, and he could not help but scold them. ¡°Daoist Yang, He, what do you mean by this?¡± ¡°Our Golden Sword Sect disciples are under attack, and you just stand by and watch?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, when that beast attacks you next time, we might as well just stand by and watch, too!¡± Hearing this string of reproaches, Yang Chen quickly responded with a forced laugh, ¡°Daoist Chen, calm down, the beast attacked so swiftly, we simply didn¡¯t react in time!¡± Upon hearing this far-fetched excuse, Chen Jianbin was somewhat angry, but they had responded in time, and the damage inflicted by the Fire Scale Python was very limited, not severely affecting their overall strength. Moreover, for the sake of his own plan, now was not the time to fall out with the two great sects. Understanding this, he forcibly calmed himself down and then led his sect disciples aside, keeping a safe distance. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°If you still intend to collect the Jiuli Star Fruit, then join forces quickly to kill it. Otherwise, we¡¯ll each rely on our abilities, and I won¡¯t waste my time here with you!¡± Chen Jianbin said with a dark expression, exerting pressure on Yang Chen and the others. At this moment, upon hearing Chen Jianbin¡¯s words and seeing his serious demeanor, Yang Chen smiled indifferently and promptly took a stand. ¡°What Daoist Chen says makes sense!¡± ¡°The Nine Stars Extermination Formation has been broken. If we can¡¯t kill this beast and bring the Jiuli Star Fruit back to our sect, we¡¯ll surely be punished by the Sect Leader!¡± ¡°Therefore, let¡¯s not hold back any longer, and immediately make a move to kill this beast, lest we allow for further complications!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than He Xin also voiced his agreement on the other side. ¡°Daoist Yang is right. Since things have come to this, let¡¯s not hide our capabilities. Let¡¯s take action quickly!¡± Hearing the words from Yang Chen and He Xin, the angry Chen Jianbin¡¯s complexion seemed to improve a bit. Then, pretending to be angry, he said, ¡°I know you have items like the Fake Golden Core Talisman or Third Order Attack Talisman.¡± ¡°I hope going forward, no one plays dirty. Bring out whatever means you have, or else I won¡¯t accompany you in wasting time!¡± Chapter 701 03-25 - 701 382 Battle of the Cornered Beast_2 ?Chapter 701: Chapter 382: Battle of the Cornered Beast_2 Chapter 701: Chapter 382: Battle of the Cornered Beast_2 Hearing this, Yang Chen and He Xin, whose ploy Chen Jianbin saw through, gave an awkward smile. They hadn¡¯t expected Chen Jianbin to be so direct, not only clearly recognizing their trump cards but also openly disclosing them. But on second thought, it wasn¡¯t surprising. After all, the three parties had encountered each other quite a few times in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and had a certain understanding of each other¡¯s way of doing things. Being team leaders of their respective groups, entering this dangerous secret realm, it was natural for the sects to bestow some treasures upon them to cope with unforeseen dangers. In fact, that was precisely the case. Both Yang Chen and He Xin had a number of Fake Golden Core Talismans and a Third Order Defense Talisman in their possession. And as the team leader of the Golden Sword Sect disciples, Chen Jianbin surely had his share of valuable treasures, at least no fewer than theirs. Knowing this, Yang Chen and the others naturally would not underestimate any party. ... ¡°Hiss¡­¡± While the three parties were shifting blame and dragging their feet, the Fire Scale Python launched another assault. This time, the Fire Scale Python once again targeted the disciple from Myriad Medicine Valley who had just been severely injured, seemingly perceiving this team as an easy target. Seeing this, Yang Chen, infuriated and alarmed, immediately shouted at the top of his lungs. ¡°Everyone follow me!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Chen swiftly moved as if borne by the wind, taking the lead towards the direction of the Golden Sword Sect disciples. The Myriad Medicine Valley disciples followed him closely, stopping only when they reached the side of the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Seeing the move by the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also did the same, positioning themselves at the two sides of the Golden Sword Sect cultivator group, one on the left and the other on the right. Yang Chen¡¯s actions were clearly indicative of his mistrust in Chen Jianbin, fearing that his own camp taking the initiative could lead to excessive consumption of their strength, putting Myriad Medicine Valley at a disadvantage. He Xin and the others were quick to react, upon noticing Yang Chen¡¯s behavior, they followed suit. Such behavior was clearly an indication of their distrust towards the Golden Sword Sect disciples, determined to drag everyone into the fray. Seeing their actions, Chen Jianbin, who still had some scheming in mind, looked displeased. However, since he had already agreed to joint action and mutual support earlier, the somewhat abrupt actions of Yang Chen and the others, although improper, were not exactly blameworthy. At this moment, the Fire Scale Python, having lost its target, immediately turned direction and shot towards the large group. Seeing a large number of people ready for battle, it didn¡¯t hesitate at all and launched an attack without pause. At this time, the Fire Scale Python seemed not to understand how many tricks these humans had up their sleeves, nor did it comprehend their grudges and grievances. As a Third Grade Medium Stage monster, a being that trod mightily throughout the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it had been severely wounded by a group of weak cultivators using formations. This was infuriating to it, and it sought to exterminate all these menacing Human Cultivators. With this objective in mind, the Fire Scale Python furiously initiated its attack, its tail thick as a water tank sweeping across. A series of crackling explosion sounds erupted, the powerful force shattering the air itself. Facing the ferocious assault of the Fire Scale Python, Yang Chen and others showed signs of panic, as their magic artifacts flashed with light, launching an attack in hurried defense. The cultivators behind them also struck in unison, a deluge of talisman paper and sword qi materializing and bombing the Fire Scale Python relentlessly. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of explosions continued to sound. The cultivators¡¯ attacks tore through the void, clashing hard against the Fire Scale Python with its tough hide, the sparks from their powerful impacts soaring into the sky. For a moment, the ground itself shook, and the heavens were cloaked in a multitude of dazzling colors. After one strike, the cultivators from the three sides were thrown into disarray by the powerful surges. Despite being gravely injured, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s strength was indeed formidable, its defensive power astonishing. Ordinary attacks could hardly pose a lethal threat to it. Seeing the Fire Scale Python advancing once again, Yang Chen shouted loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, use your trump cards, otherwise we¡¯ll never be able to kill it!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ strike together!¡± After Chen Jianbin and He Xin simultaneously responded, they each slapped their storage bags and pulled out two Fake Golden Core Talismans. The two exchanged a glance, then applied a Law Decree, and the Fake Golden Core Talismans in their hands suddenly flashed with light. Suddenly, several streaks of Sword Qi appeared in the sky. Upon close inspection, the fluctuations of this Sword Qi were enormous, evidently much stronger than ordinary attacks. After all, it was a Fake Golden Core Talisman, comparable to a strike from a Golden Core Cultivator, naturally not something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could match. As the two pulled out their Fake Golden Core Talismans, Yang Chen wouldn¡¯t fall behind either. He likewise sent out two talismans and immediately activated them. In an instant, six powerful streaks of Sword Qi coalesced in the sky and hovered steadily above everyone¡¯s heads. The commotion they caused was significant, and naturally, the Fire Scale Python noticed it. Seeing these streaks of Sword Qi, it finally felt a fatal threat. Although they were not as powerful as the ice orbs within the Sword Array, they were enough to inflict further injuries on it. Yang Chen and the others would not waste time, knowing that once the precious Fake Golden Core Talismans were activated, there was no turning back. Even though they were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and the Sect had given them quite a few life-preserving trump cards, the consumables of the level of Fake Golden Core Talismans were still very limited. They wouldn¡¯t use them unless it was absolutely necessary. Now, in order to complete the mission assigned by their Sect, let alone a few Fake Golden Core Talismans, even stronger methods wouldn¡¯t be met with any hesitation. Moreover, this was for the Jiuli Star Fruit, crucial for their advancement to the Golden Core Stage, so using up these talismans wouldn¡¯t cause them any heartache at all. Understanding this, the three of them did not hesitate to activate them. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The six Sword Qi streaks tore through the sky, turning into several bolts of lightning, and in a blink of an eye descended right above the Fire Scale Python¡¯s head. The aura of the six Sword Qi was sharp, their powerful momentum earth-shattering, clearly intent on slaying the Fire Scale Python right there and then. Confronted with this terrifying Sword Qi, the Fire Scale Python wouldn¡¯t foolishly clash with it head-on. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it could ignore ordinary attacks from the cultivators, but these were precious Fake Golden Core Talismans, treasures that any Foundation Establishment Cultivator would consider prized possessions. If it were only one such treasure, it might not be too wary. But with six Fake Golden Core Talismans turning into an assault, if it were to take them all on, even a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python could face the peril of perishing there and then. Realizing this, the Fire Scale Python, with its injured body, moved nimbly. However, the six Sword Qi came from different directions, and from any angle, it could not avoid the attacks. The Fire Scale Python hesitated for a moment, then chose to charge towards a direction where only one Sword Qi was attacking. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The Fire Scale Python selectively took on one Sword Qi, its tail with astounding defensive power moved swiftly, striking the approaching Sword Qi head-on. After a burst of sparks, the Sword Qi from the Fake Golden Core Talisman dissipated, and the Fire Scale Python temporarily broke free from the encirclement of Sword Qi. The timing and angles of the three¡¯s attack were very good, further exacerbating its injuries. Gazing upon it, a deep wound appeared on the Fire Scale Python¡¯s tail, further impacting its strength. However, it hadn¡¯t even caught its breath when it suddenly felt three more powerful forces rising to the heavens. Seeing this commotion, the Fire Scale Python was both shocked and enraged, sensing a fatal crisis. At that moment, it had no intention of seeking revenge; it just wanted to leave this place and save its life. As for the Jiuli Star Fruit that could have helped it grow further, it was willing to forsake it, after all, precious as that fruit was, it couldn¡¯t compare to its life. The Fire Scale Python, with its high spirit wisdom, made up its mind in an instant and hastily tried to flee. But Yang Chen and the others, who had been preparing for a long time, each activated a Third Order Attack Talisman, seamlessly connecting to the Fake Golden Core Talisman attack that had just held the Fire Scale Python back. After such tremendous effort and vast expenditure of precious treasures, how could they allow it to slip away? The three, with a clear target and without any reservations, did not hesitate to activate the Third Order Talismans. In an instant, three attacks tore through the void, their speed reaching extreme levels, striking towards the Fire Scale Python from three different angles. Chapter 702 03-25 - 702 383 Traitor_1 ?Chapter 702: Chapter 383 Traitor_1 Chapter 702: Chapter 383 Traitor_1 At that moment, the Fire Scale Python had just darted out more than ten zhang when a powerful Sword Qi struck its head. A painful hissing sound was heard. Immediately thereafter, the massive body of the Fire Scale Python writhed in agony, instantly crushing the surrounding rocks and stones with its bulk. Not only that, blood stained a vast area, with half of the python¡¯s head severed by the Sword Qi. This strike further aggravated the already severely wounded Fire Scale Python. Now, its strength had drastically declined, and its Divine Skills attacks were exhausted, which was utterly insufficient to withstand the joint attacks of the cultivators present. Realizing this situation, Yang Chen and his companions were overjoyed and took the lead, accompanied by many fellow sect members, to besiege, intending to annihilate the cornered Fire Scale Python right there. ... ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with a multitude of attacks, with dozens of cultivators swarming from various places, launching ferocious assaults. In an instant, the further wounded Fire Scale Python was attacked from all sides, unable to resist, followed by continuous pitiful cries. Seeing no escape, the Fire Scale Python, enduring its injuries, gradually became frightened and panicked, and finally went completely mad. In its dire straits, it endured the attacks of the cultivators while dragging its grievously wounded body and madly swung its tail in a desperate stance. Regrettably, it had already been too severely injured and its strength was greatly eroded; under such an onslaught, it could no longer withstand the siege of the cultivators. However, being a Third Grade Medium Stage formidable being, even its disorderly attacks still exacted a heavy toll on the group of attacking cultivators. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Time slowly ticked away. After half an hour, the chaotic battlefield gradually calmed down. Looking around at that time, the entire battlefield was a mess, with the fresh blood of the Fire Scale Python mingled with that of the human cultivators, which had already dyed the ground red. On the ground, there were also numerous bodies of cultivators; their sect affiliation was identifiable by their robes, with several from each of the three Great Sects, including Loose Cultivators, two of whom had fallen in this great battle. In a corner of the battlefield lay the massive body of the Blood Scale Python, with many scales having fallen off, and the charred body riddled with wounds, presenting a shocking sight. With such injuries, the Fire Scale Python lay motionless on the ground, clearly without any sign of life. As for the survivors, the cultivators began to gather around their respective leaders the instant the Fire Scale Python ceased breathing. At this time, their faces were pale, some still alive but bearing varying degrees of injuries. Gazing at the lifeless Fire Scale Python, they panted heavily, appearing greatly fatigued. Clearly, in their effort to kill the Fire Scale Python, the three parties had made significant sacrifices. Not to mention the consumables like Second Order Talismans and Spirit Detonation Beads, just the Fake Golden Core Talismans alone, over a dozen had been used up. Besides, the more valuable Third Order Defense Talisman was used by all three parties¡ªone each¡ªto ultimately tip the scales against the Fire Scale Python, securing the final victory. It can be said that this battle was extremely dangerous, and the cost to the cultivators was no small matter. However, all things considered, despite the high price paid, they had joined forces and killed a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python and were now close to obtaining the coveted Jiuli Star Fruit. Now that the biggest challenge to their mission had been eliminated, being able to leave the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm alive was the greatest fortune. Not only that, but having fought to the death for an entire year, whether or not they obtained the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they were all set to receive considerable rewards. With this understanding, the surviving cultivators were elated, and smiles of relief finally appeared on their faces. However, it wasn¡¯t the final day yet, and anything could happen. With the Fire Scale Python slain, the cooperation between the disciples of the three sects came to a temporary halt; they all knew very well that under the temptation of the Jiuli Star Fruit and the Fire Scale Python corpse, anything was possible. For that very reason, Yang Chen and the others kept a distance from each other, warily watching the other cultivators, especially casting wary looks at the disciples of Golden Sword Sect. Yang Chen¡¯s reaction was entirely within Chen Jianbin¡¯s expectations. He too glanced at Yang Chen, then at He Xin and others, with a trace of a sly smile flickering across his face. At this moment, the three parties remained silent, making no further moves, ignoring the priceless corpse of the Fire Scale Python in front of them, as well as the Jiuli Star Fruit not far away. All the cultivators reacted in such a manner, seemingly wary of each other. After some time had passed, He Xin turned his head to look at Yang Chen not far away, their eyes meeting, Swiftly, the two came to a further consensus on the views they had reached before the great battle. And Chen Jianbin watched every glance and gesture between them. In response, he simply smiled indifferently, seemingly unconcerned about their scheming. This was because at the current battlefield, Golden Sword Sect still had the most survivors, with their twenty-two people clearly holding an absolute advantage over the fourteen from Myriad Medicine Valley and the eleven disciples from Zhenyang Sect. Even if the other two sects were to join forces, they would only outnumber Golden Sword Sect by three people. This numerical difference did not constitute a decisive advantage at this level, and besides, Chen Jianbin had his own plans in the shadows, which could turn the tide at a critical moment. Chapter 703 03-25 - 703 383 Traitor_2 ?Chapter 703: Chapter 383 Traitor_2 Chapter 703: Chapter 383 Traitor_2 Understanding these key factors, Chen Jianbin was very calm and planned to strike first. Having made up his mind, he glanced at Yang Chen and the few cultivators behind He Xin. Sensing his gaze, and the implicit meaning behind it, strong spiritual power fluctuations suddenly emerged in the crowd at the same time. In that instant, Yang Chen felt an intense murderous intent. He quickly turned his head to look and discovered that a fellow sect disciple had attacked him from behind. Not only that, another disciple and a recruited loose cultivator also launched attacks on the two nearest fellow sect disciples. These people had gathered together, and the distance between them was very short, merely a few yards apart. ... Previously, seeing Chen Jianbin¡¯s confident and composed demeanor, Yang Chen suspected that he might have some hidden measures. Therefore, he was extra cautious and always prepared for an emergency. However, such a close distance attack, even if they were prepared, would still make it difficult for them to react in time. Not just for the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley, He Xin, who was in the same realm, found himself in a similar situation at that moment. Among the crowd from Zhenyang Sect, Zheng Xiao and another Zhenyang Sect cultivator also took action. Zheng Xiao launched a sneak attack on the nearest Zhenyang Sect disciple, and the other, standing close to He Xin, attacked immediately after exchanging a glance with Chen Jianbin, aiming a deadly talisman directly at He Xin¡¯s vital parts. In a moment of urgency, He Xin twisted his body, and a blue protective light shield suddenly appeared around him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, He Xin¡¯s light shield held up for an instant, and then shattered with a bang. Immediately after, there was a pained grunt from He Xin as the attacking disciple¡¯s strike pierced through his arm, the powerful force knocking him back and causing him to crash heavily onto the ground. He cried out in agony and then struggled to rise from the ground. And the light blue jade pendant in his hand shattered, ultimately turning to dust and drifting away. This jade pendant was a protective artifact specially given to him by the sect leader, capable of activating in an instant to form a shield to block attacks. If there was enough time, it could even withstand a common strike from a Golden Core Cultivator. However, the disciple who ambushed him was too close, and before the jade pendant could fully activate, he shattered it with a direct blow, severely injuring He Xin in the process. As for the other cultivator, he was not as fortunate, lacking an artifact like the jade pendant for protection, he failed to react in time and was fatally struck by Zheng Xiao¡¯s sneak attack. At this moment, He Xin, who had just narrowly escaped death, hadn¡¯t had the time to grieve over the loss of his defensive treasure. The other Zhenyang Sect disciples were all enraged with indignation, Long Qingshui and Li Xiuyuan quickly came over and anxiously inquired about He Xin¡¯s condition. Seeing that He Xin was only severely injured and his life was not in immediate danger, Long Qingshui and the others finally let out a sigh of relief. Right after, Long Qingshui glared at the two attackers, his expression filled with uncontrollable anger and his face extremely grim. ¡°Junior Brother Li, Fellow Daoist Zheng, why have you done this?¡± As for the attackers, Li Zhiyao and Zheng Xiao had already left the Zhenyang Sect group and had joined up with Chen Jianbin and others. Hearing Long Qingshui¡¯s accusation, Li Zhiyao calmly smiled and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ Long Daoist Friend, have you not yet understood?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Xiao on the other side laughed and chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ we have long abandoned the dark and sought out the light, pledging ourselves to the Golden Sword Sect, and remaining in the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s ranks was simply for today¡¯s action!¡± Upon hearing this, He Xin was overwhelmed with anger, and blood sprayed forth from his mouth. ¡°You two traitors have been lurking for such a long time!¡± He Xin was incensed; Zheng Xiao¡¯s betrayal could somehow be justified, as he was a loose cultivator with no ties to the Zhenyang Sect, nor had he received any favors from them. But it was different with Li Zhiyao! This man, since being discovered to have a Spiritual Root at the age of ten, had been cultivating within the Sect, and over a hundred years, had reached the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm, even becoming a True Disciple of Wang Hengqiu, counted among the elite disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. With Li Zhiyao¡¯s natural talent and cultivation, he wasn¡¯t considered among the top ranks of the many disciples in the Zhenyang Sect. The reason he was allowed to enter Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was also taking into account his status as Wang Hengqiu¡¯s disciple, given the former had fallen for the sake of the Sect in the great battle at Yuyao City. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this factor, he was able to secure a spot to enter the Tianfeng Adverse Realm without having to experience a major battle against the Demon Beast Tide. It could be said that the Zhenyang Sect had given him their all. Yet even so, Li Zhiyao still defected to the Golden Sword Sect, delivering a fatal blow to them at a critical moment. Now, the Zhenyang Sect had once again lost a disciple at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and even He Xin, their strongest team leader, had been ambushed and seriously injured. Their position was already weak, and now their situation had become even more disadvantageous. Besides them, the Myriad Medicine Valley was in no better situation. The Golden Sword Sect had planted spies in the Zhenyang Sect camp, and the Myriad Medicine Valley had not managed to avoid this either. At the same time when Li Zhiyao and Zheng Xiao launched their surprise attacks, someone from Myriad Medicine Valley also struck. Yang Chen, who was prepared, relied on a protective treasure given by a Golden Core Cultivator and also managed to escape disaster. However, as a result, he sustained serious injuries, and his strength was greatly compromised, although his condition was slightly better than that of He Xin. Apart from Yang Chen, two other disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley were successfully ambushed and perished there. Faced with this sudden calamity, Myriad Medicine Valley was thrown into chaos, each person¡¯s expression filled with anger, wishing to flay the traitorous attackers alive. One of the ambushing cultivators failed to escape in time and was killed by the retaliating Myriad Medicine Disciples. Only one Sect defector and one of the ambushing Loose Cultivators managed to evade the interception of the Myriad Medicine Disciples and converged with Chen Jianbin and the others. At this point, the severely diminished cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley could only gather with the disciples of Zhenyang Sect under Yang Chen¡¯s lead to band together for warmth. They knew that after this incident, the combined remaining cultivators of the two Great Sects amounted to only seventeen. Whereas the Golden Sword Sect, having gained four defectors, now had a total of twenty-five people. With the ebb and flow, the disparity in the remaining strength of the two sides was all too apparent. Moreover, with both sides¡¯ leaders being seriously injured, if it came to a fight, they were likely no match for Chen Jianbin and his people. Realizing this, both Yang Chen and He Xin were very clear about the current predicament of the two Sects, and knew that only desperate cooperation could barely allow them to contend with Chen Jianbin and his group. At this time, the three factions had completely split into two opposing camps, looking at each other from a distance. Gazing over, the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s people had gloomy expressions, and their morale had dropped to freezing point. Meanwhile, Chen Jianbin and the Golden Sword Sect cultivators were brimming with confidence, their faces full of smug smiles. In Chen Jianbin¡¯s heart, such an outcome was highly satisfactory, and they held an absolute advantage. Knowing this, Chen Jianbin was thrilled, becoming somewhat carried away, as if the people of the two Great Sects were already fish on the chopping board, and even the Fire Scale Python and the Jiuli Star Fruit were as good as in his pocket. And at this time, Yang Chen and He Xin were secretly pondering countermeasures. Clearly, there were ten or so days left before the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm¡ªneither a long nor a short amount of time. The crux was, they had already lost their competitive edge. If they forcefully contested for the Jiuli Star Fruit and the corpse of the Fire Scale Python, they might fall right into Chen Jianbin¡¯s trap, leading to even greater losses, or perhaps even a complete wipeout. Yet if they gave up on the Jiuli Star Fruit now, how would they explain to the Sect Leader after leaving the Secret Realm? At this moment, the two were quite troubled. However, individuals like Long Qingshui, who saw the situation clearly, immediately proposed abandoning the treasures such as the Jiuli Star Fruit. After all, they were all top disciples of the Great Sects, with considerable cultivation and strength; each was a potential candidate for the Golden Core Stage. Particularly, Yang Chen was a cultivator with a Sky Spirit Root, and there were more than ten individuals with Dual Spiritual Roots. The lives of so many top disciples were incredibly precious to the two Great Sects. And only by preserving their lives could there be a chance for a turnaround. Besides, the dishonorable tactics of the Golden Sword Sect could be clarified to the Sects, and under such unforeseen circumstances, their abandonment of such accessible treasures was understandable. When the time came, upon learning the specifics of the situation, the Sect elders would naturally seek to discuss the matter with the high-level members of the Golden Sword Sect. If they could not reach an agreement, even a major confrontation between Golden Core Cultivators was a distinct possibility. Chapter 704 03-25 - 704 384 Escape_1 ?Chapter 704: Chapter 384 Escape_1 Chapter 704: Chapter 384 Escape_1 Upon hearing the persuasion from Long Qingshui and others, He Xin finally made up his mind and decided to give up competing for the treasure. On the other side, among the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators, there were also some who understood the situation clearly, and after being reminded, the leader of the group, Yang Chen, naturally understood these principles as well. Immediately afterward, Yang Chen and He Xin exchanged glances, and with just one look, they understood each other¡¯s intentions. Then, He and Yang Chen each glanced back at their fellow sect members and simultaneously declared, ¡°We¡¯re withdrawing!¡± No sooner had they spoken than Yang Chen and his companions turned around, ready to leave the valley. Seeing their actions, Chen Jianbin let out a chuckle and spoke. ¡°Heh heh¡­ want to leave now? It¡¯s already too late!¡± ... His voice had barely faded when a flash of spiritual light passed over the Attack Talisman in Chen Jianbin¡¯s hand, and immediately a beam of Sword Qi shot toward Yang Chen. Seeing this, Yang Chen¡¯s face flushed with a mix of shock and rage, as he hurriedly unleashed a counterattack to block Chen Jianbin¡¯s assault. ¡°Daoist Chen, what is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°He Daoist and I have already given up on the Jiuli Star Fruit and the spoils of this place, yet you still press us so aggressively?¡± ¡°Are you not afraid that, once we leave the Secret Realm, the elders of my sect will seek justice for this matter?¡± No sooner had he spoken than He Xin, likewise incensed, hastily said, ¡°Chen Jianbin, our three sects have worked together to open the Secret Realm for thousands of years, and although conflicts have occurred, there has never been such a great loss of life as this time.¡± ¡°Now, we have already given up the fight for the treasure, and yet you still attack us¡ªdo you intend to annihilate us completely?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Hearing these words, Chen Jianbin was indifferent. In his heart, since faces had already been torn, and moreover, he was acting on the instruction of the Sect Leader. All he needed to do was act according to the Sect Leader¡¯s orders, and as for the consequences, it was not his place to worry. With this in mind, Chen Jianbin gave a mocking laugh and did not respond to the questions from Yang Chen and the other, instead, he began instructing the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect behind him. ¡°Everyone, attack with all your might, we must leave none of them behind!¡± Upon hearing this command, the expressions on Yang Chen and his companions¡¯ faces changed drastically, and others were also in a state of intense fury, glaring fiercely at the cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect, readying themselves as if facing a great enemy. Chen Jianbin was not looking to waste time either, and immediately led his disciples of the Golden Sword Sect into the fray. Instantly, the sky, which had just calmed down, once again erupted with intense brilliance as countless attacks swept across the heavens. ¡°Boom¡­boom¡­boom¡­¡± Seeing Chen Jianbin take action in a manner far beyond a mere skirmish, Yang Chen and the others were both shocked and angry, and in their haste, they joined the battle. He Xin and his companions were also outraged, unleashing a barrage of attacks as they stormed toward Chen Jianbin. In the blink of an eye, the two sides were locked in fierce combat, with cultivators battling each other all over the battlefield. In the highest part of the sky, Yang Chen was at the forefront of the fight, engaged in a tumultuous bout with Chen Jianbin. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not far away, the cultivators of the two camps clashed. The Golden Sword Sect had a definitive numerical advantage; many of their cultivators paired up to besiege their opponents, quickly gaining the upper hand. The cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were wounded and clearly not as strong as their adversaries. If it weren¡¯t for their advantage in numbers at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, perhaps after a few exchanges, they would have been forced to retreat. In just half a quarter of an hour, the slaughter between the two sides intensified. At that moment, up in the highest part of the battlefield, Chen Jianbin struck, sending Yang Chen flying backward. Already injured, Yang Chen was sent tumbling through the air, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-flight, his complexion paling further. Both being in the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, after more than a dozen exchanges, and already wounded, he was at a complete disadvantage; if not for his valuable Magic Artifact and his wealth of combat experience, he might have already been defeated. Taking advantage of this brief respite, he surveyed the battlefield. The situation for the cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect was hardly any better, nearly experiencing a rout. Even some who were already injured could not hold on any longer and began to fall one after the other, with four perishing. Only two disciples from Golden Sword Sect had fallen, and although several were injured, their combat strength had hardly diminished. At this point, their viable forces had further dwindled, and their spiritual power and treasures were almost exhausted. With the tide turning against them, there was no way they could repel the attack of the Golden Sword Sect disciples if things continued this way. Moreover, if the conflict dragged on, the casualties could be even greater, and the possibility of a complete rout was not out of the question. Seeing how dire the situation had become, Yang Chen immediately resolved to flee with his sect members. After all, the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was imminent, and as long as they held on for half a month and left the Secret Realm, with Golden Core Cultivators present, they would be completely safe. With this realization, Yang Chen slapped his storage bag, and two Fake Golden Core Talismans flew out, transforming into two Sword Qi beams that hurtled towards Chen Jianbin. ¡°Boom¡­boom¡­boom¡­¡± Seeing the two Sword Qi beams, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face turned ugly; he hadn¡¯t expected that after slaying the Fire Scale Python, Yang Chen would still possess such powerful consumable treasures like the Fake Golden Core Talismans. But on further reflection, as the Chief Disciple of Myriad Medicine Valley, Yang Chen¡¯s talent and strength were evident to all. Such a Genius Cultivator would undoubtedly be heavily protected by the Sect, and possessing additional life-preserving treasures made sense. With this in mind, Chen Jianbin dared not be careless, nor push too hard, lest Yang Chen become desperate. At that moment, as the Sword Qi drew ever closer, Chen Jianbin¡¯s feet became like wind, his speed reaching an extreme. Chapter 705 03-25 - 705 384 Escape_2 ?Chapter 705: Chapter 384 Escape_2 Chapter 705: Chapter 384 Escape_2 He dodged the Sword Qi attacks while summoning a defensive artifact to shield himself. In the blink of an eye, a streak of Sword Qi brushed past him and slammed into a rock formation. Relying on his exceptional speed, Chen Jianbin evaded the attack of one Sword Qi. Yet another streak of Sword Qi descended upon his head and immediately struck his defense artifact. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud noise ensued, and Chen Jianbin was sent flying by the powerful force of the Sword Qi, retreating dozens of meters before stabilizing his figure. At this moment, his internal energy was in turmoil as he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion turning extremely pale. ... Looking at the large crack that appeared on the defense artifact in his hand, leading to a significant loss of spirituality, Chen Jianbin felt an immense heartache. This defense artifact was a High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifact, which he had acquired at a great cost. Its overall value was extraordinarily high, and it was also his strongest defensive treasure. Now, having taken a direct hit from Yang Chen, the spirituality of the treasure greatly diminished, reducing the defensive power to possibly less than that of a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact. However, upon seeing Yang Chen also suffering increasingly severe injuries and the cultivators of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect being suppressed by them, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression eased considerably. At this moment, He Xin was also struggling desperately. He was already seriously injured and was being suppressed by a Ninth Level Foundation Establishment cultivator. If it weren¡¯t for Long Qingshui watching over him from a close distance, his injuries could have worsened significantly. At this time, observing the situation on the battlefield, he realized that it was exceedingly disadvantageous for both sides. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï When he saw Yang Chen use two Fake Golden Core Talismans to injure Chen Jianbin, his face immediately soured. It wasn¡¯t because Chen Jianbin was injured, but because he could tell that Yang Chen was also at the end of his tether. This was not a good sign. After all, even Yang Chen, a name celebrated throughout the Wei Kingdom and unrivaled among Foundation Establishment cultivators, was fighting so desperately, obviously indicating that his situation was far from optimistic. Realizing this and observing his people continuously losing ground, He Xin also planned to flee for his life. As both Yang Chen and He Xin harbored this thought, they exchanged a glance. Quickly, they reached a consensus to lead their fellow disciples and retreat from the place. The reason for this was out of necessity. After all, it was evident that if they stayed, the losses would only mount and they might even risk complete annihilation. While retreating from the area could lead to being pursued by Chen Jianbin and others, they too would face a dilemma ¨C whether to prioritize the spoils of battle and the more valuable Jiuli Star Fruits. If Chen Jianbin chose not to give chase and instead focused on securing the treasures and cleaning up the battlefield, that would be the best outcome. However, if he pursued them, by normal reasoning, he would undoubtedly assign some disciples to remain and collect the valuables. If so, their strength would consequently be divided. This way, they would have a full opportunity to repel their pursuing enemies or even make them pay a heavy price. Precisely because of this understanding, both Yang Chen and He Xin immediately formed a plan. Soon, before Chen Jianbin could react, Yang Chen shouted aloud. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fellow disciples, fellow Daoists of Zhenyang Sect, retreat from this place!¡± With that, Yang Chen was the first to burst into retreat, making a show of fleeing the scene. He Xin, at this moment, did the same. He activated a life-saving trump card, launching an attack at the cultivator in front of him. Then he retreated explosively, instantly disengaging from the battle. Around them, the remaining ten plus cultivators each unleashed deadly strikes, repelling their opponents. Immediately after, they followed in the footsteps of Yang Chen and He Xin, disengaging from the battle and flying toward the outside of the valley. Seeing Yang Chen and the others¡¯ actions, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face darkened. In his haste, he unleashed attacks, attempting to block Yang Chen and the others. However, his fellow disciples were each preoccupied, dealing with the deadly blows of the cultivators from both factions and had no chance to intercept. With only Chen Jianbin¡¯s sole attack, it was easily repelled by the group of cultivators. Following that, Long Qingshui, standing behind the crowd, slashed out with his sword, unleashing a blue sword light that surged toward the Jiuli Star Fruit tree. At the same time, Chen Jianbin, having failed with his attack, was stimulating a Fake Golden Core Talisman, planning to hold Yang Chen and the others back for a moment. But when he saw what Long Qingshui was doing, his expression changed drastically. Clearly, Long Qingshui had seen through his intentions and planned to use the Jiuli Star Fruit to threaten him into giving up on continuing the activation of the Fake Golden Core Talisman. And indeed, this move was both vicious and highly effective. Now, Chen Jianbin was caught in a dilemma, whether to waste a Fake Golden Core Talisman to block Long Qingshui¡¯s onslaught, or to ignore the safety of the Jiuli Star Fruit and forcibly use the talisman to delay Yang Chen and the others for a moment until his fellow sect disciples could react and seize the initiative to hold them. Having understood the deeper meaning, Chen Jianbin hesitated only for a moment before activating the Fake Golden Core Talisman, hurling it toward Long Qingshui¡¯s sword energy. In his eyes, the lives of Yang Chen and his companions were certainly important, but compared to nine Jiuli Star Fruits and the tree itself, they were trivial. After all, the Jiuli Star Fruits were linked to his chances of entering the Golden Core Stage, and they were also coveted treasures among his fellow disciples; if Long Qingshui managed to destroy them, those who might have had a chance to reach the Golden Core might fail. Moreover, nine Jiuli Star Fruits meant nine opportunities. As for Yang Chen and the others, even if they escaped now, he would have the chance to catch up with them. By that time, he could eliminate them all in one fell swoop. In view of that, the value of the Jiuli Star Fruits and the tree was far greater than that of these dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators. With these thoughts in mind, Chen Jianbin decisively blocked Long Qingshui¡¯s sword energy at the first opportunity. Once Long Qingshui had achieved his goal, under the leadership of Yang Chen and He Xin, more than ten cultivators shot out, disappearing in an instant at the entrance of the valley. Watching Yang Chen and the others leave, Chen Jianbin was shocked and furious, his whole demeanor like that of a ferocious beast with flames blazing in his eyes. He had not expected Long Qingshui to be so ruthless and decisive, completely seizing his weak point. To be outsmarted by someone made him feel an immense humiliation. The proud and arrogant Chen Jianbin simply could not accept such an outcome. Just as Chen Jianbin was raging, a Golden Sword Sect disciple watching the direction of Yang Chen¡¯s escape asked, ¡°Brother Chen, what should we do now?¡± Hearing this, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression turned serious as he forcibly calmed down from his anger. ¡°Hmph¡­ don¡¯t think you¡¯ll definitely survive just because you¡¯ve escaped for now!¡± Chen Jianbin let out a cold snort, then started instructing his fellow disciples. ¡°Junior Brother Ye, Junior Sister Liu, you two lead those with injuries to stay here and collect all the spoils of battle and the Jiuli Star Fruits.¡± ¡°The rest will follow me in pursuit of Yang Chen and his group, and once we catch up, we must stop them at all costs!¡± ¡°Do you all understand?¡± With that, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression became more severe, his tone much harsher ¡ª it was evident that he was deeply bothered by the escape of Yang Chen and the others. Seeing his expression, those present promptly responded, fearful of provoking Chen Jianbin¡¯s wrath. Listening to his fellow disciples, Chen Jianbin let out a cold laugh, then led seventeen cultivators in pursuit of Yang Chen¡¯s escaping troupe. As Chen Jianbin left, Ye Song and Liu Jingqiu, who had followed his orders, breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Junior Sister Liu, you handle cleaning up the battlefield, and I¡¯ll collect the Jiuli Star Fruits and the body of the Fire Scale Python!¡± ¡°As for the others injured, stay here on guard and take the opportunity to heal and recover the spiritual power you¡¯ve expended so you can restore your combat strength faster and provide support to Brother Chen and the rest at any moment.¡± Clearly, with Chen Jianbin gone, Ye Song, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, was now the leader of the injured group. While arranging for cleaning up the battlefield, he eyed the Jiuli Star Fruits deep in the valley with covetous excitement. Seeing this, the six people present, including Liu Jingqiu who was uninjured, did not dare to delay. Immediately after, they swiftly acknowledged and began to busily set about their tasks. ¡­ Chapter 706 03-25 - 706 385 Joining_1 ?Chapter 706: Chapter 385 Joining_1 Chapter 706: Chapter 385 Joining_1 Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Inside a cave dwelling in the valley, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, his even breathing indicating he was deep in cultivation. Ever since his arrival, he had been cultivating inside the cave dwelling for two months, never taking a single step outside. The place was very secluded, with Hu Yuan¡¯s Spirit Beast, the Purple Gold Eagle, on watch; these past months had been relatively peaceful. Now, after two months of cultivation, his aura was incredibly dense, and his physical state had reached its peak. Outside the valley at this moment, Yang Chen and his fleeing group appeared here. Looking around, there were only sixteen people left in their two parties, nine from Myriad Medicine Valley and seven from Zhenyang Sect. ... By this time, the cultivators were panting heavily, nearly all of them pale-faced, with many carrying injuries, their auras extremely weak. It seemed like they had been greatly exhausted under the relentless pursuit of Chen Jianbin and others, putting them in a very disadvantageous situation. At this moment, Yang Chen, who was leading the group, seemed to sense something unusual about the valley ahead. It wasn¡¯t just him; his companions like He Xin also noticed something off, and they began to investigate. Clearly, the cultivators who managed to survive under the pursuit of the Golden Sword Sect disciples were all at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, with over half of them having reached Great Perfection. Such cultivators, despite Lin Tianming¡¯s obscure concealments, could still find something peculiar with meticulous searching. At this very moment, a cultivator behind Yang Chen glanced in the direction deep within the valley and finally spoke up. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï ¡°Brother Yang, fellow daoists of the Zhenyang Sect, there seems to be some fluctuations of formations here, someone must be in secluded cultivation!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen nodded and said, ¡°With Brother Yan¡¯s eyes as a Second Order Mid-Grade Array Master, he shouldn¡¯t be mistaken.¡± According to what Yang Chen said, the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivator who spoke was a Second Order Mid-Grade Array Master. Upon reflection, this was not strange. After all, sects like Myriad Medicine Valley had a history of at least a thousand years, with a rich and comprehensive inheritance in the Four Arts of Cultivation. It is said that within Myriad Medicine Valley, there was even a Third Order Formation Master; it was quite normal for several Second Order Array Masters to be present. With the eyes of an Array Master, it wasn¡¯t going to be easy for Lin Tianming¡¯s rudimentary concealments to deceive them. As expected, among the remaining from Zhenyang Sect, there was also an Array Master present. This man was named Guo Feng, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, with his formation skills also at the level of Second Order Low Quality. If Yan Hao from Myriad Medicine Valley could detect it, Guo Feng, being an Array Master of the same caliber, naturally sensed these anomalies as well. After a thorough investigation by Guo Feng, he spoke up, ¡°Brother Yan is right, the formations here are intact, and the cultivator who arrived must not have left yet!¡± Hearing Guo Feng¡¯s words, Yan Hao nodded and echoed. ¡°Brother Guo is correct, with the closing of the secret realm imminent, the cultivator hiding here for cultivation clearly intends to wait until the realm closes to leave.¡± ¡°However, the identity of this person is likely to be a Loose Cultivator or a disciple from our sects, and most likely not from the Golden Sword Sect. This is good news.¡± Yan Hao¡¯s words immediately drew the attention of some cultivators. Their current situation was grim, with Chen Jianbin and the others chasing them relentlessly. Although they had managed to get a brief respite, the distance wasn¡¯t large and they could be caught up to at any moment. If they were to fall into a predicament again, escaping would not be so easy. And here was an unidentified cultivator; if they could get him to join their side, it might be of some help. Understanding this, Yang Chen and the others quickly came to a decision to make contact and try their luck. Deciding this, Yang Chen communicated with He Xin for a moment, and they quickly reached an agreement. Immediately after, Yang Chen raised his hand to launch an attack towards the interior of the valley. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sword light easily broke through the warning formations, immediately revealing the true entrance to the valley. At the same time, a sharp screech sounded as Hu Yuan¡¯s Purple Gold Eagle Spirit Beast soared into the sky, quickly plunging into the valley and disappearing from sight. In that instant, many people on the scene looked on enviously at the sight of the Purple Gold Eagle. After all, Second Order flying Spiritual Birds were rare, and even for powerful forces like the three great sects, the number of Second Order flying Demonic Beasts was limited, with even fewer that could be tamed. Even among these talented disciples, not many had flying Spirit Beasts. Therefore, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators sought to possess one, and these individuals were no exception. In the midst of the numerous cultivators¡¯ discussions, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s face lit up with joy as he muttered to himself. ¡°This is a Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, and it has been tamed. If I remember correctly, doesn¡¯t Lin also have one?!¡± ¡°Could it be that the one in secluded cultivation here is Lin Tianming, whom we have not seen for a long time?¡± Hearing his words, Long Qingshui nodded in agreement. They, along with a few others, had fought side by side in the great battle of Yuyao City and had heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s Spirit Beast being a Purple Gold Eagle. Li Xiuyuan, who had interacted with Lin Tianming several times, had even seen Xiao Diao¡¯s figure once. Since Lin Tianming¡¯s whereabouts in the secret realm had been a mystery, seeing a Second Order Purple Gold Eagle naturally led him to think about Lin Tianming, whom they hadn¡¯t encountered for a year. Chapter 707 03-25 - 707 385 Joining _2 ?Chapter 707: Chapter 385 Joining _2 Chapter 707: Chapter 385 Joining _2 Not only that, among the cultivators who entered the Secret Realm, ninety percent were from the three Great Sects, and the Loose Cultivators, along with the clan disciples, totaled no more than ten. Among them, Loose Cultivators like Zheng Xiao had already shown themselves and joined the ranks of the Golden Sword Sect. Aside from these individuals who had made an appearance and those from the three Great Sects, the only one who fit the profile was Lin Tianming. In the eyes of Li Xiuyuan and the others, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was not inferior to any of theirs, and it was highly unlikely that he would have perished by himself while braving the dangers of the Secret Realm. Therefore, when they saw the Purple Gold Eagle once again, they were overjoyed, eagerly anticipating the reunion with Lin Tianming, especially at such a perilous time. Upon hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s words and seeing Long Qingshui¡¯s expression, Yang Chen and the others pondered briefly before recalling that the name Lin Tianming sounded familiar. He had seized three Secret Realm entries for the Zhenyang Sect during the beast tide assault. But that was not the most critical part; what was more important was that Lin Tianming, a family cultivator, had won the top spot among Loose Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. ... Such an outstanding achievement was hard to ignore. At this time, Yang Chen turned to Long Qingshui and asked, ¡°Long, how is Lin Tianming¡¯s strength? Can we draw him to our side?¡± Hearing this question, Long Qingshui nodded and immediately replied, ¡°Based on my understanding of Lin, his strength is extremely formidable, and he shone brilliantly during the battle against the beast tide.¡± ¡°Before entering the Secret Realm, he even broke through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, and his strength is now certainly not below mine!¡± ¡°As for whether we can bring him to our camp, I think Junior Brother Li would be confident in this regard!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen looked at Li Xiuyuan, as if asking for his opinion. In response, Li Xiuyuan nodded and said, ¡°Lin is a man who values friendship and morality, as well as a person of righteousness. Given the history between him and our sect, we should be able to persuade him to join our camp.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Upon hearing these words, Yang Chen was delighted, indicating that they should immediately proceed with this matter. The disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, including He Xin, naturally had no objections and waited for the cultivators inside the valley to come out and meet them. It wasn¡¯t long before time passed. Inside the valley, sensing the disturbance, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were the first to meet up and walk out of the valley together. At the entrance, seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, Li Xiuyuan and Long Qingshui, along with other familiar faces, were overjoyed and hurriedly greeted them. At that moment, Lin Tianming sized up everyone present and noticed that Yang Chen, Li Xiuyuan, and the others all looked pale, their auras languid, and many were bearing injuries. ¡°Li, what happened to you all? Has there been some sort of disaster?¡± Lin Tianming inquired, revealing a puzzled look. Hearing his question, Li Xiuyuan answered with a face full of rage and spilled everything about the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s actions, exaggerating quite a bit, which made it sound extremely vile. In fact, the behavior of the Golden Sword Sect had indeed been despicable, nearly capturing them all. Even so, the losses sustained by their two sects over the past days had been severe, with casualties exceeding half. Quickly, after hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming was also shocked, finding it hard to believe that there were such secrets like the Jiuli Star Fruit between the three Great Sects, and even more so that they had banded together to slay a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python. Besides this matter, he was also surprised to learn that Myriad Medicine Valley, a legacy that had lasted for ten thousand years, with the strongest overall strength among the disciples, had suffered such heavy losses. Moreover, the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect had also experienced severe losses, with only those above the ninth layer able to show up here. Considering this action by the Golden Sword Sect, combined with his previous killing of Zhou Jin and the acquired Crimson Alliance Token, it wasn¡¯t hard to discern that this had been a long-planned move by the Golden Sword Sect. If the Golden Sword Sect truly defected to the Blood Red Alliance, then what the Blood Red Alliance was conspiring to obtain must be significant, not merely for the Qilin Seal, but also with intentions against the other two Great Sects. Understanding this, Lin Tianming roughly grasped the cause and effect of the situation. At this point, Li Xiuyuan, with a sincere expression, invited Lin Tianming to lend them his strength. Not just him, but Yang Chen and He Xin also spoke up, promising that after the Secret Realm ended, they would seek permission from the high levels of their sect to grant him a certain reward. Regarding this, Lin Tianming was quite indifferent and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. In his eyes, the object coveted by Golden Sword Sect was inevitably not simple, and that very object was in the hands of the Lin Family. Currently, both the Great Sects also fell under the watch of the Blood Red Alliance, even inciting the Golden Sword Sect to create friction, suggesting a possible outbreak of a Sect war. Under such circumstances, the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley as two major powers must not fall. They could draw the attention of the Blood Red Alliance, allowing the Lin Family additional time to develop. With this understanding, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate at all and accepted the invitation from Yang Chen and the others. As for Hu Yuan, upon seeing Lin Tianming accepting the invitation, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to get involved in this muddled situation. At this moment, seeing that both Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan agreed to join their camp, Yang Chen and He Xin let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. In their eyes, the strength of Lin Tianming and his companion was not weak. They hadn¡¯t experienced a major battle before, and their power was at its peak, capable of exerting exceptionally formidable strength. With the addition of these two, they wouldn¡¯t find it too difficult to cope when Chen Jianbin caught up. Realizing this, every cultivator present could breathe a sigh of relief. Following that, Yang Chen and He Xin discussed briefly and decided to rest for a while there to recover some of their condition before making further plans. Once this was settled, Lin Tianming immediately led the cultivators into the valley interior and re-established the entrance¡¯s restrictions. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Furthermore, with the combined efforts of Yan Hao and Guo Feng, two Second Order Array Masters, they quickly set up a Second Order Defensive Array. After completing these arrangements, the cultivators could finally take a breath of relief. Time was precious at the moment; they had to seize this opportunity to restore their condition as much as possible to cope with the upcoming confrontation against Chen Jianbin and his group. Subsequently, everyone sat down on the spot, using elixirs to recover their consumed spiritual power and heal their injuries. However, merely half a quarter of an hour passed before the figures of Chen Jianbin and others appeared outside the valley. Looking over, their condition was much better than when Yang Chen and his party arrived at this place. Although each of them had also exhausted a considerable amount of spiritual power, their injuries weren¡¯t serious, and their strength wasn¡¯t greatly affected. At this time, Liu Jingqiu and others who had harvested the Jiuli Star Fruits had also gathered with Chen Jianbin, including Zheng Xiao and the Loose Cultivators within this crowd. In total, twenty-two cultivators fixed their gaze towards the interior of the valley, revealing puzzled expressions. Soon, Chen Jianbin also noticed something unusual about the valley, seeming to detect fluctuations from a restriction. He snorted coldly and then unleashed a sword light, breaking the concealed restriction and revealing the Second Order Defensive Great Formation that Guo Feng and others had just set up. Seeing this Defensive Formation, it was clearly something that Yang Chen and his group had just laid down. Chen Jianbin gave a cold smile and then spoke a few words to a disciple behind him. Quickly, a Golden Sword Sect Disciple stepped forward to investigate. Clearly, this person was also a Second Order Mid-Grade Array Master. Seeing the Defensive Array, he naturally wanted to inspect it and find out how to break it. It was evident that the three Great Sects had carefully selected the disciples entering the Secret Realm, ensuring that whoever they sent would be accompanied by one or two Array Masters. This arrangement was quite normal; after all, the role of an Array Master was extremely significant, especially during exploring and adventuring, where they might come across formations or even encounter some restrictions. The role of an Array Master was not only to break through restrictions but also to set up defensive formations, indeed a very important role. After the investigation by the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Array Master, he soon indicated that breaking this formation would not be difficult, and with just half a day¡¯s time, he could dismantle it. Hearing this, Chen Jianbin nodded in satisfaction and then instructed the Array Master to immediately set about this task. Shortly after, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Array Master stepped forward and began the action of breaking the formation. Chapter 708 03-25 - 708 386 Two Consecutive Kills_1 ?Chapter 708: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_1 Chapter 708: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_1 ¡°` In the valley. Lin Tianming and his fellow cultivators all sat down to hasten their recovery. As for the actions of Chen Jianbin and others outside the Formation, they saw them clearly but remained unmoved. At this moment, they had already been caught up to, and it was better to seize the time to recuperate. Once their condition improved a bit and with the addition of Lin Tianming and another joining their ranks, they weren¡¯t entirely without the power to fight. Understanding this, Yang Chen and the rest wouldn¡¯t waste this rare opportunity, let alone the precious time. In such a situation, Yang Chen and the others spared no effort, each fully focused on recovering. In the blink of an eye, half a day passed. ... At dusk, with a piercing sound, the light screen of the Defensive Great Formation shattered, revealing the inside of the valley at once. At this time, Lin Tianming and his fellow cultivators gathered together and then made their way to the entrance of the valley. Upon seeing Yang Chen and the others emerge, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face showed a smile that seemed to convey he had everything under control. After half a day¡¯s recovery, every cultivator¡¯s condition had significantly improved. Although their injuries were not completely healed and they were still far from their peak state, at the very least, their Spiritual Power had recovered quite a bit. They retained some combat strength for a short time and wouldn¡¯t sustain lingering effects. At this moment, seeing Chen Jianbin¡¯s nonchalant expression, anger colored the faces of Yang Chen and his fellow cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The two sides stood some distance apart, staring at each other, with neither side making the first move. However, seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡¯s figures, Chen Jianbin couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°No wonder you stopped running, so it¡¯s because you¡¯ve had two more join your side!¡± ¡°Heh¡­ Do you really think just because you¡¯ve become two more, you can escape unscathed? What a joke!¡± Hearing Chen Jianbin¡¯s words, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but give a cold laugh, a hint of anger visible on his face. Just then, Yang Chen glanced at Chen Jianbin and then responded. ¡°Chen Jianbin, since we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s cut the crap. Today, we¡¯ll settle this grudge right here!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than He Xin also spoke up in agreement. ¡°Right, this trip to the Secret Realm, you from the Golden Sword Sect have broken the rules. I¡¯m sure that after we eliminate you, the higher-ups of the Golden Sword Sect won¡¯t have anything to say!¡± Hearing the words of Yang Chen and another, Chen Jianbin was provoked. ¡°Haha¡­ so full of big talk!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re courting death, let¡¯s not waste any more time!¡± ¡°All disciples, heed my command, and join me in eradicating them here!¡± After Chen Jianbin sneered, he was the first to launch an attack. In an instant, disciples of the Golden Sword Sect attacked, and a barrage of assaults flew towards Lin Tianming¡¯s side. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Seeing Chen Jianbin and the others take action, Yang Chen and He Xin exchanged smiles and then said, ¡°He, leave Chen Jianbin to me. You all join forces to eliminate the rest!¡± After speaking, Yang Chen leapt up, the Magic Artifact in his hand shone brightly, and in an instant, he was engaged in battle with Chen Jianbin high in the sky. Seeing Yang Chen make a move, even though He Xin was injured, he refused to be outdone. He faced the incoming attacks head-on, his Magic Artifact likewise flashing with golden light, unleashing a barrage of attacks and engaging a Golden Sword Sect Disciple at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. As the leaders of the two Great Sects made their move, the remaining people surged forward, and soon, a fierce battle ensued. The opponents of Lin Tianming were a cultivator at Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and one at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Their strength wasn¡¯t strong and they were practically at the bottom among the Golden Sword Sect cultivators. At this moment, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand burst forth with Spiritual Light, and his powerful attacks overwhelmed the enemy. Clearly, the Golden Sword Sect Disciples were unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s true strength, merely sending two average cultivators to fight him. Luckily for them, they quickly realized the disparity in strength. In just a short while, using only fifty percent of his power, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword pierced through the chest of the Golden Sword Sect Disciple at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, who fell unwillingly to the ground with a thud. This man had the misfortune of picking Lin Tianming as his opponent and ended up dying without even a chance to struggle or scream. This was the first cultivator to fall in the entire battle, completely unexpected by all the Golden Sword Sect Disciples. Seeing this, another cultivator at Foundation Establishment Ninth Level panicked and immediately started to flee. Lin Tianming certainly wasn¡¯t going to let him get away easily and promptly followed in pursuit. In that instant, Lin Tianming seemed like a ghost, relying on his swift speed to weave through the battlefield, hunting down the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator. He was fast, and before the enemy had gotten very far, Lin Tianming had caught up. At that point, they were only a hundred or so feet apart. For a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, this distance could be covered in a mere moment. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Tianming¡¯s speed increased and the terrifying Sword Qi was about to strike, the fleeing cultivator was filled with dread. However, his location was not far from a Second Order Array Master of the Golden Sword Sect. Seeing this, the fleeing cultivator¡¯s face became somewhat relieved, and he immediately started calling for help. ¡°Brother Du, save me!¡± Upon hearing the call for help from his Sect Brother, Du Changqing, who was fighting nearby, leapt up, shaking off his opponent and rushing towards where Lin Tianming was. ¡°You dare, boy!¡± With a loud shout, Du Changqing unleashed a flash of sword light, releasing a powerful attack, attempting to block Lin Tianming¡¯s path. ¡°` Chapter 709 03-25 - 709 386 Two Consecutive Kills_2 ?Chapter 709: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_2 Chapter 709: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_2 Seeing the situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure twisted, and his speed increased slightly. At the same time, the Eye of Five Colors on his forehead opened, capturing Du Changqing¡¯s attack trajectory in sight and swiftly devising the optimal evasion path. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming, like a bolt of lightning, dodged Du Changqing¡¯s attack with an uncanny posture. Immediately after, a scream was heard. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level plummeted from midair, crashing heavily to the ground. Lying there, half of his body had been severed by the Tiangang Sword, many of his organs were directly exposed, and blood had stained the soil beneath him red. The man struggled only briefly before a silver light descended and completely annihilated him right there. ... All this happened in a flash; even the nearby Du Changqing failed to react before witnessing his fellow disciple being killed. This action left him utterly shocked. It should be known that the two men Lin Tianming had killed, although not the strongest among the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, could have held off a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator together for a moment without much trouble. But the actual situation was vastly different; the two had only held on for less than half an hour before being casually killed by Lin Tianming. He didn¡¯t even use his full strength, and easily took their lives right under Du Changqing¡¯s nose. The reason for this was not insignificant, after all, they were not aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Moreover, he had been cultivating continuously for two months and was now in his peak condition. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In contrast, the Golden Sword Sect disciples had just gone through a fierce battle, with many sustaining injuries. Apart from that, they had been chasing Yang Chen and his companions for a long time, so neither their spiritual power nor their condition could compare to the well-prepared Lin Tianming. Under such circumstances, it was no surprise that Lin Tianming easily killed the pair. At this moment, Du Changqing, who had rushed to help, wore a gloomy expression, with a sense of fear in his heart. He was also at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and although he was slightly stronger than the earlier Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator, having witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s power, he didn¡¯t dare stay here any longer. In his mind, if Lin Tianming targeted him, he feared that he would not be a match for Lin Tianming. Realizing this, Du Changqing hastily retreated, attempting to avoid Lin Tianming, this scourge. But his every move had been in Lin Tianming¡¯s sight. Even as he broke through the formation here, Lin Tianming had been closely watching his every move. After all, this person was a Second Order Medium Quality Array Master, and with such a status, even with a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level realm, his position was no less than that of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator. Besides, there was another reason for paying close attention to him: the Lin Family was in dire need of an inheritance of a Second Order Array Master. In the thirty years of the Lin Family¡¯s rapid development, they had only obtained the inheritance of a Second Order Array Master by killing the Loose Cultivator Zhuang Zhenxin during the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. Relying on this, along with the family¡¯s collection of formation scriptures over the years, they had cultivated several First Order Array Masters, including one First Order Superior Grade Array Master. As long as this family member entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and spent more time, they could reach the Second Order standard. However, the advancement of an Array Master is not easy, as the resources required are no less than those of an Alchemist, perhaps even more demanding. The advancement of an Array Master requires a vast amount of formation insights and inheritance, as well as extensive practice and implementation of formations to extract experience and achieve the goal of advancement. It can be said that an Array Master depends on talent as well as numerous insightful scriptures, and requires sufficient perseverance. As a Second Order Medium Quality Array Master from a Golden Core Sect, Du Changqing must have some treasures for Array Masters on him. As for the scriptures and insights, that is not necessarily the case. After all, in the sects of the Cultivation World, no matter whether it is a great power or a small family, they value inherited treasures highly and do not easily allow disciples to make copies or take them away from the sect. Furthermore, Du Changqing and the others had come to a Secret Realm fraught with danger, making it unlikely they would bring those scriptures with them. But since he was young and had achieved this level, the chances are that he had some quality items on him. Understanding this, Lin Tianming would not let Du Changqing off the hook; he was determined to kill him on the spot and snatch his storage bag. Since faces had been torn anyway, standing on the opposite side of the Golden Sword Sect, it was better to embark on a massive killing spree and plunder as much treasure as possible that could benefit his family. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s moves became exceptionally decisive, and the power of his attacks grew even more terrifying than before. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, Du Changqing became a mix of shock and rage, hurriedly responding to the assault. He waved his sleeves, releasing a large number of Second Order talismans to collide head-on with the Sword Qi emitted by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds ensued as Lin Tianming¡¯s casual attack was neutralized by the numerous Second Order talismans used by Du Changqing. Seeing this, Du Changqing breathed a sigh of relief, then his Attack Talisman shone brightly, releasing a barrage of retaliatory attacks. At this moment, Lin Tianming seemed calm, effortlessly invoking attacks to deal with them. Meanwhile, he advanced forward, aiming to close the distance and wait for an excellent opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. Pursuing this objective, Lin Tianming moved unhurriedly, cautiously advancing forward without alerting his opponent. In the blink of an eye, Du Changqing had already exchanged several rounds with him. As the two transitioned between offense and defense, they appeared evenly matched, neither gaining much advantage over the other. Yet, silently, Lin Tianming had closed the distance significantly, and now they were barely a hundred yards apart, in the optimal position for an attack. At this moment, seeing that Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks didn¡¯t pose much of a threat, Du Changqing couldn¡¯t help but breathe a long sigh of relief. He even began to doubt whether Lin Tianming¡¯s earlier killing of their two fellow disciples had been a fluke! But as he secretly rejoiced, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with the light of the Tiangang Sword, and he directly executed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. In an instant, the seven layers of Tiangang Sword Qi accumulated, and the Tiangang Sword flew out of his hand. ¡°Swish¡­¡± A streak of silver light shot out, the Tiangang Sword cutting through the void at an unimaginable speed, aiming straight for Du Changqing¡¯s forehead. Feeling the intense Sword Qi and the dazzling silver light, Du Changqing¡¯s face turned pale as he hurriedly tried to escape. However, Lin Tianming, having long laid his plans, was not about to let him have his way. In that instant, Du Changqing, targeted by the Tiangang Sword, had no time to dodge. Only now did he realize that Lin Tianming¡¯s previous attacks were merely a distraction to get closer and wait for the best moment to strike a killing blow. In desperation, Du Changqing became incredibly agitated, his complexion deathly pale. Seeing that he could not avoid it, he quickly brought out a Second Order Defense Artifact to block firmly in front of him. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise erupted. A flash of silver light crossed the sky as Du Changqing¡¯s Defense Artifact blocked Lin Tianming¡¯s lethal strike. But the combined power of the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword was immense, and the force almost shattered Du Changqing¡¯s Defense Artifact. Although he temporarily warded off the deadly strike, the force of the impact was so powerful that it sent Du Changqing flying backward. By the time he was in midair, his qi and blood were wildly surging, and he was spitting out mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face as pale as could be. While this strike did not take his life, it almost destroyed his Defense Artifact, causing a significant loss in spirituality, and its defensive power was greatly reduced. Moreover, taking the strike head-on also severely injured him, drastically reducing his strength; he probably couldn¡¯t even leverage half of his peak capabilities. At this time, Du Changqing, who had barely managed to stabilize himself, spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his aura instantly becoming listless. ¡­ Chapter 710 03-25 - 710 387 Too Brutal_1 ?Chapter 710: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_1 Chapter 710: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_1 He looked up at Lin Tianming and noticed that Lin Tianming had already moved, shooting towards him with incredible speed. He himself was seriously injured, and his strength was greatly reduced. Since Lin Tianming was not far from him and given their close distance as well as Lin Tianming¡¯s lightning-fast speed, he had no chance of escaping Lin Tianming¡¯s pursuit. At this moment, he too felt the same despair as his fellow sect members. However, even in his despair, he decided to fight back, as death was the only thing waiting for him otherwise. Realizing this, Du Changqing¡¯s expression turned crazed as he activated all of his remaining Second Order Talisman papers, planning a final desperate attempt. At the same time, his Magic Artifact flashed with light as he forcefully gathered an attack and slashed at Lin Tianming, who was coming straight for him. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming smirked coldly. Most of the talismans Du Changqing had triggered were lower-middle rank Second Order ones with very limited lethality. As for his attack, it was diminished due to his injuries, and even at his peak, the power of his attack wasn¡¯t significant. To Lin Tianming, these attacks were nothing but the struggles of a trapped beast, hardly a threat to his life. ¡°Boom¡­¡± At this time, the sky was filled with colorful attacks that were getting closer and closer. Lin Tianming made a quick turn, increasing his speed even more, completely disregarding the strikes headed his way. In this moment, his body was incredibly agile as he weaved through the barrage of attacks. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï In the blink of an eye, he had moved past Du Changqing¡¯s assault and was now only a few dozen feet in front of him. In that instant, when Du Changqing saw Lin Tianming close up, he was stricken with terror and tried desperately to flee. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smirked coldly, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand flew out directly towards Du Changqing¡¯s head. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Tiangang Sword traced a beautiful arc, descending upon Du Changqing¡¯s head with the speed of lightning. As he saw the horrifying Tiangang Sword above him, Du Changqing felt his heart go cold. Already gravely injured and his Defense Artifact nearly shattered by Lin Tianming¡¯s previous attack, he had no hope of blocking a second strike. He understood his situation then: it was a scenario of almost certain death. But what could he do? There was no way to counter such an attack. Unless a fellow sect member could come to his aid, all he could do was await his fate. However, his fellow Cultivators were embroiled in fierce combat, and unless a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator could lend him a hand, any assistance would be futile. Understanding this, Du Changqing felt completely hopeless. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A soft noise was followed by a scream. Looking over, Du Changqing¡¯s body flew off like a kite with its string cut, eventually crashing to the ground. By then, Du Changqing was decapitated, his blood dyeing the earth beneath him, and his lifeless body lay motionless. In the face of this fatal blow, he had merely deployed his Defense Artifact in a final desperate stance. But as he had guessed, there was no chance of survival. By this time, Du Changqing¡¯s death had thoroughly ignited the fighting spirit of Yang Chen and others. It had only been a short while, and Lin Tianming had already easily slain three men with swift and decisive movements. This efficiency, along with the blood-stained scene, had completely intimidated the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. Meanwhile, the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were inspired by Lin Tianming¡¯s ferocity, each one¡¯s morale surging, gradually turning the tide of the battle that had been against them. Following Du Changqing¡¯s death, Lin Tianming reached out with one hand and collected his storage bag. He then scanned the battlefield, searching for Cultivators who were at a disadvantage, planning to go and assist them. He quickly pivoted and made his way to Hu Yuan, who was nearby. At this time, his opponent was a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level Cultivator, embroiled in a tough battle. Without his best form, Hu Yuan was surely no match. Lin Tianming had a good relationship with him¡ªover the years, they had teamed up on numerous occasions, encountering many opportunities as well as crises. Now that he had freed himself up, it was natural to prioritize helping those he was familiar with. With that, he immediately joined Hu Yuan¡¯s battlefield. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With his help, Hu Yuan¡¯s morale soared, and his moves became even more aggressive. The two coordinated seamlessly, attacking from different directions. At this moment, Lin Tianming also used his Physical Strength in combat, his fists harboring a world-splitting force. It took merely three exchanges for the Cultivator to be blown away by a punch from Lin Tianming, his screams echoing far beyond anyone before. After all, this was the power of Physical Strength; killing with it was not as swift as with magic or Magic Artifacts. And this ghastly scream, as it arose, sent a mixture of fury and panic through Chen Jianbin and others. At this point, a Golden Sword Sect Disciple in the air, his anger boiling over and his face darkened, charged towards Lin Tianming. Even from a distance, his furious curses resounded through heaven and earth. ¡°You impudent brat, you¡¯re courting death!¡± ¡°Having killed three of our sect, do you really think the Golden Sword Sect has no one left?¡± Before his words had ended, the Magic Artifact in his hand blazed brightly, and a red Giant Axe shadow loomed fiercely down upon him. Looking at it, the red Giant Axe carried a momentous presence, almost giving the illusion that it could cleave the heavens and earth. Chapter 711 03-25 - 711 387 Too Brutal_2 ?Chapter 711: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_2 Chapter 711: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_2 And the attack talisman in this person¡¯s hand, that is, the giant axe, was also a second order superior attack talisman. The item was not small in size, it appeared quite heavy and seemed especially suitable for cultivators practicing dual cultivation of body and law. Seeing this thing, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but covet it. He even secretly imagined that if he obtained this magic artifact, with his physical strength in combat, he should be stronger than when using the Tiangang Sword. The person wielding the giant axe demonstrated strong offensive power in combat, apparently also a cultivator practicing dual cultivation of body and law. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became solemn, and he hurriedly moved forward to meet the challenge. At the same time, the Tiangang Sword in his hand flashed brightly, once again unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. ... ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword left his hand, colliding head-on with the red giant axe. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A huge noise resounded, shaking the ground. The Tiangang Sword and the giant axe clashed forcefully, the explosion of power sending out a strong shockwave that swept over everything. For a moment, the world was bathed in red light, and the nearby mountains and rocks couldn¡¯t withstand the impact, beginning to crumble. The two sides persisted for a few breaths before each dissipating, and the Tiangang Sword flew back, caught by Lin Tianming in his hand. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï After this exchange, it was a draw, and neither side had gained the advantage. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s methods were not limited to just these. As the Tiangang Sword flew back, he leaped into the air and disappeared from his original spot. Soon, he retracted the Tiangang Sword, and then moved forward, escaping a hundred feet away. When his opponent reacted, he saw Lin Tianming attacking with a fist, aiming straight for his vital areas. Upon seeing this, the man remained calm, also throwing a punch, colliding hard with Lin Tianming¡¯s fist. In less than a breath¡¯s time, he felt a severe pain. Immediately after, his entire body was sent flying backward, retreating a hundred feet before stabilizing his form. Whereas Lin Tianming paused only momentarily, retreating just several feet before steadying himself again. At that moment, the man clutched his arm, grimacing in pain with a pale face, blood constantly seeping from the corners of his mouth. Only now did he understand how formidable Lin Tianming¡¯s physical body was, the power in that one punch, at the very least, was no less than a hundred thousand pounds. Such strength, even if a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator unleashed an attack, could be taken head-on without any harm. This strike, however, had seriously injured his arm, and he dared not unleash all his strength for a while. Otherwise, even if he survived the battle, this arm would be rendered useless. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only that, his internals churned wildly with the might of that one punch, almost causing his organs to bleed internally. If he himself were not also practicing dual cultivation of body and law, equally robust, an ordinary cultivator would likely have been killed outright. Realizing these things, the man¡¯s morale plummeted at this moment, no longer possessing the arrogance he had before. However, before he could catch his breath, a shadow charged at him again, with extreme speed. Seeing this, the man was utterly shocked, no longer daring to clash directly with Lin Tianming. He turned his body and retreated explosively, swinging the giant axe magic artifact forward, once again condensing a red giant axe phantom. As Lin Tianming drew nearer, the man didn¡¯t hesitate to propel the giant axe, furiously slashing it down towards Lin Tianming. Seeing the man changing his strategy, going back to using spiritual power against him, Lin Tianming was not the least bit flustered. He also burst forth with the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, crashing head-on into the red giant axe phantom. At the same time, he followed the same tactic, charging forward, his fist aimed directly at the cultivator¡¯s forehead. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A thunderous noise sounded as the Tiangang Sword and the red giant axe collided. Just like the earlier encounter, the Tiangang Sword flew back, caught by Lin Tianming, who then thrust it at his opponents. After the red axe¡¯s phantom image dissipated, the person sacrificed a Second Order Medium Quality defense artifact, placing it directly in front of himself. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another loud noise came as the Tiangang Sword struck the person¡¯s defense artifact. As expected, the person was sent flying backward once again, spewing mouthfuls of blood while still in mid-air. Lin Tianming¡¯s speed, however, did not decrease in the slightest. In the instant before the person landed, Lin Tianming¡¯s iron-like fist struck the cultivator¡¯s back. A scream rang out, and the person fell directly onto the ground. After struggling a few times, he managed to crawl up with difficulty, his complexion utterly void of color, his blood-drenched robe stained red in a large patch. Lin Tianming¡¯s consecutive strikes were like a tide, one following the other. The first strike was mostly absorbed by the defense artifact, which only caused his blood to churn and incurred some injuries. But the second strike was a solid hit that the body had to absorb directly, causing severe damage to the person. By this time, as the cultivator staggered to his feet attempting to flee from Lin Tianming, he found himself unable to muster any speed. What¡¯s more, Lin Tianming was already very fast, not giving him any time to react. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s figure draw closer and closer, the person¡¯s face turned as pale as death, and he could no longer remain calm. He looked at Lin Tianming with horror, and every step forward felt as if the grim reaper was approaching. He tried to move his legs, only to find them unbearably heavy, with the ten-zhang distance seeming as far away as the end of the world. He was unwilling to die; he wanted to live. But by now, no one was free to save him, and he couldn¡¯t run away. There was absolutely no hope of surviving. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± Lin Tianming, like a ghost, delivered an iron-like punch directly to the man¡¯s head. This time, not even a scream was heard, just a light thud which seemed to be the sound of the person hitting the ground. When Lin Tianming looked down, he saw the cultivator lying on the ground, his head burst open, red and white blood mixed together on the ground, creating a sickening sight. And the man had no signs of life, already dead beyond any doubt. At this time, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh and a triumphant smile crossed his face. Immediately after, he rushed forward to collect the person¡¯s storage bag. In addition to that, including the giant axe used by the cultivator, he also collected it, intending to refine it when the battle was over. After all, he had long coveted that attack talisman. Having finished these tasks, Lin Tianming then surveyed the entire battlefield, noting that the great battle had entered its most intense stage. Aside from the highest battlefields occupied by Yang Chen and the severely injured He Xin, all the others were clearly dominating. And as Lin Tianming struck down another person, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were utterly terrified, fearing they might be the next targets of this grim reaper. Clearly, Lin Tianming had cast a significant psychological shadow over them in just half a quarter of an hour. Considering it, it was actually quite normal, since Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was formidable and his methods of killing were both brutal and extremely bloody. In just half a quarter of an hour, one Eighth Level and two Ninth Level Foundation Establishment cultivators had met their demise. What¡¯s more terrifying is that even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, was blasted away by him here. In just half a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming had consecutively cut down four cultivators. The speed and the methods he displayed were truly fearsome. And now, as the battle raged on, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect had suffered tremendous losses, with eleven cultivators killed in succession. Nearly half of them died at Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, and the other fallen cultivators, mostly of Eighth and Ninth Level Foundation Establishment, included only two at the Great Perfection level¡ªone killed by Lin Tianming and another gravely wounded by Long Qingshui and finally killed in a group attack by the Zhenyang Sect cultivators. As for the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, they had only lost three people, all of whom were at the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, with not a single Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator fallen. In such a situation, the overall strength of the Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley had not much declined, and it could even be said to be unaffected. In contrast, aside from Chen Jianbin at the highest spot, the other members of the Golden Sword Sect were all fighting with injuries, barely holding on and possibly on the verge of being killed at any moment. Chapter 712 03-25 - 712 388 Rescue_1 ?Chapter 712: Chapter 388 Rescue_1 Chapter 712: Chapter 388 Rescue_1 If Lin Tianming joined the battle once again, it would turn into a one-sided slaughter. Understanding this, every disciple of the Golden Sword Sect felt endangered, wanting to flee the place but without orders from Chen Jianbin, they dared not run away on their own. However, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t care less about the life or death of the Golden Sword Sect. Since they had fallen out anyway, he might as well kill as many as possible. The more roundly he defeated his foes, the more protection the Lin Family could obtain from larger sects, and the better positioned they would be in the face of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s retaliation. Realizing these things, Lin Tianming charged into the fray like a man possessed. At that moment, he was like a ghost, his spectral figure darting freely among the crowd. Wherever he set his sights, the cultivators he targeted would be caught in a pincer attack. ... In the ensuing chaos, and with the cooperation of cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, Lin Tianming struck repeatedly, each blow inflicting serious harm or outright killing a cultivator below the rank of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. In the blink of an eye, the great battle was drawing to a close. At this time, the cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect were in full retreat. From the over twenty comrades who had joined this epic battle, only eleven survived till now, most of them wounded. Meanwhile high above the battlefield, Chen Jianbin was locked in fierce combat with Yang Chen, having exchanged scores of blows. Yang Chen, already injured, was hard-pressed to keep up. As the battle intensified, his wounds worsened, and it seemed he might be cut down by Chen Jianbin at any moment. But even so, Yang Chen¡¯s morale was far from low. His coalition was riding the tide of victory, and aside from himself and He Xin, the others held an absolute advantage. If things kept up at this pace, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the battle elsewhere was over. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Yang Chen and He Xin just needed to hold Chen Jianbin off for a while longer, and sooner or later he¡¯d be overwhelmed. At that point, Chen Jianbin would face certain death. At this moment, Chen Jianbin glanced over at his comrades and saw that their situation was dire. If things continued this way, defeat was only a matter of time. Realizing this, even though Chen Jianbin had the upper hand against Yang Chen, he still planned to retreat. After all, continuing the fight would mean slim chances of victory, and they would likely meet their end here. With this in mind, Chen Jianbin¡¯s offensive suddenly became more ferocious. As Chen Jianbin fought desperately like a cornered animal, Yang Chen faced increasing pressure. But he also understood that this was Chen Jianbin¡¯s final frenzy, and if he could hold out a little longer, victory would be within reach. Realizing this, Yang Chen clung to Chen Jianbin fiercely, not giving him a single opportunity to escape. Seeing his attacks were ineffective, Chen Jianbin grew increasingly agitated, his demeanor bordering on madness. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In his desperation, Chen Jianbin flung his sleeve, and a Third Order Attack Talisman flew from his grasp. In an instant, the Third Order Talisman transformed into a Golden Light Greatsword, hurtling towards Yang Chen with extreme speed. As the Golden Light Greatsword appeared, its formidable presence caused the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth to churn chaotically. In this moment, everyone¡¯s attention was captured by the Golden Light Greatsword, each observing the outcome of this confrontation. Seeing the Third Order Attack Talisman unleashed by Chen Jianbin, Yang Chen¡¯s face turned pale, and he desperately tried to dodge. As the Golden Light Greatsword drew ever closer, Yang Chen¡¯s expression grew exceedingly grave, hardly believing Chen Jianbin could be so richly endowed. It was known that Chen Jianbin had used a Third Order Attack Talisman to obstruct their retreat during the scramble for the Jiuli Star Fruits. If not for Long Qingshui having threatened him with the Jiuli Star Fruits back then, causing him to waste a Third Order Attack Talisman, they might have already been heavily hit during the retreat. And since the ambush of the Fire Scale Python, Chen Jianbin had used several Third Order Attack Talismans by now. In such a case, to still have a Third Order Talisman on his person was beyond imagination. Considering it carefully, those many Attack Talismans couldn¡¯t possibly belong to Chen Jianbin himself but were most likely specially bestowed by the higher-ups of the Golden Sword Sect. This action must have been intentional. Thinking about it, no wonder Chen Jianbin had been so composed all along, so calmly collected. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± As the Golden Light Greatsword bore down, it quickly descended above Yang Chen¡¯s head. With no way to avoid it, Yang Chen, while retreating explosively, flashed a small blue shield in his hand, which then enveloped him securely in its light. He was well aware of how powerful a Third Order Attack Talisman could be, an artifact whose might far exceeded that of any Second Order Talisman, and even the casual strike of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator couldn¡¯t compare. Given the situation, this Third Order Talisman represented a lethal threat. Even though he had once withstood a blow from a Golden Core Cultivator, that was merely a test from an elder, who had not put forth full strength. Thus, facing this deadly strike from Chen Jianbin, he had to commit his full strength just to have a sliver of hope for survival. Understanding this, Yang Chen poured a vast amount of Spiritual Power into the Defense Artifact in his hand. An instant later, in front of him stood a dazzling water-blue shield, its surface shimming with brilliant light. A closer look revealed that the small blue shield was a High Grade Second Order Defense Artifact, and the aura it emitted was testament to its extremely high quality. After all these preparations, Yang Chen, still not reassured, activated several Second Order Defense Talismans, creating multiple barriers in front of him. Chapter 713 03-25 - 713 388 Save the Scene_2 ?Chapter 713: Chapter 388: Save the Scene_2 Chapter 713: Chapter 388: Save the Scene_2 ¡°` At this moment, Yang Chen had exhausted all his defensive means. If he could withstand this deadly strike, Chen Jianbin would have no hope of victory. Otherwise, Chen Jianbin would either have to flee or leave his life behind here. Both of them were very clear about such an outcome, and at this moment, they were both doing their utmost. Not far from the two combatants, another cultivator was also staring intently at their battlefield. In their eyes, this strike could very well be the key to victory for both parties and could provide a clear insight into the entire battle situation. With such intent, all the bystanders were eager to see the result. ... ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds rang out, and in an instant, flashes of red and blue light swept across the heavens and earth, subsequently intertwining. Under the scrutiny of the onlookers, several barriers formed by Second Order Defense Talismans were shattered, easily broken through by the Golden Light Greatsword. And these high-quality Second Order Defense Talismans simply could not withstand the Golden Light Greatsword for even a moment, which was simply inconceivable. However, from this, one could see just how terrifying the attack strength of a Third Order Talisman was. Nevertheless, the Golden Light Greatsword did not pause at all and continued to surge towards Yang Chen, clearly intent on slaughtering him there and then. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï At that moment, Yang Chen had no way to dodge and was prepared to deal with this fatal strike. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another explosive sound echoed, this strike¡¯s noise far exceeding any before. Not only that, but as the Golden Light Greatsword slammed into Yang Chen¡¯s Defense Artifact, a powerful shockwave spread forth, knocking the two closest cultivators head over heels, their blood churning and soon blood spilled from the corners of their mouths. At this time, a huge crack appeared on the Defense Artifact in front of Yang Chen, which seemed to have lost much of its spirituality and was almost rendered useless. Subsequently, the Golden Light Greatsword began to dissipate, eventually fading into nothingness in the sky. Simultaneously, Yang Chen was sent flying backwards, and while still in mid-air, blood continuously poured from his mouth, his face turning extremely pale. With a thud, Yang Chen smashed into the ground, his expression dazed, struggling sporadically as though trying to get up. Despite his serious injuries and his great effort, he still couldn¡¯t stand up. Nevertheless, his vital force was still present, and his consciousness gradually regained some clarity. At this moment, his face pale, a faint smile appeared. In his eyes, after expending so many methods and taking such great risks, he had finally managed to successfully block the fatal strike. However, before he could catch his breath, Chen Jianbin lunged towards him, seeming to want to deliver one more strike to kill him there. This action immediately drew the attention of everyone. Especially the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley, their faces pale, they cursed from afar. ¡°Chen Jianbin, you¡¯re courting death!¡± ¡°Chen Jianbin, don¡¯t be arrogant, I will come and meet you myself!¡± ¡°¡­¡± A number of cultivators, in a hurry, advanced to intercept Chen Jianbin¡¯s attack. However, at this time, the majority of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s disciples were obstructed by the Golden Sword Sect Disciples, or they were too far away to provide timely support to the defenseless Yang Chen. In a moment of shock and anger, a dark shadow darted through the void like a ghost. In the blink of an eye, the shadow had already arrived in front of Yang Chen. When the dark shadow stabilized its figure, it was revealed that the person was none other than Lin Tianming, who had been drifting among various battlefields, without a doubt. Because Lin Tianming was not too far from Yang Chen and was not deeply mired, coupled with his ghostly speed, he had moved closer to this side before Chen Jianbin could activate the Third Order Attack Talisman. He knew very well that the attack power of a Third Order Talisman should not be underestimated, and ordinary means would likely not withstand even a fleeting moment. However, as Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s genius disciple, with a Sky Spirit Root talent that was unparalleled in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, And his own strength being sufficiently formidable, neither would his possessions and treasures. With his talent and strength, the higher-ups of Myriad Medicine Valley would certainly not be stingy, and they would have granted him some life-preserving treasures. ¡°` Yang Chen indeed did not disappoint, unleashing a large number of second-order defense talismans, coupled with that extremely valuable defense artifact, which truly matched his status. In such a situation, relying on his own strength, as well as the enviable defense artifact, he finally found a sliver of a chance at survival. As for Lin Tianming, he had anticipated some outcomes in advance. Therefore, he had arrived early to prevent Chen Jianbin from making a kill. Sure enough, seeing Yang Chen heavily injured and completely at the mercy of others, S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Jianbin did not decide to quit while he was ahead and retreat, but instead wanted to seize this rare opportunity to take Yang Chen¡¯s life in one fell swoop. But at this moment, Lin Tianming stood in front of Yang Chen, unknowingly clutching a red-blue fireball in his hand. At a glance, the fireball in his hand burned and danced. Aside from the color, its other characteristics seemed quite ordinary. However, a careful feel would reveal that the temperature between heaven and earth suddenly increased by several degrees, quickly reaching a terrifying level. At this time, Chen Jianbin saw Lin Tianming blocking the way and hesitated. He had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s recent skirmish. Such a fierce star, ruthless and brutal, yet his strength was indeed formidable; even he himself could not confidently claim to surely defeat Lin Tianming. At this moment, he was uncertain whether to stop and seize the chance to retreat. But seeing Yang Chen¡¯s condition after being heavily injured made him hesitate. After all, Yang Chen was a cultivator with a Sky Spirit Root, who had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm by just over forty years of age. With such speed in cultivation, he always held the title of the number one prodigy in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and his strength was indeed formidable, overshadowing many other cultivators. Including himself, although he was also the number one prodigy of the Golden Sword Sect, when it came to prodigies in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the first person that came to mind was usually Yang Chen. Thinking of these things made Chen Jianbin feel some resentment. Despite being excellent himself, he was always over-looked by those cultivators. In such a situation, now that there was a chance to kill the top prodigy and replace Yang Chen, who could remain unmoved? Who could give up such a golden opportunity? Chen Jianbin couldn¡¯t do it, he still took a gamble, resolving to take the risk. Whether he succeeded or not, he wouldn¡¯t stay here afterwards. Thinking this, Chen Jianbin, without any hesitation, crazily channeled a great amount of spiritual power into the attack artifact in his hand. As a sword qi condensed above his head, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth began to surge. This strike, Chen Jianbin exerted all his power, vowing to kill all the enemies blocking him. With this resolution, as the sword qi took position, Chen Jianbin no longer delayed. He cast a spell incantation, muttering words under his breath. Immediately afterward, he activated it, directing the sword qi straight toward Yang Chen¡¯s vital areas. And at that moment, Lin Tianming also unleashed the fireball in his hand, clashing head-on with the sword qi. ¡°Booming thunder¡­¡± A sound of thunderstorm echoed through heaven and earth. In an instant, the fireball and sword qi collided, the sky suddenly burst into flames, the powerful shockwave swept across the surroundings, quickly spreading out. Then, suddenly, a mushroom cloud appeared between heaven and earth. At this point, everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the main battlefield, eager to see who was stronger or weaker, Lin Tianming the vicious star or Chen Jianbin the madman. However, the light was too dazzling, and for a moment, it was difficult to see the outcome of this strike. But time passed quickly, and as the light gradually faded, the figures of Lin Tianming and the others were revealed. At that time, Lin Tianming looked calm, with a trace of fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto the ground. Chen Jianbin, on the other hand, also spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face pale and bloodless, then his expression suddenly turned incredibly grim. He truly did not expect that his vicious strike from just before would actually be caught by Lin Tianming. The powerful shockwave had made both of them shake, with their blood and energy tumbling, suffering no light internal injuries. Chapter 714 03-25 - 714 389 Annihilation_1 ?Chapter 714: Chapter 389 Annihilation_1 Chapter 714: Chapter 389 Annihilation_1 However, Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and although the strike was powerful, his stronger physique meant that the injury he sustained was not severe, and his strength was hardly affected. Chen Jianbin¡¯s condition at the moment, however, was much worse. After all, he had been embroiled in life-and-death battles all day, his strength extremely depleted, and he was already injured beforehand, which somewhat affected his prowess. Yet Lin Tianming¡¯s strength truly was formidable, as he managed to gain a slight upper hand in a head-on clash. However, at this point, Chen Jianbin had no time to concern himself with that. In his eyes, the completion of this exchange without achieving his goal meant that his plans had utterly failed. With Lin Tianming present, he saw no possibility of killing Yang Chen. ... In such a situation, what he should be concerned about was how to make a full retreat. Realizing this, Chen Jianbin consecutively triggered more than a dozen Second Order Attack Talismans, creating a sky full of Sword Qi that bombarded Lin Tianming, who was closest to him. Immediately after, his figure twisted as he hastily began a tactical retreat. At the same time, his booming voice echoed across the entire battlefield. ¡°All Golden Sword Sect disciples, prepare to retreat!¡± As soon as his words fell, Chen Jianbin had already retreated over a hundred zhang. And other Golden Sword Sect disciples, upon hearing his words, all shot toward the direction Chen Jianbin was retreating to. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Seeing this action, Yang Chen, who had just recovered a bit, was both shocked and enraged, and quickly shouted out loud. ¡°They¡¯re trying to escape, we must stop them!¡± As Yang Chen spoke, He Xin on the other side was equally anxious, yelling from afar. ¡°All Zhenyang Sect disciples, at all costs, prevent them from escaping!¡± In fact, even if Yang Chen and the others didn¡¯t say anything, disciples from both sects would not let them escape easily. At this moment, aside from the badly injured Yang Chen, everyone was shocked and enraged, following the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ footsteps as they retreated. They had been guarding against the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s possible escape all along. And now, as expected, Chen Jianbin, seeing that he couldn¡¯t win, intended to retreat and save himself. This situation was not easily come by. Keep in mind, after failing to capture the Jiuli Star Fruit, as they retreated, they were closely chased down, almost losing their lives at the hands of Chen Jianbin and his men. Recalling that dire situation, it was equally difficult, with many fellow disciples falling at the hands of Golden Sword Sect disciples. And after being caught up to, they were essentially forced into a desperate last stand. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan joining their ranks, boosting their strength considerably, especially Lin Tianming¡¯s dominance in battle, single-handedly breaking the balance between the two sides, it would¡¯ve been hard to say whether they could¡¯ve achieved victory relying only on themselves. Understanding this, the current situation, which had finally turned around, meant that the disciples from both sects naturally wouldn¡¯t pass up the chance to beat the enemy while they were down. Such a committed approach had plenty of motive behind it, not only to vent their frustrations but also to reclaim what they had lost. After all, Chen Jianbin had nine Jiuli Star Fruits and an intact Fire Scale Beast corpse in his possession. Besides, the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ year of adventuring and treasure hunting must have yielded many gains, not to mention the treasures collected from the cultivators they had killed. So much treasure was now within reach. Once obtained, they could not only recoup their losses but also far exceed what they had before. With such interests at stake, it is likely that no one would forsake such an excellent opportunity to turn the tables. For this reason, the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were clear on what to do and acted promptly. And Lin Tianming was even quicker, charging towards Chen Jianbin as soon as he made his move. At this moment, facing the obstruction of these Second Order Attack Talismans, Lin Tianming opened the Eye of Five Colors. No matter how numerous or dense the attacks were, he could easily find the best path to evade them, allowing him to respond most effectively in the shortest time. His speed was very fast, and he quickly closed the gap by dozens of zhang. Seeing Lin Tianming react so swiftly, faster even than himself, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face turned extremely grim. This way, he feared he wouldn¡¯t get far before being caught by Lin Tianming. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By then, he would yet again be trapped in dire straits. Even knowing this, Chen Jianbin had no means to counter the situation. He had long exhausted his high-powered treasures, and his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted, leaving him unable to engage in prolonged combat. Only he understood his current state. At this moment, Chen Jianbin was in a panic, his face looking exceptionally grim, no longer possessing the confidence he had at the beginning of the fight. It wasn¡¯t just him, at this time, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were all pale and bloodless, ignoring the pursuit behind them, and quickly converging in Chen Jianbin¡¯s direction. Meanwhile, the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect appeared fierce and relentless, closely pursuing the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples. Quickly, Lin Tianming broke through the blockade and arrived behind Chen Jianbin. At this time, they were merely a hundred zhang apart, fully within attacking range. Watching the fleeing Chen Jianbin, Lin Tianming waved his hand and released several streaks of Sword Qi, blocking Chen Jianbin¡¯s escape paths from several directions. Chapter 715 03-25 - 715 389 Annihilation_2 ?Chapter 715: Chapter 389: Annihilation_2 Chapter 715: Chapter 389: Annihilation_2 Immediately following that, Lin Tianming unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, targeting the vital parts of Chen Jianbin. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming catching up and launching an attack, Chen Jianbin found himself unable to fend for himself. This instant, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression was one of rage as he hurriedly dodged. Meanwhile, he turned around and forcefully propelled an attack toward the Tiangang Sword Qi that Lin Tianming had sent his way. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud explosion, the attack Chen Jianbin had hastily launched was unable to withstand the Tiangang Sword, barely holding up for a half breath before being pierced through. Immediately afterward, the Tiangang Sword continued on its path, undiminished in speed, toward him. ... By the time Chen Jianbin had just avoided a few strikes of Sword Qi, facing the unstoppable Tiangang Sword, he found himself with nowhere to escape. In his desperation, Chen Jianbin slapped his storage bag and brought out a high-grade Second Order Defense Artifact to shield himself. In the nick of time, a small golden shield appeared in front of Chen Jianbin, enveloping him completely in its protection. Only when the Spiritual Light flowed over the shield did Chen Jianbin finally heave a sigh of relief. He had full confidence in this high-grade Second Order Defense Artifact; it possessed formidable defensive power and was one of the protective treasures bestowed to him by the higher echelons of the Golden Sword Sect. With this item for defense, even a casual blow from a Golden Core Cultivator could be resisted to some degree. Sure enough, the Tiangang Sword Qi propelled by Lin Tianming struck directly onto the small shield. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 The attack was so powerful that even a Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator would need to be fully prepared to face it. However, when it hit Chen Jianbin¡¯s Defense Artifact, it only caused a slight crack before being deflected away by the powerful impact. Yet this was to be expected; after all, Chen Jianbin¡¯s counterattack had held it off for a moment, depleting some of its force. By the end, the attack naturally wasn¡¯t as strong as it had been at the outset. Lin Tianming was well aware of this and, as the Tiangang Sword was deflected, he did not stop his pursuit but accelerated even further. Immediately following, he caught the rebounding Tiangang Sword in his backhand and, with an unbelievable speed, closed in on Chen Jianbin. At that point, his ethereal figure swooped down like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, pouring incredible power into the Tiangang Sword. Before Chen Jianbin could recover, the Tiangang Sword slammed directly onto his Defense Artifact. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Boom!¡± A booming sound erupted, followed by a relentless succession. Within view, Lin Tianming¡¯s sword strikes landed on the small shield in front of Chen Jianbin one after another, a continuous flow without a hint of stopping. At that moment, Lin Tianming unleashed his full might, channeling the utmost physical strength into each strike, leaving a multitude of cracks on Chen Jianbin¡¯s Defense Artifact. Simultaneously, the powerful rebounding force sent Chen Jianbin flying backward. Chen Jianbin, now in full retreat, felt each strike transmit a reverberating force through his body, churning his blood and qi within. Soon, blood overflowed from the corners of Chen Jianbin¡¯s mouth, his complexion growing ever more pale. For his part, Lin Tianming showed no sign of relenting. His attacks grew stronger wave by wave, as if he knew no fatigue. As they clashed in offense and defense, deafening sounds came from several directions behind them. With a shrill scream, the first Golden Sword Sect disciple trying to flee was caught and slain by Long Qingshui. The first to fall in this retreat was Zheng Xiao, a Loose Cultivator who had once joined Lin Tianming in the great battle of Yuyao City. Immediately after, a second cultivator screamed in agony as another was caught and killed on the spot. With two consecutive deaths, the remaining Golden Sword Sect disciples were stricken with panic. Under their unsettled state of mind, their speed further decreased. Seeing this, the cultivators from the two Sects pounced like tigers and wolves, seizing the opportunity to firmly drag them into the fray. In no time, numerous Golden Sword Sect disciples found themselves caught in the frenzied pursuit of Sect Cultivators from the two Great Sects. And at the very front, Lin Tianming, who had already pounded more than ten times in a row, finally broke through when, after a loud explosion, the small shield in front of Chen Jianbin dissipated. At that moment, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face was deathly pale, his entire being weakened and despondent. Under the relentless attacks from Lin Tianming, his defense artifact had been shattered, resulting in a significant loss of spirituality and leaving it incapable of providing effective protection any longer. What was serious was that he had sustained heavy injuries; his internal organs were nearly displaced, and his veins were in complete disarray. Now, his strength was greatly diminished, his spiritual power nearly depleted, incapable of withstanding several more attacks. In this desperate situation, Chen Jianbin had a vacant look in his eyes, knowing full well that escape was impossible. And at this time, Lin Tianming certainly wasn¡¯t going to give him any chance to recover. As the small shield in front of Chen Jianbin dissipated, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy and, seizing the moment, he thrust his sword forth, piercing straight through Chen Jianbin¡¯s chest. A tragic scream echoed, followed by the sight of Chen Jianbin¡¯s figure collapsing to the ground. A moment later, Lin Tianming ceased his advance and steadied his stance. Turning around to look at Chen Jianbin, he saw him lying motionless on the ground, blood still pouring out from the hole in his chest, spreading across the floor. Chen Jianbin, acting on instinct, twitched a few times but soon showed no signs of life. Seeing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He then turned to look at the others, noticing that only seven disciples from the Golden Sword Sect remained alive. Glancing over them, they each had a look of despair, their vitality extremely weak, with each one facing the onslaught of at least two opponents. They were already at a disadvantage, their spiritual power depleted, and with their severe injuries, they stood no chance against the two-to-three-person encirclement. At this rate, they were bound to be annihilated at any moment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming had no intention of taking further action; after all, their fate was sealed, and there was no need for him to usurp other people¡¯s credit. Since they were all sect cultivators who had previously been hunted by Chen Jianbin and others, now with a chance for vengeance, there was no point in him joining the needless slaughter and inviting unnecessary trouble. Understanding this, Lin Tianming then approached Chen Jianbin¡¯s corpse. He raised his hand and searched the body, finding several storage bags, which he collected. Following that, he quickly took possession of Chen Jianbin¡¯s attack talisman as well as his defense artifact. He had long coveted these items, and now that Chen Jianbin had died at his hands, he naturally took first control over these spoils. After all, these were his and the entire Lin Family¡¯s capital for receiving protection from the two sects; he couldn¡¯t just hand them over lightly. Having done all this, he stood aside and began to focus on the remaining battlefield. Now, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were being pushed back, clearly no match for the united cultivators from both sects. In less than the time it took to brew a cup of tea, with the fall of the last disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, tranquility slowly returned to the world. The current state of the battlefield was a disaster, with dozens of corpses strewn about the ground, the majority of which belonged to the Golden Sword Sect disciples, though there were also some from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, albeit in smaller numbers. After this fierce battle, tranquility had finally been restored to the valley. However, the remnants of ruined walls and the land dyed red with blood painted a grim picture, bearing witness to the ruthlessness of the conflict. At that time, the fifteen surviving cultivators from the two sects ceased fighting, each finally displaying expressions of exhilaration for having survived the ordeal. Not long afterwards, the disciples from both sects gathered again, forming two camps as they faced each other. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, however, stayed quietly in a corner some distance away, waiting for the next development. Soon, after a private discussion between Yang Chen and He Xin, the two approached Lin Tianming. Yang Chen¡¯s complexion had improved significantly, but with his serious injuries, his strength was probably less than thirty percent of its full capacity. He Xin too had been seriously injured earlier and had forcefully participated in a great battle with great exhaustion, his power clearly nothing to fear. Chapter 716 03-25 - 716 390 Closure of the Secret Realm_1 ?Chapter 716: Chapter 390: Closure of the Secret Realm_1 Chapter 716: Chapter 390: Closure of the Secret Realm_1 Both of them coming alone also showed their respective goodwill. At this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh of relief; he had truly been afraid that they would betray him and make a move against him after crossing the bridge. If that were the case, it would indeed be difficult for him to come up with a countermeasure. After all, having gone through this great battle, he had successively slain several Golden Sword Sect Disciples, thoroughly offending the Golden Sword Sect, with no possibility of reconciliation. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And when he initially chose to join them and lend his full support, he had already taken a stand with the two Great Sects. Now that the battle was over, the greatest share of the treasure resources was in his hands. Indeed, these items were of great value, concerning whether the cultivators present could achieve Core Formation. ... Even a genius disciple from Myriad Medicine Valley like Yang Chen would surely covet them greatly. If he had misjudged them and they decided to kill and rob him, with the two groups combined, there were still more than a dozen people; he naturally would not be able to contend with them alone. Therefore, he had to be on guard all the time to prevent all the hard-earned gains from becoming someone else¡¯s wedding dress. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was very cautious and always ready to retreat. Luckily, his worries were somewhat superfluous. Yang Chen and He Xin coming alone to meet up clearly understood what Lin Tianming was worried about, so they didn¡¯t rally their fellow Sect members, to prevent Lin Tianming from misunderstanding. In response to their demonstrated goodwill, Lin Tianming smiled with relief. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Seeing this reaction from Lin Tianming, Yang Chen and the others were quite satisfied. Especially Yang Chen, who had been severely injured by Chen Jianbin before, barely surviving the blow from a Third Order Attack Talisman. Thankfully, Lin Tianming stepped in to save the day; otherwise, he would have likely perished there. Understanding this, Yang Chen bowed to Lin Tianming and sincerely expressed his thanks. ¡°Daoist Lin, thanks to the strong support from you and another, otherwise, the disciples of our two sects might have faced grim prospects!¡± Before he had finished speaking, He Xin, with a solemn expression, also chimed in. ¡°Daoist Yang is right, the battle was indeed perilous; if it weren¡¯t for the two Daoists¡¯ selfless aid, even if we had managed to win, the cost might have been frightful.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hands and humbly replied, ¡°You two Daoists are too polite!¡± ¡°Daoist Hu and I are also people of principle; Golden Sword Sect¡¯s actions were treacherous, breaking faith, and causing trouble without cause.¡± ¡°Since we encountered it, we naturally had to draw swords to help, doing just our duty as upright cultivators.¡± Hearing these words, Yang Chen and the others nodded, becoming even more pleased with Lin Tianming. However, even so, the two did not lose their heads, as there was still a matter that was inevitable to discuss, no matter what. Understanding this, Yang Chen glanced at He Xin, and they exchanged a look. Then, He Xin spoke first: ¡°Daoist Yang, you do the talking!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen gave an embarrassed smile and then got straight to the point. ¡°Daoist Lin, let¡¯s not beat around the bush; the importance of the Jiuli Star Fruit to our two sects goes without saying, and I¡¯m sure you also know our purpose in coming.¡± ¡°So, I won¡¯t hide anything; may I ask if Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag could be examined by us, and if the Jiuli Star Fruit as well as the Fire Scale Beast¡¯s corpse could be entrusted to us for safekeeping?¡± Having said this, Yang Chen and the others anxiously stared at Lin Tianming, their hearts in turmoil, seemingly in a difficult position. In their minds, the Jiuli Star Fruit belonged to the three Sects communally, and entering the Secret Realm, their primary purpose was for this item. And the Fire Scale Beast, jointly killed by their three Sects, was also part of their spoils of war. If this battle had allowed Chen Jianbin to escape and return to his Sect, then they would have no recourse but to let the senior members of their Sects take care of the matter. But now that Chen Jianbin was dead, they had managed to reclaim the items, which were now in Lin Tianming¡¯s control. And if they wanted to get them back without causing conflict, they would need to secure Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement. While Lin Tianming taking Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag was a move they could understand. After all, Chen Jianbin had died at his hands, and even though Yang Chen had contributed a lot in the fight, Lin Tianming¡¯s role in the battle was crucial. It could even be said, he was the biggest factor in their victory. Emotionally and rationally, it was reasonable for Lin Tianming to claim the spoils of war. However, they didn¡¯t care about Chen Jianbin¡¯s personal wealth, but the Jiuli Star Fruit and the Fire Scale Beast¡¯s carcass had to be in their own hands at all costs. Those items were not just for themselves, after all; the Sect had tasked them with bringing back the Jiuli Star Fruit. In such a situation, to complete the mission given by the Sect, even at the risk of offending Lin Tianming, they had to make an attempt. If they could resolve the matter peacefully, it would be ideal for everyone. But if Lin Tianming still refused to hand them over, even if they were reluctant to fight, they would have no choice but to use force to compel him. Fully aware of this, Yang Chen and the others did not want to push Lin Tianming too hard, to avoid unnecessary trouble. At this time, Lin Tianming also understood what Yang Chen and the others meant, and he too felt somewhat troubled. After all, with the Jiuli Star Fruit in his possession, he had the leverage to negotiate conditions. Realizing this, Lin Tianming wore a troubled expression and then replied, ¡°I fully understand the difficulties you two Daoists face!¡± ¡°However, these items were hard-won by myself, and it would be difficult to ask me to hand them all over!¡± Chapter 717 03-25 - 717 390 Secret Realm Closure_2 ?Chapter 717: Chapter 390 Secret Realm Closure_2 Chapter 717: Chapter 390 Secret Realm Closure_2 ¡°After careful consideration, I have concluded that after killing the Fire Scale Python, its body rightfully belongs to you,¡± ¡°As for the nine Jiuli Star Fruit, I will take out six and hand them over for you to divide equally. The remaining three will be kept by me until we exit the Secret Realm, at which point I¡¯ll hand it over to the higher-ups of both Sects to decide, if that¡¯s agreeable?¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Chen and the other person exchanged a glance and fell silent for a moment, communicating privately through voice transmission to discuss their opinions. Soon, Yang Chen and the other person seemed to reach an agreement. Subsequently, Yang Chen and He Xin both spoke up, indicating their agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s proposal. However, they had a condition: Lin Tianming must act together with them during this time. Once they exit the Secret Realm, they would certainly report the truth to the Sect leaders. Beyond that, the two of them solemnly swore that they would definitely speak to their merits on his behalf. ... As for rewards, they could not decide that themselves; it would have to be determined after consultation between the leaders of the two Sects. Hearing these words, Lin Tianming reflected and then refrained from making any further difficult demands. After all, neither he nor the entire Lin Family currently had the strength to stand against either Sect, especially right under their watchful eyes. Being too aggressive could easily provoke the ire of both Sects. If it came to that, the Lin Family might have to face the wrath of all three Sects. Should that truly happen, it would be the most troublesome situation and precisely the scenario he least wanted to see. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, he decided it was wiser to accept the favorable turn of events and be content with what he had. Once the matter was settled, Lin Tianming briefly examined Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag and quickly found the nine Jiuli Star Fruit and the complete body of the Fire Scale Python. Though reluctant, he still transferred six of the Jiuli Star Fruit and the body of the Fire Scale Python to Yang Chen in accordance with their agreement. After completing these tasks, the three of them let out sighs of relief, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. They subsequently engaged in casual conversation, chatting on and off. After some interaction, the three parties who had cooperated warmed up to each other considerably, and the mutual wariness between them diminished significantly. Yang Chen and He Xin also sincerely admired Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, After all, the battle had just ended, and his formidable combat power and brutal methods were still resonating in their minds. Furthermore, upon learning that Lin Tianming was also in his forties and possessed strength not inferior to theirs, they were greatly shocked. It should be noted that Yang Chen was a Sky Spirit Root cultivator and came from a powerful force like the Myriad Medicine Valley. With over forty years of cultivation, his cultivation level and strength were just what they were. And Lin Tianming hailed from a declining small family; the resources available for his cultivation were incomparable. Yet even so, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was still formidable, not at all weaker than the top cultivators of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In the eyes of Yang Chen and the other person, they felt wary in their hearts towards such a genius cultivator. A short while passed. While the two were chatting, the cultivators of the two Sects cleaned up the battlefield, and the land began to show signs of life again. At this time, looking over the valley again, it bore little trace of battle after the thorough clean-up by the Sect cultivators. All of the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ storage bags had been collected. The Golden Sword Sect disciples that Lin Tianming had personally killed were disposed of without a trace by Li Xiuyuan. As for their storage bags, Li Xiuyuan personally delivered them back to him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming did not refuse the kind gesture and unhesitatingly took them. After all, these people were elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and their personal wealth was surely not insignificant. The Lin Family was in a period of rapid development, and resources needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators were extremely scarce. He would not willingly give up anything that was rightly his. Besides these people, he had already collected the storage bags of Chen Jianbin and Du Changqing. Both individuals¡¯ status and strength were not low, and the total number of storage bags gathered was well over ten. He believed that after going through the storage bags, he would definitely find many valuable items. At this time, Lin Tianming was visibly excited, almost unable to wait. However, since he was currently with Yang Chen and the others, it indeed was not the time to tally his gains. Lin Tianming forcefully suppressed the urge in his heart and then waited for the arrangements of Yang Chen and the other person. After a discussion between Yang Chen and his companion, they decided to stay in the same place to cultivate in a retreat, waiting directly for the secret realm to close. Anyway, there was only half a month left, and if they continued to hunt for treasures, there wouldn¡¯t be enough time. Besides, almost every cultivator from their two sects was injured, among which several, including Yang Chen, were seriously wounded, their strength drastically reduced. Under such conditions, it was not suitable to take any action. In response, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan naturally had no objections. In their minds, this trip had already reaped a bounty beyond expectations, so there was no need to take any more risks. Thus, after greeting Yang Chen and the others, Lin Tianming and his companion returned to the temporary cave abode they had created earlier. As for Yang Chen and the others, they each carved out several cave abodes in the valley, all the cultivators entering a short period of secluded cultivation. Once Lin Tianming entered the cave abode, he also immediately entered a state of cultivation. This action was clearly his plan to directly wait for the day the secret realm would close. In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed. At noon that day, in a valley within the Tianfeng Mountain Range, the entrance to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was located there. Following the sound of a piercing through the air, the figure of a cultivator appeared soon after. This person was dressed in a golden Daoist robe with a pattern of a blazing sun embroidered on the chest, and upon closer inspection, it was undoubtedly Zhu Yun, responsible for welcoming disciples from the Zhenyang Sect. At this time, Zhu Yun glanced over the valley and noticed that Song Hanchun of Golden Sword Sect had already arrived earlier. Even from a distance, Song Hanchun greeted him with great enthusiasm. ¡°Daoist Zhu, the yearly cycle is soon to come, and the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is about to close. You¡¯ve come quite early!¡± After speaking, Song Hanchun looked at Zhu Yun, a barely noticeable sly smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. At that moment, Zhu Yun saw the smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile on Song Hanchun¡¯s face and frowned slightly, feeling something off but unable to pinpoint what exactly it was. However, faced with Song Hanchun¡¯s pleasantries, he still started to respond. ¡°Heh, Daoist Song, this time you are even earlier than me!¡± ¡°Not at all¡­ I just came out two days early to get some fresh air and by the way meet with you and the other Daoist!¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually Daoist Luo who always appears last, but with only a few days remaining, he should be arriving soon, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun nodded as well, noting that Luo Anzhong from Myriad Medicine Valley was the last to arrive last time, and it¡¯s the same this time, not lacking in grandeur. Regaining his composure, Zhu Yun exchanged a few more words with Song Hanchun and then each chose a mountaintop to sit cross-legged on. Two days later, Luo Anzhong from Myriad Medicine Valley appeared. After greeting each other, the three of them stood by and waited for the final moment to arrive. Another three days went by. That day, around noon, a strong wind suddenly blew through the sky in the middle of the three men, and the ground also trembled slightly. All three felt this rumble at the same time and instantly leaped into the air. Then, working together, they took out a fiery red jade token and flung it upwards into the sky. At the same time, they made hand signs with their Law Decrees, shooting a beam of light that hit the jade token precisely. ¡°Open Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± The three shouted in unison. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± After a shaking of the earth and mountains, a passageway appeared in the dim sky, swaying as if it might collapse at any moment. Seeing this, the three continuously bombarded the jade token with their spiritual power, infusing the passageway with energy to stabilize it. A few breaths later, the three¡¯s faces turned red, evidently having expended a lot of energy. Nevertheless, the passageway eventually became stable. Watching the secret realm reopen, the three¡¯s expressions gradually returned to normal, and they looked much more relaxed. Then, they fixed their eyes on the secret realm entrance, eagerly hoping to see the appearance of their sect¡¯s junior members. ¡­ Chapter 718 03-25 - 718 391 Golden Core Battle_1 ?Chapter 718: Chapter 391 Golden Core Battle_1 Chapter 718: Chapter 391 Golden Core Battle_1 Especially Song Hanchun, whose entire being was filled with anticipation, his heart even quietly contemplating the scene of Chen Jianbin and the others returning fully laden with treasures. Besides that, he was also secretly guessing what expression Luo Anzhong and the other would have once they saw that all the younger generation of their Sect had been wiped out. Would they explode in rage? ¡°Heh, heh¡­ I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not even what will anger you the most!¡± At this moment, Song Hanchun wore a sneer, his heart pondering the scenes he would soon witness. Luo Anzhong and the other, however, were completely unaware of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s plans and could not comprehend what Song Hanchun was thinking. Less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed. ... As a figure emerged from the Secret Realm, it immediately attracted the attention of Zhu Yun and the other two. Looking over, the first person to come out from the Secret Realm was Yang Chen from Myriad Medicine Valley. Soon after, seven more Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators appeared in succession behind him. Following the appearance of the remaining eight from Myriad Medicine Valley, the seven from Zhenyang Sect closely followed. In just a few moments, fifteen people emerged from the passage in quick succession, with eight from Myriad Medicine Valley and seven from Zhenyang Sect. Only after both Sects¡¯ members did Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan make their appearances. Following them, two Loose Cultivators emerged from the passage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï The two Loose Cultivators were unfamiliar in appearance and their aura was not recognizable, suggesting they hadn¡¯t had contact before. By now, nineteen people had appeared from the Secret Realm, with the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley waiting on different hilltops. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan waited in a corner. The other two Loose Cultivators, who had not made an appearance in the Secret Realm and had not been involved in the feud between the three major Sects, were also able to leave smoothly. With Golden Core Cultivators present, they too waited politely to the side, seemingly intending to listen to further instructions. As the passage remained quiet for a long time, with no new cultivators emerging, Song Hanchun from Golden Sword Sect, while infusing mana to maintain the operation of the passage, wore an expectant look. After a while, as no new cultivators appeared from the passage, Song Hanchun began to realize something was amiss. At this moment, Song Hanchun observed Yang Chen and the others from Myriad Medicine Valley and noticed that their auras were not stable, clearly suggesting they had recently been in a great battle and their injuries were not yet healed. However, thinking of the disciples from Golden Sword Sect who had yet to appear for so long, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression became puzzled. Yet, upon careful consideration of the Sect¡¯s plans, he did not believe that the Golden Sword Sect disciples would stumble so early on, much less be completely annihilated. However, as no disciple from Golden Sword Sect had appeared for quite some time, Luo Anzhong, who was still maintaining the passage, grew displeased and couldn¡¯t help but urge them on. ¡°Song Daoist friend, your Golden Sword Sect disciples haven¡¯t come out yet. If this goes on, the passage will close on its own in less than half an hour!¡± Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yun also spoke up in agreement on the other side. ¡°Indeed¡­ If they don¡¯t come out or can¡¯t come out, there¡¯s no need for us to waste our mana!¡± Hearing the urging from the two, Song Hanchun also became somewhat doubtful. Nevertheless, he still maintained a composed expression and, feigning calm, looked at Yang Chen and the others before saying, ¡°Have you young ones from your two Sects seen our Golden Sword Sect disciples?¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Chen and He Xin had different expressions, remaining silent for a long time without answering. Seeing this, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression darkened, and he demanded, ¡°What exactly is going on with the two of you juniors? Speak immediately!¡± Hearing his words, Luo Anzhong¡¯s face also turned sour, but since they were all Golden Core Cultivators, remaining silent would seem disrespectful to their elders. Therefore, he did not retort but instead addressed Yang Chen, ¡°Yang Chen, my nephew, what happened in the Secret Realm? Tell me about it!¡± With a Sect Elder speaking up, Yang Chen finally disclosed everything about Chen Jianbin¡¯s actions. He described everything in detail, starting from the ambush on the Fire Scale Python, to Chen Jianbin turning on them, and then the ensuing chase and its aftermath. Learning that Chen Jianbin and the rest had all been killed, Song Hanchun was both shocked and furious. In an instant, a surge of oppressive force burst forth, aiming to subdue Yang Chen and He Xin. In a flash, Yang Chen and He Xin were caught off guard and flung back by this oppressive force, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood. Seeing this, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun¡¯s faces turned ugly, and they each severed their mana input, retracting the Jade Tokens that opened the Secret Realm. After completing these actions, the two of them looked furious and questioned Song Hanchun simultaneously. ¡°Song Daoist friend, what is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ Our three Sects have managed the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm together for thousands of years, and we had an agreement beforehand. You are betraying your promise and engaging in deceitful acts!¡± Hearing what Luo Anzhong and the other said, Song Hanchun let out a cold laugh. ¡°Heh heh¡­ What do I mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Song Hanchun released a talisman paper towards the sky. In an instant, the sky ignited with a flame that soared up high. Song Hanchun¡¯s action was not an attack on the two of them but made Luo Anzhong and the other highly vigilant, their hearts sensing that the situation was far from ordinary. After all, since Golden Sword Sect had provoked trouble and incited their disciples to break the rules set by the three Sects, wreaking havoc and slaughtering the members of the other two Sects in the Secret Realm. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such an act undoubtedly indicated they were well-prepared. Fortunately, the disciples of the two Sects were commendable. Although many still perished, the top talents managed to survive and had killed all thirty disciples of Golden Sword Sect. Understanding this, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun waved their sleeves, and two flying boat Magic Artifacts flew out, swiftly positioning themselves in front of Yang Chen and He Xin. Chapter 719 03-25 - 719 391 The Golden Core Great Battle_2 ?Chapter 719: Chapter 391: The Golden Core Great Battle_2 Chapter 719: Chapter 391: The Golden Core Great Battle_2 Immediately afterward, the two of them shouted in unison, ¡°You all must leave this place and return to the Sect immediately!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen and the others also realized the seriousness of the situation. They were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, whose strength was indeed limited, a world of difference compared to a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Therefore, they did not dare to stay in this place, lest they get dragged into the fray of Golden Core Cultivators¡¯ combat. At this moment, Yang Chen and He Xin glanced at Lin Tianming, seemingly intending to take him away as well. But Lin Tianming was alone, and both Sects wanted to win him over; no matter which side he chose, it would likely cause a dispute. However, time was of the essence, and the two of them had no time to squabble over this, so as to avoid becoming embroiled in the intense battle of Golden Core Cultivators. ... If they lost their lives over this, it would be a complete loss. Understanding this, the two merely glanced at Lin Tianming, implying that he should make his own decision. At this particular moment, Lin Tianming witnessed the situation on the field and understood in his heart that this was not a place to linger. In his view, if he followed any one of the two Sects away from this place, it would carry a certain risk. If he left alone, he would be a smaller target and therefore, ironically, safer. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately communicated with the two, promising that he would not forget the commitments made. Besides, once a suitable time came and the higher-ups of both Sects decided on the ownership of the other three Jiuli Star Fruits, they could send Disciples to the Lin Family Clan Grounds to retrieve the Jiuli Star Fruits that should be handed over. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Hearing this response and considering the urgency of time, Yang Chen and He Xin felt it inappropriate to say more and had to let the matter go. Quickly following this, they each led a group of Disciples into the flying boats, rapidly heading off in two different directions. Their movements were swift; in an instant, they had already vanished into the distant sky. Lin Tianming, likewise, did not dare to delay. He immediately, along with Hu Yuan, flew off in a different direction from the two Sects¡¯ forces. At that moment, upon seeing the younger generation of the two Sects leave, Song Hanchun attempted to intercept them. As expected, his attack was firmly blocked by Luo Anzhong and the others. After some probing and realizing his effort would be fruitless, he did not persist in attacking. In his eyes, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators were too few to be feared. Only Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun were worth his time and effort to confront. As long as he eliminated these two, everything would proceed according to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s plan. With this in mind, Song Hanchun no longer dwelled on the issue. He then kept a close watch on Luo Anzhong and the others, neither making another move nor allowing them to leave, as if waiting for something. Finally, after a few breaths, two streaks of light shot through the air, coming to a halt next to Song Hanchun and the others. When the light faded, the figures of two people were revealed. Looking at them, they were both clad in black robes, with no discernible clues on them, but their auras were very powerful, and very similar, evidently belonging to the same force. Seeing the newcomers, who were two unfamiliar Golden Core Stage Cultivators, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun¡¯s expressions darkened. At that moment, despite racking their brains, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun could not determine the identities of the two. After all, they had had quite a few engagements with Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators and had never seen these two before; even their auras were extremely unfamiliar. Within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, aside from their three Sects, there were also two Great Golden Core Families, but they were well acquainted with the Golden Core Cultivators from these two families as well. Beyond these five powers, no other power could boast Golden Core Cultivators, let alone one being a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. It was clear that these two did not belong to Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World; they were likely from the Golden Core powers of another country, and powerful ones at that. Realizing this, Luo Anzhong wore a cautious expression and couldn¡¯t help but clasp his hands towards the two black-robed persons, then proceeded to question them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, who are you, and what is the meaning behind acting in concert with the Golden Sword Sect?¡± Hearing this, the two black-robed individuals did not speak but simply looked at Luo Anzhong calmly. It was Song Hanchun, however, who upon seeing the two black-robed Cultivators arrive, couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of joy. He then clasped his hands towards the two black-robed persons and said with a smile, ¡°Fellow Daoists, thank you for lending a hand to detain them!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ There¡¯s no time to waste, let¡¯s take action!¡± A black-robed cultivator said indifferently, his words seemingly dismissing Luo Anzhong and his companion as if they were beneath his notice. Upon hearing this remark, Luo Anzhong¡¯s face darkened, but he was cautious and did not dare to make the first move. Seeing this, Song Hanchun waved his sleeve, and a gourd-shaped magical treasure appeared in his hand. He then pinched a law decree and mumbled incantations under his breath. Quickly, a plume of smoke surged from the golden gourd in his hand, rushing toward Zhu Yun. Seeing Song Hanchun take action, the two black-robed cultivators did not waste words, each drawing their own magical treasures to attack Luo Anzhong. Witnessing this scene, Song Hanchun was evidently prepared, prompting Luo Anzhong and his companion to start making threats. ¡°Song Hanchun, do you Golden Sword Sect dare to join forces with outsiders to strike at us, without fearing the attention of Qingzhou Jiaoqin Power?¡± They were well aware that there were unspoken rules in the cultivation world, and under the constraints of top forces, grand battles between Golden Elixir Forces were not common. If the scale was too large, it could attract the attention of the Nascent Soul Forces, who might intervene. The initiators could even be held accountable. Therefore, seeing that the Golden Sword Sect had actually joined forces with an unknown power to strike at their two sects, it was undoubtedly an act of provocation leading to war. But upon hearing their words, Song Hanchun and his group showed no intention of stopping, instead continuously launching attacks at the two men. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that their threats were ineffective, the faces of Luo Anzhong and his companion turned pale as they burst into curses. ¡°Song Hanchun, you old despicable man!¡± ¡°Old Song, don¡¯t think that with them here, you can capture the two of us!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Anzhong and his companion cursed out loud while urging on their magical treasures, clashing with Song Hanchun and his companions. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky lit up with multicolored lights, and the ground shook continuously, with bursts of explosions echoing through heaven and earth. The battle of Golden Core Stage cultivators truly was earth-shattering. At that moment, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were on Sword Flight, having flown only about twenty miles away when they felt a huge commotion from behind. They looked back, their faces also filled with shock. Afterward, they had no interest in watching the battle, nor did they dare to waste time, as they both were carrying treasures obtained from the secret realm and had no leisure to concern themselves with this matter. Right now, what they needed most was to safely return to their family and seize the time to engage in secluded cultivation to increase their cultivation level. As for the matters between the three great sects, it was not their place to worry; the high-level members of the sects would have their own headaches. Realizing this, Lin Tianming could not care about attracting attention and hurriedly released Xiao Diao. ¡°Daoist Hu, my spirit beast is very quick. Let¡¯s return to Qianchuan Market together and talk there!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, Hu Yuan nodded and responded, ¡°I was indeed thinking the same!¡± Having spoken, the two men leapt onto the back of Xiao Diao, who understood their intentions and flew at top speed toward the southern direction. Time flew, and more than two months had passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Tianming and another figure appeared in a valley outside Qianchuan Market. During this period, Lin Tianming and his companion had been on the move non-stop. For safety¡¯s sake, they had taken a long detour, avoiding the area where the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate was located, as well as another medium-sized market, namely Dragon Mountain Market. The reason for this was their concern about the presence of Golden Sword Sect disciples near Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, and they did not want to be taken to the sect¡¯s gate by Zhenyang Sect disciples. After all, a great battle between Golden Core Sects could potentially break out at any moment, and the Golden Core Sects were no longer safe. It would be a pity to be killed as assumed Zhenyang Sect disciples in a large-scale conflict. Therefore, the two did not mind taking extra time, choosing to travel through desolate areas to be safe. In this way, although it took more time, it was safer, and their journey was relatively smooth. Chapter 720 03-25 - 720 392 Conditions_1 ?Chapter 720: Chapter 392 Conditions_1 Chapter 720: Chapter 392 Conditions_1 By this time, in the valley, Lin Tianming and another person stood side by side on the peak of a mountain. They first surveyed the surrounding area and found that everything was calm, with no apparent danger. Afterward, they looked out toward the horizon, where a shadowy outline could be seen. It was the city walls of Qianchuan Market. After a long while, Hu Yuan was the first to break the brief silence. ¡°Lin, do you have any information on the outcome of that huge Golden Core battle? Is Qianchuan Market safe now?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming also showed a serious expression, his mind naturally starting to speculate. In fact, they had crossed more than a dozen mountain ranges during this period, passing through many places and encountering some cultivators. ... sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every time they met someone, they would proactively approach and make inquiries about the major events that had recently happened in the cultivation world. However, perhaps because those they asked were too weak, or because they were not the kind who moved around much, the information was extremely limited and there were no clear messages. It could also be that the battle involving Luo Anzhong and others was kept rather secretive, or that no messages were spread about it, resulting in them not learning the outcome of the Golden Core battle despite all their inquiries along the way. Besides that, not even the various experiences within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm or the attitudes of the three Great Sects had been disclosed. And Golden Sword Sect, having initiated the conflict, had also not shown any extreme reactions, which was indeed puzzling. Nonetheless, the calmness within the cultivation world was a result they were happy to see. In their eyes, if a Golden Core Sect war had to erupt, the later the better, and the smaller the area of impact, the better. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Not to mention the war settling down, but if they could push the start of the Sect war back by more than ten years, it would give them ample time for cultivation. After all, both of them had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage or even Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and they possessed numerous treasures, so nothing was more important than retreating for cultivation. If all went well, they could start aiming for the Golden Core Stage and possibly even make a successful advancement to that realm. Should they succeed, the possibility for Hu Yuan to weather the crisis, as well as for Lin Tianming and the entire Lin Family, would greatly increase. Understanding this, Lin Tianming remained silent for a moment before finally responding to Hu Yuan¡¯s question. ¡°Daoist Hu, even if the results of the Golden Core cultivator battle are out, ordinary cultivators probably wouldn¡¯t know about it, otherwise, we would have found out on our way here.¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded, generally agreeing with Lin Tianming¡¯s view. Immediately after, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°As for whether Qianchuan Market is safe, I have no idea.¡± ¡°However, given its distance from the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, it¡¯s not highly likely to be attacked by Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°In any case, now that we¡¯re here, let¡¯s go in and have a look, and take the opportunity to gather some information.¡± ¡°After all, there are quite a few powerful forces from Qingzhou doing business in the market, and their information might be more accurate. They could possibly provide us with some leads.¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan thought for a while and then chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, I am really sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to find a safe place to retreat for cultivation and will not be entering Qianchuan Market with you!¡± ¡°Being a lone wolf, it doesn¡¯t make much of a difference where I choose to cultivate, so why be picky?¡± ¡°As for the grievances between the three Great Sects, they don¡¯t impact us Loose Cultivators much.¡± ¡°Even if a great war breaks out, we can always find a place to endure and cultivate bitterly, or travel to other cultivation realms for decades. Everything will return to tranquility.¡± ¡°By that time, returning to my homeland won¡¯t make any difference.¡± Hu Yuan said a lot in one go, his expression and tone carrying a hint of apology, seemingly feeling a bit guilty. And Lin Tianming understood in his heart that after all, Hu Yuan was a Loose Cultivator, and there was a great difference between them. Certainly, a Loose Cultivator without attachments could go anywhere in this vast world. No matter where they chose to retreat for cultivation, it hardly made any difference. Unlike him, who had hundreds of clan members to protect and plenty of Lin Family businesses to attend to, considering a large-scale migration was not that easy. What¡¯s more, Hu Yuan had reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and, with the treasures accumulated during the journey in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, even the items needed to attempt the Golden Core Stage had been obtained. In short, currently, he only needed to cultivate step by step and could try to break through to the Golden Core Realm within a short period. Realizing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist on Hu Yuan accompanying him into Qianchuan Market. After all, the situation within Qianchuan Market was unknown, and even though peace reigned now, once the Sect war erupted, given the market¡¯s status, it was highly likely to become a key target of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s attacks. And since Hu Yuan had joined Yang Chen¡¯s faction in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and had taken action against Chen Jianbin and others, In such a case, if Golden Sword Sect sought vengeance, they could very well vent their anger on him. If it truly came to that, staying in Qianchuan Market would inevitably involve some risks. Luckily, Chen Jianbin and his group had been wiped out, and the only ones aware were the disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley. And since they were on the opposing side of Golden Sword Sect, it was unlikely for them to reveal their participation in the battle. With this in mind, Lin Tianming simply made casual conversation. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but mention, ¡°Daoist friend, you participated in the action against Chen Jianbin and his group, so the two Sects should have some rewards for you!¡± Chapter 721 03-25 - 721 392 Conditions_2 ?Chapter 721: Chapter 392 Conditions_2 Chapter 721: Chapter 392 Conditions_2 Hearing this, Hu Yuan pondered for a long time without saying a word, clearly not wanting to stay in Qianchuan Market, but also somewhat reluctant to let go of the rewards from both sects. After a long time, he finally made up his mind and then said, ¡°As for the rewards, if Lin has the chance, you may claim them on my behalf, and keep them for yourself as my repayment.¡± Seeing him say this, Lin Tianming did not insist, but he still asked one more question. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Daoist Hu, if nothing unexpected happens, you¡¯re not far from reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, and within three to five years, you should be able to attempt impacting the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°If you are wandering the Cultivation World, have you found a good seclusion spot that could ensure a safe breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm?¡± With Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Hu Yuan fell into silence once again. A long time passed without him uttering a word, as if Lin had directly addressed his concerns. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to extend an olive branch while the iron was hot. ¡°Daoist Hu, you must also be aware that the Lin Family was once a Golden Core Family, and my family¡¯s ancestral patriarch also left behind his experiences of attempting the Golden Core Realm.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Hu Yuan immediately became somewhat excited. ¡°Breakthrough experiences?¡± ¡°Lin, do you have those experiences with you? May I borrow them to take a look?¡± After saying this, Hu Yuan also seemed to realize that it might be inappropriate, and his face turned red as he laughed awkwardly. ¡°Hehe¡­ I have been presumptuous, please don¡¯t take offence, Lin!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Seeing this, Lin Tianming simply smiled indifferently and then waved his hand as he responded. ¡°No problem at all¡­¡± Immediately after, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Daoist Hu, the manuscript of experience is kept at the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and it is preserved extremely well, with its contents recorded in great detail.¡± ¡°Not to boast, but the notes left by our Golden Core ancestral patriarch are a treasure that all cultivators about to impact the Golden Core Stage yearn for in their dreams.¡± ¡°With that manuscript, the probability of breaking through is at least ten percent higher than attempting the breakthrough blindly.¡± Upon hearing these words, Hu Yuan¡¯s face flushed, and his breathing became somewhat rapid. It was evident that the mention of the Golden Core manuscript resonated with him, a Loose Cultivator with no background, as it held a fatal allure. ¡°Lin, just tell me straight, what price do I have to pay to have a look at this item?¡± Having said that, Hu Yuan looked at Lin Tianming with a sincere face, exuding an air of expectation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled playfully, looking somewhat cunning. ¡°Hehe¡­ Based on our friendship and the years we¡¯ve spent together, you could be considered a close and trusted friend.¡± ¡°I see that Daoist Hu is all alone, with no relatives to turn to, and it must not be easy for you to find an excellent place for seclusion in a short period of time.¡± ¡°However, I do have a suggestion, I wonder if you would consider it?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Hu Yuan looked serious, but he seemed quite interested. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Please, speak freely, Lin!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Since you have nowhere better to go, why not stay at the Lin Family Clan Grounds for cultivation until you have successfully impacted the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Our Lin Family Clan Grounds are also considered a prime cultivation site, where the Spiritual Energy is quite dense, and you can rely on the Protective Clan Formation to gather Spiritual Energy, aiding those in seclusion attempting to breakthrough.¡± ¡°Furthermore, I can make the decision to lend my family¡¯s ancestral patriarch¡¯s manuscript of breaking through to you, Daoist Hu, for your perusal.¡± Lin Tianming said with a sincere face, promising earnestly. Hearing this, Hu Yuan also fell into contemplation. In his heart, what Lin Tianming said was indeed very tempting, including himself; he was very eager for it. After all, Lin Tianming was right; he indeed had no good place to go, nor a stable and safe environment for seclusion, nor had he collected a comprehensive manuscript on breaking through. If he blindly attempted the Golden Core Stage and failed, the outcome would be death and the dissipation of his cultivation path. However, he also understood that although their relationship was good and they had shared life and death experiences for a few years, attempting the Golden Core Stage was no small matter, and the manuscript of breakthroughs left by the Lin Family¡¯s ancestral patriarch would not be easy to obtain. Realizing this, Hu Yuan asked directly, ¡°Lin, if I agree to it, what conditions do I need to meet?¡± ¡°If you have any demands, just speak frankly!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled to himself, thinking that Hu Yuan was indeed a sensible man. At the very least, his proactive invitation to visit the Lin Family had indeed had a purpose. In his heart, Hu Yuan was considered quite reliable. Besides, it was an eventful autumn, and the Lin Family¡¯s crisis was ongoing, with conflicts between the three sects erupting as well. It was foreseeable that the coming decade, or even several decades, would likely not be peaceful. And Hu Yuan, having reached his current realm, also possessed all the conditions necessary for an impact on the Golden Core Stage. The Lin Family would provide the insights for breakthroughs left by the ancestral patriarch, as well as assistance for his impact on the Golden Core Stage. If successful, Hu Yuan, owing a debt of gratitude to the Lin Family, would certainly stand with them. Should the Lin Family encounter great trouble, having one more Golden Core Cultivator to look after them would increase the likelihood of the family overcoming crises. Therefore, he took it upon himself to plan using these conditions in exchange for fifty years of Hu Yuan¡¯s care, should he successfully overcome his challenge. After all, he had already obtained quite a few treasures, and the Lin Family only needed fifty years to rapidly develop further and significantly enhance the family¡¯s overall strength. As long as he and one or two of his same generational clan members achieved Core Formation, the Lin Family would have the capital to contend against any of the three sects. One could say that this early investment was much the same as with Ye Pinghai. If Hu Yuan truly succeeded in his impact on the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family¡¯s expenditure would be entirely worth it. Understanding this, Lin Tianming no longer intended to hide his thoughts but spoke directly, ¡°Daoist Hu, indeed I have certain conditions!¡± Upon hearing this, not only did Hu Yuan not refuse, his heart instead eased. He was very clear that nothing was more suspicious than receiving something for nothing. Stating the conditions in advance and allowing him to make a choice was much more secure and cast no suspicions. Understanding this, Hu Yuan said, ¡°Lin Daoist Friend, do speak freely!¡± Upon finishing, Hu Yuan looked at Lin Tianming with anticipation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming spoke outright. ¡°Daoist Hu, the Lin Family will provide insights for breakthrough and a secure cultivation environment for secluded retreat. As long as you successfully form your core, you will stay and cultivate on the Lin Family Clan Grounds for fifty years, and should any great troubles arise, you will endeavor to lend your assistance as a way of repaying the Lin Family¡¯s expenditures.¡± ¡°How do you consider these conditions, Daoist Hu?¡± ¡°Fifty years?¡± ¡°To lend a hand in a crisis that threatens the extinction of the family?¡± Upon hearing the conditions given by Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan showed a face of surprise, not expecting it to be this. Despite the surprise in his heart, Hu Yuan did not immediately agree but pondered carefully. After a long while, he probed, ¡°Is fifty years perhaps too long a time?¡± ¡°If the Lin Family provokes Nascent Soul Forces during this period and encounters attacks from Nascent Soul Experts, even if I remain on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, would it not be of no help at all?¡± Hu Yuan began to bargain, expressing a look of difficulty. Hearing these words, Lin Tianming feigned profundity and instead of making concessions, began to persuade. ¡°Daoist Hu, you must know that even with a Fruit of Fortuity, reaching the Golden Core Stage is not so easy to achieve.¡± ¡°Just consider the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, how many Golden Core Cultivators are there?¡± ¡°This can show the difficulty of stepping into the Golden Core Realm!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have much confidence, yet you consider the matters after the Golden Core Stage so early ¨C isn¡¯t it a bit premature?¡± ¡°Moreover, if we were to encounter Nascent Soul Experts, they would surely be from the Qingzhou Jiaoqin Power. Our humiliated Foundation Establishing Family, how would we provoke such a force?¡± ¡°Moreover, for minor issues, we naturally wouldn¡¯t trouble Daoist Hu; you would just need to focus on your cultivation.¡± ¡°Even if we really face an attack by Nascent Soul Experts on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Daoist Hu can leave directly. There¡¯s no need for meaningless sacrifice.¡± Lin Tianming said a lot in one breath, analyzing the pros and cons for Hu Yuan. ¡­ Chapter 722 03-25 - 722 393 Conversation_1 ?Chapter 722: 393 Chapter: Conversation_1 Chapter 722: 393 Chapter: Conversation_1 Hearing this series of statements, Hu Yuan gave it some thought and felt that Lin Tianming¡¯s points made sense. After all, no one could guarantee a certain success in breaking through. Even Lin Tianming dared not say he was very confident, let alone himself, who was much older with far less potential. If he were to fail, not only would his life be lost, considering so many things would also be in vain. With these thoughts in mind, Hu Yuan made up his mind. Soon after, Hu Yuan nodded and said, ¡°Alright¡­ Just as Lin has said, I agree to your conditions!¡± Hearing these words and confirming that Hu Yuan accepted his terms, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. ... S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his eyes, recruiting Hu Yuan wasn¡¯t a significant expense for the Lin Family, similar to the situation with Ye Pinghai initially. And now that Ye Pinghai had succeeded and formed a blood alliance with the Lin Family, strengthened by what the Family had put forth, the relationship between the two could be considered unbreakable. Even if Hu Yuan were to fail, it wouldn¡¯t cause the Lin Family great harm. If he succeeded, however, it would mean the Lin Family would have a Golden Core Stage Guest Elder for the next fifty years, who could assist the Family in major matters. In the long run, what the Lin Family invested was absolutely worth what they would gain. The agreement between him and Hu Yuan was mutually beneficial for both parties, a win-win situation. Clearly, Hu Yuan understood this as well, which was why he accepted the conditions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï However, Lin Tianming knew that words alone were not solid proof. After all, Hu Yuan did not have the same robust relationship with the Lin Family as Ye Pinghai did, so a few years of acquaintance were not enough to make a verbal promise and trust that he would keep his word. If the Lin Family helped him succeed in reaching the Golden Core Realm, and Hu Yuan left the Family after his Core Formation, there was little they could do. It wouldn¡¯t do to force him to stay by coercion, as that would only backfire. In short, it was better to agree on things beforehand to avoid any gaps, so the Lin Family would have no concerns. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at Hu Yuan and then with a clasped fist, he said, ¡°Daoist Hu, it¡¯s not that the Lin Family doesn¡¯t trust you, but to better assist you in your Impact of the Golden Core Stage, we should swear a blood oath!¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded, clearly understanding that the Lin Family would naturally demand this of him. Thus, when Lin Tianming suggested it, Hu Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate, seemingly feeling that it was the natural thing to do. Soon after, the two of them made a blood oath regarding this matter. In a short while, having completed these things, both men smiled involuntarily, appearing to be in a rather good mood. After a brief chat, Hu Yuan then said, ¡°Lin, I plan to cultivate nearby for the next two years, then travel a bit to prepare some treasures for the Impact of Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet again in two years at the Lin Family Clan Grounds!¡± ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, thinking of when he first learned that Ye Pinghai was breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, he then clasped fists towards Hu Yuan and smiled as he spoke. ¡°Daoist Hu is right to be cautious. Succeeding in the Golden Core Realm is indeed not easy; you can prepare more treasures with strong defensive power, the more the merrier!¡± ¡°Exactly, that is what I was thinking as well!¡± Hu Yuan nodded in response. Afterward, having no more to discuss, the two men clasped fists and after Hu Yuan took the lead flying off in one direction, he soon disappeared into the horizon. With Hu Yuan gone, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay further; he looked towards Qianchuan Market and flew towards the city gates. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming arrived at the city¡¯s entrance. At this moment, there were still many Qi Refining Cultivators queuing to enter and exit, a bustling scene with a cacophony of voices, seemingly unaffected by the discord of the three sects. Seeing this, Lin Tianming inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly been concerned that the strife among the three sects might erupt in full force and under the condition of Qianchuan Market being directly accountable to the Zhenyang Sect, it would likely become a prime target for attack. There were many Lin Family Members here, and the Luoyun Pavilion was a pivotal business for the Family. If the market were to be attacked, it would completely disrupt the Lin Family¡¯s current cultivation rhythm. Not only for him but for other main Family members, it would bring significant impact. Fortunately, the situation for now didn¡¯t seem too terrible. At this point, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with a Zhenyang Sect Executive Officer guarding the entrance and then entered the market. Soon, he successfully returned to the rented Cave Mansion Courtyard of the Lin Family. Learning of his safe return, the guardian Lin Xingrong was excited and rushed over with Lin Tianyue and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators for a reunion. In no time, the four of them gathered in the courtyard to chat. At this time, Lin Xingrong¡¯s expression was earnest, yet his face still revealed a broad smile, indicating his excellent mood. However, when interacting with his son, he was always stern, appearing relatively calm. His sister Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong, on the other hand, wore expressions filled with unrestrained joy. Although they were not aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s gains, the sheer delight of reuniting after more than a year was surprise enough. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianyue was the first to speak. ¡°Brother, wasn¡¯t your trip to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm supposed to last only a year? ¡°Why have you returned so late? ¡°Did something happen to delay you?¡± Lin Tianyue, still excited, clung to Lin Tianming¡¯s arm, asking several questions in quick succession, seemingly worried but also very curious about his experiences over the past year. Chapter 723 03-25 - 723 393 Conversation_2 ?Chapter 723: Chapter 393 Conversation_2 Chapter 723: Chapter 393 Conversation_2 Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s curious expression, Lin Xingrong said with a serious face, ¡°Tianyue, your brother has just returned. He will naturally inform us of everything in due time. There¡¯s no need to be so anxious!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyue looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat pale complexion, clearly exhausted from traveling day and night. Seeing this made Lin Tianyue even more concerned and she asked another question with care, ¡°Brother, how have you been during this past year or more? This past month has nearly driven us to death with worry!¡± ¡°No worries,¡± he responded, ¡°about this past year, let me explain everything slowly.¡± After he finished speaking, Lin Tianming began recounting his experiences from the past year and a half, starting from his departure from Qianchuan Market and continuing until the closure of the Secret Realm, describing everything in great detail. However, he did not disclose the conflicts between the three sects or the battles between Golden Core Cultivators. Besides that, he also did not mention gaining the Fruit of Fortuity or the Creation Fruit Tree, or the Jiuli Star Fruit he had received from Chen Jianbin. ... It wasn¡¯t that he did not trust them. Given the current situation, letting them know about these secret matters would only add to their worries. Even the great joy of obtaining a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item was something he felt was not appropriate to disclose too soon. It was better to wait until he and the other senior members of the generation with ¡®world¡¯ in their titles had discussed and formulated a response before informing them. Soon, Lin Xingrong and the others were overjoyed to learn of the second- and third-order treasures Lin Tianming had acquired during the year, like the Earth Rampart Crystal, Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and Blue Heart True Flame¡ªitems that would enhance one¡¯s foundational strength. He did not hide anything about these. The mere mention of these items elated Lin Xingrong and the others. ¡°Haha¡­ It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve returned safely, good that you¡¯ve come back safe and sound!¡± At this moment, an excited Lin Xingrong found himself unable to maintain the serious expression on his face any longer, clearly overjoyed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? At this time, a puzzled look appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ¡°Father, weren¡¯t you always stationed at Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory? How come you¡¯re appearing in Qianchuan Market at this time?¡± ¡°Has something changed within the family that prompted your relocation here?¡± ¡°Where are big brother and Tianhu?¡± Lin Tianming asked several questions in a row, clearly sensing something was amiss. As expected, upon Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiries, the expressions on the faces of Lin Xingrong and the others turned grave in an instant. Then, Lin Tianhong, as someone who had experienced the disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and another, began to explain the cause and effect of their cooperation in exploring the Cave Mansion Ruins. In no time, Lin Tianming was informed of the circumstances and understood the purpose of his father¡¯s stationing here. Fortunately, the situation concerning the disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and the other was not at its worst. Since their Life-bound Soul Lamps had not extinguished, this meant that they were currently not in mortal danger, but possibly just trapped somewhere or swept into a strange place by a Spatial Fissure. As long as their lives were not in danger, there would always be a day when they too would return to the family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming actually began to comfort an ever-guilty Lin Tianhong. Beside them, Lin Tianyue nodded in agreement, comforting the silently withdrawn Lin Tianhong in a similar manner. Following that, Lin Tianyue smiled and said, ¡°Big brother and the others will definitely be fine; they might even encounter a stroke of fortune!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ The strength of big brother and Tianhu is quite formidable. Since so much time has passed and their Life-bound Soul Lamps have not extinguished but have, in fact, become more vigorous, this is enough to show that they are in a good state and certainly not in any mortal danger.¡± ¡°And I have faith that they will surely return safely!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianhong looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s confident expression and seemed emboldened, finally shaking off his guilt and regaining his composure. Subsequently, as if remembering something, Lin Tianming said to Lin Xingrong, ¡°Father, we can ask Daoist Tang from Sky Dragon Pavilion to help us search for traces of big brother and the others!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Xingrong nodded reluctantly and replied, ¡°What you can think of, how could your father not have considered? I¡¯ve already made contact with Daoist Tang, and he has promised to help to the best of his abilities.¡± ¡°However, while the Tang Family is powerful, Daoist Tang¡¯s status within the vast Tang Family can only be considered ordinary. Coupled with the immensity of the Cultivation World and the abundance of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, searching for two ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators is like looking for a needle in a haystack.¡± ¡°Therefore, we currently have no leads, and I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll have any news in the short term.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, thinking it was indeed the case. However, the Lin Family¡¯s strength was limited at present, and with the shadow of the great war between the three sects looming, the Lin Family also had to prepare several core members to attempt the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. They probably didn¡¯t have much energy left to search for Lin Tianfeng and the other missing person. These thoughts, however, he kept to himself and did not share with the three others. Right after that brief exchange, Lin Tianming also received quite a bit of recent news about the Lin Family. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. None of them knew anything about Lin Tianyun, so they were not able to inform Lin Tianming. Otherwise, it would have added to the Lin Family¡¯s joy. Alas, that tremendous joy would have to wait until Lin Tianming returned to the clan territory and learned of it from several of the older generation clan members. As time drifted by, the four chatted casually for half an hour. At this point, Lin Xingrong, noticing the exhausted look on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and Tianming has been through life and death experiences these past years, he must be utterly exhausted.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. Tianming should go rest for now. Once you have recovered to your peak condition, we will gather again!¡± ¡°Yes, brother¡­ go rest, and we¡¯ll talk another day!¡± Lin Tianyue also spoke in agreement. ¡°Mmm¡­ I will go now!¡± After responding, Lin Tianming bowed to his father and then stood up to leave the courtyard. Upon entering a resting room, Lin Tianming did not engage in cultivation but immediately fell asleep. In just under half an hour, even breathing could be heard from the room, indicating that he had fallen into a deep sleep. The reason for this was indeed because he was too exhausted. Over the past year, he had been in a constant state of high tension, never letting his guard down even during his cultivation in the temporary cave abode. After leaving the secret realm, affected by the battle between Golden Core Cultivators, he had been on the road for more than two months, and was completely worn out and exhausted to the utmost. But now, he had finally returned to Qianchuan Market. In a place where a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator was the highest form of combat power and so close to his family, he could finally let down his guard and truly rest. At this moment, Lin Tianming finally experienced an unprecedented level of relaxation, unlike anything he had in over a year, and quickly entered deep sleep. Two days later. Lin Tianming finally emerged from his room, appearing in the courtyard. After a full two days of sleep, his complexion was rosy and he was in excellent condition, evidently having recovered to his peak state. After sending a message to his father and the others, the four gathered once more. After exchanging greetings, they sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting. Prior to the last two days, due to Lin Tianming¡¯s state of exhaustion, the four had hurriedly exchanged some recent events, discussing only some of the major matters. Now, the four gathered together again, finally having the time to talk about some lesser matters. As a result, they discussed many topics, from the business in Luoyun Market to the affairs of the Luoyun Pavilion, and even the situation of some potential members of the clan. It turned out to be a thorough exchange. However, Lin Xingrong also hadn¡¯t returned to the family for half a year and wasn¡¯t very clear about the latest developments. But according to him, the business of Luoyun Pavilion had been very stable over the past year, with a steady increase in revenue. With the strong development by the Lin Family and an extremely stable environment, Luoyun Market was rapidly gaining popularity, the number of shops greatly increased, and treasures that were rarely seen by Foundation Establishment Cultivators became increasingly abundant. Therefore, the revenue of Luoyun Market also grew substantially. As for the other important spirit lands of the Lin Family, they were also being developed strategically; even those areas abandoned due to beast tides were being activated again. In time, they too would bring considerable profits to the family. Chapter 724 03-25 - 724 394 Various News_1 ?Chapter 724: Chapter 394 Various News_1 Chapter 724: Chapter 394 Various News_1 Apart from that, the Lin Family has not organized a large-scale effort to push family members to the Foundation Establishment Stage in recent years. But now, with the Demonic Beast Tide completely passed, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World has enjoyed a rare few years of peace, and many Lin Family members have gained experience through blood and fire during the Tide, accumulating sufficiently solid cultivation bases. According to Lin Xingrong, the last time he left the family lands, the Clan Leader had arranged for twelve family members to enter closed-door cultivation together, aiming for the Foundation Establishment Stage boundary. Such a grand event had not been seen in the family for a long time. If you calculate the time, there should already be a result by now. But as he has not yet returned home, the number of successful cultivators from this large-scale attempt at Foundation Establishment remains unknown. However, all of these family members challenging the Foundation Establishment Stage belong to the Xing and Tian generations, with even the oldest among them being only seventy years old. ... And they all had experienced the great battle against the Demon Beast Tide, where they had shone brightly and played a pivotal role for the family. It could be said that the potential of this batch of family members was quite good, and with the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills, the chances of success were not small in theory. Thus, it can be foreseen that once they return to the family, there will undoubtedly be plenty of good news. Half an hour later. As the exchange proceeded, some important pieces of information were also shared with each other. At this time, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Xingrong and others, then he changed the subject. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Father, your son has been away for a long time and plans to take a look around the market, and then tomorrow, how about the two of us set off to return to the family?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï On hearing these words, Lin Xingrong nodded. Most of the treasures sold at Luoyun Pavilion were already sold out, although some Second Order Pills and talisman papers were still being produced by Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue. But some more precious items were already sold out. Plus, there were plenty of Spirit Stones from the half-year profits of Luoyun Pavilion, and it was about time to purchase a batch of scarce resources to send back to the family. According to the original plan, he had intended to visit the family soon anyway, and since Lin Tianming had just returned, it would be perfect for them to go together. With these thoughts, Lin Xingrong nodded and said, ¡°Tianming, your father was just about to buy some supplies as well. Let¡¯s go together!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Lin Tianming replied, and the two rose to their feet, greeted Lin Tianhong, and then left the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once outside, the two walked down the street. At this moment, as Lin Tianming walked, he observed his surroundings, checking the situation inside the market. Looking around, the bustling crowd on the streets and the thriving business of the various shops seemed oblivious to the storm that was about to sweep over the entire Wei Kingdom. But Lin Tianming was well aware of the emergence of the Blood Red Alliance in Wei Kingdom and its collaboration with Golden Sword Sect. And when he left the Secret Realm, the two black-robed Golden Core Cultivators had obstructed Zhu Yun and another, plus he had obtained a token of the Blood Red Alliance from the storage bag of Zhou Jin, whom he had previously killed. All signs indicated the Golden Sword Sect was indeed receiving support from the Blood Red Alliance. Otherwise, with the overall strength of the Golden Sword Sect, they would definitely not provoke Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. With the Blood Red Alliance stirring the pot, the conflict between the three major sects of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not be minor. Realizing this, a sense of urgency grew within Lin Tianming. However, he soon calmed himself. He had come to the market specifically to gather information, not just for Lin Tianfeng and others, but also to find out about the movements of the three major sects, so as to better prepare his family to survive the looming crisis. With this intention, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingrong and headed to Sky Pavilion alone. Upon entering Sky Dragon Pavilion, he was promptly greeted by a Qi Refining Cultivator. This person seemed to have seen or heard about Lin Tianming before. It made sense, considering Lin Tianming¡¯s ascent to fame in the Southern Wei Kingdom after the Demon Beast Tide Battle. Especially in Qianchuan Market, where almost every Foundation Establishment Cultivator and Qi Refining Cultivator had heard of or witnessed his prowess. And indeed, the attendant at Sky Dragon Pavilion was observant, offering his respectful greetings before leading him to a private room on the second floor. Shortly, Tang Xiuyuan arrived. Even from a distance, Lin Tianming could hear his familiar voice. ¡°Daoist Lin, to think that in just over a year, you would further impress me!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled placidly, thinking that Tang Xiuyuan must have learned something. He likely knew about the events in the Secret Realm, which explained his remark. However, whether they knew about the Blood Red Alliance was unclear. After all, with an organization as powerful as the Blood Red Alliance, even the top families in Qingzhou like the Tang Family might not compare. It seemed the Blood Red Alliance had been active in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for some time, laying the groundwork decades ago, meddling in the affairs of the three major sects. Given that the Tang Family¡¯s business spread across many nations in Qingzhou and was exceptionally well-informed, it was not strange that they could notice things inaccessible to the average person. Understanding this, Lin Tianming casually chatted, attempting to probe him by asking, ¡°Daoist Tang, would you care to guess the purpose of my visit this time?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled as well, sat down opposite Lin Tianming, and responded, ¡°Daoist Lin, you are naturally here to do business, and as per your habit, you are likely to inquire about some information as well!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ indeed, Daoist Tang knows me well!¡± Chapter 725 03-25 - 725 394 Various News_2 ?Chapter 725: Chapter 394 Various News_2 Chapter 725: Chapter 394 Various News_2 ¡°Do you have some powerful artifacts?¡± Lin Tianming asked. Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan didn¡¯t beat around the bush, slapped his storage bag, and several treasures appeared in his hand. Lin Tianming glanced at them and then shook his head, evidently not quite satisfied. Seeing this, Tang Xiuyuan helplessly said, ¡°Good items are extremely limited these days, these are all we have left now!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Although they¡¯re of little use to me, something is better than nothing. I will take them all!¡± Lin Tianming replied after a moment. Having spoken, he pointed to the items in front of Tang Xiuyuan and continued. As Lin Tianming took so many items at once, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression turned joyful, and he then began to calculate the price. ... In a short while, Lin Tianming casually took out ninety thousand spirit stones and handed them over to Tang Xiuyuan. The two quickly completed the transaction, each taking the spirit stones and treasures. This time purchasing treasures, the quality ones weren¡¯t many and were even somewhat unnecessary for him. However, with a storm approaching, it was foreseeable that, for at least the next decade, consumable treasures and those that could improve cultivation would become the hard currency of the cultivation world. Just like during the years when the beast tide struck, the prices of all kinds of treasures would increase by a lot, and some would even be priceless. In this situation, buying a good amount of treasures now and bringing them back to his family would definitely save a lot of spirit stones. What was more crucial, Lin Tianming currently possessed a substantial amount of wealth. Merely his own spirit stones amounted to nearly a hundred thousand, not including those storage bags he had obtained in the secret realm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Especially someone like Chen Jianbin, who was not only extremely powerful but also one of the top disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, his wealth was unquestionable. And Lin Tianming, being busy on his journey, hadn¡¯t even had the time to thoroughly check those storage bags. But a preliminary estimate indicated that acquiring several hundred thousand spirit stones would definitely be no problem. And the few spirit stones he was spending now were just the tip of the iceberg for him at present. Understanding this, Lin Tianming decided not to haggle over every little detail, as buying a large number of treasures now was certainly not a loss. With the transaction completed, Lin Tianming chatted idly with Tang Xiuyuan for a bit, arranged a good number of matters, and specifically asked Tang Xiuyuan to reserve some rare treasures for the Lin Family to prepare for the upcoming crisis. After all, the Tang Family¡¯s business covered all nations of Qingzhou, circulating countless treasures, some of which were quite valuable. It was not like the Lin Family; if they obtained some decent treasures, items like Spirit Detonation Beads and Fake Golden Core Talismans, they would keep them all within the family for use, and certainly not sell them. For Foundation Establishment Cultivators, these items were rare treasures, but for the Tang Family¡¯s enterprise, they were trivial. Therefore, to acquire some treasures, it was entirely possible to cooperate with the Sky Dragon Pavilion for a long term. For both sides, this was a win-win situation. With this intent, Lin Tianming and Tang Xiuyuan reached a good number of agreements on the matter. The price for bulk purchasing was even lower than the usual individual rates. With this matter concluded, both parties felt quite pleased with themselves. Afterward, Lin Tianming directly inquired about the matters between the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. And the Sky Dragon Pavilion indeed lived up to its reputation as a Nascent Soul Force¡¯s business. With caravans traversing the major nations of Qingzhou, their information network was incredibly extensive. According to Tang Xiuyuan, since the closing of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong were ambushed by Song Hanchun and two black-clad Golden Core Cultivators. The battle lasted a long time and caused quite an uproar. The final outcome was that Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong suffered severe injuries but, relying on a powerful treasure, they managed to escape back to their sects. With the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s scheme failing, they had thoroughly provoked the wrath of the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. However, hindered by the presence of strange Golden Core Cultivators aiding the Golden Sword Sect, whose power had greatly increased, and not knowing whether there were others helping them, both sects did not dare to act rashly, always investigating the matter covertly. Based on the various incidents that had happened over the past two years, it was only a matter of time before the sects traced the troubles back to the Blood Red Alliance. But even with knowledge of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s moves, both sects probably wouldn¡¯t dare to strike first, for this was a Nascent Soul Force that even the Tang Family of Qingzhou would not dare to provoke lightly. Once the Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Blood Red Alliance take action, the two sects will have no possibility of survival. However, the Blood Red Alliance acts high-profile, rampaging through the lands of Qingzhou without any restraint, and naturally has many enemies. Even though their strength is quite formidable, they are stretched too thin, their power too scattered, so at most they could dispatch some Golden Core Cultivators to the Wei Kingdom. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And Nascent Soul Cultivators, being mighty figures who reign supreme in their regions, are unlikely to come to the barren Wei Kingdom, even less likely to lower their status by personally dealing with such forces as the two sects. In light of this, once the two sects figure out these matters, there might be some action. However, according to Lin Tianming¡¯s speculation, the Golden Sword Sect probably would not grant the two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley much time to react. Since they have already exposed themselves, to achieve their goal, they definitely will not cease their efforts willingly. As for what the Golden Sword Sect will do next, it¡¯s likely that no one can predict it. Nevertheless, the more this is the case, the more eager he becomes, constantly keeping an eye on the situation between the three sects. For now, the three parties are cautious with their probing, just endlessly testing one another. Once a full-scale war erupts, it will certainly be an earth-shattering event. Understanding this, Lin Tianming, through Tang Xiuyuan, continues to monitor the situation closely and has him help gather information. In case any signs prevail, they would also inform the Lin Family, so that the family can be prepared. As the cooperation between the Lin Family and Tang Xiuyuan becomes more frequent, the two sides also find each other to be of like minds. And Tang Xiuyuan, knowing how to act appropriately, pledges to keep well-informed on the matter for such an important customer as Lin Tianming. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming did not stay long at the Sky Dragon Pavilion. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming got up to take his leave, and with Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s company, he left the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Walking on the streets of the market city, Lin Tianming looked around, observing the changes within the market. Before long, he arrived at Zhenyang Hall in the center of the market. Guided by a Qi Refining Cultivator, he met with Wang Zhi, one of the Market City Supervisors. The two sat in a reception room, chatting casually over tea. Wang Zhi greeted Lin Tianming with great courtesy upon seeing him, being even more polite than usual, not the slightest bit disdainful toward the Lin Family or Lin Tianming due to his own status. It was clear, the proceedings in the secret realm were also known to Wang Zhi. With Lin Tianming¡¯s current strength, even He Xin, the top-ranked disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, looked at him with new respect, even wariness. As for Wang Zhi, only at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm, his cultivation and strength were not considered particularly outstanding among all the Foundation Establishment Disciples in the Zhenyang Sect. Thus, when Lin Tianming actively sought him out, it was quite a pleasant surprise for him. Once the pleasantries were done, Wang Zhi asked, ¡°Daoist Lin, what brings you to me today? If there¡¯s anything you command, I will certainly do my utmost to assist!¡± Wang Zhi spoke with sincere earnestness, showing goodwill even before Lin Tianming had said a word. It seemed that, with the end of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Lin Tianming¡¯s reputation had already spread throughout Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect. That was good, for in the Cultivation World, strength is revered. With it, one could gain the recognition of others, making certain matters more convenient. This is the treatment reserved for the powerful! Knowing this, faced with Wang Zhi¡¯s initiative in showing goodwill, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush and directly inquired about the news concerning the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom. He considered this because the Sky Dragon Pavilion, being an external force after all, would naturally not have information to the extent that the Zhenyang Sect, being part of the situation, would have. Sure enough, upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose, Wang Zhi¡¯s expression turned angry. ¡°Daoist Lin, I won¡¯t hide it from you; I¡¯ve just received accurate information that the Golden Sword Sect has received support from a strange force and plans to make a move against our Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming pretended to be uninformed and asked, ¡°Daoist Wang, the three sects have been at peace for hundreds of years. Why are they making such a grand move this time, and for what reason? Besides, which force is assisting the Golden Sword Sect, and how many Golden Core Cultivators have come?¡± Chapter 726 03-25 - 726 395 Three Elders Weep with Joy_1 ?Chapter 726: Chapter 395: Three Elders Weep with Joy_1 Chapter 726: Chapter 395: Three Elders Weep with Joy_1 Hearing this series of questions, Wang Zhi said with a helpless face, ¡°The specifics of this matter are still unknown for the time being!¡± ¡°However, based on the guesses of our sect, the force helping the Golden Sword Sect is very likely to be the Blood Red Alliance, the top power in Qingzhou!¡± ¡°The Blood Red Alliance?¡± Lin Tianming continued to feign shock, mumbling as if recalling information about the Blood Red Alliance. Seeing this, Wang Zhi nodded and said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the Nascent Soul force of the Blood Red Alliance that dominates the Qingzhou Land!¡± ¡°As for the Golden Core Cultivators who have come to the Wei Kingdom, there are still no accurate details regarding their numbers and strength!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that it was as he had expected. The Zhenyang Sect, based on the storage bags of Chen Jianbin and other Golden Sword Sect disciples, would have certainly obtained some clues about the Blood Red Alliance. ... Moreover, with the Xu Family being mysteriously exterminated earlier and combining so many clues, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to trace some leads. In this way, it was only a matter of time before the Blood Red Alliance would be completely exposed to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Knowing this, Lin Tianming continued to indirectly inquire about the two sects¡¯ strategies regarding the situation with the Golden Sword Sect. However, Wang Zhi apparently did not have a high enough status and the information he obtained was very limited, almost of no use. Regarding this, Lin Tianming was quite frustrated. However, if there was any move within the Zhenyang Sect, it would certainly spread through the various Market Cities. And although Wang Zhi¡¯s status among the Zhenyang Sect disciples was quite ordinary, he had taken over Li Xiuyuan¡¯s position and received the lucrative post of Market City Supervisor, which came with certain authority. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? The saying goes that those who are near the water get the moon first, a truth known to all. Therefore, Lin Tianming had no choice but to ask Wang Zhi to pay attention to this matter. Should the Zhenyang Sect make any significant move, it would be good to reveal some information to the Lin Family in advance for preparation. Wang Zhi was quite perceptive. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s face and receiving a reward of twenty thousand Spirit Stones, he promised that if there was any sign of trouble, he would reveal some information in advance. With Wang Zhi¡¯s affirmative reply, Lin Tianming was very satisfied. After a few casual exchanges, Lin Tianming then bade farewell to Wang Zhi and left Zhenyang Hall alone. With this matter concluded, Lin Tianming did not idle away his time but went to the shop area within the Market City. At this moment, he stood in front of Luoyun Pavilion, discreetly observing the hustle and bustle of the street. It was early morning, the time of day when the streets were most bustling with activity. The crowd in front of Luoyun Pavilion was dense, with many cultivators entering to purchase treasures. The businesses of other shops were also thriving, but apart from those industries owned by Golden Core forces, the popularity of shops opened by other powers was clearly inferior to Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was very pleased. He then walked around the shop area, spending a considerable amount of time and more than a hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase many treasures suitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. He kept busy until noon, only then returning to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. By this time, Lin Xing Rong had also returned, and the father and son sat down together for a chat. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup and then inquired, ¡°Father, how is the purchase of cultivation resources to bring back to the family going? Have you acquired enough treasures?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Xing Rong nodded and said, ¡°We have purchased quite a few treasures this time. Although there are limited numbers of high-order treasures, the overall quantity is substantial.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking how fortunate it was that the family always had this habit of purchasing a portion of resources with the Spirit Stones earned from Luoyun Pavilion and sending them back every once in a while. Otherwise, relying solely on the family¡¯s treasure hunting and his own refinement practices, it would be challenging to sustain the consumption of a family with hundreds of members. Subsequently, Lin Xing Rong also asked, ¡°Tianming, have you found any clues at Sky Dragon Pavilion regarding the whereabouts of Tianfeng and the other?¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Lin Tianming sighed helplessly. He had inquired about this during his recent visit to Tang Xiuyuan. The disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and the other had already been made known to Tang Xiuyuan early on, but their vanishing was too mysterious, and nobody knew their whereabouts. If they had left the Qingzhou Land, even the Tang Family backing Sky Dragon Pavilion could not extend their influence beyond it. Not to mention finding two ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the vast sea of people. Therefore, there was no progress on the search for Lin Tianfeng, leaving Tang Xiuyuan very helpless. Facing this, Lin Tianming could only ask Tang Xiuyuan to stay alert and spread the word wider, though he didn¡¯t hold much hope. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his opinion, the difficulty of locating the two was great, and everything depended on luck. He was more inclined to believe that Lin Tianfeng and his companion would eventually return to the family on their own initiative. After all, their lives were not in danger, and no matter where they were, as long as they were determined to return home, coming back was just a matter of time! Understanding this, Lin Tianming also spoke a few words of comfort to Lin Xing Rong. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Xing Rong also understood that the chances of finding them were slim, but as the family had entrusted him with this task, he must do his utmost regardless of whether he could succeed or not. Thus, the two discussed and planned various strategies to issue tasks for searching for Lin Tianfeng and his companion. The more people involved, the greater the chance of success. Soon after, they chatted for a while, finalized the methods to search for Lin Tianfeng and the other, and conveyed the plans to Lin Tianhong, who was to take charge of these matters. Having arranged this, they agreed on a time to set off the next day and then returned to their respective rooms. The next morning. As the sun just started penetrating the clouds and shining on the land, the sky gradually brightened. Chapter 727 03-25 - 727 395 Three Elders Shed Tears of Joy ?Chapter 727: Chapter 395: Three Elders Shed Tears of Joy _2 Chapter 727: Chapter 395: Three Elders Shed Tears of Joy _2 At this time, Lin Tianming and his son stepped out of Qianchuan Market together, successfully arriving at a hillside outside the city. Lin Tianming glanced at Qianchuan Market and then released Xiao Diao from the Spirit Beast Bag. It had been almost half a year since they started exterminating the Purple Gold Eagle Clan. Back then, Xiao Diao had consumed the flesh and blood of many of its kin, as well as many of their Demon Cores. Late into the period, Lin Tianming continued tirelessly to feed it, further assisting Xiao Diao. The effectiveness of these things on Xiao Diao was very apparent, and the improvement far surpassed that from the substances of other Demonic Beasts. At this moment, the golden feathers on Xiao Diao¡¯s body had become more plentiful, with almost half of its wings turning the color of gold. ... Not only that, Xiao Diao¡¯s presence had become even more powerful, seeming to be not far from reaching the Second Order Late Phase. It was evident that in this half-year period, Xiao Diao¡¯s growth had been rapid; perhaps in just a few years¡¯ time, it could reach the Second Order Late Phase and formally enter adulthood. When that time came, Xiao Diao¡¯s Spirit Wisdom would advance further. Beyond that, as the bloodline of the Golden Winged Dapeng within its body became more concentrated and pure, it was expected that its strength after breakthrough would certainly not be inconsequential. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied with Xiao Diao¡¯s growth. Lin Xingrong, upon seeing Xiao Diao, was also surprised, evidently not expecting that in just two years, Xiao Diao¡¯s growth could be so swift. The two men chuckled and felt in good spirits on the road back home. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Next, Lin Tianming was the first to jump onto Xiao Diao¡¯s back, with Lin Xingrong following in his footsteps, sitting down on Xiao Diao¡¯s back as well. Soon, Xiao Diao let out an excited shriek and then transformed into a black shadow, shooting towards the south. ¡­ Several days passed. At the periphery of Green Bamboo Mountain, the figures of Lin Tianming and his son appeared on a hilltop. The two had left Qianchuan Market, travel-weary from the relentless journey, stopping only for one night at Golden Sword Mountain before continuing on their way. In the end, it took only a few days, and the journey had been quite smooth. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at the familiar scenery before him, his face brimming with a wide smile. At this moment, he felt extremely content, and his entire being was incredibly relaxed. Indeed, he was carrying two Creation Fruits and one Creation Fruit Tree, along with three Jiuli Star Fruits. Five Nascent Soul Spiritual Items in total, and in addition, numerous storage bags from the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, accumulating an immensely terrifying wealth. Walking through the Cultivation World with so many items, even though he no longer feared any Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was natural to still have concerns. If he were to fall, all these treasures and wealth would dissipate like smoke, and the greatest opportunity for the rise of the Lin Family would be completely lost. However, with the father and son entering the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, all worries would dissolve, and the two would be completely safe. Understanding this, Lin Tianming breathed a long sigh of relief while looking at the Formation light screen in front of him, then turned to Lin Xingrong and said, ¡°Father, let¡¯s enter the Clan Territory!¡± ¡°Hmm, we¡¯ve finally come back. Let¡¯s go!¡± Having said that, Lin Xingrong was the first to rush into the Formation light screen. As he watched Lin Xingrong¡¯s figure disappear, Lin Tianming did not delay, taking Xiao Diao with him as they both charged into the light screen of the Formation. The clan members responsible for patrolling the gate immediately greeted the two as they saw the father and son. After exchanging a few casual words, Lin Tianming and his companion directly made for the main peak¡¯s summit. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Receiving the transmission from the two, several of the Lin ¡®Shi¡¯ generation family members were already waiting in Lin Shilu¡¯s cave dwelling, except for Lin Shikang, who was in the midst of his Impact of Golden Core Stage. Lin Tianming and his father did not tarry, skipping a visit to their own caves and their female family members, heading straight to Lin Shilu¡¯s abode to gather with the elder family members. As the two entered the cave dwelling, the others sitting and chatting leisurely in the small courtyard looked excited. At that moment, Lin Shilu was the first to greet Lin Tianming, seeing him. ¡°Xingrong, Tianming, you two have finally come back!¡± ¡°` ¡°I¡¯ve seen Grandpa (Father), and I¡¯ve seen all the elders!¡± Lin Tianming and his companion clasped their fists and bowed, speaking in unison to the group before them. ¡°Tianming, come over here and sit!¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face was filled with excitement as he waved eagerly for Lin Tianming and his companion to join them. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his father didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly went over to take their seats. Soon after, Lin Shigong, who had been quiet until now, couldn¡¯t wait any longer and eagerly began to ask about Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences over the past year. On the other side, Lin Shilu and another were feeling the same way, each with eyes full of anticipation, curious about Lin Tianming¡¯s adventures and what fortunes he had encountered. Seeing the elders¡¯ impatience, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and began recounting his various experiences since leaving the Lin Family, over the course of the past year. Half an hour later, when Lin Shilu and the others learned that Lin Tianming had tamed a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, they were thrilled and envious. Understandably so, for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox is no ordinary Spirit Beast; its Divine Skills are extremely cunning, and its strength profound. It was indeed a prime choice among Spirit Beasts. And Lin Tianming was lucky indeed; not only had he obtained numerous Third Grade Treasures, but he had also acquired such a Spirit Beast, which was no small gain. Yet, this was merely the tip of the iceberg of all his gains over the past year. When they heard that Lin Tianming had obtained two Fruits of Fortuity and an intact Creation Fruit Tree, Lin Shilu and the other elders of the Lin Family were moved to tears, weeping uncontrollably on the spot. Clearly, the impact of this news was so overwhelming that it was too much for them to take in all at once. At this moment, Lin Shigong, while wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeves, choked up and said, ¡°Tianming, is this really true?¡± ¡°Really, Tianming, is everything you¡¯ve told us true?¡± Lin Shihua also found it hard to believe and chimed in with a few words, continuously asking Lin Tianming if he was dreaming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay; he took out the two Creation Fruits and placed them on the stone table before the two men. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression became a bit more composed, but he was still breathing rapidly, seemingly excited to the extreme. Then, he glanced at his elder brothers and shakily picked up a Jade Box. Opening it, he finally revealed the true form of a Fruit of Fortuity. ¡°This is really the Fruit of Fortuity, truly the Fruit of Fortuity, no doubt about it!¡± ¡°Truly, heaven blesses the Lin Family!¡± Lin Shilu was ecstatic, holding the Jade Box with the Fruit of Fortuity, dancing and gesturing excitedly. In his heart, obtaining a Star Moon Fruit from the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm had been quite difficult, involving great risk. And that treasure had been given to Lin Shikang for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Originally, they all firmly believed that the best candidate for consuming the Star Moon Fruit was the Hidden Dragon of the Lin Family, Lin Tianming. After all, with Lin Tianming¡¯s Dual Spiritual Roots and the firmness of his realm, he was the most suitable candidate to consume the Star Moon Fruit. However, plans failed to keep up with change and external pressures forced them to advance a family member¡¯s attempt at entering the Golden Core Stage, in order to tide the Lin Family over through potential crises. The decision at that time was also made out of necessity. But now, Lin Tianming¡¯s luck was against the heavens; he had obtained two Creation Fruits and even a Creation Fruit Tree in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Not only that, but he had also made it safely back to the family. It was simply inconceivable! Lin Tianming had reached the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and Lin Shilu had reached the Ninth Level. Their cultivation was not far from Great Perfection, and with these two Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, should all go well, perhaps within ten years, they could both aspire to the Impact of Golden Core Stage. If they were lucky enough to both enter the Golden Core Stage, all of the Lin Family¡¯s problems would be solved easily. Thinking of these things, Lin Shigong and the other elders, including Lin Xingrong, were excited beyond measure. After calming down, Lin Shilu and the others, emotional and unable to part with it, took turns admiring the Creation Fruit, as if they feared it would vanish into thin air. ¡°` Chapter 728 03-25 - 728 396 Family Arrangement_1 ?Chapter 728: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_1 Chapter 728: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_1 After a long while, the group finally regained their composure. Clan Leader Lin Shihua gave a few awkward laughs and said, ¡°It seems we old folks have lost our composure!¡± ¡°Tian Ming, continue with your story!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and began to recount what happened next. Learning that Lin Tianming had fortuitously encountered Yang Chen and his party and had joined their alliance, Clan Leader Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat. After all, this was no small matter; the power of the Golden Sword Sect was still something the Lin Family alone could not contend with. Whether by choice or by necessity, provoking a Golden Elixir Force and standing against it was not a wise move. ... S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the sect decided to settle scores after autumn, the Lin Family would surely be in constant trouble. Though the Lin Family was no longer the easy target it once was, if a major war broke out with the Golden Sword Sect, the Lin Family would undoubtedly suffer. If that happened, the great situation that the Lin Family had painstakingly managed for decades could be completely destroyed. However, upon hearing about the Blood Red Alliance and how Lin Tianming emphasized that the Golden Sword Sect had unilaterally decided to cause trouble for Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, disrupting centuries of peace, it was apparent that this was a despicable act, completely opposite to righteousness. From this perspective, Lin Tianming¡¯s choice to side with Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect was a just endeavor. Even if this affair spread throughout the Cultivation World and the Golden Sword Sect retaliated against the Lin Family, it would be difficult to sidestep the two Great Sects. After all, if the Lin Family was righteously assisting and then was attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, if the two sects stood by idly, they would be despised by all. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Thus, the Lin Family would surely receive the protection of the two sects, at least ensuring the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have to face the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s retribution alone. Understanding this, Lin Tianming, as the hope for the family¡¯s rise, taking such an action, was not unacceptable. As Lin Tianming continued to narrate, the clan members received more and more information. Especially upon hearing that Lin Tianming had killed Chen Jianbin and obtained nine Jiuli Star Fruits, their recently calmed hearts surged once again. Clearly, this news was extraordinarily explosive, leaving them utterly shocked. Indeed, just having the Creation Fruit Tree had been an unexpected surprise and brought them immense joy. Yet Lin Tianming went on a rampage, eliminating Chen Jianbin and others, intercepting all of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s harvest, seizing what they had long plotted for. Such an unpredictable turn of events not only surprised them but also left them thoroughly astonished. After a long while, the group finally managed to calm down. At this moment, Clan Leader Lin Shihua¡¯s thinking was clearer. He also understood how hot a property the Jiuli Star Fruits were and that giving them all to Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect was too disheartening. He was well aware that whether it was any sect or family, no one would consider the Jiuli Star Fruits excessive. And the Lin Family coveted them deeply, wishing they could keep them all. However, such thoughts were not feasible and could only be wished for inwardly. After all, the Jiuli Star Fruits were supposed to belong to the three Great Sects in the first place; it was just that the Golden Sword Sect had disrupted the peace and was even planning to conspire against Myriad Medicine Valley and the other two Great Sects with external forces. The outcome was completely unexpected, with all of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples perishing in the Secret Realm and their hard-earned gain snatched away by Yang Chen and company in a desperate counterattack. The course of this event was too winding and beyond anyone¡¯s anticipation. At this time, Clan Leader Lin Shihua, much like Lin Tianming at the beginning, was full of indecision and found it troublesome to decide on handing over the Jiuli Star Fruits. The answerless Lin Shihua racked his brains but couldn¡¯t think of any good solutions. A few breaths later, he looked at Lin Tianming and then asked, ¡°Tian Ming¡­ the Jiuli Star Fruits originally belonged to the three Great Sects. After you took them, how do Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect plan to deal with these items?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and then explained how he had divided the Jiuli Star Fruits into three parts. After a long while, having learned the entire story, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. They were genuinely worried that if Lin Tianming mishandled the situation and kept the Jiuli Star Fruits, which should belong to the two sects, it would be easy to offend both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, making the already precarious situation of the Lin Family even more troublesome. Not only that, but Lin Tianming had to face the disciples of the two sects and also guard against them turning on him. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had his principles and understood the situation at the time, returning the Jiuli Star Fruits, which belonged to the two sects, intact. Furthermore, he did not take the initiative to decide the ownership of the remaining three Jiuli Star Fruits but kept them in hand as leverage over the two sects. Thus, he did so to ensure that he could exit the Secret Realm safely and return to the Lin Family Clan Grounds. As for the ownership of the three Jiuli Star Fruits, he stated that they were at the discretion of the high echelons of the two sects. And the Lin Family was only temporarily guarding the items, ready to have them retrieved by someone from the sects whenever conditions permitted. Overall, although the situation carried no small risk, given the circumstances at that time, there was no perfect solution! Fortunately, the situation was complex and the decisions made were reluctant, not causing any discord among the disciples of the two sects, nor placing the Lin Family against them. Chapter 729 03-25 - 729 396 Family Arrangement_2 ?Chapter 729: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_2 Chapter 729: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_2 Understanding this, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianming and couldn¡¯t help but praise him. ¡°Tianming, the situation was complex at that time, but you handled it very well!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Twelfth Grandpa, you¡¯re joking!¡± ¡°The situation was indeed tricky, but fortunately, my grandnephew distinguished himself greatly in the battle and even saved the lives of Yang Chen and others.¡± ¡°And they knew to repay the favor, not showing any ingratitude by destroying the bridge after crossing the river.¡± ¡°More importantly, right after exiting the Secret Realm, the Golden Sword Sect played the two Golden Core Cultivators, leaving them no time or energy to care for the Jiuli Star Fruits they held.¡± Lin Tianming recalled the scene with an expression of relief on his face. ... Hearing this, Lin Shihua also nodded, a hint of a smile flashing across his face. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ If Luo Anzhong and his companion hadn¡¯t been attacked by the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators, the ownership of those few Jiuli Star Fruits may have already been decided.¡± ¡°And with your strength and the strength of our Lin Family being far inferior to theirs, we could only be at others¡¯ mercy, without any bargaining power.¡± ¡°From this perspective, ensuring your safe return would not have been easy!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu chimed in. ¡°Twelfth Brother is right!¡± ¡°The people from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect are no kinder, and with the high value of the Jiuli Star Fruits, keeping those three would be very difficult!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Seeing Lin Shilu speak thus, Lin Tianming smiled and revealed a pure smile as he spoke. ¡°Heh heh¡­ This matter is not so easy to say!¡± ¡°You see, the focus of both sects from Myriad Medicine Valley is currently all on the Golden Sword Sect, with even their High Order Cultivators being closely watched by disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. I fear they won¡¯t have the time to come to our family to reclaim Jiuli Star Fruits any time soon.¡± ¡°In this case, if the two sects only send Foundation Establishment Disciples, the Lin Family can fully delay things!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Shihua and the others looked puzzled, seemingly not quite understanding Lin Tianming¡¯s statement. Seeing their confusion, Lin Tianming quickly explained. ¡°My seniors, considering our current situation in the Lin Family, we are not without the means to delay!¡± ¡°You know, Grandpa Sea has already reached the Core Formation, Third Grandfather is also preparing for the Golden Core Stage, and both Fifteenth Grandfather and I have reached the late stages of the Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°In particular, Fifteenth Grandfather has reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. If all goes well, within at most five years, he could be prepared to make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage!¡± ¡°Once successful, the Lin Family will have not just one Golden Core Cultivator but potentially more, naturally granting us the strength to hold our own against the two sects!¡± ¡°In addition, I have managed to recruit the Loose Cultivator Hu Yuan, who accompanied me during our trials, by promising to help him with his attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°As long as Daoist Hu succeeds, he will be able to stand guard over the Lin Family Clan Grounds for fifty years and will lend a hand in matters he is capable of handling for the Lin Family!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others all nodded their approval, satisfied. They had not expected Lin Tianming to be so clever as to entice a Loose Cultivator preparing for the Golden Core Stage. If it turned out as he said, the Lin Family would truly not fear the encounter with one of the three sects. ¡°Good¡­ good¡­¡± Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua repeated the word ¡®good¡¯ several times, clearly endorsing his strategy. They very well understood the value of the Jiuli Star Fruits. After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s analysis of the current predicament of the two sects and how they were tightly monitored by the Golden Sword Sect, there was always the potential for an all-out sect-destroying war. Under such tough conditions, the High Order Cultivators from the Myriad Medicine Valley sects simply weren¡¯t able to intervene. With only the Foundation Establishment Cultivators coming to the Lin Family Clan Grounds, they indeed had some ability to delay. Just a delay of five to ten years was needed. Once either Lin Shikang or Lin Shilu succeeded in reaching the Core Formation, the overall strength of the Lin Family would see a tremendous increase. By that time, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy for the two sects to monopolize the Jiuli Star Fruits. Understanding this, Lin Shilu and others were all excited beyond measure. At that moment, Lin Tianming changed the subject and brought up the attack on Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun by Song Hanchun and two unfamiliar Golden Core Cultivators. With the old issue resurfaced, those who were brimming with excitement felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on them, instantly realizing the events that could potentially unfold in the Cultivation World. Looking at the silent group, Clan Leader Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Shigong, then spoke up to ask a question. ¡°Ninth Brother, since Third Brother is making an Impact on the Golden Core Stage and now you¡¯re the eldest among us old brothers, what¡¯s your opinion on this matter?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lin Shigong sighed helplessly. ¡°We¡¯ve barely survived the beast tide attack, and before we could have a few years of peace, another war is about to break out that¡¯s no less severe than the beast tide!¡± ¡°This time, no family in the Wei Kingdom will be able to stand alone. As for which of the three Sects will emerge victorious, it¡¯s hard to say!¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve already positioned ourselves with the Zhenyang Sect and exist under its watchful eye. Apart from making some arrangements in advance to face this crisis, there isn¡¯t much else we can do!¡± Hearing Lin Shigong¡¯s words, the others also nodded their heads in resignation, their hearts filled with involuntary sighs. Then, Clan Leader Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianming and his son, as well as Lin Shilu, signaling them to share their thoughts. Seeing this, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingrong both spoke up with several suggestions. Their thoughts were straightforward: to make arrangements in advance, temporarily close down some of the less profitable Spirit Land ventures, and strive for excellence. Next was to strengthen the defenses of the major Spirit Lands, and gather as many war resources as possible. For the clan¡¯s ventures, the focus should be on stability. As for external circumstances, they would take it one step at a time. Lin Tianming, after much contemplation, couldn¡¯t come up with a particularly reliable solution either. In his view, with the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s involvement, the inevitable clash between the three Sects would eventually erupt. By then, all powers in the Wei Kingdom, be they Foundation Establishing Families or Qi Refining Families, would likely find it impossible to avoid the conflict. Given the modus operandi of the three major Sects, issuing another Recruitment Order was certain, and the forces summoned might even be greater than those during the last beast tide. The Lin Family, now a top-tier Foundation Establishing Family with influence throughout the southern Wei Kingdom, would undoubtedly be on Zhenyang Sect¡¯s list for recruitment. Fortunately, the Lin Family had grown significantly since then and even if several Foundation Establishment Cultivators were to join the war, the overall strength of the family would not be greatly impacted. As for making preparations in advance, he had already taken some actions, having reached an agreement with Tang Xiuyuan of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. He also acquired over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones¡¯ worth of cultivation resources and consumable treasures from the stores in Qianchuan Market. Besides that, the family had also accumulated some treasure resources over the years, a considerable amount indeed. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the next few years, there must be an intensified effort to accumulate more war resources, so as to ensure the family¡¯s safety through the ordeal. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming shared his ideas, emphasizing the cooperation with Tang Xiuyuan of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and instructed the family to immediately arrange for this to take place. Soon after, following discussion among the group, a preliminary consensus was reached. Firstly, to start increasing the alert status of all major Spirit Lands, to recall those who are out on training, and to maximize the clan¡¯s defensive forces. Secondly, to have Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming enter secluded cultivation immediately, with the aim of shortening the time needed to reach the Golden Core Stage. Thirdly, to withdraw three hundred thousand strategic reserve Spirit Stones from the family¡¯s reserves and assigned the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master, Lin Xingcheng, along with Lin Xingrong to take charge of collecting various war resources. Anything that could enhance cultivation or strengthen power was needed, be it elixirs, Spirit Fruits, Magic Artifacts, talisman paper, or consumable treasures¡ª they wanted them all. Fourthly, to begin distributing some strategic reserve resources to the clan members to support their advancement in their cultivation realms. And to dispatch the Enforcement Hall Master, Lin Xingzhi, to organize several teams to enter the Luoyun Mountain Range for training, in order to improve the clan members¡¯ combat experience. Fifthly, to start integrating the various families within the Luoyun Mountain Range, forming an even larger force, and enhance the defensive power of Luoyun Market. With these matters settled, the preparations for the battle were mostly in place. ¡­ Chapter 730 03-25 - 730 397 Astonishing Wealth_1 ?Chapter 730: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_1 Chapter 730: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_1 ¡°` With the external affairs settled, the group of five finally shifted the conversation. At this moment, what Lin Tianming cared about the most were the changes within the Lin Family, especially Lin Shikang¡¯s attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage and the results of the family¡¯s large-scale arrangement for clan members to establish their foundations. Thus, Lin Tianming brought up the matter. According to Lin Shihua¡¯s introduction, the family had undergone significant changes over the past two years. Most importantly, Lin Shikang had been in secluded cultivation for nearly two years, and his early preparations should have been completed. Lin Shihua revealed that the spiritual energy at Lin Shikang¡¯s secluded cultivation site was extremely dense, appearing to almost reach the level that Ye Pinghai had when he attracted heavenly tribulation. Clearly, Lin Shikang¡¯s progress in attempting the Golden Core Stage was faster than Ye Pinghai¡¯s had been. ... The probable reason was that Lin Shikang possessed the breakthrough insights left by the ancestral founder. Moreover, Lin Tianming had personally protected Ye Pinghai during his cultivation retreat, witnessing the entire process of his breakthrough. Besides, after Ye Pinghai¡¯s successful breakthrough, his teaching by word and example naturally made the process less arduous than stumbling through it alone. As such, after nearly two years of seclusion, Lin Shikang had made significant progress. Back then, Ye Pinghai¡¯s initial preparations, coupled with the time for seclusion and breakthrough, spanned almost four years. Whereas now, Lin Shikang was just shy of two years into his retreat, yet he was already close to the stage of attracting heavenly tribulation. This pace excited all the clansmen, with everyone eagerly awaiting the arrival of the tribulation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Beyond the crucial matter of Lin Shikang, the results of the clan¡¯s mass foundation establishment were also very pleasing. Four months ago, all the clan members who had secluded themselves to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage emerged. Out of the twelve who attempted the breakthrough, eight succeeded. The two-thirds success rate satisfied everyone. Following this round of foundation establishment, there were now nearly thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators in the family, with almost half of them never having shown their faces in the outside world. One can imagine, with nearly thirty Foundation Establishment members and three of them boasting the combat power of Great Perfection, this force could easily top the list of all Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom aside from the Three Sects and Two Clans with Golden Core cultivators. If all the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment members were to appear before the public eye, it would certainly cause a huge sensation. However, the cultivation world was currently not very peaceful. These newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators were still shallow in their cultivation and would inevitably remain in the family to consolidate their cultivation and practice for several years. Only after their strength improved would they be assigned tasks according to the family¡¯s situation. It could be said that both the matter of Lin Shikang¡¯s seclusion and the clan members¡¯ results in impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage were very satisfactory. Apart from these two important matters, another issue also weighed on Lin Tianming¡¯s mind¡ªthe situation of the family¡¯s genius, Lin Tianyun. At this time, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Shihua and the others before asking, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, I heard from father that the family has identified a Wind Spirit Root genius, but our family does not possess any wind-attribute cultivation techniques. What shall we do about this?¡± Lin Tianming was unaware that among the treasures Lin Tianfeng had obtained in the Secret Realm, there was a wind-attribute cultivation technique. Those privy to this affair, including Lin Tianhong and Lin Xingrong, who was dispatched by the family to locate Lin Tianfeng, were also not aware of the existence of the wind-attribute cultivation technique. Thus, Lin Tianming raised the question. At this moment, upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua simply smiled and was about to reveal what Lin Tianfeng had secretly sent back with Lin Tianhong. The secret of Lin Tianyun and that wind-attribute cultivation technique was known to only a few senior family members bearing the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation title in the entire family. Even the few members responsible for seeking a wind-attribute cultivation technique were not aware of Lin Tianyun¡¯s existence. This secret was also one of the Lin Family¡¯s greatest secrets. At the very least, it could not be revealed within the family until the Lin Family had its own Golden Core cultivator, let alone exposed in the cultivation world. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong were also core members of the family, so Lin Shihua naturally had no intention of concealing it from them. After learning that the issue with the cultivation technique had been resolved, Lin Tianming and his son felt as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Currently, the Lin Family held several Nascent Soul Spiritual Items and had as many as three candidates ready to attempt the Golden Core Stage within a short time. There were also more than twenty Foundation Establishment members. This strength was strong and robust in every aspect. Beyond that, the Lin Family had all the foundations in place for a substantial increase in overall strength. What they needed now was time. Once Lin Shikang was successful in forming his core, the Lin Family would have a certain level of power to compete with the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And that time might be within the next one or two years. Realizing this, everyone present was wildly excited. Finally calming down, Lin Tianming took advantage of the atmosphere to deliver more good news. He waved his sleeve, and over ten storage bags were placed on the stone table in front of him. These storage bags belonged to the cultivators he had killed in the Secret Realm. The most valuable among them, naturally, were the storage bags of Chen Jianbin and Du Changqing. After all, they were among the top disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and Du Changqing was a Second Order Array Master. Their wealth was certainly higher than that of ordinary cultivators. With the past few months spent traveling, Lin Tianming had not had time to inventory these storage bags. Now that he had finally returned to clan territory, it was naturally time to thoroughly inspect these spoils of war to understand their full extent. ¡°` Chapter 731 03-25 - 731 397 Astonishing Wealth_2 ?Chapter 731: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_2 Chapter 731: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_2 At this moment, Lin Shihua and the others looked at the storage bags in front of them, each with an excited expression. Although they¡¯d heard from Lin Tianming about the adventures in the secret realm, including the collection of no few storage bags, they couldn¡¯t say for sure what the ultimate gains would be. Now, at last, they could count their spoils, each bearing a tint of anticipation. Immediately after, with a single wave of his hand, Lin Tianming sent the storage bag flying towards the others, who caught them in their hands. Following that, each of them sent out their divine sense to forcefully erase the residual divine sense on the storage bags. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming was the first to see the items inside the storage bag, his face instantly becoming flushed, breathing turning inevitably hurried. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unsurprisingly, this storage bag happened to be one of the most valuable ones, belonging to Chen Jianbin. ... Upon his investigation, this bag contained numerous items from the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect; it seemed to be the storage bag where Chen Jianbin kept his spoils of war separately. After all, Chen Jianbin had personally killed quite a number of disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect in the secret realm. And those who died by his hand naturally had their loot taken by Chen Jianbin. This storage bag was not small in space, and it was packed full, various magic artifacts and cultivation resources piled together in a somewhat untidy mess. It looked like Chen Jianbin hadn¡¯t had the chance to sort through them and had inadvertently given Lin Tianming a bargain. According to his exploration, there were as many as 260,000 spirit stones, more than a dozen items when combining Third Order Spiritual Medicines and ores, and over ten pieces of attack and defense artifacts, both good and damaged. First and Second Order items were even more numerous, with hundreds of types and varying quantities. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Besides, there were plenty of elixir charms and such; there were even two Foundation Establishment Pills, likely the stock of some unfortunate cultivators from the two sects. Regrettably, there were practically no inheritance items, such as cultivation techniques or records, in these storage bags. Thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t surprising, as sect cultivators didn¡¯t have the habit of carrying inheritance items with them. Especially when entering dangerous places like secret realms, they would be even less likely to bring such things. If they were to fall there, their backing sects couldn¡¯t afford such a loss either. However, even so, this storage bag wasn¡¯t without gains; there were very few inheritance items left by some cultivators, mostly insights related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. Yet, the ranks were not high, and the amount of useful stuff was very limited. Even so, the value of this storage bag was still immense. Based on his preliminary estimates, just the treasures inside this one storage bag amounted to at least the wealth of several Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If converted to spirit stones, its value would definitely exceed 500,000 spirit stones. While his face was flushed and slightly distracted, Lin Shilu beside him had a similar reaction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming came back to his senses, looked at Lin Shilu who was also breathing fast, and quickly asked. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what did you find in this storage bag?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu smiled awkwardly. ¡°This storage bag also has quite a few treasures, various spiritual medicines, elixirs, talisman papers, and ores. Its value should also amount to over 200,000!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, revealing a dismissive expression. Seeing this, Lin Shilu looked embarrassed, then immediately asked, ¡°Tian Ming, what did you find in your storage bag?¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you can see for yourself!¡± With that said, Lin Tianming handed the storage bag he had to Lin Shilu, then picked up another one. Based on the residual aura, the items in this bag should belong to Chen Jianbin himself. He efficiently erased the divine sense on it and soon began a detailed investigation. In no time at all, he finished checking this private storage bag of Chen Jianbin. After his tally, the bag didn¡¯t contain many items¡ªless than 80,000 spirit stones¡ªand not many treasures, although a few Third Grade Treasures were considered quite decent. ¡°` Quite clearly, this storage bag must have been the personal belonging of Chen Jianbin; the quantity and value of these items, when summed up, were not very high¡ªjust barely reaching over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Even, it fell far short of his own wealth before entering the Secret Realm. Such a total wealth obviously did not match Chen Jianbin¡¯s status, which caused him some disappointment. However, after giving it some thought, Lin Tianming reasoned that the cultivators from the three great sects must all do the same, likely leaving a portion of their wealth within the sects before entering the Secret Realm. This action was not strange; this way, if they perished, the sect would not suffer too great a loss. So the wealth in this capacity did indeed match that of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator¡¯s wealth. With this disheartened feeling, Lin Tianming continued to inspect the remaining storage bags. In no time, the dozen or so storage bags before everyone had all been checked. And when Lin Tianming explored the third storage bag, he finally felt completely satisfied. After a thorough inspection, this storage bag¡¯s value far surpassed any of the previous ones; even the first one, valued at five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, could not compare to this one. The contents of this storage bag were rather uniform, solely storing Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Fruits¡ªresources for cultivation. They included First, Second, and Third Order items, with a total count of at least several thousand plants. Ordinary items made up the vast majority, while the more precious ones were those Third Order Spirit Medicine Materials, amounting to as many as sixty plants. Besides that, there was also White Jade Grass, the main ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, totaling over thirty plants, all of which were five hundred years old and ready to be used for concocting Foundation Establishment Pills. The number of these Spiritual Medicines was not small, and their value was extraordinarily high. Based on his rough estimation, the accumulated value of the treasures in this storage bag could easily break one million Spirit Stones. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming immediately understood. This immensely valuable storage bag was where Chen Jianbin had stored their collection of Spiritual Medicines over the past year. This large batch of Spiritual Medicines was likely the treasures collected for the sect, all from Spirit Lands discovered by predecessors who would harvest them every two hundred years. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be such an amount and on such a grand scale. Apart from this storage bag, Lin Shilu and the others also explored a few storage bags each. After their investigations, the contents of these storage bags were also quite unique, with various Spirit Ores, Spirit Materials, and Demonic Beast Materials separately stored in different storage bags, evidently categorized by Chen Jianbin. The value of these items was likewise substantial; although individually none compared with the storage bag containing the Spiritual Medicines and Fruits, their cumulative value definitely surpassed that of the bag containing only those items. He estimated that their value was at least three million Spirit Stones. As the exploration of over a dozen storage bags was completed, the complexions of everyone present turned rosy, their breathing a bit heavier. Including Lin Tianming, their faces were flushed, and their emotions took a long time to settle down. It was indeed no wonder that they couldn¡¯t remain calm! The assortment of treasures was simply too comprehensive, covering resources needed for cultivator and the Four Arts of Cultivation, including Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Ores, and Spirit Materials. It was practically a Treasure Vault! And not just any vault, but one of a small Golden Core force! The value of these items was exceedingly high for the current Lin Family. With a rough calculation, the combined value of these items was at least worth over seven million Spirit Stones. This wealth was so substantial that even if all the Lin Family¡¯s assets were pooled together, including the private possessions of the family members, it would likely not reach half the value of these treasures. It was hard to imagine that Lin Tianming had intercepted a huge batch of resources that Golden Sword Sect had accumulated over two hundred years. With such a vast array of treasures, covering resources from all domains, giving the Lin Family a few more decades, it stood to reason that the entire family¡¯s power could make a qualitative leap. One could imagine that perhaps in just twenty to thirty years, the overall strength of the family could easily quadruple. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 732 03-25 - 732 398 Decision_1 ?Chapter 732: Chapter 398 Decision_1 Chapter 732: Chapter 398 Decision_1 Realizing the importance of this vast amount of resources, and understanding the transformation they would bring to the Lin Family, they clearly represented a tremendous opportunity for the Lin Family¡¯s rise. For quite a long time, a group of people found it hard to calm down. However, Lin Tianming, who had some forewarning, was the first to regain his composure. He knew that this chance was originally property of the Golden Sword Sect, and it took a full two hundred years to amass such a trove of treasures. Even for an entity like the Golden Sword Sect, which had a heritage spanning nearly ten thousand years, this was not an insignificant sum. Therefore, they would certainly not let the matter rest. Realizing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, worried about the Lin Family¡¯s future predicament. ... But since the Lin Family had already done this deed and brought everything back to their clan land, there was absolutely no reason to give it up. As long as they could get through these few years, and the Lin Family had its own Golden Core Clan Member, they would be able to breathe a sigh of relief. This was why the Lin Family had to be extra cautious and use this huge resource to quickly enhance their strength. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at the clan members still in the throes of ecstasy and then began to remind them. ¡°Elders, these resources are vast and, precisely because they are so valuable, our family¡¯s crisis is even greater. So we must seize the time to enhance our strength!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others were jolted back to reality. Indeed, opportunity and crisis often coexist! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Now that the Lin Family had acquired these resources and intended to keep them, they had to bear the associated risks. Fortunately, the current Golden Sword Sect¡¯s attention had been drawn by both Myriad Medicine Valley and another party, and they were not aware that the items were in the Lin Family¡¯s hands. In such a situation, the Golden Sword Sect was also in a state of utter chaos, with their focus entirely on the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. It was unlikely, for the time being, that they could spare the effort to deal with a small-power Lin Family. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s current strength had not been exposed, and it was only a small target, unlikely to attract their attention. With these thoughts in mind, everyone was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Subsequently, the group discussed some strategies to respond to the situation before ending the topic. At this moment, they had only accounted for a good portion of the gains. The items Lin Tianming had acquired in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had not yet been presented. Thus, Lin Tianming then took out several storage bags, as well as the Spirit Beast Bag, and placed them in front of everyone. Soon, he also took out the things he had obtained in the secret realm. Aside from the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, all Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore were taken out. Including the Fruit of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree, which were stored separately in a storage bag. This amount of resources, which he had obtained on his own, although not as valuable as the treasures from Chen Jianbin, their cumulative worth was also quite formidable. Just the Fruit of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree alone, these two items amounted to a considerable wealth, and they were goods without a market price. And although Lin Shihua and the others had heard from Lin Tianming about his experiences in the secret realm and had a rough idea of his gains, when they saw items like the Earth Rampart Crystal, a Third Order Spiritual Ore, Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t wait to pick it up for a closer examination, then displayed an expression of not wanting to part with it. At this time, the gloomy expressions on several of their faces also lightened considerably at the sight of the treasures. Watching the excited group, Lin Tianming pondered for a long time and decided to keep three hundred thousand Spirit Stones for himself, then hand over most of the vast treasures obtained from the secret realm to the family. After all, he was not short of Spirit Stones currently, nor did he lack cultivation resources needed prior to the Golden Core Stage. As for what he needed, he kept a small portion of the more rare Spiritual Medicine for later use in concocting elixirs to enhance his cultivation. Besides, the useful Spirit Fruits for him were gathered and a few were kept for himself. For those not available, he could have the family collect them. The reason for this was that the family was currently beset with crises and desperately needed to improve the overall strength of the clan to face the upcoming crises. Apart from external factors, it was mainly because the resources were too vast for one person to use up. There were already quite a few Foundation Establishment Clan Members in the family, requiring a vast amount of resources. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, with his limited energy at the moment, he had to focus on cultivating to improve his cultivation in preparation for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, handing over the majority of the treasures, whether for himself or for the family, was an essential course of action. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming looked at the people present and then spoke to Lin Shihua, saying, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, please incorporate these treasures into the family Treasure Vault!¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Lin Shihua looked troubled, seeming a bit embarrassed. However, as the family steward, who held the grasp of every matter in his mind, he understood the family¡¯s dire situation and the desperate need for these resources to enhance the strength of the clan members. Yet these resources were so immense that even selling the entire Lin Family might not fetch half their value. And Lin Tianming had already contributed enough to the family over the years. Upon reflecting, from the initial Minor Foundation Building Pill to various cultivation techniques and resources, everything was related to him. Including the Star Moon Fruit Lin Shikang used for his Golden Core Stage, the Spirit Arts cultivated by the core clan members, and the Fruit of Fortuity and Creation Fruit Tree he had brought back this time, every item could substantially improve the family¡¯s strength. Chapter 733 03-25 - 733 398 Decision_2 ?Chapter 733: Chapter 398 Decision_2 Chapter 733: Chapter 398 Decision_2 It could be said that in just a few short decades, the Lin Family had transformed from a small clan struggling to survive amidst precarious circumstances into the leading Foundation Establishing Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Lin Tianming played an absolutely critical role in this transformation. No one could replace this role, let alone place it in the same category! Understanding this, Lin Shihua fell silent for a long time, unable to utter a single word. Seeing this, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, as a descendant of the Lin bloodline, it is only right for me to contribute to our clan! ¡°In addition to that, I have left behind three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and a small portion of the items useful to me, so if I need any treasures in the future, I can simply take them from the family¡¯s treasure vault.¡± ¡°Even if there is something we don¡¯t have, the family will help to collect it.¡± ... No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong also began to urge Lin Shihua to accept. ¡°Shihua¡­ you should accept on behalf of the family. This kid has always been lucky, he always gains a lot every time he goes out, and he certainly doesn¡¯t lack treasures for cultivation.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Twelfth Uncle, accept it. If Tianming needs to collect anything in the future, the family must help him!¡± Hearing the words of Lin Xingrong and the others, Lin Shihua nodded thoughtfully. Right after that, he casually took the storage bag and the Spirit Beast Bag in front of Lin Tianming. After finishing these actions, Lin Shihua stood up, cupped his fists towards Lin Tianming, and said a word of thanks. ¡°Tianming, your contribution is seen by all of us. On behalf of the more than five hundred members of our clan, I thank you!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°No, no, this is too much!¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming protested while quickly standing up, pulling an emotionally stirred Lin Shihua back to his seat. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa is too kind!¡± ¡°I have only done my best, hoping that the clan can use these resources to substantially strengthen our overall power, in order to face any crisis that might erupt at any moment!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua nodded. He was equally aware of the Lin Family¡¯s situation and understood what they were up against. Nevertheless, the Lin Family had to keep moving forward, no matter what¡ªonce they weathered this storm, they could truly make a name for themselves in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. And this could happen in ten years or perhaps twenty years. In short, the Lin Family had no other option. Realizing this, Lin Shihua glanced at everyone and then spoke, ¡°Tianming has made such a great contribution to the family; in fact, he already has the right to utilize all the family¡¯s strength and resources!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that this kid has always been self-reliant and hasn¡¯t exercised this right over the years!¡± ¡°Now that Tianming is so understanding of the greater good, I will not say any more useless words!¡± ¡°In any case, except for the Third Order Items, we will reserve all these treasures for Elder Shi, Shi Lu, and Tianming¡¯s use. All the other treasures must be distributed to those potential clanspeople, to help them improve their cultivation further, as well as their proficiency in the Four Arts of Cultivation.¡± Hearing this, the few people present had no objections. After all, Third Order Items are generally used by Golden Core Cultivators or those with a high level of proficiency in the Four Arts of Cultivation. And currently, only Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu, and Lin Tianming among the Lin Family qualified. One was a clansman in the process of impacting the Golden Core Stage, one was a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, and another was a Second Order High-Quality Artifact Refiner; ordinary clanspeople basically had no use for Third Grade Treasures. All things considered, the genuinely valuable treasures were indeed for the use of these three. Seeing no one opposed, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming added at this moment. ¡°The quantity of this batch of resources is substantial, and the variety of treasures is very comprehensive. When we distribute them to the clanspeople, we must also set some rules to stir up their enthusiasm for cultivation.¡± ¡°Therefore, I suggest we step up the efforts of the Monster Hunting Squad, for only through hard work can they obtain more resources!¡± ¡°Besides, a small portion of resources could be used to recruit some Qi Refining Families, including some capable Loose Cultivators, all of whom can serve our Lin family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion!¡± Lin Shilu, who had been silent for a long time, was the first to agree. ¡°The cultivation world is about to descend into chaos, and relying solely on the Lin Family¡¯s current strength may leave us spread too thin. Recruiting some families and loose cultivators can significantly enhance our family¡¯s error tolerance in crisis management,¡± he said. Hearing these words, Lin Shihua nodded his head in agreement, thinking to himself that this suggestion was indeed good, especially since it came from both Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming. ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll make the arrangements immediately!¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s proceed with that plan then. It seems, Shihua, you¡¯ll be quite busy during this time!¡± Lin Shigong said with a smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ for the sake of the family, it¡¯s only right that I be busy!¡± Lin Shihua waved his hand and smiled indifferently, seemingly in a good mood. Lin Shilu also spoke with a face full of joy, ¡°Since we¡¯ve almost settled the matters at hand, let Tianming and Xingrong rest as they¡¯re both exhausted. Let¡¯s all get to work.¡± ¡°With the large amount of spirit ore materials that Tianming brought back, along with several damaged defense artifacts, I plan to refine them over the next few years and then create a few more defense artifacts to help Tianming and me confront the Threefold Lightning Tribulation when we challenge the Golden Core Stage!¡± Having said this, Lin Shilu took the Green Scale Shield and a few attack talismans from Lin Tianming, intending to thoroughly refine them to see if he could raise them to the quality of Second Order Superior. Lin Tianming naturally had no objections to this. Now that he had obtained the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, all conditions for challenging the Golden Core Stage were met, and he also planned to seclude himself for cultivation to improve his cultivation. Perhaps in just a few years, he would be able to challenge the Golden Core Stage. The force of the Thunder Tribulation was indeed terrifying, and he would need some high-quality defense artifacts to withstand it. Even if Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would have asked for his help. After all, among the Lin family members, Lin Shilu had the highest skill in artifact refining. After Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming exchanged a few words, they confirmed the next steps of their plan. Soon after, the group made small talk for a little while before leaving Lin Shilu¡¯s cave dwelling one after another. Lin Tianming and his two grandsons left together and returned to Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling. Having received the news of their return in advance, his mother and Qin Xi had both finished their cultivation practice and were specially waiting in Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling, obviously intending to spend some quality time together. When they arrived at his father¡¯s dwelling, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were already waiting there. After exchanging greetings, Lin Shigong and the others sat in the courtyard and chatted leisurely. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, shared a few words with her, and then joined the others. Having not seen her for nearly two years, his mother¡¯s cultivation level was still at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, which seemed to indicate that as her cultivation level rose, it became increasingly difficult for her to make progress. Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation, however, had soared after her period of secluded cultivation and had already reached the realm of Foundation Establishment Fourth Level. Her aura was extremely stable, clearly only a step away from reaching the Fifth Level. With some Spirit Fruits, she could break through at any moment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled and quickly took out a large number of Second Order Spiritual Fruits. These were items purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and some were leftovers found in Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag. The grade of these Spirit Fruits was not low; even the least among them was of Second Order Medium Quality. They were excellent Spirit Fruits for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enhance their cultivation. He had kept these items for his parents and sister, as it was he who had obtained them in the first place, and moreover, he had already turned in most of them. With his strength and status, how the remainder was distributed was entirely up to him, and no one else had the right to interfere. Thus, he quickly distributed these Spirit Fruits among them. Initially, Qin Xi and his mother were unaware and repeatedly declined. But after listening to Lin Shigong¡¯s explanation, once they heard about Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences in the Secret Realm, they couldn¡¯t help but gasp and were almost too anxious to speak. However, upon seeing that Lin Tianming had returned safely and appeared unharmed, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law finally calmed down. Seeing that their grandfather had accepted the Spirit Fruits, the two of them no longer insisted on refusing. Afterward, the family enjoyed a long and happy chat, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law even prepared a dinner feast. Everyone in the family was present, except for Lin Tianyue, who was still at the Qianchuan Market. After dinner, Lin Tianming and his wife bid farewell to their elders and returned to their own cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 734 03-25 - 734 399 Delay_1 ?Chapter 734: Chapter 399 Delay_1 Chapter 734: Chapter 399 Delay_1 Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave abode, the two of them embraced each other like a couple newly reunited after a brief separation. After not seeing each other for more than a year, and with elders present just now, Qin Xi felt somewhat embarrassed. Now that they were back in their own cave abode, she could no longer resist the longing in her heart: her entire being blushed slightly, curled up in Lin Tianming¡¯s embrace without moving. In her eyes, as long as Lin Tianming returned safely, that meant more to her than any rare treasure of heaven and earth. But she also understood that Lin Tianming was a man with great ambitions and was not content to be an ordinary cultivator; he had always placed the Lin Family first. How could such a man be content with being ordinary? In fact, including herself, before meeting Lin Tianming, for the sake of deep-seated hatred and survival, she too lived on the edge, licking blood off the knife¡¯s blade. ... Back then, facing the pursuit of enemies, she also fell into crisis numerous times. Each time she had to exert her full strength, often facing enemies several times her number. After a life-and-death struggle, she would emerge severely wounded, barely clinging to life. Those days were just a decade ago! Now that she thinks back, the memories are still vivid. However, ever since she met Lin Tianming, with him shielding her from wind and rain, she gradually stepped back, focusing solely on cultivation, striving to catch up to his pace as soon as possible. Therefore, she didn¡¯t say much else. All her longing and worries were worn away by this embrace. Lin Tianming understood Qin Xi¡¯s concerns as well, but for the sake of the family and his own path, he had to take some risks. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Only in this way could the Lin Family rise more quickly, and the people he cared about have a safe environment to cultivate in peace. And he himself could walk even further on the path of cultivation. It could be said that whether for the family or for himself, he had to give it his all. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not say much either, instead gently patting Qin Xi¡¯s beautiful back, making a comforting gesture. In this way, the two did not speak, simply embracing each other tenderly for a long time before eventually parting. At this moment, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks were flushed red, having been taken advantage of by Lin Tianming during their embrace, which also made her heart flutter. Lin Tianming felt this even more intensely, nearly losing his self-control. After all, he was an adult man, and facing his delicate wife in his arms, her body scent and that scorching warmth, as well as her soft and delicate body, constantly aroused his desire. If it weren¡¯t for their early agreement not to Dual Cultivate until the Golden Core Stage and no plan to have children for now, the situation might have easily spiraled out of control. Fortunately, they were both clear-headed, always suppressing the restlessness in their hearts, preventing things from developing further. At this time, the two sat opposite each other, and the commotion within their hearts gradually calmed down. Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s slightly exhausted expression and asked with concern, ¡°Ming, what are your plans next?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming simply smiled and then began to speak of his plans. In his view, since he had safely returned to the family lands and his cultivation had been in stagnation for two years, it was time to properly cultivate. It just so happened that he had obtained quite a few Spirit Fruits that could enhance his cultivation, including several with good effects that could be used for several years of secluded cultivation. Together with the Hun Tian Pills that Ye Pinghai had helped refine for the family earlier, with these treasures, he wouldn¡¯t lack for cultivation resources before entering the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, it was only natural that he should focus on cultivation. Thus, Lin Tianming talked about his plan to stay in the family lands for the coming years. Once his cultivation reached the requirements for the Impact of Golden Core Stage and Lin Shilu had refined the Defense Artifact, he would strike with all his might to directly impact the Golden Core Stage. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s plan, Qin Xi was naturally overjoyed. Immediately after, Lin Tianming inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s own plans. From Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, she intended to join the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad for a year and a half, to let her cultivation settle before secluding herself for cultivation within the family lands, using the Spirit Fruits given by Lin Tianming to improve her cultivation. Hearing this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t object. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation had been progressing quite fast. Since the end of the great battle in Yuyao City, she had been cultivating in the family lands without proper experience. Continuing like this wasn¡¯t beneficial for the improvement of her cultivation. The family was planning to distribute some resources to attract family members to experience trials, and she could take this opportunity to contribute to the family and display her potential. Although with Lin Tianming¡¯s current wealth and the status of the Lin Family, it was not necessary for Qin Xi to take such risks, and they could easily procure plentiful resources for her to cultivate. But to walk further on the path, one must still face the dangers that need to be faced. Only with real combat experience would her cultivation become more consolidated, and her breakthroughs smoother. It could be said that joining the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad was not only beneficial for herself. For the family, having a member at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level, and one with extensive combat experience, join the squad would significantly enhance the safety of the squad members. Beyond this, the chances of finding treasures during these trials would also greatly increase. Therefore, for both parties, this was a win-win situation. Understanding this, Lin Tianming would naturally not hinder her; instead, he took out quite a few Second Order Attack Talismans and some fairly good offensive and defensive treasures to give to Qin Xi so that she could contribute more in this Monster Hunting mission. Chapter 735 03-25 - 735 399 Delay_2 ?Chapter 735: Chapter 399: Delay_2 Chapter 735: Chapter 399: Delay_2 Lin Tianming¡¯s kindness, given the relationship between him and his wife, Qin Xi naturally would not refuse. With this treasure, her strength had also become much stronger; even if she were to face a Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beast alone, she would be able to put up a fight. After thus receiving a large amount of treasure, the couple chatted idly for a while before going their separate ways. After separating, Lin Tianming went straight to his room to rest, and Qin Xi began preparing for the demonic beast hunting mission. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. On this day, at dawn, sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone upon the towering mountains. ... At that time, within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, everything was prospering, with many clansmen moving through the grounds or gathering together, preparing to head deep into the Luoyun Mountain Range for experience. Inside the Guest-Receiving Palace on the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu sat in the high seats, while two Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat below them. Looking out, one of them was dressed in a golden robe with sun embroidery on the chest, clearly a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. The other person was Xu Zhihua, an Inner Sect Disciple from Myriad Medicine Valley, both of whom had the cultivation of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. At this time, Lin Shihua looked at the expressions of both individuals, and even though they hadn¡¯t conversed much, he already knew the purpose of Xu Zhihua and the other¡¯s visit. However, even so, he still pretended as if nothing was amiss and then asked, ¡°What brings the two esteemed friends from your Sect to our humble abode today?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï Upon hearing this, Xu Zhihua from Myriad Medicine Valley cupped his hands toward the seated Lin Shihua and replied calmly, ¡°Chief Lin, our visit today is firstly to greet our friends from the Lin Family.¡± ¡°And secondly, it concerns the Jiuli Star Fruit and the matter of the reward for friend Tian Ming!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Shihua showed an expression of doubt and then inquired, ¡°May I know how your Sect plans to distribute the fruit, and what reward you intend to offer?¡± After speaking, Lin Shihua looked at Xu Zhihua calmly, his face showing an expectant look. Seeing this, Xu Zhihua also decided not to beat around the bush and began to convey the decision of the Sect¡¯s higher-ups. ¡°For his merits in the Secret Realm, it has been decided after consultation between our Sects¡¯ high-level officials that we award friend Lin Tianming one hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, as well as three Foundation Establishment Pills!¡± ¡°As for the three Jiuli Star Fruits still in the hands of friend Lin Tianming, they will be reclaimed by our two Sects in entirety!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shihua¡¯s face remained unchanged, but inside he was somewhat furious. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s great achievement within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it was no exaggeration to say it could be credited with saving the lives of the two Sects¡¯ disciples. Yet even so, they intended to dismiss the Lin Family with some Spirit Stones and a few Foundation Establishment Pills, as if these were comparable to the Jiuli Star Fruit. Clearly, the two Sects thought the Lin Family was too weak to negotiate. They had no regard for the Lin Family at all! Understanding all this, Lin Shihua felt annoyed inside, yet he still kept a placid face, showing no signs of abnormality. At this moment, seeing that Lin Shihua had not spoken for a while, Xu Zhihua continued to press the matter. ¡°I presume friend Lin Tianming has already returned to the clan grounds and informed you about this matter. May we request friend Tian Ming to appear for a meeting, so we may settle this affair and return to our Sects with news?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face remained calm, and he lightly said with a smile, ¡°I am indeed aware of this matter, but unfortunately, the timing of your visit is not opportune!¡± ¡°My nephew Lin Tianming has obtained some gains from the Secret Realm and is currently in closed-door cultivation, attempting to reach a higher realm. I¡¯m afraid he will not be able to meet you any time soon!¡± ¡°However, since it¡¯s not easy for both honored guests to come here, why don¡¯t you stay at the Lin Family for a few days? It would be just right to wait for Tian Ming.¡± ¡°Should he just happen to come out, naturally he can meet you, and we presume he will not retain anything that should be returned!¡± ¡°However, if he does not come out, perhaps you might consider returning to your Sects first. Once Tian Ming comes out, I will certainly have him personally visit your Sects to deliver the Jiuli Star Fruit himself, how does that sound?¡± Knowing well the purpose of Xu Zhihua¡¯s visit, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t care about the rewards. Instead, he used the reason they had agreed upon before to delay. After all, it was never the Lin Family¡¯s intention to hand over the Jiuli Star Fruit. Rewards or no rewards, the Lin Family simply didn¡¯t care anymore. Sure enough, upon hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words, Xu Zhihua and his companion showed difficulty in their expressions. The reasons given by Lin Shihua were sound and well-founded. He didn¡¯t directly refuse them, nor did he say the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t hand over the Jiuli Star Fruit. Under these circumstances, it was hard for them to forcefully pressure the Lin Family, and they didn¡¯t want to leave so easily either. After all, the current strength of the Lin Family was not comparable to that of a few decades ago. Among them, Xu Zhihua had witnessed the strength of Lin Tianming in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. He was very clear that besides the nearly ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators whom the Lin Family had already exposed, there was definitely more to their strength than met the eye. And here, Lin Shilu was also at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment as well as the already famous Lin Shikang of the Southern Wei Kingdom, further complemented by Lin Tianming¡¯s remarkably killing style. The Lin Family was by no means ordinary. In such a situation, even if they decided to pressure the Lin Family openly, they would probably not gain any benefit and might instead provoke the Lin Family, putting themselves in danger. But if they were to readily believe Lin Shihua¡¯s words and leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds just like that, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them to report back. This was indeed a dilemma. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± So, with no one speaking up, the scene became awkward for a while. Meanwhile, Xu Zhihua was discussing how to deal with the Lin Family with a Zhenyang Sect Disciple through voice transmission. Who knows how much time had passed before Xu Zhihua and his companion seemed to have come to a decision. At this time, Xu Zhihua looked at Lin Shilu¡¯s somewhat sullen face and then bowed his hands in greeting. ¡°Fellow cultivators, since Tian Ming cannot be disturbed right now, we two will return to our sect for now. Once he finishes his retreat, please bring the Jiuli Star Fruit to the Zhenyang Sect to return what belongs to our two sects!¡± ¡°As for the reward we two sects have negotiated, how about we give it to Tian Ming later on?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s face looked better seeing Xu Zhihua and his companion taking a step back willingly. In their hearts, the rewards were something the Lin Family could take or leave. They simply didn¡¯t care. As long as they could delay for a few years, they had temporarily achieved their goal! Understanding this, Lin Shihua also smiled and then said there was no problem, telling them to be at ease. ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ I hope Tian Ming pays a visit to the Zhenyang Sect soon after his retreat. That way, our mission can also be accomplished!¡± After Xu Zhihua finished speaking, the other Zhenyang Sect Disciple also agreed. ¡°Indeed¡­ this matter cannot be delayed. If our Sect Leader assigns blame, the two of us will also have difficulty explaining ourselves!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Rest assured, fellow cultivators, I will inform Tian Ming about this matter as soon as possible and arrange for his visit promptly!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shihua assured them earnestly, his expression very sincere and not at all like he was daring to offend the two sects. Seeing this, Xu Zhihua and his companion nodded in satisfaction, seemingly convinced that the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t dare to defy the arrangements of the two sects. Then, to put them further at ease, Lin Shihua quickly produced forty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and gave twenty thousand each to Xu Zhihua and his companion, making an ingratiating gesture. He also asked them to help mediate on their behalf once they were back. This proactive display of weakness satisfied Xu Zhihua and his companion even more. Subsequently, Lin Shihua personally entertained the two, and after they had their fill of food and drink, Xu Zhihua and his companion temporarily left the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Little did they know that Lin Shihua and the entire Lin Family¡¯s scheme, were things they couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine. As they departed, Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu both heaved a sigh of relief. For the moment, they had managed to fool Xu Zhihua and his companion, but this wasn¡¯t a long-term solution. At present, they only hoped to buy more time, even hoping that the Golden Sword Sect would exert further pressure on the two sects, allowing the Lin Family more time to build their strength. As for how much time they could buy, that was anyone¡¯s guess. In short, if the Lin Family wanted to achieve their goal, they must hurry! Chapter 736 03-25 - 736 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the ?Chapter 736: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_1 Chapter 736: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_1 Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a year has passed. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At dawn this day, atop a hill on the outskirts of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Next to the Purple Gold Eagle stood a man in black. Upon a closer look, one would discover that this man in black was the long-unseen Loose Cultivator, Hu Yuan. More than a year had passed since he parted ways with Lin Tianming at the Qianchuan Market, drawing ever closer to the two-year agreement between them. At this moment, Hu Yuan hurried over, and upon seeing the formation¡¯s light curtain in front of him, he revealed a delighted smile. Although it was his first time coming to the Lin Family Clan Grounds and he hadn¡¯t entered the interior, he could clearly feel that the Spiritual Energy around the periphery of Green Bamboo Mountain was quite dense. ... Besides, as he ventured deeper, he could sense that the Spiritual Energy became even denser. Given the current rate of increase in Spiritual Energy, the depths of the Lin Family Clan Grounds would surely have an even greater concentration. Having wandered the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for nearly a hundred years, Hu Yuan had also visited numerous Foundation Establishing Families¡¯ grounds, and even Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ sects several times. The Spiritual Energy in this Lin Family Territory was indeed dense, qualifying it as a rare Cave Heaven and Blessed Land. Even when compared to some Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ sects, it did not seem to fall far short. ¡°No wonder Lin said so definitely about the Lin Family Clan Grounds when he first mentioned it!¡± Hu Yuan, feeling the Spiritual Energy around him, thought to himself. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï While he was lost in thought, the Purple Gold Eagle, such a large target, quickly caught the attention of the Lin Family Members responsible for patrolling the Clan Gate. A few breaths later. Several Qi Refining Cultivators passed directly through the light curtain of the Protective Clan Formation and approached Hu Yuan. The leading Lin Family Member was Lin Tiansong, who was stunned to see the Purple Gold Eagle in front of him, not expecting that aside from the Lin Family, there were other Cultivators owning Purple Gold Eagles as Spirit Beasts. And an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle at that! Little did he know that the Purple Gold Eagle before him was from the same Purple Gold Eagle Clan as the batch Lin Tianming had brought back. Even less unknown to him, Hu Yuan¡¯s Purple Gold Eagle also came from the hands of Lin Tianming and had a significant connection with the Lin Family. Over this past year, most of the Purple Gold Eagles brought back by Lin Tianming had been subdued by many Lin Family Members. Whether they were Early Second Order existences or First Order Purple Gold Eagles, all were snatched up by the Lin Family Members. Most of the Purple Gold Eagles were successfully bonded with and became part of the Lin Family. Only a few Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles chose death over submission, seemingly looking down on those Lin Family Members¡¯ strength. Out of no choice, they had to be released according to Lin Tianming¡¯s wishes, granting them their freedom. The rest of the Purple Gold Eagles mostly became the Spirit Beasts of the Foundation Establishment Clan Member, offering them a brighter prospect. Even the First Order Purple Gold Eagles were subdued by Qi Refining Clanspeople with decent talent and not insignificant cultivation. Some Late First Order Purple Gold Eagles even became the Spirit Beasts of Foundation Establishment Clan Members. After all, the number of Second Order Purple Gold Eagles was limited, and a small part had been released; it was not possible to provide each of the twenty-plus Foundation Establishment Stage clan members in the Lin Family with an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle. Therefore, some Foundation Establishment Stage clan members could only choose to bond with those First Order Purple Gold Eagles. Nevertheless, these Purple Gold Eagles were still extremely rare and valuable Spirit Beasts. If nurtured properly, they could certainly help attain higher realms of cultivation and play a more significant role. Lin Tiansong, who had potential talent, possessed a cultivation at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm, which was valued by his family, thus he was given the opportunity to bond with a Purple Gold Eagle. He was lucky enough to subdue a Middle-Stage First Order Purple Gold Eagle as his Spirit Beast. He had been excited about it for quite some time. Today, seeing an unfamiliar Cultivator arriving with an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tiansong was somewhat surprised and guessed at the identity of the man in black before him. However, with his limited status and strength, he had no chance to learn about the connection between Hu Yuan and the Lin Family. Yet even so, the man in black appeared delighted and unguarded, also possessing a Purple Gold Eagle as his Spirit Beast. All indications were that this person must have some relationship with the Lin Family. Having cultivated to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm in just over thirty years, he was certainly not a fool, and could surely see that Hu Yuan was not an enemy. Therefore, he was the first to greet him, stepping forward to bow with folded hands, respectfully offering a salute. ¡°Esteemed senior, I am a Lin Family Member, Lin Tiansong. May I ask which fellow clan member you are looking for on your visit today?¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan also returned from his contemplation. He then waved his hand at Lin Tiansong with a smile, showing no airs of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. ¡°Lin, young friend, is your noble clan member Lin Tianming in the clan grounds?¡± ¡°Oh?¡­You¡¯re looking for my clan cousin Tianming?¡± Lin Tiansong was somewhat surprised, not expecting Hu Yuan, who appeared to be nearly a hundred years old, to seek out Lin Tianming from the younger generation rather than a clansperson of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation. However, he didn¡¯t ask further and immediately conveyed a message to Clan Leader Lin Shihua, explaining Hu Yuan¡¯s purpose. Soon, Lin Tiansong received a response confirming Hu Yuan¡¯s identity, indeed as he had speculated; the man in black indeed had a certain connection with the Lin Family. ¡°Senior, please follow me!¡± Chapter 737 03-25 - 737 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the ?Chapter 737: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_2 Chapter 737: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_2 ¡°You few continue to patrol the clan grounds!¡± Lin Tiansong bowed slightly to Hu Yuan as a gesture of invitation, then instructed the Lin Family Members behind him to keep carrying out their patrol mission. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hu Yuan nodded and followed Lin Tiansong¡¯s steps into the Lin Family Clan Grounds. The two soon vanished within the formation energy screen and then navigated through the Lin Family Clan Grounds. It was now early morning, the most active time for Lin Family Members, with a vast number of clanspeople flying on their swords, shuttling around the main peak. At a glance, the vast majority of them were Qi Refining Clanspeople, with only an occasional Foundation Establishment Clan Member appearing. ... Although these people¡¯s strength was not worth mentioning to Hu Yuan, among them the proportion of those in the Late Stage of Qi Refining was not low, all of whom were the backbone of the Lin Family. Such numbers and ratios for a Foundation Establishing Family were already quite impressive. Besides, each clansperson was in high spirits, and the grade of Spiritual Artifacts they used was quite good. It was evident that the Lin Family Members were well-off, and their strength was top-notch among their peers. At this time, Hu Yuan followed Lin Tiansong at an unhurried pace, flying toward the direction of the main peak summit. As he flew, he observed the situation within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and upon seeing the thriving, busy clanspeople, he also felt satisfied. His satisfaction stemmed not only from the level of Spiritual Energy within the Lin Family, indeed sufficient for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to make the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Additionally, he was impressed by the atmosphere within the Lin Family, as well as its characteristics and the cultivation strengths of its members. Seeing this scene inside the Lin Family, Hu Yuan inwardly praised them. ¡°The Lin Family, indeed a family that has produced a Golden Core Cultivator, boasts members with excellent vitality and strength standards. Quite impressive.¡± ¡°Truly a stature worthy of a Golden Core Family!¡± A short period equivalent to the time taken to drink a cup of tea passed. At the entrance to the family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Palace, Lin Shihua who had received the news was already there waiting for Hu Yuan¡¯s arrival. From a distance, seeing Hu Yuan and his companion¡¯s figures grow larger, Lin Shihua hastened to meet them, bowing and smiling in greeting. ¡°Daoist Hu, your visit is a rare honor! Please, forgive me for not greeting you from afar!¡± Although they had never met before, Lin Shihua still appeared extremely enthusiastic, as if greeting an old friend he had not seen in a long time. Hu Yuan was similar, and although they had never interacted before, he had made a point to gather basic information about the Lin Family and naturally understood Lin Shihua¡¯s identity. In response to Lin Shihua¡¯s courtesies, he also smiled and bowed in return, showing great politeness. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shihua invited Hu Yuan inside the Guest-Receiving Palace, then directed the clanspeople to serve Spiritual Tea to entertain Hu Yuan. The two chatted idly for a while until Lin Tianming arrived. Lin Tianming had hurriedly left seclusion, having broken through to the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm after a year and a half in seclusion, which was not far from reaching the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. It¡¯s worth noting that before his seclusion, he was at the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, some distance away from the Eighth Level. Yet, after just a year and a half, he had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. This rate of progress was simply astounding. And all this was thanks to the harvest from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. After all, he had spent a whole year there, went through many life-and-death battles, and had obtained a generous amount of Spirit Fruit that could enhance one¡¯s cultivation. After a year and a half of dedicated cultivation in seclusion, he had consumed several High Grade Second Order Spirit Fruits. With such a bounty of resources, he was able to progress smoothly to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with this progress, which met his expectations. At this time, when the two saw Lin Tianming hurrying over, Hu Yuan was somewhat excited. Lin Shihua was even more so, quickly beckoning Lin Tianming to come and sit down. Lin Tianming did so casually, greeting Hu Yuan before sitting next to Lin Shihua. He sipped his Spiritual Tea and then spoke to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, it¡¯s been nearly two years since we¡¯ve seen each other. How have the preparations been?¡± ¡°` ¡°Hehe¡­ In the past two years, I have traveled throughout the southern part of Wei Kingdom, including a trip to the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom, and I¡¯ve attended quite a few auctions and exchange events,¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯ve been to many places these past two years, spending a good amount of spirit stones and treasures; I¡¯ve finally managed to find a few decent defense artifacts; you could say I¡¯ve had some gains!¡± Daoist Hu spoke with a smile, his face brimming with joy, suggesting he had truly achieved some harvest. It¡¯s not surprising when you think about it; after all, he acquired quite a few treasures in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, including not a few second and third-order spiritual medicines and spirit ores. Coupled with nearly a hundred years of cultivation, he has amassed some wealth. As long as he was willing to pay the price and put in the effort, it wasn¡¯t impossible to find some high-grade second-order defense artifacts. Anyway, if one cannot enter the Golden Core Stage, the amassed wealth and treasures are of no use. So, speaking of which, one would pour all acquired wealth into items necessary for the impact of the Golden Core Stage. Such actions are believed to be something every loose cultivator would do. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t ask further, as long as Daoist Hu could enter the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family¡¯s rewards would be even greater. ¡°Hehe¡­ It seems that Daoist Hu is also well prepared!¡± Lin Tianming said with a nod and a smile. ¡°Um¡­ With my cultivation breaking through to the great perfection of Foundation Establishment, the preparations are nearly complete, that¡¯s why I have come to the esteemed family¡¯s sacred land to fulfill our appointment. ¡°In the days to follow, I may need to trouble the esteemed family¡¯s cultivators!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand with a smile. ¡°Where do you think¡­ the Lin Family is also doing its utmost, only hoping that Daoist Hu can make a breakthrough and step onto the Golden Core Path in one fell swoop!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Daoist Hu¡¯s face turned solemn, and then he let out a wry smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ The Golden Core Path is not so easily traversed, but still, I¡¯ll borrow the auspicious words of you two Daoist friends!¡± After saying this, Daoist Hu changed the subject and tentatively asked: ¡°But Lin Daoist friend, the breakthrough insights you mentioned are in the clan grounds, when do you plan to let me have a look?¡± ¡°Hehe, Daoist Hu, do not be impatient; since I have promised this matter, I will certainly deliver!¡± Right after these words, Daoist Hu¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he quickly spoke: ¡°The two Daoist friends can rest assured, if by some fluke I succeed, I will surely fulfill my promise!¡± Daoist Hu spoke very sincerely; it seemed he was prepared to risk it all for the challenge of the Golden Core Stage. Besides, his words also carried a tinge of helplessness, thinking Lin Tianming might be looking for an excuse to delay; thus, he hastily brought up the promise to reassure the Lin Family to hand over the breakthrough insights. Lin Tianming also noticed the unease in Daoist Hu¡¯s heart and immediately started to explain. ¡°Daoist Hu is overthinking it; it¡¯s not that I have the intention to delay, but currently, the item is being perused by an elder and isn¡¯t available just yet. ¡°However, Daoist Hu, rest assured, the breakthrough insights should be available within a year or so, and I will surely present them to you then.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s straightforward explanation, without any beating around the bush, actually relieved Daoist Hu. ¡°That¡¯s good then!¡± ¡°Since the timing is not quite right, I can only wait awhile. It¡¯s a good chance to consolidate my cultivation and make some more preparations,¡± said Daoist Hu helplessly, yet his face looked much better than before. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded and spoke with a smile, ¡°Then, Daoist Hu, please stay at the Lin Family for a while, and as soon as the breakthrough insights are available, I will personally deliver them to you!¡± ¡°Um¡­ Much appreciated, Daoist friends!¡± Daoist Hu stood up and gave Lin Tianming a polite bow. There¡¯s no choice but to bow one¡¯s head under another¡¯s roof. Besides, given the Lin Family¡¯s strength and his own need for their help, lowering his stature was not a big deal. In this manner, Daoist Hu had to comply with the arrangements of the Lin Family. Shortly thereafter, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua discussed briefly, then accompanied Daoist Hu to a cave mansion courtyard not far from the next door, arranging a temporary cave abode for him to enter closed-door cultivation. After all this was done, the two went their separate ways, each attending to their own matters. Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t idle after returning to his cave mansion but once again entered the practice chamber, immersing himself in a state of closed-door cultivation. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 738 03-25 - 738 401 The Arrival of the Heavenly ?Chapter 738: Chapter 401: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Chapter 738: Chapter 401: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Two months later. In a valley behind the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Ye Pinghai was sitting cross-legged on a mountain top. This was the very place where Lin Shikang was in retreat, and at the request of the Lin Family, he was here to act as Lin Shikang¡¯s protector. He wouldn¡¯t naturally refuse a request from the Lin Family. Having just broken through to the Golden Core Stage a few years ago, he also needed time to cultivate in retreat to solidify his cultivation at this stage. Therefore, he readily accepted the Lin Family¡¯s request and had been protecting Lin Shikang for almost three years. At this moment, Ye Pinghai seemed to sense something. He immediately opened his eyes and stared ahead, then felt the slight wind flowing towards the depths of the valley, accompanied by a large amount of spiritual energy converging inside. ... Although the change was still not obvious, as a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, he still perceived this fluctuation. Once he confirmed these changes, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression gradually became solemn. While he was lost in thought, the sky, which was clear just moments ago, slowly began to fill with dark clouds, and the world gradually darkened. At the same time, the range of the dark clouds continued to expand, quickly enveloping a large area. Such changes in heaven and earth were clearly out of the ordinary. Based on his own experience of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, Ye Pinghai immediately realized what was happening. Counting from the beginning of Lin Shikang¡¯s retreat, nearly three years had passed, and he was finally taking that step. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 And this disturbance was clearly the rhythm of attracting a Heavenly Tribulation! Realizing this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression turned excited in an instant. ¡°Boom¡­¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A loud thunderclap echoed through heaven and earth. In an instant, a bolt of silver lightning split the void, briefly illuminating the darkened sky. This commotion was not small and quickly spread throughout most of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. At this time, inside the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, outside the structures of various major families, many clan members who were still busy immediately sensed this change. One by one, they put down their work, or stopped their hurried pace, landing on the ground. By now, everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the center of the dark clouds, their faces showing puzzled expressions. This kind of disturbance had actually been experienced once a few years ago. However, when the commotion first erupted, the clan¡¯s higher-ups responded quickly, dispersing them and making them leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds for a while. After everything returned to normal, the family did not disclose the reason and even issued repeated strict orders to forbid discussion of the matter. It was unexpected that in just a few years, such a disturbance would once again resonate through the Lin Family Clan Grounds. It was really quite unusual. The matter of Lin Shikang¡¯s retreat for the Impact of Golden Core Stage was a top-secret event within the Lin Family, known to fewer than ten people out of several hundred in the clan. However, as this disturbance emerged once again, some clan members with broader horizons seemed to understand something. They couldn¡¯t help but secretly speculate that this disturbance was too great; it was either someone cultivating some powerful Divine Skills or refining some formidable magic artifacts. But there was also a possibility that a clan member was impacting the Golden Core Stage. If it was indeed the latter, then it was no wonder the family placed such great importance on it. While the clan members were lost in thought, the figures of Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong suddenly appeared on the summit of the main peak. ¡°Hear the command of this old man, all clan members must immediately follow Ninth Brother and retreat fifty li outside the mountain gate. Do not step into the clan grounds without my order to return!¡± After he spoke, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Shigong next to him, and they nodded to each other. Immediately afterward, Lin Shihua leaped up and quickly disappeared from view. Lin Shigong, on the other hand, looked down at the large group of clan members below. He then waved his hand and shouted, leading them towards the mountain gate. Soon, the previously bustling clan grounds were empty. Behind the main peak in the valley, the figures of Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu appeared. Just a few breaths later, the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan also appeared. ¡°Grandson pays respects to Grandpa Sea and to Elders Shi Lu and Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming bowed to Ye Pinghai and the others immediately, his expression extremely excited. Apart from him, Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua were likewise beaming with wide smiles, clearly in a very good mood. They waved their hands, then greeted Ye Pinghai, the two sides appearing quite close, like they shared a deep relationship. At their side, Hu Yuan¡¯s face presently showed shock. In fact, when the changes in heaven and earth began, he had already sensed the disturbance and immediately made a judgment: the Lin Family was actually facing a Golden Core Tribulation. Then, outside his cultivation cave, he saw Lin Tianming, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for several months. Invited by Lin Tianming, he followed in his footsteps to this valley. Only when he witnessed with his own eyes the lightning clouds slowly gathering overhead did he confirm his suspicion. It was unthinkable that the usually low-profile Lin Family actually had someone who had reached this step. At this moment, Hu Yuan¡¯s face was full of shock. However, before he could catch his breath, seeing Ye Pinghai himself, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression froze, and he looked even more astonished. The impact of this scene on him was enormous. If learning that someone from the Lin Family had attracted a Golden Core Tribulation was shocking enough, Chapter 739 03-25 - 739 401 Thunders Tribulation Descends_2 ?Chapter 739: Chapter 401 Thunder¡¯s Tribulation Descends_2 Chapter 739: Chapter 401 Thunder¡¯s Tribulation Descends_2 So now, encountering the renowned Loose Cultivator of the Wei Kingdom, Ye Pinghai, Hu Yuan was once again shocked beyond measure, a feeling far surpassing the one he had just moments earlier. And such an outcome could hardly be blamed on him. For these two matters were truly too astonishing for words. After all, the Impact of Golden Core Stage, in the current Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, was exceedingly rare indeed. And yet, the Lin Family had someone quietly reach this phase, merely waiting to overcome the Golden Core Tribulation, adding another Golden Core Cultivator to the Wei Kingdom. In his eyes, although he had speculated more than once that the Lin¡¯s strength must be considerable, Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. now it seemed that the Lin Family was far more powerful than initially surmised, with immeasurable strength and adequately concealed depth. Besides, Ye Pinghai, the Famous Loose Cultivator of the Wei Kingdom, who had disappeared for over a decade, had suddenly appeared on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, having successfully entered the Golden Core Stage. ... It was clear that a decade ago, the cultivation world was rife with news that Ye Pinghai planned to travel abroad to find Core Formation opportunities. Now it appeared that this was absolutely a ruse. His actual whereabouts were with the Lin Family Clan Grounds, where, with the help of the Lin Family¡¯s power, he had successfully made the breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. It was hard to imagine how these two events, if revealed, could set the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World abuzz, swiftly becoming the focal point of discussion among cultivators. And he himself had witnessed the transformation of the Lin Family firsthand and was the first to see Ye Pinghai after his entry into the Golden Core Stage. Such an experience left him utterly astounded, unable to believe that this was all actually happening. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? It was not until Ye Pinghai took the initiative to greet him that he came to his senses. Immediately following this, he stepped forward without hesitation, bowing with clasped hands to Ye Pinghai, displaying the etiquette due a junior. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai chuckled and then quickly gestured with his hand, indicating that Hu Yuan should treat him as an equal. ¡°Daoist Hu, we¡¯ve had several dealings with each other before, let¡¯s not stand on ceremony!¡± ¡°In the Cultivation World, prowess is always respected, and since Ye has already achieved the Golden Core Path, how could I, a junior, exceed my station!¡± Hu Yuan wore a serious expression, not daring to believe Ye Pinghai¡¯s polite words at face value. Otherwise, if met with someone who was only pretending to be modest, he could indeed offend them and suffer a great loss. However, Ye Pinghai was of a detached nature and naturally wouldn¡¯t concern himself with such trivialities. Moreover, since Hu Yuan could appear inside the Lin Family grounds at such a crucial moment, it was clear that he had a harmonious relationship with the Lin Family, or perhaps had reached a certain agreement. If it was the latter, then most likely he, like himself in the past, was preparing to use the breakthrough insights left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family, as well as the Lin Family¡¯s lands, to impact the Golden Core Stage. That being said, whether it was the former or the latter, both indicated that Hu Yuan had a deep relationship with the Lin Family; otherwise, it would not be possible as such. Understanding this, Ye Pinghai smiled faintly, his face revealing a touch of kindness and approachability. ¡°Ha ha¡­ There¡¯s no need for such formality, Daoist Hu. We are of similar age, and besides, brothers Lin are at the Foundation Establishment level, and they also deal with me on equal footing!¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, Hu Yuan contemplated briefly and could also guess the reason for Ye Pinghai¡¯s successful entry into the Golden Core Stage. Since he also had a strong connection with the Lin Family and chose the same path, now that Ye Pinghai had put it that way, it would seem ungracious for him to persist. With these thoughts, he then replied with a smile, ¡°Well then¡­ If Brother Ye insists, I shall oblige!¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it should be!¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and responded accordingly, his demeanor quite calm, showing no sign of annoyance. Seeing this, Hu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Subsequently, they chatted casually, idly waiting for the Heavenly Tribulation to arrive. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± Some time later, the dark clouds accumulating in the sky grew denser, and surges of thunder power continuously tumbled within them. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the Threefold Lightning Tribulation to descend its first strike. At this moment, everyone who saw the changing thunderclouds ended their casual talk and explosively retreated more than ten miles away, pausing atop a mountain peak. Immediately following, everyone looked up at the thunderclouds in the sky, their expressions solemn. Especially the Lin Family Members like Lin Tianming, all of them tense and anxiously staring at the thunderclouds, their hearts squeezed with worry for Lin Shikang. After all, this was the closest the Lin Family had come to the Golden Core since the Ancestral Patriarch passed away. If Lin Shikang could withstand the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, the Lin Family would possess a true Golden Core Cultivator, thereby reclaiming their status as a Golden Core Family. Consequently, the Lin Family would return to their peak, even surpassing their golden age. For this goal, many generations of the Lin Family had strived for hundreds of years, experiencing many ups and downs and surviving numerous crises. Hadn¡¯t they persevered all this time for this very moment? At this time, Ye Pinghai, noticing the heavy expressions on their faces, began to offer words of comfort. ¡°Lin, you really don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± ¡°In my view, Brother Shi Kang¡¯s time in seclusion is even shorter than mine was, suggesting he¡¯s well-prepared or he wouldn¡¯t have progressed so smoothly,¡± he continued. ¡°Moreover, the power of this Thunder Tribulation Force doesn¡¯t seem as strong as what I faced back then, and outsiders can¡¯t assist in the process of tribulation; everything depends on him.¡± ¡°However, considering Brother Shi Kang¡¯s strength, coupled with the preparations made by the entire Lin Family, his chances of overcoming the tribulation are not low,¡± Ye assured. No sooner had he finished speaking than Daoist Hu Yuan voiced his agreement. ¡°Ye is right, Brother Shi Kang is a man of good fortune and is surely destined to easily overcome the Heavenly Tribulation and step onto the Golden Core Path!¡± Hearing the comforting words from the two, Lin Shihua and the others, knowing they were powerless to help, felt somewhat calmer. Yet, because they cared so deeply about the outcome, they still couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious. But worrying now was useless; it was better to closely observe Lin Shikang¡¯s entire tribulation process, so when it came time for them to face the Impact of Golden Core Stage, they would be psychologically prepared. Specifically, for Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, given their current realm and cultivation, it might be only a few years before they faced such a day. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu fixed their gaze on the sky, not missing a single detail. Meanwhile, Ye Pinghai turned to Daoist Hu Yuan with a smile and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, we invited you here today to witness the tribulation so that you won¡¯t be caught off guard when you face your own Heavenly Tribulation in the future.¡± ¡°Such an opportunity is rare; you should watch carefully and absorb some experience from it,¡± he advised. Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded, deeply moved. To witness the entire process of a Heavenly Tribulation was indeed an uncommon opportunity. Although the power of the Thunder Tribulation Force varied from person to person, being able to watch in advance, and from such a close distance, was incredibly beneficial for his upcoming assault on the Golden Core Stage. It could even be said, without exaggeration, that it would increase his chances of entering the Golden Core Stage by a significant margin. Such arrangements by the Lin Family, if not for deep trust, would not have included him here. One could say that the Lin Family¡¯s support was genuinely thorough and well-intentioned. Realizing this, Hu Yuan felt an intense wave of gratitude and was glad that his earlier decision had been so wise. Refocusing, Hu Yuan also lifted his head, his eyes glued to every motion within the thunderclouds. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Continuous flashes of silver light streaked inside the dark clouds as torrents of lightning churned within. At this moment, what was once a gloomy valley was illuminated by the flashing lightning, appearing as bright as day. After brewing for a long time, the position of the dark clouds dropped significantly, and the accumulated lightning became denser, reaching a terrifying level. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The massing of the thunderclouds quickly shaped into a lightning strike as thick as a barrel, resembling a silver-white Thunder Dragon, crashing down into the valley. The Thunder Dragon moved rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it descended over the valley. ¡­ Chapter 740 03-25 - 740 402 Shi Kang Survives Disaster_1 ?Chapter 740: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives Disaster_1 Chapter 740: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives Disaster_1 This instant, the sky lit up with a brilliant silver light, thunder roared, and lightning flashed. Below the expansive thunderclouds, a mighty Gang Wind swept across the land, sending vast amounts of sand and stone flying into the air. At this moment, under Lin Shihua¡¯s control, the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation¡¯s light screen vanished. Having learned from Ye Pinghai¡¯s experience with tribulation, the Lin Family had moved their people out of the clan¡¯s territory according to plan, and the Protective Clan Formation had been deactivated before the Heavenly Tribulation descended. Besides, Lin Xingzhi, along with several Foundation Establishment Stage clansmen, patrolled around the perimeter of Green Bamboo Mountain, on the highest level of alert. This time, for Lin Shikang to break through to the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family was not taking any chances; their defense measures were clearly several levels higher than before. In the valley behind the main peak. ... At this time, sensing the roaring Thunder Dragon above, a man in a green robe leapt up, flying from the depths of the valley to the top of a nearby mountain. Gazing out, the man in the green robe was none other than Lin Shikang. His expression was solemn, but his eyes bore a strong determination, as if filled with confidence. After nearly three years of seclusion, he had finally reached this moment. Lin Shikang had always held a strong determination in his heart, whether for his family or for himself, he had to give it his all. For this, he had prepared extensively, all to fulfill the long-cherished wish of the family. He knew very well that if he were to fail, it would not only be difficult for him to survive, but the Lin Family¡¯s expectations for hundreds of years would also be delayed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Understanding this, his eyes were filled with an indomitable spirit. ¡°Boom¡­ ¡± As the Thunder Dragon drew near, Lin Shikang waved his sleeve and multiple Law Decrees were cast. ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­ ¡± A crisp sound emanated, and several Second Order Medium-Quality Defense Artifacts in front of him flashed with light, then flew toward the Thunder Dragon. Looking over, these Second Order Medium-Quality Artifacts were all different, but the Spiritual Light bursting forth from them showed they were indeed very fine Defense Artifacts. These protective treasures had all been painstakingly prepared by Lin Shilu over several years, specifically for this tribulation. Although they were only of Second Order Medium Quality, they were rare treasures for an average Foundation Establishment Cultivator and could easily be sold for tens of thousands of Low-Grade Spirit Stones, a case of demand outstripping supply. Yet, even so, these Defense Artifacts were no more than a drop in the ocean compared to the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. What he had used now was merely the worst at his disposal, treated as disposable items. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, he was well-prepared; he still had some Defense Artifacts of this kind on him, which he could use later. As quickly as it came, a thunderous explosion echoed. The several Second Order Medium-Defense Artifacts could only block the Thunder Dragon for a moment before being blasted into fragments. However, Lin Shikang, who had already witnessed the force of the Heavenly Tribulation, was well-prepared in his heart. The instant the three Second Order Medium-Defense Artifacts shattered, he quickly brought out two Second Order Superior Quality Defensive Talismans, rapidly transforming them into two barriers in front of him. The previously weakened Thunder Dragon unsurprisingly shattered the barriers, yet the remaining force was exceedingly limited, and Lin Shikang easily dispersed it with a single strike. The force of the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation was not strong; Lin Shikang resolved it with some defensive measures. As the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation dissipated, the thunderclouds once again began to condense becoming even more terrifying, as if angered by Lin Shikang¡¯s actions. By now, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression had grown more serious, watching the newly brewing thunder, seemingly intent on annihilating it right there. But he was not panicked; he knew of the break between thunder strikes and was acutely aware of the horror of the Thunder Tribulation Force, knowing there was no retreat. Today, he would either succeed in withstanding the tribulation and step into the Golden Core Stage or perish on the spot. With this knowledge, he was psychologically prepared and possessed the courage for a do-or-die struggle. Seizing the break, he quickly took out two elixirs he had prepared and swallowed them to replenish the True Yuan he had just consumed. Before long, the thunderclouds seemed to have reached a peak, conjuring an even more colossal Thunder Dragon. This Thunder Dragon appeared formidable, with its gnashing teeth and claws, radiating intense anger. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± A thunderous roar ensued, and the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation arrived as expected. For a time, the entire land trembled, and the dark sky brightened with the lightning. At this time, the Thunder Dragon conjured by the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation appeared thick and strong, its body covered with countless crackling arcs of electricity, sizzling as they went. As the Thunder Dragon emerged, if a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator even slightly touched it, they would likely be annihilated on the spot. Watching the terrifying Thunder Dragon¡¯s furious approach, not only was it incredibly fast, but the force and pressure were clearly several times more ferocious than the first. At this time, Lin Shikang confronted the sky, watching the Thunder Dragon descend above his head, fierce Gang Wind causing his robe to flap loudly. In this moment, he keenly felt a sharp pain across his body, caused by the blade-like Gang Wind. And the formidable pressure of the thundercloud seemed intent on devouring him. Under such terrifying pressure, even a Cultivator appeared very insignificant. Then, faced with such massive pressure, he, a Cultivator on the cusp of the Golden Core Stage, found his body involuntarily bending forward. Chapter 741 03-25 - 741 402 Shi Kang Survives the Calamity_2 ?Chapter 741: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives the Calamity_2 Chapter 741: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives the Calamity_2 ¡°` Feeling the power of the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, it was clear that it was extremely formidable, far beyond what the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation could compare to. Facing such a terrifying force of Thunder Tribulation, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was solemn, and the Mana within his whole body ran to its utmost limit. As abundant True Yuan circulated through the meridians in his body, he stood with his back straight, his expression tinged with a hint of madness. He was well aware of his own predicament; confronting such a situation, he had to give it his all in order to safely get through this life-and-death crisis. In such dire straits, Lin Shikang dared not be careless, nor did he dare to hold anything back. In haste, he slapped his storage bag at his waist, and several Defense Artifacts flew out from his hand, quickly transforming into a number of barriers, firmly blocking above his head. The instant the Defense Artifacts fully deployed, the Thunder Dragon above his head descended in a flash, directly bombarding them. ... ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A succession of explosive sounds rang out, only to see the shields and barriers formed by the Defense Artifacts instantly shatter, eventually turning into bits of stardust scattering across the sky. At the same time, the powerful wave created by the Thunder Dragon breaking through these barriers swept over, tossing Lin Shikang around violently. After he barely stabilized his stance, Lin Shikang¡¯s complexion paled, blood welled up unstoppably within him, and a trickle of fresh blood couldn¡¯t help but spill from the corner of his mouth. At this moment, he looked up to see the Thunder Dragon roaring down unceasingly, giving him no chance to catch his breath. Seeing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, his face flashing with a thick shade of wariness. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Even though he had been somewhat mentally prepared beforehand, he still hadn¡¯t expected the power of the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation to be so terrifying. After all, the Second Order Defense Artifacts he had just used were of pretty good quality, much better than the artifacts used in the first round. Apart from that, among these Defense Artifacts, there was also one Superior Second Order item. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even with so many Defense Artifacts activated at the same time, depleting much of his Mana, with such defensive power, he should have been able to withstand a hit from a true Golden Core Cultivator without any problem. Yet even so, these artifacts barely resisted the Thunder Dragon for a fleeting moment before they were easily shattered by it. Such destructive power was completely unstoppable. And he himself had also been injured by that formidable force. Now, having already sustained some injuries and having used up nearly half of his Mana, he still hadn¡¯t passed the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Considering the fact that the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was already this horrifying, it was truly hard to imagine how terrifying the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation would be. It probably would be many times stronger! However, now was not the time to think about such things, as the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was not yet over. What was most important at the moment was naturally to resist the continued assaults of the Thunder Dragon. Only by surviving the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation would he have the qualification to experience the terrifying power of the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Understanding this, Lin Shikang forced himself to calm down. Then, in his hurried state, he flicked his fingers, summoning two red jade pendants to shield himself in front. These two Blood-red Jade Pendants were rare Defense Artifacts, also one of the treasures collected by the family for many years and stored in the Family Treasure Vault. Back then, the family had expended a lot of manpower and resources to finally obtain these items. Now, in order to survive the Heavenly Tribulation, over ninety percent of the defensive treasures accumulated by the family over the past centuries had been brought with him. And among them, these two Blood-red Jade Pendants were the most top-tier Defense Artifacts, not only a whole grade higher but also several categories superior in quality compared to those previous Defense Artifacts. With these items for defense, the Thunder Dragon, which had already weakened quite a bit, should not have an easy time succeeding. Nevertheless, this was just Lin Shikang¡¯s presumption, and he couldn¡¯t be sure of the actual outcome. Under his watchful gaze, the Thunder Dragon came crashing down, colliding head-on with the two Blood-red Jade Pendants. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two thunderous explosions erupted, and the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory seemed to tremble slightly. In that explosive instant, two dazzling orbs of light burst forth in the sky, blinding like the searing sun. ¡°` Immediately after, two huge mushroom clouds appeared in mid-air and surged a few times before shooting straight into the sky. At the same time, the shockwave created by the explosion, with Lin Shikang¡¯s overhead space as the epicenter, rapidly expanded in all directions. As the Thunder Dragon dissipated, the explosion produced a strong gale that swept toward every direction. The power of this gale was also immense, many peaks where Lin Shikang stood were directly sheared off by the gale, leaving behind bald mountaintops. As for Lin Shikang, he was right in the center of the explosion. Because the range of the explosion was so vast, the gale swept in with incredible speed. Even he could not avoid it and had to withstand the powerful wind head on. However, the force of the gale produced by the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was just too strong. He managed to resist for only a breath before being toppled by the gale. Like a snapped kite, he was sent flying dozens of yards away, before he heavily crashed to the ground. ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± After struggling for a bit, he staggered to his feet, and then a mouthful of vital blood spurted out, making his complexion turn extremely pale. The strength of this gale was really beyond imagination. Although he succeeded in holding it off, many parts of his body were cracked and torn, and the blood within him was chaotically surging. At this moment, Lin Shikang, enduring the acute pain in his body, took out two healing elixirs and swallowed them all at once. His actions were meant to seize the precious time during the brewing lull of the thunderclouds to recover some injuries as best as possible, to face the last layer of Thunder Tribulation. After all, the Thirdfold Lightning Tribulation was bound to be much stronger than the second, perhaps by many times over. Thus, at the moment, he could not afford to worry about whether these precious elixirs were wasted. As long as they could restore some of his injuries, his chances of surviving would increase. Soon, the consumed elixirs began to have some effect, and his pale face finally regained some color. ¡°Boom, rumble¡­¡± In the dark clouds above the canyon, lightning continued to churn. At this time, the range enveloped by the thunderclouds expanded continuously as time passed. As far as the eye could see, the force of this lightning had already rapidly gathered, and in the blink of an eye, it had brewed into even thicker bolts of lightning. At this rate, in at most the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation would surely descend on schedule. At this very moment, on a peak behind the main mountain. Lin Tianming and a few others were on the mountaintop, their eyes firmly fixed on the direction of the canyon, not willing to miss a single detail. They were not only watching Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation process and drawing lessons from it, so as to have some mental preparation for the future, but they also genuinely hoped for his success. After all, if he succeeded, the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength would greatly increase, and their ability to face crises would be much enhanced. Consequently, the members of the Lin Family paid close attention, fearful of missing anything. And although this half-quarter of an hour was not long, for all of them, it felt eternally prolonged. During these moments, they had a clear view of Lin Shikang¡¯s entire process of surviving two layers of Heavenly Tribulation. Feeling the terrifying force of the Thunder Tribulation that seemed capable of leveling the land, including Ye Pinghai who had experienced it once, everyone¡¯s expressions were solemn, and they felt a cold sweat for Lin Shikang internally. If even the Golden Core Stage Ye Pinghai felt so, it goes without saying for the Lin Family members, whose faces were the picture of seriousness. Fortunately, after two folds of the tribulation, Lin Shikang appeared to be not seriously injured, and his strength was still at its peak. Furthermore, many precious treasures that the Lin Family had prepared for him in advance, as well as several valuable items, were still unused. With this in mind, even if the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation was going to be terrifying, Lin Shikang pouring all his efforts into it, the possibility of success was not absent. Realizing this, Lin Tianming and others¡¯ expressions finally eased quite a bit. ¡°Boom, rumble¡­¡± The dark clouds rolled ceaselessly, and the hitherto silent Thunder Tribulation seemed to be ready to descend once again. Chapter 742 03-25 - 742 403 Lin Family Golden Core_1 ?Chapter 742: Chapter 403 Lin Family Golden Core_1 Chapter 742: Chapter 403 Lin Family Golden Core_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others were all staring straight ahead. As they say, time waits for no one, and while still mid-air, Lin Shikang pinched a Law Decree, and several Second Order Defense Artifacts flew from his hands, among which were three of Second Order Superior quality. In an instant, the Defense Artifacts shone brightly, quickly forming several barriers in front of him. The number of these artifacts was not few, and the combined defensive power was bound to be significant. However, these were also some of the few Defense Artifacts that he possessed. Even as he saw the Defense Artifacts take their positions, he was still not at ease. He understood the terrifying power of the final Heavenly Tribulation, and he knew that it was a matter of life and death; to him, any treasures left unused were meaningless. ... He had to give his all without reservation, even if it meant using up all of the treasures the Lin Family had painstakingly collected. After all, as long as he could successfully pass the Heavenly Tribulation and enter the Golden Core Stage, all the losses would be worth it. With this understanding, he waved his sleeve, and a Golden Seal appeared in his hand. This Golden Seal was also one of the Defense Artifacts collected by the Lin Family over the past few decades, and although it was of Second Order Superior grade, its quality and spirituality were extraordinarily high, definitely one of the treasures among Second Order Artifacts. At that moment, looking at the Golden Seal in his hand, Lin did not hesitate to activate it. The Golden Seal flickered with light and rapidly expanded in a very short amount of time, eventually forming a firm protection over an area of more than ten zhang above his head. Just as he finished activating the various Defense Artifacts, three Thunder Dragons descended, their overwhelming presence sweeping in, as if an entire mountain were crashing down vertically. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Suddenly, thunder roared and strong winds arose between heaven and earth. In an instant, silver-white lightning tore through the void, accompanied by a raging storm. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Under Lin Shikang¡¯s watch, the three Thunder Dragons rapidly fell, striking precisely on the topmost five barriers. ¡°Crack¡­ Pop¡­¡± A series of explosive noises rang out, and the sky instantly filled with fire, the flames, along with the silver-white lightning, illuminating the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. In the dazzling light, the five Defense Artifacts resisted for less than a moment before being directly penetrated by the three Thunder Dragons. Immediately after, the five Defense Artifacts shattered, and the remaining fragments, unable to withstand the power of the Thunder Dragons, either turned to ash or fell directly to the ground. As a result, many of the mountains, rocks, and trees in the vicinity suffered for naught, pulverized by the debris. At this time, the Thunder Dragons¡¯ advance did not pause, continuing their bombardment towards the top of Lin Shikang¡¯s head. Seeing this, Lin Shikang spat out a mouthful of Lifeblood Essence, accurately sprinkling it onto the Golden Seal above his head. Quickly, with the addition of Lifeblood Essence, the light around the Golden Seal grew brighter, and its defensive power clearly increased. Little did he know, this action was Lin Shikang¡¯s last resort against the Heavenly Tribulation. If he could not withstand the Thunder Dragons, he would have no choice but to use his Physical Strength to directly withstand the strike. At that point, everything would be left to luck. But even so, Lin Shikang had no time to react, nor any other means to cope. Just like that, he poured his Mana into the Golden Seal above his head, striving to unleash the strongest defensive force. ¡°Bang¡­ Bang¡­ Bang¡­¡± After three loud bangs, a mushroom cloud once again rose between heaven and earth, encompassing several miles. The powerful collision between the Thunder Dragons and the Golden Seal produced an explosive force that was incredibly shocking, causing the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory to tremble slightly. Amidst the fire in the high sky, The Golden Seal shook violently a few times before completely collapsing, eventually turning into specks of starlight and disappearing in the vast expanse of fire. And the three Thunder Dragons, having met the Golden Seal¡¯s resistance, had not dissipated yet, continuing to barrel straight towards Lin Shikang¡¯s vitals. Seeing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression became grave; he could not believe that even the Defense Artifacts his family had gathered with all its might could not withstand the Thirdfold Lightning Tribulation. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although he had anticipated it, this outcome once again shattered his understanding. But by now he had realized the true power of the Threefold Thunder Tribulation was indeed formidable; even the attacks of a Golden Core Cultivator would surely not compare to the force of the Thunder Tribulation. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, Golden Core Cultivators were indeed supreme beings who dominated territories, and even in the vast expanse of Qingzhou, they were regarded as High Order Cultivators. Yet in the vast Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom, there were at least thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, whereas the openly known Golden Core Cultivators numbered only twelve. From this perspective, there were certainly not a few who attempted to break through to the Golden Core Stage, but very few succeeded. Most of these individuals died in the final Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, it is no wonder that everyone says the Threefold Thunder Tribulation is the greatest obstacle when attempting to enter the Golden Core Stage, and countless have met their end at this final hurdle. This just goes to show how difficult it is to reach the Golden Core Stage; it¡¯s not as simple as rumors suggest. Regathering his focus, Lin Shikang looked up at the Thunder Dragons roaring down from the sky, aware that his crisis was far from over. However, after two consecutive head-on confrontations, the three Thunder Dragons were clearly not as strong as before. It was evident that after two rounds of attrition, especially with the resistance from the Golden Seal, the horrifying power of the three Thunder Dragons had been significantly weakened. Chapter 743 03-25 - 743 403 ?Chapter 743: 403 Chapter 743: 403 ¡°` Now, each Thunder Dragon¡¯s power and even speed were significantly diminished, hardly comparable to when they first descended. At this rate, there was a possibility that he might successfully resist. Understanding this, Lin Shikang silently breathed a sigh of relief. However, it was not yet time to relax, at the very least the Heavenly Tribulation had not dispersed, and he still needed to protect his life under it. Spying the Thunder Dragon drawing nearer, its formidable presence already reached him first, causing his robe to flutter. Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was resolute, his eyes revealing a strong and intense aura. In his heart, after the entire clan had worked so hard for so long, finally reaching this point, whether for the sake of his family or himself, how could he easily resign himself to fate? ... Carrying this heavy burden of expectation, Lin Shikang did not shrink back but leaped towards the Thunder Dragon. At the same time, his fist was tightly clenched, channeling all the remaining mana in his body into it. Then, he threw a punch, with an unstoppable momentum aiming to obliterate the Thunder Dragon. It appeared as if his resolve to sink or swim was majestic and grand, bent on erasing the Thunder Dragon. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Lin Shikang neither dodging nor evading, and instead directly confronting it, the Thunder Dragon seemed quite annoyed. It swooped down with bared claws and its gaping maw snapped towards Lin Shikang. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Over ten miles away at the peak of a mountain. Lin Tianming and the others had their eyes wide open, fists clenched tight as they stared at Lin Shikang, their breathing becoming more rapid. ¡°Third brother¡­ you must hold on!¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, a man of fortune will surely have heavenly protection, you can definitely overcome this last tribulation!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others were chanting in their hearts. Apart from them, Lin Shigong, who was several dozen miles away from the mountain gate, was also looking at the flickering silver light in front of him, fists tightly clenched. It was obvious that the informed Lin Family members were united, and even though they knew they could not provide any substantial help, they were praying wholeheartedly for Lin Shikang. As the Lin Family members were paying close attention, the storm clouds in the sky had already descended. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The furious Thunder Dragon poured down, its momentum even stronger than Lin Shikang¡¯s, squarely hitting his fist. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise followed by a flash of silver light. At that moment, Lin Shikang spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion deathly pale, falling vertically from the sky. While still in mid-air, he felt a trace of thunderous energy enter his body from his fist, then it coursed through his veins throughout his body. In that instant, he experienced a pain so intense he almost lost consciousness. Yet he gritted his teeth and forcibly kept himself awake. A breath¡¯s time passed, and a crisp sound was heard. Lin Shikang was seen covered in blood, his robes tattered, his whole body charred black, without a single clean spot. He fell from the sky and was embedded in the rocky mountain by the powerful force of the Thunder Dragon. Just then, the Thunder Dragon above his head vanished, and the dark clouds in the sky gradually dissipated. Immediately after, the pressure of the Golden Core Stage swept across. In the blink of an eye, the gloomy sky gradually brightened, and Green Bamboo Mountain seemed to regain its usual tranquility. Now, Lin Shikang lay motionless in a crevice of rock, his eyes staring into space, with only the heaving of his chest as proof of life. Despite his severe injuries, he insisted on remaining conscious and focused on feeling his own condition. First thing, he felt a continuous intense pain all over his body, indescribable in words. Still, he clenched his teeth and looked down at his Dantian. Soon, he discovered that the once nebulous Golden Core was now dazzlingly brilliant, with a hint of mana inside that was now more than a hundred times stronger than during the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was clear: he had succeeded and had survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation! At this moment, he knew he had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and his heart was filled with ecstatic joy, which even overrode the intense pain. At this moment, a faint smile began to appear on his pallid face. Who knows how much time had passed when he felt almost devoid of mana, utterly exhausted. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and soon passed out. Let¡¯s rewind the moment a bit. When the body of the Thunder Dragon shattered, the rolling dark clouds finally dissipated completely. And then, a powerful presence of the Golden Core Stage swept in. ¡°` Apart from Ye Pinghai¡¯s incomparable calm, Lin Tianming and the others were all staggering, nearly toppled over by the overwhelming pressure. After much difficulty in steadying themselves, the faces of Lin Tianming and his companions were flushed red as they burst into loud cheers. Upon seeing Lin Shikang fall from the sky, Lin Tianming and others rushed over like madmen, their speed astonishingly fast. It was likely that these individuals, who had lived for decades or even a century, had never moved so swiftly before. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group had covered a safe distance of over twenty miles and arrived in front of Lin Shikang. At this moment, the faces of Lin Tianming and his companions showed deep concern as they carefully lifted Lin Shikang out of the crevice between the rocks. Immediately after, they busied themselves happily, administering various elixirs in quick succession to the unconscious Lin Shikang, unfazed by whether he could bear them. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle resignedly. ¡°Lin¡­ why must you all be so anxious?¡± ¡°Brother Shikang is merely exhausted and too severely injured, but the vitality and recovery power of a Golden Core Cultivator are quite astonishing. He just needs to sleep for a few days and he will wake up!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua¡¯s old face turned red, and he hastily replied with an awkward smile, ¡°Ah¡­ perhaps we were a bit too anxious!¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± The people present laughed heartily, each with a healthy glow on their face, all in good spirits. Especially Lin Tianming and his companions, for now that Lin Shikang had survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, he was truly a genuine Golden Core Cultivator. The weight in their hearts finally lifted, their mood was one of wild joy, more excited than ever before. At this time, Hu Yuan looked at the excited group, his face showing a hint of envy. Then, he clasped his hands towards Lin Tianming and the others and said with a smile, ¡°Congratulations to the Lin Family, and congratulations to my fellow cultivators. From now on, the Lin Family is probably going to rise swiftly!¡± Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s congratulatory words, Lin Shihua also clasped his hands in return, politely responding. ¡°Daoist Hu is too kind. You¡¯ve seen the process of the Heavenly Tribulation with your own eyes, so surely in a few years, you too will prosper!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Brother Lin speaks good fortune!¡± ¡°To tell the truth, I owe a lot to Brother Lin¡¯s invitation, I will certainly remember it deeply!¡± Hu Yuan replied with a sincere expression on his face. He was well aware that the Lin Family had already risen far beyond their former status, and with Lin Shikang¡¯s successful breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, the ascent of the Lin Family was unstoppable. Having requests of the Lin Family, he took the opportunity of extending congratulations to show his loyalty, hoping for their strong support in return. Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Shihua and the others nodded, quite satisfied inwardly. Then, they casually chit-chatted for a moment. ¡°Alright¡­ give this elixir to Brother Shikang, then take him to rest well!¡± After saying this, Ye Pinghai took out a Jade Bottle and tossed it to Lin Tianming. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Sea!¡± Lin Tianming received the Jade Bottle and then respectfully replied. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Tianming, now that the Heavenly Tribulation has passed and everything is settled, I will return to my cave to cultivate. If there¡¯s anything important, you can contact me at any time!¡± ¡°Fellow cultivators, I will take my leave first!¡± After saying a few words, Ye Pinghai clasped his hands towards the group and then vanished from the spot. Following suit, Hu Yuan, being perceptive, also bid farewell and flew towards the summit of the main peak. With the two of them leaving one after another, Lin Tianming helped Lin Shikang take the elixir. After completing these tasks, everyone¡¯s complexion was rosy, still excited and unable to calm down. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming was the first to regain his composure. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, with the Heavenly Tribulation just passed, we should reactivate the Protective Clan Formation and the clan members outside should return to our clan lands!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua and another person came back to their senses. ¡°Haha¡­ Brother Three has successfully stepped into the Golden Core Stage, I¡¯m genuinely too excited, I almost forgot all these important matters!¡± Lin Shihua danced with joy, his face full of bright smiles. Then, the two of them discussed for a moment, deciding on their respective tasks to follow. After all, even though the most important Heavenly Tribulation was behind them, the Lin Family still had many matters to attend to. At the very least, they needed to make proper arrangements for the clan members, keep sensitive matters confidential, and remain cautious to prevent the Lin Family from falling into unnecessary trouble. Thus, none dared to delay, and they each acted according to the plan and dispersed from the place. ¡­ Chapter 744 03-25 - 744 404 High-Level Gathering (Requesting ?Chapter 744: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_1 Chapter 744: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_1 Six months had passed. On this particular morning, as the sun rose as usual from the east, the family clan¡¯s internal regions bustled with people, and everything was tranquil. At the summit of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode, several Lin Family members were sitting together. At this moment, the chatty crowd was visibly excited, and their spirits seemed extremely high. It should be said that since Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation had ended, such a lengthy period had unknowingly passed. Today also marked his first public appearance since his Core Formation. At this time, Lin Shikang, after half a year of seclusion and cultivation, had consolidated his Golden Core Stage cultivation, and the injuries left from his tribulation had been completely healed. ... His complexion was ruddy, his vitality seemed excellent, and his aura was incredibly condensed. Upon a careful look, he appeared like an ordinary scholar, seemingly incapable of trussing a chicken. Clearly, with his cultivation reaching the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shikang had achieved the realm of ¡®returning to simplicity.¡¯ If he didn¡¯t wish to reveal it, probably nobody with a cultivation level lower than his would know his true cultivation realm. However, everyone present was in the know, especially people like Lin Tianming, who had witnessed the entire process of Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. The terrifying force of the Heavenly Tribulation still sometimes surfaced in their minds. They were well aware that the current Lin Shikang was a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, and while his power was not the strongest existence in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, he had stepped into the top echelons. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Now, with the Lin Family finally having a Golden Core Stage clansman, the entire clan¡¯s strength had substantially increased, and when facing other Golden Elixir Forces again, they possessed some self-preservation power. Upon thinking of these things, Lin Tianming and the others were overjoyed, and their mood took a long time to settle down. As the group chatted for a while, they exchanged a lot of information about the family and the cultivation world. Since Lin Shikang¡¯s seclusion began until he ended his retreat, nearly four years had passed. This period, it seemed, was not brief. During this time, the Lin Family discovered the talented Lin Tianyun, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu disappeared, and they acquired an Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique. A lot of significant events also took place within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and many changes occurred within the Lin Family. After the others elaborated, it became known that Lin Tianming had gained quite a few treasures in the Secret Realm, obtaining two more Nascent Soul Spiritual Transmutation Fruits, as well as a Creation Fruit Tree. Upon hearing this explosive news, Lin Shikang was as shocked as Lin Shihua and the others had been when they first learned of it. In his heart, he felt that his own talent and potential were quite average, yet he had used the unique Star Moon Fruit obtained by Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, which was key to the Lin Family¡¯s rise. Therefore, he had always felt a sense of guilt. After all, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items were exceedingly precious and rare, and once used, who could say when the next one would be found? Luckily, his recent seclusion to impact the Golden Core Stage had gone quite smoothly, and he managed to break through successfully, living up to expectations. Otherwise, had he failed, even if he had perished under the Thunder Tribulation, he would have felt immense remorse. And now, Lin Tianming¡¯s trip to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had yielded even more terrifying gains! He not only obtained two Fruits of Fortuity but also brought back the entire Creation Fruit Tree; given time, the Lin Family could obtain more Fruits of Fortuity over a few hundred years. Such a tremendous harvest greatly enhanced the family¡¯s foundation. Such a result was, frankly, incredible. Once they had regained their composure, Lin Tianming continued to recount his experiences in the Secret Realm. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shikang, who had heard the whole story, saw his ruddy complexion gradually replaced by a serious one. Now knowing the friction between the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom and the actions of the Golden Sword Sect, various signs already indicated that the Blood Red Alliance was scheming something in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If things continued this way, a major conflict between the three sects seemed inevitable. And as the Lin Family had started to stand out in Wei Kingdom and was involved in grudges between two sects, it was bound to be affected. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a situation, even though he had succeeded in Core Formation, the Lin Family¡¯s crisis still existed. Under these circumstances, the Lin Family had no choice but to act low-key and cautiously deal with any crisis that may arise. Understanding this, Lin Shikang asked Lin Shihua, ¡°So much time has passed since the issues with the three sects; have there been any major moves? How has our family responded?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader and having already discussed countermeasures with Lin Shilu and others, had been strictly implementing the plan. Over the past year, apart from having people from two sects come to retrieve the Jiuli Star Fruit and the Lin Family delaying the process, no other significant events had been reported. It seemed that the three sects hadn¡¯t completely fallen out with each other yet, or there might have been some friction, but given Luoyun Mountain¡¯s remote location, the news might not have gotten there. With this understanding, Lin Shihua honestly reported the news he had. After hearing the plan discussed by several people, Lin Shikang nodded in agreement, evidently satisfied. Then, he added a few words of his own and instructed Lin Shihua to continue following the plan. With this matter concluded, Lin Shihua looked at the clan members present and then spoke. ¡°Fellow clansmen, our Third Brother has finally emerged from retreat after his Core Formation. This is truly the greatest joy for our Lin Family!¡± Chapter 745 03-25 - 745 404 High-Level Gathering (Requesting ?Chapter 745: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_2 Chapter 745: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_2 ¡°` ¡°Logically speaking, after centuries, the Lin Family has returned to its peak, and my Core Formation is such a joyous occasion, we should hold a Core Formation celebration and could even invite other families or sects to attend.¡± ¡°However, the current situation in the Wei Kingdom is chaotic, and a war that will sweep across the Wei Kingdom is about to erupt. The Lin Family will inevitably be affected, and I fear it would make the Core Formation celebration impossible to hold.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand and then continued, ¡°These formalities are not important. Moreover, given the current situation, the Lin Family should not expose its strength prematurely. Thus, it¡¯s better not to hold the celebration.¡± ¡°In addition, before Tian Ming attains his Core Formation, the news of my Core Formation should not be made public within the family. And I strictly forbid clan members from discussing it and forbid spreading any speculations beyond the family.¡± ¡°Once discovered and if the situation is true, it will be dealt with strictly according to the family rules, with no leniency!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded his head. ... ¡°Rest assured, Third Brother, as soon as your tribulation ended, I have already instructed all those who knew and notified Xing Zhi to enforce the plan strictly.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Shilu¡­ Tianming, you both are aware of the current situation. With the family facing a crisis and now that the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items have been obtained, you two should also prepare and strive to reach the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, both Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. Even if Lin Shikang hadn¡¯t mentioned it, they had been preparing for this event recently. In particular, Lin Tianming had been in seclusion since his return to the family, except when he came out during Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Thanks to his efforts, his cultivation had now reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, which could be described as rapid progress. Next, he planned to continue his seclusion, using the Hun Tian Pill in his possession to break through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. If he was fortunate, he might directly reach the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and, after consolidating for a year or so, he could attempt the Great Perfection Realm. Following this path, perhaps within three years, he would be ready to attempt the life-and-death tribulation, aiming for the Golden Core Stage that everyone aspires to. Over the past few years, Lin Shilu had also been busy, spending most of his time on Artifact Refining, preparing Defense Artifacts necessary for Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. With the additional need to upgrade attack and defense artifacts for Lin Tianming¡¯s venture into the Secret Realm, he had been extremely preoccupied. Following that, Lin Tianming acquired the Fruit of Fortuity, which caused his cultivation to surge, putting him within a few years of attempting the Golden Core Stage. And with his own cultivation reaching the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he needed to start preparing for Core Formation as well. In such circumstances, he had to prepare Defense Artifacts for himself and Lin Tianming to use during their tribulations. It means that, as a Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner, he has to prepare about twenty to thirty Second Order Medium Quality or higher Defense Artifacts for three people within a decade. The quality and quantity of such artifacts represent a significant workload, and unfortunately, he is the only one in the Lin Family with such Artifact Refining expertise. Therefore, the enormous pressure of Artifact Refining rests solely on him. Fortunately, Lin Tianming acquired numerous Spirit Ore Materials and a large number of Second Order Magical Artifacts in the Secret Realm, most of which are of Medium Quality or higher. With these ready-made artifacts and the acquired Spirit Ore, Artifact Refining will be much easier. Otherwise, if he had to start from scratch, he would either wear himself out in the Artifact Forging Room or have no time left to improve his cultivation. Now that Lin Shikang has successfully formed his Core, the family¡¯s safety also had a basic guarantee, and they could devote themselves entirely to their preparations for Core Formation. Understanding this, the two discussed their own plans. ¡°Third Grandfather, from now on, the family¡¯s affairs will most likely depend on your esteemed self, as your great-grandson will be fully devoted to seclusion for cultivation. Unless the family faces a crisis of existence, it is unlikely that I will come out!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu also added. ¡°Yes¡­ I also need to hasten my Artifact Refining and improve my realm. I aim to attempt the Golden Core Stage within three years of seclusion!¡± ¡°` The few people present listened to Lin Tianming and his partner¡¯s plans, their expressions filled with excitement. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was solemn as he started instructing Lin Shihua beside him. ¡°Shihua, the matter of Tianming¡¯s two people¡¯s retreat is currently the most important affair for the Lin Family, and we must pool the entire clan¡¯s efforts to collect items needed for their tribulation,¡± he said. ¡°Furthermore, considering the current unstable situation and the looming war, all war resources will become scarce,¡± he added. ¡°Therefore, we must act quickly; regardless of the grade and price of the treasures, as long as they can enhance our cultivation strength, the family must spare no expense to acquire them!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua replied earnestly, ¡°Third brother, rest assured, the matter is already under orderly progress!¡± ¡°Over the past two years, the family has accumulated some war resources and issued numerous tasks, setting many policies to encourage clan members to participate in trials, thereby enhancing their cultivation strength to face the upcoming crisis.¡± ¡°Good, I still feel very assured with you handling things!¡± Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction, Lin Shihua indeed had a watertight way of managing things and could be considered extremely reliable. With Lin Tianming and several other clan members offering their advice and consolidating everyone¡¯s opinions, even in his absence, they could make accurate judgments and allow the family to quickly respond in times of crisis. Upon this reflection, Lin Shikang felt a profound sense of relief in his heart. At this time, he glanced at Lin Shigong and then asked about Lin Tianyun¡¯s situation. Seeing this, Lin Shigong began to talk about Lin Tianyun¡¯s progress over the years. With his Sky Spirit Root talent, in less than four years, he had reached the peak of the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, much faster than Lin Tianming at the same stage. The reason for this, besides the advantages in spiritual root, was primarily due to the vast difference in their cultivation environments. It should be noted that before Lin Tianming reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, the family¡¯s overall conditions were quite poor. At that time, the Lin Family faced enemies on all sides, and their foundation was exceptionally weak, to the point where even basic resources like Lingshen Pills for Qi Refining Cultivators were very limited within the family. As Lin Shigong¡¯s grandson and the direct descendant of the Lin Family¡¯s best alchemists who also possessed the best talent in eight hundred years, Lin Tianming still only managed to use a few Lingshen Pills each month compared to others. Most of these were secretly funded by Lin Shigong and his parents. Now, Lin Tianyun had come upon the best era of the Lin Family in over eight hundred years. At the very least, Qi Refining Stage clanspeople within the Lin Family no longer lacked cultivation resources. Even those with Five Spirit Roots received two Lingshen Pills and ten low-grade Spirit Stones as a basic stipend each month. With such foundational conditions, anyone willing to put forth the effort could easily acquire sufficient resources for cultivation by completing a few simple tasks each month. Being the most talented in the family¡¯s history and personally mentored by Lin Shigong, Lin Tianyun received a generous monthly stipend and enjoyed many privileges, including exemption from clan tasks, allowing him to devote all his time to cultivation. With Lin Shigong, an experienced alchemist, the elixirs required during the Qi Refinement Realm were practically stockpiled for Lin Tianyun¡¯s use. Given these innate advantages, he was able to quickly advance his cultivation and break many of the fastest records held previously by Lin Tianming. However, although the Lin Family¡¯s foundation had greatly improved, as the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators increased, the elixirs and magic artifacts required by Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also limited and far from being supplied unconditionally like those for the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople. Once Lin Tianyun entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, his cultivation speed would inevitably slow down. In such circumstances, if he wished to catch up to Lin Tianming, there would be a long way to go. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having learned about the situations of Lin Tianyun and Lin Tianfeng, Lin Shikang gave a few instructions before ending the topic. As the group continued to chat, Lin Shikang also became informed about the progress of some key matters within the family. Half a quarter of an hour later, this gathering after his Core Formation came to a gradual end. After greeting some of the elders, Lin Tianming returned directly to his own cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 746 03-25 - 746 405 Action_1 ?Chapter 746: Chapter 405 Action_1 Chapter 746: Chapter 405 Action_1 Having left Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, Lin Tianming went straight back to his own. Qin Xi had already been waiting in the courtyard. In the two years since his return, Qin Xi had been leading the Lin Family members to gain experience deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range. During this time, he had almost always been in closed-door cultivation, occasionally emerging for a day, but it was difficult to meet Qin Xi when she returned. The last time the couple had seen each other was a year ago. Seeing Qin Xi again after a year, Lin Tianming was very excited, and hurriedly took her hand, inquiring with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you returned from your training?¡± ¡°Hmm? Your cultivation has even broken through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ... Before Qin Xi could respond, Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful Divine Sense had already detected her transformation. Although Qin Xi did not reveal any aura of her cultivation, she could not hide it from Lin Tianming¡¯s perception. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned words, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed slightly, then she nodded. Over the nearly two years, she had almost constantly been training in the Luoyun Mountain Range, leading the Lin Family members to slay demonic beasts and search for all kinds of treasures of heaven and earth. After nearly two years of training, having gone through many intense battles, they even encountered attacks from Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts. It had taken considerable effort to escape the pursuit of the demonic beasts with her family members, and as a result, she had sustained some injuries. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Fortunately, the demonic beasts they encountered were not of a gregarious species, otherwise the loss of family members would have been significant. After two years of fighting and tempering, with several instances of life-and-death crises, her cultivation had not broken through, so she had planned to consolidate it thoroughly. Just two months ago, she briefly entered closed-door cultivation for half a month and, without using the large number of Spirit Fruits that Lin Tianming had given her, she successfully broke through to the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. For this, Qin Xi was quite surprised. Clearly, the effects of the long period of battle and training were good, having solidified her cultivation base. Due to her talent with Dual Spiritual Roots, coupled with a solid foundation, she was able to naturally break through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. Now, she still had several Second Order Medium Quality Spiritual Fruits in her hand. If she had another year or two for closed-door cultivation, using some of these Spirit Fruits, she might be able to break through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment Realm. Thinking of this, Qin Xi felt very excited, even somewhat impatient. However, now that she had finally met Lin Tianming after he left closed-door cultivation, she did not plan to start closed-door cultivation immediately. At least, the couple should spend some time together, share the bitterness of longing, and then go into closed-door cultivation. With this in mind, Qin Xi smiled and said, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er didn¡¯t even use the Spiritual Fruits you gave, and successfully broke through!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er, with your exceptional talent, coupled with the training of the past two years, it was expected that you would break through smoothly!¡± ¡°Being able to break through in cultivation without the help of external objects is the most ideal state. I believe that after another year of closed-door cultivation and consuming some of the Second Order Spiritual Fruits, you will undoubtedly make further progress!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said with praise. ¡°Well¡­ I hope it¡¯s as smooth and easy as you say, Ming!¡± replied Qin Xi. Right after, Qin Xi continued, ¡°The family members who returned from the training are resting back at the mountain, and it¡¯s Uncle Xing Zhi¡¯s turn to lead the team. Xi¡¯er is planning to go into closed-door cultivation for a while, to see if it¡¯s possible to break through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became excited. ¡°Great! ¡°Right now, with so many things happening, the family is facing new challenges and needs the members to improve their strength as soon as possible. Since Xi¡¯er, you have such confidence, that¡¯s the best thing indeed!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go see Grandfather and Mother today, gather together this evening, and then come back to closed-door cultivation!¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi suggested. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s respect for elders and her constant thoughts of Grandfather and Mother, Lin Tianming felt very comforted. After chatting for a while, the couple left their cave mansion and walked towards the Cave Mansion Courtyard where the Mother lived. That night, Lin Tianming gathered with Grandfather and his parents. The family, except for Father Lin Xingrong and Sister Lin Tianyue, who were still stationed in the Qianchuan Market, enjoyed dinner together across three generations. In between, they exchanged a lot of information about the changes within the family and also talked about the situation in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Only when the night grew deep did the couple bid farewell to their elders and return to their cave mansion. Once back in the cave mansion, the couple didn¡¯t rest; they immediately entered the cultivation room for closed-door cultivation. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat on a meditation cushion and circulated his Cultivation Technique through one Grand Circulation. After about a quarter of an hour, following a session of sitting meditation and regulating his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s condition reached its peak. At that moment, he opened his eyes, took out a Jade Bottle from his storage bag, and poured out a pill that was blue and yellow in color. Upon closer inspection, the pill was full in color, containing a tremendous amount of energy. This pill was the Hun Tian Pill, which the family had commissioned Ye Pinghai to refine many years before. This pill was quite potent and, just like the Pozhang Pill taken by Qi Refining Cultivators, could ignore bottlenecks and directly advance a Foundation Establishment Cultivator by one realm. In some special cases, if a cultivator at the peak of the initial layer of Foundation Establishment Stage used it, there was a chance to break through two realms consecutively, advancing directly to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Therefore, the value of the Hun Tian Pill was extremely high; even a Foundation Establishment Pill could not compare to this pill. After all, although the Foundation Establishment Pill was valuable, that was only for Qi Refining Cultivators. Once one truly advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, the progression became difficult, and the Foundation Establishment Pill was of no help for advancing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator further. The Hun Tian Pill, however, ignored the realm¡¯s bottlenecks. Whether it be an early stage or a late stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it would advance at least one level. Chapter 747 03-25 - 747 405 Action_2 ?Chapter 747: Chapter 405 Action_2 Chapter 747: Chapter 405 Action_2 ¡°` Having mentioned that, one would understand just how significant the effects of the Hun Tian Pill are and how high its value is. At the time, the Lin Family had obtained the main ingredients for the Hun Tian Pill and specially went to Qianchuan Market to commission Ye Pinghai to help refine it. In the end, they acquired a total of three Hun Tian Pills. Initially, Lin Shikang successfully broke through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment with the help of this pill. A few years ago, Lin Shilu similarly used this pill to break through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. As for this last Hun Tian Pill, it had always been kept in the family¡¯s Treasure Vault, and its future owner had already been decided ¨C it was reserved for Lin Tianming¡¯s use. Lin Tianming also knew that the pill was extremely valuable and had significant effects, so he had always planned to use it once he reached the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. After all, for him, it was relatively easier to improve his cultivation in the early and middle stages of the Foundation Establishment Phase. ... But past the late stage of Foundation Establishment, even with his dual Spiritual Roots talent, each step forward at his current level wasn¡¯t as easy as it had been during the early stages. Therefore, using this Hun Tian Pill at his current realm would maximize the pill¡¯s value. Not just him, but Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had taken the pill before him, did the same. Now, he had reached the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, and his cultivation was at the very peak of this stage, only a half step away from the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Using this Hun Tian Pill, his success in breaking through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment was almost a certainty, and he might even reach the middle or late stages of the Ninth Level in one go. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t wait to consume the elixir. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï As soon as the pill entered his mouth, he immediately activated his cultivation technique to refine the Hun Tian Pill. Soon, the vast energy contained within began to seep out slowly, and after refinement, it coursed through his meridians and finally gathered in the Seven Sea Dantian. Looking down at the Dantian, he could see the Spiritual Power inside increasing at a visibly slow pace. At this rate, breaking through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment wouldn¡¯t take very long. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied with the effects of the Hun Tian Pill, thinking that the pill was indeed as powerful and effective as the rumors in the Cultivation World suggested. He then fully exerted his Cultivation Technique, continuing to increase the intensity of the refinement. In less than three months¡¯ time, the Hun Tian Pill was successfully refined by him. As he expected, his cultivation successfully broke through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and although he hadn¡¯t reached the peak of this level, he wasn¡¯t far from it either. Overall, the effects of the Hun Tian Pill met his expectations. With his cultivation breakthrough, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t exit his closed-door cultivation immediately but continued to cultivate, preparing to use the few remaining Second Order Superior Grade Spirit Fruits in his hand to push his cultivation to the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. If possible, he even planned to attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm in one fell swoop. And so, with these expectations, Lin Tianming continued his closed-door cultivation, impervious to the outside world. ¡­ Time flew by, and two years had passed since he began this period of seclusion. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On this evening, as the sunset approached and the sky gradually darkened. In the northeastern part of Zhenyang Sect, within the Bluewater Mountain Range, three flying vessels were hidden in the clouds at an altitude of tens of thousands of feet, quickly crossing many mountains and rivers with extreme speed. In the blink of an eye, the flying vessels had vanished without a trace. The Bluewater Mountain Range, similar in size to the Luoyun Mountain Range, is located in the northeastern part of the Zhenyang Sect and is part of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s territory, bordering the Tianqing Mountain Range controlled by the Golden Sword Sect. This location is somewhat like the Luoyun Mountain Range, with generally scarce resources. For this reason, the strongest forces in the Bluewater Mountain Range are a few Foundation Establishing Families. As the Lin Family rose rapidly, the overall strength of the Luoyun Mountain Range also surged significantly. As of now, the Bluewater Mountain Range naturally could not compare to the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, it was in this barren land that three priceless flying vessels appeared today. Such Flying Artifacts were seldom seen in this impoverished place. ¡°` Yet today, three ships appeared in formation, a rather unusual occurrence. At this moment, on the deck of the leading flying boat. Five cultivators stood at the forefront, all staring down at the landscape disappearing swiftly below them, with a sinister smile on their faces. Among the five cultivators at the front of the deck, stood Song Hanchun. Behind them, more than a dozen cultivators wearing uniform attire sat in a row on the ground, their expressions serious. Clearly, judging from their attire and the situation with Song Hanchun, this large group was composed of disciples from the Golden Sword Sect. At that time, one of the cultivators glanced at the scenery below, then looked at the map in his hand and spoke to Song Hanchun beside him. ¡°Junior Brother Song, we have already entered the Bluewater Mountain Range!¡± ¡°Following the plan, we will soon send out some disciples to take down Tianshui Mountain Range and then hide nearby, to see if we can draw out Chen Jingtian!¡± Upon hearing this, Song Hanchun nodded seriously. Shortly after, Song Hanchun pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands together and said to Xiang Changqing, ¡°Senior Brother Xiang, capturing the Tianshui Mountain Range will hardly require much effort. However, we¡¯ve already burnt bridges with the two powerful factions of the Zhenyang Sect; they must be on their guard.¡± ¡°Under these circumstances, it won¡¯t be easy to lure them out individually!¡± Upon hearing Song Hanchun¡¯s words, the leading Xiang Changqing¡¯s expression jolted, and he coldly smirked, ¡°Humph¡­ If they don¡¯t come out, we¡¯ll just intensify our efforts, take down the mountain ranges near Tianshui Mountain Range, and force the Zhenyang Sect to send out their higher-ups.¡± ¡°At that point, we¡¯ll strike down both individuals in one go and then directly attack the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate.¡± ¡°With the help of Daoist Zhao and the others, the Zhenyang Sect will certainly not be able to withstand us. If all goes well, we could completely take down the Zhenyang Sect before Myriad Medicine Valley can send support.¡± ¡°At that time, facing us alone, Myriad Medicine Valley will stand no chance at all!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, than Song Hanchun nodded, then said with a hint of helplessness. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong¡¯s escape last time, we wouldn¡¯t have needed to wait these years, nor would we need to waste so much effort!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a man in a black robe among the crowd darkened his expression, seemingly irritated. Seeing this, Xiang Changqing quickly started to fawn over him, apparently very wary of the man in black. ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on the past; with the help of the Blood Red Alliance, we are sure to take down both sects.¡± ¡°By then, I hope Daoist Zhao remembers his promise!¡± Hearing this, the previously displeased man in black nodded contentedly, his face revealing a sinister smile. Witnessing this, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he cursed inwardly. ¡°Hmph¡­ If it weren¡¯t for your arrogance and carelessness which allowed Luo Anzhong to score a cheap shot, we wouldn¡¯t have to be grovelling like this.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ Forming an alliance with a wolfish power like the Blood Red Alliance won¡¯t be simple. I wonder if the Sect Leader and Great Elder¡¯s decision was correct!¡± Song Hanchun silently reflected on this while maintaining a poker face. Although the man in black was unaware of what Song Hanchun was thinking, he too was muttering internally. ¡°Humph¡­ If it weren¡¯t for the alliance leader¡¯s death order to find that item as quickly as possible, not to mention our alliance¡¯s strength being too scattered and other top forces keeping watch, I wouldn¡¯t bother wasting words with you all!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you, I might just annihilate your Golden Sword Sect when the time comes!¡± At that moment, the few of them each harbored their own secret conjectures, with none aware of the other¡¯s thoughts. And thus, they all briefly fell into silence. The flying boat continued its rapid flight, speeding towards the depths of the Tianshui Mountain Range, moving as fast as it possibly could. While the Golden Sword Sect made their move, both the Tianshui Mountain Range and the Zhenyang Sect remained oblivious. Little did they know, a crisis was imminent; the tranquil state of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was about to face another tempest. ¡­ Chapter 748 03-25 - 748 406 Once Again Summoned_1 ?Chapter 748: Chapter 406: Once Again Summoned_1 Chapter 748: Chapter 406: Once Again Summoned_1 Two months later. On this day in the Lin Family Clan Grounds at Green Bamboo Mountain. Inside a certain training room, Lin Tianming, who was sitting on a meditation cushion, opened his eyes, and a glint of sharp light flashed briefly from the corner of his eye. Following that, he took a deep breath, and a crackling sound came from within his body. Over the past two years, he devoted himself to uninterrupted cultivation retreats. With the aid of the Hun Tian Pill and several reserved Second Order Spiritual Fruits, his cultivation successfully reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. Two months prior, he had attempted to break through to the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment, but was unsuccessful. ... To this result, he was not surprised. After all, in nearly three years¡¯ time, he consumed a large number of heavenly and earthly Spirit Fruits. Such an abundance of treasures caused his cultivation to soar too quickly, skyrocketing directly from the Seventh Level to the Ninth Level Peak of Foundation Establishment, leaving only a single step away from the Great Perfection Realm. In fact, reaching the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment had already met his inner expectations. If he hadn¡¯t experienced numerous battles in the Secret Realm, where his overall cultivation foundation became quite solid, and his base well established. Otherwise, relying on treasures to advance two great realms in such a short time during the late stage of Foundation Establishment could easily damage the firm foundation he had laid, leading to greater obstacles later on. If that were the case, it would indeed be a loss rather than a gain. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Therefore, his inability to directly reach the Great Perfection this time was not disappointing. Understanding this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly, planning to exit seclusion to visit his elders and, incidentally, to inquire about the situation of the Cultivation World and his family. Resolved, just as Lin Tianming was about to stand up, a message transmission flew into the training room and halted before him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming cast Spiritual Light upon it and quickly checked the contents of the message. Soon, his expression became solemn, and he swiftly left the cave dwelling, heading towards the Guest-Receiving Palace halfway up the mountain. Before long, in the family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Palace, he came across Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong. At that time, the two were sitting in the hall, chatting with a man in golden robes. When the golden-robed man saw Lin Tianming enter, he promptly got up and greeted him warmly. Recognizing the visitor, it was Li Huafeng, a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. Obviously, following the conclusion of the training in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength had also spread within the ranks of Myriad Medicine Valley and its two Sects. Having previously encountered him at Golden Horn Mountain, they had specifically visited the Lin Family Clan Grounds to deliver a Recruitment Order from the Zhenyang Sect, requesting the Lin Family send members to Yuyao City to resist the onslaught of the Beast Tide Army. Li Huafeng, now seeing Lin Tianming again even with the status of a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, did not dare to put on airs in Lin Family territory in front of Lin Tianming. Therefore, his demeanor was very polite, a significant change from before, clearly showing great wariness. At that moment, upon seeing Li Huafeng appear at the Lin Family Clan Grounds again, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but skip a beat. With a little thought, and considering the current situation of the Cultivation World, he understood that there must have been a major change among the three Great Sects, or perhaps it was about the Jiuli Star Fruit. Otherwise, the Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t have sent Li Huafeng back to the Lin Family at this critical juncture. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush. After exchanging a few polite remarks with Li Huafeng, he directly asked for the reason behind his visit. Seeing this, Li Huafeng¡¯s expression turned serious, and he began to explain the purpose of his visit. Indeed, Lin Tianming¡¯s guess was accurate. According to the news conveyed by Li Huafeng, the Golden Sword Sect suddenly attacked the territories controlled by the Zhenyang Sect two months prior, causing a large region to the north of their mountain gate to fall. The Bluewater Mountain Range, lying close to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory, was naturally the first to be hit, including various forces within several surrounding mountain ranges and a few small market towns. Nearly all of them had been pillaged by the Golden Sword Sect disciples before they could react. As a result, many family cultivators, including Loose Cultivators, perished in that unjust battle. As for Li Huafeng¡¯s purpose, it was naturally to convey the Recruitment Order, organizing all major family forces under their command, including Loose Cultivators, to head to the frontline to resist against Golden Sword Sect¡¯s invasion. This time, the demands of the Recruitment Order issued by the Golden Sword Sect were even more stringent than during the previous Beast Tide attack. In explanation, Li Huafeng claimed he was only conveying the intentions of the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s higher-ups, noting that the Lin Family had many cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their strength was among the top ranks of the Foundation Establishing Families. Thus, the Zhenyang Sect required the Lin Family to send at least three Foundation Establishment Cultivators to the frontline, and among the three, at least one must possess Medium Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation or higher. These conditions were not only for the Lin Family but also applied to other families with comparably strong overall power, who were similarly demanded upon. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming and the others became solemn, and anger stirred within them. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect faced great pressure, and the situation was perhaps grim. They might have been compelled by this pressure to make such demands. However, over the years, the Lin Family had also made significant contributions to the Zhenyang Sect. Especially Lin Tianming himself, who, in the recently concluded expedition to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, had saved cultivators from both Sects and reclaimed the Jiuli Star Fruits that rightfully belonged to them. And with Lin Tianming yet to receive any reward, the Zhenyang Sect was making such harsh demands on the Lin Family. Such actions undoubtedly reflected the view that the Lin Family was weak and wouldn¡¯t dare to object to their decisions, hence the lack of consideration for the Lin Family. Chapter 749 03-25 - 749 406 Another Call to Arms_2 ?Chapter 749: Chapter 406: Another Call to Arms_2 Chapter 749: Chapter 406: Another Call to Arms_2 However, even though Lin Tianming and the others understood this, they felt constrained by the prestige of Zhenyang Sect and the necessity for the Lin Family not to reveal all their strength prematurely. Although they were angry, they didn¡¯t outright refuse the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Order. At this time, as the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua communicated privately with Lin Tianming and the others to decide on a strategy. Shortly after discussing it among the three of them, they felt the Lin Family was currently at a critical juncture and could not afford to reveal their full strength. At the very least, they could not afford to directly confront Zhenyang Sect until either Lin Tianming or Lin Shilu had reached Core Formation. Although it was unlikely that Zhenyang Sect, due to the immense pressure from Golden Sword Sect, would dispatch a Golden Core Cultivator to deal with the Lin Family, being marked by a powerful Golden Elixir Force was still undesirable. If they pushed the Lin Family into a pit of fire, made things difficult specifically for them, or used an external force to target them, the Lin Family could respond, but they would certainly be plagued by endless troubles. More importantly, if Zhenyang Sect intentionally directed disaster elsewhere, the Lin Family would face even greater troubles, possibly having to confront Golden Sword Sect directly. ... If that happened, it could completely disrupt the Lin Family¡¯s rhythm and plans. In such a situation, despite their deep reluctance, the group had no choice but to agree to respond to the Recruitment Order and send qualified clan members to the battle as required. At this time, Lin Shihua forced a smile and then said helplessly, ¡°Li, rest assured, our Lin Family will certainly arrange for our clan members to set off as soon as possible!¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s personal promise, Li Huafeng nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Hm¡­ If that¡¯s the case, please remember, Chief Lin, to have your esteemed clan members gather at Qianchuan Market within a month¡¯s time! ¡°Time is of the essence, and I must hurry to convey the Recruitment Order to other Foundation Establishing Families. I will take my leave now!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan expressed his intention to depart, not bringing up the matter of the Jiuli Star Fruit at all. Such behavior took Lin Tianming by surprise. However, it was better that they did not mention it, otherwise he would have had a hard time finding an excuse to deflect. ¡°Li, then allow us to escort you out!¡± Following the agreement on the conditions of the Recruitment Order and confirmation of the gathering time, Lin Tianming and the others personally saw Li Huafeng off. Afterwards, they returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s residence, drinking tea and chatting casually while also discussing who would be sent to battle. After all, Lin Shikang, the Lin Family¡¯s strongest member, had only achieved Core Formation a little over two years ago. With his strength, he definitely couldn¡¯t appear in the public eye. Otherwise, what would be the point of the family deliberately keeping a low profile? As for Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation, he had also reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, getting ready for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. Lin Shilu was busy with Artifact Refining, needing to improve his own cultivation as well as prepare for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. The duration of the war between the three Sects was also unpredictable, short as one or two years or as long as several years if the stalemate lasted too long. If it indeed dragged on for too long, they simply wouldn¡¯t have the time or energy to partake in this Sect war. In addition, the requirements of the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Draft Order indicated that a Medium Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation was sufficient. If they were to send one of the two at the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment into battle, that would be an excessive use of resources. Moreover, the Lin Family controlled several Spirit Lands which were quite dispersed. If the strongest clan members were to leave the clan grounds for too long and Golden Sword Sect attacked, even though there were many Foundation Establishment Cultivators among the clan, without the top combat power, they simply wouldn¡¯t cope. After all, there were at least dozens of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators within Golden Sword Sect, and just a few of them would be enough to wreak havoc on the Lin Family. If the Golden Sword Sect played it safe and sent a Golden Core Cultivator to attack the clan, the Protective Clan Formation could withstand Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators for perhaps ten days or half a month. But a Second Order Superior Defense Array might not last even a few hours under the attack of a Golden Core Cultivator. Once the formation was broken, the clan¡¯s last semblance of defense would be gone. And the several hundred clan members living on the Lin Family Clan Grounds would be like lambs to the slaughter, utterly powerless to fight back. With this being the case, if two or three of them were to leave, the clan¡¯s protective strength would be greatly discounted. In such circumstances, even if he was apprehensive about Zhenyang Sect¡¯s reckoning after the autumn, Lin Shihua would not place the choice of those who would take part in the great battle on Lin Tianming and the others. Deeply understanding this, Lin Shihua kept silent for a long time before he finally spoke, ¡°Zhenyang Sect¡¯s draft requires at least three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among which there must be at least one at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment!¡± ¡°Our family does have quite a few people who meet this condition, but a portion of them has not revealed themselves publicly.¡± ¡°In addition, Golden Core Cultivators are bound to be the absolute main force in a sect battle. If there really is a fight, Foundation Establishment Cultivators also face no small danger. If tribe members who go to the battlefield have too low cultivation, the probability of returning safely is very low.¡± ¡°Thus, sending family members with insufficient cultivation to the frontline to participate in the war is undoubtedly a situation of near-certain death.¡± Hearing this, both Lin Shigong and Lin Tianming nodded their heads, inwardly very much in agreement. Especially Lin Tianming, who, during the great battle in Yuyao City, discovered that Cultivators in the middle and late stages of Foundation Establishment still had some power of self-preservation. But early Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the battlefield were not much stronger than those of the Qi Refining clanspeople. Just take the battle between Yuyao City and the Demon Beast Army; there weren¡¯t many middle and late stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators who perished, but there were quite a few at the initial stage. And the slaughtering among cultivators, compared to the Demonic Beasts, was undoubtedly much more dangerous. After all, Cultivators have higher Spirit Wisdom, and the threat they pose, with their scheming and intrigue, is much greater than that of Demonic Beasts. Thus, considering that, the strength and cultivation of clan members heading for the battlefield cannot be too low; otherwise, it¡¯s not much different from sending them to their deaths. As the saying goes, ¡®both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh¡¯; arranging for anyone to go is not quite right. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming also felt somewhat troubled, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t decide. Not just him, Lin Shihua and the grandfather felt the same. Just when everyone was at a loss, Qin Xi emerged from her retreat and came to pay her respects to the elders immediately. ¡°Greetings to grandfather, greetings to Twelfth Grandpa!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Xi¡¯er, no need for such formalities, come over here and sit!¡± Seeing Qin Xi, Lin Shihua smiled happily and hurriedly waved her over to sit down. Lin Tianming, seeing Qin Xi, was also extremely excited and quickly pulled her to sit down next to him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following that, Lin Tianming took a brief look at her and immediately noticed the change in Qin Xi. Then, with a hearty laugh, he excitedly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, after two years of seclusion, you have actually advanced to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, your rate of improvement is truly fast.¡± Lin Tianming said these words quite sincerely. You must know, Qin Xi is a few years younger than him, and if it hadn¡¯t been for his rapid advancement during the past few years with the aid of treasures like the Hun Tian Pill, at the same age, his cultivation would have been about the same as Qin Xi¡¯s now. And he had been cultivating a Heavenly Grade Technique, always cared for by family elders from an early stage, and supported by numerous resources for cultivation, only then could he achieve the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm at Qin Xi¡¯s age. But before reaching the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation resources were all obtained by herself. Although in the past few years, Lin Tianming and some elders did support her cultivation, to attain her current Realm and rate of progress, she did indeed advance quickly, hardly any less than Lin Tianming during the same period. ¡°Ming¡­ all this is largely thanks to those Second Order Spiritual Fruits you gave me, and also due to the experience I had over two years ago, I was able to break through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level smoothly,¡± said Qin Xi. Hearing this, both Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were also overjoyed. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Tianming¡¯s words, with their realms, they naturally couldn¡¯t discern Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation. Now knowing that Qin Xi had cultivated so rapidly, coming to the Lin Family for just six or seven years, she had already made several consecutive breakthroughs. Such a rate of cultivation was indeed worthy of the prodigious Lin Tianming. ¡°This child is indeed a prodigy!¡± Lin Shihua looked at Qin Xi and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration. Chapter 750 03-25 - 750 407 Qin Xis Request_1 ?Chapter 750: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_1 Chapter 750: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_1 Just as Lin Shihua was speaking, Qin Xi seemed to recall something and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Grandpa, I heard you just mentioning something about selecting candidates. Has something big happened in the Cultivation World?¡± ¡°This? This?¡± Lin Shigong looked helpless, his speech breaking off repeatedly as if he was hesitating. Seeing this, Lin Shihua also spoke up, ¡°Xi¡¯er, it¡¯s just some arrangements within the family, nothing significant has happened. You and Tian Ming are the future of the Lin Family, and all you need to do is stay on the family grounds and cultivate in peace!¡± ¡°As for matters of the outside world, let us old folks handle them!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shigong also chimed in with agreement. ... ¡°Indeed, Shihua¡¯s right. You youngsters just focus on your cultivation and strive for breakthroughs. We old folks are aging, and our potential is almost exhausted. We can only do our best to support you for a hundred some years.¡± Before the words were finished, Qin Xi¡¯s expression grew solemn, and then she spoke, ¡°Both grandpas, I¡¯ve heard the matter you were discussing just now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua both felt a little embarrassed and somewhat apologetic. In their eyes, it was better not to tell Qin Xi about the Recruitment Order, to prevent the younger generation from unnecessary worries. But Qin Xi had by chance heard their conversation and even exposed their lies, which made them feel a bit embarrassed. While the two men were smiling bitterly, Qin Xi continued to speak. ¡°The front lines are very dangerous, and clan members with too low cultivation might not come back alive!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Xi¡¯er has already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level and has successfully cultivated a Spirit Art. Even an average Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator might not be a match for me.¡± ¡°Now that the family is in trouble, as a member of the Lin Family, let me go!¡± As soon as she finished, Lin Shihua sternly refused Qin Xi¡¯s request. ¡°How could you go? The battlefield is too dangerous, and besides, our relationship with Zhenyang Sect is very delicate. There¡¯s no guarantee they won¡¯t make things difficult for us!¡± ¡°I do not agree to you going!¡± Seeing that Lin Shihua¡¯s tone and attitude were resolute, seemingly leaving no room for negotiation. Yet in Qin Xi¡¯s view, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were simply concerned for her safety, which is why they were so stern. Because of this, she felt the care of her elders and was reminded of her grandfather¡¯s kind face, his strictness, and his tone, which were quite similar to these two men. Such a scene reminded her of her grandfather, and she felt the warmth he had given her. At this moment, Qin Xi was deeply moved and couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge in her nose. Having calmed herself down, Qin Xi looked at the two serious elders and sincerely began to persuade them. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, Xi¡¯er and Ming have fought together on the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield and are familiar with the Inner Sect Disciples of Zhenyang Sect. We can surely handle them!¡± ¡°Besides, Ming knows well what my strength is. I may not win easily against those of a higher realm, but I have a great chance of winning against cultivators of the same level!¡± ¡°Ever since stepping onto the cultivation path, I¡¯ve also encountered many life-and-death crises and have slain no small number of cultivators, which at least makes me someone with considerable combat experience.¡± ¡°Moreover, currently, the family doesn¡¯t have too many suitable candidates.¡± ¡°And even if I were to stay within the family, it¡¯s unlikely that I could break through in my cultivation in a year or two, so it would be better to go to the battlefield to gain experience.¡± ¡°Both grandpas, Xi¡¯er is confident in dealing with it, so let me fulfill the duty of a clan member for the family!¡± Qin Xi¡¯s words did not convince Lin Shihua or Lin Shigong, but they did convince Lin Tianming. In his heart, Qin Xi was truly outstanding, not at all inferior to himself. Putting aside the issue of cultivation level, speaking purely of strength among cultivators of the same stage, she truly was among the very best. She had achieved such strength and cultivation after enduring a lot over the years and had managed well in such a harsh environment, even turning her enemies around at her whim. In dire situations, she became even stronger in battle, a feat not just anyone could achieve. Knowing her past, he genuinely admired her. Now on the matter of choosing a candidate, considering Qin Xi had stated her case so convincingly, she truly was one of the best choices for the battlefield. Beyond this, he himself believed in a truth: that crisis and opportunity coexist, and only with sufficient effort can one reap greater rewards. If they, as husband and wife, wished to stay together for the long-term and advance further on their cultivation journey, they must face challenges head-on. Understanding this, Lin Tianming joined Qin Xi¡¯s camp. Under the relentless bombardment of their words, Qin Xi pulled out all the stops, using various sweet words to please the two, and even feigning anger to threaten the elders. Sure enough, these tactics were quite overwhelming for Lin Shihua and the other. ¡°Grandpa¡­ Twelfth Grandpa, please, let Xi¡¯er go¡­ Pretty please¡­¡± ¡°Just let me go¡­ If it comes to that, I will follow Uncle Tongxing¡¯s plan completely!¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This¡­ This¡­?¡± Lin Shihua was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to rebut, nothing like his sharp-tongued self when facing others. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, realizing that even the Clan Leader could have his awkward moments. Then, under Qin Xi¡¯s relentless persuasion, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong had a private discussion. It seemed they were no match for their persistent granddaughter-in-law, and at last, helplessly relented and agreed to Qin Xi¡¯s request. ¡°Alright¡­ Since Xi¡¯er is so determined, we old folks will let you go.¡± Chapter 751 03-25 - 751 407 Qin Xis Request_2 ?Chapter 751: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_2 Chapter 751: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_2 ¡°` ¡°However, I must state clearly in advance, safety must always come first. As long as you younger generations are alive, even if we offend the Zhenyang Sect, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± ¡°You must understand, our Lin Family is no longer what it used to be, not yet equals but at least we are not powerless to resist!¡± ¡°When pushed into a corner, we old folks are willing to stake our lives to make them pay a heavy price!¡± Lin Shihua spoke with sharp words and an imposing manner that could not be concealed. These words also made Qin Xi, who was already somewhat puzzled, even more certain of her suspicions. Although the other members of the Lin Family, including Lin Tianming, had not mentioned the Golden Core Stage Clansmen, now listening to Lin Shihua, it was clear that the family¡¯s hidden strength was definitely not weak. Combined with the long absence of Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang, it further confirmed her conjecture. ... There must already be two Golden Core Cultivators within the family! The clever Qin Xi quickly thought of something and felt the family growing stronger and stronger. However, she was tactful. It was enough to guess the result in her heart; since the family had not mentioned it openly, there must be significant reasons behind it. If she were to ask the elders, although she would get an accurate answer, it would undoubtedly be a bit awkward. Thus, Qin Xi, seeing the situation was favorable, subtly changed the subject. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, besides Xi¡¯er participating, who are the other two candidates you plan to send from our kin?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong frowned and mentioned a few names. ¡°Xing Rong?¡± ¡°Xing Ping, Xing Zhi, Xing Yuan¡­¡± In just a short while, Lin Shihua and his companion quietly settled on the candidates. Following that, Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Tianming, then said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, after discussing with your Ninth Uncle, we have decided to have your Uncle Xing Ping and Uncle Xing Yuan join you!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi thought carefully and instantly understood the extent of the elders¡¯ concern for her. It was known that both Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan were at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level Realm and were among the first in the Lin Family to break through to Foundation Establishment. Among them, Lin Xingyuan was also a Second Order Junior Alchemist. Their cultivation strength could definitely be considered the backbone of the family, playing a significant role in its rapid development over the years. The requirements for the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Order allowed for the dispatch of only one Medium Stage and two Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Clansmen. Choosing members based on the minimum requirements would undoubtedly be the most ideal arrangement for the family. Yet for Qin Xi¡¯s safety, Lin Shihua spared no effort in rallying strength and sent the absolute backbone of the family to accompany her to the battlefield. Such an action clearly prioritized her safety above all. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, she did her utmost to enhance the overall strength of their team, to ensure their survival in the frontline battles. Understanding this, Qin Xi¡¯s just-calmed nose turned sour again, and a mist of tears began swirling in her eyes. ¡°This is the warmth of the family!¡± ¡°There will always be people who care about your safety and do everything possible to pave the way for you!¡± ¡°Clan Leader, Grandpa¡­ Xi¡¯er will certainly not let you down!¡± At this moment, Qin Xi turned her head away and murmured to herself, her expression filled with immense self-confidence. After clearing her thoughts, she adjusted her state of mind. Then, she didn¡¯t say much more, for the elders had already considered her safety and confirmed the candidates. They had finally agreed to her going, and if they were to make them change their minds now, they would surely not yield. In this case, if she were to fail to appreciate their kindness, it would be somewhat ungracious. With the departure roster established, Lin Shihua pondered for a moment, then spoke. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you and the other clansmen participating in the great battle prepare yourselves. Remember to visit the Family Merits Hall these next few days to each collect a Dragon Heart Fruit and ten Second Order Talisman papers.¡± ¡°` ¡°If conditions allow, it would be best to assimilate the Dragon Heart Fruit before setting out, that way it could be a bit safer.¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi did not refuse the Clan Leader¡¯s kindness. She also knew the battlefield was bound to be perilous, and since the Clan Leader had made arrangements for their safety, she decided to comply with his instructions for their peace of mind. Understanding this, Qin Xi quickly began to express her gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Twelfth Grandpa!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Now that the matter of the selection of persons is settled, I shall not delay you and your husband any longer!¡± ¡°Ninth Brother, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shihua nodded and said a word, then looked over at Lin Shigong, constantly making meaningful glances at him. Seeing this, how could Lin Shigong not understand what it meant. At that moment, he nodded with a smile and then took out several Second Order Talismans from his storage bag and handed them to Qin Xi. Immediately afterward, Lin Shigong gave a piece of heartfelt advice. ¡°Xi¡¯er, I don¡¯t have much to offer, but keep these talisman papers for self-defense. Remember to be careful on the battlefield and consult with your Uncle Xing Ping before making decisions.¡± No sooner had his words fallen, Lin Shihua also echoed in agreement. ¡°Yes¡­ Don¡¯t underestimate Xing Ping and the others, although their strength is not as great as yours, they are rich in worldly experience. So always discuss matters with them!¡± ¡°Rest assured, grandfathers, Xi¡¯er will surely bear it in mind!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shigong nodded in satisfaction, then followed Lin Shihua as they left his cave abode. With Lin Shihua and the other¡¯s departure, only Lin Tianming and his wife remained in the small courtyard. At that time, Lin Tianming also pulled Qin Xi into his embrace, his hand gently stroking her hair. ¡°Xi¡¯er, with the outbreak of the Sect war involving the Blood Red Alliance, it¡¯s bound to be no small skirmish.¡± ¡°Barring any surprises, the battle will be fierce. If it¡¯s truly hopeless, there¡¯s no need for you to take risks for the sake of Zhenyang Sect!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words of caution, Qin Xi nodded, burying her head deeply in his chest. ¡°Ming, as a member of the family, I must contribute my strength. Even if I know the dangers, I must confront them head-on, as that is the only way to go farther on the Path of Immortality.¡± ¡°After all, Ming¡¯s talent is excellent, and in these years your cultivation has improved rapidly, and you¡¯re nearly ready to impact the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Though Xi¡¯er¡¯s strength is not as great as yours, I don¡¯t want to let you shoulder the responsibility of advancing the family alone. To catch up with you, I must take on risks, so that when the family faces crisis in the future, I can fight alongside you.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s determined words, Lin Tianming nodded, quite approving of her viewpoint. In his heart, for a family to develop and grow strong, it was definitely difficult to succeed with just a few people making an effort. However, if there were more people in the family like Qin Xi, each with the heart of a strong person, there would undoubtedly be a much broader prospect. With such family members striving together, how could the family not develop well. Realizing this, and affected by Qin Xi¡¯s spirit, Lin Tianming also felt very comforted in his heart. Snapping back to reality, Lin Tianming then smiled and encouraged her, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent is equally strong, no matter what goal you set, I believe you can achieve it.¡± ¡°But remember one thing, Xi¡¯er, be careful and prudent when you¡¯re out there. Where there¡¯s life, there¡¯s hope!¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken, a resolute expression on her face. Then, she responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ming, I will be careful and I will definitely return safely.¡± ¡°As for the family, it will be up to you and the Third Grandfather. When Xi¡¯er returns, I hope that Ming will have advanced further, and if you smoothly enter the Golden Core Stage, that would be even better!¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming internally disagreed. After all, the progression of the war among the three Sects was something no one could predict in advance. Currently, he was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, not yet having reached the Great Perfection Realm. If things went smoothly, perhaps he could retreat and attempt reaching the Golden Core Stage after a year or two. Chapter 752 03-25 - 752 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_1 ?Chapter 752: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_1 Chapter 752: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_1 However, if there is only a year or two before the Sect conflict, it¡¯s almost impossible to advance to the Golden Core Stage in such a short time. Even with his confidence, he wouldn¡¯t dare to boldly claim he could do it. Unless, of course, he had the aid of fourth or fifth order Heaven-Defying Treasures, otherwise, there would be no chance. But treasures of the fourth or fifth order are exceedingly rare, difficult for even a Nascent Soul Cultivator to possess, let alone a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him. However, one thing was certain, if the Sect conflict lasted several years, given his current cultivation realm, the probability of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was not small. In short, no matter what, in order to advance to the Golden Core Stage, he would make every effort and not waste any time. And for many years, this was what he had always done, and he would continue to do so in the future. ... Understanding this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Mm¡­ Let¡¯s work hard together, my wife and I!¡± Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming also took out many treasures from his storage bag and handed them to Qin Xi. Among these treasures, there were quite a few good items, including more than ten second-order, high-quality talisman papers, several of which were Defense Talismans. In addition, there were two one-time-use powerful treasures such as Spirit Detonation Beads, but the most valuable was one Fake Golden Core Talisman. He had kept this treasure for quite some time! Originally, he thought he might need the Fake Golden Core Talisman during his time in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. But before entering the Secret Realm, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and in the Secret Realm, he obtained the Blue Heart True Flame, significantly enhancing his strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? This meant there was never an opportunity to use either the Fake Golden Core Talisman or his Spirit Arts. Still, this was good, for the Spirit Arts should not be revealed lightly unless it was a matter of life and death. As for the power of the Fake Golden Core Talisman, it was comparable to a casual strike from a Golden Core Cultivator, and one might even say that apart from Golden Core Cultivators, not even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator would dare to say they could resist the power of a Fake Golden Core Talisman¡¯s attack. Therefore, the Fake Golden Core Talisman was incredibly valuable and could be considered any Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s trump card. Now, with Qin Xi leading the team to the frontlines of the battle, they would undoubtedly face many crises. With her strength comparable to a seventh level Foundation Establishment practitioner, plus this Fake Golden Core Talisman, they believed that as long as no Golden Core Cultivator took action, the three of them together could withstand a fatal crisis. Therefore, for their safety, Lin Tianming was not stingy and passed the long-held Fake Golden Core Talisman to Qin Xi. At that moment, seeing the treasures given by Lin Tianming, many of which were extremely precious, Qin Xi also began to decline. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ming, this Fake Golden Core Talisman is too precious. I already have quite a few treasures for self-defense; you should keep it for yourself!¡± she said. ¡°Xi¡¯er, as a husband who has reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, my strength should be unmatched below the Golden Core. The Fake Golden Core Talisman is entirely dispensable.¡± ¡°Moreover, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be leaving the clan territory for these few years. With Grandpa Sea and Third Grandfather at home, even if a Golden Core Cultivator attacks, the Lin Family will be unharmed, so there¡¯s no use for me to keep the Fake Golden Core Talisman.¡± ¡°As for your journey, the length is undetermined, and the crises you might face are unpredictable. Having this Fake Golden Core Talisman should ensure some safety!¡± he said. Lin Tianming spoke several sentences in a row, then forcefully passed all the prepared treasures to Qin Xi. Hearing this, Qin Xi was deeply moved and thought about it carefully, finding some reason in his words, and no longer declined. Then, she happily collected all the treasures. Having done all this, the couple embraced tightly, exchanging words of affection. During this time, Lin Tianming also kept passing on information he had learned to Qin Xi, focusing on intelligence about the top cultivators from the three Sects, and passed to her the book that Li Xiuyuan had given him before entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. By doing so, he enabled her to better understand the potential opponents from the three major Sects, so that when it came time to face them, she would not be at a loss. Qin Xi carefully memorized the intelligence and began preparing for the upcoming battle. ¡­ Half a month later. In the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, on the plaza in front of the mountain gate. Lin Tianming and his wife stood side by side, with Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan ready to head to the battlefield as well. Besides them, several others were huddled together, with Clan Leader Lin Shihua among them, constantly advising Lin Xingping. And Ren Yuxuan, the mother, was there as well¡ªhaving been worried about Qin Xi¡¯s mission when she first heard it. Today, the day they were leaving the family, Ren Yuxuan insisted on coming to see them off, and now she stepped forward to take Qin Xi¡¯s hand, urging her with concern. ¡°Xi¡¯er, the battlefield is fraught with dangers, please be careful¡­¡± she said. ¡°If there is any news, pass it back to the family immediately, inform us that you are safe¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, Lin Tianming, hearing these words of advice repeated several times by his mother¡ªfar more than when he first left the clan during the Qi Refinement Realm¡ªrealized how much more she was fussing now. Clearly, the mother¡¯s concern for Qin Xi had surpassed that for her own son. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this, as the relationship between mother and daughter-in-law had been excellent over the past few years, as close as sisters with no secrets to hide. Beyond that, Qin Xi was now weaker in cultivation strength than him, and what she was about to face was both complicated and quite dangerous. In such circumstances, Ren Yuxuan, as Qin Xi¡¯s mother-in-law, was naturally very worried. Chapter 753 03-25 - 753 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_2 ?Chapter 753: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_2 Chapter 753: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_2 And Qin Xi, upon hearing her mother¡¯s words, didn¡¯t find them long-winded at all; on the contrary, she felt a warmth in her heart. ¡°Mother, rest assured, Xi¡¯er is very confident, and I will certainly return safely!¡± Qin Xi clasped her mother¡¯s hand, speaking with a serious face, her tone suggesting utter determination and confidence. ¡°Dear mother, Xi¡¯er is blessed by the heavens, I believe she will definitely come back unharmed!¡± Lin Tianming also grasped their hands, providing them with a big encouragement. After a short while, Qin Xi turned her head and nodded to Lin Xingping and his companion beside her, then spoke, ¡°Uncle Lin, it¡¯s getting late; we should set out!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s set out!¡± ... S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingping looked up at the sun overhead, then nodded in agreement. Hearing this, Lin Tianming cupped his hands in gesture to Lin Xingping and his companion, then earnestly said, ¡°Uncle Lin, I entrust Xi¡¯er to your care!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, Lin Xingping and his companion looked startled, then couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Tianming, with the level of Xi¡¯er¡¯s cultivation, who would be taking care of whom?¡± Hearing this from Lin Xingping, Lin Xingyuan also chimed in on the side. ¡°Indeed¡­ Xi¡¯er is extraordinarily talented; together, the two of us couldn¡¯t match her. We would probably just slow her down instead!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Their words lightened the mood, and soon, all those present began to laugh, greatly alleviating the solemn air that had marked their farewells. ¡°All right, it¡¯s time to set off!¡± Qin Xi bowed to her clan members behind her, then slapped the Spirit Beast Bag on her waist. Suddenly, a sharp screech rang out, and an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle materialized out of thin air, circling excitedly overhead. This Purple Gold Eagle was part of the group that Lin Tianming had brought back to the clan. As one of the few female cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage in the clan and Lin Tianming¡¯s partner, Qin Xi was highly favored and naturally eligible to tame an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as her own Spirit Beast. Not only Qin Xi, but Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan also had considerable cultivation and were among the clan¡¯s elite. They too each possessed an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as their Spirit Beast. Now, they were preparing to head to Qianchuan Market for assembly. Since there weren¡¯t many of them, they could all ride the same Purple Gold Eagle. Otherwise, if three Purple Gold Eagles flew together, the large formation would be overly conspicuous. In case they encountered someone coveting the Purple Gold Eagles, trouble would be inevitable. Thus, sharing one Purple Gold Eagle was not only more discreet but also advantageous for handling crises. As for the long-distance travel, naturally, the Purple Gold Eagle would do the heavy lifting, conserving a great deal of Spiritual Power and preventing fatigue from Sword Flight. As the three of them hopped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, they waved to the clan members below, and the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, piercing through the light screen of the Protective Clan Formation and finally vanishing into the horizon. Watching the Purple Gold Eagle disappear without a trace, Lin Tianming took his mother¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Mother, rest assured, Xi¡¯er will surely return safely!¡± Upon hearing this, Ren Yuxuan also understood that worry was futile, especially for those in the Cultivation World. Once someone embarked on this path, they could never escape the struggle and killings for opportunity. This path was destined to be one of competing with the heavens for one¡¯s life and with immortals for chances! It¡¯s a dangerous journey, and neither she herself nor Lin Tianming could avoid or change it. Realizing this, Ren Yuxuan nodded her head in resignation and responded, ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s go back.¡± After finishing their talk, the two greeted the other clan members seeing them off, then returned to their respective caves. After seeing off Qin Xi and the others, Lin Tianming returned to his cave dwelling and did not intend to rest but immediately headed for the cultivation room. In his eyes, the Cultivation World was aflame with war, and a great battle between the three sects was inevitable. And he had yet to break through to the Golden Core Stage; the Lin Family had no power to stay out of it. In such times, he had to seize every moment to advance his cultivation to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and then strive for the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible. Fortunately, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection is not a realm, but a psychological barrier. Once one¡¯s state of mind is sublimated, the conditions for impacting the Golden Core Stage are met. Understanding this, Lin Tianming promptly began to operate his power and adjust his breathing, bringing himself to an optimal state, and then started his cultivation practice. ¡­ Ten days passed quickly. As evening approached this day, the sky gradually darkened, a sign that night was about to fall. Outside Qianchuan Market, atop a mountain hundreds of feet tall, the silhouette of a Purple Gold Eagle appeared. After traveling for ten days, Qin Xi and her two companions took a short rest at Golden Horn Mountain for a night and then successfully arrived outside Qianchuan Market. At this moment, Qin Xi and her companions jumped down from the back of the Purple Gold Eagle and faced the distant, faintly visible city walls with thoughtful expressions. Throughout their journey, they had passed through numerous regions and encountered various cultivators. The majority of them were Qi Refining Cultivators, with some Foundation Establishment Cultivators as well. After making inquiries, they discovered that many cultivators shared their objective and were preparing to assemble at Qianchuan Market. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s call to arms was significant, encompassing both Foundation Establishing Families and Qi Refining Families within its scope. Furthermore, some Loose Cultivators were also drawn by the rewards offered by the Zhenyang Sect, ready to wade into these troubled waters. However, the majority of cultivators, due to the pressure from the three major sects, were compelled to send their clan members to the assembly, even though they were reluctant. Beyond that, after exchanges among themselves, some intelligence suggested that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s situation seemed not so favorable. But these messages were of unclear origin and had appeared quite some time ago. Therefore, the exact circumstances of the Zhenyang Sect remained difficult to ascertain. It was feared that only by heading to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate or to the two major markets controlled by the Zhenyang Sect could they get accurate information. At the moment, they had arrived at the assembly point designated by the Zhenyang Sect five days before the deadline. There was still ample time, and they could also meet with the clan members stationed at Luoyun Pavilion and take the opportunity to gather news. With these considerations in mind, Qin Xi looked in the direction of Qianchuan Market and said, ¡°Uncles, since the Zhenyang Sect has named the place of assembly, they naturally have dispatched heavy guards. Moreover, it seems that Qianchuan Market has not been attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, so let¡¯s go in and have a look first!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s go!¡± Seeing that Lin Xingping and the other had no objections, Qin Xi immediately put the Purple Gold Eagle into a storage bag and then took the lead to fly toward the market entrance. Seeing this, Lin Xingping and the other hastened to follow Qin Xi and flew over. In a short while, the three arrived at the entrance to the market. At this time, numerous cultivators were already queuing at the entrance, waiting for the market guards to inspect them. Once their identities were confirmed, they would be allowed to enter the market smoothly. On top of the city walls, many Zhenyang Sect cultivators guarded in all four directions. There were perhaps several hundred of them, including dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, all with serious expressions and appearing very cautious. It seemed that during times of war, the defenses of Qianchuan Market were much more rigorous than usual. It was not surprising when one considered that Qianchuan Market was one of the two major markets under the Zhenyang Sect, independently established by the sect itself. A market of this scale, unlike those built with the collaboration of powers in various mountain ranges, was different not just in size but also in control, being entirely under the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s dominion. Such a medium-sized market¡ªof which there were fewer than ten in the entire Wei Kingdom¡ªbrought substantial profits to the Zhenyang Sect each year. Consequently, such a money tree would naturally become a target for the Golden Sword Sect and might likely face attack. But at present, although the expressions of the Zhenyang Sect disciples were serious, the periphery of the market seemed safe and intact, with no signs of injury or casualties among the stationed cultivators, unlike what would be expected had there been an attack. Recognizing this, Qin Xi led Lin Xingping and the other past the queue of cultivators directly to the guards and disclosed their identities. Given the influence of the Lin Family around Qianchuan Market, the inspecting cultivator naturally recognized them clearly. After chatting briefly and confirming the identities of the three, they were quickly allowed to pass through. Chapter 754 03-25 - 754 409 Three Pieces of News_1 ?Chapter 754: Chapter 409: Three Pieces of News_1 Chapter 754: Chapter 409: Three Pieces of News_1 Once inside the market city, Qin Xi and her two companions walked along the bustling streets, their eyes sweeping everywhere. The streets were filled with people coming and going, with cultivators in all manner of strange and flamboyant attire flitting through every corner of the market. A glance revealed furrowed brows and complex expressions on each of their faces, seemingly affected by the impending war. It seemed that as the news of the war spread throughout the Cultivation World, family cultivators who responded to the call to arms, as well as rogue elements among the loose cultivators, had all gathered here, causing the influx of people in the market to further increase. They, too, were eager to grasp some intelligence regarding the war, to at least have an idea of what to expect and to prepare, allowing them to make accurate judgments. With this in mind, they kept a close watch on the surrounding cultivators and even the changes in the various shops, engaging in conversations with some familiar faces they encountered. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, as revealed by those who had arrived at the market ahead of them, the war between the three sects had escalated further. ... The rumors said that the Zhenyang Sect had already lost control of more than a dozen mountain ranges, with large areas occupied by the Golden Sword Sect. The main forces of the Golden Sword Sect were pushing southward, almost reaching the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, but were temporarily halted at the Qingshui Mountain Range to the north. As for them, the cultivators who responded to the Recruitment Order, they would likely head to Qingshui Mountain Range and set up a line of defense there to fend off the attack from the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Not long after. The three of them made their way through and entered the Lin Family stronghold, also known as the Cave Mansion Courtyard where numerous family members were engaged in closed-door cultivation. By then, Xing Rong and the others in charge of guarding the Luoyun Pavilion had already received their messages and were waiting for their arrival. Upon seeing his daughter-in-law, Xing Rong was initially happy, but soon became worried. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After all, he had been stationed in the Qianchuan Market for many years and had a fairly good understanding of the current situation in the Cultivation World; he was naturally aware of the purpose of the trio¡¯s visit and the crisis they would face in the years to come. However, he was also a member of the Lin Family, one of the high-ranking ones, and he certainly understood the family¡¯s situation. Currently, the strongest among the family had important tasks to handle. Many family members were not suitable to show themselves, and quite a few had only reached the Foundation Establishment Stage a few years ago. These newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivators were of limited strength and would likely fall easily in a war dominated by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Therefore, the number of family members the Lin Family could actually mobilize was very limited. However, the cultivation strength of Qin Xi and her two companions was quite good, with rich experience in combat and survival, which made them the most likely to survive in the war between the three sects. Thus, the family¡¯s decision to send the three of them to fight was quite normal. Now, even though Xing Rong was worried for Qin Xi¡¯s safety, upon careful consideration of the family¡¯s arrangements and the situation they were facing, there seemed to be no chance of changing the fact that the three of them had already arrived at the gathering point. Realizing this, Xing Rong resolutely accepted the reality and was willing to provide as much assistance as he could to Qin Xi and her companions. After exchanging greetings, the six Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were there started chatting casually. During the conversation, both sides exchanged a wealth of information about the family as well as the wider Cultivation World. Especially Qin Xi and her two companions, they were very focused on the situation of the war between the three sects. Since Xing Rong had been staying in the Qianchuan Market, the tension between the three sects had already been exposed, coupled with the sudden attack by the Golden Sword Sect, the news quickly reached them. As the Lin Family¡¯s representative in charge of the Luoyun Pavilion, he naturally gathered the most accurate intelligence and would send them back to the family at the first opportunity when the conditions allowed. Hence, he had visited Tang Xiuyuan at the Sky Dragon Pavilion and Wang Zhi, one of the supervisors for the Zhenyang Sect Market, several times during this period. Through his inquiries and even spending spirit stones to purchase information, he managed to obtain some relatively reliable intelligence from these major forces. According to the information he found, the northern territories under the control of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate had already descended into chaos. The Golden Sword Sect, led by Song Hanchun and gathering unknown cultivators from the Blood Red Alliance, deployed four Golden Core Cultivators and over a thousand disciples in the Mid Qi Refining Stage and above. This massive army, starting from their adjacent territory at the Bluewater Mountain Range, launched a sudden offensive. In just under two months¡¯ time, the Zhenyang Sect had lost control of more than a dozen mountain ranges, with hundreds of family forces being plundered, countless cultivators killed or injured, and over a dozen small market cities and their territories completely occupied by the Golden Sword Sect. Since enmity had already been established among the three sides in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, It was expected that the Golden Sword Sect would launch an attack. Therefore, the Zhenyang Sect didn¡¯t rush into battle but strategically abandoned over a dozen northern mountain ranges, purely to buy some time. This was a reluctant move. After all, the Golden Sword Sect came prepared, with several Golden Core Cultivators deployed and an overwhelmingly strong overall force. However, over the past two months, the Zhenyang Sect had not been idle. At least, they had issued a Recruitment Order in their controlled area and had been the first to gather forces from over twenty mountain ranges surrounding the Dragon Spring Market. This region around the Dragon Spring Market falls under the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s core area of control, and the overall standard of cultivation is far beyond comparison to the impoverished lands of the Bluewater Mountain Range. Chapter 755 03-25 - 755 409 News from Three Sects_2 ?Chapter 755: Chapter 409: News from Three Sects_2 Chapter 755: Chapter 409: News from Three Sects_2 Therefore, Zhenyang Sect quickly formed a vanguard team led by Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun, who rapidly headed to Qingshui Mountain Range to set up a defensive formation to resist the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ invasion. Besides this, Zhenyang Sect promptly dispatched disciples to Myriad Medicine Valley, urging them to gather some of the valley¡¯s forces to confront the Golden Sword Sect according to the previous agreement between the two sects. However, the sect gate of Myriad Medicine Valley was far from Qingshui Mountain Range, and gathering forces took time, so there were no news about any moves from Myriad Medicine Valley as of yet. Nevertheless, in the face of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s unjust acts, it was believed that Myriad Medicine Valley would take some action; it was just not clear to what extent or in what form they would support Zhenyang Sect. At that moment, Qin Xi and the others, upon hearing the news gathered by Lin Xingrong, showed shocked expressions. Clearly, the information Lin Xingrong had obtained was far beyond what they had heard from others. The information they had inquired about everywhere was either long-circulated or unconfirmed rumors, with no specifics about the Zhenyang Sect or the vanguard of the Golden Sword Sect. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Now that they had heard Lin Xingrong¡¯s account, they were shocked but also somewhat psychologically prepared. At this time, Qin Xi, also with a serious expression, asked Lin Xingrong, ¡°Father, is the information you have reliable? How accurate is it?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong nodded and replied, ¡°It should be fairly reliable since this is information passed on by inner disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, as well as from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. It¡¯s quite trustworthy.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± ¡°Father, is there any information that can predict what Zhenyang Sect¡¯s next move will be?¡± After Qin Xi finished speaking, she showed an anxious expression. ¡°We still can¡¯t be certain!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°However, the cultivators gathered here at Qianchuan Market are likely to be deployed to Qingshui Mountain Range to join the main force in resisting the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s elite troops, or else stay in Qianchuan Market on guard!¡± ¡°After all, this is also a vital defense area for Zhenyang Sect; if it were attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, the previous defensive forces of Zhenyang Sect would undoubtedly be insufficient.¡± Upon hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi nodded, thinking that both Dragon Spring Market and Qianchuan Market, as two of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s largest businesses, brought in substantial profits each year and their gains or losses would certainly be of great concern. However, Qianchuan Market was south of the Zhenyang Sect mountain gate, and it was a long distance from both the main force of the Golden Sword Sect and the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s core region. If the Golden Sword Sect planned to attack Qianchuan Market, they would either have to skirt around to the southernmost part of Wei Kingdom and create a breakthrough near one of the areas adjacent to Luoyun Mountain Range, or cross through the heartland of Zhenyang Sect. Otherwise, it would be difficult for the Golden Sword Sect to strike at Qianchuan Market. Confronted with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s state of readiness, a significant number of cultivators would be too conspicuous a target to pass through its territory without being detected. Thus, the pressure facing Qianchuan Market, compared to Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate or even Dragon Spring Market, would obviously be much less. And Luoyun Pavilion, as one of the main properties of the Lin Family, was certainly fearful of being affected by the war. Fortunately, large-scale wars between forces in the cultivation world seldom targeted the marketplaces as primary assault objectives. After all, there were numerous residents in the marketplaces, not only the controlling powers behind them but also many family cultivators and loose cultivators living within. More importantly, there were many external forces conducting business there, including quite a few well-known forces in Qingzhou, like the Qingzhou Tang Family behind Sky Dragon Pavilion, which was the most evident example. Beyond the Tang Family, Qingzhou hosted several other notable powers doing business, all undoubtedly backed by Golden Core cultivators. The strength of these entities was also formidable, and when combined, they formed a massive force. Without the backing of the Blood Red Alliance, the Golden Sword Sect alone certainly wouldn¡¯t dare offend so many people. Therefore, the likelihood of Qianchuan Market being attacked was not very high. Realizing this, Qin Xi could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Subsequently, the clan members exchanged a great deal of information and made many specific arrangements. It wasn¡¯t until the night was deep and quiet that everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Several days later. As a bell sound echoed throughout every corner of the marketplace, Qin Xi and a few others greeted their fellow clansmen and then headed to the square to gather. In no time at all, they arrived at the square. At this moment, over a thousand cultivators had gathered here, creating a lively and bustling scene. Qin Xi led the two of them to the area where Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gathered, then she surveyed the cultivator legion before her. From her observation, she found that among the people here, the vast majority were Qi Refining Cultivators, and there were about three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among which a portion appeared to be loose cultivators. It was evident that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s call to arms was substantial; over a dozen mountain ranges surrounding Qianchuan Market, regardless of the strength of their forces, had sent a varying number of cultivators to participate in the great battle. Within this multitude of cultivators, Lin Xingping and his companions also spotted many familiar faces, including members of some family powers from the Luoyun Mountain Range. As with the beast tide attack, the Foundation Establishing Families like the Luo Family, which were not within the range of enlistment, as well as more than a dozen somewhat powerful Qi Refining Families, were called upon this time. However, the powers of the Luoyun Mountain participating in this great battle were rather limited; families like the Sun and Luo Families had been living in the shadow of the Lin Family for many years. Even after decades of development, the vitality of the two clans had not recovered, and the disparity in strength between them and the Lin Family had grown even wider, forming an insurmountable gap. Yet, for them, this was not the most lethal issue. If they learned that Lin Shikang had stepped into the Golden Core Stage, they wouldn¡¯t have many options left. They either had to move their entire clan away from the Luoyun Mountain or they could only stay in their original place, acting as a vassal power for the Lin Family. If they couldn¡¯t abandon their properties and remained in their original place, they would likely not be able to escape the control of the Lin Family for hundreds of years, or perhaps even longer. And this was the special status of Golden Core Forces, and why they could enjoy such basic treatment. Now, the Sun and Luo Families were unaware and still toiling to revive their lineages. As for this recruitment, their powers were limited and as per the minimum requirements of the Zhenyang Sect, both only dispatched one Foundation Establishment Second Layer cultivator to come. Both of these individuals were newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Sun and Luo Families, and they hadn¡¯t had many dealings with the higher echelons of the Lin Family. However, even so, the early-rising Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family were well-known to them, and they had even deliberately collected intelligence on key members of the Lin Family. At this moment, seeing the three from the Lin Family appear here, they were incredibly surprised at heart. In their minds, they couldn¡¯t imagine that the Lin Family could be so generous, dispatching three mid-stage Foundation Establishment family members at once. However, these were just ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family. Lin Tianming¡¯s renown and deeds over recent years had already spread throughout the southern part of the Wei Kingdom, making him a genius cultivator who all Foundation Establishment Cultivators felt inferior to. Beyond that, Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang, two high-ranking members of the Lin Family, had not shown up in the cultivation world for a long time. Given the strength and cultivation of these two when they were last seen publicly, it¡¯s natural they wouldn¡¯t have fallen easily. If they hadn¡¯t appeared for such a long time, it was almost certain that they were in closed-door cultivation, facing life and death. With such a deduction, it was very likely that they had reached the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm, and there was even the possibility they were attempting the impact of the Golden Core Stage. Once one of them succeeded in stepping into the Golden Core Stage, the entire Lin Family would rise completely. And the Foundation Establishing Families of the Luoyun Mountain Range would then have only two options from which to choose. Thinking of these, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Sun and Luo Families could not help but feel solemn, their hearts involuntarily lamenting. ¡°It was with great difficulty that the Jin Family was brought down, but as a result, a more powerful clan has been created, even a clan whose overall strength far exceeds that of the Jin Family at its peak.¡± ¡°Perhaps this is fate!¡± While Qin Xi and her companions were observing others, many forces were also closely watching their every move. After all, the vast majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators present were at the initial stage of cultivation strength. Like them, all being in the medium stage of Foundation Establishment and hailing from the thriving Lin Family, it was hard for them not to attract attention. Therefore, many cultivators familiar with the Lin Family came forward to greet Lin Xingping and his companions, even flattering the Lin Family in hopes of receiving some care on the battlefield. In response, Lin Xingping jovially chatted with them, promising to lend a hand where feasible. Hearing these words, the cultivators became excited, their hearts filled with renewed confidence for the upcoming grand battle. Then, after chatting for a short while, as several Zhenyang Sect cultivators emerged from the auction hall, the noisy square finally quieted down considerably. ¡­ Chapter 756 03-25 - 756 410 Seeking Help_1 ?Chapter 756: Chapter 410: Seeking Help_1 Chapter 756: Chapter 410: Seeking Help_1 At this time, all eyes turned to look at the Zhenyang Sect disciples. As far as the eye could see, leading the Zhenyang Sect disciples who had arrived was Lan Yu, the Golden Core Cultivator who had participated in the great battle at Yuyao City. Qin Xi, who had also taken part in the Yuyao City battle, naturally recognized Lan Yu¡¯s identity. However, it was the first time for Lin Xingping and his companion to see Lan Yu. After sizing him up, they turned their attention to the other Zhenyang Sect disciples, pondering the identities of these individuals in their minds. Soon, based on the information provided by Lin Tianming, they confirmed the identities and strengths of these cultivators, but there were also several unfamiliar faces who had clearly never interacted with the Lin Family Members before. Besides them, the numerous cultivators attending the gathering were stirred by the appearance of a Golden Core Cultivator, and many began to pay their respects to Lan Yu. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lan Yu waved his hand to quiet the somewhat noisy crowd. ... Then Lan Yu glanced over the thousands of cultivators present, and then with his resounding voice, he reached every corner of the marketplace. ¡°Fellow Taoists, the Golden Sword Sect has initiated unwarranted aggression, brazenly attacking over a dozen mountain ranges under their command, and has already occupied a significant amount of territory,¡± he announced. ¡°In consideration of the safety of the major forces and all Loose Cultivators, our Sect has specially called for your assistance in resisting the invasion!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Within half a quarter of an hour, Lan Yu spoke at length about the crimes of the Golden Sword Sect, implying that they were heartless and unjust, rallying external forces to start a major Sect war, bringing unprecedented harm to the peaceful Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Such actions were undoubtedly ambitious, putting them at odds with all cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. In fact, as Lan Yu had said, the Golden Sword Sect had indeed broken the rules by initiating an unjust war. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? But in the Cultivation World, where the strong prey on the weak, is there really any sense of right or wrong? As long as the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were annihilated, how history would be recorded or what other cultivators would say was entirely up to the victors to write. After all, nobody was going to offend the Golden Sword Sect just to concern themselves with a power that had already been destroyed. Although cultivators were aware of this, the current situation between the two sides was not yet clear. Before the fall of the Zhenyang Sect, no power dared to offend them. Therefore, the assembly of cultivators remained silent, waiting for Lan Yu¡¯s next instructions. Another period of time passed. During this time, Lan Yu also divulged some information about the Zhenyang Sect. However, perhaps out of concern that revealing too much about the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s precarious situation might cause unnecessary panic among the cultivators, Lan Yu did not disclose much about their predicament or the high-level plans. But Qin Xi, who had obtained more detailed information from other sources first, did not take what Lan Yu revealed too seriously. Apart from few like them, there were also others who remained calm, clearly having prepared themselves mentally in advance; hence, they were not overly shocked or surprised. After a while, through a speech by Lan Yu, he indeed managed to stir the emotions of many cultivators. Many cultivators, who were clueless about the situation, hastily expressed their stance, willing to obey the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s dispatch and not cease until the Golden Sword Sect was repelled. Seeing this, Lan Yu nodded with satisfaction. In his eyes, there were not many fools among cultivators, and it was already commendable to have aroused some initial enmity among a portion of them. Regaining focus, Lan Yu looked at the many angry cultivators below and then said, ¡°Those who are responding to the summons, leave the marketplace first, then follow me onto the flying boat, and head to Qingshui Mountain Range to gather and jointly resist the attack of the Golden Sword Sect disciples!¡± After finishing his speech, Lan Yu turned and disappeared from the square first. Seeing Lan Yu¡¯s action, the Zhenyang Sect disciples behind him quickly followed, leading the thousands of cultivators present towards the marketplace entrance. In a short while, everyone had left the marketplace as instructed and gathered in an open area. At that time, Lan Yu waved his sleeve, and a Second Order Superior Inkwind Spirit Boat appeared above everyone¡¯s heads. The appearance of this artifact caught the attention of many Qi Refining Cultivators, each of them staring at the Flying Artifact with envious expressions. Lan Yu paid no mind to this, and with a leap, he was the first to board the Spirit Boat. Following that, the cultivators below began to orderly board the Inkwind Spirit Boat under the guidance of the Zhenyang Sect disciples. Qin Xi and his two companions walked together and quickly arrived on the deck. As they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators with the rare Medium Stage among the summoned cultivators, they were naturally given some attention by the Zhenyang Sect and arranged to rest in a favorable spot. As for the Qi Refining Cultivators, they were placed at the very back of the deck, sitting on the ground, tightly packed together. Such an arrangement was inevitable. After all, the Inkwind Spirit Boat, when activated, could only cover so much area; to transport thousands of people on it and fly the journey of several thousand li was already a challenging task. Therefore, without the option of leaving some cultivators behind, they had to make full use of the available space to strive to take every responding cultivator with them. Thankfully, there weren¡¯t too many people gathered, and by squeezing a bit, the Inkwind Spirit Boat could take everyone. As for whether the cultivators were crowded or if the flying speed was affected, those were not particularly important concerns. Speed being slower was still much faster than having some cultivators fly individually. Understanding this, Lan Yu did not delay, and after assembling everyone, he immediately piloted the Inkwind Spirit Boat towards the north. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 757 03-25 - 757 410 Asking for Help_2 ?Chapter 757: Chapter 410 Asking for Help_2 Chapter 757: Chapter 410 Asking for Help_2 ¡°` In the blink of an eye, the gigantic flying vessel had turned into a speck and finally vanished into the horizon. ¡­ Myriad Medicine Valley. In a gorge of the Yuxu Mountain Range lay the sect gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. At this time, within one of the pavilions in the gorge, two figures from the Zhenyang Sect appeared. One of them, clothed in a golden Daoist robe with an embroidered pattern of a blazing sun on the chest, was undoubtedly Long Qingshui himself. Sitting in a higher position across from him was a blue-robed cultivator, none other than Zhou Yunxiao, the Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley. ... At that moment, as Zhou Yunxiao observed Long Qingshui¡¯s pale complexion, his heart stirred, especially when he recalled a meeting between him and Zhu Yun that had occurred more than a month ago. It was through Zhu Yun¡¯s personal account that they had learned of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s sudden action, swiftly seizing the territories of several mountain ranges. At that time, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had also reached an agreement: should either party be attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, the other would dispatch part of its forces to help resist the assault. And while their combined forces had yet to be deployed, not much time had passed, and the Zhenyang Sect had already sent another person, this time a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator. All signs indicated that the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s offensive was fierce and that Zhenyang Sect was facing immense pressure. Just thinking about this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s expression quickly darkened. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Nevertheless, he was a Golden Core cultivator and had the backing of Myriad Medicine Valley, a sect with a legacy of ten thousand years. Having taken on the role of Sect Leader, he had long since developed an unflappable demeanor and soon regained his composure. Soon after, Zhou Yunxiao gestured with his hand and then asked, ¡°Young friend Long, since the war broke out, what is the current situation of your Zhenyang Sect?¡± Hearing this, Long Qingshui also became serious and respectfully responded. ¡°Answering Senior Zhou, since one month ago, the Golden Sword Sect has intensified their offensive. More than ten mountain ranges under our sect have fallen, and over a hundred large and small clans have been wiped out, resulting in a heavy loss!¡± ¡°And now, the Sect Leader has summoned a large number of cultivators, along with fellow disciples, to head to Qingshui Mountain Range to resist the main force of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s attack. Under their desperate resistance, we have temporarily held back the offensive.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao nodded and continued to inquire, ¡°Who is leading your sect¡¯s defense against the Golden Sword Sect, and how strong is their main force? How many Golden Core cultivators are there?¡± As soon as the words fell, Long Qingshui did not dare delay and quickly reported the accurate intelligence he had gathered. ¡°Responding to Senior Zhou, Uncle Chen is leading our sect¡¯s efforts to resist the Golden Sword Sect, accompanied by Luo and Uncle Lan. ¡± ¡°Regarding the Golden Sword Sect, we have confirmed that there are at least four Golden Core cultivators on their side. Besides Song Hanchun from the Golden Sword Sect, there is also an unidentified Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, as well as a Medium Stage and an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator working together.¡± ¡°And those two unidentified Medium Stage cultivators were the ones who ambushed Luo and Zhu Yun after Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had closed!¡± Even someone of Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s status couldn¡¯t help being somewhat shocked upon hearing this. He was very aware that the Golden Sword Sect deploying four Golden Core cultivators, including one Late Stage, two Medium Stage, and one Early Stage cultivator, was an immense force, almost equal to the entirety of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s strength. And those three unidentified cultivators could almost certainly be identified as cultivators under the command of the Blood Red Alliance. Now, the Blood Red Alliance was no longer hiding in the shadows but instead blatantly appearing in public view and participating in the power struggles within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Such a high-profile move showed a great deal of confidence and also revealed their determination: they were set on obtaining something at all costs. The more this was the case, the more difficult the situation would likely become for both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect. Considering this, even someone as strong and well-connected as Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help feeling a flutter of trepidation. As he sighed deeply, his complexion then gradually recovered somewhat. ¡°` Following that, he began, ¡°Young Dragon, have you come to Myriad Medicine Valley today because Daoist Lu has entrusted you with some matter?¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao proactively mention his purpose, Long Qingshui reflected on the instructions given to him by the Sect Leader Lu Xingfeng as he left the gates of Zhenyang Sect, who had repeatedly urged him to ensure that Myriad Medicine Valley sent reinforcements to the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s battlefront as swiftly as possible. With this in mind, he dared not delay or hide anything. ¡°Senior Zhou, our two sects had an agreement to advance and retreat together. At present, our sect is under immense pressure and simply cannot match the Golden Sword Sect disciples with the strength of our sect alone!¡± ¡°If this situation continues to develop, Zhenyang Sect will likely suffer heavy casualties.¡± ¡°If our Zhenyang Sect cannot withstand the attack and our sect¡¯s strength significantly weakens, or we suffer heavy losses, or even if we are directly annihilated, it will not be an easy task for Myriad Medicine Valley, with its strength, to block the attacks of the Golden Sword Sect by itself.¡± ¡°The principle of a linked fence falling with the loss of a single post is all too clear to someone with the cultivation of the Golden Core Stage, like Senior Zhou!¡± ¡°Therefore, we cannot afford any delay. If we want to withstand or even destroy the Golden Sword Sect, our two sects must accelerate our progress and further increase the strength of our counterattacks.¡± ¡°Otherwise, by the time they defeat us one by one, it will all be too late!¡± Hearing Long Qingshui¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao, who had originally intended to delay and let the Zhenyang Sect and the Golden Sword Sect wear each other down, planned to have Myriad Medicine Valley reap the benefits from the sidelines and thus once again dominate the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. But now, having heard what Long Qingshui said and considering the predicament of the Zhenyang Sect, he had no choice but to accelerate the support as Zhenyang Sect had stated and also increase their resistance. With these thoughts, Zhou Yunxiao set aside his own schemes, planning to fully support the Zhenyang Sect as Long Qingshui had suggested. Having made up his mind, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then voiced his stance. ¡°Rest assured, Young Dragon, our sect will surely gather forces immediately and reach the Qingshui Mountain Range within a month to support your Sect¡¯s Daoist Chen and the others.¡± Relieved by this statement, Long Qingshui heaved a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate that his luck was not bad after all, meeting Zhou Yunxiao, a righteous man who understood the seriousness of the situation and agreed to the Sect Leader¡¯s request at once. Now, he only needed to wait for Myriad Medicine Valley to gather their forces and set out with them to reinforce his fellow sect disciples. As long as he completed this task according to the Sect Leader¡¯s instructions, he would earn enough merit points to obtain a Jiuli Star Fruit. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this item, he had completed many sect missions over the years and had faced numerous crises. Among them, he had already earned sufficient merit during the great battle at Yuyao City and had performed exceptionally well in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Now, conveying the Sect Leader¡¯s request was yet another dangerous and challenging mission. Fortunately, so far everything had gone quite smoothly, a silver lining in unfortunate circumstances. Regaining his composure, Long Qingshui looked at Zhou Yunxiao, whose serious expression showed he was not joking. Having received an affirmative answer, Long Qingshui then spoke with admiration, ¡°Senior Zhou truly understands the greater good, I have the utmost respect for you!¡± ¡°Now that this matter is settled, my colleague and I will rest at your sect for a while. Once the forces are assembled, we will depart with the many cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao knew that Long Qingshui wanted to ensure that Myriad Medicine Valley would not intentionally delay. But that didn¡¯t matter; he had no intentions of delaying, so he didn¡¯t care whether Long Qingshui stayed or not. With that in mind, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and said, ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s do as you say, Young Dragon!¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Zhou!¡± Long Qingshui bowed in thanks and chatted briefly with Zhou Yunxiao to confirm the arrangements. Afterward, he and his fellow sect member bid Zhou Yunxiao farewell and, under the guidance of Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, took up temporary residence at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate to cultivate. ¡­ Chapter 758 03-25 - 758 411 Qingshui Market ?Chapter 758: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market Chapter 758: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market ¡°` Qingshui Mountain Range. Outside Qingshui Market, the Inkwind Spirit Boat sliced through the sky, silently landing on the flat ground outside the market. After more than half a month of traveling, with Golden Core Cultivators piloting the flying boat, their speed increased significantly. Finally, today, they reached the Qingshui Mountain Range and arrived at their destination. At this time, on the city walls of the entire Qingshui Market, a large number of cultivators gathered. Each of them watched as the Inkwind Spirit Boat landed, revealing the faces of thousands of cultivators on the deck. Everyone knew that the support from the Zhenyang Sect had finally arrived. In the past two months, Qingshui Market had often been attacked by people from the Golden Sword Sect, with many cultivators falling on the battlefield. ... Having barely held on until now, the cultivators were exhausted, worn out by the hardships. Next, with the support of this group, the weary cultivators could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Understanding this, the cultivators present were excited, with many unable to hold back their cheers. On the deck, Qin Xi and the others sat among the crowd of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, observing the Qingshui Market before them. Looking around, Qingshui Market was backed by a mountain on one side, surrounded by city walls over thirty feet high on the other three sides. This layout was somewhat similar to the Luoyun Market controlled by the Lin Family, only occupying a slightly larger area. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï In fact, in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the location of markets was almost the same: as long as the spiritual energy met the basic requirements and was favorable for defense, it could be complemented with protective formations and spirit-gathering arrays to establish a small market. The most apparent difference between Qingshui Market and Luoyun Market was that the defensive formation here was a Third Order Great Array. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seemed that the Zhenyang Sect had reconfigured a new formation here as a base. Otherwise, with the original Second Order Defensive Great Formation, it would have no effect in the eyes of a Golden Core Cultivator, fearing that after just a few rounds, it would be completely broken. But a Third Order Great Array was different. Even if several Golden Core Cultivators joined forces, breaking the defense of a Third Order Great Array would not be achievable in a short period. Therefore, since the Zhenyang Sect arranged it this way, they must have prepared in advance, planning for a protracted battle. The places they had visited were very limited; the farthest was around the Qianchuan Market. The reason for this was because Qingshui Market was far from Qianchuan Market, further than another large and medium-sized market under the Zhenyang Sect, Dragon Spring Market. This place was entirely north of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate and had little connection with the southernmost Luoyun Market. For them, it was their first time coming to the Qingshui Mountain Range, and the first time visiting the Qingshui Market. If not for the battlefield of the three-sect war, they might not have come here in the short term. Just then, during their distraction, Lan Yu took the lead, jumping off the flying boat and landing at the market¡¯s entrance. Immediately, he exchanged a few words with several disciples in front of him, then instructed all the cultivators on the flying boat to gather. Hearing the order, a large number of cultivators, led by the Zhenyang Sect disciples, orderly jumped off the flying boat and entered the Qingshui Market. Qin Xi and the others followed the main group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, led by a Zhenyang Sect cultivator, into the Qingshui Market. Upon entering the market, they discovered many cultivators bustling through the streets. If it weren¡¯t for the shadow of war looming over them, the scene wouldn¡¯t be much different from usual. At this time, the group of cultivators, while looking around, headed towards the auction venue at the center of the market. Soon, the over a thousand cultivators supporting this site arrived at the square in front of the auction. Looking around, Chen Jingtian from the Zhenyang Sect was already waiting in advance. Seeing Lan Yu at the forefront, Chen Jingtian cupped his hands and asked, ¡°Junior Brother Lan, are all the summoned cultivators assembled?¡± ¡°To Brother¡¯s question, one thousand three hundred and fifty-two family cultivators from the south were summoned, and one thousand three hundred and ten responded in practice, along with three hundred and eighty loose cultivators. All have gathered here!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction. With this batch of cultivators¡¯ support, he could breathe easier when facing the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ onslaught. Regaining his composure, Chen Jingtian looked at the thousands of people in the field and then instructed a dozen disciples behind him. Subsequently, more than ten Zhenyang Sect disciples stepped forward to select members of various teams. Qin Xi and the others had solid cultivation, and the Lin Family had gained some reputation over the years. Li Xiuyuan was the first to come forward and greet them. ¡°Fairy Lin, it¡¯s been a few years since we last met, and your cultivation has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Truly, as expected of a Lin Family Cultivator, your advancement speed is truly admirable!¡± Hearing these somewhat complimentary words, Qin Xi chuckled softly, ¡°You flatter me, Li. I just happened to be fortunate!¡± Having said this, Qin Xi shifted the topic and introduced Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan. ¡°Friend Li, these are my uncle Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan. Please take care of them in the future!¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you, Friend Li!¡± Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan, standing aside, cupped their hands warmly as they greeted Li Xiuyuan. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan quickly returned the salute, displaying considerable politeness. ¡°` Chapter 759 03-25 - 759 411 Qingshui Market_2 ?Chapter 759: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market_2 Chapter 759: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market_2 Following this, he finally spoke, ¡°Three fellow Daoists, this battle against the Golden Sword Sect, like the great battle in Yuyao City, will divide cultivators into nearly a hundred teams, each team consisting exactly of fifty people!¡± ¡°And I am still short ten members; how about the three of you join my team?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi did not immediately reply but exchanged a few private messages with Lin Xingping, who was by her side. In her eyes, there was no aversion to joining Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team. After all, they were somewhat acquainted, and she also had a good impression of Li Xiuyuan¡¯s character. Besides, they had fought side by side in Yuyao City before, which meant they had a considerable tacit understanding. In addition, Li Xiuyuan was now at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, and although his strength was not comparable to top disciples like Yang Chen, he was still considered top-notch. If they accepted Li Xiuyuan¡¯s invitation, unless it was an extremely dangerous mission, their chances of survival in the upcoming battle would be much higher than others. ... Understanding this, Qin Xi only exchanged a few words with Lin Xingping, and they quickly reached a consensus. Soon, Qin Xi spoke, ¡°Daoist Li, we are well-acquainted and have fought side by side before. Naturally, we would like to join your team!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ That¡¯s really great!¡± Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily, showing a satisfied smile on his face, his mood seeming very good. After some polite exchanges between them, they waited on the side while Li Xiuyuan continued to move among the crowd of Foundation Establishment cultivators to recruit the last few team members. Before long, Li Xiuyuan returned to where Qin Xi and her two companions were, with seven people in tow. Looking over, among these seven, four were at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, and the other three were at the Second or Third Level. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He then introduced the origins of these Foundation Establishment cultivators, allowing each to become acquainted with one another to better coordinate in the future battles. After the introductions, Qin Xi and her companions also learned the origins of these seven cultivators. Six of them came from three Foundation Establishing Families, and although they had no interactions with the Lin Family, they were all from renowned Foundation Establishing families around Qianchuan Market. The other cultivator, at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, was a Loose Cultivator who often roamed near the Hengyang Mountain Range. Having exchanged information, they were now somewhat familiar with one another. Then, Li Xiuyuan looked at everyone before speaking, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that the recruitment is complete, follow me to choose a cave dwelling for seclusion and cultivation!¡± ¡°Um¡­ Thank you!¡± Qin Xi and the others replied in unison. Afterward, under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s lead, they arrived at the residential area of the Eastern District of the Market City. A few teammates had already arranged their cave dwellings in advance, leaving only Qin Xi and her two companions behind. As members of the Lin Family summoned for the call to arms, their cultivation and strength were considered top-notch among the entire army of cultivators. Therefore, Li Xiuyuan was very polite, treating them with the best hospitality. Under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s arrangement, Qin Xi and her party entered a cave dwelling in the Eastern District of the Market City, and like before in Yuyao City, the three of them from the same family occupied one dwelling all to themselves. This cave dwelling was well-located, not far from the area where Zhenyang Sect disciples secluded for cultivation, and it was also in a place where the spiritual energy was relatively dense. After arranging the cave dwelling, Li Xiuyuan chatted with Qin Xi and the others for a bit, leaving them with many cautions, and then took his leave. After seeing off Li Xiuyuan, Qin Xi and the others began to chat in the hall. ¡°Xi¡¯er, Daoist Li is a pretty good person, and he seems to hold the Lin family in high regard!¡± After Lin Xingping finished speaking, Lin Xingyuan also took over the conversation. ¡°Yes, Tian Ming and Xi¡¯er were also part of Daoist Li¡¯s team during the great battle in Yuyao City, and after several years of fighting side by side, they are quite familiar with each other.¡± ¡°Besides, Tian Ming also had interactions with them during the training in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, and even saved their lives. It¡¯s only natural to give special treatment!¡± Hearing the two of them, Qin Xi didn¡¯t think much of it. In her eyes, the reasons mentioned by the two of them were certainly valid, but more importantly, it was due to the overall strength of the Lin Family. Especially the potential shown by Lin Tianming and the potential of the entire Lin Family, which made these Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect not dare to underestimate them. Besides, all three of them were at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, with Qin Xi at the Sixth Level, Lin Xingping at the Fifth Level, and Lin Xingyuan at the Peak of the Fourth Level. Apart from a few Loose Cultivators at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, their group was already strong among the family cultivators. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such overall strength was considered top-tier among the cultivators summoned this time. Under so many conditions, Li Xiuyuan naturally did not dare to slack off. Understanding this, Qin Xi faintly smiled and began to share her thoughts. Soon, after hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingping and his companion also felt it made sense, and their confidence in the upcoming battle greatly increased. Half a quarter of an hour later, the three had exchanged numerous speculations about the battle and had arranged many matters. Subsequently, the three ended their casual conversation and returned to their respective rooms to rest, waiting for the Zhenyang Sect to assign tasks through Li Xiuyuan. ¡­ Qingyu Mountain Range, Qingyu Market. In the central auction hall of the market, several Golden Core cultivators, including Song Hanchun, sat together. Seated at the highest position was Zhao Hongsheng of the Blood Red Alliance, flanked by the brothers Jin Weishan and Jin Weihe. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng stared at Song Hanchun across from him with an expressionless face, his thoughts inscrutable. His impassive demeanor made Song Hanchun feel as though he was sitting on pins and needles. Though they were both Golden Core cultivators and he was at the Mid Stage Golden Core, he hardly dared to breathe in front of Zhao Hongsheng, who was at the Late Stage Golden Core. Moreover, when recalling a certain day decades ago, Zhao Hongsheng had exchanged pointers with Han Hu, the Great Elder of the Golden Sword Sect. Back then, Song Hanchun was at the Early Stage Golden Core cultivation and witnessed that earth-shattering battle. The result was Han Hu, also at the Late Stage Golden Core, falling short by one move and regretfully losing. However, even so, they could see that Zhao Hongsheng did not seem to exert his full strength and even intentionally showed mercy. Otherwise, if it had been a battle to the death, Han Hu would definitely not have been Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s match and might even have faced the peril of losing his life. Thus, even after decades had passed and even though his own cultivation had stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core, Song Hanchun did not dare be negligent or offend Zhao Hongsheng. Not just him, even the Jin brothers of the Blood Red Alliance did not dare to be too presumptuous in front of Zhao Hongsheng. Clearly, Zhao Hongsheng was not easy to get along with and was even quite brutal. In fact, not just Zhao Hongsheng, but the people of the entire Blood Red Alliance were desperados, committing all manner of atrocities¡ªmurder, arson, looting¡ªyou name it, having offended countless forces and cultivators. Such a high-profile and uncaring force comprised few individuals of good and upright character. If it were not for the high-level cultivators of the Blood Red Alliance being powerful enough, they would have long been annihilated by their enemies. Cooperating with such a force was akin to seeking the skin of a tiger. Aware of this, Song Hanchun could not help but worry, but he had no choice; after all, all significant decisions at the Golden Sword Sect were made by Han Hu. Even if he had any objections, he was unable to change anything. Additionally, given the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s ruthless and brutal style of conduct, even if they wanted to refuse cooperation, they would have to carefully weigh the consequences. ¡­ While Song Hanchun was silent, the previously quiet Zhao Hongsheng broke the stillness. ¡°Daoist Song, in a few days we will proceed with the original plan to attack Qingshui Market to further pressure Myriad Medicine Valley. As long as Daoist Han handles his part, Myriad Medicine Valley will eventually be destroyed by us.¡± Hearing this, Song Hanchun promptly nodded and replied: ¡°Daoist Zhao, rest assured!¡± ¡°I will immediately send orders to gather our forces with the greatest speed and launch a powerful attack!¡± ¡°One thing, though, since we¡¯re aiming to pressure them, it will require Daoist Zhao¡¯s intervention to achieve the best effect!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ the sooner, the better!¡± Zhao Hongsheng nodded in response, then waved his hand, signaling Song Hanchun to leave. Seeing this, Song Hanchun dared not linger. He quickly stood up with a cupped fist salute and then left the secret chamber. Chapter 760 03-25 - 760 412 First Battle_1 ?Chapter 760: Chapter 412 First Battle_1 Chapter 760: Chapter 412 First Battle_1 ¡°` Several days later. Outside Qingshui Market, several golden flying boats streaked across the sky above the vast plains. On the city walls of the market, a cultivator was the first to notice something amiss, promptly pointing out the anomaly and shouting. Soon, guided by the first cultivator, dozens of cultivators responsible for keeping watch widened their eyes and stared at the black shadow that appeared in the distant sky, which gradually revealed the golden flying boats from tiny specks. ¡°Enemy attack¡­ Quick¡­ Sound the alarm¡­¡± ¡°Quickly report to Elder Chen!¡± A Foundation Establishment Cultivator dressed in Zhenyang Sect attire immediately began to shout loudly. ... In response, he waved his magic artifact, and the Golden Light Greatsword flashed and tore through the sky inside the market, swiftly slashing through the air. The Golden Light Greatsword, as splendid as fireworks, emitted a sharp and piercing sound as it cut through the air, quickly capturing the attention of numerous cultivators. At this moment, many cultivators still navigating within the market began to grow restless, and some headed toward the city walls, shooting up rapidly. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Inside the market, the sound of bells rang out, quickly spreading to every corner. ¡°Everyone, hasten to the city walls to assemble, no mercy to those who delay!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Chen Jingtian took a great leap and flew into the high sky above the market, his booming voice carrying far and wide. Seeing a Golden Core Cultivator appear on the scene, along with the alarm bells and Chen Jingtian¡¯s personal supervision, a vast number of cultivators poured out from their caves and hurried towards the city walls. At this time, Qin Xi and her two companions became immediately aware of the commotion and swiftly left their cave to reach the city walls. Li Xiuyuan had arrived early and was waiting there, with more than twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered around him. Seeing Qin Xi and her companions approach, Li Xiuyuan walked over to greet them immediately. Qin Xi, along with Lin Xingping and company, reciprocated the greeting and then asked, ¡°Li, has it been only a few days and Golden Sword Sect is already launching another attack?¡± ¡°This is not surprising. Before you arrived at the market, Golden Sword Sect would attack every ten to fifteen days.¡± ¡°If not for Elder Chen¡¯s unparalleled combat strength, and the assistance of the Third Order Great Array, we might not have been able to hold out until now!¡± Hearing this, everyone present wore serious expressions, and some couldn¡¯t help feeling worried inside. After all, none of them had experienced such a large-scale battle among cultivators, nor had many seen a confrontation between Golden Core Cultivators. But now, the alarm for battle had sounded, and several Golden Core Cultivators were leading thousands of cultivators in an attack. It was foreseeable that this was going to be a monumental battle, and some would fall here. Yet, despite understanding this, they had no way to retreat. While others were fraught with worry, Qin Xi and her companions remained relatively calm. Especially Qin Xi, having participated in the great battle at Yuyao City, had seen enough bloodshed and experienced the baptism of combat amongst Golden Core Cultivators. Aware that the upcoming scene would be gruesome, she was mentally prepared in advance. Therefore, facing the impending great battle of cultivators, she was composed and ready to encounter the enemy at any moment. A short while later, after the time to drink a cup of tea had passed. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The golden flying boats outside the market drew nearer, and quickly came to hover in the sky just outside the city walls. Then, Song Hanchun, Zhao Hongsheng, and several other Golden Core Cultivators stepped forward, standing in mid-air, immediately attracting everyone¡¯s gaze upon their arrival. Beyond these few, over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators jumped down from the flying boats and lined up neatly on the plains. Furthermore, a considerable number of Qi Refining Cultivators followed suit, with over three thousand gathering in one corner, waiting for the commands of the Golden Core Cultivators. As this group made their appearance, the intense pressure from thousands of cultivators stirred up powerful Gang Winds that rushed towards Qingshui Market. If not for the protection of the Third Order Great Array, even the invisible force that was generated could have gravely injured a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator. By this time, thousands of cultivators had assembled inside the market, with over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators standing atop the city walls. Beneath the walls, similarly, thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators, led by Zhenyang Sect Disciples, were fully armed and waiting on one side. It seemed that Zhenyang Sect had completed its assembly and was ready to mobilize at a moment¡¯s notice. Elder Chen, Zhu Yun, and Lan Yu stood on the highest point, their eyes fixated on Song Hanchun and his companions outside, all wearing grave expressions. Separated by the Defensive Great Formation, Song Hanchun, while taunting, shouted loudly. ¡°Chen Jingtian, do you dare come out and fight?¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ It¡¯s barely been ten days since the ceasefire, and you can¡¯t hold back any longer?¡± ¡°Song Hanchun, are you so eager to seek death?¡± Chen Jingtian sneered, his Magical Treasure shining with a faint light, seemingly ready to engage in battle. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s words, Song Hanchun¡¯s face darkened, and he couldn¡¯t help but curse loudly. ¡°Chen Jingtian, you old coward, you can¡¯t hold out much longer, so might as well surrender now, and I might spare your life! ¡°Once the formation is broken, all of you will die!¡± As soon as these words fell, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression shifted, and despite the rage burning inside him, he was not provoked by Song Hanchun¡¯s taunts. ¡°Li, don¡¯t waste words with them, let¡¯s get started!¡± Amidst this, Zhao Hongsheng spoke coldly, and was the first to launch an attack. ¡°Thunderous booms¡­¡± Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hands radiated Spiritual Light, and a blood-red Sword Qi shot out from his hands, slicing through the air at high speed, and slamming directly into the Defensive Great Formation of Qingshui Market. Chapter 761 03-25 - 761 412 First Battle_2 ?Chapter 761: Chapter 412 First Battle_2 Chapter 761: Chapter 412 First Battle_2 Seeing Zhao Hongsheng take the lead, Song Hanchun glanced at the many disciples of the Golden Sword Sect and the cultivators who had been called upon, and then shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone, attack immediately, we must break through the defense array!¡± Having said this, Song Hanchun and the two Jin brothers didn¡¯t delay and were the first to unleash numerous attacks, coordinating with Zhao Hongsheng, to furiously assault the defensive great formation. Below them, thousands of cultivators acted together, and a large number of attacks converged into beams of light. Looking over, these beams, thick and thin, filled the sky in a dense pattern, occupying almost the entire heavens. Not only that, because the beams were so numerous, they formed an endless powerful force, as if they were going to swallow up the entire Qingshui Market. In an instant, the collective onslaught of the numerous cultivators relentlessly bombarded the defensive great formation one after another. Among them, the attacks from Zhao Hongsheng and the other Golden Core cultivators were as dazzling as the sun, with each strike containing immense might. ... ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of violent explosions sounded, as multicolored lights flashed across the defensive formation, and even the ground beneath the market trembled. Immediately afterward, the defensive great formation¡¯s lights flared, as enormous power whirled madly. At this moment, Chen Jingtian did not go outside, but instead, he immediately channeled all of his mana, pouring it frantically into the array¡¯s light screen in front of him. Not just him, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu did the same, as did all the present cultivators, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refining Realm. They all mobilized a great deal of spiritual power into the light screen of the defensive array. With the power of thousands of cultivators poured in, the defensive array shone brightly, overshadowing even the daylight. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­¡± The defensive great formation shook violently but quickly stabilized. Clearly, the spiritual power injected by Chen Jingtian and the thousands of cultivators had an effect. Even with the join forces of Song Hanchun, including four Golden Core cultivators, one at the Late Stage Golden Core, and the strength of thousands of other cultivators, they could not break the Third Order Defense Array. Seeing that Song Hanchun and the others¡¯ first strike had been in vain, Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. However, he knew that the Golden Sword Sect still held the absolute advantage. After all, they had more Golden Core combat strength, including three Mid Stage Golden Core and above combatants, along with over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators and several thousand Qi Refining cultivators; the power they could unleash was truly formidable. Especially the presence of that Late Stage Golden Core, at first glance, it was clear they had entered this realm quite some time ago. Moreover, aside from being a level higher in cultivation than him, the oppressive force that person brought was extremely strong. He vaguely felt that this person¡¯s strength was very formidable. Not even when facing Sect Leader Lu Xingfeng did he feel such a palpitation. With such a huge force, if it came to a head-on clash, their side, the Zhenyang Sect, had absolutely no chance of winning. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And he understood that what he could do now was to act like a nail ¨C to staunchly block the main attacks of the Golden Sword Sect and prevent them from advancing further into the hinterlands of the Zhenyang Sect. As long as Myriad Medicine Valley sent reinforcements in time and combined the powers of the other two Great Golden Core Families of the Wei Kingdom, perhaps they could turn the situation around. At that time, if the Golden Sword Sect had to face the combined strength of two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Two Great Golden Core Families, even with the assistance of Blood Red Alliance cultivators, the Golden Sword Sect would likely not be a match for them. However, to achieve this, his side at Qingshui Market must give it their all and firmly hold back the main forces of the Golden Sword Sect, delaying them as long as possible. When the reinforcements arrived, they could switch from defense to offense and mount a comprehensive attack to crush the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s army in one fell swoop. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian had already made plans in his heart. Little did he know, the Golden Sword Sect already had a countermeasure in place and was planning something. However, at the moment, their attack on Qingshui Market was also a very crucial step. It was precisely for this reason that Song Hanchun and others were bombarding the defensive great formation of Qingshui Market with all their might. In their eyes, although the Third Order Great Array was not easy to break, it was also not absolutely unbreakable. After all, the consumption of a Third Order Great Array is enormous, and the stored energy is very limited. Their side¡¯s top combat strength, noticeably stronger and more numerous, meant that a persistent and unrelenting assault for months, or even longer, was not without the possibility of breaking the Third Order Great Array. Once the protection of the formation was gone, the vast majority of cultivators within the market would not be able to survive, and even Chen Jingtian himself would likely be unable to escape their encirclement. It was because of this understanding that Song Hanchun and the others had no intention of stopping; after an ineffective strike, they continued to bombard the Defensive Array without cessation. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The sounds of explosions continued incessantly as the cultivators inside Qingshui Market kept channeling Spiritual Power, maintaining the energy flow of the Defensive Great Formation. At the same time, a significant number of Zhenyang Sect disciples placed a large amount of Mid-To-High Grade Spirit Stones into the central system of the Formation, sustaining the massive consumption of the Defensive Array. This was also a measure born out of necessity. After all, the number of cultivators in the Zhenyang Sect camp was limited, and High Order Cultivators were noticeably fewer than those of the Golden Sword Sect; they could not rely solely on the strength of cultivators as there would come a time when their power was depleted. Therefore, facing an absolute disadvantage, they could only hold their position and wait for reinforcements, endeavoring to hold out for as long as possible. Even if it meant consuming a vast amount of Spirit Stones, they spared no expense. This mutual exhaustion continued for the better part of half an hour. By now, the Third Order Defense Array had been attacked dozens of rounds, each of which was enough to break through a Second Order Defense Array. Yet, the Defense Array of Qingshui Market remained as stable as before, showing no signs of collapse despite the substantial depletion of energy. During this time, the cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect camp had expended no small amount of mana, with almost every one of them having less than thirty percent of their peak Spiritual Power remaining. Perhaps knowing that this attempt to conquer Qingshui Market would be futile, Song Hanchun, during a lull in the attack, made a gesture of salute toward Zhao Hongsheng. Then, he tentatively said, ¡°Daoist Zhao, I¡¯m afraid there is little hope of breaking the formation this time. Let us sound the retreat and come back after a few days!¡± ¡°I believe the Zhenyang Sect cannot bear such a colossal consumption. Perhaps after a few more attempts, we could completely break the Defensive Array and obliterate them here!¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hongsheng contemplated briefly, understanding that Song Hanchun¡¯s words were true. Besides, with the mana of all his subordinates significantly drained, continuing to attack the formation and depleting their Spiritual Power to nothing would not be a good situation. If Chen Jingtian took a risk and attacked, they might suffer a setback that would squander their advantageous position. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng nodded and said to Song Hanchun, ¡°Let¡¯s retreat for now!¡± Zhao Hongsheng spoke with a grave tone, his emotions inscrutable. Upon receiving his command, Song Hanchun wasted no time, immediately issuing the order for all disciples of the Golden Sword Sect to prepare for retreat. With Song Hanchun¡¯s resounding voice echoing outside the market, a large number of cultivators began to withdraw in an orderly manner, quickly creating a distance. Atop the city wall of the market, Chen Jingtian watched the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples recede like a tide and briefly fell into contemplation. After a few breaths, he made a decision: to take advantage of the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ greater exhaustion and launch a counter-attack, hoping to deplete some of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s strength. If it went well, he could also regain some ground, ensuring greater endurance in the coming war of attrition. Having made up his mind, he immediately shouted, ¡°All Foundation Establishment cultivators obey the command, follow your leaders and join me in confronting the Golden Sword Sect disciples!¡± ¡°As for Qi Refining cultivators, stand by. If the Golden Sword Sect attacks the Formation, you must quickly unite your strength to maintain the operation of the Formation!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Chen Jingtian, unconcerned with the reaction of the cultivators below, opened a gap in the Defensive Array and was the first to shoot out. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s orders, Lan Yu and Zhu Yun, along with over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators, crossed the light barrier of the Formation and appeared behind the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Chapter 762 03-25 - 762 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_1 ?Chapter 762: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_1 Chapter 762: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_1 Their actions clearly aimed to take advantage as the Golden Sword Sect disciples were consuming more energy. After all, the cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect, with the help of the Third Order Defensive Array, were inevitably using less spiritual power than those of the Golden Sword Sect. Although overall, they still did not have the upper hand. But if they did not take this opportunity to weaken the enemy¡¯s combat power, it would naturally be much harder to gain an advantage once they recovered. And Chen Jingtian naturally understood this point, and specifically brought only Foundation Establishment cultivators into battle, making it more flexible to either retreat or attack. On the contrary, if he brought Qi Refining cultivators into the fray, their lower cultivation and limited power meant the damage they could do to Golden Core cultivators was extremely limited. Moreover, the movement of an army composed of thousands of cultivators would inevitably be too cumbersome. ... Bringing Qi Refining cultivators against a stronger opponent would just be sending them to their deaths without serving much of a role, and they would only hold back the retreat. Therefore, he only led Foundation Establishment cultivators into battle to harass and then retreat in time after gaining an advantage. Although this was somewhat risky, those at a disadvantage like them could only rely on such opportunities to narrow the gap between them. He firmly believed that after a few such occasions, the power of the Golden Sword Sect would inevitably decline. With this ebbing and flowing, he would be able to regain some of the disparity between them, and come the decisive battle, he would also have a slight initiative. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian acted with extreme caution, maintaining a safe distance and ferociously attacking the lower-ranking cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect. Apart from him, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu both targeted the lower-ranking cultivators as well. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 The Foundation Establishment cultivators who followed them did the same, all hiding under the protection of the trio while launching attacks from a distance, coordinating with some Second Order Attack Talismans, and fiercely bombarding the Golden Sword Sect cultivators in front of them. At this time, among the slowly retreating Golden Sword Sect disciples, many Qi Refining cultivators moved too slowly and had not withdrawn very far when they were crazily attacked by Chen Jingtian who had come out in haste. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps not expecting Chen Jingtian to take the initiative to strike, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s formation was disorganized, and many lower-ranking cultivators lagged behind, directly exposing themselves to the gaze of Chen Jingtian and the others. As Chen Jingtian and the others took their turns attacking, powerful surges swept through the area. At this moment, a commotion spread through the ranks of the Golden Sword Sect cultivators, as a large number of lower-ranking cultivators were thrown into disarray, disrupting the originally orderly formation. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds erupted, and the sky was filled with massive orbs of light pouring down. Looking over, several powerful sword qi streaked through the void, clearly the attacks of Golden Core cultivators. These attacks were incredibly fast and carried awe-inspiring power; the Qi Refining cultivators couldn¡¯t withstand such pressure, and appeared to lack even the strength to flee. In an instant, a series of screams echoed continuously. From a distance, Chen Jingtian eradicated close to a hundred cultivators with a single strike, including over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators. This action immediately incited the fury of Song Hanchun. ¡°Chen Jingtian, you old fool are courting death!¡± No sooner had the words fallen did Song Hanchun twist his body, hastily crossing over the heads of the Golden Sword Sect disciples and shooting towards Chen Jingtian. While still in midair, his Magical Treasure flashed brightly, and a barrage of attacks bore down on him. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian did not dare to be careless, and immediately leaped up, evading Song Hanchun¡¯s assault. Before he could take a breath, Zhao Hongsheng also appeared silently on his left, forming a pincer attack with Song Hanchun and unleashing a torrent of attacks on him. At that moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, his expression extremely grave. Although both were at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, he found Song Hanchun¡¯s attacks manageable, even with some ease to spare. But Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attacks were fast and fierce, the powerful waves threatening to cut him down on the spot. Well aware of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s formidable strength, Chen Jingtian fought while retreating, not intending to clash head-on. Realizing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s Magical Treasure frequently flashed light as he applied pressure on Zhao Hongsheng, while deftly moving and narrowly dodging through the barrage of attacks. In the blink of an eye, the three were locked in combat; Chen Jingtian, relying on his nimble maneuvers and the aid of Third Order Talismans, managed to face two opponents at once. Although he had not yet fallen into a disadvantage, that was also because Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, having expended much of their mana attacking the Defensive Array earlier, dared not fight too recklessly for fear that running out of mana might even lead to their potential downfall. It was precisely because Chen Jingtian understood this that he dared to risky a confrontation with Zhao Hongsheng, whose cultivation and strength were higher. However, such fighting could not be prolonged, as under the combined efforts of Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, his mana depletion rate was faster than theirs. If this continued, perhaps in less than half an incense stick of time, his mana would be completely exhausted. Therefore, he dared not drag it out too long and was fully bent on taking advantage and then leaving. In such a situation, Chen Jingtian, while dodging attacks from Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, took advantage of the intermissions to frantically unleash a barrage of ordinary spells towards the lower-ranked Golden Sword Sect camp. This move by him surprised and angered Song Hanchun, who also had to split his focus to fend off some of the ordinary attacks to prevent serious casualties among the lower-ranking disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. Chapter 763 03-25 - 763 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_2 ?Chapter 763: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_2 Chapter 763: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_2 Even so, considering Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength at the Mid Stage Golden Core, an ordinary attack in his outburst might not mean much to a Golden Core Cultivator, yet it possessed tremendous lethality against Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Moreover, these ordinary attacks were extremely dense. Song Hanchun found it somewhat difficult to intercept them all. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Occasionally, a few fireballs streaked across the sky, breaking through Song Hanchun¡¯s interception, and exploding directly above the heads of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s low-level cultivators. Dozens of Qi Refining Cultivators had no time to dodge, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn¡¯t withstand the shockwaves of the explosions. Only a small number of Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators barely managed to save their lives with their speed but still suffered significant injuries. In the blink of an eye, Chen Jingtian had already gained quite the advantage, having killed hundreds of cultivators with his attacks, ninety percent of whom were Qi Refining Cultivators, with a considerable number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators as well. Apart from him, on the other side, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu harvested many lives in the same manner. ... As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who followed Chen Jingtian and the others out, they slaughtered the Qi Refining Cultivators before the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s cultivators could react. Qin Xi and two others, with their cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, followed Li Xiuyuan and charged into the ranks of the Qi Refining Cultivators, killing several with each strike. In less than half an hour, Qin Xi and the two had killed dozens of Qi Refining Cultivators. Qin Xi was especially decisive in action, even killing several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, as the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators intervened and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators reacted, it became not so easy for them to maintain the advantages they had at the start of the battle. By now, the battle grew intensely fierce, especially among several Golden Core Cultivators in the highest altitude, where major shifts had taken place. Looking around, Chen Jingtian, facing the encirclement and suppression of Zhao Hongsheng and another, was in imminent danger, clearly at a complete disadvantage. On the other side, Zhu Yun clashed with Jin Weishan from the Blood Red Alliance. Both were at the Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and in their fight, neither gained the upper hand. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Meanwhile, Lan Yu, who was at the Early Stage Golden Core, used his more abundant mana to face off against Jin Weihe, barely gaining a slight advantage. Among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the situation was just as tense, but with the cultivators from the Zhenyang Sect relying on their more abundant mana, they still managed to gain some advantage. Nevertheless, the outcome of the battles among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators wasn¡¯t decisive for the overall battlefield. Once the strongest among them, Chen Jingtian, was seriously injured or even fell on the spot, their vast legion would probably meet its doom. As the leader of the legion, Chen Jingtian was constantly paying attention to the battle situation of his own side. At this moment, he was hard-pressed to deal with Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, retreating step by step under the onslaught of their attacks. What¡¯s more concerning was his rapidly depleting mana, almost running out, perhaps less than one-tenth of his peak. In such a situation, although he wouldn¡¯t immediately fear for his life in the short term, if he continued to fight to the death, he would definitely be no match for Zhao Hongsheng and the other. Knowing that his situation was extremely unfavorable, Chen Jingtian, believing he had already taken enough advantage and reached his goal before the battle, decided it was time to prepare for the retreat. Making up his mind, Chen Jingtian unleashed a full-force strike, temporarily forcing Zhao Hongsheng, who was relentlessly pursuing him, to retreat. Immediately after, taking advantage of this brief interval, he sent a message to Zhu Yun and Lan Yu who were not far away engaging in their own battles. ¡°Brother Zhu, Junior Brother Lan, let¡¯s converge, hold them off together for a moment, and buy time for the Foundation Establishment Disciples to retreat!¡± ¡°As long as the majority of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators enter the Defensive Great Formation in Qingshui Market, we can retreat!¡± Hearing his message, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu exchanged glances. In their eyes, such cooperation was not unfamiliar. Back in the battle at Yuyao City, facing the overwhelmingly strong Monster Beast Legion, they joined hands in a similar fashion to buy time for the retreat of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. One could say that the current situation was somewhat similar to the past¡ªcapitalizing on the initial advantage and retreating without intending to confront the enemy head-on. The only difference was the opponents: the Demonic Beasts versus the Human Cultivators. After all, a beast is a beast; even the Spirit Wisdom of a Third Order Demon Beast could not compare with that of a Golden Core Cultivator. Human Cultivators possess even greater spirit wisdom and are naturally very cunning, making it much more difficult for cultivators of the same stage to deal with them compared to Demonic Beasts. It is precisely because of this understanding that Chen Jingtian and his two comrades were extremely cautious and dared not hold anything back. In the blink of an eye, Zhu Yun and another person, upon receiving the message, immediately unleashed powerful attacks, repelling their respective opponents. At the same time, the two of them immediately converged towards Chen Jingtian¡¯s position. Soon, the two had regrouped with Chen Jingtian, and the three of them stood side by side, supporting each other and firmly blocking the front of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator army. By this time, the leaders of the various Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already received the order to retreat. Before Zhu Yun and the other person could arrive, they immediately began to reduce their camp and reversed direction, forming a long line flying towards the entrance of the Defensive Great Formation. The movements of these thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators were swift, without the encumbrance of Qi Refining Cultivators, fully achieving immediate obedience to orders. Within a few breaths, the last Foundation Establishment Cultivator had already surged into the Defensive Great Formation. At this moment, Song Hanchun finally realized Chen Jingtian¡¯s intention and in his haste, released a multitude of sword lights, attempting to stop their retreat. Aside from him, Zhao Hongsheng and the two brothers from the Jin Family were also filled with shock and rage, hastily unleashing a barrage of attacks towards the three of them. In their eyes, this battle had been too stifling to this point. Despite their overall strength having a decisive advantage, Chen Jingtian was full of tricks and his thoughts were extremely meticulous, never giving them a chance for a straight fight, and would retreat having gained a little benefit each time, without any greedy thoughts. Such a strategy indeed had its effect, rendering their powerful punches like hitting cotton, hardly causing any significant damage. Now, as Chen Jingtian looked about to be mired in the war quagmire, he thought of retreating, causing them to suffer the loss of nearly two thousand lower-rank cultivators in vain. Although the lives of these lower-rank cultivators were practically worthless to them at the Golden Core Realm, even if their entire forces were wiped out, it would hardly affect the overall progress of the war. But if Chen Jingtian managed to get his way, wouldn¡¯t it be a joke? If this were to spread, how could they, who were all influential figures, hold their heads high among their peers? Understanding this, Zhao Hongsheng and the others unleashed a flurry of attacks, intending to eliminate Chen Jingtian and his two comrades on the spot. Only by doing so could they release the anger in their hearts. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Numerous orbs of light streaked across the sky, descending upon the space above Chen Jingtian and his two comrades with an unbelievable speed. All of these attacks were from Golden Core Cultivators; especially Zhao Hongsheng, who, at the Late Stage Golden Core, stood head and shoulders above the rest here, with no one daring to clash head-on with him. But now, Chen Jingtian also faced a dilemma: either extricate himself to retreat into the Defensive Array, or take the hit head-on to buy time for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators to retreat. At this moment, Chen Jingtian had already anticipated the outcome before the retreat and even made some plans in advance. This instant, he did not hesitate at all, resolutely deciding to take the hit. In his eyes, if those below were Qi Refining Cultivators, he would not hesitate to abandon them. But those below were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among whom many were Zhenyang Sect Disciples. These people were the backbone of the entire Sect¡¯s major battles, and to defeat the Golden Sword Sect, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators must play a crucial role. Besides, if he abandoned them, such an act would undoubtedly dishearten all the Cultivators who had heeded the call. Even if they dared not express their anger, it would certainly shake the morale, leading to them not putting their full effort into the subsequent battles. If that were to happen, losing a few hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be insignificant, but if they lost their faith, their chances of defeating the Golden Sword Sect would become even more difficult. ¡­ sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 764 03-25 - 764 414 Temporary Retreat_1 ?Chapter 764: Chapter 414 Temporary Retreat_1 Chapter 764: Chapter 414 Temporary Retreat_1 Realizing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression grew grave as he hastily slapped his storage bag, seizing several spiritually luminescent talismans in his hand. Upon closer inspection, these talismans were all Third Order Defense Talismans, among them two bore the vast and forceful aura of Earth-attribute defense talismans. Such Third Order talismans were exceedingly rare even within the Zhenyang Sect. If Sect Leader Lu Xingfeng hadn¡¯t acknowledged the pressure Chen had to face, he probably wouldn¡¯t have been willing to take out these valuable wartime resources for such extravagant use. Yet even with an understanding of the talismans¡¯ rarity, Chen Jingtian had no regrets. In his view, as a leader and decision-maker of the army of cultivators, one must not lose sight of the bigger picture for fear of smaller losses. Aware of the significance, Chen Jingtian didn¡¯t hesitate; before Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attack could descend, he activated all the defense talismans he held. ... In an instant, five screens of light rose before him, enveloping a large area. At that moment, the long snake-like formation of the army of cultivators had its last hundred or so members also shrouded within the protective light of the array. As the saying goes, no sooner said than done; Zhao Hongsheng and his compatriots¡¯ attacks arrived as expected. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosions sounded, echoing between heaven and earth. The attacks unleashed by Zhao Hongsheng and others precisely bombarded the light screens formed by the defense talismans. In an instant, flames filled the sky as Chen Jingtian and the two others were engulfed by a sea of fire. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The assault from Zhao Hongsheng and the others was ferocious, creating a massive explosion upon collision with the barrier produced by the defense talismans. Within this sea of fire, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face was pale, and the powerful shock waves left him with a churning qi and blood, and his body was riddled with injuries. However, his condition was still relatively better; even though he had suffered some internal injuries, he could at least bear it. But the situation for Zhu Yun and Lan Yu was far more tragic, especially for Lan Yu, who was only at the Early Stage Golden Core level. Despite the protection of five defense talismans, the sheer force of the impact left him with severe injuries. Fortunately, the three had braced themselves in advance and promptly whisked away a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators towards the direction of the Defensive Great Formation, completely avoiding the most intense scope of the explosion. Otherwise, if they had squarely borne the brunt of Zhao Hongsheng and his allies¡¯ combined strike, even Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength wouldn¡¯t have spared him from grave injury, if not death. However, keenly aware of the abilities of Zhao Hongsheng and his party, Chen Jingtian and his companions did not dare to linger. They had already moved away the moment their attack hit the first defense talisman. At the same time, they took advantage of the impact¡¯s force to retreat explosively into the Defensive Great Formation and also, in the process, swept with them the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were initially retreating at the rear. But Chen Jingtian and his compatriots faced limits to their capabilities; although they had rescued most of the remaining cultivators, still, hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not be saved and had to be reluctantly abandoned. These abandoned Foundation Establishment Cultivators, mainly those at the early stages of their cultivation, were too slow to retreat and couldn¡¯t evade or withstand the mighty shock wave. In an instant, these cultivators were swallowed by the sea of flames, not even a scream could be uttered before they perished right there. Once the dust settled and the flames had completely dissipated into the sky, the ground bore a huge crater, charred black, with sporadic flames still flickering within, carried by the gentle breeze. The crater stretched over a hundred zhang, with not a single cultivator¡¯s corpse in sight; only further away lay a multitude of bodies, strewn across the ground as fresh blood thoroughly stained the earth red. This tragic vista was enough to turn one¡¯s stomach. Meanwhile, Chen Jingtian and his party had already surged into the Defensive Great Formation, and all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators had managed to retreat successfully. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Witnessing the precarious retreat, Chen Jingtian promptly reactivated the formation, and swiftly the protective light enveloped the entire Qingshui Market. Outside the market, Song Hanchun¡¯s face darkened as he watched the retreating cultivators of Zhenyang Sect. Unable to restrain himself, he launched an attack that slammed into the formation light screen. However, the Defensive Array was already activated, and its energy was steadily circulating. Even after expending a substantial amount of energy in prior exchanges, the remaining energy was still not something a Golden Core Cultivator could penetrate in a short amount of time. Thus, that furious strike was doomed to return fruitless. When everything finally calmed down, only then did Song Hanchun come to terms with reality, which was that their operation had ended in total failure. At that moment, he gave Zhao Hongsheng, who stood not far off, a sidelong glance, his face betraying a mix of anxiety and uncertainty. In his heart, he couldn¡¯t be certain of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attitude; if the blame was shifted onto him, even if he had objections, acknowledging the power of Blood Red Alliance and Zhao Hongsheng, he wouldn¡¯t dare to voice them. Fortunately, Zhao Hongsheng, though looking serious, hadn¡¯t fallen into rage, and Song Hanchun¡¯s worries proved somewhat superfluous. ¡°Brother Song, let the juniors clean up the battlefield and proceed with the plan!¡± After uttering these words, Zhao Hongsheng didn¡¯t wait to see Song Hanchun¡¯s reaction, simply turned, and left the battlefield. Hearing the command, Song Hanchun did not delay. He immediately instructed the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect to quickly scour the battlefield, collecting the storage bags of the fallen cultivators. While Qi Refining Cultivators, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators, might not possess much wealth, the Golden Sword Sect had lost over a thousand Qi Refining Cultivators and several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the battle. Chapter 765 03-25 - 765 414 Temporary Withdrawal_2 ?Chapter 765: Chapter 414 Temporary Withdrawal_2 Chapter 765: Chapter 414 Temporary Withdrawal_2 Plus, nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also perished. Such a number of cultivators, even if only half of their storage bags could be collected, would accumulate to a considerable fortune. A little while passed. The entire battlefield began to bustle, as numerous cultivators moved about, searching for the belongings of the less fortunate. To behave so brazenly, scouring so openly beneath the watchful eyes of Zhenyang Sect disciples, was a naked provocation for the cultivators from Qingshui Market. But at this moment, Chen Jingtian and his group, along with those Foundation Establishment Cultivators, had all overexerted themselves, many bearing wounds. Now, the freshly retreated disciples of Zhenyang Sect had all gathered atop the city walls, each one forcibly invigorating their spirit to watch the actions of the Golden Sword Sect Cultivators. ... Seeing a large number of Golden Sword Sect Cultivators joyously scavenging the battlefield without any visible impact from the failed assault, many Golden Sword Sect Cultivators, instead of feeling defeated for having narrowly escaped death, felt an overwhelming excitement. This scene was witnessed by all of the present Zhenyang Sect disciples. Even though they were itching with hatred inwardly, since they were still not at an advantage in strength, they could do nothing but watch the others boldly clean up the battlefield and take away what should have belonged to them as spoils of war. An hour later. The Golden Sword Sect Cultivators finished cleaning up the battlefield, and the site, which was originally riddled with scars, finally looked a bit better. What was once a vast army of cultivators had now dwindled by nearly forty percent, leaving a little over three thousand cultivators, who under Song Hanchun¡¯s leading, slowly retreated. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï As they disappeared from sight, including Chen Jingtian himself, all the cultivators couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Subsequently, many cultivators who had overexerted themselves or were seriously injured collapsed on the ground, and many others quickly took out elixirs to consume, their complexions thus gradually regaining some color. In the group where Li Xiuyuan was, Qin Xi and her two companions, together with their teammates, sat in a circle. Looking around, many people in their team were somewhat pale, obviously having exhausted too much Spiritual Power. Yet Qin Xi and her two companions were alright, all just overexerted, but uninjured, and each had killed a varying number of Zhenyang Sect disciples. This battle though extremely perilous, had to admit, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strategy was very effective. After this battle, the Zhenyang Sect only lost a little over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, most of whom were at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. With such a small price, they had taken the lives of more than four hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect. In addition, over a thousand Qi Refining Cultivators at the middle and later stages also fell here. With just over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they achieved such a result, significantly closing the gap in strength between them. Continuing like this, if it happens a few more times, both sides might eventually reach the same starting line. This outcome was also within Chen Jingtian and his group¡¯s expectations. At that moment, seeing that none of the cultivators had left, Zhu Yun gave Chen Jingtian a respectful hand-clasp to remind him, ¡°Chen Junior Brother, the Golden Sword Sect has temporarily retreated, and they likely won¡¯t attack again anytime soon.¡± ¡°Considering that many of the younger disciples and quite a few cultivators are not lightly injured, shouldn¡¯t we let them disperse quickly to recuperate in seclusion?¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian glanced at everyone and then nodded, instructing a Zhenyang Sect Cultivator not far from him. ¡°Quickly assess the casualties of this battle!¡± At the order, several Zhenyang Sect Cultivators immediately got busy, recording the basic details of the fight. A short while later, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples who had left earlier returned to Chen Jingtian. One of them took out a booklet and respectfully said to Chen Jingtian, ¡°Reporting to Uncle-Master, the tally of battle losses is complete!¡± ¡°Oh? What are the results?¡± Zhu Yun, standing to the side, glanced at the speaking cultivator and subsequently inquired. ¡°This offensive resulted in the fall of two hundred and sixty-seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators, of which eighty-eight were our own sect¡¯s disciples and one hundred and seventy-nine were conscripted cultivators.¡± ¡°As for the Golden Sword Sect, the exact tally is hard to calculate accurately, but based on estimates, it is projected that approximately one thousand seven hundred Qi Refining Cultivators and nearly four hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were eliminated!¡± Hearing the report, Chen Jingtian and the others nodded their heads in satisfaction, a relieved smile appearing on their faces. This battle had yielded results that not only met but even exceeded expectations. Though each of the three Golden Core Cultivators had sustained injuries, with Lan Yu¡¯s wounds being quite severe, and they had used up several extremely valuable Third Order Defense Talismans. To be honest, the cost was not small, yet Chen Jingtian still felt it was well worth it. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had suffered significant losses in this battle, with their most important momentum of attack being halted. Given the reduction in strength and the significant consumption of energy by all cultivators, it could be foreseen that in the next half month, or even longer, the Golden Sword Sect was unlikely to launch an attack. And this time was of utmost importance to Zhenyang Sect, which was awaiting reinforcements. As long as the reinforcements arrived, in a war of attrition, Zhenyang Sect, in alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley, both being local forces, would not fear the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate about his decisions. Once things had calmed down, Chen Jingtian nodded to the Zhenyang Sect Disciples in front of him and then issued an instruction. ¡°Make sure all the Disciples who participated in the battle and the Cultivators who were conscripted are well settled, and record everyone¡¯s contributions in the register, without exception. Once this battle to defend our homeland is over, rewards will be given according to merit!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t soft; it seemed as though he meant for the thousands present to hear it. As expected, the cultivators in attendance, upon hearing this, held genuine admiration for such a leader. Suddenly, a multitude of Cultivators started speaking up, with numerous words of flattery spreading around. ¡°Chen truly is a model for us all. With such a powerful leader at our helm, we will undoubtedly overcome the unrighteous rogues of the Golden Sword Sect!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ Chen showed his divine might in this battle, standing against two without losing ground, truly a top powerhouse of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Apart from these words of praise, there were also some lower-ranked Cultivators who prostrated themselves on the ground, their attitude extremely respectful, much like the people of the common world. Chen Jingtian cared little for this behavior and merely uttered a few words of encouragement before the three Golden Core Cultivators left the city walls. As the Golden Core Cultivators departed, the previously calm scene became lively again with a multitude of Cultivators discussing the recent battle. Besides that, there were quite a few people who appeared downcast, evidently having relatives or fellow Sect Brothers who had fallen in the battle. Qin Xi and her companions had all returned successfully. With their combined strength and excellent coordination, they had also achieved considerable success in this battle. Based on their accomplishments, without a doubt, they topped the ranks in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team and were even among the leaders in the overall team. However, some rejoiced while others lamented! There were also Cultivators excited about their achievements in the recent battle, chatting it up with familiar peers. The polarized scene seemed quite discordant. Perhaps, this is the brutality of war! Meanwhile, Qin Xi and her two companions were with Li Xiuyuan and others, sharing a few words with their teammates. After exchanging greetings, the Cultivators slowly dispersed. Once most of the Cultivators had left, Qin Xi and her team nodded to each other, ending the idle chat. Then, after greeting Li Xiuyuan, they cupped their hands in a salute and left the city walls. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the three walked along the street, quite a few Cultivators continued talking animatedly, clearly excited by the victory. Yet Qin Xi did not believe that this victory would easily change their disadvantage. After all, the might of the Blood Red Alliance was so vast that not even an average Nascent Soul force could compare. If they were truly determined to obtain something, merely the combined might of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley wouldn¡¯t be enough to block them. But to worry about this now would be premature. Understanding this, Qin Xi kept these thoughts to herself and led Lin Xingping and the others back to their cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 766 03-25 - 766 415 Ambush_1 ?Chapter 766: Chapter 415 Ambush_1 Chapter 766: Chapter 415 Ambush_1 Half a month later. In the Shuojin Mountain Range, located to the south of the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, it is separated from the main base of the Yuxu Mountain Range by the Shuohe Mountain Range. This large expanse of land was home to numerous Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, abundant in various cultivation resources, and among the many mountain ranges in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it was also one of the places with a comparatively rich concentration of Spiritual Energy. It was such a fertile land that belonged to the jurisdiction of the Myriad Medicine Valley and was even one of its most core areas. At this time, within a huge valley under the control of the Myriad Medicine Valley, six men in black robes were seated on the ground. Looking around, each person had their eyes closed tightly as if they were meditating and cultivating. A closer look would reveal that Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan, two members of the Blood Red Alliance who had appeared in the great battle at Qingshui Market half a month ago, were also among these individuals. ... Half a month earlier, the two Golden Core Cultivators were still under the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s command in the Qingshui Mountain Range. In such a short span of time, they had unexpectedly appeared in the Shuojin Mountain Range, thousands of miles away. If they were not Golden Core Cultivators and from a top force like the Blood Red Alliance, such an occurrence would be somewhat inconceivable in the sparse Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng was the first to open his eyes, then looked towards the direction outside the valley, as if he had discovered something. Soon after, a strange smile inexplicably flashed across his face. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Less than the time it takes for a single breath to pass. One of the crowd, Han Hu, also opened his eyes. Like Zhao Hongsheng, he stared fixedly outside the valley. That he sensed something a step behind indicated that in terms of Divine Sense, he was indeed slightly inferior to Zhao Hongsheng. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Han Hu seemed to understand this, but he didn¡¯t pay it any mind. Instead, while snickering, he murmured something under his breath. ¡°They¡¯ve finally come!¡± Upon hearing this commotion, the rest of the group all opened their eyes and assumed an expression of readiness for battle. ¡°You have waited for so long, and the wait is finally over. It¡¯s time for us to make a move!¡± After saying this, Zhao Hongsheng took the lead and flew out of the valley, soon disappearing from sight. Following him, Han Hu and the remaining individuals stepped forward and left, vanishing from their original positions following in Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s footsteps. On a mountain outside the valley, at this moment, a Blue Flying Boat streaked by, continuing to fly towards the front. Aboard the Blue Flying Boat. Luo Anzhong and Ding Yongjin stood shoulder to shoulder, their gaze fixed on the valley that was faintly visible ahead, idly chatting with each other now and then. Behind them, more than three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat neatly on the deck. Upon closer inspection, Dragon Clearwater and his companion from the Zhenyang Sect were also among them. With the company of two Golden Core Cultivators, their safety was greatly assured, and there was no need for these Foundation Establishment Cultivators to worry. At this time, every Foundation Establishment Cultivator had their eyes tightly closed, as if they too were meditating and cultivating. Including Dragon Clearwater and his companion, at this moment, they also had their eyes tightly shut, looking very relaxed. Speaking of which, since their arrival at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, a good half a month had already passed. During this period, following the agreement between the two sects, the Myriad Medicine Valley had been gathering forces all along, preparing to provide support to the Zhenyang Sect. Over this time, the Myriad Medicine Valley hastily recruited some Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the lands near the Sect Gate. Under the leadership of Luo Anzhong, a Mid Stage Golden Core, and Ding Yongjin, an Early Stage Golden Core, they finally set off two days ago, embarking on their journey to the Qingshui Mountain Range. At their speed, barring any incidents, they should arrive in about half a month. As Luo Anzhong and the other cultivators from the Myriad Medicine Valley began their journey, Dragon Clearwater, who received the task from the Sect Leader, couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Before departing, he had made quite a few guesses and once thought that this task would not be so easily accomplished. Unexpectedly, this trip to the Zhenyang Sect, counting from the moment they left the Sect Gate, took just over a month, and everything was surprisingly smooth. As long as Luo Anzhong and the others safely reached the Qingshui Mountain Range, it would mean the completion of this task. And he would be able to report back to the Sect Leader and obtain the long-awaited Jiuli Star Fruit, then seclude himself for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. That day was finally approaching! Dragon Clearwater pondered silently, his heart inevitably stirring with excitement. Little did he know, a crisis was about to descend! Not only was he completely unaware, but even Luo Anzhong, a Mid Stage Golden Core, and Ding Yongjin had failed to notice. Furthermore, the flying boat continued to maintain a steady flight, with the mountains and rivers below moving continuously backward, eventually disappearing from sight. None of them could imagine that in the valley ahead, Golden Core Cultivators from both the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance had long been waiting. Even more unimaginable was that, among the cultivators in the valley ahead, there was an enormous lineup composed of six Golden Core Cultivators. Among them, there were renowned Late Stage Golden Core Experts like Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu. With such a formidable lineup, even if all the Golden Core Cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect were to emerge, they couldn¡¯t compare. At this critical juncture, for the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance to deploy such a massive force was evidently a long time in the making. In reality, it was indeed so. The Golden Sword Sect¡¯s primary target was not the Zhenyang Sect but the Myriad Medicine Valley with its longer legacy and overall greater strength. However, both the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were unaware, assuming that the Golden Sword Sect intended to eliminate the weaker sect first and then gather forces to overthrow the stronger Myriad Medicine Valley. But the Golden Sword Sect did the exact opposite to catch both sects off guard. Chapter 767 03-25 - 767 415 Ambush_2 ?Chapter 767: Chapter 415 Ambush_2 Chapter 767: Chapter 415 Ambush_2 Myriad Medicine Valley and the two high-level Sect members were completely oblivious to this strategy, and everything proceeded in an orderly fashion. As the flying boat continued to move forward, in the blink of an eye, it was almost upon the valley where Zhao Hongsheng and the others were hiding. At this moment, the distance between the two sides was closing in. Just then, Luo Anzhong on the flying boat seemed to sense something, and his face suddenly changed. ¡°We have a situation!¡± He suddenly shouted, breaking the silence. Right after that, just as he wanted to maneuver the flying boat to change direction, he saw the spiritual energy in the valley ahead erupt into chaos, and then two balls of light shot up into the sky, hurtling towards the flying boat. ... As the two balls of light grew closer, he finally saw what they were. They turned out to be two streams of Sword Qi, one gold and one red, filled with terrifying flames and an extremely fearsome Spiritual Light. At that time, everyone on the flying boat, whether they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Luo Anzhong and another Golden Core Cultivator, was drawn to the two streams of Sword Qi. In an instant, facing the incoming Sword Qi, which stirred up the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth, everyone¡¯s faces turned incredibly grim. Before the thought even finished, the two streams of Sword Qi were already shooting over. The speed of Luo Anzhong¡¯s flying boat clearly couldn¡¯t compare with the Sword Qi, and the difference was vast. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t dodge in time, Luo Anzhong and Ding Yongjin leaped off the flying boat and, in haste, brought out their Magical Treasures, unleashing two attacks to collide directly with the Sword Qi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two enormous explosions sounded, the sky instantly turned red, and a sea of fire spread across the area. At the same time, the clashing attacks created a huge shockwave that spread in all directions. Not only that, Luo Anzhong and his companion¡¯s attacks only managed to hold off the Sword Qi for a moment before being completely shattered by Zhao Hongsheng and his partner¡¯s strike. The two streams of Sword Qi, greatly diminished in strength, still relentlessly pursued them. At that moment, Luo Anzhong and his companion were at the center of the explosion, directly covered by the powerful shockwaves. For a time, they were knocked around wildly by the blast, with their qi and blood chaotically surging within. Luo Anzhong, pale as a ghost, forcefully suppressed the boiling within him. But Ding Yongjin, who was of lower cultivation, immediately spit out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion deathly pale, and his breath rapidly weakened. They hadn¡¯t stabilized their forms nor had they caught their breath when they saw the Sword Qi still incoming, too late now for another counterattack. In their dire urgency, they hurriedly unveiled a Defense Treasure, barely covering their bodies just before the Sword Qi struck. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Another two explosions rang out as the Sword Qi hammered against their Defense Treasure. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In that instant, Luo Anzhong and his companion felt as if they¡¯d been struck by a massive mountain, the powerful force slamming into them. Though the Defense Treasure blocked the attack, the rebounding force was still strong, further injuring the already damaged pair. When the dust settled and the firelight dissipated, they saw the Blue Flying Boat had been forced back several hundred feet by the shockwave, swaying unsteadily for a moment before finally stabilizing midair. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators inside, reeling from the powerful backlash, were all spitting out blood from their mouths, obviously injured. In fact, had it not been for some defensive mechanisms built into the flying boat and Luo Anzhong and his companion shielding them upfront, the two formidable attacks would have been enough to annihilate all on board right then and there. Now, the surviving Foundation Establishment Cultivators turned deathly pale. Seeing Luo Anzhong and his companion tumbling through the air, spitting out large amounts of fresh blood while still in mid-flight, their energies rapidly fading, fear escalated among them. Once Luo Anzhong and his companion stabilized themselves, they immediately fixed their gaze on the valley, their expressions extremely grave. Before they could even catch their breath, six Cultivators suddenly flew out of the valley, directly blocking them. Seeing the newcomers, Luo Anzhong¡¯s complexion turned extremely grim, and he couldn¡¯t help but cry out in alarm. ¡°Han Hu, you actually ambushed us here specifically for the two of us?¡± As soon as his words fell, Ding Yongjin also furrowed his brows tightly, then said with a sneer, ¡°Just for the two of us, you actually mobilized six Golden Core Cultivators, including two at the Late Stage Golden Core!¡± ¡°Such a lineup, you hold us in such high regard?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ You think too highly of yourselves. Waiting for you here is not just to eliminate you, we have a bigger target!¡± Hearing this, Luo Anzhong and his companion¡¯s expressions faltered, as they quickly thought of something. ¡°You¡­ could it be¡­ could it be that you also want to attack our Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate?¡± Ding Yongjin¡¯s face paled, his voice faltering as he spoke, seemingly in disbelief. On the other side, Han Hu and his group gave a faint smile without answering their question, as if everything was under control and they did not care whether the two could guess their objective. Seeing Han Hu¡¯s confident expression, Ding Yongjin wore a stunned look, his heart unable to settle for a long time. But Luo Anzhong remained relatively calm about Han Hu and company¡¯s intentions. The reason for this was that Han Hu¡¯s group had an overwhelmingly strong lineup. After all, in their ranks, there were two powerful beings at Late Stage Golden Core, along with two at Mid Stage Golden Core, and two more powerhouse at Early Stage Golden Core. Such a lineup, even at its peak, Myriad Medicine Valley could not compare, let alone the now somewhat declined Myriad Medicine Valley. He knew in his heart that such a formidable squad, combined with some powerful Magical Treasures, might truly have a chance to breach Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation before the Zhenyang Sect reinforcements arrive. If they were fast enough, they could indeed achieve their goal. Understanding this, Luo Anzhong¡¯s face turned pale, and his heart filled with urgent anxiety. However, the more critical the situation, the more he could not afford to panic, especially since their immediate challenge was how to save their lives from the hands of Han Hu and his group. Fully aware of this, Luo Anzhong forced himself to calm down and promptly devised a strategy for response. He quickly glanced in the direction of the Blue Flying Boat and immediately transmitted a message instructing his disciples to escape with the flying boat. In his eyes, although their life and death were uncertain at the moment, no matter what, it was of utmost importance to relay the situation here back to the sect as soon as possible. If the sect could make deployments in advance, it might delay a significant amount of time and when reinforcements arrive, there was still hope of resisting the Golden Sword Sect. And the numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley clearly understood this as well, knowing all too well how terrifying the combined strength of six Golden Core Cultivators could be. If they stayed here, it would be akin to sending themselves to their deaths for nothing; they would be of no use and would only distract Luo Anzhong and others. In an instant, the Blue Flying Boat¡¯s speed increased dramatically, shooting back towards the direction from which they had come. At this moment, seeing the flying boat flee without regard for Luo Anzhong and his companion, Han Hu glanced at Dong Wenchang beside him, then gave an order. ¡°Junior Brother Dong, you and Daoist Yang go after those juniors, make sure to eliminate them all before they return to Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ Rest assured, Senior Brother Han, with our strength, killing those juniors is not difficult!¡± After Dong Wenchang responded, he and Yang Jun of the Blood Red Alliance flew towards the direction where the flying boat vanished. Seeing their actions, Luo Anzhong and Ding Yongjin did not delay either, immediately unleashing a barrage of attacks, trying to block their path and buy time for the escape of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± As Luo Anzhong and his companion took the lead in making a move, Zhao Hongsheng and the other Late Stage Golden Core beings, also showing disdain, quickly made their move towards Luo Anzhong and his partner. In a matter of moments, held back by Luo Anzhong¡¯s interference, Dong Wenchang was still delayed somewhat. However, with Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu lending their strength, Dong Wenchang and the others circled past Luo Anzhong and company and flew towards the flying boat. Seeing their obstruction fail, Luo Anzhong and his companion were powerless. Now, they had bigger troubles to worry about, needing to figure out how to save their own lives facing Han Hu and the four other cultivators at Mid Stage Golden Core and above. Chapter 768 03-25 - 768 416 Self-Detonation_1 ?Chapter 768: Chapter 416 Self-Detonation_1 Chapter 768: Chapter 416 Self-Detonation_1 Grasping this, Luo Anzhong and his companion didn¡¯t dare to hold back. At the first opportunity, they activated a vast amount of short-range attacks, be it Third Order Talisman or other consumable treasures; they used them all in one fell swoop toward Han Hu and the others. Moreover, the magical treasures in their hands shone brightly, and streaks of Sword Qi flew overhead. In such a frantic assault, the attacks poured down on Han Hu and his companion with a posture of desperation. Unfortunately, the two¡¯s cultivation clearly fell short by a notch. Especially Ding Yongjin, who was only at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm, was simply not enough of a challenge for Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng. As expected, their attacks hardly stirred any trouble and were easily parried by Han Hu and the others. When the dust settled, Luo Anzhong and his companion took the brief opportunity while Han Hu and his group were busy with the incoming attacks to flee toward the west. ... Seeing the two escape together, heading in a different direction from the flying boat, Han Hu sneered disdainfully and said, ¡°For the likes of you, I have been waiting with great difficulty for half a month. Now that I¡¯ve finally caught you, how could I possibly let you get away?¡± ¡°Daoist Zhao, delay will breed complications. Let¡¯s chase them down and kill them!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± After a lukewarm response from Zhao Hongsheng, he flew out in the direction where Luo Anzhong and his companion had fled. Seeing this, Han Hu and the others didn¡¯t delay any further; they quickly followed and soon disappeared into the valley. Under the pursuit of Zhao Hongsheng and three other Golden Core Mid-Late Stage Cultivators, Luo Anzhong and his companion hadn¡¯t fled far before they were caught up with on a plain by Zhao Hongsheng and the others. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng stood in front of the two, blocking their path. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Behind and to each side of them, Han Hu and three others surrounded them from different directions. Now, with no path to escape, Luo Anzhong and his companion had no other choice but to attempt to break through in one direction. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But with all four pursuers being Golden Core Cultivators, and at least at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, even choosing a path to break through would be more difficult than ascending to the heavens under the watchful eyes of the other three. Even so, they were left with no other options. At this moment, Luo Anzhong looked grave, keenly aware their situation had reached a point of desperation. Ding Yongjin¡¯s face was even paler; he had been injured while fending off Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attacks, significantly weakening his strength. Now trapped within the encirclement, given the stark difference in strength, if Luo Anzhong still had a sliver of hope to escape, his Early Stage Golden Core cultivation had left him with no way to ascend to heaven or enter earth. In such a situation, there seemed to be no hope of escape. Thinking of this, Ding Yongjin was filled with rage, cursing at Han Hu and the other Golden Sword Sect Disciples without any of the poise expected of a Golden Core Expert. As a Late Stage Golden Core Expert, Han Hu held a prominent reputation throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Faced with Ding Yongjin¡¯s insulting words, not only did he not feel embarrassed, but he also took direct action, aiming for Ding Yongjin¡¯s vital areas as if to kill him on the spot. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Han Hu¡¯s attack was very sharp; in less than a blink of an eye, a powerful golden Sword Qi tore through the void and arrived instantaneously above Ding Yongjin¡¯s head. ¡°Junior brother Ding, be careful!¡± Luo Anzhong called out anxiously, then hurriedly made his move in an attempt to block Han Hu¡¯s strike. On the other side, Ding Yongjin, having already sensed Han Hu¡¯s attack, immediately changed his position to dodge. In an instant, Luo Anzhong¡¯s attack collided with Han Hu¡¯s Sword Qi one step ahead. After a loud noise, the sky lit up again with fiery sparks, and a powerful blast swept through, causing their clothes to flutter loudly. And the two at the center of the explosion, Luo Anzhong, were flung through the air by the blast, eventually plummeting from the sky onto the ground. Once the dust and smoke had cleared, all was calm in the sky for a moment. At that time, everyone¡¯s figures reappeared in sight. Looking around, Luo Anzhong and his companion were spotted with traces of blood on the corners of their mouths, their breath even weaker than before. On the other hand, Han Hu and the three others looked at them coldly, seemingly viewing them as dead men, clearly not taking them seriously. Their nonchalant demeanor infuriated Luo Anzhong and his companion even more, but given the discrepancy in strength, they were powerless. During this brief calm, Zhao Hongsheng, leading the group, spoke up impatiently. ¡°Stop wasting time. Let¡¯s do it!¡± Hearing this, Han Hu and the others nodded, and at the same time shot toward Luo Anzhong and his companion from different directions, launching their attacks. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A barrage of attacks followed, centering around Luo Anzhong and his companion from all directions, it was Zhao Hongsheng and the others¡¯ onslaught. At a glance, the attacks were dense, each one powerful enough to give an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator a run for their money. A slight misstep could even lead to instant death. At that moment, Luo Anzhong and his companion had grim expressions, and after exchanging glances, they couldn¡¯t help but reveal a determined look. ¡°Brother Luo, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t escape. After a while, you make a break towards Yang Jun¡¯s side, and I¡¯ll help you!¡± Upon hearing Ding Yongjin¡¯s telepathic message, Luo Anzhong was taken aback, wanting to say something to dissuade him, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. He knew clearly that in such a situation, an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator was simply not enough, and there was no possibility of escape. Chapter 769 03-25 - 769 416 Self-Destruct_2 ?Chapter 769: Chapter 416: Self-Destruct_2 Chapter 769: Chapter 416: Self-Destruct_2 And he was at the Mid Stage Golden Core himself, with an aptitude for escaping that was still quite remarkable. Recall the time after the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm ended; he had faced the pursuit of Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator Song Hanchun and the two brothers of the Jin Family. Under such circumstances, he had also managed to escape. Although the current situation was even worse, with opponents that were clearly a notch stronger, if Ding Yongjin desperately blocked them for a moment, once he broke out of the encirclement, there was still a chance to evade the pursuit of Han Hu and the others. It could be said that he was still at the peak of his strength, and he still harbored a sliver of hope for escape. Besides, anyone who managed to cultivate to his realm at the age of over four hundred years could not possibly claim to be unafraid of death. Given even a slight hope of survival, he would not give up the opportunity. Thus, Luo Anzhong didn¡¯t speak to persuade; he merely responded with a message assuring Ding Yongjin that if he was lucky enough to survive, he would certainly take care of his descendants and disciples and would not let him die in vain. ... Hearing Luo Anzhong¡¯s reply, Ding Yongjin¡¯s resolve to fight back grew even firmer without any worries left behind. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The rampant sound of Sword Qi pulled Luo Anzhong and company back to reality. At that moment, after exchanging a glance, Luo Anzhong leaped into the air and shot towards the direction of Jin Weishan at an unbelievably fast speed. At the same time, the Magical Treasure in his hand flashed with light, and the Dalian Attack soared over from above his head. Not feeling assured after doing all this, he spontaneously activated several Third Order Defense Talismans, transforming them into a skyful of sword rain pouring down toward Jin Weishan. Clearly, Luo Anzhong was giving his all at this moment, sparing no expense in using every treasure he could to consume a major part of them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? He knew very well that Jin Weishan had once joined forces with Song Hanchun to pursue him, so he was quite familiar with Jin Weishan¡¯s strength. Although they both were at the Mid Stage Golden Core realm, as a cultivator from the Wei Kingdom who had reached the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm over a hundred years ago, his strength was considerable. If he fought with all his might, breaking through Jin Weishan¡¯s interception was not an impossibility. Therefore, he chose his target at the first opportunity and immediately put his plan into action. Such an action caught Jin Weishan completely off guard. But Jin Weishan was also aware that it wasn¡¯t just him here; Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu had cultivation at the Late Stage Golden Core realm, and Yang Jun from the Golden Sword Sect, though at the Mid Stage Golden Core realm, was not weak either. He didn¡¯t need to risk his life; he just needed to delay slightly for a moment. As soon as any one of them caught up, Luo Anzhong, no matter how strong, would definitely be unable to escape. Realizing this, Jin Weishan wore an expression of indifference and also erupted with a large amount of attacks, colliding head-on with Luo Anzhong¡¯s attacks. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky bellowed with explosions, lighting up the whole area with bright flashes, and the fire engulfed the entire landscape. In that brief moment, for some unknown reason, Luo Anzhong¡¯s speed suddenly increased dramatically, unexpectedly appearing right above Jin Weishan¡¯s head. By the time Jin Weishan reacted, Luo Anzhong¡¯s Magical Treasure had already descended upon his head, the distance between them no more than a few zhang. For a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, such a distance could be covered in the span of a breath. But now, he was too late to defend and could only brace himself for the impact. If he was lucky, he might survive. But if he was unlucky, it was highly likely he would meet his end here. In a state of panic, Jin Weishan rushed to punch out, the powerful force of his physical strength bursting from his fist, clashing directly with Luo Anzhong¡¯s Magical Treasure. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Following the explosion, a scream was heard soon after. Looking towards the source of the scream, Jin Weishan was seen falling from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground. Even while still in midair, it was evident that his entire arm had been torn off, a gaping hole at his shoulder where white bones were faintly visible, and blood had already spilled on the ground, staining a large area red. In the surprise attack by Luo Anzhong, Jin Weishan could only hastily defend. This passive counterattack also cost him dearly, causing one of his arms to be completely shattered by the Magical Treasure and severing his meridians. With one arm completely disabled, his meridians cut off, and being severely injured by the blow, his strength was greatly diminished. With such a severe injury, even as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, there was no chance of recovery without the aid of heaven-defying treasures. The elixirs capable of regenerating an amputated arm were all at least of the Fourth Order, and naturally occurring treasures that could heal upon consumption were equally valuable, ranking as Fourth Tier items. Even with the resources of the Blood Red Alliance, obtaining Fourth Order Elixirs or Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines and Fruits was not an easy task. Even if obtained, such treasures would inevitably be in the hands of Nascent Soul Cultivators, reserved for extremely severe injuries before one would be willing to use them. And even though Jin Weishan came from the Blood Red Alliance and they happened to possess such treasures, with his cultivation and status, it would be difficult to obtain such sacred medicine for healing without some extraordinary merit. Under these circumstances, Jin Weishan¡¯s arm was likely irrecoverable. Without this arm, even if he managed to save his life and heal his other wounds, his strength would probably be hard-pressed to reach 80% of its peak. One could say that Luo Anzhong¡¯s strike had directly knocked him down a level in both realm and strength, leaving him not much stronger than an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, at the moment, Jin Weishan was heavily injured and unconscious, far from considering these matters. Once Luo Anzhong achieved his goal, he shot out towards the exterior the moment Jin Weishan screamed, his speed fast like lightning. In fact, he had the chance to strike again, to seize the opportunity to take Jin Weishan¡¯s life. But he didn¡¯t do that; instead, he flew forward without hesitation, seeking a sliver of chance for himself. In his eyes, even if he killed Jin Weishan, he would inevitably be delayed. By the time Zhao Hongsheng and the others reacted, the hope of escaping would be utterly gone. His own life was far more valuable than Jin Weishan¡¯s, so why would he trade life for life? Recognizing this, Luo Anzhong had no intention of lingering and was solely focused on escaping the pursuit. Luo Anzhong¡¯s action of fleeing thoroughly infuriated Zhao Hongsheng. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng was some distance away from Luo Anzhong and was also attacking Ding Yongjin. Along with him, Han Hu and Yang Jun of the Golden Sword Sect were likewise positioned, being only dozens of feet away from Ding Yongjin. At such a close distance, Ding Yongjin had no chance of escape and no possibility of survival. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng ceased his attack on Ding Yongjin and instead turned to chase in the direction of Luo Anzhong. In his eyes, Luo Anzhong had severely injured a member of the Blood Red Alliance right under his nose, dealing a heavy blow to Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s face. As a result, Zhao Hongsheng was completely enraged and disregarded the weaker Ding Yongjin. This action of his was entirely within Ding Yongjin¡¯s expectations. At this time, Ding Yongjin suddenly burst into laughter, appearing quite eerie. His demeanor caused Zhao Hongsheng and the others to frown deeply, as if they had thought of something terrifying. ¡°This bastard is going to self-detonate his Golden Core, retreat quickly!¡± In an instant, Zhao Hongsheng exclaimed in shock and immediately retreated. The other two, Han Hu included, being even closer to Ding Yongjin, at less than a hundred feet away, could have taken his life at any moment. But they as well halted their advancement and quickly retreated. They were well aware that a Golden Core self-detonation was a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s ultimate card, with extremely formidable killing power. Even the self-detonation of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator was stronger than the attacks of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and even Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators would have to be cautious in dealing with it. Yet, such a terrifying move was a one-time opportunity for every Golden Core Cultivator. Under normal circumstances, a Golden Core Cultivator would never resort to such a retaliatory measure unless it was absolutely necessary. Han Hu and the other person dared not take the situation lightly, nor take risks, but could only retreat as fast as possible to save their lives. Ding Yongjin obviously understood his predicament and was very decisive, knowing resistance was unlikely to be effective. It was better to aid Luo Anzhong, delay the three of them for a while, and allow Luo Anzhong to get as far away as possible. With this goal in mind, Ding Yongjin did not hesitate. At this moment, his face was extremely red, and spiritual energy surged madly into his Sky Spirit Cover. After one breath, the energy inside his Golden Core seemed to reach a limit, unable to accumulate any more energy. At this point, Ding Yongjin, with a face full of madness, detonated his Golden Core without any hesitation. Chapter 770 03-25 - 770 417 Splitting Up to Pursue and ?Chapter 770: Chapter 417: Splitting Up to Pursue and Kill_1 Chapter 770: Chapter 417: Splitting Up to Pursue and Kill_1 ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion resonated, and the world was suddenly filled with dazzling golden light, blinding everyone who felt its glare. With Ding Yongjin self-detonating his Golden Core, a massive shockwave produced swept out in all directions. At that moment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became chaotic, and the ground nearby trembled slightly. At this instant, Zhao Hongsheng and the others had solemn expressions, knowing full well the power of a Golden Core¡¯s self-destruction. Even if it was an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator who self-detonated, no Golden Core Cultivator wished to be affected by the blast, as they might be injured or even seriously harmed. Understanding this, the three of them moved swiftly as if the wind was under their feet, retreating at the fastest speed the moment the explosion happened. ... However, Ding Yongjin had timed his self-detonation perfectly, and the distance between them wasn¡¯t great, making it unrealistic to escape unscathed from the blast. Nevertheless, each of them was powerful, and when Golden Core Cultivators dueled, they were always on guard for this final, desperate act. Thus, even though they were completely swept up by the blast of the self-detonating Golden Core, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, strong as they were, were merely knocked back over a hundred zhang. After regaining their balance, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu turned pale, their qi and blood roiling within them, and a trace of fresh blood spilled from the corners of their mouths. On the other hand, Yang Jun was only at the Medium Stage of Golden Core cultivation and didn¡¯t have the speed of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s group. Moreover, his power was only slightly above that of Ding Yongjin, who had self-detonated, by one minor realm. The gap wasn¡¯t significant. Therefore, the explosive force of the self-detonating Golden Core was still quite damaging to him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï As expected, he hadn¡¯t escaped far when the powerful shockwave caught up and sent him tumbling through the air. Barely stabilizing himself, Yang Jun¡¯s face was pale as he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, and his aura rapidly withered. As the shockwave from the self-detonation gradually subsided, calm temporarily returned to the world. Looking around, a huge crater had mysteriously formed on the ground, with bits of trees scattered around, some lying askew on the ground, and the closest ones were even blasted to ash. Ding Yongjin¡¯s figure had long since vanished, neither his body nor his storage bag left any trace, with only a faint scent lingering in the air serving as proof of his presence. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng and his two companions gathered together and approached Jin Weishan. Fortunately, Jin Weishan had been far away from Ding Yongjin; otherwise, with his already severely injured body, he would have likely perished there if he¡¯d been at the epicenter of the explosion. As for Zhao Hongsheng and the other, they suffered only minor injuries and their strength was hardly affected. Yang Jun, however, was not so lucky, having sustained a serious injury; without at least half a month of quiet recuperation, he would find it difficult to return to his peak condition. But at least they had succeeded in killing a Golden Core Cultivator and injuring Luo Anzhong, thus achieving their basic objective by laying this ambush. Next, if they could catch up with the fleeing Luo Anzhong and kill him, their mission would be completely accomplished. However, Luo Anzhong was somewhat capable, or else he wouldn¡¯t have evaded them after the last Secret Realm event. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu exchanged a look before Han Hu said to Yang Jun, ¡°Yang Shidi, you and Jin Daoyou find a place to seclude and recuperate for a while, I and Daoist Zhao will pursue Luo Anzhong. We will convene at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate in a month¡¯s time!¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Jun nodded and responded, ¡°Daoist Luo has lived for over four hundred years and is an old Golden Core Cultivator, his methods are quite insidious, be cautious, senior brothers!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ rest assured!¡± After replying, Han Hu immediately set off with Zhao Hongsheng toward the direction Luo Anzhong had fled. As the two departed, Yang Jun and Jin Weishan wasted no time, quickly checking over the battlefield before choosing a direction to leave the area. ¡­ Half a day later, at the boundary between the Shuojin Mountain Range and the Shuohe Mountain Range. In a hilly area, Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang appeared. Opposite them was the escape vessel from the battlefield, carrying several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each with a frowned brow and an extremely ugly expression. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having fled first, they had been on the move non-stop for half a day. In that time, they crossed several hundred li, yet they still couldn¡¯t shake the pursuit of the Golden Core Cultivators. The Myriad Medicine Disciple leading the group had a tightly furrowed brow, staring intently at Jin Weihe and his companion, ready for action. Besides them, many of the conscripted cultivators looked despondent, clearly aware of the dire situation ahead. Indeed, the disparity was too great, with two Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators chasing them, a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Even with several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators joining forces, they would hardly be a match for a Golden Core Cultivator. After all, once someone reached the Golden Core Stage Realm, their strength was far greater than those in the Foundation Establishment Stage; such a gap in realms couldn¡¯t be easily bridged by numbers alone. Therefore, even with several dozen Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators joining forces, they would struggle to kill a Golden Core Cultivator. More crucially, there were two Golden Core Cultivators present in Jin Weihe¡¯s group. And here, although there were several hundred individuals, they didn¡¯t have nearly as many Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, not even reaching a hundred Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators. Chapter 771 03-25 - 771 417 Split Up to Chase and Kill_2 ?Chapter 771: Chapter 417 Split Up to Chase and Kill_2 Chapter 771: Chapter 417 Split Up to Chase and Kill_2 This gap in strength, there was no hope of victory. Clearly, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciple understood this, as did Long Qingshui, both keenly aware of the vast disparity. As they pondered their next move, Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang on the other side seemed unwilling to waste time. ¡°Dong Daoist friend, to avoid any unforeseen complications, let¡¯s make our move quickly!¡± After saying this, Jin Weihe immediately launched an attack. Seeing this, Dong Wenchang also didn¡¯t delay; he too summoned his Magical Treasure and unleashed a barrage of Sword Qi towards the Golden Flying Boat opposite them. ¡°Boom¡­¡± ... In an instant, the two Golden Core Cultivators acted, and even a casual strike from them contained tremendous might, enough to annihilate a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator. In that moment, Long Qingshui and the many Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples turned pale, as they immediately began to maneuver the flying boat in an attempt to dodge. However, the attack from the Golden Core Cultivators was too swift; with both Jin Weihe¡¯s and Dong Wenchang¡¯s attacks forming a pincer maneuver, there was no way to dodge their assault. ¡°Bang¡­¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two loud noises followed, and the Golden Flying Boat was hit directly by the attacks from Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang. Instantly, the assaulted flying boat plummeted from the sky at high speed, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. Looking over, the Golden Flying Boat had holes in its surface, and the protective light shield around it had disappeared. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Clearly, the highly valuable flying boat was now on the verge of scrap, and if a Third Order Artifact Refining Master didn¡¯t re-refine it, it would likely be unusable. Inside the flying boat at that moment, dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators with relatively lower strength spat out copious amounts of blood and their vitality rapidly dwindled. Seeing this, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples turned even paler, gaining a new understanding of the attacks from Golden Core Cultivators. However, this was only because the flying boat was made of exquisite materials, and plenty of Third Order Spiritual Ore was used, rendering the Flying Artifact exceptionally defensive. If it weren¡¯t for the flying boat absorbing most of the force, the two strikes from Dong Wenchang alone would have been enough to kill the dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Given the circumstances, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivator didn¡¯t have the luxury of fretting over the flying boat, instead having to quickly think of a plan. Otherwise, once Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang made another move, their chances of survival would be slim. Realizing this, the Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivators¡¯ minds raced with thoughts. But in the current situation, they had no viable solutions; after all, they neither had the assistance of a Golden Core Cultivator nor any powerful magical treasure that could threaten the lives of Golden Core Cultivators. Under such an overpowering disparity in strength, they had no chance to fight back. Even so, these middle-to-late stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators hadn¡¯t sustained serious injuries, and facing a life-and-death crisis, they couldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death! Whether or not there was hope to drive back the Golden Core Cultivators, they had to try. If all else failed, they could only scatter and flee for their lives, saving whoever they could. Thinking this, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciple spoke up first, his resonant voice ringing out. ¡°Everyone, abandon the flying boat, come out and surround the Golden Core Cultivators to attack in unison; if we don¡¯t beat them back, we have no chance to escape!¡± ¡°So if you want to live, don¡¯t hold back, or it will be a dead end for you!¡± Hearing these words, the Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples responded one after another. And the other summoned Cultivators also seemed to find a backbone, snapping out of their panic. Following this, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivator was the first to leap out of the flying boat, with other Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples quickly following suit. The other summoned Foundation Establishment Cultivators, not willing to be left behind, also emerged, each unleashing their strongest attacks or operating numerous Attack Talismans, bombarding Dong Wenchang across from them. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with a dense barrage of attacks, a multitude of Sword Qi, flames, light beams, and Spirit Groups raining down on Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang from above. Although the individual strength of one or even a few Cultivators was marginal against a Golden Core Cultivator, this place had over three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with nearly a hundred of them being at the late stage. With so many Cultivators attacking together, even Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, lest they capsized in the proverbial gutter. Realizing this, the two shifted positions, weaving through the numerous attacks. For those attacks they couldn¡¯t dodge, they simply struck out, scattering them, before continuing on towards the direction of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions thundered through the sky as Dong Wenchang and his companion fired off attacks to the left and right, shattering a barrage of incoming assaults before hurtling forward. However, the density of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ attacks was simply too great. Even though Dong Wenchang and his partner relied on their speed to dodge and directly counter the attacks, some still managed to hit them. One or two hits weren¡¯t a big deal, but when there were too many, relying on their protective light shields to block them still meant enduring some recoil. For a moment, the two couldn¡¯t help but grunt, forcibly bearing the damage from these strikes. Finally, they broke through the dense array of attacks and arrived right in front of the flying boat. At this moment, the distance between the two parties was no more than a few hundred zhang. For a Golden Core Cultivator, such a distance was merely a breath¡¯s time away and they were well within the optimal range for an attack. As the first wave of attacks ended, aside from the flashes of pain across their faces and some charred wounds on their bodies, Dong Wenchang and his fellow showed no signs of serious injury. At this moment, everyone¡¯s faces turned ashen, knowing all too well that the idea of repelling Golden Core Cultivators was far too naive. But there was no time to think or any other choice as the attacks from Dong Wenchang and his companion had already descended upon them. In this desperate situation, the more than three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators displayed a determined look and forcefully unleashed their strongest attacks. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± The sky was once again filled with all sorts of attacks, clashing fiercely with those of Dong Wenchang and his companion. A series of explosions rang out, as the attacks from Dong Wenchang and his partner obliterated many assaults with ease, relentlessly advancing towards the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. In the blink of an eye, dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators were too slow to dodge and were enveloped by the two attacks; they were annihilated before they even had the chance to scream. Not only that, but the blast from the explosions created a massive shockwave that seriously injured many of the weaker Foundation Establishment Cultivators, causing a large number of Cultivators to spew blood incessantly as their vital energy quickly waned. Once the firelight dissipated, a brief calm returned to the sky. At this point, everyone was deathly pale, completely devoid of the will to fight. The leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciple was also sporting an incredulous expression. Inwardly heaving a sigh of frustration, he then shouted loudly, ¡°We cannot defeat them even if we join forces, run for your lives!¡± Before his words even finished echoing, he had already taken the lead and flown off in one direction. Seeing his actions and hearing these words, everyone started frantically scattering in all directions. Long Qingshui was no less determined, leading his fellow disciples to shoot off in various directions different from the Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivators. In an instant, the remaining two hundred plus Foundation Establishment Cultivators, injured and uninjured alike, all dispersed and fled. In the blink of an eye, Cultivator figures appeared in all directions of the sky, and some, in their panic, ended up directly in front of Dong Wenchang and his partner. Seeing this, Dong Wenchang and his partner frowned deeply and casually struck, killing off the closest dozens of Cultivators one after another. After a dozen breaths, Dong Wenchang and his fellow regrouped. By then, as they had been dealing with the closest Cultivators, many had already escaped far away. When they were ready to pursue the scattering Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who were disappearing into the distance, they didn¡¯t know whom to chase after. It wasn¡¯t their fault; rather, there was simply too much for the two of them to handle. Even though they were fast and much stronger, there were more than two hundred fleeing Cultivators, with nearly a hundred being Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators. These were not mere Qi Refining Cultivators ¨C facing the threat of death, their speed of escape was not slow. If they had only a few dozen people to chase, perhaps they could have caught and killed them all in no time. But there were too many fleeing Cultivators going in all different directions; they couldn¡¯t possibly keep up. Watching the Foundation Establishment Cultivators get farther and farther away, the two wore reluctant expressions and each chose a direction to give chase, resolved to kill as many as possible. Those they couldn¡¯t catch, they simply had to let go, until at last they disappeared from the range of their Divine Sense. ¡­ Chapter 772 03-25 - 772 418 Attacking Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 772: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_1 Chapter 772: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_1 Yuxu Mountain Range, inside the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. That evening, a number of disciples who had escaped the pursuit of Dong Wenchang and his companion had already returned to the Sect ahead of the others. With the first Foundation Establishment Cultivator returning, he was fully aware that the news of their ambush and encirclement by Zhao Hongsheng was critical. This cultivator, not daring to delay and regardless of his exhaustion, went to report to the Sect Leader, Zhou Yunxiao, immediately. A short while passed. Zhou Yunxiao received the first returning cultivator and learned of the ambush from him. At that moment, even someone as experienced as Sect Leader Zhou Yunxiao, was immensely shocked by the explosive news. ... Initially, he had assumed that Golden Sword Sect would aim to first annihilate the weaker Zhenyang Sect, before turning their attention to attack Myriad Medicine Valley. However, Golden Sword Sect had not acted as he had anticipated at all. Not only that, they did the exact opposite by deploying people like Han Hu, who were in the Late Stage of Golden Core, while attacking Zhenyang Sect at the same time. Moreover, in the midst of the great battle against Zhenyang Sect, they secretly gathered both Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan from the Blood Red Alliance. Their arrangement was merely a feint. And such a formidable force, laying in ambush on the path of Luo Anzhong¡¯s reinforcements was indeed far beyond his expectation. Now, with Luo Anzhong and his companion yet to return, he even speculated in the dark that under the siege of six Golden Core Cultivators, their chances of survival were slim. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? But what he now had to worry about was not only the safety of Luo Anzhong and his companion, but also the potential attack from Golden Sword Sect against Myriad Medicine Valley. After all, Golden Sword Sect had deployed quite a number of Golden Core Cultivators, with the most significant threats naturally being Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, both in the Late Stage of Golden Core. With such a force present in the Shuojin Mountain Range, their purpose was already very clear. Therefore, these six posed a great threat to Myriad Medicine Valley at this time. Now, he had to make timely arrangements to avoid being caught off guard when Golden Sword Sect launched their attack. Realizing this, Zhou Yunxiao immediately began to take action. Soon, under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements, Myriad Medicine Valley sprang into action, the vast Sect operating like a colossal machine. A month passed in the blink of an eye. During this month, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators who supported Zhenyang Sect returned one after another. However, of the original three hundred-plus dispatched Foundation Establishment Cultivators, only just over a hundred returned safely, nearly half of whom were conscripted cultivators. As for the others, they either died at the hands of Golden Core Cultivators or returned to their respective tribal lands. Luo Anzhong himself, with the help of Ding Yongjin¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core, managed to escape back to the Sect safely. Although he preserved his life, he sustained serious injuries; his strength greatly diminished, barely having survived the relentless pursuit of Zhao Hongsheng and another. Fortunately, as long as he lived, he could still return to his peak condition after recuperating in peace for a month or two. Zhou Yunxiao felt both secretly relieved and extremely unfortunate about this outcome. The reason was simple, because Luo Anzhong had returned alive. But Ding Yongjin had Self-Detonated his Golden Core, becoming the first Golden Core Cultivator to perish since the onset of the war between the three sects. The significance of a Golden Core Cultivator for any of the three sects was top-tier, bearing tremendous importance. Myriad Medicine Valley had been plagued with many disasters over the past decade. Initially, when the beast tide attacked, a Golden Core Cultivator had perished, and a Third-Order Spiritual Beast had died in battle. Barely having a chance to recover, Golden Sword Sect, in alliance with the Blood Red Alliance, caused trouble again, severely injuring Luo Anzhong twice and forcing Ding Yongjin to the point of Self-Detonating his Golden Core. These losses over a decade had dragged down Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s overall strength by more than twenty percent. Now facing the assault from Golden Sword Sect, it was likely that their situation would become even more dire. Thinking of all this, Zhou Yunxiao was extremely irritated. He was also very puzzled and couldn¡¯t help but ponder why the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, peaceful for hundreds of years, had suddenly become so tumultuous? Not just them, but all forces, big and small throughout Wei Kingdom had been dragged into war. And all signs pointed towards Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance. Especially the Blood Red Alliance, which had disrupted the peace of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World as soon as they emerged. But now that things had come to this, and considering that the strength of the Blood Red Alliance far exceeded Myriad Medicine Valley and was even a towering force in the vast Qingzhou, he was angry but helpless, able only to do his best to survive this crisis. Indeed, as Zhou Yunxiao feared it, it came to pass. At dawn, outside the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley, two Golden Flying Boats suddenly appeared, shattering Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s strained nerves. Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance, already mobilizing nearly ten thousand members of the Sect, and boosting the Mountain Protection Array¡¯s defensive power to the extreme. To speak of the Mountain Protection Array, the Defensive Great Formation of Myriad Medicine Valley was not a simple matter. This Defensive Formation originated from the prime days of Myriad Medicine Valley, when the Sect¡¯s overall strength was at its peak with over ten Golden Core Cultivators and even the strongest among the Sect nearly reaching the Nascent Soul Stage. If not for failing the final Heavenly Tribulation, Myriad Medicine Valley might have ascended a level, meeting the basic requirements of the Nascent Soul Forces. Since that failed attempt to reach the Nascent Soul Stage, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s strength had steadily declined, shrinking nearly by half up to the present. Chapter 773 03-25 - 773 418 Attacking Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 773: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Chapter 773: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_2 And this Mountain Protection Array has already been in operation for nearly ten thousand years, maintained and enhanced by numerous predecessors, and has helped Myriad Medicine Valley survive many crises. It could be said that such a Defensive Array is also the greatest reliance for Myriad Medicine Valley to stand for ten thousand years without falling. In such a situation, even with the presence of six Golden Core Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect, it would not be easy to breach the Mountain Protection Array quickly. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao and other high-level members of Myriad Medicine Valley did not panic but instead began to rely on the Mountain Protection Array to buy time, according to their prior plan. Even when conditions permitted, they could also make appropriate counterattacks. The reason for such tactics was clear in their minds; the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance had deployed so much power and even mobilized people like Zhao Hongsheng from Zhenyang Sect. In the short term, the news could not reach Zhenyang Sect, and Zhao Hongsheng, relying on more Golden Core Combat Strength, might be able to take some advantage. ... But over time, Zhenyang Sect would inevitably learn of the situation and make a series of adjustments. Once Zhenyang Sect came to their aid, Myriad Medicine Valley could also respond promptly, ready to engage in a decisive battle with the Golden Sword Sect. Understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao immediately organized a large number of disciples, drawing on the Mountain Protection Array¡¯s attack and defense energy, to do battle with Zhao Hongsheng and others. Outside the mountain gate. Zhao Hongsheng and the other six Golden Cores led the team, assembling hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to launch a frenzied attack on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky exploded with a barrage of attacks, colorful lights cutting through the void while the ground trembled slightly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Opposite them, Zhou Yunxiao also assembled numerous disciples, channeling all their Spiritual Power into the Defensive Array. In an instant, the light curtain of the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s great formation flickered, with cyan-blue energy swirling about, blocking the attacks from Zhao Hongsheng and his team. Not only that, during the intervals between attacks, the Myriad Medicine Valley Defensive Great Formation would also condense into numerous pillars of light, launching attacks on the Golden Sword Sect disciples. For a time, Zhao Hongsheng and his team also had to ward off Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s counterattacks, disrupting the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ attacking rhythm. In response, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu were prepared and quickly began to counterattack. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Disciples from both opposing camps attacked each other, and the sky erupted with fiery sparks as the earth shook violently. In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed. Since both sides were attacking each other without holding back¡ªsince everyone was intent on annihilating the other¡ªnaturally, no one would be concerned about holding back. And faced with an existential crisis, Myriad Medicine Valley also fought with all their might, leveraging their millenniums of accumulated wealth, without any intention of suffering losses. Seeing that Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation was so formidable and unable to be destroyed in a short time, Zhao Hongsheng and others had no choice but to retreat first and wait for two days of rest before continuing their assault. After all, they had six Golden Core Cultivators present, including two in the Late Stage Golden Core. And with Luo Anzhong from Myriad Medicine Valley severely injured and needing two months to recover to his peak, plus the fact that Ding Yongjin was already dead, it stands to reason that there couldn¡¯t be many Golden Core Cultivators inside Myriad Medicine Valley, and the only top combat strength possessed a threat was Zhou Yunxiao. Thus, their overall strength was certainly greater than that on Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side. Even if the Defensive Great Formation was strong, they only needed to attack a bit longer, eventually depleting its energy completely. By that time, without the protection of the formation, they could still take the opportunity to annihilate Myriad Medicine Valley and then advance south to attack Zhenyang Sect. With such a goal, Zhao Hongsheng and others launched attacks every few days, their frequency and the intensity of their attacks far exceeding their initial assault on Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Qingshui Market. ¡­ Inside a certain pavilion in Qingshui Market, Chen Jingtian sat in a high seat, with Zhu Yun and Lan Yu sitting beside him. Below them stood Long Qingshui and another, standing in the center and reporting on the various incidents he had experienced over the past few months. Quickly learning the full details, faces of Chen Jingtian and others showed utter shock. At that moment, Chen Jingtian looked at Zhu Yun beside him, showing an expression of helplessness. ¡°No wonder in this past month and more, only Song Hanchun accompanied by some disciples ever appeared outside Qingshui Market from Golden Sword Sect!¡± ¡°And they, just made a few feints attacking the Defensive Great Formation before leading the disciples back.¡± No sooner had the voice fallen than Zhu Yun by his side nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed¡­ All they did was to lull us into a false sense of security!¡± ¡°In my view, Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan must have quietly left after the first round of the attack was over, to join Han Hu. Otherwise, the timing wouldn¡¯t add up.¡± After he finished speaking, Lan Yu also nodded, and then the three of them exchanged their views. Now, having heard Long Qingshui¡¯s report, they finally understood the actions of Song Hanchun and his group during this period, as well as the purposes hidden behind Golden Sword Sect¡¯s moves. Just the thought of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s sinister intentions and realizing they¡¯d been played made Chen Jingtian so angry he almost couldn¡¯t breathe. However, it wasn¡¯t the time to delve into these matters at present. After all, with Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan gone from here to join forces with Han Hu at Myriad Medicine Valley, Myriad Medicine Valley would inevitably face greater pressure. If Myriad Medicine Valley could not withstand their frenzied offensive and was prematurely destroyed, Zhenyang Sect would have to face the victorious Golden Sword Sect alone, likely following the same fate as Myriad Medicine Valley. Considering these possibilities made Chen Jingtian frown tightly as he silently pondered countermeasures. Seeing Chen Jingtian silent, Zhu Yun waved Long Qingshui over and then started to give instructions. ¡°Nephew Long, you have rendered great service this time. Go rest for now, and in a couple of days, immediately return to the Sect and report to your elder brother so he can take timely countermeasures!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Junior takes his leave!¡± Long Qingshui bowed respectfully and then, along with another companion, left the hall, leaving only Chen Jingtian and the two others behind. After Long Qingshui and the other junior had left, Zhu Yun broke the silence, snapping Chen Jingtian back to reality. ¡°Brother Chen, with Zhao Hongsheng and the main forces having left from Golden Sword Sect¡¯s side, can we launch a counterattack?¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jingtian pondered long and hard and didn¡¯t immediately reply to Zhu Yun. In his heart, he knew that Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s departure couldn¡¯t be kept secret for long. Hence, Song Hanchun surely would have prepared countermeasures. At worst, they could rely on the Defensive Arrays of Bluewater Market to hold their ground and wait for reinforcements. As long as they held out long enough for Myriad Medicine Valley to achieve its goal, all disadvantageous situations would be completely turned around. However, it was also important to realize that Song Hanchun frequently showed himself to deceive them, which clearly indicated a lack of confidence. Therefore, the strength on Song Hanchun¡¯s side must be inferior to theirs, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have kept such a low profile. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian replied, ¡°Regardless of the remaining forces of Golden Sword Sect, let us first test the waters. Afterwards, we can discuss the next step of the plan once the elder brother makes a final decision, how about that?¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun also nodded, acknowledging that Chen Jingtian¡¯s arrangement was quite prudent. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm¡­ very well, it¡¯s sufficiently cautious!¡± Seeing no objections from Zhu Yun, Chen Jingtian immediately gave an order. ¡°Since that is the case, immediately gather some Foundation Establishment Disciples, and bring along the majority of the conscripted Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Tomorrow morning, you and I, along with Junior Brother Lan, will lead an assault on Bluewater Market to test Song Hanchun and his people¡¯s reaction!¡± ¡°As for Brother Zhu, you stay and guard Qingshui Market, ready to support and assist us at any moment!¡± Upon receiving the order, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu immediately replied, ¡°We will prepare right away and depart on time tomorrow morning!¡± After they had spoken, Zhu Yun and the other stood up, bowed to Chen Jingtian, and then directly vanished from the hall. The next morning. Outside Qingshui Market, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, leading several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators on two Inkwind Spirit Boats, set off from the market in an impressive array. Qin Xi and the two others from Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team were also part of this mission. For this reason, the three of them dared not entertain any opposing thoughts but instead followed Li Xiuyuan to participate in the operation. Chapter 774 03-25 - 774 419 Victory of the First Stage_1 ?Chapter 774: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_1 Chapter 774: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_1 After Chen Jingtian¡¯s probing attempt, the result was indeed as expected. Song Hanchun, with the disciples of Golden Sword Sect, and those cultivators who had been conscripted, relied on the newly reestablished Third Order Great Array and put on a defensive posture. After attacking for half a day, the Defensive Great Formation of Bluewater Market still stood as firm as before, and Song Hanchun and others stayed huddled within, showing no intention of coming out to respond to the challenge. It seemed like Song Hanchun was planning to act just like before, staying entrenched like a nail, awaiting reinforcements and not planning to engage in battle easily. Seeing that neither provocation nor psychological tactics were effective, Chen Jingtian felt rather helpless. After pondering for a long time, Chen Jingtian made up his mind to lead his followers in an attack on the territory controlled by Golden Sword Sect. He did so also with a mind for revenge, considering that Golden Sword Sect had entered the territories controlled by Zhenyang Sect a few months before, destroying many forces and plundering plenty of resources. ... Beyond that, this action also carried with it an element of coercion. If Song Hanchun couldn¡¯t bear it and came out to fight, they would take the opportunity to heavily damage them. If he still holed up in the market and didn¡¯t come out, Chen would aggressively lead his cultivators in raids, seeking every possible way to plunder resources. After all, for the purpose of waging a large-scale war, Golden Sword Sect had already conscripted quite a number of cultivators, and now the overall strength of the forces on their territory had significantly weakened. And for them, such innate conditions also presented a rare opportunity. If everything went smoothly, it was entirely possible to take control of more than a dozen mountain ranges within a month, thereby surpassing the achievements made by Golden Sword Sect earlier. However, they could not afford to be careless, nor could they delve too deeply into Golden Sword Sect¡¯s heartland. Once Zhao Hongsheng returned, he could easily trap Chen along with Song Hanchun. Besides, inside Golden Sword Mountain Gate, there would surely be Golden Core Cultivators in residence. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï If they ended up being pinched by Song Hanchun from both the front and the back, or if Zhao Hongsheng returned, their large forces wouldn¡¯t be able to move as easily, and they would most certainly face a dire situation. It could be said that this move was somewhat risky. But Chen Jingtian¡¯s style of doing things was precisely to take risks, and he was decisively fond of it. In his heart, he had always been holding back a breath, and now that he finally had an opportunity to gain an advantage, he naturally wouldn¡¯t let it slip by easily. Moreover, the current situation for both sects meant taking risks was the only way to close the gap in power between them. Upon weighing the pros and cons, he immediately made up his mind and put his plans into action. Soon, Chen Jingtian led a group of cultivators across the Bluewater Mountain Range and directly entered Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory. While still en route on the flying boat, Chen gathered together several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators under him. At that moment, he glanced over everyone and then spoke, ¡°Fellow cultivators¡­ as you all can see, Song Hanchun is entrenched awaiting reinforcements and does not come out. There¡¯s really no way to handle him in the short term!¡± ¡°And between Golden Sword Sect and our two sects, the situation has become one of irreconcilable hostility. Thus, I have decided to lead you in an attack on Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory!¡± ¡°What? Attack Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s words immediately caused shock among all cultivators. The deck of the flying ship erupted into commotion, as a large number of cultivators voiced their opinions, with all those who opposed being conscripted cultivators. ¡°Even though we have Senior Chen leading, Golden Sword Sect also has no shortage of Golden Core Cultivators. What if we get trapped?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Where there were dissenters, naturally, there were also supporters. The disciples of Zhenyang Sect would certainly not oppose, and many conscripted cultivators, including Loose Cultivators, also expressed support for Chen Jingtian¡¯s plan. These people were clearly eyeing the rich rewards; otherwise, they would not take such a risk if there were no benefits to be gained. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, once this plan was put into action, if Golden Sword Sect reacted in time, it could lead to heavy losses for them. As a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength was at the forefront among all Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom. In a worst-case scenario, he could always escape. But they were merely at Foundation Establishment Cultivation; if they got trapped, they could very likely be abandoned. If that happened, their lives would certainly not be spared. Qin Xi and her two fellow disciples were also conflicted about this, but Chen Jingtian had already made up his mind. Communicating this matter was merely to inform them, and he did not allow any room for opposition. After all, his Golden Core Stage cultivation was a fact, and even if someone didn¡¯t want to get involved in this mess, they had no choice but to accept the mission. Fortunately, to gain the support of everyone, Chen Jingtian still offered extremely generous terms. The treasures obtained by the cultivators only had to contribute twenty percent to Zhenyang Sect, and the rest of the spoils would be kept by the cultivators themselves. As a result, many cultivators with discontent in their hearts also let go of their reservations in light of such an arrangement of benefits. Following that, Chen Jingtian immediately made arrangements, dispatching Li Xiuyuan and other Inner Sect Disciples of Zhenyang Sect to lead the recruited teams to each launch an attack on a mountain range. Soon, more than ten squads set out, each consisting of dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such an aggregate force, sweeping across a mountain range when combined, should not be too difficult, as long as their luck wasn¡¯t too poor. As the team leader, Li Xiuyuan, including Qin Xi and her three disciples, had over forty Foundation Establishment Cultivators under him. The overall strength of their team was exceptionally formidable among all troops, only surpassed by the few led by Jun Buhui. Chapter 775 03-25 - 775 419 Victory of the First Stage_2 ?Chapter 775: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_2 Chapter 775: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_2 ¡°` With greater strength, came greater goals and assurances. After discussing with Qin Xi and a few other strong cultivators, they decided to set off towards the Pingyang Mountain Range under the control of the Golden Sword Sect. The reason for this was that the Pingyang Mountain Range was not considered the heartland of the Golden Sword Sect, and it was only separated by two mountain ranges from the territory controlled by the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Bluewater Mountain Range. If there was any movement from the Golden Sword Sect, they could quickly retreat, avoiding the greater risk associated with being too far away. Besides, the overall strength of the Pingyang Mountain Range was quite impressive, with relatively abundant cultivation resources, and the Foundation Establishing Families residing there were also very strong. It could be said that among the surrounding mountain ranges, the Pingyang Mountain Range was quite a good place. Therefore, adhering to the principle of safety, they sought to gain the maximum benefit possible. ... With this goal in mind, Li Xiuyuan and others took less than ten days to traverse two mountain ranges and arrive in the territory of the Pingyang Mountain Range. As soon as they reached their destination, they immediately launched an attack on the nearest Foundation Establishing Family. This family was not weak, and even though the Golden Sword Sect had conscripted two Foundation Establishment Clan Members to leave, there were still several Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed within the family, and their Defensive Great Formation was also a Second Order Superior. Theoretically, such a Foundation Establishing Family was strong enough. However, facing the attack of more than forty cultivators, with five or six of them being at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, not to mention that Li Xiuyuan himself was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection level of cultivation. Under such a crushing disparity in strength, the family¡¯s Defensive Great Formation held for less than two days before they breached it directly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï What followed was a one-sided massacre, as well as a thorough looting of the family¡¯s various treasures and properties. In just two days, a Foundation Establishing Family composed of several hundred cultivators was easily wiped out by them. Such scenes were simultaneously occurring in over ten mountain ranges under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control, each one a one-sided massacre, just like a few months ago at the Bluewater Mountain Range. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. With Chen Jingtian¡¯s actions, the forces in the more than ten mountain ranges under the Golden Sword Sect encountered a massacre by the Zhenyang Sect. And this news, as time passed, completely spread throughout the territory under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control. Suddenly, the dozens of mountain ranges under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control were in a state of panic, fearing Chen Jingtian would continue to penetrate deeper into their heartland. At the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, as well as Song Hanchun, who was defending the Bluewater Market, they also received this shocking news. Because of this, Song Hanchun was extremely annoyed and even couldn¡¯t help cursing Chen Jingtian¡¯s actions. Not only him, but the Golden Core Cultivator responsible for defending the Golden Sword Mountain Gate was also furious, even secretly worried that Chen Jingtian would continue to advance into their heartland, thus threatening the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Little did they know, Chen Jingtian had not been rash, but instead continued to instruct his cultivators to attack the peripheral areas, with no intention of penetrating deeper. Such prudent actions were like boiling a frog in warm water, leaving Song Hanchun very hesitant. In his heart, he wanted to retreat and block Chen Jingtian¡¯s advance, but also wanted to stay and defend the Bluewater Market, waiting for Zhao Hongsheng to return and cut off Chen Jingtian¡¯s retreat path. However, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strategy was a double-edged one, whether Song Hanchun chose to retreat or to stronghold the market, he had plans for both scenarios. Thus, Song Hanchun hesitated repeatedly, bearing immense pressure, and for this, he waited another half a month. During his indecision, Chen Jingtian¡¯s cultivators continued to attack and took over several more mountain ranges, already seizing control of all the mountain ranges bordering both the Golden Sword Sect and the Zhenyang Sect. Over the course of a month, the Golden Sword Sect suffered heavy losses, with nearly a dozen mountain ranges falling, and hundreds of families, both large and small, being destroyed, with at least tens of thousands of cultivators killed or injured. By now, the losses of the Golden Sword Sect had far exceeded those of the original Zhenyang Sect, even more than doubled. And at this point, Song Hanchun was gnashing his teeth in anger, even though he still planned to fortify and not venture out, he could not ignore the cultivators under his command who opposed this. These people came from mountain ranges that were in imminent danger, or families that had already been obliterated by the Zhenyang Sect. Seeing the indifferent Song Hanchun, at first, they feared the might of the Golden Core Cultivators and the Golden Sword Sect. ¡°` But as the clan faced annihilation, and the clan members were almost completely killed or injured, Song Hanchun and the Golden Sword Sect made no move whatsoever. Such inaction undoubtedly caused these people to completely lose their patience and confidence. After all, with the clan gone, whether to fear the Golden Sword Sect and Golden Core Cultivators had lost all meaning. Besides, a minority of dissenting opinions could not stir up trouble, but as the number of cultivators causing disturbances grew, these people gained the capital and confidence to rebel. Consequently, faced with the will of more than half of his subordinates, under such pressure, Song Hanchun, even if unwilling to pay attention, had no choice but to make changes. After all, without change, or if he ignored the situation, his cultivators might very well mutiny, and even if he forced them to fight, they likely would not display much combat power. Therefore, he could only retreat to the territory of the Golden Sword Sect according to the will of the recruited cultivators. And Song Hanchun¡¯s action played right into Chen Jingtian¡¯s hands. As Song Hanchun led his forces in retreat, entering the Tiansuo Mountain Range under the control of the Golden Sword Sect, Chen Jingtian, who had been watching their every move, had followed them here. Then, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu joined forces, making their move at the first opportunity. Facing the attack from Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, Song Hanchun and Jin Weihe hastily prepared for battle. Seemingly having anticipated this, their primary targets were the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The pair, free from concerns of their own, struck with ruthless efficiency. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a while, even though Song Hanchun tried desperately to block them, he still couldn¡¯t prevent the much stronger Chen Jingtian from inflicting heavy losses on his ranks, resulting in the death of more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators and even more injured. With the few hundred remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators scattering in a panicked flight, they were already frightened out of their wits. However, these people were like dogs that had lost their homes, and in the vast surrounding area, many Zhenyang Sect cultivators formed groups to pursue and intercept them. If they encountered them while fleeing, they would likely face a situation of certain death. Therefore, these fleeing Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators no longer required the attention of Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu. Consequently, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu immediately switched their focus, putting their efforts on Song Hanchun and Jin Weihe. They understood that no matter how many Foundation Establishment Cultivators they killed, it wouldn¡¯t significantly impact the outcome of the battle; the decisive factor was the Golden Core Cultivators. However, killing a Golden Core Cultivator of the same rank was extremely difficult, and even with Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength, it was hard to accomplish alone. Having understood this, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu joined forces, hoping to seize this rare opportunity to target Jin Weihe for elimination. With such intent, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu fought with wild abandon, using all of the treasures in their possession without reservation. After a hard fight, Song Hanchun and his companion were indeed no match and had no choice but to flee the area. But Chen Jingtian had planned for so long, expended so much effort for this, so how could he let them escape easily? In the ensuing chase, Jin Weihe, unable to shake off or defeat his pursuers, was forced to self-destruct his Golden Core. Because of this, both Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu were injured, with Lan Yu¡¯s wounds particularly severe, almost resulting in his death at the frenzied hands of Jin Weihe. After Song Hanchun escaped the pursuit, he returned with a few remaining cultivators to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. As for Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, at that time both had sustained injuries, and although Chen Jingtian¡¯s injuries were not considered severe, his strength had been somewhat affected. If Zhao Hongsheng and others were to return to this area, their strength would not be advantageous, and with injuries, they¡¯d certainly have to face the risk of being surrounded and attacked. Furthermore, since their current targets had been achieved, and more than ten mountain ranges of the Golden Sword Sect had been captured, yielding a huge amount of resources, overall, in these months of conflict, the Zhenyang Sect had undoubtedly taken the absolute upper hand and gained a significant reward, achieving a temporary victory in the first phase of the battle. Under these circumstances, they could not stay in the territory of the Golden Sword Sect for too long; they needed to return quickly to Qingshui Market to heal and recuperate. Being well aware of this, Chen Jingtian did not dare to delay and immediately gathered his cultivators, successfully retreating back to Qingshui Market. Chapter 776 03-25 - 776 420 Everything is Ready_1 ?Chapter 776: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_1 Chapter 776: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_1 Following Chen Jingtian¡¯s lead, as he took his cultivators and retreated back to the Qingshui Market to stand guard, Song Hanchun also gathered some cultivators and fell back to guard the Shaoyang Market under the Golden Sword Sect. Between the two sides, there were several mountain ranges, with each side acting as a nail, stationing themselves on territories that had never experienced the scourge of war. During this time, a vast area spanning over twenty mountain ranges, which had witnessed the mutual assaults of the two sects of cultivators, had become a wasteland. Moreover, the various larger and smaller family powers within had suffered devastating losses, with almost no intact familes existing outside of the markets. Apart from the tremendous loss of cultivators, the primary issue was that all sorts of cultivation resources had been plundered by the enemy, leaving the place picked clean. Such a vast expanse of battered land would, without question, require one to two hundred years to recover, and even then, it might be difficult to return to its heyday. Perhaps it was for these reasons that the decision-makers of both sects seemed to tacitly agree not to deploy too much force to guard these ravaged territories. ... As a result, both sects possessed large swaths of land that no one inquired after, which gradually became a buffer zone between them. Now, with both sects stationed across this buffer zone, there seemed to be no immediate plans to take the offensive within a short period. In this manner, the months-long siege and battle between the two sides finally came to a stop. However, it was obvious that the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s main focus of attack was not on the Zhenyang Sect, otherwise, with the combined strength of the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, if they had concentrated their forces on a first strike against the Zhenyang Sect, they would not have ended up in such a difficult situation of advance and retreat. At this time, Chen Jingtian took a momentary breath of relief, but he also understood that they could not afford to be careless yet. After all, the main force strength of the Golden Sword Sect remained formidable, and for any side to repeatedly engage with them, there was no chance of success. If the Golden Sword Sect were to make a significant advance at Myriad Medicine Valley, causing heavy losses or even annihilation of Myriad Medicine Valley, their Zhenyang Sect would face even greater troubles. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Therefore, at this moment, he was also considering his strategies, whether to continue to pressure the Golden Sword Sect, or to take some people to support Myriad Medicine Valley. Upon considering this idea, he hesitated for a long while, and then came to his own conclusion. He was more inclined to support Myriad Medicine Valley, as the pressure there was too immense, with two Late Stage Golden Core cultivators leading the charge; such overwhelming collective strength meant that even if Zhou Yunxiao relied on the Defensive Great Formation to hunker down, it was likely that they couldn¡¯t hold out for long. As for continuing to attack deep into the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory, relying solely on their few Golden Core cultivators, it would be very difficult to gain much advantage from Song Hanchun. More crucially, should Zhao Hongsheng return, if he were to venture deep into the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory alone, he might end up trapped and in a situation with no return. If Myriad Medicine Valley were to fall, the Zhenyang Sect would likely follow in their footsteps; it was just a matter of time. It could be said that the safety of Myriad Medicine Valley was equally vital and time could not be delayed any further. Thus, weighing the various pros and cons, Chen Jingtian also felt that supporting Myriad Medicine Valley had become imperative. However, it was only a few days later that Lu Xingfeng, the Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect, assessed the current situation and devised a counter strategy. Immediately afterwards, Lu Xingfeng sent word, instructing Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu to visit the two Great Golden Core Families¡ªthe West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family. The purpose of this was also to invite the Golden Core cultivators of the two large families to join forces at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, to assist Zhou Yunxiao in dealing with Zhao Hongsheng and others. Lu Xingfeng¡¯s idea coincided with Chen Jingtian¡¯s. With the matter settled, Chen Jingtian was not inclined to delay and immediately began arranging to support Myriad Medicine Valley. As for Qin Xi and the other summoned cultivators, they were left in Qingshui Market under Zhu Yun¡¯s command, and as long as the Golden Sword Sect did not take the offensive, they were unlikely to leave this place easily. This arrangement was favorable as with the protection of the defensive formation of the market, the place was relatively safe for the moment. It was especially timely as the three of them, following their team, had gone all out in attacking the Pingyang Mountain Range, destroying several Foundation Establishing Families and even more Qi Refining Families in total. As such, their team acquired a good amount of treasures, and the three divided no small portion among themselves; since this was a comparatively peaceful period, it was a good opportunity to cultivate during this interval. In this way, with Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu¡¯s departure, Qingshui Market became calm, with neither of the two opposing sects showing any intention to stir trouble. In the tense atmosphere of a major war, these peaceful days quietly passed by. In the blink of an eye, a year had gone by. To this day, the great war involving the three sects had been ongoing for over a year. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this duration is neither particularly long nor short. In the meantime, Qingshui Market remained relatively calm; both Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun adopted a conservative approach, symbolically raiding each other a few times, and after deaths and injuries of several dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they each withdrew. Subsequently, there were several months of quiet, and as time went on, an unspoken understanding almost formed. The main battlefield of the entire war was at Myriad Medicine Valley; as Golden Core Cultivators converged there, it also attracted the attention of all the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. As for the past year, Myriad Medicine Valley, with the support of Chen Jingtian and others, as well as the two Great Golden Core Families of the Chen and Li, had fought fiercely with Zhao Hongsheng and others numerous times. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 777 03-25 - 777 420 Everything is Ready_2 ?Chapter 777: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_2 Chapter 777: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_2 Although Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s alliance possessed more Golden Core combat strength, with the Golden Core Cultivators from the four major Golden Elixir Forces combined, they outnumbered the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s alliance by four people. However, the top combat power of the Golden Sword Sect side was stronger, and the addition of Zhao Hongsheng at the Late Stage Golden Core was enough to offset the numerical disadvantage. Under such circumstances, both sides had fiercely battled for a year, with Golden Core combatants getting injured every time, yet not even one had perished. As a result, both parties had depleted various war resources, and a considerable number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had fallen, yet no one had gained much of an advantage, and the great war had fallen into a stalemate. Continuing like this, if no changes were made or without the intervention of external forces, it was feared that there would be no outcome in the short term. Now that the two sides had battled to this point, they had clearly understood each other¡¯s strengths and were well aware of the eventual outcome. Even Han Hu from Golden Sword Sect had started to regret in his heart, regretting his initial covetousness for the conditions offered by the Blood Red Alliance, which led him to bring Golden Sword Sect into the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s camp. ... To date, the Zhenyang Sect had not only depleted a large amount of war resources but had also lost many disciples and recruited cultivators. Having paid such a high price, they had neither annihilated the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley, nor could they extricate themselves from the situation. They had also thoroughly offended both sects, with their betrayal, placing Golden Sword Sect on the opposite side of Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivators. It could be said that Golden Sword Sect had not achieved its goal, and now it was left with no way out, forced to follow Blood Red Alliance to the end. Such an outcome was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it! Not only Golden Sword Sect, but Zhao Hongsheng was also somewhat disappointed with Han Hu. It should be noted that he had come to the impoverished cultivation world of Wei Kingdom with a mission in tow. Over the past few years, the matter he had been investigating had made no progress, and he had no specific clues about the treasure he wanted, even losing Jin Weihe, a cultivator at the Early Stage Golden Core. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Such an outcome had completely exceeded his expectations. Seeing that the plan to annihilate Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had stalled in the short term, even Zhao Hongsheng couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit anxious. Facing this heavy pressure, Zhao Hongsheng silently made up his mind that if there was no significant progress within the next year, he would have to make significant adjustments. By then, to achieve his goals, he would stop at nothing and would not consider the attitude of Golden Sword Sect. After all, the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s actions were inherently domineering, and they had no shortage of enemies in Qingzhou; one more was one more, and ten more were ten more. What could these Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom count for to the Blood Red Alliance? And the matters Zhao Hongsheng pondered, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian knew nothing of. In their minds, the Blood Red Alliance still could not annihilate them at present, which was not particularly terrifying. As such, they only needed to maintain this form. Golden Sword Sect, unable to prevail after a long siege, would be more anxious than they, and if they failed to achieve their goal, they would surely retreat voluntarily. Even, it was possible that Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance would develop rifts leading to a complete breakdown of their cooperation. At that time, it would be their moment to launch an offensive. Understanding this, all three parties made their own calculations, none daring to be careless. The situation persisted in this manner, with the great war still ongoing, but with an increasing intensity. And this tense battle was only taking place near Myriad Medicine Valley; other major areas had gradually returned to normal. ¡­ At Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. On this day, within a certain cave dwelling at the summit of the main peak, Lin Tianming was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion. At this time, he was looking in a certain direction, his face showing an expression of longing. Speaking of which, it had been a year and a half since Qin Xi left the clan. During this period, Qin Xi and the three Lin Family members sent back news to Qianchuan Market through others every once in a while, which eventually reached the family. Given that the Lin Family itself was paying particular attention to the situation in the tri-sect war, even though they were far away from Qin Xi, with the help of Sky Dragon Pavilion¡¯s power, they were still timely in learning of major events in the cultivation world. Due to the distance, the news here was somewhat blocked, and relative to Qianchuan Market, there were some delays. However, overall, in comparison to other Foundation Establishing Families, the Lin Family managed to keep relatively up-to-date with the affairs of the Cultivation World. Upon knowing that Qin Xi and the other two were in a reasonably safe situation, Lin Tianming could finally breathe a sigh of relief. In this past year, he had also been busy, spending almost all of his time in closed-door cultivation. Through his efforts, he had successfully advanced his cultivation to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. As of today, his cultivation had reached the limit of the Foundation Establishment Stage, with no further possibility of advancement. In addition, Lin Shilu had crafted several defensive artifacts for him over the years, and alongside the family¡¯s relentless collection efforts, they had prepared many defensive treasures for him. Under these circumstances, he had all the conditions necessary to attempt breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. He was also fully prepared and planned to begin closed-door cultivation starting today to prepare for his advancement to the Golden Core Stage. For this day, he had never dared to slack off in the slightest throughout his decades of cultivation. Now that he had finally reached this step, it could be said that everything was ready except for the right opportunity. However, as the timing ripened, he became somewhat impatient. It was not surprising, since the Lin Family was currently facing many crises and urgently needed more family members to enter the Golden Core Stage to relieve Lin Shikang¡¯s pressure. Furthermore, once a cultivator stepped into the Golden Core Stage, they were considered a power to be reckoned with in Wei Kingdom. And he was about to take this step, his foot virtually already on the threshold of the Golden Core Stage. After all, he was an ordinary cultivator, and under such circumstances, how could he not look forward to the day of his breakthrough? Eventually regaining his composure, his mood gradually stabilized, and he became calm once again. At this moment, Lin Tianming kept his longing for Qin Xi and his eagerness for the Golden Core Stage in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted himself to his peak condition, then with a slap on his storage bag, more than ten defensive artifacts appeared in front of him, neatly arranged in a row. These items were all the defensive artifacts prepared for him by Lin Shilu and the family for his tribulation. At a glance, all these defensive artifacts were of at least a Second Order Medium Quality, and there were several of Second Order Superior quality among them. So many defensive artifacts, each of high value, would be the showstopper items at an auction in Qianchuan Market. Such top-notch defensive artifacts, rare in the cultivation world, would no doubt cause a frenzy among Foundation Establishment Cultivators if they appeared on the market. Now, having these precious defensive artifacts in his hands, he feared they might become useless in just a few years. After all, he had witnessed the power of the Golden Core Tribulation. Back when Lin Shikang underwent his tribulation, the family meticulously prepared more than ten defensive artifacts, all of which were exhausted under the thunderous assault. Those defensive artifacts were also of high grade and were rare treasures; none survived the hits of the deadly tribulation, leaving not a trace behind. Because of this, Lin Shikang was gravely injured, managing only to survive the ordeal of the tribulation. This just shows the full extent of the tribulation¡¯s power. Otherwise, the cultivation world would not consider the tribulation to be the biggest obstacle to entering the Golden Core Stage, with many genius cultivators falling at this hurdle. It was foreseeable that when his time to face the tribulation came, its power would certainly be strong, perhaps even far surpassing that of Lin Shikang¡¯s time. In such a situation, even though he cherished these rare defensive treasures, he would be willing to sacrifice them all if it meant successfully transcending the tribulation. After all, as long as one enters the Golden Core Stage, no price is too great to pay. What he needed to do now was to refine and claim ownership of these defensive artifacts. Then, he would adjust his state to its best, and with the help of the breakthrough insights left by his ancestors and the Fruit of Fortuity, he would attempt to breach the Golden Core Stage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasted no time, immediately taking a Second Order Medium Quality shield-type artifact into his hands. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following that, he cast spell incantations one after another, hitting the artifact precisely. At the same time, he projected all his Divine Sense outward, beginning to concentrate on refining the artifact. ¡­ Chapter 778 03-25 - 778 421 Closed-door Cultivation_1 ?Chapter 778: Chapter 421 Closed-door Cultivation_1 Chapter 778: Chapter 421 Closed-door Cultivation_1 Half a year had passed. After this period of solitary cultivation, Lin Tianming had refined over ten Second Order Defense Artifacts. As of now, all the defenses required for weathering the tribulation were ready; he just awaited his Impact on the Golden Core Stage. However, Lin Tianming did not continue his seclusion but decided to take a brief day out. During this time, he planned to clear his mind, pay a visit to his mother and various elders, and then return to his seclusion to initiate the Impact on the Golden Core Stage. In doing so, he first visited his mother upon leaving seclusion and then went straight to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. By this time, a few people were already sitting in the courtyard chatting leisurely. ... All of these individuals were elders with the surname ¡®Shi,¡¯ and except for Lin Shilu, who was also in closed-door cultivation, the others were present. The moment they saw Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang and the others became excited, appearing even more thrilled than Lin Tianming himself. Yet, Lin Tianming was still at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm; if he truly stepped into the Golden Core Stage, who knew what the elders would feel! At this moment, Lin Tianming smiled and greeted the elders with a bow, then exchanged pleasantries. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tianming¡­ Come over and sit!¡± Lin Shihua, excited, quickly waved for Lin Tianming to come over. Seeing this, Lin Tianming obliged without hesitation, swiftly going to sit next to his grandfather. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Shortly after exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shikang was the first to ask, ¡°Tianming, how are your preparations?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua, too, eagerly added, ¡°Yes¡­ You have been in solitary cultivation for these past few years; the family and Shilu have almost finished preparing the Defense Artifacts for you, it¡¯s time to hasten your Impact on the Golden Core Stage!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, well aware of the elders¡¯ expectations of him and the turbulent situation in the Cultivation World which urgently required him to advance significantly for the family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming remained calm, adjusting his mindset and not succumbing to undue haste that could lead to unnecessary troubles. In his eyes, everything needed to reach the best state; he would wait until he was thoroughly prepared before entering seclusion to Impact the Golden Core Stage. Once he began his seclusion, he would endeavour to push into the Golden Core Stage in one fell swoop to alleviate some of the family¡¯s pressures. And this had always been his approach, which he intended to maintain moving forward. Realizing this, Lin Tianming smiled serenely, looking quite relaxed, seemingly free from any psychological pressure. The elders, seeing his demeanor, although silent, felt utterly content and their confidence in his successful entry into the Golden Core Stage grew even more. Watching the elders¡¯ spirits lifted by his presence, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly, then said solemnly, ¡°Rest assured, elders, Tianming has made all the necessary preparations for the seclusion!¡± ¡°As for today¡¯s departure from seclusion, it was merely to pay a visit to the elders. From tomorrow, I will begin the life-and-death seclusion to either succeed in one move or perish under the Heavenly Tribulation!¡± Hearing these resolute and full-of-confidence words, Lin Shikang nodded with a smile. ¡°Hmm¡­ You lad possess extraordinary talent, your strength far surpasses your peers, and your foundation is extremely solid. Having prepared so thoroughly, you will inevitably cross into the Golden Core Stage with ease!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words were very much agreed upon by Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, as they had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and growth firsthand. With Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and strength, he had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm at just over forty years of age. Such a rate of cultivation, throughout the hundreds of thousands of years of history in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, was no doubt an exceedingly rare phenomenon. ¡°Third brother is right; we old fellows have quite a bit of confidence in you!¡± Lin Shihua said excitedly, appearing to be in a very good mood. And Lin Tianming, hearing these words from the elders, felt their ease and confidence in him. This filled Lin Tianming with a warm current in his heart, making his own mindset even more tranquil and his determination to break through all the firmer. With the progression of his impending seclusion confirmed, Lin Tianming then shifted the conversation to inquire about the recent happenings in the Cultivation World. Particularly, the direction of the great war between the three sects weighed heavily on the minds of most people in the Wei Kingdom. Beyond that, the progress of both Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan in their Impact on the Golden Core Stage was also vital to the Lin Family and himself. Lin Shihua informed him that the war between the three sects was still at a stalemate. The prolonged conflict had led to many battles, often resulting in numerous casualties among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, as long as no Golden Core Cultivators perished, the scales of victory would not tilt in any direction. If this continues, it seems that neither sect can gain the upper hand, potentially prolonging the deadlock. As for Lin Shilu, he had already crafted most of the Defense Artifacts required for his tribulation a year ago. Barring any unforeseen incidents, Lin Shilu should currently be in seclusion, refining these Defense Artifacts and then attempting to impact the Golden Core Stage with the aid of another Fruit of Fortuity. As for Hu Yuan, he had been in closed-door cultivation for over a year, arranged by Lin Shihua. Before his seclusion, Lin Shihua had personally handed him the legacy knowledge for breaking through and arranged a safe and secluded cultivation spot for him, even assigning a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to guard outside the cave dwelling to prevent unsuspecting clan members from disturbing him. This legacy knowledge for breaking through, previously studied many times by both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, had all its recorded contents firmly memorized. Chapter 779 03-25 - 779 421 Retreat_2 ?Chapter 779: Chapter 421 Retreat_2 Chapter 779: Chapter 421 Retreat_2 Otherwise, after being led by Hu Yuan into the seclusion chamber, the critical item needed for the breakthrough was in high demand among the three of them, yet it couldn¡¯t be allocated sufficiently. Fortunately, that was not a problem; even without the original insights on breakthroughs, Lin Tianming and another person weren¡¯t affected in their pursuit of the Golden Core Stage. As such, over the course of a year of closed-door cultivation, the concentration of spiritual energy in Hu Yuan¡¯s place of seclusion seemed to be gradually increasing. It seemed that everything with Hu Yuan¡¯s cultivation process was normal. However, the richness of the spiritual energy was far from sufficient; it was unlikely to induce the Heavenly Tribulation anytime soon. And all they could do now was continue to wait. At this moment, having learned about these matters of concern and knowing that everything was progressing well, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. In his eyes, the greatest worry was the direction of the great war among the three sects, as Qin Xi and several of his clan members were participating in the war. ... As long as their safety was not an issue, the family could develop peacefully on the clan grounds, with those in seclusion continuing their cultivation, and those practicing their skills, seizing this increasingly rare period of peace to improve their strength. This too would enable the Lin Family to safely get through any crisis that might arise in the future. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming decided not to delay any longer, preparing to begin his retreat tomorrow to impact the Golden Core Stage. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with several elders to confirm some details, then returned to his own cave dwelling. That night, he did not cultivate but instead went to bed early, an unusual occurrence, to conserve his energy for the impending realm advancement. The next morning, he went alone to the back mountain of the peak, entering the valley where Lin Shikang had once secluded himself for cultivation. Standing at the entrance of the valley, Lin Tianming carefully surveyed the seclusion spot before him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï As far as the eye could see, the gorge was filled with birdsong and floral fragrances. Not only was it exceptionally tranquil, but even the spiritual energy was much more concentrated than he remembered. It appeared that after Ye Pinghai and then Lin Shikang had successively reached the Golden Core Stage here, the family had utilized a Spirit Gathering Array to transform it, making it into an ideal place for seclusion. Looking at the location and feeling the dense spiritual energy, Lin Tianming nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. Then, he entered the interior of the gorge, finding a natural cave and walking inside. He sat down cross-legged and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, performing a Grand Circulation. Once his state peaked, he slapped his storage bag, and a Fruit of Fortuity appeared in his hand. This Fruit of Fortuity had been in his possession for years. The other Fruit of Fortuity and three Jiuli Star Fruits had all been given to Lin Shikang to distribute. Without any surprise, Lin Shilu must have one Fruit of Fortuity now and would be using it for his imminent impact on the Golden Core Stage. As for the three Jiuli Star Fruits, they were rightfully obtained from the Golden Sword Sect; strictly speaking, these fruits should be given to the two powers of Myriad Medicine Valley. However, the Lin Family had no intention of handing them over, yet did not dare to use them lightly. In case of any major crisis within the Lin Family, it might be necessary to offer these fruits in exchange for the support of the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. Besides, there were currently no other members of the family ready to impact the Golden Core Stage, and the most recent to reach the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm was only Qin Xi. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take over a decade to meet the necessary requirements to attempt the Golden Core Stage. In this sense, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t lack Nascent Soul Spiritual Items for a while, and Lin Tianming along with the other person could completely consume their own Fruits of Fortuity, keeping the Jiuli Star Fruits for emergencies. Coming back to himself, Lin Tianming stared at the Fruit of Fortuity in his hand and zoned out for a moment before swallowing it in one gulp. As the Fruit of Fortuity dissolved, a surge of powerful energy was instantly released. In a flash, this energy caused his complexion to turn red, and he felt all the blood in his body boiling. As expected, the energy of the Fruit of Fortuity was immense, deserving of its reputation as a spiritual object capable of aiding Core Formation; even at his full potential, he could sustain the assimilation for a long time. However, among all the spiritual objects that assist Core Formation, the Fruit of Fortuity is one of the few with a gentler medicinal nature. Even so, the massive outpouring of energy instantly left Lin Tianming invigorated, feeling as though he was about to soar into the air. In this moment, he steadied his mind and returned to calmness, then pushed his Cultivation Technique to its limit, vigorously refining this powerful energy. Following that, he diligently refined according to the ancestral teachings on breakthroughs that continuously circulated in his mind. Time slipped away silently, and in a blink of an eye, another year and a half had passed. It was high noon on this day, with the sun beating down from the sky. Behind the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Shikang sat cross-legged on a rock, his eyes fixated on the direction of the valley within. Gazing over, the sky above the secluded valley where Lin Tianming was in meditation was filled with spiritual energy to the extreme, far surpassing any other place on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Even Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu, who were also preparing for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage, could not compare with the degree of spiritual energy here. Watching this dense spiritual energy slowly circulating around the valley, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was one of excitement as he muttered under his breath. ¡°Tian Ming is indeed refining the Fruit of Fortuity at a great pace. Judging by the level of spiritual energy here, it shouldn¡¯t be long before he shatters his dantian to reconstruct the Golden Core!¡± After saying this, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression gradually grew solemn and he sent out several messages to let Lin Shihua make preparations according to the plan. Once the Heavenly Tribulation descended, they should reduce any unnecessary loss to the minimum. Apart from that, they also had to take into account Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu¡¯s situations to prevent the strength of the tribulation from extending too far and disturbing their meditation. If the scope of the tribulation¡¯s influence became too vast due to its great strength and led to the failure in Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu¡¯s Impact on the Golden Core Stage, it would be a tremendous pity. After all, for a cultivator to reach this stage is no easy feat, not to mention the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items they consumed and the considerable resources already spent. Just consider how the Lin family had once acquired the Star Moon Fruit, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming had taken a significant risk. It was also because of this hard-won Nascent Soul Spiritual Item that Lin Shikang was able to successfully form his Core. If they were indeed to fail, even the current Lin Family would feel the pain, that¡¯s for sure. Fortunately, they had detailed plans several years in advance, with the locations for their three members¡¯ secluded meditations arranged in different directions of the Lin Family Clan Grounds and quite distant from one another. Otherwise, the force of the Golden Core Tribulation is immense; if both happened to attract their tribulations at the same time, they would inevitably affect each other. If the tribulations of the two collided, the power would likely double. Under those circumstances, even if Lin Tianming had exceptional talent and was far stronger than other cultivators at his level, he would hardly have a ten percent chance of successfully transcending the tribulation. However, the chances of both attracting the Heavenly Tribulation at the same time were so minuscule as to be almost non-existent. The process of Impacting the Golden Core Stage itself takes a long time, ranging from a couple of years to as much as three to five years. The probability of undergoing tribulation on the same day under such conditions is indeed too small. Besides, the three had not started their retreats at the same time, and with Lin Tianming¡¯s high talent, his speed in refining the Fruit of Fortuity was sure to surpass Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu. Under these combined factors, the probability was even smaller. Therefore, as long as they did not face the Heavenly Tribulation on the same day, it would not affect Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu. Putting it this way, the impact of the tribulation should not be a problem. Realizing this, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Then, as he watched the changes in the valley, a look of anticipation appeared on his face. One month later, At dawn on this day, the sun rose as usual, painting a pale light across the sky, and its rays spread across the ground. At this time, many clan members were shuttling through the clan grounds, presenting a scene of tranquility and peace. At the busiest moment for the Lin Family, everything within the clan grounds was as normal as usual. Whoever needed to cultivate, cultivated. Apart from some prohibitions that the family had announced in advance, which puzzled some uninformed clan members, there seemed to be no change within the family. ¡­ Chapter 780 03-25 - 780 422 The Arrival of the Heavenly ?Chapter 780: Chapter 422: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Chapter 780: Chapter 422: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Behind the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, in a cave within the valley. At this moment, Lin Tianming sat motionless on his meditation cushion, as if he were an old monk in deep meditation. His face was extremely pale, his expression appeared somewhat painful, and large beads of sweat fell from his forehead to the ground, where they quickly disappeared. The reason for his current state was because he was at a critical moment of impacting the Golden Core Stage. At this moment, drastic changes were occurring within him; his entire dantian had shattered. The spiritual power he had cultivated up until now was chaotically surging throughout his body. Previously, these surges of spiritual power were restrained by the dantian, at least preventing such a violent disturbance, let alone a chaotic flow. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, without any restraint, all his meridians served as pathways for the surging spiritual power. ... If the Golden Core could not be successfully created, they would have nowhere to go and could only wander aimlessly. Lin Tianming had anticipated this situation, after all, the ancient teachings passed down by his ancestors had detailed records of such breakthroughs. In addition to this, both Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang had taught him through words and actions, introducing the entire process of forming the Golden Core many times, including possible problems, in great detail. Such valuable experiences were firmly etched in his mind. Basing his actions on these experiences, the past year had seen a very smooth process in impacting the Golden Core Stage, with a speed far surpassing Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang¡¯s initial attempts. Ye Pinghai had taken nearly four years from the start of his seclusion to successfully reconstruct his Golden Core and subsequently attract the Heavenly Tribulation. Lin Shikang took nearly three years as well ¨C both of them had spent no small amount of time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Yet, in just a year and a half, Lin Tianming had already reached the stage of forming the Golden Core, almost doubling the speed of their initial attempts. This pace was truly astonishing! However, Lin Tianming did not concern himself with these matters, nor did he have the mood or spare time to pay attention to them. He was, at this time, following the contents of his ancestors¡¯ teachings, beginning to form the most crucial Golden Core. Once the Golden Core was formed, he would be halfway into the Golden Core Stage, only awaiting the Threefold Lightning Tribulation to become a genuine Golden Core Cultivator. Deeply aware of the importance of forming the Golden Core, Lin Tianming dared not let his mind wander, nor be the slightest bit careless. In such a state, Lin Tianming focused his mind, constantly recalling the teachings of Lin Shikang and others, and according to the method described in the breakthrough teachings, he began to gather the rampaging spiritual power scattered throughout his body. Under his vast Divine Sense, the violent spiritual power gradually became gentle and slowly gathered in his chest, eventually forming a Spirit Group that remained stationary. Time passed by, not too long after. As more and more spiritual power was gathered, along with his powerful Divine Sense compressing the spiritual power, a chicken egg-sized Spirit Group formed within him. Upon closer examination, this Spirit Group seems to already have the rudimentary shape of a Golden Core, even changing in color from initially transparent to a faint gold. Although the color was very faint, it was undeniably real! Seeing this change, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, knowing that he had not deviated from the process. Feeling the transformation of the Spirit Group, he couldn¡¯t help but speculate that if things continued at this pace, it might not be long before he could completely solidify it, thus successfully forming the Golden Core. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming continued to gather spiritual power without interruption, funneling it into the nascent Golden Core. On this foundation, he maintained a good pace, without rushing, to avoid any accidents. In such a cautious situation, the insubstantial Spirit Group in his body began to solidify at a visible speed. At the same time, outside the valley where Lin Tianming was in seclusion, Lin Shikang sat on a stone, looking in the direction of the valley. He then felt the changes in the Spiritual Energy above him, noticeably thicker than when he was forming his Golden Core and even stronger by many degrees. Witnessing the continuous gathering of Spiritual Energy, his face couldn¡¯t help but show a satisfied smile, with excitement surging within him. He was extremely thrilled at the moment, a feeling coming from deep within, not unlike when he himself had hit the Golden Core Stage. Although it might not be apparent to others, he was well aware and couldn¡¯t calm down. ¡°If all goes well, the Heavenly Tribulation should be in the next few days, huh!¡± He muttered to himself, then continued to sit in place, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s further progress. His wait did not last long; just three days later, a series of muffled sounds emanated from the valley. Although the noise was not loud, in the quiet atmosphere, with Lin Shikang¡¯s Golden Core Stage cultivation, he perceived it clearly. Inside the valley, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was pale and his state seemed not too good. Yet in reality, he was still excited, as the changes within him were even more evident; the originally ethereal Spirit Group had boldly transformed into a chicken egg-sized Golden Core. Moreover, the overall color of the Golden Core was more vivid, having mostly turned to gold, with only a few areas still showing some faint silver-white color. It seemed that the Golden Core was just shy of reaching perfection. At this moment, Lin Tianming, surveying his inner state, saw the nascent Golden Core and clearly understood this point. Chapter 781 03-25 - 781 422 The Arrival of Heavenly ?Chapter 781: Chapter 422: The Arrival of Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 781: Chapter 422: The Arrival of Heavenly Tribulation_2 And with a bit of thought, he understood the reason behind it. The lack of immense spiritual energy he had been drawing for over a year was the cause. These spiritual energies, all converging in the valley¡¯s midair, had been partially extracted by him during this period, and in combination with the spiritual power refined from the Fruit of Fortuity, had shaped this Golden Core. The remaining part was still substantial, and it was the final piece that was needed. If all went as expected, he just needed to draw in these spiritual energies and inject them into the Golden Core to fully shape it successfully. Understanding this, Lin Tianming knew the time had come and thus did not delay any further. Following this, with a thought, the Golden Core within his body began to slowly rotate. ... Very soon, the spiritual energy inside the valley rushed towards him as if summoned, converging on his location in a frenzy. In a moment, he felt an enormous amount of spiritual energy gathering above his head, pouring into his body along his Sky Spirit Cover, and finally converging within the Golden Core. And since the Golden Core began to absorb this spiritual energy, the color change did indeed accelerate as the hint of silver-white color gradually faded, transforming into a golden light. Seeing that his expectations were not misguided, Lin Tianming became even more excited and hastily sped up the absorption of the spiritual energy. This absorption process was very quick, and the spiritual energy congregated in the valley was being rapidly depleted. At the same time, the originally clear sky suddenly became turbulent with strong winds, and dark clouds also began to gather, indicating that a storm was on the verge of breaking out. This drastic change immediately alerted Lin Shikang, who soon adopted a stance as if facing a formidable enemy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Despite his worries, was this not the day that he had been longing for over the past few years? Now that it had finally arrived, it actually brought him a sigh of relief. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the dark clouds in the sky had gathered considerably, entirely enveloping a large area over the clan grounds, with occasional flashes of silver-white light piercing through the clouds, appearing exceptionally dazzling. At this time, Lin Shigong was flying over, his expression looking complex, as if he was equally nervous and excited. Upon his arrival, Lin Shigong first glanced towards the valley, then said, ¡°Third Brother, Tian Ming has finally reached this step!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang remained calm, and then nodded, saying, ¡°Yes¡­ We old men have been waiting for this day for so long, haven¡¯t we?¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the worry in Lin Shigong¡¯s heart immediately dissipated by a good measure. He was of course well aware that, although the power of the Heavenly Tribulation was terrifying, it was an ordeal that every High Order Cultivator on the path of advancement could not avoid. This ordeal was akin to rebirth, those who overcame it were like phoenixes soaring to the sky or dragons leaping into the sea, thereafter stepping into the ranks of High Order Cultivators and thus experiencing a different landscape of the Cultivation World. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Conversely, it meant death, perishing on the spot. And to have reached this step, whether successful or not, was something to be envied. Now that the most talented member of the Lin Family had come to this point, who was also his own grandson, it was indeed a great joy for all of the Lin Family¡­ Moreover, Lin Tianming¡¯s talents and strength were so dazzling, and his preparations were sufficiently thorough, that the probability of overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation should be not small. Therefore, there was really no need for him to be so tense. Understanding this, Lin Shigong¡¯s expression significantly relaxed, and his excited smile couldn¡¯t be concealed any longer. Seeing his demeanor, Lin Shikang nodded, then broached the serious topic. ¡°Ninth Brother, how is the arrangement with the clansmen progressing?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong earnestly replied, ¡°Third Brother, rest assured, Shihua has already moved the clansmen in advance, and Xing Zhi is also guarding where Shi Lu is in seclusion, everything is proceeding according to the prearranged plan!¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Tian Ming should be facing the tribulation soon, let¡¯s retreat further away so as not to suffer from the force of the Heavenly Tribulation unnecessarily!¡± After Lin Shikang said this, he promptly took Lin Shigong with him and left the valley, quickly appearing on a mountain peak twenty miles away. Not long after the two of them left, the dark clouds in the sky roiled frantically, with silver-white lightning flickering frequently. At this time, the Golden Core inside Lin Tianming was still absorbing the spiritual energy from the valley at a frenzied pace. Not long after, time had passed. The spiritual energy within the canyon had become much more sparse, not much different from the normal concentration in other areas of the Lin Family¡¯s territory. At this moment, the Golden Core within Lin Tianming¡¯s body seemed to have absorbed energy to its limit, and he didn¡¯t know when, but it had stopped spinning and the external spiritual energy was no longer flowing. Upon close inspection of his inner body, he could see that the Golden Core had become fully solid, the color completely a golden yellow, and the intricate and mysterious patterns on it were fully revealed. ¡°This is undoubtedly a complete Golden Core!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself as he observed the Golden Core inside him. However, he also felt some doubts, although he hadn¡¯t yet passed the Threefold Lightning Tribulation and wasn¡¯t considered a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, he had seen numerous records about Golden Core Cultivators. For some unknown reason, his Golden Core seemed larger, almost the size of a chicken egg. Lin Shikang had once mentioned that a normal Golden Core should be the size of a peach pit, and it might be slightly larger for a small portion of people, which wasn¡¯t considered a particularly rare occurrence. After all, every cultivator is different, and those with a solid foundation may have a slightly larger Golden Core¡ªthere were actually quite a few such cases. Yet his Golden Core was clearly a size larger, almost twice as large as a normal one. He had never seen such an unusual Golden Core mentioned in any book, nor had he heard about it. But at this time, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t concerned with delving into this, as everything felt normal, and he had no adverse reactions. More importantly, the skies above the canyon were already filled with howling winds and booming thunder, with silver-white lightning surging among the dark clouds. It appeared that the first round of the Heavenly Tribulation was brewing and could descend at any moment. In such circumstances, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to think about other matters and immediately walked out of the cave to prepare for the Heavenly Tribulation. Less than half an hour later, the lightning that had gathered in the dark clouds was already plentiful. Looking around, each bolt of lightning was as thick as a water bucket, and their numbers were vast; intertwined, they formed roaring thunder dragons. Although the thunder dragons hadn¡¯t yet descended, Lin Tianming could already feel the oppressive force of the lightning, as if it intended to destroy heaven and earth. It was this force of the lightning that felt extremely powerful to him, even compared to the thunder dragon that appeared when Lin Shikang faced his tribulation. Clearly, the thunder dragons that appeared when Lin Shikang underwent his tribulation were also very powerful, but the aura, momentum, and oppressive force they emitted were not in the same league. The difference seemed to have a lot to do with the strength of the person undergoing the tribulation. The stronger the individual facing the tribulation, the stronger the power of the Heavenly Tribulation, and vice versa. However, once the Heavenly Tribulation was passed, the strength at the Golden Core Stage would be even more formidable. And sometimes, fate was quite fair; the greater the difficulties faced by the strong, the more they had to give, and consequently, the more they would receive. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was not at all afraid. Instead, his heart was filled with soaring spirits, and he seemed somewhat impatient to experience the legendary power of the Heavenly Tribulation for himself. No sooner had this thought crossed his mind, his wish was immediately granted! ¡°Rumble¡­¡± At this time, in the canyon, gale-force winds were on the rise, and the dark clouds above his head had already occupied the entire sky, darkening the space between heaven and earth. At the same time, the lightning amidst the dark clouds had reached its peak. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± With a thunderous roar, three massive thunder dragons burst forth from the dark clouds, flying towards him with bared fangs and claws, their speed as fast as lightning. The thunder dragons possessed an awe-inspiring momentum, seemingly poised to engulf him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became stern; he had not expected the first layer of the Thunder Tribulation to be so intense, presenting three whole thunder dragons as soon as it started. And this strength of the Thunder Tribulation was slightly more powerful than the force of Lin Shikang¡¯s second layer of the Thunder Tribulation. However, he was not flustered, but rather extremely composed. ¡­ Chapter 782 03-25 - 782 423 Passing the Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 782: Chapter 423 Passing the Heavenly Tribulation ¨C 1 Chapter 782: Chapter 423 Passing the Heavenly Tribulation ¨C 1 Watching the Thunder Dragon draw closer and closer, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and three Second Order Defense Artifacts appeared in his hand. Immediately, he cast spell incantations rapidly, accurately striking the artifacts. ¡°Hum hum hum¡­¡± Strange buzzing sounds emanated as these defense artifacts flickered with light and quickly expanded, forming various barriers that tightly shielded him. He was fast because he was well-prepared and keenly aware of the terrifying power of the Heavenly Tribulation. Even though he was always confident, he knew he must be careful. Otherwise, if he died under the Heavenly Tribulation, it wouldn¡¯t matter how talented or brilliant he was¡ªwithout life, it was all empty talk. In this situation, Lin Tianming pushed his cultivation technique to the limit, pouring spiritual power like mad into the defense artifacts. ... Under his control, dazzling light surged on the surface of these artifacts as their defensive power was pushed to the extreme. Just as he finished these defenses, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation had already arrived, instantly reaching right above his head. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sound of thunder roared in Lin Tianming¡¯s ears, the closeness of the noise making them painfully ring. He looked up at the sky, only to see three Thunder Dragons roaring, their huge bodies piercing through the dense clouds, their gaping maws already wide open, with an authoritative dragon¡¯s roar echoing between heaven and earth. The Thunder Dragons were fast, moving through the clouds like fish in water, seemingly alive in appearance. Under his gaze, the Thunder Dragons descended in an instant, directly hitting the defense artifact above his head. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï A series of explosions resounded, light scattered throughout the sky, and the shockwave from the blast swept over. In that brilliant light, the three defense artifacts appeared as fragile as paper, easily shattered by the Thunder Dragon. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immediately after, the Thunder Dragon continued to charge at him, seemingly undeterred by the momentary blockage or its slightly spent force. At this moment, the aura created by the charging Thunder Dragon was astonishing, with shockwaves from the blast sweeping in and causing Lin Tianming¡¯s robes to flap noisily. Lin Tianming felt the will of the Thunder Dragon and had personally witnessed the entire process of Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. He knew all too well that if he didn¡¯t completely disperse it or exhaust its power, the Thunder Dragon would not stop. And this was only the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation; the power of the subsequent two tribulations would surely double in strength. He had only used three defense artifacts just now to conserve resources, not wanting to consume too many treasures too soon and be left in a passive state for the latter two tribulations. In his eyes, although the power of the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation was tremendous, he was a cultivator who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, his physical strength alone comparable to a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact. Moreover, the Thunder Dragon had already been significantly weakened, and the remaining power was probably quite limited. If he could utilize his full physical strength, he could save some defense artifacts and avoid excessive consumption on external objects. This strategy would allow him to endure a bit longer under the subsequent two layers of the tribulation. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming remained calm, clenched his fist in haste, and launched a punch at the Thunder Dragon coming head-on above him. His movement was clean and decisive, and although his fist seemed trivial and lacking in destructive force, invisibly, a burst of energy shot from his fist, blasting the air in front of it. In a blink, this energy collided with the Thunder Dragon. A loud bang erupted, the Thunder Dragon¡¯s form staggered midair, then let out a pained roar, seeming to be in agony. They were locked in a stalemate for a moment, and as the energy from the punch dissipated, the body of the Thunder Dragon collapsed a fair amount. Then, the Thunder Dragon fell again, striking directly against Lin Tianming¡¯s fist. In an instant, Lin Tianming felt a strong force assaulting through his fist, a tingling sensation accompanied by a sharp pain that quickly spread throughout every part of his body. At the same time, his blood qi surged wildly within him as a few strands of lightning took the opportunity to invade his body and began to rampage. This lightning, though only a few strands and out of his control, wreaked havoc inside him. A series of crackling sounds emerged, alarmingly the result of the thunder and bones colliding. Under this destructive force, Lin Tianming¡¯s face paled, a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his breath weakened momentarily. He swiftly mobilized a large amount of spiritual power to suppress the invading lightning. With his relentless pursuit, the power of the lightning was slowly consumed, and he finally forced it out of his body. Afterward, he looked up at the sky again, only to find the Thunder Dragon had vanished without a trace, with only the dark clouds above still brewing with lightning. Seeing this, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief, his respect for the power of the Heavenly Tribulation growing. But he also felt a secret joy that his physical strength was strong enough, coupled with the Blue Star Armor he always wore. This Defense Artifact, originally a Second Order Medium Quality inner armor, had been promoted to Second Order Superior by Lin Shilu, who spent many treasures on it. After a period of refinement, the new Blue Star Armor¡¯s defensive power was exceptionally outstanding, helping him resist much of the power of the Heavenly Tribulation. Chapter 783 03-25 - 783 423 Surviving the Heavenly ?Chapter 783: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 783: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_2 Otherwise, even if he could withstand the first layer of Thunder Tribulation, he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid injury. Now, he was only experiencing some disturbance in his qi and blood; such minor injuries had a negligible impact on his strength and could be entirely disregarded. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face regained some color, and he then took out an elixir and swallowed it, making the most of this precious interlude to recover some spiritual power. A moment as brief as a cup of tea passed. In the sky, thunder roared tumultuously, and the lightning brewing within the dark clouds surged violently, looking ready to fulfill the requirements of the Heavenly Tribulation and descend at any moment. At this moment, Lin Tianming gazed at the thunderclouds and noticed that the lightning within them had grown even more massive and their numbers had significantly increased. Not only that but the aura of the lightning had become much stronger as well. Compared to the first layer, it had clearly ascended several levels. ... It appeared that the second layer of Thunder Tribulation would far surpass the first. Seeing this, his expression became even more solemn and he hastily began to prepare for the impending Thunder Tribulation. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Rumble, rumble¡­¡± Just a few breaths later, the clouds churned violently and from within emerged a massive Thunder Dragon. At a glance, this Thunder Dragon appeared majestic. Although there was only one, and its number was less than during the first layer of Thunder Tribulation, the Dragon¡¯s form was unbelievably huge, and its aura was far more terrifying. At the moment the Thunder Dragon appeared, the entire sky flashed with silver light, and the temperature between heaven and earth dropped sharply. Although Lin Tianming had anticipated that the second layer of the Thunder Tribulation would be terrifying, upon witnessing it firsthand, he realized that he had underestimated its power. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As Lin Tianming was momentarily stunned, the second layer of the Thunder Tribulation leaped forth from the dark clouds and struck directly towards him. Then, with a slap to his storage bag, several defensive artifacts appeared, which he swiftly sacrificed, forming barriers that he firmly placed above his head. Having learned from the ordeal of the first layer of the Thunder Tribulation, Lin Tianming was extra cautious. This time, he directly sacrificed five defensive artifacts, among which three were of Second Order Superior quality. This lavish approach was something most cultivators could hardly afford. After all, the value of each Second Order Superior Defense Artifact was not low; for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator to own one or two Second Order Medium to Superior Quality Defense Artifacts was already considered quite wealthy. Take Ye Pinghai as an example; when he faced his tribulation, he used only seven or eight Second Order Defense Artifacts. Keep in mind that he was a well-known alchemist among loose cultivators, having refined elixirs for many. Over a hundred years of cultivation, he had accumulated a large wealth, his fortune being rather substantial among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Even so, the defense artifacts he used during his tribulation numbered only seven or eight, hardly comparable to Lin Tianming¡¯s resources. Luckily, Lin Tianming¡¯s fortune was even more formidable; he had obtained a large number of Defense Artifacts and numerous Spirit Ore and Materials in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. These spoils of war came from Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, most of which were at least Second Order Medium Quality. With the full support of Lin Shilu, the Artifact Refiner, and the Lin Family¡¯s collective efforts to help acquire them, he could afford to utilize these Defense Artifacts so lavishly against the Thunder Tribulation. Such an expansive outlay was something even Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect rarely possessed the resources to employ. Yet now, Lin Tianming was using them without a second thought as if these Defense Artifacts were worthless. But upon closer reflection, others did not act this way simply due to constrained means. After all, if one were to perish in the Heavenly Tribulation, no matter how abundant the fortune or how many treasures one held, what significance would they have? Once a cultivator falls, everything dissipates like clouds, all possessions become irrelevant to them. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to deploy so many Defense Artifacts without a trace of reluctance or pain. And his grand gestures truly played a crucial role. The moment the Thunder Dragon descended, it struck directly upon the first barrier. The first Defense Artifact, being only of Second Order Medium Grade, briefly stalled the Thunder Dragon before it was pierced through. Subsequently, the next two artifacts also failed to stop the Thunder Dragon and were easily penetrated. However, as the grade and quality of the subsequent Defense Artifacts increased, so did their defensive power. As the force of the Thunder Dragon dwindled, the power balance shifted; the further back, the less force the Thunder Dragon possessed. Soon, the fifth Defense Artifact also broke under the impact of the Thunder Dragon, the diminished form still relentlessly striking forth, no possibility of halting. By this time, the Thunder Dragon had significantly reduced in size, its presence and momentum nowhere near that at its peak. Clearly, the power of the Thunder Dragon was now greatly reduced, its threat much diminished. Lin Tianming, aware of this, launched a punch before the Thunder Dragon¡¯s descent, striking it head-on. He had fully prepared for this attack, not only successfully dissipating the Thunder Dragon but also bracing for the destructive force of the lightning. As the Thunder Dragon finally vanished into the skies, the second layer of Thunder Tribulation passed, and the heavens temporarily returned to a brief calm. This second layer had come ferociously yet had not stirred up too great a turmoil, merely causing Lin Tianming to expend a great deal without suffering much injury. Now that the second layer of Thunder Tribulation was behind him, only the last layer remained. As long as he managed to pass through that successfully, he would be able to formally step into the Golden Core Stage. Chapter 784 03-25 - 784 423 Surviving the Heavenly ?Chapter 784: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_3 Chapter 784: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_3 ¡°` Thinking of these, Lin Tianming felt extremely excited, and a long-missed smile appeared on his face. However, before he could enjoy his happiness for long, the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation seemed to be ready to descend. At this moment, he looked towards the sky and saw that the dark clouds had already gathered a formidable amount of lightning, from which several powerful Thunder Dragons has condensed, each no weaker than the one before. Seeing such a terrifying Heavenly Tribulation, its momentum far surpassed that of Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knitted, and he finally showed a look of fear. He knew in his heart that the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation was just a warm-up, the Second Layer had some lethal threats, but with some sacrifices, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to overcome. But this Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation was the true barrier for all Foundation Establishment Cultivators attempting to break through, and countless who tried to ascend to the Golden Core Stage had perished at this hurdle. ... What he was about to endure was indeed a true ordeal. Sure enough, the Thunder Dragons within the clouds roared frantically, and their powerful presence was astounding. They let out an angry roar and flew out from the dark clouds, carrying an endless momentum, seemingly ready to destroy everything below. This force was vast and seemed bent on subjugating him, even carrying the intention of annihilating the heavens and earth. Under such oppressive momentum, Lin Tianming felt very insignificant, experiencing for the first time the oppressive force of the will of heaven and earth. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The Thunder Dragons roared as they approached, swiftly arriving right above him. At that time, he took a deep breath, a resolute expression flashing across his face. He was acutely aware of the effort he had made for this day, and understood the expectations his family elders had of him. Moreover, there was no turning back now: either he would successfully weather the tribulation and become the third Golden Core Cultivator in the history of his family, or he would perish under the Heavenly Tribulation. ¡°Hmph¡­ a mere Threefold Lightning Tribulation can¡¯t stop me!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was resolute, and after a cold snort, he immediately brought out all the Defense Artifacts he had. In an instant, five High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts flew from his hands, rapidly forming several barriers, firmly protecting him in the center. Upon closer inspection, each of these Defense Artifacts was a treasure among treasures, and they represented his final external reliance. In that moment, he held nothing back, ready to make his final gambit. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such conviction, the Defense Artifacts collided with the Thunder Dragons. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the two forces collided head-on, a burst of fire soaring into the sky, and suddenly a mushroom cloud rose, sweeping powerful waves over the area, causing the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory to tremble slightly. And in the center of the explosion, Lin Tianming¡¯s Defense Artifacts were shattered one by one, eventually dissolving completely in the burst of flames. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s body flashed brightly as he pushed his Physical Strength to its limit, his fists slamming into the heads of the Thunder Dragons. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Several more explosions echoed, and the sky, yet to settle, was once again lit with blinding light, covering a vast area. In the light, the Thunder Dragons still had great destructive power, blasting him from mid-air and smashing him heavily onto the ground. But his strength was also formidable; the energy he unleashed in his resolution far exceeded any other time. Under his assault, the Thunder Dragons struggled for a few breaths before he forcefully dispersed them. As the Thunder Dragons dissipated, the dark clouds swiftly retreated, and the raging winds ceased, bringing some clarity back to the somber skies for a time. ¡°` Chapter 785 03-25 - 785 424 Yuxu Pill_1 ?Chapter 785: Chapter 424: Yuxu Pill_1 Chapter 785: Chapter 424: Yuxu Pill_1 In the blink of an eye, the roiling dark clouds completely dissipated, and the dim sky returned to tranquility. And the moment the third layer of the Thunder Tribulation vanished, Lin Tianming immediately felt a tremble in the Golden Core within his body, as if his soul had acquired some mysterious substance. That substance was formless and multicolored, invisible and untouchable, yet it truly existed. Furthermore, that feeling was very mystical, something he had never experienced before, as if his soul was aimlessly drifting through the sky. This addictive sensation made him feel incredibly comfortable in body and mind, so much so that he indulged in it and even forgot the pain from his extensive injuries. Just as he was in this floating state, a powerful pressure swept out, quickly spreading in all directions. This pressure was strong, and its range was broad; from him as the center, many areas within the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory could clearly feel this pressure. ... At the same time, on a mountain peak outside the valley, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong stood side by side. Their eyes were tightly fixed on the valley where Lin Tianming was facing his tribulation, their expressions filled with shock. When they saw the first layer of Thunder Tribulation descend, Lin Shikang had already understood that Lin Tianming¡¯s tribulation was extremely terrifying, far more powerful than his own had been. However, Lin Tianming was extremely strong, even more so than Lin Shikang had been at that stage, and he had prepared more fully. Even so, as to whether he could smoothly pass the Heavenly Tribulation, Lin Shikang had no absolute confidence in his heart. But he also understood that every person attempting to break through to the Golden Core Stage had to face the test of the Thunder Tribulation. Even if he was worried, he could provide no help; everything depended on Lin Tianming himself. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Fortunately, Lin Tianming did not disappoint them. Even faced with a Thunder Tribulation far surpassing what he had faced, he bore almost no significant cost under his full effort and easily passed two layers of the Thunder Tribulation. When confronted with the third layer, Lin Tianming also showed his composure. Although he was injured, he managed to pass the third layer of the Thunder Tribulation and thus became a Golden Core Cultivator. As the thunderclouds receded and the Thunder Dragon vanished from sight, Lin Shigong¡¯s breathing became rapid, unable to hold back his tears. Seeing Lin Shigong¡¯s state, Lin Shikang¡¯s nose felt sore too, and before long, his eyes were brimming with tears. They couldn¡¯t be blamed, as Lin Tianming¡¯s success in the Thunder Tribulation and becoming a Golden Core Cultivator had milestone significance for them personally and for the Lin Family as a whole. Although Lin Shikang was the first to break through to the Golden Core Stage, becoming the family¡¯s first old ancestor and Golden Core Stage clansman, his potential was extremely limited, and without some incredible fortune, he probably wouldn¡¯t advance much further in this lifetime. But Lin Tianming was different; given his talent and cultivation, his potential was immense. The Golden Core Stage was not his limit, and even becoming a Nascent Soul Expert, those who dominated the lands of the heart, was not impossible. Moreover, with the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in turmoil and crises everywhere, the Lin Family desperately needed Lin Tianming to step into the Golden Core Stage. In such circumstances, Lin Tianming was key to the Lin Family overcoming crises and rising to prominence. Now that this wish had finally been fulfilled, Lin Shikang and the rest could finally let their worries rest. At that moment, Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure, his face beaming with excitement. Then, looking at the peaceful sky, he turned to Lin Shigong and instructed, ¡°Ninth brother, go find Shihua quickly and make sure our clansmen are settled properly. Remember to keep the news of Tianming¡¯s successful breakthrough confidential!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shigong calmed down, nodded in response, and was the first to leave the place. Inside the valley, Lin Tianming stood on top of a small hill. Looking around, the valley was in a state of disarray; towering trees lay scattered around, trenches were visible everywhere, and some mountaintops had been partly flattened by the lightning, now standing as small platforms. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Tianming was covered in blood, his robes torn to shreds, revealing the wounds underneath. However, his breathing was still steady, his face pale, but his spirit remained surprisingly good. Not knowing how much time had passed, when he emerged from that mysterious state, Lin Tianming felt his body filled with strength, and his soul had grown much more powerful. When he looked inside his body, he saw the golden color of the Golden Core shining brightly, with the mystical patterns around it clearly visible. Beyond that, the Golden Core retained some remnants of mana that felt exceptionally powerful, even a tiny trace of which was much more formidable than the spiritual power of the Foundation Establishment Stage. It appeared that, now that the Thunder Tribulation had passed, he had indeed become a genuine Golden Core Cultivator. Feeling the mana within his body and his more powerful Divine Sense and physique, Lin Tianming firmly believed that he had successfully entered the Golden Core Stage, and he began to revel in joy. After about half a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming calmed down from his excitement, and his demeanor returned to its usual composure. Then, looking at the ruined valley, he headed toward the cave where he had been in seclusion. He had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage and had sustained serious injuries after the tribulation, with his realm still not completely stable. Time was pressing, and there was no lack of things that needed to be done; he had to go into deep seclusion and cultivate properly to prevent any mishaps. Thus, Lin Tianming immediately entered the cave for seclusion and soon delved into deep cultivation. Chapter 786 03-25 - 786 424 Yuxu Pill_2 ?Chapter 786: Chapter 424 Yuxu Pill_2 Chapter 786: Chapter 424 Yuxu Pill_2 ¡°` As he secluded himself to consolidate his cultivation, everything in the Lin Family returned to normal, with the clan members resuming their cultivation routines as if nothing was amiss. Despite the commotion emanating from the clan¡¯s territory that puzzled them, Lin Shihua had already instructed that no discussions or inquiries about the matter were permitted. Having already experienced such events twice before, the sudden recurrence only made the clan members more accustomed to it, and there was little left to arouse their curiosity. Under these circumstances, the ruckus caused by Lin Tianming¡¯s tribulations soon settled down within the clan. ¡­ Half a year passed by swiftly. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s secluded cave, he sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his breathing stable, his complexion rosy and radiant, seeming to be in excellent condition. ... At that moment, his eyes opened, and a flash of brilliance passed through the corners, faintly illuminating the dim cave. After half a year of dedicated cultivation in seclusion, his cultivation realm had been thoroughly consolidated. In that instant, he felt the abundant mana within him and the explosive power throughout his body, far surpassing his power during the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. The disparity in strength was not even comparable! By his estimates, he could now effortlessly defeat ten Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators simultaneously without exerting much effort. That was the formidable might of a Golden Core Cultivator, for if it had been so easy to achieve a breakthrough, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not be limited to only twenty Golden Core Cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Now that he had successfully broken through to the Golden Core Realm, the Lin Family¡¯s overall combat power included three Golden Core Stage practitioners, counting Ye Pinghai. Such collective strength put the Lin Family in a position to move unhindered throughout the Wei Kingdom, save for the three Great Sects. Even if they were to face any single Sect alone, the Lin Family might not be a match, but they were not without the power to resist. Even more so, the Lin Family possessed the capability to inflict heavy damage on any of them, should they be willing to pay the price. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming felt boundless pride in his heart and could not help but let out a hearty laugh. Nearly forty years into his cultivation path, he had finally stepped into the Golden Core Realm, and the Lin Family rapidly rose to prominence. Moreover, Lin Shilu was next in line to attempt a breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm. Should he succeed, the Lin Family¡¯s strength would continue to rise, improving their ability to handle crises. However, Lin Shilu had only been in seclusion for two years, and even if his breakthrough process was smooth, it was unlikely that there would be any results just yet. Realizing this, Lin Tianming took note of the situation before contemplating his next course of action. After a short while, he had made up his mind, deciding to first leave his seclusion and pay a visit to the family elders. Once they had gathered and caught up, he planned to return to his cave mansion and continue his secluded cultivation. He chose to do so because he currently had no specific duties, as there was nothing in particular for a Golden Core Cultivator of the Lin Family to attend to. Since he would be idle either way, he might as well continue his seclusion for a while, especially since there was an important matter at hand¡ªcultivating the Divine Skills that came with the Tiangang Body Art. During the Qi Refinement Realm and the Foundation Establishment Stages, he had acquired the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword, respectively. These two Divine Skills, one offensive and the other trapping, complemented each other and had served as his primary means of defense against enemies over the years, earning him great merit. Now, having broken through to the Golden Core Stage, he had entered a whole new level and could cultivate another Divine Skill. He considered the Divine Skills from the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment Stages to be quite powerful already, and he could only imagine that a Golden Core Stage skill would be even more formidable. With this thought in mind, he was extremely eager to discover this new Divine Skill. Nevertheless, there was no need to rush this task; it could wait for a few days, and he could delve into the study of Divine Skills later with focused attention. Having made his decision, Lin Tianming wasted no more time and immediately left the cave, heading towards his own cave mansion. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shortly thereafter, Within Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, he met with Lin Shigong and the other two ¡°Shi¡± generation members of the clan. ¡°` The four greeted each other and then sat down in the courtyard to drink tea and chat leisurely. Looking around, at this moment, each of them had a beaming smile, all in an excellent mood. It seemed that with Lin Tianming¡¯s breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, all the informed members of the clan were ecstatic, each feeling a sense of pride and arrogance from the bottom of their hearts, and even a touch of honor. It wasn¡¯t surprising, after all, the person breaking through was at the Golden Core Realm, and it was Lin Tianming, the prodigy of the Lin Family, which made it all the more extraordinary. Years ago, the strongest member of the Lin Family was Lin Shikang, who was only at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Now, with both individuals stepping into the Golden Core Stage one after the other, the overall strength of the Lin Family had doubled, jumping several notches. Although other powers were not aware of it, the surge in strength of the Lin Family was solid and real, like making a fortune in silence. However, the Lin Family had no intention of publicizing this matter, so as not to be prematurely drawn into the struggles between the three sects. At this time, Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure. He looked at Lin Tianming next to him and couldn¡¯t help but show a gratified smile. After a while, he finally spoke, ¡°Tianming, what are your plans next?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not reveal his own plans, but instead asked tentatively, ¡°Third Grandfather, do you have any orders?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ I do not, I was just thinking about sitting down with you one day, my grandson, to exchange some insights on cultivation!¡± ¡°After all, we are now Golden Core Cultivators, and there are still many aspects of our cultivation that need to be explored!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that this was indeed the case. One must know that after a Foundation Establishment Cultivator breaks through to the Golden Core Realm, there is much to be done in a timely manner, including stabilizing one¡¯s cultivation and grasping some techniques of cultivation. Although the process of cultivation is almost no different from that during the Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Cultivators have much greater strength, which slows down their cultivation process, and they possess a richer set of techniques. Mastering various skills can improve some of the speed of cultivation, thus saving a lot of time. While these may seem insignificant, they are skills that must be mastered. Having broken through a few years earlier than Lin Tianming, and having exchanged insights with Ye Pinghai, who had broken through even earlier, Lin Shikang inevitably knew more about cultivation than this newly promoted Golden Core Cultivator. Understanding this, Lin Tianming promptly nodded and responded with a smile, ¡°If Third Grandfather invites me, I couldn¡¯t ask for more!¡± ¡°Besides, even if you didn¡¯t say so, I would still seek Third Grandfather¡¯s guidance!¡± ¡°Hm¡­ If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s call Grandpa Sea tomorrow, and we can properly exchange our experiences. With our collective effort, we should be able to avoid some detours!¡± After saying this with a laugh, Lin Shikang then took out a Jade Bottle and handed it to Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s action, Lin Tianming looked puzzled and did not reach out to take the Jade Bottle. Seeing this, Lin Shikang chuckled and said, ¡°You, young fellow, have broken through to the Golden Core Stage. I don¡¯t have much to give, so take this bottle of Yuxu Pills as a congratulatory gift!¡± ¡°Yuxu Pills!¡± Lin Tianming looked confused, thought carefully for a moment, and then realized the function of Yuxu Pills. Soon, he showed a look of surprise, finding it hard to believe that Lin Shikang, having only stepped into the Golden Core Stage a few years ago, had managed to secure elixirs used for the cultivation of Golden Core Cultivators. It is known that at the Golden Core level, the elixirs that assist in cultivation are extremely rare. The Yuxu Pill is one of the most common elixirs! Its function was similar to the Lingshen Pill and Fusion Spirit Pill used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, containing a vast amount of energy that could accelerate the cultivation of mana and improve a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s realm. The value of such elixirs in a barren place like the Wei Kingdom was quite precious. Even the Golden Core Cultivators of the three great sects could not always rely on elixirs for cultivation. In fact, for the vast majority of the time, they depended on meditation and breath control to improve their realm. In such circumstances, once they encountered Third or Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine suitable for alchemy or came across ready-made Third Order Pills that could enhance their realm, they would do everything possible to obtain them. Since Lin Shikang was not an Alchemist, and the Lin Family did not have a stockpile of such elixirs, the difficulty in obtaining some Yuxu Pills at this critical juncture was imaginable. ¡­ Chapter 787 03-25 - 787 425 Agreement_1 ?Chapter 787: Chapter 425 Agreement_1 Chapter 787: Chapter 425 Agreement_1 At that moment, Lin Shikang clearly noticed Lin Tianming¡¯s surprise and confusion. He smiled, nodded his head, and then began to explain. ¡°This bottle of Yuxu Pills did not come from me, it was rather a congratulatory gift from Brother Ye after I had made my breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised; even without Lin Shikang¡¯s explanation, he could have guessed the origin of the Yuxu Pills. But understanding the reason behind the gift made Lin Tianming feel even more reluctant to accept it. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, Lin Shikang was also at the Golden Core Stage Cultivation, and likewise had a great need for elixirs that aided in cultivation. He himself wouldn¡¯t have enough use of just one bottle of Yuxu Pills, yet he was offering it as a congratulatory gift. Realizing this, Lin Tianming hurriedly began to refuse Lin Shikang¡¯s generous offer. ... Seeing his reaction, Lin Shikang pretended to be upset and said, ¡°This bottle only contains three Yuxu Pills, and even if I used them all, I would still be a long way from the Medium Stage of Condensing Golden Core. So to me, it¡¯s rather insignificant.¡± ¡°But you, Tianming, with your talent, will surely surpass us old folks in cultivation speed. As they say, good steel is used for the blade¡¯s edge. Any treasures that come our way in the future should naturally be prioritized for your cultivation.¡± ¡°Only with your cultivation and strength becoming greater can you give back to the family, allowing all our family members to benefit!¡± Lin Shikang taught him earnestly, while he stuffed the Yuxu Pills into Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. On the other side, Lin Shihua also began to persuade him, insisting that Lin Tianming accept them. Lin Tianming was very clear about the good intentions of Lin Shikang and the others; they genuinely wished him well, hoping he could go further on the Immortal Path, even at the cost of grinding their bones to dust. Such acts of keeping valuable treasures for his use were not new to him. He recalled how during the Qi Refinement Realm and Foundation Establishment Stage, his grandfather had devoted his own cultivation resources to him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Now that Lin Shikang had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, at the same stage of cultivation as himself, he also thought of him whenever he came across something good. This kind of thought was the embodiment of familial affection. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming felt deeply moved and silently made up his mind that once he became a Third Order Alchemy Master, he would definitely repay these elders doubly. Regathering his composure, Lin Tianming stopped being ceremonious and bowed to Lin Shikang, accepting the Yuxu Pills. Seeing this, Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction. Lin Shihua laughed and teased, ¡°What Third Brother brought out, we can¡¯t match. Whatever we could offer, Tianming would probably not care for. We just hope that Tianming won¡¯t blame us!¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words, Lin Tianming hurriedly waved his hands and said, ¡°What are you saying, Twelfth Grandpa?¡± ¡°Tianming has been taught by you all since childhood, and has received support from all the elders. Now, it¡¯s not just that the younger generation has reached the Golden Core Stage, even if I become a Nascent Soul Cultivator, I will not forget the elders¡¯ contributions. How could I possibly be concerned with such things?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was sincere, and his words moved Lin Shikang and the others deeply, bringing relieved smiles to their faces. After a few polite exchanges, they started inquiring about the secluded cultivation of Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan. According to Lin Shihua, Hu Yuan had started his seclusion earlier, and the Spiritual Energy drawn to his location was quite dense. It was expected that within a year or so, he would attract the Heavenly Tribulation. As for Lin Shilu, everything was normal. Although he started his seclusion more than two years later than Hu Yuan, his progress seemed to be much faster. If all went smoothly, it was possible that the days when they each faced the Heavenly Tribulation might be quite close, at the very least not as far apart as the over two years difference from the start of their seclusions. Learning of these developments, Lin Tianming was very pleased, as he had interacted a lot with Lin Shilu, who had often been involved in major family missions alongside him. Like the great family battle at Luoyun Mountain, the establishment of Luoyun Pavilion, the journey to Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm¡­ Over the years, they had experienced much together and witnessed the growth and development of the family. In these years, Lin Shilu had given a lot for him, and whether as a family member or personally, Lin Tianming hoped that Lin Shilu would step into the Golden Core Stage. Now that Lin Shilu was at this critical juncture, Lin Tianming sincerely hoped for his success, so they could face any major family events together in the future. Fortunately, that day was approaching, and with Lin Shilu¡¯s progress being smooth, it would likely take less than two years to witness him entering the Golden Core Stage. With this thought, Lin Tianming kept the matter in mind. Subsequently, the four chatted casually for half an hour, during which they shared many specific details about the Cultivation World. After summarizing their information, they also learned some important details and made some speculations. The ongoing war between the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom was undoubtedly an event of deep concern for everyone. And according to the information they had, although the situation was currently at a stalemate, this had been the case for three to four years already. After such a long period of probing, the basic strengths of the three sects were very clear to each other. The initial schemes had been resolved by the other two sects, and it was unrealistic to think of using conspiracies to take advantage or even to annihilate the other two sects any longer. Going on like this, either the Xue Gong Sect would voluntarily withdraw, or they would need to muster more forces to come to Wei Kingdom. Otherwise, based on their current overall strength, it would be very difficult to force Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect to capitulate by military power. Chapter 788 03-25 - 788 425 The Agreement_2 ?Chapter 788: Chapter 425: The Agreement_2 Chapter 788: Chapter 425: The Agreement_2 ¡°` However, given the actions of the Blood Cult Alliance over the years, the probability of them withdrawing voluntarily is not high. As a consequence, it¡¯s highly likely that they will call in more forces to Wei Kingdom or come up with other methods. If that¡¯s the case, the situation within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World will become even more complicated, and the position of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect will grow increasingly difficult. Moreover, the Lin Family, having acquired the Qilin Seal and joined the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s alliance, would inevitably come to light should both Myriad Medicine Valley and the sect be wiped out. At that time, without external support, facing the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance head on, the survival pressure on the Lin Family would be evident. Thinking of these matters, Lin Tianming instantly felt a sense of urgency. This feeling was not exclusive to him; Lin Shikang and several others felt the same way. ... In their hearts, they lamented how the Lin Family had barely caught their breath after several of their members had entered the Golden Core Stage over the years, only to face even more formidable challenges. Such pressing times seemed always on the verge of arriving. Consequently, their only option was to hasten the pace of increasing their clansmen¡¯s strength, so that when faced with future crises, they might find a way out. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and others discussed at length and reached several important decisions, all aimed at encouraging their people to undergo trials, thereby using the family¡¯s rewards to quickly improve their strength. Such resolutions had been continuously made by the Lin Family over the years, with their efforts steadily increasing. But now, given the situation, it was imperative for the Lin Family to do so. Furthermore, with the vast amount of cultivation resources that Lin Tianming acquired from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, and after several years of development, the incentive policies had achieved tremendous success. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In just these past three to four years, the cultivation levels of the family members had been continually rising, with several individuals breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage every year. By now, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family had further increased, reaching as many as forty-five, with the majority being at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, and only a dozen or so above the fourth level. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seemed that as Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu made their assaults on the Golden Core Stage, leaving a temporary gap in the Lin Family¡¯s intermediate strength structure vacated by those at the late Foundation Establishment level. Such a situation was not surprising. The Lin Family¡¯s rise had been too swift, almost entirely due to a massive influx of resources creating a certain number of elite forces within the family. Afterward, without further substantial resource support, the Lin Family¡¯s development would experience a brief stagnation. This trend clearly pointed to a lack of depth within the family¡¯s foundations, or else such strata would not have occurred. However, over the past few years, the Lin Family had once again received a significant amount of resources, incredibly vast resources. With these resources, the family had established many policies. That was merely the work of a few years, not enough time for the results to manifest. It¡¯s foreseeable that in a few more years, the outcome will naturally show a leap-like improvement. Additionally, if all goes as expected, Qin Xi, who¡¯s far away at Qingshui Market, Lin Xingrong, who¡¯s stationed at Luoyun Pavilion, and the missing Lin Tianfeng, who haven¡¯t shown their faces for a long time, are all expected to have members who¡¯ve reached the late stages of Foundation Establishment based on their cultivation upon leaving the family and their talents. Especially Qin Xi, who was already at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment when she left. Having been away for more than three years and with talent comparable to Lin Tianming, it¡¯s almost certain that she has entered the late stages of Foundation Establishment, with no doubt whatsoever. Under such circumstances, the family¡¯s development still holds great potential, merely requiring time and resource support. Fortunately, over the years, the Lin Family, whenever able, has implemented policies to motivate its people, with plans to further increase these efforts in the future. Given time, the Lin Family will inevitably develop rapidly and eventually possess a strength and foundation to match that of the three great sects. Towards this end, Lin Tianming and the high-level members of the Lin Family are all striving towards this goal. ¡­ The next day. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai arrived together. Seeing Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming promptly went forward to greet him and then invited the two to sit in the courtyard. As soon as they sat down, Ye Pinghai began to offer his congratulations, his tone filled with relief and envy. ¡°` ¡°Tianming, truly, the younger generation is to be feared. I must first congratulate you on stepping into the Golden Core Stage!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming also humbly replied, ¡°Grandpa Sea, you are too kind. It was pure luck, and only with the dedicated help of the elders was I able to break through successfully.¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai furrowed his brows, thinking that this young man was overly modest. His talent was extremely formidable, and to be so humble seemed a bit too much. However, he didn¡¯t say much and instead casually took out a bottle of Yuxu Pills and handed it to Lin Tianming. Following that, he said with a smile, ¡°You lad, don¡¯t be too modest. Take this bottle of Yuxu Pills as my congratulatory gift to you!¡± ¡°This¡­ Grandpa Sea, you are too generous!¡± ¡°Grandpa Sea is a Golden Core Cultivator himself, and Yuxu Pills are useful to you as well. I imagine that the quantity of these pills is quite limited, so please, there¡¯s no need for such politeness!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hands, quickly starting to refuse. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai also smiled and then said, ¡°Hehe¡­ For many years, I have rarely shown my face and have almost always been in seclusion, thereby consolidating my cultivation while improving my alchemy.¡± ¡°After years of diligent research, my alchemy skill has made considerable progress, and these Yuxu Pills were made by my own hands.¡± ¡°Back when your Third Grandfather broke through to the Golden Core Stage, I also presented him with a bottle of Yuxu Pills as a gift. Although I don¡¯t have many Yuxu Pills in my possession, it is still possible for me to give you one, so don¡¯t refuse, lad!¡± ¡°These Yuxu Pills were made by Grandpa Sea?¡± Lin Tianming was quite surprised, not expecting that Ye Pinghai, who had succeeded in Core Formation less than ten years ago, had already elevated his alchemy to the Third Order and had concocted Yuxu Pills, which were not easy to make. ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯ve been immersed in alchemy for years, and if not for the limited supply of Third Order Spiritual Medicines and pill formulas in my hands, perhaps I could have concocted other elixirs!¡± Ye Pinghai said with a hint of regret. Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist any longer and accepted the Yuxu Pills, then proceeded to express his thanks. ¡°In that case, I thank you, Grandpa Sea!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Your talent for alchemy is not low. When you have some free time in the future, you should have a discussion about alchemy with me. Judging by your talent, I believe it won¡¯t take long for you to be able to concoct Yuxu Pills too!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shikang also chimed in. ¡°Tianming, your Grandpa Sea is a bona fide Third Order Alchemy Master. You should take the opportunity to learn from him.¡± ¡°It just so happens that the family has quite a few Third Order Spiritual Medicines and pill formulas collected by our ancestors. When you have some free time, take these items with you and discuss them with your Grandpa Sea.¡± Lin Shikang seized this opportunity to bring up the matter. While he spoke of seeking guidance, he actually hoped Ye Pinghai would give Lin Tianming some direction and help with concocting elixirs. After all, until Lin Tianming became a Third Order Alchemy Master, the Lin Family didn¡¯t have their own alchemist and was short on Third Order Pills. Ye Pinghai, of course, understood the implications of Lin Shikang¡¯s words. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t mind. He had already formed a sworn kinship with the Lin Family, who had provided significant help when he was impacting the Golden Core Stage. Now that he had the ability to repay the Lin Family, and since he also needed more pill formulas and additional Spiritual Medicines to practice with, there was naturally no need to decline. Considering these points, Ye Pinghai then offered, ¡°Yes, I do have some alchemy experience and time to concoct elixirs. We grandfather and grandson might as well find the time to discuss the art of alchemy together!¡± With Ye Pinghai¡¯s invitation and Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangements, whether for the family or for himself, Lin Tianming indeed needed to improve his alchemy. With the miraculous effects of his Eye of Five Colors, he would surely be able to grasp it quickly, thus producing a greater quantity and more effective elixirs. Once he had elixirs of his own making, both he and Lin Shikang could rapidly advance their cultivation. If Lin Shilu managed to reach Core Formation as well, then the Lin Family would have three Golden Core Stage clansmen, increasing their demand for Third Order Pills even further. It could be said that exchanging alchemy experiences with Ye Pinghai and jointly concocting elixirs would be a win-win situation for both parties. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse Ye Pinghai¡¯s kindness. Thus, Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai set a time, and once they were both free, they would concoct elixirs together. With this matter settled, the three exchanged pleasantries and then began to share their cultivation insights. ¡­ Chapter 789 03-25 - 789 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_1 ?Chapter 789: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_1 Chapter 789: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_1 At dusk, having concluded a full day of interactions, and under the guidance of Ye Pinghai, both Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had gained quite a lot¡ªat the very least, in terms of cultivation at the Golden Core Realm, they were no longer at a loss. After a round of polite exchanges, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Shikang and the others, heading to his mother¡¯s cave abode. Since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, more than half a year had passed. He had been busy solidifying his cultivation, and upon leaving seclusion yesterday, he rushed to meet with the elders of the Shi generation, and today he had to visit Ye Pinghai, also exchanging cultivation insights in the process! Up until now, he hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to visit his mother, which could only mean he had been incredibly busy. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, now that he had the time and energy, naturally, he wanted to pay his respects to his mother, fulfilling his duty as a son. With that intent, Lin Tianming came to Ren Yuxuan¡¯s cave abode. ... Lin Shigong, having received word, also rushed over, and three generations of the family gathered together. Regrettably, Lin Xingrong had not returned to the clan for half a year, and Lin Tianyue had been away for many years and hence was absent from this reunion. However, the last time Lin Xingrong had returned was just about half a year ago, when Lin Tianming had already successfully transcended the Heavenly Tribulation; afterward, he went into seclusion to consolidate his cultivation. Therefore, as Lin Tianming¡¯s father and one of the core clan members, Lin Xingrong was naturally aware of his entrance into the Golden Core Stage. When Lin Xingrong learned of Lin Tianming reaching the Golden Core Stage, like the other informed clan members, he was thrilled for quite a while. However, the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s Core Formation was kept highly confidential within the clan, and there were no immediate plans to inform even his sister Lin Tianyue and his mother. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 As for this gathering, it was just an ordinary meetup. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming had dinner with his mother and grandfather, chatted casually for half an hour, and then returned to his own cave abode. Entering the training room, Lin Tianming did not start cultivating immediately, but instead adjusted his state of being. Once he was at his peak condition, Lin Tianming took out the Technique Jade Slip and extended his Divine Sense to examine its contents. Having refined Divine Skills twice before, this time was no different, and he was well-practiced. After only two months of study, Lin Tianming had mastered the third Divine Skill inherent to the cultivation technique. According to the description in the technique, the Divine Skill he learned during the Golden Core Stage was named Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus. This Divine Skill differed from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation primarily trapped enemies, and its offensive power was ordinary in comparison. Yet, that was only relative to other Divine Skills. If one was to compare it solely to the inherent Divine Skills of other Earth Grade techniques, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s offensive power was already formidable. As for the Tiangang Ninth Sword, it was an offense-oriented technique, and the combined power of the nine swords was extremely formidable. He estimated that even the Profound Grade Spirit Art, Great Sun Sword Qi Art, might not surpass the Tiangang Ninth Sword in lethality if he was to unleash his full strength. The Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus had both offensive and defensive qualities. When invoked, it could take on two forms: one being Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus and the other Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. The offensive power of Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus was equally formidable and was capable of widespread damage. When deployed, the Magical Treasure Spirit Sword could draw upon the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth, conjuring countless Sword Qi to form an instantly expanding Sword Qi Lotus. And the power of each lotus sword shadow was no less than that of the Tiangang Ninth Sword, even stronger by a considerable margin. After all, this was a Divine Skill cultivable only at the Golden Core Stage. If it weren¡¯t more powerful than a Divine Skill of the Foundation Establishment Stage, it would seem somewhat unreasonable. As for the other form, Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, it used sword shadows to create a bundle of Sword Qi Lotus, firmly protecting the user within. Each sword shadow carried the force of the earth, offering incredibly powerful defense. Grasping this Divine Skill was not difficult, but mastering it to a level suitable for combat, achieving a beginner¡¯s understanding, required diligent study and practice. To reach the Great Achievement Realm would be even more challenging, possibly unattainable without the right opportunity. However, these were not immediate concerns for Lin Tianming. Currently, he had mastered the basic Law Decree and essentials to invoke this Divine Skill. The next step was to cultivate it to a certain level, otherwise, it would be unusable in battle. Understanding the importance of this, Lin Tianming left seclusion. After notifying the Clan Leader, he went to the inner areas of the Luoyun Mountain Range for training. He chose not to train in the clan¡¯s territory because the number of clansmen had increased, and a large portion of the land had been converted into cave abodes and clan facilities. The area available for Golden Core Cultivators to move around was just a few dozen miles in radius. Such space was sufficient for Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but it was inadequate for a Golden Core Cultivator, drastically restricting their movements. Now that he had reached the Golden Core Stage, his every action possessed the potential to cause a stir. Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan, both in seclusion striving for the Golden Core Stage, undoubtedly preferred to avoid any significant disturbances if possible. Moreover, considering the family had no intention of publicly revealing his and Lin Shikang¡¯s cultivation levels, it was naturally not suitable to cultivate unreservedly within the clan¡¯s territory as he did during the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thus, Lin Tianming decisively decided to leave the clan lands and headed to the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range to cultivate the Divine Skill. This place, located deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range, was riddled with First and Second Order Demonic Beasts; but in the several hundred years since his clan had made their home in Luoyun Mountain, there had never been reports of Third Order Demonic Beasts. Chapter 790 03-25 - 790 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_2 ?Chapter 790: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_2 Chapter 790: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_2 Without high order demonic beasts, it¡¯s naturally unlikely there would be high-grade spiritual medicine and ores, making it difficult to attract the attention of high order cultivators. While cultivating here, there are no cultivators or demonic beasts that could pose a threat to him, ensuring his safety. Furthermore, this place is not far from the clan¡¯s territory; with his current strength, it would take less than two to four hours for him to swiftly return to his clan. Should any accident occur, he could return to the clan¡¯s territory in time, not giving enemies a chance to take advantage. Under such circumstances, the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range act as a natural training ground for Golden Core Cultivators, whether for seclusion or for practicing cultivation methods and divine skills. Upon entering the interior of Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianming encountered quite a few Second Order demonic beasts, among which were powerful species, and the number of tribes was also considerable. Lin Tianming turned a blind eye to this, as long as the demonic beasts didn¡¯t trouble him, he was too lazy to intervene. ... In his view, sparing the lives of these creatures made a suitable training ground for his clan¡¯s Foundation Establishment members. Thus, Lin Tianming silently arrived at the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range, finding a relatively quiet canyon. The spiritual energy here was quite decent for the wilderness, with a Second Order demon beast tribe inhabiting the area. Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival inevitably provoked the attack of this demon beast tribe. However, under his Golden Core stage cultivation, even if the tribe consisted of over a dozen Second Order demonic beasts, they could not cause much upheaval and were easily slain by him. This, in turn, benefited the Purple Gold Eagle, which took the opportunity to devour the bodies and demon beast inner pills, thus utilizing these energies to quicken its advance to the Second Order Late Phase. After arranging for the Purple Gold Eagle to stand guard, Lin Tianming immediately found a concealed spot and began practicing the divine skill, Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and the Tiangang Sword was gripped in his hand, then released and began rotating around him rapidly. Following that, he launched spell incantations one after another, striking the Tiangang Sword with precision. ¡°Humming¡­¡± A pleasant sword humming sound echoed, forming a unique melody in the tranquil canyon. Practicing this divine skill didn¡¯t restrict the choice of weapon; whether using the Tiangang Sword or the Earth Evil Sword, either could be used as a vessel. Since he did not possess a Magical Treasure at the moment, he had to use the Tiangang Sword instead. Once he enhanced the Tiangang Sword to the level of a Magical Treasure or obtained a new one, he would be able to unleash the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus¡¯s greatest power. Regaining his focus and seeing that the Tiangang Sword was activated, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any further. He immediately made odd hand signs and murmured as if chanting a special incantation. As his hand signs and incantation were completed, the sword in front of him sped up even more. After a few breaths, beams of sword light formed shadows resembling lotus flowers. Seeing that the density of the sword shadow lotuses was about to reach the requirements for Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, Lin Tianming waved his hand and shouted aloud. ¡°Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, go!¡± No sooner had he spoken than the original Sword Lotus scattered in all directions, with astonishing speed. Sword shadows shot towards him as well, as if they would hit him too. Caught off guard, Lin Tianming broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, the sword shadows had no effect on him, piercing his body and continuing to shoot toward the back, only stopping after hitting a mountain thousands of feet away. When the sword shadows disappeared into the sky, Lin Tianming finally regained his composure, his face showing thrilling joy. Quickly opening his eyes, he looked at the canyon, now damaged by the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel. ¡°The power of Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus is indeed terrifying; it¡¯s no wonder it¡¯s a divine skill only Golden Core cultivators can practice!¡± Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied with the power and the scene caused by the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus. Although casting spells was still relatively slow and not fatal to Golden Core Cultivators, their power was indeed considerable. Moreover, the attack pattern of the Sword Shadow Lotus in all directions had no weaknesses. As long as he practiced this Divine Skill to the introductory level, it would certainly become one of his strongest offensive methods. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately called back the Tiangang Sword and began practicing over and over again. In the blink of an eye, two months had passed. On this day in the canyon, with a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, a Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus appeared above his head. As he cast the spell incantations and completed the chant, the Sword Lotus formed by the Tiangang Sword burst forth in all directions. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At a glance, each petal of the lotus was like a sharp blade, shooting out towards all directions. Not only that, these terrifying blades moved with incredible speed, even the Spiritual Energy in the air was stirred by the Sword Qi, creating a distinct sound that was somewhat sharp and made one¡¯s heart tremble involuntarily. In less than a breath¡¯s time, the distant valley was struck by the petals of the Sword Lotus and was instantly left riddled with holes. Even some of the peaks were directly cut off by the Sword Qi, becoming bald mountaintops. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at the devastated scene and recalled the essence of the Sword Lotus he had just witnessed, seemingly having reached the introductory level. Besides, the attack speed of the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus was incredibly fast, more than ten times faster than the first time he deployed this Divine Skill. Judging by the speed of casting and the destructive power, this was definitely at the introductory level of the Divine Skill. After practicing hard for two months, he had finally succeeded in practicing the attack Divine Heaven Sword Lotus of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus, smoothly reaching the introductory level and ready to be used against enemies. With this attack Divine Skill, before obtaining a Magical Treasure, facing a Golden Core Cultivator, he finally had the power to fight. Understanding this, a satisfied smile couldn¡¯t help but appear on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Next, he planned to practice the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Only by reaching the introductory level of this defensive Divine Skill would he possess a certain level of offensive and defensive capabilities. Carrying this expectation, Lin Tianming did not intend to waste time and immediately called back the Tiangang Sword. Then, using the method he had previously understood, he activated the Tiangang Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword also rapidly revolved around him, quickly forming a Sword Shadow Lotus. As the number of sword shadows increased, it soon became impenetrable, forming an invisible barrier around him. At this moment, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors within the sword shadows to carefully observe the movements of the Sword Shadow Lotus. The speed of the sword shadows was incredibly fast and dense, almost one ring locking into another, and even under the watchful gaze of the Eye of Five Colors, it was hard to trace. If used for defense, the light shadow formed by the lotus was like a wall in all directions, capable of firmly protecting him from any angle. In his eyes, others did not have special means like the Eye of Five Colors, so breaking through this layer of defense would not be easy. However, this was just his conjecture; without a Golden Core Cultivator attacking, he couldn¡¯t confirm it, and thus, he couldn¡¯t know how effective the defense of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus was. But even without a Golden Core Cultivator to test it out, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t without means to check the defensive effectiveness of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Because he could summon the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox, using their attacks to test whether the defensive power met the requirements. Without hesitation, Lin Tianming summoned the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox and commanded them to fiercely attack the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. With his Golden Core Stage cultivation, coupled with the terrifying physical strength from the Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, there was no need to hold back at all. Soon, both the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao received his instruction and launched their full strength at him. For a moment, the sky was filled with numerous fireballs and silver light clusters, bombarding the Sword Shadow Lotus one after another. Chapter 791 03-25 - 791 427 Entry into Divine Skills Hu Yuan ?Chapter 791: Chapter 427: Entry into Divine Skills, Hu Yuan Golden Core_1 Chapter 791: Chapter 427: Entry into Divine Skills, Hu Yuan Golden Core_1 ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions echoed, as the sky sparkled with light, and flames soared into the heavens. However, the two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts¡¯ attacks did not lessen in intensity. Their continuous barrage was as relentless as flowing water against the defense of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, but they could not inflict any harm at all. All their attacks were shattered by the intangible sword lights and eventually dissipated between heaven and earth. After this trial, Lin Tianming also roughly understood the defensive power of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill. According to his estimate, although the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus could not block the attacks of a Golden Core Cultivator for the time being, Second Order Demonic Beasts would be unable to break it, even in large numbers, they could not easily penetrate the defensive barrier of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. And this was still only his first time using this defensive Divine Skill. The proficiency and defensive strength naturally could not reach the normal standard. Even so, the two Second Order Late-Stage Spirit Beasts were simply incapable of affecting the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus in the slightest. ... You should know that although the attacking power of these two Spirit Beasts could not be compared with Golden Core Cultivators, they were both at the peak of the Second Order, infinitely close to Third Order Demon Beasts. Although their strength was fundamentally different from that of a real Golden Core Cultivator, their combined full-strength attacks could still achieve one-tenth or two of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s power. Despite this, the two Demonic Beasts¡¯ attacks were still unable to disturb the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, even the first time it was invoked, in the slightest. It could even be said that their collision was akin to a mayfly shaking a mountain, hopeless in breaking through. In such a situation, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with the defensive power of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Moreover, he felt some anticipation in his heart. Once he fully mastered this Divine Skill, to what level of defense could he attain? Could he withstand the full assault of a Mid Stage or Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï However, the answer to that question was not yet known. Fearful that he would not see a satisfactory result before his next life-and-death fight. No matter what, his current top priority was not to pursue these answers. The first thing he had to do was to completely master both the offensive and defensive aspects of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus Divine Skills, at least reaching the beginner¡¯s realm for both, before considering his initial goal achieved. And the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus had already reached the beginner¡¯s realm, more than enough to handle skirmishes amongst Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators. Next, as long as he cultivated the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus to the beginner¡¯s realm, he could leave. Realizing this, Lin Tianming continued to practice. Every time, he would deplete about eighty to ninety percent of his mana before meditating to recover. Once he was back to his peak condition, he would then fully immerse himself in practice once more. Under such tireless practice, two months quickly passed by. On this day, within the gorge, Lin Tianming retracted the Tiangang Sword and placed it back into his storage bag. Having done all this, he looked at the completely transformed gorge with a trace of satisfaction on his face. After four strenuous months of ceaseless and tiring practice, he had wholeheartedly immersed himself in the process of mastering this Divine Skill. Thanks to his relentless efforts, he finally mastered both the offensive and defensive aspects of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus, reaching the beginner¡¯s level for both. Now, with the mastery of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus Divine Skills, he also had the means to contend with Golden Core Cultivators. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was very pleased, and immediately set to work tidying the gorge before taking the Purple Gold Eagle on the journey back to the clan grounds. Half a day later. In the dwelling of Lin Shikang in the Lin Family Territory of the Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Tianming and several family members of the Shi generation were sitting together and chatting leisurely. The moment Lin Shikang saw Lin Tianming, he too sensed a special change in him, that particularly sharp aura made him feel very uneasy. But this sensation was elusive and he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what was different. Due to this, Lin Shikang, with a puzzled face, tentatively asked. ¡°Tianming, my boy, have you obtained some powerful Magical Treasure in these past days?¡± ¡°Or have you cultivated some formidable Technique Divine Power?¡± ¡°Why do I feel you¡¯re carrying an invisible oppressive force, a sensation that makes my heart skip a beat!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly. After much thought, he believed that the Lin Family already had some means of self-protection, and it was not necessary to keep things too hidden from the core senior members of the family. Therefore, he revealed a bit about the Cultivation Technique and Divine Skills he had been practicing. However, he did not disclose the rank of the technique; after all, it was a Heavenly Grade Technique. Even within the entire Wei Kingdom, it might be hard to find one Heavenly Grade Technique. The news was indeed too shocking, enough to astound Lin Shikang, who had reached the Golden Core Stage, as well. In this situation, Lin Tianming simply hinted at the terrifying nature of the technique without going into too much detail. Yet, even so, with the insight of Lin Shikang and others, they could somewhat guess that the technique Lin Tianming was practicing was extraordinary, at least starting from Earth Grade, otherwise, he would not possess such fearsome power to leap ranks. Nevertheless, even after surmising this, including Lin Shigong, they all tacitly skated over the issue, not inquiring further into Lin Tianming¡¯s techniques. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In their view, as long as it was beneficial to the family, it was better to remain unaware. After all, there are no impervious walls in the world, and Lin Tianming had already attained Golden Core Stage Cultivation, acting with a mature style, handling every matter with a sense of measure. Chapter 792 03-25 - 792 427 Introduction to Divine Skills Hu ?Chapter 792: Chapter 427: Introduction to Divine Skills, Hu Yuan¡¯s Golden Core_2 Chapter 792: Chapter 427: Introduction to Divine Skills, Hu Yuan¡¯s Golden Core_2 Since he himself did not elaborate further, it naturally indicated that the time had not yet come. Thus, pressing him excessively on this matter was meaningless and would only increase the risk of exposure. And so, several centuries-old foxes, cognizant of the situation, wisely chose to keep their lips sealed and promptly shifted the topic of conversation. Lin Tianming, for his part, was quite pleased with this outcome and subsequently inquired about the seclusion of Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan. According to Lin Shihua, Hu Yuan had actually passed the Threefold Heavenly Tribulation half a month ago, smoothly entering the Golden Core Stage. For Lin Tianming, this news was nothing short of shocking, and he found it difficult to calm his heart for a long time afterward. In his eyes, breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was indeed challenging, especially with the existence of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation as the biggest impediment. ... Yet Hu Yuan, a Loose Cultivator with no remarkable Four Arts of Cultivation, could not possibly compare in wealth and value to the rest of them. Although he possessed a Fruit of Fortuity, his age at the time of breakthrough was not considered young. Under such conditions, Hu Yuan had still managed to successfully traverse the Heavenly Tribulation. The result was indeed a surprise for quite some time. However, as Lin Shihua explained, although Hu Yuan survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, he had almost lost his life in the process and suffered severe injuries as a result. If it weren¡¯t for Ye Pinghai¡¯s timely rescue and the assistance of Third Order Pills he had concocted, otherwise, even if Hu Yuan were to recover, it would certainly take a very long time, possibly leaving lasting impairments, drastically reducing his strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Nevertheless, overall, as long as Hu Yuan had a breath left in him, he could return to his peak condition. This outcome, whether for him personally or for the Lin Family, was an immense joy. At this moment, Hu Yuan was also in seclusion, consolidating his cultivation, which could take as short as half a year or as long as a year or even more, so it was likely he would not emerge anytime soon. Therefore, Lin Shihua had arranged for clan members to guard outside his cave dwelling, treating him with the highest courtesy. After all, now that Hu Yuan had reached the Golden Core Stage, a cultivator of such a realm, even within the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, would not be slighted easily but would instead be eagerly courted. The Lin Family having gained an early advantage and having reached an agreement with Hu Yuan naturally wanted to maintain this relationship well, so that if the family faced a crisis in the future, there would be someone to lend a hand. With this in mind, Lin Shihua certainly took extra care in making the arrangements for Hu Yuan. This planning of his also received the approval from Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming, and they felt increasingly reassured about Lin Shihua¡¯s role as the Clan Leader. With Hu Yuan¡¯s matter drawing to a close, the conversation among them shifted towards Lin Shilu. According to Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu¡¯s seclusion seemed to have made significant progress, with the Spiritual Energy at his place of seclusion extremely rich, all going smoothly. It seemed likely that he wouldn¡¯t take long to attract the Golden Core Tribulation. Hearing this news, Lin Tianming was also extremely excited. In his view, the Lin Family had continued to receive good news over the last decade. From Ye Pinghai at the start, to Lin Shikang and himself, along with the deeply connected Hu Yuan, all managed to successfully break through to the Golden Core Stage within a short span of ten years. Speaking of which, ten years for a cultivator is not a long time; even for regular Qi Refining Cultivators, ten years are merely enough for advancing two or three minor stages. Yet, for the Lin Family, this brief decade marked tremendous change. It could even be said to exceed everyone¡¯s imagination. Indeed, thinking about the present, both the overall strength of the Lin Family and their external support were growing at an explosive rate. Next, Lin Shilu was also about to reach this stage, and considering his potential and strength, his chances of overcoming the Tribulation were not small. Once Lin Shilu successfully entered the Golden Core Stage, the strength of the Lin Family would further increase, bringing them ever closer to the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. The thought of these filled Lin Tianming with an indescribable excitement, and his heart swelled with pride and relief in turn. And it wasn¡¯t just him, Lin Shikang and the others felt similarly. As for who in the Lin Family was most surprised by such an outcome, it had to be the few surviving members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation. If time were to revert to forty years ago, in their wildest dreams, they wouldn¡¯t have imagined that the Lin Family could return to the pinnacle of a Golden Core Family in such a short span of time. What was even more unimaginable was that there would be two or three Golden Core Cultivators within the Lin Family, and with the assistance of some deeply connected external forces, the Lin Family could even come close to matching the overall strength of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. And this outcome was about to be realized. When they thought back on it, they couldn¡¯t help but feel it was a bit incredible. As the excitement of the group gradually subsided, Lin Tianming shifted the topic, inquiring about the movements between the Three Great Sects. At present, the eyes of the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, including that of the Lin Family, were fixed on the great battle between the three sects. In response to Lin Tianming¡¯s questions, Lin Shihua also spoke up, sharing the news he had gathered over the past six months. According to him, the battle between the three sects seemed to have escalated further, though initially, the Golden Core Cultivators had held back, sparing only some Qi Refining Cultivators or Foundation Establishment Cultivators. But now, fierce battles between Golden Core Cultivators occurred frequently, and what was once a standstill defense by the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators, seemingly unable to sustain the consumption, had unexpectedly led to a preemptive strike. After a fierce battle, the originally evenly matched situation started to experience significant casualties. According to the latest news from Qianchuan Market, the intensity of that battle far exceeded any previous one. The outcome was that Dong Wenchang from the Golden Sword Sect camp perished, while Chen Jingtian, who supported Myriad Medicine Valley, was gravely injured. Fortunately, they had retreated in time, merely seizing the advantage and leaving, and with the existence of the Mountain Protection Array, even though the Golden Sword Sect was enraged, there was no immediate solution. As for the injuries suffered by Chen Jingtian, there were conditions for recovery, and given a few months, he would certainly be able to return to his peak. At this point, Lin Tianming, upon hearing these pieces of news, pondered with a sense of helplessness about the current situation. However, in his heart, he knew that the current chaotic situation would not stop, and judging by the modus operandi of the Blood Cult Alliance, they would not easily give up. Thinking of these, he began to feel a subtle sense of crisis looming over him, causing him to feel suffocated at all times. This feeling was peculiar, inexplicable, yet it genuinely affected him. At this moment, after much consideration, Lin Tianming believed that the Lin Family could not afford to sit and wait for doom. Even if they did not actively reveal their strength, at the very least, they needed to stay informed with the latest news to give the family some reaction time. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming then made a suggestion, ¡°Elders, Tianming would like to take a trip to Qianchuan Market to see the current external situation for myself, and then to find out the latest news!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua was taken aback, seemingly realizing something, and hurriedly interrupted him. ¡°Tianming, the Cultivation World is too chaotic now. Even though you have broken through to the Golden Core Stage, without a handy Magical Treasure, your strength is probably still less than those of the veteran Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators. ¡°If you¡¯re unlucky and run into an old monster at the Golden Core Mid-Late Stage, it would be too dangerous!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Tianming also began to express his thoughts, comprehensively analyzing the current situation of the three sects and explaining the Lin Family¡¯s stance. Following that, he continued, ¡°Although it¡¯s chaotic and dangerous outside, there isn¡¯t a main force of the Golden Sword Sect nearby Zhenyang Sect.¡± ¡°And I will only be roaming around Qianchuan Market, not venturing near the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, let alone the front-line Qingshui Market.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°With my strength, even without the augmentation of Magical Treasures, if not defeating a Golden Core Mid Stage Cultivator, I am at least confident of escaping for my life!¡± ¡°Furthermore, the Lin Family is not the weak family it used to be, and with Fifteenth Grandfather on the verge of the Heavenly Tribulation, the Lin Family must also take initiative, to try and seize any possible advantage. This way, when a crisis does come, we won¡¯t be caught off guard!¡± Lin Tianming spoke earnestly, his expression full of determination. Lin Shikang and the others fell silent upon hearing his words, not immediately rejecting his idea, evidently making their own judgments. Chapter 793 03-25 - 793 428 Leaving the Clan_1 ?Chapter 793: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_1 Chapter 793: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_1 ¡°` After some time, Lin Shikang was the first to express his position, agreeing to Lin Tianming¡¯s decision. In his eyes, Lin Tianming was indeed a reliable person, and the oppressive feeling during their meeting only convinced him more of Lin Tianming¡¯s extraordinary strength. Besides, the Lin Family had been in silence for so long that it indeed needed to change and required accurate information to ensure they wouldn¡¯t be helpless when facing a crisis. Lin Shikang¡¯s prompt agreement to his plan took Lin Tianming by surprise. However, since Lin Shikang had agreed, the two other members of the Lin Family, Lin Shihua and another, despite their concerns, found it inappropriate to say anything against it. Soon, they reached a unanimous decision, deciding to let Lin Tianming go to Qianchuan Market to gather information about the Cultivation World. They were clear about their demands, however, he must not go to the dangerous front lines nor approach the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, to avoid exposing the Lin Family¡¯s strength and inadvertently dragging the family into an unnecessary war too early. ... In addition, he must not be gone for too long, he must return to the Clan Territory within three months. To these conditions, Lin Tianming simply smiled indifferently, showing no sign of objection. In his eyes, since he was to gather intelligence, he certainly had to hide his cultivation, and three months was enough time for such a mission, so there was no need to say more. With the matter settled, Lin Tianming decided to set off the next day. He and several elders set the date for his departure, chatted for a bit, and then dispersed. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 The next morning. At dawn, the sunlight spread over the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory just like any other day, and the cultivators within the Lin Family began their bustling day. At this moment, large numbers of clan members were busily moving about every corner of the Clan Territory, presenting a sight of prosperity. And at that time, high above the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming sat quietly on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, silently gliding over the land. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The busy clan members below were none the wiser, preoccupied with their tasks, while Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle headed north toward Qianchuan Market. With his cultivation having advanced to the Golden Core Stage, Lin Tianming had moved beyond the level of Sword Flight. His own mana was more than adequate to handle long-distance travel. Yet, despite this, he chose not to fly on his own and exert himself, instead using the Purple Gold Eagle to make the journey. Although the Purple Gold Eagle was somewhat slower than flying using his own mana, it had greater stamina, capable of continuous flight without the need to stop and recover due to depleted beast energy. Since he had a Purple Gold Eagle innate with the ability to fly, and its speed was not much slower than his own, he saw no need to unnecessarily expend mana and draw attention to himself. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t he just be unnecessarily revealing that he was at the Golden Core Stage Cultivation? Thus, Lin Tianming concealed his true cultivation, revealing only the aura of a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and rode the Purple Gold Eagle towards Qianchuan Market. The next day, around noon, Lin Tianming arrived at Golden Horn Mountain smoothly. Though he and the Purple Gold Eagle were both still in peak condition after only a day¡¯s journey, he decided to rest here for a short night. The reason was that he had plenty of time and didn¡¯t need to rush the journey of a day and a half. Additionally, having not visited Golden Horn Mountain for several years, he also wanted to see how Lin Tianqin was doing after so long. Beyond that, he also had to hand over a portion of the cultivation resources brought from his family to Lin Tianqin, who was stationed there, so she could distribute them to the clan members living there. With these intentions, he greeted the patrol members of the clan and entered the inner part of the Clan Territory, then navigated through several key institutions. As he looked at the unfamiliar scenes before him and compared them with his memories, he noticed a significant difference in the layout. Several years before, when he participated in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm experience, he had passed by this place and even stayed for a night. At that time, however, he was just passing through to rest and had not paid close attention to any changes in Golden Horn Mountain. Nowadays, taking advantage of the early times, he deliberately took a big tour inside Golden Horn Mountain. After his inspection, he didn¡¯t expect that Golden Horn Mountain, which he hadn¡¯t looked at closely for over a decade, had changed so much. Not only was the spiritual energy denser, but the houses and buildings that were damaged in the great wars had all been newly rebuilt. Beyond that, the entire layout of Golden Horn Mountain had undergone many changes, with a large amount of Spirit Land being converted into Spirit Fields, where the lush Spiritual Medicines emitted fragrances that drifted with the breeze. Just sniffing it made one feel refreshed and invigorated. Clearly, with the passage of time, the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory had changed quite a bit. New courtyards were planned and constructed, and some of the vacant lands had been turned into Spirit Fields planted with various Spiritual Medicines and Fruits. In addition, over the years, the family had massively expanded the Spirit Land outside and even relocated many clan members to settle in these family-controlled Spirit Lands. Golden Horn Mountain was one of the Spirit Lands that the family valued the most. They invested a large amount of resources and sent many clan members to live there. After more than ten years of development, they had achieved such results, thanks to the clan members who came to live there. Now, the thriving scene before him, compared to the time when he took charge, was much more vibrant and full of life, and it had an additional touch of agility. Seeing these changes, Lin Tianming had a satisfied smile on his face. ¡°` Chapter 794 03-25 - 794 428 Leaving the Clan_2 ?Chapter 794: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_2 Chapter 794: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_2 ¡°` As the inspection came to an end, the sky also gradually darkened. At this time, noticing that evening was approaching, Lin Tianming promptly sent a message to Lin Tianqin. Shortly after, he met this cousin of his, as well as two other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, in the cultivation chamber where Lin Tianqin was in seclusion. Having not seen her for several years, Lin Tianqin¡¯s cultivation had improved rapidly and she had reached the peak of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Her aura was incredibly robust, indicating that her foundation was exceptionally solid. If this trend continued, perhaps within a year, Lin Tianqin would surely step into the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment Realm. Beyond that, her skills in alchemy had also greatly improved, and she had become a Second Order Alchemist quite some time ago. It was likely that after so many years, reaching Second Order Medium Quality would not be difficult. Apart from her, the other two Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also from the Tian generation of the clan, having caught the most prosperous time of the family. Only a few years younger than Lin Tianming, they reaped the benefits during the family¡¯s period of rapid development. ... Now in their forties, they have reached the realm of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, clearly also among the talented in the clan. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seemed that as the Tian generation entered their prime, a new generation of Chang generation clan members had already emerged three years ago. And this Tian generation was gradually becoming the backbone of the clan, guarding the family¡¯s main industries. Just like Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Tianhong, even at the lowest, they had reached the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment. At such an age, they were already in charge of the Qianchuan Market, even extending to the Golden Horn Mountain. Now it seemed that the Tian generation had slowly taken over the elders¡¯ tasks, bearing the weighty responsibility of the family¡¯s rise. At this time, seeing that Lin Tianqin and the others had not fallen behind in their cultivation, and considering the changes they had brought to this place over the years, Lin Tianming felt genuinely relieved at their contributions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? After exchanging greetings, they shared some information, especially on the details of the internal affairs of the family and the external forces. Hearing of the great wars among the three sects, Lin Tianqin remained quite calm. In her view, the Lin Family was a minor outlier in such a resource-scarce area with no chance of attracting the attention or ire of other Golden Core forces. Little did she know the changes that had occurred in the Lin Family over the past ten years, or could she have imagined that the family had already gained two members who had entered the Golden Core Stage, with the steadfast support of two other Golden Core Cultivators. If one day she were to find out the inside story, she probably would be utterly astonished. In this regard, Lin Tianming was keen to share the good news with her, but considering the sensitive situation of the Lin Family at present, he continued to keep his lips sealed and did not reveal a hint of information to her. Lin Tianqin, kept in the dark, continued to caution him to be careful when outside, as if it were still the same decades ago when they were in the Qi Refinement Realm. This kind of admonishment was exactly like that of an elder sister. Facing the nagging Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianming quickly promised to be cautious, which finally reassured his caring cousin. To Lin Tianming, Lin Tianqin¡¯s concerns did not feel bothersome at all; instead, his heart warmed up, filled with comfort. Recalling his early days on the path of immortality, Lin Tianqin had given him a lot of help. Her straightforward personality, combined with her role as the elder sister of the Tian generation, meant she was exceptionally warm-hearted toward her younger clan brothers and sisters, providing them with help to the best of her ability. From her perspective, she certainly did what she ought to do. Even now, as Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation far surpassed her own, Lin Tianqin did not forget to offer her advice. This caring gesture was exactly what an elder sister should do. And such a scene also reflected the charm of familial affection. Lin Tianming deeply appreciated this, and without stinginess, he took out some elixirs and Second Order talisman paper that he no longer needed and shared them with his fellow clan members. Initially resistant to Lin Tianming¡¯s gifts, Lin Tianqin even promptly refused them. Only after Lin Tianming mentioned he had reached the Great Perfection realm of Foundation Establishment and no longer needed the spiritual objects for that stage, did she reluctantly accept them. In her heart, she couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how terrifying Lin Tianming¡¯s talent truly was! Her thinking was not strange at all: after all, Lin Tianming was only in his forties and had been cultivating for just over thirty years, yet he had reached such a realm of Great Perfection in Foundation Establishment. Such a speed of cultivation was indeed frightening. ¡°` One must know that after reaching the late stages of Foundation Establishment, progressing to each new level is not an easy feat; even at the Foundation Establishment fifth level realm, she had already experienced the hardships. Yet, Lin Tianming seemed to have no bottlenecks, his cultivation soared through the ranks. Speeding through cultivation was one thing, but surpassing cultivators of the same order in strength was another. His battle achievements were simply too dazzling, dominating the beast tide wars with the strength of the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. Beyond that, in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, he similarly outshone a group of genius cultivators from the three sects, achieving unprecedented battle results. Being able to do this at his age and level of cultivation already proved his potential and talent. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianqin grew increasingly admiring of Lin Tianming. Beyond admiration, there was a greater sense of relief and pride for the Lin Family to have such a clansman. With these emotions, Lin Tianming and the others engaged in deep conversation until late into the night. In the meantime, he also offered several pointers on cultivation, including Alchemy, and was equally generous with his guidance to Lin Tianqin. With his true cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, coupled with the experience of a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, guiding them was a breeze. That night, Lin Tianqin and the other two benefited greatly until Lin Tianming suggested they rest, and only then did they reluctantly bid farewell and leave. Lin Tianming, too, did not linger long; after leaving Lin Tianqin¡¯s cave dwelling, he headed for rest as arranged by his clansmen. The next morning. He left the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory and once again mounted the Purple Gold Eagle, flying towards Qianchuan Market. Another six days passed. With the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s full-speed flight, he successfully arrived at the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. Along the way, he had passed through the Hengyang and Luoyang mountain ranges, paying close attention to the changes in these areas. After his reconnaissance, he obtained scant information, which was hardly useful at all. It seemed that, despite their closer proximity to Qianchuan Market than the Luoyun Mountain Range, their overall strength was too weak, and their intelligence was not as informed as that of the Lin Family. Besides that, these two mountain ranges were relatively calm internally, with all the major family forces focused on closed-door cultivation, and there was little interaction between cultivators¡ªhardly anyone engaged in long-distance activities unless necessary. Such changes, however, were within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the current state of the Cultivation World was unstable, and with the pretext of the great war among the three sects, the Zhenyang Sect had drafted many Foundation Establishment Cultivators for the war, not sparing even the stronger Qi Refining Families. Under such circumstances, these family forces were weakened and all striving for their own protection; who would seek trouble at such a critical juncture? This response from the major family forces was naturally within reason. On this trip to Qianchuan, the journey took less time than before, arriving three days earlier than usual. It seems that as the realm and strength of the Purple Gold Eagle improved, and with his Golden Core Stage cultivation to reinforce it, even flying has become unimpeded. With such conditions, they were able to travel from the clan territory to Qianchuan Market in just seven days. Should the realm of the Purple Gold Eagle step further, it¡¯s conceivable that the flight speed could be improved again. By then, reaching Qianchuan Market within five days might not be impossible. Considering this, Lin Tianming planned to help the Purple Gold Eagle advance to the late Second Order phase once he returned home, especially since he had plenty of Second Order Demonic Beast corpses on hand. With such a vast resource support, the advancement of the Purple Gold Eagle into the late Second Order phase was merely a matter of time. Refocusing his thoughts, Lin Tianming looked at the familiar market wall in front of him, then carefully scrutinized it, hoping to discern something from its exterior. Chapter 795 03-25 - 795 429 Intelligence_1 ?Chapter 795: Chapter 429 Intelligence_1 Chapter 795: Chapter 429 Intelligence_1 Gazing out, the Qianchuan Market at this moment exuded an air of solemnity. Although the entrance to the market was not closed, the number of people coming and going had drastically decreased, not even one third of the normal traffic. It seemed that as the war between the three sects entered an intense phase, even this medium-sized market at the southernmost part of the Wei Kingdom had become more vigilant. Lin Tianming looked for a long while and, finding nothing unusual, noted only that the Zhenyang Sect disciples responsible for checking were quite strict. Considering the current circumstances, such actions were not at all surprising. Realizing this, Lin Tianming quickly scouted around and, assured that there was nothing amiss, he also flew towards the entrance. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance. ... With hardly anyone queuing to enter or exit, Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival quickly caught the attention of several Zhenyang Sect disciples responsible for the inspection. Among this group was Wang Zhi, one of the Market City Supervisors. Seeing Lin Tianming, Wang Zhi hurried over, seemingly recognizing Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, long time no see, are you well?¡± Wang Zhi¡¯s tone was familiar; it seemed he had not noticed that Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation had reached the Golden Core Stage, otherwise his attitude wouldn¡¯t be one of peers. But that was to be expected, after all, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was very strong, at least far surpassing that of cultivators of the same level. If he didn¡¯t want to reveal his true cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, even a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator present would find it hard to detect his true level without him taking action. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Therefore, Wang Zhi, being at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, naturally could not detect anything unusual. At this time, faced with Wang Zhi¡¯s courteous words, Lin Tianming responded with a faint smile. ¡°Daoist Wang, I didn¡¯t expect you to personally guard the market entrance. It seems your sect is really on high alert!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah¡­ there¡¯s no helping it!¡± Wang Zhi gave a resigned smile and then continued, ¡°Golden Sword Sect is coming on strong. Things have been calm here for a few years, but we can¡¯t be too careless!¡± ¡°The sect arranged for several Market City Supervisors to take turns guarding. I must carry out my duties!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that the higher-ups of Zhenyang Sect were indeed wise and had made the right decision. Otherwise, they might have suffered significant losses during Golden Sword Sect¡¯s first wave of attacks a few years ago. Fortunately, Golden Sword Sect¡¯s first target was not the Zhenyang Sect, otherwise the outcome might have been unpredictable. However, even understanding this, Lin Tianming did not say much, to avoid unnecessary trouble. ¡°Daoist Yang, the decisions made by your sect¡¯s elders are wise. Now that Golden Sword Sect is mired and unable to extricate itself, I believe it won¡¯t be long before they are thoroughly defeated!¡± ¡°By that time, after years of heavy losses, Myriad Medicine Valley will weaken, and Zhenyang Sect will surely seize the opportunity to rise!¡± Lin Tianming complimented him, using his words to probe Wang Zhi, to see if he might reveal any specific details about the war. As expected, upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Wang Zhi helplessly said, ¡°Lin, your thinking is too simplistic!¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Lin Tianming looked curiously, casually pulling Wang Zhi aside, while also handing him a storage bag without being noticed. Seeing this gesture, Wang Zhi smiled and then continued, ¡°According to our sect¡¯s reports, the battlefield at Myriad Medicine Valley has gained some advantages for a while, but it seems Golden Sword Sect has no intention of retreating.¡± ¡°This way, it appears Blood Red Alliance will probably have to intensify their efforts!¡± ¡°And Myriad Medicine Valley does not have an absolute advantage. At this rate, the situation still remains unclear and the battlefield might even expand.¡± Hearing Wang Zhi¡¯s series of remarks indeed matched Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ speculations. At this time, Lin Tianming, with a solemn expression, exchanged a few words with Wang Zhi, subtly inquiring about the news of the war. A short while later. Unable to glean more information, Lin Tianming, with a cupped-fist salute, bade farewell to Wang Zhi and then entered the Qianchuan Market itself. Inside the market, Lin Tianming wandered through the streets, scrutinizing the changes within. Upon exploring, he realized that the buzz of the Qianchuan Market had significantly diminished, with the once bustling streets now quiet. It looked like with the outbreak of the three sects¡¯ war, many cultivators had answered the Recruitment Order and plenty of Loose Cultivators, fearing the market might be attacked by Golden Sword Sect, had temporarily left the area. Furthermore, prices for various resources during the time of war had begun to soar. As a result, Qianchuan Market lost its original commercial value. With this, a large number of cultivators ceased to move about, creating a shortage of materials and leading to a steep drop in foot traffic at the entire Qianchuan Market. In contrast, smaller markets situated in various mountain ranges saw a slight increase in traffic since they were less likely to be targeted by Golden Sword Sect due to their insignificance. Luoyun Market, controlled by the Lin Family, was a prime example. This situation fell within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Before he knew it, Lin Tianming had toured the entire market. Whenever he encountered familiar cultivators, he would approach them to exchange a few words and inquire about the news within the cultivation world. These people were not of high status, and their cultivations were mediocre at best, knowing very limited information. Indeed, for him, they were hardly of any use at all. Consequently, Lin Tianming lost interest in continuing and subsequently returned to the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Chapter 796 03-25 - 796 429 Intelligence_2 ?Chapter 796: Chapter 429 Intelligence_2 Chapter 796: Chapter 429 Intelligence_2 Having received his message, Lin Xingrong immediately came out of seclusion with Lin Tianyue and a few others. Several Foundation Establishment Cultivators from their clan greeted each other and then sat down in the small courtyard for a casual chat. It had been a long time since they last met, and Lin Xingrong had now reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong were not far behind, both also possessing the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer. It seemed that their progress had slowed down a bit over the years. However, this was quite normal since it naturally becomes more difficult to break through the last few layers of the Foundation Establishment stage compared to the earlier ones. Nevertheless, managing to improve by two layers of cultivation over these years was already quite commendable. While Lin Tianming was sizing them up, Lin Xingrong glanced at Lin Tianming and a look of satisfaction flashed across his face. ... After all, this was the first reunion between father and son since Lin Tianming¡¯s successful Core Formation. Up until now, their excitement surged once again with Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival. And among those present, only Lin Xingrong was privy to the truth. Even Lin Tianyue was kept in the dark. As a result, Lin Tianyue and the others seemed rather normal, bombarding Lin Tianming with numerous questions without showing any signs of peculiarity. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Xingrong also began to inquire about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions for visiting. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and briefly explained his purpose. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingrong remained very calm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s true cultivation level, upon hearing that he intended to travel around, Lin Tianyue and the others immediately became nervous, even going as far as to repeatedly attempt to persuade him otherwise. Seeing their concern, Lin Tianming could only smile helplessly, claiming that he had reached the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and even if he confronted an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he wouldn¡¯t be completely powerless. Besides, he mentioned that he wouldn¡¯t be going to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, nor would he visit Qingshui Market. With Lin Xingrong¡¯s few words of persuasion, they were finally reassured. After chatting idly for a while, Lin Tianming handed over a batch of treasured resources brought by the family into Lin Xingrong¡¯s hands. The quantity of these resources was substantial. Apart from a portion allocated for their own cultivation, most of the items, of average value, were meant for sale at Luoyun Pavilion. Owing to the constraints of the Three Sects¡¯ great battle over the past few years, Lin Xingrong¡¯s visits to the clan¡¯s territory had also become scarce. Consequently, the inventory at Luoyun Pavilion faced some shortages. Now, with the addition of this batch of treasures, there was no need to worry about the lack of items to sell for the coming year or two. Lin Xingrong also inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s plans going forward, so he could make timely preparations for the spirit stones and resources to be brought back to the clan¡¯s territory. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming contemplated for a moment and decided to stay at Qianchuan Market for ten days to half a month. During this time, he planned to visit Tang Xiuyuan of Sky Dragon Pavilion, as well as some other familiar cultivators. By doing this, he was also aiming to gather some intelligence by any means possible. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming then announced his plans. After a bit more idle talk, everyone went back to their respective cave abodes. Lin Tianming entered his room and lay directly on the stone bed, soon falling into a deep sleep. The next morning, Lin Tianming arrived early at Sky Dragon Pavilion. Guided by a Qi Refinement attendant on the first floor, Lin Tianming quickly met with Tang Xiuyuan, the person he came to visit, in a private room on the second floor. On seeing Lin Tianming, Tang Xiuyuan was extremely excited. In his eyes, Lin Tianming and the Lin Family were major patrons, especially since the family had purchased a large number of treasured resources through him over the years. With these benefits, he was able to earn a substantial income, nearly accumulating enough contribution points to exchange for a Golden Core Pill. The Golden Core Pill, a pill that aids in Core Formation, is as effective, if not more so, than ordinary Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Thus, the value of the Golden Core Pill is high, and even within the extensive Tang Family, it is a limited and precious resource. Given his rather average talent, and being only middling within the Tang Family, it was only with the more effective Golden Core Pill that he would have a fairly strong chance of successfully entering the Golden Core Stage. With this goal in mind, he had persevered for decades in Qianchuan Market, rising from a common executive officer to a branch decision-maker. Next, as long as he persisted for another ten-plus years in Qianchuan Market, he would accumulate enough contribution points to apply for a transfer to a much larger market and assume the role of an executive officer for Sky Dragon Pavilion. Once he left Qianchuan Market, he planned to prepare for the impact of the Golden Core Stage. If all went well, he would then enter the higher echelons of the Tang Family. Otherwise, even if he was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, he would merely be an ordinary member of the Tang Family. Being fully aware of this, Tang Xiuyuan was extremely courteous towards Lin Tianming, showing none of the typical arrogance of Tang family members. The reason for this wasn¡¯t solely because the Lin Family had brought him benefits, but more importantly because Lin Tianming possessed high talent and even stronger abilities. The current Lin Tianming gave him a subtle sense of pressure, a mysterious feeling that truly existed. Realizing this, he knew Lin Tianming¡¯s power had become even more unfathomable. After exchanging some pleasantries, Tang Xiuyuan cut straight to the point and inquired about the purpose of Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Seeing his direct approach, Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush either and openly inquired about the war situation between the three Great Sects. Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression turned grave, seemingly in possession of some significant intelligence. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also looked puzzled and quickly pressed for answers. After much thought, Tang Xiuyuan slowly said, ¡°Daoist Lin, it seems that the Blood Red Alliance is on the move!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming, full of curiosity, earnestly said, ¡°Daoist Tang, please relay any information you know promptly, I shall be most grateful!¡± ¡°Heh¡­ No need to mention rewards, Daoist Lin, our Tang Family¡¯s business spans all the major countries of Qingzhou, and we did indeed notice some activities recently.¡± ¡°What kind of activities?¡± Lin Tianming immediately perked up with interest and hastily urged for details. ¡°It appears that among the four Great Sects of Huangyang Kingdom, three Golden Elixir Forces seem to be secretly amassing strength.¡± ¡°At such a juncture, with the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in disarray, and the early beast tide already having caused significant losses, the emergence of such developments in neighboring Huangyang Kingdom is enough to put Wei Kingdom on high alert.¡± Having said this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression relaxed somewhat, and then he added another comment. ¡°Of course, this is just a guess from our Sky Dragon Pavilion; after all, who the three Golden Elixir Forces are aiming at is still up for debate!¡± ¡°It may just be that we¡¯re worrying unnecessarily!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming looked somber, weighing the possibility of this matter in his heart. In his view, the Wei Kingdom was indeed weak, and even without a rift between the three Great Sects, their remaining power was far less formidable compared to before the beast tide. Not to mention the fact that Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance had now joined forces, placing themselves in opposition to Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect. Furthermore, during peacetime, the collective power of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom was said to be inferior to that of the Huangyang Country Cultivation World next door. In the past, when facing the invasion of foreign enemies, the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom, despite their differences, would unite and confront the threat together. Now, however, Wei Kingdom was nearly falling apart internally; if it were to draw the attention of Huangyang Kingdom as well, there might well be a probability of complete annihilation. If that were to happen, the Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom would undoubtedly become even more chaotic. What¡¯s more, Wei Kingdom shared a substantial border with Huangyang Kingdom, with at least a few mountain ranges that partly straddled Huangyang territory. The Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family was located, was one of these border areas. If Huangyang Kingdom were to invade through the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family¡¯s situation would become perilous. One could imagine that once Huangyang Kingdom invaded, there would certainly be Golden Core Cultivators leading the charge; if each of the three sects dispatched two Golden Core Cultivators, there would be six in action. With such an imposing force and without the protection of a Third Order Great Array, the Lin Family would likely be trampled flat within a few days if they faced an offensive from six Golden Core Cultivators. Upon this realization, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, and his heart was greatly shaken. Chapter 797 03-25 - 797 430 Lin Tianmings Anxiety_1 ?Chapter 797: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_1 Chapter 797: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_1 At this moment, Tang Xiuyuan also thought of the location of Luoyun Mountain, and upon seeing the rapidly changing expression on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, he seemed to have realized something. Immediately after, Tang Xiuyuan, knowing he had misspoken, gave a helpless and embarrassed smile, then spoke up to console Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, don¡¯t overthink it. The movements of Huangyang Kingdom don¡¯t necessarily mean anything. After all, they have their own hostile forces, and their relations with the cultivation worlds of the neighboring countries aren¡¯t that great either. Maybe they have other intentions towards other countries!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was unconvinced, always feeling a sense of urgency in his heart. This feeling was peculiar; an instinctive sense made him certain that the movements of Huangyang Kingdom were not unfounded. The thought alone made Lin Tianming somewhat anxious. But realistically, the situation was still uncertain. The news had not yet been confirmed, and indeed, Huangyang Kingdom was beset on all sides. Despite being somewhat stronger overall than Wei Kingdom, in the grand scheme of Jingzhou, they were still at the bottom. ... If the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom were to invade, they surely wouldn¡¯t commit all their forces. As long as it wasn¡¯t three or four Golden Core Cultivators making a move, the Lin Family still had the strength to fight. Realizing this, Lin Tianming finally felt a weight lift from his heart. However, no matter the circumstances, he couldn¡¯t stay in Qianchuan Market too long; he had to return to his clan¡¯s territory as soon as possible. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only by sitting in charge personally could he truly feel at ease. Understanding this importance, Lin Tianming continued to inquire with Tang Xiuyuan about everything from the great war between the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom to the various changes occurring within the entire Cultivation World, asking for clear details. After half an hour, Lin Tianming finally bid farewell to Tang Xiuyuan. Before leaving Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming spent over a hundred thousand spirit stones, purchasing a large number of treasures from Tang Xiuyuan, all of which were cultivation resources for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï In addition, he also reached a preliminary intention for cooperation with Tang Xiuyuan. Once the great war among the Three Sects ended and the Cultivation World returned to tranquility, the Lin Family needed to step up cooperation with Sky Dragon Pavilion on a foundational level, mutually trading various resources to establish a long-term partnership. This move was mutually beneficial for both Tang Xiuyuan and the Lin Family. After all, the Lin Family was gradually rising, and the number of clan members had broken through a thousand, with the foreseeable future only seeing an increase. Perhaps in less than a hundred years, the Lin Family might even develop into a clan with a scale of ten thousand people. But while this goal was still distant, a scale of three to five thousand was not difficult to achieve in a short time. Such a large clan would require a vast amount of resources to sustain. If new ways to earn spirit stones were not found, once the resources accumulated over the years ran out, it¡¯s feared the development momentum of the Lin Family would decline. And it would be too much of a pity if the Lin Family, after decades of arduous efforts, were to fall short due to inadequate sustainability. Therefore, they had to plan ahead, expand the Lin Family¡¯s business, and allow the Lin Family¡¯s stores to initially branch out into the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If possible, when the conditions were right, they would even consider penetrating into the neighboring countries. This grand plan was also the result of discussions with several senior members of the clan. As for this trip to Qianchuan Market, besides seeking information, cooperating with Sky Dragon Pavilion was one of the goals. However, with the current instability in the Cultivation World, a deep partnership with Sky Dragon Pavilion seemed unrealistic. But laying a solid foundation first would make it faster and more effective to achieve the intended outcomes in future collaborations. With this in mind, Lin Tianming naturally put all his effort into ensuring this significant matter was well arranged. With the visit to Tang Xiuyuan complete and an agreement reached, Lin Tianming had fulfilled his purpose. Following that, he had to visit several other major stores to strive for more partnership opportunities. This would also bring more profits and secure more valuable treasures in the future. With this objective, Lin Tianming then visited several major stores, whose owners were all at least as influential as the Golden Elixir Forces of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom. Beyond that, nearly all of them came from countries surrounding Wei Kingdom, each with its own customs and rare treasures. Establishing multiple cooperative channels would ensure that any future incidents wouldn¡¯t unduly affect the family¡¯s business. After all, one shouldn¡¯t put all the eggs in one basket, as everyone knows. Furthermore, if the Lin Family wanted to establish a solid footing in Wei Kingdom or branch out into neighboring countries, they would need some degree of support from other powers. Even if it were just verbal support, it could still become a form of influence and have an effect at certain times. Therefore, Lin Tianming naturally sought to build relationships with these powers surrounding the several countries. It is always right to be prepared before it rains. With such goals in mind, Lin Tianming kept busy all day long, visiting the leaders of these stores, doing business with them, and casually gathering news from the Cultivation World. After a full day¡¯s work, only at dusk did Lin Tianming return to the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard. He had been quite productive throughout the day, spending nearly three hundred thousand spirit stones and purchasing a massive amount of cultivation resources, primarily consisting of Spiritual Medicines, elixirs, and talisman papers. As for ordinary First and Second Order items, the Lin Family could completely sustain itself and had no need to purchase them. The only shortfall was in the valuable Second Order items, especially the high-quality ones. Chapter 798 03-25 - 798 430 Lin Tianmings Anxiety_2 ?Chapter 798: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_2 Chapter 798: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_2 Even though the Lin Family had Second Order Refiners and Alchemists, it was still nearly impossible to sustain the consumption of dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family. After all, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming¡¯s time was limited, and they needed to cultivate themselves, so naturally they couldn¡¯t spend every day performing alchemy and artifact refining. And the Four Arts of Cultivation skills of family members like Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin were, for the time being, still not at the High Quality level. Therefore, Second Order Superior items of high value were still quite scarce for the Lin Family. However, although these items were still of high value to the Lin Family, they weren¡¯t considered too precious for those Golden Elixir Forces with legacies spanning thousands of years. In particular, Sky Dragon Pavilion, originating from the heart of Qingzhou and a Nascent Soul Force with business spread across countries large and small in Qingzhou, also had no lack of exquisite items for sale. As long as the Lin Family was willing to pay the price, they could still acquire high-value items. ... And the gains from today¡¯s extensive buying left him quite satisfied. Beyond that, through interactions with these leaders from across the lands, Lin Tianming opened his eyes to new horizons and met quite a few talented and distinguished leaders. More importantly, he could also obtain some useful information through the messages provided by these leaders. This information included the results of battles from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, as well as the specific details about the Golden Elixir Forces in Huangyang Kingdom. And this information was precisely what he needed to grasp at the moment. With the day¡¯s activities, he also gained a deeper understanding of both the internal workings of Wei Kingdom and the countries surrounding it. Only at this moment did he realize that the Lin Family¡¯s foundation truly couldn¡¯t compare to those major forces. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? After all, their business spread across several neighboring countries, and with hundreds or thousands of family members walking among them, they could collect more treasures and earn more profits daily. Unlike the Lin Family, which hadn¡¯t even firmly established itself in Wei Kingdom and had a very limited influence. The key point was that the Luoyun Mountain Range, and even the entirety of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, were considered barren lands. Just by managing Luoyun Pavilion and Luoyun Market, two of the Lin Family¡¯s significant industries, the income of Spirit Stones was extremely limited in a year. However, the Lin Family had already advanced two levels compared to several decades ago; such a rate of progress was already quite rapid. But to achieve a certain level of foundation, especially that of others, there was still a long road ahead. What the Lin Family needed to do first was to enhance the strength of top clan members, then expand the Lin Family¡¯s influence, develop more industries, and cultivate more powerful clan members. As for this step, it would require the concerted effort of the entire family for decades, or even longer. Lin Tianming was rather calm about this, knowing that being anxious was useless, as a foundation was not something that could be achieved with just a few decades of rapid development. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just like those forces that had been passed down for tens of thousands of years, each one had experienced the joint efforts of dozens of generations before reaching their current level. In comparison, the Lin Family achieving such results in such a short time was already miraculous. Because he understood this, Lin Tianming was not discouraged at all but instead felt a kind of expectation inside him, to surely lead his family to rise and stand alongside the great powers of Qingzhou. In his firm belief, with the Lin Family¡¯s thousands of members united as one, they would one day reach that step. And he would be the leader in the family¡¯s rise. The path to rising might be difficult and even fraught with dangers. But what of it? He was not afraid of facing dangers, nor of the long time it might take, as after all, he was young and full of talent, with the belief that one day he could cut through all barriers to reach the goal in his heart and earn sufficient rewards for his efforts. That day would surely come, and the Lin Family would also stand as one of the top powers in Qingzhou. As evening approached. After finishing a busy day¡¯s schedule, Lin Tianming and a few family members such as Lin Xingrong sat together chatting leisurely. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming and the others briefly shared some information. Lin Xingrong was also busy today; he and a few others went out to visit old friends to both network and gather information. However, the only people they could connect with were ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators or, at most, disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, as well as some disciples from the local Golden Core forces. As a result, the information they could obtain was quite limited; however, just like Lin Tianming, gathering intelligence was only one of their goals, seeking partnerships was another. Given that they were out and about, and the Lin Family¡¯s reputation had greatly increased over the years, it was natural that they would draw some attention from various forces. In such circumstances, when the Lin Family actively sought collaborations, the vast majority of forces would naturally not refuse. This way, each of them gained something, more or less. After summarizing with Lin Tianming, he too had a list of potential collaborators, which he planned to hand over to the Clan Leader for a decision once he returned to the family lands. When conditions were ripe, they would also proceed according to the plans laid out by the family. But these matters did not require him to panic; what he could do was build relationships in advance. As for the actual implementation, it would certainly be the Foundation Establishment members of the family. It was foreseeable that these family members would become the backbone of the family, whether it was in dealing with foreign enemies or expanding family business, they would undoubtedly become the most crucial element. Understanding this, Lin Tianming provided full support to Lin Xingrong and the others. Only when their cultivation was high could they avoid being oppressed by the disciples of other forces. After all, in the Cultivation World, strength was the greatest reliance, something everyone was well aware of. As the group casually chatted for a while, Lin Xingrong glanced at Lin Tianming and noticed that his expression always carried a hint of worry, seemingly understanding that he must have something on his mind. However, since Lin Tianming was silent on the matter for such a long time, it must be of great importance. With this in mind, Lin Xingrong said to Lin Tianyue and the others beside him, ¡°Tian Yue, Tianhong, you all go and cultivate for now!¡± Upon hearing this, although Lin Tianyue and the others were puzzled, they did not ask any further questions and tactfully left. Right after they greeted Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong and left the small courtyard. Watching them leave, Lin Xingrong then asked, ¡°Tianming, has something happened?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and proceeded to relay all the information he had gathered from Tang Xiuyuan. After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face turned ashen, and he became somewhat flustered. However, his view was similar to Lin Tianming¡¯s; regardless of whether Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s actions were genuine and whether they had intentions toward the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family had to take precautions. After all, the matter was of great significance, and it was better to err on the side of caution! Therefore, after contemplating for a long time, Lin Xingrong also suggested that Lin Tianming set off as soon as possible, complete what needed to be done, and return to the family at the earliest opportunity, perhaps staying there for a year or two longer. Once this storm passed and everything returned to normal, that would naturally be the best outcome! But, he feared that Huangyang Kingdom might have a genuine intention to invade. If that were the case, the Lin Family¡¯s plan to remain detached from worldly affairs would be disrupted. At this moment, Lin Tianming also weighed the pros and cons and felt that Lin Xingrong made good points. In such a situation, Lin Tianming decided to shorten his stay in Qianchuan Market and, after another two or three days, once Luoyun Pavilion had prepared all the things to be taken back to the family, he would set off without delay. Once he left Qianchuan Market, he planned to patrol the nearby mountain ranges and spend ten days to half a month investigating the situation, then directly embark on the journey back to the clan. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming conferred with Lin Xingrong to determine the specific timing and then went to make their respective preparations. Three days later. Lin Tianming, carrying a large amount of wealth prepared by Lin Xingrong, quietly left the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once outside of Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming did not stop for a break, picked a direction, and immediately summoned the Purple Gold Eagle, then mounted Xiao Diao¡¯s back. The instructed Xiao Diao did not delay, promptly soaring into the sky, rapidly ascending a thousand feet high, and then flew off in a certain direction. ¡­ Chapter 799 03-25 - 799 431 Movement in the Huangyang ?Chapter 799: Chapter 431 Movement in the Huangyang Kingdom_1 Chapter 799: Chapter 431 Movement in the Huangyang Kingdom_1 Half a month quickly passed by. On this day, in the plains of the Tongcheng Mountain Range, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle emerged. The Purple Gold Eagle was still flying at high speed, while Lin Tianming sat motionless on the back of Xiao Diao, like a boulder. On the surface, Lin Tianming seemed to be cultivating, but in actuality, his Divine Sense was fully activated, searching for several Foundation Establishment Cultivators flying below on swords. However, these cultivators were chatting casually as they flew, completely unaware that above them, Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle were present. According to his observation, these cultivators were wearing different clothes and their cultivation levels varied by a couple of minor realms. Judging by the topics of their casual conversations, they didn¡¯t seem to be from the same force. Lin Tianming secretly observed them for a while, but since he didn¡¯t acquire any useful information, he soon stopped paying attention. ... Not just now, but over the past half month, he had tirelessly traveled through several mountain ranges surrounding the Qianchuan Market. Through his reconnaissance, he discovered that the situation in these mountain ranges was similar to that of the Luoyun Mountain Range; almost all the major forces were in closed-door cultivation, greatly reducing the movement of cultivators. Along the way, he didn¡¯t encounter many cultivators. Other than occasionally seeing some Foundation Establishment Cultivators venturing out, there were hardly any Qi Refining Cultivators to be seen. This seemed to suggest that the forces within the present Cultivation World were like startled birds, all being extremely cautious. For this reason, his journey had been relatively peaceful, and the information he gathered was scarce at best. As of today, he didn¡¯t plan to continue this fruitless endeavor. Moreover, the movements of the Huangyang Kingdom constantly weighed on his mind. After much deliberation, he decided to immediately begin his journey back to his clan¡¯s territory. Only by being in his homeland could he truly be at ease. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming hurriedly had the Purple Gold Eagle change direction, heading south toward the Lin Family. ¡­ In the Huangyang Kingdom, at the Whirlwind Mountain Range. Atop a mountain peak, two flying boats sliced through the void, speeding northward. On the deck of one of the flying boats stood two Blue-Robed Cultivators, with more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind them. Looking over, this group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators wore uniform attire with a cloud embroidered on their chests, likely a symbol of a certain force. Among these people, there seemed to be thirty to forty cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, while the rest were all below the Sixth Level. All of them were sitting cross-legged, not daring to breathe too loudly nor to whisper in front of the two Blue-Robed Cultivators, showing that they held them in great fear. At this moment, the one in the front, Xu Zhi, looked ahead and said to Meng Qingfeng beside him. ¡°Meng, do you think our mission to the Wei Kingdom will manage to annihilate Yangzong and Myriad Medicine Valley?¡± Meng Qingfeng replied with a light smile and said, ¡°Senior Xu, aren¡¯t you being a bit too pessimistic?¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Xu Zhi asked somewhat awkwardly. ¡°Heh heh¡­ You know, if it hadn¡¯t been for the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance getting bogged down, failing in their attempts to destroy Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they wouldn¡¯t have promised benefits to involve us three sects into the mix!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the Blood Red Alliance if not a difficult opponent?¡± ¡°This time, the people from the Golden Sword Sect under-estimated Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, thinking that just with Zhao Hongsheng and a few others, they could easily accomplish their objective.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t realize that forces that have stood for thousands of years and remained prosperous are not so easily wiped out.¡± ¡°Not to mention, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s heritage is almost a thousand years older than our Qingyun Sect.¡± ¡°In my opinion, unless Nascent Soul Cultivators intervene, it¡¯s very difficult to eradicate an ancient Golden Elixir Force without amassing double the number of Golden Core Cultivators.¡± Hearing this, Xu Zhi nodded thoughtfully, but he also had different views. This time, their Qingyun Sect, along with two other Golden Elixir Forces, accepted the benefits offered by Zhao Hongsheng to join the great conflict in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In his opinion, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was suffering from internal strife and external threats. Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were firmly entangled, making the entire Wei Kingdom like a pot of loose sand. Under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s assault, although Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had not lost much ground, repelling the Blood Red Alliance and the Golden Sword Sect was naturally not so easy. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. According to the benefits Zhao Hongsheng promised, their invasion of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory was just an opportunity to plunder, and the best outcome would be to annihilate the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. Even if they couldn¡¯t achieve the goal of destruction, they could still sweep through some territories and loot resources. No matter the outcome, it was a no-lose situation for them. Why not take advantage of such a gift from heaven? After all, with the main forces of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect being distracted, no one would care about their reckless actions. If they conquered enough territory, it would put tremendous pressure on the two sects. If Zhenyang Sect turned a blind eye, they would take as much advantage as they could. In the end, they could converge with Zhao Hongsheng and others to jointly wipe out the two sects. If everything went smoothly, they could even divide up the Wei Kingdom among their several forces. After all, it was easy pickings, and there was no reason not to take advantage. With these thoughts in mind, Xu Zhi was somewhat excited, his face brimming with a smile as if everything was within his grasp. After calming down, Xu Zhi asked Meng Qingfeng, ¡°At this speed, it should only be a matter of days before we enter the Luoyun Mountain Range of the Wei Kingdom.¡± ¡°Once we enter Wei Kingdom territory, you and I will divide our forces and quickly seize Luoyun Mountain!¡± Chapter 800 03-25 - 800 431 Huangyang Kingdom Stirs_2 ?Chapter 800: Chapter 431 Huangyang Kingdom Stirs_2 Chapter 800: Chapter 431 Huangyang Kingdom Stirs_2 Upon hearing this, Meng Qingfeng nodded, a look of excitement on his face. ¡°Senior Xu can rest assured, the Wei Kingdom is too preoccupied to concern itself with us. Unless Lu Xingfeng from the Zhenyang Sect comes personally, no one can stop us.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, the Luoyun Mountain Range has changed quite a bit in the past few decades. I¡¯ve heard that the Lin Family has risen swiftly, nearly uniting the entire mountain range in just twenty years!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Zhi perked up upon hearing what Meng Qingfeng had said. Seeing this, Meng Qingfeng quickly explained, ¡°This Lin Family had a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator hundreds of years ago.¡± ¡°It just declined mid-way, and for several centuries, they were quite inconspicuous until twenty years ago when the Lin Family suddenly developed rapidly. It is said that now, they have more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators openly.¡± ... ¡°Such a Foundation Establishing Family, even in the Huangyang Country Cultivation World, is considered a very powerful family!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Zhi nodded, then continued, ¡°That being said, since the Lin Family once had a Golden Core Cultivator, they must have some resources, perhaps even items left by Golden Core Cultivators.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°If we find one or two Magical Treasures, and get some Third and Fourth Order Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore, it won¡¯t be a waste for us to disturb them a bit!¡± With that, Xu Zhi gave a sinister smile, his expression grotesque, just like a bandit chief eyeing a peerless beauty. Meng Qingfeng, seeing this, also began to flatter along with Xu Zhi¡¯s words. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Ha ha¡­ With Senior Xu¡¯s Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation leading personally, this little Lin Family, despite its rapid rise, is nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot!¡± ¡°Since Senior Xu has set the first target, I¡¯ll take care of the other Foundation Establishing small clans at Luoyun Mountain!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s split our forces and act quickly, resolving them in the shortest time and then gathering together to advance into the heartland of the Zhenyang Sect!¡± ¡°Good¡­ let¡¯s make it a swift and decisive battle!¡± Xu Zhi replied excitedly, always smiling in satisfaction as he appreciated Meng Qingfeng¡¯s cleverness. On the other side, Meng Qingfeng, seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s expression, also displayed a somewhat proud look. Shortly after, the two chatted briefly, then Meng Qingfeng jumped down to his own Flying Boat. After this episode, the speed of the two Flying Boats did not decrease, continuing their rapid flight northward. The Flying Boats were very fast and, in the blink of an eye, a mountain peak was surpassed. Their destination was the Lin Family located in the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, at this moment, other than Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong, who had some guesses, everyone else was oblivious. ¡­ Before you knew it, ten days had passed. Today at Green Bamboo Mountain, on the outskirts of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, several Lin Family Members were patrolling the mountain gate as usual. Leading them was Lin Tianxing, a member of the Enforcement Hall whose Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage had also made him the captain of the Law Enforcement Team. Over the years, his growth rate had been quite good. At barely over thirty years old, he had reached this realm, a fairly commendable cultivation rate among his family members of the Tian generation. And now, he was one of the Lin Family members being focused on nurturing, with plans made for him to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage in a year. To this end, Lin Tianxing had entered the Great Perfection realm early and used his spare time to voluntarily partake in the patrolling missions. Today, like any other day, was simply a routine patrol. At that moment, he was leading his family members around the edge of the Protective Clan Formation, encountering any cultivators visiting to promptly notify the Clan Leader. If they encountered anyone troublesome, they could also send out immediate alerts, and even eradicate them on the spot. However, with the Lin Family¡¯s rising reputation over the years, even Inner Sect Disciples from the Zhenyang Sect visiting would respectfully announce their affiliations, then be verified by them before being personally escorted to meet the Clan Leader. Gaining the respect of disciples from Golden Elixir Forces was a transformation that every member of the Lin Family felt a genuine sense of pride about. And this was the deterrence power of the family, with every member enjoying the respect they deserved when dealing with outsiders. As they say, a large tree provides good shade, and these young members of the clan were experiencing good times. Not only had their treatment improved significantly, but their overall vitality had increased as well. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianxing was inspired and saw Lin Tianming, the one leading the family¡¯s rise, as an example to follow. He knew his talents were not as great as Lin Tianming¡¯s and chasing his footsteps was unrealistic. Despite this, he wanted to contribute his strength to the family¡¯s path to ascension. With this resolve, Lin Tianxing made all the necessary preparations for reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and was eager to participate in clan tasks during his spare time. At this moment, Lin Tianxing and a few others, who had been patrolling, were flying on their swords, passing through the entrance of the Protective Clan Formation. Just then, Lin Tianxing habitually looked into the distance and noticed a black shadow appearing on the horizon, speeding towards them. In the blink of an eye, the shadow grew larger, expanding from a dot to the size of a fist. Seeing this, Lin Tianxing immediately perked up and warned his companions. ¡°There¡¯s someone approaching, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a clan member or a visitor!¡± Upon hearing this, the accompanying clan members quickly looked in the direction Lin Tianxing was pointing. Soon, the distant shadow grew larger and revealed the true form of a flying boat. At that moment, Lin Tianxing was the first to clearly see the flying boat and discovered it was a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact. He understood that whoever possessed such a treasure must be wealthy or noble, and their cultivation level wouldn¡¯t be low. Regardless, whether it was a guest or an enemy, it was essential to report immediately to the Clan Leader. Knowing this, Lin Tianxing didn¡¯t delay and sent a message to Lin Shihua right away. After doing this, he continued to watch the approaching flying boat, preparing himself for any necessary action. As the flying boat drew nearer, Lin Tianxing also saw Xu Zhi aboard, along with a distinctive mark on the craft. Xu Zhi made no attempt to hide his cultivation realm; instead, he openly displayed his aura as if deliberately flaunting his cultivation level. Such bold and unrestrained behavior would be seen as a provocation if he were visiting a significant power. At this moment, Lin Tianxing naturally noticed Xu Zhi¡¯s realm and, with his overwhelming aura, was visibly shocked! ¡°It¡¯s a Golden Core Cultivator coming!¡± None of those present had ever seen a Golden Core Cultivator in person before. Now, seeing such a renowned figure, they were indeed enlightened, staring with widened eyes and breathing unevenly. It was not surprising that several Qi Refining Cultivators reacted this way. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Before Lin Tianxing and his group could recover, they heard a loud noise. Immediately, Lin Tianxing and the others, regaining their composure from the shock, noticed the Protective Clan Formation shaking violently, with colors flashing across the formation¡¯s light screen. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This is bad, this Golden Core old monster is an enemy, and they have attacked the Protective Clan Formation!¡± Seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s actions, Lin Tianxing¡¯s face turned pale, and in his panic, he quickly shouted, ¡°Quickly send a message to the Clan Leader!¡± As he spoke, the Spiritual Artifact in Lin Tianxing¡¯s hand emitted a burst of light, and he swung his sword towards the sky as a warning signal. At the same time, the others also sent messages, alerting Clan Leader Lin Shihua and Enforcement Hall Master Lin Xingzhi. They acted swiftly, though it would take some time for the elders to arrive. Meanwhile, Xu Zhi and his companions, who had arrived outside the formation aboard the flying boat, had all disembarked and were neatly assembled beside it. At this time, Xu Zhi glanced at the formation¡¯s light screen and displayed a mocking expression. ¡°This formation is somewhat interesting. Even if I personally deal with it, it might take two or three days to break through!¡± Xu Zhi muttered to himself and then wasted no more time, immediately launching an attack on the light screen of the formation. Chapter 801 03-25 - 801 432 Shocked Xu Zhi ?Chapter 801: Chapter 432: Shocked Xu Zhi Chapter 801: Chapter 432: Shocked Xu Zhi ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Xu Zhi¡¯s magical treasure flashed in his hand, and a shocking rainbow stabbed towards the formation¡¯s light screen. From afar, he held a flaming red longsword in his hand, shrouding it with terrifying flames of power, each strike carrying immense might. When the shocking rainbow hit the formation¡¯s light screen, a series of explosive sounds ensued, and the vast land at the entrance of the formation began to tremble slightly. At this moment, Lin Tianxing and the others were already dumbfounded, each wearing a look of anger as they watched Xu Zhi attacking the formation, yet feeling helpless. As they found themselves at a loss, two figures tore through the void and appeared in front of Lin Tianxing in the blink of an eye. At that time, Lin Tianxing hadn¡¯t reacted yet, and only when Lin Shikang and the other person stood with their hands behind their backs did he realize that one of the men was Lin Shikang. ... As for the other white-robed cultivator, he looked very unfamiliar, obviously not having met this person before. However, the fact that this stranger appeared alongside Lin Shikang without any guard suggested that he must be some elder or guest of the Lin Family whom they had not yet met. Seeing Lin Shikang appear, Lin Tianxing seemed to find his pillar of support, and his expression relaxed somewhat. At that time, both Lin Shikang wore looks of anger, staring intensely at Xu Zhi and the others outside with solemn expressions. ¡°Tianxing, what exactly is happening here?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s question, Lin Tianxing did not hesitate and immediately replied, ¡°Third Grandfather, today was just our routine patrol of the sect gates!¡± ¡°Just moments ago, a flying boat suddenly appeared outside our clan¡¯s territory. As soon as the flying boat reached the Protective Clan Formation, the cultivators on it attacked immediately, giving us no time to react!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then looked at Xu Zhi across from him, his face completely unrecognizable. Even after pondering for a while, he could not recall any feud between this man and the Lin Family. Yet, since these people had come to the outskirts of the clan land and had not held back at all in their attack, their actions were clearly deliberate, even suggesting they were well-prepared. Knowing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s brow furrowed, and he thought hard about the embroidered symbols on the robes worn by Xu Zhi and his companions, trying to ascertain which Golden Elixir Force they represented. But after careful thought, he still had no clue. However, considering the direction from which they came, it was highly likely that these people were from Huangyang Kingdom. Otherwise, while he might not have met all the high ranks of the Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom, he had dealt with their disciples or heard detailed reports about them. And the faces of this group were utterly unfamiliar, including Xu Zhi in the Medium Stage of Golden Core, whose level of cultivation was rare even in the entire Wei Kingdom. As long as it wasn¡¯t the Golden Sword Sect, and the other two sects and families were unlikely to attack the Lin Family at this time, these people could only be cultivators from another country. And given that the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family resided, neighbored the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom, taking into account the strength and direction of these people, they were most likely from Huangyang Kingdom. Yet, understanding this caused Lin Shikang¡¯s expression to turn even graver. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He knew that the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was in chaos, with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect facing the threat of annihilation, and other smaller forces shutting themselves in, each thinking of preserving themselves in the impending war. Even Myriad Medicine and Zhenyang Sect were struggling to cope, let alone the Foundation Establishing Families. But precisely at this dire moment, the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom had interfered. Such news was disastrous for Wei Kingdom cultivators, whether they were loose cultivators or families like the Lin Family. Realizing this, faced with the formidable lineup opposite him, Lin Shikang felt rather helpless. However, without understanding the specifics of the situation, there might still be some misunderstanding. If that were the case, it would naturally be good news for the Lin Family. With that hope, Lin Shikang looked at Xu Zhi outside the formation and then, folding his hands into a salute, said, ¡°This fellow cultivator seems quite unfamiliar. May I know what brings you to the Lin Family?¡± Hearing this, Xu Zhi sneered playfully, somewhat surprised by the scene before him. Before entering the Wei Kingdom, they had specifically collected information about the more famous forces near the Luoyun Mountain Range, planning to target these families to gather some benefits. And the Lin Family, as the first famous force along their route, was their primary target on this trip. Initially, they thought that the Lin Family, with just over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, would not even require his intervention and could easily be eliminated. But now, it appeared that the Lin Family had hidden their capabilities deeply, deploying two Golden Core Cultivators right off the bat. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there were only five Golden Elixir Forces, and the power to field two Golden Core Cultivators was limited to the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. Given that the Lin Family could muster such forces was truly unexpected and astonishing. Yet, despite the surprise, Xu Zhi had no intention of retreating but felt even more determined to eradicate the Lin Family. In his eyes, although destroying the Lin Family would require considerable effort, they had managed to cultivate two Golden Core Cultivators in secret over the decades. The rapid growth of the Lin Family implied that they possessed significant treasures behind the scenes. Chapter 802 03-25 - 802 432 The Shocked Xu Zhi_2 ?Chapter 802: Chapter 432 The Shocked Xu Zhi_2 Chapter 802: Chapter 432 The Shocked Xu Zhi_2 The more it was so, the more it demonstrated the Lin Family¡¯s value. Therefore, rather than being frightened by Lin Shikang and his companion, Xu Zhi was now even more interested in the Lin Family! And at this point, Xu Zhi had secretly made up his mind to annihilate the Lin Family, so there was no need to be courteous when facing Lin Shikang. In this vein, Xu Zhi, having refocused, said with an indifferent smile, ¡°This old man¡¯s reputation is no longer important. If you two have any sense, hand over your family¡¯s treasure swiftly! ¡°If the item you present satisfies this old man, perhaps I might even spare your Lin Family!¡± ¡°Otherwise, prepare to leave your lives behind!¡± As he spoke, Xu Zhi¡¯s demeanor was cold, as if Lin Shikang and the other man, along with the entire Lin Family, were of no significance in his eyes, as though he could annihilate them with a snap of his fingers. ... Upon hearing Xu Zhi¡¯s words, Lin Shikang, who initially thought to maneuver a bit to unravel the misunderstanding to prevent any unnecessary battle, realized the massive gap that stood between him and Ye Pinghai, who were newly advanced Golden Core Cultivators, and Xu Zhi, who was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, was glaringly obvious. Moreover, without magical treasures to counter the enemy, the likelihood of two Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators teaming up to fight against a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, with the aid of over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, was slim. To put it bluntly, they stood no chance at all! Under such circumstances, Lin Shikang naturally wanted to avoid battle if possible, to not waste treasures and resources in vain, and more importantly, to prevent the needless sacrifice of his clansmen. But it seemed that the oppressively forceful stance of the opponent left no opportunity for the Lin Family. It looked as though the opponent, wielding overwhelming power, was determined to bring about the Lin Family¡¯s downfall. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï At that moment, despite his anger, Lin Shikang still attempted to suppress the rage within him. ¡°This fellow Daoist, could it be that there is some misunderstanding?¡± ¡°After all, our Lin Family is known for its hospitality. Since you have come all this way to Luoyun Mountain, our Lin Family would like to offer you 100,000 spirit stones and five stems of Third Order Spiritual Medicine as a gesture of goodwill.¡± ¡°In doing so, we simply ask that you leave and will not hinder your departure, nor will we involve ourselves with any of your subsequent actions!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist, what do you think of my proposal?¡± Lin Shikang was actively showing weakness, still trying to figure out how to avoid a needless clash without engaging in combat. Xu Zhi, upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s proposal, burst into hearty laughter, his reaction ambiguous to his true thoughts. In reality, his heart was not at all moved by Lin Shikang¡¯s terms. After a momentary silence, Xu Zhi then sneered coldly. ¡°The two of you merely have the cultivation of Early Stage Golden Core. While your Protective Clan Formation is not bad among Second Order Formations, it¡¯s still insignificant in front of this old man!¡± ¡°Once I annihilate you, I can obtain much more. You simply do not have the standing to negotiate terms!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang also realized that it was impossible to end this amicably. Since that was the case, he also needed to consider his response, because Xu Zhi was right¡ªwhile the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation was indeed one of the top among Second Order Formations, it would probably not last more than a few days against the attack of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, aided by over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If the formation were broken, the Lin Family would lose the capacity to stall, inevitably leading to a bitter fight. By then, the Lin Family would find itself in a dire situation, caught in a predicament where defeat was certain and escape impossible. After all, there were at least seven or eight hundred people within the Lin Family¡¯s clan grounds, with ninety percent being Qi Refining Cultivators. To escape under such conditions, with an uneven distribution of cultivation levels and limited top-tier fighters, was virtually impossible against such an opponent. Even if he and Ye Pinghai broke through to the Ninth Golden Core Stage, they would hardly stand much chance against a seasoned Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Fully aware of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned somewhat pale as he inwardly regretted the situation. After all, he was well aware of the sacrifices the Lin Family had made to reach this stage, and having just returned as a Golden Core Family, its future seemed promising. Just as they were about to rise, this incident occurred¡ªtruly, fate was not on their side. However, there was a stroke of luck¡ªHidden Dragon Lin Tianming, the family¡¯s most relied-upon, happened to be away from the clan grounds at the moment. Additionally, many clan members were out on missions, among them those of the Tian generation, who were some of the Lin Family¡¯s most talented individuals. With Lin Tianming here, along with those clan members out on missions, the Lin Family still had some embers remaining, not to the point of being annihilated all at once. Otherwise, had all the clan members been at the family grounds, facing such a desperate situation, that truly would have been terrifying. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s hope reignited. Coming back to his senses, Lin Shikang revitalized his spirit and began considering countermeasures. What he could do now was naturally to think about how to delay time and then preserve as many of the family¡¯s embers as possible. Especially Lin Tianyun, as well as a group of young clansmen with exceptional talents. After all, Lin Tianyun had a Wind Attribute Spirit Root, a talent that was said to be much stronger than Lin Tianming¡¯s. As long as he and Lin Tianming were alive, perhaps in less than a century, the Lin Family could return to today¡¯s glory. By that time, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyun would surely have reached higher realms and would have the strength to take revenge for the Lin Family. Understanding this, Lin Shikang had a plan in mind. Then, he looked at Lin Tianxing beside him and began to give orders. ¡°Tianxing, you all retreat. Leave this place to us!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianxing and the others didn¡¯t move, their minds already churning with tumultuous waves, still immersed in what Xu Zhi had said, completely shocked. These were Golden Core Cultivators! Not one, but two at the Golden Core Stage! It wasn¡¯t until just now that they learned of Lin Shikang and the other¡¯s cultivation at the Golden Core Stage. They couldn¡¯t be blamed for their reaction; the news was simply too explosive! No wonder Lin Shikang had scarcely appeared in public places over the past decade, secretly working on impacting the Golden Core Stage. Thinking back over the years, the times when they, as clan members, were inexplicably asked to leave the family grounds for a few Shi Chens, it seemed that was likely when Lin Shikang and the others were dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation. Putting together all these clues, Lin Tianxing and the others finally believed that the Lin Family had Golden Core Stage clansmen. ¡°Tianxing?¡± Seeing that they still hadn¡¯t moved, Lin Shikang prompted them again. Only when Lin Tianming called out his name did Lin Tianxing come back to his senses. His expression was complex, a mix of excitement and concern. Clearly, Lin Tianxing and the others were just as thrilled as Lin Shikang; excited about the Lin Family reaching an unprecedented height. And their worry, naturally, came from the likes of Xu Zhi and others outside. Lin Tianxing also understood that the current situation was not something he could control. Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s command, he did not dare delay, bowed to Lin Shikang and the other, and then quickly led several clan members away from there. As Lin Tianxing and the others left, not long after, noticing the attack on the clan lands, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong also rushed over. From afar, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression was grave, his anxiety written all over his face. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Third brother, what on earth happened?¡± ¡°Yes, third brother, what¡¯s all this commotion about? Could it be that the Golden Sword Sect has made a move?¡± Both Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong looked distressed. As soon as they saw Lin Shikang, they hurriedly asked about the cause of the recent loud noises. Hearing these questions, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression also darkened, and he sighed helplessly, then recounted what had just transpired. Soon, after learning the specific reason, the expressions of Lin Shihua and the other paled, and they were visibly shocked. Their reactions were anticipated by Lin Shikang. After all, the opposing forces were indeed strong, and their intent was clear. They had already tried to reason with them and appeal to their sense of decency but couldn¡¯t persuade them to leave. In such a situation, the outcome Lin Shikang had in mind was something that Lin Shihua and the other, having lived over a hundred years and experienced many things, could certainly predict. Thus, Lin Shihua and the other realized just how difficult the Lin Family¡¯s predicament was. Chapter 803 03-25 - 803 433 Hu Yuan Joins the Battle (Please ?Chapter 803: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Joins the Battle (Please Vote and Subscribe) Chapter 803: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Joins the Battle (Please Vote and Subscribe) After barely managing to calm down, Lin Shihua and another person turned their heads to look at Xu Zhi and others outside the formation¡¯s light screen. While sizing up Xu Zhi, they were also silently contemplating countermeasures. Outside the formation, Xu Zhi didn¡¯t seem to take the Lin family members seriously at all and was organizing a large number of Foundation Establishment Disciples to launch an attack against the Lin Family¡¯s protective formation. Soon, a series of loud bangs could be heard, and the light screen of the formation flickered with bursts of light as large amounts of energy flowed within it. It appeared that the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ attack power was mediocre; the energy inside the light screen was not being depleted too quickly. Besides this, thankfully, since Xu Zhi had already made two moves earlier and did not continue. Otherwise, if he attacked without holding back, with his Mid Stage Golden Core strength, the speed at which the stored energy in the formation would have been consumed would certainly have increased dramatically. ... In that scenario, the Lin Family would not have much time to react. And according to the current rate of energy consumption, whether the Lin Family fought back or not, they at least had a few days of buffer time. They could also use these last few days to arrange for the clan members¡¯ relocation. Understanding this point, Lin Shihua also let out a long sigh of relief. Following that, he looked at Lin Shikang and said, ¡°Third Brother, what should we do next?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong was also anxious to look at Lin Shikang, eager to hear Lin Shikang¡¯s thoughts. Not only were these two concerned, but even Ye Pinghai felt the same. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï With several pairs of eyes staring at him, Lin Shikang forced himself to appear calm and then slowly said, ¡°From the looks of it, a peaceful resolution is impossible now!¡± ¡°With so many family members in our clan, and with Shi Lu attempting to reach the Golden Core Stage, a full retreat is simply unrealistic!¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we must prepare for both scenarios!¡± ¡°First, we need to delay for as long as possible. If Daoist Hu can consolidate his cultivation and emerge, or if Tian Ming returns in time, our combined strength might not be without the power to fight back!¡± ¡°Apart from this, Shi Gong, you immediately begin preparations for evacuation. If possible, take a small number of the younger generation with exceptional talent with you.¡± With these words, Lin Shigong understood that the ¡®exceptionally talented younger generation¡¯ Lin Shikang was referring to was undoubtedly Lin Tianyun. After all, the only ones in the Lin Family who could be considered top-tier geniuses were Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyun. And since Lin Shigong was Lin Tianming¡¯s grandfather and the guide on Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation path, even being referred to as a mentor would not be an exaggeration. He was the most suitable person to take charge of this matter. As Lin Shikang made several arrangements in succession, he then looked at Lin Shihua as if to seek his opinion. Seeing this, Lin Shihua nodded his head, knowing full well how difficult the Lin Family¡¯s current situation was. Under such circumstances, the arrangements made by Lin Shikang were undoubtedly for a desperate fight if the formation was breached, as well as plans for a retreat to preserve their lineage. Such actions were a reluctant measure, but they were as watertight as possible under the circumstances. Seeing that Lin Shihua had no objections, Lin Shikang then looked towards Ye Pinghai. He was equally aware that whether the Lin Family could overcome this calamity depended a lot on Ye Pinghai¡¯s attitude and resolve. Otherwise, relying solely on himself, he would not have the slightest chance. Understanding the importance of this, Lin Shikang looked at Ye Pinghai before bowing with folded hands in a very sincere manner, and he asked, S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Brother Ye, you¡¯ve seen the situation now. I humbly beg on behalf of the more than a thousand Lin Family members, please lend our Lin Family a helping hand!¡± Hearing these words, the silent Ye Pinghai responded with an indifferent smile, looking quite open-minded as if he didn¡¯t take the current crisis to heart. He then bowed to Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong, saying with a resolute gaze, ¡°Brothers, the Lin Family has been kind to me, and having formed a bond of kinship, I naturally consider myself half a Lin Family member!¡± ¡°Now that the Lin Family faces this catastrophe, how could I leave alone without being seen as ungrateful and disloyal?¡± ¡°Though I, Ye Pinghai, am no great paragon of virtue, I am not one to fear death out of greed for life, nor will I betray my cultivation path just to save myself!¡± With these words, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression was somber and solemn, his tone revealing a firm conviction. ¡°As long as Brother Lin stands, I will not take a step back either!¡± ¡°Good¡­ good¡­ good!¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, Lin Shikang¡¯s face lit up with joy, saying ¡®good¡¯ three times in succession. He then bowed to Ye Pinghai and said, ¡°With Brother Ye¡¯s commitment, on behalf of the Lin Family¡¯s thousand members, I thank Brother Ye!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shigong and another person also did the same, thanking Ye Pinghai excitedly, uttering, ¡°With Brother Ye¡¯s strong support, we are not entirely without a chance of victory!¡± ¡°Yes, aside from Brother Ye, if Daoist Hu emerges in time, even with the enemy¡¯s formidable strength, the Lin Family still has some hope!¡± These words from Lin Shihua and the other family member finally eased the worries on the faces of the few people present. Then, Lin Shikang discussed the tactics and details with the others present before sitting down on the ground with Ye Pinghai. When Lin Shihua and the other family member left, Lin Shikang repeatedly emphasized a few points. After that, under Lin Shihua¡¯s orders, the Lin Family quickly mobilized. Facing the clan members¡¯ confusion, Lin Shihua did not withhold information and revealed the Lin Family¡¯s predicament to the multitude of family members. At first, when they learned that a Golden Core Cultivator along with more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were attacking the Lin Family Clan Grounds, all family members turned pale, and they were incredibly shocked. Chapter 804 03-25 - 804 433 Hu Yuan Aids in Battle (Votes ?Chapter 804: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Aids in Battle (Votes and Subscriptions Appreciated)_2 Chapter 804: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Aids in Battle (Votes and Subscriptions Appreciated)_2 Even some young clan members who had never experienced a life-or-death crisis couldn¡¯t help but collapse to the ground. However, faced with such a situation, although many were also very frightened, their hearts soon filled with rage. These people had all experienced beast tide attacks, and some of the older ones had been through the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. They had faced life and death challenges multiple times, had witnessed the cruelty and bloodshed of the Cultivation World, and understood what the Lin Family would face once the Protective Clan Formation was broken. But even if the Protective Clan Formation were breached, they were not afraid of death, nor of fighting tooth and nail against those invading the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Influenced by this group of clan members, the morale of all the clan members surged, at the very least, filled with unity. Next, Lin Shihua held nothing back and made the true cultivation levels of Lin Shikang, Ye Pinghai, and Hu Yuan known to all the clan members. ... Upon learning that Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were at the Golden Core Stage, and that Hu Yuan, a Guest Elder of the Lin Family, was also a Golden Core Cultivator, the morale of all the clan members soared, and their hearts filled with joy. The impact of this shocking news also lessened the gloom of the impending war. Following this, under Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangement, the clan members began to mobilize. In no time, the entire Lin Family operated like a well-oiled machine, everyone busy, with all ages and cultivation realms working in well-defined roles. Lin Xingzhi, as the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, upon receiving orders from Lin Shihua, started filling the core of the Formation with Spirit Stones, which the Protective Clan Formation needed in large quantities. To delay for as much time as possible, the Lin Family had nothing left to reserve, everything was for survival. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, meanwhile, remained at the entrance of the Protective Clan Formation, ready to block any intrusion at the forefront of their clan. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï As for Xu Zhi and others outside the Formation, they showed no sign of easing their attack, and were, in fact, continuously intensifying it. As such, the energy of the entire Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation could be seen depleting at a visible rate. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Outside the Protective Formation, Xu Zhi, looking at the pale golden barrier, was furrowing his brow. After three days of continuous attacks, with his Foundation Establishment Disciples taking turns assaulting the Formation and his occasional interventions, The Formation had still held up for so long, completely beyond his expectations. Nevertheless, having sustained until now, the Formation¡¯s defensive power had clearly weakened a great deal. Judging by this pace, within a maximum of one or two days, they should be able to break through it. Grasping this, Xu Zhi¡¯s expression finally looked a bit better. Then, he immediately shouted, ¡°Increase the intensity of your attacks! In at most one or two days, we will break through it!¡± Hearing his words, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Qingyun Sect were all excited, each one¡¯s attack strength increased a notch. In truth, not only Xu Zhi was anxious, but these Foundation Establishment Disciples were just as eager, each one thinking about looting the Lin Family Clan Grounds as soon as possible. After all, the Lin Family was a clan with two Golden Core Cultivators, surely possessing astonishing wealth. If they were lucky enough to find a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they could make a turnaround. With such prospects, the disciples of Qingyun Sect unleashed their full power, relentlessly attacking the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation with no reservations. At this time, seeing everyone exerting themselves, Xu Zhi finally showed a satisfied smile. The next day, at noon. Under the bright sunshine, Lin Shikang, within the Protective Formation, watched the barrier in front of him become increasingly dim, his face looking very ugly. At that moment, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi, along with over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, stood waiting at the side, their faces grim, seething with anger clear on their expressions. ¡°Shihua, how are the arrangements?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s question, Lin Shihua replied truthfully, ¡°Everything is proceeding according to plan!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang thoughtfully nodded and then made a suggestion. ¡°Continuing like this, this Formation can probably only hold up for at most two hours before being breached. Instead of passively waiting for that, why don¡¯t we take the initiative to strike and catch them off guard?¡± ¡°Since a major battle is unavoidable, if we can¡¯t all escape unscathed, why not go all out and fight?¡± After Lin Shikang had spoken, his sharp gaze swept across the many clanspeople behind him. Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shihua also looked agitated and immediately agreed, ¡°Third brother is wise!¡± ¡°I say we fight them and try to hold out longer, to give some of our lower-level clanspeople a chance to escape!¡± As soon as these words were out, Lin Xingzhi beside him also spoke up, ¡°We have no retreat, let¡¯s fight them!¡± Immediately after, the masses of clanspeople behind him were all roused, unanimously shouting in fervor. ¡°For the sake of our clanspeople, let¡¯s fight them!¡± Hearing these words and seeing the clanspeople¡¯s resolute expressions, Lin Shikang nodded, then looked towards Ye Pinghai beside him. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai also nodded, his intention very clear. Seeing Ye Pinghai in agreement, Lin Shikang felt more confident and made up his mind to strike first while the enemy was unprepared. Having decided, Lin Shikang looked back at the clanspeople and said, ¡°Those opposite us are Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, with hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators; you should not sacrifice yourselves for nothing. Brother Ye and I will first go to test their mettle!¡± Then, without further delay, he gestured for Lin Shihua to open up the Protective Clan Formation. At that moment, light laughter came from the plaza behind them. ¡°Lin, I am late!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shikang and the others turned around and saw Hu Yuan flying towards them. Hu Yuan¡¯s voice was loud and clear, his aura completely unrestrained, with the cultivation of the Golden Core Stage plainly evident. At that time, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family, seeing Hu Yuan, had their worried expressions visibly eased. Previously, they had heard about Hu Yuan from Lin Shihua but had never seen him in person; now the clanspeople witnessed his true appearance. Evidently, with the arrival of Hu Yuan, a Golden Core Cultivator, the clanspeople were greatly heartened. This was true not only for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators but also for both Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. Then, Lin Shikang looked at Hu Yuan, who had hurried over, originally uncertain if he could make it out of seclusion in time, and now, seeing him appear just in time, Lin Shikang was quite surprised. Following that, he laughed and then asked with concern, ¡°Daoist Hu, how are your injuries? Are they serious?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Hu Yuan solemnly replied, ¡°Lin, rest assured, after surviving the Heavenly Tribulation, I¡¯ve been in seclusion for several months. Although it was a hasty exit, and I¡¯m not at my peak, I¡¯m not far off!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that is indeed good news!¡± Lin Shikang was overjoyed and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Truly, Daoist Hu¡¯s timing couldn¡¯t have been better!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the quiet Ye Pinghai also chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ Initially, we thought Daoist Hu wouldn¡¯t be able to make it, but who could have imagined Brother Hu would exit seclusion at the critical moment, adding much hope for a full retreat in this great battle!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Hearing the words of Lin and Ye, Hu Yuan laughed and then sincerely said, ¡°In the face of a formidable enemy, if the two Daoist friends fall, Hu would not be spared either. Besides, Hu has made a commitment to the Lin Family and naturally must do his utmost to honor it!¡± ¡°And now, we are all in the same boat, sharing both honor and loss; how could I remain behind and avoid battle?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Brother Hu truly understands the greater good, on behalf of the more than a thousand members of the Lin Family, I thank you, Daoist friend!¡± Lin Shikang bowed his hands in a salute, his demeanor very sincere. Seeing this, Hu Yuan waved his hand and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s prepare to make our move!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then looked back at Lin Shihua, signaling him to get ready to activate the Protective Formation. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 805 03-25 - 805 434 Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi ?Chapter 805: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi Chapter 805: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi Less than half an hour had passed when they seized an opportunity. At this time, the Qingyun Sect cultivators outside the formation were in the midst of an attack hiatus, seemingly considering a retreat. Seeing this, Lin Shikang suddenly shouted, ¡°Shihua, now is the time!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua quickly followed Lin Shikang¡¯s instructions and opened a gap in the Protective Clan Formation. As Lin Shihua opened the formation, a gap quietly appeared on the light screen of the Protective Clan Formation in an instant. In a fraction of a second, Lin Shikang took the lead, rushing through the entrance to appear outside the mountain gate. Following closely, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan also followed in Lin Shikang¡¯s footsteps, appearing together outside the mountain gate. ... The moment they appeared, the three did not hold back at all, directly unleashing their weapons and launching an attack on the retreating Qingyun Sect cultivators. Looking over, Lin Shikang was holding a golden yellow jade ruler. This Spirit Ruler, named the Golden Star Ruler, was golden in color, with tiny runes swirling around it, densely covering the body of the ruler. This ruler had once been used by the Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch during his Golden Core Stage and had been sealed in the Lin Family Ancestral Hall for hundreds of years, untouched even once. This item was highly valuable and was one of the most important treasures of the Lin Family, existing as a top-secret item. Within the clan, only successive Clan Leaders and the highest-level cultivators were aware of this object. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few years ago, after Lin Shikang reached the Golden Core Stage, he was the first to refine the Golden Star Ruler and use it as his Magical Treasure. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As Lin Tianming reached the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shikang had originally planned to hand over this treasure to Lin Tianming to maximize its potential. However, as the Wei Kingdom grew increasingly chaotic, Lin Tianming had just left seclusion and departed from the family to gather intelligence, and the handover of the item had not yet taken place. Now, with a formidable enemy before them, and the Lin Family capable of preserving the Magical Treasure, he no longer needed to concern himself with reservations. In this situation, Lin Shikang fully deployed the Golden Star Ruler, insanely pouring his Mana into it, and furiously attacked the Qingyun Sect disciples before him. After Lin Shikang took action, the other two, Hu Yuan and Ye Pinghai, were not outdone, their Attack Talismans erupting in bursts of Spiritual Light. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Their speed in launching attacks was extremely fast, and the hundred or so Foundation Establishment cultivators apparently did not expect the Lin Family to take the initiative to strike, nor did they anticipate that there would be more than two Golden Core Cultivators in the Lin Family. At that moment, the hundred or so Foundation Establishment cultivators stood dumbfounded on the spot, overwhelmed by the might of the three Golden Core Stage cultivators and too surprised to resist. In an instant, the trio struck down more than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators, who didn¡¯t even have time to scream. Following that strike, the remaining cultivators recovered from their shock. Among those who had fallen just now, the majority were cultivators in the initial to middle stages of Foundation Establishment, with only two from the later stages. Clearly, these later stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, with their higher cultivation levels, had faster reaction times and more means of escape amid sudden crises, thus managing to save their lives. Every survivor, knowing they had just made a narrow escape from death, had ghostly pale faces, even filled with lingering fear. At this time, the surviving Qingyun Sect cultivators quickly gathered around Xu Zhi, who had furiously rushed over, hundreds of meters away. With a Golden Core Cultivator present, they finally regained some confidence, and the fearful expressions on their faces recovered some color. At this moment, Xu Zhi, with a ghastly pale face, looked at Lin Shikang and the others, his expression both surprised and angry. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that Lin Shikang would take the initiative to attack, nor did he expect the Lin Family to have hidden so deeply; the appearance of two Golden Core Cultivators had already greatly exceeded his expectations. Now, to make matters worse, a third Golden Core Cultivator had appeared. At this moment, even he began to doubt whether the Lin Family had even more Golden Core Cultivators. If that were the case, his original plan to easily annihilate the Lin Family might not be so easy to achieve, and he might even suffer a setback. However, upon further thought, if the Lin Family truly possessed such strength, they wouldn¡¯t have holed up within their clan territory for days; they would likely have shown themselves earlier. Moreover, the weapons used by Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan during their recent attack were only Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, and they hadn¡¯t even employed Magical Treasures. Such a mode of attack clearly indicated that they had only recently broken through to the Golden Core Stage and had not yet refined their own Magical Treasures, or their Magical Treasures had been destroyed; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been like this. Additionally, although Hu Yuan¡¯s aura was undeniably at the Golden Core Stage, his energy was not very stable, seeming like he had suffered severe injuries that had not yet healed. Based on these circumstances, Xu Zhi could easily conclude that the Lin Family was necessarily unsure of victory. In such a situation, they were also intentionally delaying time, aiming to achieve their best state before launching a counterattack. As a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator with experience in various situations over hundreds of years, Xu Zhi quickly deduced most of the Lin Family¡¯s intentions. Understanding this, though Xu Zhi had originally considered retreating, he still remained confident. He was very clear that, although the Lin Family outwardly had three Golden Core Cultivators, all three were only at the Early Stage Golden Core, and except for Lin Shikang, who possessed a Spirit Ruler Magical Treasure, the other two lacked Magical Treasures, making it difficult for them to exert their full strength. As for himself, he was a seasoned Golden Core Cultivator, not only holding an absolute advantage in cultivation level but also possessing a handy Magical Treasure. Chapter 806 03-25 - 806 434 Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi_2 ?Chapter 806: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi_2 Chapter 806: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi_2 With more than two hundred disciples from the Qingyun Sect, they could also provide some help, thus they would inevitably hold an absolute advantage. Although he had expended some of his mana before, the overall impact was negligible, as long as they could resolve the battle quickly, there wouldn¡¯t be much risk. Knowing this, Xu Zhi¡¯s confidence was fully restored. At this moment, he looked at the three people in front of him, Lin Shikang, with a slightly mocking expression on his face. ¡°Lin, do you really think that the three of you together can defeat me?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ thinking you can confront me without even a magical treasure, isn¡¯t that too na?ve?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang coldly snorted, ¡°Either retreat now and we, the Lin Family, will not pursue further.¡± ... ¡°If you continue to aggressively press us, the few of us will fight even at the risk of self-destructing our Golden Cores to bring you down!¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the face of Lin Shikang¡¯s threatening words, Xu Zhi was unconcerned, having already assessed the current situation. Even if Lin Shikang and the others self-destructed their Golden Cores, given the gap in their strengths, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to kill him. ¡°Enough of this nonsense! Either submit to our Qingyun Sect, or die!¡± Xu Zhi said coldly, and then he made his move. He flicked his sleeve, and a blue longsword flew out of his hand, quickly grasped in his grip. As soon as the longsword appeared, the wood spiritual energy of the world seemed to converge towards it, clearly a wood-attribute magical treasure. From the aura of the blue longsword alone, it was not inferior to the Golden Star Ruler in Lin Shikang¡¯s hand, and was perhaps even stronger. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï At this moment, Xu Zhi, holding the blue longsword, wore a satisfied expression on his face. This blue longsword had been extremely difficult to refine initially, using materials that were incredibly rare and consuming a great deal of his energy and financial resources. Though the cost was substantial, its attack power was outstanding. Having followed him through numerous battles over hundreds of years, it had earned its merits. And this blue longsword was a treasure he¡¯d always been proud of; deploying it always allowed him to defeat his opponents quickly. Now facing the three Lin Shikang, he was brimming with confidence, even eager to defeat them and then plunder the Lin Family¡¯s clan ground. With such confidence, Xu Zhi pinched a Law Decree, projecting streams of spiritual light onto the blue longsword. In an instant, the blue longsword rapidly enlarged, transforming into numerous fine strands of sword qi that flew towards Lin Shikang and the others. Apart from Xu Zhi, the hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind him also launched various attacks from a distance, targeting Lin Shikang and his group. Seeing Xu Zhi strike directly, Lin Shikang and the others had grave expressions, hurriedly grouped together, each unleashing their strongest attacks, striking towards the sword qi sent out by Xu Zhi. Lin Shikang thrust forward the Golden Star Ruler in his hand, sending out a beam of golden light. Apart from him, Hu Yuan and Ye Pinghai also exploded with full power, pushing the capabilities of their magical treasures to the limit. Under their manipulation, the magical treasures in their hands seemed to reach their limits, emitting a buzzing sound. In a flicker of movements, perfectly coordinated, their combined attacks led by Lin Shikang¡¯s golden light beam, collided with the blue longsword wielded by Xu Zhi. ¡°RUMBLE¡­¡± The world resounded with explosive sounds, radiant lights piercing through the void, the collision sparking flames that soared into the sky. In this moment, the area became utterly chaotic. The attack power of the four Golden Core Cultivators was immense, with powerful shockwaves spreading in all directions, causing the ground itself to tremble faintly. This single strike left the attacks of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators mostly spent before they could penetrate the wall of fire, leaving a pitiful few that posed no threat. However, Xu Zhi¡¯s unleashed attack was fierce, entirely unaffected by these factors. Their exchanges locked in a momentary stalemate, but soon the assault from Lin Shikang and his group was dismantled by the blue sword qi, dissipating into the flames. The blue sword qi paused momentarily, its attack power greatly weakened, the remaining sword qi drastically reduced, but about thirty percent of it still thrust toward Lin Shikang and his group. Seeing this situation, Lin Shikang and his companions wore grave expressions, hurriedly dodging the assault. Their speed was fast, and in the blink of an eye as the blue Sword Qi struck, they narrowly dodged the attack. After stabilizing themselves, the faces of the three turned pale as they saw a mass of fine, blue Sword Qi directly bombarding the ground behind them. The land seemed as fragile as tofu, easily pierced by the fine Sword Qi, forming a vast expanse of holes, appearing bottomless. Seeing this scene, the three inhaled sharply, thinking that if they were directly hit, they would likely become as riddled with holes as the ground beneath their feet. With this strike, Lin Shikang and his companions realized the gap in strength between themselves and Xu Zhi. Had it not been for their combined efforts, any single one of them facing Xu Zhi alone would hardly withstand three rounds of attack before being slain. Such was the strength of a veteran Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, far beyond what they, as newly advanced Golden Core Cultivators, could compare. Realizing this, their hearts were heavy, but it also made them more cautious. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Before they could catch their breath, Xu Zhi initiated another attack, launching a massive amount of blue Sword Qi directly at Lin Shikang. He knew clearly that Lin Shikang possessed a Longsword Treasure as powerful as his own, posing the greatest threat to him. By eliminating Lin Shikang first, the other two, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, without any Magical Treasures, would pose negligible threats. Thus, Xu Zhi immediately targeted the significant threat, Lin Shikang, for elimination. At this moment, seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s actions, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan also understood his intentions. As Xu Zhi made his move, the two quickly converged by Lin Shikang¡¯s side. Then, as if telepathically coordinated, they swiftly moved to dodge, each unleashing Divine Skills intrinsic to their own Cultivation Techniques, together with the Golden Star Ruler in Lin Shikang¡¯s hands, to counter Xu Zhi¡¯s attack. Knowing they could hold nothing back, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan knew that merely relying on Magic Artifacts was insufficient. They had to give their all to have a chance to survive. Recognizing this, just after one round of attacks, the three began to fight desperately. At this moment, their weapons burst with radiant light, each unleashing their strongest attacks toward Xu Zhi. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Three successive explosions sounded, and the sky filled with blue Sword Qi was repelled by their counterattack, forming a storm heading towards Xu Zhi. Their desperate strike had indeed repelled Xu Zhi¡¯s attack head-on, its powerful surge unstoppable as it continued toward Xu Zhi. Seeing this, Xu Zhi was unexpectedly surprised. However, he did not panic; as the attack from Lin Shikang and the others neared, he casually summoned a defensive Magical Treasure to shield himself. ¡°Bang, bang¡­¡± After several explosions, a powerful wave of air expanded around Xu Zhi. The nearest dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators spewed blood, their complexions rapidly paling. Many lower-cultivation individuals couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were directly affected by the shockwave. In an instant, these individuals fell like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily onto the ground. As the shockwave dissipated, the battlefield was filled with wails, with over thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators directly killed by the blast and dozens more injured. Seeing this, Xu Zhi¡¯s face turned ashen. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Shikang and the others to have some ability; combined with his negligence for not taking immediate care of his disciples, unnecessary casualties ensued. Realizing this, Xu Zhi was furious, his expression extremely grim. And he put away any underestimation, becoming more cautious. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to have some strength, but if that¡¯s all you have, you¡¯re still no match for this old man!¡± Xu Zhi sneered, then with a leap, he charged towards Lin Shikang. ¡­ Chapter 807 03-25 - 807 435 Desperate Situation ?Chapter 807: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation Chapter 807: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation Seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s move, the disciples of Qingyun Sect seemed to finally understand the terror of Golden Core Cultivators, daring not to stay too close to Xu Zhi anymore, lest they be affected without reason. Lin Shikang and his two companions also dared not take it lightly and joined forces to cope with Xu Zhi¡¯s attack. In an instant, the four of them fought fiercely, generating powerful fluctuations that enshrouded a vast piece of land, and the sky was filled with Sword Qi and the power of flames. At this point, the disciples of Qingyun Sect and some of the Lin Family members took on the role of spectators. Even if they wanted to lend a hand, the attack power of Golden Core Cultivators was too terrifying; a casual strike carried immense might, and even a slight touch could result in death. Under such circumstances, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present could only pray silently from the bottom of their hearts. Soon, some time passed. ... In the high-altitude battlefield, Xu Zhi¡¯s fierce strike caused Lin Shikang and his two companions to be shaken back hundreds of feet. While still in mid-air, Lin Shikang and his companions had extremely pale complexions as their Qi-Blood roiled violently within. Xu Zhi¡¯s strike had caused all three to suffer some injuries. Especially Hu Yuan, who had the shortest time since breaking through to the Golden Core Stage and had rushed to battle without reaching his peak state, naturally his strength was not comparable to Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. After dozens of rounds of attacks, the three had originally been able to resist, at least not showing signs of retreat. But now, as the battle reached an intense stage, they began to steadily lose ground, their Mana being rapidly depleted and also sustaining injuries. And this brief moment, for Lin Shikang and his companions, felt as long as decades. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Their struggling appearances said it all. Lin Shikang and his companions understood their predicament was difficult, but the fate of nearly a thousand clan members lay in their hands, right behind them on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. If they were defeated, the Lin Family Clan Grounds would naturally cease to exist. Acutely aware of this, Lin Shikang was very anxious, yet Xu Zhi, worthy of being an experienced Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, possessed extremely solid cultivation strength, strong even among cultivators of the same stage. Thus, even though they joined forces, they still did not gain the upper hand and were constantly at a disadvantage. In the previous battles, Lin Shikang had always been the one to lead the charge, attacking with all his might and repeatedly disregarding life and death. But even so, they still couldn¡¯t any advantages. He knew that their combined strength was still no match for Xu Zhi, a clear gap that left him feeling helpless. At that moment, he glanced at Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan next to him, their faces pale, and his expression filled with gratitude. Throughout this great battle, both of them had also exerted their full strength, but as their time as Golden Core Cultivators was not long, and without the enhancement of Magical Treasures, their Golden Core Stage Mana couldn¡¯t be fully utilized. Up to this point, it was no exaggeration to say that Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan had truly tried their best. After all, strictly speaking, they were not members of the Lin Family, and being able to go this far in such a situation could be considered doing their utmost duty. Knowing this, Lin Shikang felt very relieved and accepted them from the bottom of his heart when he looked at them again. ¡°Two esteemed brothers, please help me hold off the enemy for a moment; I need to use a powerful killing move!¡± Lin Shikang secretly messaged Ye Pinghai and the other, planning to use the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, hoping to heavily injure Xu Zhi in one strike. At worst, to injure him enough to alleviate some of their pressure. His decision was made out of helplessness, given the current dire situation. Although revealing the Great Sun Sword Qi Art could be risky, their lives were hanging by a thread, and if they were to die at Xu Zhi¡¯s hands, the technique would be exposed sooner or later. With that in mind, what was there to hesitate about? For these reasons, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t hesitate at all, his resolve very firm. Upon hearing this message, Ye Pinghai and the other were somewhat puzzled¡ªcould it be that the Lin Family had some powerful secret move? Or could it be that the Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch had left a trump card? The two pondered for a moment, unable to think of any Divine Skills or powerful treasures known in the Cultivation World that the Lin Family might have. But under such circumstances, since Lin Shikang said so, he must have had some assurance. Understanding this, even if Ye Pinghai and the other were doubtful, they had no choice but to reply assuringly to Lin Shikang, allowing him to fight freely. Quickly, after receiving their affirmative responses, Lin Shikang no longer hesitated. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks flowed like water toward him, with powerful cyan Sword Qi tearing through the void, heading straight for Lin Shikang¡¯s vitals. At this moment, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan exchanged a look, then leaped forward to position themselves in front of Lin Shikang. Then, they threw their Second Order Magical Artifacts forward, continuously pounding Law Decrees onto them. At the same time, the two incessantly infused their Mana into the artifacts, with their potent Mana being so immense that the Second Order Magical Artifacts could barely withstand it, trembling uncontrollably. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Ye Pinghai and the other were heedless, forcibly pouring Mana into them, willing to risk even if the artifacts shattered completely. They took this action because they had to, needing to block Xu Zhi¡¯s strike and buy time for Lin Shikang. With a clear goal in mind, the two had a determined look as they watched Xu Zhi¡¯s unleashed attacks approach; at the same time, the two activated their artifacts, producing their strongest attacks. Chapter 808 03-25 - 808 435 Desperate Situation_2 ?Chapter 808: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation_2 Chapter 808: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation_2 ¡°` ¡°Boom¡­¡± Their attacks clashed head-on, and in less than two breaths¡¯ time, Ye Pinghai and his companion¡¯s assault was shattered by the green sword qi, finally dissipating between heaven and earth. Meanwhile, Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks did not stop, continuing to surge towards the two men. Faced with the diminished power of the green sword qi, Ye Pinghai and his companion did not retreat, because behind them stood Lin Shikang, erect in mid-air, with a silver-white sword qi suddenly forming above his head. This sword qi emerged, causing even the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to become chaotic, with some yuan qi crazily rushing in, further stirring the world into greater disorder. At this moment, all three men noticed this terrifying sword qi, their expressions complicated as if overly surprised. Especially Xu Zhi, who never expected the Lin Family to have hidden depths, possessing not only a Golden Core cultivator but also a priceless Spirit Art. ... Ye Pinghai and his companion, feeling the dreadful power of this sword qi, showed elated expressions, as if they had grasped a lifeline. Even Xu Zhi¡¯s complexion turned extremely ugly, filled with wariness. ¡°Could this possibly be a Spirit Art?¡± He was well aware of the formidable power of this sword qi, that even a touch would pose a risk of death. Moreover, the grade of the Spirit Art Lin Shikang was channeling was not low, certainly not comparable to the lowest Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. Such a Spirit Art, despite a lineage nearly ten thousand years old like Qingyun Sect, they only possessed one Mysterious Grade Spirit Art, which only successive Sect Leaders and Supreme Elders had the privilege of cultivating. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 As for other Golden Core Sects, at most, they would have one or two Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts, yet seemingly not as powerful as this one. Thus, the destructive power of this Mysterious Grade Spirit Art of the Lin Family was self-evident. Realizing this, Xu Zhi¡¯s face underwent a drastic change as he hurriedly attempted to interrupt Lin Shikang. However, Ye Pinghai and his companion would not step back an inch, even as Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks sent them flying and caused serious injuries; they still did not afford Xu Zhi any chance to interrupt Lin Shikang. Under these circumstances, Xu Zhi, enraged and fearful, violently unleashed a blow aiming for their vital parts. The two narrowly avoided it, sustaining only a pierced arm, suffering grave injuries and falling from the sky. At that time, Xu Zhi was getting closer and closer to Lin Shikang, his treasure sword aimed straight for Lin Shikang¡¯s head. Should it connect, even the body of a Golden Core cultivator would undoubtedly burst. At this critical juncture, Lin Shikang¡¯s Great Sun Sword Qi Art had reached its pivotal moment. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art!¡± Lin Shikang let out a great shout, and his Law Decree struck the sword qi. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Instantly, the silver-white sword qi atop his head shot out, slashing towards Xu Zhi with an inconceivable speed. As the silver-white sword qi drew near, with its forceful waves churning up Gang Wind, an overpowering momentum incredibly fierce unfurled. At this juncture, Xu Zhi became terrified, hastily retreating in a flash, managing to create a small distance. However, having planned this for so long and already paid a significant price, Lin Shikang surely wouldn¡¯t let him get away so easily. Not just Lin Shikang, but also Ye Pinghai and his companion on the ground, severely injured, disregarded their wounds to forcefully release several attacks, blocking Xu Zhi¡¯s retreat. Just as the saying goes, faster than words can tell, Lin Shikang¡¯s sword qi traversed the chaos and instantly arrived above Xu Zhi¡¯s head. Seeing that evading was impossible, Xu Zhi¡¯s face darkened to the extreme, his last resort being to forcibly bring out a Defense Treasure to shield himself, hoping to bear this lethal strike with this hastily assembled defense. But the sword qi Lin Shikang had nurtured within his body for ten years, last released during an outbreak of monstrous beasts, had reached its peak power after a decade of nurturing. Faced with this sword qi, likely not even a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator could confidently escape unharmed. Although Xu Zhi was also a seasoned Golden Core Cultivator, the situation was not looking good, since his effort to stop Lin Shikang brought them perilously closer instead. At such close proximity, and with the incredible speed of the sword qi, evading in time was simply not an option. ¡°` ¡°Bang¡­¡± With a loud explosion, a mushroom cloud suddenly formed in the sky, and the immense collision force generated a huge blast wave, spilling out in all directions. In the midst of the central inferno, only the silver-white Sword Qi could be seen, directly hitting Xu Zhi¡¯s Defense Treasure. In an instant, Xu Zhi was sent flying by the powerful Sword Qi, the terrifying rebound force causing the Qi-Blood in his body to surge violently. He spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face turned pale instantly, and his breath grew much weaker. After he stabilized his posture, the silver-white Sword Qi dissipated between heaven and earth. At that moment, Xu Zhi saw many cracks appearing on his Defense Treasure as he spat out several more mouthfuls of fresh blood. Lin Shikang¡¯s strike had indeed been withstood, but his Defense Treasure was thoroughly damaged, and his spirit was affected, exacerbating the injuries already plaguing his body. After this round of attack, Xu Zhi himself had also sustained heavy wounds, his full strength barely reaching sixty percent of its peak. Even so, Lin Shikang¡¯s most reliable method had not killed Xu Zhi. Moreover, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan were also severely injured, and their crisis was far from being resolved. At present, it seemed that neither Hu Yuan nor Ye Pinghai would be of any help; everything would depend on Lin Shikang alone. Facing a greatly weakened Xu Zhi all by himself, Lin Shikang¡¯s situation remained difficult, hardly improved from when the battle began. However, Lin Shikang had no time to think about these things right now. For the severely injured Xu Zhi had become even more ferocious, lashing out in a rage, as if determined to annihilate Lin Shikang on the spot. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s face was set with determination; in his haste, he summoned the Golden Star Ruler, attempting to block Xu Zhi¡¯s attack. After the blow, Lin Shikang was sent flying, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood, and his complexion became even paler. Before he could catch his breath, Xu Zhi¡¯s flowing attacks descended once more, leaving him no time to react. It was clear that Xu Zhi had plunged into complete madness. He knew in his heart that Lin Shikang still posed a significant threat, and that the Lin Family must be hiding some considerable secrets, as suggested by the hidden strength they had displayed and the Spirit Art that Lin Shikang had just invoked. The more this was the case, the stronger Xu Zhi¡¯s determination to eradicate the Lin Family became. And indeed, Xu Zhi was attacking with the intention to deliver a killing blow to Lin Shikang, a strike meant to be fatal. Faced with such an offensive, Lin Shikang was steadily driven back. In just a few exchanges, under Xu Zhi¡¯s relentless attacks, Lin Shikang was covered in wounds, his Daoist robe already dyed red with blood, and his breath becoming increasingly feeble. Then, Lin Shikang rose from the ground, facing the fatal strike that was about to come from Xu Zhi; a sharp ferocity glinted in his eyes. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Alas¡­ the Lin Family is just a bit unlucky.¡± Lin Shikang sighed helplessly in his heart, his eyes revealing a resolute look. If only they had five to ten more years, the Lin Family¡¯s strength would surely grow further, especially Lin Tianming¡ªif he had been here, Xu Zhi would certainly not be a match for the Lin Family! But fate is so peculiar, and Xu Zhi happened to arrive at the Lin Family Clan Grounds at this moment. In fact, even Xu Zhi did not expect this trip to be so laborious, not breaking through the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation after several days, and even drawing out the Lin Family¡¯s concealed formidable strength. He even thought that, if not for his arrival, the Lin Family would have continued to remain hidden. Perhaps in a few years, the Lin Family could grow into a major force like the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom or even surpass them, Yet destiny makes its own plans, and no one could have anticipated such a result. Now, with the arrow on the string, it must be shot! To acquire a greater opportunity, not to mention the Lin Family, even the old rival Zhenyang Sect could not change his purpose in coming here. Under such circumstances, Xu Zhi had no heart for mercy. Chapter 809 03-25 - 809 436 Qinglong Sword Qi ?Chapter 809: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi Chapter 809: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi In an instant. Xu Zhi¡¯s attack descended, a mere two hundred zhang away from Lin Shikang. If this had been before his injury, evading it might not have been difficult. But now severely wounded, his attack power and speed were all greatly diminished. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At such a range, the attack was a fatal blow to him. ¡°Enough¡­ To wipe out the Lin Family, this old man will not let you have your way easily!¡± Lin Shikang stood on the ground, smiling wryly to himself as Xu Zhi¡¯s attack approached, his pale face unexpectedly flashing a strange brilliance. ... Then, he folded his hands into a seal, preparing to invoke the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth to rush into his body, and forcibly self-detonate his Golden Core to deliver a final blow to Xu Zhi. ¡°Brother Lin!¡± Noticing his movements, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, who lay wounded nearby, couldn¡¯t help but call out. Yet they were too severely injured and powerless to stop Lin Shikang, nor did they have time. Xu Zhi, too, realized Lin Shikang¡¯s intentions at this moment. His face paled, and he hastily retreated. He knew all too well the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation. If he were still at his peak and his Defense Treasure intact, surviving a self-detonation might not be too difficult. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï But he was too close this time, and his Defense Treasure had been damaged by Lin Shikang¡¯s Spirit Art during the earlier battle. Its spirituality greatly diminished, its defensive power severely weakened. Under such circumstances, he did not have much confidence in escaping unscathed. Thus, Xu Zhi fled in panic, not daring to linger there any longer. Seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s reaction, Lin Shikang laughed madly. Mana within him began to surge wildly, ready to draw in Spiritual Energy to commence the self-detonation. However, once he took that step, there would be no turning back. After a brief moment of hesitation, Lin Shikang steeled his resolve and prepared for this final action. Just then, a black dot suddenly appeared on the distant horizon, speeding towards them. In an instant, the black dot transformed into a figure, revealing the form of Lin Tianming. ¡°Third Grandfather, please stop!¡± Lin Tianming, still in mid-flight, called out urgently from afar, his expression extremely anxious. Lin Shikang, upon seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s timely arrival, flashed a complex look. He was torn between wanting Lin Tianming to return to the family and worrying he was no match for Xu Zhi, potentially putting the Lin Family¡¯s Hidden Dragon in jeopardy. With mixed emotions, Lin Shikang let out a bitter smile and froze for a moment. During this time, Lin Tianming had covered the distance and arrived before Lin Shikang. Next, he placed his hand on Lin Shikang¡¯s shoulder, forcefully interrupting the self-destruction. In the blink of an eye, the Yuan Qi between heaven and earth calmed down, and normalcy returned. At this point, Xu Zhi retreated hundreds of zhang and remained suspended mid-air, his gaze fixed on Lin Tianming, who had arrived moments ago, revealing a look of surprise. It had never occurred to him that at this critical moment, another Golden Core Cultivator from the Lin Family would appear. Considering everything, this was now the fourth Golden Core Cultivator from the Lin Family Clan Grounds, whose collective Golden Core Combat Strength quietly matched that of the other three great sects of the Wei Kingdom. This outcome further disrupted his understanding, causing him to doubt and his face to turn extremely unsightly. Facing Lin Tianming, expressions were equally grim. When he looked towards Xu Zhi, a furious look crossed his face. He had guessed that the Huangyang Kingdom had indeed launched an attack. From Xu Zhi and the others¡¯ attire and those embroidered insignias, there was no doubt these were Cultivators from the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Qingyun Sect. He had only speculated before, without much certainty, and even harbored some slight hope. Yet, actions confirmed it all. Fortunately, during these past ten-plus days, he had been rushing back nonstop. The Purple Gold Eagle and he took turns flying, maintaining speed throughout. Such haste allowed him to arrive just in time. And now, the next consideration was how to counterattack the Cultivators from the Qingyun Sect. Realizing this, Lin Tianming hesitated against acting rashly and scrutinized Xu Zhi and his party closely. Beside him, Lin Shikang gathered his strength and slowly recounted the entire sequence of the great battle. Hearing his explanation and learning of the severe injuries Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan suffered while buying time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened further, and his expression turned all the more solemn. It had to be acknowledged that Xu Zhi, as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, possessed formidable strength. Even if Lin Tianming had rushed back to the family in time, the difficulty of killing Xu Zhi with their joint efforts remained significant. But at this point, both sides had forged a vendetta, a life-or-death feud, and there was no need to ponder over that. What he needed to do was to kill Xu Zhi and his party or at least severely wound them, driving them away from the Lin Family grounds. As for the consequences and the strategies to deal with them, those were to be considered only after this matter was resolved. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face bore a murderous intent, showing not a trace of fear. Xu Zhi, at this moment, also faced a dilemma; despite their current situation still being advantageous, thoroughly annihilating the Lin Family to achieve his preplanned objective was not an easy feat. Chapter 810 03-25 - 810 436 Qinglong Sword Qi_2 ?Chapter 810: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi_2 Chapter 810: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi_2 Even with this understanding, Xu Zhi¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he cautiously fixed his gaze on Lin Tianming. Opposite him, Lin Tianming wasted no time, immediately leaping into the air as his Tiangang Sword flashed with spiritual light. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Ninth Sword!¡± With his move, Lin Tianming directly unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi, where nine swords overlaid into a dragon of sword aura, charging straight at Xu Zhi. Seeing this, Xu Zhi, unperturbed, erupted in Qing Hong Sword Aura from his hand, clashing with Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Series of loud explosions resounded, filling the sky with multicolored lights. ... Watching Lin Tianming make his move, Lin Shikang, despite the intense pain, also produced the Golden Star Ruler, coordinating his attack with Lin Tianming against Xu Zhi. In an instant, the three were embroiled in battle, with powerful fluctuations sweeping the surroundings as the colliding sword auras created fierce ripples. At this moment, Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the scene widened their eyes, their hearts almost leaping to their throats as they watched the grand battle, completely because of the immense fluctuations, which were far stronger than the earlier clash between Lin Shikang and his two adversaries. In just a moment, the three had exchanged several rounds of attacks. Leveraging the Eye of Five Colors and his formidable body, Lin Tianming managed to hold his ground against the severely wounded Xu Zhi and did not concede any advantage. After this probing exchange, the fact that Lin Tianming was able to stand toe-to-toe with him without falling behind, Xu Zhi was inwardly shocked, unable to believe that Lin Tianming, in the Early Stage Golden Core, could exhibit such strong power with just his magic artifact attack. However, this was just an ordinary technique of Lin Tianming, and he hadn¡¯t even used his Magical Treasure to enhance his combat prowess. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï If he had a suitable Magical Treasure and unleashed the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, his attack power would undoubtedly rise by several levels. Unfortunately, he did not have his own Magical Treasure and could only launch attacks with the help of the Tiangang Sword. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such an awkward situation greatly hindered his overall strength. Nevertheless, even in this case, Lin Tianming had not suffered any disadvantage, which Xu Zhi found unbelievable. At this rate, the outcome of the battle between the two in the short term was likely to remain unknown. But Xu Zhi was already thinking of retreat, knowing that his condition was not good, having already been injured before and with his mana not at its peak before the great battle. After this intense fighting, his mana was rapidly depleting, while Lin Tianming remained as lively as a dragon, seemingly still at his peak. If the battle were to continue like this, his ability to kill Lin Tianming would diminish as his mana and condition deteriorated. By that point, it would be entirely possible for Lin Tianming to gain the upper hand and even keep him here. If he truly perished here, his lifetime of glory would be destroyed in an instant. With this thought in mind, Xu Zhi¡¯s expression turned grave, no longer exhibiting the calmness he had initially. However, Lin Tianming did not give him any time to react, launching relentless attacking waves one after another like flowing water. At this moment, Lin Tianming was filled with raging anger, not only because Ye Pinghai and the other person were severely injured for this cause but also because Xu Zhi nearly forced Lin Shikang to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. Had he arrived a moment too late and Lin Shikang failed to kill Xu Zhi with his Golden Core detonation, the Lin Family would have been wiped clean, and few among the thousands of clan members would likely survive. And the family was the place he vowed to protect in his heart, with clan members being a crucial part he deeply valued. For years, he had dedicated himself to the path for the rise of his family. For this aim, he never paused in his steps, even facing life-and-death crises multiple times, without ever abandoning his ideals. If his arduously pursued goals and the family he protected in the depths of his heart were to be destroyed, he would not spare the Qingyun Sect behind Xu Zhi, or even more powerful Nascent Soul Forces. For his kin, he would disregard his own life and death, not hesitating to suffer utter destruction. Now, Xu Zhi had touched his Reverse Scale, and Lin Tianming was determined not to let him go. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming had exploded with fury, his entire being like a God of Slaughter, with his powerful attacks unceasing. At this time, Xu Zhi¡¯s face darkened. While resisting the onslaught from Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang, he began to slowly edge towards the Qingyun Sect Disciples behind him. At this point, he could no longer concern himself with the consequences. Even if it would affect his own sect¡¯s disciples, he had to leverage them to exert as much pressure as possible on Lin Tianming. From some distance away, Xu Zhi ordered his disciples to launch an attack on Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Suddenly, the sky was filled with dense attacks, various kinds of sword qi and flames, as well as attack talisman papers shot out, instantly engulfing Lin Tianming. Facing such an onslaught, Lin Tianming¡¯s feet generated wind, and his Eye of Five Colors had already opened, seeking a sliver of safe space within the interstices. Fortunately, although there were many Qingyun Sect cultivators present, their attacks posed a very limited threat to his body. Even if he was hit, it was merely superficial; the attacks were hardly capable of inflicting any substantial damage. Moreover, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he was always able to make moves Xu Zhi would not anticipate, bypassing defenses that seemed impenetrable. As soon as he found the slightest gap, he struck from both sides, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had long been activated by him, slicing through the Qingyun Sect disciples like a meat grinder gone wild. Not only that, the Tiangang Sword in his hands swung frequently, with powerful sword qi incessantly darting across the sky. He was suppressing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators while simultaneously attacking Xu Zhi. In just the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Screams of agony followed one another, creating a scene of utter desolation. Dozens of Qingyun Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators were hit by his attacks, either trapped within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with no escape or passively awaiting death. At this moment, Xu Zhi also witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and his ferocity. He had to admit that Lin Tianming was incredibly tough to deal with, not only was his body frighteningly strong, but even his movement speeds were incredibly fast. No matter how formidable the attack Xu Zhi unleashed, Lin Tianming always managed to discern his intention first and dodged preemptively, rendering Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks fruitless. And Lin Tianming, who had freed his hands, was like a merciless God of Slaughter, slaughtering the Qingyun Sect disciples without pity. As Xu Zhi¡¯s strike forced Lin Tianming back, he realized he had to fight for his life, or else he might really fall here. At this point, with an indifferent look on his face, Xu Zhi could no longer care about his own state. He tossed his blue longsword high into the sky, then hit it repeatedly with several law decrees. In an instant, the blue longsword in front of him spun wildly, drawing a vast amount of energy from heaven and earth, finally forming a dragon-like sword qi. ¡°Qinglong Sword Qi!¡± With his shout, the Qinglong Sword Qi surged forth, shooting towards Lin Tianming. Seeing the immense power of this sword qi, it seemed no less formidable than Chen Jingtian¡¯s full assault. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave as he suddenly felt a sense of crisis. He quickly opened his Eye of Five Colors wide and peered through the void at the Qinglong longsword, quickly discerning the subtlety of this sword qi. Upon inspection, judging by the fluctuations of the sword qi, it was undoubtedly either a divine skill or a Yellow Grade Mystical Art. Moreover, the Qinglong Sword Qi activated by Xu Zhi seemed to share some mysterious similarities with his Great Sun Sword Qi Art, only it was obviously a notch lower in grade. But Xu Zhi¡¯s cultivation was high, and even though the power of this attack, spurred by his Medium Stage Golden Core cultivation, might be a tad weaker than the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, the difference was not vast. And Xu Zhi had not used this attack before, clearly he was reluctant to use it, or he felt there was no need to waste his trump card. After all, the combined strength of Lin Shikang and the other two was extremely limited, at least not enough to make him feel a life-or-death crisis. And after reaching the Golden Core Stage, the trump cards one could use were few, with each use requiring a long period of recovery. Now, facing the frenzied Lin Tianming, he, too, began to fear capsizing in a ditch. Thus, Xu Zhi cast aside all concerns, aiming to quickly eliminate Lin Tianming and his companions and possibly uncover the secret of the Lin Family¡¯s rapid ascent. ¡­ Chapter 811 03-25 - 811 437 Spirit Art Achievements ?Chapter 811: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achievements Chapter 811: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achievements Lin Tianming understood Xu Zhi¡¯s psychology and did not dare to be careless in the face of the terrifying Qinglong Sword Qi. As the Sword Qi drew closer, he tossed the Tiangang Sword in front of him while several Law Decrees bombarded the blade. ¡°Humming¡­¡± A series of special sounds resonated. Immediately afterward, the Tiangang Sword rapidly spun, forming the image of a lotus flower from countless sword shadows in a very short time. ¡°Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± Lin Tianming bellowed, and the originally ethereal lotus flower of sword shadows solidified into a barrier as impervious as steel above his head, securely protecting his entire figure beneath it. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Xu Zhi¡¯s Qinglong Sword Qi tore through the sky, and in an instant, it arrived above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, and the Qinglong Sword Qi directly slammed into the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. ... The moment the two collided, a sudden burst of light shot through the heavens and earth, and a myriad of sparks showered down from the sky, creating a dazzling waterfall. With the Sword Lotus spinning rapidly, the initial attack of the Qinglong Sword Qi was hindered. For quite some time, the two forces remained in a standoff, each continuously consuming the other¡¯s energy, neither able to gain the upper hand. However, this standoff lasted only for an instant before a crisp cracking sound was heard. Subsequently, the Sword Lotus started to dissipate, turning into numerous silver lotuses that slowly fell. Additionally, the Tiangang Sword above Lin Tianming¡¯s head also fell from the sky, which he promptly caught in his hand. At that moment, seeing the cracks that had appeared on the surface of the Tiangang Sword, he also felt that the spirituality of the Tiangang Sword had notably diminished. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Before Lin Tianming could catch his breath, he saw the Qinglong Sword Qi still striking towards him, and while it was still in mid-air, a series of roars could be heard. Looking up, the Qinglong Sword Qi, although not completely dissipated, was almost indistinct in its shape; only a rough outline remained to indicate its existence. Clearly, the deafening roar was emitted by Xu Zhi¡¯s handiwork, the Qinglong Sword Qi. And after breaking through the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, the remaining power of the Qinglong Sword Qi was still formidable, enough to obliterate Lin Tianming on the spot. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, and he was immensely shocked. He could tell that Xu Zhi¡¯s frantic attack was indeed strong enough to breach his most robust defense and even damage the spirituality of the Tiangang Sword. He had been somewhat prepared for such an outcome. After all, the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, a Divine Skill meant for the Golden Core Stage, was something he had executed. Without a Magical Treasure and relying solely on a Second Order Superior Tiangang Sword to activate the defensive Divine Skill, he was able to significantly weaken the power of the Qinglong Sword Qi and almost completely disperse it. Considering this, achieving such an effect was more than surprising. Understanding this, Lin Tianming watched as the Qinglong Sword Qi approached without any panic since he was prepared. He formed a strange gesture with his hands and muttered incantations. Suddenly, a ball of flame that started burning appeared in his hands, with the mere flicker of flames drawing the Fire Attribute Element from the surroundings. At first glance, this fireball appeared ordinary, but a strand of blue flame within it seemed somewhat unusual. Xu Zhi, watching Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, took note and his face instantly darkened, as though quite wary. Under his watchful eye, Lin Tianming boldly threw the fireball, and it landed squarely on the ethereal body of the Qinglong Sword Qi. After a tremendous noise, the Qinglong was completely transformed into a Fire Dragon, writhing crazily in the air, almost lifelike in its realism. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few breaths later, the Fire Dragon that had evolved from the Qinglong dissipated in the sky, and the battlefield once again became briefly calm. At this moment, Xu Zhi looked at Lin Tianming, showing no further action, and inwardly sighed with relief. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming, still with a grave expression and a hint of wariness, watched Xu Zhi. As far as the battle had gone, both sides had gained a whole new understanding of the other¡¯s power. It had to be said that Xu Zhi, at his peak strength, was incredibly fearsome. But Lin Tianming was equally strong; even without a Magical Treasure, he could use his techniques to fight an injured Xu Zhi to a standstill. Moreover, he had his ultimate cards at play, which included the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. At that moment, Lin Tianming assessed the situation and resolved to spare no expense in taking Xu Zhi¡¯s life. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Shikang beside him and then transmitted, ¡°Third Grandfather, if you can hold him off for a moment, Tianming is about to use a Spirit Art!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded, knowing full well the power of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Given Xu Zhi¡¯s severe injuries and depleted techniques, it was the optimal moment to strike. Understanding this, Lin Shikang transmitted back, ¡°Tianming, I will do everything I can to hold him off; seize the opportunity to annihilate him!¡± Acknowledging Lin Shikang¡¯s response, Lin Tianming nodded and, once more wielding the Tiangang Sword, charged toward Xu Zhi. Chapter 812 03-25 - 812 437 Spirit Art Achieves Success_2 ?Chapter 812: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achieves Success_2 Chapter 812: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achieves Success_2 Seeing that he had already made a move, Lin Shikang was not willing to fall behind. His Golden Star Ruler in hand flashed with spiritual light, and streaks of golden-yellow brilliance flickered before rapidly converging into a giant golden ruler. Lin Shikang launched an attack, sending the gigantic ruler that had formed above his head smashing down towards Xu Zhi with fury. By now, Lin Shikang no longer held anything back, pouring all of the remaining mana in his body into the Golden Star Ruler. In doing so, even though he was injured, the power he unleashed was nearly as strong as it had been at his peak. Furthermore, with Lin Tianming on his side, the two of them were able to exert unprecedented pressure on Xu Zhi. As expected, Xu Zhi, faced with their attacks, was forced to fight while retreating, even needing to rely on the aid of numerous disciples. ... His method of coping clearly showed signs of weariness. To this, Lin Tianming and his colleague paid no heed, having resolved to ensure that Xu Zhi would not leave this place alive. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming and his associate unleashed their attacks with insane intensity, not diminishing in the slightest, and if anything, surpassing their previous efforts. Beneath such overwhelming pressure, Xu Zhi gradually started to lose ground. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As Lin Tianming struck a blow that sent Xu Zhi reeling back, Lin Shikang spotted an opportunity and released a heaven-shaking strike, working in tandem with Lin Tianming to fiercely suppress Xu Zhi. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s use of the Golden Star Ruler reached its peak in power, showcasing outstanding strength that was clearly even stronger than before. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï At this critical juncture, Lin Tianming seized this once-in-a-lifetime chance, hurriedly activating the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Instantly, a silver-white sword qi appeared above his head. As soon as the sword qi emerged, the powerful sword qi devoured the spiritual energy in the air, causing sand and stones to fly and fierce winds to rise. Xu Zhi, on the other side, was hurriedly dealing with Lin Shikang, but all his attention was focused on Lin Tianming. He was well aware that besides self-detonating his Golden Core, Lin Shikang¡¯s threat was nearly negligible. Lin Tianming, however, was different. In the battle thus far, Lin Tianming had demonstrated such strength that even at Xu Zhi¡¯s prime, he would have had to deal with him cautiously. Moreover, Xu Zhi was now injured and his strength significantly reduced. Witnessing the sword qi, which was almost identical to the one Lin Shikang had previously used that had nearly destroyed his defense treasure, In his eyes, the fluctuations and momentum produced by the sword qi Lin Tianming activated were even greater than Lin Shikang¡¯s. This was because Lin Tianming had nurtured the sword qi for several years longer than Lin Shikang. After all, Lin Shikang had used the Great Sun Sword Qi Art during a beast tide assault, and the newly nurtured sword qi had not even been for a decade. Whilst the sword qi Lin Tianming had nurtured spanned many more years than Lin Shikang¡¯s, its unleashed power was bound to be even more formidable. At that moment, although Xu Zhi was unaware of these reasons, feeling the formidable silver-white sword qi made him immediately tense up. However, there was no time to worry about that now; he had to consider how to survive the onslaught of this sword qi attack. If he could withstand this strike, then even if Lin Tianming and his associate joined forces, it was unlikely they could keep him there. With this realization, Xu Zhi retreated recklessly. At the same time, he activated several Third Order Defense Talismans, forming a few barriers in front of himself. It was only after his defensive measures were gradually put in place that Xu Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, his complexion had barely shifted when it swiftly turned to one of horror. At this moment, his eyes widened as he watched Lin Tianming propel the silver-white sword qi with an incredible speed. ¡°Bang¡­¡± In an instant, one explosive sound after another rang out. Following the source of these explosive noises, one could see the powerful silver-white sword qi easily piercing through the first barrier. Immediately following, several more barriers were effortlessly shattered, dissipating completely between heaven and earth. And after breaking through these barriers, the silver-white sword qi maintained its speed and continued to hurtle toward Xu Zhi. At that moment, Xu Zhi¡¯s face was a picture of horror, as if he had seen something inconceivable. In fact, the sight of the silver-white sword qi breaking through the barriers was far beyond his expectations. He had thought that a few Third Order talismans would surely hold for a moment, allowing him to use his defense treasure to survive this crisis. However, the terrifying might of the silver-white sword qi far exceeded his imagination. Now, the silver-white sword qi had already descended upon his head, and dodging had become unrealistic. Nevertheless, he had preemptively activated his defense treasure, which firmly protected him within. Still, whether it could withstand the silver-white sword qi, he had no confidence whatsoever, and everything depended on his luck. Deeply aware of this, Xu Zhi¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale, his aura plummeting to a low, no longer bearing the spirited appearance he had at the start. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The silver-white sword qi tore through the void, striking Xu Zhi¡¯s defense treasure with unerring accuracy. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A violent collision echoed. At that moment, a mushroom cloud rose again in the heavens and earth, a blinding brilliance dominating the entire sky, even obscuring the sunlight. In this moment, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and dared not even breathe, scrutinizing every detail within the sea of fire. This attack was immensely crucial, and it could be said to be related to the life and death of the Lin Family and himself. From his line of sight, one could see that the silver-white sword qi was halted only for an instant before it thoroughly penetrated Xu Zhi¡¯s defense treasure. Immediately after that, there came a scene of bloodshed; the silver-white sword qi had directly pierced through Xu Zhi¡¯s chest, utterly shattering most of his body, organs, and blood exploded all around. At the same time, the mutilated remains of Xu Zhi fell from the sky, finally scattering across the ground. Seeing such a scene, Lin Tianming felt an unexpected joy, and he sighed in relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He had truly been worried that this strike would not kill Xu Zhi, for if that were the case, he would have been in for a tough battle. Even if Xu Zhi were gravely wounded, as long as he was still alive, he would have the capability to fight to the death. After all, in a desperate situation, Xu Zhi would undoubtedly self-detonate his Golden Core, aiming to take them down with him. The might of a seasoned Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator self-detonating his core was imaginable. And they were merely at the Early Stage Golden Core cultivation level, with injuries upon injuries; even if he survived, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai would certainly not live through the explosion. If it came to that, even if the Lin Family emerged victorious in the end, it would still be a Pyrrhic victory. Such an outcome was not what he desired. In his heart, even the life of a Nascent Soul Cultivator was far less important than that of Lin Shikang and the others. Fortunately, it was all over now; Xu Zhi had been completely slain, without even a chance to self-detonate his Golden Core. Otherwise, the outcome would still be hard to predict. However, as Xu Zhi¡¯s broken body fell, the flames in the sky subsided, and peace was restored to the world. At this time, all the cultivators who had witnessed this great battle, whether they were disciples of the Qingyun Sect or members of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, were struck dumb! After a long while, from not far away, there came stirring noises as the Qingyun Sect disciples calmed down from their shock, and a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators began to flee in all directions. In the blink of an eye, over a dozen keen-eyed cultivators had vanished without a trace. However, aside from those slain by them, there were still nearly two hundred others still alive, many of whom carried varying degrees of injury. Seeing their fellow disciples flee, this large group was scared witless, each beginning to scatter and run, not daring to stay even for a breath longer. At this time, Lin Tianming also leaped forward, his Tiangang Sword frantically slaughtering these Qingyun Sect disciples. Simultaneously, the Purple Gold Eagle, Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and the Bloodthirsty Jiao were set loose by him, chasing down those escaping cultivators from different angles. Chapter 813 03-25 - 813 438 Outstanding Battle Achievements ?Chapter 813: Chapter 438: Outstanding Battle Achievements Chapter 813: Chapter 438: Outstanding Battle Achievements Inside the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Lin Shihua and over a dozen clan members stood in the plaza before the mountain gate, all of them with wide eyes fixed on the area outside the formation, witnessing every single movement on the entire battlefield. Seeing Lin Tianming kill Xu Zhi in one stroke, his mutilated body fell from midair, not even giving him a chance to self-detonate his Golden Core. In an instant, the previously arrogant and aggressive Xu Zhi was dead and couldn¡¯t be deader. At this moment, every clan member on the scene shifted from shock to a state of wild joy. Especially Lin Shihua, his entire face went through dramatic changes, switching from anger to joy as Xu Zhi was killed. Meanwhile, outside the clan grounds. ... With Lin Tianming taking action, the Spirit Beasts like the Purple Gold Eagles also pursued the Qingyun Sect cultivators according to his instructions. However, the strength of these beasts under his command was limited; the Purple Gold Eagles were only at the Second Order Middle Stage grade, whereas the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao were among the top within Second Order Demonic Beasts. But their numbers were too few, especially in the face of over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Qingyun Sect; they appeared quite thin. After all, among the disciples of Qingyun Sect, there were quite a few in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, including some who were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. While these individuals wouldn¡¯t amount to much in front of Golden Core Cultivators, they were still considerably threatening against Second Order Demonic Beasts. However, these few Spirit Beasts, following Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, merely kept harassing their opponents and didn¡¯t engage in direct confrontation. This strategy was also to delay the Qingyun Sect cultivators, to buy more time for Lin Tianming. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Otherwise, if the Purple Gold Eagles and other Spirit Beasts dove in alone like Lin Tianming, it would be no different from seeking death. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming was responsible for the pursuit, while the three Spirit Beasts, Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shihua, and the others, were responsible for delaying, cooperating quite tacitly. But even so, there were too many Qingyun Sect escapees, with over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators still alive. Being all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they scattered and fled at great speed, and even with Lin Tianming¡¯s impressive strength and speed, it was difficult to cover every escapee. Just then, Lin Shihua inside the clan grounds regained his composure, immediately leading his clan members out of the Protective Clan Formation. Accompanying them was the Soul-eating Spider left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This Spirit Beast hadn¡¯t made a public appearance for a long time, but now when it did come out, its body was a whole size larger, and its aura was incredibly powerful. Over the years of the Lin Family¡¯s rapid development, a large number of treasures had been collected, which finally provided a decent foundation of resources to support the growth of the Soul-eating Spider. Now, it seemed that after these years of abundant offerings of Spiritual Objects, the Soul-eating Spider had advanced further, reaching the limits of a Second Order Demon Beast. It even seemed not too far from a true Third Order Demon Beast. With the Soul-eating Spider as well as Lin Shihua, Lin Xingzhi, and others joining, they immediately cooperated to pick a direction to pursue the fleeing Qingyun Sect cultivators. Lin Tianming chose another direction, coordinating with the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shihua, and these clan members to chase down the enemy. Under his unrelenting attacks, the sky was continuously filled with screams. Behind each scream, lay the fall of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Such slaughtering continued, the scene extremely brutal and bloody, each person acting out of hatred and showing no mercy with their attacks. After half an hour. Lin Tianming and the clan members regrouped, all gathering around Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at the panting crowd, each one looking significantly drained. It wasn¡¯t surprising to think about it; over a dozen Qi Stage Clan Members chasing after hundreds of Qingyun Sect Cultivators, the pressure must not have been small, and such large consumption was not strange. But all had fortunately returned safely without casualties, which was already a stroke of great luck. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face finally showed a thick smile. Seeing this, the other clan members also revealed a joyous expression; everyone¡¯s mood was very good. Immediately after, Lin Tianming looked over at Lin Shikang¡¯s side and noticed that both Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan were seriously injured, but both were quite conscious and sitting cross-legged on the ground, cultivating to heal. Lin Shikang also suffered significant injuries, but not too severe; with only a month or so of proper rest and cultivation, he could easily recover to his peak. Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, however, were gravely injured, especially Hu Yuan who had hastily exited seclusion to respond to the battle, not at his peak state, and now severely wounded by Xu Zhi, even facing the risk of falling in realm. Fortunately, Lin Tianming arrived in time afterward, significantly reducing the pressure on them. Otherwise, if Hu Yuan continued to fight forcefully, even if he managed to save his life, he would inevitably fall to the Foundation Establishment Stage. As for Ye Pinghai, having broken through to the Golden Core Stage earlier, his cultivation strength was somewhat stronger than Hu Yuan¡¯s. Although he was also gravely injured, with some time spent calmly cultivating, he could recover to his peak state. And now, with Xu Zhi killed by Lin Tianming, the crisis had temporarily lifted, and this great battle had finally passed. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Following that, he looked at Lin Shikang and the others, and then asked with concern, ¡°Third Grandfather, how are your injuries? Is it serious?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang opened his eyes, ending his brief cultivation period. Then, he nodded and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, with a bit of cultivation, I¡¯ll be back to peak condition soon!¡± Chapter 814 03-25 - 814 438 Remarkable Achievements_2 ?Chapter 814: Chapter 438: Remarkable Achievements_2 Chapter 814: Chapter 438: Remarkable Achievements_2 ¡°` ¡°Yes¡­ although I¡¯ve been injured, it¡¯s still within controllable limits!¡± ¡°However, Daoist Hu, your injuries this time are quite serious. To recover to your peak condition, I¡¯m afraid it will take quite some effort!¡± Ye Pinghai glanced at Hu Yuan, then said with a smile, his expression also exhibiting excitement. Upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s explanation, all the clan members present were also extremely excited, and likewise breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts. At that time, Lin Shikang shifted the topic and asked about the entire process of their pursuit of the Qingyun Sect cultivators. Upon hearing the query, Lin Tianming began to speak, ¡°Third Grandfather, I¡¯ve made a rough estimate, and we¡¯ve killed about one hundred and ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators!¡± As soon as his voice fell, Lin Shihua took over and said, ¡°I led family members mainly to delay the cultivators from the Qingyun Sect, but we also killed twenty-six people!¡± ... Hearing such battle results, Lin Shikang was exceptionally excited, and even a hint of a healthy color flashed across his pale face. Apart from him, all the clan members present felt the same. At this point, Lin Tianming also asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, how many did you and Grandpa Sea kill?¡± ¡°At that time, the pressure was immense, joining forces to deal with Xu Zhi was already difficult enough!¡± ¡°Nevertheless, we¡¯ve probably killed dozens as well!¡± Lin Shikang chuckled in response. No sooner had his voice fallen than Lin Shihua expressed regret, muttering under his breath. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Hmph¡­ had they not run so fast, and had we not been limited by manpower, we would have made all of those more than two hundred people stay here!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and said, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, the people they sent here were nearly three hundred, and all of them were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, not comparable to those Qi Refining Cultivators.¡± ¡°Facing such a vast line-up, being able to kill most of them is a result that is already satisfying enough!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ this time the Lin Family faced an unprecedented crisis. Thankfully, Tianming returned in time, otherwise the Lin Family would have been in danger!¡± Lin Shikang agreed, feeling internally satisfied with such a result. Lin Tianming felt the same about this outcome as well. In his heart, this battle had indeed been dangerous. If the cultivated Sword Qi had not been strong enough, the final outcome would have been uncertain. And during the subsequent pursuit, he, his family members, and Spirit Beasts all exerted their utmost efforts, killing as many of Qingyun Sect¡¯s disciples as possible. However, the number of Qingyun Sect members was too great, with even the weakest at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment, and they scattered widely when fleeing. If not for his amazing speed of escape, and a strong body that could virtually ignore attacks from Foundation Establishment Cultivators, With such innate conditions, he had no concerns. Otherwise, such terrifying results would not have been possible. This time, the Qingyun Sect suffered heavy losses. Apart from Xu Zhi, who was a top-tier combatant at the Mid Stage of Golden Core, nearly two hundred of the nearly three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators fell in this battle. That was nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators! Considering the growth of the entire Lin Family over the years, it¡¯s been rapid enough. Yet even so, the number of the Lin family members above Foundation Establishment Cultivation was barely forty or fifty. Yet in this battle, they had killed nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and although the majority of them were at the Initial or Medium Stages, there were only about twenty or thirty at the Late Stage. Such losses would only be seen in the history of the Wei Kingdom during a Beast Tide assault and during the battles among the Three Great Sects. It was hard to imagine what kind of commotion it would cause if this news spread throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Surely everyone would be shocked! Lin Tianming thought to himself, his heart unable to settle down for a long time. At that moment, Lin Shihua made a remark that brought Lin Tianming back to reality. ¡°Tian Ming, did you capture any cultivators earlier to ask about their plans and motives?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming replied with a light smile, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, during the pursuit, I did not kill the last few directly!¡± ¡°After threatening them, I got quite a bit of useful information!¡± ¡°Oh? What information?¡± ¡°` Lin Shikang wore a puzzled expression as he pressed for answers, seemingly very concerned about the issue. Besides him, the remaining clan members also wore faces full of anticipation, clearly eager to discover which power had attacked the Lin Family. And for what reason had they mobilized such an overwhelming force to come to the Lin Family Clan Grounds? At that moment, Lin Tianming decided not to beat around the bush and began explaining. ¡°You must have your speculations about the power that attacked our family, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the Golden Elixir Forces of Qingyun Sect from Huangyang Kingdom!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded his head. ¡°Hmm¡­ Although Xu Zhi did not reveal his affiliation, the emblem on their Daoist robes, combined with the geographical location of the Luoyun Mountain Range, has already disclosed its backing power.¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, Lin Shihua also posed a pointed question. ¡°Then speaking of which, the Lin Family has not exposed its strength, so how did it catch the attention of Qingyun Sect?¡± ¡°And to dispatch a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, along with nearly three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators in such a massive formation?¡± ¡°This seems almost unbelievable!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded. Had he not gathered some information at the Qianchuan Market, forming some conjectures in his mind, he probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to understand either. However, after thinking it over, the Wei Kingdom was already in utter chaos, with the overall strength of the Three Great Sects declining over the years. Moreover, the top powers of Huangyang Kingdom and Wei Kingdom were at odds, even harboring a longstanding grudge. Under such various conditions, it was not at all surprising for the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom to make a move to loot amidst the chaos. But while he understood this clearly, Lin Shikang and the others were lacking precise intelligence, and naturally, they were somewhat puzzled about this unwarranted disaster. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming then shared the intelligence he had obtained from Tang Xiuyuan. Soon, based on the information provided, and combined with the geographical position of the Lin Family, the clansmen realized that the Lin Family had been wrongfully targeted. ¡°No wonder!¡± ¡°I knew the Lin Family has kept a low profile over the years, exerting no small effort to conceal its strength, so how could it have sparked such a major incident.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It turns out that the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom intended to take advantage of the chaos, and the Luoyun Mountain Range where the Lin Family is located happens to be Qingyun Sect¡¯s best route to attack the Wei Kingdom!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Shihua now understood the motive behind Qingyun Sect¡¯s attack. And at that moment, Lin Tianming nodded, then spoke of the issue that concerned Lin Shikang the most, which was the attack plans of Qingyun Sect and the other two sects. After all, this news was too important! It could even be said that the survival of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was greatly linked to the attack plans of the three major sects of Huangyang Kingdom. With that, Lin Tianming divulged all the information he had gleaned from capturing a few cultivators of Qingyun Sect in one breath. According to him, the few Qingyun Sect cultivators he had captured were all core disciples, and Xu Zhi had not expected to encounter such adversity, failing to consider their attack plans thoroughly. At the very least, quite a few core disciples of Qingyun Sect were somewhat privy to some aspects of the plan. In these plans, Xu Zhi initiating the attack from the Luoyun Mountain Range was the first step, with the Lin Family¡¯s location as the initial target. Only, Xu Zhi¡¯s luck was terribly poor, having kicked an iron board right from the outset. They could never have imagined that the Lin Family would possess four Golden Core Stage Combat Powers, and even more unexpectedly, that the Lin Family had a Profound Grade Spirit Art, a powerful trump card that could turn the tide. Because of Xu Zhi¡¯s arrogance and overconfidence, he paid a heavy price, losing his own life along with nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for the other team of Qingyun Sect, they also attacked other forces in the Luoyun Mountain Range at the same time, with even the Luoyun Market included in Qingyun Sect¡¯s plan of attack. However, the current state of the battle or the outcome, including themselves, remained unknown. But one could anticipate that the Luoyun Market along with other family powers surely did not have Golden Core Cultivators stationed there. Faced with the Early Stage Golden Core Meng Qingfeng, and an impressive force of more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it was likely that even another Foundation Establishing Family, the Luo Family, couldn¡¯t hold out for two days. With that being the case, the current Luoyun Mountain Range was probably experiencing a bloody storm with many family forces being trampled. ¡­ Chapter 815 03-25 - 815 439 Interception Plan ?Chapter 815: Chapter 439: Interception Plan Chapter 815: Chapter 439: Interception Plan At that moment, upon hearing the news Lin Tianming had relayed, as well as his speculations about the internal situation of the Luoyun Mountain Range, all clan members present showed varying expressions. The news was indeed too shocking; even the Golden Core Stage cultivators among them could not calm their hearts for a long time. As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua always considered matters more comprehensively, especially now that the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family was located, was in chaos, with major family powers and even Loose Cultivators all suffering immensely. Seeing that every clan member was silent, Lin Shihua took the lead in breaking the quiet. ¡°Third Brother, Tianming, what should our Lin Family do next?¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Shikang pondered for a moment before he slowly spoke, ¡°Right now, some of us are injured and some are crippled; our condition is very poor, and we can mobilize very limited forces!¡± ¡°The overall strength of another team from the Qingyun Sect is not low, and the Lin Family has just survived a catastrophe; I¡¯m afraid we will not be able to stop their chaos in a short time.¡± ... Having said this, Lin Shikang heaved a sigh, showing a helpless expression. Seeing this, Lin Shihua continued, ¡°Third Brother, we can ignore other families in the Luoyun Mountain Range, but what about the Luoyun Market? That is a major source of income for our family. Are we really going to neglect it?¡± This statement from Lin Shihua echoed the worries everyone had. But considering the current situation of the Lin Family, they were indeed distracted and incapable of caring for other matters. Lin Tianming, after a moment of contemplation, had his own idea. In his view, the greatest threat among the Qingyun Sect¡¯s other team was Meng Qingfeng, who was at the Early Stage Golden Core; the Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be of little use against a Golden Core Cultivator. Furthermore, Meng Qingfeng must not have received the news of Xu Zhi¡¯s death yet. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Judging by the flying speed of those fleeing Qingyun Sect disciples, it would take at least a day or two for them to regroup with Meng Qingfeng¡¯s main force. And in that day or two, he could completely head to the Luoyun Market ahead of time to station himself for a few days before Meng Qingfeng received the news. With his powerful body and the assistance of the Market¡¯s formations, he should have no problems dealing with an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, even without using his cultivation. As long as his own condition could recover a bit, he could certainly hold off Meng Qingfeng¡¯s offensive. It was even possible, under the right conditions, to face and kill Meng Qingfeng head-on. This plan seemed to be the most stable approach under the current circumstances. If Meng Qingfeng could not destroy the Luoyun Market in a short time, and Lin Shikang recovered from his injuries, together they could strike and ensure Meng Qingfeng¡¯s demise remained within the Luoyun Mountain Range. By then, with their combined efforts, Meng Qingfeng would have neither the sky as his path nor the earth as his door; he would definitely be no match for them. However, this was an ideal scenario, and another possibility could not be excluded. That was, upon learning of Xu Zhi¡¯s fall at the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Meng Qingfeng would undoubtedly be shocked to learn that the Lin Family had four Golden Core Cultivators. As long as Meng Qingfeng was not foolish, he would surely realize that he was no match for the four Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family. Therefore, he would not dare linger long in the Luoyun Mountain Range, lest the Lin Family regain their strength and seek revenge from the Qingyun Sect afterwards. After all, the Lin Family might hesitate to venture into Huangyang Kingdom, but the Qingyun Sect members left in the Luoyun Mountain Range would certainly face retaliation from the Lin Family. Thus, he might completely retreat with the Qingyun Sect disciples, returning to Huangyang Kingdom to reconsider their plans. If this were to happen, the Lin Family¡¯s intention to keep Meng Qingfeng and others in the Luoyun Mountain Range would be entirely foiled. Thinking of all these possibilities, Lin Tianming was somewhat torn; he hoped Meng Qingfeng would continue to attack the Luoyun Mountain Range so he could have more time to eliminate him. Yet, he worried about the Luoyun Market being attacked first; after all, that was a major asset for the Lin Family, with dozens of clan members stationed there year-round. If he didn¡¯t arrive at the Luoyun Market in time, should the formations be breached, it would be ominous for those Lin Family members stationed there. Realizing this, Lin Tianming weighed the pros and cons in his heart, feeling it was best to rush to the Luoyun Market first. As long as he was in position at the Luoyun Market, the offensive plans of Meng Qingfeng and others would fail. If they chose to retreat, he would take the initiative to strike and delay them. And if possible, under the right conditions, he could take Meng Qingfeng¡¯s life. He was making this decision because the Lin Family was after all vulnerable, and he also worried that if Meng Qingfeng returned to his Sect, he could gather more Golden Core Cultivators to attack the Wei Kingdom. After all, the overall strength of the Qingyun Sect was very strong, at least as formidable as, if not stronger than, the Zhenyang Sect. By letting Meng Qingfeng return, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountain. Since the Lin Family had already completely offended the Qingyun Sect, it was better to actively weaken the Sect¡¯s strength rather than wait passively for retaliation. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind to rush to the Luoyun Market. Having settled on this plan, Lin Tianming looked over at Lin Shikang and the others, then began to explain his strategy. Soon after learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s entire plan, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua also thought it made sense but still harbored concerns in their hearts, worried that Lin Tianming might not be a match for Meng Qingfeng. After all, Lin Tianming had expended a great deal in the recent major battle, and his trump card had been used up. As a result, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength had obviously declined from before his battle against Xu Zhi. Chapter 816 03-25 - 816 439 Interception Plan_2 ?Chapter 816: Chapter 439: Interception Plan_2 Chapter 816: Chapter 439: Interception Plan_2 However, Luoyun Market couldn¡¯t wait any longer, and the Lin Family did not have the time and energy to ponder over this. Knowing this, Lin Shikang, despite his worries, had no choice but to agree with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. At that moment, Lin Shikang glanced at Lin Shihua and Lin Tianming, then with a single hand, grabbed a blue longsword not far away. He then handed the blue longsword to Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tian Ming, now that Xu Zhi is dead, you should keep his treasure sword on you.¡± ¡°If possible, refine it as soon as you can; I¡¯m sure it will greatly enhance your strength!¡± ¡°Your Grandpa Sea and I will promptly recover, so we can support you in time!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not refuse Lin Shikang¡¯s kindness and immediately put away Xu Zhi¡¯s treasure sword. ... Indeed, this was an item he urgently needed; as long as he managed to refine it, his strength would surely increase significantly. However, it was unfortunate that he needed to rush to Luoyun Market at this time and did not have the opportunity to refine this treasure. Even upon reaching Luoyun Market, if Meng Qingfeng happened to attack the market, he still would not have time to refine the treasure sword. Otherwise, it would have been best to refine the sword before setting out, as it would have significantly enhanced his strength, thereby greatly increasing his odds against Meng Qingfeng. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t make a fuss; after all, the Lin Family¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t good, and having the treasure sword would allow him to maximize its utility. When Lin Shikang saw that Lin Tianming had accepted the longsword treasure, he then said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Brother Ye, Brother Hu, both of you played a crucial role in defeating Xu Zhi. Rightfully, this treasure should partly belong to you as well.¡± ¡°However, you both know the current predicament of our Lin Family. For now, let Tian Ming keep the treasure sword, and after we repel the cultivators of Qingyun Sect, we can discuss the possession of the treasure. How does that sound?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Brother Lin, you¡¯re too courteous. My relationship with the Lin Family is akin to a life and death friendship, and being Tian Ming¡¯s sworn grandfather, it¡¯s only right for him to have this sword. There¡¯s no need for such formalities,¡± said Ye Pinghai. ¡°I, too, am injured and urgently need a quiet place to heal and close myself off. Hence, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to fight for a while!¡± Hu Yuan said this sincerely, displaying a lot of tact. He knew well that the Lin Family had shown him kindness and that he had previously committed to serving as a Guest Elder for fifty years; assisting the Lin Family was his duty. The spoils of war were for the Lin Family to decide their ownership. If the Lin Family voluntarily offered some benefits, that would naturally be the best outcome, but even without any rewards, it was still a part of his responsibilities. Furthermore, the Lin Family¡¯s strength had changed significantly. Little did one realize that, including Ye Pinghai, the Lin Family now had three Golden Core Stage combatants, and Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was something he had witnessed firsthand. Should Lin Shilu also successfully reach the Golden Core Stage after his retreat, the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength would not be much weaker than the Zhenyang Sect. As the saying goes, one must bow one¡¯s head under another¡¯s eaves; he was alone and helpless, how could he possibly rival the Lin Family? Based on his understanding of the Lin Family, rather than haggling and causing displeasure, he would do better to be more generous. Perhaps the Lin Family would remember his contributions and spontaneously offer him some rewards. As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang responded, ¡°Brother Hu, you can rest assured that the Lin Family will surely repay you for your assistance in this battle!¡± Having said that, Lin Shikang looked back at Lin Xingzhi and instructed him. ¡°XingZhi, prepare a quiet cave dwelling immediately for Daoist Hu to peacefully retreat into!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, uncle, I will make the arrangements right away!¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded and replied, then gestured to Hu Yuan before leading him inside the Protective Clan Formation. After the two departed, Lin Shikang began to give orders to Lin Shihua. ¡°Shihua, the task of cleaning up the battlefield will be in your hands; stabilize the family¡¯s internal situation as quickly as possible!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded and with a wave of his hand, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind him moved toward the battlefield, beginning to collect the spoils of war and deal with the corpses of the Qingyun Sect cultivators. Very soon, over a dozen clan members started to bustle about, leaving only Lin Tianming and a few others, along with Ye Pinghai¡¯s four men at the scene. At this point, Lin Tianming also asked Lin Shikang about the next steps. Lin Shikang replied with a serene smile, indicating the need to enter retreat for cultivation, and that the Lin Family must also be very vigilant to prevent any unexpected incidents. Ye Pinghai also felt the same; after all, their injuries were not light and they had depleted a lot of energy. They needed to heal in seclusion for a while. The current state of the Cultivation World was bound to become even more chaotic, and the Lin Family did not have much time left. They had to ensure the strongest combat power to possibly survive this disaster. After discussing their plans, Lin Tianming proposed to set off immediately for Luoyun Market. Lin Shikang gave some final instructions, suggesting that Lin Tianming should take a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators with him to relieve some pressure from defending Luoyun Market. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming directly rejected this suggestion. In his view, he was more flexible and adaptable when acting alone. Bringing Foundation Establishment Cultivators might restrict him, and it would be better to be free to move by himself. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute attitude, Lin Shikang did not say anything more. At this time, Ye Pinghai also perked up and took out several bottles of elixirs from his storage bag, handing them to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tian Ming, these elixirs were refined by me over the past few years. I didn¡¯t expect they¡¯d be needed so soon!¡± Ye Pinghai said with a helpless bitter smile. Hearing this, Lin Tianming thought for a moment and had a rough idea of what kind of elixirs they were. Thus, he did not hesitate, directly taking three Jade Bottles and looking inside. Indeed, they were all Third Order Pills, and besides one Yuxu Pill for enhancing cultivation, the other two were a Solidifying Pill and a Spirit Dragon Pill. A Solidifying Pill was for Golden Core Cultivators to heal injuries, while the Spirit Dragon Pill helped Golden Core Cultivators to quickly recover mana. These types of elixirs were some of the most commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators. However, even so, Third Order Pills of this grade were extremely difficult to refine, especially since Third Order Spiritual Medicine was starting to be a scarce resource in the Wei Kingdom. And now, Ye Pinghai had brought out so many Third Order Pills at once, likely having exhausted his entire collection. It was possible that he had not left much for himself. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt embarrassed to accept. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai feigned anger and scolded, ¡°Just take them, boy. Besides these, I¡¯ve also left a few pills for the three of us.¡± ¡°Besides, your Third Uncle and I are guarding the clan¡¯s territory. As long as we don¡¯t separate, we shouldn¡¯t face much danger and won¡¯t need too many elixirs!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who will be going alone to Luoyun Market, where there¡¯s a good chance of confronting Meng Qingfeng. I suppose these elixirs will come in handy.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shikang also chimed in. ¡°Since Grandpa Sea has said so, and you indeed need them, just accept them quickly!¡± Seeing both of them insist, Lin Tianming said no more. He bowed to Ye Pinghai and took the three bottles of elixirs. Immediately after, Lin Tianming did not delay further. He released the Purple Gold Eagle and leapt onto its back. In a blink of an eye, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, rapidly ascending into the thousand-yard-high air, flying in the direction of Luoyun Mountain. Seated on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming casually took out a Spirit Dragon Pill and swallowed it. He was in a hurry to make his way, and had to rely on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flight to take the opportunity to recover the mana expended in the previous great battle. After that fight, his mana was nearly depleted, but fortunately, he had not sustained many injuries. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been a lot more troublesome. Yet heading to Luoyun Market, he was bound to encounter Meng Qingfeng of the Qingyun Sect. If he had no mana to support him, relying solely on physical strength would definitely not be easy. Thus, this Spirit Dragon Pill, which aided in recovering mana, solved his urgent need. As the elixir dissolved, a fragrant medicinal scent emerged, and energy immediately overflowed. Lin Tianming began to cultivate, refining the elixir. Soon, he could feel the mana within his Golden Core gradually recovering. At this rate, by the time he arrived at Luoyun Market, he might regain about seventy to eighty percent of his peak mana. Having seventy to eighty percent of his mana when facing Meng Qingfeng would give him a much greater chance of winning. Understanding this, Lin Tianming pushed his cultivation technique to the limit, further accelerating the speed of refining the Spirit Dragon Pill. Chapter 817 03-25 - 817 440 Attack on Luoyun Market ?Chapter 817: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market Chapter 817: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market The next morning. Outside the Luoyun Market, a blue flying boat descended just outside. At the entrance of the market, scattered cultivators queued up, being inspected in an orderly fashion by the market city supervisors. With the arrival of the flying boat, it immediately drew the attention of everyone there. Among the queued cultivators, those with keen eyesight noticed the blue flying boat at first glance, recognizing it as a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact. ¡°Look quickly, that¡¯s a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact!¡± At those words, a wave of surprise spread rapidly, causing everyone to stop and stare at the flying boat ahead. ... After all, the value of a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact was exceedingly high, and even among the hundreds of Foundation Establishment families in the Wei Kingdom, it was rare to possess such a grade of flying artifact. Therefore, in the eyes of these Qi Refining Cultivators, the flying boat was a top-tier treasure, a sight they scarcely encountered. Under the gaze of many cultivators, a flash of light swept over the blue flying boat, and more than a hundred cultivators stepped out, led by Meng Qingfeng of the Qingyun Sect. As soon as these individuals appeared, some cultivators immediately recognized their identities, especially with the appearance of a Golden Core Cultivator, which sparked exclamations from the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s actually the Qingyun Sect from Huangyang Kingdom!¡± ¡°The elder leading them, seems to be Elder Meng, right?¡± Hearing this, many cultivators with puzzled looks asked, ¡°Qingyun Sect?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Isn¡¯t that a Golden Elixir force from Huangyang Kingdom? Why would they appear in Luoyun Market at this time?¡± ¡°What cultivation level is Elder Meng? Why would so many Foundation Establishment elders come to Luoyun Market? Could it be that something big is happening in Luoyun Market?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Question after question continued, leading to a flurry of discussions among the cultivators, with few thinking about the underlying motives behind Meng Qingfeng and his group¡¯s grand entrance. However, a very few people seemed to sense something unusual. After all, Qingyun Sect was a Golden Elixir force within Huangyang Kingdom, and for a Golden Core Cultivator to appear in such a small place was novel, let alone bringing along so many Foundation Establishment cultivators. Such a large formation moving together could easily indicate that something momentous was bound to occur in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. With chaos currently in the Wei Kingdom and the fierce battles among the three great sects, the actions of the Qingyun Sect meant either they were coming to aid a certain sect, or they were undoubtedly looking to loot amidst the turmoil. Otherwise, there would be no need to mobilize to such an extent. As expected, a few Qi Refining clanspeople from the Lin Family, after a brief exchange at the entrance of the market, sensed an impending crisis. They immediately sent a message to Lin Xingcheng, the Lin Family¡¯s supervisor stationed at Luoyun Market. Soon after, Lin Xingcheng received the message and quickly gathered another three Foundation Establishment clan members to rush to the market entrance. At that time, Meng Qingfeng stood on the open ground outside the market, eyeing Luoyun Market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation with an impatient look. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the past three days, without expending much effort, he had flattened the Sun Family of Flying Eagle Mountain and the Luo Family of Baiyun Mountain one after another. In addition, several Qi Refining Families with decent strength had also been unable to escape their fate. Over the course of three days, as Protective Clan Formations were broken one by one, nearly two hundred disciples under Meng Qingfeng¡¯s command, like tigers unleashed from their cages, slaughtered the cultivators of these families in a frenzy. Their methods were extremely brutal, sparing even neither the Qi Refining cultivators who discovered their trail nor those who posed no threat to them whatsoever. Within just a few shichen, a family that had made a name for itself in the Luoyun Mountain Range would be struck from the land of Luoyun Mountain. Over the days, these targeted families suffered heavy losses. Apart from those scattered members who were outside, the rest suffered injuries and deaths to nearly all. The Sun Family and the Luo Family, two Foundation Establishing Families with centuries of heritage, also could not withstand for long before they were decimated. With the annihilation of these families, Meng Qingfeng, having plundered limited resources, lost interest and turned his gaze toward Luoyun Market. Given the large flow of people and prosperous commerce in the market, the accumulated wealth would necessarily be much stronger than a few Foundation Establishing families. Thus, Meng Qingfeng hurried to Luoyun Market without stopping, thinking that with Xu Zhi¡¯s cultivation, coupled with an even larger formation attacking the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, the Luoyun Market would surely have already fallen and he¡¯d be the first to reach it. Unexpectedly, he arrived at Luoyun Market ahead of others, greatly surpassing his expectations. At that time, Meng Qingfeng glanced at the cultivators at the market entrance and did not intend to delay. He launched an attack immediately. With a wave of his sleeve, a black axe appeared in his hand. He swung it forward, and a golden blade of light shot out. In an instant, the blade of light struck the market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. After a loud boom, a pale golden barrier suddenly appeared in the originally invisible sky¡ªthe Defensive Great Formation of the market. And after Meng Qingfeng¡¯s strike, energy surged across the entire light screen, and the ground trembled slightly. Following Meng Qingfeng¡¯s attack, more than a dozen Qi Refining cultivators, who had not yet entered the market and were still in line, were killed by the powerful shock before they could even let out a scream. Chapter 818 03-25 - 818 440 Attack on Luoyun Market_2 ?Chapter 818: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market_2 Chapter 818: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market_2 This scene, witnessed by nearly a hundred cultivators present, filled everyone with a mix of shock and anger, leaving them completely stunned for a moment. In the midst of their astonishment, Meng Qingfeng continued his assault, his disciples from the Qingyun Sect also unleashed a barrage of attacks, brutally bombarding the formation¡¯s light screen. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The numerous attacks collided, filling the sky with flames, and powerful waves scattered in all directions. At this time, many cultivators regained their senses and exclaimed, ¡°Quick¡­ send a message to the Lin Family¡¯s seniors!¡± Just then, Lin Xingcheng and a few Lin Family Members arrived at the entrance of Luoyun Market. Seeing Lin Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators arrive, the commotion at the scene subsided somewhat. ... Lin Xingcheng, after looking over the Qi Refining Clansperson of the Lin Family present, then asked, ¡°Tianbo, what exactly happened?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianbo recounted the whole sequence of events, exactly as they had occurred. Lin Xingcheng, having learned the full story, had a dark expression on his face and was filled with puzzlement. In his view, the Lin Family had neither grudges nor any involvement with the powers of Huangyang Kingdom, so why would they suddenly be attacked? Even in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the vast majority of the powers should know that Luoyun Market was almost entirely the Lin Family¡¯s enterprise and were also aware of the Lin Family¡¯s strength. It could be said that aside from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom and two other Great Golden Core Families, nobody would actively provoke the Lin Family. For the Qingyun Sect to attack so openly, without even uttering a word of threat, their purpose must be very clear, and they did not regard the Lin Family highly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï If that was the case, the Qingyun Sect was an enemy of the Lin Family. In the face of an enemy, the Lin Family had nothing to consider. But what he needed to consider was just one thing, that was how to withstand the Qingyun Sect¡¯s attack before the Lin Family¡¯s reinforcements could arrive. However, he was fully aware that this would be extremely difficult. After all, the attacking Qingyun Sect had a formidable lineup; just the two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators alone were enough to break through the market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation, not to mention the Golden Core Cultivator Meng Qingfeng. The market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation, while not bad among Second Order Formations, would have a hard time enduring such powerful attacks, likely unable to hold out for one or two days. To get the message of the attack to the family in such a short time and to have Golden Core Clan Members sent for support was something he had no confidence in. Understanding this, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s face was filled with worry, and for a moment he felt somewhat helpless. However, he quickly composed himself and began to issue orders to his relatives through voice transmission. ¡°Xingpu, you need to monitor the energy consumption of the Defensive Great Formation at all times and ensure the replenishment of Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Xing Yu, immediately gather the clan members within the market, so that in case the formation is broken, they can withdraw in time!¡± ¡°Tianbo, immediately organize the clan members of all the major powers, and offer a handsome reward to attract Loose Cultivators to join our camp to withstand the potential slaughter!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingcheng made several arrangements, preparing both escape routes and necessary defenses in advance, although they might not be able to wait for their clan¡¯s support. But at the moment, that was all they could do. Upon hearing his orders, Lin Xingpu and others nodded and then left to get busy according to Lin Xingcheng¡¯s instructions. With their departure, Lin Xingcheng also stood guard at the entrance of Luoyun Market, constantly paying attention to the energy fluctuations on the Defensive Great Formation. Outside the market, Meng Qingfeng and others did not cease their attacks¡ªit was a rotation of over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators including Meng Qingfeng, who also occasionally struck the Defensive Formation. Soon, Lin Xingcheng estimated the duration the Defensive Formation could hold based on the speed of energy consumption. He estimated that, at this rate of consumption, the formation would inevitably be broken within at most two days. Having come to this realization, Lin Xingcheng sighed helplessly and could only pray that the family would send support in time. Otherwise, once the formation broke, the lives of thousands of cultivators inside the market, including himself, would be left to chance. Thinking about these things, and looking at Meng Qingfeng and the others outside the formation, he felt a sense of powerlessness washing over him. And this was because the strength of Qingyun Sect¡¯s forces was simply too overwhelming. At least, without a Golden Core Cultivator present, they were virtually at the mercy of others, completely lacking any capital to resist. ¡°Let it be¡­ under the sheer force of absolute power, let¡¯s do our human best and leave the rest up to fate!¡± Lin Xingcheng muttered to himself, then stopped letting his thoughts run wild. He sat cross-legged on the wall of Luoyun Market, watching every move taking place outside. The next morning, outside the market, Meng Qingfeng glanced at the formation¡¯s light screen surrounding Luoyun Market and a flash of excited smile crossed his face. After a day of uninterrupted attacks, the formation¡¯s defensive power had significantly weakened, showing extremely obvious changes compared to when they first began. At this rate of consumption, perhaps half a day¡¯s time would suffice to break through the formation successfully. By then, he would be able to loot Luoyun Market bare. With Luoyun Market¡¯s development over the past decades, plus the Lin Family having spent no small amount of resources to manage the market in an orderly manner, it had attracted many powers to set up shops here, and thus assembled a sizeable number of cultivators to stay here long-term. As long as he eliminated this large group of people, he was sure that the gains from this time would far exceed those of previous families. Thinking of this, Meng Qingfeng became somewhat impatient. While he was lost in thought, a few cultivators flew towards him from the direction behind him. Looking over, each of them were pale with injury marks on their bodies and a weak aura, suggesting they had sustained serious injuries. Moreover, each one of them had a panicked expression, evidently having witnessed something terrifying. Quickly, the cultivators made their way through the crowd and arrived behind Meng Qingfeng. Seeing them, Meng Qingfeng asked with a puzzled look, ¡°Song, why hasn¡¯t Senior Xu arrived yet?¡± ¡°What happened to you looking like this?¡± Hearing this, one of the cultivators was visibly tense and out of breath as he offered Meng Qingfeng a bow. Then, he finally spoke, ¡°Uncle Meng, something terrible has happened!¡± ¡°Uncle Xu has perished!¡± ¡°What?¡± Meng Qingfeng cried out in shock, obviously finding it hard to believe the news the cultivator had delivered. His reaction was not odd¡ªafter all, in their eyes, the Lin Family was nothing more than a declining Foundation Establishing Family, how could it possibly withstand the attack of Xu Zhi and the others. Not to mention, the prospect of Xu Zhi, at the Mid Stage Golden Core, actually falling on the Lin Family¡¯s grounds was unthinkable. ¡°What exactly happened? Tell me quickly!¡± Meng Qingfeng, still in disbelief, hurriedly pressed the cultivator behind him for the details. Upon being urged, the Song surname cultivator didn¡¯t dare to delay, and quickly recounted their experience on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Soon after learning that the Lin Family actually possessed four Golden Core Stage Cultivators and had slain Xu Zhi in one fell swoop, Meng Qingfeng felt as if a huge mountain had crushed down upon him; he was utterly shocked. ¡°This can¡¯t be true! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!¡± Meng Qingfeng couldn¡¯t accept it, muttering to himself in a disjointed manner, looking completely lost. The Song surname cultivator, seeing Meng Qingfeng in such a daze, turned pale and said, ¡°Uncle Meng, it¡¯s true!¡± ¡°We few with decent cultivation, coupled with our timely escape, were the only reasons we didn¡¯t end up like the other brothers, slain by that powerful Lin Family Golden Core Cultivator!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a few other Qingyun Sect cultivators chimed in. ¡°Uncle Meng, everything Brother Song said is true!¡± Hearing several people confirm it, Meng Qingfeng finally believed the news was real. Then, he became frantic, momentarily at a loss. After a long while, he managed to calm down somewhat and then started to think. He knew that after this shocking news, his current situation was also filled with crisis. He guessed secretly in his heart that if the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivator who had killed Xu Zhi rushed to Luoyun Market immediately, he would surely face a tough battle. If more than one Golden Core arrived, then his situation would be perilous, and he might well follow in Xu Zhi¡¯s footsteps. Chapter 819 03-25 - 819 441 Crazy Massacre ?Chapter 819: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre Chapter 819: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre Realizing this, Meng Qingfeng looked at the Defensive Great Formation that was about to break, and he no longer felt the excitement he had before, but instead became restless. After a long while, he finally calmed down a bit and then instructed the Qingyun Sect disciples behind him. ¡°Everyone listen to my command, stop attacking immediately, and let¡¯s retreat back to the Sect!¡± Upon hearing this, the Qingyun Sect disciples stopped their attacking actions, each showing a face full of bewilderment. Then, several cultivators with apparently high status looked at Meng Qingfeng and asked, ¡°Uncle Meng, what happened? Why are we retreating when everything was going fine?¡± ¡°Yes, Uncle Meng, this formation obviously won¡¯t last much longer, if we keep attacking for a few more Shi Chen, we will definitely be able to break it and plunder everything inside the market!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ There are quite a few people in the market, we¡¯re bound to not be disappointed with the loot!¡± ... After this was said, other disciples, although they did not dare say much, also wore expressions of confusion, clearly puzzled by the reason for this sudden retreat. These people obviously did not know the specific news about Xu Zhi¡¯s demise, nor did they see Meng Qingfeng¡¯s grim expression. Otherwise, even if they were high in status, they would not dare to be so presumptuous in front of Meng Qingfeng. As was to be expected, Meng Qingfeng was a mix of shock and rage at this point. Seeing that several Foundation Establishment disciples had objections, he would not usually order anything, but now it was just adding fuel to the fire, making him even more furious. ¡°Act quickly following orders, or I will not show any mercy!¡± Meng Qingfeng said with a grim face, his tone carrying a hint of anger, displaying the authority of a Golden Core Cultivator in this moment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï At this time, the Qingyun Sect cultivators who were originally speaking turned pale and dared not say another word, lest they further provoke the furious Meng Qingfeng. Immediately after, a large group of Qingyun Sect disciples gathered together and orderly boarded the Blue Flying Boat. A little while passed. As numerous disciples entered the Flying Boat, Meng Qingfeng did not delay any further, jumping onto the Flying Boat first and then swiftly maneuvering it to soar into the sky, shooting toward the south. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All their actions were clearly seen by Lin Xingcheng and other observant cultivators inside the market. By this moment, including Lin Xingcheng, all the cultivators showed puzzled expressions. They truly couldn¡¯t understand why Meng Qingfeng and the others, after attacking for an entire day and seeing that the Formation was on the verge of collapse, would give up this opportunity and back off. Moreover, seeing their hastened manners, it must be that something significant had occurred that forced their retreat. Otherwise, with the vision and resolve of a Golden Core Cultivator, it really wouldn¡¯t make sense to act this way. Realizing this, Lin Xingcheng also started to speculate secretly. ¡°Could it be that something major has happened at the family site? Or have they changed targets and are planning to attack the Lin Family Clan Grounds?¡± Regrettably, he had no idea about the Qingyun Sect¡¯s plans, nor why Meng Qingfeng was so frantic at the moment. However, no matter the reason, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s retreat was undoubtedly great news for Luoyun Market. The only concern was whether Meng Qingfeng and his group might change their target and attack the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Thinking about this, Lin Xingcheng felt a mix of emotions, both relieved for having dodged a disaster and anxious for his family¡¯s safety. While he was lost in his thoughts, the observing cultivators below the city walls also began to discuss fervently. For a time, various speculations emerged, and the once-suppressed stirrings flared up in hot debate again. Seeing this situation, Lin Xingcheng also quickly took charge to maintain control, managing to suppress the cultivators after some efforts. At the same time, Meng Qingfeng and the others had not yet traveled far when a figure blocked their path. After traveling on the Purple Gold Eagle for half a day, Lin Tianming took the chance to recover the mana he had expended in the great battle with Xu Zhi and managed to arrive at Luoyun Market just in time. At that moment, Lin Tianming hovered in mid-air, looked at the faintly visible city walls ahead, and took a deep breath in relief. Fortunately, he had arrived in time. The firelight and the loud collisions he had heard from afar proved that the Defensive Great Formation of Luoyun Market was still intact. Otherwise, if he had arrived too late and Luoyun Market had been destroyed by Meng Qingfeng, even killing Meng Qingfeng would not have been a perfect outcome for the Lin Family. Realizing this, Lin Tianming looked at the slowly decelerating Flying Boat ahead and his face gradually took on a solemn expression. Simultaneously, he gripped the Tiangang Sword in his hand, ready to strike. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng also spotted Lin Tianming immediately. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s fierce expression, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and then he took on a posture as if facing a great enemy. On the deck behind him, a cultivator surnamed Song turned pale and tremblingly pointed at Lin Tianming, muttering intermittently. ¡°Meng¡­ Uncle Meng, it was he who killed Uncle Xu!¡± Hearing this and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s ferocious demeanor, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s face also turned pale, thinking to himself that trouble had come. This fierce figure had actually caught up with them and blocked their escape route. He knew clearly that although Lin Tianming¡¯s aura was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, his ability to outright destroy Xu Zhi, who was at the Mid Stage Golden Core, should not be underestimated. Chapter 820 03-25 - 820 441 Crazy Massacre_2 ?Chapter 820: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre_2 Chapter 820: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre_2 And he was merely at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation, naturally unable to compare his strength with Xu Zhi, and Lin Tianming had managed to kill Xu Zhi, so naturally, there was a possibility he could kill him too. Realizing this, Meng Qingfeng felt somewhat frightened, but he still forced himself to appear calm. Next, he cupped his fists towards Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Fellow Daoist, is there perhaps some misunderstanding between us? Why are you blocking my path?¡± Meng Qingfeng said this merely as an attempt to stall for time, hoping to devise the best strategy to respond. Or perhaps he could bluff his way through, thereby avoiding an unnecessary fight. In his heart, he always believed that as long as he returned within the borders of Huangyang Kingdom, even if the Lin Family did indeed have four Golden Core Cultivators, they wouldn¡¯t dare to actively provoke the Qingyun Sect. As for the grievance arising from Xu Zhi¡¯s death, it could entirely wait until he returned to his sect, where he could gather more Golden Core comrades to retaliate against the Lin Family Clan Grounds. ... Once the top combat forces of the Qingyun Sect took action, given the current strength of the Lin Family, they definitely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. As they say, a gentleman¡¯s revenge is not too late, even if it takes ten years! At this moment, he didn¡¯t have the certainty of winning and saw no need to engage in a fight. Thus, Meng Qingfeng forced himself to appear calm and tried to act as if the matter was of little concern, hoping to muddle through. However, when Lin Tianming had arrived here, he had personally witnessed the tremors coming from Luoyun Market. Those occasional massive disturbances were undoubtedly caused by Golden Core Cultivators. And looking around, the flying boat before him and the one parked on the Lin Family Clan Grounds were essentially identical, clearly belonging to the Qingyun Sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Moreover, right after the powerful fluctuations had abruptly stopped, he immediately saw the flying boat preparing to leave. Clearly, the Qingyun Sect cultivators were about to flee. Suddenly seeing this action, it was likely that Meng Qingfeng had also received the news of Xu Zhi¡¯s death, which was why he was hastily trying to escape from Luoyun Market, clearly also afraid of the Lin Family catching up to besiege him. Taking all these factors into consideration, Meng Qingfeng must be on the flying boat. And before he came here, he had already considered many possibilities and had a strategy in mind. Given this, there was no need for him to be polite, planning to make the first move to test Meng Qingfeng¡¯s strength. If he could kill him, that would undoubtedly be the best outcome. If he wasn¡¯t a match, then he could only let him go first and think of a long-term plan later. Realizing this and facing Meng Qingfeng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming snorted coldly and was too lazy to waste words with him. So, he immediately slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Fiend Swords immediately flew out, swiftly forming the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, enveloping a large area around him. Following this, a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand revealed the Tiangang Ninth Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword left his hand, transforming into a long dragon, shooting towards the Blue Flying Boat. His target was clear, and his movements were quick, all these offensive maneuvers completed in a moment. On the other side in the flying boat, seeing Lin Tianming take action, Meng Qingfeng was also prepared. After all, he was aware of Xu Zhi¡¯s death, and the cultivator surnamed Song had just pointed out Lin Tianming, revealing his identity. Seeing Lin Tianming make his move, he immediately leapt from the flying boat, and the Giant Axe Magical Treasure in his hand also erupted with a blade of light, blasting towards Lin Tianming. ¡°Bang!¡± a loud explosion sounded. The light blade and the Tiangang Sword directly collided, a powerful flash of light sweeping across the void, a massive shockwave spreading out. The two stalemated for a brief moment, but ultimately, the Tiangang Sword couldn¡¯t compare to the Magical Treasure, and was struck flying, eventually caught by Lin Tianming. Then, the light blade continued its assault, seemingly determined to blast him away. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was prepared, and with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, he dodged the blade¡¯s attack in time. But the ground below him took a solid hit from the light blade, blasting out a gigantic crater. Following this attack, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay, and he continued to unleash a massive amount of Tiangang Sword Qi, furiously attacking the flying boat behind Meng Qingfeng. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Once the Tiangang Sword Qi was released, its speed was incredibly fast and it carried with it a mighty aura that terrified the cultivators from Qingyun Sect on the flying boat. Seeing Lin Tianming change his target, Meng Qingfeng was both shocked and furious. He hurriedly rushed over to block Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Seeing that Meng Qingfeng indeed cared about the lives of his disciples, Lin Tianming sighed with relief in his heart. He was alone, and after half a day of sitting in meditation and consuming a Spirit Dragon Pill, he had only recovered about seventy to eighty percent of his mana. Facing such a massive force like that of Meng Qingfeng and without Lin Shikang¡¯s assistance or the greatest trump card, the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, he knew that he had to exploit Meng Qingfeng¡¯s weaknesses if he wanted to kill him or stall his retreat. These Qingyun Sect disciples were quite the vulnerable points. And although Lin Tianming was not a villain, he was no gentleman either. In his eyes, to achieve his goals, he didn¡¯t need to have any scruples. After all, the Lin Family had already torn their faces with Qingyun Sect and their actions had touched his reverse scale; there was no need to hold back anymore. Thus, Lin Tianming showed no mercy in his attack, each stream of Sword Qi aiming directly at the flying boat. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Meng Qingfeng blocked this round of attacks, but the powerful impact from the explosions still shook the flying boat, almost causing it to tumble from the sky. Now, Meng Qingfeng also understood Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose. At this moment, he was both shocked and furious. Unnecessarily being so passive, yet as the highest battle force of Qingyun Sect here, he couldn¡¯t disregard the lives of these nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment disciples. In this way, Meng Qingfeng was completely led by the nose by Lin Tianming, continuously on the defensive. After blocking another strike, Meng Qingfeng hastily ordered his disciples to retreat first so that he wouldn¡¯t always be passive. Hearing the order, the Qingyun Sect disciples didn¡¯t dare to delay. Under Meng Qingfeng¡¯s cover, they immediately began to flee the area. However, their plan was completely within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Just as the flying boat started to move, Lin Tianming had already changed his position and instantly unleashed a barrage of attacks, blocking the escape route of the flying boat. Seeing this, Meng Qingfeng was both shocked and angry, yet still had to block in front of the flying boat. As a few more rounds of attacks ended, Meng Qingfeng had been passively defending, and the flying boat was unable to break through. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng became more and more anxious, inadvertently giving Lin Tianming an opportunity. Just then, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with light. The stacked attacks from nine swords struck the blue flying boat directly. After a loud noise, the blue flying boat fell from the sky and crashed heavily to the ground, creating a deep crater. The flying boat suffered a hit, and a huge hole appeared in the middle of its body, losing its ability to fly. Not only that, this strike directly killed dozens of Qingyun Sect cultivators at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, and other cultivators with slightly higher cultivation suffered various degrees of injuries. Only the disciples in the late stage of Foundation Establishment reacted quickly enough, abandoning the boat in the first instance and using their faster speed and defensive abilities to avoid catastrophe. However, after losing the flying boat, these cultivators had no way to escape and gathered together after coming out of the flying boat. Then, their nightmare truly began. Lin Tianming seized the opportunity, not bothering to switch to Meng Qingfeng, using his agile body to move around among the crowd. Striking left and right, he was like the Grim Reaper. Every ordinary attack, if not intercepted by Meng Qingfeng, would claim the life of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even the few who were lucky to escape were severely wounded, and with just one more strike from Lin Tianming, they were bound to be killed right there. For a moment, the Qingyun Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators were terrified, each one scared out of their wits. However, the more scared they were, the fiercer Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks became. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators were slain before Meng Qingfeng¡¯s eyes. This massacre, like slaughtering chickens and butchering dogs, showed no signs of stopping and continued unabated. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 821 03-25 - 821 442 Slaying the Golden Core Again ?Chapter 821: Chapter 442: Slaying the Golden Core Again Chapter 821: Chapter 442: Slaying the Golden Core Again With Lin Tianming¡¯s strike that wiped out several cultivators, Meng Qingfeng was already completely enraged, becoming extremely irritable. Then, he no longer planned to care about the life and death of the Foundation Establishment Disciples. He knew clearly that Lin Tianming attacked the Foundation Establishment Disciples to make him hesitate and wastefully deplete his mana. Despite his best efforts to protect them, he could not manage enough attention for all. Since that was the case, and since he could not manage it anyway, it was better to go all out in the attack. As for the Foundation Establishment Disciples, he let them be attacked by Lin Tianming¡ªif they were lucky they could escape with their lives, if not, letting Lin Tianming kill them was fine. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng, having figured this out, changed his strategy and attacked with all his might. ... He pinched his Law Decree, and streaks of Spiritual Light bombarded the Giant Axe in his hands. ¡°Boom!¡± A flash of light sparkled on the Black Giant Axe, and swiftly above his head in the air a giant axe phantom condensed. He lifted his head and, seeing the giant axe phantom, a confident expression surfaced on his face. He knew that this Giant Axe Magical Treasure, which he had spent a huge cost to refine at the beginning, had very formidable attack power. Lin Tianming, up until now, had not used any Magical Treasure, most likely because he did not have any. Since that was the case, now by switching his approach to primarily attacking, he could inevitably leverage the advantage of the Magical Treasure to turn around the unfavorable situation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 With this expectation, Meng Qingfeng shouted loudly, and the giant axe above his head suddenly swung down. In an instant, a powerful wave swept through; the sky turned dark with a flash, and the giant axe phantom, like Mount Tai bearing down, pressed downward toward Lin Tianming. At this very moment, Lin Tianming felt the Gang Wind coming head-on, clearly formed by the influence of the giant axe phantom and the forces of heaven and earth. Such an attack, he knew without even trying, was absolutely extremely powerful. Clearly, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s attack was still a strong one, and with the advantage of the Magical Treasure, he had to be careful in dealing with it. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, his whole being highly alert. Seeing the imminent arrival of the giant axe phantom, Lin Tianming moved swiftly as a swallow, using the special abilities of the Eye of Five Colors to quickly find the best moment and angle to dodge. At the same time, from his hand came a fireball, thrown at the oncoming giant axe phantom. This Blue Heart True Flame he had previously used against Xu Zhi, and it proved to be quite effective. With the years of improvement in his cultivation and control over the Blue Heart True Flame becoming more refined, its power had also grown stronger. But Meng Qingfeng¡¯s strike was indeed not weak. However, he also only planned to deplete some of his opponent¡¯s mana first, then wait for the optimal moment to deliver a fatal blow to Meng Qingfeng. With this intent, Lin Tianming fully activated this fireball, releasing its utmost power. ¡°Boom¡­¡± After a loud explosion. The sky instantly erupted in a towering inferno; the fireball burst apart by the giant axe, eventually turning into a sky full of scattered drifting fire rain. At the same time, a powerful force swept across all directions; Lin Tianming was also overturned by this powerful impact. On the other side, Meng Qingfeng, not too far from the center of the explosion, was also no better off. Finally stabilizing himself, Lin Tianming and Meng Qingfeng, both their faces turned a shade paler, their Qi-Blood churning inside. After this strike, the two had a better understanding of each other¡¯s strength. It had to be said, Meng Qingfeng, going all out, truly lived up to being someone who had been in the Golden Core Stage for many years, and handling the Giant Axe Magical Treasure was indeed not easy. However, Lin Tianming was not discouraged; instead, his fighting spirit surged. After all, since his breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage, other than a lopsided fight against Xu Zhi, he had not encountered an evenly matched opponent. Now facing Meng Qingfeng, with both being at the Early Stage Golden Core and fighting one-on-one, it was a true test of his combat ability. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming was neither reckless nor overly underestimate Meng Qingfeng. As for Meng Qingfeng at this moment, having seen Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, held the same high regard for his opponent. At this time, as if by mutual understanding, the two simultaneously unleashed their attacks. In an instant, the two once again unleashed strong attacks, clashing fiercely together. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Streaks of rainbows flickered, the sky, which had briefly calmed, resounded once again with crackling sounds. After this strike, both men were pushed back dozens of feet, their Qi-Blood surging once more, their faces turning simultaneously paler. Immediately afterward, the two didn¡¯t pause, each thrusting their weapons forward, and bombarding their own weapons with successive Law Decrees. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword shone brightly, and the Tiangang Ninth Sword was launched again towards Meng Qingfeng. On the other side, Meng Qingfeng, not to be outdone, swung his giant axe again, with a giant axe phantom appearing above him in the air. Meng Qingfeng shouted loudly, urging the giant axe phantom downward toward Lin Tianming. A peculiar sound came, somewhat bizarre, like the sound of firecrackers, a closer listen revealed its cause: the giant axe phantom had burst the air itself. With this strike unleashed, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s face wore a confident look, as if he had everything under control. Chapter 822 03-25 - 822 442 ?Chapter 822: 442 Chapter 822: 442 He knew well that this all-out attack was even stronger than before, and it was his most prized attack method. With this strike alone, he had few rivals among his peers in a magic duel. Facing Lin Tianming, he also gave it his all, for only by killing Lin Tianming could he smoothly return to Qingyun Sect. With this confidence and goal in mind, Meng Qingfeng exhibited even greater strength. Across from him, Lin Tianming was also serious, pushing the Tiangang Sword in front of him to its limits. This attack was also the most powerful of all his techniques, aside from the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus and the Blue Heart True Flame. Facing Meng Qingfeng¡¯s supernatural attack, he too went all out, showing no sign of holding back. ... Under their watchful eyes, their attacks collided with a resounding impact. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud noise came as the Tiangang Sword was once again sent flying by the phantom image of the Giant Axe. At that moment, Lin Tianming leaped up, nimbly dodging the off-course phantom axe, then grabbed the flung Tiangang Sword in his hand. Immediately after, he surged forward, increasing his speed unexpectedly, and thrust the Tiangang Sword toward Meng Qingfeng¡¯s head. Seeing this change, Meng Qingfeng didn¡¯t dodge but instead smirked mockingly, showing a sinister expression on his face. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword was upon him, only thirty feet away. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï For a Golden Core Cultivator, that distance was undeniably close, leaving hardly any time to dodge. However, Meng Qingfeng had no intention of dodging. He had already swung his Giant Axe ahead of time, slashing down at the Tiangang Sword. In a flash, the two weapons clashed forcefully together, and an explosion rang out. At that moment, Meng Qingfeng threw a punch, hitting Lin Tianming squarely on the shoulder. Instantly, Lin Tianming felt a powerful force, like being hit by a small mountain. Immediately afterward, he saw Lin Tianming being sent flying backward, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood while still in midair, his complexion turning even paler. When he had regained control of his movements, his Qi-Blood was still tumultuously surging inside him. Suppressing the boiling blood in his body, his sharp eyes locked onto Meng Qingfeng, feigning shock. ¡°To think he¡¯s a body cultivator!¡± Before he could catch his breath, Meng Qingfeng shot out, reaching Lin Tianming in an instant, with his Giant Axe furiously slashing down. At this moment, Lin Tianming seemed stunned, standing motionless in his place. Seeing his reaction, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s spirits lifted, his movement technique not slowing down, but becoming even faster. In his heart, he was already rejoicing, thinking that Lin Tianming had no way to avoid and could only bear his strike head-on. He was also a practitioner of Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and although his Body Refinement was not as advanced as his spell mastery, a head-on hit like this would at least cause serious injury to an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator. If luck was poor, it was highly possible to be killed in one blow. Having fought Lin Tianming for several dozen rounds, Meng Qingfeng could tell Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks favored spells and, while decent in physical prowess, certainly lacked the ability for close-quarters combat with him. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng seemed to have everything under control, regarding Lin Tianming as someone on the brink of defeat. However, he was completely unaware that Lin Tianming was also skilled in Dual Cultivation of Body and Law and was even more proficient in body cultivation than he was. Moreover, Lin Tianming had not revealed his Body Refinement abilities to wait for an opportunity. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To achieve this, he risked being struck by Meng Qingfeng¡¯s punch on purpose. This risky move was to feign vulnerability to prod Meng Qingfeng into being more aggressive, hopefully having him let down his guard completely. Sure enough, seeing Lin Tianming hit, Meng Qingfeng thought it was due to his own superior strength that allowed him to injure Lin Tianming in one blow. As for Lin Tianming¡¯s sequence of actions, from shock to freezing in place, it persuaded Meng Qingfeng to lower all his guards. However, Meng Qingfeng had forgotten just how terrifying Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was. To know, during the numerous rounds of the previous skirmishes, Lin Tianming exhibited astonishing speeds, evading every kind of attack, no matter how dense, always finding the slightest gap to dodge through. But at this very last moment, he curiously chose not to dodge or evade, which was indeed a bit too strange. At this point, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s mind was clouded, constantly envisioning Lin Tianming being split open by the Giant Axe. This image repeatedly surfaced, occupying his nerves and making him forget these details. And this oversight was the fatal factor leading Meng Qingfeng toward his demise. Little did protagonist Meng Qingfeng know! As time slipped by, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s attack had arrived, and the airflow created by the swing of the Giant Axe struck Lin Tianming¡¯s face. At this moment, his robes fluttered, his hair danced in the wind, and he could feel pain upon his face. Seeing the Giant Axe already descending upon him like a mountain about to crash down, Lin Tianming was not the least bit panicked and couldn¡¯t help but reveal a smile, as if a cunning plan had succeeded. Seeing this expression, Meng Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, sensing something unusual, a flicker of alarm flashing through his heart. This feeling was peculiar, constantly influencing his thoughts. But at this time, his mind was in chaos, utterly unable to pinpoint where the error had occurred. When he finally calmed down, he saw a flash of silver, countless dazzling reflections ensnaring his soul and slightly blurring his vision. Through the hazy view, he noticed the silver reflections seemed to be sword lights, endless sword lights. In his bewilderment, those silver flashes spun rapidly, eventually forming a lotus made of sword light. The Sword Lotus shone brilliantly, appearing as dazzling and as real as a blooming white lotus. Yet from the sword lights, he felt tremendous Sword Qi emanating. As the spinning speed continued to accelerate, the sword energy grew stronger, and the accompanying Gang Wind sliced through the air like razor-sharp blades. Now, he finally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose and realized the plan hidden behind Lin Tianming¡¯s smirk. But by now, he was only thirty feet away from Lin Tianming, with no avenue to retreat. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s complexion dramatically changed, from being composed and proud to one of terror. Yet he knew, if he gave up the attack to flee, he couldn¡¯t escape the fatal blow Lin Tianming had long plotted. Given that, it was better to fight with the resolve of a cornered beast; there might still be a sliver of chance. At that time, Meng Qingfeng calmed down, his face taking on a resolute look. As Lin Tianming let out a mighty shout, ¡°Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± In an instant, the lotus blossomed, and countless sword energies shot out, dispersing in all directions. At this very moment, Meng Qingfeng faced the terrifying and dense barrage of Sword Qi and had no chance of evading; he was directly engulfed by the sword energies. Following several pained cries, the Sword Lotus disappeared from the sky, revealing Meng Qingfeng¡¯s mutilated body. Looking over, his body was drenched in blood, wounds of varying depths covering him completely. A hole the size of a head pierced his chest, with bones and organs clearly visible through it; nearly no part of his body remained intact. By the time Meng Qingfeng crashed to the ground, his breath had ceased, and only the warm blood flowing out proved that all of this had indeed happened. Then, Lin Tianming also fell from the sky, hitting the ground heavily. As the dust settled, only then did Lin Tianming¡¯s figure become visible. Upon closer inspection, on one of his shoulders was a bloody wound, his arm almost severed by Meng Qingfeng¡¯s Giant Axe. Had he not dodged in time, avoiding the vital area, he might have followed Meng Qingfeng into the afterlife. Chapter 823 03-25 - 823 443 The Shocked Lin Xingcheng ?Chapter 823: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng Chapter 823: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng Lin Tianming¡¯s face was pale, and his body wracked with intense pain, causing him to grit his teeth and grimace involuntarily. After getting somewhat accustomed to the pain, he used the Tiangang Sword to help himself stand up, casting a long shadow under the slanting rays of the setting sun as his straight figure rose. At the same time, a light breeze rustled his billowing robe as his sharp eyes swept the entire area. Looking around, the battlefield was also a complete mess. The flat earth was pitted and uneven, and the bodies of numerous cultivators littered the ground, with blood staining large patches of land red. Especially since many of the cultivators¡¯ bodies were incomplete, with various unrecognizable parts and limbs blurred with flesh and blood, creating a striking sight at a glance. Just this bloody and pitiful scene was enough to make one feel nauseous on sight. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, the Qingyun Sect cultivators had all been stunned, seemingly unable to believe the result of Meng Qingfeng being killed by him. ... It was only after several screams that a group of Qingyun Sect cultivators snapped out of it. Following the direction of the screams, it turned out that Lin Tianming had casually swung his sword a few times, eliminating a few Qingyun Sect cultivators who were relatively close to him. After the killing of a few people, Lin Tianming turned his head. Despite not making another move, his face was filled with intense killing intent, and his piercing gaze made the hearts of these Qingyun Sect cultivators tremble. For a moment, each person¡¯s face was pale, all displaying expressions of shock and fear. ¡°Run!¡± Someone shouted loudly, their piercing voice shattering the brief silence. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? And in that instant, nearly a hundred Qingyun Sect cultivators at the scene reacted, each one turning and scattering to flee for their lives. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his sword to cut down a few Qingyun Sect cultivators and then let them go without pursuing any further. He did so because his injuries were severe, his mana thoroughly exhausted, leaving him with barely any combat strength. Even though his physical strength was enough to be unafraid of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, in order not to further aggravate his injuries, he had to grant them a way out. After all, after these two rounds of Golden Core battles, these people were all terrified. At least for a short while, there likely wouldn¡¯t be any Qingyun Sect cultivator daring to stay in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Otherwise, if discovered by the Lin Family, they would certainly be surrounded and eliminated. As such, Lin Tianming merely put up a symbolic resistance before letting them escape the area. As for their destination, it would surely be the Whirlwind Mountain Range adjacent to the Luoyun Mountain Range. Once they entered the territory of Huangyang Kingdom, these people would be out of danger. And now, with the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core combatants injured and the Foundation Establishment Clan Members having low cultivation, they temporarily had no ability to pursue and eliminate them. Therefore, they could only let it go and make the most of this brief period of peace to rest and recover as quickly as possible, in preparation for possible retaliation from Qingyun Sect. However, the timing of such retaliation was uncertain; it could be very soon, or Qingyun Sect might opt out of invading Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World due to the Lin Family¡¯s strength. Nevertheless, he guessed that Qingyun Sect had suffered a big loss this time and would not act rashly for a short period. If they indeed sought revenge against the Lin Family, they would surely mobilize the majority of their Golden Core combat strength; otherwise, even if they came seeking revenge, they might return without achieving anything. After all, with the four Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family, plus Tian Ming¡¯s terrifying combat power far surpassing peers, Qingyun Sect wouldn¡¯t have the ability to annihilate the Lin Family without bringing in Late Stage Golden Core cultivators. And Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, being a very limited presence in the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, were unlikely to come to Wei Kingdom. In summary, after surviving this crisis, the strength of the Lin Family would rise to another level. Yet even so, they could not be complacent right now; a stronger storm might be lurking ahead. When that time came, the Lin Family would face an even greater crisis. Aware of this, Lin Tianming dared not pause or take the situation lightly. What he needed to do now was to recover from his injuries as quickly as possible and then eliminate the disadvantage of their Magical Treasures. Fortunately, after these two rounds of battles, the Magical Treasure Blue Longsword of Xu Zhi, and Meng Qingfeng¡¯s Black Giant Axe had been acquired by the Lin Family. Together with the Golden Star Ruler, a Magical Treasure left by the forebears, the Lin Family had three Magical Treasures in their possession. As long as they refined these treasures, their strength would significantly increase, and the next time they clashed with other Golden Core Cultivators, they would not suffer as much. Returning his focus, Lin Tianming tucked these thoughts away in his heart, and immediately took out a Solidifying Pill to swallow. As the elixir melted, the immense energy contained within began to circulate, and he finally felt the intense pain in his body subside. Then, he walked towards the corpse of Meng Qingfeng. Soon, he arrived beside Meng Qingfeng¡¯s body and took two storage bags from him. Having done this, he also found Meng Qingfeng¡¯s Giant Axe Magical Treasure and carefully weighed it. Upon his investigation, he found that this Black Giant Axe used by Meng Qingfeng was extremely heavy, presumably weighing at least ten thousand catties. He wondered whether the Giant Axe Magical Treasure was something Meng Qingfeng had obtained from somewhere or had commissioned to be refined. If it was the former, then the previous owner of the Giant Axe must have had significant strength, at least having been used by a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. If it was the latter, then refining this Magical Treasure must have cost him all his wealth, using rare and precious materials, to forge such a weapon. Chapter 824 03-25 - 824 443 The Shocked Lin Xingcheng_2 ?Chapter 824: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng_2 Chapter 824: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng_2 The giant axe gave him the impression that its quality was not the slightest bit inferior to Xu Zhi¡¯s blue longsword, in fact, it seemed even stronger. Upon further reflection, Meng Qingfeng was also a practitioner of dual cultivation of body and law, and the strength of his physical body was not much weaker than his own. With this giant axe, his combative power as a dual cultivator of body and law could be maximized, unleashing an indeed formidable combat strength. During the battle just now, he had gained some insights. If it weren¡¯t for the aid of his Eye of Five Colors and a bit of craftiness, plus the fact that Meng Qingfeng was too eager to achieve success and fell right into his scheme, otherwise, he might not have been a match for Meng Qingfeng. Understanding this, Lin Tianming also felt fortunate. Thankfully, he had only injured his shoulder; otherwise, the outcome might have been difficult to predict. Now that the giant axe treasure had fallen into his hands, and since he was also a practitioner of dual cultivation of body and law, he should be able to unleash the full power of this magical treasure. Although he was accustomed to using swords and the divine skills he practiced would be most effective with swords, the great weight of this axe treasure made it most suitable for those who practiced dual cultivation of body and law. ... Currently, within the Lin Family, the only real cultivator of dual cultivation of body and law was himself, and only he could bring out the full power of this giant axe. As for Xu Zhi¡¯s blue longsword treasure, he planned to hand it over to Ye Pinghai to refine and further enhance his combat power. After all, the Lin Family was currently in dire need of magical treasures and did not have their own Third Order Artifact Refiner; all the Golden Core clan members could rely only on conquest or exploring Cave Mansion Ruins to find magical treasures passed down by predecessors. But magical treasures used by others often did not fully align with the cultivator, and the strength exhibited would not be optimal. Therefore, Golden Core cultivators with the means would usually have someone help to refine artifacts that suited their own needs. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï However, the Lin Family did not currently have a Third Order Artifact Refiner. The closest, Lin Shilu, was still making an impact on the Golden Core Stage. If he could successfully step into the Golden Core Stage, with his talent in artifact refining, becoming a Third Order Artifact Refiner would just be a matter of time. But before that, Lin Family members who wanted to refine treasures suited to themselves still didn¡¯t have the conditions for it. With this in mind, for the time being, to take other clan members into account, he would have to entrust the blue longsword treasure to Ye Pinghai for use. As for himself, he would make do with this black giant axe for the moment, and when he obtained another longsword treasure, he could consider keeping it for himself. Even wait until Lin Shilu entered the Third Order Artifact Refiner, and then have him help to refine a longsword treasure that suited himself to further deploy his full strength. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming looked in the direction of his family, muttering softly to himself, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I suppose you¡¯re about to attract the Heavenly Tribulation soon!¡± Returning to his senses, Lin Tianming then collected the black giant axe and Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag. Afterward, he surveyed the chaotic battlefield and began to gather the spoils of war. In Luoyun Market. Lin Xingcheng and a group of Lin Family members were gathered together, with a multitude of cultivators assembled not far from them. At this moment, everyone¡¯s gaze was firmly fixed on the distant horizon, not diverting for a second, as if afraid of missing something. Just a moment ago, colorful lights had been emitted from the edge of the sky, with occasional faint sounds reaching them. Clearly, in places beyond their divine sense, High Order Cultivators were engaged in a magic duel. At such a great distance, to receive such commotion that also lasted for quite some time, it seemed that the combatants engaged in the magic duel must undoubtedly be Golden Core Cultivators. And thinking carefully, Meng Qingfeng, who had left in haste just before, was definitely among them; but who was the other Golden Core Cultivator? At that moment, the onlooking cultivators all showed puzzled expressions. It was really too strange! Ordinarily, even seeing one Golden Core Cultivator was rare, and now Meng Qingfeng and other Qingyun Sect cultivators suddenly appeared in the Luoyun Mountain Range, which was strange enough. But now, another Golden Core Cultivator had appeared in the Luoyun Mountain Range and engaged Meng Qingfeng who had attacked Luoyun Market in a fierce battle. One must know that the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was currently in chaos, with the three sects at war for years. Most Golden Core Cultivators were at the northern frontlines engaged in battle and would not lightly come to this remote place. At this critical moment, two Golden Core strongmen had appeared one after the other, sparking a significant battle. Could it be that the person who came later was a member of the Lin Family? Or was it a Golden Core Cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect? However, in recent years, there were no reports of any Lin Family clan member entering the Golden Core Stage. Zhenyang Sect was too preoccupied with its own concerns, so how could they have arrived so promptly? At this time, apart from Lin Xingcheng and a few others, everyone else began to let their imaginations run wild. In fact, their speculations were not strange at all since today¡¯s events were too unusual for them. Not until the noise from the big battle had ceased did the crowd of over a thousand spectators become silent, and everyone began to gossip among themselves. At this moment, Lin Xingcheng stared ahead, pondering in his mind. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Could it be that Third Uncle or Tian Ming has come to our support?¡± He couldn¡¯t be sure and was even less certain about the outcome of the battle. At that moment, he felt a bit worried, especially considering that the Lin Family members had not been at the Golden Core Stage for long. Even the exceptionally talented Lin Tianming, who had broken through just over a year ago, might not be a match for the seasoned Golden Core expert, Meng Qingfeng. Thinking about this, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s face showed concern, and he felt as antsy as ants crawling over his heart. While he was lost in thought, another streak of blue light passed across the horizon. ¡°Look, something¡¯s happening over there!¡± The cultivator who first noticed the disturbance pointed towards the direction of the high sky and exclaimed in surprise. Hearing this, Lin Xingcheng also regained his composure and looked forward, only to see a blue light appearing at the edge of the sky before swiftly flying into the clouds. Soon after, the blue light dispersed to vaguely form the pattern of a bamboo, hanging in the sky for a few breaths before disappearing without a trace. Recognizing the blurred shape as the Lin Family¡¯s special signal for transmitting messages, almost every Foundation Establishment Clan Member knew it. At this time, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s expression immediately changed, his originally pale complexion now flushing with color. He knew that the battle ahead had stopped for a while. Since the signal was sent at this moment, it meant that the clan members had been victorious in the Golden Core battle. Understanding this, Lin Xingcheng suppressed the excitement in his heart and instructed Lin Xingpu, who was beside him. ¡°Xingpu, you¡¯re in charge of guarding the workshop, the rest of the clan members will follow me out to take a look!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingpu seemed to realize something and nodded immediately. Quickly, Lin Xingcheng led more than thirty family members out of Luoyun Market, flying towards the location where the signal had appeared. Many cultivators on the city wall watched as the Lin Family members left, feeling very perplexed, but due to the Lin Family¡¯s strength, they didn¡¯t dare say much, let alone follow them out. In under the time it would take to drink a pot of tea, Lin Xingcheng and the others arrived at the battlefield. From afar, Lin Xingcheng could see Lin Tianming sitting cross-legged on the ground, his aura in complete disarray and his injuries shockingly severe. Not far from him, he also discovered Meng Qingfeng¡¯s corpse, which, although mutilated, still emitted the distinct aura exclusive to a Golden Core Cultivator, allowing for easy identification. At this time, Lin Tianming also opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile upon seeing the approaching Lin Xingcheng. ¡°Tian Ming, you actually killed Meng Qingfeng?¡± Lin Xingcheng was initially overjoyed, then his face showed a stunned expression, clearly astonished by Lin Tianming¡¯s strength¡ªdefeating the veteran Golden Core Meng Qingfeng after advancing to the Golden Core Stage for just over a year. Lin Tianming nodded, not saying much, but instructed Lin Xingcheng to immediately arrange for clan members to carefully clean up the battlefield. Upon receiving the order, Lin Xingcheng quickly directed the clan members to dispose of the Qingyun Sect cultivators¡¯ bodies and collect all of Lin Tianming¡¯s unrecuperated storage bags. Watching the bustling family members, Lin Tianming gathered his strength and then recounted to Lin Xingcheng the complete sequence of the family¡¯s engagement as well as the battle that had just taken place. ¡°The family was attacked by Jin Xuzhi from Qingyun Sect? A Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman? You and Third Uncle joined forces and killed him?¡± ¡°And you alone killed this Meng Qingfeng as well?¡± Receiving this explosive news, Lin Xingcheng was completely stunned, his heart uneasy for a long time. The news was indeed too shocking, and he was truly overwhelmed. ¡­ Chapter 825 03-25 - 825 444 Thieves Never Die ?Chapter 825: Chapter 444 Thieves Never Die Chapter 825: Chapter 444 Thieves Never Die At that time, Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction to Lin Xingcheng¡¯s news wasn¡¯t a surprise. After all, such news was truly shocking! It should be noted that after two battles, two famous Golden Core Experts had fallen, including one at the Mid Stage Golden Core. Truthfully, these characters were normally elusive powerhouses. Now, they had not only appeared in Wei Kingdom but had fallen under the eyes of the Lin Family Members. Even if the cultivators at Luoyun Market didn¡¯t witness the great battle between Lin Tianming and Meng Qingfeng, the nearby distance allowed them to sense the disturbances of the battle. Such explosive events were performed continuously in just a few short days across the territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range. After a long while, Lin Xingcheng regained his composure from the shock. ... He looked at Lin Tianming, then asked, ¡°What should we do next?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming thought for a moment before responding, ¡°These times are far from peaceful. The other two sects of Huangyang Kingdom are also attacking other mountain ranges of Wei Kingdom. With the recent chaos in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and now Huangyang Kingdom interjecting into this great battle among the three sects, I fear the situation will deteriorate further.¡± ¡°Moreover, with the Lin Family¡¯s consecutive battles these past few days, it won¡¯t be long before the outcome of this great war spreads throughout Wei and Huangyang Countries!¡± ¡°At that time, the Lin Family will inevitably be at the forefront, and maybe even targeted by Qingyun Sect!¡± ¡°I have been injured in this battle. Given the current harsh conditions, I plan to retreat and meditate in Luoyun Market for a while, to both recover from my injuries and to stay here for some time.¡± ¡°After this period, we will see how the situation unfolds and decide on the next steps for the Lin Family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingcheng nodded, his heart also sighing in relief. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He knew the current situation of the Lin Family. What could be anticipated was that the news of the Lin Family battling two Golden Core cultivators from Qingyun Sect would definitely shock the Cultivation Worlds of both countries. In the current situation, although the Lin Family was in the limelight, as the saying goes, ¡®a tall tree catches the wind.¡¯ Now, the Lin Family was seen as a threatening presence by other forces. Therefore, the Lin Family had already exposed all its strength, and trying to develop and hide in secret was now unrealistic. Thus, the Lin Family had moved from the shadows to the forefront, which would also attract the attention of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom. It was predictable that Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley would do their utmost to coax the Lin Family into their camp, to jointly oppose the attacks from Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance. After all, their situation was already tricky, worsened by the sudden invasion by the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. Now, the overall strength of the Lin Family was almost no weaker than any of those sects; whoever could align with the Lin Family could secure the initiative. It¡¯s even possible that once the Lin Family entered the fray, it could become the key factor that would sway their victory or defeat. Given this situation, the next few years, or even a decade, would inevitably be far from easy for the Lin Family. Knowing this, Lin Xingcheng, as the current head of Luoyun Market, felt no relief, but rather a heightened sense of urgency. Fortunately, with Lin Tianming staying here for a while and a Golden Core Clan Member present, he felt somewhat more confident. At this time, Lin Xingcheng sighed in relief as he watched his clan members clean up the battlefield and then gather around him. In the forefront, Lin Xingyu, holding many storage bags, approached Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tian Ming, all these storage bags are here, including all the Magic Artifacts that have been collected. Please check if anything is missing?¡± After speaking, Lin Xingyu handed all the storage bags to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming accepted them without refusal, taking all the storage bags. These Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ storage bags were numerous; he had destroyed nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each possessing at least one storage bag, amounting to several hundreds in total. These items were essentially the life savings of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Although there would be very few items of use to him as a Golden Core Cultivator, the sheer quantity was overwhelming. These spoils of war were supposed to be his personal property. He planned, when he had spare time, to explore them one by one. He would collect anything useful to him, and the rest of the treasures used by Foundation Establishment Cultivars would be collectively handed over to the family for handling. After Lin Tianming collected the storage bags, Lin Xingcheng reminded him. ¡°Tian Ming, as the battlefield has been cleared, let¡¯s return to the market first!¡± ¡°Um, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then flew toward Luoyun Market first, with Lin Xingcheng and the others not lagging behind, following him to the entrance of the market. At that moment, numerous cultivators still gathered on the city walls, all staring curiously at them, their faces filled with anticipation. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, seeing the leading Lin Tianming with a somewhat chaotic aura and bearing significant injuries, some observant cultivators immediately recognized his identity. One of the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement cultivators pointed at the Lin Family Members, exclaiming excitedly, ¡°That¡¯s Senior Lin Tianming!¡± Hearing this, many cultivators who had never seen Lin Tianming also turned to look at the Lin Family Members, searching for Lin Tianming among them. Indeed, Lin Tianming¡¯s reputation resonated throughout the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, eclipsing even Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had entered the Foundation Establishment Stage earlier, and couldn¡¯t be compared with him. Chapter 826 03-25 - 826 444 ?Chapter 826: 444 Chapter 826: 444 After all, Lin Tianming had spent the recent years fighting battles in all directions, from beast tides to the end of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Among the young generation of cultivators in the Wei Kingdom, he had garnered a significant reputation. There were even rumors in the Cultivation World that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was among the top five of the tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. Moreover, rumors spoke of his terrifying talent ¨C he had touched the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment Cultivators by the age of fifty. Such potential and talent were ranked at the very forefront of all Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. Such a legendary figure was a topic that every cultivator from the Luoyun Mountain Range eagerly discussed. However, in recent years, he had rarely made an appearance, and many cultivators knew of his legend but had never seen him in person. Now, as these cultivators who had seen him pointed out, the thousand cultivators present immediately started a heated discussion. ... Among them, some cultivators noticed the most significant feature. ¡°Elder Lin has been out of sight for a long time. Could it be that he was also part of that great battle just now?¡± As soon as this question was raised, many cultivators then noticed Lin Tianming¡¯s aura, which was unmistakably that of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. ¡°Elder Lin has stepped into the Golden Core Stage!¡± This revelation caused an intense stir, and the cultivators present, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment Stage or at the Qi Refinement third or fourth level, turned flushed with excitement, and their breathing quickened. It was no surprise that these cultivators reacted this way. After all, the Luoyun Mountain Range had not seen a Golden Core Cultivator for hundreds of years. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? And the last Golden Core Cultivator who resided in the Luoyun Mountain was the ancient ancestor of the Lin Family, Lin Renfeng. If one were to exclude him, a Golden Core Cultivator who found his place on the mountain from outside, it would be necessary to trace back more than a thousand years to find an indigenous Golden Core Cultivator from Luoyun Mountain. That it took so long for a local Golden Core Cultivator to emerge speaks volumes about how difficult it is for the remote and secluded Luoyun Mountain Range to produce a native Golden Core Cultivator. And yet, Lin Tianming had achieved at a young age what the cultivators of Luoyun Mountain had not done in a thousand years. Considering his talent and potential, this was far from the final peak of his cultivation. Given time, with some great opportunities, he could even attempt the Nascent Soul Stage¡ªa hurdle that the Wei Kingdom had not successfully overcome in thousands of years. Should he succeed, it¡¯s likely all the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom would benefit from his achievement. Not only would the Wei Kingdom become a well-known nation in Qingzhou, attracting a large number of cultivators, but it would also deter many neighboring countries from harboring any aggressive intentions toward the Wei Kingdom. Moreover, a stable cultivation environment is crucial for low-level cultivators. It can be said that Lin Tianming¡¯s advancement into the Golden Core Stage gave these people a tremendous shock and greatly boosted their confidence in cultivation. However, what they didn¡¯t know was that the Lin Family had more than one Golden Core Cultivator, and the outcome of the battle at the Lin Family Clan Grounds had not yet been relayed here. When they learned of this explosive news and found out that Lin Tianming had slain two Golden Core Cultivators, they would be utterly astonished. At this moment, Lin Tianming, facing the bustling discussions of the cultivators, did not say much. He simply smiled and clasped his hands in greeting before, with the support of Lin Xingcheng and others, he proceeded directly to the auction in the center of the workshop market. Soon after, Lin Xingcheng arranged a private chamber for Lin Tianming so he could seclude himself and cultivate in peace. Before closing off, Lin Tianming also instructed Lin Xingcheng to send someone back to the family to relay the news of the battle, informing the Clan Leader to make all necessary preparations to prevent the Qingyun Sect from seeking revenge. With these tasks complete, Lin Tianming then began his seclusion with peace of mind. After entering the chamber, Lin Tianming adjusted his state and then started to heal his injuries with the aid of Solidifying Pills. While he was in seclusion, the news of the two Golden Core battles that had taken place in the Luoyun Mountain Range began to spread throughout the Wei Kingdom and the Huangyang Kingdom. At the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate in the Huangyang Kingdom. In a finely crafted pavilion, several Blue-Robed Cultivators sat together, three of them with incredulous expressions on their faces, arguing incessantly with the Sect Leader Yang Xiao seated at the highest position. ¡°Sect Leader, Senior Xu and Junior Brother Meng cannot die in vain. We must make the Lin Family pay the price!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ This Lin Family has just risen and is not that strong yet. They must repay blood for blood!¡± Two Golden Core Cultivators, faces flushed and impassioned, dismissed the Lin Family as if they were nothing. No sooner had their voices fallen than an elderly man with white hair laughed self-deprecatingly, ¡°Heh¡­ make that Lin Family pay the price?¡± ¡°From the start, I was against meddling in the affairs of the Wei Kingdom, after all, what kind of reputation does the Blood Cult Alliance have? Cooperating with such a force is akin to seeking skin from a tiger!¡± ¡°Just look, before we even gained the slightest advantage, we hit an iron wall and in the process lost two of our Golden Core Elders, weakening the overall strength of our sect and disgracing us.¡± ¡°If you ask me, all of this trouble was brought on by greed!¡± As someone who seemed to have considerable seniority, the white-haired elder¡¯s taunting drew flushed faces from the others who were arguing. But out of respect for the elder¡¯s strength and status, they dared not speak out in anger, instead, they looked up towards Yang Xiao at the top, hoping to see what the strongest member of the Qingyun Sect had in mind. And indeed, Yang Xiao at the top opened his previously shut eyes. As a well-known Golden Core Cultivator of Huangyang Kingdom, he had reached the Late Stage Golden Core, and he wasn¡¯t too far from Golden Core Grand Perfection. Having traversed Huangyang Kingdom for so many years, he too had misjudged this situation. Who would have thought the Lin Family was hiding so deep? Initially, he thought they were but a Foundation Establishing Family easily snuffed out. Yet, when they struck, it was with a whopping four Golden Core Cultivators, taking down two of their own, truly catching him off guard. Quickly, Yang Xiao calmed down. After looking at the others present, he slowly said, ¡°The death of Senior Xu and the others must not be in vain, and with the conditions the Blood Cult Alliance has given us, which we cannot refuse, it¡¯s two Tribulation Evasion Pills!¡± ¡°Two Tribulation Evasion Pills!¡± Hearing Yang Xiao¡¯s words, everyone present was shocked, including the elder who had been mocking earlier, who also wore a surprised expression. Their reaction was because the Tribulation Evasion Pill was incredibly precious. Even though the pills were Third Order, they were considered the most valuable among their rank, for consuming one could let an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator bypass cultivation bottlenecks to directly advance a minor realm within a short period. Such pills could only be second in preciousness to the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. It was a dream elixir for cultivators in the Early and Medium Stages of the Golden Core. Now, understanding Yang Xiao¡¯s explanation, the people present grasped why the Sect Leader had so resolutely accepted the invitation from the Blood Red Alliance. At that moment, the white-haired elder settled down, pondered for a moment, and seemed still uneasy. ¡°Yang Shidi, the Blood Red Alliance has always had a bad reputation; even if they promise benefits, I fear they won¡¯t be so easily fulfilled!¡± Hearing this, Yang Xiao replied with an indifferent smile, ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°In my opinion, they¡¯ve likely offered the same conditions to the two other sects; whoever helps them annihilate Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect will get the promised rewards.¡± ¡°Though our initial venture was unsuccessful, leading to losses, the opportunity of two Tribulation Evasion Pills is indeed worth taking such a risk for us!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than the white-haired elder continued to inquire, ¡°Oh? So, are you still planning on continuing the offensive into the Wei Kingdom, Yang Shidi?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yang Xiao nodded and said, ¡°However, the current Lin Family is probably not worth our all-out effort; after all, the Blood Red Alliance only talked about annihilating Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect.¡± ¡°Once that goal is achieved, we can turn back to dealing with the Lin Family, and even if we don¡¯t obliterate them, we must make them pay a certain price.¡± Hearing this, the white-haired elder let out a resigned laugh and asked, ¡°Then how do you plan to proceed?¡± ¡°Junior Brother Yun and Junior Brother Li, you will lead three hundred Foundation Establishment Disciples to set out on a chosen day. Remember to bypass the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family is located, and enter the Wei Kingdom from other directions.¡± After speaking, Yang Xiao, still not entirely at ease, left them with one more instruction. ¡°Remember one thing, if the Lin Family doesn¡¯t trouble us, then we pay them no mind. We¡¯ll consider their case only after fulfilling the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s mission!¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing these words, Yun Jinchuan and Li Wei both nodded, which somewhat relieved Yang Xiao. Then, Yang Xiao and the others discussed some more details before each went their own way, beginning preparations for their further assault on the Wei Kingdom. ¡­ Chapter 827 03-25 - 827 445 Various Parties Shaken ?Chapter 827: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken Chapter 827: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken Qianchuan Market. The square outside the auction was teeming with people as it served as the hub of the entire market. Here cultivators mingled, bartered at stalls, or exchanged information¡ªan excellent spot for such activities. At that moment, a large gathering of cultivators buzzed with only one topic: the two major battles recently at the Lin Family. In these past few days, the news of the Lin Family¡¯s battles against two Golden Core cultivators from the Qingyun Sect had spread like a storm through the inner circles. At the same time, the news of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s bold invasion into the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World began to circulate through all major markets. Even in other mountain ranges within the Wei Kingdom, word was spreading far and wide. Initially, upon learning of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three sects unexpectedly attacking Wei territory, forces large and small inside Wei, including loose cultivators, were all panic-stricken. ... After some time had passed, these people, be they Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Qi Refining Cultivators, were almost unanimously furious, vehemently condemning the three sects of Huangyang for their opportunism. But with events already in motion, out of the three major forces invaded by Huangyang Kingdom, two had stormed through like a breaking wave. In just over half a month, they had conquered several mountain ranges, slaying a great number of loose cultivators in the process. What followed was more precarious mountain ranges on the brink of annihilation at any moment. Fortunately, amid such dire news, the Lin Family emerged out of nowhere¡ªfour Golden Core Stage Cultivators lent their hands and not only repelled the Qingyun Sect but also consecutively slaughtered two Golden Core Cultivators. Among these, there was Xu Zhi of the Mid Stage Golden Core and over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such a staggering number of casualties left everyone dumbstruck. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 When this uplifting news arrived, it managed to dispel much of the gloom hanging over the cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. At this time, every tavern, shop, and trading venue within Qianchuan Market began to talk about the Lin Family. No one had imagined the Lin Family could hide their strength so profoundly, quietly amassing four Golden Core Cultivators. To think that just decades ago, among the many Foundation Establishing Families within the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family was nothing out of the ordinary, certainly not lacking in stronger clans. Yet now, with four Golden Core Cultivators, their strength rivaled that of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Three Great Sects. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In truth, it was inconceivable how in such a short span of time the Lin Family had acquired such formidable power. As for the Qingyun Sect¡¯s attack on Wei, their luck was exceptionally bad. What they thought would be an easy victory over the Luoyun Mountain Range turned into a costly encounter against the unanticipated force of the Lin Family, resulting in the fall of two Golden Core Cultivators and the loss of more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. It was a classic case of a failed attempt to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it¡ª an outcome beyond everyone¡¯s expectation. With the emergence of the Lin Family, while the current situation had worsened, the morale of Wei¡¯s cultivators in repelling Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s assault had indeed been bolstered. At the very least, the multitude of once disheartened cultivators caught a glimmer of hope. Under such circumstances, the Luoyun Pavilion was now bustling with activity as numerous cultivators came to purchase treasures and take the opportunity to pay a visit to the Lin Family Members, hoping to become acquainted and extend their own networks. After all, the Lin Family had now transcended its former status to become the sixth Golden Elixir Force of the Wei Kingdom. And in terms of overall family strength, they had far surpassed the other two Golden Core Families, the Li Family and the Chen Clan. It could be predicted that if the Lin Family were to survive this calamity sweeping over the Wei Kingdom, they were destined to become a force all cultivators looked up to for hundreds of years to come. In such a scenario, the current Lin Family had become the center of attention, not just a hot topic among cultivators but also a target for many seeking favor. Inside the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Xingrong and a few Foundation Establishment Clan Members were seated together. At this moment, every Lin Family member was buzzing with excitement. Apart from Lin Xingrong, who was aware of the Family¡¯s strength, the rest were utterly shocked. Even Lin Tianyue, sister to Lin Tianming, had no idea her brother had reached the Golden Core Stage, let alone the others who knew nothing at all. Now that the Lin Family had completely surfaced, revealing four Golden Core Stage Combat Powers and annihilating nearly ninety percent of the invading force from the Qingyun Sect, the news was astonishing. At that moment, Lin Tianyue pouted her lips, glancing at Lin Xingrong¡¯s relatively calm demeanor before speaking resentfully, ¡°Father, you must have known about Uncle Three and brother entering the Golden Core Stage long ago, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong nodded helplessly and said, ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°I knew very early on, and before this, less than ten people in the entire Lin Family were privy to the truth.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t harbor any ill thoughts about this; after all, the Cultivation World is in chaos, and the Lin Family didn¡¯t want to get involved prematurely in the big battle amongst Wei Kingdom¡¯s Three Great Sects!¡± ¡°As for the invasion by several Great Sects from Huangyang Kingdom, nobody anticipated that, and the Lin Family¡¯s strength was inadvertently revealed, a truly capricious fate!¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianyue and the others who were left in the dark understood that under the previous circumstances, the Lin Family indeed had their reasons. Had it not been for the Qingyun Sect¡¯s meddling and sudden attack on the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family would not have revealed their strength so hastily. Chapter 828 03-25 - 828 445 Various Parties Shaken_2 ?Chapter 828: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken_2 Chapter 828: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken_2 And now, the events had already unfolded, fortunately, the Lin Family had repelled Qingyun Sect, and even achieved unprecedented victories, allowing the Lin Family¡¯s reputation to resound throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In the days that followed, the Lin Family completely emerged from the shadows and moved into the light. This transformation was also set to usher in a new chapter for the Lin Family. And for these clanspeople, it would be the start of a new beginning. It was foreseeable that in the future, when dealing with disciples from other forces, even the Qi Refining Stage clan members of the Lin Family would be respected by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. This was the influence of the Lin Family¡¯s name, and it played a decisive role. After all, in the Cultivation World, power was supreme. Aside from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, no one dared to provoke the Lin Family anymore. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Even the Two Great Golden Core Families of the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family wouldn¡¯t dare to offend the Lin Family lightly without significant interests at stake. Being aware of this, Lin Tianyue and the others each felt a sense of pride. This feeling greatly enhanced their confidence and their sense of security, subtly changing their state of mind. As everyone gradually calmed down, Lin Tianyue took the opportunity to speak, ¡°Father, these last few days Qianchuan Market has been bustling, nearly everyone is discussing our Lin Family, and there are even many cultivators who want to visit us!¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than Lin Tianhong opened his to concur. ¡°Indeed¡­ I¡¯ve received numerous invitations from cultivators these past two days, inviting me to attend meetings at the guest pavilions, which I turned down in the name of alchemy affairs!¡± Hearing what the two of them said, Lin Xingrong nodded, for he too had received many overtures from cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 The cultivators of ordinary Foundation Establishing Families and those Loose Cultivators were one thing. But even Tang Xiuyuan from Sky Dragon Pavilion and several executive officers from the market had also made overtures to visit. This left him quite troubled, not knowing what the Lin Family¡¯s next steps should be or with what demeanor to face those major powers. After all, these people represented Golden Elixir forces in the market, and there were also disciples of great forces from Qingzhou, with Tang Xiuyuan being the prime example. In dealing with those smaller forces, the Lin Family could afford to offend them, and cool them without fear of dissatisfaction. However, there were some whom even the current Lin Family had to handle with care, and naturally, they were far from comparable to the Foundation Establishing Families¡¯ cultivators. In such circumstances, Lin Xingrong was extremely busy these past few days, neither daring to slight anyone nor to easily reveal the Lin Family¡¯s stance, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble for the family. Luckily, he had been managing Luoyun Market and Qianchuan Market for some years now, and had interacted with various forces, knowing well how to maneuver among these people. When faced with the probing of those great forces, he didn¡¯t express any stance hastily, but rather brushed it aside with some convincing reasons. Thus, he managed to entertain the guests well, not letting them gain any useful information, but also without causing any grudges towards the Lin Family. After two days of hustle and bustle, Lin Xingrong also managed to obtain plenty of valuable intelligence from the lines of the major forces. According to what Tang Xiuyuan voluntarily revealed, the other two Golden Elixir forces of Huangyang Kingdom, after conquering several of Wei Kingdom¡¯s mountain ranges, showed no signs of stopping, but rather intensified their offensive. It seemed they were also aiming to exert pressure on Zhenyang Sect, thus sharing the burden with Golden Sword Sect. As for Qingyun Sect, which suffered a setback, they also had no intention of backing down. Instead, they continued to dispatch troops, apparently ready for a major comeback. However, Qingyun Sect needed time, and even the intelligence network of Sky Dragon Pavilion couldn¡¯t see through the next step of their attack plans. Regardless, the Lin Family had to be fully alert and always on guard against Qingyun Sect¡¯s retaliation. Beyond that, at the main battleground of Myriad Medicine Valley, the intensity of the great war continued to escalate, with clashes between Golden Core Cultivators becoming commonplace. It was clear that the aggressive move of Huangyang Kingdom into Wei Kingdom was surely influenced by the Blood Red Alliance. Watching as the attack dragged on without success, the Blood Red Alliance grew anxious and resorted to pushing Huangyang Kingdom to take advantage of the chaos. This move indeed imposed tremendous pressure on both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. And now, with the sudden exposure of the Lin Family, it would surely attract the attention of both sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. Faced with the aggressively advancing three great sects of Huangyang Kingdom, Myriad Medicine Valley had no energy to spare, and Zhenyang Sect also found it difficult to alleviate much pressure. With this development, Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect would certainly go to great lengths to win over the Lin Family, bringing them into their camp to jointly resist the Blood Red Alliance and Golden Sword Sect. As long as the Lin Family made a move, they could at least halt the aggressive plans of the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom. And those two great sects could then dedicate their efforts to dealing with the Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance. Lin Xingrong could see this, which was why he didn¡¯t dare to make a stance lightly, especially since he really wasn¡¯t in a position to make a decision. Having received this intelligence, Lin Xingrong planned to return to the Lin Family Clan Grounds to seek the Clan Leader¡¯s opinion. Having made up his mind, Lin Xingrong then spoke up about his thoughts. Lin Tianyue and others obviously understood the gravity of the situation and naturally had no objections. Following that, Lin Xingrong also instructed, ¡°When facing cultivators from any power, remember not to disclose the Lin Family¡¯s position and not to offend anyone!¡± ¡°Father, rest assured, we will certainly keep that in mind!¡± Lin Tianyue said resolutely. As soon as the words were spoken, Lin Tianhong and the others also quickly echoed the sentiment, reassuring Lin Xingrong. Soon after, Lin Xingrong, without delay, made the necessary arrangements and bid farewell to his clanspeople at the first opportunity, quietly leaving Qianchuan Market. Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. Within a certain pavilion, Lu Xingfeng was seated in the seat of honor, with Shao Changyi of Myriad Medicine Valley occupying the guest seat below him. At that moment, Lu Xingfeng looked at Shao Changyi and then asked, ¡°Daoist Shao, with your visit to Zhenyang Sect this time, does Daoist Zhou have any crucial directives?¡± Hearing this, Shao Changyi smiled helplessly. ¡°Daoist Lu, with the recent uproar about the Lin Family, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°Thoughts?¡± Lu Xingfeng had a look of bewilderment; as the Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect, his thoughts were complex. In his heart, the sudden rise of the Lin Family, still under Zhenyang Sect¡¯s banner, inevitably seemed somewhat unbelievable. With successive members of the Lin Family reaching the Golden Core Stage, a small family that was once obscure had become a renowned power in Wei Kingdom. In the future, the Lin Family would inevitably break away from Zhenyang Sect¡¯s control, and could even become their rival. Still, their sudden rise was not necessarily a bad thing for the two sects. After all, the present situation for both sects was precarious, dealing with Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance was already strenuous enough, and now with Huangyang Kingdom taking advantage of the situation, it only added insult to injury. Fortunately for them, the emergence of the Lin Family¡ªgiven the grudge between the Lin Family and Golden Sword Sect¡ªmade it unlikely for the two to align. On the contrary, the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, at the very least, had no enmity with the Lin Family; securing the Lin Family¡¯s assistance was not an impossibility. Understanding this, Lu Xingfeng realized the purpose of Shao Changyi¡¯s sudden visit. ¡°Daoist Shao, please, speak directly of your valley¡¯s plans!¡± Hearing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s straightforward speech, Shao Changyi did not beat around the bush and began to disclose Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s plans. According to him, Myriad Medicine Valley wanted to join forces with Zhenyang Sect and seek the Lin Family¡¯s full commitment to hinder the attack of the several major sects of Huangyang Kingdom. For this reason, their two great sects urgently needed to discuss some benefits. If they could reach a consensus now, they could immediately send someone to the Lin Family Clan Grounds, visit the Lin Family, and at the same time, talk about the details of the cooperation. After a short moment of consideration and practically without hesitation, Lu Xingfeng agreed to Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s request. He knew well the difficult situation of Zhenyang Sect; the Lin Family¡¯s current strength was an entity they had to vie for. Securing the Lin Family¡¯s support would greatly increase their chances of overcoming this crisis. And so, Lu Xingfeng directly agreed to Shao Changyi¡¯s request, and the two of them began to discuss the benefits of asking the Lin Family to intervene. Chapter 829 03-25 - 829 446 The Conditions of the Lin Family ?Chapter 829: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family Chapter 829: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. At noon on this day, the sun was as ardent as ever. Inside the family, there was a continuous flow of people coming and going, as if peace had been restored. Inside the Family Reception Hall, Lin Shikang was seated in a high position, while Shao Changyi himself occupied the guest seats below. Faced with Shao Changyi¡¯s sudden visit, Lin Shikang had not fully recovered from his injuries, about seventy to eighty percent at best, yet he hastily ended his seclusion to receive the guest. The visitor in question was a Golden Core Cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. If the visitor had been merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Clan Leader Lin Shihua¡¯s reception would have sufficed. But the visitor¡¯s identity and cultivation were not to be taken lightly. If Lin Shikang did not make an appearance, it would have seemed too inattentive. Furthermore, with just a bit of contemplation, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua could guess the main purpose of Shao Changyi¡¯s visit. ... After all, Myriad Medicine Valley was currently facing fierce attacks from the Golden Sword Sect, with the majority of their forces committed to the main battlefield. At such a critical juncture, Shao Changyi¡¯s proactive visit from such a distance was undoubtedly to invite the Lin Family to take action together against the Golden Sword Sect. Such a matter was also of utmost importance to the Lin Family at this point, as it related to the direction of the family¡¯s future development. After all, they would be participating in a war between Golden Core Sects, amidst which top forces like the Blood Red Alliance were stirring the waters. If the Lin Family were to become deeply mired in the conflict, or if Myriad Medicine Valley could not withstand the attack from the Golden Sword Sect, and the Lin Family took a stance too early, or even acted against the Golden Sword Sect, they would inevitably face retribution from the Golden Sword Sect later. Under these circumstances, without seeing significant benefits, the Lin Family definitely could not disclose their stance prematurely or participate in the struggle between the Golden Sword Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley too soon. Such immense family strategies relied not only on Lin Shihua; it was necessary to consult with other clan members of the same generation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï At that moment, Shao Changyi also took a measured look at Lin Shikang, observing him covertly. Before his arrival, the news of the Lin Family¡¯s battle against the Qingyun Sect had already spread throughout the major regions of Wei Kingdom, especially the siege and killing of Xu Zhi by four of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators, which confirmed their elimination. When this news came out, he, like most people, was somewhat skeptical. Thinking of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s mighty momentum just days ago, their attack on the Luoyun Mountain Range had been fruitless in just a few days, and the escape of the Qingyun Sect cultivators had been witnessed by many Wei Kingdom cultivators. Also, there was the great battle at Luoyun Market, where though thousands of Cultivators did not see it at close range, they could not mistake the uproar. And Lin Tianming was undoubtedly at the Golden Core Stage at the time, barely combining his serious injuries with the actual situation back then, which finally confirmed the Lin Family¡¯s terrifying strength. Now, after his appraisal, he found that Lin Shikang¡¯s aura was somewhat wilted, clearly showing signs of unhealed injuries. However, his cultivation at the Golden Core Stage was undeniably accurate. By now, he firmly believed that the Lin Family had the strength to kill both Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng. With this in mind, he had to follow the sect¡¯s plan and invite the Lin Family to join the ranks of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Convinced, Shao Changyi took the initiative to speak, breaking the temporary silence. ¡°Lin friend, congratulations! Your Lin Family really made a splash this time, surprising everyone in Wei Kingdom and making it all seem incredible!¡± Shao Changyi¡¯s initial remarks were filled with congratulations and flattery, without any mention of the Lin Family¡¯s deep concealment. It seemed he didn¡¯t want to touch upon the Lin Family¡¯s sensitive nerve and provoke their hostility. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Shikang responded with a light smile, ¡°Friend Shao flatters us! Our Lin Family just had some luck, far from being comparable to a Great Sect with a thousand years of inheritance!¡± Having said that, Lin Shikang changed the subject, asking directly, ¡°Friend Shao, what brings you to the Lin Family at such a critical moment?¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s straightforward query took Shao Changyi by surprise. Nevertheless, since Lin Shikang was direct, it saved Shao Changyi the trouble of dancing around the issue. ¡°Therefore,¡± Shao Changyi slowly began, ¡°since you are so forthright, Lin friend, I won¡¯t beat around the bush either. ¡°You must be well aware of the current situation. I won¡¯t hide it from you, Lin friend; both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect are in an extremely precarious position, having exhausted ninety percent of our forces against the Blood Red Alliance and Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°And now, with Huangyang Kingdom exploiting the situation, had the Lin Family not emerged to block Qingyun Sect, our situation would have been even worse.¡± ¡°As such, after discussions among our two Sect¡¯s higher-ups, we sincerely invite the Lin Family to lend a hand and support our two Sects!¡± Upon saying this, Shao Changyi stood up and faced Lin Shikang with clasped fists and a bow, his attitude and tone exceedingly earnest, showing no slight to the Lin Family. Seeing this, Lin Shikang also clasped his fists in return and smiled lightly, ¡°Friend Shao, while our Lin Family is indeed willing, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re unable to assist! ¡°After all, the combined effort of me and our family members to eliminate Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng has already left us heavily wounded.¡± ¡°Moreover, most of our Lin Family Members who have broken through to the Golden Core Stage haven¡¯t done so for long, and we lack even a few decent Magical Treasures. It took us the strength of nine bulls and two tigers just to kill those two.¡± ¡°With that being the case, our Lin Family certainly won¡¯t have the capacity for another battle in the short term!¡± Chapter 830 03-25 - 830 446 The Conditions of the Lin ?Chapter 830: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family_2 Chapter 830: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family_2 Lin Shikang was quite straightforward and did not take the opportunity to extort them. Shao Changyi was also very tactful. He knew that words alone would not easily prompt a statement from the Lin Family. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, with the Lin Family¡¯s strength greatly improved, they had no obligation to help the two sects in such a situation. However, he also knew that no matter what Lin Shikang¡¯s reasons were, he came prepared and had the authorization of the sect leaders of Myriad Medicine Valley. As long as the requests were not too excessive, he had the authority to decide. Understanding this, Shao Changyi said, ¡°Lin, our appeal to the Lin Family for help naturally would not leave you to toil for nothing!¡± ¡°Before I came to the Lin Family Clan Grounds, I obtained the authorization from our sect¡¯s Zhou, and Tian Ming from the Zhenyang Sect also visited. He entrusted me to come to the Lin Family and convey their goodwill!¡± ... ¡°As long as the Lin Family helps our two sects get through this crisis, once the Golden Sword Sect is destroyed, their territory will be divided among our two sects as well as the Lin Family, the West River Li Family, and the Yingchuan Chen Family!¡± ¡°In addition, I have brought a few gifts this time, which I hope Lin will accept with a smile!¡± Saying this, Shao Changyi waved his robe, and two storage bags appeared in front of Lin Shikang. Seeing this, Lin Shikang frowned and then quickly extended his Divine Sense to inspect the ownerless storage bags. Soon, he learned exactly what Shao Changyi¡¯s gifts were. After his inspection, the two storage bags contained two Offensive Magical Treasures and more than ten bottles of various elixirs, including Spirit Dragon Pills, Solidifying Pills, and Yuxu Pills used by Golden Core Cultivators. Additionally, there were several bottles of Foundation Establishment Pills, as well as Second Order Pills like Hun Tian Pills, which help strengthen a family¡¯s foundation. It seemed that Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect really went all out this time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï At this juncture, Lin Shikang could not help but feel impressed. To win over the Lin Family, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect indeed offered what the Lin Family needed most. Especially now, with the Lin Family having revealed their strength, they had come into the sight of all the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. In the days ahead, if the Lin Family wanted to develop, they would have to expand their territory and significantly enhance the family¡¯s foundation. These items were indeed in short supply for the Lin Family and not something that could be gathered in a short period. The two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley had clearly targeted the Lin Family¡¯s needs, offering precisely what the Lin Family most desired. Thus, even though Lin Shikang was very reluctant to get involved in the major conflict among the Three Sects of the Wei Kingdom, he also didn¡¯t want to miss out on these treasures. Nevertheless, even so, Lin Shikang did not rush to express his stance, nor would he make an early decision. Lin Shikang knew this was only the base offer from Myriad Medicine Valley. To bring greater benefits to the Lin Family, he had to negotiate further to maximize the Lin Family¡¯s interests. Knowing this, Lin Shikang feigned a puzzled look and said, ¡°Shao, I cannot decide this matter alone!¡± ¡°Seeing as you have come all this way to the Lin Family, why not stay with us for a while? After I discuss with the other family members, we can then make a decision. How does that sound?¡± Hearing this, Shao Changyi showed a troubled expression. In reality, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were currently busy dealing with the Golden Sword Sect, and as a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, he had no leisure time to wait at the Lin Family. If it would take only three to five days to get a clear answer, that would still be fine, but if it got delayed for a month or two, the entire situation might undergo a huge change. It must be known that the two great sects of the Huangyang Kingdom were throwing their weight around on the lands of the Wei Kingdom. Many cultivators were displaced, and some had even lost their lives. He had come to the Lin Family on a mission from the Two Sects. Before leaving, Zhou Yunxiao had emphasized again and again to recruit the Lin Family at all costs. Including Tian Ming from the Zhenyang Sect, although not as unyielding as Zhou, had also agreed that as long as it did not shake the foundation of the Zhenyang Sect, Zhao could promise some benefits to the Lin Family. It appears that, including Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, in the face of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s ferocious attack, had to make significant concessions. Such measures were taken to persuade the Lin Family, a formidable force, to join their camp. After all, the strength of the Lin Family was now quite formidable. With four Golden Core Stage cultivators, they were almost equivalent to a Great Sect of the same level. Now, it is clear that the Lin Family¡¯s priority surpassed that of the other Two Great Golden Core Families, and the support they could offer was far greater than the other two families. Shao Changyi had lived for several hundreds of years and obviously understood this important factor. Understanding this, Shao Changyi, when thinking about the words entrusted to him by Zhou Yunxiao, immediately gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Lin, our two sects are currently in dire straits, I¡¯m afraid we cannot afford to wait!¡± ¡°And the Lin Family, as a native family clan of the Wei Kingdom, and also a member of the orthodox cultivators, should bear the corresponding responsibility to resist the invasion of Huangyang Kingdom!¡± ¡°After all, the saying ¡®When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold¡¯ is something I believe you understand, Lin. If the Golden Sword Sect were to annihilate our two sects, then the Lin Family, despite its great strength, would inevitably become their next target!¡± ¡°I say this standing on behalf of the countless cultivators of the Wei Kingdom, hoping the Lin Family, considering our cooperation over the recent years, will make a decision quickly!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Lin, in addition to what I¡¯ve pledged, if you have any demands, feel free to mention them. As long as I am the decision-maker here, we can sign a life-and-death contract with the Lin Family right now!¡± Hearing these words conveyed an attitude that was both soft and forceful. Lin Shikang also knew that Shao Changyi¡¯s purpose was clear; if he didn¡¯t provide a definite answer in a short time, Shao wouldn¡¯t easily let this go. Though the Lin Family¡¯s strength had greatly improved, the words Shao Changyi had said did indeed make some sense. Especially since, after the Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance had annihilated the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley, even if they didn¡¯t know about the grudge with the Lin Family, they would certainly eliminate the Lin Family as well. Plus, the effort the Blood Red Alliance had put into searching for something indicated their determination. Once Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had been destroyed, they would inevitably turn their attention toward the Lin Family. By that time, no matter how strong the Lin Family was, they probably could not compare to the current strength of the two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley! As long as Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect stood firm, the Lin Family would not be the prime target of their urgency; instead, this would attract most of their attention, giving the Lin Family an opportunity to develop. Given these circumstances, facing the fierce and unyielding Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance, the Lin Family would sooner or later stand against them. If, as Shao Changyi said, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s two sects were annihilated, the Lin Family alone would probably not be a match for the Golden Sword Sect. In order to eliminate future troubles in the long term, the Lin Family must help Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect resist the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s offensive. As long as the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s plan failed, there might still be a chance for a turnaround. Realizing this, Lin Shikang actually had a plan along with Lin Tianming and others; the reason they hadn¡¯t made a stance too early was also to negotiate for greater benefits. Since Shao Changyi had gone to such lengths, if Lin Shikang intentionally delayed any longer, it would seem somewhat unkind. In such circumstances, Lin Shikang simply smiled faintly and said, ¡°Shao, since your sect has given you some authority, then I won¡¯t beat around the bush!¡± ¡°If you want the Lin Family to take action quickly, you must agree to several conditions of mine!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang obviously relaxed his stance, and Shao Changyi became somewhat excited. He immediately followed up by asking urgently, ¡°What conditions? You may speak freely, Lin!¡± Finished speaking, Shao Changyi looked at Lin Shikang seriously, showing an expectant expression. Seeing this, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t delay further and began to slowly state his terms. ¡°First, the three Jiuli Star Fruits obtained from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm have already been used by the Lin Family. I hope your sect and Zhenyang Sect will not pursue this matter further and never seek to reclaim these fruits from the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Second, should we truly achieve victory in the great war, the Lin Family shall have priority in choosing the territories. If your sect disagrees, the Lin Family can exchange territories of the same level for the right to choose, and your sect as well as friends from Zhenyang Sect must accept this unconditionally.¡± ¡°Third, the quotas for entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm given to the Golden Sword Sect must be handed over to the Lin Family, and your sect along with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s cultivators must permanently recognize the full ownership of the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Fourth, no matter when the Lin Family faces retribution from any force of Huangyang Kingdom in the future, your sect along with Zhenyang Sect must come to support promptly, resisting the invasion of other national powers together!¡± ¡°Fifth, several Golden Core Cultivators in our clan are injured; it will probably take half a year for them to recover before we can dispatch three Golden Core Cultivators to respond to your call!¡± Chapter 831 03-25 - 831 447 Alliance ?Chapter 831: Chapter 447: Alliance Chapter 831: Chapter 447: Alliance ¡°As soon as I finished speaking, Lin Shikang was also looking at Shao Changyi with a serious face, in his heart he was also somewhat uncertain. After all, the conditions put forth by the Lin Family did seem a bit harsh. As expected, upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s five conditions, Shao Changyi had no objections to three of them, but there were two conditions that even he dared not decide on behalf of Zhenyang Sect. At this time, Shao Changyi¡¯s face showed difficulty, and then he said, ¡®Lin, could we possibly reduce the number of places in the third condition?¡¯ ¡®After all, the places are extremely limited, and the West River Li Family and Chen Clan were willing to make a move. Our two sects also promised to allocate some of the places to them!¡¯ ¡®Besides, the Lin Family needs to take action sooner; half a year is too long. By the time the Lin Family moves out, most of the Wei Kingdom may have fallen.¡¯ Having said this, Shao Changyi stood up and gave Lin Shikang a bow, his attitude and tone extremely cautious. Lin Shikang considered it for a moment, then replied to Shao Changyi, ¡®Shao, give us three days to discuss it. We will definitely give you a definite answer within three days, how does that sound?¡¯ Hearing this, Shao Changyi also let out a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Lin Shikang would not budge and was even more afraid that the Lin Family intended to delay. If that were the case, he would truly find himself in a dilemma. Fortunately, Lin Shikang was a wise man. His meaning was evidently agreeable to their conditions, although the details were yet to be discussed. It was estimated that it wouldn¡¯t be far off. ... S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since this was the case, his trip to the Lin Family to seek cooperation had roughly achieved its purpose. Understanding this, Shao Changyi also smiled lightly and said, ¡®That would be excellent!¡¯ ¡®Lin, please rest assured, the many conditions promised this time are not set in stone. As long as the Golden Sword Sect is annihilated, I personally guarantee that the benefits obtained by the Lin Family will absolutely exceed the promises!¡¯ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ Lin Shikang nodded and continued, ¡®Then, Shao, stay in our clan for two days. Once the discussion is concluded, I will contact you.¡¯ After saying this, Lin Shikang also instructed Lin Shihua at his side. ¡®Shihua, take good care of Shao.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t worry, third brother!¡¯ After Lin Shihua replied, he gestured to Shao Changyi to bow and invited him to leave the Guest-Receiving Palace. Two days later. Inside the Guest-Receiving Palace, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua met again with the awaiting Shao Changyi. As the three sat down and exchanged a few courtesies, Shao Changyi didn¡¯t beat around the bush and directly asked Lin Shikang for his decision. Seeing his eager look, Lin Shikang also laughed and said, ¡®Shao, after discussion with my clan members, we all agree to accept the request of your sect.¡¯ ¡®Oh? That¡¯s wonderful!¡¯ Shao Changyi¡¯s face lit up with excitement; the expression was far from the heaviness he had at the start. Lin Shikang continued, ¡®As for the detailed conditions of the Lin Family, we can make some concessions. Regarding the places in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, we can reduce the number, but the lowest line is twenty spots!¡¯ ¡®Besides, it is true that the Lin Family¡¯s top combatants are all injured and cannot go into battle in a short time.¡¯ ¡®However, the Lin Family can deploy at least one clan member to your sect within three months, and then send two more Golden Core Combat Strength to the battlefield within a year, how about that?¡¯ Upon hearing this, Shao Changyi fell silent for a short while, thinking about how much truth lay in Lin Shikang¡¯s words. Taking into account the recent battle news from the Cultivation World, given Qingyun Sect Xu Zhi¡¯s cultivation strength, it¡¯s likely that the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators did indeed sustain serious injuries. And Lin Shikang¡¯s willingness to make concessions was overall a good start; at least the Lin Family was willing to wade into these troubled waters. Otherwise, the situation for both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would be even more perilous. If they couldn¡¯t resist the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect might be destroyed. If that happened, no matter how favorable the conditions offered, what would they matter? With these thoughts, Shao Changyi immediately made up his mind to agree to the many conditions of the Lin Family. Having made the decision, Shao Changyi bowed and laughed, ¡®The Lin Family truly understands the bigger picture, I greatly admire this.¡¯ ¡®Since time is of the essence for both of us, let¡¯s quickly establish a Heavenly Dao oath. I need to return to my sect to report back.¡¯ After saying this, Shao Changyi took out a page of golden-yellow beast skin from his storage bag as if he feared that Lin Shikang would renege on the agreement. Immediately after, he flicked his fingers, and streaks of Spiritual Light bombarded the beast skin. Soon, a series of blood-red characters appeared on the beast skin. Upon closer inspection, they were the various conditions mentioned by Lin Shikang. In a short while, Shao Changyi had all the conditions displayed on the beast skin and then handed it over to Lin Shikang. Next, Shao Changyi pointed to the beast skin and said, ¡®Lin, please check this contract to see if there are any issues?¡¯ ¡®If there are none, leave a trace of your divine soul¡¯s power on it. I¡¯ll activate the contract, and that will complete this agreement.¡¯ Hearing this, Lin Shikang also took the beast skin and meticulously began to check it. After his inspection, the many clauses recorded on the beast skin were exactly as stated, not missing a single detail, and it also stipulated that the Lin Family has the right to retreat on its own if Myriad Medicine Valley is beaten back and the situation becomes untenable. Besides, deploying three Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family would fulfill the terms of this contract. Chapter 832 03-25 - 832 447 Forming an Alliance_2 ?Chapter 832: Chapter 447: Forming an Alliance_2 Chapter 832: Chapter 447: Forming an Alliance_2 He had been on the cultivation path for over a hundred years and had seen many Heart Demon Contracts, but this was his first encounter with a Heavenly Dao Contract. While he had never signed such a Heavenly Dao Contract before, he had come across detailed records of them in numerous classic texts. It was said that these contracts were even more ingenious, and if either party breached it, the retribution they faced would be even more terrifying. Even Nascent Soul Stage Powerhouses, those formidable beings capable of grasping Dao Principles, would not dare to violate a Heavenly Dao Contract. As such, this type of contract was fairly secure for those who abided by the rules. Since Shao Changyi had put forth this contract and was unafraid of Myriad Medicine Valley, the Lin Family naturally wouldn¡¯t fear any scheming trickery. After all, the Lin Family had always valued trustworthiness, and having promised both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they would do their utmost to support both sects. ... Under such circumstances, there wasn¡¯t much to criticize about this contract. Lin Shikang didn¡¯t delay, instantly flicking his finger to inscribe his name on the beast skin and leaving a wisp of his soul within it. Immediately after, Shao Changyi performed the same actions, and both their essences quickly appeared on the beast skin, clearly completing all preparations. After finishing these steps, Shao Changyi tossed the beast skin skyward, emitting a rapid barrage of spiritual light from his hands. At the same time, he began to mutter an incantation. After an indeterminate amount of time, the beast skin suspended in mid-air suddenly ignited, then quickly turned into a peculiar pattern, and finally dissipated slowly into the sky. As the last trace of light settled, Lin Shikang distinctly felt a unique sensation perpetually enveloping his heart. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï This feeling was indescribable and vanished quickly, with everything returning to normal soon after. However, Lin Shikang knew that this was undoubtedly the effect of the Heavenly Dao Contract taking hold. If he violated the contract, he feared his path of Dao might come to an end and he couldn¡¯t even guarantee his life. What was more serious was the possibility that the Lin Family¡¯s fortunes could also suffer a tremendous impact. This invisible connection, if it caused the Lin Family to suffer retribution as well, would be truly terrifying. The Lin Family had been relentless in its rise over the years. Now that they were on the cusp of challenging the Three Sects of the Wei Kingdom, it would be a pity if they were stopped in their tracks or even began to decline because of this Heavenly Dao Contract. If that happened, he would become the eternal sinner of the Lin Family. He absolutely would not allow anything to affect the rise of the Lin Family. Realizing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s mood grew somber, and he began to take the life and death survival of Myriad Medicine Valley even more seriously. At this moment, Shao Changyi finally revealed a long-awaited smile, clearly having completed his predetermined task and feeling much better. ¡°Lin, I hope the Lin Family will take good care of us in the coming years!¡± Shao Changyi said with a smile and a cupped-fist salute, looking well and warming considerably in his demeanor towards Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang chuckled in response and chatted idly with Shao Changyi for a few sentences. After a short while, Shao Changyi suggested his intention to leave. Out of politeness, Lin Shikang made a token effort to ask him to stay longer before having Lin Shihua escort him out of the Lin Family Clan Grounds. In a short while, Lin Shihua returned to the Guest-Receiving Palace, and Lin Shigong, having received the message, also rushed over. Aside from Lin Shilu, still in seclusion striving for the Golden Core Stage, and Lin Tianming recovering from his injuries in Luoyun Market, several key members of the Lin Family had all gathered. After exchanging a few casual words, Lin Shihua broached the main topic. ¡°Third brother, now that we have formed an alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley and signed the Heavenly Dao Contract, what actions should we take next?¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t immediately respond but instead fell into deep thought. In his view, now that the Lin Family had signed the Heavenly Dao Contract, they had to act in accordance with the promised terms, lest they incur the consequences of the contract. At present, all the Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family were injured, with Hu Yuan¡¯s injuries being the most severe, requiring at least six months, or even a year, to fully recover. He and Ye Pinghai were slightly better off, after sequestering themselves for another three to five months, they would almost be able to recover more than ninety percent of their strength. Apart from them, in the short term, probably only Lin Tianming would be able to recover his peak strength. For now, the best course of action seemed to be to dispatch Lin Tianming as soon as possible to help support the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. As for the two who would follow up later, they would wait a while and see their condition before making any plans. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang immediately shared his thoughts. Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong knew the Lin Family¡¯s current situation and agreed that this was the only option. Seeing no objections from the two, Lin Shikang immediately confirmed the decision and arranged for Lin Shihua to send a message to Lin Tianming, asking him to return to the clan grounds as soon as he left seclusion. With this matter concluded, Lin Shihua then asked about the progress of Lin Shilu¡¯s seclusion, aiming to break through to the Golden Core Stage. According to Lin Shikang¡¯s investigation from the day before, the spiritual energy at the place of Lin Shilu¡¯s seclusion had become terrifyingly dense, indicating that he was nearing the final stage. Barring any accidents, in at most half a year, he would certainly face the Golden Core Tribulation. This news was a tremendous joy for the Lin Family at the moment. As long as Lin Shilu entered the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family would have five members at the Golden Core combat level, and the clan¡¯s overall strength would rise yet another notch. Even if they had to send out three people to participate in the great war between the three sects, according to the contract, the Lin Family would be able to keep two members with Golden Core combat power to guard the clan grounds. In that case, even if the Lin Family came under attack from other Golden Core forces, they would have sufficient defensive capability. When Lin Shihua and the others heard this news, their hearts surged with excitement. Immediately after, Lin Shikang chuckled and took out a large number of storage bags, placing them in front of everyone. A glance revealed there were hundreds of storage bags, their colorful patterns and designs quite dazzling. And these storage bags were all treasures gained from the battle after defeating Xu Zhi. After the previous battle concluded, the Golden Core combatants were either injured or crippled, and they immediately focused on secluding themselves to heal, having no time to tally the spoils. Unexpectedly, after only two months had passed, they were forced to leave seclusion early due to Shao Changyi¡¯s visit. However, this departure from seclusion also resulted in the significant achievement of forming an alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Next, he could take this opportunity to review the contents of these storage bags to see what their final gains really were. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this day, both Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong had been waiting for a while, and they were quite impatient to get started. ¡°Shihua, Shigong, both of you put in your effort to tally these!¡± Lin Shikang said, then immediately grabbed several storage bags and easily erased all the residual divine sense on them with his own. After a few breaths, he set down the bags he had finished with and continued to inspect a new set of bags. Meanwhile, upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the other two chuckled and also began to get busy. Soon, they investigated each storage bag in turn, and quickly recorded the specific types and quantities of treasures in the ledger they held. At this time, the three of them were engrossed in their work, finishing the inspection of several dozen storage bags every few breaths. Simultaneously, a broad smile hung on each of their faces, and sometimes their breathing became rapid with excitement. Whenever they came across particularly valuable treasures, or ones they didn¡¯t recognize, they would spend a bit more time examining them. In this way, time slowly passed, and before they knew it, a traditional Chinese hour had slipped by. By then, the atmosphere in the Guest-Receiving Palace was warm, and each person¡¯s heart was tumultuously excited, an unprecedented feeling of elation overwhelming them. This feeling made them somewhat giddy, as if it was all somewhat unreal. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t calm enough, but rather that the haul this time, excluding the personal spoils of Xu Zhi, had already far exceeded any of their previous gains. After all, these were storage bags from Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Qingyun Sect, totaling several hundreds. Even if each storage bag contained treasures worth only ten thousand spirit stones, the combined worth of these more than five hundred bags easily exceeded five million. Chapter 833 03-25 - 833 448 Huge Harvest ?Chapter 833: Chapter 448: Huge Harvest Chapter 833: Chapter 448: Huge Harvest Aside from that, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators hailed from a power like Qingyun Sect, and although their cultivation levels were uneven, most had reached the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment. But even the poorest disciple of a great power would not be without a family fortune of thirty to fifty thousand spirit stones. According to their tally, just the spirit stones in these hundreds of storage bags added up to more than nine million two hundred thousand. Nine million two hundred thousand, this number is extraordinarily terrifying! Lin Shihua, as Clan Leader, managed all family expenses and knew full well what this number meant. Think about the Lin Family several decades ago when, including the basic welfare provided to clan members, the whole family consumed about a hundred thousand spirit stones a year. That is, in the last three or four decades, the overall strength of the Lin Family had soared rapidly, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators popping up like bamboo shoots after a rain, and the total number of family members increasing rapidly, leading to an annual spirit stone expenditure reaching several hundred thousand. ... Even so, this near ten million spirit stones could support the Lin Family at this level of consumption for twenty years or so, without any income. However, this did not include the weapons of the fallen cultivators, as well as various collected treasures, such as spiritual and elixir pills, talisman paper, spirit ore, and various materials¡ªcommon cultivation resources. Aside from these commonly used treasures, there were also various insights related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. All of these were of First and Second Order grade and, while they weren¡¯t of much use to Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming at present, they were a great boost to enhancing the family¡¯s foundations. Such an enhancement to the foundations was an incredibly important link for every rapidly developing family. Lin Shikang and the others were also people of broad knowledge, recognizing ninety-nine percent of the treasures in the storage bags and the approximate value of these items. After some rough calculations, the total value of the items in these hundreds of storage bags was at least over twenty-five million. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Moreover, there were dozens of strange items that even they had never seen or heard of before. The value of these items was hard to estimate; they could be worthless or possibly precious treasures. Regarding this, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t bother himself and dumped all these objects to Lin Shihua to be uniformly placed in the family treasure vault anyway, since for them, Golden Core Stage Clansmen, cultivation was difficult, and their use for many things was limited. If they particularly needed any of these unknown items, they could search the family treasure vault themselves and use what was useful to them. With the examination of these storage bags finished, the next highlight was Xu Zhi¡¯s personal storage bag. After all, Xu Zhi was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and such a realm, in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and even in the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, was considered top-notch. Although the combined value of those few hundred storage bags was very high, the items collected by Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not particularly valuable, and thus did not appeal much to Lin Shikang. But Xu Zhi¡¯s storage bag was different; after all, only the fortune and treasures of cultivators of the same Golden Core Stage Realm could excite them. As a result, Lin Shikang became somewhat impatient. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s excited demeanor, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong on the other side were similarly thrilled. After all, they were already satisfied with breaking through the Foundation Establishment Stage; now they had the chance to witness the fortune of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Such an experience had never crossed their minds before. And now, everything lay before their eyes; with a mere movement of Lin Shikang¡¯s Divine Sense, the contents of the storage bag would also come into their view. Thus at this moment, Lin Shihua and the other person were visibly excited, their breathing even became somewhat rapid. Seeing this, Lin Shikang did not delay and easily erased the remaining Divine Sense of Xu Zhi from the storage bag. Immediately after, Lin Shikang and the others extended their Divine Sense, carefully checking the contents of the storage bag. In a short while, Lin Shikang and the others had ruddy complexions and appeared immensely satisfied. Upon their investigation, Xu Zhi indeed proved to be a formidable Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman who had accumulated an extreme fortune over hundreds of years. After a round of inventory, there were more than two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones in the storage bag alone. This was just the tip of the iceberg of his spirit stones; there were far more Medium-grade Spirit Stones, totaling over thirteen thousand. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the Cultivation World, the value of Medium-grade Spirit Stones far surpassed that of low-grade ones; one Medium-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, and likewise, one hundred Medium-grade Spirit Stones could be exchanged for one High Quality Spirit Stone. In some places, one Medium-grade Spirit Stone could even be exchanged for one hundred and five low-grade Spirit Stones. As for the even higher grade High Quality Spirit Stones, these were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; even Nascent Soul Stage Powerhouses might not have many. However, even with this one hundred to one exchange rate, no cultivator would foolishly use their Medium-grade Spirit Stones to exchange for a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, which are common in the Cultivation World. The higher the grade of spirit stones, the scarcer they are in the Cultivation World, and the more uses they have. Whether for cultivation, formation setup, or even refining some special elixirs, the effect varies greatly. Therefore, the higher the grade of the spirit stone, the greater the value and the wider the application. Like a High Quality Spirit Stone, that is the heart¡¯s blood of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and nobody would trade it. Chapter 834 03-25 - 834 448 Huge Harvest_2 ?Chapter 834: Chapter 448 Huge Harvest_2 Chapter 834: Chapter 448 Huge Harvest_2 As for Golden Core Cultivators, medium-grade spirit stones had become the hard currency for transactions. After all, a bottle of elixirs or a magical treasure used by a Golden Core Cultivator would cost tens or even hundreds of thousands, making it impractical to trade with low-grade spirit stones. Adding up the value of the mid-low grade spirit stones possessed by Xu Zhi, the total amounted to as much as 1.5 million, a fortune comparable to that of a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides these spirit stones, Xu Zhi¡¯s wealth was varied and plentiful, encompassing numerous third order spiritual medicines and spirit ores, with over a dozen of high-value items. Regrettably, there were no cultivation techniques or the spirit arts related to his Qing Hong Sword Aura in Xu Zhi¡¯s storage bag. But upon deeper reflection, it made sense, given that Xu Zhi was a Sect Cultivator. In the Cultivation World, it was almost a uniform rule among Sect Cultivators not to carry their cultivation techniques or mystical skills on their person. ... Moreover, sects offered higher compensations for various hereditary treasures submitted by cultivators. Unless a Sect Cultivator came across such treasures by chance and was unwilling to trade them within the sect for contribution points, it was difficult to take away anything stored by the sect. In this context, it was no surprise that there were few cultivation techniques or secret skills found in the storage bags of other Qingyun Sect disciples. Thus, it was understandable why there were seldom inheritable items. However, despite this, the treasures in Xu Zhi¡¯s two storage bags were terrifyingly immense. Estimating roughly, excluding the blue longsword treasure still in the hands of Lin Tianming, the accumulated value of the treasures on hand was at least worth over four million spirit stones, and some were priceless. Indeed, for a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, it was difficult to acquire such treasures with low-grade spirit stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï In this way, the combined wealth of Xu Zhi and those Qingyun Sect disciples nearly reached thirty million spirit stones. According to their estimates, this enormous wealth was more than double that of all the Lin Family¡¯s immovable properties. Despite having faced unprecedented risks in the battle against Xu Zhi outside the family territory and almost losing many lives, the gains were indeed tremendous. It took many years for the entire Lin Family to accumulate such a fortune. Yet, from this single battle, the Lin Family¡¯s financial strength had tripled. And this did not even count the treasures obtained by Lin Tianming in Luoyun Market during his fight with Meng Qingfeng. If those were included, the gain would be even greater. It might even reach five times the initial amount! At this thought, Lin Shikang and others couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Indeed, risk and opportunity coexist.¡± In fact, it was true; every rise of the Lin Family faced tremendous crises. With each calamity they survived, the Lin Family ascended a step further. Because of this battle, even if the Lin Family did nothing further, they had enough to live without financial worry for the next hundred years. Finally calming down, Lin Shikang and the others were all smiles, feeling extremely pleased. After a while, Lin Shikang instructed Lin Shihua to securely store the treasures above third order. At the same time, he continued to increase basic welfare support for clan members, from monthly spirit stone stipends to elixir rewards for breakthroughs, boosting their motivation immensely. These measures were implemented to quicken the Lin Family¡¯s strides forward, given the crises they still needed to face. If the Lin Family could not overcome these crises, hoarding such vast wealth would be pointless, potentially benefiting the enemy instead. Understanding this, Lin Shikang was determined that within the next five to ten years, he would drastically enhance the clan members¡¯ strength, striving to elevate the Lin Family¡¯s overall power once more. Bearing this resolve and bolstered by the sudden surge in the family¡¯s wealth, Lin Shihua readily accepted these responsibilities. The next morning. At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, a large gathering of clan members convened on the plateau. At that moment, Lin Shihua sat aloft with several Xing generation clan members by his side, all heads of various family halls. Below them were nearly a hundred Lin Family members, men and women included, ranging from the centenarian Xing generation to the twenty-somethings of the Tian generation. Apart from these two main generations of the Lin Family, there were also over a dozen members of the next Chang generation present. As the Tian generation of clan members passed their fiftieth year, even Lin Tianming, who ranked sixth, had turned fifty, and Lin Tianfeng, who ranked first in the Tian generation, was nearly sixty. With that came, several years ago, the advent of a new generation in the Lin Family, known as the Chang generation. By now, the oldest members of the Chang generation were already in their teens, approaching adulthood. Among these members of the Chang generation, a few had reached the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement or higher. Such a pace of cultivation was not inferior to that of Lin Tianming in his early days. Clearly, as the family¡¯s foundational conditions continued to improve, the new generation of the Lin Family started higher, reaching the Fourth or Fifth Level of Qi Refinement within five years, which had almost become the norm. Yet, such a pace of cultivation still fell short compared to the veteran Golden Core Families of Wei Kingdom. Take the Yingchuan Chen Family of Wei Kingdom, for example, which had a history spanning over three thousand years. It was said that many of the Chen family members entered the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement before the age of twenty, and many more reached the Foundation Establishment Stage before turning thirty. Such proportions epitomized the heritage a long-standing family should have. Clearly, the Lin Family still had a significant gap to bridge to reach the likes of the Yingchuan Chen Family. Lin Shihua was also aware of this, and his public appearance today was to communicate important policies handed down by the higher-ups. At this moment, seeing clan members gradually making their way here, Lin Shihua did not delay and began to loudly announce the specifics of the agreed measures. Soon, waves of cheers emerged from the square, and the lively atmosphere quickly became exceedingly noisy. Following Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement, the family had amended several major policies. Firstly, there was a substantial increase in the basic benefits for clan members, unconditionally raising the original annual stipend by thirty percent. This was a significant increase, considering that even those in the First Level of Qi Refining within the Lin Family had an annual salary of over one hundred and fifty spirit stones. Now with a thirty percent increase, there were almost twenty additional spirit stones available. These twenty extra spirit stones could fully procure another bottle of Lingshen Pill; if used wisely, advancing a minor realm within a year was not difficult. Apart from increasing the basic annual salary, the second policy still followed the previous experiential policy. Over the years, as long as the area surrounding the Luoyun Mountain Range remained relatively tranquil, the Lin Family had never halted the plan for clan members to gain experience in the ranges. Otherwise, merely providing resources for their cultivation would not be very effective and might even lead to adverse effects of forcing growth. Therefore, the Lin Family never ceased its experiential training, sending multiple batches of teams each year to the Luoyun Mountain Range to eliminate demonic beasts to hone their combat experience and, incidentally, treasure hunting. Now, the second policy further increased the rewards of training, by fifty percent more than before. This was done to keep clan members constantly aware of the importance of real combat while leveraging resources. Thirdly, the original selection of the Family Elite Ten was to further expand in number. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, the population of the Lin Family had multiplied several times over, with over forty individuals at the Foundation Establishment Stage among the young and middle-aged clan members, many of whom were deemed worth nurturing. If they still competed for the same ten places, the competition would be too fierce. Fortunately, the family had recently come into a great fortune and had sufficient resources to enhance the strength of clan members. Therefore, Lin Shihua announced that the Family Elite Ten would be changed to the Elite Thirty, including twenty from the Qi Refining Stage and ten from the Foundation Establishment Stage. Moreover, clan members over eighty years old in the Foundation Establishment Stage would no longer have the opportunity to compete for these slots. These various restrictions were also thoughtfully considered to avoid overly fierce competition among clan members, and not to leave those less fortunate too far behind. Even if their talent was weaker, as long as they were willing to work hard, they could still make significant strides through the family¡¯s policies. In summary, these three policy changes represented a substantial improvement on their existing basis. As clan members queried Lin Shihua with their doubts, he patiently explained the various rules, eventually helping them understand the specifics of these changes. ¡­ Chapter 835 03-25 - 835 449 Black Dragon Axe Dye Stone ?Chapter 835: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone Chapter 835: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone Soon, news of the three policy changes spread throughout the Lin Family, and many clan members who had been in seclusion were shocked by the news when they emerged. In the days that followed, every member of the Lin Family was diligently practicing cultivation. With the addition of a large amount of treasures to the Family Merits Hall, many rare Spiritual Objects appeared frequently. And these things were all spoils from the battle with Xu Zhi. After all, they were the collected treasures of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and even the least of these items was a precious treasure for Qi Refining Cultivators. In addition, the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family was not very high, and numerous Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been killed in that battle, leaving behind many fine items that were quite suitable for the current Foundation Establishment Clan Members. In such circumstances, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment Stage or Qi Refinement Realm, Lin Family Members seized this opportunity and exchanged their merits for these treasures. ... They then began to cultivate with the aid of these once in a lifetime Spiritual Objects. This bustling scene was exactly what Lin Shihua wanted to see. In his eyes, since the clan had provided such good foundational conditions, clan members should give it their all. It was only when their cultivation levels increased that the overall strength of the Lin Family would be stronger. Only with a comprehensive enhancement of their foundation could they have some initiative in the face of potential calamities that might arise. The clan members also knew well that the Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom was not peaceful, and everyone was exerting themselves to cultivate. Each day, the Lin Family advanced on the road to becoming stronger. ¡­ Luoyun Market. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï In a secret chamber of the auction house, Lin Tianming swung a black Giant Axe a few times before revealing a pleased expression. Four months had passed since the big battle with Meng Qingfeng. More than a month ago, Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries had mostly healed. In the subsequent month, he did not idle away his time and reforged the Black Giant Axe, a Magical Treasure originally belonging to Meng Qingfeng. After his efforts, the Giant Axe had now become his weapon. Having this item meant that in his next magic duel with a Golden Core Cultivator, he would not be unarmed. Although the Grade of the Tiangang Sword was not low and its quality was quite good, playing a significant role in the great battle against Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng, it just fell short against the Mana of Golden Core Cultivators as a Second Order Magical Artifact and could not fully unleash a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s entire strength. During the fierce battle with Meng Qingfeng, ordinary attacks posed only some threat, but it was very difficult to kill or even severely injure a Golden Core Cultivator. If it weren¡¯t for the high Grade of the Cultivation Technique he practiced, the powerful Divine Skills, and the terrifying might of Spirit Arts, the outcomes of those two battles would have been difficult to predict. Looking at Meng Qingfeng on the other side, with a Magical Treasure, he could unleash greater strength and at one point even gained the upper hand. And this was the immense utility of a Magical Treasure. A Golden Core Cultivator without a Magical Treasure in hand was like two ordinary people fighting; one armed and the other barehanded, the latter would inevitably struggle to defeat an armed enemy. Now, Meng Qingfeng was dead, and all his spoils of battle belonged to him. Having witnessed the power of this Giant Axe Magical Treasure, he coveted it greatly. With the Giant Axe now in his possession and his strong physical strength, he would surely be able to unleash even stronger attacks. When facing off against cultivators of the same rank once more, he would have the ability to counterattack even without relying on Spirit Arts. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt excited and could hardly wait to go out and test the power of the Black Giant Axe. However, it was not yet the time. Because he had more important things to do, the first of which was to give this Black Giant Axe a name. After all, as the Treasure was seized, having changed masters, it naturally needed a new name. Another important matter was to inspect Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag to see if there were any good items. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming began to ponder. Considering the various characteristics of the Black Giant Axe, he thought of several names. In the end, he felt that ¡°Black Dragon Axe¡± was a rather imposing and fitting name, in line with the color of the axe and the patterns on its surface. ¡°It shall be called the Black Dragon Axe!¡± Lin Tianming smiled contentedly, then swung the axe a few times before finally putting it away with satisfaction. He then casually took out Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag, swiftly erased the remnants of Divine Sense, and began to examine the contents with his own Divine Sense. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon his inspection, he saw a large pile of Low-Grade Spirit Stones, totaling over two hundred thousand, and even Medium-Grade Spirit Stones amounting to over seven thousand. Seeing this batch of Spirit Stones worth nearly a million, Lin Tianming was all smiles. Meng Qingfeng¡¯s wealth was considerable, just the Spirit Stones alone amounted to so much, indicating that his total assets were definitely not low. With this in mind, Lin Tianming did not delay and continued to inventory the storage bag. In a short while, he completed the inventory of Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag. After a careful tally, the gains from this time were substantial; the accumulated Spirit Stones alone exceeded a million, not to mention the various cultivation resources. There was a significant quantity and variety of these items, including Second Order Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Ores, and various Demonic Beast Materials. Among them, the items of Third Order were especially valuable. These included elixirs used in the Golden Core Stage, Third Order Spiritual Ore and Materials, and a few Third Order Talismans, almost a Treasure Vault containing the majority of items needed by cultivators. Chapter 836 03-25 - 836 449 Black Dragon Axe Dye Stone_2 ?Chapter 836: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone_2 Chapter 836: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone_2 After his estimation, the accumulation of these known resources definitely exceeded several million low-grade Spirit Stones. Apart from these items, there were two other things he was unable to identify. At this moment, he had two items laid out in front of him: one was a black stone the size of a fist. The other item was a jade slip the size of a palm. At this time, Lin Tianming picked up the black stone and examined it, a satisfied smile spreading quickly across his face. Through his observation, he discovered that this black stone was actually a piece of Fourth Order Spirit Ore Dye Stone. It was hard to imagine that Meng Qingfeng, who was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, possessed such a treasure. ... This item was quite rare; in the Cultivation World, it was extremely scarce. Every time it appeared, even Nascent Soul Cultivators might be alarmed. Because the Dye Stone had significant uses, even the Spiritual Treasures used by Nascent Soul Cultivators had need of it, and even such powerful beings would scheme to obtain it when they came across the stone. Therefore, this Dye Stone was an invaluable treasure for Golden Core Cultivators, to say the least. After all, it was an excellent Artifact Refining Material. No matter what weapon was being refined, the addition of a fingertip-sized piece of Dye Stone could greatly increase the toughness of the weapon. This piece of Dye Stone was not of a small quantity and could be used multiple times in refining ordinary Magical Treasures. He didn¡¯t know where Meng Qingfeng had acquired it from, but his luck was not good, having such a fine treasure in his hands and now it had fallen into his, Lin Tianming¡¯s, own lap. With this piece of Dye Stone, when he came to refine his Life-bound Magical Treasure in the future, the addition of a little bit would greatly enhance the toughness of the Magical Treasure, and consequently, its combat power would also be enhanced. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The thought of this left Lin Tianming brimming with excitement, his face nearly splitting with a grin. After calming himself down with some effort, he put the Dye Stone away and then picked up the other piece, the jade slip. Upon closer inspection, this jade slip was a light yellow color, with a smooth, delicate surface that was somewhat transparent; it looked no different from ordinary worldly jade. However, being carried by a Golden Core Cultivator, it was bound to be no ordinary stone. Realizing this, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, his sharp gaze piercing through the internal structure of the jade slip. But even so, he still found nothing special. ¡°Could it really just be a common worldly jade stone?¡± Lin Tianming was utterly puzzled and contemplated nonstop. His thoughts turned this way; it wasn¡¯t impossible, as Meng Qingfeng might have originated from the mortal realm, having kept a family heirloom from childhood. Even after stepping onto the Path of Immortality, it was possible that he kept this item out of sentimentality. But after careful thought, Lin Tianming felt that this idea was farfetched. Hence, the persistent Lin Tianming began to use various methods, attacking the jade piece and even using the Blue Heart True Flame to burn and refine it, unable to damage it. Considering that it withstood his current Cultivation Realm, plus the Blue Heart True Flame which was stronger than any pill fire, it was definitely no ordinary jade. Thus, it appeared that even though the jade¡¯s purpose was not yet discernible, it was certainly not ordinary. Knowing this, Lin Tianming felt rather helpless but decided to collect the jade slip; perhaps if the opportunity arose in the future, he might unravel the secrets it concealed. Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts returned and he gradually regained his composure. At this moment, he tidied up the secret room and then rose to leave. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming summoned Lin Xingcheng to join him, and the two sat in a large hall chatting. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingcheng was also very excited. Just one month ago, he had received a message from Lin Shihua, instructing him to signal Lin Tianming to exit seclusion and hurry back to the family after a little over a month. Seeing that there was no sign of Lin Tianming exiting seclusion, he hesitated, fearing that forcing him out would prevent his injuries from healing. After all, the injuries Lin Tianming had received were not light, and a common cultivator would need at least half a year to recover. And now, looking at Lin Tianming whose aura was robust, he clearly had recovered to his peak. Otherwise, if another half month passed without him leaving seclusion, he would have to follow Lin Shihua¡¯s orders and forcefully summon him out. Fortunately, Lin Tianming emerged in time, which alleviated his worries. Following a brief chat between the two, Lin Tianming first inquired about Lin Xingcheng regarding the current news in the Cultivation World. Especially concerning the Huangyang Kingdom, any significant movements by the Qingyun Sect were extremely important to him. After all, the Lin Family had just ended a major battle with Xu Zhi and others, having annihilated most of their forces. Since they had made enemies, with the strength of the Qingyun Sect in mind, they certainly would not take this lying down. Hence, the movements of the Qingyun Sect were Lin Family¡¯s and his biggest concern. Lin Xingcheng clearly understood this, and he did not dare to delay, promptly giving an overview of the situation in the Cultivation World. Learning that the Qingyun Sect had not amassed forces to invade, and not even a Qingyun Sect cultivator had been detected in the vicinity of the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. Given the strength of the Qingyun Sect, even if the Lin Family now had four Golden Core combatants, in a full-out clan-annihilating war, the Lin Family would certainly be no match for them. Yet, the Qingyun Sect had oddly made no move against the Lin Family and had instead shifted their direction of attack, launching a new offensive from other areas bordering the Wei Kingdom. As for the other two major sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, they continued their assaults deep into the Wei Kingdom, with both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect suffering significant losses. Currently, both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were contracting their lines to avoid a direct confrontation with the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom. This seemed to be a deliberate stalling tactic. Learning this news, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also became solemn. However, those tricky matters were not his to worry about right now. After all, having endured for so many years, Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, with the support of the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family, would not fall to the Golden Sword Sect in a short time. And since the Qingyun Sect had not immediately bothered the Lin Family but had changed their direction of attack, it was clear they planned to temporarily avoid the Lin Family¡¯s edge. In this case, the Lin Family likely wouldn¡¯t face any danger in the short term. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Lin Tianming gave a series of instructions, telling Lin Xingcheng to prepare for defense and various emergency situations to avoid unnecessary losses during this turbulent time. In response, Lin Xingcheng nodded, affirming that he had made all the emergency preparations. Soon after, Lin Xingcheng also brought up the message from Lin Shihua, asking him to return to the clan territory as soon as possible. Knowing this, Lin Tianming felt puzzled. Could it be that some unexpected event had happened on the family side? Or had Fifteenth Grandfather achieved a breakthrough in reaching the Golden Core Stage? Unfortunately, Lin Xingcheng did not know the specifics, clearly Lin Shihua had not elaborated. But after some contemplation, Lin Tianming realized that Lin Shilu had been in closed-door cultivation for around two to three years. Judging by the timeline, it was about time for some results. Lin Tianming thought to himself, assuming that there had been significant progress with Lin Shilu. Finally calming down a bit, he planned to immediately set off to return to the family. After Lin Tianming mentioned leaving Luoyun Market, Lin Xingcheng casually took out more than a hundred storage bags and handed them over to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tian Ming, these are the spoils from annihilating those Qingyun Sect disciples. Your uncle collected them and hasn¡¯t touched them; now they are yours!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not refuse, taking the storage bags into his possession. These storage bags, mostly from Foundation Establishment Cultivators, also included some from the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, must have accumulated considerable value. However, having killed Meng Qingfeng and acquired a vast amount of wealth and treasures, Lin Tianming found himself quite well-off. The possessions of those Foundation Establishment Cultivators could no longer pique his interest. Thus, he decided to hand over all these storage bags to the family to enrich the family¡¯s treasure vault. After taking the storage bags, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with Lin Xingcheng and then stood up to bid farewell and leave. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silently, he left Luoyun Market and then rode the Purple Gold Eagle towards the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Chapter 837 03-25 - 837 450 ?Chapter 837: 450 Chapter 837: 450 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. In a valley behind the main peak, deafening roars were echoing at the moment. On a clearing in the valley, Lin Shikang and several other members of the Lin Family of the same generation stood shoulder to shoulder. All of their gazes were fixed ahead, their faces showing worry. Following their line of sight, the sky within the valley was dim, and several huge Thunder Dragons flew out from the dark clouds, roaring towards Lin Shilu in the valley. Seeing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were also solemn, incessantly muttering something under their breath. At this moment, Lin Shilu was already covered in blood, with many wounds revealing his bones, and his aura was extremely chaotic, his complexion utterly bloodless. He straightened his slightly bent body, looking at the Thunder Dragon materializing from the Third Level Heavenly Tribulation above him, his deep eyes revealing a sharp glare. ... Facing the deadly tribulation, Lin Shilu was not scared at all; instead, his morale was high. He knew how difficult the journey to this point had been, and that if he could survive this Third Level Heavenly Tribulation, he would become a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, and the Lin Family would also grow stronger. With this understanding, Lin Shilu¡¯s gaze was resolute. A flash of light in the defense artifact in his hand quickly formed a barrier above his head. At the same time, he patted his storage bag, and several Second Order talismans were activated, transforming into several walls in front of him. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In an instant, the Thunder Dragon struck the walls precisely. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Bursts of explosions followed one after another. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The walls at the forefront were breached by the Thunder Dragon one after another, finally dissipating into specks of light in the dim sky. In the blink of an eye, all five walls had been breached, and the Thunder Dragon continued roaring towards him, showing no sign of retreating. However, Lin Shilu still felt a change; the speed of the Thunder Dragon had reduced, and its ferocity was significantly weaker than when it first appeared. Clearly, his several Second Order talismans had played a significant role, greatly weakening the Thunder Dragon¡¯s power. It was no wonder; he had witnessed several Golden Core Tribulations and had made ample preparations for this. Most of the Second Order Defense Talismans he used were of superior quality. Such generous defensive measures, even if they couldn¡¯t stop the tribulation completely, certainly helped in reducing its power. As expected, after being weakened by the defense talismans, the remaining power of the Thunder Dragon, though still strong, was clearly less terrifying than initially. Seeing the Thunder Dragon still approaching, he was confident he could block this lethal strike. As the Thunder Dragon drew nearer, Lin Shilu pinched a Law Decree, then spat a mouthful of blood onto the defense artifact he wore. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± After the odd noise, The defense artifact emitted light, clearly enhancing its defensive power. Just after he completed these actions, the Thunder Dragon had descended, striking the defense artifact accurately. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud noise resonated, and immediately, a silver light tore through the sky, with powerful Gang Wind sweeping forth and dispersing to all directions. At that moment, the defense artifact in front of him resisted momentarily, then burst apart completely. The power of the Thunder Dragon seemed greatly depleted too, its entire body becoming much less coherent. However, despite this, the Thunder Dragon still bit down towards him. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned severe. With no defense artifact to block, he had to rely on his physical strength to withstand this strike. In a critical moment, Lin Shilu, calm and composed, instantly threw a punch, clashing forcefully with the Thunder Dragon. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another loud bang was heard. The Thunder Dragon was shattered into pieces by the punch, with much of its body directly vanishing. However, some of the power of lightning continued to assault, striking Lin Shilu¡¯s chest. In an instant, his Daoist robe tore apart, revealing a cyan-colored inner armor. At this critical moment, the inner armor played its part, blocking most of the lightning power from reaching him. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, the power of this lightning was terrifyingly fierce, the slightest bit still possessing immense destructive force. Under this horrific strike, Lin Shilu was blasted away by the overwhelming power, his body smashing heavily onto the ground. Even while still in mid-air, he felt an immense force smashing down like a small mountain. At the same time, streaks of lightning power surged into his body, frantically coursing through him. The sensation was excruciating, causing his complexion to turn deathly pale, and his entire body trembled. As he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, Lin Shilu¡¯s energy drastically weakened. However, his consciousness was clear, and he did not lose consciousness. At that moment, he distinctly felt the Golden Core within his body tremble, the scant mana inside seemingly undergoing a transformation. Sensing this change, he hurriedly looked up at the sky to find that the Thunder Dragon had vanished, the dark clouds in the sky slowly dispersing, and the originally dim sky beginning to clear up. Seeing this, it was clear that he had survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation and had successfully advanced to the Golden Core Stage. At this moment, Lin Shilu was overwhelmed with excitement, a flush of color covering his originally pale face. Finally calming down a bit, Lin Shilu looked at his chest where the second Order Superior Defensive Inner Armor that had almost been completely destroyed, leaving him feeling a sense of alarm. Chapter 838 03-25 - 838 450 Another Golden Core_2 ?Chapter 838: Chapter 450: Another Golden Core_2 Chapter 838: Chapter 450: Another Golden Core_2 He knew in his heart just how powerful the lightning had been, although it had already scattered, even one-tenth of its strength still posed a potentially fatal threat. Without any other defensive measures left, all he had was this inner armor as his last line of defense. If not for the function of this inner armor, it was very doubtful whether he could have survived this ordeal. However, fortunately, all that was now in the past, and he had become a true Golden Core Cultivator, stepping into the ranks of High Order Cultivators. While he rejoiced, Lin Shikang and a few others, seeing the dispersing thunderclouds, had hurried over. From a distance, upon seeing Lin Shilu, Lin Shikang and the others were overjoyed, their faces brimming with excitement. ¡°Shi Lu, you¡¯ve entered the Golden Core Stage!¡± ... Lin Shikang called out from afar, his excitement obvious in his voice. The other Lin Family Members, Lin Shihua among them, likewise started to offer their excited congratulations, showing genuine emotion. Lin Shilu too showed a smile, his eyes glistening with tears as he emotionally responded, ¡°Third brother, I¡¯ve succeeded!¡± Hearing these words and seeing the deep emotion in Lin Shilu¡¯s eyes, Lin Shikang let out a hearty laugh. ¡°The Lin Family has welcomed its third Golden Core Stage Clansman, it seems we old folks are quite lucky!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. In reality, he had not expected the Lin Family to undergo such a drastic change. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? In his eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s progress over the years was truly incredible, and his own entry into the Golden Core Stage was extremely fortuitous. This included Lin Shilu¡¯s breakthrough, the tremendous growth of the Lin Family, and those who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage; all of these achievements were thanks to Lin Tianming. After all, the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items were obtained by Lin Tianming, and he was the one who could resolve every crisis faced by the family. It could be said that without Lin Tianming, it was doubtful whether the Lin Family could have survived the first crisis from the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family. Considering Lin Tianming had accomplished so much in just over forty years of following the cultivation path, it wasn¡¯t an overstatement to regard him as the Lin Family¡¯s true Hidden Dragon. Now that Lin Shilu had also stepped into the Golden Core Stage and the Lin Family boasted three Golden Core Stage members, such significant changes filled him with genuine joy. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s mood surged with excitement, unable to conceal his emotions. Once he had calmed down a bit, Lin Shikang began to offer some advice to Lin Shilu. ¡°Shi Lu, you¡¯ve also suffered considerable injuries, go into seclusion and cultivate to consolidate your cultivation, and only come out when it¡¯s proper to do so!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shilu nodded, then bowed with cupped fists to the three men and quickly vanished from their sight. Watching Lin Shilu depart, Lin Shikang and the other two exchanged smiles, chatted for a bit, and then each left the place. That day, inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling, Having just returned from Luoyun Market, Lin Tianming made a point to visit Lin Shikang right away. Receiving the message, Lin Shihua and a few others also came to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling, where the four of them sat in the courtyard and chatted. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang and the others were thrilled. Not only because Lin Shilu had overcome the Threefold Lightning Tribulation a few days earlier and entered the Golden Core Stage Realm, but also because Lin Tianming had managed to kill Meng Qingfeng one-on-one and annihilated over a hundred Foundation Establishment Disciples of the Qingyun Sect, virtually wiping out the attacking force of the Qingyun Sect on the Luoyun Mountain Range. Such an impressive record of battle not only resolved the Lin Family¡¯s immediate predicament but also turned the tide of the situation. As for Lin Tianming, he remained quite calm, not at all complacent about his achievements. What he was more concerned about was the message from Lin Shihua, which he found rather puzzling. Immediately, he asked for the specific reason for it. Lin Shihua didn¡¯t delay and recounted the visit from Shao Changyi to the Lin Family in its entirety. Learning that the Lin Family had formed alliances with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect did not surprise Lin Tianming. In fact, he had anticipated this development. After all, with the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom attacking Wei Kingdom, he had figured Myriad Medicine Valley would find itself in a tough situation and would surely seek help from the Lin Family, knowing its strength. So it was only a matter of time before Myriad Medicine Valley sent someone to visit. Yet he hadn¡¯t expected Myriad Medicine Valley to value Lin Family so highly. Given their shortage of personnel, he thought that they would send only one or two Foundation Establishment Cultivators to the Lin Family, but to his surprise, it was Shao Changyi, a Golden Core Cultivator, who came knocking. What was even more unexpected was that Lin Shikang had negotiated the terms of the alliance successfully, securing the greatest benefits for the Lin Family. Knowing those terms, he realized they were indeed very important and advantageous to the Lin Family. And these were the things he hadn¡¯t anticipated. However, on the whole, every term served the Lin Family, after all, the family wasn¡¯t offering support for nothing; they naturally didn¡¯t have to be shy about securing the benefits they deserved from the stronger Myriad Medicine Valley. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt at peace, and saw nothing inappropriate in the Lin Family¡¯s demands. With the matter of the alliance communicated to Lin Tianming, he also learned of the family¡¯s arrangements for him. They wanted him to depart within half a month to render aid to the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate within the set deadline. To this, Lin Tianming had no objections and decided to set off after a few days of rest. Right after this, Lin Shikang and the others¡¯ faces lit up with joy as they brought up the story of Lin Shilu¡¯s successful transcendence of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Upon hearing this news, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He had been back to the family for only an hour and hadn¡¯t had the chance to inquire about Lin Shilu¡¯s progress in seclusion, yet unexpectedly, Lin Shilu had already entered the Golden Core Stage. For him, such good news was a tremendous cause for celebration. He knew that his bond with Lin Shilu was not merely because they were both Lin Family members. Throughout the decades he had embarked on the cultivation path, Lin Shilu had been both a teacher and friend, not only imparting much guidance in cultivation but also often forging artifacts for him. Furthermore, the two had fought side by side countless times over the years, facing numerous perilous situations together. For him, Lin Shilu was both a senior family member and a guide on the Path of Immortality, a person of distinguished service. Now that Lin Shilu had also reached the Golden Core Stage, his heart, which had been in a state of suspense, was finally put to rest. After chatting idly for a while and sharing their joy, Lin Shikang also mentioned the spoils from the slaying of Xu Zhi. To this, Lin Tianming straightforwardly expressed that he had no need for those and that everything should be distributed by Lin Shikang. Besides this, Lin Tianming also took out numerous storage bags and handed them over to Lin Shihua. These items were the spoils from the Qingyun Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators, as well as a good portion of Meng Qingfeng¡¯s assets, all turned over to the family. He only kept those treasures that were useful to him. Items of the Second Order, unless they were extremely rare, he no longer needed them. But what he did not need could still be of great use to those Foundation Establishment Clansmen of the family. Regarding the spoils that Lin Tianming turned in, Lin Shihua and the others tried to convince him otherwise. But given Lin Tianming¡¯s significant wealth and his insistent attitude, Lin Shihua gave up. However, when it came to the matter of turning in Xu Zhi¡¯s Longsword Treasure, Lin Shikang immediately refused without any room for negotiation. In his eyes, Lin Tianming¡¯s combat power and potential were beyond comparison with any other member of the Lin Family. Furthermore, Lin Tianming was to be the first to head to Myriad Medicine Valley to join a battle of the ages. In the midst of a fray filled with Golden Core Cultivators, how could he exhibit his fighting prowess without his most handy Magical Treasure? If anything were to happen to him, wouldn¡¯t the Lin Family¡¯s painstaking efforts over the years crumble? Aware of this significance, Lin Shikang gave no opportunity to Lin Tianming for any objections, declaring that if he insisted, he would never accept anything from Lin Tianming again. Faced with Lin Shikang¡¯s resolute stance, and after some persuasion from Lin Shihua, Lin Tianming felt helpless and had to let the matter go. This attitude from the elders made him feel sincerely happy. ¡­ Chapter 839 03-25 - 839 451 Dry Jade Pill Beast Heart Pill ?Chapter 839: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill Chapter 839: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill Lin Tianming shifted the topic, discussing his plans for departure. Regarding his plans, Lin Shikang and the others took turns giving advice, as they were now involving in a major battle involving Golden Core Cultivators, including a few at the Late Stage Golden Core. Figures like Zhou Yunxiao, Han Hu, and Zhao Hongsheng were renowned, possessing immense strength. Participating in such an epic battle, even if Lin Tianming was unparalleled in combat, it still posed a great risk. Lin Tianming was aware of this, but the Lin Family had already been involved, leaving no room for retreat. Moreover, he had always been fearless in the face of challenges, especially since it was for his family, no matter how dangerous, he had to face the difficulties. Despite the dangers, he was confident in his strength. ... In response to the concerns of Lin Shikang and others, he solemnly promised to be cautious. Seeing his calm and confident eyes, Lin Shikang and the others were somewhat reassured. Afterward, the four of them chatted leisurely for a long time, sharing various news from the Cultivation World and speculating about many potential major events. Besides that, various new changes were made regarding the family¡¯s policies. It was deep into the night when the four of them dispersed, returning to their respective caves. After leaving Lin Shikang¡¯s cave, Lin Tianming and his grandfather Lin Shigong went together to his mother¡¯s cave. That night, Lin Tianming dined with Ren Yuxuan, and the three generations chatted for a long time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? By now, with the resolution of the major battle outside their territory with Xu Zhi and Lin Shilu¡¯s successful Impact of Golden Core Stage, the family no longer concealed their cultivation levels. Nearly every clan member, including Lin Tianming, knew the real situation of the Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the Lin Family. During this period, the entire Lin Family was very lively, still in shock, for they had unexpectedly gained three Golden Core Stage Clansmen quietly. Such a significant change excited everyone. As for Ren Yuxuan, being Lin Tianming¡¯s mother, she had been kept in the dark earlier. Now knowing that Lin Tianming had entered the Golden Core Stage several years ago, she was truly happy and became increasingly reassured about him. As the night deepened, Lin Tianming and his grandson finally left and returned to their respective caves. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Early the next morning, after a night¡¯s rest, Lin Tianming left his cave and went to the family¡¯s Treasure Vault. Seeing his appearance, the clan member guarding the vault was thrilled, eyes filled with admiration. Lin Tianming was quite courteous, greeting each other before directly entering the vault. Today, he came here following Lin Shikang¡¯s instruction, allowing him to pick some useful treasures. After all, most of Xu Zhi¡¯s wealth was collected here, and since Lin Tianming was the main hero in defeating him and was about to depart for the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate for the war, Lin Shikang worried about him going alone and let him choose some treasures to carry, boosting his combat power. Lin Tianming did not refuse Lin Shikang¡¯s kindness. He planned to see what useful treasures were available and hold on to them for now. With this purpose, after the protective wards were disabled, Lin Tianming directly entered the vault. Although he had always been a core member of the family and now had the strongest strength among all the clan members, This was his first time visiting the family vault, nonetheless. As he entered, he discovered that the Lin Family¡¯s Treasure Vault was a vast stone hall, quite broad and stretching over a hundred yards long. He saw shelves segregated into four areas, each filled with treasures of the same grade. After a quick scan, he saw countless treasures ranging from rare herbs to various Spiritual Ores and Demonic Beast Materials, with items from the First to the Fourth Tier present. Seeing these items was like discovering a complete resource treasury; there were many valuable treasures from the Third and Fourth Rank, and altogether, they were worth at least tens of millions. Unexpectedly, the family had accumulated such rich and quality assets. At that moment, Lin Tianming felt deeply gratified. He sighed deeply and then started walking deeper into the vault. Regarding the First Tier items, Lin Tianming naturally had no interest; he began browsing from the area with the Second Order Treasures. A period of time enough for one cup of tea passed. Lin Tianming had walked through the entire area with Second Order Treasures. With his high standards, although the number and variety of Second Order items were vast, he only picked a few rare Spiritual Medicines and then left that area. He directly went to the zone containing Third Order Treasures. The quantity here was much less, and the grades were extremely limited, but their value was second only to the Fourth Tier area in the entire vault. Lin Tianming casually picked up a piece of Dark Star Grass, a Third Order Spiritual Medicine that was a main ingredient for the Spirit Dragon Pill, which could be of some use to him. But given his current responsibilities, he had no spare time to engage in Alchemy in the short term. Otherwise, he would have liked to stay in the clan territory, cultivate for a few years, and advance his Alchemy to the Third Tier first. Given that he had the Eye of Five Colors, which would facilitate his advancement, elevating his Alchemy to the Third Tier should take no more than one or two years. Chapter 840 03-25 - 840 451 Dry Jade Pill Beast Heart Pill_2 ?Chapter 840: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill_2 Chapter 840: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill_2 Even knowing he had a plan, he had to abandon the thought. Moreover, it was foreseeable that once he reached the main battlefield of Myriad Medicine Valley, there would be little free time for alchemy. This thought could only be implemented after the war ended and the Wei Kingdom had restored peace. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming put down the Dark Star Grass and continued to select treasures. He soon left the area, taking only a jade slip and a few Third Order talismans. The jade slip contained experiences of a Third Order Alchemy Master, and he had no idea where it had come from. Of the five Third Order talismans, three were Attack Talismans and two were Defense Talismans, all of them were low-grade. ... These items were useful to him; he planned to review the Alchemy Master¡¯s experiences in the next few days and then return them to the treasure vault before leaving the Lin Family. As for the Third Order talismans, there were more than ten in the treasure vault, he took five with him, which should be of some use in the big battle at Myriad Medicine Valley. The rest of the Third Order talismans were left for Lin Shikang and others. He had not heard of any family possessing these items before; they seemed to have come from Xu Zhi. Regardless, as they were now treasures of the Lin Family, he, as a Golden Core Stage family member, naturally had the right to use them. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After leaving this area, Lin Tianming went to the place where the Fourth Order items were kept. There were very few treasures there, only three in total: a Fourth Order Brahman Star Grass and two Fourth Order Spirit Ores, namely Gengjin Metal and Jade Emperor Stone. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The value of these three items was considerable; the small mound of Gengjin Metal was left by the ancestors, and the latter two were likely acquired after defeating Xu Zhi. For now, he had no use for these items, but they could be used later in refining Magical Treasures, particularly some Gengjin Metal and Jade Emperor Stone. With these two Fourth Order Spirit Ores, along with the large chunk of Dye Stone he had acquired, he would definitely be able to refine a true divine weapon. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming grew somewhat impatient. Finally managing to suppress the sense of anticipation inside him, he gradually regained his calm. Without further delay, Lin Tianming placed the Jade Emperor Stone back in its original position and then directly exited the treasure vault. Upon seeing Lin Tianming emerge, the guarding clan members reactivated the protective formation. After chatting briefly and recording the treasures he had taken, Lin Tianming left the place and returned to his own cave dwelling. Back in the secret chamber of his dwelling, Lin Tianming sat down on the floor. There were still a few days before he planned to leave the clan, and he needed to make use of the time to understand the alchemy experiences he had acquired from the treasure vault. With time pressing, he no longer delayed and immediately began to review the jade slip. In the blink of an eye, four days had passed. During these days, through his contemplation, the content inside the jade slip had been firmly embedded in his memory, and he had simulated it multiple times. Now, he had mastered the content recorded in the jade slip and had obtained a large number of pill formulas. Although most of them overlapped with the formulas he knew, there were still two formulas that were quite interesting. One of the formulas was for Dry Jade Pill, which seemed to be an ancient elixir with a Third Order grade and had significant benefits for Body Cultivators. This formula was new to him, and its main ingredient, Dry Jade Grass, had also not been heard of in the Wei Kingdom. Regarding this elixir, he was somewhat skeptical. Nevertheless, he was very interested in it. His cultivation technique had a heavy drawback; any consumption of elixirs to enhance cultivation was bound to bring immense pain. He had experienced this feeling countless times during the Qi Refinement Realm. Later, he found several elixirs for body cultivation which helped suppress the pain, allowing him to successfully cultivate up to the present. Now that he had progressed to the Golden Core Stage, the pills he used during the Foundation Establishment Stage would no longer suffice. In such a situation, if he wanted to enhance his cultivation through elixirs during the Golden Core Stage, he would need to find an elixir that could suppress the pain. Therefore, although he had obtained quite a few Spirit Dragon Pills in recent days, without any elixirs to suppress the pain, he dared not commence cultivation. At this rate, finding a Third Order Pill had become imperative. However, as fate would have it, although the authenticity of the Dry Jade Pill was uncertain, he had to try it to resolve his cultivation difficulties. Understanding this, Lin Tianming firmly kept this matter in mind, intending to use the power of the family to collect Spiritual Medicine and various auxiliary materials. He himself would also continue to pay attention and try every possible method. Regarding another pill formula, it recorded a pill named the Beast Heart Pill. He had never heard of this pill formula before, but it was equally useful to them. The pill had a certain probability of helping Second Order Demonic Beasts break through to the Third Order, serving a similar purpose to the Golden Core Pill used by cultivators, only targeted at different beings. This elixir was also a Third Order Pill, and he had never heard of this elixir existing. According to his conjecture, it was probably an Ancient Pill Recipe, perhaps forgotten by cultivators because the main ingredients were too rare. The effect of this pill was also exceptionally miraculous, being equivalent to the existence of a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, and naturally, its value was not low. If he could acquire this pill, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, and the Soul-eating Spider inherited from his ancestors under his command all had a chance to reach the Third Order. If such a day came, the overall strength of the Lin Family could be elevated to a higher level. It could be said that if the Beast Heart Pill really existed, he must try it for the sake of those Spirit Beasts under his command. Understanding this, Lin Tianming held these two types of elixirs deep in his heart, planning to attempt it at any cost. As the day of departure drew nearer, Lin Tianming had to end his brief seclusion. That morning, he left his cave dwelling and returned the Jade Slip to the family¡¯s treasure vault. Following that, before leaving the family, he specifically visited Clan Leader Lin Shihua. Upon meeting, he brought up the matter of the Dry Jade Pill and the Beast Heart Pill immediately, listing the required Spiritual Medicine on a checklist, asking Lin Shihua to secretly collect the necessary Spiritual Medicine and auxiliary materials. Lin Shihua was excited and promised to mobilize the entire clan to secretly collect all required materials. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming no longer delayed, soon expressing his intention to depart. With little time to spare, Lin Shihua did not hold him back, and after giving a few instructions, personally escorted Lin Tianming to the mountain gate. At that moment, Lin Tianming and another stood waiting at the square in front of the mountain gate. Soon, a shadow swiftly tore through the sky and landed behind Lin Tianming. Seeing the arriving Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming was instantly delighted, as Little Diao had, during these days, advanced to the Second Order Late Stage. Now, Little Diao had already reached the Second Order Late Stage of flying beasts, and with the upgrade in grade, its feathers had become more vibrant, with some of its previous gray feathers turning golden. Over these years, Little Diao had also consumed quite a few Demon Beast Inner Pills and various parts of Demonic Beasts. Moreover, Lin Tianming occasionally took out corpses of Purple Gold Eagles and Demon Cores for it to consume. For Little Diao, these corpses and Demon Cores of its kind were truly precious treasures. Having consumed so much, this creature finally advanced, not only upgrading its grade but also purifying its Gold-winged Roc bloodline substantially. Now that he was about to set out on a journey, Little Diao timely upgraded its tier. With its current flying speed, it could undoubtedly increase significantly, making his travel both safer and quicker. With this in mind, Lin Tianming satisfiedly stroked Little Diao¡¯s head, praising it unintentionally. Excited by Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmation, Little Diao was quite elated. After frolicking for a while, Lin Tianming stopped delaying and, with Little Diao, exited the Protective Clan Formation. Following that, he mounted the back of Little Diao. Shortly afterward, the Purple Gold Eagle shot up into the sky, rapidly heading northward and swiftly disappearing into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 841 03-25 - 841 452 First Entry into Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 841: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley Chapter 841: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley More than two weeks later. At the Yuxu Mountain Range, atop a mountain, the figures of Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Throughout this period, Lin Tianming had been continuously on the road, stopping only briefly for one night at Golden Horn Mountain and Qianchuan Market. After delivering a substantial amount of cultivation resources to his clan members, he set out once again the next day. After more than half a month of relentless traveling, he too was quite exhausted. Fortunately, despite the distance being vast, the journey had been smooth, and he was nearly arriving at the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked haggard. He took out a map and checked it before continuing to fly forward. The map he had just used was left by Shao Changyi during his visit to the Lin Family. It depicted a hidden entrance to the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... For this reason, he had also made a copy to carry with him, specifically to avoid entering through the main gate of Myriad Medicine Valley, which could easily attract the attention of the Golden Sword Sect. In less than an hour, he arrived in front of a canyon. Looking around, the area of this canyon was not small; one couldn¡¯t see its end at a glance, and the level of Spiritual Energy was extremely rich. He took out the map again, confirmed that this was indeed the location of the hidden Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. Next, he looked up and surveyed the depths of the valley for a long time. At this moment, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators flew out from the valley and swiftly came before Lin Tianming. These two were dressed in uniform, with the emblem of Myriad Medicine Valley embroidered on their chests, undoubtedly disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï These two also approached Lin Tianming and respectfully performed a salute. ¡°Is the visitor Elder Lin?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then continued, ¡°I was invited by Shao to lend a helping hand to your esteemed sect!¡± Hearing this, the two did not doubt his words, obviously having been instructed by their superiors and having seen his portrait. ¡°Elder Lin, please wait a moment, I will inform the Sect Leader!¡± One of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators nodded respectfully, uttered a comment, and then quickly sent out a message. Soon, Shao Changyi flew out from the valley and came before the three. From a distance, Shao Changyi greeted with a smile, his voice loud and clear. ¡°Ha ha¡­ The Lin Family is a long distance from here, you arrived quite fast, Lin!¡± ¡°The situation of your esteemed sect is dire, time waits for no one!¡± ¡°And I have not yet fully recovered from my injuries, alas, since Elder promised a time, I had no choice but to hastily leave seclusion and embark on the journey to your esteemed sect.¡± Lin Tianming politely replied, his face showing a pale look, as if he hadn¡¯t yet recovered from a serious injury. Seeing his expression, then noting Lin Tianming¡¯s weary appearance, Shao Changyi¡¯s face brightened, not wanting to dwell on the subject. Then, he instructed the disciples beside him briefly before inviting Lin Tianming into the valley. The two companions walked together, passing through the valley to arrive in front of a secret door. Obviously, Myriad Medicine Valley, like the Lin Family, had a Mountain Protection Array with a main entrance and also a secret door, and perhaps even more doors as well. Such arrangements were not unusual among the myriad forces of the Cultivation World. As the saying goes, a wise rabbit has three burrows, let alone cultivators capable of devastating destruction. Thus, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t say much, waiting for Shao Changyi to open the formation, and the two entered one after the other. After entering the Sect Gate, the entire scene instantly changed. Looking around, the view showcased mountains of uneven heights, lush jungles interspersed with rocks, and gaps filled with various exotic flowers and plants, creating a picturesque scene of birds singing and flowers giving off fragrance. Moreover, many mountains were populated with various courtyards, with numerous uniformly-dressed cultivators flying on swords over those mountain peaks. This bustling scene exhibited vibrancy. The number of cultivators in front was not small, most in the Qi Refinement Realm, but the ratio of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was also not low. It was evident that the cultivation of Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples was substantial, their overall strength formidable, truly worthy of a sect with thousands of years of heritage. Seeing such a scene and feeling the rich Spiritual Energy here compared to the Lin Family Clan Grounds was indeed on an entirely different level. At that moment, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Such millennia of heritage truly should not be underestimated. The Lin Family has a long journey ahead to reach this level!¡± It wasn¡¯t about dampening others¡¯ aspirations; feeling this way was actually quite natural. After all, the rise of the Lin Family had been too short, amounting to only forty or fifty years. In such a short period, the Lin Family had only a few dozen people at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with the majority still at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, and those at the late stage of Foundation Establishment could be counted on one hand. And now, the scene before him included many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with some even at the late stage. And this was just a tip of the iceberg for the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples; if they assembled their tens of thousands of disciples, likely the Foundation Establishment Disciples alone would number in the thousands, with a considerable number in the late stage. Such profound heritage could only be possessed after a millennia of legacy. Therefore, such a foundation could not be matched by the Lin Family, a nouveau riche, in a short period. The Lin Family would need collective effort to reach this step, eventually achieving such a foundation one day. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming also understood the significant responsibility he bore, and his resolve strengthened even more. Recollecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming appeared composed, and under Shao Changyi¡¯s company, the two flew in a certain direction. Chapter 842 03-25 - 842 452 First Entry into Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 842: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Chapter 842: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Along the way, Shao Changyi patiently introduced Myriad Medicine Valley, showing much courtesy. Lin Tianming listened intently, occasionally expressing his admiration. Soon, the two traversed several deep mountains and arrived at a grand hall. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There, he also met Zhou Yunxiao, the Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley. Regarding this renowned person who had been a prominent figure in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for many years, Lin Tianming was also quite polite. After exchanging a few courteous remarks, Zhou Yunxiao warmly entertained him, thanking him for rushing to support Myriad Medicine Valley in a critical battle. Facing Zhou Yunxiao, who was at the Late Stage Golden Core, Lin Tianming did not dare to put on airs and was extraordinarily polite throughout. ... Subsequently, Lin Tianming also inquired about the current situation. According to Zhou Yunxiao, Myriad Medicine Valley was currently under close surveillance by the Golden Sword Sect, and the battles continued incessantly, erupting once every month or so into a major Golden Core battle. Over the years, the offensive intensity of the Golden Sword Sect had continuously increased, and the frequency of Golden Core battles had grown higher, resulting in many cultivators of the same level getting injured, and there had even been deaths. Just last month, a major battle broke out, resulting in hundreds of Foundation Establishment Disciples killed or injured; Luo Anzhong had been heavily injured and narrowly escaped with his life. If this continued, another major battle would erupt before long. They were exhausted from coping yet had no choice but to face combat since the Mountain Protection Array of Myriad Medicine Valley had been significantly weakened over the years. Without confronting the enemy, the Mountain Protection Array wouldn¡¯t last much longer, and a fight to the death was still inevitable. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï If it came to that, the low-level disciples of the sect would inevitably become a hindrance, and their situation would only worsen. Thus, Myriad Medicine Valley had no choice but to hastily engage in battle, even if it meant sacrificing some disciples, as it was still better than complete annihilation. Fortunately, although the situation wasn¡¯t optimistic, the Lin Family had joined their alliance, and perhaps this could turn the tide in the future. At this moment, Lin Tianming heard Zhou Yunxiao say this in person, his expression became very grave. He hadn¡¯t expected Myriad Medicine Valley to be in such a dire situation, yet even so, he didn¡¯t feel any fear. In his view, even if Myriad Medicine Valley was defeated, although this would greatly affect the Lin Family, it would not be fatal. At worst, the Lin Family could abandon their ancestral land and leave the Wei Kingdom; as long as they didn¡¯t live in Qingzhou, even if the Blood Red Alliance was powerful, it would be difficult to reach them in other provinces. Moreover, the Lin Family was no longer as helpless as before. After all, they had three Golden Core Stage Clansmen, and unless faced with Late Stage Golden Core or Nascent Soul Cultivators, the Lin Family still had substantial resistance. Given a hundred years, Lin Tianming could even advance to the Mid Stage Golden Core and possibly even to the Late Stage and Great Perfection Realm. By that time, the Lin Family would be fully capable of self-defense and could return to their ancestral land. However, unless absolutely necessary, the Lin Family didn¡¯t want to take that step. For now, the main goal was still to repel the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance. Knowing this, Lin Tianming inquired to Zhou Yunxiao. ¡°Daoist Zhou, what arrangements do you have for me next?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Zhou Yunxiao pondered for a moment and then replied, ¡°Lin, you¡¯ve just arrived at our sect and have traveled a long way, you must be tired.¡± ¡°Moreover, I noticed your aura is unsteady, and it seems your injuries haven¡¯t fully healed. Why not rest for a while? When we¡¯re short of people, I¡¯ll send a message to you. How does that sound?¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao say this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. He had thought Zhou Yunxiao would hastily arrange for him to enter battle, but instead, Zhou Yunxiao intended to let him recuperate for a while before joining the fight. This action aligned perfectly with his wishes. He planned to briefly seclude himself to refine the Qinghong Longsword treasure gifted by Xu Zhi so he could exhibit greater strength in the upcoming battles. Since Zhou Yunxiao had already offered, he saw no reason to refuse the kindness. With that, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly and said, ¡°That¡¯s excellent!¡± ¡°I¡¯m indeed not in condition and do need to close myself off for cultivation!¡± ¡°But do not worry, Daoist Zhou, within no more than half a year, I will definitely be able to join the battle. By that time, you can fully give the signal to me!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, then turned to Shao Changyi next to him and instructed, ¡°Shao, take Daoist Lin to find a cave dwelling. Make sure to instruct disciples to treat him well; remember not to neglect him!¡± ¡°Sect Leader Brother, rest assured all is well!¡± Shao Changyi gave Zhou Yunxiao a bow before Lin Tianming also bowed and, together with Shao, they left the grand hall. Under the guidance of Zhou Yunxiao, the two made their way to a secluded valley. Through Shao Changyi¡¯s introduction, they learned that this secluded valley was specially prepared by Myriad Medicine Valley as a retreat for Golden Core Cultivators from various forces. There, they discovered the cave dwellings of Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, as well as a Golden Core Cultivator each from the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family, all of whom were currently in retreat. As soon as the two arrived, several Myriad Medicine Disciples immediately came forward to greet them, seemingly specially assigned to serve the Golden Core Cultivators. Shao Changyi also introduced Lin Tianming¡¯s identity, which surprised the Myriad Medicine Disciples a good deal. They hadn¡¯t expected the Lin Family to rise quietly and to have been invited to join this great battle. And they had also heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s achievements over the years. Seeing him in person now, so young, was a great surprise. Nonetheless, Lin Tianming paid it no mind and followed Shao Changyi deeper into the valley. Once inside, they felt the area was rich with Spiritual Energy, evidently the work of a High Order Spirit Gathering Array. Scattered through the valley were more than ten exquisitely arranged courtyards. At several of these courtyards¡¯ gates sat Cultivators, apparently guarding them. These individuals were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage, clearly not there to oversee the Golden Core Cultivators but to serve them. Lin Tianming, with Shao Changyi¡¯s introduction, soon chose a courtyard in a corner. After the transfer of the courtyard¡¯s Restriction Order Token, Shao Changyi and Lin Tianming chatted a bit more before Shao commanded a disciple and then took his leave first. Once Shao had left, the Myriad Medicine Disciple assigned to serve Lin Tianming bowed respectfully. Then, the disciple said, ¡°Elder Lin, I am at your disposal here. Please command me directly if there is anything you need!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ You may go now; I will send a message if I need anything.¡± Lin Tianming dismissed him with those words and entered the dwelling, leaving the disciple at the courtyard gate. Inside the courtyard, Lin Tianming went straight into the room and lay down on the stone bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep. Indeed, he had been very tired from traveling recently, and this sleep lasted a full day and night. The next day, he entered the practice room and immediately began to circulate his energy, adjusting his condition to its peak. Then, he finally took out the Qinghong Longsword in his hand. This magical treasure, crafted by Xu Zhi, had its power witnessed by him, and its quality was indeed very good. Originally intended for Lin Shikang, it ended up still in his possession. Now, having the time, it was necessary to refine it properly to maximize an increase in his strength. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasted no time, and forming a Law Decree with his hand, he bombarded the surface of the sword with trails of Spiritual Light. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The Qinghong Longsword hummed and, freed from his grasp, flew about crashing in every direction within the chamber. Seeing this, it seemed the Qinghong Longsword wanted to escape his control, but the Formation Barriers in the chamber prevented its escape. ¡°Hmph¡­ Even your previous master has perished; do you still seek to resist me?¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly and then with a single-hand grab, forcibly caught the Qinghong Longsword in his hand. The sword trembled continuously in his grasp. Lin Tianming paid no heed, continued to cast Law Decrees into the blade, and also summoned his Divine Sense to erase the residual Divine Sense in the Qinghong Longsword. At the same time, he was inscribing his own Divine Sense into the control matrix, intent on forcibly dominating the sword. Soon, the resistance from the Qinghong Longsword grew weaker, and finally, it hovered quietly above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Lin Tianming¡¯s movements did not cease, his focus entirely devoted to refining the sword. ¡­ Chapter 843 03-25 - 843 453 Golden Core Gathering ?Chapter 843: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering Chapter 843: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering A month and a half had passed. That day, inside the practice room, Lin Tianming was holding the Qinghong Longsword in his hand, his slender fingers touching the blade, then a satisfied smile appeared on his face. After spending more than a month, he had finally successfully refined the Qinghong Longsword, and now, this longsword had become his magical treasure. With this longsword in hand, he now had two magical treasures at his disposal. The Qinghong Longsword could be combined with his cultivation technique to unleash various sword move divine skills. The other, the Black Dragon Axe, could be used in conjunction with his powerful physical strength. Both had their characteristics, and he believed they could bring out his full strength. Unfortunately, Xu Zhi¡¯s defense treasure was almost destroyed, and Meng Qingfeng had no defense treasure at all. ... Even though he had killed both of them, he didn¡¯t obtain any defensive treasures, resulting in him still lacking a defensive magical treasure. In the upcoming great battles, he would only be able to rely on his own Green Scale Shield and the Blue Star Armor he always wore to withstand damage. Fortunately, his physical body was already formidable. With these two defense artifacts, combined with his inherent physical defense, it wasn¡¯t impossible to fend off attacks from Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators. However, if he were facing Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, relying solely on Second Order Defense Artifacts would probably be far from sufficient. As a result, he would have to be extra careful when facing Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators in the future, or he might suffer a great loss. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt helpless and could only think of ways to quickly supplement his defensive capabilities. However, Lin Shilu had yet to emerge from seclusion, and he had not yet reached the level of a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Relying on him to refine a treasure in a short span of time was not too realistic. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï That was the unfortunate reality. For now, he could only make do with Second Order artifacts for a while, and during the subsequent time, take the opportunity to collect materials or maybe even kill another Golden Core Cultivator with a defense treasure to obtain their spoils. The difficulty of this task was not small, however, as Golden Core Cultivators weren¡¯t so easy to kill off, let alone those equipped with defensive magical treasures. ¡°Let it be. Take one step at a time, and let nature take its course,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, trying to console himself. Bringing his mind back to the present, Lin Tianming looked at the Qinghong Longsword in his hand and decided to rename the sword. After all, it was now his magical treasure, and it was only natural to give it a new name. After some thought, Lin Tianming came up with several names and eventually decided to call it the ¡°Qinghong Sword.¡± In his eyes, the Lin Family Clan Grounds were located on Green Bamboo Mountain, and the longsword¡¯s body had streaks of green and rainbow colors, so the name seemed quite fitting. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming stored the Qinghong Sword in his storage bag. Then, he closed his eyes and began to meditate. Time swiftly passed, and another two months went by. He had been at Myriad Medicine Valley for over three months. During this period, Lin Tianming had been cultivating in his cave dwelling without ever leaving, not even the Myriad Medicine Disciples who served him had received a single summoning from him. After such a long period of seclusion, the Qinghong Sword had been re-refined, his injuries had completely healed, and he was in peak condition. Until today, a summoning message flew into his practice room. At that moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes. After reading the contents of the message, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. ¡°Daoist Zhou is summoning me to discuss military affairs at this time. Could it be that the Golden Sword Sect is planning something big?¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, his eyes reflecting a puzzled look. Soon, he put his doubts aside and ultimately got up and left his cave dwelling. Before long, he arrived at a grand hall. At this moment, several cultivators were already seated inside, including Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, whom Lin Tianming had met several times. As for the others, they were Shao Changyi from Myriad Medicine Valley, and two cultivators whom Lin Tianming found somewhat unfamiliar. However, after some thought, he recognized their identities as Li Yinghe from the West River Li Family and Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family. At that time, Shao Changyi was entertaining Chen Jingtian and others, engaging in intermittent casual conversation. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Shao Changyi quickly stood up and greeted him politely. ¡°Lin Daoist, come over here and have a seat!¡± After speaking, Shao Changyi led Lin Tianming over to Chen Jingtian and others, introducing Lin Tianming¡¯s identity to them. At the same time, he also introduced Chen Jingtian and Li Wenhe to Lin Tianming. In the face of these distinguished and powerful figures in Wei Kingdom, Lin Tianming was very polite, saluting Chen Jingtian and the others as a greeting. In turn, they courteously returned the gesture, showing no hint of underestimating Lin Tianming. Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu looked at Lin Tianming with surprise. They obviously did not expect that Lin Tianming would have entered the Golden Core Stage so swiftly. After all, just ten years ago, Lin Tianming also participated in repelling a beast horde, with Chen Jingtian leading the team from Zhenyang Sect and Lan Yu also in attendance. Back then, Lin Tianming was only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, and he performed outstandingly in the battle, having had several encounters with Chen Jingtian. In such a short time, not only had Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation broken through to the Golden Core Stage, but even the aura faintly emanating from him left Chen Jingtian somewhat shocked. Not only that, Chen Jingtian also took the initiative to compliment Lin Tianming: ¡°Lin Daoist truly lives up to being one of Wei Kingdom¡¯s geniuses. I, Chen, have great admiration for you!¡± Chapter 844 03-25 - 844 453 Golden Core Gathering_2 ?Chapter 844: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering_2 Chapter 844: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering_2 As soon as he finished speaking, Lan Yu on the other side chimed in. ¡°Daoist Zhou is right, Lin¡¯s cultivation speed is simply unimaginable; he must be one of the top-ranked existences in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World over the past thousand years!¡± Hearing Lan Yu and the others say this, Li Wenhe and Chen Maohua on the other side looked slightly taken aback, their originally calm faces now flushing with excitement, seemingly very interested in Lin Tianming. In their eyes, Chen Jingtian had reached Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, and his strength was there for all to see; even Xiang Changqing, who was at the same stage, was suppressed by him. Chen Jingtian, such a character, was a top existence among his peers in the Cultivation World. Even towards them, Chen Jingtian¡¯s attitude was lukewarm, as if he didn¡¯t value them very much. But such a person, who was aloof and proud, unexpectedly had such a high evaluation of Lin Tianming, who had just entered the Golden Core Stage; it made people take a fresh look. ... However, they were also aware that the reason Chen Jingtian had such an attitude might also be due to the stronger overall strength of the Lin Family. After all, they had received reliable information that the Lin Family now had four Golden Core Stage combat powers, and during the great battle of the Qingyun Sect invading the Luoyun Mountain Range, they had annihilated Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng in one fell swoop. It should be known that Xu Zhi was an established Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and his fame among all the High Order Cultivators in the entire Wei Kingdom was also remarkable. Although the Lin Family did not have as many family members as their two great families, the Lin Family had more Golden Core Cultivators and wholly possessed greater potential. Compared to their two great families, despite their longer heritage, they were indeed somewhat inferior to the Lin Family of today. Thus, it was not strange that Chen Jingtian attached more importance to the Lin Family. Understanding this, Li Wenhe and Chen Maohua also started to agree with the sentiments, clearly intending to make an alliance with the Lin Family and seek a powerful ally. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï After all, the strength of their Two Great Golden Core Families was much inferior compared to the Three Sects of Myriad Medicine Valley, and their say in the entire Wei Kingdom was also very limited. Now with the rise of the Lin Family, although their strength was also very formidable, compared to Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, the threat was naturally not on the same level. Moreover, the Lin Family was also a Golden Core Family and fundamentally different from the Sects. Under such circumstances, as family-based power structures, the two great families naturally prioritized forming an alliance with forces like the Lin Family. The benefits of allying with the Lin Family were much greater than those with a Sect, and they could gain more say and even more interests. Knowing this, Li Wenhe and Chen Maohua also spoke up frequently, actively echoing Lin Tianming¡¯s goodwill. Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse their kindness and soon started chatting with the few people. Half an hour passed. Lin Tianming quickly integrated into this group of Golden Core Cultivators. Their conversation was wide-ranging, covering various news within the Cultivation World, to each other¡¯s cultivation insights, and even the Four Arts of Cultivation. At the same time, through this exchange, their friendship deepened. Only when Zhou Yunxiao and a few other Golden Core Cultivators entered did the group cease their casual talks. At this moment, with the arrival of Zhou Yunxiao, Luo Anzhong, and Duan Liangyu, there were already nine Golden Core Cultivators gathered here. Among these people, Zhou Yunxiao was at Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation, Chen Jingtian, Luo Anzhong, Duan Liangyu, and Chen Maohua were all at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation. As for the others, including Lin Tianming, they were all at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was hard to imagine such a formidable force gathered together. This massive force, if facing any of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom alone, probably wouldn¡¯t take much effort to overthrow. However, even so, their situation was not very optimistic, because the forces on Golden Sword Sect¡¯s side were not inferior to theirs, even slightly stronger. And now that Zhou Yunxiao had summoned everyone, there must be some major move planned. Sure enough, after some pleasantries, Zhou Yunxiao went straight to the point, revealing the news of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s impending attack. Upon hearing this, the people present looked solemn, clearly aware of the formidable strength of Golden Sword Sect. Although they were also strong, they dared not be careless. After a moment of silence, Chen Jingtian finally spoke, ¡°Daoist Zhou, do you have any plans now that you have gathered us here?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then replied, ¡°We have tried to avoid these few rounds of major battles as much as possible, looking for ways to delay!¡± ¡°Now the offensive from the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom is getting fiercer and fiercer, and our territories have suffered heavy losses; we cannot delay any longer.¡± ¡°As Lin¡¯s Daoist friends have joined us, it is time for us to take the initiative and strike, to see if we can break the stalemate!¡± ¡°In my view, over the next half-year, two more Daoist friends from the Lin Family will support us. I hope that before their arrival, we can eliminate a fraction of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s forces.¡± ¡°By that time, we will be able to join forces with all the Daoists and launch a counterattack to thoroughly drive back the Golden Sword Sect!¡± Upon hearing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words, Chen Jingtian was the first to nod in agreement. His view was quite similar to Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s. After all, the territory under the Zhenyang Sect was also under attack by the Qingyun Sect; Zhu Yun, who had been defending Qingshui Market for years, had to constantly fend off the assaults of Song Hanchun. Now, with the Qingyun Sect joining in, the pressure on Zhu Yun¡¯s defenses had significantly increased. If they didn¡¯t counterattack, the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom would continue to escalate their onslaught, and within a year, perhaps most of their territory would be devoured. Once their territories were nearly devoured, the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom would surely join forces with the Golden Sword Sect and then attack the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. If that happened, the Golden Sword Sect, already having the upper hand, coupled with several Golden Core Cultivators from the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom, would become even more fearsome. By then, even if the Lin Family were to support them with two more Golden Core Cultivators, they would still be unable to gain the upper hand. Such a situation could lead to substantial losses for both Great Sects, even to the point of potential annihilation. Instead of being boiled like a frog in warm water and annihilated, it would be better to take the initiative and strike first, trying to break the deadlock before the Golden Core Cultivators from the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom could join forces. This would also prevent them from falling into even greater trouble. Chen Jingtian clearly understood Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s intentions and, considering the interests of their Sects, couldn¡¯t possibly refuse Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s plan. He was well aware that Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were now in the same boat, sharing both prosperity and loss. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian also spoke up to express support for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s plan. Following Chen Jingtian¡¯s lead, Zhou Yunxiao turned his gaze to Lin Tianming and the few Golden Core Cultivators from his Family. ¡°What do you few Daoist friends think of the plan to take the initiative to strike?¡± At that moment, facing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s inquiry, the usually silent Lin Tianming and others exchanged a glance, seemingly united in their stance. ¡°Daoist Lin, have you formed an opinion?¡± Zhou Yunxiao urged, clearly valuing Lin Tianming¡¯s viewpoint. Seeing that Zhou Yunxiao had singled him out, Lin Tianming, although reluctant to make a statement, felt he had to say something. After all, as the leader of this group, Zhou Yunxiao, with his Late Stage Golden Core cultivation, was formidable enough, and Chen Jingtian was also advocating for a proactive strike. Being the weaker party, they couldn¡¯t likely change their plan with any differing opinions. Instead of causing friction over some disagreements, it would be better to go with the flow and actively speak up to leave a good impression. They had come with the purpose of driving back the Golden Sword Sect, even to the extent of annihilating them. With that in mind, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°I have no objections,, everything may follow Daoist Zhou¡¯s arrangements!¡± As soon as he spoke, Chen Maohua and Li Wenhe hurriedly interjected, saying they had no objections either. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded with satisfaction and then spoke. ¡°Very well¡­ Golden Sword Sect is expected to launch an attack within the next couple of days. Let each Daoist make ready for battle!¡± ¡°Understood¡­ You can count on us, Daoist Zhou!¡± Chen Jingtian said earnestly, his eyes filled with a strong desire to fight. Lin Tianming and the others also nodded, their expressions turning solemn. They then discussed some details before each returning to their dwellings to prepare for the battle. ¡­ Chapter 845 03-25 - 845 454 First Battle ?Chapter 845: Chapter 454: First Battle Chapter 845: Chapter 454: First Battle The next morning at dawn. Outside the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, several flying boats appeared in the calm sky. Soon, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu stood side by side as they descended from the flying boat to the ground. Behind them were Xiang Changqing from the Golden Sword Sect and Yang Jun and Jin Weishan, two Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators from the Blood Red Alliance. In addition to these renowned powerful figures, there were also two Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators within, namely Yu Hongyan from the Golden Sword Sect and He Liqiu from the Blood Red Alliance. A total of seven Golden Core Cultivators, along with over a thousand Foundation Establishment Disciples, appeared outside the Mountain Protection Array. This significant force, upon appearing, immediately alerted the vigilant cultivators of the Myriad Medicine Valley. ... In an instant, three bell tolls rang out from Myriad Medicine Valley, rapidly spreading to every corner. Quickly, with sensations of the disturbance, Lin Tianming and the other eight Golden Core Cultivators all emerged, gathering in the plaza where the sect gate was located. At that moment, Lin Tianming stood behind Zhou Yunxiao, his sharp eyes peering through the formation, scrutinizing the formidable assembly outside. Aside from him, the others also stared at Zhao Hongsheng and his group outside the formation, their expressions grave. Opposite them, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were also sizing up the defensive great formation before them. After a few moments of silence, Zhao Hongsheng seemed to have no intention of wasting time and promptly unleashed a barrage of attacks, bombarding the Defensive Great Formation. The others, familiar with the defense of Myriad Medicine Valley from their previous assaults over the years, did not delay. They too erupted with various divine skills, fiercely bombarding the formation before them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Seven Golden Core Cultivators attacked together, including two at the Late Stage Golden Core. Such a formidable lineup delivered blows with immense power. In an instant, the sky was filled with various attacks, a myriad of colorful lights enveloping the heavens. During this time, Lin Tianming watched as Zhao Hongsheng and the others¡¯ attacks direct hit the formation, creating powerful fluctuations that swept across the surrounding area. Simultaneously, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation operated at full capacity, a pale cyan light screen enveloping the front. Zhao Hongsheng and his group¡¯s attack was blocked by this light screen, eventually dissipating completely into the heavens and earth. Merely some ripples spread across the formation¡¯s light screen, and a halo of spiritual light flowed around it, indicating that the formation had been attacked. Lin Tianming also took note of this formation¡¯s defensive power. He had also witnessed the defensive power of the Third Order Great Array a few times before, especially during the beast tide¡¯s assault at Yuyao City when Zhenyang Sect had laid down a Third Order Great Array. That formation had endured the brunt of numerous demonic beasts¡¯ attacks until the beast tide ended without being breached. Although that formation was also exceptional, it was temporarily used to resist a beast tide, falling somewhat short in comparison to the formation before him. However, this formation was Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Mountain Protection Array, crucial to the fate of tens of thousands of cultivators in Myriad Medicine Valley and had been optimized and perfected by generations of cultivators, ensuring its defensive power would reach a terrifying level. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but inwardly exclaim; Myriad Medicine Valley truly deserved its reputation as a sect with a millennium of heritage. This Defensive Great Formation only trembled slightly under the barrage from Zhao Hongsheng and his group, showing that it was unlikely to be breached in a short time. This level of defensive power was indeed very impressive. Even within a Third Order Great Array, such defensive capability was an exceedingly rare existence. It even gave him the feeling that this formation was nearing a Fourth Order Great Array; with a Fourth Order Array Master to refine it further, it might not take much effort to elevate it to the Fourth Order. Such was the profound heritage of a millennium-old sect, incomparable to the rapidly rising Lin Family. Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming watched Zhao Hongsheng and others outside the formation, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s command to attack. Aside from him, the others were also prepared. Less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, after observing for a long while, Zhou Yunxiao made up his mind. He glanced at the people behind him and then spoke, ¡°Shortly, Zhao Hongsheng will be handled by me, while the two Daoist Chen and Brother Luo will take care of Han Hu.¡± ¡°Xiang Changqing will be hindered by Brother Duan, Jin Weishan will be opposed by Brother Shao and Li.¡± ¡°As for Lin, he will take care of Yu Hongyan. The remaining from the Golden Sword Sect, Dong Wenchang, and He Liqiu from the Blood Red Alliance will be held off by three of our sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beasts.¡± Zhou Yunxiao made several arrangements in a row, allocating their nine Golden Core combat strengths, along with three Third Order Spiritual Beasts, to counter the eight Golden Core Stage combat strengths from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s side. ¡°Fellow Daoists, do you have any doubts regarding this?¡± After saying this, Zhou Yunxiao also looked behind him. Lin Tianming and the others all nodded their heads, then chorused, ¡°We have no doubts!¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Good, get ready!¡± As soon as the words fell, Lin Tianming and the others all took out their respective Magical Treasures, gripping them tightly in their hands. A few breaths later, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were in a lull in their attack. Seeing this, Zhao Hongsheng slapped his Spirit Beast Bag, and three massive demonic beasts suddenly appeared behind the group. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Several roaring cries sounded as three Third Order Demonic Beasts opened their massive jaws and bellowed. Chapter 846 03-25 - 846 454 First Battle_2 ?Chapter 846: Chapter 454 First Battle_2 Chapter 846: Chapter 454 First Battle_2 Lin Tianming turned his head and found that the three Spirit Beasts were the Tianxing Jiao, the Huolin Hu, and the Giant-Tooth Red Monkey. Each of the beasts was massive in size, all at the Third Order Early Stage, and bore ferocious and fearsome appearances that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine at a mere glance. Yet, despite their fierce appearances, they were quite submissive in the presence of Zhou Yunxiao. It was evident that the Myriad Medicine Valley possessed strong foundations not only in terms of overall cultivation level of Golden Core Cultivators but also in their possession of Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Including Zhou Yunxiao and the other three Golden Core Cultivators, Myriad Medicine Valley had at least seven individuals with Golden Core Stage combat power. And this strength remained even after losing a Golden Core Cultivator in the previous great battle and a Spirit Beast during an attack by a horde of beasts. Without these losses, Myriad Medicine Valley alone would have nine Golden Core Combat powers. ... With such formidable power, it came as no surprise that Myriad Medicine Valley had been able to suppress the Zhenyang Sect and the Golden Sword Sect for thousands of years. As Lin Tianming was distracted, Zhou Yunxiao boldly issued the command to attack. ¡°Follow me and strike together, my fellow Daoists!¡± With a great shout from Zhou Yunxiao, the protective array of Myriad Medicine Valley opened, and he took the lead in rushing out. Soon, Chen Jingtian and several other Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators were quick to follow Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s steps and swept towards the outside of the formation. Lin Tianming flew out last, leaving the area covered by the array. Their appearance immediately drew the attention of Zhao Hongsheng and others. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Zhou Yunxiao did not give them any time to react and launched an attack during this interval. Zhou Yunxiao made the first move, with a powerful attack targeting Zhao Hongsheng himself. Seeing this, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he leaped into the air with a cross, and the two quickly engaged in combat. Following this, Chen Jingtian and Chen Maohua set their sights on Han Hu of the Golden Sword Sect, with three Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators targeting the Late Stage Golden Core Han Hu. The rest also engaged with their pre-assigned opponents as per the plan, all clashing fiercely. In an instant, a large part of the sky was divided into several sections, each person fighting their predetermined opponent. Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent was Yu Hongyan, a woman in the Early Stage Golden Core from the Golden Sword Sect. He was somewhat surprised by this matchup. After all, in the impoverished Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, Golden Core Cultivators were rare, with female Golden Core Cultivators known to be singular. His opponent, dressed in a flowing red robe that made her slender figure appear somewhat fragile. But facing Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks, Yu Hongyan responded quickly, her counterattacks exceedingly tricky and ruthless, not at all what her appearance suggested. Lin Tianming also did not dare to underestimate her, continuously launching Tiangang Ninth Sword strikes aimed at her vital points. With the Qinghong Sword¡¯s attacks, its power indeed far surpassed the Tiangang Sword, a Second Order Magical Artifact. Under his barrage of attacks, Yu Hongyan was somewhat struggling, and after just a few exchanges, she seemed to be getting the short end of the stick. At this point, with a serious expression, Yu Hongyan launched her Hongling Magical Treasure, forcing the fiercely attacking Lin Tianming to retreat. After they both retreated a hundred zhang (a unit of length), they finally stabilized their positions. Yu Hongyan looked at Lin Tianming with an incredulous expression on her beautiful face. As a local cultivator in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, she had well known the details of the battle at the Lin Family. Initially, she thought that Lin Family¡¯s ability to kill Xu Zhi was entirely due to several people teaming up and Xu Zhi¡¯s underestimation, which led to their chance victory. She had also made prior guesses about Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. In her view, even if she couldn¡¯t kill Lin Tianming, gaining the upper hand was supposed to be not difficult. After all, Lin Tianming just entered the Golden Core Stage, with at most five years to his name, perhaps even without a Magical Treasure. Under these circumstances, his strength, however strong, was surely limited. ¡°Having finally crossed swords, she had come to understand that the Lin Family¡¯s defeat of Xu Zhi was no fluke. Especially Lin Tianming, who, in Luoyun Market, had single-handedly killed Meng Qingfeng of his own cultivation level. A newly advanced Golden Core being able to kill alone a cultivator who had been in the Golden Core stage for many years, it certainly wasn¡¯t accidental. At this moment, Yu Hongyan no longer had the initial contempt; her demeanor grew increasingly cautious. As Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks continued unabated, Yu Hongyan¡¯s expression turned serious, her hand¡¯s Hongling Magical Treasure bursting forth with a surge of red light. Instantly, the Hongling rapidly expanded and shot towards Lin Tianming. The Hongling traveled at great speed, and Lin Tianming had just managed to dodge, when the Hongling, without decreasing its speed, followed an incredible trajectory chasing after him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also turned grave; his Eye of Five Colors flashed with spiritual light, capturing the trajectory of the Hongling in advance and dodging it at the last possible distance. With a crisp sound, a rock behind Lin Tianming suffered, instantly bound by the Hongling and turned into debris. Seeing this, Lin Tianming grew serious; he had not expected Yu Hongyan to be so powerful. The role played by the Hongling Magical Treasure was significant, its attacks strange and its speed incredibly fast. If not for the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, a normal cultivator would likely have been bound by the Hongling and ultimately crushed to death, without even a chance to struggle. As for Yu Hongyan, though she appeared as a frail woman, her methods were simple and violent, exceedingly cunning and ruthless. If one were not careful and fell for her tricks, it wouldn¡¯t just be injury, but crippling. Knowing this, Lin Tianming suddenly was fully alert, his attacks even more fierce. Soon, Lin Tianming and Yu Hongyan were once again locked in battle. After a few rounds of exchanges, neither had gained much advantage. But clearly, as time passed, relying on the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors and his richer combat experience, Lin Tianming again broke the deadlock, gradually gaining the upper hand and completely suppressing Yu Hongyan. At this moment, Yu Hongyan fully recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, her originally calm state of mind beginning to shift. Though the change was minute, such a fluctuation of mindset could be fatal at a critical moment. Indeed, as a burst of light emanated from the Qinghong Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, it suddenly shot out with incredible speed, piercing the sky, and ultimately striking Yu Hongyan¡¯s arm. Just before, Yu Hongyan had just blocked an attack from Lin Tianming, only to be blasted away by the powerful force. Before she could stabilize, she saw a Blue Longsword shooting towards her, mere tens of yards from her head. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a Golden Core cultivator, this distance was dangerously close. Facing this terrifying Flying Sword, she wanted to dodge, but the closeness and the formidable speed of the Blue Longsword made complete evasion unrealistic. In desperation, Yu Hongyan did everything possible to dodge away from the lethal blow. She was very clear that if she could successfully dodge the critical hit, even if injured, there was still a slim chance to turn defeat into victory. But if she couldn¡¯t evade the critical hit, she feared this strike would see her demise. Fully aware of its importance, Yu Hongyan fought with all her might. But Lin Tianming, having long harbored such plans and even deliberately exposing some flaws, how could he easily waste this rare opportunity? Thus, taking action at the best moment, Lin Tianming grievously wounded Yu Hongyan. Although this strike only severed one of her hands and did not end her life as he had imagined, Golden Core cultivators weren¡¯t so easily killed. At the very least, when facing an irreversible situation, they could always make the most advantageous decision in the shortest time and opt for the least loss. Obviously, Yu Hongyan did just that, sacrificing an arm to save her life temporarily.¡± Chapter 847 03-25 - 847 455 Ruthless Flower Crushing ?Chapter 847: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing Chapter 847: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing At that moment, Yu Hongyan, having escaped a disaster, was pale and ignored the pain in her body as she started to retreat rapidly. In the blink of an eye, she had created a distance of several hundred yards. When she stabilized her stance and then turned her head to look at Lin Tianming, she made a special gesture with her hands. Instantly, her entire facial features changed dramatically, and she transformed into Qin Xi, then spoke in a seductive tone, ¡°Husband¡­ come here quickly!¡± At this moment, when Lin Tianming saw Yu Hongyan transformed into Qin Xi before his eyes, he immediately became dazed and fell into a stupor. It was too realistic, so realistic that he couldn¡¯t help but immerse himself in it, walking towards Qin Xi without any guard. Soon, the distance between the two was less than a hundred yards. ... At such a distance, for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, it was merely a moment. Seeing this, a hint of joyous smile flashed across Yu Hongyan¡¯s pale face. Watching Lin Tianming getting closer, completely engrossed and unguarded, she now firmly believed that Lin Tianming had fallen for her Illusion Technique. Just a bit further, and she could end Lin Tianming¡¯s life without him being able to defend. At this time, it seemed that Yu Hongyan had already foreseen Lin Tianming¡¯s end and couldn¡¯t help feeling smug about it. Finally, Yu Hongyan made her move again, and the Hongling Magical Treasure shot out instantly, heading straight for Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Just then, Lin Tianming suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing across. Following that, his Qinghong Sword flew from his hands, stabbing toward Yu Hongyan with even greater speed. To deceive Yu Hongyan, he had realized early on with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors that she was using an Illusion Technique. Under the Eye of Five Colors, such illusion techniques were child¡¯s play, seemingly too simple. However, to deceive Yu Hongyan, he had still cooperatively played along, just to close the distance between them. After all, closing the gap was an opportunity for both parties. And he also seized this rare opportunity to annihilate Yu Hongyan. Yu Hongyan clearly did not expect that Lin Tianming had already seen through her, nor that he played along so convincingly. Now seeing that Lin Tianming was one step ahead, his attack and the timing of her activating the Hongling were almost the same, and his speed was even faster, leaving her almost unable to react. Watching the Qinghong Sword coming at her, Yu Hongyan¡¯s face turned a mix of shock and anger, too late to dodge. Continuing this way, either she had to withdraw Hongling and give up the attack, which might still not allow her to evade and instead could pose a great risk. In his view, the situation was the same for Lin Tianming. But she also understood that the situation was unfavorable to her, and without taking advantage of this moment to gain some upper hand, there was almost no possibility of defeating Lin Tianming, Realizing this, she could only gamble once, hoping that Hongling could threaten Lin Tianming and make him retract the Qinghong Sword to save his own life. However, having experienced various battles and extremely ruthless toward himself, Lin Tianming would not hesitate at such a moment. Moreover, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, even at such close distance, it was easier for him to find a chance than for Yu Hongyan. Since Yu Hongyan was fearless, with such conditions, he was even less afraid. In an instant, Lin Tianming made up his mind, not to retract his attack to save himself from danger. Not only that, but he also further controlled the Qinghong Sword, stabbing it toward Yu Hongyan. Seeing Lin Tianming not hesitating, his attack continued uninterrupted, and the speed even increased. At that moment, Yu Hongyan¡¯s face turned deathly pale, with an expression of shock and anger. Time continued to pass, and their attacks arrived as expected. In a flash, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword arrived first, chopping off Yu Hongyan¡¯s head directly. And Yu Hongyan died instantly, without even having time to let out a scream. But even though she was dead, her Hongling still came at him. At that moment, they were only a few dozen yards apart, and at such close distance, Lin Tianming could already feel a bit of warmth from Hongling. If he could not dodge, his fate might not be much better than Yu Hongyan¡¯s. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a desperate situation, Lin Tianming twisted his body, evading in a bizarre pose, barely brushing past Hongling. In that critical moment, the Eye of Five Colors once again played its role, finding the best possible escape path. And he seized this moment to save his life. Once he stabilized himself, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, also feeling extremely fortunate that if not for the beneficial Eye of Five Colors, even if he could kill Yu Hongyan, he would definitely have been hit by Hongling. If that were to happen, with his robust body, he would have been severely injured if not dead. However, Yu Hongyan certainly did not anticipate this; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have taken such a risk. Sadly, her luck was too bad, not only did her plans not work, but she also fell into Lin Tianming¡¯s trap, ending up perishing here. But she couldn¡¯t see this outcome; perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, or else she could have died of rage. At this moment, Lin Tianming also recovered from his euphoria, not allowing his emotions to be disturbed in the slightest despite having harshly eliminated a threat. He casually collected Yu Hongyan¡¯s storage bag, as well as the Hongling Magical Treasure. These items were his spoils of war. The storage bag needs no mention, as the possessions of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator are naturally not trivial, definitely impossible to forsake. Chapter 848 03-25 - 848 455 Ruthless Flower Crushing_2 ?Chapter 848: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing_2 Chapter 848: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing_2 As for the Hongling Magical Treasure, it was a bit of a pity, after all, it was an item used by female cultivators, and for him, a male cultivator, to use this thing would seem rather out of place. However, this item was also a fine Magical Treasure, and although he couldn¡¯t make use of it himself, once Qin Xi advanced to the Golden Core Stage, she could directly utilize this item. At worst, selling this item for other treasures was also an option, given that female cultivators in the Golden Core Stage were rare, and the Magical Treasures they used were even rarer. Therefore, if he were to sell this Hongling Magical Treasure, it might fetch a good price. After Lin Tianming collected his spoils of war, he turned his gaze to observe the situation on other battlefields. Looking around, the fierce battle between Zhou Yunxiao and Zhao Hongsheng, who were in the highest skies, was in full swing. Zhao Hongsheng and his opponent were both at the cultivation level of Late Stage Golden Core, the top echelon present here. ... Both their strengths were formidable, and the attack power they released was so great that even Han Hu, who was of the same realm, clearly felt somewhat inferior. The two fought back and forth, seemingly difficult to determine the better combatant. However, Zhao Hongsheng, coming from the Nascent Soul Forces, wielded exceptional quality Magical Treasures, and as the rounds of combat increased and their consumption grew, Zhao Hongsheng gradually seemed to gain the upper hand. But Zhou Yunxiao was similarly strong, with very little difference between the two, and it seemed unlikely that they would be able to determine a victor anytime soon. Yet, once the victor between them was decided, it was inevitable that a significant turning point in this great battle would occur. Lin Tianming wanted to help Zhou Yunxiao, but Zhao Hongsheng was indeed too strong; even if he went, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to intervene effectively. If luck was not on his side and he was severely injured by Zhao Hongsheng, or worse, lost his life, it would be such a waste. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? And he was only a clan cultivator, not worth taking that risk. Knowing this, Lin Tianming briefly scanned the overall situation and noticed that Chen Jingtian and his two allies were evenly matched against the Late Stage Golden Core Han Hu. However, Han Hu, being one of the three strongest individuals present, was not likely to be defeated easily, even faced with the joint effort of Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio. Understanding the power of Late Stage Golden Core experts, Lin Tianming knew they were formidable; despite his impressive strength, he was simply not a fatal threat to Golden Core Late Stage cultivators. Therefore, he would be better off focusing his energy elsewhere. Because he knew the current situation was close on both sides, with Late Stage Golden Core cultivators being key players unlikely to fall easily. In such a case, it would be better for his side to lower their targets, aiming to gain advantages where possible. Just now, by taking the initiative to eliminate Yu Hongyan, he had secured some advantage for Myriad Medicine Valley. If they continued to nibble away like this, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s camp would weaken more and more. When the time came, they could strike back in one fell swoop, inflicting heavy damage on the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s camp. Knowing that haste wouldn¡¯t bring success, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind and flew towards the battlefield where Xiang Changqing was. The reason for choosing Xiang Changqing was because his location was closest to Lin, and if he were to aid another battlefield, he would still need to pass by Xiang Changqing, inevitably becoming entangled in that fight. Besides, Xiang Changqing was currently being pressed hard by Duan Liangyu and had sustained some injuries, making him the prime target. There was no point in wasting time taking a detour; it was better to strike nearby and seize the opportunity to expand their victory. Having made his decision, Lin Tianming leaped forward and quickly arrived at Duan Liangyu¡¯s location. At that moment, the two had just clashed fiercely, each being knocked back hundreds of yards by the rebounding force. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Duan Liangyu¡¯s expression was one of excitement, and he was somewhat eager at heart. Meanwhile, Xiang Changqing, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, realized that Yu Hongyan had been killed, and his face suddenly turned even paler. ¡°Lin, quickly join me in taking down old ghost Xiang!¡± Duan Liangyu called out loudly, immediately initiating an attack. Seeing this situation, Xiang Changqing became furious and couldn¡¯t help but curse out loud. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You brat, you dared to kill Junior Sister Yu and now you dare to attack me? You¡¯re simply courting death!¡± After Xiang Changqing spoke these harsh words, he felt a streak of fear inside. He was already at a disadvantage; with Lin Tianming joining Duan Liangyu, the combined force was sure to be even stronger, making it hard for him to hold on. His teammates were all locked in fierce combat, with only Dong Wenchang, at the Early Stage Golden Core, managing to hold a slight upper hand against a Third Order Spirit Beast. The rest could not spare any effort to aid him. Knowing his dire situation, Xiang Changqing was a mix of anger and shock, resorting to harsh threats in an attempt to intimidate Lin Tianming. However, Lin Tianming was battle-hardened with strength that was among the top of his peers at the Golden Core Stage. Moreover, he was already at a disadvantage and teaming up with Duan Liangyu would surely expand their accomplishments in battle. Thus, Lin Tianming did not hesitate and immediately coordinated an attack with Duan Liangyu. Lin Tianming, wielding the Qinghong Sword, unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword and furiously slashed at Xiang Changqing. His attack was swift, its angle tricky, creating a pincer situation with Duan Liangyu. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Their attacks descended, forcing Xiang Changqing to hastily respond. He waved a single hand, and two Third Order Defense Talismans transformed into barriers on his flanks to bluntly block the blow from Lin Tianming. Then seizing the opportunity, he swiftly retreated, dodging Duan Liangyu¡¯s attacks and activating his magical treasure to counterattack. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± After several explosive sounds, the two barriers shattered, and the Qinghong Sword pierced through, continuing its assault towards Duan Liangyu. However, the Qinghong Sword had lost much of its power due to the defense talisman, considerably slowing down. For Xiang Changqing, a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, avoiding such a weakened attack was not difficult. As the Qinghong Sword returned fruitlessly, Xiang Changqing also evaded Duan Liangyu¡¯s attack, only to be further injured by the powerful recoil. His mana depletion was significantly increased. But at the moment, his only option was to defend passively and try to buy time, hoping his teammates could free themselves to assist him. However, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were each handling their adversaries, and even Han Hu, who cared about him the most, was firmly pinned down by Chen Jingtian and his two companions, leaving no opportunity for help. Isolated and without support, Xiang Changqing continued to be at a disadvantage. Under the combined assault from Lin Tianming and his ally, Xiang Changqing¡¯s situation grew increasingly arduous, and his injuries worsened. Hit by a full-force strike from Duan Liangyu, Xiang Changqing was hurled away by the powerful impact. While still in mid-air, he couldn¡¯t help but spew several mouthfuls of blood as his Qi-Blood roiled violently, his complexion turning deathly pale. Having barely stabilized himself and before he could catch a breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword was already descending above his head. Already wounded and having just withstood a hit from Duan Liangyu, Xiang Changqing was completely unable to organize an effective defense. In desperation, and as the Qinghong Sword closed in mere hundred zhang from his head, Xiang Changqing reluctantly forced his magical treasure into action, hoping to repel Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. But in his rush, he couldn¡¯t muster his full strength and could only retaliate as best he could. ¡°Bang!¡± The Qinghong Sword collided hard with Xiang Changqing¡¯s magical treasure, immediately igniting a massive fire in the sky and unleashing an enormous energy explosion that spread Gang Wind in all directions. Xiang Changqing was tossed by this force, spitting more blood while still airborne, his face now ghostly white. The Qinghong Sword was also sent flying far away, eventually caught by Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. As the firelight flickered and the dust gradually dispersed, Though further injured, Xiang Changqing was relieved to have survived the blow. As long as he wasn¡¯t dead or severely wounded, there was still a chance he could fend off Lin Tianming and his ally. Just as Xiang Changqing was preparing to counterattack, Lin Tianming burst from the remaining dust, holding a Black Giant Axe and swinging it down towards his head. Seeing this attack, Xiang Changqing frowned, puzzled at how Lin Tianming could be so fast, barely recovering from one strike before the next attack was already upon him. However, Lin Tianming showed no fluctuations of mana, indicating the attack shouldn¡¯t be too threatening. Thinking this, Xiang Changqing casually waved his magical treasure, thinking he wouldn¡¯t need much effort to repel Lin Tianming. Chapter 849 03-25 - 849 456 Consecutive Self-Destructs ?Chapter 849: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Destructs Chapter 849: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Destructs ¡°Boom¡­¡± Xiang Changqing¡¯s Magical Treasure flashed brightly in his hand, clashing directly with Lin Tianming¡¯s Black Dragon Axe. At that moment, he suddenly felt a powerful Gang Wind assault him, whipping his robes into the air. Immediately following was an immense force, like the crushing weight of Mount Tai, unleashing a tearing agony throughout his body. Then, enduring the pain, he couldn¡¯t help but grunt in discomfort. At this point, time seemed endlessly long for Xiang Changqing, yet also incredibly brief. He had no idea how much time had passed when he lost consciousness, feeling only the intensifying pain and as if he was plummeting into an endless abyss, or endlessly being blown backward. ... Across from him, Lin Tianming merely staggered, his Black Dragon Axe chopping down without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, Xiang Changqing was sent flying backward, crossing hundreds of yards before finally plummeting from the sky and crashing to the ground. It wasn¡¯t until the loud impact resounded that Xiang Changqing regained consciousness, his face deathly pale. He lifted his head to examine his body and discovered a huge gash in his chest, oozing blood and exposing his organs. In addition, one of his arms had vanished, clearly severed by Lin Tianming. At that moment, Xiang Changqing felt another wave of excruciating pain, nearly numbing him. Biting the tip of his tongue to maintain clarity through the intense pain, he underestimated Lin Tianming; he never imagined that Lin Tianming¡¯s mere physical strength could be so formidable! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Even a casual strike packed the weight of tens of thousands of pounds, similar to the impact of a small mountain crashing down. Due to his carelessness, he suffered a heavy blow and significant injuries, resulting in a considerable decline in his strength. Now, he bore the consequences of his own mistakes. At present, with pale face and bloodshot eyes, Xiang Changqing stared at the approaching Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu. He knew that previously there might have been a chance to retreat entirely, but now with Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu¡¯s increased attack speed and precise angles, survival was even less likely with his diminished strength. Yet, even with this understanding, he was without any allies or any way to retreat. As the attack from the two men drew closer, Xiang Changqing¡¯s face turned ashen, his heart filled with despair. In that moment, a clear and focused look crossed his eyes, and a self-mocking smile appeared on his face. Suddenly, a strong wind blew in the sky, and Spiritual Energy invisibly converged towards Xiang Changqing. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu¡¯s expressions changed drastically, as if witnessing something unimaginable. ¡°No good, Xiang Laogui is about to self-detonate his Golden Core!¡± Duan Liangyu shouted in horror, hastily retreating. Nearby, Lin Tianming was also rapidly pulling back, his speed lightning-fast. He knew all too well the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation; with his current level of cultivation, being caught in the blast could result in severe injury or even death. Duan Liangyu understood this all the more clearly. In his eyes, the destructive power of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation was so immense that not even a Late Stage Golden Core existence would dare to withstand it. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And with his own Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, and being the closest to Xiang Changqing, he needed to create a safe distance before the self-detonation, at least not to be at the center of the explosion. Otherwise, he might very well perish. As such, Duan Liangyu now cared for nothing else but to flee as fast as possible from the area. In an instant, both men backpedaled desperately, their speed of escape surpassing any before. However, by this time, Xiang Changqing had already gone mad, his Sky Spirit Cover rapidly gathering a mass of Spiritual Energy, surging into his body. This moment turned Xiang Changqing¡¯s ashen face eerily flushed, his expression somewhat terrifying. This change was clearly due to the frenzied influx of Spiritual Energy. Then, watching Duan Liangyu and his companion frantically fleeing for their lives, he burst into maniacal laughter. ¡°Duan Laogui, you forced me into this!¡± Xiang Changqing bellowed threateningly, then began to close in on Xiang Changqing. Clearly, he understood that whether he self-detonated or not, there was no hope for his survival. Of course, he was also driven to this point. Anyone who could cultivate to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm knew the difficulty involved; who would willingly resort to a tactic of mutual destruction if there was any chance to live? Under these circumstances, he had fully initiated the sequence for a Self-Detonating Golden Core, hoping to take someone down with him in his last moments. Duan Liangyu was the closest, and as a vital member of the Myriad Medicine Valley faction, his loss would deal a significant blow to them. Xiang Changqing¡¯s target was clear: it was Duan Liangyu. With determined intent, Xiang Changqing moved slowly, each step pressing on the nerves of Lin Tianming and his companion. Although he moved slowly, further distancing him from Duan Liangyu, this action only heightened Duan Liangyu¡¯s fear. Chapter 850 03-25 - 850 456 Consecutive Self-Detonations_2 ?Chapter 850: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Detonations_2 Chapter 850: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Detonations_2 In an instant, Duan Liangyu¡¯s entire face turned ghostly pale, never expecting Xiang Changqing to be so crazed. He only thought of escaping, and while retreating at full speed, he didn¡¯t forget to launch several attacks, hoping to interrupt Xiang Changqing¡¯s self-destructive behavior. However, Xiang Changqing was decisive in his objectives, seemingly well-prepared for self-detonating his Golden Core. And Duan Liangyu¡¯s attacks now seemed to be too late. Time slowly passed, and after a few breaths, a thunderous boom resonated. As if at the center where Xiang Changqing stood, a massive mushroom cloud suddenly rose into the sky. At the same time, a vast blaze enveloped a great expanse of sky, and a tremendous wave swept outwards, quickly spreading in all directions. ... By now, Duan Liangyu and Lin Tianming had managed to create a considerable distance between them and the blast. But, although they were fleeing rapidly, the wave¡¯s speed was faster still. Duan Liangyu bore the brunt of the shockwave, being swept up and flung away by the blast. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While still mid-air, Duan Liangyu spat out mouthfuls of blood, his qi-blood boiling tumultuously, almost shaking his internal organs loose. And Lin Tianming, at this moment, also endured the impact of the shockwave; thankfully, he was farther from Xiang Changqing, and bolstered by his strong physique, though injured by the explosion¡¯s force, he ultimately withstood the destructive blast. As the sky gradually settled down, the figures of the two men became visible. Looking over, Duan Liangyu staggered to his feet, his face already ashen, his breath extremely erratic. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 At the same time, fresh blood continuously trickled from the corner of his mouth; his clothes were tattered, numerous wounds charred black, with threads of blood oozing out, he became a bloodied figure. Not far from him, Lin Tianming steadied himself; aside from a pale face and a mouth flecked with blood, his qi had also diminished significantly. Looking towards where Xiang Changqing had been, all that was left was a huge crater in the otherwise flat land. At the bottom and around the edges of the crater, everything was scorched black, only the remnants of Xiang Changqing¡¯s faint breath still lingered in the sky. The two men then exchanged glances, each revealing a bitter smile of having survived a catastrophe. It had to be said that Xiang Changqing¡¯s self-detonated Golden Core was indeed terrifying. Although both men were still alive, Duan Liangyu had been severely wounded, his strength not even reaching half of its peak. Lin Tianming¡¯s situation was much better; although also injured, at least his strength remained at seventy to eighty percent. As for Xiang Changqing, he was already dead, and the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s forces had lost two Golden Core Combat Strengths. Considering the ongoing war that had been raging for years, this was their greatest loss so far, with two Golden Core Cultivators perishing, including a Medium Stage one. Such a loss had been unforeseen by the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s camp. At this moment, at the highest battlefield in the sky, including other battle areas, everyone felt the huge fluctuation that had just occurred. Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s face was extremely grim, as he dealt with the relentless attack from Zhou Yunxiao. Not far from them, Han Hu managed to repel Chen Jingtian and his companions with a single strike. Taking advantage of this brief lull, he turned his gaze towards Duan Liangyu¡¯s direction, his face brimming with rage. Since the outbreak of the war with the three sects, this had been the greatest loss for the Golden Sword Sect, with two Golden Core Cultivators falling in just one day. Including Xiang Changqing, a Medium Stage presence, and Yu Hongyan, in the Early Stage; both hailing from Golden Sword Sect. Now, the Golden Sword Sect, having only a few Golden Core Cultivators in existence, had already lost nearly half its Golden Core Combat Strength in the conflict, without even obliterating Myriad Medicine Valley. How could the Golden Sword Sect afford such continued losses? Even if they ultimately destroyed Myriad Medicine Valley, could it make up for the losses incurred over these years? In contrast, for the Blood Red Alliance, the loss of merely Jin Weihe, an Early Stage cultivator, barely made a dent in their strength. But for the Golden Sword Sect with its limited resources, this was a loss they couldn¡¯t sustain. At this moment, even Han Hu began to question whether his decision to side with the Blood Red Alliance had been the right one. Just as he became slightly distracted, Chen Jingtian¡¯s longsword glinted, unleashing a powerful Sword Qi that shot towards him, descending in an instant above his head. At the same time, Chen Maohua and Luo Anzhong did their utmost to coordinate with Chen Jingtian, unleashing a barrage of attacks from various angles at Han Hu. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky resounded with the sounds of sword qi and flames roaring, as a barrage of attacks descended. At this moment, Han Hu¡¯s expression turned solemn, and amidst his haste, he erupted with several attacks for defense, and he also brought out his Defense Treasure, barricading himself behind a blue Jade Pendant. A series of crackling noises spread out, as the multitude of attacks were dispersed. However, the colossal Sword Qi unleashed by Chen Jingtian slammed into the Jade Pendant, the powerful shockwave pushing Han Hu dozens of feet back. After regaining his stance slightly, Han Hu¡¯s face paled, and his breath weakened significantly. He had caught this strike, but he also sustained some injuries. Had it not been for his Late Stage Golden Core strength, facing the closely coordinated attacks of the three, he truly might not have been an equal opponent. While he had held some advantage earlier, after this blow, the situation seemed to have turned. At this time, the Golden Core Cultivators of the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s camp surged forward with imposing momentum, crazily launching counter-attacks, as if determined to settle the outcome once and for all. At this very moment, having killed Xiang Changqing, Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu also lent a hand. Although Duan Liangyu was gravely injured, with less than half his strength remaining, his alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Giant-Tooth Red Monkey, and Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Dong Wenchang turned into a fierce battle. Initially, the Giant-Tooth Red Monkey was at a great disadvantage, continuously oppressed by Dong Wenchang, and had already suffered serious injuries to last until now. Now, with Duan Liangyu joining in, they finally turned the situation around, starting to gain some advantage. And Lin Tianming also joined the battlefield against another Spirit Beast, allying with Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Tianxing Jiao, as well as the Third Order Spirit Beasts Fire Phosphorus Tiger, to assault Golden Sword Sect¡¯s He Liqiu. He Liqiu had been at a disadvantage previously, almost being suppressed by the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Now, with Lin Tianming joining in, it added insult to injury, and he began to completely fall apart. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Lin Tianming struck He Liqiu, causing him heavy injuries, and He Liqiu fell from the sky, crashing heavily on the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. He trembled as he rose, a pained expression flashing across his face. By now, he had finally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. It was incredibly formidable! No wonder Yu Hongyan and Xiang Changqing, one after another, had died at his hands. And this was still the result of Lin Tianming¡¯s diminished strength; if he had been at his peak, even without the exhaustion of the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts beforehand and their subsequent cooperation, he could still have defeated him, or even killed him alone. Now, he was in continuous retreat, his injuries becoming more severe, his strength greatly diminished. Lin Tianming gained an absolute advantage, giving him no chance to catch his breath. At this time, before He Liqiu could even take a breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword came attacking again, erupting with Tiangang Ninth Sword, aiming straight for He Liqiu¡¯s head. Simultaneously, behind Lin Tianming, the Tianxing Jiao and Fire Phosphorus Tiger also opened their gaping maws, ready to swallow him whole. As the Qinghong Sword drew closer, he was the first to feel a sharp stream of air, faintly hitting his body and bringing with it intense pain. Already injured, his strength had decreased considerably. Facing the frenzied attacks of Lin Tianming and the two Third Order Demon Beasts, without his companions¡¯ help and left to face them alone, he was certainly in a situation with slim chances of survival. He knew his predicament and that he was driven into a corner. But right now, each of his comrades was busy dealing with their own opponents, with no one able to lend him a helping hand. Even Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, currently under the assault of Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio, couldn¡¯t gain much of an upper hand. Even the mightiest Late Stage Golden Core Experts had no spare energy to tend to him; others, even if they could come, would likely not be able to reverse his passive situation. In this desperate situation, knowing this, He Liqiu had no way out. And it was at this moment that he had already made up his mind to self-detonate his Golden Core. ¡­ Chapter 851 03-25 - 851 457 Earths Sword Lotus Achieves ?Chapter 851: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Success Chapter 851: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Success In an instant, He Liqiu made a bizarre gesture, and soon a fierce wind picked up, with massive amounts of Spiritual Energy crazily rushing into his Sky Spirit Cover. His movements were swift, from deciding to self-detonate to having Spiritual Energy crazily flood his body, it only took a few breaths of time. By now, he no longer had any way out, nor could he forcibly interrupt the process. Unless he was destroyed by an external force before the Self-Detonating Golden Core could activate, there was absolutely no way to reverse his fate. At this moment, Lin Tianming, seeing He Liqiu¡¯s actions and feeling the changes in the surrounding Spiritual Energy, also immediately understood He Liqiu¡¯s intentions. ¡°This guy is also going to self-detonate!¡± In a flash, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened as he pondered his response strategy. ... However, he only thought briefly before he pressed forward without any hesitation, his figure not stopping as he continued to unleash Divine Skills towards He Liqiu. At this critical moment, Lin Tianming not only didn¡¯t retreat but instead accelerated towards He Liqiu. He was taking a huge risk by doing so. In his eyes, he was too close to He Liqiu; even if he were to try and hastily retreat, he feared he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid the explosive force of the Self-Detonating Golden Core. He was very clear about the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation; the complete process of Xiang Changqing¡¯s self-detonation still flashed through his mind. Once He Liqiu¡¯s self-detonation succeeded, he would undoubtedly be affected. And since he was already injured and at such close proximity, even if his body was strong enough, there was a high chance he would perish, or at the very least sustain severe injuries. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Rather than take a passive risk by retreating, he decided to take a chance! As long as he could kill He Liqiu before the self-detonation, he could forcefully interrupt the process. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was determined, his speed reaching an extreme. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming approaching, He Liqiu couldn¡¯t help but reveal a scornful smile. In his eyes, even though Lin Tianming was fast, he had already reached the critical moment for self-detonation, with massive amounts of Spiritual Energy already flooding his body, potentially allowing the self-detonation to succeed at any time. It seemed, Lin Tianming surely wouldn¡¯t make it in time. At this moment, He Liqiu had completely let go, showing absolutely no sign of fear. However, as Lin Tianming drew closer and closer to He Liqiu, his speed suddenly surged. In an instant, Lin Tianming was already above He Liqiu¡¯s head. Seeing Lin Tianming so close, He Liqiu wore an expression of disbelief. He never thought that Lin Tianming, who was already fast, would burst forward even further. Now, the two were less than several dozen feet apart, a distance for Golden Core Cultivators which was almost like being right next to each other. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± A miserable scream sounded, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. Following the scream, the Qinghong Sword directly pierced through He Liqiu¡¯s chest. He Liqiu¡¯s body instantly exploded into pieces, his limbs and various organs scattering apart. At the same time, the explosion produced a shockwave that spread in all directions. As for such a miserable scene, it was obviously because the Spiritual Energy was too violent, and He Liqiu had already absorbed enough of it. With Lin Tianming¡¯s strike hitting He Liqiu¡¯s chest directly, it induced his body to explode completely like a vessel under tremendous pressure. However, the shockwave from He Liqiu¡¯s body explosion was far less powerful than that of a Golden Core Cultivator, not even reaching a tenth of its potential. Such a shockwave was merely like a tickle for Lin Tianming¡¯s robust physique. A few breaths later, the shockwave calmed down, and the sky temporarily returned to tranquility. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two Third Order Spiritual Beasts also steadied their forms, and when they looked at the spot where He Liqiu had been, their faces showed relief from escaping a disaster. Though they were Demonic Beasts, and their Spirit Wisdom was not comparable to that of Human Cultivators, at the Third Order level and having survived for hundreds to thousands of years, their Spirit Wisdom was not low, at least comparable to that of human children over ten years old. Initially, when they saw He Liqiu about to self-detonate his Golden Core, they too were terrified and began to hastily retreat. Unexpectedly, Lin Tianming did not retreat and managed to eliminate He Liqiu before the self-detonation. This action also averted a crisis for the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Now that He Liqiu was dead, this result was perfect for Lin Tianming, as well as for the two Third Order Demonic Beasts. Yet, while some rejoice, others mourn! Feeling the tumult just now and discovering that He Liqiu was killed, Zhao Hongsheng of the Red Alliance¡¯s face darkened to an extreme. He Liqiu was a member of the Red Alliance, and whereas Zhao Hongsheng might not care about Xiang Changqing¡¯s demise, even taking it lightly, the fall of He Liqiu was a real loss to him. After all, this was the second Golden Core Cultivator from the Red Alliance to fall in recent years. Losing so much power without having annihilated Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, not to mention failing to find the item that the higher-ups had ordered him to look for. If he couldn¡¯t complete this task, his influence within the Red Alliance would diminish even further. More crucially, the chance to earn enough merit to exchange for a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item would completely vanish. That outcome would undoubtedly be Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s greatest failure. Chapter 852 03-25 - 852 457 Earths Sword Lotus Achieves ?Chapter 852: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Merit_2 Chapter 852: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Merit_2 He would not allow anyone to spoil his plans, nor would he permit anyone to obstruct his progress. And as soon as Lin Tianming appeared, he triggered a chain reaction that further hindered their plans. Thinking of this, Zhao Hongsheng became extremely angry. He struck Zhou Yunxiao, sending him reeling backward, then shot towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face changed drastically, and in his haste, he bellowed, ¡°You won¡¯t get rid of me that easily!¡± After speaking, Zhou Yunxiao hurriedly chased after Zhao Hongsheng, and the two of them flew toward Lin Tianming, one after the other. At this moment, Lin Tianming also noticed Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s actions, his face turning significantly paler. ... He had already run out of mana, and having been injured previously, he really didn¡¯t have much fight left in him. Zhao Hongsheng, recklessly attacking him, obviously intended to kill him. Knowing this, Lin Tianming had no choice but to hastily retreat. However, Zhao Hongsheng was a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator who had been at this level for over a hundred years, a veteran among Golden Core cultivators. Furthermore, coming from the strength of the Nascent Soul level, his power was naturally incomparable to ordinary people. Although Lin Tianming was fast, catching up to him was not difficult for Zhao Hongsheng. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï In just a few breaths, Zhao Hongsheng had already taken the lead and was less than a hundred yards away from Lin Tianming. Then, a bright flash of light radiated from the magical treasure in Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hand, unleashing a powerful Sword Qi towards Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Sword Qi was incredibly formidable, its speed extraordinarily fast; as it traveled, it even whipped up a mighty Gang Wind. Feeling the immense Sword Qi coming from the other side, Lin Tianming¡¯s face looked horribly severe. But he didn¡¯t panic; instead, he instantly released several Sword Qis to collide head-on with Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s Sword Qi. Then, he tossed his Qinghong Sword into the sky and swiftly summoned the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill, hoping to block Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s terrifying strike. Soon, a luminous Sword Lotus appeared in the sky, faithfully shielding Lin Tianming¡¯s entire being, as well as the patch of ground beneath his feet. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosions sounded as Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were shattered in an instant, disappearing into the sky. At the same time, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s formidable Sword Qi continued its assault, eventually colliding fiercely with the luminous Sword Lotus. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another earth-shattering explosion echoed, and the sky was instantly filled with shining light, a powerful shockwave sweeping outward in all directions. Fortunately, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s Sword Qi ultimately dissipated, and the Earth¡¯s Lotus scattered and vanished without a trace. Although he blocked the strike, Lin Tianming was flung into the air by the tremendous force and crashed heavily to the ground, creating a deep crater. Lin Tianming staggered to his feet from the crater, fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, as Qi-Blood wildly surged within him. He forcefully suppressed the turbulent Qi-Blood inside him, his eyes fixated on Zhao Hongsheng with a furious expression. That strike had indeed been perilous, and had his body not been incredibly resilient, that single hit could have severely wounded him. Thankfully, the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill, powered by his Qinghong Sword, was robust enough to catch Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full-powered strike head-on. And he only sustained further injuries, rather than a devastating blow. Otherwise, although he had achieved dazzling success in battle, the cost of serious injury would have hardly been worth it. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng also wore an expression of disbelief, evidently extremely shocked. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Tianming¡¯s strength to be so formidable, managing to withstand his full-powered strike despite being at the Early Stage Golden Core. Knowing his attack power was strong, even Zhou Yunxiao of the same realm had to deal with it with all his might. Yet Lin Tianming not only took the full-force hit head-on but also emerged with only minor injuries. It was an outcome he had not anticipated. While he was still in shock, Zhou Yunxiao had already arrived, and as soon as Zhao Hongsheng broke away from the fight, Zhou immediately launched a powerful attack, locking onto him. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng had just finished his lethal attack on Lin Tianming without achieving much success and was now faced with Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s formidable attack. He was also in a hurry, simply not having enough time to organize his strongest defense to respond. Despite facing significant challenges, Zhao Hongsheng forcibly calmed himself and did not fall into panic. With a single wave of his hand, a black shield appeared in his grasp. The small shield was pitch black, covered in complex patterns, with the fine golden runes particularly striking. Upon closer inspection, the small shield was also a high-quality Defense Treasure. Zhao Hongsheng pinched a Law Decree, and beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the black shield. In an instant, the black shield rapidly expanded, eventually growing to a size of several meters, firmly protecting Zhao Hongsheng within. As Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s attack arrived, it struck the shield with precise force. A loud noise erupted, followed by flares of dazzling light. For a moment, the sky burst forth with powerful airwaves, surrounding the area within a hundred meters with Zhao Hongsheng at the center. A whirlwind picked up in that region, and Zhao Hongsheng was seen nearly toppling within it. When things calmed down, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s complexion was pale, with fresh blood continuously spilling from the corners of his mouth. Clearly, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s full-power assault had caused certain injuries to Zhao Hongsheng. Considering Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s all-out effort and his Cultivation Realm, the attack undoubtedly possessed devastating power. Although Zhao Hongsheng was formidable, he took a significant risk by hastily intercepting the blow. Fortunately, his Defense Treasure was good enough to absorb more than ninety percent of the force. The remaining ten percent, along with the backlash from the head-on collision, only inflicted injury on him without causing serious harm. He was quite satisfied with this outcome. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng glared at Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao with a dark expression, his eyes ablaze with flames, as if his gaze alone could kill them both. Zhou Yunxiao was also angrily staring at Zhao Hongsheng, clearly upset. In his eyes, Lin Tianming had just been in grave danger. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength far surpassed his expectations; not only had he withstood an attack, but he had also not suffered severe injuries. And yet, Zhao Hongsheng had managed to disengage from his battle and evade his pursuit, nearly causing serious harm to Lin Tianming, an important ally. If Lin Tianming had died there, it would have been a significant loss for them. More importantly, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s actions, withdrawing from the battle and striking Lin Tianming right under his nose, were tantamount to a resounding slap in his face. As the Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley and a well-known power in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, being outmaneuvered by Zhao Hongsheng was a severe blow to his dignity. Now that he and Lin Tianming had regrouped, and Lin Tianming was out of immediate danger. Next, they should join forces against Zhao Hongsheng, seizing this opportunity to maximize their victory. Aware of this, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lin Tianming and then shouted out loud. ¡°Lin, let¡¯s join forces to detain Zhao Hongsheng!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, ¡°I was thinking the same!¡± With that, Lin Tianming took the initiative to strike first, his Qinghong Sword shooting out and pressing down on Zhao Hongsheng. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao was not to be outdone. His Magical Treasure also burst into waves of light. In a split second, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao joined forces, counterattacking from different angles. Zhao Hongsheng let out a cold snort and began to deal with their attacks. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± As the three engaged in combat, the once serene sky erupted with bursts of fire, and the earth trembled slightly. In the blink of an eye, the three had already exchanged several rounds of blows. Under the joint effort of Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao, Zhao Hongsheng, already injured, gradually began to falter. Chapter 853 03-25 - 853 458 Temporary Retreat ?Chapter 853: Chapter 458 Temporary Retreat Chapter 853: Chapter 458 Temporary Retreat As Zhao Hongsheng was sent flying with a strike, he also spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion instantly becoming much paler. At this moment, looking at Lin Tianming and his companion advancing towards him, his expression was also quite solemn. After combat for so long, his current condition was not good. Not only had he sustained some injuries, but his mana was also left with only about ten to twenty percent remaining, a significant decrease in strength. And across him, Lin Tianming and his allies were not much better off; they, too, had almost drained their mana and had suffered some injuries as well. By now, including the three of them, more than ten Golden Core Cultivators on the field were all struggling to hold on. At this time, as Zhao Hongsheng saw the fluid offensive of Lin Tianming and his companion, he hurriedly unleashed an onslaught of attacks to fend them off. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± ... The attacks of the three met head-on, and dazzling light, accompanied by flames, shot into the sky. After several explosions, the three of them were each repelled by the shockwave for some distance. At this point, as Zhao Hongsheng was forced to retreat, he forcibly suppressed the surging Qi-Blood within his body. After stabilizing his stance, he looked at the fierce appearance of Lin Tianming and his companion and couldn¡¯t help but nurture the idea of withdrawing. He was very aware that up to now, their camp had suffered greatly; not only had Yu Hongyan and Xiang Changqing fallen in succession, but they had just lost another Golden Core Cultivator, He Liqiu, from the Blood Red Alliance. Furthermore, those of them still alive were all injured, and their mana was nearly depleted. They had no strength left to fight again in the short term. In contrast, on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side, only a Third Order Spiritual Beast had been killed, and Chen Maohua was severely injured. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The loss of three Golden Core Cultivators, including a Mid Stage Golden Core such as Xiang Changqing, compared to the loss of a Third Order Spiritual Beast and the severe injury of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. Such a gap made the outcome very clear. And now, their side was completely at a disadvantage. Continuing the fight would not only yield no further victories but would also increase their losses. Zhao Hongsheng, fully aware of this, had made up his mind to retreat first. In his eyes, although this battle had resulted in a great loss, and had closed the power gap between Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, their battle power was still strong, especially in numbers of the strongest¡ªholding a clear, absolute advantage. After all, they had two Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators on the field, and one of such level was equivalent to three Mid Stage Golden Cores. Besides, they had the support from the Great Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. Each of the three Great Sects had two Golden Core Cultivators, including a Mid Stage Golden Core existence. Their combined strength was by no means weak. If they could rally with this force, they could regroup and, after sufficient preparation, launch another attack on the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. By then, with the addition of the power of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three Sects, they could still maintain a definite upper hand. In such circumstances, a temporary retreat was no big deal. Having made up his mind, Zhao Hongsheng unleashed a strike, repelling the approaching Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He then used the rebound force to retreat quickly, creating a distance of several hundred feet in an instant. While still in mid-air, Zhao Hongsheng shouted aloud. ¡°All fellow daoists, follow me and retreat immediately!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s loud voice spread to every corner of the battlefield. At this moment, hearing the news of retreat, Han Hu, Yang Jun, and others also unleashed powerful attacks, pushing back their opponents. Then, without exception, the others all gravitated towards Zhao Hongsheng. After a few breaths, Zhao Hongsheng was joined by four others, including Han Hu and Dong Wenchang from the Golden Sword Sect. The other two were Jin Weishan and Yang Jun from the Blood Red Alliance. At this time, the remaining five members of the Golden Sword Sect gathered together, all clustering around Zhao Hongsheng, with angry eyes fixed on the approaching Zhou Yunxiao and his group. Zhou Yunxiao and his group also gathered together, unleashing a barrage of attacks at Zhao Hongsheng and his party. For a moment, the sky was filled with various Sword Qi and flames, with powerful tremors sweeping across, appearing incredibly terrifying. Seeing this, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s face darkened, and he couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly. ¡°Hmph¡­ We took a fall this time, but you won¡¯t be so fortunate next time!¡± After spitting out a fierce remark with an angry expression, Zhao Hongsheng then activated several Defense Talismans to protect himself. He then combined the power of everyone to unleash a great number of attacks, clashing with the assault from Zhou Yunxiao and others. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± As the sky was filled with attacking forces that collided head-on, flames soared into the sky, and a spectrum of lights illuminated entire sections of the sky, even covering the harsh midday sunlight. At the same time, the attacks generated powerful shockwaves that spread out without any dead angles. Zhao Hongsheng and others used the force of the rebound to retreat and then hastily boarded the Flying Boat, fleeing back in the direction they came from. When the smoke and flames had dissipated, and the deafening roars stopped. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao and his group all stared at the quickly disappearing Flying Boat as it faded into the distant horizon, showing expressions of helplessness on their faces. Zhou Yunxiao was well aware that with Zhao Hongsheng and the others intent on retreating, they really had no way to stop them. Chapter 854 03-25 - 854 458 Temporary Retreat_2 ?Chapter 854: Chapter 458: Temporary Retreat_2 Chapter 854: Chapter 458: Temporary Retreat_2 After all, their overall strength was still formidable. Just Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu alone possessed enough killing power, not to mention the presence of Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators like Yang Jun and Jin Weishan. More importantly, the cultivators on their side had all expended a great deal, each bearing varying degrees of injury, which greatly limited the strength they could exert. Under such circumstances, relying solely on the power they had at the moment, it was simply impossible to detain Zhao Hongsheng and the others. Deeply aware of this, Zhou Yunxiao merely sighed softly before cupping his hands towards the people beside him and then spoke very courteously. ¡°Daoist friends, everyone has worked hard in this battle!¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jingtian also smiled faintly in response, ¡°Heh, Daoist Zhou is too polite!¡± As soon as his voice fell, several others also cupped their hands with smiles, ¡°Yes, after this battle, we have indeed gained the absolute upper hand and achieved a stunning victory!¡± ... Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, feeling very satisfied with the outcome of this battle, even far beyond his previous expectations. Regaining his composure, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lin Tianming and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°The reason we were able to achieve such results this time is thanks to everyone¡¯s efforts!¡± ¡°Especially Daoist Lin. His performance in this battle was truly eye-opening for us!¡± At these words, Li Wenhe also had a smile full of gratification and couldn¡¯t help but echo, ¡°Yes¡­ Daoist Lin alone annihilated Yu Hongyan, and joined forces with Daoist Duan and the spirit beast of your sect to successively kill Xiang Laogui and He Liqiu!¡± ¡°You must know that the strength of that poisoned woman Yu Hongyan was not low, and her methods were especially sinister. Yet she also fell at Daoist Lin¡¯s hands.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Frankly speaking, Daoist Lin¡¯s strength is quite humbling for us!¡± Li Wenhe flattered with a few words, and the others joined in with laughter, even Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t refrain from heaping praises. Clearly, both of them recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Since both of them had high standards, and even Late Stage Golden Core Zhou Yunxiao recognized Lin Tianming, the others also understood the current influence of the Lin Family. Especially the scene where Lin Tianming took Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attack head-on, which constantly replayed in their minds, also gave them a tremendous shock. They even contemplated in their hearts whether they could have withstood Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s blow as effortlessly as Lin Tianming if they had been in his place. Unfortunately, they had not personally experienced it, so obviously they couldn¡¯t understand the peril. But they weren¡¯t foolish either; Lin Tianming was able to kill Yu Hongyan by himself and also fought alone against Changqing for several rounds without falling into a disadvantage. Looking at it this way, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength should be stronger than an average Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and even if he were to face a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator alone, he should have the power to fight. After this battle, Lin Tianming had also established a formidable image in the eyes of everyone, and the entire Lin Family had gained the recognition of these high order cultivators from the Wei Kingdom. As Lin Tianming and the others exchanged a few words leisurely, the joy from the post-battle slowly began to subside. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao looked at the gathered people, and then shifted his gaze to the ravaged battlefield. He then spoke, ¡°Daoist friends, after this battle, it is unlikely that Zhao Hongsheng and his group would invade again in the short term!¡± ¡°However, we cannot let our guard down, as aside from those people, the three sects from Huangyang Kingdom are eagerly eyeing us!¡± ¡°Now that they have suddenly suffered an unprecedented defeat, they will likely regroup and launch another attack.¡± ¡°And given our current condition, we must take the time to recover quickly, so we can be in a better state to respond when they attack!¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words, everyone nodded, evidently agreeing with his statement. Zhou Yunxiao continued, ¡°Daoist Chen has been severely injured this time, and all of us more or less are wounded, so we better go into seclusion to cultivate!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s any movement, I will inform you all at the first opportunity, and we can gather here again then!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Maohua was already showing signs of impatience. He cupped his hands towards the people and said, ¡°Good¡­ Daoist friends, I will take my leave first!¡± After saying this, Chen Maohua¡¯s figure turned and he immediately disappeared from everyone¡¯s line of sight. Following that, Chen Jingtian and a few others also greeted each other and then left one after another. With Chen Jingtian and the others gone, the only Golden Core Cultivators left on the scene were Lin Tianming and a few from the Myriad Medicine Valley. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao glanced at Lin Tianming and then said, ¡°Daoist Lin, I will temporarily take charge of the war trophies from Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu.¡± ¡°You have exerted great effort in this battle and sustained injuries. It¡¯s best that you go into closed-door cultivation to heal. Once you come out, we shall tally his spoils together and then discuss the allocation, what do you think?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, indicating he had no objections. In fact, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to distribute the spoils; after all, healing his wounds was the priority. Although the personal fortunes of Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu were surely substantial, the victory over these two wasn¡¯t solely his achievement. At the very least, during the battle against Xiang Changqing, Duan Liangyu was the key to their success. Therefore, as an accessory, the benefits he could obtain on Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s home ground were probably quite limited. Given the circumstances, there was no need for him to rush; after all, the spoils were in their hands, and there was nothing wrong with distributing them after coming out of seclusion. Thus, Tian Ming appeared quite indifferent today. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao was very satisfied, and his opinion of Lin Tianming and the Lin Family rose even higher. After, Zhou Yunxiao and Lin Tianming made small talk for a while and then left the place separately. Once back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming did not delay and entered the Practice Room immediately. Sitting on a meditation cushion with his eyes tightly closed, he began to circulate his cultivation technique and soon completed a Grand Circulation. While he was in seclusion, the entirety of Myriad Medicine Valley was completely stirred up among its tens of thousands of disciples. After all, many elite disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley had witnessed that great battle. The power unleashed in that battle far surpassed any previous encounter. As for the outcome, it surprised many, dropping jaws. Indeed, the conclusion of this great battle was too unexpected. A total of three Golden Core Cultivators had fallen, among them the veteran Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman Xiang Changqing, who died before their very eyes. In addition, one Third Order Spiritual Beast of Myriad Medicine Valley perished, and Chen Maohua was seriously injured. Such heavy losses had never been seen in the years since the outbreak of the war. Before, at most, only one Golden Core Cultivator would fall; how could there be such immense losses on both sides? No one had anticipated such an outcome before the battle began. In fact, at that time, the vast majority were pessimistic, believing that Myriad Medicine Valley was at a definite disadvantage. If they could repel Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, it would have been considered an achievement. Yet, not only did they win that battle, but they also eliminated three Golden Core Stage combatants. Such a blow undoubtedly struck a severe blow to both the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, greatly weakening them. And following that, Myriad Medicine Valley merely needed to consolidate their position and survive this crisis cautiously; the possibility had substantially increased. Aside from the increasingly clear situation for Myriad Medicine Valley, Lin Tianming¡¯s performance in this great battle was also witnessed by many, including some of his old acquaintances. Most of these people were cultivators who had collaborated with him in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Back then, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and his strength was equally formidable. How much time has passed since then? Less than ten years! In such a short period, Lin Tianming had not only successfully broken through to the Golden Core Stage but had also been able to consecutively slay several Golden Core Cultivators in this battle. It should be noted that many of the cultivators who fought alongside Lin Tianming back in the day were still stuck at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, without even a trace of a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. For them, this practically eliminated any hope of advancing to the Golden Core Stage within a short period. In contrast, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation speed and his terrifying strength had once again reshaped their recognition. Suddenly, tens of thousands of disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley were talking about Lin Tianming, with many idolizing him, and even taking him as a goal to strive for. Lin Tianming, however, was completely unaware of this as he wholeheartedly continued his closed-door cultivation, focusing on healing his wounds. ¡­ Chapter 855 03-25 - 855 459 Distributing the Spoils of War ?Chapter 855: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 855: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Time flew by quickly; half a year had passed. In the practice room that day, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes, a glimmer of sharpness flashing through. At this moment, he felt his body brimming with power, and when he looked down at the mana within his Golden Core, a slight smile also appeared on his face. After being in seclusion for so long, the injuries from the great battle before had fully healed. Now, he had returned to his peak state, and even his cultivation had subtly increased. Thinking about it, it was not surprising. It had been about two to three years since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. During this period, he had undergone several Golden Core Stage battles, even successively killing a few Golden Core cultivators. ... Through such intense battles, although he was often injured, his combat experience was now extremely rich, which also enhanced his cultivation and mana somewhat. He felt that his strength had increased by quite a bit compared to when he first started. In addition to the boost from his magical treasure, the enhanced depth of his mana was also a reason. However, no matter what, this was a joyous occasion for him. At this time, Lin Tianming suppressed the joy in his heart and then sent out a few messages. Soon after, he left the practice room and appeared outside the cave. Not long afterward, Lin Tianming arrived in a grand hall. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu were already waiting there. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu quickly got up and greeted him proactively, maintaining politeness throughout. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless, and he exchanged formal greetings with Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu. After chatting for a few moments, Zhou Yunxiao took the initiative to bring up Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu¡¯s storage bags. They were well aware that since Lin Tianming had ended his seclusion, and had taken the initiative to message them, claiming it was just a visit was superficial; the deeper meaning was obvious to anyone. Since the matter was unavoidable, it was better to handle the distribution early, which would also reassure Lin Tianming and the entire Lin Family. After all, the crisis in Myriad Medicine Valley was not yet resolved, and it could even worsen later. Lin Tianming, and the entire Lin Family, were the last lifeline for both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. They were all centuries-old people who had witnessed various complex situations and clearly understood the current importance of the Lin Family. Under such circumstances, they wouldn¡¯t do something for a slight profit that could offend the Lin Family, a matter of life and death for them. Thus, since Lin Tianming had shown this signal, they naturally would not refuse. After all, Lin Tianming had indeed made great contributions in this battle and deserved his share of the spoils of war. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao quickly took out the storage bags of Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu, including the magical treasures they had used, and neatly placed them in front of everyone. Seeing this arrangement, Lin Tianming also examined it a bit, noticing that the divine sense of Xiang Changqing and the other was still lingering on the storage bags. It seemed Zhou Yunxiao was quite considerate, as he hadn¡¯t secretly opened the storage bags or done anything unsavory. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with this internally and came to appreciate Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s way of handling things. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming kept his expression unchanged, not revealing any oddity. Following that, he bowed his hands towards Zhou Yunxiao and then insincerely commented. ¡°Daoist Zhou, why this formality?¡± ¡°I¡¯m merely here today to catch up with the two Daoist brothers, not for these spoils of war¡­¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao smiled lightly and didn¡¯t mind his insincere remark. They were all centuries-old cunning foxes, naturally taking Lin Tianming¡¯s words with a grain of salt, simply choosing not to mention it further. Following that, Zhou Yunxiao continued, ¡°Killing Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu definitely involved considerable effort from Daoist Lin, which neither Duan nor I would deny.¡± ¡°However, in this battle, Duan and the Sect¡¯s two Third Order Spiritual Beasts also exerted great effort. I wonder how Daoist Lin plans to distribute these spoils?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming began to ponder silently inside. In his eyes, being able to kill Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu was something he hadn¡¯t foreseen. Now that it had become reality, he was quite desirous of these spoils of war. Especially since Xiang Changqing had been in the Golden Core Stage for over a hundred years, given his Medium Stage Golden Core Realm, his wealth must be considerable. And since He Liqiu was from the Blood Red Alliance, having cultivated to the Golden Core Stage within the Nascent Soul Forces, his wealth was surely not insignificant. He had just entered the Golden Core Stage Realm, and had not seen many treasures used by Golden Core cultivators. Now having the chance to share in the spoils, he naturally wouldn¡¯t easily give up this opportunity. Yet, as Zhou Yunxiao said, he had indeed contributed a lot in this battle, but Duan Liangyu and the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts were the main contributors to the kills. Having considered this for quite some time and bearing in mind that Myriad Medicine Valley was the main force in the battle, he felt it wasn¡¯t appropriate to demand too much. Knowing this, Lin Tianming stated frankly, ¡°Your Sect indeed exerted more effort than I did, how about your Sect taking seventy percent, and I take thirty percent?¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 856 03-25 - 856 459 Distributing the Spoils of War ?Chapter 856: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 856: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 ¡°¡±¡±However, there is one condition: I have the priority to select three treasures from their collection and exchange them at an equivalent value, how about that?¡±¡±¡± Hearing these words, Zhou Yunxiao nodded in satisfaction, inwardly quite approving of Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Alright¡­ since Lin is being so straightforward, I naturally won¡¯t nitpick!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said with a smile, then took the lead in picking up Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag, quickly erasing the remaining Divine Sense on it. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao also investigated the storage bag and then tossed it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately sending his Divine Sense into the bag to carefully search through the treasures inside. What met his eyes was a large amount of Spirit Stones¡ªover a hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and even more impressive was the fifteen thousand plus Medium-Grade Spirit Stones. Just these Spirit Stones alone amounted to a total over one million six hundred thousand. Among the other treasures, there were a dazzling array of Second and Third Order Treasures in various quantities. ... Although these items were not of low value, most of them did not hold much attraction for Lin Tianming. What he was really interested in were the rarer treasures among the Third Order, especially those that could assist in enhancing one¡¯s cultivation or were Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Besides these, if there were any Fourth Tier Items, that would be best. However, after a thorough search, he only found a few bottles of elixirs used by Golden Core Cultivators, and not even a single Nascent Soul Spiritual Item was discovered. Thinking about it, this wasn¡¯t strange. After all, Xiang Changqing was a Sect Cultivator, and even the Golden Sword Sect had a great demand for Core Formation Spiritual Items. Moreover, during the excursion to the Tianfeng Secret Realm, not only had their disciples been annihilated, but the three Jiuli Star Fruits that should have belonged to them were also obtained by the Lin Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Under such circumstances, it was not surprising that Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t find any Core Formation Spiritual Items in Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag. Although there were no exceptionally valuable items, he did find two Fourth Order Items, one of which was a Spirit Material called Qianjin Ratan. The other was a Fourth Order Poison Heart Orchid, a type of Spiritual Medicine Material biased towards toxins; very few elixirs could make use of it, hence its value was not too high. But the Qianjin Ratan was excellent for refining various Magical Treasures. Being a Metal Attribute Heaven and Earth Spirit Material, it could significantly enhance the penetrating power of a Magical Treasure and was one of the rarer Spirit Materials. These two items were the most valuable finds among the spoils of war explored so far. Other than these, he didn¡¯t see any hereditary or legacy-related items. For this, Lin Tianming was already mentally prepared, having already seen the storage bags of many Sect Cultivators, which rarely contained any hereditary items. Xiang Changqing was also from a Sect, and coming from the barren Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it was normal for him to lack any hereditary treasures. Based on his estimation, Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag, along with his two Magical Treasures, one for attack and one for defense, was roughly worth over ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Overall, such assets were perhaps not considered abundant for a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. At least in comparison with the similarly ranked Xu Zhi that he had encountered before, it was evidently a notch lower. But being able to eliminate him and acquire these spoils of war was already quite fortunate. After the exploration of Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag was complete, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s gaze fell on He Liqiu¡¯s storage bag. In their eyes, although He Liqiu was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, he came from a Nascent Soul-Level Power. With the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s tendency to cause trouble everywhere, these people surely committed many nefarious deeds. Therefore, the treasures he might have accumulated could perhaps rival those of the righteous Sect Cultivator Xiang Changqing. With this expectation, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao took turns investigating He Liqiu¡¯s storage bag. Soon, He Liqiu¡¯s wealth was mastered by them. As expected, He Liqiu¡¯s possessions were indeed extremely substantial, with over twenty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. The vast number of these Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, when compared to Xu Zhi of the Qingyun Sect and Xiang Changqing of the Zhenyang Sect, exceeded theirs by several thousand. Apart from these, other various Second and Third Order Treasures dazzled the eyes, their quantity and quality were in no way inferior to those in Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag. In addition to these items, there were plenty of desirable things in He Liqiu¡¯s storage bag, like over ten bottles of commonly used elixirs such as Spirit Dragon Pill, as well as a multitude of excellent Third Order Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Mines. These items were invaluable treasures to Golden Core Cultivators. But the most valuable were three Fourth Order Treasures and a tome of insights from a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Fourth Order Treasures need not even be mentioned; even those of a less commonly useful variety still represent existences of incomparable value. As for the Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights, they too hold considerable value. After all, since the founding of the Lin Family, there had not yet been a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Though numerous Artifact Refining legacies had been collected over the years, most of them were Second Order items, which offered extremely limited assistance to Lin Shilu in improving his Artifact Refining Technique. Yet, despite its value not comparing to a Fourth Order Treasure, Lin Tianming still wished to acquire it, intending it as a congratulatory gift for Lin Shilu¡¯s successful Core Formation. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming turned to Zhou Yunxiao and said with a cupped-hand salute, ¡°Daoist Zhou, may I claim the Fourth Order Qianjin Ratan, the Bone Cleansing Flower, and the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao did not respond immediately but rather contemplated in silence. In his view, the wealth of tangibles belonging to Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu was considerable, comprising as many as five Fourth Tier items, not to mention the Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights, which could be considered half a Fourth Tier Item. Out of so many high-value treasures, Lin Tianming had chosen two fine items in one breath. There was practically no other treasure remaining that could compare with the Qianjin Ratan and the Bone Cleansing Flower among the Fourth Tier items. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To speak candidly, he was quite reluctant to part with them. Despite Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s millennia-long heritage, the accumulated Third and Fourth Rank Treasures were still limited in number, and immediate useable items were even rarer. Now that Lin Tianming had put forth his request, and given that he had indeed previously promised to let him choose three treasures first, Under these circumstances, if he were to forcefully refuse Lin Tianming¡¯s request, it would inevitably result in Lin Tianming¡¯s displeasure. Should that create a rift, it would probably not be the outcome they desired. Understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao, though reluctant, had no choice but to acquiesce to Lin Tianming¡¯s request. With his mind settled, Zhou Yunxiao feigned difficulty before finally speaking. ¡°Since Lin has requested it, I shall not compete for what one desires!¡± ¡°However, Lin also understands the value of those treasures. Since you have chosen first, the remaining three Fourth Order items shall belong to Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± ¡°Furthermore, for the rest of the treasures, Lin must concede, and they will be assessed at twenty percent of their value, what do you think?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming, knowing full well he couldn¡¯t only reap benefits, did not hesitate and directly expressed his agreement. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then began dividing the remaining treasures with Lin Tianming. A quarter of an hour later, they had completed the allocation of all the treasures. Aside from the Fourth Tier Qianjin Ratan, Bone Cleansing Flower, and the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights selected earlier, Lin Tianming also acquired several bottles of Third Order Pills and thirty Third Grade Treasures. This included various Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ores, and Spirit Materials. In addition, there were five thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, the Offensive Magical Treasure used by He Liqiu, and the Defense Treasure used by Xiang Changqing. Of the remaining treasures, whether they were Spirit Stones, Spiritual Medicine of any grade, or Magical Treasures and elixirs, all went to Myriad Medicine Valley. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with such an allocation. After all, except for the very top treasures, which were split evenly, he had chosen the higher-order items among the other treasures, not selecting any Second Order Treasures at all. Though those Second Order Treasures were numerous, varied, and the amount of Spirit Stones reached over three million, It must be acknowledged that the value of Third Order Treasures was higher, with one equivalent to dozens or even hundreds of Second Order Treasures. If any Golden Core Cultivator were to make a choice, they would undoubtedly, without hesitation, select the higher-value items. Zhou Yunxiao was quite magnanimous and tactful and did not quibble over the distribution. Such an arrangement also served as a proactive gesture of good will towards the Lin Family. For this, Lin Tianming genuinely felt relief and gratitude; his participation in this perilous Golden Core battle had not been in vain. In his eyes, although the battle was fraught with danger, the gains he had made were indeed satisfying. ¡­ Chapter 857 03-25 - 857 460 Gathering Together (Requesting ?Chapter 857: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Requesting Monthly Votes) Chapter 857: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Requesting Monthly Votes) As Xiang Changqing and his companion finished dividing the spoils of war, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao were both quite satisfied. They each accepted their respective war trophies and then casually struck up a conversation. At that moment, Lin Tianming changed the topic and inquired about any major movements from the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance in recent times. Especially concerning the progress of the attacks by the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom, that was news of extreme concern for the many powers at present. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao frowned slightly and then slowly began to relay the intelligence held by Myriad Medicine Valley. As he revealed, ever since the Golden Sword Sect had retreated from that battle, the past several months had been unusually calm, and they had even pulled back to the border area with Myriad Medicine Valley. There, they had stationed themselves, showing neither intention to retreat nor any plans to mount another attack in the near future. ... The forces of the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom had similarly quieted down, not only slowing the intensity of their attacks but also moving closer to the location where the Golden Sword Sect and others were. It was clear that the Golden Sword Sect had encountered a setback in their attack and had suffered significant losses. Their calm was also due to the fact that Zhao Hongsheng and the others had expended much energy, and with many wounded, their overall strength had notably weakened, at least not possessing the clear advantage they had before. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a move by the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom was likely intended to join forces with the Golden Sword Sect and others before launching a further attack. Thus, this period was one of the rarest sustained calms in recent years. Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao had anticipated the response from the Golden Sword Sect and the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, these were matters in the open, and if they were in their position, they probably would have done the same. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï However, the more they did so, the more it revealed the determination of Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu. If the Golden Sword Sect attacked again without waiting for support from the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom, it would have given them some opportunities. But now, individuals like Han Hu were not taking risks, nor were they overly confident. Their cautious posture left no opening for breakthrough. It was foreseeable that once these major forces gathered together and adjusted themselves, they would inevitably launch another attack. Even Zhou Yunxiao frowned at this thought, a shadow seemingly casting over his heart. Lin Tianming felt similarly complex, knowing that although his Lin Family was not on the front lines, the survival of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were closely tied to the Lin Family. If Myriad Medicine Valley could not withstand the next, more ferocious attack, the Lin Family would inevitably be affected. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew grave as he asked Zhou Yunxiao about his contingency plans. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Zhou Yunxiao gave a wry, helpless smile. ¡°Lin, at present both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect don¡¯t really have any good solutions left. If we had any trump cards, they¡¯d probably have been played long ago, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt helpless and wondered internally whether Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words were true. Yet, on second thought, being able to inherit a legacy for ten thousand years and still standing strong, Myriad Medicine Valley must have some trump cards. It was simply that they wouldn¡¯t use them until they faced a life or death situation. Though the current predicament of Myriad Medicine Valley was difficult, it was not yet dire. In his eyes, Myriad Medicine Valley must have some cards left to play, but whether they would be seen was uncertain. Regardless, now was not the time to consider these things. They would have to play by ear, meeting force with force and countering water with earth. Lin Tianming sighed, then changed the topic, asking about the arrival of the other Lin Family members who were coming to support Myriad Medicine Valley. After all, it should be about time by their agreement. Prompted by this reminder, Zhou Yunxiao seemed a bit more relieved. After all, apart from Lin Tianming, two more members of the Lin Family were to come to support Myriad Medicine Valley. Though the help brought by two cultivators at the Early Stage Golden Core was extremely limited, under the current circumstances, they could still bring a slight increase to their overall strength. Zhou Yunxiao informed him that the Lin Family members had not yet arrived and should probably reach Myriad Medicine Valley within the next month or so. Lin Tianming was quite anticipatory about this, also secretly guessing which two it might be. Going by his speculations and the current state of the Lin Family, Lin Shilu had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and perhaps he had just finished his seclusion. And since the Cultivation World had not yet heard of his advancement to the Golden Core Stage, in order to further hide the Lin Family¡¯s strength, Lin Shilu was most likely to stay with the family in case of any crises that might arise. Eliminating Lin Shilu from consideration, it would then be a choice between Lin Shikang, Ye Pinghai, and Hu Yuan. Considering Hu Yuan¡¯s status as a Guest Elder of the Lin Family and his original agreement, which was only to take action in times of crisis, not to be summoned at will by the Lin Family, it wouldn¡¯t be right to ask him for help unless they provided appropriate rewards and he was willing to come voluntarily. Lin Shikang, being born and raised as part of the Lin Family, was naturally the first choice. As for the other, it would undoubtedly be Ye Pinghai. Although Ye Pinghai did not carry the Lin surname, he had been sworn in as a family by the Lin Family and they had repeatedly been gracious to him. Their relationship was naturally incomparable to that with Hu Yuan. Thus, the ones likely to arrive at Myriad Medicine Valley were Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. Chapter 858 03-25 - 858 460 Gathering Together (Request for ?Chapter 858: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Request for Monthly Tickets) _2 Chapter 858: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Request for Monthly Tickets) _2 Thinking of these matters, Lin Tianming had also prepared to fight side by side with the two of them. Returning his focus, Lin Tianming instructed Zhou Yunxiao to send him a message as soon as the Lin Family members arrived. After chatting for a while with the two, Lin Tianming bid them farewell and returned to his cave abode. Upon entering the practice room, Lin Tianming counted out his latest gains, eventually putting everything securely away. Then, he took out a storage bag and began observing it closely in his hands. This storage bag was still from the spoils of Yu Hongyan. Previously, he had been healing from a retreat and had not managed to itemize the contents of this storage bag until now after visiting Zhou Yunxiao and the other. With no major battle looming in the near future and unable to utilize elixirs for cultivation, he found he had plenty of time. ... As such, he naturally took this opportunity to meticulously inventory his gains. With this expectation, Lin Tianming skillfully erased the residual divine sense from the storage bag. Then, he extended his divine sense and began to inspect the contents of the storage bag. Not long afterward, After some investigation, Lin Tianming grasped the details of Yu Hongyan¡¯s wealth. It must be said, as a long-standing Early Stage Golden Core cultivator, Yu Hongyan¡¯s assets were not abundant¡ªher total spirit stones barely amounted to a million. Compared to He Liqiu of the Blood Red Alliance, who was also at the Early Stage Golden Core, he possessed far more spirit stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï These were only the basic spirit stones; there weren¡¯t many items of second and third order, and she didn¡¯t even have a single fourth-order treasure. Among the items in this storage bag, the ones with higher value were just some third-grade treasures and her Hongling Magical Treasure. According to his estimation, excluding the Hongling Magical Treasure, the total value of Yu Hongyan¡¯s treasures amassed to about four to five million. Honestly, the quantity of her wealth didn¡¯t quite match her cultivation realm. However, on further thought, all these items were his personal battle spoils, which compared not too unfavorably with the value of the treasures he received from Zhou Yunxiao. Overall, the resource gain from this major battle had been quite substantial. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt relieved, and his state of mind calmed down. Following that, Lin Tianming sorted all the treasures into different storage bags, setting aside those of lower value. He planned, after returning to the family, to hand over the unnecessary treasures to Lin Shihua. With this large batch of resources, the foundation of the Lin Family was even richer, surely alleviating concerns over low-level resources for the next hundred years. After completing these tasks, he took out some books and jade slips, diligently perusing the recorded content. Most of these items were recently acquired, containing few valuable pieces; most were second-order alchemist experiences and various records of strange tales. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the quality of these items was average, they could broaden his horizons and allow him to absorb some alchemy experience. Thus, Lin Tianming was not idle but made use of this rare period of calm to ponder those legacies. ¡­ Time passed, and half a month flew by. After this brief period of seclusion, many contents of the jade slips were firmly memorized by him. Until this day, a communication talisman flew into the practice room where Lin Tianming was in seclusion. At that moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and swiftly read the content within the communication talisman. Soon, a deep smile spread across his face. It turned out to be a message from Zhou Yunxiao, informing him that Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai had safely arrived at Myriad Medicine Valley and were currently in the Sect¡¯s Reception Hall. Receiving this message indeed matched his expectations. The Lin Family members dispatched were exactly the two he had guessed, Lin Shikang and his companion. Now having received this message, Lin Tianming quickly left his abode and rushed to the Reception Hall. After a short tea break, Lin Tianming arrived at the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Reception Hall, where Zhou Yunxiao was personally receiving Lin Shikang and another. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Zhou Yunxiao hurriedly greeted him. After returning the greeting, Lin Tianming turned his head towards Lin Shikang and the other, noticing their excitement as well. From Lin Shikang¡¯s surprised expression, it was clear he had learned about Lin Tianming¡¯s exploits in the battle that took place a few months earlier. It wasn¡¯t surprising, considering the earth-shattering battle a few months ago, with nearly twenty Golden Core Cultivators taking the field, and both sides deploying massive formations. The course of that grand battle was witnessed by quite a few, including disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley and people from other powers. In addition to them, many cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect had also seen everything. Thus, with so many witnesses to the entire process and Myriad Medicine Valley having no intention of blocking the news, even the Golden Sword Sect Disciples, despite their crushing defeat, could not stop the spread of the news. As time passed, the details of the great battle spread to every corner of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Once more, it caused a great uproar. You see, the news of the Lin Family¡¯s previous battle against two Golden Cores from Qingyun Sect was already sensational enough. So soon after, another unprecedented battle took place, and even the lofty Golden Core Experts began to fall consecutively. Although the war among the three sects had been ongoing for several years with many battles, where both sides suffered losses, the fall of Golden Cores was quite limited. However, in this battle, three Golden Core Cultivators fell in one day, including one at the Mid Stage, and they were all from the Golden Sword Sect. Such explosive news was hard for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, let alone Qi Refining Cultivators, to accept in a short time. As time went on, however, this news was confirmed, and those incredulous cultivators finally accepted the truth. Lin Shikang and the others were all Golden Core Cultivators. Given the current overall strength of the Lin Family, it wasn¡¯t difficult at all to obtain this news. Time rewound to a few months ago, when they learned the specifics, they were also shocked beyond measure. Although they knew of Lin Tianming¡¯s astonishing strength and had seen his methods, even they hadn¡¯t expected Lin Tianming to wreak havoc on the Golden Core battlefield filled with powerful cultivators, managing to slay Yu Hongyan and, together with Duan Liangyu and the Myriad Medicine Valley Spirit Beast, eliminate Xiang Changqing at Mid Stage Golden Core. This news, reaching the Luoyun Mountain Range, plunged the entire Lin Family into a frenzy. During that period, all the clan members spent their free time discussing Lin Tianming, clearly feeling proud and elated. Including Lin Shikang and the others who were still unable to calm down. Later, as the scheduled time with the Myriad Medicine Valley approached, Lin Shilu had consolidated his cultivation and emerged from seclusion, and Lin Shikang also invited Ye Pinghai to join them on their journey to Myriad Medicine Valley. After more than a month of travel, they arrived smoothly at the gates of Myriad Medicine Valley and were personally received by Zhou Yunxiao. After a few pleasantries, they then waited for Lin Tianming to arrive. Now seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang and the other were also excited and, under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement, sat together for tea and leisurely chatted. As the few exchanged some intelligence, both sides came to understand the current specific situation in the Cultivation World. Following this, Zhou Yunxiao also arranged cave abodes for Lin Shikang and the other. However, Lin Tianming directly spoke up to refuse, asking Zhou Yunxiao not to bother and suggested that the two share a cave abode with him. After all, they were all Lin Family members, and that cave abode was large enough; not only would it not affect the others, it would also make it more convenient for them to gather and liven things up a bit. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai also heeded Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion and immediately refused Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement. Seeing the three so insistent, Zhou Yunxiao found it inappropriate to insist further, to avoid displeasure. Subsequently, the group casually chatted for a while longer and finally exchanged their communication methods. Then, Lin Tianming, accompanied by Lin Shikang and the other, bid farewell to Zhou Yunxiao and returned to their cave abode. Chapter 859 03-25 - 859 461 Making a Comeback (Request for ?Chapter 859: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 859: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes) Within the courtyard of the cave mansion, Lin Tianming and two others sat together. At that time, the joy in the hearts of Lin Shikang and his companion had already overshadowed the fatigue brought by the journey. However, since Zhou Yunxiao had been present earlier, there were many topics they hesitated to discuss. Now that the place was very safe and no outsiders were around, the three had no reservations, and quickly became engaged in lively conversation. Particularly, Lin Shikang and his companion were visibly excited, knowing only the outcome of him striking down Yu Hongyan, but not the details. After Lin Tianming explained, they both felt tense for him and were even more relieved inside. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was sufficient; although the process was perilous, the result was remarkably rewarding. ... With the arrival of Lin Shikang and his companion, even if challenges still existed, Lin Tianming was no longer fighting alone, inevitably feeling more confident. Aware of this, Lin Tianming was in a good mood and promptly changed the topic to inquire about the family¡¯s situation. According to Lin Shikang, all was well with the Lin Family, which had been relatively peaceful over the past year. Their main concern, the Qingyun Sect, seemed to have forgotten their feud with the Lin Family and showed no intentions of seeking revenge. However, they understood that the current Qingyun Sect had more important matters to attend to, and revenge against the Lin Family was just not their top priority. Therefore, this short and rare period of peace might just be the calm before the storm. Besides this, another important matter was naturally the status of Lin Shilu. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï According to Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu had been in seclusion for half a year and successfully consolidated his cultivation. Now, with his cultivation stable, he had taken over Lin Shikang¡¯s position to oversee the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and in his spare time, he was also refining a Magical Treasure provided by the Myriad Medicine Valley. Besides that, he was examining the Lin Family¡¯s artifact refining insights, trying to improve his skills to prepare for advancing to a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Thus, although Lin Shilu wasn¡¯t participating in the Golden Core battle, time was equally pressing for him with even heavier responsibilities. Including them, no one would have it easy. After all, the major battle among the three sects involved the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, from the small Qi Refinement families to some prominent Foundation Establishment Families, all were sucked into it. And this was inevitable for the cultivators of the Wei Kingdom! From the current situation, it looked like the battles might not come to an end within the next year or two. As for the Lin Family Members who participated in the battle, they would not have an easy task either. Regarding this, Lin Tianming and the others had anticipated it and were fully prepared. With the familial affairs being stable and no major crisis emerging, Lin Tianming was reassured. Subsequently, Lin Tianming also mentioned the spoils from the recent battle. Upon hearing of Lin Tianming¡¯s gains, Lin Shikang and the others were genuinely happy. And, having earned a treasure trove, Lin Tianming was naturally generous, promptly producing some commonly used Spirit Dragon Pills, and distributed them among Lin Shikang and his companion. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Additionally, Lin Tianming also organized some alchemy insights and handed them to Ye Pinghai to review, and even gifted him some abundant Spiritual Medicine Materials. He did this as a token of respect from a junior. Moreover, Ye Pinghai had used all his resources to assist him, helping in refining elixirs many times and never stinting on sharing good items with him. Thus, now that Lin Tianming was capable, he naturally wanted to reciprocate the kindness from these elders who had treated him sincerely. Initially, Ye Pinghai was embarrassed to decline. But after Lin Tianming spoke persuasively along with some urging from Lin Shikang, and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s adamant expression, he finally accepted the gifts. Such an act of respect from Lin Tianming brought much comfort to Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. Afterward, they exchanged information for a long time, mutually updating each other about the major and minor news of the Cultivation World, including specifics about the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, which they discussed in detail. With the comprehensive information from Lin Tianming, they learned a lot about potential enemies. With this intelligence, they would not be caught off guard in the upcoming battles. As the night deepened, the three finally ended their casual talk, each returning to their practice rooms to close up, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s message. And the next time they received a message, it was highly likely to be the Golden Sword Sect attacking again. Being aware of this, Lin Tianming and the others seized their time to enhance their strength as much as possible. Lin Tianming, not containing the side effects of cultivation, temporarily lacked the conditions they had, so he continued to ponder over the art of alchemy. Time slowly passed, and two months went by. Until one day, several Flying Boats appeared outside the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate again, shattering the tranquility of the past half-year. Immediately following, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu leaped off the boats, followed by a group of familiar faces. Besides these Golden Core Cultivators who had appeared before, six Golden Core Cultivators from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom also made their first appearance at the Myriad Medicine Valley. Among these people were Gu Changqing and Huang Jinghua of the Qingyun Sect. As for people from the other two major sects, they were Cao Jinping and Li Sheng from Forging Sword Valley, as well as Ren Feihong and Zhang Qifeng from Qingmu Sect. Chapter 860 03-25 - 860 461 Making a Comeback (Request for ?Chapter 860: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 860: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Among them, Gu Changqing, Cao Jinping, and Zhang Qifeng, all three were at the Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, while the remaining three were at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. And these six people came from three different Golden Elixir Forces, each composed of one Mid Stage Golden Core paired with an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator. Their appearance was clearly the result of some agreement reached with Zhao Hongsheng and others; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have forsaken attacking the smaller forces of the Wei Kingdom to instead gather with the main army. With the addition of the cultivators from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, the strength of Zhao Hongsheng and his group had significantly increased, certainly much stronger than it had been during the last major battle. And today, Zhao Hongsheng arriving here with a vast assembly clearly had the purpose of annihilating Myriad Medicine Valley in one fell swoop. At that moment, the arrival of Zhao Hongsheng and others immediately caught the attention of the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators. Soon, Zhou Yunxiao, who sensed the commotion, was the first to appear at the sect gate. ... Following that, Lin Tianming and a group of others, who received the message, also rushed to the scene. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, twelve Golden Core experts had gathered at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. Among these people, Lin Tianming and nine others were the same members from the last major battle. Apart from them, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai made their first public appearance. Together with Zhu Yun, who had arrived at some unknown time to provide support, a total of twelve Golden Core cultivators formed an unprecedented, vast battle group. At this very moment, Zhou Yunxiao stood within the formation, his gaze heavy as he looked at Zhao Hongsheng and his group, who were glaring fiercely from outside. Behind him, the crowd was also wide-eyed, silently sizing up the enemy outside, their faces equally grim. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? For a while, the atmosphere on the field seemed somewhat depressed. It was apparent, with Zhao Hongsheng and his people returning in force with an even more formidable assembly, a shadow of gloom hung over their hearts. Seeing everyone in low spirits, Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but give a bitter smile. Afterward, he turned to look at everyone and said to Chen Maohua and other severely wounded individuals from before, ¡°Fellow brothers and daoists, how well has your recovery been?¡± Hearing this, Chen Maohua was the first to reply, ¡°Daoist Zhou, rest assured, after nearly half a year of closed-door cultivation, my injuries have almost fully recovered, and my strength has nearly returned to its peak.¡± And with this lengthy period of calm, even the severely injured Chen Maohua had recovered, while the others, though also injured, were nowhere as severe as Chen Maohua had been. Since Chen Maohua had returned to his peak, the others naturally had no issues. Thus, the other cultivators also spoke up one after another, all indicating that they were ready for another major battle. Seeing that everyone felt this way, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s grave expression finally eased a lot. In his eyes, although the lineup of Zhao Hongsheng and others was formidable¡ªwith two Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, plus the support from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, amounting to five Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen, and Dong Wenchang from the Golden Sword Sect, along with three Early Stage Golden Core experts from the Three Great Powers of the Qingyun Sect, totaling eleven Golden Core combat strengths¡ª S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. such a force was indeed very powerful! But on their side, there were twelve Golden Core cultivators, one of whom was at Late Stage combat power, five at Mid Stage combat power, and the rest at Early Stage Golden Core Realm. If they added two Third Order Spirit Beasts, there would be a total of fourteen Golden Core combat strengths. In this regard, they had the advantage in numbers. However, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side held a clear upper hand in High Order combat power. It could be said that both assemblies were very powerful. However, they had the advantage of terrain and could rely on the Defensive Great Formation to wear down the other side. If truly outmatched, they could also retreat in time back through the sect gate and strategize over the long term. On the other hand, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s group had traipsed a long distance to attack Myriad Medicine Valley, which could be said to be exhausting. Moreover, and more importantly, the three sects from the Huangyang Kingdom were external forces that had chosen to participate in the war because of their interests. Therefore, it was uncertain whether they would risk falling and put forth their full effort. Under such circumstances, in a battle of life and death, it was hard to say who would win or lose. Considering this, Zhou Yunxiao regained his confidence, and his fighting spirit visibly surged. At this time, while Zhou Yunxiao and the others were deep in thought, a deafening explosion was heard from outside. Zhao Hongsheng, who had rushed over, had no intention of delaying and immediately began to join forces with Han Hu and others, launching a frenzied attack on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. Aside from these Golden Core Cultivators, there were also over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. So many Foundation Establishment Cultivators split into two waves, coordinating with the Golden Core Cultivators to barrage the Defensive Great Formation of Myriad Medicine Valley with relentless bombardment. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with multicolored Sword Qi, roaring flames tore through the heavens, and the precise attacks landed on the Formation¡¯s light curtain. For a while, a series of explosion sounds resounded between heaven and earth. As Zhao Hongsheng and others made their move, the Defensive Great Formation of Myriad Medicine Valley also began to operate at full capacity. When those attacks arrived, they were all blocked by the Formation and ultimately dissipated completely between heaven and earth. At the same time, under the control of Zhou Yunxiao, this Defensive Great Formation also burst forth with numerous pillars of light, bombarding towards Zhao Hongsheng and the outsiders. Seeing this situation, Zhao Hongsheng let out a cold snort and immediately swung the Magical Treasure in his hand to clash fiercely with these light pillars. And Han Hu and the others were equally unwilling to be outdone; while dealing with the light pillars, they unleashed a great number of attacks on the Formation. Inside the Defensive Array, Zhou Yunxiao stood in place watching the battle outside and had no immediate intention of joining the battle group. In his view, now was not the best time. At the very least, he wanted to use the energy stored by the Formation over the past year to first deplete the mana of Zhao Hongsheng and others. After all, this energy was meant to be used at this time, and with these conditions, it was only natural to make use of it. Although relying on this Defensive Formation to repel Zhao Hongsheng and others was completely unrealistic, let alone to annihilate them¡ªthat was even more impossible. But if it could cause them some trouble, even an extremely small amount, at a critical moment, it might lead to a different outcome. Therefore, Zhou Yunxiao did everything he could to reduce their pressure as much as possible, so that in the upcoming battle, they could achieve even more glorious results. At this time, seeing Zhou Yunxiao indifferent and relying on the Formation to consume the opponent¡¯s mana, Lin Tianming and the others, who were all Golden Core Cultivators, naturally understood his intention. They were quite satisfied with his plan and did not force the issue too impatiently. Hence, everyone waited on the side, watching the ongoing offensive and defensive battle and preparing to join the fight. They waited like this for most of the day. During this period, Zhao Hongsheng and the others also split into three groups, attacking the Defensive Great Formation without interruption. After most of the day¡¯s attacks, the Defensive Great Formation¡¯s energy had been greatly depleted, and the colors of the light curtain shrouding the Formation had visibly dimmed. It was clear to see that Zhao Hongsheng was also not foolish and would not rush things in a moment. Therefore, they did not rush in all at once but attacked the Formation in groups, always maintaining some people¡¯s mana at peak condition. This was understandable to avoid too much depletion of everyone¡¯s mana, which would lower their combat strength. If so, they would be very passive. In case Zhou Yunxiao seized the opportunity to come out and meet the battle, and all their mana was greatly consumed, even if they had some advantage, they would not be able to achieve their initial goal. Instead, they would fall into crisis and waste their advantage. However, after such methods of attack from Zhao Hongsheng, they indeed had not consumed too much mana, only a few people¡¯s mana was depleted by some, but no one was injured, which had a very small impact on their strength. In this way, Zhou Yunxiao did not gain many benefits by using the Defensive Formation. And at this time, seeing that Zhao Hongsheng and the others seemed to have little depletion, but the energy of the Defensive Great Formation stored was almost depleted. At this rate, the Defensive Great Formation probably wouldn¡¯t last long. Seeing this situation, Zhou Yunxiao turned to look at Lin Tianming and the others, then said lightly, ¡°My fellow Daoists, this Defensive Formation is not much use anymore!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just sit here and wait for death. I propose we counterattack; does anyone have objections?¡± Chapter 861 03-25 - 861 462 Reignition of War (Requesting ?Chapter 861: Chapter 462: Reignition of War (Requesting Monthly Ticket) Chapter 861: Chapter 462: Reignition of War (Requesting Monthly Ticket) Upon hearing these words, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun both gave a faint smile, being the first to express their agreement without objections. Similarly, Chen Maohua, who was also at the Medium Stage Golden Core, nodded in agreement, indicating that he would follow Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s orders. Seeing the cultivators at the Medium Stage Golden Core consecutively taking their stance, Lin Tianming knew that even if he had objections, he could not change the outcome. Moreover, his thoughts were the same as Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s. Since the formation could not provide significant help, delaying time was meaningless. Rather than responding passively, it was better to take quick action, attempt to strike first, and gauge the depth of the opponent. Hence, Lin Tianming would not oppose, and he too, soon chimed in agreement. ... Seeing that everyone was on the same page, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s fighting spirit surged, and he immediately assigned their respective opponents. Under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements, Lin Tianming demonstrated strong power, single-handedly taking on Gu Changqing from Qingyun Sect. This individual was at the Medium Stage Golden Core realm and had once, many years ago when Lin Tianming had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, fought fiercely against Chen Jingtian over a Mysterious Moon Order. In the end, with Chen Jingtian being more formidable, Gu Changqing had no choice but to hand over the Mysterious Moon Order and subsequently retreated, defeated from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. However, it had been many years since that incident, and it was uncertain whether Gu Changqing had discovered him lurking in the shadows. But at this moment, that no longer seemed important. Now, Zhou Yunxiao appointing Gu Changqing as Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent was somewhat unexpected. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï But he also understood that with Zhao Hongsheng and others possessing more High Order Combat Power, someone had to face greater challenges. Having no choice but to be the one selected, he saw it as unavoidable. In his view, taking on more himself would presumably make it easier for the two Lins. Thus, Lin Tianming said no more and immediately accepted the task arranged by Zhou Yunxiao. Among the remaining few, Chen Jingtian and his group would still be facing Han Hu, while Duan Liangyu and Zhu Yun, both at the Medium Stage Golden Core, would confront two Medium Stage Golden Core powerhouses from Qingmu Sect and Forging Sword Valley. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were up against Jin Weishan from Zhenyang Sect and Lan Yu, while Li Wenhe teamed up to confront another Medium Stage Golden Core cultivator, Yang Jun. With such arrangements, all seven cultivators with Medium Stage Golden Core and greater combat power from Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side were matched with opponents. Beyond them, only Dong Wenchang at the Early Stage Golden Core and three Early Stage Golden Core cultivators from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect remained unchallenged. On their side, only two Third Order Spiritual Beasts and Shao Changyi were left without assigned tasks. At this point, they were clearly short-handed, relying on Shao Changyi and the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to handle four Early Stage Golden Core cultivators was somewhat strained. After all, the three golden core cultivators from Qingmu Sect hailed from the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, and their personal strengths were certainly not weak. Moreover, the combat power of a Third Order Demon Beast was obviously weaker compared to cultivators of the same level. Under such circumstances, they were likely to be at a disadvantage. Just as Zhou Yunxiao was at a loss, a person appeared behind the crowd. Seeing the newcomer, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s complexion brightened, and the look of worry on his face lessened significantly. Seeing this, everyone¡¯s attention was immediately drawn. At that moment, Lin Tianming also turned to look, finding the newcomer¡¯s face very unfamiliar. However, after thinking carefully, he remembered the intelligence briefing on genius cultivators in the Cultivation World that he had seen before entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. The one who had left a deep impression on him was Zhao Mingli, the genius cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though he had never met him in person, the portraits in the book resembled this man, likely the very Zhao Mingli rumored to be the only Sky Spirit Root cultivator in Wei Kingdom and the top genius of Myriad Medicine Valley. Previously, Zhao Mingli was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and now his aura was no weaker than his, definitely a bona fide Golden Core Cultivator. At this moment, seeing Zhao Mingli, Zhou Yunxiao was visibly excited, his expression overflowing with excitement. ¡°Mingli, your timing couldn¡¯t have been better!¡± Zhou Yunxiao gestured for Zhao Mingli to come forward. Seeing this, Zhao Mingli approached and then bowed. ¡°Disciple Mingli, greets Master.¡± Zhou Yunxiao laughed heartily, ¡°No need for formalities, Mingli!¡± Then, Zhou Yunxiao introduced everyone to Zhao Mingli, allowing them to greet each other. When introducing Lin Tianming, Zhou Yunxiao also mentioned his achievements over the recent years. Hearing this news, Zhao Mingli, who had been in seclusion for several years, was greatly shocked. Lin Tianming, too, was very interested in this legendary genius cultivator. Seeing Zhao Mingli¡¯s talents as profound, bearing the identity of a direct disciple of Zhou Yunxiao, as well as the title of Wei Kingdom¡¯s top genius, his strength must indeed be terrifying. Similarly carrying the title of a genius, Lin Tianming had emerged in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World over the years, later burgeoning like the midday sun, naturally wishing to measure his worth against another genius. Thus, Lin Tianming was very courteous, his words also carrying a hint of eagerness to make connections. Zhao Mingli did not dare to be careless, always remaining humble, showing no signs of underestimating Lin Tianming, the genius cultivator with formidable achievements. After the mutual courtesies were exchanged, Zhou Yunxiao returned to the main topic. At this moment, he addressed Zhao Mingli, ¡°Mingli, your arrival is timely, now with your involvement, we¡¯ve finally resolved the trouble for Shao. Otherwise, he would have had to face two alone.¡± Chapter 862 03-25 - 862 462 The Resurgence of War (Seeking ?Chapter 862: Chapter 462: The Resurgence of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 862: Chapter 462: The Resurgence of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Hearing this, Zhao Mingli had a rough guess that their side must be short on manpower. So, Zhao Mingli quickly spoke up, ¡°Disciple has finally ended the seclusion just in time, please, Master, assign me a task!¡± Seeing Zhao Mingli say this, Zhou Yunxiao also began to arrange, directing Zhao Mingli to confront Qingmu Sect¡¯s Zhang Qifeng, while Shao Changyi was to deal with Forging Sword Valley¡¯s Li Sheng. As for the remaining two Third Order Spiritual Beasts from Myriad Medicine Valley, they were to battle Huang Jinghua of the Qingyun Sect and Dong Wenchang of the Golden Sword Sect. With the distribution of tasks complete, the Golden Core Stage combat power of both sides had found their opponents. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao said to everyone, ¡°Fellow cultivators, prepare for battle, and act according to the situation after half a quarter of an hour!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others all had solemn expressions, and they also prepared for the upcoming combat. ... A quarter of an hour passed. Seeing that the attack from the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect was in an intermittent phase, an expectant Zhou Yunxiao shouted loudly. ¡°Fellow cultivators, follow me and strike together!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than a crack appeared in the light screen before Zhou Yunxiao, exposing a large number of cultivators outside the formation to everyone¡¯s sight. Then, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead and crossed through the crack, appearing outside the scope of the formation¡¯s coverage. Following him, Chen Jingtian, Lin Tianming, and a group of others swiftly followed his steps, entering the field of vision of Zhao Hongsheng and others. Their speed was very fast, and the timing of their emergence was well grasped. It seemed that many cultivators had not expected them to come out to meet the battle at this time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï At that moment, hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, under the leadership of Yang Jun and the three Golden Core Stage Cultivators including Gu Changqing, were initiating the next wave of attacks on the Defensive Array. Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, along with several other Golden Core Stage combat powers, were behind the multitude of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, watching the battle. With Zhou Yunxiao leading the cultivators out, they immediately launched an attack. At this instant, the expressions of Yang Jun and the other Golden Core Cultivators like Gu Changqing changed drastically as they hastily retreated in panic. They were not foolish¡ªopposite them, Zhou Yunxiao and his companions numbered over ten Golden Core Cultivators, with Zhou Yunxiao himself at the Late Stage Golden Core realm. With such a massive formation suddenly unleashing an attack, the ferocity was terrifying. Even if only one person attacked, it could bring about considerable threat, let alone so many. Being Golden Core Cultivators themselves, they knew well that if they did not retreat promptly and were struck by Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s attack, they could be injured or even killed on the spot. Therefore, Yang Jun and the few Golden Core Cultivators retreated a thousand feet away, passing directly over the majority of the attacking Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As they retreated, the hundred or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the very front suffered, instantly engulfed by the attacks of Lin Tianming and others. Immediately, cries of agony and screams followed, as a large number of cultivators were killed outright. In just a few breaths, the battlefield was filled with blood, with corpses and severed limbs scattered everywhere. This round of surprise attack ended, and although Lin Tianming and the others had not struck the leading Yang Jun and others, they had still killed nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As the scene settled into a brief calm, many looked upon this tragic scene, inhaling that pungent smell of blood in the air. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had escaped felt somewhat sickened, their faces filled with fear. Once they had settled down, the group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators knew they were lucky to have retreated in time. Otherwise, had they been at the forefront of the army, it was likely that they would have been the ones to die. Realizing this, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had survived the ordeal finally showed expressions of relief. At this time, the few hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators led by Yang Jun had already retreated a thousand feet, regrouping with Zhao Hongsheng and others at the rear. Leading them, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu wore grim expressions, never anticipating Zhou Yunxiao to repeat his old tactics at this time. In their eyes, during the last major battle, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Array was expected to hold for a while longer, but Zhou Yunxiao had voluntarily given up the protection of the formation, taking Chen Jingtian and his group to meet the battle head-on, catching them off guard. The outcome of the battle was far beyond their expectations. And the key factor of victory in that battle was greatly related to the sudden appearance of Lin Tianming. Furious about Lin Tianming¡¯s unexpected presence, Zhao Hongsheng wished he could tear him limb from limb. This time, in order to achieve his goal, he also gathered six Golden Core Cultivators from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, planning to annihilate the Myriad Medicine Valley in one fell swoop. However, the strength of the Myriad Medicine Valley camp had once again increased; a formidable lineup of thirteen Golden Core Cultivators had emerged, shattering his cognizance once more. And before this, he thought that with their own forces significantly strengthened, destroying the Myriad Medicine Valley wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. But now, seeing the multitude of Golden Core Cultivators behind Zhou Yunxiao, even Zhou Yunxiao knew that things would not be so easy. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his face bearing a trace of fury. Besides him, Han Hu at his side also had a complex expression on his face. It must be said that now, seeing the group of cultivators behind Zhou Yunxiao, he couldn¡¯t help but hesitate. During the last defeat, their Golden Sword Sect had already suffered heavy losses. Since the outbreak of the great battle, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators had fallen in succession, causing their overall strength to decline significantly. Yet even so, they had still failed to gain much advantage; the strength of the Myriad Medicine Valley camp was growing stronger. And at that moment, he had some regrets about joining the ranks of the Blood Red Alliance. Now, seeing these newly joined cultivators, he seemed to see the light of victory drifting further and further away from them. This subtle shift in mentality, although he masked it well, was crystal clear to himself, completely incapable of deceiving his own heart. At this moment, Han Hu¡¯s inner self was also torn with hesitation, confusion, and fear, darkening his expression to the extreme. However, he also understood that the Golden Sword Sect had now boarded the thieves¡¯ ship of the Blood Red Alliance, completely offending all the forces, big and small, of the Wei Kingdom. Expecting them to let them off was simply unrealistic. Since that was the case, they had no choice but to follow through the path of darkness; there was no retreat. Fully aware of this, Han Hu took a deep breath, his eyes once again filled with vitality. Just then, Zhao Hongsheng also looked at Han Hu and then said indifferently, ¡°Brother Han, since they¡¯ve come out to battle, there¡¯s no need for us to be courteous. Let¡¯s strike directly!¡± Upon hearing this, Han Hu nodded in response, ¡°Let¡¯s make a move!¡± After Han Hu finished speaking, Zhao Hongsheng then nodded to Gu Changqing and the other Golden Core Cultivators of the Huangyang Kingdom and began to transmit his voice secretly. Soon, Gu Changqing and the others had expressions of excitement as if they had received some kind of promise. It was apparent; Zhao Hongsheng must have promised them additional benefits privately to make these bone-gnawing folks so excited. However, they had never experienced the strength of Zhou Yunxiao and his comrades. They had only heard about the battles indirectly and believed that the Myriad Medicine Valley only succeeded by opportunistic tricks. Some even believed that they were the key factors in deciding the outcome of the great war, looking down on their opponents. Little did they know, this overconfidence would doom them to a fate from which they could not return. At this moment, the expressions of people like Gu Changqing were all witnessed by Lin Tianming and others. Even though they did not know what Zhao Hongsheng had communicated, it surely wasn¡¯t anything good, perhaps they were discussing some wicked strategy. But even knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao could do nothing but remain vigilant at all times. In this way, both sides stood in a stalemate for a short while, neither willing to make the first move. After such a tense and peculiar atmosphere persisted for a while, it was Zhao Hongsheng who eventually broke the silence. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fellow Daoists, join me in attacking now!¡± Zhao Hongsheng was the first to shout, and with that, he leaped into the air, heading straight for Zhou Yunxiao. While still in mid-air, the Magical Treasure in Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hand erupted with a burst of Spiritual Light, releasing a powerful attack that seared out, its dazzling light splitting the skies. ¡­ Chapter 863 03-25 - 863 463 Equally Matched Opponents ?Chapter 863: Chapter 463: Equally Matched Opponents Chapter 863: Chapter 463: Equally Matched Opponents At this moment, the Gang Wind ravaged between heaven and earth, spiritual energy and air churned wildly, and bursts of roaring sounds continuously emanated. Following that, Han Hu and a group of cultivators refused to be outdone, each beginning to launch their attacks. Seeing Zhao Hongsheng make a move, Zhou Yunxiao snorted coldly, and also charged toward his opponent. Quickly, the two strongest cultivators in each camp flew to the highest point in the sky and fiercely battled into a blur. Not far from them, others fought with the opponents assigned to them beforehand, engaging in life-and-death struggles. Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent was an old foe of the Lin Family, Gu Changqing from the Qingyun Sect. This man had encountered Lin Tianming many years ago. ... At that time, he was merely at the Qi Refinement Realm, and the gap between them was as vast as the difference between clouds and mud. However, in just a few short decades, the two had become opponents, which was indeed hard to believe. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, and his Qinghong Sword erupted with a massive amount of Sword Qi, engulfing Gu Changqing in an instant. Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, Gu Changqing¡¯s face remained unchanged, even carrying a sense of contempt. In his eyes, he seemed to hardly believe that Xu Zhi, his fellow sect brother, could be jointly killed by a few newly advanced Golden Core cultivators at that insignificant place known as Green Bamboo Mountain. He found it even more unbelievable that Meng Qingfeng, who was also at the Early Stage Golden Core, had been slain single-handedly by Lin Tianming, who had just advanced to Golden Core a few years ago. Yet in just a few years, the two sides, already bound by enmity, clashed once again directly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï And now, Lin Tianming had taken the initiative to strike, with a very clear target and no hesitation. Besides that, there was no one around to assist him; it was unclear whether he had chosen his own opponent or if Zhou Yunxiao had forcefully assigned the task. But regardless, was such an arrangement underestimating him a bit? After all, he was at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and his situation was not the same as Xu Zhi¡¯s. Xu Zhi had been excessively arrogant and was ultimately killed by the united efforts of four, even though the Lin Family¡¯s several Golden Core cultivators had achieved victory, each had suffered significant injuries. Today¡¯s situation was different, Lin Tianming was on his own, and the others had their own opponents; no one would be able to come to his aid in a short time. Given this, where did he, whose cultivation was seemingly at a disadvantage, get his confidence? ¡°Forget it, forget it!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to trouble you so soon, but since people from the Lin Family have come to die by their own volition, there is no need for me to hold back; might as well take this opportunity to collect some interest,¡± ¡°As for the others, they will sooner or later pay the price they owe!¡± Gu Changqing thought to himself with undisguised contempt on his face. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The attacks of the two clashed hard against each other, sending powerful waves sweeping out. In an instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was effortlessly neutralized by Gu Changqing, who sent the former flying back more than ten zhang with a blast of air. Before he could catch his breath, Gu Changqing leaped forward, and a golden light mirror in his hand erupted into a colossal beam of light, aiming directly for Lin Tianming¡¯s head. The beam was incredibly thick, and under the gaze of Lin Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors, the energy flowing within held certain intricacies. And this light mirror Magical Treasure, Lin Tianming found somewhat familiar. Years ago, during the battle over the Mysterious Moon Order between Gu Changqing and Chen Jingtian, a great fight had erupted. At that time, Lin Tianming had witnessed the entire battle, with the former losing to the stronger Chen Jingtian and ultimately relinquishing the Mysterious Moon Order. After observing that fight, Lin Tianming had a general understanding of Gu Changqing¡¯s capabilities and was also clear about the divine attributes of this light mirror. In his eyes, even if Gu Changqing was at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, his strength was clearly not on par with Chen Jingtian, and his Magical Treasure was also a notch below Chen Jingtian¡¯s. Otherwise, he would not have been pressured to give up the Mysterious Moon Order initially. Over the years, Chen Jingtian had been through many battles, with more than a few Golden Core Cultivators and even Third Order Demon Beasts slain by his hand. With such an impressive record, Chen Jingtian was well-regarded, and naturally, there was a certain gap between him and an ordinary cultivator of the same level like Gu Changqing. Knowing this, Lin Tianming had readily accepted the opponent assigned to him. Now, facing the attack of Gu Changqing¡¯s light mirror, Lin Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors flickered with Spiritual Light, and his body moved nimbly, with extreme speed. In a split second, Lin Tianming had sidestepped dozens of zhang, evading the descending beam of light. With a loud noise, a massive pit emerged in the ground where Lin Tianming had just been. Seeing his strike miss, Gu Changqing¡¯s brow furrowed, and when he looked at Lin Tianming again, his expression became much more serious. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming kept his composure, assessing Gu Changqing¡¯s strength while observing him. After these two rounds of probing attacks, they had both gained a basic understanding of each other¡¯s capabilities. But this was just the surface, as everyone would keep some trump cards in hand. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless and remained highly alert. A few breaths later, Gu Changqing struck again, and the two reengaged in battle. At that moment, Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands, and a red fireball appeared. This fireball grew gradually in his hand, the flickering flames inside a pale blue color, causing a change in the surrounding spiritual energy as soon as it appeared. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 864 03-25 - 864 463 Equally Matched_2 ?Chapter 864: Chapter 463 Equally Matched_2 Chapter 864: Chapter 463 Equally Matched_2 ¡°Blue Heart True Flame!¡± Upon seeing the appearance of the Blue Heart True Flame, Gu Changqing also recognized the origin of the flames and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in alarm. Immediately treating Gu Changqing like a formidable enemy, he retreated explosively, his speed surpassing any of his previous attempts, clearly understanding the terrifying power of the Blue Heart True Flame. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was not idle either. As he retreated, he hurled a fireball from his hand towards Gu Changqing. In an instant, the fireball shot out, appearing right above Gu Changqing¡¯s head. Despite his speed being fast, the fireball¡¯s speed was equally swift, only a few dozen yards away from Gu Changqing. Feeling the temperature from the approaching fireball, Gu Changqing¡¯s expression became anxious, and his speed in dodging increased. ... Following a loud explosion, the fireball grazed past Gu Changqing and finally hit the ground, exploding on impact. For a moment, firelight filled the sky and a larger fire cloud surged upward. As the firelight and smoke dissipated, Gu Changqing¡¯s figure reappeared. His Daoist robe was tattered, and many of his hairs had been burnt off by the sparks, leaving him looking disheveled. Fortunately, he had dodged the hit and was only affected by the terrifying high temperature of the fireball. When he recalled the perilous situation just now, his heart couldn¡¯t help but pound wildly. By now, he had truly witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. It was no wonder that he was able to collaborate with other Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family and kill Xu Zhi, a Medium Stage Golden Core cultivator, and even single-handedly eliminate Meng Qingfeng of the same rank, achieving astonishing results in the subsequent battle in Myriad Medicine Valley. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï These were genuine achievements, not merely rumors. Indeed, they were incredibly formidable. Knowing this, Gu Changqing no longer dared to be careless, constantly monitoring Lin Tianming¡¯s every move, fearing that Lin Tianming would seize an opportunity and lead him to the same fate as Xu Zhi. At this time, Lin Tianming remained calm despite his attack missing its mark, showing no surprise. He was very aware of the strength of a Golden Core Cultivator, especially a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman. In his eyes, although Gu Changqing might not be as powerful as Chen Jingtian, he was, after all, a legitimate Mid Stage Golden Core Realm cultivator. Who among those who had cultivated to this level was ordinary? Moreover, Gu Changqing was a veteran Golden Core Cultivator who had entered the Golden Core Stage over two hundred years ago, having experienced many battles and his hands stained with blood. It could be said that both his strength and battle experience were not comparable to those of ordinary newly advanced Golden Core cultivators. Thus, such a figure was naturally not someone who could be heavily injured or killed by ordinary means. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was not at all discouraged; instead, his spirit brimmed with combativeness. Previously, although he had killed many Golden Core Cultivators, including Medium Stage Golden Core Xu Zhi and Changqing of Golden Sword Sect, he had needed others¡¯ help to kill them. Moreover, he had used his utmost Spirit Art when killing Xu Zhi. Strictly speaking, he had never faced a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman alone. Now, fighting against Gu Changqing, empowered by his Magical Treasure, he had reached the peak of his strength. In this situation, he, too, wanted to see what his limits were and whether he possessed the capability to kill or defeat Gu Changqing. With this anticipation, Lin Tianming repeatedly swung his Qinghong Sword, unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi targeting Gu Changqing. Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s relentless assault, Gu Changqing was both shocked and angry, hastily unleashing numerous attacks to clash directly with Lin Tianming. Both men fully exerted themselves in a frenzy of strikes. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Continuous explosive sounds resonated from the sky, the vast expanse of ground beneath their feet trembling slightly under their strikes. A short period later, after more than a dozen rounds of exchanges, both men were blown a hundred yards away by the blast of air, finally stabilizing their forms. Lin Tianming¡¯s face alternated between red and white, his Qi-Blood churning wildly within him, and his Daoist robe was torn and ragged, revealing the Blue Star Armor he wore underneath. Across from him, Gu Changqing was in a similar state, his clothes tattered and his face alternating between pale and green, clearly showing considerable exhaustion. At that moment, the two of them hovered in midair, their pupils fixed solely on each other, not blinking even once. After more than ten rounds of attacks, both had gone all out, expending a substantial amount of mana and sustaining several injuries. Among them, Lin Tianming had suffered more injuries and had expended nearly half of his mana. Fortunately, he practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, possessing an exceptionally powerful physique. Whether it was recovery from injuries or mana regeneration, both were visibly superior to Gu Changqing¡¯s. However, Gu Changqing was slightly better off for the time being. Though there were victories and losses between them, he seemed to have a slight upper hand, but the advantage was almost negligible; neither had gained much ground over the other. Yet Gu Changqing lived up to his strength as a Mid Stage Golden Core Realm cultivator. Despite Lin Tianming¡¯s relentless attacks, although sometimes perilous, he managed to turn danger into safety every time. As for Lin Tianming, most of the time he had to rely on the Eye of Five Colors to narrowly dodge Gu Changqing¡¯s attacks. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were several extremely close calls, almost hit by a beam emitted by the Ancient Mirror Treasure wielded by Gu Changqing. Had it not been for the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors, combined with his exceptional speed and his powerful physical strength, he always managed to find the quickest and most effective escape route. Otherwise, by now, he might have fallen into life-threatening crises several times. Whether he could survive those memorable crises was left to Heaven¡¯s Will. Now, as they continued their fierce combat, both understood how formidable their opponent was. In particular, Gu Changqing had not expected Lin Tianming¡¯s strength to be so formidable, with tactics both abundant and incredibly bizarre. Primarily, it was his extraordinary speed and agile moves. Under his powerful offense, revealing many of his trump cards, several times Gu Changqing almost predicted Lin Tianming¡¯s doom, yet each time Lin Tianming miraculously found an escape path. To Gu Changqing, Lin Tianming now seemed like an invincible warrior, capable of both enduring and attacking, defending and striking, with a speed unmatchable and seemingly without any flaws. At this point, he finally understood the ordeal faced by Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng. Recalling what the disciples had recounted initially, passed on as if it were miraculous, it was clear they had been terrified out of their wits. Initially, he had some doubts about the truth of those stories, but now, after witnessing Lin Tianming¡¯s capabilities firsthand, nothing seemed strange anymore. This moment marked a tremendous shift inside Gu Changqing. Facing Lin Tianming again, his inner state was completely overturned, like a calm lake stirring into a massive wave. As for Lin Tianming, he remained vigilant at all times. The two briefly fell into a quiet standstill, until Lin Tianming made the first move, prompting Gu Changqing to hastily engage. In an instant, they fiercely bombarded each other, the massive fluctuations of their strikes whipping up gusts of air. For a moment, the whole area was a whirl of flying sand and stone, the ground riddled from the impacts. As they alternated between attack and defense, their mana was rapidly depleted and their array of tactics dwindled. Driven to this point, a prolonged battle left Lin Tianming somewhat helpless about the outcome. One could say he had exerted himself to the fullest, having called upon all conventional tactics except for the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus and Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skills. Even so, he hadn¡¯t gained a definitive upper hand. This feeling of impotence was a first in these recent years. However, he wasn¡¯t disheartened; he knew as their mana rapidly drained, his advantage would gradually begin to show. After all, he possessed a physical strength and recovery ability unmatched by Gu Changqing. Although this advantage wasn¡¯t obvious normally, at certain times, it might be the final straw that breaks the camel¡¯s back. Just a few more rounds of attacks and Gu Changqing would grow increasingly weaker, while he would barely be affected. At that time, he would be able to seize the gap between them, further solidify his advantage, and find an opportunity to annihilate Gu Changqing in one fell swoop. ¡­ Chapter 865 03-25 - 865 464 Another Person Slain ?Chapter 865: Chapter 464: Another Person Slain Chapter 865: Chapter 464: Another Person Slain As time passed, the two had gone through dozens of rounds of intense combat. Up until now, they were almost evenly matched, with mana significantly depleted. The enduring battle continued, with both parties fueled by public and private grievances flaring up. In order to achieve victory, they both persevered, waiting for an opportune moment to severely injure the other. Each bore this intention, and despite facing numerous challenges, neither dared to let their guard down. In this deadlock, after Lin Tianming launched an attack, both were sent recoiling some distance. Barely steadying his form, Lin Tianming saw Gu Changqing not far away, his breathing increasingly rapid, and a trace of fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. ... Clearly, Gu Changqing¡¯s exhaustion had intensified, and his injuries grew more severe. Although Lin Tianming himself bore many wounds, his aura and momentum showed no signs of decreasing. Looking at his opponent, Gu Changqing¡¯s expression was grave. Although his breath was still steady, his aura was like that of a defeated rooster, lacking its usual brilliance. It was apparent that Gu Changqing was on a downward slope, his strength significantly weaker than at his peak. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming noted these changes in his opponent, silently calculating in his heart. Previously, he had no advantage and could only pressure Gu Changqing enough to prevent him from being careless. But now, he distinctly felt that Gu Changqing¡¯s attack power was weakening, clearly struggling. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Though this momentum was faint, Lin Tianming detected it. It must be said, this was good news for him. And though he had been at a disadvantage earlier, as the fight wore on, he gradually gained the upper hand. Now, all he needed to do was strike while the iron was hot, give no breathing room to Gu Changqing, and continue to intensify his suppression to surely find a flaw. For such an opportunity, he had previously been calm and steady, and now he finally saw some hope. With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and then charged toward Gu Changqing. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Their attacks clashed head-on, igniting the sky once again, and the sound of explosions continued unabated. A wave of energy repelled them, and neither had yet regained their composure. At that moment, Lin Tianming conjured another fireball in his hand and hurled it at Gu Changqing. The fireball moved swiftly, appearing over the head of Gu Changqing in an instant. Seeing the familiar fireball with that flickering blue flame inside, he knew well the power of the Blue Heart True Flame. At that time, Gu Changqing¡¯s expression turned solemn, and in a rush, he retreated. This time, like the first facing the fireball, he moved his nimble body to the side. His speed was fast, although the move was perilous, with the potential to be hit at any moment. But he was decisive, and having witnessed it once before, he had already cleared a space. Thus, evading this attack was not difficult for him, but the ground below him was about to be bombarded once again. However, just as the fireball was on the verge of passing by him, it suddenly split apart and burst into numerous droplets of fire raining down, instantly engulfing the sky above Gu Changqing. These countless droplets of fire, resembling rain, turned the drops into a brilliant display of fiery rain. However, Lin Tianming was well aware that, although diluted, the fire rain was still Blue Heart True Flame; even a slight touch meant bearing the scorching of the flames. He had even personally experienced it; with his great physical strength, even ten percent of the contact with the flame brought immense pain. It was unimaginable that if even he could not endure the terrifying power of Blue Heart True Flame, ordinary Golden Core Cultivators would hardly be able to suppress it, let alone shake off the flames. At that moment, seeing the transformation from fireball to fiery rain, Gu Changqing¡¯s face instantly changed. Then, as he sped up his escape, he heard a thunderclap explode next to his ear, followed immediately by enveloping flames. In that instant, he felt the terrifying heat, roasting his body. For a moment, he felt dizzy and racked with intense pain. The sensation was excruciating, almost causing him to faint. At that moment, he clenched his teeth, striving to maintain a shred of clarity, to avoid becoming a sitting duck. However, he faced an even more difficult situation ahead, as the quantity of fiery rain was quite substantial, each droplet posing a fatal threat. Under such circumstances, though he burst forth at his fastest speed to evade, he still couldn¡¯t avoid some contact. In desperation, with a pale face, Gu Changqing hurriedly activated the Ancient Mirror Treasure, turning it into a barrier above his head. Quickly, the Ancient Mirror grew to several meters in size, eventually enveloping his body securely. In his eyes, although this Magical Treasure had mediocre attacking power, its ability to attack and defend, and its unpredictable nature were significant. Under such severe pressure, he felt uncertain whether the Ancient Mirror could withstand the erosion of the fiery rain. But at the moment, there wasn¡¯t time to ponder these issues; all he could hope for was this Magical Treasure to block the terrifying Blue Heart True Flame. Otherwise, if he couldn¡¯t even overcome this challenge, what followed would be meaningless. Chapter 866 03-25 - 866 464 Another One Slain_2 ?Chapter 866: Chapter 464 Another One Slain_2 Chapter 866: Chapter 464 Another One Slain_2 ¡°` Things happened in the blink of an eye; part of the fire rain descended, showering directly onto the surface of the Ancient Mirror. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± A strange noise came forth, as towering flames ignited on the hovering Ancient Mirror, accompanied by rising black smoke that swiftly covered a large expanse of sky. At this moment, Gu Changqing continuously cast Law Decrees at the Ancient Mirror, pouring his dwindling Mana into it with abandon. Simultaneously, he spat out several mouthfuls of essence blood, splattering it onto an inscription beneath the Ancient Mirror. Following his actions, the Ancient Mirror flashed brightly, and a light barrier enveloped the flames. As this faint barrier appeared, the flames atop the Ancient Mirror began to extinguish, and the temperature started to drop. ... However, even so, numerous blue flames continued clinging to the Ancient Mirror, constantly corroding it. A breath later, Gu Changqing¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale as he spat out several more mouthfuls of blood and his aura quickly weakened significantly. This time, the blood he spat bore a significant difference to that of before; previously, it was to enhance the Ancient Mirror¡¯s defensive power by using his heart¡¯s blood to elevate its strength. But now, it was completely different, for it was due to the Magical Treasure taking damage that had consequently impacted him, making this act a necessary last resort. Both were coughing up blood, yet the fundamental difference was vast. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Fortunately, at this moment, all the flames on the Ancient Mirror were extinguished, and it rapidly shrank, eventually caught in the hands of Gu Changqing. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who was quickly rushing over, also wore an expression of regret. After all, this sudden change in the Blue Heart True Flame was an attack method he had long premeditated. Previously, he could not freely control the Blue Heart True Flame. Now, with the continuous growth of the Blue Heart True Flame, its quantity had increased dozens of times compared to when he first acquired it. Moreover, in using the Blue Heart True Flame, he had made considerable progress, able to precisely manipulate its shape and disperse its energy, among other things. And this new attack technique was something he had mastered through exploration and relentless attempts over recent years. This time, it was even the first time he used it in actual combat; although he did not manage to kill Gu Changqing, he did wound him, achieving his initial goal to some extent. But at this moment, Gu Changqing, upon seeing Lin Tianming, was already panic-stricken, evidently terrified by Lin Tianming¡¯s unexpected and bizarre tactics. For this, he had paid a price, suffering serious injuries that significantly reduced his own strength. Previously, he had already been gradually losing ground. Now with this strike, not only had his Magical Treasure suffered significant damage, but he himself had sustained no light injuries. In addition, the Mana left in his body was scarce, not even amounting to two-tenths of his peak state. Under such circumstances, he simply could not hold out against Lin Tianming for long. At the thought, Gu Changqing was a mix of shock and rage, filled with regret in his heart. However, Lin Tianming was not about to give him a chance to breathe. He was clear in mind that the current situation had been difficult to turn around. Be it new grudges or old, or for the sake of the Lin Family and the entire cultivation world of Wei Kingdom, it was necessary to capture Gu Changqing alive. He was no gentle soul; now that he had the upper hand, he intended to further expand his advantage. With this goal, Lin Tianming unleashed the Qinghong Sword from his hand, once again activating the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword shot forth, rapidly closing the distance to less than a hundred zhang from Gu Changqing. At this time, Gu Changqing, pale as a sheet, hurriedly backed away in retreat, darting toward the nearest battlefield. Clearly, Gu Changqing had no intention to continue entangled with Lin Tianming any longer. He knew well that his strength had diminished considerably, while Lin Tianming remained at his peak; be it in momentum or personal strength, Lin Tianming clearly held an absolute advantage. Since he was no longer a match for Lin Tianming, it was better to head toward Cao Jinping, seeking to leverage Cao Jinping¡¯s strength and join forces to resist Lin Tianming¡¯s assault. With this in mind, Gu Changqing, setting aside his pride, vanished in an instant, reappearing hundreds of zhang away. ¡°` At that moment, the sudden change in Gu Changqing was seen by Lin Tianming, yet he was helpless to do anything about it. Although Gu Changqing was injured, he was, after all, a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Even if he was not a match for Tianming, if he was determined to flee, it would take a great deal of effort to stop him. Nevertheless, his speed did not decrease in the slightest, and he continued to chase after Gu Changqing. For a time, the two of them, one chasing and the other fleeing, were headed towards Zhu Yun and Cao Jinping of the Sword Forging Sect, who were in the midst of a magic duel. At that time, Cao Jinping and Zhu Yun were engaged in a fierce battle. Cao Jinping¡¯s strength was notably stronger, constantly keeping Zhu Yun on the defensive. Faced with Cao Jinping¡¯s relentless onslaught, Zhu Yun was also covered in wounds, his breath growing weaker and weaker, finding himself in a retreating position. With Cao Jinping¡¯s full-force strike, a massive wave of Sword Qi shot forth, severing Zhu Yun¡¯s arm. At that point, Zhu Yun let out a pained growl, and his body was sent flying dozens of feet away. Before he could stabilize himself, Cao Jinping attacked again, another wave of Sword Qi tearing through the void. Watching the same Sword Qi that had just inflicted heavy damage on him approach, Zhu Yun¡¯s face paled. Forcing out an attack, he fled in the direction of Lin Tianming. He had no other choice. After all, his injuries were not minor, and Cao Jinping was getting increasingly stronger. The gap between them was widening, and continuing the futile fight would not make him the victor. He had also occasionally paid attention to the battle situation on Lin Tianming¡¯s side. When he saw that Lin Tianming had severely injured Gu Changqing and was pursuing him in his direction, he was quite astonished. Now, Gu Changqing, too, being overpowered by Lin Tianming, was rushing in his direction, hoping to rely on Cao Jinping¡¯s power to resist Lin Tianming. And his own situation was identical to the approaching Gu Changqing. Since Gu Changqing had made such a plan, if he wished to survive, he too had no choice but to rely on the power of cultivators from the same faction. The battlefield where Lin Tianming was located was the closest person to his position and his best choice for seeking help. Soon, he made up his mind and also fled in Lin Tianming¡¯s direction. From afar, Zhu Yun, still fleeing for his life, began to cry out for help. On the other side, Gu Changqing did the same; the two injured cultivators rushed towards each other, their distance closing steadily. Behind them, Lin Tianming and Cao Jinping were unwilling to fall behind, each pursuing their respective targets. Time continued to pass slowly, and within a few breaths, it had gone by. As the distance between the chasers and the chased continued to close, both Gu Changqing and Zhu Yun became increasingly frantic. Especially Zhu Yun, his injuries were more serious than Gu Changqing¡¯s, and his speed was also far less than Cao Jinping¡¯s. Looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s side, the gap with Gu Changqing was also closing, and it was becoming very difficult to converge with allies. At this rate, it was doubtful either of them could achieve their objectives. In desperation, Zhu Yun suddenly turned around and charged at the pursuing Cao Jinping. His eyes were resolute, and his Magical Treasure suddenly shone brightly as he rushed forward in a decisive gambit. Clearly, Zhu Yun knew his life was near its end and didn¡¯t even have the time to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Instead of being killed without resistance, he preferred to fight back fiercely. Even if he could not find a sliver of a chance to survive, he intended to cause some trouble for Cao Jinping. With that goal in mind, Zhu Yun had cast aside his fear of death. Seeing this action took both the pursuing Cao Jinping and Gu Changqing by surprise, causing them to hesitate for a moment. At that moment, a scream came from behind Zhu Yun. Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword sliced through the void, piercing directly through Gu Changqing¡¯s chest. In an instant, Gu Changqing¡¯s body was torn apart, his remains dropping to the ground, kicking up a bit of dust. The whole event was brief, happening in the blink of an eye. And Gu Changqing, lacking Zhu Yun¡¯s courage, was killed by the onrushing Lin Tianming in that moment of hesitation, ultimately dying in regret. ¡­ Chapter 867 03-25 - 867 465 Consecutive Downfalls ?Chapter 867: Chapter 465: Consecutive Downfalls Chapter 867: Chapter 465: Consecutive Downfalls At that very moment, Cao Jinping saw with his own eyes the entire process of Gu Changqing¡¯s death. He hadn¡¯t expected that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength would be so fearsome that he had managed to kill Gu Changqing, a cultivator of fame equal to his own, without much effort. It was well known that Gu Changqing was also a seasoned Golden Core of the Huangyang Country Cultivation World, and his power was on par with Cao Jinping¡¯s. Now that Lin Tianming had killed Gu Changqing, it was certainly possible for him to also kill Cao Jinping. The thought alone filled Cao Jinping with a mixture of shock and fury. It wasn¡¯t until Gu Changqing¡¯s screams had ceased that he recovered from his astonishment and became furiously enraged. And at this time, Zhu Yun, who had been rushing towards him, was drawing ever closer, a magical treasure shooting from his hand, aimed straight for Cao Jinping¡¯s vital points. ... Seeing this, Cao Jinping¡¯s expression became grave as he hastily unleashed an attack. In an instant, a Black Longsword cut through the sky, colliding precisely with Zhu Yun¡¯s magical treasure. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud crash reverberated, and the sky suddenly dimmed. Immediately after, Zhu Yun was seen retreating dozens of feet away, spewing mouthfuls of blood in midair before crashing heavily to the ground. He struggled to stand, but the injuries on his body were too severe; blood flowed incessantly from a wound in his chest, and nearly all his meridians were severed. Now, with all his mana depleted and his injuries extremely serious, even a Qi Refining Cultivator would not have much trouble killing him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? In such a state, he could be said to have no fighting power at all. At the same time, Cao Jinping was also not in a good shape, his Qi-Blood churning wildly inside him, fresh blood once again spilling from the corner of his mouth, his complexion rapidly paling. In that attack, even though Zhu Yun had already been severely wounded, which caused one of his arms to be lost and greatly impacted his power, he was still a Golden Core Cultivator at the Mid Stage Golden Core level, and his desperate counterattack still possessed immense strength. It should be known that cultivators can often explode with energy beyond their own capabilities when fighting for their lives, thereby turning the tide against unfavorable circumstances. Thus, even cultivators of the same rank would not dare say they could easily block such an attack. And sure enough, Cao Jinping was also seriously injured by Zhu Yun¡¯s desperate strike, significantly affecting his power. Still, compared to the severely injured Zhu Yun who was now virtually powerless, Cao Jinping¡¯s condition was relatively better, maintaining a certain fighting capacity. However, being injured was a face-losing affair. At this time, looking at the agonizingly wailing Zhu Yun, Cao Jinping¡¯s face darkened to the extreme. He had thought that Zhu Yun¡¯s strike was nothing more than the futile struggle of an insect blocking a carriage. With the power difference between them at that moment, killing Zhu Yun would not have taken much effort. Yet, Zhu Yun, risking his life, had managed to carve out a sliver of survival. Despite his critical injuries, he temporarily saved his life and achieved his initial goal. But before he could catch his breath, an enraged Cao Jinping attacked again, his Black Longsword descending with formidable presence. At this moment, Zhu Yun was too severely injured to even stand properly, making it impossible for him to dodge this attack. In this moment, Zhu Yun¡¯s face was as pale as snow, and he could only watch helplessly as Cao Jinping struck. Just then, Lin Tianming, who had rushed over, launched an attack, attempting to block the fatal blow for the critically wounded Zhu Yun. His speed was swift, his agile body almost reaching, with the Qinghong Sword intercepting the blow for Zhu Yun even quicker. Seeing this, Cao Jinping, his face filled with anger, could only hope that his own strength was stronger, so as to repel Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. On the other hand, if Lin Tianming managed to block this attack for Zhu Yun, given Lin Tianming¡¯s demonstrated strength, he would face significant resistance in attempting to kill Zhu Yun afterwards. Knowing this, Cao Jinping also took a deep breath, inwardly anticipating the outcome of this clash. Under the gaze of both, their attacks collided directly. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A tremendous explosion resounded, like thunder exploding violently. A red and a black longsword clashed fiercely, the powerful collision creating a massive shockwave that rapidly spread in all directions. In that instant, the sky erupted with fierce winds, and vast clouds of dust danced in the air. The entire sky, even the earth below, completely changed its appearance. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianming felt as if hit by a great mountain, his Qi-Blood inside madly surging, boiling with the impact. Simultaneously, an intense pain spread through his entire nervous system. Even with his strong physique, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver a few times under this excruciating torment. It was only when he fell to the ground that Lin Tianming spat out a few mouthfuls of blood, his face turning pale immediately after. Then, he looked up to where he had just been and found that the severely injured Zhu Yun had vanished. After scanning the field quickly, he found Zhu Yun¡¯s figure in a corner. Glancing over, Zhu Yun lay motionless in a deep pit, his surroundings already soaked in blood. His body, already covered with many wounds, was now a blood-soaked figure riddled with holes. This pitiful sight was not even the most infuriating part. Most importantly, Zhu Yun¡¯s breath was extremely faint, with only a sliver of life remaining, and it was growing weaker and weaker. At this rate, the unconscious Zhu Yun would not be able to recover from his injuries and would only be waiting for death. Chapter 868 03-25 - 868 465 Continuous Demise_2 ?Chapter 868: Chapter 465 Continuous Demise_2 Chapter 868: Chapter 465 Continuous Demise_2 Clearly, in that recent head-on confrontation, Lin Tianming had exerted all his strength to help fend off the attack, but he still could not prevent the powerful shockwave from spreading. Zhu Yun, already severely injured and unable to move, was also incapable of organizing an effective defense, and as a result, was swept away by that strong shockwave, simply unable to resist. One could even say that the fact he still retained some vitality was already quite miraculous. Yet, despite Zhu Yun not yet having completely lost his life force, with such severe injuries, unless it was a Fifth Order miracle Holy Medicine, nothing else could save his life. Otherwise, Zhu Yun could only wait for his vitality to fully dissipate, but there was nothing he could do. And a Fifth Order life-saving treasure, those were phenomenally rare even within the Cultivation World, to the extent that even the mysterious Nascent Soul Stage Powerhouses might not possess such a thing. Even if one step back, if there were such treasures available, keeping them for oneself would barely be enough, let alone using them to save a Golden Core Stage Cultivator? ... In such circumstance, Zhu Yun was essentially waiting for death at this point. Knowing this, Lin Tianming also had an expression of regret on his face, feeling pity for Zhu Yun in his heart. They could be considered old acquaintances; during the battle against the Demonic Beasts at Yuyao City, it was under his leadership that the numerous Cultivators from around Qianchuan Market were conscripted for the battle. At that time, Lin Tianming had also been dispatched by him multiple times. Although he had not provided him with much help, Zhu Yun was quite upright as a person and was respected by many Cultivators. Furthermore, during their expedition into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong were both besieged by members of the Blood Red Alliance. In an absolute disadvantage, Zhu Yun also fought for time for the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including Lin Tianming, who thus owed him a favor. Moreover, just a while ago, despite Zhu Yun being in a desperate situation, he still did not give up hope, and with his grievously injured body, he bought some time for Lin Tianming. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? It could be said that without Zhu Yun¡¯s resolute counterattack, Lin Tianming¡¯s successful killing of Gu Changqing would not have been so easy. It was precisely because of Zhu Yun¡¯s decisiveness that Lin Tianming was able to kill the fleeing Gu Changqing without much effort. Therefore, for him and the others, Zhu Yun had indeed fulfilled his duty. However, now Zhu Yun had been gravely wounded and was technically on the verge of death. The imminent demise of such a gallant Golden Core Cultivator was unavoidably a cause for sighs and lamentations. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming also looked ahead, paying attention to Cao Jinping¡¯s current condition. Just moments ago, Cao Jinping, who had been opposite to him, had been flung out like a kite with its string cut, flying out in a parabola. While still in mid-air, he spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his breath growing even more feeble. By the time his body hit the ground, Cao Jinping staggered to his feet, and when he looked toward Lin Tianming, his eyes became bloodshot, his rage reaching its peak. The strike was almost evenly matched, both parties sustaining grievous injuries, causing both of their strengths to greatly diminish. As the fighting fell briefly into a lull, when they looked at each other, their expressions were filled with murderous intent. Especially Lin Tianming, who was extremely angry at this moment. This rage was not only because Zhu Yun was nearly lost, but also because he had failed to protect him, leading to the loss of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator who deserved respect within their ranks. With such anger, Lin Tianming swiftly turned his body and, in his haste, shot towards Cao Jinping. Seeing this, Cao Jinping was both shocked and enraged, immediately retreating backward. At this moment, Cao Jinping was truly frightened, only thinking of escaping the battle. The reason for this was also because he had suffered heavy blows one after another, with extremely severe injuries. Besides that, he had also witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength. Looking at Lin Tianming again, although he too had considerable injuries, he was evidently faring much better than himself. With only a bit more than ten percent of his Mana remaining, his strength had decreased considerably, and he absolutely could not sustain a protracted fight. Under these circumstances, he had to break away from the battle to avoid being bogged down by Lin Tianming once again and falling into a quagmire. If it really came to that, given the current state of the two of them, he feared that he too might follow in the footsteps of Gu Changqing and Zhu Yun. Knowing this, Cao Jinping was terrified at this moment and had no more courage to continue the fight. Looking back at Lin Tianming, at this time, his momentum was overwhelming, with a fierce and menacing appearance that seemed as if he was about to tear Cao Jinping apart. In fact, it was indeed so; Lin Tianming was also aware of their differing states, and he clearly had the absolute advantage. Given such conditions, whether standing from an individual¡¯s perspective or the perspective of the entire Myriad Medicine Valley camp, with his character, he would naturally not give up such a rare opportunity. Moreover, Cao Jinping was also a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, his strength ranked among the top powerhouses within the Blood Red Alliance camp. If Cao Jinping were also to be slain, this battle would have seen the fall of several Golden Core Stage Cultivators, inflicting heavy losses on the Blood Red Alliance camp. By the time the great battle ended, he would also receive ample rewards, bringing them closer to victory. It could be said that killing Cao Jinping was imperative for himself and for the final victory. With such belief, Lin Tianming greatly increased his speed of escape. Reliant on his speed advantage, he rapidly closed the distance between himself and Cao Jinping. At this moment, when Cao Jinping saw Lin Tianming¡¯s speed, he felt a great sense of foreboding. At that time, the entire battlefield was in utter chaos, everyone fiercely fighting. Following Cao Jinping¡¯s fall, except for Zhao Hongsheng, who occupied some advantage at the highest point, almost everyone else was at a disadvantage on the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s side. In less than half a quarter of an hour, including Gu Changqing, their side had already suffered the successive losses of three cultivators. Among these fallen, from the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s side were Gu Changqing, Dong Wenchang of the Golden Sword Sect, and Zhang Qifeng of the Qingmu Sect. And from the Myriad Medicine Valley side, including Zhu Yun, two with Golden Core Stage combat power had fallen, with another being Li Wenhe from the West River Li Family. As several people fell in succession, their overall strength ebbed and flowed, and the gap slowly widened. In this manner, the gap would only increase further, ultimately leading to even greater losses of power for them. Now, he found himself in an absolute disadvantage; in such a chaotic and complex situation, no one could take care of him. Thus, his hopes of seeking help had become extravagant. As Cao Jinping surveyed the situation, he also understood the difficulty of his circumstance. But even with this understanding, he was powerless to change the situation, as Lin Tianming had already caught up with him, only dozens of feet away. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a distance was already within the best attack range for a Golden Core Cultivator, perfectly able to be instantly fatal. At that time, Lin Tianming, seeing the opportune moment had arrived, decisively made his move. ¡°The Tiangang Ninth Sword¡­ Kill!¡± In an instant, his hands formed the Law Decree, unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Skill. In a flash, nine sword shadows overlapped, and the Qinghong Sword shot out, heading straight for the back of Cao Jinping¡¯s head. Now, the Qinghong Sword appeared above Cao Jinping¡¯s head, ready to descend at any moment. At this moment, Cao Jinping could also seem to sense the terrifying aura from the Qinghong Sword. That special piercing power made even his body shudder. In his desperation, Cao Jinping knew he could not escape and could only turn around to launch a desperate counterattack. If he could withstand this deadly strike, he still held hope of saving his life. Otherwise, perhaps just a few breaths later, would be the time of his demise. The embattled Cao Jinping was also decisive, immediately activating his Black Longsword, pouring almost all of his remaining mana into the Longsword Treasure. ¡°Humming¡­¡± A buzzing of the sword rang out, as the Black Longsword shot out, clashing head-on with the incoming Qinghong Sword. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise erupted, as the sky once again burst forth with dazzling light, and the ground trembled slightly. Under this earth-shattering momentum, the Qinghong Sword repelled the Black Longsword and with a thunderous momentum, thrust towards Cao Jinping. ¡­ Chapter 869 03-25 - 869 466 Initial Signs of Victory ?Chapter 869: Chapter 466 Initial Signs of Victory Chapter 869: Chapter 466 Initial Signs of Victory Seeing his own longsword sent flying, Cao Jinping¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and he immediately sidestepped. Just as he had moved his foot, the Qinghong Sword descended, severing one of Cao Jinping¡¯s arms. In desperate straits, Cao Jinping was resolute, knowing he could neither escape nor block the blow, his only option was to dodge to avoid a fatal strike and buy himself some time. With Lin Tianming¡¯s strike dissipating, the Qinghong Sword also appeared behind Cao Jinping. Momentarily having saved his life, Cao Jinping, not caring about his injuries or the severe pain, could only hasten to flee the area. However, he had barely flown a few meters when he saw a fist appearing above his head. The fist was small, yet it brought a whirlwind, causing his tattered Daoist robe to flutter. ... In that instant, he knew there was no way to dodge or block it. Desperate, Cao Jinping stood frozen in place, his eyes shut tightly, his heart filled with regret. Though it was too late to react, he quickly felt his head shatter, and he completely lost consciousness. With Lin Tianming¡¯s punch, the slaying of Cao Jinping finally brought an end to this battle, and the sky fell into a brief calm. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, as Lin Tianming steadied his stance, he turned and looked at Cao Jinping¡¯s body lying on the ground, almost entirely smashed to pieces, with red and white matter mixed, turning the corpse into a bloodied figure, utterly devoid of life. This grisly scene caused even someone as experienced as Lin Tianming to reel, almost collapsing on the ground. Clamping his teeth, he forced himself to stay conscious and soon returned to normal. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Afterward, looking at the dead Cao Jinping, exultation took over Lin Tianming¡¯s heart. The battle had demanded almost all of his techniques, draining nearly all his mana and greatly reducing his strength. Yet, he considered himself fortunate for not having sustained fatal injuries. Zhu Yun, however, had fallen in the great battle, a renowned powerhouse who had shaken the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for years, now dead. With such a costly price, they had finally succeeded in killing Cao Jinping, achieving their initial goal and avenging Zhu Yun. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming breathed a long sigh of relief. Immediately, he shifted his gaze to assess the situation on the other battlefields. Looking around, the battlefield was in utter chaos. Apart from Zhao Hongsheng high above, the opponents originally assigned had changed as cultivators, including Gu Changqing and Zhu Yun, had fallen, freeing others to support their comrades, resulting in complete turmoil. At this point, the fight lost all sense of order; cultivators practically formed several groups, collaborating to fend off enemies in a melee. For a moment, the battlefield turned extremely chaotic, with the danger escalating significantly; nearly every round of attacks left some Golden Core Cultivators injured due to the disorder. Even at intervals, some Golden Core Cultivators would be worn down, eventually caught and killed in a fatal strike. In such circumstances, the Myriad Medicine Valley camp, with Lin Tianming taking the initiative to break the deadlock and Zhao Mingli slaying Dong Wenchang, triggered a chain reaction. Immediately after, the pair freed themselves to support other comrades, gradually evening the odds. Following that, Lin Tianming killed Cao Jinping, shifting the balance to their advantage. Fueled by the chain reaction, the cultivators in the Myriad Medicine Valley camp surged with momentum, each brimming with fearlessness and unleashing their full strength. In contrast, the Golden Sword Sect camp, consisting of factions from different cultivation realms along with the Blood Red Alliance, suffered from misaligned interests, making them mistrustful of each other, wary of being exploited. Under such circumstances, despite their overall greater strength, the limited output from the self-interested factions was palpable. Thus, aside from Zhao Hongsheng, the other groups began to gradually fall back. Seeing this, it was possible, if things continued, for them to achieve even greater victories. Excited by this, Lin Tianming leaped into action, flying towards the battle group of Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. At that moment, the battlefield where Lin Shikang was located was fiercely contested. Here, the two of them, along with Zhao Mingli and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, teamed up, four Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators besieging the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s Jin Weishan and Yang Jun, both Medium Stage cultivators. Due to Yang Jun and Jin Weishan¡¯s prowess and affiliation with the formidable Blood Red Alliance, their individual strengths were extremely formidable. Previously, Yang Jun, leveraging his cultivation and might, had also succeeded in killing Shao Changyi. Thereafter, Lan Yu found himself in a difficult position, subsequently sustaining heavy injuries and nearly getting killed by Yang Jun. Fortunately, in an urgent situation, Zhao Mingli¡¯s timely support momentarily stabilized their position. Otherwise, he feared he might have followed in Shao Changyi¡¯s footsteps. As for Lin Shikang and his companion, having just broken through to the Golden Core Stage, they too faced extreme danger when dealing with Jin Weishan. Luckily, their cooperative and well-coordinated actions allowed them to hold on until now. Later, as the situation grew more chaotic, they joined forces with Lan Yu and others to handle Yang Jun and his comrade. Despite their disadvantages, the combined effort of the four prevented any immediate collapse. Chapter 870 03-25 - 870 466 Initial Show of Superiority_2 ?Chapter 870: Chapter 466: Initial Show of Superiority_2 Chapter 870: Chapter 466: Initial Show of Superiority_2 However, as the battle dragged on, the four of them, including Lin Tianming, saw their mana consumption significantly increase, and their situation became increasingly difficult. At this moment, the four of them felt a sense of urgency in their hearts, but given the defensive strength of Jin Weishan and his companion, they could only assume a passive defense, thereby delaying time. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because they were very clear in their minds that, overall, they held the upper hand at this juncture. As long as they could hold out until reinforcements arrived, even if Yang Jun and his companion gained an advantage, they would definitely not be a match for them. With this goal in mind, all four of them persevered through the struggle. Upon Lin Tianming¡¯s appearance behind them, Lin Shikang and the others¡¯ expressions brightened, and they each heaved a sigh of relief in their hearts. In their eyes, Lin Tianming was powerful enough, having already slain two Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen today. ... Adding to the fearsome reputation he had earned in the previous battles, Lin Tianming was undoubtedly a God of Slaughter. With such a formidable person joining them, it would surely change their dire situation dramatically. Especially for Lin Shikang and his companion, being able to fight alongside Lin Tianming, regardless of the final outcome, brought them a great deal of comfort. Thus, even from a distance, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. Upon seeing Lin Shikang and his companion who also had some injuries, but which did not greatly affect their own strength, now with his addition, at least ensuring the fundamental safety of the three should not be too difficult. Therefore, Lin Tianming was equally excited and immediately came to stand behind Lin Shikang and his companion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 Following that, Lin Tianming was not idle; before Jin Weishan¡¯s attack could arrive, he took the initiative and fended off the assault. With the strike thwarted, Jin Weishan¡¯s expression grew grave, and he had a foreboding feeling that something exceedingly bad was about to happen. Sure enough, before he could prepare himself, Lin Tianming had already made his move. Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword flashed with light, and then the longsword flew from his hand, heading straight for Jin Weishan. Close behind followed the attacks of Lin Shikang and the others, slicing across the sky, all coordinating with Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword to strike. Having seen Lin Tianming¡¯s tactics before, and witnessing several peers of the same cultivation realm perish at his hands, Jin Weishan knew that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength could not be measured by his Cultivation Realm alone. With the addition of the other four, such an offensive was extremely formidable, and probably no Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator would dare claim they could definitely withstand it. Watching the approaching Qinghong Sword and the Divine Skills attack intensified by ninefold sword qi, sweeping along with a powerful momentum akin to killing him on the spot, at that moment, Jin Weishan¡¯s face turned grave, and he hurriedly unleashed a strike, clashing directly with the Qinghong Sword. By his side, Yang Jun also took action immediately, sharing the burden with Jin Weishan. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosions sounded, and the sky suddenly became a sea of fire, with intense shockwaves spreading out. When the blaze and the dust had dispersed, Yang Jun and Jin Weishan were seen being blown back, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths while still midair, their complexions significantly paled. After this exchange, Lin Tianming and his four companions managed to repel Jin Weishan and his companion, causing them to sustain some injuries, Finally stabilizing themselves, Yang Jun and his companion exchanged a look, as if reaching a consensus. Immediately after, they leaped up, their Magical Treasures glowing intensely, and two terrifying sword qi assaulted Lin Tianming. Clearly, they were aware of how strong Lin Tianming was, and facing any one of them alone would perhaps not put them at a significant disadvantage. Now with several others assisting, if they let them continue to work together, the situation for the two of them would only become more precarious. In such a situation, they also planned to join forces, to first eliminate Lin Tianming, the strongest among them, or at the very least severely wound him. Once the major threat was removed, dealing with the remaining four would naturally be much easier. With this intention, Jin Weishan and his companion gave it their all, unleashing their strongest techniques. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Two colossal sword qi tore through the void in the sky, the powerful force generating Gang Winds that whipped Lin Tianming¡¯s robes into a flapping frenzy. The speed of the sword qi was incredibly fast, reaching the group in the blink of an eye. Upon seeing this fearsome attack, Lin Shikang and his companion, with faces fraught with angst, urgently cried out, ¡°Tian Ming, be careful!¡± At the same time, they both moved quickly towards Lin Tianming. Even as they were midway through their journey, the Magical Treasures in their hands flashed with Spiritual Light, unleashing attacks to support Lin Tianming as he dealt with the Sword Qi strikes from Jin Weishan and his companion. Aside from the two of them, Lan Yu and Zhao Mingli on the other side were also unwilling to fall behind and launched their attacks at the first opportunity. Lin Tianming had long been aware of their intentions and hastily activated Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Instantaneously, a Sword Shadow Lotus appeared in front of the five of them, firmly shielding the space above their heads. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two streaks of Sword Qi struck the Sword Lotus, and for a moment, a burst of red light shot up to the heavens, causing the ground beneath them to tremble slightly. Following the two loud explosions, the sky gradually returned to calm. Under this assault, Lin Tianming and his companions were merely forced to retreat several dozen feet, causing their Qi-Blood to surge and their complexions to pale a shade. Although the two Sword Qi attacks were powerful, having five people defend together greatly reduced his pressure, and he did not sustain many injuries. On the other hand, Yang Jun and Jin Weishan were also shaken, their Qi-Blood in turmoil as they were repelled and sent flying by the powerful impact. After they stabilized their forms, the two men¡¯s complexions were extremely grim, and thoughts of retreat sprouted in their hearts. They knew that they had consumed more than half of their Mana and, facing Lin Tianming and his companions, who were as aggressive as a rainbow, they hardly had any chance of winning. Even if they continued to fight to the death, their situation would not improve, and it was not impossible that they could be wiped out in one fell swoop. Knowing this, Jin Weishan and his companion abandoned their plans to attack and immediately began to retreat, preparing to regroup with the others. Lin Tianming observed their movements. ¡°Hmph¡­ thinking of running now?¡± ¡°Too late!¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly, his heart actually well guarded. Thereupon, he nodded at Lin Shikang and the others and then took off after Jin Weishan and his companion, who were retreating. Behind him, Lin Shikang and his companions followed his footsteps, chasing after Jin Weishan and his companion. A few breaths later, Jin Weishan and his companion, slower than Lin Tianming, were caught by him. As for the others, they also quickly caught up and swiftly surrounded Jin Weishan and his companion. By now, they were encircled by enemies on all sides, with all their escape routes guarded. Jin Weishan and Yang Jun¡¯s faces were ugly as they hastily responded. However, the two of them had exhausted a great deal of Mana at this point, and their ability to exert power was extremely limited. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to hope their attacks would force a retreat. Time continued to pass, and the attacks came as expected from both sides. Under the fierce collision, the Qinghong Sword repelled the Sword Qi of Yang Jun and Jin Weishan. The Qinghong Sword, temporarily out of trajectory, paused for a moment before continuing its barrage towards Jin Weishan. By this time, they had consumed over ninety percent of their Mana, and their strength was extremely limited, unable to sustain a prolonged battle. Thinking of this, the faces of Yang Jun and his companion turned pale, and they hastily activated their Defense Treasures in front of them. In an instant, two different light shields enveloped an area, firmly protecting Jin Weishan and his companion. A few breaths later, after a series of crackling sounds, the sky regained tranquility. When the dust settled, Jin Weishan and Yang Jun were seen struggling on the ground, with numerous injuries, deathly pale faces, and even more wilted breaths. Subsequently, they tried several times in succession but failed to get up. Finally, after several attempts, the two men supported each other shoulder to shoulder and managed to stand up, staggering, their expressions turning to one of sheer panic. After this strike, both of them were severely wounded and had almost lost their ability to fight. In contrast, Lin Tianming was still bursting with vigor as if he could unleash even more power. What¡¯s more, their situation had now become dire. Under the watchful eyes of Lin Tianming and his companions, they probably couldn¡¯t even manage a Self-Detonating Golden Core. ¡­ Chapter 871 03-25 - 871 467 Han Hus Anger ?Chapter 871: Chapter 467: Han Hu¡¯s Anger Chapter 871: Chapter 467: Han Hu¡¯s Anger At this time, Lin Tianming and his associates saw Jin Weishan and Yang Jun supporting each other as they stood together. Their breath was extremely weak, their pale faces void of any color, almost resembling the ancient elders of the mundane world in their twilight years. Having confirmed that the danger was temporarily lifted, everyone present was overjoyed, and couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief in their hearts. After all, to severely injure Jin Weishan and his companion, they had paid a heavy price and faced many risks. Fortunately, Jin Weishan and his companion were so badly injured that they retained only a tenth of their strength, posing almost no threat. In the current situation, the few of them joining forces to besiege the severely injured duo spelled certain death for them. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang and the others could hardly calm their emotions for a long time. ... Even Lan Yu, who had seen much of the world and had already experienced many battles, felt somewhat disbelieving at heart, same as the others. After all, this battle was indeed perilous, and Shao Changyi had already fallen before, dragging them into a critical moment of life and death. Seeing that they could be killed at any moment, Lan Yu was also burning with anxiety. But at the moment of crisis, Lin Tianming and Zhao Mingli arrived on horseback, turning the tide from a defensive position. Immediately, the five joined forces in battle, eventually inflicting heavy injuries on Jin Weishan and Yang Jun. Now, finishing them off was within arm¡¯s reach. Finally regaining their composure, Lan Yu and the others all looked towards Lin Tianming, adopting a stance that hinged on his leadership. At this moment, Lin Tianming had no intention of delaying any longer. After all, the skirmishes of other battle groups had not ceased, and each moment of delay bore its own risks. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï They had not worked so hard to seize this opportunity only to let it slip away at the last hurdle. Aware of this, Lin Tianming said to his companions, ¡°Gentlemen, let us quickly slay these two, and then lend support to the other Daoist friends!¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Tianming took the lead, launching an attack that shot toward Jin Weishan with explosive force. Seeing this, Lan Yu and Zhao Mingli did not waste time, striking the moment they were able. In an instant, attacks from the others followed suit, unleashing a barrage of assaults that submerged Jin Weishan and his companion. At this moment, Jin Weishan and his companion were pale-faced, their expressions filled with terror. They wanted to flee, but their injuries were too severe, and with Lin Tianming¡¯s group closing in from every direction, escape was impossible. As for waiting for rescue from their sect mates, there was no hope of that either. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng was too far away to be of any help, and Zhou Yunxiao desperately thwarted him, leaving him unable to intervene. The other teammates were too preoccupied with their own struggles; each could hardly protect himself, let alone provide support. Under such circumstances, the two of them could only rely on themselves. But even knowing this, they also knew that they were no match for Lin Tianming and the others. At this time, Jin Weishan and his companion felt helpless; they could not fight, nor could they escape, and they were forced to accept the reality of their impending demise. However, as Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen, they retained their pride and, despite their severe injuries, were not prepared to simply wait for death. Thus, with a look of madness, they immediately gathered the little mana they had left and launched several attacks to block Lin Tianming¡¯s assault, seeking to buy themselves time. They then clasped their hands in incantation, causing a disturbance in nature¡¯s spiritual energy, trying to attempt a Self-Detonating Golden Core. Making such a desperate choice, they were well aware that they were in a dire situation, and it would be better to offer their last bit of strength for the sake of their sect. With this intent, Jin Weishan and his companion¡¯s expressions turned resolute, quickly drawing in a large amount of spiritual energy, which frantically entered their bodies from the Sky Spirit Cover. At this time, Lin Tianming and the others had realized that Jin Weishan and his companion might attempt to self-detonate their Golden Cores in a last-ditch effort. If they were in a similar hopeless situation, they would have made the same decision. Therefore, they were well-prepared in advance and had to act quickly to prevent Jin Weishan and his companion from carrying out their plan. Under these circumstances, the relentless attacks of everyone present aimed straight for vital points, trying to disrupt the impending self-detonation. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was the first to arrive, with the Qinghong Sword instantly scattering Jin Weishan¡¯s assault. Without slowing down, the Qinghong Sword continued to fly toward Jin Weishan. In the blink of an eye, the Qinghong Sword pierced through Jin Weishan¡¯s body. Suddenly, a scream echoed. Jin Weishan¡¯s self-detonation was interrupted, and the gathered spiritual energy churned before completely dissipating into the environment. Soon after, attacks from Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai also descended, killing the barely breathing Jin Weishan. Simultaneously, Yang Jun was decapitated by Zhao Mingli, immediately losing his vital signs. In an instant, the self-detonation of Jin Weishan and his companion was disrupted, and they were slain without resistance. Lin Tianming and his companions came together, their expressions still exuberant even after the two were dead beyond doubt. At this time, Lin Tianming glanced over the group and then suggested, ¡°Daoist Zhao, let us split into two groups and go assist Daoist Chen and the others!¡± ¡°Good¡­ Let¡¯s move immediately!¡± After Zhao Mingli responded, he flew directly toward the battle group of Duan Liangyu. Lan Yu paused for a moment and then followed Zhao Mingli¡¯s lead, evidently intending to join Duan Liangyu¡¯s group. Chapter 872 03-25 - 872 467 Han Hus Anger_2 ?Chapter 872: Chapter 467 Han Hu¡¯s Anger_2 Chapter 872: Chapter 467 Han Hu¡¯s Anger_2 Seeing Zhao Mingli leave with another, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Shikang next to him before saying, ¡°Third Grandfather, you and Grandpa Sea go and support the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Spirit Beast, I will go and help Daoist Chen!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang and his companion nodded, then cautioned, ¡°Everyone, be careful!¡± Immediately afterward, Lin Shikang and the other leaped into another battle group. As everyone left one after another, Lin Tianming did not delay either and dashed toward the location of Chen Jingtian. Soon, he arrived at a battlefield, and from a distance, he observed the battle group of Chen Jingtian and others. Following his gaze, at this moment, Chen Jingtian, Luo Anzhong, and Chen Maohua were joining forces to contend against Han Hu. These individuals in the battle group were old adversaries who had fought several major battles before and understood each other¡¯s combat strength quite well. ... The outcomes of those past few encounters had been roughly equal, with each side having its share of both advantages and losses. It could be said that these three men, along with Zhou Yunxiao, were key to tipping the scales of the entire scene. Therefore, this battle group was essentially evenly matched; as before, it wasn¡¯t easy to determine a winner. Meanwhile, as what had transpired resulted in the deaths of He Liqiu, Gu Changqing, Cao Jinping, Jin Weishan, and Yang Jun, five Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, the Blood Red Alliance along with the Huangyang Kingdom suffered heavy casualties. Moreover, with the prior deaths of Xiang Changqing, Yu Hongyan, and Dong Wenchang, most of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators had also perished in this grand battle. As the stabilizing figure of the Golden Sword Sect, Han Hu was significantly impacted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 He now deeply regretted following Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s plan initially, which significantly weakened the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s strength. At this point, he had no way out. His situation was extremely dire, and the longer things dragged on, the worse it became. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this situation, Han Hu¡¯s morale also weakened, even if he didn¡¯t retreat from the battle, the strength he could muster was obviously not as overpowering as at the beginning. And this battle was particularly fierce, even continually claiming the lives of Golden Core Cultivators, which struck him with dread. Due to this shift in mindset, Han Hu was now being dominated in the fight by the vigorously imposing Chen Jingtian and his companions, and he was barely holding on. Seeing Lin Tianming free to help and seemingly about to join the battle group, right then and there, Han Hu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, knowing his situation was becoming even more perilous. However, before he could ponder any further, Lin Tianming had already joined the battle group, aiding Chen Jingtian and the others in attacking him. At this time, Lin Tianming wasted no time¡ªhis Qinghong Sword erupted with bursts of Spiritual Light, activating a massive amount of Sword Qi, and launched the attack from various angles. Having joined the battle group, Lin Tianming went all out, using merely ten to twenty percent of his total mana to create opportunities for Chen Jingtian and the others. Therefore, he didn¡¯t entertain thoughts of killing Han Hu and just hoped to achieve some effect. After all, Han Hu was a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator whose strength had been tested in several major battles. Although Lin Tianming had the ability to exterminate Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, against a Late Stage Golden Core Expert like Han Hu, his methods probably didn¡¯t pose a lethal threat. Even though the Sword Qi wasn¡¯t Divine Skills, they still possessed considerably potent force, enough to trouble Han Hu a bit. Seeing Lin Tianming join the battle group and aggressively make moves against Han Hu, Chen Jingtian was overwhelmed with excitement, and his morale surged significantly. ¡°Fellow daoists, let¡¯s not hold back!¡± After Chen Jingtian shouted, his Magical Treasure flashed with light, and a Golden Sword Qi shot out, aiming straight for Han Hu¡¯s vital areas. Influenced by Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, Chen Maohua and Luo Anzhong also grew more confident, increasing the intensity of their attacks. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The sky filled with various Sword Qis, each attack enough to make any Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s scalp tingle. In that moment, feeling the disturbances from all around, Han Hu looked exceedingly grave and scrambled to respond. He too activated a Golden Greatsword, unleashing vast Sword Qi, clashing head-on with the attacks from Lin Tianming and others. Simultaneously, he utilized his Defense Treasure to block those non-lethal attacks. In an instant, the sky was ravaged by Sword Qi, the powerful fluctuations from their collision stirring up a fierce wind, sweeping across all directions. As the strong gust approached, Lin Tianming pivoted his body to dodge the Sword Qi attacks while adjusting his own attacking stance. After stabilizing his stance, Lin Tianming struggled to control the surging Qi-blood within him, his face alternating between red and pale. On the other side, Chen Jingtian and his two companions likewise retreated dozens of feet, their expressions equally grave. Following that round of attack, seeing that Han Hu had blocked their combined strike with little effort, Lin Tianming was deeply shocked. Initially, he thought his own strength was enough to match a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, and combined with Chen Jingtian¡¯s team, they should have quickly gained the upper hand. However, Han Hu indeed proved himself a powerful existence in the Late Stage Golden Core. Facing the four together, he merely retreated about a hundred feet and did not seem significantly affected. Clearly, Han Hu was not easy to deal with. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been stuck in a stalemate for so long, still able to fight against three without falling into much disadvantage. Nevertheless, despite this, Lin Tianming and his group did not get discouraged and instead grew more spirited. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming frequently initiated attacks, continuing to increase the frequency and intensity. Seeing Lin Tianming taking the lead, Chen Jingtian and the other two exchanged a look, then also leapt up, launching attacks from different angles. For a time, the four resumed their combined offensive, giving Han Hu no chance to catch his breath. At this moment, Han Hu¡¯s face darkened, and despite his reluctance, he could only hastily cope. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky was ablaze with light, and the earth trembled slightly. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s battle group had fought through over ten rounds. As the ferocity of the battle continued to escalate, the five rapidly drained their mana, and their injuries became increasingly severe. Especially Han Hu. Facing a continuous stream of attacks from the four, even with a cultivation advantage, he was overwhelmed. In the short term, it was fine, but as time went on, he too felt somewhat powerless. Chen Jingtian and the others were also greatly exhausted. Lin Tianming¡¯s mana was drained, leaving him to exert pressure on Han Hu using his physical strength alone. It could be said that everyone present was struggling to hold on. Relying on his superior cultivation, Han Hu was able to persist until now without showing any obvious signs of defeat. At this point, the fierce battle gradually turned into a contest of stamina, waiting to see which side would falter first and give the other an opportunity. As Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio¡¯s attacks were dissolved by Han Hu, before he could catch his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Black Dragon Axe was already chopping down. When his magical treasure made contact with the Black Dragon Axe, he immediately felt a tremendous force that made his wrists go numb. At the same time, a force took the opportunity to enter his body, crazily surging inside him. For a moment, Han Hu¡¯s Qi-blood roiled, and the corners of his mouth leaked a trace of fresh blood. It took him considerable effort to suppress this rampaging force. After stabilizing with great difficulty, Han Hu was a mix of shock and anger, harboring intense hatred towards Lin Tianming. In his view, although Lin Tianming¡¯s strike did not pose a fatal threat, such gradual depletion of his mana and strength through repeated attacks could also exhaust him mentally and physically, worsening his injuries. At this time, he was furious, harboring great animosity towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, however, had a clear objective; he avoided direct engagement in battle, seizing every opportunity when Han Hu was preoccupied with Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio to create trouble. Once he had a moment free, leveraging his speed, he distanced himself from the main battlefield, not giving Han Hu any chance for retaliation. With such a tactic, Han Hu felt helpless and could only try to buy time, waiting for an excellent opportunity to break the deadlock. However, before he found such a chance, his situation became even more difficult. Just as a vulnerability was seized by Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio, he immediately paid a heavy price. As the attacks by Chen Maohua and another dissolved, Chen Jingtian activated a golden flashing Sword Qi, transforming into a Golden Dragon which directly hit his shoulder. In an instant, Han Hu was thrown by the powerful force. Still in mid-air, Han Hu spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion turned significantly paler, and his breath greatly weakened. ¡­ Chapter 873 03-25 - 873 468 Thoughts of Retreating ?Chapter 873: Chapter 468: Thoughts of Retreating Chapter 873: Chapter 468: Thoughts of Retreating Struggling to stabilize his form, Han Hu glared furiously at the few across him, including Lin Tianming, his expression extremely hideous. At the same time, during this lull in the assault, he pondered a counter-strategy. Quickly, he glanced at the other battle groups and saw that, aside from Zhao Hongsheng, everyone else had fallen into a disadvantage. Even as Li Sheng of Forging Sword Valley was slain, their gathered group of Golden Core Cultivators was reduced to just him, Zhao Hongsheng, and Ren Feihong of Qingmu Sect. These remaining three were all at Mid Stage Golden Core or above, representing the entirety of their side¡¯s current Golden Core Stage Combat Power. It was hard to imagine that their group had started with a formidable lineup of eleven Golden Core Stage Cultivators, led by two Late Stage Golden Core experts. Such a force capable of sweeping across the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had been decimated by Myriad Medicine Valley, causing their collective strength to plummet severely. ... In contrast, although Myriad Medicine Valley also lost several Golden Core Stage fighters and many were gravely injured, their overall strength hadn¡¯t declined by much. Facing such a vast disparity, Han Hu saw the reality clearly and couldn¡¯t help but consider retreating. After all, the battle had reached a point where, with his serious injuries, the balance of equal strength was broken, placing him at a definite disadvantage. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Continuing to fight like this, he saw no hope for victory. In such a situation, he might as well retreat now and return to Golden Sword Mountain Gate. It was expected that after the great battle concluded, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would certainly seek revenge on them. But with his presence, combined with Song Hanchun, who had always been defending Golden Sword territory, along with the Third Order Spiritual Beasts of Golden Sword Sect, they could rely on Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation to contend with Myriad Medicine Valley for a time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï If they couldn¡¯t withstand the assault, he could also take Song Hanchun and a few others to leave the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, which was still preferable to leaving their lives in Wei Kingdom. With his Late Stage Golden Core cultivation and Golden Sword Sect¡¯s wealth accumulated over thousands of years, the vast Cultivation World was his to explore. Moreover, it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to find another treasure land and make a comeback. When that time came, if the conditions were right, he could completely return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Thinking of this, Han Hu pondered for a moment and made up his mind. As he was lost in thought, a pleasant voice sounded. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity following Chen Jingtian¡¯s strike that injured Han Hu, Lin Tianming and the others planned to end Han Hu¡¯s life right there. With this goal in mind, their attacks, like flowing water, came at him incessantly, giving him no chance to catch his breath. Under the four-man siege, Han Hu fought while retreating, forced to focus solely on defense, and struggled to organize effective offensives to threaten Lin Tianming and the others. For a moment, the overall situation of the great battle took a dramatic turn for the worse. Following the attack of Chen Jingtian and the others, Han Hu was sent flying by the tremendous force with his Qi-Blood, barely suppressed within him, surging wildly once again. At that moment, Han Hu saw Chen Jingtian continuing to strike, Lin Tianming, and the others fully cooperating in their well-coordinated attack, one following the other. Clearly, the opponents had no intention of giving him any chance to survive. Realizing this, Han Hu no longer had the courage to continue the battle. So, with his mind made up, he quickly slapped his storage bag and took out a blood-red talisman paper, clutching it in his hand. Looking at the talisman paper, Han Hu wore a reluctant expression. After all, this object was one of the most powerful treasures remaining in Golden Sword Sect. Once activated, it could unleash an incredibly powerful plume of light, and that level of attack, even Zhou Yunxiao, who was also a Late Stage Golden Core, would have to handle it with care. If luck was on his side, perhaps it could even annihilate him. Such a precious treasure, now forced to be used against Chen Jingtian and the others, was truly regrettable. However, at this point, Han Hu had no choice but to rely on it to escape this bloodbath, no matter how reluctant he was. Therefore, wasting no time, he swiftly flicked his fingers and activated the talisman paper. ¡°BOOM¡­¡± In an instant, the blood-colored talisman light flowed, then suddenly shot into the sky, turning into a red beam. Seeing this earth-shaking development, Chen Jingtian was the first to recognize that the talisman was a Fourth Tier Item and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°A Fourth Order Attack Talisman, this is actually a Fourth Order Attack Talisman!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ complexions changed drastically, each retreating rapidly, clearly afraid of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman¡¯s strike. Instantly, Chen Jingtian and his group scattered in all directions, each fleeing as fast as possible. Especially Lin Tianming, who was situated relatively at the back and reacted quickly, managed to distance himself by over a hundred yards in no time. He was well aware of the power of a Fourth Order Attack Talisman. Although it was just an ordinary strike for a Nascent Soul Cultivator, for all Golden Core Cultivators, it was a deadly threat. Even Zhou Yunxiao wouldn¡¯t dare to claim he could survive unscathed in such an attack, to say nothing of his own Early Stage Golden Core cultivation. If even slightly affected, he would likely be grievously injured. And with bad luck, he could very well die on the spot. Given the circumstances, he dared not stay a moment longer and focused only on getting as far away as possible. Only when he had flown a great distance, at least far from the center, and his personal safety was somewhat secured, Lin Tianming finally let out a sigh of relief. Chapter 874 03-25 - 874 468 The Emergence of the Idea to ?Chapter 874: Chapter 468: The Emergence of the Idea to Retreat_2 Chapter 874: Chapter 468: The Emergence of the Idea to Retreat_2 Immediately after, he turned his head to look back, constantly watching Han Hu¡¯s every move. ¡°Boom¡­¡± From the Blood-colored Talisman, a column of light soared into the sky, quickly turning into a multitude of blood spikes, hurtling toward the direction where Lin Tianming and the others were. At this time, Chen Jingtian, who had been at the very front, was the quickest and had already left the central area. Lin Tianming followed, with Chen Maohua closely behind, the three of them one in front of the other, just escaping the densest area of blood spikes. Luo Anzhong, however, did not react in time and, due to multiple injuries sustained earlier and not being at his peak strength, ended up being left behind. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, the sky was filled with blood light, and with each pulse of light, dense blood spikes formed. ... Under the relentless attack of the dense blood spikes, Lin Tianming and the others increased their escape speed drastically, desperate to flee the area. As they retreated explosively, a scream was heard from behind them. At the same time, with the incessant and dense blood spikes continuing to assault them, the originally clear area was once again overrun by blood spikes. Now, the few people at the front were in constant trouble, having to find a way to block the impact of the blood spikes, or else they risked following in Luo Anzhong¡¯s footsteps. In a moment of urgency, Chen Jingtian stopped and with a slap to his storage pouch, a small umbrella-like Magical Treasure above his head flashed brightly, quickly enlarging to cover his entire body. ¡°Clang clang clang¡­¡± The blood spikes pummelled the small umbrella, producing a number of red sparks upon impact. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Almost after a breathing time had passed, the Magical Treasure umbrella was riddled with holes and its spirituality greatly diminished; only then did the blood spikes slowly dissipate. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was able to navigate through the dense sea of blood spikes like a fish, thanks to the incredible power of the Eye of Five Colors. Having passed through the densest area, Lin Tianming now emerged hundreds of yards away. Here, the blood spikes were sparse and their velocity significantly decreased, so much so that even without the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming could easily dodge them. After steadying himself, Lin Tianming gasped for air, filled with immense relief. Although he was temporarily safe, the preceding ordeal had been extremely dangerous, with several blood spikes piercing through his body, going straight through and leaving behind several bloody holes despite his formidable physique. Had the density of the spikes not been so great, and their power not overly strong, and had he not been aided by the Eye of Five Colors enabling him to choose the best escape route based on different situations, he most certainly would have met his end. After all, with the lowest level of cultivation and without a Defense Treasure like Chen Jingtian had for protection, relying solely on his own methods to block the dense and terrifying attack of the blood spikes was indeed too challenging. Fortunately, the dreadful Fourth Order Attack Talisman was about to dissipate, and the blood spikes were going to vanish as well. Apart from the unlucky Luo Anzhong who perished by a single strike, the remaining three of them were still alive, albeit Chen Maohua was seriously injured. And at this moment, the three survivors gathered together. After this round of attacks, the group of four that included Lin Tianming saw death and injury, substantially reducing their overall strength. Han Hu¡¯s side was not doing well either, having been injured beforehand and the subsequent activation of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman also depleting much of his mana. Moreover, the recent attacks from Lin Tianming and his companions had complicated matters for him, worsening the already heavy wounds he bore. At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others watched every move of Han Hu, not daring to be rash, fearing that Han Hu might still have some powerful cards up his sleeve. In case they pushed too hard and Han Hu chose to fight to the death, they would have no means to fend off another attack from the Fourth Order Attack Talisman. The same was true for Han Hu, now bereft of his trump card, he too was very wary of Lin Tianming and his two companions. Thus, both sides fell into a moment of silence, with neither willing to make the first move. Seeing that Lin Tianming and his companions dared not attack, Han Hu began to back away, inching closer to Zhao Hongsheng high in the sky. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companions exchanged glances, neither daring to strike nor willing to let Han Hu escape the fray. However, although they dared not get too close, they could follow, in case Han Hu were to join forces with Zhao Hongsheng against Zhou Yunxiao. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Zhou Yunxiao will be in danger.¡± Aware of this, Lin Tianming and his two companions could not care about anything else and immediately shifted their forms, chasing after Han Hu. Soon, with the arrival of Han Hu, the fierce battle between Zhao Hongsheng and Zhou Yunxiao came to a standstill. Before that, neither Zhao Hongsheng nor Zhou Yunxiao had been able to determine a victor, though Zhou Yunxiao had fallen slightly behind, consuming a bit more energy than Zhao Hongsheng, who was at the same cultivation level. This great battle had claimed many Golden Core Cultivators by now, and with everyone¡¯s mana approaching depletion, it was gradually drawing to a close. Since Han Hu still had strength for one more fight, Zhou Yunxiao dared not be careless, and could only temporarily withdraw from the battle group, converging with Lin Tianming and the others. On the other hand, Ren Feihong, who was being besieged by many cultivators, was also seriously injured. In order to save his life, he had used his trump card and wiped out the last Third Order Spiritual Beast from Myriad Medicine Valley in one fell swoop. With that strike, he temporarily deterred those besieging him and then managed to break away from the conflict, joining Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side was down to just three people, with Han Hu injured and Ren Feihong severely wounded. From Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side, only eleven remained alive, and only seven Golden Core Cultivators still maintained about eighty to ninety percent of their combat strength, most being in the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm. As for the others, almost all were severely injured, their strength greatly diminished. Although Zhao Hongsheng was left with only three people, with Han Hu there were two in the later stages, still possessing certain strength. Therefore, both parties were wary of each other, standing off at a certain distance. After a moment of silence and seeing that no one made a move, Zhou Yunxiao, who glared at Zhao Hongsheng furiously, looked at his companions, thinking that they still held an absolute advantage. Having paid such a heavy price, with many perishing in this great battle, they have finally fought for this situation; naturally, he had no intention of letting Zhao Hongsheng and the others go. After all, Zhao Hongsheng had significant backing, and if he managed to gather forces to attack again, they might not be able to hold them off. Moreover, although he dared not provoke the Blood Red Alliance, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s persistent ambitions and creating such calamity out of nowhere meant they had to pay the price. Fully understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead in acting to break the stalemate. Following suit, Chen Jingtian also understood Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s intentions, his heart similarly unwilling for Zhao Hongsheng and his group to leave. Lin Tianming, knowing the purpose behind Zhao Hongsheng initiating the war, was even less willing to let him go. With such intentions, the cultivators launched their attacks, unleashing a barrage, directly covering the airspace above Zhao Hongsheng and his group. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Watching the sky filled with attacks, each one brought a tremendous force. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s and Han Hu¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, their expressions extremely grave. Zhao Hongsheng sighed helplessly, then slapped his storage bag, and a light blue talisman paper appeared in his hand. Looking at it, the talisman paper was indigo, the luminescence swirling within was remarkably stunning. This talisman paper was a Fourth Order Attack Talisman, one of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s greatest trump cards. He could obtain such an item without much cost only because it was part of the mission given to him by his sect. Now, even though he was reluctant, in order to retreat in one piece, he had to use the talisman paper. At this very moment, as the sky filled with attacks approached, Zhao Hongsheng did not hesitate to activate the Fourth Order Attack Talisman. Instantly, with a flash of light on the talisman paper, huge water-blue dragons appeared out of thin air, churning in the clouds above their heads. Then, guided by Zhao Hongsheng, a multitude of blue dragons roared forth, shooting towards the many cultivators opposite. Having done this, Zhao Hongsheng shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Hongsheng soared on the wind from his feet, leading the way in one direction. Trailing behind him, Han Hu and Ren Feihong dared not delay, following Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s lead, they quickly vanished into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 875 03-25 - 875 469 The Great Battle Concludes ?Chapter 875: Chapter 469: The Great Battle Concludes Chapter 875: Chapter 469: The Great Battle Concludes Just as Zhao Hongsheng and his two companions vanished from sight, the dragons that emerged from the talisman paper he had activated before leaving descended upon them. In an instant, a thunderous roar erupted, as a multitude of dragons charged forward. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao, despite being extremely anxious, desperately did not want to let the enemy get away. Yet faced with the terrifying dragon assault, even his cultivation at the Medium Stage Golden Core was seriously challenged, and he risked falling if he wasn¡¯t careful. Therefore, facing the trump card left behind by Zhao Hongsheng to block their path, Zhou Yunxiao had no choice but to deal with it cautiously. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Apart from Zhao Hongsheng, everyone else was also a mixture of shock and rage, their expressions growing gravely solemn. Meanwhile, a group of Golden Core Cultivators retreated explosively, with the magical treasures in their hands shining brightly. ... For a moment, more than a dozen Golden Core Cultivators joined forces, unleashing a powerful blow towards the dragons that were coming straight at them. In that instance, the sky was filled with various attacks, every person, regardless of how much Mana they had left or what techniques they possessed, dared not hold anything back. Under these circumstances, the combined strike of more than ten Golden Core Cultivators also possessed tremendous destructive power. As time slowly passed by, the two forces violently collided. ¡°Boom¡­¡± From within the vast blaze, a crackling explosion could be heard, the whole ground blazing with fire as large swathes of land shook violently. Despite the incredible Attack Power of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman, the number of people including Lin Tianming was significant enough that their combined assault was comparably fearsome. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï However, the terror of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman had been previously proven by Han Hu; even Luo Anzhong, a seasoned Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, had not been able to withstand its attack and thus met his demise here. Under this attack, many Cultivators were affected, among which Zhou Yunxiao, as the primary target, naturally bore the brunt of the assault. And the outcome was that he suffered serious injuries at a significant cost. Aside from Zhou Yunxiao, Shao Changyi failed to dodge in time and perished under this strike. As for the others, including Lin Tianming, they too suffered greatly from the aftermath, each sustaining various degrees of injury. Only when the dust had settled did the sky and the ground return to calm. At this time, Lin Tianming and the others all gathered beside Zhou Yunxiao, with everyone staring in the direction Zhao Hongsheng had disappeared to, only to find that they were gone without a trace, leaving behind a battlefield riddled with holes and enveloped in the lingering smoke of gunpowder. Furthermore, at a distance, several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gathered upon a few Flying Boats. Scanning the horizon, these people, filled with panic, immediately steered the Flying Boats in the direction Zhao Hongsheng had escaped. Regrettably, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were too fast, leaving no chance to take these people with them. By the time these Foundation Establishment Cultivators realized what was happening, the battle was nearly over, and the whereabouts of Zhao Hongsheng and his companions were unknown, with only Lin Tianming and his allies¡¯ figures emerging in the aftermath. Seeing so many Golden Core Cultavators staring at them, the Cultivators on the Flying Boats were scared out of their wits, not daring to linger in this place any longer. Thus, the people aboard these Flying Boats cared for nothing else but their desire to flee the area. However, escaping under the watchful eyes of so many Golden Core Cultivators was obviously not realistic. And as expected, seeing Zhao Hongsheng and others flee, the expressions on Lin Tianming and his companions became extremely complex. Upon closer inspection, their expressions varied, some filled with the joy of having survived a calamity, others with the excitement of having won the battle. After all, this battle had led to absolute victory in a strict sense; the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core processors had suffered heavy losses, which significantly weakened their strength. The Blood Red Alliance had also suffered heavy losses and no longer had the capacity to annihilate any sects in the short term. Beside those who were excited and thrilled, there were also some who were filled with unending fury. Especially Zhou Yunxiao, whose eyes burned with rage at the sight before him, his face flashing with a ferocious expression. In his eyes, this battle had failed to eliminate future threats, leaving many uncertainties ahead. Especially for the Blood Red Alliance, if they rallied their troops again and incited other powers from the Cultivation World to attack the Wei Kingdom, Myriad Medicine Valley would inevitably be hit first. Considering this, Myriad Medicine Valley had not achieved its most ideal goal, and naturally, Zhou Yunxiao was filled with angry emotions. Eventually calming down a bit, Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but bitterly say, ¡°Zhao Hongsheng and those old thieves really fled quickly. If they had delayed for just a moment, I would have made sure all of them stayed behind to commemorate the fallen Daoist friends with their heads!¡± Zhou Yunxiao made a ruthless statement, but he did not make any movements thereafter, clearly aware of their current predicament. Although only three Golden Core Cultivators remained on Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side, they too had no strength left to fight again in a short time. After all, the group that took part in the battle was nearly decimated, with either the dead or the wounded left, and even those unscathed had nearly exhausted their Mana. Under these circumstances, even if they pursued, it would be difficult to detain Zhao Hongsheng and his companions. Thus, despite feeling regretful, they had no choice but to accept the situation. At this time, Chen Jingtian also looked at the fleeing Flying Boats and then asked, ¡°Daoist Zhou, what do we do now?¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao suppressed the anger in his heart and said with a bitter smile, ¡°Let¡¯s forget it¡­ our current conditions are too poor, and even if we caught up, we wouldn¡¯t be able to keep Zhao Hongsheng and those thieves!¡± Chapter 876 03-25 - 876 469 Great War Ends_2 ?Chapter 876: Chapter 469 Great War Ends_2 Chapter 876: Chapter 469 Great War Ends_2 ¡°Rather than taking risks blindly, it¡¯s better to rest for two days before we return. Once we have recovered some strength, we can make a trip to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate and uproot the Golden Sword Sect entirely!¡± ¡°At present, these abandoned Foundation Establishment juniors can serve as a little interest.¡± ¡°Therefore, we must mobilize several of our comrades to ensure that all of them are eliminated!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Zhou Yunxiao glanced at the people present, then continued to speak to Lin Tianming, ¡°Daoist Tianming, Daoist Jingtian, how about the three of us each pursue one flying boat?¡± Hearing this, both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian nodded, agreeing to the matter. The two of them responded so readily, with no intention of opposition. The reason for this was clear to them. Given their cultivation strength, pursuing these three flying boats would be effortless, and they would easily gain the cultivators¡¯ spoils of war. ... Such a task was akin to reaping benefits effortlessly, naturally leaving no room for objection. Moreover, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s deliberate arrangement for Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming showed a certain profound intention. After all, given the current situation, both the Zhenyang Sect and the Lin Family were strong enough with many surviving Golden Core cultivators. It could be foreseen that for hundreds or even thousands of years to come, both the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect would undoubtedly remain among the top powers in the Wei Kingdom. Especially the Lin Family, which could completely replace the Golden Sword Sect as the third greatest Golden Core power in the Wei Kingdom. Thus, distributing the interests of these Foundation Establishment cultivators to the three strongest factions was only to be expected. The only consideration was whether the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family would have any objections. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï However, at present, the only Golden Core cultivator of the West River Li Family, Li Wenhe, had fallen, and the prestige of the Li Family as a Golden Core family was virtually extinct. Even though Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family was severely injured, even in his peak state, he likely couldn¡¯t compare with the current Lin Family. Under such circumstances, even if Chen Maohua had any objections, he would probably not risk offending the other three major powers over such trivial benefits. Knowing this well, Zhou Yunxiao had no reservations and needed to prioritize the Zhenyang Sect and the Lin Family first, leaving others for later consideration. Indeed, Chen Maohua¡¯s response was within Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s expectations; he didn¡¯t raise any objections, clearly recognizing the reality. With that, seeing Chen Maohua having no objections, Zhou Yunxiao decided not to delay any further. He looked at the people behind him, then gave an order to Duan Liangyu. ¡°Duan, you and the cultivators of the same rank are responsible for cleaning up the battlefield. Collect those spoils of war and distribute them at an appropriate time!¡± Upon hearing this, Duan Liangyu nodded and acknowledged the task. Zhou Yunxiao then continued, ¡°Besides this, we shall rest for three days next, trying our best to recuperate some injuries and mana.¡± ¡°After three days, regardless of how much our injuries and mana have recovered, we must rally together and head to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate to completely uproot the Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°After all, it¡¯s very likely that Zhao Hongsheng and others are in seclusion cultivating within the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, and time is just as pressing for them.¡± ¡°And if we want to eradicate them thoroughly, we must act swiftly to kill them all.¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words, the few people present pondered briefly and then responded in unison, ¡°We will follow Daoist Zhou¡¯s instructions!¡± Seeing no one opposed, Zhou Yunxiao wasted no further time, leaping forward, and quickly chased after the direction in which the flying boat was escaping. Soon, Zhou Yunxiao disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. With Zhou Yunxiao taking the lead in leaving, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian also exchanged a few words with their sect members. After giving some instructions, both of them also flew towards one of the fleeing flying boats. A quarter of an hour later. On a vast plain, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. At that moment, Lin Tianming stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from a flying boat, his towering figure bringing the flying boat to a halt. It took merely a quarter-hour, and Lin Tianming had not expended much effort at all to catch up to the fleeing flying boat, blocking its path ahead. On the flying boat, the 200-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators saw Lin Tianming blocking their path and were immediately filled with panic, all of them staring at his silhouette, stirring into confusion. Clearly, Lin Tianming¡¯s appearance brought a tremendous shock and deep fear to these people. It was no surprise, considering that in the previous battle, Lin Tianming had consecutively slain several Golden Core cultivators, including some at the Mid Stage Golden Core. The most obvious case was that of Gu Changqing from the Qingyun Sect, a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. He fought alone against Lin Tianming and was actually killed by Lin Tianming. Those Foundation Establishment Cultivators were watching the battle from a corner at that time and were very aware of their fellow Sect Elder Gu Changqing¡¯s strength. And they had also witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s methods. In their hearts, Lin Tianming was a cold-blooded God of Slaughter whose strength and tactics were extremely formidable, and his way of handling things was utterly ruthless. Such a strong and exceedingly vicious Golden Core Stage Expert was undoubtedly the nightmare of all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Thus, when they saw Lin Tianming blocking their way, all of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were scared witless, many of them already collapsing on the deck, their faces completely drained of color. At that moment, Lin Tianming turned around, his sharp eyes scanning the many cultivators on the flying boat. Merely with that look, he had intimidated most of them, causing them to freeze on the spot. Lin Tianming had no intention of holding back against these people and planned to annihilate them all. After all, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators essentially came from the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom, and judging by their attire, they were undoubtedly disciples of the Qingyun Sect. And the Lin Family had already established deep-seated enmities with the Qingyun Sect. After this great battle, he had once again killed Qingyun Sect¡¯s Gu Changqing. In just two years, he had already killed three Qingyun Sect Golden Core Cultivators, among them Xu Zhi and Gu Changqing, both having been Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators. Since it was a fight to the death, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t show mercy. Thus, Lin Tianming leaped forward, his physical body charging towards the flying boat. While still in mid-air, Lin Tianming swung the Black Dragon Axe in his hand forcefully, a massive black light shooting out, slashing towards the flying boat. Seeing this, the faces of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the flying boat turned deathly pale, and the already chaotic scene turned even more disorderly. Amidst the chaos, some sharp-eyed cultivators knelt directly on the deck, then started begging for mercy. ¡°Elder Lin, this junior was forced into entering Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Although I have attacked and killed some fellows, I have never harmed any Lin Family Members!¡± ¡°I hope Elder Lin can be magnanimous and spare us juniors a way of survival!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator echoed. ¡°Yes, Elder Lin, to you, we juniors are just like ants!¡± ¡°Yet as a renowned strong figure, although killing us is as easy as lifting your hand, these juniors are willing to forsake darkness for light and serve you, prepared to be at your disposal as long as we live!¡± Upon hearing this, many began to speak up in agreement, seemingly having forgotten their own status. However, some cultivators were visibly outraged and couldn¡¯t help yelling. ¡°Have you forgotten your own identity? Don¡¯t forget that each of us has a sliver of soul left in the Sect. Even if you betray to the Lin Family, the Sect will eventually eliminate you traitors!¡± ¡°Exactly¡­ we cultivators should not stoop to live in disgrace as traitors to our own Sect!¡± ¡­ Amidst the disagreeing voices of the cultivators creating disarray, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack had already descended. To these people, even those Qingyun Sect cultivators trying to change allegiance to the Lin Family, Lin Tianming held no mercy. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since these people could betray so easily, they must be malicious by nature, and keeping them would be of little use. With that in mind, he didn¡¯t plan on giving them a way out. After all, failing to remove the roots when cutting weeds may lead to future troubles. With such thoughts, Lin Tianming continued to attack, repeatedly wielding the Black Dragon Axe. With just a few strikes, he broke the flying boat¡¯s defensive restrictions. Among those Qingyun Sect cultivators, those with lower cultivation levels were directly killed by the powerful force. As for the others who survived, they were all wounded, and the moment the flying boat¡¯s restrictions broke, they began to scatter and flee. ¡­ Chapter 877 03-25 - 877 470 Rest and Reorganization ?Chapter 877: Chapter 470: Rest and Reorganization Chapter 877: Chapter 470: Rest and Reorganization At this moment, over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were fleeing in all directions, each looking as panic-stricken as the defeated soldiers of the Secular World. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming snorted coldly, with no intention of letting them off the hook. But with so many people escaping, even though his realm and cultivation placed him at an overwhelming advantage, and his speed was much greater, in the face of so many fleeing, even his formidable power couldn¡¯t be everywhere at once. So he pondered briefly and released several Spirit Beasts such as the Purple Gold Eagle. Soon, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s left and right sides, launching attacks on the escaping Cultivators without a moment¡¯s delay. At the Second Order Late Phase grade, both beasts were almost at the pinnacle of Second Order Demonic Beasts, with strengths that the majority of these fleeing individuals could not hope to match. Under the assault of such powerful beasts, common Cultivators stood no chance at all, only those at the eighth and ninth level of Foundation Establishment were barely able to resist for a moment or slip away from their attacks. ... ¡°Hiss hiss hiss¡­¡± A series of peculiar hissing sounds echoed. Relying on its bizarre abilities, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox immediately bewitched some Cultivators. In that moment, the fox burst forth with Spiritual Light, effortlessly dispatching those Cultivators below the late stages of Foundation Establishment. On the other side, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was also unwilling to be outdone. With its massive body and agile speed, it blocked the escaping Cultivators¡¯ path even more easily than the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Just as the two Demonic Beasts launched their attack, Lin Tianming, as their master, naturally did not stand idly by. He swung the Black Dragon Axe in his hand repeatedly, streaks of black light tearing through the sky. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï Assisted by three Second Order Late Phase Spirit Beasts, Lin Tianming was a whirlwind of activity, effortlessly delivering lethal strikes to these Foundation Establishment Cultivators. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, over ten screams of agony were heard. Soon after, the bodies of more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators fell from the sky, stirring up clouds of dust as they hit the ground. Clearly, with the addition of the Spirit Beasts, the pressure on Lin Tianming had substantially decreased. However, the number of escaping Cultivators was still too high, and under the threat of death, their speed far exceeded their norm, and they did not cluster together to escape. As a result, there were always some Cultivators with a mix of good luck and strength who slipped through the net. Lin Tianming, however, was quite indifferent to this. In his view, he knew it was not possible to keep all those Cultivators there. Fortunately, the Lin Family had grown stronger than before, strong enough not to have to worry too much about the Qingyun Sect. With this in mind, Lin Tianming could only let those few who escaped go. Half a Shi Chen passed. All of the over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been wiped out, with only a few dozen managing to flee from his grasp. At this point, Lin Tianming collected all the spoils of war brought back by the three Spirit Beasts. Having done all this, Lin Tianming then stored the Spirit Beasts in the Spirit Beast Bag and reached out to grab the Flying Boat, which was suspended in mid-air, pulling it toward him. Looking at the Flying Boat that belonged to the Qingyun Sect, Lin Tianming examined it carefully. From his observation, this Flying Boat was indeed a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact with the mark of the Qingyun Sect and excellent quality and spirituality. Having experienced its flight speed just now, he even felt it was quicker than the Inkwind Spirit Boat of the Zhenyang Sect. Such a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact was rare in the Wei Kingdom and would surely be contested by major powers upon its emergence. At best, the Lin Family had only come into possession of one Flying Artifact to date, which was merely a low-grade Second Order artifact. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even so, this low-grade Second Order Flying Artifact was one of the Lin Family¡¯s precious treasures, and they never dared use it openly for fear of attracting the attention of the Blood Red Alliance. Now that the Lin Family had risen to prominence and had already become enemies with the Blood Red Alliance, using that Flying Artifact within their own territory was no longer a concern. With the acquisition of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s Flying Artifact, the Lin Family now had a method of transportation for large-scale movements. Besides this Flying Boat, the gains acquired by the Lin Family from this great battle had reached a shockingly high level. And this did not even include the spoils from the death of Gu Changqing and the few Golden Core Cultivators today. Once those treasures were added, the gains would likely multiply several times over the original amount. One could say that this great battle, although perilous, indeed resulted in a haul far beyond expectations. With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel internally, ¡°Indeed, crises and opportunities coexist. If the Lin Family hadn¡¯t seen the rise of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator in time, it probably would have ceased to exist by now, and there would be no spoils of war!¡± Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s excited heart gradually calmed down. Then, he tidied up the chaotic battlefield with a wave of his hand, before shooting towards the gate of the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect. Before long, Lin Tianming returned to the previous battlefield. By then, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian, who had been pursuing the other two Flying Boats, had already returned. Seeing Lin Tianming arrive, both Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian appeared excited, evidently very satisfied with the results of this battle. Actually, even Lin Tianming himself had not expected such an outcome. Chapter 878 03-25 - 878 470 Regrouping_2 ?Chapter 878: Chapter 470: Regrouping_2 Chapter 878: Chapter 470: Regrouping_2 At the beginning of the great war, Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance came aggressively, deploying a large number of Golden Core Cultivators who evidently held an absolute advantage in cultivation. At that time, Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley could only hold their ground and wait for reinforcements, trying to delay time as much as possible. It can be said, at that time, Myriad Medicine Valley had hardly any ability to strike back, nor much hope of victory. But who could have predicted that several years later, the war continued, and both Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance subsequently suffered defeats, each time allowing Zhou Yunxiao to gain some advantage, thus turning a passive situation around. Just as the forces were evenly matched, Zhao Hongsheng then rallied the forces of three Sects from Huangyang Kingdom to join the battle, which once again disrupted the balance. During that period, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were also exhausted dealing with Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance, having no energy to deal with those bandit-like Huangyang Country Cultivators. Under such conditions, a large amount of territory under Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect was plundered. ... Seeing the situation once again falling into a predicament, where even the millennium foundation might be overturned, the Lin Family rose rapidly at this time, thereby changing the course of the situation. And Qingyun Sect was extremely unlucky, their two dispatched Golden Core Cultivators directly fell into the hands of the Lin Family, resulting in the direct loss of two Golden Core Stage Combat Powers. Later on, Qingyun Sect, in order to obtain sufficient benefits, sent out two more Golden Core Cultivators, who again were defeated at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. In just a few years, Qingyun Sect lost four Golden Core Cultivators one after another, not only failing to gain any profit but also losing such a significant force. Such an outcome, among the three Sect forces deployed by Huangyang Kingdom, could be described as the biggest and most tragic loser. After all, they had lost Golden Core Cultivators, who even in the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, were strong enough to dominate a region and were the pillars of all Golden Core Forces. No exaggeration, Golden Core Cultivators are the fundamental measure of a force¡¯s strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 But now, after this defeat, the overall power of Qingyun Sect decreased substantially, at least by several measures. As a result, their overall strength also became the lowest among Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Golden Core Sects. And this was the consequence of their own actions. If Qingyun Sect had withdrawn in time, the situation would not have reached this point. However, what had happened had happened, and the result had become a fact; discussing it further was meaningless. Moreover, since Qingyun Sect and Lin Family had direct conflicts, he even hoped for Qingyun Sect to suffer greater losses, to prevent any threat to the Lin Family. If possible, it would be even better to completely eliminate Qingyun Sect, so that the Lin Family could rest easy. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, achieving this, given the current strength of the Lin Family, was clearly unrealistic. Unless they obtained the support of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, with the combined strength of the two Sects, there was quite hope of defeating Qingyun Sect in one fell swoop. But he couldn¡¯t decide this matter alone; everything depended on the opinions of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. If they did not want to trouble Qingyun Sect, even if the Lin Family had ideas, they could only keep them to themselves. Moreover, for now, both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had no intention or energy to think about the matters of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, the most important thing at the moment was to eliminate Golden Sword Sect; as for other grievances, everything would have to wait until the matter of Golden Sword Sect was settled. Thinking this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was undisturbed, his expression also calm, with a faint smile on his face. Then, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao exchanged a few courtesies, before moving on to the main matters. According to Zhou Yunxiao, they planned to gather most of the Golden Core Stage Combat Power and head to Golden Sword Mountain Gate in three days. During these few days, everyone would calmly recover some injuries and Mana. On the way, using Flying Artifacts for transportation, they would also be able to recover some Mana. By the time they reached Golden Sword Mountain Gate, it would probably be about half a month later. This considered, despite only half a month¡¯s recovery, although most people might not fully return to their peak condition, they should still recover some combat strength, reaching seventy to eighty percent of their strength should not be a problem. And for those people, as long as they promptly reached Golden Sword Mountain Gate, even if not at their peak condition, there would still be time to cope with Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, given that Golden Sword Sect was protected by a Defensive Great Formation, and with people like Han Hu stationed there, it probably would not be so easy to break the formation. Given this, whether or not they recovered to their peak condition was not so important. Regarding this arrangement, Lin Tianming had no objections, and after discussing some details, he changed the topic to the issue of distributing the spoils of war. In the previous battle, Lin Tianming had successively slain his opponents, including Gu Changqing alone, as well as Cao Jinping together with Zhu Yun and others. As a result, Zhu Yun also fell in the great battle, which was a significant loss for the Zhenyang Sect. Thus, the storage bag of Gu Changqing was easy to distribute, going directly to Lin Tianming himself. However, Cao Jinping¡¯s storage bag and spoils of war, as before, mostly went to the Zhenyang Sect. After all, the Zhenyang Sect had paid a greater price and contributed more, so it was only reasonable that they gained more benefits. Understanding this, Lin Tianming had no significant objections and then discussed and determined the shares with Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian. As for the results, they were similar to before, where the cultivator who killed alone kept the spoils for himself, and the support peers¡¯ benefits varied from ten to forty percent. This was because, during the later stages of the battle, there were more than one supporting their peers, and the extent of their efforts varied. Hence, it was not possible to distribute the spoils equally. If that were the case, it would be too unfair for some. However, this was just an initial discussion among the three of them to get a clear understanding. As for the specific distribution matters, they would have to wait until the battle was completely over and do it in front of all the cultivators of the same rank. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take this matter to heart and expressed his lack of objection. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s decisive attitude, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian were overjoyed and greatly admired his way of handling things. Then, the three chatted briefly, determined the specific time to depart for the Golden Sword Sect. Afterward, the three entered the Myriad Medicine Valley together, each returning to their cave dwellings to begin closed-door cultivation. After all, time was pressing for them all. Three days was not a long time, but with the help of elixirs, they could still recover a good amount of mana, and some minor injuries would heal significantly. Knowing the urgency, Lin Tianming did not delay and entered the practice room as soon as he returned to his dwelling. After some adjustments, he began cultivating directly with the aid of elixirs. At this time, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were also in closed-door cultivation, expecting to meet again in three days. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. After three days of closed-door cultivation, Lin Tianming relied on his robust body and the aid of elixirs, and his external injuries had fully recovered, only the internal injuries had not yet completely healed. In terms of cultivation and mana, he had also recovered about fifty percent. However, it had only been three days, and to recover to this extent in such a short period of time made him very satisfied. Little did he know, such aberrant recovery ability, if known to others, would probably shock them tremendously. It should be noted that the injuries of Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were not severe, and although their mana was exhausted, they had only recovered less than forty percent in three days. For Chen Maohua, who had been severely injured, only about twenty to thirty percent of his mana was restored, and his injuries had not improved much. With such a basis, the difference in recovery ability compared to his own was starkly obvious. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was still somewhat pale, and his breath was far from peak condition, giving everyone an illusion. And this action was intentional on his part. Given his habits, he always liked to reserve some strength, which could prove crucial in special moments. Even sometimes, it could directly change the course of events. Chapter 879 03-25 - 879 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect ?Chapter 879: Chapter 471: Heading to Golden Sword Sect Chapter 879: Chapter 471: Heading to Golden Sword Sect Therefore, Lin Tianming feigned an appearance of having expended a great deal, with significant injuries, merely to decrease the attention of others. Though they had fought side by side twice, and these cultivators had gotten to know each other better, he always remembered the adage: it¡¯s necessary to guard against others! Moreover, the strength he had displayed in the previous great battle had been enough to make all mid-stage Golden Core cultivators feel apprehensive. Adding to this, the Golden Sword Sect had recently been severely damaged, and the chances of being removed from the cultivation world weren¡¯t small. In such a situation, in the face of huge benefits, it was unlikely anyone could maintain the basis of mutual trust from before; they all just tacitly understood this. Thus, taking great care ensures safety forever, and Lin Tianming also constantly maintained vigilance, at least bearing some caution in his heart. With such a mindset, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang left their hideout together and hurried towards the agreed meeting place. ... ¡­ At dawn that day, in the plaza of the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. As per the agreed time and place with Zhou Yunxiao, Chen Jingtian and several cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also arrived first. In less than half a quarter of an hour, several cultivators had gathered in the plaza, with others arriving intermittently. At this time, three members of the Lin Family came together, landing on the plaza. Seeing their arrival, Chen Jingtian also took the initiative to come forward and cordially greet Lin Tianming and his companions. Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s courtesy, Lin Tianming quickly responded with a bow. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Following this, he greeted a few other Golden Core cultivators before turning back to chat idly with Chen Jingtian while they waited for Zhou Yunxiao to arrive. Soon after, Zhou Yunxiao, along with Duan Liangyu and Zhao Mingli, flew over and landed in front of Lin Tianming and the others. With the appearance of Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s trio, the place also gathered three members of the Lin Family, two from Zhenyang Sect, and Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family. At this point, nine surviving Golden Core cultivators from the battlefield greeted each other. During friendly conversations, Lin Tianming also sized up the general condition of the other six Golden Core cultivators. From his observations, Chen Maohua, who had been seriously injured before, only seemed to have stabilized his injuries, with very little mana recovery, indicating that his combat strength might be around the same as before. Overall, three days was still too short, so Chen Maohua¡¯s recovery was not ideal. Aside from him, Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Lan Yu and Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Duan Liangyu had recovered slightly better than Chen Maohua, though the outlook wasn¡¯t too optimistic either. As for the others, especially the most powerful Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian, their recovery state was as expected. These two were also the strongest in the group; as long as they remained at their peak, the group¡¯s combat power would not weaken. Even now, after a major battle, they still possessed considerable combat strength. With this, Lin Tianming internally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat more confident about the upcoming battle. In fact, aside from him, Chen Maohua and Lan Yu were also reassured seeing that the strongest among them were recovering well. Under such circumstances, the initially grim atmosphere gradually became much more relaxed. After chatting briefly with the cultivators, Zhou Yunxiao looked at everyone and then said, ¡°Time is pressing, we should proceed to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate as planned before Han Hu the old thief recovers!¡± As soon as his words fell, Zhou Yunxiao scanned everyone, and seeing no objections, he began to arrange the specific plan. As per Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements, the three Golden Core cultivators from the Lin Family, along with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, and Chen Maohua¡ªsix Golden Core Stage cultivators¡ªcooperated with Zhou Yunxiao for the battle. Additionally, with Zhou Yunxiao and Zhao Mingli from Myriad Medicine Valley, a total of eight Golden Core cultivators set off, leading over three hundred elite disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley towards the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Among all Golden Core Stage combat powers, except for Duan Liangyu who was to stay and guard the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, all surviving Golden Core Stage combat powers were mobilized. Moreover, almost all elite disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley had poured out, each at least at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. This massive force, though not large in number, still possessed extremely formidable strength. Clearly, Zhou Yunxiao was planning to end this years-long war once and for all. With such an objective, the morale of the cultivators surged. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao took out the only flying boat treasure from Myriad Medicine Valley and led everyone towards the direction of the Golden Sword Sect. Standing on the deck of the flying boat, feeling the speed of this flight, which was much faster than any flying boat they had ridden before, the speed even several times faster than a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact. And such a flying magical treasure was worth considerably more than offensive or defensive magical treasures. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was said that within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, only Myriad Medicine Valley, with its millennia of heritage, possessed this, and even Zhenyang Sect, with similarly long traditions, did not own even a single flying magical treasure. Thus, the value of this flying boat was naturally self-evident, making Lin Tianming quite envious. However, the Lin Family likely wouldn¡¯t be venturing out of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for the time being. If they were just traveling within the boundaries of the Wei Kingdom, either for commerce or participating in major battles, it would suffice for now. Unless in the future they were in a position to extend their business to other nations, owning a few flying magical treasures would allow their family members to travel much faster and more safely. Chapter 880 03-25 - 880 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect_2 ?Chapter 880: Chapter 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect_2 Chapter 880: Chapter 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect_2 ¡°¡±¡± And from that day, there would still be decades to come. Considering the current development speed of the Lin Family, it wasn¡¯t impossible to acquire one or two Flying Magical Treasures of their own. Knowing this, Lin Tianming secretly kept an eye out, determined to seize control of such treasures when they appeared in the future. Snapping out of his reverie, Lin Tianming also sat cross-legged on the deck, made small talk with Zhou Yunxiao and others, and then each began to recover from their injuries and restore their mana. Half a month later. Atop a mountain outside the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, in the Ancient Sword Mountains. This place was just over ten miles from the entrance of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s mountain gate, already entering the core area of the sect. At that moment, a Blue Flying Boat tore through the sky and finally descended slowly onto the mountain top. ... Zhou Yunxiao was the first to step out of the Flying Boat, followed by Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming. Soon, eight Golden Core Cultivators stepped out in line, standing atop the mountain, all eyes focused on a distant peak visible through the haze, expressions varying. Looking towards the distant peak along Lin Tianming¡¯s line of sight, it soared into the clouds, like a gigantic sword, standing immovable upon the earth. Observing the scene before him and feeling the dense spiritual energy of this place, it truly lived up to being a Golden Core Sect with many years of heritage, possessing the demeanor and style it should have. As for the location of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s mountain gate, this was Lin Tianming¡¯s first visit, and he immediately showed a curious expression. And this place was indeed the location of the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Just like the name Ancient Sword Mountains suggested, the Golden Sword Mountain Gate was situated around that highest peak, its main peak being the most central area of the sect. It was said that at the highest point resided the caves of Sect Leader Han Hu and other Golden Core Stage Elders. Now, witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. ¡°The Golden Sword Sect truly lives up to being a sect with many years of heritage, such a sacred place is indeed comparable to the sect gates of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± ¡°Moreover, to think that on my first visit, I am to participate in a grand battle! ¡°A battle with the aim of annihilating Golden Sword Sect!¡± ¡°This indeed seems like fate playing tricks, I never thought it would come this quickly!¡± Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming looked forward, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements. And just as they appeared, they spotted several figures of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the distance. Clearly, these people were Golden Sword Sect Disciples responsible for patrolling the mountain gate. Zhou Yunxiao didn¡¯t bother with these individuals, knowing in his heart that after Han Hu had fled from Yuxu Mountain Range, he would certainly return to the interior of Golden Sword Sect. Given Han Hu¡¯s ways of handling things over hundreds of years and considering the current situation, he would definitely have his disciples closely monitor every movement around the mountain gate. The reason for doing so was obvious; Han Hu knew Zhou Yunxiao and the others would not relent. After all, with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect currently holding the initiative and possessing an absolute advantage in overall strength. With such conditions, coupled with the grudges over the years, they naturally wouldn¡¯t easily let go of a weakened Golden Sword Sect. Furthermore, even if it weren¡¯t a period of grand battles, the persons in charge of daily patrols at Golden Sword Sect would not relax their vigilance. Once any disturbance was noticed, they would report it to Han Hu immediately. At this moment, in a cave at the highest point of the main peak of Golden Sword Sect, news of Zhou Yunxiao and the eight arriving quickly reached them. Faced with the formidable approach of Zhou Yunxiao and the others, Han Hu also was in a state of panic. In fact, it was only yesterday that he and Zhao Hongsheng had escaped back to the Golden Sword Sect, arriving merely a day earlier than Zhou Yunxiao. Before this, Han Hu had already been seriously injured in the massive battle attacking the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate and hadn¡¯t had time to recover. He had only briefly cultivated for about half a month after fleeing back to the sect. However, such a short duration allowed for an extremely limited recovery, his strength difficult to reach even forty percent of its peak. ¡°¡±¡± Apart from him, Zhao Hongsheng had not suffered severe injuries, but the exhaustion from the previous major battle was significant, and his current abilities were similarly limited. At this moment, faced with Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s overwhelming forces, Han Hu was both shocked and enraged, hurriedly summoning Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun to discuss countermeasures. Soon, Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun received the message and immediately arrived at Han Hu¡¯s cave dwelling. As the three met, each of their faces wore a grim expression, clearly intimidated by Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s resolve. Even Zhao Hongsheng, who typically held himself in high regard, had a particularly gloomy expression, with rage burning in his heart. However, the current situation was such that Zhou Yunxiao and his men were relentlessly aggressive, giving them no time to react. Knowing this, Han Hu¡¯s face was pale as he sighed helplessly. ¡°Daoist Zhao, what should we do next?¡± Hearing the question, Zhao Hongsheng forced himself to calm down and then asked in return, ¡°Daoist Han, how powerful is your sect¡¯s defensive great formation?¡± ¡°How long can it hold under continuous attacks from Zhou Yunxiao and his men?¡± As soon as Zhao Hongsheng finished speaking, Han Hu also fell into deep thought. After a long while, he helplessly said, ¡°Our sect¡¯s defensive great formation is average at best, certainly not as powerful as the one at Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°Given the current situation where Zhou Yunxiao has brought eight people here, I assume you¡¯ve also seen their strength,¡± ¡°Based on my estimation, if they continuously attack the defensive great formation, it could hold at most for a month.¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But their condition is also not good; at best, they can exert about fifty percent of their power. By this estimate, holding for two months shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hongsheng nodded reluctantly, even though they knew they had about two months to recover from their injuries and replenish their mana. But he still felt very pessimistic about the forthcoming situation. Despite this, Zhao Hongsheng suppressed the unease in his heart and continued to ask, ¡°Besides us three, does your sect have any other Golden Core Stage Cultivators, or Third Order Spirit Beasts to assist?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Hongsheng looked at Han Hu with anticipation, pinning the hope of repelling the enemy on the inherent strength of the Golden Sword Sect. He was aware that his own condition was not good, and several Golden Core Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect had already perished consecutively, significantly weakening the overall strength of the sect. Now facing a group led by Zhou Yunxiao, although their cultivation was not weaker than the opponents, they were indeed no match for so many. In this situation, their only hope rested on the inherent resources of the Golden Sword Sect. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had a legacy that lasted a few thousand years, though not as long as the ten-thousand-year heritage of Myriad Medicine Valley, it was still longer than the history of Zhenyang Sect. As it had flourished for thousands of years, the Golden Sword Sect should have some deep resources, or some trump cards left behind. If the Golden Sword Sect still had other hidden Golden Core Stage Cultivators, or several more Third Order Spirit Beasts, their chances of getting through this crisis would greatly increase. As long as Zhou Yunxiao could not conquer Myriad Medicine Valley after a prolonged attack, despite his reluctance, he would eventually retreat if he lacked the strength. And once he had recovered to his peak condition, he could seek help from other strongholds of the Blood Red Alliance and plan another attack on Myriad Medicine Valley. If he could muster sufficient support by offering a considerable price, he might even fulfill the mission assigned by the alliance. In that case, as long as he completed the mission within the specified time, no matter how great the losses or how many Golden Core Cultivators perished, he would still be credited with an accomplishment. Considering the effort and frequent dangers he faced, the higher-ups were likely not to blame him for the weak results this time. And this thought was his last hope for a turnaround. However, reaching that stage meant the current crisis was the first major challenge. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng looked at Han Hu tentatively, no longer maintaining his initial composure, nor his previous arrogance. ¡­ Chapter 881 03-25 - 881 472 Lu Xingfeng Arrives ?Chapter 881: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng Arrives Chapter 881: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng Arrives However, according to Han Hu¡¯s account, the Golden Sword Sect only had the assistance of two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, and one of them was injured, which greatly reduced its strength. With the cultivation realm of the three of them and the help of the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, they might be able to hold on for a while during the current crisis. However, it wasn¡¯t only these people attacking the Golden Sword Mountain Gate from Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s side. After all, Lu Xingfeng of the Zhenyang Sect had a cultivation at the Late Stage Golden Core, just like them. Once Lu Xingfeng made a move, with two Late Stage Golden Core experts present, and with the help of capable fighters like Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming, they likely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance to turn the tables. Previously, in order to guard against Song Hanchun, Lu Xingfeng had stayed within the Zhenyang Sect. Now, with the Golden Sword Sect severely damaged and its strength greatly weakened, not to mention all their Golden Core Stage combat power gathered here and caught in Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s encirclement, they had no chance of threatening their main camp. ... Thus, with no concerns left, it was very likely that Lu Xingfeng would make a move. If that really happened, the Golden Sword Sect and Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hopes of repelling the enemy were extremely low; preserving the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s foundation was almost impossible. At this moment, upon hearing Han Hu¡¯s explanation, Zhao Hongsheng knew that Han Hu¡¯s analysis was quite accurate. Knowing this, Zhao Hongsheng was also feeling immensely anxious at this time but had no strategy to repel the enemy in such a situation. At this moment, seeing Zhao Hongsheng helplessly, Han Hu also continuously sighed with regret in his heart. Originally, he too had been blinded by benefits, thinking that with the help of the Blood Red Alliance, they could fulfill their longstanding wish to unify the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. At the very least, they could have toppled Myriad Medicine Valley from the strongest sect position in the Wei Kingdom and replaced it with the Golden Sword Sect as the foremost sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? However, the Blood Red Alliance underestimated the strength of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Especially Zhao Hongsheng, who had been extremely arrogant before, believing that since they were from the Nascent Soul Forces of the Blood Red Alliance and had seen various powerful sect families, he never took these obscure forces of the Wei Kingdom seriously. And the result was that both the Blood Red Alliance and the Golden Sword Sect suffered heavy losses, as did the three sects from Huangyang Kingdom that later entered into the battle, all paying a heavy price. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such an outcome was probably unexpected by all forces involved in the battle, even the Loose Cultivators. Of course, the involvement and joining of the Lin Family also played a crucial role in the failure of their plans. However, in his eyes, these were all objective factors. After all, considering their peak overall strength, even with the three Golden Cores from the Lin Family present, his side still had the advantage. Under such conditions, they did not seize opportunities time after time, letting Myriad Medicine Valley take advantage repeatedly and finally putting both sides on the same starting line. In the end, most of their elite force was annihilated in a single stroke, creating such a critical situation. Thinking of this, Han Hu was immensely frustrated. However, as the Golden Sword Sect was currently facing an existential crisis, no matter how angry he felt inside, he could only rely on Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s strength. Otherwise, if Zhao Hongsheng were to leave the Golden Sword Sect on its own, the sect would be completely obliterated and erased from the grand layout of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World over thousands of years. Knowing the importance of this, Han Hu forcibly suppressed his anger and then discussed countermeasures with Zhao Hongsheng. Some time passed. After much discussion among the three of them and considering various strategies, they still could not come up with a full-proof plan. Nevertheless, given the current circumstances, they could only rely on the Defensive Great Formation to buy time and try to recover some injuries and mana. They knew that if the few could maintain eighty to ninety percent of their peak strength, there was still some chance for turning things around. If all else failed, they could only take a desperate last stand to carve out a sliver of hope for survival. Thinking of these circumstances, Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun felt extremely helpless and eventually could only leave Han Hu¡¯s cave dwelling resentfully. Meanwhile, while Zhao Hongsheng and the others were discussing strategies, the scene outside the Golden Sword Mountain Gate was anything but calm. At that moment, Lin Tianming and his group inspected the Formation for a moment, then still sent a few Second Order Array Masters from Myriad Medicine Valley to study and evaluate the defensive array before them. Such actions are typically arranged by any force when attacking the mountain gate of another force. Unless the attacking side had no Array Masters at all. Otherwise, they generally sent people to explore the Formation, searching for the quickest and most effective way to break it. After all, breaking a defensive array through brute force required a lot of manpower and resources, and time was difficult to control. Therefore, relying on brute force to attack a Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ defensive array was the last resort. If they could utilize the power of Array Masters, they might be able to significantly accelerate the breaking of the array while saving most cultivators¡¯ mana to cope with the grand battle that would follow. However, advancing as an Array Master was much more difficult compared to other cultivation methods, so it had been a long time since a Third Order Array Master had appeared in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If one were to trace back to the last Third Order Array Master from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, that was over a thousand years ago. In fact, that Array Master was exceptionally talented, having broken through the Golden Core stage as a Loose Cultivator and achieved Third Order status, becoming a coveted ally among all the major forces in the Wei Kingdom. Chapter 882 03-25 - 882 472 Lu Xingfengs Arrival_2 ?Chapter 882: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng¡¯s Arrival_2 Chapter 882: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng¡¯s Arrival_2 ¡°` And now in the Wei Kingdom, there was not a single Third Order Formation Master, and even Second Order Array Masters were exceedingly scarce. At present, relying only on the two Second Order Array Masters brought by Myriad Medicine Valley was simply not enough to find a way to break the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect. Zhou Yunxiao had anticipated such an outcome, to some extent. Seeing that there was no hope of breaking the formation with an array master, Zhou Yunxiao had no intention of wasting time. Although Lin Tianming possessed the Eye of Five Colors, which could see through illusions and greatly assist in breaking restrictive formations, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s ancestral defensive formation was certainly not weak. Even with the Eye of Five Colors, it would probably be very difficult to find a way to break it in a short period of time. Besides, if he actively used the Eye of Five Colors to break the formation, there was a high probability that such a treasure would be exposed. Once Zhou Yunxiao became aware that Lin Tianming had the Eye of Five Colors, it would undoubtedly arouse his greed. ... After all, one can never see into another¡¯s heart! In the face of such a treasure, no one can guarantee whether Zhou Yunxiao or anyone else might not harbor certain thoughts. If Zhou Yunxiao attempted to seize the treasure, then the situation for the Three Members of the Lin Family would become perilous. Thus, for the safety of the three of them, Lin Tianming naturally would not act rashly, let alone reveal the secret of the Eye of Five Colors. At this time, seeing that the array master could not play a significant role, Zhou Yunxiao made up his mind. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Then, under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement, the eight Golden Core Cultivators present split into three groups, with each group taking a hundred elite disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley and launching attacks on the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect in turns. While one group attacked the formation, the other two groups would cultivate nearby, especially the Golden Core Cultivators who were all seizing the moment to recover. When the group attacking the formation had consumed over half of their mana, another group would rotate in, giving the great formation no chance to catch its breath. With such relentless assaults, more than a month had passed in the blink of an eye. That day, a Flying Boat appeared in the sky above everyone. Looking up, the emblem of the blazing sun on the Flying Boat was extremely conspicuous, obviously the symbol of the Zhenyang Sect. Then, a cultivator descended from above, none other than the Great Elder Lu Xingfeng of the Zhenyang Sect, who had received the message. Seeing the newcomer, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian were overjoyed and hurriedly led Lin Tianming and the others to greet him. From a distance, Zhou Yunxiao laughed heartily, ¡°Daoist Lu, you¡¯ve finally arrived!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Zhou, have you been well?¡± Lu Xingfeng greeted Zhou Yunxiao with a smile, looking equally excited, obviously very satisfied with the outcome of the battle at Myriad Medicine Valley. ¡°Hehe¡­ With Daoist Lu taking the field, Han Hu that bastard won¡¯t be able to escape this time!¡± Zhou Yunxiao returned the comment with a slight smile, seemingly confident about completely defeating the Golden Sword Sect. In fact, everyone present, seeing that Lu Xingfeng had arrived in time, were also filled with renewed confidence, now having at least a seventy to eighty percent assurance of utterly destroying the Golden Sword Sect. After all, Lu Xingfeng was also a Late Stage Golden Core Expert, who had forged a prominent reputation over hundreds of years in the Wei Kingdom, with strength already acknowledged by all his peers. Such a powerful character was indeed illustrious. Now, with the addition of Lu Xingfeng, their collective strength was further enhanced, both in terms of the number of Golden Core Cultivators and high-order combat power, they clearly held a tremendous advantage. As long as the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect could be broken, Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng would surely not be a match for their group. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua also politely echoed the sentiment. ¡°Daoist Zhou is right. With Daoist Lu¡¯s formidable strength, Han Hu and the others have suffered heavy casualties and can¡¯t recover to their peak state in time. They¡¯re certainly no match for the two Daoists!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ the nine of us united, Han Hu this time is probably unable to escape his fate!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ You flatter me, fellow Daoists!¡± Lu Xingfeng laughed and waved his hand in a modest manner. ¡°` Zhou Yunxiao then introduced Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai along with a few others. At this moment, Lu Xingfeng also learned about the events that had unfolded in the Lin Family in the recent years. He was even more astonished to hear that Lin Tianming, in the midst of the great war, had managed to consecutively kill many Cultivators of the same rank. Even experts at the Mid Stage Golden Core had fallen to his hands in large numbers. Now, Lu Xingfeng felt a profound sense of wariness towards the Lin Family and Lin Tianming, and he regarded them with new esteem. However, as the current Lin Family was an ally of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, the absolute main force in the recent rounds of battle, Lu Xingfeng had no choice but to take the Lin Family seriously, especially Lin Tianming, who was not only strong but also possessed a frightening potential. In light of this situation, Lu Xingfeng was exceedingly courteous in his words and demeanor, which also conveyed a desire to befriend. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In response to this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. In his perspective, the Myriad Medicine Valley had suffered great losses as well, and the overall strength might even have fallen behind that of the Zhenyang Sect. After all, Lu Xingfeng had also reached the Late Stage Golden Core cultivation, and Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength was plain for all to see, as he had consecutively slain several peers in the battles over these few years. Such power from Chen Jingtian would definitely be placed at the very forefront among all those of Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation. At the very least, Lin Tianming felt that if he fought alone, without the aid of Spirit Arts, the chances were high that he would not be a match for Chen Jingtian. Thus, with the addition of Lu Xingfeng and Chen Jingtian, such top-tier combatants clearly made them stronger than Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side. Comparatively, Myriad Medicine Valley was clearly at a disadvantage. From this point of view, if this great war were to come to an end at this moment, it¡¯s probable that Zhenyang Sect would truly replace Myriad Medicine Valley, temporarily becoming the strongest Sect in Wei Kingdom. However, it was too early to concern oneself with this matter since the battle was not yet over, and the final outcome still had many uncertainties. Whether Zhenyang Sect would have the chance or not would depend on whether Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu had any trump cards that could change the result. Very aware of this, Lin Tianming remained calm and composed, his heart not the least bit turbulent, even as he chatted casually with Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, without revealing any signs of peculiarity. Even when faced with Lu Xingfeng¡¯s words that suggested an alliance, he simply smiled it off without showing any interest in participating. His response was water-tight, leaving no room for criticism. As the several of them chatted for a while, they also shared a good deal of specific intelligence. Lu Xingfeng became quite clear on the current state of the Golden Sword Sect. Following that, they continued to intensify their attacks on the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect as planned. Another half month passed. With the addition of Lu Xingfeng, Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ overall strength became even more formidable. During this time, they increased the intensity of their attacks on the formation, and the speed was significantly faster than at the beginning. Under the relentless attacks, the energy stored in the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation was quickly depleted. Despite multiple attempts by Han Hu to use the formation¡¯s features to launch frenzied attacks on them, Zhou Yunxiao and the others had already made thorough preparations, and their determination to obliterate the Golden Sword Sect was unwavering, coupled with their formidable strength. The mere power of the formation¡¯s attacks, in the face of absolute strength, was unable to affect much, and the delay caused was almost negligible. In light of this, Han Hu was burning with anxiety, but as the Golden Sword Sect was trapped, he had no viable options. Thus, amid this torment, more than half a month painfully dragged on. At this moment, within the Golden Sword Sect, panic had already begun to set in. Every disciple was drawn to the immense commotion outside and learned of the specific outcomes of the few battles involving Myriad Medicine Valley. Now, seeing that as many as eight Golden Core Cultivators were attacking the Defensive Great Formation, and Han Hu had not even come out to reassure the Sect Members, such behavior only further confirmed the veracity of the rumors that had been spreading. Consequently, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were scared out of their wits, and many with lower cultivation levels had already prepared to flee should the formation be breached. ¡­ Chapter 883 03-25 - 883 473 ?Chapter 883: 473 Chapter 883: 473 On that day, outside the Golden Sword Sect mountain gate. As a pale golden light curtain rippled, an acute and strange sound erupted. In an instant, the light curtain slowly became visible, shifting from an ethereal form to something extremely solid, akin to a layer of thin ice, covering a vast expanse of space. At the same time, the energy swirling within the light curtain significantly weakened, clearly not as smooth as before. Witnessing this sudden change, everyone couldn¡¯t help but reveal smiles of overwhelming joy. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Evidently, with Lin Tianming and nine other Golden Core Cultivators attacking relentlessly in turns, the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect was no longer able to hold. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng also burst into wild laughter, their faces flashing with excitement. ... Following closely, the two leaped forward, and the Magical Treasures in their hands suddenly shone brightly. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A huge Sword Qi appeared in the sky out of nowhere, along with a massive orb of light. While these two attacks hovered above everyone¡¯s heads, the Spiritual Energy in the surrounding area began to rush toward this location frantically. In a blink, the two attacks caused an intense fluctuation, their formidable momentum whipping up Gang Winds that lifted the robes of all the Cultivators below. Seeing this, the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the forefront changed color, barely stabilizing their forms under the Gang Winds, and then a hundred or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators retreated explosively backwards. Soon, they withdrew a distance of over ten miles and stopped at the peak of a high mountain. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Immediately afterward, everyone stared at the massive fluctuations coming from the front, dumbfounded and waiting on the side, not daring to even breathe heavily for fear of missing something. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao and another, who had launched their joint attack, suddenly let out a loud shout. No sooner said than done, the two suspended attacks shot forth, striking precisely on a certain spot on the light curtain. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two loud noises rang out, and two beams of light streaked across the sky, bringing a more powerful wave that even made the ground below tremble slightly. In a flash, the light curtain shattered thunderously, and in just a single breath, it completely dissipated between heaven and earth. Then, a richer Spiritual Energy hit them in the face, and the scenery within the Golden Sword Sect mountain gate was revealed in its entirety. Obviously, as the Defensive Great Formation broke, the Spiritual Energy within the Golden Sword Sect became even more concentrated, and without the restriction of the Defensive Great Formation, the internal Spiritual Energy clashed with the external Spiritual Energy. As several breaths of time passed, the heavens and earth gradually returned to tranquility. At this point, Lin Tianming and the other Cultivators were staring at the scenery within the Golden Sword Sect, each looking excited beyond measure. In their eyes, it was no easy feat to break through the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect, after all, it took over two months of relentless efforts by nine Golden Core Cultivators to finally breach it. Fortunately, with their relentless efforts, they successfully broke the Defensive Great Formation, erasing the last key refuge of Han Hu. Now, without the protection of the Defensive Great Formation, Han Hu would have to repel them head-on to preserve the foundation of the Golden Sword Sect. Otherwise, the Golden Sword Sect, which had been passed down for thousands of years, would be stricken from history in the coming days. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were all extremely excited. And at this time, as the Defensive Great Formation was breached, Han Hu and the thousands of Cultivators he had summoned appeared in everyone¡¯s line of sight. Looking around, Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng were extremely grim-faced at this moment. Though they had mentally prepared themselves for the breaking of the formation, at this moment, their hearts were still full of shock and fear, clearly understanding the difficulty of their situation. However, while Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu¡¯s expressions were unsightly, they were not too pronounced, at least they still maintained the composure of Golden Core Cultivators. But for the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, the fear was palpable, even the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators had faces that turned extremely pale. Moreover, with the formation broken, some Cultivators responsible for infusing Spiritual Power into the formation were implicated and injured by the backlash. As both factions confronted each other, the Golden Sword Sect disciples became restless. Some Qi Refining Cultivators even began to retreat slowly, seemingly preparing to flee the place. However, out of respect for the remaining prestige of Han Hu and the others, they didn¡¯t dare to flee outright and could only stand quietly in place. Unfortunately, this calm lasted only for a brief period. As Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng leaped into the air, the Magical Treasures in their hands flashed with light, and two attacks directly targeted Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng. At the same moment, Zhou Yunxiao laughed wildly in excitement, his booming voice spreading throughout the entire Golden Sword Sect mountain gate. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s join forces to eliminate them!¡± Seeing Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng¡¯s impending attack, Han Hu¡¯s face paled, his heart sensing great peril. In the previous battles, he had already sustained serious injuries, and with only a little over two months of recovery¡ªwhich had been interrupted several times¡ªhis condition was far from ideal. Currently, his strength was hardly seventy percent of what it was at his peak, and facing either Zhou Yunxiao or Lu Xingfeng alone, the odds were not in his favor. Keenly aware of this, Han Hu became very anxious, his face exhibiting an unprecedented level of solemnity. Watching Zhou Yunxiao setting his sights on him, Han Hu had no time for further thought and had to hastily face the battle. On the other side, Zhao Hongsheng was in the same position, taking Lu Xingfeng, his opponent, very seriously. Chapter 884 03-25 - 884 473 Variegated Crystal Beast_2 ?Chapter 884: Chapter 473 Variegated Crystal Beast_2 Chapter 884: Chapter 473 Variegated Crystal Beast_2 Although he hadn¡¯t sustained many injuries previously and had recovered somewhat over this period, his strength wasn¡¯t far from its peak. However, facing Lu Xingfeng, whose strength and reputation were no less than Han Hu and Zhou Yunxiao, he had to be cautious. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± As the four Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators clashed fiercely high above. At this very moment, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian also refused to fall behind and immediately lunged towards Song Hanchun opposite them. While still mid-air, Chen Jingtian burst into a crazed laughter. ¡°Lin, leave Song Hanchun to me,¡± he shouted, ¡°you and Daoist Zhao, quickly eliminate those two beasts, and then go help Daoist Zhou!¡± ... Before Lin Tianming could respond, Chen Jingtian had already surpassed him, directly targeting Song Hanchun. Upon hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s words, Song Hanchun was both shocked and furious, incensed beyond comparison. Though aware of Chen Jingtian¡¯s formidable strength, scarce rivals among cultivators of the same stage, Chen Jingtian¡¯s words clearly showed he didn¡¯t consider him a threat, as if he could be disposed of easily. As a veteran Golden Core from the Wei Kingdom, a respected man, being insulted like this was a new low. Confronting Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack, Song Hanchun¡¯s rage further fueled a massive outburst, clashing fiercely with Chen Jingtian. At this time, Lin Tianming, hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s declaration, saw him fight with Song Hanchun, and found it inappropriate to say anything. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Thus, he immediately shifted his focus and charged at a Third Order Spirit Beast from Golden Sword Sect. In a flash, his Qinghong Sword shone brightly, grappling with the Third Order Variegated Crystal Beast. It was Lin Tianming¡¯s first encounter with the Variegated Crystal Beast, not to mention his first battle against one. This Variegated Crystal Beast, a Third Order Early Stage creature, had a massive body with defensive power as its most outstanding feature. But Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were swift and strong., almost without any weaknesses. With his strength, facing such a Demonic Beast exerted almost no pressure on him. As expected, under his exploratory strike, the Variegated Crystal Beast couldn¡¯t evade his attack and had to rely solely on its defenses to withstand Lin Tianming¡¯s blow. Following a loud explosion, the Sword Qi from the Qinghong Sword struck the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s tail. A flash of fire appeared when the Sword Qi, repelled by the beast¡¯s armor, eventually dissipated into the atmosphere. The Variegated Crystal Beast then shrieked in pain and was sent flying by the tremendous force, crashing heavily into the ground, creating a large crater. Afterward, as the Variegated Crystal Beast rose, it lifted its head and roared at Lin Tianming, its expression exceedingly fierce. At that time, Lin Tianming, seemingly surprised, now viewed the Variegated Crystal Beast with more esteem. The defensive power was truly formidable under that strike; it took a standard hit from him, leaving only marks on its armor without a scratch. Such defensive prowess was indeed worthy of a beast renowned for its defenses. However, even so, Lin Tianming was not discouraged but rather, his fighting spirit surged. In his eyes, that strike was merely a probing attack; he hadn¡¯t even used the innate supernatural abilities of his cultivation technique, and the lack of substantial progress was not surprising. Moving forward, he wouldn¡¯t hold back, planning to eliminate the Variegated Crystal Beast as swiftly as possible to assist others. After all, Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng, both Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators, were top-notch fighters among them, who knew if they held any trump cards or lethal weapons. Should they escape and squander this golden opportunity to obliterate Golden Sword Sect, it would be a pity. Moreover, if these two managed to flee, the threat to other forces would be tremendous. Whatever the reason, Lin Tianming had to exert his utmost effort to nip this threat in the bud. In fact, including him, Zhou Yunxiao, Lu Xingfeng, and others, also understood the importance of this matter. Therefore, as the great battle was about to begin, the intensity of the fighting escalated immediately, and no one held back. In just a few exchanges, the fighting intensified, and the powerful wave of attacks riddled the Golden Sword Mountain Gate with holes. At this moment, Lin Tianming launched a series of attacks, giving the Variegated Crystal Beast no chance to catch its breath. Nearby, Zhao Mingli and Chen Maohua also joined forces, attacking another Third Order Spiritual Beast belonging to the Golden Sword Sect. As for Lan Yu and Lin Shikang, both were at the Early Stage Golden Core; their strength was the weakest among the cultivators present. Seeing the powerful fluctuations around them, they couldn¡¯t even get involved, and the others didn¡¯t need their help. With such a significant disparity between the two sides and the abundance of combat power, they had nothing to do but to massacre the numerous Golden Sword Sect Disciples insanely. In an instant, the attacks from the three split the sky, raining down upon the heads of many Golden Sword Sect Disciples. Under the attack of the three Golden Core Stage Cultivators, those Golden Sword Sect Disciples who tried to form battle formations were instantly scattered. With the vast disparity in strength, nearly every moment, a varying number of people died under the attacks of Lan Yu and the others. For a time, the lowest parts of the battlefield became a veritable hell on earth. Under such one-sided circumstances, Lan Yu and the others held no thoughts of mercy. After all, between the Golden Sword Sect and their side, it was a fight to the death; to nip any threats in the bud, they disregarded any semblance of Golden Core Cultivator demeanor, slaughtering the lower-ranked cultivators with astonishing speed. In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, hundreds of Golden Sword Sect Cultivators fell at their hands, including not a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. At this rate, even if there were nearly ten thousand Golden Sword Sect Disciples, they could not withstand such a massacre. At this moment, with swathes of cultivators falling, the tragic scene was heart-wrenching. Seeing this, the lower-ranked cultivators were terrified out of their wits, disregarding the lives and safety of their Sect elders and fleeing in all directions. Facing such a situation, Lan Yu and the others blocked from different angles, trying to kill as many cultivators as possible. However, even though the three held an overwhelming advantage in strength, the fleeing numbers were too great, and even with all their efforts, it was difficult to capture everyone. Thus, some lower-ranked cultivators became fish that slipped the net, finding a thread of life. Yet, even then, the fate of these lower-ranked cultivators was not yet certain, as over three hundred Myriad Medicine Valley elite disciples awaited in the large area surrounding the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. In addition to these Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, when Lu Xingfeng arrived, he also brought hundreds of elite Zhenyang Sect Disciples. These individuals were at least at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and their vast numbers, close to a thousand, were enough to encircle the area around the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. With the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation broken and under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s command, they were there to intercept any escaping Golden Sword Sect Disciples. Now, with a large number of cultivators fleeing in all directions, even if they escaped the Golden Core Cultivators¡¯ blockades, facing the encirclement of these Foundation Establishment Cultivators, their chances of escaping alive were also bleak. However, these minor matters were of no concern to Lin Tianming. At this moment, he had been fighting the Variegated Crystal Beast for quite a long time. With his strength nearly comparable to a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, augmented by the Eye of Five Colors, the Variegated Crystal Beast was taking hits continuously, hardly getting any chance to retaliate. Even when the Variegated Crystal Beast used its Innate Divine Abilities to attack, with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, he always found the optimal route to dodge the attacks of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Even after several Supernatural attacks from this demonic beast, it could hardly threaten his life. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, Lin Tianming hardly needed to worry about his own safety and could focus on unleashing his full power, maintaining a constant offense to achieve his goal. Under such circumstances, with more than a dozen rounds of intense attacks from Lin Tianming, the Variegated Crystal Beast was covered in wounds, its strength significantly diminished. Were it not for the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s formidable defensive power, it would likely have already perished at the hands of Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 885 03-25 - 885 474 Notorious Reputation ?Chapter 885: Chapter 474: Notorious Reputation Chapter 885: Chapter 474: Notorious Reputation As Lin Tianming unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword, the Qinghong Sword burst forth in a flash. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword struck the Variegated Crystal Beast with incredible speed and precision. In an instant, a scream echoed, accompanied by a burst of fire illuminating the scene. Immediately, the Variegated Crystal Beast fell from midair to the ground, howling in pain. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming¡¯s strike was swift and eerily precise. The body of the Variegated Crystal Beast was huge and made an easy target, making it very inconvenient to move. ... Under such accurate and rapid attacks from Lin Tianming, the Variegated Crystal Beast couldn¡¯t avoid it and was forced to defend passively. As the strike concluded, a wound appeared on the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s back, and many parts of its shell shattered, noticeably weakening its presence. In just over a dozen rounds of attack, the Variegated Crystal Beast was severely injured, becoming incredibly agitated. Yet, Lin Tianming was devoid of mercy. His relentless assault bore the confidence of strategy, determined to eliminate the Variegated Crystal Beast within a few exchanges. With that resolve, Lin Tianming leaped forward as the Qinghong Sword shot out again, aiming for the vital parts of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Seeing the fearsome longsword approaching, the Variegated Crystal Beast was filled with panic and fear. Despite being a Third Order Demon Beast with less Spirit Wisdom than a human adult, it recognized the dire situation it was in due to the vast discrepancy in strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 In its moment of haste and fury, the Variegated Crystal Beast activated its Innate Divine Ability, hoping to repel Lin Tianming¡¯s lethal strike. Suddenly, the Variegated Crystal Beast roared and spat out a huge stone orb, colliding with the incoming Qinghong Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted as the Qinghong Sword shattered the stone orb into countless fragments that fell to the ground, kicking up billows of dust. However, the stone orb, being the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, possessed undeniable power, even if the beast wasn¡¯t adept at attacking. Consequently, the stone orb¡¯s impact was significant, forcefully repelling the Qinghong Sword. In an instant, the Qinghong Sword was sent flying backward and caught by Lin Tianming. Holding the Qinghong Sword, he felt a numbness in his palm, obviously caused by the powerful impact of the stone orb. However, Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. His tremendous Physical Strength wasn¡¯t far behind the ferocious Variegated Crystal Beast. Any lingering effects from the shock quickly subsided, returning to normal. Although this strike didn¡¯t achieve its target, Lin Tianming remained calm and continued moving forward. At the same time, without notice, the Black Dragon Axe had already appeared in his hand, flashing with a burst of black light. In an instant, the black light shot forth, striking the back of the Variegated Crystal Beast before it could react. Another agonized scream rang out as a burst of fire and dust enveloped a large area. Within the cloud of dust, the Variegated Crystal Beast howled in pain, its massive body slamming back into the deep pit, enlarging it significantly. When the dust finally settled somewhat, the Variegated Crystal Beast attempted to rise, only to see a fist flying towards it. The speed of the fist was lightning fast and oddly eerie, slapping against its head with a powerful breeze. At that moment, the Variegated Crystal Beast desperately tried to move, but it had not anticipated Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden change in attack pattern. By the time it thought to dodge, it was already too late. Feeling the powerful punch coming, the Variegated Crystal Beast sensed the presence of death. In its dire situation, the Variegated Crystal Beast could only avoid the vital areas, hoping to survive the punch. However, when it felt the immense force of the punch, it nearly caused its internal organs to burst out. With a cry of agony, the Variegated Crystal Beast rolled frantically within the deep pit, its back already torn and bleeding, worsening the injury. Despite this full-powered strike, Lin Tianming was surprised that it didn¡¯t end the Variegated Crystal Beast. Considering his substantial Physical Strength, a single punch from him equated to an attack from a typical Golden Core Cultivator. Even so, this head-on strike, bombarding the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast, hadn¡¯t reached its goal. Clearly, the defensive power and Vitality of the Variegated Crystal Beast were extremely formidable. Having withstood the blow without dying, it still had some mobility in its struggling body. At this moment, Lin Tianming stabilized himself from the rebounding force and, looking at the struggling Variegated Crystal Beast, couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°This Variegated Crystal Beast lives up to its reputation for its defensive power. Its Life Force and defense are indeed extremely formidable!¡± Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pause; the Black Dragon Axe in his hand swung frequently, launching black lights aimed at the critical points of the Variegated Crystal Beast. At the same time, he punched out, aiming another shot at the Variegated Crystal Beast. During this time, the Variegated Crystal Beast continued to struggle and roar, panicking at Lin Tianming¡¯s relentless assault. As the black light came at it, the Variegated Crystal Beast desperately tried to escape, laboriously dragging its massive body to the side. But now it was severely wounded, its strength significantly reduced,¡ªa futile attempt to dodge Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, implausible even at its peak, let alone now. Chapter 886 03-25 - 886 474 Infamous_2 ?Chapter 886: Chapter 474 Infamous_2 Chapter 886: Chapter 474 Infamous_2 Under the dire circumstances, the Variegated Crystal Beast had no escape and could only hope that its armor would withstand the relentless attacks. However, the next moment, a series of wails were heard continuously. Lin Tianming wielded the Black Dragon Axe, and the dark light it radiated directly cleaved into the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Unable to withstand the tremendous force, the Variegated Crystal Beast was immediately repelled a great distance. Before it could catch its breath, Lin Tianming, with fists like iron, struck continuously, landing punch after punch on the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Initially, the Variegated Crystal Beast could resist with its thick armor and its robust body. However, facing Lin Tianming¡¯s unceasing attacks, even if the Variegated Crystal Beast had strong defensive power and robust vitality, it couldn¡¯t endure such a frenzied assault. ... Following a scream, no other sounds were heard, and Lin Tianming finally stopped his assault. At that moment, the Variegated Crystal Beast lay motionless on the ground, covered in bloodstains, a large number of bloody holes still oozing fresh blood, quickly staining the ground red. The Variegated Crystal Beast showed no signs of life, only the warmth on its body indicating that it had been alive just moments ago. As for Lin Tianming, his Qi-Blood was surging, and his face alternated between pale and flushed. He stood panting heavily, his fists bloody and indistinct, the bright red fragments unclear whether they were his own or the beast¡¯s. Through his relentless attacking, the Variegated Crystal Beast couldn¡¯t defend itself, and was brutally killed by Lin Tianming¡¯s physical strength. Watching the Variegated Crystal Beast lying on the ground, dead beyond doubt, Lin Tianming felt a thrill of excitement and a deep relief in his heart. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Up to now, he hadn¡¯t even used his full strength, as initially, he had suppressed the Variegated Crystal Beast using spells and supernatural attacks. Later on, he mostly relied on his physical strength, brutally killing the Variegated Crystal Beast. Had he truly exerted all his efforts, with his current strength, he might have been able to kill this slow-moving meat shield in just a few exchanges. However, such plain and primal attacking techniques were also maximized by him. Though it took a bit longer, the process had indeed been very enjoyable, and it got his blood boiling. At the same time, he could save some mana for the upcoming major battle. By then, as Lin Tianming calmed down, he shifted his focus to observe the situations on the other battlefields. Glancing up, Zhao Hongsheng and Lu Xingfeng were fiercely battling in the high skies. Both were Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, and both were in good condition before the major battle. Especially Lu Xingfeng, the strongest from Zhenyang Sect, who hadn¡¯t participated in the major battle before and was completely at his peak. At the moment, their long fight was evenly matched, and it seemed that neither could gain an advantage. Under such circumstances, without resorting to their trump cards, it was unlikely that they could decide the victor in a short time. However, the current situation was unfavorable for Zhao Hongsheng, as Lu Xingfeng¡¯s side had more Golden Core Cultivators, presenting an overwhelming force. As long as the others could get involved, then team up with Lu Xingfeng. No matter how strong Zhao Hongsheng was, it was difficult for him to face multiple adversaries and he was bound to fall into a predicament. Therefore, Zhao Hongsheng, stuck in a prolonged battle, was anxious and acted hastily. But Lu Xingfeng¡¯s strength was equally matched, and he maintained a good state without any exposed weaknesses. In this way, though they seemed evenly matched on the surface, it wouldn¡¯t take long for Zhao Hongsheng to fall into even greater trouble. Lin Tianming, having assessed the situation, no longer paid attention to Lu Xingfeng¡¯s side and turned his gaze towards the battlefield of Zhou Yunxiao and Han Hu. Following his gaze, the intense fight between these two had also reached a heated stage. Due to previous injuries and having hurriedly returned to Golden Sword Sect, Han Hu hadn¡¯t recovered much, his strength about seventy percent of his peak. Facing the better-conditioned Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s aggressive attacks, Han Hu was on the losing side, with several injuries already evident on his body. If this continued, Zhou Yunxiao might achieve final victory without needing help from others. However, as a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, whether Han Hu had any powerful weapons or trump cards was unclear. Including him, if he wholeheartedly wanted to escape, relying solely on Zhou Yunxiao, it would likely be very difficult to detain him. As for the other two battlefields, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength was indeed quite formidable, and he was overwhelming Song Hanchun throughout the fight. Facing such a strong enemy, Song Hanchun, one-on-one, was not a match at all and could only passively defend, rarely having a chance to gain the upper hand. Not far from them, Zhao Mingli had also wounded another Third Order Demon Beast from the Golden Sword Sect. At the time, Zhao Mingli was also expanding his advantage, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be long before this Third Order Demon Beast would fall here as well. Seeing the state of the battle, they too held a clear upper hand. At this moment, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, with high hopes for the upcoming situation. Simultaneously, he thought it over briefly, fully aware of what variables could arise with more delay, and decided to join the other battlefields immediately to swiftly end this great battle. Soon, he had a new target, that was the battlefield of Chen Jingtian and Song Hanchun. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped up and flew towards Chen Jingtian¡¯s location. Within a few breaths, Lin Tianming had reached Chen Jingtian¡¯s side. At that moment, as Song Hanchun was sent reeling back by a strike from Chen Jingtian, just as he was about to create a safe distance, Lin Tianming blocked his path. ¡°Daoist Chen, let me lend you a hand!¡± After shouting loudly, Lin Tianming¡¯s Green-Red Rainbow Sword shot out, instantly unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword divine skill. In a flash, the Qinghong Sword pierced through the heavens, its speed extraordinarily fast, headed straight for Song Hanchun¡¯s head. Seeing Lin Tianming make his move, Chen Jingtian also laughed wildly. ¡°Ha-ha¡­ Song Hanchun, you are doomed!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Jingtian also launched an attack towards Song Hanchun, planning to collaborate with Lin Tianming to completely annihilate him on the spot. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, having just steadied himself, Song Hanchun, seeing Lin Tianming launching an attack, was as pale as snow. He was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, although he had never personally seen Lin Tianming move before. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s infamous reputation over the years, as well as his rumored strength, were well-known to him. Without exaggeration, Lin Tianming¡¯s battle achievements in the past two years were definitely unmatched throughout the entire Wei Kingdom. At least, the number of Golden Core Cultivators who had perished at his hand was no longer countable on one hand, including quite a few Mid Stage Golden Core Strongmen. Such a powerfully strong and notorious fighter even made Chen Jingtian, who had gained much attention in the previous battle, seem somewhat less significant. Moreover, Song Hanchun had witnessed the entire process of Lin Tianming killing the Variegated Crystal Beast. Even at this moment, his mind echoed with Lin Tianming¡¯s exciting method of attack. It must be said, that kind of blood-boiling manner of attack was indeed eye-catching, involuntarily elevating one¡¯s spirit. Yet, being an opponent, such a bloodily violent scene would shake someone to the core, not giving rise to the thought of resisting. Thus, towards Lin Tianming¡¯s domineering and clever attacks, Song Hanchun was deeply wary. However, at this time, there wasn¡¯t time for him to think further, because Lin Tianming acted decisively and was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, the Qinghong Sword was already descending on his head, bringing with it a strong aura and the howling wind it stirred up. In an instant, Song Hanchun felt the sharp Sword Qi attacking, piercing his protective True Qi. Seeing the terrifying longsword approaching, already within reach, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression grew solemn. Despite this, he did not panic; while retreating rapidly, he launched an attack of his own through the heavens, attempting to intercept Lin Tianming¡¯s. Just a moment later, the Qinghong Sword and Song Hanchun¡¯s attack collided head-on. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud sound rang out, and immediately, sparks flew in the sky, followed by a mushroom cloud. At the same time, the blast wave produced by the explosion, carrying the force of the attack, spread in all directions. Chapter 887 03-25 - 887 475 Risky Military Moves ?Chapter 887: Chapter 475 Risky Military Moves Chapter 887: Chapter 475 Risky Military Moves At that moment, Lin Tianming was sent flying by the blast. On the other hand, Song Hanchun also retreated dozens of feet, barely managing to stabilize his figure. Before he could catch his breath, Chen Jingtian also charged over. Simultaneously, the longsword in Chen Jingtian¡¯s hand erupted with astonishing Sword Qi, which directly targeted Song Hanchun¡¯s head. Seeing the Sword Qi coming closer and closer, Song Hanchun had just defended against Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, which had already delayed his chance to escape. At this time, his escape route had been mostly anticipated by Chen Jingtian, even if he temporarily dodged this strike, other attacks would block his path soon after. Thus, escaping unscathed from Chen Jingtian¡¯s assault would not be easy. ... In an instant, Song Hanchun had realized the gravity of his situation and knew it was exceedingly unfavorable. Even so, he had no time to ponder further. At that moment, Song Hanchun¡¯s face turned pale, and in haste, he could only continue moving and shielded himself with his Defense Treasure in front. Just a moment later, Song Hanchun had just activated his Defense Treasure when Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack arrived as expected, striking precisely upon the Defense Treasure. Instantly, a loud explosion echoed. Followed by that, flames dominated the area, and the powerful impact swept all around. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As the light dissipated, Song Hanchun was seen flying backward. While still in midair, Song Hanchun spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood. After barely stabilizing himself, Song Hanchun felt his Qi-Blood churning wildly, his face inevitably turning paler. Under the assault of both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, although Song Hanchun blocked it, the duo¡¯s attacks were powerful, and the recoil from each strike was vast. Even as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator and possessing a Defense Treasure that blocked most of the force, Continuously taking these two attacks head-on had been tremendously strenuous, costing him greatly, especially the recoil forces that put a significant burden on his body. Now, with his Qi-Blood surging and grimacing, Song Hanchun was visibly in discomfort. At this time, with a pained expression on his face, Song Hanchun felt greatly uneasy about the current situation. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian clearly had the upper hand and would not give him a chance to breathe. Sure enough, right after the last round of attacks had ended, Lin Tianming already took the lead in pursuing, activating his Qinghong Sword in advance as if swearing to eliminate Song Hanchun. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Song Hanchun¡¯s face showed a ferocious expression. Immediately after, he pinched his Law Decree, and a giant golden Longsword appeared above his head. Looking at it, the Sword Qi was translucent, faintly glowing with golden light, its powerful aura far surpassing any previous attacks. And as it appeared, it instantly stirred the nearby Spiritual Energy flowing towards the Sword Qi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed drastically, knowing well that Song Hanchun was fighting with desperation, even resorting to Spirit Arts. Lin Tianming was deeply wary of Spirit Arts. His practice of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had been terrifyingly powerful, helping him through life and death situations multiple times. Just this alone was enough to say it all. And such Divine Skills generally surpassed the innate Divine Skills of Cultivation Techniques. Even the most common Yellow Grade Spirit Technique was considerably stronger than the innate Divine Skills of typical Mysterious Grade Techniques. Song Hanchun, coming from the Golden Sword Sect and being a high-ranked cultivator, held one of the topmost positions and powers in the sect. Given the inheritance of the Golden Sword Sect, he at least mastered one Spirit Technique. Now, his activation of the Spirit Technique was also a forced move. After all, facing just Chen Jingtian had been strenuous enough, constantly at a disadvantage. With Lin Tianming joining the battlefield, his situation became even more difficult. Under the lethal threat, even if Song Hanchun was reluctant to reveal his trump card, he had no choice but to fight. Knowing this, Lin Tianming, on high alert, quickly turned and prepared to create a safe distance. Besides him, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression also greatly changed, hesitating to strike and decided not to confront Song Hanchun head-on. In an instant, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian retreated dozens of feet as if they were ghostly figures. Just then, a pleasant voice rang out. The Sword Qi above Song Hanchun¡¯s head shot out, slicing through the air at an unbelievable speed, heading directly towards Chen Jingtian. The speed of the Sword Qi was extremely fast, appearing behind Chen Jingtian in the blink of an eye. With such attack speed, it was several times faster than any cultivator¡¯s escape speed. At that moment, Chen Jingtian also felt the Sword Qi coming from behind, its speed was extremely fast. Continuing like this, even if he retreated fast enough, it would likely be difficult to escape the pursuit of the Sword Qi. Realizing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face instantly showed a mixture of fear and anger. In haste, he also stopped his motion, then unleashed a powerful strike, aiming at the oncoming Sword Qi. At the same time, the Defense Treasure in Chen Jingtian¡¯s hand flashed with Spiritual Light, barely protecting his body. Just after Chen Jingtian completed a series of preparations, the golden Sword Qi had already arrived, scattering his attack head-on. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the obstruction broke, the golden Sword Qi paused slightly then continued forward, directly striking Chen Jingtian¡¯s Defense Treasure. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Fireworks exploded in the sky, accompanied by a loud noise reverberating through heaven and earth. Following that, smoke billowed and spread out, a powerful blast sending Chen Jingtian flying far away before he heavily smashed into the ground. As everything settled, Chen Jingtian climbed out of the deep pit, spitting out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face rapidly turning much paler. Chapter 888 03-25 - 888 475 Risky Military Maneuver_2 ?Chapter 888: Chapter 475 Risky Military Maneuver_2 Chapter 888: Chapter 475 Risky Military Maneuver_2 Under that strike, Chen Jingtian truly lived up to his reputation as a first-rate powerhouse. He not only weathered the Spirit Art attack but also seemed to sustain no serious injuries. But in reality, only Chen Jingtian himself knew his true condition. On the surface, his aura had slightly diminished, and he did bear some wounds. However, internally, his body had been turned upside down, and many of his meridians were broken. His strength had fallen by at least half. Yet Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he forcefully rallied his spirits, preparing to join Lin Tianming in eliminating Song Hanchun. At that moment, Lin Tianming also steadied himself and regained his composure from the initial shock. Seeing Chen Jingtian standing on the void, not appearing grievously hurt, he felt a sigh of relief in his heart, and he was even more grateful. ... In his eyes, Song Hanchun¡¯s Spirit Art attack was indeed terrifyingly powerful, undoubtedly a Spirit Art. If Song Hanchun had targeted him, he would have had a difficult time dealing with it, and the entire process would have been extremely perilous. As for his chances of escaping unharmed from that attack, he had no great confidence. Fortunately, there was only one Sword Qi from that Spirit Art, and Song Hanchun still perceived Chen Jingtian as the greater threat, making him the primary target. Otherwise, Lin Tianming might have been severely injured by now or even directly perished. Aware of this, Lin Tianming was immensely relieved. At this time, seeing that Chen Jingtian did not appear to be badly injured, Song Hanchun¡¯s heart skipped a beat, feeling even more that his situation was dire. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? For he knew that both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian were powerful, and either one had the capacity to defeat him alone. As things stood, bereft of any trump cards, facing the combined efforts of Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, Song Hanchun was bound to be forced into a retreat eventually. At that point, he would probably fall, becoming the first Golden Core Cultivator to perish in this battle. The thought instantly drained Song Hanchun of his fighting spirit, and he was already preparing to flee. As for Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, he could not afford to care about them at the moment. Facing the prospect of losing his life, he had no leisure to concern himself with fellow Sect members. Moreover, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu were holding their own against the attacks of Lu Xingfeng and others for the time being. But as soon as the other Golden Core Cultivators were free to join the fight, the situation for Han Hu and his comrade wouldn¡¯t be any better. Continuing like this, their retreat was likewise only a matter of time. With this in mind, his premature escape could not be considered a betrayal or an act of abandonment. After all, he had employed his Spirit Art and still failed to kill any of Chen Jingtian¡¯s party. Having put in so much effort and sustained considerable injuries, he had already done his duty for the Sect. As for what happened afterwards, he didn¡¯t want to care. And couldn¡¯t manage to care about that much anyway! In his eyes, as long as he escaped Wei Kingdom, he would basically be temporarily out of danger. After all, at his level, even without the support of a Sect, he could be considered a formidable figure in any nation in Qingzhou. As long as he lay low and stayed clear of major powers, he could live comfortably. Aware of this, Song Hanchun made up his mind in an instant. Thus, before Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian could make a move, Song Hanchun hastily launched two attacks as a means to prevent them from pursuing. Immediately after, Song Hanchun¡¯s feet produced wind, shooting towards one direction at lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, he had escaped a hundred zhang away. At that instant, seeing Song Hanchun¡¯s actions, Chen Jingtian also gave chase without delay. Simultaneously, he called out in the direction of Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, that scoundrel is trying to flee, stop him!¡± Before the words fell, Lin Tianming had already taken the lead in pursuit, moving even faster than Chen Jingtian had and much quicker in his pursuit. In fact, Lin Tianming had long been on guard, closely watching Song Hanchun¡¯s every move. He was clear that it was only a matter of time before Song Hanchun retreated after failing to hit his target. Without any trump cards to aid him, Song Hanchun would not be able to stand against their following attacks. Thus, he was bound to not linger here, and lay down his life for the Golden Sword Sect. Now that it had come to this, Song Hanchun would either flee the battlefield or join Han Hu and withdraw from the fight¡ªit was bound to happen. Therefore, Lin Tianming needed to be prepared for any outcome. And now, as anticipated, Song Hanchun fled the scene in an attempt to seek a sliver of survival for himself. Confronting Song Hanchun¡¯s escape, Lin Tianming reacted immediately, keen on stopping him. With such intent, Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, pushing his movement technique to its limits. With the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming moved with the agility of a fish through water, easily sidestepping the attacks unleashed by Song Hanchun. In an instant, Lin Tianming had shot out several dozen zhang, closely following Song Hanchun¡¯s trail. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the other side, although Chen Jingtian was slightly slower to react, he too intuitively headed in a different direction to prepare to intercept and block Song Hanchun¡¯s path. In the chase by the two of them, the distance between them closed rapidly. At this point, Song Hanchun was not as fast as Lin Tianming and had entered the latter¡¯s striking range. Seeing his power near its end, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay, immediately activating the Qinghong Sword and unleashing the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Qinghong Sword shot out, appearing above Song Hanchun¡¯s head with lightning speed. Chapter 889 03-25 - 889 475 A Dangerous Military Move_3 ?Chapter 889: Chapter 475: A Dangerous Military Move_3 Chapter 889: Chapter 475: A Dangerous Military Move_3 At this time, Song Hanchun had also felt the fluctuations and dreaded the worst in his heart. Yet at the moment, caught between Lin Tianming and another, he could not afford to stop; he had to escape as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once the two caught up, the chance to escape would be lost forever. Well aware of this, Song Hanchun sped up, hastily moving to one side. A moment passed. Qinghong Sword and Song Hanchun brushed past each other, not until it struck the ground did it rebound and return into Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. Song Hanchun narrowly evaded the attack and momentarily paused before continuing his desperate flight. ... However, due to Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, Song Hanchun¡¯s speed had slowed down compared to before. On the other hand, Lin Tianming¡¯s speed had not decreased in the slightest, rather, it became even faster. With the variation between them, the distance had once again narrowed significantly. After a few breaths, Lin Tianming struck repeatedly, releasing copious amounts of Sword Qi to obstruct Song Hanchun¡¯s escape route. Chen Jingtian was also fast, nearly blocking the exit before Song Hanchun could flee. At this time, Song Hanchun saw enemies both ahead and behind, his face turning deathly pale. He knew very well that there was no way he could escape from Lin Tianming and his companion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï In a flash, Song Hanchun turned deathly pale, halting midair. Behind him, Lin Tianming and the Qinghong Sword came assaulting again, aiming straight for his head. A hit was certain death, no chance of survival. Fully aware of this, Song Hanchun felt hopeless, seemingly aging a great deal. Still, as a Golden Core Cultivator who had roamed the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for a century, he had his own pride. Facing the encirclement of Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, Song Hanchun let out a wry smile. And with that, he formed a complex hand seal with a single hand. In an instant, the surrounding Spiritual Energy became chaotic, as considerable amounts of Spiritual Energy slowly converged toward him. In a blink, whirlwinds sprang up between heaven and earth, strands of Spiritual Energy coalescing and ultimately pouring into Song Hanchun¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Song Hanchun¡¯s ashen face turned crimson, sand and rocks flew about, and the sky gradually darkened. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian knew that Song Hanchun intended to self-detonate his Golden Core, preferring mutually assured destruction. ¡°Quick¡­ stop that scoundrel!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s face changed drastically, his urgency was palpable as he launched an attack while shouting loudly. Lin Tianming was equally terrified, his face extremely grim. Despite this, he hastened forward, his Qinghong Sword shooting out, aiming directly at Song Hanchun¡¯s head. Both men attacked simultaneously, with no intention of retreating. Their decisive actions were because they were not far from Song Hanchun. If acted upon promptly, there was a significant chance to interrupt him before he could self-detonate. It was a risky tactic, but under the current circumstances, they had no other choice. With such determination, both men attacked from different angles, their speed as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye. Accompanied by two dull thuds and a piercing scream that shook heaven and earth. Song Hanchun was torn asunder, the Gang Wind abruptly ceased, and the once darkened sky brightened anew. When all returned to calm, Song Hanchun was nowhere to be seen in the world, his remaining essence merely drifting in the air. Chapter 890 03-25 - 890 476 The Fall of Han Hu ?Chapter 890: Chapter 476: The Fall of Han Hu Chapter 890: Chapter 476: The Fall of Han Hu Watching Song Hanchun vanish from sight, it was evident that he had thoroughly perished. At this point, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian both relaxed their brows, heaving a long sigh of relief in their hearts. The situation had been dire, and with Song Hanchun¡¯s strength at the Mid Stage Golden Core, had his self-destruction been successful, the power unleashed would certainly have been terrifying. Given their close proximity to each other, even if they were individually stronger, escaping unscathed would have been no easy task. However, the close distance between them at the time also provided the ideal condition to prevent Song Hanchun¡¯s self-destruction. Many cultivators fear the self-destruction of a Golden Core and their first instinct is to retreat. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little do they know, such an action at times can be the most fatal. ... Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, being seasoned in numerous battles and having seen many large-scale confrontations among Golden Core cultivators, needless to say, had considerable experience. In that critical situation, the risky choice to stop Song Hanchun was undoubtedly the most likely decision to see them through the crisis. Indeed, it turned out to be so! And now, with just a false alarm, Song Hanchun was dead, bringing this battle to a close. At this time, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian exchanged glances, involuntarily revealing satisfied smiles. Following this, Chen Jingtian wasted no time and turned to Lin Tianming, saying, ¡°Lin, let¡¯s go and assist Daoist Zhou and the others!¡± ¡°Good¡­ The others must also be nearing the end of their battles and will likely support us soon.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Since we¡¯re idle anyway, I¡¯ll go help Daoist Zhou, and you can take care of your sectmates, Daoist Chen!¡± After replying, Lin Tianming leapt into the air and flew in the direction of Zhou Yunxiao. Seeing him leave, Chen Jingtian also turned his body and rapidly joined the fray where Lu Xingfeng was fighting. Above in the sky, Han Hu and Zhou Yunxiao were fiercely engaged in battle. With Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, upon catching sight of Lin Tianming, Han Hu¡¯s face turned extremely sour. The reason was twofold, the first being that with Lin Tianming joining the fight, he was already at a disadvantage, and the situation would become much tougher going forward. Secondly, naturally, it was because Song Hanchun had fallen, leaving him as the only Golden Core Cultivator in the Golden Sword Sect. If the last Third Order Spiritual Beast were also killed, he would truly become a solitary figure, and the Golden Sword Sect would exist in name only. At this moment, Han Hu, filled with a mix of shock and rage, hastily created some distance from the battle. And just then, a succession of agonizing screams came from not far away. He turned his head to see Zhao Mingli¡¯s attack obliterate the last Third Order Demon Beast, his final concern slain right there. Upon witnessing this scene, Han Hu, filled with fury, fell completely into despair. Now he knew well that continuing the fight would be fruitless and potentially lethal. He no longer wanted to drag it out! He ceased considering preserving the legacy of the Golden Sword Sect and wanted to avoid any further trouble with the Myriad Medicine Valley. At this moment, the most important thing was to retreat fully from Wei Kingdom. With that in mind, Han Hu took advantage of the moment before Lin Tianming could act, unleashing two attacks in rapid succession, aiming to stall Zhou Yunxiao. Right after, Han Hu slapped his storage bag and several Third Order talisman papers flew out, instantly transforming into a sky of Sword Qi and fireballs, crashing down upon Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao. His speed was swift, his actions decisive, executing all attacks almost in an instant. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± In just a moment, the tranquil sky lit up, powerful vibrations spread, and the ground trembled slightly. Taking advantage of this barrage, Han Hu shot off in one direction without looking back. At this very moment, as the commotion broke out, Zhou Yunxiao, closest to Han Hu, sensed his intention. As the attacks approached, Zhou Yunxiao, in his urgency, shot out several attacks in quick succession, momentarily blocking Han Hu¡¯s barrage. Then, he quickly readied himself and chased after Han Hu. While still midair, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s voice reached Lin Tianming¡¯s ears. ¡°Lin, that fellow is trying to escape, quickly help me catch him!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face also shifted dramatically, taken aback by the surprise. He had thought that with Han Hu¡¯s cultivation and strength, he would at least fight a few more rounds, even at a disadvantage. After all, the great legacy of the Golden Sword Sect lay before him, and it was certainly unrealistic for him to be indifferent. Moreover, even Zhao Hongsheng, an outsider, had no plans to retreat; yet Han Hu was the first to attempt fleeing. Such behavior was truly beyond his expectation. But as the situation had unfolded, there was no use in pondering, and he could only hastily act to try to stop Han Hu. With such determination, Lin Tianming leapt forward, his hands moving continuously. He slapped his storage bag, and the Qinghong Sword shot out, once again unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Skills. Simultaneously, he turned his body and with rapid footsteps, he moved swiftly, weaving through the sky of Sword Qi and firestorm. Aided by the Eye of Five Colors, and despite the dense attacks from the Third Order talisman papers, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were swift as a swallow, and with his robust physique, he managed to find an optimal path each time. By the time he went through the obstacles, Han Hu had only flown a hundred yards or so. For cultivators of their level, this distance was not considered far. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s phantom-like silhouette, Han Hu¡¯s face was extremely grim. But before he could think further, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword was already upon him, hovering right above his head, poised to strike at any moment. Faced with this attack, if he recklessly continued to flee, he would inevitably be caught by the Qinghong Sword. Chapter 891 03-25 - 891 476 Han Hu Falls_2 ?Chapter 891: Chapter 476 Han Hu Falls_2 Chapter 891: Chapter 476 Han Hu Falls_2 If he turned to defend, he would inevitably lose time. In such a situation, even if it was just for an instant, Zhou Yunxiao could break through the obstacle and form an attack angle with Lin Tianming, dragging him down. If that happened, escaping the place would probably not be easy. But the current situation was such that not only did his cultivation strength not have the advantage, but it was also inferior to Zhou Yunxiao across from him. Faced with a dilemma, Han Hu had no choice but to grit his teeth, turn around first, and fend off Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Once Han Hu made his decision, he immediately put it into action. His magical treasure in hand, he unleashed a series of attacks that rapidly tore through the void, clashing with the Qinghong Sword. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Loud sounds of explosion echoed between heaven and earth, flames shot into the sky, and the resulting shock waves swept across the area. Zhou Yunxiao took advantage of this force to retreat backward, quickly establishing a safe distance. As the dust and flames dissipated, the silhouettes of the two men were revealed. After that strike, both were affected by the massive impact, causing upheaval in Han Hu¡¯s qi-blood, making his face even paler. However, Lin Tianming was not greatly affected; with his strong physical strength and terrifying qi-blood power, regular shockwaves could hardly hurt him. And that strike had merely shaken his spirit for a moment before he quickly returned to normal. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Once he had steadied himself, Lin Tianming looked at Han Hu, who was not inclined to fight and continued to flee; the expression on his face was very calm, as if he was not worried at all. Opposite him, after flying out for dozens of yards, Han Hu involuntarily halted. As it turned out, following Lin Tianming¡¯s recent obstruction, Zhou Yunxiao had already reached the position, blocking Han Hu¡¯s path in advance. Facing the formidable Zhou Yunxiao, Han Hu¡¯s face turned pale and bloodless, and he completely lost all hope in his heart. Helplessly catching his breath, he thought to himself how terribly unlucky and obviously insufficient his strength was. He had thought that if everything went smoothly, there was still a chance of escape, thereby finding a thread of survival. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was too uncanny; for an ordinary cultivator to emerge unscathed under such high-density talisman paper attacks was already very difficult. Yet Lin Tianming was not just at ease breaking through the barrier; his speed was also so fast, and he managed a timely strike that delayed Han Hu for a moment. This brief moment completely changed the entire situation, preventing him from breaking through the encirclement in time. As of now, with another Third Order Demonic Beast of the Golden Sword Sect dead, other Golden Core Cultivators freed their hands and would surely come to assist Zhou Yunxiao. And at this moment, Zhao Mingli and some others were already heading this way, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before they took action against him. Faced with such a situation, he no longer had any hope of breaking out of the encirclement. Knowing this, Han Hu felt helpless and could only deal with Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao first. As long as he could hold on long enough, perhaps Zhao Hongsheng on the other side had some tricks up his sleeve. After all, that guy had been calm throughout, and coming from a Nascent Soul-Level Power, he might actually be able to turn the tide. At this moment, all Han Hu could do was pin his hopes on Zhao Hongsheng. However, Zhao Hongsheng was also in dire straits, retreating step by step under the joint assault of Lu Xingfeng and Chen Jingtian. In addition, a few Golden Core Cultivators who had freed their hands were also converging in his direction. In no more than ten breaths of time, Zhao Hongsheng would face the joint assault of three Golden Core Cultivators. It could be foreseen that Zhao Hongsheng, already retreating step by step, would have a hard time turning around the situation. But at this time, like Han Hu, he still hoped to find a way out in such a situation. Little did he know that Han Hu was already at a dead end, struggling even to not hold him back, let alone provide any assistance. Under such circumstances, Han Hu was now facing an attack from Lin Tianming and his ally. Watching the Qinghong Sword approach, Han Hu fended it off while edging closer to Zhao Hongsheng. Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao, clearly understanding Han Hu¡¯s intention, naturally would not let him have his way. After, the two of them continued to increase the frequency of their attacks and moved in advance towards the direction Han Hu was converging, planning to separate the two and then defeat each individually. With such intentions in mind, the two of them fought fiercely, each attack delivered with their full power. ¡°Boom¡­¡± An attack from Zhou Yunxiao came, clashing head-on with Han Hu¡¯s Sword Qi. In an instant, the tremendous impact force staggered Han Hu backward. Once he stabilized his posture, Han Hu spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion turning much paler. At this point, the injuries on his body were worsening nonstop, his mana nearly depleted, his strength significantly reduced. Although Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao were also at the end of their tether, compared to Han Hu¡¯s situation, they were evidently in much better condition. Not only that, Zhao Mingli, who had freed up his hands, had also rushed over by now, forming a triangular formation with the other two, trapping Han Hu firmly in the middle. At this moment, seeing himself surrounded, Han Hu was filled with a mix of shock and rage, his face ghastly pale. Before he could think further, the attacks from Zhao Mingli and Lin Tianming had already arrived. Han Hu looked up, only able to unleash a few desperate counterattacks, putting up the stance of a beast trapped in a corner. In the blink of an eye, with the several rounds of joint attacks by the three men coming to an end, Han Hu, overwhelmed and unable to cope, was struck in the back by Zhou Yunxiao. With a scream of agony, Han Hu¡¯s body flew like a kite with its string cut, eventually crashing heavily to the ground. Han Hu struggled a couple of times, then shakily managed to get up. Looking at him, his Daoist robe was tattered, the leather armor he wore riddled with thousands of holes, and a fist-sized blood hole was in his back, from which blood kept gushing. This blow had nearly pierced through his body, the huge impact forcing his internal organs to nearly shift positions, and many of his meridians were broken. Now, with severe injuries all over his body, including his internal organs, and with his mana completely depleted, his strength was similar to that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Facing Lin Tianming and the other two, any one of them could end his life with a casual blow. At this moment, Han Hu no longer thought about escaping and just stayed where he was. Taking advantage of the lull between attacks, Han Hu formed a seal with his hands, making a special gesture. Seeing this action, Lin Tianming and the others understood that Han Hu was attempting to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. Realizing this, the three of them shot out immediately, the Magical Treasures in their hands glowing in an instant, aiming to end Han Hu¡¯s life with one strike. Under the assault of the three men, Han Hu simply had no time to react, after all, Self-Detonating the Golden Core required time. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And having been severely injured before, his condition was far too critical, his mana completely exhausted. Under such conditions, the time he needed to achieve Self-Detonating the Golden Core was several times longer than before he was injured. Moreover, Lin Tianming and the others were constantly on guard against this move, naturally not giving him any chance. In this situation, Han Hu had just begun the motion to Self-Detonate his Golden Core, not even able to mobilize much Yuan Qi, when he was struck down by Zhou Yunxiao. Only when Han Hu¡¯s head hit the ground, his body beheaded, did they finally heave a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. With Han Hu¡¯s death, all of the Golden Core Cultivators from Golden Sword Sect had fallen, including the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts being killed. Previously, the Golden Sword Sect boasted five Golden Core Cultivators, as well as two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Such a massive force was now completely annihilated. None of the top-tier combatants from the Golden Sword Sect had survived. It could be said that the Golden Sword Sect was now practically obliterated, relying on the scattering Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had fled or were elsewhere was insufficient to stir any trouble. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming and the others were exceedingly excited, their faces revealing smiles that had been missing for a long time. Especially Lin Tianming, he felt incredibly moved in his heart. After all, the Golden Sword Sect was a major power that had a heritage of thousands of years, with profound foundations, having dominated the Wei Kingdom for thousands of years. Even Myriad Medicine Valley, with a legacy of ten thousand years, had been suppressed by the Golden Sword Sect for some time. Yet such a colossus was now nearly wiped out, unbelievable news to spread. ¡­ Chapter 892 03-25 - 892 477 Complete Annihilation (Please ?Chapter 892: Chapter 477 Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe) Chapter 892: Chapter 477 Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe) With excitement subsiding, Lin Tianming and the others turned their attention to the battlefield where Zhao Hongsheng was located. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had been annihilated, leaving only Zhao Hongsheng of the Blood Red Alliance. The great battle was nearing its end. At this moment, they were just a step away from final victory. No matter what stage they were in, they could not relax; only when everything settled could they completely let down their guard. Fully aware of this importance, Lin Tianming watched Zhao Hongsheng retreating steadily, ready to intervene at any moment. Besides him, Zhou Yunxiao and Zhao Mingli were poised to act in the same manner. Soon, the three simultaneously vanished and reappeared at Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side. ... At that time, amidst his counterattacks, Zhao Hongsheng immediately sensed the movement. Currently surrounded and relentlessly attacked by Lu Xingfeng and his men, Zhao was increasingly at a disadvantage. Not only that, but his injuries were serious, and his mana was nearly depleted¡ªsuch a state could not drastically reduce his strength in the short term, but he certainly could not endure a prolonged battle. Once entangled, he feared his end would be just like Han Hu¡¯s. Initially, he had pinned his hopes on Han Hu to trouble Zhou Yunxiao and the others, or at least attract their attention to stall them. If utterly overpowered, he planned to escape promptly. However, he underestimated the strength of Zhou Yunxiao and his team; he did not expect Han Hu, a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, to barely trouble the enemies. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Moreover, before he had even prepared to flee, Han Hu was killed outright. This turn of events happened much sooner than he had anticipated. Now that Han Hu was dead and no longer drawing their attention, Zhou Yunxiao and others had come to support. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From his perspective, facing Zhou Yunxiao and six or seven other Golden Core Cultivators, even with his exceptional abilities, it would be impossible to win. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng no longer intended to continue fighting. Seizing the moment before the other Golden Core Cultivators arrived, Zhao Hongsheng firmly and without hesitation took out the last Fourth Order Attack Talisman from his storage bag. This talisman was rare; he had already used one earlier to play a crucial role in retreating from the Myriad Medicine Valley battlefield. Now, this last Fourth Order Attack Talisman was his final ace¡ªif he used it, it would be gone for good. More importantly, if the talisman failed to change the tide, no matter how desperate he became, he would probably not be able to slip away under Zhou Yunxiao and the others¡¯ watch. But at that point, he couldn¡¯t afford to think more, as Lin Tianming and his companions had already launched a flurry of attacks as soon as they arrived. Faced with the dense barrage from above, each strike fearsomely powerful and seemingly enough to engulf him. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng no longer hesitated and immediately threw the talisman into the sky; it was instantly hit by a barrage of Law Decrees. In an instant, the Fourth Order Talisman flashed brightly, then turned into a vast rain of fire engulfing a broad area. Under this fiery deluge, almost everyone present was caught within. Only Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s escape direction was spared¡ªone person was not within the range of the attack. That person was Lin Tianming, keen-eyed and prepared. When he had reached the battlefield, he was ready to deal with Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s escape. In his view, with Han Hu dead, Zhao Hongsheng, having lost his strongest ally, would not linger or waste time, letting himself be surrounded. Therefore, for Zhao Hongsheng, escaping was only a matter of time. Sure enough, Zhao was even more decisive than Lin had anticipated. Even just as they had arrived, he was prepared for a final struggle. Now, this guy was sacrificing his last card, clearly planning to block Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng¡ªhis two strongest opponents. As for Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, Zhao was quite helpless. In fact, if he could help it, he would not have left Lin Tianming out, even if it meant facing Chen Jingtian whom he could have blocked. Nevertheless, that decision was not his to make; Lin Tianming seemed to have foreseen his intentions and was prepared. Coupled with Zhou Yunxiao and the others being too spread out, even a Fourth Order Talisman could not block so many people at once. Thus, Zhao had to play his cards according to the situation, blocking only those he feared most. Unable to block everyone, he had to concentrate on escaping in one direction. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming, with keen eyesight, firmly stood in front of him, as if anticipating his thoughts. At this, Zhao Hongsheng was both shocked and furious, becoming increasingly frantic. At this time, the entire battlefield was in chaos. Among them, Zhou Yunxiao and several other Golden Core Cultivators were all enshrouded in the fiery rain. Facing this terrifying firestorm, which they had witnessed once before, they knew too well the lethality of a Fourth Order Talisman. At that time, under its assault, Luo Anzhong, a Medium Stage Golden Core, fell directly, and the others were also heavily injured. This showed just how destructive such a powerful treasure was to Golden Core Cultivators; even late-stage cultivators like Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng dared not be careless. Under these circumstances, everyone engulfed by the firestorm exerted all methods and used every treasure available, solely focused on surviving out of the firestorm. Chapter 893 03-25 - 893 477 Total Annihilation (Seeking ?Chapter 893: Chapter 477: Total Annihilation (Seeking Subscriptions)_2 Chapter 893: Chapter 477: Total Annihilation (Seeking Subscriptions)_2 As for hindering Zhao Hongsheng, everyone was currently under the test of life and death, and simply could not afford to be distracted. However, the pressure Lin Tianming faced was immense. Zhao Hongsheng too leaped up, the magical treasure in his hand suddenly shining brightly. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In an instant, a terrifying Sword Qi burst forth, rushing straight towards Lin Tianming, who stood in its path. Feeling that terrifying fluctuation, Lin Tianming knew Zhao Hongsheng was fighting desperately. The more he understood this, the more somber Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became. ... After all, Zhao Hongsheng was an immensely powerful existence in the Late Stage Golden Core, his strength was definitely one of the strongest among everyone there, even Zhou Yunxiao at the same stage dared not claim to dominate him. Although Lin Tianming had also resisted an attack from a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator before, the circumstances then were quite different. With Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s strength now even greater and fighting desperately for survival, the attack he unleashed naturally differed vastly. This attack was naturally terrifying, and Lin Tianming had to give his all to retreat unscathed. Knowing this, Lin Tianming watched the approaching attack, his eyebrows tightly furrowed. Subsequently, he sighed deeply and then started to move. He pinched a Law Decree in his hand, and instantly, the Qinghong Sword shot out, swiftly hovering above his head. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 At the same time, Lin Tianming flicked his fingers, a series of Spiritual Light bombarded the Qinghong Sword. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword spun frantically, its speed continuously increasing, and in an extremely short time, it formed a Sword Shadow Lotus. At the first glance, the lotus shone with shimmering silver light and was engulfed in strong Sword Qi fluctuations. Anyone with keen eyes could see that this lotus formed of Sword Qi was a formidable Divine Skill, its power undoubtedly immense. And Zhao Hongsheng, being a Late Stage Golden Core Expert from a formidable force like the Blood Red Alliance, naturally had exceptional insight. When he saw this lotus appear and felt the strong fluctuation, his complexion also turned rather unsightly. He was acutely aware of the Sword Shadow Lotus since Lin Tianming had used this very Divine Skill to block his attack face-on before. Even though Zhao Hongsheng had not given his all that time, using about seventy to eighty percent of his strength, Yet, even so, Lin Tianming had remained unharmed and greatly exceeded his expectations. Therefore, it was evident how formidable the defensive power of Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Shadow Lotus was. With a nervous mindset, Zhao Hongsheng stared intensely at his own attack, colliding fiercely against the Sword Shadow Lotus. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise resonated, the whole sky shimmering with silver light, and the dazzling brightness pained his eyes. Under this strike, the powerful wave swept over, and even Zhao Hongsheng was knocked back more than ten zhang. The impact threw Lin Tianming backward like a kite with its string cut. While still in midair, Lin Tianming vomited several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face extremely pale, and his aura rapidly weakened significantly. Only when he heavily crashed into the ground did the startling noises finally cease. Struggling a few times, Lin Tianming then propped himself up using the Qinghong Sword, his complexion extremely unsightly. Under this strike, he was also severely injured, Qi-Blood surging throughout his body, numerous injuries appearing on his skin, several meridians inside his body were broken, and his Blue Star Armor was also shattered significantly. Additionally, with his Mana nearly depleted, his strength had drastically reduced by a great margin. Fortunately, the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, this Divine Skill of immense defensive power, once again blocked Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full-powered strike, not disappointing him a bit. Although he was severely injured, Zhao Hongsheng was indeed held back, stopped from breaking through his defense. Lin Tianming was rather satisfied with this result. After all, the previous time was because Zhao Hongsheng had not exerted his full strength, and this time was significantly different. Not only standing firm but also leaving Zhao Hongsheng no opportunity. Meanwhile, Zhao Hongsheng, seeing that Lin Tianming was still able to stand up, and himself being retreated by the blast, wore an extremely ugly expression. However, failing to kill Lin Tianming was not the most critical part. What was more important was that near him, the sea of fire had dissipated, revealing the figures of Zhou Yunxiao and others. Looking around, they were all charred black, their robes tattered beyond repair, with Zhao Mingli and Lan Yu among them looking exceptionally pale, numerous injuries visible on their bodies, and their aura extremely weak. Clearly, the Fourth Order Attack Talisman had caused significant trouble for them; Lan Yu and Zhao Mingli, both Early Stage Golden Core cultivators, managed to survive the attack but were severely injured. As for the others, all being Medium Stage Golden Core and above, they too were hurt, but the impact on their strength was visibly lesser. As the sea of fire dissipated, Zhou Yunxiao and the others, furious and alarmed, immediately stood their ground and surrounded Zhao Hongsheng tightly in the middle. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng was surrounded again, without any gap to exploit. Moreover, his Mana was nearly completely depleted, only a few rounds of attacks left before he would be utterly exhausted. Once that moment arrived, if he hadn¡¯t broke through the encirclement, he would become utterly powerless. One could say, the current situation was even worse than at the start. Seeing Zhou Yunxiao and the others¡¯ fierce and threatening demeanor, Zhao Hongsheng panicked thoroughly. Before he could even catch his breath, Zhou Yunxiao shouted loudly. Chapter 894 03-25 - 894 477 Complete Annihilation (Please ?Chapter 894: Chapter 477: Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe)_3 Chapter 894: Chapter 477: Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe)_3 ¡°Fellow Daoists, just to be safe, quickly kill this scoundrel!¡± Having said this, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead, launching an attack that tore through the sky, heading straight for Zhao Hongsheng. Immediately following, Lu Xingfeng and several others were unwilling to fall behind. Each of them hastily made their move, with a flurry of attacks shooting out, instantly submerging Zhao Hongsheng. At this moment, seeing the multitude of attacks coming his way, the intense aura whipping up gusts of Gang Wind that billowed his robes, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s complexion underwent a drastic change. In the current situation, he was truly cornered. Facing such terrifying and dense attacks, he couldn¡¯t possibly hold out for two rounds. However, Zhao Hongsheng, despite feeling helpless inside, did not resign himself to fate. ... His Magical Treasure flashed a bright light in his hand as he forcibly launched several rounds of attacks at Zhou Yunxiao and the others. At the same time, the Defense Treasure in his hand was infused with a massive amount of mana, quickly transforming into a barrier in front of him. In less than an instant, a cacophony of loud crashing noises erupted. The powerful attacks from both sides collided in the sky, producing dazzling light and the force of the impact spread out in all directions. Amidst the bombardment from the sky, a few attacks breached the defenses and struck Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s Defense Treasure head-on. Another explosion sounded. In that moment, Zhao Hongsheng felt as if he had been smashed by a mountain, shaking his entire body, even his internal organs shifted slightly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Simultaneously, he was sent flying by the blast wave before crashing down to the ground. When he struggled to get up from the ground, spewing several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face was utterly devoid of color, with his breathing exceedingly weak. Looking over his body, he knew too well that his condition was dire and he could not withstand a second wave of attacks. In his eyes, this was a dead end, having not a trace of vitality. And now, he deeply regretted, regretted his overconfidence and pride, which had ultimately led to this plight. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But it was useless to lament at this point; Zhou Yunxiao and the others were out for his blood, giving him no chance whatsoever. Even so, Zhao Hongsheng hadn¡¯t given up hope, harboring a sliver of wishful thinking that, coming from a formidable force like the Blood Red Alliance, perhaps Zhou Yunxiao and the others would hold some reservations. Thus, he glared at Zhou Yunxiao and the others, not forgetting to issue a threat. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am here on a mission. If you kill me, the high echelons of our Blood Red Alliance will not let you off easily!¡± ¡°In my view, if you spare me, I can report to the Elders and clarify the misunderstanding between us!¡± ¡°And I can promise, even swear by the Heavenly Dao, that I will not trouble you afterward!¡± ¡°What do you say?¡± After uttering these words, Zhao Hongsheng looked earnestly at Zhou Yunxiao and the others, yet his heart was fraught with anxiety. After all, up to this point in this great battle, significant harm had been caused to Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect by them, with many a Golden Core Stage Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts meeting their end. It was no exaggeration to say that after this battle, the overall strength of these two major sects of the Wei Kingdom had significantly diminished. Hence, he was unsure whether Zhou Yunxiao would be wary of the Blood Red Alliance, let alone whether they would spare him. At this juncture, upon hearing Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s mix of tough and soft stance, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did indeed pause, appearing somewhat hesitant. However, it took less than a moment for them to exchange glances and then attack simultaneously. It was evident that they had no intention of wasting words with Zhao Hongsheng, nor would they believe his nonsense. After all, they knew all too well who Zhao Hongsheng was and what the Blood Red Alliance was like. Moreover, several Blood Red Alliance Golden Cores had already been eradicated by their side, making it a fight to the death. Given the circumstances, there was no room for buffering, and it was better to be decisive, to prevent any unexpected occurrences. Therefore, unaffected, Zhou Yunxiao and his companion wasted no time in launching their attacks to end Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s life. With such intent, the remaining few made their moves, with a barrage of attacks engulfing Zhao Hongsheng. Faced with such an onslaught, Zhao Hongsheng fell into despair. He had just thought about Self-Detonating his Golden Core, but he was too heavily wounded and there simply wasn¡¯t enough time. Reluctantly, several assaults hit him. In an instant, Zhao Hongsheng was severed limb from limb, his body parts scattering, and his blood soaking the earth. It wasn¡¯t until calm returned to the world that only remnants and a battlefield riddled with countless holes were left behind. At this moment, with the death of all Golden Core Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, only those disciples of the Golden Sword Sect remained, and they too would eventually be eradicated. Thus, this great war that lasted for several years officially came to an end. ¡­ Chapter 895 03-25 - 895 478 Cleaning the Battlefield ?Chapter 895: Chapter 478: Cleaning the Battlefield Chapter 895: Chapter 478: Cleaning the Battlefield With Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s downfall, the battlefield returned to tranquility. At this moment, every person was brimming with excitement, their faces overflowing with broad smiles. Clearly, now that Zhao Hongsheng was dead and all the chief instigators of the great war had been executed, it signified the official end of this battle. Prior to this, everyone had struggled for years, never daring to relax for a moment, as each person¡¯s spirit was tightly wound, and the process of the great war was indeed fraught with danger. Thankfully, the ending was perfect, and now, at last, they could breathe a temporary sigh of relief. With such a relaxed mentality, Zhou Yunxiao and other Sect Golden Core Cultivators gathered together, sharing their joy with one another. At this time, Lin Tianming was also excited, having forgotten even the serious injuries on his body. ... After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming felt a wave of lingering fear in his heart. It was important to know that Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s previous attack was extremely terrifying, being a desperate full-strength strike, and its lethality need not be overemphasized. Under that strike, he too had fought back against the wall, relying on Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus to get through the crisis. However, Zhao Hongsheng was indeed a powerful presence in the Late Stage Golden Core, and an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator would likely face a nine-deaths-one-life situation if they had to block such a strike in those circumstances. Even a strong Medium Stage Cultivator like Chen Jingtian wouldn¡¯t dare to directly receive a full-fledged strike from Zhao Hongsheng, let alone say they could easily block it. Yet Lin Tianming not only blocked the attack, but the whole process seemed relatively effortless, and he only sustained some injuries. Such strength, along with the peerlessly elegant Sword Shadow Lotus, once again gave those who had witnessed the entire battle process a considerable shock in their hearts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng quickly left their fellow Sect brothers and immediately went to greet him. ¡°Lin, how are your injuries?¡± ¡°Lin, your strength is truly formidable. That Sword Shadow Lotus just now was so powerful, easily blocking Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full strike. It was truly beyond our expectations!¡± Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng spoke one after the other, their attitude and tone extremely enthusiastic. Hearing their complimentary words, Lin Tianming waved his hand and gave a bitter smile. ¡°You all overestimate me. If Zhao Hongsheng hadn¡¯t already been injured and his strength not at its peak, perhaps I would have died under that strike!¡± Lin Tianming responded with a smile and then swiftly changed the subject. ¡°Daoist Zhou, Daoist Lu, what should we do next?¡± Hearing his inquiry, Zhou Yunxiao and the others exchanged looks. As the strongest individuals from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they were not only the backbone of everyone present but also the absolute main force against the Blood Red Alliance and Golden Sword Sect. Therefore, their decision-making was something that other people could not ignore. After some discussion in front of everyone, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng began to arrange the next steps. As for the others, they all waited on the side. Soon, based on their suggestions, the next step was naturally to capture all the remaining Golden Sword Sect Disciples as quickly as possible, then promptly clean up the battlefield and explore the extensive wealth of the entire Golden Sword Sect. As for later, the various powers would have to distribute the spoils of war, and there might also be accountability sought for the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three Sects that had taken advantage of the chaos. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No doubt, the Golden Core Cultivators from the two major powers had no objections to such arrangements, only the Lin Family and Yingchuan Chen Family needed to be taken into consideration. However, the Yingchuan Chen Family openly only had one Golden Core Cultivator, namely Chen Maohua. Given the overall strength of the Chen Family, they obviously could not command much attention from Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. On the other hand, the Lin Family had changed dramatically and considering Lin Tianming¡¯s monstrous strength along with his impressive military achievements, the overall strength of the Lin Family was in no way inferior to that of any other Sect now. Therefore, out of respect for the Lin Family, Zhou Yunxiao also inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s opinion. To this, Lin Tianming was quite perceptive, stating that the Lin Family would follow the arrangements. Moreover, in his view, what needed to be done at the moment was exactly these things. Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng¡¯s arrangements were very appropriate and comprehensive, and he had no reason to voice any objections. With that, everyone quickly confirmed the specifics of the plan. Therefore, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng started giving orders, directing the Foundation Establishment Disciples under their command to mobilize, both to eliminate the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect and occupy the various workshops, Spirit Lands, and mines owned by the Golden Sword Sect. Including the Lin Family, which would send some clan members along with the disciples of the two Sects to take possession of those treasures. Regarding this aspect of the plan, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng had not initially brought it up actively. Evidently, when it came to the treasure lands and property under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not wish for the Lin Family and the Chen Clan to be too involved. The reason for this was straightforward: the properties of the Golden Sword Sect were numerous and widely distributed, and the accumulated wealth was immeasurable. If the Lin Family and Chen Clan were involved, it would not be so easy for the two Sects to gain more benefits in the shadows. After all, with such high values, even a ten or twenty percent share of the profits would be an enormous fortune. But neither Lin Tianming nor Chen Maohua was foolish. With their insight and cultivation, they naturally understood the little schemes in the hearts of Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. And so, after strong arguments from Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua based on reason, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were well aware that they had promised in advance. Chapter 896 03-25 - 896 478 Cleaning Up the Battlefield_2 ?Chapter 896: Chapter 478: Cleaning Up the Battlefield_2 Chapter 896: Chapter 478: Cleaning Up the Battlefield_2 To avoid causing conflict, they had agreed to the Lin Family and Chen Clan members¡¯ request to jointly take over the property and the treasured land. However, the clan members dispatched by both the Lin Family and the Chen Clan had to do their part and confront the resisting Golden Sword Sect disciples. Regarding this issue, Lin Tianming did not object, because he was very clear in his mind that if the Lin Family wanted to gain sufficient benefits, they should also bear certain risks. Thus, Lin Tianming also agreed to this, and made arrangements for after Lin Shikang¡¯s return to the family, to immediately send clan members to the Golden Sword Mountain territory. It was foreseeable that in the next one to two years, the Lin Family members would join forces with disciples from two other sects and clans, responsible for wiping out the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, as well as capturing the spirit lands guarded by Golden Sword Sect disciples. As this matter was settled, Lin Tianming and the rest of the Golden Core cultivators began to get busy, starting with a cleanup of the battlefield here. Lin Tianming also collected his own spoils of war, namely the carcass of the Variegated Crystal Beast he had killed alone. ... As for the storage bags and magical treasures, these treasures obtained from those cultivators they had killed together, were temporarily managed by Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. Once everything had settled down, they would be uniformly distributed. Soon, the battlefield was cleaned up, and everyone gathered together once again. Immediately after that, following a few polite words, the group began to disperse. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, only Zhou Yunxiao, Lu Xingfeng, and Chen Maohua were left, and they began to advance into the inner part of the Golden Sword Sect. As for the other participating Golden Core cultivators from the great battle, they each left the area, looking for places to close up and heal their wounds. Once they had recovered, they would proceed to the various treasured lands of the Golden Sword Sect, to eliminate the fleeing Golden Sword Sect disciples and take over those properties. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï However, even if they hurried, this task would need at least a few months¡¯ time before it could be carried out in practice. And during the initial stage of exterminating the remnants, the main forces would be the disciples from the two major powers, the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. ¡­ Within the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Following the conclusion of the outer perimeter¡¯s Golden Core battle, the interior was still not peaceful. At this moment, bursts of explosions were heard from within, accompanied by screams echoing out. Lin Shikang, Ye Pinghai, and a few others, leading a small group of disciples from the two major forces of the Zhenyang Sect, were swiftly eliminating the Golden Sword Sect cultivators. Under the leadership of the Golden Core cultivators, those who were merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, or even the Qi Refinement stage, stood no chance against their attacks. Even with the help of some forbidden defenses, they could not resist for long before they were forcefully broken through and wiped out. In just half an hour, they had already advanced several dozen miles inward. Along the way, a great number of corpses lay scattered all over the ground, the earth was already soaked red with blood, and many pavilions and great halls had collapsed. Such a sight, riddled with holes and in complete ruin, was shocking to behold. At that moment, Lin Tianming and his group continued to push forward, seeing the tragic scene of bodies everywhere, they could not help but frown. During this time, occasionally encountering some fleeing Golden Sword Sect disciples, they were quickly eradicated as well. Before long, the group followed this path and arrived in front of a dojo. Here, they encountered quite a few people engaged in a one-sided slaughter. Following their gaze, Lin Shikang and his group were making their moves, eradicating dozens of Golden Sword Sect disciples at this location. With the cessation of sounds, they stopped for the moment and came before Lin Tianming and the others. Upon seeing Lin Shikang and the others, Zhou Yunxiao, who was beside them, greeted them first, and then took the initiative to ask a question. ¡°Lin, how is the cleanup of the remnants and rebels within the Golden Sword Sect going?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Shikang clasped his hands together and promptly replied, ¡°The Golden Sword Sect¡¯s interior housed at least several thousand people, of which nearly half have been eliminated by us, and a great majority of those Foundation Establishment cultivators have been almost completely eradicated.¡± ¡°As for those cultivators who escaped, most of them were Qi cultivators, and there are still many disciples exterminating them at the outer perimeter, so there shouldn¡¯t be many who have completely escaped!¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s report, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng nodded their heads, feeling quite satisfied with this statement. For upon entering the interior, they had observed carefully and found that they had breached into the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s innermost core areas. Behind this plaza lay a cluster of buildings, where still remained hundreds of cultivators, the vast majority of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level¡ªlikely to be core disciples of great importance. Moreover, the last expanse of grand palaces and lofty towers appeared exceptionally majestic, pulsating with strong prohibition fluctuations. They estimated that these towers should be some of the most important places of the Golden Sword Sect, like the Scripture Pavilion that stored cultivation techniques, or the institutions for exchanging meritorious deeds. Along the way, they had witnessed a landscape littered with corpses. Judging by the residual aura of these bodies, many of them were at the Foundation Establishment Stage before they perished. They used these observable pieces of information to make a judgment, which mostly aligned with what Lin Shikang had described. Realizing this, Zhou Yunxiao exchanged a few cordial words and then glanced at Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also understood their intentions. He then discreetly communicated with Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, sharing the details of the discussion he had with Zhou Yunxiao and the others. At the same time, Lin Tianming also emphasized the Lin Family¡¯s arrangements, instructing Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai to return to their clan first and to promptly dispatch Foundation Establishment Clan Members to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory to cooperate with exterminating the remnants. In addition to this, another critical point was ensuring that their clan members supervised the process to guarantee that the benefits the Lin Family was entitled to were not overly compromised. Upon receiving the news from Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission, Lin Shikang was brimming with excitement, very satisfied with how Lin Tianming handled matters. Lin Shikang gave out a few instructions and, after greeting Zhou Yunxiao and others, expressed his intention to take his leave. Subsequently, under Lin Tianming¡¯s watchful gaze, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai departed from the plaza together. Carrying feelings of excitement, Lin Shikang and his companion hastened out of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s domain onto the road back to their clan. As for Lin Tianming, he now stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhou Yunxiao and others. At this moment, they gazed at the vast array of towers and palaces before them, their eyes ablaze with fervor. Without any surprises, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s vast wealth was likely gathered in this area. They understood very well that the treasures within these towers were the foundation of the Golden Sword Sect. The Golden Sword Sect was among the top-ranking Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom and had a nearly ten-thousand-year lineage, even longer than that of the Zhenyang Sect. Throughout such a lengthy period, the Golden Sword Sect had always retained a certain overall strength, never declining due to fluctuations. Any sensible person could see that the Golden Sword Sect must have an incredibly profound foundation. And after their great efforts, they had finally eradicated the Golden Sword Sect. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that this thrilling victory had been hard-won. Now, the time had come to seek out the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s wealth; by scouring the treasure vault and the various large-scale institutions, as well as the Spiritual Medicine Gardens, they were bound to acquire an immense fortune. Under such temptation, the few present were eager to begin, clearly growing impatient. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao laughed heartily and then proposed, ¡°Hehe¡­ Fellow Daoists, shouldn¡¯t we make our move now?¡± Hearing these words, Lu Xingfeng also calmed down from his excitement. He then responded, ¡°The treasure is right before our eyes; indeed, it¡¯s time to take action!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we should first break the prohibitions around these palaces and eliminate any remaining disciples; then we can start plundering this area.¡± ¡°As for the other Spiritual Medicine Gardens and that important Treasure Vault, we can search for them later!¡± ¡°Do Lin and Chen Daoists have any objections?¡± Lu Xingfeng looked at Lin Tianming and the others, symbolically asking for their opinions. ¡°No objections, we¡¯ll leave it to the two of you to decide!¡± Lin Tianming and his companion responded, their faces also illuminated with excitement. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then said, ¡°Good¡­ Let¡¯s strike together!¡± Having said that, Zhou Yunxiao was the first to act, launching an attack on a palace¡¯s external prohibition. Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng, Lin Tianming, and others were not to be outdone, releasing a barrage of attacks in coordination with Zhou Yunxiao, bombarding the grand hall. ¡­ Chapter 897 03-25 - 897 479 Searching for Treasure (Part 1) ?Chapter 897: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1) Chapter 897: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1) At that moment, Lin Tianming and three others, unable to wait any longer, attacked, striking a massive assault on the restrictive light barrier right in front of them. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds erupted, accompanied by flames shooting into the sky, and the ground began to shake slightly. Inside these restrictions, within the major mechanisms, quite a few Golden Sword Sect disciples were still putting up a stubborn resistance. At the beginning of the battle, as Golden Sword Sect disciples, they were fighting back with all their might, striving to protect the sect¡¯s legacy. However, as Lin Shikang and several other Golden Core Cultivators took action, it was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. Under absolute power, no matter how many Foundation Establishment Cultivators there were, they couldn¡¯t reverse the situation of continuous defeat. ... Now, these people were already in a state of panic, gathering together like ants on a hot pot, discussing countermeasures. Alas, outside the restrictions were such renowned individuals as Zhou Yunxiao and others, including the God of Slaughter, Lin Tianming. Faced with such top experts attacking the restrictions, no matter how strong the defenses of the restrictions were, they would eventually be broken. Moreover, the defensive power of these restrictions was far from comparable to the sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. One could say that with such a huge disparity in strength, they had no capital to resist. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps because they understood this great disparity, many of these cultivators were already thinking about surrendering. Soon, a disagreement arose between the two conflicting groups, even leading to a clash, further complicating the situation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï But these minor incidents couldn¡¯t change the outcome. As the restrictions were broken, dozens of people appeared in front of Lin Tianming and the others in the attic. Seeing Lin Tianming and the three others, these people looked terrified and scattered in all directions. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng scoffed, and with a wave of their hands, they easily killed most of the people. At the last moment, the two did not forget to capture two Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators. These two Golden Sword Sect cultivators had considerable cultivation and were not old, probably elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. Once Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng released them, their faces were ashen, clearly terrified. Having calmed down a bit, the two were sensible enough to understand that Zhou Yunxiao had captured them surely for some instructions or to inquire about some secrets of the sect. Consequently, as soon as the two cultivators were set free, they bowed to the group. Then, gathering their spirits, one of them immediately said, ¡°Greetings to the four seniors!¡± ¡°My name is Luo Xing, and this is my junior brother, Xu Chengxiu. May I ask what instructions you have for us? We will definitely tell you everything we know!¡± Hearing Luo Xing¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, thinking that Luo Xing was a sensible man, knowing that they had captured them but spared their lives must have some purpose. Since that was the case, there was no need for him to beat around the bush. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao asked directly, ¡°Do you have a control token for the attic¡¯s restrictions here?¡± ¡°Besides, introduce us to some basic information about your Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Scripture Pavilion, Hall of Merit, Sect Treasury, and the Spiritual Medicine Garden.¡± ¡°If the information you provide is useful, I personally guarantee that we can spare your lives or even grant you the status to join our Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Xing and Xu initially looked hesitant. As elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, they clearly understood the sect¡¯s rules and were deeply loyal. But with the drastic changes in the Golden Sword Sect, especially with the fall of top leadership, it virtually ceased to exist. In their view, it might not take long before this sect, which once made a name for itself in several surrounding countries, would vanish from the cultivation world completely. Their cultivation path had not been easy, striving over a hundred years to reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. They thought that with few more decades of cultivation, if they found some opportunities, they might catch a glimpse of the Golden Core Path. However, in recent years, the sect, instigated by the Blood Red Alliance, had initiated a large-scale war among the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom. The outcome was the sect¡¯s destruction, leaving them helpless. Now that the sect was in such a state, they had no means to resist. Faced with the threat of death, probably anyone would make the wise choice. Realizing this, they felt somewhat relieved that their cultivation realms had played a role, as they were personally captured by Zhou Yunxiao. If they had been killed instantly, they might not have had even a slight chance of survival. With this, Luo Xing and Xu Chengxiu exchanged glances, seemingly resolved. Then Luo Xing gave a wry smile and began to speak nervously. ¡°To the seniors, the sect¡¯s organizational restrictions are all independent; none of the disciples have their own tokens.¡± ¡°However, I know that the control token should be in the hands of one of the high-ranking members!¡± ¡°If the seniors are not in a rush, you might consider looking for it. If you can obtain the token directly, it would avoid unnecessary forced attacks and save much more time.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, convinced by what Luo Xing said based on their Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s situation. With that, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng took up the storage bags of Han Hu and Song Hanchun, and in front of Lin Tianming and the others, they searched through several storage bags. Chapter 898 03-25 - 898 479 Searching for Treasure (Part ?Chapter 898: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1)_2 Chapter 898: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1)_2 Soon, Lu Xingfeng found a token in Song Hanchun¡¯s storage bag. After studying the token, he determined that it should be the Control Token for some of the core institutions of the Golden Sword Sect. With this item, their subsequent treasure hunt would be much faster, and it would save them a lot of unnecessary trouble. As the Control Token was found, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Luo Xing and his companion, and his expression softened considerably. Seeing this, Luo Xing and his companion also secretly sighed in relief, feeling somewhat reassured. Then, Luo Xing continued, ¡°To return to the seniors, I can lead the way to the Sect¡¯s main institutions, such as the Scripture Pavilion, Hall of Merit, Spiritual Medicine Garden, Spirit Beast Garden, and other important places!¡± ¡°However, the location of the Sect Treasury is a top secret of the Sect!¡± ... S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Us two are merely Inner Sect Disciples, not even personal disciples of the high-ranking Golden Core Cultivators, so naturally, we do not have knowledge of the exact location of the Treasury.¡± ¡°Therefore, I fear that the seniors will have to find the most important Treasury themselves.¡± Having said this, Luo Xing and his companion were nervously bowing their heads, afraid that Zhou Yunxiao might get angry with them over this matter. Fortunately, upon hearing their explanation, Zhou Yunxiao simply nodded indifferently, waving them to stand by and showing no sign of anger. At this sight, the two men breathed another sigh of relief. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lu Xingfeng and the others and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, why not let these two lead the way and first loot those institutions they¡¯re aware of?¡± ¡°As for the most important Sect Treasury, shall we leave it as the last to explore?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Upon hearing this, Lu Xingfeng nodded, and Lin Tianming had no objection, so the matter was scheduled. Then, lead by Luo Xing and his companion, they began to explore the inner areas along the main path. During this time, with the help of the Control Token, the formations on numerous pavilions were easily unlocked and the disciples inside were killed off. Several formations were unlocked in succession, including those of the Sect¡¯s dojo and the Enforcement Hall among other institutions. Although these places were also core institutions of the Sect, they didn¡¯t leave anything valuable behind. The group only conducted a brief investigation before directly moving on. Half a quarter of an hour passed. As Zhou Yunxiao unlocked a barrier, revealing a grand palace with the prominent characters ¡°Hall of Merit¡± on the signboard. At this, Lin Tianming and the others were excited, thinking they had finally found an important target, and perhaps a main institution where treasures might be stored. After all, the Hall of Merit was a Sect¡¯s trading institution, with large numbers of Cultivators coming and going daily to exchange merits or treasures. Therefore, the Hall of Merit saw a significant amount of traffic of Cultivators, and likewise a large quantity of treasures. According to the customs of major forces, the Hall of Merit would usually have a Treasure Vault for temporary storage of these circulating items. Now that they had found the Hall of Merit, they could expect to obtain a considerable amount of resources, should all go as expected. With such anticipation, the four entered the Hall of Merit in search. They soon found the existence of the Treasure Vault and discovered many treasures within it. However, since the Hall of Merit mainly catered to the Sect¡¯s disciples, Golden Core Cultivators rarely came to exchange items. Normally, if they needed any treasure, they would directly take it from the Treasure Vault. As such, it was unlikely that this Treasure Vault would contain any extremely valuable treasures. Indeed, after checking and exploring, they found that 99% of the items were First and Second Order, and even Third Order items were quite limited. According to their rough estimates, this Treasure Vault contained only a few million worth of low-grade resources. These items were attractive to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but of minimal use to them as Golden Core Cultivators. With waning interest, the group recorded the treasures, then left the Hall of Merit and continued exploring. Time quickly passed, and two days went by. After two days of searching, they had explored many pavilions and important institutions of the Golden Sword Sect. By now, ninety percent of the core area¡¯s institutions had been investigated. As for the gains, they left several people somewhat dissatisfied. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had been inheriting for so long and was on par with the renowned Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect in terms of being a great sect, yet they acquired only resources worth slightly over twenty million spirit stones. In addition, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Spirit Beast Garden also housed quite a few First and Second Order Demonic Beasts. These Demonic Beasts were all tamed spirit beasts, which usually made it extremely difficult to tame them again. Even if they were forcefully tamed successfully, the probability of the spirit beasts dying was over ninety percent. Moreover, with no Third Order Demon Beasts present, the value of the Spirit Beast Garden wasn¡¯t high either. Rather, it was those yet to hatch mystical beast eggs, some of which contained bloodlines of not low talents, rare mystical eggs, whose value was not far behind the spirit beasts themselves. Yet these things still failed to pique their interest. It wasn¡¯t until today when they arrived in front of a loft that they discovered it was the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Scripture Pavilion. The value of this place goes without saying. It forms, quite frankly, the very foundation of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s existence in the cultivation world. Seeing the Scripture Pavilion, several people also caught the guardians, then immediately entered inside to start exploring. On the first floor, what first caught their eye was a large number of jade shelves, and looking along them, they were neatly filled with a vast array of jade slips and booklets. These items were numerous, most likely containing cultivation techniques and various manuals, as well as diverse perspectives and insights, even including autobiographies of cultivators. They casually picked up a few, looked over them, then placed them back where they found them. In their eyes, while the quantity of jade slips and booklets was plentiful and comprehensive, encompassing all the heritages commonly seen in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it included cultivation techniques of various properties and understandings of the Four Arts of Cultivation that were quite complete. Many were familiar-looking manuals, with quite a few also overlapping with those of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Besides, these items were of too low a grade. Things like Yellow Grade Techniques and First Order insights of the Four Arts of Cultivation were not lacking in the major powers. Therefore, even if they had gotten these lower-grade items, they wouldn¡¯t have made much of a difference for them. Only for families like the Lin Family and Chen Clan would these items be of no small importance. Having completed a preliminary exploration, Zhou Yunxiao then asked the cultivator in charge of guarding the Scripture Pavilion to provide a detailed list. Following that, he led the group to continue towards the higher floors. On the second floor, not only was the space significantly smaller, but the variety of jade slips and booklets had also diminished considerably. After their investigation, along with the details provided by Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples, they discovered that most of these treasures were Mysterious Grade Techniques or Second Order inheritances of the Four Arts of Cultivation. According to the recorded details, there were nearly a hundred Mysterious Grade Techniques, encompassing a full array of techniques for various attributes, truly a complete collection. Besides, there were also plenty of cultivation manuals and traditions of the Four Arts, totaling in the hundreds. Even traditions such as formations, which were less common, had more than thirty manuals. Such an abundance of inheritance materials finally showcased the depth and foundation that a Great Sect like the Golden Sword Sect, with its ancient lineage, should possess. With these treasures, ignoring the overlapping manuals, even sects like Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley could enhance their foundations a bit. Not to mention the Lin Family and Chen Clan, who were Golden Core families. Should they obtain these items, the overall foundation of these two great families could be significantly elevated. Under normal circumstances, these inheritance items would mostly be within the rights of the Lin Family and even the Chen Clan to imprint and acquire, at least a majority of the inheritances should not be difficult to obtain. Lin Tianming was also beyond excited about these items. In his opinion, what the Lin Family was currently lacking were foundational depth and time. Now that their foundation was largely addressed, given a hundred years for development, the Lin Family could undoubtedly present a completely new visage. By then, the Lin Family would have the capital to contend comprehensively with the other Golden Core forces. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was thrilled for quite a long time, taking quite some effort to calm down eventually. And speaking of which, the value of these inheritances was incalculable; it even amounted to the most significant gain from their days of exploration so far. So much so that now, the looks on their faces were much improved. ¡­ Chapter 899 03-25 - 899 480 Searching for Treasure (Part 2) ?Chapter 899: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2) Chapter 899: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2) As the exploration of the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion came to an end, several people, led by a disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, turned and headed towards the third floor. In the eyes of the top cultivators from the Wei Kingdom, the legacies of the First and Second Order were not very significant; it was only the Third Order legacies and the Spirit Techniques used by the high-level members of the Golden Sword Sect that were key factors in enhancing the standing of the Great Sect. In light of this, even Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng could hardly wait to proceed. Soon, the several of them were exploring the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion. However, this place contained important secrets of the Golden Sword Sect, and even the disciples in charge of guarding it had no detailed knowledge of the legacies and lacked direct access rights. Fortunately, they had a Control Token which allowed them to enter easily and they began their search firsthand. After half a day, they had figured out the specifics of these treasures. ... It had to be said, the legacy of the Golden Sword Sect was indeed extraordinary, which greatly impressed everyone present. Even Zhou Yunxiao, compared to the Scripture Pavilion of Myriad Medicine Valley, was quite satisfied with the legacies stored on this third floor. According to their investigation, there were no less than seven Earth-grade Techniques here, covering the common five attributes. Regrettably, there were no Earth-grade techniques with heterogeneous attributes, nor any Heavenly Grade Techniques. Clearly, techniques with heterogeneous attributes were too rare, and even the Golden Sword Sect, despite its nearly ten thousand years of legacy, had not acquired any Earth-grade heterogeneous Techniques. Heavenly Grade Techniques were invaluable ¨C even one such technique, if utilized properly, could elevate a minor power several levels in just over a hundred years. Such treasures were absent not just in the Golden Sword Sect, but also in the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Even across the vast lands of Qingzhou, Heavenly Grade Techniques were rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, with each appearance sparking a fierce and bloody battle. Thus, finding no Heavenly Grade Techniques here was somewhat within their expectations. However, although they did not find high-grade techniques such as the Heavenly Grade and heterogeneous Earth Grade, they did find several Mysterious Grade heterogeneous techniques, generally one or two for each attribute. Apart from these Techniques, they found numerous legacies related to the Four Arts of Cultivation on the third floor, mostly common ones like Pill Concoction, Weapon Forging, and Talisman Making. For rarer categories like Formations, they found only two pieces of Third Order Formation insights, which were considered quite valuable. Overall, these legacies were quite comprehensive, and their cumulative value was immeasurable. Yet, what was most noteworthy were two invaluable treasures, both of which were Spirit Techniques. According to their investigation, these two Spirit Techniques were the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± and an unnamed Spirit Technique. This ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± was a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, likely the same one used by Han Hu in the past, including other senior Golden Sword Sect members; it was generally known for its adequacy in power, fitting the characteristics and attributes of a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. Having at least one such Spirit Technique in both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they naturally understood the function and value of such techniques. As for the other Spirit Technique, it appeared somewhat peculiar as it bore no name nor any grade information. However, after examining it in turns, they came to a unanimous conclusion based on the characteristics of the technique! It was undoubtedly a Spirit Technique, absolutely true! But, it was a fragment of a Spirit Technique with neither name nor properties known, recognized only as a defensive Spirit Technique. Defensive Spirit Techniques were even rarer than offensive ones, and their value was several magnitudes higher. However, without locating the other fragments, this Spirit Technique couldn¡¯t be cultivated or even utilized meaningfully. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To say the least, in its current state, this fragment of a Spirit Technique had almost no usable function. Thus, it was quite regrettable! Otherwise, acquiring both an offensive and a defensive Spirit Technique would have significantly elevated the gains from subduing the Golden Sword Sect. After all, the importance of Spirit Techniques was crystal clear to everyone present. Even in a certain sense, a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique held much more value than an Earth-grade Technique. While Earth-grade Techniques had high value, they weren¡¯t that rare among Sects like Myriad Medicine Valley, which had been inherited for thousands of years. At least in terms of the common five attributes of Earth-grade Techniques, both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had many options, barely affecting the growth of their disciples. Thus, having one more would of course be better, although missing out on new techniques wouldn¡¯t greatly impact the foundation or overall strength of the Sect. But having an additional Spirit Technique made a big difference! After all, Spirit Techniques could directly enhance a cultivator¡¯s combat effectiveness; an extra Spirit Technique meant an additional trump card. At many times, a single Spirit Technique could completely turn the tide. This was particularly clear to Lin Tianming! In his eyes, the rise of the Lin Family in such a short time was significantly aided by the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± playing a crucial role in turning the tide for Lin Family members on multiple occasions. Thus, any force would never find too many such treasures undesirable. Not just him, Zhou Yunxiao, and Lu Xingfeng also understood this all too well. It was just unfortunate that the unnamed defensive Spirit Technique was incomplete, making it temporarily impossible to cultivate based on this fragment alone. Even the prospects of finding the remaining fragments of this Spirit Technique left no one, including Lin Tianming, confident. Chapter 900 03-25 - 900 480 Searching for Treasure (Part ?Chapter 900: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2)_2 Chapter 900: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2)_2 The Cultivation World was vast, with the Nine Provinces resembling the boundless starry sky! Even within Qingzhou, the Wei Kingdom was but a speck in comparison. Under such clueless circumstances, whether one could find the remnants of this defensive Spirit Art depended on fate and luck. With good luck, success might come in ten or even a hundred years. With bad luck, there might be no hope of finding it even if Myriad Medicine Valley declined or the Wei Kingdom was erased from the Cultivation World. In such a situation, this incomplete Spirit Art was somewhat of limited utility! Still, everyone maintained some hope. ... What if it was found? Wouldn¡¯t that be a huge windfall? Thus, the group was excited, having thoroughly searched the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion. Following that, they made their final assessment. Based on the information they had, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Cultivation Techniques were very comprehensive and of high grade, fitting the Sect¡¯s expected heritage. Overall, the sheer quantity of these techniques, coupled with treasures like Spirit Arts, made their total value incalculable. If all went as expected, once the dust settled, if print copies could be made, the major powers would find ways to acquire them. For those that couldn¡¯t be replicated, they would still vie for them. This matter was not urgent for now; they would consider it at least a year and a half later. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? As for the present, they had more pressing matters, namely exploring the Spiritual Medicine Garden and locating the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault. Only once these tasks were concluded could they hope to rest for a while. Understanding this, they didn¡¯t waste any time. Under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement, both Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley stationed over a dozen Disciples each to guard the place. As for the detailed list of techniques, everyone present had copied them down, so there was no fear of any party tampering. When all important matters were settled, they would distribute them face to face. Thus, led by Luo Xing, the group arrived at a valley within the Golden Sword Sect. Looking out, the valley was vast, with lofty peaks on either side and a huge plain in the middle, almost beyond the limit of sight. Upon arrival, even before opening the prohibited entrance, they could already smell an intense fragrance of herbs. According to Luo Xing, this was the location of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s only Spiritual Medicine Garden, spanning an extremely wide area and representing countless years of Sect inheritance. Upon learning this, Lin Tianming and his companions became eager. After all, every power¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden was one of their most important assets. Typically, a Spiritual Medicine Garden contained a vast amount of Spiritual Medicine. With nearly ten thousand years of inheritance, the variety and scale of the Spiritual Medicine that the Golden Sword Sect had accumulated would surely be astonishing. First and Second Order items aside, Third Order and above Spiritual Medicines were something they as Cultivators could utilize. At their level, each step forward in cultivation was extremely challenging. The primary reason for this difficulty lay in the scarcity of treasures that could aid in advancing one¡¯s cultivation. In the beginning, there were far fewer Cultivators than now, and treasures between heaven and earth were relatively abundant. As the number of Cultivators grew, High Order Cultivators became more numerous. Overharvesting led to many Spiritual Medicines nearly facing extinction. Over time, Third and Fourth Rank treasures became increasingly rare. Nowadays, treasures that could enhance one¡¯s cultivation were among the most needed items for numerous Golden Core Cultivators. Therefore, they placed great hopes on the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden, hoping to find a bounty of precious herbs to refine elixirs and enhance their cultivation and strength. With such expectations, they promptly opened the prohibited entrance and entered into the Spiritual Medicine Garden. Once inside, they were immediately enveloped by an incredibly dense aroma of spiritual energy, far richer than even the region outside the restriction. Inside, a large number of neatly arranged Spirit Fields were distributed, with First and Second Order Spirit Fields clearly laid out and all planted with commonly seen Spiritual Medicines, which were growing lushly and vigorously. It was obvious that the scale of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden was vast, with comprehensive cultivation and an extremely rich variety of collected Spiritual Medicines¡ªalmost every low-grade Spiritual Medicine within their knowledge had been gathered. Besides, the Spiritual Energy here was extraordinarily rich, seemingly due to the effective functioning of a rather good Spirit Gathering Array. At this moment, Lin Tianming, feeling such rich Spiritual Energy and observing the neatly arranged First and Second Order Spirit Fields around the periphery of the Spiritual Medicine Garden, also felt a sincere sense of amazement from the bottom of his heart. ¡°The Golden Sword Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a Sect with a lineage of nearly ten thousand years; such a scale of Spirit Fields truly reflects the stature a Great Sect should possess!¡± Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming was also extremely excited. After all, there were many Spiritual Medicines here, and even if they were distributed among the four major Golden Elixir Forces, the Lin Family had made significant contributions in this war and should be able to obtain a large batch of Spiritual Medicines. As an Alchemist, with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, becoming a Third Order Alchemy Master was just a matter of time. Once he reached the status of a Third Order Alchemy Master, he could make use of these Spiritual Medicines. With his terrifying success rate in concocting elixirs, along with the refined premium elixirs, he would be able to help the Golden Core Clan Members of the Lin Family rapidly improve their cultivation levels. It was foreseeable that within perhaps less than ten years, the cultivation levels of the clan members of the Lin Family could take another step upwards. By then, the overall strength of the Lin Family would advance further, and the gap with the other two Great Sects would narrow significantly. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming, who had only just managed to calm down, became restless once more. It wasn¡¯t until Zhou Yunxiao returned with a few Golden Sword Sect Disciples in tow that Lin Tianming regained his focus. Following that, Luo Xing, who had been following them, spoke up and persuaded these fellow Sect Cultivators to submit to them. Influenced by Luo Xing¡¯s persuasive speech, these Disciples responsible for the Spiritual Medicine Garden showed understanding, especially considering that the Golden Sword Sect had been annihilated and their High Order Cultivators had nearly all perished. Given the difficulty of their cultivation journey and how hard-won their current realms were, facing a choice between life and death, they were likely to make a decision easily. Moreover, as Disciples tasked with guarding the Spiritual Medicine Garden of a Sect, they also possessed a special ability not found in ordinary people¡ªthat was to become qualified Spiritual Plant Masters. Though this skill was different from Pill Concoction and Artifact Refining, and did not require the stringent innate talent necessary for the Four Arts of Cultivation, a Spiritual Plant Master was still considered a special talent, an indispensable existence for any major power. Additionally, given their current usefulness to Zhou Yunxiao, if they could perform the tasks assigned to them well, they could at least preserve their lives. Under these conditions, several Spiritual Plant Masters swiftly made their decisions. Hence, they hurriedly promised to lead the inventory of all Spiritual Medicines in the Spiritual Medicine Garden and to properly keep records for them. Seeing that these people were so sensible and still useful to him, Zhou Yunxiao did not bother to increase the killing. After all, while the innate talent for Spiritual Plant cultivation in these people wasn¡¯t bad, they were not young, and their cultivation talent was not extraordinarily strong. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such Disciples were very different from those brilliant and exceptional Genius Disciples. As for these Genius Disciples, no major power would let them slip through their fingers easily, The reason for this was to prevent them from reaching the Golden Core Stage, or even higher realms in the future, with thoughts of avenging the Golden Sword Sect. After all, the threat posed by Genius Cultivators was not insignificant. Even if they could not create upheaval at present, no one could predict what fortunes they might encounter in the future. If there were truly a few enemy Genius Cultivators who advanced to the Nascent Soul and still harbored thoughts of revenge, it would spell disaster for these powers. However, it was clear that the Cultivators now submitting to them lacked such potential. Despite the fact that the innate talent of these Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators like Luo Xing was not too shabby, and they had personally promised not to kill them, even with such a promise made, they would still keep a tight grip on them afterward, granting them no freedom at all. Under such circumstances, it was very fortunate for Luo Xing and his peers that they remained alive¡ªhow could they possibly have a chance for a Golden Core opportunity? With this in mind, these people posed no real threat, and there was no need to worry overly about them. Aware of this, Zhou Yunxiao did not trouble them, but simply instructed them to follow the orders carefully. Once the task was successfully completed, he could guarantee them their lives. With this promise in mind, these people indeed performed efficiently, much faster than if they had to fumble through the process on their own. ¡­ Chapter 901 03-25 - 901 481 Location of the Treasure Vault ?Chapter 901: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault Chapter 901: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault Half a day had passed just like that. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the lead of the Spiritual Plant Master who was guarding the place, they explored every First and Second Order Spirit Field in the Spiritual Medicine Garden. It must be said that the Spiritual Medicine Garden of the Golden Sword Sect was indeed very extensive, and the collection of spiritual medicines was also very comprehensive. They estimated that the value of these low-level First and Second Order Spiritual Medicines alone easily exceeded ten million spirit stones. Yet, these were just the low-level items. Deeper into the Spiritual Medicine Garden, there were even more valuable Third and Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Fruits. Such high-level treasures could be exchanged for dozens, if not hundreds, of plants of Second Order Spiritual Medicine. Thus, it was the higher value and greater effect of the high-level Spiritual Medicines that these people were most concerned about. ... After all, ordinary items were of no use, and only Spiritual Objects of Third Order and above could truly excite them. And for these, they had previously taken great risks, and now having annihilated the Golden Sword Sect, they finally had the opportunity to pillage extensively. Faced with the temptation of these high-level Spiritual Medicine treasures, everyone naturally became impatient. As expected, after half a day of exploration, everyone was beaming with joy, clearly very satisfied with these high-level treasures. Lin Tianming too was astounded, almost dazzled by the vast number, and diverse types of Third Order Spiritual Medicines. After this day, he had gained insight into the depths of the Golden Sword Sect and was even more thrilled. Their exploration revealed that ordinary First and Second Order Treasures were not worth mentioning, they already had a measure of these in their minds. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 But the Third Order and above Spiritual Medicines were far beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. After all, there were over a thousand plants of just Third Order Spiritual Medicines, in a very diverse and complete array, among them many rare and uncommon types. And these were just the mature plants; if the semi-mature Third Order Spiritual Medicines were included, the number could double or more. In addition, there were more than a dozen mature Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines, enough to be used for refining pills. However, ordinary Third Order Pills would not require Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines. Apart from a few main ingredients of some Third Order Elixirs possibly requiring Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines, the majority of the pills used by Golden Core Cultivators were not made with Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines. But if used for refining Fourth Order Elixirs, the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World didn¡¯t even have a Nascent Soul Cultivator, let alone very few Third Order Alchemy Masters; they simply didn¡¯t have the conditions required for refining. Unless one went to the central Ten Nations of Qingzhou, those regions generally had Nascent Soul Cultivators, and although Fourth Order Alchemists were extremely rare, they were not entirely absent. With some price to pay, there still might be a chance to refine Fourth Order Elixirs. However, the Wei Kingdom was remotely located, too far from the central region of Qingzhou. Even for Golden Core Cultivators to make a trip there was not easy, and the journey was fraught with dangers. This factor was the main reason for the backwardness and impoverishment of the Wei Kingdom. Nevertheless, these high-level resources were not few, their total value difficult to estimate. Even if ultimately divided among the four Golden Elixir Forces, each group could possibly obtain a huge share of treasures. Presumably, with these real treasures, the foundation of the major forces could be greatly enhanced. Though the Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines were momentarily of no immediate use, gathering them for future use could eventually be beneficial. Thus, even Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, upon seeing these large amounts of Third and Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines, were all smiles and suddenly in very good spirits. Lin Tianming felt the same and, seeing those cultivation-enhancing Spirit Fruits, he also drooled over them. If it hadn¡¯t been for the decision to not yet distribute these treasures, he would have wanted to consume a few and cultivate for a while. After finally suppressing his restless heart, Lin Tianming and the others gathered together. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao and the others chatted idly for a few moments and then gave a few instructions to the cultivator in charge of guarding the Spiritual Medicine Garden, and arranged for two disciples from their Sects to watch over the place. Then, Zhou Yunxiao changed the topic to the most crucial matter¡ªthe last target of the treasure hunt, the Sect Treasury of the Golden Sword Sect. This place¡¯s significance was basically at the top of all institutions. This was clear to everyone present. However, the importance of a Sect Treasury went without saying, especially for an entity like the Golden Sword Sect which had been around for nearly ten thousand years. It was foreseeable that since the Golden Sword Sect had lasted so long and remained atop the Wei Kingdom, having scarcely declined over the last few millennia, its foundation was absolutely profound. This foundation had already been confirmed in the previous Scripture Pavilion as well as the Spiritual Medicine Garden. And inside the Sect Treasury, there undoubtedly were tremendously valuable and numerous treasures. This city¡¯s worth of treasury was what they most wanted to obtain! However, the Sect Treasury was too important; following successive falls of the high-level members of the Golden Sword Sect, it was estimated that now, no one in the Golden Sword Sect knew the exact location. To find the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasury, they had asked many disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and just as they speculated, the most important secrets were unknown to any Foundation Establishment Disciples. Thus, with no one to provide information, finding the Sect Treasury was still going to take some effort. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao also showed a hint of helplessness, and then said to Lin Tianming and the others, ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s split up and take action. Once you find any suspicious places, immediately inform the others!¡± Hearing this, Lu Xingfeng nodded; he seemed rather impatient. Chapter 902 03-25 - 902 481 Location of the Treasure Vault_2 ?Chapter 902: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault_2 Chapter 902: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault_2 Lin Tianming also paused and said, ¡°Indeed, very good!¡± ¡°Though the Golden Sword Mountain Gate covers a large area, all of us are Golden Core Cultivators with a considerable range of Divine Sense. If we search carefully, I believe we will eventually find some clues.¡± ¡°Lin is right. With our strength, we could just turn the entire Golden Sword Mountain Gate upside down if necessary. We are bound to find it!¡± Chen Maohua echoed with an excited look on his face, clearly impatient to start. Hearing these words, Zhou Yunxiao smiled faintly and then assigned positions to the other three. Lin Tianming was responsible for searching the west side, covering about a hundred miles, which was mostly dense forest. As for the others, they each chose a direction with varying search areas, but the differences were not significant. ... However, the terrain varied greatly, with plains and lakes alike, presenting a diverse natural landscape. Nevertheless, they were all determined to meticulously search until they found the treasure in order to obtain this substantial property. With this confidence, the four, including Lin Tianming, began their search. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Over the past few days, Lin Tianming had thoroughly combed through the entire western hundred-mile area as if sweeping a carpet. Despite the strength of his Divine Sense, assisted by the Eye of Five Colors, and despite such a careful search, he still hadn¡¯t found the Golden Sword Sect Treasury¨Dhe had only encountered three questionable locations. At this moment, Lin Tianming was standing at the entrance of a gorge. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 He stood still, staring at the lush interior and the very dense fog, pondering deeply. At first glance, there was nothing unusual about this place since such environments were not rare in the hundred-mile forest. But on closer inspection, especially under the scrutiny of the Eye of Five Colors, he could sense a faint trace of color within the fog. This color resembled that which sunlight might cast. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Most cultivators, upon seeing such a scene, might believe it was merely the play of light refracted by the sun. Besides, the area was a primeval forest with the occasional appearance of First Order Spirit Beasts, presenting nothing more than the typical scenery of wild forests. Such an environment was not special at all and certainly not where one would expect to find a Sect Treasury. However, as Lin Tianming was about to leave after standing there for a long time, he sensed a subtle change and the faint fluctuations of a spatial restriction formation. Though the fluctuations were weak, he had indeed sensed them! ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Tianming turned back in doubt, and with a flash of light from the Eye of Five Colors, the scene before him changed once again. He saw streams of grey-white light flowing through the fog. In just the span of a breath, the grey-white vanished, and the fog returned to normal. Seeing this, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow and then revealed a faint smile. He was almost certain that there was a cave dwelling or a formation here. The grey-white color he had seen was probably due to the energy flow of the restriction. Although it was brief and not easily noticed, Most people would likely overlook it and leave the area. But he had been searching for a long time, and with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, all illusions and fluctuation of formations in this world could hardly escape his careful observation. It had to be said that the terrain here was very ordinary, so ordinary that anyone who saw it would not suspect anything. Besides, the formation behind it was also very ingeniously designed. It is worth noting that the long-term operation of a formation also requires energy. Even the most advanced formations need energy flow to maintain them over time. The clever part of this formation was that its energy flow was not only in perfect harmony with the local fog, concealing the fluctuations and color of the energy within the fog. Besides, the speed of the energy flow was extremely fast, completing in just an instant. Subsequently, everything returned to normal, as if nothing had changed. Although Lin Tianming was not an Array Master and knew little about formations, he was aware that such rapidly fluctuating energy formations were rare in the Cultivation World. Regardless, no matter how clever the formation was, under the search by his Eye of Five Colors, it could not remain hidden. Based on these circumstances, he was nearly certain that this place was the location of the Golden Sword Sect Treasury. This conjecture had almost ninety percent confidence. Now that the Treasure Vault had been found, Lin Tianming had no intention of concealing it, especially since Zhou Yunxiao and the others were no fools. With their cultivation realm, they were constantly watching every single movement inside the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Even if he tried to hide it, given their determination to achieve their goals at all costs, it would only be a matter of time before they discovered the truth. Besides, even if he tried to break the enchantments and explore alone, he would not be able to evade the scrutiny of Zhou Yunxiao and his companions. Their cultivation was powerful, and their Divine Sense was not the slightest bit weaker than his own. Although they were spread out from one another, any attempt to break a Formation would naturally cause some disturbance. Within a hundred miles, even the slightest disturbance would be detected by them. In light of this, why should Lin Tianming bother with such petty tricks, only to cause unnecessary misunderstandings and disrupt the delicate balance? Knowing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and immediately sent several messages to inform them of the situation he had at hand. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Zhou Yunxiao and others arrived together at the entrance of the canyon. From a distance, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s voice could be heard carrying a tone of excitement. ¡°Lin, are you confident that this is the Golden Sword Sect Treasury?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Maohua also chimed in. ¡°Yeah¡­ This place seems sparse and ordinary with no outstanding features!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao also looked thoughtfully into the mist, not saying much. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan on beating around the bush and right away recounted the changes within the mist in front of everyone. Soon, after learning of these specific changes, Zhou Yunxiao nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Heh¡­ If it¡¯s really as Lin says, the Treasure Vault is most likely here!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said with a smile, his eyes filled with excitement. ¡°Hmm¡­ Whether it is or not, we¡¯ll know once we explore!¡± Lu Xingfeng nodded and, with that, a Sword Qi appeared in his hand and he fired it towards the interior of the canyon. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud sound echoed as the Sword Qi collided with an invisible barrier, generating a wave of air that spread in all directions. In an instant, the fog that was originally there began to dissipate under the impact of the massive wave, revealing a greyish-white screen of light. Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng and the others were overjoyed, confirming that this indeed was the Golden Sword Sect Treasury. ¡°Haha¡­ We¡¯ve finally found it!¡± Lu Xingfeng laughed excitedly and then added with a wry smile, ¡°That Han Hu really is a cunning fox, hiding the Treasure Vault in such a seemingly ordinary place.¡± Hearing these words, Zhou Yunxiao replied with a laugh, ¡°Heh¡­ It¡¯s not surprising!¡± ¡°How important the Treasury is, everyone present surely knows.¡± ¡°It¡¯s common knowledge in the Cultivation World!¡± ¡°The terrain here is indeed ordinary, but as long as the enchantment and Formation are sufficiently mysterious, it truly is a good place to hide a Treasure Vault.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Maohua couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration. ¡°The more unexpected, perhaps the better the effect!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ But even so, it still got discovered by Lin!¡± Chen Maohua said flatteringly, obviously wishing to remain on good terms with the Lin Family. Seeing this, Lin Tianming politely replied, pleasing Chen Maohua. At that moment, Lu Xingfeng took over the conversation, thereby bringing up the matter at hand. ¡°Fellow cultivators, now that we have found the Treasury, we should not delay. Shall we proceed to break the Formation as soon as possible?¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao nodded, and Chen Maohua, also quite excited, agreed, their emotions reaching a peak. Chapter 903 03-25 - 903 482 Departure to the Hui Ethnicity ?Chapter 903: Chapter 482 Departure to the Hui Ethnicity Chapter 903: Chapter 482 Departure to the Hui Ethnicity Immediately following, Zhou Yunxiao once again took out the Control Token and attempted to use it. However, no matter how he stimulated the token, the Forbidden Formation in front of them remained unchanged, without a single sign of alteration. Clearly, this token was utterly incapable of controlling the Forbidden Formation before them. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao could not help but reveal a helpless wry smile. ¡°This formation doesn¡¯t seem to be controlled by that token. If we try to force our way through, I¡¯m afraid it will result in the loss of the treasures inside!¡± ¡°After all, some formations are quite unique. Once they are attacked, they might collapse instantly, causing the treasures to fall into a Spatial Fissure.¡± ¡°Even if some are lucky enough to remain, I fear that a great many treasures will be lost!¡± ... Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words hit the nail on the head, calming the restless hearts of those present. Consequently, the group had no choice but to consider more careful approaches to minimize any potential losses. At this moment, Lin Tianming spoke up, ¡°This Treasure Vault is so important, there might be other tokens in existence. Daoist Zhou, why not search Han Hu¡¯s storage bag?¡± ¡°If we can find one, it would save us a lot of trouble, and also ensure the safety of the treasures inside the vault!¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao found the suggestion reasonable and immediately his expression brightened with joy. Before this, no one had thought of this, but now that Lin Tianming mentioned it, of course they had to be more cautious. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng wasted no time and meticulously searched through the storage bags of Han Hu and several other high-ranking members of the Golden Sword Sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Persistence pays off! Though it took some time, sure enough, Lin Tianming¡¯s prediction was accurate. They found numerous tokens inside Han Hu¡¯s storage bag. Once they tried them, they smoothly found the token that controlled the Forbidden Formation before them. As the formation in front gradually dissipated, a passageway several zhang wide appeared before their eyes. Looking down the passageway, it was impossible to see its end or to know its depth. However, it was certain that this entrance led into the depths of the gorge. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others were thrilled beyond measure, their faces beaming with excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s go in, fellow daoists!¡± Zhou Yunxiao was the first to speak and stepped directly into the passageway entrance. Lin Tianming and the others did not delay, following Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s steps, and soon disappeared at the entrance of the gorge. The group continued deeper and quickly traversed the passageway, arriving at an enormous cave. Looking around, the cave was immense, and its walls were adorned with a multitude of gems that illuminated the entire space. Within the cave were several distinct areas, each varying in size. And within each area, there were countertops made of green stone, upon which various Spiritual Objects were placed, dazzling to behold. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming and his companions were brimming with excitement and breathed a sigh of relief. Subsequently, they began to explore the areas one by one. First, they reached the area with First Order Treasures, which was the largest in size and also had the greatest variety. To these items, the group was fairly indifferent, as their value was too low to pique their interest. Nonetheless, they still conducted a general inspection and instructed the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley to catalogue these items. Next, they proceeded in the same manner to the area with Second Order Treasures. Upon reaching the area with Third Order Treasures, the excitement in Lin Tianming and his comrades¡¯ eyes was starkly different; each one¡¯s gaze burned with fervor. Even with their experience and insight, many treasures here still caused them to salivate. Metal Tempering Stone, High-Quality Spirit Stone, Primary Magnet Stone, Dragon Blood Crystal, Peach Heart Wood¡­ One after another, Third Order Treasures were held in their hands, they couldn¡¯t bear to part with them as they closely inspected each one. ¡°Haha¡­ the treasures in the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s vault are indeed excellent. There are quite a few items that even I, an old man, am eager for!¡± Zhou Yunxiao picked up a blood-colored stone, his face flashing with a triumphant smile. Lin Tianming also picked up a piece of Peach Heart Wood and caressed the arm-thick wood with his pale palm. Truth be told, Peach Heart Wood was Third Order Spiritual Wood, rather cherished as a wood-attributed Spirit Material, with extraordinary value. It was crucial for both Artifact Refining and Talisman Making. It was said that even adding just a little Peach Heart Wood could significantly enhance the toughness of a Magical Treasure. Such a rare Third Order Spiritual Material, its worth was no less than ordinary Fourth Order Spirit Ore, hence its significant utility. In terms of value, it was far more than just a bit superior to ordinary Third Order Spiritual Materials. For this item, Lin Tianming was particularly covetous, as he still lacked a suitable Magical Treasure. Should he obtain this piece of Peach Heart Wood, he would indeed be able to refine a high-quality Magical Treasure. With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming looked at it for a long time before finally placing the Peach Heart Wood back in its original place. Then, he continued to search the area with the Third Order Treasures. On the other hand, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were equally ecstatic, with satisfied laughter occasionally breaking out. Half an hour passed. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After this period of searching and witnessing many precious Third Order Treasures, Lin Tianming¡¯s horizons were greatly expanded. In his view, the foundation of the Golden Sword Sect was genuinely impressive; the Third Order Treasures here were numerous and many were of extreme rarity. The Lin Family, over eight hundred years, could not find many Third Order Treasures within the entire clan, top to bottom. Were it not for the multiple opportunities in the past decades, granting them several Fourth Tier Items, their family vault might not have held many Third Order Treasures at all. Chapter 904 03-25 - 904 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_2 ?Chapter 904: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_2 Chapter 904: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_2 ¡°` Upon closer inspection of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s treasure vault, the number of First and Second-Order treasures was immense, and the variety was even more astonishing. Even the Third Order treasures numbered over three hundred types, and as for the total quantity, it was well into the thousands. Such a vault, no doubt, was the result of nearly ten thousand years of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s long legacy, slowly accumulated, of incalculable value. And this foundation was not something that a nouveau riche family like the Lin Family could compare to in a short time. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not feel self-satisfied. He was always clear in his heart that for the Lin Family to develop in the long run and reach the peak level of the Golden Sword Sect, there was still a long way to go. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This road required the sedimentation of time and the efforts of the entire family. ... Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming and the others had also thoroughly inspected this area, categorized all the treasures, and recorded them in the registry. As everyone regrouped, they then continued towards the fourth area. They traversed a passageway for a day and re-entered another cave. As expected, this place contained Fourth Tier items. Looking around, the limited number of bluestone pedestals held all sorts of treasures. Despite these treasures being far fewer than those in the previous cave, these were genuine Fourth Order treasures, each of their values not inferior to those Third Order items. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? At this time, Zhou Yunxiao was the first to act, casually picking up a piece of ore and then lovingly caressing it. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t as meticulous as Zhou Yunxiao because he had become numb. There were simply too many treasures here, so much that his eyes had started to blur. Even now, upon seeing these Fourth Tier items, he lacked the initial shock and excitement. On the other hand, Lu Xingfeng and others still had fiery looks in their eyes as they picked up and examined each treasure. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t idle either, committing to memory dozens of treasures in this place, then quietly waited to one side. A little while passed. Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng had also recorded all the treasures, and the exploration of the four caves was complete. At this point, Zhou Yunxiao and the others gathered together, still with excited expressions on their faces, seemingly not calmed down yet. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took the initiative to speak, pulling everyone back from their excitement to reality. ¡°Fellow Daoists, there is only one cave left, presumably there might be some Heaven-Defying treasures, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and the others immediately changed their expressions, and their breathing hastened. It was said there were five caves in this treasure vault, each holding treasures from First to Fourth Order. Since there was a fifth cave, could it be that it contained Fifth Order treasures? Or perhaps, were there Nascent Soul Spiritual Items? The thought alone made Zhou Yunxiao and the others unable to wait, their eyes burning with desire. One must know, Fifth Order items were the rarest of gems in the Cultivation World, even Nascent Soul Stage powerhouses would fight over a Fifth Order item upon sighting it. Such treasures were priceless. If there truly was a Fifth Order treasure, the benefits of annihilating the Golden Sword Sect would be tremendous, enough to elevate any Golden Core Sect to a higher level. However, if there truly were Fifth Order treasures, at times, it could be a disaster for the faction obtaining them. After all, the value of a Fifth Order treasure was enormous, and once word got out, it could attract Nascent Soul Stage old monsters to act. If that happened, a Golden Core Sect could be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Yet even so, if there were a chance to obtain it, no force would give up on the opportunity to soar to the heavens. As for Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, they were the most sought-after treasures for all Golden Core Cultivators, utterly irresistible. Thinking of this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng became unsettled. Both were in the Late Stage of Golden Core and had been stuck in this phase for many years without progress. Moreover, both were not young, with not much of their lifespans remaining. Under such conditions, their yearning for those Heaven-Defying treasures was no less than anyone else present. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were quick to head towards another passageway. Lin Tianming smiled faintly and followed. In his heart, he doubted such Fifth Order treasures would be so readily obtainable. Besides, if the Golden Sword Sect had such an item, Han Hu would have used it for himself, so why would he cooperate with the Blood Red Alliance? After all, the reputation of the Blood Red Alliance in Qingzhou was universally known. Working with such an unprincipled faction was akin to asking a tiger for its skin. As such, the last cave was most likely built by the Golden Sword Sect as a contingency. He was almost certain that the final cave would be empty. Sure enough, after the four had searched, this last cave was found to be utterly barren, not even a Spirit Stone to be found. Seeing this, Lin Tianming remained calm, as he had anticipated this outcome. Meanwhile, Zhou Yunxiao and the others had looks of disappointment, sighing in resignation. Perhaps it was because of their great desire to advance that their hopes had always been maintained. As the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Facing the empty cave, they lamented for a moment, before gradually regaining their composure. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao casually took out a thick book and distributed it to Lu Xingfeng and the others, including Lin Tianming. ¡°` Chapter 905 03-25 - 905 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_3 ?Chapter 905: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_3 Chapter 905: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_3 At the same time, Zhou Yunxiao said, ¡°The treasure vault of the Golden Sword Sect has been fully explored, and the treasures we have acquired are all registered!¡± ¡°Keep this detailed list safely; once we have completely annihilated the Remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, we will then distribute the shares according to the previously agreed-upon ratio!¡± ¡°As for the numerous treasures here, for the time being, they will be guarded by disciples of our two sects. If Daoist Chen and Lin are interested, you may also arrange for some clan members to come and watch over them.¡± ¡°Um¡­ Daoist Zhou, you flatter us!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and clasped his fists, returning with a bitter smile, ¡°With your esteemed sect guarding this place, we naturally feel at ease!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ if the two Daoist friends speak so, are you implying that we are not trustworthy?¡± Chen Maohua agreed, his expression looking quite sincere. ... However, Zhou Yunxiao was not of the same opinion, believing in his heart that the Lin Family and Chen Clan would surely care about such a hefty amount of treasures. Nevertheless, he did not dwell further on the topic. Following that, he changed the subject and then slowly said, ¡°Now that we have reached this point, this treasure hunt can be considered to have come to an end.¡± ¡°Next, I hope that the three Daoist friends will follow the plan and send people to scour the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, and once encountered, you must exterminate them completely, without mercy!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng among others quickly nodded and voiced their agreement to this matter. After all, this had been discussed in advance, and none of the major powers had any objections. Now to mention it again, was simply to urge the major powers to make haste. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Seeing several people agree, Zhou Yunxiao then continued, ¡°As for the specific time of distribution and the place of meeting, how about we gather at Qingshui Market in a year¡¯s time?¡± ¡°By then, I believe most matters will be settled, and the states and strengths of the Daoist friends will have returned to normal. We will then distribute the final interests and also discuss plans to pursue the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom.¡± ¡°I propose this, do any of you have any objections?¡± ¡°Good¡­ this is very good!¡± Lu Xingfeng was the first to express his stance, appearing quite satisfied. Lin Tianming, though he did not reply immediately, also found it quite agreeable in his heart. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, he also spoke, ¡°I have no objections, everything is entrusted to Daoist Zhou.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming speak so, Chen Maohua also didn¡¯t delay and quickly expressed no issues. Soon, all matters were settled, and the various arrangements after this great battle had concrete plans. As the matters were agreed upon, the four of them left the Treasure Vault together, reappearing at the entrance. Zhou Yunxiao reactivated the prohibition, and after exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming also suggested his intent to take his leave. Seeing this, Chen Maohua and Lu Xingfeng also planned to leave, both expressing their desire to depart. Hence, Zhou Yunxiao also exchanged greetings with everyone and left some instructions for the disciples waiting outside, and then they all left the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. As Lin Tianming left the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, he immediately released the Purple Gold Eagle, then jumped onto Xiao Diao¡¯s back and sat down. Now that the great battle was over, and all matters had come to a close, Lin Shikang and the others had returned to the clan land early. Speaking of which, it had been over a year since he left his family. Although this year wasn¡¯t long, the frequency of great battles was high, and the degree of danger goes without saying. Re-thinking about it again, Lin Tianming also felt a thrill of fear and was endlessly relieved. After all, over the past year, he had slain many strong enemies; Golden Core Cultivators who had died by his hand numbered not less than a handful. Such terrifying battle achievements once amazed everyone. Fortunately, with everything settled now, the gains for the Lin Family and himself were unimaginable. With an excited heart and a longing mind, it was time for Lin Tianming to start his journey back to his clan. Perhaps sensing its master¡¯s mood, the Purple Gold Eagle wasted no time and immediately flew thousands of feet high into the sky, shooting towards the direction of the south. The Purple Gold Eagle was fast, and in an instant, it turned into a black shadow, disappearing into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 906 03-25 - 906 483 Sensation ?Chapter 906: Chapter 483: Sensation Chapter 906: Chapter 483: Sensation Qianchuan Market. On a certain mountaintop outside the city, a dark shadow descended, landing stably on the summit. The person was none other than Lin Tianming, who had been flying southward, attempting to return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked ahead at the faintly visible Qianchuan Market and a slight smile flashed across his face. After more than half a month of traveling and crossing over a dozen vast mountain ranges, he had finally reached the intermediary stop of his destination. During this period, with the Purple Gold Eagle taking on the travel, he hadn¡¯t needed to exert too much effort, conveniently taking the time to enjoy the scenery and recover from the injuries he had sustained during the great battle at the Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, it was a good opportunity to gather some information in the various regions. ... After all, three months had passed since the end of the great battle at Myriad Medicine Valley, and more than two months had since the battle with Golden Sword Sect. In such a long time, the specifics of the great battle should have spread throughout the entire Wei Kingdom. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Additionally, with the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, two top forces, beginning to round up the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, even the most isolated places probably would have heard of the recent major events. Lin Tianming was on his way and had to cross many territories formerly under the Golden Sword Sect, including several mountain ranges in the northern part of Zhenyang Sect, all a part of his route. Taking advantage of this time, Lin Tianming also paid attention to news from all sides to see the impact of the annihilation of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s higher echelons. Now, with his cultivation strength, aside from Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, there were hardly any in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World who could claim to defeat him in a single combat. With such formidable strength, he could go anywhere without concern. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï As he traveled boldly, he indeed encountered many groups of cultivators heading toward the territories of the Golden Sword Sect. At the same time, small-scale skirmishes were also frequent. Based on the situation at the time, it was the disciples of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley who were rounding up and pursuing the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Such events appeared in many places throughout the Wei Kingdom. By now, with the fall of people like Han Hu, the entire Golden Sword Sect had completely disintegrated. Within the entire sect, from disciples in the late stages of Foundation Establishment to cultivators in the initial stages of Qi Refining, everyone was anxious and fearful, lest their whereabouts be exposed and their lives be lost. Nevertheless, at this time, several Golden Elixir Forces from Myriad Medicine Valley almost emptied their nests, including several Golden Core Families like the Lin Family, also participating in this roundup. With so many forces encircling and intercepting, various spirit lands and workshops scattered outside by the Golden Sword Sect were being attacked, and many territories had already completely fallen. In just over two months, a large number of Golden Sword Sect disciples had died, leading to some smaller family descendants and even some loose cultivators getting involved and even losing their lives in this roundup campaign. But a few years ago, the Golden Sword Sect, in alliance with the external forces of the Blood Red Alliance, initiated a major battle among several top forces of the Wei Kingdom, and they were spurned by everyone. Now, with all the high-ranking members of the Golden Sword Sect having perished, and their disciples being hunted down like water-stricken dogs by everyone. Even a great number of loose cultivators, or families once controlled by the Golden Sword Sect, also joined this chaotic battle. It was said that in some places, loose cultivators grouped up to rush into the spirit lands controlled by the Golden Sword Sect, wildly seizing Cultivation Resources. The current territories of the Golden Sword Sect were almost in complete chaos, always embroiled in combat and magic duels. In this situation, even if disciples of the Golden Sword Sect hid well, they likely wouldn¡¯t last long before being entirely wiped out. Even if a very few of the disciples managed to survive by luck, under the absolute disparity of strength, they simply could not stir any trouble. Knowing this, Lin Tianming, while on his journey, had seen some skirmishes but didn¡¯t involve himself, merely inquired some information before continuing on his way. Until today, he had smoothly reached Qianchuan Market. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was somewhat pale, evidently feeling somewhat tired. This month of traveling had largely healed the injuries he had from the great battle, but the extended travel had left him slightly weary. Now that the great battle was nearing its end, and since he had arrived at Qianchuan Market which was only a few days¡¯ journey from the clan territory, he planned to rest briefly in Qianchuan Market for a few days before heading back to the clan territory. Thinking of this, gazing at the distant, faintly visible Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming slightly smiled and transformed into a stream of light, shooting forth. In no time, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance of the market. Currently, at the entrance there were quite a few people queuing to enter, and there were also many cultivators emerging in groups. From their slightly excited expressions and the conversations they were having, it seemed they were preparing to head north together to the territories under the Golden Sword Sect. Clearly, even now, numerous cultivators were looking to scavenge in the territories of the Golden Sword Sect. After all, nowadays disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were targets everyone clamored to strike, and without any backing, cultivators of any status could attack without restraint. Simply by eliminating a few Golden Sword Sect disciples, they could obtain a vast amount of resources. Such blatant hunting down of the disciples of a Golden Elixir Force was unheard of in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for a thousand years. Before this, even if cultivators had any grievances, they would seek revenge stealthily; openly hunting down disciples of a Golden Elixir Force like this was very rare. For these people, the cultivators had long since ceased to find it unusual. Lin Tianming was no exception; he merely glanced once and then walked directly toward the market entrance. Chapter 907 03-25 - 907 483 Sensational_2 ?Chapter 907: Chapter 483: Sensational_2 Chapter 907: Chapter 483: Sensational_2 Seeing the newcomer, the cultivator in charge of the inspection didn¡¯t lift his head and asked routinely, ¡°Name of the comer? From which power do you hail?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he stood silently in place. Seeing that there was no response, the inspecting cultivator then realized what was happening. The Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator lifted his head, his face showing a trace of anger. It was known that now that the crisis of the Zhenyang Sect was resolved and the victorious troops were surrounding and suppressing the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, their momentum was at its peak. Even years ago, disciples under the Zhenyang Sect were very proud, especially those on external missions for the sect. And this Qi Refining cultivator was just like that, having always been complimented and admired by fellow cultivators of the same rank, and even when encountering some Foundation Establishment cultivators, they would also have to give some face. ... Now, with the fall of the Golden Sword Sect, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s reputation was greater than before, and its disciples had become even more arrogant. Under these circumstances, the cultivator was just about to lash out and curse when the words he was about to blurt out were abruptly swallowed back. At the same time, his complexion alternated between green and white, as if he had seen something unimaginable. Having barely calmed down, the cultivator hurriedly paid his respects, stuttering, ¡°Greetings¡­ Greetings to Elder Lin!¡± Hearing what the Zhenyang Sect disciple in charge of the inspection said and seeing his panicked expression, many cultivators were puzzled. After all, in the past six months, disciples of the Zhenyang Sect had been both high-profile and proud, and even Qi Refining disciples were not overly enthusiastic when they encountered Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 But now, they were extremely deferential to a single cultivator, and their tone and demeanor seemed anxious and fearful. Such an occurrence had been very rare recently. Consequently, many cultivators turned their gaze curiously towards Lin Tianming, wanting to see who had arrived that made the Zhenyang Sect disciple so frightened. Soon enough, many cultivators recognized Lin Tianming and identified his status. ¡°It¡¯s Elder Lin!¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually Elder Lin! He has actually come to Qianchuan Market!¡± At that moment, a large number of cultivators became excited, as if they were seeing some incredible figure. Following, a large number of cultivators bowed their hands in respect, with an extremely reverent tone and attitude. Not only that, his appearance immediately caused quite a stir. In just a short time, many cultivators who had left the city rapidly returned upon hearing the commotion from behind. Remembering the name, they began, just like the cultivator at the entrance, to pay respects to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged in the face of the inspecting cultivator¡¯s words, showing no signs of pleasure or anger. As a large number of cultivators paid their respects, Lin Tianming did not pay too much attention, simply gesturing with his hand for them not to be overly courteous. Afterward, he directly passed by the inspecting cultivator and disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. It was only after Lin Tianming had been gone a while that the cultivator in charge of the inspection¡¯s complexion eased, and he let out a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart. Thinking back on his actions just now, he couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was approachable and did not take offense to his arrogance. Otherwise, if it had been some other hot-tempered Golden Core cultivator, it could well have made him suffer. If really unlucky, being killed on the spot was not an impossibility. Understanding this, the Zhenyang Sect cultivator quickly sent a message to the Market City Supervisor, reporting Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival in Qianchuan Market. After all, the Lin Family was now incomparable to its former self, the powerful lineup of four Golden Core cultivators nearly being on par with a force like the Zhenyang Sect. In addition, Lin Tianming had been as resplendent as the midday sun in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World these past few years. Combined with his terrifying battle record on the battlefield, many cultivators held him in very high esteem. With such a fearsome presence now in Qianchuan Market, it was necessary to report to the higher-ups promptly, to send someone to pay their respects to avoid neglecting such a power. Such occurrences were actually not uncommon in the Cultivation World. After all, the identity of Golden Core cultivators was such that wherever they went, they were always treated as honored guests. ¡°` Although Lin Tianming had often appeared in Qianchuan Market even before his Golden Core had formed, the status between a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Golden Core Cultivator was worlds apart. Furthermore, considering the Lin Family¡¯s formidable strength and Lin Tianming¡¯s fearsome reputation, even the Zhenyang Sect had to handle matters cautiously to avoid offending them. Thus, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples stationed in Qianchuan Market felt both anxious and excited at the prospect. Anxious for fear of being less than perfect hosts, yet excited at the possibility of witnessing Lin Tianming¡¯s elegance in person. At this moment, Lin Tianming was unaware of these sentiments. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he entered the interior of the market, he did not dally and headed straight for the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had entered the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Upon receiving news of his return, Lin Xingli, accompanied by a few Lin Family Members, waited for his arrival. Seeing Lin Xingli without the presence of Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianming was somewhat puzzled. However, he first greeted the members of his clan and then asked, ¡°Uncle, isn¡¯t my father at the market?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Xingli chuckled and began to explain. ¡°Following the instructions of your Third Grandfather, your father is leading a team to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s domain to coordinate with them in eliminating the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°Tianhong and Tianyue are also in the team, and they set out more than a month ago!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that Third Grandfather had moved quickly; he must have arranged this immediately upon returning to the family. With more than a month¡¯s time and their speed of travel, they must have already reached the Golden Sword Mountain¡¯s domain and joined the siege. But this was all within the plan, so it didn¡¯t surprise him. Given Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation power, he stood among the top within the Foundation Establishment Cultivator ranks of the clan, and with his rich experience in handling affairs, it wasn¡¯t strange for him to lead the team. It was fortunate that the disciples of the now-fallen Golden Sword Sect found themselves in a desperate situation, like a wall collapsing and being pushed by all. In such a difficult situation, with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s disciples as the main force, the Lin Family members participating in the siege were unlikely to face significant danger. Such an opportunity was also a chance for the clan members to broaden their horizons, meet disciples of other forces, and gain experience¡ªa multitude of benefits. Thinking this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, feeling less worried. Then, he chatted casually with Lin Xingli and others, inquiring about the family and the situation in Qianchuan Market. According to Lin Xingli, Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Mountain had been quite peaceful over the past two years, experiencing almost no disturbances. The Lin Family continued as usual, and the Huangyang Kingdom had made no moves, apparently choosing not to interfere in the affairs of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. However, in the last half a year, Qianchuan Market had become very lively. The reason for this was twofold: firstly, cultivators who had originally left for fear of the great war were returning to the market upon seeing the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s fall. Secondly, it was because of the explosive news from the battle at Myriad Medicine Valley. When the news of Han Hu and others fleeing in disarray reached the market, detailing severe losses for the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, the entire Qianchuan Market was abuzz. Before things quieted down, news of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s great battle reached them, with even powerhouses like Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng falling. This even more sensational news made the already lively Qianchuan Market buzz with activity in a very short time. Furthermore, Lin Tianming¡¯s consecutive slaying of Golden Core Cultivators, including several Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen, gave him a fierce reputation that shocked many cultivators. Even the Lin Family Members were ecstatic upon receiving this news. Following this, the Lin Family Members kept busy receiving guests for half a year, with an endless stream of visiting cultivators, including Zhenyang Sect Executive Officers and figures from various major forces, all eager to make connections with the Lin Family. As a result, both Lin Xingli and Lin Xingrong dared not offend anyone, keeping them frantically occupied. With Lin Xingrong away, Lin Xingli found himself even busier, with no time to manage even the Luoyun Pavilion. Fortunately, after some time, the fervor slowly subsided, and everything returned to calm. Knowing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly again. After half an hour¡¯s casual chat with Lin Xingli and others, and giving some instructions, he then headed back to the practice room. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 908 03-25 - 908 484 Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan ?Chapter 908: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan Chapter 908: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan Blue Field Mountain Range. The Blue Field Mountain Range is located in the northeastern part of the Wei Kingdom, and among the various large mountain ranges in the kingdom, it is considered quite vast. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This place had always been under the control of the Golden Sword Sect, and it wasn¡¯t too far from the Qingshui Mountain Range in the northeastern part of the Zhenyang Sect, separated only by several mountain ranges. However, it was still in the central area of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory. At this moment, in one of the valleys of the Blue Field Mountain Range, a series of explosive sounds could be heard. At the same time, a large number of flames shot into the sky, accompanied by powerful, violent fluctuations spreading out. Following these commotions, one could see a group of people bombarding the formation in front of them. Inside the defense of the formation, a group of cultivators with pale faces stood ready for combat. ... Looking closely, the clothing and attire of one group were quite different and even somewhat disorganized. However, from the emblem on the chests of the largest group, it was easy to identify that these were disciples of the Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley. Apart from these noticeable cultivators, Lin Xingrong, Lin Tianyue, along with Qin Xi and other Lin Family members were also present among them. This was only the more distinguishable part of the crowd because their numbers were quite large, forming groups of at least a dozen people each. The others were groups of three or five cultivators, or some even alone, seeming to be members of other Foundation Establishing Families. In addition to these, there were also numerous Loose Cultivators acting independently, all mixed into the crowd. Opposite them were disciples clothed in the attire of the Golden Sword Sect, numbering close to a hundred, among them both Foundation Establishment Cultivators and a fair number of Qi Refining Cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sound of explosions continued incessantly, as firelight ceaselessly streaked across the sky. Suddenly, the Defensive Great Formation at the entrance of the canyon began to shake and quickly collapsed completely. Before this, the Second Order Superior Defensive Great Formation had held up for half a month. However, it simply could not withstand the onslaught of an attacking force several times the size of its defenders and collapsed. As the formation crumbled, the larger group of attackers became exceedingly excited. ¡°Ha ha¡­ the formation has finally broken!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoists¡­ follow me in striking together, quickly annihilate these remnants of the Golden Sword Sect!¡± The leading Myriad Medicine Disciple shouted triumphantly, and the Magic Artifact in his hand flashed with light before immediately launching an attack. Seeing this, the nearby Zhenyang Sect Disciples also acted immediately, as many unleashed a barrage of attacks toward the Golden Sword Sect Disciples. At this time, Lin Xingrong saw the other cultivators make their move, his gaze growing intent. Immediately thereafter, he exchanged a look with Qin Xi, then turned to look at Lin Tianyue and the rest of his clan members behind him. ¡°Tianyue, Tianhong, Xi¡¯er, later on, take care of the other clan members as well, and ensure the safety of our own people to the greatest extent!¡± Lin Xingrong said to Qin Xi and the others, getting ready for action. ¡°Father, rest assured, those Golden Sword Sect Disciples only number over a hundred, with less than ten at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Such overall strength cannot possibly match us with so many on our side!¡± Qin Xi replied confidently, her demeanor calm, seemingly not considering the opposing cultivators a threat at all. Indeed, as she said, the overall strength of the Golden Sword Sect Disciples at that moment was significantly inferior compared to their side. Not to mention the disciples of the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, just the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators on their side was close to a hundred. Adding in the other affiliated members, their numbers in Foundation Establishment Cultivators alone exceeded the total number of the opposition. Such a disparity in strength was an overwhelming advantage. The Lin Family members present were also numerous, totaling several dozens. This was a group of elite forces dispatched by Lin Shikang in accordance with Lin Tianming¡¯s plans to support the joint efforts of the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect in their purge of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect. Among this group of clan members, the majority were Late Stage Qi Refinement Clan Members. However, there were also more than a dozen at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with Qin Xi at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, her strength comparable to that of Great Completion Cultivators. Apart from Qin Xi, Lin Xingrong was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Peak, and Lin Xingping, Lin Xingyuan, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Tianhong were key members of the Lin Family, all above the Foundation Building Fourth Level in Cultivation Realm. With these more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators leading, the safety of the clan members was somewhat assured. Additionally, with the main forces of the Zhenyang Sect engaged in the fight, the risk for them amidst such a massive disparity in power seemed small. Knowing this, Qin Xi was quite unbothered and did not take her opponents seriously. As expected, once the protective cover of the formation was lost, the Golden Sword Sect Disciples became panic-stricken, many looking to flee without the courage to fight. However, the number of cultivators present was too large, having already surrounded them. Facing the attacks from a force several times their size, this group of disciples was gradually pushed back. In just one round of fighting, more than thirty cultivators fell, including a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators. At this point, seeing the desperate looks in their opponents¡¯ eyes and the chaotic scene, the disciples of the Myriad Medicine Valley were increasingly excited. Immediately afterward, they attacked again, not giving the opposition any chance to catch their breath. Witnessing this, Lin Xingrong and the other Lin Family Members, led by Qin Xi, also began to attack fervently. Another round passed, and Qin Xi consecutively took down two Golden Sword Sect Foundation Establishment Disciples, with other clan members achieving their own victories. As the fighting continued, such a one-sided slaughter did not cease. Chapter 909 03-25 - 909 484 Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan_2 ?Chapter 909: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan_2 Chapter 909: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan_2 ¡°` A cup of tea¡¯s time passed, and the tumult in the canyon came to an abrupt halt. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking over the entire canyon, it was now riddled with holes, with over a hundred bodies lying askew on the ground, their blood staining a large swath of land, presenting a sight of utter desolation. At this time, a crowd of cultivators ceased their attacks, each person¡¯s expression filled with wild euphoria. Qin Xi and the others also gathered together, and Lin Xingrong turned to check on his fellow Lin Family Members, relieved to see none had fallen, with only three sustaining minor injuries. Pleased with this situation, Lin Xingrong nodded satisfactorily and took a long breath of relief in his heart. Not far from them, the leading disciples of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley laughed heartily, their excitement irrepressible. The other cultivators each wore smiles, turning their gazes eagerly toward the deeper parts of the canyon. ... This time, following the plans of the higher echelons of the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, they began a full-scale attack on the Spirit Land controlled by the Golden Sword Sect. This location was a minor Spirit Stone Mine Vein under the control of the Golden Sword Sect. Rumor had it that this single mine vein contributed millions of Low-Grade Spirit Stones to the Golden Sword Sect every year, with a portion of them being Medium-Grade Spirit Stones. Without exaggeration, the annual benefits from this small mine vein amounted to at least a million Spirit Stones. Moreover, if the extraction rate continued at this pace, the mine could be mined for at least another decade. Under such circumstances, the long-term profits from this small Spirit Stone Mine Vein would amount to at least ten million Spirit Stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Consequently, this mine vein was one of the most important assets under the banner of the Golden Sword Sect, incredibly crucial to them, hence they long stationed over a hundred disciples to guard it. And the Myriad Medicine Valley as well as the Zhenyang Sect, coveting the substantial benefits, dispatched elite forces to attack as soon as they got wind of it. The Lin Family Members happened to be passing through the Qingshui Mountain Range and joined forces with Qin Xi and the three others who participated in the battle. Upon arriving at the Golden Sword Sect territory, they encountered this troop. With their keen senses, Qin Xi and Lin Xingrong¡¯s opinions coincided, deciding to lead their clan members in joining this team to secure a share of the profits. Now, with the Golden Sword Sect disciples all eliminated, everyone involved in the clash could secure some gains, big or small. Besides these, after the affair, the Lin Family could contend for a portion of the mining rights of this minor Spirit Stone Mine Vein. By then, the benefits for the Lin Family could be even greater. So it went, Qin Xi, Lin Xingrong, and the rest of the Lin Family Members unleashed their full power, all for the sake of larger gains. Similar-minded individuals were many, including Loose Cultivators as well as family cultivators who joined voluntarily, all for the sake of these benefits. At this moment, with the fall of the Golden Sword Sect disciples, these people grew somewhat impatient. Seeing this, the leaders of the two sects exchanged smiles and the team leader from Myriad Medicine Valley spoke up, ¡°Everyone, quickly clean up the battlefield, then follow me inside the mine to take a look.¡± ¡°After the matters here are settled, we will continue deeper and take the opportunity to attack the next target!¡± After saying this, the leading disciple from the Myriad Medicine Valley gestured a salute to everyone and then added one more line. ¡°Rest assured, after the event, we will discuss reward and recognition, and you will definitely get the benefits due to you.¡± Hearing these words, the other cultivators on the site cheered and were clearly encouraged by these words. So, each cultivator set about cleaning up the battlefield. Then, led by the team leader from Myriad Medicine Valley, the cultivators headed toward the inner part of the canyon and soon disappeared without a trace. ¡­ Qianchuan Market. Two days later, at the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming emerged from the Practice Room and appeared in the courtyard. After two days of rest, the fatigue on Lin Tianming¡¯s body had diminished considerably, and his complexion appeared much healthier. Although his injuries were not yet completely healed, compared to two days ago, his color was obviously much improved. At this time, Xing Li also appeared in the courtyard, and upon seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s emergence, hurried to greet him. ¡°Tian Ming, have you finished your training?¡± Xing Li asked with concern. ¡°Hmm¡­ After resting for two days, my condition has improved noticeably!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and replied with a faint smile on his face. Hearing this, Xing Li also chuckled happily, his mood lifting greatly. Then, he spoke, ¡°There have been quite a few cultivators coming to visit you these past few days. I¡¯ve turned away the ones with average backgrounds.¡± ¡°However, some of them have profound connections. Among them, the Market City Supervisor Wang Zhi and Tang Xiuyuan from the Sky Dragon Pavilion have sent messages and visiting cards. These people have extraordinary backgrounds. If you have time, you might want to meet them!¡± Lin Tianming nodded upon hearing this, having anticipated as much. He then saluted Xing Li and added, ¡°Uncle¡¯s words are most sound. After I have met with them, I will start my journey back to the clan!¡± Having said this, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with Xing Li and then left the Lin Family Courtyard. In no time at all, he appeared in a guest room on the third floor of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s personal visit, Tang Xiuyuan hastened to greet him, and met with Lin Tianming in the guest room. From a distance, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s laughter could be heard. ¡°Elder Lin, if you wished to see me, you could have simply sent a message or dispatched someone ¨C your personal visit truly flatters and overwhelms me!¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled, his words seemingly flattering, but his expression and tone were not overly formal. ¡°` Chapter 910 03-25 - 910 484 Meeting Tang Xiuyuan Again_3 ?Chapter 910: Chapter 484: Meeting Tang Xiuyuan Again_3 Chapter 910: Chapter 484: Meeting Tang Xiuyuan Again_3 Certainly, even though Lin Tianming had already broken through to the Golden Core Stage, surpassing him in cultivation realm. But he didn¡¯t need to be overly wary of Lin Tianming, let alone the entire Lin Family, treating them just as equals. After all, he hailed from the Nascent Soul Forces and was the chief representative of the Sky Dragon Pavilion here, his status equally esteemed. Although the gap in cultivation was evident, in a small place like Wei Kingdom, even Golden Core Cultivators had to show him some respect. This way, Tang Xiuyuan also remained quite composed. And naturally, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about these superficial honors, especially since the Lin Family couldn¡¯t afford to provoke the Tang Family of Qingzhou, obviously, he wouldn¡¯t fuss over such matters. Thus, he just smiled and then courteously said, S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tang, don¡¯t make too much of it!¡± ... ¡°Even though I have broken through to the Golden Core Stage, Tang, you and I are close friends, no matter our cultivation, I think it¡¯s best we treat each other as equals.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, last time we met, you had already broken through to the Golden Core Stage, hadn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Back then I sensed something off about you, if it weren¡¯t for the great battle erupting on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, I fear no one would have known about your family¡¯s terrifying power!¡± ¡°All in all, Lin, you really kept me in the dark!¡± Tang Xiuyuan said with a hint of resentment, his expression between a smile and a non-smile, quite comical. Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand, thinking that after his breakthrough to the Golden Core, the first time he came to the Sky Dragon Pavilion to gather information, he had also sought to conceal the Lin Family¡¯s strength, thus not revealing his own cultivation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Later, when he went to the Myriad Medicine Valley to participate in the great battle, he had stopped for a night in the Qianchuan Market. However, he was in a rush at the time and didn¡¯t meet with Tang Xiuyuan. It was during that time that the Lin Family and Xu Zhi of the Qingyun Sect erupted in a great battle. After the battle concluded, the Lin Family¡¯s strength was fully exposed, and that explosive news quickly spread throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, almost to the point where everyone knew about it. Tang Xiuyuan surely became fully aware of the Lin Family¡¯s strength at that time. And this meeting was the first after the Lin Family¡¯s power was revealed. In such circumstances, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s teasing was only natural. Thus, Lin Tianming also clasped his hands together, smiling very sincerely as he said, ¡°At that time, it was inconvenient for the Lin Family to reveal itself, thereby keeping it from you, Tang. I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart!¡± ¡°Furthermore, I must thank you for the information you provided then. Without it, facing Qingyun Sect¡¯s menacing approach, unprepared, the Lin Family could have faced a very different outcome.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Tang Xiuyuan naturally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s concerns and would probably have done the same. Moreover, this matter was just a joke to him, and even Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take it seriously, so he took it even less seriously. Thus, Tang Xiuyuan said with a smile, ¡°Understood, understood!¡± ¡°As for the matter of the information, we weren¡¯t very sure at that time. At the end of the day, it was just a guess.¡± ¡°In my opinion, the Lin Family¡¯s survival of this ordeal was also a display of its overall strength.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Xiuyuan changed the subject, Then, he grew serious and tentatively asked, ¡°Lin, forgive my frankness, now that Wei Kingdom¡¯s great war is over, Wei Kingdom will inevitably return to its former calm.¡± ¡°With your family¡¯s current strength, you are bound to gain much territory and benefits.¡± ¡°I wonder what your family plans for the future?¡± ¡°Are you thinking of expanding the business further, thereby replacing Golden Sword Sect¡¯s position and influence in all aspects?¡± ¡­ Chapter 911 03-25 - 911 485 Return Home ?Chapter 911: Chapter 485: Return Home Chapter 911: Chapter 485: Return Home Upon hearing what Tang Xiuyuan had said, Lin Tianming did not immediately respond, but began to ponder inwardly. However, after giving it some thought, he felt that Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s points were not without merit. After all, the overall strength of the Lin Family was growing stronger and almost comparable to that of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Therefore, with the fall of the Golden Sword Sect, it was only a matter of time before the Lin Family would take its place. Even so, the Lin Family¡¯s current influence and say within the Wei Kingdom were obviously far behind the other two sects. If the Lin Family wanted long-term development and to maintain sufficient competitiveness, they indeed needed to take a significant step forward. Tang Xiuyuan bringing this up now must also be because he wanted to further deepen cooperation with the Lin Family. ... Moreover, the Lin Family had already been in close contact with the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and they had intensified their cooperation, which had brought good benefits to both parties afterward. With such foundational conditions, the Lin Family could indeed consider increasing the cooperation further. After all, as the number of clan members in the Lin Family was increasing and they were gaining more territories, they required even stronger capabilities. Although resources were not lacking at the moment, what about in a few decades? By that time, the scale of the Lin Family¡¯s clan members would likely multiply several times, or even more than ten times. One could imagine that by then, the core strength of the Lin Family, including those above the Foundation Establishment Stage, would also increase explosively. In such a situation, to support such a large family of thousands of clan members, the needed resources would be immense. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 If they wanted to expand beyond Qingzhou and challenge the Nascent Soul Level powers, the required resources would be multiplied tenfold. Although it was too early to think about this, the Lin Family still had to plan for the long term, at least considering the situation decades later. Therefore, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s proposition was indeed worth considering thoroughly. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming already had some ideas in his mind. However, discussing this now was slightly premature. In his view, they should at least wait until the situation in the entire Wei Kingdom had calmed down, and the Lin Family had finished distributing interests with the other two sects, before implementing it. Realizing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and replied to Tang Xiuyuan, ¡°Brother Tang, I, Lin Mou, am indeed very interested!¡± ¡°But the situation in the Wei Kingdom has not yet stabilized, and since this matter is of great importance, it is not something I can decide alone. I need to discuss it with the senior members of my family first.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Tang, I highly agree with this matter, and I believe the upper echelons of the Lin Family will also be interested. How about we discuss the details of the cooperation later?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s response, Tang Xiuyuan nodded with satisfaction. In reality, he also knew that it was impossible to get an answer so quickly. Although he was keen to further cooperate with the Lin Family and expand the benefits for the Sky Dragon Pavilion¡ªenabling himself to gain enough merit to help in his impact towards the Golden Core Stage¡ª S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He probably would consider the situation thoroughly before making a decision, just like Lin Tianming. Furthermore, the Wei Kingdom had just ended a great war and the situation was still unstable, not to mention the cultivation world. Given all these factors, it was only reasonable for Lin Tianming to respond as he did. And he hadn¡¯t expected to achieve his goals with just a few words; as long as he laid the groundwork early, implementation later would naturally follow its course. Knowing this, Tang Xiuyuan smiled and then sincerely said, ¡°Brother Lin, don¡¯t rush. I only hope you can convey my goodwill, and that we can establish a mutually beneficial, long-term cooperation that satisfies both parties.¡± Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression and tone were sincere, appearing genuinely heartfelt. Upon hearing this and seeing Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming also nodded. ¡°Rest assured, Brother Tang, I¡¯m very interested in this matter, and the Lin Family indeed needs to further expand its business.¡± ¡°Just let me discuss it with the elders of the Lin Family, and there is a high probability we will make a decision.¡± ¡°Great¡­ that would be most excellent!¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled knowingly, feeling even more pleased and caring towards Lin Tianming and the Lin Family. Subsequently, Lin Tianming changed the topic and chatted with Tang Xiuyuan for a while. Meanwhile, he took out more than one hundred thousand Spirit Stones and purchased a large batch of resources from Tang Xiuyuan. Most of these resources were consumables like Attack Talisman. Although his current cultivation was such that Second Order items were no longer useful to him, and even Third Order items had little effect, His clan still had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and their demand for offensive consumables was not small. Especially items like Attack Talisman, which even the few Second Order Inscription Masters in the Lin Family could not fully supply themselves. In the past decade, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world had seen wild upheavals, from beast tides to the great wars between the three sects, so the consumption of such treasures had increased tremendously. Thus, every year, the Lin Family had to supplement their treasures from other places to make up for the heavy consumption. Now, his wealth was terrifyingly vast; his storage bag alone contained millions of Spirit Stones, mostly spoils from the past few years. Besides these known assets, there were also several storage bags he hadn¡¯t explored, acquired from the battle at the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. It was foreseeable that once he took stock of everything, the wealth in treasures he held would increase considerably. With such vast property at hand, since he could not use it all at the moment, it was better to seize the opportunity to buy some valuable treasures to bring back to his close friends and family. Chapter 912 03-25 - 912 485 Return Home_2 ?Chapter 912: Chapter 485 Return Home_2 Chapter 912: Chapter 485 Return Home_2 Upon doing so, Lin Tianming also made extensive purchases, both as a token of gratitude to Tang Xiuyuan for promptly relaying the Huangyang Kingdom news and as a means to further deepen their friendship. When the time came for the Lin Family to fully expand their business and take control of other territories, they could also draw upon the strength of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Under these circumstances, paying a price now seemed worthwhile. With such intentions, Lin Tianming had a very pleasant conversation with Tang Xiuyuan. It was only after spending well over half an hour that Lin Tianming took his leave of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Following that, Lin Tianming did not head straight back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard but instead made his way to the workshop auction to meet with the Market City Supervisor Wang Zhi. It must be said that over the years, Wang Zhi had been quite helpful to the Lin Family. ... Although the Cultivation World had been quite turbulent in recent years, the impact on Luoyun Pavilion had been relatively minimal. Business was lackluster only during critical periods, with profits substantial most of the time. Wang Zhi indeed had put forth much effort in this regard. Therefore, even though Lin Tianming had already broken through to the Golden Core Stage and had a fierce reputation outside, ranking amongst the few top experts in the Wei Kingdom, he still personally paid a visit out of gratitude, giving Wang Zhi ample respect. His proactive visit caused quite a stir and left Wang Zhi with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. Thus, Wang Zhi hurriedly welcomed Lin Tianming with a high level of hospitality and introduced him to a few fellow disciples. These newly appointed Market City Supervisors were also members of the Zhenyang Sect who would reside here long term, thus considered individuals of some status. By doing this, Wang Zhi aimed to foster a good relationship with the Lin Family and to earn Lin Tianming¡¯s recognition. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After all, he was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and although his status in the Zhenyang Sect was not low, breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would require a great deal of resources and the support of other cultivators. Lin Tianming had been in the limelight these past few years, with extraordinary strength that even Chen Jingtian dreaded. Though not a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, his influence in the Wei Kingdom was nonetheless significant. Even brief pointers from Lin Tianming or a few words to a Sect Elder could prove very effective. Therefore, Wang Zhi hosted Lin Tianming earnestly and repeatedly mentioned he would further assist in ensuring Luoyun Pavilion could access more resources within the workshop. Lin Tianming naturally did not reject Wang Zhi¡¯s kindness. In fact, his personal visit also carried its own significant meaning. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s long-term development in recent years had relied on the help of many cultivators. From the very beginning of Luoyun Pavilion, with Li Xiuyuan and Ye Pinghai bustling about, they managed to quickly establish a foothold in Qianchuan Market. Subsequently, with the aid of many cultivators, Luoyun Pavilion had risen to the top of the shops, earning Spirit Stones for the Lin Family while also extending their influence. Otherwise, a Foundation Establishing Family with no reputation to speak of, what standing or strength could it possibly have to survive here? This success was the result of the Lin Family¡¯s extensive networking and meticulous relationships. Though it cost them some, the path they took was steady, achieving the family¡¯s strategic goals ahead of time. For these reasons, Lin Tianming always held the belief that friendliness brings wealth, and he was not opposed to lowering his stance when necessary. Otherwise, with his current cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, there was no need for him to lower his status and take the initiative to visit in person. His way of handling things indeed yielded different results. Wang Zhi was no exception, both terrified and immensely grateful at the same time. With Lin Tianming¡¯s interactions, Luoyun Pavilion could become even more stable, and its future prospects could be brighter. Following his visit with Wang Zhi, Lin Tianming also visited several cultivators, including the shopkeepers under Myriad Medicine Valley and heads of other large and long-standing Foundation Establishing Families. During this time, representing the Lin Family, he extended goodwill and sought preliminary collaboration. With him, a Golden Core Stage Expert and one known for his fearsome reputation in the Wei Kingdom taking the lead, the cultivators he visited were all intimidated yet extremely gratified. Under his combined hard and soft strategy, they all expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Lin Family, seeking mutual benefit in business. By noon, after a busy half-day, Lin Tianming finally returned to the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard. After saying goodbye to Lin Xingli, Lin Tianming set off from Qianchuan Market and headed towards the territory of his clan. Several days later. Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle landed in front of the Mountain Protection Array at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. After a few days of travel, Lin Tianming had passed through Golden Horn Mountain, pausing there for only half an hour. After briefly meeting Lin Tianqin and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, leaving behind some cultivation resources, he continued his journey until he returned to the clan territory. The journey was rather smooth, and now, seeing the clan lands again, Lin Tianming wore a smile, his heart filled with a multitude of emotions. Since leaving the clan territory, almost two years had gone by. Though two years was not very long, the experiences he had endured were not few; nearly constant battles and magical duels had kept him on edge, wearing him down over time. Now back in the clan territory, his heart relaxed. Even though his injuries were not fully healed and the fatigue had not lifted, his heart felt like a small boat returning to harbor, indescribably warm and comforting. ¡°This is what family is; no matter how great the obligations or worries, it is ultimately the resting place of the heart!¡± Lin Tianming mused in his heart, his face still wearing a smile, his mood utterly buoyant. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming greeted the clan members patrolling the clan gate and then vanished from the sight of the crowd, leaving the excited clan members stunned in place. Most of these people were from the Tian generation, generally younger than Lin Tianming. With the clan repeatedly enhancing basic welfare and various incentive policies, these individuals had nearly all reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining and had become a central force of the family. Although they were all from the same generation with little age difference, many had not yet seen Lin Tianming in person. Now, having seen Lin Tianming with their own eyes, even if it was just a fleeting encounter, was enough to excite those who admired him. Nowadays, with the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s victorious battles at Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect spreading, the reverence within these clan members¡¯ hearts had grown even more fervent. At this time, Lin Tianming had already left and soon appeared in Lin Shilu¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Upon learning of his return to the clan territory, Lin Shihua and several other Shi generation clan members dropped everything to come and meet him. This included Ye Pinghai, who also hurried over for a gathering. However, Lin Shikang was not in the clan territory; he had left two months earlier with a party of clan members to carry out a series of plundering missions under the banner of Golden Sword Sect. At the same time, his purpose was also to look after the Lin Family¡¯s interests, to prevent any trouble. Lin Tianming returned a bit later and just missed Lin Shikang; otherwise, they might have encountered each other halfway. At this moment, Lin Shilu¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard was bustling with activity. Then, seeing Ye Pinghai looking stable, Lin Tianming addressed him, ¡°Grandpa Sea, how is your recovery from your injuries?¡± ¡°Tian Ming¡­ thank you for your concern, my boy!¡± ¡°My injuries weren¡¯t serious, and after meditating in seclusion for more than two months, I¡¯ve mostly recovered!¡± Ye Pinghai chuckled, his face revealing a satisfied smile. He had personally witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s growth. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength had far surpassed his own. Especially after those two battles at Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, Lin Tianming¡¯s elegance and formidable power shone through, even overpowering famous experts like Chen Jingtian in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Such formidable battle records were exhilarating to think about. In recent decades, he too had experienced several life-and-death battles, helping the Lin Family through several crises. Now, he had fully integrated into the Lin Family and received their respect. Including Lin Tianming himself, everyone held great respect for him, justifying the support and care he had provided. Reflecting on this, Ye Pinghai was filled with emotion. ¡­ Chapter 913 03-25 - 913 486 Inventorying the Treasure ?Chapter 913: Chapter 486: Inventorying the Treasure Chapter 913: Chapter 486: Inventorying the Treasure At that moment, Lin Tianming saw that Ye Pinghai¡¯s complexion was rosy and he was indeed in good condition, and he also felt a sigh of relief in his heart. In his heart, although Ye Pinghai was not born into the Lin Family, his assistance and care for the entire clan were in no way inferior to the other Qi Stage Clan Members. Now, Ye Pinghai was also crucial to the Lin Family. As Ye Pinghai¡¯s adopted grandson, he naturally respected his elder, treating him as his own kin, always making him feel the warmth of the family. Knowing this, Lin Tianming complimented him with a respectful remark. ¡°Grandpa Sea, you have worked hard and meritoriously, now that the great war is over and Wei Kingdom is about to restore peace, you can finally concentrate on your cultivation!¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± ... Hearing this, Ye Pinghai stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his expression extremely satisfied. ¡°Hehe¡­ Still, it¡¯s your sweet words that please me, not in vain did I teach and care for you!¡± Ye Pinghai patted Lin Tianming¡¯s arm, expressing his satisfaction. ¡°Alright¡­ You both have worked hard!¡± Lin Shigong joked, and his melancholic expression caused the others to burst into hearty laughter. Then, Lin Shigong continued, ¡°This great war has ended, although the process was perilous, thankfully, we have all returned safely¡ªa true fortune for the Lin Family.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua, who was nearby, nodded and then added, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? ¡°Ninth Brother speaks truly, this war was extremely perilous; thankfully, our ancestors blessed us, and it was also the fortune of the Lin Family disciples.¡± Lin Shihua felt profoundly emotional, his eyes revealing a deep sense of relief. And as the Lin Family Patriarch, entrusted with the safety and spiritual path of thousands of clansmen, his greatest concern was the existential threat to his family. Moreover, in recent years, there had indeed been many tumultuous events; the Lin Family had just survived an onslaught of beasts, and before the clansmen could take a breather, they were faced with civil unrest in Wei Kingdom. During the fierce Tri-Sect war, the entire Wei Kingdom was anxious, the clansmen even more so worried. During such critical moments, Huangyang Kingdom also made its move, adding uncertainties to the outcome of the war. The situation was indeed complicated and fraught with extreme danger, leaving the righteous Sect Families of Wei Kingdom under unprecedented pressure. Every member of the Lin Family felt like they were treading on thin ice, every decision a deep abyss. Now everything had passed, and the Lin Family, like a phoenix reborn from fire, had not only survived the crisis but also gained unimaginable benefits. Apart from these visible gains, many clansmen had advanced significantly in their cultivation, further enhancing the overall strength of the entire family. All these achievements were chiefly attributed to several Golden Core Stage Clansmen, and the Guest Elder, Hu Yuan. Especially Lin Tianming, who was the greatest hero in guiding the Lin Family through the calamity and was the hope for the Lin Family¡¯s metamorphosis. Thinking of this, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but become moist. As the head of the family, he truly empathized with the hardships Lin Tianming had endured over the years and the numerous crises he had faced. ¡°Tianming, my child, you have worked hard!¡± Lin Shihua said solemnly, patting Lin Tianming on the shoulder, his true emotions profoundly evident. Seeing the Patriarch¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming also felt a warm surge in his heart. Then, he bowed to Lin Shihua and said respectfully, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, you have tirelessly toiled for the family your entire life, and you are also indispensable to our Lin Family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua smiled knowingly. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Then, Lin Shihua also waved his hand and said, ¡°I may not have great talents or strength, but fortunate to receive the trust of many fellow clansmen, I can only do my best and contribute my strength.¡± ¡°Over the years, I have dared not disappoint the hopes of our ancestors and my fellow clansmen!¡± ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, you really have achieved it!¡± ¡°Now, our Lin Family is full of talented individuals, with numerous Golden Core Cultivators and gifted younger generations. Our overall strength is now on par with Wei Kingdom¡¯s two Great Sects. Even the Yingchuan Chen Family, which has a longer history than our Lin Family, can¡¯t match us!¡± Lin Tianming excitedly spoke, narrating the glorious prospects of the Lin Family. Hearing his words, the faces of those present turned even rosier, their voices seemingly choked. Occasionally, sighs could be heard: ¡°May our ancestors bless us¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± In such a profoundly emotional scene, Lin Tianming watched, yet his heart was filled with myriad thoughts. The Lin Family had placed their hopes on him, compelling him to be cautious, thinking thrice before taking each step. As the saying goes, with great responsibility comes great pressure. Over these years, he indeed faced numerous life-threatening dangers and withstood substantial tests. Fortunately, though the risks were many and the dangers immense, everything had passed! It was foreseeable that, as Wei Kingdom gradually returned to peace, the Lin Family would embrace an unprecedented new era. Considering the current strength of the Lin Family, even if not surpassing Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, the difference wasn¡¯t too significant. After all, these two sects had lost many Golden Core Cultivators in recent years, their strength substantially diminished from their prime. With the end of the war, and once the distribution of benefits was settled, as long as no major disagreements arose, all the major forces would likely focus on recuperation, unlikely to cause any conflicts of interest. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And he could use this opportunity to concentrate on his cultivation for a while. Once his own cultivation advanced further, he planned to explore the customs of other parts of the Cultivation World and to witness the elegance of Nascent Soul Experts. Chapter 914 03-25 - 914 486 Inventory of Treasures_2 ?Chapter 914: Chapter 486 Inventory of Treasures_2 Chapter 914: Chapter 486 Inventory of Treasures_2 Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a stir of restlessness in his heart. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After finally calming down, Lin Tianming called a halt to the conversation, and they all regained their composure. At this moment, with normal expressions, they all gathered to sit together, drinking spiritual tea and chatting leisurely; the atmosphere was harmonious. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu sat together, and in their conversation, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t forget to congratulate him on his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Due to the urgency of participating in the war, Lin Tianming had hastily set off to Myriad Medicine Valley. At that time, Lin Shilu had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage and was also consolidating his cultivation in seclusion; they missed the opportunity to meet. Now, after each had come out of seclusion, with their cultivations at their peaks, and with relative calm on all sides, it was natural for Lin Tianming to engage him in a chat, renewing their concerns for each other. ... For Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu naturally needed no introduction; he had watched him grow up. In the subsequent periods of cultivation, Lin Shilu was wholeheartedly dedicated; he had indeed put in immense effort. Moreover, as Lin Tianming grew, Lin Shilu had also experienced much with him, facing numerous life-and-death crises. The bond between the two was both that of teacher and friend. When news of the great battle at Myriad Medicine Valley reached him, learning that Lin Tianming had continuously slain powerful enemies, even taking down several Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators, overshadowing Chen Jingtian for a time, Lin Shilu was incredibly excited; it seemed he was happier than if he himself had possessed such power. Looking back on the times two or three decades earlier, they had fought side by side numerous times through various trials and tribulations, as if it were just yesterday. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Now, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation had broken through to the Golden Core Stage first, with his strength increasingly formidable. It was no exaggeration to say that Lin Tianming had surpassed him in every aspect. Thinking of this, Lin Shilu felt heartfelt gratification and satisfaction, filled with hope for Lin Tianming, his junior. And this joyous atmosphere continued, as they sat together and chatted for a long while, seldom having such a relaxed and refined moment to bond. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags and placed them in front of him. Upon seeing this, Ye Pinghai grabbed a storage bag with a puzzled look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Grandpa Sea, this is from Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core cultivator Yu Hongyan!¡± Lin Tianming pointed at the storage bag in Ye Pinghai¡¯s hand and explained with a smile. ¡°At that time, you hadn¡¯t joined the battle yet. This Golden Core female cultivator was the first Golden Core fighter slain by Sun Er!¡± ¡°And these others, there are also possessions of Gu Changqing from Qingyun Sect¡­¡± ¡°This storage bag contains the corpse of a Third Order Variegated Crystal Beast!¡± Saying this, Lin Tianming also took out a storage bag, which contained Third Order Refining Mastery Insights, obtained during the first distribution of the spoils of war from Zhou Yunxiao and others. Lin Tianming passed the storage bag to Lin Shilu, saying with a smile, ¡°Take a look, Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu hurriedly received the storage bag and employed his divine sense to inspect it. Soon, seeing the contents inside, Lin Shilu¡¯s face flushed with excitement, ¡°Is this the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights?¡± ¡°Wonderful! With these materials, my chances of stepping into the Third Order are much greater!¡± Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t take his hands off the refining insights, immediately immersing himself and unable to extricate himself. His demeanor obviously showed great joy and satisfaction; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so eager. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words and seeing his anxious demeanor, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were also smiling broadly, their hearts equally thrilled. This was because the Lin Family¡¯s Third Order Artifact Refining heritage was scarce, only a small part had been collected over hundreds of years, and the refining skills of the patriarch were not very high, offering very limited help to Lin Shilu. Now, with this added heritage of artifact refining knowledge, and with Lin Shilu¡¯s high talent for refining artifacts, entering the Third Order was only a matter of time. It could be anticipated that once Lin Shilu advanced to a Third Order Artifact Refining Master and personally guided those juniors with decent talent in artifact refining, the Lin Family¡¯s standard in artifact crafting would rise yet another level. Thinking of this, Lin Shihua and the others were even more excited. At that moment, Lin Tianming also spoke up to remind them, which pulled Lin Shilu and the others back to reality. Following that, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Elders, we have been preoccupied with the great battle and with recovering from our injuries. Time has really been too tight.¡± ¡°These storage bags, I haven¡¯t had the chance to check thoroughly. Since we now have nothing pressing to do, why not take a good look at our spoils of war.¡± Having said this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and tossed several storage bags to Lin Shilu and the others. Lin Tianming himself picked up Gu Changqing¡¯s storage bag and easily wiped away the residual divine sense on it, then began to carefully examine its contents. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, Lin Tianming revealed a satisfied smile, clearly very pleased with the treasures in the storage bag. Indeed, that was the case. Because Gu Changqing¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t low and he hailed from the Qingyun Sect of the Huangyang Kingdom, a Mid Stage Golden Core realm was considered among the top at the time. Hence, the belongings of such a powerful individual were indeed quite considerable. Upon his investigation, there were over ten thousand medium-grade spirit stones in the storage bag alone, and more than two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. That was not to mention the various elixirs used by Golden Core cultivators, a variety of Third Order spirit ores, spiritual medicines, demonic beast materials, and some consumable treasures. These Third Order items, which were generally used by Golden Core cultivators, might not be worth cities of gold, but they were indeed very fine treasures. Aside from these items, the more valuable were two magical treasures, one for offense and one for defense, and two pieces of Fourth Order spirit ore. The value of these items was not low, far surpassing average Third Order treasures and were essentially the most important treasures of a Golden Core cultivator. Now that Gu Changqing was dead, all of these items belonged to Lin Tianming. What was regrettable was that no heritage treasures had been found in the storage bag, not even a Second Order legacy related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. Lin Tianming was prepared for this result; after all, Gu Changqing was from a sect power. Such cultivators, like most others, were not in the habit of carrying lineages on their person. Therefore, Lin Tianming¡¯s lack of such discoveries was not difficult to understand. As Lin Tianming finished inspecting the storage bag, except for the Fourth Order spirit mine and the two magical treasures, the cumulative value of the various other treasures almost reached several million low-grade spirit stones. All in all, Gu Changqing¡¯s wealth matched his status and cultivation level, and it was the return Lin Tianming ought to have received for daring to participate in the battle. However, this was only the storage bag of the first Golden Core cultivator; the spoils of war from Yu Hongyan and several other Golden Core Stage cultivators had yet to be tallied. Should he finish inspecting all of it, considering their status and cultivation level, the value of the treasures obtained might reach an astronomical figure. Aware of this, Lin Tianming was quite excited. Next, he casually took out a vast amount of treasure, mainly items he didn¡¯t need, and those two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. The cumulative value of this batch also exceeded several hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. Lin Tianming separated them out with the intention of giving them to Clan Leader Lin Shihua, as part of his contribution of resources to the family. In his eyes, his own personal wealth was terrifyingly ample. Just the profit from participating in this battle would definitely yield treasures worth tens of millions in spiritual energy. With so many treasures, he had no use for the ordinary items. Apart from a personal portion given away to relatives, the rest could well serve as a contribution of strength to the family. Furthermore, he had also acquired quite a number of magical treasures. The value of these items was indeed the greatest. Although the spirituality and quality of some magical treasures had significantly diminished, with minor expenses to repair them, they could be restored to their peak condition. Even if the materials used were superior, surpassing the original might was also possible. ¡­ Chapter 915 03-25 - 915 487 Treasure Refining Plan (End of ?Chapter 915: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (End of Month Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 915: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (End of Month Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) And he didn¡¯t plan to monopolize these tremendous treasures, especially since there were quite a few Golden Core Cultivators in the Lin Family at present. Although he had obtained several magical treasures from Myriad Medicine Valley previously, the quality of those treasures was mediocre, some even inferior to those he had acquired. Considering carefully, it wasn¡¯t surprising, for what Myriad Medicine Valley was willing to give away was hardly the best, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have made the decision so resolutely. Now, with this large batch of magical treasures supplemented and having acquired numerous precious Artifact Refining Materials, all that was left was to wait for Lin Shilu to advance to a Third Order Artifact Refiner so he could refine them anew. By then, equipping each of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators with one or two Offensive Magical Treasures, in addition to a Defense Treasure, wouldn¡¯t be a problem. With sufficiently good weapons, the clansmen would be able to manifest greater strength. All Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the Lin Family could use two or three treasures, both offensive and defensive; compared to the initial striving when they first broke through to the Golden Core Stage, they no longer needed to worry about lacking weapons. ... In this way, even if any individual faced veteran Golden Core Cultivators, they¡¯d have confidence. Lin Tianming thought to himself, filled with anticipation. At this moment, when Lin Shihua saw Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, he pondered for a moment and knew what was contained inside. Eventually, he didn¡¯t utter any pretentious words but simply took the storage bag. Even though nothing was said, everyone present clearly understood how much Lin Tianming had contributed to the family. At this stage, uttering those insincere, pretentious words wouldn¡¯t have much significance. Thus, Lin Shihua stored away the storage bag, which relieved Lin Tianming. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Immediately afterwards, Lin Shilu and a few others also opened the other storage bags to briefly inspect the treasures inside. Quickly, their breathing became hurried again, clearly astounded by the copious treasures inside the storage bags. Lin Tianming had anticipated their reactions. After all, the bags they got contained the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast, while another one contained spoils obtained from Zhou Yunxiao. He had been well aware of these items beforehand and understood the value of those treasures. In his view, although the allocated treasures were limited in quantity, they were high-value treasures, amongst which Qianjin Ratan and Bone Cleansing Flower were Fourth Tier Items and extremely valuable, also being some of the most useful treasures among others. To acquire these items, he had also given up quite a bit. Now, placing these treasures before them naturally shocked them. As expected, Lin Shilu, being an Artifact Refiner, his eyes sparkled upon seeing the Qianjin Ratan, evidently aware of its uses and understanding its value. After all, he was an Artifact Refining enthusiast and having encountered such a rare Artifact Refining Material was naturally ecstatic. If he had not yet reached the status of a Third Order Artifact Refiner, he would have desired to retreat immediately and add the Qianjin Ratan to a magical treasure, greatly enhancing its quality and spirituality. Because he understood that his Artifact Refining skills were not yet up to the basic requirements, he managed to contain the restlessness in his heart, gradually calming down. On the other side, Lin Shihua and the others were equally excited. Although not as fervent as Lin Shilu, their faces also flushed and breathing grew rapid upon seeing the Qianjin Ratan and Marrow Cleansing Flower. These were Fourth Order Treasures! Over the years, the Lin Family had never acquired a Fourth Tier Item; even Third Grade Treasures were very limited. Yet, over these recent years, Lin Tianming had obtained hundreds of Third Grade Treasures and even several Fourth Order Treasures. Although he had taken substantial risks, such great gains truly made others envious. However, as elders of the Lin Family, they pondered and soon changed their perspective. After all, although treasures were tempting and the rewards behind them substantial, compared to Lin Tianming¡¯s safety, they were utterly incomparable. They knew that Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was already exceptional, his Dual Spiritual Roots not to mention heaven-defying, but at least a rare gift. His cultivation pace was swift, his strength exaggerated, and despite such talent and strength, Lin Tianming remained diligent, his Dao heart incredibly resolute. In their eyes, Lin Tianming was such an outstanding seedling with unimaginable potential. Even the genius Lin Tianyun of the Wind Spirit Root in the family, based on the displayed potential at the moment, seemed to not match Lin Tianming¡¯s extent. Under such circumstances, as long as the Lin Family could develop steadily, even mobilizing the entire clan¡¯s resources or waiting an additional two hundred years would be wholly worthwhile. But reality was harsh, with crisis after crisis approaching; even if the Lin Family didn¡¯t wish to get involved or stay away from turmoil, it was impossible. Thus, it could be said that the Lin Family was forced to endure one crisis after another. Ultimately, unless it was absolutely necessary, even facing the temptation of Fifth Order Treasures, they wouldn¡¯t want to see Lin Tianming willingly take such risks. Knowing this well, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression turned solemn, his tone serious as he advised, ¡°Tianming, we won¡¯t talk about being forced into this battle, the Lin Family has these treasures now, plus the Cultivation World has returned to tranquility, and the workshop along with Luoyun Pavilion will also contribute some revenue, enough for the clan to operate for decades!¡± ¡°From now on, you should not act rashly, nor should you risk your safety!¡± Right after he finished speaking, Lin Shilu also sternly said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Brother Twelve is right!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 916 03-25 - 916 487 Treasure Refining Plan (Seeking ?Chapter 916: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes at Month End)_2 Chapter 916: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes at Month End)_2 ¡°You should know, you are the Lin Family¡¯s greatest hope. It doesn¡¯t matter if we old folks die, but if anything were to happen to you, the Lin Family¡¯s hopes of progressing further would diminish greatly.¡± ¡°How could we face our ancestors if it were so?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then smiled wryly, feeling helpless. Right after that, Lin Tianming spoke up to reassure everyone. ¡°Senior family members, rest assured, after this great battle ends, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is very likely to settle down completely.¡± ¡°In the next several decades, Tianming doesn¡¯t plan to go out.¡± ¡°After all, in my view, our current cultivation resources are sufficient, and it would be good to take this opportunity to stay at the family estate and focus on cultivation, hopefully breaking through to Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± ... ¡°Otherwise, Tianming won¡¯t easily venture out, thus naturally avoiding any risks.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu and a few others finally breathed a sigh of relief. In their hearts, they really feared that Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t sit still. If Lin Tianming were to become restless and venture out, with his bold way of doing things, he might well face some risks. Thankfully, Lin Tianming was aware of what was important and had already made plans, otherwise, they would indeed have a lot to worry about. ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ that¡¯s very good!¡± ¡°You, young man, should take a break for a while. I, too, plan to enter seclusion to contemplate those insights into Artifact Refining, attempting to reach Third Order Artifact Refining Master.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Once successful, I will immediately craft a Magical Treasure for you!¡± Lin Shilu said this with a suddenly excited expression. He laughed heartily and continued, ¡°With the treasures you¡¯ve brought back, I¡¯m sure a few powerful weapons can be crafted, and you, young man, can further strengthen your powers!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± ¡°Tianming indeed has this idea and wanted to ask Fifteenth Grandfather for help in crafting a suitable Life-bound Magical Treasure.¡± ¡°Now that Fifteenth Grandfather has taken the initiative to mention this, it is really more than wonderful, precisely avoiding having to ask your elderly self!¡± Lin Tianming replied excitedly, his face brimming with a broad smile. In fact, he had this plan in mind for quite some time. He had obtained Qianjin Ratan from Zhou Yunxiao and had given up some benefits, all in preparation for his Magical Treasure. In his heart, he knew that to comprehensively enhance his strength, the role of a Magical Treasure was crucial. If possible, he needed a large number of longswords, at the very least two sets of Offensive Magical Treasures. The first being a single sword, perfectly complementing the Technique Divine Power of the Divine Firmament Nine Swords and the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus. Next would be the Earth Fiend Sword Array, which required seventy-two longswords. Regarding the Earth Fiend Sword Array, he highly regarded it too, for its effects of trapping enemies and its wide-ranging Attack Power had once brought him tremendous aid. During this battle, he had not used it much in the magic duel because the original Earth Evil Swords were not of high enough quality. However, this does not mean he had given up on this Divine Power. After all, the Tiangang Body Art is a Heavenly Grade Technique, and every Supernatural Attack it carries has immense power and different effects. But the Earth Fiend Sword Array requires so many longswords that an ordinary Qi cultivator, even with the desire to refine, cannot afford such a vast consumption. You must know, a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s Magical Treasures in any state of Qingzhou¡¯s Cultivation World, are of high value. For an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator to possess one or two Magical Treasures is already considered extremely rare. For him to plan on crafting seventy-two Treasure Swords, and to refine them as a set, just the needed Artifact Refining Materials is probably astronomical. Besides, this is also a great challenge and burden for an Artifact Refiner. Looking ahead, it is foreseeable that Lin Shilu will probably not be able to find the time to do other things for the next twenty or thirty years, focusing only on maintaining the most basic cultivation. Fortunately, the Refining of the Earth Evil Swords doesn¡¯t require the high-quality standards of Tiangang teachings. As long as they are of normal Magical Treasure quality, with the feature of being a complete set and with such a large quantity, they can still exert tremendous power. Thus, the Artifact Refining Materials required for the Earth Fiend Sword Array need not be too precious, which would save a lot of costs. Otherwise, all the precious Artifact Refining Materials acquired by the Lin Family over the years would probably have been used up by these Magical Treasures. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless. Fortunately, after the great battle had concluded, he had accumulated a vast trove of treasures, with the majority of them being artifact refining materials. With these resources, he could barely afford the expenditure. Not having to worry about materials was only one aspect¡ªLin Shilu wouldn¡¯t need to overexert himself during the artifact refining process due to the lack of exceedingly high requirements. As for the upcoming allocation battle between the two sects and two clans, he, both personally and on behalf of the Lin Family, aimed to obtain as much as possible. With the support of that batch of resources and treasures, he believed the refining of several magical treasures could proceed more smoothly and could meet his expectations. He had even secretly speculated how strong he would be if he possessed sufficiently powerful magical treasures. If he were to face Zhou Yunxiao or Lu Xingfeng in a duel, what were his odds of winning? He continuously reflected and speculated, having previous encounters to reference. After all, he had twice withstood the attacks of Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators by relying on the Divine Power of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. However, in terms of defense, even if his offensive magical treasure improved, enduring a life-or-death magic duel with a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator might still not last very long. But if he obtained a potent offensive magical treasure as he envisioned, with his prowess in supernatural attacks, he might not necessarily be much weaker than them. Indeed, if he could seize the right moment, perhaps he could match a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming resolved that he must enhance his magical treasures in every aspect. He was well aware that only with greater strength could he approach anything with more confidence. He always believed in this principle and would never change. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming stored these thoughts in his mind, prioritizing the matters at hand and deciding to take later issues one step at a time. Meanwhile, the few people who had been exuberant earlier had now regained their composure. They proceeded to discuss the current situation and the Lin Family¡¯s general development direction for the future. Having returned from the battlefield last, Lin Tianming had a better understanding of the situation regarding the Golden Sword Sect. Additionally, during his return journey, he had a long conversation with Tang Xiuyuan, inquiring about the general state of affairs in the Wei Kingdom and the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Worlds. According to the information he had gathered, the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three sects had suffered a significant setback and remarkably, hadn¡¯t reacted too vehemently, which surprised Lin Tianming. Regard the situation in the Wei Kingdom itself, it was a one-sided affair. Considering the resolve of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, as well as the current plight of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t take half a year to capture them all. Even if some managed to slip through the net, they would likely hide their identity or flee to other countries to survive, posing no significant threat to the Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom. In light of this, Lin Tianming shared all the information he had with others and mentioned the specific arrangements for a high-level gathering set by Zhou Yunxiao. Upon learning this, Lin Shihua and others nodded in agreement, none objecting to the plans. However, Lin Shikang had already gone to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory to oversee the Lin Family Members¡¯ hunting operations and to monitor the control of benefits for the Lin Family. Therefore, which members of the Lin Family would be sent to Qingshui Market and the specific scheme for the distribution of benefits remained unknown. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Given that the matter was crucial to the Lin Family¡¯s century-long development plan, it would definitely need to be discussed with Lin Shikang. Thus, the concrete action plan would have to wait until Lin Shikang¡¯s return, or when the Lin Family Members went to Golden Sword Mountain to convene with him. However, there was no rush for this matter, as there was still almost a year¡¯s time. After discussing, Lin Tianming and the others decided to set this aside for a while. Following the settlement of these issues, Lin Tianming and the others made small talk for a while before bidding each other farewell. Lin Tianming left the cave dwelling together with Lin Shigong and headed towards their mother¡¯s cave dwelling to enjoy a good reunion. Just Lin Xingrong, Lin Tianyue, and Qin Xi were still executing family missions on the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s turf, so the family gathering was not entirely complete. However, even so, three generations of the family still dined together that evening and chatted for a long time before returning to their own cave dwellings. Back in his long-missed cave dwelling, Lin Tianming had settled all matters at hand. Exhausted, he had no intention of delaying any further and directly entered the resting room, quickly falling into a deep sleep. ¡­ Chapter 917 03-25 - 917 488 Body Refinement Progress ?Chapter 917: Chapter 488: Body Refinement Progress (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 917: Chapter 488: Body Refinement Progress (Seeking Monthly Pass) ¡°` He had slept for a full three days. After several days of deep sleep, the feeling of fatigue on his body had completely faded away. Apart from his injuries that had not yet fully healed, his mental state had basically reached its peak. It wasn¡¯t until the third day that Lin Tianming, feeling rejuvenated, walked out of the rest room and headed straight for the Practice Room. Soon, he was sitting cross-legged on the cushion, and following that, he brought his hands together and began to channel his energy, adjusting his condition. Half a Shi Chen later, Lin Tianming took out a Solidifying Pill and swallowed it. As the pill entered his mouth, a gentle stream of energy immediately overflowed, traveling along the intricate pathways of his Qi-Blood channels. At the same time, this mild energy began to heal the damage along his meridians. ... In an instant, Lin Tianming experienced a tingling sensation, accompanied by twinges of pain spreading throughout his body. This feeling was incredibly unique. Clutching his heart, he gritted his teeth and began to control the energy within his body to repair the various injuries. Meanwhile, inside him, the damage upon his channels started to heal at a faint pace. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. In the Practice Room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air, a flash of brilliance crossing the corners of his eyes. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming inspected his inner condition and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°After three months, my injuries have finally healed!¡± Lin Tianming muttered softly to himself, feeling quite overjoyed. After taking a moment to stabilize, he began to ponder. There was still over half a year before the appointed meeting with Zhou Yunxiao. This period of time was neither long nor short, quite awkward indeed. If he were to enter seclusion for cultivation, without any pills to suppress the pain, even though he had many Yuxu Pills for cultivation, he could only watch helplessly. He dared not risk his life by forcing his cultivation with the aid of Yuxu Pills under the torment of such pain. That kind of pain was still fresh in his memory; even thinking about it made him shudder. If this were during his Qi Refinement Realm days, even without pills to suppress the pain, he could still bear it. But now, having reached the Golden Core Stage, the gap between the two Cultivation Realms was as immense as heaven and earth. Under these conditions, he dared not take that risk. Yet, if he did not cultivate, what could he do during this awkward period of time? Thinking of this, Lin Tianming had an expression of worry. Tormented by the side effects of his Cultivation Technique, he could only wait, hoping to get a suitable elixir that would quickly help him elevate his cultivation. Luckily, he had already obtained the Pill Formula for the Dry Jade Pill, a pill that was quite suitable for a Body Cultivator like him. Though the main ingredient, Dry Jade Grass, was hard to find, the secondary ingredients were not too rare, and gathering them wasn¡¯t too difficult. As long as he could find the Dry Jade Grass, Ye Pinghai would be able to help him refine it. But then, he would no longer face barriers in cultivation and could swiftly enhance his cultivation. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat impatient. Having calmed down, Lin Tianming set this matter aside for the moment. He was clear in his mind that now was not the time to look for Dry Jade Grass. At least, he would have to wait until the convening of the various forces¡¯ Golden Core cultivators was over, to have the time and energy to search for the herb. For the time being, he could focus on Alchemy. After all, with the aid of his Eye of Five Colors and the family¡¯s abundant Spiritual Medicine resources, Alchemy was important both for him personally and for the Lin Family. In addition, he could consume the Fourth Order Marrow Cleansing Flower he had obtained, using it to improve the strength of his body. The function and value of the Marrow Cleansing Flower went without saying; he had given up some benefits in the past just for this flower. Surely, by consuming this Treasure, his physical body would advance another level, and perhaps it would become even more formidable than his Mana techniques. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now with such an opportunity available, he naturally wanted to consume it as soon as possible. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming was all action, not intending to waste any time. With a single slap on his storage bag, a Jade Box instantly appeared in his hand. Lin Tianming opened the Jade Box, revealing a palm-sized white flower. Upon close inspection, the white flower was crystal clear, with complex patterns faintly visible on its surface, making it a stunning sight to behold. At the same time, a unique fragrance filled the air. Just by breathing it in, the Qi-Blood within his body couldn¡¯t help but stir restlessly. In that moment, Lin Tianming eyed the Marrow Cleansing Flower before him with a fiery gaze. ¡°This Marrow Cleansing Flower really lives up to the reputation of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine, containing an extremely rich energy and abundant vital essence!¡± ¡°It is likely that upon consuming this, the strength of my flesh will surge greatly, truly reaching the state of Copper Skin Iron Bones,¡± Lin Tianming pondered eagerly. Without delay, he swallowed the Marrow Cleansing Flower whole. Before he could taste the Marrow Cleansing Flower, it had already reached his belly, and immediately radiated waves of energy and medicinal power. Instantly, Lin Tianming felt unbearably hot all over, as if he were roasting in fire. Simultaneously, an excruciating pain spread throughout his entire body and even his divine soul suffered immensely. This pain was terrifying, no less than the pain he experienced during his Qi Refinement days when he forcibly cultivated using elixirs. Facing such pain, he nearly passed out on the spot. At that moment, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but emit a pained groan. Drops of sweat the size of soybeans continuously fell from his head, quickly evaporating upon contact with the heat emanating from his body. ¡°` Chapter 918 03-25 - 918 488 Advanced Body Refinement ?Chapter 918: Chapter 488: Advanced Body Refinement (Requesting Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 918: Chapter 488: Advanced Body Refinement (Requesting Monthly Pass)_2 While Lin Tianming clenched his teeth tightly, a trickle of fresh blood slowly spilled from the corners of his mouth, forcing himself to stay conscious. At the same time, he began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, and after completing a Grand Circulation, he started refining the immense energy within his body. As some of this energy was refined, the once restless Qi-Blood gradually calmed significantly. It was at this moment that he began to feel the pain in his body and divine soul lessen. Soon, as more and more energy was refined, the excruciating pain had completely vanished, replaced by a marvelous feeling. That feeling was exceptionally comforting, like a cold body being plunged into hot water, making him feel an utmost sense of happiness throughout. Lin Tianming glanced slightly downward at his body and saw that his meridians seemed to have expanded, and the colors of his internal organs had changed, becoming brighter and more vivid than their original pale golden color. ... Upon closer inspection, he saw that his originally white jade-like bones also had a hint of golden sheen. In addition to this, the fresh blood in his body had a slight color change, and his Qi-Blood became even more vigorous, circulating more quickly, filling his whole body with inexhaustible strength. And all these changes were just from refining a very small part of the energy. If all the energy were completely refined, the transformation would undoubtedly be more significant, vastly different from before. At this time, feeling these changes, Lin Tianming secretly murmured to himself, ¡°The Marrow Cleansing Flower is truly wondrous, its effects indeed very powerful, and it¡¯s no wonder it¡¯s a highly valued fourth-stage spiritual object. Just this bit of energy has benefited me immensely!¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine what level I could reach if I were to refine all the energy of the Marrow Cleansing Flower?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? ¡°I fear it could significantly enhance my physical strength, perhaps even stronger than the attacks of spells and divine skills!¡± An excited Lin Tianming, with a face full of enjoyment, was extremely thrilled internally, not regretting at all the price he paid for obtaining the Marrow Cleansing Flower. Instead, he felt very fortunate, glad that he had been resolute and wise. After calming down a bit, he immediately closed his eyes, speeding up the energy refining process within his body. Time flew by, and three months quickly passed. On this day, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, and a burst of sharp light shot out from his eyes, striking directly at the stone wall in front of him. After a dull thud, calm returned to the secret chamber. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was rosy, his face wearing a thick smile. Then, as he looked downward at his body, he indeed found, just as he had guessed, that his internal organs and even his bones and meridians were covered with a significant amount of golden-yellow color. On closer inspection, although this golden color had not yet reached its ultimate state, the difference compared to the original was extremely apparent. Without exaggeration, it was distinctly pale golden bones and meridians, and pale golden internal organs. Furthermore, all the blood in his body also carried a pale golden hue, circulating incredibly smoothly and much faster. This tremendous change filled him with power, and his Qi-Blood was exceptionally vigorous. Lin Tianming casually clenched his fist, and immediately, a crisp cracking sound emanated. This sound was clear and pleasing, accompanied by a wave of air spreading out, stirring up gusts of breeze. Feeling the robust power inside, Lin Tianming¡¯s face wore an ecstatic expression, and his complexion was also extremely rosy. He casually took out a first-grade diamond, and with a slight effort, crushed it into powder, which was then slowly blown away by the breeze. It should be known that although the grade of this diamond was not high, the hardness of this Artifact Refining Material was extremely high. Yet even so, he merely used 10% of his strength to easily crush it. From this, it was evident how formidable the strength within his body was. And this tremendous improvement was entirely due to the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Flower. Before this, he had also consumed spirit fruits that enhanced physical strength multiple times and persisted in taking elixirs while cultivating to enhance the robustness of his body. However, none of these enhancements were as significant, not even coming close. In his eyes, the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Flower were indeed terribly powerful, truly worthy of a fourth-order item. After a brief examination, Lin Tianming felt very satisfied with the result. Nevertheless, he did not plan to stop there but instead continued by taking out the Qinghong Sword and slicing it across his forearm. Quickly, a finger-long wound appeared on his forearm, and pale golden blood flowed out. This blood seemed quite striking, seemingly full of vitality. Just a mere moment, equal to the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, had passed. The blood actually congealed directly, and the wound closed up, leaving only a scar on the forearm. Looking at the quickly healing wound, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He thought to himself that at this rate, it might take only a day or two for the wound to heal completely, looking no different from normal. In his view, his formidable physical strength, along with the powerful Qi-Blood and terrifying recovery ability, had significantly improved a level compared to before. He even speculated in his heart that if he now fought Song Hanchun relying solely on his Physical Strength, even if he couldn¡¯t kill Song Hanchun, there would be no risk of falling. At most, he would just fear the might of the Spirit Art, which could inflict great damage on him. Thus, he almost concluded that solely with Physical Strength, he could handle an ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. However, this wasn¡¯t absolute! S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, a cultivator¡¯s methods are unpredictable, and their trump cards are endless, so merely relying on the cultivation realm is not the main factor in judging a cultivator¡¯s strength. If he were to encounter a powerful Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator like Chen Jingtian, or faced an extremely powerful attack from a Spirit Art, even an Early Stage Golden Core strong practitioner would be incredibly formidable. Facing such opponents, relying solely on Physical Strength to fight, the outcome remained uncertain. Thus, without absolute confidence, he should still be cautious. If he capsized in the ditch, it would be too much of a loss! Knowing this, Lin Tianming kept it firmly in mind and never took risks lightly. After regaining his focus, Lin Tianming tidied up the Cultivation Room. Following that, he continued to sit cross-legged on the mat, then took out some Spiritual Medicine Materials along with various equipment needed for Alchemy. There were close to five months left before the day he and Zhou Yunxiao agreed to meet. Subtracting the half month needed for travel, he should still have four months to go into seclusion. Now that the Marrow Cleansing Flower had been consumed and refined, the results far exceeded his expectations. With still ample time ahead, he planned to take the opportunity to refine some Second Order Pills to practice. And upon careful calculation, he also hadn¡¯t seriously refined elixirs for a long time. In the nearly ten years before, he had been initially pushing towards the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, almost continuously in seclusion for a long time. Later, after stepping into the Golden Core Stage, he was more occupied with consolidating his own cultivation. Scarcely out of seclusion, he had hurried to Myriad Medicine Valley to participate in the tripartite clan war. Up to now, he hadn¡¯t had much time or energy to properly refine elixirs. Even when occasionally producing a few batches of pills, it was only to prevent his Alchemy from becoming rusty. Since improving his Alchemy skills was urgently needed, he naturally had to make all the necessary preparations. Besides, he needed to revisit the experiences left by the Third Order Alchemy Masters once again. If time was sufficient, he could also study various Third Order Pill Formulas, preparing himself well for the attempt to reach Third Order Alchemy Master. With such a goal, Lin Tianming had a clear objective and naturally had no intention of delaying. Thus, he immediately began to work, following the Alchemy process to start refining. With familiar ease, in just a few days, a batch of elixirs was successfully produced. This batch was a rather precious type among Second Order Pills, the Hun Tian Pill, which could disregard the boundaries of realms and enhance a Foundation Establishment Cultivator by one level. He was quite familiar with this elixir. He himself had once consumed one, directly advancing from the eighth level of Foundation Establishment by one level. Such pills, considered precious among Second Order Pills, had a very strong effect and produced clear results. For the Lin Family, as more members reached the later stages of Foundation Establishment, the demand for Hun Tian Pills exceeded the supply. Now, with him taking the initiative and with his terrifying success rate and quantity of pills produced, the Lin Family likely wouldn¡¯t need to refine this pill for decades. Under these circumstances, the first batch of pills was perfectly successful. The quantity and quality of the pills produced were both satisfying. Clearly, even though he hadn¡¯t practiced Alchemy for a long time, his skills hadn¡¯t regressed at all. ¡­ Chapter 919 03-25 - 919 489 Husband and Wife Reunited ?Chapter 919: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 919: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Request for Monthly Votes) That day, Lin Tianming finally left his retreat and appeared in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. After two months of seclusion, Lin Tianming had refined over twenty Hun Tian Pills, nearly exhausting all the various materials needed for this type of elixir. Only when he could no longer gather a complete batch of elixirs did Lin Tianming, compelled by necessity, stop his work. In the subsequent two months, Lin Tianming was not idle as he immediately began to delve into the various pill formulas and all the alchemy inheritances he possessed. By now, he first tested his skills and found that his alchemy had not faltered at all, comparing favorably to his peak and was even slightly better. Later, by pondering the various inheritances, he gained a deeper understanding of the foundational knowledge and insights. Today, his experience in alchemy truly could be considered rich, with a broad perspective, nearly reaching the peak of a Second Order Alchemist. Even refining high-difficulty Second Order Pills like the Hun Tian Pill was almost effortless for him. ... With the purpose of this seclusion perfectly fulfilled, Lin Tianming no longer stayed in the secret chamber. And today, more than a month still remained before the day he was supposed to meet with Zhou Yunxiao. At present, time was ample, so the idle Lin Tianming left the Cave Mansion, appearing in the courtyard. It was then Lin Tianming paused when he looked at a neighboring secret chamber, and saw Qin Xi, whom he hadn¡¯t seen in years, slowly walking out. Seeing his beloved, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he quickly dashed over, pulling Qin Xi into his arms. Feeling the softness against his chest and Qin Xi¡¯s warm body temperature, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but hold her even tighter. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, Qin Xi blushed and struggled slightly. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was immense, and the reserved Qin Xi couldn¡¯t move. In the end, she gave up, reluctantly burying her cheek in Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. It wasn¡¯t until a moment that felt as long as it took to brew a cup of tea had passed that Lin Tianming slightly loosened his grip, and the two of them pulled apart a little. Then, with concern, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, when did you all return to the family?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi earnestly replied, ¡°We came back two months ago.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, then continued to inquire, ¡°Has Third Grandfather returned? What¡¯s the situation with the Golden Sword Sect? How did the drive to exterminate the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect turn out? What actions have the other major forces taken?¡± Knowing Lin Tianming would be concerned about this, Qin Xi had anticipated these questions. Thus, she nodded and began to explain, ¡°The task of besieging the Golden Sword Sect has been completely accomplished, and the major Spirit Lands and workshops are now under the control of several Golden Elixir Forces.¡± ¡°Third Grandfather and my father each stationed at multiple Spirit Lands, and there are family members in some workshops as well.¡± ¡°A few months ago, Third Grandfather, empathizing with Xi¡¯er having been away from family for long, had sent me and a few others from Tian Yue back to our family lands first.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded, not at all surprised by such an outcome. After all, the fate of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect seemed almost destined at that time. It¡¯s known that the major Golden Elixir Forces, having expended such great costs, naturally wouldn¡¯t let those people go nor would they relinquish the various resources and treasures managed by the Golden Sword Sect. The encirclement that lasted nearly half a year involved almost all powers big and small in Wei Kingdom, including some Loose Cultivators muddling through. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The movements of these smaller forces were crystal clear to the larger ones. Instead of stopping them, they even helped things along. By doing this, they hoped to use the strength of the entire Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom to capture all the deeply hidden remnants of the Golden Sword Sect in one fell swoop. While such actions would lead to some loss of resources and treasures, the greatest benefits were largely secured in the hands of the major forces. Some minor profits, left for the lower-ranking cultivators, were not unusual to be distributed. After all, Wei Kingdom as a whole, having previously faced the onslaught of the beast tide and the great war erupted among the three sects, had conscripted most of the forces. Since all had contributed to the victory, it was only fair to give them some benefits. For the sake of lasting peace, the major forces turned a blind eye, as far as possible, to avoiding certain conflicts. For the lower-ranking cultivators, too much exploitation could also cause some damage to the foundation of the major forces. Although a small portion of the people might have grievances, it would hardly become a significant issue. But offending all the cultivators, even Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, would feel great pressure. Even mishandling it could likely hinder their development and eventually shake their foundation. However, up to now, with the major Golden Elixir Forces willing to distribute some benefits, it resulted in a happy conclusion for everyone. And these lower-rung families and Loose Cultivators, in order to compensate for previous losses, naturally exerted their best efforts. In such circumstances, facing so many people involved in the encirclement, even if the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect hid very well, few escaped the net. After half a year of encirclement, the entire Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom also began to officially return to tranquility. Yet, even so, the gaze of all forces large and small were gathered on those top few Golden Elixir Forces. Because among them remained the big issue of how the final gains were to be distributed. While these big gains seemed unrelated to the smaller powers, they were equally crucial for those people. Chapter 920 03-25 - 920 489 Husband and Wife Reunited ?Chapter 920: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 920: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 After all, the Golden Sword Sect controlled many resources and its territory was vast; even any Golden Elixir Force had to take these seriously. Therefore, if the top few forces failed to agree and ended up with some divergence or conflict, it might likely reignite the great war that had just subsided. If the situation indeed developed in such a way, the smaller forces as well as the Loose Cultivators would find it difficult to stay uninvolved. This was the influence of the top forces; ordinary forces simply could not avoid it. So, while everything seemed calm on the surface for now, it was still difficult to predict the final situation. This gathering, which involved all the forces big and small, was also the focus of everyone¡¯s ongoing attention. With the appointed time fast approaching, Lin Tianming would not need too long before he had to set out on his journey to Qingshui Market for the gathering and negotiations. ... Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming wore a look of solemnity, and inside, he was somewhat worried about the upcoming negotiations. Seeing his expression, Qin Xi also took his arm and leaned into his embrace, resting her head against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. Feeling Qin Xi¡¯s gesture, Lin Tianming gradually calmed down and held her tight in his arms. Neither of them spoke. After a moment of tenderness, Lin Tianming changed the topic and asked Qin Xi and the others about their experiences participating in the great war at Qingshui Market over the past few years. Thus, Qin Xi began to slowly recount their experiences since they had left the family. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. According to her, she and Lin Xingping had left the family and managed a smooth journey to Qingshui Market. Although they had been stationed at Qingshui Market for quite some time, the actual conflicts that erupted were few. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Since Song Hanchun¡¯s side was not particularly strong, he did not lead the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples in continuous assaults on the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s territory. Over these years, the Golden Core Stage combat power rarely intervened, and intense battles were few and far between, with mostly just some Foundation Establishment Disciples being sent out to fight. Qin Xi and the others had participated in several major battles, and with their combined strength, along with the assistance of some acquainted cultivators, their safety in the battles was not a concern. At the same time, the three of them had each slain a fair number of fellow cultivators at their level, accumulating significant military exploits and ranking near the top of many lists of recruited cultivators. Overall, the Zhenyang Sect and the Golden Sword Sect both suffered losses, with the situation roughly in a stalemate. In the high-stakes conflicts between the High Order Cultivators, both sides exercised restraint, with neither fully committing. Clearly, Song Hanchun also understood their lack of strength and realized that they were unlikely to cause significant trouble for the Zhenyang Sect. Therefore, he merely garrisoned his troops, occasionally launching small harrying attacks to exert pressure on the Zhenyang Sect, to prevent Lu Xingfeng from leaving the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate to support the great war at Myriad Medicine Valley. In the beginning, Song Hanchun¡¯s goal was indeed achieved. Bound by Song Hanchun¡¯s pressure, Lu Xingfeng did not show up to join in the great war until a phased victory was achieved at Myriad Medicine Valley. By then, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators were in retreat, with their High Order combat power suffering enormous losses. Out of necessity, Song Hanchun had no choice but to lead some of his disciples back to the Golden Sword Sect, joining forces with Han Hu and others to fight a desperate struggle. Thus, without any concerns from behind, Lu Xingfeng was finally able to leave the Zhenyang Sect and appear in the great war against the Golden Sword Sect. With Song Hanchun¡¯s departure, the pressure on Qingshui Market side also lifted, and the great war came to a halt. It was only when Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng sent orders for the Zhenyang Sect disciples stationed at Qingshui Market, along with the recruited cultivators under their command, to join in the extermination of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect that Qin Xi and the others followed the main army into action. During this time, they encountered Lin Shikang, who had come with his clan members. Afterward, the three of them were led by Lin Shikang, with Lin Family Members grouping together in pairs and threes, joining in the task of seizing various resources. After more than half a year of extermination efforts, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s spirit lands were completely overrun, and more than ninety percent of the disciples perished. Soon after, the great war came to an end, and the Wei Kingdom finally returned to peace. Qin Xi and the others then returned to their family lands, each starting a brief period of secluded cultivation. Qin Xi also learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s return but did not send any message to disturb him, knowing he was in seclusion, until the couple emerged today and met. As for the subsequent plans, Lin Shikang had also asked Qin Xi to relay a message for Lin Tianming to meet up in Qingshui Market on the appointed day. At the same time, it was crucial to ask Ye Pinghai to accompany him on the journey. Lin Tianming was not surprised by Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangement. ¡°` After all, this Golden Core gathering was to allocate the vast estate of the Golden Sword Sect as well as their many territories. The Lin Family sent three members to attend, boosting their negotiating confidence somewhat; should any accidents occur, the three could take care of one another. In that light, even if a major disagreement arose and they were forced to take action, the three members of the Lin Family could at least ensure some safety for each other. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was also mentally prepared. Soon after, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi in his arms, a trace of a smile crossing his face. After all, the couple had been separated for years and were now reunited; the joy of having the beloved one had longed for day and night in his arms was irresistible, no matter what. After a long while, Lin Tianming broke the silence. ¡°Xi¡¯er, has your cultivation reached the peak of the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded slightly, a blush crossing her face. Seeing Qin Xi looking like that, Lin Tianming laughed heartily. He was extremely impressed and satisfied with her speed of cultivation. It must be noted that when Qin Xi had left the family, she was only at the Great Perfection Realm of the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment. Yet, in just a few years, she had advanced two minor realms, reaching the peak of the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, not far from the Ninth Level. Considering her talent and strength, along with her substantial accumulation during these past years of warfare. Just with the help of a Hun Tian Pill, breaking through to the Ninth Level was almost a sure thing. It was even possible, if circumstances allowed, to reach the peak of the Ninth Level directly. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was quite excited and then took out a Hun Tian Pill, handing it to Qin Xi. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this Hun Tian Pill was just refined by your husband, it is of excellent quality and potency.¡± ¡°If you take this pill, it will definitely help your cultivation progress further, and if used correctly, reaching the peak of the Ninth Level directly is not an impossibility.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi was overjoyed, her eyes alight with fervor. She had long heard about the Hun Tian Pill and was well aware of its enormous benefits and value. Now that the great war had ended, she had already planned to enter seclusion to cultivate. With this pill, her certainty of entering the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment was almost complete. Once she successfully stepped into the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, she could reach the Great Perfection within three to five years and then impact the Golden Core Stage. With this thought, Qin Xi was thrilled, and her heart could hardly wait. After finally calming down, Qin Xi didn¡¯t play coy and promptly took the pill. Afterward, she smiled and asked, ¡°Ming, what are your plans next?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, his mind also considering his options. With time to spare, he planned to first visit Ye Pinghai to pass on the arrangements made by Lin Shikang. Once this was confirmed, and the time of departure agreed upon, they would set out directly for Qingshui Market. For the remaining ten or so days, he decided to stay at home for a few days, to accompany Qin Xi, and to fulfill his filial duties. At the same time, he needed to discuss contingency plans with the Clan Leader. After all, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were now catching their breath, and with huge interests at stake, no one could guarantee that nothing untoward would occur. If some irreconcilable conflict did arise, sparking another Golden Core conflict, the Lin Family would not be caught unawares. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming then shared his thoughts with Qin Xi. Since Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements seemed very prudent, Qin Xi naturally had no objections. With the matter settled, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t want to waste any time. After saying goodbye to Qin Xi, he left his cave dwelling and hurried towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s abode. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 921 03-25 - 921 490 Qingshui Market (Request for ?Chapter 921: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 921: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes) ¡°` Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, inside a certain cave dwelling. Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai were sitting in a courtyard, having rushed over after receiving Lin Tianming¡¯s message, Lin Shigong also arrived. The three exchanged greetings and subsequently sat down for a tea and idle chat. Ye Pinghai picked up the teacup and took a light sip, then looked at Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tian Ming, the great battle with the Golden Sword Sect has ended, has Xi¡¯er returned?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Sea, for your concern!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er returned to our territory two months ago and will come to pay her respects to you in a couple of days!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ... Ye Pinghai nodded in satisfaction, his expression extremely kind. He was clearly very concerned about Qin Xi. Following this, Ye Pinghai continued to inquire: ¡°According to the schedule, in a little over a month, the Golden Core Gathering will take place to allocate the interests of the major powers, right?¡± ¡°Grandpa Sea¡¯s foresight is like divination!¡± Lin Tianming complimented with a smile, then continued, ¡°One reason for my visit today is to pay respect to you, Elder!¡± ¡°The other is to convey Third Grandfather¡¯s request, pleading for you to depart with me to meet at the Qingshui Market.¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Ye Pinghai smiled, having somewhat anticipated this. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 After all, if Lin Tianming could fathom the reasons, Ye Pinghai, with a hundred years of cultivation experience, was also a person of deep insight and strategy. With careful thought, he could understand the depth of Lin Shikang¡¯s intentions. In fact, he had been prepared in his heart, merely waiting for the senior members of the Lin Family to come forward and speak of it. Now that Lin Tianming and his grandson had come together, he was already prepared to set out. Thus, naturally, he would not decline. Therefore, Ye Pinghai nodded and replied, ¡°Your Third Grandfather requests, and you and your grandson visit me in person; even if I were busier, how could I have the reason to refuse?¡± ¡°Tell me¡­ when do you plan to depart?¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s decisive response, both Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong showed joy. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Grandpa Sea, we still have plenty of time; how about we agree to set out in ten days?¡± Lin Tianming pondered for a moment and replied. ¡°Good¡­ that¡¯s settled then!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s prepare these few days and gather at the Sect Entrance Plaza early morning in ten days!¡± Ye Pinghai responded with a smile, and the two set a specific time for departure. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and the two others sat together, chatting leisurely for quite a while. Half an hour later, the grandfather and grandson bid farewell to Ye Pinghai and headed to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly. There, they met with Lin Shihua, who was busy handling family affairs. The three exchanged information, confirming Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangements and mentioning the departure date for Lin Tianming and his grandson. At the same time, Lin Tianming also brought up an emergency plan, wanting to make comprehensive preparations to deal with any potential crises. After a discussion, the three tentatively decided on several important actions. First, the family would immediately mobilize to strengthen patrols around the territory and all major Spirit Lands, readying for any potential battles that might arise. From Foundation Establishment Cultivators to Qi Refinement Initial Stage Clan Members, unless necessary, everyone was to be on standby. Second, the family Treasure Vault would allocate a portion of war resources, mainly involving elixirs, consumable Attack Treasures, and some Spirit Instruments to bolster the core strength of the family. Doing so was also meant to strengthen their overall power in the face of any potential battles that might occur. Third, was the retraction of some external forces to form several teams to respond to crises. With these decisions set, Lin Shihua also busied himself, committing all his energy to strategizing. Lin Tianming and his grandson did not stay long at the Elders¡¯ Council and soon left, hurrying to Ren Yuxuan¡¯s cave dwelling. Qin Xi had also arrived earlier, specially to visit her mother, Ren Yuxuan. With Lin Tianming and his grandson gathering, only Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianyue, father and daughter, were outside executing clan tasks. Although the family was not completely together, Ren Yuxuan had always been quite worried about her daughter-in-law, Qin Xi, having not seen her for many years. Now that Qin Xi had returned safely, not only gaining astonishing battle achievements but also seeing her cultivation soar, her Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Peak Stage placed her as the first among the Lin Family clansmen beneath the Golden Core Stage. Such talent and strength, combined with her nation-upsetting beauty, as well as her gentle, virtuous, and courteous demeanor, naturally left Ren Yuxuan extremely pleased. Now that her daughter-in-law had come to visit, Ren Yuxuan was overjoyed, her face always adorned with a smile. Afterward, she kept holding Qin Xi¡¯s hand, inquiring warmly, leaving no time to concern herself with Lin Tianming, the elder or the younger. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his grandson could only smile wryly, finally sitting in the yard to chat. After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law talked for a while, Ren Yuxuan then busied herself with Qin Xi to prepare an abundant meal for everyone. After finishing the noon meal, Lin Tianming and the others sat together, chatting for half an hour, during which they talked about many of Qin Xi¡¯s experiences abroad. However, due to the elders¡¯ concerns, Qin Xi only spoke of those simple and safe missions, and never mentioned any dangerous or bloody scenes. This warm and harmonious atmosphere, along with some vivid and interesting experiences, surprised and delighted the two elders, Ren Yuxuan and Lin Shigong. As time slowly passed, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a long while. This gathering finally drew to a close, and after exchanging farewells, they left to attend to their own affairs. Lin Tianming and his wife said goodbye to Lin Shigong and then headed straight back to their own cave dwelling. In the next few days, the couple did not retreat for cultivation. ¡°` Chapter 922 03-25 - 922 490 Qingshui Market (Request for ?Chapter 922: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 922: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 In those rare moments of leisure, under Lin Tianming¡¯s lead, the two of them spent their days frolicking through mountain ranges around the clan territory, living a life akin to that of immortals and their spouses. ¡­ Ten days later. At the square in front of the Lin Family¡¯s mountain gate in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming waited on the side, while the Purple Gold Eagle circled overhead, seemingly having the time of its life like a playful child. After a short while, Ye Pinghai and Lin Shigong, along with a few other clan members of the Shi generation, arrived together and landed steadily beside Lin Tianming. Seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming greeted them with a smile and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, his demeanor humble and polite. Lin Shihua and the others also returned the greeting, not showing any disdain for Lin Tianming just because he was a junior. ... At that moment, Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai, a trace of melancholy flashing across his face, clearly worried about the negotiations not proceeding smoothly. After all, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were the two biggest forces in Wei Kingdom, each with a history spanning thousands of years and profound depth. Even though the combat power of the Golden Core Stage cultivators in both forces had suffered severe losses after the recent war, they still held the absolute initiative when dealing with the Lin Family. If irreconcilable conflicts arose, the Lin Family would once again fall into dire straits. Thinking of these things, Lin Shihua let out a helpless sigh. Then, folding his hands in salute, he said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Brother Ye, Tianming is young and impetuous. After you arrive at Qingshui Market, please remind my Third Brother to stay calm.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Unless it¡¯s a matter of principle, let¡¯s try to give way as much as possible. Let¡¯s avoid conflict with them unless absolutely necessary.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Shihua!¡± Ye Pinghai folded his hands in response and then followed up with a smile. ¡°Brother Shi Kang is even older than I am, and he¡¯s also meticulous in thought. We¡¯ll discuss matters together; I¡¯m sure we can reach a mutual understanding and return safely in the end.¡± Upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, Lin Shihua¡¯s stern expression eased considerably, clearly he agreed with Ye Pinghai¡¯s sentiment of discussing matters together. Lin Shihua then turned to look at Lin Tianming and continued to offer advice. ¡°Tianming, always prioritize the overall situation!¡± ¡°The Lin Family¡¯s history is short, and we cannot yet compare with the deep roots of Myriad Medicine Valley and the other major forces; we need time for development. Though we now have some strength for self-preservation, it is still best to keep a low profile.¡± ¡°The trees that stand out in the forest are often destroyed by the wind; you should understand this principle.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded his head. Even without Lin Shihua¡¯s reminder, he was well aware of it himself. He knew that the Lin Family¡¯s rise had been too abrupt. Despite their rapid growth, in reality, they were not yet a match for either Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect. Currently, the Lin Family had become incredibly prominent, having shone brightly in the recent war, like a dazzling new star. And he himself had slain many foes in the war, achieving astonishing feats. Reflecting on it, he indeed had been too conspicuous and high-profile. In his view, powerful strength was a double-edged sword; it could deter others but also inspire fear and hidden opposition against the Lin Family. For now, the Lin Family had risen like a comet, with their current achievements sufficiently dazzling, drawing the attention of cultivators throughout Wei Kingdom. This was both a time to expand the family¡¯s influence and a period when the Lin Family could become a thorn in the side for some. Of course, the rise of a great power always entails these issues. Because the rapid growth of a great power inevitably encroaches upon the interests of others. Fortunately, the great entity that was Golden Sword Sect had collapsed, freeing up tremendous benefits. This provided the Lin Family with a chance for development and drew the attention of others. Under the weight of such benefits, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect needed time to assimilate and had no spare energy to limit the Lin Family¡¯s growth. Thus, the hostility and targeting towards the Lin Family could not compare to those powers that had grown up in crevices. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt fortunate. He knew this was an excellent opportunity for the Lin Family! However, the Lin Family couldn¡¯t afford to be too careless or too high-profile any longer. As long as the Lin Family maintained a low profile for a while longer, just another thirty to fifty years, and once their strength had become sufficiently formidable, even if the other two major sects recovered their senses and harbored malicious intentions against the Lin Family, they would no longer be able to shake its foundation. Aware of the importance of this, Lin Tianming also let out a slight sigh of relief. Then, he turned to Lin Shihua and replied, ¡°Rest assured, Twelfth Grandpa, Tian Ming will follow the arrangements of Third Grandfather and Grandpa Sea!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, feeling much more at ease in his heart. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at the few people present and then slowly said, ¡°Grandpa Sea, it¡¯s about time, we should depart now!¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Prepare to set out on the journey!¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and said with a smile. No sooner had he spoken than Ye Pinghai gestured with a cupped fist towards a few people behind him, then took the lead in crossing the Protective Clan Formation, emerging outside the formation. Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle did not delay, quickly following in his steps. Outside the formation, the two of them consecutively leapt onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle and sat down cross-legged. Afterward, with a piercing cry from the Purple Gold Eagle, it shot straight into the sky, quickly ascending thousands of feet high and soon vanished without a trace. ¡­ Qingshui Market. At the entrance, a large number of cultivators were queuing to enter. As news of the meeting between the senior cultivators of the various Golden Elixir Forces spread, cultivators from all over the Wei Kingdom gathered at Qingshui Market. It was obvious that these people were also there with the mentality of enjoying the excitement, arriving at the marketplace before the negotiation conference began. In just half a month, thousands of cultivators had rushed over, and the number of cultivators continuing to come each day kept increasing. Before this, due to being situated on the front lines of a great battle and serving as a stronghold for a prolonged period, Qingshui Market already hosted a considerable number of loose cultivators. Now, the human traffic in Qingshui Market had surged even more. Seizing this moment, the Zhenyang Sect also organised a grand and highly prestigious auction in conjunction with several major Commerce Alliances. It was said that even the rarely opened Golden Core Auction Venue had been revived after many years, with a vast array of treasures prepared. Once the news was released, coupled with the date of the high-level cultivator negotiation meeting drawing closer, it attracted even more cultivators to come. This time, they could participate in the auction while also witnessing the top powerhouses from the great sect families. Consequently, the Qingshui Market was now bustling with popularity, with the human traffic up to this point already surpassing that of the time of the great war. It was foreseeable that in the following half a month, even more cultivators would continue to arrive, and the human traffic would keep growing. On that day, around noon, the sun was shining brightly. On a mountaintop outside the entrance to Qingshui Market, the figure of the Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, gazing into the distance at the faint outline of the city ahead, a trace of weariness flickering across their faces. The two had spent the better part of a month traveling across the territory controlled by the Zhenyang Sect, from the furthest south of the Luoyun Mountain Range to the northernmost part of the Qingshui Mountain Range. With both of them traveling together and with their cultivation strength, the journey had naturally been smooth, and they had now arrived at their destination. At this time, Lin Tianming turned his head and said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Grandpa Sea, let¡¯s go straight over, shall we?¡± ¡°Mm!¡± Ye Pinghai nodded, his expression calm. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instructed the Purple Gold Eagle, directing it to head straight for the entrance of the market. In no time at all, the Purple Gold Eagle brought the two to the entrance of the market. While still in mid-air, the Purple Gold Eagle circled overhead the entrance, its massive body drawing the gaze of everyone below. Instantly, the cultivators gathered at the entrance all looked up, some of them seeming to recognize Lin Tianming and his companion. ¡°Look quickly, that¡¯s a second-order late-phase Purple Gold Eagle!¡± The first to spot the huge shadow overhead stammered, his expression somewhat panicky. Chapter 923 03-25 - 923 491 Relieved (Request for Monthly ?Chapter 923: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 923: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes) Just then¡­ The Purple Gold Eagle slowly descended; some cultivators who recognized Lin Tianming and his companion began speaking excitedly as if they had witnessed something incredible. ¡°Everyone, look, sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle is Elder Lin of the Lin Family!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Elder Ye Pinghai?¡± ¡°The lineup the Lin Family has brought out is truly impressive, even Elder Lin Tianming is here!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, hovering in midair, numerous cultivators wore expressions of shock and awe, while many others looked excited, their eyes filled with admiration. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his companion simply smiled indifferently, paying no mind to the cultivators below. ... After all, most of these people were in the Qi Refinement Realm, and there weren¡¯t many Foundation Establishment Cultivators; the disparity in identity and strength was simply too vast for any interaction. Therefore, Lin Tianming and his companion merely waved toward the crowd below as a greeting, then leaped off the Purple Gold Eagle and walked toward the entrance. The two walked slowly, and the crowd naturally parted to create a path, allowing them to easily reach the entrance of the workshop. There, a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect at the Foundation Establishment Stage quickly stepped forward and bowed. ¡°Greetings to the two elders; this junior was assigned by the sect to wait here and receive the elders.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and asked, ¡°Is my Third Grandfather in the workshop? And where is he resting?¡± ¡°The noble Elder Lin Shikang from your family is already waiting inside, and the Daoist brothers of the Lin Family have also settled in a cave dwelling.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Apart from a few elders, our Zhenyang sect has also arranged cave dwellings as resting places for other elders attending the gathering.¡± The disciple from the Zhenyang Sect who was in charge of reception replied respectfully, maintaining a neither servile nor haughty attitude, appearing quite composed. Hearing this, Ye Pinghai nodded in satisfaction and then instructed, ¡°Lead the way ahead!¡± ¡°The two elders, please follow this junior!¡± The receiving cultivator made a gesture of invitation and then stepped forward, leading the way into the interior of the workshop. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside as well, Tianming,¡± Ye Pinghai reminded, then followed the steps of the receiving cultivator into the workshop. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay, quickly catching up with the two, and soon disappeared from the sight of the many cultivators. It was only a long time after Lin Tianming and the others had completely vanished that the cultivators at the entrance of the workshop came back to their senses. Immediately after, a great number of cultivators started bustling discussions, the scene lively and animated. In the crowd, a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Fifth Level wore a confused expression and then turned to his companion to ask, ¡°Daoist Yang, could it be that the Elder Lin you mentioned is the peerless powerhouse who consecutively slew several opponents in the great battle recently?¡± ¡°And the one that just appeared is the terrifying being you spoke of?¡± Hearing the junior cultivator¡¯s words, several nearby cultivators sneered, and one of them proudly remarked, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Keep in mind, Elder Lin, in the previous great battle, consecutively slew many formidable enemies, even a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman was killed by him!¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What?¡± ¡°He consecutively slew several Golden Core experts? Even the super-strongman from the Mid Stage Golden Core, who dominated the region, fell by his hand?¡± A few Qi Refining Cultivators who were still unaware seemed very isolated from the shocking news. Hearing the cultivator talk boastfully, those of lower cultivation levels were incredibly shocked, their eyes also filled with longing for the strength of the powerful. The previously boastful cultivator wore a proud expression, clearly enjoying the sensation of being the center of attention. Seeing this, other cultivators continued to ask questions, from the background of Lin Tianming to his experiences in the great battles, inquiring in great detail. Thus, the cultivator extensively promoted the background of the Lin Family and the many deeds of Lin Tianming over the years. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Elder Lin, it turns out, is the fastest cultivating genius in the Wei Kingdom in a thousand years!¡± ¡°In barely a chest of years, he has already broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and his strength is terrifying to the extreme, despite being at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm, even ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core experts are no match for him!¡± Hearing this, some more cultivators were shocked, their faces filled with horror and their mouths gaping wide. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Such achievements and terrifying combat achievements in so few years?¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± The cultivator exaggerating Lin Tianming¡¯s achievements seemed somewhat angered by the slightly skeptical tone. ¡°These tidings are well known in the Southern Wei Kingdom, you need only ask around a little to know whether my words are true or false!¡± ¡°Moreover, would I dare to fabricate or distort facts about such a powerful Elder Lin?¡± The cultivator said earnestly, his face full of respect, and his demeanor was incredibly fervent, evidently an admirer of Lin Tianming. Hearing his words, many people also felt it made sense. Subsequently, many cultivators also insisted on that outspoken individual elaborating further, to broaden their knowledge. Seeing the crowd¡¯s eager anticipation, the outspoken individual did not delay and soon started narrating the experiences of Lin Tianming over the past dozen years. ¡°Elder Lin hails from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, this clan also had Golden Core Cultivators around six or seven hundred years ago¡­¡± ¡°Elder Lin slew countless Demonic Beasts in the great beast tide battle, and during the time he was at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer cultivation, he suppressed a group of Foundation Establishment Ninth Level disciples from various sects¡­¡± ¡­ The cultivator continuously portrayed the recent decade¡¯s deeds of Lin Tianming. Chapter 924 03-25 - 924 491 Relieved (Request for Monthly ?Chapter 924: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 924: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 ¡°From the Beast Tide War to the secrets that emerged from the Tianfeng Secret Realm, and then to the terrifying achievements in the Three Sects Battle, the tales were a mix of truth and fiction, described so vividly it¡¯s as if the storyteller witnessed them firsthand.¡± Some of the information, although not entirely accurate, was generally not far off and did not intend to tarnish the reputation of the Lin Family or Lin Tianming. Other cultivators who hadn¡¯t heard these rumors also enjoyed listening to the tales of various deeds told by the storyteller. After all, most of these people were at the Qi Refinement Realm, had been to very few places, and had limited knowledge; they usually only came into contact with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for Golden Core Stage superpowers who dominated the Wei Kingdom, they knew very little. Generally speaking, they only knew of their names, had never heard of a Golden Core Cultivator taking action, much less witnessed the true face of a powerful expert. To observe a Golden Core Expert from such a close distance, as they were able to today, was also one of their reasons for coming to Qingshui Market. ... Now that Lin Tianming and his companion had left, they could only learn more about Golden Core Cultivators through the rumors spread by these cultivators. With this in mind, as Lin Tianming and his companion disappeared from sight, the entrance of the market became a hubbub of noise, with many cultivators gathering to chat. At the same time, some cultivators who had entered the market began to spread the news that Lin Tianming had arrived in Qingshui Market. In no time, the entire Qingshui Market was bustling, with many low-level cultivators discussing the many deeds of the Lin Family. Lin Tianming was, for the time being, unaware of these discussions. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, under the guidance of the receiving cultivator, he arrived at the cave dwelling where Lin Shikang was resting. Then, Ye Pinghai looked at the Zhenyang Sect disciple beside him and gave an instruction, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Young friend, the two elders here will share a cave dwelling with Lin, and the rest of our clan members will need only one separate dwelling each.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you can go back and report.¡± Hearing the order, the receiving disciple bowed with hands clasped and said, ¡°Your elder¡¯s command shall be honored.¡± ¡°As for the cave dwelling¡¯s restrictions, the elder can directly communicate with Lin Shikang; the arrangements for the other friends are already in place, so the two elders can rest assured.¡± ¡°I will now return to report, and if there are any instructions, you can communicate with me at any time!¡± After speaking, the cultivator left his communication method and then departed from the place. Watching him leave, Lin Tianming and his companion turned their heads to start observing their surroundings. For both of them, it was their first visit to Qingshui Market. They had observed it briefly on the way here and noticed the booming popularity of Qingshui Market. Though Qingshui Market was a small-scale market, because it was situated at the junction of three great sects, its geographical position was relatively unique, making it of significant strategic importance to the Zhenyang Sect. Consequently, even though Qingshui Market was not on the same scale as Qianchuan Market, in terms of area and popularity, it was much stronger than the Luoyun Mountain Range. Moreover, even before the outbreak of the great battle, this market was already quite popular. With the outbreak of the war, many cultivators who were summoned to the area gathered here, and the flow of people increased rather than diminished. Now that the Golden Core gathering and a sizable auction were set to be held here, it attracted a large number of cultivators to converge on this place. Upon reaching the central area of the market and seeing the dozen or so lavish cave dwellings, it was obvious that Zhenyang Sect had specially prepared them to host the many Golden Core Cultivators attending the gathering. As for the cave dwelling they were in front of now, it was not far from the market auction, situated in a highly noticeable location, making it quite convenient for getting to any direction or area. After surveying for a moment, Lin Tianming sent a message. Quickly receiving the news of their arrival, Lin Shikang hurriedly walked out of his dwelling and, after exchanging greetings, welcomed them inside. The three of them sat down in the small courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At this time, with a joyful expression, Lin Shikang, while serving tea to Lin Tianming and his companion, asked, ¡°Brother Ye, did you have a smooth journey here?¡± ¡°With the war over and the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World returning to peace, plus with Tian Ming accompanying us, who would dare to trouble us?¡± Ye Pinghai spoke with a smile, sipping the spiritual tea. Hearing these words, Lin Shikang also he he laughed. Then he too began to inquire about the situation back home with the family clan. Lin Tianming did not dare to delay and immediately reported on the various situations of the family over the past year, truthfully relaying everything. That included the large amount of treasures he himself obtained on the battlefield and the emergency plans made by the family, all of which he fully reported to Lin Shikang. Knowing that Lin Tianming had acquired quite a lot and even contributed some treasures to the family, Lin Shikang was very excited. He felt sincerely satisfied with Lin Tianming and was quite comforted. Afterward, hearing that the family had made emergency plans, he felt equally satisfied with Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements. With the family¡¯s situation clear, Lin Shikang also felt a long sigh of relief inside. Following that, he praised, ¡°Tianming, you all have done well. I¡¯ve been quite worried while being away!¡± ¡°Now it seems that even without me, you all can make the right decisions. I am very comforted!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming smiled and waved his hand, saying, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the strategies and joint efforts of the senior elders!¡± These words were also heartfelt, as the Lin Family had always discussed important matters collectively. The results of these collective discussions were also weighed by everyone, ensuring at least that there were no major oversights. Such a style of handling affairs, more careful than dictatorial rule, was also the guarantee for the Lin Family to avoid detours. Knowing the importance of this, Lin Tian Ming, regardless of how advanced his cultivation might become in the future, would still abide by the Elders¡¯ Council¡¯s decisions and take their advice. At least for major decisions, it was essential to consult with the senior-level members. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming then changed the topic and asked Lin Shikang about his situation in Qingshui Market. Lin Shikang responded with a light smile and then shared his experiences over the past six months. According to him, aside from a few family members who returned to the clan, about dozens of people spread out across various Spirit Lands. In the Qingshui Market, there were only a few family members present, and at that moment, they were in the neighboring cave dwelling, in seclusion healing their wounds. As for himself, he had spent the year mostly leading some family members in attacking the Spirit Lands left behind by the Golden Sword Sect. With him leading the troops, even without much intervention, the Lin Family managed to take control of several Spirit Lands. The main ones were some Spirit Fields rich in Spiritual Energy, planted with a large number of First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs. In addition, there were some low-grade Spirit Mines, generally of the more common First and Second Order types used in Artifact Refining Materials. Overall, while the treasures produced from these Spirit Lands were ordinary, their value was not high when considered individually. But when the not-yet-fully-mined Spirit Ores and those unripe Spiritual Herbs were accumulated together, their value was not considered low. Based on his rough estimates, these gains, if completely acquired, were worth at least several million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. This did not include the treasures in the storage bags obtained from exterminating Golden Sword Sect disciples. If those were taken into account, the gains would be even greater. And these were the rewards they, a few dozen people, had worked hard to obtain over half a year. For these, all the clan members, including himself, were very satisfied. After all, not many family members were mobilized, and actual combat was very limited, lasting just over half a year. To be able to obtain such a profit in such short a time, which was several times more than the Lin Family¡¯s normal annual income. After all, to put it nicely, this mobilization of family members was to take over the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s assets; to put it unkindly, it was to plunder the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s properties. However, under the current situation, the Golden Sword Sect had been completely annihilated. Not just the Lin Family, but the other Golden Core Forces moved just as quickly, and their methods were even more bloody and ruthless. Apart from them, forces big and small in the Cultivation World, including some Loose Cultivators, had also joined in, muddying the waters to take some benefits. When comparing the actions of the Lin Family with those of the other forces, what they did was not excessive at all. Chapter 925 03-25 - 925 492 Intention to Form an Alliance ?Chapter 925: Chapter 492: Intention to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 925: Chapter 492: Intention to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes) Lin Tianming was well aware of this and felt very satisfied with the gains the Lin Family had made in the past six months. After all, the hard work of the clan members for half a year had been exchanged for the normal income of the family for ten years. Such a harvest was indeed delightful. By now, the Lin Family had also obtained enough vast resources, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about resources for many years to come. Such a change was important for every clan member. As long as they developed peacefully for a few decades, the Lin Family could quickly grow and truly become a colossal power in the Wei Kingdom¡ªthere was great hope for that. And currently, every clan member was working hard towards this goal, drawing closer to the achievement with each passing day. With such a purpose in mind, the upcoming high-level negotiations and distribution of benefits among the major powers were the last pieces to the puzzle of the Lin Family¡¯s rise. ... As long as they secured a certain territory and the portion of resources that belonged to the Lin Family, every aspect of the family would see a huge boost. With these conditions in place, they had the foundation for the family¡¯s rise. Knowing this, Lin Tianming also had a solemn expression and then asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, what are your opinions on the upcoming negotiations?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang also frowned, uncertain about the plans of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, the two major powers. He sighed deeply and then slowly said, ¡°The situation of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect is different from before. After all, their overall strength has also declined quite a lot, and although they still hold an absolute advantage over us, they wouldn¡¯t dare to be too aggressive.¡± ¡°Our demand from the Lin Family is to execute the allocation plan as previously promised, as long as there isn¡¯t too much of a gap, let¡¯s not stir up more trouble!¡± Right after these words were spoken, Ye Pinghai added a sentence. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°Brother Shi Kang¡¯s words are absolutely true!¡± ¡°In my view, the Wei Kingdom has just begun to restore peace, but the contradictions with the several Sects on the side of Huangyang Kingdom have intensified. Whether or not a great war will break out, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would not dare to target the Lin Family too much.¡± ¡°After all, if the Lin Family falls, the overall strength of the Wei Kingdom would decline even more, so if Huangyang Kingdom makes any moves, with only their two Sects, they would definitely not be an opponent.¡± Ye Pinghai stated the crux of the matter, directly expanding the scope to the threats brought by the neighboring countries. And these words also made both Lin Tianming and the other approve. In Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, he had also thought of this critical point. He was clear that before the great war, the overall strength of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was already less than that of the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom. Subsequently, after the beast tide and the great war among the three Sects, the strength of the major Sects of the Wei Kingdom was greatly weakened after the two crises. It was for this reason that the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom were instigated and made moves by the Blood Red Alliance to take advantage in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. As for the result, the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom suffered a loss this time, especially Qingyun Sect, with four Golden Core Cultivators falling in the Wei Kingdom. Such an outcome, probably no one had expected before. But now that it had happened, the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom did not invade the Wei Kingdom again, they must also plan to keep the peace. As for the dark loss they suffered, it was self-inflicted by the three Sects. However, the major Sects of the Wei Kingdom have just overcome the crisis and seemed not ready to let go so easily. Especially Zhou Yunxiao, who seemed intent on finding trouble with the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom. If that was really the case, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would bind the Lin Family tightly to their warship. Only with the full cooperation of the Lin Family would they be able to trouble the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, with the strength of just Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, it would be impossible to pose any threat to the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. Even possibly, the two Sects would follow in the footsteps of Golden Sword Sect, or suffer a heavy blow. No matter the scenario, it was not the outcome the two Sects wanted to see. And including Lin Tianming and the other powers in the Cultivation World, they also did not want to see this happen. Because, no matter how you put it, both Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had been inherited for thousands of years, and their rule over the Wei Kingdom was deeply ingrained. In the past few years, all the major powers had also become accustomed to the atmosphere of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and had a clear understanding of the top powers. If both Sects were destroyed and the major powers were suppressed by the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom, it would probably be harder to live in such a new environment than under the rule of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. With that said, from any perspective, the lower-tier powers were all unhappy to see this happen. Based on these speculations, Lin Tianming was not optimistic about the plan to trouble the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. He had pondered and made many speculations in his mind. Given the current situation, it was likely that both sides would just be empty threats. Even Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, as well as all the cultivators of the Wei Kingdom, had just barely recovered. Deep down, they surely did not want war to break out again, disrupting the hard-won peace. Once a full-scale war erupts between nations, the slaughter of such magnitude would be even more frightening than before. But by then, it would not be just a matter of a few top powers, but pertains to all cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. If a war of national destruction were to break out, stopping it would not be so easy. Therefore, the two countries wouldn¡¯t easily proceed to that step, unless one had an overwhelming commanding strength. Otherwise, such a large-scale situation was unlikely to occur in the current Qingzhou Cultivation World. Chapter 926 03-25 - 926 492 The Intent to Form an Alliance ?Chapter 926: Chapter 492: The Intent to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 926: Chapter 492: The Intent to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was not optimistic about Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s plan, nor did he believe that things would develop to that extent. Given the circumstances, the specific outcome of the distribution of interests and the possible contradictions that might arise were likely beyond anyone¡¯s control. However, no matter what, as long as the Lin Family maintained their bottom line and did not initiate trouble, the situation could not become too disastrous, he thought to himself. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s serious expression gradually relaxed. ¡°Forget it¡­ we¡¯ll cross the bridge when we get to it and take things one step at a time!¡± Lin Tianming mumbled to himself, significantly easing the somewhat tense atmosphere. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shikang also felt much calmer. Soon after, the three of them chatted casually. Seeing their fatigued expressions, Lin Shikang then said, ¡°Brother Ye, you and Tianming have both had a long journey and are tired, why not rest for a few days?¡± ... ¡°After you¡¯ve rejuvenated, we can have a good talk!¡± ¡°Um¡­ let¡¯s do as Brother Shikang suggests!¡± Ye Pinghai clasped his hands in response, then, after greeting Lin Tianming, he headed towards a resting room. Lin Tianming also did not delay; after exchanging greetings, he too disappeared into the courtyard. ¡­ Today. Inside Qingshui Market, the crowds surged in every tavern and even in the public squares of the stall areas. With the influx of cultivators gathering in Qingshui Market over the past few days, the traffic in the entire market had reached a terrifying level. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Taverns, shops, stall areas, auction events¡­ There were significant numbers of cultivators in every area, and their conversations invariably revolved around the situation of Wei Kingdom¡¯s major Golden Core forces. ¡°The Lin Family is not what it once was; this time the high-level gathering for negotiations will surely be an interesting spectacle¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity for the West River Li Family, with Elder Li fallen in the great battle, the whole Li Family lacks a Golden Core Cultivator to lead them; they are likely to decline¡­¡± ¡°That might not necessarily be the case!¡± ¡°After all, the West River Li Family has a legacy of over a thousand years. Even though they¡¯ve lost the old ancestor this time, their established merits are not small.¡± ¡°With that, Myriad Medicine Valley and the other major forces might compensate them somewhat; it might even be possible to produce another Golden Core Cultivator. Isn¡¯t that possible?¡± ¡­ Almost every cultivator¡¯s conversation entailed the basic situation of Wei Kingdom¡¯s several major Golden Elixir forces. Some cultivators even openly analyzed sensitive topics, unsettling many of their peers. Meanwhile, Lin Family Members quietly observed all of this unfold. The disciples of the other forces were also well-informed, constantly keeping up with what these grassroots cultivators focused on. However, the various public opinions were too complex, and the cultivators involved were too numerous; the major forces, even if they were aware of this, did not prevent the discussions among cultivators. Inside a cave dwelling at the center of the market. Lin Tianming sat together with two others, with Lin Shikang frowning thoughtfully, his expression indecipherable. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, have you summoned us here because something has happened?¡± Hearing this question, Lin Shikang finally came back from his contemplation. With a calm smile, he said, ¡°Nothing much, it¡¯s just that Daoist Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family will come to visit us shortly!¡± ¡°Daoist Chen Maohua?¡± Lin Tianming was taken aback for a moment but quickly surmised the likely purpose of Chen Maohua¡¯s visit. He knew that the current cultivator community of Wei Kingdom, speaking strictly, consisted of only four major Golden Elixir forces, two of which were Great Sects and two were Golden Core Families. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The former need not be mentioned; their inheritance was extremely ancient, and their overall power immensely strong, deeply influencing Wei Kingdom. The Lin Family and the Chen Clan, however, had only a few hundred years of heritage, and both in overall power and influence in Wei Kingdom, could not compare to Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect. Even if the two families joined forces, the gap between them and the two great Sects was not small. ¡°If we delve into the finer details, even if the two great families join forces, I¡¯m afraid they would still not be the match for either Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect¡¯s power. This is the current situation! Even Lin Tianming, no matter how arrogant and confident he may be, had to accept this reality. Under such circumstances, with Chen Maohua¡¯s visit at this time, it¡¯s highly likely his purpose is to form an alliance with the Lin Family, even if it¡¯s just superficial, it could give both parties some peace of mind. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming slowly said, ¡°Daoist Chen has taken the initiative to visit, so I assume you also wish to befriend the Lin Family, or perhaps form an alliance with us.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I think that¡¯s very likely the case!¡± Lin Shikang smiled satisfactorily, seemingly unsurprised that Lin Tianming had guessed the deeper meaning behind it. At this moment, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°If that is the case, then how does our Lin Family plan to respond?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Shikang thought for a moment and then said without hesitation. ¡°Daoist Chen¡¯s initiative to visit, or to seek an alliance, is also a good thing for our Lin Family.¡± ¡°After all, the current situation is still unclear, having another ally is much better than having another enemy, right?¡± ¡°Third Grandfather makes a good point!¡± After complimenting, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°The overall strength of the Chen Clan does not match our Lin Family, and in the future, they cannot compete with us in terms of influence within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World.¡± ¡°However, overall, when comparing our two great families with the two great sects, we are at a definite disadvantage, so forming an alliance would be more beneficial than harmful for both sides.¡± ¡°As long as we understand this, and there are no restrictions or additional conditions, we should agree to this.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shikang nodded his head and said, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I mean!¡± ¡°Good¡­ then let¡¯s proceed with that plan!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, his expression calm, his heart undisturbed by any change. Before long, after the three had waited for a moment, Chen Maohua sent a message saying he was already waiting outside the cave residence. Lin Shikang quickly took Lin Tianming and another with him to welcome their guest, exhibiting quite an enthusiastic attitude. After all, Chen Maohua was also an old cultivator in the Mid Stage Golden Core, and the Chen Clan had a legacy of over a thousand years. Even before a Golden Core Stage cultivator had emerged from the Chen Clan, they were among the best of the Foundation Establishing Families in Wei Kingdom, with very deep foundations. With this, although the Lin Family was now more powerful, they still had to show the most basic respect. Moreover, as the other party had also come with good intentions, no matter what their state of mind might be, the Lin Family members had to maintain the grace fitting of a Golden Core Family. The significant attention given by the Lin Family was also a clear signal of goodwill, which greatly relieved Chen Maohua. Although Lin Tianming had crossed paths with Chen Maohua several times during the previous battle at Myriad Medicine Valley and there had been private intentions to ally, the situation was unclear at that time, and due to the pressure from Golden Sword Sect, it was merely mutual aid in the heat of battle and did not involve such a wide scope for the entire family. Now, Chen Maohua had also come with purpose and goodwill, his heart was still unsettled, uncertain of the Lin Family¡¯s attitude. Now, after being entertained by Lin Tianming and the others, Chen Maohua felt reassured. After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Maohua changed the subject and brought up the main purpose of his visit. ¡°Three friends, do you know the purpose behind my visit?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang smiled lightly, then shook his head and feigned ignorance. Although he was aware of the probable purpose, he still did not take up Chen Maohua¡¯s topic, but instead played the fool. By doing so, he hoped that Chen Maohua would make the proposal himself, so that the Lin Family could secure some initiative. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s reaction, Chen Maohua smiled helplessly, seeming not to mind. He sighed softly and then said, ¡°The three of you are all wise and have witnessed various situations!¡± ¡°Since I¡¯ve come of my own accord, I won¡¯t beat around the bush!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be frank with you, I wish to represent the Chen Clan and form a comprehensive alliance with your noble family, not just a business alliance but an all-round cooperation.¡± As Chen Maohua said this, his tone grew heavier, obviously having thought it through in advance, without any hesitation in his heart. ¡­ Chapter 927 03-25 - 927 493 The Meeting Begins ?Chapter 927: Chapter 493: The Meeting Begins Chapter 927: Chapter 493: The Meeting Begins Lin Tianming and his two companions fell silent upon hearing this and did not immediately respond to Chen Maohua. However, Chen Maohua, seeing that the three had not expressed their stance, thought that the Lin Family might have some concerns or were not interested in forming an alliance. Thus, with a sincere expression, Chen Maohua hurriedly began to persuade them. ¡°Fellow daoists, now that Wei Kingdom is about to return to calm, our two great families are at a disadvantage. Should Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect have any schemes, we won¡¯t be their match if we fight alone!¡± ¡°Besides, a meeting will be held in a few days to distribute the fundamental interests of the various forces. Judging by the conduct of Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, it¡¯s very likely they will join forces to suppress our two families¡­¡± ¡­ Chen Maohua spoke continuously about many things, from the situation in Wei Kingdom to the distribution of benefits left by Golden Sword Sect, analyzing all aspects of the challenges Chen Clan and Lin Family would soon face. ... In reality, even if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Lin Tianming and his companions had already anticipated this and had some mental preparations. After a long time, Lin Shikang slowly said, ¡°Daoist Chen, what are your plans for cooperating with our Lin Family?¡± Seeing Lin Shikang show some interest, Chen Maohua heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. Following that, he continued, ¡°In terms of family business, the Lin Family excels at Artifact Refining, and our Chen Clan excels at Talisman Making. We could each purchase a certain number of treasures, with prices as low as possible!¡± ¡°In addition, we can directly trade other various materials for Artifact Refining and Talisman Making, allowing valuable resources to be exchanged, and also open shops in the workshops under our control.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Our Chen Clan controls two large workshops with considerable foot traffic. I can make arrangements to generously offer two shops to your noble family to help you quickly establish a strong footing.¡± ¡°With our Chen Clan¡¯s assistance, your noble family¡¯s business could rapidly expand to other areas of Wei Kingdom, and it¡¯s not impossible that every workshop would have the presence of the Lin Family.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 ¡­ Chen Maohua talked endlessly, seemingly very confident in the influence of the Chen Clan. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his two companions listened for a long time and were contemplating in private. One must admit, the conditions offered by Chen Maohua were indeed generous and showed sincerity. After all, the Lin Family indeed needed to expand their business, at the very least thoroughly covering every major workshop in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. To sustain a large family that would have thousands of people in the future and to maintain the Lin Family¡¯s competitiveness, it was essential to plan ahead and accumulate treasures and resources. To achieve this goal, without the occurrence of a major battle like the one that brought down Golden Sword Sect, they could only slowly accumulate through legitimate business. Otherwise, they would have to resort to exploring ancient ruins for treasures or engage in unsavory activities like banditry. While such methods of collecting treasure resources were fast and profitable, they also came with great risks and were not reputable practices. Moreover, the Lin Family was a righteous family, always valuing family culture and reputation. With such innate advantages, how could they resort to improper practices under such promising circumstances? Well aware of these factors, Lin Tianming and his companions communicated privately through transmitted voices, asking for each other¡¯s opinions. It didn¡¯t take long for the three to reach a consensus, which was to form an alliance and cooperate with the Chen Clan. Having decided on this matter, Lin Shikang looked at Chen Maohua and then asked with a cupped-fist smile, ¡°Daoist Chen, I won¡¯t hide it from you; our Lin Family indeed needs an ally, who could help us face threats from the other two sects when necessary.¡± Hearing these words, Chen Maohua breathed a sigh of relief as though a burden had been lifted. ¡°That is excellent news. After all, Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley have long traditions and, while they are polite to our two clans on the surface, it¡¯s hard to guarantee they won¡¯t target us when faced with huge benefits!¡± ¡°Moreover, Wei Kingdom is currently in a weakened state, and it¡¯s only because of the looming threat from Huang Yang Empire that they are willing to form an alliance with us!¡± ¡°In times of peace, it would be extremely difficult for us to get a share of the benefits.¡± Chen Maohua said with a grave expression. In fact, his words were heartfelt and resonated with Lin Tianming and the others. The reality was indeed as Chen Maohua had described. One must know, in times of peace, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would exploit the Foundation Establishing Families they sheltered quite severely. Whenever a crisis arose, they would forcibly conscript family cultivators to serve them, and any dangerous tasks would be assigned to these family cultivators as a priority. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the end, these family cultivators contributed the most but received pitifully little. At the very least, the major advantages were held by these top forces, and they kept a tight grip on various resources. The disparity between what the two sides contributed and received was as vast as the difference between clouds and mud. But out of respect for power, the majority of family cultivators did not dare to openly express their anger or disobey orders. It was precisely due to these conditions that, despite being the youngest, even a sect like Zhenyang Sect was able to stand in Wei Kingdom for seven to eight thousand years without falling. All this underscored the importance of strength. However, considering that the Cultivation World had been in existence for hundreds of thousands of years, and Qingzhou had been developed for over a hundred thousand years. Over such long periods, the top powers in each major region had always behaved this way, thus forming a sense of order over the lengthy years. Only with such order could the Cultivation World remain stable. Therefore, if one were to look at it from the perspective of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, such actions were somewhat justifiable. Chapter 928 03-25 - 928 493 Meeting Begins_2 ?Chapter 928: Chapter 493: Meeting Begins_2 Chapter 928: Chapter 493: Meeting Begins_2 However, no matter what one says, an emerging power cannot avoid colliding with top forces. Even if you have no intention of creating conflict, reality is such! If you do not actively provoke others, you still cannot stop the ultimate outbreak of conflict, ultimately becoming competitors. After all, resources are limited, yet competition does not decrease. It is just that the current situation in Wei Kingdom has greatly changed, and the situation is very delicate. As a large force falls, it causes a great earthquake. It was in such chaos that the Lin Family found the opportunity to establish a foothold. ... And in the days that followed, the Cultivation World gradually returned to calm, and both Great Sects would eventually catch their breath. But what changes might occur by then was hard to say. Given this, having one more friend is much better than having one more enemy. Fully aware of this importance, Lin Tianming and the other two were so decisive, willing to ally and cooperate with Chen Maohua, who had the same purpose. At this moment, Lin Shikang spoke up. ¡°Daoist Chen, since our two clans have formed allies and embarked on deep cooperation, any crisis that arises later on, we must advance and retreat together.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for certain!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Chen Maohua replied resolutely, and then continued, ¡°The deep cooperation I mentioned means if Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect makes a move against any of our clans, the other must provide full support, at the very least dispatching at least one Golden Core Stage Cultivator to aid the other.¡± ¡°Do any of you have any objections to this?¡± ¡°Our Lin Family has no objections!¡± Lin Shikang was the first to express his position, his tone free of any hesitation. ¡°Good¡­ excellent!¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s decisive stance, Chen Maohua was excited. He then immediately took out a special piece of beast skin and rapidly wrote a large amount of text with his Divine Sense. In no time, he handed the beast skin to Lin Shikang, then spoke, ¡°Lin, please have a look!¡± Lin Shikang quickly read the content on the beast skin. Soon after finishing, he handed the beast skin to Lin Tianming, signaling him to look at the conditions written on it. Without delay, Lin Tianming picked up the beast skin and examined it. After his examination, the content written on the beast skin was indeed the details of the cooperation foundation they had just discussed; there were no issues. Thus, Lin Tianming nodded to Lin Shikang and said, ¡°Third Grandfather, your grandson has no objections!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang did not delay. He immediately spat out a mouthful of essence blood, spreading it evenly on the beast skin. Subsequently, Chen Maohua took over the beast skin and replicated the process. In an instant, a red light flashed on the beast skin, and the tiny text sunk into the skin and disappeared. Within a breath, Lin Shikang felt his divine soul stir slightly, and then it quickly returned to normal. Obviously, the Heart Demon Oath had been completed, and the Lin Family and the Chen Family had officially transitioned from a verbal alliance to a real one. And since the Heart Demon Oath took effect, if the two families thought to renege, both individuals who signed the contract would suffer backlash. If they were fortunate, they might survive, but their cultivation could no longer advance. However, the greater likelihood was that they might die under the backlash of the Heart Demon Oath. At this time, Chen Maohua was also extremely excited, as this meeting had perfectly achieved his goals. Given the current strength of the Lin Family, even though his Chen Family also harbored a hidden Golden Core Cultivator, their family was clearly stronger. Thus, being able to ally with the Lin Family, which held limitless potential, they would not have to be overly frightened in the face of oppression from both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. With this excited mood, Chen Maohua¡¯s complexion was rosy, and he could not help but say, ¡°The three of you are truly men of character; our Chen Family will certainly spare no effort to assist your noble family.¡± ¡°Um¡­ then I represent the Lin Family and thank you all in advance!¡± Lin Shikang responded with a smile, his tone also conveying excitement. ¡°Hehe¡­ it¡¯s just mutual benefit and mutual assistance, after all!¡± Chen Maohua waved his hand with a smile, his entire being still caught in excitement, unable to calm down for quite a while. Then, the group sat down together for a long chat, during which they shared many insights on cultivation. Having fought side by side before and having engaged in deep conversations today, both parties formed an alliance. Their relationship warmed rapidly, making them seem like old friends. It wasn¡¯t until evening that Chen Maohua took his leave. Lin Tianming and his two companions chatted for a while, then they each returned to their closed-door cultivation, awaiting the day of the Golden Core gathering. In the blink of an eye, several days had passed. As the final days approached, numerous cultivators flooded into Qingshui Market, making it incredibly lively on this particular day. Today was also the day when the top leaders of Wei Kingdom¡¯s various Golden Elixir Forces gathered. Early in the morning, cultivators started emerging from their cave dwellings, grouping together to head to the bustling areas to meet. Cultivators¡¯ cave dwellings, the streets, inside the shops, the squares where stalls were set up¡­ During their leisure time, a large number of cultivators were discussing the current situation. Such lively scenes reached their zenith today. At the central auction of the market, the outer perimeter was even more crowded, with thousands of cultivators gathered, many of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level and quite a few at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Apart from these front-row Foundation Establishment Cultivators, even those in the back were at least at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Typical Initial Stage Qi Refining cultivators couldn¡¯t even access such an overcrowded place. This bustling scene continued unceasingly. By noon, a figure shot into the air, flying above the heads of many cultivators. The appearance of this person immediately caught everyone¡¯s attention. In an instant, a cultivator with excitement on his face pointed at the figure and burst out shouting, ¡°Look, it¡¯s Daoist Chen from the Yingchuan Chen Family!¡± Hearing this, many cultivators reacted, and even some Qi Refining Stage cultivators, seeing the legendary Golden Core expert, immediately showed respectful expressions, their breathing becoming somewhat rapid. And that flying figure was none other than Chen Maohua, the first to arrive. Even as these cultivators paid their respects, Chen Maohua didn¡¯t pay much attention, merely waving his hand before disappearing from sight. After he left, the atmosphere at the scene didn¡¯t diminish. Some cultivators continued waiting and discussing in their conversations which Golden Core cultivator from which clan would arrive next. Soon, three more figures shot through the air, landing in the plaza before the auction. Seeing these three appear once again grabbed everyone¡¯s attention, and the atmosphere became even livelier. ¡°Look, the seniors from the Lin Family have arrived!¡± ¡°The Lin Family has mobilized such a large force, these are three Golden Core Stage experts!¡± ¡°Lin Tianming has also come. His strength is formidable; he has previously slain Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators, one of whom could match several Golden Core cultivators.¡± ¡­ The cultivators below buzzed with excitement, not bothering with formalities, whispering and even transmitting messages to cultivators they knew. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his two companions also paused briefly, waving to a cultivator below as a greeting. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, the three of them wasted no time and headed directly into the interior of the Qingshui Market auction. Upon entering the auction, a disciple from Zhenyang Sect immediately came forward to greet them respectfully and led the three to a massive chamber where they were served excellent Spiritual Tea. In the chamber, having arrived early, Chen Maohua quickly greeted Lin Tianming and his companions. ¡°Three fellow daoists, you¡¯ve come quite early indeed!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Chen beat us here by a step, that¡¯s what I call early.¡± Lin Shikang replied with a smile, then surveyed the chamber where the meeting was being held. Looking around, the chamber was quite spacious with a huge jade stone table set in the middle, surrounded by over a dozen chairs, clearly designated for Golden Core cultivators. Seeing this setup, Lin Shikang, along with the other two, chose a section to sit down, not far from Chen Maohua, who had arrived earlier. The four of them sipped on their Spiritual Tea while casually chatting, waiting for representatives from the other two Great Sects to arrive. ¡­ Chapter 929 03-25 - 929 494 Earth Core Stone Moon Soul Fruit ?Chapter 929: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit Chapter 929: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit A period of time, approximately long enough to drink a cup of tea, passed. The secret chamber welcomed more visitors; several cultivators walked in, with Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao leading the forefront, followed closely by Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect. As for the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s representatives, Duan Liangyu accompanied Zhou Yunxiao to the meeting. With the arrival of these five cultivators from both groups, Lin Tianming and his companions also quickly stood up and proactively greeted them. After all, they were still allies for the time being, and their relationship was relatively close; before any formal falling out, the most basic respect still had to be maintained. Understanding this, Lin Shikang and the others dared not be careless nor lose their manners. And on the other side, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng were also quite polite, hastily exchanging greetings with Lin Tianming and his companions with smiles. ... S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the pleasantries drew to a close, Lu Xingfeng, acting as the host, stood up and then called for a halt to the casual conversation. Lu Xingfeng then gave a respectful bow to those seated and said with a smile, ¡°Fellow Daoists, we have rested for a year, and now that we have finally gathered again, it is indeed quite difficult.¡± ¡°Reflecting on a year ago, the scenes of us fighting side by side are still vivid in my mind, and when I think of that time, I feel my blood boil and am even filled with immense gratitude.¡± Lu Xingfeng started with some polite remarks before moving on to matters of the past. Although these seemed like trivial words, they indeed resonated with the few people present, and the anger and discontent that had originally been prevalent noticeably subsided. Lu Xingfeng then continued, ¡°Since we are all here, let¡¯s not beat around the bush with meaningless words.¡± ¡°I presume everyone has a clear idea of the treasures we¡¯ve obtained, apart from those claimed over the past year, including those from the Golden Sword Mountain Gate.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°Let us first review the list we left behind and itemize the Third Order Treasures that each of us desires.¡± ¡°As for Fourth Tier Items, we all know the value of such existences very well; we shall wait until we have investigated Han Hu¡¯s and the others¡¯ storage bags, then we will distribute them according to interests.¡± Having said this, Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao each took out several storage bags and placed them on the round table in front of them. The storage bags looked intact, just as they were originally found, clearly not tampered with. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not delay and unsealed the storage bags, then began to explore them with their Divine Sense. Soon, their complexions turned rosy and their breathing became somewhat rapid. Clearly, the wealth inside these storage bags was significant; otherwise, neither of them, with their cultivation and experience, would have been so excited. Once they had calmed down, they put the storage bags back on the table, indicating that Lin Tianming and his companions should inspect them as well. Then, they each picked up another storage bag and resumed their investigation. Lin Tianming and his partner were naturally curious and did not delay, immediately probing the treasures inside with their Divine Sense. In just a few breaths, Lin Tianming and the others also had rosy cheeks, and their breathing quickened significantly as well. Actually, their reaction was not surprising given that the two storage bags indeed contained a lot of treasures, with nearly a hundred thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones combined. Translated into Lower-grade Spirit Stones, that would be nearly ten million. Beyond these common items, the ones of higher value were eight Fourth Order Treasures and more than seven hundred Third Order Treasures. Each Fourth Tier Item was a truly good thing, mainly Spiritual Medicine Materials, Artifact Refining materials, and half the carcass of a Fourth Order Demonic Beast. Although there were no Nascent Soul Spiritual Items or treasures to advance cultivation, each one was an invaluable existence with a wide range of uses. And this was just a part of the wealth of Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng; another part consisted of elixirs commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators and a small number of Third Order Legacies, generally involving the Four Arts of Cultivation like Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging. These items may not have been valued as much as the Third and Fourth Rank treasures, but their cumulative value was also worth several million Low-grade Spirit Stones. These two storage bags clearly formed the bulk of Han Hu¡¯s and Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s wealth. The other storage bags had not been examined yet; some contained items plundered from the bodies of Han Hu and others, as well as the wealth of cultivators like Song Hanchun. And just from the main storage bags of Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng, treasures worth more than ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones had been harvested; after all the remaining storage bags were fully explored, it seemed the value of the treasures would likely rise considerably. Thinking of this, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were also extremely excited, and their actions hastened. Soon, all of the storage bags present had been investigated. Lin Tianming and the others were not idle either, continuing to examine the treasures in the storage bags, overwhelmed by the staggering amount of wealth. It turned out that in addition to the two wealthiest storage bags, the others also contained items and resources of varying value. The contents ranged from First Order Treasures to Third Order Treasures, with each storage bag valued between one million to several million Spirit Stones. Among them were the wealth of Golden Core Cultivators like Song Hanchun, resources valued at several million Spirit Stones. Several storage bags also contained large amounts of First and Second-Order Treasures, clearly plundered by the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance over the years from the fallen territories of the two great Great Sects. In addition, there were treasures that the three major Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom had looted all the way from the Wei Kingdom, now concentrated in the possession of people like Cao Jinping. Chapter 930 03-25 - 930 494 Earth Core Stone Moon Soul ?Chapter 930: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit_2 Chapter 930: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit_2 With the demise of those five Golden Core Cultivators, the vast amount of property and resources all lay within these storage bags. Although the grade and value of these items couldn¡¯t be compared with the possessions of people like Han Hu and the others, the accumulated wealth of over a hundred large and small families was also a substantial resource, its value exceeding millions of Spirit Stones. Now, with these assets unearthed by them, they found yet another batch of resources that elicited astonishment. After a simple estimation, just the treasures within these dozen or so storage bags were easily worth over thirty million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Among these, the more valuable items were naturally the eight Fourth Order Treasures and the offensive and defensive Magical Treasures belonging to Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng. If one included the five Fourth Order Treasures found in the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault, this time they acquired more than a dozen Fourth Order Treasures, and there were also several hundred high-value Third Order Treasures. In addition to these, there were countless other treasures of various kinds that nearly covered all the commonly used items in the Cultivation World, and the total value of all the Spiritual Objects put together also exceeded tens of millions of Spirit Stones. ... Whenever they thought of this, the excitement on the faces of the Cultivators present was palpable, their complexions glowing with vitality. Even Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional about this. In their eyes, the Golden Sword Sect, with its heritage of nearly ten thousand years, was indeed worthy of its reputation. Leaving aside the items of heritage, the value of these common treasures alone had reached such a level, something even they hadn¡¯t anticipated. And such a foundation of wealth truly reflected the profound heritage of the Golden Sword Sect accumulated over nearly ten thousand years. As time slowly passed, the group finally managed to calm down. Then, Zhou Yunxiao scanned the crowd before speaking, ¡°These storage bags have all been investigated. Does anyone have a treasured item they particularly desire?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï At these words, the scene fell into a brief silence. After several breaths passed and seeing that no one spoke up, Zhou Yunxiao gave a few bitter laughs. Then, he looked at Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Lin, why don¡¯t you and Daoist Chen speak first? As long as the value is equivalent to the promised benefits, I believe Daoist Lu wouldn¡¯t be too nitpicky.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°During the great battle, Daoist Zhou and I have already made promises, and now that the crisis is over, it¡¯s time to put those promises into action.¡± Lu Xingfeng also gave a faint smile and echoed the sentiment, clearly showing no intention to make things difficult for the Lin Family. Hearing this, Lin Tianming secretly communicated with Lin Shikang, and soon the two reached an agreement. Following that, Lin Tianming chuckled and pulled out a beast skin, onto which he quickly wrote down a list of treasure names before handing it over to Zhou Yunxiao. After Zhou Yunxiao glanced at it, he passed it to Lu Xingfeng for review. Shortly after, Lu Xingfeng shook his head with a bitter smile and said, ¡°Lin, isn¡¯t the list of treasures you¡¯ve written down a bit too extensive?¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Lin Tianming replied helplessly. ¡°Speaking of which, the value is indeed close to what was promised initially, but Lin, you¡¯re asking for four Fourth Tier Items all at once, which nearly amounts to a third of all the Fourth Order Treasures. Such greed for the good stuff is indeed a bit excessive!¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°After all, at our level of cultivation, we also covet these high-value treasures.¡± ¡°If the Lin Family takes away four items in one go, there wouldn¡¯t be many left for our two sects.¡± Lu Xingfeng explained in detail, his expression sincere and truly moved by the matter. As soon as he finished, Zhou Yunxiao also chimed in. ¡°Daoist Lu is correct; such a list greatly exceeds our bottom line.¡± Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by what Lu Xingfeng and the others had said. In fact, he was well aware of the value of the Fourth Order Treasures, and that even a single Fourth Order Treasure could easily be traded for dozens of Third Order Treasures, with no one actually willing to make the exchange. He had done this as a test, and seeing their reaction as expected, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment before giving an embarrassed smile. Then, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°What Daoist Lu and Daoist Zhou said is indeed reasonable; we of the Lin Family have indeed been somewhat presumptuous.¡± ¡°` ¡°Since that is the case, we can take a step back.¡± ¡°After discussing with the two elders, our Lin Family only wants two Fourth Order Treasures.¡± ¡°However, in the list of Third Order Treasures, we would like to include a few more, you two Daoist friends have no objections, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately thereafter, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead and said, ¡°Our Myriad Medicine Valley has no objections!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xingfeng added, ¡°I have no objections either!¡± Seeing that both parties did not object, Lin Tianming immediately communicated with Lin Shikang telepathically, confirming the selection of a few suitable and highly valuable Treasures. After their exchange, the two had carefully considered and essentially settled on their targets. Following that, Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush and immediately revised the list of Treasures on the Beast Skin, handing it over to Zhou Yunxiao. And Zhou Yunxiao, with just a glance, noticed the altered list of Treasures on the Beast Skin. The Third Order Treasures at the beginning were fine, although some had higher values, the total number was still acceptable, and there were also some Third Order Spiritual Objects of average value. However, as he looked at the last few items, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit troubled. Seeing his expression, Lu Xingfeng also took a look at the detailed list and subsequently displayed a distressed look. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also began to wonder, uncertain of their thoughts. The reason for this was because the few high-value Treasures he had requested were no ordinary existences. Among them, the two Fourth Order Treasures were the Moon Soul Fruit and the Earth Core Stone. The Moon Soul Fruit was a Fourth Order Spirit Fruit, maturing only once every thousand years, yielding only one fruit, but fortunately, each fruit contained five sections of flesh, each capable of enhancing a certain strength of the divine soul, thereby allowing Divine Sense to grow to some extent. Therefore, although this Treasure might not directly help increase cultivation levels, the benefits it could bring to Cultivators were incomparable to some Treasures that could directly enhance cultivation. After all, a Cultivator¡¯s Divine Soul and Divine Sense are limited, and Heaven and Earth Treasures suitable for their use are rare, making such enhancements extremely difficult. But once the Divine Soul and Divine Sense were enhanced, it would bring about an all-around improvement, greatly benefiting the practice of the Four Arts of Cultivation and also helping to detect enemies ahead of time in special circumstances. Moreover, in a magic duel, it could even provide an advantage. So, for Lin Tianming, the Moon Soul Fruit was simply too perfect. Since his own Divine Sense and Divine Soul were already strong, and he was an Alchemist who had to practice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his reliance on Divine Sense was intense. If he could obtain this Moon Soul Fruit, his Divine Sense would become even stronger, making the manipulation of seventy-two Treasure Swords in the future even more effortless. And in Alchemy, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, his efficiency would likely improve as well. With these reasons, upon first seeing the Moon Soul Fruit, it became his primary target. As for the other Fourth Order Treasure, its background was equally significant, and its value no less considerable. This Fourth Order Treasure was known as the Earth Core Stone, a very durable earth-attribute Spirit Ore, extremely rare in the current Cultivation World. Thus, the value of the Earth Core Stone was extraordinarily high, serving as excellent material for Refining Defense Treasures. Should he obtain this Earth Core Stone, coupled with the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast he had once slain, he would be able to Refine several Defense Treasures with notable defensive power. Although the Lin Family now had a less scarce supply of offensive Magical Treasures, they did not possess many defensive ones. What¡¯s more, the Defense Treasures left behind by fallen Golden Core Cultivators, especially those whose spiritual quality was greatly diminished or in the hands of Zhou Yunxiao and others, would be difficult for the Lin Family to utilize shortly and would require a considerable amount of materials to repair. All things considered, it would be better to obtain high-quality materials and Refine the most optimal Defense Treasures. With such a goal in mind, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had chosen these two items. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 931 03-25 - 931 495 Exchange Request ?Chapter 931: Chapter 495: Exchange Request Chapter 931: Chapter 495: Exchange Request However, when Zhou Yunxiao and his companion saw the two Fourth Order Treasures on the list, although they were very reluctant, they were not completely unable to accept it. After all, the Lin Family already owned twenty percent of the spoils, so obtaining two Fourth Order Treasures was not unreasonable. But besides these two Fourth Order Treasures, there were several Third Order Treasures listed later, all of which were not ordinary items. Among these was the Peach Heart Wood that Lin Tianming had long coveted, along with a Third Order Alchemy Furnace, and the Mountain Protection Array of the Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, the incomplete Spirit Art they found in the Scripture Pavilion was also on Lin Tianming¡¯s list. And the value of these items was extremely high. It goes without saying how valuable the Peach Heart Wood and the Third Order Alchemy Furnace were, though they weren¡¯t greatly prized by them. ... However, the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect was something that could enhance the fundamental strength of a power; there were just over twenty sets in the entire Wei Kingdom, either as Mountain Protection Arrays of the Great Sects or as Defensive Great Formations of the medium-sized workshops. Thus, the Third Order Great Array was invaluable, and it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say so at all. Besides that, the incomplete Spirit Art could not be duplicated. Although it was incomplete, should the other part be discovered, its value would considerably exceed that of a Fourth Order Treasure. Therefore, after seeing these subsequent treasures, Zhou Yunxiao and his companion¡¯s expressions turned quite unpleasant. After a long time, Zhou Yunxiao and his companion exchanged glances, then Zhou Yunxiao bitterly smiled and said, ¡°Lin, the treasures on this list are still too valuable, our Myriad Medicine Valley might not be able to accept it.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lu Xingfeng also chimed in. ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ In my opinion, shouldn¡¯t some of these treasures be reduced to make it reasonable?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Hearing this, Lin Tianming was silent for a moment, also pondering in his heart. In his eyes, the treasures that the Lin Family wanted to obtain were fairly close to the twenty percent of the profits that the Lin Family were entitled to. It was just that there were more high-value treasures, and the overall quality was indeed considerable, especially the two Fourth Tier Items, as well as the Defensive Great Formation and the incomplete Spirit Art, which he did not want to give up no matter what. But thinking carefully from Zhou Yunxiao and the other¡¯s standpoint, the treasures that the Lin Family wanted to obtain did indeed seem a bit harsh. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After regaining his composure, Lin Tianming exchanged glances with Lin Shikang, then they began to communicate through transmitted sound. Soon, a few breaths passed. At that moment, Lin Tianming finally opened his mouth and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, besides those few precious treasures, we can reduce dozens of ordinary Third Order Treasures, and Lin Family can also reduce by half the area of territory to be divided in the future, as compensation to your sect, how about that?¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming say this, Zhou Yunxiao was also somewhat hesitant. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lu Xingfeng not far away, clearly also intending to see his opinion. And Lu Xingfeng¡¯s expression remained normal, but he was quietly thinking. In his eyes, what the Lin Family was doing was making a concession, exchanging some ordinary Third Order Treasures and some territory for those valuable items. After such compensation, it indeed fell below the twenty percent of profits that the Lin Family was entitled to. If they still refused to make a concession, it would seem somewhat intentionally targeted. Although with the strength of the Zhenyang Sect, there was no need to fear the Lin Family excessively, under the current situation, it was not suitable for the Wei Kingdom to experience any more conflicts. Especially the Zhenyang Sect, whose territory bordered the Lin Family, they could not afford to provoke this potential great family. Knowing this, Lu Xingfeng made his decision. ¡°Since Lin has spoken to this extent, I have no objections!¡± Lu Xingfeng was the first to state his position, agreeing with the Lin Family¡¯s interests, which excited Lin Tianming greatly. Hearing Lu Xingfeng say this, although Zhou Yunxiao was very reluctant, and given that the Lin Family indeed possessed strong power, he could not insist on anything further. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao also spoke up, ¡°I have no objections!¡± Following that, he looked at Chen Maohua and then asked, ¡°Daoist Chen, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°I, too, have no objections!¡± Chen Maohua quickly took a stand without any hesitation. ¡°Well then, that settles it!¡± Zhou Yunxiao stated, then together with Lu Xingfeng, began extracting the designated treasures of the Lin Family from various storage bags. As for the other part of the treasures, they were still stored in the Treasure Vault of the Golden Sword Sect and could only be retrieved later. Soon, Lin Tianming had two storage bags in his hand, with most of the treasures listed in the inventory already in his possession. And Zhou Yunxiao also stated that the remaining treasures would be taken from the Golden Sword Sect Treasure Vault after the conference, and each family would collect their share of the profits. The Lin Family naturally had no objections to this arrangement. With that, the distribution of these treasures to the Lin Family came to an end. Then it was Chen Maohua¡¯s turn to select treasures. A short while later, Chen Maohua¡¯s share of the benefits was allocated. This process was swift because the treasures he needed were quite ordinary. Besides one Fourth Order Treasure that was relatively valuable, the other treasures were moderately valued, and Zhou Yunxiao and the other were not too concerned about them. With the distribution of benefits to the Chen Clan completed, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng had a private discussion for a moment. Soon, they reached a consensus, deciding to wait until the other profit distributions for the Lin Family and Chen Clan were complete. At that time, the high-levels of their two sects would meet to continue distributing the remaining massive benefits belonging to their two sects. Chapter 932 03-25 - 932 495 Exchange Request_2 ?Chapter 932: Chapter 495: Exchange Request_2 Chapter 932: Chapter 495: Exchange Request_2 Lin Tianming, as well as Chen Maohua and a few others, were also quite satisfied at this time, generally recognizing the fairness of this resource distribution. Especially Lin Tianming; he was actually somewhat surprised. He had initially thought that, given Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s stronger foundations, they would likely suppress and trouble the two major families, thus skimping on their deserved benefits. However, the distribution process went smoother than expected. Although the Lin Family had lost some benefits for those few precious treasures, in his view, those losses were entirely worthwhile. Now that this matter had concluded, the next step was to distribute the territories under the Golden Sword Sect. The Lin Family also placed considerable importance on this portion of the benefits. ... This was because the Lin Family currently had a great demand for territory. It¡¯s worth noting that the Lin Family was now a family that boasted several Golden Core Cultivators, with a clan size of over a thousand members, among which there were dozens in the Foundation Establishment Stage. It could be said that in terms of overall strength, they were not far behind the other two great sects. However, even with such strength, the territory controlled by the Lin Family was only a small part of the Luoyun Mountain Range, an area relatively barren, and yet to be recognized by the Zhenyang Sect due to the influence of consecutive great battles. In comparison, a territory as large as the Luoyun Mountain Range was starkly different from that of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Even compared to the Chen Clan and the greatly weakened West River Li Family, both also Golden Core Families, it fell significantly short. Before the great battle among the three sects erupted, even the Zhenyang Sect, which had the shortest heritage, had territories spanning over seventy mountain ranges. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï Looking at the Myriad Medicine Valley with the oldest heritage, they controlled hundreds of mountains, many of which were significantly older than the Luoyun Mountain Range. Certainly, compared to these ancient Golden Core Sects, perhaps there was no comparison. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, compared to the other two great Golden Core Families, the Chen Clan controlled over ten mountain ranges, and the West River Li Family also reached eight mountains. Seeing this, the single mountain range controlled by the Lin Family did not match its current status at all. Fortunately, there had been an agreement with the other two sects that after the destruction of the Golden Sword Sect, the Lin Family would acquire twenty percent of their territories. Although the Lin Family had given up half of the benefits to obtain those precious treasures, with the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s previously vast territory of nearly a hundred mountain ranges, the Lin Family could still gain control over nearly ten mountain ranges based on the existing agreement. Once the Lin Family fully controlled these territories, the spirit lands previously belonging to the Golden Sword Sect would naturally become theirs. Beyond these obvious benefits, the families that previously inhabited the area had to offer part of their spirit stones to the Lin Family every century as a residence fee. Previously, nearly a hundred years ago, the Lin Family had also offered tens of thousands of spirit stones to the Zhenyang Sect at once, allowing them to remain unharmed for nearly a century. Although several decades ago, the major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range fell into strife, the Zhenyang Sect, as the backing Sect Overlord, never intervened. Indeed, such occurrences were not uncommon in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, or even in other nations. In the eyes of Golden Core Cultivators, the infighting among local powers is a normal competitive phenomenon that doesn¡¯t substantially impact Sect Overlords. Unless there¡¯s external interference or direct attacks against the powers under them, Sect Overlords generally do not intervene. Thus, during the infighting within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Zhenyang Sect had not stepped in. Otherwise, the Lin Family could have reported to the Zhenyang Sect long ago and would not have been long oppressed by the Jin Family. These were the basic rights of a Sect Overlord. Besides, in times of crisis, the Lin Family could also exercise the Golden Elixir force¡¯s right to conscript, calling cultivators from under its control to fight for the Lin Family. With these foundations, by relying on the loyalty of the major families towards the Lin Family, the Lin Family¡¯s heritage would further enhance. Under such circumstances, territory was not merely a nominal enhancement for the current Lin Family, but more so an enhancement of their foundation. It had reached the moment to distribute territories, and Lin Tianming felt quite uneasy yet somewhat excited. Before this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had already discussed and had a rough idea of a distribution scheme that would benefit the Lin Family. Based on the current Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory, nearly a hundred mountain ranges were to be divided among the four Golden Core Forces. The Lin Family conservatively estimated that they could obtain control over more than seven or eight territories. The trouble was, the territories of the major powers in Wei Kingdom were interlocked like the teeth of a comb; no matter how they were divided, it was tough to consolidate those territories together. Especially for the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family was located, lying at the southernmost tip of Wei Kingdom and sharing only a small border with the territories governed by the Golden Sword Sect. It was nearly impossible for the Lin Family to connect the Luoyun Mountain Range with those newly controlled territories. Thus, the Lin Family could only think of exchanging some territories with the Zhenyang Sect to achieve their initial aim. As Zhou Yunxiao spoke about the distribution of territories, he also took out several maps of Wei Kingdom, clearly marked with all the major mountain ranges. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao exchanged pleasantries with a few people before asking Lin Tianming and the others which territories the Lin Family was interested in. Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and then turned to Lu Xingfeng, saying, ¡°Lu Daoyou, according to our prior agreement, our Lin Family can at least obtain control over eight mountain ranges.¡± ¡°However, the location of the Luoyun Mountain Range of the Lin Family is secluded. If we choose a region at the southernmost part of the Golden Sword Sect, it would still not connect with the Lin Family, making control difficult in the future.¡± ¡°Therefore, we wish to exchange territories with your Sect, namely Qianchuan Market and the surrounding eight mountain ranges to all be under the Lin Family¡¯s command.¡± ¡°As for the territories originally due to the Lin Family, including the control over those markets, how about we cede them all to your Sect?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lu Xingfeng began to ponder. Indeed, he understood the situation of the Lin Family, and had previously guessed that the Lin Family would make such a request. Otherwise, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have requested the right to exchange territories before the alliance was formed. Now that the great battle was over, the Lin Family indeed exercised this power, which was not surprising at all. However, they from the Zhenyang Sect had previously discussed this at the high levels, so they had a plan in mind. Thus, after briefly falling silent, Lu Xingfeng then spoke, ¡°Lin Daoyou, it¡¯s not impossible for us to agree!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened, and he immediately offered a compliment. ¡°Thank you, Lu Daoyou, for your generosity!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lu Xingfeng gave a wry smile and then changed the direction of the conversation. ¡°Lin Daoyou, please don¡¯t be too excited. I agree to this matter, but it also comes with conditions. Please listen to them before deciding!¡± ¡°Oh? What conditions?¡± Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng quickly explained, ¡°Lin Daoyou, Qianchuan Market is a medium-sized workshop, and it¡¯s also one of the only two medium-sized workshops owned by our Sect. Though it was only built a thousand years ago, it also involved significant manpower and financial resources.¡± ¡°The market now sees a very considerable flow of people, housing thousands of shops, earning substantial profits each year.¡± ¡°If things continue as they are, Qianchuan Market can still expand during future peaceful periods, and the flow of people will also increase, which is a long-term source of income.¡± ¡°Compared to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s several medium-sized workshops, affected by our clean-up actions, their flow of people has at least halved, and it will take quite a lot of manpower and financial resources to return to normal.¡± ¡°As a result, Qianchuan Market is extremely important for our Zhenyang Sect.¡± ¡°If we hand over the market to your noble family, it would not be cost-effective for our Sect.¡± ¡°If it were you, you probably wouldn¡¯t want to trade a market that you painstakingly developed either, right?¡± ¡­ Chapter 933 03-25 - 933 496 Attitudes from All Parties ?Chapter 933: Chapter 496 Attitudes from All Parties Chapter 933: Chapter 496 Attitudes from All Parties Hearing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s detailed explanation, Lin Tianming understood that he was being asked to do something quite difficult. However, if the Lin Family wanted to gain control over those territories, they had to strike a deal with the Zhenyang Sect. Fully aware of this, he quickly cupped his fists in salute, hoping to still make an effort. ¡°Lu Daoyou, are you aware that the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory has three medium-sized workshops?¡± ¡°Although our Lin Family doesn¡¯t have the means to independently take over a medium-sized workshop, we should be able to have a share of the cake, right?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Nevertheless, I do not wish to use our painstakingly managed Qianchuan Market as a bargaining chip with the Lin Family!¡± ... Lu Xingfeng¡¯s reply was emphatic and resolute, as if there was no room for negotiation in his tone. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also felt somewhat helpless. At that moment, Lin Shikang also secretly sent a voice transmission, informing Lin Tianming that the Lin Family could make further concessions, using one or two mountain ranges to sweeten the deal in exchange for control of the Qianchuan Market. Receiving Lin Shikang¡¯s suggestion, Lin Tianming had no choice but to try. ¡°Lu Daoyou, what if our Lin Family gives up two mountain ranges and adds two million low-grade Spirit Stones in exchange for the Qianchuan Market?¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Xingfeng also glanced at Chen Jingtian beside him, seemingly seeking his opinion. After a short time, Lu Xingfeng then replied, ¡°Two mountain ranges plus five million Spirit Stones, and we in the Zhenyang Sect will make the exchange!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 ¡°If Lin Daoyou is unwilling, then let¡¯s drop the matter here!¡± Lu Xingfeng¡¯s attitude was firm, seemingly leaving no room for the Lin Family to haggle. Hearing these terms, Lin Tianming communicated with Lin Shikang to get his opinion on the matter. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, after a discussion, facing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s uncompromising stance, they still decided to accept Lu Xingfeng¡¯s terms. In their view, the Lin Family needed stable and easy to control territories right now. If they didn¡¯t agree to Lu Xingfeng, even if the Lin Family got eight mountain ranges, they would still be effectively enclaves. Thus, whether it was for development or management, the Lin Family would expend more manpower and resources. However, if they managed to acquire territories near the Luoyun Mountain Range, the control would be relatively stable in the long run, making the clan¡¯s lands much safer. Even though achieving this goal meant losing two mountain ranges and spending millions of Spirit Stones, The Lin Family had recently acquired a considerable amount of resources, including various Spiritual Objects, not to mention the Spirit Stones from this allocation, totaling over three million. With such vast resources, plus the family¡¯s stored Spirit Stones, they now had between seven and eight million in liquid assets. After all, the Lin Family was not short of Spirit Stones at the moment, so even spending a million at once would not significantly impact the family. Therefore, for the sake of the family¡¯s long-term considerations, Lin Tianming and the others were so decisive. So, without hesitation, Lin Tianming spoke on behalf of the Lin Family, agreeing to Lu Xingfeng¡¯s terms. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement, Lu Xingfeng too admired the Lin Family¡¯s decisiveness. Next came the choice of which mountain ranges. After deliberating, Lin Tianming decided that the Lin Family would take the six mountain ranges surrounding the Qianchuan Market, which were close to the Luoyun Mountain Range. These six mountain ranges were Qianchuan Mountain Range, Hengyang Mountain Range, Luoyang Mountain Range, Yunyang Mountain Range, Xijing Mountain Range, and Changshui Mountain Range. Among these, the two northernmost mountain ranges were Xijing Mountain Range and Changshui Mountain Range, which bordered the Zhenyang Sect-controlled Shuojin Mountain Range and Songshi Mountain Range on the periphery of the Lin Family¡¯s new territories. To the west of the Qianchuan Mountain Range lay the vast habitat of Demonic Beasts. Including the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family controlled a total of seven mountain ranges, with Luoyang and Hengyang Mountain Ranges as well as the Qianchuan Mountain Range being central. The Luoyun Mountain Range sat at the southernmost end, and the southeastern corner was under the control of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Qingyun Sect. Though these seven mountain ranges were part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World¡¯s southern region, with large areas close to the Demonic Beast Forest and far from the kingdom¡¯s central regions. Although remote, with fewer people and less territory size compared to the areas around Dragon Mountain Market, and more vulnerable to Demonic Beast attacks, Lin Tianming still saw certain advantages to this location. Firstly, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about the powers to the east. After all, the Demonic Beasts to the west didn¡¯t usually rampage, and they were far less complex than human hearts; thus, defense only needed to be focused on a few other directions. Secondly, it was convenient for the Lin Family to encroach upon the Demonic Beast Mountain Ranges for territory, which would also be useful for treasure hunting and cultivation. With some time and effort, the Lin Family could develop large tracts of safe land and several decent Spirit Lands for planting Spiritual Medicine and other treasures. If they were lucky, they might find Spirit Ore deposits in these unexplored territories, and uncovering just one or two could make up for the Lin Family¡¯s losses. Compared to the developed central regions, such barren lands were not without their benefits. Overall, the territory had its pros and cons, depending on the perspective. Recognizing that the Lin Family had already made significant sacrifices, and also that the Zhenyang Sect truly didn¡¯t value those barren lands, Lu Xingfeng, who had gotten the better end of the deal, no longer made things difficult for the Lin Family, and promptly agreed to their request. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companions heaved a sigh of relief. Next, it was Chen Maohua¡¯s turn to choose territories. And the Chen Clan¡¯s selection was simple; they chose eight mountain ranges that could be directly connected to their existing lands. Chapter 934 03-25 - 934 496 Attitudes from Various Parties_2 ?Chapter 934: Chapter 496 Attitudes from Various Parties_2 Chapter 934: Chapter 496 Attitudes from Various Parties_2 After this, the territories of the two great Golden Core Families of Wei Kingdom were essentially determined, with the Lin Family controlling seven mountain ranges and the Chen Clan reaching nearly twenty. As the territorial distribution between the two major families came to an end, Lin Tianming and some others made small talk for a while. During this period, Lin Tianming also discussed the specific details of the exchange with Lu Xingfeng. From the timing of the territorial handover, the specific circumstances of those subordinate families, to the additional millions of spirit stones needed for the exchange, many details had to be finalized. As time moved forward, half an hour had passed. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following thorough discussions, Lin Tianming and the others reached an agreement with Lu Xingfeng that he would soon make a public announcement, revealing the details of the territory exchange between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect. This was also to personally affirm the authenticity of the exchange and recognize the Lin Family¡¯s control over those few mountain ranges. ... Additionally, the specifics of the handover were to be gradually completed within the next year. Including Qianchuan Market¡ªaside from a small number of lofts and caves that continued to belong to the Zhenyang Sect¡ªall other business control went to the Lin Family. And significantly, the third-order defense array in Qianchuan Market was also exchanged by the Lin Family for hundreds of thousands of spirit stones, a rather low price. On this matter, it must be said that Lu Xingfeng was quite generous, aware of what the Lin Family currently lacked the most. Thus, he was not stingy in this regard, which made Lin Tianming very grateful and excited. With these agreements in place, the Lin Family¡¯s profit distribution was largely complete, with only the issue of quotas for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm remaining. As for this matter, the Lin Family already had prior agreements to obtain twenty slots in the Tianfeng Adverse Realm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? Although Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not mention it now, it would ultimately have to be finalized. Therefore, Lin Tianming did not bring up this matter, planning to wait until all profit distributions were concluded to discuss the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm quotas. Thus, Lin Tianming and the others did not leave immediately but continued to stay as observers. During this period, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng also distributed the remaining benefits, from third and fourth order treasures to the vast territories left by the Golden Sword Sect, all in front of members of the two great families. This also served as a witness to prevent any party from reneging later, thereby avoiding unnecessary conflicts. Under the witness of Lin Tianming and his cohort, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng fiercely debated, each fighting for greater benefits on behalf of their respective sects. After an hour, the two great sects finally reached an agreement. Following this, of the remaining ten-plus fourth order treasures, the Zhenyang Sect obtained four, and Myriad Medicine Valley obtained six, with the total value being roughly equal. Regarding the territory left by the Golden Sword Sect, beyond the sixteen mountain ranges divided between the Chen Clan and the Lin Family, the remaining mountain ranges were taken by the Zhenyang Sect, thirty-six, and Myriad Medicine Valley, thirty-one. Additionally, following discussions between Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, eight mountain ranges near the West River Li Family were handed over to control by the Li Family, which suffered heavy losses in the great battle. This action was also seen as both major forces compensating the Li Family to avoid antagonizing cultivators paying attention to these events. After all, at this time, almost all major families and loose cultivators of Wei Kingdom were monitoring this issue. Both great sects had promises with the Li Family, who indeed had contributed significantly in the great battle, with Li Wenhe even perishing. It can be said that the Li Family¡¯s contributions to both sects were substantial. Although the Li Family was not given any third or fourth order treasures, providing them with more territory and supporting the Li Family cultivators was seen as beneficial. Otherwise, if no benefits were actually provided, even if the Li Family didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble due to the great difference in power, it would surely incite the anger of the Li Family Cultivators. Moreover, once all major families and loose cultivators became aware of this matter and saw the two great sects burning their bridges after crossing, it would definitely anger the cultivators and the sects would lose their credibility. If that were the case, recruiting them in the future would be impossible; no one would trust them anymore. Given this, the benefits that the Li Family received were something the two great sects dared not be too excessive with. As all these immediate benefits were finalized, Lin Tianming finally spoke up, bringing up the quotas for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. And Zhou Yunxiao, without wasting words, immediately produced the token from the Golden Sword Sect that controlled the secret realm and handed it to Lin Tianming. Following that, according to prior agreements, the Lin Family obtained twenty quotas for the secret realm, and the Chen Clan obtained five quotas. Additionally, thanks to the efforts of Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua, the Li Family also obtained three secret realm quotas. Although there was a discrepancy from the agreed number, it was still better than nothing. Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua did this also intending to support the Li Family as much as possible, fulfilling their duty as fellow clan cultivators. Besides this, they had a deeper motive for their actions. Considering that Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley were overly powerful, both the Lin Family and Chen Clan needed to form alliances with other forces to collectively deal with threats that could possibly arise from the two major sects. Although everything was calm at present, the future was unpredictable, so precautions were still necessary. In Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, families with too little strength were of no use, but the West River Li Family was a good choice. Although the Li Family currently lacked Golden Core Stage combat power, it was ultimately a Golden Core Family and had been around for two thousand years. As the saying goes, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse! The Li Family also possessed dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, not to mention their considerable territory and properties, making their overall strength the unchallenged first among the Foundation Establishing Families of today. One could say that the Li Family still possessed significant potential. If a Golden Core Cultivator were to emerge in the future, the Li Family would once again be able to join the ranks of top forces. By that time, recalling the help offered today by the Lin Family and Chen Clan, and with subsequent support, they would likely side with the Lin Family and Chen Clan¡¯s alliance. These were the reasons Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua strenuously argued. Fortunately, after their efforts, they had reached their goals and the matter had come to a successful conclusion. With the distribution of interests concluded, the major powers were quite satisfied; at least there were no obvious conflicts. Soon after, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng brought up the matter of the three major sects of Huangyang Kingdom and asked for opinions from the Lin Family and Chen Clan. Regarding this matter, Lin Tianming and his people along with Chen Maohua had already made some predictions and speculations. Judging by the attitudes of Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, they too seemed hesitant, not wanting the state to pursue accountability from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect to avoid provoking more intense contradictions. However, during this crisis, to have the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom exploiting the situation had resulted in the loss of more than twenty mountain ranges¡¯ influence, a severe blow. In their view, this undoubtedly added insult to injury. If it were not for the unexpected emergence of the Lin Family, the outcome could have been dire. Looking back at the situation then, had they been destroyed by the Golden Sword Sect, it would have been too late for anything. Fortunately, luck was on their side and the timing of the Lin Family¡¯s appearance was crucial; they managed to smoothly get through the crisis. Given the foundation of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Golden Core Sect¡¯s might, naturally, their anger had not subsided. Thus, they were not inclined to let this matter pass easily. Although Lin Tianming and his group did not show much reaction, they felt the same way internally. After all, the process of this great battle was indeed fraught with immense danger. The Lin Family had also nearly been annihilated by Xu Zhi of the Qingyun Sect, with Lin Shikang and others sustaining serious injuries. Now that the Lin Family had finally recovered, if they didn¡¯t even let out a peep, it would appear far too humble. Thus, Lin Tianming opened his mouth and said, ¡°Esteemed daoists, this time the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom exploited our troubles, bringing no small loss to Wei Kingdom¡¯s various forces.¡± ¡°We have now recovered some Yuan Qi, and if we do not inquire, they will certainly think that our forces in Wei Kingdom are too cowardly.¡± ¡°As such, their bullishness will only increase in the future, they might even oppress us, or perform a full-scale invasion of Wei Kingdom.¡± ¡°By that time, Wei Kingdom might not have any peaceful days!¡± ¡°Moreover, in my view, we should still send some top combatants to pursue accountability from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect.¡± ¡°Of course, overly provoking these major powers is not our intention.¡± ¡°What we need to do is merely show our stance to make them restrain themselves, but try our best to avoid radical actions to prevent an escalation into a larger war.¡± ¡°Especially since Wei Kingdom has just regained stability, our major forces have also suffered significant losses, and it really isn¡¯t easy to start a major conflict which could lead to a comprehensive escalation of the situation.¡± With these words, Lin Tianming analyzed the current situation from multiple angles. ¡­ Chapter 935 03-25 - 935 497 Meeting Conclusion ?Chapter 935: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion Chapter 935: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion While Lin Tianming had just finished speaking, Chen Maohua, standing beside him, quickly chimed in. ¡°Lin Daoyou is right!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Now, our losses are not small, and we urgently need time to recuperate and by leveraging the benefits left by the Golden Sword Sect, quickly restore our strength.¡± ¡°Therefore, it¡¯s not wise for the Wei Kingdom to excessively escalate the conflict at this time!¡± ¡°And in my view, as long as our strength is sufficient, they wouldn¡¯t dare to be too arrogant!¡± After hearing Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng pondered briefly and understood the rationale behind them. In fact, they felt the same way, just with a bit more resentment. ... However, they also realized that the overall strength of Huangyang Kingdom was stronger, much stronger than the current Wei Kingdom. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the Huangyang Kingdom had internal divisions and conflicts among its major forces, leading them to guard against each other, otherwise, if they could mobilize all their sect forces, or even just half their strength, the Wei Kingdom might already have been wiped out at this time, let alone maintaining the current status. In the end, the Wei Kingdom is currently the weaker party and cannot possibly compete with the Huangyang Kingdom. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng exchanged opinions and soon came to a decision. Following this, Zhou Yunxiao spoke, ¡°What the two Daoist friends said makes sense!¡± ¡°And our intention,¡± said Zhou Yunxiao, ¡°is to organize a group and make a trip to Huangyang Kingdom to get an explanation, and observe their reaction.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? ¡°Even if it¡¯s just to gain some benefits without fueling a bigger conflict, it¡¯s worth it.¡± ¡°If it truly is not feasible, then we must give up and wait until we are stronger in the future to settle scores with them.¡± As he said this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s tone became slightly sharper, clearly reluctant. But as the strongest cultivator of Myriad Medicine Valley and even of the Wei Kingdom, a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, he naturally wasn¡¯t a fool to have cultivated to this point. Since he could bend and stretch, deciding to let go now was precisely the outcome Lin Tianming and others hoped to see. Thus, Lin Tianming gestured with a cupped hand salute towards Zhou Yunxiao, then offered a compliment. ¡°Daoist Zhou¡¯s decision is for the tens of thousands of cultivators of the entire Wei Kingdom, Lin Mou admires you greatly.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why not set a time to travel together to Huangyang Kingdom.¡± ¡°I can assure you that the Lin Family, including myself, can still contribute one more Golden Core Stage Combat Power to join you.¡± ¡°I am also willing to accompany everyone on this journey!¡± Chen Maohua quickly expressed his stance without any hesitation. Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng nodded in approval. Subsequently, the group discussed and decided to dispatch eight Golden Core cultivators, with Myriad Medicine Valley contributing Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu. Zhenyang Sect would send three people: Lu Xingfeng, Chen Jingtian, and Lan Yu, each representing Golden Core Stage Combat Power. Along with Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang, as well as Chen Maohua from the Chen Clan, that totaled eight Golden Core Stage Combat Powers. This lineup was formidable: it included two Late Stage Golden Cores leading, combined with three Medium Stage and three Early Stage Golden Cores. Lin Tianming¡¯s power alone was nearly comparable to a Late Stage Golden Core, at the very least no less than the powerful Chen Jingtian. Such a lineup, even if traveling to the powerful Huangyang Kingdom, would at least have some security. As for the departure time, it was set for six months later, gathering at Lin Family Clan Grounds before heading out to Huangyang Kingdom. Everyone present agreed with these arrangements. With this confirmation, this high-level meeting officially came to an end. Subsequently, after a round of polite small talk, the group walked out of the auction and reappeared in the outside plaza. At that moment, the thousands of cultivators outside were still gathered, discussing the high-level cultivators¡¯ meeting and even debating significant issues. Now, seeing these top powerhouses of the Wei Kingdom, everyone¡¯s expression was calm, unlike the presence of any irreconcilable conflict. The cultivators on the plaza were all incredibly excited, visibly relieved. Most of these individuals were common folk, and they were very concerned and attentive to the relationships among the top forces of the Wei Kingdom. Considering the current state of the Wei Kingdom, where many things needed rebuilding, the last thing needed was a new crisis. Fortunately, given the current conditions, the major forces seemed harmonious, indicating that the Wei Kingdom was unlikely to face major disturbances. This outcome was precisely what these lower-level cultivators wanted to see. Thus, with Lin Tianming and other cultivators making a grand appearance, the plaza instantly buzzed with excitement. For a moment, many cultivators bowed in respect, their loud and orderly voices resonating in every corner. Seeing this scene, Lu Xingfeng, the host, smiled and waved his hand, breaking up the perfect moment. Once calm was restored, Lu Xingfeng looked at Lin Tianming and the others beside him, then announced Zhenyang Sect¡¯s agreement with the Lin Family, promising that within a year, Qianchuan Market and the Luoyang Mountain Range, along with six other mountain ranges, would be governed by the Lin Family. Furthermore, after these mountain ranges were under the Lin Family¡¯s control, the remaining Golden Core forces would recognize the Lin Family¡¯s rule. This news immediately caused a stir. Despite some cultivators with strength and foresight having speculated privately about the specific distribution of the benefits from the Golden Sword Sect. Chapter 936 03-25 - 936 497 Meeting Conclusion _2 ?Chapter 936: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion _2 Chapter 936: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion _2 However, they didn¡¯t expect the news to come this quickly, let alone that the top figure of Zhenyang Sect would announce it publicly in front of the many High Order Cultivators and the thousands of people present. Now that Lu Xingfeng had spoken, the matter was officially public and would soon spread throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Lin Tianming originally thought that the Zhenyang Sect would take some time to announce the news of the territory exchange, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be declared openly on the spot. But this was good, settling the matter sooner allowed the Lin Family to have some peace of mind. And from this day forward, the Lin Family was officially counted among the top forces of the Wei Kingdom, with their industries and territories recognized by several other powers. For the Lin Family, this symbolized a big step forward, moving from behind the scenes to the forefront. The Lin Family had worked hard for this day, and now they had finally achieved their long-standing ambition. ... Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt excited, his heart unable to calm down for a long time. Aside from him, Lin Shikang was also surging with emotion, his face always wearing a thick smile. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming looked at the sea of Cultivators before him and felt quite satisfied with Lu Xingfeng¡¯s efficiency in handling matters. At this moment, Lin Tianming watched the noisy atmosphere of the entire assembly of Cultivators, some whispering among themselves, talking about the Lin Family¡¯s news. Even more people came forward to bow and pay their respects to several members of the Lin Family, their words full of compliments. To this, Lin Tianming waved his hands politely in return, his approachable way of conducting himself earning a lot of applause. ¡°Lin Daoyou, the news has been officially announced, we just need to post notices in some workshops under the sect¡¯s command, and soon all the Cultivators of the Wei Kingdom will be aware of this matter!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Are you satisfied with this arrangement I¡¯ve made?¡± Lu Xingfeng¡¯s sudden statement took Lin Tianming by surprise, but he was indeed very content. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°With Lu Daoyou taking such personal care and being so thoughtful, naturally I am satisfied!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ then let¡¯s rest for a few days!¡± ¡°After the auction concludes, let¡¯s set out together for the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault to collect our respective benefits.¡± ¡°Half a year from now, we¡¯ll meet again at the Lin Family Clan Grounds!¡± Lu Xingfeng said to the Cultivators behind him. ¡°So it¡¯s settled!¡± ¡°I take my leave!¡± Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, along with a few others, greeted each other and then took Duan Liangyu and left first. Lin Tianming and the others also did not linger, waving their goodbyes before disappearing from the plaza. Back at the cave residence, Lin Tianming and the other two sat around in the small courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. The three were all beaming, their faces flushed with excitement. Due to the presence of others earlier, even in their excitement, they had refrained from showing too much emotion. Now back in the residence, they no longer suppressed the thrill in their hearts. Each person was brimming with smiles, their words filled with excitement. ¡°Tianming, this High Level meeting was unexpectedly smooth, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Shikang remarked, having originally thought it would take much effort and even prepared for a potential conflict. Unexpectedly, this time the major powers seemed restrained, not overly contentious about certain benefits. Under such circumstances, the meeting ended smoothly without much conflict. Lin Tianming was also surprised by this outcome. Regardless, the Lin Family had already received what they should have, with only the benefits from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault remaining. Once this part of the benefits was in hand, and they had fully taken control of the territories they exchanged with Zhenyang Sect, this distribution issue would be completely settled. As this goal was nearly achieved, perhaps within a year, the Lin Family would be able to rest and recuperate. Every time Tianming thought of this, his heart, which had just calmed down, started to stir once again. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming joked, ¡°It¡¯s best that the meeting went smoothly. These past few years, the major powers have suffered heavy losses and are exhausted.¡± ¡°At this critical juncture, unless it involves Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, they would not go as far as to completely break off relations.¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai, sitting beside him, nodded and agreed. ¡°Tianming¡¯s words are quite true!¡± ¡°The benefits left by the Golden Sword Sect are indeed significant, but Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect have now obtained the vast majority of them. For them, it¡¯s just the icing on the cake, hardly enough to push them to the Nascent Soul Stage.¡± ¡°Furthermore, with Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s need for defense, there is no reason for Wei Kingdom to continue its internal conflict.¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely why Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao agreed so readily.¡± ¡°Otherwise, if there were Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, no matter how dire the situation in Wei Kingdom, a deadly battle between the major forces would be inevitable.¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s analysis, Lin Tianming and the others also agreed. Fortunately, the situation did not develop in that direction, which could be considered a blessing for the major Golden Core Forces, and indeed, all of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivators. Otherwise, if they were to endure another war that swept through the entire Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have time to consolidate nor the means to continue building their strength. Now that the conference has concluded, the auction is in just two days. It is said that Zhenyang Sect has made elaborate preparations for this auction, even opening an auction ground for Golden Core Cultivators, which is a very high-profile event. For this, they have also brought out quite a few fine items and have heavily promoted the event. Lin Tianming had not attended an auction in a long time; the last time was before the beast tide war, more than ten years ago. At that time, he was at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level. However, due to the abundance of Treasure he possessed, as well as his strength and discerning eye, the ordinary items up for auction hardly drew his attention. Besides, he was too busy afterward. The continual crises in Wei Kingdom kept him either in secluded cultivation or involved in magic duels, leaving him no time to attend auctions. Now faced with a high-profile auction, Lin Tianming was quite curious and looking forward to seeing what good items Zhenyang Sect would put forward. But upon reflection, he did not hold much hope. After all, in the Golden Core Stage, ordinary items were no longer effective, and Lu Xingfeng would not easily part with any valuable Treasure for his own use, let alone others. Moreover, in the current Wei Kingdom, only the four major Golden Core Forces had Golden Core Stage Cultivators, totaling just over a dozen people. Now, all things considered, only a few people from Wei Kingdom would be participating in the auction at Qingshui Market. In the end, it might as well be called a swap meet rather than an auction. But since he was already here, there was no harm in staying a few more days. It would be a good opportunity to broaden his horizons and give Zhenyang Sect some face. After this was done, they would need to pay a visit to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Then, they would only have a few months of rest before setting out for Huangyang Kingdom once again. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t too concerned about this. In his view, this matter was highly likely to come to nothing; a visit was just a formality to show their stance. But since the decision was made, further thought was pointless. Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming chatted with Lin Shikang and the others for a while. Afterward, Lin Shikang began arrangements for the clan members to leave Qingshui Market, contacting those scattered outside in various Spirit Lands, taking the opportunity to reap benefits. After all, the territories had been allocated, and some of the Spirit Lands in the mountains belonged to the new Golden Core Forces. The Lin Family had already gained a lot of benefits in the past year; to continue to occupy those places for small gains would seem petty and lose the dignity befitting a Golden Core Family. A more significant reason was that a month or two of extra mining time was trivial compared to the Lin Family¡¯s current wealth. Therefore, it was unnecessary to lose dignity over such scant profits or cause unnecessary conflict. Thus, calling back the scattered clan members was a matter that could not be delayed. With these arrangements in place, the next step was to wait until tomorrow to set out together for the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. This trip was merely for collecting Treasure and could possibly be completed within a day or two. Once this task was accomplished, they would be ready to begin their return journey to the Lin Family Clan Grounds. For this day, Lin Shikang had been working hard outside for a year, and now it was time to return with a full load. Thinking of the vast resources they had acquired, including Fourth Order Treasures and several hundred Third Order Treasures, Lin Shikang felt a surge of excitement at the thought of Lin Shihua and the others seeing it all. As he eagerly anticipated their reaction, Lin Shikang¡¯s excitement grew. After calming down, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a while before each returned to their Practice Room. ¡­ Chapter 937 03-25 - 937 498 Return Fully Loaded ?Chapter 937: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded Chapter 937: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded On this clear morning, The Qingshui Market was bustling with people. A large number of cultivators walked in pairs, all heading toward the central auction house of the market. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Today was the day of the auction, and Lin Tianming had left his retreat early in the morning to wait for Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai to set off together. At this time, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai came out together, appearing in the courtyard. Upon seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming quickly went up to greet them. ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, you two elders seem to be in good spirits!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Shikang smiled and then explained, ¡°Everything has been going smoothly so far. Once the auction is over, we just need to take a detour to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, and then we can head home.¡± ¡°Having been away from the Lin Family for a year, I am now about to embark on the return journey, so of course, my mood is good.¡± ... Hearing this, Lin Tianming also smiled and joked for a bit. After exchanging a few courtesies, the three left the dwelling together, heading toward the auction. Before long, They arrived at the auction venue. Under the guidance of a Zhenyang Sect disciple, they were taken to a reception hall on the highest level. There, Chen Maohua had already arrived and was comfortably sitting on a jade chair, sipping Spiritual Tea. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï The four greeted each other and then gathered to chat leisurely, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao and a few other companions to arrive. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhou Yunxiao and the others arrived. As soon as they entered, Lin Tianming and the others quickly got up to greet them, very courteously. With the arrival of Zhou Yunxiao and his group, there were now nine Golden Core Stage cultivators in the reception room, accounting for a significant part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s top cultivators. Then, those present greeted each other and chatted for a while. Meanwhile, the two floors below them in the venue were already noisy with people. A large number of cultivators had come from afar just to attend this grand auction. Moreover, with the Zhenyang Sect releasing some information about the treasures beforehand and the gathering of numerous Golden Core experts, the auction became even more majestic. Now, as the lower-level cultivator¡¯s auction proceeded as scheduled, some Lin Family Members also participated in it. With the harvest of the past year, the Lin Family Members had been busy, participating in the bidding multiple times and successfully acquiring numerous precious treasures. On the third floor of the auction house, however, where Lin Tianming and his group were because there were not many of them and they all knew each other the nominal auction had turned into an exchange of equals. Under the leadership of Lu Xingfeng, everyone brought out impressive treasures, with the lowest items being of the Third Order. Clearly, with the recent overthrow of the Golden Sword Sect, all the major powers and individuals had obtained a substantial amount of spoils of war. Thus, the treasures brought out at this so-called auction were all of considerable value, and everyone seemed well-prepared. Otherwise, in normal times, if someone had a valuable treasure, they would cherish it and keep it to themselves, and they wouldn¡¯t want to part with it unless they were in dire need of something else. Lin Tianming, among others, had many treasures on him, the vast majority of which were spoils from killing those few people. With the backing of several Golden Core cultivator households, his wealth was profound, certainly enough to overwhelmingly dominate most of his peers. Perhaps even an established powerful cultivator like Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t compare with him. In fact, it was possible that even the leaders of factions like Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng wouldn¡¯t dare claim to surpass him in terms of personal wealth. In this case, Lin Tianming was not stingy and brought out several high-value Third Grade Treasures that were rare. As the hosts and strongest of the Wei Kingdom, especially Lu Xingfeng, brought out several good items for this occasion. The others brought at least two and at most four treasures for the exchange. As for the exchange items, they were essentially treasures of equivalent value. Even if some items differed slightly in value, the difference would be made up with Medium-grade Spirit Stones or other treasures. Among the many treasures, one Blood Jade Ginseng and one piece of Fire Essence Gold particularly aroused Lin Tianming¡¯s interest. The reason for this was that Blood Jade Ginseng could slightly enhance one¡¯s cultivation, and although it wasn¡¯t very effective for Golden Core Mid-Late Stage cultivators, it was perfect for an early-stage cultivator like Lin Tianming. As it is known, in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World at this time, the main reliance for Golden Core Stage cultivators to enhance their cultivation were elixirs. A natural Spirit Fruit like Blood Jade Ginseng was definitely much stronger than a Yuxu Pill. Therefore, such treasures that could directly enhance cultivation were very rare and extremely precious. Lu Xingfeng was willing to offer this Blood Jade Ginseng, showing his intention to make this exchange a success. As for the piece of Fire Essence Gold, it came from Zhou Yunxiao. Because Fire Essence Gold is an excellent Artifact Refining material that is seldom seen, its value amongst Third Order Spiritual Ore is also quite solid. Seeing these two items, Lin Tianming was highly covetous. In his eyes, the Blood Jade Ginseng could be consumed to enhance cultivation, and the Fire Essence Gold could be used in Artifact Refining, both categories of treasures he urgently needed. So, with his arrangements, he also brought out several high-value treasures that he did not need. Added with several thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, he finally managed to exchange for these two treasures with Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao. Following that, Lin Shikang and the others also found their gains, trying to exchange the treasures they temporarily didn¡¯t need for those suitable for themselves. As time slowly passed, after spending nearly half a day, the exchange finally came to a successful conclusion. Chapter 938 03-25 - 938 498 Return Fully Loaded_2 ?Chapter 938: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded_2 Chapter 938: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded_2 The group, having each reaped some benefits, was in high spirits and soon began exchanging cultivation experiences. With Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, two powerful Late Stage Golden Core cultivators present, their experiences were of great help to Lin Tianming and the other Early Stage Golden Core cultivators. Lin Tianming and the others earnestly sought advice, and Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng were generous with their knowledge. After a round of exchanges, everyone benefited greatly, gaining a deeper understanding of cultivation. It was foreseeable that in their future cultivation journey, they would be able to avoid some detours. It wasn¡¯t until midday that this exchange meeting finally concluded. Lin Tianming and his two companions bid farewell and then left the auction together. ... Shortly after, all the Golden Core cultivators dispersed. Meanwhile, the auction for the lower-order cultivators was still going on intensely, with various treasures continually appearing and the atmosphere extremely lively. The auction continued until the evening and finally officially ended, with some cultivators beginning to slowly leave. The Lin Family members returned to their cave dwelling and immediately went to report to Lin Shikang. Learning that the clan members had spent a lot of spirit stones and acquired many rare treasures, Lin Shikang was also quite excited. In his eyes, not only had the Golden Core clan members, including himself, gained much, but the lower clan members had also obtained significant resources over the past couple of years. Moreover, this time the Lin Family had acquired a vast amount of treasures, six huge mountain ranges as territory, and a complete medium-sized workshop. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? With such substantial gains, just a few years of management would allow the Lin Family¡¯s foundation to rapidly improve, and their influence in Wei Kingdom could reach a new height. In the next decade or more, it would be a time of rapid development for the Lin Family. With enough resources in hand, the Lin Family was sure to undergo a major transformation, from top to bottom. For this day, the Lin Family members had worked hard, and now they had finally received a rich reward. Whenever he thought of this, he was brimming with excitement. At the same time, remembering the words entrusted to him by his ancestors as they passed away, he felt even more fortunate and gratified. He was fortunate that the Lin Family had produced a true Hidden Dragon. He was gratified that this generation of Lin Family members had lived up to their responsibilities, now completely surpassing the family¡¯s peak period. After calming himself a bit, Lin Shikang¡¯s eyes were moist with tears, deeply moved by the pressures they had faced over the years. Now, as the Lin Family rose to become a significant force in Wei Kingdom, And with Lin Tianming and his wife, as well as the Wind Spirit Root genius Lin Tianyun, the Lin Family¡¯s potential was tremendous, with even grander goals ahead. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this day, he would fully support them to go further, a responsibility laden with great duty. Realizing this, Lin Shikang took a deep breath, then made many arrangements for the clan members. After everything was properly arranged, Lin Tianming and his companions each returned to their rooms to rest. The next morning, Outside the Qingshui Market, Lin Tianming and other Lin Family members waited on the side. As people from Zhou Yunxiao and several other powers arrived one after another, those heading to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate gathered. After exchanging greetings, Lu Xingfeng took out a Flying Boat. Soon, everyone boarded the Flying Boat, flying towards the location of the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. After half a month of non-stop flying, the Flying Boat smoothly arrived at the location of the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. On the deck of the Flying Boat, Lin Tianming and his companions stood side by side, their eyes looking down at the square below, their expressions filled with excitement. A year had passed since they last visited this place, and Lin Tianming was filled with many emotions. The place had originally suffered a devastating battle and was riddled with scars. However, after a year of restoration and recovery, the Golden Sword Mountain Gate had been completely revitalized, almost fully regaining its former majestic appearance. However, there weren¡¯t many people stationed here now, mostly disciples and clan members from various powers, obviously far fewer than when the Golden Sword Sect controlled it. Moreover, in a short while, all the powers stationed here would completely withdraw, and the site would be fully handed over to Zhenyang Sect. Lin Tianming and his companions had come here to retrieve the dividends belonging to the Lin Family. Among these, the treasures of the Third and Fourth Rank were crucial, and the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect was also a treasure that the Lin Family had long desired. With the establishment of this Third Order Defense Array, the Lin Family Clan Grounds¡¯ security had substantially heightened. Should they encounter attacks from two or three Golden Core Stage Cultivators again, they could at least hold out for an extended period. At the same time, this defensive array had also enhanced the gathering of spiritual energy on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Although the previous defensive array of the Lin Family was quite impressive and had a decent effect in gathering spiritual energy, that formation was ultimately a Second Order Great Array, which evidently had a huge gap compared to the Third Order Great Array of the Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, as the Lin Family began to have more High Order Cultivators and the size of the clan¡¯s population grew, the Second Order Formation could not possibly sustain the vast consumption of the Clan Members. Therefore, the original array of the Lin Family was no longer sufficient for their use. However, acquiring this formation had cost the Lin Family a considerable price, but they had managed to acquire it successfully. It could be said that with this Defensive Great Formation, the weaknesses of the Lin Family could be remedied once again. At least until they faced a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, the Lin Family would not need to worry about the formation again. It was with this purpose in mind that Lin Tianming and several others rushed over with the main force. How could one not feel excited about the moment to reap the benefits from various families? Meanwhile, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not delay, taking a few people off the Flying Boat. Following that, under the guidance of several reception cultivators, Lin Tianming and the others went to the Treasure Vault of the Golden Sword Sect, and then each took away the treasures allocated to them according to the previously arranged details. The Lin Family had obtained their share of treasures, all that was left was this Defensive Great Formation from the Golden Sword Sect. However, dismantling the Defensive Great Formation would take some time, and the Zhenyang Sect also needed to temporarily establish a new formation to replace the dismantled Third Order Great Array. With this, the cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Chen Clan saw no need to stay any longer and left Golden Sword Mountain Gate first. After these people left, only the Zhenyang Sect and Lin Family Members remained to evacuate. Although Lin Tianming and his companions were eager to return home, they did not mind waiting a few more days. Thus, they planned to wait a few days, and once the Zhenyang Sect had arranged everything and they could acquire the long-awaited Third Order Great Array, they would then depart with the clan members stationed there, embarking on the journey back to the Clan Grounds. This waiting spanned three days. On this day, within a certain cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and two others gathered for a casual chat. At that moment, the ground beneath their feet began to shake. At the same time, while the spiritual energy in the sky had been calm and gentle, it suddenly surged violently. However, this change lasted only a few breaths before quickly returning to tranquility. Feeling this change, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Tianming, could it be that the previous Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect has been dismantled by the Zhenyang Sect disciples?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°It should be so!¡± ¡°The vibration just now, and the changes in the spiritual energy, were obviously due to the disruptions caused by a clash of spiritual energies.¡± ¡°As it calms down, a new formation must have taken effect!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded his head, largely agreeing with Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation. Sure enough, merely a tea time later, Lu Xingfeng sent a message, summoning the three to gather at the cave dwelling. Receiving this message, Lin Tianming and his companions were even more certain that the recent disturbances were caused by the dismantling of the formation. Given this, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s message to them was probably about handing over the defensive formation. With this in mind, the three did not delay and hurriedly went together. In Lu Xingfeng¡¯s cave dwelling, they indeed saw all the core components of the Defensive Great Formation, including the Array Plate and Array Flags, all well-prepared. With this set of formations, all the Lin Family needed was an Array Master to install it on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. The requirements for activating and installing the formation were not high for an Array Master; even someone who wasn¡¯t an Array Master could complete it. Now that these items were right in front of them, Lin Tianming and the others were incredibly excited. After transferring the formation from Lu Xingfeng, the Lin Family had basically obtained all their benefits. Subsequently, after bidding farewell to Lu Xingfeng, the three immediately gathered the Lin Family troops, left the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, and flew toward the southern location of the Lin Family Clan Grounds. ¡­ Chapter 939 03-25 - 939 499 Shocking the Clan Leader ?Chapter 939: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader Chapter 939: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. At noon that day, a huge shadow swept across the outskirts of Green Bamboo Mountain at an incredible speed. On the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and two others stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the familiar scenery below, their faces flushed with color. Behind them sat more than twenty clansmen, cross-legged. It seemed some clansmen were meditating, while others chatted in pairs, their faces filled with broad smiles, clearly in high spirits. These people had all been stationed near the Golden Sword Mountain Gate and the Qingshui Market. As Lin Tianming and his group started their journey back to the clan, these people also needed to return, so they followed them and retreated first. ... S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for other clansmen stationed in more remote areas, they would group together and return on their own after the messengers had reached them. With Lin Tianming¡¯s group leading, this return journey was rather smooth, taking up only about half a month and they did not stop at Qianchuan Market. They did not even pause near the nearby Golden Horn Mountain. Like this, they traveled continuously and finally returned from the distant Golden Sword Sect back to Green Bamboo Mountain. At this point, Lin Tianming and the others were watching the familiar landscape below and a smile flashed across their faces. ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, we have finally returned victorious!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s exclamation, Lin Shikang and the other nodded, their hearts also filled with surprise and joy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Let¡¯s go down!¡± Lin Shikang said, and he was the first to jump down from the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, then disappeared into thin air. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. The Purple Gold Eagle he was on tore through the void like a streak of light and entered the Mountain Protection Array. As everyone disappeared, the clansmen guarding the gate watched intently at the disappearing Purple Gold Eagle, their hearts throbbing with excitement. Obviously, they recognized the Purple Gold Eagle and clearly saw who was on its back. Even though those clansmen did not stop to greet them, they felt nothing improper. After all, the Lin Family was developing comprehensively now, and practically all Golden Core Stage Clansmen were elders. For these clansmen, Golden Core Stage Clansmen were like dragons ¨C see the head but not the tail. Thus, the interactions between the senior clan members and these people naturally grew less and less. Such occurrences are not rare in the Cultivation World. The Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family were all very busy. Not just in the Lin Family but in any other faction, it was almost impossible for Golden Core Cultivators and Qi Refiners to meet unless they were close kin. Therefore, these clansmen guarding the gate felt no surprise, let alone dissatisfaction. Instead, they felt incredibly thrilled and proud to have seen these legendary family members. This lasted until the Purple Gold Eagle had long disappeared, and only then did these clansmen recover from their astonishment. Upon returning to the clan grounds, Lin Tianming and the others did not know what was being quietly discussed by the clansmen at the mountain gate. Once they reached the clan grounds, the clansmen greeted each other and then began to disperse. Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai also did not linger and flew straight towards Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. In a short while, When the arrival of Lin Tianming and others was known, several senior clansmen of the Shi generation put aside their work and gathered together. In the courtyard, Lin Shihua and others were all extremely excited, smiles constantly on their faces. Apparently, Lin Tianming¡¯s recent trip to Qingshui Market was also directed by the Lin Family¡¯s objectives. For this matter, Lin Shihua had been quite worried, fearing that the negotiations would not go smoothly leading to conflicts and stirring up turbulence in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Now that Lin Tianming and his group had returned safely, the negotiations must have gone smoothly, achieving the Lin Family¡¯s aims. However, Lin Shihua was not entirely sure, so he promptly began to inquire. Following this, Lin Shikang smiled faintly and recounted his recent experience in Qingshui Market to the curious group. Lin Shikang provided a thorough account, from the clan stripping the Golden Sword Sect of its assets to all the resources the Lin Family had secured. Learning that the Lin Family had acquired a vast amount of treasures, including several third and fourth rank items, Lin Shihua was thrilled yet managed to remain composed. But hearing that the Lin Family had acquired six territories of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, including the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Third Order Defense Array, Lin Shihua and the others briefly lost their composure. At that moment, their faces grew incredibly red, their breathing quickened. Before they had a chance to catch their breath, Lin Shikang continued about the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm¡¯s entry spots. Learning that the Lin Family had obtained twenty spots to the Secret Realm, had acquired the Control Token from the Golden Sword Sect, and that Yangzong had officially announced all the results, Lin Shihua and the others were once again unable to remain calm. The scene became quiet for a time; only Lin Shihua¡¯s voice could be heard intermittently muttering, ¡°Good¡­ good!¡± ¡°May the ancestors bless us¡­¡± Seeing their expressions and hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words, they were obviously stunned by the immense benefits, leading to overwhelming excitement. After some time, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes were red as he couldn¡¯t help but express, ¡°With these vast resources, the Lin Family won¡¯t have to worry about resources for the next decades, even a hundred years!¡± Chapter 940 03-25 - 940 499 Shocking the Clan Leader_2 ?Chapter 940: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader_2 Chapter 940: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader_2 No sooner had the voice faded than Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t help but take over the conversation. ¡°Furthermore, with the Third Order Great Array from the Golden Sword Sect, the basic safety of our clan land is guaranteed. Even if a Golden Core Cultivator attacks, the Lin Family can hold out for some time.¡± ¡°In addition to that, the territory and the Qianchuan Market that the Lin Family acquired is a significant enhancement to our family¡¯s foundation.¡± ¡°With this foundation, our Lin Family can develop rapidly. In the future, catching up with the other two Great Sects, and perhaps even surpassing them, is not impossible.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, thoroughly agreeing in his heart. However, in his eyes, there was another important matter that couldn¡¯t be omitted: the Lin Family had stepped out from the shadows into the light. As Lu Xingfeng publicly announced the Lin Family¡¯s interests and the territory they exchanged, it signaled the recognition of the Lin Family by several other major powers and their emergence as one of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s top three forces. ... With recognition from these powers, other forces in the Wei Kingdom, both large and small, had no choice but to accept the Lin Family. Such a transformation, though merely a title, was a step that every major power had to take to establish a long-standing presence in the region. Now, the Lin Family has achieved the stature both in terms of real strength and nominally that befits a major power. Recognized by the three Golden Elixir Forces, those smaller families dared not harbor any dissatisfaction. From now on, it can be foreseen that the Lin Family will further advance from an obscure Foundation Establishing Family to become one of the three leading powers of the Wei Kingdom. With such a title, wherever Lin Family Members went, they carried an invisible clan might, forcing those with sinister intentions to think twice. Such is the influence of Golden Elixir Forces! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Although unseen and intangible, it was a genuine presence. Now that the Lin Family had achieved its goal, sooner and faster than planned, it was a pleasant surprise. Knowing this, including Lin Tianming, couldn¡¯t help but feel excited for a while. Now that Lin Shihua and the others were aware of these developments, they felt genuinely delighted. As everyone gradually calmed down, Lin Shikang also shifted the topic, bringing up the matter of their trip to Huangyang Kingdom. Regarding this matter, they had already made arrangements with Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. According to the prior plan, it would still be the three of them from the Lin Family going on the trip, as for whether they could achieve their goal, they would take it one step at a time. If they could take advantage of the situation, great; if not, they would simply let it go. They couldn¡¯t afford to fight over some uncertain benefits and thus disrupt the hard-won peace of the Wei Kingdom. Once Lin Tianming knew this, he was less worried. As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua was naturally a clever person. With a little thought, he could also grasp the general situation. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this in mind, there was no need to worry too much about Huangyang Kingdom. What he was more concerned about was the handover between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect, as well as the development plans for the family. Thinking of this, Lin Shihua immediately asked, ¡°Third brother, how are we going to handle the handover with the Zhenyang Sect, and how should we manage and develop that territory?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang thought for a moment and then replied, ¡°According to the agreement, the handover with the Zhenyang Sect will be completed within a year.¡± ¡°What we need to do is to send someone to Qianchuan Market to meet with the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s representatives and to obtain the control over the market¡¯s various prohibitive formations and arrays.¡± ¡°We need to have the various shop and cave dwelling contracts within the market.¡± ¡°In addition, we need to be clear about the lease contracts for the various shops and cave dwellings and sign new lease agreements, making sure there are no oversights.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shihua nodded, realizing that this task was indeed a major project and quite tricky at that. The Qianchuan Market was a medium-sized marketplace with hundreds of shops and thousands of cultivator dwellings. Such a vast enterprise would inevitably have numerous prohibitions and lease contracts to transfer, requiring many hands and a complex procedure. Therefore, the person leading the handover to the market needed not only sufficient cultivation strength but also a certain standing and sound decision-making abilities. After all, the person representing the Lin Family in Qianchuan Market needed adequate standing and cultivation; otherwise, the task would naturally be challenging. But once the handover was complete, just the revenue from the Qianchuan Market could earn the Lin Family hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones each year. Such income, compared to the profits from all of the Lin Family¡¯s current enterprises combined, would be considerably more. And that doesn¡¯t even include the tribute that should be offered by the major families inhabiting those other mountain ranges. You should know, the area of the Luoyang Mountain Range and a few other mountain ranges is not small; each is much larger than the Luoyun Mountain Range. The largest of them, the Qianchuan Mountain Range, is home to ten Foundation Establishment Families, and there are nearly a hundred Qi Refining Families. Just from the Qianchuan Mountain Range territory alone, every few decades, a tribute of several hundred thousand Spirit Stones could be collected. If we include the other mountain ranges, the Lin Family can secure enough Spirit Stones for the next century. And these foundations are the benefits brought by being a Golden Core Family. Thinking about this point, Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. The Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley had inherited their power for so long; before the fall of the Golden Sword Sect, they controlled a vast territory of nearly a hundred mountain ranges. It was precisely because of such foundational conditions that they were able to gain enough benefits to ensure the consumption of tens of thousands of disciples of the two Great Sects. At the same time, it was only with such a foundation that they could support the inheritance of their two Great Sects for thousands of years. Now, the Lin Family has also taken a big step forward and can gradually accumulate resources and a foundation, reaching a new height is also not impossible. Regaining his focus, Lin Shihua pondered for a moment, then said. ¡°The mountain ranges that we have acquired as territory, together for a few years, are home to nearly a hundred Foundation Establishing Families, and there are even a few hundred more Qi Refining Families that are slightly stronger.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, this is also no small force!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we should pick a day to hold a meeting, to summon the major families to formally form an alliance.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and a few others nodded, firmly approving of Lin Shihua¡¯s plan. Therefore, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°This matter can be set for one year from now. At that time, we can invite those families to come over and seize the opportunity to settle the specific details of the tribute.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded in agreement, taking the lead in showing support. Following that, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong also spoke up, agreeing with the plan. ¡°Since everyone has no objections, let¡¯s settle this matter!¡± After saying this, Lin Shihua continued to inquire, ¡°So, for the family members heading to the Qianchuan Market and the Zhenyang Sect transition, which clan members do you plan to arrange to lead the team?¡± This question by Lin Shihua was key. Lin Shikang and the others were also deep in thought, beginning to consider the candidates internally. Soon after, Lin Shikang was the first to speak up, ¡°Xingrong has long resided over the family¡¯s various Spirit Lands, deals with people smoothly, and is not known for a fiery temperament, making him extremely experienced.¡± ¡°With his cultivation strength being not too low, and knowing quite a few cultivators, I see him as a very good choice!¡± The moment these words were spoken, delight appeared on Lin Shihua¡¯s face, clearly extremely satisfied. ¡°Third Brother speaks true!¡± ¡°Since you all will be heading to the Huangyang Kingdom and Shi Lu, being a hidden member of the family, is not suitable to appear, Xingrong is the most suitable of the current Foundation Establishment Cultivators to lead the team.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu also nodded, feeling satisfied with the arrangement. Thus, a decision was promptly made on who would lead the team. Once Lin Xingrong returned to the family lands and had rested for some time, he would set out again, assisted by Lin Xingyi and several other key clan members, to undertake the handover at Qianchuan Market. Having arranged for this matter, with the urgent issues now mostly taken care of, all that was left was the urgent need to replace the Mountain Protection Array. Fully aware of this, Lin Shihua immediately arranged for the family¡¯s Array Masters to start the process of replacing the formations as soon as possible. As these major issues were settled, Lin Tianming and the others let out a sigh of relief, and their slightly exhausted hearts also relaxed. Following this, Lin Shikang, in front of everyone, handled the handover of the large amount of resources they had acquired. Afterward, the group chatted idly for a while before they took their leave and departed. ¡­ Chapter 941 03-25 - 941 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation ?Chapter 941: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation Chapter 941: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation The following morning at dawn. The institutions across the Lin Family Clan Grounds bustled significantly, as a large number of clanspeople gathered together, discussing the news of Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ return. ¡°Have you heard?¡± ¡°Third Grandfather and the rest returned yesterday, and quite a number of clanspeople came back with him.¡± At that moment, a young Qi Refining Stage Clan Member said to several companions nearby. No sooner had his voice fallen than another Qi Refining Stage Clan Member also spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s said that the family¡¯s gains this time were enormous, not to mention the number of treasures obtained. Plus, Qianchuan Market and several surrounding mountain ranges now all belong to our Lin Family!¡± ... His statement immediately caused a sensation, with some clanspeople, who were unaware of this news, immediately becoming sceptical yet hopeful. ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°If it is true, the foundation of our Lin Family would have doubled, and from now on, we could go to Qianchuan Market to train for extended periods.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just Qianchuan Market!¡± ¡°The several mountain ranges around Qianchuan Market are all our Lin Family¡¯s territory. If we want to train, there are so many options to choose from.¡± Hearing these words from his fellow clansmen, the clan member who shared the news smiled excitedly. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? ¡°These words come from Uncle Xing Jin; he accompanied Third Grandfather on an expedition to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory and stayed for a full year, reportedly amassing many treasures.¡± ¡°Moreover, the terms that Third Grandfather negotiated in Qingshui Market have already been spread locally.¡± ¡°The key point is, Elder Lu of Zhenyang Sect personally acknowledged the Lin Family¡¯s benefits in front of thousands of cultivators in Qingshui Market.¡± ¡°Although the family¡¯s upper echelons have not touted this matter yet, coming from Uncle Xing Jin, the authenticity should be quite high.¡± With this explanation, the skeptical clanspeople were suddenly filled with joy, their faces flushed with excitement, and their hearts thrilled. Subsequently, the clanspeople vigorously discussed this news. At this time, several passing clanspeople joined in, making the gathering even larger. Meanwhile, some clanspeople who left the conversational groups went about spreading the news they had heard. Soon, nearly all of the Lin Family¡¯s thousands of clanspeople, from the Foundation Establishment Stage middle forces to the Qi Refining Stage youths in their teens, had received this astonishing news. For a while, the entire Lin Family Clan Grounds were as noisy as a boiling pot, the lively scene unable to settle down for a long time. And such scenes were not only playing out on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. In Qianchuan Market, Dragon Spring Market¡­ Several mediums-sized workshop territories under Zhenyang Sect, including affiliated mountain ranges, were also abuzz. Meanwhile, within the vast domain of Myriad Medicine Valley. With Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s disciples returning from participating in the extermination of the Remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, and the subsequent looting, the general details of the negotiations among the major powers also began to circulate locally. And with these reports, countless cultivators were discussing. For a moment, these cultivators were filled with curiosity about the Lin Family, a clan rising like a comet. Not only that, they were also filled with great respect, knowing about the Lin Family¡¯s achievements. Such fervor showed no sign of calming down anytime soon. Even with some cultivators fanning the flames, the Lin Family became the go-to topic amongst cultivators during leisurely chats. As a result, almost every cultivator, and even some common folk, were aware that the Lin Family had become one of Wei Kingdom¡¯s three major powers. This influence directly surpassed that of the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family, which were longer-established Golden Core Families. The Lin Family remained unaware of this for the time being. Currently, inside the Lin Family, regardless of one¡¯s cultivation or status, the clanspeople were abuzz like the other cultivators elsewhere. As they were members of the clan, and the Lin Family was the main protagonist behind this sensational news, the fervor within the Lin Family exceeded all other places. And while the Lin Family was bustling, Lin Shihua, the Clan Leader, was quite busy. In the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, Lin Shihua sent out messages, summoning a few clan members. At that time, Lin Shihua sat in a high seat, with several key institutional heads of the Lin Family standing beside him. In front of them were three people, looking extremely respectful and somewhat puzzled. Among these three, one was a Second Order Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator named Lin Tianluo, one of only three Array Masters of the Lin Family. Lin Tianluo was talented; at just over thirty years of age, he had already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Such a talent in cultivation was noteworthy among the Tian generation clan members. Additionally, his talent in array formations was nothing short of exceptional. Although for now, he was still at the Late Stage of First Order as an Array Master. But with his talents, coupled with the family¡¯s strong support in recent years, advancing to Second Order was only a matter of time. The other two were in the Late Stage of Qi Refining and were also some of the few Array Masters in the Lin Family so far. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, these two clan members were clearly not as gifted in array formations as Lin Tianluo was. Even so, these three Array Masters were treasured by the Lin Family, who provided them with plentiful resources and valued their development above other clan members skilled in Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging. Such was the case because Array Masters were too rare and advancement was fraught with difficulties. Consequently, the art of Array Masters was highly sought after, demanding immense talent and greater resources, beyond the means of an average power to cultivate. Chapter 942 03-25 - 942 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars ?Chapter 942: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation_2 Chapter 942: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation_2 Even Myriad Medicine Valley, with its legacy spanning ten thousand years, only had a few dozen disciples under its Array Masters. Among them, those who could reach the Second Order level were few, let alone a Third Order Formation Master. This showed how challenging it was to train Array Masters. Had it not been for the Lin Family¡¯s explosive growth in power over the years and the acquisition of certain formation inheritances, coupled with the family¡¯s deliberate efforts to cultivate talent in this area, they would not have been able to produce three First Order Array Masters. Otherwise, with the Lin Family¡¯s clan power from decades ago, even if they had exhausted all their resources, it would have been difficult to train even a single Array Master in the Late Stage of the First Order. Now, the Lin Family not only had its own Array Masters, but three of them. Among these three, Lin Tianluo was the youngest and clearly had much more talent. ... Given some time, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult for him to advance further in the Formation Dao and break through to the Second Order. At this time, Lin Tianluo looked up at the Clan Leader and asked with confusion, ¡°Clan Leader, why have you and the elders summoned us? What is the matter?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua burst into laughter and then swung his sleeve, sending a golden Array Plate and seven small flags flying towards Lin Tianluo. Lin Tianluo looked puzzled, but he still caught the Array Plate and Array Flags and immediately examined them. Soon, his expression changed, and he began to breathe rapidly. ¡°This¡­this¡­this is a Third Order Great Array¡¯s Array Plate and Array Flags?¡± Lin Tianluo, evidently shocked, spoke in a stammer. The other two Array Masters heard this and quickly gathered around, staring at the Array Plate in Lin Tianluo¡¯s hands in astonishment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Tian Luo, do you recognize this formation?¡± Lin Shihua asked, bringing Lin Tianluo and the others back to reality. After calming down, Lin Tianluo thought for a moment and then replied, ¡°Reporting to the Clan Leader, this Array Plate and Flags, when set up, should form the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianluo¡¯s statement, the other two Array Masters seemed to realize something and exclaimed in surprise. ¡°The Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation?¡± ¡°Could it be the legendary Big Dipper Seven Stars Great Formation from Golden Sword Mountain Gate?¡± It was clear that the Mountain Protection Array of Golden Sword Sect was well known within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Especially to Array Masters, who meticulously studied the defensive formations of top powers in Wei Kingdom on regular days. The Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation, a formation of great repute and one of the classic Third Order Formations, was no exception. According to various classic texts and experiences, this formation, based on the Big Dipper constellation and laid out using special terrain, possessed formidable offensive and defensive power. Thus, this legendary powerful formation was naturally known to them. They just hadn¡¯t imagined that this famous and invaluable Defensive Great Formation would appear in the hands of the Lin Family. However, upon careful consideration, they roughly understood the reason. After all, Golden Sword Sect had fallen, and all the treasures and properties left behind were to be divided among the four major Golden Elixir Forces. And with the Lin Family contributing significantly in that great battle, if they were determined to acquire this defensive formation, obtaining it with a certain cost was not impossible. Understanding this, Lin Tianluo was less surprised. As his state of mind gradually stabilized, Lin Tianluo guessed the reason Lin Shihua summoned them. Thus, without delay, Lin Tianluo asked, ¡°Clan Leader, did you call us here to have us set up the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation and replace the original Mountain Protection Array?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded with satisfaction, thinking that Lin Tianluo, this junior, was indeed exceptional, not only ranking high among his peers in cultivation but also possessing tremendous talent in the Formation Dao. Additionally, Lin Tianluo was keen-witted and broad-minded. He recognized the legendary formation just by looking at the Array Plate and Flags. At the same time, he could guess the purpose of their summoning, and seeing Lin Tianluo¡¯s composed demeanor, it seemed certain he could set up the formation. At this thought, Lin Shihua was very pleased and somewhat impatient inside. Then, Lin Shihua paused before saying, ¡°Tian Luo, are you confident in setting up the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianluo nodded and replied, ¡°Clan Leader, although the grade of this formation is high, it is known to every Array Master.¡± ¡°With the complete tools at our disposal and the combined efforts of several clansmen, it should take some time and energy but should be sufficient to set it up completely.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the other two clansmen also echoed. ¡°Tian Luo is right, his expertise in Formation Dao is stronger than ours, with the two of us assisting, setting it up should not be a problem.¡± Seeing the confidence of Lin Tianluo and the three, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression brightened, and he repeatedly expressed his admiration. ¡°Ha ha¡­ That¡¯s really great!¡± ¡°You three must not delay, immediately set aside what you are currently doing and arrange the formation as soon as possible to replace the old Mountain Protection Array.¡± After this statement, Lin Shihua also instructed Lin Xingzhi who was beside him, ¡°Xing Zhi, as the Enforcement Hall Master, increase the patrols around the Sect Entrance Plaza.¡± ¡°At the same time, personally monitor the progress of the formation setup, cooperate fully with Tian Luo and his group, and report any difficulties to me immediately.¡± ¡°Remember, this Defensive Great Formation is crucial for the safety of our clan grounds and must be implemented as soon as possible.¡± Hearing this and observing Lin Shihua¡¯s serious expression, Lin Xingzhi dared not take it lightly. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Clan Leader, rest assured, I will supervise this matter with all my efforts.¡± Lin Xingzhi¡¯s expression was grave and his attitude resolute, fully understanding the importance of this Defensive Great Formation to the family. Lin Shihua nodded, gave a few more instructions, then had Lin Xingzhi take Lin Tianluo and the others away from the Elders¡¯ Council to set up the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation. At the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Xingzhi and others gathered together. At this moment, Lin Xingzhi looked at Lin Tianluo and then asked, ¡°Tian Luo, ready to start?¡± ¡°Uncle, my cousins and I will start right away.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianluo exchanged a few words with the people beside him, and then they each took out an Array Plate, working together to dismantle the family¡¯s original Defensive Great Formation. Days like these slowly passed, gradually stabilizing within the entire clan grounds, and the previous bustle returned to normal. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. That day, the Lin Family Clan Grounds shook, and the Spiritual Energy in the sky surged violently. This commotion immediately attracted a large number of clansmen to come out. For a while, many people gathered together, each showing a look of horror, and some even began muttering to themselves. ¡°Could this commotion be an attack on our family¡¯s Defensive Great Formation?¡± ¡°How is that possible? All of our Lin Family Golden Core Stage Clansmen are within the clan, and with the Lin Family¡¯s current overall strength, along with the lingering awe from the previous big battle, who would dare to trouble our family?¡± ¡°Heh¡­ That¡¯s true!¡± At the Sect Entrance Plaza, some clansmen gathered here as well, seemingly wanting to see what was happening. At this time, seeing Lin Xingzhi, everyone quickly surrounded him. ¡°Uncle, what has happened?¡± ¡°Right¡­ That noise was loud, could it be an attack on the Defensive Great Formation?¡± The two clansmen, looking frightened, saw the Law Enforcement Hall Master Lin Xingzhi and quickly began to ask for reasons. ¡°Do not panic, everyone. Our clan grounds are replacing the Defensive Great Formation; the commotion just now was caused by the fluctuations from the removal of the formation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the three uncles are all on the clan grounds. The formation might be restored in just a few days.¡± Hearing Lin Xingzhi¡¯s words and seeing Lin Tianluo and the three busily at work, it was apparent that this was indeed the case. Therefore, these clansmen breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s a relief¡­ that¡¯s a relief!¡± ¡°Go quickly and spread the word, let the clansmen continue with their tasks, it will be back to normal in a few days.¡± Lin Xingzhi instructed, and the clansmen did not delay further and quickly dispersed. Chapter 943 03-25 - 943 501 Blood Jade Ginseng ?Chapter 943: Chapter 501: Blood Jade Ginseng Chapter 943: Chapter 501: Blood Jade Ginseng Several days later. Inside the Lin Family Clan Grounds, there was a disturbance once again. The spiritual energy in the sky boiled like restless waters, suddenly churning violently. After a few breaths had passed, a pleasing sound echoed, quickly reaching every corner of the clan grounds. At that moment, numerous family members who were outside looked up upon feeling this disturbance. A faint golden light barrier seemed to envelop the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Not only that, at some point, seven trails of starlight had appeared in the highest reaches of the sky. The starlight varied in intensity and distance, flickering with a brilliance that inspired awe. ... At this moment, when the clan members saw the faint golden light barrier and the flickering Big Dipper Seven Stars above them, their faces instantly lit up with excitement. ¡°Ha ha¡­ the new Defensive Great Formation is complete!¡± One of the clan members shouted excitedly, his face alight with a broad smile. He wasn¡¯t alone; many other family members began sharing their happiness with each other. ¡°Feel it! Just in this short while, the spiritual energy within the clan grounds seems to have grown richer!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, it is denser. It¡¯s not overly obvious, but if you pay close attention, you can surely feel the difference.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? At this moment, numerous members of the family were eagerly discussing, each person showing great excitement. Clearly, almost every member was informed by Lin Xing Zhi of the family¡¯s intention to replace the Mountain Protection Array. Simultaneously, the clan members also learned that the current Defensive Great Formation being set up was the former Mountain Protection Array of the Golden Sword Sect. Although many ordinary members of the Lin Family, with their limited experience, did not know the precise power of the Formation, They were aware that it was a Third Order Great Array, renowned throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Thus, this Formation, though they had only heard of it or saw it described in various texts, was very prestigious. Now that this legendary Great Array was successfully set up in the Lin Family Clan Grounds, it could assure that when facing attacks from Golden Core Cultivators in the future, they could withstand much longer and not be easily breached. Furthermore, this Formation also had some offensive capabilities; it could counter-attack when enemies assaulted the clan grounds, disrupting their offensive efficiency. With such a transformation, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that this Third Order Great Array elevated the family¡¯s defensive capability, providing them a certain resilience against crises. Previously, the Lin Family had always used a Second Order Superior Defense Array, which only provided protection and partial spirit gathering effects. When enemies attacked the clan grounds, they could only watch helplessly, unable to even cause minor disturbances. The most evident instance was a few years ago when Meng Qingfeng from the Qingyun Sect came aggressively. In just a few days, he nearly broke through the family¡¯s defensive barrier. At that time, the Lin Family¡¯s higher-ups could only watch from a distance, praying that the Formation would hold out longer. However, in just a few days, the original Mountain Protection Array was nearly on the verge of collapse. In such a critical moment, if it wasn¡¯t for Lin Shi Kang¡¯s decisive intervention that caught Meng Qingfeng off guard, The original Defensive Great Formation would have been directly broken through by the frontal attack. At that time, it was already considered the best Formation the Lin Family had. However, it still couldn¡¯t withstand a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman¡¯s relentless assault over several days. The family¡¯s Defensive Great Formation had always been a significant vulnerability for the Lin Family. Now that the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation was fully operational, it also filled the weakest link in the clan ground¡¯s defenses. It was foreseeable that even if Golden Core Cultivators attacked the clan grounds in the future, without the cooperation of three to five people, they would not be able to shake the clan grounds in the slightest. Even if several Golden Core cultivators attacked together, the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation could hold out for a long time, giving the family more time to react. With just this change, the family¡¯s defensive capability was significantly enhanced. Moreover, this Formation, capable of both offense and defense, clearly had a much stronger spirit gathering effect than the family¡¯s original Formation. Such an effect was just the initial result of the Formation starting to operate. Even so, the current richness of spiritual energy had already greatly surpassed what it was before. When the Formation stabilizes, and the family invests some Spirit Stones to further enhance the spiritual energy density, the effects could more than double. Knowing this, the members of the clan are all cheering and shouting with excitement, their happiness unmistakable. On the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Tian Luo and a few others gazed at the Formation¡¯s light barrier before them, their expressions filled with excitement. After spending almost half a month, during which they barely rested, The Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation was finally up and running, allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief. Hardly catching their breath, their initially flushed faces gradually paled, an undeniable weariness manifesting in their demeanor. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tian Luo, you all have worked hard!¡± Lin Xing Zhi looked at these few weary individuals with a concerned expression and said. ¡°Cousin Uncle is too polite. The three of us are Lin Family members; it¡¯s only right for us to do this.¡± ¡°Although it has indeed been hard, we have finally lived up to the expectations.¡± Chapter 944 03-25 - 944 501 Blood Jade Ginseng_2 ?Chapter 944: Chapter 501 Blood Jade Ginseng_2 Chapter 944: Chapter 501 Blood Jade Ginseng_2 Lin Tianluo took the lead in replying and then said solemnly, ¡°The formation is now running smoothly, we¡¯ve managed the basic defense and attack capabilities. However, the gathering of spiritual energy has not yet reached its best.¡± ¡°But rest assured, given some more days, the effect of this gathering of energy will definitely surpass what it was before, and you will be able to report back.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi nodded satisfactorily, unable to suppress the joy he felt inside. Just then, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua arrived together and landed steadily next to the group. Seeing them, Lin Xingzhi hurriedly led Lin Tianluo and others in a respectful greeting. ¡°Xingzhi, Tianluo, you have worked hard these days!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, and then nodded toward the group. ... ¡°Third Uncle exaggerates, we are all part of the Lin Family, sharing the clan¡¯s concerns is only natural.¡± ¡°As for Tianluo and the others, they have been working tirelessly day and night to set up the formation; they truly have endured extreme hardship.¡± Lin Xingzhi responded with admiration, feeling truly satisfied with Lin Tianluo and the others. After all, he had been stationed here during this period and had witnessed the process of setting up the formation by Lin Tianluo and his team. Although he was not skilled in the Formation Dao, his heart understood that setting up a third-order great array was not an easy task. Especially considering that Lin Tianluo and his companions were only first-order array masters, including two who were merely beginners, and they lacked advanced supporting tools. Yet, even so, their ability to set up the formation successfully in such a short time was exceptionally fast. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua were also aware that this time, Lin Tianluo and his companions had made a significant contribution. Moreover, Lin Tianluo and his team were neither arrogant nor complacent, and they did not seek any credit, which was indeed very rare in young people. Thus, after Lin Shihua expressed his admiration, he instructed, ¡°Tianluo, you have worked hard recently; you should go back and rest first.¡± ¡°After a while, go find your Uncle Xingcheng and receive your reward.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianluo and the others nodded and then respectfully bowed to the group. Immediately after, Lin Tianluo handed over the central token controlling the formation to Lin Shihua and then disappeared from the plaza with the other two. As the younger generation left, Lin Shikang looked at the formation¡¯s light screen with a smile on his face. ¡°Shihua, Xingzhi, let¡¯s take a walk around the edge of the formation¡¯s coverage and see how well this formation defends.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua laughed heartily, unable to hide his joyful expression. Following that, Lin Shihua replied, ¡°Indeed, that sounds great; we should thoroughly inspect it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shikang said and took the lead in flying out. Seeing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi no longer delayed and quickly followed Lin Shikang¡¯s steps, soon disappearing above the plaza. The three of them traveled together, circumnavigating the edge covered by the formation¡¯s light screen and inspecting the clan grounds. They discovered the area covered by this formation was vast, three times the size of the clan¡¯s original formation. Previously, the Lin Family Clan Grounds covered an area of just a few dozen square miles. Now, with the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation operating, it covered at least a hundred square miles. Such a large area allowed the clan to create a much larger living space, ensuring that even if the population exceeded ten thousand, it wouldn¡¯t feel too crowded. Furthermore, after Lin Shikang conducted a trial attack, the formation¡¯s light screen didn¡¯t budge at all, only consuming a bit of energy. Although he hadn¡¯t used his full strength, he was indeed a genuine Golden Core cultivator assisted by two offensive magical treasures, his strength was not to be underestimated. Yet, even so, after several rounds of attacks, only some energy was consumed, and the impact on the formation was negligible. Continuing this way, Lin Shikang and the others estimated that if the formation operated at full strength, it would be able to withstand continuous attacks from three to five mid-stage Golden Core cultivators for over a month. Such defensive power essentially met the standard previously set by the Golden Sword Sect. Lin Shikang and the others were very satisfied with this result and felt a deep sense of relief. In their eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s weak points had diminished further, and their ability to manage crisis had strengthened by several times. Every time they considered this point, the excitement of several individuals surged once again, and their emotional excitement could not be hidden. It took some time for them to calm down, Lin Shikang also gave some instructions to Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi, before he returned alone to the summit of the main peak. Next, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi, one as the Clan Leader and the other as the Enforcement Hall Master, were both core members of the family. After exploring and studying together, they took the uses of this Formation to heart and successfully activated some special prohibitions, grasping control of the entire Formation to its greatest extent. As the Formation operated smoothly, discussions within the family gradually subsided, and the excitement of all the clan members also faded. As time slowly passed, the clan members returned to their normal lives, as if nothing had happened. With such days, and with the news of the successful operation of the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation, Lin Tianming, although he had not left seclusion, was already well aware. And at the moment the Formation succeeded, he had felt a distinct change. Because of this, his emotions were excited for a long time, and afterwards, he also regained his calm. During this month after returning to the clan grounds, Lin Tianming had a rather relaxed time and did not idle. In the first few days, he relaxed his tight nerves and thoroughly rested, rejuvenating his mental state. Following that, he visited various family elders with Qin Xi before returning to his cave to continue his secluded cultivation. At this moment, inside a cave on the summit of the main peak. Lin Tianming sat inside the practice room, holding a jade box in his hand. Inside the jade box was the Blood Jade Ginseng he had acquired from Lu Xingfeng at the exchange meeting in Qingshui Market. Initially, in order to obtain this Third Order Spiritual Fruit, Lin Tianming had made a painful sacrifice but eventually obtained the item. After all, the Blood Jade Ginseng was one of the rare heaven and earth spirit fruits at the level of a Golden Core Cultivator, with effects clearly stronger than those of ordinary Yuxu Pills. Moreover, currently, he could not use Yuxu Pills for cultivation, at least not until he found suitable elixirs to suppress the pain, he could not cultivate normally. Now that he had returned to the clan grounds and everything was appropriately arranged, his mental state was also at its peak. Under such conditions, he naturally wanted to engage in dedicated cultivation. Taking advantage of this brief period of peace, he planned to consume the Blood Jade Ginseng to possibly enhance his cultivation and add a layer of safety for his upcoming travels in the Huangyang Kingdom. Aside from this, among the many benefits allocated by the Lin Family, he had also received a Moon Soul Fruit. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And now, this treasure was also in his hands. He was extremely eager for this item. If it hadn¡¯t been for the busy task of allocating benefits and needing to return to the family in time, he would have liked to seclude himself on the spot and consume this fruit. However, considering safety, he eventually suppressed the excitement in his heart. Now that everything was ready, he planned to seize this opportunity to consume it and see how much he could enhance the power of his Divine Sense and Soul. With this anticipation, Lin Tianming no longer hesitated and quickly took out the Blood Jade Ginseng from the jade box. At that moment, he looked at the arm-thick, blood-red ginseng in his hand. The crystal-clear Blood Jade Ginseng emitted bursts of red light, accompanied by a unique fragrance that wafted towards him. Merely smelling it revitalized his spirit and subtly agitated the Qi-Blood within him. Then, Lin Tianming, with an excited face, took a big bite. As the flesh of the Blood Jade Ginseng entered his mouth, a wave of energy began to spread. In an instant, the energy flowed along Lin Tianming¡¯s meridians, causing his internal Qi-Blood to surge. At the same time, the True Yuan within his Golden Core also began to circulate. Feeling this transformation, Lin Tianming did not dare to take it lightly. He took a deep breath and then hastily operated his cultivation technique at full strength, refining the energy released by the Blood Jade Ginseng. ¡­ Chapter 945 03-25 - 945 502 Substantial Wealth ?Chapter 945: Chapter 502: Substantial Wealth Chapter 945: Chapter 502: Substantial Wealth Green Bamboo Mountain, atop the main peak. Inside a certain cave dwelling, Lin Shikang sat in the seat of honor, with Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong sitting beside him. Below them sat Lin Xingrong, Lin Xingping, and Lin Xingyi together. At this moment, Lin Shikang glanced at these key members of the Lin Family and found that all three had cultivation levels above the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. Among them, Lin Xingping was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, Lin Xingyi was also at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and Lin Xingrong was even at the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, not far from the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Seeing Lin Xingrong and the others, who were among the earliest in the family to establish their foundations, and considering their growth over the years, it was apparent they had reached such cultivation realms without any slack. Consequently, he felt a deep satisfaction towards these familiar juniors in his heart. ... In his view, these individuals had spent years away on family duties, rarely staying within the family¡¯s domain. Especially Lin Xingrong, who had been stationed at Luoyun Market during his youth, toiling for the family business for decades. Later, as the Lin Family quickly expanded and acquired more Spirit Lands, the number of people needed to travel regularly increased. Under such circumstances, Lin Xingrong continued to be stationed at important locations such as Golden Horn Mountain and Luoyun Pavilion in Qianchuan Market, spending over ninety percent of his time working hard for the family. Even so, Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation had not fallen behind; among the contemporary members of Xing and Tian generations, only Qin Xi surpassed him. Such a rate of cultivation was extremely rare for someone with Lin Xingrong¡¯s Four Spirit Roots aptitude. The other two, Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyi, also performed well, with their speed of cultivation not slow and their current cultivations levels within expectations. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It was this generation of family members that had experienced the Lin Family¡¯s most dangerous periods over the years. They took part in everything from the early battle at Luoyun Mountain, to subsequent beast tides, and the wars between the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom, serving as the family¡¯s most relied-upon core strength. Without exaggeration, these family members grew from continuous crisis, tempered by blood and fire. Now, after years of growth and extended periods outside completing family tasks, they were very familiar with the major forces of the outside world and handled matters with considerable steadiness. Such age and insight meant they could stand on their own. Their summoning this time was for the handover matters between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect. With the interests of the major forces settled and agreements reached, all forces had returned home, making it time to implement the handover. Because of this, the elders had called these three to arrange this crucially important matter. Understanding the situation, Lin Shikang gave the three a look and then began to discuss the specifics of the agreement between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s higher echelons. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Lin Xingrong and the others had already heard some rumors, they were not fully informed of the specifics. Now, hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s thorough explanation, the three of them understood the details and couldn¡¯t help feeling an unprecedented excitement. Having calmed down a bit, Lin Xingrong responded with a question. ¡°Third Uncle, you and the others summoned us brothers because you plan to send us to Qianchuan Market, correct?¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded and continued, ¡°The elders have discussed this matter, and it is of great importance to the Lin Family. It must immediately be put on the agenda.¡± ¡°With the upcoming trip to Huangyang Kingdom approaching, I and Tian Ming are unable to be absent, and your Fifteenth Uncle cannot be exposed too soon. Currently, among the family, only you few have the experience in handling matters!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong did not say much more and immediately stated, ¡°Third Uncle, just give your orders. We juniors will definitely do our utmost to complete this task successfully.¡± ¡°Yes, Third Uncle!¡± Lin Xingping echoed and then excitedly said, ¡°This thrilling matter, no matter how busy we juniors might be, we must make the time to handle it well.¡± ¡°After all, this handover is crucial to the Lin Family¡¯s development for the next hundred years. It must be settled quickly so our family can breathe a sigh of relief.¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong and the other speak in such a manner, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± ¡°We old folks have spent a long time deliberating this and decided to have the three of you lead the team to meet up with Xingli and the others at Qianchuan Market.¡± ¡°Once the forces are assembled, you can hand over to the Zhenyang Sect disciple in charge of this matter.¡± Saying this, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression became serious as he gave them earnest instructions. ¡°Remember one thing, you must obtain all the controls for the institutions, shops, various formations, tokens, and all contracts within the market. ¡°Besides that, all accounts must be clear and concise, there can be no oversights, and you must avoid creating unnecessary conflicts.¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words and seeing his extremely cautious expression, Lin Xingrong and the others realized the importance of their mission and the significance of this trip to Qianchuan. With this understanding, the faces of Lin Xingrong and the others grew solemn as they unanimously replied, ¡°Rest assured, elders. We, the younger generation, will definitely accomplish the task.¡± ¡°Good¡­ very good¡­¡± Lin Shihua repeated several good words, his originally grave expression easing considerably. In his eyes, Lin Xingrong and the others were reliable, proven in their deeds. With the three of them working together, along with the people like Xingli stationed at Qianchuan Market, they would not find it difficult to handle the task as long as they avoided major conflicts with the other great forces. Chapter 946 03-25 - 946 502 Abundant Wealth_2 ?Chapter 946: Chapter 502 Abundant Wealth_2 Chapter 946: Chapter 502 Abundant Wealth_2 Regaining his composure, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Shikang and the others beside him, nodded to each other, and then began giving instructions to Lin Xingrong and his group. ¡°You three, each choose three family members to follow and be ready to set out as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Twelfth Uncle, we brothers will take our leave now!¡± Lin Xingrong and the other two bowed respectfully, then left the cave dwelling together. Watching them disappear, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression grew solemn, and he then sighed deeply. Seeing this, Lin Shikang said, ¡°Shihua, Xingrong and the others handle things very stably.¡± ... ¡°With our Lin Family¡¯s current standing which is no longer as before, the Zhenyang Sect should not trouble us either, or else they wouldn¡¯t have announced the results publicly so readily.¡± ¡°As for the other powers, aside from the larger Commerce Alliances, there aren¡¯t many that pose a real challenge to our Lin Family.¡± ¡°So, this matter, while taxing, is not fraught with great difficulty; you all need not worry too much.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang speak this way, Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but nod, thinking that it indeed made sense. After all, the Lin Family had an agreement with the Zhenyang Sect. The handover was not dangerous, but rather complicated with various accounts likely numerous. Thus, Lin Xingrong and the others probably wouldn¡¯t have much free time in the coming year. However, this was also good, as long as there was no danger, a year of hard work was nothing too severe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Thinking this, Lin Shihua¡¯s worries faded quite a bit. Then, the clan members of Lin¡¯s generation chatted leisurely for half an hour, discussed some family affairs, and then each went their way. ¡­ Time rushed by, and several months passed. Inside a cave dwelling at the main peak, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes, a trace of sharpness flashing across them. He then took a deep breath and a satisfied smile crossed his face. ¡°Ha ha¡­ After nearly half a year of seclusion, I have finally refined the Blood Jade Ginseng and the Moon Soul Fruit.¡± Lin Tianming chuckled contentedly, muttering to himself. Over the months, he had been in seclusion, cultivating continuously, and had consumed the Blood Jade Ginseng and the Moon Soul Fruit. Having refined these two treasures, his cultivation had not increased much, and he felt that the Mid Stage Golden Core was still a long way off. Since reaching the Golden Core Stage, he had not made any significant improvements. But now with the aid of this Blood Jade Ginseng, his Golden Core True Essence felt more than thirty percent greater than before. Do not underestimate this thirty percent of True Yuan; in a battle of the same intensity, it could extend his magic duel capacity by nearly a third. In some critical moments, it could even reverse the battlefield, allowing him to secure the final victory. Thus, this minor improvement was thus quite significant for him. If he had about ten or eight similar treasures, he felt confident in advancing to the Mid Stage Golden Core. However, that was just wishful thinking, as even this single Blood Jade Ginseng had cost him quite a bit. If treasures were so easily obtained, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not have just over a dozen Golden Core Cultivators. Understanding this, Lin Tianming still felt rather satisfied with this improvement in his cultivation. Apart from that, the enhancement in Divine Sense and Soul made possible by the Moon Soul Fruit was even more thrilling for him. So far, with the aid of the Moon Soul Fruit, he discovered that his Divine Sense had grown by more than ten percent, and his Soul had become even more robust and stable. That may seem less than the thirty percent increase in cultivation. But the growth of Divine Sense is extremely slow and exceptionally difficult unless one advances a whole realm. Otherwise, without secret techniques or the aid of Heaven and Earth Treasures, ordinary cultivators simply cannot enhance it naturally. And this time, using this Moon Soul Fruit, he managed to directly increase his Divine Sense by over ten percent, and even strengthened his Soul. It could be said that the enhancement the Moon Soul Fruit brought him was comprehensive. Now, he felt in excellent condition and supposed it would be much easier to wield the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus, a Divine Skill of great potency, once again. Moreover, if he were to concoct elixirs later on, he could significantly increase both efficiency and the slight chance of success. Such improvements, in his eyes, were of greater benefit than those brought about by the increase in his Golden Core True Essence, and certainly justified the great cost he had incurred to acquire this item. Looking back, the decision to secure the Moon Soul Fruit had indeed been a wise one. Having calmed his excited emotions, Lin Tianming did not immediately leave his retreat. There was still a full half-month before the six-month agreement was due. This time was not long, and without any Heaven and Earth Treasures at hand, he could no longer enhance his cultivation strength. However, being completely idle was not his style. Therefore, he planned to spend these ten and a half days thoroughly inventorying the various treasures he had accumulated previously. And, if possible, he intended to try and refine the Third Order Dan Furnace he had obtained from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault. If he could successfully refine it, it would save him time when concocting pills in the future. At the same time, he could also make thorough preparations to enhance his competitiveness on his trip to the Huangyang Kingdom and at the very least, ensure some measure of safety. Resolved, Lin Tianming set to work. He casually took out several storage bags and then extended his Divine Sense to inspect the numerous treasures within. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although he had a rough idea of how vast his assets were, reviewing them again still made him breathe rapidly. Finally calmed a bit, Lin Tianming began classifying each item, starting from the Second Order Treasures, and storing elixirs and weapon forging Spiritual Objects separately. Heavenly Yin Herb, Su Ling Flower, Solid Heart Stone¡­ Each item was categorized and stored, spanning an extremely wide range of types and grades, almost equivalent to a Foundation Establishing Family¡¯s Treasure Vault. After half an hour of inventorying, Lin Tianming had a renewed understanding of his wealth. According to his count, up to now, the volume of treasures he possessed was simply too substantial, the majority of which had come from Xu Zhi, along with spoils from the great battle between the three sects. Among these spoils, he had kept some of the more useful treasures, such as various grades and types of Spiritual Medicine, as well as several Third and Fourth Order Treasures he intended to use for weapon forging. Aside from these, the largest share of his wealth was in Spirit Stones, totaling over seventy thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones and several hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. The total value of these Spirit Stones, converted into Low-Grade Spirit Stones, amounted to over seven million pieces, not counting various Magical Treasures, Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ore, and inherited knowledge. Should he count those treasures, it could easily surpass ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and reaching twenty million Low-Grade Spirit Stones was not out of the question. Despite being aware of such vast assets, he still found it unbelievable as he reassessed them. As for the Third and Fourth Order items allotted by the family, apart from the few pieces he kept for his own use, the rest were all stored within the family¡¯s Treasure Vault. And he, too, had the right to use these items. However, it seemed unlikely that he would have many opportunities to pick items from the vault. Because the family¡¯s treasures hardly contained any items that could enhance cultivation. Even if they did, there were many Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the family, and it wouldn¡¯t be fair for him to monopolize them all. Besides, the only treasures within the family that could potentially aid in cultivation enhancement were just a few Spirit Dragon Pills. Even though he had quite a few of these elixirs on hand, he could not use them at the moment without pills to suppress the pain. Unless he could quickly overcome this obstacle, his cultivation could not benefit from these elixirs for the time being. Conversely, once he solved this issue, his cultivation could enter a phase of rapid improvement. At present, the only hope was to try using the Dry Jade Pill Recipe he had initially acquired from the family¡¯s Treasure Vault. ¡­ Chapter 947 03-25 - 947 503 Qingyun Furnace ?Chapter 947: Chapter 503 Qingyun Furnace Chapter 947: Chapter 503 Qingyun Furnace Thinking of this, Lin Tianming made a resolute decision in his heart. And for this trip to Huangyang Kingdom, if possible, he definitely wanted to try finding the main herb for the Dry Jade Pill, the Dry Jade Grass. In his view, the Pill Formula was found in Wei Kingdom, yet for such a long time, he hadn¡¯t heard of Dry Jade Grass, which likely meant it had become extinct in Wei Kingdom. Or perhaps, the Dry Jade Pill formula wasn¡¯t from Wei Kingdom at all. However, since the formula existed and had appeared within the territory of Wei Kingdom, there was a high probability that it had also appeared in the Cultivation World of the neighboring countries. Since Huangyang Kingdom bordered Wei Kingdom and although it was part of Jingzhou, its heritage was far longer than Wei Kingdom¡¯s, and its cultivation level was much stronger than that of Wei Kingdom. As such, the likelihood of finding Dry Jade Grass was naturally much higher. ... If he really couldn¡¯t find the Dry Jade Grass, or find some other substitute for the elixirs, that wasn¡¯t definite either. If he could find it in Huangyang Kingdom, then that would resolve his urgent need. However, he didn¡¯t dare to harbor too much hope for this matter; everything would depend on luck and fate. But regardless of the outcome, he would give it his all. If he really did find a solution, then there would be no more obstacles in his cultivation for the next several decades. Knowing this, Lin Tianming firmly committed the matter to memory, ready to take action once he arrived in Huangyang Kingdom. Having refocused his mind, Lin Tianming categorized various treasures and stored them in different storage bags. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, he also picked out quite a few Second Order Treasures that he didn¡¯t need, planning to give some to friends and relatives and submit the rest to his family. As the storage bags were inventoried and the treasures were properly sorted, Lin Tianming then took out a cyan Pill Furnace and placed it in front of him. At a glance, the cyan Pill Furnace stood about three feet tall, with a color pattern of intermingling cyan and red, and it was covered with dense runes that conveyed an impressive aura. This Third Order Dan Furnace was also a spoils of war from the battle with Golden Sword Sect. For this item, the Lin Family had given up other treasures and had gone to great lengths to acquire it. They did so because the Lin Family had never owned a High Order Alchemy Furnace; the best one in the family had been left by an ancient patriarch. And that furnace was only a Second Order Superior Grade and had always been in Lin Shigong¡¯s possession. With the Lin Family Members¡¯ living conditions improving and the increase in the size of the family, more clansmen were learning alchemy than before. As a result, the furnace in Lin Shigong¡¯s hands was sometimes lent to the newly initiated alchemists in the family. Over the years, the clansmen who performed alchemy using that furnace had made no small contribution. Besides that, the Blueflame Furnace Lin Tianming carried had been acquired from the Qianchuan Market auction, and he had been using it for years; the benefits generated had long since far exceeded the initial gains from the auction. Apart from these two furnaces, probably only the one in Ye Pinghai¡¯s possession had some connection to the Lin Family. However, even so, Ye Pinghai, being a Third Order Alchemy Master, was still using his original furnace. And these furnaces were the highest grade existing in the Lin Family. As Lin Tianming entered the Golden Core Stage, his alchemy would sooner or later reach the Third Order. By then, along with Ye Pinghai also being a Third Order Alchemist, the Lin Family would have two Third Order Alchemists. Under these conditions, the Lin Family urgently needed a Third Order Dan Furnace to refine various elixirs for Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the future. Therefore, when allocating profits previously, the Lin Family had resolved to secure this Dan Furnace. Fortunately, the other two Great Sects did not compete with the Lin Family for this item, nor did they make things difficult for the family. Thus, although losing some treasures for it, they managed to smoothly acquire the Dan Furnace. Now that they had this Dan Furnace, the success rate of refining Third Order Pills in the future for the Lin Family could increase a bit. Since acquiring it, the furnace had always been in his hands. Only today did he plan to attempt refining it, and after the journey to Huangyang Kingdom, he could try to refine Third Order Pills. With this purpose in mind, Lin Tianming looked at the cyan Pill Furnace before him, his face revealing a hint of satisfaction. To him, the spirituality and quality of this Alchemy Furnace were quite good, and its value went without saying. After all, Third Order Dan Furnaces were extremely rare in Wei Kingdom, with only a few Golden Elixir Forces possessing one; ordinary Foundation Establishing Families wouldn¡¯t dare reveal ownership of such a furnace even if they had one. Because the value of a Third Order Dan Furnace was too high, normally it was even more valuable than an Offensive Magical Treasure, and not even a defensive Magical Treasure could compare to a Third Order Alchemy Furnace. Under such circumstances, if a Foundation Establishing Family possessed such a treasure and it became known to the outside world, what awaited them would be the destruction of their family. From this, we can see the value of a Third Order Dan Furnace; even for a Sect as ancient and alchemy-prevalent as Myriad Medicine Valley, it¡¯s not certain they would have many such furnaces. So, it remains unknown whether the West River Li Family, a Golden Core Family, owns a Third Order Dan Furnace. The furnace before him filled a great void for the Lin Family in the field of alchemy, bolstering a former weakness. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at the Dan Furnace before him with growing excitement. Having calmed himself down a bit, Lin Tianming no longer delayed, as the time agreed upon with the other major forces was drawing near. Chapter 948 03-25 - 948 503 Qingyun Furnace_2 ?Chapter 948: Chapter 503: Qingyun Furnace_2 Chapter 948: Chapter 503: Qingyun Furnace_2 Waiting for the assembly of many Mid Stage Golden Core peers to be completed, it might not even take half a month before they would set out together for the Huangyang Kingdom. This meant that he had, at most, a little over half a month to sacrifice and refine this furnace. Given the urgency of time, Lin Tianming chanted a Law Decree and sent beams of Spiritual Light bombarding the Pill Furnace. At the same time, his powerful Divine Sense reached out, forcibly erasing the residual Divine Sense from the Pill Furnace. At this moment, as the Divine Sense on the Pill Furnace was wiped away, the Pill Furnace completely became an ownerless object. In an instant, the Pill Furnace madly jerked about, seeking to break free from Lin Tianming¡¯s control of Divine Sense and flee this secret chamber. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ... ¡°To think of escaping from the control of my being when it has become an ownerless object is utterly wishful thinking!¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly, with a look of disdain written across his face. However, in his eyes, the stronger the reaction of the Pill Furnace, the higher its spirituality. As such, he actually hoped the Pill Furnace would struggle fiercely¨Cthe more vehement, the better. However, his own Divine Sense was too strong; not to mention his Divine Sense after consuming the Moon Soul Fruit. Even before that, it was absolutely impossible for the Pill Furnace to escape the palm of his hand. What¡¯s more, now his Divine Sense had increased even further. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With his current Divine Sense and that soul power, he was definitely no weaker than a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and perhaps even stronger. Under such circumstances, the Pill Furnace struggled violently, but no matter what, it could not break free of its restraints and could only leap up and down in place, seemingly expressing its unwillingness. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled indifferently, and his even more powerful Divine Sense directly invaded the central system of the Pill Furnace. Soon, the response of the Pill Furnace grew smaller, and eventually, it quietly hung motionless in midair. Following that, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and relentlessly struck the Pill Furnace with his Law Decrees. At the same time, he manipulated his Divine Sense to imprint his own Consciousness Imprint on the central system of the Pill Furnace. Time passed day by day. Half a month later, a muffled sound came from Lin Tianming¡¯s Practice Room. The original Pill Furnace had swelled to several times its size, emitting alternating blue and red glows as it hung in midair. Looking closely, the densely packed tiny inscriptions on the Pill Furnace were also twinkling with light, and they continued to flow around the surface of the Pill Furnace. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled heartily, an excited smile flickering across his face. Upon a closer inspection, he found that the Pill Furnace was now spiritually connected to him, and in the central system of the Pill Furnace, his Consciousness Imprint had been engraved. Now, the Pill Furnace moved as he desired, even altering its outward appearance and shape. Such a reaction was proof enough that he had completed the sacrifice and the recognition of the master was a success. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Done!¡± Lin Tianming laughed contentedly, then with a wave of his hand, the Pill Furnace rapidly shrunk in size, eventually becoming motionless in the palm of his hand. He looked at the Pill Furnace attentively, examining it for a long time. ¡°Now that the sacrifice is complete, it¡¯s time to name this Pill Furnace!¡± Lin Tianming thought in silence; after all, he would use this Pill Furnace for a long time, and even if he had the opportunity to replace it with a better one in the future, it still needed a name. Understanding this, Lin Tianming began to ponder a suitable name for the Pill Furnace in his mind. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Lin Tianming thought for a while and came up with several decent names that fit this Pill Furnace very well. However, in the end, he settled on the name Qingyun Furnace. With the Pill Furnace¡¯s name confirmed, Lin Tianming did not idle, immediately taking out all the materials needed for several Second Order Pills, intending to try out the effects of refining with a Third Order Dan Furnace. Experienced and adept, the process of Alchemy was swiftly completed. Through his trial, although he had not engaged in serious pill refining for a long time, this attempt at Alchemy was much better in efficiency and effect than before. Not only was the process faster, but the success rate of forming pills also improved. Lin Tianming was very satisfied with such results and attributed some of the success to this Pill Furnace. However, after some thought, he realized the improvement was not solely because of the increased grade of the Pill Furnace used but also because his own Divine Sense had grown stronger. After all, the strength of Divine Sense has a significant impact on Alchemy. His Divine Sense, strengthened by the power of the Moon Soul Fruit, had improved, and aided by the Eye of Five Colors, could take further strides in Alchemy efficiency, success rate, and even the number of pills formed. However, this was only about refining Second Order Pills. The difficulty of refining Third Order Pills increased exponentially, and maintaining such a high success rate obviously wasn¡¯t realistic. Yet even so, Lin Tianming was still very satisfied. As for refining Third Order Pills, now was not the time, not only because his Alchemy had not reached the necessary grade but also because he didn¡¯t have the time to continue secluded cultivation. After his journey to the Huangyang Kingdom was over, he would need to stay in his clan¡¯s territory to cultivate in seclusion for a while. By that time, if the elixirs needed for his cultivation were secured, he would be at ease to cultivate in seclusion for a period, using it to improve his Alchemy and push his cultivation towards the Mid Stage Golden Core. If the conditions were right, advancing to Mid Stage Golden Core wouldn¡¯t be impossible. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming calculated the time; in the next couple of days, the fellow daoists from several other Golden Elixir Forces would arrive at the Lin Family to gather. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to continue his seclusion and immediately got up to leave the Practice Room. In the courtyard. Lin Tianming sat next to a stone table, waiting for Qin Xi to finish her cultivation session. Soon, Qin Xi walked out from the corridor, appearing behind Lin Tianming. From a distance, her face lit up with joy, and she couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Ming, have you finished your seclusion?¡± Hearing the noise, Lin Tianming turned his head, looked at Qin Xi¡¯s stunning face, and with a smile, he nodded, pulling her to sit down in front of him. ¡°Xi¡¯er, I¡¯ve been in seclusion for several months, and now, it¡¯s the day when many fellow daoists will gather. It¡¯s about time to come out and get ready.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± As he spoke, Lin Tianming laughed, seemingly noticing that Qin Xi had made significant progress in her cultivation. So, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°But you, my dear, your cultivation has actually reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi smiled knowingly and replied, ¡°Ming, thanks to the many treasures you¡¯ve provided over the past two years, and that exquisite Hun Tian Pill, I was able to break through to my current realm smoothly.¡± ¡°Otherwise, if I relied solely on slow cultivation, it would have taken me at least several years of arduous training to reach this level.¡± Qin Xi spoke earnestly, and indeed, it was the truth. Over the years, she had consumed many Spirit Fruits, all rare varieties, which brought her significant improvements. Moreover, with that fine Hun Tian Pill that Lin Tianming had given her, her cultivation level was completely elevated by a whole level. It was thanks to these treasures that her cultivation speed had been so rapid over the years, nearly on par with Lin Tianming at the same stage. Hearing Qin Xi explain this, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. Aside from the assistance of the Spirit Fruits and elixirs, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation speed was indeed fast. At the least, at the same age and under similar cultivation conditions, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation realm was not much weaker than his at the same period. In that sense, Qin Xi, gifted with Dual Spirit Roots and diligent in cultivation, truly deserved her rapid progress. Otherwise, merely relying on a large number of treasures would make it hard to advance past the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Even if one forcibly advanced using treasures, the inadequate foundation would lead to instability, resulting in significant bottlenecks later on. If this happened, it wouldn¡¯t bode well for advancing to higher realms. Lin Tianming, who had a deep understanding of this matter, had always valued his own foundation, enabling him to progress smoothly every step of the way. It was also because of this approach that he faced few bottlenecks in improving his cultivation. Understanding this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but praise her. ¡°Xi¡¯er, over these years, you¡¯ve been through a lot of magic duels, building a solid foundation.¡± ¡°With the aid of those treasures, reaching this realm is just a natural progression.¡± Qin Xi clearly felt validated by Lin Tianming¡¯s recognition of her efforts. Over the years, the crises and hard work she had endured were well known to herself. Now that Lin Tianming acknowledged her efforts, it was more helpful than any aid. Touched by these thoughts, Qin Xi replied with a smile and a determined tone, ¡°What you say is true, Ming. I will continue to work hard in the future, until I catch up to your pace.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled back confidently. ¡°Haha¡­ I believe that Xi¡¯er will definitely surpass me!¡± Afterward, he embraced Qin Xi tightly, and the couple fell into a tender moment. ¡­ sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 949 03-25 - 949 504 Gathering of Golden Cores ?Chapter 949: Chapter 504: Gathering of Golden Cores Chapter 949: Chapter 504: Gathering of Golden Cores Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds, Sect Entrance Plaza. At dawn, Lin Xingzhi led several members of the Enforcement Hall on a patrol around the clan grounds. After returning to the sect entrance, Lin Xingzhi looked at the several clan members behind him with a faint smile on his face. ¡°Tiansong, these past few days we¡¯ve had an uninterrupted stream of cultivators visiting our family. Make sure you all receive them well and remember not to neglect our guests.¡± Upon hearing this, the clan members nodded in agreement. Then Lin Tiansong replied with a serious face, ¡°Rest assured, uncle, we will definitely take turns on duty here and will not neglect any guests.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded in acknowledgment. He understood these clan members quite well. Having entrusted them with the task of receiving guests was a well-considered decision, so he felt fairly reassured. ... However, he could not afford to be careless, as in the last half a month, representatives from dozens of large and small families had visited the Lin Family. Most of these cultivators were from powers surrounding Qianchuan Market, with some traveling from afar. They visited the Lin Family with various purposes. Firstly, they aimed to forge connections with the Lin Family and get to know the principal figures in charge, in order to facilitate their business endeavors on the Lin Family¡¯s territory. After all, the Lin Family now had a robust overall strength with seven mountain ranges under their control, including the mid-sized Qianchuan Market. Besides, there were Luoyun Market and many spirit land industries, offering abundant opportunities to earn Spirit Stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Secondly, the top experts of the Wei Kingdom were to converge on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and these people wanted to seize this chance to witness the grandeur of the kingdom¡¯s top experts. For these reasons, the Lin Family Clan Grounds had been quite lively over the past two months. There were visitors arriving at intervals to pay their respects. And these individuals were still manageable, as they came from Foundation Establishing Families or Qi Refining Families, or were Independent Cultivators. Owing to the Lin Family¡¯s current status and power, even if there was some slight negligence on the part of the Lin Family, they dared not voice any complaints. But in these recent days, the high-ranking members of the various Golden Elixir Forces headed to the Lin Family for a gathering. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These Golden Core Stage Cultivators were the absolute pillars of their respective powers, with personages such as Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng making an appearance. This put the Wei Kingdom¡¯s top experts and those cultivators seeking the Lin Family¡¯s favor in stark contrast. Moreover, this was the first time in many years that the Lin Family was to host so many Golden Core Stage Experts. For whatever reason, they must treat these events with utmost care to truly reflect the Lin Family¡¯s image. Therefore, Lin Xinghua repeatedly reminded Lin Xingzhi to remain stationed at the sect entrance during this period specifically to welcome these Golden Core Stage Experts. Bearing such a duty, Lin Xingzhi dared not be negligent. He had stayed here for the last few days, constantly keeping an eye on every move outside the Formation. Should a Golden Core Cultivator show up, he would be ready to welcome them without delay. In light of this, Lin Xingzhi was also focused on the direction outside the sect entrance, sending out clan members to take turns patrolling the clan grounds every hour. He remained on the spot, awaiting the arrival of Golden Core Cultivators. As the sun rose high, the Lin Family Clan Grounds successively welcomed several groups of cultivators, the vast majority led by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Lin Xingzhi did not personally intervene for these cultivators but arranged for Enforcement Hall members to receive them and settle them within the clan. As the time approached noon, the first Golden Core Stage Cultivator finally arrived at the Lin Family Clan Grounds¡ªnone other than Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family, accompanied by more than twenty Foundation Establishment Stage clan members. Upon seeing the visitors, Lin Xingzhi hurriedly went to meet them, not daring to delay. ¡°Young Lin Xingzhi greets Elder Chen!¡± Lin Xingzhi greeted Chen Maohua with respect, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. ¡°Haha¡­ Young friend Lin doesn¡¯t need to be so formal!¡± Chen Maohua waved his hand and glanced at Lin Xingzhi, who had reached the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. This level of cultivation, specially retained to receive guests, clearly showed the high regard the Lin Family had for them. At the same time, it reflected the strength of the Lin Family¡¯s core members, hardly inferior to that of the Chen Family. Aware of this, Chen Maohua regarded the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength even more highly. Regaining his composure, he couldn¡¯t help but admire the sight before him. ¡°Your clan¡¯s location is truly excellent; the surrounding mortal towns are bustling, and the presence of cultivators is frequently seen. There is sure to be even greater developmental potential in the future.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Xingzhi humbly replied, ¡°Elder Chen overpraises us; our Lin Family lineage spans merely a thousand years and naturally cannot compare with a clan of such long heritage as the Chen Family.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Chen Maohua chuckled softly, not picking up the topic, but instead inquired, ¡°Young friend Lin, are Daoist Shi Kang and Daoist Ye at the clan grounds?¡± ¡°Replying to Elder Chen, the Elder has been waiting for some time now.¡± ¡°As for Elder Chen, having traveled so far and wide, please allow me to guide Elder Chen and the fellow Daoists to rest within the clan grounds for a moment.¡± ¡°Once you¡¯ve had ample rest, our Clan Leader shall then host you all.¡± ¡°Um¡­ lead the way!¡± After Chen Maohua responded, he turned to instruct the clan members beside him, ¡°During our visit to the Lin Family, you must all seek advice humbly and aim to make further progress.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Maohua¡¯s clan members responded in unison. Chapter 950 03-25 - 950 504 Golden Cores Gather_2 ?Chapter 950: Chapter 504: Golden Cores Gather_2 Chapter 950: Chapter 504: Golden Cores Gather_2 ¡°Ancestor, rest assured, we the younger generation will definitely consult with the members of the Lin Family, striving to enhance our own cultivation and gain insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation.¡± After speaking, the Chen Clan members also followed Lin Xingzhi¡¯s steps into the Lin Family¡¯s Sect Entrance. Upon entering the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Lin Xingzhi gave them a guide through some of the basics about the Lin Family, quickly becoming familiar with the numerous Chen Clan members. Then, Lin Xingzhi settled them into the caves prepared by the family and returned once again to the Sect Entrance Plaza. As some days passed, people from the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, including Lu Xingfeng, also arrived one after another. Lin Xingzhi separately received the cultivators from several forces and arranged for their accommodation based on the family¡¯s plans. With the arrival of cultivators from the other three major Golden Elixir Forces, the main characters of this assembly were all in place. ... Until this day, inside the Lin Family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Hall, at this very moment, more than a dozen cultivators had gathered around the round table, chatting idly. Among these people, there were Lu Xingfeng, Chen Jingtian, and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu from Myriad Medicine Valley, besides these two major Golden Core powers, the Chen Family was still represented by Chen Maohua, and the Lin Family¡¯s Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang, and Ye Pinghai were three Golden Core Stage cultivators. Nine Golden Core Stage cultivators gathering together in such a majestic scene, the last time this occurred was during the distribution of interests in the Qingshui Market for the Golden Sword Sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï And at that time, the presence of these people was essentially unchanged overall. Now, with the nine Golden Cores reunited, everyone was in peak condition. In addition, each of the three major Golden Elixir Forces brought some Sect Disciples along with them, the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect each brought along a hundred elite disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Yingchuan Chen Family also took more than twenty clan members along, totaling over two hundred cultivators above the fifth floor of Foundation Establishment, the majority of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Such a force composed of Foundation Establishment Cultivators could handle simple tasks for the Golden Core experts. After all, the number of Golden Core cultivators was limited, and the journey was far. Plus, with the sizable area of Huangyang Kingdom, they couldn¡¯t possibly handle every small task themselves. Hence, bringing over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators could help them gather intelligence or seal important locations. However, you can¡¯t bring too many of such cultivators because in the event of a great battle at the Golden Core Stage, despite the large number of these individuals, their threat to Golden Core cultivators is not significant. They could instead become a burden. With too many people, far from being helpful, they might even impede their actions. Understanding this, for the trip to Huangyang Kingdom, the major forces planned to travel light. In case any significant trouble arose, they could also withdraw in a timely manner. And now, over two hundred elite disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage were in the Lin Family Clan Grounds, or gathering nearby, waiting. Only after the high-level Golden Core Stage discussed and decided on a specific action plan would this massive group formally set off on their journey to Huangyang Kingdom. The day for this had come, and today was the day for the high-level members of all major forces to gather. Early in the morning, Zhou Yunxiao and the others, led by the Lin Family members, all arrived at the Guest-Receiving Hall. Here, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang and others had already been waiting. As the polite small talk among the cultivators came to an end, Zhou Yunxiao shifted gears and directly brought up the matter at hand. ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that we are all gathered, let¡¯s get straight to the point.¡± ¡°When do we plan to depart, and which Sect¡¯s territory in Huangyang Kingdom are we going to visit first?¡± Zhou Yunxiao went straight to the crucial issue as they had already discussed the specifics of their approach in advance. Now that they had come to the Lin Family, it was merely to assemble everyone. Now that everyone had arrived and the designated day had come, it was time to prepare for the next step of the plan. Aware of this, Lu Xingfeng eagerly took up the topic. ¡°My fellow Daoists, the Luoyun Mountain Range where the Lin Family is located is at the very southern end of Wei Kingdom. This place is closest to the Qingyun Sect, one of the three major Sects in Huangyang Kingdom. I suggest we start by visiting the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory to explore and gather information.¡± ¡°Not bad!¡± Lin Tianming was the first to agree, ¡°Besides the basic conditions mentioned by Lu Daoyou, the Qingyun Sect has lost four Golden Core Cultivators in the great battle with Wei Kingdom.¡± ¡°Among them, two were at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, two at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm.¡± ¡°With such a heavy loss, the current Qingyun Sect must have suffered tremendously, and their entire sect¡¯s strength is simply no match for us.¡± ¡°Therefore, if we first target the Qingyun Sect, it should be relatively easy to create a breakthrough.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, several people present nodded one after another, obviously in agreement. After all, the attack of the Qingyun Sect on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, where Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng perished, was an incident known to almost everyone in Wei Kingdom. It was precisely because of this sudden event that the Lin Family emerged from obscurity. Later on, the Qingyun Sect dispatched two more Golden Core Stage Cultivators to Wei Kingdom to join forces with two other great sects, which ultimately also perished on the battlefield that erupted at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. In just two years, the Qingyun Sect had lost four cultivators with Golden Core Stage combat power. Such a tremendous loss, even for the peak powers of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, would be a devastating blow. Therefore, even though the strength of Qingyun Sect should not be underestimated, it cannot withstand such a significant loss. And so, nowadays, Qingyun Sect is indeed in a weakened state, making it an optimal target. Understanding the importance of these points, Chen Jingtian and others also expressed their stance, agreeing with Lu Xingfeng¡¯s suggestion. Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu thought for a moment and also realized the reality before them. Thus, to ensure greater safety for the entire group in their subsequent journey to Huangyang Kingdom, both of them naturally had no objections. With the people from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect reaching a consensus, the matter was as good as settled. Out of consideration for Chen Maohua¡¯s importance, Lu Xingfeng still asked him if he had any different thoughts. For this matter, Chen Maohua naturally had no other opinions, especially since he was not against such a plan to begin with. Since everyone felt this way, Chen Maohua simply analyzed for a few moments, repeatedly emphasizing caution, and then directly confirmed the plan. With this decision set in stone, the remaining preparations were easy to manage. Next, they discussed the specifics of their departure time and the rough route to take. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, Zhou Yunxiao took out a map and spread it out on the round table in front of everyone. At first glance, the map was not small, marking many familiar sects, as well as the locations of some clans. And this map was a detailed one of Huangyang Kingdom, with such minute detail that it even marked Qi Refining Families. Seeing this map, even though Lin Tianming had previously paid attention to the basic situation of some major powers, he still examined it closely. Following his gaze, the most evident were the four great Golden Core Sects, as well as the three major Golden Core Families. Their main focus, however, was on the situations of the Qingyun Sect, Qingmu Sect, and Forging Sword Valley¡ªthese three forces. After all, it was these three powers that had attacked Wei Kingdom. Now that they were heading for Huangyang Kingdom, it was mainly to enter the territories of these three forces. After his examination, according to Zhou Yunxiao and others¡¯ opinions, they were certain to visit Qingyun Sect first. The Qingyun Sect was located in the northern part of Huangyang Kingdom, adjacent to Whirlwind Mountain Range, which he had visited before. Crossing over more than twenty mountain ranges southward would take them to the Qingyun Sect¡¯s Sect Entrance plaza, which was in the Qingyun Mountain Range. Speaking of which, Qingyun Mountain Range was far from Luoyun Mountain Range, with numerous mountain ranges in between, each of which was almost larger than Luoyun Mountain Range. Therefore, just the journey to Qingyun Sect this time would probably take them nearly a month. This was an unavoidable predicament, as the remote states of Qingzhou and Jingzhou lacked Teleportation Formations. Otherwise, they could have used Teleportation Formations to save a significant amount of time. Chapter 951 03-25 - 951 505 Qingyun Mountain Range ?Chapter 951: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range Chapter 951: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range While Lin Tianming was sizing up the map of Huangyang Kingdom, Zhou Yunxiao and his companions were also discussing their route. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao glanced at Lin Tianming and the Lin Family members before opening his mouth to ask a question. ¡°Lin Family friends, do you have any suggestions for the journey to Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. In truth, he had no particular opinion on the matter. In his eyes, there was no danger, regardless of the path they took, since the nine Golden Core Cultivators were traveling together. However, under the command of several major powers, there were more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators passing by. Such a large group of people traveling together, even if all of them were to ride a Flying Artifact, would still be a big target. Moreover, Qingyun Sect must have been on alert since the consecutive fall of their Golden Core Cultivators in the last few years. ... It was foreseeable that there would be many cultivators patrolling the outskirts of Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory. Even more likely, Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory had many disciples acting as informants, paying close attention to the movements of the major powers in Wei Kingdom at all times. And this was just the Sects trying to grasp the situation in Wei Kingdom as quickly as possible. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t going to be easy for so many people to head to the heartland of Qingyun Sect without making any noise. Fortunately, the objective of their journey was relatively simple; at the very least, they were not aiming to obliterate Qingyun Sect. Otherwise, reaching the mountain gate of Qingyun Sect without alarming them was practically impossible. Understanding this, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°Friends, there¡¯s no need to be so cautious. Qingyun Sect has been able to pass down its legacy for nearly ten thousand years and remain standing; this is certainly not by chance.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? ¡°Although our trip is covert, the higher-ups in Qingyun Sect are undoubtedly prepared, especially since they suffered a major loss before; they must have considered that we wouldn¡¯t lightly let this matter slide.¡± ¡°Therefore, let¡¯s travel in a straight line. As long as we don¡¯t reveal ourselves too easily, there should be no problem with safety.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao and the others nodded in agreement, carefully considering and finding truth in his statement. Lu Xingfeng was the first to agree, ¡°What Lin friend says is very true.¡± ¡°On our journey to Qingyun Sect, there¡¯s no need to be overly anxious, but we also can¡¯t be too careless. We just need to maintain a certain level of vigilance and speak about safety once we arrive at Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate.¡± ¡°As for the route, let¡¯s just go in a straight line!¡± No sooner had these words fallen than Zhou Yunxiao took up the conversation and immediately asked, ¡°In that case, how about we set off tomorrow?¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± ¡°We have no objections!¡± Lin Tianming and the others all expressed their stance, setting the specific time for leaving the Lin Family grounds. As the day of departure was determined, Lin Tianming and the other cultivators also started to chat amongst themselves. During this time, Lin Tianming casually inquired about the progress of the handover of several mountain ranges and Qianchuan Market with Lu Xingfeng. Through Lu Xingfeng¡¯s disclosure, and with Lin Shikang¡¯s constant attention to the matter, Lin Tianming learned quite a bit of news. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Overall, the progress of the matter was going quite smoothly, with nearly half already completed. If this pace continued, completing the handover within a year would not be difficult. Given this, Lin Tianming, who placed great importance on the matter, felt relieved. The next morning. On the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Tianming and his fellow Golden Core Cultivators gathered together again. Behind them, more than two hundred neatly arranged Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood by, all disciples from the various major powers. At that moment, after the Golden Core Cultivators exchanged a few words with each other, they all left the Lin Family Clan Grounds together. Soon afterward, Zhou Yunxiao brought out a Third Order Flying Boat Treasure, which hovered steadily above everyone¡¯s heads. Upon closer inspection, this Flying Magical Treasure was quite large, the same one that Lin Tianming and the others had traveled on before. They had used this Flying Magical Treasure to chase after Han Hu and others, departing from Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate and heading for the Golden Sword Sect. It was this very treasure that helped them to reach the Golden Sword Sect in the shortest amount of time, giving Han Hu and his companions no time to catch their breath. By the end of the battle, it was clear that the Flying Boat had played a key role. Now, as they traveled together to the distant Qingyun Sect, the Flying Boat would not only ensure their safety but also save a significant amount of time. After all, this Flying Boat was a Third Order Magical Treasure, with extremely strong capabilities in speed, defensive power, and stealth. Therefore, Lu Xingfeng and Lin Tianming, along with the other Golden Core Stage Cultivators, were quite satisfied as they boarded the Flying Boat together. Following behind them, the horde of Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators also flew up. Even with more than two hundred people boarding the Flying Boat, it did not seem crowded at all. Once everyone had gathered, the Flying Boat, controlled by Zhou Yunxiao, rose into the air and swiftly flew into the clouds thousands of feet high, disappearing outside the Lin Family Clan Grounds. ¡­ A month later. The Qingyun Mountain Range, the location of the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate, was vast in area. In this expansive region, a large number of cultivators moved about every day. On this day, in one of the valleys of the Qingyun Mountain Range, the figures of Lin Tianming and his companions appeared. Having left the Lin Family Clan Grounds, they had traveled for a month and arrived successfully at their destination. At this time, the nine people stood atop a mountain peak, their eyes all gazing in the same direction. After a long while, Zhou Yunxiao turned his head to look at everyone and took the lead in breaking the silence. ¡°Friends, just a few hundred more li ahead, and we¡¯ll reach the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate.¡± Chapter 952 03-25 - 952 505 Qingyun Mountain Range_2 ?Chapter 952: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range_2 Chapter 952: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range_2 Hearing this, everyone refocused their minds, and their gazes pivoted back. Thereafter, Lu Xingfeng also sighed, ¡°I never expected our journey to be so smooth, and now we¡¯re about to reach our destination.¡± As soon as he had spoken, Chen Jingtian agreed, ¡°Exactly¡­ I thought we might encounter some trouble, but it¡¯s been surprisingly easy.¡± Having said this, Chen Jingtian also asked, ¡°What do we do next?¡± Hearing his fellow disciple inquire, Lu Xingfeng smiled faintly, his expression quite calm. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, we might as well take a look at Qingyun Sect first!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ... Zhou Yunxiao nodded, then suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s have a few of us scout the situation first, and the rest can stay here and wait for news.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ That does seem safer!¡± Lu Xingfeng quickly agreed and then turned to Lin Tianming, ¡°Daoist Lin, you come with the two of us to take a look around Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate, then return here. How does that sound?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming thought it over for a bit, feeling that this was indeed a safer approach. After all, they were in foreign territory, the heartland of Qingyun Sect, which certainly couldn¡¯t be compared with the native lands of Wei Kingdom. Fortunately, both Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng were Late Stage Golden Core experts, extremely formidable beings in their own right. With the three of them scouting for news together, they likely weren¡¯t in much danger. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Thus, they decided to investigate the situation first, get a hold of some basic intelligence, and then make a detailed plan. Conversely, if there was anything amiss, they wouldn¡¯t be putting themselves into a crisis where they might all be wiped out. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse, and he soon replied, ¡°We should all suppress our cultivations, go out to gather some information, and then regroup here.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao nodded, then took the lead in altering his appearance, transforming into a middle-aged brawny man carrying a longsword, with his cultivation also suppressed to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm. Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng also transformed, taking on the appearance of a frail scholar, with his cultivation similarly suppressed to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dawdle either, changing his appearance to that of a young man dressed in a green shirt, his realm suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. The three of them altered their appearances, now vastly different from before, with their realms also suppressed. Following these changes, even if they encountered cultivators of the same realm, it would be difficult to discern their true identities. In this way, they set out on their walk around, and it was unlikely that anyone would recognize them. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± After Zhou Yunxiao said this, he casually took out a Second Order longsword magical artifact, jumped on it, and swiftly disappeared into the valley. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao did this also to mask his identity; not only did he change his appearance and cultivation level, but he also changed the weapons used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Otherwise, a Foundation Establishment cultivator using a magical treasure for travel would be far too conspicuous, nearly a self-accusation. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng followed suit, each taking out a Second Order magical artifact to ride, and hastened after Zhou Yunxiao. Half a day later, the trio appeared together on a mountaintop outside the Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate. Here, one could already glimpse at a towering peak entering the clouds in the distance, which was the main peak within Qingyun Sect. At the same time, quite a few cultivators passed by this place. Some were heading toward Qingyun Sect, while others had passed by here after coming out of Qingyun Sect. Lin Tianming and his companions stopped for a moment, soon encountering two male cultivators coming together. Both of them were at the Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment, one at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, the other at the Fifth Layer, both dressed in ordinary garb, flying in the direction of Qingyun Sect. Judging by their attire, they were probably not disciples of Qingyun Sect, possibly part of a family clan, or perhaps Independent Cultivators. At this moment, seeing the new arrivals, Lin Tianming and his companions promptly approached, blocking the two men¡¯s path. Seeing this, the expressions of the two cultivators changed, their faces bearing a wary look. ¡°Several Daoist friends, I am Meng Tiannan from the Meng Family of the Wenxiu Mountain Range, and this is my good friend Song Chengfeng,¡± ¡°Do you three block our way for some particular reason?¡± Meng Tiannan began by stating his own background, seemingly intending to announce his household, to make Lin Tianming and the other two wary. At the same time, he gestured towards the person beside him, introducing his companion¡¯s name. Hearing Meng Tiannan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming also responded with a smile and a cupped fist gesture, saying apologetically, ¡°Please don¡¯t be alarmed, fellow Daoists. We three are all independent cultivators with no fixed abode, recently traveling together in the Qingyun Mountain Range to gain experience. We haven¡¯t emerged in a long time and are somewhat unclear about the recent events in the cultivation world over the past two years.¡± ¡°We stopped you just to inquire and catch up on news, that¡¯s all!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, indeed, the depths of the Qingyun Mountain Range were a fine spot for training, with many independent cultivators and disciples of Qingyun Sect favoring entering the mountain range to seek treasures and gain experience. The dusty and travel-worn appearance of these three people before them seemed to suggest they had been on the move for a long time or had been in battle. With this in mind, and combining what Lin Tianming had said, Meng Tiannan and his companion heaved a sigh of relief. They had truly feared that Lin Tianming and his two companions were some old enemies or desperate bandits. After all, in the cultivation world, it was not unusual for those who have cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage to have some enemies. And it wouldn¡¯t be surprising for some independent cultivators to rob others, engaging in life-threatening crimes. Such incidents were all too common in today¡¯s cultivation world, and they were always on guard. Luckily, they were near the mountain gate of the Qingyun Sect, only about a hundred miles apart, almost within reach of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory. With Golden Core forces stationed in the area and Qingyun Sect cultivators regularly patrolling the vicinity, the security in the nearby area was reasonably well-controlled; at least assaults or ambushes were rare. After all, if anyone happened to witness an attack or if the Qingyun Sect caught the perpetrators, the consequences would be dire. In this way, with the Qingyun Sect in place, the chances of encountering desperate criminals were quite small. Aside from these factors, the cultivation levels of Lin Tianming and his companions were not excessively high; at least they did not possess the overwhelming strength to casually intercept them. Knowing this, Meng Tiannan and his companion relaxed considerably, easing up altogether. Subsequently, Meng Tiannan returned the gesture with cupped fists and said with a smile, ¡°I see!¡± ¡°Then, what would you like to inquire about, fellow Daoists?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°Daoist Meng, before our training journey, it just so happened that the three great sects of the Qingyun Sect were attacking the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World.¡± ¡°Given the situation in the Wei Kingdom at that time, with the major Golden Elixir Forces suffering from severe internal strife, several Golden Core Stage experts had fallen, and the country was completely preoccupied with its own troubles. Under such circumstances, Wei Kingdom¡¯s two major Golden Core sects were unlikely to withstand the combined assault of the Qingyun Sect, Qingmu Sect, and Forging Sword Valley.¡± ¡°Now that so much time has passed, there should be some concrete outcomes, right?¡± Hearing these words, Meng Tiannan had a look of surprise, as it seemed he did not expect Lin Tianming and his companions to be so out of touch. After all, that invasion battle had taken place almost two years ago, and it was widely known throughout the Huangyang Kingdom. At that time, the deaths of Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng on the outskirts of the Wei Kingdom in the Luoyun Mountain Range had already caused a huge stir. Who could have imagined that in the following year, the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom would suffer heavy losses? Especially the Qingyun Sect, which had allocated two more Golden Core experts to the war, only to have them die within the Wei Kingdom as well. In just a couple of years, eight Golden Core Stage experts had entered the Wei Kingdom, with only Ren Feihong of the Qingmu Sect escaping back. Such a massive loss was unforeseen by all the cultivators in the Huangyang Kingdom. Yet, that was the reality, catching everyone by surprise. Since then, the three major sects of the Qingyun Sect had suffered a significant loss without any retribution, as if frightened, or perhaps due to other reasons, the upper echelon of the three sects remained silent, eventually calming down amidst heated discussions. ¡­ Chapter 953 03-25 - 953 506 Qingyun Sect ?Chapter 953: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect Chapter 953: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect However, cultivators of the Huangyang Kingdom had various speculations about this matter. But since the three Great Sects did not mention it, ordinary cultivators also remained clueless. Meng Tiannan and his group had also speculated, and even people from Huangyang Country¡¯s Cultivation World had various theories. But that was all they were, speculations and enthusiastic discussions among cultivators, with no channels to confirm anything. Now, faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Meng Tiannan simply smiled and revealed no suspicion in his heart. Then, he unreservedly recounted all the significant events that had occurred in the Huangyang Country¡¯s Cultivation World over the past two years. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming and his companions bid farewell to Meng Tiannan. ... From Meng Tiannan¡¯s explanation, the Huangyang Kingdom had been relatively peaceful for the past two years, with even the several Golden Elixir Forces, which had friction and gaps between them, behaving calmly as if they were all exercising restraint. If there were any significant events in Huangyang Kingdom during the past two years, it was that the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect had retreated from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. According to Meng Tiannan¡¯s detailed introduction, ever since Ren Feihong had escaped back to them, the Three Great Powers had been in a state of alert. Following that, there were many disciples from the Great Sects wandering around the border with the Wei Kingdom, with rumors suggesting the Great Sects had called for disciples to participate in training exercises. Upon reflection, Lin Tianming easily understood the purpose of the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect. In his eyes, it was clearly to preemptively guard against retaliation and a large-scale invasion from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s forces. Thus, under the guise of training, they dispatched a large number of disciples to surveil the movements of the Wei Kingdom. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï And this state of alert continued without any signs of relaxation up to now. Fortunately, they had no intention of engaging in large-scale warfare when they came to Huangyang Kingdom, nor did they wish to escalate the conflict. As a result, they traveled lightly. With over two hundred people utilizing the speed of the Third Order Flying Boat, they easily crossed the border and arrived in the hinterlands of Qingyun Sect without much trouble. Otherwise, if they had organized tens of thousands of cultivators to attack Qingyun Sect, such a large target could not possibly escape the notice of those cultivators. And such an act would have completely inflamed the Three Great Golden Elixir Forces of Qingyun Sect, leading to the dissolution of mutual restraint and provoking a large-scale battle. Now that they had reached their destination, everything within the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory seemed normal according to their observations along the way. Cultivators were cultivating as they should, and there was normal movement, everything appearing as any ordinary day. To be honest, this calm and collected response of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s several powers had taken Lin Tianming and his group by surprise. Originally, they had thought the response from the Great Powers of Qingyun Sect would be intense. Although not to the extent of mobilizing large armies, at the very least they would have recalled their disciples to the Sect. At the same time, Golden Core Stage Experts would likely close themselves off, purely to guard against retaliation from Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivators. But now, it seemed Qingyun Sect did not take their defeat or the several Golden Elixir Forces of the Huangyang Kingdom seriously. Yet such a confident attitude made it clear that even after losing four Golden Core Stage experts, Qingyun Sect¡¯s overall strength remained formidable. Even if the several great Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom were to retaliate, they were confident in their ability to cope. Otherwise, it would not make sense for them to be so calm. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and his companions immediately returned to the valley they had departed from and reconvened with Chen Jingtian and the others. Upon seeing the return of Lin Tianming and his two companions, Chen Jingtian asked hurriedly, ¡°Lu, did you manage to gather any intelligence?¡± Hearing this, Lu Xingfeng spoke up and shared the information they had gathered with everyone present. Upon learning this, Chen Jingtian and the others were also taken aback and quickly began to ponder. At that moment, Lu Xingfeng glanced at Zhou Yunxiao and Lin Tianming before asking, ¡°Daoist Zhou, Lin, what are your thoughts on this?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Seems we all underestimated Qingyun Sect.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Yunxiao chuckled and then continued, ¡°In my opinion, Qingyun Sect¡¯s calmness clearly suggests they believe we dare not attack them on a large scale.¡± ¡°After all, our several forces have consecutively dealt with beast tides and the attack from the Golden Sword Sect, and our overall strength has indeed declined significantly.¡± ¡°Therefore, they have merely heightened their alertness and don¡¯t take us seriously.¡± ¡°Their attitude may indeed indicate that Qingyun Sect is powerful and has remained fearless.¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s assessment, Lin Tianming shared the same point of view, Hence, Lin Tianming also added, ¡°Daoist Zhou is right.¡± ¡°You must understand that the inheritance of the powers within Qingyun Sect is quite ancient, especially Forging Sword Valley, which has a longer history than even Daoist Zhou¡¯s Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°Before the great war in the Wei Kingdom, the strength they had demonstrated was clearly much stronger than any of ours.¡± ¡°Even after that battle, where each power suffered losses, their overall strength remains formidable.¡± ¡°In their eyes, they probably are well aware that unless we deploy all our forces to attack any one of their Sects, they face no danger of being annihilated.¡± ¡°In light of this, Qingyun Sect¡¯s composure is indeed within reason.¡± After Lin Tianming finished speaking, Zhou Yunxiao and the others all nodded in agreement, finding this explanation quite acceptable. For a time, everyone fell silent, each absorbed in their strategic contemplations. After a long while, Lu Xingfeng sighed in resignation and finally broke the silence. Chapter 954 03-25 - 954 506 Qingyun Sect_2 ?Chapter 954: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect_2 Chapter 954: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect_2 ¡°Everyone, given how poised Qingyun Sect is, should we still make an appearance?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face showed traces of anger, and then he spoke seriously, ¡°We¡¯ve already come this far; if we return silently, where would we put the face of our great forces?¡± ¡°How would the cultivation world of the Wei Kingdom perceive us if we were to retreat?¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, if we leave without a whisper, wouldn¡¯t that be letting them look down on us?¡± ¡°Once we initiate a retreat, if they take advantage of us again in the future, we might not always be lucky enough to turn danger into safety.¡± Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words once again plunged everyone into silence. ... Lin Tianming actually agreed quite a bit with what Zhou Yunxiao had said. Given his personality and attitude, keeping silent was not a lasting solution. However, the current situation in the Wei Kingdom was indeed not advantageous. After all, the facts right in front of them¡ªthe Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had both lost several Golden Core Stage Cultivators over the past few years. Up until now, the collective strength of these two sects had decreased by more than twenty percent. Therefore, even if the four major powers dispatched the majority of their strength, it would be very difficult to deal a heavy blow and eliminate Qingyun Sect suddenly and silently. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï It was apparent that the Qingyun Sect forces understood this as well, thus their calm demeanor. Otherwise, any ordinary power facing the combined pressure of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s major forces would probably have closed off their gates or sought the help of allies. Understanding this, Lin Tianming gave a wry smile, then slowly said, ¡°My thoughts are similar to Daoist Zhou¡¯s, keeping silent is not a lasting solution.¡± ¡°That would make them think our Wei Kingdom is helpless and easy to bully; if they find another opportunity, they will certainly take the chance to invade.¡± ¡°At that time, we would fall into crisis once again.¡± ¡°Since we are already here, we might as well boldly visit the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate and see what their attitude is.¡± ¡°If we can gain some benefits without conflict, then retreating wouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± ¡°Um¡­ I agree with Daoist Lin¡¯s statement!¡± Zhou Yunxiao was the first to express his stance, his tone exceptionally firm. Seeing Zhou Yunxiao speak thus, Lu Xingfeng also felt very angry about Qingyun Sect¡¯s actions back then. In his eyes, if it weren¡¯t for Lin Family¡¯s unexpected influence, the outcomes for Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley back then would indeed have been grim. Whenever he thought about this, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s anger flared, and he wished he could destroy Qingyun Sect outright. Had the Wei Kingdom not been weak, and had it been suitable to take large-scale actions, he would have likely lost patience already. However, after careful consideration, escalating conflicts was not the best solution; as long as they showed some of their fangs to make their stance clear, that would be as far as he could go. Understanding this, Lu Xingfeng then said, ¡°If Daoist Zhou has no objections, let¡¯s proceed as Daoist Lin has planned.¡± Hearing this, seeing that the three major forces had reached a consensus, Chen Maohua naturally would not oppose. Thus, Chen Maohua also approved the plan, offering some suggestions to make it more foolproof. With this matter settled, the group didn¡¯t delay, quickly boarding the Flying Boat again, boldly heading towards the direction of the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate. The next morning, At the Qingyun Sect, everything was as usual, and the disciple responsible for guarding the gate was already waiting early at the gate. At that time, a Flying Boat gradually approached from a distance, turning from a small black spot into being fully visible, appearing before everyone¡¯s eyes. Seeing this movement, one Foundation Establishment Disciple became alert immediately. ¡°Luo, this is a Third Order Magical Flying Boat!¡± ¡°Could it be that the visitors are Golden Core Stage seniors?¡± ¡°Which power might this be?¡± A Foundation Establishment Cultivator looked puzzled as he slowly spoke to Luo Yun in front of him. Hearing this, Luo Yun also widened his eyes, staring intently at the Flying Boat that was approaching further, inwardly pondering which power the visitors belonged to. According to the make of this Magical Flying Boat, the visitors were undoubtedly Golden Core Cultivators. After all, a Third Order Flying Boat was not common in the Huangyang Country Cultivation World; even their Qingyun Sect, reportedly, had only one. Outside of that, anyone who could flaunt their way using a Third Order Flying Boat must surely be from the Golden Core Stage forces or possess a power formidable enough that they weren¡¯t afraid of envy from others. Otherwise, a Loose Cultivator at the Early Stage Golden Core wouldn¡¯t dare to travel without care; upon encountering a cultivator with malevolent intentions, they would likely be killed for their possessions. However, the Flying Boat before them, though unfamiliar, had clearly come prepared by making such a conspicuous approach. It was unknown which force it hailed from, but it was possible they had come specifically to visit the Qingyun Sect. Regardless of their purpose, it was necessary first to send a message to the Sect Leader to report this matter. As for the visitor¡¯s intentions and how the sect should receive them, that would be decided by the sect¡¯s upper echelons. Having made up his mind, Luo Yun did not dare delay and quickly sent out his report. Outside, on the Flying Boat, Lin Tianming and the others stood side by side, their gazes all fixed in the direction ahead. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was Lin Tianming¡¯s first visit here; he was quite concerned about this sect which was no less powerful than the Myriad Medicine Valley. After all, aside from the native Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom, the Qingyun Sect was the closest Golden Core Sect to the Luoyun Mountain Range. It could be said that the Lin Family and the Qingyun Sect were neighbors. Hence, the Lin Family naturally took the threats nearby seriously. Moreover, the Lin Family was considered a longtime foe of the Qingyun Sect and was the primary cause behind the significant decline in the sect¡¯s strength. Because the Qingyun Sect had initially dispatched Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng from the Luoyun Mountain Range deep into Wei Kingdom, only for both to die on the Lin Family Territory. Without exaggeration, the Qingyun Sect and the Lin Family had already formed deep enmity; given the chance, Qingyun Sect would undoubtedly seek to retaliate against the Lin Family to settle their past losses. Therefore, for such a significant threat, the Lin Family naturally paid extra attention. Even Lin Tianming¡¯s visit to this place was with the intent to further weaken the Qingyun Sect. In his view, if he could weaken the Qingyun Sect further this time, and after another thirty to fifty years, when the Lin Family grew stronger, even facing the Qingyun Sect alone would be manageable using their own strength. At the very least, there would be no threat of defeat, no risk of collapse; just achieving that would suffice. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but brace himself, carefully observing the Qingyun Sect before him. From his observations, the location of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate was somewhat similar to the Lin Family Clan Grounds: both featured a towering peak surrounded by over a hundred valleys, with rivers intersecting in between, presenting the appearance of a Cave Heavens and Blessed Land. If there was a difference, it was only the size of the Spirit Land. Besides the similar overall landscape, even through the formations shielding it outside the mountain gate, the Spiritual Energy was still exceedingly dense, truly a prime feng shui treasure land. Through the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, the Defensive Great Formation in front of him was also extraordinary; the flow of energy in the formation was ceaseless, exuding a sense of majesty. At the very least, it felt no less formidable than the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation currently used by the Lin Family. From this perspective, the Qingyun Sect was indeed worthy of a sect that had lasted for thousands of years. Such a foundational heritage also demonstrated what a Golden Core Sect should be like. However, the more it was so, the more pressure Lin Tianming felt. After all, the Lin Family had formed enmity with the Qingyun Sect! Speaking of which, although it wasn¡¯t the Lin Family who initiated the conflict, the fact was that the Qingyun Sect had suffered heavy losses. Even though the Lin Family had the moral high ground, such a thing had almost no significance in the Cultivation World. As the saying goes, power rules supreme; under absolute power, moral responsibility is just a joke. Lin Tianming had been very clear about this ever since he first entered the Path of Immortality. Moreover, having cultivated for decades now, he had long since witnessed various brutal acts. Even Golden Core Stage experts would engage in life-and-death magic duels for profit, leading to one party eventually perishing on the spot. Once you die, even your name would eventually be forgotten in the Cultivation World, only occasionally mentioned by fellow cultivators and soon fading away. Such cases were not uncommon in the Cultivation World, the most obvious example being those who died in the great battle in Wei Kingdom. For the likes of Luo Anzhong, a winner, at least his name would be remembered in history, and people would acknowledge or even spread his deeds for a certain length of time. But for top powerhouses like Han Hu, who failed, they were already despised by thousands, and no one would remember his once glorious achievements. In this way, in the end, everything would turn to nothing; it was just a matter of time. This was unavoidable for anyone! Realizing this, Lin Tianming sighed and then came back to his senses. Chapter 955 03-25 - 955 507 Confrontation ?Chapter 955: Chapter 507: Confrontation Chapter 955: Chapter 507: Confrontation At that time, Lu Xingfeng and the others exchanged glances, their expressions solemn. Following this, Zhou Yunxiao opened his mouth to suggest, ¡°Lu Daoyou, why don¡¯t the three of us go down and see how the Qingyun Sect reacts?¡± ¡°As for the others, everyone stays put inside the Flying Boat.¡± ¡°With the protection of the Flying Boat¡¯s restrictions, unless Elder He himself arrives in person, no one will be able to detect anything.¡± ¡°Even if something unexpected happens, they can still appear in time and catch the Qingyun Sect off guard!¡± On hearing these words, Lu Xingfeng and Lin Tianming both nodded. Then, the three each looked at their fellow sect members. Lin Tianming also left a few words with Lin Shikang before directly leaping down from the Flying Boat, appearing together on an open space. ... As the three appeared, their Golden Core Stage cultivation auras were unmistakably revealed. Lin Tianming and his companions stood there, each of their auras extremely powerful, almost rivaling He Lanjun, the strongest cultivator of the Qingyun Sect. Clearly, they were all Golden Core Cultivators, among them two seemed to be formidable beings of the Late Stage Golden Core. Looking at the three unfamiliar faces before him and feeling their profound auras, Luo Yun from inside the Qingyun Sect looked grave, pondering where these three could have come from? After a moment of recollection, among the Golden Core Stage Cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom, none resembled any of these three. Besides, as a disciple of the Enforcement Hall who routinely inspected the sect¡¯s gates, it was normal for him to receive advance news about any important cultivators coming to visit. However, try as he might, he could not recall any recent news about a Golden Core Stage Expert planning to visit the Qingyun Sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°Could they be cultivators from another country?¡± Luo Yun thought privately, his heart quite shocked. After all, it had been a long time since the Qingyun Sect had heard or seen any Late Stage Golden Core Experts, let alone two arriving at once. Slightly regaining his composure, Luo Yun forced himself to calm down. Then, through the Formation, he called out, ¡°This junior is a patrolling disciple of our sect, I have the honor to meet the three seniors.¡± ¡°May I know which Elder of our sect the three seniors are looking for?¡± ¡°And was there an appointment made with any Elder of our sect?¡± Luo Yun tentatively asked, hoping to gain some information. Such inquiries also aided him in his hospitality and prevented the offense of any Golden Core Experts present due to his own negligence. Moreover, should they be looking to cause trouble, he could report to the sect¡¯s higher-ups in a timely manner for appropriate response. In such situations, regardless of the outcome, he as a mere Foundation Establishment Disciple, could not afford any mistakes and must handle the situation carefully. Otherwise, a crisis would be inevitable. As for Lin Tianming and the others upon hearing these probing words, they decided not to beat around the bush. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao replied seriously, ¡°I am Zhou Yunxiao. Summon Elder He to come out and meet me!¡± Hearing these resentful words and seeing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s serious face, audaciously addressing Qingyun Sect¡¯s Great Elder He Lanjun by name. It was evident that the person before them was a powerful cultivator, seemingly bearing ill intentions. ¡°Could it be that these people have grievances with the Qingyun Sect?¡± Thinking of this, Luo Yun¡¯s expression momentarily changed. Following this, he pondered for a moment and immediately remembered the large-scale attack the Qingyun Sect launched on the Wei Kingdom a year ago, which ended in heavy losses. Then, associating the name Zhou Yunxiao, indeed a famous Golden Core Expert from the Wei Kingdom and the Great Elder of the Myriad Medicine Valley, which is the number one sect of the Wei Kingdom. Thus, the two people beside Zhou Yunxiao must be Lu Xingfeng from the Zhenyang Sect and Lin Tianming from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. Though Luo Yun had never met these three, he had read about Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng in some records over the years. After all, as Late Stage Golden Core Experts, whether for the Wei Kingdom or within their Huangyang Kingdom, they were figures of great attention. As a result, he also remembered the information about these experts that he read in his early years. And Lin Tianming, from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family, was the primary reason for thwarting Qingyun Sect¡¯s invasion, and he had also heard some news about him. Now, seeing the three in person, Luo Yun recalled the rumor that had circulated within the sect. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, the arrival of Zhou Yunxiao and his companions at the Qingyun Sect was likely to hold the sect accountable for their attack on the Wei Kingdom. Realizing this, Luo Yun¡¯s expression became even more solemn. However, since the visitors were Late Stage Golden Core Experts, regardless of their intentions, Luo Yun dared not offend or neglect them. Thus, Luo Yun planned to stabilize Zhou Yunxiao first and wait for the arrival of the Sect Elders, thereby completing his duty. With a nervous heart, Luo Yun fervently responded, ¡°Seniors, please wait a moment, this junior has already informed the Elders.¡± Outside the formation, Zhou Yunxiao heard this response and snorted coldly, but he did not react excessively. Subsequently, the three stood side by side, waiting for the Golden Core Cultivators of the Qingyun Sect to come out. Seeing this, Luo Yun breathed a sigh of relief. After a short while, Suddenly a gap opened in the formation before them, and five Golden Core Stage Cultivators walked out, four men and one woman, led by He Lanjun, whom Zhou Yunxiao had called out by name. As for the other four, Lin Tianming thought back to some records he had seen before and quickly understood their identities. Among these four, one was Wang Huashan, the Great Elder of the Qingmu Sect, and Feng Changgong, the Great Elder of the Forging Sword Valley. The other two, the male cultivator was Ren Feihong, who had previously fought with them, and the female cultivator was Fang Yuqing from the Qingmu Sect. Chapter 956 03-25 - 956 507 Confrontation_2 ?Chapter 956: Chapter 507: Confrontation_2 Chapter 956: Chapter 507: Confrontation_2 These few people were all renowned strongmen of the Huangyang Kingdom, and Lin Tianming had also specifically collected information about them. Today, seeing them for the first time at the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate was greatly beyond his expectations. Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, upon seeing these individuals, also had quite unsightly expressions on their faces. The reason was evident upon a moment¡¯s thought. Because these top experts from Huangyang Kingdom were each sect¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, and they rarely left their sects. Yet Feng Changgong and his cohorts had actually gathered at the Qingyun Sect, surely anticipating their plan, which is why they had come here awaiting their arrival. Otherwise, they certainly wouldn¡¯t have encountered these people here. ... Now that Feng Changgong and the others were waiting here, it was clear they had come prepared. Under these circumstances, the plans Lin Tianming and his companions had made earlier naturally wouldn¡¯t be easily realized. Understanding this, the faces of Lin Tianming and the two others looked quite unpleasant, but they also felt somewhat helpless. However, before they could regain their composure, He Lanjun on the opposite side, with a harsh expression, was the first to break the silence. ¡°The three Daoist friends visit our sect today, may I know what brings you here?¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng also showed displeasure. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°We have come here, naturally, to pursue the accountability of your three sects for looting amidst chaos; did you really think there was any friendship to speak of between us?¡± Zhou Yunxiao replied coldly, his face equally displeased. No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu Xingfeng echoed, ¡°Your three sects took advantage of the situation, causing our forces¡¯ territories to fall one after the other; cultivators have died or been wounded in countless numbers, and the tragedy of families being ruined and people dying is all too common.¡± ¡°Although the culprits are now executed, the unjust actions you took this time also demand an explanation to us, do they not?¡± Hearing these words, He Lanjun and his companions let out a faint smile, their expressions becoming much more relaxed. However, this reaction seemed to disregard Lin Tianming and the others completely. The more they did so, the uglier Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s expression became. Seeing this, the people opposite finally regained their composure, after which Feng Changgong spoke up. ¡°Daoist Zhou, please be patient; we too were tempted by the deceit of Zhao Hongsheng, which led us to harbor greed and inadvertently offend fellow Daoists.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°However, as you have seen, our three sects have also lost several comrades.¡± ¡°Daoist He has even lost four sect members directly; Daoist Wang suffered grievous losses as well, paying a heavy price and gaining nothing.¡± ¡°After that, our great sects have not taken any further action, leaving room for a solution, so that you could catch your breath.¡± ¡°Given the circumstances, why not we put down our weapons and achieve a peaceful coexistence from now on?¡± The words of Feng Changgong were quite reasonable, and his attitude was very sincere. It was clear he had no wish for the conflicts to escalate further, which might lead to another great battle. Lin Tianming and his companions, hearing these words, also calmed down. In their plans, they didn¡¯t intend to provoke conflicts in the first place; it was just for the sake of face and the long-term stability in the future that they had intended to give Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three sects a warning. If they could gain some benefits, that would naturally be ideal. If the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect were to show a tough stance without any sign of compromise, they would not trigger another great war just for a little benefit. Thus, seeing Feng Changgong taking a stand now also helped to dissipate some of their anger. But since they had come all this way and had a plan in mind, they wouldn¡¯t retreat easily just because of those few seemingly pleasant words. Therefore, Zhou Yunxiao spoke seriously, ¡°It is heartening to see such an attitude from Daoist Feng.¡± ¡°However, the incident has already occurred, and the losses suffered by our forces are by no means less than yours, they are even more severe.¡± ¡°Back then, our great forces were driven to the brink, nearly facing annihilation.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for good fortune in overcoming a calamity, had Han Hu succeeded, we would be dead with no face left to meet the expectations of our ancestors.¡± As he said this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face turned serious, and his tone involuntarily grew heavier. ¡°Therefore, if we were to retreat so easily just on Daoist Feng¡¯s few words, where would the face of our great forces be?¡± ¡°How should the thousands of cultivators from Wei Kingdom view us now?¡± Just as his words fell, Lu Xingfeng also spoke angrily, ¡°Daoist Zhou is right!¡± ¡°If it were you, with your disciples suffering heavy casualties and the foundation established over ten thousand years nearly collapsing, would you easily let this matter go?¡± ¡°Today, since several Daoists are present, if we do not receive a fair explanation, our great powers, and even the entire Wei Kingdom will not rest!¡± Lu Xingfeng¡¯s tone was heavy, and the threat was clear. Hearing this, the faces of He Lanjun and the others turned very unsightly. Especially He Lanjun, whose Qingyun Sect suffered the greatest loss, with four Golden Core Stage Cultivators perishing, including two Mid Stage Golden Core Strongmen in Wei Kingdom. Had it not been for the incessant internal strife within Huangyang Kingdom and the superficial cordiality but secret scheming among the great powers, At that time, the three great sects would not have sent only two Golden Core Stage combatants. Now that Wei Kingdom was peaceful, not advancing any further was already giving Myriad Medicine Valley a chance to catch their breath. Yet now, Zhou Yunxiao and the others have come to the gates of Qingyun Sect Mountain to demand accountability and even issued threats. Keep in mind, they are all long-standing sects with strength not inferior to the opposition, how could they stay calm? Therefore, He Lanjun¡¯s anger was also on the verge of erupting. Under such circumstances, unable to contain himself, He Lanjun angrily said, ¡°If our three sects do not provide an explanation, what can you few do about it?¡± After speaking, He Lanjun waved his sleeve, and a gourd-shaped Magical Treasure appeared in his hand, seemingly ready to take action. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the other two¡¯s expressions became particularly grave. In their minds, they did not expect He Lanjun to be fearless, showing no intention to back down. For a moment, the three of them hesitated, unsure if they should continue to provoke the opposition. Seeing that Lin Tianming and the others did not reply or make any movement, He Lanjun grew even more arrogant. ¡°Daoist Zhou, if you retreat now, we can let bygones be bygones; otherwise, you will leave your lives here!¡± Upon hearing this threat, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face turned red, and the Magical Treasure appeared in his hand. However, considering the opponent¡¯s strength, with a total of three Late Stage Golden Core Experts and two Mid Stage Golden Core presences. Moreover, inside Qingyun Sect there were certainly several more Golden Core Cultivators, who although not currently present, would naturally come to assist should a fight break out. In addition, with the assistance of the Third Order Great Array, Qingyun Sect had both offensive and defensive capabilities. By contrast, their side had ventured deep into the heartland of Huangyang Kingdom, and apart from Chen Jingtian and a few others behind them, they had no backup. Comparing the two sides, He Lanjun¡¯s party clearly had overall strength superior to theirs and also held the advantage of the terrain. Thus, should a fight truly break out, they would likely have no advantage and might even risk their lives. Understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao was furious yet injured internally, but he dared not act rashly. Just as Zhou Yunxiao and the others were at a loss, several figures suddenly flew out from the Flying Boat behind them¡ªit was Chen Jingtian and the others who had been watching. Quickly, Chen Jingtian and his party arrived behind Lin Tianming and the others, and immediately the atmosphere became extremely tense. As they appeared, He Lanjun¡¯s expression changed as well. But he had his concerns and also dared not make the first move. Thus, the two parties stood in a stalemate for a long time, neither daring to initiate conflict to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. At this moment, inside Qingyun Sect, As soon as Lin Tianming and his party appeared, a huge uproar began within Qingyun Sect. In an instant, a large number of Qingyun Sect Cultivators and some who were staying at Qingyun Sect gathered at a hilltop. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, more than a hundred people had assembled here. At this point, one could see them looking out from the Formation at a distance, watching every move here, their expressions filled with shock and horror. Simultaneously, some Foundation Establishment Disciples recognized Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ identities and began to discuss among themselves. ¡­ Chapter 957 03-25 - 957 508 The Contest ?Chapter 957: Chapter 508: The Contest Chapter 957: Chapter 508: The Contest At that time, the mountaintop was bustling, regardless of one¡¯s status or level of cultivation, all were sizing up Lin Tianming and the others outside. Some had arrived early and gathered together, discussing the identities of Lin Tianming and his group, as well as the purpose of their sudden visit to Qingyun Sect. ¡°According to what the Golden Core Expert said, those three are actually from some of the major Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Two years ago, Uncle Xu led many disciples to attack the Wei Kingdom, and it seems like he has not shown himself since, including those brothers who followed him to the battle.¡± ¡°Could it be that Uncle Xu has really fallen?¡± The crowd couldn¡¯t help but voice their doubts, immediately stirring up everyone¡¯s attention. ... ¡°Just now, according to what Senior Zhou said, it¡¯s likely true!¡± ¡°That person clearly came to cause trouble, to pursue the responsibility of Uncle Xu and others attacking the Wei Kingdom.¡± Upon hearing this speculation, many lower-ranking disciples of Qingyun Sect were shocked. ¡°What? Are the rumors of Uncle Xu and his party all falling true?¡± ¡°You¡¯re late, kid, you didn¡¯t hear what Senior Zhou said.¡± ¡°And the matters that Senior Zhou spoke of in public weren¡¯t even refuted by the Great Elder, so it must be true.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s actually true¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Uncle Xu was a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, and he set out with several of the same rank, how could they have fallen so easily?¡± A cultivator with an incredulous expression on his face, stood there completely stunned. And there were not a few like him here, with the majority within the Sect sharing this view. After all, these low-ranking disciples had very limited cultivation and vision, and their information was not well-informed. Although there had been many rumors within the Sect before, the upper echelons never came forward, nor did they publicly acknowledge, nor did they stop the spread of the rumors. As a result, even though it had caused a significant impact within Qingyun Sect at the beginning, because it could not be confirmed, the disciples of Qingyun Sect all thought it was just a rumor and eventually it died down. Now, judging from the reaction of the Great Elder, it is probably true that the force sent to attack the Wei Kingdom was basically annihilated. At this time, the disciples of Qingyun Sect who almost had confirmation, one by one wore expressions of fright, most of them in disbelief. However, there were also quite a few Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators with fairly informed news, who had actually had an idea in their minds for some time. For a while, these people were also guessing, what exactly happened on the territory of the Wei Kingdom? Otherwise, how could such an outcome have come about? Thus, the originally shocked cultivators began discussing among themselves, making the entire scene much noisier. Such a bustling scene did not cease. As more and more cultivators gathered on the mountaintop, the whole scene became even more intense. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his group, with the appearance of Chen Jingtian and others, were all looking solemn. At the same time, their Magical Treasures appeared in their hands at some unknown point. Across from them, seeing the menacing looks on the faces of the group of nine people, Feng Changgong and his group had somber expressions. Especially He Lanjun, who had been raging before, seemed like a wild beast, ready to explode at any moment. Just then, two more people appeared within Qingyun Sect. Looking over, both were Golden Core Cultivators, one of Mid Stage Golden Core and one of Early Stage Golden Core. As these two arrived behind He Lanjun, his expression eased somewhat. Lin Tianming and the others also saw the newcomers, who were Golden Core Cultivators from Qingyun Sect, and their expressions turned even more solemn. After all, within the ranks of Qingyun Sect, there were seven Golden Core Cultivators, three of them at Late Stage Golden Core, three at Mid Stage Golden Core, and one at Early Stage Golden Core. Putting aside Feng Changgong and Ren Feihong of Forging Sword Valley, and Wang Huashan and Tian Yuqing of Qingmu Sect, Qingyun Sect now actually had three Golden Core Stage cultivators. It should be noted that before this, Qingyun Sect had already lost four Golden Core stage elders, including two at the Medium Stage. Even so, there were still several Golden Core Elders left in Qingyun Sect, and they might not necessarily represent all the strength of their Sect. In their eyes, no matter which Sect it was, would probably not expose all their Golden Core Stage Combat Power. Take the Lin Family, for instance; they too had not disclosed that Lin Shilu had stepped into the Golden Core Stage. In such a situation, Qingyun Sect did indeed have a substantial probability of having hidden members. As a result, the foundation of Qingyun Sect was quite unexpected to Lin Tianming and the others. Even with the arrival of two with Golden Core Combat Strength, the standoff on the scene still had not been broken. After another small half moment of confrontation, both sides were staring each other down through the air, as if neither were willing to back down. Seeing this situation, Feng Changgong let out a wry smile and then cupped his hands toward Zhou Yunxiao, speaking first to break the silence. ¡°Daoist Zhou, you¡¯ve seen the situation for yourself, you don¡¯t hold any advantage at all.¡± ¡°In my opinion, it¡¯s better for us to call it quits, how about we avoid each other¡¯s waters from now on?¡± Feng Changgong¡¯s words were sincere, with a tone of pleading for peace. In fact, that was exactly the case. And indeed, including Wang Huashan on the other side, they also didn¡¯t want to escalate the conflict any further. After all, the initial instigator Zhao Hongsheng, as well as the Golden Sword Sect which started the trouble, had both been annihilated. Chapter 958 03-25 - 958 508 Duel_2 ?Chapter 958: Chapter 508 Duel_2 Chapter 958: Chapter 508 Duel_2 At the same time, the entire Wei Kingdom had also regained peace, and the major forces of Myriad Medicine Valley found a chance to catch their breath. In such a situation, if a great war were to erupt once again, it would undoubtedly result in damaging the enemy a thousand and self-harming eight hundred. Moreover, there were constant struggles among the major forces within the Huangyang Kingdom, and the other two Medium Stage Golden Core forces were also watching and waiting, hoping to see the three Great Sects plunge into a relentless war. By then, the other Golden Core forces could just sit back and reap the benefits. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, both Qingmu Sect and Forging Sword Valley did not wish for matters to deteriorate further and thereby spark an even greater crisis. Now, Zhou Yunxiao and several others aggressively demanding an explanation was actually within their expectations. They originally thought the two sides would just argue verbally and eventually give up due to insufficient power. ... However, they had not expected Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s attitude to be so resolute, refusing to give up. They were also constrained by face, neither wanting to escalate the conflict nor to back down. Thus, they had fallen into this difficult predicament. When Zhou Yunxiao heard what Feng Changgong said, he also coldly snorted, ¡°Hmph¡­ since Daoist Feng does not wish for a conflict to arise either, I too do not wish to stir up trouble.¡± ¡°But the fact is that several of our forces have suffered a major loss, and if you want us to withdraw easily, you must compensate us.¡± ¡°Otherwise, we cannot justify ourselves to the disciples of our Sect and the thousands of cultivators in the Wei Kingdom!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xingfeng also echoed, ¡°Exactly, I share the same sentiment!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Hearing this discussion, Feng Changgong glanced at He Lanjun and others beside him, then secretly exchanged messages through voice transmission. After a while, they seemed to have reached a consensus. Then, Feng Changgong respectfully smiled and said, ¡°Daoist fellows, for the sake of long-term stability between us, after discussions, we agree to make concessions.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yunxiao was somewhat surprised, but he felt relieved inwardly. After all, if the two sides could reach a consensus, there would be no need for a large-scale confrontation, which would be beneficial for everyone. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao also complimented them. ¡°The Daoist friends are truly wise, and we all admire this greatly.¡± ¡°Just as Daoist Feng thought, if we can reach a consensus, taking a step back is indeed the best strategy. But I wonder how Daoist intends to compensate our several major forces?¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Changgong laughed, ¡°After discussions, each of our three Sects will put forth two million low-grade Spirit Stones as an apology to you Daoist fellows.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Two million low-grade Spirit Stones? Are the Daoist friends belittling us?¡± Lu Xingfeng sneered in response, displaying a disdainful expression on his face. He Lanjun¡¯s expression darkened, and he angrily said, ¡°Daoist Lu, we are willing to make concessions and have already given you face.¡± ¡°Do you really think that our three Sects are without people? Do you think Huangyang Kingdom is without people?¡± ¡°If you really push us to the brink, I would not mind raising the full power of our Sect to ignite another great war!¡± With those words, He Lanjun¡¯s momentum rose, adopting a stance as if facing a great enemy. Behind him, two other Golden Core cultivators of the Qingyun Sect also held Magical Treasures in their hands, seemingly ready to act at He Lanjun¡¯s command. At this sudden change, Zhou Yunxiao and the others also changed their expressions. However, He Lanjun and another merely put on angry expressions without further action. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others also let out a sigh of relief. Following this, Zhou also secretly transmitted his voice to ask Lin Tianming and another for their opinions regarding the compensation offered by Feng Changgong. Regarding this matter, Lin Tianming was also conflicted because he was clear in his mind that a war was not possible. Thus, the final result still required them to step back to completely calm the situation. However, the compensation offered by Feng Changgong and the others was rather meager for their level of power. After all, each Sect was only offering two million low-grade Spirit Stones, and even divided among the forces such as Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they would at most receive a little over two million Spirit Stones. Considering the foundational resources of Myriad Medicine Valley, this small amount of Spirit Stones was essentially negligible. Thus, this amount of Spirit Stone compensation was just giving a veneer for the Wei Kingdom forces to step down. Understanding this point, Lin Tianming believed there was still room to push for more, at least doubling the Spirit Stones to barely meet their bottom line. Thus, Lin Tianming also communicated back to Zhou Yunxiao and his companion, sharing his own views. Zhou Yunxiao and his companion pondered for a moment and found themselves in agreement with his thoughts. In such a situation, as representatives of several major forces, Zhou Yunxiao showed a hint of difficulty and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, are two million low-grade Spirit Stones not a bit too meager?¡± ¡°With the foundation and strength of your great sects, saying two million low-grade Spirit Stones is like a drop in the bucket isn¡¯t an exaggeration.¡± ¡°Moreover, under our great forces, more than ten mountains have fallen, and over a hundred families have been pillaged. The losses in resources alone amount to no less than ten million?¡± ¡°Putting it this way, you are all renowned figures in the Huangyang Kingdom. Wouldn¡¯t it seem petty and laughable to be so stingy?¡± ¡°This makes sense!¡± ¡°You are all sect leaders and strong figures in your own right, yet to be so miserly really lacks grace.¡± Lu Xingfeng said with a smile, his face mocking. Their provocative method also made He Lanjun and others feel quite embarrassed. In reality, they were well aware that two million low-grade Spirit Stones as compensation indeed were not high. The bargaining by Zhou Yunxiao and others was anticipated. Following that, Feng Changgong still with a calm demeanor, privately communicated with Wang Huashan and others, quickly reaching a consensus. Then, Feng Changgong spoke, ¡°Fellow Daoists, just now I also consulted with Daoist Wang and others.¡± ¡°How about this, let us each take a step back, our three great sects will each offer four million low-grade Spirit Stones as compensation. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Six million Spirit Stones, and we will retreat immediately!¡± Zhou Yunxiao immediately responded, bargaining with Feng Changgong. And He Lanjun, who had not spoken up until now, also immediately broke into the conversation. ¡°Five million Spirit Stones, and not a single one more!¡± ¡°And there¡¯s a condition, if you agree, the deal is done immediately.¡± ¡°Oh? What condition?¡± Zhou Yunxiao asked with a smile, clearly intrigued. Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng also smiled, quite interested in He Lanjun¡¯s condition. At this moment, He Lanjun did not beat around the bush, and slowly said, ¡°I have no big condition, only that if you want the compensation of five million Spirit Stones, why not have a duel?¡± ¡°If you win, my party will not delay and immediately deliver the Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Conversely, if you lose, you¡¯ll accept two million low-grade Spirit Stones as compensation, without further bargaining, and we¡¯ll owe each other nothing.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companions wore expressions of surprise. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao also asked, ¡°How shall we duel?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s said that Tian Ming of Luoyun Mountain Lin Family possesses formidable strength, why not have a match with me?¡± He Lanjun said nonchalantly. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao mocked and jeered. ¡°He, you¡¯re challenging Tian Ming whose realm is much lower than yours, isn¡¯t this bullying the weak?¡± ¡°If you have the guts, why not let me or Lu Daoyou have a match with you?¡± As soon as these words fell, He Lanjun smiled indifferently, seemingly unperturbed by Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s mocking words. Following that, he also continued, ¡°Daoist Zhou¡¯s words are fair.¡± ¡°However, since Tian Ming previously demonstrated tremendous strength, slaying two of my fellow disciples, I must challenge him.¡± ¡°If you feel I¡¯m bullying the weak, then let him team up with a Medium Stage Golden Core cultivator. If they can last the duration of half an incense stick without defeat, I, He Lanjun, will concede defeat.¡± ¡°Are you daring enough?¡± He Lanjun pointed across the void at Lin Tianming, his gaze resolute and filled with confidence. Chapter 959 03-25 - 959 509 Joining Forces to Battle ?Chapter 959: Chapter 509: Joining Forces to Battle Chapter 959: Chapter 509: Joining Forces to Battle ¡°This¡­ this?¡± When Zhou Yunxiao heard He Lanjun¡¯s conditions, he turned his gaze to Lin Tianming, obviously seeking his opinion as well. At that moment, Lin Tianming did not immediately respond; instead, he began to think internally. In his view, each of the three parties contributing merely five million Spirit Stones barely met their bottom line. If he agreed to fight, he was quite confident in his own strength, especially since he had previously directly confronted individuals like Zhao Hongsheng. And at that time, he had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage not long ago. Now, his cultivation had improved somewhat and his progress in Body Refinement was not insignificant. ... Moreover, if he could ally with Chen Jingtian, whose power was equally formidable, they might not necessarily guarantee victory against He Lanjun, but at least they would not suffer too great a loss. Furthermore, He Lanjun had not specified that they needed to defeat him¡ªmerely holding out for a sufficiently long time without being defeated would count as their victory. With this in mind, agreeing to the fight didn¡¯t seem objectionable. Soon, Lin Tianming made up his mind and decided to give it a try. Even so, he still planned to bargain further, striving to secure greater benefits. With this intention, Lin Tianming surreptitiously communicated with both Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, without much hesitation, agreed to his plan. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Following this, Zhou Yunxiao also called out across the distance to He Lanjun, ¡°He, we could accept the terms of the duel.¡± ¡°But such a paltry benefit, our might powers are not satisfied!¡± Hearing this, He Lanjun seriously asked, ¡°Then what do you propose?¡± ¡°If you want us to accept the duel, each of your three sects must offer up three additional mountains as bonuses. If we win, aside from the territory, the five million Spirit Stones are to be given as usual.¡± ¡°If we lose, each of your three sects pays two million Spirit Stones, and we shall consider the matter settled. How about it?¡± Zhou Yunxiao looked at He Lanjun confidently as he spoke, his expression calm as still water, evidently full of confidence. The main character of the duel, He Lanjun, hesitated for a moment, then discussed it with Feng Changgong and a few others. Ultimately, all three parties reached an agreement, adding three mountains each as bonuses to finalize the terms of the duel. Following that, He Lanjun confidently replied, ¡°As Daoist Zhou has said, we three parties will not go back on our word.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao turned his head to look at Lin Tianming. Although he didn¡¯t say much else, Lin Tianming understood his meaning. Thus, Lin Tianming nodded confidently. He then swept his gaze over those behind him, finally resting on Chen Jingtian and Chen Maohua. At that moment, Chen Jingtian and Chen Maohua stepped forward simultaneously and said in unison, ¡°Lin, we are willing to lend you our strength.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, feeling quite moved. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, the two Chens hadn¡¯t hesitated at all, obviously trusting in his strength. He Lanjun had entered the Late Stage Golden Core years earlier and was Qingyun Sect¡¯s strongest practitioner, having dominated Huangyang Country¡¯s Cultivation World for many years with his formidable power. He was a genuine late-stage power, no weaker than Zhou Yunxiao or Lu Xingfeng. Even so, facing such a true powerhouse, Chen Jingtian and his companion did not hesitate to agree to fight, which was telling of their stance. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt fortunate and very reassured. As he hesitated, Chen Jingtian turned to Chen Maohua and said, ¡°Daoist Chen, there¡¯s no doubt that He¡¯s power is formidable. Although you and I are at the same stage, I must bluntly say, your power might not compare to mine.¡± ¡°In that case, for the benefit of our great powers, it might be safer if I compete.¡± ¡°What do you think, Daoist Chen?¡± Chen Jingtian bowed and spoke with genuine sincerity. Seeing him speak so, Chen Maohua also deeply recognized that his own power was indeed inferior to Chen Jingtian¡¯s. Thus, Chen Maohua no longer insisted and verbally agreed to Chen Jingtian¡¯s suggestion. Following that, Chen Jingtian also spoke to Lin Tianming, ¡°Lin, since He has proposed the terms, why don¡¯t we join forces and test his Divine Skills?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily, his expression very calm. ¡°Good, let us join forces and test just how formidable He¡¯s reputed strength really is!¡± After Lin Tianming finished speaking, his Qinghong Sword lit up with a flash, readying himself to commence the duel. Then, when He Lanjun heard the dialogue between Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, he noticed their confident expressions and a slight smile of pride appeared on his face, seemingly undaunted by their challenge. Shortly after, he glanced at the vast open area ahead and said to Lin Tianming, ¡°The place for our spar, why not at the mountain peak ten miles ahead? I¡¯ll head there first!¡± After speaking, He Lanjun leaped up, flying towards the distant, faintly visible mountain peak. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian exchanged glances with those around them as a form of greeting, reassuring them. Then, both men stepped out and chased after He Lanjun. Soon, the three of them appeared on two mountain tops, facing each other across a distance. Zhou Yunxiao and the others, along with Feng Changgong¡¯s group, all waited at the original location, their gazes fixed in the direction of the ongoing magic duel, attentively keeping track of the progress. Chapter 960 03-25 - 960 509 Join Forces to Meet the Battle_2 ?Chapter 960: Chapter 509: Join Forces to Meet the Battle_2 Chapter 960: Chapter 509: Join Forces to Meet the Battle_2 As Lin Tianming and his companion, as well as He Lanjun and his two companions, arrived at their destination, both parties only paused for a moment. Then, He Lanjun looked at his opponents and suddenly shouted, ¡°I have a higher cultivation than both of you. Let me remind you again, swords have no eyes¡ªbe careful, you two Daoist fellows!¡± As soon as his words fell, He Lanjun hesitated no longer and the gourd in his hands suddenly flashed with light. In an instant, the gourd began to crazily expand, quickly growing from the size of a palm to that of a human. Simultaneously, the gourd flew into the air and the mouth of the gourd instantly spewed out a large amount of green smoke, quickly covering a vast expanse of the sky. Seeing such changes, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn, knowing He Lanjun¡¯s cultivation at the Late Stage Golden Core could make him the top person of the Qingyun Sect, surely his strength was extremely formidable. And that gourd of his was somewhat eerie, it had to be an extraordinary magical treasure to be possessed by a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator. ... Realizing this, Lin Tianming leaped forward, his agile body darting through the area covered by the smoke like lightning. At the same time, he did not forget to warn Chen Jingtian, ¡°Daoist Chen, that smoke is somewhat eerie, don¡¯t let it catch you off guard!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Chen Jingtian had already swiftly moved dozens of yards away, temporarily avoiding the range of the smoke. At that time, the two positioned themselves to the left and right of He Lanjun, forming a pincer attack. Following that, the two wasted no time, their magical treasures in their hands shone brilliantly and strands of sword Qi shot out, immediately charging into the smoke. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion take action, the strong fluctuations swept towards them, He Lanjun appeared calm and composed, his face bearing a mysterious smile. But in just a moment, turbulence erupted within the smoke. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian both felt something was amiss. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that their attacks had entered the smoke, and the only reaction was a few surges within the smoke, then it returned to calm. As for the abundant sword Qi, it vanished silently, like a stone sinking into the sea, with no response at all. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering their considerable strength, even a casual attack from them would not be easily handled by a cultivator of the same rank. Although He Lanjun was powerful, handling both of their attacks should not have been without effect. However, the smoke spewed out by He Lanjun¡¯s gourd was eerily unsettling, silently neutralizing the sword Qi without even touching his robe. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming and his companion had not expected it. But reality was just that. Hence, an undeterred Lin Tianming launched several more attacks, which instantly charged into the smoke. Unfortunately, these attacks were just like the previous ones, without making any noise. Seeing such an eerie smoke that could devour attacks, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian¡¯s expressions became extremely grave. At this time, seeing the grave expressions on Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces seemed somewhat unbelievable to He Lanjun. He Lanjun laughed heartily, not surprised at all by this outcome. In his eyes, the strength of Lin Tianming and his companion was indeed commendable; he had heard complete accounts of it from practitioners from the Qingyun Sect who had returned from attacking the Wei Kingdom. Furthermore, Ren Feihong had witnessed it firsthand, even having sparred with them, and was shocked by their strength. But even so, what could be done? Their attacks couldn¡¯t penetrate the smoke, and if it continued this way, he would simply remain undefeated. With no worries, he only needed to attack relentlessly. Once he defeated one of them, no matter how strong the other was, he would not be a concern at all. Knowing this, He Lanjun wore a look of smugness, as if he had completely secured victory over the two. Settling himself slightly, He Lanjun suddenly made a Law Decree, and bursts of spiritual light struck the gourd in front of him. ¡°Zoom¡­¡± A sharp, strange sound rang out. In an instant, the gourd again spewed out a large amount of smoke, quickly morphing into several water dragons, each flying towards both Lin Tianming and his companion. Looking out, the water dragon appeared lifelike and imposing, as if it were a real creature. In midair, the raging water dragon opened its massive maw, roaring thunderously. Just as He Lanjun made his move, Lin Tianming and his companion had already quickly shifted positions. In an instant, their nimble bodies moved like phantoms, weaving through uncovered areas with an incredible speed. They knew staying still would only make them more passive. After all, the eerie smoke could devour even Sword Qi and enveloped a vast area. If their physical bodies were covered, who knew what terrifying situation would arise. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t afford to stop moving, constantly changing positions to avoid being trapped by the smoke. Sure enough, the moment they dashed away, the roaring water dragon descended. Fortunately for them, having left early, the water dragon¡¯s massive size couldn¡¯t quickly change direction and ultimately crashed into the ground below. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Loud noises resonated, accompanied by bursts of blue light cutting through the void. Simultaneously, the giant waves created by the collision of the water dragon with the earth spread in all directions, blowing them over several times before they finally regained their footing. Once Lin Tianming and his companion stabilized themselves, they immediately looked back at their previous location. They saw numerous deep pits on the ground, inexplicably filled with water sources emitting steam, forming a new dense fog merging with the smoke in midair. In no time at all, the already massive smoke grew even larger. Seeing this change, both Lin Tianming and his companion showed shocked expressions. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t calm, but rather, He Lanjun¡¯s offensive and defensive treasure was genuinely bizarre and extremely powerful. Offensively, the water dragon could strike targets with formidable power. Even if it failed to hit the target, the water dragon could transform into a mist, augmenting the original vast cloud. Defensively, the smoke was equally bizarre, effortlessly devouring spiritual entities such as Sword Qi formed by True Essence Mana. It was clear that ordinary attacks could hardly penetrate this fog cloud, posing little threat to He Lanjun. Under such circumstances, without a specific treasure to counteract the oppressing force of the smoke, He Lanjun was almost unbeatable. On their part, their attacks posed no threat to He Lanjun, and they had to passively dodge his attacks. If this situation continued, even with abundant True Essence Mana, they would likely not last long. It could be said that if they couldn¡¯t break the stalemate in a short time, even dragging out the battle would be difficult to achieve. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was quite anxious, his expression more solemn than it had ever been. Chen Jingtian looked equally troubled at that moment. However, they had no time to catch their breath. He Lanjun¡¯s next wave of attacks arrived as promised, with numerous water dragons coming from various directions, blocking their paths. Simultaneously, He Lanjun drew out his aqua-blue longsword treasure, unleashing a multitude of Sword Qi aimed directly at their heads. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, a deluge of attacks descended, the powerful turbulence stirring their robes. At this moment, seeing the onslaught looming above them, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces turned pale. Fortunately, both were experienced in magic duels and had considerable personal strength. In haste, they attempted to move their bodies to avoid being caught by the attacks, fearing they would be hit directly by this terrifying assault. In their eyes, these attacks were, after all, executed by late-stage Golden Core experts, and their power had already been proven. Facing such a tactic, attempting to meet the attacks head-on would undoubtedly be the most foolish idea. Chapter 961 03-25 - 961 510 Flaw ?Chapter 961: Chapter 510 Flaw Chapter 961: Chapter 510 Flaw As Sword Qi tore through the void in the sky, the Water Dragon had also burst forth, drawing ever closer to Lin Tianming and his companion. At this moment, Lin Tianming moved like a swift swallow, swiftly shifting a hundred yards away. And with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he had finally managed to pass through the converging mist without too much danger, avoiding being encircled. Once he steadied his stance, he turned to direct his gaze towards Chen Jingtian. In his eyes, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, the probability of getting ensnared by the mist wasn¡¯t high. But that wasn¡¯t necessarily the case for Chen Jingtian! Although Chen¡¯s personal strength was indeed strong, making him a standout among his peers, The mist was too strange, coupled with a blitz of attacks from Late Stage Golden Core expert He Lanjun aiming to encircle and block. ... Under such conditions, it wasn¡¯t easy for Chen Jingtian to cope. Sure enough, following a muffled sound, Lin Tianming¡¯s prediction came true. He saw nothing but Sword Qi descend, along with several Water Dragons that instantly engulfed Chen Jingtian. At that moment, the space around Chen was enveloped in mist, and only occasional glints of sword light could be seen flashing. Following several muffled sounds, there came Chen Jingtian¡¯s pained voice. Meanwhile, Lu Xingfeng, who was watching the battle from the periphery, saw Chen Jingtian shrouded in smoke and abruptly his expression changed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï He leaned out, the Magical Treasure in his hand ready, as if preparing to intervene to stop it. Seeing this, Feng Changgong and Wang Huashan also stepped forward, their Magical Treasures flashing with light. However, they dared not act rashly for fear of provoking a greater dispute. Thus, Feng Changgong called out from across the space, ¡°He and the others are merely exchanging pointers. I advise fellow Daoists not to interfere; otherwise, Wang Daoist friend and I won¡¯t sit idly by.¡± Hearing these threatening words, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s face darkened, but considering the current situation, they had no advantage and initiating conflict would only put them at a loss. Having no choice, Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao stopped advancing. This included both Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, who at this time were also very concerned for Lin Tianming¡¯s safety. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In their eyes, the stakes of the competition paled in comparison to Lin Tianming¡¯s well-being. Up till now, He Lanjun had demonstrated his strength, along with his mysterious Magical Treasure and his methods, proving to be a formidable opponent. Facing such an expert, Lin Tianming, who had just entered the Golden Core Stage and was only at Early Stage Golden Core, was at a significant disadvantage compared to the long-renowned He Lanjun, who had been a dominant force in Huangyang Kingdom for over two hundred years. Despite his formidable personal strength, which not even Medium Stage Golden Core Chen Jingtian could confidently claim to outmatch, The gap with He Lanjun, who had both time and location in his favor, was starkly evident. Realizing this, Lin Shikang and the others were very helpless, their faces unable to hide the urgency. As muffled sounds emanated from Chen Jingtian¡¯s direction, Lin Shikang and the others became even more anxious. They strained to extend their Divine Sense, trying to discern Chen Jingtian¡¯s situation. Unfortunately, the peculiar smoke blocked even their Golden Core stage Divine Sense. Unable to perceive any response, their frustration and anger further intensified. At this time, Lin Tianming was also in a state of panic. Lin Shikang and the others, including Late Stage Golden Core cultivators Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, were unable to see what Chen Jingtian had gone through. With the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, though his Divine Sense was likewise affected, he had witnessed Chen Jingtian¡¯s recent ordeal. In his vision, Chen Jingtian had been moving his body quickly as well, trying to avoid being enveloped by the thick mist and not seeking to confront He Lanjun¡¯s attacks head-on. However, the density of the attacks at that time was too high, and their speed incredibly fast, leaving hardly any time to react. Faced with such a level of onslaught, Chen Jingtian managed to pass through a gap, hurling himself to a temporarily safe position. But before he could even catch his breath, the layers of mist surged again, attempting to trap him within. In desperation, Chen Jingtian contorted his body into an odd posture, forcing his way out through another spot to avoid being covered by the mist. If that were to happen, his situation would only worsen further, not to mention winning the duel; he might even lose his life there. Realizing this, Chen made another swift turn, shaping his body into an unwieldy posture to flee forcibly. Unfortunately, he was still half a step too slow. Just as he was about to break through an opening, the mist had already fully closed in. Instantly, he was enshrouded by the smoke, with no escape routes whatsoever. Yet, it wasn¡¯t the mist itself that was the deadliest. At this moment, he felt as if submerged in water, with immense pressure surrounding him, severely slowing down his movements, making each step incredibly difficult. Furthermore, abundant Sword Qi continued to emerge from the midst of the smoke, heading straight for his head. Seeing the Sword Qi encroaching, his movement drastically slowed, and his True Essence Mana consumption increased several-fold compared to normal times. At this point, he finally understood the terror of the mist¡ªnot only could it entrap an enemy, but it also slowed them down while greatly increasing their Mana consumption. It was such an ability that one would expect from a Late Stage Golden Core expert like He Lanjun. Right then, Chen had no time for further thought or contemplation. For him, the priority was figuring out how to survive in this dire situation. Chapter 962 03-25 - 962 511 Flaw_2 ?Chapter 962: Chapter 511 Flaw_2 Chapter 962: Chapter 511 Flaw_2 ¡°` ¡°Boom¡­¡± The smoke surged downwards, and the Sword Qi had already descended. At that time, Chen Jingtian didn¡¯t dare to delay. He immediately ran his mana to its utmost limit and moved his body to dodge the Sword Qi¡¯s attacks as much as possible. Simultaneously, a flash of light from the Defense Treasure in his hand quickly expanded, forming a barrier in front of him. In a split second, as several crackling explosions sounded, accompanied by streaks of light cutting through the void. Suddenly, numerous Sword Qi struck the Defense Treasure before him, bringing with them a powerful wave of force. Fortunately, the power of the Defense Treasure was extraordinary, and it had successfully blocked the onslaught of Sword Qi, leaving only some cracks on it, which caused a decrease in its spirituality. ... However, Chen Jingtian himself was not faring well. He had absorbed the formidable rebound force by directly blocking He Lanjun¡¯s attack. After this strike, blood spilled from the corners of his mouth, his Qi-Blood roiled crazily within him, and some of his meridians were violently shattered. In addition, nearly half of the True Essence Mana in his body had been depleted, and the Defense Treasure had also suffered varying degrees of damage. It was hard to imagine that this was just two rounds of combat. And up to now, neither of them had even touched He Lanjun¡¯s body, let alone defeat him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Besides the current situation, he was still in danger. Now, he had to find a way to escape from the smoke to have a sliver of hope for resistance. With this in mind, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression was extremely grave as he took advantage of the lull in the attack to ponder his next move. And during this time, the whole process of Chen Jingtian handling the strike was within Lin Tianming¡¯s sight. At the moment, Lin Tianming also had a gloomy face and was contemplating a strategy to break the situation. In his mind, He Lanjun¡¯s smoke was truly cunning. Although it didn¡¯t have much attack power or pose any fatal threat, if someone got trapped within it, the suppressing force it could bring was extremely terrifying. Chen Jingtian had just tried and it was visibly clear how much it affected his speed. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such suppressive force was deadly for a cultivator. Once one could not break free, the True Essence Mana would be rapidly depleted. Attacking targets with the strength of a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator would basically mean just taking hits. Even if you could withstand one hit, more would follow. With this ebb and flow, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the trapped person to be thoroughly drained to death. This was somewhat similar to his own Divine Earth Evil Sword Formation. Only that the Earth Evil Sword Formation posed a greater attack threat, yet it depended greatly on the Divine Sense of the cultivator, as well as the timing and stamina involved in the formation. The smoke, however, was just very effective at trapping enemies and covered a much larger area but didn¡¯t have fearsome attack power. In this way, these two methods had their own unique features and advantages and disadvantages. But regardless, He Lanjun¡¯s Gourd Treasure was indeed cunning and formidable. Knowing this, Lin Tianming realized that the most urgent matter was to assist Chen Jingtian in breaking free as soon as possible. Otherwise, should anything go awry on Chen Jingtian¡¯s end, not to mention his own safety, it would be impossible to explain to the Zhenyang Sect. On top of that, facing He Lanjun alone would be like a slow death. Thus, Lin Tianming wracked his brains for a loophole in the smoke before him. While he was pondering, He Lanjun would not afford them much opportunity to catch their breath. All of a sudden, the smoke churned, and numerous Water Dragons emerged again, roaring towards the two of them. At that moment, Lin Tianming momentarily regained his composure and a flame appeared in his hand. This flame was none other than the Blue Heart True Flame, which instantly raised the surrounding temperature markedly. As the Water Dragons closed in, Lin Tianming resolutely threw the Blue Heart True Flame. Instantly, the Blue Heart True Flame collided head-on with the Water Dragons. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky lit up with fire, and the powerful impact spread in all directions. And in the moment of collision, the Water Dragons were directly blasted apart, eventually evaporating like mist. ¡°` At the same time, after the Blue Heart True Flame exploded, numerous fireballs formed and eventually disappeared into the smoke. In those short moments, all one could hear were bursts of boiling sounds. Then, one could see swathes of the fog beginning to dissipate, and sunlight from the sky shone back onto the ground. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled beyond expectation. Originally, He Lanjun¡¯s Spiritual Root was primarily of the Water Attribute, and his Attack Power also revolved around the Water Attribute¡ªeven his Gourd Treasure was an item of the Water Attribute. Lin Tianming had used the help of the Eye of Five Colors at the outset and discerned the attribute behind the smoke; countering with the Blue Heart True Flame was merely an attempt made with a try-it-and-see attitude. If there were apparent effects, then nothing could be better. If there were no effects, then he would have to look for another strategy. However, the effect of the Blue Heart True Flame was surprisingly good; it had easily shattered the Water Dragon, and after exploding, those small fireballs continued to evaporate what remained. This result was far too good, completely beyond Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. But on closer reflection, the Blue Heart True Flame was, after all, one of the Third Order Exotic Flames, and an extremely special Third Order fire at that. Such a Treasure wielded immense suppression over Water Attribute attacks. With such a Treasure on hand, it was only natural for Lin Tianming to give it a try¡ªthe result might be miraculous. It was precisely this exploratory move that had truly dissolved Lin Tianming¡¯s significant trouble. At this time, Lin Tianming was bursting with excitement, and he let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. On the other hand, He Lanjun¡¯s expression was exceptionally grim. In his eyes, he had almost considered Lin Tianming and his companion nothing short of certain failures. Under the circumstances just before, not to mention unleashing an Attack to counterattack, even self-preservation was extremely difficult; at most, they could have held out for a few rounds before defeat. Given that, the prospect of defeating him head-on was even less likely. Yet, Lin Tianming had managed to recognize the attribute of the smoke and also had the Blue Heart True Flame. The result was that he found the flaw in the smoke and saw his biggest reliance crumble. Now, the overwhelming advantage he had would disappear, and the outcome of the fight became hard to predict. Even so, He Lanjun remained relatively composed. After all, with his Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm, he felt he had a fair chance of winning even if he faced Lin Tianming and his friend head-on. Under such circumstances, he needed to seriously injure one of them quickly, to defeat Chen Jingtian in the shortest possible time. As long as Chen Jingtian lacked the strength to resist, relying solely on Lin Tianming would not be enough to pose any threat to him. With that step, he would have achieved his primary goal. Knowing this, He Lanjun made consecutive moves, unleashing vast amounts of Sword Qi, directing Attacks toward Lin Tianming and his companion. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± Sounds of sword whistling rose. At this very moment, Lin Tianming knew he could not delay any longer; he had to quickly rescue Chen Jingtian. Driven by a strong sense of purpose, Lin Tianming conjured fireballs in his hands once more, flinging them in Chen Jingtian¡¯s direction. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Blue Heart True Flame cut through the void, directly evaporating the smoke around it, eventually forming a pathway. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming pivoted, rushing through the path cleared by the True Flame toward Chen Jingtian¡¯s location. His movements were swift, and with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he managed to narrowly dodge the barrage of Sword Qi Attacks from He Lanjun. With the way paved by the Blue Heart True Flame, Lin Tianming finally joined Chen Jingtian just before He Lanjun¡¯s Attacks could descend. It wasn¡¯t until they stood shoulder to shoulder that both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian breathed a sigh of relief. Free from the constraints of the smoke, they no longer had any reservations. Without further delay, the two of them unleashed a barrage of Attacks, targeting the Sword Qi summoned by He Lanjun. In an instant, the Attacks of the three clashed head-on. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In a moment, the sky was aglow with fire once more, and the battlefield, which had been calm for a brief time, was once again filled with thunderous explosions. ¡­ Chapter 963 03-25 - 963 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash ?Chapter 963: Chapter 511: Frost Sword Spirit Slash Chapter 963: Chapter 511: Frost Sword Spirit Slash On the battlefield. Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword flashed brightly and instantly unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword. In the blink of an eye, the Qinghong Sword shot out at an unbelievable speed, heading straight for He Lanjun. At the same time, the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand pulsed and he formed it into a massive fireball. Although the fireball looked ordinary, the blue flame within held a terrifying destructive power. Lin Tianming knew very well that facing the powerful He Lanjun, the Blue Heart True Flame was one of his most reliable techniques. With this tool that could counter He Lanjun¡¯s Divine Skills Magical Treasure, he naturally wanted to make good use of it to increase his odds of winning. ... Sure enough, upon seeing the Blue Heart True Flame again, He Lanjun¡¯s expression turned dark, a look of dread painted on his face. However, before he could catch his breath, Chen Jingtian, who had escaped his binds, was now free of any restrictions and made no reservations. Chen leaped into the air, a massive amount of Sword Qi whirling madly beside him until it formed a huge Sword Qi. As the Sword Qi appeared, sand and stones flew through the air, and Gang Wind arose, the mighty momentum bearing down like Mount Tai. ¡°Zhenyang Sword Qi, go!¡± Chen Jingtian shouted to the heavens, fully releasing the frustrations he had felt until now. In a split second, Lin Tianming and his attack, from both left and right, bombarded He Lanjun. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï At this moment, seeing the attacks from Lin Tianming and another approaching, He Lanjun refused to show weakness. He pinched a Law Decree and the gourd in front of him once again spewed out smoke, which merged with the smoke already wavering in mid-air, forming a barrier in front of him. At the same time, his Longsword Treasure swung repeatedly, dispatching waves of Sword Qi. In his eyes, the flaws in the smokescreen had already been exploited by Lin Tianming. With a method to decode it, it could no longer trap the two. Still, the smokescreen was quite effective for defense. With that in mind, He Lanjun activated both of his Magical Treasures, one for attack and one for defense, coordinating quite seamlessly. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Booming¡­¡± Bright lights twinkled in the sky, and deafening explosions echoed across the battlefield. Within that sea of fire, the Blue Heart True Flame blasted open a pathway, evaporating a large amount of smoke. And within this pathway, the Sword Qi from both sides clashed head-on. For a moment, the powerful impact was uncontrollable, spreading out in all directions. Under this powerful shock, the three of them were each knocked back some distance. As the three steadied themselves, their expressions grew much graver. Especially He Lanjun, whose dark expression could not hide the fear in his face. Now, after this strike, he truly realized the formidable strength of Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian. No wonder Ren Feihong of Forging Sword Valley, after fleeing back to Huangyang Kingdom, had continuously praised their strength. Now, seeing them firsthand, their reputations were indeed well-deserved; even he found them quite troublesome to deal with. However, even so, He Lanjun was not panicked as his level of cultivation gave him a definitive advantage, and being on the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory was a great benefit. Inside Qingyun Sect, more and more Cultivators gathered at the entrance. In just a quarter of an hour, there were already over a thousand Cultivators, and their numbers were still increasing. During the intense battle of the three, all these Cultivators stared at the somewhat discernible figures ahead, utterly astonished. Because they had all seen and truly felt the deafening explosions and powerful fluctuations that had just occurred. In their eyes, a clash of such high-level fighters was rare in the Cultivation World. Not to mention that one of Qingyun Sect¡¯s strongest was one of the main duelists. Watching their every move from such close quarters was a rare opportunity that might not come again in a hundred years. Now, these people all widened their eyes, intently watching the front, fearing they would miss any round of attacks. On the battlefield. After a brief calm, the three launched their attacks again. For a while, the three were entangled once more, the continuous Sword Qi crossing the skies, and the fierce collisions sending strong vibrations continuously. Soon several rounds of attacks ended, and both sides had their share of advances and retreats without clearly gaining the upper hand. However, overall, He Lanjun¡¯s individual strength and cultivation level gave him an advantage. After this series of attacks and defenses, he too had exchanges, seeming quite at ease. While Lin Tianming and another joined forces, they also used every technique at their disposal. Although they didn¡¯t have a decisive advantage, they were at least not much at a disadvantage. But this situation was not what He Lanjun wanted to see. Because their duel had a time limit. If he didn¡¯t defeat Lin Tianming and another within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he would be judged to have lost the duel. Even though the stakes of the duel, consisting of a few mountain territories and several million Spirit Stones, were not a big deal for cultivators of their level, it concerned the face and reputation of Qingyun Sect and the other two Great Sects. Just imagine, if he, a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, couldn¡¯t win the duel, he would likely become a laughing stock among many cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. Now, as the time of one incense stick gradually approached, he still hadn¡¯t gained a decisive advantage. Chapter 964 03-25 - 964 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash_2 ?Chapter 964: Chapter 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash_2 Chapter 964: Chapter 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash_2 ¡°` If this continues, he might truly lose the duel. Thinking of his situation, He Lanjun became somewhat agitated. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was actually becoming anxious inside. At this point, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian also understood the current situation, and they were well aware that facing a strong opponent like He Lanjun, they couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. As He Lanjun took the lead in attacking, he also launched his attack without any reservations. In an instant, He Lanjun spat out a mouthful of essence blood accurately onto the Gourd Treasure in front of him. In a moment, the surface of the gourd shone brightly, and a large cloud of smoke billowed out of the mouth of the gourd, quickly surrounding Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian. ... Watching the thicker smoke, He Lanjun also revealed a reluctant expression. Others might not be aware of his Treasure or understand the origin and value of this smoke. But he knew very well that the smoke was extremely difficult to condense, formed by refining with the precious Third Order Spiritual Crystal and expending a great deal of energy. To accumulate the smoke in the gourd, he hadn¡¯t cultivated much in almost a hundred years, nor had he used this Treasure extensively. One could say, for this dual-purpose Gourd Treasure, he had paid a great price and had only with difficulty accumulated such a quantity and purity of smoke. Now, in order to win the duel, no matter how reluctant he was, he had to exert his full power. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï At this time, seeing the dense smoke converging and doubling in volume compared to the beginning, Lin Tianming was still okay, after all, possessing the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s destructive power, self-preservation wasn¡¯t too difficult. But Chen Jingtian was very aware of the terrifying nature of the smoke, his face changed instantly, showing a look of facing a great enemy. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to delay. He leaped, rushing towards Chen Jingtian, planning to first use the power of the Blue Heart True Flame to alleviate Chen Jingtian¡¯s pressure. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for counterattacking, they would take it one step at a time. If they couldn¡¯t organize an effective attack, they at least needed to delay enough. Now clear in his purpose, Lin Tianming also frantically circulated his True Essence Mana, while activating the Tiangang Ninth Sword, a large number of fireballs made of Blue Heart True Flame frequently exploded in the airspace above them. Instantly, the high temperature produced by the explosions of the Blue Heart True Flame evaporated a large amount of smoke, carving out a safe area for them both. At the same time, Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming joined forces, launching numerous attacks toward He Lanjun. With the path cleared by the Blue Heart True Flame, their attacks successfully passed through the smoke, causing great pressure on He Lanjun. At this time, seeing that the explosions of the Blue Heart True Flame had significantly consumed the smoke, He Lanjun was both shocked and furious, and he was extremely distressed. In his eyes, if this continued, even if he won the duel in the end, the smoke he had painstakingly condensed would suffer heavy losses. Truly, if that happened, he would still be a loser in the end. After all, condensing the smoke was not easy; the cost was great, and replenishing it would not be an easy task. On the other hand, the situation was completely different for Lin Tianming. Because although the Blue Heart True Flame also consumed a lot, the flame had been refined by him and possessed a complete Fire Seed. Given some time, the Blue Heart True Flame could naturally recover to its peak condition. Additionally, with time, the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s fire would increase and its power grow as well. The Blue Heart True Flame Seed, which Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t used for a quite long period, had an extremely abundant storage of flame. Under such conditions, he could use it without any reservations, undergoing a large-scale expenditure battle with He Lanjun. Precisely because of understanding this, Lin Tianming had no intention of holding back. With his extensive use of the Blue Heart True Flame, a significant portion, more than 20%, of He Lanjun¡¯s batch of smoke quickly evaporated. Seeing the prolonged attack failing and the smoke loss so significant, He Lanjun¡¯s heart bled. However, he had no time to feel the pain, as the time of one incense stick was almost up. If he couldn¡¯t break the deadlock within this period, it would mean the duel ended and the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom had completely failed. At this time, He Lanjun was furious and couldn¡¯t afford to cherish his Treasure. He controlled the gourd to spew out smoke, surrounding Lin Tianming and the others. ¡°` At the same time, He Lanjun leaped forward, heading towards Lin Tianming and his companion. While still in midair, he frequently swung his longsword, unleashing a barrage of Sword Qi toward Lin Tianming and his companion. At this moment, seeing He Lanjun change his attack pattern, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became solemn. He knew that He Lanjun was going all out, attempting to defeat them within a limited amount of time. However, in his heart, He Lanjun¡¯s change was also a potential opportunity to break the situation. His ambition was not small, not only to delay until the end of a stick of incense to win the battle. If conditions allowed, he even wanted to defeat He Lanjun head-on. Though doing so seemed overly ostentatious. After all, ¡°A tall tree catches the wind!¡± Being too ostentatious in the Cultivation World wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. But Lin Tianming wanted to defeat He Lanjun head-on, and he had his profound reasons. The reason for this was that the Qingyun Sect was considered a neighbor of the Lin Family and had formidable strength, at least stronger than the current Lin Family. In his view, too many formidable enemies surrounded the Lin Family, posing potential threats. Especially since the two forces had accumulated some enmity during the Three Sects¡¯ battle in the Wei Kingdom. Although on the surface, the major forces had made clear statements that the countries would not interfere with each other after this duel. But in the Cultivation World, verbal promises held little binding power, and oftentimes even the Golden Elixir Forces would go back on their word for profit. Therefore, for the long-term peace of the Lin Family, it was necessary to demonstrate some strength to deter the Qingyun Sect and even the allied forces of the Wei Kingdom. When he traveled to other countries in the future, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t become a target for other forces. With this in mind, his goal was very clear and firm; he was fully determined to defeat He Lanjun. Knowing this, Lin Tianming communicated telepathically with Chen Jingtian, asking him to coordinate and resist He Lanjun¡¯s attacks together. Chen Jingtian, experienced in magical duels and well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, had fought alongside him multiple times, making them quite familiar with each other¡¯s tactics and attack patterns. Under these circumstances, their cooperation was quite tacit. Lin Tianming used the Blue Heart True Flame to create enough space for Chen Jingtian to move and opened a pathway for attack. Chen Jingtian seized the moment and unleashed a barrage of powerful attacks to share the pressure with Lin Tianming. At this critical moment, Lin Tianming also went all out; the Qinghong Sword continuously thrust forward, colliding head-on with He Lanjun¡¯s Sword Qi. ¡°Boom¡­ ¡± Clearly, the Qinghong Sword was deflected and caught again by Lin Tianming. While most of He Lanjun¡¯s Sword Qi attack was also dispersed, the remaining traces of Sword Qi were jointly resisted by Lin Tianming and his companion, which they managed to handle. Seeing his attacks fail again, He Lanjun¡¯s face darkened, and his heart grew anxious. As the brief interlude ended, He Lanjun continued his fierce attacks. Meanwhile, he had advanced multiple times, closing the distance between him and Lin Tianming and his companion. Now, as the distance between them had decreased, the frequency of the attacks increased, giving Lin Tianming even less time to react. By this time, He Lanjun had taken out all his tricks; the tremendous power of his Late Stage Golden Core was unquestionably evident. With one strike, He Lanjun took the opportunity to advance a certain distance. Seeing that they were only a hundred zhang apart, He Lanjun concentrated intensely, suddenly forming a Law Decree with his hands, and several beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the longsword in front of him. Instantaneously, his Treasure Sword flickered with light, transforming into a Frost Dragon. As soon as the Frost Dragon appeared, the temperature between heaven and earth plummeted rapidly, and the water vapor in the air recondensed, forming ice spires that fell to the ground, making crisp noises. ¡°Frost Sword Spirit Slash!¡± As He Lanjun shouted, the Frost Dragon roared skyward and then charged directly at Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 965 03-25 - 965 512 Victory in the Contest ?Chapter 965: Chapter 512: Victory in the Contest Chapter 965: Chapter 512: Victory in the Contest At this moment, Lin Tianming saw He Lanjun¡¯s explosive attack and couldn¡¯t help but his face change. It was clear to anyone with eyes that the power of He Lanjun¡¯s Frost Sword Spirit Slash was terrifying. Such an attack, if nothing unexpected happened, should certainly be a Technique Divine Power, nowhere near comparable to ordinary Sword Qi. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became extremely grave. On the other side, Chen Jingtian at this moment also had an expression as if facing a formidable enemy. Seeing the terrifying Sword Qi assault, Chen Jingtian did not dare waste time. He moved closer to Lin Tianming while unleashing a barrage of attacks towards the Frost Dragon. ... His idea was simple ¨C facing He Lanjun¡¯s relentless attack, Lin Tianming, as the primary target, was sure to be under tremendous pressure. So he had to make every effort to help alleviate some of Lin Tianming¡¯s burden. Otherwise, if Lin Tianming were to be critically injured or directly killed on the spot, relying solely on him to cope with He Lanjun would lead to an obvious outcome. Aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s importance, Chen Jingtian did not dare to hold back and directly unleashed his mightiest Divine Skills. All at once, he slapped his longsword, sending out a Sword Qi that collided head-on with the Frost Dragon. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A thunderous roar spread, setting the entire sky ablaze, with a potent shockwave sweeping through. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? In that instant, Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack managed to block the Frost Sword Spirit Slash for a brief moment, before it completely collapsed. But the Frost Dragon paused only slightly before continuing its assault on Lin Tianming. By then, Lin Tianming had already thrown his Qinghong Sword, meeting the Frost Dragon head-on. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another massive explosion echoed. Amidst the blinding light, the Qinghong Sword failed to shatter the Frost Dragon, instead being repelled by the immense force, eventually caught by Lin Tianming. As Lin Tianming grasped the Qinghong Sword, he felt his entire arm and palm go numb, clearly shaken by the tremendous power. However, he had no time to ponder and dared not delay. For the Frost Dragon was still roaring towards him, its momentum like Mount Tai bearing down. Although the Frost Dragon had been intercepted by Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack and had expended some of its strength, and even though he had just released the Tiangang Ninth Sword, draining considerable power, Even so, the Frost Dragon¡¯s might remained terrifying. After all, it was a Supernatural attack from a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, its power comparable to a Spirit Art, if not quite the same. Under such an attack, he had to try his utmost to block it to possibly come out unscathed. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately launched a huge fireball from his hand, colliding with the incoming Frost Dragon. At that moment, the entire sky turned into a sea of flames, with a tremendous explosion resonating across the battlefield. In that sea of flames, the Blue Heart True Flame ignited the Frost Dragon, transforming it into a fire dragon. At that time, the fire dragon roared madly, as if in great agony. But the Blue Heart True Flame would not give the fire dragon any respite, continuing to burn and fiercely consume its power as it continued to fly towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming finally breathed a sigh of relief. It had to be said, Blue Heart True Flame, one of the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames, was exceptionally effective against He Lanjun¡¯s Divine Skills. As the fire dragon continued its onslaught and was about to reach a hundred zhang above his head, it exploded. For a time, the entire sky was showered with falling flames. At the same time, the smoke from the area bombarded by the rain of fire largely evaporated, forming vapor that rose into the air and quickly turned into new mist. However, this new mist was fundamentally different from the smoke produced by He Lanjun¡¯s gourd Magical Treasure. Because the former was merely ordinary mist! While the latter was a formidable weapon that could even instill fear in a Golden Core Stage Expert like Chen Jingtian. But even though the smoke was fearsome, and the fire dragon¡¯s power extremely horrific, they still couldn¡¯t withstand the erosion of the Blue Heart True Flame, ultimately collapsing. For such an outcome, Lin Tianming was somewhat uncertain. Now, seeing such an effect was beyond his expectations. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regardless, temporarily halting this terrifying attack and resolving this crisis for them both was exciting. Moreover, the agreed upon time for the duel was drawing nearer. One could say victory was in sight! Such a rare situation, how could one not be excited. At this time, the expressions of both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian eased, and they couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief in their hearts. As the sea of flames dissipated and the smoky sky cleared, daylight returned. In that instant, a ghostly figure appeared above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. This figure was extremely fast, coming straight for Lin Tianming. Chen Jingtian was the closest to the figure and as he tried to dodge, he realized the figure simply passed over his head and attacked Lin Tianming instead. At this moment, Chen Jingtian was both shocked and angry ¨C shocked that the figure had appeared above him, aware that had it been aiming for his life, escaping would not have been easy. Even if he miraculously avoided it, serious injury would¡¯ve been near certain. As for anger, it was because even though the figure was closest to him, the target was not him. He felt as though he was being disrespected. Chapter 966 03-25 - 966 512 Victory Competition_2 ?Chapter 966: Chapter 512 Victory Competition_2 Chapter 966: Chapter 512 Victory Competition_2 With that, Chen Jingtian¡¯s complexion was incredibly ugly at this time. But he was not a dull-witted person; right now, he might have escaped danger, but Lin Tianming was in peril. So, an anxious Chen Jingtian quickly yelled out, ¡°Lin, watch your head!¡± Chen Jingtian loudly called out to Lin Tianming, urging him to flee quickly. At this time, the speed of the dark shadow was extremely fast, descending upon Lin Tianming¡¯s head in the blink of an eye. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s warning, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was extremely grave. In fact, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors and a Divine Sense beyond that of ordinary people, he had already sensed something almost as soon as the sea of fire had not completely dissipated. ... But the speed of the dark shadow was too fast, and he also could not grasp He Lanjun¡¯s intention. By the time the dark shadow arrived, He Lanjun was close to Chen Jingtian, but the attack had not yet taken form. At that point, he knew that He Lanjun¡¯s target was not Chen Jingtian, but himself who possessed the Blue Heart True Flame. Because of the existence of the Blue Heart True Flame, He Lanjun¡¯s Divine Skills and Magical Treasures were greatly limited, and thus, he had already labeled him as a major adversary in his heart. Moreover, He Lanjun was not a dim-witted individual; he also understood the relationship between the Lin Family and the Qingyun Sect and that after the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, the two were almost dead enemies. Should the opportunity arise to eradicate him in one fell swoop, it could also completely eliminate the threat of the Lin Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï With that in mind, He Lanjun was moved to kill, planning to seize this last strike as an opportunity to settle their grudges once and for all. With such a purpose, He Lanjun took advantage of the cover of the sea of fire to launch his full-force for a final strike, all to take Lin Tianming¡¯s life. It was only at this time that Lin Tianming was able to accurately determine He Lanjun¡¯s intention, and reminding Chen Jingtian was already pointless. It was himself who really did not have much time to react; he had to find a way to block this fatal blow. Thus, without giving it another thought, Lin Tianming immediately threw the Qinghong Sword he held toward the top of his head. Simultaneously, he operated his Cultivation Technique at full strength, his Law Decree hitting the sword¡¯s body relentlessly. ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­¡± In an instant, a humming from the Qinghong Sword arose, and then it began to spin frenetically around Lin Tianming. In the space of an instant, the Qinghong Sword had formed strands of light and shadow that converged into a silvery-white lotus, enveloping him within. At this time, Lin Tianming concentrated his mind and spirit, rotating his True Essence Mana to the extreme. Under his control, the Divine Heaven Sword Lotus had been launched. As time passed by, He Lanjun got closer and closer to Lin Tianming, merely a few tens of feet apart. For a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, such a distance was tantamount to being directly next to each other. And at this moment, He Lanjun saw the brilliant Sword Shadow Lotus beneath him, seemingly like a beautiful lotus, but its aura was extremely terrifying. Because the moment the lotus appeared, the entire sky was filled with flying sand and rolling stones, the Gang Wind forming countless whirlwinds, stirring up the battlefield into utter chaos. Seeing this scene and feeling the terrifying Sword Qi of the lotus, He Lanjun¡¯s face underwent a change. He knew that Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was extremely powerful, absolutely incomparable to the previous one. Facing such an attack, it was not going to be easy for him to achieve his goal. In addition, even though his Cultivation Realm was that of a Late Stage Golden Core, it was by no means an easy task to retreat unscathed under such an attack. At this moment, he already regretted his overconfidence and even more so that he had harbored killing intent towards Lin Tianming. Under such circumstances, He Lanjun was quite conflicted within, thinking that if he stopped now, it was not without a possibility of recovery. But now that the distance between them was too close, it was very difficult to carry on with the attack or to give up and retreat. As the saying goes, once work starts there is no turning back. Since the situation was beyond salvageable, why not take a risk? Fully aware of this, He Lanjun hesitated only for a moment before his face assumed a crazed expression. So He Lanjun did not delay any further, seeing the Sword Shadow Lotus about to unfold, his longsword flashed with light, and a dragon-like Sword Qi shot forth fiercely. Beneath the Sword Lotus, Lin Tianming was just as somber at this moment. At this moment, he had launched the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, and a vast number of Sword Qi were already in place. He only needed to activate it, and this formidable Divine Skill would completely unfold. And this Divine Skill, it was also his first time using it in an actual battle. Before this, he had only used the Earth Sword Lotus, which had blocked Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full-powered attack. Now using the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, facing a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator just the same, whether he could achieve a satisfactory result was something he had no confidence in. But things had already come to this point, he had no time for further thought, nor could he stop. Thus, Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, spat out a mouthful of essence blood, spraying it on the Sword Lotus above his head. Immediately after, his hands formed a Law Decree and he shouted out loud, ¡°Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± Speak of the devil, and he shall appear, the dragon-like Sword Qi crashed into the Sword Shadow Lotus. At that moment, the lotus blossomed with an explosive sound. In that instant, a flash of silver light filled the space between heaven and earth, even overshadowing the brilliance of the sun. Within that dazzling light, myriad Sword Qi dispersed in all directions, instantly filling every corner of the battlefield. At the same time, the Sword Qi and the Sword Qi dragon unleashed by He Lanjun clashed fiercely, setting off a thunderous rumble. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Both forces met head-on, generating a shockwave that swept through the area. Feeling such fluctuations, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression turned to one of terror, and he quickly retreated, instantly putting several hundred feet between himself and the origin of the blast. At the center, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, and like being hit by a small mountain, he fell from midair, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Even while still in midair, blood spilled from the corners of his mouth as his Qi-Blood roiled chaotically inside him. After he struggled to his feet, he felt numerous weak Sword Qis rampaging within his body. In no time at all, his complexion turned several shades paler, and his breath became tremendously feeble. Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation technique circulated, barely managing to suppress the errant threads of Sword Qi in his body. Promptly, he lifted his head to look above him, only to see that He Lanjun and Chen Jingtian had also been sent flying backward, eventually crashing to the ground as well. At that moment, He Lanjun got to his feet, his Daoist robe in tatters, blood trickling from his mouth, and numerous wounds on his body, clearly scorched by the Sword Qi. Besides that, his internal condition was also far from good. Because of the Divine Skill that Lin Tianming had unleashed, the terrifying Sword Qi penetrated everywhere, rampaging non-stop within him. After this single strike, He Lanjun had sustained serious injuries. While the external wounds were recoverable, the internal ones would require at least several months of rest to return to his peak state. On the other hand, Chen Jingtian, who had dodged in time and was not the primary target of Lin Tianming and He Lanjun¡¯s attacks, suffered only limited collateral damage. Even so, the powerful fluctuations still caused a disturbance within him, resulting in some injuries. As the tumult gradually subsided, the battlefield finally returned to calm. At that time, with a somber expression, He Lanjun gazed at Lin Tianming with even greater wariness in his heart. He was just about to make another move when he saw Zhou Yunxiao and others stand in front of Lin Tianming, all of them wearing furious expressions. Especially the members of the Lin Family, who glared at him with bloodshot eyes as if they wouldn¡¯t sit idly by should he strike. Leading the group, Zhou Yunxiao spoke angrily, ¡°Brother He, a stick of incense¡¯s time has passed, and your three sects have lost the contest.¡± ¡°If you still wish to fight, we will not back down!¡± As his words fell, Feng Changgong and others from his side hurried over, standing beside He Lanjun. Feng Changgong also wore a helpless expression and then said with a sigh, folding his hands, ¡°Brother He, we have lost the contest, let¡¯s not create further troubles.¡± Hearing this, He Lanjun¡¯s imposing manner finally subdued. Seeing this, Feng Changgong also breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he called out to Zhou Yunxiao from a distance, ¡°Fellow Daoists, please calm your anger. We admit defeat in this contest. The stakes we bet will be prepared by our respective forces, and we shall hand them over to you.¡± ¡°From this day forth, shall we turn our swords into ploughshares and make peace?¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming and the others finally let down their guard, and the tense atmosphere on the scene also calmed down. ¡­ Chapter 967 03-25 - 967 513 Unexpected Joy ?Chapter 967: Chapter 513: Unexpected Joy Chapter 967: Chapter 513: Unexpected Joy Inside Qingyun Sect, several thousand cultivators gathered together. At that moment, everyone stared at the intense fluctuation that had just emanated from the edge of the sky, their faces turning pale instantly. ¡°That kind of attack just now was absolutely terrifying!¡± A Qi Refining Stage cultivator, stunned, muttered, having already forgotten the camps they each belonged to. Besides those cultivators with limited vision and cultivation, some Foundation Establishment cultivators also looked serious and were inwardly sweating for He Lanjun. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t calm enough, nor was it a lack of confidence in He Lanjun. It was just that the strike from Lin Tianming a moment ago was too terrifying! ... That elegant figure, along with the momentum that scorned heaven and earth, was truly a peerless strike. Under that strike, even He Lanjun was blasted away and suffered injuries. Seeing this, if not for the matter of camps, they too couldn¡¯t help but feel their blood surge. Fortunately, after that strike, it seemed both parties were evenly matched. Such a silent scene continued for a while before it finally recovered. Following that, various discussions ensued, each discussing the peerless strike of Lin Tianming. Outside the Qingyun Sect. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As the duel concluded, it ended with Lin Tianming and another emerging victorious. Moreover, that earth-shattering battle had completely refreshed the understanding of many Golden Core cultivators present about Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Especially He Lanjun and other strong individuals from Huangyang Kingdom, who were now even more wary of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. In their eyes, what Ren Feihong initially said was thought to be exaggerated. However, after this battle, He Lanjun didn¡¯t gain any advantage; instead, he caused his Gourd Treasure to lose a large amount of smoke, reducing the spirituality of his most relied upon magical treasure. Apart from that, Lin Tianming¡¯s final strike was like a heavenly maiden scattering flowers, appearing peerlessly graceful, yet terrifying in power and momentum. Such a strike had actually repelled He Lanjun head-on, even causing him to sustain some injuries. Looking at Lin Tianming, although his complexion was somewhat pale and his aura slightly wilted, his injuries weren¡¯t severe. Comparing the results of this final strike, it could be said to be even on both sides. Such an outcome was completely unexpected by everyone. Particularly He Lanjun himself, who was initially fully confident at the start of the battle, believing defeating Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Even in that last strike, he carried the determination to assassinate, wanting to heavily damage the entire Lin Family. However, the result was not as wonderful as he had imagined. Under that strike, he didn¡¯t gain any advantage, instead, he was injured, lost the duel, and lost face. And Lin Tianming, despite being at the Early Golden Core Stage, had actually forcefully contested his deadly strike. Not only did he retreat unscathed, but he also caused him to sustain some injuries, which was utterly inconceivable. It is known that he had been in the Late Golden Core Stage, having entered this realm for over a hundred years. While Lin Tianming was just at the Early Golden Core Stage, and had only been cultivating for a few decades, to possess such cultivation strength in such a short time. Such talent and strength was terrifying to the extreme! Unimaginable, if Lin Tianming were given a few more decades to grow, how terrifying his strength would become. At that time, Lin Tian Ming would likely have at least reached the Mid Stage Golden Core, and even if fighting alone against anyone in Late Stage Golden Core, he would have a great chance of winning. Thinking of this, He Lanjun was extremely wary, viewing Lin Tianming as a major potential threat inside. For such a threat, if not nipped in the bud, it might become even more formidable later on. But the attempt to assassinate had already failed just now. Now the duel had concluded, the result was already determined. Moreover, with Zhou Yunxiao and others gathering together, it became impossible for him to make another move. What¡¯s more crucial was that even without the involvement of Zhou Yunxiao and others, facing Lin Tianming alone, he probably didn¡¯t have an absolute certainty of victory. Understanding this, He Lanjun felt very helpless and was immensely fearful inside. Now in his heart, he also feared the growth of the Lin Family, fearing they would seek revenge from Qingyun Sect later on. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Should that happen, the nearly ten thousand years of Qingyun Sect¡¯s legacy could be destroyed in one fell swoop. Thinking about this, He Lanjun regretted even more the intent to kill during the duel a moment ago. But now that things had concluded, thinking more was pointless. What he needed to consider now was how to clean up the mess, minimize losses and threats, and ensure the legacy of Qingyun Sect as much as possible. After all, Qingyun Sect had suffered huge losses now, and the Huangyang Country Cultivation World was also plagued with internal and external troubles; the crisis was always present. In such an awkward situation, further antagonizing a family with huge potential and current strength no less than Qingyun Sect was not a wise thing. ¡°Let it be¡­¡± ¡°We in Qingyun Sect, although have not a small gap with the Lin Family, but in that battle, the Lin Family ultimately did not suffer too much loss.¡± ¡°If we apologize individually and sincerely aim to mend the relationship, it¡¯s not impossible to reconcile.¡± He Lanjun pondered internally and soon made up his mind. Thus, He Lanjun gave a bow towards Lin Tianming and then sincerely said, ¡°Lin, controlling the intensity in a magic duel is not easy, so I might have gone a bit too far, I hope you and other cultivators won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°As for the previous bet, my sects admit defeat, and we will not be lacking a bit in giving the promised benefits.¡± He Lanjun said with a forced smile, his expression immediately shifting. Chapter 968 03-25 - 968 513 Unexpected Joy_2 ?Chapter 968: Chapter 513 Unexpected Joy_2 Chapter 968: Chapter 513 Unexpected Joy_2 And when Lin Tianming heard these words, although he did not agree with them in his heart, since He Lanjun had set aside his grievances, whether sincerely or insincerely, it was indeed not suitable to create further trouble in the current situation. Moreover, the overall strength of the Wei Kingdom cultivators was simply not advantageous, and a full-blown conflict would only put them at a disadvantage. Under such circumstances, even if he had objections, he could only endure them for now. Thus, Lin Tianming put on a nonchalant smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s all right, it¡¯s all right!¡± ¡°Since all the Daoist friends have reached a consensus, that is the good fortune of the cultivators from both countries. We of the Lin Family are also willing to set aside past grievances and turn weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk, to coexist peacefully from now on.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Lin is right in what he says!¡± Zhou Yunxiao was the first to laugh and chime in, his expression very excited. ... With Lin Tianming¡¯s words, along with Zhou Yunxiao taking a stance, the originally tense situation began to relax, and the atmosphere of tension and potential conflict had dissipated. Following that, Lin Tianming and others began conversing with Feng Changgong and his party, discussing the delivery of the bet. After some negotiation, the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect, according to the terms of the duel, each produced five million low-grade Spirit Stones, as well as three mountain ranges to be given to the four major powers of the Wei Kingdom. As for the delivery time, the Spirit Stones could be realized immediately. The three mountain ranges to be yielded by the various powers would be the closest to the Wei Kingdom and were to be transferred to the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom within a year. With such an arrangement, the interests of the Wei Kingdom were mostly secured, and people like Zhou Yunxiao had no objections. So, the matter was quickly settled. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï In addition, during the negotiation, He Lanjun unexpectedly displayed a generous attitude and, in front of everyone, personally promised to give up two additional mountain ranges solely to the Lin Family as an apology for his excessive actions during the duel. Upon seeing He Lanjun¡¯s understanding manner, the last bit of dissatisfaction in Lin Tianming and his party¡¯s hearts also dissolved. After all, He Lanjun was sincere in his attitude and had indeed shown real generosity, which was an unexpected pleasure. Although there were indeed some past grievances, the Lin Family members were not belligerent by nature. The Lin Family had risen to prominence in a very short time, and they currently needed time to recover and grow, to assimilate the resources and territories they had acquired before. In a few decades, the overall strength of the Lin Family was set to increase significantly. By that time, the Lin Family would have the power to defend itself. Therefore, as long as Qingyun Sect did not cause trouble, the Lin Family naturally would not interfere unnecessarily, nor would it provoke a major power with a nearly ten-thousand-year heritage. Consequently, Lin Tianming did not refuse He Lanjun¡¯s kind offer and, on behalf of the Lin Family, made a promise not to bring up the conflicts that had occurred in recent years. Seeing this, He Lanjun also heaved a sigh of relief. After that, the two sides reached a consensus, and their relationship completely eased. Next, at He Lanjun¡¯s suggestion, he invited Lin Tianming and his party to stay at Qingyun Sect for a few days, until the three sects unified the delivery of five million low-grade Spirit Stones, after which they could return home. As for this suggestion, Zhou Yunxiao awkwardly declined. Clearly, although a consensus had been reached, Zhou Yunxiao and his people were still not entirely at ease, worrying that there could be dangers inside Qingyun Sect. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao always kept his guard up, preferring to endure the hardships of eating and sleeping in the open air outside of the sect¡¯s mountain gate rather than accepting the invitation to be a guest inside Qingyun Sect. He Lanjun understood their mindset and was quite discerning, not voicing this particular concern. The awkward Zhou Yunxiao and his party did not stay long, set a specific time for the delivery, and then left Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate together. A hundred miles away, in a mountain valley, Lin Tianming and his company gathered to chat casually. Despite some twists and turns, the trip to Huangyang Kingdom had generally been smooth. After all, the major powers of the Wei Kingdom had secured enough benefits and had achieved their expected aims. Such an outcome, achieved in such a short time, was indeed beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. At this moment, everyone was in high spirits, very relaxed, and the atmosphere of the casual conversation was quite harmonious. After three rounds of tea, Zhou Yunxiao brought up the matter at hand, snapping everyone back to reality. ¡°Daoist friends, now that the benefits have been secured, how shall we distribute them?¡± Hearing this, the previously warm atmosphere calmed down, and soon everyone fell silent, with no one eager to speak first. ¡°Lu Daoyou, what do you think?¡± Zhou Yunxiao asked Lu Xingfeng, clearly valuing the attitude of the Zhenyang Sect. Lu Xingfeng saw Zhou Yunxiao ask him and showed a look of difficulty. After all, from the perspective of the Sect¡¯s interest, it was always better to get more in the allocation. But these were all Golden Core powers, and asking for too much might inevitably offend others. Besides, it was easy to share adversity, but difficult to share wealth. Given the hard-won situation, asking for too much might just end up offending people. Knowing this, Lu Xingfeng awkwardly smiled and then said, ¡°Lin, Daoist Chen, what are your thoughts?¡± Lu Xingfeng was indeed cunning, directly passing the topic to Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua. At this moment, upon hearing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming and the others also showed helpless expressions. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao did not insist. So, Zhou Yunxiao said with a smile, ¡°Since you all don¡¯t wish to speak, then I¡¯ll suggest a proposal, please feel free to raise any objections.¡± ¡°Very good!¡± Lu Xingfeng was the first to speak, indicating he had no objections. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao did not delay further and slowly said, ¡°According to the agreement of the contest, besides two mountain ranges that Qingyun Sect additionally gives to the Lin Family, our Wei Kingdom has obtained fifteen million Low-Grade Spirit Stones as well as nine mountain ranges as territory.¡± ¡°Looking at the forces deployed by our four powers, Zhenyang Sect had the most people and also the strongest overall strength.¡± ¡°Moreover, Daoist Chen Jingtian also participated in the contest, so it is only fair to allocate more to him.¡± ¡°Although several members of the Lin Family also went to war, their strength obviously does not match Zhenyang Sect¡¯s. However, Tianming was the absolute main force in the battle that won the wager.¡± ¡°Therefore, the Lin Family will get three mountain ranges provided by the Qingyun Sect, and Zhenyang Sect will obtain three mountain ranges from the Qingmu Sect.¡± ¡°The remaining three mountain ranges are provided by Forging Sword Valley. Since they are too far from the Chen Clan¡¯s territory and are inconvenient to allocate, it might as well be given to us at Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°As for those fifteen million Spirit Stones, the Chen Clan and Zhenyang Sect each will get five million Spirit Stones, and the remaining five million will be split evenly between the Lin Family and our Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°What do you think of this allocation?¡± As soon as the words fell, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s gaze swept across everyone, clearly waiting for a reply. At this moment, Lu Xingfeng found the allocation plan quite acceptable and thus was the first to express no objections. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang exchanged glances and communicated secretly for a few words. In Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, obtaining three mountain ranges, in addition to the two extra ones, and several more mountain ranges as territory, was indeed a very generous reward. As for those over two million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, they were just a small addition. In general, the allocation plan, considering the territorial factors of the four forces, seemed quite reasonable. Under these circumstances, the Lin Family had no objections to this plan. So, Lin Tianming also nodded and expressed the Lin Family¡¯s stance. At this time, Chen Maohua showed no intention of bargaining either. After all, the territory of the Chen Clan did not border the other three Sects, owning such a territory was an enclave, not easy to control. In that case, it was better to have the tangible Spirit Stones. Understanding this, Chen Maohua did not delay and directly agreed to Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s distribution plan. Seeing that everyone had no objections, Zhou Yunxiao nodded in satisfaction and then laughed heartily. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Now that this is settled, in a few days we can all make our way home.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hearing this, Lu Xingfeng also nodded and then expressed a sentiment. ¡°We¡¯ve only been out for a little over a month, yet we¡¯ve managed to complete our plans ahead of schedule, which is quite unexpected.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but this is a good thing for all of our parties, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Following that, as the distribution of benefits was agreed upon, everyone chatted for a while, and the atmosphere warmed up again. ¡­ Chapter 969 03-25 - 969 514 Yuquan Market ?Chapter 969: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market Chapter 969: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market Three days quietly passed by. At the break of dawn this day, as the morning glows were just beginning to rise, Atop a mountain head more than ten miles away from Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate, Lin Tianming and the others came back into view. And today was the day when the few major powers of the Qingyun Sect, according to prior agreement, were to hand over the Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming and his group waited for a moment until He Lanjun and people from several major powers emerged from the Qingyun Sect and approached everyone. They exchanged smiles and greetings, then immediately dove into the main topic. He Lanjun, Feng Changgong, and Wang Huashan each waved their sleeves, and three storage bags flew towards Lin Tianming and his party. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao grabbed the storage bags in his hand, and then sent his Divine Sense inside to check. ... Immediately after, he nodded in satisfaction and handed the bags over to Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng to inspect one by one. Soon, after the investigation of the four of them, each of the three storage bags contained five million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, clearly the stakes that the three sects had lost in a bet previously. Just then, after Chen Maohua finished his inspection, Zhou Yunxiao bowed to He Lanjun and the others across from him with a smile, ¡°The three Daoist friends are indeed trustworthy. We will accept these Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ it should be so!¡± ¡°It¡¯s our promised territory that will be handed over within the next year. At that time, just arrange for Sect Disciples to take care of this matter.¡± Feng Changgong returned with a smile, seemingly not taking these things to heart. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but nod in satisfaction. Then he also replied, ¡°We will arrange our Disciples to handle this matter immediately upon our return!¡± ¡°Since everything is in order, we will take our leave now!¡± With those words spoken, Lin Tianming and the others bowed their hands from afar. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again in the future!¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Safe travels, friends. We¡¯ll meet again in the future!¡± Feng Changgong and his people also bowed in return and then watched as Lin Tianming and the others disappeared from sight. Having left the outskirts of Qingyun Sect, Lin Tianming and his party were in very good spirits. After all, the journey had been extremely smooth, and all parties had received a wealth of rewards. When they returned to the valley where they had stayed for a few days, a group of Golden Core Cultivators gathered. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao looked at the excited few and then spoke up with a suggestion, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that everything is settled, let¡¯s immediately set off and return to Wei Kingdom, shall we?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lu Xingfeng nodded and then continued, ¡°After all, this place is the territory of Huangyang Kingdom. Apart from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect, the other two families are not easy to handle. I think it¡¯s best that we leave early!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s set off immediately!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said excitedly. It was at this time that Lin Tianming took over the conversation. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I plan to travel alone in Huangyang Kingdom for a while. My two elders from the Lin Family can accompany you on the journey back to Hui Ethnicity.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng looked puzzled, obviously not understanding why Lin Tianming intended to stay and travel alone in Huangyang Kingdom given the situation. However, seeing Lin Tianming full of confidence, as though he had great faith in his own strength, They were just outsiders, after all, and didn¡¯t feel it was their place to ask too much. As for Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, they had already been informed of Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Even though they were worried, they had tried persuading him for quite a while. But seeing that Lin Tianming was adamant and that his display of strength during the major battle was on par with any Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, And even against a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he was not without the power to fight; even if he were not a match for a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, there was still a good chance of retreating in one piece. Under such circumstances, Lin Shikang and the other just gave some instructions and let Lin Tianming go. At this juncture, seeing that Lin Shikang had no objections, Zhou Yunxiao also didn¡¯t say much else. Right after, Zhou Yunxiao took out a detailed map of Huangyang Kingdom and handed it to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tianming, this map is quite detailed; I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ thank you, Daoist Zhou!¡± Lin Tianming laughed as he took the map, and then politely refused. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s set off!¡± After saying that, Zhou Yunxiao bowed to Lin Tianming and took the lead flying towards a nearby Flying Boat. Following Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s move, Lu Xingfeng and the others all bid farewell to Lin Tianming and then boarded the Flying Boat one after another. ¡°Tianming, remember, Huangyang Kingdom is overall stronger than Wei Kingdom, so be extremely cautious in everything!¡± After Ye Pinghai gave his advice, Lin Shikang also chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°What Grandpa Sea is saying is right. Don¡¯t expose your cultivation strength lightly in this place and try not to find trouble.¡± ¡°If anything goes wrong, don¡¯t act recklessly and return to the family first.¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, rest assured, Tianming has a measure of it all!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a promise. Hearing this, both Lin Shikang and the other nodded, then without saying more, turned and flew towards the Flying Boat. Soon, the Flying Boat soared into the air, quickly entering the layers of clouds thousands of feet high, and then disappeared in the direction of the north. Watching the Flying Boat vanish, Lin Tianming also did not delay and leaped away, disappearing into the valley. ¡­ One month later. The Flying Boat appeared atop a mountain within the Luoyun Mountain Range, and Lin Shikang and the other jumped down from it. Then, Zhou Yunxiao and the others didn¡¯t stay either and continued piloting the Flying Boat to fly north. Watching the Flying Boat grow farther and disappearing in the sky, Lin Shikang, with a smile on his face, said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Brother Ye, let¡¯s go too!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ time to head home!¡± Ye Pinghai laughed heartily, his mood genuinely pleasant, covering up the traces of fatigue on his face. Chapter 970 03-25 - 970 514 Yuquan Market_2 ?Chapter 970: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market_2 Chapter 970: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market_2 Less than an hour had passed since Lin Shikang and another had returned to the clan land. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing the news of their return, all the Lin Family members of Shi generation, except Lin Shilu who was deep in closed-door cultivation, set aside their tasks to gather at Lin Shikang¡¯s residence. In the courtyard, everyone sat together, chatting over tea in a spirited atmosphere. At that moment, Lin Shihua was the first to ask, ¡°Third Brother, your trip to Huangyang Kingdom was so brief, coming and going in less than three months. How did it turn out?¡± ¡°And Tian Ming, why didn¡¯t he come back with you?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Lin Shikang laughed heartily, then slowly recounted their experiences over the recent months. ... Soon, Lin Shihua and a few others, who had been briefed on the entire sequence of events, felt complicated emotions. They were quite worried about Lin Tianming¡¯s plan to stay in Huangyang Kingdom. Seeing this, Lin Shikang felt rather helpless and could only offer a few words of consolation. After a long while, when Lin Shikang repeatedly mentioned the matter of the contest and spoke of Lin Tianming¡¯s steady nature, Lin Shihua and the others finally felt reassured. As the discussion shifted to the gains of the journey, the mood among the family members lightened, no longer as tense as before. In Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes, he had originally thought that this mission, at the very least, would have taken more than six months. There was even the possibility that negotiations might not proceed smoothly, possibly sparking a major conflict. They had worried about this for a while. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 However, they had truly not expected the trip to Huangyang Kingdom to go so smoothly and even bring unexpected joy. Although the contest had been heart-stopping, Lin Tianming had emerged mightily victorious, not only winning the contest but also demonstrating his formidable personal strength. Even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert like He Lanjun was injured by his Divine Skills. Through this battle, Lin Tianming had intimidated the entire assembly, enhancing the prestige of the Wei Kingdom Lin Family. He Lanjun, too, had witnessed the strength of the Lin Family. To completely eradicate any resentment between the two major powers, he offered to sacrifice two mountain ranges as compensation. According to He Lanjun¡¯s promise, Qingyun Sect offered up the Whirlwind Mountain Range, Changfeng Mountain Range, Lanling Mountain Range, Henggang Mountain Range, and Songyuan Mountain Range to the Lin Family. With these five mountain ranges borders forming a contiguous territory, especially since Whirlwind Mountain Range and Changfeng Mountain Range bordered the Luoyun Mountain Range directly. Thus, once the Lin Family controlled these areas, they would have a vast domain consisting of twelve interconnected mountain ranges. Seeing the advantageous position of the Lin Family and noticing He Lanjun¡¯s sincere attitude, Lin Tianming did not dwell on the matter. He represented the Lin Family and reached a consensus with Qingyun Sect, thereby resolving any past misunderstandings. With no more potential threats from the Qingyun Sect, the Lin Family could now freely develop. Realizing this, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader of the Lin Family, was extremely excited and somewhat eager to lead the Lin Family members to fully harness these territories and take control as soon as possible. Meanwhile, this would also facilitate swift development of the Lin Family¡¯s industries and enhance the strength of its members. Unfortunately, the territories acquired from the Golden Sword Sect battle had not yet been fully assimilated and controlled. And with the new territories yet to be handed over, no matter how impatient he was, there was nothing he could do. Realizing this, Lin Shihua finally managed to control his excitement and regained his composure. At this moment, with everyone in high spirits from their successful return, the topics of conversation became relaxed. As this lively atmosphere continued for a while, Lin Shikang then asked Lin Shihua about the progress of handing over territories between the family and the Zhenyang Sect. Lin Shihua explained that Lin Xingrong had recently arranged for clan members to report back on the general progress, and the Lin Family had already successfully transferred most of the land with the Zhenyang Sect. The entire process was relatively smooth. If things continued this way, perhaps it would take no more than two months to complete the handover. As a result, the selection process for those heading to Huangyang Kingdom for the territory handover once again fell on Lin Xingrong and a few others. After all, Lin Xingrong and his associates had similar experiences over the past year and were quite adept at handling such matters. Even if they encountered difficulties, they wouldn¡¯t be thrown into disarray. Thus, the matter of transferring five mountain ranges to Huangyang Kingdom was settled. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others chatted leisurely for a while, discussed some clan affairs, then busied themselves with their respective tasks. ¡­ Yuquan Market. Located in the central region of Huangyang Kingdom, within the Yuquan Mountain Range, Yuquan Market was a medium-sized market under the jurisdiction of the Golden Elixir Forces of the Yuquan Sect. The reputation of the Yuquan Sect in Huangyang Kingdom was not small because of its long-standing heritage, which spanned thousands of years longer than that of the neighboring Forging Sword Valley. Most importantly, the Yuquan Sect had always been known as the top power in Huangyang Kingdom. According to rumors, the Yuquan Sect boasted nearly ten Golden Core Cultivators, even including multiple Late Stage Golden Core Experts. However, this information remained a rumor as the Yuquan Sect had never responded to such claims, and no two Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators of different identities had ever appeared in public. Even so, the known Golden Core Cultivators within the Yuquan Sect already numbered eight. Such collective power made it extremely formidable in places like Huangyang Kingdom, making even Forging Sword Valley, with an equally long heritage, quite wary of the Yuquan Sect. Yuquan Market was one of the four major medium-sized markets under the Yuquan Sect, and it was also the earliest developed. Over ten thousand years, Yuquan Market had contributed significantly to the income of the Yuquan Sect, making it very important to them. Managed by the Yuquan Sect, the market was bustling, attracting many cultivators who had heard of its fame, including local cultivators keen to witness its prestige, as well as some from neighboring countries. For a long time, the commercial and trading activities in Yuquan Market thrived, with numerous cultivators attending auctions or trading treasures. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators, rarely seen in smaller places, were commonplace here. Such a lively place had almost become the hottest market in Huangyang Kingdom. And such a renowned market had also earned much praise from the cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. On this day in Yuquan Market, a bustling street saw the arrival of a man in a green robe. This man, appearing to be a middle-aged scholar, possessed a quite restrained aura and was walking along the broad street towards the deeper part of the market. This person was Lin Tianming, who had disguised his cultivation and appearance. Since bidding farewell to Lin Shikang and the others, more than three months had passed. During this time, he traveled from the northern part to the southern part of Huangyang Kingdom. Having heard of the renowned Yuquan Market, he wanted to experience it for himself and possibly find a trace of Dry Jade Grass or a substitute. In any case, as long as it could solve the troubles in his cultivation, he was determined to obtain it. With such a purpose, Lin Tianming changed his appearance and successfully entered Yuquan Market. Currently, his cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, which was considered quite impressive in this market. As for his presence, he was not worried at all. After all, with the strength of his Divine Sense, even Late Stage Golden Core Experts would likely find it hard to detect him if they were not in close proximity. In Yuquan Market, it was said that there were several Golden Core Cultivators, including some from the Nascent Soul-Level Power of the Commerce Alliance, who often appeared here along with the Golden Core Experts permanently stationed by the Yuquan Sect. Although there were Golden Core Cultivators in the market, most of them were at the Early Stage of Golden Core, and even Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators rarely appeared. Therefore, the Golden Core Cultivators here were unlikely to identify him. As for those Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators, they were the pillars of major Golden Elixir Forces. Even within the Nascent Soul-Level Powers, the number of Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators was extremely limited and only appeared for major tasks. Under these circumstances, unless a precious treasure emerged or a major battle between Golden Cores erupted, those Late Stage Golden Core Experts of Huangyang Kingdom would not easily leave their sects. Thus, as long as he avoided close contact with Late Stage Golden Core Experts, Lin Tianming had nothing to worry about. ¡­ Chapter 971 03-25 - 971 515 Five Poison Mountain ?Chapter 971: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain Chapter 971: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain Yuquan Market. At this moment, walking on the bustling streets, Lin Tianming looked around. After observing for a while, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Yuquan Market truly lived up to its famous reputation. Not to mention the crowd, just the proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was noticeably higher than some of the medium-sized markets he had visited. After all, with his cultivation at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, if he were in Qianchuan Market, he would definitely be among the ones with the highest cultivation. Generally speaking, except for those from the Golden Core Forces, it was rare to see many Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators in Qianchuan Market. Yet in Yuquan Market, he easily spotted seven or eight Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, including one at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. ... In this vein, the cultivation he revealed now didn¡¯t attract much attention here, as if those Qi Refining Stage Cultivators were used to seeing cultivators like him. To this, Lin Tianming felt rather pleased, considering how, back when he was in the Foundation Establishment Stage, revealing himself in Qianchuan Market always drew considerable attention. Among those people were admirers, acquaintances, and some with ulterior motives. Wandering the world as a Loose Cultivator now, neither too high nor too low in cultivation, nobody knew of his origins. Such an identity allowed him to act without much concern, giving him a sense of freshness. Perhaps this was what it felt like to be free and unattached! Lin Tianming thought to himself, his mood involuntarily improving quite a bit. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï After strolling around for a while, Lin Tianming followed the crowd to a large-scale shop district. Looking around, there were fewer shops here than in the outskirts, but each shop was reasonably sized and elegantly decorated, with a continuous stream of cultivators coming and going. Obviously, the shops here were established brands, with a long history, and the forces behind them were undoubtedly strong. Amidst these, Lin Tianming spotted some familiar shop names, such as the Sky Dragon Pavilion run by the Tang Family of Qingzhou, which also had a branch here. With curiosity, Lin Tianming started to wander from the nearest shop. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After half a day, Lin Tianming had visited more than ten shops, seeing sorts of treasures that were almost enough for any cultivator below the Golden Core Stage. He wasn¡¯t particularly interested in these items. However, when he encountered some novel items, he would buy them, including some First and Second Order pill formulas, and some specialties from Huangyang Kingdom. Yet, he still found no news about high-order formulas or the Dry Jade Grass. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was prepared; after all, the Dry Jade Pill was a Third Order formula and an ancient pill formula that had not been heard of in Wei Kingdom for a long time. The Dry Jade Grass, as its main component, being a Third Order treasure, was an extremely rare item, and it might even have completely disappeared, which wouldn¡¯t be surprising. And during the past few months, his experience searching through various markets of different sizes had already hinted at this, with no news found anywhere. He knew very well that just searching for a while, if it were to be found so easily, that would be strange. Thus, Lin Tianming was not discouraged, as his stay in Huangyang Kingdom was, after all, an exploratory endeavour. If he could find the Dry Jade Grass or an alternative, that would be best. If not, he would have to think of another way. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt quite detached as he looked up at Sky Dragon Pavilion and then walked inside. As he entered, a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator came up to greet him. This cultivator was quite alert and respectful, quickly approaching to serve him. ¡°Junior Sun Hao, welcome, senior, to our shop!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand and then directly asked, ¡°Is the manager of this shop available?¡± Hearing this, Sun Hao assumed Lin Tianming was an old acquaintance of the manager, so he didn¡¯t dare delay, lest he not serve well and lose this decent job. ¡°Since senior is visiting the manager, please follow me to the guest room to wait for a moment, I¡¯ll go and inform immediately.¡± Sun Hao respectfully responded and led Lin Tianming up to the second floor to a guest room. After serving Spiritual Tea, Sun Hao excused himself and left. Soon, a middle-aged Cultivator walked into the guest room. Seeing the yellow Daoist robe and the embroidery on the chest, which was the emblem of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, identical to Tang Xiuyuan from Qianchuan Market¡¯s Sky Dragon Pavilion. Obviously, this person was also a member of the Tang Family, with a cultivation and status similar to Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s, also at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. However, this person¡¯s ability to be stationed in the popular Yuquan Market suggested that his status within the vast Tang Family might be just a little higher than Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s. Considering the Tang Family¡¯s hierarchy, where family members run into tens of thousands. In such a large clan, the internal rules were definitely strict, and competition among ordinary family members was fierce. In the Qi Refining Stage, it was manageable, and reaching Foundation Establishment with a bit of talent and effort wasn¡¯t too hard. But at the level of Foundation Establishment Late Stage, advancing a major step into the Golden Core Stage, even for members of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, wasn¡¯t as easy as one might imagine. Chapter 972 03-25 - 972 515 Five Poison Mountain_2 ?Chapter 972: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain_2 Chapter 972: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain_2 To understand that the Golden Core Stage acts as a watershed in all of Qingzhou, one could say it is significant. Even in the entire Wei Kingdom, and even in the stronger Huangyang Kingdom, the number of Golden Core Cultivators is extremely limited. In such circumstances, once one enters the Golden Core Stage, one can be considered to have stepped into the ranks of High Order Cultivators. At this level, not to mention dominating the whole of Qingzhou, at least within the bounds of an ordinary country, one can already move unhindered. Tang Xiuyuan and the person in front of him joined the Commerce Alliance under the Tang Family to secure the limited Core Formation resources from within the family; managing a shop was a stable path for them. Because managing a shop is relatively easy, and certainly safer than treasure hunting, it¡¯s just more time-consuming. However, for those whose talent is not outstanding but still above average, being able to secure opportunities more securely is definitely preferable to living on the edge. ... That being said, the identity and status of the person in front of him should also fall within the range he had speculated. Yet even so, the Tang Family¡¯s reputation is not small, so much so that even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn¡¯t want to provoke a Golden Core Cultivator. Although Lin Tianming had already reached the Golden Core Stage, and his strength far surpassed those of the same rank, he currently intended to conceal his movements, showing only the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm. In this case, Lin Tianming was quite polite, standing up immediately to greet the Tang Family cultivator. ¡°I am Chen Tian, greetings to Daoist Tang!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Haha¡­ It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Daoist Chen.¡± ¡°I am Tang Changxin, in charge here at the Sky Dragon Pavilion. May I know what treasure you are seeking?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Tang Changxin politely returned the greeting and then inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose. Lin Tianming responded with a light smile, not immediately revealing his intentions, but instead struck up casual conversation with Tang Changxin. ¡°Daoist Tang, I once had an acquaintance with Daoist Tang Xiuyuan. I don¡¯t know if you are familiar with him?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°So it¡¯s an old friend of the family uncle, then we truly are fated!¡± Tang Changxin spoke with a smile, his tone and attitude became much more relaxed, at least not as stern as at the beginning. From Tang Changxin¡¯s words, Lin Tianming could hear some information, indicating that Tang Xiuyuan was indeed well-acquainted with him and was of a higher generation. Speaking of which, such a difference in generations, in families like the Tang Family with a millennia-long heritage, is also quite normal. After all, those large families have numerous clan members, and their generational hierarchy varies, with many clan members of the same age but varying significantly in seniority. Take the Lin Family, for instance, the youngest of the Xing Generation clan members isn¡¯t much older than Lin Tianming of the Tian Generation. Such situations are all too common in the Cultivation World. Seeing Tang Changxin speak like this, Lin Tianming was not surprised at all. Thus, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°I had some exchanges with Daoist Xiuyuan in the early years, but I haven¡¯t seen him in over twenty years.¡± ¡°Alas¡­ I wonder how Daoist Xiuyuan has been lately? Has he stepped onto the Golden Core Path?¡± Lin Tianming spoke earnestly, his words filled with concern. Tang Changxin also politely replied, ¡°The family uncle has been at the Qianchuan Market in Wei Kingdom for the past few years. If Daoist Chen considers the world his home, you might as well go and explore.¡± ¡°Um¡­ those two places aren¡¯t too far apart. I¡¯ll definitely visit if I get the chance!¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming changed the topic and then asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, does your pavilion have any elixirs suitable for Body Cultivators? Or perhaps a Pill Formula?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Changxin pondered for a moment and then responded. ¡°Not to hide it from Daoist Chen, we do not have Second Order elixirs or Pill Formulas, only First Order ones. I fear they may be of little use to you at your current cultivation realm.¡± Hearing Tang Changxin say this, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated it. After all, he knew high-grade integrative elixirs and Pill Formulas were not commonly available, and many forces would not easily give them out, even if they possessed them. Although the Sky Dragon Pavilion had many treasures and a strong background, such items were not readily sold. Helplessly, Lin Tianming had to give up, but due to difficulties in his cultivation, he couldn¡¯t help but ask another question. ¡°In that case, Daoist Tang, have you heard where I might find some Dry Jade Grass?¡± ¡°Dry Jade Grass?¡± Daoist Tang was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. Following that, Daoist Tang continued, ¡°Lin, this Dry Jade Grass is not of low grade, it has disappeared from the cultivation world for a long time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it indeed, but over these many years, I¡¯ve never heard of anyone who has obtained it.¡± ¡°However, many years ago, I did hear a rumor, though I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s true or not.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was initially startled and then realized there was some progress, and he was overjoyed. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming clasped hands and said, ¡°Daoist Tang, please speak freely, I will not let Brother Tang labor in vain.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Daoist Tang laughed, then slowly said, ¡°It is said that hundreds of years ago, traces of Dry Jade Grass were found in Five Poison Mountain, and many cultivators had also gone in search of it.¡± ¡°Yet in the end, they found nothing, and the cultivators who entered in groups suffered heavy losses.¡± ¡°Given this, it¡¯s hard to say if the news is true or false, and whether there are still traces of Dry Jade Grass in Five Poison Mountain now is even more uncertain.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then took out a thousand low-grade spirit stones and handed them to Daoist Tang. ¡°Thank you, Daoist Tang, for the information. Consider these spirit stones a token of my appreciation, please accept them!¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite, Daoist Chen,¡± Daoist Tang waved his hand, refusing, ¡°This rumor is too old and has never been verified. Just treat it as a thought.¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not insist, but he still purchased some quite decent treasures as a way to thank Daoist Tang for the information provided. After bidding farewell to Daoist Tang, Lin Tianming left the Sky Dragon Pavilion and wandered aimlessly on the streets. At that moment, he was pondering the rumor mentioned by Daoist Tang, contemplating its possibility. After a long while, Lin Tianming decided to stay in Yuquan Market for a few days before continuing to search for Dry Jade Grass or information on other pill formulas. If he really couldn¡¯t find anything, he would consider making a trip to Five Poison Mountain to try and find traces of the Dry Jade Grass. But before he went, he needed to be well-prepared. Since Five Poison Mountain was known as the most dangerous place in Huangyang Kingdom, its existence was said to trace back hundreds of thousands of years. Only over a hundred thousand years ago, when Human Cultivators in Jingzhou started to expand their territory, was Five Poison Mountain discovered on the fringe. Initially, Demonic Beasts roamed rampant inside, and venomous insects were everywhere. The power of these parasitic beasts was so immense that even Nascent Soul Cultivators dared not enter lightly. But despite the dangers, there were various rare and exotic treasures inside. Especially spiritual medicines; many scarce kinds could be found in Five Poison Mountain. Faced with the allure of treasures, despite the dangers, there were always people willing to risk it and enter Five Poison Mountain to seek treasures and experience. As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered around the Huangyang Kingdom, and high-order cultivators gradually emerged. With such a treasure ground, people willing to take risks gradually went into Five Poison Mountain, and the demonic beasts inside were slowly eradicated, and the treasures were nearly plundered. By now, most of the poisonous insects and beasts in Five Poison Mountain were dead or injured. Although there were no Fourth Order Great Demons comparable to a Nascent Soul Cultivator, there definitely were Third Order Demon Beasts. As the lucky cultivators who came out spread the word, this information was almost known to everyone in Huangyang Country today. Therefore, for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Five Poison Mountain was not easily entered. Even for a powerful Golden Core Cultivator entering Five Poison Mountain, there was also the risk of falling. Furthermore, it was said that more than a hundred years ago, a Golden Core Cultivator had perished in Five Poison Mountain. When this news spread, it caused a huge sensation in the Huangyang Country cultivation world, and even now, it was occasionally brought up by someone. In such a case, even if Lin Tianming was very confident in his own strength, he had to prepare thoroughly. At least gathering more information and understanding more about the dangerous land of Five Poison Mountain before taking action would make it safer. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming continued to wander around the market in Yuquan. ¡­ Chapter 973 03-25 - 973 516 ?Chapter 973: 516 Chapter 973: 516 Yuquan Market. At the auction, within a certain secret chamber, Lin Tianming leaned back in a chair crafted from precious peach wood, his gaze fixed upon the intense bidding below, revealing a helpless and wry smile on his face. Over the past several days, he had been roaming around Yuquan Market continuously, his presence appearing in almost every large and small tavern, stall area, and even some shops. With his mighty Divine Sense, no one in the market was able to detect him. As a result, he freely changed his identity, secretly gathering all kinds of useful information. At the same time, he had also spent a considerable amount of money to issue tasks, all for the purpose of finding any clues about the Dry Jade Grass. Nevertheless, the outcome was still not optimistic. ... Fortunately, in these past few days the annual market auction had begun, causing a significant surge in the flow of people throughout the entire Yuquan Market. It was a pity, though, that this auction was just a small gathering and did not include auctions for Golden Core Stage cultivators. However, holding onto a try-and-see attitude, Lin Tianming still participated in the Foundation Establishment Area¡¯s auction. By this time, the auction had already been underway for half a quarter hour. Thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered together; for these cultivators, the auctioned objects were rare treasures, hence the atmosphere was extremely heated. However, Lin Tianming was quite apathetic, and after more than ten rounds of bidding, not a single treasure had managed to catch his attention. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As such, he simply paid attention to the proceedings, but had yet to bid. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Until this moment, the auction host below held a scroll in hand, his booming voice spreading throughout the entire venue. ¡°A simple map of the Five Poison Mountain from the Perilous Lands, which seems to contain a record of a Golden Core Relic Site. Bidding starts at 30,000 Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than 300 Spirit Stones.¡± As soon as these words fell, the entire Foundation Establishment bidding floor was instantly abuzz. Nearly a thousand cultivators from the public area were now discussing fervently, with some merely spectating and many others considering entering the bidding. Despite this, nobody spoke up, seemingly half-skeptical about the authenticity of the map. Impatient, someone took the lead and asked, ¡°Daoist Zhang, I fear it¡¯s hard to discern the authenticity of this map.¡± ¡°Especially the Cave Mansion Ruins within it, which cannot be verified. Just a map starts the bid at 30,000 Spirit Stones¡ªaren¡¯t you trying to make fools out of us?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± A Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator also stood up and chimed in. ¡°Could it be just any map with some locations marked on it, claiming them to be Golden Core Cave Mansion Ruins? If so, earning those tens of thousands of Spirit Stones would be all too easy!¡± These few statements immediately set all the cultivators abuzz, and the atmosphere suddenly became sensational. It was clear that these Foundation Establishment Cultivators were no fools. Such incidences were not rare in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators had spent tens of thousands of Spirit Stones on false maps, venturing on treasure hunts only to find no treasure, and even more tragically, losing their lives. With such occurrences increasing over time, cultivators had become exceedingly cautious about semi-truthful maps. At this moment, the cultivator hosting the auction, seeing the scene below, appeared displeased. However, given the large number of hecklers, and although he had reached Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and had accumulated no small reputation in the auctioneer profession, he did not dare to offend so many cultivators simultaneously. Therefore, the auctioneer surnamed Zhang spoke seriously, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I truly understand your doubts.¡± ¡°I have carefully examined this map, and according to my many years of judgment, there is indeed a high probability that it is genuine.¡± ¡°In addition, the Daoist who provided this map has indeed entered the Cave Mansion Ruins and obtained some Third Grade Treasures on the periphery.¡± ¡°However, due to his own strength, he was not able to delve deeper, which is why he has put the map up for auction.¡± ¡°The consigner also mentioned that he cannot guarantee that there will be more treasures inside; if there were, then the starting bid wouldn¡¯t be just 30,000 Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°As to whether or not you all believe it, the consigner does not force anyone. In short, if you wish to bid, bid; if not, we¡¯ll simply end the auction there.¡± Daoist Zhang¡¯s explanation was quite indifferent, seemingly unconcerned about the cultivators¡¯ thoughts. Upon hearing this, the crowd below quickly fell into a silence. After a long while, finally, a cultivator began to bid, instantly breaking the calm of the entire venue. Evidently, even though Daoist Zhang was not completely certain of the map¡¯s authenticity, Golden Core Relics still held a fatal allure for these Foundation Establishment cultivators. After all, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, they were neither at the bottom nor could they be considered High Order Cultivators¡ªthey were stuck somewhat in between. They all understood that if they failed to enter the Golden Core Stage, within a hundred and eighty years, they could end up as a heap of yellow dirt. Although the authenticity of such maps was questionable, there were always some willing to take the risk. Thirty or forty thousand Spirit Stones were not a small number, but if a Golden Core Relic Site truly existed, then obtaining just one or two Third Grade Treasures would be enough to compensate for the investment in the map. What was more important, if luck was on their side, acquiring a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item would be striking it rich. And there were quite a few with this mindset. As the first person to bid led the way, more and more joined the bidding. Soon, the map¡¯s bidding price continued to rise, and after just over a dozen rounds of bidding, it had reached 43,000 Spirit Stones. And with the fervent atmosphere of the venue, the price continued to climb. Chapter 974 03-25 - 974 516 Map_2 ?Chapter 974: Chapter 516: Map_2 Chapter 974: Chapter 516: Map_2 ¡°At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long before the auction price for the map would break through the fifty thousand Spirit Stones barrier; it was just a matter of time.¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming was watching the bidding below, contemplating in his mind. In his eyes, the map was quite a coincidence, as it was precisely the destination he intended to visit shortly ¨C Wudu Mountain. Lin Tianming hardly gave it a second thought before deciding to bid for it. To him, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators might fear a fake, even more so the dangers within Wudu Mountain. But he had already made up his mind: regardless of its authenticity or the peril within, he was determined to explore Wudu Mountain. For this, he had made many preparations, spending thousands of Spirit Stones to purchase various simple maps drawn by Cultivators. ... Among these maps, there might be real ones and fake ones. But he didn¡¯t care anymore! After all, he was now quite wealthy; a few thousand, or even tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, didn¡¯t matter to him. As long as the map was partially accurate and effective, it would be worth it to him. And now, the map being auctioned was very comprehensive and even likely contained the ruins of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s Cave Mansion, which made him all the more determined to obtain it. Therefore, a determined Lin Tianming finally perked up. As the intense bidding continued below, the auction price for the map had reached fifty-one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï At this point, the number of bidders began dwindling, with only a few persisting. It was clear that the price of the map had become too high for many. Some, who were trying their luck, also felt it was not worth continuing to bid and hence gave up. While others had become obsessed, adamant about sticking it out to the end. After a few more rounds of bidding, the price for the map reached fifty-four thousand Spirit Stones. At that moment, Lin Tianming, watching the deadlock below, called out a bid without hesitation. ¡°Seventy thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Right after he spoke, silence fell over the entire Foundation Establishment auction hall as many Cultivators lifted their heads to look in the direction of the luxurious private rooms, curious to see who would be so lavish with their money. This type of bidding was clearly intimidating. It¡¯s not surprising, given the starting bid for the map was only thirty thousand Spirit Stones, an amount within reach for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, even those at the second or third level. But at a price of seventy thousand Spirit Stones, even those in the late stages of Foundation Establishment would find it difficult to afford without stretching their resources. And Lin Tianming raising the bid by nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones at once certainly showed his overwhelming desire to win. As expected, after Lin Tianming announced his bid, the scene fell silent for a while. The few Cultivators, who had previously been fiercely bidding, now showed hesitation on their faces, clearly struggling internally. Other onlookers were equally surprised, and there was much private discussion among acquaintances. At this time, the Zhang-surnamed Cultivator hosting the auction, seeing the lively scene below but the bids dying down, couldn¡¯t help feeling some disappointment. After a few breaths of time passed and still no one else bid, he had no choice but to announce the sale of the map for seventy thousand Spirit Stones. Not long afterward, a female Cultivator with a graceful figure and alluring eyes entered Lin Tianming¡¯s private room, holding the scroll that had been auctioned. Lin Tianming turned and saw the woman holding the map. Without paying her much attention, he took out seventy thousand Spirit Stones and handed them to the woman, promptly sending her on her way. He then wasted no time in unrolling the map while pulling out the other maps he had collected recently, comparing them carefully. After a thorough comparison, this map with the ruins recorded many geographical environments similar to that on the maps he had gathered these days. However, there were also many discrepancies, which clearly indicated that some of the maps were fake. For such an error, Lin Tianming had already anticipated it in his heart and did not care about this minor difference. According to his judgment, acquiring this valuable map indeed had a fair degree of credibility. However, without having explored it first, he could not say for sure whether it was genuine or fake. Nevertheless, regardless, Lin Tianming was still quite satisfied; at least his understanding of the map and Five Poison Mountain had deepened considerably. This way, it was a good opportunity to go to Five Poison Mountain to look for traces of Dry Jade Grass and, incidentally, to explore the possible existence of a Golden Core relic site. Suppressing his slightly excited emotions, Lin Tianming continued to follow the progress of the auction. The auction proceeded as normal, with a large quantity of Second Order Treasures appearing, bringing the lively atmosphere to a new high. Followed by that, a dozen finale items arrived, and the atmosphere on-site instantly peaked. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among these finale items, astonishingly, there were Third Grade Treasures and some artifacts related to the Four Arts of Cultivation up for auction. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming did not miss the opportunity. He spent quite a few Spirit Stones and casually acquired some decent treasures, including a Second Order Medium Quality Pill Furnace as well as two relatively rare Spiritual Medicines. After all, as an Alchemist, he habitually collected some Spiritual Medicine Materials, so that even if he didn¡¯t need them now, he wouldn¡¯t have to search everywhere when the time came. In addition, rare items were always easy to sell at any time and could be exchanged for other needed treasures. As for the Second Order Pill Furnace, they were rather scarce in the Lin Family currently. With the family¡¯s strong support over the years, talent in the Four Arts of Cultivation had been growing, with the number of Alchemists doubling. Therefore, Pill Furnaces were quite scarce, especially Second Order ones. An opportunity to buy a Second Order Pill Furnace at auction was considered to be a rare find. If this were in Qianchuan Market, such an opportunity might only arise during the once-a-decade grand gathering. Only when Lin Shilu advanced to a Third Order Artifact Refining Master and found time to spare could this situation be thoroughly resolved. And for now, up to the next twenty years, the Lin Family was still in great need of Pill Furnaces. For this reason, Lin Tianming¡¯s acquisition of the Second Order Pill Furnace meant he could bring it back to his family, contributing his part. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming also had some decent gains from this Foundation Establishment Area auction. With the auction concluding, Lin Tianming did not linger and directly returned to his temporarily rented Cave Mansion. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with several maps he had organized laid out in front of him. Studying the maps again and analyzing all the clues carefully, Lin Tianming soon became lost in thought. Based on these maps, he had basically grasped part of the internal situation of Wudu Mountain. However, Wudu Mountain was vast, the circumstances complex, and changes could occur. And these maps could only serve as references; once he actually entered, he would have to be extra careful. In summary, there was one principle and two objectives. The principle was to cover as much area as possible while ensuring his safety, aiming to find the trace of Dry Jade Grass, the first objective. If conditions allowed, he would then search for the second objective, the Golden Core Cave Mansion Ruins. For this purpose, he planned to stay and rest in Yuquan Market for two days, adjust his condition, and make thorough preparations before setting off secretly. Determined, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately began meditating and cultivating. Two days later. At dawn, Yuquan Market gradually became lively. At this time, Lin Tianming, having disguised himself, left Yuquan Market without a sound. It was not until he had flown over two hundred li using Sword Flight, leaving the outskirts of Yuquan Market far behind. Taking advantage of the absence of onlookers, he then released the Purple Gold Eagle and immediately hopped onto Xiao Diao¡¯s back. Upon receiving Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, Xiao Diao did not dawdle, quickly flying thousands of zhang high into the air and then speeding off in the southwest direction. ¡­ Chapter 975 03-25 - 975 517 Exploring Five Poison Mountain ?Chapter 975: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain Chapter 975: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain Half a month later. In the central-southern region of the Huangyang Kingdom, a clear figure of Lin Tianming appeared atop a barren mountain. At that time, Lin Tianming was standing on the mountaintop, his sharp gaze cutting through the thick clouds and mist, overlooking the vast mountains and rivers that were faintly visible in the distance. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following his line of sight, there was an endless range of mountains crisscrossed with many peaks and valleys, rivers cutting through the mountains, and marshlands scattered at the foothills. In such a rarely trodden place, there were also many gloomy and dark valleys whose depths couldn¡¯t be discerned at a glance. Turning his gaze back, Lin Tianming once again took out the map given to him by Zhou Yunxiao and began to compare it with the scene before his eyes. Soon enough, he made a judgment. The boundless forest-covered mountains in front of him were precisely his destination¡ªthe Five Poison Mountain. ... At this time, a light smile overshadowed the fatigue of traveling non-stop for the past half-month, reflecting Lin Tianming¡¯s delight. During this half-month journey, he had been on the move incessantly and had finally arrived here smoothly. Along the way, he had indeed encountered quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators who, like him, were also heading in this direction, presumably also aiming to train at Five Poison Mountain. However, with Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful Divine Sense, if he didn¡¯t wish to reveal his whereabouts, even an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator would likely find it difficult to detect him. At this point, instead of continuing towards Five Poison Mountain, Lin Tianming gazed at the scenery before him without making a move. He planned to find a place to rest and recuperate for a couple of days, adjusting his state before venturing into Wudu Mountain. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure turned and vanished on the spot. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï In a short while, he appeared in a small valley. After spending just under half an hour, he had dug out a simple cave abode and quickly went inside. Two days later, a revitalized Lin Tianming emerged from the valley and concealed the entrance to the Temporary Cave Abode. After erasing his own traces, Lin Tianming set off towards Five Poison Mountain. Traveling westward for over two hundred li, he arrived at a range of mountains. According to the records on the map, this place was already the outer region of Five Poison Mountain. He stood still and looked inside to see the lush and verdant vegetation of the forest, while the terrain was also rugged and uneven. At first glance, such a scene seemed rather ordinary. However, this particular scene was quite different from other places, especially in terms of the richness of Spiritual Energy, which was significantly denser than elsewhere. Such characteristics were normal because, in the Cultivation World, the places where Demonic Beasts resided often had denser Spiritual Energy, which in turn could birth more treasures. In fact, many of the territories and sects of various powers had once been the domains, even the main lairs, of Demonic Beasts a very long time ago. After those Demonic Beasts were eradicated by Human Cultivators, they would utilize the power of Formations to gather the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Through long-term gathering of Spiritual Energy, combined with some Spirit Stones or special treasures for improvement, these sect territories gradually became Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. However, this process was generally very lengthy and required no small amount of resources. Especially those powers with millennia of heritage, their sect territories, after the efforts of dozens or even hundreds of generations, managed to form a substantial scale and a high-quality Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. Given the vast expanse of Five Poison Mountain and the number of Demonic Beasts that once dwelled here, the richness of the Spiritual Energy was unsurprisingly high. It was even possible that tens of thousands of years ago, the Spiritual Energy density here was several times higher than it is now. Nowadays, after wave after wave of cultivators came to explore, the number of Demonic Beasts in Five Poison Mountain continued to decrease, and many treasures were plundered by Human Cultivators. Such sustained plundering led to the gradual shrinking of Five Poison Mountain¡¯s size, and the density of its Spiritual Energy also substantially decreased. Even so, the Spiritual Energy in this outer area was still not inferior, enough to match a small Foundation Establishment family¡¯s sect. Aside from the difference in Spiritual Energy density, the main feature of Five Poison Mountain was the perpetual layer of poisonous mist shrouding the entire vast area. It wasn¡¯t too severe in this outer region, to the point where ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators might not even notice the difference if they weren¡¯t paying close attention. But Lin Tianming, with his Golden Core Stage Cultivation and powerful Divine Sense, along with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, perceived a faint green mist in the air as soon as he entered this region. The basic characteristics of Five Poison Mountain were well-known throughout Huangyang Kingdom. Before coming here, Lin Tianming specially gathered a lot of information and understood much more about Five Poison Mountain. According to the collected information, there were numerous dangers deep within Five Poison Mountain; the threat of Demonic Beasts and poisonous insects was only one of them. The vast poisonous mists in the deeper regions were also a significant hazard. This kind of toxic mist was very troublesome. If inhaled in small amounts, a cultivator could rely on their own resistance to fend it off or expel it by circulating their energy. But once inhaled excessively, it was easy to lose one¡¯s mind, becoming a mindless husk. In such a scenario, wandering through the perilous Five Poison Mountain, death would just be a matter of time. For the time being, the concentration of poison mist in the outer regions was too low, essentially negligible. However, once one reached the deeper parts, the concentration of the poisonous mist would increase drastically, and it was said that there would even be massive clouds of roaming poison mist. These roaming poison clouds were not small in size, and the toxic mist within them was extremely potent, moving unpredictably and leaving no trace. Chapter 976 03-25 - 976 517 Exploring Five Poison Mountain_2 ?Chapter 976: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain_2 Chapter 976: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain_2 If unlucky enough to encounter it and unable to avoid it in time, even a Golden Core Cultivator would find it difficult to resist. As for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators who encounter it, their fate hardly needs to be stated; it¡¯s undoubtedly a situation of nine deaths and one life. Even before arriving here, Lin Tianming had heard rumors. It¡¯s said that over two thousand years ago, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator was surrounded by poisonous fog and ultimately perished miserably within it. Despite the passage of time and the questionable veracity of the specifics, Lin Tianming still dared not take the matter lightly. For this reason, he had also made ample preparations. If things were to become untenable, he would rather abandon this exploration journey. As for the Dry Jade Grass and the Golden Core Relic Site, he could slowly search for them later. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Above all, safety first; this he always kept firmly in mind. Knowing this, Lin Tianming wore a serious expression as he promptly slapped his storage bag and a green pill appeared in his hand. This pill was known as a Detoxifying Pill, a common type of Third Order Pill. Compared to other Third Order Pills its value might be average, but its efficacy was quite impressive as it could resist the erosion of various poisons. The origin of this pill was from Ye Pinghai¡¯s hands. When he was at the Lin Family, he had specifically requested a few of these pills for unexpected needs. And now, exploring the Five Poison Mountain, these pills could come in handy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï With the help of this pill, coupled with his powerful Qi-Blood, dealing with ordinary poisonous fog should not be a problem. Moreover, if he were to fight against demonic beasts or poisonous insects with potent venom, this pill could also resist the invasion of poison and play a significant role should he get injured. Under such circumstances, the role of these Detoxifying Pills was not minor. Taking them now was most fitting. Thus, Lin Tianming did not delay and swallowed the Detoxifying Pill. Then, he leaped forth eagerly, venturing into the depths of Wudu Mountain. As he delved deeper, the concentration of the poisonous fog indeed heighten as anticipated. Lin Tianming advanced cautiously for several days, covering at least a few hundred miles by his estimation. During this period, he had seen numerous terrains and landscapes, ranging from marshlands to high peaks and low valleys, as well as various deep abysses and gorges; the geographical features were incredibly diverse. At the same time, he had also occasionally encountered pairs of Foundation Establishment Cultivators traveling together in search of treasure. However, he never revealed himself, simply observing for a moment before stealthily departing without alerting anyone. Following that, he continued his lone search within the Five Poison Mountain, discovering some First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials and spotting a few low-order demonic beast figures along the way. Considering his current frame of mind, he naturally had little interest in these low-order Spiritual Medicine and demonic beasts and did not want to waste time on them. Hence, unbeknownst to others, he continued on his journey, probing deeper into the heart of Five Poison Mountain. Another half month of travel had passed. At that time, Lin Tianming approached a canyon deep within Five Poison Mountain with the utmost caution. Standing atop a large tree, his entire body was concealed within the dense foliage. When he looked towards the canyon before him, his face wore an expression of puzzlement. Considering it, he had unknowingly entered the bounds of Five Poison Mountain for nearly half a month. Judging by his pace, his search along the way had been quite efficient, and he had visited many places. Now he had gained a lot more understanding of Five Poison Mountain and had also become accustomed to its environment. After searching meticulously for half a month, Lin Tianming had yet to see any trace of the Dry Jade Grass. And here, deep within Five Poison Mountain, the content of poison in the surrounding air was clearly several times higher than that outside. Meanwhile, as he ventured deeper, the grades of demonic beasts he encountered had generally been higher; in the last few days, although he had met fewer beasts, they were at least of the Second Order Middle Stage. In such circumstances, he took out the map and compared it, feeling extremely certain in his heart that this place was indeed within the deep regions of Five Poison Mountain. ¡°` And in his aimless search, he audaciously came to the vicinity of the Golden Core Relic Site noted on the map. It was quite unexpected because he had no intention of seeking the Cave Mansion Ruins first. His original goal was to find the Dry Jade Grass and only consider the Golden Core Relic Site last. Who would have thought that his aimless searching would bring him right to that large area recorded on the map? In his eyes, this might just be Heaven¡¯s Will! However, the location of the Golden Core Relic Site was relatively vague, and the area that needed to be searched was not small. Finding it would still require some effort. Nevertheless, since he had already arrived, he decided to try searching the area. With this purpose in mind, Lin Tianming temporarily stayed here. After using his Divine Sense to explore, he quickly felt the interference of the poisonous fog, and the range he could cover now was about seventy to eighty percent less than normal. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s own Divine Sense was strong, and with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, the area he could see was still considerable. Yet even so, Lin Tianming was especially cautious recently, slowing down his pace, and he had no intention of dealing with Second Order Demonic Beasts or gathering Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials when he encountered them. He did this to avoid alerting enemies too early and entangling himself in unnecessary trouble. It was precisely this cautious approach that allowed him to arrive here relatively smoothly. At this moment, he frowned at the abyss-like valley in front of him, as if he had noticed something different. Following his gaze, the valley seemed exceptionally quiet, with three towering peaks and a wide dark river extending from the valley floor. If looked at superficially, there was nothing particularly unusual. But after observing with the Eye of Five Colors, he discovered that the valley was especially deep, the poisonous fog above the valley was exceptionally dense, and the river water was completely pitch black in color. It was these features, present deep within the perilous Five Poison Mountain, that would be noticed by any detail-oriented person as slightly out of the ordinary. And Lin Tianming was always meticulous, careful with every step, and always prepared to make a swift getaway. Now, faced with this scene, he hesitated, deliberating whether to go in and search. The reason for this was that he understood in his heart, the more dangerous a place was, the more likely it held extraordinary opportunities. Looking at the geological environment of the valley, it truly seemed like a place untouched by man, likely to harbor treasures at a much higher probability than other areas. To find the Dry Jade Grass and the Golden Core Relic Site, it was clear that taking some risks was necessary and simply unrealistic to expect otherwise. He had visited many places during this time and had spent a lot of time, yet had gained nothing substantial. If this continued, he might not even find a trace of the Dry Jade Grass. Given these circumstances, he naturally needed to change his strategy, at the very least move deeper, and try to find unique locations. Moreover, this place was not far from the Golden Core Relic Site recorded on the map; both were his targets, so he had to give it a try, no matter what. Although such a change increased the danger, he was willing to take risks to avoid anything untried. With this thought, Lin Tianming no longer hesitated and prepared to venture inside. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming did not delay. With a flash of light from the Qinghong Sword in his hand, he casually launched an attack that flew toward the interior of the valley. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The silvery Sword Qi entered the valley, followed by echoes reverberating back. Lin Tianming waited a while, his gaze fixed intently on the interior of the valley, hoping to discern any sign of activity. However, the Sword Qi only elicited echoes, with no sign of Demonic Beasts or poisonous insects. After about a quarter of an hour had passed without any sign of danger, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then leaped forward and flew towards the entrance of the valley. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 977 03-25 - 977 518 Ethereal Centipede ?Chapter 977: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede Chapter 977: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede Following the eerie, sinister entrance of the canyon, Lin Tianming continued walking inward, the area around still very quiet. At this moment, Lin Tianming was extremely cautious, gripping the Qinghong Sword in his hand, ready to strike at any moment. Simultaneously, his Divine Sense was fully extended, and his Eye of Five Colors was constantly vigilant of every little movement around, fearing that a demon beast or a poisonous insect might suddenly appear. In such a heightened state of alertness, he quickly covered several miles, unknowingly entering deeper into the canyon. Once there, the quietness was such that one could hear a pin drop. Besides, the pitch-black river water flowed, and the dense vegetation made this environment a paradise for poisonous insects. If an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator were to come here, merely the sight of this bizarre scene would likely deter them. ... However, Lin Tianming found it unremarkable, his nerves tense as ever, his steps unceasing. Moving neither too fast nor too slow, he soon advanced several more miles. As the scenery before him changed, he successfully passed through the canyon and emerged into a vibrant, colorful valley. At this moment, Lin Tianming, still on edge, hadn¡¯t expected this place to be a realm of its own. He looked around and saw birds chirping and flowers fragrant, various plants and flowers growing wildly everywhere, even the river water was no longer pitch-black but appeared crystal clear. Apart from these common plants, in certain special areas of this valley, dozens of spiritual medicines had already emerged. These spiritual medicines were of various types, some quite rare, and their grades varied high and low, ranging from First Order to Second Order. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Among them were two Second Order Superior Wooden Heart Flowers, which, even in Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, were of considerable value. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regarding the other species, though more common and less valuable, compared to the few spiritual medicines occasionally found outside, those here were already impressive. A valley such as this, compared to the sinister, eerie canyon he had passed before, indeed formed a significant contrast. Under such circumstances, it was very easy for ordinary people to relax. But Lin Tianming didn¡¯t lower his guard at all, as he wouldn¡¯t let these visual scenes affect him. In his eyes, one should never be careless at any time outside, including this seemingly safe valley, which could also harbor different dangers. Thus, he was even more cautious. However, as expected, his vigilance was proven justified. While he was surveying the valley, a sparse rustling sound emerged. Hearing the noise, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave, and he immediately prepared to act. A few breaths later, a centipede tens of meters long crawled out from a crevice in the rocks. The centipede was not small; its body sported red and green spots, covering the shell on its back, and it moved incredibly fast. Upon seeing this centipede, Lin Tianming immediately recognized its origin, a Third Order Early Stage Ethereal Centipede. And the rustling sound just now was indeed created by this Ethereal Centipede gliding close to the ground. With the appearance of this terrifying Ethereal Centipede, Lin Tianming instantly braced as if facing a formidable enemy. After all, this was the depths of the Five Poison Mountain, not a territory completely controlled by the Human Race. Moreover, the presence of a Third Order Demon Beast here verified various recorded intel, confirming indeed the existence of numerous High Order Monster Beasts in this area. Under such circumstances, with even the Ethereal Centipede, known for its tremendous toxicity and extremely powerful attack, making an appearance, who knows if there were other monster beasts within the valley, or what other dangers could be lurking. Realizing this, Lin Tianming took a step back, maintaining a safe distance to observe the situation first. Just as he steadied his stance, the Ethereal Centipede charged toward him, launching the first attack. The Ethereal Centipede was incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, it had already covered a hundred meters. Simultaneously, its sinister and dreadful mouth opened, immediately spitting out a green, oily liquid. The liquid smelled foul and was immensely toxic. The moment it appeared, it corroded even the faint spiritual energy in the air. Instantly, a strange noise sounded, accompanied by billowing dense smoke. At this very moment, seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned serious, and he swiftly dodged. He knew well the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s attack power was strong, its speed rapid, and its overall strength immensely formidable. This Ethereal Centipede, among thousands of demon beasts and insects, was notably one of the notorious assassins, both its movement speed and its extremely toxic venom were indeed unique. Although the reputation of the Ethereal Centipede had not yet entered the list of the strongest hundred insects, its overall strength was barely any less than those few insects listed at the bottom of the list. That such an insect appeared here, and that he had encountered it, was quite unexpected for him. However, considering carefully in conjunction with the geographical environment of the Five Poison Mountain, it indeed suited various demon insects to reside. The Ethereal Centipede, favoring dense forests, had specific demands for its habitat, which the Five Poison Mountain completely met. Therefore, the appearance of such an insect here was quite normal. Returning to his senses, Lin Tianming no longer pondered but devoted himself entirely to dealing with the Ethereal Centipede. Chapter 978 03-25 - 978 518 Ethereal Centipede_2 ?Chapter 978: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede_2 Chapter 978: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede_2 At that moment, Lin Tianming moved as swiftly as a swallow, simultaneously unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi that blanketed the skies above the Ethereal Centipede in an instant. However, the Demon Insect was very fast and agile. Despite the vast number of Sword Qi, it easily dodged most of them, with only a few hitting the carapace on its back. ¡°Clank, clank, clank¡­¡± A pleasant sound followed, and the Sword Qi released by Lin Tianming was deflected and dissipated into the sky. Looking at the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s untouched back, only faint traces were left on the carapace, which faded quickly. Witnessing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression stiffened, and his estimation of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s strength increased by a notch. However, even so, he was not overly pessimistic. ... Given his strength, a Third Order Early Stage Demon Insect, despite being very powerful, posed no fatal threat to him. This was the confidence he had in his own abilities. Lin Tianming, composed and precise, easily avoided the venom sprayed by the Ethereal Centipede. While he dodged the attack, the flowers, plants, trees, and even some of the earth he passed by were not so fortunate, corroded into ash by the venom in an instant, not even a speck of dust remained. As Lin Tianming landed on another outcrop, he turned to face the Ethereal Centipede, which was baring its fangs and appearing quite furious. Before he could catch his breath, the Ethereal Centipede attacked again. Still in the air, it sprayed a vast amount of venom, engulfing a large area above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Seeing this, Lin Tianming had to keep moving. He didn¡¯t want to use his Magical Treasures to block the venom, lest they be corroded and their Spirituality degraded. In this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s escape speed increased dramatically, even faster than before. With the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he consistently found the best route through the tight spaces. Although the situation was perilous, he skillfully avoided the venom every time. After regaining his balance, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a trace of anger. With a cold snort, his Qinghong Sword flashed with light, and he unleashed the Divine Skill, Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword shot out at an unbelievable speed towards the Ethereal Centipede. In that moment, the Ethereal Centipede also sensed the crisis and hurriedly maneuvered its body in an attempt to dodge. The speed of the Ethereal Centipede was likewise impressive, its hundred legs in motion, virtually gliding across the ground. However, even so, as a Demon Insect, its Spirit Wisdom simply could not match the Human Race, let alone know the formidable strength that Lin Tianming possessed. Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, it tried its best to evade, but the Qinghong Sword was too fast, and it was a long-prepared attack by Lin Tianming; how could it possibly escape easily? Accompanied by a painful shriek, the Qinghong Sword struck the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s back. Instantaneously, sparks flew in all directions. Then the Qinghong Sword rebounded, and Lin Tianming caught it in his hand again. Looking at the Ethereal Centipede itself, a small piece of its carapace was shattered, and streaks of green blood oozed from the crack. Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, although it had not severely wounded the Ethereal Centipede, the powerful force still caused it considerable suffering. After all, Lin Tianming was no weakling; the attack was powered by a Heavenly Grade Technique and the strength of Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. Such a full-force attack, even a typical Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator would likely hesitate to block directly, let alone a Third Order Early Stage Demon Insect. Indeed, it was under this very attack, the substantial force absorbed by the Ethereal Centipede caused it great agony. Had the Ethereal Centipede not been encased in a carapace with formidable defensive power, that strike alone might have severely injured it, or even killing it outright was not impossible. As the assault concluded, both combatants, human and insect, fell into a brief period of calm. At that moment, the Ethereal Centipede finally realized the strength of the human cultivator before it, its aura no longer as fierce as when it first appeared. In contrast, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, his heart neither underestimating the Ethereal Centipede nor relaxing his vigilance too much. After waiting for a few breaths and seeing that the Ethereal Centipede remained unmoved, neither retreating nor attacking, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. Then, without wasting time, he shifted from defense to offense and launched an attack on the Ethereal Centipede. In an instant, Lin Tianming leaped up, his Qinghong Sword swinging swiftly as ordinary Sword Qi shot out, blocking the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s retreat from various angles. At the same time, he formed a Law Decree, and beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the Qinghong Sword. ¡°Humming¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword glowed with Spiritual Light, then it swooped toward the Ethereal Centipede. This strike, utilizing the Tiangang Ninth Sword divine skill with the added power of the nine-fold swords, turned the Qinghong Sword into a dragon pouncing on the Ethereal Centipede. At this moment, the Ethereal Centipede sensed a fatal threat and was filled with both shock and fury. Facing the attack of the Qinghong Sword, it was well aware of the sword¡¯s formidable power and knew that its current situation was highly unfavorable. In desperation, the Ethereal Centipede writhed its body, its numerous legs moving in unison, skimming across the ground to flee the spot. Its speed was very fast, even faster than before. However, Lin Tianming had already unleashed numerous Sword Qi to block the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s path. At this moment, the Ethereal Centipede was left with no choice but to react; even though the ordinary Sword Qi didn¡¯t present a fatal threat, enduring most of the sword attacks would still result in injury. Furthermore, its speed would be hindered, giving Lin Tianming a chance to catch up. If it were to come to that, the terrifying Qinghong Sword would certainly close the distance and strike its body. Under such circumstances, the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s situation was dire, akin to being between the wolf in front and the tiger behind, with no countermeasure available to avoid injury from this round of attacks. However, although the intelligence of the Ethereal Centipede was not on par with the human race, at this level it certainly was not as naive as a three-year-old child. Even though its thoughts were slower by a split second, the Ethereal Centipede made a decision. In that instant, the Ethereal Centipede suddenly turned and once again spouted a large amount of poisonous venom to shield itself. At the same time, its body retreated explosively, creating a safe distance for itself. At this point, Lin Tianming saw this and felt somewhat helpless. Because the Tiangang Ninth Sword was a physical attack relying on the Qinghong Sword as the medium, he did not want it to be contaminated with a trace of venom, which might erode its spirituality afterwards. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, at present he mainly relied on the Qinghong Sword for his magical treasure. At least until Lin Shilu refined a life-bound magical treasure for him, he did not have a good replacement for offense. Therefore, if the Qinghong Sword were to be tainted with the venom, causing a loss of some of its spirituality, his attack power would also be significantly affected, and his overall strength would similarly decline. In such a situation, for the sake of long-term consideration, he could only reluctantly give up the attack with the Qinghong Sword. However, even so, Lin Tianming would not give the Ethereal Centipede any chance to catch its breath. In his eyes, he had a variety of attack methods; even without the Qinghong Sword, he could rely on other means to deal with the fierce Ethereal Centipede. Thus, just as he had withdrawn the Qinghong Sword, a ball of flame had already appeared in his hand, which was undoubtedly the Blue Heart True Flame feared by He Lanjun. As he looked at the barrier formed by the venom, the Blue Heart True Flame in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand immediately flew out. In the blink of an eye, the fireball plunged into the venom and subsequently exploded. At that moment, the sky became a sea of fire, with the stench and smell of burning spreading out, making one feel sick with just a whiff. And within that inferno, the Ethereal Centipede frantically attempted to flee. Unfortunately, the range of the fire sea was vast, and the scattering flames that exploded were like a rain of flowers filling the sky. ¡­ Chapter 979 03-25 - 979 519 Poison Master ?Chapter 979: Chapter 519 Poison Master Chapter 979: Chapter 519 Poison Master At this moment, in that dense sea of sparks. Lin Tianming saw some scattered flames carrying some venom stick to the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell. The flames did not extinguish but firmly stuck to the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell, no matter how it tried to shake them off. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± A series of crackling noises came, accompanied by the agonizing screams of the Ethereal Centipede. The Ethereal Centipede screamed in pain as its several zhang-long body writhed madly, clearly in immense agony. It turned out that the flames stuck to the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell were furiously scorching it. ... In just a few breaths¡¯ time, some small holes appeared on the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell. The flames had also vanished without a trace, and it was unclear whether they had extinguished or continued to penetrate into the body of the Ethereal Centipede. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming smiled satisfactorily, having anticipated such an outcome. After all, the destructive power of the Blue Heart True Flame needs no mention. Once it attached even slightly, it clung to the target like a maggot, furiously unleashing its destructive power. Despite the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell having astonishing defensive power, it stood little chance against the Exotic Flames of the Blue Heart True Flame. Realizing this, Lin Tianming calmed down slightly. Then, conjuring the Law Decree with his hands, the Qinghong Sword in front of him flashed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Seizing the moment when the Ethereal Centipede was weakened, the Qinghong Sword shot forth. Such a rare opportunity, he planned to take this chance to try and slay the Ethereal Centipede. With a lethal intent, Lin Tianming struck with all his might. Watching as the Qinghong Sword attacked again, its distance closing ever nearer. At that moment, feeling the fluctuations, the Ethereal Centipede ignored the excruciating pain on its body and began to desperately flee. However, the Qinghong Sword was faster, giving the Ethereal Centipede no chance whatsoever. In desperation, the Ethereal Centipede decisively sprayed a stream of venom again, seemingly hoping to repeat its earlier trick relying on the venom¡¯s corrosive nature to force Lin Tianming to give up this fatal strike. But unfortunately for it, the Qinghong Sword was too fast. Before it could spray enough venom, the Qinghong Sword had already arrived above its head. At that instant, the Ethereal Centipede knew it was too late to escape or dodge. Helpless, the Ethereal Centipede could only dodge away from its vital areas, trying to grasp a sliver of a chance at life. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted. Followed immediately by a miserable scream. At that moment, the Qinghong Sword struck a piece of the shell on the back of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head, instantly sending sparks in every direction. And that piece of shell was the most robust on the Ethereal Centipede, possessing the strongest defensive power. Indeed, the Ethereal Centipede wasn¡¯t foolish, knowing it couldn¡¯t escape or dodge, it could only withstand the blow, relying on its strongest defense to try and seize a chance at survival. And indeed, the Ethereal Centipede achieved its goal. Under this strike, the Qinghong Sword was deflected, recaptured by Lin Tianming who was pursuing it. Nevertheless, the Qinghong Sword had left a large crack in that piece of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell, along with a deep wound. As the strike concluded, the Ethereal Centipede writhed in pain, and a good amount of green blood also oozed from the shattered shell. When the blood flowed onto the ground, it also corroded the soil, forming a not so small pit. Looking at the Ethereal Centipede itself, its ferocious grimace was horrifying, and its energy had visibly weakened a lot. At this point, Lin Tianming approached swiftly with the Qinghong Sword in hand, once again aiming for the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head. Lin Tianming was fast, seizing the moment of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s weakness, with the sword tip directly targeting the creature¡¯s vital area. With a clear target, the confident and decisive Lin Tianming transformed the Qinghong Sword into a dazzling long dragon. At that moment, the Ethereal Centipede struggled frantically trying to escape, but its injuries were severe. Besides, even at its peak, it likely wasn¡¯t a match for Lin Tianming. Moreover, now that the Ethereal Centipede was injured, and the distance between them so close, it stood no chance or strength to resist. In this hopeless situation, the Ethereal Centipede was terrified, struggling for a long time without escaping far. As the Qinghong Sword drew closer, the Ethereal Centipede despaired. Just when the Qinghong Sword was about to strike, suddenly a loud shout echoed throughout the valley. ¡°Boy, you¡¯re courting death!¡± This voice had just passed when a skinny and ugly man rushed out. This man was full of fury and immediately took action to stop Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, hoping to save the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s life. However, Lin Tianming was very fast and had no intention to hold back. Just as the man¡¯s attack was about to land, the Qinghong Sword had already struck the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head. In an instant, a piercing screech was heard. Looking closely, the Qinghong Sword shattered the shell on the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head, and a mixture of red, green, and white liquid sprayed out. Immediately afterward, the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head was almost split in half, and its several zhang-long body rolled on the ground a few times before becoming motionless, thereafter ceasing to show any signs of life. And all this happened in the blink of an eye, the man unable to stop it, could only watch as the Ethereal Centipede perished. Only then, when peace had returned to the world, did the two individuals confront each other. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, showing no regret for decisively striking and killing the Ethereal Centipede. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 980 03-25 - 980 519 Poison Master_2 ?Chapter 980: Chapter 519 Poison Master_2 Chapter 980: Chapter 519 Poison Master_2 The man opposite, however, had not expected Lin Tianming to be so disrespectful and was simultaneously shocked and furious, his already grotesquely ugly face becoming even more hideous. Then, with an angry expression on his face, he pointed at Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Brat, do you know this Ethereal Centipede is a Spirit Beast belonging to yours truly?¡± ¡°Moreover, you saw my appearance and still did not hold back?¡± Faced with the man¡¯s questioning, Lin Tianming chuckled coldly, and a surge of rage erupted within him. In his eyes, this man¡¯s actions were clearly intentional. In fact, he had already sensed the man¡¯s presence earlier, but since the man was also a capable cultivator with strong Divine Sense, he had stayed hidden within the valley and had not shown himself. At that time, Lin Tianming had detected something odd but wasn¡¯t certain. ... Now that he had seen the man, whose cultivation at the Mid Stage of the Golden Core was indeed formidable, and possessing an Ethereal Centipede at the Third Order Early Stage as a Spirit Beast, his strength would obviously not be weak. But even so, it was not enough to make Lin Tianming back down. The man had released the Ethereal Centipede, likely as a test of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. However, he hadn¡¯t expected the Ethereal Centipede to be incapable of holding on for long before Lin Tianming blasted it to death on the spot, not giving the man a chance to save its life. Now that the Ethereal Centipede was dead, the man emerged, seeking to hold Lin Tianming accountable, his tone and attitude excessively arrogant, as if he didn¡¯t take Lin Tianming seriously at all. Although Lin Tianming was not a man of great wickedness, he was not one to suffer in silence. Faced with the man¡¯s extreme arrogance, he showed no good temper. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Thus, Lin Tianming snorted coldly and then spoke, ¡°If Daoist Friend is the owner of that beast, what were you doing just now?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°When that beast attacked me, why didn¡¯t I see Daoist Friend intervene?¡± ¡°Had I been defeated by that beast, I suspect Daoist Friend wouldn¡¯t have shown up, right?¡± ¡°Now that the beast is dead, Daoist Friend emerges to accuse me of not sparing its life; isn¡¯t that rather ridiculous?¡± With just a few counter-questions, Lin Tianming had rendered the man speechless. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, perhaps knowing he was in the wrong, the man¡¯s face eased somewhat. However, the man was still arrogant and failed to recognize his mistake, even threatening Lin Tianming as he spoke. ¡°Even if what Daoist Friend says is logical, my Spirit Beast was not easy to raise and is now dead by your hand. Are we to just let this go?¡± The man said viciously, apparently not inclined to let the matter rest easily. ¡°Oh? Then what does Daoist Friend intend to do?¡± As Lin Tianming replied with a calm smile, his tone was indifferent. No sooner had the words left his mouth than the man laughed haughtily, his expression instantly becoming fierce. Then, the man said with self-mockery, ¡°I, Yang Chengfeng, have lived for over four hundred years. Who in the environs of Yue Xiu Country does not know the name of the Gu Poison Master?¡± ¡°To say that everyone knows would not be an exaggeration at all.¡± ¡°You, young man, have disregarded our relationship and killed my Spirit Beast, yet you ask what I plan to do.¡± ¡°Ha, it¡¯s a joke among jokes.¡± The man laughed heartily, not taking Lin Tianming seriously at all. At this moment, upon hearing these sentences, Lin Tianming pondered the information under his control and recalled this person¡¯s identity. However, after a long recollection, he couldn¡¯t find any records concerning this man. The reason for this was not surprising. After all, Yue Xiu Country was not small, several times larger than Huangyang Kingdom and Wei Kingdom, separated from Huangyang Kingdom by another country, and even more distant from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Typically, the cultivators of Wei Kingdom would interact mainly with the neighboring countries. Even Golden Core Stage Cultivators, with about two hundred years of experience after Core Formation, would find it difficult to travel to more distant countries. Since each country is vast and generally located in the central regions of their respective continents, they typically lack long-range Teleportation Formations for travel. Therefore, even for Golden Core Stage Cultivators, crossing the territories of several countries is not an easy task. As a result, the Cultivation Worlds of both Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom rarely had much interaction with other countries. ¡°Based on that, it¡¯s likely that not even all the Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World have ever been to Yue Xiu Country¡¯s Cultivation World, let alone have any interactions with this person,¡± Lin Tianming reflected with a heavy heart. Therefore, although Yang Chengfeng boasted a considerable reputation in the regions around Yue Xiu Country, Tianming had never heard of him, nor had he heard any other cultivators mention any information concerning him. Regardless, for Yang Chengfeng to be so confidently arrogant, he must have a significant reliance backing him. After all, he had admitted that he was a well-established Golden Core Cultivator who had been in the Golden Core Stage Realm for at least two hundred years, and he was currently at the cultivation realm of the Mid Stage Golden Core. Moreover, being able to possess an Ethereal Centipede, a Third Order Demon Insect, as a Spirit Beast, certainly meant that Yang Chengfeng¡¯s own strength was not to be underestimated. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to raise an Ethereal Centipede at the Third Order Early Stage. It¡¯s well-known that the advancement of demonic beasts is not easy; Third Order Demonic Beasts require an enormous amount of resources that ordinary cultivators simply couldn¡¯t afford. Yang Chengfeng succeeded, which meant a lot. Upon recalling the moment the Ethereal Centipede appeared, Tianming hadn¡¯t been able to detect Yang Chengfeng¡¯s trace at the very first instant. Considering all these factors, this guy indeed possessed no small amount of strength; he was certainly not a mere ¡®flower pillow.¡¯ Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression gradually grew solemn. Simultaneously, his gaze remained fixed on Yang Chengfeng, closely observing his every move, ready to take action at any moment. Because Tianming understood the implication in Yang Chengfeng¡¯s words¡ªhe had no intention of letting this matter slide lightly. Now that the Ethereal Centipede had been killed and the incident had already occurred, submitting weakly was not in Tianming¡¯s nature. Furthermore, even if he was willing to apologize, there was no guarantee that Yang Chengfeng would accept it. Since that was the case, there was no need to be polite; he might as well take a shot and test the depths of his opponent. After all, his own strength was not insignificant now; even if he could not defeat Yang Chengfeng, if he was dedicated to retreating, Yang Chengfeng might not be able to stop him. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming replied with a somber look on his face. ¡°Daoist Yang, if you intend to strike, do it soon. If not, I can no longer be bothered to waste time with you.¡± Hearing this, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s smile grew even more sinister. ¡°Good¡­ Good¡­¡± ¡°Impudent lad, since you¡¯re courting death, I shall grant you your wish!¡± True to his word, Yang Chengfeng didn¡¯t plan to let the matter go and, cursing under his breath, he charged toward Lin Tianming. At the same time, Yang Chengfeng flung his sleeve, and a longsword with a mix of green and brown appeared in his hand. Then, he executed a Law Decree, sending rays of Spiritual Light bombarding the sword. In that instant, an abundance of Green-Brown Sword Qi shot out, covering the sky above Lin Tianming¡¯s head in the blink of an eye. Yang Chengfeng moved quickly and decisively, not intending to waste any time. At his command, the Sword Qi was grand and powerful, a truly terrifying presence from its first appearance, as the Yuan Qi between heaven and earth began to stir chaotically. Suddenly, the entire valley was filled with flying sand and stones, with Gang Wind blowing through Lin Tianming¡¯s Daoist robe. Witnessing this, Lin Tianming dared not take it lightly. As he rapidly withdrew, his Qinghong Sword shone brightly, soon unleashing the divine power of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Qinghong Sword transformed into a long dragon, slashing head-on towards Yang Chengfeng. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A massive amount of Sword Qi collided with the dragon, creating deafening explosions that echoed throughout the valley. Simultaneously, the valley was awash with light, and the impact created powerful shockwaves sweeping across the landscape. At this moment, Lin Tianming moved like a swallow, easily dodging some stray Sword Qi with the aid of the impact¡¯s force, reappearing a hundred yards away. After stabilizing his stance, he turned to see that Yang Chengfeng had also been pushed back some distance by the force of the impact. Now, the two looked at each other across the distance, both displaying wary expressions on their faces. ¡­ Chapter 981 03-25 - 981 520 Blue Heart True Flames ?Chapter 981: Chapter 520: Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s Accomplishment Chapter 981: Chapter 520: Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s Accomplishment At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave, and his heart was somewhat astonished. Clearly, after this round of attacks, he had acquired a basic understanding of Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength. He had to admit that Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength was as formidable as he had speculated, at the very least, somewhat stronger than Chen Jingtian¡¯s at the same cultivation realm. And this was only the first exchange of blows, neither side had yet to use their trump card moves, so the outcome was still uncertain. However, Lin Tianming, though surprised by Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength, was not too pessimistic about the upcoming situation. As for Yang Chengfeng himself, he was equally shocked at this time. In his eyes, Lin Tianming seemed unfamiliar, and his cultivation was only at the Early Stage Golden Core. ... Such cultivation strength was hardly outstanding, not around Yue Xiu Country, nor even on the fringes in Huangyang Kingdom. He had heard of almost all the cultivators at the Golden Core Stage in Huangyang Kingdom. Originally, he thought that with his cultivation at the Mid Stage Golden Core, defeating Lin Tianming, who was at the Early Stage Golden Core, would be easy. However, after this round of attacks, he realized that Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength was far from being reflected by his cultivation alone. Now, Yang Chengfeng no longer had the arrogance he¡¯d started with, and was completely uncertain about the final outcome. But having already attacked and offended Lin Tianming, it was not easy to end things amicably. More importantly, his whereabouts had been revealed, which was extremely critical. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Given that he was a Loose Cultivator, attaining his realm had not been easy, and over the past two hundred years, he had survived countless crises. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, although his reputation was well known around Yue Xiu Country, it was the result of many years of wrongdoing; the renown he had gained was not enviable. Especially in the past hundred years, after scheming against several Golden Elixir Forces, many disciples had died at his hands. Because of this, he had made a great number of enemies, each of whom would love nothing more than to carve him up. That¡¯s why he had fled to the remote Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom, far from Yue Xiu Country. Fortunately, although Huangyang Kingdom was remote, being far from his enemies¡¯ territory made it easier to conceal his movements; in fact, it was much safer. Moreover, the environment of Five Poison Mountain was unique, and the degree of Spiritual Energy was exceptionally rich. While others saw Five Poison Mountain as extremely dangerous, with the risk of losing one¡¯s life at any moment, his cultivation technique was the way of poison, which made cultivating in Five Poison Mountain far more effective. Furthermore, over the past hundred years, he had lured many Foundation Establishment Cultivators seeking treasure using a map that marked a Golden Core Relic Site. Little did they know that all of it was a trap he had set. By using the lives of those Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, over these many years, he had successfully helped the Ethereal Centipede reach the Third Order. His plan was meticulous, scattering the map periodically without any greed or impatience. Thus, those who came seeking treasure and died were believed to have perished at the hands of Demonic Beasts or poisonous insects. Even dozens of years ago, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator had come to find the Golden Core Relic Site, and he had killed them at some cost. Their demise remained an unsolved mystery. After all, with Five Poison Mountain blocking access, it was impossible to connect him to the deaths. Unless a cultivator at the Late Stage Golden Core stage personally came, he would not reveal his whereabouts nor have to worry about his life. He had lived at ease in this place for over a hundred years, cultivating faster thanks to the special environment, with Spirit Beasts benefiting as well. Under such favorable conditions, he had managed to stay in Five Poison Mountain for over a hundred years. Now, with Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, the long-standing tranquility was completely shattered. If he couldn¡¯t take Lin Tianming¡¯s life, once his enemies found his trail, he feared he would fall into endless pursuit once again. Thinking of the many storms he had weathered and the days of being hunted and blocked, Yang Chengfeng immediately resolved that no matter the cost, he must keep Lin Tianming, this unwelcome visitor, here. With this thought, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s demeanor and aura suddenly became much more fierce. Now that things had come to this point, he had no way out and could only set out to eliminate Lin Tianming once and for all. Having made up his mind, Yang Chengfeng glanced at the solemn Lin Tianming, then decided not to delay any longer. Following that, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s Blue Longsword swung once again, and powerful currents of Sword Qi whistled overhead. Yang Chengfeng¡¯s speed was very fast, the Sword Qi extremely sharp, each blow an entire level more formidable than the previous strike. It was with such attacks that he intended to obliterate Lin Tianming on the spot. At this moment, when Lin Tianming saw Yang Chengfeng¡¯s movement, he too refused to be outdone. For he understood that after the previous exchange of attacks, Yang Chengfeng had already witnessed his strength. Faced with such a formidable opponent, if Yang Chengfeng didn¡¯t plan to attack or to pursue the matter of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s death any further, there was still a chance for reconciliation. But Yang Chengfeng still resolutely attacked, with a fluid and robust manner, showing no intention of holding back. It was obvious, given Yang Chengfeng¡¯s decisive choice to eliminate him, that there must be some unspeakable secret he had to keep, including hiding his tracks. Under such circumstances, only then would Yang Chengfeng act so madly and decisively. Chapter 982 03-25 - 982 520 Blue Heart True Flame Achieves ?Chapter 982: Chapter 520 Blue Heart True Flame Achieves Success_2 Chapter 982: Chapter 520 Blue Heart True Flame Achieves Success_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming was able to make a guess based on just this information, and in truth, he also felt rather helpless inside. In his eyes, everyone had secrets, and he was no exception. Regarding the secrets of others, he had no intention of prying, nor any interest in such matters, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t initiate such vile acts as murder and robbery for treasure. Therefore, if Yang Chengfeng would let him go, with no mention of today¡¯s events, he would not engage in any extreme actions. After all, it was better to avoid trouble than to seek it out. He had no desire to put himself in danger, nor did he wish to create enemies for his family. But Yang Chengfeng was aggressively confrontational, with no intention of reconciliation, otherwise he would not have completely torn off the facade of civility. By now, further thought was pointless. ... Facing Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacking assault, he saw no need to hold back. Today, someone must pay a price; otherwise, this unwarranted disaster could not be avoided. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was invigorating the Qinghong Sword in his hand to its limit, and as he unleashed the divine skill of the Tiangang Ninth Sword, streams of Sword Qi coalesced above his head. With a loud shout, the Qinghong Sword shot out, transforming once more into a long dragon, roaring towards Yang Chengfeng. Immediately after, the sky full of Sword Qi poured down like rain towards Yang Chengfeng¡¯s position. And at that moment, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attack arrived as expected, and the terrifying assaults launched by both parties collided violently in the space between them. ¡°Boom¡­ ¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? In an instant, the sky filled with green Sword Qi collided with the silver-white Sword Qi. Flames shot up into the sky, the valley glowed brightly, and the powerful shockwaves spread in all directions. A single shockwave had turned the once tranquil and scenic valley into utter chaos. When the shockwave dissipated, the landscape was a sight of devastation: massive rocks had crumbled, thick trees were snapped in half, and lay scattered across the ground. Within that shockwave, both Lin Tianming and Yang Chengfeng were sent flying backward. While still midair, Lin Tianming¡¯s mouth was already brimming with blood, his Daoist robe torn to shreds, with various wounds appearing across his body. In contrast, Yang Chengfeng was also in tatters, his complexion had turned significantly paler, and his breathing was extremely erratic. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Chengfeng¡¯s reaction indicated he was no better off than Lin Tianming. At that moment, the two of them exchanged glances and then simultaneously launched attacks without wasting a moment. In the blink of an eye, the valley, which had just quieted down for a brief period, was again ablaze with light and filled with relentless, deafening explosions. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Their attacks were bold and all-encompassing, and their techniques varied greatly. After several exchanges, they still appeared evenly matched. Following another strike, Lin Tianming was once again sent reeling backwards. Once he had steadied himself, Lin Tianming was panting heavily, his expression extremely solemn. After a few rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming¡¯s energy was greatly depleted, and his injuries were slowly accumulating. Fortunately, his physical body was strong, his Qi-Blood and life force robust, allowing him to recover rapidly; ordinary injuries had a very limited impact on him. Looking at Yang Chengfeng, he was drenched in blood, his complexion extremely pale, and his energy significantly depleted. Luckily, his cultivation was a whole realm higher, his combat experience was vast, and the Defense Treasures he employed were also of exceptional quality. Most crucially, his Treasure Sword was incredibly cunning. When it released its Sword Qi containing severe poison, just a touch could critically harm a cultivator of the same rank. Yet even with these advantages, Yang Chengfeng was also barely holding on. Both parties were waiting for the other to show an opening. At this point, a truly enraged Lin Tianming, despite some reduction in his energy, had an even more ferocious aura. Without further adjustments, he launched an immediate attack. His Qinghong Sword cleaved through the sky, and after an ineffective strike, it returned to his hand. On the other side, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s Longsword Treasure was equally relentless. With a loud cry, every strike was at full force, with powerful attacks wave after wave. By now, the battle had entered a feverishly intense phase. Both were going all out in their attacks, with True Essence Mana operating at its extreme, and powerful assaults clashing with each other time and again. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The valley was constantly lit up with flashes of light, and the sounds of explosions, akin to firecrackers, echoed incessantly. Among the overwhelming Sword Qi attacks, Lin Tianming moved as agile as a swallow. With the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors, he weaved through the numerous Sword Qis. The reason for this was a desperate risk he had no choice but to take. For he did not have the powerful Defense Treasures like Yang Chengfeng, which could be used to resist the attacks head-on. And Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength was indeed formidable; his attacks were relentless, wave upon wave, leaving no breathing room. This was, after all, a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, an old powerhouse who had entered this stage long ago. Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength gave him a feeling that was scarcely weaker than the late-stage powerhouses he had fought previously. In such a case, if he were to withstand these Sword Qi attacks head-on, his defense treasures would not last very long. Moreover, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks were extremely peculiar; most of the Sword Qi carried intense poisons and terrifying destructive power, making them nearly impossible to guard against. With such strength, and those bizarre poisoned treasures, no wonder Yang Chengfeng proclaimed himself the Poison Master and had a renowned reputation around Yue Xiu Country. One could say that a formidable opponent like Yang Chengfeng was an existence that nobody wished to encounter. If he were to frequently rely on Defense Treasures to deal with Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks, the consumption of his True Essence Mana would continue to increase. Having no choice, Lin Tianming could only try his best to evade and would resort to a head-on collision only when avoidance was impossible. Although this process was extremely perilous, he still managed to get past the myriad Sword Qi attacks several times. Finally stabilizing his stance, Lin Tianming clenched a Law Decree with his hand, and the Blue Heart True Flame appeared in his palm. The Blue Heart True Flame was very useful, especially against those strange and unusual attacks, often yielding unexpected results. This had been supremely demonstrated during his previous encounter with He Lanjun. And with Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks all carrying potent poison, even if he had a strong physique and had taken a Detoxifying Pill, it was doubtful he could resist the destructive power of the intense poisons. Now, after so many rounds of combat, he had come to understand the characteristics of Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks. At present, he was ready to utilize the Blue Heart True Flame to attempt removing the immense threat posed by the intense poison. As long as the threat of the intense poison was gone, he could act without much concern. Even more, if possible, he could engage in close combat, fully leveraging his physical superiority, no longer constrained at every turn. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s fireball tore through the void, exploding amidst the skyful of Sword Qi. In that moment, a gigantic fire cloud appeared in the middle of the gorge. Within that inferno, the Blue Heart True Flame burned intensely, its blue flames dancing like sprites. In just a few breaths, the temperature within the sea of fire soared rapidly, soon reaching a terrifying level. Feeling the dreadful temperature spreading, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face paled further, his already ashen complexion becoming significantly ghastlier. At this time, Lin Tianming was closely observing every movement within the sea of fire. The burn of the blue flames was frightfully hot, incredibly managing to evaporate large amounts of colorful gases and elevating the intensity of the fire to another level. After those gases in the Sword Qi were evaporated, they were like souls stripped away. Although the Sword Qi had not completely dissipated, both its ferocity and strength had dropped by more than half. Such Sword Qi attacks, even if they passed through the range of the sea of fire and surged towards Lin Tianming, he could easily crush them without much effort. Sure enough, Lin Tianming reached out into the void and grabbed a strand of Sword Qi in his palm. A flash of firelight passed, and the Sword Qi in his palm turned into ash, finally dispersing into the air. Seeing this scene, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s momentum immediately collapsed, his expression revealing a look of sheer terror. ¡­ Chapter 983 03-25 - 983 521 Trump Card ?Chapter 983: Chapter 521: Trump Card Chapter 983: Chapter 521: Trump Card Yang Chengfeng had always been confident in his own tactics. Relentlessly relying on deadly poisons and a relentless barrage of Sword Qi, his enemies had nowhere to hide and could not last long. In the end, however despondent they might feel, they could only be killed by him. Over the past two hundred years, numerous Golden Core Stage Cultivators had perished under these methods. With these achievements, he had been able to make a big name for himself in the Cultivation World of Yue Xiu Country and even in the vast surrounding regions. It could be said that these inscrutable and unstoppable techniques were his greatest reliance for staying beyond the reach of the law for many years. But now, Lin Tianming, whom he fought in a deadly duel, possessed the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame known as Blue Heart True Flame, specifically countering his poison-laden Sword Qi. ... Such suppression was like seizing him by the lifeblood. At this moment, fully aware of this, Yang Chengfeng, like a defeated rooster, had no plans to fight any longer. At this time, when Lin Tianming saw the effect brought by the Blue Heart True Flame, he was overjoyed. In fact, before this, he had just been testing his luck. Unexpectedly, the Blue Heart True Flame indeed evaporated the crippling poison. It must be said, the effect was immediate and completely resolved his major problem. Now without the significant threat, Lin Tianming was also able to launch his attack unreservedly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï As the saying goes, strike at the sickness to take the life! Now he could unleash his full strength without any reservations and take the opportunity to finish off Yang Chengfeng. At this moment, Lin Tianming, aware of the situation, did not delay. With a loud shout, his Qinghong Sword flew from his hand again, releasing the Divine Skills of Tiangang Ninth Sword. Not completely reassured by this, he further initiated a massive onslaught of Sword Qi, blocking Yang Chengfeng¡¯s paths from different angles. Simultaneously, numerous fireballs flew from his hands, instantly covering a large expanse of the sky. In just a breath or two, the sky was filled with various attacks. Under his furious shout, this torrential storm of fire and abundant Sword Qi pummeled down towards Yang Chengfeng. Just as Yang Chengfeng was about to turn and retreat, Lin Tianming, anticipating his intentions, launched all attacks instantly, giving him no chance to breathe. Feeling that overwhelming barrage, like mountains collapsing and rivers flowing, there was absolutely no interval for respite. Under such brutal and terrifying attacks, his hope of breaking out was mere wishful thinking. In an instant, Yang Chengfeng seemed to foresee the outcome and his complexion became instantly pale with fright. Though his expression was grave, he was not yet ready to give up without a fight. He knew he had no time to ponder. All he could do now was to exert all his strength to survive this calamity. Knowing this, Yang Chengfeng dared not delay, nor could he afford to hold back. As the massive onslaught was about to hit, Yang Chengfeng, while retreating explosively, blasted out a torrent of cyan Sword Qi, directly clashing with the numerous fireballs in the sky. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Yang Chengfeng did this also to minimize the damage as much as possible. With his interception, it indeed had some restraining effect. However, with the overwhelming Sword Qi and fiery rain, his rushed attacks could not simultaneously block so many. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, Yang Chengfeng had to consider his own safety. Knowing this, Yang Chengfeng was helpless but had no better plan. He sighed deeply and immediately activated a Shield Defensive Treasure in his hand, transforming it into a barrier in front of him. Next, still apprehensive, he swiftly formed several Third Order Defensive Talismans in his hands and quickly activated them, forming a barrier from different directions to tightly protect himself within its center. His actions were quick, finishing all maneuvers in an instant. This speed and efficiency reflected Yang Chengfeng¡¯s vast experience in magical duels. Just as Yang Chengfeng finished deploying these tactics, the sky filled with Sword Qi and torrents of fire fiercely poured down. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Series of loud booms followed, turning the whole valley into a sea of fire. And in that fiery inferno, the Qinghong Sword burst out, striking directly onto the shield. Apart from that, numerous fireballs and silver-white Sword Qi also broke through the barriers of the Third Order Talismans. In that instant, blinding light broke through the sky, followed by a powerful blast spreading outward. Positioned right at the center, Yang Chengfeng could not withstand such force and was directly blown away by the massive impact. While still in mid-air, he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion quickly paling. It wasn¡¯t until his body slammed against a rock that he felt his movement stop. At that moment, he felt the Qi-Blood in his body madly surging, and some of his meridians were shattered by the impact. Once his consciousness returned, Yang Chengfeng staggered to his feet, spewing several more mouthfuls of blood, and his breath weakened significantly. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the Qi-Blood within his body, his complexion finally regaining a bit of color. Next, he examined his body which was entirely charred and covered in numerous areas of mangled flesh. The internal state of his body was also not promising. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s ferocious assault was extremely powerful and relentlessly targeted, leaving no room for escape. Chapter 984 03-25 - 984 521 Hidden Cards_2 ?Chapter 984: Chapter 521 Hidden Cards_2 Chapter 984: Chapter 521 Hidden Cards_2 In the early stages, Lin Tianming had not chosen to clash head-on, constantly finding himself in a passive position, feeling restricted and constrained. But now, this round of attacks was an unleashing of restraint, an all-out offensive from every angle. Such an attack not only had considerable power but came wave after wave, like a fierce storm venting its fury. Under this terrifying assault, though Yang Chengfeng had withstood it, he had also sustained no minor injuries. His current state was such that injuries blanketed his entire body, and his internal meridians were in disarray, his strength struggling to reach even seventy percent of its peak. Furthermore, he had expended a great deal of True Essence Mana during his frenzied attack earlier. After this round of combat, he had consumed a significant amount of mana, with only less than thirty percent of his peak condition remaining. ... These were the changes in his own condition, and even his Shield Defensive Treasure had been cracked slightly by one of Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skills, resulting in reduced spirituality. Taking all these factors into account, his current state was indeed quite poor. At this time, Yang Chengfeng pondered over these issues in his mind, his expression growing even more unsightly. Across from him, Lin Tianming, too, had felt some repercussions from the shockwave and was pushed back a distance. However, thanks to Yang Chengfeng not attacking with full force and his own resilient physique, the force he sustained was still within his means to handle. After a round of frenzied attacks had ended, seeing Yang Chengfeng¡¯s significant injuries, Lin Tianming was also overjoyed, thinking that his all-out assault had finally paid off, obtaining a significant advantage. Such a stormy assault also served to vent the frustration he¡¯d felt from being previously restrained. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Now, holding the absolute initiative, his next step was to strike while the iron was hot. Realizing this, Lin Tianming leaped forward, intent on launching another attack. At this point, Yang Chengfeng, noticing Lin Tianming¡¯s intention, couldn¡¯t help his complexion changing. He hurriedly called out from afar, ¡°Esteemed Daoist, please calm your anger!¡± ¡°It was my fault just now. I apologize to you; I truly shouldn¡¯t have acted.¡± ¡°Please, let¡¯s put aside our grievances and cease hostilities. How about we make peace from this point on, transforming swords into jade silks?¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Chengfeng spoke with a grave face, his expression extremely serious. Yet, when Lin Tianming heard these words, he couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°Daoist Yang was extremely arrogant just now, striking ruthlessly and decisively, with no intention of sparing me.¡± ¡°Now, knowing he¡¯s in the wrong and not my match, he hopes a few words will make me stop.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ where in this world are there such good things?¡± Lin Tianming sneered, while responding with disdain. And while saying this, Lin Tianming¡¯s hands didn¡¯t stop moving at all, making it clear he had no intention of sparing Yang Chengfeng. He knew well that Yang Chengfeng, who cultivated through poison, was a devious and merciless person, and as a Loose Cultivator, operated unrestrained. It was for this reason that Yang Chengfeng had made enemies everywhere, leading him to be pursued by those seeking revenge. His choice to hide and cultivate on Five Poison Mountain was to increase his cultivation for one, and secondly, to lie low while waiting for an opportunity. Once his cultivation and strength advanced further, he would likely leave Five Poison Mountain to trouble those who had offended him. Such a malicious character was, in fact, even more dangerous than those from the Golden Elixir Forces. For the sake of the Lin Family and himself, such a threat had to be nipped in the bud. After all, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength was indeed extraordinary, seemingly even stronger than Chen Jingtian. If such a cultivator were to escape, and later traced back to his identity, he might very well seek vengeance against the Lin Family. The Lin Family had just begun to rise, and it was not suitable for them to engage in major wars for the next few decades; he would never allow anyone to ruin this favorable situation for the Lin Family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, determined to annihilate this threat here, regardless of the cost. With that goal in mind, Lin Tianming made his move, giving Yang Chengfeng no chance to catch his breath. At this very moment, seeing Lin Tianming with no intention of showing mercy, Yang Chengfeng grew terrified. As Lin Tianming closed in on him, Yang Chengfeng retreated, threatening, ¡°Do you really think you can defeat me? Do you insist on pushing me to death?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t force me into a corner, or even if it costs me my life, I will drag you down with me.¡± Hearing this threat, Lin Tianming, in hot pursuit, didn¡¯t stop, and his Qinghong Sword in hand swung out without any hesitation. In the blink of an eye, a flash of silver light twinkled, and he once again exhibited the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Power. At the same time, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand was once again enveloped in a ball of flame, which danced within his grasp. ¡°Boom¡­rumble¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword transformed into a long dragon, and the fireball formed by the Blue Heart True Flame ignited, subsequently shooting out straight toward Yang Chengfeng¡¯s vitals. Seeing this scene, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face darkened to the extreme. He knew his situation was grim, and if he didn¡¯t go all out now, he would have no hope of survival. In an instant, Yang Chengfeng swung his robe sleeve, releasing three Third Order Attack Talismans, which quickly transformed into three streaks of silver-white Sword Qi, attacking Lin Tianming. And this bit of damage, he of course understood, could not possibly stop the powerful Lin Tianming. The reason he did this was actually to buy himself time, so as to use one of his trump cards. As the Third Order Talismans were activated, Lin Tianming was indeed delayed for an instant. Taking advantage of this moment, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s hands never stopped moving. He pinched a Law Decree, followed by making a complex hand gesture. At the same time, Yang Chengfeng murmured words, as if reciting some kind of incantation. The process was swift, and as he completed his movements, a sphere of light appeared above Yang Chengfeng¡¯s head, seemingly out of nowhere. This sphere of light looked ordinary, without any shadow or shape. But as soon as it appeared, Lin Tianming felt a large amount of energy converging toward the sphere from the surrounding valley. In a flash, the sphere enlarged several times over. As the energy in the sphere stopped gathering, it seemed to have reached a certain limit. At this time, Yang Chengfeng showed an expression of madness, and then made another complex hand gesture. In an instant, the huge sphere of light was propelled and smashed toward Lin Tianming. The sphere of light moved swiftly, arriving in front of Lin Tianming in the blink of an eye. At this moment, Lin Tianming had already sensed that this sphere of light was no trivial matter. It was very likely a Spirit Art. But the sphere had not yet exploded, so it was impossible to witness its power and thus impossible to judge the level of this Spirit Art. However, he was certain that this sphere of light was undoubtedly a Spirit Art. He was well aware of the might of Spirit Arts, knowing even the lowest Yellow Grade Spirit Technique had tremendous power, at least much stronger than the average Technique Divine Power. Therefore, the threat of this sphere of light was significant; he had to give it his all. Realizing this, Lin Tianming reached into the void and grabbed the Qinghong Sword in his hand. He swiftly flicked his fingers, and beams of light precisely bombarded the Qinghong Sword. In an instant, the Qinghong Sword let out a sword cry, and then hovered above his head, spinning wildly. His body¡¯s True Yuan Mana was running at its peak, as he poured a great amount of mana into the Qinghong Sword. With a pleasing sound, the sword shadow above his head spun rapidly, forming a beautiful lotus. In such a short time, he directly activated Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, firmly protecting himself underneath. Just as he completed this Divine Power, the incoming sphere of light descended, striking the lotus with a loud crash. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise echoed, resounding throughout the entire valley. At the same time, a dazzling light streaked across the sky, and the immense impact generated a sweeping Gang Wind in all directions. Underneath the lotus, Lin Tianming was struck by a powerful rebound force, causing him to fall from the sky and crash heavily onto the ground. Even while still in the air, his Qi-Blood surged violently, and he continuously spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood. Just then, the light in the sky dissipated, and both the sphere of light and the shadow of the Sword Lotus vanished without a trace. Simultaneously, calm momentarily returned to the battlefield. ¡­ Chapter 985 03-25 - 985 522 Killing Yang Chengfeng ?Chapter 985: Chapter 522: Killing Yang Chengfeng Chapter 985: Chapter 522: Killing Yang Chengfeng At that moment, Lin Tianming endured the severe pain and climbed up from the ground! Subsequently, he wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth, his face growing even paler. With the battlefield briefly returning to calm, Lin Tianming was overjoyed to have blocked the Spirit Art attack. However, recalling the recent ordeal still made him shudder in fear. In his eyes, it was undeniable that Yang Chengfeng¡¯s Spirit Art was potent and rather eerie. Fortunately, he was decisive enough and had timely perceived the terror of the energy sphere, devising a strategy to counter it. Otherwise, had he been too careless, ordinary methods wouldn¡¯t have sufficed to block the attack, and he might have suffered a significant loss. Under Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strike, although he sustained some injuries, he had managed to handle it smoothly, with little impact on his own strength. ... He was quite satisfied with this outcome. Now that Yang Chengfeng had no tricks left up his sleeve, his threat was greatly reduced. Seeing this, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face revealed an expression of disbelief. He had not anticipated that Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Shadow Lotus would be so formidable, actually withstanding the Spirit Art attack. It was well known in the Cultivation World that the might of Spirit Art was formidable; even the lowest Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques could be a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s ace. The power of his Spirit Art was immense, having claimed the lives of several Golden Core Cultivators and aided him numerous times out of crises. Such a trump card still failing to inflict heavy damage on Lin Tianming was simply inconceivable for him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Now, with one strike not achieving its aim, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s last hope of defeating Lin Tianming head-on was shattered. At this moment, Yang Chengfeng looked utterly bewildered, with turmoil raging in his heart. At this time, Lin Tianming was not wasting any time. He hurriedly adjusted his condition, and then the Qinghong Sword in his hand flashed, once again unleashing the divine skill, Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whiz¡­¡± A pleasing sword chant arose, snapping Yang Chengfeng back to reality. Shocked, Yang Chengfeng immediately turned around and flew towards the exterior of the valley. Seeing this, Lin Tianming appeared to have anticipated it. Next, the Blue Heart True Flame was already prepared in his hand, and it was smashed towards the direction Yang Chengfeng was attempting to flee as he turned around. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Blue Heart True Flame flew out quickly, its fireball expanded with the wind, eventually forming a long fire cloud that completely sealed off much of the valley¡¯s entrance. Yang Chengfeng had barely escaped a hundred yards when he saw the fire cloud blocking his path and felt an unprecedented heat assaulting him. At that instant, the expression on Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face turned extremely ugly, and the rhythm of his movement was disrupted by the fire cloud. Just as he was about to change direction to continue his escape, at that moment, Lin Tianming had already caught up, the distance between them merely over a hundred yards. Simultaneously, the Qinghong Sword transformed into a giant dragon, making it impossible to avoid completely. Feeling the intense power barreling down from above, Yang Chengfeng was terrified. In haste, Yang Chengfeng placed his Defense Treasure in front of him as a last resort. Following a loud explosion, Yang Chengfeng was sent flying. Still in mid-air, he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion becoming even more sallow. After barely stabilizing his posture, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s expression darkened to the extreme, filled with immense regret. Had he conceded from the start, such a chain of events wouldn¡¯t have occurred, nor would he have faced such peril. Now, after enduring consecutive attacks, he had sustained wounds of varying degrees, and his True Yuan mana was greatly depleted. It could be said that his current condition was pitiful, his strength not even half of what it was at his peak. Under such circumstances, thinking about escaping unscathed seemed unrealistic. At this point, Yang Chengfeng had numerous thoughts, pondering various strategies without any certainty, and Lin Tianming did not intend to spare him. Exaggeration aside, he was truly at a life-and-death moment. Yang Chengfeng understood this well but was helpless. Before he could catch his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s tidal wave of attacks was forthcoming, giving him no chance to breathe. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Within the valley, Sword Qi wreaked havoc, and a sea of fire roared into existence, with a mighty momentum sweeping over. This terrifying attack covered the sky, with all attacks directed at a specific location in the valley. There, undoubtedly, was Yang Chengfeng. At that moment, Yang Chengfeng felt the dreadful aura overhead and didn¡¯t even move an inch. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time passed, and suddenly, Yang Chengfeng regained his senses, then showed a resolute look. Following that, he made a peculiar hand gesture. The Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth became violent and gathered towards his location. In that instant, Lin Tianming saw this change and instantly sensed his intention. In fact, Lin Tianming had anticipated this situation because no matter what, Yang Chengfeng was never his equal. Under his relentless attacks, defeat and death were merely a matter of time. Now, pushed to a dead end, the self-detonation of the Golden Core was a desperate act of desperation. After all, he was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, having lived over four hundred years; his combat experience was extremely vast, and he was fully aware of his impending predicament. Chapter 986 03-25 - 986 522 ?Chapter 986: 522 Chapter 986: 522 Since there was no hope of escape, he could only go all out, attempting to self-destruct his Golden Core to deliver a crushing blow to Lin Tianming. Only such a desperate move could possibly drag Lin Tianming down with him. Under these circumstances, Yang Chengfeng had made his final attempt, staking his very life on it. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was always on guard against this, and would not easily give Yang Chengfeng the chance to trade his life for his. Just as Yang Chengfeng was drawing in nature¡¯s spiritual energy to fortify himself, the many fiery clouds that had been behind him unexpectedly moved again at this moment, reconverging into a ball of flames. Subsequently, in an unguarded moment for Yang Chengfeng, the ball of flames descended, striking precisely upon his head. In that instant, a loud explosion rang out. ... Within that sea of fire, Yang Chengfeng instantly became a Fire Man, and soon after, he exploded into numerous fragments, scattering and burning on the ground, leaving not even a trace of ash behind. As the explosion occurred, Lin Tianming¡¯s body had already retreated a step ahead, ultimately creating a safe distance. With the valley returning to tranquility, Lin Tianming¡¯s solemn expression relaxed, and a thick smile crossed his face again. He sighed with relief and immediately rushed towards the spot where Yang Chengfeng had perished. When he arrived at the spot where Yang Chengfeng had just stood, he saw a charred crater with flickering embers around it. In his view, Yang Chengfeng could never have dreamed that the fiery clouds blocking his path would be a mere smokescreen. Had he known this, he would have been either killed by Lin Tianming or died of sheer frustration. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Looking back, Lin Tianming realized he had taken some risks, betting that Yang Chengfeng wouldn¡¯t dare to force his way through the fiery clouds while being pursued. If Yang Chengfeng had recklessly charged through, with his cultivation strength, he would not have been left defenseless. Without the fiery clouds to impede him, Yang Chengfeng could have fled the valley, emerging into the vast mountains beyond. Under those circumstances, even if Lin Tianming had the absolute upper hand, catching up to and eliminating Yang Chengfeng would have taken no small effort. If it had come to that, the final outcome might have been fraught with many more uncertainties. Fortunately, he had succeeded. Yang Chengfeng was indeed too wary of the power of the Blue Heart True Flame, wasting much time and reluctantly enduring Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks. And this risky venture resulted in a momentous shift, as he seized the subsequent opportunity, launching a fluid assault that didn¡¯t allow Yang Chengfeng any respite. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the end, driven to a dead end and wishing to self-detonate his Golden Core to take Lin Tianming down with him, under his carefully laid trap, Yang Chengfeng had no chance to do so. Now that the great battle was over and with Yang Chengfeng¡¯s demise, a chapter had come to a complete close. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked over the scarred battlefield and changed valley, unable to contain the excitement in his heart any longer. He joyfully paused for a moment, then quickly began to collect Yang Chengfeng¡¯s bounty, including the body of the Ethereal Centipede in the distance, which he stowed away in his storage bag. Speaking of which, the corpse of this Demon Insect was an excellent material for Artifact Refining; its carapace possessed astonishing defensive power and, combined with other precious materials, could be sufficient to forge one or two Defense Treasures. As for the other parts, although they were somewhat less suitable for creating Magical Treasures, they were good enough to make Second Order Superior Magic Artifacts. Having done all this, Lin Tianming surveyed the surroundings and then headed deeper into the valley. Not long after, following a thorough exploration, Lin Tianming confirmed the safety of the area and stopped at a concealed location in the valley. In his eyes, this valley, the site of the great battle, was extremely hidden; its exterior was so strange that it could block the probing of many cultivators. Now, with most of his True Essence Mana depleted and some injuries sustained, his strength was somewhat affected, making it inadvisable to travel about outside. More importantly, the valley was vast; he had only briefly explored it but had not been able to determine its full size. Even in his quick survey of a small area, he had come across numerous First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs, and had even found one plant of Third Order Spiritual Medicine. If nothing unexpected occurred, the valley had existed for a long time, nurturing plenty of Spiritual Medicine, with possibly more treasures deeper within. Such a treasure trove, aside from Yang Chengfeng, probably remained undiscovered by anyone else. Even the freely growing Spiritual Herbs, which Yang Chengfeng had not casually picked, were probably left to grow further in anticipation of taking them with him upon departure. ¡°` However, Lin Tianming had not anticipated that a relic of a Golden Core Cave Mansion marked on a map would attract such a formidable adversary. In hindsight, it seemed like fate was playing tricks on him. And it also proved the saying, ¡°One¡¯s own actions can bring about one¡¯s downfall.¡± Now that Yang Chengfeng was dead, it was natural for him to explore and collect these Heaven and Earth Treasures. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming could not help but feel somewhat helpless. At present, he decided to cultivate here for some time to recover his depleted mana and heal his injuries. After all, within the Five Poison Mountain, a crisis could arise at any moment. Only when his condition was at its peak would he feel a sufficient sense of security. Once he had somewhat recovered, he would thoroughly explore the valley and then continue on his quest to find the Dry Jade Grass. Determined, Lin Tianming found a secluded spot and released the Purple Gold Eagle to keep watch around him. Having done this, he took out an elixir and swallowed it, then sat down to start cultivating. More than ten days later. Lin Tianming opened his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed through the corners of his eyes. At this moment, Lin Tianming smiled and looked within his body, noting that his True Essence Mana had recovered more than eighty percent. As for his injuries, they were also mostly healed; the remaining ones were not severe and could almost be ignored. Now, his strength had essentially returned to its peak. Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction and glanced at the valley that looked as it did initially, his anticipation no longer containable. Having barely calmed himself, he decided to postpone inspecting Yang Chengfeng¡¯s spoils of war and resolved to first search the valley thoroughly. After he had finished scouring the spiritual herbs in the area, he would then check Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming immediately set out, groping his way towards the interior of the valley. As he walked along one side of the valley, his Divine Sense expanded and contracted, covering a not insignificant area. Additionally, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, even the most hidden spots could be discovered by him. Soon, under his meticulous search, he found some First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs. These herbs were common, and although not high-grade and not plentiful, the accumulated value was trivial to him. But he did not disdain these lower-grade items. In his heart, he always remembered the dire straits his family had been in decades ago, including the time when he had just embarked on the Path of Immortality and even cultivated using Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Back then, even a bottle of Lingshen Pill was precious to his clan members. Despite his exceptional talents, the resources available to him were limited; any additional cultivation elixirs had been saved and given to him by his grandfather, who was an Alchemist, and his parents. To speak of it, those days, though decades in the past, felt as recent as yesterday whenever he thought about it. Now, while his family¡¯s circumstances had improved, and he himself had reached the Golden Core Stage Cultivation, qualifying him as one of the top powerhouses in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, that arduous period was something none of the family members who experienced it could afford to forget. This was a point Lin Tianming kept close to his heart; so when he saw these lower-grade items, although they were not highly valuable, they did not require much effort or pose any danger, so naturally, he could not let them go to waste. Thus, he casually collected the mature Spiritual Medicine, planning to bring them back to the family to add even a slight bit to their heritage. Under his collection efforts, he soon gathered over a hundred herbs. Among these herbs, the most valuable was the Third Order Spiritual Medicine he had first discovered. As he finished scouring this familiar place, Lin Tianming also entered the deeper part of the valley. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 987 03-25 - 987 523 Five Elements Spiritual ?Chapter 987: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique Chapter 987: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique In the depths of the valley, Lin Tianming groped his way deeper, and after half a day, he had largely explored most of the valley. During this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s gains were considerable. He had sequentially discovered several Third Order Spiritual Medicines and hundreds of First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs, accumulating quite a substantial value. By then, he had reached the deepest part of the valley. As he stood at the base of a peak, he halted his advance. He looked up and saw that he had reached the end of the valley, facing a peak that fully blocked his path. The peak soared into the clouds, steep and rugged, composed almost entirely of rock with very little vegetation, except for colorful flowers and plants growing in some of the cracked crevices. Observing the mid-section of the peak before him, Lin Tianming carefully noticed that some Spiritual Medicine was sparsely growing in the crevices, mostly Second Order with few First Order. It was apparent that although this peak looked barren and not like the typical favorable growing site for common Spiritual Medicine, it was often under these unique geographic conditions or special factors that special Spiritual Medicines could grow. ... The varieties of Spiritual Medicine here were not many, but the quantity was still good, which was a perfect example. At this moment, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any longer and leaped up, rising slowly from the base of the peak, and began his careful search along the mountain. When he encountered some Spiritual Medicine, he naturally chose to collect them. Soon, Lin Tianming climbed upwards and quickly reached the summit. At this moment, he looked at the ragged peak, carefully searching within this range of hundreds of meters. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? When his gaze fell on a crevice, he saw two small plants growing within. The grass was about a foot tall, with leaves of various colors, fluttering in the breeze, and looked quite enchanting. ¡°Dry Jade Grass!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ There really is Dry Jade Grass!¡± At that moment, Lin Tianming exclaimed, his face suddenly flushing with excitement. After calming himself down a bit, Lin Tianming, with a smile, shot towards the two plants. In less than a breath, he reached the side of the two Dry Jade Grasses. Following that, he lay down on the ground, closely examining the Dry Jade Grass before him, seemingly still in disbelief. After a long time, following his careful examination, he was absolutely certain that these were indeed the Dry Jade Grasses he had been searching for. Additionally, both plants were mature specimens, several hundred years in age, and as soon as he collected the necessary auxiliary herbs, he could start refining pills immediately. In that moment, having confirmed the authenticity of the Dry Jade Grass and its suitability for his alchemy needs, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. In his mind, he had always been in search of Dry Jade Grass over the years, while also collecting other suitable pill formulas and elixirs. Unfortunately, contrary to his wishes, his family had also helped to search for many years but had never found a suitable substitute. Even this trip to Huangyang Kingdom, he stayed here alone to resolve the cultivation obstacles. During these past six months, though his exhaustive travels were strenuous, he finally caught wind of some information on Dry Jade Grass. Despite not having high hopes initially, he was very much looking forward to potentially finding some traces of Dry Jade Grass in Five Poison Mountain. If possible, obtaining Dry Jade Grass directly would be optimal. Unexpectedly, he encountered Yang Chengfeng here and went through a life-and-death battle, ultimately achieving final victory. All these experiences taken together had indeed been full of twists and turns. Now, he actually found Dry Jade Grass, which somewhat surprised him. Having these two Dry Jade Grasses meant he could refine two batches of Dry Jade Pills, and if the success rate of pill formation was high, and both batches succeeded, he would get at least a few elixirs. Over the years, aside from consuming a Spirit Fruit that increased his cultivation somewhat, he had never formally practiced cultivation. Now, with the Dry Jade Grass, he could finally refine a few elixirs, which would allow him to gradually cultivate for a while. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement was hard to contain. He took a deep breath, somewhat calming down afterward, and carefully began to dig up the Dry Jade Grass, root, and stem with great caution, very carefully to prevent any damage to the plants. Once he dug up one of the Dry Jade Grasses, he quickly stored it in a prepared Jade Box. Following that, he collected the second Dry Jade Grass. Then, he continued to search the surrounding area, hoping to find more Dry Jade Grass. In his view, since there were two Dry Jade Grasses here, indicating that the environment was suitable for its growth, it was possible that more could be found. Currently, with only two plants, even a hundred percent success rate in pill production would likely not support his cultivation for long. Thus, if he wanted to extend his cultivation period, he would need more Dry Jade Grass. With this expectation, Lin Tianming meticulously collected any suspect locations. Four hours later, Lin Tianming returned to the base of the mountain. After his careful examination and scavenging, the result was truly not disappointing. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 988 03-25 - 988 523 Five Elements Spiritual ?Chapter 988: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique_2 Chapter 988: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique_2 ¡°` S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In just half a day, he had acquired twenty-four mature Dry Jade Grasses and also gathered more than a hundred young ones that had yet to reach full maturity. With such a harvest, Lin Tianming should not have to worry about Dry Jade Pills for the next two to three decades. He was very satisfied with this harvest. Moreover, this trip to Five Poison Mountain not only provided him with a considerable amount of Dry Jade Grass to temporarily alleviate his cultivation troubles but also allowed him to kill Yang Chengfeng and the Ethereal Centipede, which could be described as a full harvest in every sense. Later on, when he examined Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag, he would likely find even more treasures. After all, Yang Chengfeng was at the mid-stage Golden Core Realm and had been cultivating for over four hundred years, so he definitely possessed a significant amount of wealth. Moreover, over the past two hundred years, he had plundered many forces and even used Golden Core relics as bait to harm many Foundation Establishment cultivators seeking treasures. ... Having made so many enemies and done so many outrageous deeds, he certainly accumulated a vast amount of treasures. Now, all these treasures were cheap for him. Every time he thought about this, Lin Tianming¡¯s originally calm mood became excited again. Half an hour later. After exploring the valley, Lin Tianming returned to the place where he had been cultivating the previous days. He sat on a rock, unable to hide the smile on his face. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï After calming himself slightly, Lin Tianming also fell into deep thought. Since it was getting late, he planned to stay in this area to rest for a couple of days, recuperating his state while sorting through Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag. Once all that was settled, he had no plans to continue staying in Five Poison Mountain for further treasure hunting. Currently, in his view, both the Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Country Cultivation World were relatively peaceful, with the significant powers all digesting territories and recovering from the losses of consecutive battles in recent years. The Lin Family was doing the same! If nothing unexpected happened, the Lin Family should be focusing on handing over territories, appeasing family forces, and securing control of the territories. Although dealing with these matters wasn¡¯t risky, the top members of the Lin Family were very busy, and their strength hadn¡¯t reached its peak. Under such circumstances, it was not suitable for him to be away from the family for too long. In his view, his primary task was to return to his family as soon as possible, then oversee the family matters while also taking the opportunity to undergo a prolonged seclusion. During this period of seclusion, he had many tasks to complete, starting with advancing his Alchemy to the Third Order and then refining the Dry Jade Pills. Immediately after, he planned to use the Dry Jade Pills and the large amount of elixirs he had acquired previously to earnestly enhance his cultivation. Once his cultivation improved, the Lin Family would genuinely possess the strength to confront the other two Great Sects head-on. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t waste time in the perilous Five Poison Mountain. Thus, Lin Tianming immediately made plans to first check the contents of Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag and then quickly start his journey back to his family. Once he made up his mind, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately took out Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag and placed it in front of him. Then, he extended his Divine Sense, easily erased the remaining Divine Sense on the storage bag, and began checking the items inside. Soon, Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed with excitement again, and his breathing quickened. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t calm enough, but the amount of treasures in Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag was simply too vast. From his examination, he found that there were over one million three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones alone, presumably all collected from harming those Foundation Establishment cultivators over the years. After reaching the Golden Core Stage, especially for a Medium Stage cultivator like Yang Chengfeng who had lived for over four hundred years, the use of Medium-Grade Spirit Stones became more common, and Low-Grade Spirit Stones comprised only a small percentage. Yet, that was only the count of Low-Grade Spirit Stones; the storage bag also contained higher-level Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, totaling over eighty thousand pieces, equivalent to more than eight million Low-Grade Spirit Stones when converted. And that was just the Spirit Stones, totaling nearly ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Such an amount made Lin Tianming, who had been a cultivator for many years, the only Golden Core Stage cultivator he knew who carried so many Spirit Stones. ¡°` And before this, the person who had obtained the most spirit stones from a cultivator was Xu Zhi from the Qingyun Sect. At that time, he had acquired only several million spirit stones, which had already greatly shocked him. Unexpectedly, this time in Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag, he found such a huge quantity of spirit stones, which indeed broadened his horizons. Even in his heart, he wondered what Yang Chengfeng had done to accumulate such vast wealth. Could it be that in the past few centuries, he had killed many cultivators of the same rank? Or perhaps, he had destroyed many Foundation Establishing Families, or even robbed Golden Elixir Forces? If that were indeed the case, it¡¯s no wonder Yang Chengfeng was cultivating in the depths of Five Poison Mountain, probably as a refuge. Lin Tianming thought to himself, seemingly understanding something. He calmed down a bit, and Lin Tianming then inventoried the multitude of treasures, getting a basic grasp of the many items in this storage bag. The quantity of spirit stones in this storage bag was already immense. However, what interested Lin Tianming more were the cultivation methods and the spirit art used by Yang Chengfeng. After all, although there were many low-grade spirit stones, the value of inheritance-type technique secret arts, especially to a family cultivator, was obviously much higher. Particularly spirit arts, which could provide an unprecedented enhancement of a cultivator¡¯s strength, capable of utterly turning the tide in critical moments. Therefore, even the lowest Yellow Grade spirit arts could not be compared with several million, or even ten million spirit stones. One must understand that in the current Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, or even the more powerful Huangyang Country Cultivation World, a Yellow Grade spirit art was considered a priceless treasure for any Golden Elixir Forces. Under such circumstances, even if a Golden Elixir Force had many spirit stones, they couldn¡¯t easily trade for a complete spirit art. In other words, if a spirit art were openly available in a country, those Golden Elixir Forces wouldn¡¯t easily back down; they would likely fight fiercely over it. From this, one can understand the value of a spirit art. Lin Tianming had also experienced the power of the spirit art used by Yang Chengfeng, which was indeed extraordinary and not inferior to the spirit arts used by Han Hu and other disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. If he were to acquire this divine art, the Lin Family would possess three spirit arts, among which the Great Sun Sword Qi Art was of the highest grade, a Mysterious Grade spirit art which the core members of the Lin Family had almost all practiced. This Mysterious Grade spirit art had indeed made significant contributions over the years, often reversing situations. Besides, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s spirit art had also been found, and all four of Wei Kingdom¡¯s major Golden Elixir Forces had made imprints of it. However, as the time was still short and the major forces hadn¡¯t yet settled from the great battles, even though the Lin Family had acquired that spirit art, their members hadn¡¯t practiced it yet. Now, after Lin Tianming¡¯s exploration, he had indeed found the spirit art used by Yang Chengfeng. After a brief review, he also learned the basic information about the spirit art, and it was just as he had guessed¡ªa Yellow Grade spirit art. As for the name of the spirit art, it was called ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique.¡± The characteristic of this spirit art was that it forcefully extracted the Five Elements from the universe, gathering them into a fierce ball of energy. When the energy in the spirit group reached a certain scale limit, it could be detonated to damage enemies. Speaking of which, its principle was similar to a Golden Core Cultivator self-detonating their golden core, though there was some difference in power. Moreover, when performing this spirit art, there were considerable restrictions on the terrain. If performed in a place with sparse spiritual energy or uneven distribution of the Five Elements, the forcefully gathered spirit group would be extremely limited in power. Sometimes, this spirit art might even be weaker than a cultivator¡¯s ordinary attacks. On the other hand, if it was in a place rich in spiritual energy and the Five Elements were relatively balanced, such as in some secret realms or inside a force¡¯s sect, where spiritual energy was often much richer than ordinary places. In such environments, the power behind a spirit group gathered through this spirit art could be very significant. All in all, the upper limit of this spirit art was very high, and the lower limit was very low. Chapter 989 03-25 - 989 524 Return Journey ?Chapter 989: Chapter 524 Return Journey Chapter 989: Chapter 524 Return Journey Where Lin Tianming and Yang Chengfeng had fought, the valley where he now stood, was filled with thick spiritual energy and a balanced distribution of the Five Elements, making it a decent place for execution of powers. Therefore, when Yang Chengfeng had unleashed his Spirit Art, the power and aura were astonishingly impressive. Such power from the Spirit Art must have been influenced to some extent by the environment of this place. When Lin Tianming first sensed the terrifying aura of the Spirit Group, he realized that this attack was no ordinary one, and was not something that could be matched by an ordinary attack or a common Technique Divine Power. Fortunately, he was prepared, and managed to block the strike with his Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill. Thinking back now, if not for his cultivation of a high-grade Technique and the fact that this valley wasn¡¯t the best place to unleash that Spirit Art, he might well have perished under that light sphere. Considering this, Lin Tianming, though always confident, felt grateful for his good luck back then. ... Thankfully, it was all in the past, and pondering the dangers of that fierce battle held no significance anymore. After all, to the victor belong the spoils! Now that Yang Chengfeng was dead, all his treasures were Lin Tianming¡¯s to claim, signaling the end of this crisis. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement settled somewhat, and he set aside the Jade Slip containing the Five Elements Spiritual Technique, thinking that it would surely astonish the elders when he returned to the Lin Family. He then organized the other treasures, gaining a clear picture of his substantial gains from this encounter. Among these treasures, naturally, the most valuable was that Spirit Art; next was an Earth-grade Technique ¡°Creation Poison Scripture¡± practiced by Yang Chengfeng. This Technique was of no low-grade and was an insidious Poison Path Technique. If cultivated properly, it could undoubtedly become a formidable asset. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Take Yang Chengfeng for example; as an Independent Cultivator, he was able to cultivate up to the Mid Stage Golden Core and was fiercely powerful among cultivators of the same rank. His cultivation and strength could be attributed to his notable talent, but this Poison Path Technique also played a significant role. Thus, the value of this Earth Grade Technique was self-evident. However, such a Poison Path Technique was also a double-edged sword, fraught with extreme peril during cultivation. A slight misstep could lead to deviation and death. Yet if someone with a resolute Dao heart were to cultivate it, it could be perfected, turning them into an incredibly powerful cultivator. No matter how it was viewed, this Technique was of high value, after all, besides the Heavenly Grade Technique he practiced and the Earth-grade Technique he obtained from the Golden Sword Sect, it was the second solitary Earth-grade Technique obtained by the Lin Family thus far. Even if the family members did not cultivate this Poison Path Technique, they could sell it and easily gain a large amount of Spirit Stones. Aside from the Earth-grade Poison Path Technique, the other treasures varied in type and were in considerable quantity. Among the highest valued were three Fourth Tier Items, consisting of two Artifact Refining Materials and one Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine Material. As for the remaining items, they were mostly legacy treasures, along with various materials, and some elixirs and Spirit Stones, and so forth. The legacy treasures included seven Cultivation Methods and some insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among them, two Mysterious Grade Techniques and five Yellow Grade Techniques were slightly more valuable, while the ranks of other Four Arts inheritances were not high, and thus provided limited enhancement to the foundation of the Lin Family. Nevertheless, when Lin Tianming saw so many Techniques and inheritances of the Four Arts of Cultivation, he was inwardly shaken. After all, Yang Chengfeng, as an Independent Cultivator, managed to accumulate so many treasures over a few hundred years of solitary cultivation, almost encompassing everything a cultivator might need. Contemplating the origins of these Techniques and inheritances, he could easily guess that Yang Chengfeng had lured Foundation Establishment Cultivators seeking treasure and experience with the false pretense of a Golden Core Relic Site, and gained these by killing them over the years. Over a century, a large number of cultivators died at his hands, and the low-level treasures he disdained simply accumulated. Yet now, such a ruthless demon like Yang Chengfeng had fallen into his hands, effectively removing a scourge from the people. Moving on, among the remaining treasures that caught Lin Tianming¡¯s eye were over a dozen high-value Third Grade Materials and four Magical Treasures. Of these Magical Treasures, aside from the two that Yang Chengfeng had used in battle, one for offense and one for defense, there were two he had not seen before: a golden Circular Ring and a Long Spear Magical Treasure. He examined them carefully, and both treasures were for attack, though their quality was clearly not as good as the Blue Longsword used by Yang Chengfeng. However, compared to ordinary Magical Treasures, the quality of this Circular Ring and Long Spear Magical Treasure was significantly better. Considering their value, it was no wonder Yang Chengfeng had kept them, probably for emergencies. Yet who knew, they would eventually benefit him. Apart from these, there were numerous other relatively ordinary Third Order Treasures, and First and Second-Order Treasures were innumerable. Along with a small amount of Third Order Pills and the two Magical Treasures used by Yang Chengfeng, there were only a few dozen treasures that piqued his interest in total. Thus, Lin Tianming stored all the treasures he could use, along with more than eighty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, in his storage bag. Chapter 990 03-25 - 990 524 Return Journey_2 ?Chapter 990: Chapter 524: Return Journey_2 Chapter 990: Chapter 524: Return Journey_2 As for the remaining inherited items, as well as various spiritual medicines, spirit ores, and low-grade pills, talismans, and magic artifacts related to the Four Arts of Cultivation that he considered unremarkable, he stowed them all away in several storage bags. Additionally, he pooled these with the low-grade spiritual medicine materials collected from within this valley and stored them separately. Although their value wasn¡¯t particularly high, their abundance made them excellent treasures for those below the Golden Core Stage in the Clan. Once he finished assessing this storage bag, Lin Tianming roughly estimated the total value of these treasures. Setting aside the accumulated tens of millions of low-grade spirit stones, the most valuable items were a Five Elements Spiritual Technique, an Earth-grade Poison Path Technique, three fourth-order treasures, and four magical treasures. The other third-order treasures, together with all the other low-grade treasures, were estimated to also be worth nearly ten million spirit stones. Such a collection of treasures was Lin Tianming¡¯s richest harvest acquired from a cultivator to date. ... Before this, the most substantial personal treasury belonged only to Han Hu of the Golden Sword Sect. Though Han Hu¡¯s collection and its value, including the quality of high-level treasures, were significantly greater than those of Yang Chengfeng, it was because Han Hu was the top expert of the Golden Sword Sect, with a cultivation realm in the late stage of Golden Core. Additionally, with the near ten-thousand-year heritage of the Golden Sword Sect, coupled with the help of disciples in gathering treasures, a loose cultivator could hardly compare. And indeed, the treasures belonging to Han Hu were immense; divided among several major forces of the Wei Kingdom, Lin Tianming only claimed a small portion but still acquired treasures worth millions of spirit stones. Yet even so, the treasures on Yang Chengfeng were plentiful and terrifyingly valuable. Even for someone as rich as Lin Tianming, the first sight of such an array of treasures left him stunned for a long time. However, after completing the subsequent inventory check, Lin Tianming¡¯s excited and shocked emotions gradually calmed down. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï After inventorying the numerous treasures, Lin Tianming kept some of the high-value items and certain cherished varieties. Those ordinary treasures too, he gathered separately and planned to take them back and present them to the Clan Leader. After spending over a ¡°shi chen¡±, he finally finished, and the task of checking the storage bags reached a formal conclusion. At this moment, it was deep into the night, and the bright moonlight spilled onto the ground like a layer of frost. Lin Tianming smiled, sighed, and then began to meditate and soon entered into cultivation. Three days later, in the early morning. A beam of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. At this moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his resolute face again showing a satisfied smile. After several days of peaceful cultivation, his condition reached its peak again, and his strength subtly grew stronger. With everything going smoothly, his goal this time was perfectly achieved, plus, there was an additional, shocking gain. It was time to leave this place and return to the Clan! Lin Tianming thought to himself. In his eyes, despite the myriad dangers within Five Poison Mountain and the near-negligible threat from other cultivators, there were rumors that deep in this region prowled terrifying poison mists and various third-order venomous beasts and insects, posing a threat far greater than that of any cultivator. In such circumstances, even with confidence in his own strength, he couldn¡¯t help but be cautious. After all, he had achieved his objective and gained an astonishing surplus. Now, carrying so many treasures on him, it wasn¡¯t wise to linger in the dangerous Five Poison Mountain. With this in mind, Lin Tianming decided not to waste more time. Thus, after covering his tracks, he took the same path as he had arrived through a sinister and eerie gorge, arriving back at the original entrance. Immediately after, Lin Tianming set out lightly equipped, flying eastward following the route he had taken. Time hurried along, and three months passed in this way. Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Family Territory of Green Bamboo Mountain. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At noon this day, outside the Lin Family Mountain Gate, a dark shadow gradually approached from afar. As the distance closed, the shadow grew larger and eventually revealed itself to be Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked slightly fatigued, but an excited smile was unmistakable on his face. Over the past three months, he had carefully and successfully exited the range of Five Poison Mountain and had been making his way northward. Along the way, Lin Tianming traveled at an unhurried pace while keeping an eye on the internal news of Huangyang Kingdom. Before he had set off for Five Poison Mountain, the news of that bout at the Qingyun Sect had not yet fully spread in Huangyang Kingdom, so he couldn¡¯t know the reactions of the other major forces. Nearly a year had passed since the bout on this return journey to his clan. During this period, although the major forces of Qingyun Sect were reluctant to bring up this embarrassing event, it would inevitably be widely known throughout the Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom. Under such circumstances, it was quite fitting for him now to probe the major forces regarding this matter to see the reaction of the cultivators in Huangyang Kingdom. Sure enough, over the year, the incident had spread among all the major forces of Huangyang Kingdom, including the smaller Qi Refinement families and even loose cultivators. In the past six months, this event had been a common topic of discussion among the various forces and loose cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom whenever they had leisure. Suddenly, the event of Qingyun Sect caused a major uproar once again. Meanwhile, the four Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom once again attracted the attention of all the cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. Especially the Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain Range, including Lin Tianming himself, once again became a topic of discussion among all the cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, many family cultivators who were staying at Qingyun Sect, as well as some loose cultivators, had witnessed the entire process of the battle with their own eyes. In that battle, Lin Tianming, at the Early Stage Golden Core, actually confronted head-on with He Lanjun, a veteran Late Stage Golden Core expert. What was thought to be a one-sided spar turned out to be a huge surprise to everyone. Wei Kingdom not only won the bout, but Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t fall into much disadvantage and even directly repelled He Lanjun, causing him considerable loss. Such a shocking and unexpected outcome, aside from the cultivators of Wei Kingdom, was surely unforeseen by everyone else. And as the people who watched the battle left, they spread the details of that bout everywhere. Furthermore, in the half-year that followed, the Whirlwind Mountain Range controlled by Qingyun Sect, as well as several other surrounding mountain ranges, began to see a large amount of family migration. Such huge movements naturally couldn¡¯t escape the notice of the cultivators who traveled everywhere. Once this news spread, combined with the details of the bout, it shocked those cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom who were unaware. Under these circumstances, Huangyang Kingdom, for nearly the past half-year, had been discussing the Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom, focusing on the name of Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family. Lin Tianming traveled stop by stop along the way, occasionally entering some workshops to probe the internal news of Huangyang Kingdom. From his own observations, mingling in some of the busier places, he also managed to learn quite a bit of information. In his view, those ordinary families, as well as some low-strength and status loose cultivators, naturally had no significant opinion on the matter and at most would just discuss it verbally, slowly fading away. And top forces like Yuquan Sect, as well as other Golden Elixir Forces, seemed to adopt an attitude of watching the excitement. After all, internal undercurrents had always been strong within Huangyang Kingdom, and the major Golden Elixir Forces weren¡¯t united, with minor frictions constantly occurring. In some years, several Golden Elixir Forces of Qingyun Sect even united to resist Yuquan Sect and other Golden Elixir Forces just to prevent their overall strength from becoming stronger. This was done out of fear that Yuquan Sect would become too powerful and thus encroach on their own underlying interests. ¡­ Chapter 991 03-25 - 991 525 Elder Shocked ?Chapter 991: Chapter 525 Elder Shocked Chapter 991: Chapter 525 Elder Shocked Now the Yuquan Sect, upon seeing their rival forces falter, not only had a few of their Golden Core Stage combat power fallen, but they had also lost some benefits. As a result, although they remained outwardly calm, inwardly they were clapping their hands with glee. They even secretly hoped that the several Qingyun Sect forces would suffer even more losses. Ideally, if possible, a life-and-death battle between them and the several Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom would be most welcome. And they would also take the opportunity to gain more benefits. However, the several Qingyun Sect forces were also clear-headed, not only steadied their minds but also promptly offered a small part of their benefits to appease the several Wei Kingdom forces, avoiding the awkward situation of being attacked from both sides. In such a situation, the Golden Elixir Forces of the Yuquan Sect could do nothing but watch the joke from behind. ... Eventually, the Qingyun Sect¡¯s competition gradually calmed down, and everything returned to normal. After Lin Tianming learned of this news, he didn¡¯t delay any further and returned to the Wei Kingdom as quickly as possible. Along the way, he passed through the Changfeng Mountain Range, which were formerly Qingyun Sect territories. Within those five mountain ranges, Lin Tianming really saw some families moving their entire clans, seemingly unwilling to accept the Lin Family¡¯s management. In Lin Tianming¡¯s view, this could be Qingyun Sect¡¯s meddling in the background, or it could be that those forces themselves didn¡¯t wish to fall under the Lin Family¡¯s flag. After all, for hundreds of years, these forces were accustomed to the Qingyun Sect as the Sect Overlord and familiar with each other¡¯s management. Now they had to change their allegiance, and naturally, some were afraid of the strange Lin Family exploiting them too much. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Thus, relocating their entire clan, even at some cost, was also a viable long-term strategy. And such relocation actions were indirectly mentioned by He Lanjun at the beginning; his meaning was simple, for those families who voluntarily left, the Lin Family shouldn¡¯t interfere with their choice. Thus, when Lin Tianming saw those migrating cultivators, he didn¡¯t stop anything. Meanwhile, when he passed through the Changfeng Mountain Range, he also encountered members of the Lin Family, all responsible for overseeing and executing the handover of territory tasks. Since his father was not on site, he simply greeted them and continued on his journey home to the family. Until today, he finally managed to return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory smoothly. At this time, looking at the familiar scenery before him, Lin Tianming had a smile on his face. Meanwhile, the fatigue from days of traveling also dissipated a fair amount. In front of him, a few clansmen patrolling the gate also noticed his presence and gathered around to greet him immediately. Among those responsible for patrolling the gate were some elders of the Xing Generation, accompanied by fellow clansmen. Facing them, despite the vast difference in cultivation, Lin Tianming was still very courteous. After greeting the clansmen, he didn¡¯t linger and directly entered the clan territory. Upon entering the clan, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t first return to his Cave Mansion to reunite with the longingly remembered Qin Xi, nor did he go to greet his grandparents and mother. In his view, since he didn¡¯t plan to go out recently and had plenty of time, it wasn¡¯t urgent to reunite with his nearest and dearest just yet. Besides, they might not have time right now, so there was no need to rush. Thus, he maintained his usual practice of first sending a message to each elder of the Shi Generation, informing them of his return. Following that, he prepared to visit Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion, and have a good reunion with them. With this intention in mind, Lin Tianming flew straight towards a Cave Mansion at the top of the main peak. A little time passed. Green Bamboo Mountain. Inside a Cave Mansion at the top of the main peak, several people were seated together. At this moment, the scene was lively, as everyone¡¯s face was full of broad smiles. As the chatter continued among the group, Lin Shikang was the first to speak up, bringing the excited group back to reality. He earnestly asked, ¡°Tian Ming, how have you been in this past year? Did your search for Pill Formulas and elixirs go smoothly?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled again, as the excitement in his heart could no longer be concealed on his face. Seeing his demeanor, although Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t speaking, everyone had a rough idea, guessing that his trip to Huangyang Kingdom must have been extraordinarily fruitful. Otherwise, with Lin Tianming¡¯s typically composed character, he wouldn¡¯t show such an expression. At that time, Lin Tianming calmed down a bit, then he stopped beating around the bush and directly recounted all of his experiences over the year. Soon, when Lin Shikang and others learned that he had gone to Five Poison Mountain alone to search for treasures and gain experience, everyone was initially taken aback, clearly worried for his safety. After all, Five Poison Mountain had a notorious reputation that was well known even in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, with stories and information about it present in various texts and rumors. Such a dangerous place, even a Golden Core Stage Cultivator entering posed great risks. And Lin Tianming had gone alone, unfamiliar with the terrain and people. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within the notoriously dangerous Five Poison Mountain, all sorts of Demonic Beasts roamed unchecked, and mysterious, incredibly poisonous mists drifted everywhere. Under such conditions, even though Lin Tianming was strong, he needed to be extra cautious. Otherwise, a moment¡¯s inattention could cost him, even leading to his death within that perilous environment. Chapter 992 03-25 - 992 525 The Elders Are Shocked _2 ?Chapter 992: Chapter 525: The Elders Are Shocked _2 Chapter 992: Chapter 525: The Elders Are Shocked _2 Sure enough, as Lin Tianming talked about that eerie valley and the chance encounter with the Ethereal Centipede¡ªa Third Order Demon Insect, everyone couldn¡¯t help but tense up, as if they were there in person. Fortunately, they also knew of Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength and were always very confident in his combat capabilities and magic duel experience. As such, a mere Third Order Early Stage Demon Insect, despite its formidable power, was clearly not enough to pose much of a threat to him alone. At the very least, even if Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t a match for that demon insect, if he was intent on leaving, the Ethereal Centipede surely wouldn¡¯t be able to keep him there, thus there was no fatal threat. Realizing this, Lin Shikang and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, when Lin Tianming mentioned the appearance of Yang Chengfeng and the fierce battle that ensued between them, the hearts of Lin Shikang and the rest, which had just settled, hung high once again. With some alterations to his account, Lin Tianming omitted many of the dangerous moments, at least covering up much of the crisis he faced at that time. ... Yet even so, his recounting still caused Lin Shikang and the others to sweat profusely. But thankfully, Lin Tianming returned safely, and although he looked tired, he didn¡¯t seem injured, which gradually calmed everyone down. Afterward, Lin Tianming talked about the outcome of the battle, how he found his target, the Dry Jade Grass, and successfully obtained a good number of mature spiritual medicines, temporarily resolving his cultivation troubles. For this, everyone present couldn¡¯t help but feel genuinely happy. Then, Lin Tianming brought up Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag, which contained a vast number of extremely valuable treasures. Upon hearing this news, the faces of everyone present turned red with excitement, their breathing suddenly becoming rapid. In that instant, Lin Shihua¡¯s face flushed, and he stammered with a trembling tone of doubt, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? ¡°Tianming, are¡­ are you serious?¡± As soon as the words were out, even Lin Shikang beside him couldn¡¯t remain calm. He looked at Lin Shihua with a look of disbelief; although he himself was excited inside, after all, he was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Moreover, over the years, he had seen many treasures and had also represented the Lin Family in the distribution of treasures, so his vision was naturally broad. Suddenly hearing the news from Lin Tianming stirred up excitement in Lin Shikang as well, but at least not as shocked as Lin Shihua. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s nonchalant expression, he couldn¡¯t help but press him for answers. ¡°Tianming, you brat better not keep us in suspense!¡± Lin Shikang pretended to be serious, but the excited smile on his face and the full interest in his eyes couldn¡¯t be hidden. Faced with Lin Shikang¡¯s demeanor, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to delay. He slapped his storage bag and directly took out the most valuable treasures, placing them one by one on the stone table in front of everyone. Soon, more than twenty treasures were laid out on the stone table. At a glance, among these treasures were Jade Slips, spiritual medicines, and spirit ores, as well as magical treasures used by Yang Chengfeng. At this time, upon seeing the items before them, Lin Shikang and the others lost their composure. Instantly, Lin Shikang grabbed the Jade Slip of the Spiritual Art of the Five Elements with a single hand and began to examine it. Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong didn¡¯t idle either, eagerly picking up various spiritual medicines and spirit ores to check them over lovingly. As they inspected, they couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly to themselves, ¡°Qiushuang Grass, Magical Flower, Black Pine Stone¡­¡± Quickly, every treasure on the stone table had been examined by them, and some were even checked over several times before finally being put down. At this time, everyone was still excited, their faces unable to return to calm. Seeing his clan members¡¯ reactions, Lin Tianming had anticipated it. In fact, on his return journey, he had already considered how much of a shock the appearance of these treasures would bring them. After all, this included a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, an Earth-grade Technique, quite a few Third and Fourth Rank spiritual objects, and four good-quality magical treasures. ¡°Just with these dozens of treasures, the Lin Family¡¯s foundation can be enhanced by more than ten percent.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for his contribution, he himself would probably be as shocked as Lin Shikang and the others at the sight of these items, and his reaction would likely be no calmer.¡± ¡°This means that the gains from this trip to the Five Poison Mountain are truly astonishing.¡± Realizing this, Lin Tianming wore a smile and felt a surge of excitement again in his heart. After everyone had somewhat calmed down, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags, which contained numerous treasures he had prepared in advance¡ªa large batch of resources. He handed these items over to Lin Shihua himself in front of everyone. At that moment, Lin Shihua opened the storage bags and was once again shocked by their contents. The reason for his shock was the sheer quantity of treasures inside; there were over one million low-grade Spirit Stones alone. In addition, there were nearly a thousand First and Second Order Spiritual Objects, including Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Ore, and the Four Arts of Cultivation. All the Cultivation Techniques and various inheritances were contained within these storage bags. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a massive hoard of resources was almost comparable to the treasure vault of a long-established Foundation Establishing Family. In his view, the cumulative value of just these items might well exceed ten million low-grade Spirit Stones. Knowing this, Lin Shihua found it difficult to remain composed. Upon seeing this expression, Lin Shikang extended his Divine Sense to take a look. After a few breaths, Lin Shikang, just like Lin Shihua, managed to regain his normal complexion, which became flushed once again. It took a while longer for Lin Shikang and the others to regain their composure. Following this, Lin Shikang said with a smile, ¡°Shihua, please accept them.¡± ¡°In my view, at Tianming¡¯s level, ordinary items are no longer of any use.¡± ¡°Moreover, with his profound cultivation and formidable strength, he lacks nothing, and even if the family wanted to compensate him, there would be nothing that could catch his eye.¡± ¡°In short, it is now the family that is holding him back!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s heartfelt words made the expressions of the senior family members present become somber. They were keenly aware of how much Lin Tianming had contributed to the family over the years. Going back over forty years, Lin Tianming first brought back the main ingredient and the pill formula for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, helping several family members break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Then, during the family battle in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the family relied on the strengths gained over those years to overcome the crisis from Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s Jin Family. Following the establishment of the Luoyun Pavilion and the subsequent adventure in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, he and Lin Shilu brought back a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, planting the seeds for the Lin Family¡¯s rise. Later, when the beast tides erupted and finally during the great conflict between the Three Great Golden Core Sects, Lin Tianming was always at the forefront. In just a few decades, the Lin Family had continuously strengthened its power. At the most critical moments, it was Lin Tianming who stepped forward to help the family escape crisis time and again. At the same time, with each significant gain he made, he fervently supported the family, adding the strongest safeguard to the family¡¯s rise. It can be said without exaggeration that Lin Tianming played a crucial role in the rapid rise of the Lin Family and in surviving several existential crises. Now, with several individuals in the family possessing Golden Core Stage Combat Power, their overall strength was scarcely less than the other two great Golden Core Sects, establishing a firm footing within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. And for the family to have ascended to this level in such a short period, Lin Tianming deserved the greatest credit. Even though the family¡¯s overall strength is now strong and the younger generation is full of talent¡ªtruly a force to be reckoned with¡ª Still, even so, these old timers, even someone like Lin Shikang who had reached the Golden Core Stage, could offer very limited assistance to Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 993 03-25 - 993 526 Meeting Policy ?Chapter 993: Chapter 526 Meeting, Policy Chapter 993: Chapter 526 Meeting, Policy Lianlin Shikang, the eldest and most powerful in terms of cultivation strength among the clan members, was like this. Others who were less skilled in the clan, their help to Lin Tianming was even less worth mentioning! The reason for this was Lin Tianming¡¯s exceptional talent and power. Before these pioneers could even protect this young man during times of crisis, they had already been surpassed by him and left far behind. Now it seemed that the family had gradually become a burden to Lin Tianming. They were acutely aware that if the family were to disconnect from Lin Tianming, the momentum for rapid development would cease. It was even very likely that they would start to decline. ... On the other hand, even without the family¡¯s support, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength wouldn¡¯t be affected in the slightest; on the contrary, without restraints and entanglements, he could advance even faster on his path. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over the years, the family hadn¡¯t been able to provide much help to him. Instead, it was him supporting them that allowed them to rise quickly to their current status. And for a long time to come, such a situation was unlikely to improve. Every time they thought about this, Lin Shikang and others felt very helpless and were filled with guilt. At this moment, Lin Tianming, seeing their suddenly serious expressions, clearly recognized what they were thinking. In his heart, he didn¡¯t at all feel that the family was a burden. Although most of the time, the family and clan members provided extremely limited help in his cultivation and life-and-death battles, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? He indeed had to be more cautious before making various decisions because of the existence of his family. There were also times when facing potential threats when, for his clan members and family, he had to suppress his impulsive desires. But the family had always held significant weight in his heart. In his heart, the family was a spiritual solace, a guiding light that illuminated his path when he was lost. Clan members were the softest part of his heart; their existence wasn¡¯t about how much help they could provide. Even if they were a hindrance that made him feel somewhat bound as he moved through the Cultivation World, that was nothing compared to the spiritual solace the family provided. And he would strive for his family and the people he cared about. No matter how dangerous or difficult the path was, it could not shake his determination. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a genuine smile mingled with true feelings, a pure smile that couldn¡¯t help but warm the hearts of onlookers. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s spring-like smile and hearing those words from Lin Shikang, Lin Shihua stopped putting on airs and ceased saying meaningless words. So, Lin Shihua collected the several storage bags and then cheerfully chatted with everyone. As the crowd calmed down from their excitement, they also discussed the recent situation of the family. What Lin Tianming was interested in were the territories exchanged with the Golden Sword Sect and the general situation of the Qianchuan Market. According to Lin Shihua, the family had completed the territorial exchange with the Zhenyang Sect as early as half a year ago. Including Qianchuan Market, which was already firmly under the control of the Lin Family. At present, Lin Xingping, as a representative of the Lin Family, had been staying in Qianchuan Market to oversee its stable operation. Over the past six months of adjustment, Qianchuan Market had basically returned to normal, except the foot traffic was noticeably less than before the exchange, but other commercial transactions were quite normal. Such changes were also expected. After all, Qianchuan Market had previously belonged to Zhenyang Sect, and suddenly there was a change in control, most disciples under Zhenyang Sect would leave. Along with the loyal families under Zhenyang Sect and some Loose Cultivators, they had followed Zhenyang Sect to Dragon Mountain Market to expand. Under such circumstances, some traffic and business transactions were expected to be lost from Qianchuan Market, which the Lin Family had anticipated. In fact, looking at the current level of foot traffic loss in Qianchuan Market, it was still within the expectations of the Lin Family, and even better than expected. And in the case of the six mountain ranges, the handover was completed even before Qianchuan Market. After all, many of the families in these six mountain ranges had also thrived on this land for hundreds of years. Besides, in terms of overall strength, those families couldn¡¯t be compared to the current Lin Family at all. Under the absolute power, coupled with the clear stance from Zhenyang Sect¡ªthose willing to stay could stay, those not willing were not forced¡ªdespite having private grievances, they dared not voice much. Yet, even so, a small portion of families had relocated en masse to the territory controlled by Zhenyang Sect. And the Lin Family did not obstruct these families¡¯ relocation actions. After all, the Lin Family was now unlike before; even if some revenue from the offerings was missing, it wasn¡¯t much harm to them. More importantly, what the Lin Family needed now were families genuinely loyal to the Lin Family, as that would bring some cohesion and influence. As for those hypocritical families, it was better not to keep them. Under such circumstances, the six mountain ranges belonging to the Lin Family were the first to complete the handover procedures and had already acquired the registries of all families that remained. With these procedures completed, the Lin Family just needed to select an auspicious day to hold a union ceremony. They would invite representatives from families affiliated with the Lin Family to come to Lin Family Clan Grounds to meet the Clan Leader and Elders. Chapter 994 03-25 - 994 526 Alliance Meeting Policies_2 ?Chapter 994: Chapter 526: Alliance Meeting, Policies_2 Chapter 994: Chapter 526: Alliance Meeting, Policies_2 ¡°` This event, once concluded, would signify the completion of all procedures. And as for the timing of the alliance meeting, it would be finalized after Lin Tianming¡¯s return to discuss the specific date. At Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, coupled with the advice of the clan members, the date of the alliance meeting was smoothly set for two years later. This was because the great war had only recently subsided, and all the major and minor powers within Wei Kingdom were busy consolidating after the war. Moreover, the Lin Family¡¯s clan affairs were extremely busy, on top of taking over the five mountain ranges obtained from Qingyun Sect, the handover process was still ongoing. Those mountain ranges were soon to be under Lin Family¡¯s control, and although some powers had migrated out, a portion would remain. As such, these powers would become subsidiaries of the Lin Family. ... Under such circumstances, it was simply more practical to postpone the meeting slightly, wait for the Lin Family to stabilize fully, and for the subordinate powers to calm down before holding the alliance ceremony uniformly. By then, if nothing unexpected happened, at least hundreds of big and small powers were anticipated to attend the alliance meeting at Lin Family Clan Grounds. At such a bustling and significant event, the Lin Family, as their future overlord, would also need to exhibit the demeanor of a ruler and make the meeting lively and grand. As for the powers participating, they would also bring considerable gifts to present. With the timing of the alliance set, everyone discussed many plans, mainly concerning the processes of the meeting. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s plans, the Lin Family would hold a grand martial competition, inviting those powers to voluntarily send members to participate. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Specific competition events would mainly include magic duels and contests in the Four Arts of Cultivation. Doing this allowed the Lin Family to gauge the potential of those families and cultivators, in order to manage them better in the future. Moreover, the Lin Family could use minimal resources to support some powers worth cultivating, balancing the strength disparity among major forces. In the end, all this was to better control their territories and compel the families to serve the Lin Family wholeheartedly. And what the Lin Family offered was simply abundant rewards, but what they gained was much more. To put it broadly, what the Lin Family invested and what they gained were certainly worthwhile. Lin Shihua was also exceedingly enthusiastic about such a plan, and couldn¡¯t help but clap and cheer. Because Lin Tianming¡¯s plan was an overt scheme. Even if some of those family powers could see through it, under absolute strength, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stir any waves and would have no choice but to leap into it. Additionally, the Lin Family showed sincerity and generosity with real silver and gold; those who jumped into the Lin Family¡¯s ploy would not only do so begrudgingly but also express gratitude for the Lin Family¡¯s grand activities. Such a clever tactic, even Lin Shihua, known for his strategical cunning, couldn¡¯t help but praise after hearing the specifics. And as the alliance ceremony took place, the Lin Family would also host a grand auction at the nearby Luoyun Market. By then, the Lin Family would bring out a plethora of treasures as final auction items to attract cultivators. It was foreseeable that besides the families of these powers attending, the Lin Family would also heavily publicize the auction for the next two years to attract cultivators from other regions. In the eyes of Lin Tianming and others, after this alliance, the Lin Family would formally emerge in the public eye, and both their own strength and overall influence would reach an unprecedented height. All these plans were formulated with this goal in mind. This plan also received the affirmation of the other senior clan members, and under Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements, preparations for the affair began immediately. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If nothing unexpected happened, it would only be a matter of days before the Lin Family dispatched representatives to the surrounding mountain ranges of Qianchuan Mountain Range to convey the specific timing of the alliance. In addition, news of the auction would also spread, allowing numerous families and loose cultivators to prepare in time. As many important plans were arranged one by one, the external policies also reached a conclusion. Following this, Lin Shihua also took the opportunity to shift the topic and bring up the issue of the family¡¯s policies. ¡°` According to Lin Shihua¡¯s intention, the Lin Family had risen rapidly over the years, and their overall strength had already become strong enough. More importantly, the resources the Lin Family had acquired over the past decade had reached a terrifying level. Based on his preliminary statistics, during the years of war in the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family had profited over fifteen million low-grade spirit stones. The number of these spirit stones was enormous, with the majority coming from the distribution of war spoils, compensation from Qingyun Sect, and a portion plundered from Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory. This vast amount of spirit stones did not even include those individually obtained by clan members who participated in extermination missions and those kept personally by Lin Tianming. Even so, these fifteen million low-grade spirit stones were already a substantial amount, Compared to before the war, the liquidity of spirit stones in the family¡¯s treasure vault had increased by several times over. Now, this massive number of spirit stones was all stored in the Lin Family¡¯s treasure vault. Besides, the Fourth Order treasures and passed-down cultivation techniques, as well as insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation, go without saying. On top of various magical treasures, high-order elixirs, talismans, demonic beast materials, and so on, the cumulative value of spiritual medicines from the First to Third Order alone was worth over twenty million spirit stones. The quantity of these spiritual objects was vast, essentially encompassing nearly all the treasures a golden core cultivator or below in the clan could utilize. And the value of this batch of resource-based property far surpassed that of the spirit stones. It could be said that the Lin Family¡¯s resource base had seen a tremendous improvement compared to before. Others may not be specifically aware of this improvement, but if rumors were to spread, it would likely shock many. But in reality, this substantial improvement had indeed happened, and the Lin Family had already taken complete control. With so many treasures in hand, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t need to worry about spirit stone resources for a hundred years, even if there were no income. Since that was the case, the Lin Family might as well change its policy, generously supporting its members to quickly improve their cultivation, to further enhance the overall strength of the Lin Family. They were all very aware that only when the family was strong enough would it endure for a long time. And this long-term goal required the collective effort of all the clan members. Consequently, after some discussion, they decided to raise the level of the family¡¯s welfare yet again. Following the preliminary plan, the allowance for any member of the family had increased by as much as thirty percent compared to before the changes. Previously, a third-level Qi refining member of the family received an annual allowance of one hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones and three Lingshen Pills as basic welfare. Now, after the changes, a third-level Qi refining member could receive up to two hundred low-grade spirit stones in a year. And this was only the most basic improvement for the lowest level of cultivators in the family. If the member had good talent and remarkable cultivation, just the basic welfare increase could be more than fifty percent. In addition, the family also provided varying degrees of increases to the Merit Points awarded for mountain training expeditions and for completing family missions. At the same time, the family¡¯s rewards for key cultivation breakthroughs were significantly increased in terms of basic reward amounts. After these changes, the family used high-value rewards as incentives, encouraging peer competition among members of the same rank to greatly enhance their motivation to breakthrough in cultivation. And these were just the changes to the basic welfare benefits. In the area of the Four Arts of Cultivation, the family also stepped up its efforts to cultivate its members. It could be said that the current family policy was all about finding ways to incentivize the clan members. With this motivation, those members who possessed talent and were very diligent could, as long as they maintained their efforts, receive more and more resource support from the family every step of the way. ¡­ Chapter 995 03-25 - 995 527 Heated Discussion Preparation ?Chapter 995: Chapter 527: Heated Discussion, Preparation Chapter 995: Chapter 527: Heated Discussion, Preparation These generous policy incentives will surely excite the clan members once they are made aware! Moreover, their future cultivation efforts will undoubtedly be more vigorous. Behind this significant policy change is the family¡¯s sufficient resources, allowing thousands of clan members to sustain their cultivation for an extended period. Under the planning of Lin Tianming and others, the specific plan for the policy change was thoroughly decided. In the next few years, Lin Shihua will progressively implement them to let the clan members enjoy these policies quickly. Once these measures are fully implemented, the basic welfare level of the Lin Family members should exceed that of the Golden Core Families like the Li Family and the Chen Clan. Even the lowest disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect have welfare benefits that are far inferior to those of ordinary Lin Family members. ... However, in the welfare aspects of the talented clan disciples, there might still be some gaps between Lin Family and them. But overall, this significant increase in welfare has narrowed the gap between them. And in the future, it is possible for Lin Family to continue to enhance their welfare. By then, surpassing the other two Great Golden Core Sects might not be impossible. With this major policy decision finalized, this gathering gradually drew to a close. Then, Lin Tianming and a few others had a casual chat, during which they repeatedly deliberated on specific family affairs solutions, fixing many loopholes before finally dispersing. Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong said goodbye to Lin Shikang and then left together to visit Ren Yuxuan¡¯s Cave Mansion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Having heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s return, his mother and Qin Xi promptly emerged from seclusion to reunite with them. Seeing Lin Tianming returning safely after more than a year, both his mother and Qin Xi were delighted. In their excitement, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law together prepared a lavish dinner. That evening, Lin Tianming and four generations dined together, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere despite the long absence. Regrettably, Lin Xingrong and his daughter were not at the clan grounds, making this small family gathering somewhat incomplete. But that was inevitable. After all, the situation in Wei Kingdom had been turbulent for over a decade, first with a beast tide sweeping through Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, followed by a massive war among the Three Great Golden Core Sects. Due to the high cultivation levels of Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianyue, they were ranked among the top Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Especially Lin Xingrong, aside from the prodigy Qin Xi, he currently had the highest cultivation level among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Additionally, he had been responsible for the family business for many years, long stationed in Luoyun Market, and had also overseen various Spirit Lands within the family. With years of refining, his character was incredibly stable, and he had a wealth of experience in handling affairs. With the end of the tri-Sect war and a thorough reshuffling among Wei Kingdom¡¯s major powers, the country had finally calmed down, family foreign affairs had surged, and many significant decisions affecting the Lin Family¡¯s future prospects needed handling. During this crucial period, Lin Xingrong was heavily relied upon by the senior members and was mostly away, carrying out important family tasks. Currently, Lin Xingrong was still in Changfeng Mountain Range, handling tasks, while Lin Tianyue stayed in Qianchuan Market, assisting Lin Xingping in stabilizing the market¡¯s operations. These incidents were merely snapshots of the past decades and even earlier. Over many years, his parents too had spent much time apart. His mother, deeply aware of the importance of family matters, had always been very supportive of all Lin Xingrong¡¯s decisions. Furthermore, with the rapid growth of Lin Tianming and others in recent years, with their strength and combat experience far surpassing hers, she no longer insisted on keeping her daughter by her side, but wholeheartedly supported them in contributing more to the family. Though not everyone was present, the atmosphere of the gathering remained extremely warm. After dinner, while sitting in the courtyard sipping tea and enjoying the night sky, they engaged in light conversation. During this time, Lin Tianming also shared his adventures from the past year and more. As usual, he only shared the good news, omitting any perilous incidents to avoid worrying his mother. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming spoke of the various cultures and fascinating anecdotes he encountered on his journeys, enriching her rather monotonous cultivation life with some excitement. After all, his mother had spent most of her years within the family. Except for occasionally joining the Monster Hunting Squad to train deep in Luoyun Mountain Range or visiting Luoyun Market with other clan members. Sometimes, simple family tasks were also undertaken alongside these visits. Generally speaking, she had mostly stayed within Luoyun Mountain Range and hadn¡¯t traveled beyond it. Now, hearing about Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences in Huangyang Kingdom and the diverse cultures and exotic treasures he encountered, she was greatly enlightened and even couldn¡¯t help but aspire for more. Seeing his mother¡¯s longing, Lin Tianming encouraged her to consider, in a few years when the Cultivation World settled, inviting some female elders from the family to explore together. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 996 03-25 - 996 527 Hot Discussion Preparation_2 ?Chapter 996: Chapter 527 Hot Discussion, Preparation_2 Chapter 996: Chapter 527 Hot Discussion, Preparation_2 At the very least, within the more than ten mountain ranges controlled by the Lin Family, the total area was not small. With their cultivation strengths, safety had a certain guarantee. In this way, it was not a bad thing for those women of the family to go out and walk around, witness the current strength of the Lin Family, and gain some experience. Ren Yuxuan, hearing of Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences, felt elated and became even more yearning for the outside world. Such a lively and warm atmosphere continued until late into the night. At that time, the moon was high in the starry sky, and this gathering had reached its end. Lin Tianming and his wife, along with Lin Shigong, bid their farewell and returned to their respective cave mansions. Back in his own cave mansion, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi cosily spent some time together, sharing their experiences of the past year and expressing their mutual longing. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back much with Qin Xi, informing her of all the dangers he had encountered. ... After all, Qin Xi¡¯s talent was also very good. Over the years, she had faced many crises and had seen grand scenes. Therefore, she was quite familiar with the specific situation of the Cultivation World and was very aware of its ruthlessness. It was nearly impossible to deceive Qin Xi, who had a wealth of experience in dealing with affairs. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t want to convey the wrong perceptions and mislead Qin Xi. In his eyes, his mother and Qin Xi were not the same. His mother was older and her talent wasn¡¯t too outstanding. Having missed the best time for cultivation, her potential was extremely limited. Under such conditions, it was unlikely that she could progress much further on the Path of Immortality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 In light of this, it was better to play it safe and avoid confronting the harshness of the Cultivation World as much as possible. But Qin Xi¡¯s talent was excellent, her current Cultivation Realm was outstanding, her goals were far-reaching, and her potential was unimaginable. Given Qin Xi¡¯s conditions, if she were trained properly, her future was unpredictable. At the very least for now, the Lin Family still possessed a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, and with Qin Xi at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, the chances of successfully stepping into the Golden Core Stage were at least over fifty percent. With such favorable conditions, it was natural to train Qin Xi well, so that she could go even further on the Path of Immortality. With that, Lin Tianming told Qin Xi all about the trip to Huangyang Kingdom, including the battles he had experienced, sharing every detail with her. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi also became quite worried. However, she didn¡¯t say much, because she knew well in her heart that her husband, just like her, was someone who pursued the great Dao of longevity. They both had grand goals, and no matter how difficult the Path of Immortality was or how dangerous the Cultivation World could be, there was no possibility of them shrinking back. Given this, there was no point in trying to persuade each other; it was better to wholeheartedly support each other. At the very least, they could provide mutual support and not feel as lonely in the long years of cultivation ahead. Thus, although the two of them with similar ideals said nothing, they both knew what the other was thinking. Under these circumstances, Qin Xi genuinely rejoiced in Lin Tianming¡¯s rich gains from his journey. ¡­ More than ten days later. Over these days, Lin Tianming led a very comfortable life, resting well in the first two days to return to his peak condition. Then, the couple quietly spent two days alone together, followed by visits to some long-unseen elders and peers in the clan. Especially Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming spent ten days in his cave mansion, during which they discussed the Art of Alchemy extensively. In addition, Ye Pinghai refined Third Order Pills in front of him, giving Lin Tianming much more insight. During these few days, the family was bustling with excitement. As soon as Lin Shihua officially announced the reform policies finalized by the higher-ups a few days earlier, it immediately caused a great stir within the clan. Learning of the family reforms, a significant increase in basic treatment, and even more superior rewards, every clansman was thrilled. After all, these were about their basic welfare and closely related to every clan member. Understanding this, the family was suddenly abuzz with discussions, and clan members talked about it during their leisure time. Once this matter was settled, clan members sincerely felt the strength of the family and were even more grateful to the core members of the clan. At the same time, over these few days, the family issued a mission to send out more than ten clan members divided into seven groups. Each group, led by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, set out to visit the various families residing in the seven mountain ranges already under the Lin Family¡¯s control. Besides making visits, these clan members were also tasked with conveying the intentions behind the alliance to each family. Knowing the general reasons for the alliance and the deeper implications behind it, the clan members were excited. And with this event, the already lively atmosphere of the family soared to new heights. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and his wife Ren Yuxuan had been aware of the matter for some time, with Lin Tianming being the decision-maker who merely observed the clan members¡¯ reactions. Now that everything was going smoothly and the family¡¯s major affairs were being handled by the Clan Leader and various Hall Masters, even if any troubles arose, Lin Shikang would step in to handle them. With this arrangement, the couple found themselves incredibly relaxed. Neither Lin Tianming nor Qin Xi were interested in meddling with these trivial matters, as they both had important tasks to attend to. As their journey of several days came to an end, the couple returned to their cave mansion. Sitting in the courtyard of the cave mansion, Lin Tianming and his wife faced each other, chatting leisurely while sipping on their drinks. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at the stunning beauty before him and couldn¡¯t help but smile and say, ¡°Xi¡¯er, we just came back from Grandpa Sea yesterday, and after his advice and personal demonstration of alchemy, I have learned a great deal.¡± ¡°Going forward, I plan to enter seclusion for a while to attempt refining Third Order Pills, and elevate my alchemy skills before anything else!¡± ¡°If all goes well, I should be able to come out of seclusion by the day of the alliance meeting!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face lit up, and she couldn¡¯t help but respond. ¡°Ming, your alchemy skills are superb and your alchemy talent is exceptional. With such thorough preparation, you¡¯ll surely advance with ease.¡± ¡°When that time comes, Ming, you¡¯ll be a Third Order Alchemy Master!¡± Qin Xi said these words excitedly, her tone full of confidence, clearly having great faith in Lin Tianming. Hearing her, Lin Tianming also felt her expectations and his own confidence swelled within. In his heart, ascending to Third Order Alchemy Master was imminent. For this, he had prepared for a long time, and in the previous years, due to the lack of elixirs to suppress the pain, he had been unable to cultivate normally, often having to take breaks. During that time, he had already begun to ponder various alchemy experiences and pill formulas ahead of time, drawing on those experiences and refining his own ideas. Besides, he would occasionally refine Second Order Pills to maintain his proficiency in alchemy. He made all these preparations for this very day. Now, everything was proceeding smoothly, both within the family and the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World were at peace, a rare tranquil period in which to officially strive for Third Order Alchemy Master. More importantly, he had already obtained a considerable amount of the main ingredients for the Dry Jade Pill, and had gathered most of the auxiliary ingredients. Now, with the power of the family to collect auxiliary herbs, it should not take long to gather all the materials needed. Since the main problem had been resolved, it was time to put advancing alchemy skills on the agenda. Once his alchemy skills reached Third Order and met a certain standard, he would be able to refine the Dry Jade Pill. Once successful in refining it, he could use the pill to increase his cultivation more quickly. In light of this situation, Lin Tianming made extremely thorough preparations. One could say that now everything was in place except for the east wind! It was time for him to take a big step forward and get onto the right track of normal cultivation as soon as possible. Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°Borrowing Xi¡¯er¡¯s auspicious words, I shall indeed come out of seclusion as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded and then added, ¡°Ming, while you cultivate, Xi¡¯er also plans to enter seclusion for a while, to break through to the Great Perfection Realm!¡± When Lin Tianming heard this, he was overjoyed and his smile deepened greatly. ¡°Good¡­ That¡¯s fantastic!¡± ¡°In my eyes, Xi¡¯er, after years of accumulation, breaking through to the Great Perfection Realm should be something that naturally follows,¡± replied Lin Tianming, completely confident in Qin Xi. ¡°Hmm¡­ There¡¯s no time to delay, let¡¯s both take action immediately!¡± Qin Xi said with a blushing face, seemingly somewhat shy. Lin Tianming did not dawdle either, after instructing Qin Xi with a few words, they both headed to the practice room. ¡­ Chapter 997 03-25 - 997 528 Closed-Door Alchemy ?Chapter 997: Chapter 528: Closed-Door Alchemy Chapter 997: Chapter 528: Closed-Door Alchemy Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion, Pill Refining Room. He sat cross-legged, with a large number of jade slips in front of him. The insights and pill formulas before his eyes were all items he had collected over the years, including some accumulated by the Lin Family in earlier years. Moreover, most of the jade slips originated from the Scripture Pavilion of the Golden Sword Sect. To make a breakthrough attempt at becoming a Third Order Alchemy Master during this closed-door cultivation, he specially took all the imprints of the alchemy heritage from the family¡¯s Scripture Pavilion and planned to review them again, ensuring he was fully prepared. Although he had studied them thoroughly before and committed their contents to memory, he felt extremely confident about the breakthrough to the Third Order Alchemy Master. Yet, despite this, he did not allow himself to become too relaxed. ... By now, the content recorded inside those jade slips was so familiar that he knew them like the back of his hand. He had even demonstrated them many times over in his mind. At this point, his preparations seemed even more thorough, perhaps the most comprehensive and cautious he had ever been. At that moment, Lin Tianming smiled and casually collected all the jade slips before him. Then, Lin Tianming closed his eyes and cycled his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. Soon, he adjusted his condition to the optimal state, his breathing steady, as if he had entered a mystical state. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Next, with a pat on his storage bag, a large number of Spiritual Medicine Materials flew out, accurately placed on a stone platform beside him. At the same time, a Pill Furnace flew out, and with a flash of light, the Pill Furnace rapidly expanded, ultimately becoming a three-foot-tall Furnace Cauldron that stood quietly in front of him. Lin Tianming looked at the Qingyun Furnace before him and couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his palm to caress the surface of the Pill Furnace, a satisfied look appearing on his face. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Originally, to obtain this Pill Furnace from the hands of the other Golden Elixir Forces, the Lin Family had to give up some benefits. However, for the long-term considerations, the Lin Family could not lack a Third Order Dan Furnace, and even if it meant paying some price, it was worth it. Now, with this Pill Furnace, the success rate and pill yield rate in future alchemy would see some improvement. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming became eager to start. After calming himself for a moment, Lin Tianming was ready and began to attempt refining Third Order Pills. The Third Order Pills he was preparing to refine were Yuxu Pills, commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators during cultivation. This type of pill had significant marketability, was quite common among Third Order Pills, and was greatly needed by virtually every Golden Core Stage Cultivator. After all, following the Golden Core Stage Realm, increasing one¡¯s True Essence Mana, even by a little, was not an easy feat. Thus, the value of Yuxu Pills was not low, and the Spiritual Medicine needed for their refinement was not easy to gather; in a barren place like Wei Kingdom, Yuxu Pills had always been a scarce resource. At times, even Late Stage Golden Core experts like Zhou Yunxiao, with the backing of Sects that had inherited for tens of thousands of years, had only a limited supply of Yuxu Pills to use. Currently, Lin Tianming still had over twenty Yuxu Pills, most of which came from his enemies. After all, in these past few years, no few Golden Core Stage Cultivators had perished by his hand, including some robust Mid Stage Golden Core existences. And among these individuals, the number of Yuxu Pills they carried varied, some as few as one or two, others as many as seven or eight. However, the Yuxu Pills they used for everyday cultivation ultimately became his spoils of war. The remaining Yuxu Pills came from when he first broke through to the Golden Core Stage; Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang had also gifted him some Yuxu Pills as greeting presents. With the end of the Three Sects War, the Lin Family also obtained several dozen Yuxu Pills from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault and the cultivators they had jointly annihilated. Lin Tianming kept some for his personal use, and part was stored in the family¡¯s Treasure Vault, while Lin Shikang and other Golden Core Stage Clansmen each received their share among various other pill types. Despite having a substantial amount of pills at his disposal, Lin Tianming was quite helpless in being unable to utilize them properly. Now, to rapidly improve his Alchemy, he planned to start with refining Yuxu Pills, which were the most common and relatively easy. Once the Yuxu Pills were successfully refined, he would then try refining the more challenging Dry Jade Pills. In his eyes, although the Spiritual Medicine Materials for Yuxu Pills were extremely limited and equally challenging to obtain, they were at least easier to find than Dry Jade Grass. Because at present, the other Golden Elixir Forces in Wei Kingdom all had stable sources of Spiritual Medicine and could at least gather the materials required for a Yuxu Pill. However, gathering the medicinal herb like Dry Jade Grass was truly difficult; there was nowhere to find it in Wei Kingdom. If it ran out and he could not find a new source of Spiritual Medicine, he would find himself in the awkward position of having pills but being unable to cultivate. Therefore, it was more prudent to first refine Yuxu Pills and, later on, when refining Dry Jade Pills, he would have greater confidence. More importantly, he wouldn¡¯t suffer more losses due to practice. Next, as long as he could refine Dry Jade Pills, he would also be able to maintain normal cultivation with Yuxu Pills. With this hopeful mindset, Lin Tianming no longer delayed. He looked solemn as his hand formed a Law Decree, spiritual light bombarding the Qingyun Furnace. Then, unexpectedly, a ball of flame appeared in his hand and flew towards the Qingyun Furnace. Chapter 998 03-25 - 998 528 Closed-door Alchemy_2 ?Chapter 998: Chapter 528 Closed-door Alchemy_2 Chapter 998: Chapter 528 Closed-door Alchemy_2 Fire remained stationary beneath the Qingyun Furnace, rapidly igniting. In that instant, a blue flame leaped from the bottom of the furnace, and the temperature in the Pill Refining Room immediately rose considerably. Seeing this, Lin Tianming carefully controlled the temperature of the Blue Heart True Flame, beginning the entire process of warming the furnace. After a short while had passed, it seemed that the temperature had reached the anticipated level, the Spiritual Medicine Materials on the stone platform began to fly one by one into the Qingyun Furnace under Lin Tianming¡¯s control. At this time, Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors opened, and his powerful Divine Sense was also paying attention to any change inside the pill furnace. With all the preparations in place, the process was familiar territory. He then followed the normal Alchemy sequence, skilfully starting the decomposition and purification of various Spiritual Medicine Materials. ... Soon, each piece of Spiritual Medicine under his decomposition turned into multicolored liquids. Half a day later, the dozens of Spiritual Medicine Materials required for the Yuxu Pill had all completed the first step. During this fundamental process, he remained extremely cautious, fearing any waste of Spiritual Medicine. Thankfully, the difficulty of decomposing foundational Spiritual Medicine was not great, roughly similar to that of First and Second Order pills¡ªonly as the grade of the Spiritual Medicine increased, so too did the demand on Divine Sense and experience. But these were almost all his strengths. As a result, not a single piece of Spiritual Medicine Material failed; all reached the optimal requirements for decomposition. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï The reason for such success was, after all, that he had a solid foundation. After all, his Divine Sense was strong, coupled with the help of tools like the Eye of Five Colors, which allowed him to see the state of each piece of Spiritual Medicine inside the pill furnace¡ªissues that even Divine Sense might fail to detect were visible to the Eye of Five Colors. Besides, he also possessed the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame known as the Blue Heart True Flame, The aid of this flame was equally substantial, whether in the decomposition of the Spiritual Medicine or in purification and especially in the final Solidifying Pill stage, its effect was much more useful than ordinary Earth Fire or the Golden Core Truefire of Golden Core Cultivators. With such foundational conditions, this first step was easily completed. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the uniquely colored liquid at the bottom of the furnace with a very pleased expression. Then, he moved on to the next step in the refining process. With his methodical operation, several more days were spent completing the purification process. The subsequent steps were also smooth sailing. Several days later. A dull thud resonated in the Pill Refining Room, its long echo vibrating within the room. At this point, Lin Tianming looked at the dregs in the pill furnace and couldn¡¯t help but wryly smile. Sure enough, just as he predicted, this first batch of Yuxu Pills ended in failure. As for the reason behind the failure, after pondering for a moment, he thought it probably lay in the Infusion of Spirit step. Up until that point, all processes had gone smoothly, and although it took a total of ten days, it proceeded uneventfully to this critical juncture. However, during the Infusion of Spirit, the intensity of his infusion seemed too strong, and the elixir embryo couldn¡¯t withstand the immense Spiritual Power, ultimately exploding under the high temperature. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not get discouraged, In fact, he had been prepared for this outcome. He knew very well that Third Order pills were not like Second Order pills; the difficulty in refining them also increased exponentially, and it was certainly not going to be easy. In the process of refining Third Order pills, the demands for every detail were high, leaving no room for negligence or any mistake. The slightest error would result in failure. Moreover, this was his first attempt. Being able to smoothly reach the Infusion of Spirit step had already exceeded his expectations. However, even that was due to the aid of the Eye of Five Colors and the assistance of the Blue Heart True Flame. If any other Second Order Alchemist were to try without such foundational conditions, they would likely fail right from the first step. Now that he had reached the Infusion of Spirit step and identified the reason for the failure, the remaining task would be manageable. After all, he just needed to accumulate experiences, try a few more times, and he believed it wouldn¡¯t take too long to succeed. And for the purpose of refining Yuxu Pills, Lin Tianming had collected several portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials in advance, and there was also a small stock of spiritual medicines in the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden and the Treasure Vault, so he certainly wasn¡¯t lacking the conditions to practice hands-on. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming regained his confidence, and then carefully collected the residue from the Pill Furnace separately. Although these residues were useless, they were the essence of Third Order Spiritual Medicine and contained immense energy, naturally, they should not go to waste. At the very least, for the current moment, these residues had some use for the Purple Gold Eagle, and could somewhat promote its growth. Thus, Lin Tianming set the residues aside to be delivered to the Purple Gold Eagle after coming out of seclusion. Having done this, he began to regulate his breathing and restore the state he had exhausted earlier. Once his own condition returned to its peak, he would attempt a new round of refinement. ¡­ Qianchuan Mountain Range. A certain canyon here lay in the heart of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, a peak at the back known as Flying Peak overlooked the canyon, while the bottom of the gorge and the mountainside were littered with numerous buildings. And on this Flying Peak resided the ancestral home of the He Family. As for the He Family, they were one of the seven great Foundation Establishing Families of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, with a heritage of over a thousand years. The He Family¡¯s ancient history was the most extensive among the Foundation Establishing Families in the area, and their overall strength was the most prominent among the seven great families of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Moreover, within all the Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the He Family¡¯s strength was well within the top ranks. As such, the He Family¡¯s reputation was not small within the Wei Kingdom; aside from the Golden Elixir Forces, their name was quite illustrious. Even before the rise of the Lin Family, the name of the He Family was more prominent than the declining Golden Core Family of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. Today, the He Family had two uninvited guests. At this time, within an imposing pavilion on the mountainside of the main peak of Flying Peak, He Xiongfei, the Clan Leader of the He Family, was seated in the seat of honor, with two young-looking cultivators seated in the guest seats below him. Upon closer inspection, one of the young men was handsome with delicate brows and dressed in a white Daoist robe with a green bamboo pattern embroidered on the chest. The bamboo design was so lifelike it appeared almost real. If any native cultivator of the Wei Kingdom saw this emblem, they would almost certainly recognize the origins of these two young men¡ª they hailed from the rising Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain. Being a Clan Leader and a native of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, He Xiongfei naturally understood the identity of the two men before him. Moreover, given the recent drastic changes in the Qianchuan Mountain Range¡¯s situation, the entire Qianchuan Mountain Range and Qianchuan Market had been transferred from the original Sect Overlord, the Zhenyang Sect, to the prospering Lin Family for governance. And over the past year, these local families too had to switch allegiances to the new Sect Overlord and accept the Lin Family¡¯s rule while enjoying their protection. During this period, three of the seven great Foundation Establishing Families of the Qianchuan Mountain Range had already relocated their clan grounds. At the same time, dozens of the lesser Qi Refining Families had also left the Qianchuan Mountain Range to settle in territories under the control of the Zhenyang Sect. The He Family¡¯s inheritance was not short, and over a thousand years, they had accumulated considerable family assets, many of which were too important to be abandoned. Hence, after weighing the pros and cons, the He Family¡¯s leadership decided to stay in place and accept the Lin Family¡¯s future rule. Under such circumstances, He Xiongfei could naturally identify the origins of this cultivator from the new Sect Overlord forces. It was because of this that He Xiongfei, upon seeing the young cultivator before him, couldn¡¯t help but size up the representative of this Sect Overlord¡¯s power. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following his gaze, the young man in white sat upright in his chair, his appearance distinguished and his face somewhat youthful. But his demeanor was extraordinarily remarkable and his aura immensely robust, indicating that his cultivation was by no means weak. At the very least, the aura that the young man slightly exuded was putting great pressure on He Xiongfei, who was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. He knew that this young man in white was very strong! Such cultivation strength at his age, truly fitting for someone from the prospering Lin Family. ¡­ Chapter 999 03-25 - 999 529 Lin Tianyun ?Chapter 999: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun Chapter 999: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun The young cultivator, with an extraordinary demeanor and a slight external release of his aura, was none other than the Wind Spirit Root genius of the Lin Family, Lin Tianyun. Sitting beside Lin Tianyun was another cultivator of the Tian generation from the clan, Lin Tianqu. Ever since the clan announced the matter of the alliance meeting and the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall issued the task of conveying the meeting, a large number of clan members were attracted to undertake this lucrative mission. Upon learning of this news, Lin Tianfeng was also extremely excited. He was one of the first to head to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, intending to take on one of the mountain ranges¡¯ messenger tasks. At the outset, the clan member in charge learned of Lin Tianyun¡¯s intention and immediately declared that Lin Tianyun did not have the permission to leave the clan territory alone, adamantly refusing to give him the task. Because of this, Lin Tianyun felt quite helpless. ... In fact, he had long been aware of this special regulation imposed on him, and over the years, he had already grown accustomed to it. Throughout his years of cultivation, he had not had many opportunities to leave the clan territory, and most of the time he would accompany his elders on their outings. The purpose of these outings was mainly to roam within the Luoyun Mountain Range and to hunt demonic beasts for experience. Back then, his cultivation strength was not high; he was never the strongest member on the team. Moreover, the furthest he had ever gone was to Luoyun Market and deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range. The most important aspect was always the accompaniment of elders, who would provide timely assistance at critical moments. Such experiential outings were always under the condition that there were certain guarantees of safety; only then would the family allow him to go out. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Now, his cultivation realm had also stepped into the Medium Foundation Establishment Realm. His strength among the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment clan members could be considered above average. In this way, he also wished to break free from the family¡¯s continual protection, to go out alone and witness the real scenery of the Cultivation World. Fortunately, the situation in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World went through massive changes and had now returned to normal. With the clan issuing the task of conveying the alliance meeting, Lin Tianyun wanted to seize this opportunity to see if he could be let out. However, the people of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had not forgotten the Clan Leader¡¯s admonitions and, citing the rules, directly refused his plan. So, a helpless Lin Tianyun had no choice but to find the Clan Leader, requesting him to lift this bothersome protective condition. After his relentless persuasion, Lin Shihua sought the opinions of Lin Shikang and himself, and finally agreed to Lin Tianyun¡¯s request. In their eyes, Lin Tianyun¡¯s current cultivation strength was indeed not low; he could at least be ranked in the forefront among the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Previously, their protection of Lin Tianyun was indeed a bit excessive, which resulted in Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation becoming evidently stagnant in the past two years. This was an inevitable situation. After all, the Wei Kingdom had not been very peaceful for nearly a decade, first swept by a tide of beasts, followed by a great battle between the three sects. During that period, there was no safe place throughout the entire Wei Kingdom. And Lin Tianyun¡¯s talent was too outstanding; his heterogeneous attribute Wind Spirit Root was a rarity even in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Moreover, Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation speed was indeed fast. Relying on the Earth Grade Wind Attribute Technique, he had reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level in his early twenties. Such a pace of cultivation was even slightly faster than Lin Tianming at the same stage. Under these circumstances, the higher-ups of the clan were extremely cautious with this uniquely talented clan member. Over the years, they not only supported him with the best resources but also had Lin Shigong personally teach him cultivation, and they sternly forbade him from leaving the clan territory on his own. Such measures effectively cocooned Lin Tianyun as if he were a treasure, tightly hidden away for fear of any mishaps. Although every couple of years, he would be allowed to join the Monster Hunting Squad to gain experience in the Luoyun Mountain Range, on each outing, they would always be led by Foundation Establishment Cultivators of higher cultivation, never allowing him to take much risk. With such strict protective measures in place, outside forces had no knowledge of Lin Tianyun¡¯s existence. Even within the Lin Family, there were not many clan members who knew the specifics about Lin Tianyun. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But always staying within the family, severely lacking in training, also made Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation realm somewhat inflated, and his cultivation foundation was not as solid as Lin Tianming¡¯s at the same period. After all, during Lin Tianming¡¯s growth period, the Lin Family had experienced many crises. Even though the higher-ups of the clan wanted to protect him, they could not due to the overall lack of strength within the clan. Most times, they had to rely on Lin Tianming to lead the charge for the clan to survive continuous crises. And Lin Tianming truly lived up to expectations, his cultivation soaring all the while, leading the family through thorns and thistles to rise rapidly amidst the crisis. In comparison with Lin Tianyun, the various cultivation environments he experienced were worlds apart. Precisely because of this, Lin Shihua saw that Lin Tianyun¡¯s foundational cultivation had risen, granting him a fair degree of self-preservation ability. Furthermore, another crucial reason was that the Lin Family of today was no longer what it used to be; their overall strength was not that far off from the other three Great Sects. Now that the Wei Kingdom had returned to a state of peace, and the locations for the alliance meeting missions were all within the Lin Family¡¯s sphere of influence, with such foundational conditions, forcibly keeping Lin Tianyun within the clan territory was indeed somewhat inappropriate. Thus, coinciding with Lin Tianyun¡¯s strong request to take on a mission to contribute to the family, faced with such a request, Lin Shihua was no longer insistent on maintaining the original protective measures. And so, seizing this opportunity, he allowed Lin Tianyun to go out and experience the world, to also consolidate his cultivation realm. Chapter 1000 03-25 - 1000 529 Lin Tianyun_2 ?Chapter 1000: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun_2 Chapter 1000: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun_2 Lin Tianyun was excited for several days when he saw that the Clan Leader supported his request. Once he was ready, he set out with two other clan members and eventually arrived at the Qianchuan Mountain Range. As for the first family to be approached for the alliance, it was naturally placed on the longest-standing and strongest overall, the He Family. As they revealed their identities, the He Family members dared not delay, and immediately took Lin Tianyun and another person to the inner part of their clan territory and urgently summoned the He Family Clan Leader. Until now, Lin Tianyun was sitting in the reception room, sizing up He Xiongfei while being assessed in return. At this moment, He Xiongfei felt somewhat uneasy upon seeing Lin Tianyun¡¯s slightly youthful face. After all, the Lin Family was now the Sect Overlord of the He Family, and it was no exaggeration to say that the life or death and even the developments for the next hundred years of the He Family depended entirely on the Lin Family¡¯s whims. ... The sudden visit by the Lin Family was perplexing as they did not know the underlying purpose. Fortunately, the Lin Family had always kept a low profile, had a good reputation in the past, and was relatively fair in their dealings; they were not the type of family to simply oppress others. Up to now, the Lin Family had only interacted with the Zhenyang Sect in terms of territory handover, visiting only once because of the handover process along with the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Executive Officer. After explaining the situation to the He Family and mentioning that the Sect Master would leave in a hurry after four months, they had left. Since then, the Lin Family had not sent anyone over nor had any news come out. Today, with the Lin Family dispatching people for the first time, the He Family had to proceed cautiously. Thinking of this, He Xiongfei feigned composure, maintained his usual expression, and then took the lead in breaking the silence. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°I am He Xiongfei, the current Clan Leader of the He Family!¡± ¡°On behalf of the hundreds of our clan members, I welcome the two esteemed cultivators.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianyun smiled lightly; then he regained his composure. He politely replied, ¡°Clan Leader He is too kind!¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I am Lin Tianyun, have long heard of the He Family¡¯s long heritage, and seeing it today, it indeed stands out!¡± After the polite exchange, Lin Tianqu, who stood beside, also rose and bowed to He Xiongfei. After all, Lin Tianqu was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, and according to the unspoken rules of the Cultivation World, even though he was from a Golden Core Family, he should show respect to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Seeing this, He Xiongfei did not dare to presume and quickly waved his hand to indicate that Lin Tianqu need not be overly courteous. Then, He Xiongfei politely invited Lin Tianyun and the other to drink tea and casually chatted about trivial family matters to familiarize themselves with one another. After the tea circulated three times, they gradually became more familiar, and the atmosphere was no longer tense. At that moment, He Xiongfei shifted the conversation and earnestly asked, ¡°Lin, may I know if there are any directives from the elders of your esteemed clan for visiting today?¡± ¡°Whatever the matter, feel free to speak!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, now that our He Family remains in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, we will look up to your noble clan for guidance. Should there be any requests, the He Family will spare no effort and will not hesitate to die a thousand times!¡± He Xiongfei spoke with a determined expression, not beating around the bush, and explicitly expressed his loyalty. Lin Tianyun felt very satisfied hearing these words. Subsequently, he waved his sleeve, and a jade slip flew out, steadily stopping in front of He Xiongfei. Seeing this, He Xiongfei showed a puzzled expression. Nevertheless, he still collected the jade slip and immediately opened it to check the text inside. Pretty soon, He Xiongfei politely smiled, and his expression quickly relaxed a great deal. In his heart, he sighed a huge sigh of relief. In fact, He Xiongfei had also secretly speculated about the intentions behind Lin Tianyun and others¡¯ visit, but he was not sure. The content recorded in the jade slip was about the specific time for the Lin Family¡¯s alliance gathering, inviting many families controlled by the Lin Family within the Seven Great Mountain Ranges to come together at Green Bamboo Mountain. Such events were not uncommon in the Cultivation World. According to some records, many Golden Elixir Forces born in the Wei Kingdom over thousands of years had organized an alliance ceremony after obtaining a substantial new territory. The purpose of this was simple and meaningful. First, it was to collect congratulatory gifts from affiliated forces; after all, when those affiliated arrived, they couldn¡¯t come empty-handed. Second, it was to meet the people from these affiliated forces and use this opportunity to solidify their allegiance. By now, almost a year had passed since the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect had finalized the transfer of several mountain ranges. During this time, the Lin Family had yet to hold an alliance meeting or spread any news, leading many families to speculate. Now, although the timing of the alliance meeting was somewhat delayed, it had finally arrived. Meanwhile, the Lin Family seemed to attach great importance to this meeting. While hosting the meeting, they also planned to hold a grand auction at the nearby Luoyun Market. In addition, the Lin Family organized sparring events, offering generous rewards to attract many families to send participants voluntarily. Such an unconventional alliance meeting was indeed a novelty. Understanding this, He Xiongfei¡¯s anxiety eased, followed by a knowing smile. ¡°Ha ha¡­ so it¡¯s about the alliance meeting!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, the Wei Kingdom has suffered many disasters over the past decade. Now that peace has finally been restored, it¡¯s indeed a grand occasion for the nobility to invite cultivators from various families to gather in the Southern Wei Kingdom and celebrate.¡± ¡°Tian Yun, rest assured, with such a grand event being held, our He Family will definitely send representatives and will arrive at the nobility before the alliance meeting starts.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyun nodded in satisfaction. Soon after conveying the message about the alliance meeting, Lin Tianyun did not plan to delay further. After a brief chat with He Xiongfei, he expressed his intention to leave. Seeing this, He Xiongfei hurriedly made some polite offers to retain him, inviting Lin Tianyun to stay at the He Family grounds for a few days to fully extend their hospitality. While He Xiongfei was sincere, Lin Tianyun had no intention of staying long. Thus, Lin Tianyun declined He Xiongfei¡¯s invitation, citing the need to continue delivering messages to other families. Seeing Lin Tianyun¡¯s resolute attitude, He Xiongfei did not insist further. He personally saw them off, and during Lin Tianyun¡¯s departure from the He Family grounds, he discreetly pulled out two storage bags and forcefully handed them to Lin Tianyun and his companion. Unable to refuse further, Lin Tianyun accepted He Xiongfei¡¯s meeting gifts on the spot. He did this not because he coveted the bribes. After all, with his talent and strength, the family had always prioritized his cultivation, providing him with all the resources a cultivator below the Golden Core Stage could desire. He Xiongfei, recognizing this and seeing Lin Tianyun¡¯s youthful appearance yet advanced cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Stage, knew his talent must be extraordinary. For such a genius cultivator, especially from a Sect Overlord like the He Family, He Xiongfei naturally wanted to establish a good relationship early on. Thus, He Xiongfei decisively offered many Spirit Stones and resources to Lin Tianyun, considering it a long-term investment. In his view, establishing a good relationship with a talented member of the Lin Family might bear fruit in the future. After all, such practices were commonplace in the Cultivation World, especially among prodigious disciples from major forces. Lin Tianyun was aware of this unspoken rule and thus did not refuse He Xiongfei¡¯s gesture. With He Xiongfei¡¯s personal farewell, Lin Tianyun and his companion left the He Family grounds. Then, they mounted a Purple Gold Eagle and flew westward, continuing their journey to the next Foundation Establishing Family to convey the message of the alliance meeting. A similar scene was unfolding simultaneously in other mountain ranges controlled by the Lin Family. For this alliance meeting, the family had dispatched seven groups of family members, each heading to the territories under the Lin Family¡¯s control. These family members were to visit some relatively powerful family forces and convey the specific details of the alliance meeting. The group containing Lin Tianyun was just one of these groups. ¡­ Chapter 1001 03-25 - 1001 530 Advancing to Third Order ?Chapter 1001: Chapter 530: Advancing to Third Order Alchemist Chapter 1001: Chapter 530: Advancing to Third Order Alchemist Green Bamboo Mountain, inside Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming was at that moment refining elixirs. It was nearly the critical moment of the alchemy process. He was completely focused, his sharp eyes and powerful Divine Sense constantly monitoring the inside and outside of the Qingyun Furnace before him. Such actions and concentration continued, and the fragrance in the Pill Refining Room grew increasingly rich. After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, Lin Tianming suddenly issued a light shout. ¡°Condense!¡± ... That instant, his voice echoed within the Pill Refining Room. Below the Qingyun Furnace, the Blue Heart True Flame suddenly leaped, and a special sound emanated from within the furnace. Following that, a unique medicinal fragrance overflowed, quickly filling the entire Pill Refining Room. At this moment, feeling the scent in the air and seeing the two greenish elixirs lying within the furnace, Lin Tianming¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯ve finally succeeded!¡± In his excitement, Lin Tianming immediately took out the two elixirs from the furnace and carefully observed them in the palm of his hand. At the same time, he took out a Yuxu Pill he had acquired from his storage bag to make a thorough comparison. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At a glance, the three Yuxu Pills appeared almost identical in color and size; even the patterns on the pills were not much different. Feeling the medicinal fragrance wafting towards him, and that same mild taste, the three elixirs were practically indistinguishable. However, the two elixirs he had refined had a better surface luster, giving off a feeling of being somewhat more full-bodied. This was to be expected. Because the single pill he had taken out for comparison, it was unknown who had made it and when it had been refined. Key to this, like elixirs and Spiritual Medicines, such Spiritual Objects will gradually lose their potency over time if stored beyond a certain duration. While the potency of elixirs diminishes slowly, over a long period, the luster and fullness of the pills can be affected to varying degrees. What¡¯s more, each Alchemist has different skills; some minor differences in the same type of elixir were not so strange. In contrast, the two elixirs he had refined were freshly out of the furnace, obviously having better luster and fullness. Thus, it was not surprising that there were such minute differences between the three elixirs. Since this was the case, after comparing, Lin Tianming was highly certain that the two elixirs he refined were indeed genuine Yuxu Pills. Under these circumstances, since he had independently refined a batch of Yuxu Pills, it was enough to prove that he had become a Third Order Alchemy Master. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, unable to conceal the smile on his face. Over the past four months or so, he had always been in the Pill Refining Room, successively refining five batches of Yuxu Pills. The first four batches all ended in failure due to various reasons. However, Lin Tianming was not discouraged; after each failure, he would readjust his state and meticulously study the specific reasons for the failures. Otherwise, he would not easily proceed to refine the next batch of pills. With such a cautious attitude, at last, he succeeded in refining two Yuxu Pills in the fifth batch. The Yuxu Pills he refined this time also had very decent medicinal quality, not at all inferior to those he had obtained. Furthermore, the number of pills produced was considerable, at least reaching the expectations Lin Tianming had in mind. Although the quantity of two pills seemed much less compared to when refining Second Order Pills, this was because the higher the grade of the pill, the more difficult it was to refine. As the difficulty escalated, the success rate for Third Order Pills significantly decreased, and the number of pills produced per batch could not be compared with the production of First and Second Order Pills. According to various records and word of mouth among Alchemists, the difficulty of refining Third Order and above pills multiplied, and the maximum number of pills produced was often no more than five. Beyond that, reaching a 30% success rate and producing three pills were considered passing, and one could be counted as stepping into the grade of a Third Order Alchemy Master. Therefore, usually, even for refining the simplest Yuxu Pills, being able to produce three pills in one go was considered a high yield. Very few people in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World could reach such a standard. When he initially refined Second Order Pills, even for Foundation Establishment Pills which were difficult, producing six or seven pills in one go was not unusual at all. In fact, even for the most difficult Second Order Hun Tian Pills, he had never produced fewer than five pills per batch. Comparing this, one could see the difficulty of refining Third Order Pills. Also, precisely because of this, Third Order resources and treasures were becoming increasingly scarce, and Third Order Alchemy Masters even rarer, causing the value of Third Order Pills to skyrocket. Such a scenario led to a chain reaction. The most common result was that there were so few Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and even fewer Late Stage Golden Core Experts due to a severe lack of High Order resources. On the other hand, any Golden Core Sect within Wei Kingdom would have at least a thousand Foundation Establishment Disciples. Looking at the Golden Core Cultivator level, there would only be a scarce twenty or so people in any given period. Through such a comparison, one could see the reason for the scarcity of High Order Cultivators. And now, Lin Tianming who had successfully refined the Yuxu Pill, had formally entered the ranks of Third Order Alchemy Masters. Chapter 1002 03-25 - 1002 530 Promotion to Third Order ?Chapter 1002: Chapter 530: Promotion to Third Order Alchemist_2 Chapter 1002: Chapter 530: Promotion to Third Order Alchemist_2 ¡°` At this moment, Lin Tianming was looking at the two Yuxu Pills in front of him, revealing a look of satisfaction. In his heart, he was very pleased with this batch of elixirs he had refined. After all, it had only been a little over four months since he began this retreat, and he had only refined five portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials to produce two Yuxu Pills. Such a rate of progress could not be described as anything but rapid. If another Second Order Alchemist were to do it, it would take at least a year or two, and consume at least a dozen or more portions of materials to possibly advance to a Third Order Alchemy Master. Comparatively, if word of his speed made it out, it would certainly shock many. But he also understood that his smooth advancement to a Third Order Alchemy Master was largely due to the Eye of Five Colors and the Blue Heart True Flame. ... Besides those, his powerful Divine Sense, as well as the use of a Third Order Alchemy Furnace, he had all the best conditions one could have. With such excellent conditions, it was not so surprising to have succeeded in such a short time. Realizing this, Lin Tianming gradually calmed down. Next, he still had several portions of Yuxu Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials, as well as some for Spirit Dragon Pills and the like. This large batch of Spiritual Medicine resources was mostly accumulated over the years, with some obtained from the Family¡¯s Treasure Vault. Now that he had plenty of materials, he could sustain a long period of continuous refining. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? With such resources at his disposal, Lin Tianming planned to recover his state before continuing to strike while the iron was hot and refine all the Spiritual Medicine Materials. Since he had plenty of time at the moment, he could continue with Alchemy to improve his pill formation rate and quantity before attempting the more challenging Dry Jade Pill. Once the Dry Jade Pill was refined, he would be back on the proper track with his cultivation. With that thought in mind, Lin Tianming did not delay any further. Soon after, he began to practice breathing exercises, adjusting the state he had depleted during the refining process. When his state returned to its peak, he resumed the fervent and bustling process of Alchemy. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, in the hall of the Elders¡¯ Council at the mountainside. At this very moment, many people were coming in and out of the hall, and in the deepest part of the hall, Lin Shihua was instructing a few clan members on something. Just then, someone entered the room, immediately catching Lin Shihua¡¯s attention. He looked excited and hurriedly waved his hand and called out, ¡°Xingrong, you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°Greetings to the Clan Leader, greetings to my fellow clan members!¡± Lin Xingrong quickly saluted with a cupped fist, then nodded and greeted the other clan members with a broad smile on his face. ¡°Haha¡­ Xingrong, come sit!¡± Lin Shihua waved his hand and then gave a command to the few clan members in front of him. ¡°Carry out the plan as discussed, you may leave now!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Upon receiving the command, the clan members unanimously replied. They then respectfully bowed to Lin Shihua and nodded to Lin Xingrong, before slowly making their exit. Seeing the clan members leave, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction, then gestured for Lin Xingrong to sit down. Afterward, with a smile in his eyes, Lin Shihua asked, ¡°Xingrong, how did the handover procedures go in the Changfeng Mountain Range territories?¡± ¡°Reporting to the Clan Leader, I have lived up to your expectations; the trip to Huangyang Kingdom was very smooth.¡± ¡°Up to now, all the families that remained in place have been visited by our clan members, and all procedures have been completed in handover with the disciples of the Qingyun Sect.¡± ¡°Now that we have the contract procedures and have gotten a clear picture of those families¡¯ general affairs, those territories have officially come under the control of our Lin Family.¡± Lin Xingrong replied with a laugh, his face showing a hint of excitement that concealed the traces of fatigue. Speaking of it, over the past few years, he had been running back and forth non-stop, first to the Qianchuan Mountain Range to handle territory handovers with the people of Zhenyang Sect. As soon as he finished his task there, he hurriedly changed direction and headed to Huangyang Kingdom. ¡°` For over two years, he had been incessantly busy. At the same time, as the person in charge of the Lin Family¡¯s transition of territory, he also had to deal with those complex interpersonal relations and many unpredictable issues; he had truly been mentally and physically exhausted over the past two years. Now, he had finally fulfilled the task the Clan Leader had entrusted to him without letting down the expectations of his elders. Adding to that, he had successfully returned to the clan; how could this not excite him? At this moment, Lin Xingrong, feeling light-hearted, had a rosy complexion and internally heaved a sigh of relief as if a burden had been lifted. Lin Shihua, hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s report, was even more thrilled and felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart. He understood how truly thorny the handover process had been and that Lin Xingrong had dealt with it in the shortest possible time with considerable effort and thought. ¡°Good¡­ that¡¯s really great!¡± Lin Shihua exclaimed excitedly, then reassuringly said, ¡°Xingrong, you did very well!¡± ¡°These past two years have been tough on you; with no other significant issues in the clan, you should just stay and rest well on the clan grounds.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Twelfth Uncle, you are too kind!¡± Lin Xingrong graciously replied before continuing, ¡°As a member of the Lin Family, this was my duty, after all!¡± ¡°However, upon my return to the clan, I heard about the matter of convening; now that those few mountain ranges also belong to the Lin Family Territory, I wonder if we should also inform those other families?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, and he was genuinely pleased that Lin Xingrong had thought of this. In fact, the clan had already made a decision to send messengers to those five mountain ranges in the near future, issuing invites to the other families that remained there for the convocation. It was just that Lin Xingrong had not been back, so the clan was unclear on the specific progress of the transition and had not yet assigned the task. Now that Lin Xingrong was back, it was naturally time to move this matter up the agenda. With this thought, Lin Shihua smiled and said, ¡°Your guess is correct, Xingrong. I was just planning on instructing the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to issue a task so that the clan members who accept the task can go and deliver the message about the meeting.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Now that many families have left those mountains, there¡¯s no immediate danger; if Foundation Establishment Cultivators go, they should be able to complete the messenger mission rather quickly.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingrong responded earnestly, his expression tranquil. He felt extremely satisfied with the safety of the new territories. Lin Shihua, hearing this and seeing Lin Xingrong¡¯s assured demeanor, had no further concerns. Thus, he immediately sent out a communication asking the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to prepare for a new round of messenger missions. Before long, the Family Affairs Hall began issuing the messenger tasks, which quickly caused a stir among some of the clan¡¯s cultivators. After all, the messenger tasks were incredibly easy and came with benefits; those clanspeople eligible for the task had been eyeing it eagerly. As expected by the clan, those individuals now hurried towards the Family Affairs Hall. While they clamored over the tasks, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingrong casually chatted for a while and discussed some family affairs. Not much later, Lin Xingrong took his leave and headed toward his Cave Mansion. Several days later, in the early morning, several groups from the Lin Family Clan Grounds joined together and left the territory, flying southward towards the Changfeng Mountain Range. After more than ten days of travel, these teams eventually reached their destinations. Subsequently, the messengers, following the list provided by the family, visited each local family big and small to pass on the Lin Family¡¯s convening news. As word spread, the mountain ranges suddenly buzzed with activity. At once, all the family powers, as well as some Loose Cultivators, began discussing the event. Concerning the meeting, some family powers had anticipated it and made some preparations in advance. Now that the Lin Family had indeed sent envoys, they were careful to welcome them and promised to attend the gathering on time. Once the Lin Family¡¯s envoys had accomplished their mission and received their rewards, they left the various mountain ranges, satisfied and set off on their journey back to the clan. ¡­ Chapter 1003 03-25 - 1003 531 Dry Jade Pill ?Chapter 1003: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill Chapter 1003: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill Time hastened, and a year and a half had swiftly passed. At this moment, the date of Lin Family¡¯s alliance meeting was drawing ever closer. Right now, outside the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, More than ten clanspeople, under the leadership of Lin Xingzhi, were seated on a high platform at the Sect Entrance Plaza. Looking around, these ten plus clanspeople were uniformly dressed in blue Taoist robes, embroidered with the Lin Family¡¯s clan insignia on the chest. Seated on the high platform, each held their backs straight, their expressions and bearing lofty, looking exceptionally spirited. As the day of the meeting approached, the clan had also started to get busy, and the atmosphere within the clan was extraordinarily lively. As for the ten plus clanspeople here, they were primarily from the Enforcement Hall and Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. ... They were present under the assignment of Lin Shihua, with Lin Xingzhi, at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, responsible for leading the team to guard the Sect Entrance and specifically receiving the cultivators coming for the meeting. At the same time, if anyone failed to maintain order or openly caused trouble, Lin Xingzhi, as the Law Enforcement Hall Master, and others, would naturally not stand idly by. And looking at the current conditions, such incidents seemed unlikely to occur! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, as the host and one of the three major Golden Core Forces in Wei Kingdom, their overall strength was by no means inferior to the other two ancient Golden Core Sects. Facing such a behemoth, how could the clan cultivators reliant on the Lin Family dare to cause trouble under their watch? Moreover, holding their lifelines, regardless of the size or the powers of these families, they must adhere to the Lin Family¡¯s rules if they wished to develop smoothly in the future. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 In fact, over the last few days, numerous cultivators had been continuously arriving. Even the Foundation Establishment Cultivators would stop their Sword Flight tens of miles away and walk to the Sect Entrance. For these Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Lin Xingzhi personally received them, and then they were led by the clanspeople into the clan to rest. The Qi Refining Clanspeople received those in the Qi Refinement Stage, responsible for arranging the dwellings in the cave mansions. For this alliance meeting, the Lin Family had prepared well in advance. Several months earlier, they had temporarily constructed more than a thousand courtyards at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain, specially to accommodate the cultivators coming for the meeting. Now, as the day of the meeting drew near, out of the more than ten mountains controlled by the Lin Family, dozens of powers had sent representatives to participate. As more and more cultivators arrived, the newly built area of cave mansions also began to bustle. At this moment, at the Sect Entrance, Lin Xingzhi and others remained seated in their places. Outside the Sect, several cultivators walked towards them in groups. Seeing the people approaching from outside, Lin Xingzhi glanced and then issued an instruction to a clansperson beside him. Then, a Qi Stage Clan Member stood up from the Mountain Protection Array and appeared in front of those few incoming cultivators. From a distance, those cultivators greeted and introduced themselves to the clansperson. Soon, according to the list provided by the family, the clansperson confirmed that the several cultivators indeed came from the forces currently under the Lin Family¡¯s twelve controlled mountains. Then, the clansperson led them into the family¡¯s territory to arrange their cave mansions. Watching these cultivators leave the Sect Entrance, the remaining clanspeople were extremely excited, their expressions filled with pride. Over the past ten days, they had already seen numerous cultivators arrive. Among these early arriving cultivators, most were from Qi Refining Families, and the representatives sent were all in the Qi Refinement Realm, with cultivations ranging from the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement to Great Perfection. These people¡¯s cultivations were not high, and the overall strength of their families paled in comparison to the Lin Family. For the Lin Family, which had recently risen to prominence, all these cultivators were deeply respectful. Seeing these clanspeople, they all behaved with deep respect, making everyone profoundly feel the power of their family. As those few cultivators left and finally disappeared from sight, the crowd of clanspeople present were excited beyond measure. Then, a clansperson began to speak, ¡°Those fellow cultivators are from Changfeng Mountain Range, coming rather early!¡± ¡°Exactly¡­ the early arrivals these past few days are mostly from farther places, totaling several dozen clan powers by now, right?¡± ¡°Heh, our family hasn¡¯t been this lively in a long time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing!¡± ¡°In my opinion, when all the forces have arrived, there will be at least several hundred, and possibly even over a thousand!¡± ¡­ The clanspeople discussed with excitement etching their features. At that moment, Lin Xingzhi looked at the clanspeople, his expression stern, but his heart was extremely excited and exhilarated. In his heart, he had witnessed the significant transformations of the family, from the precariousness of decades ago to the current fame and recognition from all directions. Now the Lin Family controlled more than a dozen mountain ranges as their territory, with several Golden Core Stage combat powers, the Lin Family¡¯s prestige echoed throughout Wei Kingdom. Even in the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World, the Lin Family was a well-known entity. This immense transformation, the Xing generation and Tian generation clanspeople, had all been personally involved. Now with the family firmly established in Wei Kingdom, other powers¡¯ cultivators, and even some Loose Cultivators, spoke of the Lin Family with deep awe. These changes and influences they had witnessed, feeling deeply proud and honored from the bottom of their hearts. After calming themselves slightly, Lin Xingzhi cleared his throat with a light cough, breaking up the idle conversation of the clanspeople. ¡°In recent days, many cultivators have come to our clan grounds to participate in the meeting. Let¡¯s all stay alert and not become the laughingstock of others!¡± Chapter 1004 03-25 - 1004 531 Dry Jade Pill_2 ?Chapter 1004: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_2 Chapter 1004: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_2 Lin Xingzhi chided loudly, causing everyone present to stop their discussions immediately. They then paid full attention, focusing on every movement outside. Seeing this, Lin Xingzhi nodded satisfactorily and then closed his eyes to rest. In a Pill Refining Room on the top of the main peak, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze was fixed on the two elixirs lying inside the Qingyun Furnace, his expression filled with joy. After calming himself a bit, he picked up one elixir and placed it on his palm, then carefully examined it. The elixir was fiery red, with a glossy, plump surface, and it constantly emitted a strong medicinal fragrance. Just smelling it made one¡¯s Qi-Blood boil slightly. After confirming repeatedly, he was sure that this was undoubtedly a Dry Jade Pill. ... At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed with excitement. For more than a year, he had spent his time inside the Pill Refining Room, either engaging in Alchemy or cultivating to recover his condition. After over a year of continuous attempts, he had refined more than ten furnaces of Third Order Pills, including using up most of the Spiritual Medicine Materials needed for the Yuxu Pill. Now, his success rate in refining Yuxu Pills had stabilized above thirty percent. As for the number of successful pills, it generally remained above three. Sometimes, with good luck, a single batch could yield up to four pills. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? More crucially, after only four attempts at refining Dry Jade Pills, he managed to produce them successfully. Although the success rate and the number of pills were slightly inferior to the Yuxu Pill, this was because the Dry Jade Pill was considerably more difficult to make. Even so, having reached this level of proficiency in such a short time had already met his expectations. Under such circumstances, having now obtained the long-awaited Dry Jade Pill and having stabilized his proficiency as a Third Order Alchemy Master, he planned to refine some more pills during subsequent closed-door cultivation sessions to stabilize the success rate and yield of the Dry Jade Pill completely. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. However, as the day of the clan gathering approached, he wanted to continue striking while the iron was hot and refine more Dry Jade Pills. As of now, he had more than ten sets of Spiritual Medicine Materials. If all were refined, at least one-third could succeed. With some luck, acquiring another ten to twenty Dry Jade Pills was not altogether impossible. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming suppressed his impulsive desire and then tidied up the Pill Refining Room, before beginning to practice and recover his condition. Several days later, S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming, having fully recovered, walked out of the Pill Refining Room and appeared in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Soon after, he was in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. Upon seeing him, Lin Shikang greeted him, then invited Lin Tianming to sit down. ¡°Tianming, was your closed-door cultivation this time smooth?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming chuckled. ¡°Third Grandfather, this session went quite smoothly. I have successfully refined the Yuxu Pill, and both the success rate and the number of pills are considerable.¡± After responding with a smile, Lin Tianming casually took out several Yuxu Pills and tossed them to Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang examined the Yuxu Pills; they were indeed glossy, plump, and even contained a trace of Lin Tianming¡¯s essence. Such characteristics clearly indicated that these pills had been refined not long ago. Sure of this, Lin Shikang became even more joyful. ¡°You lad, whether in cultivation or Alchemy, your growth rate is simply terrifying!¡± Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but exclaim with admiration, feeling inwardly reassured. After speaking, Lin Shikang handed back the Yuxu Pills to Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly waved his hand, ¡°Third Grandfather, please keep these Yuxu Pills for yourself. I still have some pills on me, enough to last for more than ten years.¡± Hearing these words and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s calm expression, which did not seem deceitful, and considering that Lin Tianming himself was an Alchemist who could continue to refine such pills, it seemed unlikely he would lack them. Thus, Lin Shikang did not push back any further and kept the Yuxu Pills. Then, the two of them drank tea and chatted for a while. During this time, Lin Tianming also inquired about the progress of the clan gathering and whether the family was ready. Since the day of the clan gathering was drawing near, only a few more days remained. The family had been preparing for this event for a long time. Now that the day had finally arrived, naturally, they wanted to make the event lively and achieve their initial goals to avoid being ridiculed by external forces and other cultivators. According to Lin Shikang, the preparations for the gathering were ready. Meanwhile, of the twelve mountains under the Lin Family¡¯s command, representatives from over six hundred families had already arrived at the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Among these representatives, tens came from Foundation Establishing Families, while the rest were from Qi Refining Families. These were just the people who had arrived in the last month. In the past few days, although the number of arriving cultivators was not as high as during the peak period, most were from Foundation Establishing Families with cultivation mostly at the Foundation Establishment Stage. If everything went as planned, by the day before the gathering, nearly a thousand families would have accumulated at the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Among these many family forces, nearly a hundred would be Foundation Establishing Families, successively sending representatives to the Lin Family. As for the rest, they were all Qi Refining Families. Chapter 1005 03-25 - 1005 531 Dry Jade Pill_3 ?Chapter 1005: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_3 Chapter 1005: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_3 Lin Tianming nodded at the statement, his mind having made rough estimates quite early. After all, the seven mountain ranges of the Wei Kingdom were not far from the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and the interactions between them were rather frequent. Therefore, the Lin Family had captured rough numbers and detailed intelligence on how many family powers within these mountain ranges¡ªwhich had long been part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory¡ªexisted. Setting aside a portion of families that had migrated away, the Lin Family could calculate about how many remained in their original places, willing to accept the Lin Family¡¯s protection. As for the five mountain ranges handed over by the Qingyun Sect, although there were quite a few families that had moved away¡ªa much higher proportion than in the Qianchuan Mountain Range¡ªit was not as easy to calculate. However, when Lin Tianming returned from Five Poison Mountain, he had also passed through several mountain ranges, gaining some basic information about the local situation. Based on the judgments of the families that had left, he could make a pretty accurate guess. ... Under such circumstances, when Lin Tianming heard the number of families mentioned by Lin Shikang, he already had an expectation in his mind. Generally speaking, the families that came here were those who recognized the protection of the Lin Family. In the days to come, while enjoying the protection of the Lin Family, they would also have to be at the Lin Family¡¯s call. Currently, these powers had all arrived at the Lin Family Clan Grounds and were uniformly arranged to wait in the courtyard area at the foot of the main peak. In a few more days, it would be the official time of the alliance meeting. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, the representatives of these powers would come out of their Cave Mansions to attend a grand meeting. During this period, the Lin Family Patriarch would publicly announce the Lin Family¡¯s many policies, along with various rules. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï At the same time, representatives of these powers would also present their family¡¯s congratulatory gifts for the successful hosting of the alliance meeting. Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang, always as the strongest of the Lin Family, would also appear at the council meeting. Doing so was also to showcase some of the Lin Family¡¯s strength, to intimidate these family representatives, so that in the days to come, they wouldn¡¯t dare harbor any second thoughts. Speaking of which, such matters were actually not uncommon in the Cultivation World. Even long ago, the downfall of some long-standing Golden Elixir Forces was due not only to their overall decline in strength but also to the certain roles played by their affiliated powers. The weakening of the Sect Overlord¡¯s power diminished their influence. As well as the excessive oppression and severe exploitation of affiliated powers, some of them began to harbor other thoughts. Thus, some of the stronger powers secretly united, hoping to seize the opportunity to overthrow the Sect Overlord and take their place. Under these factors, coupled with schemes from external enemies, Golden Elixir Forces in the Cultivation World met their demise. Such events, across the hundreds of thousands of years of history in the Cultivation World, were actually not rare. Now that the Lin Family had also become a Sect Overlord, to avoid repeating the mistakes of predecessors, it was natural to be constantly on guard against this. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s public appearance with another, besides showing some strength, was good for intimidating the attendees. Even towards the attitudes of those powers, it was necessary to reprimand those that needed it and support those that deserved it, trying to firmly control these family powers in hand. Lin Tianming was a smart man; with a bit of thought, he understood the deep intentions behind this and readily agreed. Afterward, Lin Tianming also chatted with Lin Shikang for a while. During this, they confirmed some details of the alliance meeting, and Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Shikang, returning to his own Cave Mansion. ¡­ Chapter 1006 03-25 - 1006 532 The Great Assembly of Hundreds ?Chapter 1006: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of Hundreds of Clans Chapter 1006: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of Hundreds of Clans Several days later. Green Bamboo Mountain, at the plaza in front of the mountain gate. At the break of dawn, the Lin Family Clan Grounds bustled with activity, not only due to the normal movement of the Lin Family Members but also because many people were busy at the plaza. Simultaneously, a large number of cultivators emerged from the Temporary Cave Abode, gathering together to chat at leisure while waiting for the Cultivation Meeting assembly to be held. Meanwhile, at the plaza, some Lin Family Members had started to get busy; among them, some were placing meditation cushions while others were arranging the conference area. It seemed that there were more than a thousand meditation cushions in number, all neatly laid out, spaced at intervals from one another. In just a short while, this vast plaza was filled with meditation cushions, stretching out of sight. ... At the highest platform of the plaza, there were also three seats side by side in the middle position. These spots were the highest and most conspicuous, with an excellent view, clearly reserved for the highest ranking members of the Lin Family. After a short time, the area was mostly set up. At this moment, the busy crowd gathered together, with Xing Zhi, at the forefront, looked over the scene and nodded in satisfaction. Following that, he instructed more than ten clan members beside him. Promptly, these members dispersed, following Xingzhi¡¯s instructions to summon the cultivating participants to come. Besides that, some clan members also gathered others to come here not only to observe the assembly but also to maintain order at the scene. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï With Xing Zhi¡¯s arrangement, soon some cultivators entered the arena. This group was sizable; after greeting Xing Zhi, they sat down in designated spots arranged by the Lin Family Members. These cultivators were all from the Qi Refinement Realm, all hailing from Qi Refining Families within certain mountain ranges. Under the arrangement of the Lin Family, they were grouped together based on their mountain range, allowing the cultivators to be fairly acquainted with each other. After these people sat down, some acquaintances began to engage in private conversations, waiting for the meeting to begin. Subsequently, cultivators continued to arrive in succession and took their seats in various designated areas. After a while had passed, the area of the plaza closest to the mountain gate, filled up with cultivators. Looking around, all these thousands of meditation cushions were occupied by cultivators, discussing among themselves, with many comments flattering the Lin Family. At the rearward section of the plaza, the frontmost two hundred or so meditation cushions remained empty. These spots were closer to the platform and relatively better situated than those of the Qi Refining Cultivators. Clearly, these seats were reserved for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Indeed, the gap between Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators, including Qi Refining Families and Foundation Establishing Families, was significant. As the saying goes, with differences in cultivation come differences in rank and thus in the quality of seating. For those from Foundation Establishing Families and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family naturally paid much more attention. Consequently, these front row seats were all prepared for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As time gradually passed, subsequently, nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered. Among these individuals, some came alone, while others arrived in groups of three to five. Led by members of the Lin Family, they were also seated in the assigned places. Once all the participating cultivators had arrived, the entire plaza had no empty seats. By this time, the atmosphere had grown lively with fervent discussions among the cultivators; even before the meeting started, the mood had reached a crescendo. Shortly afterward, Lin Shihua flew out from within the clan, slowly descending onto the platform. His appearance immediately captured the attention of all cultivators, and the noisy atmosphere calmed down. Following that, the cultivators on-site stood up and bowed towards the platform. At the same time, some Foundation Establishment Cultivators also started greeting Lin Shihua with smiles. Seeing this reaction, Lin Shihua chuckled, his face glowing as he bowed back to the thousand or so cultivators below. His demeanor was rather calm, and his tone was extremely courteous, without putting on much airs. Among the cultivators below, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were relatively composed. However, the Qi Refining Cultivators were excited, with their comments filled with compliments, seemingly trying to catch Lin Shihua¡¯s attention. After all, the overall strength of the Lin Family was formidable, particularly compared to that of the Qi Refining Families. And with Lin Shihua serving as the Lin Family Patriarch, although his cultivation was only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, his status was sufficiently high. Moreover, as the Sect Overlord of these families, the Lin Family played a crucial role in their continued development. Concerning Golden Core Stage Experts of the Lin Family, their status was even more esteemed, making them hardly accessible. In this context, Clan Leader Lin Shihua was the highest-ranking individual from the Lin Family that they could connect with. As such, many people were eager to be noticed by Lin Shihua, to strengthen their ties with the Lin Family. Even more, obtaining the support of the Lin Family could give their own families a head start in future developments. With this purpose in mind, many of the cultivators present, mostly from Qi Refining Families but also some from Foundation Establishing Families, shared this sentiment. Chapter 1007 03-25 - 1007 532 The Great Assembly of a ?Chapter 1007: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of a Hundred Tribes_2 Chapter 1007: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of a Hundred Tribes_2 Lin Shihua had anticipated the thoughts of these people. After all, he had been serving as the Lin Family Patriarch for nearly a hundred years. With so many years of experience, he had become a person of meticulous thought. With just a little contemplation, he could understand the cultivators¡¯ thoughts. Thus, Lin Shihua was quite calm, and without neglecting anyone, he did not readily express his stance. In his view, the Lin Family¡¯s strength was formidable anyway. The Lin Family clan stood as a Sect Overlord, always controlling the lifeline of these people. With such conditions, the Lin Family need not compromise with these minor forces. Understanding this point, Lin Shihua casually greeted some cultivators in the front row, then chatted for a bit. When the sunlight crossed the peaks and shone on the square, Lin Shihua felt it was about time. ... He stood up, looked down at the many cultivators below, and then slowly said, ¡°The auspicious time has come; the assembly begins!¡± ¡°Fellow daoists, I am Lin Shihua, Clan Leader of the Lin Family, and on behalf of the Lin Family, I welcome everyone to the assembly.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, immediately some began to offer compliments. ¡°Haha¡­ Chief Lin is too kind. It is an honor for all of us, cultivators from various great families, to attend such an assembly!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± ¡°To be affiliated with the Lin Family, and henceforth under the protection of the Lin Family, our families will surely flourish, and our strength will greatly increase¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Hearing the praises of the cultivators below, one after another, Lin Shihua, though always composed, felt quite gratified. For a moment, he felt a surge of excitement within him. And to speak of such a scene, it would be unrealistic to say he was not stirred. After all, such a bustling scene was something he had not even dared to dream of before, yet now it had become a reality. Thus, facing these minor forces aligned with the Lin Family, Lin Shihua¡¯s heart was filled with ripples. The reason being that he was the leader of a clan; from now on, he would have to manage the family forces present before him. It was foreseeable that he would be even busier in the future. After all, the thousand-plus cultivators present all hailed from twelve mountain ranges under the control of the Lin Family. After a meticulous tally by Lin Family members, over seven hundred families within the Lin Family¡¯s domain sent representatives to the assembly. Among them, seventy-seven were Foundation Establishing Families, and all the rest were Qi Refining Families. In these Foundation Establishing Families, about forty percent were originally affiliated with Qingyun Sect, all residing within the five mountain ranges acquired later. The rest of the Foundation Establishing Families came from territories under the Zhenyang Sect. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason why families originally from Huangyang Kingdom accounted for only forty percent of the total number was that most families on that domain moved their clan grounds before the transfer deadline. Regarding these relocating families, the Lin Family did not obstruct their departure. Now, only so many remained in the area, and all sent representatives to the assembly today. In actuality, following the departure of these relocating families, those mountain ranges were left quite vacant. At the very least, the five mountain ranges later acquired by the Lin Family covered a vast area, not at all smaller¡ªin fact, even larger¡ªthan the combined area of the seven mountain ranges obtained from Zhenyang Sect. These twelve mountain ranges varied in size, but even the smallest, Hengyang Mountain Range, was somewhat larger than Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family resided. Even the Songyuan Mountain Range and Lanling Mountain Range, originally belonging to Qingyun Sect, as well as the Qianchuan Mountain Range under Zhenyang Sect control¡ªbeing closer to the heartland of the country¡ªeach had an area equal to two of the Luoyun Mountain Ranges. With the transfer period approaching, nearly half the families had departed. Those once crowded mountain ranges also saw many treasured lands become vacant. Now, the families settled on these domains controlled by the Lin Family were relatively sparsely distributed. And for this matter, the Lin Family also made some long-term plans. Today¡¯s assembly was also to establish some rules and to reveal the family¡¯s layout for maximizing benefits. Thinking of these matters, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t intend to delay any longer. He waved his hand, breaking the noisy atmosphere. As the crowd quieted down, Lin Shihua spoke loudly, ¡°Fellow daoists, your presence at this assembly fills Lin Mou with immense satisfaction!¡± ¡°` ¡°Next, Lin Mou will read out the rules established by the Lin Family, and I hope that the clansmen behind each one of you fellow Daoists will abide by the rules!¡± ¡°Lin Mou is putting it plainly now, any family that knowingly violates these rules will be held accountable by our Lin Family!¡± As he spoke, Lin Shihua¡¯s tone became stern, his expression noticeably more serious, and supported by his Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivation aura, he immediately intimidated the crowd. Seeing that every cultivator below had a solemn expression, Lin Shihua shifted his tone. ¡°Hehe¡­My fellow Daoists need not be overly tense!¡± ¡°After all, our Lin Family¡¯s legacy is not long, and the territories we currently hold are quite vacant, with plenty of spirit land industries to go around.¡± ¡°Now that Wei Kingdom has just restored peace, it can be said to be in need of rebuilding.¡± ¡°In the future, as long as the major families comply with the rules, our Lin Family will naturally not be stingy; on the contrary, we will offer some resources and special policies to support certain powers.¡± ¡°You can certainly rest assured about this!¡± Hearing these words that combined both a soft and hard approach, the cultivators below reacted, and the atmosphere eased a great deal. In fact, some cultivators even quickly stood up, complementing the Lin Family while also not forgetting to show their loyalty. With someone taking the lead, immediately more cultivators began to speak up, and the scene momentarily became enthusiastic. Seeing this, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved his hand to the crowd below, suppressing the noisy atmosphere. Following that, Lin Shihua began to read out the various rules that the Lin Family had set. And these simple rules were in fact similar to those set by the Zhenyang Sect, which were also a basic order in the Cultivation World. It could even be said that if the Lin Family had not gone through this formality, those cultivators would still have been able to continue according to normal order, without creating a chaotic situation over minor disagreements or grudges. After all, strength has always been paramount in the Cultivation World. With absolute strength, even annihilating a sworn enemy would not lead the Sect Overlords to pursue the matter too aggressively. At any rate, as long as the interests of the Sect Overlords were not harmed, they would often turn a blind eye to certain issues. Such as the internal strife that occurred in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Zhenyang Sect could have stopped it in time had they wished. But since the battle did not last long and the Luoyun Mountain Range was remote and relatively barren, practically a place for free range, the Zhenyang Sect couldn¡¯t be bothered to manage such a minor location. It was for these reasons that the Lin Family was able to overthrow the Jin Family in a very short time without the Zhenyang Sect pursuing the matter. Now that the Lin Family had taken control of twelve mountain ranges and resolved the territorial limitations, it was natural to manage them properly. For this, the Lin Family had complemented the existing rules by filling in some common loopholes, aiming to firmly control all the several hundred families under their banner. Sure enough, after Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement, it quickly sparked heated discussion among the many cultivators. Generally speaking, the rules set by the Lin Family were not much different from those of the Zhenyang Sect and the Qingyun Sect. But the rules of the Lin Family were more comprehensive, with stricter control over disputes between different forces. At the same time, the Lin Family¡¯s control over the various spirit lands and workshops was also much stricter. In fact, the Lin Family took such measures mainly to prevent those powers from losing too much due to disagreements or interests. After all, with the twelve mountain ranges currently quite empty, should any crisis arise in the future, the cultivators summoned by the Lin Family would likely be of lower strength. Such a situation was not favorable for the Lin Family. Thus, the Lin Family commanded those families with disputes to put aside their prejudices and restrain themselves, to recuperate for a while before anything else. And those family cultivators below, after pondering for a moment, also had mixed views on the matter. In their eyes, although they would be subject to certain restrictions in the future, upon reflection, the Lin Family was also doing it for a long-term peaceful territory. And these were what most cultivators wanted to see. After all, no one wants to live in constant fear, nor do they wish for their families to be constantly embroiled in major wars, thus affecting the normal development of their families. Consequently, although there were intense conflicts between some families, even almost reaching an irreconcilable point, But due to the current formidable influence of the Lin Family, and the fact that the Lin Family was indeed willing to offer a portion of benefits as compensation, those cultivators with differing views could only let the matter go unresolved in the end. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1008 03-25 - 1008 533 Reorganizing the Territory ?Chapter 1008: Chapter 533: Reorganizing the Territory Chapter 1008: Chapter 533: Reorganizing the Territory As Lin Shihua finished reading the rules established by the Lin Family, the expressions of the cultivators present were varied, with some looking as usual, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. Others were half-doubtful and even started discussing with the cultivators beside them. For a time, the scene was extremely lively, causing the previously subsided heated atmosphere to reach a new mini-climax. Among those cultivators, in fact, each had their own stand. However, overall, the vast majority supported the rules set by the Lin Family. From the discussions of the cultivators, Lin Shihua heard various opinions, most of which were in favor of the Lin Family. Despite some dissenting views and discussions being true or false, or even opposition, under the absolute trend, no matter which power, the situation would be one where compromise was inevitable in the future. ... Lin Shihua understood this point, and the cultivators below understood it even more. Thus, after only a brief moment of discussion, a large number of cultivators began to express their loyalty. As for these people, Lin Shihua did not pay too much attention and was not much affected. In his eyes, as a Sect Overlord, the Lin Family now had enough capital to control them, and as long as there was no excessive oppression and exploitation, these people could not stir up trouble. Therefore, under his control, the alliance meeting continued. Next, Lin Shihua, in accordance with the preplanned agenda, announced several important decisions one after another. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï These decisions covered various aspects, the most noteworthy of which was the Lin Family¡¯s re-delineation of the twelve mountain ranges under its command. According to Lyn Shihua¡¯s announcement, in the coming years, the Lin Family would consolidate and reorganize the twelve mountain ranges under its command. The specific plan was to merge the Luoyun Mountain Range with the Hengyang Mountain Range, the Luoyang Mountain Range, and the Whirlwind Mountain Range, still under the name of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Additionally, the Changfeng Mountain Range and the Henggang Mountain Range would be combined into a new Changfeng Mountain Range, and the Songyuan Mountain Range and the Lanling Mountain Range would merge and be renamed the Songyuan Mountain Range. In the Huangyang Kingdom, the Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Yunyang Mountain Range would merge, as well as the Xijing Mountain Range and the Changshui Mountain Range, forming the new Qianchuan Mountain Range and Xijing Mountain Range. Thus, the Lin Family¡¯s twelve mountain ranges would ultimately be consolidated into five major mountain ranges. And this was just the territorial consolidation and reorganization, what drew even more attention was the Lin Family¡¯s plans to subsequently move the clans settled in the newly formed Luoyun Mountain Range and Xijing Mountain Range elsewhere, unifying them into the sparsely populated Qianchuan Mountain Range and the region of the Changfeng Mountain Range. If this matter were fully accomplished, the Lin Family would have complete control over the Luoyun Mountain Range and the Xijing Mountain Range, making them their own private garden. As for the original mountain ranges, with the new clan powers filling them up, they should be able to return to their peak population flow. However, this was just the Lin Family¡¯s preliminary plan; it was merely put forward to see the reaction of those clans. And indeed, as this matter was announced, it immediately caused a huge uproar. In a flash, the intensity of the cultivators¡¯ discussions far exceeded that of when the Lin Family had announced the rules. At this moment, the crowd was buzzing with whispers, and a considerable number of cultivators were voicing their opinions. ¡°Moving our clans? What about the spirit land industries we have painstakingly developed?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just abandon them!¡± ¡°That¡¯s something we¡¯ve developed with hardship over the span of hundreds of years¡­¡± said a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, looking helpless. No sooner had he finished than a clansman beside him took over the conversation. ¡°Exactly¡­ The clan land can be relocated, but workshops and the spirit land industries are inanimate; it¡¯s just not possible to take them away¡­¡± Just as this was said, even more cultivators began to speak their minds. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± ¡°Besides not being able to take the spirit land industries, what about the common folk?¡± ¡°Even though some of these mortals are not our clan¡¯s direct bloodline, they have integrated with our descendants over the years.¡± ¡°Such a large population base is not easy to move all at once.¡± With that, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator spoke solemnly: ¡°Daoist Chen is right!¡± ¡°You know, mortals are indeed the foundation for the reproduction of many families; not just our Foundation Establishing Families, but even the stronger Golden Core Forces can¡¯t just abandon their mortal roots.¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly, we all agree with this!¡± ¡°Right¡­ we all agree!¡± At that moment, a great number of cultivators echoed in unison, creating an extremely noisy scene. At this time, Lin Shihua, from the highest place, looked down at the scene below, his expression turning somewhat solemn. In fact, he had anticipated such a reaction in his heart. After all, some families were indigenous, having lived and multiplied on their original lands for hundreds or even thousands of years. Beyond that, their reluctance to leave before this handover was because they did not want to leave behind the industries they had developed with great effort, along with the vast basis of common folk. Now that the Lin Family had taken over the land and commanded them to leave, it was truly beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. Sure enough, any normal person would find it difficult to accept such a thing. And those with more intense reactions were all from the mountain ranges that had been replaced by the Lin Family. Besides them, the natives residing in the Qianchuan and Changfeng mountain ranges also had significant reactions to this matter. After all, those families stayed put for another reason: when some families moved away, some of the spirit lands and common folk would be left behind. Chapter 1009 03-25 - 1009 533 Regrouping Territory_2 ?Chapter 1009: Chapter 533 Regrouping Territory_2 Chapter 1009: Chapter 533 Regrouping Territory_2 ¡°` They had assumed that, with the Lin Family becoming a Sect Overlord, while the majority of benefits might be taken by them, as original inhabitants, they would surely also get a share. However, as things stand now, these calculations had strayed from their expectations. Facing such a disparity, those families who had hoped to gain a small advantage could no longer remain calm. Thus, their reactions were significant, though slightly better than those of the families¡¯ cultivators who were being relocated. Amid the fervent discussions of these cultivators, someone could not sit still any longer and took the lead in voicing their opinion. ¡°Lin, your noble clan¡¯s plan, if truly implemented, wouldn¡¯t be somewhat unfair to our families?¡± No sooner had these words fallen than someone immediately echoed in agreement. ... ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°We had thought that staying put would allow us some developmental advantages, but now not only have we gained no benefits, but we have also lost a lot. Indeed, this is unfair to us.¡± ¡°Right, right, right¡­¡± Cultivator after cultivator spoke passionately; the scene suddenly started to get out of control. At this time, Lin Shihua looked at this scene with a face starting to turn unpleasant. In fact, the Lin Family had a compensation plan when they devised this plan. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Yet before he could speak, his words were forcibly interrupted by the loud discussions of these cultivators. Despite being the Lin Family Patriarch, with his cultivation merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he was somewhat overwhelmed by the continuous barrage of questions from these cultivators. He hadn¡¯t even had the chance to mention the promised compensation plan. While he was troubled, a pair of cold snorts suddenly came from the back of the square. The sounds appeared unremarkable, but upon their emergence, they exploded like a clap of thunder. The people who heard the noise were instantly shocked to their core, and some cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm felt so dizzy, they nearly fainted. Immediately after, the once noisy scene fell silent. At that moment, two figures shot from the back at an inconceivable speed. Before the crowd could even react, the two figures landed firmly at the center of the dais. Before this, the cultivators had merely seen a shadow flash by. By the time they gathered their wits, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had appeared out of nowhere, now sitting stably on the platform cushions. The two of them sat there, their sharp gazes fastened upon those below. Upon recognizing the newcomers, the cultivators¡¯ faces changed drastically; they dared not even breathe loudly. The scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one knew how much time had passed when the cultivators down below finally collected themselves. Then, they stood up one after another, bowed respectfully to Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming on the higher platform, and simultaneously exclaimed, ¡°We have seen the two true masters!¡± At this moment, the faces of Lin Tianming and company appeared stern, exuding an intimidating aura without showing any anger. ¡°Everyone, please sit down,¡± Lin Shikang said with a wave of his hand. The cultivators below him sat on their cushions, silent and waiting obediently. Upon the arrival of these two, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression eased significantly, and he inwardly sighed with relief. Facing over a thousand cultivators, including nearly a hundred at the Foundation Establishment Stage, Lin Shihua felt considerable pressure. Under such pressure, even if one had the backing of a Golden Core Family, it would be difficult not to be overwhelmed. Yet Lin Shihua maintained his composure; even though the scene was noisy and chaotic, the family¡¯s dignity hadn¡¯t been compromised, nor had anyone outright rejected the Lin Family¡¯s plan. Now that Lin Tianming and his companion had arrived, with a Golden Core Stage Expert present, no matter how agitated or unbalanced the others felt, they dared not act rashly. Therefore, after looking at Lin Shikang and getting a nod from him, Lin Shihua boldly proclaimed, his voice filling the entire square. ¡°Fellow Daoists, since our family has devised a plan, no matter your opinions, it must be executed according to plan.¡± ¡°` Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°And our Lin Family has also considered your difficulties, so we are offering compensation to the clansmen who are relocating,¡± Lin Shihua announced. Upon hearing this, the cultivators below all breathed a sigh of relief. Initially, many had speculated that, although the Lin Family was as powerful as a Sect Overlord, they would not be overly domineering. But since the Lin Family had just taken over, no one was sure of their exact stance. Now, even though Lin Shihua hadn¡¯t detailed the compensation plan, he had conveyed a positive message, preventing them from suffering too much. With this assurance, the cultivators who had previously had reservations immediately changed their attitudes and were very much looking forward to the compensation plan Lin Shihua had mentioned. After all, the cultivators were only interested in benefits, and Lin Shihua¡¯s mention of the matter immediately piqued everyone¡¯s interest. In such a circumstance, some of the cultivators also spoke up, ¡°Chief Lin, please speak frankly, as long as you can properly settle our families, we of the Li Family are willing to follow your orders!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ As long as we are properly settled, our Qin Family is also willing to follow the arrangements¡­¡± ¡°Our Su Family agrees too!¡± ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, the attitude of the cultivators below changed instantly; the presence of Golden Core Cultivators had clearly intimidated everyone. Lin Shihua, seeing this, was quite satisfied in his heart. He did not beat around the bush and began to explain the Lin Family¡¯s compensation plan. A quarter of an hour passed. The cultivators below, after hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, were not as agitated. According to Lin Shihua, the Lin Family¡¯s plan was well thought out and comprehensive for all the relocating families. As long as they followed the plan, under the supervision of the Lin Family, they could relocate to a suitable Cave Heaven or Blessed Land within five years. These Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands were left by the families who had moved away before. With such foundations, as long as they set up formations and made some minor renovations, they could directly use the new family lands. The territories vacated by the relocating families were numerous, leaving behind many Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, which could support the choice of these families. Even some families that were previously strong and had longstanding inheritances had managed to cultivate and upgrade their Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands into very desirable places. Under such circumstances, if any forces were willing to pay a price, they could also occupy a better Cave Heaven or Blessed Land for their new family land. Even if unwilling to pay the price, the Lin Family would provide them with a new family land of the same grade as their original one. At the same time, the spirit land industries left by the families who had moved away would also be distributed to the local families. In short, the Lin Family promised that they would compensate the relocating families for any lost industries with equivalent spirit land industries. Besides, the Lin Family¡¯s Array Masters would also be dispatched; as long as the families were willing, the Lin Family would help them improve their Protective Clan Formations. In this way, the Lin Family could be said to have completely resolved any issues with their family lands and spirit land industries. As for the mortal relocation of these families, the Lin Family provided them with a five-year deadline. During this period, the families could fully manage the relocation of the controlled millions of mortals. And as these people moved to new mountain ranges, they would join mortals left behind by other relocating families. In addition to those brought by the Lin Family, they would also inherit varying numbers of mortals to supplement their staff. Under these conditions, the benefits for the families willing to relocate according to the Lin Family¡¯s arrangements would be abundant. Therefore, upon hearing such a plan, the vast majority of the cultivators were quite satisfied. The Lin Family would also give them some time to consider and promised them that the earlier they decided to follow the Lin Family¡¯s arrangements, the more advantages they would secure. Faced with such an enticing offer, some families immediately expressed their stance, stating that there was no need to discuss with their family members; they could make a decision right then and there. Thus, representatives of more than ten Foundation Establishing Families agreed to the Lin Family¡¯s plan on the spot. Chapter 1010 03-25 - 1010 534 Preaching ?Chapter 1010: Chapter 534 Preaching Chapter 1010: Chapter 534 Preaching As a small number of people expressed their stances, the atmosphere suddenly became lively. This was because the cultivators who made these stances all came from small Foundation Establishing Families, with typically only one or two Foundation Establishment Stage members within each family. Those who came to the Lin Family were essentially the strongest members of their families, capable of making decisions on their own. Their decisiveness was exactly what the Lin Family wanted to see. The Lin Family¡¯s original plan, besides expanding their clan¡¯s territory, was also to completely control those mountain ranges. Thus, these small Foundation Establishing Families were also key targets of support from the Lin Family. Only by improving their overall strength could they contain the development of other major, large families, preventing any single family from becoming a significant threat to the Lin Family. ... In this way, the support the Lin Family provided to the smaller Foundation Establishing Families was more substantial than what it provided to the larger ones. Those families with stronger abilities were more considerate, and thus less decisive. With some careful thought, they could understand the motives behind the Lin Family¡¯s plans. Despite their reluctance, the Lin Family offered equivalent compensation. Even if they had severe reservations, with the absolute suppression of power, a compromise would eventually be necessary. Realizing this, representatives of some more powerful Foundation Establishing Families felt helpless and could only think of buying time to at least go back and discuss with their family members while observing the situation. Under these circumstances, those stronger family cultivators did not directly oppose the land relocation and compensation plans, thus temporarily concluding the matter. After people discussed it for a while, the atmosphere gradually calmed down. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Perhaps because everyone understood that ¡°an arm cannot twist a thigh,¡± and with two Lin Family Golden Core Stage Experts present, no one dared to make trouble. Moreover, with some families already expressing their stance and facing the general trend, none dared to take the lead for fear of being targeted by the Lin Family. If they really did so, their losses would only be greater. These people were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, having pursued the cultivation path for decades, and naturally understood this principle. Thus, the atmosphere quickly calmed. Each cultivator occupied different stances, with countless thoughts in their minds, yet unable to explicitly express them. Observing this scene, Lin Shihua was quite satisfied, thinking that the Lin Family¡¯s foundational goals had been achieved. Next, Lin Shihua continued to preside over the grand alliance meeting. A shi chen passed. As the grand alliance meeting drew close to an end, Lin Shihua, in an orderly manner, announced one major arrangement of the Lin Family after another. Compared to the prior relocation of clan lands, these subsequent plans of the Lin Family barely counted as significant. Thus, the opposition during the entire alliance became smaller and towards the end, there virtually was none. This scene was exactly what the higher-ups of the Lin Family wanted to see. As major events were successively announced, the cultivators attending the grand alliance meeting gained a basic understanding of the various plans of the Lin Family. Next was for them to take this information back to their families, and then the Lin Family would begin implementing their plans. By that time, those families would have to cooperate as best they could, striving for more benefits. Most people had this idea, with only a very few representatives from the stronger families still hesitating. However, it was foreseeable that it would not be too long before they too would have to cooperate with the Lin Family, lest they offend the Sect Overlord power of the Lin Family and lose even their last bit of benefits. Thus, the grand alliance meeting smoothly progressed towards its conclusion. With Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement in the middle, Lin Family would deploy a large number of clan members in half a year to go to various mountain ranges to supervise the relocation of clan lands until the matter was completely settled. Amid the complex emotions of the cultivators, the grand alliance meeting temporarily came to a pause. Next, Lin Shihua gradually left the stage, leaving the floor to Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang. At this moment, Lin Shikang glanced at Lin Tianming, then they nodded to each other. Following this, Lin Shikang looked at the numerous cultivators below and slowly said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, next is the time for our sermon. If any of you have any doubts about cultivation, feel free to raise them publicly, and we will do our best to resolve them for you.¡± ¡°As for how much you can comprehend, that depends on you yourself!¡± Upon hearing this, the cultivators present were excited, many of them looking forward to it. Sermons were actually not uncommon in the Cultivation World. For long-established Golden Elixir Forces like the Zhenyang Sect, during many significant events, they would send a Golden Core Cultivator out of seclusion to preach to their own sect disciples or other external forces¡¯ young cultivators. Some Golden Elixir Forces even regularly held sermon meetings to attract many external forces to come and learn. During such events, whether it was the Golden Elixir Forces themselves, other family cultivators, or even Loose Cultivators could participate. Thus, cultivators who had been stuck in a bottleneck for a long time were often willing to attend these sermon meetings. After all, High Order Cultivators had higher cultivation and more profound insight and deeper understanding of the Immortal Path. Sometimes, just a few words from a High Order Cultivator, even just some guidance, could enlighten those stuck in a bottleneck, leading to a breakthrough. For this reason, sermon meetings held significant influence in the Cultivation World and were praised by all cultivators. And the forces that held sermons could also use these gatherings to spread their own influence. Chapter 1011 03-25 - 1011 534 Sermon_2 ?Chapter 1011: Chapter 534 Sermon_2 Chapter 1011: Chapter 534 Sermon_2 At the same time, the Cultivation Conference also attracted other cultivators to come and listen to the teachings, while the forces behind it could reap some benefits, such as marketplace transactions, trades between cultivators, and so on. In summary, the Cultivation Conference was a win-win situation for everyone involved. Under such circumstances, each Cultivation Conference, whenever the news was released in advance, would attract many people to participate. However, Lin Family¡¯s union meeting this time made no mention of the Cultivation Conference. Therefore, the majority of the cultivators who came to participate were from affiliated forces; only a small portion comprised loose cultivators and people from other forces. And this was exactly what the Lin Family intended. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s current focus was not on the Cultivation Conference, nor did they need to use it to enhance the family¡¯s influence, let alone generate much profit. ... As a result, the loose cultivators within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, as well as some external forces, were all gathered in Luoyun Market at this moment, waiting for the auction to start. If those people knew about the Cultivation Conference happening on Lin Family¡¯s grounds, they would probably have some regrets. After all, it was not often that two Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family gave teachings. Not being able to attend this Cultivation Conference meant missing out on a great opportunity. But the people here didn¡¯t see it that way. There weren¡¯t many attendees at this Cultivation Conference, so the two Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family could spend more time solving their puzzles and even giving pointers. Looking at it this way, wasn¡¯t this Cultivation Conference an opportunity for the Lin Family to support the local forces? Those who understood this were secretly delighted in their hearts, listening intently to Lin Shikang as he taught from the high platform, afraid of missing any content. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï At the same time, a large number of cultivators began to speak up, discussing various problems they encountered. Facing these queries, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming were not stingy, patiently explaining throughout the entire process. At times, their guidance was so detailed that many cultivators had sudden insights, deepening their understanding of the cultivation path significantly. If it were not inappropriate to enter secluded cultivation for a breakthrough on the spot, some people were so eager they entertained the idea of immediate cultivation. However, despite their excitement, they did not lose their reason. Next, Lin Tianming and another took turns giving teachings, driving the union conference¡¯s excitement to its peak. For this, Lin Tianming went into great detail in his teachings, genuinely offering guidance to the cultivators from the bottom of his heart. Given his reputation as a powerful cultivator¡ªeven though he was much younger than Lin Shikang who was at the same Early Stage Golden Core¡ªhis cultivation strength and past renown excited everyone. In their enthusiasm, the cultivators one by one spoke up, hoping to use this opportunity to seek guidance from a strong cultivator like Lin Tianming. And Lin Tianming, without putting on airs, provided detailed guidance that won the favor of all cultivators. For a moment, the entire teaching process was incredibly lively, and the atmosphere gradually reached its zenith. Such fervent excitement continued throughout the whole day. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t until sunset that the union conference and Cultivation Conference finally came to a complete end. Under the arrangement of the Lin Family Members, the cultivators who attended the conference returned to their Temporary Cave Abodes that accommodated them. When the night was deep and quiet, several Qi Stage Clan Members of the Shi generation were sitting and chatting leisurely in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion, with Lin Tianming amongst them. At this time, Lin Shihua¡¯s face showed delight, seemingly quite excited in his heart. It was apparent that he was very satisfied with the overall hosting of this union conference and its results. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t exhibit such an expression, which clearly indicated excessive excitement. Seeing his demeanor, Lin Shikang joked with a smile, ¡°Shihua, you are so excited right now, it doesn¡¯t seem like your style!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shihua slightly composed himself. Then he also smiled and said, ¡°Third Brother, the union conference this time went surprisingly smoothly; the reactions of those people were not as intense as we had anticipated.¡± ¡°If it continues like this, our Lin Family can just stick to the plan, and probably in a few years, we will be able to fully complete it.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, the representatives who participated in the union did indeed know their place and didn¡¯t show much resistance.¡± ¡°This is better, it saves us a lot of effort!¡± Lin Shikang also smiled as he spoke, his expression equally content and satisfied. At that moment, Lin Tianming took over the conversation and then said, ¡°Our family has offered a compensation scheme, those people, as long as they¡¯re not fools, will accept it sooner or later.¡± ¡°Besides, everything the family has done is a win-win situation for both parties. Anyone with a bit of foresight can understand that.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°Those families are no easy targets either, each only focusing on their own interests.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our absolute strength, reaching an agreement on this matter wouldn¡¯t have been so easy.¡± Lin Shigong chimed in from the side, which met with everyone¡¯s agreement. After a bit of casual chat, Lin Shihua brought up the matter of gifts from the various influential families. According to him, there were more than four hundred large and small families attending the alliance. And these people, to a greater or lesser extent, had all brought generous gifts to the Lin Family, ranging from a few hundred to over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, or equivalent valuables of second and third order treasures. The gifts were varied and plentiful, and quite a sight to behold. According to the family¡¯s preliminary estimates, just the gifts from the cultivators who participated in the alliance were worth over a million low-grade spirit stones. In addition, forces like the Zhenyang Sect, Myriad Medicine Valley, and the Yingchuan Chen Family, who were Golden Elixir Forces, had also sent no small gifts ahead of time to congratulate the Lin Family on the occasion of the alliance meeting. Aside from these Golden Elixir Forces, including prior engagement from the West River Li Family, as well as some Foundation Establishing families around the Lin Family Territory, some had also sent gifts in advance, in hopes of ingratiating themselves with the Lin Family. Lin Shihua did not turn down the gifts from the several Golden Elixir Forces. After all, what they offered was certainly not something that the smaller families could match. And indeed, that was exactly the case. Among the gifts from the Zhenyang Sect alone, there were over a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, as well as various spiritual medicines, spirit ores, elixirs, and talismans. Accumulated, these items reached the value of three to four hundred thousand spirit stones. This was just from the Zhenyang Sect; Myriad Medicine Valley, with its long heritage and formidable strength, had given even more lavish gifts. Among their treasures were also over a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, as well as a good number of second order pills, including rare items like Foundation Establishment Pills. In fact, the role of Foundation Establishment Pills was significant and considered a strategic resource by major Golden Elixir Forces, rarely given out lightly. Over the years, the Lin Family had consumed a significant amount of Foundation Establishment Pills, with nearly dozens of Qi Stage Clan Members in their ranks. Before that, the Foundation Establishment Pills refined by Lin Tianming, along with the main ingredients, had almost run out. If not for the stockpile of the primary ingredient, White Jade Grass, obtained from the Treasure Vault and the Spiritual Medicine Garden of the Golden Sword Sect, as well as some finished Foundation Establishment Pills, the Lin Family would have had to worry about procuring more. Now that Myriad Medicine Valley had sent some Foundation Establishment Pills, it had further bolstered the Lin Family¡¯s reserves of this elixir. Such a gift was indeed a thoughtful gesture. After some deliberation, just the gifts from these three Golden Elixir Forces were estimated to be worth nearly a million low-grade spirit stones. And if one were to include those Foundation Establishing families that came for the reputation, the gifts received from this alliance meeting would easily surpass two million low-grade spirit stones. It was even possible to reach three million spirit stones. That such bountiful gifts could be acquired from a single grand alliance was truly beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. Because of this, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, personally received these gifts, his eyes nearly blurred by the array of presents. In the days that followed, he had been exceptionally excited. Moreover, the proceedings of the alliance seemed to go very smoothly. Seeing this situation made Lin Shihua even more excited, his demeanor kindly throughout the day, leaving many clan members puzzled. Now, upon learning about the gifts, Lin Tianming and the others understood Lin Shihua¡¯s recent change in behavior was due to these gifts. Therefore, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, not forgetting to tease Lin Shihua a few times, and both men burst into hearty laughter. In such a warm and amusing atmosphere, the clan members discussed some matters. It wasn¡¯t until the dead of night that they said their farewells and returned to their respective cave mansions. ¡­ Chapter 1012 03-25 - 1012 535 The Tournament ?Chapter 1012: Chapter 535: The Tournament Chapter 1012: Chapter 535: The Tournament Three days later. On a plain several miles from Lin Family Mountain Gate at Green Bamboo Mountain. In just a few days, this boundless plain had been transformed by the Lin Family Members. Now, it boasted a high and large grandstand, with many neatly arranged seats atop it. This was the temporary venue set up by the Lin Family for a friendly martial exchange. Early in the morning, a large number of Cultivators arrived at the site, led by the Lin Family Members. The martial competition held by the Lin Family drew many Cultivators, some of whom came not to compete but to join in the excitement and watch. ... After all, in addition to lectures, the Lin Family assembly had arranged a sparring contest between Cultivators. For this purpose, the Lin Family had announced the event early, along with generous rewards. According to the earliest announcements, there would be two categories of competition this time, one for Qi Refining Cultivators and the other for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The rules for both categories allowed all Cultivators to sign up and compete in a king-of-the-hill style to decide the final champions. As long as a Cultivator could defend their position as the king of the hill against challengers and end up in the top ten, they would get to draw lots to select an opponent. Regardless of win or lose, the top ten would receive substantial rewards. For the first place winner, the Lin Family had put forth a highly valued Foundation Establishment Pill as the prize. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Such treasures were exceedingly rare in the Cultivation World and keenly sought after by all Qi Refining Families. Take the Lin Family, for instance, which had been thrilled for a long time after procuring the slightly inferior Minor Foundation Building Pill years ago. By this token, even just one Foundation Establishment Pill was a coveted treasure for all Qi Refining Families, and, used properly, could even create a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, thus elevating a Qi Refining Family to the stronger status of a Foundation Establishing Family. As for the Foundation Establishment Area competition, the rules were similar to the Qi Refining Area, but due to the number of participants, there were destined to be fewer matches. Even so, the commotion in the Foundation Establishment Area was sure to far exceed the Qi Refining Area. Moreover, the rewards for the Foundation Establishment Area were significantly greater than those for the Qi Refining Area. According to the Lin Family, the top prize in the Foundation Establishment Area was a Hun Tian Pill and a varying number of Spirit Stones. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The effects of the Hun Tian Pill could directly boost a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s realm. Once in the Foundation Establishment Stage, cultivation becomes much more challenging, and many Cultivators spend their entire lives stuck at the initial stage. With a Hun Tian Pill, those at the late stage of Foundation Establishment could move up a minor realm. Even for Cultivators at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, the effects of this pill were more pronounced, and it wasn¡¯t impossible for them to leap two minor realms in one go. Thus, the value of the Hun Tian Pill was on par with, if not exceeding, the Foundation Establishment Pill. Under these circumstances, the rewards for the Foundation Establishment Area indeed outvalued those of the Qi Refining Area. Although there were fewer participants, the competition was bound to be fierce, perhaps even more so than in the Qi Refining Area. Well aware of this fact, this sparring contest caught the attention of numerous Cultivators. Some were raring to go, eager to participate. Others, recognizing their own limitations, promptly dismissed the idea of competing. However, even if they did not compete, watching the clashes of many Cultivators and gaining some experience was enlightening. Thus, by early this morning, already a thousand Cultivators had gathered here. They congregated at the designated spot, chatting idly and waiting for the competition to begin. As Lin Shihua and other Lin Family Members arrived, the Cultivators on-site immediately fell silent, greeting Lin Shihua. In a short while, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming also arrived together, seemingly appearing out of nowhere on the high platform. Their presence immediately captured everyone¡¯s attention. At that moment, while the Cultivators wore looks of astonishment, they all bowed respectfully, their demeanor reverent and filled with respect for the Golden Core Cultivators. Seeing this, Lin Shikang and the others gestured for the Cultivators not to stand on ceremony. Lin Shikang then glanced at the thousand Cultivators below and gave Lin Shihua a nod. Understanding his signal, Lin Shihua stepped forward and his booming voice filled the air. ¡°Fellow Daoists, today is the day the Lin Family holds the competition.¡± ¡°As for the rules of this competition, I presume you¡¯re all acquainted with them, but allow me to announce them once more for memory¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Shortly, if you¡¯re inclined to participate, Qi Refining Cultivators may register over there, while Foundation Establishment Cultivators can sign up with me.¡± Having said that, Lin Shihua continued, meticulously reading out the specific rules of the competition. Soon after Lin Shihua finished enumerating the rules, Cultivators could not wait any longer. ¡°Daoist Lin, I wish to register for participation!¡± A confident Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivator declared with a smile on his face. ¡°Very well, Daoist Chen, you¡¯re on the list!¡± Lin Shihua responded, then handed a token to the registering Chen Cultivator. The Chen Cultivator gratefully accepted the token and immediately inspected the number inscribed upon it. Chapter 1013 03-25 - 1013 535 The Dueling Tournament_2 ?Chapter 1013: Chapter 535: The Dueling Tournament_2 Chapter 1013: Chapter 535: The Dueling Tournament_2 ¡°` Immediately after, he leaped forth onto an empty space, quietly waiting for his opponent to challenge him. With the Chen named cultivator¡¯s successful registration, many Foundation Establishment cultivators were eager to try. At the same time, some cultivators who were there for the excitement began to discuss among themselves. Among them, a Fifth Level Qi Refinement cultivator muttered softly, ¡°Elder Chen comes from the Xijing Mountain Range, and his personal cultivation strength is also very strong. Unless there¡¯s an accident, he should be able to secure a spot in the top eleven.¡± No sooner had these words been spoken than other Qi Refining Cultivators looking on took up the conversation, ¡°That¡¯s no understatement¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°To think that there are over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators here, and among them, there are quite a few in the Mid Foundation Establishment Realm. It won¡¯t be easy for someone at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment to squeeze in.¡± While they were discussing animatedly, quite a number of cultivators from both the Qi Refining Area and the Foundation Establishment Area registered to participate. ... After all, the rewards for this event, being treasures that could enhance one¡¯s cultivation, seemed overly generous in their eyes. Even though there was only one high-value treasure as a reward in each event, such a competitive environment was bound to be extremely fierce. But merely sparring and entering a magic duel with the possibility of obtaining a treasure, such a risk-free competition, compared to those who risked their lives for opportunities, was obviously much safer. Therefore, even though some well-known cultivators signed up to participate, other cultivators didn¡¯t want to miss such an opportunity. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Thus, the number of registered cultivators continued to grow, with hundreds of Qi Refining Cultivators quickly signing up for the Qi Refining Area. As for the Foundation Establishment Area, dozens also registered to compete, with most families among the Lin Family¡¯s affiliated Foundation Establishment Powers sending representatives. It was obvious, they all wanted to give it their best shot, and if it didn¡¯t work out, they were prepared to concede. After all, if the gap in strength between the combatants was too large, one could simply surrender. As long as a cultivator was decisive, at the very least, there was no threat to life in the competition. Because everyone understood this, many cultivators registered for the competition. Under the arrangement of the Lin Family Members, they each received their number tags and quickly picked their opponents at random. Immediately after, the faces of the determined opponents varied; some were familiar with each other, or the difference in strength was so great, that even before the start of the competition, the weaker party admitted defeat. Then, there were those whose cultivation and realm were not far apart. Out of greed for the reward treasures, these evenly matched contestants had serious expressions and did not easily plan to give up. Thus, under the watchful eyes of many spectators, they collectively advanced to the designated empty space. This was the venue for the duel, an area that was extremely large, a boundless plain that was suitable for cultivator battles. Meanwhile, there were two Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family present, so no matter how intense the competition became, it would have no impact on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. As the onlookers watched, many cultivators did not intend to delay and hastily launched their attacks. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Amidst numerous battlefields, the clash between two Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivators was not insignificant and caught the attention of Lin Tianming. Watching them, he noticed that both competitors had the same level of cultivation and plentiful combat experience, clearly they were warriors through and through. It was evident that neither of the two was weak, and among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, apart from the few Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivators, these two were formidable contenders for the final reward. Sadly, fate had other plans, and this was merely the first round where such opponents directly faced each other. It was an outcome many did not expect. But that was the reality, that many formidable opponents met early on in just the first round of competition. No matter what, if one wished to win the ultimate reward, those powerful opponents had to be confronted sooner or later. If one were to hesitate or look back in fear, it would be difficult to go further. Understanding this, these two Foundation Establishment Fourth Level Cultivators went all out, their powerful fluctuations sweeping across the area, completely overshadowing the other dueling fields. Lin Tianming watched with a calm face, occasionally waving his hand to directly crush those powerful fluctuations to prevent them from affecting the other dueling fields. At this time, Lin Shihua was also quite content, overseeing the Qi Refining Area where the cultivators had very limited strength, making their fluctuations almost negligible. ¡°` Thus, Lin Shikang was also distracted, paying attention to the fierce battle on this side, and he asked a question. ¡°Tian Ming, the battle between these two seems evenly matched, who do you favor a bit more?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and replied without hesitation, ¡°Third Grandfather, Tian Ming is betting on the White Robed Cultivator!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Shikang was somewhat surprised. After all, although the White Robed Cultivator seemed to be evenly matched at the moment, a careful observation revealed that the cultivator had been defensive from start to finish and had chances to attack. Moreover, each of his opponent¡¯s attacks was easily deflected, as if he¡¯d been led by the nose the entire time. If things continued this way, as soon as his opponent found an excellent opportunity, he might achieve a surprising effect. In this case, to decisively defeat him was not an impossible task. Lin Shikang clearly saw this point and, after a brief analysis, came to his own conclusion. ¡°Tian Ming, my boy, why do you think the White Robed Cultivator will win?¡± Lin Shikang asked with a smile. And Lin Tianming also smiled faintly and then began to explain. ¡°Third Grandfather, despite the White Robed Cultivator seeming to be at a slight disadvantage, if you sense carefully, his attacks are stronger with each strike.¡± ¡°Obviously, he is accumulating power!¡± ¡°And every defense, is for the sake of gathering strength. Once it reaches a certain level, and he seizes an opportunity, defeating his opponent is a sure thing.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Shikang slightly sensed it and indeed noticed something different. And thus, he began to agree with Lin Tianming¡¯s view. And in truth, it indeed turned out as Lin Tianming had predicted. At a certain moment, the White Robed Cultivator intentionally revealed a flaw to catch his opponent¡¯s attention. His opponent, having attacked for a long time without success, saw what he believed to be a chance for a fatal blow and didn¡¯t hesitate in his heart. Unfortunately, his attack also gave his opponent an opportunity. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s watchful gaze, the Longsword in the White Robed Cultivator¡¯s hand flashed as it sped toward his opponent¡¯s head. The Longsword was incredibly fast, the angle tricky, and the timing of the attack was perfect. Facing such an abrupt change, his opponent hadn¡¯t reacted before seeing that the Longsword had already arrived, mere feet away from his vital spot. At such a close distance, dodging was nearly impossible. But now that the attack had arrived, and there was no evading or countering it, he could only resign himself to fate. At that moment, the cultivator somewhat regretted easily falling for the trick; now it was too late for anything. Just as the cultivator was painted in despair, a blur appeared before his eyes, and he saw an invisible force emerge. It was at that time that Lin Tianming reached out into the void, and the Longsword that had been in the middle of its attack was suddenly grasped in his hand. The Longsword trembled slightly, seemingly trying to escape its constraints. Lin Tianming chuckled and tossed the Longsword in his hand, which then returned to the White Robed Cultivator. And it was then that the despairing cultivator finally realized what had happened; his face was filled with the joy of surviving a catastrophe. He knew that if it hadn¡¯t been for Lin Tianming¡¯s casual grasp, removing the Longsword, he would likely have lost his life this time. Now, Lin Tianming had easily resolved the lethal attack, practically saving his life. Deeply aware of this, the man immediately bowed to Lin Tianming and then said, ¡°Junior thanks Elder Lin for the rescue!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ admit defeat!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand and laughed, not minding it in the least. Chapter 1014 03-25 - 1014 536 Grand Auction ?Chapter 1014: Chapter 536 Grand Auction Chapter 1014: Chapter 536 Grand Auction And in fact, his and Lin Shikang¡¯s purpose in staying here was to dissolve those fatal attacks and thus save the lives of the competing cultivators. Otherwise, with blades and swords being indifferent, and cultivators unleashing their powers, no matter how restrained they might be, unless there was a significant disparity in strength, it was impossible to avoid casualties altogether. But with the two of them presiding over the proceedings, the competing cultivators could go all out without any reservations. Such duels would also reveal the true differences in strength, allowing the more capable cultivators to progress further. Therefore, at the appropriate moment, Lin Tianming and his companion acted decisively. Tian Ming effortlessly neutralized the White Robed Cultivator¡¯s attack. All this happened in the blink of an eye, with the onlookers initially believing that, if not fatal, the other cultivator would certainly sustain severe injuries. ... However, Tian Ming¡¯s casual dissolution of such a formidable attack drew continuous cheers from the audience. Amidst the rounds of applause, the cultivator who had been saved openly conceded defeat, thus bringing an end to this thrilling duel. Subsequently, the man bowed respectfully to Tian Ming and then slowly retreated back into the crowd. At this point, Lin Shikang glanced at Lin Tianming and then spoke with a smile, ¡°Tian Ming, you sure have a sharp eye. The elder here didn¡¯t even notice.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ The nephew just thought that cultivator¡¯s method of attack was sharp and well-organized, not a bit of rushed or impetuous essence manipulation. That¡¯s why I made that judgment.¡± ¡°As for the outcome, it was indeed as I had anticipated, and my high regard for him wasn¡¯t misplaced.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Tian Ming replied with a casual smile, then continued his idle chat with Shi Kang while watching the intense duels taking place below. Under their watchful eyes, ensuring safety, the cultivators could fight without any scruples. In such a situation, various decisive actions and powerful attacks roused a great deal of cheering from the crowd. The subsequent duels turned out to be indeed quite spectacular. This was precisely the scene the Lin Family wanted to witness. After all, the Lin Family had gone to great lengths to organize this martial tournament and offered substantial rewards, with multiple objectives in mind. Firstly, to discover some potential talents among the family cultivators, to identify which families under the Lin banner were noteworthy and deserving of development. Secondly, to spread the Lin Family¡¯s influence, elevating their credibility and sway to the same level as other Golden Elixir Forces. Now, these cultivators, in pursuit of the substantial and tangible rewards, were fighting with all their might, holding nothing back and practically laying bare much of their strength. This situation was exactly what the Lin Family hoped to see. During this period, the family also took note of some cultivators with considerable abilities and assessed their potential based on their strength, age, and various other factors. Through such a selection process, they were able to accurately identify potential cultivators, which would allow for better control over the families in the future. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these goals in mind, the entire tournament proceeded fervently. By evening, after hundreds of exchanges, the martial tournament was drawing to a close. At the same time, the final victors were determined. In the Qi Refining Area, the top ten rankings were decided, with the first place going to a cultivator from a Qi Refining Family at the Changfeng Mountain Range. This cultivator had considerable potential; barely past twenty years old and already at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, he managed to outperform several Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivators, surprisingly winning first place. The following nine placed cultivators all possessed a cultivation at or above the Ninth Layer. Though these top ten ranked individuals generally represented the pinnacle among Qi Refining Cultivators, nearly half of them were quite young. Considering their age, and their lower levels of cultivation, their ability to surpass several long-standing Great Perfection Realm cultivators to make it into the top ten demonstrated their immense potential. Such individuals, emerging merely from a Qi Refining Family and achieving such results, was truly remarkable. Even compared to some members of the Lin Family of the same age, these cultivators¡¯ pace of cultivation and prowess could overwhelm a large number of their peers. Under these circumstances, it was clear that the Cultivation World indeed contained hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Even a minor power like a Qi Refining Family could produce individuals of exceptional talent. The outcome of this tournament said it all. Meanwhile, in the Foundation Establishment Area, after a series of fierce duels, the top three contenders were also decided. The first place cultivator hailed from a Foundation Establishing Family of the Yang Clan from the Songyuan Mountain Range, the second place from a family in the Changfeng Mountain Range, with only the third place belonging to a cultivator from the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Qianchuan Mountain Range. In fact, within the top ten of the Qi Refining Area, most of the qualifying cultivators originated from the Changfeng Mountain Range region. Clearly, the family cultivators originally from Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s territory were generally stronger. This outcome sufficiently demonstrated this point. Now, after a series of duels, by slightly deliberating on the performance of these cultivators, the Lin Family had essentially grasped the general situation of the several hundred forces under their command. Chapter 1015 03-25 - 1015 536 Grand Auction_2 ?Chapter 1015: Chapter 536: Grand Auction_2 Chapter 1015: Chapter 536: Grand Auction_2 ¡°` These results might not be entirely accurate, but for the Lin Family at present, they still counted as a considerable harvest. With the end of the competition, whether it was the cultivators who participated or those who watched, all had witnessed a series of breathtaking contests, which could truly be considered an eye-opener. Amidst cheers and applause, the atmosphere at the scene reached its peak. At the same time, a large number of cultivators congratulated those who had made it into the rankings with clasped fists, while others engaged in discussions. Under such an atmosphere, the Lin Family kept their promise and, in front of many cultivators, awarded the prizes to those who ranked near the top. Such forthrightness further incited the applause of the numerous cultivators. At that moment, everyone was discussing the matter, and even those who had come just to watch were full of excitement. ... This bustling atmosphere lasted well into the evening. With the end of the competition, all the major arrangements for this alliance meeting of the Lin Family were also duly completed. Next up was the grand auction to be held at the Luoyun Market in a few days. For this, the Lin Family had long spread the word, and now the news of the auction was almost universally known throughout the southern region of the Wei Kingdom. By now, many loose cultivators and powers from other territories had sent people to participate, all converging within the Luoyun Market, waiting for the scheduled auction. Now that the competition was thoroughly over, after today, those cultivators participating in the alliance would gradually leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds, either heading back to their families or proceeding to the Luoyun Mountain Range to attend the grand auction. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? In this regard, the Lin Family did not insist, stating plainly that the cultivators from the various families were free to leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds early the next morning. However, the upcoming auction was no small affair, rumored to feature many rare treasures, attracting the attention of a multitude of cultivators. In fact, the Lin Family placed great importance on this auction, offering as many as five Foundation Establishment Pills at once. Additionally, items such as the Hun Tian Pill and other high-quality magic artifacts would make their appearance at the auction. Moreover, it was rumored that the Lin Family would also offer a Third Order Attack Talisman as the finale of the auction. Such a treasure could serve as the prized heirloom of a Foundation Establishing Family and could turn the tide at a critical moment, altering the course of events. Thus, a Third Order Attack Talisman was exceedingly rare at auctions within the Cultivation World. Even auctions held by the Zhenyang Sect or the markets under Myriad Medicine Valley had seldom seen such an item. This was because Third Order Talismans were strategic consumables, and even longstanding Golden Core Forces had very limited reserves. And since these consumables were depleted upon use and replenishing them required considerable effort and a variety of precious materials¡­ ¡­each appearance of a Third Order Talisman could spark fierce bidding wars among Foundation Establishing Families. And now, such a precious item was to be featured at an auction held by the Lin Family. While this news might not be entirely true, even as a rumor, it was enough to draw throngs of cultivators. By now, the Luoyun Market had already gathered a large number of cultivators, coming from various mountain ranges throughout the central and southern Wei Kingdom, with some from the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom also hurrying to join the excitement. As the day of the auction drew near, Luoyun Market saw its footfall begin to surge. Then, on the next day, the thousands of cultivators who had come for the alliance bid their farewells and departed from the Lin Family Clan Grounds. By the end of the first day after the event, more than ninety percent of the cultivators had left. Meanwhile, at the Luoyun Market, those cultivators who had participated in the alliance were seen entering the market in succession. In the days that followed, the number of people visiting Luoyun Market continued to skyrocket. By the day before the auction was to take place, the number of attendees in Luoyun Market had more than tripled compared to two years prior. Such a scene was unprecedented since the establishment of Luoyun Market. In the past, especially in recent years, the Lin Family¡¯s rise as a Golden Core Family had already significantly boosted the market¡¯s popularity. Now, after the Lin Family spread the news early and promised the appearance of rare treasures, even the eyes of the Foundation Establishing Families were caught. These people were readying their Spirit Stones, all eager to take the grand prize back to their territories. The Lin Family seized the opportunity, smoothly carrying out the alliance meeting and a series of significant activities, fully demonstrating their foundation and strength. Now, by leveraging a grand auction, they further aimed to expand the Lin Family¡¯s influence. With this in mind, the Lin Family dispatched several family members to the Luoyun Market to oversee that the auction proceeded as scheduled. ¡°` Until this day, inside the Luoyun Market. At this moment, the crowd was surging, and a large number of cultivators had come out early to stroll around while waiting for the auction to begin. Among these cultivators, their levels of cultivation varied, with Qi Refining Cultivators making up the majority. However, there were also a considerable number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with roughly one appearing for every ten people. Such a situation was not seen on normal days. It should be noted that, decades ago, the simultaneous appearance of several Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Luoyun Market could cause quite a stir. Even just a few years ago, despite an increase in the number of people in the Luoyun Market, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators within was quite limited. At least not like now, where you could encounter them everywhere you went. But now, at a glance, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the number of cultivators in the entire market had reached a peak. As such, the various shops, restaurants, and the squares for setting up stalls were also overcrowded with people. Such a bustling scene meant that many shops in the Luoyun Market were doing much better business than usual. At noon, when the sun was at its zenith. In the city center, the Luoyun Market auction. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the auction was about to begin, a large number of cultivators started to queue up for entry, and in just a short while, they formed a long line. Under the scrutiny of the Lin Family Members, cultivators entered the auction one by one. In less than half a Shi Chen, the two main venues of the auction were already packed. Even the Foundation Establishment Area, whether it was the public area or the VIP rooms, was completely full. Under everyone¡¯s eager gaze, the auction began on time. Subsequently, one treasure after another was brought out, sparking a bidding war among all the cultivators. For such a high-profile auction, the quality of the treasures was not low; each one was a rarity among rarities. Fortunately, the Lin Family had gained a good number of treasures from conquests to the north and south over recent years, with a comprehensive variety that covered most of the items commonly used by cultivators. Moreover, the family also owned many rare and precious treasures. Otherwise, it would have been rather difficult to hold such a high-profile auction and bring out so many rare treasures at once under normal circumstances. Now, the Lin Family was a far cry from its former self, and not to mention holding one auction of the same scale, even ten or eight more would not overburden the family. This time, the Lin Family had spent such a significant cost and mobilized so many resources for the auction, so naturally, there were high expectations. After a whole day of auctions, the results did not disappoint the Lin Family. Following the conclusion of the auction, the family members quickly tallied up the results. The auction had reaped considerable profits, with each treasure fetching a price 15 to 20 percent higher than usual. In particular, those few marquee items, like the Foundation Establishment Pills which each sold for an astronomical price, and the Hun Tian Pills which also sparked fierce bidding among the cultivators. In the end, just one Hun Tian Pill alone sold for 51,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. And most eye-catching of all was a Third Order Attack Talisman. After a tense bidding process, the Third Order Attack Talisman concluded its auction, finally selling for 140,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. Such auction results also pushed the atmosphere to the pinnacle of excitement. As the auction ended, the lively atmosphere did not immediately settle down. In the following days, the flow of people in the Luoyun Market remained large, with many staying behind, some waiting for a safer time to leave while others had ulterior motives. In any case, the popularity of the Luoyun Market was still booming. During this period, the reputation of the Lin Family, as well as the entire process of the alliance conference, began to spread among the cultivators. This turn of events was precisely what the Lin Family wished to see. Under the supervision of the Lin Family Members, everything in the Luoyun Market continued as usual. In the following time, the number of cultivators gradually decreased, and the entire Cultivation World slowly returned to its usual calm. ¡­ Chapter 1016 03-25 - 1016 537 Development Strategy ?Chapter 1016: Chapter 537: Development Strategy Chapter 1016: Chapter 537: Development Strategy As the auction ended, the cultivators who had attended the alliance conference gradually left the Luoyun Market. During this period, the results of the Lin Family¡¯s alliance conference had begun to spread among the cultivators of the Luoyun Market. For a time, other territories¡¯ cultivators who had attended the auction, upon learning some of the Lin Family¡¯s plans, started to talk and debate. As some people left, these discussions spread quickly in the Cultivation World. Thus, the relatively calm Cultivation World began to bustle with activity once more. Among these discussing cultivators, some believed that the Lin Family¡¯s actions were not very friendly toward the original inhabitants. However, others, looking further into the future, thought that the Lin Family¡¯s actions were mutually beneficial for both parties! Moreover, the Lin Family had offered a certain degree of compensation, which was quite commendable for a Sect Overlord. ... Under such circumstances, the Cultivation World¡¯s interest in the spectacle was divided. Most people felt that the Lin Family handled the matter successfully and righteously, proving themselves to be an unusually gentle force. Therefore, the recently subsided attention on the Lin Family, after being discussed and spread by some cultivators, rose once again in the Cultivation World. Yet of these changes, Lin Tianming was completely unaware and the Lin Family also had no knowledge of them for the time being. With the completion of the alliance conference¡¯s affairs, the busy Lin Family finally began to return to normal. On this day, inside Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion, in the small courtyard, many members of the Lin Family¡¯s generation of ¡®Shi¡¯ were gathered, chatting leisurely, with Lin Tianming among them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï In the past few days, Lin Tianming had not rushed to enter seclusion for cultivation but had instead taken some time to rest, adjusting his own condition and paying attention to the operation of the family. Recently, Lin Shikang had also convened several core family members for a meeting, presumably to discuss the Lin Family¡¯s future development direction. Just as expected, after a few casual exchanges, Lin Shikang went straight to the main topic. According to Lin Shikang, the next ten years were crucial for the Lin Family, affecting its development for a century. After all, the Wei Kingdom had just returned to peace, and the Lin Family had acquired some territories and made many deployments. At present, the Lin Family needed to follow the pre-arranged plan to gain full control of each major territory, including those families, spirit land industries, and so on, ensuring they were firmly in their grip. Now that the families¡¯ representatives attending the alliance had left, what the Lin Family had to do next was to dispatch their own people to oversee the completion of the Lin Family¡¯s plan in those families¡¯ locations. This was an urgent and critical matter. Once the advance plans were completed, the Lin Family would be able to develop peacefully in the future, enhancing the size and strength of its members, including the development of spirit land industries to earn the Lin Family more resources. Knowing this well, the Lin Family members discussed who should be tasked with carrying out this mission. Soon, they agreed on two leaders for this task: Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping. After all, both had been key individuals in the handover of territories. Having gone through the processes of exchanging territories, they were very familiar with the families residing in the various mountain ranges and even knew the leaders of those families better than Lin Shihua, the Lin Family Patriarch. In such circumstances, as the Lin Family set plans in motion, having them as team leaders would ensure quick and proper implementation of the tasks, making them the most suitable choices. For this selection, Lin Tianming had no objections. In his eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s members at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage were extremely limited; indeed, no one was more suited than these two. So, it was decided that Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping would lead teams of varying member sizes and head in separate directions, north and south, in half a month¡¯s time to oversee the families¡¯ relocation process. Lin Xingrong was tasked with overseeing the southern Luoyun Mountain Range, Changfeng Mountain Range, and Songyuan Mountain Range. Lin Xingping, on the other hand, was responsible for the northern Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Xijing Mountain Range. Before their departure, Lin Shihua would convene the heads of various Lin Family institutions to discuss the relocation destinations for those families, to thoroughly assess the industries they controlled, and to determine the compensation standards provided by the Lin Family. Once these details were confirmed, the two would set out to rigorously implement the family¡¯s schemes. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this matter resolved, the following discussion revolved around the Lin Family¡¯s development strategies for the next few decades. After all, the relocation of those family territories would take at most five years. Given the absolute strength, coupled with the compensation provided by the Lin Family, completion was merely a matter of time. After five years, the Lin Family¡¯s Luoyun Mountain Range underfoot would include the combined territories of the original Luoyang Mountain Range, Hengyang Mountain Range, and the Whirlwind Mountain Range. Such a large mountain range, with many spirit lands left behind by relocating families and some mortal cities forcibly retained by the Lin Family, meant that the Lin Family acquired a whole new territory to manage. Besides, the families that had relocated to new mountain ranges refilled the once-empty mountains, restoring their vigor to its peak. Importantly, the Lin Family made a promise to redistribute their interests, uniformly reallocating everything from the workshop to the spirit land industry. Under such circumstances, the Lin Family has plenty of business to attend to over the next five to ten years, developing their own Luoyun Mountain Range on one hand, while supporting the affiliated families of other mountain ranges on the other. Chapter 1017 03-25 - 1017 537 Development Strategy_2 ?Chapter 1017: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_2 Chapter 1017: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_2 ¡°` So, this decade was critical for the Lin Family. Even for the many clans under the Lin Family¡¯s command, it was also an immensely critical decade. After lengthy discussions, Lin Tianming and the others offered their carefree strategies and essentially set the main direction for the Lin Family¡¯s development. In the coming time, the Lin Family would first complete the migration of the subordinate forces from all major mountain ranges and allocate the spirit land industries belonging to them. And within a few years, expand the size of the workshops in each mountain range, thereby redistributing their benefits. For the family itself, all the spirit lands vacated in the Luoyun Mountain Range had to be maintained anew. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thereafter, the family would dispatch clan members whose potential was exhausted to guard the various spirit land industries while vigorously cultivating spiritual medicines and spirit materials, these basic resources, to ensure the family¡¯s economic sources. ... At the same time, they planned to further increase the scale and duration of the clan members¡¯ trials. In addition, some of the mortals left behind by those clans were also to be mixed with the mortals from the Lin Family. In time, the Lin Family would migrate some mortals to other mortal cities, transmitting the Lin Family¡¯s bloodline, conveying their ideology, and ultimately assimilating them. So far, the Lin Family had acquired a foundation of several million mortals, nearly half of whom were originally from other clans. Through many years of assimilation, those mortals had already been completely integrated. Now, even if they acquired several million more mortals, they would be able to assimilate them gradually and eventually make them part of the Lin Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï And this point, for a clan, was still very important. After all, everyone is well aware that mortals are the foundation of a power¡¯s development; as long as there is a sufficiently large number of mortals, more individuals with spiritual roots will be born every year. This point had been realized by the Lin Family over the years. Take the Lin Family, from the end of the Luoyun Mountain¡¯s great battle, the clan members grew from just over a hundred to more than a thousand, and they were close to breaking the two-thousand mark. More crucially, a genius with absolute talent like Lin Tianyun had emerged. Such an explosive growth occurred within just a few decades. And such a vast change was not only a quantitative transformation but also a qualitative one. This, then, was the change brought about by the mortal base, and it also laid an extremely solid foundation for the Lin Family. Because of this, the Lin Family highly valued mortals. Now, with sufficient territory, the Lin Family intended to further expand the scale of mortals. Secondly, it was to expand the spirit land industry, allowing the clan to have a long-term economic source. In addition to the Luoyun Market and Qianchuan Market, as well as the large workshops in other mountain ranges, the Lin Family had certain revenue rights. Looking ahead, it was foreseeable that the Lin Family¡¯s basic resources would be secure, and their development would be much faster. Under such circumstances, the major decisions discussed by the Lin Family¡¯s senior members were significantly important for the development of the Lin Family. Toward the end, Lin Tianming and the others essentially agreed on a broad direction of development. As long as there were no unexpected circumstances, the family would develop according to the direction set by the family. In summary, there were a few points, first, to fully control the subsidiary forces under their command, second, to solidify the development of the family¡¯s large spirit land industries, third, to develop the scale and quality of the clan members, nurturing more talented clan members. To achieve this, the Lin Family needed ten, or even a hundred years to gradually progress. During this period, the Lin Family would keep a low profile in their development, not easily getting involved in conflicts, and prioritize stability above all. Having established the basic direction of development, this high-level gathering came to a close. The mood was light, and everyone was in good spirits, chatting leisurely with a sense of gratification in their words. At this moment, Lin Shikang shifted the topic and asked Lin Tianming about his subsequent plans. Lin Tianming thought about it; he had no other matters to attend to. Currently, he planned to further consolidate his alchemy skills and then devote some time to cultivation. During this time, he also intended to practice the Spirit Technique obtained from the Lin Jian Sect and the one from Yang Chengfeng. Although these two Spirit Techniques were only Yellow Grade, their power was somewhat stronger than ordinary Divine Skills. Thus, having one more skill could strengthen his own power, and facing stronger opponents in the future, he would be more confident. This meant that he had plenty to do next, and even if everything went smoothly, he might not be able to leave seclusion within five years. However, even so, Lin Tianming did not mind. After all, he now had plenty of time, the Cultivation World was peaceful, and there were no significant events occurring in the family that required his presence. Since that was the case, his seclusion for cultivation would not affect the family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming then spoke of his plans. Lin Shikang and the others, upon hearing this, nodded in satisfaction. In their eyes, Lin Tianming was like the family¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle; as long as his strength increased further, the overall strength of the family would also rise. Conversely, no other clan member could, like him, significantly drive the family¡¯s advancement. And Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was already well known to everyone, no further elaboration was required. Now, the family was gradually on the right track, and the prospects for development were excellent; naturally, a powerhouse like Lin Tianming needed to focus on his cultivation. ¡°` Chapter 1018 03-25 - 1018 537 Development Strategy_3 ?Chapter 1018: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_3 Chapter 1018: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_3 As for the general clan affairs or unexpected events, the Clan Leader and other clan members can easily handle them. If they encounter more thorny issues, Lin Shikang can step in. At the very least, they can still gather Ye Pinghai and the Guest Elder Hu Yuan, who has been cultivating in the Lin Family Clan Grounds. With these individuals, coupled with the Lin Family¡¯s reputation in Wei Kingdom and the surrounding Cultivation World, there¡¯s no one so foolish as to provoke trouble with the Lin Family. With this setup, Lin Tianming no longer had to be distracted; everything revolved around his cultivation. Other matters were the responsibility of the rest of the family; there was no need for him to worry. Aware of this, Lin Shikang imparted several earnest pieces of advice before also instructing Lin Shihua at his side, asking Lin Shihua to do everything possible to assist Lin Tianming, providing him with any resources or treasures he needed at all costs. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua naturally understood this and would have done the same even if Lin Shikang had not mentioned it. Especially now, given the family had a certain base of resources, all resources would primarily cater to Lin Tianming¡¯s needs. And as for the others, their priority would naturally be lower. This was the bedrock of the Lin Family at present, as well as its current basic status. This fact was indisputable to all senior clan members. With these matters settled, Lin Shikang was very satisfied and then asked about Qin Xi¡¯s condition in her cultivation. After all, Lin Tianming was not the only genius in the Lin Family; there were also Qin Xi and Lin Tianyun. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï Speaking of Qin Xi, her cultivation was already considerable, and her cultivation speed was not far behind Lin Tianming¡¯s. The family elders had all witnessed Qin Xi¡¯s growth over the years. For such a talented member of the clan, even if she wasn¡¯t Lin Tianming¡¯s partner, the family would still focus on nurturing her. And thus, Lin Shikang naturally took a great interest in Qin Xi¡¯s development. Upon hearing his question, Lin Tianming then spoke about Qin Xi¡¯s specific condition. Up until now, Qin Xi was still in seclusion, having not emerged from it. Before she began her seclusion, she had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and after more than a year¡¯s retreat, she should be close to a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Without any accidents, she would likely come out of seclusion within a year or two. By then, Qin Xi would definitely be at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. After consolidating for a few years, she could attempt the Impact of Golden Core Stage. And currently, the Lin Family had a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item in hand, providing her with all the necessary conditions to attempt breaking into the Golden Core Stage. Learning of this, Lin Shikang and the others were all extremely thrilled. Given Qin Xi¡¯s talent, the probability of success in reaching the Golden Core Stage at such a young age was quite substantial. Should she succeed, the Lin Family would gain an additional Golden Core Stage Cultivator with extraordinary talent and formidable strength. If that were to happen, the overall strength of the Lin Family could further increase, and surpassing the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley wouldn¡¯t be out of the question. Thinking of this possibility, the hearts of Lin Shikang and the others were so excited that they could not calm down for a long while. After finally regaining composure, Lin Shikang instructed Lin Shihua to ensure the family would be fully prepared. As soon as the time was ripe, they should immediately facilitate Qin Xi¡¯s retreat to attempt breaking into the Golden Core Stage. Lin Shihua also knew the seriousness of the matter and promptly agreed to it. Afterwards, the group chatted idly for a while before taking their leave from Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. ¡­ Chapter 1019 03-25 - 1019 538 The Effect of the Dry Jade ?Chapter 1019: Chapter 538 The Effect of the Dry Jade Pill Chapter 1019: Chapter 538 The Effect of the Dry Jade Pill Inside the Cave Mansion. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion with his eyes tightly closed. As the family¡¯s many affairs had been arranged properly, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and immediately returned to the Cave Mansion to continue his cultivation. According to his prior plan, he intended to spend a year practicing alchemy to solidify his skills before trying to use elixirs to enhance his cultivation, while also contemplating the two newly acquired Spirit Arts. Alternating in this manner, the upcoming years of seclusion wouldn¡¯t be too monotonous. Once he made up his mind, Lin Tianming immediately began preparing for alchemy. Soon, the temperature inside the Pill Refining Room gradually increased, and both the Qingyun Furnace and the Blue Heart True Flame were ready. ... At this time, he was in excellent shape and began to refine Yuxu Pills with ease; once he found the optimal rhythm, he would proceed to the more challenging Dry Jade Pills. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Scenes like this fiery spectacle were repeated in the Pill Refining Room. While Lin Tianming was in seclusion, the Lin Family also started to mobilize. Following the prearranged plan, Lin Shihua had Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping take charge as team leaders, each leading a portion of the clan members to set off simultaneously, heading in both southern and northern directions to their respective territories. Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, two years had gone by. During this period, the two Lin Xingping remained in locations such as the Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Changfeng Mountain Range, personally overseeing the relocation process of the local family branches. After mobilizing for over a year, many Qi Refining Families from other mountain ranges had already taken the lead in relocating. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 After arriving at the Changfeng Mountain Range, following the Lin Family¡¯s arrangement, they were reassigned a plot of Spirit Land as their new clan territory. And more clans, especially the larger Foundation Establishing Families, were largely in the process of mobilizing and were about to enter the relocation phase. In any case, the Lin Family¡¯s plan was to complete the relocation within five years. The larger scale of the Foundation Establishing Families and the greater numbers of their clan members and common people meant they required more time to relocate. Consequently, the faster movers in the relocation process were generally the smaller families. This was within the expectations of the Lin Family, and Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping stayed in the area for this reason¡ªto supervise the matter. They were quite satisfied with the progress achieved to date. Next, the two would continue to maintain this pace until the relocation task was successfully completed. Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion, he sat cross-legged in the Pill Refining Room, with his eyes tightly closed and even breaths sounding out. After a while, he opened his tightly shut eyes. Subsequently, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh and a hint of a smile crossed his face. These nearly two years had brought him significant gains; he had refined over a dozen batches of elixirs, including the simplest Yuxu Pills, as well as other commonly used Third Order Pills like the Spirit Dragon Pill. Additionally, he was now capable of maintaining an impressive success rate and a considerable number of pills while refining the tricky Dry Jade Pills. After such an extended period of alchemy, his skills had significantly improved; both the pill success rate and the number of pills had reached a very notable level. Over these years, he had used up most of the Spiritual Medicine Materials he had, including some from both the family¡¯s Treasure Vault and the Spiritual Medicine Garden. More importantly, he had nearly used up the Dry Jade Grass he obtained from Five Poison Mountain, with only five mature stalks remaining, which he planned to keep for emergencies. Now, after his laborious refining, he had a considerable stockpile of elixirs, including dozens of Yuxu Pills. A very small portion of these came from the hands of others, but the majority were refined solely by him. Apart from that, he also had many other common Third Order Pills, enough for personal use for quite some time. He even planned to leave some of the pills for the family¡¯s Treasure Vault as a way of repaying the use of the family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine. Despite his current status and the family¡¯s early assurance that he, as the prime individual of the entire clan, could freely use any family treasure, Lin Tianming hardly pondered it and still didn¡¯t intend to take undue advantage of the family. After all, his ability to repay had grown, and there was no need to frequently tap into the family¡¯s reserved resources. Unless absolutely necessary, it was preferable to avoid doing so. As for these commonly seen Third Order Pills, he currently didn¡¯t place too much importance on them; although the Spiritual Medicine required for these pills was precious, the family could still manage to find more. What he was most concerned about were the Dry Jade Pills. Up to now, he had accumulated as many as twenty-six pills, all refined in the recent years. For this, he had labored intensely for years, at times taking considerable risks, but now he had successfully refined them and obtained so many Dry Jade Pills. During these years, his cultivation had nearly stagnated, all due to the drawbacks brought about by the Cultivation Technique. Now with these Dry Jade Pills in his possession, he could finally set aside his concerns and earnestly practice cultivation. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming became somewhat impatient. After calming himself down a bit, Lin Tianming began performing energy circulation exercises, moving his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation. A short while passed. Lin Tianming then took out a Yuxu Pill and, without hesitation, swallowed it in one gulp. Chapter 1020 03-25 - 1020 538 The Effects of Dry Jade Pill_2 ?Chapter 1020: Chapter 538 The Effects of Dry Jade Pill_2 Chapter 1020: Chapter 538 The Effects of Dry Jade Pill_2 As the elixir entered his mouth, Lin Tianming began to circulate his cultivation technique while slowly refining the energy contained within the pill. Soon, the anticipated pain arrived as expected. In just a few breaths, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, and his expression showed signs of pain as beads of sweat the size of soybeans continuously dripped down his forehead. When these beads of sweat hit the ground, they disappeared without a trace almost instantly. At this point, Lin Tianming clenched his teeth tightly, his handsome face serious and focused. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the pain intensified, pushing him to his limits of endurance, Lin Tianming could no longer withstand it. With no other choice, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and a Dry Jade Pill appeared in his hand. ... Looking at the pill in his hand, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t afford to delay and hurriedly swallowed it. Soon after, the pill dissolved, and its energy burst forth, coursing through his meridians. The energy of the Dry Jade Pill was volatile, filled with an abundance of Qi-Blood that moved about fiercely without causing any side effects to his body. Instead, with the infusion of this energy, the intense pain rapidly subsided and quickly disappeared without a trace. At the same time, the efficiency of his refinement of the Yuxu Pill was significantly faster than before. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked within his Golden Core and saw strands of True Essence Mana beginning to gather. In just this short span of time, the amount of True Essence Mana he had accumulated was quite considerable. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. In his heart, he hadn¡¯t expected his first attempt at cultivating with the Yuxu Pill to be so effective. His True Essence Mana, which hadn¡¯t increased in a long time, was now visibly growing, albeit weakly. Moreover, the effects of the Dry Jade Pill were equally excellent, not only suppressing the pain but also speeding up the refinement of the Yuxu Pill. What was more crucial was that the Dry Jade Pill was also a Body Refinement elixir, containing powerful energy from Qi-Blood. As the refinement of the Dry Jade Pill continued, he could clearly feel his sinews, organs, and even his outer skin receiving various degrees of enhancement. These minute improvements, though extremely faint. However, upon careful sensing, the changes were still noticeably discernible. Precisely because of this, Lin Tianming, aware of these changes, was exceptionally satisfied with the results of this attempt. Going at this rate, after refining this Dry Jade Pill completely, his Physical Strength would likely see a slight increase. Although expecting a single pill to propel him to a new level was unrealistic. But he still had quite a few Dry Jade Pills, and he planned to continue refining them in the future. With long-term consumption, they could indeed accelerate the growth of his physical body. Upon thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s already excited heart surged with even more emotion. Beyond the excitement, Lin Tianming gradually regained his calm. Next, he went all out, refining the two elixirs within his body at the fastest possible speed. ¡­ Time flew by swiftly, and a year passed in the blink of an eye. On this day in the practice room, Lin Tianming was sitting cross-legged, his breathing steady and even. He slowly completed his practice and then opened his eyes. In that instant, a gleam of sharp light flashed through the corners of Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes. He clenched his fists, making a series of crackling noises that echoed throughout the practice room. Afterward, Lin Tianming assessed his physical state and felt an abundance of True Essence Mana and explosive power ready to burst forth from within him. Upon sensing it, he could clearly tell that his True Essence Mana had increased significantly. Now, compared to before, an increase of more than half was certain, not just a mere ten percent. Continuing at this pace, perhaps with over ten more years of secluded cultivation aided by elixirs, he might have the chance to attempt breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. However, upon deeper thought, even with such conditions, he knew that even with all his exceptional talent and confidence, he didn¡¯t have much assurance of achieving his goal within that timeframe. This wasn¡¯t due to a lack of self-confidence, but rather because he was well aware that after reaching the Golden Core Stage, every step of advancement was extremely difficult. Throughout this year, he had successfully refined two Yuxu Pills using a single Dry Jade Pill. After a year of diligent cultivation and the aid of two Yuxu Pills, only then did his mana increase so much and his cultivation level climb a little. The speed of his progress, it must be said, is also thanks to his solid foundation. After all, in the years since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, he had hardly ever cultivated seriously. Before this, his biggest improvement was utilising the Spirit Fruit he obtained from the Golden Sword Sect, which had slightly raised his cultivation level. Aside from that, he never truly cultivated in earnest. Further, his foundation has always been exceptionally solid, and in the last few years, he has experienced numerous great wars, repeatedly facing life-and-death crises. It can be said that now, his foundation has become extremely stable. Today, after such a long time without improvement, and finally encountering the boost of elixirs, his Golden Core within was like a desperately hungry infant. As the saying goes, a long drought meets sweet rain! To describe his previous state with this phrase is not an exaggeration at all. It was precisely these conditions that allowed him to accumulate strength over time and, relying on just two Yuxu Pills, achieve such remarkable cultivation results. In addition, the medicinal power of the Dry Jade Pill was extremely strong, and its Qi-Blood force was incredibly rich. Just one moment of taking the Dry Jade Pill had slightly increased the strength of his flesh, making the Qi-Blood force throughout it even more vigorous, and accordingly his own strength grew to varying extents. At this rate, both his cultivation and physical strength could be simultaneously enhanced going forward. This was the transformation brought about by the Dry Jade Pill, a perfect complement to each other. Lin Tianming felt a mix of excitement and surprise at this revelation. But whatever the case, this was still something he could not ask for more. Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he couldn¡¯t help but burst into hearty laughter. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming immediately fell into contemplation. So far, he had been in seclusion for two years, and his Alchemy had already reached and even far exceeded the intended target. The effects of the Dry Jade Pill, which he had already experienced, were surprisingly good. As a result, both his cultivation and his physical body had been enhanced to different extents. He was very pleased with such an outcome. From here on, he could either continue his seclusion, striking while the iron was hot to increase his cultivation, or he could leave seclusion to take a brief break before continuing. Qin Xi had also been in seclusion, close to three years now, Before she went into seclusion, she was already at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and explicitly stated that she was about to impact the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Nearly three years had passed; given her talent and potential, she should have succeeded by now. Thus, based on this timing, Qin Xi should also be near the end of her seclusion. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer hesitated and decided to put aside the idea of continuing his seclusion, opting to first check on Qin Xi¡¯s situation. After all, once Qin Xi reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, she might not be far from going into seclusion again to impact the Golden Core Stage Realm. And as Qin Xi¡¯s partner, he naturally needed to pay attention during such a critical moment. Moreover, even if they were not partners, if any member of the Lin Family was about to impact the Golden Core Stage, he would still need to go and check on them. Besides, preparing for the impact of the Golden Core Stage requires a lot of preparation, and experience is just as crucial. As a Golden Core Stage Cultivator with Dual Spiritual Roots Talent and at an age closely approaching his impact of the Golden Core Stage, Under such conditions, the experience Lin Tianming could impart was also very important and critical for Qin Xi. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming wasted no more time. Next, he tidied up the Practice Room briefly before heading out directly. Once he left the Practice Room, Lin Tianming took a long turn around, and there was no trace of Qin Xi inside the Cave Mansion; it was unknown if she was still in seclusion or had already left and was simply not in the Cave Mansion at the moment. So, Lin Tianming did not think much of it and stepped out of the Cave Mansion and went straight to his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion. ¡­ Chapter 1021 03-25 - 1021 539 A Small Gathering ?Chapter 1021: Chapter 539: A Small Gathering Chapter 1021: Chapter 539: A Small Gathering After a short while. Lin Tianming arrived in front of his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion, gazed at the familiar surroundings, and first sent a message before quickly stepping inside. Upon entering the Cave Mansion, the figures of his mother and Qin Xi appeared. Lin Tianming first paid his respects to his mother before his gaze fell upon Qin Xi, his expression instantly filled with joy. It was unexpected for Qin Xi to have finished her seclusion, and for them to meet here just so happened to be a coincidence. At that moment, Lin Tianming joyfully asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve actually come out of seclusion?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°And has your cultivation successfully reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm?¡± ... Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat surprised look, Qin Xi smiled knowingly and explained, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er left seclusion over half a year ago.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Ming has been in closed-door cultivation all this time, and Xi¡¯er didn¡¯t want to disturb you, so I didn¡¯t send you a message.¡± ¡°As for cultivation, with Xi¡¯er in seclusion for so long, it would have been strange not to break through smoothly.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming nodded and then pulled Qin Xi into a tight embrace. At the same time, he chuckled and praised her with a smile. ¡°Haha¡­ Xi¡¯er really has exceptional talent; I believe it won¡¯t be long before you can attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage and become another Golden Core Stage Cultivator in our family.¡± ¡°You flatter me!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Lin Tianming¡¯s words, filled with compliments, caused Qin Xi¡¯s face to blush, and she couldn¡¯t help but punch his chest lightly with her small fists. Seeing this, their mother rolled her eyes in slight embarrassment and tactfully left the room, giving the young couple some time and space. As Ren Yuxuan left, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks flushed against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. After the couple chatted for a while, they reluctantly parted. That night, Lin Shigong also rushed over for the reunion, and Lin Tianyue, who had been in seclusion, coincidentally emerged as well. Consequently, apart from Lin Xingrong, who was out performing a family mission, the members of their small family were nearly all present. After dinner, the five of them sat in the courtyard and started chatting leisurely. It had been a long time since seeing Lin Tianyue, and upon their reunion, she had already reached the peak of the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment. In recent years, Lin Tianyue had grown significantly. While her rate of cultivation progress seemed not particularly fast, her cultivation level now ranked near the top among the Lin Family¡¯s Tian-generation. Moreover, as a Second Order Inscription Master, her skills in talisman making were equally remarkable. Now, she had become the most proficient talisman maker among the thousands of clan members, capable of easily creating commonly used Second Order Medium Quality Attack and Defense Talismans. Furthermore, the talismans she made were of high quality and had an extremely commendable success rate. It wouldn¡¯t take long, and once her cultivation improved further, becoming a Second Order Superior Talisman Maker was merely a matter of time. One could say that Lin Tianyue¡¯s trajectory of growth was already quite impressive compared to other family members. More importantly, she had grown even more in terms of handling experiences. After all, she had spent most of these years bustling outside, managing the Luoyun Pavilion and later helping run the Qianchuan Market. Besides, when the family was negotiating territories with other forces, Lin Tianyue had taken the lead in such matters as a core family member. Through years of experience, this once shadow of his had acquired the ability to stand on her own. As an elder brother, Lin Tianming had been paying attention to Lin Tianyue over the years and supported her. In earlier days, he would personally guide her in cultivation, just to instruct her. However, as their cultivations advanced and the duration of their seclusions extended, it became difficult to meet. Moreover, facing the turbulent Cultivation World, Lin Tianming was often on the move and seldom had time to stay with the family or in the market where Lin Tianyue was stationed. Under such circumstances, it was difficult for the siblings to meet, and an occasion like this, where the whole family gathered together, was extremely rare. Now, seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s growth over the years, Lin Tianming found it quite gratifying. Afterward, the family of five sat together, sipping tea and engaging in conversation. During this time, Lin Tianming also gave guidance to everyone and took time to meticulously explain to Qin Xi his experience with the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Then, Lin Tianming inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s plans for the future. The others were equally concerned and asked about her intentions. Facing the caring inquiries, Qin Xi smiled and said, ¡°I plan to settle for a year or two, study the insights left by our seniors, and prepare thoroughly.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his expectations aligning well with Qin Xi¡¯s plans. Thus, he promptly suggested, ¡°Xi¡¯er, over the next two years, you could undergo further training.¡± ¡°At present, the Luoyun Mountain Range has been reorganized, formed by combining three mountain ranges, tripling its area.¡± ¡°The family has been organizing a significant number of clan members to develop Spirit Lands and clear out the deep mountains within the new Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± ¡°This is also intended to familiarize ourselves with the new territory and clear any significant threats, so that our mortal family members can live more safely.¡± ¡°In this way, Xi¡¯er, you can participate in leading the team. While consolidating your cultivation during the training, you can also contribute to the family.¡± Chapter 1022 03-25 - 1022 539 Small Gathering_2 ?Chapter 1022: Chapter 539 Small Gathering_2 Chapter 1022: Chapter 539 Small Gathering_2 As the words ended, Lin Shigong also nodded in agreement. As a high-ranking member of the clan, he was quite familiar with the family¡¯s plans and fully aware of the tasks Lin Tianming mentioned that the Lin Family was about to focus on. Thus, Lin Shigong quickly spoke up in support. ¡°Tianming is right!¡± ¡°According to Shihua, some mountain ranges within the Luoyun Mountain Range have been almost entirely cleared of demonic beasts over the years.¡± ¡°However, the original Hengyang Mountain Range and the Luoyang Mountain Range still have many rarely traversed mountains with plenty of demonic beasts.¡± ¡°While Third Order Demon Beasts are unlikely to appear, there should still be quite a few Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts in the deeper areas.¡± ... ¡°With Xi¡¯er¡¯s current cultivation strength, leading a team there would be an excellent choice.¡± ¡°Moreover, with Xi¡¯er¡¯s participation, the safety of the clan members will be greatly enhanced, and the efficiency will be much higher.¡± Hearing Lin Shigong speak this way, Qin Xi nodded thoughtfully. In fact, in her heart, she had always been keen on contributing to the family. Now, since she was without tasks at hand and needed to gain experience and consolidate what she had learned, she was naturally willing to participate in the clan¡¯s plan. In doing so, she could put in effort for the family, in addition to pursuing her own goals. Knowing this, Qin Xi sincerely said, ¡°Grandfather, even if you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Xi¡¯er would be willing to lend a hand.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°In the next two years, Xi¡¯er will once again join the Monster Hunting Squad to clear the demonic beasts from the mountain ranges for the clan, and after two years, I will return to the family.¡± ¡°By that time, Xi¡¯er can seek advice from our various elders about breaking through to the next level and make all the necessary preparations.¡± Hearing Qin Xi say this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong nodded in unison. Then, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the family still has three Jiuli Star Fruits. Once you have completed your experience, you can go to the family treasury to claim one and then enter seclusion to impact the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er will definitely complete the training as quickly as possible to break through to the Golden Core Stage at the earliest.¡± Qin Xi nodded with a confident look in her eyes. Seeing this, everyone present was happy, and the atmosphere of the subsequent casual conversation was very warm. It wasn¡¯t until late at night that Lin Tianming and his spouse left and returned to their own Cave Mansion. Several days later. Early in the morning, Qin Xi led a group of clan members away from the family territory in a grand procession, carried by the Purple Gold Eagle in a certain direction. And these people were the members of this Monster Hunting Squad, among them were individuals who had just broken through to Foundation Establishment a few years ago, as well as Late Stage of Qi Refining Chang Generation clan members. Qin Xi, as team leader, would guide them to the former Whirlwind Mountain Range, focusing on the deep mountains to clear demonic beasts and seek treasures while training. This kind of training was very common in the Lin Family over the past decades, happening almost every six months or at most every two years, with the family organizing one or even multiple training sessions. As for Qin Xi, she was even more familiar with training. After all, she had participated several times previously, more than even Lin Tianming had. Now, as a team leader again, with her current cultivation strength, there was little danger as long as no Third Order Demon Beast appeared. While Qin Xi was out gaining experience, Lin Tianming was also busy. After a short period of seclusion and reuniting with family, followed by visiting some elders, he once again entered the Practice Room. After all, he had no long-term plans at the moment. Moreover, the Cultivation World was very peaceful, with no significant events happening. In terms of the family, all plans were progressing smoothly, and the elders were also busy with their respective tasks. Someone like Lin Shilu, who had rarely made an appearance since breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, had not come out of seclusion, focusing almost entirely on the path of Artifact Refining. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And he did this in order to quickly forge a suitable Life-bound Magical Treasure, to fully unleash Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Lin Tianming understood this and felt very moved in his heart. At the same time, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that Lin Shilu was truly obsessed with Artifact Refining. It wasn¡¯t just his opinion; other clan members of the Shi Generation shared this view of him. Lin Tianming felt helpless about this but also deeply admired Lin Shilu. Now that everyone was working hard, he naturally couldn¡¯t remain idle. Given his rigorous level of experience, all he had to do now was enter seclusion to cultivate and aim to raise his cultivation level as much as possible. Knowing this, Lin Tianming once again began his seclusion for cultivation. He planned to first cultivate for a while with the help of Yuxu Pills and Dry Jade Pills. Once his cultivation improved somewhat, he would then delve into Spirit Arts. Thus, Lin Tianming once again began an ardent period of cultivation, alone in the Practice Room. Two years passed by quickly. At noon that day, Qin Xi led the clan members back home safely. After dismissing the excited clan members, Qin Xi also proceeded to the Elders¡¯ Council, ready to report back to the Clan Leader. At this time, Lin Shihua was also busy with clan members. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s return, he was not only excited, but also hurriedly waved and greeted her, his attitude very approachable. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen Twelfth Grandpa, Xi¡¯er is back.¡± Qin Xi quickly returned the greeting and then said with a smile, ¡°The two-year period has ended, and those deep mountains of the former Whirlwind Mountain Range have been almost completely cleared by us.¡± ¡°By now, the number of Demonic Beasts in those mountains has greatly reduced.¡± ¡°Although there might still be some that slipped through the net, it¡¯s already very difficult for them to cause much trouble to the family.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s report, Lin Shihua nodded with satisfaction. In fact, his heart was already quite fond of Qin Xi, even exceeding his own direct descendants with mediocre talents. Actually, it was not just him; all the high-ranking members of the Lin Family, as well as the various Hall Masters, cared for and protected Qin Xi to the utmost. After all, her talent was extremely high, and she was Lin Tianming¡¯s partner. Both her status and strength were not low. From any angle, she was undoubtedly the Lin Family¡¯s most cherished treasure. And Qin Xi was also very clever and sensible. Over the years, she had contributed a lot to the family, handled matters with vigor and thoroughness, and was very considerate. What clan member would not love such a young person? Now, Qin Xi was always striving for the family, successfully completing every task, which was indeed very rare. Understanding this, Lin Shihua¡¯s mood was extremely good, and he quickly smiled and praised her, saying, ¡°With Xi¡¯er personally taking action, fulfilling the tasks naturally isn¡¯t difficult.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ According to this old man, just with Xi¡¯er taking a walk through those mountains, those Demonic Beasts wouldn¡¯t even have time to escape.¡± Lin Shihua, who had always been serious and traditional with other clan members, did not forget to joke with Qin Xi, prompting her to laugh heartily. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, you always speak so kindly, Xi¡¯er is embarrassed.¡± Qin Xi said shyly, seemingly a little embarrassed. Seeing this, Lin Shihua laughed heartily and then changed the subject. They chatted briefly and exchanged some specific details. After that, Qin Xi also asked about some recent developments of the family. Seeing Qin Xi inquire, apparently very concerned about the family¡¯s progress, Lin Shihua also began informing her. According to Lin Shihua, nearly four years had passed since the alliance conference came to an end. During this period, the five mountain ranges planned by the entire Lin Family were bustling with activity. After three years, the five-year deadline was drawing near. By now, the plan for relocating those clan lands was almost fully executed, with only a minority of clans still in the process of migration. Besides that, the distribution of the spirit land industries and the expansion of the workshop previously established within those mountain ranges were the absolute core undertakings currently managed by the Lin Family Members. Once these matters conclude, the initial plan laid out by the previous Lin Family alliance would be wholly completed. And the Lin Family had already completed the bulk of these plans. It was foreseeable that in another year or two, these would be thoroughly completed. These were the foundational external circumstances of the family. Internally, the various elders were busy with their secluded cultivation, and everything was very peaceful, no different from usual. Knowing this, Qin Xi nodded, feeling very relieved and quite proud inside. After all, as a member of the Lin Family, she now saw the family prospering, with everything proceeding in an orderly fashion according to the family¡¯s prior plans. Such a family, that cared so much for her, naturally remained etched in her heart, and her mood was excited. After a brief recovery of her composure, Qin Xi chatted for a while with Lin Shihua, then took her leave, and stepped out of the Elders¡¯ Council. ¡­ Chapter 1023 03-25 - 1023 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art ?Chapter 1023: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art Chapter 1023: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art Several days passed. Lin Tianming briefly emerged from seclusion, and the moment he stepped out of the practice room, he immediately saw Qin Xi. Upon seeing her return, Lin Tianming was so excited that he quickly asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, has everything been going well in these two years?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and responded, ¡°Thank you, Ming, for your concern!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er has had quite a smooth time these two years. Thanks to our efforts, we¡¯ve almost completely cleared out those deep mountains in the Whirlwind Mountain Range.¡± ¡°Throughout this period, we¡¯ve eliminated quite a number of Second Order Demonic Beasts, not the least of which are some in the Second Order Late Phase.¡± Qin Xi recounted her overall experiences over the past two years, from the first battle to the eventual return to the Lin Family. ... By the end, her rich battle spoils and the way she casually described slaying the Demonic Beasts made Lin Tianming nod in satisfaction, his heart brimming with relief. Such a result was actually within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, Qin Xi was at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Lin Tianming was very clear about her strength even before this. In addition, their Monster Hunting Squad also had several Foundation Establishment Clan Members going along. With the experienced Qin Xi leading and the clan members assisting her, dealing with two or three Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beasts should have been a breeze. Despite being the domain of the Human Race, even though there were some deep forests rarely treaded by humans, some Second Order Demonic Beasts still hid within. But without the presence of Third Order Demon Beasts, just these Second Order ones could hardly change the weather. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Under such circumstances, with Qin Xi¡¯s strength leading the expedition for their trials, there was naturally a guarantee of safety. However, he had not expected that in just two years, they would have made a complete round of the Whirlwind Mountain Range and most of the Second Order Demonic Beasts had been wiped out. This speed was so fast that even the historically confident Lin Tianming was taken aback. He even wondered if he were leading the team himself, whether he could have outpaced Qin Xi. Thinking this, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to lavish her with praise, which made Qin Xi laugh heartily. Afterward, the couple chatted intimately for a while before returning to their respective practice rooms. Several days later. Early in the morning, Lin Tianming and his wife left their cave mansion together, heading towards Lin Shikang¡¯s dwelling. With Qin Xi¡¯s return from her training expedition and two years of consolidation, her cultivation had now reached the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment, and her foundation was very solid. Consequently, Lin Tianming planned to take Qin Xi to visit several elders, to seek their advice and fully prepare her for her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this intention, Lin Tianming visited several clan members with the generational title ¡®Shi.¡¯ Including Ye Pinghai, several Golden Core Stage elders were overjoyed to see Qin Xi¡¯s visit and warmly welcomed them. At the same time, the elders patiently shared their experiences. Especially the challenges they faced during their secluded breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage and how they resolved those issues. Their efforts were aimed at ensuring that Qin Xi¡¯s breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage would be smooth and without taking too many detours. After all, despite Qin Xi¡¯s great talent, advancing to the Golden Core Stage level is something even cultivators with a Sky Spirit Root dare not be entirely sure of. And now, it was Qin Xi¡¯s turn to face this moment. Once successful, she would become the Lin Family¡¯s fifth Golden Core Stage Cultivator, not counting the guest elder Hu Yuan. At that point, the Lin Family truly would possess the strength to stand alone against any sect such as the Zhenyang Sect or Myriad Medicine Valley. It can be said that Qin Xi¡¯s attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage is equally important for the Lin Family. The elders were well aware of this and had similarly high hopes for Qin Xi. As a result, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were not stingy. In addition to sharing their breakthrough experiences, they also gifted Third Order Pills and various Defense Artifacts. Preparing all these items for Qin Xi left her feeling a bit embarrassed. She herself had prepared some methods to confront the Heavenly Tribulation and also had the numerous treasures that Lin Tianming had given her beforehand, each a precious item among treasures. These were things Lin Tianming had been preparing for her over the years. After all, Lin Tianming had experienced many great battles, with hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators perishing under his hands. The wealth and treasures of these people, anything he deemed worthy, he kept. As time accumulated, he had saved quite a collection of treasures, all of premium quality, specifically for Qin Xi¡¯s future use. Thinking of it now, the Defense Artifacts Qin Xi received, along with all the other measures prepared for the Heavenly Tribulation, paled in comparison to his own tribulation at the time. Back then, he relied on defense artifacts hastily refined by Lin Shilu, and they were extremely limited. Looking at Qin Xi now, just the two pieces each from Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang amounted to quite a bit. This was because Lin Shilu was in secluded cultivation and unaware of Qin Xi¡¯s upcoming challenge to reach the Golden Core Stage. Otherwise, with Lin Shilu¡¯s character and the care he lavished on Qin Xi, he would certainly have gifted her several treasures. At the very least, he would have immediately refined a few Defense Artifacts for her protection. But Lin Shilu was always in secluded cultivation, never emerging for years, and he would miss this time. Now, with the combined efforts of the elders along with their personal guidance and the bestowal of treasures, Qin Xi was extremely moved and somewhat embarrassed. Chapter 1024 03-25 - 1024 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art_2 ?Chapter 1024: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art_2 Chapter 1024: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art_2 Lin Tianming repeatedly advised her not to let down the expectations of their elders, and so Qin Xi joyfully accepted the advice. With the end of this visit, Qin Xi had gained a lot, including defensive strategies for dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation and a comprehensive understanding of the entire process of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage and the potential issues that might arise. Such advantages indeed stemmed from having Golden Core Stage elders and the legacy of a major power. Otherwise, if one had to explore on their own like a Loose Cultivator, the difficulty of advancing to the Golden Core Stage would significantly increase. As it happened, members of the Lin Family who were preparing to advance into the Golden Core Stage had chosen a favorable time. Thinking back to the times of Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, they solely depended on the breakthrough insights left by their ancestors, which provided very limited experience. Looking at Qin Xi now, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators personally guided her, thoroughly explaining their experiences in advancing stages. ... Furthermore, Qin Xi had witnessed the Golden Core Tribulation more than once. After some guidance and what she had seen with her own eyes, her understanding of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage had significantly deepened. Due to such favorable conditions, the clan had high expectations for Qin Xi. Including Lin Tianming, and even Qin Xi herself felt a doubled confidence in her breakthrough. Following this series of consultations and visits, Lin Tianming wasted no time. He then led Qin Xi to meet with the Elders¡¯ Council and Clan Leader Lin Shihua to notify them of her imminent retreat to break through to the Golden Core Stage. Upon hearing this news, Lin Shihua was extremely excited and eagerly declared he was ready. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Lin Shihua promised to provide Qin Xi with a quiet Cave Mansion for her retreat and to mobilize the power of the Formation to safeguard her advancement to the Golden Core Stage. At the same time, Jiuli Star Fruits that were stored in the family¡¯s Treasure Vault were waiting for clan members to use them, hoping to add a Golden Core Stage Cultivator to the family as soon as possible. Seeing Lin Shihua¡¯s enthusiastic and passionate assurances to provide Qin Xi with the best possible breakthrough environment also made Lin Tianming feel a touch of jealous rivalry. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that times had changed and that the Clan Leader and other elders truly liked Qin Xi very much, He might even suspect that Qin Xi was their biological daughter. But upon further reflection, he knew this was impossible. Moreover, when he attempted to reach the Golden Core Stage, the family did not have such resources. At that time, the Clan Leader and other elders also did their utmost to assist, but their capacity and financial resources were very limited. Now that the family¡¯s conditions had improved, and considering Qin Xi was a woman, the situation naturally couldn¡¯t be compared to his past. Lin Tianming understood this and genuinely appreciated the elders¡¯ support. With Qin Xi¡¯s retreat confirmed, Lin Tianming and his wife also left the Elders¡¯ Council and made a trip to the family¡¯s Treasure Vault, obtaining a Jiuli Star Fruit. At this point, all preparations were in place, they just needed the right moment. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi recognized this and thus planned to formally begin her retreat in five days. Initially, she planned to refine numerous Defense Artifacts, and once these protective measures were in place, she would directly start her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Learning of her plan, Lin Tianming fully supported her. He had been waiting for a long time for this moment, which was now finally near. In the subsequent days, Lin Tianming constantly stayed with Qin Xi. During this time, besides tirelessly sharing his own experiences, he constantly encouraged Qin Xi to focus on her retreat and breakthrough. As the days passed, Qin Xi entered a gorge in the back mountains. Here, the family had built a Cave Mansion specifically designed for high-level clan members to break through their cultivation. This place, which had been the breakthrough site for several of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Stage clan members, had undergone specialized enhancements by the family over the years. The spiritual energy was extremely rich, and the location was secluded and very safe, indeed an excellent spot for a retreat. Watching Qin Xi enter the valley, Lin Tianming lingered for a while but realized that the breakthrough would not be a quick matter. The safety of the place was maintained by clan members, so he didn¡¯t need to worry. Thus, Lin Tianming promptly returned to his own Cave Mansion. Entering the Practice Room, Lin Tianming sat down on a mat and started the Grand Circulation of his cultivation technique, promptly beginning his own cultivation. Time slowly moved backward. A year later, Lin Tianming, with the suppressive power of the Dry Jade Pill, once again took two Yuxu Pills for cultivation. So far, he had consumed several Yuxu Pills over the years. Although his cultivation hadn¡¯t broken through, the gains were not insignificant. Until now, he hadn¡¯t continued with his cultivation but instead took out a Jade Slip and began observing it in his hand. This particular Jade Slip, acquired from the Golden Sword Sect, contained a Spirit Art, which was also a replica Spirit Art. Although it was a replica, its content was identical to the original. As for this Spirit Art, he had also seen Han Hu use it before and had a good idea of its specific power. Now, with some free time on his hands, he decided to comprehend the art beforehand to see if he could master it quickly. With this intention, Lin Tianming extended his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip and firmly memorized its recorded contents. At the same time, whenever he encountered any guesses or doubts, he would often deduce them in his mind. Days of secluded cultivation like this continued. After half a year of deducing and comprehending, finally, on this day, Lin Tianming made a significant breakthrough. At that moment, his face showed joy, and he couldn¡¯t hide his excitement. Above his head, unbeknownst to him, a golden Sword Qi had formed, hanging motionless in mid-air. Looking at it, the small golden sword was crystal clear and imposing. When it first appeared, the entire Practice Room filled with the clear sound of a sword¡¯s cry, accompanied by an invisible aura that whipped up whirlwinds within the room. At this moment, feeling this Sword Qi, Lin Tianming pondered for a while and then confirmed that he had successfully mastered the Spirit Art and had invoked a streak of Sword Qi. Confident in his thoughts, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly manipulated the Sword Qi in his hand. ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike!¡± Lin Tianming softly exclaimed. In an instant, the small sword above his head shot out, immediately striking the wall of the Practice Room. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud explosion sounded, followed by a burst of flames. In just a moment, the entire Practice Room trembled slightly. With such a disturbance, Lin Tianming easily felt and witnessed everything happening inside the Practice Room. As everything returned to normal, the small sword disappeared without a trace. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at the hard wall, now covered in dense cracks, and felt very satisfied within. That strike was the Spirit Art once used by Han Hu, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s unique Spirit Art ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike.¡± After half a year, he had managed to comprehend this Spirit Art successfully and had smoothly activated it. However, the mastery he possessed wasn¡¯t enough; not only was the attack slow and the target not very accurate, but the power was also extremely limited. Yet, to have comprehended the Spirit Art in such a short time was already quite remarkable. As for the power, precision, and speed of casting, he would need long-term practice to reach a certain level and then it could be used in combat. After all, any Spirit Art, even a Yellow Grade Spirit Art, is not easy to comprehend. Furthermore, to fully master it to the point where it can be used in combat requires long-term experimentation and research. This is true for any Spirit Art and any person. The fact that he had reached this level in just half a year was already quite extraordinary. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was not at all discouraged; on the contrary, his spirits were lifted. Therefore, Lin Tianming quickly focused his mind, and as soon as he felt a bit better, he started to comprehend this Spirit Art anew. ¡­ Chapter 1025 03-25 - 1025 541 Heavenly Tribulation Descends ?Chapter 1025: Chapter 541: Heavenly Tribulation Descends Chapter 1025: Chapter 541: Heavenly Tribulation Descends Time slowly passed by. In the blink of an eye, another three years had gone by. Within his cave mansion, Lin Tianming had not taken a single step outside. Until now, at this very moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his face flashing an excited smile. Following that, he formed a Law Decree with his hands, mumbling words under his breath. In the next instant, a green Sword Qi appeared out of nowhere in his hand, finally dancing at his fingertips. As soon as this green Sword Qi appeared, the Practice Room immediately emitted a vibrant aura. ... At the same time, sword shadows flashed across the entire Practice Room, and an aura slowly gathered. Feeling this change, Lin Tianming could not help but reveal a satisfied smile on his face. Over these three years, he had been cultivating in the Practice Room and had not taken a single step outside. During this period, he either used elixirs to enhance his cultivation or comprehended two Spirit Arts from the Jade Slips. After these three years, his cultivation level had increased significantly and was getting closer to the Mid Stage Golden Core. In terms of Spirit Arts, his gains were even greater. After his diligent research, he had now completely comprehended the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± and the Spirit Art ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± which he got from Yang Chengfeng, mastering every key point. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï However, to cultivate them to a certain degree, he still needed more practice and in-depth research. Only when he could use them against enemies could he consider them fully mastered. As of now, he could fully invoke them, though their power was extremely limited and far from enough to confront enemies. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming was very satisfied with this progress. Next, he had plenty of time to refine his skills. As long as he remained confident and diligent in his practice, he believed that one day he would reach the Minor Achievement Realm and be well-prepared to face enemies. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became calm, and his thoughts shifted. ¡°Xi¡¯er has been in closed-door cultivation for three years already, given his talent, the results should be near, right?¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, his expression filled with a tinge of worry. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll leave the cultivation and check on Xi¡¯er first!¡± Lin Tianming made up his mind and then stood up to leave the Practice Room. A little while later. At the back of the main peak, in a valley, Lin Tianming now stood outside the entrance. At this time, his gaze surveyed the interior of the valley, his expression much more relaxed. From his observations, he found the valley to be eerily quiet, and the level of Spiritual Energy inside was extremely dense, reaching a terrifying level. The density of this Spiritual Energy had almost reached the standard that Lin Shilu had when he was condensing his Golden Core. Based on these factors, Lin Tianming guessed that Qin Xi¡¯s progress was fast and likely about to take a big step forward. If nothing unexpected happened, there would definitely be some movement within a year. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face wore an expectant look, and his heart silently prayed for Qin Xi. After calming himself a bit, Lin Tianming leaped up silently and left the valley without alerting any of the clan members stationed there. Soon after, he arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having not seen Lin Tianming for three years, Lin Shikang too was overjoyed and hurriedly invited Lin Tianming to take a seat. After greeting each other, they sat down for tea and chatted leisurely. At that moment, Lin Tianming took a sip of his Spiritual Tea and then spoke, ¡°Third Grandfather, I just went to check the back mountain, and Xi¡¯er¡¯s cultivation progress seems rather quick.¡± ¡°If nothing unexpected occurs, perhaps within a year, he could start condensing the Golden Core and thereby attract the Threefold Lightning Tribulation!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shikang nodded. In fact, he had also been very concerned about this matter and had often visited the back mountain over these three years to check the progress. Now, the situation described by Lin Tianming was obviously very clear to him. At the same time, he had reached the same conclusion as Lin Tianming. In this situation, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s slightly anxious face and comforted him. ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s no need to say much about Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent. She¡¯s capable of impacting the Golden Core Stage at such a young age, and her chances of success are not small.¡± ¡°Though the Heavenly Tribulation is terrifying, Xi¡¯er has no shortage of Treasures on her, which are far superior compared to the Defense Artifacts we used during our breakthrough.¡± ¡°Moreover, your Twelfth Grandpa has long ordered the back mountain to be marked as a forbidden area and has used the Defensive Great Formation¡¯s gathering effect to provide escort and protection for Xi¡¯er.¡± ¡°It can be said that our entire clan is supporting Xi¡¯er¡¯s impact on the Golden Core Stage, and her chances of success are definitely higher than when you were at that stage.¡± Lin Shikang patiently persuaded Lin Tianming, his tone and gaze filled with confidence in Qin Xi. Hearing these words and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s confident expression, Lin Tianming¡¯s worries faded significantly. Because he knew in his heart that what Lin Shikang said made sense. After all, Qin Xi was only in her fifties, also possessed Dual Spiritual Roots, and had a very stable foundation in her path. Such advantageous personal conditions, coupled with numerous Defense Artifacts prepared by the family members and the gathering effect of the clan¡¯s grand formation, With so many factors assisting her, Qin Xi¡¯s chances of successfully breaking through were indeed considerable. Realizing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s worries faded somewhat, and his heart was once again filled with confidence. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming changed the subject and then brought up the matter of his cultivation of the two Spirit Arts. Upon hearing that Lin Tianming had mastered those two Spirit Arts, Lin Shikang was amazed and extremely excited. Chapter 1026 03-25 - 1026 541 Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 1026: Chapter 541 Heavenly Tribulation Descends_2 Chapter 1026: Chapter 541 Heavenly Tribulation Descends_2 After all, these two Spirit Arts were also crucial to the Lin Family aside from the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art.¡± Although they were only of the lowest Yellow Grade, they were still extremely important to the Lin Family. Because despite the formidable power of the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± it had significant limitations. The most apparent was that once used, a cultivator needed a long time to recuperate before they could wield its full destructive power again. Thus, if a family member had already used the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡± in combat and failed to kill the opponent, they could easily find themselves in a perilous situation. Therefore, if the two subsequent Spirit Arts acquired by the Lin Family could be successfully cultivated, they would have two more trumps to play. In critical moments, these two Spirit Arts might allow them to turn the tide of battle. ... In such cases, the importance of these two Spirit Arts to the Lin Family became evident. Lin Shikang was clearly aware of the importance of these Spirit Arts, and seeing Lin Tianming successfully cultivate them with ease naturally filled him with immense excitement. After calming himself slightly, Lin Shikang suppressed his excitement and witnessed Lin Tianming deploying the two Spirit Arts. The result was exactly as Lin Tianming had described, further piquing Lin Shikang¡¯s interest. Among these two Spirit Arts, the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± was the only one for which the family had an imprint copy; only Lin Tianming possessed the original for the other. Including Lin Shikang, the family¡¯s senior members had been pondering the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± Spirit Art for years. However, their comprehension was average and they were entangled in family affairs, hardly having the time to delve deeply into it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Now that Lin Tianming had managed to cultivate it first, it made them all the more envious. At that moment, Lin Tianming understood what Lin Shikang was thinking. He immediately began to share his insights on the two Spirit Arts, hoping to help Lin Shikang avoid taking some detours. As he explained, Lin Shikang listened with keen interest, firmly remembering everything. Following this, Lin Tianming handed over the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± to Lin Shikang to ponder over when he had the chance. After doing this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang chatted for a long time, finalizing the arrangements for Qin Xi¡¯s protection during her seclusion. Afterward, Lin Tianming took his leave and returned to the outskirts of the valley where Qin Xi was secluded. Sitting on a huge rock, Lin Tianming gazed ahead, lost in thought. At the moment, it seemed Qin Xi might soon make that breakthrough. Now having nothing particular to do, he decided not to return to his own seclusion but to stay here and protect her. At the same time, he could continue to study the Spirit Arts and practice his cultivation. With this plan in mind, Lin Tianming promptly began to implement it. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Days turned into months. One day, several months later, the spiritual energy around and within the canyon slowly began to flow and seemed to converge towards a certain place. At that moment, Lin Tianming sensed this change and immediately opened his eyes. His sharp gaze pierced into the valley as if trying to see through everything. Under his watch, the spiritual energy flowed into the valley, gradually accelerating. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew that Qin Xi was about to condense her Golden Core. This converging spiritual energy was precisely what she needed to form the vast spiritual energy of her Core. Realizing this, Lin Tianming could hardly contain his excitement, his smiling face undisguisable. Amidst his excitement, he immediately sent a message to the Clan Leader to inform him of the situation here, so that the Clan Leader could prepare accordingly. Soon, Lin Shihua set aside his work and rushed over to the location. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shihua eagerly asked, ¡°Tian Ming, is Xi¡¯er about to form her Golden Core?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Lin Tianming replied decisively, still visibly excited. Hearing such a firm statement from Lin Tianming and feeling the changes in the spiritual energy around them, Lin Shihua also knew that the situation was indeed as Lin Tianming had described. With this knowledge, Lin Shihua was equally thrilled. After calming himself a bit, he sent out several messages and made numerous arrangements. He did these to avoid the family suffering losses due to sudden Heavenly Tribulation and even affecting other clan members. After making many arrangements, the two of them stayed in this place, waiting for more apparent signs. Another Shi Chen passed. At this moment, the spiritual energy in the entire gorge had become even denser, almost reaching a tangible state. This was because the area had been covered by a Spirit Gathering Array. Lin Shihua had activated the strongest effect of the array while Qin Xi was in seclusion, forcefully increasing the density of the spiritual energy to the highest level within the clan. Now, Qin Xi was at a critical moment, molding the Golden Core with new spiritual energy which further increased the already dense spiritual energy in the area. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and his companion were satisfied with the scene before them, not surprised. As the two were excited, Lin Shigong and Lin Shikang arrived one after another, both wearing excited smiles. From afar, Lin Shigong excitedly shouted, ¡°How is Xi¡¯er? How is she?¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion also said a few words of reassurance to help Lin Shigong calm down a bit. Then, the four of them waited in the area for even stronger signs to come. Under their watchful eyes, changes in the gorge grew increasingly significant. Soon, the spiritual energy above the gorge churned, and at a certain threshold, it suddenly rushed wildly downward. In that instant, a series of unique sounds came. Following that, the spiritual energy in the air above the gorge disappeared and was replaced by slowly gathering dark clouds. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who had experienced this before, knew that Qin Xi had finished molding the Golden Core and was about to attract the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. True to his expectations, as Lin Tianming and the others rapidly retreated, the Gang Wind kicked off within and outside the gorge, blowing sand and rocks while the clouds in the sky surged, already showing traces of lightning. Time ticked away. After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the dark clouds above the gorge became even more terrifying, and the strong Gang Wind made everything dark. At the same time, what was initially tiny streaks of lightning had turned into the thickness of a water bucket. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Rumbles of thunder resounded, and streaks of lightning sliced through the sky. At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, atop one of the peaks¡­ Lin Tianming and his people stood shoulder to shoulder, everyone with eyes wide open, staring at the cloud-filled sky, their eyebrows tightly furrowed. ¡°It should be descending the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation soon!¡± Lin Tianming whispered softly, his expression very grave. Sure enough, as soon as his words ended, the dark clouds in the distant sky erupted. Following that, a Thunder Dragon formed from the power of lightning roared out of the clouds, shooting towards the interior of the gorge. Just at that moment, a cold snort echoed from within the gorge. At the same time, a graceful figure burst out from the interior of the gorge, unmistakably Qin Xi. In sight, her elegant figure and the momentum that seemed unstoppable, like a brilliant meteor shower, dazzled across the night sky. The Thunder Dragon above her head, seemingly spotting its target, became even more agitated. In an instant, the Thunder Dragon roared furiously, its descending speed significantly faster. At this time, Qin Xi displayed a calm and composed demeanor. She saw her slender hand slap, and three Defense Artifacts shot out, quickly appearing in front of her. Following that, Qin Xi¡¯s fingers danced, sending a series of Law Decrees bombarding the Defense Artifacts in front of her. A series of dazzling lights flashed, and the Defense Artifacts swiftly moved into position, soon firmly blocking above Qin Xi¡¯s head. After making these preparatory moves, Qin Xi still seemed not reassured. She then threw a blood-red Jade Pendant, which formed a barrier behind the Defense Artifacts. After doing these, Qin Xi¡¯s expression finally relaxed a bit, seemingly confident in her defensive measures. ¡­ Chapter 1027 03-25 - 1027 542 Watching the Heavenly ?Chapter 1027: Chapter 542: Watching the Heavenly Tribulation Chapter 1027: Chapter 542: Watching the Heavenly Tribulation ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± The Thunder Dragon roared from the sky, and under everyone¡¯s gaze, it crashed hard onto a Defense Artifact. In that instant, a loud boom sounded, followed by a streak of light suddenly slicing through the void. In that dazzling light, the High Grade Second Order Defense Artifact resisted only for an instant before it shattered into pieces and fell to the ground. At that moment, the Thunder Dragon descended with undiminished speed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companions furrowed their brows, their expressions serious. Just then, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation seems quite powerful, much stronger than when we underwent ours.¡± ... ¡°I¡¯m afraid only Tian Ming could surpass this power in his tribulation!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shihua nodded in agreement. ¡°Elder brother is right!¡± ¡°The tribulation Xi¡¯er is facing is indeed very formidable. However, considering Xi¡¯er¡¯s strong individual strength and thorough preparation, there is a great hope she will overcome this tribulation.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, fully agreeing with Lin Shikang and the others. In his heart, he acknowledged Qin Xi¡¯s strength and her thorough preparations. Given the circumstances, it should not be difficult to overcome this Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Understanding this, Lin Tianming kept his eyes fixed on the tribulation scene ahead, managing to maintain a calm demeanor. Right then, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation had already passed. As they had anticipated, the Thunder Dragon from the first round of tribulation was easily blocked by Qin Xi¡¯s methods. It all happened in the blink of an eye; many of them hadn¡¯t even realized it, and the first level of tribulation was over. At that time, within the vast expanse of dark clouds, constant turbulence suggested the brewing of a new wave of attacks. It seemed like less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Amid a deafening roar, the Second Level of Thunder Tribulation arrived as expected. At that moment, in the empty sky, the dark clouds churned wildly, with three Thunder Dragons twisting their huge bodies. Simultaneously, these Thunder Dragons bared their teeth and claws, appearing extremely fierce. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the lightning gathered, the Thunder Dragons seemed to reach the peak of their fury. With a roar, the three Thunder Dragons burst forth from the clouds, bearing down on Qin Xi below. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± In that instant, the sky erupted with strong winds, and dense Thunder Snakes writhed in the sky. Seeing the three Thunder Dragons approaching, Qin Xi¡¯s expression became much more solemn than when she faced the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Clearly, she was well aware that there was no comparison between the First and the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation. After all, although the First Level was terrifying, the power of the Second Level was many times greater. Facing such a formidable force of thunder, countless cultivators in the Cultivation World had perished under the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation over thousands of years. In contrast, those facing the first level could generally manage it with a bit of caution. The tribulation she was facing was clearly extraordinary, being the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, and naturally unmatched by ordinary tribulations. Knowing this, Qin Xi¡¯s expression was intensely solemn. Yet, despite this, she was not at all afraid; instead, her internal pride and determination forged a relentless confidence. In that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s gaze was fiercely determined as if a long-suppressed belief was being released. Instantly, she leaped forward and released several Second Order Defense Artifacts from her hand. Following this, Qin Xi¡¯s fingers moved non-stop, striking a series of Spiritual Lights onto the Defense Artifacts. A breath passed. The Defense Artifacts were activated, forming several barriers above her head. Having done this, Qin Xi didn¡¯t stop her movements, reinforcing the area above her head by adding two more High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Just as she completed these actions, the three Thunder Dragons crashed down. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Simultaneously with the burst of white light, the entire world was engulfed by howling winds and thunder splitting the sky, as deafening explosions like firecrackers burst next to one¡¯s ears. At the same time, the ground below Qin Xi was trembling slightly. In that flash of light, the Defense Artifacts above her head trembled violently, eventually breaking apart one by one. With the last Defense Artifact shattering, there was nothing left above Qin Xi¡¯s head, revealing a severely damaged Thunder Dragon. At a glance, this Thunder Dragon¡¯s body was incomplete, appearing to be only a third of its peak size. Moreover, it was clear that the Thunder Dragon¡¯s momentum was significantly weaker than at the beginning. Yet, even so, the Thunder Dragon continued its charge towards Qin Xi, seemingly intent on obliterating her there. At this moment, seeing the Thunder Dragon approaching, Qin Xi was both shocked and angry. She snorted coldly, and then, with a flick of her hand, a Longsword shot out, colliding head-on with the oncoming Thunder Dragon. In an instant, the Longsword was deflected by the Thunder Dragon¡­ Yet the speed of the Thunder Dragon was only slightly reduced, showing no signs of stopping. At this point, seeing the explosive Thunder Dragon coming at her again, Qin Xi wore a helpless expression. Now, with all her previously activated Defense Artifacts destroyed, she was left without any protection. Chapter 1028 03-25 - 1028 542 Watching Heavenly ?Chapter 1028: Chapter 542 Watching Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 1028: Chapter 542 Watching Heavenly Tribulation_2 Moreover, the Thunder Dragon descended rapidly; in her rush, she had no time to prepare new defenses. Luckily, although the Thunder Dragon¡¯s power was terrifying, it had already been diminished by ninety percent after several waves of attacks. Under such circumstances, she wasn¡¯t completely helpless against the attack. Realizing this, Qin Xi hastily struck out with a palm, clashing head-on with the battered Thunder Dragon. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± The sounds of two explosions reverberated. In an instant, Qin Xi was sent flying backward, plummeting from the sky and crashing heavily onto the ground. ... Meanwhile, the battered Thunder Dragon was completely dispersed by Qin Xi¡¯s seemingly feeble palm strike. Not until the Thunder Dragon had completely vanished did the violently churning dark clouds in the sky continue to roll, seemingly brewing another round of attacks. At that moment, Qin Xi flipped back onto her feet from the ground. She stood on a huge rock, her body erect, radiating a sense of unyielding will. Looking at her, her Daoist robe was somewhat tattered, fresh blood oozed from the corner of her mouth, and her long black hair freely scattered, presenting a tragically beautiful sight. Then, she raised her head to look at the sky, her beautiful eyes full of anger. As soon as she looked up, after a brief brewing period, the dark clouds churned. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Soon after, over a dozen massive bolts of lightning flashed, eventually forming three huge thunderballs. Upon the appearance of the thunderballs, the sky instantly became a storm of fierce winds and booming thunder. In less than a breath, countless Thunder Snakes surged into the thunderballs, further enlarging their volume. In a flash, these thunderballs grew immensely large; each one made onlookers¡¯ scalps tingle. Just when everyone was in shock, the thunderballs in the sky thunderously fell, instantly covering a large part of the sky. At that moment, Qin Xi, watching the sky-engulfing thunderballs approach, turned visibly pale. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The thunderballs descended rapidly, leaving Qin Xi very little time to think or react. At that moment, seeing the terrifying attack of the thunderballs, Qin Xi dared not hold anything back. Instantly, she tapped her storage bag and six Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts flew out, neatly suspended above her head. Looking at these six defensive artifacts, each was of High Grade Second Order. Moreover, each artifact was of excellent quality, making them rare treasures among Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Were these to be auctioned, any single one might fetch a high price and cause Foundation Establishment Cultivators to fight over them. These rare defensive artifacts were carefully prepared by her family elders and Lin Tianming for her tribulation; they were far superior to any previous defensive artifact she had used. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi knew clearly that the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was terrifying enough. But this final layer would be even more dreadful. If she got through it, she would become a genuine Golden Core Stage Expert. If she failed, she would be obliterated under the Thunder Tribulation, with virtually no chance of survival. In such a situation, saying it was a matter of life and death wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. At such a critical moment, there was no need for any hesitation. To be able to live and guard the ones she loved, for her family and relatives, she needed to give it her all to overcome this inevitable tribulation. Aware of this, Qin Xi spared no effort, activating all remaining High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Instantly, the six Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts formed numerous barriers above her head. Besides these, Qin Xi also threw out other Defensive Magical Artifacts of various grades that she had on her. At this moment, she had no reason to hesitate or hold anything back. Soon, the space above Qin Xi¡¯s head was securely protected by the barriers formed by numerous defensive artifacts. Such a sight, if witnessed by ordinary people, would surely elicit amazement. After all, the defensive magical artifacts Qin Xi used to weather the tribulation were truly luxurious. And these defensive magical artifacts, both in terms of grade and quality, were top-notch among defensive equipment. Such a lavish mode of transcendence was likely only comparable to the true disciples of the Great Sects. It was even possible that not even the true disciples of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had such a wasteful method of transcending tribulations. Yet, despite such a lavish approach, it was currently on display before Lin Tianming and the others, and most of these means had come from their own hands. Seeing this scene now, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, as he had anticipated this long ago. However, Lin Shikang and others looked much more relaxed, their faces a mix of laughter and tears, evidently surprised that Qin Xi had so many treasures. But upon closer thought, they should be able to understand that these defensive artifacts must have come from Lin Tianming. After all, Lin Tianming had spent years waging battles all over, amassing countless treasures, including several Third Grade Treasures, and likely even more Second Order Treasures. Additionally, Lin Tianming had handed over quite a few treasures to the family, naturally keeping some that he fancied for himself. Thus, Qin Xi¡¯s way of transcending the tribulation was reasonable. Just as everyone was astonished, the Thunder Ball had already descended from the sky. In that instant, the originally dark sky turned as bright as day. At the same time, deafening explosions frequently erupted between heaven and earth, sounding like firecrackers. At this time, Lin Shikang and others¡¯ eyes were already blinded by the dazzling light, unable to see any movements beneath the Thunder Ball. However, Lin Tianming at this moment, aided by the Eye of Five Colors, saw everything clearly. Under his gaze, he saw the Thunder Ball easily pierce through the first three High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Following that, the power of the Thunder Ball seemed to weaken, no longer possessing its initial unstoppable momentum. Soon after, the remaining three defensive artifacts managed to resist for a brief period, but eventually shattered into pieces. By this time, the Thunder Ball had greatly reduced in size, to about a tenth or so of its original. By now, the power of the Thunder Ball was considerably diminished, its penetration and lethality far less than at the beginning. Even so, these six High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts had all been destroyed. In front, there was only a barrier formed by several more Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts supplemented by Qin Xi. In an instant, those last few Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts also could not endure for long and finally collapsed. After all, these additional defensive magical artifacts were mostly of Second Order Medium Quality and of rather ordinary quality. If these additional means were placed at the forefront, they would likely disintegrate instantly, unable to diminish even a bit of the Thunder Ball¡¯s sharpness. Therefore, Qin Xi held little hope. Indeed, by this time, Qin Xi had no defensive measures left. But at this moment, Qin Xi would not just wait for the Thunder Ball to blast her without making any defensive moves. Seeing the Thunder Ball still approaching, with small arcs of electricity already flashing over her head, she could feel a hint of a scorched smell. At this moment, Qin Xi leaped up, her whole body soaring straight into the sky like a sharp sword. In that instant, she struck out with a palm, an Ice Pillar shooting out from her palm, eventually colliding hard with the Thunder Ball. In less than a blink of an eye, the Ice Pillar and the Thunder Ball collided. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise followed, the Ice Pillar shattered, and the Thunder Ball made contact with Qin Xi¡¯s palm. In that moment, Qin Xi was sent flying like a cut kite, eventually hitting the ground hard. At this moment, the Thunder Ball also violently exploded, finally fading into specks of starlight. Immediately after, the dark clouds in the sky churned and slowly dissipated. At the same time, the fierce storm abruptly ceased, and the sky regained its usual clarity. ¡­ Chapter 1029 03-25 - 1029 543 Practice Spirit Art ?Chapter 1029: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art Chapter 1029: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art ¡°¡±¡± All this took place in the blink of an eye; the fierce storm came quickly and left just as swiftly. In just a few breaths, the dark clouds had already scattered, and the heavens and earth had returned to normal. It was at this moment that a surge of Golden Core Stage pressure suddenly burst forth, sweeping in all directions. This pressure arrived so suddenly, like a deluge pouring out, seemingly unstoppable. Right at this moment, Qin Xi staggered to her feet from the ground. She appeared somewhat wilted, her face deathly pale, her Daoist robe torn in many places, revealing the close-fitting inner armor beneath it, and her contoured figure was fully exposed. Although her condition seemed not too good, Qin Xi was smiling at this time, clearly knowing she had survived the Heavenly Tribulation. ... Meanwhile, she could feel new True Essence Mana within the Golden Core in her body. All these changes were clear signs that she had undoubtedly entered the Golden Core Stage. Knowing this, Qin Xi¡¯s heart was filled with immense excitement, her joyful smile impossible to hide. At this time, Lin Tianming and the others, who had been watching the tribulation process, saw the dark clouds recede, and the sky returning to its usual hues. Moreover, the familiar pressure of the Golden Core Stage sweeping toward them made them ecstatic. At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others were all overwhelmed with excitement, their faces beaming with satisfaction, and they heaved a sigh of relief in their hearts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? They knew that Qin Xi¡¯s Impact of Golden Core Stage was now formally a success and had concluded. With Qin Xi breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family would gain another member with Golden Core Stage combat power, and not just any, but one with exceptional talent and potential, possessing extremely formidable strength. Thus, the overall strength of the Lin Family rose a few notches once more, and they even had a fair chance of holding their own against any other Golden Core Sect. This was of unspeakable significance for the entire Lin Family. Well aware of this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, their usually serious expressions tossed to the winds in this moment. Lin Tianming too was beside himself with excitement, his smile never leaving his face. After calming down somewhat, Lin Shikang said with a smile, ¡°Xi¡¯er has successfully broken through. She now urgently needs to go into seclusion to consolidate her gains, so let¡¯s all take our leave.¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Lin Shihua nodded, then sent out several messages, probably to inform the clan members who knew of this event that things could go back to normal. After taking care of this, Lin Shihua too smiled and chatted casually with Lin Shikang and the others. Then, they took their leave from Lin Tianming, each departing from the main peak¡¯s summit. At this time, Lin Tianming also had no intention of lingering. He knew very well that Qin Xi certainly needed to cultivate in seclusion now, and perhaps in a year or half a year, she would be able to emerge normally. As husband and wife, it wouldn¡¯t be too late for them to reunite then. With this understanding, Lin Tianming took one more look at the gorge where Qin Xi was undergoing seclusion and then stepped away from the place. Returning to his own Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming¡¯s mood was still excited. After composing himself slightly, he entered the practice room and began a short period of secluded cultivation. Time flew by, and a year had passed. That day, as Lin Tianming sat in meditation, he was interrupted by a message. It turned out that Qin Xi had finished consolidating her cultivation and had now smoothly emerged from seclusion. Upon receiving this news, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and immediately cut short his cultivation rhythm, hastily ending his retreat. Exiting the practice room, he saw Qin Xi already waiting in the small courtyard. From a distance, Lin Tianming¡¯s excited voice was already heard. ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you left your retreat?¡± Hearing the voice, Qin Xi turned her head and saw Lin Tianming rush over to her, his emotion evident in his eagerness. Qin Xi nodded, her face also flashing a smile of excitement, making her stunningly beautiful appearance even more enchanting. ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er has finally stepped successfully into the Golden Core Stage, not letting down the hopes and support of many elders and Ming himself,¡± Qin Xi solemnly said. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in response. Then, he casually took out three Magical Treasures, two Offensive Magical Treasures, and one Defense Treasure. The two Offensive Magical Treasures were the Hongling and a Blue Longsword. The Hongling was a Magical Treasure that Lin Tianming had obtained early on after slaying Yu Hongyan from the Golden Sword Sect, a Golden Core Cultivator. As this Magical Treasure was originally meant for female cultivators, it would be unseemly for him, a First Order male cultivator, to use it. Now that Qin Xi had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, it was fitting for her to use it. Besides, the Blue Longsword was acquired over the past few years when he was searching for Dry Jade Grass and had slain Yang Chengfeng. This Offensive Magical Treasure was of excellent quality and was considered one of the finest among all treasures obtained by Lin Tianming and even the Lin Family. The Defense Treasure, however, was relatively ordinary, gained from the hands of Xiang Changqing of the Golden Sword Sect. Although this Defense Treasure had some flaws, it was still a respectable Defense Treasure. When Lin Shilu left his retreat, he could also reforge it, and it was believed that it could return to its peak condition. These three Treasures had been acquired by him at a very early stage and were specifically kept by his side, just waiting to be gifted to Qin Xi upon her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that Qin Xi had broken through, he naturally presented them to her, hoping she could quickly claim and refine them, thereby enhancing her own strength. ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 1030 03-25 - 1030 543 Practice Spirit Art_2 ?Chapter 1030: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art_2 Chapter 1030: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art_2 Thus, Lin Tianming, who had long been prepared, handed over the three Magical Treasures to Qin Xi. Seeing this, Qin Xi also showed a puzzled expression. It was then that Lin Tianming explained, ¡°Xi¡¯er, these treasures are the spoils of war your husband has collected over the years, and I¡¯ve set them aside especially for you, consider them a gift to celebrate your breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage.¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also spoke up to persuade, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you currently lack a Magical Treasure, so these treasures can serve as a temporary substitute.¡± ¡°Once Fifteenth Grandfather concludes his retreat, we can trouble the elderly to help you refine a new Life-bound Magical Treasure. I believe Xi¡¯er¡¯s strength can grow even stronger.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming say this, Qin Xi thoughtfully nodded and then accepted the three Magical Treasures. ... Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief and then promptly changed the topic. ¡°Xi¡¯er, now that you have left seclusion, let us go pay respects to the many elders.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded in response, ¡°Now that Xi¡¯er has left seclusion, it is indeed time to pay a visit to the elders.¡± Lin Tianming was very pleased to see Qin Xi thinking the same. Soon after, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi by the hand out of the Cave Mansion and hurried toward Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. Before long, Lin Tianming, accompanying Qin Xi, paid respects to numerous elders one by one, including those who managed the family¡¯s institutions, who also received their visits. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After all, elders are elders, and Xing Clan Members like Lin Xingyuan, Lin Xingzhi, Lin Xingli had also contributed much to Lin Tianming¡¯s growth, and their relationship was very good. Though now both husband and wife were of the Golden Core Stage Realm, they would not transgress clan rules and decorum, lest others think them ungrateful. Thus, those relatives with whom they had a good and close relationship all received personal visits from Lin Tianming and his wife. During this time, Golden Core Stage elders like Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai even brought out sincere and valuable gifts to congratulate Qin Xi on her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. It took several days before the couple finally concluded their visits, and then they returned to their own Cave Mansion. Following that, Lin Tianming also took out some Third Order Pills and handed them to Qin Xi, for her to continue her cultivation. At the same time, he mentioned two new Spirit Arts, suggesting that Qin Xi find time to comprehend them. Thus, Qin Xi had quite a few things to do next. And Lin Tianming would not be idle. Next, he planned to find a quiet place outside the clan territory to practice the two new Spirit Arts he had just mastered. Once he had practiced to a certain extent and could use them against enemies, he would return to the clan. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Qin Xi and then mentioned his plan. If all went well, it could take as little as a year and a half or as long as three years to proficiently master the Spirit Arts. With the matter settled, Lin Tianming did not delay and quietly left the family alone. He then traveled westward at a swift pace, passing through the Luoyun Mountain Range and entering the Endless Forest. In his view, practicing the Spirit Arts would surely cause a significant disturbance, so to avoid too much commotion within the family, it was better to find a quiet place. The Endless Forest was a vast region, and although cultivators frequented the outer areas, the inner parts were rarely trodden by humans. True, there were many Demonic Beasts inside, and Third Order Demonic Beasts were not uncommon, with even the possibility of encountering Fourth Order Demonic Beasts. However, with his Golden Core Stage cultivation level, as long as he did not venture too deep, safety should not be an issue. Even if he did encounter a Demon Beast, as long as it was not a Fourth Order Great Demon, he could manage to some extent, and if he genuinely wished to escape, probably not even a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast could stop him. Thus, without the threat of death, he need not be overly cautious. Bolstered by such confidence, Lin Tianming crossed the outer region and made his way into the interior of the Endless Forest. After half a month¡¯s journey, he arrived at a valley of exceptional beauty. Here he encountered a Giant-Tooth Beast Pack, comprising several dozens of Second Order Demonic Beasts, including a number of Second Order Late Phase Giant-Tooth Beasts. Despite this, Lin Tianming effortlessly wiped them out and took over the Demon Beast Tribe¡¯s lair. This place was quite serene and considered an inner area of the Endless Forest; he saw no traces of cultivators on his way here. So, Lin Tianming decided to practice here for a while; if he remained undisturbed, all the better, but if the situation changed, he would adapt accordingly. In this situation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, three spirit beasts. After his instructions, he tasked these spirit beasts with guarding the area. If there was any danger or if any cultivators approached, he would be promptly informed and could make a counterplan. Having done this, Lin Tianming began his practice. In an instant, one could see Lin Tianming sitting on a huge rock, continuously flicking his fingers, murmuring words under his breath. Soon, a golden longsword slowly coalesced above his head. The sword shimmered with golden light, its surface surrounded by powerful Sword Qi, giving it a remarkably majestic aura. As Lin Tianming let out a gentle cry, in a split second, the golden Sword Qi shot forth, rapidly appearing a hundred yards away. A dull thud sounded as the golden longsword struck a towering tree in the distance. ¡°Bang!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, the towering tree fell at the sound. Before that, the golden Sword Qi had pierced right through the trunk of the tree, even blasting part of it into fine dust. When everything had settled, Lin Tianming pondered the effects of that strike, drawing experience from it to make improvements. Soon, it seemed he realized where it lacked and quickly began preparing for another strike. Fortunately, the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± spirit art did not have the same casting restrictions as the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art.¡± And although this lower-grade spirit art was not as powerful as the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± nor was it as stronger than the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique,¡± once mastered, its activation relied mainly on the Power of Spiritual Sense and was still moderately stronger than other Technique Divine Powers. With his current Divine Sense, he estimated that he could probably activate it three times in a row without much issue. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming once again began to activate the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike.¡± Quickly, he formed an even larger golden longsword and slashed it towards a huge rock in the distance. With a loud boom, the strike came to an end. During this time, Lin Tianming intently watched the trajectory of the longsword and observed every move of the golden longsword, including all reactions following the collision, with crystal-clear clarity. Following this, he began to contemplate, accumulating experience from it. After repeated practice, his understanding of this spirit art deepened. Thus, Lin Tianming, drenched in sweat, tirelessly continued his practice. Each time his Divine Sense was nearly depleted, he would immediately sit and meditate to recover his condition. When his condition returned to its peak, he would begin a new round of practice. With such persevering cultivation, he continued for half a year. Until this day, the golden Sword Qi activated by Lin Tianming condensed into a fierce and impressive Golden Dragon. With a roar, the Golden Dragon darted toward a massive rock hundreds of yards away. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Following an explosion, the canyon filled with flying sand and rolling stones, and the force of the impact created a Gang Wind that spread in all directions. The massive rock shattered into pieces, and the ground of the entire canyon seemed to be trembling slightly. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile with excitement. It now seemed that the ability to form a dragon shape with the golden Sword Qi denoted a certain level of mastery. As for its power, he had seen it and it was no less than that of the few Golden Sword Sect Disciples who had used this spirit art before. Therefore, he had reached a certain degree of proficiency with this spirit art, enough to face off against enemies. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, his face revealing a satisfied expression. ¡­ Chapter 1031 03-25 - 1031 544 The Current Situation of the ?Chapter 1031: Chapter 544: The Current Situation of the Family Chapter 1031: Chapter 544: The Current Situation of the Family With the successful cultivation of ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike,¡± Lin Tianming had reached his expectations. At this moment, Lin Tianming was quite excited and immediately continued to strike while the iron was hot, starting to practice another Spirit Art. After all, with plenty of time at his disposal and no disturbances, it was natural to seize the opportunity to thoroughly master these two Spirit Arts. Once they reached a certain level of proficiency, enough to use them against enemies, that would be the time for him to return to the Lin Family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not wish to delay any further and immediately began practicing the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique.¡± Soon, the valley rang with bursts of explosive sounds again before returning to calmness. Then, after a while, familiar sounds started up once more. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Such activities were indeed coming from Lin Tianming. And so, the days slowly passed by. A year had silently slipped away just like that. On this day, Lin Tianming looked at the shattered boulder in front of him and the crisscrossed giant trees lying on the ground, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face. Over the past year, he had primarily practiced the Spirit Art ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique.¡± After his relentless efforts, practicing it dozens or even hundreds of times over, he had finally reached a satisfactory level of proficiency. It had to be said that the power of ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± was indeed somewhat stronger than that of ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? However, the implementation of ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± had higher demands and more limitations, not least the requirement of the Five Elements, which restricted the opportunities to use this Spirit Art. Even so, the power of this Spirit Art was truly exceptional, which still pleased Lin Tianming. After numerous trials and extensive practice, he had now understood the power of this Spirit Art and had fully mastered it, enough to use it against enemies. With this development, Lin Tianming now had mastery over three Spirit Arts. Armed with such a diverse arsenal for combat, his strength had once again improved. By now, nearly two years had elapsed since he entered the Endless Forest. If calculated from his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, it had already been a decade. During such a long period, the pace of his cultivation progress had been average, still a considerable distance away from the Mid Stage Golden Core. Because of this, Lin Tianming was somewhat helpless, but he also knew that after reaching the Golden Core Stage, each step forward in cultivation was not easy. Moreover, during the first few years after his breakthrough, he had always been troubled with cultivation issues, making it impossible to engage in serious cultivation. Consequently, he had only truly started to cultivate earnestly in the past five years, since the refining of the Dry Jade Pill. And now, with his Spirit Arts mastered, it was time to return to the family and concentrate on cultivation. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately summoned the Purple Gold Eagles and other Spirit Beasts back. Soon, three Spirit Beasts returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s side. At this time, looking at the three Spirit Beasts in front of him, Lin Tianming zoned out for a moment. In fact, these Spirit Beasts had been with him for quite some time, and now each one emanated the aura of the peak of Second Order Late Phase. Especially the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which, when they first submitted to him, were already in the Second Order Late Phase, with the latter even at the peak stage, not far from the Third Order. Decades had passed, and these three Spirit Beasts had ingested a vast number of Demon Beast Corpses and even consumed several earthly treasures, yet they still had not broken through to the Third Order. Lin Tianming felt helpless about this result. However, upon further reflection, the advancement of demonic beasts wasn¡¯t easy and was even more difficult than it was for Cultivators of the same level. Such was the nature of things! After all, demonic beasts had much longer lifespans and were naturally gifted with superior physical talents. If they could easily advance, high-order demonic beasts would be everywhere. In that case, the Human Race would have long been enslaved by demonic beasts, and the current balance of power between the two races would never have formed. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming was not surprised to see the three Spirit Beasts still hovering at the peak of the Second Order Late Phase. However, upon returning to the Lin Family, Lin Tianming planned to allocate a portion of resources to try to push their realms to the Third Order. Not just for these three Spirit Beasts but also for the Soul-Eating Spider that had been guarding the family for hundreds of years. He had plans for them all. For this Spirit Beast that had made considerable contributions to the family, Lin Tianming felt a deep respect. Now that the Lin Family had a number of high-level members and unprecedented strength, with such favorable conditions, it was time to give those meritorious Spirit Beasts focused cultivation. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming tidied up the valley and then left, heading back in the direction from which he had come. After half a month¡¯s journey, Lin Tianming returned to the Lin Family. Qin Xi was still in seclusion, and Lin Tianming, out of habit, paid his respects to several elders. In no time, the elders gathered in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. After having not seen Lin Tianming for a long while, Lin Shihua asked, ¡°Tian Ming, how was the practice of the Spirit Arts?¡± ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯ve achieved some success, enough to use them against my enemies!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh, excitement still evident on his face. Hearing his reply and seeing his expression, Lin Shikang and the others also felt thrilled. In fact, these two Spirit Arts were being cultivated by almost every core member of the Lin Family. However, the cultivation of these Spirit Arts was not easy; some family members were able to comprehend and unleash the power of the Spirit Arts. Chapter 1032 03-25 - 1032 544 Recent Developments in the ?Chapter 1032: Chapter 544: Recent Developments in the Family_2 Chapter 1032: Chapter 544: Recent Developments in the Family_2 Some clansmen really had average comprehension, and even if they figured it out, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily be able to wield the greatest power. Even some clansmen had poor comprehension; despite spending a lot of time, they still could not master the spiritual arts. This, it seems, was unavoidable. Just like the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± a Mysterious Grade spirit art, which had spread among the core members of the Lin Family for several decades. Among all the clan members above the Foundation Establishment Stage, only half had fully mastered it. The others were either still in cultivation or had just broken through the Foundation Establishment Stage not long ago and did not qualify to practice this technique. Now, the Lin Family had mastered two more spirit arts, and the subsequent ones they obtained were much easier to train in. The clan believed that if members studied and practiced more, ensuring every clansman mastered at least one spirit art shouldn¡¯t be difficult. ... Reaching this point would also require a long period of accumulation. Now that the Lin Family had gotten on the right track and the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was peaceful, they believed that they would eventually achieve this goal. Realizing this, people like Lin Shikang were also filled with confidence. At this moment, Lin Tianming also shifted the topic and asked about several plans the Lin Family had been implementing in the past few years, inquiring about their progress. After all, more than five years had passed since the day the Lin Family clan met to discuss these plans. According to the original plans, the Lin Family¡¯s territory should have been completely transformed by now, and the initial relocation and various support plans should have been concluded. Thus, having been away from the clan for two years, Lin Tianming naturally thought of this when he returned. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 At this time, seeing Lin Tianming inquire about this matter, Lin Shihua also began to explain. According to him, the Lin Family¡¯s initial plans had been completed a year ago. Now, the five major mountain ranges under the Lin Family had been changed according to the planned scheme. Currently, the Luoyun Mountain Range, having merged with several other mountain ranges, hosted only the Lin Family. As for the outright new Qianchuan Mountain Range, Xijing Mountain Range, Songyuan Mountain Range, and Changfeng Mountain Range, these mountain ranges all had new families settling in, making them more populated than at their peak. As of now, with the support of the Lin Family, these mountain ranges had started to expand their workshops, achieving certain effectiveness. If this continues, the future size of these workshops could be substantial, and the flow of people would likely double. Despite being unable to reach the scale of a medium-sized workshop, this was still a significant transformation compared to the past. The Lin Family, as well as some local Foundation Establishing Families, would also gain more benefits from this change. This transformation also met the objectives of the Lin Family. Besides that, the Luoyun Mountain Range controlled by the Lin Family had also undergone considerable changes. Now, three million mortals had migrated to the Luoyun Mountain Range, blending with the original inhabitants. They were placed in batches, allowing the Lin Family¡¯s laymen to create new towns, improving unified management. For this reason, the Lin Family often dispatched clan members to guard these people against natural disasters and demonic beast attacks. With this, the number of mortals under the Lin Family had reached as many as eight million. If this continues, surpassing ten million in another decade is almost within reach. Meanwhile, the spirit lands left behind by other families were also uniformly transformed by the Lin Family into new spirit lands, which were planted with various spiritual medicines and materials. However, the growth period of these spiritual objects was quite long; even First Order Spiritual Medicine required decades or even centuries to grow. For higher-ranked Third Order Spiritual Medicine, the growth period usually spanned hundreds or even thousands of years. Therefore, the Lin Family gaining short-term profits from these was rather unrealistic. But such long-term development cannot be rushed. Moreover, for the sake of a lasting foundation for growth, the Lin Family had to plan early. Otherwise, how could they achieve a millennium or even longer legacy? In this aspect, long-standing forces like the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had also experienced this when they were first established. Now, the Lin Family was going down the same path as these forces. It could be said, for long-term development, even if the initial phase required more manpower and effort, it was necessary. Fortunately, the Lin Family currently controlled ample resources. With a solid foundation in place, implementing these plans faced minimal resistance. Thus, everything was progressing smoothly according to the Lin Family¡¯s plans. And all of these were the basic conditions of the family. More importantly, the key was the over a thousand family members in the family. According to the latest statistics by Lin Shihua, the number of family members in the Lin Family had grown rapidly over the years. By now, the Lin Family had nearly two thousand members. Among them, not to mention those in the Golden Core Stage, there were as many as eighty-two members in the Foundation Establishment Stage alone. Moreover, the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the family were not as monotonous as they were twenty years ago. After all, back then, although there were dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Lin Family, most had only just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their cultivation was generally in the initial stage, with very limited numbers of members in the middle stage. Even at that time, the whole Lin Family could hardly find several members in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. But now, the structure of the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Lin Family was very reasonable, although those in the initial stage still made up the majority. However, the proportion of members in the middle stage and above was actually quite significant. Even members from the Xing generation like Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping, and middle-aged and young members like Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianqin, and Lin Tianhong had stepped into the late stage of Foundation Establishment. It could be said that the current Lin Family had the foundation befitting a Golden Core Family, whether it was the Golden Core Stage members or the backbone forces like the Foundation Establishment cultivators. This great change had also occurred in the past dozen years. At this moment, when Lin Tianming learned of these overt changes in the family, he felt genuinely relieved and even excited for a long time. It was not just him who felt this way; the few family members present were similarly thrilled when Lin Shihua mentioned these changes. It was they who had experienced the most difficult times of the family. Seeing such changes in the family now, they felt excited, proud, and arrogant from the bottom of their hearts. Even Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, couldn¡¯t help but have tears flicker in his eyes whenever he spoke of these changes. Unconsciously, his tone also started to choke up a bit. Lin Tianming deeply understood the emotions of these older generation family members and, as a witness and even a key initiator of the family¡¯s rise, he too was greatly moved. Thus, Lin Tianming was also filled with numerous thoughts and emotions. Fortunately, this was all developing in a favorable direction, which was exactly what all Lin Family members wanted to see. Now that they had reached this level, the core family members knew that they could not be too relaxed next. For the Lin Family to advance further, it would still require the collective effort of thousands of family members. It could be said that their responsibility was great and the road ahead was long. With this in mind, Lin Tianming and the others felt their blood boil, making the gathering process livelier. As the gathering continued, Lin Tianming gained a deeper understanding of the family¡¯s changes in recent years. After over half a Shichen, this gathering gradually drew to a close. After some casual conversation, they discussed some family affairs. Afterward, Lin Tianming spoke again, suggesting further assistance for a few Spirit Beasts to advance. This was quickly approved by everyone. Thus, Lin Tianming mentioned a Pill Formula he had obtained called ¡®Beast Heart Pill¡¯ and wanted to try refining it to help the advancement process of the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Soul-eating Spider. This Pill Formula was also an Ancient Pill Recipe, its main Spiritual Medicine Materials very rare, and currently in the Wei Kingdom, there were very few mentions of such medicines. Therefore, refining it was not an easy task. However, everyone supported this idea. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shihua also planned to mobilize the entire family¡¯s resources, even at great cost, to search for the necessary Spiritual Medicines for this Pill. Seeing Lin Shihua say this, Lin Tianming naturally would not object, and he had always intended to do so, though he did not dare to hope too much. Still, regardless of the outcome, they had to try their best. If they succeeded, the breakthrough chances for these Spirit Beasts would be greater, and the overall strength of the Lin Family would further improve. Under these circumstances, this matter was finalized with everyone¡¯s support. With this matter concluded, Lin Tianming did not stay much longer, and after greeting everyone, he got up and took his leave. Chapter 1033 03-25 - 1033 545 Special Cultivation Method ?Chapter 1033: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method Chapter 1033: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method On this day, it seemed that, sensing Lin Tianming¡¯s return, Qin Xi, who was still in seclusion, ended her retreat. Immediately, the couple reunited. At that time, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi before him and asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve been in seclusion for two years, how was your progress?¡± ¡°Ming, I have refined those several magical treasures and now have full control over them,¡± ¡°As for my cultivation, I¡¯ve also made some progress with the help of two Yuxu Pills, but there¡¯s still a long way to go before reaching the Mid Stage Golden Core. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be possible to advance further in the short term.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded, knowing that breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core was certainly not easy. Not to mention others, he himself had been at the Early Stage Golden Core for nearly ten years now. Of course, there were certain other reasons why his cultivation had not progressed further. ... But setting aside those objective factors, after reaching the Golden Core Stage, each step forward was incredibly difficult. Otherwise, in the history of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World that spanned tens of thousands of years, there would not be only a dozen or so Golden Core Cultivators still existing. Among them, those who had reached the Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation were even fewer and could be counted on one hand. Seeing this situation was enough to show how difficult it was to advance one¡¯s cultivation during the Golden Core Stage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming merely smiled calmly and then joked with Qin Xi, as they shared their experiences over the past two years. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? After a while, following some casual conversation, the two of them had a basic understanding of each other¡¯s experiences. In general, during these two years, both of them had led relatively peaceful lives. Lin Tianming mainly practiced Spirit Art, while Qin Xi refined magical treasures and worked on increasing her cultivation. It could be said that both their family and they themselves, individually, had passed those years in tranquility. Soon after, having learned all this, the couple left their Cave Mansion together, planning to visit their mother. On that day, the family of six had a rare gathering, including Lin Xing Rong, who was always busy, and Lin Tian Yue, who was gradually becoming a pillar of strength in the family. Since most of the family¡¯s series of plans were essentially complete, the two of them also enjoyed a rare period of leisure. As a result, the family reunion was quite fulfilling, and the entire gathering proceeded in a relaxed manner. During this time, Ren Yuxuan also broached the topic of offspring with Lin Tianming and his wife in a very serious tone. After all, both members of the couple had now reached the Golden Core Stage, and at over sixty years of age, they were in the prime years for having children. This matter caused Lin Tianming and his wife some embarrassment. Especially Qin Xi, who blushed deeply when her mother-in-law mentioned it and hardly dared to say much. And it was the first time the mother pressed the matter so emphatically, repeatedly claiming that family members of their age had already taken wives and concubines. Some even had descendants forming a crowd, with younger members about to undergo the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Once a Spiritual Root was discovered, those youngsters would embark on the path of cultivation and become a part of the family¡¯s Cultivator cohort. When Lin Tianming and his wife heard this, they felt somewhat helpless. Indeed, the situation described by the mother was true. However, those who had taken wives and concubines and already had offspring were generally the ones with poorer talent and potential. Like their contemporary, Lin Tian Hong, who was a few years older than him, hadn¡¯t he also not married yet? And among the female family members, Lin Tian Qin, who was several years older, and Lin Tian Yue, who was a few years younger, had also not engaged in marriage. Thus, when it came to the better-gifted members of the family, both men and women generally married late or were just beginning to consider marriage. Such situations used to be quite rare in the family. But in the Lin Family nowadays, it had almost become commonplace. Upon hearing his explanations, the mother¡¯s expression grew solemn. Following that, Ren Yuxuan dropped a comment that left Lin Tianming at a loss for words. Because in earlier years, Ren Yuxuan had urged them about the matter of offspring several times. Later on, an impatient Lin Tianming, using cultivation as an excuse and arguing that having children too early might affect their path, delayed the matter many times. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In addition, he had also repeatedly promised that they would consider having children after both he and his wife had entered the Golden Core Stage. Now that Qin Xi had entered the Golden Core Stage, it was obviously not going to be so easy to evade the issue anymore. Under these circumstances, seeing his mother¡¯s determined attitude and her mix of soft and hard tactics, and not only her but also his grandfather, who usually favored him but this time did not side with him and kept urging just like the mother, a very helpless Lin Tianming, seeing that he could not decline or delay any longer, had no choice but to agree to the matter. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement, Ren Yuxuan finally felt overjoyed, her heart relieved. For the matter of offspring, she had been looking forward to it for a long time. After all, at her age, she had been practicing cultivation for just over a hundred years, and her current cultivation was still lingering at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and cultivation had become increasingly difficult. It was almost certain that most of her potential had already been exhausted, and reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm smoothly in her lifetime was an exceedingly difficult task. Unless there was an enormous opportunity, if nothing unexpected happened, her cultivation journey was likely to stop at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Chapter 1034 03-25 - 1034 545 Special Cultivation Method_2 ?Chapter 1034: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method_2 Chapter 1034: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method_2 Because she understood this point, Ren Yuxuan began to focus her attention on the younger generation. As a result, in the past few years, she had shifted her focus, and with other female family members also making moves, she had seen enough to become restless herself. Consequently, Lin Tianming and his wife felt their mother¡¯s urging for the first time. Under such an atmosphere, this gathering ended prematurely. Soon after, Ren Yuxuan, for the first time, took the initiative to see her guests out, her intentions clearly understood. With the situation as it was, Lin Tianming and his wife had no choice but to return to their own Cave Mansion. In their small courtyard, Lin Tianming and his wife snuggled together. ... At this moment, Qin Xi pressed her head tightly against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest, her face already blushing red, giving her a certain charm. Feeling the stunning beauty in his arms, Lin Tianming¡¯s face also showed a hint of awkwardness. Then, Lin Tianming stutteringly asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, about the matter Mother is urging us to do¡­¡± ¡°You¡­ Do you think it¡¯s time¡­?¡± Hearing this, even though Lin Tianming didn¡¯t finish his sentence, the meaning was clear enough. For a moment, the bashful Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder, and she stuttered just as long, neither agreeing to the dual cultivation technique nor outright refusing. Seeing that Qin Xi wasn¡¯t speaking, Lin Tianming asked embarrassedly, ¡°Xi¡¯er, we said in our early years that we would wait until the Golden Core Stage for dual cultivation.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Now that you¡¯ve broken through to the Golden Core Stage, do you think we can proceed?¡± Hearing this and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s persistent questioning, Qin Xi became even shyer, her whole body pressed against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. Simultaneously, Qin Xi nodded her head lightly, like a pecking chick, the implication clear without words. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a mischievous laugh and said, ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we shouldn¡¯t delay. Let¡¯s give it a try right now¡­¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming began to get restless. At that moment, feeling the abnormality in her embrace, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed with shyness, and her body couldn¡¯t help but soften. At the critical moment, Qin Xi forced herself to remain conscious while stuttering a shy rebuttal. ¡°Ming, we¡¯re still in the courtyard, let¡¯s go inside¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, then promptly pulled Qin Xi, and in an instant, they vanished. In no time, the two of them appeared in a room. At this moment, an impassioned Lin Tianming seemed somewhat impatient. Watching Lin Tianming across from her, charging like a hungry wolf, Qin Xi let out a light cough, interrupting him. Immediately after, Qin Xi took out a Jade Slip and held it in front of herself. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stopped and asked with confusion, ¡°Xi¡¯er, what¡¯s this?¡± Qin Xi smiled shyly and handed the Jade Slip to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, still puzzled, took the Jade Slip and saw that it detailed a technique for dual cultivation. This kind of dual cultivation technique was actually quite common in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators would practice the dual cultivation technique once they find a partner. After all, there is a distinction between Yin and Yang in males and females, and the dual cultivation technique has special effects for both parties. Especially the first time dual cultivation is practiced, the Yin and Yang forces inside the partner are exactly what the other needs the most. In most cases, both parties gain considerable benefits from their first dual cultivation. If the first-time cultivators are not at a high Cultivation Realm, they can use the opportunity of the first dual cultivation to break through their realm. Or, in cases where one has a special physique, both male and female cultivators can gain even greater benefits. As a result, some special Sects were born in the Cultivation World, and particularly sophisticated dual cultivation techniques have produced some exceptional powerhouses. There are even rumors that in other flourishing lands of the Path of Immortality, there are many forces that use dual cultivation as their foundation to establish Sects. Moreover, these forces have a very strong overall strength, with some even having Nascent Soul Forces. Therefore, the dual cultivation technique is quite a normal affair in the Cultivation World. It¡¯s just that there are many different types of dual cultivation techniques, each with its own effects. Like the dual cultivation technique he currently held, Lin Tianming was uncertain about its effectiveness. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, no matter what, Lin Tianming had not placed his hopes for a breakthrough on this. In his eyes, while dual cultivation had some effects, it was mainly the first time that yielded the better results. Subsequent dual cultivations brought extremely limited benefits. Rather than focusing on this, it would be better to cultivate diligently, which might even yield faster results than continued dual cultivation. And yet, Qin Xi had brought out a dual cultivation technique at this moment, which quite surprised Lin Tianming. Thus, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xi¡¯er, where did you get this dual cultivation technique from?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Qin Xi bashfully replied, ¡°My mother gave it to me early on, and during our secret talks, she would often explain it to me¡­¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but curl his lip. At the same time, he thought that Xi¡¯er¡¯s mother must have been instilling these ideas in her for the sake of future generations. Now that the day had come, it seemed that his elder¡¯s wishes had been fulfilled. However, looking at the current situation, even though he did not intend to focus his cultivation on dual cultivation, it didn¡¯t conflict with his regular cultivation. Under such circumstances, he was very calm, hoping for the best. After all, this technique was well known in the Cultivation World, and if properly utilized, it could still enhance some cultivation and thus speed up their cultivation progress. Conversely, if it turned out not so effective, it wouldn¡¯t matter, as he hadn¡¯t held much hope in the first place. With this in mind, Lin Tianming maintained a calm attitude, not favoring nor rejecting the technique. His thoughts collected, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi before him; her exquisitely beautiful figure, a waist slender enough to be encircled with one hand, and her skin pale and tender like snow, gleaming entrancingly like white jade. At the same time, the unique fragrance in the air made him breathe faster, nearly causing him to faint on the spot. Lin Tianming clenched his teeth, struggling to stay conscious. He then managed to suppress the restless sensation within him, along with the strangeness in his body. When he saw Qin Xi¡¯s shy and adorable look once again, he could no longer restrain his inner impulses. With this in mind, Lin Tianming wasted no more time. Soon, Lin Tianming¡¯s robes flew off, revealing his bronze skin. Upon seeing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder, her heart thumping wildly like a little deer. ¡­ (Dare not write more, hence the omission here¡­ Please imagine the rest for yourselves!) ¡­ A shi chen passed just like that. Inside the room, the couple, Lin Tianming and his wife, nestled close to each other. At that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s face was flushed red as she curled up in Lin Tianming¡¯s embrace. Breathing in his distinctive scent, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks grew ever redder. Not only that, the special aroma still lingering in the air, combined with the memories of everything they¡¯d just experienced, made Qin Xi feel even more bashful. As they recalled that unique sensation they had just shared, both Lin Tianming and Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion. After their first dual cultivation, both had considerable gains. Lin Tianming, in particular, had leveraged the special power of the Yuan Yin to forcefully advance his cultivation to the very peak of the Early Stage Golden Core. At this rate, perhaps with a few less than three to five years of cultivation, or even shorter, he would be able to challenge the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Feeling the True Essence Mana brimming within him and the explosive power in his body, Lin Tianming marveled in amazement. It should be noted that although he had utilized several Yuxu Pills to cultivate for a few years before, even then, he was quite a distance from the Mid Stage Golden Core. He even thought, if he had continued cultivating at that speed, reaching the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core would require at least a decade or more of arduous cultivation. ¡­ Chapter 1035 03-25 - 1035 546 Birth of a Child ?Chapter 1035: Chapter 546 Birth of a Child Chapter 1035: Chapter 546 Birth of a Child However, now, he had actually skipped more than a decade of arduous cultivation thanks to the power of Qin Xi¡¯s Yuan Yin. To be honest, he had never expected such an effect. But it wasn¡¯t just him, Qin Xi¡¯s gains were likewise substantial. Although she was still some distance away from the Early Stage Golden Core peak, this dual cultivation session had similarly saved her over a decade of strenuous cultivation. Such an effect also surprised Qin Xi quite a bit. Now, feeling such a change, the couple, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, were both extremely excited. After their emotions had settled somewhat, they looked at each other again, and Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks reddened once more. ... Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s shy expression, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart stir again. At that moment, Qin Xi also felt his fiery gaze, and like the experience they had just shared, she suddenly could not remain calm. ¡°Ming, spare Xi¡¯er!¡± Qin Xi muttered softly, her expression carrying a hint of panic. At this time, Lin Tianming, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s frail demeanor and pitiful appearance, felt a pang of heartache. Thus, while embracing Qin Xi, he tenderly comforted her with a few words, soothing her with a stream of sweet nothings. Hearing this reassurance, Qin Xi felt quite delighted and her demeanor became even more radiant. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Then, the two of them, feeling a bit of fatigue, smiled at each other, their gazes filled with endless affection. After chatting idly for a while, they snuggled up and fell asleep together. In the following six months, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, who had always been diligently cultivating, surprisingly did not continue their cultivation routine but instead spent every day together, inseparable. Not only that, they made use of this leisure time to tour the entire Lin Family Clan Grounds and even the surrounding mountain ranges controlled by the Lin Family, practically exploring them completely. During this period, as the two wandered through the various deep forests and mountains, upon encountering any beautifully scenic spot, they would pause their journey and stay for a few days. Moreover, in some mortal towns or secluded and quiet villages, they would forgo their cultivation status, blend in incognito, and help local residents with farming and sowing, living the life of ordinary mortals. In these half a year, they completely forgot about cultivation, about the life of cultivators, living the days of immortal companions, with every day spent traveling and enjoying the various facets of the world. Such tranquil days allowed their spirits to settle and their mental state to elevate. This special experience, compared to their previous cultivation life of racing against time, was indeed joyous. However, these days lasted only half a year before returning to normal. Because deep down they knew that they were, after all, cultivators, fundamentally different from the mortals. Furthermore, they were from the Lin Family, with a significant clan behind them, and everything concerning the thousands of Lin Family members was closely related to them. Thus, such carefree days could only be enjoyed occasionally, naturally, they couldn¡¯t truly immerse themselves in it, forgetting their goal of pursuing the Great Dao of Longevity. Therefore, the couple returned to Green Bamboo Mountain, and their routine days of normal cultivation re-entered the right track. Just like that, another year silently passed by. At noon on this day, which was usually quite tranquil, the interior of Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion, rarely frequented by visitors, was now bustling with noise. Amid the lively crowd, Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua were sitting in the courtyard chatting leisurely. Lin Xingrong was attending to them on the side, pouring cups of Spiritual Tea from time to time with an attitude of utmost respect. On the other side, Lin Tianyue stood nearby, her eyes occasionally glancing in a certain direction, as if curious about something that was happening. Apart from these people, the owner of the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming, was not sitting with the elders nor frolicking with the playful Lin Tianyue. At this moment, he was pacing outside a room, walking back and forth countless times. Looking over, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was anxious, his face showing a mix of nervousness and anticipation, appearing quite complex. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, the sound of a baby¡¯s cry suddenly emerged from the room, instantly shattering the calm. ¡°It¡¯s born¡­ It¡¯s born¡­ Sister-in-law has given birth!¡± Upon hearing the commotion, Lin Tianyue was the first to shout excitedly. On the other side, Lin Shigong and the others also gathered around immediately, each with an excited smile on their faces. At that moment, Lin Tianming too looked ecstatic, eager to rush into the room. Just then, the door of the room opened, revealing the figure of Ren Yuxuan. Seeing her, Lin Tianming quickly inquired, ¡°Mother, how is Xi¡¯er?¡± ¡°How is the baby?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was anxious, and his expression was eager, clearly very concerned about the outcome. Ren Yuxuan looked at Lin Tianming in front of her, seeing his nervous appearance at this time. Not only that, but when she glanced at Lin Shihua and the others nearby, they were all wearing expressions full of anticipation. Seeing their looks, Ren Yuxuan found it quite amusing. But with the Clan Leader there and taking the matter very seriously, Ren Yuxuan didn¡¯t dare delay. So, with a knowing smile, she said, ¡°Father, Twelfth Uncle, Xi¡¯er has given birth to a big, healthy boy.¡± ¡°The whole process went very smoothly, and both mother and child are safe!¡± Upon hearing Ren Yuxuan¡¯s words, everyone present was immediately thrilled, and Lin Tianyue couldn¡¯t help but jump for joy. Chapter 1036 03-25 - 1036 546 Birth of Offspring_2 ?Chapter 1036: Chapter 546: Birth of Offspring_2 Chapter 1036: Chapter 546: Birth of Offspring_2 ¡°Great¡­ great¡­ Tian Ming has a descendant now!¡± Lin Shigong laughed excitedly, his face with slight wrinkles was filled with a satisfied smile. ¡°Haha¡­ Tian Ming and Xi¡¯er both have exceptional talents. The offspring born from their union will definitely have great talent¡­¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ who knows, our Lin Family might gain a once-in-a-millennium genius clan member¡­¡± Lin Shihua said excitedly, his emotions brimming in his words. When Lin Tianming heard what his mother said, and learned that Qin Xi and her son were safe and that he had gained a son, his heart suddenly relaxed. At the same time, the worried look on his face faded, replaced by a wildly joyful smile. ... Immediately after, Lin Tianming flashed past his mother and strode energetically into the room. Seeing his actions, Lin Tianyue, not wanting to be left behind, quickly followed his steps into the room. Behind her, Lin Xingrong and others also wore expressions of curiosity. Among them, Lin Xingrong also wanted to enter and see but was stopped by Ren Yuxuan as he started to step forward. Ren Yuxuan looked slightly angry and then reminded, ¡°Xi¡¯er has just given birth. All of you are men, it¡¯s better not to go in.¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Later, I will bring the little grandson out for the two elders to greet and also to discuss a suitable name for him.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong paused midstep and then stepped back. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua, hearing these words, nodded in satisfaction. They exchanged smiles and then returned to their earlier seats. Inside the room at this time. As soon as Lin Tianming entered, he saw Qin Xi lying on the bed. Next to Qin Xi¡¯s head was an infant closely nestled beside her. On closer look, the infant had tender and fair skin, and his chubby body looked incredibly adorable. His eyes, half-open, seemed to be scanning everything in the room. Not only that, but the infant seemed to sense his presence. As Lin Tianming moved closer, the baby¡¯s tender little hands and feet moved slightly, and he even made cooing sounds as if greeting him. Seeing such a small child, just born a short while ago, not only stop crying, but now so quiet and all his actions and reactions, hardly seemed like a newborn at all. Seeing this, Lin Tianming marveled in his heart, feeling that this child seemed to possess innate spirituality. Once he calmed down a bit, Lin Tianming eagerly approached, holding Qin Xi¡¯s hand with one hand and the infant¡¯s small hand with the other. Meanwhile, on the bed, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion was slightly pale, and she appeared a bit worn out. Obviously, even though Qin Xi was now a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, capable of great power when she moved her hands and feet, if she really wanted to make a small mountain disappear, it would not be too difficult for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Yet even so, Qin Xi¡¯s experience in giving birth was almost no different from that of ordinary people. Because of this, Qin Xi appeared somewhat weakened, her qi-blood also seeming to deplete, her body feeling a bit frail. However, seeing Lin Tianming enter and then looking at the baby¡¯s reactions, a flush of blood returned to Qin Xi¡¯s pale face, filled with a happy glow. It was at this moment that she truly felt what it was like to be a mother for the first time. The tall man in front of her was the love of her life. Beside her, their bloodline legacy, now the two most important people to her holding hands, an indescribable sense of happiness arose spontaneously. At that moment, Lin Tianming, caressing Qin Xi¡¯s forehead, tenderly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve worked hard!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was sincere, and the expression he revealed was from the heart. As for Qin Xi, feeling the warmth from Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, her heart warmed instantly. At this moment, her heart was filled with joy, her sense of happiness overflowing. ¡°Ming¡­ we have a child now!¡± Qin Xi¡¯s voice was slightly choked as she spoke, the pallor on her face replaced by a knowing smile. At this time, Lin Tianming also nodded and then began to comfort Qin Xi, making her feel fully cared for. As the couple exchanged words, the atmosphere gradually calmed down. Lin Tianyue, who had been quietly sitting to one side, finally spoke up, breaking into Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s world. ¡°Sister-in-law¡­ congratulations on the birth of your child!¡± Lin Tianyue congratulated her, then reached out to play with the cooing baby on the bed, her expression full of joy. ¡°Hehe¡­ my little nephew is indeed spirited¡­¡± ¡°Yue¡¯er, you are too kind, thank you for your concern!¡± Hearing Lin Tianyue¡¯s words, Qin Xi politely responded. The scene then gradually became lively, filled with laughter and cheerful voices throughout the room. Soon, Ren Yuxuan reentered and, from a distance, called out to stop Lin Tianyue, who was still playing with the baby. Then, Ren Yuxuan spoke again, telling Qin Xi to rest well and giving a few words to the others present. After saying this, she picked up the baby from the bed and constantly soothed him, her eyes filled with an adoring expression. It was evident that with the birth of Qin Xi¡¯s child, Ren Yuxuan¡¯s wish had been fulfilled. Now, with Qin Xi having become a mother, she herself had officially been promoted to grandmother. Ren Yuxuan had long hoped for this result and had done many things to achieve it. Now that her long-awaited goal had been realized, how could she not feel excited? Because of this, Ren Yuxuan was in an exceptionally good mood, holding the baby in her arms, her face always wearing a satisfied smile. After a while, Ren Yuxuan finally said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, mother will now take him out to meet your grandfather and others, so we can name this child, how about it?¡± Ren Yuxuan spoke to Qin Xi with a suggestively inquiring tone. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi also nodded, evidently not objecting to Ren Yuxuan¡¯s proposal. With that, Ren Yuxuan joyfully carried the child out of the room, pulling Lin Tianming along with her. After a short time. In the courtyard, Lin Shigong and others, seeing Ren Yuxuan coming out with the child, immediately gathered around. Upon seeing that the child was handsome, with delicate white skin and features resembling Lin Tianming, and was exceedingly spirited. In an instant, despite the age and generational differences, they were all playing joyfully. Including Lin Xingrong, who also carefully played with the child, fearing that he might be too rough and make the baby cry. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming, the child¡¯s father, could neither get a word in nor squeeze into the group. Such a harmonious scene continued for quite a while. Later, the bustling scene finally began to quiet down. At this point, Lin Shihua finally spoke, ¡°Tianming, this child belongs to the Chang Generation Clan Members, have you thought of a name yet?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and responded, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, as the Clan Leader, why don¡¯t you suggest a few for us to consider, and then we can pick a suitable name together.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming say this, Lin Shihua nodded. Then, Lin Shihua began to ponder, while Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong also silently thought about names. Soon, they each proposed several names. In just the time of a short tea break, the group came up with more than ten names, each thinking their suggestions were quite good and each had a significant background or reason. In the end, there were too many choices, and no one could decide on the final one. Left with no choice, Lin Shigong had to ask Lin Tianming, the biological father, for his opinion. After considering the dozen or so options, Lin Tianming finally settled on the name ¡°Lin Changqing.¡± Chapter 1037 03-25 - 1037 547 The Late Breakthrough ?Chapter 1037: Chapter 547: The Late Breakthrough Chapter 1037: Chapter 547: The Late Breakthrough ¡°Lin Changqing!¡± Lin Shigong and the others, upon hearing this name, also nodded their heads in satisfaction, fully approving of Lin Tianming¡¯s choice. Thus, the name of Lin Tianming¡¯s first son was set. Immediately after, a group of elders each pulled out treasures, such as valuable jade pendants that could ward off poison and dispel evil, and others that could gather spiritual energy; there were also trinkets made of spirit stones that could double as ornaments, each with its unique use. Although these items were not expensive, they represented the elders¡¯ affection and care for the younger generation. With that, Lin Tianming was also very happy at this time. A few complimentary words made the whole atmosphere even livelier. For a time, everyone was immersed in the joy of Lin Tianming having an heir. ... Such a lively atmosphere continued for half a Shi Chen. In the end, it was Lin Shihua who got busy with clan affairs, and those present gradually dispersed. Next, Lin Tianming also put aside all matters, accompanying Qin Xi as she recuperated for a while. In the following days, as Qin Xi recovered, the couple took Lin Changqing to visit many family elders and well-connected clan members of their generation. During this time, although the little guy was very young and knew nothing of etiquette, he did not receive fewer gifts, all tokens of love and attention from his elders. Evidently, from birth, Lin Changqing carried the halo of being the first direct descendant of the number one person in the Lin Family, garnering the attention of many core Lin Family Members, and he was the recipient of immense affection. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s personal strength was unmatched among Lin Family Members, and his talent and potential were truly frightening. At just over sixty years of age, he had already achieved his current level of cultivation strength. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï His combat prowess had been demonstrated brilliantly in several major battles over the years, playing a decisive role in the development of the Lin Family over these years. It can be said without exaggeration that for such a fearsome existence with both strength and talent, the Golden Core Stage was not his ultimate limit. However, it was not just Lin Tianming alone; Qin Xi¡¯s talent and potential were almost on par with him. As a result, even though Lin Changqing had not yet been tested for his Spiritual Root, regardless of the eventual outcome, at least for the first ten years of his life, he would be the focus of attention among all Lin Family Members. To this, Lin Tianming and his wife were quite indifferent. In their eyes, whether Lin Changqing had a Spiritual Root or whether his talent was extraordinary or incredibly lacking, this child was their descendant. As Lin Changqing¡¯s parents, they only wished for him to live a safe and healthy life without worries, which was already enough for them. Even if he turned out to be an ordinary mortal, disconnected from the deceitful and perilous Cultivation World, it would not be a bad choice at all. Hence, they were quite relaxed about the outcome of the Spiritual Root testing, taking a let-nature-take-its-course attitude. Under such circumstances, the couple, who had just become parents, set aside most of the days they should have been cultivating and spent a peaceful year accompanying Lin Changqing. During this time, they lived as ordinary mortals do, with everything ordinary yet not lacking in laughter and happiness. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Afterward, they then returned to the proper track of cultivation. Ren Yuxuan took Lin Changqing away to care for him, and whenever Lin Tianming and his wife emerged briefly from seclusion, they would spend time with their son, fulfilling their parental duties. They then re-entered the rhythm of seclusion and intensive cultivation. Days like these passed quietly. In the blink of an eye, several years had passed. One day, inside a Practice Room within Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. At this moment, Lin Tianming was seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion. He sat with his eyes tightly closed and his brow furrowed. At the same time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face alternated between red and white, seeming to be in pain. Inside his body, his Qi-Blood roiled, his Spiritual Power surged through his meridians, and finally gathered in his Golden Core before coming to a stop. Clearly, Lin Tianming was at a critical moment of advancing to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Before this, he had already attempted the breakthrough twice, both ending in failure. Despite this, Lin Tianming was not discouraged. He adjusted his condition and prepared for the third attempt. As a result, Lin Tianming¡¯s concentration tightened, and the Heavenly Grade Technique operated to its limit. He still had a significant amount of power stored from previously refining several Yuxu Pills, ready for this final breakthrough attempt. At this key moment, Lin Tianming made his preparations. When he felt the time was almost right, he began to gather a large group of energy for one critical attack. In that instant, Lin Tianming directed the massive Spirit Group within him to surge frantically into the Golden Core. His body underwent significant changes, a vast Spirit Group driven by his meridians, rushing into the Golden Core. Instantly, Lin Tianming¡¯s face contorted with pain, clearly enduring tremendous suffering. Meanwhile, large beads of sweat began to drop from his forehead, quickly disappearing into the ground. Faced with such agonizing moments, Lin Tianming clenched his teeth, a mad glint flickering across his face. Inside him, he controlled the vast Spirit Group, hammering fiercely against the barrier to the Medium Stage of Golden Core. Chapter 1038 03-25 - 1038 547 The Belated Breakthrough_2 ?Chapter 1038: Chapter 547: The Belated Breakthrough_2 Chapter 1038: Chapter 547: The Belated Breakthrough_2 Every time he attempted the breakthrough, he had to endure extreme pain. Yet, even so, Lin Tianming was very decisive, not relaxing in the slightest. This state continued for the duration of an incense stick. Finally, at a certain moment, Lin Tianming suddenly felt his Golden Core tremble and it seemed to have expanded slightly for no apparent reason. Immediately, he looked down upon his Seven Sea Dantian and indeed, the Golden Core had grown a bit. To the naked eye, though it was hard to discern, his Divine Sense easily spotted the difference. What was more, he felt an immense sense of comfort throughout his body. Especially the Golden Core, which had seemed to be stuck previously, now felt as though it had been freed from its constraints. ... Not only this, the True Yuan within the Golden Core had also sublimated. Both its volume and quality had obviously increased a lot. With his careful perception, the strength from a wisp of True Yuan had now doubled compared to before. Such a transformation allowed him to immediately come to a conclusion. He had finally broken through that barrier and officially stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. There was no doubt about the veracity of this point. At this instant, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. In fact, deep down, he was rather surprised by this outcome. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï After the first dual cultivation, with the help of that special energy, his cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Initial Peak, very close to the Mid Stage Golden Core. Originally, he thought that with three more years of cultivation, he might be able to successfully step into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. However, the birth of Lin Changqing unexpectedly disrupted his plans. As for the current outcome, it had been delayed by almost four years more than he had anticipated. Nevertheless, Lin Changqing¡¯s birth was also a happy surprise they had not expected, and for both him and his wife, as well as some family elders, it was an event worth celebrating. Under these circumstances, even though the breakthrough was several years later than expected, Lin Tianming did not feel any bit of disappointment in his heart, but was rather very satisfied. After all, he had still smoothly broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, and with the birth of his child, it was like a double blessing. Knowing this, Lin Tianming became even more excited, his face consistently wearing a satisfied smile. Once he had calmed down, Lin Tianming took a moment to think. Soon, despite not having seen Lin Changqing for two years and inevitably feeling a bit nostalgic, S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. he knew he had just made a breakthrough and needed to properly consolidate his Cultivation Realm to prevent any instability in his foundation. Falling in cultivation rank due to negligence would be too much of a loss. Aware of this, Lin Tianming planned to continue his closed-door cultivation for a while longer to completely solidify his cultivation before emerging. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming no longer delayed. Soon, Lin Tianming took a fresh approach and quickly entered back into the state of cultivation. Half a year later. Lin Tianming ended his seclusion and stepped out of the Practice Room. After half a year of cultivation, his realm had been consolidated, and his foundation was extremely stable. Thus, Lin Tianming, eager to see his son, immediately ended his seclusion. After he emerged, Qin Xi was still in closed-door cultivation. Lin Tianming did not send her a message to disturb her and instead rushed to his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion. There, he also saw his son, Lin Changqing. Lin Changqing was now almost seven years old. Just two years apart, the child had grown quite a bit, becoming even more handsome and robust in stature. Besides that, Lin Changqing¡¯s eyes were full of spirituality, clearly indicating a thoughtful and intelligent child. By this age, Lin Changqing had formally entered the Lin Family¡¯s academy, starting to learn to read and write, as well as study the family¡¯s history and culture, and even some basic knowledge ahead of time. After a series of knowledge tests by Lin Tianming, Lin Changqing answered smoothly and correctly, much to Lin Tianming¡¯s delight. At the same time, he was quite satisfied with Lin Changqing¡¯s growth in his heart. Clearly, Lin Changqing had been exceedingly diligent and earnest in his studies at the palace these past few years, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have performed so well. Seeing Lin Changqing doing well brought Lin Tianming not only happiness but also a great sense of pride, and he was certainly not stingy with his words of praise. He then set aside his own cultivation to take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with Lin Changqing, fulfilling his responsibilities as a father. Such peaceful days passed amid laughter and cheer. Then, one day, Lin Shilu, who had been in closed-door cultivation for many years, finally emerged. Upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s offspring and Qin Xi¡¯s successful entry into the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shilu was overjoyed. He was so eager that he didn¡¯t even take the time to visit Lin Shikang and his peers, choosing instead to go straight to Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. Seeing Lin Tianming and his son, Lin Shilu wore a benevolent smile, his spirit radiating a different kind of splendor. ¡°Tianming, I didn¡¯t expect that after just over a decade, you¡¯ve become a father yourself.¡± Lin Shilu commented with a sense of wonder, jokingly. Hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and then responded, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is teasing, I am indeed of that age, and I¡¯m not getting any younger.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Changqing by his side. Quick as a whip, Lin Changqing understood what was expected of him and promptly bowed deeply to Lin Shilu. ¡°The younger generation, Changqing, pays respects to the esteemed ancestor!¡± Hearing this respectful greeting and seeing Lin Changqing¡¯s courteous demeanor, Lin Shilu burst into hearty laughter. ¡°Ha ha¡­well done¡­well done¡­¡± Lin Shilu repeated a few words of praise and then patted Lin Changqing¡¯s forehead, casually producing a long whip and handing it to him. He smiled and said, ¡°Changqing, this is the first time I¡¯ve met you. Take this little trinket as a gift!¡± At that moment, Lin Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up upon seeing the fiery red whip, clearly enamored with it. However, Lin Changqing did not immediately take it but turned to look at Lin Tianming as if to seek his approval. At this time, seeing that Lin Shilu¡¯s casually given greeting gift was a Second Order Medium Quality Whip Artifact, it was obvious that he had put considerable thought into it. Moreover, such a gift reflected a high regard for Lin Tianming and a genuine fondness for Lin Changqing, the junior. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Changqing and then reminded him with a smile, ¡°An elder has given you such a generous gift; you should thank him immediately!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Changqing did not delay and bowed deeply once again, responding promptly. ¡°The younger generation thanks you, esteemed ancestor!¡± Finishing his thanks, Lin Changqing joyfully accepted the whip, swinging it around with delight. For a moment, the courtyard was filled with bursts of cracking sounds, rhythmic and full of life. It was evident that although the whip was a Magic Artifact, it had been refined with exquisite craftsmanship. After all, Lin Changqing had not embarked on the Path of Immortality; being able to wield a Second Order Medium Quality Whip Artifact and to crack it with the body of a mortal child spoke volumes about the uniqueness of the whip. But considering who Lin Shilu was¡ªa Refinement Manic Beast and the most skilled Artifact Refiner in the Lin Family, obsessed with the Way of Artifact Refining¡ªit wasn¡¯t surprising. Especially since he had not been seen for over a decade, it would not be surprising if he had become a Third Order Artifact Refining Master by now. Given this, the Magic Artifacts in his possession were sure to be numerous, and some particularly special ones would not be so strange. And Lin Changqing, at this time, was clearly having the time of his life. He genuinely loved the meeting gift from Lin Shilu. At this point, Lin Tianming, seeing how excited Lin Changqing was, let him continue to play on his own. Watching Lin Changqing hop and jump away joyfully, Lin Shilu smiled contentedly and could not help but praise him repeatedly. ¡°The boy, Changqing, is impressive¡­impressive!¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is too kind; Changqing is still young and a bit mischievous, please forgive his antics,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. Immediately after, he entertained Lin Shilu, and the two of them chatted leisurely over tea. ¡­ Chapter 1039 03-25 - 1039 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure ?Chapter 1039: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure Chapter 1039: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure As the two bantered with each other, Lin Tianming, who had not seen each other for a long time, was in a very good mood. Sitting nearby, Lin Tianming picked up the Spiritual Tea and took a sip before asking with concern, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you¡¯ve been in seclusion for so long, how was your harvest?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu burst into hearty laughter, then teased, ¡°You kid, I know exactly what¡¯s on your mind.¡± ¡°You probably couldn¡¯t wait any longer, could you?¡± After saying this, Lin Shilu waved his sleeve and a Flaming Red Longsword appeared in his hand. The sword was about three feet long and about three fingers in width, its fiery red blade covered with tiny golden runes, looking quite striking and eye-catching. Moreover, as soon as this longsword appeared, it caused some changes. ... In that instant, the temperature in the entire courtyard noticeably increased slightly, and a large amount of Fire Attribute Elements began to slowly converge towards this place, eventually being swallowed by the longsword. Clearly, this longsword was a terrifying weapon, its aura overpowering all the Offensive Magical Treasures Lin Tianming had ever seen. At that moment, upon seeing this longsword, Lin Tianming knew it was a divine weapon of extraordinary quality and spirituality. For a time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was filled with irrepressible joy. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, have you successfully become a Third Order Artifact Refiner and managed to forge such a magical treasure?¡± Lin Tianming asked excitedly, yet seeming somewhat incredulous. Although he had speculated about it in the previous years, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Given Lin Shilu¡¯s talent for Artifact Refining and his obsessive nature, plus his decade-long seclusion without showing his face, stepping into the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s level did not seem so unexpected. However, Lin Shilu¡¯s achievement in progressing to the rank of Third Order Artifact Refiner and forging such a divine weapon somewhat exceeded his expectations. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s expression and hearing his recent words, Lin Shilu was obviously a bit shocked. So Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle with a somewhat triumphant look on his face. Then, with another pat on his storage bag, seventy-two short blades shot out, eventually hovering in front of the two. Looking over, these blades were pitch-black, adorned with a gold line on their surface, giving them a somewhat eerie feel. Not only that, each of the blades shone with a cold light, fine Sword Qi swirling around the blades, clearly possessing formidable piercing power. Obviously, these seventy-two blades were also a set of extraordinary Magical Treasures, endowed with high quality and spirituality. Even the aura of any single blade was formidable enough. One could hardly imagine the terror of such a quality set of seventy-two blades once Divine Skills were deployed. Sure enough, as Lin Tianming witnessed this scene and felt the chilling aura emanating from the blades, his breathing suddenly quickened. ¡°What a set of peerless divine weapons!¡± Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, his expression once again brimming with excitement. After speaking, Lin Tianming waved his hand, grasping the Flaming Red Longsword, examining it closely as if he could not part with it. In his hand, the longsword seemed to possess high spirituality, gently vibrating as if responding to him. Then, Lin Tianming also grabbed one of the blades, and as his pale palm caressed the blade, his face quickly flushed with warmth. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s overwhelming joy, Lin Shilu began to explain. ¡°Tianming, during this decade or so of seclusion, I first spent several years successfully advancing to the level of Third Order Artifact Refiner.¡± ¡°Then afterwards, I put in enormous effort and energy, taking eleven years to craft these two sets of divine weapons for you¡ªthe very ones before your eyes.¡± ¡°One can say, these two sets of divine weapons were painstakingly tailored for you, I hope they won¡¯t disappoint you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming came back to his senses. Following that, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction and responded. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, these two sets of divine weapons are truly a product of your hard work, the quality and spirituality are exceptional, indeed the finest Magical Treasures I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ of course!¡± ¡°You should know, to craft these two sets of divine weapons, I¡¯ve used up almost all the Artifact Refining Materials from the family, as well as those you have acquired in recent years from the Third and Fourth Rank.¡± ¡°It would be such a waste of my efforts if they didn¡¯t satisfy you, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Shilu replied with a laugh, a proud look on his face. And Lin Tianming, hearing this explanation, nodded in agreement, thinking that it was indeed the case. After all, before this, the family and he himself had accumulated seven or eight types of precious Fourth-Order Material. Besides that, they had also collected a considerable number of rare Third-Order Materials. With so many treasures, combined with Lin Shilu¡¯s ten-plus years of dedicated crafting, the resulting divine weapons were naturally extraordinary. As for the outcome, it was indeed very satisfying for both of them. At this time, Lin Shilu also reminded, ¡°You should find some time to refine them and see for yourself how powerful they really are.¡± ¡°However, in my opinion, with your current Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation realm, coupled with your terrifying battle prowess, the strength you can unleash with these two sets of Magical Treasures will certainly be extremely fearsome.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Only after trying them will we know for sure!¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1040 03-25 - 1040 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure_2 ?Chapter 1040: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure_2 Chapter 1040: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure_2 ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you have labored hard these past years. Please do take some well-deserved rest now.¡± Lin Tianming spoke earnestly, his face awash with concern. Lin Shilu felt greatly comforted upon hearing these words. He then shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for rest!¡± ¡°To date, the family, as well as I, still have a considerable amount of precious materials, all of an exceedingly high quality.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Now that Xi¡¯er has broken through to the Golden Core Stage, it¡¯s my duty to craft one or two Magical Treasures to suit her, as my gift to celebrate her achievement.¡± ¡°Besides, there are many defective Magical Treasures you¡¯ve given me, some of which are still in decent condition.¡± ... ¡°I plan to make use of them to forge a Defense Treasure for you with formidable defensive power, to fully enhance your combat capabilities to their utmost limit.¡± Lin Shilu explained seriously, his emotion never waning from his face. It was clear that he always kept both Qin Xi and Lin Tianming at the forefront of his mind. After all, he had dedicated himself to a seclusion of over a dozen years, during which he had not left his chamber even once, pouring his heart and soul into Refining two sets of unparalleled Divine Weapons. Now that he had finally emerged from his seclusion, he didn¡¯t plan to take a break, but instead, wished to plunge back into Artifact Refining for Lin Tianming and his spouse, to create even more powerful Magical Treasures. Such fervent actions deeply moved Lin Tianming. Before now, Lin Shilu had shown nothing but wholehearted dedication and tireless effort toward him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï It could be said that Lin Shilu cared for him even more than he cared for himself. At this point in time, he continued to hold Lin Tianming¡¯s well-being close to his heart. Such devotion was akin to that of a true grandfather. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a sourness in his nose, and his eyes reddened, as tears began to streak down his cheeks. Finally managing to regain some composure, Lin Tianming earnestly persuaded him again. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, we have obtained quite a number of spoils from previous battles, and we have plenty of Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures.¡± ¡°Thus, my spouse and I both have Magical Treasures to use, and we also have Defense Treasures. You really don¡¯t have to push yourself so hard!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shilu was very gratified, but he still nonchalantly said, ¡°That¡¯s not important!¡± ¡°I know in my heart that you, my boy, have always been firm in your Dao, relentlessly pursuing the Immortal Path.¡± ¡°Now that your cultivation has advanced further, peace has returned to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and the family has garnered sufficient self-defense capabilities.¡± ¡°In such circumstances, given your nature, sooner or later you will venture out to witness the cruelty and beauty of the Cultivation World, and to undergo trials of blood and fire.¡± ¡°Which is precisely why I want to make thorough preparations for you, using all my abilities.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was even more moved. After failing to convince him to rest, Lin Tianming had no choice but to accompany Lin Shilu. He then took out several Defense Treasures he had on his person and handed them all over to Lin Shilu. Since Lin Shilu was resolved to make a Defense Treasure, rather than exhausting efforts to forge a new one, it made more sense to re-Refine the existing treasures, potentially saving time and effort. And so, the task of Refining the Defense Treasure was set in motion. Afterwards, the two of them chatted casually for a while, recounting the events of the past decade and the internal changes within the Lin Family. Once these matters had been addressed, Lin Shilu left Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. Lin Tianming did not plan to delay any longer and was prepared to immediately attune himself to the two sets of Magical Treasures to test their might. The quality and Spirituality of these two sets of Magical Treasures were some of the best he had seen. With such tailor-made Divine Weapons at his side, it was foreseeable that his power would reach its peak. Well aware of this, Lin Tianming was somewhat impatient to begin. The next day, after making sure Lin Changqing was settled, Lin Tianming immediately entered a reclusive state to begin the process of attuning to the Magical Treasures. Half a year quietly passed by. ¡°` On that day, in the practice room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, with seventy-two short blades spinning rapidly around him, swiftly raising a series of whirlwinds. At a glance, the speed at which these seventy-two short blades spun was very fast, and their pitch-black bodies were extremely difficult to detect. Coupled with the rapid rotation, they were invisible to the naked eye. If not for the occasional flashes of golden light indicating the formation of a barrier, ordinary cultivators would find it hard to notice any signs. And such an effect was something that Lin Tianming felt truly satisfied with. After all, these seventy-two short blades were tailor-made for him by Lin Shilu, specifically for the use of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation divine skill. With the quality and spirituality of this complete set of magical treasures, plus such concealment, once the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was deployed, it would be even harder for enemies to detect. And the feeling Lin Tianming got from just one short blade alone was already formidable; if all seventy-two blades were connected, he estimated that their power would be terrifyingly greater. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of utter excitement, and the smile on his face was impossible to conceal. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming started to ponder. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve obtained a new magical treasure, it¡¯s time to name it!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Quickly, he came up with a new name for the seventy-two short blades, still naming them after the Earth Evil Sword. As for the original set of Earth Evil Swords, they could no longer keep up with his level of power and couldn¡¯t exert their maximum prowess. Since that was the case, he could now officially discard the old set of Earth Evil Swords. In the future, when someone in the Lin Family was suitable to cultivate the ¡®Tiangang Body Art,¡¯ they could inherit the old Earth Evil Swords. Once the Earth Evil Sword recognized its master and the refining was complete, Lin Tianming resisted the urge to test its power and decided to strike while the iron was hot, proceeding to bond with another longsword. After completing this task, he thought it wouldn¡¯t be too late to test both their powers together. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming set to work. So, he stored away all the Earth Evil Swords and then took out the flaming red longsword, placing it in front of him. Next, he immediately extended his Divine Sense and began a new round of the bonding process. This time, the bonding process was much quicker, and he managed to complete it in just a little over three months. Altogether, after more than a year of closed-door cultivation, Lin Tianming successfully bonded with both sets of magical treasures. Now, a longsword hovered in front of Lin Tianming, bobbing up and down as if it was quite joyous. Seeing this, he knew that the longsword¡¯s spirituality was extremely high, far surpassing any magical treasure he had before. And Tian Ming was also confident in his feeling after sensing it attentively. In fact, this longsword, diligently forged by Lin Shilu, deserved praise, having used the Lin Family¡¯s most precious and finest artifact refining materials. Without exaggeration, for these magical treasures, this longsword represented the essence of all their collection, creating a truly divine and powerful weapon. Now, after his experience and the aura revealed by the longsword, it truly deserved Tian Ming¡¯s high praise. After playing with the longsword for a while, Tian Ming then stored it away. Following that, he adhered to the original method and named this longsword the ¡®Tiangang Sword.¡¯ With this naming, the two magical treasures he had bonded with officially replaced the original offensive magical treasures, becoming his future weapons of reliance, and unequivocally his longed-for life-bound magical treasures. Having settled these details, the bonding process was now officially drawing to an end. As for what followed, he no longer had to wait, and he could exit isolation to try out the difference in strength brought by the new magical treasures. Every time he thought of this, Tian Ming¡¯s heart was filled with excitement, and he looked forward even more to seeing if the final effects would be as he anticipated. With such curiosity, Tian Ming immediately concluded this period of closed-door cultivation. Once he exited isolation, Tian Ming didn¡¯t even have time to see his parents and relatives, nor did he have the desire to see Lin Changqing. Thus, he left the Lin Family first thing and headed swiftly towards the western Endless Forest. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1041 03-25 - 1041 549 Great Increase in Strength ?Chapter 1041: Chapter 549: Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 1041: Chapter 549: Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Ticket) After more than ten days of travel, Lin Tianming arrived at the outer region of the Endless Forest. He found a secluded canyon, which was located quite deeply and was also very quiet. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle to act as a sentinel, and as soon as he was sure that there was no one around, he directly took out seventy-two Earth Evil Swords. In an instant, the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords hovered in the sky above his head. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming did not delay any longer and began to operate the Cultivation Technique. Soon, he was muttering words, and his hands formed Law Decrees, causing beams of Spiritual Light to suddenly shoot out and accurately strike the Earth Evil Swords. In that moment, he saw the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords soar into the sky, and with him as the center, they quickly appeared hundreds of feet away. ... The flying speed of these Earth Evil Swords was extremely fast, and the color of their bodies, pitch black, blended closely with the color of the sky. Therefore, the concealment of each Earth Evil Sword was extremely high, and their flying trajectories were visually untraceable. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, even though he had not yet witnessed the destructive power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, he was already very satisfied with the speed of deployment. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡­ quickly¡­¡± Lin Tianming shouted loudly, his hands continuing to move without stopping. At this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation started rotating crazily, quickly forming a barrier several hundred feet in diameter. ¡°Humming¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The rotation speed of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was extremely fast. The countless sword shadows that formed the barrier were untraceable but were indeed present. If an enemy was unable to notice this, once they blindly touched any part of the barrier, they would easily lose their life, or at the very least, suffer great damage. Within the Sword Formation Barrier, at this moment, there were swarms of light from blades and swords flickering unpredictably. On closer observation, each of the endless, invisible Sword Qi¡¯s had terrifying power. Simultaneously, the pressure inside the Sword Array was immense, enveloping a large area in all directions. Under these circumstances, once a cultivator entered the Sword Array, they would quickly feel a huge constraining force, causing their movement, speed, and reaction abilities to be significantly weakened. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, as the range of the Sword Array continued to shrink, the strength of the Sword Array Barricade became ever greater, and the sword qi moving within became denser, increasing its power continuously. This Earth Fiend Sword Formation was identical to the one activated previously. However, today¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation, with Magical Treasures making up its constituent parts, each with greatly increased quality and spirituality, exhibited suppressive powers far surpassing any previous instance. Not only this, as Lin Tianming loudly commanded, ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡­ Strangle!¡± In an instant, the Sword Formation rapidly decreased the area it covered. At the same time, a Sword Qi storm kicked up inside the formation. The originally roaming Sword Qi joined the motion; both its speed and attack power were significantly enhanced. Within a dozen breaths, the range of the Sword Array had shrunk to less than a hundred feet. At this point, the roaming Sword Qi within the Sword Array was incredibly dense, leaving hardly any safe space. At this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had reached its endpoint and revealed its terrifying lethality. As the Sword Array continued to shrink until finally withdrawn completely by Lin Tianming, all motion stopped, and normalcy returned to the heavens and earth. Looking around now, one could see a small hillock had vanished into thin air, leaving behind a pit more than ten feet deep revealing the hard subsoil. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed pleasure, his heart simultaneously thrilled and astonished. Now, he had to admit, the new Earth Fiend Sword Formation was indeed very powerful, clearly making him feel its power had increased several times over. With such power and suppressive force, Lin Tianming¡¯s own strength was now much more formidable. It was foreseeable that in the upcoming great battles, he could re-employ the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, gaining a significant advantage in some special situations. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt extremely satisfied in his heart, and he highly regarded the Magical Treasures refined by Lin Shilu. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming collected the Earth Evil Swords once again. Following this, he took out the Tiangang Sword, ready to test the Tiangang Ninth Sword or Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skills to see how much his strongest attacks had improved. With this purpose in mind, Lin Tianming immediately began his trial. Quickly, the Tiangang Sword shot out, transforming into a fire dragon, flying toward a mountain hundreds of feet away. Looking at it, the fire dragon form of the Tiangang Sword flew at an incredibly quick speed, appearing hundreds of feet away in an instant. Simultaneously, the land beneath the fire dragon was forcefully torn with Sword Qi, creating a ravine, and the flowers and trees along its path were instantly burned to ash. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming showed an excited expression. Even though he hadn¡¯t seen the final impact yet, this activity alone had already surprised him greatly. While he was astonished, the fire dragon had already reached its intended target. With a loud boom, a sea of fire suddenly appeared in the distance, with deafening explosions reverberating through the heavens and earth. Within this vast fiery sea, the fire dragon burrowed into the mountain. Immediately afterward, the whole mountain exploded violently, disintegrating into countless rocks scattering around. At the same time, all around, Gang Wind rose, and dust blew up, the massive fireball from the explosion completely burned the surrounding trees to ashes. Chapter 1042 03-25 - 1042 549 Great Increase in Strength ?Chapter 1042: Chapter 549 Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 1042: Chapter 549 Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Pass)_2 As the flames died out, Lin Tianming inhaled deeply as he looked at the scorched, unbearable sight of the land before him. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, he truly realized how terrifying the power of the divine skills had become today. It had to be said, with the magical treasure upgraded again, the Tiangang Ninth Sword he deployed was incomparably powerful. Based on the destruction at the scene and the recent upheaval, he made his judgment that the power had increased at least several times compared to the last great battle. Such an enhancement was not merely due to a breakthrough in cultivation; the magical treasure had also played a significant role. Continuing this way, if he were to use the even more powerful Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, the growth in power would likely be just as substantial. With increases in both cultivation and the magical treasure, his personal strength had vastly increased compared to before. ... At this moment, Lin Tianming felt an uncontrollable excitement, his smile immensely radiant. After calming his excited emotions, Lin Tianming decided not to continue experimenting. After all, having attempted two different types of divine skills, he had come to understand his current strength. With that, this round of trials could also come to an end. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming did not waste any more time; he slightly concealed the traces of destruction and then embarked on his journey back to the family. Upon returning to the family, Lin Tianming visited his mother and son Lin Changqing, and then entered the practice room. Qin Xi was still in seclusion cultivating, and Lin Shilu was busy with artifact refining to create magical treasures for the couple. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï If all went well, it might not take three to five years for Lin Shilu to emerge from seclusion. By then, he would also have better options in terms of defense treasures. Currently with nothing particular to do, even though he desired to travel, there was no rush for this three to five-year period. With this in mind, Lin Tianming immediately entered the state of cultivation. Three years later, Lin Shilu appeared in Lin Tianming¡¯s cave mansion. Qin Xi had also emerged from seclusion, and the couple was entertaining Lin Shilu. Lin Changqing was at the side, quietly reading a volume of books, occasionally muttering to himself, causing Lin Shilu and the others to burst into laughter. At that time, Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but nod approvingly at Lin Tianming and his wife. This was also the first time Qin Xi had seen Lin Shilu since she broke through to the Golden Core Stage ten years ago. If traced back to the last time the two had met, it was over twenty years ago. While Lin Shilu spent over ten years in seclusion for artifact refining, both had also been in separate seclusions, missing the chance to meet. Now that both had emerged, they had finally met again, which was indeed no small feat. Though not surprising, as the cultivation realms of senior clan members of the family progressively rose, leading to years-long seclusions. Sometimes, it was common for seclusions to last for ten years at a time. Especially for Lin Tianming and his wife, with their terrifying talent and immense potential, and generally not needing to worry about family affairs, they could focus solely on cultivation. Thus, their extended periods in seclusion, was, in fact, not odd at all. Therefore, for such core family members to meet frequently as before was not an easy feat. However, fortunately, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had been very peaceful in the last twenty-plus years. After nearly twenty years of recovery, the basic order had been restored, and from major forces like Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect to small Qi Refining families consisting of just a dozen people, most had regained much of their former strength. In the regions under the Lin Family¡¯s control, it had been especially tranquil lately. With the support of the Lin Family, both subordinate families and the Lin Family itself had recovered, and everything was developing prosperously. Thus, after completing its internal plans, the Lin Family too had experienced a tranquil decade without any significant occurrences. During this time, the Lin Family had thoroughly caught their breath, and their overall strength and foundations were also growing rapidly. Under such circumstances, the couple, Lin Tianming and his wife, were able to cultivate with peace of mind, and the results were indeed satisfying. Over the decade of secluded cultivation, Lin Tianming, with the aid of their first dual cultivation, had smoothly broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, and his power was incomparably formidable. In terms of alchemy, his skill in refining most Third Order Pills was nothing short of masterful. Qin Xi had also made significant progress, although she had yet to break through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, she was close to reaching the peak of the early stage. If in the coming days, some opportune help appeared or she endured another ten or eight years of arduous cultivation, there was a great hope she could break through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. It could be said that the couple had spent the calmest decade, and what they had gained during this period was indeed very satisfying. At this time, Lin Shilu once again saw Qin Xi, and he was genuinely satisfied with her growth over the years. Overjoyed, Lin Shilu could not help but exclaim, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you girl are really remarkable!¡± ¡°Tianming, this young man, is already outstanding on his own. To have you as his Dao companion, it¡¯s like the matching of dragon and phoenix, truly a match made by heaven.¡± ¡°And to speak of it, it¡¯s not just this young man¡¯s fortune, it is also a blessing for our entire Lin Family.¡± Lin Shilu said these words with a look of gratification on his face. At this time, upon hearing these words of praise, Qin Xi¡¯s face flashed a touching smile, and she felt warmth in her heart. In her heart, these years at the Lin Family had brought her the affection of all the Lin Family elders, like Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had given her guidance and provided ample resources to help enhance her cultivation. Moreover, including the family members of her age and generation, they all treated her with utmost respect, never seeing her as an outsider. More importantly, her husband, Lin Tianming, cared for her deeply, always keeping her in his heart. One could say that in the Lin Family, she had not suffered any grievances but instead experienced extremely rare kinship. And these were always what she needed most in her heart. Now, she profoundly felt the warmth of the family. As time passed, it allowed her to feel a sense of belonging and fully integrate into this large family. At this moment, Qin Xi, emotionally stirred by Lin Shilu¡¯s praises, felt somewhat embarrassed. Thus, Qin Xi calmly smiled and said, ¡°Elder Fifteen flatters me!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er has been able to cultivate peacefully up to now, relying on the support and guidance of many elders, which has allowed me to come this far.¡± ¡°For this, Xi¡¯er always remembers your kindness and in the future, whatever the need may be, Xi¡¯er will spare no effort, even at the cost of my life, to repay the affection.¡± Qin Xi spoke these words with utmost sincerity, genuinely moved by her feelings. Hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded with gratification. Then he continued, ¡°Xi¡¯er, as part of the Lin Family, it is only natural for us elders to help you to the best of our abilities.¡± ¡°In our old folks¡¯ eyes, as long as you juniors can grow quickly and eventually take over the banner of leading the family¡¯s development, we old folks are already very satisfied.¡± ¡°Therefore, you need not be distracted or worry about these matters.¡± Lin Shilu finished these words and changed the subject without further ado. ¡°Tianming, I have been refining artifacts during these three years of seclusion, and this time the process went quite smoothly, and the efficiency has also increased significantly.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not sure if the artifacts hastily crafted will meet your and your wife¡¯s satisfaction?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu waved his sleeve and three magical treasures appeared in front of them. Looking over, these three magical treasures were an aqua blue longsword, a blood-red jade pendant, and a green turtle shell shield. ¡­ Chapter 1043 03-25 - 1043 550 Lin Changqings Talent (Seeking ?Chapter 1043: Chapter 550: Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 1043: Chapter 550: Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Seeking Monthly Votes) With the appearance of these three Magical Treasures, a unique aura began to spread in all directions. Clearly, among these three Magical Treasures, one was an Offensive Magical Treasure, while the other two were Defense Treasures. Furthermore, judging by the aura emanating from the Magical Treasures, their quality was exceptionally good, and their Spirituality was also very impressive, indicative of outstanding defensive power. At this point, Lin Tianming reached out with one hand and grabbed the Turtle Shell Shield. He then carefully felt it and immediately showed an expression of joy. As he had expected, after his exploration, he found that the materials used for this Defense Treasure were of excellent quality, and even his formidable fist couldn¡¯t leave a single mark on it. Such a Treasure, its defensive power was certainly extraordinary. ... Next, he picked up the Jade Pendant to examine it and, feeling the aura exuding from it, was genuinely satisfied with the two Defense Treasures. At that moment, Qin Xi also picked up the Aqua Blue Longsword to take a look and immediately showed a look of reluctance to let it go. Seeing this, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°Well, are you two satisfied?¡± ¡°Satisfied, very satisfied!¡± Lin Tianming replied excitedly, his face beaming with joy. As for Qin Xi, she too giggled and then complimented, ¡°With Fifteenth Grandfather personally taking action and using so many precious materials, the Treasures you¡¯ve refined would naturally not be commonplace.¡± ¡°With such treasures, how could Ming and I be picky? We¡¯re overjoyed!¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Haha¡­ that¡¯s good to hear!¡± Lin Shilu was quite pleased by Qin Xi¡¯s flattering words, and a kind smile crossed his face. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Afterwards, Lin Tianming handed the Flaming Red Jade Pendant to Qin Xi and kept the Turtle Shell Shield for himself. Qin Xi took the Flaming Red Jade Pendant without any pretense. With this, both husband and wife now had more than one Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasure, all of which were of very high quality and Spirituality. Lin Tianming had a complete set of Earth Evil Swords, along with a Tiangang Sword, and already possessed a Treasure with decent defensive power, adding now the Turtle Shell Shield, which gave him a range of options for offense and defense. Prior to this, Qin Xi already possessed several Magical Treasures given to her by Lin Tianming, and now with the Aqua Blue Longsword and the Flaming Red Jade Pendant, her arsenal of Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures was also incredibly rich. With such an array of choices and the high quality and Spirituality of these Treasures, they would undoubtedly be able to exert even greater power in the future, barring any accidents. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming and his wife were thrilled with excitement. Seeing that Lin Tianming and his wife were very satisfied, Lin Shilu was also very happy, and he sighed with relief. Following that, everyone was in a good mood, and the atmosphere of the gathering was very harmonious. After the three Magical Treasures were distributed, they chatted casually for a while, discussing some recent events in both the Lin Family and the broader Cultivation World. Later, Lin Shilu took his leave to return to his normal state of cultivation. Half a month later. Within the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, on the square outside a certain pavilion on the mountainside, over three hundred people had already gathered. Most of those gathered here were youths just over the age of ten, the majority of whom were whispering to each other; the scene was quite lively. Among the crowd was Lin Changqing. Today was the Lin Family¡¯s annual Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. This square was the designated site for the Spirit Root Test, primarily for the second and third-generation blood relatives living in the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Moreover, within the controlled territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range, there were dozens of testing sites. It should be noted that every year¡¯s Spirit Root Testing Ceremony could provide the Lin Family with many potential seeds, among which were not a few youths with considerable Spiritual Roots. Over the years, the number of Lin Family Members grew rapidly, and the vast Luoyun Mountain Range, with nearly eight million mortals as its foundation, was the core of the Lin Family¡¯s influence. The youths living on Green Bamboo Mountain were the current direct and close relatives of the Lin Family Members, generally first or second generation. Those beyond the third generation without a Spiritual Root were expected, according to family rules, to leave Green Bamboo Mountain and head to a town within the Lin Family¡¯s territory to live out a prosperous life. Such rules had been in place in the Lin Family for nearly nine hundred years and were deeply ingrained, and no ordinary family member without significant contributions could defy this regulation. At present, Lin Changqing had just turned ten years old, making this year the most opportune time for the test. As such, Lin Changqing arrived early at the family¡¯s testing site to wait for the elders to preside over the test. At this moment, he stood aside, his tall figure already bearing the shadow of an adult. Simultaneously, his youthful cheeks carried a hint of tenacity, his gaze fixed in a certain direction, disregarding the noise around him. His reaction seemed to suggest that he was accustomed to such scenes. Indeed, this was the case! He had grown up in the Lin Family Clan Grounds and lived at the main peak for a long time. More importantly, several generations above him were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage or higher in cultivation and held the status of core family members. Together with his grandmother Ren Yuxuan¡¯s long-term care, plus the occasional stories from his great-grandfather Lin Shigong and the many books he had explored, he had a far deeper understanding of the Lin Family¡¯s structure than those beyond three generations. Chapter 1044 03-25 - 1044 550 Lin Changqings Talent (Request ?Chapter 1044: Chapter 550 Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Request for Monthly Tickets)_2 Chapter 1044: Chapter 550 Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Request for Monthly Tickets)_2 Such was the case, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony this time was extremely important to Lin Changqing, as it concerned his future. If he did not have a Spiritual Root, it meant that he had no fate with immortality. Even though he was the descendant of the strongest member of the Lin Family, in the face of the requirements set by the Heavenly Dao for immortal fate, he could not avoid becoming a handful of yellow soil a hundred years later. Precisely because of this, Lin Changqing appeared calm on the surface, but he was somewhat anxious inside. And such feelings were actually quite normal. After all, he well knew what this Spirit Root Testing Ceremony meant for him. If he truly could not reveal a Spiritual Root, if he truly did not possess a fate with immortality, he could only live out the rest of his life in peace. ... Hence, it was only natural for Lin Changqing to feel anxious at this moment. And here, among the hundreds of young men and women, there were also many who felt like Lin Changqing; on the surface, they seemed calm, but their hearts had already turned upside down. If they could manage to stay as calm as Lin Changqing, it was actually quite an achievement. As for those chattering young men and women still causing a commotion, most did not understand the importance of this day and did not realize the huge impact that the spirit testing would have on their future. Therefore, the scene was divided, with each individual having a different state of mind. As time passed, there finally was some movement inside the attic. Clan Leader Lin Shihua, leading several clan members, slowly walked out from the attic and appeared before the crowd of young men and women. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 And as Lin Shihua and the others appeared, the noisy scene immediately quieted down, with everyone standing respectfully in place, curiously watching the Clan Leader. At that moment, Lin Shihua glanced over the young men and women gathered, focused briefly on Lin Changqing, and then quickly shifted his gaze. Following that, he finally spoke to the clan members beside him, ¡°Shi Chen is almost upon us; let¡¯s begin!¡± Hearing this, the clan members behind Lin Shihua respectfully replied and then stepped forward, taking out a Spirit Testing Bead from a storage bag and placing it on a stone pillar. After completing these preparations, this clan member then pointed to a row and shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone line up in order and come forward one by one, placing your hands on the Spirit Testing Bead.¡± As soon as his voice fell, someone from the direction he pointed walked forward and placed their hand on the Spirit Testing Bead. A few breaths passed, and the Spirit Testing Bead showed no reaction. Clearly, the lack of any response or color fluctuation from the Spirit Testing Bead indicated that this child did not have a Spiritual Root or a fate with immortality. Seeing this, the first youth to test turned pale, standing dazed and at a loss. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, the clan member pointed at the first youth to undergo the testing, indicating that he should move to the side and wait. As for the youth who had completed the testing, his face was filled with disappointment, and he could only unwillingly leave the testing area to wait quietly on an empty patch of ground. Considering his pale face and visibly distraught demeanor, the profound impact on him was obvious. Thinking about it, it was not strange that this young man reacted this way. After all, today had shown that he had no fate with immortality, and he could only live out the rest of his life as a mortal. Before the ceremony had started, he had not known the specific situation of his Spiritual Root. Thus, he had always harbored some hope. But now, with the completion of the testing, it was also the announcement of his result, which, for a descendant of cultivators, was akin to a death sentence. At this moment, seeing this scene, many youths turned considerably paler, and even those previously composed young men and women were now filled with anxiety, inwardly fearing this Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Including Lin Changqing, the situation for him was not any better either. However, worry was futile; under the personal supervision of Lin Shihua, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony proceeded as usual. Soon, one by one, the young men and women completed their testing, some of whom successfully triggered a response from the Spirit Testing Bead, proving that they had a Spiritual Root and a fate with the Immortal Path. In such a situation, there were those who were joyful and those who were worried. Those young men and women who triggered a response from the testing bead were all excited, as if they had survived a life-and-death ordeal. In contrast, the failed boys and girls had pale faces and hung their heads in defeat. Some even couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears, their heart-wrenching cries adding immense pressure on those who had yet to be tested. Yet, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony was not affected in the slightest. Soon, it was Lin Changqing¡¯s turn to undergo the test. At that time, Lin Changqing stepped forward unhurriedly, looking somewhat pale but generally composed. Clan Leader Lin Shihua, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and watched every move Lin Changqing made, afraid of missing any details. The ceremony was ordinarily quite routine, as it took place every year and had become a habit. More importantly, Lin Shihua, the leader of a Golden Core Family, usually had too many affairs to manage to pay attention to such trivial ceremonies. But this time, the ceremony was unlike any other year. Because of Lin Changqing¡¯s presence, Lin Shihua took time out of his busy schedule to personally attend and witness Lin Changqing¡¯s test results. In his heart, Lin Changqing was the offspring of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, a lineage far from ordinary. Besides that, both of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi possessed Dual Spiritual Roots and it was only after reaching the Golden Core Stage that they had their first offspring. Given their conditions, the likelihood of their offspring possessing Spiritual Roots and exhibiting even greater talents was much higher compared to ordinary family members. Therefore, the odds of Lin Changqing having Spiritual Roots were also significantly higher than those of ordinary family offspring. It was even possible that his Spiritual Root Talent was not inferior either. Of course, although the talents of Lin Tianming and his wife were excellent, the timing of having offspring was also critical. Nevertheless, there was no absolute assurance that their lineage would definitely possess Spiritual Roots. Therefore, it was hard to predict the outcome of Lin Changqing¡¯s test. That¡¯s why Lin Shihua paid such close attention to this ceremony. At that moment, as Lin Changqing nervously placed his palm on the Spirit Testing Bead. In just a few breaths, a faint golden light flashed across the bead. Seeing this, Lin Shihua¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he let out a long sigh of relief. At the same time, he secretly hoped that no other colors would flicker on the bead. This was because each different color of light that passed over the bead represented another Spirit Root Attribute. Thus, the appearance of a golden light indicated that Lin Changqing possessed a Metal Attribute Spiritual Root. If no other color appeared, it would mean he had the talent of a Single Spiritual Root. If indeed that were the case, the Lin Family would gain another member with a Single Spiritual Root Talent, foreseeing a broader future relying on such talented individuals. At least for the next several hundred or thousand years, the Lin Family would be unprecedentedly strong. Deeply aware of this, Lin Shihua¡¯s breathing quickened, his eyes fixated on the Spirit Testing Bead, his palms sweating. However, the bead shattered his expectations by continuing to release different colors of light. In an instant, gray and blue lights also flickered, eventually weaving together with the gold into a tri-color mix that kept flashing. Fortunately, after these three colors appeared, there was no further activity from the bead. By this moment, the testing was complete. Such a result indicated that Lin Changqing¡¯s Spirit Root Attributes were undoubtedly Metal, Wood, and Earth. And this caliber of talent was quite standard, given Lin Changqing¡¯s status and innate conditions. ¡­ Chapter 1045 03-25 - 1045 551 Another Golden Core (Seeking ?Chapter 1045: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 1045: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass) At this time, Lin Changqing saw the response from the Spirit Testing Bead and couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief deep within. Although the bead showed two more colors afterward, proving that his Spiritual Root Talent was merely that of Three Spiritual Roots and clearly not equal to his forebears, no matter what, he at least possessed Spiritual Roots and was destined for the Immortal Path. He wouldn¡¯t be like those utterly disheartened young men and women who, from then on, shattered all the illusions in their hearts. Such a result also met the expectations he held in his heart. In this situation, Lin Changqing also revealed a trace of a smile before walking to another empty area to wait for the conclusion of the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. It was also at this time, atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming and his wife, Ren Yuxuan, stood shoulder to shoulder, their sharp gazes penetrating through buildings, witnessing the entire process of the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Seeing Lin Changqing¡¯s Spirit Root testing process and the final result, both of them also heaved long sighs of relief. ... In their hearts, although they had already mentally prepared themselves, it was obviously not possible to claim they didn¡¯t care at all about the outcome of the testing ceremony. Exactly because of this, they had come out of seclusion for a short while and arrived here to discreetly observe the course of the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Now that the results had surfaced, Lin Tianming and his wife were quite satisfied with the outcome, and the weight in their hearts loosened. Immediately after, the couple exchanged a smile and vanished from the peak of the mountain. As for Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s secret observation, everyone present at the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, including Lin Shihua, was completely unaware. As for Lin Shihua, given Lin Changqing¡¯s Spirit Root testing results, he didn¡¯t continue to stay there either. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Thus, Lin Shihua instructed a few Lin Family Members who were overseeing the testing, then left the plaza alone. In the following half-year, Lin Tianming and his wife paused their cultivation and primarily spent time with Lin Changqing. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During this period, Lin Tianming personally taught Lin Changqing, helping him to smoothly step onto the Immortal Path and become a First Level Qi Refining Cultivator. Unfortunately, Lin Changqing wasn¡¯t suitable for practicing the Tiangang Body Art, and even up to now, there wasn¡¯t a fitting candidate within the entire Lin Family. The primary reason for this was that the Tiangang Body Art placed extremely high demands on the cultivator¡¯s talent and required countless resources, as well as not being without drawbacks in practice. Conversely, although the technique was challenging to cultivate, the formidable combat strength it conferred was indeed satisfying. Lin Tianming had a profound understanding of this. After all, throughout the years, he had numerous examples of defeating enemies of a higher level, and most of these achievements could be attributed to the Heavenly Grade Technique. However, he himself had Dual Spiritual Roots of Fire and Wood, with the Fire Attribute having the greatest affinity. Leveraging the formidable Attack Power of the Fire Attribute matched well with the Tiangang Body Art. As for Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent with Three Spiritual Roots, his greatest affinity was with the Earth Attribute. If he were to forcefully practice this technique, it would be challenging to unleash the high-level combat strength inherent in the technique. More importantly, the huge demand for resources and various drawbacks of cultivating the Tiangang Body Art meant that individuals with less impressive talents might be hindered by these drawbacks and consequently delay their cultivation progress. A cultivator¡¯s potential generally lies in the early to middle stages; the younger the age, the higher the potential, which progressively diminishes over time, and one might even be stuck at a certain realm indefinitely. Without fortune, breaking through on one¡¯s own cultivation is incredibly difficult. Judging by Lin Changqing¡¯s basic talent, if he were to forcefully cultivate this technique, his speed of cultivation in the Medium Stage would inevitably not be quick. In such circumstances, the result of forcefully practicing this technique might not even be as good as that of an ordinary Earth-grade Technique. However, nowadays, the Lin Family has ample Earth-grade Techniques for all the Five Elements Attributes, and even multiple choices for each. If there were a suitable technique, Lin Changqing¡¯s pace of cultivation wouldn¡¯t necessarily be poor, and his future achievements might even be higher. Understanding this, Lin Tianming no longer insisted on the Tiangang Body Art. In his eyes, what suited oneself was most important. Whether it was Lin Changqing or other family members, one must choose a proper Cultivation Technique based on one¡¯s talents and not be hasty and reckless so as to avoid unnecessary detours. As for the Tiangang Body Art, this Heaven Rank Treasure was only suitable for those with Dual Spiritual Roots and whose Spirit Root Attributes mainly possessed the affinity for Metal and Fire ¨C only then could one cultivate this top-tier technique. Without such fundamental conditions, it would be best not to forcibly cultivate this technique. Thus, under their arrangements, Lin Changqing officially stepped onto the Immortal Path and easily entered the First Level of Qi Refining to become a qualified Qi Refining Cultivator. As for Lin Changqing¡¯s subsequent cultivation, like ordinary Lin Family Members, it mainly involved receiving guidance from the Skill Transmission Hall and was occasionally advised by the likes of Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan. Moreover, with his standing, Lin Tianming and his wife could also offer advice. Even when Lin Changqing paid his respects to Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, these two venerable ancestors would personally guide him and casually provide some resources to assist in his speedy cultivation. One could foresee that with such foundation conditions, Lin Changqing, before reaching the Golden Core Stage, would have a meteoric rise completely untroubled by any scarcity of resources or treasures. And for all this, Lin Tianming and his wife had made early preparations. Although they were somewhat helpless, this was the affection of elders for the younger generation. Therefore, they could only repeatedly admonish Lin Changqing, urging him to focus on the foundation of the Immortal Path, warning him not to be hasty and impetuous, so that he wouldn¡¯t weaken his foundation and, in the end, face too many bottlenecks or even bring his cultivation to a standstill. Chapter 1046 03-25 - 1046 551 Another Golden Core (Seeking ?Chapter 1046: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 1046: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Under the deliberate interference of Lin Tianming and another person, Lin Changqing methodically cultivated. Two years later, one day, Lin Tianming, who was in seclusion, suddenly received a message. According to Lin Shihua¡¯s message, Lin Tianyun had successfully reached the Golden Core Stage, becoming the fifth Golden Core Stage Cultivator in the Lin Family in the strictest sense. With Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough, another Golden Core Stage Clansman emerged among the Tian generation of the Lin Family. On the other hand, due to generally mediocre abilities and extremely limited numbers, most of the Xing Clan Members missed the optimal time for cultivation. To date, the highest cultivation level among the Xing generation is still held by Lin Xingrong, Lin Xingping, and several others. Moreover, they are currently at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and Great Perfection; whether they can smoothly transition to the Golden Core Stage is still uncertain. ... Even so, excluding Ye Pinghai, the related in-law, and Hu Yuan, the guest elder, the Lin Family had subsequently produced five Golden Core Stage family members. From the time Lin Shikang broke through to the Golden Core Stage, it had been over forty years. This period was crucial for the Lin Family. During this time, the growth rate of the Lin Family was unprecedentedly high, unimaginably so¡ªLin Shikang, Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu, Qin Xi, and Lin Tianyun successively advanced into the Golden Core Stage. Especially Lin Tianyun, whose cultivation speed was exceptionally fast; barely in his forties, he had already entered the Golden Core Stage. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His cultivation speed was no less impressive than Lin Tianming¡¯s during the same period. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? However, upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t so strange because after all, Lin Tianyun was the only clan member of the Lin Family with a Single Hetero-attribute Spiritual Root of the Wind type. Additionally, he cultivated an Earth-grade Technique and had the Family¡¯s sustained resource support, which explained his cultivation speed. Regarding family members of each generation, their cultivation levels had also significantly improved, with each age group and generation having some backbone figures. To this day, there were five Golden Core Stage members in the Lin Family, plus two intimately related in-law guest elders, making seven individuals with the combat power of the Golden Core Stage. This overall strength had nearly doubled compared to over twenty years ago. Currently, compared to the other two major Golden Core Sects of the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family was in no way inferior. When Lin Tianming received this news, he was excited for a long while. In his eyes, as the Lin Family grew stronger, so did his peace of mind, and he felt more confident in his endeavors. With Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough, among the four generations of the Lin Family thus far, two generations now had more than one Golden Core Stage Cultivator. This distribution structure further proved that the Lin Family¡¯s potential had been continuously increasing and improving. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming also waited until Lin Tianyun ended his seclusion to briefly emerge from seclusion with Qin Xi. In Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, five Lin Family Golden Core Stage members gathered, and Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua also set aside their duties to be there. Inclusive of Ye Pinghai, it was also rare for him to leave seclusion, specifically to attend this gathering. At that moment, Lin Tianming and the others sat together. A gathering of six Golden Core Stage Cultivators¡ªsuch a grand assembly was unimaginable to all Lin Family Members before. However, it had now truly realized. Even Lin Tianming, who always firmly believed that this day would come for the Lin Family, didn¡¯t expect it to arrive so soon. Now that the day had come, everyone was smiling and clearly in a very good mood. For a while, the atmosphere at the event was extremely warm and harmonious. It was then that Lin Tianyun took up the Spiritual Tea and respectfully offered a cup to each of the elders. Starting with Lin Shikang, several Shi generation family members took out gifts, all to celebrate Lin Tianyun¡¯s recent breakthrough. Among them, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai gave some Third Order Pills, and Lin Shilu provided an Offensive Magical Treasure. As for Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, both being of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, their wealth was extremely limited. Yet, they were overjoyed for Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage; even though the treasures they brought out were not of much use to Lin Tianyun, they were the best they could offer. When it came to Lin Tianming¡¯s turn, Lin Tianyun gave a respectful bow, his demeanor extremely sincere. Following that, Lin Tianyun addressed Lin Tianming and his wife, saying, ¡°Junior brother pays respects to elder brother and sister-in-law!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming also returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute, his demeanor incredibly polite. Then, with a chuckle, he said, ¡°Tianyun, our Tian generation adds another Golden Core¡ªI congratulate you here!¡± After these words, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and a Defensive Treasure appeared in his hand, which he then handed to Lin Tianyun. ¡°Tianyun, I don¡¯t have much to offer, but this defensive treasure, although somewhat damaged, is still quite a valuable protection item.¡± ¡°Take it for now, and when Fifteenth Grandfather is free, you can ask him to help you reforge it anew.¡± ¡°With his skills in artifact refining, he can surely restore it to its peak, or perhaps even surpass its former glory.¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile, not forgetting to compliment Lin Shilu in passing. Lin Tianyun, upon hearing this and seeing the defensive treasure, coveted it greatly, but felt embarrassed to accept it directly due to its high value. Especially since Lin Shilu had also presented an offensive magical treasure as a congratulatory gift just moments before. But Lin Shilu was an elder, and moreover, a defensive treasure was far more valuable than an offensive one. Thus, when Lin Tianming presented the treasure, Lin Tianyun was quite shocked. At that moment, Lin Shilu, noticing Lin Tianyun¡¯s hesitation, chuckled and said, ¡°Tianyun, just accept it!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal with Tianming, that fellow¡¯s wealth is not small, and even the likes of us old men envy him!¡± ¡°Indeed, this youngster has a multitude of treasures, one of us old folks could hardly compare.¡± Lin Shikang also joked. Lin Shilu¡¯s playful words made everyone burst into laughter. At this point, Lin Tianyun, hearing Lin Shilu encourage him so, stopped being pretentious and casually accepted the defensive treasure. Soon after, Lin Tianyun bowed to Lin Tianming and sincerely said, ¡°Cousin, thanks for your generous gift. Should you ever need me for anything, I will not hesitate.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded satisfactorily. He saw great potential and talent in Lin Tianyun, even surpassing his own. Therefore, he hadn¡¯t supported Lin Tianyun too much over the year. Although their interactions were not frequent, it was not indicative of his lack of care for Lin Tianyun. On the contrary, he had great expectations for him. After all, Lin Tianyun had the Wind Spirit Root talent and had always been under the protection of the Lin Family, with few even aware of his existence. Yet, the more it was so, the more comfortable Lin Tianyun had been, never lacking in cultivation resources, and everything had been smooth sailing. Under such conditions, the trials and crises Lin Tianyun faced were few, and couldn¡¯t really compare to his own. As the saying goes, uncarved jade never becomes a tool. The same was true for Lin Tianyun! Merely having astonishing talent was not enough; if he did not strive hard on his own, his future achievements would be limited. Even with a Single Spirit Root, this point was inevitable. Thus, Lin Tianming did not want Lin Tianyun to have it too easy and had not supported his growth. Now, Lin Tianyun had smoothly entered the Golden Core Stage at just over forty years old. His cultivation speed and current strength also proved his talent, not letting his clan members down. Now, both being in the Golden Core Stage Realm and of the same cultivation stage, it was possible to support Lin Tianyun a bit, helping him quickly secure his footing at this level. Should there be any sudden incidents in the future, this would prevent him from being caught off guard. Thus, Lin Tianming was no longer stingy. In a generous gesture, he gifted a defense treasure, compensating for Lin Tianyun¡¯s lack in the defensive aspect. Meanwhile, Qin Xi also did not delay, casually taking out some Yuxu Pills as a gift for Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. Subsequently, Lin Tianyun respectfully accepted them, showing sincere gratitude. Afterward, everyone chatted leisurely for a long while, discussing some clan affairs and also bringing up some major events in the cultivation world. At the same time, they also discussed many cultivation-related issues, giving advice to Lin Tianyun. Such a lively gathering continued for half a day. Finally, after finalizing matters and with Lin Tianyun having benefited greatly, everyone dispersed. Lin Tianming and his wife did not stay long either, returning together to their own cave mansion¡­ Chapter 1047 03-25 - 1047 552 Soul-eating Spider ?Chapter 1047: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Pass) Chapter 1047: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Pass) Two years later, one day. Lin Tianming once again hastily emerged from seclusion and appeared in a canyon behind the Lin Family lands. By that time, several members of the Lin Family of the Shi generation, including Lin Shihua, had already been waiting there in advance. Upon seeing Lin Tianming appear, the expressions on the faces of Lin Shihua and the others were filled with excitement, their emotions seemingly uncontrollable. At that moment, Lin Tianming, equally thrilled, asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, is the Soul-eating Spider about to break through?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shikang, laughing, explained, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not just the Soul-eating Spider that is about to break through. From what I can see, your two Spirit Beasts seem to be getting close as well!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was greatly surprised. ... In fact, several years prior, the Lin Family had already been gradually pushing for the advancement of a few Spirit Beasts, among which the Soul-eating Spider had remained at the Second Order Late Phase for over two hundred years. And Lin Tianming¡¯s two Spirit Beasts, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, had also reached the Second Order Late Phase grade quite early on and had stayed at this level for many years. Over these years, Lin Tianming had also expended considerable resources to help them grow as quickly as possible. It was only a few years ago that the family went all out, committing the entire clan¡¯s resources to the effort. After several years of unrelenting support, they had managed to push the grade of the Soul-eating Spider up significantly. Given that the Soul-eating Spider had been at the peak of the Second Order Late Phase for many years, it was only one step away from reaching the Third Order. Now several years had passed, and the Soul-eating Spider was finally about to take a major step forward. Such news exhilarated all the clan members. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Moreover, from what Lin Shikang implied, it seemed that the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao were close to achieving a breakthrough as well. Upon thinking about this, an excited smile spread across Lin Tianming¡¯s face, and his heart surged with emotion. After all, these two Demonic Beasts, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, were the Spirit Beasts he had subdued in his earlier years. They had followed him for several decades and had achieved some merits during that time. In the past few years, he had even provided some treasures to the Clan Leader, asking him to collect items from the family to assist them in advancing further. However, for this clan plan, he had originally thought it would take at least a decade or even longer to see some results. Yet, to his surprise, just five years had elapsed, and the Soul-eating Spider was already near its next phase of advancement, and his own two Spirit Beasts were also close to that step. Consequently, Lin Tianming was in excellent spirits, his face always bearing a contented smile. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming then spoke, ¡°Third Grandfather, it looks like the Soul-eating Spider is about to attract the Heavenly Tribulation!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I notified you, to witness the breakthrough experience of this meritous member of our family. In the future, we will also have some experience with the breakthroughs of Spirit Beasts.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, finding the arrangement quite acceptable in his heart. After all, the Soul-eating Spider was on the verge of a breakthrough, and if successful, it would become the Lin Family¡¯s first-ever Third Order Spiritual Beast. As for the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s breakthrough process, it was also something the Lin Family had not yet experienced. With regard to this gap in experience, the imminent breakthrough of the Soul-eating Spider could provide some valuable knowledge on advancing Spirit Beasts. Should they encounter a similar situation in the future, they wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard. Therefore, this breakthrough process for the Soul-eating Spider was of great importance to the Lin Family¡¯s senior clan members. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was also eagerly looking forward to the process arriving sooner. With such anticipation, the group waited for a short while. Soon, a massive amount of Spiritual Energy began to converge in the sky above the canyon, eventually flowing gently into its interior. In less than half an hour, a series of unique hissing sounds emanated from the valley. Shortly after, the sky above the canyon started to fill up with menacing clouds, while fierce winds began to howl, accompanied by some lightning that cleaved through the heavens. After a while of such commotion, the sky was covered with a vast expanse of dark clouds. As far as the eye could see, this entire layer of clouds was low, almost setting the stage for an imminent violent storm. Simultaneously, thunder rumbled and lightning whipped within the dark clouds, sporadically emitting thick bolts that briefly illuminated the gloomy sky. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Thunder and lightning continued unabated, brewing ever stronger, with the range of the dark clouds enveloping even more of the sky. Witnessing this, the ordeal seemed fundamentally similar to the Threefold Lightning Tribulation faced by Human Cultivators. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming and the others were well aware that the Soul-eating Spider had taken a significant step forward, thereby attracting the most critical Heavenly Tribulation. Like the Human Race, for the Demon Beast Race, the Third Order is a major threshold. As long as one survives the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, they can formally step into the Third Order Level. Moreover, just like Human Cultivators, Demonic Beasts also rely on their own strength to weather the Heavenly Tribulation, with others unable to intervene; it all rests on the individual undergoing the tribulation or the beasts themselves. Once successful, not only would the Demonic Beast¡¯s strength receive a significant boost, but its Spirit Wisdom would also grow considerably. Much like when Human Cultivators reach the Golden Core Stage, they are considered part of the elite with substantial changes in their strength. Demonic Beasts follow the same principle! ¡°Roar¡­¡± At that moment, the sky thundered and flashed with lighting, and the storm intensified, with massive bolts of lightning striking down relentlessly. With the storm clouds brewing, it seemed they had reached a certain intensity. It was just then that the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation thunderously descended. Chapter 1048 03-25 - 1048 552 Soul-eating Spider ?Chapter 1048: Chapter 552 Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_2 Chapter 1048: Chapter 552 Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_2 That instant, a massive thunderball surged from the dark clouds, plummeting directly down toward the valley below. At that moment, a distinct scream echoed from within the valley. Following that, the Soul-eating Spider suddenly rushed out, neither dodging nor hiding, instead charging towards the thunderball. The speed of the Soul-eating Spider was fast, and the speed of the thunderball was equally quick. Both seemed to regard each other as targets; it was a must to clash head-on to resolve the fight. And indeed, it was so. After all, the Heavenly Tribulation could not be escaped, whether by cultivators or Demonic Beasts; all had to confront it head-on. ... The only difference was, Human Cultivators could use external objects, such as defensive weapons, to lessen the damage of the Heavenly Tribulation and thereby survive the crisis. But Demonic Beasts like the Soul-eating Spider, with limited Spirit Wisdom and without other means, could only rely on their own defensive power to withstand the assault of the Heavenly Tribulation. However, once reaching the level of Fourth Order Demonic Beasts, they could shrink their bodies at will, speak human language, and also utilize some treasures to lessen the damage of the Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, the Soul-eating Spider did not dodge, but directly faced the thunderball. And this action of the Soul-eating Spider was actually not without preparation. That instant, a special glow suddenly flashed across the pitch-black shell on its back. Following that, the shell seemed to change color, presumably possessing even stronger defensive power. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï According to the legends in the Cultivation World, Demonic Beasts would generally accumulate some energy inside their bodies many years before they faced a tribulation. This was done to release it during the Heavenly Tribulation, providing them with outstanding defensive power. As expected, as the thunderball descended, it struck right on the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s shell. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud bang resounded, accompanied by a dazzling light slashing across the sky, causing the entire heavens and earth to tremble slightly. As the thunderball disappeared, the Soul-eating Spider was seen falling from mid-air, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. At that time, it screamed in pain but quickly climbed back up. Looking at it, a piece of its shell on its back showed some cracks, and fresh blood seeped out from them. Despite some injuries at this time, the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s eyes showed no fear, instead filled with intense fighting spirit. Because it was well aware, the Heavenly Tribulation was unavoidable, a calamity on the advancement path of all Demonic Beasts that could not be evaded. Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation would grant it a rebirth. Otherwise, today would be the day it perished. And at the Second Order Late Phase, it had remained for over two hundred years, which was long enough. If it could not break through this time, even if it continued to barely survive, death would inevitably come one day. Therefore, living out the rest of its days in safety held little meaning for the Soul-eating Spider. Fortunately, the Lin Family acknowledged its contributions, tirelessly searching for many treasures over the years to forcibly help it reach this current state. Now that the time and conditions were right, failing to breakthrough might disappoint the Lin Family Members. After all, the Lin Family had indeed made significant investments in recent years. Carrying such expectations, the Soul-eating Spider was thus decisive. And since the arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation, it had been filled with fighting spirit. And now, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation had passed, entering a brief period of respite. As for the entire dark cloud, it was still brewing, seemingly wanting to use even more formidable lightning power to obliterate the Soul-eating Spider. Indeed, just after a dozen breaths, the thundercloud was ready. That¡¯s when multiple thunderballs descended, furiously rushing towards the Soul-eating Spider with an intent to obliterate it on the spot. Facing this scene, the Soul-eating Spider didn¡¯t delay, reacting again in the same manner. In an instant, its shell on the back lit up with a unique glow, bravely facing the thunderballs¡¯ baptism. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Multiple explosions echoed through heaven and earth, the powerful shockwaves uprooting several towering trees. As for the Soul-eating Spider, it was once again blown away by the thunderballs, finally landing in the ravine. Fortunately, the Soul-eating Spider had made sufficient preparations, seemingly due to the deep energy accumulated over the long years. Facing the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, it had resisted. Yet now, its back was riddled with holes, and several of its limbs were broken, greatly affecting its movement speed. Fortunately, it now faced an unavoidable Heavenly Tribulation, where reduced speed had no impact on the process of transcending the tribulation. Otherwise, if fighting against same-level Demonic Beasts or facing the attacks of Human Cultivators, the effect of broken limbs would be fatally injurious. But now, as long as it survived the final layer of Thunder Tribulation, no matter how severe the injuries, as long as it preserved its life, the lost limbs and wounds would all recover. More crucially, it would officially ascend to the Third Grade. The Soul-eating Spider¡¯s Spirit Wisdom might not be high, but it understood this importance clearly and also knew that the severity of injuries wasn¡¯t the most critical. With such determination, the Soul-eating Spider held nothing back. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the watchful eyes of Lin Tianming and others, it directly confronted the final layer of Thunder Tribulation. That instant, an even larger thunderball followed one after another. For a moment, the overwhelming power of lightning illuminated the entire valley like daylight. Chapter 1049 03-25 - 1049 552 Soul-eating Spider ?Chapter 1049: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_3 Chapter 1049: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_3 Under the massive strike of Thunder, flames shot up towards the sky, and the land of the valley trembled slightly. In that sea of fire, the Soul-eating Spider let out a series of miserable cries. By the time the thunderclouds had gradually dispersed, and the dark clouds had vanished, the originally gloomy sky had returned to its usual colors. At the same time, the violent storm stopped, and everything below returned to normal. Looking down, one could see the Soul-eating Spider lying in a deep pit. At that moment, the Soul-eating Spider lay motionless, its body covered in fresh blood, its carapace on its back broken and revealing some charred flesh, with hardly a single intact spot on its massive body. Fortunately, although the Soul-eating Spider was severely injured, its breath was still present. ... It was just that because of its severe injuries, the Soul-eating Spider couldn¡¯t even move its body. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his fellow tribespeople saw that the thunderclouds had dispersed and found that the Soul-eating Spider had not died in the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation. For a moment, everyone¡¯s faces were filled with ecstatic joy. ¡°Haha¡­ The Soul-eating Spider made it!¡± Lin Shikang laughed heartily, his face flashing with excitement. Immediately after, Lin Shikang also proposed, ¡°Everyone, the Soul-eating Spider seems to be badly injured, let¡¯s go and check on it.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang had already rushed out and soon appeared not far from the Soul-eating Spider. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Lin Tianming and the others were also quick, following in Lin Shikang¡¯s footsteps to the side of the Soul-eating Spider. At that time, the group examined the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s injuries, their faces showing some distress. In their eyes, the Heavenly Tribulation faced by the Soul-eating Spider seemed even more terrifying than the power faced by ordinary Human Cultivators undergoing tribulation. At least compared to when Lin Shikang underwent his tribulation, the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s tribulation was even more powerful. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps only Lin Tianming and the other extremely talented younger generations had a Heavenly Tribulation power stronger than the Soul-eating Spider had just experienced when undergoing their own tribulations. And such a scenario also seems to indicate that the challenges faced by the Demon Beast Race undergoing tribulation are stronger than those faced by ordinary Human Cultivators. After all, they possess better innate advantages, their long lifespans, and their natural abilities, which have already made Human Cultivators enviously admired. On the other hand, this may also be why Heavenly Dao, in order to maintain balance, sends down even more terrifying Heavenly Tribulations to hinder the development of the Demon Beast Race. However, even so, the Soul-eating Spider, having risked half of its life, had successfully navigated through a crisis and smoothly advanced to the Third Order. And this result was also one of the great pieces of good news for the Lin Family. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and others were extremely excited. Following this, Lin Tianming quickly checked the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s injuries and made an accurate judgment. The Soul-eating Spider¡¯s current injuries were too severe, and it could not be moved for the time being. So, Lin Tianming swiftly took out several Solidifying Pills, administered them at three times the cultivator¡¯s medicinal strength, and had the Soul-eating Spider swallow them. After finishing these tasks, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a bit, arranging some tribal affairs in the meantime, among them Lin Shihua instructed the tribespeople to return to normal. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong was tasked with keeping watch here to prevent uninformed tribespeople from disturbing the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s recovery. Once the Soul-eating Spider regained its mobility, it could then be moved back to its nest to heal. With all arrangements well in place, Lin Tianming and the others finally dispersed happily, leaving only Lin Shigong and the Soul-eating Spider to continue staying here. ¡­ Chapter 1050 03-25 - 1050 553 Mixed Feelings ?Chapter 1050: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings Chapter 1050: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings Just a month had passed. Lin Shihua once again sent good news; both the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao had successively assaulted the Third Order, soon to attract the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Having mentally prepared, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion again and appeared atop a mountain in the back hills. Not far from there, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox successfully overcame the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. And this tribulation process, just like the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s originally, was essentially no different. Only in terms of injuries, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was slightly better off than the Soul-eating Spider, seemingly due to its more exceptional innate potential. Thus, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox managed to overcome the Threefold Lightning Tribulation without mishap. ... At this point, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox officially entered the Third Order, becoming the second Spirit Beast of the Lin Family to reach this level. However, this good news only pleased the clan members momentarily. Just half a month later, another Spirit Beast of Lin Tianming, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, also faced the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. This time, the tribulation process was unfortunately tragic, as the Bloodthirsty Jiao died under the relentless bombardment of the final wave of the tribulation. Faced with this outcome, Lin Tianming and other clan members who witnessed it were all somewhat surprised and felt quite helpless. After all, the Bloodthirsty Jiao had followed Lin Tianming for several decades and had been through many major battles. It could be said that the Bloodthirsty Jiao had established commendable merits for the Lin Family and for Lin Tianming. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 Under such circumstances, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was included in this family plan to advance the growth of their Spirit Beasts. For this, the Lin Family had invested almost several hundred thousand Spirit Stones worth of treasures on the Bloodthirsty Jiao alone. Even in the last two years, they had utilized the Mountain Protection Array to condense rich Spiritual Energy, all for the sake of their several Spirit Beasts to charge at the Third Order. Yet despite such thorough preparation and such a high cost, the Bloodthirsty Jiao still did not survive this tribulation. This result seemed to be due to the inferior bloodline potential of the Bloodthirsty Jiao compared to the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. In comparison to the Soul-eating Spider, the Bloodthirsty Jiao lacked its lengthy period of accumulation and this led to its failure in facing the tribulation. Besides, the tribulation process for Demonic Beasts is equally arduous, and like Human Cultivators, even those with decent talent and bloodline cannot guarantee success against the tribulation. This was also the case for the Bloodthirsty Jiao; the entire process unfolded before the eyes of Lin Tianming and others. It could be said that the Bloodthirsty Jiao was just a whisker away from luck. Faced with such an outcome, Lin Tianming felt it was a great pity. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s strength was considerable; although its innate potential was not as strong as the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, it was still much stronger than the average Demonic Beast. Had the Bloodthirsty Jiao successfully overcome the tribulation, the Lin Family would have gained another Golden Core Stage combatant, increasing the overall strength of the clan significantly. By then, with the support of five Golden Core Cultivators and three Third-Order Spirit Beasts from the Lin Family, plus Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, two special-identity Golden Cores, the Lin Family would have gained ten Golden Core combat forces. With such strength, even the Millennium-legacy Myriad Medicine Valley could unlikely suppress them. And should this news spread, it would probably astound all cultivators in Wei Kingdom. Unfortunately, overcoming the Threefold Lightning Tribulation for Demonic Beasts is no less demanding than for humans, with the entire process being more direct and much more perilous. The Bloodthirsty Jiao had given its all, yet ultimately it could not endure and perished under the tribulation. Faced with this conclusion, although Lin Tianming felt remorse, he ultimately had to accept reality. Fortunately, before this, both the Soul-eating Spider and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had advanced to the Third Order; out of the three targets, the family successfully achieved two. Thus, attaining a success rate of three to two was already quite commendable. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and the other clan members were also quite satisfied. Now, as the outcomes of these Spirit Beasts¡¯ tribulations settled, the Lin Family regained peace, with little of note demanding Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. As for Lin Tianming, he embarked on dedicated seclusion for cultivation. Three years quietly passed. During this period, Lin Tianming lived a rather relaxed and pleasant life, either enhancing his cultivation with the aid of elixirs or engaging in Alchemy. Since his cultivation had already reached the Mid Stage Golden Core and it had been just a few years since his breakthrough, the progress over these three years was not significant. Therefore, Lin Tianming practiced at a leisurely pace and also devoted some of his energy to Alchemy. Over these years, he refined a large quantity of elixirs for the family, mainly involving some precious elixir varieties, such as those used by Golden Core Clan Members and some precious varieties within Second Order Pills. With Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and skill in Alchemy, the success rate of making elixirs, including the quantity and quality, were better than those of ordinary people. By practicing with these elixirs, his Alchemy skills also improved. Combined with the slight progress in his cultivation, this training period passed quite sufficiently. Until this day, Lin Tianming and his wife both emerged from seclusion. In the courtyard, the couple sat opposite each other, Lin Changqing learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s calling and came to the Cave Mansion to meet his parents. By this time, Lin Changqing had reached sixteen years of age, and after six years of cultivation, his level had also reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. This rate of cultivation, compared to Lin Tianming¡¯s at the same stage, although slightly inferior, was still impressive. Chapter 1051 03-25 - 1051 553 Mixed Feelings_2 ?Chapter 1051: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings_2 Chapter 1051: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings_2 But overall, it was actually very good. After all, Lin Changqing only possessed a talent of Three Spiritual Roots, and since Lin Tianming purposefully tempered his foundation, he had basically not provided much help in these past few years, wanting him to rely on his own talent and potential for cultivation. In his eyes, the period of the Qi Refinement Realm was extremely crucial for a cultivator. Because a solid foundation needed to be laid in the early stages, after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, the difficulty of making progress would double. But with a good foundation, one could rely on various Spiritual Objects to burst forth. In contrast, during the Qi Refinement Realm, it wasn¡¯t a big deal to progress slowly. After all, cultivation at the Qi Refinement Stage wasn¡¯t difficult, and as long as one¡¯s talent was decent, there really weren¡¯t many bottlenecks, and one could completely use this period to lay the most solid foundation. ... After the Foundation Establishment Stage, bursting forth wouldn¡¯t lead to any hidden dangers, but would instead provide abundant sustained strength. In this way, Lin Tianming placed great importance on Lin Changqing¡¯s Immortal Path foundation. And Lin Changqing, inheriting Lin Tianming¡¯s hardworking spirit, had reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement in six years, with a very firm foundation, which was in line with Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. More importantly, Lin Changqing not only pleased Lin Tianming on the path of cultivation. In terms of the Four Arts of Cultivation, he was even more gratifying. After just six years of cultivation, Lin Changqing had shown an exceptional talent in the Way of Formation Setting. So far, his cultivation level hadn¡¯t fallen behind at all, but his proficiency in Formation Dao was quite outstanding. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï Now, he was already a qualified Array Master, and he himself had revealed that he might be able to advance to a First Order Medium Grade Formation Master before long. Knowing these developments, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied and couldn¡¯t help but feel joyful inside. But for fear that Lin Changqing would become complacent, Lin Tianming merely smiled indifferently and then instructed him to continue to work hard. However, in his heart, he was indeed very happy, thinking that this child had been bright and inquisitive since childhood, especially fond of delving into the Four Arts of Cultivation, especially the Path of Formation Setting. He remembered when Lin Changqing was seven or eight years old, he had already begun his palace studies and had access to many texts in this area. Back in his own Cave Mansion, he had also requested Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan to find him some knowledge he hadn¡¯t learned yet, primarily focusing on the Way of Formation Setting. At that time, Lin Changqing was still young but was already obsessed with the Formation Path beyond extrication. Even now, Lin Changqing¡¯s natural talent for cultivation seemed rather ordinary, neither particularly remarkable nor poor. However, in the Path of Formation Setting, he displayed an exceptionally good talent. Such an outcome was also like finding a suitable path. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even perhaps, if he were to achieve something in the future, it would make up for the Lin Family¡¯s weakest link. Every time he thought of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but get excited. And at this moment, Lin Tianming and his wife looked at Lin Changqing, who was studying the texts next to them, and exchanged smiles. Then, Lin Tianming opened his mouth and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, how has your retreat these past few years paid off?¡± ¡°Is there hope for a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core?¡± Hearing the question, Qin Xi let out a wry smile, her face flashing with helplessness. ¡°Ming, it¡¯s been almost twenty years since Xi¡¯er entered the Early Stage Golden Core.¡± ¡°Recently, I don¡¯t know what happened, but my cultivation has been stuck at the initial peak. Even though I feel like I¡¯m only one step away from the Mid Stage Golden Core, I can¡¯t seem to advance any further no matter what.¡± Qin Xi said solemnly. And upon hearing her words, Lin Tianming knew that Qin Xi must have entered a bottleneck period. After all, it hadn¡¯t been long since Qin Xi¡¯s breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, just barely less than twenty years. If it hadn¡¯t been for their first instance of double cultivation, which saved them both over a decade of arduous cultivation, Lin Tianming directly took the opportunity to step into the Mid Stage Golden Core, and Qin Xi also pushed her cultivation to the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core. Otherwise, if they relied on normal cultivation, they would undoubtedly be further from their current realm. It was also because of the swift enhancement brought by double cultivation that Qin Xi¡¯s realm had become somewhat unstable. Now that Qin Xi had reached the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core and felt herself to be only one step away from the Medium Stage, she just couldn¡¯t break through that barrier. Such a reaction was undoubtedly a bottleneck. In contrast, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t encounter a bottleneck when he was impacting the Mid Stage Golden Core. The reason for this, perhaps, is that he spent over thirty years since entering the Golden Core Stage. Moreover, during those years, due to the drawbacks of his cultivation technique, he made virtually no progress. And during that time, he had experienced several major Golden Core battles, facing incredibly powerful opponents. It was during those years that he laid a solid foundation, accumulating enough depth of experience. Only after the benefits from his first dual cultivation, along with the subsequent resolution of the flaws in his cultivation technique, was he able to enhance his cultivation with the aid of elixirs. With such a foundation, when breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, he basically encountered no major difficulties, and the whole process was almost as smooth as water flowing along its course. Looking at Qin Xi, since the time of the Three Sects Great War and in preparation for the impact of the Golden Core Stage, she spent two years of cultivation practice at the Great Perfection Realm. However, that period of practice was quite easy, with absolute strength suppressing any difficulties. Therefore, she didn¡¯t face any challenging battles. As a result, Qin Xi hadn¡¯t faced a serious life-or-death crisis for many years. Realizing this Lin Tianming understood the root of the problem. Faced with such a bottleneck, Qin Xi needed an experience! If she went through a crisis, perhaps she could overcome this bottleneck and smoothly enter the Mid Stage Golden Core. Otherwise, if she continued secluded cultivation without the aid of treasures, it would be unrealistic to expect to progress on her own strength. Even if she were to cultivate in seclusion for another fifty years, it was uncertain if she would succeed. Knowing this, Lin Tianming also fell into deep thought. In fact, in his heart, he had long been prepared for an excursion of cultivation. Before, due to the birth of Lin Changqing, he and his wife relaxed for a few years to accompany him through his childhood. Later, with the improvement in his cultivation and the benefits of dual cultivation, he pushed himself to the peak of the Golden Core Initial Stage, which was only a step away from the Medium Stage. At that time, he thought that since he had reached that level, he might as well make a push to impact the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Now, having successfully entered the Mid Stage Golden Core, Qin Xi had just encountered a bottleneck. Under such circumstances, they could go on a cultivation journey together. This plan was not only to help Qin Xi resolve her bottleneck, but also because he himself needed a change of environment, to face new crises to maintain a healthy state of cultivation. As for the family, with the emergence of Lin Shilu and Lin Tianyun successfully impacting the Golden Core Stage, along with two Spirit Beasts also reaching the Third Order level, it could be said that the overall strength of the Lin Family had greatly improved compared to the past. Therefore, looking at the current situation, even if both he and his wife were to leave the family, there would still be several Golden Core Stage combatants at the family site. With such strength in place, even if forces like the Zhenyang Sect or Myriad Medicine Valley were to attack, the Lin Family would have the power to resist. At the very least, even if the Lin Family couldn¡¯t secure a clear victory, at least it was unlikely to face the danger of annihilation. With this in mind, there were no concerns about him and his wife going out for a journey. Understanding this, Lin Tianming made up his mind. Thus, Lin Tianming saw the helpless expression on Qin Xi¡¯s face and then asked. ¡°Xi¡¯er, we¡¯ve stayed in the family for many years!¡± ¡°Now that the family is safe and Changqing has gotten on the right track, I think we might as well leave the Wei Kingdom to practice elsewhere and see how other countries thrive, don¡¯t you think?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, a spiritual light flashed in Qin Xi¡¯s eyes, clearly agreeing with the idea. And indeed, that was the case. In the instant after Lin Tianming finished speaking, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er has been thinking just the same!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1052 03-25 - 1052 554 ?Chapter 1052: 554 Chapter 1052: 554 At that moment, upon hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. After all, Qin Xi was a clever and intelligent woman, combining her current actual situation, she indeed needed a high-intensity trial to resolve the bottleneck she faced this time. And when Lin Tianming proposed the idea of undergoing trials, Qin Xi also knew it was for her own good. It could be said, from any angle, she naturally had no reason to refuse. Thus, the couple quickly reached an agreement. However, until now, they hadn¡¯t thought of a destination for their trial. Therefore, Lin Tianming directly asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, do you have a plan for the trial, or a destination in mind?¡± ... Upon hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head and said, ¡°As a mere woman, I¡¯d rather listen to Brother Ming. Wherever Brother Ming goes, Xi¡¯er will follow!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then contemplated the destination for this trial in his heart. After a long time, Lin Tianming, based on their current actual situation, had some ideas in his mind. Summing it up, there were actually two major directions. One was the land of Qingzhou, where the Wei Kingdom was located. As for the second, it was naturally the Jingzhou Land adjacent to the Wei Kingdom. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï If they went to a state in the center of Qingzhou, since the distance was close, the timing of the trial could be better managed. In this way, if there was any trouble with the family, the couple could rush back quickly. Additionally, since the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World belonged to Qingzhou, there was more interaction between the two, whether it was specific news from the Cultivation World, or trade and cultivator exchanges, which were naturally more frequent than with the neighboring Jingzhou. However, choosing Jingzhou as their trial destination was also a good choice. Because Jingzhou had a long heritage, it was a land where the Immortal Path flourished, and trade was extremely prosperous. In terms of the number of cultivators, as well as the overall strength of the various families and sects, it was clearly stronger than Qingzhou. Simultaneously, Jingzhou was abundant with secret realms and many ancient relics, and the chance of top-tier treasures appearing was even greater. With such rich resources in Jingzhou, coupled with the development and management of these great powers over thousands of years, Golden Core Stage experts were as common as blades of grass ¨C truly a land blessed with exceptional people and spiritual essence. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming was conflicted about which direction was the right one to choose. After a long time, Lin Tianming made up his mind and decided to check out the central states in Qingzhou. The main reason was that Qingzhou was closer, making it more convenient to return to their family. In addition, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had been missing for several decades now. Based on what Lin Tianhong had described at the time, they most likely fell into a Spatial Fissure. In such an environment, a cultivator¡¯s chance of survival was slim. Fortunately, the Life-bound Soul Lamps they left with the family had not yet extinguished, indicating that their lives, at least for the short term, were not in danger. Moreover, since they had not returned up to now, it was very likely that they were swept into a very distant place by the spatial fissure. At that time, they were only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivation, with extremely limited strength. Even if the two joined hands, they could probably only barely protect themselves. Under such conditions, if they had gone to a completely unfamiliar place, it would not be easy to cross the great distance back to their family. However, overall, Qingzhou and the neighboring Jingzhou were the most likely places to find their traces. Because when the two were out in the world, even if they concealed their identities as Loose Cultivators, they would leave behind the unique markings of their family. Such markings were made in the hope that if they encountered people of their own clan in the future, they could recognize each other. As the years passed, given the talent and strength Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had at the time, they should have reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivation. Even, if possible, advancing into the Golden Core Stage Realm was not beyond the realm of possibility. Since that was the case, the two Tianfeng brothers would have certainly gained some fame, and with the ability to protect themselves, they would naturally find a way to return to the family. Therefore, the central zones of Qingzhou and Jingzhou were very likely the transit points for their return to the family. If that were true, they would surely leave some clues along the way. Although the Cultivation World is vast and finding a person is as difficult as finding a needle in the ocean. But so far, Wei Kingdom had now regained peace, Lin Tianming had gained some strength, and the family now had the ability to protect itself. With such foundational conditions, he no longer had any concerns about the future, and it was time to actively go out and search for their traces. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under these circumstances, he planned to go to the Qingzhou Center, trial along the way, and simultaneously search for the whereabouts of Lin Tianfeng and the others. If he couldn¡¯t find them in Qingzhou, he would go search the land of Jingzhou during the next trial. He always held onto one belief: as long as Lin Tianfeng and the others were alive, they would sooner or later return to the family. By that time, the brothers could be reunited once again. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming then shared his thoughts with Qin Xi. Soon, Qin Xi learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s plans, not only did she have no objections, but she also particularly supported Lin Tianming¡¯s plan for the trial. She was very clear in her heart about the relationship between Lin Tianming and his peers like Lin Tianfeng, which had always been good. Now that Lin Tianfeng and the others were missing without a trace for so many years, Lin Tianming was naturally very anxious. Chapter 1053 03-25 - 1053 554 Secret Plan_2 ?Chapter 1053: Chapter 554 Secret Plan_2 Chapter 1053: Chapter 554 Secret Plan_2 While currently, since the cultivation world of the Wei Kingdom had regained its peace, and the Lin Family also possessed the power to protect itself, given Lin Tianming¡¯s character, who heavily valued loyalty and righteousness, he was bound to try to find them. Under such circumstances, Qin Xi certainly wouldn¡¯t oppose Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. After all, it didn¡¯t matter where she trained, the outcome would be largely the same. She might as well take this opportunity to search for Lin Tianfeng with Lin Tianming, contributing her modest efforts. With this thought in mind, Qin Xi agreed to Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, which made him recall something. Immediately after, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you seem troubled. Could it be that you¡¯re thinking about your grandfather¡¯s enemy, the Chen Clan of the Hengyang Mountain Range?¡± ... Upon hearing these words, Qin Xi¡¯s expression did indeed become more serious, and a surge of vengeful spirit erupted within her. At that moment, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Ming, the matter of avenging my grandfather has always been etched in my heart¡ªI dare not forget it for a single moment!¡± ¡°Now that Xi¡¯er has achieved the Golden Core Great Achievement, it¡¯s time to avenge Grandpa and wash away our grievances!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded solemnly and then reached out to soothe Qin Xi. The matter of Qin Xi¡¯s revenge was something he had never forgotten either. However, at the time when the Lin Family had yet to have any Golden Core Stage clansmen, they were faced with the onslaught of a beast tide. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? At that time, the entire clan was in a life-or-death crisis, with no opportunity to make a move and without the absolute strength to obliterate the Chen Clan in a short time. As for what followed, once there were Golden Core Stage clansmen, and after the war among the three sects, there still wasn¡¯t the chance to act. Until later, when peace gradually returned to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world, and the Lin Family had other significant plans in motion, it was still not appropriate to make a move against a Foundation Establishing Family that had a thousand-year heritage. Now, the Lin Family¡¯s territory was firmly in their grasp, and even if the Foundation Establishing Families banded together, they couldn¡¯t stir up any trouble at all. Under such circumstances, making a move against the Chen Clan now would be a swift and decisive strike that hardly required any effort. As for the reason to act, the Lin Family could fabricate one with ease. In the cultivation world where power is everything, as long as the Lin Family struck down with overwhelming force and eradicated the Chen Clan in one fell swoop, they would hold the ultimate power of interpretation. In light of that, the Lin Family, being distinctly different from its past self, could now obliterate a Foundation Establishing Family without the other families or loose cultivators in the cultivation world daring to say much. Understanding this, Lin Tianming quickly formulated a plan. Thus, Lin Tianming said to Qin Xi, ¡°Xi¡¯er, I have long promised you that I would uproot the Chen Clan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that over these past few years, the clan has been continuously troubled, and my own cultivation has also been greatly delayed.¡± ¡°Now, with our family stable and with our absolute strength, it¡¯s indeed time to settle the score with the Chen Clan!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi nodded vigorously, her heart swelling with excitement. In her heart, the grievance for her grandfather had always weighed heavily, often leaving her feeling suffocated. For this day, she had always cultivated diligently, just so she could personally eradicate the Chen Clan and exact revenge for her deceased grandfather. Now, she was finally about to see this day arrive. At this point, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°However, obliterating the Chen Clan will necessitate careful planning to ensure there are no fish that slip through the net.¡± ¡°I will speak with the Clan Leader about this matter later and have him dispatch some clansmen to take up positions at key locations in the Qianchuan Mountain Range in advance, in case any from the Chen Clan try to escape.¡± ¡°At the same time, we can also gain a clear understanding of the movements of the Chen Clan members, so when we do make our move, we can capture them all in one go.¡± ¡°With the power our family wields now, eradicating the Chen Clan is nothing but a mere effort.¡± ¡°Once we ascertain the whereabouts of key members of the Chen Clan, I believe that in at most a year or two, we can take direct action!¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi nodded. ¡°Ming, as for this matter, I¡¯ll go along with your arrangement, Xi¡¯er has no objections. After all these years of waiting, another one or two years don¡¯t make much difference.¡± Qin Xi said earnestly, her expression, once filled with killing intent, now became much more relaxed. At this time, seeing that Qin Xi didn¡¯t oppose such an arrangement, Lin Tianming confirmed the decision. Then, the couple chatted idly for a few sentences, during which Lin Tianming sent out several messages. Having done this, Lin Tianming left his own cave mansion and went to Lin Shikang¡¯s. There, the clan members of the Shi generation who received the messages all hurried over for a gathering. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming cut to the chase and spoke of Qin Xi¡¯s vendetta, recounting all that had transpired exactly as it happened. Swiftly upon learning of these past grievences, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned cold, and murderous intent surged to the heavens. As for the others, their faces darkened too, clearly angered. In their eyes, they had always treated Qin Xi like the precious pearl in their palm, taking even greater care of Lin Tianming. They had been clueless about these grievances as Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t mentioned them before. Now hearing him out, they realized what Qin Xi had endured, and it made them feel incredibly distraught. At that moment, Lin Shikang spoke angrily, ¡°The Chen Clan must be uprooted, every clan member annihilated, we will not tolerate a single one!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu added his voice. ¡°Third brother is right; the Chen Clan has provoked Xi¡¯er and incurred a deep blood feud. They deserve their fate. We needn¡¯t show any mercy.¡± ¡°In my opinion, we should strike them with the force of thunderous bolts, erasing the Chen Clan from the cultivation world. After all, our Lin Family now possesses the power to do so.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shihua by their side took up the conversation. ¡°Third brother, annihilating the Chen Clan is indeed as easy as lifting a hand for us. We needn¡¯t exert much effort.¡± ¡°However, considering the aftermath, we should still proceed carefully.¡± ¡°In my view, we should send clan members to the Qianchuan Mountain Range to first ascertain the whereabouts of their core family members. This will help us eliminate them swiftly and silently in the shortest possible time.¡± ¡°After all, the Chen Clan is still unaware that Qin Xi is one of our Lin Family Members. If we send out members to gather intelligence now, we¡¯ll hardly startle the snake.¡± As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua¡¯s considerations were indeed comprehensive and coincided with Lin Tianming¡¯s thinking. Thus, Lin Tianming also expressed his agreement. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa speaks wisely!¡± ¡°Although we have the absolute strength to annihilate them on their home ground and other forces in the Cultivation World wouldn¡¯t dare say much, if we can resolve this in the most secure way, minimizing negative impact on the Lin Family, we don¡¯t mind another year or two.¡± At this moment, Lin Shikang and the others nodded at Lin Tianming¡¯s words. Soon after, Lin Shikang took the lead in expressing his agreement with Lin Shihua¡¯s plan. Seeing this, Lin Shilu and the others also agreed that Lin Shihua¡¯s plan was indeed more prudent and refrained from objections. With that, the plan to move against the Chen Clan was formally decided. The group then discussed specific details and set a date two years later for the Lin Family to take comprehensive action and begin the extermination of the Chen Clan. With the matter settled, Lin Shihua immediately began making arrangements. Soon, Lin Xingzhi received a message from Lin Shihua, instructing him to lead twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over a hundred Late Stage Qi Refining Clan Members to the Chen Clan¡¯s current location in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, to secretly station there for several years. Additionally, Lin Shihua tasked him with secretly investigating the whereabouts of the Chen Clan¡¯s core family members and to keep a constant watch on their every move. Once certain conditions were met, Lin Tianming and his wife would personally take action, breaking the Chen Clan¡¯s Mountain Protection Array, and annihilating everyone within the Chen Clan¡¯s grounds. With these plans set in motion under Lin Shihua¡¯s personal supervision, they were carried out in an orderly and methodical manner. ¡­ Chapter 1054 03-25 - 1054 555 Husband and Wife Seek Revenge ?Chapter 1054: Chapter 555: Husband and Wife Seek Revenge Chapter 1054: Chapter 555: Husband and Wife Seek Revenge Qianchuan Mountain Range, somewhere in the western mountains and rivers. Hongsong Ridge, with an area spanning a hundred li in radius, was abundant in First Order Spiritual Material, the Hongsong trees, making it an exceptionally good haven of Spiritual Energy. And this Hongsong Ridge was initially the territory of a Foundation Establishment Family. Until several decades ago, following the conclusion of Qingyun Sect¡¯s mission from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Golden Elixir Forces, with some cost, the Lin Family acquired control over several territories within the Qianchuan Mountain Range from the Zhenyang Sect. Thus, the original Foundation Establishing Family occupying Hongsong Ridge weighed the pros and cons and eventually decided to relocate their entire clan, accepting Zhenyang Sect¡¯s protection once more. As the original inhabitants vacated the place, Hongsong Ridge was temporarily left unoccupied. However, the Lin Family reorganized the territory afterward, incorporating the entire Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges into the Luoyun Mountain Range. ... As a result, the other large and small families originally residing in the area were forcibly relocated to within the Qianchuan Mountain Range. The Chen Clan was among those families that moved, relocating from their former location in the Hengyang Mountain Range to settle down in Hongsong Ridge. On this day, around noon, at the outer periphery of Hongsong Ridge. Two shadows descended from the sky, and two Lin Family Members appeared atop a mountain peak. At this moment, as the two men gazed at the distant peaks, one of them spoke up. ¡°Uncle, by rights, the cultivation world of the Wei Kingdom has been calm and uneventful for a long time, without any significant incidents.¡± ¡°In this peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, why did the Clan Leader send us here so deliberately, and deploy more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators at once? For what purpose?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Moreover, given our family¡¯s current strength and influence, do we really need to go to such great lengths?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyou¡¯s expression immediately turned serious, and he couldn¡¯t help but reprimand. ¡°Tian Hao, remember this: the family has its arrangements, and you¡¯ll know what you need to know sooner or later.¡± ¡°Follow the Clan Leader¡¯s instructions; we¡¯ll go directly to the Chen Clan for a visit and casually inquire about their specifics without revealing any flaws.¡± ¡°As for the underlying reasons, you¡¯re better off not asking for now.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I have learned my lesson, Junior!¡± Lin Tianhao replied respectfully, his expression quite serious, clearly aware that he had been somewhat presumptuous. Seeing his reaction, Lin Xingyou then nodded in satisfaction. After exchanging a glance, the two made their way inward towards Hongsong Ridge. At the same time, in Qianchuan Market. Lin Xingzhi led a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, following the Clan Leader¡¯s orders to this place. Qianchuan Market, by now, was completely under the control of the Lin Family, with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators almost always present to oversee the area. Sometimes, the Lin Family would even send a large number of clan members to Qianchuan Market for training, and the arrival of several dozen Lin Family Members didn¡¯t attract much attention. But the family members stationed there were very puzzled by Lin Xingzhi¡¯s sudden visit. Driven by curiosity, clan members began to ask the reason. Yet Lin Xingzhi kept tight-lipped, even berating those who inquired, which discouraged anyone from daring to continue their questioning. Immediately after, Lin Xingzhi swiftly deployed his men, dispersing them to surround a vast area around the Chen Clan¡¯s location in Hongsong Ridge. By that time, more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators led their respective teams in every direction, with two Foundation Establishment Members and ten Late Stage of Qi Refining cultivators stationed in each. They lay hidden, awaiting specific instructions from Lin Xingzhi. Soon enough, within a hundred li radius centered on Hongsong Ridge, the Lin Family Members had nearly formed two concentric circles of enclosure. Moreover, during this period, the Lin Family Members remaining in Qianchuan Market also kept a secretive watch over every move of the Chen Clan Members. Even the Spirit Lands under the Chen Clan¡¯s control were surveilled by Lin Family Members. It was almost unimaginable that through such grand maneuvers by the Lin Family, the entire Chen Clan from top to bottom remained completely oblivious. However, upon closer consideration, it wasn¡¯t too surprising. After all, the Chen Clan was just an ordinary Foundation Establishing Family composed of a few hundred cultivators, and among them, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were but a handful. Not only that, the majority of those Foundation Establishment Cultivators were at the Initial-Middle Stage of cultivation, and it was unlikely they would venture out without a significant reason. Even if they did leave their territory, the Lin Family¡¯s watchers were led by Medium Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, relying on treasures prepared by their family; the Chen Clan Members simply couldn¡¯t detect any anomalies. Under these circumstances, the several hundred members of the Chen Clan went about their normal routines. Little did they know, a crisis that could lead to their clan¡¯s extinction was upon them. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half a year passed. Through Lin Xingzhi¡¯s maneuvering, the whereabouts of the Chen Clan Members who ventured out were all controlled by the Lin Family. Until this day, Lin Tianming and his wife arrived at Hongsong Ridge unnoticed. At that time, Lin Xingzhi had also arrived in advance. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingzhi took the initiative to greet him, and then reported on various situations he controlled. Soon, after Lin Xingzhi¡¯s briefing, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. In his eyes, Lin Xingzhi¡¯s arrangements this time were truly impeccable. Now that he and his wife had come to this place, it was time to take action directly. Deciding their next move, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi next to him and saw her eyes were bloodshot, with her killing intent growing incredibly intense. Qin Xi¡¯s expression seemed to show she was anxious to proceed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming said indifferently, ¡°Uncle Xing Zhi, stay here to command our clan members. If any Chen Clan Member appears, regardless of their cultivation level or status, kill them without hesitation!¡± Chapter 1055 03-25 - 1055 555 The Couple Seeks Revenge_2 ?Chapter 1055: Chapter 555: The Couple Seeks Revenge_2 Chapter 1055: Chapter 555: The Couple Seeks Revenge_2 ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded and said, ¡°Tian Ming, rest assured, I have already made numerous deployments, and I have also tracked down the whereabouts of the Chen Clan members who are outside.¡± ¡°Including Qianchuan Market and many Spirit Lands under the control of the Chen Clan, the clan members staying there will also take action at the same time, not sparing a single person!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. Then, addressing Qin Xi, he said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s get started!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er has been waiting for this day for decades, today I must eradicate the Chen Clan, to avenge Grandfather¡¯s death and wash away the hatred!¡± ... After saying this, Qin Xi took the lead, leaping forth and flying towards the inner part of Hongsong Ridge. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly followed, his speed even faster than Qin Xi¡¯s by a fraction. In just a moment, the two of them had already arrived at an open space outside the Chen Clan¡¯s Mountain Protection Array. At this time, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate saw people flying towards them with such bravado and immediately became alert. Because in the Cultivation World, especially when visiting other clan forces, whether they were forces of equal level or weaker, one would usually start walking from ten miles outside a clan¡¯s territory. Only if one¡¯s strength far surpassed theirs, having the power to suppress them by one or several levels, would they come so boldly and without any regard. Currently, with Lin Tianming and another¡¯s sudden appearance, where Qin Xi¡¯s expression was stern and the intense aura of killing intent was palpable even through the barrier of the Formation, the stationed members of the Chen Clan were horrified. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Under such circumstances, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate were shocked and frightened, and without daring to delay, they quickly sent a message to the Clan Leader to report their observations. However, before they could breathe a sigh of relief, they saw Lin Tianming wave his sleeve, and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared just outside the Formation. As the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared, it stood guard nearby, its powerful aura of a Third Order Demon Beast blatantly unveiled. At that moment, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate were shocked and terrified the instant they saw the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s a Third Order Demon Beast!¡± ¡°Heavens¡­ That¡¯s actually a Third Order Demon Beast!¡± ¡°With a Third Order Demon Beast as a Spirit Beast, those two must undoubtedly be Golden Core Stage Cultivators.¡± At that moment, the members of the Chen Clan guarding the gate stuttered while pointing at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox outside the formation, not knowing whether it was due to excitement or overwhelming fear. For a moment, they failed to recognize Lin Tianming, a Golden Core Stage Expert well-known throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. And right now, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t be bothered with them. After all, with the combined strength of him and his wife, plus the assistance of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, making up three Golden Core Stage combatants, breaking through the Chen Clan¡¯s Defensive Formation wasn¡¯t much of a difficult task. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t want to waste any time. With a wave of his robe, the Tiangang Sword disappeared into his hand. Next, he pinched a Law Decree, started chanting words, and then promptly unleashed the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. In that instant, the Tiangang Sword turned into a flaming dragon that roared as it charged towards an invisible light screen in front. The Fire Dragon moved swiftly, striking the invisible light screen in the blink of an eye. ¡°Bang¡­¡± In that instant, a loud bang was heard. Then, a deafening roar followed, accompanied by a dazzling light that split the sky, like a shower of stars. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze, one could see the light screen in front begin to shake violently. At this time, Qin Xi also made his move. With a single gesture, a wave of Sword Qi turned into a massive Ice Phoenix, crashing into the violently shaking light screen. The light screen shook even more intensely. Soon, in less than two breaths of time, the Formation¡¯s light screen shattered with a loud crash, revealing the entire layout of the Chen Clan¡¯s territory to their eyes. After Lin Tianming and his wife each delivered a strike, the Chen Clan¡¯s Second Order Medium Quality Defense Array, which was quite powerful, actually shattered with a loud boom, not even withstanding their second round of attacks. At this moment, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate saw this scene and were completely dumbstruck on the spot. It must be known that the defensive power of this Chen Clan array was extraordinary; even among all arrays of the same grade, it was one of the few with the best defense. In the past, this array had also protected the Chen Clan from numerous crises, contributing significant service. Yet even so, such a powerful array crumbled in an instant. For the Qi Refining Cultivators, this situation was simply too shocking. At that moment, their pairs of eyes were all fixed on Lin Tianming and his wife, their legs losing all feeling, having even forgotten to flee. However, they were not entirely frozen by fright. The reason for this was Lin Tianming¡¯s immense pressure from being at the Mid Stage Golden Core, which suppressed these Qi Refining Cultivators, who were only at the sixth or seventh level, completely. With this, even if they wanted to run, they couldn¡¯t possibly move their legs. But even if they could move, it wouldn¡¯t change the outcome. Lin Tianming¡¯s current cultivation level was simply too formidable for these Qi Refining Cultivators, the difference was like heaven and earth. Under absolute strength, all they could do was keep a clear mind and take a final look at the world with their own eyes. Otherwise, they would die without any awareness. As expected, one of the Qi Refining Cultivators, dazed and confused, was instantly beheaded without even seeing how Lin Tianming acted. As for the other two Qi Refining Cultivators, they watched helplessly as a streak of spiritual light flew toward them. Immediately after, they felt a chill on their necks and then lost all consciousness. This scene happened too quickly; the three Chen Clan members guarding the place had all died. It was at this time that several Foundation Establishment Cultivators from inside the Chen Clan hurried over in panic. From a distance, they just saw the three clan members who had been guarding the gate fall at the sound, their blood quickly spreading across the ground. Such a scene completely stunned them. However, these individuals were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including two at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage; the leading figure, the Great Elder of Chen Family, Chen Yongsheng, was at the Foundation Establishment Great Completion. These individuals, after all, were at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level, their strength far surpassing those of the Qi Refining Cultivators. Therefore, despite trembling with fear under Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable pressure, their consciousness remained sharp and their limbs retained their vigor. But the more so, the more terrified they felt inside. Especially Chen Yongsheng, who was deeply perplexed at this moment. Looking at the familiar face before him, he recognized the Golden Core Stage Expert Lin Tianming, who had been famous in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for the past several decades. For such a genius cultivator with extraordinary talent and strikingly brilliant rise, like a comet ascending the heavens. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It could be said that among the cultivators of Wei Kingdom, from the well-known Golden Core Stage Experts to the Qi Refining Cultivators just beginning their enlightenment stage, there was hardly anyone who did not know the legend of Lin Tianming. Moreover, the Lin Family was now the Sect Overlord of the Chen Clan. Of course, Chen Changsheng paid extra attention to the clan that controlled their fate. For that reason, the Chen Family had records of all Lin Family members who had publicly appeared and were above the Foundation Establishment level, for fear that they might inadvertently offend the Lin Family and bring about the demise of their own clan. Thus, at this moment, Chen Changsheng thought hard and deep, pondering whether there had been any misunderstandings between the Chen Clan and the Lin Family over the past few centuries that could have brought forth a top expert like Lin Tianming. Besides, Lin Tianming had attacked the Chen Clan without any reservations, breaking their Defensive Great Formation with just a couple of rounds of attacks. Such a sudden turn of events was genuinely incomprehensible to Chen Changsheng. However, even as Chen Changsheng racked his brains, he could not figure out the reason why. ¡­ Chapter 1056 03-25 - 1056 556 Revenge Achieved ?Chapter 1056: Chapter 556: Revenge Achieved Chapter 1056: Chapter 556: Revenge Achieved Not only that, but the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had been calm and peaceful recently. The Lin Family had, half a year ago, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators who took the initiative to visit. At that time, for such distinguished guests of the Lin Family disciples, Chen Changsheng did not dare to neglect. Due to the importance he placed on the Lin Family, he hurriedly left his seclusion to personally receive them. And at that time, when Chen Changsheng asked about Lin Xingyou¡¯s intentions, Lin Xingyou claimed they were just paying a routine visit. Moreover, he clearly stated the purpose of this visit, saying that the Lin Family valued the strength of the Chen Clan and intended to particularly support them. Because of this, Chen Changsheng and a group of high-level Chen Clan members privately were excited for quite some time. ... They even thought at one point that, by clinging to the Lin Family, this great ship, with the support of the Lin Family, the overall strength of the Chen Clan might be able to soar rapidly. And he himself could also take advantage of the Lin Family¡¯s support to make an attempt at reaching the Golden Core Stage, which he had long yearned for. However, now a super-strong cultivator like Lin Tianming had inexplicably appeared, attacking the Chen Clan territory without any distinction between friend and foe, easily breaking through the Defensive Great Formation. This sudden turn of events truly left them utterly confused. But it was at this moment that Chen Tongxing, among the group of five, seemed to recognize Qin Xi¡¯s face, and suddenly became even more terrified. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that instant, Chen Tongxing pointed shakily at Qin Xi and stammered, ¡°It¡¯s her, it¡¯s actually her!¡± ¡°It¡¯s that female cultivator who wiped out Tongde and several of our Qi stage clan members!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï It was then that, hearing Chen Tongxing¡¯s terrified words, Chen Changsheng finally came to his senses. Following this, he recalled an incident from many years ago that the clan members had mentioned, and a sense of dread instantly welled up within him. At this moment, Chen Changsheng¡¯s heart was in turmoil, his face turned ashen. After all, this woman in front of them was also a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Given this woman¡¯s past grievances with the Chen Clan, the thought of having provoked such a gifted and extraordinary woman sent chills up his spine. It was not only him; at this point, the other Chen Clan Foundation Establishment Cultivators, upon hearing Chen Tongxing¡¯s words and recalling the incident from years ago, were also petrified with fear, their faces drained of all color, clearly frightened out of their wits. And in their hearts, they truly couldn¡¯t understand how the female cultivator who had been pursued by the Lin Family Disciple all those years ago, could now be connected to the Lin Family and the top-tier cultivator Lin Tianming. Even more baffling was that just a few decades had passed, and the female cultivator who was in the Late Stage of Qi Refining back then had already advanced to the Golden Core Stage Realm. Although the woman they were pursuing at that time was indeed the person before their eyes, possessing extraordinary strength and undoubtedly gifted. But reaching the Golden Core Stage Realm was not so easily achieved. Otherwise, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not have had only a dozen or so Golden Core Stage Cultivators by now. Aware of this, Chen Changsheng was completely shaken and wore an incredulous expression. Such a scene, paired with his excessively frightened expression, made his face look incredibly complex. At this time, Chen Changsheng still couldn¡¯t quite believe it, always holding onto a sliver of hope. ¡°What if Lin Tianming is just a helper that the female cultivator asked for assistance?¡± ¡°Besides, even if that female cultivator has a deep relationship with Lin Tianming, they only killed a minor Qi Refining Cultivator back then; perhaps he wasn¡¯t someone very important.¡± If that was the case, the Chen Clan, as a subsidiary of the Lin Family, might as well pay a price to have Lin Tianming protect the Chen Clan once, thereby avoiding this catastrophe of clan annihilation. As long as the price was high enough to satisfy Lin Tianming, it was not without a chance. Thinking this, Chen Changsheng forced himself to calm down. Immediately after, Chen Changsheng bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Elder Lin, is there perhaps some misunderstanding between our two clans?¡± ¡°If there really is a misunderstanding, my family is willing to pay any price to ask for Elder Lin¡¯s help to mediate.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh, not wishing to waste words with Chen Changsheng. In his eyes, Qin Xi had borne a grudge as deep as the sea for many years, cultivating extremely hard and experiencing numerous life-and-death crises, with rapid progress in her cultivation. And the reason she made so much effort was to wait for this very day. Besides, when they became Dao companions, Lin Tianming had already promised Qin Xi that he would one day uproot the entire Chen Clan to avenge her grandfather. Under such circumstances, let alone the entire Chen Clan, even a Golden Elixir Force would not have any possibility of bargaining over this matter. The deep enmity of Qin Xi¡¯s grandfather, there was nothing at present that could change his decision. This, he was absolutely clear in his heart, so he did not want to waste more words with Chen Changsheng. Then, Lin Tianming snorted coldly, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand suddenly flashed with light. In an instant, everyone present vividly felt a strong surge of Sword Qi appear, which quickly vanished without a trace. Chen Changsheng had yet to react when his entire body fell to the ground, and he soon felt his consciousness fading away. Only when Chen Tongxing and several other Chen Clan members saw Chen Changsheng collapsing into a pool of blood did they snap out of their shock. Immediately after, Chen Tongxing rushed over to Chen Changsheng¡¯s side. He supported Chen Changsheng¡¯s body and called out anxiously, ¡°Seventh Uncle¡­ Seventh Uncle¡­¡± At this time, several other Chen Clan Foundation Establishment Cultivators approached Chen Changsheng¡¯s side to examine his injuries. Chapter 1057 03-25 - 1057 556 ?Chapter 1057: 556 Chapter 1057: 556 Soon, they realized Chen Changsheng had no breath left in him, he was obviously dead beyond doubt. At this moment, everyone looked at Lin Tianming with a face full of panic, their expressions filled with immense anger. Chen Tongxing, unlike other clan members, was the first to accept this outcome and was internally considering how the Chen Clan could survive this crisis. As for the others, they were all overwhelmed with grief and hadn¡¯t the time to think about the Chen Clan¡¯s next steps. The more this was the case, the more terrified Chen Tongxing felt. The reason was simple, Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were decisive, clearly indicating he had no intention of sparing the Chen Clan. Just moments ago, Chen Changsheng, who had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, hadn¡¯t even had time to react before he was instantly killed by Lin Tianming, a Mid Stage Golden Core. ... Such a vast disparity in strength could be likened to the difference between the light of fireflies and that of the sun and moon. Moreover, there was Qin Xi, a Golden Core Stage Expert, and a Third Order Demon Beast present, giving the enemy three Golden Core Stage combatants. And Lin Tianming had come to the Chen residence so brazenly, surely having made thorough preparations. Looking over at their side, the Chen Clan, they lacked protective formations and had only four Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The gap between the sides was unimaginable. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, the Chen Clan nearly had no chance of preservation. Thinking this, Chen Tongxing¡¯s face turned deathly pale, his heart filled with despair. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï At that moment, Chen Tongxing let out a long sigh internally and forcibly calmed himself. Then, he looked around and saw that many Chen Clan members, having heard the noises, had come to the mountain gate. Looking around, all Chen Clan members were watching, every face filled with fright, clearly shocked by Lin Tianming¡¯s recent series of attacks. However, within the current situation, Chen Tongxing could hardly afford to care for those Qi Refining clanspeople. He knew in his heart that the Chen Clan could not be saved. His current task was figuring out how to preserve a part of their lineage, to prevent complete annihilation. Fully aware of this, Chen Tongxing turned to Chen Tongde and said, ¡°Old Six, escape quickly, we¡¯ll buy you time!¡± After speaking, Chen Tongxing looked at the other two Foundation Establishment clanspeople as if seeking their opinions. The other two exchanged nods, clearly agreeing with Chen Tongxing¡¯s decision at the moment. After all, they were well aware that the current Chen Clan was doomed. Chen Tongde, with the best talent among them and the cultivation of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, second only to Chen Tongxing, had a chance. If Chen Tongde could escape, gather those clanspeople scattered abroad, and settle down outside the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there might be a chance to rise again. If luck was on their side, someone from the Chen Clan might advance to the Golden Core Stage Realm, and they could then return to seek revenge against the Lin Family. Thus, at this moment, someone needed to sacrifice to buy time for Chen Tongde¡¯s escape. They underestimated the strength of Lin Tianming and his companions and their determination to destroy the Chen Clan; they were also unaware of all the preparations the Lin Family had made for this revenge attack. Had they known that the entire Chen residence was now surrounded by more than twenty Lin Family Foundation Establishment clan members and nearly a hundred Qi Refining clanspeople, they probably would have given up struggling. After all, under absolute prowess, any strategy was pointless and could not alter the ultimate outcome. However, that was a later realization, as the Chen Clan was completely unaware at the time. Still, the Chen Clan members were making a desperate last stand. So, Chen Tongxing leaped forward, leading the charge towards Lin Tianming. Following him, the other two Chen Clan members also wouldn¡¯t be outdone and immediately launched attacks towards Lin Tianming. Meanwhile, Chen Tongde didn¡¯t hesitate to get up and flee towards the interior of the Chen residence without looking back. While still in midair, Chen Tongde didn¡¯t forget to shout, ¡°All clanspeople, run for your lives!¡± Hearing this, those clanspeople still in shock finally reacted. Thus, these Chen Clan members, horrified, began to scatter and flee. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming smirked coldly, utterly unperturbed. Behind him, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and two Purple Gold Eagles had already flown out, their large bodies moving with incredible speed and agility. At that moment, just as Xiao Diao flapped its wings, a fierce gust of wind roared, blowing some Qi Refining cultivators off their feet. Before these people could get up, a Purple Gold Eagle suddenly appeared above them, its massive beak striking down. Soon after, several Qi Refining cultivators were swallowed whole by Xiao Diao before they could even scream. Having swallowed a few Qi Refining cultivators, Xiao Diao remained unsatisfied and continued to chase after the scattered cultivators. With the grade of the Purple Gold Eagle at the Second Order Late Phase Peak, it was just a step away from Third Order. As for the other two spirit beasts, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was indeed a Third Order entity, and the other Purple Gold Eagle, Qin Xi¡¯s mount, was also at the Second Order Late Phase. In contrast, among those fleeing, aside from Chen Tongde who was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, the rest were all Qi Refining cultivators. Under the vast disparity in strength, the three spirit beasts conducted a one-sided slaughter. On Lin Tianming¡¯s end, when faced with the attacks of the three Chen Clan members, Lin Tianming casually smiled. Then, with a simple grasp, the attacks coming towards him dispersed, and the attack talismans were instantly held immobilized in his hand. Chapter 1058 03-25 - 1058 556 Revenge Accomplished_3 ?Chapter 1058: Chapter 556: Revenge Accomplished_3 Chapter 1058: Chapter 556: Revenge Accomplished_3 As for Qin Xi, she had no intention of holding back. At that moment, a flash of blue light from her longsword was seen, and a streak of Cold Ice Sword Qi shot out. In less than a blink of an eye, a scream was heard, and one of the men was decapitated. Seeing this, Chen Tongxing was filled with indescribable rage. But with such a vast gap in power, he was helpless to do anything. Qin Xi, however, possessed not a shred of pity in her heart; she had waited for this day for several decades. Weren¡¯t all those years of effort for this very moment? ... Following that, Qin Xi swung out another sword, effortlessly slaying another person. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The remaining Chen Tongxing, witnessing this scene, gave up struggling entirely. He stood rooted to the spot, eyes glaring furiously at Qin Xi, motionless¡ªclearly understanding that any struggle would be in vain. In his heart, though, he harbored some regrets for allowing his clan members, tempted by petty gains, to engage in unscrupulous deeds. Now that the Chen Clan was devastated for this reason, it could be considered just retribution. Regrettably, it was too late for regrets, everything was over. While such a one-sided massacre went on, Lin Tianming watched, and it came to a thorough end. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï With Chen Tongxing¡¯s death, Xiao Diao flew back, clutching the previously escaped Lin Tongde without a doubt. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. With the main culprits of the Chen Clan dead, those Foundation Establishment Stage Clan Members in the clan territory had all been executed. As for the other Foundation Establishment members of the Chen Clan outside the territory, they were also under the secret surveillance of the Lin Family Members. For those external members of the Chen Clan, whether Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Qi Refining Cultivators, Lin Xingzhi was responsible for arranging linemen to secretly kill them, without the need for the married couple to strike. Knowing this, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi and saw that her previously angry expression had eased a great deal. Evidently, with the death of these culprits, Qin Xi¡¯s much-anticipated vengeance was accomplished. Next, those scattered Qi Refining Cultivators, with a few Spirit Beasts pursuing them and nearly a hundred clan members surrounding and blocking them, stood no chance of escaping. With that, Qin Xi was overcome with relief, and tears inevitably streamed down her face. ¡°Grandfather¡­ the main perpetrators of the Chen Clan have been executed, and the other clan members will soon be eradicated.¡± ¡°Your granddaughter has avenged you; now you can rest in peace!¡± Qin Xi murmured tearfully, tears swirling in her eyes. Seeing her in this state, Lin Tianming came over and took Qin Xi into his arms, stroking her hair with his large hands as he offered comforting words. Soon, Qin Xi regained her calm, her entire being shining with a different radiance. It was clear that having her revenge had a significant impact on Qin Xi. Now that the burden on her heart was lifted, she seemed to revert to the cheerful and vivacious girl she once was. Tianming was very pleased and comforted by this transformation. Within half a quarter of an hour, Lin Xingzhi arrived with several Foundation Establishment Stage Clan Members. After greetings, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, what happened to those fleeing Chen Clan members?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi chuckled, ¡°Those of low cultivation were completely caught in the tight encirclement and publicly executed without exception!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded with satisfaction. He then gave a few instructions, ordering Lin Xingzhi and the clan members to pillage the Chen Clan territory, wiping out all Chen Clan cultivators. Afterward, they could stealthily retreat. As for the Cultivation World¡¯s reaction to the extermination of the Chen Clan, the Lin Family needn¡¯t pay it much heed. After all, the Lin Family acted with absolute secrecy, and it would not be easy for ordinary forces to uncover the cause. Even if news of the Lin Family¡¯s involvement spread, with the Lin Family¡¯s influence, it was unlikely anyone would dare to speak out of turn, much less stand up for the Chen Clan. Aware of this, Lin Tianming decided not to stay any longer. So, after a few more instructions, he took Qin Xi and left Hongsong Ridge, returning to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Chapter 1059 03-25 - 1059 557 Preparation ?Chapter 1059: Chapter 557 Preparation Chapter 1059: Chapter 557 Preparation A year later. In a cave mansion at the summit of the main peak of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. Ever since their expedition to Hongsong Ridge ended, Lin Tianming and his wife had hardly secluded themselves for cultivation practice, spending most of their time preparing for their upcoming journey. Meanwhile, news of the Chen Clan¡¯s annihilation at Hongsong Ridge began to spread throughout the Wei Kingdom. Suddenly, the once calm Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was abuzz with discussion. Initially, the various powers and Loose Cultivators thought the Chen Clan had offended someone, hence being uprooted. But upon further reflection, the possibility seemed unlikely as the Chen Clan was obliterated under the Lin Family¡¯s protection, practically right under their nose. ... After all, the Qianchuan Mountain Range was not far from the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and the Lin Family¡¯s strength was formidable. In earlier years, they boasted several cultivators with Golden Core Stage Combat Power, which had shocked every cultivator in the Wei Kingdom. As the Lin Family coolly observed the extermination of a clan with hundreds of members and didn¡¯t take any action or publicly acknowledge the incident, it was as if they were unaware of it completely. This kind of reaction was quite unusual. Thus, some cultivators privately speculated that the Chen Clan must have offended the Lin Family, leading to their silent erasure. As a result, the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom had various opinions. Some of the families under the Lin Family¡¯s protection were utterly terrorized, fearing that an inadvertent offense against the Lin Family might bring disaster. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Fortunately, the Lin Family carried on as usual, not directing anger at anyone else, nor did they display a menacing stance. With time passing, the fervor around the Chen Clan¡¯s destruction gradually subsided, and the Cultivation World returned to calm. Lin Tianming, after returning to the family, did not pay much attention to this neither big nor small matter. As it stood, the Lin Family no longer needed to concern themselves with the views of other powers or any one person¡¯s opinions. In his eyes, the Chen Clan was but an ordinary Foundation Establishing Family, silently eradicated with the Lin Family leaving no trace behind. Even if someone guessed the truth, there was no evidence. With the Lin Family¡¯s current reputation and their terrifying power, no one would foolishly offend such a mighty clan for the sake of the Chen Clan. Under these circumstances, naturally no one would advocate for the Chen Clan. Even major forces like Myriad Medicine Valley or the Zhenyang Sect would not dare offend the Lin Family lightly. Therefore, after merely inquiring with Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming put the matter out of his mind. His focus for the year was entirely on preparing for the upcoming journey. Apart from that, spending time with family members was also a key priority for both of them. After all, their destination for this journey was at the heart of Qingzhou. While the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is also a part of Qingzhou¡¯s territory, even the smallest area within the Nine Provinces Continent, Qingzhou, covers an enormous area. Within Qingzhou, there are at least dozens of states like the Wei Kingdom, most of them much larger in size. And as Wei Kingdom is situated at the outskirts, the distance from this peripheral state to the Qingzhou Center is also substantial. The neighboring states around the Wei Kingdom generally do not possess long-distance Teleportation Formations that can directly reach the Qingzhou Center. To reach the central states of Qingzhou, they could only rely on flying over the northern countries, then use Teleportation Formations to arrive at their final destination more swiftly. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, the timing of their trip to the central states of Qingzhou for cultivation practice was inevitably hard to control. If all went well, they might return in twenty or thirty years. But if not, it was also possible that it could take decades or even a century to return. Because of this, Lin Tianming and his wife made thorough preparations, sorting through all their resources, leaving behind less useful Treasures with the family. Beyond that, they prepared consumable elixirs, talismans, and various materials, fearing a prolonged absence from the family. After nearly a year of preparing, they were now almost ready; they could leave at any time if they wished. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt an urgency building up. After all, he had not left the Wei Kingdom for nearly thirty years, having not even set foot in the expansive northern regions of Wei. Over the years, most of his time had been spent in seclusion within the family, the farthest he had been being the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Now, they were about to embark on a journey to the distant and flourishing heartland of the Immortal Path in Qingzhou. Such an expedition had stirred the peace in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, making it restless. He was not content with mediocrity, his pursuit of the Immortal Path was pure and unyielding. Remaining in the Wei Kingdom, or merely traveling to a few neighboring states, would limit his experiences, chance encounters, and by no means compare to the opportunities in the Qingzhou Center. Under such an environment, his growth would hardly be catalyzed. After all, the collective strength of the few states surrounding Wei Kingdom, while slightly stronger than Wei¡¯s, was limited. In those lands, Late Stage Golden Core cultivators were already considered top-tier, with not a single Nascent Soul Force in sight. And with his current power, bolstered by his Magical Treasure and Spirit Art, he was on par with any Late Stage Golden Core cultivator. In such circumstances, he felt little pressure, which was not conducive to his growth. Therefore, Lin Tianming was filled with anticipation and curiosity for their upcoming journey to the Qingzhou Center. And he wasn¡¯t the only one; Qin Xi felt the same. Chapter 1060 03-25 - 1060 557 Preparation_2 ?Chapter 1060: Chapter 557 Preparation_2 Chapter 1060: Chapter 557 Preparation_2 Just like Lin Tianming, Qin Xi¡¯s pursuit of the Immortal Path was equally pure. And over the years, her cultivation had progressed smoothly, with her cultivation level rising steadily. After their experience at Hongsong Ridge, it seemed that the great vengeance had profoundly changed her mindset. As a result, a bottleneck she had faced a few years ago had begun to loosen, but breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core still required much more. With this in mind, Qin Xi was also looking forward to this experiential journey. At that moment, the couple exchanged a smile, and their mood couldn¡¯t help but improve. Following closely, Qin Xi then asked, ¡°Ming, when do we plan to set off? And what exactly will be the itinerary?¡± ... Hearing the question, Lin Tianming smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s set off in half a month!¡± ¡°In a few days, it will be the sixteenth anniversary of Changqing¡¯s birth. Let¡¯s spend time with Changqing and mother, and I will also visit Third Grandfather and a few other elders. Afterward, we can embark on our journey.¡± ¡°As for our itinerary, naturally, we¡¯ll fly northward, passing through Helan Country and Golden Crow Country, reaching the Cultivation World of Xitang Country.¡± ¡°Xitang Country is the closest of the countries around Wei Kingdom that possesses a long-distance Teleportation Formation, which can directly take us to one of the central kingdoms of Qingzhou, Yuanzhen Kingdom.¡± ¡°With the long-distance Teleportation Formation, we can save a lot of time and avoid many troubles.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Hmm¡­that sounds excellent!¡± ¡°Ming has planned thoroughly. If all goes well, in less than a year, we should be able to arrive in one of the central kingdoms of Qingzhou, the Yuanzhen Kingdom.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°The central kingdoms there are all very strong, and it is said that there are many Nascent Soul Experts.¡± ¡°In my view, a land that can produce so many Nascent Soul Experts must have endless opportunities and treasures, enough for us to explore.¡± Qin Xi giggled, very pleased with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Lin Tianming, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, also deeply agreed. In his eyes, a country like Yuanzhen, capable of producing numerous Nascent Soul Experts, surely had its unique aspects. Therefore, their upcoming experiential journey was bound to be replete with both dangers and opportunities, promising to be a truly exciting trip. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming and his wife chatted leisurely for a while. Late at night, inside the practice room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with a token in his hand, which was the Qiankun Jade that Lin Tianfeng and others had originally acquired through great risks. Staring at the jade in front of him, Lin Tianming fell into deep thought. This Qiankun Jade had been in his possession for several decades now. During this period, he had pondered the function of the Qiankun Jade and had arrived at a general conclusion. Unless there was a surprise, this Qiankun Jade was undoubtedly a Fourth Order Treasure. And it was a spatial treasure! After decades of exploratory testing, he discovered that the space inside the Qiankun Jade was vast, and the Spiritual Energy inside was very dense, like a small world. Most importantly, the land inside the Qiankun Jade could be used to cultivate Spiritual Medicine, and even Demonic Beasts could survive inside it. Currently, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and Xiao Diao were inside the Qiankun Jade. The only downside was that the time inside the Qiankun Jade progressed at the same rate as the outside world, and living humans couldn¡¯t enter. Otherwise, the grade of the Qiankun Jade would be even higher. But even so, the functionality of the Qiankun Jade was still significant, and its value was remarkable. After all, it had unique uses that far surpassed ordinary storage bags and Spirit Beast Bags. As such, he had long since cultivated some Spirit Fields inside it, planted a large amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials, and transplanted many nearly matured Spiritual Medicines as well. It was just that it was still too soon; the higher-value Spiritual Medicines still needed a hundred eighty years or so to be utilizable. As for those Spiritual Medicine seeds planted only decades ago, they would take even longer to mature. However, overall, to say that such a spatial treasure as the Qiankun Jade could contain all things was not an exaggeration. At that time, Lin Tianming fiddled with the Qiankun Jade for a while before putting it away. Immediately after, Lin Tianming took out another item ¡ª a small seal, precisely the Qilin Seal he had acquired in his earlier years. This item had also been in Lin Tianming¡¯s possession for many years, originally from the hands of Xu Haiqiao of the Blood Red Alliance. Lin Tianming had pondered over this treasure for a long time and had consulted numerous texts, yet he never learned the exact application of the item. However, he was aware that the Blood Red Alliance had expended considerable effort, not hesitating to dispatch several Golden Core Stage Cultivators and even instigating the Golden Sword Sect to stir up a triple dispute in Wei Kingdom, proving that the object they were plotting for was not to be underestimated. Given the strength and modus operandi of the Blood Red Alliance, the Qilin Seal was at least not a Third Order object. Otherwise, they would not have gone through such great lengths. This time, as they headed to the center of Qingzhou, it was feasible to visit Yuxu Country where the Blood Red Alliance was based. At the same time, he could secretly inquire about the Qilin Seal, perhaps learning of its function. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming secretly noted this matter in his heart, resolving to visit Yuxu Country once he met certain conditions. Returning his focus, Lin Tianming stored the Qilin Seal and then took stock of all the treasures and resources he possessed. After a thorough inventory, he had a fairly accurate grasp of his own wealth and assets. Over the years, during his campaigns in the north and south, he had slain many Golden Core Cultivators, including several at the Mid Stage Golden Core, and the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators he killed was in the hundreds. These individuals had considerable wealth, most of which eventually fell into his hands, though some were given to his family. As per his calculations, he currently possessed over seventy thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones and more than two hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If converted, these amounted to over seven million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Besides, there was a varied quantity of offensive and defensive treasures. For offense, the main ones were the Tiangang Sword, Earth Evil Sword, and Black Dragon Axe, while for defense, there were two Turtle Shell Shields of slightly varying quality. As for other spiritual medicine materials and commonly used elixirs, he also had quite comprehensive and ample quantities. Among these, the most valuable were several precious Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines and some high-value Third Order Items. Then, there was the Dry Jade Grass, of which six mature stalks were with him, along with dozens of seedlings of varying ages. Setting aside these treasures that he cared about, there were many various consumable talismans and other miscellaneous items, most of which had very limited use to him. All in all, with these items on hand, he did not lack resources for cultivation in the short term and did not need to expend effort on this. However, as his cultivation level increased, he needed more substantial resources. If he relied only on these items, they would not suffice for him to enter the Late Stage Golden Core or approach the Golden Core Grand Perfection Realm. Let alone making a push towards the Nascent Soul Stage! Thus, the journey to Qingzhou was also no small task for Lin Tianming. At least in his mind, this excursion had to yield some gains, at minimum addressing the resources required for the Golden Core Stage Realm. As for items necessary to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, those were exceedingly precious and incredibly expensive. Such treasures were top-tier resources in the Cultivation World, and even in the flourishing Immortal Realm of central Qingzhou, they were definitely exceedingly rare and precious. Once truly encountered, they would inevitably spark a bloody and brutal struggle. Although his own strength was considered exceptionally strong in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and even among a few neighboring countries, within the over ten countries at the center of Qingzhou, Golden Core Stage Cultivators were not as abundant as hair on a cow, but they were certainly not a rarity. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators frequently appeared in the center of Qingzhou. It could be said that in such a prosperous place for the Immortal Path, his level of cultivation was nothing remarkable. The more this was the case, the more cautious Lin Tianming became, thus he made thorough preparations. Having completed the inventory of his treasure resources, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and began to cultivate. ¡­ Chapter 1061 03-25 - 1061 558 Leaving the Clan ?Chapter 1061: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan Chapter 1061: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan Several days later, it was to be Lin Changqing¡¯s sixteenth birthday. Inside Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave mansion, Lin Tianming and his whole family rarely gathered together. At this moment, Ren Yuxuan and Qin Xi, along with Lin Tianyue, were busy preparing a lavish dinner to celebrate the family reunion. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong and his descendants from four generations sat in the courtyard, enjoying tea and casual conversation. At that time, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Changqing beside him and nodded in satisfaction. The years had passed quickly, and, before he knew it, Lin Changqing had turned sixteen. Presently, Lin Changqing had reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement in his Cultivation Realm. ... In terms of cultivation strength, this level was definitely inferior to Lin Tianming at the same age. However, Lin Changqing only had Three Spiritual Roots, which could be considered mediocre¡ªnot particularly outstanding, but not too poor either. For him to have reached this level of cultivation at his age was within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the Lin Family now had a good foundation and welfare, and Lin Changqing, being a descendant of a Golden Core, was surrounded by a host of elders who were pillars and decision-makers of the family; he naturally enjoyed conditions incomparable to ordinary clan members. Lin Tianming was very pleased primarily because Lin Changqing¡¯s foundation in the Immortal Path was incredibly solid. Moreover, in the Way of Formation Setting, Lin Changqing had demonstrated accomplishments superior to his cultivation talent. After questioning him, Lin Changqing personally reported that he was now a First Order Medium Grade Formation Master. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï His expertise in Formation Dao was exceptional, and he was also very close to breaking through to First Order High Grade Formation Master. It was precisely this talent in Formation Dao that pleased and reassured Lin Tianming. Among the other dear family members, Lin Xingrong had reached the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment and had become a central pillar of the family! Speaking of cultivation speed, it was his constant travels and rich experiences, coupled with the support from the family and Lin Tianming, that enabled him to achieve such results. However, both Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan were at different levels; one had the Seventh Layer Cultivation of Foundation Establishment, and the other, the Sixth. This speed of cultivation wasn¡¯t very fast. Fortunately, they had achieved Foundation Establishment at a relatively young age, and after many years of cultivation, they had reached this level. However, as they were older, their focus had shifted to the younger generations of the family, their potential gradually depleting, which made further advancement even more difficult. Lin Tianyue¡¯s talent was still decent, and she had been very diligent in her cultivation over the years; she had also received substantial support from the family and Lin Tianming. Now, she was at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and had reached the level of a Second Order High Grade Talisman Maker in the Way of Talisman Making. It could be said that Lin Tianyue¡¯s talent justified her efforts and the cultivation invested in her by her family and Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked around at his dear family and momentarily forgot all his worries. With his dear ones gathered so fully, the scene filled with joy allowed him to relax completely, and his mood was exceptionally good. The growth of the Lin Family far exceeded his expectations. Speaking of his dear ones present, their cultivation was all above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, each becoming a pillar of the family. The progress among other clan members was also significant, with several exhibiting exceptional cultivation talent. Currently, several clan members of the Lin Family had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, with more than a hundred at the Foundation Establishment Stage and a core strength of twenty in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Such a family, with a structure composed of ages and cultivation levels, possessed visible potential and considerable vitality. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If this continued, the future development prospects for the Lin Family were vast, with much space for improvement. Now that the internal affairs of the Wei Kingdom had calmed down, the strength of the Lin Family had advanced dramatically; even without considering him and his wife, the Lin Family could now stand fearless against any Golden Core Sect. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied inside and felt very reassured about the upcoming journey of trials. After settling down a bit, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Lin Xingrong and Lin Shigong, occasionally giving pointers to Lin Changqing. In the evening, the family gathered around the dinner table, cheerful and hearty in their celebrations. During this time, they set aside all worries and various trivial matters of clan affairs, sharing their plans in recent years while also reminiscing about past experiences. Lin Changqing had long heard about the growth process of Lin Tianming and others. But the clan members only knew it roughly, many areas being not exactly true. Now, hearing Lin Tianming speak himself, the details became much more vivid and real. Knowing now about Lin Tianming¡¯s rich and thrilling experiences, various intriguing Cultivators, cultures, and some funny incidents of the Cultivation World, Lin Changqing couldn¡¯t help but aspire to such adventures. Perhaps noticing this, Lin Tianming encouraged Lin Changqing to cultivate steadily, assuring him that once he succeeded in establishing his Foundation, he could leave the territories controlled by the Lin Family and experience other forces. Hearing these admonitions, Lin Changqing made a silent resolution. Meanwhile, the teachings of Lin Tianming and others, along with those perilous experiences, were also firmly etched in his heart. The ensuing conversation was congenial, with playful teasing drawing hearty laughter from everyone. This harmonious scene continued until late into the night when finally, it came to an end. The next day. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, clan members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation gathered, including Lin Tianyun among them. Before leaving the family, Lin Tianming still met with the elders to discuss the situation in the Cultivation World and the specific future development directions of the family. Chapter 1062 03-25 - 1062 558 Leaving the Clan_2 ?Chapter 1062: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_2 Chapter 1062: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_2 After all, the duration of this journey of experience could be long or short; no one could tell when the precise return schedule would be. And while he was away from the clan, he naturally needed to arrange some affairs. So, Lin Tianming summoned several of the older generations with the surname Shi and met in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. Once all the elders, including Lin Tianyun, had gathered, Lin Tianming also struck up casual conversation with them. The fact that Lin Tianming would soon be leaving on an experience journey was something Lin Shikang and the others had known for some time and fully supported his plans. They were very clear in their minds that Lin Tianming was an restless person, with a pure and resolute pursuit of the path to immortality, so much so that it could even be considered an obsession. Over these years, his cultivation realm had improved at a terrifying speed and he had brought immense resources to the family, all as a result of campaigning and experience-gathering far and wide. ... Moreover, for the past twenty or so years, Lin Tianming had rarely left the clan¡¯s territory, hardly venturing far from home. For Lin Tianming, such a change had been very difficult to achieve. Now, his cultivation had reached Mid Stage Golden Core, and his personal strength was no lesser than that of a regular Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator. In addition, Qin Xi had also smoothly entered the Golden Core Stage. What was more critical was that the couple had given birth to a son, Lin Changqing, and he was already sixteen years of age. It could be said that all of Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s personal plans had been completely realized. Given Lin Tianming¡¯s temperament, it was only a matter of time before he would leave the clan to travel around. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Understanding this, Lin Shikang and the other elders were very much in favor and supportive of Lin Tianming¡¯s decision. However, out of concern, they did not forget to offer some earnest advice, reminding him to be careful when abroad and to try to return to the family in case of any difficulties or crises. Lin Tianming nodded at the elders¡¯ instructions, verbally acknowledging that he would be careful and prudent. Hearing Lin Tianming say this, along with his characteristically steady nature, Lin Shikang and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Following this, Lin Tianming changed the topic and brought up Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but show a distressed expression. After a long while, Lin Shikang then said, ¡°Tian Ming, Tianhu and the other one have been missing for over forty years.¡± ¡°In all these years, the family has been making inquiries everywhere to no avail; no one knows where they might be.¡± ¡°This time you¡¯re heading to Qingzhou Center, be sure to ask around extensively, and do whatever it takes to find clues about them.¡± ¡°Even the slightest trace is immensely important.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Third Grandfather, rest assured, Tian Ming has long planned to do so!¡± ¡°Tian Ming believes that if they haven¡¯t returned after so many decades, they must have been swept to some far-off place by a Spatial Fissure.¡± ¡°At the time, they had only reached the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, so it was already difficult enough for them to survive in an unfamiliar land.¡± ¡°If all goes well, they should at least have reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage by now, or if fortune favored them, they might have even broken through to the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°With the guarantee of cultivation strength, they should be heading towards Qingzhou by now, and perhaps they are already there.¡± ¡°This time, as I go to Qingzhou Center, I will definitely search for them in secret, and once they are found, I will most certainly bring them back to the family.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute words, Lin Shikang and the others nodded in satisfaction, their worries alleviated somewhat. Then, Lin Tianming asked about how the family had cooperated with Sky Dragon Pavilion and other larger Commerce Alliances and shops in recent years. According to Lin Shihua, the family¡¯s several markets were now basically home to branches of these big shops, consistently contributing a sizable revenue to the family every year. At the same time, the elixirs, talismans, and various offensive and defensive weapons refined by the family were in long-term cooperation with these shops, so they could be sold directly to them in exchange for Spirit Stone compensation. Not only that, but the family cooperated with them in all aspects, covering practically all common First and Second-Order Treasures. Through such stable and long-term channels, the family¡¯s annual income had increased more than tenfold compared to thirty years ago. With this kind of treasure circulation, the clan members had made very obvious progress in the skills of alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman making, with over a dozen individuals excelling in Second Order Superior skills. Apart from the increase in business income, the family¡¯s markets and a large number of Spirit Lands also yielded a considerable annual income. After all, the Lin Family directly or indirectly controlled several large markets, with Qianchuan Market being of a medium-sized market scale. Although the other four markets had not reached the scale of medium-sized ones, they were still larger than ordinary tiny markets and had more foot traffic. Aside from Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Market, which were entirely under Lin Family¡¯s control, the other markets were all dominated by the Lin Family, holding more than half of the profit shares. As for the Spirit Lands within the Luoyun Mountain Range, after more than twenty years of development by the family, they had begun to show their scale, with some Spirit Lands existing for a long time and generating a huge amount of income each year. It could be said that the Lin Family was now completely stable, with income and expenditure balancing out, even managing to save some Spirit Stones each year as a strategic reserve. As time went on, the Lin Family¡¯s income was sure to increase further. Even without unexpected wealth like during the war with the three sects, with its current foundation, the Lin Family could continue its steady and orderly development. Chapter 1063 03-25 - 1063 558 Leaving the Clan_3 ?Chapter 1063: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_3 Chapter 1063: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_3 In addition to the couple, the Lin Family had five other Golden Core Stage Cultivators at its heart, along with a Third Order Spiritual Beast, the Soul-eating Spider, making a total of six Golden Core combatants. With such power, they were a match for either the Zhenyang Sect or the Myriad Medicine Valley. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was completely reassured. In the next half hour, the crowd discussed clan affairs and made many arrangements, effectively setting the direction for the Lin Family¡¯s development for the next thirty years. According to everyone¡¯s opinion, the Lin Family would continue to focus on recuperation and increasing its members for the next thirty years. At the same time, the Lin Family intended to devote most of its energy to commerce and the cultivation of its people. Especially among the Foundation Establishment Clan Members, the Lin Family still had great potential. ... Under their plan, the Lin Family could potentially increase the number of Foundation Establishment Clan Members by dozens, perhaps even more, over the next few decades. However, there was less of an opportunity for advancement among the Golden Core Stage Clansmen. This was because the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items obtained in earlier years had mostly been used up. With Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu using two Creation Fruits, followed by Qin Xi and Lin Tianyun using two Jiuli Star Fruits for their Impact of Golden Core Stage, only one of the Jiuli Star Fruits initially snatched from the Golden Sword Sect remained. Currently, the Lin Family had quite a few potential clansmen for the Impact of Golden Core Stage, but the shortage of Nascent Soul Spiritual Items was severe, and the Creation Fruit Tree would take many more years to mature. In such a circumstance, using this last Jiuli Star Fruit, the Lin Family could, at most, expect to have one new Golden Core Stage clansman. Moreover, even this last chance at Core Formation wasn¡¯t guaranteed to succeed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï This meant that, without new Nascent Soul Spiritual Items in the coming decades, the Lin Family¡¯s upgrade in Golden Core Stage clansmen would certainly be severely limited. Faced with these foundational conditions, Lin Tianming felt rather helpless. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s rise had been too rapid, and it couldn¡¯t compare with long-standing powers like the Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley. At the very least, in terms of cultivating Golden Core Stage combat power, the Lin Family¡¯s heritage was still far from sufficient. And on his journey to the Qingzhou Center, it was essential for him to secure a significant number of Nascent Soul Spiritual Items to overcome the developmental bottleneck the family was approaching. Knowing this, Lin Tianming recognized the weight of his responsibility. But the greater the challenge, the more resolute and impatient he became. Therefore, once matters were properly delegated, Lin Tianming then looked towards Lin Tianyun, who had spoken little. Immediately following, Lin Tianming solemnly entrusted Lin Tianyun, passing on the heavy responsibility of watching over the family to him. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s exhortation, Lin Tianyun¡¯s expression turned serious, and he gravely promised, ¡°Ming, rest assured, as long as I still draw breath, I will never let our family come to harm.¡± ¡°However, Ming and sister-in-law, your journey to the central region of Qingzhou, where powerful cultivators and numerous Sect Families converge, promises many opportunities but equally great dangers.¡± ¡°Accordingly, you must also be cautious and strive to bring back Brother Wind!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded. ¡°Hmm¡­ Tianyun, you just take it easy!¡± Then, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°On the day I return, I hope to see that you can stand on your own and become the pillar of our family, so that I can be completely at ease.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ sure¡­¡± Lin Tianyun laughed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was completely reassured. He then publicly set the day of departure for five days later in the early morning. Shortly thereafter, Lin Tianming bade farewell to the crowd and returned to his own Cave Mansion. Days quickly passed. On the morning of the designated day, under the sentimental watch of their dear relatives, Lin Tianming and his wife crossed the Protective Clan Formation. Following that, Lin Tianming released Xiao Diao, and the couple promptly jumped onto its back, swiftly shooting off towards the north. ¡­ Chapter 1064 03-25 - 1064 559 Longqing Market ?Chapter 1064: Chapter 559 Longqing Market Chapter 1064: Chapter 559 Longqing Market Golden Crow Country, Longqing Market. In the middle of the city streets, Lin Tianming and his wife walked side by side. Ever since they left the Lin Family land, the couple had flown northward, briefly stopping over at several small and medium-sized markets along the way. Afterward, they rested for a few days to recover, and then they continued on their journey. In just over two months, they had crossed the northern part of Wei Kingdom through Helan Country and arrived within the borders of Golden Crow Country. The Longqing Market where they were now located was situated in the central region of Golden Crow Country and fell under the sphere of influence of the Longqing Sect. Having a long heritage, Longqing Market under the Longqing Sect was widely known within the Golden Crow Cultivation World, said to be one of the three largest markets in the country. ... With years of development, the current scale of Longqing Market was even larger than that of Dragon Spring Market controlled by Myriad Medicine Valley, and its vitality was extremely robust. Perhaps because Golden Crow Country was relatively peaceful, its three largest Golden Elixir Forces had a longer heritage than Myriad Medicine Valley. And throughout the last two thousand years or more, the entire Golden Crow Cultivation World experienced almost no large-scale conflicts. This stability made the order in Golden Crow Country quite stable, markedly better than that of the southern Wei Kingdom and Helan Country. Because of such baseline conditions, Golden Crow Country had a larger population influx, with relatively more prosperous commerce, and overall, its strength was even more formidable compared to Wei Kingdom. Besides this point, another significant factor contributed to the power and popularity of Golden Crow Country. Since the Golden Crow Mountain Range was the largest in the country, covering an immense area, with dense mountains, rivers, and deep canyons scattered in every corner, the terrain was incredibly complex. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, a Fifth Order Golden Crow perished on the lands of the Golden Crow Mountain Range. A mighty beast like a Fifth Order Golden Crow was comparable to a member of the Human Race¡¯s Deification Stage. With the demise of the beast, its Fifth Order demonic blood nourished the land, turning what was once a vast desert into a huge primordial forest. Under such conditions, Demonic Beasts roamed the Golden Crow Mountain Range, and in some dangerous areas, there existed Third Order Demon Beasts. Although the Golden Crow Mountain Range was perilous, it was also filled with treasures and opportunities. Thus, the Golden Crow Mountain Range attracted a great number of Cultivators to come and seek treasures, and the everlasting discovery of treasures made it famous throughout Golden Crow Country, impacting even the surrounding countries significantly. As for the Longqing Market, located near a corner of the mountain range, it developed into its current scale by leveraging such favorable conditions. Lin Tianming and his wife had heard of the reputation of the Golden Crow Mountain Range on their way here. Out of curiosity, and because they were somewhat tired from traveling, they planned to stay in Longqing Market for a while to adjust their condition and inquire about news. At the same time, they would see if there were any opportunities to find some treasures. With this in mind, the couple smoothly entered Longqing Market. At this moment, they walked on the central street of the market, constantly observing the dazzling array of shops and the ceaseless flow of people. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking around, Longqing Market was bustling with people; each shop saw numerous customers coming and going, many of whom were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and not a few were at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. The proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the crowd was indeed much higher than in those medium-sized markets of Wei Kingdom. It should be noted that even though the Qianchuan Market controlled by the Lin Family was also considered a medium-sized market, the proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators there wasn¡¯t high; those at the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment were already considered the pinnacle of strength. In contrast, there were many Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators in Longqing Market. In just this brief moment, Lin Tianming spotted no fewer than three Cultivators above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Such a scene was quite astonishing to Lin Tianming, who couldn¡¯t help but inwardly exclaim, ¡°Indeed worthy of being the largest market in Golden Crow Country!¡± Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming and his wife continued deeper into the street. Soon, they saw a familiar shop, precisely the Sky Dragon Pavilion under the Tang Family of Qingzhou. At that time, Lin Tianming looked at the shop¡¯s signboard and couldn¡¯t help but say to Qin Xi, ¡°Xi¡¯er, how about we take a look inside?¡± ¡°Mm¡­ whatever you decide, Ming, Xi¡¯er has no objections!¡± Qin Xi nodded in response. Hearing her words, Lin Tianming chuckled and then strode towards Sky Dragon Pavilion, with Qin Xi simply following by his side. Upon entering Sky Dragon Pavilion, they were immediately greeted by a Cultivator who was in the Late Stage of Qi Refining. ¡°Welcome to our store, esteemed seniors. May I know what you need, so I may introduce you to our offerings?¡± The Qi Refining Cultivator greeted Lin Tianming and his wife with respect, bowing as he spoke. Right then, Lin Tianming waved his hand and inquired, ¡°May I know which Daoist Tang is in charge of managing this shop?¡± ¡°Oh? The seniors wish to meet Daoist Tang?¡± The receiving Qi Refining Cultivator seemed a bit surprised, but he still kept a usual demeanor. ¡°Mm¡­ I would like to pay a visit to Daoist Tang, so I would trouble you to pass on the message.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and took out a Jade Token, waving it in front of the receiving Cultivator. The receiving Cultivator initially thought that Lin Tianming and his wife were not old acquaintances of the shopkeeper, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have asked who was in charge. Therefore, he was somewhat reluctant to disturb the Executive Officer of the shop. However, as soon as he saw the Jade Token Lin Tianming presented, his attitude immediately shifted, becoming much more respectful. Chapter 1065 03-25 - 1065 559 Longqing Market_2 ?Chapter 1065: Chapter 559 Longqing Market_2 Chapter 1065: Chapter 559 Longqing Market_2 He was well aware of what the jade token in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand represented. And such a token signified an identity, which he rarely encountered among the many guests he had served. But every time one was presented, an Executive Officer of the shop would personally attend to the guest. The reason for this was that such tokens were only possessed by prestigious guests of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, typically granted to long-term cooperative partners who had a certain foundation and scale of influence, with only a few distributed. In other words, if the strength of the cooperating power was not substantial or if the scale of transactions between both parties was not large enough, it would have been impossible to possess such a token. As such, the fact that Lin Tianming owned this token naturally implied his extraordinary background and that he was a prestigious guest of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. In fact, that was indeed the case. ... As for the origin of this token, it was during Lin Tianming¡¯s visit to the Qianchuan Market that he had once called on Tang Xiuyuan. At that time, Tang Xiuyuan had taken the initiative to present a jade token to him, and subsequently, a few more to connect with the Lin Family¡¯s members¡ªrecognizing the strong cooperation between the Lin Family and the Sky Dragon Pavilion over the years. When Tang Xiuyuan did so, he had explained the function of the token; it not only represented the holder¡¯s identity but could also be used to request assistance from any branch of the Sky Dragon Pavilion when necessary. Therefore, Lin Tianming¡¯s visit to the Longqing Market also intended to call upon the Executive Officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion¡¯s local shop and to casually inquire about some information. With such an intent, Lin Tianming had arrived here. At this time, the cultivator who had been receiving them had regained his composure from his initial surprise, his expression immensely respectful. Subsequently, with a respectful expression, the cultivator quickly sent a message. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? After completing these actions, the cultivator respectfully said, ¡°Please, esteemed elders, rest upstairs for a moment, Shopkeeper Tang will attend to you promptly.¡± ¡°Um¡­ Lead the way then!¡± Once he finished speaking, the cultivator led the way, with Lin Tianming and his wife following behind the receiving cultivator. Soon, Lin Tianming and his wife were arranged in a reception room, where they were served with Spiritual Tea. After a short while, a middle-aged cultivator entered the reception room. Looking over, the middle-aged cultivator was dressed like a scholar, his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, and his demeanor carried a hint of arrogance. Thinking about it wasn¡¯t surprising; this person was undoubtedly a direct lineage member of the Tang Family, to be able to serve as an Executive Officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion in the Golden Crow Country¡¯s largest market. With the identity of Tang Family members and his own cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Completion, even ordinary Golden Core Cultivators had to show him some deference. Thus, it was normal for this cultivator to show some arrogance. At this time, seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianming and his companion stood up out of respect for the Tang Family and proactively greeted the middle-aged cultivator. ¡°My name is Lin Tianming, and this is my wife, Qin Xi. We have taken the liberty to visit Daoist Tang today and hope for your understanding.¡± Lin Tianming, with a smiling face, pointed to Qin Xi beside him as he spoke. On the other side, when Tang Xiuping heard Lin Tianming¡¯s words, he seemed to be pondering something in his mind. Quickly, it appeared he had realized something, and his face instantly became much more respectful. ¡°Oh? It turns out to be Elder Lin Tianming!¡± ¡°Elder Lin is too modest, my name is Tang Xiuping, I have seen Elder Lin and Fairy Qin.¡± Tang Xiuping respectfully saluted, then continued, ¡°Elder Lin, it is an honor for our Sky Dragon Pavilion Longqing branch that you have taken the initiative to visit.¡± Clearly, after hearing Lin Tianming introduce himself, Tang Xiuping must have been aware of the general status of the Lin Family and also of Lin Tianming¡¯s personal achievements. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have shown such an evident reaction. And in fact, it was exactly as Lin Tianming had guessed. After all, only Helan Country is between the Golden Crow Country and Wei Kingdom, and the distance between the Golden Crow and Wei in the vast expanse of Qingzhou is not considered far. Moreover, the Lin Family is a cooperative partner of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and with their rising reputation over the years, they have become somewhat known in the neighboring countries around Wei Kingdom. ¡°` Besides, both Tang Xiuyuan and Tang Xiuping belonged to the Tang Family and were of the same generation, so the exchange of information between them must have been frequent. Therefore, once Lin Tianming revealed his clan lineage, all Tang Xiuping had to do was think carefully to understand Lin Tianming¡¯s specific identity. As a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, Lin Tianming¡¯s feats during the great battle in the Wei Kingdom had astonished many cultivators, and his fame had spread far and wide over time. Tang Xiuping had paid attention to those events but had never imagined that Lin Tianming himself would come to Longqing Market, let alone take the initiative to visit the Sky Dragon Pavilion. That took him quite a while to come to terms with. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Lin Tianming appeared quite indifferent and had no intention of hiding his identity. In his view, the Lin Family had already developed a certain ability to defend itself, and there was no need for him to be overly secretive about his whereabouts in the neighboring countries of the Wei Kingdom. Moreover, considering he was dealing with a power like the Sky Dragon Pavilion, there was even less of a need to hide anything. As a result, Lin Tianming volunteered his name, hoping to glean some news from the Sky Dragon Pavilion to adjust his plans in a timely manner. After all, gaining experience was the same anywhere they went, and they were not in a rush on this trip. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Daoist Tang, there¡¯s no need for such courtesy. Your noble family¡¯s Tang Xiuyuan has been on equal terms with me to this day; there¡¯s really no need for such formality.¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping repeatedly expressed his modesty, clearly very tactful. At the same time, Tang Xiuping¡¯s demeanor showed excitement as if he was thrilled by Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Subsequently, the two exchanged pleasantries, sharing some information about the Wei Kingdom and mentioning Tang Xiuyuan in the conversation. Afterward, Tang Xiuping shifted the topic and took the initiative to ask about the purpose of Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. To this, Lin Tianming smiled lightly and merely claimed that he and his wife had just arrived and wished to inquire about the situation in Golden Crow Country and the Golden Crow Mountain Range from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Hearing this request, Tang Xiuping breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Tang Xiuping spoke of Golden Crow Country¡¯s situation, providing a detailed introduction that included everything from the three top-leading sects to the situation of the four Golden Core Families. In addition, he shared his knowledge of the Golden Crow Mountain Range, which Lin Tianming had an interest in. He also mentioned that the great auction held once every ten years in Longqing Market was scheduled to take place in three months. It was said that the Longqing Sect, the controller of the market, placed great importance on this grand auction. In addition to the conventional Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment auction venues, the Golden Core Auction Venue that only opened once every fifty years would also commence. At that time, every major Golden Elixir Force in Golden Crow Country would send at least one Golden Core Cultivator to participate. Such an event would undoubtedly be grand in scale and destined to become a grand occasion in Golden Crow Country. With Tang Xiuping¡¯s introduction, Lin Tianming gained a fair understanding of Golden Crow Country and the Golden Crow Mountain Range. Though it was not as detailed as the knowledge held by local cultivators, it was certainly more than the average cultivator knew. He was also quite interested in the Golden Core auction. Having been in Wei Kingdom for so many years, due to the limited number of Golden Core Stage Cultivators, it was quite hard to organize an auction at the Golden Core level. Even though there were occasionally some exchange events, they were relatively small. Familiar acquaintances wouldn¡¯t bring out any real treasures. In contrast, Golden Crow Country¡¯s overall strength was clearly stronger than Wei Kingdom¡¯s. Moreover, with more Golden Elixir Forces and Golden Core Cultivators, some treasures that Golden Core Cultivators from Wei Kingdom deemed exceptional were just average in Golden Crow Country. Therefore, there was a possibility that some fine treasures would appear at this Golden Core auction. Understanding this, Lin Tianming planned to stay in Longqing Market for a while to see if there were any treasures worth bidding for at the Golden Core auction. Once the auction was over, he would then continue his journey towards Xitang Country. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming had a casual chat with Tang Xiuping. Afterwards, Lin Tianming expressed his intention to take leave. It was then that Tang Xiuping hesitated, as if he had something to say but found it difficult to speak. ¡°` Chapter 1066 03-25 - 1066 560 He Yuan Guo Tree ?Chapter 1066: Chapter 560 He Yuan Guo Tree Chapter 1066: Chapter 560 He Yuan Guo Tree At this time, Lin Tianming also noticed something odd about Tang Xiuping. So, Lin Tianming spoke directly, ¡°Daoist Tang, you look quite strange. Is there something difficult for you to disclose?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, Daoist Tang, feel free to speak your mind!¡± ¡°My family, including myself, have cooperated with your noble family¡¯s Sky Dragon Pavilion numerous times, and during those times, we have also received favors from the pavilion.¡± ¡°As long as I can lend a hand, I will not hold back as long as it is within my power.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuping¡¯s expression returned to normal, and he pondered internally whether to share the thought that was on his mind. After a long while and a struggle in his thoughts, he made a decision. ... Then, with a wave of his hand, Tang Xiuping released a soundproof barrier with a single-handed seal. After completing this, Tang Xiuping¡¯s complexion improved greatly, and his demeanor relaxed considerably. Seeing this, Lin Tianming thought that whatever Tang Xiuping was about to reveal must be of significant importance. Otherwise, given Tang Xiuping¡¯s status, he would most certainly not be so cautious. With an anticipative look, Lin Tianming watched Tang Xiuping, waiting for his explanation. At this time, Tang Xiuping also looked back at Lin Tianming, seeing his composed expression and not seeming to feign anything. So, Tang Xiuping spoke seriously, ¡°Elder Lin, I take the liberty of asking how your cultivation strength is. Have you reached the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Tang Xiuping asked two such questions consecutively, both sensitive topics for a cultivator. Nevertheless, such questions showed that he trusted Lin Tianming and was not afraid of Lin Tianming blaming him for his presumptuous behavior. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take it to heart either and had no intention of hiding anything from Tang Xiuping. With that in mind, Lin Tianming answered with a smile, ¡°Daoist Tang, let¡¯s not mention cultivation levels!¡± ¡°In a nutshell, if I encounter one or two ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, I am fairly confident that I can prevail.¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping immediately became excited. In his heart, he had long heard of the extraordinary talent of Lin Tianming, who had matched Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators while at the Early Stage Golden Core. Such formidable personal combat strength was something he greatly admired and he had continuously paid attention to all information regarding Lin Tianming. Now, hearing Lin Tianming say this, though not explicitly stating his level of cultivation, Lin Tianming¡¯s nonchalant words, said with such confidence, also suggested that he had probably stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Otherwise, Lin Tianming would not boast such a claim. Upon this realization, Tang Xiuping was overjoyed, releasing a sigh of relief inside. Having calmed down slightly, Tang Xiuping held nothing back. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a long sigh, he went straight to the point, ¡°Elder Lin, I stumbled upon a piece of news not long ago. It¡¯s rumored that deep in the Golden Crow Mountain Range, a He Yuan Guo Tree may have appeared.¡± ¡°He Yuan Fruit?¡± Lin Tianming wore a puzzled look, finding the name somewhat unfamiliar. However, he also contemplated the specific news regarding the Heyuan Fruit. Quickly, after carefully recalling the literature he had read, he remembered the origin of the Heyuan Fruit. As it turned out, the Heyuan Fruit was also one of the Third Order Spiritual Fruits aiding in Core Formation, its effects similar to the Fruit of Fortuity he had consumed before and the three Jiuli Star Fruits he had intercepted from the Golden Sword Sect, all capable of increasing the odds of successful Core Formation by several percentages. Moreover, like the Fruit of Fortuity, when the Heyuan Tree ripens, it usually bears three fruits at once. With Tang Xiuping revealing this news, if true, he obviously coveted both the Heyuan Fruit and the tree itself. In fact, giving it some thought, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, at present, Tang Xiuping was at the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm. With his current level of power, he certainly aspired to obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item to impact the Golden Core Stage Realm. Hence, his actions were nothing short of normal. Reflecting on his own background, despite Tang Xiuping coming from Qingzhou Jiaoqin Power¡ªone of the prominent forces in Qingzhou¡ªand being a member of the Tang Family, the Tang Family had a large number of members and many talented youths. Still, the resources of the Tang Family were limited, especially treasures like Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Thus, the Tang Family would undoubtedly prioritize those with higher potential or those who made significant contributions to the family. Individuals like Tang Xiuping and his old acquaintance, Tang Xiuyuan, were only considered ordinary family members. Perhaps their talents were decent, but not sufficient for the Tang Family to unconditionally support them with Core Formation resources. Therefore, if Tang Xiuping had his own means, he wouldn¡¯t place his hope solely on the highly competitive Tang Family. Now that Tang Xiuping had discovered the news of the Heyuan Fruit tree, he naturally wanted to take the risk. However, Lin Tianming thought it over and felt some doubt. After all, the strength of the Tang Family went without saying, and as a member, he could simply report the news of the Heyuan Fruit tree to his family and ask for help from the Golden Core Stage Cultivators within the Tang Family. If the situation were true, a Heyuan Fruit tree along with the three Heyuan Fruits¡¯ merit would certainly allow him to acquire one of the fruits and other generous rewards as well. And his intention appeared to be not to report it; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have brought it up. Aware of this, Lin Tianming asked gravely, ¡°Daoist Tang, is the news about this Heyuan Fruit tree true?¡± ¡°If it is, you could very well ask your family for help. I believe the rewards you¡¯d receive would be even greater.¡± Chapter 1067 03-25 - 1067 560 Heyuan Guo Tree_2 ?Chapter 1067: Chapter 560 Heyuan Guo Tree_2 Chapter 1067: Chapter 560 Heyuan Guo Tree_2 Lin Tianming¡¯s words came out with a stern look on his face as he gazed sharply at Tang Xiuping, as if he could see through the thoughts in Tang Xiuping¡¯s heart. At that moment, Tang Xiuping, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s expression, couldn¡¯t help but force a bitter smile. Immediately afterward, Tang Xiuping let out a slight sigh and then began to explain. ¡°Elder Lin, I have personally investigated the location of the Heyuan Fruit Tree.¡± ¡°At that time, there was a Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast guarding it. I used some methods to temporarily paralyze the beast and then sneaked in. I only got a fleeting glimpse, but the tree should indeed exist and be about to ripen.¡± ¡°As for why I did not request help from my family, as Elder Lin questioned, it¡¯s not that I hadn¡¯t considered it.¡± ¡°In fact, that was my initial plan!¡± ... ¡°However, with the Heyuan Fruit about to ripen and the risk of its exposure at any time, there¡¯s no way I can wait for the support of the family elders.¡± ¡°Therefore, I would like to request Elder Lin¡¯s assistance in obtaining the Heyuan Fruit Tree.¡± After finishing his explanation, Tang Xiuping fixed his gaze on Lin Tianming with an expression full of anticipation for his response. At this moment, Lin Tianming was also weighing the credibility of Tang Xiuping¡¯s words in his heart. In his mind, the ripening of the Heyuan Fruit indeed could not afford any delay. Under these circumstances, it seemed reasonable that Tang Xiuping couldn¡¯t wait for family reinforcements and had to seek help elsewhere. Yet he and Lin Tianming had never met before and had no personal relationship to speak of. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Although the Lin Family had indeed worked closely with the Sky Dragon Pavilion over the years. Tang Xiuping could still seek the assistance of other Golden Core Cultivators within the Golden Crow Country. Given Tang Xiuping¡¯s background and status, it surely wouldn¡¯t be difficult as long as he was willing to pay a certain price. Thinking this, Lin Tianming found Tang Xiuping¡¯s sudden request to be somewhat far-fetched. Thus, Lin Tianming voiced his opinion, raising his doubts without any hesitation. At that point, Tang Xiuping seemed to have been prepared for this, and he began to explain: ¡°To be frank with Elder Lin, I indeed sought help from Elder Su of the Golden Crow Country before this.¡± ¡°However, Elder Su made some exorbitant demands, insisting he must obtain a Heyuan Fruit and the Heyuan Fruit Tree to offer his assistance.¡± ¡°And a Heyuan Fruit Tree is a treasure that can enhance a family¡¯s foundation; no matter who assists, we, the Tang Family, will not readily relinquish it.¡± Tang Xiuping spoke with a serious tone, clearly displaying a firm stance against compromise. Hearing this explanation and seeing Tang Xiuping¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming no longer doubted his motives. Then, Lin Tianming straightforwardly said, ¡°I¡¯m not opposed to lending a hand.¡± ¡°However, that Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast is no easy opponent, what kind of compensation can Daoist Tang offer?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, which suggested he might be persuaded, Tang Xiuping immediately appeared excited. Then, Tang Xiuping said, ¡°Elder Lin also knows that our Tang Family cannot afford to lose the Heyuan Fruit Tree.¡± ¡°But I only want one Heyuan Fruit myself; the remaining two can go to Elder Lin, is this compensation satisfactory?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi, who had been silent beside him, seeming to seek her opinion. Soon, Qin Xi nodded slightly. Though she didn¡¯t say much, it was clear she was deferring to Lin Tianming¡¯s decision. And in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, he had already made up his mind. In his view, even if he could only obtain one Heyuan Fruit, it was well worth his involvement. He was very aware that the Lin Family was currently in great need of Core Formation Spiritual Objects. Therefore, currently, the family had only one Jiuli Star Fruit left, while there were already over ten Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family. Among them, his father and Lin Tianyue had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm and the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment when he left the family. Apart from these close relatives, others like Lin Xingping, Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin, who had good relations with him, had also reached above the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment in their cultivation. It could be said that over the next fifty years, many talented members of the Lin Family would reach the conditions for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. However, having numerous Core Formation stage seeds with only one Jiuli Star Fruit left in the family was merely a drop in the bucket. Moreover, the Creation Fruit Tree he had obtained in his early years would still take many more years to ripen once again. During this period, the family couldn¡¯t possibly wait around for so many years. However, his journey out for training this time, in search of Nascent Soul Spiritual Items for the family, was also one of his primary objectives. Since the opportunity was at hand, he naturally wouldn¡¯t give it up easily. Moreover, Tang Xiuping was quite honest; he offered two Heyuan Fruits as compensation right from the start. Such terms, in his view, were well worth considering. Understanding this, Lin Tianming feigned a look of difficulty. Then, Lin Tianming finally said, ¡°Daoist Tang, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t make a move.¡± ¡°However, I must make it clear, once the matter is accomplished, one Heyuan Fruit and the Heyuan Fruit Tree are yours, the other two Heyuan Fruits are mine.¡± ¡°In addition, the carcass of the Third Order Demon Beast, including all the treasures from its lair, are also mine.¡± ¡°If Daoist Tang agrees, shall we settle on this arrangement?¡± After stating this, Lin Tianming stared intently at Tang Xiuping, waiting for his reply. And Tang Xiuping was quite forthcoming; he nodded in agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s proposition the moment the words were out. ¡°Haha¡­ Let¡¯s settle it as Elder Lin suggests!¡± In this moment, Tang Xiuping was brimming with excitement, his face full of satisfied smiles. At this point, Lin Tianming continued to ask, ¡°Now that we have reached a consensus, when shall we set off?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping replied directly: ¡°Elder Lin, the Heyuan Fruits should take another half a year to fully mature.¡± ¡°Therefore, right after the auction two months from now, we will set off together. How about waiting for my message at that time, Elder Lin?¡± Obviously, Tang Xiuping wasn¡¯t planning to reveal more but merely mentioned a time for the two to meet. As for the specific destination and final route, that would still require Tang Xiuping to lead the way. Such arrangements, however, fell within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the human heart is unfathomable, and one must always guard against others. Tang Xiuping was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡ªif Lin Tianming had any ill-intentions, Tang Xiuping would have no chance of resisting against him, a Golden Core Stage Expert. Fortunately, Tang Xiuyuan was backed by the Tang Family of Qingzhou, possessing a strong enough background to negotiate terms with a Golden Core Stage Cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, any ordinary cultivator without such strong backing would be courting death just by letting slip the faintest hint of news about something as valuable as the Heyuan Fruit Tree. Realizing this, Lin Tianming nodded indifferently. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯ll wait for Daoist Tang¡¯s message then, and we can meet up at a place then.¡± ¡°Good¡­ good¡­ it¡¯s settled!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ With Elder Lin personally taking action, we¡¯re bound to succeed in obtaining the treasures on this trip!¡± Tang Xiuping complimented enthusiastically, his joy impossible to hide, clearly very excited. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t mind these pleasantries but simply waved his hand nonchalantly. Then, after chatting idly for a while with Tang Xiuping, Lin Tianming expressed his intention to leave. With the agreement about the Heyuan Fruit settled, Tang Xiuping¡¯s goal was achieved, and he could finally relax his anxious heart. Given this, there was no need to detain Lin Tianming any further. Thus, Tang Xiuping personally escorted Lin Tianming and his wife out of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, waiting until they disappeared into the crowd before returning contentedly to the interior of the pavilion. After the couple left the Sky Dragon Pavilion, they strolled around the workshop for a while. In no time, they rented a small courtyard to serve as their temporary cave abode, planning to spend the two months waiting for the auction here. Once this period had passed, they were to fulfill their agreement and set out on the journey to collect the Heyuan Fruits. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ Chapter 1068 03-25 - 1068 561 The Auction Begins ?Chapter 1068: Chapter 561: The Auction Begins Chapter 1068: Chapter 561: The Auction Begins Two months had passed. In a cave mansion within Longqing Market. Lin Tianming and his wife sat facing each other, their gazes locked and smiles flickering across their faces. At that moment, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the auction is about to start, let¡¯s go out and see!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded and continued, ¡°The Golden Core Venue auction of this caliber is something I¡¯m looking forward to, though I¡¯m not sure if there will be any worthwhile opportunities.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and then spoke, ¡°This Golden Core Auction is held only once every fifty years!¡± ... ¡°You must know, Golden Crow Country has three of the Three Great Golden Core Sects and four Golden Core families, making up seven major Golden Elixir Forces, and just the known Golden Core Cultivators among them add up to more than forty.¡± ¡°Moreover, within the Golden Crow Cultivation World, it¡¯s not just these forces that have Golden Core Cultivators. It¡¯s said that there are a few Independent Cultivators at the Golden Core Stage as well.¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°With such overall strength, this Golden Core Auction is bound to be substantial. Although the chance of finding good items is small, it is definitely much higher compared to the auctions in Wei Kingdom.¡± Lin Tianming pondered greatly, his expression exceedingly solemn. In truth, within his heart, he initially thought that although Golden Crow Country was stronger than Wei Kingdom, it was marginally so. However, after listening to the detailed information from Tang Xiuping, he had learned quite a lot about the situation in Golden Crow Country. Especially the overall strength of Golden Crow Country, which had greatly surprised him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After all, Golden Crow Country was indeed strong, with more than forty Golden Core Stage Cultivators, almost twice as many as Wei Kingdom currently had. Even during Wei Kingdom¡¯s peak period, it was far less than Golden Crow Country now. It seemed that Golden Crow Country indeed was one of the few strong nations among the dozen surrounding countries. Precisely because of this understanding, Lin Tianming was somewhat anticipatory about this Golden Core Auction. Thus, after chatting casually for a few moments, the couple walked out of the cave mansion together, heading towards the auction venue in the center of the market. Walking along the wide streets, the road was bustling with pedestrians, most of whom were heading towards the center of the market. Among these people, the proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was not low, and there were equally many Cultivators who were past the Foundation Establishment. Such a scene also reflected the booming popularity of Longqing Market. Lin Tianming and his wife followed the crowd at an unhurried pace, looking around at the surroundings along the way. Soon, they arrived at the central auction venue of the market. Looking around, here the queue of Qi Refining Cultivators had already formed a long line, and even the queue for the Foundation Establishment Area was also significantly long. Such a scene made Lin Tianming inwardly exclaim in admiration. ¡°This Longqing Market really is bustling with people, and there are many participants in the auction, including quite a few capable Foundation Establishment Cultivators.¡± ¡°No wonder the rumors say that Longqing Market is the largest market in Golden Crow Country; it seems absolutely true.¡± Lin Tianming inwardly sighed with emotion, his steps not slowing down at all. When they crossed the queue for the Foundation Establishment Area and directly appeared in front of an entrance. Here too, there were cultivators waiting, and these people all wore yellow Daoist robes with a special pattern on their chests, signifying that they were disciples of the Longqing Sect. At this moment, their faces were normal, their demeanor neither humble nor arrogant, seemingly Longqing Sect¡¯s dedicated receptionists for Golden Core Cultivators. As soon as they saw Lin Tianming and his wife approach, one of them blocked their way. That person said arrogantly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, this is the entrance for Golden Elixir Experts¡¯s auction venue, the entrance for the Foundation Establishment Area is over there.¡± After saying this, the cultivator pointed to the queue for the Foundation Establishment Area, implicitly clear in his meaning. At this moment, Lin Tianming stared directly at the speaker, revealing just a hint of pressure that made the speaker¡¯s back go cold and his legs numb, almost causing him to sit down on the ground. It was at this moment that the cultivator truly felt Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, indeed a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator. That sharp gaze and slight pressure had also hurt him. If Lin Tianming had any malicious intent, the speaker would have had almost no ability to resist and would have been instantly eliminated by the formidable person in front of him. Nevertheless, after this episode, the receptionist finally realized his mistake. Thus, the cultivator bowed respectfully to Lin Tianming and then said, ¡°Welcome, senior, to the Golden Core Auction Venue. I failed to recognize an immortal earlier, please forgive my previous rudeness.¡± ¡°Senior, please follow me, I will arrange a VIP room for you, and if there are any other orders, feel free to summon me anytime!¡± After this cultivator finished speaking, the other two finally reacted. Originally, Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s presence had appeared to be at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their previous actions had turned their peer¡¯s face pale with cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. At that moment, they thought someone was recklessly causing trouble. Unexpectedly, the person in front of them was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and with such an unfamiliar appearance and aura, he must be from another country¡¯s Cultivation World. Luckily, just as they were about to act, their colleague¡¯s timely words had interrupted their motions. Otherwise, they would likely have offended a Golden Core Cultivator inadvertently just like their colleague. If that had been the case, even if they hadn¡¯t died, it would have definitely brought a lot of trouble. Chapter 1069 03-25 - 1069 561 Auction Begins_2 ?Chapter 1069: Chapter 561 Auction Begins_2 Chapter 1069: Chapter 561 Auction Begins_2 Fully aware of this, the other two were now exhibiting a respectful demeanor, their previously arrogant expressions having greatly changed. At this time, however, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t concerned with these things. In fact, he had indeed not revealed any sign of his true strength before, always presenting himself with the power of someone at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Although the demeanor of the cultivators who received him was arrogant, they were from Longqing Sect, which had a powerful backing. Coupled with their timely response, Lin Tianming naturally would not quibble over such trifles, nor would he easily offend a Golden Core Sect like Longqing Sect. Thus, Lin Tianming waved his hand, signaling the cultivator before him to lead the way. Seeing this, the cultivator¡¯s face finally relaxed a lot, and he internally sighed a breath of relief. The entire exchange had been witnessed by many cultivators queuing at a distance. ... As Lin Tianming disappeared from sight, these cultivators then started to discuss amongst themselves. Instantly, the already noisy scene became even livelier. One cultivator in the crowd voiced their confusion, ¡°That senior just now looks unfamiliar, I wonder which Golden Core expert they are, to also attend this auction.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ The senior¡¯s aura and appearance are both unfamiliar, they¡¯re likely not a Golden Core expert from the Golden Crow Country, probably attracted by the auction¡¯s reputation, or just passing through.¡± ¡°Heh, the senior¡¯s background isn¡¯t what¡¯s important¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s more about how that Longqing Sect fellow suddenly turned pale, looks like he got a lesson from that senior.¡± ¡°Careful, fellow daoist¡­ we are in the Longqing Market¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï A Foundation Establishment Cultivator spoke up to remind, briefly interrupting the heated discussion. Lin Tianming was unaware of all this, and even if he did know, he wouldn¡¯t care about the discussions of these cultivators. As for him at this moment, he was drinking tea and having a casual chat with Qin Xi in a magnificent VIP room, while they waited for the auction to officially start. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming surveyed the Golden Core Auction Venue. Following his gaze, the venue wasn¡¯t too large, with a square stage in the center surrounded by nearly a hundred VIP rooms. Like the auctions he had attended before, each VIP room was strictly isolated by protective enchantments. Inside his VIP room, he could see the stage from all angles without any blind spots, but he couldn¡¯t see anything from any of the other VIP rooms. Such protective isolation also effectively safeguarded the privacy of the attendees. Even if he won a treasure in the auction, it wouldn¡¯t be easily revealed, nor would it attract the prying eyes of hostile cultivators, thus avoiding unnecessary trouble. Because of this, Lin Tianming felt reassured and was even looking forward to the start of the auction. Half a moment later. As an elder in a yellow robe slowly walked onto the stage, he attracted Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. Looking over, the man had snowy white hair and a face full of wrinkles, his clothing marked with the emblem of the Longqing Sect, and his cultivation was at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. His old face and the faint hint of death in his aura suggested he was approaching the age for ¡°sitting meditation.¡± Based on these features, Lin Tianming recalled the information provided by Tang Xiuping and deduced the identity of the man. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, this elder was undoubtedly Xie Yingshan, an established Golden Core Cultivator of the Longqing Sect. Sure enough, with Xie Yingshan appearing on stage, he cupped his fists and made a respectful gesture to everyone around. Then, Xie Yingshan said, ¡°I am Xie Yingshan, and I welcome all fellow daoists present to attend this auction.¡± As soon as his voice fell, a voice came from a VIP room. ¡°Old Ghost Xie, most of the daoists here are acquaintances, many of whom have attended several auctions.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone is clear on the rules; there¡¯s no need for suspense. Let¡¯s start sooner rather than later, I still need to return to my alchemy.¡± This was immediately followed by laughter from other directions. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re all friends here; no need for pleasantries, let¡¯s get started!¡± Hearing these two comments, Xie Yingshan laughed awkwardly, showing no anger, seemingly very wary of the two cultivators teasing him. Thus, Xie Yingshan chuckled, ¡°Since He daoist is so eager, and the other daoists make a fair point, I won¡¯t delay everyone¡¯s time any longer.¡± Having said this, Xie Yingshan slapped his storage bag and two Spiritual Medicine Materials appeared in his hand. Following that, Xie Yingshan introduced, ¡°Two Three-Leaf Purple Orchid plants will be auctioned together, with a starting bid of four thousand medium-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be no less than fifty spirit stones.¡± As soon as his voice fell, the person who had first joked with Xie Yingshan immediately placed a bid. ¡°Four thousand three hundred spirit stones!¡± Clearly, the first person to place a bid was none other than the He cultivator mentioned by Xie Yingshan, and he was also a Third Order Alchemy Master. Lin Tianming, although not acquainted with or having had contact with him, was certain that Xie Yingshan must have known the identity of this person. Otherwise, that person would not have bluntly claimed that he was in a rush to return to alchemy. And this He surnamed Golden Core Cultivator should be from another Golden Core Sect, undoubtedly He Zhengsong of the Three Poisons Sect. Lin Tianming came to such a conclusion because he had ample basis for it. Among the seven major Golden Elixir Forces in the Golden Crow Country, He Zhengsong of the Three Poisons Sect was the only one who both was a Golden Core cultivator and a Third Order Alchemy Master. With this, Lin Tianming immediately understood the specific identity of the bidder. And now, He Zhengsong, upon encountering two extremely fine spiritual medicines, was so proactive in bidding, clearly a man obsessed with alchemy. However, Lin Tianming himself, upon seeing these two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids, had no interest. Although the medicine was indeed precious and very rare among Third Order spiritual medicines, and not commonly seen, coincidentally, he happened to have this type of spiritual medicine in his possession. As a result, Lin Tianming, even as a Third Order Alchemy Master, had no interest in bidding for these two spiritual medicine materials. But he wasn¡¯t the only one without interest; there were others among the present Golden Core cultivators who were interested, and not just one. Obviously, not all of these bidding cultivators necessarily needed the medicine themselves. While the Golden Crow Country was generally harmonious overall, internal competition always existed in secret. In certain situations, even if they did not need it, they would secretly place bids to trip up rival forces, making them pay a higher price to acquire the treasures. Under such circumstances, the first round of bidding climbed steadily and soon reached four thousand eight hundred spirit stones. At this point, He Zhengsong, seeming determined to have the two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids, directly raised the auction price to five thousand spirit stones in one go. As expected, such aggressive bidding deterred some of the competing cultivators. Furthermore, the general value of two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids was around four thousand five hundred spirit stones. Even during times of scarce resources, four thousand eight hundred spirit stones would be the very limit. But now, the price reached five thousand medium-grade spirit stones, which was already much overpriced. Consequently, upon hearing He Zhengsong¡¯s price, those who had initially planned to bid fell silent. As for those who were placing bids just to create obstacles, they were not really willing to spend such a high price on spiritual medicines they were not particularly concerned about. In this situation, the final bidding price was set at five thousand medium-grade spirit stones and, in the end, He Zhengsong got his wish and secured the auction. Following this, He Zhengsong completed the transaction with Xie Yingshan across the barrier, and the auction for the first treasure subsequently concluded. During the intermission, Lin Tianming was inwardly taken aback, shaken by such a price. In his heart, the Golden Crow Country was truly a nation where the Immortal Path flourished. The value of these two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids was indeed not low; in the realm of Third Order spiritual medicines, they definitely counted as superior spiritual medicines, usually hardly seen. And such an item, in Wei Kingdom, would be quite precious indeed. But here, the Longqing Sect was even willing to auction it off. If it were him, even if he did not need it momentarily, he would be somewhat reluctant to let it go. Because of this, it demonstrated just how much more advanced the cultivation standards and the abundance of treasures were in the Golden Crow Country compared to Wei Kingdom. The more it was so, the more Lin Tianming anticipated the ensuing treasures, including the final grand treasure of the auction. ¡­ Chapter 1070 03-25 - 1070 562 Threat ?Chapter 1070: Chapter 562 Threat Chapter 1070: Chapter 562 Threat With anticipation in his heart, Lin Tianming continued to pay attention to the upcoming auctions. The second auction item appeared shortly thereafter, also a Third Order Spiritual Medicine that was not bad at all. However, this piece of Spiritual Medicine was just as coincidentally one Lin Tianming already had, so he was equally disinterested in bidding. In the end, it was again taken by He Zhengsong at some expense. It wasn¡¯t until the seventh treasure appeared was a treasure named the Yuan Essence Fruit revealed. As soon as the Spirit Fruit appeared, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators began bidding immediately, and the price soared, quickly reaching 5,200 medium-grade Spirit Stones. With the emergence of this treasure, the fierce bidding by numerous cultivators pushed the auction to a minor climax. It was so because, the Yuan Essence Fruit, being rather precious and rare, always held significant value. ... As for its effects, since it contained an exceptionally rich and gentle energy, for cultivators at the Early and Mid Stage Golden Core, refining this fruit could enhance their cultivation strength quickly, faster than relying on self-cultivation or taking elixirs like the Yuxu Pill. Upon seeing the Yuan Essence Fruit, Lin Tianming, who was originally uninterested, became instantly enthused. In his eyes, elixirs and various Spirit Fruits capable of enhancing cultivation were all extremely valuable treasures. Once they appeared, even if the price was high, they had to be obtained at any cost. More importantly, Qin Xi was currently stuck at the Golden Core Initial Peak. Should she acquire this Yuan Essence Fruit, once her bottleneck eased a bit, she could totally rely on this fruit to make a breakthrough towards the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Given the rich energy contained within the Yuan Essence Fruit, the prospects of success were quite good. Therefore, Lin Tianming naturally wanted to figure out how to win this Yuan Essence Fruit. Thus, Lin Tianming joined the intense bidding. At this moment, after He Zhengsong bid 5,500 medium-grade Spirit Stones, Lin Tianming immediately raised the offer to 5,800 Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming suddenly joining the bidding drew the attention of the cultivators present. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially He Zhengsong, a Third Order Alchemy Master whose wealth was naturally considerable, had no intention to concede in the face of Lin Tianming¡¯s competition. ¡°6,000 Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°6,500 Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming increased the bid by 500 medium-grade Spirit Stones in one breath, equivalent to 50,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. Such a price increase was basically the equivalent of a Foundation Establishment Pill being offered up right from the moment he spoke. However, Foundation Establishment Pills, although desperately sought after by Qi Refining Cultivators, meant nothing to the Golden Core Cultivators present. Lin Tianming had always been wealthy and a mere Foundation Establishment Pill was certainly not worth his attention. Because he was well aware that this Yuan Essence Fruit had the potential to assist Qin Xi¡¯s breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Even if he took it himself, it could save years of arduous cultivation. Such an enhancement could not possibly be equaled even by fifty Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, the gap between realms during the Golden Core Stage brings benefits that cannot be matched by dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not waver in the face of the escalating auction prices. Soon, several rounds of bidding hikes began. Now the price of the Yuan Essence Fruit had reached 7,600 medium-grade Spirit Stones, which is 760,000 low-grade Spirit Stones if converted. For an ordinary Golden Core Stage Cultivator to produce such a price would be quite straining. Predictably, at this price, the only ones still bidding were Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong. At this point, Lin Tianming directly called out a high price of 7,800 Spirit Stones. As soon as this price was announced, the room suddenly fell into silence. He Zhengsong also seemed to hesitate, after all, the current price had far exceeded the Yuan Essence Fruit¡¯s intrinsic value. Additionally, he was also a cultivator at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, which meant that the fruit¡¯s benefits for him would be limited. Given the circumstances and facing such a price, He Zhengsong decided to give up on further bidding. At this point, Xie Yingshan saw no one continued the bidding after a long pause. After several breaths passed, he finally spoke: ¡°Congratulations to the friend in No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room, for successfully bidding with 7,800 Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming, hearing Xie Yingshan publicly announcing the result, had a pleased smile flash across his face, and he also let out a long sigh of relief internally. Immediately following, Lin Tianming slapped his waist and a storage bag flew from his hand, passing through the light screen in front of him, and eventually landing firmly in Xie Yingshan¡¯s hand. After Xie Yingshan¡¯s Divine Sense confirmed the sufficient number of Spirit Stones inside, he threw the Yuan Essence Fruit towards Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP room. Seeing this, Lin Tianming caught the Jade Box containing the Yuan Essence Fruit in his hand, and then immediately opened it to inspect. It wasn¡¯t until he saw the translucent green fruit lying in the middle of the Jade Box, its unique fragrance wafting towards him. At this moment, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, unable to suppress the joy in his heart any longer. Qin Xi, witnessing this scene, also became somewhat excited. After calming down a bit, Qin Xi chuckled and said: ¡°Ming, we¡¯ve been mere spectators up till now, it looks like we¡¯ve finally gained something, making this trip worthwhile, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then laughed: ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°The few treasures before were good, but they never piqued my interest, hence we¡¯ve been empty-handed until now.¡± Chapter 1071 03-25 - 1071 562 Threat_2 ?Chapter 1071: Chapter 562 Threat_2 Chapter 1071: Chapter 562 Threat_2 ¡°` ¡°Luckily, we managed to win the bid for this Yuan Essence Fruit, which counts as a gain, and this is just the beginning. There may be even better treasures to come.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming handed the jade box to Qin Xi. Seeing this, Qin Xi quickly waved her hand and said: ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er is still stuck in a bottleneck; even if I were to consume this Yuan Essence Fruit, I¡¯m afraid it wouldn¡¯t be enough for me to reach the Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, it seems wasteful for Xi¡¯er to consume the fruit. It would probably be better if Ming were to take it, as the benefits are likely to be greater for you.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Lin Tianming interrupted her. Following that, Lin Tianming explained, ¡°Xi¡¯er, for your husband to consume this fruit, the benefits are not significant, and it would be somewhat wasteful.¡± ¡°The reason I bid for this fruit was actually for Xi¡¯er.¡± ... ¡°Even if you are not suitable to consume it now, you can wait for the bottleneck to ease and then use this treasure to make a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core in one fell swoop.¡± ¡°With Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent and potential, I¡¯m sure you can successfully step into the Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi was quite convinced, but she still hesitated. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and forcibly put the jade box into Qin Xi¡¯s hand. Qin Xi, seeing how resolute Lin Tianming was, helplessly accepted it. And in her heart, she felt incredibly happy because of Lin Tianming¡¯s selfless act. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Subsequently, the couple exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with affection. Then, they turned their attention back to the ongoing auction, hosted by Xie Yingshan below. At that moment, Xie Yingshan continued to smoothly preside over the auction. The eighth treasure was a Third Order Ore. Lin Tianming was not much interested in this treasure, and in the end, it was auctioned off by a cultivator whose background was unknown. Soon after, several treasures were successively auctioned, involving Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ore, and Spirit Material¡ªthese fairly good Third Order Treasures. Lin Tianming only made a few tentative bids, but ultimately, because the final prices were too high and didn¡¯t seem worth it, he stopped planning to continue bidding. Despite not gaining much afterward, Lin Tianming was still very satisfied with this Golden Core auction. After all, the dozen or so auction items so far were mostly exquisite items among Third Grade Treasures, with each one reaching high final bid prices. Such a scene, even without much gain, was also an eye-opener. However, the sixteenth auction item piqued Lin Tianming¡¯s interest. It turned out to be an inner pill from a Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast with a Fire Attribute. For this treasure, Lin Tianming did want to try and win it, to see if it could help the Purple Gold Eagle break through to the Third Order in the future. The reason he had this idea was that his cultivation level had increased, and the gap between him and Xiao Diao was growing wider. And Xiao Diao had accumulated numerous merits over the years and was one of the first Spirit Beasts to submit to him. Besides, Xiao Diao hadn¡¯t received much resources support from the family in the past years, so it had always been at the peak of Second Order, just a step away from the Third Order. Now that he had finally encountered an inner pill from a Fire Attribute Demon Beast¡ªand one from a Third Order Medium Stage, no less¡ª With this Demon Core, he believed that it could lend a helping hand to Xiao Diao to attempt breaking through to a higher level. In such a situation, faced with this rare Demon Beast inner pill, Lin Tianming began to bid. ¡°Seven thousand four hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Seven thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming shouted out a price, which was instantly surpassed by other cultivators¡¯ bids. However, even faced with such prices, Lin Tianming did not intend to give up easily. ¡°Eight thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Eight thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Eight thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The price continued to rise, with several cultivators still bidding, including He Zhengsong who had been bidding all along. Lin Tianming was somewhat helpless at this point, but he was wealthy, not lacking in Spirit Stones. Moreover, once Xiao Diao succeeded in using this Demon Beast inner pill to break through to the Third Order, it would allow them to travel faster and more safely on their journey. ¡°` ¡°` In addition, if Xiao Diao successfully breaks through to the Third Order, its combat power is bound to increase significantly. With the assistance of Xiao Diao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, plus the strength of the couple, even if they encounter a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, they might not necessarily be their match. It can be said that, from any perspective, this Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill is absolutely worth bidding all out for. Realizing this, Lin Tianming did not back down, and in one breath increased the bid by a thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, raising the auction price to 9,700 Medium-grade Spirit Stones. Such a price, coupled with such a bold bidding style, instantly stunned many Golden Core Cultivators. Including He Zhengsong, who had previously been very active in the bidding, who was now somewhat surprised. After all, Lin Tianming had already spent over 8,000 Spirit Stones on the Yuan Essence Fruit just now, and now he was about to bid nearly 10,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones for this Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill. Two rounds of bidding like this would consume 20,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones, which equates to two million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Such wealth is not to be underestimated. However, the total value of one¡¯s treasures and the actual Spirit Stones they can produce are two different things. You should know that in the current Golden Crow Cultivation World, the total value of the wealth and treasures of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator is definitely more than three million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, not to mention Mid and Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators. For some Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, their total treasures easily exceed several million Spirit Stones, and the actual Spirit Stones they can utilize are typically around two or three million. Even some Third Order Alchemist or Artifact Refiners have higher values, but the Spirit Stones they can produce are also limited. Take He Zhengsong himself, his accumulation over the years has a value of over ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, but without using his own treasures, the amount of Spirit Stones he can produce at once is only about four million. It is for this reason that he has already made several bids previously, having spent nearly two million Spirit Stones. Now, without reaching the final highlight item, he has already spent nearly half of his Spirit Stones. If he encounters more desirable treasures later on, he would inevitably miss out due to insufficient Spirit Stones. Therefore, when Lin Tianming bid this price, it not only surprised him but also made him hesitant. But soon, He Zhengsong decided to tentatively call out a price, making a last-ditch effort. If Lin Tianming continued to bid, he would give up. But if Lin Tianming did not increase the bid, he would get the Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill. With his mind made up, He Zhengsong shouted loudly: ¡°10,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Tianming did not pause at all, and without any hesitation, shouted a new price. ¡°10,500 Medium-grade Spirit Stones!¡± This price came out, and He Zhengsong felt somewhat helpless and even more angered. You have to know, he comes from the Three Poisons Sect, possesses Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, and he had reached the standard of a Third Order Alchemist early on in his years. Exaggeration aside, his reputation is extremely resounding throughout Golden Crow Country, with almost every local cultivator having heard of him more or less. It is for this reason that the Golden Core Cultivators in the Golden Crow Cultivation World almost all show him some respect. But now, the person in the No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room across from him didn¡¯t give him any face at all. They would raise the bidding price soon after each of his bids. Moreover, from the tone of Lin Tianming¡¯s bids, it was clear he was determined to win, hence there was no hesitation. Such actions truly made him, an arrogant and venerable Golden Core Expert, feel disrespected. So, He Zhengsong snorted coldly and then communicated through the air: ¡°I am He Zhengsong, I have a great use for this Demon Pill, how about the fellow Daoist across give me some face?¡± ¡°Should you give up the bidding, I will make friends with you, what do you say?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming replied indifferently with a smile: ¡°He has worried too much!¡± ¡°You should know that the rule of the auction has always been that the highest bidder wins, has He not known this rule after roaming Golden Crow Country for more than two hundred years?¡± ¡°If He truly intends to bid, feel free to raise the price, I am fully prepared to accompany you to the end.¡± Lin Tianming flatly refused, giving no face to He Zhengsong and his indirectly threatening words. ¡°Ha ha¡­ good¡­ very well!¡± He Zhengsong, suppressing his anger, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. However, he did not continue to bid, obviously giving up on the chance to obtain the Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1072 03-25 - 1072 563 Qingmu Cauldron ?Chapter 1072: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron Chapter 1072: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron At this moment, the auction venue fell into a brief silence, where one could nearly hear a pin drop. Lin Tianming did not take He Zhengsong¡¯s threats seriously, not only did he not give face, but he also openly mocked him. Such a scene also sparked discussions among some VIP rooms. However, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about these opinions and was not overly cautious. In his eyes, although the Three Poisons Sect, where He Zhengsong belonged, was a force comparable to the Longqing Sect, with considerable overall strength. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Including He Zhengsong himself, who was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator and had been in the Golden Core Stage for over two hundred years, his strength was definitely formidable. Furthermore, being a Third Order Alchemy Master, his network was undoubtedly vast, calling him a veteran Golden Core Cultivator with both strength and connections was not an exaggeration at all. ... But even so, Lin Tianming was not too wary of him. After all, the strength of him and his wife compared to He Zhengsong was not weak, plus the overall strength of the Lin Family was not much less than that of the Three Poisons Sect. With such a solid backing, why would Lin Tianming be easily intimidated by He Zhengsong¡¯s few threatening words? Besides, with Lin Tianming¡¯s personality, if He Zhengsong had been more polite and negotiable, it might have been possible for him to give up continuing the bidding. But He Zhengsong was so arrogant and aggressive, not only was his tone and attitude terrible, but he also directly threatened. In his view, this action was a total disregard for him. Towards such a person, Lin Tianming naturally would not be polite. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Thus, Lin Tianming also did not show a good face, nor was he likely to easily submit. In this tense atmosphere, the auction venue fell into silence, eerily quiet. At this point, the auctioneer Xie Yingshan, seeing that no higher bids were forthcoming, especially from He Zhengsong, who did not seem interested in bidding further. As such, Xie Yingshan had no choice but to publicly announce, ¡°This Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill will be sold for 10,500 Medium-grade Spirit Stones to the friend in room number 20.¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Lin Tianming had a smile on his face, his mood unaffected. He then prepared the exact amount of Spirit Stones and successfully completed the transaction with Xie Yingshan on the spot. It wasn¡¯t until he held the head-sized Monster Beast Inner Pill in his hands and carefully examined it, that he showed a satisfied expression. And at that moment, this high-priced auction item was officially declared closed. The auction continued. Under the management of Xie Yingshan, several more lots were auctioned off, each being Third Grade Treasures of high quality. As for the final prices of these auction items, they were all around 10,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones, roughly the same as what Lin Tianming had previously bid for the Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill, obviously all being quite exquisite treasures. However, for the subsequent few items, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t very interested, so he did not bid again to avoid drawing unnecessary trouble by being too high-profile. By now, after auctioning about twenty treasures, the entire auction was gradually coming to an end. When a Third Order Spiritual Ore was sold for 13,000 Spirit Stones, a high price surpassing any other item previously sold, The atmosphere in the entire auction venue had reached its climax. Seeing such a scene, Xie Yingshan, the host, and the manager of the auction process, felt very satisfied at this moment. After quieting down for a moment, Xie Yingshan chuckled, then his loud voice resonated throughout the venue. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, all regular auction items have now been successfully sold!¡± ¡°Next, we will proceed to the last three key items, please be ready!¡± After saying this, Xie Yingshan ignored some joking comments, immediately patting his storage bag. Quickly, a green cauldron appeared in his hand. Looking at it, the cauldron was only palm-sized, the entire green body was covered with fine runes, and the pattern was quite unique, giving it a rather exquisite appearance. As this scene unfolded, many from the VIP rooms engaged in discussions. ¡°It¡¯s the Qingmu Cauldron!¡± ¡°Ha¡­ The Longqing Sect is truly generous this time, even willing to auction off this cauldron.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost two hundred years since Old Ghost Luo passed away, even his cherished cauldron has now been put up for auction as the final item, truly poignant.¡± ¡­ Hearing this, Lin Tianming roughly understood the origin of this cauldron. It seemed that the Qingmu Cauldron was a Dan Furnace left behind by a Golden Core Stage predecessor of the Longqing Sect, and only a few hundred years old. Now for some reason, the Longqing Sect had placed this cauldron as the final auction item, clearly giving great importance to this Golden Core Auction Venue. Such a scene also surprised Lin Tianming, stirring some emotions in his heart. After all, a Treasure Cauldron is extremely difficult to refine, and its value is quite high, much more expensive than ordinary offensive and defensive Magical Treasures, and the difficulty in refining it is significantly greater. Even sometimes, some common Fourth Order Treasures might not be as valuable as a Third Order Elixir Furnace Treasure. Therefore, Treasure level Dan Furnaces in the Cultivation World have always been a rarity, and each appearance inevitably causes a scramble. Just like the Qingyun Furnace that Lin Tianming obtained, which was the only Elixir Furnace Treasure left behind by the Golden Sword Sect. For this Furnace, the Lin Family also reluctantly gave up a lot of resources to obtain the ownership from Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Chapter 1073 03-25 - 1073 563 Qingmu Cauldron_2 ?Chapter 1073: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron_2 Chapter 1073: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron_2 Seeing this, one understands just how valuable a magical treasure grade pill furnace can be. Now, the Longqing Sect is actually willing to auction off a magical treasure pill furnace as the finale item, clearly sparing no expense. However, such an action also reflects the profound depth of the Longqing Sect¡¯s foundation. After all, a magical treasure pill furnace is hard to come by; selling one means one less in possession, and getting another back or refining a new one afterwards would be immensely difficult and cost a great deal in terms of financial and material resources. As such, typical Golden Core forces would not sell a treasure like a magical treasure pill furnace. But now, the Longqing Sect has opted to auction the Qingmu Cauldron, which reflects that the Longqing Sect certainly possesses more than one magical treasure grade pill furnace internally. Otherwise, even if the Longqing Sect does not have many Third Order Alchemy Masters, they would not easily offer such a foundational treasure as the Qingmu Cauldron. ... Therefore, this shows how truly profound the Longqing Sect¡¯s resources are, worthy of being one of the three great sects of the Golden Crow Country and subtly the strongest force. After calming himself a bit, Lin Tianming plans to bid for this pill furnace. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his view, although the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is on par with that of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, they clearly lack behind the other two great sects in terms of high-level treasures and the number of core competent family members. Like this magical treasure pill furnace, if he were to win it, Ye Pinghai who is already a Third Order Alchemist would be able to use it immediately. Additionally, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin are both in the late stage of Foundation Establishment and are Second Order Superior Alchemists. Given their talent and potential, it¡¯s very likely they could advance to the Golden Core Stage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï At that time, they will sooner or later reach the level of Third Order Alchemists. Truly, if that becomes the case, even if the Lin Family obtained two more magical treasure pill furnaces, they wouldn¡¯t worry about them being unused. Realizing this, Lin Tianming is determined to win this magical treasure. After all, he currently isn¡¯t lacking in spirit stones; even though he already spent twenty thousand medium-grade spirit stones previously to purchase the Yuan Essence Fruit and the inner core of a Third Order Demon Beast, he still has tens of thousands of spirit stones on hand. Furthermore, considering the spirit stone reserves also held by Qin Xi, his spouse and him don¡¯t need to worry about spirit stones in the short term. Knowing this, Lin Tianming watched for a while, then immediately joined the bidding process. In an instant, bidding sounds continuously echoed throughout the venue. ¡°Sixteen thousand two hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡°Sixteen thousand five hundred spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Seventeen thousand five hundred spirit stones!¡± Lin Tianming raised the bid by a thousand medium-grade spirit stones in one go, equivalent to one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. This degree of bidding increment would consume almost half the wealth of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Yet still, there were several cultivators continuing to bid, including He Zhengsong who had been active earlier. As Lin Tianming¡¯s bid came in, He Zhengsong also spoke without hesitation, ¡°Eighteen thousand spirit stones!¡± Hearing this price, Lin Tianming chuckled and then shouted again: ¡°Twenty thousand medium-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°What? Twenty thousand medium-grade spirit stones?¡± ¡°This fellow daoist is generous indeed, raising directly by two thousand medium-grade spirit stones!¡± At this time, hearing the price from Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP heavenly room initiated some mutterings among the crowd. Lin Tianming, hearing this, was unconcerned and chose to ignore them. At this moment, he only wanted to secure this pill furnace at all costs, to further deepen the Lin Family¡¯s foundation. After all, good treasures are hard to come by, especially a magical treasure grade pill furnace, which is rarely seen even normally. And spirit stones, once reaching the Golden Core stage, aren¡¯t as useful as they were during the Foundation Establishment period. Because even common Third Grade Treasures can be purchased with medium-grade spirit stones. Upon encountering some rare and valuable Third Grade Treasures, even possessing Medium-grade Spirit Stones does not guarantee an easy purchase. Thus, there¡¯s no point in talking about Fourth Order treasures, as there is simply no possibility of trading with Mid-Low Grade Spirit Stones alone. Given these circumstances, having an abundance of Spirit Stones is meaningless, and it would be better to use them to enhance the family¡¯s foundation. For this reason, Lin Tianming raised the bid by two thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones in one go, hoping to deter other competitors and to secure the Qingmu Cauldron with less cost. Sure enough, as his price was quoted, the five bidders for this treasure dwindled down to only He Zhengsong, a man known for his great wealth, who now hesitated. After a long while, He Zhengsong too, on the basis of Lin Tianming¡¯s price, increased the bid by a thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones in one breath. With his actions, it seemed he was also trying to deter Lin Tianming, prompting him to back off early. However, Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, shouted: ¡°Twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s additional bid of two thousand Spirit Stones once again brought more excitement to the entire venue. At this time, many cultivators in the VIP rooms were privately speculating about the identity of the power or which individual Loose Cultivator represented by No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room. However, these VIP rooms were secured with restrictions, and no one but the host, the Longqing Sect, could know the origins of these two individuals. In fact, it is even possible that Longqing Sect didn¡¯t know their identities, assuming privately that they were just traveling Loose Cultivators, or perhaps disciples of some Great Sect or powerful families. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s generous spending, knowing full well of He Zhengsong¡¯s identity, power, and connections, and still confidently rejecting any threat. Such backbone is not something typical Loose Cultivators or individuals from Sect Families with shallow backgrounds could possess. Following such a bid increase by Lin Tianming, He Zhengsong was left furious and somewhat powerless. At this moment, inside He Zhengsong¡¯s VIP room. He was seen sitting on a luxurious armchair made of precious materials, his gaze fixed on the opposite No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room, his expression ominously grim. Not only that, He Zhengsong slightly moved his arm, and the armrest of his chair directly became powdered. Clearly, He Zhengsong was very angry, and his heart was full of murderous intent. Seeing such a scene, the two direct disciples behind He Zhengsong were equally terrified, fearing that they might get caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, He Zhengsong still retained a bit of rationale and did not vent his anger on them. ¡°Forget it, forget it¡­¡± ¡°To the fellow daoist in the No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room, you have repeatedly opposed me, I have taken note of you!¡± ¡°Once I find out your origins and track down your whereabouts, I will surely flay and debone you, letting you know the consequences of offending me.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± He Zhengsong cursed resentfully, killing intent uncontrollably seeping out. But soon, he forcibly maintained his silence, not making any further moves. At this time, silence lingered in the auction hall, and no one continued to bid higher than Lin Tianming¡¯s high price. Seeing this situation, Xie Yingshan from the venue was also excited and nodded. Then, he loudly announced, ¡°Congratulations to the fellow daoist in the No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room for successfully bidding the Qingmu Cauldron for twenty-three thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as his words fell, Lin Tianming threw out a storage bag that passed through the restrictions and landed securely in Xie Yingshan¡¯s hands. Then, after Xie Yingshan inspected it, he threw out the Qingmu Cauldron, which Lin Tianming remotely grabbed into his possession. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the pill furnace in front of him, unable to let go of his fond feelings. Upon his initial examination, the quality and spirituality of the Qingmu Cauldron were quite good, hardly inferior to his current Qingyun Furnace, and perhaps even better. ¡°Indeed, worthy of an old pill furnace, the previous owner seems to have been quite reputable. Such a pill furnace, quality and spirituality are also extremely good!¡± Lin Tianming muttered softly, not at all heartbroken over the price of over twenty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, but instead feeling it was very much worth it. ¡­ Chapter 1074 03-25 - 1074 564 Luoyin Bug ?Chapter 1074: Chapter 564 Luoyin Bug Chapter 1074: Chapter 564 Luoyin Bug Auction venue, No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room. Lin Tianming toyed with the Qingmu Cauldron for a while, and when his palm touched the delicate Pill Furnace, his eyes revealed an affectionate gaze that he couldn¡¯t let go. Having finally suppressed the joy in his heart, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze and continued to pay attention to the progress of the auction. As the bidding for the Qingmu Cauldron came to an end, only the last two out of the three finale items remained to be auctioned, but the value of the first finale item was already very high, after all, the final transaction price was a whopping twenty-three thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. It was foreseeable that if the first finale item could fetch such a price, the value of the subsequent two finale items would definitely be even higher. It was even possible that items suitable for Core Formation or even Fourth Tier Items might appear. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such expectations, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi perked up and continued to focus on every move in the center of the venue. ... At this time, Xie Yingshan was in a good mood, because the Qingmu Cauldron, as one of the finale items, fetched an unexpectedly high price. Not only that, but the prices for the previous twenty-plus treasures were all not low, and the bidding atmosphere on site was extremely lively. Such a scene was exactly what the Longqing Sect wanted to see. Now that only the last two finale items were left to be auctioned, the final transaction price would certainly not be low. Knowing this, as Xie Yingshan calmed his emotions, already several Cultivators in the VIP rooms couldn¡¯t wait and promptly urged the bidding to continue. Seeing this, Xie Yingshan dared not delay. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? At this moment, with a wave of his sleeve, a Jade Box appeared in his hand. Then, Xie Yingshan opened the Jade Box, revealing a completely transparent fruit that looked quite lovely. As this item appeared, many in the audience gasped in surprise, their voices passing through the restrictions of the VIP rooms, allowing every Cultivator present to hear clearly. ¡°Wuyi Fruit!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ It really is the Wuyi Fruit!¡± Hearing these voices, and looking at the fruit in the Jade Box, Lin Tianming was also extremely surprised. The reason for this was that Lin Tianming remembered the origin of this fruit. It turned out that the Wuyi Fruit was an extremely precious Third Order Spiritual Fruit in the Cultivation World, hardly seen on a regular basis, and its effects were particularly peculiar and unique. According to the rumors, the Wuyi Fruit had a certain probability of helping Cultivators quickly improve their attainments in the Four Arts of Cultivation. For example, a Second Order Superior Alchemist, after consuming this fruit, would have a significantly reduced difficulty when attempting to advance to a Third Order Alchemy Master. This held true for the other arts as well, all benefiting similarly. Even a Third Order Alchemy Master consuming the Wuyi Fruit could to some extent increase their own insight, with overall effects somewhat similar to a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. However, in terms of value, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items were slightly more valuable. Nevertheless, the value of the Wuyi Fruit was still very high, and in the current Cultivation World, it was extremely rare. At the very least, if it appeared normally, it would be snatched up by major powers. And now, at the Golden Core Auction Venue, the emergence of such a treasure was far beyond Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. While Lin Tianming was surprised, Xie Yingshan¡¯s voice had already spread from below. ¡°One Wuyi Fruit, with a starting bid of eighteen thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, each bid increment must not be less than one hundred Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as the words fell, vehement bidding began to resonate throughout the venue. ¡°Eighteen thousand five hundred Spirit Stones¡­¡± ¡°Eighteen thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± After just over ten rounds of bidding, the price of the Wuyi Fruit had already exceeded twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones, nearly matching the price Lin Tianming had initially paid for the Qingmu Cauldron. And this wasn¡¯t all; the price was still climbing, with the bidding process remaining intense. At this time, there were still as many as seven Cultivators participating in the bidding, clearly all from Golden Crow Country¡¯s Golden Core Sects or Golden Core Family Cultivators. The reason for this was the high value of the Wuyi Fruit. Ordinary Loose Cultivators or small families would have to spend nearly half of their wealth to possibly win this treasure from those long-established powers. Including Lin Tianming, seeing that these people¡¯s bids all started with a minimum increase of five hundred Medium-grade Spirit Stones, for a moment, Lin Tianming too was stunned by their crazy bidding. Not long after, another ten or so rounds of bidding ended, and the price of the Wuyi Fruit had reached twenty-eight thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, nearly approaching the thirty thousand Spirit Stone threshold. At this moment, Lin Tianming, originally still interested in competing, began to hesitate upon seeing such a fervent bidding scene. In his opinion, it was highly probable that the final price of this Wuyi Fruit would break through thirty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. For such a high price, he personally could afford it. But if he were to get involved, it would likely attract the attention of all Cultivators. After all, he had been conspicuous enough so far by participating in several auctions, already drawing enough attention. If he were to forcefully compete with those major powers for this treasure, it would likely arouse suspicion and could even become a direct target. And although the Wuyi Fruit was rare and valuable, for him personally, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors and his own Alchemy Talent, even if he consumed the fruit, the improvement would be limited. Considering this, Lin Tianming pondered over and over again and decided not to participate in the competition. It wasn¡¯t that he was reluctant to spend Spirit Stones, nor did he not desire the treasure, but to take such a risk for such a small gain seemed not worthwhile. Chapter 1075 03-25 - 1075 564 Luoyin Bug_2 ?Chapter 1075: Chapter 564: Luoyin Bug_2 Chapter 1075: Chapter 564: Luoyin Bug_2 Fully aware of the importance, Lin Tianming remained an observer, discussing the fierce bidding below with his spouse. Soon, after several more rounds of price increases, the number of participants in the auction dwindled. In the end, the Wuyi Fruit was sold for thirty-one thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. The person who obtained this treasure was none other than He Zhengsong from the VIP room. With the auction of this treasure concluded, Xie Yingshan adjusted the pacing and then brought out the final showpiece item. At this moment, Xie Yingshan was holding a wooden stick as thick as one¡¯s arm in his hand. Looking over, the stick was greenish-brown, less than two feet in length, adorned with fiery red spots, and carried an indescribable fragrance. ... Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing this item, the cultivators in the various VIP rooms immediately inquired, ¡°Xie Daoyou, is that object in your hands the Fourth Order Spiritual Material, Chunlin Wood?¡± Hearing this, Xie Yingshan chuckled. ¡°Hehe¡­ Dear cultivators, you truly have insightful eyes. As for this treasure, it is indeed the Fourth Order Spiritual Material, Chunlin Wood.¡± ¡°It really is that item!¡± ¡°What a pity, what a pity¡­ This piece of Chunlin Wood seems somewhat insufficient, as if it¡¯s somehow lacking in value.¡± ¡°If we had about ten or eight of these sticks, plus some other Fourth Order Treasures, perhaps it would be possible to refine a Spiritual Treasure.¡± ¡°Listening to Lu Daoyou, it does seem to be the case!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Some cultivators began to discuss, and the atmosphere, compared to when Chunlin Wood first appeared, was clearly much more subdued. Evidently, the reputation of Chunlin Wood was not small, and its value was extremely high. However, a certain amount of Chunlin Wood was needed to maximize its utility. Therefore, the modest amount of Chunlin Wood available seemed unable to pique many cultivators¡¯ interest. Including Lin Tianming himself, who had also read about Chunlin Wood in various books. In his view, the quantity did seem insufficient at this moment, making it seem somewhat underwhelming, so he had no intention of bidding. Yet even so, because Chunlin Wood was very hard to come by, its value was still evident. Even if it couldn¡¯t serve its purpose now, accumulating it slowly, there would eventually be a day when enough is gathered to display its massive potential. Under these circumstances, as Xie Yingshan announced the starting bid of thirty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, four people from VIP rooms still began to bid. Lin Tianming watched the whole bidding process with interest, finding it quite entertaining. After more than ten rounds of bidding, the Chunlin Wood was finally won by the cultivator in VIP Room No. 12, with the final price being thirty-nine thousand Spirit Stones. Such a price once again set a new record for all auctioned items and was worthy of being the finale treasure. With the conclusion of the Chunlin Wood auction, the entire auction also drew to a close. At this time, after some closing words from Xie Yingshan, the cultivators in the VIP rooms gradually left the auction house. Lin Tianming and his spouse waited for a short while before leaving the auction house together. As they walked along the streets of the market, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully expanded, paying close attention to every movement around them. He did this to see if anyone was following them. After all, during this auction, he had been an active participant and had publicly rejected He Zhengsong¡¯s threats, attracting the attention of many cultivators. Especially He Zhengsong, who relied on his cultivation power and the reputation of being a Third Order Alchemy Master, was always arrogant and vindictive, resulting in a rather negative reputation. Therefore, Lin Tianming had to be careful. Fortunately, his worries were unfounded, as his investigation seemed to show no one was tailing them along the way. After that, Lin Tianming and his companion did not delay and left Longqing Market as soon as they could, quickly vanishing into the horizon. After a short while, Lin Tianming met with Tang Xiuping of Sky Dragon Pavilion in a valley a hundred miles from the market. As instructed by Tang Xiuping, Lin Tianming came here to meet up with him to go deep into the Golden Crow Mountain Range and collect the He Yuan Guo Tree and the Heyuan Fruits. After exchanging greetings and chatting briefly, Lin Tianming brought up the main matter at hand. Seeing how serious and expectant Lin Tianming was, Tang Xiuping also didn¡¯t want to delay, for fear of unexpected changes. With that, Tang Xiuping led the way, and the three of them flew together in a certain direction. ¡­ At the same time, half an hour after Lin Tianming and the others left, two Blue-Robed Cultivators also left the workshop together and flew towards the direction where Lin Tianming had disappeared. Half a moment later, the two Blue-Robed Cultivators appeared on a mountaintop, and one of them, looking in a certain direction, slowly spoke. ¡°He Zhengsong, are you sure it¡¯s this way?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Yu Lihong, when have I ever made a mistake in these two hundred odd years?¡± He Zhengsong replied with a faint smile, but then showed a displeased expression, clearly not liking his judgment being questioned. Yu Lihong, hearing this, nodded awkwardly and then flattering said, ¡°Haha¡­ Indeed!¡± ¡°With Brother He¡¯s Demon Insect¡¯s Innate Divine Ability to assist, even if that lad tries to hide, no matter how fast he is, he ultimately won¡¯t be able to escape brother¡¯s tracking.¡± Upon hearing these words, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression softened somewhat, apparently quite pleased with Yu Lihong¡¯s flattery. Subsequently, He Zhengsong patted the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist, and a palm-sized bug appeared in his hand as if from nowhere. On closer inspection, this insect was dark brown all over, with thin, transparent wings. On its back was a smooth carapace with distinctive spots, and its appearance looked somewhat fierce. More importantly, despite the Demon Insect¡¯s small size, it had an incredibly powerful aura; it was an early-stage Third Order Demon Insect. If anyone present could recognize this insect, they would realize that it was the notorious Luoyin Bug. The Luoyin Bug¡¯s reputation was not modest; among the myriad Demon Insects of the Cultivation World, it was considered an exceedingly rare and special existence. The reason for this was because of the unique and peculiar Innate Divine Abilities of the Luoyin Bug. According to rumors, the Luoyin Bug could remember various sounds and scents to track its host from a distance. Moreover, it could also use sound waves to attack its target, making its Divine Skills particularly elusive and unpredictable. If the target was unprepared or too careless, they might be silently killed without any warning. For this reason, the Luoyin Bug¡¯s reputation stood out among the myriad of Demon Insects and was one of the most feared among its peers. Using this Luoyin Bug, He Zhengsong had managed to surprise and severely wound or even kill several cultivators of the same rank over the years. It can be said that He Zhengsong¡¯s achievements today could not have been possible without this Luoyin Bug. At this moment, He Zhengsong paid little attention to Yu Lihong. Looking at the bug in front of him, he bit his fingertip, and a drop of fresh blood fell onto the back of the Demon Insect, quickly disappearing. The Demon Insect seemed to relish his blood, chirping excitedly. Then, He Zhengsong made a strange hand gesture and released his Divine Sense, seemingly performing some arcane act. However, soon after, he showed a satisfied smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ That guy went deep into the Golden Crow Mountain Range!¡± ¡°It¡¯s good this way, killing that guy there; no matter what his identity or background might be, presumably, no one will find out, nor will it reveal our whereabouts.¡± He Zhengsong said with a smile, then looked at the Demon Insect in front of him with a pleased expression. On hearing He Zhengsong¡¯s words, Yu Lihong was similarly animated. ¡°Brother He, most of the cultivators attending the Golden Core auction, we recognize them and have dealt with them to an extent.¡± ¡°Just now, those youngsters said that fellow has a very unfamiliar face, and has always kept a low profile. If he hadn¡¯t entered the auction house, no one would have even noticed his level of cultivation.¡± ¡°Such caution and secretive behavior suggest he¡¯s not from our Golden Crow Country.¡± ¡°However, he has bid for many treasures, so he likely has the goods on him, and his own wealth must be substantial.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If we quickly catch up and kill him, we will definitely gain a handsome reward.¡± Yu Lihong excitedly said, his face showing impatient eagerness. At this time, He Zhengsong, looking ahead, couldn¡¯t help but smirk sinisterly upon hearing Yu Lihong¡¯s analysis, seemingly confident in the upcoming pursuit. ¡°Cackle cackle cackle¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­ Let¡¯s catch up and reclaim what should belong to us, and maybe make a tidy profit!¡± He Zhengsong said excitedly. Subsequently, the Luoyin Bug took off in a certain direction at an inconceivable speed. Seeing this, He Zhengsong did not delay any longer. He immediately led Yu Lihong to follow the direction in which the Luoyin Bug had flown. In a short while, two men and a bug turned into several shadows that disappeared into the gloomy sky. ¡­ Chapter 1076 03-25 - 1076 565 Black Demon Ape ?Chapter 1076: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape Chapter 1076: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape ¡°` Golden Crow Mountain Range. Atop a certain peak deep within the mountain range, three dark shadows descended from the sky, finally revealing their figures. It was not until these three dark shadows stood firm that their facial features became clear, and they were none other than Lin Tianming and his wife, along with Tang Xiuping. After more than half a month of traveling, Tang Xiuping, leading Lin Tianming and his partner, took several turns in direction, finally arriving here. Obviously, Tang Xiuping was also very cautious about this treasure-hunting process; otherwise, he would not have changed directions several times midway. However, as for this behavior, Lin Tianming did not pay much attention to Tang Xiuping¡¯s cautiousness. In his eyes, as long as Tang Xiuping kept his promise and led him to the Heyuan Guo Tree, that would suffice. ... The rest would be up to him to handle. And he himself was not particularly interested in the treasure that did not belong to him. With this in mind, Lin Tianming naturally did not say much, just followed Tang Xiuping with peace of mind until they arrived here. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the dense jungle below the mountain peak and did not know the exact location of this place. Therefore, Lin Tianming still asked. ¡°Daoist Tang, how far are we from our destination on this trip?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Hearing this, Tang Xiuping took out a map and examined it carefully. Then, Tang Xiuping spoke: ¡°Replying to Elder Lin, we have now entered deep into the Golden Crow Mountain Range. It should take us a few more days¡¯ journey to reach our destination.¡± Hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s response, Lin Tianming nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, during this time, they had certainly crossed a vast distance and encountered many diverse and dangerous terrains. In addition, on their journey, they encountered quite a few Second Order Demonic Beasts with not small packs, and their overall strength was truly formidable. Moreover, several days ago, Lin Tianming, using his powerful Divine Sense, detected several strong presences nearby their route, clearly identified as Third Order Demonic Beasts. However, the trio led by Lin Tianming did not waste time, nor did they intend to engage in battles. Thus, unbeknownst to those Demonic Beasts, they eventually reached this place. Having gone through these processes, it also indicated that they had arrived at the deepest part of the Golden Crow Mountain Range. Here, the Demonic Beasts were at least Second Order Late Phase or above, and Third Order Demonic Beasts were not in the minority. It could be said that this place was rarely trodden by humans and exceedingly dangerous, indeed suitable for the growth of Heaven and Earth Treasures. Knowing this, Lin Tianming became somewhat impatient. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming casually chatted with Tang Xiuping for a few moments before continuing on their journey. Several days later. Lin Tianming and the trio came upon the outskirts of a valley. At this time, Lin Tianming and his companions stood on top of a small hill. Tang Xiuping looked at the valley in front of them, then pointed in the direction of the valley and said: ¡°Elder Lin, this valley is the hidden location of the He Yuan Guo Tree.¡± Hearing this, a sharp gaze pierced through the layers of dense fog, scrutinizing the valley before him. Looking over, the valley did not seem to be very large, but inside, many huge boulders were scattered all over the land, and a dense jungle covered a part of the valley. Moreover, a thick layer of fog perpetually shrouded the valley¡¯s airspace, which somewhat affected Divine Sense when it traveled inside. Such a landscape seemed somewhat sinister and most certainly was not a stable place. Especially Lin Tianming himself, having been exposed to many dangerous places, had a keen sense of danger. Seeing such a scene now, he immediately became fully alert. At this moment, Tang Xiuping continued: ¡°Elder Lin, unless something unexpected happens, inside this valley should be the lair of a Third Grade Medium Stage Black Demon Ape.¡± ¡°Black Demon Ape?¡± Hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, Lin Tianming was a bit surprised. He had heard of the Black Demon Ape and had seen descriptions of it in some classics. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Black Demon Ape was also considered a well-known entity among Third Order Demonic Beasts. What Lin Tianming was more concerned about were the key characteristics of the Black Demon Ape. According to Lin Tianming¡¯s recollection, the classics recorded it as such: It is said that inside the Black Demon Ape resided a trace of the bloodline of an Ancient Demon Ape, therefore its Qi-Blood was extremely strong, with both formidable Attack Power and defensive power. Moreover, the Black Demon Ape combined that with terrifying mobility. Combining these circumstances, it can be said without exaggeration that the Black Demon Ape hardly had any significant weaknesses. Because of this, the overall strength of the Black Demon Ape was very strong, indeed a formidable opponent. However, even so, Lin Tianming was not too nervous. In his eyes, as long as it was not a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, considering his current strength, there was no need to be overly cautious. And according to what Tang Xiuping had told him, the Black Demon Ape was only at the grade of Third Grade Medium Stage, and even if it was strong, it was not very likely to pose a fatal threat to him. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming remained calm and withdrew his probing gaze. Then, Lin Tianming looked at Tang Xiuping and slowly said: ¡°Daoist Tang, let¡¯s go in and take a look first. If there is only one Black Demon Ape inside, there¡¯s no need to be overly cautious.¡± Hearing this, and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confident expression, Tang Xiuping nodded. At this time, Lin Tianming, seeing that Tang Xiuping had no objections, then turned to Qin Xi beside him and said: ¡°Xi¡¯er, keep an eye on Daoist Tang for a moment, don¡¯t let anything happen to him.¡± ¡°` Chapter 1077 03-25 - 1077 565 Black Demon Ape_2 ?Chapter 1077: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape_2 Chapter 1077: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape_2 ¡°As for the Black Demon Ape, leave it to me!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Qin Xi nodded and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ming, with me here, nothing unexpected will happen to Daoist Tang!¡± At this moment, upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping also heaved a sigh of relief, his expression significantly changing. Initially, he was a bit nervous, fearing that Lin Tianming might not be a match for the Black Demon Ape. Now it seems that Lin Tianming is so confident, and the woman before him is also a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. With two Golden Core Stage Experts joining forces, the success rate of this trip has greatly increased, and his own safety has also greatly soared. With this in mind, Tang Xiuping finally relaxed. ... After calming down a bit, Tang Xiuping then said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, the junior would like to thank the senior for your care.¡± ¡°But Elder Lin should still be careful, after all, that creature has an extraordinary innate bloodline, and its strength is indeed formidable.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then continued, ¡°Follow closely behind me, we are going to enter the canyon now!¡± Having said this, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and the Tiangang Sword instantly appeared in his hand. Behind him, Qin Xi also pulled out her Aqua Blue Longsword, fully prepared. Including Tang Xiuping, who also took out his Magic Artifact, clutching it tightly in his hand, and another hand holding two Third Order Talismans, ready to act at any moment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Only after doing all this did Tang Xiuping¡¯s expression soften a lot, and he seemed less tense than before. Seeing that everyone was ready, Lin Tianming did not delay. He leaped forward, leading the way into the interior of the gorge. Behind him, Tang Xiuping followed closely, with Qin Xi not willing to fall behind, sandwiching Tang Xiuping in the middle, ready to look after him at any time. Soon, Lin Tianming and the others rushed into the thick fog. At this point, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully activated, leading the two through a rugged path towards the inner part of the canyon. Along the way, Lin Tianming was constantly paying attention to every movement around them, leading the two and groping forward bit by bit. More than an hour later, the three of them had extended several dozen miles deep into the gorge. At this point, they reached an area densely covered with jungle. Lin Tianming paused briefly, hiding in a crevice in the rocks, scanning the surroundings. Just then, a loud roar came from deeper within the gorge. The noise was loud, accompanied by a crashing sound as if rocks were collapsing and giant trees were falling. Clearly, from the time Lin Tianming and his party entered the gorge, the occupying demonic beast had discovered them. Now, with such a big commotion suddenly in the originally quiet gorge, it immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. Especially Lin Tianming, who at this moment frowned tightly, ready for battle. ¡°Xi¡¯er, the Third Order Demon Beast is coming!¡± Lin Tianming gave a warning, then voluntarily moved forward, shielding the two behind him. Soon, a giant ape emerged from the dark gorge, stopping not far in front of Lin Tianming. Looking over, the giant ape was jet-black, at least over thirty feet tall, its body covered in distinct, greenish fur. At this moment, the giant ape stood before Lin Tianming, its pitch-black eyes staring at them, its facial expression somewhat ferocious. However, the ape¡¯s Spirit Wisdom seemed rather high; upon seeing Lin Tianming, it didn¡¯t act rashly. Its behavior seemed to indicate that it felt the terrifying aura of Lin Tianming. And it also understood that even if it fought desperately, it would likely not gain much advantage against this Human Cultivator before it. At this moment, Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t immediately act. As he stared at the giant ape before him, his expression serious, he couldn¡¯t help but mutter. ¡°Goodness, it really is a Third Grade Medium Stage Black Demon Ape!¡± Having come back to his senses, Lin Tianming and the Black Demon Ape¡¯s eyes met, each assessing the other. Several breaths later, the Black Demon Ape saw that Lin Tianming and the others had made no move and did not seem to be retreating. So, the Black Demon Ape suddenly let out a long howl to the sky, followed by pounding its chest and stomping its feet. In that instant, the aura of the Black Demon Ape was seen to be slowly increasing, and its momentum was climbing step by step. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming knew in his heart that the Black Demon Ape was still prepared to make a move. As for the actions of the Black Demon Ape, it should be boosting its momentum, adjusting to the best state for battle. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not plan to give the Black Demon Ape too many opportunities. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming shouted loudly: ¡°Xi¡¯er, take good care of Daoist Tang, I¡¯m going to make my move!¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming slapped his waist, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords appeared out of thin air. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming pinched a Law Decree, and spiritual lights bombarded the Earth Evil Swords. In that moment, the Earth Evil Swords spun wildly for a few turns, then quickly swept away, vanishing into the thick fog. At this time, Tang Xiuping saw the appearance of these Earth Evil Swords, his face changed and he exclaimed in alarm. ¡°Those¡­ those, are actually¡­ actually all treasure-level Spirit Swords!¡± ¡°My God¡­ what level of magical treasure is Elder Lin using, to deploy a total of seventy-two Treasure Swords, that¡¯s too extravagant and lavish.¡± Tang Xiuping¡¯s voice trembled, his face flushed extremely red. Clearly, although the quality of each Earth Evil Sword was rather ordinary, these were nevertheless seventy-two swords combined. Just forging these Earth Evil Swords, who knows how many Heaven and Earth Treasures would be consumed. Such magical treasures, for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, are simply unimaginable. Even Tang Xiuping, who came from the Tang Family of Qingzhou and was an executive officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, who had seen quite a few treasures and encountered many Golden Core Cultivators. Even within the Tang family itself, there are dozens of Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Yet even so, he had never seen anyone so lavish, deploying seventy-two treasure-grade longswords all at once. Such magical treasures, calling them priceless would not be an overstatement. And at this moment, under Tang Xiuping¡¯s shocked gaze, Lin Tianming had already dispersed all the Earth Evil Swords. His movements were fast, utilizing the fog¡¯s vapors, the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords were all distributed around the Black Demon Ape. The key point was, although the Black Demon Ape¡¯s Spirit Wisdom was not low, it still did not reach the level of an adult Human Race. Although the Black Demon Ape was initially confused, it quickly realized what was happening. Thus, in a rush, the Black Demon Ape moved its body, charging towards Lin Tianming. From a distance, the Black Demon Ape swung its fist, huge as boulders, flying straight towards Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s formation setup was too fast, and the Black Demon Ape was a step too late. As it had yet to reach Lin Tianming, it felt a tremendous oppressive force, which greatly affected its movement speed. In that instant, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s speed weakened, feeling as if carrying a mountain on its back, each step requiring much greater strength. Following that, streaks of Sword Qi passed in front of the Black Demon Ape, the accompanying Sword Qi causing its skin to feel a sharp stinging pain. By now, the Black Demon Ape had already felt Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, and more clearly understood that this situation was very disadvantageous for it. Thus, the Black Demon Ape roared furiously, its expression extremely fierce and terrifying. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± In an instant, the deafening roar spread throughout the entire valley, causing the surrounding mountains and stones to tremble as well. At this moment, outside of the Sword Array, in a crevice between rocks. The gap between Tang Xiuping¡¯s strength and that of the Black Demon Ape was simply too vast. When he heard this roar, he had no time to react, directly feeling dizzy and involuntarily spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. Seeing this, Qin Xi waved her jade hand, and an ice-cold Light Shield appeared, protecting Tang Xiuping within. With this Light Shield, Tang Xiuping felt much better, and gradually calmed down. ¡­ Chapter 1078 03-25 - 1078 566 Battle with the Giant Ape ?Chapter 1078: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape Chapter 1078: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape At this moment, Tang Xiuping, who had gradually calmed down, wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth as he observed Lin Tianming taking action. Then, Tang Xiuping cupped his hands toward Qin Xi and said, ¡°Many thanks for your assistance, Senior Qin!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Qin Xi replied somewhat indifferently, subsequently shifting her gaze to Lin Tianming, who was currently executing his move. Following her gaze, Lin Tianming had deployed the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Humming sounds¡­¡± In that instant, the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords formed the Sword Array, creating a robust barrier that enveloped the terrain for a thousand zhang all around. ... The Black Demon Ape, caught off guard, found itself right at the heart of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Witnessing this scene, Tang Xiuping was profoundly shaken. It was not that he was lacking in composure, but rather the number of Treasure Swords in Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Array was immense, their momentum when operated was truly terrifying. Such an attack, in Tang Xiuping¡¯s view, would obliterate a regular Third Order Demon Beast in just a few exchanges. At this time, Lin Tianming was not paying attention to this. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was operating at full force, exerting a strong oppressive power that continuously restricted every move of the Black Demon Ape. Simultaneously, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array roamed everywhere, each stream carrying an intimidating force. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï As for the Black Demon Ape inside the Sword Array, it was now under immense pressure and had become thoroughly enraged. In that very moment, one could see the Black Demon Ape beating its chest and stamping its feet, with its massive fists pounding on the chest, as its momentum climbed higher and higher. Soon, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body was emitting waves of light, and an enormous roar echoed throughout the entire canyon. When its momentum reached a certain level, the Black Demon Ape suddenly leaped up. It then threw a punch, and the stream of Sword Qi flying within the Sword Array was actually thrown off course by the force of that punch. In an instant, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s fist smashed into the barrier of the Sword Array. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise ensued, accompanied by a surge of dark light that swept across the sky. In that moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook violently a few times, then quickly returned to normal. Before this, Lin Tianming had already noticed the actions of the Black Demon Ape and immediately stabilized the Sword Array, ensuring its normal operation. Although the sudden attack launched by the Black Demon Ape was already very fast, Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Array was simply too strong. Even though it had just begun operating, it covered too vast an area, which made the barrier not as firm as when it was smaller in size. But his speed was equally fast, and almost all of his focus and energy were placed upon the Sword Array. Under his full control, the barrier of Earth Fiend Sword Formation firmly withstood the first round of attacks from the Black Demon Ape. Following that, the coverage of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to gradually shrink, and the solidity of the entire barrier also increased slowly. Until everything returned to normal, Lin Tianming looked at the enraged Black Demon Ape with surprise due to that strike. From this round of attacks, it was evident that the Black Demon Ape possessed substantial strength. After all, the Black Demon Ape itself was an entity of the Third Grade Medium Stage, and such a level of Demonic Beasts usually had formidable physical strength. Moreover, the Black Demon Ape possessed a trace of the Ancient Demon Ape¡¯s bloodline, with excellent inherent potential. Especially such Demonic Beasts, once they activate the Ancient Demon Ape bloodline, even just a hint, they could unleash astounding combat power. And the Black Demon Ape before them, although seemingly far from awakening its bloodline, With the grade of the Black Demon Ape itself, even a regular Demon Beast, when it fights desperately, has strength not to be underestimated, let alone a Demonic Beast like the Black Demon Ape. Thus, it can be said that the strength of the Black Demon Ape was indeed very formidable, probably a rare presence even within the entire Golden Crow Mountain Range. Knowing this, Lin Tianming remained vigilant against the enraged Black Demon Ape before him. So, Lin Tianming firmly stabilized the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At the same time, with a pinch of the Law Decree in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, the Tiangang Sword burst forth with a brilliance of Spiritual Light. Immediately afterward, the Tiangang Sword soared to the sky, hovering above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. ¡°Tiangang Ninth Sword!¡± With a loud shout from Lin Tianming, in an instant, the Tiangang Sword transformed into a mighty dragon, piercing through the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and heading straight for the Black Demon Ape. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Tiangang Sword was exceedingly fast, and the powerful momentum it generated turned into a Gang Wind that slapped directly onto the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body. The Black Demon Ape, upon seeing this commotion, became instantly panic-stricken. It was evident that the Spirit Wisdom of the Black Demon Ape was not low, recognizing the fierce attack incoming, it immediately felt a lethal threat. However, the Black Demon Ape was only momentarily alarmed before quickly calming down. Regaining its composure, the Black Demon Ape let out a furious roar and swung its massive fist once more, smashing it against the dragon-shaped Tiangang Sword. In the blink of an eye, they collided fiercely, and a dazzling light shone throughout the dark canyon. ¡°Bang¡­¡± An earth-shattering noise emitted, and the dragon shape burst apart, with the Tiangang Sword being flung away. At that moment, within the bright-as-daylight Earth Fiend Sword Formation, a painful roar was heard. Subsequently, the voluminous body of the Black Demon Ape hovered in mid-air, eventually crashing heavily to the ground, stirring up a whirlwind of dust. As all the light faded and the figure of the Black Demon Ape was revealed. Chapter 1079 03-25 - 1079 566 Battle with the Giant Ape_2 ?Chapter 1079: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape_2 Chapter 1079: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape_2 The Black Demon Ape lay half on the ground, a striking wound on its fist, from which blood was dripping ceaselessly. Moreover, there were scattered wounds on its body, though not very deep, evidently inflicted by the stray Sword Qi within the Sword Array. Besides this, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s energy seemed slightly languid, apparently suffering some damage from taking Lin Tianming¡¯s direct hit. In contrast, under the immense impact, Lin Tianming was merely knocked back a distance, his body otherwise unharmed. From this exchange, the gap between Lin Tianming and the Black Demon Ape was evident. However, in general, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s strength was still formidable, and even with Lin Tianming¡¯s advantage, anything could happen in a fierce battle. Aware of this, Lin Tianming dared not be careless. ... At this moment, not far away in a crevice, Tang Xiuping¡¯s face turned red with surprise, utterly shocked by Lin Tianming¡¯s consecutive tactics. He had assumed the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords were Lin Tianming¡¯s most valued Magical Treasure. But seeing the Tiangang Sword, along with the terrifying Divine Skill activated by Lin Tianming, shattered Tang Xiuping¡¯s notions once again. He had not expected Lin Tianming¡¯s Magical Treasures to be so formidable, each more terrifying than the last. Moreover, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skills were too dazzling, their mere presence terrifying just by their aura. Such Magical Treasures, combined with that kind of Supernatural attack, were horrifyingly powerful. And no wonder the former Lin Tianming, upon hearing about a Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast, remained composed and confident. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Thinking of this, and seeing the continually composed Lin Tianming, Tang Xiuping was greatly shaken inside. ¡°Elder Lin¡¯s strength must be way beyond just this!¡± ¡°No wonder Elder Lin could become famous throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in just a few decades and also wield great influence in the neighboring nations.¡± Tang Xiuping thought to himself, his eyes glued to the ongoing battle, afraid of missing anything. At this time, the Black Demon Ape recovered, looking even more furious, presumably completely enraged by the previous hit. With a roar from the Black Demon Ape, it continued to charge towards the Sword Array Barricade. Seeing this, Lin Tianming braced himself, immediately unleashing multiple Sword Qi¡¯s, striking towards the Black Demon Ape. The Black Demon Ape was fast, its figure even quicker than at the start. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack speed was even faster, as ordinary attacks certainly cast spells faster compared to Divine Skills like the Tiangang Ninth Sword. Still, ordinary Sword Qi were limited in power, against a Demonic Beast like the Black Demon Ape with its thick skin and strong defensive power, their effectiveness was greatly reduced. The Black Demon Ape seemed to be aware of this, its target clear and undeterred by the Sword Qi. In such a situation, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s speed increased further, dark light swirling on its fist as an immense momentum swept forward. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang¡­¡± Instantly, Sword Qi collided head-on with the Black Demon Ape¡¯s fist. Then, one by one, the Sword Qi were repelled, dissipating between heaven and earth. Undiminished, the Black Demon Ape pressed on, its powerful fist, like a small mountain, viciously smashing down towards the Sword Array¡¯s barrier. During this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were continuous, barrages of Sword Qi depleting the Black Demon Ape¡¯s offensive edge. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming fully controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, shrinking its range as quickly as possible. In his eyes, the current range of the Sword Array was too large, and with a few more attacks from the Black Demon Ape, it risked collapse. Thus, Lin Tianming first used a large number of ordinary Sword Qi to erode the sharpness of the Black Demon Ape¡¯s assault. When the range of the Sword Array was reduced enough, its stability would be exceedingly solid, with no worries of the Black Demon Ape breaking free or posing much threat. At that time, he would be free to unleash his full power. With such anticipation, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were relentless. For a while, a multitude of Sword Qi surged into the Sword Array, converging with those roaming within, raining down upon the Black Demon Ape. At that instant, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array were incredibly dense and still increasing. Faced with such an attack, no matter how the Black Demon Ape dodged, even with its speed intact, it could not evade them all. And the Black Demon Ape was somewhat helpless, only able to quicken its movements to dodge as much as possible. If unavoidable, it would rely on its own defensive power to staunchly resist the Sword Qi. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± Sounds of crackling came from within the Sword Array, and at intervals, some Sword Qi would slice past the skin of the Black Demon Ape, only to be repelled away. But even so, each strike of Sword Qi would leave a mark on the Black Demon Ape, with wounds occasionally appearing, and blood seeping out from these spots. Most of these wounds were shallow, but there were a multitude of them. Although it was not fatal in the short term, it certainly hindered the offensive momentum of the demon ape. Especially the devastating power of that fist, now it seemed significantly less than at the beginning. With a loud boom, the fist of the Black Demon Ape bombarded the Sword Array Barricade. The Sword Array Barricade shook a few times, but quickly regained stability. At the same time, the Sword Array continued to shrink, rapidly reaching an area of about five hundred feet. At this moment, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array had become extremely dense, and the power of the Sword Qi was also increasing. More crucially, the Sword Array Barricade had already become quite formidable; even if it bore the Black Demon Ape¡¯s attacks unobstructed, it could likely withstand several. Knowing this, Lin Tianming revealed a long missing faint smile. Now it seemed that the Sword Array was stable, completely trapping the Black Demon Ape inside. Since the Black Demon Ape couldn¡¯t easily escape nor launch fatal strikes, Lin Tianming already held the absolute initiative. In such a case, Lin Tianming had no more reservations and should strike mercilessly to quickly eliminate the Black Demon Ape. What followed then, would be to venture deeper into the canyon to search for the Heyuan Guo Tree. Thinking of this, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand burst forth again, turning into a long dragon charging straight towards the Black Demon Ape. ¡°Roar¡­¡± In the moment the Tiangang Sword appeared, the Black Demon Ape showed a look of dread. By now, after several rounds of assault, the Black Demon Ape had officially recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. It was clear that if this continued without a desperate fight, it would definitely be killed by the cultivator before it. So at this moment, the Black Demon Ape beat its chest and stomped its feet, its momentum steadily climbing. As its momentum surged again, the body of the Black Demon Ape grew thicker. When it reached a certain point, the Black Demon Ape suddenly opened its giant mouth and spat out a black light sphere. As the black light sphere appeared, the Sword Array was instantly caught in a fierce whirlwind with flying sand and rolling stones, and the sky which was previously sparkling brightly, suddenly became much darker. At the same time, the Sword Qi still roaming seemed to be trapped in a quagmire, its speed significantly reduced. Such Sword Qi, not only had its speed slowed down, but its power also weakened correspondingly. This sudden change seemed to be due to the black light sphere spat out by the Black Demon Ape, possessing the ability to affect all attacks in its vicinity. And this was not even what most apprehended Lin Tianming. Because the sheer presence of the black light sphere already possessed such power, it appeared rather eerie. Moreover, if it were to smash towards him, it would likely have a devastating result. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming finally assumed a serious expression. Immediately after, Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands and chanted under his breath. Soon, a golden Sword Qi rapidly condensed above his head, steadily hovering in the air. The moment this golden Sword Qi appeared, the sky suddenly blazed with light, and its strong momentum whirled up the surrounding sand and stones, the Gang Wind beginning to howl. As Lin Tianming roared out loudly: ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike!¡± In an instant, the golden Sword Qi turned into an extraordinary dragon, rushing swiftly into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡­ Chapter 1080 03-25 - 1080 567 Appearance ?Chapter 1080: Chapter 567: Appearance Chapter 1080: Chapter 567: Appearance At this moment, the Black Demon Ape had already sensed the fatal danger when Lin Tianming made his move. Following that, the roaring dragon flew towards it, closing the distance bit by bit, eventually colliding hard with the black sphere of light head-on. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Suddenly, flames burst into the sky, the two powerful attacks collided directly, creating a huge wave that spread in all directions. The barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation blocked a considerable amount of energy impact, yet Lin Tianming was still pushed back several dozen meters by the tremendous rebound force before he could stabilize his stance. Then, the Qi-Blood within Lin Tianming surged up, and he couldn¡¯t help but spill a trace of blood from the corners of his mouth. At this time, Lin Tianming looked towards the Black Demon Ape within the Sword Array and saw that its condition was even more miserable. ... It turned out that Lin Tianming¡¯s round of attack was extremely powerful, and although the black sphere of light discharged by the Black Demon Ape was also powerful, it was heavily weakened by the numerous Sword Qi along its path. By the time the black sphere collided with the golden Sword Qi, its power had already drastically reduced. More crucially, the Sword Qi deployed by Lin Tianming was the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ from the Golden Sword Sect. Although ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ was merely a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, a Spirit Technique is still a Spirit Technique with formidable power not to be underestimated. Under such circumstances, even the Black Demon Ape¡¯s full-force attack had been weakened a bit, let alone stand up to Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful attack, it could only fall into a disadvantage. And the final outcome was the Black Demon Ape being blasted away by the strong energy fluctuations and heavily smashing into the ground. After the dust and flames dissipated, one could see the Black Demon Ape painfully wailing while lying on the ground. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï At that moment, just hearing that kind of piercing scream was enough to make one¡¯s scalp tingle. At the same time, the enormous body of the Black Demon Ape had already sustained numerous wounds, continuously bleeding profusely, resembling a bloodied giant ape. Besides, one of the Black Demon Ape¡¯s arms showed a bloody deep wound so deep that even the white bones inside could be clearly seen. After this strike, the Black Demon Ape was severely injured, and its overall aura had rapidly weakened significantly. And at this time, when the Black Demon Ape looked at Lin Tianming again, there was a hint of fear in its expression. Clearly, after several rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming had thoroughly demonstrated his formidable strength. The Black Demon Ape was strong as well, but fighting against a formidable opponent like Lin Tianming, it was clearly at a disadvantage. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More importantly, Lin Tianming had maintained an absolute advantage from start to finish, whether in attack or defense, clearly handling it with ease. The Black Demon Ape seemed to realize the disadvantageous situation, thus its whole state turned extremely irritable. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation had it trapped tightly; every time it attacked the Sword Array Barricade, it was inevitably met with Lin Tianming¡¯s layers of obstacles. Besides this, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was truly formidable, even a casual strike carrying terrifying destructive power. Faced with such attacks, the Black Demon Ape had no choice but to respond with all its might. Yet even so, the Black Demon Ape still could not gain the slightest advantage, instead, each attack resulted in some injuries. Continuing this way, the wounds of the Black Demon Ape would only grow heavier, not to mention breaking free from the Sword Array¡¯s binding, even its life could not be guaranteed. In this situation, the Black Demon Ape was very agitated, desperately wanting to break out of the Sword Array¡¯s range. Whereas Lin Tianming, at this moment, maintained a normal demeanor. Even though using the Spirit Technique ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ did not achieve tremendous progress, being able to injure a tough-skinned and powerful Demonic Beast like the Black Demon Ape had already satisfied him greatly. In contrast, on the side of the Black Demon Ape, only that black sphere posed some threat. After all, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s Innate Divine Ability was at the Third Grade Medium Stage; the power of an Innate Divine Ability was naturally not comparable to an Ordinary Attack. However, like Black Demon Ape¡¯s ordinary attacks, the attack power was extremely limited, completely unable to break the binding of the Sword Array. Under such circumstances, to say he was already invincible would not be an exaggeration. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming maintained a calm expression, his gaze closely watching the Black Demon Ape¡¯s every move. And opposite him, the Black Demon Ape continued to beat its chest and stamp its feet, quickly boosting its momentum to its peak once more. Following that, the Black Demon Ape once again spat out a large black sphere of light, heading straight for the Sword Array Barricade. The black sphere¡¯s speed was very fast, darting out dozens of meters in the blink of an eye. However, Lin Tianming, with his rich magic duel experience, had already preemptively noticed the Black Demon Ape¡¯s movement. In that instant, Lin Tianming suddenly shouted loudly. ¡°Wild beast, think again!¡± Before his words fell, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands flashed with light, and a ferocious dragon soared across the void heading straight towards the Black Demon Ape¡¯s head to bite down. And the Black Demon Ape sensing the movement as well, the black sphere originally spit out towards the Sword Array Barricade now suddenly shifted its course of attack, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword. Clearly, the Black Demon Ape also knew what was more crucial. After all, it had long experienced the might of Lin Tianming¡¯s Technique Divine Power, not only was its speed incredibly fast, but its power was also extremely formidable. Facing such a level of attack, if the Black Demon Ape chose to ignore it and attacked the Sword Array Barricade forcefully, it would allow the transformed giant dragon to progress unabated. Chapter 1081 03-25 - 1081 567 Appearance_2 ?Chapter 1081: Chapter 567: Appearance_2 Chapter 1081: Chapter 567: Appearance_2 By then, the Black Demon Ape would have to face the attack of the giant dragon directly. Indeed, if that were to happen, even with its strong defensive power, it might be severely injured in an instant, or even directly slain here, it¡¯s not impossible. Thus, the Black Demon Ape would have no choice but to abandon the opportunity to attack the Sword Array Barricade and use the black light clusters to block Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks. With a loud boom, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was once again filled with sparks, as the massive collision generated shockwaves that howled past. Lin Tianming, shielded by the Sword Array Barricade, suffered limited impact. But the Black Demon Ape did not have such conditions like Lin Tianming and had to withstand those shockwaves head-on. Luckily, the Black Demon Ape, being a Demonic Beast and a powerful being at the Third Grade Medium Stage, had strong Qi-Blood and its fur possessed extremely terrifying defensive power. ... Under such shockwaves, the Black Demon Ape was merely wounded, worsening its injuries. However, relying on its own Vitality and that strong Recovery, the Black Demon Ape still retained much of its strength, enough to prevent a major injury from Lin Tianming¡¯s strike. But such tremendous exhaustion still spelled a slow death for the Black Demon Ape. Nevertheless, even if the Black Demon Ape realized this, it couldn¡¯t change its current dire situation. After several rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming had almost discerned the gap between them. Besides, he also understood his own current situation and the general direction to follow to different extents. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming now controlled the initiative. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As the Black Demon Ape had yet to stabilize its form, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements in his hands didn¡¯t stop. In that instant, Lin Tianming continued to activate the Tiangang Ninth Sword, planning to further extend his advantage before the Black Demon Ape could recover. Thus, within the momentarily tranquil Sword Array, another giant dragon emerged, roaring and rushing towards the Black Demon Ape. At that moment, just as the Black Demon Ape climbed up from the chaotic ground, it saw the attack incoming, hastily spitting out a black light cluster, hoping to repel the dragon. With such intention, the two collided forcefully. However, with Lin Tianming initiating the attack first, the speed of his actions and the flight of the dragon was incredibly fast. By the time the Black Demon Ape spit out the black light cluster just forming and soaring into the air, the dragon had already descended above its head. At that moment, a thunderous boom resounded. Instantly, a mushroom cloud rose over the Black Demon Ape¡¯s head, and intense flames soared into the sky. It turned out that the collision point of the two powerful attacks was very close to the Black Demon Ape¡¯s proximity. And before this, the Black Demon Ape had already sustained serious injuries, and its strength had been somewhat diminished. Now, the Black Demon Ape had to withstand an even greater impact. In comparison, Lin Tianming¡¯s side experienced further weakened impact, merely being pushed back a few yards before stabilizing his form. Subsequently, under Lin Tianming¡¯s watch, after a miserable scream from the Black Demon Ape, its massive body was directly thrown out, flattening a small hill entirely. Only when the Black Demon Ape became embedded in a crevice did it stop. Following that, the Black Demon Ape painfully struggled a few times before climbing up from the ground. Looking around, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body was dotted with numerous wounds, some deep, the fresh blood drenching much of its fur, presenting a chilling sight. And within the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body, the Qi-Blood chaotically surged, with both the divine soul and Demon Core being shaken by that immense impact. Once the Black Demon Ape slightly adjusted, it had become a bloody ape, with not a single place on its body intact. In such a miserable state, the Black Demon Ape bared its teeth and then let out an angry roar. At that moment, Lin Tianming once again unleashed a massive amount of Sword Qi, attacking the Black Demon Ape from all angles. Simultaneously, under his control, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation further narrowed its range, squeezing the last bits of survival space for the Black Demon Ape. At this moment, the area covered by the Sword Array was only over two hundred yards, the entire barricade was like an impenetrable wall. Under such circumstances, whether Lin Tianming intercepted its attacks or not, the Black Demon Ape could no longer break through the heavy encirclement of the Sword Array. It can be said that the Black Demon Ape had no retreat, and to say it was hard to escape even if it sprouted wings would not be an exaggeration. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s attack getting closer, Black Demon Ape swings its massive fists and spits out black light orbs, trying to make a final stand. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± A series of explosions sound, countless Sword Qi colliding with the fists of Black Demon Ape, sparking many flames. With each contact, Black Demon Ape suffers some damage. At that time, although Black Demon Ape was in great pain, it had to fashion a counter-strategy. Thus, the passive Black Demon Ape ferociously attacked, and its momentum also gradually declined. When the moment came, Lin Tianming felt it was almost time. In that instant, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand transformed into a long dragon, darting into the midst of Sword Array. Following a loud explosion, the anguished screams of Black Demon Ape echo. Adjacent to this, Lin Tianming forms a Law Decree, and a cluster of reddish-blue flames coalesce in his pale palm. As soon as this flame appeared, the originally chilly canyon¡¯s temperature couldn¡¯t help but rise slightly. Not only that, the damp canyon air carried a dry scent. And this flame was Lin Tianming¡¯s early acquired Blue Heart True Flame. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the temperature of the flame, immediately leapt, and with the swiftness of lightning, charged into the area of the Sword Array. Currently, Black Demon Ape was coping with the long dragon formed by the divine skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword. Until a miserable scream issued forth, Black Demon Ape was once again thrown. Before Black Demon Ape could stabilize its posture, one of its arms was severed by the long dragon. In an instant, blood sprayed like a fountain, swiftly staining the surrounding earth red. Following that, Lin Tianming leapt down from midair within the Sword Array. Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was fast; as he fell from the sky, his momentum was like the sky collapsing. Amidst panic, Black Demon Ape looked up only to see Lin Tianming¡¯s palm striking down furiously. Next, a burst of flames erupted, forming a sea of fire that poured down. Seeing this all-encompassing attack, Black Demon Ape had no escape; in its hurried attempt to defend, it was too late. After all, it was already gravely injured, its strength nowhere near its peak. In contrast, Lin Tianming had only used a significant amount of Mana, virtually unharmed, his overall strength largely unaffected. Under such conditions, time seemed to freeze at this moment. Just then, the entire sky was occupied by a blazing light, its dazzling brilliance forcing the Black Demon Ape to squint. Unknowingly, Black Demon Ape only felt an intense pain dominating its divine soul. However, very quickly, Black Demon Ape could no longer feel any pain. In Lin Tianming¡¯s view, the cluster of flame directly enveloped Black Demon Ape as a whole. Within those flames, Black Demon Ape¡¯s body was covered in fire, burning intensely. This strike became the final blow that overwhelmed Black Demon Ape. When the flames had mostly died down, Black Demon Ape lay motionless on the ground, its blood already evaporated by the firepower, devoid of any breath. Looking at Black Demon Ape¡¯s body, its originally black fur was now scorched, no part of its body remained intact. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Black Demon Ape motionless, Lin Tianming smiled excitedly and breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression suddenly changed, seemingly perceiving some anomaly. In that instant, Lin Tianming turned his head towards a certain direction outside the canyon, suddenly snorted coldly. ¡°Humph¡­ Since the fellow Daoist has come, why not show yourself!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1082 03-25 - 1082 568 Threat ?Chapter 1082: Chapter 568 Threat Chapter 1082: Chapter 568 Threat As soon as the voice fell, two figures slowly appeared at the entrance of the canyon. These two individuals were dressed in blue Daoist robes, with a snow-white centipede emblem embroidered on their chests, the insignia of the Five Poison Sect. The newcomers were none other than He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong. At this moment, He Zhengsong looked towards Lin Tianming and the others inside the canyon, walking with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± He Zhengsong seemed to be in a good mood, not taking Lin Tianming, a fellow Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, seriously in the slightest. Not just him, even Yu Lihong, a cultivator at the Early Stage Golden Core, also had a calm demeanor. While smiling, he didn¡¯t forget to flatter his companion. ... ¡°Brother He, this youngster seems somewhat capable, managing to kill that Third Order Medium Grade Black Demon Ape!¡± ¡°However, if Brother He were to take action, I fear it would take only a few rounds to easily cut down the beast, far quicker than what that youngster could manage.¡± Hearing his fellow sect brother¡¯s words, He Zhengsong felt quite pleased, and the smile on his face deepened considerably. At this very moment, as He Zhengsong sized up Lin Tianming and his companions, he wondered about the person who had dared to bid against him at the auction house, who this figure might turn out to be. Even as they trailed behind, he had speculated many times whether Lin Tianming was from one of the Golden Elixir Forces of the Golden Crow Country, a cultivator from nearby countries, or a powerful Loose Cultivator wandering the lands. With such thoughts, He Zhengsong steeled his spirit, maintaining his guard while observing Lin Tianming. Following He Zhengsong¡¯s gaze, Lin Tianming appeared somewhat pale, looking calm on the surface, but the breath and frequency of the aura he exhaled seemed a bit disordered. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Sensing Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction, as if due to a heavy consumption of Mana in the recent fight with the Black Demon Ape. Seeing this, He Zhengsong internally heaved a sigh of relief, his previously cautious mind now totally at ease. In his view, although Lin Tianming was at the same Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm as himself, They had followed him all the way here just in time to witness Lin Tianming¡¯s battle with the Black Demon Ape. At that time, both of them hid in the shadows to observe. Judging from the fluctuations of the battle at that time, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was fairly average among Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators ¨C nothing too extraordinary. Lin Tianming¡¯s ability to kill the powerful Black Demon Ape was probably due to some treasure or the support of other companions, allowing him to defeat this Third Order Demon Beast. As a result, although Lin Tianming had succeeded in killing the Black Demon Ape, he must have exhausted a great deal, and perhaps even sustained severe internal injuries. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm now, he was likely feigning composure. It was even highly plausible that he was at the end of his rope. However, He Zhengsong was unaware of the full process of Lin Tianming¡¯s fight against the Black Demon Ape. When they arrived at the scene of the battle, judging solely from the last two rounds of attack fluctuations, they didn¡¯t consider Lin Tianming¡¯s power to be all that formidable. What they didn¡¯t know was that Lin Tianming¡¯s fight against the Black Demon Ape wasn¡¯t carried out with all his strength. At the very least, Lin Tianming had only employed the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and Tiangang Ninth Sword among his Technique Divine Powers, along with the Blue Heart True Flame, while his powerful Divine Skills and Spirit Arts had not been used at all. Moreover, during the battle with the Black Demon Ape, Lin Tianming always maintained an overwhelming advantage, having absolute superiority was no overstatement. Until the end of the battle, Lin Tianming was virtually unharmed, and his body¡¯s Mana was only consumed by half, hardly diminishing his strength at all. In such a condition, Lin Tianming¡¯s prowess remained formidable. It was just that He Zhengsong was overconfident, mistakenly believing that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength had declined significantly. And he, being at his peak condition, along with the assistance of Early Stage Golden Core Yu Lihong, almost had Lin Tianming at his mercy. Thinking of this, He Zhengsong¡¯s face showed delight, and he seemed quite at ease. At this moment, Lin Tianming, looking as usual, cupped his fists towards He Zhengsong and then spoke. ¡°Daoist He, may I know the purpose of your trailing us here?¡± Lin Tianming spoke in a calm tone, without directly mentioning the auction bidding incident, not wishing to start unnecessary trouble. In his view, if He Zhengsong chose to leave, he would not stop him. After all, the Lin Family had always been low-profile, and in this unfamiliar place, they didn¡¯t wish to provoke unnecessary trouble. Under such circumstances, it was best to avoid conflicts, if possible. Yet, at this moment, He Zhengsong spoke arrogantly, ¡°Could Daoist friend have forgotten something?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming feigned ignorance, his face expressing puzzlement. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, He Zhengsong sneered suddenly, then slowly said. ¡°At the auction, Daoist friend openly went against me, is that not too disrespectful?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold, and he couldn¡¯t help but retort sarcastically, ¡°Isn¡¯t Daoist friend¡¯s statement rather ridiculous?¡± ¡°In the Cultivation World, since ancient times, the rule of the auction is that the highest bid wins. In my view, your statement is the real joke.¡± Lin Tianming directly mocked, giving no face to He Zhengsong. Upon hearing these words, He Zhengsong¡¯s face showed anger, including Yu Lihong beside him, their expressions also turned gloomy. Chapter 1083 03-25 - 1083 568 Threat_2 ?Chapter 1083: Chapter 568 Threat_2 Chapter 1083: Chapter 568 Threat_2 Under such circumstances, if He Zhengsong hadn¡¯t made a move yet, Yu Lihong was planning to be the first to strike. However, since He Zhengsong hadn¡¯t acted, Yu Lihong naturally wouldn¡¯t try to upstage him. So the moment after Lin Tianming had finished speaking, Yu Lihong directly threatened, ¡°Kid, if you know what¡¯s good for you, hand over the storage bag obediently, and we, as two fellow cultivator brothers, might let you off the hook.¡± ¡°Otherwise, don¡¯t blame us for not being polite!¡± As soon as these words fell, He Zhengsong took over the conversation, chuckling as he spoke, ¡°Heh heh¡­ the storage bag alone won¡¯t do, that Heyuan Fruit Tree inside the canyon, as well as the corpse of this Black Demon Ape, have to be ours too.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I might as well let bygones be bygones.¡± He Zhengsong said these words with a wicked smile on his face, seemingly not taking Lin Tianming seriously at all. ... Yu Lihong, hearing this, became even more excited. For a moment, Yu Lihong scrutinized the depths of the canyon and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°Heyuan Fruit Tree?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡­ there are even ripe Heyuan Fruits, no wonder you guys made a beeline for this place.¡± It turned out he was unaware of Lin Tianming and his group¡¯s specific plan, let alone what treasure was inside the canyon. Now, hearing He Zhengsong mention the Heyuan Fruit Tree and Heyuan Fruits, he naturally felt this was an unexpected delight. But when Lin Tianming heard these words, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, and as he looked at He Zhengsong and his companion again, he couldn¡¯t help revealing a look of disdain. Obviously, Lin Tianming felt these two were overly confident. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? After all, so far, they didn¡¯t even know his true strength and thought that the treasures of this place were already in their pocket. Moreover, they were so confident that they didn¡¯t take Lin Tianming into account, thinking they could handle them with ease. Such behavior and actions, in his view, were simply laughable. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this reason, Lin Tianming looked at He Zhengsong and his companion in front of him and could not help but sneer repeatedly. Just as he was about to speak, Tang Xiuping stepped forward, and while giving a respectful bow towards He Zhengsong and his companion. ¡°The junior here is Tang Xiuping, Chief Steward of the Sky Dragon Pavilion from Longqing City, a member of the Xiuzi Generation Clan Member of the Tang Family, I pay my respects to the two seniors in advance.¡± After saying these words, Tang Xiuping saluted He Zhengsong and his companion with a bow, then continued, ¡°The coincidence of the seniors¡¯ presence here is surely unintentional.¡± ¡°And us juniors have come specifically to harvest the Heyuan Fruit Tree and the Heyuan Fruits.¡± ¡°Since seniors happened to be here, as the initiator of this action, I¡¯ll take the liberty of offering one Heyuan Fruit from the many treasures to senior He, and provide a million Low-Grade Spirit Stones as a meeting gift to resolve any misunderstandings between us seniors and juniors.¡± ¡°How about using this opportunity to set aside hostilities and become friends instead?¡± Tang Xiuping said this directly, staring intently at He Zhengsong, watching them with a serious face, fearing they would suddenly make a move and make the situation even more complicated. And by revealing his background, it was clear he was trying to persuade He Zhengsong not to get involved at this time. He Zhengsong, hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. ¡°Tang Xiuping?¡± ¡°From the Tang Family of Qingzhou?¡± Upon hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, the smile on He Zhengsong¡¯s face quickly faded, and a look of difficulty flashed across his face. Not just him, Yu Lihong next to him also suddenly changed his expression upon hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, clearly intimidated by Tang Xiuping¡¯s identity. After all, Tang Xiuping comes from a Nascent Soul-Level Power, and is also a major force local to Qingzhou. Furthermore, the influence of the Tang Family in Qingzhou essentially extends to most of Qingzhou¡¯s countries, with Tang Family Members seen in nearly every medium to large workshop. It could be said that the Tang Family is a colossal power in Qingzhou, with both their territorial influence and reputation exerting a tremendous impact throughout the region. With such a profound background, even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator could interact with some ordinary Golden Core Stage Experts of the Golden Elixir Forces as peers. Therefore, although He Zhengsong himself was powerful and his sect, the Five Poison Sect, was one of the top three forces in the Golden Crow Country, he had to be cautious when facing the special identity of Tang Xiuping. In light of this, He Zhengsong fell silent for a moment, struggling with indecision in his heart. On the other side, Yu Lihong also had a complex expression, hesitating inwardly as well. Just then, He Zhengsong secretly sent a voice transmission to Yu Lihong, discussing their tactics. Soon, it seemed that the two of them had made up their minds. At this moment, He Zhengsong gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Daoist Tang¡¯s proposal is overly courteous!¡± ¡°In my view, Daoist Tang might as well remain uninvolved. The treasure that this fellow Daoist has promised to you, I could also hand it over to you, how about that?¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s one condition; Daoist Tang must not inquire into the grudge between us, and this person¡¯s life or death should be of no concern to you.¡± After saying this, He Zhengsong looked at Tang Xiuping, waiting for his decision. ¡°Ah, this? ¡­this? ¡­is this really?¡± Tang Xiuping¡¯s face turned somewhat unsightly upon hearing this, and he began to speak incoherently. In his heart, He Zhengsong¡¯s action was clearly not daring to offend the Tang Family directly, hence promising to let him off the hook and assuring that the benefits due to Tang Xiuping would not be reduced in the slightest. But the grievances between He Zhengsong and Lin Tianming clearly weren¡¯t going to be dissolved by his offered Heyuan Fruit and a million low-grade Spirit Stones. Understanding this, Tang Xiuping became even more conflicted. After all, looking at the current situation, a major battle between Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong seemed inevitable. What¡¯s more, Tang Xiuping had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; the entire process of killing the Black Demon Ape seemed effortless, with hardly any need to go all out. Moreover, he had a premonition that Lin Tianming was extremely powerful, with formidable strength still at his disposal. Although He Zhengsong¡¯s power and reputation in the Golden Crow Cultivation World were so well known that it would not be an exaggeration to say that no one was unaware of him. But if a major battle were to erupt between them, it was truly uncertain who would ultimately triumph. Consequently, if he agreed to He Zhengsong¡¯s opinion, it would mean breaking his word, a breach of faith. Such an act would significantly affect his Daoist heart, and success would certainly be harder to come by afterwards, even with the help of a Heyuan Fruit to advance to the Golden Core Stage. Thus, from the standpoint of his Daoist heart, he still hoped to take a stand with Lin Tianming, advancing or retreating together with them. However, if he openly took Lin Tianming¡¯s side, should He Zhengsong ultimately be victorious, whether he would seek retribution in autumn was also something he had no confidence in. In other words, if he agreed now to He Zhengsong¡¯s suggestion to withdraw, and Lin Tianming ended up victorious, the scorn for someone seen as duplicitous and untrustworthy could be greater. If it truly came to that, even with his special background and identity, his situation could be very difficult indeed. Considering these points, Tang Xiuping became even more entangled in his thoughts. After a long while, Tang Xiuping wrestled with his decision and finally made up his mind. At that moment, Tang Xiuping shifted his position towards where Lin Tianming was, then turned towards He Zhengsong with a cupped-fist salute and spoke. ¡°Predecessor He, I had an agreement with this senior earlier; now, with the Black Demon Ape slain, the Heyuan Fruit is already as good as mine.¡± ¡°Furthermore, being born into the Tang Family, ancestral teachings have always instructed the descendants of our clan to walk the path of cultivation as men of their word.¡± ¡°After much thought, I still cannot bring myself to breach our agreement, lest I tarnish the Tang Family¡¯s reputation and bring shame upon my clan.¡± ¡°In light of this, please forgive me, Predecessor.¡± Tang Xiuping¡¯s tone was sincere, his demeanor calm and unflustered, speaking logically as though he had resolved his mind long ago. And at the moment those words ended, the expressions on He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong¡¯s faces changed. In that instant, their expressions transitioned swiftly from smiles to grim and furious looks. ¡­ Chapter 1084 03-25 - 1084 569 Husband and Wife Join Forces ?Chapter 1084: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Join Forces Chapter 1084: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Join Forces At this moment, it was Lin Tianming who was closely watching Tang Xiuping, curious about what final decision Tang Xiuping would make. However, one thing, Lin Tianming did not care about the outcome of the great battle between him and He Zhengsong. Driven by curiosity, he wanted to see if Tang Xiuping would abandon him, his nominal ally, when the interests were equal. But upon hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, Lin Tianming was very satisfied, and his expression gradually improved a lot. Next, Lin Tianming turned his gaze towards He Zhengsong, anticipating what decision He Zhengsong would make. Would he disregard the influence of the Tang Family and insist on attacking him? Or would he accept the benefits promised by Tang Xiuping, thus transforming their confrontation into reconciliation? Lin Tianming was very much looking forward to this decision. ... Under such anticipation, Lin Tianming was always ready for battle. At this moment, He Zhengsong glanced at Lin Tianming and then at Yu Lihong, also silently exchanging opinions. Soon, He Zhengsong laughed heartily and said, ¡°I do not agree with Daoist Tang¡¯s suggestion.¡± ¡°However, given Daoist Tang¡¯s special identity, I and the Five Poison Sect do not wish to offend him.¡± ¡°I request that Daoist Tang leave first. The dispute between this junior and me requires a grand battle to resolve.¡± After saying this, He Zhengsong looked at Tang Xiuping with a serious face, his eyes revealing a determined demeanor. Seeing He Zhengsong¡¯s firm attitude, Tang Xiuping felt helpless, even though he wanted to persuade otherwise under these circumstances. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Lin Tianming, standing aside, also noticed Tang Xiuping¡¯s difficulty at this moment. Hence, Lin Tianming waved towards Tang Xiuping and said with a smile, ¡°Daoist Tang is truly worthy of the Tang Family, such credibility is indeed highly admirable.¡± ¡°Since He is so stubborn, I won¡¯t say much, we shall see who will be the last to laugh!¡± ¡°However, Daoist Tang, to avoid harming the bystanders, please leave now.¡± ¡°If I manage to achieve victory in this grand battle, I will naturally reconvene with Daoist Tang.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming seriously watched Tang Xiuping. At this time, seeing that Lin Tianming had spoken thus, Tang Xiuping could not say much more. But due to the involvement of their alliance, he still advised, ¡°Senior be careful, junior will be waiting for you deep in the gorge.¡± After finishing his words, Tang Xiuping nodded and then stepped back, quickly disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. As Tang Xiuping¡¯s figure vanished, Lin Tianming then turned to look at Qin Xi nearby. Following his gaze, Qin Xi was currently holding a blue longsword, emitting a chilling sword intent. ¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression became much more solemn. It was clear that he felt Qin Xi¡¯s aura was formidable, definitely stronger than that of his Junior Brother Yu Lihong. Although he had sensed before that Qin Xi was at the Golden Core Stage, now it seemed Qin Xi¡¯s strength was not to be underestimated among cultivators of the same stage. In such a situation, if the four of them split into two pairs for combat, Yu Lihong would likely not be her match. Yet out of confidence, He Zhengsong was merely looking grave; his fighting spirit not only remained undiminished but grew even stronger. It was during this time that Mr. and Mrs. Lin Tianming exchanged a smile and nodded to each other. Immediately following this, Lin Tianming performed a Law Decree with his hands, taking the lead to strike. In that instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s aura changed, and the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords previously hidden underground suddenly soared into the sky, moving an incredible distance of several hundred meters horizontally in a flash. At that very moment, He Zhengsong was already on guard. Facing the rapidly approaching multitude of Earth Evil Swords, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression turned fierce, and in a rush, he unleashed several intense Sword Qi blasts in multiple directions. He Zhengsong knew clearly that the appearance of this multitude of Earth Evil Swords was bound to form some kind of powerful Sword Array, typically used to trap and kill enemies. Such Sword Arrays were not uncommon in the Cultivation World, but most consisted only of a few or a dozen Spirit Swords. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s action, deploying as many as seventy-two swords, was extremely rare in the Cultivation World. Moreover, the significant number of Spirit Swords was formidable since all were of Magical Treasure level. Such a luxurious Sword Array was overly extravagant. Even though he was a Third Order Alchemy Master, with wealth ranking at the top among cultivators of the same stage, he had never seen such a grand display of Magical Treasures in many years. The more he understood this, the more he was aware of the terrifying nature of the Sword Array. Under these circumstances, He Zhengsong urgently unleashed massive Sword Qi, hoping to disrupt the normal operation of the Sword Array. He believed that without the assistance of the Sword Array, he would face much less pressure in the upcoming grand battle. Knowing this, He Zhengsong spared no effort, each blast of Sword Qi being exceptionally powerful, determined to thwart Lin Tianming¡¯s plans. At the moment He Zhengsong took action, Lin Tianming also refused to fall behind. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was well aware that He Zhengsong, as a veteran Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, must have a basis for his confidence. Faced with such an opponent, he also dared not hold back. Thus, the moment He Zhengsong made his move, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword also flashed a light, instantly unleashing the Divine Skill, Tiangang Ninth Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword transformed into a gigantic dragon, flying towards the direction of He Zhengsong¡¯s Sword Qi. Chapter 1085 03-25 - 1085 569 Husband and Wife Take Action ?Chapter 1085: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Take Action Together_2 Chapter 1085: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Take Action Together_2 Tiangang Sword¡¯s speed was incredibly fast. As a dragon roared past, Gang Wind enveloped the ground, and intense fluctuations swept out in all directions. At that moment, Qin Xi, who was beside Lin Tianming, leapt forward, charging towards the terrified Yu Lihong. Qin Xi¡¯s speed was rapid, and with a flash of cold light from the pale blue longsword in her hand, waves coalesced into a dragon that pounced towards Yu Lihong with bared teeth and claws. Seeing this scene and feeling the chilling breath bearing down on him, Yu Lihong was shocked to the core. He Zhengsong was currently occupied with dealing with Lin Tianming. The moment Qin Xi made her move, Yu Lihong realized the extent of the woman¡¯s formidable strength. Under such circumstances, there seemed no hope of relying on He Zhengsong. For this reason, Yu Lihong knew he had to steel himself to join the battle, but he truly lacked confidence in securing victory. ... However, the current situation left him no time for further contemplation. He understood that the key to this battle lay with He Zhengsong, who was also at the Mid Stage Golden Core. After all, Lin Tianming had previously been engaged in an intense battle, likely having expended a large portion of his mana. If only He Zhengsong could defeat Lin Tianming, a mere Qin Xi certainly could not be their match. His task, then, was to fend off Qin Xi¡¯s attacks until He Zhengsong could defeat Lin Tianming, making sure she could not join the other battle. Knowing this, even though Yu Lihong was somewhat fearful of Qin Xi¡¯s strength, he began to counterattack the moment she made her move. In an instant, Yu Lihong slapped his storage bag at his waist, and a three-foot long stick appeared out of thin air in his hand. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Following that, he gripped the three-foot long stick, tapped a particular spot on it with three fingers, and then swung it towards Qin Xi¡¯s position. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± A flash of black light shone from the long stick, and immediately, numerous black rays burst forth, shooting directly at Qin Xi. Upon witnessing this, Qin Xi sneered continuously, her movements never ceasing. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± As the black rays and the Water Dragon summoned by Qin Xi collided, a large number of them were directly swallowed by the dragon, or frozen into icicles, before crashing from the sky onto the ground. ¡°What?¡± After this event, Yu Lihong, seeing his attack easily neutralized by Qin Xi, found himself staring in stunned disbelief. However, that astonished expression was quickly replaced by a grave one. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Following the collision, some of the ice dragons continued heading towards Yu Lihong. The temperature along their path plummeted rapidly, and every mountain rock and tree on the ground was soon coated with a layer of frost in an instant. At this moment, seeing the ice dragon rapidly approaching, Yu Lihong dared not delay any longer. He hastily backed away, simultaneously mustering several attacks to try and stop the ice dragon from advancing further. Having done this, Yu Lihong still wasn¡¯t reassured, taking out a black shield to place in front of him. Only after these defensive measures were in place did Yu Lihong finally breathe a sigh of relief. Yet hardly a few moments passed before he felt an immense fluctuation wash over him. His eyes widened as he watched ahead; the ice dragon had collided with his black lights, unleashing powerful waves that swept in all directions. This rebound force was incredibly potent, forcibly pushing him back dozens of yards before he managed to stabilize. Following this, Yu Lihong¡¯s face turned pale as his Qi-Blood inside him churned violently, and he couldn¡¯t help but spit out a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. After suppressing the turmoil in his Qi-Blood a bit, Yu Lihong¡¯s expression turned dark, and his heart was filled with terror. It was only then that he truly realized Qin Xi¡¯s strength was even more fearsome than he had anticipated. The more aware he became of this, the greater his fear. Yet there was no time for further thought, as Qin Xi¡¯s next wave of attacks was already bearing down on him. At this point, Yu Lihong had no time to think, hastily unleashing numerous techniques to counter Qin Xi¡¯s attacks. Soon, the two of them were locked in an intense back-and-forth magic duel. Overall, Qin Xi demonstrated superior strength, dominating the field and pressing the initiative with every attack, forcing Yu Lihong to go all-out in his response, regardless of the intensity. In contrast, Qin Xi handled the magic duel with ease, and Yu Lihong¡¯s attacks seldom posed a threat to her life. Under such circumstances, it¡¯s uncertain whether Yu Lihong could hold on until He Zhengsong finishes his great battle. However, even though Yu Lihong understood this, he felt helpless. Because the magic duel between Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong had also fully commenced, leaving no time or energy to concern himself with Yu Lihong¡¯s situation. As the first round of attacks ended, the Tiangang Ninth Sword unleashed by Lin Tianming repelled He Zhengsong¡¯s Sword Qi. Under that strike, He Zhengsong never anticipated that Lin Tianming¡¯s attack would be so formidable. In haste, as his attack just dissipated, he had to face the continuous assault of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. Feeling the mighty roar of the dragon approaching, the overwhelming aura was immense, almost as if it could devour heaven and earth. With no other choice, He Zhengsong could not care for the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in time, and had to deal with the immediate trouble first. And this was precisely what Lin Tianming wanted to see. At that moment, Lin Tianming immediately started operating the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, quickly creating a barrier that enveloped He Zhengsong within. Simultaneously, under his control, the Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to move around, and the range of the barrier gradually shrank as per Lin Tianming¡¯s manipulation. By this time, He Zhengsong had just freed his hands. Shortly after, he felt the oppressive force of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his entire body as if burdened by a small mountain, requiring greater strength with every step. Yet, this was merely the physical constraint; the greater pressure came from the erratic Sword Qi all around. After all, the power of these Sword Qi was substantial, and their speed rapid. Any hit by the Sword Qi, even if not fatal, would still cause him injuries. As a result, he needed to constantly guard against these shadowless and traceless Sword Qi, and also keep an eye on Lin Tianming¡¯s every move. But He Zhengsong was indeed someone with a wealth of combat experience, able to respond normally even as the Earth Fiend Sword Formation operated, so as to not rapidly decline. However, as the battle continued, and with the shrinking of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the pressure he faced only grew more immense. For a while, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression was serious, and he fought without any reservations. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The battlefield between Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong was filled with fireworks and huge explosive sounds one after the other. At the same time, strong waves of force spread out in succession, causing the ground to occasionally tremor. In an instant, Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong had already exchanged several rounds of blows. With the end of a round of attacks, He Zhengsong was blasted away by the immense shockwave, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. He rolled over and quickly stood up with his green Daoist robe torn to shreds, a wound on his arm neither deep nor shallow, and the corners of his mouth oozed a few strands of fresh blood. Within his body, his Qi-Blood churned, even several meridians were broken, and his whole presence waned somewhat. At this moment, he glared venomously at Lin Tianming, his eyes incredibly sharp, as if he wanted to devour him alive. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had stabilized his stance, his Daoist robe also bearing many small holes, revealing his bronze skin beneath. His condition remained excellent, though, and his aura was still rising tremendously. After these few rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming had gained an approximate understanding of He Zhengsong¡¯s strength. It must be said, He Zhengsong¡¯s strength was truly formidable, in no way inferior to Yang Chengfeng who he encountered at Five Poison Mountain. At that time, Yang Chengfeng also had Medium Stage Golden Core cultivation and was an old Golden Core Stage Cultivator with abundant combat experience. And the impression He Zhengsong gave him was definitely stronger than Yang Chengfeng, perhaps by quite a margin. However, during that great battle, Lin Tianming was merely at the Early Stage Golden Core. Although he emerged victorious in that battle, he did so at a significant cost and by means of many strategies. It was by relying on his endless array of tactics, that he managed to kill the equally crafty Yang Chengfeng. ¡­ Chapter 1086 03-25 - 1086 570 Escape ?Chapter 1086: Chapter 570 Escape Chapter 1086: Chapter 570 Escape ¡°` But now, he is a bona fide Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Not only that, in addition to a certain improvement in his cultivation, Lin Tianming also has a complete set of Earth Fiend Sword, as well as the Heavenly Gang Sword, which was refined by Lin Shilu over many years with great effort and care. It can be said that in terms of both offensive and defensive magical treasures, the current Lin Tianming has undergone a huge enhancement. Looking at the present situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength is obviously several times greater than when he initially encountered Yang Chengfeng. However, even so, after several rounds of attacks, He Zhengsong, although at an absolute disadvantage, has yet to show any signs of collapse. Thus, He Zhengsong¡¯s strength can be seen to be extremely formidable. But even though Lin Tianming is aware of this, he doesn¡¯t hold He Zhengsong in high regard. ... Because his combat power is not only reflected in his cultivation and magical treasures, but more so in his Spirit Arts and Divine Skills. After all, up to this point, he has not utilized any Spirit Art, nor has he used the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡¯ his trump-card technique. Once he deploys this Mysterious Grade Spirit Art, he is confident that he can slay even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming naturally regards He Zhengsong as a rival with utter disdain. In contrast, He Zhengsong is experiencing a storm in his heart at this moment. The reason being Lin Tianming¡¯s methods, as well as the strength he showcased, have continuously shattered He Zhengsong¡¯s perceptions time and again. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï At this moment, he felt some regret, regretting that he was too rash and overbearing initially, resulting in him becoming embroiled in this unnecessary conflict. Now, with his own strength and ace up his sleeve, even if he exerted all his might, it would probably be difficult to kill Lin Tianming alone. But if he were to actively seek peace, given his prior attitude and considering Lin Tianming¡¯s capability, reconciling their grudges would seem very difficult. After all, Lin Tianming holds absolute initiative and advantage; he really has no reason to easily let He Zhengsong off the hook. Realizing this, He Zhengsong felt even more fear and was filled with helplessness. At this time, He Zhengsong let out a long sigh and then spoke. ¡°Daoist fellow, please hold back. It is not too late for you to say a few words before taking action!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ What more is there to say between us!¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly, not giving He Zhengsong any face. Following that, Lin Tianming continued to mock: ¡°Daoist fellow was extremely aggressive and arrogant just now, did you ever consider me a threat?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Now that you see you are not my opponent, you wish to easily gloss over our grudges, is there such a good thing?¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s complexion turned dark, and he stammered without being able to utter a complete sentence for a long time. After a while, seeing that Lin Tianming was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, He Zhengsong changed his tune and began to issue threats. ¡°Hmph¡­ Do you really think that as your senior brothers, we are not your match?¡± ¡°Do you truly want to reach a point of complete enmity?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me too far, if I fully commit to a battle with you without reservations, even if not your match, I will surely make you pay a price!¡± He Zhengsong spoke in a forceful tone, his face filled with anger, directly threatening Lin Tianming. And in his heart, since having witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s capabilities, knowing that he would most likely not be a match, he hoped they would both stop here and avoid plunging himself into a crisis. But who is Lin Tianming? Let alone when he is at a disadvantage, he would not easily compromise; now that he was in an absolute advantage, naturally, he wouldn¡¯t fall for this ploy. As such, Lin Tianming ridiculed without any hesitation: ¡°If He wishes to fight, then fight, stop with the pointless words.¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, He Zhengsong grew even more furious, pointing at Lin Tianming with both hands, his face becoming exceptionally dark. However, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t interested in wasting words with him, promptly initiating the attack and continuing to press down on He Zhengsong. Lin Tianming moved swiftly, the Heavenly Gang Sword Divine Skills coming into effect with a twist of his fingers. In the blink of an eye, the once briefly calm sky reappeared with an elongated dragon, roaring as it clawed and bit towards He Zhengsong. ¡°Roar¡­¡± A loud roar shattered the brief silence, drawing He Zhengsong¡¯s full attention. That moment, without the leisure to think further, He Zhengsong executed his Law Decree, shooting out sword qi to collide head-on with the dragon. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The instant the sword qi made contact with the dragon, most of it was directly devoured, but still, some managed to bombard the dragon¡¯s body. Facing these sword qi attacks, the dragon roared fiercely as if alive and appeared to be in pain. However, the dragon¡¯s power was immense, and even after sustaining multiple sword qi attacks, it did not disperse, but continued to surge towards He Zhengsong, propelled by the remnants of its energy. Seeing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s face turned solemn, and he dared not to be careless. Watching the dragon continue to approach, He Zhengsong made a decisive expression. Immediately after, He Zhengsong executed his Law Decree, tapping lightly on the sword in his hand several times. At that instant, the longsword in his hand suddenly shone brightly, a powerful sword qi suddenly bursting forth. Seeing this scene, He Zhengsong also spurted a mouthful of essence blood onto the sword¡¯s body. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± With a few muffled sounds, He Zhengsong¡¯s longsword suddenly soared into the sky, and the already intense sword qi, now blazed like fire, reaching a terrifying level in an instant. ¡°` Chapter 1087 03-25 - 1087 570 Escape_2 ?Chapter 1087: Chapter 570: Escape_2 Chapter 1087: Chapter 570: Escape_2 ¡°` Not only that, the dragon that was originally attacking He Zhengsong was directly repelled a great distance by this sword qi and eventually completely dissipated between heaven and earth. And the whole process of this scene was completed in just a short one to two breaths. At this moment, seeing this happen, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also became significantly more solemn. The reason for this was that He Zhengsong was desperate. With his keen vision, Lin Tianming could tell as soon as he felt the suddenly changing sword qi that it was undoubtedly a Spirit Art. As for the specific grade of this Spirit Art, he could not yet make an accurate conclusion. However, he speculated that the power of this Spirit Art was immense, and it was very likely a very powerful Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, or possibly even an ordinary Profound Grade Spirit Art. ... Nevertheless, no matter what, He Zhengsong¡¯s round of attack was quite formidable, and even he had to be careful in dealing with it. Aware of this, Lin Tianming dared not be careless. Therefore, Lin Tianming swung his hand, and the Tiangang Sword was grabbed from afar into his hand. Immediately after, Lin Tianming bombarded the Tiangang Sword with streams of Spiritual Light. At the same time, Lin Tianming made a strange hand gesture with his immaculate palm and started mumbling an incantation. ¡°Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï As soon as he spoke, the Tiangang Sword also flew out of his hand, directly into the air. Under the further control of Lin Tianming, the Tiangang Sword began to spin rapidly, reaching an extreme speed. In less than a few breaths, the afterimages of the spinning Tiangang Sword gradually formed into a pure white lotus, steadily hovering above Lin Tianming¡¯s head, securely protecting him beneath. At a glance, this lotus was dazzling to behold, and it looked incredibly delicate and exquisite. And this cold and dazzling lotus, seemingly ordinary, was at once cool and detached, and yet seemed as fervent as fire. But upon seeing the formation of this lotus, and feeling the invisible thousands of sword qi petals, He Zhengsong¡¯s face paled even more. He was very clear on how formidable the man before him was, as he had already experienced it beforehand. With his veteran Mid-Stage Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s strength, facing Lin Tianming who had gone through a great battle, he was still at an absolute disadvantage; this indicated how strong Lin Tianming was. And now, with Lin Tianming deploying this unfamiliar technique, the terrifying aura it emitted made it even more evident that the power of this technique would be earth-shattering. Knowing this, He Zhengsong, amidst his panic, could no longer care about much else. Under his gaze, the terrifying sword qi above his head shot out, bombarding precisely at the center of that pure white lotus. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A staggering loud noise came, and a silver flash instantly illuminated the sky, the intense light momentarily blinding He Zhengsong¡¯s eyes as well as his Divine Sense. At that moment, he, a Mid-Stage Golden Core Cultivator, was like a blind man. Only when his vision returned to normal did he immediately feel a tremendous impact, violently throwing him backward through the air. While still midair, the floating sensation felt very surreal to him. Soon enough, he felt all his internal organs trembling, several meridians in his body broken, and his Qi-Blood churning nonstop. Following that, he spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face turning instantly pale, and his breath rapidly weakening. As a muffled noise came, He Zhengsong¡¯s body slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, before heavily crashing into the ground, creating a human-shaped pit. When he shakily stood up, his entire face looked terrified, with fresh blood staining his chest red. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming, at the moment of the head-on collision of the two attacks, also endured a massive recoil force. At that time, Lin Tianming too felt a tremendous energy, as if a small mountain fell from the sky, crashing down upon him. In that instant, the Sword Lotus blocked the sword qi driven by He Zhengsong, until the power of the sword qi was completely worn down, and only then did the Sword Lotus dissipate along with the sword qi, and the Tiangang Sword fell back to the ground. As for Lin Tianming, he was hit by the impact of the collision of two massive forces. Under that force, Lin Tianming also suffered, being sent flying a great distance before he could stop his retreating figure. By the time he got up from the ground, his cheeks were alternately flushing red and white. ¡°` Inside his body, Qi-Blood was chaotically surging, and the intense pain made him shiver uncontrollably. Fortunately, as a Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, the defensive power of his physical body alone was enough to withstand an attack from an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. And indeed, the power of He Zhengsong¡¯s attack was very strong, worthy of the high lethality that Spirit Arts possess. Under this attack, Lin Tianming finally managed to hold on, and even the injuries on his body were not severe. In terms of his overall strength, the impact was not significant. On the other hand, as the attacker, He Zhengsong, being farther from the explosion¡¯s center, actually received a visibly smaller amount of rebound force compared to Lin Tianming. Despite that, He Zhengsong did not possess such a formidable body, including both Qi-Blood and recovery strength, which were far inferior to Lin Tianming¡¯s own. As for the final outcome, He Zhengsong sustained even more severe injuries, compounded by his already serious wounds, amounting to catastrophe piled upon an already bad situation. Now, when He Zhengsong looked at Lin Tianming again, his previously arrogant demeanor was gone, and even his fighting spirit had substantially weakened. Looking at Lin Tianming himself, his slowly advancing figure was like a hanging sword above He Zhengsong¡¯s head, constantly reminding him that he could not continue to drag things out. Perhaps realizing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression became solemn. Then, he was seen enduring the intense pain and quickly making a peculiar hand gesture. In less than an instant, He Zhengsong¡¯s face began to twist, turning extremely flushed. At the same time, a very inconspicuous fine beam of light shot toward a certain direction at high speed. As these changes occurred, He Zhengsong¡¯s face aged a bit, and his aura rapidly wilted, giving him a somewhat ferocious and terrifying appearance. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming became highly alert, constantly guarding against any move He Zhengsong might make. Despite his attention, he still noticed that hidden beam of light. Obviously, if not for the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t have been able to detect this subtle change with the strength of his Divine Sense alone. ¡°Not good, this bastard is trying to flee!¡± Lin Tianming realized something, and suddenly his movement speed increased several-fold. At the same time, Lin Tianming, who had somehow regained hold of the Tiangang Sword, once again activated the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword and aimed straight for He Zhengsong¡¯s vital parts. At this moment, He Zhengsong¡¯s complexion reached an extreme flush, followed by a large mouthful of essence blood being spat out. ¡°Kid, wait for me!¡± ¡°Once I have recovered, I will surely investigate your background, and then you will face the consequences!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± After speaking these words, He Zhengsong let out an angry laugh. Quickly, He Zhengsong¡¯s body gradually became illusory, like a fading afterimage. At this moment, witnessing this scene and hearing He Zhengsong¡¯s threatening words, Lin Tianming momentarily paused. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, although Lin Tianming¡¯s body stopped, the movements of his hands did not cease. In that instant, the Tiangang Sword in his hand shot out, stabbing toward a direction. And the direction that his Tiangang Sword stabbed seemed to be empty. But under the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, one could clearly see an afterimage moving at an incredibly fast speed. This speed was very fast, but still traceable. Combined with previously discovered hidden beam of light, Lin Tianming seemed to have perceived something. He guessed in his heart that He Zhengsong was now using a secret technique meant for escaping. As for his complexion, which had suddenly changed from pale to flushed and then aged a bit. Coupled with the outburst of essence blood and the quickly waning Qi, these were the side effects of using the secret technique. ¡­ Chapter 1088 03-25 - 1088 571 Every Last One Perishes ?Chapter 1088: Chapter 571: Every Last One Perishes Chapter 1088: Chapter 571: Every Last One Perishes Thus, based on these judgments, Lin Tianming acted immediately, attempting to cut off He Zhengsong¡¯s escape route and try to take his life. After all, He Zhengsong¡¯s identity was not insignificant. Coming from the Golden Elixir Forces such as the Five Poison Sect and being a Third Order Alchemy Master, his influence in Golden Crow Country and the surrounding regions was far from ordinary. If he were allowed to escape and return to his sect now, even if Lin Tianming did not fear the Five Poison Sect or their possible retaliation against him, the fact remained that it wasn¡¯t just him and his wife present at the location; Tang Xiuping was also there. Therefore, if He Zhengsong managed to escape, it was entirely possible that he could trace some leads, hence potentially causing trouble for the Lin Family. Knowing this, Lin Tianming took action quickly and ruthlessly, determined to execute justice where He Zhengsong stood. With this intent, his movements were swift, and the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation continued to shrink. Currently, the range of the Sword Array¡¯s Barrier was only around a hundred feet in diameter. ... Within such a Sword Array, the defensive power of the barriers was incredibly rigorous, easily withstanding an attack from a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator without much effort. Furthermore, the roaming Sword Qi within the Sword Array would also create obstacles for He Zhengsong¡¯s escape attempt. Thus, when the Tiangang Sword appeared in one corner, a scream was heard shortly thereafter. Following that, He Zhengsong¡¯s body reappeared and eventually crashed to the ground. As far as the eye could see, He Zhengsong was covered in blood, with one arm missing and a bloody hole in the arm¡¯s place, blood still flowing out ceaselessly. His complexion was pale as paper, and his breath was faint to the extreme. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Facing such injuries, He Zhengsong propped himself up with one hand, trying shakily to crawl to his feet. However, his injuries were too severe; after several attempts, he still couldn¡¯t manage to rise. After multiple tries, He Zhengsong finally used his longsword as a support to stagger to his feet. Next, He Zhengsong glared at Lin Tianming, rage filling his face, his heart filled with horror. Because he had never expected that his last resort, the secret technique for escaping, would be so easily seen through by Lin Tianming, who also acted in time to stop him. He had thought that by paying some price and using his secret technique, he could entirely escape unscathed. After all, the secret technique he employed was very effective and had helped him escape from crises several times. Yet Lin Tianming had some means to predict his escape route and take accurate measures in time. This was altogether too strange and beyond expectation. Now that he had used his evasion secret technique, escaping became nearly impossible. Thinking of this, He Zhengsong felt a mix of shock and rage, his expression dark and terrifying. But Lin Tianming did not care about that; after all, He Zhengsong had already been gravely injured, and even if He Zhengsong were at his peak, he would still be no match for Lin Tianming. As such, He Zhengsong¡¯s fate was now entirely in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Lin Tianming could easily kill him if he wished to. As for He Zhengsong, it seemed he hadn¡¯t realized this fact. Seeing Lin Tianming impassively walking towards him, He Zhengsong still wanted to struggle. ¡°My fellow Daoist, listen to me, if you spare my life, I am willing to offer up most of my wealth and treasures for your compensation.¡± ¡°And rest assured, even if I return to my Sect, I will not speak of this matter, nor will I seek revenge later!¡± He Zhengsong spoke with clenched teeth, his face seemingly sincere. But Lin Tianming was unmoved by these pleas. He knew all too well that the survival rule of the Cultivation World has always been that the strong are revered, and it¡¯s a situation of life and death. Take He Zhengsong, for example, his previous arrogant and despotic demeanor, threatening him repeatedly, even declaring his intentions to kill him and seize all the treasures. Now, seeing his fate controlled by Lin Tianming, he could only beg for mercy. To Lin Tianming, such a person was crafty and cunning, ungrateful as a wolf even. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was naturally not confused by a few pleas for mercy. Therefore, Lin Tianming smiled lightly and then shook his head. ¡°Hehe¡­ My fellow Daoist He, there¡¯s no need to say more; today is the day you die. No one can save you!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was harsh, with his murderous intent clearly showing. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression changed drastically, his anger overtaking the previous ingratiating demeanor. Then He Zhengsong continued grimly, ¡°Are you truly so heartless?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me too far, or I¡¯ll Self-Detonate my Golden Core just to make sure you pay a heavy price!¡± ¡°Self-Detonate the Golden Core?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist He, you¡¯re in this state and still think you can self-detonate your Golden Core?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m bragging, but you don¡¯t have enough time to do so now.¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile, his face showing contempt. Hearing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression darkened, and the little fantasy he had held, hoping that Lin Tianming would listen to his persuasion and spare him, vanished. Now that Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give face to his words, nor was he swayed by them, He Zhengsong also understood that he had reached a dead end. Realizing this, He Zhengsong no longer harbored any thoughts of yielding. Since that was the case, he had no hopes left and only wished to make Lin Tianming pay some price before death. Chapter 1089 03-25 - 1089 571 A Complete Fall_2 ?Chapter 1089: Chapter 571: A Complete Fall_2 Chapter 1089: Chapter 571: A Complete Fall_2 As for whether the Five Poison Sect could avenge his death after he was gone, that was no longer something he needed to worry about. With his mind made up, He Zhengsong¡¯s face was full of determination. Watching Lin Tianming getting closer and closer, He Zhengsong no longer wasted time. Thus, He Zhengsong quickly made a hand gesture, followed by his face suddenly turning crimson. At the same time, the primordial qi between heaven and earth became violent, starting to converge above He Zhengsong¡¯s head, some of which had even entered through his Sky Spirit Cover. For a moment, He Zhengsong¡¯s face looked even more terrifyingly fierce. It was at that time Lin Tianming noticed these changes. ... Fortunately, he was well aware that He Zhengsong was cornered and bound to make a desperate move like self-detonating his Golden Core. Hence, he was always prepared to interrupt He Zhengsong¡¯s self-destruction at the first opportunity. In this way, Lin Tianming made his move very quickly, already preempting He Zhengsong just as he began to attract the heaven and earth primordial qi. That instant, within the Sword Array, the figure of the Tiangang Sword appeared, shooting towards He Zhengsong. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The speed of the Tiangang Sword was incredibly fast, like a flash of light passing by. And at that moment, He Zhengsong had reached the critical juncture of self-detonation. Looking over, one could see He Zhengsong with a fierce expression, with blood seeping out of his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The primordial qi at his Sky Spirit Cover was invading crazily. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Within him, his Golden Core was on the brink of shattering. If it went on like this, in just a few breaths of time, the Golden Core would completely explode. Should it explode, given his strength at the Mid Stage Golden Core level, it would inevitably lead to a tremendous impact. And Lin Tianming was not far from He Zhengsong; within such range to face such impact, even with his great strength and immense physical power, he couldn¡¯t be sure to remain unharmed. Even more so, it was possible that he could be directly killed on the spot. Lin Tianming had extensive combat experience and had faced the scene of Golden Core self-detonation many times, evidently understanding the threat of a Golden Core explosion. Moreover, He Zhengsong¡¯s strength was indeed remarkable, so the power of his self-detonation was naturally not to be underestimated. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was extremely fast, aiming directly at He Zhengsong¡¯s vital parts and shooting forth. ¡°Swish¡­¡± With a sharp sound, Then came a loud explosion. For a while, the primordial qi between heaven and earth became violent, the ground began to shake violently, the wind howled and sent sand and stones flying, the already dark canyon became even darker. Beneath this veil of darkness, Lin Tianming used his Eye of Five Colors to see the entire attack process that had just occurred. At that time, at the critical moment of He Zhengsong¡¯s self-detonating Golden Core, the Tiangang Sword directly penetrated his chest. Immediately afterward, He Zhengsong¡¯s body fell with a thud, eventually lying motionless on the ground. Looking over at that time, there was a large hole in He Zhengsong¡¯s chest, his body was bloodied. Right before the Golden Core was about to self-detonate, Lin Tianming forcefully interrupted it. At that moment, He Zhengsong¡¯s face showed pain, but soon he lost all consciousness. As the sky returned to normal, the battlefield also calmed down. Then, Lin Tianming slowly walked towards the body of He Zhengsong, seeing him lying motionless on the ground, without any breath ¨C obviously dead beyond doubt. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, feeling quite satisfied with the outcome of this battle. But in fact, Lin Tianming had engaged in two major battles in succession, and when he had previously slain the Black Demon Ape, he had already used up nearly half of his mana. As for He Zhengsong, his strength was obviously stronger than that of the Black Demon Ape, not only because Human Cultivators are more treacherous and crafty, but also because He Zhengsong had the aid of Spirit Arts and methods of escape. If Lin Tianming did not have the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, it might indeed have been difficult to prevent He Zhengsong from escaping. However, fortunately, Lin Tianming himself was very powerful. Even though his mana was nearly exhausted, Lin Tianming¡¯s diverse divine skills and any single Technique Divine Power were almost equivalent to a Spirit Art. Take for instance the final Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus; it directly blocked the attack of He Zhengsong¡¯s Spirit Art. Now that He Zhengsong had fallen, everything had settled. In this situation, Lin Tianming then turned his gaze towards the battlefield where Qin Xi was. Following his gaze, the skirmish on Qin Xi¡¯s side was also coming to an end. Looking over, Qin Xi¡¯s attacks flowed like water, her continuous assaults leaving Yu Lihong gasping for breath. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s strength had reached the Golden Core Initial Peak, not far from the Mid Stage Golden Core, coupled with her innate talent and the support of endless Magical Treasures, her strength surpassed most cultivators of the same stage. ¡°` Had it not been for that invisible bottleneck, perhaps she would have already stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core by now. In such a case, Qin Xi¡¯s strength would clearly surpass Yu Lihong, and even if she encountered a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, she should still have a glimmer of hope. However, the outcome was still hard to say. And now, Qin Xi relentlessly pressed her attack, each strike leaving Yu Lihong struggling to cope. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud bang, Yu Lihong was sent flying backwards, spitting out large amounts of blood while still in midair. It wasn¡¯t until he heavily crashed to the ground that his figure finally stopped. At this point, Yu Lihong¡¯s complexion quickly turned pale, and his breath had become much weaker. When he lifted his head to look at Qin Xi, he was already filled with immense fear. And this fear stemmed not only from Qin Xi, but seeing that He Zhengsong had already stopped breathing, his face turned even paler, and a sense of dread involuntarily gripped his heart. He was well aware that even He Zhengsong, who was at the Mid Stage Golden Core, had been killed by Lin Tianming, who seemed unwounded, only having expended a considerable amount of energy. And now, Lin Tianming surely still had the strength to fight. Faced with such an opponent, he, being merely at the Early Stage Golden Core cultivation, could not even withstand Qin Xi, let alone survive the joint attack of the two. Realizing this, Yu Lihong was overwhelmed by fear, thinking that he certainly had no hope of surviving. Thinking about this, a look of utter despair filled Yu Lihong¡¯s face. But at this moment, despair was useless. He was acutely aware that Lin Tianming would not let a threat return to the wild, nor would he leave any loose ends. After all, the current situation was completely under their control. Even if it were him in their position, he would execute a thorough sweep, leaving no trace whatsoever. And indeed, it was as such. In the midst of Yu Lihong¡¯s terror, Qin Xi¡¯s blue longsword in her hand once again shimmered with light, and the silver-white Sword Qi slashed through the sky. This action snapped the terrified Yu Lihong back into reality. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s renewed assault, already severely injured, his strength was now less than half of his peak. He knew he could not hold on for much longer, nor could he escape in front of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi. Realizing this, Yu Lihong desperately rallied his spirits and shouted through the air, ¡°Fairy, please spare my life¡­ Fairy, please spare me!¡± Upon hearing these words, Qin Xi let out a cold laugh. ¡°Spare your life? What were you doing earlier?¡± ¡°You had your chance to settle our grievances, but you didn¡¯t take it. Now it¡¯s too late for regrets!¡± Qin Xi said mockingly with a laugh, her actions not stopping for a moment. Seeing this, and hearing Qin Xi¡¯s decisive words, Yu Lihong¡¯s face darkened, his fear turning into raging anger. He knew Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t let him go, and that he had no chance left. With that in mind, he likewise intended to self-detonate his Golden Core, hoping to at least cause some trouble for Lin Tianming and Qin Xi. Thus, Yu Lihong, like He Zhengsong before him, made a complex hand gesture. Soon, the sky where they were at turned violent, and vast amounts of Yuan Qi crazily surged towards Yu Lihong. Witnessing this scene, Qin Xi sneered coldly, her longsword slicing through the sky like lightning, looking incredibly dazzling. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± As a piercing sound echoed, the skies darkened once again. Simultaneously, the Primordial Qi between heaven and earth spread wildly, Gang Wind forming a massive shockwave that swept up the surrounding flowers and trees into the air. And Lin Tianming, using the Eye of Five Colors, saw this scene clearly. As it turned out, Qin Xi¡¯s longsword, like lightning, had pierced through Yu Lihong¡¯s chest in a blink of an eye, before being recaptured in her hand. As for Yu Lihong himself, his towering body lay motionless on the ground, devoid of any breath. A few breaths later, the world between heaven and earth returned to normal. At this point, the entire battlefield became extremely quiet, as if nothing had happened. If not for the battlefield, which appeared utterly tragic and riddled with many holes, one would never think that several battles at the Golden Core Stage had just erupted here. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1090 03-25 - 1090 572 Heyuan Fruit ?Chapter 1090: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit Chapter 1090: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit At this moment, seeing Yu Lihong had already been killed, Lin Tianming¡¯s face revealed a satisfied smile. He then waved his hand, snatched He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag from his waist, and threw a fireball to burn He Zhengsong¡¯s body to ashes. After doing all this, Lin Tianming then slowly walked towards Qin Xi. While still on his way, Lin Tianming asked with concern: ¡°Xi¡¯er, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°Have you been injured?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head with a smile, her heart filled with joy from Lin Tianming¡¯s concern. Thus, Qin Xi giggled and said, ¡°Brother Ming, don¡¯t worry, although that fellow had some strength, he was no match for Xi¡¯er at all. I only used about seventy to eighty percent of my strength to defeat him.¡± ... ¡°And now that the great battle is over, Xi¡¯er is fine and has not been injured.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Xi¡¯er is truly formidable, such strength even astonishes your husband.¡± Lin Tianming laughed heartily, his expression very relaxed. After all, He Zhengsong and his companion had been arrogant and overbearing before, but they barely caused any trouble at all before being thoroughly defeated. Now, all obstacles have been removed, and all plans are back on track. As for what¡¯s next, it¡¯s time to collect the Heyuan Fruits and the Heyuan Fruit Tree along with a multitude of other treasures. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt quite excited. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi gathered together to quickly tidy up the battlefield. At this moment, seeing that the battlefield suddenly went quiet and stayed that way for a long time, Tang Xiuping, with a nervous heart, slowly emerged from inside the canyon. From afar, he carefully searched for He Zhengsong and even the figures of Lin Tianming and his wife. In his heart, he was full of expectation for the outcome of this great battle. After all, it was a battle at the Golden Core Stage, involving powerful existences at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Such a level of magic duel is not commonly seen in the Golden Crow Cultivation World. When he saw Lin Tianming and his wife standing there, looking calm and composed with bright smiles on their faces. Such an expression seemed very calm. Observing them further, their aura was very stable, as if they were not injured at all. Following that, He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong were nowhere to be seen, only a few faint traces left on the battlefield, along with weak spiritual energy, proving that they had been there. Such a scene instantly struck him with immense astonishment. After all, both He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong were not easy opponents. Especially He Zhengsong, who was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator and a Third Order Alchemist, who had dominated the Golden Crow Country for over two hundred years, having defeated cultivators of the same stage multiple times. Even at the Early Stage Golden Core, rumors had circulated that he had fought with a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator, and the battle ended in a stalemate. When the news of the duel spread, it shocked the entire Golden Crow Cultivation World. Even in the surrounding countries, various rumors about He Zhengsong circulated. Therefore, such a veteran Golden Core Expert as He Zhengsong not getting any advantage against Lin Tianming was incredible. You must know, Lin Tianming had just fought a fierce battle against the Black Demon Ape, and he had everything under control. Not only that, looking at Lin Tianming now, it apparently did not take much effort; to say he easily killed He Zhengsong seems fitting. The more Tang Xiuping thought about it, the more astounded he became. Because he had heard rumors about Lin Tianming before and thought they were somewhat exaggerated. But now, seeing Lin Tianming effortlessly killing He Zhengsong at the Mid Stage Golden Core also verified those initial rumors. It could even be said that the strength Lin Tianming displayed in this battle was even more formidable than the rumors had suggested. Knowing this, Tang Xiuping, although from the Tang Family of Qingzhou, now faced Lin Tianming again with even more respect. And this, was respect for the powerful. This kind of respect was completely genuine and fully recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s capabilities. Thus, when Tang Xiuping saw Lin Tianming and his wife, his expression was extremely respectful. ¡°Elder Lin, where are Elder He and the others?¡± Tang Xiuping still seemed somewhat in disbelief, and amidst his shock, he couldn¡¯t help but ask. Hearing this, Lin Tianming simply smiled lightly. ¡°Daoist Tang need not overthink, we now have no obstacles, so let¡¯s hurry and collect the Heyuan Fruit Tree!¡± Lin Tianming casually moved past this topic by bringing up the Heyuan Fruit, thus shifting the topic. Indeed, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat smiling expression, Tang Xiuping realized he had been too abrupt, so he dared not ask further. Immediately after, Tang Xiuping nodded and then said, ¡°Please follow me, seniors.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Xiuping made a gesture of invitation and then led the way into the depths of the canyon. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his wife did not delay further and followed in Tang Xiuping¡¯s footsteps into the depths of the canyon. ¡­ S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Golden Crow Country, Scorpio Horn Mountain Range. The Scorpio Horn Mountain Range covers a large area and has a high concentration of spiritual energy, and because the whole shape of Scorpio Horn Mountain resembles a scorpion¡¯s horn, it is thus named. Scorpio Horn Mountain is the territory of the Five Poison Sect and also where the sect¡¯s headquarters is located. At this moment, inside a pavilion on top of one of the peaks in Scorpio Horn Mountain, two disciples of the Five Poison Sect were sitting cross-legged on meditation mats, eyes closed in concentration. In front of them were numerous Soul Lamps arranged in circles, all the Soul Lamps neatly placed on a sacrificial altar. Inside the grand hall, the overall scent of sandalwood filled the air, complementing the decor of the place, making the entire hall look solemn and dignified. Chapter 1091 03-25 - 1091 572 Heyuan Fruit_2 ?Chapter 1091: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit_2 Chapter 1091: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit_2 At the highest point, there were twelve Soul Lamps currently shining brightly, noticeably brighter than the multitude of Soul Lamps below. The twelve Soul Lamps at this highest point belonged to the Golden Core Stage Cultivators of the Five Poison Sect up to now. Normally, there were disciples specifically guarding the grand hall where these Soul Lamps were stored. It was at this moment that among the twelve Soul Lamps at the highest point, two suddenly started to tremble, immediately catching the attention of two guarding disciples. One of them pointed at the two Soul Lamps, saying incredulously, ¡°Li, look quickly!¡± Hearing this, the other named Li, a Foundation Establishment Disciple, hurriedly raised his head to look up. Seeing those trembling Soul Lamps, his expression became as horrified as the first speaker. ... ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± The Li surname disciple of the Five Poison Sect saw the Soul Lamp tremble for a moment, then flicker on and off, his face filled with extreme fear. The sudden change in the Soul Lamp definitely indicated a formidable and earth-shaking battle had erupted. Thinking back over the past hundred years in the Golden Crow Cultivation World, battles among Golden Core Stage were indeed rare; moreover, the Soul Lamp¡¯s owner wouldn¡¯t cause the lamp¡¯s change unless it was a desperate moment. With that said, these two trembling Soul Lamps indicated that the two Sect powerhouses were experiencing an unprecedented great battle at this moment. Thinking this, the cultivator surnamed Li stared fixedly at those two Soul Lamps, not even daring to breathe loudly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Under their watch, the Soul Lamps continued to tremble for a while. Soon, the Soul Lamps began to shake violently; in a few breaths¡¯ time, one of the lamps extinguished directly. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this scene, the cultivator surnamed Li was dumbstruck, stammering while pointing at that Soul Lamp. ¡°That¡­ that is Elder He¡¯s Soul Lamp¡­¡± ¡°It actually¡­ actually went out, what happened?¡± The cultivator beside him was the first to react, hurriedly saying: ¡°Brother, quickly send a message to inform the Sect Leader!¡± Hearing this, the cultivator surnamed Li finally came to his senses, hastily sending out a message in a panic. Just as he did this, another Soul Lamp trembled a few times and soon followed Elder He¡¯s fate, extinguishing right in front of them. ¡°Elder Yu¡¯s Soul Lamp also went out!¡± ¡°Heaven¡¯s sake¡­ what exactly happened?¡± ¡°To think Elder He was a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation realm, wielding considerable strength throughout the Golden Crow Cultivation World.¡± ¡°Did they encounter a Late Stage Golden Core existence?¡± ¡°Otherwise, with Elder He¡¯s strength, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger!¡± While the cultivator surnamed Li was waiting for the Sect Leader, he couldn¡¯t help discussing with his fellow disciples, their words filled with terror. In a short while, a man in a blue robe appeared directly behind the cultivator surnamed Li without alarming them. Only when the blue-robed elder spoke did he interrupt the two. ¡°Nephew Li, what exactly happened just now? Quickly explain everything to me in detail!¡± The elder looked at the highest Soul Lamps, his expression very stern, even carrying a strong killing intent. Because he was the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, himself a Senior Early Stage Golden Core powerhouse. Seeing the extinguishing of Elder He¡¯s Soul Lamp, Sect Leader Duan Changhe was shaking with fury and disbelief. And his current expression was formidable without anger. Especially that phrase put the cultivator surnamed Li extremely on edge. Finally calming down a bit, the cultivator surnamed Li bowed respectfully to the elder before recounting the entire incident. Soon, Duan Changhe learned the whole process, and he determined that both Elder He Zhengsong and Elder Yu Lihong had completely fallen. Confirming this, Duan Changhe paid no mind to the two disciples surnamed Li. With a flash of his body, he disappeared in front of them, leaving the two Li surname disciples standing there bewildered. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. At the highest point of Scorpion Horn Mountain, a grand hall gathered several Golden Core Stage Cultivators, including Duan Changhe. At that moment, the highest-placed Zhao Zhiqing looked at Duan Changhe with a heavy expression and asked, ¡°Brother Duan, what exactly happened?¡± ¡°Where were the two disciples before this incident? Have the other two sects made any major moves recently?¡± At this moment, Zhao Zhiqing, the Great Elder of the Five Poison Sect, asked several questions, clearly attaching great importance to this matter. Upon reflection, such a response from Zhao Zhiqing was quite normal. After all, He Zhengsong was a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, whose personal strength was extremely formidable. Moreover, with his status as a Third Order Alchemy Master, his position in the entire Five Poison Sect was second only to that of the Great Elder Zhao Zhiqing. Nowadays, with the extinguishing of He Zhengsong¡¯s Soul Lamp, and the same happening to Yu Lihong, in such a short span of time, the fall of two Golden Core Stage Experts in the Five Poison Sect had never occurred in nearly two thousand years. Under such circumstances, as the Great Elder of the Five Poison Sect, he naturally became a mix of shock and anger. During this incident, Duan Changhe, seeing Zhao Zhiqing¡¯s expression, quickly narrated the recent events. Including the news of an auction being held at Longqing Market, Duan Changhe reported this as well. Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiqing¡¯s expression darkened, and he then indignantly said: ¡°Longqing Market auction?¡± ¡°So it seems, could it be the doing of the Longqing Sect?¡± As soon as the words fell, someone in the crowd spoke up: ¡°The killer of Brother He might not necessarily be from the Longqing Sect.¡± ¡°After all, Brother He¡¯s whereabouts were almost known to everyone.¡± ¡°If Brother He fell, they from Longqing Sect would be the first suspects.¡± ¡°And although our frictions with Longqing Sect are not few, they lack the motive for murder.¡± ¡°Moreover, although Brother He has always been high-profile, he never formed deadly enmities with people from Longqing Sect.¡± Sure enough, as soon as this cultivator spoke, it immediately garnered agreement from several fellow sect members. ¡°Brother Zhu is right!¡± ¡°The fall of Brother He might also be a frame-up; we must not be blinded by others.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ Considering the current situation, only two powers in the entire Golden Crow Country could kill Brother He and his companion together.¡± ¡°However, there is also the possibility that it was someone from another country.¡± ¡°In any case, we must thoroughly investigate Brother He¡¯s death, and we must avenge his profound hatred.¡± Duan Changhe said fiercely, his expression full of intense killing intent. Hearing this, Zhao Zhiqing also nodded his head, shortly after gave a few orders, instructing Mid Stage Golden Core, Zhu Xin to secretly investigate this matter. Soon, the gathering among the higher-ups of the Five Poison Sect concluded. Meanwhile, Zhu Xin immediately left the headquarters of the Five Poison Sect and headed towards Longqing Market. ¡­ Golden Crow Mountain Range, in a certain valley. As Lin Tianming and his two companions continued to move forward, they soon entered the deepest part of the gorge. Under the leadership of Tang Xiuping, Lin Tianming and his wife reached the front of the Heyuan Guo Tree. Looking ahead, the Heyuan Guo Tree stood about thirty feet tall, its body full of dense branches and leaves, appearing lush and vibrant. Among its lush branches, the largest three held three bright green fruits. These fruits were only the size of a fist, their surfaces glossy and translucent, and carried a unique fragrance. And these three fruits were undoubtedly Heyuan Fruits. At this moment, seeing these three fruits, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed excitement. After all, this trip had sparked two major battles, and they, the couple, had expended so much effort just for these few fruits. Now that they had finally seen the Heyuan Guo Tree and these three fruits, Naturally, Lin Tianming felt thrilled and somewhat impatient. Feeling a hard-pressed need to suppress the excitement in his heart, Lin Tianming looked at Tang Xiuping and slowly said. ¡°Daoist Tang, it looks like these Heyuan Fruits still need a few more days to fully mature.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s rest here for a few days, and then harvest them when they¡¯re ripe!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1092 03-25 - 1092 573 Parting Ways ?Chapter 1092: Chapter 573: Parting Ways Chapter 1092: Chapter 573: Parting Ways Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping¡¯s face lit up with excitement, and he too became somewhat impatient. After all, he was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, his own strength extremely limited, and the family elders were unable to provide support in time, causing him to worry about gains and losses for a while. Later, for the sake of the Heyuan Fruit and the tree, he reluctantly took a risk and asked for help. Now, all obstacles had been cleared, and the Heyuan Fruit Tree and its fruits were within arm¡¯s reach¡ªan excitement impossible for any Foundation Establishment Cultivator to restrain. However, picking the Heyuan Fruits before they matured would only waste this Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. Therefore, no matter how eager Tang Xiuping was for his Golden Core Path, he had to patiently wait. Thus, Lin Tianming and the other two sat down in front of the Heyuan Fruit Tree. ... During this waiting period, Lin Tianming and He Qinxu took the opportunity to use elixirs to restore the depleted mana. Tang Xiuping, on the other hand, kept watch. Just a few days¡¯ time, once the Heyuan Fruit Tree fully matured, they could collect this treasure. Afterwards, they would be able to return home and end this treasure-hunting adventure. And this wait only lasted for seven days. On this day, as a unique fragrance filled the air, the fruits on the Heyuan Fruit Tree swiftly changed from green to bright red. As the color turned completely red, the aroma of the Heyuan Fruits became richer, soon permeating the entire valley. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Upon closer inspection, the fruits appeared even more appealing, with translucent and delicate flesh that contained an incredibly rich energy. Even Lin Tianming, with his current cultivation strength, could not help but feel a surge of excitement when smelling this fragrance. From this, it was evident that the supportive effect of Heyuan Fruits for Core Formation stood out among the many treasures of its tier. And of these three Heyuan Fruits, Lin Tianming was entitled to two, marking a significant gain from this journey. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, with these two fruits, the Lin Family was unlikely to lack Nascent Soul Spiritual Items for the coming decades. If fortunate, they might even cultivate one or two additional Golden Core Stage clansmen. Every time Lin Tianming thought of this, he was filled with anticipation. Not only that, but Tang Xiuping, seeing the fruits fully mature, was even more thrilled. After all, he was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm and had long coveted Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. This Heyuan Fruit was essential to his cultivation journey. Now that the fruits were within reach, any Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator would struggle to remain calm in such a situation. Seeing Tang Xiuping¡¯s eagerness, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Daoist Tang, you may take all the Heyuan Fruits, and we can leave this place and head back home.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuping could no longer contain his excitement and immediately rushed towards the Heyuan Fruit Tree. Soon, Tang Xiuping leaped up and used his longsword to gently knock down one of the fruits, catching it securely in a Jade Box. The second fruit was swiftly picked in the same fashion. Within a short period, all three Heyuan Fruits had been gathered by Tang Xiuping. After finishing, Tang Xiuping had no intention of delaying; he promptly used his longsword to begin excavating around the Heyuan Fruit Tree. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Heyuan Fruit Tree was also packed away by Tang Xiuping. In less than fifteen minutes, both of the valley¡¯s treasures had been completely gathered. At that moment, with his heart brimming with joy, Tang Xiuping came in front of Lin Tianming and the other, then respectfully gave a bow. ¡°Elder Lin, these two Heyuan Fruits are our agreed share from earlier.¡± ¡°And this one million Spirit Stones are a sign of respect I personally wish to offer, as a gesture of goodwill from myself and the Tang Family.¡± After completing these statements respectfully, Tang Xiuping took out two Jade Boxes, which undoubtedly contained the freshly picked Heyuan Fruits. In addition, a separate storage bag contained one million Spirit Stones prepared by Tang Xiuping alone. His extra arrangements were likely due to Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, which entirely surpassed his expectations. Previously, Lin Tianming had fought the Black Demon Ape and He Zhengsong single-handedly, managing two consecutive battles with strong foes. The entire battle was not long, and he showcased a remarkably overwhelming personal power. For such a powerhouse, Tang Xiuping, being a manager at a branch of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, was significantly inferior in cultivation level. Moreover, Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and potential were extremely high, his personal strength formidable, and he had a vast prospect on the cultivation path. Such a person, in his eyes, possessed great potential. As a member of the Tang Family, even with a profound background, the competition among the ordinary family members and direct descendants high up in the hierarchy was probably no less fierce than that among ordinary family Cultivators. Put that way, he too needed the assistance of outside forces to go further. Thus, he naturally understood that someone as powerful as Lin Tianming was worth forging a deep relationship with. Under such circumstances, he would naturally value Lin Tianming and respect him sincerely. As for the one million Spirit Stones, though a significant amount for him. If he could gain Lin Tianming¡¯s guidance and even a bit of help, the chances of successfully reaching the Golden Core Stage on his next attempt would greatly increase. With that in mind, this expense was utterly worthwhile. Holding such calculations, Tang Xiuping respectfully handed over the Heyuan Fruits and the storage bag filled with Spirit Stones to Lin Tianming. Chapter 1093 - 573: Parting_2 At this time, Lin Tianming saw that Tang Xiuping was sincere and respectful in his manner, although he did not mention anything else, Lin Tianming understood what Tang Xiuping had in mind. In his view, Tang Xiuping¡¯s initiative to show goodwill was a good signal for him and the Lin Family. Moreover, before the big battle with He Zhengsong, Tang Xiuping firmly stood by his side and did not change his mind at the last minute. This alone made him very satisfied and comforted. Now, Tang Xiuping not only brought out the two previously agreed Heyuan Fruits but also willingly offered some Spirit Stones to show goodwill, which was quite rare. Considering the idea of forming ties with the Tang Family, Lin Tianming found it hard to refuse Tang Xiuping¡¯s kindness. Thus, Lin Tianming merely took the two Heyuan Fruits to inspect, and did not immediately store them in his storage bag. As for the storage bag containing Spirit Stones, Lin Tianming waved his hand to decline Tang Xiuping¡¯s kindness. Moreover, Lin Tianming casually took out some breakthrough insights he had copied and handed them to Tang Xiuping. By doing so, he also conveyed his goodwill, making it easier for the Lin Family to have deeper cooperation with the Sky Dragon Pavilion in the future. Just as expected, seeing Lin Tianming being so courteous, Tang Xiuping naturally understood the profound meaning of Lin Tianming. Thereupon, Tang Xiuping, without reservation, accepted the gifts from Lin Tianming. Immediately afterward, Tang Xiuping sincerely said, ¡°One does not thank for great kindness, but please rest assured, Elder Lin.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I will surely convey Elder Lin¡¯s goodwill to my family elders when I see them, and I will quickly facilitate deep cooperation between the Sky Dragon Pavilion and the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded his head, then continued, ¡°Since that is the case, Lin Mou would like to thank you in advance.¡± ¡°Moreover, these two Heyuan Fruits, I would trouble Daoist Tang to use the channels of the Sky Dragon Commerce Association to help deliver them to the Lin Family¡¯s manager in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Luoyun Market.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming handed the Jade Box containing the Heyuan Fruits back to Tang Xiuping. Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping also nodded and then verbally agreed to this small matter. After all, the Sky Dragon Commerce Association, affiliated with the Sky Dragon Pavilion, was very active throughout Qingzhou, with branches in almost every mid-to-large workshop and traces of Tang Family Members. Additionally, every so often, the commerce caravan of the Sky Dragon Commerce Association would travel across the countries in Qingzhou to replenish various items for sale in the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Besides, the profits from various branches of the Sky Dragon Pavilion were also gradually brought back to the Tang Family¡¯s territory by the caravan. Thus, helping Lin Tianming deliver the two Heyuan Fruits was merely a trivial matter. Therefore, Tang Xiuping promised to do this and collected the two Heyuan Fruits. After accomplishing these tasks, Tang Xiuping continued, ¡°Elder Lin, now that all treasures have been collected, may I ask what plans do you have next?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming fell silent for a moment, pondering over the next arrangements in his mind. In his heart, with the successful acquisition of the Heyuan Fruits and the conclusion of the Golden Core auction, they, as a couple, had bid on several treasures, plus the storage bags of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong, making their gains quite substantial. Currently, it appeared that they had only planned to stay in Longqing Market for a while to see if there were any opportunities to compete for. Who would have thought that they would get some treasures at the auction and, with the news revealed by Tang Xiuping, easily obtain two Heyuan Fruits, which was a complete delightful surprise. It can be said that their purpose of staying had been fully realized, the matters in Golden Crow Country had formally come to an end, and there was nothing much to be nostalgic about. Furthermore, with He Zhengsong just having died, it is expected that the cultivation world in Golden Crow Country would be very chaotic for some time. Although he believed that he had left no trace and Tang Xiuping would not reveal this matter. But he and Qin Xi were too unfamiliar in face, and even if they did not reveal their cultivation by fighting, staying long would risk exposing some clues. At that time, combining their unfamiliar faces and both of them being in the Golden Core Stage, the target was indeed too large. Once the Five Poison Sect got hold of this information and attempted some probing, it might indeed find something. Thus, staying on in Golden Crow Country didn¡¯t seem like a good choice. Although he wasn¡¯t afraid of the Five Poison Sect, he also didn¡¯t want to clash with them prematurely. Currently, he still had plans to continue traveling and to find the whereabouts of Lin Tianfeng and another, with many matters awaiting and his energy being quite limited. Rather than exposing himself prematurely, it might be wiser to leave the territory of Golden Crow Country first. When they return, if the Five Poison Sect discovers some clues, he needn¡¯t be overly cautious. If the Five Poison Sect doesn¡¯t trouble the Lin Family, that would be better. But if they do, the family is not completely powerless to resist. And when he and Qin Xi return, their cultivation levels are likely to advance further. Especially Qin Xi, who is just one step away from the Mid Stage Golden Core. By then, just the two of them could hold off half of the Five Poison Sect¡¯s strength. In this regard, even if the Five Poison Sect is strong and has a deep foundation, the Lin Family needn¡¯t fear them excessively. Since that¡¯s the case, they won¡¯t have to worry about anything for a short period. Thinking of these points, Lin Tianming had a plan in mind. Thus, Lin Tianming said with a light smile: ¡°Daoist Tang, I do not plan to stay long in the Golden Crow Country.¡± ¡°As for the next steps, I plan to head directly to Xitang Country after leaving the Golden Crow Mountain Range, and then travel around other countries in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°As for Daoist Tang, after leaving the Golden Crow Mountain Range, we will part ways.¡± Tang Xiuping nodded upon hearing this. In his heart, he also worried that Lin Tianming staying too long in Golden Crow Country could expose some traces. Although he also comes from a profound background, he is after all not at the Golden Core Stage Realm. If the Five Poison Sect really discovers some clues, it could cause trouble for him. In this way, it is good for both Lin Tianming and himself that Lin Tianming leaves the territory of Golden Crow Country as soon as possible. Considering this, Tang Xiuping had no intention of urging Lin Tianming to stay. Consequently, Tang Xiuping also politely chatted for a few moments, then set off with Lin Tianming and his wife along the route they came. Familiar with the road, they only encountered a few teams of cultivators in Foundation Establishment Cultivation. With their cultivation strength and intentional concealment, naturally, they wouldn¡¯t expose their tracks. After half a month of travel, the trio smoothly exited the Golden Crow Mountain Range. That evening, the three appeared on a mountaintop. Lin Tianming looked into the distance, then turned towards Tang Xiuping and bowed: ¡°Daoist Tang, shall we part ways here?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Tang Xiuping also smiled and bowed respectfully, replying: ¡°Everything has been settled, though reluctant, a parting is necessary.¡± ¡°Elder Lin, if you encounter any difficulties or need help during your journey around Qingzhou, you can use the Dragon Pavilion Token to seek help from the Sky Dragon Pavilion.¡± ¡°While I cannot provide much assistance, anything you entrust, I will certainly help to accomplish.¡± ¡°Besides, I will definitely do my best to facilitate deep cooperation between the Sky Dragon Pavilion and the Lin Family. Please rest assured, Elder Lin.¡± Tang Xiuping reiterated this point with an extremely resolute expression, greatly reassuring Lin Tianming. At that moment, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, then laughingly said: ¡°Daoist Tang¡¯s assistance to the Lin Family, I will also keep in my heart.¡± ¡°I hope the next time we meet, Daoist Tang will have embarked on the Golden Core Path, and we can then discuss and exchange ideas.¡± ¡°Haha¡­Certainly, must I also borrow some luck from you?¡± Tang Xiuping said with a laugh, looking quite thrilled. Afterward, Lin Tianming and his wife bowed to Tang Xiuping, then took the lead to leap up and dart towards a certain direction. Watching Lin Tianming and his wife leave the place, transitioning from a dot to finally completely vanishing. Tang Xiuping observed for a moment, then without further delay. Next, he also rose into the sky, flying towards the direction of Longqing Market. ¡­ Chapter 1094 - 574 Xitang City, Hundred Miles Escape Xitang Country, Xitang City. Xitang City is located at the heart of Xitang Country, a city with an extremely vast area. The heritage of Xitang City has been remarkably ancient, exerting enormous influence within the Cultivation World of Xitang Country at all times. There are several main reasons for this. Firstly, Xitang City is completely structured around Cultivators, even during the most ordinary and uneventful periods, there are always tens of thousands of Cultivators gathered in the city. If it coincides with the grand assembly that occurs once every several decades, the number of Cultivators who flock to the city can double. Furthermore, High Order Cultivators frequently appear within Xitang City, such as those in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment who would be considered formidable experts in other medium and small markets. But in Xitang City, they can be seen almost everywhere, to say they are common would not be an overstatement. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over time, the commerce inside Xitang City has become extremely prosperous, with frequent transactions between Cultivators. Therefore, the popularity of the entire city is incredibly hot, almost on par with a large workshop. Secondly, Xitang City does not belong to any single force, but is instead supervised jointly by the Four Great Golden Core Sects and the Two Great Golden Core Families of Xitang Country. Looking at it this way, six major Golden Core forces back Xitang City, each with thousands of years of lineage, or even longer, the peak forces that control Xitang City. Combined with the resources support of the Six Major Golden Core Forces, this has further fueled the development of Xitang City like adding wings to a tiger. With time, the scale of Xitang City has grown larger, commerce has flourished even more, and in addition, Xitang City has the only long-distance Teleportation Formation that leads directly to the center of Qingzhou among the Seven Southern Countries of Qingzhou. Having such a money-attracting facility, it has attracted more Cultivators to come, making Xitang City the center of the Southern Seven Kingdoms. Although this title is not directly conferred by any super strong individuals or any Nascent Soul Forces. However, among the High Order Cultivators within the Southern Seven Kingdoms of Qingzhou, this claim is widely accepted. Over time, this title has nearly settled down, becoming a sacred place all Cultivators from the Southern Seven Kingdoms aspire to. This day, around noon, two Cultivators, a man and a woman, appeared on the streets within Xitang City. At first glance, both were clad in Blue Taoist Robes, one of whom had the appearance of a middle-aged scholar, handsome with a wise and elegant demeanor. The other dressed like a lady of nobility, with relatively ordinary features but matched well with the adjacent middle-aged scholar. And these two were none other than Lin Tianming and his wife, who had changed their appearances and dressed in disguise. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s usual style, they always hid their identities when traveling, thus they presented themselves with these faces. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his wife were walking on the streets of Xitang City, their eyes scanning the busy Cultivators coming and going, as well as various shops on both sides of the streets. Lin Tianming had long heard of the legendary Xitang City and was deeply interested in it. Therefore, when they initially left the Golden Crow Mountain Range, the couple did not have time to recover the mana depleted from the great battle, nor to check the storage bags of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong, and even less time to allow the Purple Gold Eagle to attempt breaking through to the Third Order Realm. Moreover, they were worried about exposing their tracks prematurely and having unnecessary troubles by contacting the Five Poison Sect Cultivators. To avoid these, they had to hastily embark on their journey. Luckily, with the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s swift flight aiding in travel, relying on Xiao Diao¡¯s speed, their journey was significantly more relaxed. The couple sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, meditating to restore their mana, and eventually returned to their peak condition. After more than a month of journeying with little rest, the couple finally left the Golden Crow Cultivation World smoothly. Afterwards, they entered Xitang Country from the south and eventually arrived at their first destination, the very Xitang City beneath their feet. Now, they were away from the territory of Golden Crow Country, temporarily escaping one threat. The death of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong would surely stir up the Golden Crow Cultivation World that had been tranquil for quite a while. However, the matter was covertly handled, and with the involvement of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, they had others to face any consequences. Thus, that issue was not presently within Lin Tianming¡¯s scope of concern. Now, he was to proceed with the original plan to travel and explore Qingzhou. And the first planned destination was undoubtedly Xitang City. According to his plan, he would briefly stay in Xitang City, appreciate the splendor of the city, and make use of the long-distance Teleportation Formation to directly reach the Central Qingzhou Kingdom. In such a manner, Lin Tianming and his wife looked around Xitang City, getting a feel for the local customs and quietly exchanging thoughts through secret transmission. ¡°Ming, this Xitang City truly deserves to be the center of the Southern Seven Kingdoms of Qingzhou, a glance reveals Foundation Establishment Cultivators everywhere, with low-order Qi Refinement Cultivators being a rare sight.¡± Qin Xi said through secret transmission, her beautiful eyes surveying the surroundings with a face full of curiosity. To Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming contemplatively nodded. From their entrance to the city up to half an hour later, they had walked several streets and had witnessed the elegance of Xitang City. Indisputably, Xitang City lives up to its name with its grand and impressive construction. What¡¯s more, commerce is extremely bustling, with numerous Cultivators entering and leaving various shops, and significant pedestrian traffic in every area. More importantly, the Cultivators who can come to Xitang City are mainly at the Late Stage of Qi Refining or above in their cultivation realm, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators being incredibly common. Chapter 1095 - 574 Xitang City, Hundred Miles Escape_2 Based on this, it¡¯s clear that the overall cultivation standard here is very high, with both opportunities and dangers coexisting. Facing such an environment, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to live long-term in Xitang City. Right now, they are all at the Golden Core Stage, with strong abilities of their own, making them relatively safe in this Xitang City. Given this, they don¡¯t have too many worries to look back on, and can rest here for a few days to see if there are any unexpected gains. Besides, it¡¯s time to take a good inventory of the spoils of war they had acquired earlier. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming secretly transmitted his plan. Soon, the couple agreed and decided to rent a Temporary Cave Abode to stay in. With this in mind, the couple set off in a certain direction. In less than half an hour, Lin Tianming and his partner had rented a Temporary Cave Abode and moved in immediately. Two days later, after two days of rest, the couple¡¯s condition returned to its peak. Sitting in the small yard of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi in front of him with a smile flashing across his face. Next, Lin Tianming took out He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag and placed it on the stone table between the two. Seeing this, Qin Xi also took out Yu Lihong¡¯s storage bag and put it in front of them. At this moment, Lin Tianming laughed and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ He Zhengsong was very strong, a Third Order Alchemy Master, and came from the Five Poison Sect with a ten-thousand-year legacy; his family wealth must be considerable.¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s take a look at what we¡¯ve gained!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming picked up He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag and easily erased the remaining Divine Sense on it. Then, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense invaded and carefully examined the contents of the storage bag. In just a few breaths, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression immediately became excited. Seeing this, Qin Xi was also very curious and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Ming, did you find something good? Or are there a great number of treasures?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and nodded, then calmed his excited emotions. ¡°Hehe¡­ The wealth of He Zhengsong is truly terrifying.¡± ¡°Although there are less than ten thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, plus the Low-grade Spirit Stones, they are worth a little over a million Low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°But this guy¡¯s storage bag contains various cultivation resources, not only in large quantities but also complete in variety, mostly Second and Third Order Treasures, the overall value is truly astonishing.¡± Lin Tianming said this from the bottom of his heart. From his brief inspection, He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag indeed contained a large number of treasures. The value of the Spirit Stones was only a little over a million, likely because He Zhengsong had been lavishly bidding at the auction, leaving him with limited remaining Spirit Stones. Besides Spirit Stones, there were mostly Second and Third Order Treasures. Most of these treasures were Spiritual Medicines and Elixir Pills. This was obviously because He Zhengsong was a genuine Third Order Alchemist and had immersed himself in alchemy for many years, being a senior in the field. Thus, it was not surprising that the treasures he carried were mainly alchemical materials. After all, Lin Tianming himself was an Alchemist, and the number of Spiritual Medicines and Elixir Pills he carried was no less than that carried by He Zhengsong. Thinking about it this way made it understandable. As for the quantity of various Spirit Ores, Spirit Materials, and talismans, it was not small, but it couldn¡¯t compare with the Spiritual Medicines and Elixir Pills. Apart from Magical Treasures and various legacy-class treasures, the cumulative value of just these Second and Third Order Treasures easily exceeded ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones. Such wealth genuinely surprised Lin Tianming. After all, he had inventoried many storage bags, and he had also inventoried the belongings of Mid Stage Golden Core Realm cultivators several times. Seeing a fat sheep like He Zhengsong, not to mention other high-value treasures, just the value of those Second and Third Order Treasures was something Lin Tianming was seeing for the first time. However, these treasures are not what Lin Tianming values most. What he cares about naturally involves the legacy of Alchemy and Spirit Arts, which can enhance a cultivator¡¯s strength as well as the foundation of a family. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides that, there were also treasures that He Zhengsong had aggressively bid for at the auction. Especially the secret technique He Zhengsong used to escape, which Lin Tianming coveted immensely. If he could master this secret technique, Lin Tianming would have a fair chance of getting away unscathed in times of crisis. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming meticulously searched the storage bag, hoping to find this secret technique. After his exploration, he actually found a Yellow grade Jade Slip. According to the information on the Jade Slip, it was an escape technique called ¡®Hundred Miles Escape.¡¯ This escape secret technique seemed to be a Yellow Grade secret technique, or rather, calling it a Yellow Grade Spirit Art would be more appropriate. As for the specific effect of this secret technique, it allows the host to ignore some common Barriers in times of crisis and achieve short-range spatial rupture, instantly moving a certain distance at the cost of some of their lifespan. To use this technique, a cultivator must first cultivate it successfully, reaching different levels to achieve different effects. Take the initial success level as an example, where one can only move ten miles at a time at the cost of ten years of lifespan. At the Great Achievement Realm, one can move a hundred miles at a time at the cost of fifty years of lifespan. For the highest level of Perfection, it enables one to move five hundred miles at once, but it requires a hundred years of lifespan as the cost to successfully cast it. Moreover, after casting the technique, the cultivator¡¯s lifespan is reduced, and their Qi-Blood is depleted, resulting in an absolutely weakened state. Depending on the condition under which the cultivator casts the technique, those with more vigorous Qi-Blood and ample lifespan will suffer less from the side effects. Looking at these conditions, a Golden Core Stage Qi cultivator with only sixty years of lifespan, if they cast the technique to move a hundred miles, might very well drop a major cultivation level after the movement ends. Furthermore, due to the high stress operated by the cultivator¡¯s body, they could suffer severe damage. Even the possibility of immediately losing their life also seems highly likely. However, after initially learning about this secret technique, Lin Tianming was immediately excited. He had been a bit nervous earlier, worried that He Zhengsong might not carry the cultivation method for this secret technique on him. But somehow, He Zhengsong did indeed carry the Jade Slip that recorded the cultivation method. Thinking about it, Lin Tianming guessed that it was probably because the secret technique was too valuable and involved significant implications, plus He Zhengsong was very selfish, eventually making it solely his. By doing so, He Zhengsong did not hand it over to the Sect, to prevent exposing some secrets that should not see the light. Such things are not uncommon in the Cultivation World. Moreover, since He Zhengsong was not a family cultivator, without the bonds of kinship and with the competition between factions within the Sect always present, other brothers and sisters competed with him, which is why he did not submit the technique to the Sect. But He Zhengsong¡¯s actions, though very safe and secure, ended up benefiting Lin Tianming. This fact truly surprised him and also relieved him. However, as exciting as it was, to successfully cultivate this ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique surely wouldn¡¯t be easy. After all, escape-type secret techniques are more complex and much more difficult to cultivate compared to ordinary Attack secret techniques. In addition, the price of this secret technique is not small, and the side effects are significant. After all, even casting it once requires a minimum of ten years of lifespan as the cost. You should know, even a Golden Core Stage Qi cultivator with sufficient talent, to smoothly reach this level, even in the best scenario, would probably take nearly a hundred years. Once entering the Golden Core Stage, if you only move ten miles in a crisis, the effect is almost negligible. Only when moving a hundred miles is it somewhat useful for a Golden Core Stage Qi cultivator. So to say, a Golden Core Cultivator would need to cultivate this technique to the Great Achievement Realm in any case. ¡­ Chapter 1096 - 575: Huge Harvest Depending on these conditions, the use of ¡°Hundred Miles Escape¡± can be considered extensive or limited. Take He Zhengsong himself for example, now over three hundred years old, he can barely execute a few long-distance escapes spanning a hundred miles. Based on such a situation, it is speculated that if He Zhengsong were to surpass five hundred years of age, even if he forcefully executed this technique successfully, he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain his Mid Stage Golden Core realm. Even the possibility that he could die immediately after successfully teleporting is not out of the question. Under such circumstances, many cultivators, even if they obtained this technique, might not be able to cultivate it successfully. Even with successful cultivation, there would be few opportunities to use this technique to save one¡¯s life. Overall, this secret technique of escape still holds considerable value. Although for ordinary cultivators, this technique indeed has significant drawbacks, Lin Tianming¡¯s comprehension is high, and his Qi-Blood is incredibly strong. With such foundational conditions, as long as he cultivates this technique to the Great Achievement Realm, he would certainly be able to save his life in critical moments. The thought of this made Lin Tianming even more excited. Having calmed himself somewhat, Lin Tianming carefully put away the Jade Slip of the ¡°Hundred Miles Escape¡± on its own. As he continued his inventory, the treasures in He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag were thoroughly inspected by Lin Tianming. Overall, the value of various Second and Third Order cultivation resources was about over ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, among the other more important treasures, there were three Fourth Order Treasures, including two plants of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine and a piece of Fourth Order Spirit Ore, which are excellent materials for Artifact Refining. As for the Spiritual Medicine Materials, they were fairly common varieties within the Fourth Order, yet their overall value was still very high. Other than those, the main items of interest were He Zhengsong¡¯s three Magical Treasures, two offensive and one defensive, all of excellent quality. After all, having been in the Golden Core Stage for many years and being a Third Order Alchemy Master, the offensive and defensive Magical Treasures he used, given his discernment and wealth, were still remarkable. The other items Lin Tianming cared about were the escape secret technique ¡°Hundred Miles Escape,¡± several Pill Formulas on alchemy inheritance, in addition to the treasures he had acquired at the auction, all stored in his storage bag. And with He Zhengsong¡¯s demise, all these things fell into Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Besides these, there were various Pill Formulas, quite a number, though most of them overlapped with the ones Lin Tianming had collected. However, having been immersed in alchemy for many years and hailing from the long-standing Five Poison Sect, along with Golden Crow Country being a place where remarkable individuals and spiritual lands were prevalent, the standard of cultivation was evidently stronger compared to the barren Wei Kingdom. Thus, He Zhengsong had a substantial number of Pill Formulas, some of which Lin Tianming had never seen before. Additionally, a few of the Pill Formulas held special use for Lin Tianming. In this sense, He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag added a significant foundation to Lin Tianming¡¯s wealth. The only pity was the absence of any Cultivation Techniques or Spirit Art inheritances in He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag. For such an outcome, Lin Tianming had already anticipated. After all, He Zhengsong was a Sect Cultivator, and one of the core high-ranking members at that. Generally, any Sect, or even a family, valued their inheritances highly. Even though He Zhengsong had reached the Golden Core Stage and had the identity of a Third Order Alchemist, he still didn¡¯t have the right to bring out any of the Sect¡¯s collected inheritances from the Sect. Only inheritances like ¡°Hundred Miles Escape¡± that he obtained himself could be carried with him. Therefore, not finding any Cultivation Techniques or Spirit Arts was not surprising to Lin Tianming at all. Overall, the outcome of inventorying He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag is worth at least twenty million Spirit Stones. Such a harvest still left Lin Tianming in utter amazement. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement, Qin Xi always had a broad smile on her face, unable to help but ask. But when she learned about the contents of the storage bag, her face flushed and her breathing quickened. It wasn¡¯t that Qin Xi lacked composure, but rather, the wealth of someone like He Zhengsong was too abundant and too valuable. Such wealth would fluster anyone, let alone Qin Xi. After calming himself, Lin Tianming asked Qin Xi about the specific circumstances of Yu Lihong¡¯s wealth and treasures. With a casual smile, Qin Xi handed over Yu Lihong¡¯s storage bag to Lin Tianming, signaling to him to check it himself. Lin Tianming did not hesitate to take the storage bag in hand, his Divine Sense swiftly probing inside. Before long, Lin Tianming also came to know the state of Yu Lihong¡¯s wealth and treasures. In his storage bag, there were over twenty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones and more than two hundred Second and Third Order Treasures, most of which were of the Second Order and almost covered all commonly seen cultivation items. Besides these, like He Zhengsong, there were no inheritances of any kind. As for the more valuable items, there were one offensive and one defensive Magical Treasure, as well as a few rather precious and rare Third Order Treasures. After a preliminary estimate by Lin Tianming, the wealth and treasures of Yu Lihong amounted to nearly ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Such wealth was on par with an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, just slightly more affluent. This could also be because the overall standard of cultivation in Golden Crow Country was higher than that of Wei Kingdom, and because he too was from the long-standing Five Poison Sect, hence his wealth being slightly better than average Golden Core Cultivators. Chapter 1097 - 575: Immense Gain_2 Overall, Yu Lihong¡¯s assets were up to standard, which accounted for a significant gain for Lin Tianming and his wife. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt quite satisfied, and his mood was extremely buoyant. Thereafter, Lin Tianming handed Yu Lihong¡¯s storage bag to Qin Xi, allowing her to dispose of it freely. As for He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming gathered items like inherited secrets into the Qiankun Jade. At the same time, he collected the Second and Third Order Treasures useful to him, planning to keep them for personal use. As for items of little use to him, Lin Tianming stored them separately in a storage bag, ready to be handed over to the Clan Leader to boost the family¡¯s treasure vault when he returned to the clan land in the future. After allocating these spoils of war, both Lin Tianming and his wife were in good spirits, speaking with an excited tone. Next, Lin Tianming suggested, ¡°Xi¡¯er, why don¡¯t we stay in Xitang City for a little longer and take the opportunity to rigorously cultivate the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique?¡± ¡°Given our talents and comprehension, it might not be possible to reach the Great Achievement Realm in a short time, but spending a year or two to attain the Minor Achievement Realm should not be too difficult.¡± ¡°Once we¡¯ve grasped it, it could provide some help. If we encounter any crises in the future, it may even save our lives.¡± ¡°Moreover, mastering this technique earlier will allow us to reach the Great Achievement Realm sooner, making it one of our lifesaving trump cards.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Ming, your reasoning is sound. Xi¡¯er has no objections.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this, the specific timeframe for the couple¡¯s extended stay in Xitang City was settled. Therefore, Lin Tianming did not intend to waste time. After chatting with Qin Xi for a bit, he decided that during his closed-door cultivation, Qin Xi would inquire about Lin Tianfeng and others. Lin Tianming would first enter closed-door cultivation to comprehend the secret technique, and once he had grasped it, Qin Xi would continue to comprehend it afterward. Thus, the couple took turns engaging in closed-door cultivation. With their plan firmly in place, Lin Tianming immediately entered the Practice Room of the Temporary Cave Abode. At this moment, Lin Tianming was seated on a meditation cushion with his eyes tightly closed. Meanwhile, his breath was steady, circulating the cultivation technique within his body to adjust his state. Soon, Lin Tianming felt that his condition was about optimal, nearly reaching the peak state. Then, he directly took out the Jade Slip and let his Divine Sense invade it. Instantly, a multitude of characters slowly entered his mind. These characters were disordered, some of the meanings were profound, or were simply useless. Seeing these things, Lin Tianming confirmed that they were the specific methods for cultivating the secret technique, as well as the special spell incantations needed to activate it. With these, a cultivation technique, or Secret Spiritual Art could normally be operated. The reason why these characters were so chaotic, with many obscure combinations that seemed to make no sense, was clear to him. He was aware that in the current Cultivation World, all Spirit Arts and secret techniques were recorded in this manner. This was because the creators or pioneers of a Technique Secret Art usually intentionally scrambled the original text, creating greater difficulty to test the cultivator¡¯s comprehension. Additionally, as the inheritance continued to be passed down, many experts who received the secret technique scrambled the character order even more to prevent outsiders from learning it, further increasing the difficulty of cultivation. This approach had its pros and cons. The advantage was that vital inheritances were not easily leaked and could be controlled by the original holders or their factions. However, this also screened out many cultivators with inadequate comprehension and was not conducive to the internal dissemination of the secret art. That was the downside. Nevertheless, as time passed, this became an implicit rule in the Cultivation World. And with more inheritances and explosive growth in the number of cultivators, the Cultivation World also developed some order. Similar to inherited items, which are already very complex, there was no further need to continue altering them. Otherwise, an excellent inheritance, if made increasingly difficult, would eventually become extinct in the Cultivation World due to the scarcity of people with sufficient comprehension. Given this situation, Lin Tianming was not surprised by the text within his mind. The only thing was, the words of this secret technique were indeed very disordered and quite profound. Even for him, comprehending them all would take some time. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming was not discouraged; instead, it piqued his intense interest. With his state adjusted, Lin Tianming began to reorganize the text and ultimately formed a complete spell incantation. This way of enlightenment had also gradually yielded some results over the tens of thousands of trials Lin Tianming conducted. Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had elapsed. On this day, in the Practice Room, Lin Tianming sat with his eyes tightly shut, performing the process of deploying a secret technique in his mind. As he opened his eyes, he pinched a Law Decree and made a bizarre hand gesture. At the same time, his mouth moved slightly, and he chanted some odd incantations. When the incantation was complete, a line of invisible light gradually condensed and extended in a certain direction. As time moved on, the invisible light stretched faster and grew brighter. The light was visible only to Lin Tianming himself. Had it been a cultivator of the same rank, without any heaven-defying treasures, they likely couldn¡¯t have detected the existence of the invisible light. In a few moments, the line of light had extended out of the Practice Room and appeared in the corridor. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. The Practice Room was indeed protected by a Prohibition Barrier. Although the barrier wasn¡¯t strong against an expert like him, it did exist. Now that the light had crossed the barrier of the Practice Room and appeared directly in the corridor, it indicated that he could escape along this invisible light line by activating the spatial movement spell incantation. Such a transformation also meant he had successfully mastered the secret technique of ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯. Furthermore, achieving this step showed that he had smoothly reached the Minor Achievement Realm. Once he waited for the invisible light line to extend further, and the speed of extension to quicken, he could form the final distance of ten miles and thus move away smoothly. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. After calming his excitement slightly, Lin Tianming did not continue to activate the technique. Since he had already mastered the essentials, just a bit more consolidation or rehearsing in his mind for a while should enable him to fully grasp the technique and thus reach the true Minor Achievement Realm. Moreover, his location was Xitang City¡ªa place that was not suitable for trying out this technique. If he were to forcefully deploy the technique now, not only would he waste ten years of his lifespan, but he might also trigger higher-order prohibitions in Xitang City, thus drawing the attention of some Golden Core Stage Experts. And these were the things he did not want to see or touch. Upon reflection, Lin Tianming timely ceased cultivation and re-entered the state of rehearsing the secret technique. Just like that, another half year passed by. Until this day, Lin Tianming opened his eyes again and his face immediately lit up with a broad smile. After another half year of practice, he had now completely mastered the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique, achieving the planned Minor Achievement Realm. With absolute confidence, he could now deploy this secret technique to shatter space and move a complete ten miles at once. Mastering this technique also meant that Lin Tianming had acquired a critical method for life preservation in dire moments. Although currently, this technique seemed of limited help to him. But as long as he continued to contemplate and practice countless times, one day he could reach the Great Achievement Realm and move a hundred miles in one go. By that time, he would possess a pivotal method for self-preservation. Furthermore, even though the cost was significant and the after-effects for cultivators were severe, in life-threatening moments, preserving life was worth it¡ªlet alone fifty years of lifespan, even a hundred years were worthwhile. After all, having life is better than anything else. Conversely, if life is lost, what¡¯s the use of having more lifespan or more treasures? Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was filled with joy and was exhilarated for a good while. Eventually calming down completely, Lin Tianming tidied up the Cultivation Room. Then, he walked out of the Cultivation Room and appeared in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. ¡­ Chapter 1098 - 576: Both Achieved Cultivation Xitang City, Temporary Cave Abode Courtyard. At this moment, Lin Tianming is leisurely strolling in the courtyard, seemingly in a good mood. And indeed, that is the case. After all, this session of secluded cultivation took nearly two years, a period that is neither too long nor too short. During this time, he had put in no small effort and finally managed to comprehend the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique. Plus, the two years of secluded cultivation involved exploring thousands of rules every day, making the whole process extremely tedious. Now, being able to come out of seclusion and see his wife, Qin Xi, Lin Tianming is in high spirits and very relaxed. However, recalling the process of comprehending the secret technique made Lin Tianming frown unconsciously. In his heart, comprehending the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ was indeed not easy, and the whole process was quite challenging. But upon further thought, escape techniques usually involve spatial rules, naturally making their comprehension difficult, certainly much more than average techniques. In his case, always possessing exceptional comprehension, he usually cultivates any spell or secret technique at a swift pace. Yet, cultivating the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ took a significant amount of time. What he didn¡¯t know was that if it were an ordinary person, whether they could comprehend it at all is another matter, and even if they could, it would undoubtedly take even more time. Nonetheless, even so, Lin Tianming is very satisfied with his speed and the gains of these two years. Realizing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face breaks into a smile and his mood gradually stabilizes. Not long afterward, Qin Xi¡¯s voice emerges from the courtyard. ¡°Ming, you¡¯ve come out of seclusion!¡± Hearing the sound from afar, Lin Tianming hastily turns his head and sees Qin Xi jogging towards him, her breathtakingly beautiful face displaying a hint of excitement. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing Qin Xi, an excited smile instantly crosses Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ¡°Xi¡¯er, your husband has been in seclusion for two years, and now I have finally come out smoothly!¡± After Lin Tianming replies, he immediately grabs Qin Xi¡¯s hand, and the couple stands in the courtyard¡¯s pavilion, gazing affectionately at each other. After a few warm greetings, Qin Xi asks Lin Tianming about the results of his recent seclusion. Lin Tianming, with a smile, then talks about the specific processes of these two years. At this moment, learning that Lin Tianming has truly mastered the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique, Qin Xi immediately becomes excited. Although she had already speculated in her heart the moment she saw Lin Tianming. In her view, given Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and comprehension, mastering this technique was merely a matter of time. Yet, when Lin Tianming openly acknowledges this, Qin Xi feels genuinely pleased and somewhat amazed. After calming herself a bit, Lin Tianming then suggests that Qin Xi start her secluded cultivation as soon as possible to comprehend the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique in the shortest time. The couple had planned this earlier. Now that Lin Tianming has come out of seclusion smoothly and brought up the matter, Qin Xi, who always follows Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements, naturally wouldn¡¯t object. Thus, Qin Xi decides to start her secluded cultivation in a few days and focus entirely on comprehending the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming becomes serious and then shifts the conversation. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve been in Xitang City for the past two years, have you heard any news about Tianhu and the others?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi also puts on a grave face and responds helplessly, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er has been lurking in various corners of Xitang City under various identities, secretly gathering information.¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­ I¡¯ve still found nothing!¡± Upon saying this, Qin Xi sighs softly, her expression filled with worry. Hearing her words, Lin Tianming also sighs deeply. In fact, he had anticipated it to be so. He knew deep down that Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, taken away by a spatial fissure, likely landed far from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s borders. Otherwise, given so many years have passed, even if they retained their original cultivation, they should¡¯ve returned to their clan by now. Under such circumstances, not having any news about them in the recent years in the Golden Crow Cultivation World and now in Xitang City is not surprising at all. Yet, despite this, he would not give up any chance. And it¡¯s not just him; the clan members traveling outside will do the same, not giving up any chance to find Lin Tianfeng and the other. Knowing this, Lin Tianming looks at the sky overhead, his expression restoring to calm. Shortly after, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chat casually, during which Qin Xi mentions what she has seen and heard in Xitang City over the past two years. Besides, Qin Xi has been keeping a covert eye on the movements of several Golden Core Forces in neighboring Golden Crow Country during these two years. Especially the Five Poison Sect, where He Zhengsong was, is their most significant concern. According to the information Qin Xi gathered, the Golden Crow Cultivation World has been relatively peaceful over these two years, without any major conflicts. Moreover, the news of He Zhengsong¡¯s demise doesn¡¯t seem to have spread throughout Golden Crow Country. Considering these circumstances, Lin Tianming also has some speculations in his mind. Clearly, the Five Poison Sect also doesn¡¯t want the demise of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong to be widely known among the people of Golden Crow Country. Especially the rivals of the Five Poison Sect, which are the other two Golden Core Sects, certainly don¡¯t want them to know. Chapter 1099 - 576: Both Successfully Refined_2 Chapter 1099: Chapter 576: Both Successfully Refined_2 After all, these Three Great Golden Core Sects are forces that have been passed down for many years, and although there have been no major conflicts between them within the last one or two thousand years, incidents of covert competition have occurred from time to time. Now, the demise of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong has weakened the overall strength of the Five Poison Sect somewhat. If this news were to be known to the other two great sects, it is very likely that those two sects would see an opportunity and further target the Five Poison Sect. Once such a situation truly arises, the circumstances of the Five Poison Sect would become even more difficult. For this reason, the Five Poison Sect dared not publicize their situation and could only secretly investigate the cause of this event and the murderer who killed the two men. Thus, the response of the Five Poison Sect was not as great as imagined. However, over these years, many rumors have spread, saying that several small families and some Loose Cultivators within the Golden Crow Country were inexplicably wiped out. As the matter spread, some people, based on the commonalities among those who were wiped out, drew some conclusions. It turns out that these wiped out individuals had all once offended the Five Poison Sect. Affected by this incident, for a time, many cultivators in Golden Crow Country were in a state of alarm, turning the usually tranquil Golden Crow Country somewhat turbulent. Upon hearing these rumors, Lin Tianming could only smile helplessly. In his view, those wiped out families and Loose Cultivators were likely victims of the Five Poison Sect¡¯s secret investigation into this event. That is to say, these people were innocently implicated because of these matters. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming also felt helpless and could only silently mourn in his heart. And judging from these incoming messages, the Five Poison Sect has probably not yet discovered any useful leads. This relieved him quite a bit. Being able to delay exposure for a little longer would make Lin Family¡¯s situation more secure, and it would be somewhat easier for him to handle alone. However, upon closer thought, there are no secrets in the world, especially since the battlefield is within the territory of Golden Crow Country. Moreover, he had bid at the auction in Longqing Market and had openly opposed He Zhengsong twice. At that time, many Golden Core Cultivators witnessed the entire process. With their strange faces, combined with their Golden Core Stage strength, it is entirely reasonable for the Five Poison Sect to be suspicious. Although he believed that no one had discovered their traces and had erased all traces from the battlefield itself, in the current Cultivation World, there are still many bizarre methods or some special treasures that could potentially uncover some clues. Given the strength of the Five Poison Sect, if they decide to investigate this matter regardless of the cost or possess any means, there is a good chance they could uncover the truth. Hence, Lin Tianming could not be too careless. If the Five Poison Sect continues to find no clues, that would naturally be the best outcome. But if they do find something, he would have to respond accordingly. With the strength of the Five Poison Sect being formidable indeed, all he could do was to strive to enhance his cultivation as quickly as possible. Once he reaches the Late Stage Golden Core, all threats would naturally cease to exist, and Lin Family would not need to worry about retaliation from the Five Poison Sect. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming suddenly felt a pressure. However, he also knew that regardless of whether there was the matter of the Five Poison Sect, his cultivation plans would not change. Realizing this, Lin Tianming began to relax. Following that, Lin Tianming also changed the topic and started discussing with Qin Xi about the cultivation method of the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique. After all, he had already mastered this technique and was officially initiated. If he could personally provide some guidance, it could somewhat help Qin Xi comprehend the secret technique faster and fully master it sooner. Once this matter was settled, both of them as a couple would possess a means to save their lives. With this matter past, they were also ready to set off again, planning to directly head to the Central Qingzhou Kingdom using a long-distance Teleportation Formation. With this goal in mind, the couple talked for half the day. Subsequently, after spending two more days together, Qin Xi directly entered the Practice Room to start cultivating the secret technique. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming continued to stay within Xitang City, using elixirs for cultivation and further consolidating his mastery of the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique. During this period, he would also come out to adjust his state and wander within Xitang City. At the same time, he was constantly monitoring every move of Golden Crow Country, including news from various countries across Qingzhou and the Wei Kingdom, where Lin Family was located. Time quietly passed, and two years elapsed. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Until this day, Qin Xi suddenly came out of retreat. Upon hearing the news, Lin Tianming also emerged from his seclusion, and the couple reunited in the courtyard. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi in front of him, seeing her smiling, it was clear she had gained a lot. Thus, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Xi¡¯er, how were the results of your two-year retreat?¡± ¡°Ming, this secret technique is indeed complex, and it¡¯s quite difficult to comprehend and practice.¡± ¡°Fortunately, Xi¡¯er is not dull; after spending two years, I¡¯ve finally mastered it smoothly, and I¡¯ve reached the Minor Achievement Realm.¡± Qin Xi giggled in response, her excited expression impossible to mask. As for Lin Tianming, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s demeanor, he felt quite moved and his heart surged. ¡°Ha-ha¡­ That¡¯s excellent!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent and comprehension that¡¯s commendable, to be able to grasp it in such a short time.¡± Lin Tianming complimented her, which made Qin Xi shy all of a sudden. After calming down a bit, Qin Xi waved her hands and laughed, ¡°Ming, stop joking!¡± ¡°In Xi¡¯er¡¯s view, Ming could have comprehended it by himself within two years, only someone with good talent and comprehension could do so.¡± ¡°In comparison, Xi¡¯er, despite your guidance, still took about the same time as you, which clearly shows who¡¯s superior.¡± ¡°Ha-ha¡­¡± Lin Tianming laughed excitedly, then pulled Qin Xi into his embrace, and the husband and wife held each other together. Afterward, the couple exchanged some sweet nothings, and also shared numerous news from the Cultivation World. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder! That night, Lin Tianming and his wife embraced each other into sleep and engaged in a dual cultivation. After not seeing each other for two years, the couple¡¯s reunion was quite fervent. Not until the third day did the couple emerge from their room and appeared in the courtyard. At this time, Qin Xi¡¯s face was flushed with shyness. In contrast, every time Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi, his face showed a longing expression! Seeing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder. Then, Qin Xi¡¯s slender, fair fingers pinched hard at Lin Tianming¡¯s waist, and she then pretended to be angry and said, ¡°Ming, you must stop thinking about that!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned red, and he pulled Qin Xi into his embrace. At this time, feeling the warmth of each other¡¯s bodies, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but lean in closer. Seeing this change, Lin Tianming also burst out laughing. ¡°Madam, how about it? Will you let your husband think about this more?¡± Hearing this, and feeling the unusual sensations on her body, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even more crimson. Struggling to muster her energy, Qin Xi quickly pleaded, ¡°Husband, you are truly formidable, Xi¡¯er admits defeat!¡± ¡°And Xi¡¯er is quite exhausted now, please spare me for the time being, husband!¡± Hearing this plea, and seeing Qin Xi¡¯s fragile expression, Lin Tianming immediately felt a surge of compassion. Thus, Lin Tianming stopped his teasing, and the couple finally separated. Not long after, the couple, now back to normal, sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At this point, Lin Tianming brought up the important matter. ¡°Xi¡¯er, now that we have both comprehended the secret technique, and there¡¯s nothing left for us in Xitang City, shouldn¡¯t we start our journey towards the center of Qingzhou?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, having prepared herself early on. Thus, Qin Xi quickly responded, ¡°Ming, we have delayed over four years for the cultivation of the secret technique, indeed it¡¯s about time we set off!¡± Hearing this, seeing Qin Xi felt the same, Lin Tianming also made up his mind. ¡­ Chapter 1100 - 577: Teleportation Formation Chapter 1100: Chapter 577: Teleportation Formation In Lin Tianming¡¯s opinion, the journey in Xitang City should indeed come to an end. Before this, they had not planned to stay for such a long time. Had it not been for the not insignificant effect of the secret technique ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯, which was indeed not easy to comprehend, perhaps they would have already appeared in Qingzhou Center by now. As for Xitang City at present, no significant events have occurred, nor have any opportunities for fortune arisen. There were merely some auctions about to take place, but those were fundamentally feasts for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Qi cultivators. At their level, ordinary auctions could hardly arouse any interest. Moreover, even if a Golden Core auction was held, the good items that could appear were very limited. Even for some Golden Core Cultivators with not so abundant wealth, attending a Golden Core auction meant there was a high chance of leaving empty-handed. In such a case, it became even more unnecessary for the couple to stay. Knowing this, Lin Tianming made up his mind and decided to embark on the journey to Qingzhou Center in a few days. Two days later. In the center of Xitang City, in front of a massive hall, the figures of Lin Tianming and his wife appeared. At this moment, as Lin Tianming looked at the entrance of the hall, he found that a large number of cultivators had already formed a long queue. This scene immediately surprised Lin Tianming. The hall before him housed a long-distance Teleportation Formation. And those cultivators queuing up in front of the hall were obviously people who wished to travel quickly via the Teleportation Formation. However, it was still early in the morning, not yet the busiest time in Xitang City. Nevertheless, the fact that so many people had already gathered in front of this hall demonstrated the popularity of the Teleportation Formation. After all, traveling through a long-distance Teleportation Formation was dozens, even hundreds of times faster than a cultivator¡¯s flight. For comparison, Lin Tianming, a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, could fly very fast, effortlessly covering a thousand li in a day. Yet if he were to fly alone across the territories of thirty countries to Qingzhou Center, even if he traveled day and night without rest, it would probably take at least one to two years to reach his destination. From this perspective, if it were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with even lower cultivation, the time required would at least be several times more. As for Qi Refining Cultivators traveling alone by flight from this place to Qingzhou Center, they might not be able to arrive within their lifetime. Furthermore, it was simply too dangerous for a Qi Refining Cultivator to travel alone by flight. But with the aid of the Teleportation Formation, they only needed half a Shi Chen to reach Qingzhou Center. Such speed was much faster than traveling by flight and provided a guarantee of safety. Thus, as Xitang City in the Southern Seven Kingdoms of Qingzhou was the only place with a long-distance Teleportation Formation, it was often used as a transit point by many cultivators. Just like at this moment, the people coming here to queue said it all. At the same time, one could see the usefulness of the Teleportation Formation and just how popular it was. And thanks to the Teleportation Formation here, the major Golden Elixir Forces of Xitang City were like having a money tree, practically making a killing. At this moment, Lin Tianming snapped out of his astonishment. As he looked at the hall before him, Lin Tianming felt a sense of anticipation. Before this, even though he was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he hadn¡¯t experienced even a Short-Distance Teleportation Array, let alone a long-distance one. Now that he and his wife had arrived here, they would soon have the chance to experience it personally, which was quite exciting for them. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Tianming silently sent a message to Qin Xi, then took the lead and headed to the end of the long line. Seeing this, Qin Xi nodded in agreement and quickly followed Lin Tianming¡¯s steps. In no time, Lin Tianming and his wife gradually reached the entrance of the hall. In front of them were several Foundation Establishment Cultivators waiting. Looking around, these cultivators were all dressed in different Daoist robes, and the patterns on their chests were also different, but each one was a familiar symbol. According to the symbols on these people¡¯s chests, they all belonged to different Golden Elixir Forces and currently controlled the major Golden Elixir Forces of Xitang City. It was evident that the Teleportation Formation in Xitang City was given great importance by these controlling forces. That is why they dispatched disciples to guard this place every day, presumably to supervise the revenue generated by the Teleportation Formation and prevent other forces from exploiting loopholes. Right now, every cultivator entering the hall was questioned by these people. From their conversations, as well as the announcements nearby, Lin Tianming gathered a lot of information about the Teleportation Formation. According to this information, this Teleportation Formation directly connected to Yuanzhen Kingdom, one of the central kingdoms of Qingzhou. At the same time, several northern countries of Wei Kingdom also had short-distance teleportation paths. However, teleporting to Yuanzhen Kingdom, due to the longer distance between the two places, each cultivator was charged a fee of two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. But to the northern countries of Xitang Country, where the distances were relatively closer, the fee ranged from several dozen to several hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. It seemed that Golden Core Stage Cultivators could have their fees reduced by half in the Teleportation Formation. This rule was clearly a way to show regard for Golden Core Stage Cultivators, thus granting them this privilege. However, Lin Tianming did not care about this. After all, his current wealth was such that few in the entire Southern Qingzhou could compare. Chapter 1101 - 577: Teleportation Formation_2 Chapter 1101: Chapter 577: Teleportation Formation_2 In his eyes, these mere two thousand low-grade spirit stones were not an issue at all. More importantly, he wouldn¡¯t expose his true identity and cultivation for such a small benefit. Thus, Lin Tianming and his wife mingled among the group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, waiting to hand over the fee for using the teleportation formation. As the cultivators in front moved into the hall one by one, each person handed over varying amounts of spirit stones. In just this short time, the cultivators guarding the entrance of the hall had already collected twenty to thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones. This scene filled Lin Tianming with even more envy. It wasn¡¯t that he was not calm enough, but rather that the teleportation formation was simply too lucrative in the current world of cultivation. Take this place for example; there were dozens of people queuing up right now, and a day still had much time left with more people continuously arriving. In just less than half an hour, the major forces in Xitang City had collected tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones in fees through the teleportation formation. At this rate, one could say that they would earn several hundred thousand spirit stones in a day. Even if these major forces were to divide the profit, the earnings for each faction could approach a hundred thousand spirit stones in one day. And at certain times, the earnings might even exceed that. If calculated annually, the revenue generated by the teleportation formation alone could easily reach several tens of millions of spirit stones. And keep in mind, the teleportation formation is just one of Xitang City¡¯s industries capable of generating such substantial revenue. If you include all the other industries in Xitang City, like shop rents, the entrance fees charged from every cultivator, and various auction houses, the total annual revenue would be even more astronomical. And in the end, the forces behind Xitang City would each receive a substantial share of the profit. Moreover, the forces behind Xitang City each controlled their own territories and numerous workshops of varying sizes, as well as some spirit lands as part of their industries. These were the ultimate foundations of the major forces. This made Lin Tianming extremely envious and spurred some plans in his mind. In his eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s background was too shallow and its influence too limited, extending, at most, to the neighboring countries around Wei Kingdom. Once beyond two countries¡¯ distance, the reputation of the Lin Family was virtually unknown. However, this was also because the rise of the Lin Family was too recent and couldn¡¯t compare with those forces that had been passed down for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. Fortunately, the Lin Family had grown rapidly in recent decades, changing drastically from year to year. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, the Lin Family currently had great potential, with the entire clan and especially some talented disciples having much room for improvement. Once the Lin Family became stronger with greater influence, they could consider establishing some teleportation formations. At the very least, within a few neighboring countries of Wei Kingdom and within the Southern Seven Kingdoms including Xitang City, teleportation formation connections could be established. With these teleportation formations, the Lin Family and even the entire Wei Kingdom could have more frequent and closer connections with the rest of the cultivation world. Even better, if possible, they could directly connect to a few central countries in Qingzhou or even directly to the other major continents. If that were the case, it would be like the Lin Family owning a money tree, making a satisfying income every year without needing to do anything else. By then, the Lin Family would truly have a certain level of heritage. But to achieve this, the Lin Family had a long, long way to go. Take the most immediate requirement: the enormously huge amount of funds needed to establish a teleportation formation. For instance, the teleportation formation in Xitang City was built by joint efforts of the six longstanding Golden Core forces. One could imagine that just establishing the teleportation line to Yuanzhen Kingdom must have cost them a fortune in spirit stones, as well as a massive amount of manpower and resources. Furthermore, such long-distance teleportation formations fundamentally require an Array Master. For example, without the expertise of a Fourth Order Array Master, it is virtually impossible to set up a long-distance teleportation array. Although for a short-distance teleportation array, like one spanning two or three countries, a highly skilled Third Order Array Master could manage to arrange it. However, the Lin Family currently has the highest proficiency in formations at only an initial Second Order level. If they were to ask another Third Order Array Master to make a move, the Lin Family would inevitably have to pay a hefty price. Moreover, the Lin Family did not feel comfortable leaving such a gold-digging tool in the hands of others. In this regard, if the Lin Family wanted to hold the Teleportation Formation for the long term, they would indeed have to rely on their own talents. Even to meet the minimum standard, that is, a Short-Distance Teleportation Array, the entire Lin Family would still need the concerted efforts of all its members over a long period of time. Understanding this, Lin Tianming kept this matter in mind and silently swore in his heart that he would one day ensure the Lin Family achieved this step. Regaining his composure, he noticed the long queue had advanced several steps. At the same time, it was also the moment for Lin Tianming and his wife to pay the Spirit Stones. At this moment, someone overseeing the entrance into the hall asked in an indifferent tone: ¡°How many Cultivators? And the destination for the transmission?¡± ¡°Two people¡­ Destination Yuanzhen Kingdom!¡± Lin Tianming replied directly and did not say much afterward. Right after his words fell, the previously speaking Cultivator immediately shouted: ¡°Transportation for two people to Yuanzhen Kingdom, total cost four thousand Spirit Stones.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming casually took out a storage bag and passed it to the speaking Cultivator. The Cultivator received the storage bag to examine it. Quickly thereafter, he took out two palm-sized Tokens and tossed them to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the Tokens and saw that they were smooth and round, with six different colors on their surface, and inside there was an energy slowly circulating, which indeed bore some resemblance to high-quality Spirit Stones. As for the colors on the surface, they clearly represented the Six Major Golden Core Forces behind Xitang City. While Lin Tianming was examining the Tokens, the Cultivator who had spoken earlier continued to speak, bringing Lin Tianming back to reality. ¡°Cultivator, keep the Tokens safe. They are the proof of your transmission and will also serve as amulets to protect you during it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then gave a cupped-hand salute to the people in front of him. After finishing these actions, Lin Tianming did not say anything more and led Qin Xi past them and into the interior of the hall. Inside the hall, Lin Tianming and his wife stood waiting. Besides the two of them, there were also dozens of other Cultivators waiting nearby, either gathered in small groups or standing alone. Their gazes were fixed on several circular platforms. Looking over, each platform was over ten zhang in size and was also enveloped by an invisible light screen. This energy on the surface of the light screen was flowing, and there existed an invisible pressure that influenced the divine souls of every Cultivator. Seeing this, Lin Tianming understood that this must be the Teleportation Formation¡¯s platform. As for that invisible light screen, it was also a type of Barrier. After several more Cultivators entered the hall, a voice rang out. ¡°The number of people transporting to Yuanzhen Kingdom is complete. All of you hold your Teleportation Tokens firmly and quickly enter the platform.¡± ¡°Once you arrive at your destination, hand over the Teleportation Tokens to the guardians of the Teleportation Formation, and then you may leave.¡± No sooner had the voice fallen than one of the five platforms suddenly flashed with light, and then the light screen opened up an opening. At that moment, several Cultivators, holding the same Teleportation Tokens, rushed into the platform. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately pulled Qin Xi by the hand and rushed into the platform as well. As Lin Tianming entered, the platform gathered ten Cultivators, all of them at the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Cultivator guarding this place, seeing the platform was filled to capacity, took out a pitch-black Array Plate. He waved his hand and dozens of Medium-grade Spirit Stones flew out, accurately embedding themselves in a groove beneath the platform. After completing these actions, the same Cultivator continued to manipulate the Array Plate in his hand, bombarding it with streams of Spiritual Light. ¡°Humming sounds¡­¡± In an instant, a series of special noises followed. ¡­ Chapter 1102 - 578 Yuanzhen City Chapter 1102: Chapter 578 Yuanzhen City A moment after a breath had passed. With the sound lingering on, the barrier of the teleportation platform was restored to its original state and began to flicker with an extremely dazzling brilliance. Soon, this brilliance intensified continuously and instantly illuminated the entire hall. It was then that Lin Tianming felt unable to open his eyes, and his whole body seemed to be oppressed by an invisible force. At the same time, his divine soul also trembled slightly, quickly giving him a sense of dizziness. What he did not know was that his reaction was relatively mild, merely feeling dizzy for an instant. As the mana inside his body circulated slightly, the discomfort on his body also disappeared. However, a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivator beside him actually collapsed to the ground at that moment, almost fainting away. But soon, the other cultivators nearby seemed to have recovered as well. At this time, except for the couple, everyone here, though a bit pale-faced, was all clear-headed, obviously able to withstand the pressure brought by that invisible energy. And this oppressive force did not cease but continued on. At this moment, Lin Tianming was very clear in his heart, they must still be in the midst of teleportation. When the discomfort of his body completely vanished, it would mean that they had successfully arrived at Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s teleportation platform. Understanding this, Lin Tianming continued to suppress the discomfort in his body and patiently waited. Time slowly slipped away, and after about half a quarter of an hour had passed. With the dazzling light flashing before his eyes once again, Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ vision quickly returned to normal. At the same time, he felt the slight discomfort in his body disappear as well, and his whole being gradually returned to its original state. At this time, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the state of his own body. Shortly after calming down somewhat, Lin Tianming looked around and found that they were still on a teleportation platform, only the scene before their eyes had changed quite a bit. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Back in Xitang City, there were only five teleportation platforms in the great hall. However, here, there were a total of over twenty large and small platforms, and the hall was filled with people, numbering at least in the several hundreds. In just this short while, the flow of people in the hall was constant, with many coming in and out. Among them, some reentered other teleportation platforms. With each burst of blinding light, it briefly illuminated the interior of the hall. Then, the barrier of the teleportation platform would disappear, along with the figures of those people. At the same time, there were teleportation platforms from where the lights flashed, and quickly some cultivators appeared out of thin air in this hall, just like them. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming had already come to a conclusion. Obviously, this was the other end of the teleportation formation, undoubtedly Yuanzhen Kingdom. Realizing this, Lin Tianming smiled and took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, stepping off the teleportation platform first. As they left the teleportation platform, cultivators immediately approached. Judging by the dress of these people, they came from Xitang Country¡¯s Golden Elixir Forces, clearly stationed here in Yuanzhen Kingdom for the long term. Lin Tianming did not forget the exhortation of the people at the teleportation formation before they left, and he promptly returned the Teleportation Token in the couple¡¯s hands. Having done all this, the couple did not intend to stay here for long, and they soon walked out of the Transmission Hall, emerging onto a wide street. At this time, Lin Tianming and his wife looked at the bustling street before them, contemplating some intelligence about Yuanzhen City. According to the information Lin Tianming had specifically collected, Yuanzhen City where their teleportation formation was located, was one of the central states of Qingzhou, Yuanzhen Kingdom. Like Xitang City, Yuanzhen City was the largest city in Yuanzhen Kingdom, almost the size of a huge workshop. However, the difference was that Yuanzhen City was not like Xitang City, built and controlled by multiple forces. Speaking of which, it is necessary to mention Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm, because the territory of Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm is vast, at least seven or eight times the area of Wei Kingdom. And such a large Yuanzhen Kingdom could almost be compared to several small countries in Southern Qingzhou. More importantly, it was the colossal force behind Yuanzhen Kingdom¡ªthe Yuanzhen Sect. Yuanzhen Sect was not simple, as one of the Qingzhou Five Major Nascent Soul Powers, like the Tang Family, well-known to Lin Tianming, with a heritage spanning tens of thousands of years. Whether it was many years ago or now, the strength of Yuanzhen Sect was extremely formidable. Aside from the widely known Yuanzhen Sect¡¯s Supreme Elder, Thousand Spirits True Monarch, who has been at the Nascent Soul Stage for a thousand years, Additionally, inside Yuanzhen Sect, there were not a few Golden Core Stage cultivators, just to mention the people who had appeared publicly in the past few hundred years, there were dozens in total. With the super powerful Thousand Spirits True Monarch and the assistance of dozens of Golden Core Stage cultivators, the overall strength and influence of the Yuanzhen Sect were among the very top across vast Qingzhou. And the Yuanzhen City under his feet was the top-ranked large industry among many industries under Yuanzhen Sect. Due to the city¡¯s large scale and with Yuanzhen Sect¡¯s strong control, along with great support for development, the reputation of Yuanzhen City ranked among the top across the Qingzhou Land. Chapter 1103 - 578 Yuanzhen City_2 Chapter 1103: Chapter 578 Yuanzhen City_2 Therefore, Yuanzhen City has a high flow of people and extremely prosperous trade, earning a large number of Spirit Stones for Yuanzhen Sect every year. However, when you think about it, it¡¯s not surprising that Yuanzhen City, with such excellent conditions, has such a great reputation. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming glanced at the endless stream of people in front of him and found that most of them were at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with only about thirty to forty percent being Qi Refining Stage Cultivators. Even within his sight, he had already noticed the presence of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. However, this person was only at the Early Stage Golden Core and didn¡¯t possess Divine Sense as powerful as Lin Tianming¡¯s, so they hadn¡¯t noticed Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense observing them. Otherwise, for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to use Divine Sense so presumptuously to probe an open Golden Core Stage Cultivator would be asking for trouble. If that really happened, even if the Golden Core Cultivator was mindful of Yuanzhen City¡¯s rule against arbitrary fighting, they would surely make the person who probed them pay a price once they were outside the city¡¯s limits. But this is also good, every city and market, no matter how big or small, has rules against engaging in magical duels, which protects those with lower cultivation. As such, even though Lin Tianming has considerable personal strength, if he wants to stay in Yuanzhen Kingdom for a while, he must also abide by these rules. Fortunately, Lin Tianming doesn¡¯t have that many affairs to deal with, and he would not actively cause trouble for himself. After all, he and his wife are out on an adventure, not to create enemies everywhere. Moreover, given the terrifying strength of Yuanzhen Sect, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that they could crush the Lin Family. In such a situation, Lin Tianming continues to keep a low profile as always, not only altering his appearance to hide his true face, but even the cultivation exposed by the couple is only that of the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. This is to conceal their tracks so as not to bring any trouble to the Lin Family in case of unexpected situations. Knowing this, Lin Tianming must act with low profile going forward. While Lin Tianming was lost in thought, a transmission from Qin Xi came from beside him. ¡°Ming, what¡¯s our next plan?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s mind returned to normal, and he started to ponder in his heart. Right now, they had successfully arrived at their destination for adventuring, which is none other than Yuanzhen Kingdom, one of the central states of Qingzhou. Moreover, each of the central states of Qingzhou is large, backed by Nascent Soul Strength. Including Yuxu Country controlled by the Blood Red Alliance, which actually borders an area of Yuanzhen Kingdom. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, Tang Country controlled by the Tang Family is not too far from Yuanzhen Kingdom either. Therefore, the several countries surrounding Yuanzhen Kingdom form the center of Qingzhou. The origin of these countries dates back many years. At that time, each country was snatched from the Demon Race by the top Cultivators of the Human Race and was among the earliest territories developed by the Human Race. Because it¡¯s been a long time, the land has witnessed many battles of the powerful, with many Third or Fourth Order Demonic Beasts and Nascent Soul Stage Experts of the Human Race falling. After that, those of ancient strengths competed for dominance, creating various inheritances, and ultimately led to the birth of Nascent Soul Forces like Tang Family and Yuanzhen Sect that have been passed down for tens of thousands of years. Nowadays, after traveling thousands of miles, he and his wife have finally arrived at such a glorious place. Moreover, the standard of cultivation here is extremely high, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators as common as hairs on an ox, and even Golden Core Stage Cultivators being commonplace, truly a land where strong people are everywhere. In this way, Yuanzhen Kingdom and the surrounding countries are among the top existences in the entire Qingzhou Land. Since this is the case, he and his wife naturally want to make a mark here, seeking opportunities for breakthroughs. And their starting point of this journey is this renowned Yuanzhen City. According to his plan, since they don¡¯t have a better destination right now, it¡¯s best to stay in Yuanzhen City for a while. It¡¯s the perfect time for the couple to adjust themselves and assimilate the treasures they acquired at the Longqing Market auction. At the very least, the Yuan Essence Fruit they obtained previously could now be used by Qin Xi to try. After all, following the intense fight against Yu Lihong, Qin Xi felt that her bottleneck seemed to have loosened somewhat. Since they don¡¯t have anything else to do and no opportunities have appeared, it¡¯s a good idea to go into seclusion and cultivate in Yuanzhen City for a period. During this time, Qin Xi can use the Yuan Essence Fruit gained from the auction to attempt breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. If they¡¯re lucky and Qin Xi advances to the Mid Stage Golden Core, with the combined strength of the couple, they should be safer during their adventure. As for himself, he could use this time to continue cultivating the secret technique ¡®Hundred Miles Escape.¡¯ At the same time, he won¡¯t neglect his own cultivation and can continue to cultivate normally with the aid of elixirs. If time permits, he plans to comprehend the alchemy experience and various inheritances left in the storage bag by He Zhengsong. Including the Luoyin Bug eggs that He Zhengsong once used to track him and his wife, those could also be taken out for research. If he can cultivate the bug eggs, it would indeed be a good method for tracking enemies. That being said, Lin Tianming now had plenty to do, and none of them were trivial matters. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately had an idea. ¡°Xi¡¯er, we currently have nowhere else to go, nor do we have any fortuitous encounters presenting themselves.¡± ¡°I think we might as well take this opportunity to go into closed-door cultivation. You can also make use of the Yuan Essence Fruit to attempt to break through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming seriously looked at Qin Xi, waiting for her opinion. And Qin Xi didn¡¯t think too much about it, nor did she have any objections, as she had always followed Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements. Therefore, Qin Xi quickly nodded to express her agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and decided to take a stroll in Yuanzhen City first, to witness the bustling atmosphere of the city. At the same time, he planned to rent a temporary cave abode and prepare to stay there for a few years. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t waste any time and immediately took Qin Xi to merge into the crowd. Half a day later. Lin Tianming successfully rented a temporary cave mansion in Yuanzhen City at the expense of quite a few spirit stones. In the courtyard of the cave mansion, the couple sat opposite each other, both appearing very relaxed. At this time, Qin Xi looked around and suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Ming, indeed, Yuanzhen City deserves to be the center of Qingzhou, and rightfully so as the top enterprise under the Yuanzhen Sect.¡± ¡°In my view, the spiritual energy here is much denser than what we have back at the family.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but nod. He agreed completely with Qin Xi¡¯s sigh. Through their meanderings of half a day, they had gained a deeper understanding of Yuanzhen City. It has to be said that Yuanzhen City indeed deserves to be a city of immense popularity. Here, not only is the concentration of spiritual energy extremely high, but the key is the huge flow of people and the extremely prosperous trade. In this half-day, the couple had indeed broadened their horizons. Just the bustling flow of people in Yuanzhen City and the sight of Foundation Establishment Cultivators everywhere made them feel the trip was worthwhile. Moreover, they had come across all sorts of cultivators along the way. Their appearances and clothing were all different, obviously coming from different distant countries in Qingzhou. Some of them might even be from other states. Beyond the people, the various big and small shops in Yuanzhen City dazzled the eye; the treasures sold inside were odd and diverse, each with different functions. Even through Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, some of the treasures were quite tempting. Fortunately, he possessed considerable wealth, and while he dared not claim a Fourth Tier Item, he could easily buy any Second and Third Order Treasures he came across. As a result, in just this half-day, they as a couple had spent hundreds of thousands of low-grade spirit stones and purchased many novel treasures, involving various aspects of the cultivation path and the Four Arts of Cultivation. These were already significant gains. Now, they had finally ended their day of wandering and had settled down here. As for the temporary cave mansion, it was rented by Lin Tianming with thousands of low-grade spirit stones and could accommodate them for as long as ten years. According to their plan, they will now proceed to cultivate in peace. Just thinking of those alchemy experiences in the Qiankun Jade, all originated from He Zhengsong, a veteran Third Order Alchemist, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but get excited. After calming his elated heart, Lin Tianming and his wife started to chat leisurely. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming and his wife had discussed many specific plans for their seclusion. Following that, after greeting each other, they both stood up and headed towards a cultivation room. ¡­ Chapter 1104 - 579: Mark Chapter 1104: Chapter 579: Mark Jingzhou, Cultivation World of Xi Country. Xi Country is located in the north-central part of Jingzhou and is one of the hundred nations of the Jingzhou Land. Owing to the massive population of Xi Country, the high standards of the Immortal Path, and its considerable area within the Jingzhou Land, its presence is notably prominent. Xi Country¡¯s overall strength is not to be underestimated, boasting several Golden Core Forces, each with a long history of inheritance. Thus, in the entire lands of Jingzhou, Xi Country¡¯s overall strength is second only to the central ten-plus nations. After all, each nation occupying a central position is backed by a Nascent Soul Level force. A country like Xi Country, jointly controlled by the Five Great Golden Core Forces and able to claim its place in the vast Jingzhou, is a testament to its formidable nature. Burial Dragon Abyss. Located in the central region of Xi Country, the Burial Dragon Abyss appears from the distant sky as a seemingly bottomless and extremely long ravine. Legend has it that the abyss has existed for an extremely long time, seemingly even longer than the Jingzhou Land itself. And according to rumors among cultivators, the formation of the Burial Dragon Abyss is quite interesting. It is said that tens of thousands of years ago, a supreme powerhouse of the Human Race emerged on this very site. At that time, the Human Race powerhouse slew a Fifth Order Demon Dragon here, their mighty attacks cutting out a deep ravine. Under such force, even the Fifth Order Demon Dragon couldn¡¯t resist, ultimately spilling its demonic blood across the land. And so this ravine became the final resting place of the Demon Dragon. As time passed, the land, nourished and eroded by the blood of the Demon Dragon, gave rise to a multitude of Heaven and Earth Treasures. At the same time, numerous Demonic Beasts flocked here to grow and thrive, their development hastened by the Heaven and Earth Treasures found in this place. After tens of thousands of years of breeding and thriving, a large number of Third and Fourth Order Demonic Beasts have grown here. When humans came to occupy this land, due to the complex terrain and the strength of the indigenous Demonic Beasts still being formidable, they chose not to eradicate them completely but instead preserved the area, avoiding the loss of those Heaven and Earth Treasures that a great war would cause. At the same time, leaving some Demonic Beasts to continue inhabiting the area meant that, provided their strength wasn¡¯t too overwhelming, the benefits reaped by the Human Race would outweigh a complete annihilation. Therefore, this place ultimately became an outstanding training ground. Nowadays, the Burial Dragon Abyss has become the number one perilous site in Xi Country, its fame soon spread far and wide throughout the land. Even among the neighboring countries, Burial Dragon Abyss holds significant influence. Under such circumstances, many cultivators come to Xi Country for training each year, with the majority of them undoubtedly heading toward the Burial Dragon Abyss. At this very moment, above a certain valley outside the Burial Dragon Abyss. One could see two figures, a man and a woman, rapidly streaking across the sky, darting towards a certain direction. Upon closer inspection, the duo appeared somewhat panicked, their faces as pale as paper, and their Daoist robes stained with fresh blood. Yet, even in the midst of flight, the man did not forget to release a Sword Qi with a flick of his fingers, leaving a pattern of a bamboo with cloud motifs on a small tree below. Having done so, the man then quickly pulled the woman beside him and continued their escape without looking back. Shortly after the man and woman disappeared, in less than half a Shi Chen, a bald elder appeared at the location. Now, the bald elder stood atop a mountain peak, casting a cold, mocking gaze in a certain direction. ¡°Hmph¡­ You won¡¯t get away!¡± ¡°Dare to kill the disciples of the Xu Family, this old man will surely see you dead, to avenge our junior and restore the Xu Family¡¯s dignity.¡± The elder¡¯s face bore no expression as he spoke coldly. After that, the elder leapt forward, pursuing the direction the man and the woman had fled. In less than half a Shi Chen, a man dressed in a green Daoist robe arrived at the same mountain peak. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This man had a delicate appearance, seemingly gentle and scholar-like, as if a slightly stronger breeze could knock him over. However, the man intentionally concealed his traces, hence revealing such an appearance. In reality, this seemingly delicate scholar was a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator. And beneath that hidden fa?ade was none other than Lin Tianhu, who was swept into Jingzhou through a Spatial Fissure and found himself within the boundaries of Yu¡¯an Country. At this time, Lin Tianhu ceased his pursuit, his Divine Sense opening and closing mightily as he searched for something. Soon enough, Lin Tianhu spotted a faint mark left on the trunk of the tree below. The mark resembled three green bamboos embracing each other, with a cloud floating atop the highest point of the bamboo. Although the mark was extremely concealed, it would be undetectable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator without the use of Divine Sense. Even for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator like him, it was easy to overlook if one were passing by. But he arrived prepared this time, and with a bit more careful attention, the mark could still be found. At that moment, upon seeing the extremely hidden and faint mark, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face brightened with joy. At the same time, Lin Tianhu quickly descended and came to a steady halt before the small tree. Next, Lin Tianhu reached out his palm and gently touched the mark in front of him, unable to hide the excitement on his face. ¡°Big brother, little brother has been chasing you all the way here for the past two years; it seems I¡¯m finally about to find you!¡± Chapter 1105 - 579 Mark_2 Chapter 1105: Chapter 579 Mark_2 Lin Tianhu spoke with a choked voice, tears flickering in his eyes. Reflecting on the decades before, Lin Tianhu had emerged from a Spatial Fissure and found himself within the borders of Yu¡¯an Country. Throughout these many years, Lin Tianhu had been travelling extensively, cultivating all the while, never ceasing his search for Lin Tianfeng. During that period, whenever he arrived at a new place, he would occasionally leave behind the kind of marks seen before him. This mark was the Lin Family crest, familiar to any member of the Lin Family. In his eyes, since he had survived the Spatial Fissure, he always believed that Lin Tianfeng, like him, had not perished within its depths. Therefore, he had been relentless over the years, leaving behind numerous marks, hoping that when Lin Tianfeng saw them, it would hasten their reunion as brothers lost abroad. He also believed that, if Lin Tianfeng were still alive, he would surely leave behind secretive marks in every place, just as he did. However, inexplicably, over the past several decades as he traveled through numerous countries and explored many dangerous lands, he had never once encountered any such marks. Until two years ago, when he arrived in the Xi Country Cultivation World and accidentally stumbled upon this mark in a desolate wilderness. At that time, he was immensely thrilled, and his anxious heart finally relaxed. Since then, he had remained in the Xi Country Cultivation World, running to and fro. Over those two-plus years, from north to south, east to west, he frequented nearly every large and medium workshop in Xi Country. He did so in order to thoroughly search Xi Country, vowing to find traces of Lin Tianfeng. It was only recently that he discovered this mark again. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And from the remaining aura on the mark, he deduced that it had been left by Lin Tianfeng not long ago. Thus, following the latest mark, he traced his way here. The mark before him held the most distinct and strongest remnant aura of any he had encountered. Based on this information, he deduced that the time since this mark was left was no more than a day. Considering this, even if Lin Tianfeng was rapidly traveling, he couldn¡¯t have gone too far away. From this estimation, the actual distance between them was likely within a range of thousands of li. For him, being an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, such a distance was as good as right before his eyes. Thinking this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s emotions surged once more. After calming slightly, Lin Tianhu looked towards a certain direction and casually left a new mark beside this one. Having done all this, Lin Tianhu did not delay any longer and immediately leaped into the air. Toward evening time. At the far end of Burial Dragon Abyss, within a small valley. Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er suddenly landed on a mountain peak. Looking around, both of their complexions were even paler than half a day ago, their auras noticeably frailer. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was grave as he hurriedly took out an elixir and swallowed it. Almost instantly, his complexion regained some color, though his overall condition remained poor. Nevertheless, even in such a state, Lin Tianfeng could not afford any distractions and quickly scanned his surroundings with his eyes, fearful of any looming threats. By his side, Sun Ling¡¯er looked equally pale, resembling a frightened bird. ¡°Tianfeng, our condition is very weak right now, our Spiritual Power nearly depleted.¡± ¡°In the continuation: if we keep forcibly fleeing, even if the Xu Family doesn¡¯t catch up with us, we might still endanger our lives.¡± ¡°Even if we¡¯re lucky to survive, a decline in cultivation realm is inevitable.¡± ¡°In my opinion, it might be better for us to stop here for the night and continue once our condition has slightly improved.¡± ¡°Once we escape from the territory of Xi Country Cultivation World, even though the Xu Family is powerful, finding us in the vast multitude of faces in another country won¡¯t be so easy.¡± Mindful of these points, Sun Ling¡¯er then looked seriously at Lin Tianfeng. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng could only nod in reluctant agreement. In his heart, he truly acknowledged what Sun Ling¡¯er had proposed. Indeed, it was exactly as Sun Ling¡¯er had described. Right now, their condition is indeed extremely poor; the two of them, both at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, have nearly exhausted all their spiritual power. From their current state, it is estimated that even a cultivator at the Fifth or Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment could defeat the two of them in a fight. However, if they continue to flee and their spiritual power is completely depleted, they would still face certain death in the Burial Dragon Abyss where Second Order Demonic Beasts roam freely. Thinking of this, Lin Tianfeng, despite his fear of the Xu Family¡¯s formidable power, had no choice but to consider stopping to rest here for the night. If they are lucky to get through tonight, there is still hope for them to continue escaping. As long as they cross the Burial Dragon Abyss at their feet, they will soon enter the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect, the arch-enemy of the Xu Family. By that time, with the powerful influence of the Hundred Spirits Sect as a deterrent, there might be a real chance for the two of them to escape from the territory of Xi Country. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng immediately made up his mind to follow Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s suggestion to rest here briefly for the night. Thus, Lin Tianfeng nodded at that moment and then said, ¡°Ling¡¯er, although the Burial Dragon Abyss is full of dangers, it also greatly affects the Xu Family cultivators who are trying to trace our steps.¡± ¡°But the more so, we must not be careless!¡± ¡°Right now we really can¡¯t push ourselves any further; we need to quickly find a place to hide, then conceal some of our aura and quickly recover our spiritual power with the help of elixirs.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng no longer delayed, and was just about to pull Sun Ling¡¯er towards the interior of the small valley in front of them. Just then, a cold, angry laugh sounded. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°You two juniors, why aren¡¯t you running anymore?¡± As soon as these words fell, a bald elder appeared out of thin air in front of Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, completely blocking their way into the valley. At this moment, upon seeing the person in front of him, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face suddenly flushed a mixture of red and white. Not only him, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression at this time was no better than Lin Tianfeng¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s Xu Qingzong, a Golden Core Cultivator from the Xu Family!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ He came really quickly!¡± Lin Tianfeng looked at Xu Qingzong in front of him, forcibly calming himself down, then helplessly sighed. ¡°Ling¡¯er, I¡¯ll hold off that old man for a moment, you hurry and escape!¡± Lin Tianfeng looked at Sun Ling¡¯er next to him, speaking earnestly. Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face immediately showed some anger. Then, almost without any pause, she directly said, ¡°In such a desperate situation, you want me to live on by cowering?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, you leave if you want!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression was resolute, her tone filled with an undeniable force. At this time, Xu Qingzong on the opposite side, upon hearing these words, couldn¡¯t help but laugh coldly again. ¡°You two little kids, even at this time, still putting on such a touching scene in front of this old man.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Seeing as you two can stay together at such a critical moment, just surrender obediently, maybe this old man will let you keep your whole bodies!¡± ¡°And that girl, if you willingly serve this old man for a few years, maybe your life can be spared.¡± After saying this, Xu Qingzong looked at Sun Ling¡¯er in front of him, his eyes alight with a burning gaze as he licked his lips. Hearing this and seeing Xu Qingzong¡¯s lecherous and evil appearance, Lin Tianfeng was immediately enraged. However, Xu Qingzong¡¯s power was immense, setting aside their current weakened state, just the difference of a whole major level was not something any external force could easily bridge. Given this, although Lin Tianfeng was angry, he dared not act recklessly for the moment. However, Sun Ling¡¯er on the side couldn¡¯t help but show a disgusted expression, and she directly cursed. ¡°You old thing, you might as well give up on that idea!¡± As her words fell, Sun Ling¡¯er tightly gripped the longsword in her hand, ready to fight at any moment. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng also unwillingly lagged behind, similarly gripping a flame-encircled longsword, ready to fight to the death. ¡­ Chapter 1106 - 580: The Affection of Tianfeng Chapter 1106: Chapter 580: The Affection of Tianfeng At this moment, the Xu Qingzong opposite to Lin Tianfeng and his companion, seeing their stubborn resistance, displayed not the slightest intention of begging for mercy. Especially Sun Ling¡¯er, merely a woman, dared to refuse a Golden Core Stage Cultivator with just her Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Moreover, the woman even cursed him outright, truly catching him off guard. But the more defiant the woman was, the more intrigued Xu Qingzong became; her resistance only intensified his desire to conquer. In his eyes, as a dignified Golden Core Stage Cultivator, what sort of woman could he not have at any time? Indeed, if he simply wished it, the mere mention of his name would bring droves of beautiful women from Xi Country hoping to seize the opportunity to cling to a high branch. And over the years, he had indeed taken many wives and concubines. From women at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage to mere mortal bodies, all came willingly into his embrace and allowed him to take what he wanted. However, at this life-and-death moment, the woman before him showed absolutely no fear of death, nor did she bow to him for the sake of survival. Amid such stark contrast, Xu Qingzong felt unusually unangered, and instead burst into raucous laughter. ¡°The sharper the young lady¡¯s tongue, the more I like it!¡± ¡°Besides, your current defiance is meaningless.¡± ¡°After I kill your young man, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have the chance to resist me.¡± Saying this, Xu Qingzong looked at Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s enchanting figure with lustful eyes and smirked. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°When that time comes¡­ I¡¯ll show you what it means to be in agony of both wanting to die and yet unable to cease.¡± Hearing these words, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s complexion turned even paler, and a resolute look flashed in her eyes. She was very clear that with their combined strength as it was, they stood no chance against Xu Qingzong. If Xu Qingzong really spared her life and forcefully detained her, she truly wouldn¡¯t have a chance to resist. At that point, dying would not even be an easy option. She was not afraid of dying, but she feared her virginity, preserved for a full century, would be tarnished by this sinister old man. This treasured thing was something she had always reserved for Lin Tianfeng. Now, without having disclosed their affections for one another, they were facing life and death, as well as the matter of chastity. That was what truly terrified her the most. Apart from this, she most cared about the safety and life of Lin Tianfeng at her side. Over the years, the two of them had wandered the lands of Jingzhou, enduring countless crises and tortures. Although decades had passed and they had yet to breach the barrier between them, in their hearts, the seeds of love were already sown, and each was well aware of the other¡¯s affection. The reason they had not made it clear was to wait until they returned to Wei Kingdom to decide on the matrimonial matters of a lifetime. At that time, returning to the Lin Family Clan Grounds and marrying with the witness of their clan elders, would mark the completion of virtues. But plans cannot keep up with changes, and faced with Xu Qingzong¡¯s pursuit, everything fell apart. At that thought, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression darkened, and she considered taking her own life. And next to her, Lin Tianfeng, upon hearing Xu Qingzong¡¯s vulgar speech, his expression suddenly turned more furious, his palm gripping the longsword Magic Artifact which gleamed with a cold light. At the same time, his eyes were fixed on Xu Qingzong, shifting from bright to blood-red, seemingly wishing to tear Xu Qingzong into a thousand pieces. ¡°Old scoundrel¡­ even if it costs me my life today, I will not let you have your way!¡± Lin Tianfeng roared, and then forced his Mana to circulate, releasing a mass of Sword Qi which charged towards Xu Qingzong. ¡°Swoosh swoosh swoosh¡­¡± A sword howl resounded, as a silver light flickered in the sky, and sword qi tore through the horizon, instantly descending above Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. In less than a breath¡¯s time, the attack that Sun Ling¡¯er forcibly unleashed had also arrived as promised. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Xu Qingzong¡¯s face displayed utter disdain, and he did not take Lin Tianfeng and his partner¡¯s attack seriously. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± As the sky filled with sword qi descended, a powerful Gang Wind fluttered his Daoist robe. In that moment, Xu Qingzong let out a cold snicker and finally made his move. Instantly, with a wave of his hand, a formless hand composed of Metal Attribute Spiritual Energy twisted the sword qi in the air. With a strange noise echoing, all the sword qi in the sky suddenly halted in midair motionless. It¡¯s impossible to tell how long had passed, but after the sword qi vibrated slightly, it dissolved into gas and eventually vanished. All this happened in the blink of an eye. When the sky had returned to its normal state, it was as if nothing had happened. Just then, Lin Tianfeng and his partner, upon witnessing this scene, suddenly turned extremely pale. Because they both well understood that Xu Qingzong had merely deflected their combined assault with a casual strike. Moreover, Xu Qingzong had not yet made a direct move against them. Otherwise, with Xu Qingzong¡¯s power and state, if he had casually launched an attack at them, they simply wouldn¡¯t have been able to resist, let alone see the spectacle before them. Given such a vast disparity, both fell into even deeper despair. And opposite them, Xu Qingzong looked at Lin Tianfeng and his companion, and then mockingly smiled. Chapter 1107 - 580 Tianfengs Affection_2 Chapter 1107: Chapter 580 Tianfeng¡¯s Affection_2 ¡°Kid¡­ it¡¯s useless¡­ stop struggling!¡± Hearing these words that completely disregarded him, Lin Tianfeng felt anger in his heart, but he also forced himself to calm down. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When he glanced at Sun Ling¡¯er beside him, her pale complexion regained some color, and her eyes were filled with tenderness and reluctance. ¡°Ling¡¯er, for years, there has always been something I¡¯ve wanted to tell you!¡± ¡°Now we have reached a dead end, if I don¡¯t say it now, I¡¯m afraid there will never be another chance.¡± Lin Tianfeng sincerely looked at Sun Ling¡¯er, and the way he addressed her in his words suddenly changed. Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er also turned her head to look at Lin Tianfeng, then smiled faintly, her previously pale and bloodless face seeming much more relaxed. In her heart, although Lin Tianfeng hadn¡¯t spoken yet, she understood perfectly well what he wanted to say. Nevertheless, Sun Ling¡¯er softly replied: ¡°Tianfeng, whatever you want to say, just say it.¡± ¡°After you finish, I also have something to tell you.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Ling¡¯er shyly looked at Lin Tianfeng, awaiting his words. Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t intend to delay, with a wry smile, he then began: ¡°Ling¡¯er, these years you have suffered.¡± Lin Tianfeng¡¯s tone was earnest, his face full of love and tenderness, as if he had forgotten the desperate situation in which they found themselves. Then, Lin Tianfeng suddenly smiled lightly, followed by a tone of regret: ¡°If we survive this catastrophe, I will definitely marry you and become Daoist companions.¡± As soon as the words were said, Lin Tianfeng stared intently at Sun Ling¡¯er, seemingly waiting for her response. Sun Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t plan to waste time either, looking straight into Lin Tianfeng¡¯s eyes without moving. ¡°Tianfeng, I am aware of your feelings, and I am grateful for your care and protection over these years, which has brought me unparalleled happiness.¡± ¡°I feel the same as you, my heart has belonged to you for many years, and now facing this crisis, I don¡¯t want to live with regrets.¡± ¡°Tianfeng, I am willing to become Daoist companions with you, from now on, in life or death, never to part.¡± Sun Ling¡¯er sincerely expressed these words, and although the tears in her eyes were glistening, she smiled happily. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng also wore a smile, and promptly pulled Sun Ling¡¯er into his embrace. At this instant, the two whose hearts belonged to each other completely forgot their predicament, finally uttering those words in their hearts. However, witnessing this scene, Xu Qingzong couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡­¡± ¡°At such a time, you are still showering affection on each other, even wishing to be a pair of mandarin ducks sharing the same fate?¡± ¡°How ridiculous¡­ how ridiculous¡­¡± After scolding them, Xu Qingzong slowly approached Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er. At this time, Lin Tianfeng also released Sun Ling¡¯er and proceeded to shield her tightly behind him. Then, with a somber face, Lin Tianfeng responded: ¡°Old man, if you want to kill us, just do it, stop spouting nonsense!¡± ¡°Fine¡­ fine¡­¡± ¡°Since you, lad, are in such a hurry to die, this old man will oblige you!¡± With these words, Xu Qingzong¡¯s longsword flashed with light, and a golden Sword Qi shot out, instantly appearing in the sky. At this very moment, feeling the intense Sword Qi coming his way, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face revealed an extremely solemn expression. Suddenly, he turned sideways, and with a palm strike hit Sun Ling¡¯er on the shoulder. In that moment, unprepared, Sun Ling¡¯er was shocked by the tremendous force and flung away, quickly ending up a hundred yards distant, thus creating a gap between herself and Xu Qingzong. But even while mid-air, she heard Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words by her ear. ¡°Ling¡¯er¡­ I cannot let you die, you must escape at all costs.¡± ¡°If you can return to Wei Kingdom, I hope you will visit my family on my behalf and deliver a Fruit of Fortuity to the Clan Leader. Even wandering outside for many years, in death, at least I can make a final contribution to the family and find a spiritual resting place.¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er wore a look of utter despair, and her heart was immediately filled with shock and anger. The shock was because Lin Tianfeng, even at this moment, still thought of finding a slim chance for her to escape. Anger surged within her because Lin Tianfeng had actually left her to flee alone while he faced a certain death situation by himself. Yet in reality, she had long ceased to care about her own life or death. In her heart, even now, in this dire situation, she remained willing to stay and share life or death with Lin Tianfeng. But now, Lin Tianfeng wanted her to abandon him, to live on as a craven survivor. Such an action, in her eyes, was far from the outcome she desired. However, at this moment, the actual circumstances allowed no room for her to think further, let alone to take any action. Under her gaze, Xu Qingzong¡¯s attack was about to descend. It was at this moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face took on a look of resolute determination, his expression revealing a mad smile. Immediately after, he executed a Law Decree with a strange hand gesture. His movements were swift, all actions were cohesive, with no signs of hesitance, executing them in one fell swoop. In an instant. Accompanying a peculiar sound, it was unknown when exactly a silver-white Sword Qi had formed above Lin Tianfeng¡¯s head. As this silver-white Sword Qi appeared, the entire sky flickered with silver radiance, an immense amount of Yuan Qi gathered towards it. At the same time, a formidable presence arose spontaneously, eventually dispersing as a Gang Wind in all directions. And at this moment, Lin Tianfeng stood at the very center of the spreading presence, the powerful aura billowing his Daoist robe with rustling sounds. Seeing this, Xu Qingzong was momentarily startled, the Sword Qi he controlled inadvertently hesitated, and its descending speed consequently slowed. ¡°Could that Sword Qi be a Spirit Art?¡± ¡°Moreover, judging by this piercing aura, the Grade of this Spirit Art is definitely not low, it must undoubtedly be a Profound Grade Spirit Art!¡± Xu Qingzong thought to himself at this time. Soon, his face displayed a satisfied smile, his heart throbbing with excitement. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t calm enough, but rather the value of a Profound Grade Spirit Art was self-evident. In his view, the Xu Family had inherited through so many generations, and after centuries of collective accumulation, the entire family possessed only a few Spirit Arts. Among them, Profound Grade Spirit Arts were limited to just one, and the quantity was extremely sparse. Moreover, that Profound Grade Spirit Art of the Xu Family was very difficult to cultivate and its power was relatively mediocre. It was only slightly stronger than the Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques, with an extremely limited advantage. Yet even so, the fact that the Xu Family had been able to persist for so long without decline, the few Spirit Arts collected by the family played an essential role. Furthermore, within the entire Xi Country Cultivation World, not to mention a Golden Core Family with an ancient lineage like the Xu Family, even other forces at the same level had limited access to Spirit Arts. From this, one could see the importance of a Profound Grade Spirit Art and the benefits it could bring to a Golden Core Family if it possessed a powerful one. And now, he had actually discovered traces of a Spirit Art from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator right before him. If he could obtain this Spirit Art, the Xu Family would be able to add another Profound Grade Spirit Art. The strength and foundation of the entire family would leap upwards significantly. The very thought made Xu Qingzong unbearably excited, his heart set on a determination to obtain the Spirit Art at all costs. Knowing this, Xu Qingzong suddenly burst into mad laughter. Following that, he swiftly controlled the Sword Qi in the sky, directing it towards the vital points of Lin Tianfeng without mercy. At this time, Lin Tianfeng showed no signs of pausing, his movements in his hands persisted. Simultaneously, he was seen to slightly move his lips, chanting a series of complex spell incantations. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art!¡± With a loud call from Lin Tianfeng, the Sword Qi above his head soared towards the heavens, charging directly at Xu Qingzong on the opposing side. The speed of this Sword Qi was extremely fast, its momentum majestic and expansive, as if it could swallow Xu Qingzong whole. Chapter 1108 - 581: Tianhu Saves the Day Chapter 1108: Chapter 581: Tianhu Saves the Day At this very moment, Xu Qingzong saw the mighty Sword Qi approaching, its momentum growing stronger and stronger, so much so that even the heavens and earth seemed to change color. This instant saw Xu Qingzong¡¯s face, rarely so serious, his heart finally beginning to take Lin Tianfeng seriously. He was very clear in his mind that the Spirit Art Lin Tianfeng was using in this desperate situation was indeed formidable. And indeed, it was so. That¡¯s because the cultivation technique of this Spirit Art was not of a low grade, its power was overwhelmingly mighty, and it had always served as a trump card among the core members of the Lin Family. Moreover, the most significant feature of this Spirit Art was that the longer the Sword Qi was condensed, the more powerful the burst of energy when released. Take Lin Tianfeng himself; despite having been through numerous battles over the decades and facing life-threatening peril multiple times, He had always remembered the Clan Leader¡¯s earnest and significant injunction when he practiced this technique for the first time. At that time, the Clan Leader had repeatedly told him not to use this Spirit Art unless it was absolutely necessary or he was sure of victory. He knew the reason for this was to prevent the exposure of the Lin Family¡¯s greatest strength and invite prying eyes. And such caution was also to spare himself and the entire Lin Family from attracting life-threatening disasters. Hence, this sword Qi had been condensed within him for decades, and he had never used it. Even Sun Ling¡¯er, who had been with him through thick and thin over these years, was unaware of this hidden trump card of his. But now, faced with Xu Qingzong¡¯s pursuit, Lin Tianfeng had no choice but to use this tactic. Fortunately, they were currently in the central part of Jingzhou, far away from the Wei Kingdom, and over the years he had constantly changed his name, never carrying anything that could link him to the Lin Family. Thus, even if he were to stake it all on this Spirit Art now, the likelihood of the Lin Family being exposed was very low. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianfeng was so resolute. And his desperate counter-attack truly possessed terrifying power. If another Golden Core Cultivator were to sense this momentum at this moment, they would probably think it was an attack from a veteran Golden Core Stage master. It was precisely because of this trump card tactic that the proud Xu Qingzong was caught a bit off guard. Don¡¯t look at him being at the Golden Core Stage realm, with cultivation strength far surpassing that of Lin Tianfeng. But under this terrifying Spirit Art attack, even he had to be more cautious to avoid capsizing in the gutter. Knowing this, Xu Qingzong dared not to be negligent. So, at this moment, Xu Qingzong suddenly pinched a Law Decree, causing his cultivation technique to run at full strength. At the same time, he was desperately controlling the Sword Qi, clashing head-on with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s attack. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A thunderous roar erupted. In that instant, a flash of silver light illuminated the space between the two, followed by a torrent of flames shooting skyward. Among those flames, the Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianfeng was extremely sharp, managing to deflect Xu Qingzong¡¯s Sword Qi. Not only that, the trajectory of the silver-white Sword Qi was straight, and its speed hardly seemed affected, continuing to shoot towards Xu Qingzong. At this moment, seeing such a turn of events, Xu Qingzong¡¯s heart shook greatly. Seeing the Sword Qi approaching, Xu Qingzong, amidst shock and rage, hastily swung his sword. In that instant, Xu Qingzong¡¯s front erupted with a multitude of Sword Qi, firing forward to block Lin Tianfeng¡¯s Sword Qi. However, the speed of the opposing Sword Qi was simply too fast, crossing a distance of over a hundred zhang in an instant. Furthermore, Xu Qingzong was caught entirely unprepared; the Sword Qi attack he hastily launched was not yet at its peak in terms of power and speed. Thus, at the moment of imminent contact, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s Sword Qi managed to evade. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s Sword Qi, cleaving through the skies, seemed poised to reach Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. ¡°What?¡± At this time, Xu Qingzong felt a sharp aura slapping against his face, enveloped by the momentum of the Sword Qi. In light of this situation, Xu Qingzong was once again greatly startled, his eyes uncontrollably widening with intense shock. It was only when the chills began to crawl across his head that the astonished Xu Qingzong was pulled back to reality. And now, the silver-white Sword Qi had arrived, leaving virtually no distance between it and Xu Qingzong. Faced with this situation, Xu Qingzong could not have imagined that the Sword Qi would be so forceful and unbelievably fast. Currently, the distance between him and the terrifying silver-white Sword Qi was too close, and given the swift speed of the Sword Qi, even with his Golden Core Stage Cultivation, there was no time to mount any significant defensive strategy. Fortunately, Xu Qingzong¡¯s own strength was far superior to his opponent¡¯s, and having cultivated for hundreds of years, finely tempered over the centuries, he was now considered a veteran with abundant combat experience. Seeing the Sword Qi assault, Xu Qingzong did not hesitate and immediately executed a Sword Qi attack at the fastest speed, hoping to temporarily hold off the silver-white Sword Qi. He believed, once this exchange was over, there would be no resisting force left in his opponents. After all, both of them were already injured, and their Spiritual Power was nearly depleted. In his view, such a state could aptly be described as the last gasp. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Facing such an adversary not on the same level, even without the intent to kill, just a casual couple of rounds of attacks would prove to be the last straw to crush their lives. Chapter 1109 - 581 Tianhu Saves the Day_2 Chapter 1109: Chapter 581 Tianhu Saves the Day_2 Therefore, as long as he stayed vigilant and only needed to exert seventy to eighty percent of his strength, taking care of those two would be as easy as reaching out to grasp. Fully aware of this, Xu Qingzong pinned his hopes on this hastily made strike to resolve this minor crisis. Under his watchful eye, the two clashing attacks met head-on with a direct clash. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, and the momentarily calm sky burst into flames once more, the dazzling light blinding his eyes. Within the blaze, his attack persisted for but an instant before it ultimately shattered into pieces. Meanwhile, the silver-white Sword Qi trembled violently a few times, but it still shot towards him. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the Sword Qi, after a round of consumption, had drastically reduced in might to less than half of its original power when it had been first unleashed. Yet even so, the Sword Qi still existed and continued to assail Xu Qingzong. At this moment, Xu Qingzong, being too close to the Sword Qi, had neither the time nor any means to counter the attack. Left with no other choice, Xu Qingzong, while filled with fear, immediately moved to protect his vital areas to avoid being killed by this strike. Otherwise, he, a dignified Golden Core Stage Cultivator who had entered the realm hundreds of years ago, would actually be slain by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If news of this spread, even if he perished, it would shock the cultivators of Xi Country for quite some time. It would truly be an enormous joke. Under his watchful gaze, the Sword Qi descended with a thunderous crash. Soon, he felt himself being blasted backwards, and while mid-air, a wave of intense pain surged from his arm, and the scent of fresh blood permeated the air. For a moment, Xu Qingzong let out a painful scream, and his face turned several shades paler. As the firelight dissipated, the sky returned to calm. By the time Xu Qingzong steadied himself, he discovered that one of his arms had flown off, leaving only the bloody stump as a testament to the recent event. Under this one strike, Lin Tianfeng, at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, had desperately severed his arm, causing him significant injury and reducing his strength considerably. Thinking of this, Xu Qingzong immediately became furiously enraged. When he turned his head to look at Lin Tianfeng, his bloodshot eyes were filled with intense murderous intent. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, too, spit out several mouthfuls of blood, then plummeted from the sky. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er, who was behind him, suddenly turned pale, her heart filled with anxiety. She dashed over frantically, catching the falling Lin Tianfeng and held him tightly in her arms. At this moment, Lin Tianming had somewhat recovered. When he saw Sun Ling¡¯er so close and smelled the fragrance coming from her, his face grew even paler. Then, Lin Tianfeng sighed helplessly. ¡°Ling¡¯er, why didn¡¯t you flee?¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face was solemn, yet her tone resolute as she replied: ¡°Tianfeng¡­ I will never leave you behind to live on by myself.¡± ¡°I am not afraid of death, if we are to die, we¡¯ll die together, and I will have no regrets.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianfeng, though somewhat regretful that Sun Ling¡¯er had not taken the opportunity created by his last desperate effort to escape, knew there was no point in blaming her for her choice. Moreover, that Sun Ling¡¯er could be so resolute in standing with him, who else but a beloved would act in such a way. Realizing this, his heart was touched, and a surge of warmth filled him. In his heart, as Sun Ling¡¯er had said, in the face of a life-and-death situation, if they were to die together, it would not be in vain. Perhaps this was the steadfast conviction that came from deep affection. In such a predicament, Lin Tianfeng accepted all outcomes and prepared to meet death with dignity. Not just him, Sun Ling¡¯er too was ready to face her demise. Thus, Lin Tianfeng and she held hands, their eyes calmly fixed on the enraged Xu Qingzong, no longer intending to make another move. ¡°Young man, you actually injured me?¡± ¡°Humph¡­ I will cut you to pieces and torture that girl to death.¡± Xu Qingzong snorted coldly and cursed angrily at the same time, then no longer intended to waste time, to avoid unnecessary complications. Under such circumstances, he raised his hand and unleashed several strokes of his sword, rapidly emitting multiple streams of Sword Qi, shooting them towards Lin Tianfeng and his companion. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, having seen this, astonishingly remained unmoved, not even blinking an eye, instead holding Sun Ling¡¯er tightly in his embrace. The two of them nestled together like this, each feeling the other¡¯s warmth, having already forgotten all external factors. As the Sword Qi approached closer and closer, Lin Tianfeng and his companion exchanged a smile, then slowly closed their eyes. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Several explosive sounds rang out, as the blast waves from the collisions furiously spread out in all directions. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng and his companion still remained suspended motionless in mid-air. It was unclear how much time had passed when Lin Tianfeng and his companion did not feel the slightest pain, and the entire sky had become incredibly quiet. ¡°Could this be¡­ what it feels like to die?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ how nice¡­ not even a slight sensation of pain!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng thought to himself, with an involuntary smile creeping across his lips. Apart from him, Sun Ling¡¯er was also overwhelmed with a thousand thoughts. However, she hadn¡¯t realized what was happening, thinking this was the sensation of death, so she didn¡¯t open her eyes and didn¡¯t detect anything unusual. On the other hand, a sentence from Xu Qingzong immediately brought Lin Tianfeng and his companion back to reality. ¡°Fellow Daoist, I urge you not to meddle in others¡¯ affairs!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng finally opened his eyes, only to discover that a frail scholar-like figure had appeared in front of them at some unknown time. Looking over, the scholar stood with his back to them, his tall and upright stature somewhat imposing. Simultaneously, newly arrived Lin Tianhu hurriedly turned his head. When he saw Lin Tianfeng, a broad smile was on his face, his excitement beyond words. ¡°Big brother, it has been so hard searching for you all these years!¡± As Lin Tianhu spoke, he moved toward Lin Tianfeng, utterly disregarding the threatening words of Xu Qingzong. Upon hearing those words, Lin Tianfeng immediately understood everything. Quickly, Lin Tianfeng became equally exhilarated, his pale face instantly filled with color. ¡°Tian¡­ Tianhu¡­ you¡­ you¡¯re also alive?¡± Lin Tianfeng, overly excited, spoke in fits and starts, clearly at the peak of elation. In his heart, he was truly surprised and delighted. After all, just like him, Lin Tianhu used to be only a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivator, yet was swept away by that terrifying Spatial Fissure, ultimately ending up in the distant lands of Jingzhou. Here, they knew no one and lacked even the most basic understanding. Under such conditions, living a stable life was not easy. Therefore, Lin Tianfeng once thought that being able to survive with Sun Ling¡¯er was an incredibly fortunate event. Over the years, he, too, had never given up searching for Lin Tianhu. However, as time passed with no word or even a hint of news, he gradually harbored a notion. Could it be that Tianhu didn¡¯t survive the Spatial Fissure? But now, at this moment of dire crisis, Lin Tianhu had come like a god descending from the heavens, blocking Xu Qingzong¡¯s lethal strike. Such a surprise was not only the joy of a reunion between brothers but also the ecstatic relief of escaping death. Moreover, that Lin Tianhu was able to parry Xu Qingzong¡¯s blow on such short notice, and come out unscathed. Such an easy and casual handling of the situation clearly indicated that Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation realm must undoubtedly be at the Golden Core Stage. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s originally calm heart at once stirred with towering waves. The reason for such emotions was not only the joy of avoiding disaster for himself and his loved one, but also the heartfelt happiness for Lin Tianhu¡¯s rapid growth. ¡­ Chapter 1110 - 582: Each Displays Their Divine Skills Chapter 1110: Chapter 582: Each Displays Their Divine Skills At this moment, Lin Tianhu looked at the tearful face of Lin Tianfeng, overwhelmed with joy, and couldn¡¯t help but nod. Then, Lin Tianhu solemnly said, ¡°Big brother, you and sister-in-law step aside and rest, younger brother will go and avenge you!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianhu resolutely turned around and shot off in the direction of Xu Qingzong. While still mid-air, Lin Tianhu bellowed angrily. ¡°Old fool, daring to strike my big brother, you will surely die today!¡± Before his words even subsided, Lin Tianhu slapped his storage bag at his waist, and a fist-sized silver white bead appeared in his hand. Then, Lin Tianhu tossed the bead in his hand forward, and it hovered motionless in mid-air. Immediately after, Lin Tianhu formed a single-handed seal, sending beams of spiritual light precisely bombarding the silver white bead. In that instant, the silver white bead continuously flickered with light, and swiftly brought down clusters of clouds, instantly enveloping the sky above Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. It was at this moment when Xu Qingzong heard Lin Tianhu¡¯s furious words, his face turned pale instantly, and a sense of impending doom rose in his heart. He was well aware that Lin Tianhu and Lin Tianfeng were not the same. The former was a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and the aura of the magical treasure, the silver white bead, seemed extraordinary and was certainly not a mundane item. With this in mind, Lin Tianhu¡¯s fighting power must not be underestimated. And he himself, due to previous negligence, was injured by a powerful Spirit Art from Lin Tianfeng, causing an arm to be severed. Now, Xu Qingzong¡¯s overall combat power was greatly diminished. Under such circumstances, facing a peak phase Cultivator of the same rank on his own, the odds of victory were almost straightforward. Understanding this, Xu Qingzong was now filled with shock and rage, and an urge to flee sprang up in his heart. As for the pursuit of Lin Tianfeng and the others, his own life and death, by comparison, seemed far less important. After all, Xu Qingzong was at the Golden Core Stage Realm, and his personal strength was not to be underestimated. For the entire Xu Family, his role was far more significant than those of deceased Foundation Establishment Qi Stage Clan Members. If he were to lose his life, the loss to the Xu family would be even greater, and they would have neither the leisure nor the energy to concern themselves with those matters. Having figured out these pros and cons, Xu Qingzong had already made up his mind. Thus, Xu Qingzong did not hesitate to turn around and escape in the opposite direction, just as Lin Tianhu completed his move. Xu Qingzong moved quickly, darting dozens of feet away in a flash. However, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attack speed was also fast, and as Xu Qingzong gradually put distance between them, the clusters of clouds that fell from the silver white bead had already surrounded Xu Qingzong from different angles. At the same time, more clouds spread out, completely centering around Xu Qingzong and enveloping a large swath of sky. Affected by the encompassing clouds, the originally bright sky began to darken, looking as if a mountain rain was on the horizon. And to Xu Qingzong¡¯s eyes, the cloud overhead seemed invisible and colorless, but it was indeed real. However, Xu Qingzong did not know what kind of lethal power these seemingly unremarkable clouds possessed. It wasn¡¯t until he rushed into a small cluster of clouds that he instantly felt as if his whole body was trapped in quicksand, needing several times more strength to move even slightly. This sense of restraint significantly slowed his speed. And as more clouds continued to converge, the feeling of restraint on his body grew increasingly heavy. It was only at this moment that Xu Qingzong realized the formidable nature of these clouds. What he didn¡¯t know was that this silver white bead was Lin Tianhu¡¯s Life-bound Magical Treasure, known as the Gravity Bead, which was extremely effective at trapping enemies. In the past decade or so, Lin Tianhu had safely traveled to many countries, experiencing many battles, and each time he emerged unscathed, it was with the help of this Gravity Bead. Now, with such a lethal weapon in play, Lin Tianhu was fully intent on a killing blow. Driven by this expectation, Lin Tianhu fully controlled the Gravity Bead, quickly using the vast number of clouds to completely surround Xu Qingzong. At this time, Xu Qingzong, who was in the center of the clouds, clearly felt an increasingly strong sense of restraint which he couldn¡¯t shake off or break free from. Even the attacks he launched felt like they were stuck in a quagmire, their power greatly reduced compared to his peak. Witnessing this turn of events, Xu Qingzong¡¯s face changed drastically. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Tianhu¡¯s figure drew closer, it made Xu Qingzong¡¯s heart palpitate even more. ¡°This fellow Daoist¡­ your brothers were not seriously injured, and I, for my part, have already lost an arm, which could be considered retribution. How about we stop here?¡± ¡°Be assured, fellow Daoist. Once I return to my family, I will not pursue the matter of those Fruits of Fortuity, nor will I look into the cause of death of those incompetent clan members of our Xu Family.¡± ¡°From now on, let us erase our grudges, and the Xu Family will no longer provoke you.¡± Xu Qingzong spoke earnestly, his demeanor having shifted drastically, no longer displaying the arrogance he had before. Having said that, Xu Qingzong looked at Lin Tianhu while retreating further back. However, upon hearing these words, Lin Tianhu couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Fellow Daoist, you are truly laughable!¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t arrived in time just now, I¡¯m afraid my brother would have already perished by your hand.¡± Chapter 1111 - 582 Each Displays Divine Skills_2 Chapter 1111: Chapter 582 Each Displays Divine Skills_2 ¡°Now that you see weakness, you think to step back and settle grudges; is it really that easy?¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianhu pinched the Law Decree, grabbing the Silver White Bead floating in midair in his hand. Then, Lin Tianhu threw the bead again, aiming straight for Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. Seeing this scene and hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s direct mocking words, Xu Qingzong was both shocked and furious, his face instantly becoming extremely gloomy. However, the situation at that time made it impossible for him to be distracted, let alone spare time to deal with Lin Tianhu. Realizing this, Xu Qingzong suddenly pinched a Law Decree, muttering words. Soon, the gloomy sky flashed with lightning and thunder, with fierce winds howling in. Then, a dragon¡¯s shadow poked its head out of the clouds, and then began roaring ferociously with its teeth and claws. As the dragon¡¯s shadow appeared, the clouds began to churn, and even some clouds at the outer edge started dissipating. Seeing this, Xu Qingzong¡¯s expression finally improved a bit. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± The dragon¡¯s shadow roared and then burst out of the clouds, appearing above Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. ¡°Dragon Calling Technique!¡± Xu Qingzong shouted loudly as the dragon¡¯s shadow shot out fiercely, rushing towards Lin Tianhu with bared teeth. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s expression suddenly became very solemn. Clearly, seeing that he couldn¡¯t escape, Xu Qingzong began to fight desperately. Otherwise, if he continued to be bound by the clouds, coupled with the attacks driven by Lin Tianhu¡¯s Gravity Bead, Xu Qingzong, who was only defending, could not hold on for long. Moreover, Xu Qingzong was already injured, significantly weakening his strength. Rather than being slowly depleted to death, it was better to fight desperately; there might still be a chance to win. Indeed, Xu Qingzong¡¯s mindset at this time was exactly as Lin Tianhu had guessed. However, even though Lin Tianhu understood all these, he dared not be the slightest bit careless now. After all, Xu Qingzong was a veteran Golden Core Cultivator, who had entered the Golden Core Stage for hundreds of years and came from a long-standing Golden Elixir Force like the Xu Family. Relying on the heritage of the Xu Family, Xu Qingzong undoubtedly had many tricks up his sleeve. Take Spirit Arts, a powerful weapon; the Xu Family definitely had more than one. And this magnificent and mighty dragon shadow, merely from the aura it displayed, it could be determined that it was undoubtedly a Spirit Art. Knowing this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s expression was solemn, channeling his mana to the extreme, constantly controlling the Gravity Bead, bombarding toward Xu Qingzong. In a moment of delay, as a loud explosion sounded, the Gravity Bead and the dragon¡¯s shadow collided head-on. ¡°Boom¡­¡± At that moment, the sky was lit by flames, and the intense light illuminated the entire gorge. Within that blaze, the Gravity Bead was engulfed by the dragon shadow, and a large amount of clouds were also sucked away by the dragon shadow. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face changed drastically, and he began to worry inwardly. On the other hand, seeing the dragon shadow devour the Gravity Bead and a large amount of clouds, Xu Qingzong felt significantly less bound. For a moment, Xu Qingzong was overjoyed, his face filled with a very satisfied smile. However, soon, the dragon shadow exploded with a huge impact, sweeping across all directions. Faced with such an unexpected turn, Xu Qingzong¡¯s expression darkened instantly, showing disbelief. With the explosion of the dragon shadow, the Gravity Bead was also flung away. And due to the impact of the blast, Lin Tianhu was also knocked back hundreds of feet. While still in midair, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face paled, and a few traces of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. On the other side, Xu Qingzong also endured a tremendous impact. With the help of this force, Xu Qingzong managed to break free from the densest part of the clouds, reappearing on the outer edge of the clouds. But the explosion¡¯s impact was extremely powerful, hitting Xu Qingzong squarely, immediately sending him flying hundreds of feet. Once Xu Qingzong stabilized his posture, he continuously spat out several mouthfuls of dark blood, his face growing even paler. Under this strike, Xu Qingzong¡¯s injuries worsened significantly, his breath much weaker than at his peak. And after stabilizing himself, Lin Tianhu similarly showed a pained expression. Compared to Xu Qingzong, Lin Tianhu¡¯s situation was slightly better, though it was a fact that he was injured. However, Lin Tianhu could not afford to care too much. At the moment he stabilized his posture, he immediately grabbed the Gravity Bead back and clenched it tightly in his hand, ready to make further moves. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Xu Qingzong was both shocked and pleased at that moment. The shock came from his powerful Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, which did not gain the upper hand after clashing directly with Lin Tianhu¡¯s magical treasure, truly making him find it inconceivable. As for the joy, it was because the impact had freed him from most of the clouds¡¯ constraints. Now, having escaped the center of the clouds, if he were to flee for his life, the chances of success were not slim. Thinking of this, Xu Qingzong immediately made up his mind. Thus, with a casual wave, Xu Qingzong released a surge of Sword Qi attacking Lin Tianhu. Following that, he immediately turned around and fled without a backward glance. At this very moment, down in the depths of the gorge, Lin Tianfeng saw this situation and his expression became extremely anxious. ¡°Tianhu¡­ that old man is escaping, stop him quickly!¡± Amid his anxiety, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but shout out. Even without Lin Tianfeng¡¯s shout, Lin Tianhu knew what he had to do. He was very clear in his heart, once Xu Qingzong escaped and returned to the Xu family¡¯s stronghold, with the strength of the Xu family, their trouble would not be minor. Although Lin Tianhu was very confident in his own strength. Facing a family that had inherited over ten thousand years and had at least seven or eight Golden Core Cultivators, he had no certainty that he could retreat unscathed. Moreover, he had to carry two people at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm, Lin Tianfeng, and Sun Ling¡¯er. Trying to escape from the Xu Family¡¯s relentless pursuit would almost certainly be a desperate situation. Knowing this well, Lin Tianhu was also determined at this moment to spare no expense to keep Xu Qingzong¡¯s life here. Once he killed Xu Qingzong, he would immediately flee with Lin Tianfeng and the others. As long as they left the territory of Xi Country, they would temporarily escape the crisis. Realizing this, Lin Tianhu formed a Law Decree with his hands and simultaneously chanted. Very soon, a Silver-White Sword Qi appeared above Lin Tianhu¡¯s head, steadily hovering in mid-air. At this moment, sensing the terrifying aura behind him, Xu Qingzong freakishly turned his head to look. Instantly, his face turned ashen. ¡°What? It¡¯s that terrifying Silver-White Sword Qi again!¡± Xu Qingzong shivered inwardly, his body trembling involuntarily. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t calm enough, but he had witnessed the power of this Silver-White Sword Qi before. It was because of this Spirit Technique that one of his arms was severed by Lin Tianfeng, who was at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and he nearly died under this Sword Qi. Even Lin Tianfeng could achieve this extent. Now with Lin Tianhu, at the Golden Core Stage, driving this Spirit Technique, its power was self-evident. Realizing this, Xu Qingzong felt a great sense of foreboding. Just as Xu Qingzong was in shock, Lin Tianhu had already activated the Silver-White Sword Qi. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art!¡± As Lin Tianhu shouted loudly, the Silver-White Sword Qi above shot out in a flash, traveling over a hundred yards in an instant. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± Under Xu Qingzong¡¯s gaze, the Silver-White Sword Qi approached closer and was about to descend over his head. At this moment, Xu Qingzong wanted to flee desperately, but he was already seriously injured, and his speed was much slower compared to his peak condition. More crucially, even at his peak condition, his speed would not exceed the attack speed of the Spirit Technique. At such a close distance, there was simply no time to perform the most effective defense. In such a situation, Xu Qingzong¡¯s hope of surviving rested nearly entirely on whether his defense measures could withstand this strike. If he survived this, there was still a glimmer of a turning point. Otherwise, it would mean the same as reckless fleeing, directly dying under the Silver-White Sword Qi. Chapter 1112 - 583 Tiansong City Chapter 1112: Chapter 583 Tiansong City At this very moment, realizing the pros and cons, Xu Qingzong could only proceed despite feeling helpless. Thus, in his hurry, Xu Qingzong conjured up a magical treasure shield. Immediately after, he operated his cultivation technique to its limit and injected a massive amount of mana into the shield in his hand. In an instant, the shield in Xu Qingzong¡¯s hand crazily expanded and eventually transformed into a massive barrier that firmly protected him within. After all these preparations, Xu Qingzong¡¯s eyes were wide open, awaiting the decisive attack that would determine his fate. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± Above the gorge, as the silver-white sword qi tore through the sky, the distance between them narrowed rapidly. ¡°Boom¡­¡± After a loud noise, a sea of fire engulfed a vast area of land, and the sky shone with a brilliant light once more. In the midst of that fiery inferno, the silver-white sword qi unexpectedly pierced through Xu Qingzong¡¯s defensive treasure and then through his chest. At that very moment, a piercing scream echoed through the canyon, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. Several moments passed. By the time the dust and smoke had mostly cleared and much of the fire had extinguished, peace finally returned to the land and sky. Looking around then, it was seen that Xu Qingzong was already lying motionless on the ground, still tightly grasping the penetrated shield. And on his body, there was a gaping hole in the chest area, with blood already pooled around him. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianhu revealed a thrilled smile, his heart feeling a big relief. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, who had been watching the battle, also quickly approached, his face also wearing an extremely excited smile. ¡°Tianhu, did you just kill this old guy?¡± Lin Tianfeng, looking at the motionless body of Xu Qingzong, spoke in a tone that somewhat disbelieved the outcome. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianhu simply smiled faintly. ¡°Big brother, this old guy wasn¡¯t very strong, plus you had already injured him earlier. Facing me, this old fellow¡¯s strength was greatly reduced.¡± ¡°I also used every technique I had, even used the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art.¡¯ It was only by luck that I managed to eliminate this old guy.¡± Lin Tianhu said earnestly, not taking all the credit for himself. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng also slightly nodded, then complimented. ¡°Tianhu, don¡¯t be too modest!¡± ¡°After all, that man was a veteran Golden Core Cultivator, from a major power like the Xu Family, his strength should not be underestimated.¡± ¡°Moreover, he also used a Spirit Art, and yet, wasn¡¯t he still killed by you?¡± Lin Tianfeng looked at Lin Tianhu with a smile, his heart truly filled with admiration for him. After all, Lin Tianhu was almost twenty years younger than him. Even so, Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Stage, indeed a big step ahead of him. It¡¯s known that both of them possessed the Three Spiritual Roots Aptitude, only with slight differences in the affinity of their Spirit Root Attributes. Furthermore, Lin Tianhu, like him, was swept into an unfamiliar land by a spatial fissure. Over the past few decades, their as independent cultivators, relying solely on themselves for all resources and cultivation. Yet under such basic conditions, Lin Tianhu was still able to step into the Golden Core Stage Realm on his own. As for himself, he had been stuck in the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm for eight years already. If it weren¡¯t for the risky move of snatching three Fruits of Fortuity from Xu Family disciples, entering the Golden Core Stage Realm seemed even more unattainable. Thus, to Lin Tianfeng, such a gap was rather shameful. Yet the more it was so, the more curious Lin Tianfeng was about Lin Tianhu¡¯s experiences over the years. He was eager to know what Lin Tianhu had gone through these years that led to such rapid advancement in his cultivation and a formidable strength. Thinking about this, Lin Tianfeng looked at Lin Tianhu with a curious expression. Although he didn¡¯t directly ask about it, his interest was quite evident. At this time, Lin Tianhu, seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s curious gaze, just smiled faintly and waved his hand, saying, ¡°Big brother, now is not the time to reminisce!¡± ¡°That old man¡¯s status is not low, plus he comes from a major power, since we have killed him, it probably won¡¯t be long before his family learns of this.¡± ¡°Moreover, as this is within Xi Country¡¯s territory, once intercepted by them, our situation might become much more difficult.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression turned solemn, and he instantly became serious. He knew very well that what Lin Tianhu said was entirely true and could even be more brutal. After all, this place was also considered Xu Family¡¯s territory, and the Xu Family¡¯s strength and influence were immensely significant in Xi Country. Before killing Xu Qingzong, they had only killed a few Xu Family Foundation Establishment Clansmen and taken three Fruits of Fortuity. Such a grievance, if there was a power equivalent to the Xu Family to guarantee protection, and if they distribute some Fruits of Fortuity, considering the deterrence of other powers, the Xu Family would most likely not press the issue further. But now, even Golden Core Stage Xu Qingzong had been killed by them, raising the level of enmity by several notches. Now, with the Xu Family losing a Golden Core Stage Clansman, killed by an unknown cultivator at that. If word of this got out, the Xu Family would become a laughingstock throughout Xi Country. Facing the dual pressure of an actual loss and the loss of face, their relationship with the Xu Family, it could be said, was irreconcilable. Chapter 1113 - 583 Tiansong City_2 Chapter 1113: Chapter 583 Tiansong City_2 Because he understood this point, Lin Tianfeng quickly realized how unfavorable the current situation was for them. Thus, when Lin Tianhu mentioned this matter, he immediately became vigilant. At the same time, Lin Tianhu was also contemplating countermeasures in his heart. Soon, Lin Tianhu spoke: ¡°Tianhu, heading straight north past the Burial Dragon Abyss, we will enter the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect.¡± ¡°Hundred Spirits Sect and Xu Family have always been at odds, with constant minor frictions; this, for us, is good news.¡± ¡°Then, we will use the deterrence of the Hundred Spirits Sect to leave the Xi Country Cultivation World as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Afterward, we will skirt around the territories of Xi Country and enter Tiansong Country, from where we can use the long-distance Teleportation Formation to return directly to Qingzhou.¡± ¡°As long as our group leaves the Jingzhou Land, we would temporarily escape the crisis.¡± ¡°And although the Xu Family is the local snake in Xi Country, their power finds it hard to reach beyond Xi Country.¡± ¡°Moreover, since we are not in Xi Country, let alone Jingzhou, even if they intend to search for us, it would be difficult to detect our tracks, let alone go to Qingzhou to seek revenge.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words and the detailed plan mentioned, Lin Tianhu nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Big Brother has planned thoroughly; I very much agree.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s clean up the battlefield immediately, erase our traces as quickly as possible, and then swiftly flee north!¡± After Lin Tianhu replied, he cast a fireball, starting to destroy the corpse and eliminate traces of Xu Qingzong. At the same time, Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag was also taken by Lin Tianhu. Although Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were in not-so-great condition, they were also busy erasing the traces of the intense battle at this time. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. After the efforts of the three, the entire battlefield was transformed, and all traces left by the fight were removed. Having done this, Lin Tianhu looked at the scene before him and couldn¡¯t help but nod. Following that, he glanced at Lin Tianhu and Sun Ling¡¯er, then said. ¡°Big Brother, it¡¯s about time; let¡¯s go!¡± Before the words finished, Lin Tianhu waved his hand, and an invisible force swept up Lin Tianfeng and the others. Then, Lin Tianhu leaped high, carrying Lin Tianfeng and the others as they shot northward at high speed. At the same time, on the summit of a high peak in the south-central part of Xi Country. Inside a majestic hall, a white-robed elder was seated on the floor, his eyes closed and seemingly in the midst of deep cultivation. Just then, the elder suddenly opened his eyes, his expression turning furious. ¡°Qingzong has actually fallen?¡± ¡°Who could it be? Who is it?¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ daring to kill a high-ranking member of my Xu Family, what audacity!¡± Amidst his rage, the Xu Family Great Elder spoke with a murderous look, staring in a certain direction and muttering to himself. Soon, after venting through a few sentences, the elder seemed to temporarily calm down. Then, he sent out several messages in succession, and then resumed his normal meditative practice. A while passed by. Inside the Xu Family, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators, along with more than ten Foundation Establishment Stage Clan Members, left the family grounds. This group split into two different directions as soon as they left the Xu Family lands, one team heading towards the northeast and another shooting towards the northwestern direction. ¡­ Time passed, and over seven months had elapsed. This day, as evening approached, three figures appeared on a small hilltop. These three people stayed on the hilltop, uniformly gazing into the distance at the hazy outlines of a city, the look of fatigue on their faces noticeably lessened. These three were none other than Lin Tianhu and his group, who had been fleeing in a panic from the Burial Dragon Abyss in Xi Country. During this time, they first left the Burial Dragon Abyss, then entered the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect. Indeed, just as Lin Tianfeng had guessed, while within the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect, they heard some rumors that the Xu Family was offering a large bounty, searching for the whereabouts of one male and one female Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators. Even on the reward poster, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s appearances were roughly sketched out. Fortunately, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er have always used the Disguise Technique to change their appearances and never reveal their true faces. At the same time, every time they entered a new area, they would adopt a new appearance. Such cautious manners truly played a key role at this time. Although the Xu Family promised a hefty reward, unfortunately, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s true identity and physical features were never exposed. Aside from that, Lin Tianhu¡¯s existence and his own cultivation strength were unknown to anyone. Therefore, under Lin Tianhu¡¯s leadership, they smoothly traversed the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect and afterwards, entered a neighboring country. Then, they traveled non-stop, which took quite a bit of time to circle around the Xi Country Cultivation World. It took them over seven months before they finally arrived here. This place was a key point in their escape plan, one of the central countries in Jingzhou, Tiansong Country. As for the city that is faintly visible in front, it is Tiansong City, the largest city in Tiansong Country. Now, looking at the cityscape before him, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face briefly flashed a smile. ¡°Big brother, we¡¯ve finally arrived!¡± Lin Tianhu whispered with an excited smile that he couldn¡¯t hide on his face. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, looking again at the scene in the distance, were also happy, a smile instantly covering the fatigue brought by the journey. ¡°Tianhu, it¡¯s been too exhausting this past half a year, let¡¯s hurry into the city!¡± ¡°Once we¡¯re in Tiansong City, let¡¯s first rest well for a while, and then take the opportunity to wander around the city, replenish some treasures.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ This city is one of the top cities in Jingzhou Land, there must be many good things worth buying.¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a smile, his face filled with anticipation. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianfeng so impatient, Lin Tianhu also nodded approvingly. Right now, they have temporarily escaped the crisis, and it¡¯s indeed a good plan to rest in such a large city as Tiansong City. After they have rested well, they will directly use a long-distance Teleportation Formation to leave Jingzhou, and then they can truly relax. Thinking of this, Lin Tianhu felt relieved and his vigilance decreased significantly. Immediately after that, Lin Tianhu no longer delayed, taking the lead towards the faintly visible city, hastening his pace. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t want to fall behind, quickly grabbed Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s hand, and followed Lin Tianhu¡¯s steps. In less than half an hour, S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianfeng and the others successfully entered Tiansong City, renting a Temporary Cave Abode in the city. As soon as they entered the Cave Mansion, without even having time to stroll around Tiansong City, they each went into their rooms and started their first serious rest in over half a year. Three days later, the three of them gathered in the courtyard of the Cave Mansion. After three days and nights of deep sleep, Lin Tianfeng and the others had mostly recovered their vitality. Including Lin Tianfeng¡¯s injuries over the past half year, they were also basically healed. Now, their fatigue from traveling had disappeared, injuries had mostly recovered, and they all looked in very good condition. At this time, Lin Tianfeng and the others sat together, sipping tea and chatting casually. Not long after, Lin Tianfeng could no longer contain his curiosity and began to inquire about Lin Tianhu¡¯s various experiences over the years. Seeing Lin Tianfeng so curious and even showing an impatient demeanor, Lin Tianhu couldn¡¯t help but smile softly. Previously, due to the need to flee, there was no time or peace of mind, and Lin Tianfeng had managed to suppress his curiosity, so he never brought up these topics. Now that they had temporarily escaped danger, he could no longer restrain himself. However, facing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s questioning, Lin Tianhu himself had no intention of hiding anything. Moreover, they were brothers of the Tian generation, their relationship has always been very good, and they had both been stranded in Jingzhou Land for many decades. Such shared experiences of misery, he was equally curious about what different things and outcomes Lin Tianfeng had experienced over the years. ¡­ Chapter 1114 - 584: Brothers Past Chapter 1114: Chapter 584: Brothers¡¯ Past So, Lin Tianhu slowly began speaking, starting from when he first emerged from the spatial fissure into Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm, tracing the entire process of tracking their whereabouts. Among the important details, Lin Tianhu traveled through Yu¡¯an Country and several neighboring countries as an independent cultivator, undergoing various trials. During this period, he was deeply passionate about treasure hunting, having faced numerous life-and-death crises. Each time, he managed to turn danger into safety and acquired considerable opportunities. With these opportunities, Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation progressed rapidly, smoothly advancing to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. About twenty years ago, Lin Tianhu chanced upon a clue to a Cave Mansion Ruin. After his exploration and searching, he successfully entered it. It turned out that the original owner of the Cave Mansion Ruins was a Late Stage Golden Core independent cultivator, who had made quite a name for himself in the country where the ruins were located. The Cave Mansion hadn¡¯t existed for a very long time; based on the reputation and rumors of its owner, Lin Tianhu made his estimation, approximating its existence to about seven to eight hundred years. However, these weren¡¯t that important, the most crucial aspect was that Lin Tianhu found a lot of good things inside the Cave Mansion. Among them, most of the original owner¡¯s lifetime of wealth and treasures were inside. Although ordinary treasures had lost their spirituality over time, some high-grade treasures were mostly well-preserved. What excited Lin Tianhu the most was acquiring a well-preserved Golden Core Pill from the Cave Mansion, as well as the original owner¡¯s offensive and defensive Magical Treasures, and twenty to thirty Third Order or higher treasures. It was this unprecedented haul that allowed Lin Tianhu to advance into the Golden Core Stage, and in a very short period of time, he gained tremendous personal strength. Subsequently, now with significant self-protection power, Lin Tianhu began traveling widely. During this period, while he explored for opportunities, he also searched for clues about Lin Tianfeng. It was not until more than ten years ago that he first discovered signs left by Lin Tianfeng, confirming that Lin Tianfeng was still alive. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, for the past ten years, Lin Tianhu devoted almost all his time and energy to the plan to find Lin Tianfeng. After more than ten years of relentless searching, he finally managed to find some traces left by Lin Tianfeng, following them all the way to Xi Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Eventually, he managed to rescue them precisely when the brothers reunited. To Lin Tianhu, such a coincidental experience perhaps represented the invisible guidance of Heaven¡¯s Will. It was also during this encounter at the Burial Dragon Abyss that the situation of the brothers each fighting alone came to an end. Now they have reached Tiansong City, and if they choose to leave Jingzhou Land, they can do so at any time. With the help of a long-distance teleportation formation, their safety is greatly secured, and the travel time is considerably shortened. In this way, the return of the brothers to Qingzhou Land is merely a matter of time. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, hearing about Lin Tianhu¡¯s experiences and reflecting on their current situation, felt both excited and thrilled, unable to hide the smile on his face. In his heart, although Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t mention those incredibly dangerous situations, Lin Tianfeng was very aware of how difficult the past years must have been for Lin Tianhu. After all, Lin Tianhu was but a loose cultivator with no backing or support at the time. And in Jingzhou Land, where over 90% of the countries have a cultivation standard noticeably higher than that of Wei Kingdom. In such an environment, a Foundation Establishment cultivation was quite common. Lin Tianhu, initially at the Foundation Establishment Third Level, had essentially no advantages in a place teeming with powerful individuals. Nevertheless, Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation progress didn¡¯t slow down and eventually, he smoothly advanced to the Golden Core Stage Realm. Behind this brilliant progression, Lin Tianfeng could fully imagine the trials and tests Lin Tianhu must have endured. Fortunately, now that the brothers have reunited and they¡¯re just a step away from returning to Qingzhou Land. The experiences in Jingzhou Land will also conclude as they leave, marking an end to this chapter. And these experiences will be the most precious memories in their cultivation path, leaving behind unforgettable recollections. Thinking of this, when Lin Tianfeng looked at Lin Tianhu, his heart was filled with immense admiration and sentiment. Finally settling some emotions, Lin Tianfeng patted Lin Tianhu on the shoulder, not saying much, but his eyes clearly expressed deep concern. At that moment, Lin Tianhu also smiled slightly, appearing quite serene, seemingly unconcerned about his past. Then, Lin Tianhu changed the conversation and asked about Lin Tianfeng¡¯s general experiences over these years. Soon, reflecting his words, Lin Tianfeng started to recount his experiences. He mentioned that when he initially emerged from the spatial fissure, it was into Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm, and Sun Ling¡¯er had also fallen there with him. At that time, both of them had injuries, and their strength wasn¡¯t even comparable to a Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator. Fortunately, their luck was good; despite taking numerous risks, they managed to survive the first crisis from the Demonic Beasts, and subsequently, their cultivation gradually returned to its peak state. From then on, the two of them trained together, staying in Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm for over twenty years, both successfully entering the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Simultaneously, they were also searching for traces and news of Lin Tianhu. Chapter 1115 - 584: The Brothers Past_2 Chapter 1115: Chapter 584: The Brothers¡¯ Past_2 Yet, more than twenty years had passed, and they had almost traveled throughout the entire Cultivation World of Huafeng Country, but still there was no news. Afterward, the two of them left Huafeng Country and experienced cultivating in a few neighboring nations. During that time, they never gave up searching for Lin Tianhu, so whenever they came across dangerous areas, they would leave extremely subtle family marks. In his heart, Lin Tianfeng always believed that Lin Tianhu was also alive, and like them, wandering on the lands of Jingzhou, even believing that Lin Tianhu¡¯s whereabouts were not too far from their location. Thus, everywhere Lin Tianfeng went, he would leave behind some marks, just waiting for Lin Tianhu to stumble upon them and surely realize his intention. And indeed, it was precisely through these marks that Lin Tianhu managed to successfully find out the specific situation and position of the other party. As for the subsequent decades, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er continued to cultivate through trials, once going to numerous dangerous places in four countries, during which they encountered many diverse people and things. In terms of gains, although they did not obtain many high-quality treasures, their overall harvest was still considerable. Yet even with such hard work, the progress of their cultivation was still slow. However, with the extended time of diligent cultivation, their cultivation levels slowly improved, and finally, more than a decade ago, both of them stepped into the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Thinking back on those decades, overall it was quite ordinary; they hadn¡¯t encountered too much trouble, nor had they obtained any heaven-defying opportunities. Until a little over a year ago, Lin Tianfeng and another came to Burial Dragon Abyss within Xi Country Territory for their cultivator trials, a place spoken of in hushed tones among cultivators. There, they stumbled upon an untouched treasure trove and discovered a Creation Fruit Tree within, with its three fruits nearing maturity. Faced with such a heaven-defying opportunity, especially one that concerned their Impact of Golden Core Stage, Lin Tianfeng was extremely excited. In his eyes, the Fruit of Fortuity was extremely important to them. If they could obtain the Fruit of Fortuity, they could attempt the Golden Core Stage within a few years. After all, both of their cultivation levels were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and they had stayed in this realm for more than a decade. With this time accumulated and solidified, their foundations were very stable, and as long as they had a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they could go into seclusion and attempt the Golden Core Stage at any time. Once they stepped into the Golden Core Stage, they could find news of Lin Tianhu even faster, and if they really couldn¡¯t find him, they could officially start their journey back to Wei Kingdom. Therefore, when they discovered the Creation Fruit Tree and the three Creation Fruits about to mature, both of them were extremely thrilled, at one point believing their heaven-defying opportunity had come. However, as they waited for the Fruit of Fortuity to mature, four uninvited guests quietly arrived. These four were Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Xu Family, among them two at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, and the other two at the Eighth and Ninth Levels of Foundation Establishment respectively. At that time, faced with the opportunity brought by the Fruit of Fortuity, Lin Tianfeng and the other couldn¡¯t possibly let go. As a result, for this crucial opportunity, Lin Tianfeng and another erupted into a life-and-death battle with the four members of the Xu Family. The process of that battle was extremely perilous; Lin Tianfeng and the other brought forth all of their abilities, sustaining serious injuries, but ultimately managed to secure the three Fruits of Fortuity. But in the chaotic scene, one of the Xu Family members took advantage of the situation to obtain the Creation Fruit Tree, later discovering all of their companions had fallen. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and the other were both injured, in an exceptionally dire state. However, even so, Lin Tianfeng and the other fought desperately to stop that one person, in order to prevent exposing their tracks and thus falling into the Xu Family¡¯s frenzied pursuit. But things did not go as hoped, that Qi cultivator of the Xu Family was scared out of his wits, with no intention of fighting them to the death. Thus, that cultivator fled for his life, and taking advantage of the terrain of Burial Dragon Abyss, he managed to make a successful escape. With this person¡¯s escape, Lin Tianfeng and the other¡¯s situation became extremely precarious. After all, this person came from a force like the Xu Family, and the incident took place within Xi Country¡¯s territory, close to the Xu Family¡¯s domain in Burial Dragon Abyss. It¡¯s conceivable that after this escape, the person would immediately report to the family, requesting swift support from the family higher-ups, in order to eliminate Lin Tianfeng and his companion and retrieve the three Fruits of Fortuity they had acquired. Aware of this, Lin Tianfeng and his companion were extremely anxious, only able to hastily flee for their lives. But facing such an awkward situation, Lin Tianfeng and his companion also felt helpless and powerless. And the subsequent result was indeed as they had anticipated. After fleeing for more than one Shi Chen, Xu Qingzong, the closest to Burial Dragon Abyss, received the report from that escaped cultivator. At that moment, Xu Qingzong was furious, immediately rushing to Burial Dragon Abyss, searching everywhere for traces of Lin Tianfeng and his companion. At this time, Lin Tianfeng and his companion were in bad shape, having fled in panic for several Shi Chen. However, due to their injuries, their speed of escape was greatly reduced. As a result, they hadn¡¯t yet escaped the boundaries of Burial Dragon Abyss when they were caught up by Xu Qingzong. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for what followed, it was Lin Tianhu who arrived in the nick of time, temporarily resolving this crisis. With Lin Tianfeng¡¯s narrative, he basically recounted his experiences over the past decades in detail. At this point, Lin Tianhu also let out a sigh, his heart filled with complex emotions. In his heart, he could also understand the difficulties Lin Tianfeng had faced over the years, and the various crises he had experienced. Fortunately, with the brothers reunited and having evaded the Xu Family¡¯s search, they ultimately arrived at Tiansong City. Now, their crisis was temporarily resolved, and the past would pass. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianhu changed the topic with a turn of his words. ¡°Big brother, now that you have obtained the Fruit of Fortuity, what are your plans next?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng immediately understood Lin Tianhu¡¯s meaning. After all, with these Fruit of Fortuity, he and Sun Ling¡¯er had all the conditions met for advancing to the Golden Core Stage. However, Lin Tianfeng thought it over carefully and decided not to attempt the Golden Core Stage immediately. Because they were in Jingzhou, not in Wei Kingdom where the Lin Family resided. Although the spiritual energy in Tiansong City was rich, the number of cultivators who gathered here was too many, making it easy to expose their whereabouts. Additionally, making an attempt for Golden Core Stage was no small feat, and passing the Threefold Lightning Tribulation required a good number of defensive treasures. Moreover, they had deep enmity with the Xu Family, which made it unsuitable for them to attempt the Golden Core Stage near Tiansong City. Even though Lin Tianfeng was already a hundred years old, and Sun Ling¡¯er was even older, the longer they delayed, the smaller the chance of success in reaching the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, Lin Tianfeng was somewhat impatient in his heart, wanting to advance to the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible. But looking at the current situation, it really wasn¡¯t a good time. Yet, it¡¯s true that attempting the Golden Core Stage shouldn¡¯t be delayed for too long. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng pondered repeatedly and decided to put off the Core Formation process for the time being. At least, they would wait until they left Tiansong City and returned to Qingzhou before finding a safe place. By then, they could have Lin Tianhu act as a protector for them while he and Sun Ling¡¯er wholeheartedly secluded themselves to advance to the Golden Core Stage. After all, they now had all the conditions ready for the Golden Core Stage, and with Lin Tianhu, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, to protect them as well as provide his experience, they were well prepared for Core Formation. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng made his preparations and set his resolve. Not just him, Sun Ling¡¯er also shared the same view regarding the plan for advancing to the Golden Core Stage. Under such circumstances, the specific plan was also finalized by Lin Tianfeng. So, Lin Tianfeng started to discuss his rough plan and sought Lin Tianhu¡¯s assistance. And Lin Tianhu, upon hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s plan and his sincere request, naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse. Moreover, in his eyes, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s caution was perfectly justifiable. In fact, were he in the same situation, he probably would make the same arrangements as Lin Tianfeng. With that, Lin Tianhu heartily agreed to the request and even encouraged Lin Tianfeng to take his time touring Tiansong City. Using this time, Lin Tianfeng could collect a number of defensive treasures to ensure he was fully prepared for advancing to the Golden Core Stage. ¡­ Chapter 1116 - 585: Distribution of Spoils, Setting Out Chapter 1116: Chapter 585: Distribution of Spoils, Setting Out At this moment, Lin Tianfeng nodded excitedly upon hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s suggestions, feeling quite thrilled inside. Thus, the three of them agreed on a specific plan for advancing to the Golden Core Stage, as well as the itinerary that followed. According to the plan, Lin Tianfeng would stay in Tiansong City for a while, trying to gather more defensive treasures in the shortest time possible. Once the preparations were nearly complete, it would be the day they set out on their journey. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had a casual conversation, which deepened their relationship even further. At that point, seeing that everything was settled, Lin Tianhu took out a storage bag and placed it in front of everyone. Then, Lin Tianhu looked at Lin Tianfeng and smiled, saying: ¡°Big brother, we¡¯ve been so busy fleeing for our lives that we hadn¡¯t even had time to check that old man¡¯s storage bag.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Now that we have temporarily escaped the crisis and have some free time, it¡¯s time to tally up our gains.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianhu looked sincerely at Lin Tianfeng, his eyebrows brimming with excitement. And in his heart, he was even more eager. After all, this storage bag belonged to Xu Qingzong, a fellow from the age-old Xu Family and who had been in the Golden Core Stage for several centuries. Although Xu Qingzong was only at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation when he was killed, he must have accumulated a vast fortune over such a long period. Every time Lin Tianhu thought about this, his heart would beat faster. Not just him, Lin Tianfeng also became somewhat impatient when he heard Lin Tianhu¡¯s words and looked at the storage bag in front of him. His impatience was not merely for a share of the treasures, but more out of curiosity about the wealth of a Golden Core Cultivator. Thus, Lin Tianfeng smiled and nodded, signaling Lin Tianhu to begin. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu did not waste time and picked up the storage bag, erasing the residual Divine Sense on it. Soon, the treasures inside the storage bag appeared in Lin Tianhu¡¯s mind. As Lin Tianhu began his preliminary inspection, his complexion suddenly became rosy, and his breathing hastened. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianfeng grew even more curious. ¡°Tianhu, how are the gains?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily, his expression very excited. ¡°Big brother, this guy really lives up to being a veteran Golden Core Cultivator; the treasures in this storage bag are truly astonishing.¡± Lin Tianhu said, his tone filled with amazement. Lin Tianfeng, hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s words, was genuinely delighted. Thus, Lin Tianfeng smiled: ¡°Tianhu, take your time to tally it up and see what valuable treasures are inside.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianfeng nodded, and Lin Tianhu continued to evaluate the contents. After a short while, Lin Tianhu had thoroughly checked Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. According to Lin Tianhu¡¯s rough calculation, Xu Qingzong¡¯s bag contained over 30,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones and more than 300,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. These Spirit Stones were not few in number, nearly amounting to four million Low-Grade Spirit Stones when converted. Besides these, more importantly, were Xu Qingzong¡¯s cherished possessions. These items were also numerous, mainly involving various Spiritual Objects related to the Four Arts of Cultivation, such as Third Order Spirit Medicine Materials, Third Order Artifact Refining Materials, and so on, totaling dozens of items, each significant in number and value. Moreover, there were some inheritances related to the Four Arts of Cultivation, like insights on Pill Concoction and Artifact Forging, and Pill Formulas, and so on. However, these inheritance items were not of high grade and were almost useless for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator or a Third Order Alchemist. Nevertheless, these inheritances could still enhance the foundational strength of a family. The only pity was that Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag did not contain Spirit Arts or Cultivation Techniques. Lin Tianhu was not surprised by this. Because Xu Qingzong was also a clan cultivator, and an old cultivator with not much life left. With his status, it wasn¡¯t strange that his storage bag lacked Spirit Arts. Not just him, cultivators from Sects and families generally do not carry inheritance items. Including the Lin Family Members, it was usually the same situation. Understanding this, Lin Tianhu felt relatively normal, with no feelings of gains and losses. Thus, Lin Tianhu thoroughly tallied the specific treasures in the storage bag and made an overall valuation. According to his rough estimates, the most valuable items in the storage bag were Xu Qingzong¡¯s three Magical Treasures, two of which were Offensive Magical Treasures and one Defensive Treasure. Besides these, there were some slightly less valuable Third Grade Treasures. Among these treasures, what Lin Tianhu cared about the most were Xu Qingzong¡¯s Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures. After all, Xu Qingzong had stayed in the Early Stage Golden Core for over three hundred years, and as his potential gradually depleted, he could only endeavor to enhance his strength through Magical Treasures and techniques. In this way, Xu Qingzong had spent considerable wealth and effort to craft these weapons, which naturally were not ordinary items. Although Xu Qingzong¡¯s Defensive Treasure was penetrated by a hole with Lin Tianhu¡¯s final strike. Chapter 1117 - 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_2 Chapter 1117: Chapter 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_2 But the quality and spirituality of this treasure are quite good, and it hasn¡¯t damaged the key parts. Therefore, as long as some precious artifact refining materials are added and it¡¯s re-cultivated, it can still return to its peak defensive properties. In this regard, the value of the treasures in Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag is indeed very high, at least much higher than that of an average Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Take Lin Tianhu for example, who only broke through to the Golden Core Stage more than twenty years ago. Although both are in the Early Stage Golden Core Realm, his wealth is hardly comparable to that of Xu Qingzong. And this Xu Qingzong fellow, he has three Magical Treasures alone, each with quite impressive quality and spirituality. Moreover, the other treasures are also plentiful and cover a wide variety. These items, if obtained by any cultivator of the same order, would likely be extremely satisfying. Therefore, Lin Tianhu did a rough estimate and figured that the contents of the storage bag were worth nearly ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. For such an amount of treasures, Lin Tianhu is quite recognized, and his heart is extremely satisfied. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianhu then handed the storage bag to Lin Tianfeng, indicating for him to also take a look at the loot. At this point, Lin Tianfeng, who had been waiting on the side, was already impatient. Now, seeing Lin Tianhu handing over the storage bag to him, Lin Tianfeng hurriedly took it and looked inside. Soon, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s breathing became rapid too, and his face turned red. Although Lin Tianhu had already said that the value of the treasures in the storage bag was considerable, when he saw it with his own eyes, he was still dazzled by the sheer number and overall value of the treasures. ¡°This old guy really was enormously wealthy!¡± Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but comment with uncontrollable joy on his face. With his excitement so evident, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily. ¡°Ha ha ¡­ That old man had accumulated wealth for hundreds of years, and in the end, it all came cheap to us!¡± ¡°Big brother, let¡¯s not idle any longer, let¡¯s divide the treasures in the storage bag now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression paused, clearly not expecting Lin Tianhu to say this. With a look of surprise, Lin Tianfeng waved his hand and refused, ¡°Tianhu, that old man was killed by you, and all the treasures in the storage bag should rightfully be yours alone, I don¡¯t have any undue thoughts about it.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianhu directly continued the conversation. ¡°Big brother, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°You should know, by the time I arrived, that old man had already been cut down to one arm by you, with serious injuries on his body and his strength greatly reduced.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So, in the killing of Xu Qingzong, that old rogue, you also have a share of the credit.¡± ¡°Therefore, it¡¯s only proper that we each take half of the treasures in this storage bag.¡± Lin Tianhu¡¯s expression was sincere, with not a trace of deceit in his words. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng could only give a wry smile. Then, Lin Tianfeng still waved his hand and refused, ¡°Tianhu, it may be so, but my strike at that time was not a critical factor in killing Xu Qingzong.¡± ¡°Moreover, your timely arrival saved our lives, for which both Ling Er and I are as grateful as if we had been given a new lease on life.¡± ¡°The fact that Ling Er and I survived is already fortunate amidst misfortune.¡± ¡°With that in mind, we are content in our hearts, how can we covet war spoils without merit?¡± ¡°Besides, Tianhu, you have now entered the Golden Core Stage, and your future cultivation will become increasingly difficult, requiring a lot of resources.¡± ¡°In view of this, don¡¯t concern yourself with Ling Er and me.¡± Hearing this stream of words and seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s sincere expression, Lin Tianhu nodded, deeply moved. Then, Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t say much, but directly took out several hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and dozens of treasures and placed them in front of everyone. Among these treasures, the majority were Second Order Treasures, and there were also more than a dozen Third Order Treasures. ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s meaningless to say more!¡± ¡°You and sister-in-law are about to impact the Golden Core Stage and need many treasures to help you through the Threefold Lightning Tribulation.¡± ¡°I have already made up my mind, take these items first, to exchange for some other treasures and increase your chances of overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation.¡± ¡°When you both enter the Golden Core Stage, don¡¯t forget to share any good treasures you find with your little brother.¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s complexion was rosy, he stuttered, and tears could not help but well up in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s settled then, big brother, no more words!¡± Lin Tianhu¡¯s tone was firm, and his expression serious, obviously intending to forcefully make Lin Tianfeng accept these items. Faced with Lin Tianhu¡¯s incontestable demeanor, Lin Tianfeng finally nodded. ¡°Tianhu, I will keep in mind your contributions, brother, and repay you when the opportunity arises.¡± ¡°Following this, I won¡¯t say much, but together with Ling Er, I would like to say thank you.¡± As soon as these words were finished, Lin Tianfeng, pulling Sun Ling¡¯er with him, stood up, bowed their hands to Lin Tianhu, their attitudes and tones extremely earnest. Seeing this gesture, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily, then swiftly waved a single hand, an invisible force gently lifting the two of them up. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Didn¡¯t Sixth Brother also treat us, and other clansmen like this in the past?¡± ¡°Besides, we are brothers, aren¡¯t we? Big brother, no need for such formalities from now on!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Indeed¡­¡± Lin Tianfeng also laughed heartily, and the atmosphere of the scene became much more relaxed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1118 - 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_3 Chapter 1118: Chapter 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_3 As the three of them chatted casually, the distribution of the spoils was also brought to a close. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianfeng and the other two finally left the Cave Mansion together and appeared in the streets of Tiansong City. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Walking on the streets of Tiansong City, Lin Tianfeng and the others glanced around. The city covered a vast area, with a bustling populace and thriving commerce. Everywhere they turned, they saw cultivators bustling in and out. Among them, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were quite common, with a large proportion being in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and occasionally even a Golden Core Stage Expert would appear, instantly drawing the attention of many cultivators. Such a scene was indeed fitting for Tiansong, one of the leading cities amid thousands of markets and communities in the land of Jingzhou. For all three, it was their first time here, and now as they walked in this renowned city, their hearts filled with excitement. Especially for Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, now that their plan for the Impact of Golden Core Stage was set in stone, their stay in Tiansong City was also for the purpose of spending a significant amount of money to collect treasures. Once everything was prepared, that would be the day they set off. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianfeng and the others began strolling through Tiansong City, entering any large shops they encountered to search for treasures, and whenever they found decent defensive treasures, they did their best to purchase them. After all, they had a good number of Spirit Stones, and they had previously wiped out Xu Qingzong and several Xu Family Disciples, obtaining several storage bags. The wealth of Xu Family Disciples was substantial, not to mention Xu Qingzong, a Golden Core old monster who had lived for hundreds of years. Now, the wealth of both Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er had soared. With such a substantial family wealth, they naturally did not hesitate to spend. Under these circumstances, their purchases were very decisive, buying some High Quality Magic Artifacts for defense, for the future purpose when they attempt the Golden Core Stage. This grandeur of purchasing treasures continued for over half a month before coming to a halt. And Tiansong City indeed lived up to its reputation, a renowned place throughout the land of Jingzhou. With its strong flow of people, Second Order High Quality Defense Artifacts, rarely seen in Wei Kingdom, were not too scarce in Tiansong City. During this period, Lin Tianfeng spent a considerable number of Spirit Stones, purchasing more than ten Defense Artifacts, preparing various defensive treasures for himself and Sun Ling¡¯er. With this, the treasures needed for their attempt to reach Golden Core Stage were almost ready. Once they subsequently return to the land of Qingzhou, they will inevitably be in a large city. By then, collecting a few more Defensive Treasures, all necessary preparations would be complete. With most of this task completed, their recent spree of treasure purchases could easily draw the attention of the vigilant. In such a case, they had no plans of staying long in Tiansong City. Therefore, on the morning of the next day, the three companions came to a large hall located in the center of the city. This hall contained the Teleportation Formation capable of long-distance travel between states. Subsequently, Lin Tianhu paid the fee for the three of them to use the Teleportation Formation, and led the two onto the platform. And then, after a spell of dizziness, the figures of the three vanished from the Transmission Hall. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1119 - 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Cultivation Chapter 1119: Chapter 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Cultivation Qingzhou, Jinfeng Nation. Jinfeng City, on a certain street within the city, the figures of Lin Tianfeng and two others appeared. Since the three left Tiansong City in Tiansong Country, Jingzhou, through the long-distance Teleportation Formation, they had smoothly arrived in Jinfeng City. Jinfeng City was also one of the top cities in Qingzhou, under the jurisdiction of Jinfeng Valley and its number one city. Located in the central area of Qingzhou, Jinfeng Nation was one of the five major countries in the middle of Qingzhou and controlled by Jinfeng Valley, one of the Five Great Nascent Soul Powers. As for the fame of Jinfeng Valley, it was incredibly renowned; almost every Qingzhou Cultivator had heard of this power, more or less. Even in several neighboring continents of Qingzhou, Jinfeng Valley had a certain degree of influence. According to the gossip among Cultivators, the heritage age of Jinfeng Valley was extremely ancient, having spanned more than a hundred thousand years to date. Moreover, according to some records, Jinfeng Valley had existed since the time when Qingzhou Land was first forged, just that its overall strength at that time was not as formidable as it is now. However, later on, Jinfeng Valley saw the rise of an amazingly talented Disciple, whose cultivation reached the Nascent Soul Realm in just shy of two hundred years. Afterward, the power of this prodigious Disciple climbed continuously, at one point even touching the peak realm of the mortal world, the Divinity Transformation Stage. At that time, the name of Jinfeng Valley resonated throughout Qingzhou Land. It was also under his leadership that the strength of Jinfeng Valley rapidly soared, once becoming the most formidable power in Qingzhou. As time passed, more than a hundred thousand years went by, but Jinfeng Valley¡¯s heritage has never been interrupted, and it has rarely faced periods of decline. Nowadays, Qingzhou Land has quite a long history, with various forces rising and falling, but more often than not, they have faded from the Cultivation World, or have sunk into years of silence and obscurity. As one of the ancient powers of Qingzhou, Jinfeng Valley could still thrive in such difficult times of scarcity. Therefore, one could see just how formidable the power of Jinfeng Valley actually was. Although Jinfeng Valley¡¯s current overall strength is far from its peak, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. That Jinfeng Valley could last so long, constantly continuing the Immortal Path without long periods of decline, naturally had its strong foundations and secrets. And today¡¯s Jinfeng Valley remains the most formidable existence among the Qingzhou Five Major Nascent Soul Powers. This is something that most Cultivators hailing from Qingzhou would probably agree with. The reason why Lin Tianfeng and his companions appeared in Jinfeng City was because the long-distance Teleportation Formation connecting to Tiansong City was located within Jinfeng City. Moreover, throughout the entire Qingzhou Land, only Jinfeng City and Yulan City under Yulan Mountain had inter-state ultra-long-distance Teleportation Formations. Such high-level Teleportation Formations were extremely complex to build, requiring countless treasures, and even the level of expertise required from an Array Master was extremely high. Therefore, such ultra-long-distance Teleportation Formations were not at all comparable to the likes of Yuanzhen City, which connected various nations within Qingzhou. Because of this, Lin Tianfeng and his companions¡¯ first stop upon returning to Qingzhou was Jinfeng City. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was walking on the streets of Jinfeng City, still looking around at this unfamiliar city. Looking around, Jinfeng City was somewhat similar to Tiansong City in terms of its immense scale and the density of people, barely any less bustling. Not only that, the shops lining the streets were densely packed, with many people coming in and out, presenting a lively scene. Observing such a scene, their eyes landed on some familiar shops, and the three of them sighed with relief, their moods quite brightened. But before that, they had still been within the borders of Jingzhou. Although they were basically out of danger while in Tiansong City, they still couldn¡¯t feel completely at ease. It was only now, upon returning to Qingzhou, that they felt a different sensation. This feeling was like returning home, which was indeed quite mystical to articulate. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianhu glanced at an upbeat Lin Tianfeng and began to communicate with him telepathically. Soon, they followed the previously agreed-upon plan, settling down in Jinfeng City first, swiftly securing a Cave Mansion to reside in. After that, just as in Tiansong City, they started to gather various Defensive Treasures in preparation for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Once everything was prepared, they intended to leave Jinfeng City to find a safe location for secluded cultivation. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that goal in mind, the three acted swiftly. Time flew by quickly and half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to Jinfeng City¡¯s booming trade, the circulation of all sorts of genius natural treasures was quite frequent. As a result, after half a year¡¯s collection, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er each spent a considerable number of Spirit Stones to gather many defensive Magic Artifacts, each one of high quality and Spirituality. Now, all conditions for impacting the Golden Core Stage were met. Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were fully prepared, with Lin Tianhu personally guiding them on defensive treasures for the Heavenly Tribulation and experience needed for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. All was set, save for an east wind. Eagerly anticipating Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were now fully determined to impact the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible. Thus, Lin Tianhu silently led Lin Tianfeng and the others out of Jinfeng City, flying northward for several months before they finally stopped. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1120 - 586 Tianfeng in Seclusion_2 Chapter 1120: Chapter 586 Tianfeng in Seclusion_2 Until the dawn of this day, in a certain valley in the northern part of Jinfeng Nation, the figures of Lin Tianhu and two others appeared. At this moment, the three of them landed on a mountaintop, their gazes fixating on the depths of the gorge in front, their expressions looking very calm. Subsequently, Lin Tianhu withdrew his gaze and slowly said to Lin Tianfeng: ¡°Big brother, according to the records on the map, this place should be the inner area of the Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng also took out the map to check it, and soon nodded excitedly. ¡°Indeed, the Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave is quite extensive, and the number of Demonic Beasts inhabiting it is not small.¡± ¡°The spot beneath our feet is highly concealed, with no High Order Demonic Beasts in sight, and we have not encountered any cultivators for a long time, such a place is indeed not easy to find.¡± Lin Tianfeng spoke with a smile, his excitement evident. It turns out that they had stayed in Jinfeng City for half a year, not only collecting Defensive Treasures for passing through the Heavenly Tribulation but also looking for a suitable location for seclusion. After half a year of inquiring and consulting many ancient texts and documents. According to records from some documents, they assessed many factors, and finally settled on three places that were quite suitable for weathering the tribulation. And this ¡®Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave¡¯ was one of them. During this half-year, they had first explored several other locations before eventually coming here. After their explorations in the vicinity, they discovered that the spiritual energy here was very dense, the inner area was rarely stepped by anyone, and there were no powerful demonic beasts within a few hundred miles. In such a place, the threat of demonic beasts was almost negligible. The only concern was the Human Cultivators. But even if someone accidentally stumbled upon this place, as long as they were not Golden Core Stage Cultivators, with Lin Tianhu guarding this place, they wouldn¡¯t be easily exposed. Therefore, the ¡®Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave¡¯ was also the most satisfying place they had found for seclusion so far. Understanding this, Lin Tianhu chuckled and said: ¡°Big brother, how about we use this place for seclusion?¡± ¡°Um¡­ this place is indeed very suitable, I had the same thought!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded in response. Immediately afterward, he also glanced at Sun Ling¡¯er, who had been silent by his side, and hastily asked. ¡°Ling¡¯er¡­ what do you think?¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded slightly, feeling similarly satisfied with this place. Hence, Sun Ling¡¯er replied directly: ¡°I have no objections, it¡¯s just that during the seclusion, we will need to trouble brother Tianhu to act as our protector!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily nearby. ¡°Haha¡­ sister-in-law is being too polite!¡± ¡°As fellow kinsmen, it is only my duty to do what I can, sister-in-law should not treat me as an outsider in the future.¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded, feeling quite moved in her heart. Before this, she had also interacted with Lin Tianming and his wife. At that time, they were resisting the attack of the Demon Beast Tide in Yuyao City under the leadership of Zhenyang Sect. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During that period, Lin Tianming was also very courteous to her and helped her numerous times in the midst of the battles. In the end, it was with enough merit points that she stood out among numerous cultivators and ultimately received substantial rewards. It was precisely because of those rewards, her cultivation was able to steadily improve, laying a solid foundation. One could say, throughout her hundred years of cultivation, in mysterious ways, she had always had a myriad of connections with the Lin Family. And now, having inexplicably landed in Jingzhou Land with Lin Tianfeng, they had, after spending decades together in life and death, forged an unbreakable bond. Looking back, first there was Lin Tianming, and then Lin Tianfeng. After experiencing battle side by side, enduring life and death together, never leaving each other¡¯s side, her heart had always been filled with gratitude and admiration towards the Lin Family Members. Now, Lin Tianhu had first saved her and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s life, and then he would act as the protector for their secluded cultivation. Such a series of selfless contributions made her clearly see the kind of emotions shared between Lin Family Members. And this emotion was precisely what her heart longed for the most. Considering her own past, she was merely a Loose Cultivator, and being a woman, she struggled immensely in her solitary cultivation, not once experiencing the care and help of others. But with the Lin Family, she deeply felt kinship and care. Based on these feelings alone, Sun Ling¡¯er, moved by gratitude, felt a strong sense of belonging towards the Lin Family. Even though she and Lin Tianfeng weren¡¯t married yet, this in no way affected her longing. Understanding this, Sun Ling¡¯er showed a grateful expression, and her intent was to follow Lin Tianfeng¡¯s arrangements. At this moment, seeing that Sun Ling¡¯er had no objections, Lin Tianfeng began discussing the matter of seclusion with Lin Tianhu. Soon, the three of them reached a unanimous decision on the matter of secluding themselves here for cultivation. In such a situation, the three immediately divided the work to carve out a Temporary Cave Abode. Afterward, Lin Tianhu took on the duty of vigilant watch, ensuring that no Demonic Beasts or other cultivators approached, to avoid interrupting Lin Tianfeng¡¯s seclusion. As for Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, they wasted no time and went directly into the Cave Mansion to start their seclusion and cultivation. Outside the gorge, Lin Tianhu sat cross-legged on a concealed rock, closing his eyes and starting his cultivation. Every so often, he would stand up to patrol around the gorge, and then return to his original spot to continue cultivating. In this manner, the days slowly progressed. According to the usual customs of the Cultivation World, it wasn¡¯t a short amount of time needed to impact the Golden Core Stage; some people were quick, while others failed before they could even attract the Heavenly Tribulation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1121 - 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Training_3 Chapter 1121: Chapter 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Training_3 However, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er had acceptable talents, and being young, their potential was still promising. Moreover, with the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, Fruit of Fortuity, and Lin Tianhu personally guiding them, their impact on the Golden Core Stage could be twice as effective with half the effort. At this rate, results were bound to appear in as short as two to three years, and at most in three to five years. Knowing this, Lin Tianhu was prepared to stay as a protector in this place for a long time. In two different locations deep in the canyon, in two separate cave mansions, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were intensively cultivating. In this way, the three of them each performed their own tasks, and everything proceeded as planned. ¡­ Yuanzhen City. In a certain cave mansion courtyard, Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, drinking tea and chatting casually, creating a very warm atmosphere. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi in front of him and asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, it¡¯s been over a year since your retreat; have you managed to resolve the bottleneck?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head and responded regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, Ming. Despite using the Yuan Essence Fruit, I still have not broken through the Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± ¡°However, I can feel the bottleneck weakening a bit.¡± ¡°If things continue like this, perhaps after experiencing a major battle, I might be able to break through.¡± Hearing Qin Xi say this, Lin Tianming nodded approvingly, seemingly having anticipated this. Because he knew very well that once a bottleneck at the Golden Core Stage appeared, it wasn¡¯t easy to break through. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be so many talented cultivators in the Cultivation World stuck at a certain level for hundreds of years. Indeed, some people would reach the end of their lifespan without ever overcoming the bottleneck. Qin Xi¡¯s use of the Yuan Essence Fruit to alleviate some of the bottleneck was actually quite commendable. Understanding this, Lin Tianming nodded and praised her. ¡°Xi¡¯er, having alleviated part of the bottleneck is already satisfying enough; it won¡¯t be long before you surely step into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°At that time, with the combined strength of us as a couple, even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert might not necessarily be our opponent.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi also smiled lightly, then changed the subject. ¡°What about you, Ming? How have your gains been this past year?¡± ¡°Not bad, but the time was quite short. I mainly gained a lot of Alchemy Experience!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, his excitement enduring. And in his heart, he was very satisfied with this brief retreat. Because before this, he had obtained quite a bit of alchemy insights and pill formulas from He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag. Now, after this retreat where he studied the legacy of the Alchemy Dao, his Alchemy skills had improved significantly. Though there was no substantial advancement, it was greatly helpful for his personal insights and experience. Continuing this way, his efficiency, success rate, and the varieties of pills he could refine were all set to improve to some extent. Thus, these discreet enhancements significantly boosted his alchemy foundation. Thinking this, Lin Tianming inwardly marveled. ¡°He Zhengsong, as a cultivator immersed in the Alchemy Dao for many years, possesses such an enormous alchemy foundation, truly worth learning from.¡± However, it was unfortunate that He Zhengsong¡¯s lifelong hard work ultimately fell into his hands. Such outcomes were truly unpredictable. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1122 - 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Incubating Luoyin Bug Chapter 1122: Chapter 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Incubating Luoyin Bug Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi beside him, recalling something in his mind. Following that, Lin Tianming spoke indifferently, ¡°Xi¡¯er, among the items in He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag was a pill formula called the Tribulation Evasion Pill.¡± ¡°This elixir is an ancient pill recipe, said to assist Golden Core Cultivators in surpassing their bottlenecks, with extremely remarkable effects.¡± ¡°However, its main ingredient, Tianxin Grass, has long been lost to the Cultivation World of today, making it extremely difficult to find.¡± ¡°During his travels through various countries, this Spiritual Medicine has never been heard of, neither in the Wei Kingdom nor in any other country.¡± ¡°Even in Yuanzhen City, among the top cities of Qingzhou Land, there¡¯ve been no recent sightings or news of Tianxin Grass.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi first showed a flash of joy, thinking that finding Tianxin Grass wouldn¡¯t be too difficult, but upon hearing the rest of Lin Tianming¡¯s words, she too felt a sense of disappointment. Despite this, Qin Xi did not take the matter to heart. After all, her talent was not weak either, and the bottleneck she had encountered this time had already been somewhat alleviated by the Yuan Essence Fruit. As long as she could settle down for contemplation and peacefully cultivate for a few more years, there was still a high chance she could step into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Understanding this, Qin Xi smiled serenely and consoled him, ¡°Ming, it would be best to find the main ingredient for the Tribulation Evasion Pill, but don¡¯t force it if it truly cannot be found.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Although a bottleneck has appeared, I¡¯m confident that I can smoothly enter the Mid Stage Golden Core within ten years.¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianming nodded, and although he didn¡¯t say much, he decided in his heart to make a thorough inquiry in Yuanzhen City. After all, the efficacy of the Tribulation Evasion Pill is excellent, and whether it¡¯s him or other Lin Family Members, most Golden Core Qi Cultivators are likely to encounter bottlenecks. Therefore, if they could refine the Tribulation Evasion Pill, its effect would undoubtedly be substantial. Being a Third Order Alchemy Master, he was deeply obsessed with alchemy and had a very high level of mastery. Since he already possessed the most fundamental conditions, he naturally couldn¡¯t let go of such an opportunity lightly. In this case, it would be ideal to find information on Tianxin Grass, but if it proved impossible, they would have to put it on hold for the time being. However, they would still be staying in the Qingzhou Center for a while, and the places he would visit were bound to be numerous. At that time, he would continue to keep the issue of Tribulation Evasion Pill in mind, seizing any slight opportunity to try his utmost. This was not just for Qin Xi¡¯s sake, but also for other Lin Family Members when they encountered bottlenecks, so they wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard and waste optimal cultivation time. Keeping this in mind, Lin Tianming made sure to remember this matter. In the time that followed, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chatted idly for a while, discussing the couple¡¯s future plans. Soon, they still decided to stay on in Yuanzhen City, as Lin Tianming wanted to continue comprehending the various alchemy inheritances left by He Zhengsong and practice alchemy. In addition, since the Luoyin Bug that He Zhengsong used to own had died along with his downfall, the bug eggs were left behind, numbering as many as eight. Lin Tianming planned to hatch some of them, which might prove useful someday in the future. Qin Xi, whose bottleneck had not been completely eliminated and couldn¡¯t make a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, would stay in Yuanzhen City to seek news of Tianxin Grass. Thus, the pair quickly sprang into action separately. Lin Tianming then exited his secluded cultivation to rest for a few days, and after wandering around Yuanzhen City collecting some intelligence, he soon returned to the Practice Room. Sitting on a meditation cushion in the Practice Room, Lin Tianming held the Jade Slips in his hand, inspecting the content with his Divine Sense. In a short time, he took out the Qingyun Furnace and many Alchemy Materials and began attempting to refine elixirs. Accustomed to the process, Lin Tianming, aided by the vast alchemy inheritance left by He Zhengsong, delved into study and improved his own Alchemy. After more than a year of repeated attempts, Lin Tianming¡¯s level in the Alchemy Dao had significantly advanced. Three years had passed since their arrival in Yuanzhen City, during which Lin Tianming and his wife each cultivated in seclusion, Qin Xi focusing on collecting and inquiring about Tianxin Grass. However, despite more than a year passing, no concrete news on Tianxin Grass was found. Lin Tianming had no choice but to remain patient and continued his secluded cultivation. On this day, in Lin Tianming¡¯s Practice Room, he was seen sitting cross-legged, with two insect eggs the size of fingertips in front of him. At a glance, the eggs were clear and translucent, with smooth and rounded surfaces, resembling Spirit Stones, only slightly different in size. These eggs were none other than those of the Luoyin Bug obtained from He Zhengsong. At the time, with He Zhengsong¡¯s demise, the adult Luoyin Bug had also died. However, inside He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag were collected eggs of the Luoyin Bug, and the methods for hatching and raising them were also left behind. When he first saw these items, Lin Tianming understood why He Zhengsong was able to track them down; the biggest reason lay with the Luoyin Bug. Lin Tianming was also very interested in this item. He was well aware that although the adult Luoyin Bug was only a Second Order Spirit Insect with poor offensive and defensive abilities, providing almost no substantial hold against Cultivators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1123 - 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Hatching the Luoyin Bug_2 Chapter 1123: Chapter 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Hatching the Luoyin Bug_2 The effect of this insect is indeed peculiar; at some special moments, it can often play an unexpected role. Unfortunately, it is not easy to hatch and rear this insect, and it tends to die easily. Furthermore, once the master perishes, the insect will also die alongside the master. Such a parasitic method is different from most spirit beasts and spirit insects in the Cultivation World. For most spirit beasts and spirit insects in the Cultivation World, once they successfully bond with their master, even if the master falls, spirit insects and spirit beasts will only be injured due to the correlation. However, it would not be fatal, meaning they would not perish with their master¡¯s death. Therefore, Luoyin Bugs are not commonly seen in the Cultivation World, but due to their special role, their value is extremely high. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looks at the insect egg in front of him with a look of expectation on his face. Then, he also takes out a Jade Slip and, following the recorded content, strips away a thread of his divine soul, eventually letting it infiltrate the Luoyin Bug egg. In doing so, he is actually trying to establish a connection with the Luoyin Bug egg as quickly as possible. Because if the Luoyin Bug hatches and forcibly recognizes a master later, it is very likely to die, and the difficulty is more than double that of ordinary spirit beasts and spirit insects. In contrast, relying on the egg and establishing contact with the host before hatching is the most successful method. Precisely because of this, Lin Tianming also follows the easiest method to attempt to successfully hatch the Luoyin Bug egg. With such expectations, Lin Tianming applied his essence blood around the egg every day and added more than ten Medium-grade Spirit Stones. At the same time, he does not forget to follow some of the methods recorded by He Zhengsong, building a connection with the Luoyin Bug egg every day. After doing all this, Lin Tianming stays by the egg, waiting for any movement from it. Half a year quietly passes. One day, a peculiar sound suddenly echoes in the Cultivation Room. ¡°Crack¡­ Crack¡­¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming opens his tightly shut eyes and looks toward the Luoyin Bug egg immediately. He sees that among the two eggs in front of him, one hatches first, popping out a head the size of a fingernail. Right after, the little fellow crawls out of the shell and completely detaches from the eggshell. Seeing the newly hatched Luoyin Bug larva, Lin Tianming smiles excitedly, recognizing that it matches what was recorded in the classic texts left by He Zhengsong, and his heart is filled with joy. Under his gaze, the Luoyin Bug larva turns around and begins to eat the shell that had enveloped it for a long time. Soon, as the shell is consumed, the larva grows significantly in size, almost reaching the size of an infant¡¯s fist. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming is amazed. Next, the Luoyin Bug seems to sense Lin Tianming¡¯s presence, hurrying to fly towards him and circling around him many times before finally resting in the palm of his hand, affectionately nuzzling it as if to actively please him. At this very moment, Lin Tianming also feels the connection between himself and the Luoyin Bug. This connection, just like the one with the Purple Gold Eagle, feels even closer. Clearly, the Luoyin Bug has been hatched by him and has successfully established a contract. This means that he and the Luoyin Bug are soul bound, allowing him to control the life and death of the insect at any time. Realizing this, Lin Tianming is very satisfied in his heart. He then takes out some First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials from his storage bag and places them in front of the Luoyin Bug. Seeing this, the Luoyin Bug excitedly screeches and rushes towards them, voraciously gnawing on the Spiritual Medicine Materials. At this moment, it is seen that the Luoyin Bug, despite its small size, can chew on First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, and even the speed of eating is very fast. Keep in mind that the Luoyin Bug hatchling is currently at the First Order Initial Phase. But the Spiritual Medicine Material is a First Order Superior Grade, and it is also a very rare and precious variety among First Order medicines. Otherwise, with Lin Tianming¡¯s current level of Alchemy and his level of cultivation, it would not be possible to collect First Order Spiritual Medicines of this caliber. Even so, this Luoyin Bug has good taste, unaffectedly munching on the Spiritual Medicine and at a very rapid pace. Within less than the time it takes to steep a pot of tea, the Luoyin Bug had completely devoured the First Order Spiritual Medicine. Not only that, after finishing the Spiritual Medicine, the Luoyin Bug started squeaking loudly, as if it was still unsatisfied with that amount of food. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Witnessing this, it was hard to imagine that the small-sized Luoyin Bug could actually consume the Spiritual Medicine, which was several times larger than its own volume. Moreover, the reaction of the Luoyin Bug was very calm, unlike having any kind of excessive reaction or discomfort. At this moment, Lin Tianming also found the reaction of the Luoyin Bug quite surprising. However, upon careful thought, there are countless types of Spirit Insects in the Cultivation World, and it is not short of bizarre Spirit Insects. Given the uniqueness of this Luoyin Bug, it wasn¡¯t so strange that it had some peculiar properties. Understanding this, Lin Tianming gradually regained his composure. Following that, Lin Tianming reached out his palm to soothe the Luoyin Bug. Simultaneously, he took out two more First Order Spiritual Medicines and placed them in front of the Luoyin Bug, gesturing for it to devour them. With his instruction, coupled with the allure of the Spiritual Medicines themselves, the Luoyin Bug did not hesitate to quickly swallow them up. After these two Spiritual Medicines were consumed, the Luoyin Bug then lay motionless on the ground, all of its previous vitality gone as if it was about to fall into a deep sleep. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. Despite his lucrative fortune and his high cultivation, which were not comparable to that of an ordinary Golden Core Stage Cultivator, the food capacity of a Spirit Insect like the Luoyin Bug, which could eat so much right after hatching, was truly astounding. Moreover, as the Luoyin Bug grows, its appetite would probably increase significantly. By the time the Luoyin Bug reaches the adult Second Order, the amount of food it would need would be even more substantial, and an average cultivator with many Spirit Beasts and Spirit Insects might not be able to afford them. Fortunately, after devouring three Spiritual Medicines, the Luoyin Bug no longer had the desire to eat, which was a relief for Lin Tianming. Subsequently, Lin Tianming placed the Luoyin Bug directly into the Qiankun Jade, allowing it to peacefully sleep and refine the Spiritual Medicine¡¯s energy for quicker growth. Having done all this, Lin Tianming continued to monitor the remaining insect egg, guarding its hatching process. Another half a month passed, and the egg remained inert. Not only that, but the vitality within the egg also began to weaken as time went on. In the end, the egg lost even that last bit of vitality. Sensing such a change, Lin Tianming understood that this egg had thoroughly become lifeless and there was no chance of it hatching. For this reason, Lin Tianming felt heartache for a while. After all, the Luoyin Bug was relatively precious, and its eggs were also rare, with even fewer suitable for hatching. Yet, he had obtained eight eggs all at once from He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag, which was an extremely rich harvest. Moreover, he had only used two eggs for the attempt this time, not having held much hope for success. However, under his careful care, he was able to successfully hatch a Luoyin Bug on the first try. And this fifty percent hatching success rate was truly beyond his expectations. Therefore, such an outcome was already sufficient to satisfy him. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the matter. Instead, he felt quite relieved, maintaining an excited smile on his face. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°This hatching of the Luoyin Bug eggs, which took only a year, was truly very successful and rapid.¡± ¡°As for the future, once this insect grows to the Second Order standard, I believe it will be able to offer some help.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, with some anticipation for the arrival of that day. After calming his emotions, Lin Tianming immediately stood up and tidied up the Practice Room. Having completed these tasks, only then did he leave the Practice Room, satisfied, and emerged in the courtyard of the Temporary Cave Mansion. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1124 - 588 Clue of Tianxin Grass Chapter 1124: Chapter 588 Clue of Tianxin Grass It wasn¡¯t long before Qin Xi received a message from Lin Tianming and hurried over for a meeting. In the small courtyard of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, having exchanged their greetings. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, and he slowly began to speak, ¡°Xi¡¯er, in this past year, have you managed to find any news about the Tianxin Grass?¡± ¡°Ming, I have been covertly inquiring in Yuanzhen City for a long time, and indeed, I have not obtained much information about the Tianxin Grass, so much so that many cultivators seem to have never even heard of it.¡± ¡°However, even so, I have not come back empty-handed!¡± Qin Xi said indifferently, her face also showing a faint smile. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, having thought there would be no news at all, but from what Qin Xi suggested, it seemed like there might be some uncertain leads. Thus, Lin Tianming hurriedly asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, do you perhaps have some news? Feel free to share what you¡¯ve learned.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi slowly began to recount her experiences over the past year. According to her statement, she had been active in and around Yuanzhen City, openly and covertly seeking information about Tianxin Grass. Initially, she had not obtained any useful information for quite some time. It was only half a month ago that she accidentally came into contact with a Golden Core Stage Independent Cultivator, and from him, she learned that he seemed to know something about the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass. Although the veracity of this matter remained to be discussed, finally someone was aware of Tianxin Grass, and there might even be some substantive news, which was ultimately a rare piece of good news for them. In addition, Qin Xi had agreed to meet with that Golden Core Stage Independent Cultivator to further investigate the intelligence regarding Tianxin Grass. Afterwards, Qin Xi had intended to return to their Cave Mansion and discuss this matter with Lin Tianming during this recent period. However, it just so happened that Lin Tianming had recently come out of seclusion and asked about this matter first, so the two of them exchanged the information they had gathered. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, upon hearing this news, Lin Tianming was also pondering in his heart. In his eyes, the truthfulness of what the independent cultivator had said certainly could not be taken lightly. After all, Tianxin Grass, a Third Order Spiritual Medicine Material, was exceedingly rare, and in most places, not even a whisper of it was heard. Furthermore, this individual was merely at the Golden Core Stage Realm, a loose cultivator, with an unknown background. Such a person claiming to have information about Tianxin Grass indeed made one suspicious. However, upon further reflection, Lin Tianming was not overly concerned. You see, he himself was at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, and his personal strength was no weaker than any Late Stage Golden Core Expert. In addition, Qin Xi was also not weak in strength; although she had not yet broken through to the Mid Stage, she was not far from this realm. With Qin Xi¡¯s current strength, the average Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator would hardly have an advantage over her. With them as a couple working together, as long as they¡¯re not facing a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, there isn¡¯t much danger. And the strength of the loose cultivator mentioned by Qin Xi was average at best, and would likely not be a match for either one of them. In such a case, it was necessary to make contact with this individual. If they could truly obtain news about Tianxin Grass, then naturally it would be a good thing for them, even if it required some cost. And if they couldn¡¯t obtain concrete information, they wouldn¡¯t suffer much loss, merely wasting some time and effort. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind and decided to first make contact with the cultivator. And so, Lin Tianming shared his view with Qin Xi. Soon after, Qin Xi also agreed with Lin Tianming¡¯s opinion, and quickly sent a message to the Golden Core Stage Independent Cultivator, arranging the specific time for their meeting. A few days later, early in the morning, Lin Tianming and his wife left the Cave Mansion early and arrived at a restaurant in the center of the city. Under the guidance of the receiving cultivator, they were brought to a VIP room on the third floor. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, a middle-aged man entered the VIP room. The man was dressed in a white robe, with an ordinary appearance. As Lin Tianming secretly observed, he was undoubtedly at the Early Stage Golden Core. As the man entered the VIP room, Lin Tianming and his wife stood up and greeted him. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Daoist Sun is punctual to the meeting, and I am very pleased, please take a seat.¡± Lin Tianming laughed heartily, warmly welcoming Sun Liancheng, his attitude very friendly. Sun Liancheng saw this scene and also chuckled. ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist, you are too kind!¡± After saying this, Sun Liancheng glanced at Qin Xi nearby and then asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°Fairy Luo, was it not you alone who was to meet with this old man?¡± ¡°Who is this Daoist friend?¡± Obviously, Qin Xi had not mentioned Lin Tianming, let alone said that Lin Tianming would also be participating in this meeting. Sun Liancheng was equally surprised to see Lin Tianming. At the same time, Sun Liancheng was also discreetly assessing Lin Tianming, with the faint aura he exuded also placing him at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. With regards to this, Sun Liancheng was also skeptical. After all, in the Cultivation World, it is a common practice for cultivators to conceal their appearance and aura, as well as their true cultivation realm. Doing so makes things more convenient and safer for a cultivator. And the aura revealed by Lin Tianming was also elusive, if not for Sun Liancheng knowing a secret technique, he might not be able to sense it at all. It¡¯s because of this that Sun Liancheng hesitated for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1125 - 588: Clue of Tianxin Grass_2 Chapter 1125: Chapter 588: Clue of Tianxin Grass_2 In his heart, he had basically acknowledged this realm to be Lin Tianming¡¯s true cultivation. Coming back to his senses, Sun Liancheng stared intently at Qin Xi, seemingly waiting for her explanation. It was at this moment that Qin Xi chuckled and said, ¡°Daoist Sun, do not be alarmed, this is my husband, Chen Tian.¡± ¡°The reason I previously did not mention my husband is because he has been preoccupied with his closed-door cultivation, and whether he could join this meeting was unknown.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, my husband has just recently ended his seclusion, and upon hearing of Daoist Sun¡¯s esteemed reputation, he holds you in high regard and wishes to make your acquaintance.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Daoist Sun, both my husband and I have long admired you and harbor no ill intent.¡± Qin Xi spoke in succession, her expression carrying a hint of apology, and her attitude was exceedingly sincere. Upon hearing this explanation, Sun Liancheng also showed a faint smile on his face, and the caution in his heart lessened considerably. Then, Sun Liancheng bowed with his hands clenched in front of him towards Lin Tianming, as if making an acquaintance, before sitting down opposite Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also chuckled and hastened to greet Sun Liancheng. After the trio exchanged a few casual words, the atmosphere finally relaxed. At this point, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi next to him, and then spoke up. ¡°Daoist Sun, my wife and I have invited you here, and I presume you are aware of the specific purpose.¡± ¡°With that said, I shall not beat around the bush and will get straight to the point.¡± ¡°Do you truly have knowledge of the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass, or perhaps you possess it yourself?¡± As he asked, Lin Tianming looked seriously at Sun Liancheng, his heart filled with anticipation for Sun Liancheng¡¯s reply. When Sun Liancheng heard this, he hesitated for a moment upon seeing the expression on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. But soon, Sun Liancheng responded, ¡°Daoist Chen is so forthright, you must hold Tianxin Grass in high regard.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t conceal it from Daoist Chen, I do not have the Tianxin Grass on me, but I am indeed aware of its whereabouts.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Lin Tianming feigned surprise, his face showing excitement. Seeing this, Sun Liancheng gave a light smile, his expression calm as he replied, ¡°Hehe¡­ surely Daoist Chen is also aware of the value of Tianxin Grass.¡± ¡°In order to acquire this information, I have previously paid a great price, and even risked my life.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately understood Sun Liancheng¡¯s intention. Thus, Lin Tianming asked straightforwardly, ¡°What are your conditions, Daoist Sun? Do speak freely.¡± ¡°As long as the information is true, the reward from my wife and myself will certainly satisfy you, Daoist Sun.¡± When Sun Liancheng heard Lin Tianming¡¯s words, he nodded and then said. ¡°Since Daoist Chen is so straightforward, I won¡¯t beat about the bush either!¡± ¡°If Daoist Chen wishes to learn of the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass, you must agree to one condition of mine. If you can fulfill this request, I will provide the information on Tianxin Grass immediately.¡± ¡°What do you think of this, Daoist Chen?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming also seemed puzzled. In his heart, he understood that Sun Liancheng must have certain conditions for revealing the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass. Otherwise, they were merely strangers who met by chance; there was no reason for him to provide the information for free. Understanding this, Lin Tianming asked directly, ¡°What conditions do you have, Daoist Sun? Please speak frankly. As long as my wife and I can accomplish it, or if the price paid is equivalent, we will not refuse.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming speak thusly, Sun Liancheng hesitated for a moment before slowly starting to speak. ¡°Daoist Chen, my condition is to ask both of you fellow Daoists to assist in the pursuit and assassination of a fellow Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator.¡± ¡°That cultivator has a feud with me, and with both of you joining forces with me, I believe it will not take much effort to eliminate my enemy.¡± ¡°When that time comes, I will naturally hand over the exact whereabouts of Tianxin Grass with both hands, how about that?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised; he had thought that Sun Liancheng would demand a barter, but he had not expected such a condition. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming, out of curiosity, still posed a question. ¡°May I inquire who your adversary is? And what is their background and identity?¡± ¡°Surely I cannot agree to this lightly without knowing anything; end up offending an untouchable person, or provoke some major power, right?¡± ¡°Moreover, in my view, Tianxin Grass is merely a Third Order Spiritual Medicine, its significant value hardly compares to encircling and killing a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, should I create a new enemy just for the trail of Tianxin Grass?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t such an outcome be considered losing the bigger picture for something minor?¡± Lin Tianming fired these questions in succession, his expression filled with a look of difficulty. On the contrary, Sun Liancheng had anticipated these words and seemed prepared. Under such circumstances, Sun Liancheng spoke frankly: ¡°What Daoist has mentioned, I am not opposed to.¡± ¡°As for my adversary, they hail from the Cultivation World of Lingyu Country, known as Tan Zhiyao.¡± ¡°Daoist Chen can rest assured, Tan Zhiyao, just like myself, is an Independent Cultivator, not part of any power, nor does he have connections or entanglements with those major powers.¡± ¡°Such a person, I¡¯m afraid even if they die, no one will trouble you about it.¡± ¡°Moreover, the news of this encirclement and killing, including the passage, is known only to the few of us, hence it will definitely not leak out, naturally, it will not involve you two in unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also clear on what Daoist Chen means.¡± ¡°It must be said, though the value of Tianxin Grass is not low, merely relying on information alone indeed does not compare with asking for the two esteemed Daoists¡¯ intervention.¡± ¡°Thus, I¡¯m willing to offer up five thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones as compensation, also considered fair remuneration for the efforts of both esteemed Daoists.¡± ¡°Besides, after Tan Zhiyao dies, the treasures on his person and in his storage bag, I only need to select two pieces first, the rest will belong entirely to the two esteemed Daoists.¡± ¡°I wonder what you think of these terms?¡± Having said these words, Sun Liancheng looked at Lin Tianming and his wife with an earnest face, his eyes brimming with anticipation. While internally, he felt somewhat anxious and tense. These emotions, however, were excellently concealed by Sun Liancheng; even with Lin Tianming¡¯s strong Divine Sense and higher Cultivation Realm, he was incapable of seeing through people¡¯s hearts. At this moment, upon hearing Sun Liancheng¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming was also dubious. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming was also pondering in secret whether to agree to such terms. In his heart, if things were as described, Sun Liancheng¡¯s offer did indeed seem worth intervening once for him and his wife. After all, his and his wife¡¯s strength was formidable, and killing a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, while not guaranteed an easy task, wouldn¡¯t be too arduous, naturally implying minimal risk. However, he still had to inquire a bit more about Tan Zhiyao¡¯s exact origins and other important information before deciding. After all, he was currently in the heartlands of Qingzhou. Here, Golden Core Stage Cultivators were common, and there were many lineages that had been passed down for ten thousand years; even Nascent Soul Cultivators could be found. Although he coveted the Tianxin Grass, it was not essential for cultivation. If necessary, he could also consider other means to replace the Tianxin Grass to help Qin Xi break through a bottleneck. More crucially, he did not wish to expose his movements and identity for the sake of Tianxin Grass, lest it drag him into bigger trouble or even establish a powerful enemy for the Lin Family. Therefore, Lin Tianming had to consider more thoroughly. However, if it was truly as Sun Liancheng had said, that Tan Zhiyao had no involvement with any major power, taking action might be acceptable. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming did not outright reject Sun Liancheng¡¯s proposition. But wary of potential trouble afterward, Lin Tianming mentioned he would think about it and give a specific reply later. Sun Liancheng, having expected Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, thus did not press for specific reasons. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and Sun Liancheng agreed to respond in three days. Sun Liancheng had no objections to this. Following some final advice to Lin Tianming, Sun Liancheng then took his leave first and quickly departed the tavern. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1126 - 589: Picking Up a Bargain Chapter 1126: Chapter 589: Picking Up a Bargain Back in the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming and his wife idly chatted. Lin Tianming also asked Qin Xi for her opinion regarding what Sun Liancheng had said. Qin Xi¡¯s opinion was straightforward. Regardless of whether Sun Liancheng was telling the truth or not, it was essential for the couple to check things out for themselves. If it was true, there was no harm for them to make a move. But if it was false, they could simply leave. After all, there would be no loss or danger involved. Thus, the couple quickly reached a consensus. Later, Lin Tianming sent a message to Sun Liancheng, agreeing to meet at the top of a hill outside Yuanzhen City at dawn in half a month. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming and his wife began their preparations. The next morning, Lin Tianming left the Cave Mansion alone and started to wander around Yuanzhen City. It had been over three years since they came to Yuanzhen City. Previously, he had mostly been in closed-door cultivation and hadn¡¯t really taken the time to explore Yuanzhen City, one of the major cities in the Qingzhou Land. So, Lin Tianming started walking on the streets of Yuanzhen City, looking around attentively. Before long, he found himself in a plaza in the North District. This place, like every other workshop or city, had a designated area for setting up stalls. The difference lay in the size of these areas and the volume of people frequenting them. As one of the top cities in Qingzhou, Yuanzhen City had an extremely bustling crowd in almost every area. This was especially true for the stall area where both Qi Refining Cultivators and Golden Core Stage Experts could be found. This stall area was massive and divided into several sections, far beyond the scale of ordinary markets. The most noticeable was the separation of spaces designated for Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The Qi Refining area was bigger and had more foot traffic. In contrast, the flow of people in the Foundation Establishment area was noticeably lower. Such differences were normal, as the Cultivation World mainly consisted of low-level cultivators, with Qi Refining Cultivators making up the majority. As the cultivation level of cultivators increased, the overall number declined accordingly. Thus, cultivators naturally divided into different circles, with a Qi Refining Cultivator not mingling with Golden Core Stage Cultivators. However, the stall area was frequented by many looking for treasures without any restrictions on cultivation levels. In such cases, even in the Qi Refining area, one might come across Golden Core Cultivators. Because treasures could be overlooked, some might mistake or even fail to recognize valuable items. Therefore, in the stall area dominated by low-level cultivators, treasures could still be found, albeit with minuscule probability. Lin Tianming had not had the time to visit these stall areas before, but now that he had some free time, he naturally wanted to explore and gather information about major events happening in Qingzhou Land. Furthermore, if he could learn something about Wei Kingdom, that would be perfect. With this intention, Lin Tianming strolled through the stall area. Walking along a pathway deeper into the area, he observed a continuous stream of cultivators and vendors discreetly interacting. Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze swept over the stalls, with images of various treasures flashing through his mind. For ordinary low-level treasures, he naturally had no interest. However, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he could identify some unique treasures that others might not notice. Over the years, whenever he visited a market or city, he would stroll through the stall areas. In this way, he had previously purchased some quite decent treasures at very low prices. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although he couldn¡¯t always be incredibly lucky nor find treasures of the highest grade, over time, he had come to enjoy hunting for these overlooked treasures. Today, upon arriving at the site, Lin Tianming looked around and then followed the crowd into the Foundation Establishment stall area, beginning his search. Shortly after, he spotted a somewhat peculiar token at a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s stall. He took a closer look and observed that the surface of the token was just a rusty piece of iron¡ªunremarkable and emitting no aura, impenetrable even to the Divine Sense. But under the scrutiny of the Eye of Five Colors, he could see the faint contour of a token inside it. Seeing this object, Lin Tianming recalled the time during his Qi Refinement period when he had acquired the Mysterious Moon Order at Luoyun Market. At that time, he had also found it in a stall area and subsequently gained an entry into a Secret Realm. Later, because of the Mysterious Moon Order, he had made substantial gains in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, acquiring Lin Family¡¯s first Nascent Soul Spiritual Item which ultimately facilitated Lin Shikang¡¯s breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. It could be said that if not for that Mysterious Moon Order, it would be hard to say whether the Lin Family would have its current status. Perhaps during the attack by the Demonic Beasts, the Lin Family Clan Grounds would have been razed to the ground, there wouldn¡¯t have been the subsequent battle between the three sects, nor the current situation in Wei Kingdom. Thinking about it, the Lin Family¡¯s rise had hinged crucially on that Mysterious Moon Order he initially found. Now, this iron piece seemed to bear some similarities to the Mysterious Moon Order. ¡°Could this be another key to a Secret Realm or the key to a High Order Cultivator¡¯s Cave Mansion?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1127 - 589: Picking Up the Leftovers_2 Chapter 1127: Chapter 589: Picking Up the Leftovers_2 Lin Tianming thought to himself with a hint of imperceptible danger flashing across his face. After calming himself slightly, Lin Tianming immediately walked towards the cultivator who had an iron tile displayed in front of him. Soon, Lin Tianming reached the front of the iron tile. Opposite him was a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, who was meditating with his eyes closed. It was only when Lin Tianming arrived that the cultivator opened his eyes. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what has caught your eye?¡± The cultivator said indifferently, his expression neither cold nor warm, seemingly indifferent to Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction. However, Lin Tianming, seeing this scene, didn¡¯t take it to heart. Thus, Lin Tianming picked up the iron tile for a look, then decided not to hide his interest. After all, he currently had no need to worry about others guessing his thoughts, let alone worry about price gouging or outright refusal to sell. Knowing this, Lin Tianming straightforwardly inquired, ¡°Fellow Daoist, at what price are you selling this item?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming being so direct, the stall owner was somewhat surprised. ¡°30,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± The stall owner stated bluntly, without beating around the bush. However, Lin Tianming frowned upon hearing this. In his eyes, the stall owner was not being honest, quoting 30,000 low-grade spirit stones right off the bat. Although, from his initial observation, the item within the iron tile could likely be a treasure, But this was something even he couldn¡¯t confidently confirm, so the stall owner quoting such a price was indeed treating him like a fool. Thus, Lin Tianming responded with a wry smile, ¡°Fellow Daoist, do you really think I am a fool with this price?¡± ¡°How about 3,000 low-grade spirit stones?¡± Hearing this offer, the stall owner¡¯s expression turned slightly angry, but considering Lin Tianming¡¯s aura of a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, he managed to stabilize his attitude. ¡°3,000 spirit stones is too low!¡± ¡°I have had this iron tile for a while now. Although it appears ordinary, I¡¯ve tried various methods on it. Whether it be direct attacks or using earth fire for refining, nothing could leave a mark.¡± ¡°In my opinion, this item must be a treasure!¡± ¡°It could even be a third-order ore, or perhaps even a fourth-order treasure.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, even if it¡¯s just a third-order ore, for a mere 30,000 low-grade spirit stones, wouldn¡¯t you be making a huge profit, fellow Daoist?¡± The stall owner looked troubled, obviously putting on such an expression intentionally. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming responded with a calm smile and sighed, ¡°Fellow Daoist, if this iron tile is indeed a treasure, why would you put it up for sale?¡± ¡°Since you put it up for sale, obviously you too lack confidence and aren¡¯t willing to gamble on luck.¡± ¡°While I do have some interest in this item, I am also not eager to take such a risk.¡± ¡°In that case, is your high valuation really reasonable?¡± Lin Tianming asked several rhetorical questions, causing the stall owner to be at a loss for words. After regaining his composure, the stall owner quickly replied with a smile, ¡°Hehe¡­ what Fellow Daoist said is not unreasonable!¡± ¡°Given that, let me offer a sincere price!¡± ¡°How about 15,000 low-grade spirit stones?¡± The stall owner shouted a price, cutting the original quote of 30,000 low-grade spirit stones in half. However, as soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming immediately countered: ¡°5,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°12,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± The stall owner continued to lower the price, but was reluctant to give in easily. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also continued to raise his offer, but not too much, in order to prevent the stall owner from sensing his eagerness. ¡°6,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°10,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°8,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°Deal!¡± When Lin Tianming called out the price of 8,000 low-grade spirit stones, the stall owner seemed unwilling to argue further and agreed to the price openly. At this time, Lin Tianming chuckled and then took out eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, handing them to the stall owner. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Afterward, the iron tile in front of him was also collected by Lin Tianming. With this transaction complete, Lin Tianming did not rush to leave, but continued to stroll around the stall area. Half a Shi Chen silently passed. Through Lin Tianming¡¯s wandering, he had almost covered the entire Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ stall area, as well as the Qi Refinement area. However, his luck did not continue, and his gains were not much, with only a handful of decent Spiritual Medicine Materials. Regarding this, Lin Tianming remained calm in his heart, knowing that the chances of finding bargains in the stall area were always slim, and returning empty-handed most of the time was nothing unusual. As he had frequented the stall area many times before, often without any finds. Today, having obtained what might be a valuable iron tile, along with a few rather precious Spiritual Medicine Materials, was quite an accomplishment. With that, Lin Tianming felt very good. Seeing that he had almost finished his round, Lin Tianming then left the stall area directly and came to the tavern area in the city. Standing on a street, Lin Tianming looked around. Looking around, both sides of the street were filled with large and small pavilions, or some halls built of blue stone. Many cultivators entered and exited these pavilions, traveling in twos and threes, discussing news from the Cultivation World. Lin Tianming came here intending to listen to what these cultivators were discussing privately, to see if there would be any significant news from Wei Kingdom, or Golden Crow Country. With that purpose, Lin Tianming entered a tavern that was the largest in area and had the most traffic. Under the arrangement of the receptionist for cultivators, Lin Tianming blended into a hall full of Qi Refining Cultivators. There were quite a few cultivators here, over a hundred at a glance. They sat in groups of two or three, eating meals made of Spirit Beast meat while drinking Spiritual Tea infused with Spiritual Energy. At the same time, news from the Cultivation World was being discussed amongst these people, causing a wave of discussion. It was then that a Qi Refining Cultivator laughed and said, ¡°Rumor has it, a while ago a Third Order Demon Beast appeared on Red Plum Mountain for some unknown reason.¡± ¡°At that time, several dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators coincidentally encountered it, and all ultimately fell to the beast, including those of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.¡± ¡°Until this news reached Yuanzhen Sect, a Golden Elixir Expert from Yuanzhen Sect quickly dispatched, and in just a few exchanges, exterminated that Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast!¡± Hearing this, some of the Qi Refining Cultivators exclaimed in surprise. ¡°What? A Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± ¡°I heard there were witnesses to that battle.¡± ¡°Reportedly, just the earth-shattering noise made the Qi Refining Cultivators watching from a distance almost faint¡­¡± Several Qi Refining Cultivators discussed openly, their faces excited, immediately drawing the attention of many cultivators. Some cultivators apparently also heard of this news and quickly joined the discussing crowd. Soon, you say one thing and I say another, these Qi Refining Cultivators turned this matter into an incredible tale. At this time, Lin Tianming heard these discussions, his face casually smiled, and he silently focused inside. A little while passed. On the other side of the tavern hall, some cultivators discussed affairs happening in Golden Crow Country, instantly catching Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. According to these Qi Refining Cultivators, Golden Crow Country has seemed rather unstable in recent years, with the relations among the Three Great Golden Core Sects apparently even worse than before. Twenty years ago, Golden Crow Country was still quite peaceful. Back then, the major Golden Elixir Forces restrained themselves, and there was hardly an atmosphere of drawn swords. However, somehow in recent years, the friction between these major forces continued, and it wasn¡¯t uncommon to see their disciples clashing. Even casualties occurred among the True Disciples of those sects, causing some Golden Core Stage Cultivators to intervene personally, thus temporarily settling the disputes. According to some cultivators from Golden Crow Country, the changes in these past few years may be due to a mysterious fall of a Golden Core Stage Expert from Five Poison Sect a few years ago, a formidable presence in the Medium Stage Golden Core. Before this, those major sects could still restrain each other somehow, at least not this chaotic. But with the fall of that Golden Core Cultivator, internal forces within Golden Crow Country began to act abnormally. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1128 - 590 Vermilion Bird Order Chapter 1128: Chapter 590 Vermilion Bird Order In the end, the high-ranking members of the three Sects had no choice but to intervene and mediate, thus calming the fiery tempers of each side. As for the changes in the Golden Crow Country, Lin Tianming believed that it was likely due to He Zhengsong¡¯s death. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Overall, despite the minor frictions escalations among the major Golden Elixir Forces in the Golden Crow Country, the situation remained essentially stable. There wouldn¡¯t likely be any turmoil in the short term, let alone the outbreak of a major Sect war. Moreover, friction also indicated that the Five Poison Sect had probably not yet found any clues about He Zhengsong¡¯s death. Additionally, the demise of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong had impacted the strength of the Five Poison Sect to some extent. In such a situation, without substantial confidence, the Five Poison Sect was unlikely to take any excessive actions. One could say that the other two major Sects in the Golden Crow Country had attracted the majority of the attention from the Five Poison Sect, indirectly becoming Lin Tianming¡¯s protective umbrella. As long as no clues emerged, Five Poison Sect would dare not act recklessly. This was extremely beneficial for Lin Tianming. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. In his view, as long as nothing went wrong in the Golden Crow Country, he could feel at ease while cultivating in the Yuanzhen Kingdom. Otherwise, if the Five Poison Sect traced things back to him, they would surely target the Lin Family, perhaps even making a direct move against them. Being far from his clan, Lin Tianming would be helpless in the short term if the Five Poison Sect chose to retaliate against the Lin Family. Fortunately, as it stood now, the Five Poison Sect had not found any clues, so the threat to the Lin Family was still not significant. Thus, once he had no worries, Lin Tianming could act without any hesitation, and any endeavor would be twice as effective. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming put the matters of the Golden Crow Country aside. Then, he continued staying in this inn, listening to the animated discussions among Qi Refining Cultivators. Whenever the conversation turned to the Seven Kingdoms in the southern part of Qingzhou, Lin Tianming became particularly alert. Sometimes, he even interjected a few remarks, effortlessly blending into the circle of Qi Refining Cultivators. At the same time, he occasionally brought up subtleties about the situation in Wei Kingdom, igniting a discussion and casually chatting with them to gather useful information. But the vision of these cultivators was limited and their strength was not high, which slowed down the speed of information flow. For instance, many significant events in Wei Kingdom still revolved around the time of the three Sects¡¯ great war. According to these Qi Refining Cultivators, the Lin Family had begun to rise from an initially unknown small family, becoming known among some cultivators in the central Qingzhou as a Golden Core Family. This also indicated that the influence of the Lin Family was gradually expanding, at least moving from the interactions within the Southern Seven Kingdoms to the central Qingzhou Kingdom. Although the influence of the Lin Family in central Qingzhou was still far from reaching the level of Longqing Sect or Five Poison Sect, at least in the eyes of high-order cultivators in Qingzhou, the Lin Family was officially stepping into a new tier. In other words, although the Lin Family does not yet dare to claim dominance over a whole country, they are at least considered a top power within a nation, having certain authority and significant influence in a regional space. Such changes, along with the passage of time, were likely to further increase the influence of the Lin Family. Someday, the overall strength and influence of the Lin Family might even reach or surpass that of Longqing Sect. Understanding this, Lin Tianming managed to acquire some information from the Qi Refining Cultivators, though it wasn¡¯t very timely. However, overall, some intelligence was somewhat useful. According to those snippets of information, the situation in Wei Kingdom was quite peaceful, without any significant events. This scenario was exactly what Lin Tianming wanted to see. Moreover, the current Lin Family was not what it used to be. Now, even though he and Qin Xi were not on the clan grounds, just relying on the family¡¯s Golden Core Stage Clan Members, the Lin Family had enough capability to stand on equal footing with any forces such as the Zhenyang Sect or Myriad Medicine Valley. In this regard, there was not much to worry about for Wei Kingdom. Thus, seeing no useful intelligence, Lin Tianming quietly left the inn and returned to his Temporary Cave Abode. Upon returning to his Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming entered his Practice Room. He sat cross-legged, then took out the Iron Tile he had purchased from the market area, carefully observing it in the palm of his hand. The Iron Tile felt cold to the touch, and its surface was a bit rough, but overall it was still quite smooth and rounded. At first glance, it indeed seemed quite ordinary. However, under the scrutiny of the Eye of Five Colors, there was indeed something akin to a Token inside. But the material of the Iron Tile seemed to be of extremely fine quality, even the Eye of Five Colors couldn¡¯t directly see the specific details inside. Thus, Lin Tianming casually formed Hand Seals, and a Sword Qi Attack bombarded the Iron Tile. ¡°Clang clang¡­¡± Two crisp sounds ensued, and the Iron Tile was instantly shot away by the Sword Qi, consequently falling to the ground. Lin Tianming picked it up again and found, as the stall owner had said, that it was indeed left without a single mark after being struck. Initially, he was somewhat skeptical since he possessed Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and his strength was not weaker than that of a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. In his view, just because a Foundation Establishment Cultivator couldn¡¯t leave a mark didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t either. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1129 - 590 Vermilion Bird Order_2 Chapter 1129: Chapter 590 Vermilion Bird Order_2 But now, after this strike, he finally believed. Still, Lin Tianming remained skeptical and hastily summoned the Blue Heart True Flame, directly roasting the iron tile. Soon, the iron tile began to sizzle and emit flames under the heat of the Blue Heart True Flame. However, after the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the iron tile still showed no substantial reaction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯ve really misjudged this time?¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, while fidgeting with the iron tile. Feeling the unique sensation in his hand, Lin Tianming still refused to believe that the item was mundane. He was very clear that even someone with his level of cultivation couldn¡¯t leave the slightest mark on the iron tile, which was quite unusual. Moreover, even the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame, the Blue Heart True Flame, couldn¡¯t leave any trace on the iron tile, which further deepened his judgment. After all, if it were Third Order Ore, given his attack power and the terrifying heat of the Blue Heart True Flame, he would have melted it or at least left some traces over time. Even if it were a Fourth Order Treasure, under such methods, there should have been some reactions. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was even more certain that this iron tile was no ordinary item. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯m not using the correct method to open it?¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and his mind rummaged through various common methods used in the Cultivation World, planning to try each one. He believed that as long as he used the right method, he would definitely be able to open it. With such determination, Lin Tianming continuously switched methods and tried them. A while passed, yet the iron tile still showed no reaction. At that moment, Lin Tianming, touching the iron tile, channeled his mana into the token. ¡°Crack¡­¡± Soon, a crisp sound was heard. Following that, the iron tile cracked instantly, breaking into several pieces that fell to the ground. At the same time, a jade token appeared inside the iron tile. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly grabbed the jade token to examine it. Feeling the smooth and slightly warm jade token in his hand felt extraordinarily pleasant. Moreover, compared to ordinary jade pendants, he didn¡¯t know what type of material this was, yet it had such a tactile sensation. Such a treasure, not to mention ordinary people, is also rare even in the Cultivation World. Especially for Lin Tianming, who was keen-eyed, having seen various types of jade pendants and tokens over a hundred years, he had never come across this unique material. Just by this alone, Lin Tianming was utterly convinced that the jade token was a treasure. ¡°Haha¡­ I knew I wasn¡¯t mistaken!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming was very excited, and the smile on his face never ceased. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming then started to carefully examine the jade pendant with his Eye of Five Colors. Under the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, indeed some clues were discovered. It turned out that the jade token had a line of golden characters, which appeared very hidden. Nevertheless, with the special effect of the Eye of Five Colors, upon close inspection, he still detected something extraordinary. Otherwise, if it were an ordinary cultivator, even if they obtained the jade token, they probably would not be able to discern the special features of the token. And Lin Tianming, being meticulous and aided by the tool of the Eye of Five Colors, discovered the line of golden characters. As for the content of the characters, Lin Tianming carefully read them several times and eventually concluded. ¡°Vermilion Bird Order!¡± The golden characters on the jade token represented the Vermilion Bird Order. At this moment, Lin Tianming was puzzled, pondering clues related to the Vermilion Bird Order. After a long while, Lin Tianming could not recall any clues related to the Vermilion Bird Order. But it is said that the Vermilion Bird on this token is a type of Ancient Exotic Beast, with extremely powerful and special bloodline. Moreover, there was a saying in the Cultivation World that long, long ago, the Demon Beast Race possessed various powerful bloodline tribes, among which the Vermilion Bird tribe was included. However, the existence of such demonic beasts is too ancient, and even now, the inheritance of the Demon Beast Race has been longer than that of the Human Race. As time passed, the Human Race¡¯s inheritance has lasted for hundreds of thousands of years, while the history of the Demon Beast Race traces back to a million years ago. In such a long river of history, despite the natural talents and extremely powerful bloodlines of those Ancient Exotic Beasts, they could not withstand the passage of time and eventually vanished without a trace, leaving only legends in the Cultivation World. Now, whether such a glorious history is true has long been unverifiable. However, this saying is widely circulated within the Cultivation World. Thinking of these legends, Lin Tianming also pondered deeply, unable to ascertain the true use of this item in the end. ¡°Could this also be a key to a Cave Mansion Secret Realm?¡± ¡°Or perhaps, it¡¯s a token of a treasure vault belonging to an extremely powerful force?¡± Lin Tianming contemplated various speculations, ultimately leaning towards the former. Because from this jade token, he sensed a familiar aura. This aura was very covert and faint; without careful observation or a reference, it was almost impossible to detect. And he was able to perceive it because the aura of this jade token was very close to that of the Qilin Seal he had obtained earlier. Considering further, the Qilin, named on the seal, was also one of the Ancient Exotic Beasts from the Demon Beast Race. Like the Vermilion Bird, the Qilin tribe was gifted with extraordinary natural talents and tremendously powerful bloodline strength, and their strength was quite terrifying upon maturity. According to rumors, such Ancient Exotic Beasts would have a minimum starting level of Fourth Order upon reaching adulthood. For some tribes, they would be at the Fifth Order upon maturity. Such powerful demonic beasts can be compared to the Deification Stage powerhouse of the Human Race. Both Vermilion Bird and Qilin belong to the latter level, and to this day, only legends remain, with no one having witnessed their elegance. Even some books have almost lost this information. However, Lin Tianming, fond of various books of the Cultivation World, had read quite a bit and memorized these firmly in his mind. It was also because of this that Lin Tianming made such an association based on these similarities. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately took out the Qilin Seal for comparison. Sure enough, after his careful comparison, it indeed confirmed his guess. The Qilin Seal and the Vermilion Bird Order were extremely similar, just differing in appearance. If so, did that mean this Vermilion Bird Order, like the Qilin Seal, was also one of the tokens of a Cave Mansion Ruin? Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but fall into deep thought. Recalling the past, he had obtained the Qilin Seal from a cultivator of the Xu Family, a Foundation Establishing Family from the Wei Kingdom. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, the Xu Family was annihilated by the Blood Red Alliance, and the Xu Family cultivator Xu Haiqiao fled, eventually encountering the pursuit of the Blood Red Alliance members. Coincidentally, Lin Tianming happened to encounter this and inadvertently got involved in this turmoil. At that time, Lin Tianming also spent a lot of effort and finally managed to eliminate the Blood Red Alliance cultivator with difficulty. Unfortunately, Xu Haiqiao still perished, and ultimately, all the schemes of the Blood Red Alliance ended up in his hands. After obtaining the Qilin Seal, he had contemplated for a long time and consulted many books, eventually making a series of judgments. As for his current visit to Qingzhou, apart from training and searching for Lin Tianfeng and another, he was also keen to probe information about the Qilin Seal covertly. If possible, he even planned to make a trip to Yuxu Country controlled by the Blood Red Alliance, just to investigate the origins and use of the Qilin Seal. Who would have thought, before he even began to implement this plan, he obtained another token in Yuanzhen City. Such an outcome was truly beyond Lin Tianming¡¯s expectation. But thinking about it, since he had obtained the Vermilion Bird Order, it further proved that the plots behind the Blood Red Alliance were significant. Besides, since obtaining the Qilin Seal, dozens of years had passed. With such a long interval, his acquiring a new token now also indicated that the schemes of the Blood Red Alliance were definitely not progressing smoothly. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1130 - 591: Sudden Change Chapter 1130: Chapter 591: Sudden Change At least one thing is certain, there are more than just these two tokens. It¡¯s very likely that there are a number of such tokens, or even more probably. The fact that he has obtained two in succession also indicates that these tokens are fated to him, and the opportunities behind them are even more so. As such, on this visit to the central region of Qingzhou, the role of the Qilin Seal and Vermilion Bird Order behind them must be thoroughly investigated. If it truly is an opportunity, judging by the importance placed by the Blood Red Alliance, it¡¯s bound to be a shocking opportunity. Perhaps, this opportunity behind it all is critical for his breakthrough into the Nascent Soul Stage. Realizing this, Lin Tianming made up his mind that he must grasp some clues about the function of these tokens and what the Blood Red Alliance is plotting during his travels in the central region of Qingzhou. At the very least, he must understand the role of these two tokens, as well as the opportunities linked behind them. With this in mind, Lin Tianming etched this matter deeply into his memory. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming then put away the Qilin Seal and Vermilion Bird Order into the Qiankun Jade. Immediately after, Lin Tianming closed his eyes tightly and began to cultivate. This morning, Lin Tianming and his wife left the Cave Mansion together and, after disguising themselves, they headed straight for the city gate. Soon, the couple left Yuanzhen City and quietly departed. Today was the day they had agreed to meet with Sun Liancheng. Therefore, following their arrangements, Lin Tianming and his wife went to wait in a mountain range just outside Yuanzhen City. Half a quarter of an hour after their arrival at the destination, Sun Liancheng hurriedly arrived as well. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Daoist Sun, do you know where your nemesis Xu Zhiyao currently is?¡± Hearing the question, Sun Liancheng laughed and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ Rest assured, my fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°I have long been in control of that nemesis of mine¡¯s whereabouts, you only need to follow me, and once I lure him out, you can take the opportunity to strike unexpectedly.¡± ¡°As long as we eliminate this person, the rewards you are to receive will naturally be fully offered by me, with no delays to you, my fellow Daoists.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming exchanged a glance with Qin Xi, and then nodded his head. Seeing this, Sun Liancheng did not delay further and immediately took out a Flying Magical Treasure, opening it and jumping onto it first. This Flying Magical Treasure was a small boat, with an appearance of pitch-black and adorned with fine golden inscriptions, looking quite extraordinary. It¡¯s apparent that Sun Liancheng possesses some wealth to have a Flying Artifact, indicating that he certainly has formidable personal strength. Otherwise, a Flying Artifact is highly valuable, even more expensive than regular Defense Treasures. That Sun Liancheng could possess such a treasure at the Early Stage Golden Core, and bring it out so openly, clearly shows he¡¯s very confident in his own strength. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming and his wife remained composed and stepped forward to keep pace with Sun Liancheng, swiftly entering his Flying Artifact. Afterward, Sun Liancheng activated the Flying Magical Treasure and turned swiftly into a black shadow that soared into the clouds, darting in a certain direction. Half a month passed. This day, the Flying Magical Treasure was perched atop a mountain peak. At this time, Sun Liancheng spoke to Lin Tianming and his wife, who were resting with their eyes closed. ¡°My fellow Daoists, we have arrived!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his wife opened their tightly shut eyes and surveyed their surroundings. Looking around, this was just an ordinary wilderness, extremely peaceful, with only the occasional bird flying over a ridge. Lin Tianming pondered about their journey for half a month, guessing they were still within the borders of Yuanzhen Kingdom, though unsure of the exact location. Consequently, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Daoist Sun, where is this place? Is your nemesis in this wilderness?¡± As the words fell, Sun Liancheng took over the conversation. ¡°Daoist Chen, this place is within one of the three great perilous areas of Yuanzhen Kingdom, the Ice Wind Valley. We are only in the outermost areas,¡± ¡°As for my nemesis Xu Zhiyao, he should presently be cultivating in seclusion within the Ice Wind Valley. If we join forces and search together, we should be able to find his place of seclusion.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ice Wind Valley?¡± Hearing Sun Liancheng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming slipped into contemplation. He had heard of Ice Wind Valley before and had also looked through some relevant texts. This Ice Wind Valley covered a large area and was filled with rich Spiritual Energy. It¡¯s said that long ago, this place was a battlefield, where many High Order Demonic Beasts and High Order Cultivators of the Human Race fell. Inside the Ice Wind Valley, Gang Wind rages year-round, and Demonic Beasts roam everywhere. While Fourth Order Demonic Beasts are unlikely to exist, there are still many Third Order Demon Beasts. Though the area is perilous, there are also many opportunities to be found. After all, there was once a world-shattering battle here, where High Order Demonic Beasts and powerful human cultivators fell. Hence, the blood of these High Order Monster Beasts and strong humans spilled here, nurturing the growth of many Heaven and Earth Treasures. At the same time, many legacies of these powerful figures have also been lost here. Under these circumstances, the inner parts of Ice Wind Valley hold many legacies and opportunities, known as a land of perilous fortune and even a graveyard for the strong. Over time, it has become one of the three great perilous lands of Yuanzhen Kingdom, attracting many Cultivators to come here for cultivation or to hunt Demonic Beasts for trial. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1131 - 591: Sudden Change_2 Chapter 1131: Chapter 591: Sudden Change_2 Furthermore, in Yuanzhen Kingdom, and even in the surrounding regions, there have been numerous rumors that many cultivators have found considerable opportunities in Ice Wind Valley, eventually becoming formidable figures of their generation. These precedents further boosted the popularity and renown of Ice Wind Valley throughout Yuanzhen Kingdom and several neighboring nations. And now, Sun Liancheng has actually brought them here, searching for his nemesis Xu Zhiyao, and considering the many fundamental factors of this place, it indeed seemed logical and reasonable. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Daoist Sun, since Xu Zhiyao is within Ice Wind Valley, let¡¯s go directly inside to search for him.¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Liancheng nodded, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confidence. ¡°Daoist Chen, there are also some spatial fissures inside Ice Wind Valley, and Third Order Demon Beasts occasionally appear. Although we are all at the Golden Core Stage Cultivation, we can¡¯t be too careless to avoid losing our lives in vain.¡± ¡°Therefore, we can only travel by flying. This way, we can be a bit safer and avoid alerting Xu Zhiyao.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Daoist Sun, please lead the way!¡± Lin Tianming answered, then he leaped from the Flying Boat first, alighting atop a mountain peak. Sun Liancheng wasted no time; after storing his Magical Treasure, he directly shot towards the interior of Ice Wind Valley. Afterward, Lin Tianming and his wife closely followed Sun Liancheng, gradually making their way deeper into Ice Wind Valley. As the three of them continued to venture deeper, they distinctly felt the surrounding Spiritual Energy growing more concentrated. At the same time, some small spatial fissures swiftly flashed by them. Although these spatial fissures were small and not very fast, dodging them wasn¡¯t too difficult for these Golden Core Stage Cultivators. However, for Foundation Establishment Cultivators facing these unpredictable and irregular spatial fissures, it would certainly be quite perilous. If unlucky, inadvertently getting swallowed by a spatial fissure could lead to their demise. Even if they had good fortune, Foundation Establishment Cultivators who survived a spatial fissure would surely find themselves in an unfamiliar place. Moreover, spatial fissures are fraught with peril, barely surviving would mean likely sustaining some injuries. In such circumstances, the dangers of spatial fissures should not be underestimated. Lin Tianming himself was very fast and quite agile. With the special effect of the Eye of Five Colors, he found it easy to dodge. Aside from him, Qin Xi was also fast, and with Lin Tianming watching over her, they had an easy time along the way. Thus, for three full days, the three traversed through Ice Wind Valley, eventually reaching the most central area. Here in the deep area, the Gang Wind was very strong, and the density of spatial fissures notably increased. Despite the danger, the area¡¯s rich Spiritual Energy gave Lin Tianming the impression that it was even better than inside Yuanzhen City. Sensing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but think inwardly, if a cultivator were to practice here year-round without any treasures, their speed of cultivation would surely not be slow. And compared to most City Markets, building speed here might even be faster. This showed that although dangerous, this place was indeed an excellent spot for cultivation. However, thinking about such an apparent difference did baffle him. To his knowledge, Yuanzhen City was the premier enterprise under Yuanzhen Sect, always protected by a Fourth Order Great Array, and the efficiency of the Spirit Gathering Array was excellent. Yet even so, Yuanzhen City, which Yuanzhen Sect had managed for so long, had less concentrated Spiritual Energy than such a perilous place. Upon closer consideration, such occurrences were actually quite normal in the current Cultivation World. After all, a perilous location that had been preserved through history was bound to have its specialties. Just thinking about the dangers of this perilous place would deter most cultivators from wanting to stay here long-term. Only Golden Core Stage Cultivators confident in their power would dare to reside long-term in such a perilous place and simultaneously cultivate while seeking opportunities. As for typical Foundation Establishment Cultivators, those who come to perilous places for training usually do so in pursuit of opportunities. This is also why, places like Ice Wind Valley, with rich Spiritual Energy and the possibility of sudden opportunities, attract cultivators from Golden Core high orders down to Qi Refinement lower levels, all wishing to treasure hunt and undergo trials in such dangerous lands, or even to settle down and cultivate long-term. Understanding this, Lin Tianming became very curious about Ice Wind Valley. With these thoughts in mind, the trio continued to delve deeper. It was on the fourth day when they stopped before a canyon lush with vegetation. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked ahead, seeing the canyon shrouded in mist with sunshine unable to penetrate, casting the place in utter darkness. And yet, the interior of this canyon is narrow, and the passage is very long; no one knows exactly how deep it is. Besides that, even his powerful Divine Sense was somewhat suppressed here. At present, the range his Divine Sense could cover had weakened by thirty to forty percent compared to the outside. Such a peculiar canyon, in his view, was actually a hidden place. If there were no traces of Demonic Beasts inside, relying on the terrain and the rich concentration of Spiritual Energy, it would indeed be a good choice to use it as a Temporary Cave Abode for cultivation. And he wasn¡¯t the only one with this idea; Qin Xi thought the same. At this point, just as Lin Tianming was assessing the scene before him, Sun Liancheng spoke up. ¡°Daoist Chen, if nothing unexpected happens, Xu Zhiyao should be inside this canyon.¡± This statement suddenly pulled Lin Tianming back to reality. Following that, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Daoist Sun, let¡¯s stick to the plan.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianming held the Tiangang Sword, ready for battle. Seeing this, Qin Xi quickly made the same preparations to act. Witnessing this series of actions from the couple, Sun Liancheng felt a jolt inside and wore a barely perceptible hint of wariness on his composed face. However, Sun Liancheng¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he nodded. ¡°Daoist Chen, this canyon seems very deep. We might as well move forward a bit.¡± ¡°Then, the two of you find a place to hide. I will explore further down, to see if Xu Zhiyao is really here.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat puzzled but did not ask any further questions. ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s make it quick!¡± Lin Tianming said indifferently and then secretly transmitted a message to Qin Xi. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this place is a bit strange, and Sun Liancheng¡¯s behavior is somewhat abnormal. Let¡¯s both be a little more cautious.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission, Qin Xi¡¯s heart trembled. While maintaining a calm demeanor, she also prepared herself for any sudden incidents. At this moment, the couple followed behind Sun Liancheng, cautiously exploring further into the canyon. Unconsciously, they advanced several miles forward. With the deeper they went, an eerie quiet surrounded them, and the air was filled with a strange atmosphere. Lin Tianming was also aware of the abnormality here, his nerves taut, constantly watching every move in the surroundings. ¡°Daoist Chen, you two hide. I¡¯ll go deeper to have a look!¡± After saying that, Sun Liancheng continued to venture deeper. Watching Sun Liancheng disappear from view, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi hid in the canopy of a tree, their gazes fixed on every movement inside the canyon. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± A breeze blew past their ears, and the thick fog of the canyon shifted slowly. It was uncertain how much time had passed when a faint snapping sound was followed by a slight tremor throughout the canyon passage. Under these sudden changes, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression shifted, and he immediately pulled Qin Xi to retreat rapidly. Their speed was very fast, faster than ever before. Just as the couple was about to exit at the entrance of the canyon, the tremors of the ground intensified. Following that, an invisible light screen formed in front of Lin Tianming. In an instant, a Barrier was established, enveloping the entire canyon passage within it. And all of this happened too quickly; Lin Tianming and his wife were just inches away from breaking through the barrier. However, they still fell just a little bit short and ended up being trapped inside the Barrier. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1132 - 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters Chapter 1132: Chapter 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters At this moment, the barrier before Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes stirred up whirlwinds, filling the air with flying sand and a dense haze of dust, instantly obscuring his vision. Simultaneously, a substantial oppressive force relentlessly affected Lin Tianming¡¯s body, noticeably restraining the agility of his movements. Moreover, even his divine soul was affected to varying degrees, making him feel an unprecedented pressure from head to toe. Not only him, but Qin Xi beside him also wore a face of shock and anger, her complexion suddenly flushing red. It was apparent that Qin Xi was also impacted by the oppressive force of the barrier, and she struggled more significantly than Lin Tianming. After all, Lin Tianming was at the Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm and a Dual Cultivator of Body and Law, with his divine sense far surpassing that of cultivators of the same level. With such foundational advantages, although Lin Tianming was affected to varying extents, he was still generally able to cope. In contrast, Qin Xi was a minor level lower in cultivation and lacked the foundational strengths that Lin Tianming had. Now facing this sudden calamity, the pressure Qin Xi had to endure was naturally immense. Fortunately, Qin Xi was talented and had experienced many crises over the years, hence possessing considerable combat experience and an extremely calm adaptive ability. Therefore, Qin Xi only looked stunned for a moment, quickly regained her composure, and adapted to the oppressive force of the barrier. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the gravity of their situation and his expression turned solemn. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this seems to be a trapping formation; we must break free from its shackles as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Otherwise, our situation will only become more difficult!¡± Lin Tianming silently transmitted his thoughts to Qin Xi, his whole being highly focused and ready to act at any moment. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, the myriad changes within the barrier seemed to calm down a bit, though the oppressive force still existed, but the disruptions were not as intense as before. This stability allowed Lin Tianming and his wife to steady themselves momentarily, their gazes scanning around, attempting to figure out who was lying in ambush. Shortly after, several bursts of mocking laughter echoed from deep within the canyon. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Brother, these two are really easy to deceive; they fell for it so easily.¡± ¡°Moreover, they¡¯ve entered our formation directly; now, they probably can¡¯t escape.¡± As the voice faded, a woman giggled and continued the conversation. ¡°Gee gee gee¡­These two either have too much confidence or are truly foolish, trusting the few words from our second brother and delivering themselves right into our hands for the slaughter.¡± ¡°Ts ts ts¡­These two must have a considerable fortune. I can hardly wait.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As the voices grew closer, three cultivators slowly appeared in Lin Tianming¡¯s line of sight. Looking forward, in addition to Sun Liancheng, whom they had previously met, the other two were a man and a woman. The male cultivator was dressed in white robes, appearing middle-aged, and his cultivation level was directly exposed, clearly a Mid-Stage Golden Core Strongman. As for the other individual, she was a seductively postured female cultivator, with the same cultivation level as Sun Liancheng, at Early Stage Golden Core. As these three people approached, their words were full of confidence, and their faces bore a hint of wild laughter, seemingly regarding Lin Tianming as though he were already a dead man. At this moment, while on alert, Lin Tianming glared angrily at Sun Liancheng. ¡°Daoist Sun, what is the meaning of this?¡± Hearing this, Sun Liancheng laughed heartily: ¡°Heh¡­ What could it mean at this point?¡± As his words fell, the leading male cultivator, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s wary stance, was slightly stunned, then took over the conversation. ¡°My fellow Daoist, seeing your not insubstantial cultivation and strength,¡± ¡°In my opinion, you might as well willingly hand over your storage bags and submit to us, the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters; this could still spare your lives.¡± ¡°Otherwise, don¡¯t blame us three siblings for not showing mercy!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed, seemingly understanding something. Clearly, Sun Liancheng¡¯s name was just an alias, and the supposed traces of Tianxin Grass might well be false. As for the origin of the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, Lin Tianming had heard some rumors about them in Yuanzhen City; their names were quite renowned in several neighboring countries of Yuanzhen Kingdom. Rumors had it that all three, the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, were loose cultivators who had become sworn siblings in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Leading them was Liu Nantian, with a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, and the youngest was the sole female cultivator among them, Shen Rong. The person previously using the name of Sun Liancheng was the second, Yan Mingshan. Their notoriety stemmed from their formidable strength. After all, all three were Golden Core cultivators, including one at the Mid Stage Golden Core. Additionally, the leader Liu Nantian was also a Third Order Formation Master. With him as the leader, relying on their collective strength and his expertise in formation Dao, the three had been traveling around, frequently active in several countries in the center of Qingzhou. During this period, they often engaged in looting and plundering, with countless loose cultivators perishing at their hands. Although the three committed countless heinous acts, they were extremely cautious in their actions, always making thorough preparations. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1133 - 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters_2 Chapter 1133: Chapter 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters_2 Moreover, these three individuals never dared to provoke Yuanzhen Sect or any other Nascent Soul Forces¡¯ cultivators. Even at times, they would not dare to overly provoke the disciples of Yuanzhen Sect from Foundation Establishment stage. It was precisely because of such a cowardly and cautious style of conduct that many independent cultivators in the Cultivation World hated them to the core, yet were immensely wary of them. Moreover, it is said that over a hundred years ago, there was a team organized by several Golden Core stage independent cultivators in the Cultivation World that hunted them down for a period. Among them, there were also Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators leading the team. However, Liu Nantian and his two companions were all at the Golden Core stage, each possessing formidable strength, and they were almost always together. Additionally, with the leisurely preparedness of Liu Nantian and his group, coupled with the assistance of a Third Order Great Array, they completely occupied the advantages of the situation. As a result, the team that was hunting them suffered a great defeat. Among them, three individuals were killed on the spot, another three were severely injured, and ultimately, they escaped with great difficulty and heavy costs. Since this incident spread throughout the Cultivation World, the reputation of Yuan Zhen Three Monsters greatly surged, completely resonating through the surrounding countries of Yuanzhen Kingdom. Also, since this incident, although the Golden Core stage independent cultivators in the Cultivation World were terrified and wary, most of them adopted an indifferent attitude. And such a result meant that even if one or two individual Golden Core cultivators joined forces, they were no match for Liu Nantian and his group. Over time, the local and surrounding independent cultivators gave up the idea of encircling and suppressing the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters. Besides this, Liu Nantian and his two companions also restrained themselves, significantly reducing the frequency of attacking other cultivators. Moreover, every time they took action, they were fully prepared, and the targets of their attacks were mostly unfamiliar faces. Thus, Liu Nantian and his companions continued their nefarious deeds for over a hundred years and were still very much alive. At this moment, Lin Tianming remembered this information about the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, and his expression immediately became serious. However, Lin Tianming remained composed, watching Liu Nantian and his two companions slowly approach him, and then coldly said: ¡°Turns out to be the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, the three fellow Daoists. My wife and I bear no hard feelings or grudges against you three brothers and sisters. Why target us?¡± Hearing this, Sun Liancheng smiled indifferently and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ There isn¡¯t any enmity.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s quite coincidental that the two fellow Daoists, being unfamiliar faces, appeared in Yuanzhen City and just happened to meet me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to encounter such a thing at ordinary times.¡± ¡°Moreover, when we three siblings act, why should we care about others? As long as the target fits the criteria, they become our prey.¡± ¡°As for blaming anyone, you should blame your ill luck!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a slight anger, and his heart immediately became very annoyed. You see, throughout the years, he and his wife had been careful in their conduct, rarely offending anyone, let alone bullying others. Yet, they still inevitably encountered some unexpected and unwanted troubles. But reality is so fascinating, in their quest to find clues to Tianxin Grass, they coincidentally encountered the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, truly feeling a bit unlucky. Moreover, the strength of the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters was not weak, and they had the aid of a Third Order Formation. And with only Qin Xi and himself, having no advantage in cultivation, they were also trapped within this formation. With such a situation, Lin Tianming felt both shocked and angry, and also helpless. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming suppressed the anger in his heart and then pondered over a strategy to deal with the situation. As he saw it, the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters were not easy to deal with. Moreover, now that these three people occupied the advantage of time and place, it was obviously not likely they would just retreat. Rather than waste words with them, it was better to take initiative, using the quickest and most effective method to break the bonds of the formation. After all, the formation had just started operating and its stability was far from that of a long-operated formation. What he needed to do was to break through this enclosure when the formation was at its weakest. Otherwise, once the formation truly began to operate fully, it would inevitably become very stable. If that were the case, even if he wanted to break it, even with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, it would nearly be impossible to do within three to five days. So it appears, the current time is extremely critical for him. As long as they escape from this formation, with the combined strength of him and his wife, they might not be able to guarantee a victory over the three opposite, but at least their lives would no longer be at risk. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind. Therefore, Lin Tianming feigned calm and then said: ¡°Fellow Daoists, by acting this way, don¡¯t you still want to provoke a siege against you?¡± After finishing speaking, Lin Tianming activated his Eye of Five Colors, looking for weak spots on the barrier of the formation. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming continued speaking, intentionally delaying Liu Nantian¡¯s attack. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s provocative words, Liu Nantian indeed responded with a series of cold laughs. ¡°A siege against us three siblings?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ What a joke!¡± As soon as these words were out, Yan Mingshan on the other side also sneered, then chuckled and said: ¡°It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t been besieged before. In the end, were not all those who besieged us either dead or fled?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not even mention, it¡¯s been a long time since us three siblings have tasted being besieged, right?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ indeed¡­¡± While Liu Nantian and the others were laughing and chatting, they did not notice Lin Tianming¡¯s actions at all, let alone the fact that Lin Tianming possessed such a powerful tool as the Eye of Five Colors. At this moment, Lin Tianming was both delaying time and intently staring at the invisible and colorless screen in front of him. Following his line of sight, within that screen, energy was circulating, connected to a central system through numerous minuscule channels. These channels were truly tiny; ordinary cultivators, if they used their Divine Sense to search, wouldn¡¯t know how much time and energy it would cost, and the consumption of Divine Sense would also be enormous. Besides, the person who set up the formation to trap the target wouldn¡¯t allow the trapped person much time to break the formation. In such a case, a typical person trapped would most likely resort to using brute force to break the formation. However, Lin Tianming, possessing the Eye of Five Colors, a supplementary tool, and at the moment when the formation was just activated, definitely had an opportunity to quickly dismantle the formation. Sure enough, as Lin Tianming focused on the channels in the screen where energy was flowing swiftly, he quickly located a weak point. This weak point was located in a corner, farthest from the central system, and it was at a crisscrossed position, clearly a very crucial hub. More importantly, the energy flowing to this hub was minimal, hardly comparable to those at the center. Therefore, in Lin Tianming¡¯s view, this weak spot was the optimal place to attack. Realizing this, Lin Tianming secretly sent a message to Qin Xi, indicating the specific spot she should strike. After doing all this, while Liu Nantian and the others were distracted, Lin Tianming suddenly threw the Tiangang Sword in front of him. Next, Lin Tianming pinched out a Law Decree, sending bursts of Spiritual Light bombarding onto the Tiangang Sword. Everything happened very fast, in the blink of an eye. At this moment, Liu Nantian and the others had no idea of Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions, let alone that Lin Tianming had the capability to break the formation. Thus, before they could react, Lin Tianming activated the Divine Skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± In an instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword transformed into a long dragon and swiftly darted toward a corner of the sky. At the same time, Qin Xi also made her move at the fastest speed. With a flick of her sleeve, a brilliant light was activated in the blink of an eye, turning into a Frost Dragon rushing towards the sky. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± In that moment, two streaks of light, one red and one blue, streaked across the sky, their speed incredibly fast, like shooting stars, disappearing in the blink of an eye. It was only then that Liu Nantian realized what was happening. When they saw the actions of Lin Tianming and his wife, they first mockingly smiled at themselves, then showed a confident look of having everything under control. ¡­ sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1134 - 593: Terrible Opponent Chapter 1134: Chapter 593: Terrible Opponent In Liu Nantian¡¯s heart, he simply didn¡¯t believe that the Formation he had set up could be broken through by Lin Tianming. Even more inconceivable to him was that this Formation, which they took pride in and had used to successfully trap enemies multiple times, could be easily broken in a short period of time. However, when the attack from Lin Tianming and his companion appeared in the sky and targeted a certain corner, Liu Nantian¡¯s complexion immediately changed slightly. It was obvious that as a Third Order Array Master and the one who had set up the Formation, Liu Nantian was very aware of its weak spot. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden strike was aimed directly at that weak spot of the Formation. Such a trajectory of the attack made it unclear whether it was a fluke or if they had truly discovered some weakness in the Formation. After thinking it over briefly, Liu Nantian was more inclined to the latter perspective. In his view, the sudden attack from Lin Tianming and his wife was smooth and powerful, possessing all the elements of precision and ferocity. Such a fierce attack, accurately targeting the weak spot of the Formation¡¯s Barrier, was obviously premeditated. And before this, Lin Tianming¡¯s intentional stalling, was clearly meant to find the Formation¡¯s weak spot in the shortest time possible. Realizing this point, Liu Nantian suddenly felt like he had been played. What was more critical was that Lin Tianming indeed managed to find the Formation¡¯s weak spot in such a short period of time, which made him somewhat baffled inside. ¡°Could it be, this guy is also a Third Order Array Master?¡± ¡°Or possibly, he has broken through this Formation before?¡± ¡°Otherwise, how could he pinpoint the Formation¡¯s weak spot so easily?¡± At this very moment, as Liu Nantian pondered in his heart, his whole being wanted to stop Lin Tianming and his wife from attacking, but Lin Tianming¡¯s action was decisive, and the speed of the attack was extraordinarily fast. Now, even if he wanted to stop Lin Tianming, it was too late. Thus, under Liu Nantian¡¯s gaze, the attack from Lin Tianming and his wife hit directly on a corner of the Formation¡¯s barrier of light. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± In an instant, two loud explosions rang out. At the same time, the sky suddenly burst into flames, dazzling streaks of light crossed the heavens, and massive fluctuations swept in all directions. Within that burst of flames, the two attacks were seen hitting the barrier in succession. After the two explosions subsided a bit, a crisp sound was heard, instantly spreading throughout the entire valley. The sound was shrill and extremely resonant. And from Lin Tianming¡¯s point of view, the two attacks accurately struck the previously identified weak spot. At that moment, the Formation¡¯s barrier of light trembled violently, and the energy within multiplied wildly. Meanwhile, the once stable flow of energy started moving erratically as if it had lost control. This bizarre scene lasted only a moment, before the barrier began to ripple after a series of tremors. A breath¡¯s time passed, and the Formation¡¯s barrier of light shattered like a bubble, vanishing into nothingness. At this time, the barrier of light that enveloped Lin Tianming¡¯s view also dissipated, and the unique gloominess of the sky returned to his sight. At this moment, seeing this unfold, Liu Nantian and the other two were dumbfounded. Not only him, but Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong beside him also showed varying expressions, all filled with disbelief. And Liu Nantian, still clinging to a sliver of hope, wouldn¡¯t truly believe that this Formation which he took pride in could be broken by Lin Tianming and his companion with a joint strike. But the reality before him shattered his belief. With this one hit, the Formation set by Liu Nantian was broken, and without the barrier of light, both parties faced each other across the air. At the moment of Liu Nantian and the others¡¯ astonishment, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi beside him, and the couple nodded at each other. Then, Lin Tianming shouted, ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s take action immediately!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming leapt forward, his Tiangang Sword shooting out from his hand. In an instant, Lin Tianming made his full effort, the powerful Mana within him operating to its limit, unleashing the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword with extreme speed. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Under his control, the Tiangang Sword transformed into a dragon, cutting through the void with its terrifying Sword Qi, locking onto Liu Nantian himself with incredible speed. At the moment Lin Tianming made his move, Qin Xi was not to be outdone. At that instant, Qin Xi¡¯s face remained calm as she threw her aqua blue Longsword forward. Following that, Qin Xi¡¯s fingers performed Hand Seals continuously, with a series of Law Decrees bombarding the sword. In a blink, the aqua blue Longsword flashed with light, and then a roaring aqua blue Frost Dragon emerged, charging directly at the position where Shen Rong was located. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The deafening roar of the Frost Dragon echoed, and the valley, once quiet for a short while, once again erupted with noise. At this time, hearing these sounds, Liu Nantian and his group recovered from their astonishment. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and his companion launch their attacks, with those two strikes drawing nearer to their position and the fierce momentum stirring up the Gang Wind, their clothes fluttered wildly. Then, Liu Nantian, the leader, wore a solemn expression and let out a cold huff. ¡°Second brother, third sister, you two join forces to kill that female cultivator, while I go and confront that male cultivator.¡± As soon as his words fell, Liu Nantian leaped forward, charging straight towards the Tiangang Sword. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1135 - 593: Formidable Opponent_2 Chapter 1135: Chapter 593: Formidable Opponent_2 While still in mid-air, Liu Nantian waved his sleeve, and a disc appeared in his hand. Immediately afterward, he slapped the disc forcefully, and a flurry of golden blades burst from the disc, colliding head-on with the incoming Tiangang Swords. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A succession of explosive sounds crackled through the air, with flashes of light intermittently illuminating the gloomy sky. In that collision, numerous flying blades were deflected away or shattered on impact, dissipating into the ether. Despite being slightly diverted, the assault by the Tiangang Swords was merely slowed, continuing its lethal trajectory towards Liu Nantian. Seeing this, Liu Nantian¡¯s face turned ugly, his heart had not anticipated Lin Tianming¡¯s attack to be so formidable. After all, he too was at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm and had launched an attack with all his might, pushing his Offensive Magical Treasure to its limits. Yet, even with such effort, this round of attacks had been crushed head-on by Lin Tianming, while his own attacks had been repelled. This turn of events once again took Liu Nantian by surprise. However, he had no time to ponder, as Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were relentless. He was aware that, although Lin Tianming¡¯s strike had been partially weakened, its power remained terrifyingly potent. Should he fail to evade this strike, their battle could conclude at the end of this initial exchange. With this realization, Liu Nantian hastily retreated, attempting to dodge the Tiangang Sword¡¯s assault. Simultaneously, Liu Nantian called forth his Defense Treasure to firmly protect himself. In the blink of an eye, despite Liu Nantian¡¯s decisive and swift evasion, regrettably, Lin Tianming¡¯s long-prepared attack was exceedingly fast. In an instant, Liu Nantian found escape impossible. Accompanied by a loud explosion, the Tiangang Sword struck a Black Shield. At that moment, Liu Nantian was sent hurtling by the immense force. While still airborne, his Qi-Blood churned violently, and he spewed mouthfuls of blood, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. Once the blaze dissipated, Liu Nantian¡¯s figure was revealed. At a glance, Liu Nantian appeared pale, with significantly weakened vitality. At that moment, Liu Nantian forcefully calmed the violent Qi-Blood within his body, and upon looking at Lin Tianming again, his face was filled with hatred. And in his heart, fear surged. Before this strike, he hadn¡¯t considered Lin Tianming to be stronger than himself. Now Liu Nantian was acutely aware that, though both at the Mid Stage Golden Core, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was overwhelmingly formidable, far beyond his expectation. The gap between them was not small; regardless of being at full strength or now, he stood no chance against Lin Tianming. Furthermore, having been injured by the strike, his own power was now diminished. Given the current situation, continuing the one-on-one fight, he feared he wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Thinking this, Liu Nantian¡¯s heart oscillated between shock and anger, also regretting his previous recklessness, which led to provoking such a formidable and ruthless opponent. Now, with all pretenses discarded, they found themselves in a dilemma. At this time, Lin Tianming, oblivious to Liu Nantian¡¯s mental turmoil, charged towards Liu Nantian following the first attack. While still in mid-air, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve and once again cast the Tiangang Ninth Sword, aiming to keep Liu Nantian firmly engaged. Simultaneously, he slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, swiftly dispersing into the ground. Then, Lin Tianming quickly activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. His movements were quick and subtle; before Liu Nantian could react, the Sword Array was already running smoothly. By the time Liu Nantian came to his senses, he saw the Tiangang Swords assaulting him once again. Moreover, a Barrier had materialized around him, enveloping him at the center. At this moment, he felt a considerable oppressive force that hindered his movements, significantly slowing down his speed. Sensing such a sudden change, Liu Nantian¡¯s face became even paler, and his fear intensified. However, having lived for so many years and experienced numerous life-and-death battles, Liu Nantian, who was rich in combat experience, overcame his brief moment of panic and quickly returned to normal. Following that, he made up his mind to break free from the barrier¡¯s confines in the shortest possible time. Otherwise, as a Third Order Array Master, he would experience the taste of being trapped. Under such circumstances, Liu Nantian was now extremely frantic. In an instant, he slapped his disc-shaped Magical Treasure, pouring a vast amount of mana into it before propelling it to clash head-on with the incoming Tiangang Sword. After doing all this, Liu Nantian did not forget to unleash a barrage of attacks, bombing the gradually shrinking Sword Array Barricade with indiscriminate fury. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions resounded continuously, and flames continued to illuminate both inside and outside of the gorge. Amidst the flames, Liu Nantian pushed his power to the limit, sparing no effort. Under his relentless assault, the golden disc repelled Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword. Furthermore, his numerous attacks struck against the lifeless Sword Array Barricade. In an instant, the Sword Array Barricade trembled violently with signs of breaking. Regrettably, Lin Tianming had anticipated that Liu Nantian would fight to the death. Therefore, the moment the attack with the Tiangang Sword ended, he controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all his might, focusing all his mind and energy on it. Liu Nantian¡¯s attacks made the Sword Array Barricade shake every time, but it quickly stabilized again. With Lin Tianming¡¯s cautious approach, he did not grant Liu Nantian the slightest opportunity. As another round of attacks concluded, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation remained intact, with its enveloping range continuing to shrink, soon leaving only a hundred zhang of space. At this moment, Liu Nantian, positioned at the center of the Sword Array, felt an increasing oppressive force, and the Sword Array, which ran smoothly no matter how he attacked, left him unable to remain calm, filled with panic deep inside. At this moment, he finally understood how formidable Lin Tianming was. It could be said that Lin Tianming had been in absolute control from the get-go, every move within his grasp. Moreover, looking at it, Lin Tianming had not even utilized any Spirit Art, nor had he exerted his full strength. Such an opponent was truly terrifying to the extreme. However, at this point in time, it was utterly meaningless for Liu Nantian to ponder on these thoughts. Right now, he was in dire straits, with the possibility of falling at any moment. Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s incessant oppression, Liu Nantian burned with rage yet felt utterly helpless. Just then, as the Tiangang Sword made its way once again, Liu Nantian¡¯s face took on a resolute expression. Subsequently, he formed a Law Decree with his hands, starting to chant under his breath. Soon after, amidst a surge of Yuan Qi, a Golden Seal unexpectedly condensed above Liu Nantian¡¯s head. This seal, with its golden light shimmering, exuded an extraordinary aura. Moreover, the moment the seal appeared, it immediately drew the surrounding Yuan Qi towards the top of Liu Nantian¡¯s head. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew Liu Nantian was trying to use a Spirit Art, attempting a final struggle. Not only that, this Spirit Art exuded a formidable atmosphere, and the disturbance it caused was no small matter. Judging by the fluctuations, although this seal seemed to be a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, its power was likely among the very best at this level. Should it be successfully activated, Liu Nantian might actually turn the tables. The more Lin Tianming understood this, the more he needed to thwart Liu Nantian¡¯s intentions. Thus, he fully controlled the Tiangang Sword, attempting to interrupt Liu Nantian¡¯s spellcasting before he could activate the Spirit Art. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1136 - 594: Killing Liu Nantian Chapter 1136: Chapter 594: Killing Liu Nantian With such determination, Lin Tianming was fully focused, manipulating the Tiangang Sword to its utmost limit. At this moment, the speed of the Tiangang Sword suddenly increased, and in the blink of an eye, it was hovering over Liu Nantian¡¯s head. At this time, Liu Nantian was also at a critical moment in activating his Spirit Art. Seeing the Golden Seal forming its momentum above his head, Liu Nantian couldn¡¯t help feeling secretly pleased, thinking that this attack might reverse his currently disadvantaged situation. However, just as he was about to activate the Golden Seal, he saw the oncoming Tiangang Sword suddenly increase in speed. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword had descended above his head. At this time, Liu Nantian could feel the sharp aura rushing towards his face, causing him a pang of pain. In a moment, Liu Nantian was utterly shocked. Because he knew very well that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was indeed too strong, and this strike was decisive and swift, its speed almost unbelievably fast. If this continued, this strike might hit him before he could activate his Spirit Art. By then, he would not have the time to defend, nor would he be able to dodge. In this case, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack would inevitably be the final straw that overwhelms his life. Perhaps realizing this, Liu Nantian, seeing the Tiangang Sword getting closer, already felt the breath of death inside. Despite exerting all his strength, the current situation was completely out of his control, and he had no leverage to negotiate. Now, the moment of desperation had arrived. In this situation, Liu Nantian had to either give up activating his Spirit Art and use the Defense Treasure immediately to defend, possibly escaping the disaster. Or he had to take a risk and see if his Spirit Art could break the predicament before the arrival of the Tiangang Sword. With only these two choices, Liu Nantian paused for just a brief moment and immediately decided to take the risk. Because he knew clearly, even if he gave up activating the Spirit Art to defend against Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Even if he could fend it off, he would inevitably suffer severe damage. After all, he had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength before, undeniably formidable. And Lin Tianming, a decisive person with extremely formidable strength, his attacks flowed like water, leaving no chance for Liu Nantian to catch his breath. Under such circumstances, even if he temporarily escaped this calamity, it was merely delaying some time. It could even be said that such an outcome would be a slow death for him, Rather than lingering on, Liu Nantian felt it was better to take the risk, either to perish under Lin Tianming¡¯s sword or to break the tough situation with the power of his Spirit Art. With his mind made up, Liu Nantian did not hesitate. Thus, Liu Nantian¡¯s face was filled with madness, and his aura soared immediately. Saying this is slower than acting, Liu Nantian suddenly let out a loud shout. In an instant, the Golden Seal above his head suddenly swelled up, growing from the size of a bucket to that of a small mountain. Moreover, as the Golden Seal appeared, the whole sky was filled with strong winds, and flying sand covered the entire battlefield. At this moment, Liu Nantian pinched a Law Decree in his hand and chanted a special spell incantation. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once this series of ritual actions was completed, the Spirit Art would be fully activated. Understanding this, Liu Nantian dared not delay, completing all actions in the shortest time. Seeing the Golden Seal about to soar up, Liu Nantian had complex feelings, both anticipation and terror. And what he anticipated was the Golden Seal breaking his passive stance, and what he feared was all hopes shattered, resulting in him perishing under Lin Tianming¡¯s sword. With such complex emotions, Liu Nantian¡¯s eyes were firmly fixed on the space above his head. At the moment the Golden Seal soared up, the trajectory of the Tiangang Sword was slightly diverted by the aura of the Golden Seal. Fortunately, Lin Tianming, with his rich combat experience, was aware of the impressive power of Liu Nantian¡¯s Spirit Art. Therefore, he had already anticipated the trajectory of the Tiangang Sword and adjusted it in time, preventing the strong aura of the Golden Seal from affecting the final attack target and trajectory. ¡°Shoo¡­¡± With the speed of the Tiangang Sword greatly increased, its flying trajectory returned to its course. Moreover, the Tiangang Sword was already close to Liu Nantian, and due to Liu Nantian¡¯s activation of the Spirit Art which caused a momentary delay, the Tiangang Sword was now almost hovering just ten meters above Liu Nantian¡¯s head. At the same moment, the Golden Seal above Liu Nantian¡¯s head ascended, about to strike toward Lin Tianming. However, with a scream, tranquility was abruptly shattered. Simultaneously, the originally formidable Golden Seal suddenly stopped moving and began to crumble, ultimately dissolving into nothingness between heaven and earth. This whole scene was witnessed by Lin Tianming from start to finish. Originally, the attack speed of the Tiangang Sword was too fast, striking down Liu Nantian before he could fully activate the Golden Seal to attack Lin Tianming. Once Liu Nantian was dead, the recently activated Golden Seal, having lost its master¡¯s control and energy support, became unable to maintain any trajectory, eventually disintegrating on the spot. As the sky gradually returned to normal, Lin Tianming saw Liu Nantian¡¯s body decapitated, with only residual breath still wandering in the sky. Looking at the bloody battlefield below, and the chaotic, devastated ground, it was immensely tragic. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1137 - 594 Annihilation of Liu Nantian_2 Chapter 1137: Chapter 594 Annihilation of Liu Nantian_2 At this moment, seeing Liu Nantian so dead that he couldn¡¯t be dead anymore, Lin Tianming wore a smile and heaved a sigh of relief inside. In his heart, he felt quite satisfied with the outcome of this great battle. After all, Liu Nantian was also at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm and a Third Order Array Master, his strength was tremendous. Additionally, Liu Nantian had been in the Golden Core for more than two hundred years, during which time he had committed numerous instances of robbery and had also experienced many life-and-death battles. With such experiences, his combat experience was extremely rich. Moreover, with the extraordinary Spirit Art deployed by Liu Nantian, his strength among the cultivators in the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm was absolutely top-notch. And if it hadn¡¯t been for him, any other cultivator of the same order battling Liu Nantian might have ended up with a different outcome. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was satisfied with his own strength and the progression of this great battle. Especially the last strike; if he hadn¡¯t been careful and decisive enough, and had not continued with the attack of the Tiangang Sword. Otherwise, Liu Nantian might have seized the opportunity to turn the tide. Although he was confident that even if Liu Nantian had temporarily escaped disaster, he couldn¡¯t escape from his grasp. But in the Cultivation World, when the universe is undecided, anything is possible. To prevent any threats or emergencies, one must nip even the slightest chance in the bud to firmly control the situation. It was precisely because he always remembered this and acted accordingly that he was able to achieve a series of victories. Knowing the importance of this, Lin Tianming always kept it in mind. As Lin Tianming returned to his thoughts, the ground beneath his feet also returned to normal. At this moment, Lin Tianming calmed down and turned his glance toward the battlefield where Qin Xi was fighting. Looking over, Qin Xi was currently battling two against one, against Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze to Qin Xi¡¯s battlefield, it seemed to be in a deadlock. Crucially, in the short term, neither side seemed to gain an absolute advantage, nor showed signs of defeat. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was not anxious and did not immediately rush to Qin Xi¡¯s side to help. The reason he acted this way was intentional from the beginning. Simply put, Qin Xi had been stuck in a bottleneck, although previously she had mitigated some of it through the effect of the Yuan Essence Fruit. However, before this great battle, Qin Xi was still a long way from breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core. What¡¯s more important, Qin Xi urgently needed to face several life-and-death battles to temper her cultivation and mitigate the side effects of her rapid advancement. Since Qin Xi had already reached the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core, she was effectively only a step away from the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. If she experienced evenly matched battles and life-and-death crises at this time, she might truly resolve most of her bottleneck. Afterward, she could peacefully enter seclusion for two years, and it¡¯s quite possible she would smoothly step into the Mid Stage Golden Core. However, encountering an evenly matched opponent is not an easy task. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s strength was already very formidable, comparable to an ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. In this place, aside from Liu Nantian who was at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, only Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were at Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation. If she were to battle either one of them alone, Qin Xi could likely capture them with ease. In that case, it wouldn¡¯t serve the purpose of tempering Qin Xi. However, after giving it some thought, Lin Tianming realized that both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were seasoned Golden Core Cultivators and were ruthless characters. Moreover, over these past hundred years, Shen Rong and Yan Mingshan had also experienced many life-and-death battles and had been exposed to various crises. People with such experiences are usually not too weak. Under these circumstances, considering the combined strength of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, they indeed had the opportunity to compete with Qin Xi. And indeed, it was exactly so. While Lin Tianming and Liu Nantian were engaged in fierce combat, the battlefield where Qin Xi and her group were located had also undergone more than a dozen exchanges. During this period, both sides had their moments of advantage, giving and taking hits in turn. Overall, both sides seemed to be evenly matched, the situation almost deadlocked in a stalemate. Such a scenario was exactly what Lin Tianming wanted to see. In his view, Qin Xi needed to be tempered and to experience more life-and-death crises. As for safety, he had complete confidence in Qin Xi. Moreover, as he was also overseeing Qin Xi on this battlefield, there was really no need for concern. And even if Qin Xi were not a match for her opponent, with her cultivation strength, she should at least be safe if she was unable to win. Thus, Lin Tianming intentionally acted only as a spectator. However, at this moment, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, who were engaged in a fierce battle, saw Lin Tianming appear in a corner and their expressions drastically changed. For they knew what it meant for Lin Tianming to appear here. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, during the intense battle, Yan Mingshan and another had briefly taken their focus off to check on Liu Nantian¡¯s battlefield. At that time, Liu Nantian was already at a disadvantage, with Lin Tianming completely controlling the overall situation of the battle. Initially, they had been confident in Liu Nantian, thinking that even if he was at a disadvantage, his life wouldn¡¯t be threatened. But now, seeing Lin Tianming here, calm and unhurt, with his demeanor still composed and showing no signs of injury, This situation was enough to indicate that the battle there had ended, and Liu Nantian had likely perished. Realizing this, both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were mentally shaken, and their rhythm of combat immediately became impacted. At this moment, Qin Xi seized this gap, unleashing a full-force attack that sent Yan Mingshan reeling. Still mid-air, Yan Mingshan coughed out several mouthfuls of blood, his face instantly paling. Qin Xi¡¯s attack had inflicted serious injuries on Yan Mingshan, impairing his strength to some extent. As for Shen Rong, although not injured, she was similarly distressed. Furthermore, Qin Xi took advantage of their momentary lapse, quickly gaining the upper hand and firmly suppressed both. Under such pressure, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were both shocked and furious, internally regretting their mental lapse. At the Golden Core Stage, even a moment¡¯s hesitation could affect the entire battle situation, and could even directly determine the outcome. Moreover, Qin Xi, being an experienced fighter, had been steady and cautious, not overreaching but waiting for a chance for a lethal blow. This lapse by Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong was undoubtedly the best opportunity Qin Xi had been waiting for. Thus, seizing the moment, Qin Xi unleashed a powerful attack that injured Yan Mingshan and also suppressed Shen Rong head-on. Subsequently, Qin Xi, now in control, continued her seamless attacks, giving no chance for Yan Mingshan and his companion to retaliate. Facing Qin Xi¡¯s fluid and ongoing attacks, Yan Mingshan and his companion were forced into a continuous retreat. Soon, after three rounds of attacks, it was over. At this point, Yan Mingshan and his companion had been forced back hundreds of feet. Barely stabilizing themselves, they were both pale, their Qi-Blood roiling and somewhat injured, with blood staining their already tattered Daoist robes. Besides, their overall energy was visibly depleted, looking every bit the defeated foe. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming nodded slightly, very satisfied with Qin Xi¡¯s performance in the combat. Given Qin Xi¡¯s current state and control over the situation, as long as Yan Mingshan and his companion had no miraculous methods, defeating them should just be a matter of time. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1138 - 595: Three People Fall Chapter 1138: Chapter 595: Three People Fall Understanding this, Lin Tianming stood by and watched the battle closely. Under his scrutiny, Qin Xi, who had already taken the initiative, showed a satisfied smile on her face after her recent successful strike. Shortly thereafter, Qin Xi performed a Law Decree, and the Treasure Sword in her hand flashed with a brilliance, as fierce attacks burst forth. Not only that, Qin Xi¡¯s frequency of attacks sped up even more, evidently aiming to finish the battle in the shortest possible time. At this moment, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s relentless attacks coming one after another, both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s faces turned pale with fright, their hearts filled with regret. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were well aware how unfavorable the situation was for them. After all, among the three of them, Liu Nantian, the strongest, had already fallen, and Lin Tianming, an even stronger adversary than Liu Nantian, was still observing from the side, possibly ready to join in at any moment. Moreover, Qin Xi¡¯s strength alone was enough to suppress the two of them. Even if Lin Tianming did not make a move, Qin Xi, with her steady and firm approach, would most likely achieve the final victory. Thus, the outcome of this great battle was virtually predetermined. Understanding this, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong first thought about how to save their own lives. So, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s attack approaching, Yan Mingshan secretly sent a message to Shen Rong. ¡°Third sister, we must repel this woman as soon as possible and then seize the chance to flee from here!¡± Hearing this, Shen Rong naturally did not disagree. Moreover, in her view, their current condition was unlikely to hold out for long, especially with Lin Tianming observing from the side. If they continued to delay, they really wouldn¡¯t have even the slightest chance to escape. Understanding this, Shen Rong decisively responded with a secret message. Quickly, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong reached an agreement and immediately started to act. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Seeing the Frost Dragon approaching in the sky, Yan Mingshan¡¯s expression turned solemn, his eyes revealing anger. However, Yan Mingshan quickly calmed down, and immediately focused all his Mana into the Defense Treasure, instantly activating it to form a barrier, protecting him and Shen Rong within. At that moment, Shen Rong, not daring to delay, continuously flicked her fingers, and a series of attacks were immediately launched, charging towards the Frost Dragon in the sky. In this manner, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong split their tasks clearly, one responsible for blocking Qin Xi¡¯s attacks, the other for launching attacks to pressure Qin Xi. Such exquisite cooperation indeed temporarily blocked Qin Xi¡¯s round of attacks. However, Yan Mingshan, who was responsible for defense, bore the brunt of Qin Xi¡¯s relentless attacks, enduring a tremendous impact force. As this round of attacks concluded, Yan Mingshan¡¯s injuries worsened slightly, and his strength significantly decreased compared to before the battle. Fortunately, their well-coordinated efforts, although at a cost, temporarily stabilized the situation. At this moment, seeing that her attack had not achieved its intended effect, Qin Xi immediately regrouped, clearly not intending to give Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong any chance to breathe. Thus, Qin Xi attacked again, unleashing a barrage of attacks at Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong in an instant. Qin Xi¡¯s attack speed was very fast and extremely fierce; each strike required Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s full attention to handle. And at that moment, having just recovered, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s expressions changed, hastily retreating. And while retreating, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong exchanged glances. Then, they saw Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong nod at each other, and at the same time performed a Law Decree, making the same gesture. Shortly thereafter, both of them chanted as though reciting a spell incantation. As their actions continued, soon above their heads, seemingly out of nowhere, a silhouette of a Golden Seal started to form. And merely in a breath or two, the silhouette of the Golden Seal became much more substantial, almost forming a complete seal. Upon seeing this scene, Qin Xi¡¯s expression immediately turned grave. In her heart, she was very wary of this Golden Seal. After all, while Lin Tianming was battling Liu Nantian earlier, she had witnessed the formidable presence of the Golden Seal during a break. At that time, although Liu Nantian ultimately failed to fully activate the Golden Seal, hence never revealing its full power. But when the seal appeared, its momentum was earth-shattering, stirring up the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. Such a powerful technique was undoubtedly a type of Spirit Technique, and moreover, among the Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques of the same level, its power was among the very top. Besides, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong being so decisive and activating the Spirit Technique simultaneously clearly indicated they were ready to fight to the death. Faced with such an attack, although Qin Xi still held the advantage against the two, she had to be extremely vigilant to survive this Spirit Technique attack unscathed. Knowing this, Qin Xi was extremely cautious at this moment, her whole being intensely focused on every move on the battlefield. At the same time, she was contemplating countermeasures in her mind. Very soon, Qin Xi performed a Law Decree, and a Spiritual Light bombarded the Treasure Sword in front of her. In an instant, her Treasure Sword flashed with light, transforming into a large Frost Dragon composed of ice, which then swiftly roared towards Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1139 - 595: The Fall of Three People (2) Chapter 1139: Chapter 595: The Fall of Three People (2) Gazing upon it, the Ice Giant Dragon was colossal, several times larger than the one Qin Xi had previously summoned, and its aura dominated the heavens and earth. Just the chill emanating from the dragon was enough to encase the mountains, rocks, and trees it passed over directly into ice. Such a terrifying strike was also the result of Qin Xi going all out. Moreover, this attack was her strongest Technique Divine Power, aside from her Spirit Art. With such force, Qin Xi¡¯s attack was equally formidable, carrying a conviction to kill, swearing to end this great battle right there and then. ¡°Booming¡­¡± At this time, Qin Xi¡¯s unleashed attack tore through the sky with a powerful momentum that overwhelmed the senses. At the same moment, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s Golden Seal also soared into the heavens. In an instant, the Golden Seal expanded countless times in size, its color even more bright and vivid, causing one side of the sky to be bathed in a golden hue. On the opposite side, Qin Xi¡¯s attacking force shimmered with silver light, turning that part of the sky into a sea of silver radiance, a truly spectacular sight. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was also intently watching, his heart filled with complex emotions. In his heart, he had always wanted to use Yan Mingshan and the other to hone Qin Xi, thereby breaking her bottleneck. But now, facing their current desperate situation, Yan Mingshan and the other showed enough decisiveness to join forces in using Spirit Art to break the stalemate. If one were to look at it from their perspective, such actions were indeed a forced last-ditch effort. Otherwise, they would have eventually perished there. Faced with such a situation, Lin Tianming could completely make a move to extricate Qin Xi from the predicament. Even it could be said, if he wanted to intervene, he could easily block Yan Mingshan and the other¡¯s attacks with minimal effort, allowing Qin Xi to avoid taking risks. After all, it was two people simultaneously using a Spirit Art to attack a single target; the destructive power was far beyond comparison to a solitary attacker. Although Qin Xi had previously held the upper hand, dealing with both of their Spirit Art attacks at the same time would undoubtedly be even more challenging. Thus, under this round of attacks, Qin Xi would certainly face some risks. If handled properly, Qin Xi could use this opportunity to completely annihilate Yan Mingshan and the other, thereby ending this great battle. But if mishandled, or with a stroke of bad luck, it would not be impossible for her to sustain severe injuries. Or even, fall right under this strike. In such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s decision to stand by and watch was also fraught with great risk. Not only for him, but Qin Xi also faced enormous risks confronting Yan Mingshan and the other¡¯s joint deadly Attack alone. But without these life-and-death ordeals, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for Qin Xi to break through her bottleneck. Moreover, from his perspective now, whether there was a bottleneck or not, experiencing more life-and-death crises was always right. Precisely because of this, Lin Tianming pondered briefly and ultimately suppressed his urge to intervene, choosing to let Qin Xi face this threat alone. Thus, Lin Tianming kept his eyes on the battlefield, constantly attentive to every move of both parties. Under his watch, the sky was divided into two extremes, with the attacks of both sides carrying endless momentum, colliding against each other. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± With the roar, Qin Xi¡¯s Frost Dragon had already descended above Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s heads. And on the opposite side, the Golden Seal was nearing Qin Xi¡¯s body. At this point, whether it was Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong or Qin Xi, they all desperately retreated, seeking to dodge the deadly strike from the opposition. Especially Qin Xi, whose movements were extremely agile and fast, almost instantly shifting dozens of feet away. As for Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, their speed was also at its utmost, evidently also pushing themselves to dodge with all their might. However, just as Yan Mingshan and the other were fleeing, the Frost Dragon above their heads suddenly split apart, forming several slightly smaller Frost Dragons. Under such a sudden turn of events, these five Frost Dragons altered their trajectories and surrounded Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong in the center, leaving them no space to escape. Seeing this sudden development, Yan Mingshan¡¯s face instantly turned ashen. Not just him, Shen Rong at this moment was also in a state of terror, her eyes filled with fear. However, their current predicament left no room for further thought. Besides, with this sudden change, a total of five Frost Dragons emerged from various angles, directly cutting off their escape routes. Thus, Shen Rong and Yan Mingshan, after a brief moment of stunned hesitation, immediately devised a countermeasure. In that instant, both drew their Defense Treasures at the same time; Yan Mingshan brandished the same shield, while Shen Rong produced a bright red Jade Token. Their movements were swift; just as their treasures were about to be fully activated and envelop them, a Frost Dragon had already made its promised descent from the sky. And at this moment, their defenses had not yet fully materialized. If this continued, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were inevitably going to bear the brunt of the Frost Dragon¡¯s Attack from one or two directions. Realizing this, despair painted the faces of Yan Mingshan and the others. They knew very well that without the protection of their Defense Treasures, they could only rely on their bodily True Qi and flesh to withstand the onslaught. Put simply, it was like an ordinary person attempting to block swords and blades with their body. Hence, their chances of survival under such Attacks were almost entirely dependent on luck. If they were lucky, perhaps they could cling to life for just a little while longer. But if their luck failed, they might not even be left with a whole corpse. Knowing this, Yan Mingshan and his companion stood frozen in place, unconsciously closing their eyes as if resigning themselves to fate¡¯s judgment. On the other side, Qin Xi¡¯s expression was exceedingly grave. For she was currently caught between the pincers of two gigantic Golden Seals. Moreover, these two Golden Seals moved incredibly fast, and their colossal size was like that of small hills, occupying a vast expanse of the sky as they descended. As for Qin Xi, compared to the overwhelming Golden Seals, she seemed so insignificant. Faced with such an Attack, and in a pincer situation no less, Qin Xi desperately tried to dodge. She only had to escape the area covered by the Golden Seals before they came crashing down. Otherwise, given her current predicament, she had no time to mount a defense. Even if she did have the time to activate a Defense Treasure, she most likely couldn¡¯t withstand the combined pincer assault of the Golden Seals. If such were the case, she too was likely to be crushed to death, leaving no intact corpse behind. Fully aware of the dire situation, Qin Xi¡¯s speed suddenly surged, transforming almost into a blur, an inconceivable velocity. As the Golden Seals were about to land, Qin Xi, light as a swallow, traversed an area at breakneck speed. Within her sight, not far ahead, was the edge of the area covered by the Golden Seals. If she could just cross this boundary, she would overcome this crisis. Otherwise, she faced immediate death and the extinguishing of her path. In this situation, Qin Xi steeled her resolve, pushing her Mana to its limit. For a moment, she managed to force an additional burst of speed. It was this minuscule increase that allowed Qin Xi to cross that range just as the Golden Seals closed in, emerging tens of meters away in an open area. Before she could catch her breath, a massive force struck her, sending her flying. While still in mid-air, Qin Xi spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, her complexion instantaneously turning pale. At that moment, she heard two agonized screams. It turned out, the Frost Dragons Qin Xi had conjured had penetrated the weak points in Yan Mingshan¡¯s defense, devouring the two of them completely. And those two screams were the last sounds uttered by Yan Mingshan and his ally. By the time Qin Xi crashed to the ground, calm had returned to the skies opposite her. Looking over, she saw Yan Mingshan and his companion lying motionless on the ground, devoid of any signs of life. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1140 - 596 Thousand Array Codex Chapter 1140: Chapter 596 Thousand Array Codex As the battlefield returned to tranquility, Qin Xi steadied herself. At this time, she glanced at the deceased Yan Mingshan and his companion, and a slight smile finally emerged on her solemn face, her heart releasing a long sigh of relief. In her heart, recalling the breathtaking moments just past, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a trace of fortune. Because she was very clear that although that dangerous process was only a momentary instance, seemingly brief and effortlessly passed, the situation at that time was extremely perilous, and had she hesitated for an instant, the outcome might have been entirely different. Moreover, at that moment when the two Golden Seals struck, she distinctly felt the breath of death. In that instant, her entire body had felt a fatal chill, and even her Divine Soul trembled. That feeling, every time she recalled it, would send a chill down her spine. And these are the rules of survival in the Cultivation World, always a scene of life and death struggle¡ªEven cultivators at the Golden Core Stage cannot escape such life-threatening crises. Fortunately, this crisis has officially come to an end with the deaths of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Now, having vanquished Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong in a two-to-one fight, the fierce battle had completely ceased, and the crisis was thereby lifted. Realizing this, Qin Xi finally gathered her spirits and turned her gaze to Lin Tianming. At that moment, Lin Tianming had also recovered from his shock, his face immediately wearing a broad smile, his heart likewise feeling a burden lift. And just now, he had been closely following Qin Xi¡¯s entire battle. When he saw that final scene, as the two Golden Seals were about to strike Qin Xi¡¯s body, he tensed up inside, his heart leaping into his throat. Just as he had anticipated, he hoped that Qin Xi would face some life and death trials and tribulations. However, Yan Mingshan and his partner were decisive, and the Golden Seals they activated were earth-shatteringly powerful. At that time, seeing such a scene, he too wasn¡¯t sure whether Qin Xi could safely make it through the crisis. After all, Qin Xi was at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation level, and though her strength was top-notch among her peers, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were no simple foes, and they also activated their Spirit Arts at the same time, aiming to change the dire situation. Faced with such circumstances, even if he were to confront it, he would have to go all out, with utmost vigilance. A single misstep could lead to serious injury, or even the possibility of a direct fall was not impossible. Fortunately, his concerns were somewhat superfluous. Not until he saw Qin Xi suddenly accelerate and ultimately dodge the attack of the two seals, did his hanging heart finally settle down. And now that the battle has ended, they could finally take a breather. Having calmed his excited emotions with some effort, Lin Tianming hurriedly walked towards Qin Xi. From a distance, Lin Tianming, with a smile on his face, then asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, are you all right?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words and seeing his anxious manner, a warm current surged in Qin Xi¡¯s heart. ¡°Ming, I¡¯m fine, Xi¡¯er is doing well, no need to worry too much!¡± Qin Xi replied with a smile, excitement flashing across her face. Hearing her response and seeing Qin Xi¡¯s composed demeanor, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. Then, Lin Tianming glanced at the chaotic battlefield and slowly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s quickly clean up the battlefield, then find a place to rest and recuperate for a couple of days!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, naturally not opposing the idea. Thus, the couple acted swiftly, busy themselves with disposing of Liu Nantian and the others¡¯ corpses, and collecting their Magical Treasures and storage bags. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After finishing these tasks, they cleared the battlefield until no trace was left. Half a moment later, Lin Tianming and his wife gathered again. By then, the entire battlefield had changed completely, no longer looking as broken and dilapidated, and even regaining some of the natural elegance that a canyon should possess. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming nodded and then started to chat with Qin Xi. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this canyon is secluded and hidden, with hardly any trace of people or Demonic Beasts.¡± ¡°Such a place is indeed a good spot for an ambush, as well as a fine place for a retreat.¡± ¡°And these three have committed countless heinous deeds over the years, surely they must have a lot of treasures. It¡¯s just unknown if inside this canyon lies their Temporary Cave Abode.¡± ¡°In my view, let¡¯s explore inside the canyon to see if we can find their Temporary Cave Abode, and then quickly leave this place, how about it?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi agreed strongly, eagerly looking forward to Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Thus, without any delay, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and headed deeper into the canyon. Not long after, Lin Tianming and his wife returned to the original spot. During their previous exploration, the couple indeed found several Temporary Cave Abodes within the canyon. However, these Cave Mansions were rather empty, besides some low-level Spiritual Medicines and some insignificant household items, there was almost no Treasure left behind. To this, Lin Tianming had already anticipated and didn¡¯t feel too disappointed in his heart. After all, Liu Nantian and his two companions were dead, and their storage bags had been obtained by the couple. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1141 - 1141: 596 Thousand Array Codex_2 Chapter 1141: 596 Chapter Thousand Array Codex_2 Since there were no treasures within the Temporary Cave Abode, they must have been kept in their storage bags. Furthermore, Liu Nantian and his two companions had advanced into the Golden Core Stage many years ago and had committed numerous acts of looting and plundering. Not a few Golden Core Cultivators had fallen at their hands. Thus, the treasures accumulated on them were bound to be considerable. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt quite excited, and inside, he was even more impatient about the contents of Liu Nantian and his companions¡¯ storage bags. Not only him, but Qin Xi was equally looking forward to the process of itemizing their gains and the ultimate result. With such expectations, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi tidied up a bit and then left the gorge together. Immediately after, they did not head straight out of the Ice Wind Valley, instead, they rushed further into the inner parts. After several days of searching, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi found themselves in the deepest part of Ice Wind Valley, finally coming to a halt in a dense valley. This place, in terms of terrain and landscape, bore some resemblance to the gorge where they had fought a fierce battle, only this location was deeper within Ice Wind Valley, with greater threats from demonic beasts. During the recent days of travel, Lin Tianming had already crossed territories of two Third Order Demon Beasts and had also discovered some fresh traces along the way. According to these traces, there must be two Third Order Demon Beasts in this area, and the marks left by the demonic beasts were quite fresh, seemingly not long ago. This suggested that the inner depths of Ice Wind Valley truly were as dangerous as the rumors in the wide Cultivation World had claimed. At the very least, Lin Tianming had already encountered the presence of Third Order Demonic Beasts. As for the deeper parts, whether there would be higher-level demonic beasts, the possibility was not great. But what could be affirmed was the definite presence of Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts in Ice Wind Valley. With this in mind, the power of such level demonic beasts was not to be underestimated; even Lin Tianming had to be careful in dealing with them. Therefore, Lin Tianming searched the surroundings cautiously, only settling down with his wife on the peak of a small hill within the gorge after ensuring there was no danger. At this moment, Lin Tianming, looking down at the valley with his eyes, immediately chose a concealed location, ready to start creating a Cave Mansion. As for why he chose this place, Lin Tianming pondered for a split second, concluding that although there were Third Order Demonic Beast traces here, maybe these demonic beasts weren¡¯t that powerful. Moreover, even if they were discovered by demonic beasts, with the combined strength of him and his wife, one or two Third Order Demonic Beasts were not something to be overly fearful of. Apart from that, although this place was perilous, it could prevent disturbances from others and stop some low-order monster beasts from accidentally wandering in. In such a situation, Lin Tianming and his wife decided to stay here to rest and recuperate for a while, using this opportunity for a brief period of cultivation in seclusion, thereby adjusting their condition and recovering the mana expended during the great battle. Once their condition was restored, they would begin itemizing their gains and then train in Ice Wind Valley. After all, as one of the three dangerous places in Yuanzhen Kingdom, Ice Wind Valley had earned its formidable reputation for a reason. Lin Tianming always enjoyed training and adventuring, and encountering such dangerous places naturally interested him. Thus, according to the plan, Lin Tianming and his wife began their secluded cultivation within the Temporary Cave Abode. Half a month later. Lin Tianming and his wife temporarily concluded their secluded cultivation and gathered together once again. By this time, after half a month of meditative cultivation, both had recovered to their peak states. Noticing that Qin Xi¡¯s aura seemed to have strengthened slightly, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, but he couldn¡¯t help asking with a hint of doubt, ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you made a breakthrough in your cultivation?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head and said, ¡°Ming, it¡¯s not so easy to make a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core!¡± ¡°Besides, my bottleneck has not been eliminated; wanting to make a breakthrough is even harder.¡± Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s response, Lin Tianming simply smiled, not at all disappointed. Qin Xi giggled and said, ¡°Although my cultivation hasn¡¯t broken through, after this perilous battle, I¡¯ve clearly felt a significant weakening of my bottleneck.¡± ¡°Going on like this, even without relying on any treasures, there is a good chance I can smoothly make a breakthrough within five years.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming nodded. In his heart, he clearly understood that the risk they took this time was completely worth it. After all, before the fierce battle between Qin Xi and Yan Mingshan, Qin Xi still faced a significant bottleneck. Now, after surviving a life-and-death ordeal, the fact that Qin Xi could confidently state that she would successfully break through within five years clearly showed she was brimming with confidence. And this was precisely the situation he wanted to see. Unexpectedly, this great battle had indeed met his expectations, genuinely exciting him for a while. Once he had somewhat calmed down, Lin Tianming then took out Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag and placed it in front of the two of them. Seeing this, Qin Xi also took out the storage bags of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Soon, the stone table in front of them was covered with items, including the storage bags of Liu Nantian and the others, as well as their used offensive and defensive magical treasures. At this time, looking at the spoils of war before him, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t hide his excited smile. With a bit more composure, Lin Tianming then said: ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s see what the spoils of this battle are!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming grabbed Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag and easily wiped away the remaining divine sense on it. He then immediately sent his divine sense into the bag. Very soon, a vast number of spirit stones came into view¡ªthere were more than eighty thousand medium-grade spirit stones alone, and nearly a million low-grade spirit stones. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but suck in a breath of cold air. But it wasn¡¯t that he lacked composure; it was just that the amount of spirit stones on Liu Nantian was really not small. You see, compared to Liu Nantian, the spirit stones he possessed weren¡¯t much more. His own stock of spirit stones, besides what he had accumulated himself, were mainly from the previous years when he killed He Zhengsong in Golden Crow Country, along with the numerous Golden Core cultivators he initially vanquished, until he finally accumulated these quantities of spirit stones. Looking at Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, he really was a scoundrel who had done nothing but evil. Just these medium-grade spirit stones along with the low-grade ones¡ªthe combined total value, converted into low-grade spirit stones, amounted to more than nine million. Such a reserve of spirit stones was also the most significant amount among all his spoils of war. And these were just the spirit stones. Besides that, there were a vast number of other treasures in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag. After his investigation, there were many types of elixirs, talismans, and a wide variety of treasures from the Four Arts of Cultivation in the bag¡ªtruly comprehensive. Especially the materials related to formations, with ordinary Array Plates from first to third order adding up to more than a dozen. These items were all quite a fortune. Moreover, there were quite a few volumes related to formations in the storage bag, including a text named ¡®Thousand Array Codex,¡¯ seemingly a legacy left by a Fourth Order Array Master. When Lin Tianming saw this item, his face flushed with excitement. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason was none other than the fact that the Way of Formation Setting had always been a blank spot for the Lin Family, even to the point of having no heritage or foundation at all. Even though, over the years, they had supplemented with numerous Formation Dao texts and the necessary tools for setting formations. But the Lin Family had always lacked a clansman with a high aptitude for formations and did not have the inheritance of a high-level Array Master. And now, with the ¡®Thousand Array Codex¡¯ being of such high grade, it perfectly filled the family¡¯s gap in the area of formations. Given time, if the Lin Family spent a significant amount of resources on focused training, it was entirely possible to cultivate their own Third Order Formation Master. And if possible, even advancing to the level of a Fourth Order Array Master was not out of question. At this thought, even the usually composed Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but get excited once again. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 1142 - 597: Huge Harvest Chapter 1142: Chapter 597: Huge Harvest Having finally suppressed the excitement in his heart, Lin Tianming separately collected the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± and other legacy treasures related to the Way of Formation Setting into the Qiankun Jade. Following that, Lin Tianming continued to attentively inventory the storage bag. Half a Shi Chen (about two hours) later, Lin Tianming finally completed inventorying Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, memorizing the quantity and variety of all its high-value treasures in his mind. Faced with these rich spoils of war, Lin Tianming was genuinely shaken at heart, and even more so, he couldn¡¯t suppress his excitement. Based on his initial classification and tally, just the cumulative value of the Mid-Low Grade Spirit Stones was roughly equivalent to tens of millions of Low-Grade Spirit Stones. As for treasures related to the Four Arts of Cultivation, and some legacy treasures, their value was also immeasurable. Especially the legacy of formation setting, merely the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± alone, which reflects the insights of a Fourth Order Array Master, included not only the original author¡¯s experiences and perspectives but also the basic Formation foundation commonly seen in the Cultivation World, encompassing techniques of Formation layout, the Refining process of array instruments, and even the perfection and maintenance of the Formation. It could be said that the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± is a complete inheritance of the Formation Dao. And it must have been this very item that was key for Liu Nantian to step into the realm of a Third Order Formation Master in just over three hundred years. Thus, the value of only the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± is indeed incalculable. In addition, the vast amount of Array Plates and Array Flags left by Liu Nantian, as well as some instruments needed for setting up Arrays, were also quite valuable. After all, encountering a complete Second-Order Formation is very rare in the Cultivation World. Under normal circumstances, only at some medium to large auction events might they appear, and after intense bidding, a standard Second-Order Formation could sell for anywhere from a few tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and often there is demand but no supply. Furthermore, in most cases, even if a Foundation Establishing Family wanted to purchase a Second-Order Formation, it would be difficult to acquire. Even if acquired, without their own Array Master to set it up, they would have to seek external help. If lucky, the hired Array Master is reliable, which is a good case. But if unlucky, it¡¯s easy to leave some loopholes in the Array Master¡¯s hands, creating a long-term hidden risk for the family. Speaking of which, the Lin Family used the Defensive Great Formation left by an ancestor for several decades in the past. At that time, the Lin Family¡¯s Mountain Protection Array was quite renowned among the five major Foundation Establishing Families in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Moreover, it was precisely by relying on this ancestral Defensive Great Formation that the Lin Family managed to survive a crisis that could have wiped out the family during internal strife among the clans in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Considering this, we can see how important and valuable an Array can be for a power; to say it is the foundation of an inheritance is not an overstatement. Among the treasures of Formation Dao left by Liu Nantian, there were two complete sets of Third-Order Array Plates and Array Flags, one of which was the entrapment Formation used to ambush him and Qin Xi. In addition, another set of Third-Order Formation tools was an ordinary Defensive Great Formation, which had the basic capability for Attack and Defense, including the additional effect of spirit gathering, extremely comprehensive, enough to serve as the Mountain Protection Array for Golden Elixir Forces. This set of Formation tools, as with the Defensive Great Formation acquired from the downfall of the Golden Sword Sect by the Lin Family, would not achieve optimal defensive effects without a personal setup by their own Third Order Array Master. But upon further thought, this circumstance was inevitable. After all, cultivating a Third Order Array Master is difficult, and their numbers are even less than Third Order Alchemy Masters. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Take, for instance, the current state of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World; only Myriad Medicine Valley boasts a Third Order Array Master, and he hasn¡¯t appeared publicly for many years, so it¡¯s unknown what his current cultivation and achievements in Formation Dao are. From these circumstances, it¡¯s clear that the Formation Dao legacy left by Liu Nantian is indeed an enormous wealth. And these were merely one part of the many treasures left by Liu Nantian. In addition to these, Liu Nantian¡¯s Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures were all intact, among which the disk-like Magic Artifact he used was of very good quality and spirituality, at least much stronger than those commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators. Just these few Magical Treasures amounted to a considerable fortune. But what excited Lin Tianming even more was the Yellow Grade Spirit Technique used by the three of Liu Nantian¡¯s men, the Golden Seal. Upon his careful search, Lin Tianming indeed found the Jade Slip of this Spirit Art in the storage bag. Thus, Lin Tianming briefly reviewed it and, just as he had guessed, this Spirit Art was a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique called the ¡°Golden Mountain Seal,¡± which has outstanding attacking power among the myriad Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques. The power of this Spirit Art was indeed witnessed by Lin Tianming with his own eyes. At that time, Liu Nantian activated it, causing the Yuan Qi on the entire battlefield to surge wildly, creating earth-shattering might. With this Spirit Art, if it were a typical Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, resisting it would not be easy. Even if successfully resisted, the consequences would be severe injury at the least and, in serious cases, a high chance of dying on the spot. Regarding this Spirit Art, even Lin Tianming had to admit its power was truly strong, ranking near the top among the many Spirit Techniques he had seen. If one must compare it to another Spirit Art, perhaps only the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± obtained from Yang Chengfeng could compete. Chapter 1143 - 597: Huge Harvest_2 Chapter 1143: Chapter 597: Huge Harvest_2 As for the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ Spirit Technique obtained from the Golden Sword Sect, its attack power is clearly inferior to those two Spirit Techniques by a notch. Therefore, the value of this Spirit Technique named ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ is extraordinarily high, and perhaps only the entire Formation Dao heritage left by Liu Nantian could be comparable to it. By such an account, Lin Tianming¡¯s gains this time are unprecedented. On this point, Lin Tianming is very certain, and he has been excited for a long time. Under these circumstances, other treasures found in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, such as several Mysterious Grade Cultivation Techniques, or some Third Order Demon Beast Inner Pills, were no longer enough to surprise Lin Tianming. The only thing that caught Lin Tianming¡¯s attention were a few high-value items among the Third Order Treasures, which were all quite precious. Although their value could not rival the Formation Dao heritage and Spirit Techniques, they were very valuable on their own. Besides, only Fourth Order Treasures, such as these, are worth Lin Tianming¡¯s special attention. And as an experienced Golden Core Cultivator, Liu Nantian did indeed possess numerous treasures; for instance, there were three Fourth Order Treasures, including a piece of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials and two pieces of Fourth Order Spirit Ore, which were relatively common among Fourth Order Treasures. Regarding these Fourth Order Treasures, Lin Tianming could not make immediate use of them; he could only keep them as a reserve for his foundation, to be used when needed in the future. Overall, these several Fourth Order Treasures, along with that Formation Dao heritage and the Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, constituted the most valuable items in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag. The rest were Liu Nantian¡¯s offensive and defensive Magical Treasures, as well as some rather good Third Order Treasures. Such a plethora of treasures was extremely comprehensive and abundant, basically covering all facets of the Four Arts of Cultivation. Regarding the total value of Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming had roughly estimated it to be easily over fifty million low-grade Spirit Stones. Such gains were also the most significant that Lin Tianming had ever acquired on his cultivation path. And prior to this, even the gains from obliterating the Golden Sword Sect, or from slaying members of the Blood Red Alliance, or even the formidable Yang Chengfeng and He Zhengsong, could not compare. Moreover, this was only the storage bag of Liu Nantian alone. If the storage bags of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were tallied up, the gains would likely increase substantially on this basis. After all, both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were experienced Golden Core Cultivators, with remarkable personal power and having followed Liu Nantian in many raids. Although Liu Nantian, as the leader and the strongest among them, would naturally take the lion¡¯s share of the resources according to tradition, But Yan Mingshan and the others, having been able to coexist with Liu Nantian for so many years without incident, would naturally have gained a fair share of benefits. Otherwise, if a group¡¯s internal division of loot were unequal, it would have long since fallen apart or even turned into sworn enemies, which would be all too common. Thus, without any surprises, the wealth of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong would also be considerable. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was somewhat eager. Hence, after inspecting Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming promptly inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s gains. At this time, Qin Xi also came back to her senses from her shock. Following, Qin Xi slowly spoke of her results from the inventory of the storage bags. According to her, the storage bags of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong indeed contained many treasures; although there were no Fourth Order Treasures, there were many Third Order Treasures, including some of high value. Apart from that, those two had some inheritance-class treasures in their storage bags, but their overall value was not too high due to their relatively low Grade. Moreover, high-value Cultivation Techniques and Spirit Techniques were virtually absent from their storage bags. However, they did possess a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, with more than seventy thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones alone, which converted into low-grade Spirit Stones would amount to over seven million. Adding those to the low-grade Spirit Stones, their overall value reached about eight million. And these Spirit Stones were approximately equal in number to those in the storage bag of Liu Nantian alone. It could be seen from this that among the treasures obtained by the three of them, Liu Nantian had acquired the more precious ones. As for Spirit Stones, given Liu Nantian¡¯s current realm and power, he naturally would not be overly concerned. After all, for Liu Nantian, a powerful cultivator and also a Third Order Formation Master, Spirit Stones had become exceedingly limited in utility. And oftentimes, even with Spirit Stones, it would be difficult to purchase treasures to one¡¯s satisfaction. Thus, Liu Nantian obtained the high-value treasures among the gains, while Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong received the more limited-use spirit stones. Such an arrangement also ensured that Yan Mingshan and his companion would not break apart due to uneven distribution of loot. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t disappointed either. After having seen Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, he had pre-emptively braced himself and speculated, roughly able to foresee that it would be so. Now, it indeed turned out as he had guessed; he accepted the outcome with equanimity. Following this, a sentence from Qin Xi excited Lin Tianming for a moment. It turned out that Qin Xi found a map in Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag, as well as a mature spiritual medicine material. And this spiritual medicine material was precisely the Tianxin Grass that Lin Tianming had been seeking. Learning of this news, Lin Tianming was thrilled for a good while. In his heart, he originally thought Yan Mingshan was merely using Tianxin Grass as a pretext to lure them to Ice Wind Valley in order to opportunely murder and seize treasures. But he truly never expected that Yan Mingshan would actually possess the rare Tianxin Grass in the Cultivation World. Moreover, the location marked on the map was exactly a place within Ice Wind Valley. With these clues, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but speculate if the Tianxin Grass could be found at the place marked on the map. If so, could there be other Tianxin Grasses at the location indicated by the map? Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately resolved to explore the spot marked on the map. After all, they had already arrived at Ice Wind Valley and indeed intended to venture deeper for adventure and experience. Since that is the case, wherever they trained, it would still be considered training, and moreover, visiting the location marked on the map would not conflict with the training itself. More crucially, if they really could find a few more Tianxin Grasses, his chances of refining Tribulation Evasion Pills would increase, and he could gain more elixirs. By then, the Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family would no longer fear the constraints of bottlenecks, greatly increasing the probability of advancing their cultivation. Knowing this, the heart of Lin Tianming was excited for quite some time. After gradually calming down a bit, Lin Tianming then chatted and laughed with Qin Xi. Following a general tally by the two of them, the wealth of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong was not meager, accumulating to as much as forty million low-grade spirit stones. Although this harvest was still slightly less than that of Liu Nantian alone. For an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator like Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, their wealth was already quite impressive. At least among all the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators Lin Tianming had seen, none could compare to their assets. And this substantial wealth just goes to show the experiences of Liu Nantian and the others over the years; many cultivators must have unjustly perished at their hands. Considering this, Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s elimination of Liu Nantian and the others could also be regarded as righting wrongs and eliminating harm for the people. The very thought dispelled the resentment in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, and he even felt a strong sense of justice. Coming back to his senses later, Lin Tianming was in a good mood, with a content smile always on his face. In his eyes, the gains this time were simply too great. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the death of Liu Nantian and the others, all their wealth and possessions were now owned by him and his wife. These items were numerous, almost approaching half the total worth of Golden Sword Sect. Now, the couple¡¯s harvest was abundant, not only obtaining a vast amount of spirit stones, but also various cultivation resources, and many treasures related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. In addition to that, there was the inheritance of the Formation Dao, as well as high-value Third and Fourth Grade Treasures, plus Spirit Techniques and Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures, nearly doubling their net worth. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s mood took a long time to calm down. ¡­ Chapter 1144 - 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation Chapter 1144: Chapter 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation Half a quarter of an hour later. Lin Tianming and his wife had calmed their emotions, and began to discuss their specific plans going forward. Before that, they planned to recover to their best state, and continue to experience trials in the Ice Wind Valley, attempting to find opportunities. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, the discovery of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag once again made Lin Tianming covet it intensely. Not only that, Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag revealed the Tianxin Grass they had been desperately seeking, as well as a map that seemed to indicate the origin of the Tianxin Grass. Faced with such changes, Lin Tianming and his wife naturally needed to adjust their original plan. Thus, the two started to chat casually, exchanging their own opinions. Soon, Lin Tianming and his wife each laid out their plans, and after repeated discussions, they reached a unified decision. Following the new plan, Lin Tianming and his wife decided to continue their closed-door cultivation in this area. During this period of seclusion, Lin Tianming prepared to try cultivating the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art, hoping to completely grasp it in the shortest time to have an additional attack method in the future. Although Lin Tianming currently did not lack attack methods, with several Spirit Arts he had successfully cultivated, among which the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯ was undoubtedly the trump card. In addition, there was the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ obtained from Golden Sword Sect, and later from Yang Chengfeng, he acquired the ¡®Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡¯. Plus, in previous years, after killing He Zhengsong, he obtained the emergency secret technique ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯. Now, having killed Liu Nantian, he added another Spirit Art to his repertoire, possessing three Spirit Arts and one emergency secret technique. If the Blue Heart True Flame is also counted, then just the attack Spirit Arts and secret techniques alone number four types. Setting aside the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯, a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, the power of the other three methods feels stronger than the innate Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword Cultivation Technique. However, despite having so many attack methods, in reality, it is very difficult to use them all in a single battle. After all, the Mana of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator is very limited, and big-hitting trump cards like Spirit Arts consume an enormous amount of Mana. Even if some Spirit Arts do not have high demands on Mana and Divine Sense when activated, like the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯, a Mysterious Grade Spirit Art, which barely depletes Mana when activated. But most Spirit Arts usually require an extremely large amount of Mana support. Such Spirit Arts, as long as one has profound enough Mana, might be able to be used two or three times consecutively. Conversely, once the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯ is activated, it requires the recultivation of the original Sword Qi, and must also be nurtured constantly within the Seven Sea Dantian. Under such circumstances, the newly recultivated Sword Qi will not provide any effective killing power for Lin Tianming for at least ten years. And this is the drawback of powerful Spirit Arts. But with drawbacks, there are also advantages. Take the power of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art for example, it is truly formidable, and the time for cultivating the Sword Qi almost has no upper limit. If Lin Tianming nurtures the Sword Qi for a hundred years, with his current cultivation strength, it¡¯s possible that he could injure a Nascent Soul Early Stage power. Even, under the carelessness of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, it could potentially be a one-strike kill, which is not impossible. Looking at it this way, the help that the Great Sun Sword Qi Art brings Lin Tianming is far beyond comparison with ordinary Spirit Arts. This belief, Lin Tianming has always firmly held, and has always been cautious in using this trump card. As for the other few newly obtained Spirit Arts, Lin Tianming would not dare to use them lightly either. Because among these Spirit Arts, except for the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ whose origin is open and noble, the origins of the other Spirit Arts are quite special. Although Yang Chengfeng and Liu Nantian were Independent Cultivators and have done many despicable acts like robbery and theft, which led them to make numerous enemies, But now having killed them and obtained their Spirit Arts, all of which he succeeded in cultivating, Lin Tianming dared not use them rashly. After all, who knows the origins of those Spirit Arts, and whether there are links to the Nascent Soul Level forces of Qingzhou. If there really are connections with those forces, wouldn¡¯t Lin Tianming be implicated by the Spirit Arts? If this were the case, and if Lin Tianming¡¯s use of Spirit Arts were discovered, he¡¯d have to take the blame for those lawless villains. Thus, only when absolutely necessary or when he is extremely confident, will Lin Tianming use the ¡®Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡¯ and the Spirit Art used by Liu Nantian. Normally, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack methods are mainly the Tiangang Ninth Sword and Earth Fiend Sword Formation. If he encounters a powerful adversary, he can use the Blue Heart True Flame and the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, two tremendously powerful methods. With Lin Tianming¡¯s current strength and these regular techniques, he can cope with the majority of Golden Core Stage opponents. In desperate situations, he still has ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ and ¡®Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡¯ as his last-ditch cards. Aside from these, the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯ has been Lin Tianming¡¯s most relied upon life-saving measure from the very beginning. This Mysterious Grade Spirit Art has assisted Lin Tianming through many crises over the years, earning its great merits. And now, the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art obtained from killing Liu Nantian is also very strong, although it cannot be used casually, it enriches Lin Tianming¡¯s array of attack methods a bit more. Chapter 1145 - 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation_2 Chapter 1145: Chapter 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation_2 However, it can be foreseen that the use of Spirit Arts like ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ and ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike,¡¯ which rely on Mana, may not be frequently deployed in a major battle. Even with Lin Tianming¡¯s profound Mana and strong Divine Sense, he can at most use them two or three times after a big battle. From this perspective, while Spirit Arts are certainly important and play a significant role, one¡¯s own cultivation strength is ultimately what is most crucial. Otherwise, relying solely on Spirit Arts to engage in a magic duel with fellow cultivators of the same tier cannot sustain combat effectiveness in the long term. Knowing this, Lin Tianming is very excited about the upcoming plan to cultivate the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal.¡¯ Then, Lin Tianming and his wife exchanged a few words casually, and then each began to get up and enter the Practice Room, immediately starting to cultivate in seclusion. At this moment, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion and began to circulate his cultivation and regulate his breath. Soon, Lin Tianming reached his peak state and quickly opened his tightly shut eyes. Next, Lin Tianming took out the Spirit Art Jade Slip of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ from the Qiankun Jade and immediately extended his Divine Sense to explore it. Over several days, Lin Tianming memorized the contents of the Jade Slip. Afterward, Lin Tianming began to make Single-handed Seals, attempting to converge Mana according to the secret techniques recorded in the Jade Slip. This process requires tens of thousands of attempts to possibly succeed. Furthermore, the activation method also required multiple attempts, and after countless explorations and corrections, he could finally master this Spirit Art. Deeply understanding this, Lin Tianming began to ponder methodically. Moreover, every half-day, he would attempt to condense the seal. As expected, the first attempt ended in failure. However, Lin Tianming was not discouraged but kept trying repeatedly. The second attempt¡­ ended in failure! The third attempt¡­ ended in failure! ¡­ The one thousand two-hundredth attempt¡­ still ended in failure. Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had gone by. During this period, Lin Tianming persisted tirelessly in condensing the seal, barely taking even half a day¡¯s break. Until this day, Lin Tianming was still seated on the meditation cushion, his hands forming complex hand signs, and he was muttering to himself. At that moment, just as he finished his movements, a faint shadow of a seal gradually appeared overhead. Looking at it, the shadow was transparent and seemed rather faint and shaky, as if it was about to dissipate at any moment. And indeed, the shadow lasted only a few breaths before it completely vanished into the air. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was not disappointed but instead excited. After all, he had been in seclusion for a year and a half, constantly pondering and refining the seal. Before this, he had attempted more than a thousand times, never succeeding, not even a faint shadow of a seal had ever appeared. Now, although the shadow was faint and unstable, dissipating after a few breaths, such a scene, compared to his previous thousand failures, was actually a significant improvement. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Continuing this way, trying a few more times using the skills and judgments he had mastered before, he was certain he could successfully condense a complete seal. By then, the Spiritual Arts of this ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ would be considered entering the door, and it wouldn¡¯t be too much to say it reached the Minor Achievement Realm. As for the final activation techniques, mastering them would not be difficult. He was very aware that as long as he practiced repeatedly, he would definitely be able to fully master this Spirit Art and could form a certain combat capability. By that time, his attack methods would be more diverse and varied, and he also could slightly enhance his strength. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was somewhat excited, and the cumulative fatigue from the previous days was pushed to the back of his mind. Thus, Lin Tianming got back on track and began to attempt condensing the seal once again. Unconsciously, another half a year went by. In the practice room today, Lin Tianming continued to comprehend Spirit Art and repeatedly attempted it a few times. This time, after a series of movements by Lin Tianming, a seal slowly formed above his head, hanging motionless in the air. At this moment, feeling the Golden Seal above his head, its outer features were identical to the seal initially used by Liu Nantian. Not only that, but what was more critical was that the seal was incredibly solid, with a majestic and spectacular aura, just like the real thing. And at the moment it appeared, the Yuan Qi in the entire practice room began to stir, eventually slowly gathering towards the Golden Seal. This scene was strikingly similar to when Liu Nantian performed this technique. Feeling this aura and the oppressive force emitted by the Golden Seal, Lin Tianming¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. After two consecutive years of uninterrupted cultivation, he had finally successfully mastered the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art. As for the seal above his head, that was the fundamental form of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal.¡¯ In this way, Lin Tianming had essentially mastered this Spirit Art and achieved his goal. Knowing this, Lin Tianming smiled excitedly, and his heart took a long, relieved breath. Then, Lin Tianming gradually ended his practice, and the seal above his head also dissipated. After calming down, Lin Tianming adjusted his state and planned to review it again. Once he was more proficient with all the methods of this Spirit Art, he would be able to go out and test the actual power of this Spirit Art. Besides, it required multiple practices to fully unleash the attack power of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art. Only by mastering it completely and reaching the Minor Achievement Realm could it provide some help in his magic duels. Otherwise, merely mastering the Spirit Art without being able to exert the appropriate combat power would be entirely useless for him. Knowing this, Lin Tianming adjusted his mindset and continued his practice. Half a year later, one day, Lin Tianming appeared in the hall of his Temporary Cave Abode. Over the last six months, in the first two months, Lin Tianming reviewed the activation techniques of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art multiple times, including perfecting the creation of the best seal illusion. In the subsequent three months, Lin Tianming began real combat practice in a valley not far from the cave mansion. Sweating profusely with intense practice day and night, over these three months, he practiced the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ dozens of times. As the saying goes, hard work pays off! With relentless effort, Lin Tianming successfully advanced the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art to the Minor Achievement Realm. It must be said, the power of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art is truly strong; in Lin Tianming¡¯s trials, the power was earth-shattering, and the attacks were swift, whether it was precision strikes or large scale attacks, showing tremendous lethality and destructive power. This result indeed confirmed his previous guesses. This way, with the entry into this Spirit Art, Lin Tianming gained another offensive technique. Relying on three years of cultivating Spirit Art, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation also slowly improved. While he is still far from the Late Stage Golden Core, he could deeply feel the gradual progress of his cultivation. This kind of progress was not dependent on elixirs or assistance from Heaven and Earth Treasures. Strictly speaking, this was a progress that had settled over the three years. Although the improvement in cultivation strength was limited, it felt, to him, that these few years of progress surpassed that of the previous ten years. Nowadays, after numerous battle duels and three years of uninterrupted cultivation of Spirit Art without any external help, his cultivation foundation was incredibly solid. Moreover, it seemed that because of his focused and tranquil cultivation, his spiritual heart also became purer, as if sublimating invisibly. This feeling was wonderful but genuinely existed. With these experiences and achievements over the three years, Lin Tianming felt incredibly satisfied. With the successful cultivation of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t stay in the practice room any longer but returned to his Temporary Cave Abode. ¡­ Chapter 1146 - 599: Primordial Lion Beast Chapter 1146: Chapter 599: Primordial Lion Beast In the hall of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming sat leisurely in a corner, his gaze sweeping around. As he looked towards a Practice Room in the depths, Qin Xi immediately walked out from it. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianming was quite excited, standing up to greet her immediately. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve come out of seclusion!¡± From a distance, Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned greeting could be heard. Qin Xi also had a smile in her eyes, her face carrying a sweet smile, seemingly in a very good mood. Especially upon seeing Lin Tianming, Qin Xi missed him immensely. Now, with the beautiful lady right before his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her in a big hug. Feeling Lin Tianming¡¯s concern, warmth spread through Qin Xi¡¯s heart. At this moment, Lin Tianming seemed to realize something and immediately asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded slightly, a smile of sheer joy flitting across her face. Seeing that Qin Xi had indeed entered the Mid Stage Golden Core, Lin Tianming was instantly joyful, his excitement no less than Qin Xi herself. Prior to this, Qin Xi had been bottlenecked at the Golden Core Initial Peak for over ten years and had been unable to break through. Fortunately, over these ten years, as a couple, they had left their family to travel through the cultivation realms of the Golden Crow Country and Xitang Country. During this period, they roamed across various places together, broadening their views and experiences and undergoing several magic duels. Additionally, with the aid of Yuan Essence Fruit and the life-and-death duel between Qin Xi and Yan Mingshan, she finally succeeded in breaking through the bottleneck, thus smoothly entering the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Now, with Qin Xi officially stepping into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, her strength had significantly increased. Alongside Lin Tianming mastering a powerful Spirit Art and his cultivation rising slightly over several years of arduous practice. With their current cultivation strength, teamed up, they could essentially stand unbeaten against a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. It appeared that over the past decade since leaving their family, both husband and wife had reaped substantial gains. Just talking about Lin Tianming alone, his cultivation strength had also slowly increased, and his collection of treasures had more than doubled. Additionally, mastering the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art and the ¡®Thousand Array Codex¡¯ Formation Dao inheritance, he had achieved significant enhancements in both familial foundation and personal strength. Qin Xi¡¯s gains were also substantial, her cultivation having successfully broken through. Additionally, after killing Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, she obtained their fortunes, which more than doubled her own wealth. Such gains, in Lin Tianming¡¯s view, were absolutely lucrative. Thinking carefully, these are the benefits and results of traveling. Just imagine, if they had stayed within their family, reaching this stage would have required several more decades. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and looked forward to their coming journeys. After calming a bit, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi started casually chatting. During this, Lin Tianming also mentioned his experience and results from practicing the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi was also very excited and spoke up, indicating she too wanted to successfully practice this Spirit Art. Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t object to Qin Xi¡¯s plan. To him, if Qin Xi could master the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art, her strength would also increase. However, Qin Xi¡¯s plan to practice this Spirit Art would occur after their cultivation stint in Ice Wind Valley. At that time, they would also leave Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm to travel through other central nations. Then, Qin Xi would choose an opportunity to practice this art until she fully mastered it. Currently, they were not lacking in offensive Spirit Arts, especially Qin Xi, who had always been protected by Lin Tianming and was in no rush to learn the art urgently. Thus, these plans were firmly decided by Lin Tianming and her. Afterward, Lin Tianming took out a map from Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag and laid it before them to examine. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the map and couldn¡¯t help but ask, Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this map shows the location deep within Ice Wind Valley, what are your thoughts on this?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi paused and said, ¡°This map only shows the location, there¡¯s no description of that place; based on this alone, we can¡¯t infer any information.¡± ¡°However, Ice Wind Valley was known as one of Qingzhou¡¯s famous ancient battlefields long ago, with many fallen Human Race experts and High Order Monster Beasts.¡± ¡°Such a Secret Realm, not only filled with danger, also possesses inexplicable opportunities, it¡¯s not surprising that there are traces of Tianxin Grass.¡± ¡°Regardless, overthinking is pointless, it¡¯s better to go and investigate.¡± ¡°With our combined strength as a couple, as long as we each are careful not to encounter Fourth Order Demonic Beasts or Nascent Soul Stage old monsters, there¡¯s hardly any danger.¡± ¡°The only thing to be wary of are those spatial fissures that come and go without a trace.¡± Hearing this string of explanations, Lin Tianming nodded his head in satisfaction, the last bit of his concerns evaporating. In his view, with Qin Xi being so decisive, he, a man, had even less reason to hesitate. Thus, Lin Tianming made up his mind immediately, planning to leave after a short two-day rest and embark on a journey to locate the position marked on the map. Chapter 1147 - 599 Primordial Lion Beast_2 Chapter 1147: Chapter 599 Primordial Lion Beast_2 And then, Lin Tianming and his wife took a rest here for two days, entangled with each other day and night. Two days later, early in the morning, the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Lin Tianming, stepped out of the temporary cave abode and immediately covered up the entrance. After doing all this, Lin Tianming looked in a certain direction, then left with Qin Xi, and quickly disappeared into the canyon. Walking in a corner of the inner region of Ice Wind Valley, they were surrounded by dense jungles, with plenty of lakes large and small, and occasionally encountered some crisscrossing rivers or strange deep ravines appearing. Faced with such a dangerous place, the two of them were fully alert along the way, with every step taken with extra caution. Half a month later, after traveling thousands of miles and through various terrains, they finally appeared outside a valley. During this time, they encountered two Third Order Demon Beasts, but both were at the early stage of the Third Order. Lin Tianming, without the chance of a good opportunity, was also too lazy to make a move against these demonic beasts. Although killing these beasts would be effortless for the couple, this Ice Wind Valley was fraught with crises, including the pervasive spatial fissures and the presence of other Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Under such circumstances, unless encountering some highly valuable treasure, Lin Tianming would not bother to act against a Third Order Demon Beast lightly, lest they reveal their tracks. Thus, the couple proceeded with light equipment and finally arrived at this place. At this time, Lin Tianming and his wife stopped at the top of a towering tree, gazing straight ahead. Looking forward, there was a vast canyon in front, with an unfathomably deep chasm at the bottom, and tall peaks on both sides. From a bird¡¯s-eye view, the entire interior of the canyon was densely forested, and the mist in the air covered most of the light, giving its dark color a somewhat eerie appearance. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, his sharp gaze piercing through the thick fog, noticing that there were many spatial fissures in this place, with a density and frequency far surpassing any place they had passed on their way here. Moreover, the spatial fissures in this thick fog were very long, the shortest being half a zhang, and the longest being several zhangs or more. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help frowning, and his expression became much more solemn. Obviously, Lin Tianming was also wary of the spatial fissures here. While outside, on their way here they had also seen quite a few spatial fissures. But those fissures were infrequent, and they did not move very quickly in mid-air, and their length was also limited. Facing the outer spatial fissures, although a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would certainly face a fate worse than death upon encountering one, as long as it was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator who was fully alert and relying on their faster speed and stronger Divine Sense, they could likely dodge most spatial fissures. But looking at this place, the frequency of spatial fissures had significantly increased, and their movement speed was several times faster, and even the length of the fissures had multiplied several times over. Facing such severe spatial fissures, once swallowed into them, whether one could withstand the intense pressure inside and the potent destructive force, even Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t confident. However, Lin Tianming was experienced and knowledgeable, seeing the scene in front of him, he remained calm. Regaining his composure, he then took out a map to check, and afterward said leisurely, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the location marked on the map is right here. The entire perimeter is very calm and the location is quite hidden, not easy to find.¡± ¡°Fortunately, we have the map, although it took some effort, we finally managed to find the place smoothly, and there are no traces of demonic beasts to be seen.¡± ¡°It is just unknown what is inside, whether there will be any High Order Monster Beasts.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi smiled faintly and said, ¡°This place looks very dangerous, even with our level of cultivation strength, we have to be a bit careful.¡± ¡°However, such a place has a low probability of encountering Human Cultivators, but the possibility of encountering demonic beasts is not small.¡± ¡°Ming, no matter what, let¡¯s first go in and investigate!¡± After saying this, Qin Xi looked seriously at Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Tianming heard these few words and smiled, nodding his head in agreement, naturally having no objections. Following that, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chatted casually for a few moments. Afterward, the two of them began to make their way into the depths of the canyon according to their prearranged plan. Before long, Lin Tianming, leading Qin Xi, carefully probed their way deeper into the canyon, their Divine Senses fully extended at all times to guard against every movement around them. With such caution, they advanced more than twenty li inward. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As they continued to delve deeper, the frequency, size, and speed of the spatial fissures flashing by them increased. Faced with such changes, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi dared not be careless. Half a quarter of an hour later, the duo advanced a few more li and came upon a relatively open plain. Looking around, the terrain here appeared somewhat flatter, at least much smoother than the other gorges and ridges. Just then, as Lin Tianming surveyed his surroundings, a roaring sound echoed from within the canyon. Hearing this commotion, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi¡¯s expressions changed subtly, and they immediately prepared for action. The roars soon grew closer, and the spatial fissures appearing around Lin Tianming became noticeably denser. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi maintained their vigilance and hastily retreated a hundred zhang before stopping. The moment they steadied themselves, they looked up and saw a spatial fissure appearing far ahead, hovering in mid-air for several breaths. Immediately afterward, they saw a Demonic Beast burst out from the fissure. The beast had the head of a horse and the body of a lion, covered in red fur all over its body. Its overall size was not large, only a few zhang in length, and less than three zhang tall. The moment the beast appeared, numerous spatial fissures swiftly formed around it, and some were so tiny that they seemed to be spewed directly from the mouth of the beast itself. Seeing this spectacle, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but have his expression change slightly, followed by a look of disbelief. ¡°This¡­ This is a Primordial Lion Beast!¡± No sooner had Lin Tianming spoken than Qin Xi also couldn¡¯t help but smack her lips, equally shocked in her heart. ¡°Ming, this is undoubtedly a Primordial Lion Beast, and a powerful one at that, at the Third Grade Medium Stage,¡± Qin Xi stammered in amazement. In fact, their lack of composure wasn¡¯t because they weren¡¯t calm enough, but because the innate talents of the Primordial Lion Beast were special and truly uncommon across the Qingzhou Land. Rumors have it that adult Primordial Lion Beasts are Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, characterized by their spatial talents capable of releasing spatial fissures, even directly swallowing them to harness the wild energy within, thereby enhancing themselves. With such unique talents, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s attacking capabilities were also very devious, and hence its power was formidable. After all, the destructive power of spatial fissures was too vast, and they were unpredictable. Moreover, given that the Primordial Lion Beast could generate spatial fissures, it could also briefly traverse them. With such a special ability, whether attacking or escaping, the Primordial Lion Beast was extremely formidable. It was precisely because of these unique innate Divine Skills and talents that the Primordial Lion Beast and its abilities were highly coveted by all Human Cultivators. Including Lin Tianming, who had previously heard of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s unique abilities, was also shocked and envious. For this reason, he had also always wanted to witness the true form of the Primordial Lion Beast and even its innate Divine Ability. However, these Primordial Lion Beasts were typically very strong, rare in the Cultivation World, and not easy to capture. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming had never been able to fulfill his wish to see the true form of the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡­ Chapter 1148 - 600: Husband and Wife Face Battle Chapter 1148: Chapter 600: Husband and Wife Face Battle Recalling various rumors about the Primordial Lion Beast, and looking at the demonic beast before him, Lin Tianming was shocked and his expression became grave. At this moment, while Lin Tianming and his companion were assessing the Primordial Lion Beast, it too was staring at the couple. Simultaneously, the Primordial Lion Beast bared its teeth and growled lowly, but it did not attack immediately, clearly sensing the aura emitted by Lin Tianming and his wife, and thus, also wary of their strength. However, this calm situation quickly became tense as a roar echoed from deeper within the canyon. Feeling the roar getting closer, Lin Tianming instantly realized something and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Is there another Primordial Lion Beast?¡± As soon as he spoke, the noise from deep within the canyon drew closer, and eventually, a larger Primordial Lion Beast silently appeared beside the first one. With the arrival of this Primordial Lion Beast, the first one became agitated. Clearly, seeing the support of its companion, the first Primordial Lion Beast changed its demeanor, believing that killing Lin Tianming and his wife who had trespassed into their territory wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast became frenzied, its eyes flashing fiercely with a readiness to pounce. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows furrowed even more, and a clear apprehension emerged on his face. This was because the newly arrived Primordial Lion Beast turned out to be a formidable Late Stage of the Third Grade. Originally, he thought there was only one Primordial Lion Beast, the one that appeared first being a Third Grade Medium Stage. But now, it seemed that these two Primordial Lion Beasts, one male and one female, were likely the rulers of this territory and also a pair of mated demonic beasts. However, upon further reflection, he found it not so strange. After all, demonic beasts and Human Cultivators are somewhat similar in many aspects, especially a species like the Primordial Lion Beast, which has a peculiar talent and a very unique lineage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming now found himself in a dilemma. However, after a moment of hesitation, he made a decision. This was also because upon scanning with his Divine Sense, he had indeed detected a Tianxin Grass sapling within a hidden corner of the canyon. Seeing the Tianxin Grass he had been earnestly searching for, even just a sapling, confirmed that the mature Tianxin Grass in Yan Mingshan¡¯s possession came from this canyon. As for why Yan Mingshan only had one, it must have been because this place was the lair of the Primordial Lion Beasts, guarded by two of them, including one in the Late Stage of the Third Order. Facing one Third Order Late Stage and one Third Order Medium Stage powerful demonic beasts, even if Liu Nantian and two others joined forces, they definitely wouldn¡¯t gain any advantages. From this perspective, it seemed likely that Yan Mingshan and others had also been here before, and had managed to obtain a Tianxin Grass only to encounter the Primordial Lion Beasts. Thus, realizing they were no match for the two Primordial Lion Beasts, they could only retreat hastily and postpone their plans until they were stronger. Thinking of these, Lin Tianming could understand why Yan Mingshan only had one mature Tianxin Grass. And Yan Mingshan¡¯s plans never came to fruition, ultimately falling prey to Lin Tianming and his wife, who then took up the quest for the Tianxin Grass. Now, although Qin Xi had broken through her bottleneck, and the plan to find Tianxin Grass wasn¡¯t as crucial, But the properties of the Tribulation Evasion Pill were significant, and its value was also high. Even if Lin Tianming and his wife had no immediate use for it, there were many members of the Lin Family, and a good number among them were at the Golden Core Stage. It was foreseeable that those Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the family didn¡¯t have great talent, and the probability of encountering bottlenecks during the Golden Core Stage was extremely high. In this case, the role of Tianxin Grass becomes particularly evident. Moreover, Lin Tianming himself is a Third Order Alchemist. With more Tianxin Grass obtained, he could refine them anytime. By then, even if the Golden Core Stage Clan Members in the family encountered bottlenecks, they wouldn¡¯t be stuck in their current realm without any progress. Knowing this, Lin Tianming made up his mind, determined to acquire the Tianxin Grass no matter what. To accomplish this, the two Primordial Lion Beasts present had to be killed, or an attempt made to subdue them. If one could be subdued, with the special talents and bloodline of the Primordial Lion Beast, as well as its incredibly peculiar Divine Skills, it would definitely be a great help to Lin Tianming in the future. However, the Spirit Wisdom of the Primordial Lion Beast was not low, far surpassing ordinary demonic beasts, or those that had not reached adulthood. Just like Lin Tianming¡¯s Spiritual Pet, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, if it were of the Third Grade, it would be extremely difficult to subdue. And the reason Lin Tianming had succeeded previously was because the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was of a lower grade and its Spirit Wisdom had not yet reached its peak, allowing him to succeed. Comparing this to the current stage of the Primordial Lion Beast, the chances of successfully subduing it were very slim. But regardless, Lin Tianming was still willing to try. If it really came down to it, he would have to kill them. With this decided, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind. Without further delay, he secretly transmitted a message to Qin Xi, explaining his plan. Soon, the couple reached a unified decision. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1149 - 600: The Couple Faces the Battle_2 Chapter 1149: Chapter 600: The Couple Faces the Battle_2 So, after a brief moment of calm, Lin Tianming slapped his sleeve, and the Tiangang Sword appeared in his hand. At the same time, on the other side, Qin Xi was not to be outdone, and likewise summoned her own Treasure Sword, readying herself to make a move. In the time it takes to speak, Lin Tianming glanced at the Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast and swung his sword at the first opportunity, unleashing a terrifying Sword Qi that shot towards the target. Immediately afterwards, Lin Tianming leapt into the air, his body incredibly agile as he charged towards the Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast. Seeing this, Qin Xi also refused to show weakness, and unleashed a barrage of attacks, pouring them down on the Third Grade Medium Stage Primordial Lion Beast. ¡°Boom-boom-boom¡­¡± In that instant, the long-calm sky was suddenly rife with raging Sword Qi, and powerful fluctuations swept through in succession, the terrifying momentum pouring toward the canyon like a steel torrent. At that moment, the two Primordial Lion Beasts seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden strike, became utterly furious. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± As the two Primordial Lion Beasts roared, they twisted their bodies and charged towards Lin Tianming and Qin Xi with bared teeth and brandished claws. In the blink of an eye, the two figures and the two beasts became entangled in battle, each of their powerful attacks clashing head-on. ¡°Boom-boom-boom¡­¡± For a moment, the sky was ablaze with fireworks, and the sounds of explosions echoed continuously between heaven and earth. As the fireworks gradually faded, Lin Tianming and the Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast were both sent flying dozens of yards by the immense rebounding force. After stabilizing himself, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was grave as the Qi-Blood in his body surged, his palms tingling with numbness. On its side, the Primordial Lion Beast was also growling low with bared teeth, seemingly in pain. After this exchange, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel the situation was tricky. In his eyes, the strength of this Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast was indeed formidable. Keep in mind that since entering the Golden Core Stage, he had also fought numerous times with Golden Core Stage Qi cultivators and even some Third Order Demonic Beasts. Among them, there were certainly some Late Stage Golden Core experts. But at that time, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength was not as strong as it is now, and he had never felt such pressure. However, now, after a round of probing attacks, Lin Tianming was shocked by the massive rebounding force. This also truly showed how formidable the strength of this Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast was. Even so, Lin Tianming had not lost confidence. In his view, this was only the first round of probing, and he himself had not yet gone all out, most notably, his Divine Skills and some powerful Spirit Arts had not been used. Knowing this, Lin Tianming maintained a good mindset, regrouped, and prepared to launch a new round of attacks. Watching the Primordial Lion Beast in front of him with its eager and bared teeth, Lin Tianming quickly performed a Law Decree and blasts of Spiritual Light bombarded the blade of Tiangang Sword. In an instant, Lin Tianming summoned the Tiangang Ninth Sword, a Divine Skill, spearheading the next round of offensive. Suddenly, the Tiangang Sword flashed with light and, accompanied by a resounding sword hum, it shot towards the heavens, and finally, turned into a dragon that rushed towards the Primordial Lion Beast. At that moment, sensing the aura of the dragon-shaped sword coming from the sky, the Primordial Lion Beast also roared. Following that, the Primordial Lion Beast struck with its paw, and a red light shot out immediately, heading straight for Tiangang Sword. This red light was incredibly fast; the moment it appeared, even the surrounding air showed traces of Spatial Fissures. Clearly, this Primordial Lion Beast was extraordinarily talented, able to tear open the fabric of space with a casual swipe of its claw. Lin Tianming, seeing this scene, became even more focused, his face showing an intensified gravity. Under his watchful eye, he saw the Tiangang Sword collide head-on with the incoming red light. In an instant, a loud boom was heard, followed by the sight of the Tiangang Sword being deflected away. The red light also exploded at this moment, finally dissipating into specks of red that fell from the sky. Quickly, the first red specks to reach the ground exploded, easily blasting a deep pit in the surface. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming was startled, feeling the red light about to fall from above, he hastily flashed his figure, barely passing through the rain of red light. Waiting for him to stabilize his stance, he then saw the ground riddled with holes, a blur of deep pits shocking to the eye. And this scene truly gave Lin Tianming a great shock. Up to now, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s formidable strength once again shattered Lin Tianming¡¯s perception. However, the more so, the more it ignited Lin Tianming¡¯s fighting spirit. In such a situation, Lin Tianming showed no fear, instead leaping up and randomly blasting out several streams of Sword Qi, pressing down toward the Primordial Lion Beast from all directions. Simultaneously, he exploded with the divine skill Tiangang Ninth Sword, directly targeting the vital points of the Primordial Lion Beast with thundering strikes. Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were quick, and he was extremely decisive. In the blink of an eye, the entire sky was ravaged by Sword Qi, with the powerful Gang Wind from the attack hitting one¡¯s face. At the moment when Lin Tianming made his move, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s originally wary eyes also turned increasingly angry. Soon, the Primordial Lion Beast moved! That moment, one could only see the Primordial Lion Beast open its mouth in a roar, its immense bellow echoing through the entire canyon. At the same time, a sound wave, small at first then expanding, formed a rippling pattern in front of the Primordial Lion Beast. Following that, one could see the Primordial Lion Beast leap into the ripples, quickly disappearing from sight. After this scene occurred, Lin Tianming immediately sensed an invisible presence appearing in front of him. Although the presence was faint, it could not escape Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable divine sense. In addition, with the Eye of Five Colors open, his sharp gaze swept over everything before him, with even the slightest movement of wind and grass unable to escape his detection. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming could still accurately perceive the unusual fluctuation. As a result, Lin Tianming instantly retreated dozens of yards. After steadying his stance, he found that the Primordial Lion Beast, using those wave-patterned spatial fissures, easily passed through Lin Tianming¡¯s barrage of attacks and almost effortlessly appeared right in front of Lin Tianming. Moreover, the spot where the Primordial Lion Beast now stood was exactly where Lin Tianming had been standing moments ago. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew clearly that the Primordial Lion Beast was indeed powerful, its methods exceedingly strange. In just that brief moment, the Primordial Lion Beast had easily crossed his layers of attack and precisely appeared at his just-vacated spot. Had he not detected it in advance and instantly retreated¡­ This sudden strike, for any Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator or even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert, would have likely resulted in severe injury. Even, to suddenly fall to the claws of the Primordial Lion Beast was not an impossibility. After all, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s strength was immense, even a casual strike carried immense power. Take, for example, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s claw; if it struck an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, it would surely shatter their body, not even leaving a corpse intact. This point alone could show how formidable this Primordial Lion Beast was. The more he understood this, the more Lin Tianming felt fortunate for his earlier cautious and decisive action. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, seeing its strike miss, the Primordial Lion Beast became even more furiously enraged. However, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s strength was extraordinary, and its Spirit Wisdom was not low. Seeing that it was not far from Lin Tianming, the Primordial Lion Beast did not intend to give Lin Tianming too much time to react. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast immediately changed direction, in its haste unleashing a furious swipe of its claw, heading straight for Lin Tianming¡¯s head. The claw¡¯s speed was swift, forming a powerful momentum when it descended, directly slapping Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Seeing this claw, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed slightly, thinking that if it hit the head, it would likely burst apart instantly. However, his Physical Strength was formidable, and his power was not inferior to any Third Order Demonic Beast. Even, against a Late Stage of the Third Order Demonic Beast, he wasn¡¯t devoid of the strength for a direct confrontation. ¡­ Chapter 1150 - 601: Formidable Opponent Chapter 1150: Chapter 601: Formidable Opponent Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming immediately sprang into action from both sides. At that moment, only to see a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, after swinging a sword, he hastily threw a punch. In a flash, the Tiangang Sword blasted forth, followed closely by Lin Tianming¡¯s fist, as hard as steel. Lin Tianming¡¯s dual attacks were swift, reaching in front of the Primordial Lion Beast in the blink of an eye. This action of Lin Tianming also took the Primordial Lion Beast by surprise, apparently thinking that Lin Tianming, a human cultivator, could not possibly possess a body comparable to its own, nor would he take the initiative to clash with it head-on. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, in fact, that was exactly what Lin Tianming intended. In his view, his body, cultivated through Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, was no less robust than the Primordial Lion Beast, and even faster in speed. The Primordial Lion Beast had a unique talent to use the bizarre Spatial Fissures for instant mobility, making it hard for ordinary attacks to connect. Under such conditions, it was better to engage in close combat to restrain the body of the Primordial Lion Beast and then seize the opportunity. As long as he could restrain the Primordial Lion Beast, and then deploy the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap it, the Divine Skills of the Primordial Lion Beast would be greatly diminished. By then, even if the Primordial Lion Beast had all sorts of abilities, it could only be slaughtered at will inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. With such a purpose, Lin Tianming took seemingly crazy actions, but in fact, he was playing to his strengths and avoiding weaknesses. At this moment, as the attack from the Tiangang Sword was dodged by the Primordial Lion Beast. Then, Lin Tianming¡¯s fist collided directly with the sharp claws of the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise reverberated, Lin Tianming and the Primordial Lion Beast both were forced back significantly by the immense rebound force, with Lin Tianming retreating a greater distance. Meanwhile, as the Primordial Lion Beast retreated, it roared upwards painfully, baring its teeth. Looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s expression, it wasn¡¯t much better. Moreover, inside his body, the Qi-Blood surged wildly, his complexion alternating between pale and flush, a trace of crimson blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, even his internal organs couldn¡¯t help but tremble slightly at that moment of collision. From this, it can be seen that Lin Tianming also endured tremendous pain from the strike. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had anticipated this and had an incredibly high tolerance for pain. Although the physical strength of the Primordial Lion Beast was not weaker than his, overall, it was still within Lin Tianming¡¯s tolerance. Moreover, Lin Tianming himself had other motives, and facing such a situation now, his fighting spirit remained high. As for the Primordial Lion Beast, with its exceptional Spirit Wisdom, seeing Lin Tianming still unharmed after taking its strike also seemed quite surprised. After all, it was incredible for a human cultivator to match a Demonic Beast with innate talent purely based on physical strength. Thus, the wariness in the eyes of the Primordial Lion Beast intensified, hesitating momentarily. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew this was an excellent opportunity. Then, he suddenly slapped his waist, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords instantly shot out, scattering in all directions with a speed that was unstoppable. Immediately after, the numerous Earth Evil Swords rapidly descended, finally disappearing into the ground. Lin Tianming moved swiftly, completing everything in the blink of an eye. Seeing that all Earth Evil Swords were in place, Lin Tianming was exceedingly overjoyed, hurriedly pinching a Law Decree, and several beams of Spiritual Light bombarded a certain corner. ¡°Buzzing¡­¡± In an instant, a light screen surged from the ground, quickly forming a complete Barrier centered around the Primordial Lion Beast. This scene also signaled that the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation was fully operational at that moment. Just before the Barrier was formed, the Primordial Lion Beast also discerned Lin Tianming¡¯s intention. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast hastily launched a claw strike, hoping to interrupt Lin Tianming¡¯s further actions. But by then, Lin Tianming had already completed most of the movements, and he also anticipated what reaction the Primordial Lion Beast might have. Seeing that the Sword Formation Barrier was about to form and the Primordial Lion Beast would be trapped within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, Lin Tianming naturally would not let it succeed easily. Under such conditions, the moment the Primordial Lion Beast moved, Lin Tianming immediately unleashed the Divine Skills, Tiangang Ninth Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword shot out, slashing towards the head of the Primordial Lion Beast. At that moment, the Primordial Lion Beast felt the Sword Qi fluctuation descending from above, its intense and sharp presence making its skin tingle with pain. Despite its urgent desire to leave the area, the formidable Tiangang Sword Qi above could not ignore this strike¡¯s threat. After all, the distance between the Primordial Lion Beast and Lin Tianming was already close, and the power of the Tiangang Sword was formidable. Even with the strong body of the Primordial Lion Beast, it could not casually withstand Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skill strike. Thus, while retreating explosively, the Primordial Lion Beast turned its claws around to meet the coming Tiangang Sword. ¡°Puff¡­¡± In that instant, a pleasant series of metallic collision sounds burst forth, quickly echoing across the entire canyon. At this moment, looking around, one could see the Tiangang Sword and the metallic-hard claws of the Primordial Lion Beast entangled together, creating countless sparks flying in all directions. A few breaths later, the firelight dissipated, and the view of the entire battlefield became clear. At this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast was once again forced back a distance, managing to stabilize its posture after a struggle, it then started baring its teeth and roaring painfully, appearing to be in agony. Chapter 1151 - 601 Formidable Opponent_2 Chapter 1151: Chapter 601 Formidable Opponent_2 As for the Tiangang Sword, it was knocked away by the swipe of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s claw and finally caught by Lin Tianming again. At that moment, Lin Tianming blocked the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s attack, and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation became fully operative. In just an instant, Sword Qi roamed all around within the Sword Array, and the Primordial Lion Beast felt the oppressive force from the barrier, noticeably slowing its speed. Faced with this scene, the Primordial Lion Beast was both shocked and enraged, becoming much more aggressive. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was immediately overjoyed. After all, the strategy he had previously plotted was effective, and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was successfully operational. Now, with the Primordial Lion Beast trapped within the Sword Array, as long as he firmly controlled the formation to reduce its size, further compressing the living space of the Primordial Lion Beast. By then, the innate divine ability of the Primordial Lion Beast would be constrained by the Sword Array, making it easier for him to defeat the beast. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately began to implement his plan. In that moment, Lin Tianming frequently swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, unleashing a barrage of attacks towards the Primordial Lion Beast. Subsequently, Lin Tianming continued to manipulate the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, rapidly narrowing the encompassed area. He was well aware that the smaller the area of the Sword Array, the easier it would be to suppress the Primordial Lion Beast. Otherwise, with the strong attack power of the Primordial Lion Beast, if it found a weak period of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and broke out, his plan for this expedition would be in vain. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were like a tidal wave, combined with the Sword Qi that roamed within the Sword Array, becoming incredibly dense. By doing so, he also aimed to leave no breathing space for the Primordial Lion Beast. However, even so, the Spirit Intelligence of the Primordial Lion Beast truly was not low. When it felt the pressure from the Sword Formation Barrier, coupled with the dense Sword Qi attacks from above, although the power of these attacks wasn¡¯t very strong and hardly posed a lethal threat, the attacks were very dense and, despite the impressive defensive power of the Primordial Lion Beast, it was impossible to completely ignore them. Moreover, these continuous attacks kept restraining every move of the Primordial Lion Beast. Under such circumstances, the Primordial Lion Beast had to perform some dodging and even counterattacks, thus continuously weakening its offensive edge. However, the Primordial Lion Beast was very smart and decisive. It seemed to understand that many attacks in the barrage were not threatening, and even its defensive hide could hardly be penetrated. Thus, it could completely ignore some parts of the attack, purely relying on its own defensive power to withstand some attacks. Meanwhile, it sought to seize this opportunity to attack the Sword Formation Barrier, trying every possible method to escape the area. Only by escaping could it reverse the situation. Otherwise, continuing like this would be like boiling a frog in warm water, and it would eventually be dragged to death by Lin Tianming. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast chose a direction and suddenly extended its claws, its two huge and sharp claws continuously hit the light screen of the barrier. As for the massive Sword Qi attacks from behind, the Primordial Lion Beast ignored them at this moment. With a series of crackling sounds, numerous Sword Qi pounded on the back of the Primordial Lion Beast. In that moment, sparks flew everywhere, accompanied by roaring sounds. And the mass of Sword Qi that contacted the hide of the Primordial Lion Beast were quickly repelled, eventually dissipating completely in the surroundings. As for the Primordial Lion Beast, it grunted a few times, showing some deep and shallow scratches on its back. Fortunately, the Qi-Blood of the Primordial Lion Beast was strong, and its hide was thick; just that layer of thick skin alone could withstand an ordinary attack from an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength was notable, ordinary attacks couldn¡¯t cause substantial injury to the Primordial Lion Beast. In these circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s blocking attacks were not very effective. At this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast, using the rebound force, made its way towards the Sword Array Barricade directly ahead. Simultaneously, the two claws of the Primordial Lion Beast, one in front and one behind, struck precisely at the same spot on the barrier of the barricade. ¡°Pang pang¡­¡± Two explosive sounds rang out, and ripples stirred up on the Sword Array Barricade, which then began to shake violently. At this moment, Lin Tianming concentrated deeply and controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all his might. As for the split second earlier, he had already perceived the intent of the Primordial Lion Beast and wanted to take various measures to stop it. Regrettably, he had just ended a round of attacks, and it was clearly too late to launch a new attack to block the Primordial Lion Beast. Moreover, Lin Tianming never expected the Primordial Lion Beast to be so decisive, abandoning the substantial Sword Qi attacks from behind and preferring to face those damages to charge at the Sword Array Barricade. Such a change indeed caught Lin Tianming somewhat off guard. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had always maintained high vigilance against this Primordial Lion Beast, and he himself was a cultivator with rich combat experience. Just as the Primordial Lion Beast struck with its claws, Lin Tianming maximized the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s potential in the shortest time possible. It was precisely because of this that, after the Earth Fiend Sword Formation trembled a few times, it eventually stabilized. At the same time, Lin Tianming quickly unleashed a flurry of attacks, again diverting the attention of the Primordial Lion Beast and thereby taking the opportunity to reduce the coverage of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming acted quickly, organizing a new round of attacks in an instant. At this point, seeing its attack miss, the Primordial Lion Beast became even more furious, with a richer sense of wariness in its eyes. However, at this moment, the situation gave the Primordial Lion Beast no time or chance to catch its breath. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s new round of attacks arrived as scheduled, each Sword Qi more powerful than before. Not only that, Lin Tianming unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Power again, hoping to exert greater pressure on the Primordial Lion Beast. And indeed, it did. Facing such a torrential attack, the Primordial Lion Beast couldn¡¯t ignore it even if it wanted to, because while Lin Tianming¡¯s ordinary attacks could be barely overlooked, the attacks from the Technique Divine Power were no less powerful than a typical Spirit Art. Under such an onslaught, even a talented Late Stage of the Third Order Demonic Beast didn¡¯t dare to face it head-on. In such circumstances, the Primordial Lion Beast had to find a way to attack the Sword Array Barricade on one hand, and on the other hand, it also had to keep an eye on Lin Tianming. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast had no choice but to fight on two fronts. In an instant, a new round of attacks from both sides collided. For a moment, the interior of the canyon resonated with crackling explosive noises, accompanied by painful growls. Within the Sword Formation, sparks flew everywhere, and powerful fluctuations dispersed. Within those sparks, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks came like waves, one round swiftly following another. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to shrink the range of the Sword Formation. After several rounds of bombardment, the Primordial Lion Beast was thoroughly on the losing end, with injuries covering its body, many places split open, its aura palpably weaker than at its peak. By this time, under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation rapidly shrank, soon reaching a range of over a hundred meters. At this point, the intensity of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had become very stable, even if Lin Tianming no longer pressured the Primordial Lion Beast, allowing it to attack at will, it could still hold on for a while. Seeing this, the situation was completely under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, heralding that the life of the Primordial Lion Beast was hanging by a thread. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, seeing the scene before him, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling immensely delighted. In his heart, he was genuinely shocked by the strength of the Primordial Lion Beast. To think that in this process of over ten rounds of attacks, he had gone all out, having spent over half of his Mana. Even for him, sustaining such high-intensity attacks felt strenuous. For a moment, his complexion turned somewhat pale, and his aura also became weaker. However, seeing the Primordial Lion Beast firmly trapped inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, Lin Tianming forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart, and immediately geared up fully focused, vowing to defeat this powerful Demonic Beast as soon as possible. ¡­ Chapter 1152 - 602: Beating Up Chapter 1152: Chapter 602: Beating Up At this moment, Lin Tianming watched the Primordial Lion Beast trapped in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation panic-stricken and desperately charging at the Sword Array Barricade. Under the repeated onslaught of the Primordial Lion Beast, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation merely shook for a while before quickly stabilizing. This scene greatly shook Lin Tianming. After all, the Primordial Lion Beast had a demonic body, and although its Spirit Wisdom was almost close to that of normal Human Race, this slight difference also led it to make many irrational actions. Upon reflection, this was also because it was utterly unaware of the origin of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. It should be known that the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was a Divine Skill accompanied by a Heavenly Grade Technique. Moreover, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation was supported by seventy-two swords, all of which were treasures at the level of Third Order Magical Treasures. Any one of these seventy-two swords could match a life-bound magical treasure of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator. Furthermore, the formation was composed entirely of seventy-two treasure swords, just the sheer number of these treasure swords was enough to shock any Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Now, the number of Earth Evil Swords had reached its peak, and under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, had been condensed into a hundred meters in range. Such a Sword Array, in Lin Tianming¡¯s view, was already as solid as a golden soup. However, the Primordial Lion Beast did not understand any of these facts, and what¡¯s more, it had been trapped in the formation for quite some time, constantly enduring the high-intensity pressure of the formation itself. Moreover, with the wandering Sword Qi inside the formation, along with Lin Tianming¡¯s tide-like attacks, it was hard for the Primordial Lion Beast to even catch a breath. Under such circumstances, the frantically suppressed Primordial Lion Beast was terror-stricken, hence each of its attacks was with full force, filling the entire resistance process with a flavor of rage. Following a loud boom, the attack of the Primordial Lion Beast forcefully clashed against the Sword Array Barricade. Quickly, the Sword Array Barricade was restored to its original state, and the attack of the Primordial Lion Beast once again was in vain. At this time, the Primordial Lion Beast had just stabilized its body, its gaze fixed on the Sword Array Barricade and refrained from attacking again like before. By now, the Primordial Lion Beast seemed to understand that all its previous attacks were futile and had no effect on the Sword Array. Even more crucially, the situation could no longer be dragged on. Otherwise, being gradually worn to death was just a matter of time. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, faced with a desperate situation, the Primordial Lion Beast made a desperate move, filled with terror. In a flash, the Primordial Lion Beast suddenly roared and a ripple rapidly appeared in front of it. This ripple swiftly expanded, quickly forming a massive Circular Ring several meters wide. Following that, the Primordial Lion Beast leaped forward, its massive body agilely diving through the ripple. In an instant, the figure of the Primordial Lion Beast vanished. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he made no motion to stop. Because with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he could vaguely see the movement trajectory of the Primordial Lion Beast, still contained within the Sword Array. More crucially, the Barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had already formed and was very stable. Even though the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s innate ability was special, allowing it to switch positions using Spatial Fissures, that required certain prerequisites. While the wandering Sword Qi inside the Sword Array might not be as powerful as the Tiangang Ninth Sword, when it came to an area of a hundred meters, the power of those Sword Qi underwent a qualitative transformation. What was more crucial was that the Sword Array Barricade was now incredibly stable, and there was no need to worry about the Primordial Lion Beast breaking through the Barrier using its Divine Ability Talent. And indeed, that was the case. With a muffled sound, the previously vanished Primordial Lion Beast then reappeared. This time, the Primordial Lion Beast appeared at the edge of a barricade, less than ten meters from the Barrier. As for the muffled sound just now, it was produced when the Primordial Lion Beast was moving through the channel within the Spatial Fissure and then collided with the Sword Array Barricade. With the Barrier blocking, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s Divine Ability was rendered ineffective, and after the collision, it was propelled away. After stabilizing its body, the Primordial Lion Beast looked at the still-existing Barrier in front of it, filled with some confusion, but more so with horror. Since its Divine Ability had always been infallible, it was also the key means of survival for their species in the Cultivation World for thousands of years. However, now facing Lin Tianming¡¯s arsenal of measures, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s most relied upon Divine Ability unexpectedly lost its effect, truly catching the Primordial Lion Beast off guard. What the Primordial Lion Beast was unaware of, was that Lin Tianming possessed the blessing of a treasure such as the Eye of Five Colors, resulting in its innate Divine Ability losing its greatest effectiveness, and it just so happened to be restrained by Lin Tianming¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Otherwise, had it been any other method, the Primordial Lion Beast certainly would have easily evaded the attack and quickly counterattacked. Besides this, Lin Tianming¡¯s inherent power was formidable; even an ordinary Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, let alone a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, was easily not Lin Tianming¡¯s match. Under these various conditional factors, the battle between the Primordial Lion Beast and Lin Tianming was so tough. Now, as the Primordial Lion Beast faced such a dilemma, even though its power was quite extraordinary, it was helpless. Especially since Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm at the moment, and he didn¡¯t plan to continue delaying, to avoid complications from arising. Thus, observing the flustered Primordial Lion Beast, Lin Tianming seized the moment before it could react and launched an attack first. Chapter 1153 - 602: A Brutal Beating_2 Chapter 1153: Chapter 602: A Brutal Beating_2 At that instant, Lin Tianming swiftly made a single-handed seal, launching a series of precise spiritual light strikes onto the Tiangang Sword. In the blink of an eye, a flash of light shimmered on the Tiangang Sword, which then transformed into a roaring dragon and shot forth. Having done this, Lin Tianming did not let down his guard and immediately continued to shrink the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, coordinating with the divine skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword to squeeze the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s last bit of living space. Under his attack, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was filled with an intense barrage of assaults, not only from the vast numbers of Sword Qi but also from Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword. ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­¡± Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the Sword Qi ran rampant, howling as it swept through. It was at this moment that the Primordial Lion Beast recovered from its initial panic. Next, as the Primordial Lion Beast raised its head, it saw an overwhelming onslaught of Sword Qi, among which was the Tiangang Sword it dreadfully feared. Moreover, led by the Tiangang Sword, an immense momentum built up like a steel torrent, rushing head-on toward it. In that instant, the Primordial Lion Beast sensed the breath of death. As the vast waves of Sword Qi drew closer, the Primordial Lion Beast hastily struck out with its paws, knocking the leading Tiangang Sword away. However, there were too many attacks. Even with all its strength, the Primordial Lion Beast couldn¡¯t deflect them all or dodge every hit. Under such circumstances, many Sword Qi attacks still came through, eventually bombarding various parts of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s body. For a time, the wailing cries of the Primordial Lion Beast were incessant. Amongst its roars, some Sword Qi left numerous wounds of various sizes and depths on its body. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some of the more severe injuries stripped away chunks of its hide and even some crimson flesh. When the round of attacks ended, the dust and flashes of fire dispersed. At this point, looking over, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s aura was significantly waner, its body scorched black, riddled with wounds that were oozing fresh blood. After that barrage, the Primordial Lion Beast, despite defending itself, accumulated an increasing number of injuries, which clearly impacted its strength. In contrast, Lin Tianming, though having consumed some mana, saw his overall momentum steadily soar. Such a comparison made the outcome between the two sides evidently clear. At this point, Lin Tianming, hearing the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s unwilling growls, showed no mercy and attacked once more. Soon, another three rounds of attacks were over. After several consecutive rounds of assault, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks became more and more fierce, each targeting the vital areas of the Primordial Lion Beast. At first, the Primordial Lion Beast could still resist a bit, at least keeping its injuries within a controllable limit. But as time went on, the reach of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation continued to shrink, further limiting the living space of the Primordial Lion Beast. Under these conditions, the Primordial Lion Beast was severely wounded, with its overall strength declining by at least forty percent compared to its peak. By now, the Primordial Lion Beast was incapable of mounting an effective counterattack, let alone threatening Lin Tianming¡¯s safety. Moreover, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had become as impregnable as a fortress, impervious to the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s attacks¡ªit couldn¡¯t even cause it to shake slightly. Seeing this, a trace of a smile finally surfaced on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. He was well aware that, though the Primordial Lion Beast wasn¡¯t dead, its life was completely in his hands, and with determination, he could completely annihilate it in just a few rounds. However, Lin Tianming did not intend to end the life of the Primordial Lion Beast so quickly, for he wanted to attempt subduing this talented and powerful Demonic Beast. If he could subdue the Primordial Lion Beast, not to mention its Divine Ability Talent, just its powerful strength at the Late Stage of the Third Order, would be comparable to a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. This being said, the Primordial Lion Beast would indeed be an excellent aide. Yet, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t sure if he could succeed as he wished. After all, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s realm was higher than his. Although Lin Tianming was stronger, the Primordial Lion Beast had great innate talent and significant Spirit Wisdom. Such a Demonic Beast also had a certain pride and definitely would not submit easily to him. Regardless, Lin Tianming was determined to give it a try. If successful, he would gain an incredibly powerful Demonic Beast with an exceptionally strange Innate Divine Ability as a Spiritual Pet. At that time, with the couple united, plus the aid of a herd of Third Order Spiritual Pets, even if faced with the entirety of the Golden Core Cultivators from the Five Poison Sect hunting them down, they would most likely be able to escape unscathed. In this sense, the assistance that this Primordial Lion Beast could offer them was indeed significant. Understanding this, Lin Tianming decided that he had to try his best no matter what, at the very least not to have regrets afterward. Besides, if the taming was unsuccessful, he could simply kill it¡ªthis would not take much effort. Therefore, Lin Tianming now turned his body around and changed his offensive strategy. He slowly walked towards the Primordial Lion Beast while continuously controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to narrow its bounds. Soon, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shrunk to a few dozen zhang. At this point, the area had become quite small. For a Primordial Lion Beast with a body size of several zhang, that was only enough space for about ten body lengths. Under these circumstances, the Sword Qi inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was incredibly dense. Beyond the space occupied by the Primordial Lion Beast, there was nearly no room left to survive. However, after reaching this degree, Lin Tianming did not continue to shrink the formation but instead controlled the Sword Qi within the Sword Array to slice at the beast in a heavy, relentless manner. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, miserable screams echoed from within the Sword Array, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine upon hearing them. Afterward, Lin Tianming halted his attack and entered the Sword Array with big strides. And at this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast, lying prone on the ground, twisted its body and roared in pain. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming wore an expressionless face, simply watching the Primordial Lion Beast with a cold gaze. He then extended his Divine Sense towards the Primordial Lion Beast, conveying his desire to subjugate it. Quickly, the Primordial Lion Beast lifted its head with a fierce glint in its eyes and, with a roar, lunged a claw straight towards Lin Tianming¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. Seeing this, Lin Tianming gave a mocking smile, casually slapped away the oncoming sharp claw, sending the body of the Primordial Lion Beast flying as well. When the Primordial Lion Beast heavily crashed into the ground, another series of agonizing howls followed. At this time, seeing the reaction of the Primordial Lion Beast, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Hmph¡­ so ungrateful!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming charged forward, his iron-like fists raining down punch after punch on the back of the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± Loud booming noises followed one after another, echoing throughout the entire ravine along with the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s cries of agony. These booming noises were the dull thuds of Lin Tianming¡¯s fists smashing into the back of the Primordial Lion Beast. As for those cries of agony, naturally, they were because the Primordial Lion Beast was enduring tremendous pain, unable to hold back its screams. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s physical body was powerful, his strength was extremely astonishing, and not a bit inferior to the body of a Third Grade Medium Stage Demonic Beast. Even a casual punch from him carried immense power. A single punch, if landed on an unguarded Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast, would likely need only one blow to end the creature¡¯s life. However, the Primordial Lion Beast had robust Qi-Blood and astonishing defensive power, and it had not suffered any particularly serious fatal injuries earlier on. Thus, after enduring several punches from Lin Tianming in a row, the Primordial Lion Beast did not collapse but retained its complete body, and its breathing was relatively unobstructed, showing at least no signs of death. Lin Tianming had actually done this intentionally. In his view, to achieve his goal and wear down the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s fighting spirit, there was no avoiding a fierce beating and torment. Much like how he subdued the Purple Gold Eagle before, it was through a combination of a severe beating and enticement that he finally managed to have it under his command. The only difference was the vast difference in grade and strength between the two. Nevertheless, no matter what, these carrot-and-stick methods were an essential part of his strategy. Knowing this, Lin Tianming intended to keep the Primordial Lion Beast alive but would not hold back excessively, nor would he be polite with the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡­ Chapter 1154 - 603: Another Spirit Beast Acquired Chapter 1154: Chapter 603: Another Spirit Beast Acquired As the beating ended, Lin Tianming continued to extend his Divine Sense to communicate with the Primordial Lion Beast. However, even so, the Primordial Lion Beast still displayed a fierce light in its eyes, showing no signs of compromise. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste more time with it and once again started to pummel it with his fists. After three continuous rounds of beating, the Primordial Lion Beast was now at death¡¯s door, barely clinging to life. At this rate, even if Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to take its life, it would take the Primordial Lion Beast at least a decade to recover to its peak. And at this time, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s energy was weak, and the hostility in its eyes had dissipated a lot, whether out of utter despair or actual submission was unknown. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming finally showed a trace of satisfaction on his face. Following that, Lin Tianming waved his somewhat numb fists and then arrived in front of the Primordial Lion Beast. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the nearly lifeless Primordial Lion Beast and once again sent out his Divine Sense to try and communicate. During this time, Lin Tianming first threatened, then began to comfort the Primordial Lion Beast in his words. At the same time, Lin Tianming did not forget to promise various benefits, coaxing and deceiving the Primordial Lion Beast with conditions for it to choose. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, to be able to subjugate such a powerful beast with extraordinary talent, as long as he had the ability and conditions, he was indeed not too stingy. After all, the Purple Gold Eagle had followed him for many years, growing from the Middle Stage of the First Order to the present, having reached the very limit of the Late Phase of the Second Order. Not only that, but after Lin Tianming had bid on a Third Order Demon Pill in the Longqing Market of the Golden Crow Country, he had the Purple Gold Eagle swallow it before leaving the Golden Crow Country a few years ago. Now, the Purple Gold Eagle was sleeping inside the Qiankun Jade, busy attempting to reach the Third Order. With these years of sleep, logically the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s breakthrough process should soon yield results. If it weren¡¯t for the long process of demonic beasts breaking through, usually taking five to eight years at the least and twenty years at the most being quite normal. Otherwise, perhaps the Purple Gold Eagle would have already entered the Third Order. Moreover, apart from the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming¡¯s other Spirit Beast, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, had successfully made its breakthrough to the Third Order over ten years ago. The only regret is that the Bloodthirsty Jiao could not get through the Heavenly Tribulation. Otherwise, Lin Tianming would have helped his two Spirit Beasts to reach the Third Order by now. From this, one can see how much Lin Tianming cares for his Spirit Beasts and is willing to spend a certain amount of treasure resources to support them in their rapid growth. Now, in order to successfully subjugate the Primordial Lion Beast, Lin Tianming used a mixture of soft and hard tactics, employing various deceitful methods. Not long after, the Primordial Lion Beast understood Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions, and then it sprawled on the ground, opening its mouth and letting out a few low roars. At this moment, seeing the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s actions, Lin Tianming thought that it seemed to have agreed to acknowledge its master. Thus, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, with a radiant expression on his face. After calming himself down a bit, Lin Tianming quickly reached out with his Divine Sense to communicate with the Primordial Lion Beast. Soon, he confirmed the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s willingness to accept him as its master once more. With that settled, Lin Tianming was ecstatic, and he quickly began the process of becoming its master. In less than the time it took for a cup of tea to brew, Lin Tianming had signed a contract with the Primordial Lion Beast, completing all the procedures for mastery. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the connection between himself and the Primordial Lion Beast, exactly like his bond with the Purple Gold Eagle and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. And this also meant that he had gained another powerful demonic beast, and a strong entity at the Late Stage of the Third Order, no less. Just then, the successfully subdued Primordial Lion Beast forced itself to cheer up and affectionately nuzzled against Lin Tianming¡¯s Daoist robe. Seeing that the Primordial Lion Beast was seriously injured and its energy somewhat unstable, Lin Tianming quickly took out several elixirs meant for healing and fed them to the Primordial Lion Beast. Having done all this, Lin Tianming then put the Primordial Lion Beast into the Qiankun Jade to let it rest and recover from its injuries. Without any accidents, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s injuries would not heal quickly, and in the coming years, it probably would not easily emerge. However, the Primordial Lion Beast had high talent and powerful Bloodline Power, even with such injuries, with the aid of Lin Tianming¡¯s elixirs, recovery was just a matter of time. And after the Primordial Lion Beast fully recovered, with its current Grade strength, it would certainly be comparable to a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. In fact, the feeling that the Primordial Lion Beast gave Lin Tianming was that it was even stronger than He Lanjun, whom he had fought before. This also meant that the Primordial Lion Beast could deal with Lu Xingfeng of Zhenyang Sect and Zhou Yunxiao of Myriad Medicine Valley by itself, and they would probably not be a match for the Primordial Lion Beast. With this in mind, the Primordial Lion Beast would surely become a great support for Lin Tianming for a long time to come. Knowing this, Lin Tianming felt very excited, with an anticipatory smile on his face. After regaining some composure, Lin Tianming then turned his attention to the battlefield where Qin Xi was. Following his gaze, Qin Xi was currently engaged in an intense battle with another Primordial Lion Beast. Looking at the overall situation, Qin Xi still had the upper hand, dominating the Primordial Lion Beast throughout the fight. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming nodded with satisfaction. In his heart, this Primordial Lion Beast was indeed extraordinary, with its Divine Skills being incredibly tricky and unpredictable. Chapter 1155 - 603: Another Spirit Beast_2 Chapter 1155: Chapter 603: Another Spirit Beast_2 sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, since Qin Xi had broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, her overall prowess had also leaped to a new level. Before this breakthrough, she was already capable of fighting on equal terms with Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators. Now with the breakthrough in her cultivation, her strength had become even more formidable. If not for the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s significant strength, given Qin Xi¡¯s current combat power, she would have likely achieved victory in the fight already. At the moment, since Qin Xi had the upper hand, Lin Tianming, in order to better train Qin Xi, couldn¡¯t be bothered to intervene and potentially ruin such a good opportunity for her to practice. In such a situation, Lin Tianming stood by as a spectator. On the battlefield, Qin Xi fought more fiercely as the battle went on, her robust attacks repeatedly forcing the Primordial Lion Beast to retreat. Every hit inflicted great pain on the Primordial Lion Beast, whose wounds increased in number, and overall injuries worsened. After several rounds of attacks, the Primordial Lion Beast was repeatedly repelled and finally cornered by Qin Xi. At this time, seeing no way out, the Primordial Lion Beast seemed to contemplate fleeing. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast roared upwards, and immediately in front of it, a ripple of water appeared. Following that, the Primordial Lion Beast leaped into the ripple and quickly vanished from Qin Xi¡¯s sight. The Primordial Lion Beast was very fast; all its actions completed in the blink of an eye. At this moment, witnessing this scene, Qin Xi also showed a surprised expression. Clearly, although she had heard about the innate divine abilities of the Primordial Lion Beast being bizarre, she had never seen them before, nor experienced them firsthand. Seeing such a scene now, she naturally became somewhat surprised. However, soon, Qin Xi calmed down and promptly devised a strategy to respond. In that instant, Qin Xi formed a Law Decree with her hands, performing a strange gesture quickly. Shortly after, mist swirled in front of her, eventually condensing into thick clumps of crystals that rapidly filled a large portion of the battlefield. With such changes, the entire battlefield shimmered with silver light. Underneath this silver crystal, a fine long thread appeared before Qin Xi. Clearly, Qin Xi knew the Primordial Lion Beast was attempting to flee, and its divine skills involved manipulating spatial forces. Facing such peculiar divine skills, Qin Xi understood the pressing task was to swiftly locate the trajectory of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s movement. Otherwise, once the Primordial Lion Beast truly got far, catching up to it would not be easy. Therefore, Qin Xi immediately used her Spirit Root Attribute to condense a large swath of crystals, enveloping a vast area of the battlefield. Simultaneously, these crystals helped in tracking the movement trajectory of the Primordial Lion Beast. Indeed, she succeeded. Now, seeing the fine light thread before her eyes was surely the movement path of the Primordial Lion Beast. Thus, Qin Xi faintly smiled, her hands¡¯ movements unceasing. In an instant, Qin Xi unleashed another strike, heading straight for the end of the fine light thread. Following a painful roar, the body of the Primordial Lion Beast reappeared. At this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast crashed onto the ground creating a large crater, a bloody wound visible on its body as blood dyed the ground red, pooling into a puddle at the bottom of the pit. The Primordial Lion Beast was howling in agony, its eyes filled with a rage-fueled glare. Just then, Qin Xi slowly approached the Primordial Lion Beast. Given that the beast had already been heavily injured, reducing its strength considerably. Moreover, even at its peak, the Primordial Lion Beast was never a match for Qin Xi, who had always dominated the fight, seldom allowing the beast a chance to pose any direct threat to her. Now, with the Primordial Lion Beast heavily wounded, it was even less likely to be her opponent. Seeing Qin Xi slowly advancing, her sword shimmering with silver light, it seemed ready to strike at any moment, potentially ending the life of the Primordial Lion Beast. Witnessing this scene, the Primordial Lion Beast was both frightened and infuriated, its eyes flashing red, clearly enraged to the utmost. However, even so, Qin Xi was not intimidated by the Primordial Lion Beast. She saw her moving slowly, her hands forming Law Decrees again, and streams of Spiritual Light struck the Primordial Lion Beast with the speed of thunder, bombarding its body. Soon, a series of crackling sounds echoed, accompanied by the agonizing roars of the Primordial Lion Beast. Qin Xi¡¯s strikes were perfectly timed, each one inflicted pain on the Primordial Lion Beast but was not lethal. After this round of attacks, the Primordial Lion Beast grew even more enraged. Consequently, the Primordial Lion Beast, enduring the intense pain in its body, swung its claw directly at Qin Xi¡¯s head. Regrettably, at this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast, having suffered heavy injuries, possessed only sixty percent of its peak strength. Therefore, facing such an attack, Qin Xi easily crushed it. Following that, Qin Xi launched several more rounds of attacks, beating the injured Primordial Lion Beast ruthlessly. Soon, after several continuous rounds of attacks, the Primordial Lion Beast was covered in wounds and much of its blood stained the earth, presenting a pitiful sight. As for the Primordial Lion Beast itself, it was also barely clinging to life, maintaining just a sliver of vitality. At this moment, Qin Xi approached the Primordial Lion Beast, her sharp sword hanging over its head. In such a situation, she could easily slay the Primordial Lion Beast with a simple gesture, ending this battle. However, like Lin Tianming, Qin Xi was also keen to attempt taming the Primordial Lion Beast as a master, thereby gaining a Demonic Beast nearly as powerful as themselves for assistance. Thus, Qin Xi was measured in her attacks. Otherwise, the Primordial Lion Beast would have already been dead by this time. Consequently, Qin Xi quickly extended her Divine Sense, attempting to communicate with the Primordial Lion Beast. At this time, the Primordial Lion Beast also sensed the presence above its head and felt the scent of death. However, upon understanding Qin Xi¡¯s intentions, the Primordial Lion Beast initially resisted fiercely, but seeing its companion had completely disappeared and still reluctant to submit, it finally saw no opportunity to waste time nor any possible chance for survival. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast hesitated but eventually made the right choice. Soon, Qin Xi felt the response from the Primordial Lion Beast, indicating its agreement to acknowledge her as its master. At that moment, Qin Xi was overjoyed, and a thrilled smile appeared on her face. Following that, since the Primordial Lion Beast agreed to acknowledge Qin Xi as its master, the subsequent taming process was smooth. Therefore, Qin Xi did not intend to waste time and quickly began the taming process. Regarding the Primordial Lion Beast, it was very cooperative at this point. In less than the time it takes to boil a cup of tea, the ceremony of acknowledging Qin Xi as its master was completed. When Qin Xi sensed the connection between herself and the Primordial Lion Beast, she was immensely thrilled. After calming herself a bit, Qin Xi also did not skimp and quickly took out some healing elixirs for the Primordial Lion Beast to swallow. After completing these tasks, Qin Xi then put away the Primordial Lion Beast. Afterward, Qin Xi turned her gaze and saw Lin Tianming, who had been watching the battle, and she stepped towards him. At that moment, as the battlefield returned to tranquility, Lin Tianming also walked towards Qin Xi. From a distance, Lin Tianming¡¯s voice carried over. ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ Congratulations on successfully taming the Primordial Lion Beast!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi giggled and said: ¡°Ming, don¡¯t tease Xi¡¯er!¡± ¡°You know, Ming tamed a Primordial Lion Beast ahead of me, a powerful Late Stage of the Third Order beast.¡± ¡°And the strength of Xi¡¯er¡¯s Primordial Lion Beast is far less than the one subdued by Ming, so there¡¯s really nothing worth praising.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming waved his hand and smiled. ¡°Alright, Xi¡¯er, since the trouble with this Primordial Lion Beast is resolved, we should move further inside and see if there are any treasures in the lairs of these fellows.¡± After Lin Tianming spoke, he stared intently at the depths of the canyon, showing a look of anticipation. Hearing this, Qin Xi naturally did not object. Moreover, she herself was also quite curious about what treasures might exist inside the canyon. Thus, Qin Xi nodded in agreement with Lin Tianming, then they briefly chatted and confirmed the specifics of their next plan. ¡­ Chapter 1156 - 604 Xiao Diao Transcends Tribulation Chapter 1156: Chapter 604 Xiao Diao Transcends Tribulation Soon, the couple began tidying up the battlefield to at least make it look less like a scene of fierce fighting, so as not to be too ghastly to bear. Having done this, Lin Tianming and his wife then departed from this place, heading towards the interior of the gorge. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a short while, the two had already reached the deepest part of the gorge. Here, silence pervaded, and Spatial Fissures appeared even more frequently. As for these, Lin Tianming and his wife were well prepared, skillfully dodging them with relative ease. Therefore, once sure there were no other dangers inside the gorge, Lin Tianming and his wife began to search separately. At this time, Lin Tianming surveyed the dense forest in front of him, his sharp gaze probing through it. Soon, Lin Tianming discovered a three-hundred-year-old Tianxin Grass. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming was very pleased. Although this Tianxin Grass was only three hundred years old and temporarily not suitable for refining elixirs, The Tianxin Grass was quite precious and rare, almost extinct in the entire Cultivation World, and thus, extremely valuable. This young Tianxin Grass could be transplanted into the Qiankun Jade for cultivation, inevitably reaching the required age for Alchemy one day. With that thought, Lin Tianming quickly set to work and soon successfully transplanted the Tianxin Grass. As for what was to come, a thorough search was still needed. He was well aware that if a Tianxin Grass sapling grew here, there must be mature Tianxin Grass as well. If he wanted to refine the Tribulation Evasion Pill in the shortest time, he needed to find more mature Tianxin Grass. As for the mature Tianxin Grass, only those reaching a thousand-year age could meet the basic conditions for refining the Tribulation Evasion Pill. With that said, Lin Tianming knew he still needed to work hard. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming continued his search in the vicinity. Less than the time it takes for a pot of tea to brew, Lin Tianming arrived at a rugged hollow between hills. Looking around, a dense mist enveloped the area, and from afar, the fragrance of medicine wafted over. At this moment, smelling the scent of medicine, Lin Tianming knew there was a high possibility of finding top-quality Spiritual Medicine here. Thus, Lin Tianming searched excitedly with his keen gaze. ¡°Ha ha¡­ It¡¯s Tianxin Grass!¡± ¡°And a thousand-year-old Tianxin Grass at that!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming was quite elated, a subtle smile flashing across his face. Following his gaze, within the dense forest, a Tianxin Grass was flourishing. The Tianxin Grass was vibrant with life, its rich medicinal scent proof of its thousand-year maturity. Then, Lin Tianming excitedly rushed over and carefully collected this Tianxin Grass. With this mature Tianxin Grass, plus the one obtained from Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming now had two. Even if no other mature Tianxin Grass was found, just with these two, he was confident in successfully refining a batch of Tribulation Evasion Pill. In that case, Lin Tianming could at least obtain one Tribulation Evasion Pill, sufficient for temporary use. However, as more members of the Lin Family reached the Golden Core Stage, the probability of encountering bottlenecks increased, and elixirs like the Tribulation Evasion Pill were always better in larger quantities. Moreover, even if the Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family didn¡¯t need them, they could be taken to the Golden Core Auction Venue, serving as a finale treasure for auction and easily fetching an astronomical price. After all, in the Cultivation World, any elixirs that could help improve cultivation were the most sought-after Treasures. Just like a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, once it appeared, it would cause many Cultivators to fight desperately, even causing fellow sect disciples or clan members to turn against each other. From this, one could understand the value of the Tribulation Evasion Pill. Therefore, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t find too much Tianxin Grass to be a bad thing. Knowing this, Lin Tianming adjusted his own mindset and continued searching carefully in the gorge. Half a day passed. In some corner of the gorge, Lin Tianming and his wife reconvened. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi, who wore a smile, and asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, how was your harvest?¡± Hearing the question, Qin Xi giggled before replying. ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er found four mature Tianxin Grass plants, and together with the saplings, there are twelve, their ages ranging between three hundred to nine hundred years.¡± After saying this, Qin Xi continued to ask, ¡°Ming, what about your harvest?¡± Lin Tianming, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s response, felt very satisfied with her achievements, feeling a sudden surge of joy in his heart. After all, Tianxin Grass was highly valuable, and this specific trip had already reaped two powerful Primordial Lion Beasts as Spirit Beasts, and now Qin Xi had again secured several mature Tianxin Grass plants, amounting to a tremendous gain. Not only that, Lin Tianming¡¯s own findings had not yet been counted. If his own harvest were to be added, the total value of the Treasures they had acquired from this trip was astonishing. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt very pleased and slowly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, I have found seven mature Tianxin Grass plants, and another eighteen saplings, with ages also ranging from three hundred to nine hundred years.¡± ¡°With these Tianxin Grass plants, plus the few that Xi¡¯er obtained, and the mature one from Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag, that¡¯s twelve mature Spiritual Medicines, enough for our family to not lack this medicine for the next hundred or two hundred years.¡± Chapter 1157 - 604 Xiao Diaos Tribulation_2 Chapter 1157: Chapter 604 Xiao Diao¡¯s Tribulation_2 ¡°Moreover, there are more than thirty saplings left, which I believe will survive to some extent after transplantation.¡± ¡°Once these saplings mature, the family can continue to use them for elixir refinement and have supplies for a while longer.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded in satisfaction, equally overjoyed in her heart. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was brimming with an excited smile, his mood extremely elated. After all, the harvest from this trip to Ice Wind Valley was truly significant, having obtained two cultivators with Golden Core Stage combat power and a considerable amount of Tianxin Grass. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a harvest was enough to satisfy Lin Tianming. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Qin Xi. In a short while, while chatting with Qin Xi, Lin Tianming¡¯s face suddenly turned red. Seeing this, Qin Xi immediately became puzzled, and then asked with concern, ¡°Ming, has something unexpected happened?¡± Upon hearing this and seeing the serious look on Qin Xi¡¯s face, Lin Tianming knew she must have misunderstood. Therefore, Lin Tianming quickly waved his hand and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, no need to be alarmed!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Xiao Diao stirring within its seclusion, it looks like it¡¯s about to attract Heavenly Tribulation!¡± ¡°That fellow, ever since it swallowed that Third Order Demon Pill we obtained at the auction, has been silent for such a long time, it¡¯s about time for some activity.¡± Lin Tianming joked with a complaining tone, but in reality, he was quite excited. In his heart, the Purple Gold Eagle was the first Spirit Beast he had tamed and had been with him for many years, earning great merit for both him and the Lin Family during that time. For this reason, Lin Tianming has never been stingy, investing countless treasures in the Purple Gold Eagle. Now that the Purple Gold Eagle was finally ready to take that step, Lin Tianming was filled with mixed emotions, but more so with concern and relief. Because he knew very well that the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s talent was far inferior to the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and even the recently subdued Primordial Lion Beast. Even less so than the Bloodthirsty Jiao that had perished in the Heavenly Tribulation before. Thus, the chances of the Purple Gold Eagle successfully transcending the tribulation were not great. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was naturally worried. However, with no time to think about these concerns, since the Purple Gold Eagle had reached this point, it had to face the Heavenly Tribulation, whether it could safely transit or not. If lucky, it would be great to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation. If unlucky and it really died in the Heavenly Tribulation, he would be helpless and unable to provide much aid to the Purple Gold Eagle. What he could do now was to protect it during the Tribulation, ensuring the Purple Gold Eagle could concentrate and offering all the help it needed for a quick recovery during the vulnerable period following. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to waste any time. Then, Lin Tianming instructed Qin Xi to construct a Temporary Cave Abode at the entrance of the valley. Meanwhile, he released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Qiankun Jade and stood guard at the valley entrance, ensuring it could face the Heavenly Tribulation with peace of mind. Soon, the Purple Gold Eagle emerged from the Qiankun Jade and immediately darted towards the depths of the valley. At that moment, as Lin Tianming watched the Purple Gold Eagle disappear from sight, an expectant smile flashed across his face. And indeed, this place was a fine location for transcending tribulations. You see, this is the perilous Ice Wind Valley, and especially its deepest region. Due to its secluded and deep location, it is rarely visited by anyone. Not only that, this place was the lair of the Primordial Lion Beast, and within a hundred-mile radius, it¡¯s all its territory with no other Third Order Demon Beasts around. In that respect, this valley is not only very hidden but also quite safe, truly an excellent place for transcending tribulations. Deeply aware of these facts, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. Afterward, Lin Tianming sat down to meditate, not only to recover the mana spent in the previous battle but also to protect the Purple Gold Eagle during its tribulation. This was to prevent any unwary cultivators or Demonic Beasts from intruding and disturbing the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s process. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming and his wife took turns keeping watch. Until one day, half a month later, a burst of wild wind came rushing through, accompanied by the sound of thunder, which startled Lin Tianming from his meditation. At this moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his sharp gaze piercing through the dense fog, focusing on the direction of the depths of the gorge. Looking ahead, the depths were already experiencing violent winds and dense clouds, accompanied by flying sand and rolling stones, a clear sign that a storm was coming. Not only that, but the dark clouds were very low, with some silver-white lightning tearing through the void, clearly a precursor to a cultivator or demonic beast enduring the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming immediately sharpened his spirit, his gaze firmly attached to the direction of the depths of the gorge. It was then that Qin Xi also heard the commotion and promptly arrived next to Lin Tianming. ¡°Ming, is Xiao Diao about to undergo its tribulation?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his face showing a hint of anticipation. At that time, Qin Xi also spoke up to comfort him: ¡°Ming, Xiao Diao is very spirited and strong. It certainly can safely pass the tribulation and become a Third Order Spiritual Bird.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ certainly¡­¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh, and then together with Qin Xi, they watched every move in the distance closely. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± As successive peals of thunder sounded, a streak of silver light suddenly sliced through the clouds. Following that, a massive thunderball plummeted down, with the speed of lightning, smashing towards the earth deep within the gorge. At this very moment, a sharp and piercing cry emanated from the depths of the gorge, quickly spreading throughout the entire valley. This piercing cry was indeed emitted by the Purple Gold Eagle. As the screech rose, the Purple Gold Eagle also surged into the sky. Facing the imposing thunderball, not only did the Purple Gold Eagle not dodge, it charged towards the location of the thunderball instead. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise came, a red light cut through the void. In that red light, the thunderball was seen striking directly on the massive wings of the Purple Gold Eagle. At this time, the Purple Gold Eagle was apparently prepared, facing the attack of the thunderball, it folded its wings at some point, firmly protecting the space above its head. On closer inspection, the wings of the Purple Gold Eagle were covered in purple-gold feathers, the color strikingly conspicuous. Moreover, the purple-gold feathers were densely packed, each one like scale armor, forming what seemed to be an indestructible shield. When the thunderball hit the wings, a flash of red spark appeared immediately. Then, the Purple Gold Eagle was seen plummeting from the air at high speed, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but worry. And at this time, the thunderclouds in the sky continued to surge, showing no sign of dissipating. Moreover, the Purple Gold Eagle again let out a hoarse cry, clearly alive and not dead from a direct hit by the thunderball. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s hanging heart finally relaxed. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± In less than ten breaths of time, the second wave of the heavenly tribulation had already arrived. Facing the onslaught of the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, the Purple Gold Eagle showed no sign of fear. The Purple Gold Eagle valiantly took flight, repeating the same actions as before. Soon, amid a huge explosion, a familiar scene played out once again. Under this strike, the Purple Gold Eagle once again fell from mid-air, eventually creating a deep pit in the ground. At this moment, the Purple Gold Eagle was struggling in the pit, and it also let out a few painful cries. On closer inspection, one could see that the feathers on the wings of the Purple Gold Eagle were scattered all over the ground, revealing numerous bloody wounds, many of which were charred. Not only that, the breath of the Purple Gold Eagle was much weaker now; it had clearly sustained serious injuries. ¡­ Chapter 1158 - 1158: 605. The Nameless Abyss Chapter 1158: 605. The Nameless Abyss At this moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were still standing at the entrance of the canyon, their eyes fixed intently ahead, watching the entire process of the Heavenly Tribulation. Regarding the power of these two rounds of Thunder Tribulation, Lin Tianming felt that it was not as formidable as he had anticipated. For comparison, the power of the Thunder Tribulation that Xiao Diao was undergoing was visibly weaker than that of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Looking further, perhaps only the Thunder Tribulation faced by the Soul-eating Spider and the Bloodthirsty Jiao was about the same as that of Xiao Diao. As for the final outcome, the Soul-eating Spider successfully transcended the tribulation, while the Bloodthirsty Jiao perished under the Thunder Tribulation. However, upon further contemplation, this might have something to do with the Demonic Beasts¡¯ accumulation. In addition, the intensity of the Thunder Tribulation was also somewhat related to the Demonic Beasts¡¯ innate bloodline and talents. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just like the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, a demonly talented beast with unique bloodline and divine skills, which naturally incurs a stronger Thunder Tribulation. Hence, the better the demonic beast¡¯s bloodline talent, the tougher the tribulation. However, this also has its advantages; a demonic beast with a superior bloodline, once it transcends the Thunder Tribulation, is stronger than ordinary demonic beasts. Looking at it this way, there are benefits to a powerful Thunder Tribulation, but there are also certain drawbacks. In this aspect, it is somewhat similar to the Human Cultivators. Take Lin Tianming himself, because of his strong personal strength, the power of the Golden Core Tribulation he faced was very formidable. Not only him, but the Thunder Tribulation that Qin Xi once faced was also not small. Comparing it with other Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family, the difference in the power of Thunder Tribulation was obvious. And these, perhaps, are special aspects of the Heavenly Dao. As for the Thunder Tribulation faced by Xiao Diao this time, the power was not considered very strong. From the situation after the completion of the current two rounds of Thunder Tribulation, the possibility of Xiao Diao transcending the tribulation was not small. After all, among the many demonic beast races, Xiao Diao¡¯s innate bloodline talent is relatively ordinary. Additionally, Xiao Diao stayed at the Second Order level for a long time, and during this period, it followed Lin Tianming and consumed many treasures, so its overall accumulation is quite profound. Under these circumstances, the possibility of Xiao Diao transcending the tribulation this time is clearly higher than that of the initial Bloodthirsty Jiao. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt even more anticipation in his heart. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Just as Lin Tianming was lost in his myriad thoughts, a thunderous noise erupted, bringing his thoughts back to reality. At this time, just a few breaths of time had passed, and the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation had already formed. At this moment, Xiao Diao was also attracted by this scene, forcibly crawling out from the deep pit and immediately preparing itself. Despite being a demonic beast, Xiao Diao¡¯s current spirit wisdom was similar to a seven or eight-year-old child of the Human Race. But Xiao Diao was very aware of what this Thunder Tribulation meant for it. Once this last layer of Thunder Tribulation was passed, it would officially ascend to the Third Order Level. At that time, its overall strength, lifespan, and even spirit wisdom would all grow to varying degrees. Therefore, facing this last layer of Thunder Tribulation, Xiao Diao was not only unafraid but filled with fighting spirit. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a tremendous thunderous noise, a massive thunderball suddenly surged out from the dark clouds. Looking at it, this thunderball was incredibly huge, just judging from its size, it was many times larger than the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Not only that, the thunder on the thunderball continuously flickered, occasionally arcs of lightning pierced through the void. Seeing such a scene, merely the strong aura was more fierce than before, like it could destroy heavens and earth, looking extremely terrifying. At this moment, the thunderball had already descended, getting closer and closer to the Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing this scene, Xiao Diao was fearless, not only did it not retreat, it even charged towards the thunderball. While still midair, Xiao Diao suddenly let out a sharp cry, then firmly covered its head with its wings. Soon, the feathers on Xiao Diao¡¯s body burst into a dazzling brilliance, especially the feathers on the wings, which completely turned from pale red to golden color. Clearly, this sudden change in Xiao Diao was due to it utilizing the rarely used bloodline inheritance inside its body. Such methods are quite common among the Demon Beast Race. Take Xiao Diao itself, which possesses a trace of the Gold-winged Roc¡¯s bloodline. However, this bloodline is extremely thin and not likely to awaken easily. But once awakened, for a beast like the Purple Gold Eagle, it is a transformative leap from fish leaping over the dragon gate. As for now, the Purple Gold Eagle needed to survive this crisis, so it utilized this very thin Bloodline Power, hoping to leverage this power to turn danger into safety. Fortunately, the Purple Gold Eagle had previously devoured quite a few bodies of its kin, including quite a few demon cores of its kind. Thus, Xiao Diao refined some of the bloodline power from its fellows, accumulating a much larger amount of Gold-winged Roc¡¯s bloodline than before. Under these circumstances, the more Bloodline Power it could utilize this time during the tribulation, the greater the chances of success. Therefore, at this moment, Xiao Diao was giving its all, vowing to withstand this last layer of Thunder Tribulation. With this goal in mind, Xiao Diao fearlessly met the thunderball. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Amidst the thunderous noise, the thunderball violently struck Xiao Diao¡¯s wings. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, and the sky inside the canyon suddenly flashed with a dazzling light. Within that light, Xiao Diao let out a painful shriek, then directly plummeted from the sky. Chapter 1159 - 605 Nameless Abyss_2 Chapter 1159: Chapter 605 Nameless Abyss_2 Still in mid-air, they noticed one of Xiao Diao¡¯s wings was almost broken off, with a bloody and charred wound. At the same time, a large amount of fresh blood poured down towards the ground like raindrops. Then, a dull thud followed. It turned out that this sound was Xiao Diao crashing onto the ground, making a solid impact. At that very moment Xiao Diao landed, a strong aura erupted within the canyon, spreading in all directions. Simultaneously, the dense cloud in the sky churned a few times before retreating, swiftly restoring the sky to its normal color. At this point, Lin Tianming sensed the spreading aura and, looking at the receding clouds, a flash of excitement crossed his face. Because he clearly understood that the sweeping aura fluctuation was Xiao Diao passing the Heavenly Tribulation and officially stepping into the Third Order Level. Besides, the slowly dispersing cloud also indicated the final outcome of Xiao Diao¡¯s tribulation. If nothing went wrong, Xiao Diao must still be alive at this moment. Moreover, Xiao Diao¡¯s Demon Core had been baptized by the tribulation, and its body had undergone a complete transformation. Under such circumstances, Xiao Diao was undoubtedly a genuine Third Order Demon Bird now. Knowing this, Lin Tianming finally let out a sigh of relief. Not just him, Qin Xi standing beside him also wore an excited expression, her worried heart now relaxed. ¡°Ming, Xiao Diao succeeded!¡± Qin Xi exclaimed excitedly, a bright smile flashing across her face. ¡°Um¡­ Let¡¯s hurry and check on Xiao Diao!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response and then immediately rushed with Qin Xi towards Xiao Diao¡¯s location. Soon, the couple reached Xiao Diao¡¯s side. At that moment, Xiao Diao was still in a deep pit, struggling in pain and whimpering weakly. It seemed that Xiao Diao¡¯s injuries were significant, with one entire wing nearly completely severed and numerous other injuries on its body. Furthermore, Xiao Diao¡¯s aura was extremely weak, with blood all over the floor, presenting a pitiful sight. However, despite this, Xiao Diao¡¯s aura was still present and strong, only severely injured but ultimately not life-threatening. At this moment, when Xiao Diao saw Lin Tianming and his wife, it forgot the intense pain, tried to twist its body a few times to get up. Unfortunately, with one wing almost broken and severe injuries all around, it struggled several times without success. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly spoke a few comforting words. Immediately after, Lin Tianming took out several elixirs and hurriedly fed them all to Xiao Diao. After doing this, Lin Tianming collected Xiao Diao into the Qiankun Jade to let it recover in peace. With Xiao Diao¡¯s matter settled, Lin Tianming looked at the damaged canyon and secretly pondered their next plan. Not long after, Lin Tianming turned to Qin Xi and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ the two Primordial Lion Beasts have been subdued, and the Tianxin Grass has been obtained, our gains are already substantial.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Now, along with Xiao Diao¡¯s smooth breakthrough to Third Order, our trip to Ice Wind Valley has been incredibly fruitful.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes¡­ the gains this time are truly unexpected!¡± ¡°But that¡¯s good too, so what should we do next?¡± ¡°Shall we continue to train and hunt for treasures in Ice Wind Valley, or leave this place and travel elsewhere?¡± Qin Xi asked earnestly, an expectant expression on her face. Hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a while, thinking that although Ice Wind Valley was dangerous, it indeed housed some fine treasures. Take the Tianxin Grass, for example, they hadn¡¯t been very confident about finding it. Yet, it actually existed in Ice Wind Valley, which was indeed a pleasant surprise for Lin Tianming. That being said, Ice Wind Valley was not small, and the couple had only explored about 20-30 percent of its core area. As for the rest of the vast area, perhaps there were still some treasures and opportunities out there. Thinking this, Lin Tianming felt it was better to continue training in Ice Wind Valley for a while longer. After all, coming to this place is not easy, and since the couple currently has nothing else to do, nor do they have a more long-term training plan. Therefore, it might be better to continue training here. Once they leave the Cultivation Realm of Yuanzhen Kingdom, who knows when they will be able to train in Ice Wind Valley again. With this in mind, it might be worthwhile to thoroughly search this place while they have the chance, and then leave directly, as it¡¯s unlikely they will return here in the future. Understanding this, Lin Tianming made up his mind. Thus, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi started chatting idly, during which they discussed some of the specific plans for the next steps. In a short while, the couple reached a consensus on their plans. According to the plan, they would continue training in Ice Wind Valley, hoping to find some treasure, but if not, they would let it be. Once they felt they had trained enough, they would return to Yuanzhen City first. As for the subsequent specific plans, that is, to train in some neighboring countries of Yuanzhen Kingdom, any place with a Secret Realm was worth exploring. In this way, Lin Tianming and his wife immediately sprang into action. Soon, the couple erased the traces of their presence in the canyon and then chose a direction to burst forth. Time flew by, and three months passed in a blink. On this day, Lin Tianming and his wife appeared in a deep abyss. In the three months prior, Lin Tianming and his wife wandered aimlessly through Ice Wind Valley. Along the way, they cautiously searched for treasures and encountered Third Order Demonic Beasts twice. However, those Third Order Demonic Beasts were only at the initial stage, and their lairs did not contain any particularly valuable treasures. Therefore, Lin Tianming was too lazy to make a move to avoid unnecessary trouble. Consequently, the couple easily bypassed those Third Order Demonic Beasts and continued searching in Ice Wind Valley. Until today, Lin Tianming and his wife came to this deep abyss. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the couple stood on the edge of a cliff. Lin Tianming gazed deeply into the bottom of the abyss, his Divine Sense fully extended, beginning to search the entire abyss. After a brief exploration, he found the abyss to be very long and bottomless, with hot air constantly erupting from below. It seemed that there must be numerous Fire Attribute treasures below, or perhaps some powerful Fire Attribute Demonic Beasts. Feeling this, a solemn expression appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Seeing this, Qin Xi, standing beside him, asked with curiosity. ¡°Ming, did you discover something?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately came back to his senses. ¡°Xi¡¯er, if I¡¯m not mistaken, there should be a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast beneath this abyss!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Another Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi was somewhat surprised. It wasn¡¯t that Qin Xi lacked calmness, but since entering Ice Wind Valley, they had already encountered quite a few Third Order Demonic Beasts. Not to mention the earlier two Primordial Lion Beasts, now they had encountered another Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast. The proportion of such high-grade beasts was somewhat terrifying. After all, Third Order Demonic Beasts were considered strong figures in the Cultivation World, similar to Golden Core Cultivators. And the Third Order Demonic Beasts they had encountered along the way were only a few in total. Yet among these few encounters, this was already the second time they encountered a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast. This shows that Ice Wind Valley, one of the three most dangerous places in Yuanzhen Kingdom, indeed conceals numerous Third Order Demonic Beasts. And even strong ones at the Late Stage of Third Order are not rare. This point, through their experiences over the years, was quite apparent. Thus, Qin Xi was somewhat surprised upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation. ¡­ Chapter 1160 - 606: Salt Crystals Chapter 1160: Chapter 606: Salt Crystals At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi¡¯s face and nodded, then smiled indifferently. ¡°Hmm¡­there is indeed a Third Order Late Stage Earth Flame Dragon!¡± ¡°Earth Flame Dragon?¡± ¡°Ming, this kind of Demonic Beast is also very strong and has a high grade. I wonder what are your plans, Ming?¡± Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming with a serious expression and asked. Hearing this, Lin Tianming paused slightly, then began to speak. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ this Earth Flame Dragon is indeed not weak. If there aren¡¯t any good treasures, there is no need for us to provoke it and cause unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°However, my Blue Heart True Flame suddenly became a bit restless when I arrived here just now, as if there is something below that it is wary of, or very attracted to!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded her head and a hint of excitement flashed across her face. Because she was very clear that since Lin Tianming mentioned the presence of a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast here and they were still staying in this abyss, it obviously indicated that Lin Tianming was very interested in the treasures here. If nothing goes wrong, they are definitely going to descend to the bottom of the abyss to search and see what kind of treasure lies beneath. As for the Earth Flame Dragon here, if it knows what¡¯s good for it, it would be best for it to retreat on its own. If it does not, they will have no choice but to kill it. Understanding this, Qin Xi looked down into the unfathomable abyss and then reminded Lin Tianming. ¡°Ming¡­ that Earth Flame Dragon is also not weak, let¡¯s be careful!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Xi¡¯er, just be at ease!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a Third Order Late Stage Earth Flame Dragon. If it is sensible enough to retreat on its own, I might spare its life.¡± ¡°Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless and merciless!¡± Lin Tianming said with a cold laugh, apparently not taking that Earth Flame Dragon seriously at all. In reality, it wasn¡¯t that Lin Tianming was exceedingly arrogant, but given his current strength, even a Primordial Lion Beast with its freakishly strange Innate Divine Ability was easily subdued by him, not to mention an average Earth Flame Dragon. After all, although the Earth Flame Dragon was also at the Late Stage of the Third Order, its strength was not negligible. But compared to the Primordial Lion Beast, it clearly was not as significant. Thus, at this moment, Lin Tianming was calm in both appearance and heart. Afterward, Lin Tianming glanced at the abyss and then grabbed Qin Xi as they leaped down, plunging directly into the abyss. At this time, Lin Tianming and his wife were descending vertically along the abyss, having flown continuously for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Now, they had reached the deeper regions of the abyss. According to Lin Tianming¡¯s estimation, they were now located at a depth of more than two thousand zhang within the abyss. Here, darkness surrounded them; everywhere they looked were bald rocks. Besides, the temperature inside the abyss was frighteningly high, and as they went deeper, the hot air surging upward became ever more intense. In the end, as they continued to descend, Lin Tianming and his wife had reached a depth of several thousand zhang. At this place, the temperature around them was terrifyingly hot. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator were here, just the temperature alone could cause severe damage, or even directly lead to their demise, which would not be an impossibility. Although Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and his defensive power and stamina were extremely shocking, even he was almost unable to withstand the temperature here. Qin Xi, who specialized in practicing spells, didn¡¯t have the same formidable resistance as Lin Tianming. Fortunately, she possessed a Water Attribute Spiritual Root with extremely strong affinity. She also relied on some special techniques and was barely able to follow Lin Tianming to this place. However, as they descended continuously, the terrifying temperature became increasingly unbearable, even for Qin Xi. Thus, Lin Tianming had to use the Blue Heart True Flame to condense a Fire Shield to firmly protect both himself and Qin Xi within it. Due to the special properties of the Blue Heart True Flame, if its temperature were fully released, it would far surpass that of the deep heat found in the abyss. In this way, the two of them were finally able to continue descending. After another quarter of an hour passed, Lin Tianming and his wife, through constant descent, had arrived at a depth of eight thousand zhang. At this place, Lin Tianming found that the brightness was getting stronger until it was almost no different from the outside world. Moreover, with the last hundred zhang of descent, Lin Tianming and his wife appeared on a flat plain. At this time, Lin Tianming immediately became alert and searched around for the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s figure while assessing everything before them. Looking around, they stood on a vast expanse of ice plain, surrounded by a panorama of frosty scenery, with no signs of Demonic Beasts, let alone living creatures. This scene seemed quite peculiar. Earlier, at the top of the abyss, Lin Tianming had detected the presence of the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s aura. But now, there was neither sight nor sign of the Earth Flame Dragon here, leaving Lin Tianming somewhat confused. In his heart, he was also surprised by the scene in this place. After all, during the descent, they had felt extremely high temperatures, to the point that Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation strength was unable to resist, which showed how terrifying the temperature was. However, after reaching the bottom, that intense heat had disappeared, and everything was almost the same as the outside world. In addition, the land here was covered in ice, a sheer contrast to their experiences just a while ago, the contrast was simply too stark. Even upon slight reflection, it felt somewhat illogical. Chapter 1161 - 606 Salt Crystal_2 Chapter 1161: Chapter 606 Salt Crystal_2 But even so, Lin Tianming will not be fooled by the scene before him. He is well aware that places that seem peaceful on the surface often hide unexpected dangers. Moreover, he had just sensed the presence of the Earth Flame Dragon, and there was definitely no mistake in his perception. Keep in mind, the strength of his Divine Sense is no less than that of a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and may even be stronger. In addition, with his extensive experience, he can judge many dangers simply through a touch of Mind Sensing. Therefore, Lin Tianming is far from letting his guard down; on the contrary, he became exceedingly cautious and vigilant. At this moment, Qin Xi, looking at the scene before her, couldn¡¯t help but sigh in admiration. ¡°Ming, this place is really strange!¡± ¡°We clearly felt unbearably hot just a moment ago, yet now this place is covered in frost, and the scenery is chilling to the bone. It¡¯s truly too eerie.¡± ¡°Furthermore, this abyss is so deep, my Divine Sense can¡¯t probe into it at all.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Ming¡¯s powerful Divine Sense, exceptional Perception, and the protection of the Exotic Flames like the Blue Heart True Flame, I¡¯m afraid no one could have reached this place.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming, however, remained uninspired. In his eyes, in the current Cultivation World, various terrains and other landscapes are not strange at all. Just to know, the sheer size of the Cultivation World, with just one province of Qingzhou, is unimaginably large. And that¡¯s the smallest Qingzhou in the Nine Provinces Continent. If you consider the territories in Central Province, just Yunzhou alone could match several Qingzhou territories. With this in mind, you can appreciate the vastness of the Cultivation World. In such a splendid Cultivation World, whether it¡¯s the Human Race or the Demon Beast Race, both have extremely rich and diverse historical heritages. Moreover, over tens of thousands of years or even longer, this continent has seen the birth of countless different geographical environments. Not to mention some bizarre creatures, which are not uncommon at all. Places as special as this one, although not abundant, still exist in the Cultivation World. So now, when Lin Tianming sees such scenes, he is not so surprised in his heart. The more he understands this, the calmer Lin Tianming¡¯s mind becomes, and his yearning for the Cultivation World deepens even further. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression steadied, and he withdrew his gaze from the distance. Then, Lin Tianming smiled and said: ¡°Xi¡¯er, don¡¯t be too surprised; such scenes are not rare in the Cultivation World, and you will encounter many more in the future.¡± ¡°In fact, the stranger the place is, the higher the probability of treasures appearing.¡± ¡°With that said, let¡¯s quickly explore and see what kind of treasures there actually are.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded like a pecking hen, naturally having no objections to what Lin Tianming said, on the contrary, she was filled with great anticipation for the experiences to come. So, Lin Tianming surveyed the surroundings and then, taking Qin Xi¡¯s hand, they shot off in a chosen direction. Soon, the couple vanished from the spot. An hour later, Lin Tianming and his wife arrived in front of a pool. Looking as far as the eye could see, the pool was a hundred zhang in size, with clear water surface, undisturbed, smooth as a mirror, and shimmering with a faint blue light. At this time, the couple stood still by the pool, their gazes riveted on the clear waters before them, deep in thought. After a short while, Qin Xi broke the silence. ¡°Ming, this pool is so calm that there is not even a ripple, which is really strange.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded. However, he quickly understood the reason behind this. Because the water in this pool was not ordinary water, but was called ¡®Salt Crystal Water.¡¯ This type of water is special, not only because it is a First Order Water Attribute Refining Material but also because it can somewhat weaken the ability of Divine Sense to probe. Usually, this water can be added to Array Plates and Array Flags to give the Formation some ability to block Divine Sense. Therefore, the value of this type of water is quite high among First Order Refining Materials. However, this ¡®Salt Crystal Water¡¯ is a First Order refining material, and given its not-so-high grade, it hardly piques the interest of a cultivator at Lin Tianming¡¯s level of strength in terms of collection. Nevertheless, the pool here is quite sizable, with a considerable overall reserve of Salt Crystal Water. If Lin Tianming is willing to spend the time to collect it, he could still take away a fair amount of Salt Crystal Water. When he returns to his family clan in the future, he could also hand it over to the clan¡¯s Treasure Vault, thus completely resolving the demand for Salt Crystal Water for hundreds of years to come. However, Lin Tianming is actually not interested in this low-grade Salt Crystal Water. What he is more concerned about are the Salt Crystals in the Salt Crystal Pool. Because in the Salt Crystal Pool, there is usually a certain chance that a small number of crystals will form. And these crystals are not to be compared with ordinary Salt Crystal Water. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It is said that the Salt Crystal is the essence of the Salt Crystal Pool, typically considered to be a Third Order refining material. Adding just a hint of it to an Array Plate or Array Flags can bring about tremendously obvious effects. Just like formations above the Third Order in the Cultivation World often require treasures like Salt Crystals. Therefore, the function and effect of Salt Crystal, compared to ordinary Salt Crystal Water, are unimaginably more powerful by many magnitudes. Thus, Salt Crystal still counts as an extremely precious material among Third Order refining materials. Consequently, with its extraordinary value, Salt Crystal is one of the treasures ardently coveted by all Array Masters and is also one of the strategic reserves of refining materials for the major Golden Elixir Forces, not easily traded away. In light of this, Lin Tianming naturally coveted the treasure that is the Salt Crystal even more upon encountering the Salt Crystal Pool. As for the Salt Crystal Water, it would suffice to take some opportunistically, the quantity being very flexible. Understanding this, Lin Tianming planned to venture into the pool to explore and see if there were any Salt Crystals present. However, before he prepared to act, Lin Tianming patiently explained it all to Qin Xi. Soon enough, after hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi understood the reasoning, as well as the hidden opportunity within the Salt Crystal Pool. Consequently, at this moment, Qin Xi was also somewhat impatient to go in and take a look. Seeing Qin Xi so excited at this time, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. Subsequently, Lin Tianming instructed Qin Xi a few words, asking her to stick closely behind him. Afterwards, without further delay, Lin Tianming led Qin Xi and jumped right into the pool. Just as the two entered the pool, Lin Tianming casually released a Light Shield to protect them within it. They then began to descend slowly. In no time, the pair had descended several dozen zhang deep. While still continuing their descent, Lin Tianming used the Eye of Five Colors¡¯ extraordinary penetrating power and saw a dozen or so fist-sized pale blue crystals lying motionless at the bottom of the pool. Upon closer inspection, these crystals were crystal clear, and the faint blue light that flickered on their surface was especially conspicuous. ¡°Salt Crystals!¡± Lin Tianming was absolutely certain, these were undoubtedly Salt Crystals. What¡¯s more critical is that the quantity of these Salt Crystals was more than a dozen pieces. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming became somewhat excited, thinking that the harvest from this trip to Ice Wind Valley was indeed substantial. After all, they had first subdued two Primordial Lion Beasts with exceptional talent and strength, followed by obtaining a good amount of Tianxin Grass. Moreover, Xiao Diao also broke through to the Third Order, and now the presence of Salt Crystals was discovered, with such a plentiful quantity, truly a series of happy surprises. However, just as Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement flashed by, he noticed a more than ten-zhang-long flame dragon at the bottom of the pool, sitting cross-legged and staring at the couple. ¡°Earth Flame Dragon?¡± ¡°It really is this kind of Demonic Beast¡­¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming suddenly realized why, when they were still above the abyss, he distinctly felt the presence of the Earth Flame Dragon. Then later on, as the couple descended, the aura of the Earth Flame Dragon mysteriously vanished without a trace. ¡­ Chapter 1162 - 607: The Peculiar Flame Chapter 1162: Chapter 607: The Peculiar Flame Lin Tianming pondered carefully and realized it was because the Salt Crystal Water had the effect of blocking Divine Sense, and the pond was very deep, at least a hundred zhang from top to bottom. With such a large reserve of Salt Crystal Water acting as a barrier, it was no wonder that the Earth Flame Dragon could hide inside without him detecting any traces or presence. It wasn¡¯t until he and his wife entered the pond and dived a certain distance that Lin Tianming, with the aid of the miraculous effect of the Eye of Five Colors, temporarily discovered the traces of the Earth Flame Dragon. At this moment, the Earth Flame Dragon was staring at them, seemingly ready to attack at any moment. In such a situation, if they continued to stay in the water, relying on the environmental factors here, it was clearly disadvantageous for them to fight. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately rushed towards the surface of the water with Qin Xi. Just then, upon seeing them trying to escape, the Earth Flame Dragon also swiftly gave chase. The Earth Flame Dragon was fast, its massive body incredibly agile; as it swam through the water, its crimson Scales directly stirred up waves after waves, surging to the surface. Although the Earth Flame Dragon was fast, Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s speed was not the slightest bit weaker. Moreover, the pond wasn¡¯t as deep as ordinary ponds, and they were in the middle depth, only dozens of zhang away from the surface, which was just a blink of an eye to cross. Thus, Lin Tianming and his wife quickly burst out of the pond and appeared at the edge of the pool. At the moment when they stabilized their forms, the Earth Flame Dragon also burst out from the pond and paused in the center of the pool. Immediately after, the Earth Flame Dragon fixed its gaze tightly on Lin Tianming and his wife, adopting a ready and waiting posture. Despite the Earth Flame Dragon following them out, its Spirit Wisdom was no lower and it could feel the strong aura emanating from Lin Tianming¡¯s pair. Not to mention Lin Tianming, even the aura Qin Xi radiated was scarcely weaker than that of the Earth Flame Dragon, not to mention the even stronger Lin Tianming by her side. Because of this, the Earth Flame Dragon stared at them furiously, but dared not to attack rashly. At this moment, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t in a hurry to attack either, but was sizing up the Earth Flame Dragon before him. Following his gaze, this Earth Flame Dragon was over ten zhang long, with a very stout body, covered in crimson Scales that appeared quite imposing. On its head grew a single horn, and its blue eyes were particularly striking. Although this creature was called a dragon, in fact, it could only be considered a lesser dragon. It is known that true dragons possess extremely powerful Ancient divine spirit bloodlines. In the current Cultivation World, the Demonic Beasts that barely qualify as dragons are without exception possessing strength of Grade Fourth Order or above. As for lesser dragons, they are merely affiliates of the dragon clan, barely carrying a trace of true dragon heritage bloodline; if they cannot reverse their ancestry, they will find it difficult to overcome such bloodline disparities for their entire lives. Although this Earth Flame Dragon had reached the Late Stage of the Third Order, it was obviously still far from the category of true dragons. However, even so, the fact that this Earth Flame Dragon could cultivate to this level and continuously occupy this place without being eradicated by the Nascent Soul Forces is enough to prove that the beast¡¯s strength should not be underestimated. Thinking of these points, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn. Though he had no intention of retreating, he would certainly not underestimate the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s strength. Besides, at this very moment, Lin Tianming was also deep in thought. In his heart, he thought that although the Salt Crystal Pool was admittedly a treasure ground, the place clearly favored the Water Attribute. And yet, the Earth Flame Dragon, a Fire Attribute Demonic Beast, appeared in such a place and made it its lair, which was not conducive to the beast¡¯s cultivation and advancement. Upon such reflection, the situation seemed somewhat illogical. After racking his brains, Lin Tianming had a rough guess. He surmised that there must be some Treasure here that attracted the Earth Flame Dragon, which could also negate the effects of the Water Attribute terrain on it. Otherwise, the Earth Flame Dragon would not possibly be found here. With these possibilities in mind, Lin Tianming had already made up his mind that he must slay the beast. Only by killing the beast could he successfully obtain the Salt Crystal and continue to explore further. Otherwise, he would have to give up the Salt Crystal within reach and any potential opportunities hidden behind this place. Understanding this, Lin Tianming secretly transmitted a message to Qin Xi, sharing his views and plans. Soon, Qin Xi nodded in response, fully supporting Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to waste more time. Following Qin Xi¡¯s response, Lin Tianming leaped into the air and flew into midair. Immediately after, he patted the Tiangang Sword at his waist, and it appeared in his hand. Then, Lin Tianming pinched a Law Decree, and a series of Spiritual Light bombarded the Heavenly Gang Sword Body. His actions were swift, completing everything in an extremely short amount of time. At this instant, a flash of light shone from the Tiangang Sword, and then it turned into a long dragon that shot out aggressively, heading straight for the Earth Flame Dragon in the center of the pond. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± Light scattered across the sky, and powerful fluctuations spread out in all directions. At the moment when Lin Tianming sprung into action, the Earth Flame Dragon, which had been observing all along, also grew angry. After all, a Demonic Beast is still a Demonic Beast, and even a late Third Order Earth Flame Dragon had Spirit Wisdom far below that of a normal Human Race. Seeing that Lin Tianming took the initiative to attack, even though the Earth Flame Dragon had been quite wary before, it could not bear it any longer at this moment. So, just as Lin Tianming made his move, the Earth Flame Dragon also roared to the sky in response. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1163 - 607: The Peculiar Flame_2 Chapter 1163: Chapter 607: The Peculiar Flame_2 Following that, the Earth Flame Dragon opened its massive mouth and spat out a great amount of crimson flames, which roared towards Lin Tianming who was opposite. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but snicker repeatedly. In his view, the Earth Flame Dragon was a fire attribute demonic beast, so its attacks were bound to be the power of flames. But as he also primarily possessed a fire attribute spiritual root and had extraordinarily terrifying affinity with fire, coupled with the presence of Blue Heart True Flame¡ªan exotic flame¡ªordinary fire power was utterly ineffective against him. Thus, this act by the Earth Flame Dragon was akin to humiliating itself. With such confidence, the dragon transformed by the Tiangang Sword collided head-on with the oncoming flames. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A series of intense shockwaves rang out, as the two kinds of attacks collided, creating even larger flames. For a moment, the whole sky was filled with the light beams of burning flames, and a large fireball ascended towards the sky. As the flames exploded, a huge force spread out in all directions. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt a strong impact, which forced him back several meters before he stabilized his stance. When everything returned to calm, the Earth Flame Dragon still stayed at the center of the pool, its entire body not having moved an inch. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed, and his heart immediately filled with disbelief. After all, he had been full of confidence before, believing that with his strength, killing this Earth Flame Dragon would probably not take much effort. However, judging from the effects of the first round of attack, this Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack seemed somewhat special, even a bit strange. After all, the attack power of the Tiangang Ninth Sword was beyond doubt. Under normal circumstances, a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast aiming for a head-on collision without using supernatural attacks, would mostly be at a disadvantage. Yet this Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s mere strike, clearly not its Innate Divine Ability attack, seemed to hold a slight advantage. This outcome was indeed surprising to him. However, it didn¡¯t take long for Lin Tianming to discover something special. It turned out that based on the oncoming fluctuations and what the Eye of Five Colors saw at the center of the flames, the flames spat out by the Earth Flame Dragon actually contained faint traces of blue and red flames. Although these flames were weak and well hidden, the Eye of Five Colors still detected them. Moreover, while this fire power seemed ordinary, after the attack ended, the flames did not dissipate at once; instead, they slowly converged together and eventually re-entered the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body. This sort of change would be totally undetectable by ordinary cultivators if Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t careful enough and without the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors. It was precisely because of these intermingled blue and red flames that the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack was greatly enhanced. Therefore, during this probing strike, Lin Tianming found himself at a slight disadvantage. Having discovered the reasons, Lin Tianming naturally stayed more alert, to avoid being at a disadvantage in the upcoming fights. Thus, Lin Tianming now looked far more solemn. But soon, before Lin Tianming could make another move, the Earth Flame Dragon across from him became impatient and initiated a new round of attack. ¡°Roar¡­¡± With a fierce roar, the Earth Flame Dragon swung its massive tail, sweeping towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure flashed, and his agile body easily dodged the strike. Before he had time to catch his breath, the Earth Flame Dragon spat out another flame from its giant mouth. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked closely and saw the flame formed into a fireball. Within the center of that fireball, there were still blue and red flames circulating inside. Moreover, wherever the intermingled blue and red flames passed, the nearby flames immediately rose vigorously as if the power of the blue and red flames had a significant nurturing effect. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming became even more certain that inside the Earth Flame Dragon, there must exist some form of fire power. Not only that, this kind of fire power is likely one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, and its power is probably not inferior to his Blue Heart True Flame. It is precisely because of the enhancement of this kind of fire that the flames spewed by the Earth Flame Dragon possess such destructive force. Otherwise, judging by the natural instincts of the Earth Flame Dragon, such an anomaly would not occur. However, there is one thing; Lin Tianming has neither experienced this kind of flame before nor seen its seed, and for the time being, he is unable to determine what kind of flame it is. But he is certain that the origin of this kind of flame is not trivial. Therefore, no matter what kind of fire power it is, Lin Tianming must be extra careful to avoid capsizing in the gutter. Moreover, this kind of fire might also have a huge utility for him. Realizing this, Lin Tianming became even more determined to execute his plan to slay the Earth Flame Dragon. Hence, Lin Tianming did not intend to hold back, but instead planned to slay the Demonic Beast as quickly as possible to prevent any mishap. With such confidence, Lin Tianming made his move explosively. In that instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s sleeves swept around, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, plunging into the pond below with the speed of lightning that could not be covered by one¡¯s ears. At the same time, Lin Tianming performed a Single-handed Seal, making a special hand gesture. In a blink of an eye, a ball of fire appeared in his hand, and after his kneading manipulation, it finally formed a fireball the size of a bucket, suspended steadily in front of him. At this moment, upon Lin Tianming¡¯s mental command, the fireball suddenly burst forth. In less than a blink of an eye, the fireball driven by Lin Tianming had already appeared in mid-air. And at this precise moment, the fireball belched by the Earth Flame Dragon also descended. Amid a deafening explosion, a mushroom cloud rose directly over the pond. In the midst of that sky-high blaze, the two fireballs collided head-on, continuing for several breaths without dissipating completely. It wasn¡¯t until Lin Tianming¡¯s fireball trembled violently that the flames on its surface suddenly burst forth at that moment. Suddenly, the volume of Lin Tianming¡¯s fireball doubled in size, and the color of the flames on its surface turned even more azure. At that very moment, facing this sudden change, the fireball emitted by the Earth Flame Dragon finally burst open. Quickly, the sky full of flames spread with a roar, with most of the fiery rain pouring down onto the location of the Earth Flame Dragon. On Lin Tianming¡¯s side, only a small amount of fiery rain fell. At this moment, facing these fiery rains, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure was nimble like a swallow; with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he easily dodged the baptism of fire rain. In contrast, the Earth Flame Dragon, with its colossal body, was not as agile as Lin Tianming¡¯s delicate frame when moving. Moreover, the vast majority of the fiery rain fell above the Earth Flame Dragon. As a result, the Earth Flame Dragon, lacking the assistance of treasures like the Eye of Five Colors, even though it tried its best to dodge, still suffered many fiery rains directly pouring onto its body. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± For a time, a large amount of fiery rain ignited upon the Earth Flame Dragon. Although the Earth Flame Dragon itself is a fire attribute Demonic Beast and its thick Scales offered an incredibly terrifying defensive power, ordinary flames could hardly cause much damage. However, the flames driven by Lin Tianming are one of the Heaven and Earth Exotic Flames. Faced with such flames, even if the Earth Flame Dragon has amazing defensive power and its own resistance to flames is very good, it still had to endure tremendous destructive force at this time. Therefore, the Earth Flame Dragon was in extreme agony, shrieking miserably all the while, its massive mouth wide open, looking very pitiful. After a long wait for the fiery rain to cease, the scales on the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body were seen to have fallen off in many places, and many spots were scorched black. Not only that, some of the more severe wounds directly exposed the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s flesh, with blood spilling from the wounds, quickly staining a small part of the pond red. Even with the boost of that scarlet-blue flame, the Earth Flame Dragon could not gain any advantage from this strike, instead falling into an absolute disadvantage. By the time the Earth Flame Dragon calmed down, when it looked at Lin Tianming again, its eyes were filled with fear. ¡­ Chapter 1164 - 608: The Might of Rockets Chapter 1164: Chapter 608: The Might of Rockets And at this very moment, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated everything and was not at all surprised by the scene unfolding before him. Not only that, but Lin Tianming had already secretly set the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in motion while the Earth Flame Dragon was still unresponsive. Consequently, at this instant, along with a distinct sound, an invisible Barrier materialized out of thin air above the pond, enveloping the Earth Flame Dragon within it. When the Earth Flame Dragon finally reacted, it felt an oppressive force binding its body, significantly affecting its speed. Moreover, within the Barrier, fierce winds whipped up sand and stones, and copious amounts of Sword Qi frequently whizzed past. Even some Sword Qi grazed the Scales of the Earth Flame Dragon, kicking up numerous sparks. The Earth Flame Dragon also felt the sharpness of the Sword Qi and the pain that came in waves from its body, which intensified its fear. So it was, the Earth Flame Dragon, now both frightened and enraged, became uncontrollably irate. However, the Earth Flame Dragon was no fool; it was well aware that the situation was highly unfavorable for it. After all, the Terrifying Fireball unleashed by Lin Tianming just earlier had already gained a huge advantage. Now, with the support of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, whether it was for Attack purposes or to trap the enemy, everything could be perfectly coordinated. With these tactics at hand, Lin Tianming now seemed even more formidable, as if he had grown wings. The Earth Flame Dragon was clearly aware of all this, and immediately began to devise a counter-attack strategy. At that moment, the Earth Flame Dragon twisted its body, and its massive tail swept across, eventually crashing into the Sword Array Barricade. The Earth Flame Dragon was fast, and the swing of its huge tail was incredibly swift. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud boom sounded as the Sword Array Barricade shook. Luckily, Lin Tianming had been well-prepared, and he immediately took full control over the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. He just managed to withstand the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack as the Sword Formation had just started operating. After the Sword Array Barricade shook a few times, it soon returned to normal. The Earth Flame Dragon, seeing its attack did not succeed, became more furious and agitated. Therefore, not daring to delay any longer, the Earth Flame Dragon promptly charged at the Sword Array Barricade in the shortest time possible. The Earth Flame Dragon was very clear about the Earth Evil Sword¡¯s impact on it; if it didn¡¯t break out quickly, the longer it was delayed, the more disadvantageous it would be. As a result, the Earth Flame Dragon had a clear objective at this moment, striking fiercely with its massive body, almost as if it were making a desperate gamble. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and he immediately unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword, attacking the Earth Flame Dragon. Lin Tianming¡¯s goal was equally clear: he must prevent the Earth Flame Dragon from escaping the range of the Sword Array. And he just needed to hold on for a little longer until the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shrank to a radius of a hundred zhang and became completely stabilized. By then, given the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s strength, even if he did not interfere further, the Earth Flame Dragon would likely not be able to escape the Sword Formation Barrier. In this way, killing the Earth Flame Dragon would become very simple. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were swift, accurate, and ruthless. Just as the Earth Flame Dragon was about to crash into the Sword Array Barricade, the Tiangang Sword urged by Lin Tianming arrived, precisely blocking the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s path. However, the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s huge body and its proximity to the Tiangang Sword made evasion unrealistic. Therefore, the Earth Flame Dragon could only swing its massive tail to face the blow from the Tiangang Sword head-on. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another loud explosion ensued as the Tiangang Sword struck the tail of the Earth Flame Dragon. In that moment, a burst of sparks erupted, accompanied by a wail from the Earth Flame Dragon that resounded through the entire pond. Simultaneously, a massive shockwave swept in all directions. When the aftershocks eventually subsided, and the firelight also faded away, By then, the Earth Flame Dragon was seen opening its mouth to scream; its massive head flailed wildly, appearing to be in great pain. And on its tail, many Scales were missing, revealing a baby arm-length wound oozing fresh blood. Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, the Earth Flame Dragon had not utilized its strange flames but instead relied solely on its physical body to endure the collision. As for the outcome after the strike, it was undoubtedly a huge loss for the Earth Flame Dragon. Now, with the initiative in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, he had no intention of giving the Earth Flame Dragon any respite. So, the moment the dust and flames dissipated, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand shone once more, and the Divine Skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword was unleashed again. ¡°Rumbling¡­¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, the sound of swords rang out, and another powerful attack descended. At that moment, just as the Earth Flame Dragon had barely recovered, it saw the very Tiangang Sword that had injured it striking again. This time, the Earth Flame Dragon dared not rely on its body to take the hit. So, in the same fashion, the Earth Flame Dragon opened its mouth to spew out a burst of flames, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another familiar boom resounded, and the strange flames helped the Earth Flame Dragon deflect the Tiangang Sword once more. At the same time, the tremendous impact swept across, causing the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation to shake. At this point, Lin Tianming once again focused his mind, firmly controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, determined to stabilize it. Luckily, Lin Tianming¡¯s mastery of the Earth Evil Sword Formation had reached the zenith, and he had cultivated it to the Great Achievement Realm. Chapter 1165 - 608: The Might of the Rocket_2 Chapter 1165: Chapter 608: The Might of the Rocket_2 Besides, Lin Tianming had rich combat experience and had just witnessed how bizarre the flames spat out by the Earth Flame Dragon were. In such a situation, Lin Tianming was constantly on guard, and now facing these strange flames again, he had long been fully prepared. Consequently, after shaking a few times, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation quickly returned to normal. When the shockwave ended and the Earth Flame Dragon saw that such an attack could not break the Sword Array, it immediately became panic-stricken. However, even so, Lin Tianming would not let it think, let alone give it much opportunity. Therefore, without any pause, Lin Tianming promptly activated the Blue Heart True Flame and unleashed a fireball that surged into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming was well aware that if he continued to stimulate the Tiangang Ninth Sword, the Earth Flame Dragon would certainly reciprocate in kind. Given that, he decided to use the Blue Heart True Flame as his main means of attack. After all, the Blue Heart True Flame had already achieved excellent results the first time it appeared. From this, it could be seen that although general attacks may have a stronger effect on other cultivators or demonic beasts, when facing this fire-attribute Earth Flame Dragon, using the Blue Heart True Flame was a better choice. In this way, Lin Tianming was very decisive in his actions, giving the Earth Flame Dragon no chance to catch its breath. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± In an instant, the fireball propelled by Lin Tianming sliced through the sky and appeared directly above the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s head. At this moment, feeling the fireball above, the Earth Flame Dragon was filled with rage, its blood-red eyes brimming with anger. However, no matter how angry it was, there was nothing it could do. Facing the fireball¡¯s attack, if the Earth Flame Dragon responded with the same method, the outcome would likely be no different from the first time. At that time, the Earth Flame Dragon had been injured by the Blue Heart True Flame and suffered a setback. Now faced with the same threat, the Earth Flame Dragon was very helpless and powerless. But with the situation as it was, and with the fireball about to descend, the Earth Flame Dragon had to fight desperately to block this strike if it wanted to survive. Otherwise, this round of attack would take its life. If it lost its life, all other thoughts would be meaningless. Perhaps understanding this, the Earth Flame Dragon was also prepared to fight desperately. Thus, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack drawing closer, the Earth Flame Dragon dared not delay. As it retreated, its mouth suddenly opened wide. In just a few breaths, a large amount of flames were spewed out from the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s mouth, eventually forming a rocket-like flame. Upon the emergence of this flame-rocket, the temperature within the entire Sword Array immediately began to rise. Not only that, after maintaining for a while, the temperature began to drop rapidly. Eventually, the temperature inside the Sword Array continued to plummet, ultimately reaching a coldness akin to an icy cave. This swift shift of events greatly surprised Lin Tianming. As he wondered, the two attacks clashed head-on. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud blast echoed near the pond, followed by a mushroom of fire rising into the sky, instantly illuminating the whole sky. And within that sea of fire, the Blue Heart True Flame was penetrated by the flame rocket, eventually exploding. In contrast, the flame rocket still existed and surged towards a section of the Sword Array Barricade. At this moment, seeing this, Lin Tianming was dumbstruck and internally alarmed. He was very clear about how powerful the Blue Heart True Flame was. Just moments ago, it was relying on the Blue Heart True Flame that he suppressed the Earth Flame Dragon and gained the upper hand. Yet even so, the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s fireball was directly pierced through by the flame rocket spat out by the Earth Flame Dragon. In the end, that flame rocket still existed and launched its attack. Although he could feel that the breath of the flame rocket had weakened significantly, and its power was certainly greatly reduced. But this sudden turn of events truly caught him off guard. However, Lin Tianming had no time to think too much at this moment. In his heart, he remembered only one thing, and that was he must block this attack at all costs, and never let the Earth Flame Dragon take this chance to escape the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Otherwise, it would not be so easy for him to regain such an advantageous situation. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming now focused his mind and controlled the operation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all his strength. At the same time, Lin Tianming spat out a mouthful of essence blood and accurately sprinkled it on a section of the Sword Array Barricade. In that instant, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation, reinforced by Lin Tianming¡¯s lifeblood essence, immediately became much more stable, and the color of the barrier¡¯s light screen became much brighter. As for that oppressive momentum, it soared even more. It was at the moment these changes occurred that a loud boom resounded, and the whole sword array shook violently. Lin Tianming immediately felt a surge of Qi-Blood in his body, and his divine soul felt a sense of shock. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, a huge wave of impact appeared, and a strong force rolled up rolling waves that crashed against the barricades all around. When everything settled back down, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was still in operation, and the light screen of the barrier still surrounded the Earth Flame Dragon. Only now, Lin Tianming¡¯s body surged with Qi-Blood, his complexion grew much paler, and the corner of his mouth even dripped with a trace of fresh blood. With this strike, Lin Tianming still managed to block the impact, thus preventing the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation from being destroyed by the residual force of that fire rocket. However, the power of this strike from the Earth Flame Dragon was indeed very strong. Especially that fire rocket, which actually possessed both the power of scorching flames and the force of ten thousand years of ice. When these two opposing attributes were combined, they produced such a tremendous force, not only shattering the Blue Heart True Flame but also delivering a huge impact to the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Therefore, even though Lin Tianming was well-prepared, he was still injured by this immense force of impact. Luckily at this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was still operating, and the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s plan had failed. Next, Lin Tianming, who had suffered a setback, would not underestimate the Earth Flame Dragon and would not give it any chance to catch its breath. In his view, that fire rocket was probably the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s innate divine ability, and with the addition of that unknown fire power, it possessed such terrifying force. Facing such a level of attack, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. Thus, Lin Tianming forcibly suppressed the discomfort in his body and immediately controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to reduce its range. At the same time, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword in his hand swung frequently, erupting with strands of Sword Qi shooting out. In just a moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, already rampant with Sword Qi, was now further stimulated by Lin Tianming¡¯s numerous Sword Qi attacks. For a while, the whole Earth Fiend Sword Formation was incredibly dense with Sword Qi, almost like a sky filled with a sword rain, pouring down upon the Earth Flame Dragon. Having done all these, Lin Tianming was still not reassured. So, Lin Tianming once again activated the Tiangang Ninth Sword divine skill, coordinating with the sword Qi inside the formation, launching attacks on the Earth Flame Dragon from all angles. And at this moment, the Earth Flame Dragon also came back to its senses. Seeing such a terrifying attack coming in succession, the Earth Flame Dragon did not dare to stay in place for long and retreated immediately. At the same time, the Earth Flame Dragon was also brewing a new fire rocket. Because it understood very well that ordinary attacks were useless against Lin Tianming and the Sword Array Barricade. Only that fire rocket from before gave it a slight chance of breaking through the sword formation. Therefore, facing such a threat, the Earth Flame Dragon could only rely on the strongest supernatural attack to survive this strike. So, the Earth Flame Dragon, putting forth all its effort, was quick to shape the fireball in its mouth. ¡°Swoosh swoosh swoosh¡­¡± Just then, a series of Sword Qi tore through the void, some of which were easily dodged by the Earth Flame Dragon, but some struck the body of the Earth Flame Dragon. Although the Earth Flame Dragon was quick, it still couldn¡¯t avoid such a dense attack. As a result, just as the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s most depended-on fire rocket was about to be activated, it was abruptly interrupted by the Tiangang Sword strike from Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 1166 - 609 Earth Core Truefire Chapter 1166: Chapter 609 Earth Core Truefire With several screams in succession, the Earth Flame Dragon was sent flying by a tremendous force. By the time it landed, it was struggling in pain on the ground. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the Earth Flame Dragon and found that its body was riddled with holes, a large number of the wounds were charred, and plenty of fresh blood was seeping out. Not only that, but the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body was wrapped in crimson blood, its overall momentum had significantly diminished, and its breath had become much weaker. After this strike, Lin Tianming had also broken the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s Divine Skills. What¡¯s more critical is that the Earth Flame Dragon now suffered heavy injuries, its strength significantly compromised. Moreover, after a series of operations, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had silently narrowed to a range of just over a hundred zhang. At this level of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, calling it impregnable might be an exaggeration, but it was basically impossible for the Earth Flame Dragon to escape solely with its attack methods. Thus, the battlefield was entirely under Lin Tianming¡¯s control at this time. As the Earth Flame Dragon suffered heavy damage, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was also fully formed and extremely stable. At this point, the Earth Flame Dragon was like fish on the chopping board, merely at Lin Tianming¡¯s mercy. Knowing this, Lin Tianming certainly didn¡¯t hold back, nor did he give the Earth Flame Dragon any chance to catch its breath. Watching the furious Earth Flame Dragon let out a roar, it then stood up from the ground, with those blood-red eyes full of anger. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was stern, his expression utterly devoid of emotion as he watched the Earth Flame Dragon. After an unknown amount of time passed, Lin Tianming struck again. In that instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand ignited the Blue Heart True Flame, and then a gigantic fireball, as swift as thunder, charged directly into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At this time, the Earth Flame Dragon also felt the terrifying fireball approaching once again, plus the dense Sword Qi within the Sword Array constantly compressing its living space. At this point, the Earth Flame Dragon had no way to avoid it, and hardly any confidence to defend against it. After all, the Earth Flame Dragon had already suffered consecutive injuries, and its most relied upon special flame was no match for that fireball. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, even its Innate Divine Ability was easily neutralized by Lin Tianming. Now, the Earth Flame Dragon had no means whatsoever to turn its current dire situation around. In such circumstances, facing Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, the Earth Flame Dragon could do nothing but desperately try to dodge. However, the Sword Qi circulating within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was just too dense and its power had increased several times compared to when it first started. To avoid these Sword Qi, the Earth Flame Dragon exerted all it had, leaving it no extra time or energy to deal with the attack from the Terrifying Fireball. Then, amidst a violent explosion of flames, the fireball formed by the Blue Heart True Flame directly bombarded the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body. In that moment, a piercing scream echoed throughout the entire land. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze, the fireball created by the Blue Heart True Flame hit its target, directly igniting a large part of the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body. At this moment, the Earth Flame Dragon effectively turned into a blazing dragon. When the blaze dissipated, it was seen that the Earth Flame Dragon lay twitching on the ground, its massive body¡¯s rear half was blurred with blood and flesh, most areas charred. Moreover, at this point, the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s breath was faint, obviously on the verge of death. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming also smiled and nodded slightly. In his eyes, defeating this Earth Flame Dragon did not require much effort, except during the first two rounds of attacks he was unaware of how tricky the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack was, and as a result, he suffered a bit. However, later on, he became very cautious, made ample preparations, and began to turn the situation around using the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Blue Heart True Flame. In the end, with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation quickly gaining strength, he maintained an absolute advantage throughout the entire battle. Till now, the Earth Flame Dragon had lost its combat power, posing no threat whatsoever. One could say, the battle was now settled. As for what¡¯s next, he only needs to kill the Earth Flame Dragon, then he can enter the pond to retrieve the Salt Crystal. Moreover, what¡¯s most important is to figure out where that peculiar flame of the Earth Flame Dragon came from. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was thrilled and couldn¡¯t wait to approach the Earth Flame Dragon. At this time, the Earth Flame Dragon was not dead yet, and its body began to tremble involuntarily as it felt Lin Tianming slowly approaching. Barely flipping itself over, the Earth Flame Dragon looked at Lin Tianming, eyes filled with horror. Lin Tianming¡¯s face was calm at this moment, feeling somewhat rueful inside. In his eyes, this Earth Flame Dragon of not a low grade, with formidable strength and extremely bizarre attack methods. Such a Demonic Beast, if it could be subdued like the Primordial Lion Beast, would be another powerful ally for him, and the Lin Family would gain the combat power of a Golden Core Stage, and even akin to a Late Stage Golden Core existence. With such a Demonic Beast, the Lin Family¡¯s strength would be enhanced once again. Plus with the existing Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family, as well as those Third Order Spiritual Birds, the compilation of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Stage combat power had already exceeded more than ten. Such strength could easily crush the Zhenyang Sect, which had been oppressing the Lin Family previously. Chapter 1167 - 609: Earth Core Truefire_2 Chapter 1167: Chapter 609: Earth Core Truefire_2 Even an age-old power like Myriad Medicine Valley, with its ten-thousand-year heritage, pales in comparison to the current strength of the Lin Family. However, unfortunately, it was Lin Tianming who had just subdued the Primordial Lion Beast. It was that contract ceremony of acknowledging a master that greatly drained his divine soul strength. After all, the ceremony of a demonic beast recognizing a master requires the host to split a wisp of their divine soul to merge into the beast¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, achieving a connection with the host¡¯s mind and even controlling the beast¡¯s purpose. As such, even if the split of the soul is exceptionally minor, the host will still need a long period of time to recover. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And this period of time varies from person to person. Some may need decades, while others might recover in just ten or twenty years. Even though Lin Tianming naturally possesses a strong soul, after the acknowledgment ceremony with the Primordial Lion Beast, for at least ten years, he won¡¯t likely have the chance to subdue other demonic beasts. After all, the recovery of soul strength is extremely difficult, and excessive depletion could easily cause one¡¯s cultivation realm to regress. Although this isn¡¯t an absolute rule, as exemplified by Lin Tianming, who could attempt to subdue a new demonic beast in a short time if he¡¯s willing to pay a certain price. But Lin Tianming is not foolish, naturally, he would not take such a risk to subdue the Earth Flame Dragon. It is precisely because of such limitations that a cultivator can only tame a finite number of demonic beasts in a lifetime. Otherwise, if a cultivator constantly sought out demonic beasts to forcibly tame and form an army, wouldn¡¯t their combat strength increase rapidly? Moreover, when the number of demonic beasts reaches a certain level, the combined force released to face enemies is simply terrifying to contemplate. However, these restrictions are not insurmountable for human cultivators. The most obvious example is the existence of certain sects and families in the Cultivation World specialized in beast taming. These ancient lineages, through millennia of exploration and continuous improvement, have also created many special techniques and secret methods. According to rumors, there are techniques and secret methods that can diminish the damage to a cultivator¡¯s soul to a certain extent during the process of a demonic beast¡¯s submission. Not only that, cultivators can also make use of various elixirs or special treasures to quickly recover the lost part of their soul strength. Therefore, with such various methods, those cultivators specialized in beast taming can subdue more demonic beasts for their use within a limited time. As for those great sects and families primarily focused on beast taming, their overall strength is also incredibly formidable because of these capabilities. Even, some representative beast-taming forces are not weaker than those great powers following the primal cultivation path. Overall, with the development of the Cultivation World over countless years, the emergence of all sorts of strange techniques and secret methods is not really surprising. After all, with the vast expanse of the Cultivation World, innumerable treasures, and an astonishing number of cultivators. Against such a backdrop, the appearance of some extraordinary individuals is only to be expected. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not dwell too much on these matters. Now, as Lin Tianming himself does not possess those beast-taming techniques and secret methods, nor does he have any of those special treasures. Given this, even though he feels it¡¯s a pity, Lin Tianming had no choice but to decisively kill the Earth Flame Dragon. He was very clear that in the Cultivation World, where fortunes mean life or death, not only do cultivators operate on this principle, but the Human Race and demonic beasts are inherently opposed. Even long ago, there was a relentless situation between the human and demonic beast races. At that time, race wars occurred frequently, and countless human cultivators, including some Nascent Soul Stage Experts, died at the claws of demonic beasts. In the end, both sides suffered heavy losses, and many lineages were obliterated from the Cultivation World. And these past events are the survival laws of the Cultivation World. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming, looking at the still struggling Earth Flame Dragon, had no excess of pity in his heart. Thus, with a raise of his hand and a slash of his sword, a burst of Sword Qi ended the life of the Earth Flame Dragon. After doing all this, Lin Tianming looked at the pond in front of him with a trace of excitement on his face. At this moment, Qin Xi, who had been observing the battle from the side, also approached Lin Tianming. From afar, Qin Xi¡¯s excited voice could be heard. ¡°Ming, now that the Earth Flame Dragon is finally dead, should we go down and collect the Salt Crystals?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly. ¡°Collecting the Salt Crystals is just a matter of time¡­¡± ¡°But before we get to collecting the treasure, we should deal with the corpse of this Earth Flame Dragon first.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming then pointed to some fiery red Scales scattered on the surface of the pond in front of them, and continued to speak: ¡°This Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s grade is not low, and there are quite a few Scales on its body, as well as those scattered on the surface of the pond.¡± ¡°Plus the horn on top of this Demonic Beast¡¯s head, those are top-notch materials for refining.¡± ¡°And if Fifteenth Grandfather were to see these materials, he would probably be extremely excited in an instant.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded in agreement and couldn¡¯t help but smile and chime in. ¡°Giggle¡­ Ming is right!¡± ¡°You know, our Fifteenth Grandfather is a complete refining fanatic. With such great materials, and adding some other Treasures, it¡¯s possible to refine a couple of exquisite Magical Treasures.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ That¡¯s indeed the case!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile and then began to process the corpse of the Earth Flame Dragon. After his dissection, he collected all the useful parts of the Earth Flame Dragon. Not only that, but he also gathered all the Scales of the Earth Flame Dragon that were scattered on the surface of the pond. After completing these tasks, the couple came back together again. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the pond in front of him and quickly jumped into it. Before this, Lin Tianming had already memorized the precise locations of the dozen or so Salt Crystals. Even if he didn¡¯t remember, with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, finding the landing spots of the Salt Crystals wasn¡¯t difficult for him. Now re-entering the pond without the interference of the Earth Flame Dragon, the familiar Lin Tianming quickly reached the side of the Salt Crystals. At that time, Lin Tianming looked at the pale blue Crystals in front of him and swiftly grabbed one to inspect it in his hand. After a thorough inspection, the excitement on Lin Tianming¡¯s face became even more radiant. It must be said that these dozen or so Salt Crystals were of excellent quality and were quite large in size. Just these Salt Crystals, being as numerous as eleven, was enough for the Lin Family¡¯s Array Masters to use for several hundred years. Understanding this, Lin Tianming quickly collected all the Salt Crystals into the Qiankun Jade. Afterward, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t rush to leave the bottom of the pond but carefully searched the entire area instead. In a short while, Lin Tianming discovered a fairly large round opening in a corner at the bottom of the pond. This round opening seemed ordinary, as if it were naturally formed at the bottom of the water. However, Lin Tianming was purposefully thorough in his search. So, Lin Tianming noticed that this circular opening was not large, and many broken stones appeared around it. More crucially, one side of it was covered in Ice, while the other side had dust that was scorched by intense flames. Moreover, in just this short amount of time, Lin Tianming felt the surrounding Yuan Qi was also converging towards that entrance. Immediately after, as Lin Tianming was contemplating in his heart, a blue flame suddenly appeared in that round opening at the bottom of the pond. The moment this flame appeared, the whole pond was filled with surging waves. Soon, the water in the pond was steaming hot on one side and bone-chillingly cold on the other, making Lin Tianming, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, shudder involuntarily. At this moment, feeling these changes and seeing that a thread of blue flame, Lin Tianming was constantly thinking about the origin of this flame. A period as long as the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed, and Lin Tianming seemed to have thought of something. In that instant, his expression excited, he muttered to himself. ¡°Earth Core Truefire!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ It must certainly be this kind of Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, without a doubt!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1168 - 610: Adventurous Plan Chapter 1168: Chapter 610: Adventurous Plan At this moment, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. When he saw that faint flame below, it confirmed many of his previous speculations. It was not until this moment that he understood why the attack of the Earth Flame Dragon turned out this way. Under normal circumstances, the Earth Flame Dragon wasn¡¯t so powerful, and its Divine Skills shouldn¡¯t possess such strength. The reason for this, presumably, was because the Earth Flame Dragon had either ingested the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ or refined a strand of the flame, causing its Divine Skills to mutate and eventually reach this level of power. This ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ is also one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, said to be deeply buried underground all year round and extremely rare in the entire cultivation world. In terms of this exotic flame, it¡¯s quite similar to the Blue Heart True Flame within Lin Tianming; whether for pill concoction and weapon forging, or for combat, it plays a significant role. Beyond this, the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ has a very distinct feature; its primitive fire seed tends to switch between two attributes¡ªice and fire¡ªas a cycle approaches. In its fire attribute state, its unleashed attacks can incinerate everything, with an immeasurably high temperature. While in its ice attribute state, it can be bone-chillingly cold, freezing thousands of miles of land. Thus, it¡¯s no wonder that despite being a water attribute area, this pool birthed the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires. Originally, this was connected to the dual attributes of the Earth Core Truefire. For cultivators, such a situation is extremely crucial; just like a water attribute cultivator controlling the Earth Core Truefire could also exert immense power. Hence, the distinctive features of the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ are quite evident, its attack power is bizarrely profound, and its strength is something Lin Tianming has already witnessed. In such circumstances, once such an exotic flame appears, nearly every cultivator or Demonic Beast would covet it endlessly. Understanding this, Lin Tianming probably grasped the reasons. Yet, the more he knew, the more incredible Lin Tianming found it. After all, for a Human Cultivator to refine an exotic flame is enormously difficult and risky. If a cultivator is unlucky, failing to refine the exotic flame and instead getting utterly incinerated by it, such cases are not uncommon. And the Earth Flame Dragon, being a Third Order Demon Beast, forcefully attempting to ingest such a Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame like the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ posed an even greater challenge than it would for Human Cultivators, literally a life-and-death situation. However, upon careful consideration and recalling his fierce battle with the Earth Flame Dragon, Lin Tianming quickly understood more key factors. According to his speculation, the Earth Flame Dragon hadn¡¯t truly refined the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ but only a very small part of it. It was precisely because of this small part that the Divine Skills of the Earth Flame Dragon had been enhanced, yet extremely limited. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, when facing the Blue Heart True Flame head-on back then, it wouldn¡¯t have been able to easily gain the upper hand. Besides, the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body didn¡¯t contain the primitive seed of the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ nor the primitive flame in its demon core; there were only some residual traces inside its body. Based on this, Lin Tianming became even more certain that the Earth Flame Dragon hadn¡¯t refined the ¡®Earth Core Truefire.¡¯ As for the occurrence of a mutation, it was because the Earth Flame Dragon had stayed in this pool for a long time cultivating, and after accumulated development over the days and months, it eventually possessed a trace of the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s ability. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt immensely fortunate, thinking how good it was that the Earth Flame Dragon hadn¡¯t laid its claws on such a treasure. Otherwise, he and his wife would have missed such an opportunity. Now, with the Earth Flame Dragon dead and the salt crystals collected, only the strand of Earth Core Truefire before him burned on. At this moment, when Lin Tianming looked at that flame, his eyes were filled with anticipation. In Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, already possessing the Blue Heart True Flame, if he could refine this Earth Core Truefire and merge the two flames together, the power would likely be even more terrifying. To know, the mere power of the Blue Heart True Flame was no weaker than an ordinary Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. If he could indeed merge a new exotic flame, the power of the Blue Heart True Flame would at least double. By then, it might be possible to rival the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, or even surpass the power of this Profound Grade Spirit Art. However, accomplishing this would involve great risk. After all, just refining one Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame was already extremely difficult and risky. Take when Lin Tianming initially refined the Blue Heart True Flame; he nearly got burnt to death by the fire seed. Therefore, each time he recalled the experience, even a seasoned Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but shudder with sympathy, feeling truly fortunate about that incident. It¡¯s precisely because of these experiences that Lin Tianming felt such trepidation towards exotic flames. Nevertheless, even so, Lin Tianming still couldn¡¯t bear to give up such an opportunity after a bit of thought. Because opportunities like exotic flames are rare, once missed, he might not encounter them again in this lifetime. Though refining an exotic flame carries great risks, the rewards once successful are assuredly substantial. After all, the output often correlates directly with the input; the greater the danger, the more substantial the gain. This, Lin Tianming had a deep understanding of. Take these years, for instance; he¡¯s been able to cultivate to the Mid Stage Golden Core so smoothly and rapidly without encountering many bottlenecks precisely because he always embraces hardship and adventure. It¡¯s also because of the many experiences and crises he¡¯s seen that allow each of his ventures to yield sufficiently satisfying results. Chapter 1169 - 610: The Plan for Adventure_2 Chapter 1169: Chapter 610: The Plan for Adventure_2 Understanding this, Lin Tianming had already made up his mind; he had to attempt to refine the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ and then find a way to fuse these two Exotic Flames together. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming soon left the bottom of the lake and returned to the shore. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianming come back, Qin Xi hurriedly greeted him. ¡°Ming, did you get the Salt Crystals?¡± Qin Xi asked with a smile, her face showing anticipation. Hearing this, Lin Tianming remained expressionless, forcibly suppressing the excitement in his heart. ¡°Hehe¡­ There are more than ten Salt Crystals at the bottom of this pool, and I¡¯ve collected them all!¡± ¡°What? There are that many?¡± Qin Xi exclaimed in surprise, showing an excited smile on her face. Obviously, Qin Xi had thought there were only a few Salt Crystals, as they are valuable and not easily obtained. If they could get a few this time, it would actually meet her expectations. But she never imagined that there would be so many Salt Crystals at the bottom of the pool which was only so big. Initially, Qin Xi could hardly believe it, but now that Lin Tianming confirmed it, she naturally felt delighted. And at this time, Lin Tianming, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words and seeing her excited expression, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Straight after, Lin Tianming said mysteriously: ¡°Xi¡¯er, do you know what other treasures are hidden beneath this lake?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi was startled and pondered everything she had noticed, hoping to glean some useful information. However, after much thought, she still did not find anything amiss. Thus, Qin Xi giggled, hooking her arm through Lin Tianming¡¯s, showing a child-like demeanor. ¡°Ming¡­ you¡¯re being so mysterious! ¡°Quick, tell Xi¡¯er, what kind of great treasure did you actually find?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming burst into hearty laughter. ¡°There¡¯s actually Earth Core Truefire at the bottom of this pool!¡± Lin Tianming replied directly, his face still bearing an excited smile. ¡°Earth Core Truefire?¡± ¡°Could it be that legendary Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame that possesses both Ice and Fire attributes?¡± Qin Xi was also shocked, clearly not expecting such a treasure to be beneath the lake. ¡°Hmm¡­ after a careful observation, it is indeed Earth Core Truefire without a doubt!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and replied, his eyes filled with unwavering conviction. At this point, Qin Xi, hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s response, also nodded profusely, her heart still harboring some doubts and hardly daring to believe it was true. Even Qin Xi had witnessed the attack of the Earth Flame Dragon before and wondered about its mysterious nature; she had made many guesses but did not dare to draw a definite conclusion. Now that Lin Tianming had said as much, it certainly couldn¡¯t be false. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a situation, Qin Xi was also very happy, and her excitement was no less intense than that of Lin Tianming. Finally calming down a bit, Lin Tianming also began to speak about the specific plan. According to Lin Tianming¡¯s idea, he would refine the Earth Core Truefire, then try to merge the two flames together to create a variation. Once this objective is achieved, he will also attempt to separate a strand of the Primitive Flame Seed and then hand it over to Qin Xi for her to refine. By relying on the Ice attribute element of Earth Core Truefire, Qin Xi may also be able to control the new flame to its maximum capacity and fully unleash the power of the Exotic Flames. If both steps can be completed, then the husband and wife duo will have added another method of attack. Moreover, this attack method from the Exotic Flames will be no less powerful than the Profound Grade Spirit Arts. Although achieving these goals will involve significant risks, Lin Tianming had already made his decision; he will not shrink back, nor be afraid to take risks. In his eyes, as long as there is the slightest chance, he must try to seize it. Either succeed in refining it or perish thereupon! Facing the exotic flames, one of the strange objects of Heaven and Earth, he would never back down, and Qin Xi was equally brave in making the attempt. Therefore, Lin Tianming carefully outlined his plan, hoping to seek Qin Xi¡¯s consent. After Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming¡¯s plan, although she was also worried, she knew that opportunities like this were rare, especially when it came to treasures such as Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame. Moreover, Earth Core Truefire was a dual-attribute exotic flame, which held a great allure for a cultivator with Water Spirit Root Attribute like her. If she could acquire even a wisp of the original ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ Qin Xi herself could also use the power of this exotic flame to enhance her attack ability. Furthermore, the benefits of successful refinement were not just for Lin Tianming alone, but both spouses could profit from it. With such benefits at stake, she really had no reason to refuse. Thus, Qin Xi¡¯s thoughts quickly aligned with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan without any prior consultation. Under such circumstances, the couple reached a unanimous agreement on the plan concerning ¡®Earth Core Truefire.¡¯ Afterwards, the couple exchanged a few words to confirm some details and then began to take action. In a little while, under Lin Tianming¡¯s lead, the couple gathered together at the bottom of the pool. When Qin Xi saw the bundle of blue flames in the center of the circular opening, she couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of astonishment. ¡°Ming, could this be the Earth Core Truefire?¡± Qin Xi asked with a smile, quickly receiving a nod from Lin Tianming in response. Then, Qin Xi looked at the gentle movement of the blue flames and couldn¡¯t help but express her amazement. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s quite unique!¡± ¡°Moreover, the surroundings of this circular opening have Firestone on one side and bitterly cold Icestone on the other, it truly gives a sense of peculiarity.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames are rare, it is only natural for them to be so distinctive,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a light smile, then brought up the important matter at hand. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi set aside her curiosity and patiently waited on the side. As for Lin Tianming, he began to regulate his breathing and then summoned a wisp of Blue Heart True Flame. Soon, Lin Tianming used the Blue Heart True Flame to form a Circular Ring, slowly approaching the bundle of Earth Core Truefire. With the emergence of the Blue Heart True Flame, the bundle of Earth Core Truefire inside the opening immediately started to flicker and dance, as if it were trying to repel the approach of the Blue Heart True Flame. Seeing this, Lin Tianming had anticipated it. He knew very well that exotic flames were independent of each other, and until one was refined by a host, they would naturally repel each other. Even if some exotic flames repelled each other, even after being refined by a host, they could not be merged and devoured, thus, the possibility of amalgamation did not exist. Luckily, both Earth Core Truefire and Blue Heart True Flame are relatively mild exotic flames. As long as the host¡¯s control over Fire Attribute Elements reaches a certain level, there is still hope for the two to fuse. Attempting such a high-risk activity is extraordinarily daring for any cultivator. And Lin Tianming was well-prepared for this point; now that he had arrived at the bottom of the pool, he naturally would not back down at this critical moment. Hence, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were unceasing, he cast numerous Law Decrees in rapid succession while chanting incantations. Lin Tianming quickly, with the powerful control of his Divine Sense, maneuvered the Blue Heart True Flame, inching closer to the Earth Core Truefire. At this moment, as the distance between the two exotic flames closed in, they were almost touching each other. Just then, the unclaimed Earth Core Truefire suddenly surged, a substantial force of flames rising up. In an instant, the surrounding Salt Crystal Water was directly evaporated by the intense heat, resulting in the formation of a vacuum bubble about three feet in size. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were enveloped by the Blue Heart True Flame, thus avoiding the sudden escalation of flames and preventing them from being directly devoured by it. Otherwise, if it were any other Golden Core Stage Cultivator caught off guard, they would likely not die but would surely sustain serious injuries. The more he knew this, the more Lin Tianming was filled with anticipation for the Earth Core Truefire. Thus, Lin Tianming, fearless, continued to control the Blue Heart True Flame, drawing nearer to the Earth Core Truefire. ¡­ Chapter 1170 - 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again Chapter 1170: Chapter 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again At this moment, perhaps sensing that Lin Tianming and Blue Heart True Flame were getting closer. Moreover, the aura emanating from Lin Tianming was extremely powerful and oppressive at all times. Suddenly, the Earth Core Truefire seed within the round mouth began to shake violently, and then started to leap furiously up and down. This behavior was clearly an attempt to flee. If this were really the case, with the formidable power of the Earth Core Truefire, it might actually succeed. At that time, it would become even more difficult for Lin Tianming to capture and control it. In an instant, Lin Tianming immediately took action, directly blocking the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s path of escape. At this time, the Earth Core Truefire decisively collided with the invisible and colorless light screen. ¡°Sss Sss Sss¡­¡± A peculiar noise came, and the invisible and colorless light screen instantly ignited. In a moment, a large hole was burned through it, actually by the Earth Core Truefire. Without any hesitation, the Earth Core Truefire rushed into the small hole that had been burned open. All of this happened very quickly, Lin Tianming was just about to rush over to grab the Earth Core Truefire, when he saw that it had already crossed the barrier and was wildly fleeing in the Salt Crystal Pool. In less than an instant, the Earth Core Truefire had run over ten yards away, still continuously increasing the distance from Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed slightly, thinking that the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames truly possessed spirituality, knowing to desperately flee to create a path of survival when facing threats. Otherwise, once captured by him, the outcome was predictable. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming was relatively composed, because he was very clear that the birth of such Heaven and Earth strange objects like the Earth Core Truefire was extremely difficult. Therefore, it was quite normal for such treasures to possess a certain degree of spirituality. Take this Earth Core Truefire, for example, it was an extremely rare existence among Exotic Flames, and possessing such spirituality was the expected norm. Otherwise, if the Earth Core Truefire foolishly waited in place, that would have truly been surprising to him. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming remained calm and hastily leaped forward, pursuing in the direction of the fleeing Earth Core Truefire. Lin Tianming was very fast, and his body was agile. Even in the Salt Crystal Pool, his speed was not at all inferior to that on land. Before long, Lin Tianming had narrowed the distance between himself and the Earth Core Truefire. Watching the distance between them getting closer, Lin Tianming could even clearly feel the surging power of flame from the Earth Core Truefire. So, Lin Tianming immediately made his move, with a fireball formed from Blue Heart True Flame shooting forth first, quickly reaching in front of the Earth Core Truefire. And at that moment, the fireball suddenly exploded, transforming into a large wall of fire created by Blue Heart True Flame as a barrier. In an instant, the fire wall blocked the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s path from the other three directions. At this time, the Earth Core Truefire clearly felt that aura. For the Earth Core Truefire, Blue Heart True Flame was a serious concern. After all, Blue Heart True Flame was also a Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame, and its place on the Exotic Fire Ranking was not much different from that of Earth Core Truefire, and might even be a few ranks higher. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Against such an Exotic Flame, especially one controlled by someone else, the Earth Core Truefire, currently without a master, would find it very difficult to cope. Thus, besieged on all sides, the Earth Core Truefire needed time to break through the obstacles once more. However, Lin Tianming, in hot pursuit from behind, was not slower than the fleeing Earth Core Truefire at all. In the face of such encirclement and pursuit, the Earth Core Truefire acted decisively, choosing one direction of the fire wall and charging straight through. In the blink of an eye, the Earth Core Truefire collided hard with the wall of fire. ¡°Sss Sss Sss¡­¡± A crackling sound transmitted, as the two different Exotic Flames intertwined, making the already fierce flames even more powerful by several times. In that instant, the flames of the fire wall surged, rising from a few yards high to over a dozen yards. Moreover, the Salt Crystal Water around the fire wall began evaporating at a rate visible to the naked eye. Just after two breaths, one could clearly feel the water level in the pool had dropped a little. If this continued for half a day, it was likely that the entire Salt Crystal Pool would dry out completely, thereby revealing the true nature of the pool¡¯s bottom. At this time, Lin Tianming also witnessed all this and felt the specific changes within the pool. However, Lin Tianming remained composed, as everything seemed to be within his grasp. Watching the two types of Exotic Flames intertwined, the power of Blue Heart True Flame diminished, soon revealing an opening. This outcome was not particularly surprising to Lin Tianming. In his view, although the Earth Core Truefire was strong, the fire wall he had induced contained only a small portion of Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s essence, and was too dispersed. At the very least, this dispersed stimulation of Blue Heart True Flame couldn¡¯t compare with the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Primitive Flame Seed. Thus, when the two forces of flame collided, the Earth Core Truefire with the Primitive Flame Seed would definitely suppress the widely dispersed Blue Heart True Flame. As expected, after the fire wall held on for a few breaths, it was directly penetrated by the Earth Core Truefire creating an opening. And just as the Earth Core Truefire was about to slip through that torn opening to escape, Lin Tianming, who was pursuing from behind, had already caught up. Chapter 1171 - 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again_2 Chapter 1171: Chapter 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming was chasing at high speed, and even from a long distance away, he had already swung his large hands. In his palm, a fiery ball of red and blue intertwined was already leaping within his palm. The flame looked unremarkable, similar to the fireballs he had generated previously. But upon a closer feeling, it would be found that this flame was darker in color, with the interior of the fireball predominantly blue flames. Moreover, as soon as the fireball appeared, even the surrounding elements began to stir, with many elements rushing towards the fireball, only to be evaporated by the terrifying temperature that was invisible and colorless. This fireball was indeed the Origin Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame. It should be known that this Origin Fire Seed is incredibly powerful, generally residing within Lin Tianming¡¯s body, not to be conjured unless absolutely necessary. Now, in order to refine and fuse the Earth Core Truefire, Lin Tianming had no choice but to risk it all. In such a situation, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. As for the fire wall he had summoned just now, it was merely a product to block the escape of the Earth Core Truefire and delay time. The real capture still depended on the Origin Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand. Only an item of this caliber could make the Earth Core Truefire, which was also an Exotic Flame, apprehensive, even fearful. Thus, Lin Tianming acted swiftly, accurately, and ruthlessly, making no secret of his determination. With such a conviction, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were swift, the fireball descending like a bolt of thunder from the sky, falling with an unstoppable momentum. As the fireball was about to land, getting closer and closer to the Earth Core Truefire. At this moment, the Earth Core Truefire had just charged into the hole on the fire wall. Just as the Earth Core Truefire was about to cross the barrier, sparks of the two Exotic Flames had already intertwined, with the core almost about to merge. Suddenly, the Blue Heart True Flame surged fiercely, quickly transforming into a fiery ring that enveloped the entire Earth Core Truefire in its center. At this moment, the Earth Core Truefire was frantically darting around within the circle of fire, colliding repeatedly in one direction, immediately causing a surge in the fire¡¯s intensity. Several breaths of time passed, and although the fiery ring would tremble and the flames rise, it remained stable without a sign of breaking. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, the fiery ring formed by the Blue Heart True Flame created a Light Shield, trapping the Earth Core Truefire firmly within. At this time, the Earth Core Truefire inside the circle was frantically trying to break free from the bonds of the circle. However, having finally trapped it, Lin Tianming certainly wasn¡¯t about to let it go easily. Thus, Lin Tianming firmly controlled the Blue Heart True Flame, and slowly reduced the size of the fiery ring, further compressing the activity space of the Earth Core Truefire. After a short while, the area of the fiery ring became smaller and smaller, shrinking down to the size of a fist. By this time, with no space to move inside the fiery ring, the Earth Core Truefire couldn¡¯t break through the obstruction, only able to tremble in its limited space, seemingly expressing its resistance. However, Lin Tianming did not care about these. In his eyes, his purpose was to subdue this bundle of Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame, so that they could fuse together, thereby unleashing greater attack power. Now that the Earth Core Truefire had been captured by him, he naturally didn¡¯t care whether the Earth Core Truefire resisted or not. With that, as the movements gradually became smaller, Lin Tianming then concluded his exercise. Afterward, Lin Tianming reached out with one hand and grabbed the fireball of the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand. When he felt the tremors being transmitted from his palm, that was the collision of the Earth Core Truefire. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed excitement, and his heart was somewhat impatient. ¡°Hehe¡­ I have finally captured the Earth Core Truefire!¡± ¡°Time is pressing, next it¡¯s time to go into seclusion for cultivation for a while, trying to refine this fire and let them fuse together.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, then immediately shot towards the direction where Qin Xi was located. A little while later, the couple got to reunite. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s excited expression, Qin Xi knowingly asked: ¡°Ming, the Earth Core Truefire has been captured by you?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then changed the subject. ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ the Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire has been captured, your husband must refine it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Time is pressing, let¡¯s seclude here for a while!¡± ¡°After all, this place is remote and concealed, rich in Spiritual Energy, and located deep within the abyss, far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators or Demonic Beasts, making it an excellent place for seclusion.¡± ¡°And Xi¡¯er, while you help me as a protector, you can also collect some of this Salt Crystal Water to bring back to the family later.¡± ¡°Once your husband has refined this Exotic Flame, it will be merged together, and a thread of the Original Fire Seed will be stripped out and given to Xi¡¯er to refine.¡± ¡°As long as Xi¡¯er can succeed, perhaps you can achieve the ability to control Exotic Flames just like me.¡± Lin Tianming said a few angry words, his eyes full of confidence. Listening to these words and seeing that kind of look in Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, Qin Xi quickly nodded her head too. Immediately following, Qin Xi then spoke up to let Lin Tianming seclude with peace of mind, offering to take the responsibility of protector. Thus, with clear division of responsibilities, the couple quickly set into motion. In a short time, Lin Tianming had opened up a Temporary Cave Abode not far from the water pond and entered the Practice Room at the first opportunity. Sitting on the cushion, Lin Tianming tirelessly began cultivating and adjusting his state to its peak. Suddenly, Lin Tianming spread his hands, and the blue sphere formed by Blue Heart True Flame wrapping Earth Core Truefire hung in front of him. At this moment, the fireball was still slightly trembling, the Earth Core Truefire inside still not giving up on breaking through this confinement. Although the Earth Core Truefire was not a living entity and had some Spirituality, it was far from understanding what futility meant. Facing the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s attacks, Lin Tianming simply smiled, then hammered it with multiple Law Decrees. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, the fireball of Blue Heart True Flame suddenly cracked a small fissure. Feeling this change, the Earth Core Truefire trapped inside hurriedly poked out a spark, attempting to seize the opportunity to escape. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned cold, as he casually grabbed the Core Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire in his palm. With the isolation of the Blue Heart True Flame, he was not afraid of close contact with the Earth Core Truefire. Suddenly, Lin Tianming manifested his Divine Sense, enveloping the Earth Core Truefire within it. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming also tried to communicate with the Earth Core Truefire, establishing a certain degree of recognition to facilitate the refining process. After many attempts, the Earth Core Truefire remained unmoved. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was slightly disappointed, but soon regained his composure. He knew clearly, treasures like Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame were proud and possessed a certain level of Spirituality; it was normal for them not to submit easily. Facing this situation, soft methods were definitely not going to work. Since that was the case, the only option was to take a hard approach and forcefully refine it to submission. Knowing this, Lin Tianming immediately changed his strategy, starting to forcefully spur his Divine Sense, refining the Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire bit by bit. After two days of refining, Lin Tianming finally succeeded in refining a thread of the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Fire Seed. During these two days, Lin Tianming consistently endured tremendous pain. If it were not for his continuously trained willpower being extremely remarkable, and with the assistance of the Blue Heart True Flame which could somewhat weaken the backlash of the Earth Core Truefire, Otherwise, if it had been a typical cultivator experiencing this, merely the inhuman sensation of pain would have led them to lose themselves amidst it. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s suffering these two days was not in vain; though the process was unbearably painful, he eventually managed to smoothly refine a thread of the Primitive Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire. Although it was just a bit, considering the vast energy of the entire Fire Seed, it seemed negligible. But at least there was a start, and Lin Tianming also gained some experience and methods. Proceeding this way, having a good beginning and some experience, his path of refining hereafter would definitely be somewhat easier. In fact, it was indeed so. ¡­ Chapter 1172 - 612: Stripping the Fire Seed Chapter 1172: Chapter 612: Stripping the Fire Seed Unconsciously, half a year had passed. On this day, in the Practice Room where Lin Tianming was located, he was seen sitting cross-legged on a cushion, with both hands spread flat on his knees. As Lin Tianming made the Hand Seals with both hands, soon two bundles of flames appeared in the palms of his hands. At a glance, both flames bore red-blue colors, with the flame in the left hand being a deeper blue. As for the flame on the other side, its red component was greater and the flames were much more vibrant. These two flames were the ones Lin Tianming had refined. In his left hand was the recently refined Earth Core Truefire, and in his right hand was the long ago refined Blue Heart True Flame. After half a year of seclusion, Lin Tianming did not waste a moment¡¯s progress in refining. During this period, Lin Tianming endured unprecedented pain, facing challenges one after another. Fortunately, he persevered and successfully refined the Earth Core Truefire, making it his second Exotic Flame. However, since the Earth Core Truefire had just been refined, the fire produced by the Original Fire Seed was extremely limited, thus in appearance and aura, it was clearly weaker than the mature Blue Heart True Flame. But as the host, and having just refined the Origin Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire, Lin Tianming naturally did not underestimate the power and potential of the Earth Core Truefire. After all, the Earth Core Truefire is also listed on the Exotic Fire Ranking, being a dual-attribute Exotic Flame, its potential growth and eccentricity is imaginable. Knowing this, Lin Tianming suppressed the excitement in his heart and retracted the two Exotic Flames back into his body. He then continued to cultivate and regulate his breath to restore his state. Once his condition was almost stable, Lin Tianming took out the two Exotic Flames again and suspended them in front of him. At that moment, as both Exotic Flames had been refined and suspended together, they sparked and caused a massive convergence of elements in their direction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming frowned. It was clear to anyone that the Exotic Flames were almost spiritual, competing subtly as if neither wanted to admit defeat even after having been refined by him. To Lin Tianming, this scene was quite usual. Although both Exotic Flames belonged to him, they still had a sense of repulsion towards each other. This was especially true right after being refined. His task was to let the two types of Exotic Flames fully integrate with each other, leading to a transformation. This process was very dangerous, and he could easily be attacked by backlash. After all, even a single Exotic Flame was already formidable, not to mention the danger and difficulty of forcibly merging two Exotic Flames, which increased exponentially. Despite understanding these, Lin Tianming still had a determined expression, showing a resolve not to stop until his goal was achieved. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming did not concern himself whether the two Exotic Flames were repulsive but directly forced them to move together. Soon, the distance between the two Exotic Flames got increasingly closer. At that time, the two Exotic Flames still repelled each other, and the flames surged higher and higher. However, as both Exotic Flames had been refined by Lin Tianming and now belonged to him, Despite their resistance, under Lin Tianming¡¯s forceful manipulation, they slowly merged together. At that moment, the power of the two flames seemed to understand Lin Tianming¡¯s determination and also knew that ¡®the arm cannot twist the thigh¡¯. Subsequently, instead of repelling each other, the two Exotic Flames began to clash against one another. As the fires of the two flames touched each other, the originally separate flames combined into one, forming a more gigantic Red-Blue Fireball, surrounded by innumerable sparks swirling and rising. At this moment, the temperature around rapidly increased, quickly reaching a terrifying level. Merely moments later, the temperature fluctuated between being unbearably hot and bone-chillingly cold. And as the fireball appeared, the elements between heaven and earth crazily converged towards it, emitting a series of strange noises frequently. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± In the midst of the scorching fireball, the two deepest colored flames collided with each other. With every collision, Lin Tianming, as the host, could feel an immense oppressive force coming towards him, accompanied by piercing pain in the soul, which instantly spread to every corner of his body. This pain, Lin Tianming was somewhat familiar with, as he had endured much suffering over the years. As for the pain at this moment, it was like the two Exotic Flames were scorching his soul, and that scream from the depths of his soul was also testing his willpower. If he could not persevere, he might become a fool with no memory at best, or at worst get lost in a world of pain without even knowing how he died. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had anticipated this and was mentally prepared. As the first round of confrontation ended, Lin Tianming got a moment to catch his breath. During this brief moment, Lin Tianming felt a chill on his back, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell. Moreover, the pain he was enduring was an inhuman ordeal. At least, compared to his past experiences, what he was facing now was evidently not on the same level. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead sweated profusely, and his face quickly turned pale. Despite not being directly involved in the fight between the two Exotic Flames, he, as the host, could still feel how intense the struggle between them was. Chapter 58: Listing Thoughts_1 Chapter 58: Listing Thoughts_1 Dear readers, I just received a suggestion from the editor to release my book tomorrow. Upon hearing this plan, wow wow wow¡­ I¡¯m so anxious right now! What should I do, everyone? Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Let me tell you the exact time the book will go live, and here I am, on my knees, begging for your support and subscription! ¡°Lin Family¡¯s Cultivation Journey¡± will be officially released at 12 PM on August 20th, 2021. I¡¯m begging for subscriptions¡­ begging for votes¡­ Since the book is going live, I might as well write a few words of feelings because after all, this is my first time writing a novel. First of all, I want to thank every reader friend who has collected, recommended, and tipped. (I¡¯m lazy and there are too many people, so I won¡¯t list everyone individually) It¡¯s every one of your collections, every comment, every recommendation vote, every monthly vote, and every tip that have given me the motivation to continue writing! Really¡­. Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is open the assistant app to see how many collections have increased and how many recommendation votes I¡¯ve received. I don¡¯t know how many times I check each day; one could say I¡¯m even more active than when it comes to my salary. It¡¯s with everyone¡¯s support that I¡¯ve been able to persist, and I sincerely want to say thank you to all of you¡­ Next, I¡¯d like to thank my editor, Editor Niqiu¡­ As a novice writer, I¡¯m like a needle in a haystack among many authors, not an exaggeration in the slightest. My journey from signing the contract to now going live has been relatively smooth, and I¡¯ve received quite a few recommendations, for which I am truly grateful. Okay, now let¡¯s talk about some personal thoughts! Up to this point, I¡¯m quite satisfied with the book¡¯s performance; as a newbie with such an updating speed, to achieve these results and even surpass expectations is more than satisfying. Now, I must sincerely apologize to all my reader friends. My updates have been too few; I feel I¡¯ve really let down the readers who have been with me all this time! I feel somewhat guilty and hope to receive everyone¡¯s understanding¡­ Starting next month, I will dedicate more time to writing and try to update more frequently to repay everyone¡¯s support. Last but not least, a bit about myself! I am a new writer! (So new! Don¡¯t laugh when I tell you, but the first few readers will know, in my first two chapters I didn¡¯t even divide paragraphs; a two-thousand-word chapter was just one massive paragraph. There were even readers who commented to remind me, and I felt so embarrassed. I quickly revised and divided the paragraphs because I didn¡¯t know how to use the writing software at the time. Thankfully, I corrected it in time; otherwise, I would have been too ashamed to face anyone.) I only started writing novels to fulfill a small dream of mine. It was an impulsive decision, and that¡¯s how I started writing this novel. Just like that, I began, groping my way through and pondering as I went. Family saga novels are much more difficult to write than those about Loose Cultivators, especially since I have no stockpile of written chapters, no outline, and no detailed outline; I rely purely on passion in my writing. In the beginning, it was okay, but the further I wrote, the more difficult it became. There were more characters and the content grew more complex. Some details were not meticulous and the logic not coherent, leading to quite a few reader complaints. Some of the more intense comments from readers hit me hard, but I still managed to keep my composure. Freedom of speech is everyone¡¯s most fundamental right. I am deeply grateful to those readers who have criticized and corrected me, and even more so to those who have supported and comforted me, which is very touching. Thank you all¡­ Writing is not easy. Just typing for a few hours every day and persisting for dozens of days has been tough, something any author can relate to. From the initial passion to the later stage when it almost becomes a burden, I hope on this lonely and lengthy journey of writing, I can find like-minded friends and together create a quality novel. No matter what the future holds, I will continue writing with this gratitude, striving to provide more exciting content as a way to give back to everyone. In closing, I ask everyone to support the legal version of the novel. Spend the money equivalent to a bottle of water or pack of cigarettes to support the author. If you¡¯re a student and can¡¯t afford it, then read a pirated copy if you must! Finally, I beg for your subscription, and if possible, setting up a recurring subscription would be even better. Everyone, Xiao Yan is counting on you all! Chapter 92 - 92 - 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined )_1 Chapter 92 ¨C 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_1 At high noon, outside Luoyun Market. In a lush green valley, four cultivators gathered, among them three men and one woman. Aside from the organizer, Li Yuancheng, there were two other male cultivators, and the only female cultivator was radiant with beauty, dressed in blue palace attire with towering hair buns, akin to that of a noblewoman. She was Li Yuancheng¡¯s companion, Song Yurong. ¡°Daoist Li, why hasn¡¯t this kid shown up yet? If he doesn¡¯t come soon, let¡¯s not wait for him. That way, there¡¯ll be one less person to share the fruits with.¡± A man, visibly displeased, spoke to Li Yuancheng, seemingly confident about the journey to obtain the fruits. ¡°Daoist Lu, please be patient. There is still a quarter of an hour left until the appointed time, and this trip to get the fruit is not guaranteed to succeed. One more person means one more layer of security.¡± Before he finished speaking, a burly man flew in on a sword from the east and landed beside Li Yuancheng¡ªit was Lin Tianming, who had altered his appearance. Upon seeing the four people, Lin Tianming greeted them with a fist and palm salute: ¡°I¡¯m late, please forgive me. My name is Chen Tian, and I greet all the fellow Daoists here, as well as this fairy maiden.¡± Song Yurong gracefully performed a curtsy, revealing a slight smile as she said: ¡°My name is Song Yurong. I greet you, Daoist Chen!¡± Li Yuancheng, with a kind expression, began to introduce Lin Tianming to the others. ¡°This is Daoist Qiu Jinsong¡­¡± ¡°And this is Daoist Lu Ming¡­¡± After exchanging greetings, everyone began to get acquainted with one another. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Li Yuancheng took out a map made from beast skin to confirm the direction, then flew toward the west with the others quickly following behind. Find more to read at empire After flying for an entire day, from noon till evening, the group of five successfully arrived at the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As it was getting dark, they didn¡¯t proceed further but found a small hill to rest on for the night. ¡­ The next morning, the five set off again. Two days passed, and after crossing more than a dozen peaks, covering over three hundred miles, they entered deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range. With Li Yuancheng leading the way, the journey was rather safe, encountering very few demonic beasts, until they arrived in a valley. Looking around, the forest was dense, and there were numerous large trees that would take several people to embrace, with mist swirling within the valley, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Li Yuancheng pointed toward the forest ahead and said: ¡°The Sky Fei Fruit Tree is within this dense forest. I stumbled upon it by accident. It¡¯s a pity that it¡¯s guarded by a pack of Wind Shadow Leopards, otherwise I would have taken the fruits long ago!¡± ¡°Wind Shadow Leopards!¡± Lu Ming revealed a hint of apprehension. Li Yuancheng¡¯s expression remained calm as he began to describe the Wind Shadow Leopards. ¡°These demonic beasts are extremely fast and have formidable attack power. They come and go without a trace and are very adept at ambushes. Everyone must be careful.¡± Saying so, Li Yuancheng took out a snow-white whip about a zhang long, a high quality spiritual artifact. His companion Song Yurong was not to be outdone, producing a medium grade flying sword in hand. Everyone took out their spiritual artifacts, with Lin Tianming wielding an Earth Evil Sword and holding a high quality talisman paper, ready to deal with any unexpected dangers. Catching sight of Lin Tianming¡¯s spirit sword and talisman paper, a flicker of barely noticeable greed flashed in Lu Ming¡¯s eyes, which quickly returned to normal, revealing a highly wary expression. Seeing that everyone was prepared, Li Yuancheng led the way deeper inside. Soon, they reached the inner part of the valley where the trees gradually thinned, improving visibility. At the end of their line of sight, a fruit tree about a zhang tall grew on a mound, its green and red leaves adorned with over a dozen emerald-like fruits. ¡°Sky Fei Fruit!¡± ¡°Indeed, there are such fruits!¡± Upon seeing the treasure, Lu Ming and Qiu Jinsong called out in excitement, looking eager to proceed. In their excitement, they were unaware that danger had already quietly approached. Since entering the valley, Lin Tianming had his divine sense fully extended and his Eye of Five Colors open, guarding against unknown dangers, and had not relaxed for a moment, remaining cautious. A gust of wind passed through the valley, bringing a bone-chilling coolness that made everyone shiver. At that moment, several roars were heard. More than fifty Wind Shadow Leopards broke into a sprint, turning into streaks of afterimages, and in a few moments, they had charged from several hundred zhang away in the dense forest to right before the group. Looking over, among the pack of Wind Shadow Leopards, there was one at the late-stage peak, nearly breaking through to Second Order, obviously the leader of this pack. There were also six at the late-stage, and the rest were at the First Order middle and initial phases. ¡°Daoist Li, you said there were only about thirty, why has their number increased so much?¡± Lu Ming¡¯s face turned pale as he exclaimed, questioning Li Yuancheng. ¡°I don¡¯t know why either; the number of Wind Shadow Leopards has almost doubled!¡± ¡°It¡¯s pointless to investigate now. It¡¯s already impossible to run away. Everyone, don¡¯t hold back. Fight with all you¡¯ve got, or we¡¯re all in danger!¡± No sooner had Li Yuancheng finished speaking than several late-stage Wind Shadow Leopards were already upon them. The pack leader charged straight at Lin Tianming, seemingly sensing him as the greatest threat. After a brief moment of panic, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng quickly reacted, each urging on their spiritual artifacts. Lin Tianming slashed repeatedly, his fierce sword qi forcing the pack leader to retreat. He quietly set up a Sword Array and swiftly retreated, falling back behind the others. Li Yuancheng brandished his whip spiritual artifact, attacking left and right. The versatile whip was particularly effective against the incredibly fast Wind Shadow Leopards. Several of the First Order initial and middle-stage Wind Shadow Leopards couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were struck by the whip, promptly ending their lives. The rest also used their techniques, and being fully prepared, they didn¡¯t fall into disadvantage. Chapter 93 - 93 - 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined )_2 Chapter 93 ¨C 87: Successfully Obtaining the Fruit (Combined Chapter)_2 The ambush had failed, and many of the dozen or so Wind Shadow Leopards had died immediately; the rest were all mid-stage Demonic Beasts. Instead of continuing the attack, the Wind Shadow Leopards surrounded the group, seeking an opportunity, lying in wait for the perfect moment to strike. After a stalemate that lasted for more than ten breaths, the Wind Shadow Leopards launched another onslaught. Seeming to have recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s prowess, they gave up on direct combat with him and instead made a beeline for Lu Ming. The battle erupted anew. Lu Ming¡¯s face darkened as he took out two talisman papers from his storage bag and tossed them into the air, forming a torrential sword rain that temporarily trapped the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards. The remaining Wind Shadow Leopards had already charged in, and the battlefield immediately plunged into chaos, as the frenzied spiritual power from various Spiritual Artifacts crisscrossed the sky. Lin Tianming drew the eighteen Earth Evil Swords, danced out a Sword Lotus resembling the God of Slaughter, killing several mid-stage Wind Shadow Leopards around him, without meeting any resistance. On the other side, the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards broke free and charged towards the cultivator with the surname Lu. After over a dozen brutal exchanges, Lu Ming was already severely injured. Having exhausted all his tricks, Lu Ming threw his last talisman paper and fled in panic, not forgetting to shout as he ran. ¡°Save me¡­¡± At this moment, everyone was surrounded by Wind Shadow Leopards in varying numbers, and Lin Tianming, being the farthest away, could not attend to him. After a few breaths, the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards burst through the barrier in front of it and, with a gaping maw, charged straight for Lu Ming. ¡°Roar¡­¡± With the lightning speed of the Wind Shadow Leopard, the desperate Lu Ming had no chance to dodge and was directly bitten, his body falling lifeless on the spot. Now dead, Lu Ming left four injured survivors behind. Among them, Qiu Jinsong was gravely hurt, his strength reduced to a mere tenth of what it was. The Wind Shadow Leopard pack had suffered heavy casualties, with only a dozen mid-to-late-stage beasts remaining, their dead bodies turning the ground a crimson red. After half an hour of fierce combat, both humans and beasts had sustained grievous injuries, and the cultivators had used up most of their spiritual power. ¡°Li, you and I will take on the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards while the others quickly dispatch the rest,¡± Lin Tianming shouted to Li Yuancheng. ¡°We must be quick, or we won¡¯t last much longer. If we don¡¯t succeed, all of us will die here!¡± Amid their dire conditions and critical situation, Lin Tianming called out to Li Yuancheng. ¡°Good!¡± All three responded in unison. Seeing the tragic state of the cultivator with the surname Lu, Lin Tianming and the others held nothing back and fought with all their might once more. Lin Tianming took out four First Order Superior Attack Talismans in a row and, after activating them, sent four streams of Sword Qi speeding towards the Wind Shadow Leopards. Simultaneously, he activated a previously laid Earth Fiend Sword Formation, enveloping the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards within it. Li Yuancheng took out a white pearl and spat it towards the leader of the Wind Shadow Leopards. Overwhelmed by a strong sense of crisis, the Wind Shadow Leopard leader panicked within the Sword Array, frantically striking against the barriers of the formation, trying to break free from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s constraints. But Lin Tianming had laid his plans well in advance, and wouldn¡¯t let it escape so easily. A few breaths later, the four Sword Qi and the pearl struck the Wind Shadow Leopard from several directions simultaneously. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A series of explosions resounded through the valley¡­ A blaze shot up into the sky; after the flying sand and stones settled, the figure of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader was revealed. The Wind Shadow Leopard leader was now lying in a huge pit, convulsing, with half its body gone, its organs exposed for all to see ¨C a pitiable sight that clearly indicated it was on the brink of death. Seeing the dire state of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Such a steep price paid, and had they not vanquished it, whether they could survive the ordeal would have been uncertain. Elsewhere, Song Yurong and Qiu Jinsong were being besieged by several late-stage Wind Shadow Leopards; both were in peril, continuously losing ground. Song Yurong was faring slightly better, relying on numerous talisman papers and her Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact sword, retreating while fighting, and was not in immediate danger of defeating. Qiu Jinsong, previously severely wounded and having lost an arm, had barely held on for half an hour, and was now completely drained. At the moment when the Wind Shadow Leopard leader fell, Qiu Jinsong, in a burst of rage, repelled one of the leopards only to have another powerful claw plunge through his chest. Looking at the fist-sized hole in his chest, his blood gushing out, Qiu Jinsong¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale within moments. Feeling his body grow increasingly cold, he completely gave in to despair. Now with free hands, Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng came to the aid, significantly reducing the pressure on Song Yurong. The remaining Wind Shadow Leopards were no match for them and were swiftly slain by the group. With the death of the last Wind Shadow Leopard, the fierce battle finally came to an end. Half an hour before, five lively individuals had stood, now only three remained alive. The grisly deaths of Lu Ming and his companion were etched in their memories, leaving no time to collect treasures; Lin Tianming and his two companions simply collapsed onto the ground. Lin Tianming took out a Huiyuan Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it, quickly recovering his nearly depleted spiritual power. After a quarter of an hour, the trio gradually regained some of their spiritual power. At this moment, Li Yuancheng and his wife were extremely tense, clutching their spiritual artifacts in their hands, not daring to let down their guard. After this battle, they had completely understood Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; even at their peak, joining forces, they were no match for him. The carcasses of the Wind Shadow Leopards scattered across the field, along with the storage bags of Lu Ming¡¯s party, plus the Sky Fei Fruit, undoubtedly represented an immense fortune. If Lin Tianming were to attack again, their chances of survival were slim. Lin Tianming was also on high alert, closely watching every move made by Li Yuancheng and his wife. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the silence began to feel exceedingly awkward. Finally, Lin Tianming broke the silence. ¡°Li, let¡¯s quickly distribute the treasures. It isn¡¯t safe to stay here for long,¡± said Lin Tianming. Explore stories on empire Relieved that Lin Tianming didn¡¯t seem to intend to attack, Li Yuancheng and his wife finally relaxed a little. ¡°Daoist Chen is very powerful. Without you, I¡¯m afraid we would have been wiped out on this journey,¡± said Li Yuancheng, lavishing praise before the division of treasure. ¡°I think we should do it like this: The storage bags of Lu Ming¡¯s party go to you, the spiritual artifacts to us as a couple, the carcass of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader to you, and we split the rest of the carcasses equally. As for the Sky Fei Fruits, you take sixty percent, and we take forty percent. How does that sound?¡± After proposing his plan, Li Yuancheng waited anxiously; given Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength, it was only fair he received the larger share, but it was uncertain if he would be satisfied. Lin Tianming thought it over. The carcass of the Wind Shadow Leopard leader, which held the greatest value, would be his, and surely the storage bags of Lu Ming¡¯s party contained all of their wealth. The spiritual artifacts were negligible in comparison. Li Yuancheng¡¯s proposal was quite sincere. Asking for a few more Sky Fei Fruits would suffice. ¡°Li, I have no objections to the rest, but as for the Sky Fei Fruits, taking more doesn¡¯t add much benefit. Your couple can keep two, and the rest are mine. How about that?¡± ¡°So be it,¡± Without hesitation, Li Yuancheng agreed to Lin Tianming¡¯s terms. Having divided the spoils, the three of them began to get themselves busy. Lin Tianming collected Lu Ming¡¯s storage bags and the spiritual artifacts, handing the latter over to Li Yuancheng. They then started disassembling the carcasses of the Wind Shadow Leopards, taking all useful materials with them. An hour later, the battlefield was cleared, and the three of them headed towards the Sky Fei Fruit Tree. By now, the Sky Fei Fruits had ripened, ten emerald-like spirit fruits hanging from the tree. Song Yurong stepped forward to harvest the Sky Fei Fruits, while Lin Tianming and Li Yuancheng chatted leisurely on the side. The Sky Fei Fruit ripened once every hundred years, and its effects surpassed even the Jade Spirit Fruit, but it was a pity that the tree could not be transplanted. Lin Tianming took out a map, located their position, and made a mark for his clan to return and harvest the fruits after a century. In a short while, Song Yurong had picked all of the spirit fruits and placed them in jade boxes, handing eight of them to Lin Tianming. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming accepted the jade boxes without fuss and put them back into his storage bag. After surviving a perilous battle and the test of shared interests, Li Yuancheng and his wife had come to a clearer understanding of Lin Tianming, at the very least, not a traitor. They became inclined to befriend him. ¡°Daoist Chen, we¡¯re still within the heart of the mountain range and have yet to leave danger behind. Why don¡¯t we travel together back to the market city?¡± ¡°I was thinking the same!¡± Having accomplished their mission of treasure hunting, the three of them did not linger and departed along the path they had come. Three days later, Lin Tianming and his companions emerged from a small hill on the periphery of the Luoyun Mountain Range. ¡°Li, Fairy Song, let¡¯s meet again someday!¡± ¡°Daoist Chen, let¡¯s meet again someday!¡± The three of them saluted each other simultaneously. Lin Tianming summoned his Earth Evil Sword and took to the sky, soon disappearing into the horizon. After Lin Tianming had left, Li Yuancheng gazed in the direction Lin Tianming had gone and muttered, ¡°Daoist Chen is incredibly strong, and his talismans are of excellent quality. I wonder if he¡¯s a loose cultivator or someone from the sect families¡­¡± Song Yurong, her complexion rosy, seemed to have realized something. ¡°Husband, my intuition tells me he¡¯s certainly not a loose cultivator. He¡¯s very likely from one of the five major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range, perhaps even someone from the core disciples of Zhenyang Sect. We must make a good connection with him¡­¡± Chapter 102 - 102 - 95 - The Grand Competition Begins (Combined )_1 Chapter 102 ¨C 95 ¨C The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_1 Three days later, at Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. In the plaza outside the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, dozens of people were gathered, almost all of them clan members above the fourth level of Qi Refinement. The clan members participating in the Luoyun Market competition were leaving the clan territory today, headed for Luoyun Market. A crowd emerged from their seclusions to see off Lin Shilu and the others. Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, and Clan Leader Lin Shihua, as well as other clan members of the ¡°Shi¡± generation, were all present without exception. In the plaza, Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng were bidding farewell to familiar clan members. Looking at the people before him, Lin Shikang seemed somewhat melancholic. Despite having given instructions several times over in the past few days, Lin Shikang still took Lin Shilu aside for a long chat. After speaking for a good half an hour, it was Lin Shilu who finally took the initiative to say goodbye. ¡°Third brother, Ninth Brother, it¡¯s getting late. We must depart now, please take care of things within the clan!¡± ¡°Hmm, be careful in everything, and remember not to act recklessly!¡± After speaking, Lin Shikang took out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Shilu, whispering something to him. More than ten breaths later, not until Lin Shilu had promised repeatedly, did Lin Shikang let out a sigh of relief and personally escorted Lin Shilu and the others outside the Protective Clan Formation. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a large group of clan members appeared at the entrance to the formation. Watching the clan members before him, Lin Shilu¡¯s heart felt complex. Parting now, it was hard to predict¡ªif it might be a final farewell. ¡°Shi Lu, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, having already given all the necessary instructions¡ªit was time to set off. With slightly reddened eyes, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and others, bowed to a certain tower within the clan and then passed through the light curtain of the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the clan¡¯s formation. Explore more adventures at empire Lin Shilu waved his hands and pulled out a Flying Sword from the storage bag, which he suspended in front of him. After casting a Law Decree, the greenish-yellow Spirit Sword swiftly grew to a length of three Zhang. Lin Shilu leaped onto the sword first, followed by Lin Xingyu and Lin Tianfeng. Infusing it with Spiritual Power, the Spirit Sword soared into the air, flying towards Luoyun Market in the north. Watching Lin Shilu ride the sword away until he disappeared into the horizon, Lin Shikang still did not move. After gazing for half an hour, at Lin Shigong¡¯s reminder did he finally snap back to attention, let out a sigh, and turned to Lin Shihua to speak. ¡°Has the Protective Clan Formation been fully activated?¡± ¡°It has been activated!¡± Lin Shihua responded truthfully, and then reported on the defense situation of the Lin Family. Ever since the Lin Family had entered a state of war preparedness, groups of people patrolled the clan territory every day. Even the range of the Protective Clan Formation had been significantly reduced, covering only the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain and a small town where mortals lived. With the reduced range and all the formations activated, the defensive and offensive power of the formation had increased several-fold, but the consumption of Spirit Stones was enormous. If it went on for too long, the Lin Family could not sustain it; they could only hold out for half a year. After hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements, Lin Shikang was very satisfied. After disbanding the rest of the clan members, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua together inspected the clan territory one last time to ensure no oversights, then returned to the Summit of Qingzhu Mountain. ¡­ At Golden Horn Mountain, Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory. Beneath a thousand-zhang high peak, several rivers converged at the base of the mountain to form a massive waterfall, a spectacular sight to behold. Inside a pavilion atop the mountain, Jin Zhiying sat with a man in a black robe in the high seat of the great hall. Several members of the Jin Family were seated below, listening to the conversation between Jin Zhiying and the black-robed elder. Jin Zhiying lifted a jade teacup, took a sip of Spiritual Tea, and began to chat leisurely with the black-robed elder beside him, speaking very politely. ¡°Daoist Zhuang, are you confident in the task you have been entrusted with?¡± In response to Jin Zhiying¡¯s question, the Zhuang-surnamed elder revealed a hint of an unusual expression. ¡°I am absolutely certain I can break through the Protective Clan Formation of the other families, but the Lin Family¡¯s formation is of no low grade; I am not overly confident. However, if Jin Daoyou launches a full-force attack, as long as a gap in the formation is opened, I can take advantage of it to find a flaw, and there is a good chance of breaking through the formation.¡± Hearing Zhuang Zhenxin¡¯s assurance, Jin Zhiying showed a strange smile. The Luoyun Mountain Range had been peaceful for nearly two hundred years. In order to swallow the other four major families in one fell swoop, he had been scheming for decades, and now the time was ripe; it was time to make a move. If he was going to strike, he had to inflict a total defeat on the other four major families. If he could acquire the treasures of the Sun Family and Lin Family, he might even have the chance to break through to the Golden Core Realm. An excited Jin Zhiying considered this possibility. ¡°Hmm, with Daoist Zhuang¡¯s involvement, we¡¯re bound to succeed this time.¡± ¡°Here is a small portion of the deposit; after the matter is settled, the Jin Family will provide the remaining Spirit Stones, to your satisfaction!¡± After finishing his words, Jin Zhiying handed over a storage bag to Zhuang Zhenxin. After taking the storage bag from Jin Zhiying¡¯s hand and checking its contents with his Divine Sense, Zhuang Zhenxin showed a satisfied smile, quickly regaining his composure. ¡°Rest assured, Jin Daoyou, I will do my utmost. However, let me say this clearly: as per our agreement, after the success, I shall have unrestricted access to the collections of the Sun Family and Lin Family, and you must hand over the item I require. I hope Jin Daoyou does not go back on his word. Otherwise¡­¡± Jin Zhiying nodded, confidently saying: ¡°Of course, if Daoist Zhuang fulfills the task, the Jin Family will not break its word!¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm!¡± Once the two came to an agreement, Jin Zhiying turned his gaze to the many clan members below. ¡°Zhisong, the day for the Luoyun Market competition is approaching. You and Chao Zong bring the younger generation along. Act according to plan. That Lin youngster has an exceptional talent; we must ensure his demise. Should he escape, he would become a relentless problem for the future.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Jin Zhison stood up and cupped his hands in response, then took the clan members with him as they departed. ¡­ Inside a secret chamber in a small courtyard within Luoyun Market, Lin Tianming was operating his Cultivation Technique, inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Energy rhythmically. Chapter 103 - 103 - 95 - The Grand Competition Begins (Combined )_2 Chapter 103 ¨C 95 ¨C The Grand Competition Begins (Combined Chapter)_2 As a message transmission penetrated the secret chamber, it interrupted Lin Tianming, who had been cultivating for several months. For half a year, Lin Tianming had been in seclusion, cultivating and consuming Jade Spirit Fruits provided by the family, stabilizing his cultivation at the medium stage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Had the effects of the Jade Spirit Fruits not diminished after repeated doses compared to the first, perhaps with the help of elixirs, he could have made even further progress. Opening his eyes, a sharp light flickered within his bright pupils. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s aura was extremely stable and contained, and his physical condition was excellent. After tidying up the scattered jade boxes and jade bottles around him, he stood up and left the secret chamber. Inside the courtyard, Lin Shilu, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyu, had already arrived at the market, discussing something with Lin Xingzhi and others. Upon seeing Lin Tianming emerge, Lin Shilu was delighted and waved him over. Lin Tianming hurriedly stepped forward to salute, ¡°Tianming pays respect to Fifteenth Grandfather and all the elders of our clan.¡± ¡°Tianming, come over and sit!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After Lin Tianming sat down, he greeted Lin Tianfeng. Having not seen each other for half a year, Lin Tianfeng had also made significant progress. His cultivation was nearing the peak of the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, with an aura as sharp as a Spirit Sword, particularly striking. Unlike him, Lin Tianming¡¯s aura was more subdued, and other than looking robust, he seemed like an ordinary martial artist. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Shilu recounted the rules and details of the Luoyun Market competition once again. Even though the others had heard it several times before, they still listened attentively. After all, Lin Shilu¡¯s personal experiences with the competition were quite different from what others relayed. An hour passed, and Lin Shilu finished introducing the rules of the Luoyun Market competition, the range of the training grounds, and the strength of the Demonic Beasts. With Lin Shilu¡¯s careful introduction and shared experiences, Lin Tianming and others learned a great deal. In the end, Lin Shilu took out a book and handed it to them. ¡°This contains intelligence on the people of the other four major families, only the most important dozen or so. Although it might not be completely accurate, it can serve as a reference. The Sun Family, although our allies, should not be taken lightly. Without a full-scale war erupting, they are still competitors, so proceed with all due caution.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After receiving the book, each person entered a secret chamber for a short-term seclusion, waiting for the start of the Luoyun Market competition. ¡­ Inside his secret chamber, Lin Tianming took out the book and began to scrutinize it carefully. Jin Zhiying, Jin Chaozong, Jin Qishan, Lin Tianming paused when he reached this point. Jin Qishan, a dual-Spiritual Roots Cultivator from the Jin Family, only twenty-eight years old, definitely had the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage cultivation, perfectly eligible for the competition. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt no small pressure. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Exhaling a breath of turbid air, he once again began to study the introductions of the other individuals. Sun Dingxian, Sun Ruiqing, Luo Chengjian, Wu Yinbao, he read through the roster of cultivators from each major family one by one, committing them to memory. With only one month left, the more he could enhance his cultivation, the safer he would be. Soon after, Lin Tianming resumed his cultivation practice. ¡­ In a secret chamber within a valley at the northern boundary of the Luoyun Mountain Range, within the territory of the Jin Family, Lin Xingrong sat on a stone bed in the secret chamber, talking to himself. ¡°There are ten more days until the Luoyun Market competition. It¡¯s about time. We should set out!¡± Read new adventures at empire With that, Lin Xingrong sent out two messages. Before long, Lin Xingqi and Lin Tianhong entered the secret chamber. Looking at the two, close in age but of different generations, he said solemnly, ¡°Xingqi, I will be away for more than a month. During this period, do not leave the cave residence without authorization. If an emergency arises, take the younger ones to the Qianchuan Market and seek out Elder Ye!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really a last resort and you do go to Qianchuan Market, hand this storage bag over to Elder Ye. I believe after he sees it, he will naturally offer you protection for a while!¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After speaking, Lin Xingrong pulled out a storage bag and handed it to Lin Xingqi. Lin Xingqi took the storage bag with a resolute expression, saying, ¡°Rest assured, big brother, I will protect the youngsters and not let you down!¡± Pleased with the response, Lin Xingrong let them return to the secret chamber to cultivate. After the two left, Lin Xingrong stood up from the cave and, with a reluctant look, flew away towards the south. And so, time swiftly flew by. One clear morning, Lin Tianming emerged from the secret chamber and gathered with Lin Tianfeng and others, awaiting Lin Shilu. After more than ten breaths, Lin Shilu came out, stood in front of everyone, and scrutinized them repeatedly. Then, with satisfaction, he nodded and spoke, ¡°Depart!¡± Lin Shilu led the way, with Lin Tianming and the others following closely behind. Leaving the courtyard, the four weaved through the streets, heading towards the entrance of Luoyun Market. As the great competition of Luoyun Market approached, the flow of people noticeably increased. Many cultivators who enjoyed spectacles left the market area and assembled at the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range. When Lin Shilu and the others exited the entrance of the market, they summoned their flying swords, instantly attracting the attention of many cultivators. ¡°It¡¯s Elder Lin from the Lin Family!¡± ¡­ A few Qi Training Cultivators exclaimed, drawing the gaze of a large number of cultivators towards Lin Tianming and his group. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t pay them any mind, leading the others straight westward and quickly disappearing from sight. After an hour of expeditious travel, Lin Tianming and the others passed through the vast Guangmao Plain and appeared on top of a mountain hundreds of zhang high. Standing in the air, Lin Tianming surveyed the gathering spot below. The mountain wasn¡¯t very tall, noticeably standing out on the expansive plain, with a nearly hundred-acre plateau at its peak that surprisingly formed a natural arena. Below the mountain, over a hundred Qi Refining Cultivators had already gathered to watch the fun. On the plateau, the Luo and Wu families had already arrived early, and several cultivators from Qi Refining Families were also watching the battle from the stage. Descending with his group to one corner of the plaza, the cultivators leading the Luo and Wu families greeted Lin Shilu with smiles. Lin Shilu reciprocated each greeting, appearing quite generous and proper. Soon after, four people arrived via Sword Flight from the sky, landing not far from the Lin Family Members. The leader of the group was Sun Dingfeng, who had previously gone to Green Bamboo Mountain to seek an alliance. Before he even landed, Sun Dingfeng¡¯s hearty laughter could be heard. ¡°Haha, I didn¡¯t expect my fellow Daoists to have arrived before me. My respects to you all!¡± Lin Shilu and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators politely returned the greeting, being very courteous. After exchanging pleasantries, they didn¡¯t say much more, each choosing to sit aside and quietly restore their energy. With the arrival of the Sun Family, four of the five great families had arrived, leaving only the Jin Family yet to appear. A tea¡¯s time had passed, and the number of cultivators who had come to watch the excitement had reached more than two hundred. Amidst the crowd¡¯s commotion, a few cultivators shouted towards the sky: ¡°The Jin Family has arrived, led by none other than Elder Jin Zhison!¡± Hearing the man¡¯s exclamation, a great number of cultivators looked up into the sky, their faces filled with longing. Jin Zhison descended opposite the Lin Family members with a calm demeanor, greeting everyone. Since there had been no complete falling out, Lin Shilu and Sun Dingfeng didn¡¯t show any unusual expression either, smiling and paying their respects but without much enthusiasm. Jin Zhison didn¡¯t mind, appearing as if he had anticipated their response. The unspoken agreement among them felt odd to the onlookers. Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the five great families each took out a Spirit Sword of varying colors and threw them into the air, randomly shifting their positions. The five Foundation Establishment Cultivators reached out through the air and each retrieved a Spirit Sword. Lin Shilu caught a green Spirit Sword, which was surrounded by strong Wood-attribute Spiritual Power, quite peculiar. According to Lin Shilu, these five differently attributed Spirit Swords were crafted hundreds of years ago by a Third Order Artificer at the request of the five great families. Though their grade was only First Order Superior Grade, weaker than even the First Order Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact, they served a special purpose: they could leave a unique mark. After every major competition, when the five great families redistributed the Spirit Swords, one was not allowed to catch the one they had the previous time. Therefore, it was impossible for someone to have the same sword twice within two hundred years. After handing the Spirit Sword to Lin Tianming, the other families also passed their Spirit Swords to the younger members of their clans. Then, Jin Zhison spoke, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that the Spirit Swords have been distributed, shall we begin?¡± Seeing that Lin Shilu and the others had no objections, Jin Zhison continued, ¡°There¡¯s no need to reiterate the rules of Luoyun Market¡¯s grand competition. Your elders have already informed you. During the competition, life and death will be up to fate. Gather here in a month, and the ranking will be decided based on points!¡± After speaking, Jin Zhison instructed Jin Qishan behind him, ¡°Go ahead!¡± Jin Zhison and his three companions didn¡¯t hesitate, saluted, and immediately rose on their swords, flying into the western mountains. Seeing that Jin Family members had left, the other families didn¡¯t linger either. The elder leaders of the groups gave a few instructions and each chose a direction to depart. Lin Shilu also didn¡¯t wait further, instructing Lin Tianming with a few words. Lin Tianming and the other two saluted with cupped fists, jumped onto their flying swords, and flew into the western mountain range. Chapter 201: 159: Flame Fruit_1 Chapter 201: Chapter 159: Flame Fruit_1 After returning to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming immediately entered his room. He had only briefly looked over the pill formula he acquired earlier, but now that he was back in his abode, it was time to study it in detail. Sitting upright on the stone bed, he took out the pill formula he had bought from the stall area and extended his Divine Sense to peruse it. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming withdrew his Divine Sense and fell into a deep contemplation. The Dragon Bone Pill formula was complete and, according to his estimation, it was undoubtedly a genuine article. However, where would he find the main ingredient for this formula, the Demon Core of the Qinglong Jiao? Without finding a Qinglong Jiao, he would be unable to obtain its inner core, and thus be unable to concoct the pill. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless and could only put the matter out of his mind for now, to be addressed when an opportunity arose later. While Qinglong Jiaos were rare, it wasn¡¯t entirely hopeless to find one. In the still silence of the night, with eyes tightly closed, Lin Tianming circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation and began to meditate to pass the time, while waiting for tomorrow¡¯s auction. The next day, Lin Tianming opened his eyes that had been closed all through the night, tidied up his room, and ended his cultivation to step out of his room. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as he did, Lin Shilu also came out from the neighboring room, not far away, and the two of them met. Lin Shilu¡¯s face showed a trace of excitement, and he casually said, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s go to the auction together. There might even be an exchange event organized by fellow sects, and we must not miss it.¡± Lin Tianming let out a chuckle and walked out of the courtyard together with Lin Shilu towards the central auction house in the market city. There were quite a few cultivators along the way, all heading in the same direction. After passing several Bluestone streets, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the plaza in front of the entrance to the auction. As the two paused, a voice came over. ¡°This is quite the coincidence, running into Brother Lin wherever I go.¡± Turning around, they saw Ye Pinghai approaching and immediately went forward to greet him with a salute. ¡°Brother Ye, the auction is quite dull. Why don¡¯t you join me? We¡¯ll at least have a chat to relieve the boredom.¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s invitation, Ye Pinghai did not decline his hospitable offer. Since Foundation Establishment Cultivators didn¡¯t need to queue, the three of them passed the line of Qi Training Cultivators and headed towards the entrance. An Executive Officer at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation, who apparently recognized the two, immediately greeted them warmly, ¡°Greetings to Elder Ye and Elder Lin, please come inside.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, but still presented his Market City Token, followed by handing over thirty Spirit Stones to the speaking cultivator. The Executive Officer responsible for collecting the admission fee respectfully took the Spirit Stones and then instructed a cultivator beside him to show them the way. The three followed the Qi Training Cultivator ahead of them, walked straight to the second floor, and finally entered a private room. Everyone took their seats, and the cultivator who led the way stood by the entrance. Since there was some time before the auction began, Lin Shilu brought out some Spiritual Tea, and the three chatted leisurely while drinking tea. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming reflected on the matter of the Dragon Bone Pill, and considering Ye Pinghai¡¯s mastery in Second Order Superior Alchemy, who had immersed himself in alchemy for over sixty years, he might have some methods or pill formulas. With this thought, Lin Tianming turned to Ye Pinghai and said, ¡°Grandpa Sea, do you have any Second Order Pill Recipes for elixirs that aid in Body Cultivation?¡± ¡°Pill recipes for Second Order elixirs for Body Cultivators to consume?¡± Ye Pinghai looked startled, and after contemplating for a while, he directly stated he did not have any, dashing Lin Tianming¡¯s hopes. Second Order pill formulas were precious to begin with, and those suited for Body Cultivators were even more exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a hint of disappointment, but he did not lose heart. Thinking of the Dragon Bone Pill formula, he asked, ¡°Grandpa Sea, Tianming came across an Ancient Pill Recipe yesterday. Could you help the youngster take a look at it?¡± At the mention of this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. An alchemy enthusiast with exceptional talent, he was thrilled to have an Ancient Pill Recipe to study and suddenly became eager. ¡°Oh? Let me have a look.¡± Lin Tianming, pleasantly surprised, promptly took out the Dragon Bone Pill formula and respectfully handed it over. Ye Pinghai took the Jade Slip, extended his Divine Sense, and started to read the contents recorded within. A little while later, with a regretful expression, Ye Pinghai said, ¡°The pill is genuine indeed, but where shall we find the inner core of the Azure Dragon Jiao required as the main ingredient? The chances of concocting this pill are practically non-existent.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face grew even grimmer upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s explanation. Suddenly, Ye Pinghai seemed to recall something, and his tone changed. ¡°I once acquired the notes of a Third Order Alchemy Master. This alchemist was an oddball; he, too, encountered situations where he couldn¡¯t find the main ingredients for his recipes. Eventually, he sought out Demons Cores with similar attributes to substitute, and astoundingly, he was still able to concoct pills with the same medicinal effect.¡± Upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, enlightenment dawned upon Lin Tianming. There was almost no chance of finding a Qinglong Jiao¡¯s Demon Core, but he couldn¡¯t wait much longer. He had been at the first level of Foundation Establishment for nearly two years and, although he could still slowly increase his cultivation by meditating, he¡¯d rather not dwell on the sluggish pace of his progress. There was no waiting around¡ªYe Pinghai¡¯s suggested method might just be worth a try. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s face regained its luster. Seeing that Lin Tianming remained silent, Ye Pinghai then took out a Jade Slip from his storage bag and handed it to him. ¡°This?¡± Lin Tianming asked in confusion. ¡°This is the very set of notes from the Third Order Alchemy Master that I mentioned. Although the recorded methods are unconventional, there¡¯s still much of value within.¡± Ye Pinghai explained. Chapter 202: 159: Flame Fruit_2 Chapter 202: Chapter 159: Flame Fruit_2 Seeing that Lin Tianming did not take the Jade Slip or show any reaction, Lin Shilu hurriedly reminded him. ¡°You lad, don¡¯t you hurry up and thank your Grandpa Sea? This is summarized by a Third Order Alchemy Master,¡± he urged. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming finally came back to his senses and said with utmost sincerity, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Sea. Once I have understood its contents, I will surely return it to you, sir.¡± Ye Pinghai chuckled and said, ¡°No worries, I have already comprehended it. Just take it, and you decide how to deal with it.¡± Thinking of how Ye Pinghai was all alone in the world yet had repeatedly provided help, Lin Tianming felt deeply moved. He indeed needed this handwritten note at the moment. As for repaying the favor in the future, he would make it a point to do so when he was capable. With this thought, Lin Tianming did not play coy any longer. He respectfully accepted the Jade Slip and then placed it into his storage bag. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai nodded in satisfaction and continued to chat leisurely. A short while later, bursts of noise came from the auction hall, and the few people quickly shifted their gaze. Looking over, the entire second-floor auction hall was more than half as small as the first floor. In the center was a similar high platform surrounded by hundreds of seats and over a hundred private rooms. At this moment, only around a hundred of the seats in the public area were occupied, the rest were empty. With the appearance of an old man with the demeanor of an immortal on the central high platform, the clamor throughout the hall quieted down. The old man had a composed demeanor, his aged face constantly adorned with a smile. He bowed to the hundred or so cultivators below and the surrounding private rooms, then he began to speak, ¡°I, Xue Chong, am honored to host the Foundation Establishment Area auction today. As all of you are Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the rules of the auction need not be repeated as you¡¯re doubtless informed,¡± he said. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hehe, many fellow cultivators can¡¯t wait, so I won¡¯t talk nonsense. Let¡¯s start with the first auction item,¡± he declared. No sooner had he finished speaking, the old man produced a piece of demonic beast skin in his hand. The whole piece was dark brown and well-preserved. ¡°One piece of Superior Second Order Savage Spirit Bull beast skin up for auction. The defensive capabilities of this beast are extremely formidable; its skin is an excellent material for crafting inner armor or for Talisman Making. The starting bid is eight hundred Spirit Stones, with each subsequent bid to be no less than ten Spirit Stones,¡± he announced. Before the echo faded, several cultivators immediately began to bid, seemingly all Artifact Refiners or Talisman Makers. ¡°Eight hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Eight hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± The first auction item was a Superior Second Order beast skin, and the price continued to climb, indicating the auction¡¯s emphasis on this sale. Lin Tianming and the others, sitting in the private room and chatting idly, watched the heated scene below, and Ye Pinghai joked, ¡°Brother Lin, this Savage Spirit Bull¡¯s skin is quite fine, and quite large, too¡ªit¡¯s great material for crafting inner armor.¡± Lin Shilu laughed heartily, then replied, ¡°I, too, plan to secure this item. If used properly, it should be enough to craft two sets of Lower Second Order inner armor.¡± In just over ten breaths¡¯ time, the price of the Savage Spirit Bull¡¯s skin had reached one thousand one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. At such a price, the number of bidding cultivators below was dwindling, leaving only three who were still persistent. Lin Shilu also made his first bid. ¡°One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°One thousand two hundred and fifty Spirit Stones,¡± a cultivator immediately called out. ¡°One thousand three hundred Spirit Stones.¡± With Lin Shilu¡¯s significant increase in the bid, the cultivators who had been bidding seemed to give up. After several breaths with no further bids, Xue Chong declared the first auction item sold. Lin Shilu prepared his Spirit Stones and completed the transaction with Xue Chong through a barrier, both parties obtaining the Spirit Stones and the auction item. With the first treasure settled, Xue Chong was very satisfied with the price and continued to host the event. ¡°The second treasure, a plant of Six-leaved Purple Sandalwood, a Second Order spirit material, is an exceptional material for Artifact Refining. The starting bid is three hundred Spirit Stones, with increments no less than ten Spirit Stones,¡± he introduced. Although the first treasure ignited the atmosphere, the second one was somewhat less impressive. Nevertheless, several cultivators were eagerly bidding. ¡°Three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ Below, the cultivators continued to bid fiercely. Lin Tianming, who did not practice Artifact Refining, naturally had no interest, and Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai also looked down upon these items. The second treasure was won by a Third Level Foundation Establishment Cultivator for five hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. The fiery auction continued, and in a blink of an eye, it had reached the last ten items, the climax of the event. After auctioning off hundreds of treasures, nearly all of them were Second Order Spiritual Items, including a considerable amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials, various Spirit Ore Materials, and many parts of Demonic Beasts¡¯ bodies. During this time, Lin Tianming spent over a thousand Spirit Stones, acquiring several strains of Spiritual Medicine Materials and one Second Order low-quality Demon Beast Inner Pill, which he planned to feed to the Purple Gold Eagle in hopes of it breaking through to the second order. Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai also made a few bids, each securing some Spiritual Medicine Materials and Artifact Refining Materials. They were not exceptionally precious, but were also not ordinary items. As the auction of the common items concluded, everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the grand finale items. After a brief rest, Xue Chong took out another Jade Box and opened it. In the Jade Box held by Xue Chong, a fist-sized Spirit Fruit lay inside, its entire form crystal clear and translucent, also emitting an enticing fragrance. Xue Chong¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of fervor, but he quickly regained his composure and began the introduction. ¡°A Second Order Medium Quality Spirit Fruit, the Flame Fruit, extremely rare, enhances vitality and blood, as well as benefits skin and Divine Sense. The starting bid is one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, with each increment not less than twenty Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as the words fell, many cultivators¡¯ faces flushed, and their breathing quickened. Seeing this item, Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. He had long come across this fruit in various tomes; it could strengthen the body as well as fortify the Divine Sense, with very significant effects. However, only one could be consumed, and the effects would halve with each additional ingestion. Even so, the effects of the fruit were excellent, and cultivators who had never used it would not easily give up the chance to attain it. Although he had attended several auctions and exchange events before, he had never come across such a fruit. Now that he had finally found one, he naturally wouldn¡¯t let it slip away. While Lin Tianming was momentarily lost in thought, over ten cultivators began bidding fiercely, and the price of the Flame Fruit had already risen to over fifteen hundred Spirit Stones, and it was still climbing. Determined to obtain the fruit, Lin Tianming immediately joined the bidding. ¡°One thousand six hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!¡± He raised the bid by a full hundred Spirit Stones in one go, causing many cultivators in the audience to speculate in whispers. However, there were still seven or eight cultivators unwilling to give up. Among these bidding cultivators, many came from clans, sects, and other powerful forces, with considerable backing and financial resources not much inferior to his. ¡°One thousand six hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°One thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ The price continued to soar, and after more than a dozen rounds of bidding, the Flame Fruit¡¯s price had reached one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, about to break the two-thousand barrier. By this time, the majority of cultivators had already withdrawn. Now somewhat overpriced, only three people, including Lin Tianming, were still in the bidding. All of them were cultivators from private rooms. ¡°One thousand nine hundred and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, raising the bid by one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones and causing the whole audience to gasp. He had already consumed many Body Refinement Spirit Fruits and elixirs and was very clear about the benefits they brought to the body and Divine Sense. Even if the price was steep, he was willing to pay, knowing well that treasures like this were hard to come by. After he called out his bid, the cultivators in the other two private rooms fell into brief silence, seemingly willing to give up. Three breaths passed, and just when Xue Chong was about to announce the auction result, one of the private rooms called out a price, seeming to make a final bid. ¡°Two thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Before the voice had finished, Lin Tianming instantly upped the bid by another hundred Spirit Stones. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s new bid, the last bidding cultivator fell completely silent. Five breaths went by, and Xue Chong bowed towards the private room where Lin Tianming was located and proceeded to announce the auction result. ¡°Congratulations to the Daoist friend in the private room on securing the Flame Fruit for two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Hearing Xue Chong declare the result, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. Overjoyed, he quickly took out two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones and, with a flick of his hand, sent them all through the restrictive light screen, landing steadily in Xue Chong¡¯s hands. After a sweep with his Divine Sense and confirming that the number was correct, Xue Chong flung the Jade Box through the light screen as well, which Lin Tianming caught. At that moment, Lin Tianming was somewhat excited, picking up the blood-red Flame Fruit and lovingly admiring it. In the center of the auction house, Xue Chong chuckled and resumed hosting the auction. Chapter 203: 160 Making Friends_1 Chapter 203: Chapter 160 Making Friends_1 The explosive auction continued. The first climax treasure sold for a high price of two thousand one hundred spirit stones, satisfying all cultivators in attendance. Xue Chong was very satisfied. By presiding over this auction, he would receive a generous reward. As the atmosphere on the scene gradually relaxed, Xue Chong took out the prepared treasure, the second climax item. Looking over, he revealed a fiery red spirit sword about three feet long in his hand, encircled by faint sword qi, clearly an attack talisman. Seeing this item, many cultivators flashed eager spiritual light in their eyes. Xue Chong waved his hand once, twirling the blade, then started to introduce it. ¡°The second climax item, a Second Order Low Grade Artifact, named Fire Cloud Sword, renowned for its formidable attack power; it¡¯s considered an exquisite piece among Second Order Low Grade Artifacts. The starting bid is three thousand spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than twenty spirit stones,¡± he announced. As soon as the words fell, a cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment from the public area couldn¡¯t wait to bid. ¡°Three thousand one hundred spirit stones,¡± he shouted. The first bid emerged, and an elderly cultivator at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment mocked: ¡°Bidding so slowly is a waste of time, let an old man bid three thousand five hundred spirit stones,¡± he declared. The elder sharply raised the price by several hundred spirit stones, making some eager cultivators give up on bidding. Second Order Magical Artifacts are not easily refined and are very precious in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment exhaust all their wealth and even incur debts for the sake of Foundation Establishment. Those who have just reached Foundation Establishment typically aren¡¯t wealthy, and hence many cultivators at the Initial and even Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment find it hard to possess a magic artifact. That¡¯s why many cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment attend auctions specifically for Second Order Magical Artifacts. Despite the significant price jump made by the elder, many people were not willing to give up easily, for the auction recognized spirit stones, and the one who offered the highest price would obtain the treasure. ¡°Three thousand six hundred spirit stones,¡± a middle-aged cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer bid loudly. ¡°Three thousand seven hundred spirit stones,¡± ¡­ Lin Tianming and his two companions sat in the private room, watching the intense bidding among cultivators below, looking on as if enjoying a show. They had not made a bid throughout, nor did they have any intention to participate in the auction. After all, Lin Shilu and Ye Pinghai had entered Foundation Establishment quite early. Lin Shilu was a Second Order Refiner, and Ye Pinghai was a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, both extremely wealthy, each already possessing Second Order Magical Artifacts, and of not low quality either. Lin Tianming himself used a complete set of spirit swords and had the Second Order Medium Quality Tiangang Sword for exhibiting his divine skills. The Fire Cloud Sword was decent but of little use to him. More importantly, his spirit stones were limited, and after purchasing the Flame Fruit, he only had a little over two thousand spirit stones left. The bidding scene at this moment was extremely hot, and the price was quickly raised to four thousand four hundred spirit stones. By this point, the price of the Fire Cloud Sword was somewhat inflated, and many cultivators with limited means had long given up the idea of bidding. Only two cultivators remained in the competition: the afore-mentioned cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer and the old man who had been fiercely raising the price. The two competing cultivators were at odds, neither willing to back down. Seeing the middle-aged cultivator increase the bid by fifty spirit stones, the elder¡¯s face started to look rather unpleasant. Thinking of the thousands of spirit stones he had painstakingly saved, he yelled to the bidding cultivator: ¡°Daoist Zhu, give me some face and let me have this sword, how about it?¡± ¡°Hmph, the rule of the auction is that the highest bidder wins. If you don¡¯t have spirit stones, you shouldn¡¯t participate,¡± the man surnamed Zhu flatly refused, without giving any face to the elder. The elder had assumed that since he was two minor realms higher than Daoist Zhu and had asked personally, Daoist Zhu would retreat. But he didn¡¯t expect the man to completely disregard him, which took him by surprise. Seeing that Daoist Zhu was not giving in, the angered elder threatened: ¡°Fine, fine, there will be other days. Daoist Zhu, you¡¯d better watch yourself when you go out, lest something unfortunate happen to you,¡± ¡°Four thousand six hundred spirit stones,¡± ¡°Four thousand seven hundred spirit stones,¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Daoist Zhu remained undeterred and continued to increase the bid. A few moments passed. At this point, the elder¡¯s face was flushed red. After sweeping his divine sense over the spirit stones in his storage bag, he no longer raised the bid, clearly giving up on the auction. Xue Chong, seeing that the two contenders were silent, publicly announced the auction result. Daoist Zhu was all smiles as he handed over the spirit stones to Xue Chong and then received the Fire Cloud Sword. Meanwhile, the elder¡¯s face was red with rage; having lost face, he was fuming and wished he could tear Daoist Zhu to pieces. Noticing the elder¡¯s demeanor, Xue Chong¡¯s expression turned cold, and he spoke: ¡°Daoist Xu, this is an auction. Any resentments should be resolved outside the market,¡± Hearing Xue Chong¡¯s reminder, Daoist Xu forcibly suppressed the agitation in his heart. Knowing the consequences all too well, no one dared to cause trouble within the market, and he sat down without saying another word. Xue Chong nodded and continued to preside over the auction, Time slowly passed, and soon an hour had gone by. During this period, seven treasures had been consecutively auctioned off, one of which was the Hun Tian Pill that fetched a high price. The other treasures were no ordinary items either. Two more Second Order Magical Artifacts, some precious Spiritual Medicine Materials, a Yellow Grade Technique, and a Foundation Establishment Pill were sold. The Yellow Grade Technique was bought by a cultivator in a private room for twenty-three thousand spirit stones, and the Foundation Establishment Pill was taken by another in a private room for thirty-one thousand spirit stones, bringing in high prices for all the treasures. Chapter 204: 160 Making Friends_2 Chapter 204: Chapter 160 Making Friends_2 Among the finale items up for auction, Lin Shilu had not made a move, and although his family still coveted the Foundation Establishment Pills, considering the intense competition from several private rooms and the challenge of safely transporting it back to the family, it was simply too hot to handle for the Lin Family at present, so Lin Shilu could only give up. Ye Pinghai, on the other hand, spent thousands of Spirit Stones without so much as blinking an eye to win the bidding for two stalks of Third Order Spiritual Medicine Material, evidently showcasing the deep pockets of a Second Order High-Grade Alchemist. By this time, the auction had reached its concluding phase, with just one final treasured item yet to be auctioned off. The last item to end the auction was always the most precious treasure. All the cultivators present fixed their eyes on the final item, with many spectators looking forward with great anticipation. The highlight of the Qi Refining Area¡¯s auction was almost a no-brainer¡ªit was definitely either a Foundation Establishment Pill or another Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object. And Lin Tianming, attending the Foundation Establishment Area¡¯s auction for the first time, was also curious about what the treasure would be. Once the cultivators in the hall had calmed down, Xue Chong decided to skip the preliminaries, took out a Jade Box, and opened it so that all the cultivators could see the item inside. Lin Tianming peered intently inside the Jade Box and saw a Jade Slip. A prohibition kept him from knowing whether it contained a cultivation technique or a tome. ¡°Brother Xue, what exactly is this Jade Slip?¡± a cultivator in the hall asked. With a chuckle towards the entire hall of cultivators, Xue Chong began his introduction. ¡°The tenth and final treasure of the auction is a Water Attribute Mysterious Grade Cultivation Technique called ¡®Thousand Water Decree¡¯, accompanied by Divine Skills offensive and defensive in one, with considerable power. The starting bid is forty thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than fifty Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Mysterious Grade Technique?¡± This was something that hadn¡¯t appeared for a long time. The number of Foundation Establishment Pills and cultivation techniques at small gatherings would sharply decrease, and Mysterious Grade Techniques were even rarer. Many cultivators thought they would only appear at the major gatherings held every ten years. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were also somewhat surprised, but neither of them was particularly interested. After all, the starting bid was forty thousand Spirit Stones, and one could imagine how high the final bid would go. Moreover, the Lin Family already possessed a complete set of Mysterious Grade Cultivation Techniques for the Five Elements, so they weren¡¯t too keen on this one. However, their thoughts differed from those families lacking a Water Attribute Mysterious Grade Technique. Sure enough, as soon as Xue Chong finished introducing the technique, bids started coming from within the private rooms, and soon, new bidders joined the auction. ¡°Forty-one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Forty-two thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ The prices continued to escalate, with each new bid coming from private rooms whose affiliations were unknown, turning the entire auction hall of about a hundred cultivators into mere spectators. ¡°Forty-seven thousand Spirit Stones!¡± The bid came out higher by more than ten thousand Spirit Stones than the Foundation Establishment Pill, causing a stir among the numerous cultivators. Lin Tianming was equally astonished; this was his first time witnessing the successful auction of a Mysterious Grade Technique. After more than ten rounds of bidding, the Mysterious Grade Technique was won by a cultivator in one of the private rooms for a price of forty-seven thousand Spirit Stones. Xue Chong and the successful bidder in the private room completed the exchange of Spirit Stones and the technique. At this point, all the highlight items had been successfully auctioned off, along with nearly a hundred other spiritual objects, and not a single treasure failed to sell. Xue Chong was visibly excited; the auction had concluded successfully, which meant he would receive a substantial amount of salary. Once he calmed down, Xue Chong cupped his fists and bowed towards the numerous cultivators sitting below. ¡°Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your participation. With all the treasures auctioned off, this auction has come to an end. Until next time!¡± As Xue Chong announced the conclusion, some cultivators who knew each other greeted one another and then started to leave the auction. Inside the private room, Lin Tianming and the other two remained seated, casually chatting, not in a rush to leave, as they were waiting to attend the exchange meet for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. A quarter of an hour later, many of the cultivators had left the venue, but there were still more than ten who remained where they were. After surveying the hall, Ye Pinghai turned to Lin Shilu and said: ¡°It¡¯s about time, Brother Lin, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shilu nodded and followed Ye Pinghai out of the private room. The Qi Refining Cultivators waiting outside saw the three men exit and immediately came forward to greet them. Without a word, Lin Shilu waved his hand, and ten Spirit Stones appeared out of thin air in the hands of the Qi Refining Cultivator. The Qi Refining Cultivator was overjoyed upon seeing the Spirit Stones given by Lin Shilu and repeatedly thanked him with a bow. ¡°Thank you, three seniors!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, and afterwards the three of them no longer paid attention to the Qi Refining Cultivators, directly passing by them towards the depths of the passageway. After more than ten breaths of time had passed, the three, having traversed several corridors, appeared outside a private room. Given Ye Pinghai often stayed in the market and had attended many auctions and exchange meetings, he led the way, and now they arrived outside a private room. With a single-handed seal, he sent a message into the room¡¯s protective restrictions. In less than a breath¡¯s time, an opening appeared in the protective restrictions of the room, and the three walked in together. They entered a huge private room, already filled with more than ten Cultivators sitting inside, many of whom were engaged in casual conversations with acquaintances. Lin Tianming also looked over the numerous Cultivators, and noticed that aside from himself, all the others were at least at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment or above. It was clear that the exchange meeting Ye Pinghai had brought them to was of a higher caliber, most likely not the kind of venue for Cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. Seeing Ye Pinghai enter, many Cultivators hurriedly stood up, proactively greeting him as if they were very familiar with him. Ye Pinghai also greeted them in return and then in front of all the Cultivators, began to introduce Lin Tianming and the other. ¡°Fellow Daoists, these two represent the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family¡¯s Lin Shilu, and beside him is his nephew¡ªallow me to introduce them to everyone!¡± ¡°So, you are the Daoist friends from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, I have long heard of you!¡± Some Cultivators also took the initiative to greet Lin Shilu, and both he and Lin Tianming returned the gesture with a clasped fist, behaving quite courteously. Feeling the influence of Ye Pinghai, indeed, was powerful, as the majority of the Cultivators they met were quite polite. This was a good opportunity for networking. For the Lin Family to gain a foothold in the market, it was indispensable to cultivate good relations with these highly cultivated Foundation Establishment Cultivators, thereby expanding the Lin Family¡¯s influence. The atmosphere was congenial and enthusiastic, and in a short while, Lin Tianming and the other had met over a dozen Cultivators, including Loose Cultivators and several from other families. Half a quarter of an hour passed. By this time, two Cultivators entered the room, one of whom was Li Xiuyuan, and the other also wore the attire of the Zhenyang Sect, his cultivation having reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Lin Tianming guessed that the other Cultivator must be one of the three Executive Officers of the market. As the two entered and saw the entirety of the Cultivators, including Ye Pinghai, stand up to welcome them, they greeted Li Xiuyuan and the others. ¡°Ye, Lin, you two indeed came as well!¡± Before he was close, the hearty laugh of Li Xiuyuan could be heard. The other Cultivators present were somewhat surprised as it made sense for Li Xiuyuan to be courteous to Ye Pinghai, a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master with a powerful cultivation. However, it was unexpected that Li Xiuyuan would be as polite to this unfamiliar Lin Family Cultivator, which made some who hadn¡¯t befriended Lin Shilu regret not doing so. While some Cultivators were still stunned, Li Xiuyuan also began introducing his fellow Sect member to Lin Shilu and the other. ¡°Lin, this is my fellow Sect brother Song Xun. He helped a lot with the store matter last time. Now that we¡¯ve met today, we should visit each other more often if there¡¯s a chance!¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming, looking excited, hurriedly greeted Song Xun. ¡°So it¡¯s Brother Song. I¡¯ve already heard from both Ye and Li about you. It¡¯s truly an honor to meet you today. Regarding the store matter, I am indebted to Brother Song¡¯s assistance, and when I have leisure time, I will certainly make a visit.¡± Song Xun waved his hand, saying with a very courteous expression: ¡°It was but a trifle, Brother Lin need not be so formal. Actually, I¡¯ve met your elder brother Lin Shikang before, but it¡¯s been many years since I last saw him, and I suppose he is about to challenge the Golden Core Path soon, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Haha, so Brother Song and my clan brother are old acquaintances. Once I return to the family land, I will surely convey your message on Brother Song¡¯s behalf. As for the Golden Core Path, it¡¯s not that easy. But someone like Brother Song, at such a young age nearing the Golden Core barrier, I admire that immensely,¡± Lin responded. Hearing what Lin Shilu had said, Song Xun expressed: ¡°As Brother Lin mentioned, how could the Golden Core Path be so easy to challenge? I have only reached where I am by relying on the Sect¡¯s support and having good luck, in truth, it is nothing noteworthy.¡± Lin Shilu chuckled and replied: ¡°That may be true, but by my estimations, the three young friends have reached the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. With the help of heaven-defying elixirs, the hopes of successfully breaking through to the Golden Core are not small at all!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope so¡­¡± Song Xun shook his head, a hint of longing visible in his eyes. After a few moments of casual chat, they temporarily parted ways, with Li Xiuyuan and his companion also engaging in idle conversation with other Cultivators. Lin Tianming and the other sat with Ye Pinghai, chatting with some new friends while waiting for the exchange meeting to start. Chapter 205: 161 Note_1 Chapter 205: Chapter 161 Note_1 After casually chatting for a short while and seeing that the time was about right, Li Xiuyuan stood up and said, ¡°Thank you, fellow cultivators, for attending this exchange meeting that I¡¯ve organized. It has allowed everyone to make some new acquaintances. Let¡¯s get started, and I hope that each of you will find some gains.¡± As soon as his words ended, an elderly man with a kindly expression turned to Lin Shilu and said with a smile, ¡°Indeed, every time I attend, I get to meet some new friends, which is truly fortunate.¡± The person who spoke was named Wei Liqiong, a family cultivator with Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer cultivation, hailing from the Wei Family of the Hengyang Mountain Range, a family whose strength was not inferior to the Lin Family. Since this person was interested in making connections, Lin Shilu naturally would not reject him. They nodded to each other as a greeting. Lin Shilu responded with a nod to the goodwill expressed by the other cultivators. Seeing the warm atmosphere, Li Xiuyuan, as the organizer, began the exchange meeting, and he was the first to present his items for trade. With a wave of his hand, three treasures landed steadily on the stone table in front of everyone. They were a Second Order Medium Quality Demon Beast inner pill, a Third Order Low Grade Spiritual Medicine, and a fist-sized golden ore. Observing the three treasures, Li Xiuyuan spoke with a smile, ¡°I assume I need not mention what these three items are, as everyone likely knows. I¡¯m willing to trade them for Third Order Spiritual Medicine Chunyang Grass, or the Autumn Jade Fruit. If you possess such items, you can trade one for all three.¡± Hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s proposal, not a single cultivator in the room spoke up, evidently because the items he sought were too precious. Lin Tianming also eyed these treasures with great desire, but alas, he had nothing of equal value to offer and could only be a spectator. A few moments passed in silence, seeing that no one was speaking up, Li Xiuyuan felt a tinge of disappointment, but he quickly came to terms with it, given the rare nature of his requested items. Even within the Zhenyang Sect, they were hard to come by, and cultivators in the market, even if they had what he needed, would probably not be willing to trade them. He reluctantly put away the three treasures, and then it was Song Xun¡¯s turn. He took out two items, a Second Order Low Grade Demon Core and a Third Order Spiritual Medicine. Song Xun¡¯s items were of slightly lesser value than Li Xiuyuan¡¯s and didn¡¯t come with any special requirements. As long as the trade was of equal value and he needed the items, he was willing to exchange. Soon enough, two cultivators traded goods with Song Xun, each obtaining one of his treasures. Then Ye Pinghai also displayed a Hun Tian Pill and a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, looking to trade for the Third Order Spiritual Medicine he needed. The Hun Tian Pill, which could directly raise the cultivation of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator by a minor realm, was highly sought after in the Cultivation World. It was quickly traded away by Wei Liqiong at no small expense, while the medium-grade magic artifact was acquired by a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivator. In just a short while, Lin Shilu took out two items. One was Golden Tide Sand, and the other was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. Both items were extraordinary, with the Golden Tide Sand being rather precious and the Second Order artifacts always in high demand. Many cultivators, regardless of already possessing a magic artifact, would still be eager to obtain another, either for personal use or to purchase for their kin. ¡°Fellow cultivators, I am looking to trade these two treasures for Second Order Qi Cultivation materials. As long as the values are equivalent, I¡¯m willing to trade. If the item provided is of greater value than mine, I can compensate with spirit stones.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Xiuyuan, with a single wave of his hand, revealed a blood-red stone in his palm. ¡°Brother Lin, how about trading this Golden Blood Stone for your Golden Tide Sand?¡± ¡°Mm, then I would be at an advantage, wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Lin Shilu replied with a chuckle. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Golden Tide Sand is not easy to come by. I don¡¯t mind taking a small loss.¡± Li Xiuyuan didn¡¯t mind and proceeded to trade with Lin Shilu. The remaining Second Order artifact was also quickly traded away by a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, who offered the body of a Second Order Demonic Beast in exchange. Lin Shilu was very pleased, as he managed to trade both of his items for things he needed. Time flowed on slowly, and the entire exchange meeting lasted for half an hour, featuring treasures that were no less inferior than those auctioned in Foundation Establishment auction houses. Lin Tianming witnessed the whole event, his eyes nearly dazzled by the array of treasures. As the exchange drew to a close, most cultivators didn¡¯t immediately get up to leave; instead, they engaged in discussions about cultivation and the Four Arts of Cultivation. Lin Tianming listened intently, soaking in the many cultivators¡¯ insights on cultivation and alchemy, as well as conversations with a few Second Order Alchemists. In just half an hour, he gained a lot of knowledge. The fervent atmosphere lasted until late afternoon. As dusk approached, it was time for the exchange meeting to wind down. Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun, as hosts and organizers of the exchange, got up and exchanged greetings with the other cultivators. Ye Pinghai and Lin Shilu also stood up, cupped their fists, exchanged a few words with Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun, and then prepared to leave. The three of them left the auction, and the bustling plaza outside the auction house quieted down significantly, marking the end of the grand gathering. Some cultivators also slowly departed from the market. By now, evening had arrived; the auction and exchange meeting had lasted nearly half a day. After parting ways with Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming and his companion returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once inside the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were already seated in the courtyard. Seeing the two return, they quickly got up to greet them. Lin Shilu nodded and then asked about their whereabouts and gains for the day. Lin Tianfeng and his companion had attended an auction at the Qi Refining Area and, with their assets, managed to bid on several treasures. After the auction ended, they too participated in an exchange and met several Zhenyang Sect Disciples and family cultivators, ending the day on a very positive note. Chapter 206: 161 Notes_2 Chapter 206: Chapter 161 Notes_2 Lin Shilu nodded, reminded everyone to be cautious and careful, and then left first. As soon as Lin Shilu left, Lin Tianfeng began to talk non-stop, excitedly recounting the auction¡¯s events. ¡°Sixth brother, the auction at Qianchuan Market really can¡¯t be compared to that of Luoyun Market. The treasures that appeared were simply a feast for the eyes.¡± ¡°Indeed, the Pozhang Pill, Yellow Grade Technique, and Foundation Establishment Pill also appeared. The cultivators were crazy enough, with each round of bidding driving prices higher than the last,¡± Lin Tianhong chimed in. Lin Tianming understood their astonishment very well, as it was also their first time attending the auction at Qianchuan Market. When he first attended the Qianchuan Market auction, his reaction was almost the same¡ªthe plethora of items nearly dazzled his eyes. ¡°So, what treasures did you both manage to win?¡± Lin Tianming asked. Still excited, Lin Tianhong hurriedly said: ¡°Big brother and I jointly won a complete demonic beast carcass. With Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s help, we should be able to refine two decent Spiritual Artifacts.¡± ¡°Besides that, we each won a Second Order Talisman to add some life-saving measures for ourselves.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and congratulated them. Lin Tianfeng was not of low cultivation, and even though he had no special talents, his participation in the family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad made his fortune quite substantial. Lin Tianhong was a First Order Medium Grade Alchemist, and his alchemy had improved significantly, placing him at the forefront among his generation in the clan. In their generation, whether in terms of cultivation or cultivation technique, they had already far surpassed the previous generations of their clan. Thinking of this, he wore a face full of gratification. ¡°Big brother, second brother, now that the market assembly is over, what are your plans next?¡± Lin Tianming inquired. After contemplating, Lin Tianfeng answered: ¡°This place isn¡¯t like the clan, otherwise I could still hunt demonic beasts. Now that¡¯s not possible, so I plan to occasionally help out at Luoyun Pavilion and spend the rest of the time in seclusion and cultivation. In three months, I¡¯m due to replace Uncle Xing Li to take care of the shop.¡± After Lin Tianfeng finished speaking, Lin Tianhong shared his own plans. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather has given us quite a few tasks. I¡¯ll be refining pills during the day and cultivating at night.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, fully approving of Lin Tianhong¡¯s arrangement. ¡°That¡¯s right, we all have our tasks to attend to, plus we need to cultivate, so there¡¯s hardly any time to idle away.¡± Afterward, the three of them chatted for a while before going their separate ways. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming returned to his room, sat at the edge of his bed, and pondered his upcoming cultivation schedule. Having acquired the Flame Fruit from the auction, he naturally had to consume it as soon as possible to enhance his strength, and he also needed to study the notes given to him by Ye Pinghai, aiming to find suitable elixirs to assist in his cultivation at the earliest. Moreover, the number of Spiritual Medicine Materials commissioned for pill refining at Luoyun Pavilion was still over a hundred and increasing daily. Thinking about this, Lin Tianming felt quite a headache. ¡°Well, first I¡¯ll take the Flame Fruit to enhance the strength of my body and Divine Sense. Then, during the day, I¡¯ll refine the collected Spiritual Medicine Materials into elixirs. At night, I¡¯ll study the notes and cultivate.¡± Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming began to regulate his state, aiming to reach his peak before consuming the Flame Fruit. Unconsciously, he had been meditating and cultivating for half an hour. At this moment, his state had reached its peak; feeling it was about right, he hurriedly took out the Flame Fruit and held it in his hand. Feeling the cool touch of the Flame Fruit and looking at its blood-red flesh, it seemed very appetizing. Without any hesitation, he swallowed the Flame Fruit in a single gulp. The cool Flame Fruit, upon entering his mouth, immediately felt like he had eaten a mouthful of flame, nothing like the previously cool sensation. Lin Tianming bore the pain and swallowed the fist-sized Flame Fruit. As the Flame Fruit descended into his belly, a massive amount of heat spread out, intensifying the scorching sensation. Not only that, but his entire body, as well as his soul, felt as if they were being roasted by fire. At this time, he felt as though he was being cut a thousand times; sweat poured out all over his body, quickly soaking his clothes. Lin Tianming gritted through the pain as he furiously circulated his cultivation technique, refining the energy released by the Flame Fruit into a gentle force, which he then used to pound every part of his body. Unbeknownst to him, another hour quickly passed by. The intense heat of the Flame Fruit seemed to gradually subside, but he couldn¡¯t tell if he had simply grown numb or if it genuinely wasn¡¯t scalding anymore. Lin Tianming remained unmoved, his furrowed brow indicating his determination as a unique energy continued to hammer his internal organs. Time hurried away, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had gone by. In the training room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile. He extended his divine sense to examine the meridians and internal organs throughout his body. After the vigorous tempering by the Flame Fruit¡¯s power, the color of his organs had deepened, with hints of gold now appearing in certain areas. Not only that, but his meridians had expanded slightly, his skin and bones had strengthened, and even his divine sense had marginally increased. At that moment, he felt his body brimming with strength, as if he would never run out of it and could not feel fatigue at all. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± Exhaling several breaths of turbid air, Lin Tianming returned his focus and realized his clothes were soiled with impurities that had seeped from his body. He got up to stretch his limbs, then with a single-hand seal, cast a water-based magic spell to wash away the dirt from his body, followed by using a fire-based spell to dry off. He changed into a clean set of clothes and tidied up the cluttered room. Sitting on the ground, he took out the note gifted by Ye Pinghai and placed it before him. He explored the ancient jade slip given by the old man with his divine sense, perusing the contents it held. An hour later, Lin Tianming withdrew his divine sense and fell into deep thought. Through his comprehension, the Third Order Alchemy Master¡¯s note revealed to be left by someone called Lingfeng, a Golden Elixir expert from tens of thousands of years ago. This person was a Golden Core Cultivator in life, a Third Order Medium Grade Alchemist, and an alchemy fanatic who immersed himself in the Alchemy Dao. He was obsessed with creating and improving pill formulas. Although he didn¡¯t invent any high-order formulas, he did achieve some success in improving existing ones. The note specifically detailed his insights and methods for improving the Dragon Bone Pill, but it was uncertain whether they would be successful or not. According to Lingfeng¡¯s records, the primary material for refining the Dragon Bone Pill was the inner core of an Azure Dragon Jiao, a creature that was already scarce tens of thousands of years ago and even rarer in the cultivation world of today. He believed that the Azure Dragon Jiao, being a fire-attribute spirit beast with a trace of true dragon bloodline¡ªalbeit extremely diluted¡ªwas undoubtedly unique. However, there was another demonic beast in the cultivation world called Qingxu Jiao, which greatly resembled the Azure Dragon Jiao. Not only were they both of the fire attribute, but their divine abilities were also very similar, and so were their habits and appearances. He speculated that tens of thousands of years ago, both species might have evolved from the same lineage. Thus, given how rare the Azure Dragon Jiao was, the relatively more common Qingxu Jiao might serve as a substitute. Lingfeng¡¯s views and conjectures seemed to have some merit. Stowing the note into his storage bag, Lin Tianming pondered deeply. Currently, he didn¡¯t have any better solutions. His cultivation had been consolidating for over a year, relying entirely on meditative practice, with the breakthrough to the second layer of Foundation Establishment seeming infinitely far away. Under these circumstances, regardless of whether Lingfeng¡¯s speculated method was viable, he had to attempt it, as he didn¡¯t have time to seek alternative solutions. However, he was presently too preoccupied; since Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s opening, especially in the few days before the auction, there were tens of commissions for refining spiritual medicine materials every day. Though the flow of people to the market had significantly diminished thereafter, resulting in a sharp decrease in cultivators requesting alchemy services, the accumulation of half a month had left him with more than three hundred batches of spiritual medicine materials awaiting refinement. With Lin Tianhong¡¯s speed of alchemy, who knows how long it would take to complete the refinement. Besides, he also needed to practice cultivation and couldn¡¯t refine continuously day and night. Before he addressed the matter of the pill formula, it was necessary to refine as much of the commissioned elixirs as possible, to maintain Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s credibility. Lin Tianming now slightly regretted his boastful claim from the past that had led to such strenuous work. No one expected so many cultivators to request alchemy services. Nevertheless, having given his word, he needed to do his best. Otherwise, Luoyun Pavilion wouldn¡¯t be able to establish a foothold in the market. Upon further thought, considering he could earn a substantial amount of spirit stones, he didn¡¯t find it too taxing. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming left the room and headed to the Pill Refining Room. Entering the Pill Refining Room, he took a brief moment to adjust his breathing, waiting until he was in optimal condition before starting the alchemy process. He brought out the Four Symbols Furnace, casting numerous spells upon the pill furnace and the earth fire beneath it. After making all the preparations and following a well-versed routine, he proceeded to separate and purify the spiritual medicine materials one by one, until finally solidifying the pill successfully. Chapter 207: 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_1 Chapter 207: Chapter 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_1 Time hurried by, and one and a half months had passed. Inside the Pill Refining Room, the fragrance of elixirs wafted from the Four Symbols Furnace, quickly filling the entire room. Upon lifting the lid of the Furnace Cauldron, one could see seven Lingshen Pills lying at the bottom, each one full in color with clear patterns encircling the pills. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve finished refining all four hundred batches of materials.¡± Lin Tianming talked to himself, then stood up to stretch his limbs, looking at the hundred or so Jade Bottles in front of him with a weary expression. Secluded for one and a half months, he had accelerated the pace of his alchemy, ensuring the completion of ten rounds of pill concoction each day before beginning his cultivation. Luckily, he had refined First Order elixirs hundreds of times before and was quite familiar with the process. It was such frantic alchemy that further improved his efficiency, ensuring his cultivation was not delayed. Over the past month, he had refined most of the over four hundred batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, including the three hundred plus batches left over from his business with Luoyun Pavilion and the hundred batches from the opening day, leaving only a few dozen batches for Lin Tianhong to refine. Through his efforts, he had completed the refining of four hundred batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials, resulting in more than one thousand five hundred pills, almost all of which were of superior quality. After setting aside the elixirs meant for the client, he could at least keep one thousand pills for himself, worth nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones. Thinking of the hardships of the past month and earning nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, a smile emerged on his face. ¡°Huff¡­ It¡¯s time to leave seclusion.¡± After tidying up the cluttered Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming returned to his own room. Falling onto the stone bed, he soon slept soundly. This sleep lasted a full day and night, and he only got up the next morning. Feeling the fatigue lifted from his body, and his condition back to its peak, he got up and walked out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Walking on the cobblestone road, he headed towards Luoyun Pavilion. The biennial Market City meeting had ended, and the flow of people in the Market had significantly decreased. There were noticeably fewer Cultivators he ran into on the road than at peak times. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at Luoyun Pavilion. With the Market City meeting over, the business at Luoyun Pavilion seemed to have declined quite a bit. At this moment, a few Qi Refining Cultivators were chatting with the hired shop assistant, Li Rong. Lin Xingli and Lin Tianfeng were sitting idle in the shop, chatting. Seeing Lin Tianming approach, a hint of joy crossed their faces. After exchanging greetings, they all headed to the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion together. ¡°Uncle, how has the business been in the shop recently?¡± Lin Tianming inquired. Upon hearing this question, Lin Xingli answered with a somewhat helpless look, ¡°The business at Luoyun Pavilion was very good for the first few days after it opened, with tens of thousands of treasures sold every day and a sizable profit. However, after the Market City meeting, coupled with the dwindling inventory of treasures in the shop, our business has dropped by half.¡± Lin Xingli¡¯s explanation indeed had its reasons. The business was so good during the first few days after Luoyun Pavilion opened that many of the treasures brought from the family were sold out quickly, and many of the best-selling products were out of stock, leading to a decrease in regular customers over time. Hearing Lin Xingli¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming consoled, ¡°Uncle, this was expected. After all, no one could have anticipated how smoothly the shop would open before coming to the Market, let alone how good the business would be.¡± Lin Xingli nodded, then continued, ¡°Although the business has not been great these past days, since we are no longer accepting elixir refining commissions for free, there are quite a few Cultivators still selling Spiritual Medicine Materials, indirectly boosting some business. Maintaining an income of three thousand Spirit Stones a day is still not difficult.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already quite good to be able to do this, at least several times better than the shops in Luoyun Market.¡± Lin Tianming said casually before inquiring about the status of Lin Shilu and others. According to what Lin Xingli said, Lin Shilu had not been seen for a month and was constantly in the Artifact Forging Room, seemingly crafting Magic Artifacts. Lin Tianhong was also furiously engaged in Alchemy, although he occasionally came out to have a look, he quickly re-entered the Pill Refining Room. Aside from cultivating, Lin Tianfeng occasionally helped out at Luoyun Pavilion and spent his time at various venues in the Market. With his cultivation level and personality, he soon made a large number of acquaintances among the Qi Refining Cultivators. Hearing what the two had to say, Lin Tianming felt quite moved. In the two months since they had arrived at the Market, it was clear that all of the family members were diligently cultivating and had adapted to the life in the Market. Luoyun Pavilion had also fully entered the right track. When business was good, they could earn tens of thousands of Spirit Stones a day. Even when it was not, a daily income of a thousand or two thousand Spirit Stones was still possible. Over a year, this would amass a large profit in Spirit Stones for the family. The Lin Family had successfully established a foothold in the Market and made a vast number of Loose Cultivators and other power¡¯s members its allies. The influence of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family was also gradually expanding. Perhaps in just a few decades, the name of the Lin Family would once again influence the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Snapping back to reality and casually chatting with Lin Xingli for a few moments, he left Luoyun Pavilion and walked down the Market¡¯s main street. The task of pill concoction was finished, and Luoyun Pavilion was on track; now it was time to consider the issue of the Dragon Bone Pill Formula. Having made up his mind, he quickly headed towards the Market City Hall. In no time at all, he appeared at the Market City Hall. He came here because there was a task hall within the Market where one could post tasks they needed help with or accept tasks posted by other Cultivators. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whether seeking Spiritual Medicine Materials or information about Demonic Beasts, commissioning Alchemy or Artifact Refining, forming teams for exploration, or even hunting down criminals in the Cultivation World, all could be posted or accepted here as missions. Chapter 208: 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_2 Chapter 208: Chapter 162 News of Qingxu Jiao_2 ¡°` He came here to see if there was any news of the Qingxu Jiao, after all, this beast was not found everywhere, and it wasn¡¯t easy to find one. If there was ready information, he wouldn¡¯t have to blindly search for it. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was because of this task board that many cultivators looking for specific spiritual objects could save a lot of trouble, which was why this place was very popular among loose cultivators. He entered the second floor of the Market City Hall and looked at a huge light screen in the hall, which displayed thousands of text-recorded tasks. ¡°Looking for traces of the Variegated Beast, commission one hundred spirit stones, complete demonic beast carcases are also accepted for direct exchange¡­¡± ¡°Searching for traces of the Purple Ratan Flower, commission eighty spirit stones, those who have this item can trade directly¡­¡± ¡°Forming a team to go to the Qianchuan Mountain Range for cultivation experience, five people in total, requires at least Seventh Level of Qi Refinement¡­¡± ¡°Track and kill the evil cultivator Gu Tong, those who claim his life will be rewarded ten thousand spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk¡­ Ten thousand spirit stone reward?¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. According to the information recorded on the light screen, this evil cultivator Gu Tong was a loose cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, who for some reason, had killed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Meng Family years ago, completely infuriating the family, which then spent a huge amount of money to issue the bounty for his apprehension. This Gu Tong was cunning by nature, had no attachments, and lived a nomadic life. Coupled with his formidable strength, although the Meng Family was powerful and had as many as seven members at the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was not easy to locate him within the vast Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Understanding the reason, Lin Tianming realized this was the case but had no interest; with his own cultivation at the Foundation Establishment First Level, seeking out such a vicious individual was clearly asking for trouble. Lin Tianming put the matter aside and continued to look through the tasks. Half a quarter of an hour passed, and he had rapidly reviewed over a hundred tasks; most were looking for spiritual medicine materials or demonic beasts, with a few dangerous missions like hunting evil cultivators. The rewards also varied, ranging from fifteen spirit stones to several thousand spirit stones. After reviewing many tasks, he decided to also post one looking for the Qingxu Jiao by assembling a large number of experienced people to help him search, which would save a lot of time. Resolved, he approached the area where tasks were posted and started chatting with a Zhenyang Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Lin Tianming was not well-known in the market, but many Zhenyang Sect Disciples had still heard of him, especially since he had made several public appearances in the market lately and had been seen with Li Xiuyuan and Ye Pinghai a few times. Seeing him personally coming to post a task, the Executive Officer who was serving him was very polite and subsequently explained to him the process of posting tasks. ¡°Elder Lin, posting a task in the market requires five spirit stones and a deposit of one hundred spirit stones; when the task is completed, the remainder of the commission is paid,¡± the officer said. ¡°I¡¯d like to post a task for searching for the Qingxu Jiao, the commission is only needed for providing the trail of this beast, how much would be appropriate?¡± Lin Tianming asked. After considering, the receptionist answered: ¡°The Qingxu Jiao is a Second Order Demonic Beast. Those who can discover its trail must have at least the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, otherwise, they may not be able to make it out alive. In my humble opinion, a reward of at least several hundred spirit stones is needed to entice someone to take such a risk!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt it made sense and then said: ¡°Then let¡¯s set a commission of eight hundred spirit stones. As long as the information is accurate, anyone can claim the commission.¡± After finishing his statement, Lin Tianming took out a hundred and five spirit stones and handed them to the receptionist. The receptionist took the spirit stones, recorded the transaction, and after leaving a way for him to be messaged, he took his leave. Soon, through the execution of the officer, his task also appeared on the light screen for task posting. ¡°Looking for traces of Qingxu Jiao, anyone providing information, as long as it¡¯s accurate and true, can claim eight hundred spirit stones, within a three-month period¡­¡± Lin Tianming looked at the task he had posted and was satisfied; after a brief pause, he returned to his cave dwelling, he only needed to wait for the news now. Several days later, Lin Shilu emerged from meditation, which had lasted for over a month, and the two sat down to drink tea and chat in the small courtyard. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the hand scroll you gave has been fully comprehended, and the methods recorded in it may be feasible,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Oh? If it really works, then our family will have another Second Order Pill Recipe!¡± Lin Shilu said, somewhat excited. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup and then started talking about his plans. ¡°However, according to the hand scroll, the substitute for the main drug in the Dragon Bone Pill is the Qingxu Jiao Inner Pill. This beast is not easy to find, I have already posted a task in the market. If its trail can be found, I must trouble you, elder, to join me in hunting a few demonic beasts!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Good, you didn¡¯t get carried away and knew to measure your abilities!¡± ¡°` Lin Shilu nodded in praise and then said, ¡°I¡¯ve been in closed-door cultivation recently to refine my magic artifact. The piece of Golden Blood Stone I got from the exchange meeting has been incorporated into my artifact. After re-sacrificing it, its power has significantly increased, which is perfect for accompanying you on your journey!¡± ¡°Then I must thank Fifteenth Grandfather in advance!¡± Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly rose to give a respectful bow. Lin Shilu waved his hand dismissively and then began to instruct him earnestly, ¡°Hmm¡­ as soon as you receive news of the Qingxu Jiao, send a message to me. Remember not to act alone, understand?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Lin Tianming respectfully responded. After chatting casually for a while, they each returned to their own cultivation rooms. Sitting in the cultivation room, Lin Tianming performed a Grand Circulation. After about a quarter of an hour, once his condition reached its peak, he took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill and began his cultivation with some difficulty. If there was evidence of the Qingxu Jiao¡¯s whereabouts, he would have to leave Qianchuan Market. Before leaving, he wanted to improve his cultivation as much as possible. Despite the excruciating pain he was about to endure, he could not care less, as having even a sliver more of spiritual power meant additional safety. As the elixir entered his mouth, intense pain followed immediately, with large beads of sweat falling from his forehead. He did not dare to be careless, swallowing a Body Strengthening Pill and frantically running his cultivation technique, all the while enduring the agony to refine the medicinal power. Over ten days slowly passed¡­ One day, a messaging aura entered his cultivation room, hovering in front of him. He sent out his divine sense to check the message recorded by the Spiritual Light. ¡°There¡¯s a message!¡± Lin Tianming was thrilled and immediately rose to leave the cave dwelling, rushing toward the Market City Hall. After finding the executive officer who had received him, the two struck up a conversation. The obsequious executive officer said, ¡°Elder Lin, you are in luck. It¡¯s only been just over ten days, and already a cultivator has happened upon the whereabouts of the Qingxu Jiao!¡± ¡°Oh? Bring me to see that cultivator at once!¡± Lin Tianming urged. ¡°Yes!¡± Following the executive officer, he was led to a private room where he was to meet alone with the cultivator who provided the information. Inside sat a middle-aged cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, who quickly stood up to pay respects to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming gestured for him to sit and then spoke with a grave expression, ¡°It was you who found the trace of the Qingxu Jiao? Speak in detail, and remember not to attempt to deceive me. If I find out there is any falsehood, you will bear the consequences!¡± At Lin Tianming¡¯s threatening words, the cultivator quickly assured him of his honesty and then relayed how he came across the Qingxu Jiao. ¡°Elder, half a year ago I was training in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, when by chance I stumbled into a ravine and happened to spot the trace of a Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Jiao. Luckily, I was cautious enough to flee without looking back and managed to narrowly escape with my life.¡± As he spoke, his face went pale, displaying an appearance of lingering fear. ¡°After I returned to the market city, I learned of the task you had posted. But before I encountered the beast, I had no idea you were seeking the Qingxu Jiao, otherwise the news would not have come so swiftly.¡± Listening to the cultivator¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming was skeptical, but he had no other options at the moment. Whether true or false, he needed to verify for himself. With this in mind, Lin Tianming did not make things difficult for the man, promptly paid him a deposit of two hundred Spirit Stones, and promised to pay the rest upon confirmation of the accurate information. After sending the man away, he had the executive officer withdraw his task. After everything was settled, he returned to his cave dwelling to prepare with Lin Shilu before searching for the Qingxu Jiao. Chapter 209: 163 Sword Array Displays Its Power_1 Chapter 209: Chapter 163 Sword Array Displays Its Power_1 Back in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming immediately reported the situation of the Qingxu Jiao. Lin Shilu had already been aware of this matter and had instructed him to be cautious. Upon learning that someone had provided information about the Qingxu Jiao, he instantly left his closed-door cultivation, deciding to head to the inner parts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range as soon as possible to find the beast, to prevent any mishaps. Early the next morning, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu bade Lin Tianfeng farewell and left Qianchuan Market quietly without any fuss. The two rode on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, heading west towards the Qianchuan Mountain Range. After two full days of travel, the two of them, along with the beast, appeared on the outer edges of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, close to the inner regions. Along the way, they encountered many Qi Refining Cultivators hunting Demonic Beasts on the outskirts, but they ignored them all, pressing on in a particular direction. After a night of rest, Lin Tianming stored the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, and the two of them continued on their journey, stepping into the more vast and lush inner regions. Along the way, the two were quite cautious, their Magic Artifacts at the ready, prepared to respond quickly to any noise, not as carefree as they were in the outer regions. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After several days of cautious exploration and nearly circumventing encounters with Second Order Demonic Beasts, they arrived smoothly at the outside of a valley. Gazing at the valley overgrown with the ruins of broken walls and boulders, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn. ¡°Tianming, is this the place that cultivator provided information about?¡± Lin Shilu inquired. Lin Tianming looked at the simple map in his hands, observing the valley in the distance before recalling the words of the cultivator who had provided the information. After a brief moment, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, according to the map and the description given by the cultivator providing the information, it should indeed be this place.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Shilu gazed ahead thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s already late in the day, and not suitable for entering, so let¡¯s rest here for the night and restore our spirits before going in to take a look.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Tianming complied. Having made up their minds, the two searched for a suitable location nearby and prepared to dig out a Temporary Cave Abode to spend the night. They quickly found a hidden spot against a cliff face, and Lin Tianming swiftly dug out a cave several meters wide, adequate for an overnight stay. Looking at the excavated Temporary Cave Abode, the two entered and settled down for the night. ¡°Tianming, you keep watch during the first half of the night, and I will take over in the latter half. At dawn, we¡¯ll venture into the valley to explore,¡± Lin Shilu instructed. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s orders, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed wholeheartedly. The expanse of the Qianchuan Mountain Range dwarfed that of the Luoyun Mountain Range by several times over. It was said that at its center, even Third Order Demon Beasts were not uncommon. Although this place was just a few hundred miles into the inner regions, Third Order Demonic Beasts may not be present, but there would certainly be a fair number of Second Order ones. Apart from Demonic Beasts, cultivators also had to be on guard, as this was not the market town, and occurrences of murder and looting were not infrequent. Giving the situation the gravity it demanded, they had to be extra careful. Sitting at the entrance of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully deployed, keeping constant vigilance on the outside. The night passed quietly, and the two took turns meditating through the night. As morning light pierced through the dense fog and shone into the cave, the two got up and looked out over the distant valley. Lin Shilu took out a golden greatsword, his own Magic Artifact of Second Order Medium Quality. With preparations made, Lin Shilu began giving instructions. ¡°Tianming, a Qingxu Jiao is a social beast with varying numbers in a group, ranging from over a dozen to hundreds, and their grades vary too. However, one thing is certain, in every group there is at least one male and one female that are of Second Order grade. Their Divine Skill is of the fire element, which is very powerful, but their weakness is poor perception. We mustn¡¯t confront them head-on but instead move flexibly¡ªunderstand?¡± Lin Tianming nodded confidently and said, ¡°Rest assured, Fifteenth Grandfather, I¡¯ve already consulted many texts about this beast and am quite familiar with its habits. I am swift in escaping, and with a precious treasure to protect me, I can even fight a moment with a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast.¡± Lin Shilu gave a chuckle, feeling very reassured about Lin Tianming. He was quite clear about Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skills. Currently, even if faced with a Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator, it would be difficult to say who would win. ¡°You will follow me later, I will take the lead, and you will watch our back. Although we¡¯re not deep inside the mountain range, we can¡¯t let our guard down. Should things turn south, we have to make a quick escape,¡± Lin Shilu stated earnestly. Lin Tianming nodded, not daring to be careless in the slightest as he saw Lin Shilu¡¯s serious demeanor. Some time passed, and once they were ready, they began to probe their way towards the distant valley. The two made their way through dense woods, covering several miles before gradually approaching the valley. Observing the massive area filled with ruins, with many peaks flattened or snapped in half, the craftsmanship seemed supernatural, not likely to be naturally occurring. Lin Tianming speculated that this place must have witnessed a monumental battle many years ago to turn the vast valley into what it looked like now. And to accomplish this, it would have required the intervention of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators at the very least. With a brief feeling of awe, they continued to make their way into the valley. After half a day, they proceeded with extreme caution for about ten miles without encountering any problems. Pausing briefly, they stared into the somewhat eerie valley, and Lin Shilu said, Chapter 210: 163: Sword Array Demonstrates Power_2 Chapter 210: Chapter 163: Sword Array Demonstrates Power_2 ¡°` ¡°Tian Ming, have you noticed anything unusual?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming reflected on all the encounters along the way. Three breaths of time passed, and Lin Tianming seemed to have noticed something different. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, on our journey, not to mention demonic beasts, we haven¡¯t even seen a wild sparrow, nor have we found any Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures. Such a strange situation is something I have never encountered before,¡± said Lin Tianming. ¡°Hmm,¡± Reminded by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu also felt it was somewhat incredible. ¡°There must be a demonic beast in this place, one that even eats ordinary wild sparrows; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be this clean,¡± he said. ¡°Although we haven¡¯t found it yet, there is definitely a demonic beast active nearby. We need to be careful,¡± Lin Shilu warned. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue on our way.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and followed Lin Shilu¡¯s pace. The two were less than a few zhang apart, one behind the other, heading deeper into the valley. Unnoticed, the two walked for more than an hour, moving several more miles. As the vegetation grew sparser, the scene inside the valley became even more desolate. After delving over twenty miles ahead, they still hadn¡¯t been attacked or noticed any movement. At this moment, Lin Tianming also began to waver, starting to doubt the cultivator who had provided the information. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turning somewhat grim, Lin Shilu was just about to say something comforting when he heard a faint noise that, though minimal, he still detected. ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s a noise,¡± Lin Shilu said with a serious expression. Hearing the warning, Lin Tianming immediately started looking around, and sure enough, he too soon heard the rustling sound. ¡°Sha¡­ shasha¡­¡± The noise grew clearer, and both of them felt something from deep within the valley approaching rapidly. ¡°Tian Ming, get ready to make a move.¡± After giving a reminder, Lin Shilu stared intently ahead, holding the Golden Greatsword, and positioned Lin Tianming behind him. Feeling the presence getting increasingly closer, Lin Tianming held nothing back. He waved his hand, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out instantly, revolving around him before scattering swiftly and finally hiding beneath the ground. Having done this, he formed a single-handed seal, and the Tiangang Sword appeared in his hand out of thin air. The blade vibrated wildly as if it couldn¡¯t wait to attack, eager to taste the flavor of blood. Several breaths of time later, the movements in the deep valley became more pronounced. It was only then that they saw what was coming. At this point, a few thousand zhang ahead, dozens of large snakes with alternating blue and red bodies were slithering rapidly towards them, twisting their barrel-thick bodies. As they drew nearer, the true form of these snakes was revealed; they were unmistakably the Qingxu Snakes they had been searching for. Upon seeing the Qingxu Snakes, a smile appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. It seemed that the cultivator who provided the information had not deceived him. He wondered how that youngster had managed to survive in the territory of such an assembly of the Qingxu Snake Clan. Without time to ponder further, his expression soon turned solemn again. Looking around, he realized the Qingxu Snake Clan consisted of dozens of formidable snakes. Leading them were seven Second Order Demon Snakes, one at the Second Order Middle Stage and six at the Second Order Initial Stage, while the rest were made up of First Order Middle-Late Stage Monster Serpents. Fortunately, there were no Second Order Late Phase Demon Snakes; otherwise, it would be very difficult for him and Lin Shilu to retreat unharmed. Seeing such an assembly of Qingxu Snakes, Lin Shilu also had a serious look, ready to face the snake clan¡¯s attack at any moment. ¡°Tian Ming, I will take on that Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. You just hold off the others, and as long as you don¡¯t get defeated, that¡¯s enough. Once I¡¯ve killed that beast, I¡¯ll come and help you!¡± After dropping those words, Lin Shilu leaped dozens of zhang forward and charged towards the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t even have time to respond when Lin Shilu had already engaged with the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. Lin Shilu¡¯s sword dance unleashed a hundred streaks of Golden Sword Qi that exploded with loud bangs, furiously charging at the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake. ¡°` ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­ Hiss, hiss¡­¡± Multiple streaks of Sword Qi bombarded the Qingxu Snake¡¯s body, shearing off its scales and revealing the snake¡¯s greenish-yellow hide beneath. In pain, the Qingxu Snake opened its blood-spraying maw, hissing a few times before lunging straight for Lin Shilu¡¯s bite, while at the same time, its barrel-thick tail swept across, as if trying to send the infuriated Lin Shilu flying. Just one attack, merely slicing off a few scales, hardly causing any substantial injury? Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression grew even graver. Faced with the Qingxu Snake¡¯s counterattack, Lin Shilu generated wind under his feet and rapidly retreated dozens of yards, dodging the Qingxu Snake¡¯s assault. Once stable, he flipped his hand and threw out several Second Order talismans and more than ten First Order talismans, forming a huge rain of swords that engulfed the Qingxu Snake. Simultaneously, he leaped up and once again engaged in fierce battle with the Monster Serpent. Man and serpent fought vigorously, with earth-shattering noises spreading throughout the valley, the aftermath of the battle shattering the giant green rocks around them. While Lin Shilu was entangled with the Qingxu Snake, several Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes below rushed towards Lin Shilu, seemingly wanting to aid their leader. ¡°Evil beasts, you shall not succeed!¡± Lin Tianming bellowed angrily and then charged towards the Qingxu Snakes ahead. Clasping the Tiangang Sword in his hands, he spun it into a Sword Lotus, and numerous streaks of Sword Qi swept out wildly. For a time, a ferocious wind blew through the valley, the green Sword Qi was majestic and overwhelming, stopping the rapidly moving Second Order Qingxu Snakes in their tracks. ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft¡­¡± A powerful blast repelled several Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes, with the intense shockwaves of the Gang Wind lifting the hem of his robe. Even so, one Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snake managed to slip through his hands and charged towards Lin Shilu. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, he had no time to intervene again; he assumed the Fifteenth Grandfather would be able to handle it. After quick contemplation, he fixed his gaze on the Qingxu Snake Clan ahead. After his attack, the enraged snake clan seemed furious. They all opened their gaping maws, launching a fierce attack on him like a swarm of locusts passing through. For a moment, all he could see were the figures of Qingxu Snakes, darkening the sky and dimming the sunlight. Lin Tianming dared not be careless. He opened the Eye of Five Colors and moved through the gaps in an astonishing manner, narrowly avoiding the numerous biting and sweeping tails of the Qingxu Snakes. Once stable, he pressed his palms together and pushed his Cultivation Technique to the extreme, the robes whipped by the wildly circulating Spiritual Power around his body. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, trap!¡± As soon as the Law Decree was uttered, the long-hidden Earth Evil Swords burst out from the ground below and began spinning wildly, enveloping an area of a thousand yards nearby. Due to the limited Spirit Wisdom of the Qingxu Snakes, equivalent to the intelligence of children, they failed to notice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation hidden beneath them. It wasn¡¯t until the Sword Array started operating and they felt its restrictive force that they began to struggle fiercely to break free. Lin Tianming, who had long planned and even risked his life to lure them into the trap, certainly wouldn¡¯t let them get away so easily. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, slay!¡± As he uttered the Law Decree, the area covered by the Sword Array began to shrink gradually, with the Qingxu Snakes inside twisting their bodies and crashing against the barriers of the Sword Array. Suddenly, bursts of explosive sounds were heard. The range covered by the Sword Array was so vast that it was somewhat weak on the outermost edges, and under the powerful body impacts of the Qingxu Snakes, Lin Tianming was mentally shaken even if they did not break free. Enduring the pain, Lin Tianming forced the Cultivation Technique to stabilize the Sword Array, controlling the Sword Qi within to strike the Qingxu Snake Clan. Under the fierce movement of the Sword Qi, some First Order Qingxu Snakes were slain in a single contact. In just a few breaths, more than twenty First Order Qingxu Snakes had perished, leaving behind only some Middle-Late Stage First Order Monster Serpents, many of which were already heavily wounded, and two Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes had been injured. As the number of snakes decreased, the overall strength of the snake clan weakened, the range of the Sword Array reduced, it became more stable, and his situation improved significantly. In just a single encounter, more than a dozen First Order Qingxu Snakes were killed, and five Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes were trapped. After being re-forged, the Earth Evil Swords were fully activated for the first time, the Sword Array composed of fifty-six blades was terrifyingly powerful! Chapter 211: 164: The Entire Snake Swarm is Wiped Out_1 Chapter 211: Chapter 164: The Entire Snake Swarm is Wiped Out_1 With the addition of new Earth Evil Swords, their number significantly increased, causing the Sword Array¡¯s power to grow exponentially. In his first real battle, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with such results. At this moment, more than thirty Qingxu Snakes within the Sword Array frantically tried to escape, but the space they could live in was steadily shrinking. Their massive bodies had become a burden, resulting in the Monster Serpents biting and attacking each other. Seeing this, Lin Tianming showed no mercy. He had to end the battle quickly to prevent any unexpected changes from arising. Making up his mind, he tossed the Tiangang Sword into the sky and then swiftly formed hand seals, chanting the Law Decree. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword¡­ go!¡± In an instant, the Tiangang Sword glowed with a brilliant golden light, surrounded by numerous streams of Sword Qi. As the Law Decree was fully chanted, the Tiangang Sword disappeared from above his head and in the blink of an eye, it went through the Sword Array Barricade and attacked a Second Order Qingxu Snake. ¡°Hiss hiss!¡± The Qingxu Snake that was targeted by the Tiangang Sword was in utter terror. As it struggled furiously, it spat out a fireball from its gaping maw, aiming at the Sword Array Barricade that bound it. ¡°That Qingxu Snake is fighting desperately!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned solemn; he knew that was the Qingxu Snake¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, which was tremendously powerful. However, he had no choice but to endure the damage, as he couldn¡¯t cancel the Sword Array to dodge the attack. Otherwise, if the Qingxu Snake broke free from the Sword Array¡¯s confines, he would be in danger. In a split second, Lin Tianming made his decision; even if it meant getting hurt, he had to keep the group of Qingxu Snakes trapped and even aim to kill them. When he refocused his mind, the Tiangang Sword struck the Second Order Qingxu Snake at its vital seven-inch area, followed by a thunderous explosion. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± The Qingxu Snake couldn¡¯t dodge in time and the Tiangang Sword decapitated it. The bucket-thick snake head fell to the ground, and simultaneously, a large amount of snake blood sprayed out, quickly pooling into a blood lake. Meanwhile, the Qingxu Snake¡¯s desperate attack, the fireball, collided with the Earth Fiend Sword Array¡¯s Barricade at the same time. Another explosion echoed, and under the Qingxu Snake¡¯s Innate Divine Ability attack, the Earth Fiend Sword Array¡¯s Barricade shook violently. Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale; he strenuously steadied the sword bodies, with his entire True Yuan running at its limit. After three breaths of time, the Sword Array Barricade¡¯s shaking stopped, and it remained stable. Simultaneously, as the Sword Array continued to shrink, all the Qingxu Snakes inside were injured, and their numbers were greatly diminished once more. Lin Tianming was elated, then sighed with relief; he was truly worried the Sword Array would be breached, allowing the Demonic Beasts to escape, which would have caused even more trouble. Within the Sword Array, seeing their fellow decapitated, the remaining Demonic Beasts became even more violent. The remaining four Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snakes frenziedly rammed into the Sword Array Barricade. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Under the furious assaults of the desperate Qingxu Snakes, the sound of collisions echoed through the valley, causing the Sword Array to shake wildly. Lin Tianming firmly maintained the Sword Array¡¯s operation, gradually reducing its scope and depleting the snakes¡¯ vitality. As long as he could hold on until Lin Shilu was free to assist, they could annihilate all the Qingxu Snakes. Time slowly passed¡­ At a mound a thousand zhang away, Lin Shilu was engaged in a fierce battle with two Qingxu Snakes. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had been fighting the two Second Order Qingxu Snakes for dozens of rounds. Initially overbearing against the Medium Stage Qingxu Snake, the situation changed when another Second Order Initial Stage Monster Serpent joined the fray compelling him to fight two against one, significantly increasing the pressure, leaving the outcome of the battle hanging in the balance for the time being. Even though he was fully engaged in battling the two Demonic Beasts, he was also constantly aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s situation. Knowing that Lin Tianming alone was holding off several Second Order Demonic Beasts, along with dozens of First Order Demon Beasts, although a single First Order Demon Beast wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat, the collective numbers were not to be underestimated. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s precarious situation, and with his Spiritual Power depleting rapidly, prolonged conflict would be disadvantageous to them, so he had to resolve the battle quickly to assist Lin Tianming. With that thought, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned serious, and he rallied his peak momentum. As he swung his Spirit Sword, the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth around him became utterly chaotic. ¡°Die, beasts!¡± In a flash, several streaks of Golden Sword Qi shot out from his Magic Artifact, each with extreme speed, targeting the Second Order Initial Stage Qingxu Snake. ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡­¡± Across from Lin Shilu, the two Second Order Qingxu Snakes opened their moon-sized jaws. As the attack drew nearer, the Medium Stage Qingxu Snake swayed its body, shifting more than ten zhang away. But the Second Order Initial Stage Monster Serpent, trying to dodge the Sword Qi, found it moving too fast. Unable to avoid in time, three streams of Sword Qi struck its vital parts, causing flesh to tear and blood staining its body. ¡°Hiss hiss¡­¡± The Initial Stage Monster Serpent screamed and writhed wildly. Lin Shilu¡¯s forceful strike had critically wounded the Initial Stage Monster Serpent, rendering it incapable of fighting and effectively achieving his objective. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression remained intense; he felt it was a bit regrettable, but with the Initial Stage Monster Serpent nearly out of combat, his goal was reached. He turned to face the remaining Monster Serpent, his gaze filled with a fighting spirit. Without any hesitation, he once again wielded his Magic Artifact, charging towards the Monster Serpent. The Monster Serpent was both frightened and infuriated, its companions dead and its body riddled with bloody holes, it was overtaken by an overwhelming rage, determined to devour that human in revenge. The Monster Serpent swung its tail, sweeping directly toward Lin Shilu. Chapter 212: 164 Mass Extermination of the Snakes_2 Chapter 212: Chapter 164 Mass Extermination of the Snakes_2 Lin Shilu soared dozens of feet into the air in a single leap, dodging the Monster Serpent¡¯s tail. Beneath him, a giant boulder tens of feet wide exploded with a roar. Thwarted in its attack, the Monster Serpent grew furious. It opened its huge, blood-spitting maw and spat out two fireballs one after the other, coming at him in quick succession. Lin Shilu knew well the formidable Divine Skills of this beast; he dared not be careless. He threw out two Second Order Defense Talismans, transforming into two grey barriers that protected him in front. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Two consecutive explosions sounded as the grey barriers were shattered by the fireballs in an instant, creating a massive shockwave. The moment the grey barriers exploded, he had already shifted dozens of feet to the side, avoiding the fireballs¡¯ onslaught. The hill below was not so fortunate; struck by the fireballs, it was blasted into a deep pit over ten feet wide, and the scorched earth looked ghastly. Once he stabilized himself, Lin Shilu¡¯s fingers flickered rapidly, summoning a rain of fire from the sky. Then with a sweep of his robe, he sent a myriad of talisman papers transforming into a torrential Sword Array raining down upon the Monster Serpent. For a moment, light from the fire dazzled in all directions, and a series of collision sounds echoed through the gorge. The Qingxu Snake was powerful in Divine Skills attacks but was not as agile as other serpent Demonic Beasts. The Monster Serpent, unable to dodge in time, sustained numerous additional wounds on its body. Before the Monster Serpent could catch its breath, Lin Shilu¡¯s relentless assaults overwhelmed it, the Five Elements Spells mixed with Sword Qi consuming it entirely. ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± The thunderous sounds of explosions never ceased. When the firelight dissipated, the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake had lost most of its scales, and its body was densely covered in wounds, flesh torn and skin split, and its aura significantly weakened. ¡°This beast is still not dead?¡± Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but exclaim; the Monster Serpent¡¯s vitality was truly formidable. He had used up dozens of talisman papers, more than ten of which were Second Order, and despite his wave after wave of attacks, he still hadn¡¯t managed to kill the Qingxu Snake. ¡°Hmph, You beast, you will die today!¡± Lin Shilu cursed, then his hands formed seals and he made a strange gesture, all the while chanting a special Law Decree. After a moment, a silver-white Sword Qi condensed above Lin Shilu¡¯s head. Suddenly, the valley was filled with flying sand and stones as a wild wind arose, and the Sword Qi above his head grew increasingly fierce. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, Kill!¡± Lin Shilu bellowed, and the silver-white Sword Qi above his head tore through the air towards the Qingxu Snake with the speed of a meteor. This Sword Qi was none other than the Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art that Lin Tianming had acquired, having been nurtured within his Qi Sea for several years. Now unleashed, the power of the Sword Qi seemed beyond imagination. Seeing the terrifying Sword Qi slashing at it, the Qingxu Snake struggled frantically to escape, but it was severely injured, and its speed was inherently slow. Realizing that it could not evade, the Qingxu Snake opened its mouth again, ejecting several enormous fireballs, each bigger than the last, in a desperate final stand. Several fireballs streaked across the sky, clashing with the silver-white Sword Qi. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A deafening explosion darkened the skies, and the earth seemed to lose its color. Following the explosion, a massive blast wave came rolling through, forcing Lin Shilu back dozens of feet before he could stabilize his form. By then, his face was pale, and a trickle of fresh blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. When the firelight vanished, the Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake lay in two pieces, its massive body still convulsing, as if expressing the Monster Serpent¡¯s unwillingness to die. Seeing the only Second Order Middle Stage Qingxu Snake cut down, Lin Shilu¡¯s face lit up with wild joy, and without any hesitation, he swung his sword again, piercing through the twisting body of the Monster Serpent. He leaped to the side of the Monster Serpent¡¯s body, extracted its gallbladder, and only then did the creature¡¯s body stop twitching. Having done this, Lin Shilu casually exterminated another Monster Serpent that had lost its fighting power, then flew towards Lin Tianming. In less than the time of three breaths, he arrived behind Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming was in a critical situation; several Monster Serpents inside the Sword Array were frantically attacking the Sword Array Barricade. To survive, they seemed to have realized that concentrated attacks at one point were the key. Under the assaults of the five Monster Serpents, the Sword Array¡¯s stability continued to weaken; after another two strikes, it would surely disintegrate. Again, five fireballs bombarded the same spot on the Sword Array, and after a loud explosion, the Sword Array vibrated wildly, teetering on the brink of shattering. Lin Tianming¡¯s face was ashen, and a mouthful of fresh blood burst forth. At that moment, Lin Shilu arrived on horseback, and with his addition, the pressure on Lin Tianming greatly diminished, and the Sword Array resumed its smooth operation. ¡°Tianming, you trap them, and I¡¯ll handle the attack!¡± Lin Shilu hastily shouted, then swung his greatsword, arousing several streaks of Sword Qi, attacking several Second Order Demonic Beasts. Lin Tianming was not to be outdone, steadying the Sword Array while his Tiangang Sword repeatedly lashed out. ¡°Puff, puff, puff¡­¡± With the two of them striking in quick succession, screaming incessantly emanated from within the Sword Array. Within the Sword Array, three Second Order Monster Serpents had already been sliced apart by the Sword Qi, while the First Order ones fared even worse, with many being chopped into more than a few segments. The gruesome scene did not cease, and the few struggling serpents hardly stirred up any waves. Under the joint efforts of the pair, the Demonic Beasts within the Sword Array were like lambs to the slaughter, and death was their inevitable end. After less than half an hour, the previously noisy valley suddenly quieted down. At this point, looking out over the valley, it was riddled with holes, and deep pits were everywhere, with broken boulders strewn all around¡ªthe valley was a scene of utter devastation. Lin Tianming paid it no mind. With a casual wave of his hand, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords quickly converged and began to rotate around him. He stowed all the Spirit Swords into his storage bag and then sat down on a fragmented rock, breathing heavily. Both were in poor condition, though Lin Shilu was better off, merely having expended a great deal of Spiritual Power but otherwise uninjured. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had operated the massive Earth Fiend Sword Formation while contending with the attacks of five Second Order Demonic Beasts and dozens of First Order ones, completely depleting his Spiritual Power. Now his body was battered in numerous places, with some bones visible on his arm, leaving him with less than twenty percent of his strength. Had it not been for his strength in Body Cultivation, his powerful vitality and quick recovery, he would not have held on at all. The pair had fought against a Qingxu Snake Clan and, after a fierce battle lasting over half an hour, they finally emerged victorious. Lin Shilu took out an elixir to restore Spiritual Power and swallowed it, then spoke, ¡°Tianming, this place is unsafe, other Cultivators might hear the commotion at any time. We must quickly meditate to restore our Spiritual Power to be ready for any imminent dangers.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, already holding an elixir, which he swallowed before beginning to meditate and cultivate. After half an hour, Lin Tianming¡¯s Spiritual Power had recovered somewhat, and the flesh wounds on his body had also healed quite a bit. He got up and walked towards a corpse of one of the Monster Serpents. He alone sufficed to clean up the battlefield, allowing Lin Shilu to restore more Spiritual Power to face potential threats. He approached the corpse of a Second Order Middle Stage Monster Serpent, his Tiangang Sword swinging rapidly, cutting the serpent¡¯s body, as thick as a water bucket, into segments before stowing them inside his storage bag. Even the scattered Scales on the ground needed to be collected; they were excellent material for Artifact Refining. As long as they were plentiful, they could be turned into armor or crafted into shields with exceptional defensive power. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He did not overlook the small pools of Snake Blood either, collecting them all. Such treasures were hard to come by, and the Purple Gold Eagle was not picky. With so much snake blood, he could swiftly enhance his strength. After gathering the Medium Stage Second Order Monster Serpent, he moved to the body of an Initial Stage Second Order one, repeating the process and collecting all usable materials. He busied himself for half an hour just to collect the bodies of the dozens of Monster Serpents. After completing these tasks, he slightly altered the shocking scene and then walked toward Lin Shilu. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Lin Shilu opened his eyes, showing a satisfied smile. ¡°Finished clearing the battlefield?¡± asked Lin Shilu. ¡°Hehe¡­ all of it has been collected!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled back, and in turn, Lin Shilu smiled meaningfully and said, ¡°This group of Demonic Beasts was quite powerful. Let¡¯s explore the territory of the Qingxu Snakes; maybe we¡¯ll find something good!¡± With that, Lin Shilu walked deeper into the valley, and Lin Tianming quickly followed, soon disappearing from the spot. Chapter 213: 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_1 Chapter 213: Chapter 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_1 The two left the battlefield and headed into the valley. With the Qingxu Snake Clan wiped out, there should no longer be any danger within the valley. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By this time, Lin Shilu had recovered most of his spiritual power, and Lin Tianming had also recovered some. As long as they didn¡¯t encounter a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator or a Second Order Late-Phase Demonic Beast, they wouldn¡¯t have problems ensuring their own safety. Shortly, the pair advanced more than ten li deep into the valley along the base of the mountain. They arrived at a massive stone forest that was much larger than the one near the battlefield and had denser bushes. At the center of the stone forest, there were many caves a few zhang wide, distributed around the center, each one a snake burrow. Standing atop a huge rock, Lin Shilu surveyed the stone forest ahead and said: ¡°Tianming, this vast stone forest must be the Qingxu Snake¡¯s nest. I estimate that a hundred li around are their territory!¡± Lin Tianming nodded. Demonic Beasts had their own territories and usually would not leave them unless driven away by more powerful beasts; otherwise, they would stay and breed within their own lands. The territories of Second Order Demonic Beasts ranged from a hundred li to several hundred, while most First Order Demonic Beasts had territories spanning only several tens of li. Looking at the stone forest thousands of zhang wide before him, Lin Tianming¡¯s face brimmed with excitement. They had expended considerable effort and treasures¡ªjust the talisman paper alone cost them hundreds¡ªto eradicate a clan of snakes, all for the spoils of war. Yet, the bodies and inner cores of the Qingxu Snakes alone had brought them substantial rewards. Moreover, there was the vast territory of the eradicated clan to explore, perhaps yielding some rarely-seen treasures. Grinning mischievously, Lin Shilu was also excited but chose not to show it. ¡°Tianming, the territory of this snake clan is vast. If we were to inspect it all, we would spread ourselves too thin. Plus, with the surrounding Demonic Beasts eyeing us covetously, let¡¯s just explore a twenty li radius around the stone forest. We can give up on the rest¡ªafter all, our haul is already substantial enough!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded; he too believed it was wise to be cautious. Because within a Demonic Beast¡¯s territory, treasures almost always appeared within a ten li radius of its lair. As for the outer regions, there was hardly anything of value to be found, and venturing out to explore posed significant risks. If they encountered other cultivators or nearby Demonic Beasts, a safe retreat would not be easy. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming spoke up: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, with the snake clan destroyed, there should not be any dangers within. Let¡¯s each take a direction and scout thirty li around. Should there be any danger, we¡¯ll immediately regroup at the center of the stone forest!¡± ¡°Alright, search quickly and signal at once if there¡¯s any trouble!¡± After replying, Lin Shilu immediately flew off to the left, quickly disappearing from sight. Lin Tianming wasted no time, swiftly heading in the opposite direction. While there shouldn¡¯t be any dangers, Lin Tianming remained cautious, clutching the Earth Evil Sword, ready for any potential threats. He weaved through the stone forest, crossing several tens of zhang with each step, quickly covering over ten li. In this period, he discovered two Second Order Spiritual Medicines¡ªcommon items, but still worth several hundred Spirit Stones. Suddenly, Lin Tianming halted his steps and landed on a rock. A hundred zhang ahead, in a crevice between stones, grew a tree about one zhang tall with over ten bright red fruits. Seeing the tree one zhang tall in front of him, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help exclaiming excitedly. ¡°Qiuxing Fruit!¡± Elated, Lin Tianming leaped high, darting towards the fruit tree. Qiuxing Fruit, a Second Order fire-attribute Spirit Fruit, could aid the cultivation of both cultivators and Demonic Beasts, ripening once every sixty years. Since it was a naturally formed Spiritual Object, its effects were comparable to a Second Order Spirit Origin Pill, and even stronger, making it particularly effective for fire-attribute cultivators, a truly rare treasure. Moreover, unlike the Lingshen Pill, it could be eaten directly without any discomfort. And the fruits on this Qiuxing Fruit Tree were all ripe, a timely bounty for him. ¡°No wonder such a number of Qingxu Snakes could emerge here, and even seven Second Order Demon Snakes, this tree must have played no small part!¡± After talking to himself, Lin Tianming immediately began to pick the Qiuxing Fruit. He took out over a dozen Jade Boxes and, with the Earth Evil Sword in hand, carefully plucked the Qiuxing Fruits one by one before delicately placing them into the boxes. A short while later, he had collected twelve Qiuxing Fruits. Looking at the one zhang tall Qiuxing Fruit Tree, Lin Tianming frequently stabbed the Earth Evil Sword into the ground, the rugged stone cleaved easily as if it were tofu. Having picked the fruits, he wouldn¡¯t pass up the chance to transplant the Qiuxing Fruit Tree. If relocated to his family¡¯s orchard, it could bear fresh Spirit Fruit after sixty years. In just over a dozen breaths¡¯ time, a pit a zhang wide appeared in the ground, and the Qiuxing Fruit Tree was extracted roots and all, placed into a prepared storage bag. Having done all this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, then turned and left the area without a backward glance, resuming his search. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. The area of over twenty li radius had been scouted by the two, who then reconvened at the point of separation. Chapter 214: 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_2 Chapter 214: Chapter 165 Qingxu Snake Eggs_2 At this moment, Lin Shilu¡¯s face was flushed with color, indicating a bountiful harvest. Lin Tianming was equally excited. Seeing the expression on Lin Shilu¡¯s face, he initiated a conversation. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how was your harvest this time?¡± Lin Shilu chuckled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve collected eleven second-order Spiritual Medicines and dozens of first-order ones, though they¡¯re all common and not of high value.¡± ¡°Moreover, I found a Qiuxing Fruit Tree that bore twelve Spirit Fruits, all ripe!¡± After sharing his own findings, Lin Shilu also asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s gains. Lin Tianming grinned from ear to ear, all but his eyes was smiling. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, my gains are nearly the same as yours. However, I found not one but two Xingxing Fruit Trees. Their fruits, also ripe, have all been picked by me, and I even uprooted the trees, ready to bring them back and replant them in the family lands!¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s report, Lin Shilu was overjoyed, his face blooming with smiles. The two of them had collected three Qiuxing Fruit Trees and thirty-six ripe Qiuxing Fruits just by raiding the Qingxu Snake Territory, and they hadn¡¯t even explored the entire snake den yet. It was unknown what other treasures they might find inside. ¡°Ha ha¡­ You¡¯re ruthless, my boy, but that¡¯s what I like about you!¡± Lin Shilu teased. A smile crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s lips, yet his heart remained undisturbed. Lin Shilu said no more; instead, he regarded the changing sky and spoke. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s getting late. We shouldn¡¯t linger here too long. Let¡¯s finish scouring the Qingxu Snake Cavern, and leave before dark to return to the Temporary Cave Abode where we stayed overnight. After a night¡¯s rest, we¡¯ll head back to Qianchuan Market early tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. ¡°We don¡¯t know what lies inside these caverns. It¡¯s better if we don¡¯t split up. We¡¯ll check them one by one, which I believe won¡¯t take long!¡± After Lin Shilu made this suggestion and saw no objection from Lin Tianming, he walked towards one of the caverns. Lin Tianming did not hesitate and immediately followed. Inside the cavern, the light was dim, but this posed no problem for the cultivators. With caution, the two progressed along the cavern that was a bit taller than a man, covering a hundred paces before reaching the end. The journey was uneventful, which relieved them. They then came upon a larger cave, akin to a vast secret chamber, with enough space to fit two large rooms. After circling inside, they found only some Qingxu Snake Scales, which seemed to have been shed by the Monster Serpents. Collecting the Monster Serpent Scales casually, they left the cave and entered another. Half an hour quickly passed, and they had explored most of the cavern without finding any valuable items, though they did collect quite a number of Qingxu Snake Scales. Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised; traditionally, the probability of finding treasures within a monster¡¯s lair was much higher than within its territory. The Qingxu Snake Cavern was filled with scales, and not even a single first-order Spirit Grass could be found, which was wholly unexpected. Seeing the disappointment on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, Lin Shilu reassured him: ¡°Tian Ming, the caverns we¡¯ve explored are smaller ones. The largest ones are yet to come, and I¡¯m sure the treasures must be concentrated in the caverns of the second-order Qingxu Snakes!¡± Heartened by Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming felt a little better. Facing a larger cavern, anticipation filled their expressions, and without hesitating, they entered. Likewise uneventful, their journey soon reached its end, arriving at a vast chamber. Upon seeing the cavern, which was obviously larger than the others, Lin Tianming and his companion were certain that this was the lair of a second-order Qingxu Snake. With a calm demeanor, Lin Tianming quickly surveyed the interior of the cavern. Under the gaze of his Eye of Five Colors, the pitch-dark cavern was as clear as daylight; no movement could escape his eyes. Along the cave, scales were plentiful, all of which were collected by the two of them. In addition to that, some incomplete bones and fragments of Spiritual Artifacts lay scattered amidst the soil. It seemed this Qingxu Snake had swallowed many cultivators, along with their Spiritual Artifacts. Over time, both bones and fragments were no longer intact, nor could the identity of the unfortunate be discerned. ¡°` Walking along, Lin Tianming suddenly pointed to a deep pit at the far end of the cave and shouted, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, look there!¡± Lin Shilu followed Lin Tianming¡¯s pointed direction and saw several oval eggs in the pit more than ten meters away, each as large as a water bucket. The two hurried over and began examining the eggs in the pit, circling the cave. ¡°These are Qingxu Snake eggs!¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed with delight. Lin Tianming was also overjoyed and reached out to touch the eggs, feeling the warmth and assessing the condition inside the eggs. After three breaths had passed, he said excitedly, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, these eggs are viable, they should be able to hatch!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu quickly reached out and picked up an egg to investigate. ¡°Indeed, they hold life force!¡± Overjoyed, Lin Shilu then said, ¡°These eggs must have been here for a while, and if it hadn¡¯t been for this great battle, they would likely have hatched soon. Now that we have found them, we must quickly take them back to the clan to be incubated, and then feed them with Lifeblood Essence. This cannot be delayed!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, fully aware of the importance of this matter. Taming demonic beasts is not easy. Besides those with great strength forcefully bonding, and giving sufficient benefits to prevent being devoured by a Spirit Beast, there is still the possibility of being devoured if the Spirit Beast¡¯s cultivation is too high. However, a Spirit Beast hatched from an egg with one¡¯s Lifeblood Essence, under any circumstances, will not turn on its master. Moreover, acquiring a Spirit Beast egg is difficult. They¡¯re either found dead, unable to hatch a Spirit Beast, or the potential of the Spirit Beast is too low, making the egg meaningless. A hatched beast that cannot significantly assist its master is a burden. Considering the strength and talent of the Qingxu Snake, though not particularly outstanding, such an opportunity is rare and cannot be sought. The two then collected all the eggs and searched the entire cave. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the vast cave had been meticulously searched by the two, and they collected numerous scales, but still no other treasures. The two left the snake cavern and quickly moved on to search another cave. An hour passed in this way, with every cave being searched thoroughly, and soon all caves had been scoured. Emerging from the caves, their faces brimmed with broad smiles. In the subsequent twenty-odd caves, they found six more serpent eggs, all with powerful life force and all likely to hatch successfully. In addition, they collected a vast number of Qingxu Snake Scales, which serve as the best food for young Qingxu Snakes. With these scales, the newly hatched snakes would not lack for food for quite some time, and it is believed that they would grow rapidly, possibly reaching the first-order late stage easily sustained on the scales. After exploring the caves, they found no other treasures of the earth but were not the least bit concerned, because the eleven serpent eggs and the huge number of scales were invaluable, almost comparable to a dozen cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining. Outside the cave, the setting sun cast its residual glow in the valley, and the sky gradually darkened. With a smile on his face and his heart pounding with excitement, Lin Shilu managed to calm himself and then said, ¡°Tian Ming, it¡¯s dusk now, and we should not linger here. Let¡¯s set off immediately, return to the Temporary Cave Abode where we rested last night, spend the night, and set off for Qianchuan Market first thing in the morning to plan our next move!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and the two immediately leapt up and hastened toward the direction they came from. With practiced ease, they made good progress and returned to the Temporary Cave Abode before dark. Lin Shilu sat down on the floor and said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tian Ming, you will take the first watch tonight as before, and I will take over in the second half of the night!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, sat at the entrance of the abode, closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense constantly monitored the surroundings. ¡°` Chapter 215: 166 Sword Drawn, Crossbows Cocked_1 Chapter 215: Chapter 166 Sword Drawn, Crossbows Cocked_1 A night of calm passed as the two took turns standing guard. At the break of dawn the next day, Lin Tianming and his companion left the temporary cave shelter. After a night of meditation and cultivation, Lin Shilu had completely recovered his spiritual power, and Lin Tianming was also in good shape. Although there were still some minor flesh wounds on his body that hadn¡¯t fully healed, given his strong recovery ability, it would take no more than a couple of days for him to fully recover. Feeling the surging spiritual power and vitality within his body, those small injuries had almost no effect on his combat ability. Lin Tianming was in good spirits, and the trip had been highly rewarding, which brought a constant, satisfied smile to his handsome face. Looking back at the cave shelter they had stayed in for two nights, he then took the initiative to conceal any traces of their dwelling. After covering up the cave, Lin Shilu took out the map, they glanced at it briefly, then put it away again. The route they had taken on their way here had been almost uneventful, and they decided to continue along the same path back to Qianchuan Market. ¡°Let¡¯s set off!¡± Lin Shilu commanded. As soon as he was done speaking, Lin Shilu took the lead, striding away with leaps covering dozens of meters, and Lin Tianming quickly followed suit. The two of them swiftly passed over rocks and giant trees, soon disappearing without a trace. After half a day of travel, they had covered several hundred miles. During this time, they encountered only a few low-order demonic beasts, which they dispatched with ease and quickly moved on, but despite their rapid pace, they still hadn¡¯t exited the most dangerous inner region. The sun blazed overhead, in a sky clear of clouds. At this moment, they found themselves in a vast swamp. The swamp was massive and endless at first glance, peppered with dirt mounds tens of meters high within its confines. The two crossed over a mound, planning to thread their way through, but they halted their steps less than a thousand meters in. In front of them, two huge and strange demon insects were baring their teeth and blocking their path. Both demon insects were about nine meters long, with dark, glossy bodies and hundreds of feet, exuding a fierce and terrifying aura. They had passed this way upon entering and hadn¡¯t encountered these two demon insects; unexpectedly, they met them now on their way out. They thought to bypass the two demon insects, but, undiscouraged, the insects chased after them for a while, occasionally spitting out ice swords to attack them. Lin Tianming was somewhat exasperated. The gains they had made this trip were already substantial. If it were a normal encounter, he wouldn¡¯t bother with them, but surprisingly, these two demon insects were relentless. He couldn¡¯t understand why these two Second Order Initial Stage demon insects were trying to trouble them, as it was no different from seeking death. Seeing this, it was becoming comical that two cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level were being pursued by two Second Order Initial Stage demon insects. Lin Shilu said helplessly, ¡°Tian Ming, these are Black Carapace Demon Insects. They like to attack cultivators. Their defensive power is extremely formidable, and they¡¯re also very fast. But since we¡¯ve run into them, we might as well finish them off quickly!¡± Lin Tianming nodded. They each took out their magic artifacts and directly charged at the two Black Carapace Demon Insects. Lin Tianming, holding the Tiangang Sword, unleashed three slashes of sword qi that ferociously attacked one of the insects. Dealing with these two insects, they were under no pressure, so Lin Tianming did not plan to use the Earth Evil Sword. ¡°Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡­¡± Seeing the silver-white sword qi slashing towards it, the demon insect emitted a strange cry and quickly moved its hundred feet, lithely shifting dozens of meters to the side with hardly a sound and easily evading Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Lin Tianming was taken aback, not expecting the demon insect¡¯s speed to be so fast. It also highlighted his own shortcomings. In previous battles, he had relied on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap his opponents, attacking them when they were bound, and even cultivators or demonic beasts stronger than him found it hard to survive long in the sword formation. But without the suppression of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the demon insect had easily dodged the attack. Missing his initial strike, Lin Tianming dropped his playful expression and got serious. With a single-handed seal, a barrage of fireballs rained down from the sky, while at the same time, he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand anew. The demon insect, equally unyielding, raised its head and spat out several ice swords, shooting straight towards Lin Tianming at an incredibly fast pace. Lin Tianming raised his hand and conjured a firewall in front of him, and in the instant the ice swords collided with the firewall, made of Five Elements Spiritual Power, they pierced through it. ¡°Puff¡­¡± A soft sound followed, the ice swords slowed slightly, giving Lin Tianming the chance to retreat over ten meters. Where he had been standing was now blasted into a deep pit, with mud spewing out to form a small pool. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained calm as he gripped the Tiangang Sword tightly and once again unleashed several slashes of sword qi. Then, as if riding the wind, he leaped tens of meters toward the demon insect. The demon insect bared its teeth and dribbled saliva on the ground, eyeing Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful vitality with evident desire. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Tianming approached, the demon insect squirmed all over and spat out a few more ice swords at him. In less than a moment, the sword qi and ice swords collided. Explosions rang out, sending splashes up from the swamp below. At the same time, a wave of sword qi triumphantly shattered the demon insect¡¯s ice swords, striking the shell of the demon insect. ¡°Clang¡­¡± A metallic clashing sound erupted, and a palm-sized crack appeared on the demon insect¡¯s shell. Chapter 216: 166 Tense Situation_2 Chapter 216: Chapter 166 Tense Situation_2 The demon insect, writhing in pain, let out a piercing scream and, after settling down, glared maliciously at Lin Tianming, seemingly very wary of him. Then man and insect clashed once more, spells and Sword Qi attacking wildly. The whole swamp was filled with earth-shattering explosions. While Lin Tianming was engaged in fierce battle, atop a mountain several miles away, an elder in black was observing the faint glow of fire in the distance, revealing a bloodthirsty smile. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Looks like there¡¯s some strength there; let¡¯s sneak over and see if there¡¯s an opportunity!¡± After muttering to himself, the elder leaped a hundred meters into the air and quickly disappeared into the dense forest. Swamp¡­ Lin Tianming and the Black Armored Beetle fought for over ten rounds, both sustaining injuries. However, Lin Tianming largely maintained the upper hand, mostly pressing the demon insect in battle. Lin Tianming, getting serious, didn¡¯t hold back any longer. He made a move, preparing to settle the battle quickly. He tossed the Tiangang Sword into the air and made a special hand seal with both hands, all the while chanting a Law Decree. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword, kill!¡± Suddenly, countless fireballs appeared in the sky, and amidst a fiery rain, a Golden Light Greatsword plunged down with extreme speed. The Black Armored Beetle, sensing the impending powerful aura, frantically wriggled its body in a vain attempt to escape the mud beneath its feet. The Black Armored Beetle was unable to evade and could only watch as the Golden Greatsword struck it squarely on the head. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A sharp and loud explosion sounded, and the head of the Black Armored Beetle was cleaved off, falling into a puddle, causing a splash. The beetle¡¯s body twitched a few times before becoming motionless, clearly dead beyond any doubt. Lin Tianming leapt forward, coming to the side of the demon insect to inspect it. On the other side, Lin Shilu finished his battle quicker than Lin Tianming; after all, with his Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivation, taking down a Second Order Initial Stage Black Armored Beetle was effortless. Seeing that Lin Tianming had ended his battle, Lin Shilu was very satisfied with his performance and said excitedly: ¡°Tianming, peel off the insect¡¯s carapace and then extract its inner core. This corpse is also a good thing; I¡¯m sure the Purple Gold Eagle and the Soul Devouring Bead would like it. It¡¯s perfect to let them each swallow one.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, his face showing a delighted expression. This journey yielded not only several Qingxu Snake bodies but also this Second Order demon insect; the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s food supply was secured for a short while. He quickly removed the inner core of the Black Armored Beetle, then, wielding the Tiangang Sword in his hand, he skilfully removed the insect¡¯s hard shell along with its numerous legs, leaving nothing behind. Although he could not forge high-quality Spiritual Artifacts, letting the Artifact Refining learners of the clan practice was still good. If their refining skills were adequate, it was possible to forge First Order Superior Grade Spiritual Artifacts. In less than half a quarter of an hour, the shells and limbs of the two Black Armored Beetles were removed and stored in a storage bag, which he handed over to Lin Shilu to take back to the clan. The corpses of the demon insects, on the other hand, were kept by Lin Tianming himself. After busying himself for a while, all useful parts were gathered, and the signs of battle were concealed. Lin Tianming dusted off his hands and walked over to Lin Shilu, saying: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, let¡¯s set off!¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, about to turn and leave when suddenly he seemed to sense something. ¡°Tianming, be careful!¡± As he exclaimed, he pushed Lin Tianming with a palm strike, sending him flying back ten yards. He too used the recoil to retreat a dozen yards and landed in a small clearing. Just as they left their original positions, nine flying needles struck with terrifying speed, blasting nine deep holes in the ground where they had just been standing. ¡°A complete set of Flying Needle Magical Tools?¡± Once stable, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed. Holding a Spirit Sword, he tensely stared at a mound in front of him and said: ¡°Fellow Daoist, since you¡¯re already here, why hide any longer!¡± From behind a dirt mound hundreds of yards away, an elder in black emerged from the soil, his face full of frustration. Earlier, he heard the commotion of Lin Tianming¡¯s battle with the Black Armored Beetle, and using his movements and cultivation, he had sneaked to this hiding spot. Upon realizing that Lin Shilu and his companion¡¯s cultivation was weaker than his and that they had expended quite a bit of spiritual power, he harbored malicious intentions. Little did he know that Lin Shilu seemed to have been on alert all along, maintaining vigilance and causing his deadly strike to miss and fall short. Now that they were at odds, hoping to leave unscathed was no longer within his control. The black-robed elder¡¯s face remained calm as he emerged with dignity and gave Lin Shilu a cupped fist salute, saying, ¡°Esteemed fellow Daoist, I harbored no ill intentions. It was merely an accidental slip of the hand. Since we are both unharmed, perhaps we can let bygones be bygones, what say you?¡± Hearing the shameless explanation from the black-robed elder, Lin Shilu¡¯s face was full of disdain. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator like himself, how could he ¡°accidentally slip up?¡± Such an explanation was far too far-fetched. ¡°Humph!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s face showed a trace of anger as he glared at the black-robed elder, his mind racing with thoughts. The elder was at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, a full stage higher than him. If he were alone, he would probably not be a match for him. But with Lin Tianming here, with his divine skills, he was almost a match for a Third Level of Foundation Establishment, or even a Fourth Level Cultivator. Together, they weren¡¯t entirely without a chance of victory. What was more important was that if it wasn¡¯t for his early vigilance, Lin Tianming might have been gravely injured or even killed. If Lin Tianming were to fall, the family¡¯s hope for further advancement would be shattered, and he would become the sinner of the family. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shilu said with intense anger: ¡°A failed strike, and you propose reconciliation, do you truly take me for a clay figure?¡± As Lin Shilu spoke, he unconsciously began to move slowly towards Lin Tianming. Joining together, each held their weapon in hand, warily watching the black-robed elder¡¯s every move. Although not entirely without a chance of winning, if a fight really broke out, their chances of victory were at best thirty percent, and more likely both would end up injured. Thus, they had to be cautious, ready to respond to any threat posed by the elder. Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, the black-robed elder let out a cold chuckle. Although he entertained thoughts of abandoning the fight, his cultivation level was such that even if he could not win, his life would not be in danger, and escaping was still an option. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was precisely this cautious, even cowardly, disposition that had allowed him to live for over a century despite having made numerous enemies, and to even cultivate to the late stages of Foundation Establishment. Seeing the elder make no rebuttal nor movement, Lin Tianming began to observe the black-robed elder with increased tension. He opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards the black-robed elder. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze, the black-robed elder¡¯s Disguise Technique and the Spiritual Artifact that concealed his aura were rendered ineffective. Gazing at his true appearance, Lin Tianming exclaimed. ¡°Gu Tong!¡± Lin Shilu stood by with a puzzled expression, but after recalling what Lin Tianming had mentioned upon returning from the Market City Hall, he quickly remembered Gu Tong¡¯s identity. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s exclamation, the elder¡¯s face changed dramatically, losing the composure he had moments before. The fact that he had been able to walk the Cultivation World and commit acts that could not stand the light was due to his reliance on his Disguise Technique and Spiritual Artifact for masking his aura. Never had he imagined that the Disguise Technique he took pride in would be so easily seen through by Lin Tianming, a thought that terrified him. Considering his identity was exposed and the idea that his enemies, if informed, would definitely cause him much trouble, even endangering his life, he decided not to let the two go. ¡°To think they have discovered me, these two cannot be spared. If they escape, the trouble will be endless!¡± Making up his mind, his expression turned sinister. He took out a small seal that glinted with golden light from his storage bag, ready to make his move at any moment. Seeing the elder¡¯s reaction, Lin Tianming and his companion also braced themselves for a crisis. Lin Tianming held the Tiangang Sword tightly, ready for battle, while Lin Shilu gripped his Spirit Sword, vigilantly watching Gu Tong. Both sides thus stood in a standoff, neither daring to make a rash move. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense as if swords were drawn and bows were bent. Chapter 217: 167 The Final Trump Card_1 Chapter 217: Chapter 167 The Final Trump Card_1 After a brief standoff, Gu Tong made the first move. Facing Lin Shilu and his companion, even with a higher cultivation level, he didn¡¯t dare to be careless. A wave of his sleeve sent the Golden Seal flying in front of him, and a spell struck it, causing it to grow to half a zhang in size instantly. ¡°Overturning Mountain Seal, Suppress!¡± With a loud shout from Gu Tong, the Golden Seal soared into the sky and then slammed down towards Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu remained calm as he wielded his Spirit Sword, slashing furiously at Gu Tong, releasing several fierce Sword Qi. At the same time, he stomped his foot and retreated over ten zhang to stabilize his figure. When the Sword Qi collided with the Seal, a crackling sound erupted, and flames shot up around them. While the two of them were testing each other out, Lin Tianming also sprang into action, moving close to Lin Shilu, with the two forming a pincer attack. He did not dare to venture too far away, fearing that if Gu Tong targeted him alone, Lin Shilu wouldn¡¯t be able to look after him. Just as Lin Shilu and Gu Tong¡¯s initial exchange ended, and amidst the marsh, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords silently emerged from beneath the ground. ¡°Hm?¡± A frown creased Gu Tong¡¯s brow as if he had noticed something unusual about Lin Tianming, but he didn¡¯t see him as a threat, considering Lin Tianming¡¯s mere Foundation Establishment first stage could at most cause him a bit of trouble. Even though he wasn¡¯t concerned, he still wasn¡¯t going to sit back and be captured without a fight, letting himself fall into a passive position. With a single hand forming a law decree, a fireball ignited in his palm and exploded in size after being hit with the spell, surrounded by terrifying high temperatures that dried out the mud around. Looking at the terrifying fireball, he smugly slapped it out with his palm, sending it smashing towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming kept his expression calm, surprised that Gu Tong would underestimate him so greatly, thinking to finish him off with just a Five Elements Spell forged fireball. However, this might be good for him, perhaps at the crucial moment, he could deliver a fatal blow, and thus potentially turn the tide of the battle. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Refocusing, as the fireball drew closer, Lin Tianming coolly sent out a Sword Qi to collide with it. The fireball burst into flames, and Gu Tong¡¯s nonchalant attack was neutralized by Lin Tianming. Once the fire and smoke cleared, Lin Shilu and Gu Tong had already engaged in fierce combat, with Gu Tong¡¯s Golden Seal pounding down relentlessly, seemingly determined to crush him there and then. Lin Shilu did not dare to hold back either, his Spirit Sword overflowing with Sword Qi as he fought fiercely with Gu Tong. Watching Lin Shilu being suppressed by Gu Tong, Lin Tianming became anxious and hurriedly joined the fray to assist him. With the battle reignited and his participation, the two of them didn¡¯t suffer any disadvantages, exchanging blows with great enthusiasm. A stick of incense time passed. Gu Tong was surprised by the prolonged fight; despite being a whole level above, he wasn¡¯t gaining much of an advantage against the two of them. Although there was only one level difference, he was at the Foundation Establishment late stage, and Lin Shilu was only at the middle stage; the gap between the sixth and seventh levels was definitely more than just two ordinary levels. In such a situation, with the assistance of Lin Tianming, the two of them managed to avoid defeat. Seeing the stalemate continue, Gu Tong appeared unwilling to waste more time. A prolonged fight might expose his identity, attracting numerous enemies all too eager to tear him to pieces. With this in mind, he resolved to take care of the problem quickly. He took out five small flags of different colors from his storage bag, each embroidered with dense runes. As soon as the flags appeared, an icy chill permeated the air, indicating they were no ordinary items. Both Lin Shilu and his companion warily watched Gu Tong¡¯s every move, their expressions extremely solemn. Gu Tong let out a cold laugh, brimming with confidence. His Five Elements Flag was a rare gem even among Second Order Medium Quality magic artifacts, almost comparable to a Second Order Superior artifact. Sealing numerous cultivators and demonic beasts¡¯ souls within had made the flags incredibly powerful, capable of trapping enemies and muddling their minds; it was with these flags that he had turned the tide in dangerous situations many times. Gu Tong threw the Five Rod Flags into the air, hitting them with a spell, and immediately, the flags shone with a mass of green light. After a moment, a strong wind began to howl in the sky, and billows of black fog sprayed out of the flags, quickly enveloping the entire sky. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the other hurriedly retreated, but the black fog surged too rapidly and soon shrouded them within. Feeling the piercing sensation from the fog, which also greatly affected their Divine Sense. Besides, it seemed as if a barrier trapped them inside; no matter how they moved, the black fog would immediately catch up, and they just couldn¡¯t shake it off. Lin Tianming and his companion were horrified, scrambling through the fog while trying to come up with a solution. ¡°Tian Ming, this black fog is very strange!¡± Lin Shilu warned. Lin Tianming nodded, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and looking at the green dots appearing within the fog, he said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not just affecting our Divine Sense; it can also disturb our minds. Once we¡¯re lost in it, we¡¯ll be like lambs to the slaughter!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s face turned incredibly grim, at a loss for what to do. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was greatly affected, his Eye of Five Colors could still clearly see the surroundings. Feeling the black fog weakening slightly, covering only a few hundred zhang around them and not expanding further, it seemed the fog could only maintain this extent. Although it could move and suppress their Divine Sense and speed, it wasn¡¯t without flaws. Chapter 218: 167: The Final Trump Card_2 Chapter 218: Chapter 167: The Final Trump Card_2 Just then, he distinctly felt that the barrier of the black fog had some obvious weaknesses, with the area right in front of Gu Tong being notably thinner. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened as he said to Lin Shilu, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, there¡¯s temporarily no black fog near Gu Tong, and it looks weaker. We can only break through the fog as quickly as possible to stand a chance at killing him. Otherwise, if we continue to drag this out, it¡¯ll be extremely disadvantageous for us.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu replied, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll protect you while you break the black fog¡¯s barricade!¡± With those words, Lin Shilu¡¯s steps shifted as he positioned himself in front of Lin Tianming. He stimulated his Spirit Sword and slashed out several beams of Sword Qi, then led Lin Tianming in a charge towards Gu Tong¡¯s position. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword had already left his hand, and he formed hand seals, casting Law Decrees upon the Tiangang Sword. The Tiangang Sword, infused with a massive amount of Spiritual Power, began to vibrate wildly, as if sensing its master¡¯s will. Outside the black fog, Gu Tong chuckled coldly, seemingly believing that the two men were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, with no possibility of passing through the fog. He let out a strange laugh and then spat a mouthful of blood essence onto the Five Rod Flag. A chill wind swept by, accompanied by sounds of wailing and shrieking intertwined with the roars of Demonic Beasts. Suddenly, a multitude of Monster Beast Souls surged out from within the black fog, along with the souls of countless cultivators and ordinary people, all densely clustered into a swarm that was at least tens of thousands strong. Among them, over thirty souls bore astonishingly powerful auras, clearly having been Second Order Demonic Beasts or Foundation Establishment Cultivators when alive. Faced with so many ferocious souls rushing at them, Lin Tianming and his companion felt a wave of horror gripped their hearts. Seeing this, Lin Shilu cursed with a fragrant breath, ¡°This evil beast, just how many cultivators has he slaughtered, not even sparing ordinary folks who couldn¡¯t even truss a chicken!¡± Lin Tianming also felt sickened, unable to fathom how Gu Tong could be so heartless and maniacal. You should know that there was an unspoken rule in the Cultivation World stipulating that cultivators must not harm ordinary people. If one were to massacre ordinary people on a large scale and get caught, it would lead to a combined attack from the entire Cultivation World. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there were not a few demonic cultivators exterminated each year for slaughtering ordinary people on a large scale. Yet Gu Tong had secretly mass-murdered tens of thousands of ordinary people and sealed their souls within a Magic Artifact. Such actions were nothing short of lunacy and aroused the ire of both gods and men. However, this was not something they needed to consider at the moment. The most important thing was to get out of the range of the black fog and quickly execute this man. Fully aware of this, the two made their way through the black fog, with Lin Shilu leading and clearing a safe path for Lin Tianming. Inside the black fog, Lin Shilu was the first to engage in fierce combat with a mass of lower-tier souls. He casually threw out more than a dozen talisman papers that transformed into a torrential rain of swords to meet the souls. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± Mournful cries echoed as the lower-tier souls within the black fog were slashed into pieces en masse. Lin Shilu¡¯s Spirit Sword moved swiftly, its Sword Qi colliding with several formidable souls above. Although these souls had been Second Order Demonic Beasts or Foundation Establishment Cultivators in life, their strength as souls after death was greatly reduced, most likely only displaying about ten to twenty percent of their original power. Nevertheless, there were just too many souls in the black fog, and as they rushed forward fearlessly, Lin Shilu¡¯s Spiritual Power was rapidly drained. After a dozen or so breaths, swathes of souls perished, and they were getting closer and closer to the weaker part of the fog. By this time, Lin Shilu¡¯s body was covered in numerous wounds, lying in his own blood, all inflicted by the tearing and biting of the souls. Gu Tong saw that most of the souls had died, with only a handful of more powerful ones remaining. The souls of the ordinary people had been wiped out by Lin Shilu. Although the lower-tier souls had weak strength, they were all ordinary folks he had kidnapped in small-scale raids. He had spent considerable effort and risked great danger to accumulate such numbers. To think that Lin Shilu had depleted the majority of them to deal with the two men, it was painful for him to accept. With this in mind, Gu Tong¡¯s face turned red as he slapped out several Law Decrees, and the Golden Seal left his hand, plunging into the black fog. Within the black fog, just as Lin Tianming and his companion were about to reach that weaker barrier, Gu Tong¡¯s Golden Seal descended from the sky, bearing down on Lin Shilu with a ferocious strike. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, be careful!¡± Lin Tianming was the first to spot the golden seal descending swiftly and promptly warned. However, Lin Shilu had already been injured and was distracted by his need to protect Lin Tianming. In addition, without the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, his divine sense was greatly impaired, preventing him from detecting the danger in time. Despite Lin Tianming¡¯s warning, the golden seal¡¯s speed was simply too fast; Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t even had a chance to react before it was already upon him. Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s face changed drastically, but he quickly calmed down. With a resolute expression, he forcefully slapped Lin Tianming¡¯s back, pushing him towards the weaker part of the black fog. As he saw Lin Tianming reach the position, a flash of red light flickered around him, and a blood-colored jade pendant transformed into a red light that shielded him in the front. A loud bang ensued, the light from the jade pendant shattered, and the golden seal struck him. After a pitiable scream, Lin Shilu spat out mouthfuls of blood and, like a kite with a broken string, was flung away, soon hitting the ground motionless. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu hit by the golden seal, his life or death unknown, Lin Tianming shouted with eyes bloodshot. At this moment, Lin Tianming was incredibly furious. He didn¡¯t have time to check on Lin Shilu¡¯s condition; he only had to shatter the black fog¡¯s barrier, or they would both certainly die there. Lin Shilu had pushed him away in the critical moment just to create an opportunity for him to break through the black fog¡¯s barrier. For this purpose, he had disregarded his own life and death; for this moment, Lin Tianming could not forsake this sole chance. He turned his head, his blood-shot eyes emitting a terrifying murderous aura. He began forming hand seals, and with a mouthful of blood on the Tiangang Sword, it started to vibrate madly while emitting a series of sword cries. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords First Sword¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword released a beam of light that pierced through the sky, ruthlessly striking the weakest part of the black fog barricade. ¡°Pff¡­¡± A massive sound echoed as the black fog disappeared without a trace. The black fog dissipated, and the five rod flag in front of Gu Tong fell to the ground, his complexion changing. The black fog that had never been broken was now shattered by Lin Tianming, whom he hadn¡¯t taken seriously. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gu Tong had no time to contemplate as, before him, Lin Tianming¡¯s body erupted with a fearsome murderous intent. Just as the black fog cleared, Lin Tianming formed hand seals, making a strange gesture while chanting an unusual incantation. At that moment, suddenly, a dazzling silver light filled the sky, as blinding as if the sun were right before his eyes. Simultaneously, a terrifyingly powerful sword qi took shape above his head, devouring the surrounding spiritual energy. This sword qi was the Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art. Lin Tianming had been condensing it for a long time, having nurtured it within his Qi Sea Dantian for several years. With Lin Shilu¡¯s life hanging by a thread, and Lin Tianming unable to match Gu Tong using his usual methods, at this moment, to save his own life, he could not worry about anything else. This strongest trump card was now his last hope in such a dire situation. Sensing the monumental sword qi, several times more potent than Lin Shilu¡¯s attacks, it was hard to imagine that it had been launched by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. At this instant, Gu Tong¡¯s face turned ashen. Without any hesitation, he immediately fled in a panic. Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed red, his eyes filled with murderous intent, he pointed in the direction Gu Tong was escaping and bellowed: ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, kill!¡± Before the words even faded, the fearsome sword qi streaked across the sky at extreme speed, slashing towards Gu Tong. ¡°Aaargh¡­¡± An utterly miserable cry sounded as the sword qi vanished and the sky returned to normal. In a mound a thousand feet ahead of him, Gu Tong¡¯s severed limbs were scattered aside, evidently dead beyond any doubt. Chapter 219: 168: Return to the Market Town_1 Chapter 219: Chapter 168: Return to the Market Town_1 Upon witnessing Gu Tong¡¯s definitive demise, Lin Tianming immediately turned and rushed toward Lin Shilu. At that moment, Lin Shilu was covered in blood, his body riddled with wounds, his aura utterly wilted, and a bloody hole directly caved into his chest, where stark white bones could be clearly seen. He knelt beside Lin Shilu, calling out anxiously as he checked on him. After a little over ten breaths¡¯ time, a bit of color finally returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s pale face. Based on his assessment, the situation, although not terrible, was not cause for optimism either. Since the Blood-colored Jade Pendant blocked the majority of the Golden Seal¡¯s potency, Lin Shilu was not killed on the spot, but he had still sustained serious injuries. At present, his body had numerous wounds and he had lost too much blood, yet for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, these injuries were not fatal. What was critical was that the remaining force of the Golden Seal, having penetrated the protection of the Jade Pendant, struck his chest with solid impact, severely damaging his internal organs and severing many of his meridians. It would take some time to fully recover from these injuries, and without at least half a year¡¯s care, it would be difficult for him to return to his peak condition. With Gu Tong dead and Lin Shilu still alive, Lin Tianming finally let out a long sigh of relief. The situation had been dire at the time, with Lin Shilu risking his life to create an opportunity for him, fortunately aided by the Eye of Five Colors, which revealed the weak point in the Black Fog Barricade. More importantly, it was the Sword Qi he had condensed for several years that erupted with staggering potency, ultimately slaying Gu Tong. The power of the Spirit Art exceeded his expectations; prior to this, he had only seen Lin Shikang use it once, and the Sword Qi he had cultivated for two years outright killed a Second Order Late Phase Crimson Gold Snake. As for himself, after carefully nurturing it for several years, the unleashed power far exceeded his expectations, striking down Gu Tong in one blow, leaving him somewhat incredulous. Gu Tong was also too foolish, panic-stricken by the power of the Spirit Art, even attempting to flee. If he had shown some courage and relied on some Defense Treasures or talisman paper, with his cultivation base to support him, he might have sustained serious injuries at most, and wouldn¡¯t have met such a tragic death. Fortuitously relying on the Spirit Art to survive the ordeal, joy washed over him, but then Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale. After two consecutive battles, although he wasn¡¯t much injured, his Spiritual Power had been depleted, and they were still not out of danger; he needed to quickly recover his Spiritual Power to face potential threats. He fed a healing elixir to Lin Shilu and also swallowed a Huiyuan Pill himself, immediately sitting down to meditate and restore his energy. After half an hour, Lin Tianming had regained about twenty to thirty percent of his Spiritual Power, barely enough to defend himself. He got up and went over to where Gu Tong had died, pocketing his storage bag and collecting the Five Rod Flag and Golden Seal. He clasped the Five Rod Flag in one hand and started examining the Golden Seal with the other. Although the Five Rod Flag was an evil Magic Artifact, its power was indeed formidable, with the emitted black fog being extremely elusive and easy to fall for if one was not cautious. However, after Lin Shilu¡¯s slaughter, almost all the Monster Beast Souls within were depleted, greatly reducing its power. If he could capture a large number of Monster Beast Souls to seal inside, it might restore its potency and become an artifact for orthodox use. The Golden Seal was also a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, equally potent, suitable for both offense and defense, a comprehensive tool indeed. After clearing the battlefield and erasing any traces of the fight, seeing Gu Tong¡¯s remains, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the past events. When he saw the bounty issued by the Meng Family at the Market City Hall, this man had been at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm several years ago; unexpectedly, in just a few years, he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, possessing many formidable methods and an array of precious treasures. No wonder he managed to live well despite having made so many enemies. This magical duel had truly been fraught with peril; Gu Tong¡¯s methods were endlessly surprising, and with his cultivation surpassing Lin Shilu, if it weren¡¯t for the might of the Spirit Art and Gu Tong¡¯s cowardice and foolishness, they would have undoubtedly perished here. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a surge of alarm and silently counted his lucky stars. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming released a fireball that burned Gu Tong¡¯s remains to ash. After completing these tasks, he pondered their next move. They were still in the swamp, inside the Qianchuan Mountain Range¡¯s inner region, the territory of the Black Armored Beetle. Given the current situation, there was no time for searching; Lin Shilu needed a safe place to recover from his injuries. The danger had not yet passed, but they were close to the outer region. If they pushed themselves, they might be able to leave this perilous area before dark and then rest at the edge of the outer region. Having made up his mind, he lifted Lin Shilu and, after consulting the map, immediately set off toward the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Lin Tianming pushed hard all the way, and, fortunately, he encountered little trouble, barely running into any Second Order Demonic Beasts, and easily shook off any First Order Demon Beasts he did meet. Without any hesitation, Lin Tianming finally reached the edge of the outer region just before nightfall. He found a secluded valley, hurriedly created a simple cave dwelling in a rock wall, and the two of them quickly entered. Lin Shilu was still unconscious, but he had been given a Consolidating Essence Pill, his wounds had begun to scab over, and his condition slowly stabilized, leaving nothing else but to patiently wait for his natural awakening. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After making sure he was settled, Lin Tianming sealed the entrance to the cave dwelling and sat down on the ground to cultivate through meditation. Chapter 220: 168: Return to the Town Market_2 Chapter 220: Chapter 168: Return to the Town Market_2 Time flitted by, and five days had passed¡­ In the stillness of the cave dwelling, a cough echoed. Hearing the sound, Lin Tianming was overwhelmed with joy. He quickly ended his cultivation and hurried towards Lin Shilu. At this moment, Lin Shilu had woken up. He tried to sit up unsteadily, but his injuries were too severe, making it a struggle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming hastily helped him sit up properly, and then with a choked voice, he said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I¡¯ve been so worried these past days. You were gravely injured but thankfully, you¡¯re finally awake!¡± Lin Shilu patted Lin Tianming¡¯s shoulder, his face carrying a trace of a warm smile. ¡°Child, do not worry. I¡¯m not dying yet. We are both still alive!¡± Looking at Lin Shilu¡¯s heartwarming smile, Lin Tianming felt a twinge in his heart and his eyes moistened with tears. In the midst of the battle, his elder was constantly looking out for him, creating opportunities for him even at the brink of life and death, disregarding his own safety. It wasn¡¯t just him. Back in the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Shiji had also risked his life for the younger generation of the Lin Family. There were numerous such examples. Lin Shilu had fought alongside him many times, always selflessly sacrificing for him, treasuring his life more than his own. Considering this deep affection, Lin Tianming was greatly moved. It was only because the Lin Family valued loyalty and sacrifice that he could understand this sentiment. At that moment, he had an insatiable desire for strength, wishing he could protect his family and carry on this spirit. Lin Tianming¡¯s determination was resolute, his demeanor radiating a special aura. While he was lost in thought, Lin Shilu began inquiring about what happened during his unconsciousness, and Lin Tianming recounted the whole process without any reservation. After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Shilu was overjoyed. He then sucked in a breath of cold air, also filled with anticipation for the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Lin Tianming had obtained the Great Sun Sword Qi Art several years ago. All the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family had studied it, but the time it took them to condense the Sword Qi varied. Lin Shilu had only managed to condense Sword Qi for just over a year; its power was limited, so he did not use it in battle. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve done very well. You are truly the prodigy of our family!¡± Lin Shilu said, his face beaming with pride and relief. Lin Tianming chuckled and then asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what are our next steps? Do we wait for your injuries to heal before returning to the market town, or do we depart right away?¡± Lin Shilu raised his eyebrows slightly, his face a bit pale. He waved his hand and said, ¡°My injuries won¡¯t heal quickly, and it¡¯s not advisable for me to travel in this state. How about we recuperate here for a few days? You can also take this time to consume a Qiuxing Fruit for cultivation. What do you think of this arrangement?¡± ¡°Good, I will follow your esteemed guidance!¡± Lin Tianming nodded his approval of Lin Shilu¡¯s plan. They were already away from the inner parts of the mountain range and the likelihood of encountering Second Order Demonic Beasts was not high. With his own cultivation, he could manage. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming sat down and began cultivating, operating his Cultivation Technique. Lin Shilu took out an elixir and swallowed it, closing his eyes to meditate and recover from his injuries. An hour later, Lin Tianming had adjusted himself to the best state. He then took out a Qiuxing Fruit and swallowed it whole. Upon consuming the Spirit Fruit, a gentle energy quickly spread, coursing through his meridians, bringing about an almost heavenly tingling sensation that nearly made him groan aloud. The energy of the Qiuxing Fruit was vastly different from that of the Lingshen Pill. Every time he took even a First Order Lingshen Pill, it caused him unbearable pain. Feeling this unique energy, he focused fully on his Cultivation Technique to assimilate it, channeling the gentle Spiritual Power into his Seven Sea Dantian. With the help of the Qiuxing Fruit, just an hour of cultivation allowed him to refine enough Spiritual Power to match half a month of hard training. Lin Tianming was overjoyed. Since the beginning of his Foundation Establishment, he had never used proper elixirs for cultivation, nor had he exploited any gifted treasures. As the parched Seven Sea Dantian encountered the Spirit Fruit¡¯s energy, it greedily absorbed the gentle Spiritual Power. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the cave dwelling, the breathing of the two was steady as they cultivated and healed. Time slowly passed, and another ten days went by. One morning, Lin Shilu was the first to open his eyes, his pale cheeks showing more color. At this time, the flesh wounds on his body had all healed, and most of the meridians within had recovered. Avoiding battle was enough; normal activities posed no problem. Lin Tianming also opened his eyes then, his face brimming with smiles. After ten days of cultivation, the powerful energy contained in the Qiuxing Fruit was fully refined. Now he felt full of power, his mental state reaching an unprecedented peak. Just one Qiuxing Fruit had allowed his cultivation to advance a small step, almost reaching the peak of the First Layer. With a few more, he might take this opportunity to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied. Seeing that Lin Shilu had finished his cultivation, he quickly asked how he had recovered. Responding to Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned words, Lin Shilu said, ¡°Tianming, my injuries have stabilized. As long as I avoid fighting, there will be no issue, and we can set off. Tianfeng and the others must be worrying by now!¡± ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve been away for over twenty days, which is ten days more than expected. It¡¯s time to leave!¡± Lin Tianming agreed with a word, then started tidying up the cave dwelling. After that, the two of them walked out together and concealed the entrance of the cave once more. Chapter 221: 168: Return to the Town Market_3 Chapter 221: Chapter 168: Return to the Town Market_3 After doing this, the two immediately set out, swiftly heading in the direction of Qianchuan Market. Considering Lin Shilu¡¯s injuries, the two did not travel fast, taking two days to leave the more dangerous area. Lin Tianming checked the map and ensured that their location was safe, he then released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. After feeding it two sections of late-stage Qingxu Serpent Meat, the two jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which then soared into the sky, heading towards Qianchuan Market. ¡­ At Qianchuan Market, in a secret room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingli, along with a few others, were seated, all looking somewhat anxious. Lin Tianfeng stood up and looked out the window, speaking apprehensively, ¡°Uncles, before Fifteenth Grandfather and Tianming left, they said that this trip would take at most ten to fifteen days, yet it¡¯s been almost a month now and they still haven¡¯t returned. What shall we do?¡± Lin Xingsu and the others also showed nervous expressions but were at a loss for what to do. After all, with their cultivation, they could only move around the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. To enter and search for the two would be like finding a needle in a haystack, truly a hopeless endeavor. Seeing the low morale of the clan members, Lin Xingli spoke to comfort them, ¡°Everyone, Fifteenth Uncle and Tianming are not weak in cultivation. Together, they could even handle a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. It¡¯s just over ten days; perhaps they are delayed by some unexpected treasure!¡± On hearing this, the others finally heaved a sigh of relief. It was indeed very possible; an adventure in the Qianchuan Mountain Range could lead to unexpected delays due to treasures and opportunities. Seeing everyone relax a little, Lin Xingli continued, ¡°Let¡¯s all return to our cultivation. In another half-month, if they still haven¡¯t returned, we¡¯ll either request Elder Ye to search for them or go back to the clan for help!¡± ¡°That¡¯s all we can do!¡± Lin Tianfeng replied. The rest nodded their heads in agreement, ready to take their leave, when the ward at the door flickered, and Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. After a dusty and swift journey, with the help of the Purple Gold Eagle, their speed increased substantially. It only took them two days to return to Tianchuan Market. Seeing Lin Tianming return, everyone was overjoyed and hurried to greet him. After returning the greetings with a fist salute, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Fellow clansmen, Fifteenth Grandfather was severely injured during the trip and has already returned to his cave dwelling to close up and recover!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How is the elder¡¯s condition? Is it serious?¡± Hearing Tianming¡¯s statement, the clan members asked anxiously. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Everyone, there is no need to worry too much. Although Fifteenth Grandfather is quite injured, his condition has stabilized. With a few months of quiet cultivation, he should be able to recover to his peak.¡± Relieved by Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, everyone sighed in relief. Each Foundation Establishment clan member was too important to the clan, especially someone like Lin Shilu, who with high seniority was the clan¡¯s only Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner. With his talent and cultivation, aside from Lin Tianming, he was the clansman most likely to advance to the Golden Core Realm. Once the others regained their composure, Lin Tianming revealed part of what had transpired on their journey but did not mention Gu Tong. After all, that man was too evil and had attracted many enemies; who knew what kind of grudges and grievances he had. Besides, killing a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator would certainly cause a sensation; for the safety of the clan, it was wiser not to bring this up. After hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s account, everyone was shocked. The two had actually wiped out a Qingxu Snake Clan, an achievement beyond imagination. And upon learning they acquired several Qingxu Snake Eggs and some Qiuxing Fruit Trees, the clan members were over the moon with excitement, following which they became incredibly joyful. Seeing everyone¡¯s happy expressions, Lin Tianming instructed, ¡°Fellow clansmen, Fifteenth Grandfather has ordered that nothing about this journey is to be revealed to outsiders, not a single word, otherwise clan law will be enforced!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The clan members nodded in response, then chatted casually. After half an hour had passed, everyone dispersed, and Lin Tianming led a few people back to the cave dwelling to cultivate. Chapter 222: 169: Dividing the Spoils_1 Chapter 222: Chapter 169: Dividing the Spoils_1 Back to his cave abode, Lin Tianming set aside all minor matters and started taking Qiuxing Fruit, wholeheartedly beginning his closed-door cultivation. Time flew by, and a month had passed. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out a bright light. ¡°Exhilarating¡­¡± Feeling the strength in his body increase yet again, his heart surged with excitement, full of praise for the effect of the Qiuxing Fruit. Before this, he had been consolidating for almost two years, with extremely slow progress in his cultivation. After a month of closed-door cultivation, he had refined two more Qiuxing Fruits, and the effects of cultivating with Qiuxing Fruit were surprisingly good, whether it was because he had consolidated for too long, or the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage was naturally not difficult to cultivate in. At this moment, he was getting closer and closer to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. If he were to cultivate in closed-door isolation for a long period and consume a large number of Qiuxing Fruits, he was confident he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, now was not the time for long-term closed-door cultivation. Today, Lin Shilu made a brief exit from his own cultivation retreat and specifically convened him to discuss sect affairs. He stood up and left the secret chamber, appearing in the small courtyard. Lin Shilu was already sitting in the courtyard waiting; he stepped forward and respectfully bowed, then the two of them took their seats. Over the month, Lin Shilu¡¯s complexion had improved a lot, seemingly well on the way to recovery. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shilu began speaking: ¡°My injuries have healed considerably, and now there are two important matters to address!¡± Finished speaking, Lin Shilu took out a dark green storage bag, which belonged to Gu Tong, and casually tossed the storage bag to Lin Tianming, motioning him to do an inventory of the items within. Lin Tianming received the storage bag, wiping away the remaining Divine Sense on it. He then extended his own Divine Sense to check the items inside. He hadn¡¯t thought it important, but upon examination, he couldn¡¯t help but take in a sharp breath¡ªthey were so numerous that it was staggering to comprehend what Gu Tong must have done to accumulate such wealth. Seeing the color rise to his cheeks, Lin Shilu quickly pressed him with questions. Without beating around the bush, Lin Tianming upended the storage bag and poured out its most important contents. In no time at all, a multitude of treasures¡ªSpirit Stones, elixirs, Spiritual Medicine materials, and Artifact Refining materials¡ªwere spread out before them. ¡°What on earth did Gu Tong do, to have such an overwhelming collection of treasures on him?¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed with an agitated tone. As Lin Tianming looked over the vast treasure, he began to tally them up, while Lin Shilu sat beside him taking notes. ¡°Thirty-one thousand two hundred and a bit Spirit Stones, one hundred and fifty bottles of First Order Elixir, thirty bottles of Second Order Pills.¡± Lin Tianming recited the quantity and type of the treasures, while Lin Shilu recorded them on a piece of Beast Skin. ¡°A combined total of several hundred First and Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, three pieces of Third Order Spirit Medicine Material, four Second Order Magical Artifacts, sixteen First Order Spiritual Tools¡­¡± After half an hour, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had finally finished taking the inventory of Gu Tong¡¯s storage bag. Looking at the quantity and types noted on the Beast Skin, they took another sharp breath. There were simply too many treasures, with an estimated value of at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Included among the more valuable items were Third Order Spiritual Medicine, Second Order Magical Artifacts, various amounts of elixirs, as well as seven corpses of Demonic Beasts at the Second Order Initial Stage, and two bodies of Demonic Beasts at the Second Order Middle Stage, well-preserved enough for Artifact Refining and Talisman Making. After inspecting the basic treasures, Lin Tianming and his companion turned their attention to the remaining three Jade Slips and one grey-brown Token. ¡°What is this?¡± Lin Shilu picked up the Token, a puzzled expression on his face, before something seemed to dawn on him. ¡°Tianming, doesn¡¯t this Token look similar to the Mysterious Moon Order you acquired several years ago?¡± Lin Shilu inquired. Reminded by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming took the Token and then opened his Eye of Five Colors to inspect it. Looking at the familiar text inside the Token and the lifelike Spirit Beast patterns on its surface, Lin Tianming retrieved the first Token he had acquired and compared them side by side. After comparison, he was certain it was indeed the Mysterious Moon Order he had obtained previously. Fiddling with the two Orders, Lin Tianming said with a sense of frustration: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, it is indeed the Mysterious Moon Order, but the specific use of this Token is still unknown.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu started to reassure him. ¡°In the Cultivation World, many Secret Realms require either Bloodline Power or a Token to enter. Given how extraordinary this Mysterious Moon Order is, it must be one such item. Although we are not clear on which Secret Realm the Token belongs to, nor do we know the timing and requirements to activate it, it is undeniable that this item is invaluable. You must take good care of it.¡± ¡°Besides, since Gu Tong died at our hands and we gained this Mysterious Moon Order, remember that this matter must not be disclosed. Forget the bounty offered by the Meng Family; you only need to inform Elder Wu and the others, so they are aware of the situation!¡± Understanding the gravity of the situation, Lin Tianming nodded and then pondered over Lin Shilu¡¯s elucidation of the Mysterious Moon Order. In the Cultivation World, Secret Realms were exceedingly rare, existing within special spaces. It was said that within them lay treasures of the world, but also filled with immense dangers. Those who could enter and emerge alive often brought back precious items, catapulting their status skyward. However, Secret Realms were not easy to enter. Many imposed restrictions on the cultivation level of the entrants. Some Realms¡¯ spaces were unstable and could only withstand a certain number of Qi Refining Cultivators, while others were extremely robust and could even permit Divinity Transformation Stage old monsters to enter. The timing and location of a Secret Realm¡¯s opening were unfathomable, with some being suppressed by powerful factions through Formations, fixing their locations for thousands or even tens of thousands of years without moving. Meanwhile, ownerless Secret Realms would shift their locations after every opening, retrieving the Tokens that allowed entry and subsequently scattering them anew along the moving path of the Realm. Chapter 223: 169: Dividing the Spoils_2 Chapter 223: Chapter 169: Dividing the Spoils_2 In summary, the probability of encountering a Secret Realm greatly increases in the vicinity of where a Token is found, and no one who has obtained a Mysterious Realm Token is willing to forfeit such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Having obtained the Mysterious Moon Order within the borders of the Wei Kingdom, it was very likely that a Secret Realm would open nearby. They only needed to discretely gather information, closely monitor the situation, and wait for the Secret Realm to manifest. Lin Tianming gathered his thoughts, tucked the two Tokens away, and patted his chest to assure they would be carefully guarded. After Lin Shilu gave a few instructions, the matter of the Tokens was temporarily concluded. Examining the remaining three jade slips, each of them picked up one to peruse. A tea time passed, and after going through the three jade slips, they finished tallying everything. Among these jade slips, one contained a fire attribute Yellow Grade Technique called ¡°Tian Li Fire Scripture,¡± known for its formidable attack power and considered a fine piece among Yellow Grade Techniques¡ªpresumably the one practiced by Gu Tong. The other two jade slips, however, were ordinary: one was the insights of a Second Order Artifact Refiner. The other was the insights of a Second Order Inscription Master; the quality was limited but still had worthwhile aspects. It could only be taken back to the clan for the members to study, which would enhance their cultivation techniques to some extent. Lin Shilu took the Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights and glanced over it before putting it into his storage bag, clearly planning to delve into it. After all, he was a Refinement Maniac. Even though the Refiner who left these insights might not be at his level, there was still potential learning to be had that could be helpful. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming retrieved from his storage bag the Magic Artifacts used by Gu Tong: the Five Rod Flag and a Golden Seal named the Overturning Mountain Seal. He lined up the two Magic Artifacts in front of him. All the treasures obtained from Gu Tong were now collected in front of the two of them. Gazing at the six different kinds of Magic Artifacts, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was one of great excitement, and Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. The Lin Family had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators. During the family battle on Luoyun Mountain, several newly advanced Foundation Establishment members of the clan had only First Order Spiritual Tools to confront their enemies. It was after the annihilation of the Jin Family that they acquired several Magic Artifacts, allowing every Foundation Establishment member to wield a Magic Artifact. Now, acquiring six more Magic Artifacts, with the Five Rod Flag and Overturning Mountain Seal both being Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifacts, and a set of nine flying needles that formed a complete Spiritual Tool, the craftsmanship was quite impressive. They were fine artifacts even among those of the same caliber. The remaining three Magic Artifacts consisted of two Spirit Swords and a Spiritual Whip over ten yards long, all of which were First Order Inferior Magic Artifacts with average quality, but they were still much better than First Order Top-Quality Spiritual Instruments. Looking at the numerous Spiritual Tools and Magical Treasures, Lin Shilu pondered before saying: ¡°Tian Ming, let¡¯s each select two pieces among these Magic Artifacts. As for the Spirit Stones, we¡¯ll each take ten thousand. How about we submit all the remaining treasures to the clan?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s proposal, Lin Tianming did not hesitate a moment before gladly agreeing. Although these spoils of war were obtained through their joint efforts and rightfully belonged to them¡ªmoreover, the clan had no rules forcing members to hand over their treasures¡ªthe Lin Family had been established for over eight hundred years, and the members traditionally volunteered their contributions, with only the amount varying. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Shilu was the main contributor to their gains on this mission and had suffered severe injuries as a result, he showed no concern for the vast amount of treasures. Lin Tianming felt even less entitled to care. In terms of power, even if Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t mentioned such an arrangement, Lin Tianming was planning to submit most of his share of the loot. However, he also had to consider his own needs, especially since the effects of the Qiuxing Fruits were excellent and he desperately needed them to sustain his cultivation until he found a solution to the elixir issue. With this in mind, Lin Tianming hesitated. Seeing his manner of holding back, Lin Shilu had already guessed what was on his mind. ¡°The Qiuxing Fruits are highly beneficial to you, I¡¯m well aware of that. There are thirty-six in total; take out ten as a share for your Third Brother and the others, and keep the rest for your own cultivation!¡± said Lin Shilu. ¡°Thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming removed ten Qiuxing Fruits, placing them amongst the many treasures, then sincerely bowed to him. Lin Shilu nodded, then motioned for him to select a Spiritual Tool. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t too sentimental. He looked at the six magic artifacts on the field and hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to choose. He had experienced the bizarre attacks of the Five Rod Flag, and the soul attacks within it were also very powerful. However, they had been largely destroyed by Lin Shilu, causing their power to greatly diminish. After some thought, Lin Tianming still decided to choose the Five Rod Flag, mainly because the prospects of this artifact were very good. As long as he kept adding souls to it, its power could be quickly enhanced. Besides, this artifact could complement his Earth Fiend Sword Formation. With both at his command, enemies simply couldn¡¯t react in time. Moreover, he had plenty of Qingxu Snake souls and Black Armored Beetle souls in his possession. If he sealed them all into the flag, its power would surely be no less than during Gu Tong¡¯s period. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming collected the Five Rod Flag and then glanced at the Golden Seal before looking at the nine silver-white needles. In the end, he chose the nine silver-white needles. The reason was simple, if he took the two best artifacts for himself, it would be rather unseemly. Furthermore, he already had plenty of magic artifacts, and acquiring the Overturning Mountain Seal wouldn¡¯t significantly increase his strength. Since his father still lacked a suitable artifact and it was quite dangerous for him to be alone, he planned to take the nine matching needle artifacts as a gift for him. That way, his father¡¯s safety in defending Golden Horn Mountain would be assured. With this in mind, he immediately collected the nine needles and then waited for Lin Shilu to pick his artifact. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t hesitate and directly put the Overturning Mountain Seal and the Spirit Sword artifact into his storage bag. With the distribution of artifacts complete, Lin Shilu waved one hand and grabbed twenty thousand spirit stones, taking ten thousand from them to give to Lin Tianming. Having done all this, he waved his hand again, pulling out several jade bottles from his storage bag, which contained souls he had collected. However, they were mostly from First Order demon beasts, with only two from the Second Order. Lin Tianming received the items, feeling incredibly moved. Whatever was on his mind, Lin Shilu seemed to understand clearly, always giving him what he needed without any hesitation. Lin Shilu chuckled and gave him a comforting look before speaking, ¡°All these things have been distributed now. Leave the First Order elixirs in Luoyun Pavilion and send the elixirs you¡¯ve refined back to the family for our people to use. Sell the inferior ones in the market square!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and put all the treasures into a storage bag. After finishing this, Lin Tianming took the initiative to say, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, your injuries aren¡¯t fully healed yet, and the Qingxu Snake eggs cannot be delayed. Tianming wishes to leave the market square in half a month to return to the family land, deliver the items we¡¯ve obtained this time, and bring back a batch of spiritual objects to replenish Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s stock.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s offer to volunteer, Lin Shilu hesitated for a moment. He was concerned about letting Lin Tianming leave the market square alone to return to Green Bamboo Mountain, but under current circumstances, a trip back to the family land was indeed necessary. Since he was injured and unable to exert even a third of his strength and could not recover to his peak in a short time, it was not appropriate for him to travel. After pondering for a good while and considering that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was not much less than his, Lin Shilu sighed deeply. ¡°So be it!¡± ¡°You should cultivate in seclusion these next few days to properly re-refine your artifacts and adjust your condition, then you can set out!¡± After saying this, he spoke earnestly and instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for Xing Li to prepare the family¡¯s elixirs and spirit stones at Luoyun Pavilion. Remember to be careful on this trip; don¡¯t delay too much on the road. When you return, have your Third Uncle bring Xing Ping to the market square as well. With him accompanying you, it will be a bit safer.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, and he bowed respectfully to Lin Shilu, then pledged confidently, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, Tianming will not disappoint and will return to see you as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ go and cultivate!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then bowed with a fist, stood up, and walked towards his training room. Chapter 224: 170 Thousand Beast Banner_1 Chapter 224: Chapter 170 Thousand Beast Banner_1 Back in the practice room, Lin Tianming sat on the ground, took out the Five Rod Flag and the Nine Silver Needles, and carefully observed them in his hands. After the battle in the swamp, most of the souls within the Five Rod Flag had been lost, with only a few Monster Beast Souls remaining, which was not a large number, causing the power of the flag to decrease significantly. However, this was also good, for if he used it after sacrificial refining, he wouldn¡¯t be mistaken for an evil cultivator, otherwise, he would attract some troubling attention. He then looked at the nine silver-white needles, which also formed a set of magic artifacts. Each silver needle was one foot long, its surface carried a bone-chilling coldness, and was also highly poisonous. This set of silver needle magic artifacts was exquisitely crafted; its main material must have been the tail stinger of a Myriad Poison Bee at the Second Order Middle Stage or higher. The intense poison, coupled with the unique properties of the sting, made the power of the silver needle set extremely formidable, and when used properly, they were not much less effective than a Second Order Medium Quality magic artifact. ¡°Gu Tong was also a ruthless and fierce man, involving himself in many sly deeds, obtaining so many treasures and magic artifacts. He met his end due to his greed, and in the end, it all fell into our laps; fate truly plays with people,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. Regaining his composure, there was no time to spare; he needed to quickly complete the sacrificial refining of the Five Rod Flag, and would personally deliver the Nine Silver Needles to his father once he passed by Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming smiled knowingly, wasting no more time, and began to operate his Cultivation Technique, preparing to sacrificially refine the Five Rod Flag. He circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and once his state reached its peak, he first erased the residual Divine Sense left on the Five Rod Flag. After doing these things, he threw the Five Rod Flag into the air, then formed a spell with one hand and continuously cast spells onto the flag. ¡°Crackle pop.¡± A few light crackling sounds were heard, and the Five Rod Flag immediately began to rotate around him. Lin Tianming opened his mouth and spat out a few mouthfuls of essence blood, which quickly merged into the flag, and then into the core of the magic artifact. His Divine Sense flared, as he inscribed his own Consciousness Imprint on the core of the Five Rod Flag. As long as he completed this step, the refining would be done. The Five Rod Flag seemed somewhat resistant, also violently vibrating as if trying to escape his control. Lin Tianming¡¯s nerves were tense, his hands frequently slamming spells onto the flag. Time slowly passed, and five days swiftly went by. In the practice room, the vibration of the Five Rod Flag stopped, and it joyously revolved non-stop around him. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the flag¡¯s surface was bright and lustrous, far more vibrant than when it was unclaimed, clearly indicating that the refining was complete. Lin Tianming waved his hand and held the Five Rod Flag in his grasp, showing a loving, reluctant-to-part smile. After spending days refining it, there was still the need to seal Monster Beast Souls within it; only after completing this step would the flag¡¯s power be restored, and it would be able to assist him during magical duels. Without delay, Lin Tianming immediately set out to do just this. He took out nearly a hundred Jade Bottles, each containing the soul of a Demonic Beast. Nearly half of these were the souls of Qingxu Snakes, the rest were those he had collected over the years, and some given by Lin Shilu. Among these Monster Beast Souls, ten were of the Second Order, stronger but not less potent than what Gu Tong possessed. If all were sealed, their power would certainly be formidable. Lin Tianming thought to himself, his hands moving non-stop, releasing the souls from the Jade Bottles. The shadows of the Monster Beast Souls emerging from the Jade Bottles immediately lunged at him with bared fangs and claws, appearing extremely fierce. ¡°Hmph, already dead and still daring to rebel,¡± he snorted. Lin Tianming reached out with one hand, drawing in the struggling Monster Beast Souls into his grasp, condensing them into a sphere of light. He cast several spells with one hand, then projected the light sphere into the flag¡ªsoon, the light sphere vanished without a trace. At the same time, his fingers flicked continuously, casting spells onto the flag, inscribing special sealing runes. When a small cluster of dense golden runes were etched on the surface of the flag, the Five Rod Flag vibrated joyously, as if they were famished chicks, obviously very eager to devour the Monster Beast Souls. Lin Tianming was very pleased; he continued to release the Monster Beast Souls, following a proficient process to seal the souls within the flag. Five days later, in the secret chamber. Lin Tianming held the Five Rod Flag, his face filled with excitement. He had spent several more days sealing nearly a hundred Monster Beast Souls within the flag. The Five Rod Flag was now brightly colored, its surface covered with dense, refined golden runes, looking quite delicate, and even its aura had changed a lot. Before, the Five Rod Flag¡¯s surface was dark, as if it belonged to something evil, but now its surface shimmered with golden light, incomparable to its previous state. Lin Tianming was very satisfied and was almost eager to test its power, but since he was in the market, he had to suppress this thought for now. With the Five Rod Flag refined, he prepared to leave his retreat and hurry back to Green Bamboo Mountain as soon as possible. However, the Five Rod Flag had been without a name, and now that he would be using it, it naturally needed a name; after all, he would be using it for a long time to come. Once he made up his mind, he began to ponder. During the family battle, the magical treasure Zhuang Zhenxin used was the Green Jiao Flag, which had a mysterious similarity in function and attack methods to these five flags; they were both sets of magical artifacts with exceptionally potent power. After much thought, considering the flag came from the Qianchuan Mountain Range, Lin Tianming suddenly had an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s call it the Thousand Beast Banner; it¡¯s quite fitting considering there are a large number of Monster Beast Souls sealed inside,¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, deciding on the name Thousand Beast Banner. Chapter 225: 170 Thousand Beast Banner_2 Chapter 225: Chapter 170 Thousand Beast Banner_2 He was quite satisfied with the name, though now the number of soul banners was not many, but in time, it would definitely reach into the thousands. At that point, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner would undoubtedly become even more formidable. After a ten-day closed-door session came to a close, the Thousand Beast Banner was successfully refined, and the collected monster beast souls were all sealed within. His goal had been achieved, and it was time to set off. Before leaving, he decided to first go to Luoyun Pavilion to retrieve the treasures and spirit stones he was taking back to the Lin Family, and also to purchase some second-order talismans. After all, the condensed sword qi had already been exhausted, and it would not be of much use for two years. Being alone and leaving Qianchuan Market, he still needed to make more preparations. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming got up, tidied up the practice room, and walked out the door. After leaving the cave mansion courtyard, Lin Tianming walked the streets of the market, heading towards the commercial area. Before long, he arrived at a grand street. Although he had been here several times already, he still looked around at the shops that had been there for hundreds or even thousands of years. This street was not far from Luoyun Pavilion, but it was in a slightly better location. The powers that could occupy this place and set up shops for hundreds or thousands of years, without exception, were renowned sects or families of Wei Kingdom. Treasure Pavilion, Thousand Medicine Pavilion, Myriad Treasures Shop, Sky Dragon Pavilion¡­ Dozens of sumptuous shops lined both sides of the street, each name more resounding than the last. But the strength behind these shops was indeed very formidable. Treasure Pavilion was the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s only shop in the market, doing extremely booming business with a multitude of treasures available, though the prices were also incredibly high. The Thousand Medicine Pavilion was the Golden Core Sect¡¯s Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s shop, and Myriad Treasures Shop was the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s. The power behind Sky Dragon Pavilion was even more terrifying than the three great sects of Wei Kingdom. For Sky Dragon Pavilion was backed by the Sky Dragon Commerce Association, and the association was the reputed business of Qingzhou¡¯s Tang Family. Their businesses were active across Qing and Ji provinces, and it was said they also had dealings in other major provinces. With the Tang Family¡¯s formidable strength, having been passed down for tens of thousands of years and numbering tens of thousands of members, with at least dozens of Golden Core cultivators, and supposedly even Nascent Soul cultivators among them. With such strength, they could rank among the foremost powers in Qing and Ji provinces. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt immense aspiration in his heart, and also profound determination, making the Tang Family his goal. Lin Tianming put aside his distracting thoughts for the moment, paused to collect his thoughts, and then lifted his feet and walked towards Sky Dragon Pavilion in the middle. Upon entering Sky Dragon Pavilion, the interior was buzzing with noise. Over thirty cultivators were selecting various treasures, and several Qi Refining cultivators as receptionists were bustling about. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, a Qi Refining cultivator of the sixth level immediately stepped forward to greet him warmly. ¡°Esteemed senior, I am Sun Jie at your service. What treasures do you require? Would you care to enjoy a cup of spiritual tea in one of our elegant private rooms while I retrieve the items for you?¡± Lin Tianming, seeing the person¡¯s respectful and thorough service, nodded his head. He then followed Sun Jie upstairs to find a private room and entered. As they settled into the private room, Sun Jie immediately prepared a pot of spiritual tea and then stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions. Lin Tianming sat on a chair made of precious wood and stated his purpose. ¡°Young friend Sun, I¡¯m in need of some second-order talisman paper, the higher the grade the better. Does your pavilion have any for sale?¡± Sun Jie hurriedly introduced a batch of second-order talismans, though they were only lower and medium-grade ones. Lin Tianming felt somewhat disappointed as he had come here to see if there were any superior second-order talismans available. If there was a second-order high-quality attack talisman, its power wouldn¡¯t be inferior to the sword qi that previously killed Gu Tong. Noticing the look of disappointment on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, Sun Jie spoke, ¡°Senior, our Sky Dragon Pavilion does have some high-quality second-order attack talismans. However, I do not have the clearance. How about I invite the chief steward here to discuss directly with you?¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Tianming finally showed a smile. He then took out five spirit stones and handed them to Sun Jie as a tip. Sun Jie¡¯s face brightened with joy as he accepted the spirit stones and bowed before leaving the room to presumably fetch the chief steward of the shop. After a short while, the sound of footsteps approached the private room, and then a white-robed elder in the Foundation Establishment Stage entered. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianming immediately rose to his feet to greet him. After all, the visitor could possibly be a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Tang Family, and the Lin Family couldn¡¯t afford to offend them. Respect was due. The elderly man saw that Lin Tianming was so young, yet he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, such a cultivation speed was definitely not ordinary among Loose Cultivators, he must be a scion of a Sect or a family. The white-robed elder had a smile on his face, appeared very courteous, and was also quite curious. Both seated themselves and began to drink tea, the white-robed elder picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip before he asked: ¡°This Daoist friend, I am Tang Xiuyuan, Chief Steward of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. May I know your esteemed name? I heard that you want to purchase a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ my surname is Chen, as for my given name, it¡¯s not important. I wonder if you have any Second Order Superior Talismans for sale? And what would be the price?¡± Lin Tianming got straight to the point and asked about the Second Order Talismans, without revealing his own identity information. After all, the Tang Family was too powerful, and it was wiser for him to be cautious. Seeing that Lin Tianming was unwilling to reveal his name, Tang Xiuyuan did not press further. After all, many Loose Cultivators have such a temperament, asking too much could easily offend someone, and since they were in the business of selling, they were used to such behavior. Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, then with a flick of his sleeve, several talismans of different colors appeared, suspended in the air between them. Five talismans, all Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, each containing powerful forces. Among them, there were two Fire Attribute Talismans, two Metal Attribute Talismans, and one Water Attribute Talisman. Looking at the talismans, Tang Xiuyuan, with a calm and confident demeanor, said: ¡°Daoist Chen, these five Second Order Superior Talismans are the best ones in our store. I am not being boastful, but such talismans are hard to find throughout the entire Qianchuan Market.¡± Lin Tianming nodded without disputing the claim. Second Order Superior Talismans were not common items, the higher the grade, the rarer they were. Even at an auction, they were not often seen, and even for the powerful Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom, Second Order Superior Talismans were in limited supply. Only the Tang Family and the Golden Core Forces could afford to sell them. Regaining his composure, he took one of the talismans and examined it. Feeling the immense power of the flames contained within the talisman, it was many times stronger than any he had acquired before. After a while, he showed a satisfied expression. ¡°Daoist Tang, how much for one Fire Attribute Talisman and one Metal Attribute Talisman?¡± Lin Tianming asked directly. Seeing that Lin Tianming seemed quite satisfied, Tang Xiuyuan answered composedly: ¡°The Fire Attribute Talisman is 3,000 Spirit Stones each, and the Metal Attribute Talisman is 3,300 Spirit Stones each.¡± When Tang Xiuyuan announced the prices, Lin Tianming was inwardly shocked. Although he had expected it, the Second Order Superior Talismans¡¯ prices were still exorbitant; buying ten of them would almost cost as much as one Foundation Establishment Pill. However, upon further contemplation, a Second Order Superior Talisman, at a critical moment, could match the strike of a Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator, potentially altering the outcome. With this in mind, he reluctantly accepted the price and said: ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯ll take one Metal Attribute and one Fire Attribute Talisman. Can the price be a little cheaper? How about 6,000 Spirit Stones for both?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming haggle, Tang Xiuyuan thought it over secretly. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s young age and his ability to reach Foundation Establishment, his talent must be extraordinary. Purchasing two Superior Talismans in one go, he surely had a substantial wealth and might be worth befriending. Making up his mind, Tang Xiuyuan smiled and nodded: ¡°As you say, Daoist friend, let¡¯s make it a good connection. If you want to purchase any treasures in the future, just come to me, and I will offer you the lowest price.¡± ¡°Haha, then I must thank Daoist Tang. If there¡¯s anything I need in the future, I will surely return.¡± Lin Tianming laughed. The two exchanged smiles, and Lin Tianming took out 6,000 Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan, then took the two Second Order Talismans and put them into his storage bag. After completing the transaction, they chatted idly for a while, and despite Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s roundabout inquiries, Lin Tianming still did not disclose any information, which left him quite helpless. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Tang Xiuyuan, left the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and headed straight towards Luoyun Pavilion. Chapter 226: 171 Father-Son Bond_1 Chapter 226: Chapter 171 Father-Son Bond_1 It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived inside Luoyun Pavilion. At this moment, there were more than ten Qi Refining Cultivators in the Luoyun Pavilion, selecting the goods for sale, while Li Rong was busy attending to customers; the scene was bustling. Lin Tianming, who rarely had leisure time, had barely inquired about the operation of the shop. Apart from making pills for a fee, he hadn¡¯t been much help. The shop was mainly managed by a few of his uncles from the Lin Family, such as Lin Xingli. With the assistance of Lin Tianfeng, everything was orderly and the profits were considerable. However, with his talent and cultivation, the family wouldn¡¯t agree to his involvement in these trifles. The Clan Leader had instructed him multiple times to focus on cultivation, for only with higher cultivation could he provide greater assistance to the family. Understanding this well, he had never slacked off, devoting all his thoughts to cultivation and alchemy. As for clan affairs, there were elders to worry about them, so he didn¡¯t need to trouble himself. Nevertheless, as a member of the Lin Family, he couldn¡¯t be indifferent, lest his clan members thought him too arrogant. It had been a long time since he last visited the shop, and the business seemed to be doing well recently, probably due to restocking the treasures they acquired from Gu Tong. With more treasures, the business naturally improved. Li Rong and her sibling were modest and courteous with exceptional abilities to read situations and manage the shop. After working as clerks in Luoyun Pavilion for a few months, they had become particularly familiar with its operations, which had significantly boosted the business. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, Li Rong quickly set aside his tasks to greet him with a clasped-hands salute. Lin Tianming nodded, asked briefly about the state of Luoyun Pavilion, and then went straight to the third floor. Entering the secret room on the third floor, Lin Xingli and Lin Xingsu were seated inside with thick books in front of them, apparently recording some accounts. Seeing Lin Tianming come in, both men stood up to greet him. After exchanging formalities and salutes, the three of them sat down for tea and casual conversation. Lin Xingli had been prepared for Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Several days earlier, Lin Shilu had specially instructed him to have the Spirit Stones earned during the past few months ready; apart from retaining twenty thousand for turnover, all the rest were to be handed over to Lin Tianming to take back to the family. After a bit of small talk, Lin Xingli took out a storage bag and an account book, handing them over to Lin Tianming. Looking through the account book, Lin Tianming scanned it and, noting the one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones inside, showed a look of surprise. Luoyun Pavilion had been open for over four months, and the results greatly exceeded their expectations with an average monthly sale of treasures worth tens of thousands. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In just a few months, Luoyun Pavilion had accumulated over one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. The initial shop cost for the family and various treasures worth over one hundred thousand had been almost entirely cashed in. In this way, in just four months, they had sold most of the treasures provided by the family and made a profit of at least thirty to forty thousand, enough to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. ¡°No wonder so many Foundation Establishing Families are eager to establish themselves in medium to large-sized markets. This truly is a profitable place!¡± In reality, the thriving business of Luoyun Pavilion didn¡¯t mean that all shops were doing well; some made losses or even closed down. It just so happened that Luoyun Pavilion was lucky; they encountered the market¡¯s biennial small gathering, bolstered by Ye Pinghai¡¯s powerful influence, and the strategy of commissioned pill making, which all contributed to the shop¡¯s booming business. Focusing his mind, Lin Tianming clasped his fists toward Lin Xingli and said, ¡°Uncle, I will depart tomorrow. With Fifteenth Grandfather injured, the market will be hard work for you all!¡± Lin Xingli and Lin Xingsu shared a smile and waved their hands to say, ¡°Tianming, you exaggerate. As members of the Lin Family, you, the cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage, have made greater contributions to the family. We are merely doing what we can!¡± After talking, Lin Tianming saluted the two men and left the secret room. After leaving Luoyun Pavilion, he didn¡¯t linger but went straight back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Upon entering the training room, he sat down on the floor and then laid several storage bags in front of him. One of these was the one given to him by Lin Xingli, containing the Spirit Stones earned by Luoyun Pavilion over the past few months, totaling an impressive one hundred and fifty thousand. The other storage bags contained six Qingxu Snake Eggs and a large quantity of items from various parts of the Qingxu Snakes, along with three Qiuxing Fruit Trees and some treasures obtained from Gu Tong. Staring at the extraordinarily valuable treasures that he was to bring back to the family alone, facing more than ten days journey ahead, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was incredibly serious. This trip was of great responsibility, and he couldn¡¯t guarantee there wouldn¡¯t be any accidents. Fortunately, he had prepared, having purchased two Second Order Superior Talismans from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. With these talismans for protection, he was slightly relieved. ¡°Hopefully, everything goes well!¡± Muttering softly to himself, Lin Tianming put away all of the storage bags and then began to practice his cultivation. Early the next morning, after notifying Lin Shilu and altering his appearance, Lin Tianming directly left the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Having left the market, Lin Tianming flew south for a distance, then released the Purple Gold Eagle. Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back and reviewing the map, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully open, constantly monitoring the surroundings. The duo, man and beast, streaked across the skies a thousand feet up, heading straight for the south. Time flew, and half a month passed by in a flash. That evening, a sharp cry rang out as the Purple Gold Eagle appeared above Golden Horn Mountain. Chapter 227: 171 Father and Son Bonding_2 Chapter 227: Chapter 171 Father and Son Bonding_2 Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming looked quite fatigued; glancing at the familiar mountain gate, he silently let out a sigh of relief. For half a month, he had been traveling alone, his Divine Sense greatly drained. Without Lin Shilu to take turns on watch, he didn¡¯t dare to let the Purple Gold Eagle fly at full speed without reservations, fearing any sudden troubles that might arise. Fortunately, the journey went relatively smoothly, although it was slower compared to the trip there, but he had successfully reached Golden Horn Mountain. Upon reaching the vicinity of Golden Horn Mountain, this area was part of the Luoyun Mountain Range territory, mostly controlled by the Lin Family; it was considered safe. The Purple Gold Eagle landed at the entrance of Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Tianming jumped down from its back. Lin Xingyou, who was responsible for patrolling Golden Horn Mountain, was quite surprised to see him since they had left Golden Horn Mountain only four months ago, and it was unusual for him to return so quickly. However, seeing Lin Tianming looking normal, as if nothing significant had happened, Lin Xingyou didn¡¯t ask any further. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming directly inquired about his father. Lin Xingyou chuckled and then said, ¡°Tianming, your father has been in closed-door cultivation all this time. You¡¯ve had a tiring journey, so you might as well rest for the night. I¡¯ll send a message to him. If there¡¯s nothing urgent, we can talk tomorrow!¡± Lin Tianming nodded; now that he had arrived at Golden Horn Mountain, he was not far from the clan estate, out of the danger zone, and there was no need to hurry. He was indeed tired, so resting for the night seemed reasonable. ¡°Then I will take Uncle¡¯s advice and rest for today!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Afterwards, Lin Xingyou led Lin Tianming towards the depths of Golden Horn Mountain, quickly arriving at the cave dwelling where Lin Xingrong was in secluded cultivation. Lin Xingyou cast a Law Decree, opening Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling, then said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, go inside by yourself. I still have duties to attend to, so I won¡¯t stay long!¡± ¡°Uncle, you go ahead with your tasks, we¡¯ll meet again another day!¡± Lin Tianming gestured his thanks and said goodbye. After seeing Lin Xingyou off, Lin Tianming entered his father¡¯s cave dwelling. Upon entering the room, he went straight to sleep, releasing the tension he had been holding, and quickly fell into a deep slumber. The next morning¡­ Lin Tianming opened his eyes, and after a night¡¯s sleep, the fatigue from the past half month vanished without a trace. He stretched leisurely and then got up and left the room, entering the small courtyard. His father had already come out of seclusion and was sitting in the courtyard drinking Spiritual Tea, seemingly waiting for him. Lin Tianming immediately approached and bowed deeply, ¡°Father, your son pays his respects!¡± Lin Xingrong smiled and motioned with his hand, ¡°Sit down, was your journey smooth?¡± Lin Tianming sat across from Lin Xingrong, and after pouring a cup of Spiritual Tea for his father, he said, ¡°To reply to father, the journey was quite smooth!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ family protocol is to return to clan lands once a year, and it hasn¡¯t even been half a year yet, did something happen?¡± Lin Xingrong asked, puzzled. Lin Tianming had anticipated this question and had nothing to conceal, especially from his father, who was one of the high-ranking members of the Lin Family and entitled to know the most classified information. Lin Tianming took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then began recounting the events of the past few months. Hearing of the bustling business at Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Xingrong became excited, and upon learning that Lin Shilu had nearly perished in the swamp, his face darkened with anxiety, he asked, ¡°How is your Fifteenth Grandfather now?¡± ¡°Father, Fifteenth Grandfather has already recovered a great deal, but he won¡¯t be able to fully recuperate in a short time; to completely recover, he will need at least a few months of dedicated cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming hastened to explain, putting Lin Xingrong at ease at last. After talking for nearly half an hour, Lin Xingrong finally understood the course of events and the reason for the rushed return. With the trip to Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming made another contribution, bringing back a plethora of treasures for the family with Lin Shilu, and making the business of Luoyun Pavilion so successful. As a father, his face beamed with pride seeing his son work hard and bring honor to the family. With that, Lin Xingrong became exhilarated. ¡°This is a matter of great importance. Tomorrow, I shall return to Green Bamboo Mountain with you, especially since it¡¯s been a long time since I last went back!¡± Lin Xingrong said. ¡°Good, we¡¯ll set off tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Tianming finished speaking and then took out the nine silver needles he had prepared and handed them to Lin Xingrong, saying, ¡°Father, this set of silver needle Magic Artifacts is part of my share. You are safeguarding our territory, and with this treasure, I am sure you will be safer.¡± Seeing that Lin Tianming was gifting him a Magic Artifact, Lin Xingrong felt touched but also somewhat embarrassed. As a father, he hadn¡¯t been able to help Lin Tianming much in recent years. Now, he often had to rely on his son¡¯s accomplishments. Despite coveting the Magic Artifact, he waved his hands and refused, saying, ¡°I have a Magic Artifact which I got from the Jin Family. The clan has allocated it to me. Although it is only Second Order Low Quality, it is enough for now. You should keep this set for yourself!¡± Seeing that Lin Xingrong refused to accept it, Lin Tianming knew his father was too proud to accept it. However, for the sake of his safety, he still wanted to persuade him further. After a moment of silence, an idea suddenly struck Lin Tianming, and he said with a bright smile, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve obtained two Magic Artifacts. The other one, the Thousand Beast Banner, is even more powerful than this set of silver needles. Plus, Fifteenth Grandfather custom-made a Second Order Medium Quality Tiangang Sword for me, so I truly don¡¯t need this one!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t take it, I¡¯ll gift it to Grandfather!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face flushed with color, and he grabbed the nine silver needles before saying in a pretentiously old-fashioned manner, ¡°Never mind, never mind, the old man has been living in the clan¡¯s land; he doesn¡¯t need such a fine Magic Artifact!¡± Seeing his strategy work, Lin Tianming¡¯s face blossomed with joy. He found his father very interesting: clearly caring about him a lot yet always coming across as remote and stern. However, with his grandfather, he could live off of his resources, never feeling that it was too much or feeling embarrassed. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s mischievous grin, Lin Xingrong chided him tersely, ¡°You little rascal, what are you laughing at?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ nothing¡­ nothing¡­¡± Lin Tianming quickly changed his expression, regaining his composure. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Lin Xingrong, holding the nine silver needles about a foot in length, examined them affectionately. Next to him, Lin Tianming, seeing his father¡¯s fondness for the Magic Artifact, in high spirits, then suggested, ¡°Father, this set of silver needle Magic Artifacts hasn¡¯t been named yet. Why don¡¯t you name it?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Xingrong fell into thought. After a few moments, he seemed to have an idea. ¡°This Magic Artifact is used for sneak attacks, extremely stealthy. When activated, it¡¯s without a shadow or a trace. How about calling it Shadowless Needle?¡± Remembering how Gu Tong had ambushed them, he hadn¡¯t reacted at all. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Shilu¡¯s powerful Divine Sense detecting something amiss a step ahead and pushing him away at the critical moment, he certainly would have lost his life. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Shadowless Needle¡­ truly without shadow or trace!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Then it¡¯s settled!¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Shadowless Needle!¡± Lin Xingrong said excitedly. With the name of the Magic Artifact decided upon, Lin Tianming and his son exchanged a smile and then began to chat over tea. The father and son enjoyed their conversation immensely, their relationship drawing closer. It was rare for the two of them to sit down together like this, but as their encounters increased, their bond seemed to grow tighter. Now they could even share jokes, which would have been impossible in the past. After chatting for half an hour, Lin Xingrong finally got up, ready to leave. After all, he was to return to Green Bamboo Mountain with Lin Tianming, so the affairs here had to be properly arranged. ¡°Father, this Qiuxing Fruit works wonders. Give it a try!¡± Lin Tianming called out to Xingrong, who, with a single wave of his hand, caught two Qiuxing Fruits in his hand. Lin Xingrong didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and put the Qiuxing Fruits into his storage bag, giving a smile before turning to leave. Lin Tianming chuckled, watching his father leave the cave. Afterward, he returned to the training room. The next morning¡­ As the daylight dawned with the morning glow piercing through the clouds, and the warm sunlight shone upon the land, the leaves of the Golden Flower Trees swayed in the breeze. Within the peaceful Golden Horn Mountain, Lin Tianming and his son left the mountain gate quietly, slipping away unnoticed. Sitting astride the Purple Gold Eagle, they flew into the clouds, turning into a fading shadow heading south towards Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 228: 172 Decision_1 Chapter 228: Chapter 172 Decision_1 Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain¡­ Lin Tianming and his companion were seated on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, descending at the gate of their clan¡¯s mountain. The disciples of the Enforcement Hall responsible for patrolling the gate immediately approached to greet them. Lin Tianming and his companion were in great spirits, having successfully returned to the gate with immense wealth, allowing them to relax their tense minds. Lin Tianming raised his hand to send out a transmission, then instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to leave on its own; the two of them flew together to the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the peak of the main mountain, within Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. He sat on a straw mat with hands clasped in prayer, entering a deep state of cultivation¡ªas such closed-door cultivation was a routine affair for him. As the clan member with the highest cultivation, he had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level two years ago with the aid of a Hun Tian Pill. As the clan¡¯s power grew stronger and more clan members reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, there was less need for him to handle everything personally. He only needed to make major decisions with the Shi generation clan members and to hold the general direction of the clan¡¯s development. As for specific execution, that was carried by the Xing generation clan members. Thus, a few of the Shi generation clan members, led by him, rarely had idle time and also began to cultivate diligently. When the restriction flashed, a transmission entered the training room. Lin Shikang opened his eyes and saw the transmission sent by Lin Tianming, revealing a puzzled expression. At the same time, Clan Leader Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong felt equally baffled by Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission. With a puzzled look, Lin Shikang released a Law Decree after finishing his cultivation and stood up, stepping out of the training room. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his son had not gone directly back to their own cave dwelling but had come to his small courtyard to wait while drinking tea. Upon seeing Lin Shikang come out, both of them quickly got up to pay their respects with a salute. Lin Shikang laughed heartily, gesturing them to sit down, and then asked, ¡°Xing Rong, why did you and your son come back so suddenly?¡± ¡°Third Uncle, it¡¯s great news!¡± Lin Xingrong said impatiently. Hearing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face brightened with joy as he eagerly inquired, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the good news? Speak up and let me hear it!¡± Just then, hearty laughter echoed through the courtyard. ¡°What¡¯s this good news? Why such an upheaval?¡± Before the words were finished, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong stepped into the courtyard together, followed by Lin Xingping. Seeing Lin Tianming and his son returning together, Lin Shigong¡¯s face was filled with smiles. Lin Tianming and his son quickly stood up to greet them, then exchanged pleasantries with Lin Xingping. Lin Xingping replied with a smile, then asked, ¡°Tian Ming, how was everything at the market? Tianhong didn¡¯t slack off, did he?¡± Hearing Lin Xingping¡¯s caring words, Lin Tianming completely understood; after all, it was Lin Tianhong¡¯s first time going to Qianchuan Market and the first time leaving the clan for an extended period. As his father, it was only natural for him to constantly worry about Lin Tianhong. Thinking of how Lin Tianhong, although toiling hard at alchemy in the market, had not neglected his cultivation, and even improved his alchemy skills while earning a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, Lin Tianming anticipated great growth. With that in mind, Lin Tianming spoke reassuringly, ¡°Uncle Xing Ping, rest assured, everything at the market is fine. Second Brother has been very diligent, dedicating himself daily to alchemy and cultivation. I believe it won¡¯t be many years before he can impact the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± Relieved to hear about Lin Tianhong from Lin Tianming, Lin Xingping replied with a laugh, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear¡­ Having Tian Ming as a role model, that kid has finally learned to put in some effort!¡± In response to Lin Xingping¡¯s praise, Lin Tianming exchanged pleasantries before they all took their seats. In the courtyard, six clan members were now present. Except for Lin Shilu and Lin Xingyuan, who were each in different markets, all the Foundation Establishment clan members of the family had arrived. Seeing everyone assembled, Clan Leader Lin Shihua, who could hardly wait any longer, urgently asked about the purpose behind Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission to them. Seeing the eager eyes of the clan members upon him, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare beat around the bush; he started by recounting his entry into Qianchuan Market. Knowing the business at Luoyun Pavilion on its opening day was booming, everyone was excited. Lin Shikang thanked Ye Pinghai for his help while also praising their accomplishments. On the side, Lin Shihua expressed his thoughts, ¡°It seems the clan¡¯s decision to develop in Qianchuan Market was correct. Now that Luoyun Pavilion has established itself, the clan has gained an additional source of income!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ the Luoyun Mountain Range is too small, and the traffic in Luoyun Market is limited. Simply relying on Luoyun Market, the clan won¡¯t advance any further!¡± Lin Shigong joined in agreement. Lin Tianming nodded, feeling that the family¡¯s decision was indeed wise. Although the clan had integrated Luoyun Market and secured a greater dividend right, bringing in a considerable profit over the year¡ªmore than at the peak of the Jin Family¡ªit wasn¡¯t enough. But as the clan¡¯s territory and the scale of clan members were rapidly growing, relying solely on the wealth source of Luoyun Market couldn¡¯t support them for long. Taking advantage of the clan¡¯s current capital to consider the problems they would face decades later and to take precautions would certainly not be mistaken. Seeing Lin Tianming lost in thought, Lin Shigong drew him back, urging him to continue with the rest of the story. The mention of Qingxu Snake Eggs and the acquisition of three Qiuxing Fruit Trees left the clan members shocked but then overjoyed. When they learned that Lin Shilu had been gravely injured by Gu Tong, everyone¡¯s face turned pale with shock, aside from Lin Xingrong, who already knew. ¡°What? Shilu was injured?¡± Lin Shigong asked anxiously, his expression not much different from Lin Xingrong¡¯s when he first heard the news. Seeing their concern, Lin Tianming did not delay and quickly shared the details of Lin Shilu¡¯s injury. Chapter 229: 172 Decision_2 Chapter 229: Chapter 172 Decision_2 ¡°Elders, Fifteenth Grandfather was seriously injured, but fortunately, his foundation was not damaged. With half a year of quiet cultivation, he should fully recover!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone let out a long sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from their hearts, and their complexions returned to normal. Lin Tianming did not say much and simply took out several storage bags and laid them out one by one in front of everyone. Then he took out the account book that recorded their contents and handed it to Lin Shihua. At the same time, he pointed to the storage bags and explained the details and quantities of the treasures inside. It took a full quarter of an hour to clearly explain the origins and circumstances of these items. Lin Shihua and the others also took turns examining the storage bags, their faces filled with uncontainable excitement. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and said with excitement, ¡°Tianming, you and the others have made another great contribution!¡± Lin Shihua also laughed heartily, saying with emotion, ¡°Yes¡­ Luoyun Pavilion has been successfully launched, the business is booming, and we¡¯ve obtained so many treasures. Our Lin Family¡¯s foundation has been further strengthened. We are truly on the rise!¡± Remembering the struggles of the clan decades ago, the remaining members grew contemplative, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber for a moment. Lin Tianming was deeply moved, understanding the sentiments of his elders, and he felt a measure of consolation when thinking of the rewards gleaned from each life-and-death struggle. A quarter of an hour later, the clan members had regained their calm and began to discuss what to do with this batch of treasures. As the stabilizing force of the Lin Family, Lin Shikang scanned the room before asking, ¡°What do you all think about this matter?¡± After a moment of thought, several clan members began to voice their opinions, offering suggestions and strategic reforms for the family. Seeing that Lin Shihua had not yet spoken, Lin Shikang asked, ¡°Shihua, as the Clan Leader, what are your thoughts?¡± Lin Shihua was silent for a moment before saying, ¡°The success of Luoyun Pavilion in securing a stable position in the market is of utmost importance for the Lin Family. In the next few years, if all goes well, we can expect a steady income of spirit stones, ensuring that the family won¡¯t have to worry about resources for the time being!¡± ¡°Looking at our current situation, the family is not short on resources. It¡¯s time to focus on nurturing some of our people, to help them accelerate their cultivation!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang looked toward Lin Tianming, his thoughts unreadable. Lin Shikang always held Lin Tianming in high regard, and since Tianming always made incisive and correct judgments, his opinions naturally carried significant weight. ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s hear your thoughts!¡± Lin Shikang asked, his eyes filled with expectation. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming was calm, lost in thought. He had many ideas about the development of the clan. The clan used to be too poor, and the treatment of the clanspeople was not high, which was an unfortunate reality. After the great battle of the Luoyun Mountain, the family made several changes. They organized the Monster Hunting Squad, improved the basic welfare of the clanspeople, and even increased the Merit Points for various clan services significantly, greatly enhancing their enthusiasm. Over the years, the results had been quite remarkable, with a significant increase in the number of Foundation Establishment Clan Members and an overall improvement in the cultivation of Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. However, such development made it difficult to nurture High Order Cultivators. To go further, it was necessary to select several individuals with exceptional talents for intensive training, putting the best steel to its best use, to achieve greater returns. He had these thoughts not out of any selfishness but simply from considering the best interests of the family. Considering these points, Lin Tianming spoke frankly, ¡°My opinion aligns with the Clan Leader¡¯s. Currently, the family has sufficient resources and income. In terms of nurturing the junior members with higher talents, it is possible to ramp up efforts. Only with more Foundation Establishment Cultivators can we obtain more resources and a greater say!¡± ¡°By doing so, we can choose a few key individuals from among the clanspeople for intensive cultivation, making preparations to break through to the Golden Core Stage!¡± After he spoke, the room fell into a deep silence as everyone considered his words. In the past, the situation was different; the family was too poor, and the goal was merely to develop Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to stand firm against fierce enemies on Luoyun Mountain. The Golden Core Stage was an unimaginably distant dream. Now, the times had changed. Within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family held an overwhelming advantage and had also established a foothold in Qianchuan Market. With both the internal and external situations unfolding favorably, the Golden Core Stage no longer seemed impossible under such fortuitous conditions. ¡°Golden Core Stage¡­¡± Lin Shikang murmured softly to himself, his eyes revealing a longing gaze as they became fervent. Seeing this, Lin Shihua also spoke up, ¡°Indeed¡­ Now is the time for the family to look further ahead. The difficulty of reaching the Golden Core Stage is evident¡ªonly five Golden Elixir Forces in the entire Wei Kingdom,¡± he said. The others nodded in agreement, seeming to concur with this sentiment. After all, in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, aside from the three Great Sects, there were only two Golden Core Families. This showed the immense difficulty of achieving the Golden Core, difficult by hundreds of times more than Foundation Establishment, requiring not only a great deal of resources but also talent and opportunity! If the family were to return to its former glory, it was imperative to marshal the entire clan¡¯s efforts, focusing on nurturing the promising individuals to potentially take that step forward. After a moment of silence, with no one else speaking, Lin Shikang spoke up, ¡°Tianming¡¯s view is certainly logical. I agree with his suggestion. What do you all think? If there¡¯s no objection, let¡¯s settle on this!¡± ¡°I agree!¡± Lin Shihua said, taking a stance. ¡°I agree too,¡± Lin Shigong naturally wouldn¡¯t oppose and immediately voiced his opinion. ¡­ Soon, the rest followed suit, unanimously agreeing, and the matter was officially decided. Chapter 230: 172 Decision_3 Chapter 230: Chapter 172 Decision_3 Lin Shikang nodded with satisfaction before speaking with a firm attitude, ¡°Now that this matter is settled, let¡¯s decide on the number and the candidates for key training!¡± ¡°As for the number, three from the Foundation Establishment Stage and seven from the Qi Refinement Realm, forming the Family Elite Ten. They will be exempt from some clan duties and focus solely on cultivation. The first among our clansmen to reach the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, the family will unconditionally provide them with one Foundation Establishment Pill.¡± ¡°For the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, upon reaching the late stages of the Foundation Establishment, they will be given a Hun Tian Pill. As for breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, that is still a bit far off. Moreover, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are not something that can be obtained with Spirit Stones.¡± Before he finished speaking, the others nodded their heads in agreement. At this moment, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, as he had not expected Lin Shikang to make such a decisive decision on the matter. Lin Shigong was not surprised at all. He understood Lin Shikang¡¯s character quite well. Though usually reticent and unassuming, he had more determination than Lin Shihua, which was why he managed to reach the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment within a mere century. ¡°Third brother, how will we select the candidates?¡± Lin Shihua asked. Lin Tianming then took over the conversation and said, ¡°Amongst the Qi Refinement Realm clansmen, we¡¯ll set the age limit at sixty. We¡¯ll choose from the clansmen above the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, selecting the youngest clansman from each level as key training targets. Starting from a subsidy of one hundred Spirit Stones, for each level, we will add an additional hundred Spirit Stones. This will greatly increase their enthusiasm for cultivation and help accelerate their progress!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, Lin Shikang¡¯s eyes brightened. This method of Lin Tianming¡¯s would sufficiently motivate the clansmen; to receive the subsidy, they would need to outpace their peers in cultivation, and competition among them would be more effective than anything else. With this in mind, he then added, ¡°From the Fourth Level to Great Perfection, there are exactly seven realms, which is indeed fair. However, we must set a limit as well: we¡¯ll settle accounts once a year. Those who are already enjoying support must wait until the end of the current year¡¯s benefits before being replaced.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, otherwise it would be too chaotic!¡± Lin Shihua said with a nod and a smile. Lin Shikang chuckled, then added, ¡°As for the candidates from the Foundation Establishment Stage, it will be Shi Lu and Tian Ming, father and son, with an annual subsidy of five thousand Spirit Stones each. When we have more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, we will need to select three candidates from the first, fourth, and seventh levels. And this policy will take effect from the beginning of next year!¡± ¡°Moreover, to prevent clansmen from resorting to unscrupulous methods for the sake of cultivation progress, leading to instability in their realms, we can set up a sparring system, where no external means are allowed. The winner will receive the family subsidy!¡± Lin Shihua nodded and said, ¡°If someone is less skilled, resorts to trickery and cunning, they will be directly disqualified from the benefits of this policy!¡± Everyone nodded their heads, made a few more comments, and then decided on the outcome of this matter. With the family policy matters concluded, Lin Shikang was in high spirits. He then instructed Lin Shihua, ¡°Shihua, make sure to inform all the clansmen about the Family Elite Ten as soon as possible. There¡¯s only a little more than half a year left until the beginning of next year, which is enough time for them to prepare!¡± ¡°Besides, the Qingxu Snake Eggs that Tian Ming brought back need to be hatched immediately, and the Qiuxing Fruit needs to be transplanted as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Good¡­ I will arrange this right away!¡± Lin Shihua replied with a nod. After finishing, Lin Tianming remembered the words entrusted to him by Lin Shilu and then said, ¡°Third Grandfather, Fifteenth Grandfather asked me to convey that in a few days when I return to Qianchuan Market, Uncle Xing Ping will accompany me to the market for cultivation and to also prepare for taking over the guard duties there.¡± ¡°Good¡­ You and Shi Lu have been on guard for several years; it¡¯s time for you to come back and focus on your cultivation!¡± ¡°Xing Ping, in a few days, you will depart with Tian Ming; in a few years, that place will rely on you!¡± Lin Xingping stood up and cupped his fists, agreeing to the arrangement. With all matters settled, the assembled clansmen also rose to take their leave, exchanging fist salutes before departing in their respective directions. After leaving the courtyard, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping agreed on the day of departure, then returned to his father¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 231: 173: Hot Discussion_1 Chapter 231: Chapter 173: Hot Discussion_1 After leaving Lin Shikang¡¯s courtyard, the grandfather and his two grandchildren returned to the father¡¯s cave dwelling. The mother and sister had already received news of their return to the family, and they both came out of seclusion to prepare for a reunion. The five family members sat in the courtyard chatting idly; it had been half a year since they last saw each other. The mother¡¯s cultivation level was still at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement. With her Four Spirit Roots talent, if not for the aid of Pozhang Pills, breaking through just by meditating would take at least several years. The sister had undergone considerable changes over the years. Now twenty-four years old, she had grown tall and slender, her features growing increasingly delicate and charming, and her personality had matured significantly. She always regarded her brother as a role model, aspiring to follow in his footsteps. With a plentiful supply of elixirs for cultivation and her penchant for adventure, she had repeatedly joined peers from the clan in monster hunting squads for trials in the mountain range. Over the years, her cultivation level had soared, reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. Her strength firmly placed her among the top three female cultivators of her generation in the clan, and alongside Lin Tianqin, she was known as one of the Lin Family¡¯s two golden flowers. As their cultivation levels grew higher, the siblings spent more time in secluded cultivation and rarely saw each other. Lin Tianming looked at his sister and teased her, saying, ¡°Tian Yue, you¡¯ve done well for yourself over these years, daring to venture into the Luoyun Mountain Range?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming looking down on her, Lin Tianyue was reluctant to accept it and pouted in retort. ¡°Brother¡­¡± ¡°We are all from the same family. You dared to guard Qingfeng Town alone at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, and even ventured into the mountains. I¡¯m already at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, and I have clan members teaming up with me, so why can¡¯t I enter the mountains for trials?¡± Lin Tianming was suddenly at a loss for words, not expecting his sister to rebut him so fiercely and without reservation. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Recognizing his sister¡¯s courage and her fondness for trial through combat, Lin Tianming actually approved. It was for the best, lest she waste her talent and become someone with cultivation but no real strength. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt quite relieved. Seeing Lin Tianming no longer continuing the conversation, Lin Shigong chuckled and then brought up the subject of the Family Elite Ten. ¡°Tian Yue, your brother is a key cultivation focus in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and there are seven spots in the Qi Refinement Realm. The youngest among the Qi Refinement Seventh Level clan members gets an annual subsidy of four hundred Spirit Stones from the family, which is no small amount,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, you need to work hard and strive to secure one of those spots. With that, you can advance your cultivation faster,¡± added Lin Xingrong. ¡°Grandfather, is that true?¡± Lin Tianyue asked excitedly. Faced with Lin Tianyue¡¯s eager question, Lin Tianming interrupted and affirmed, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. The three of us just came out from Third Grandfather¡¯s cave dwelling, where we were discussing the Family Elite Ten affairs. I expect the family will officially announce it tomorrow.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianyue, upon hearing this significant news, became extremely excited and started dancing around. Previously, her cultivation speed had been quite fast; if she could be selected for the Family Elite Ten, it would not only bring honor to her grandparents but also allow her to rapidly increase her cultivation with the help of the family¡¯s rewards. At this thought, Lin Tianyue¡¯s excitement was uncontainable, and a confident smile was always present on her face. Lin Tianming and the others, seeing her smile, were influenced by her joy, and each of them showed a look of contentment. Indeed, once the family policy was implemented, it would surely cause quite a stir. After all, a Qi Refinement Fourth Level got a subsidy of a hundred Spirit Stones a year, which was already a considerable sum. Many Loose Cultivators in the Late Stage of Qi Refining didn¡¯t even have a few hundred Spirit Stones to their name. And the Lin Family Members, by displaying their talent, could earn a hefty sum of Spirit Stones from the competition. It was expected that no clan member would forgo this significant benefit. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but conjecture that with this policy, after a few years of competition, the overall strength of the family would surely rise to another level. Regaining his composure, the mother also got up and left to prepare the evening meal, while Lin Tianming and the grandparents leisurely discussed their respective cultivation progress. The grandfather had long been living with the Lin Family, without major affairs to attend to, almost never leaving clan territory. In terms of cultivation, he seemed to be aware of his limited talent, dedicating a few days each month to teaching the Family Alchemists, focusing most of his energy on nurturing clan members and on the Alchemy Dao. Only with the remaining time did he go into secluded cultivation. Though his advancement was slow, he led a comfortable life. Lin Xingrong¡¯s situation was much simpler. In the past, he spent years busy with family affairs at Luoyun Market, but recently he had more leisure time. When in charge of guarding Golden Horn Mountain, he could cultivate wholeheartedly. With the help of a substantial amount of elixirs, his cultivation level had rapidly advanced, and he was the first among the subsequent Foundation Establishers to break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. That night, the family of five sat down together for a meal and, after a satisfactory dinner, they parted ways. Lin Tianming returned to his own cave dwelling and lay sprawled on his stone bed. He pondered the arrangements for the future. He planned to rest for a few days and then set off again, returning to Qianchuan Market. There, he would start concocting Dragon Bone Pills, and afterward, with the help of Sparse Star Fruits, he would strive to break through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer as soon as possible. Before he knew it, the one lost in thoughts drifted off to sleep. ¡­ The next morning, large notices were posted prominently in front of the doors of various major family institutions. In front of the Family Affairs Hall, at a peak time when clan members were coming and going, the posted notice was drawing a large crowd of onlookers. Seeing the gathering crowd, some family members who were passing by were drawn over, soon amassing a large group of onlookers. In front of the notice, every clan member carefully scrutinized the golden characters, and they were quickly shocked by what they saw. One Qi Refinement Fourth Level family member seemed somewhat incredulous. Looking at the stunned crowd, he said, Chapter 232: 173 Discussion_2 Chapter 232: Chapter 173 Discussion_2 ¡°Do you think the announcement about the Family Elite Ten is true?¡± ¡°Nonsense, how could it not be true? Everything¡¯s written so clearly on the notice; is there even need for doubt?¡± ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s blatantly posted right at the entrance of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, how could it be false?¡± ¡­ As the crowd regained their composure, they discussed the matters mentioned in the announcement animatedly. The first person who spoke was visibly excited as he said to a fellow clan member: ¡°The clan¡¯s subsidy is really not small, one hundred Spirit Stones a year for the Fourth Level Qi Practice, plus the basic stipend provided by the family. In one year, one can save up a substantial amount of Spirit Stones and quickly enhance one¡¯s cultivation.¡± But then, thinking of his own age¡ªover forty and still at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement¡ªhe said with a mix of helplessness and regret: ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that with my talent and cultivation, there¡¯s absolutely no chance of obtaining a seat.¡± ¡°Yeah! Our talent destines us to have no part in such benefits!¡± said another clan member who was at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement. At this time, a clan member at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement spoke up. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the family distribute these Spirit Stones evenly, like last time, to enhance the basic welfare and mission rewards? That way, we could also benefit, right?¡± Upon hearing these words, many in the crowd changed their expressions. Lin Xingqu, who was standing among them, immediately interrupted: ¡°Mind your words!¡± ¡°You should know that the family has already raised the basic welfare of clan members twice. As far as I know, our family¡¯s basic welfare is much higher than that of other families in Luoyun Mountain. Even the previous Jin Family is far behind!¡± ¡°Indeed, being born into the Lin Family is already a huge stroke of luck, how can you still expect absolute equality?¡± ¡°Keep in mind that Tianming is only in his twenties and has already reached Foundation Establishment, and he¡¯s even a Second Order Alchemist. He has made so many contributions to the family. Should a Hidden Dragon like him be treated the same as you?¡± Immediately, several clan members with the Xing generation sharply rebuked the one who made the suggestion. He left the place in shame, unable to bear the embarrassment. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this turn of events, Lin Xingqu then spoke, ¡°My fellow clan members, there¡¯s no need to be disheartened. Having a high talent simply means getting a head start. With the right opportunities, those with lesser talents may not fall far behind those prodigies!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± another clan member chimed in. ¡°Many Loose Cultivators with lesser talents have also managed to achieve Foundation Establishment, and even those who have broken through to the Golden Core Stage. So there¡¯s no reason for us to waver in our determination to pursue the path!¡± Energized by these words, some of the disheartened clan members picked themselves up, resolving to work hard at their cultivation regardless of whether they could be selected as one of the Qi Refining Seven Champions. As some clan members left, news about the Family Elite Ten quickly spread throughout the entire family, becoming a hot topic of discussion. And some clan members who had different views even took their grievances to Clan Leader Lin Shihua, hoping the family would treat everyone fairly. Almost all of these dissenting clan members had poor talent, and were usually lazy, having contributed little to the family. Lin Shihua spared no courtesy for these high-minded clan members, and after a severe scolding, they all fell in line. With this lesson before them, those who had been waiting to see how things would unfold no longer dared to voice their objections. After all, the upper echelons of the family were resolute in their stance, and with their cultivation, these onlookers couldn¡¯t stir up any trouble. One morning, Lin Tianming emerged from his cave dwelling and made his way to the Elders¡¯ Council. Along the way, he encountered many clan members, which caused quite a stir. Many young cultivators of the family had heard of the reputation of the family¡¯s foremost talent but had never seen him in person. Lin Tianming greeted the clan members and encouraged some of the younger ones before leaving with a breezy demeanor, leaving only his dashing figure behind. It didn¡¯t take long for him to arrive at the Elders¡¯ Council. He was mainly there today for the Qingxu Snake Eggs and the Qiuxing Fruit Tree. Before departing from Qianchuan Market, Lin Shilu had repeatedly emphasized the importance of overseeing this matter. He also wanted to visit the family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden, so he came to see the Clan Leader. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shihua was quite pleased. Knowing his purpose, he immediately agreed to accompany him to the Spiritual Medicine Garden. The two left the Elders¡¯ Council Hall and soon arrived at a secluded ravine in the back mountain. Looking at the valley teeming with bird songs and wildflowers, Lin Tianming scrutinized the place carefully. As it was his first visit to the Spiritual Medicine Garden, he was quite curious about what it was like inside. Lin Shihua chuckled, then took out a token, imbued it with a Law Decree, and suddenly an invisible, intangible barrier at the edge of the valley revealed a stone gate. Feeling the rich Spiritual Energy and scent of medicines wafting towards them, Lin Shihua stepped in, walking and explaining: ¡°Tianming, our family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden is located in this ravine. It is protected by wards all year round, and there are also several clan members who guard it day and night.¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded and showed an expectant look. In the Cultivation World, each family or sect places great importance on their Treasure Vaults and Spiritual Medicine Gardens. They are highly valuable and are usually given the best protection. Lin Tianming thought to himself that the Lin Family must have a lot of precious items, given the resources they had acquired over the years. After a short while, the two reached deep inside the valley. In front of them was a large area of mounds and expansive Spirit Fields. The squared Spirit Fields were arranged neatly, and a vast array of Spiritual Medicine Materials were planted within. Gazing out, he saw Golden Bull Grass, Earth Mysterious Mushrooms, Golden Flower Treasures, Mystical Vine Flowers¡­ Chapter 233: 173: Hot Discussion_3 Chapter 233: Chapter 173: Hot Discussion_3 There was no shortage of main medicines, ranging from the most basic Fasting Pills to Third Order Spiritual Medicines. Hundreds of types of Spiritual Medicine Materials were categorized and planted in the planned Spirit Fields. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the leaves of the Spiritual Medicines to flutter and sending a rich medicinal fragrance throughout the entire valley. ¡°Hidden Spirit Grass!¡± Lin Tianming discovered the young Hidden Spirit Grass he had originally obtained, growing in the place with the richest Spiritual Energy. However, its medicinal age was still too short. To reach a medicinal age of two hundred years, which was necessary for refining Minor Foundation Building Pills, it would take almost a hundred years. Not far from there, a large amount of Third Order Spiritual Medicines were growing, many of which were precious varieties obtained from the Jin Family. Looking at the hundreds of High Order Spiritual Medicines, as well as a large amount of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, Lin Tianming was thrilled. This was just a portion of the Lin Family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Materials. In the clan lands of the Jin Family and the Wu Family, there were two sizable Spiritual Medicine Gardens. However, those gardens planted common varieties, and except for the Spiritual Medicines and Fruits that couldn¡¯t be transplanted, the slightly more precious ones were all gathered here. Regaining their composure, the two of them walked through the medicinal fields toward the hillocks deep in the valley. Upon reaching the depths of the valley, the terrain was different from the medicinal fields. The fields were flat and delicate, whereas the hillocks appeared naturally formed. Besides that, the soil in the medicinal fields was dark brown, while that on the hillocks was distinctly yellowish-green. Looking up, each hillock had various quantities and varieties of Spirit Plants. The Jade Spirit Fruit Tree that he had obtained earlier was also growing on one of the hillocks, its green leaves looking healthy and thriving. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, several clan members were seen holding tools and digging holes in the hillocks, seemingly transplanting something. The two of them didn¡¯t stay and threaded through the paths between the hillocks, arriving where several people were working. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, the busy workers promptly stopped what they were doing and jogged over to greet them. Lin Shihua acknowledged their greetings with a nod, and then took out three Xingxing Fruit Trees and placed them in front of the workers. ¡°Xing¡¯an, these three Xingxing Fruit Trees are quite important and very precious. They need to be transplanted immediately. Take two people and start on this now!¡± Lin Xing¡¯an, the leader, nodded and instructed his team to carry the Xingxing Fruits to a bare hillock. Feeling the rich Spiritual Energy of the place, he waved his Spiritual Artifact in hand and dug a deep pit on the hillock. After that, he took out dozens of Spirit Stones and threw them all into the deep pit before placing the Xingxing Fruit Tree inside and covering it with soil. After transplanting the Xingxing Fruit Tree, Lin Xing¡¯an clasped his hands and cast a Five Elements Spell, summoning a large cloud overhead that irrigated the tree thoroughly with rain before he finished his work. Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua watched the whole process, with Shihua explaining along the way. ¡°Planting Spiritual Medicines and transplanting Spirit Plants is not particularly difficult, as long as there are good Spirit Fields and Spirit Land, you should have no problems. The main thing is long-term maintenance, which requires investing a large number of Spirit Stones to increase the Spiritual Energy and periodically checking the growth of the Spirit Plants, ensuring timely exposure to sunlight and rain. It¡¯s a long-term process!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, quickly grasping the procedures. Whether it was Spiritual Medicine Materials or Spirit Fruit Trees, the requirements for the medicinal fields and Spirit Land were quite demanding. For several years after transplantation, they needed a lot of resources and maintenance to survive. However, once they made it through the first few years, the subsequent period would become much easier. Half a day went by quickly, and the three Xingxing Fruit Trees were successfully transplanted. After giving a few instructions and telling Lin Xing¡¯an to take good care of them, Lin Shihua left the Spiritual Medicine Garden with Lin Tianming. Chapter 234: 174 Golden Core Duel_1 Chapter 234: Chapter 174 Golden Core Duel_1 Having left the Spiritual Medicine Garden, Lin Tianming and his companion walked and chatted. Although Lin Xing¡¯an¡¯s cultivation talent was only average, his gift for planting Spiritual Medicines was exceptional. The survival rate of the young spiritual medicine plants and various spirit vegetation under his care was extremely high, which was considered a unique technical talent within the family. Lin Shihua introduced him to the scale and planting methods of the Spiritual Medicine Garden along the way, which excited Tianming greatly. According to him, the higher the grade of the transplanted Spiritual Medicines and Fruits, the better the soil containing Spiritual Energy needed to be; this was why Spirit Stones had to be added to the spiritual soil. Following the end of the battle at Luoyun Mountain, the scale of the Spiritual Medicine Garden had exploded, even harboring a large number of Third Order Spiritual Medicines. The enormous amount of Spiritual Energy required for the growth of so many medicines could no longer be satisfied by a Second Order low-grade Spirit Gathering Array. The level of the Spirit Gathering Array in the family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden was too low. It was the same array which the ancient ancestor had asked someone to help set up when the family was founded, and it hadn¡¯t been upgraded in hundreds of years. Thus, the act of adding Spirit Stones to the soil to temporarily alleviate the issue of insufficient Spiritual Energy was a helpless move. At this point, Tianming inquired, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, does our family have any promising Array Masters?¡± Seeing him ask this question, Lin Shihua¡¯s bitter face tinged red, and soon after he sighed with emotion. ¡°There¡¯s not much hope in the Xing generation, but there are two clansmen from the Tian generation who have fairly good talents in Formation. They have already become First Order Medium Grade Array Masters. However, this is because the earlier stages are not difficult. Whether they can break through to the Second Order is still hard to say.¡± ¡°Formation and Talisman Making have always been weak points for our family, which need long-term accumulation, and we need talented family members to explore it. However, we have made significant progress in these past years, and I believe that in a few decades, we will produce our own Second Order Array Master.¡± Tianming nodded, understanding that this matter couldn¡¯t be rushed. As long as the family continued to develop in a positive direction, there would eventually be a clansman with outstanding talent in Formation to make up for the family¡¯s shortcoming. Without realizing it, after half a quarter of an hour of flying, following Lin Shihua, the two arrived at the entrance of a valley deep within Green Bamboo Mountain, not far from where Tianming often practiced his Divine Skills. However, in his more than twenty years of life, he had never been to this place. After all, Green Bamboo Mountain covered dozens of miles, and there were still many areas he had not set foot in. The two paused outside the valley, and then Lin Shihua took out a Token, entered a spell, and opened the barrier to enter the valley. Tianming stepped forward to follow, entering the valley with him. Inside the valley, the dense forest and rock walls became apparent, the terrain complex and ever-changing, with a plethora of mundane wild animals running about. Seeing this, Shihua laughed heartily and began to explain. ¡°Tianming, this is the family¡¯s Spirit Beast Garden. The Soul-eating Spider almost lives here as well. Apart from it, the rest are mundane wild animals and some Low-order Monster Beasts, serving as its food.¡± Upon hearing these words, Tianming¡¯s interest soared. He had never seen the Soul-eating Spider itself, only hearing about it from other clan members. During the last battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, he was scavenging for treasures with Lin Shilu at Golden Horn Mountain and did not partake in the battle here; naturally, he could not witness its true form. Just then, a distinctive hissing sound came, and a giant spider appeared in front of the two. It was undoubtedly the Soul-eating Spider. The Soul-eating Spider moved its terrifying limbs, baring its fangs and claws at Tianming, giving him quite a scare. Seeing this, Shihua chuckled and took a few sections of Crimson Gold Snake corpses from his storage bag, tossing them in front of the spider. Only then did the Soul-eating Spider turn around, bite into a piece of Qingxu Serpent Meat, grabbed the remaining sections with its claws, and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Watching the direction in which the Soul-eating Spider disappeared, Shihua spoke up, ¡°The Soul-eating Spider was a Spirit Beast subdued by our ancient ancestor. At first, it was only at the initial stage of the Second Order. Although our ancient ancestor has been gone for hundreds of years and the Spirit Beast contract has expired, it did not leave the family. After hundreds of years of family provision, its grade has also significantly improved to the Second Order¡¯s late phase.¡± ¡°Now, even though the Soul-eating Spider has not taken a new master and is free, it has recognized the family and has even defended the family on multiple occasions. During the last battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, it was even seriously injured, but luckily in recent years, our family acquired plenty of Spiritual Objects, and it quickly recovered from its injuries.¡± At this, both became solemn. In the Cultivation World, it is not easy for Spirit Beasts to recognize a master. Once the master falls, and the Spirit Beast regains its freedom, most would leave without hesitation. It was rare to see a Spirit Beast like the Soul-eating Spider. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although it stayed with the family and accepted the resources provided by the family simply out of mutual needs, during times of family crisis, the Soul-eating Spider played a significant role. Just for this alone, the resources provided by the family were in no way wasted. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, how then should the Qingxu Snake Eggs be hatched? Why choose this place?¡± Tianming asked. Shihua frowned and replied without hesitation, ¡°We are here only to select a place for the Qingxu snakes. I have studied those Serpent Eggs for a whole night. They need a large amount of essence blood smeared on the eggshells, so that the hatched Qingxu snakes will be in tune with you and naturally attached to you.¡± ¡°Moreover, hatching a Spirit Beast is a long-term process. To meet the hatching requirements for these six Serpent Eggs, we¡¯ll also need a vast amount of treasures for assistance. At the very least, it will take several months to hatch.¡± Chapter 235: 174 Golden Core Duel_2 Chapter 235: Chapter 174 Golden Core Duel_2 Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming felt somewhat embarrassed. His knowledge about Spirit Beasts was limited to the basic information recorded in books, and he had not anticipated so many conditions. The value of these Serpent Eggs was not low, and once the hatchlings reached maturity, it would be equivalent to raising a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Even if he hadn¡¯t brought it up, the family elders wouldn¡¯t have overlooked such an important matter. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming did not ask further. The two made a round in the valley before returning to where they started. Lin Tianming actually found the valley quite to his liking. The enclosed area was not small, and it was home to a large number of common wild animals, making it very suitable for the existence of Spirit Beasts. Lin Tianming even secretly thought that if he stayed with the clan for a long time, he could send the Purple Gold Eagle in, and perhaps even mix in the Soul-eating Spider. Regaining his composure, the two left the valley together. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Walking along, Lin Shihua fully promised that he would definitely hatch the Qingxu Serpent as soon as possible. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt at ease. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lin Shihua, he returned to his cave dwelling first. There were still two days left before the day agreed with Lin Xingping to leave the clan. With nothing else to do, Lin Tianming entered the training room and began to cultivate. Two days later, in the early morning, on the plaza of the clan gate. Lin Tianming was the first to wait there. The Purple Gold Eagle stood by his side, nuzzling his clothes with its large beak in a pleasing manner. He waved his hand and took out two pieces of First Order Qingxu Serpent Meat, fed them to the Purple Gold Eagle, and finally calmed the greedy creature down. In a short while, his father and Lin Xingping arrived in step, landing before him. Lin Tianming immediately approached and gave them his respects. ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s no need for such formalities!¡± Lin Xingping said with a wave of his hand and a smile, apparently in a very good mood. His father chuckled, then took out two storage bags and a ledger, handing them to Lin Tianming, saying: ¡°The treasures in here are the clan¡¯s resources prepared for the operation of the Luoyun Pavilion. The quantity is considerable, so you must take good care of them!¡± ¡°Father, rest assured, your son will surely deliver these treasures intact to Qianchuan Market and hand them personally to Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a resolute expression. ¡°Brother Twelve, don¡¯t worry. With me and Tianming together, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems!¡± Lin Xingping also said, clasping his fist. Lin Xingrong nodded, glanced back at the clan grounds, then declared: ¡°Hmm¡­ Time is ticking on, let¡¯s set off!¡± Upon finishing, the three of them and the beast exited the protective clan formation. They then mounted the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, with the eagle carrying them northward. In less than two days, they smoothly arrived at Golden Horn Mountain. After a short rest overnight, Lin Xingrong watched the two leave until they disappeared into the northern sky, then he returned to his cave dwelling. Lin Tianming and the other sat on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, casually chatting as they felt the rushing mountains and rivers around them. Although he had traveled this route to Qianchuan Market several times and had never encountered any danger, Lin Tianming still did not dare to let down his guard. He took out a map and pointed to a mark on it, saying: ¡°Uncle, this journey is long. We should take turns being on alert!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingping naturally had no objections. He replied seriously: ¡°Of course. Although I have never been to Qianchuan Market, I gathered quite some information before leaving the clan. The Hengyang Mountain Range that we will pass through is not exactly peaceful, so being cautious can do no harm!¡± ¡°Yes, indeed¡­ But no need to be too nervous. A party with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators isn¡¯t one that is easily provoked!¡± Lin Tianming said with a light smile. ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± A party of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators ranks considerably high among the forces within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Unless there are life-and-death grudges, almost no one would provoke them. The two exchanged smiles, sitting on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back as they flew northward at high speed. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days passed¡­ At the border of the Hengyang Mountain Range and the Luoyang Mountain Range, in a tranquil valley. It was now evening, and Lin Tianming and his companion landed atop a mountain peak. Lin Tianming surveyed the thickly forested valley, then swept the area with his Divine Sense, and after confirming there was no danger around, he said: ¡°Uncle, let¡¯s rest here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow!¡± ¡°Good, after several days of travel, I¡¯m indeed a bit tired. Besides, since the Qianchuan Market is still at a distance, even if we travel all night, we can¡¯t reach it in a short time. Let¡¯s just rest here for the night!¡± Lin Xingping said with a smile. Once he had finished speaking, Lin Tianming took out the Earth Evil Sword and swiftly carved out a simple cave in a stone wall. After casually setting up a couple of concealment Illusion Techniques, the two of them entered, one after the other. They then sat down, preparing to meditate and cultivate. Before one Grand Circulation was complete, a thunderous noise suddenly filled the air, and the valley began to shake violently. The expressions of Lin Tianming and his companion changed; they quickly ended their cultivation and went to the cave entrance, cautiously checking the situation outside. By now, it was dark, and the night was shrouded in a dense fog, making it hard to discern the situation. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare use his Divine Sense, lest he be detected. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and looked towards two glowing masses in the distance, his face immediately turning pale. On two mountain peaks several miles away, two elders were fighting fiercely. One of them was wearing a golden Taoist robe with a sun pattern on his chest, exactly like the one on Li Xiuyuan¡¯s robe, clearly identifying him as a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect without a doubt. The other elder wore black and held a glittering golden mirror; when he cast a Law Decree, a silver-white beam of light shot out towards the Zhenyang Sect cultivator. The cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect was unruffled. He quickly took out a small umbrella and protected himself with it. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The beam of light hit the umbrella and exploded into a tremendous noise. Beneath the feet of the Zhenyang Sect cultivator, the ground suddenly split open, creating a crevice several zhang wide. The Zhenyang Sect cultivator¡¯s face darkened, and he immediately unleashed a sword strike, sending out a tremendous number of Sword Qi, beginning to counterattack. Sparks flew from the fierce exchange between the two, their brightness like the brilliance of the sun, illuminating a radius of several tens of miles as if it were daylight. Meanwhile, thunderous rumblings could be heard, and the earth shook violently. Based on the fluctuations from their battle, they were at least Golden Core Stage seniors. Lin Tianming watched with a solemn expression. Although he had been on the cultivation path for some time, this was the first occasion he had witnessed Golden Core Stage cultivators, and, moreover, his first time observing a duel. At this moment, he held his breath, not even daring to let out a sigh, his eyes fixated on the distant battle, his mind racing with thoughts. He had no idea why those two Golden Core Stage seniors were fighting, nor whether they had noticed them. They might have even already spotted them but simply didn¡¯t care about their presence. No matter what the possibility, if the seniors decided to cause trouble, their own levels of cultivation were completely incapable of handling it, and they could only pretend not to see and pray that the two would leave soon. After a short while, following a loud explosion, the elder in the black robe shouted angrily and alarmedly at the Zhenyang Sect cultivator: ¡°Chen Jingtian, do you really intend to fight to the death with me over a piece of the Mysterious Moon Order?¡± Upon hearing this, the cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect sneered, and then, with determination in his voice, said: ¡°Old Monster Gu, why waste time delaying? You are no match for me. Hand over the Mysterious Moon Order obediently, and I can let you leave. Otherwise, today might not end well for you!¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s impervious attitude, the cultivator surnamed Gu¡¯s face darkened as he took out a bead with a grey-white pattern and threw it straight at Chen Jingtian. Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression turned extremely grim as he hurriedly protected himself with the umbrella, then rapidly retreated. ¡°Boom¡­¡± When the grey-white bead exploded between them, the cultivator surnamed Gu struck out with another beam of light and fled westward without looking back. Chen Jingtian leaped to avoid the attack from the cultivator surnamed Gu and immediately pursued the fleeing cultivator. Before long, the land quieted down, and the night returned to normal. The two Golden Core cultivators had completely vanished without a trace. Chapter 236: 175 Chapter 236: 175 Within the Spartan cave abode, Lin Tianming and his companion dared not even let out a heavy breath. When the disturbance outside ceased and the darkness fell upon the land once again, the Golden Core Cultivator was nowhere to be seen. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They did not know how much time had passed with absolute silence surrounding them before Lin Tianming and his companion finally let out a sigh of relief and plopped down onto the ground. At this moment, Lin Xingping wore a puzzled expression. With his limited Divine Sense and lacking treasures like the Eye of Five Colors, he could only sense the outbreak of a fierce battle outside but knew none of the specifics. Yet with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming managed to glean some basic information about the battle. Based on the course of the battle and the conversation between the two Golden Core cultivators, it seemed that they fought over the Mysterious Moon Order, and eventually, the one surnamed Gu appeared to be outmatched by Chen Jingtian. In a desperate move, he used a grayish-white pearl to create an explosive distraction, allowing him a moment to flee in panic, while Chen, unwilling to let go of the Mysterious Moon Order, pursued relentlessly without a second thought. Lin Tianming thought to himself that if even Golden Core cultivators were willing to fight over the Mysterious Moon Order, the two tokens in his possession must be of immense value. As he speculated in secret, Lin Xingping beside him asked, ¡°Tian Ming, what was the cause of the commotion just now, and what was the outcome?¡± Lin Tianming regained his focus and replied, ¡°There was a battle between two Golden Elixir Experts. One of them was Chen Jingtian, a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect. The other, surnamed Gu, I¡¯ve never heard of before. There are no Golden Core Cultivators with the surname Gu in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, so he must not be from here!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingping¡¯s face showed a shocked expression. Golden Core Cultivators were absolute top-tier experts in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, often elusive and rarely engaging in open conflict. Such disregard for secrecy in battle was exceedingly rare. Lin Tianming, however, was much calmer by then and continued, ¡°The two Golden Core Cultivators fought several rounds, but the one surnamed Gu didn¡¯t seem to be a match for Chen Jingtian and ended up fleeing in a panic!¡± ¡°It¡¯s unclear why they appeared here or fought so fiercely, and the outcome remains unknown. But these matters are none of our concern!¡± Lin Xingping nodded, finally regaining his composure from the shock. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Lin Tianming spoke gravely, ¡°Uncle, whether those elders have discovered us or simply don¡¯t care about our presence, it doesn¡¯t matter. We can¡¯t stay here any longer. If they return and find us, it could spell trouble!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s serious words, Lin Xingping agreed there was a good chance of that happening and promptly said, ¡°At this moment, we can¡¯t worry about anything else. For safety¡¯s sake, we should leave immediately and travel through the night to reach Qianchuan Market as soon as possible!¡± With those words, Lin Tianming and his companion left the temporary cave abode and released their Purple Gold Eagle. Hopping onto its back, they turned into a shadow under the hazy moonlight and vanished into the valley. Days flew by, and with no other incidents on the way, they safely arrived on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. After placing the Purple Gold Eagle into the Spirit Beast Bag, they hurried to the market entrance, paid the entrance Spirit Stones, and entered the market. Stepping onto the Bluestone Street and into the market, they breathed a sigh of relief and headed straight for the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once home, Lin Shilu was deep in cultivation practice. Lin Tianming sent a message without disturbing him. A short while later, Lin Shilu emerged from the practice room, and they quickly stepped forward to greet him. Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion return safely pleased Lin Shilu greatly. ¡°Tian Ming, you¡¯ve returned rather swiftly. It hasn¡¯t even been a month, and you¡¯ve already made a round trip!¡± Lin Shilu said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming has some important matters to report to you!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming, usually so composed, being so cautious, Lin Shilu promptly invited them to sit and speak. The three sat in the courtyard, and Lin Tianming recounted everything they had seen and heard on their journey. Upon hearing the recount, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed dramatically, his face reflecting his shock. Although Lin Tianming was detailed in his recounting, he did not mention the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order. The fight over the token by the two Golden Core cultivators revealed the significance of the matter. For safety¡¯s sake, it was better that fewer people knew. ¡°Tian Ming, for the next few days, the two of you should avoid showing your faces, lest someone recognizes you and trouble arises!¡± Lin Shilu cautioned. Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, agreeing to seclude themselves for a period of time to let the issue pass. After temporarily setting aside the matter of the Golden Core cultivators¡¯ fight, Lin Tianming handed over the two storage bags brought from the family to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu took the storage bags, and after finalizing the transfer of an enormous amount of cultivation resources, Lin Tianming reported on the family¡¯s matters. Learning of the decision to nurture the Family Elite Ten, Lin Shilu was very pleased and agreed wholly with the strategy. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the subsidy for the Family Elite Ten will start next year. You and I will receive an allocation of five thousand Spirit Stones annually. Before leaving, Third Grandfather had instructed that if it¡¯s inconvenient to collect the subsidy from the family, we could take it from the profits of Luoyun Pavilion!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shilu nodded and, after instructing them to practice diligently, Lin Xingping was the first to rise and take his leave. After he had left, Lin Tianming set up a barrier to ensure privacy, then started speaking about the Mysterious Moon Order. Chapter 237: 175: Breakthrough to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment_2 Chapter 237: Chapter 175: Breakthrough to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment_2 ¡°` ¡°What? Those two Golden Core Cultivators actually came to blows over the Mysterious Moon Order?¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed. ¡°` ¡°` Although he had long suspected that the Mysterious Moon Order was no small matter, he had not expected that two Golden Core Cultivators would fight over it. With this development, the Mysterious Moon Order must be extremely important. ¡°` ¡°` Lin Tianming nodded, recalling the events, and then said, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what I¡¯m telling you is absolutely true. I was watching the battle from a distance and also vaguely heard what the Cultivator with the surname Gu said¡ªit was indeed about the Mysterious Moon Order without a doubt!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lin Shilu naturally did not doubt Lin Tianming¡¯s words and immediately said, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°It seems the Mysterious Moon Order really is extraordinary. The Zhenyang Sect must certainly know the purpose of the token. Even Golden Elixir Experts must take it seriously. Looking at this, the Mysterious Moon Order might soon come into use!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Lin Tianming nodded, somewhat excitedly saying, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s just that we don¡¯t know what level this Secret Realm is or what the entry conditions are!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s remark, Lin Shilu recalled the past and then spoke. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°This old man has consulted many texts before, and it is said that when an ownerless Secret Realm emerges, there will be a preparatory period before it officially opens. During this time, the entry restrictions can be discerned from the token allowing entrance!¡± ¡°` ¡°` As soon as his words fell, Lin Tianming eagerly asked, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Then by that logic, if even Golden Core Stage Cultivators can enter the Secret Realm, wouldn¡¯t we have slim hope even if we had the token?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Indeed, if truly even Golden Core Cultivators can enter, then those at the Foundation Establishment going in would surely be taking a near-certain death risk!¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°In that case, we can only hope that the Secret Realm is limited to those in the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refinement Realm; otherwise, we would have to hand over the Mysterious Moon Order to the Zhenyang Sect in exchange for some cultivation resources.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Having said that, even Lin Shilu showed a hint of worry in his voice. After all, even in the lowest Yellow Grade Secret Realm, the treasures within were extraordinary. Having obtained the Mysterious Moon Order, they would not give up on such a rare opportunity unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, they would opt to hand it over to the Zhenyang Sect. ¡°` ¡°` Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming felt helpless and could only pray for good luck to be able to enter the Secret Realm and explore it. ¡°` ¡°` Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s worried expression, Lin Shilu comforted him, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Tianming, the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order cannot be forced. If it¡¯s our chance, we won¡¯t give up. If not, it just means we were not fated for it, so there¡¯s no need to overthink it!¡± ¡°` ¡°` After nodding, Lin Tianming showed a slight smile and then said, ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, rest assured, Tianming understands. I plan to go into seclusion to cultivate during this period. Please keep an eye on the Mysterious Moon Order in secret. As soon as there is any news, immediately inform me!¡± ¡°` ¡°` After chatting idly for a bit longer, Lin Tianming prepared to stand up and take his leave. ¡°` ¡°` Before leaving, Lin Shilu repeatedly urged, ¡°The matter of the Mysterious Moon Order must not be revealed at all, and don¡¯t try to inquire about it everywhere. It¡¯s easy for people with motives to notice, and if it¡¯s discovered that we own the Mysterious Moon Order, it will definitely provoke other Cultivators to attempt to seize it. If the Zhenyang Sect becomes aware, the trouble will be even greater, and we might not find refuge anywhere in the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°` ¡°` Fully aware of the importance of this matter, Lin Tianming nodded, promising to keep it to himself. Then he bid farewell to Lin Shilu and returned to his own cultivation room. ¡°` ¡°` Once inside his cultivation room, he sat down cross-legged, contemplating his cultivation plan going forward. ¡°` ¡°` After much thought, he decided to enter closed-door cultivation to raise his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. The matter of the Dragon Bone Pill would be set aside for the time being. Currently, he had more than twenty Qiuxing Fruits, so there was no shortage of treasures needed for short-term cultivation. ¡°` ¡°` Having made up his mind, he began the Grand Circulation, waiting until his condition reached its peak before taking out a Qiuxing Fruit. ¡°` ¡°` Looking at the Qiuxing Fruit brimming with Spiritual Energy, a sight for sore eyes, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to swallow it whole. ¡°` ¡°` As the Spirit Fruit entered his mouth, a gentle energy quickly spread out, traveling along his meridians. ¡°` ¡°` Although this was already the fourth Qiuxing Fruit he had consumed, the tingling sense of satisfaction still brought him immense comfort. ¡°` ¡°` Feeling this special energy, he wasted no time, fully operating his cultivation technique to refine it¡ªturning the energy within the Qiuxing Fruit into gentle Spiritual Power, which ultimately converged in his Seven Sea Dantian. ¡°` ¡°` Time flew by, and thus a year passed. ¡°` ¡°` Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation room, he sat on the ground, his breathing steady and calm. ¡°` S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` Sensing the state of his entire body, Lin Tianming looked into his Seven Sea Dantian, where the abundant Spiritual Power was almost becoming liquid. The Spiritual Power within his Dantian was on the verge of overflowing. ¡°` His face was calm, and a trace of resolute determination shone from his eyes. For the past year, he had ingested a Qiuxing Fruit every month to cultivate, spending the remaining time meditating or crafting elixirs for the Luoyun Pavilion. Throughout this time, he had remained in the market district to cultivate, never venturing beyond his own doorsteps, embodying the essence of ascetic practice. In the past six months, he had several times forcefully suppressed his cultivation level. After half a year of tempering and settling, feeling that he could no longer hold back, he decided to break through in one fell swoop. Having made up his mind, he retrieved another Qiuxing Fruit and, without any hesitation, swallowed it in one gulp. As the Spirit Fruit dissolved in his mouth, he familiarly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it, and streams of gentle Spiritual Power flowed into his Qi Sea Dantian. Feeling that gentle Spiritual Power, he repeatedly washed against the barriers of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Time slowly passed, and three days later, the potency of the Qiuxing Fruit was dwindling, soon to be exhausted. Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes reflected unwavering determination as he gathered the Spiritual Power he had refined over the past few days, preparing for the final assault. Feeling the vast Spiritual Power, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and directed the flood of power straight into the pinnacle of his Qi Sea Dantian. A sharp pain surged, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turned pale, and soon, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead and evaporated upon hitting the bluestone floor. He endured the pain, controlling the now-liquid Spiritual Power as it bombarded the barriers. After who knows how many assaults, suddenly a warm current burst forth, and his Qi Sea Dantian began to expand once more. At the same time, the originally liquid Spiritual Power flowed into the expanded Qi Sea Dantian, swiftly becoming even more viscous. Not only that, but as the barriers were breached, a torrent of energy surged within his body, cleansing his flesh. A foul smell permeated, and his body oozed a stinky black muck, evidently cleansing his body again with the aid of the Spiritual Power combined with the medicinal properties within him. Lin Tianming did not dare to delay, swiftly circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, finally exhaling a long breath when his True Yuan flowed through his veins to his entire body. At this moment, feeling the vigorous Spiritual Power in his body, clearly thicker and more substantial than before, and containing even greater energy, he was filled with emotion. Having successfully broken through to the second layer of Foundation Establishment, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion became rosy, his heart brimming with excitement. It had been nearly three years since he entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, and with the aid of over ten Qiuxing Fruits, he had successfully broken through to the second layer at this moment. Over these years, his cultivation journey was fraught with difficulty. Before breaking through the early stages, he had to rely solely on meditation for cultivation advancement, which was extremely slow. However, this laid a solid foundation for him, and with the aid of the Qiuxing Fruits, he was able to make a breakthrough. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming did not immediately rise but continued cultivating to consolidate his position, ensuring he would not suffer a setback from an unstable realm post-breakthrough. He circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, rapidly redistributing the Spiritual Power throughout his body. Half a month swiftly elapsed¡­ In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming, who sat cross-legged on the floor, opened his tightly closed eyes, and a flash of light shot from the corners of his eyes. Lin Tianming stood up, feeling the vigorous Spiritual Power within his body circulating with exceptional smoothness, and even his slightest movements contained immense energy. He clenched his fist, and his body crackled with several snapping sounds, Lin Tianming¡¯s face brimming with joy. After a month of confinement to solidify his practice, his cultivation was now stable at the second layer of Foundation Establishment, and it was very solid. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± he exhaled deeply. Seeing the foul-smelling black muck on his body, he then made a Single-handed Seal, casting a Five Elements Spell, conjuring a sphere of rainwater to comfortably bathe himself, then changed into a clean set of green robes. Feeling refreshed, he next cast a fireball, which quickly dried the rainwater on the ground with its intense heat. After completing these tasks, he tidied up the disordered cultivation room before stepping out. Chapter 238: 176: Undercurrents Surge_1 Chapter 238: Chapter 176: Undercurrents Surge_1 Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming left the training room and came to the courtyard. At that moment, Lin Shilu was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t expect to bump into Lin Shilu as soon as he left seclusion. With a smile on his face, he immediately walked up to greet him. Feeling the aura emitted by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu rejoiced and exclaimed, ¡°Tianming, have you made a breakthrough, my boy?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion looked good, and the joy from his breakthrough had yet to subside. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s question, he nodded and smiled, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, if I hadn¡¯t been suppressing my cultivation in order to consolidate it, I might have broken through half a year ago!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ not bad. Even so, breaking through a realm every three years is still quite fast!¡± Lin Shilu said. Lin Tianming nodded; the Foundation Establishment Stage wasn¡¯t as easy to break through as the Qi Refinement Realm. He was fairly satisfied with a progression of one stage every three years. After sitting down to chat and drink tea for a bit, Lin Tianming began to inquire about the Mysterious Moon Order. Seeing Lin Tianming ask about this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression grew serious, and he then said, ¡°In the marketplace, there have sporadically been rumors about the Mysterious Moon Order for nearly a year now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately became interested! Lin Shilu picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and continued, ¡°According to the rumors, a few months ago in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, a Mysterious Moon Order appeared out of nowhere, leading to a frenzied struggle for it. As a result, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators perished, and the Mysterious Moon Order eventually ended up in the hands of a Loose Cultivator named Liu Zhong. This person disappeared with the token, seemingly finding a place to hide, waiting for the Secret Realm to open!¡± ¡°Liu Zhong?¡± Hearing this name, Lin Tianming carefully thought it over but didn¡¯t recall any information about the man. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, who is this Liu Zhong, and how come I have never heard of him?¡± Lin Tianming asked. When it came to Liu Zhong, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned grave, seeming to hold considerable wariness towards him. ¡°Curiously enough, he and that ancient-surnamed Golden Core Cultivator you¡¯ve met are both from the Huangyang Country Cultivation World in Jingzhou. However, Liu Zhong frequently mingles within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Though a Loose Cultivator, his talent and cultivation are not low; he managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level before the age of one hundred. Moreover, this individual is extremely dangerous, quite powerful, and ruthless. To gain opportunities, he would stop at nothing, having committed numerous murderous and plundering acts. If by chance you encounter this man, you must be very careful!¡± After listening to Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded, taking mental note of this person¡¯s name to avoid being oblivious when meeting this dangerous figure. After advising Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu¡¯s topic subtly shifted. ¡°This matter of the Mysterious Moon Order is causing quite a stir in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Cultivators from other regions are flooding into the Qianchuan Mountain Range, hoping to try their luck. The currents are turbulent in Wei Kingdom now, with a vast number of Cultivators gathering here. After all, securing even one token, even if they can¡¯t enter themselves, allows them to trade it with the Great Sects or other forces in exchange for a wealth of resources!¡± It came as a surprise to Lin Tianming that the news of the Mysterious Moon Order was now common knowledge. Now that the word had spread, and so many Cultivators had come to the Qianchuan Mountain Range, he wondered what stance the Zhenyang Sect, the local power, would take. With this in mind, Lin Tianming asked: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what are the attitudes of the three Great Sects and the two Great Golden Core Families regarding this issue?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s brows furrowed, then he replied: ¡°At present, Zhenyang Sect has shown no particular stance. After all, there are too many people coming, and even Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke public anger. They¡¯ve merely declared that whoever brings in the Mysterious Moon Order will receive spirit stones or treasures worth tens of thousands, or even choose a Foundation Establishment Pill!¡± ¡°Moreover, Myriad Medicine Valley, Golden Sword Sect, and the two Great Sects, as well as the Yingchuan Chen Family and the West River Li Family, have all put out similar words; whoever submits the Mysterious Moon Order will also receive a vast quantity of spirit stones or treasures.¡± Upon hearing all this from Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming immediately understood that every Golden Elixir Force was highly valuing the Mysterious Moon Order, even willing to trade Foundation Establishment Pills for it. The preciousness of the Foundation Establishment Pill was self-evident. Even for Golden Elixir Forces, the amount produced each year was very limited, and those pills that made it to the market would inevitably cause fierce competition. For the Mysterious Moon Order, they were indeed investing heavily! However, upon careful consideration, although the Foundation Establishment Pills were valuable, if they could obtain more Mysterious Moon Orders, they would be able to send more Cultivators into the Secret Realm to hunt for treasures. The more people entering the Secret Realm, the safer it would be, and the greater the odds of finding treasures. If they could find Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, then what they paid for a Foundation Establishment Pill would be negligible. Viewed this way, it was understandable why the Golden Elixir Forces attached so much importance to it. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a rush of excitement. They had obtained two Mysterious Moon Orders. If they could enter and find a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they might help Lin Shikang break through to the Golden Core Stage, and then the Lin Family could return to glory and become the third Golden Core Family in the Wei Kingdom! But for now, the Secret Realm had yet to appear, and the entrance conditions were unknown. Weighing these possibilities seemed futile. With this thought, Lin Tianming asked with a sense of resignation: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, does the frequent appearance of the Mysterious Moon Order indicate that the Secret Realm is about to open?¡± Lin Shilu nodded and then said: ¡°Indeed, that is very likely. This realm is definitely an unclaimed Secret Realm. With the Mysterious Moon Order emerging in large numbers, it will appear in the world within a few months at the earliest, or three years at the latest!¡± ¡°We have two Mysterious Moon Orders, and under no circumstances can we pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we can enter and obtain Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, Elder Brother¡¯s chances of Core Formation will greatly increase!¡± Chapter 239: 176: Undercurrents Surge_2 Chapter 239: Chapter 176: Undercurrents Surge_2 At this point, Lin Shilu¡¯s gaze was resolute, with a hint of longing flashing in his eyes. The Lin Family had languished in obscurity for far too long. Such an opportunity was rare and sought after¡ªperhaps this was the chance their family had been waiting for. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I implore you to keep a close eye on this matter. As soon as the Secret Realm opens and we learn of the entry requirements, we must act swiftly. We can¡¯t afford to miss this opportunity!¡± Lin Tianming said with excitement. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s earnest instructions, Lin Shilu smiled faintly and replied: ¡°Rest assured, my boy. I have already instructed Tianfeng and the others to keep a close watch on any news regarding the Mysterious Moon Order. As soon as we receive word, we¡¯ll consult with you on our next steps immediately!¡± ¡°I will enter seclusion to engage in Alchemy and then cultivate, striving to enhance my cultivation as much as possible and make preparations in advance!¡± Lin Tianming stated. ¡°Go ahead!¡± Lin Shilu waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Tian Ming takes his leave!¡± Lin Tianming bowed and then left the Cave Mansion Courtyard, emerging onto the streets of the marketplace. With Lin Shilu attending to the matter of the Mysterious Moon Order, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t need to be distracted by it. Now that he had made a breakthrough in cultivation, and despite having more than ten Qiuxing Fruits left, the priority was to attempt producing Dragon Bone Pills as soon as possible, in anticipation of what was to come. Otherwise, once he ran out of Qiuxing Fruits and without the aid of elixirs, his cultivation would stagnate, wasting precious time. Fortunately, he had already acquired the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill, and most of the other Spiritual Medicine Materials were nearly all collected, only lacking Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit to start the alchemy process. Although these two ingredients were not exceedingly rare, they were also not commonly found. He planned to visit Sky Dragon Pavilion to see if they stocked these items. If they did, he would buy them immediately and return to refine pills. Settling on his plan, he strode briskly down the streets, heading towards the commercial district of the marketplace. On the way, the streets bustled with crowds of cultivators, the flow of people significantly increased by two or three times the usual, presumably because of the Mysterious Moon Order, attracting many cultivators to try their luck here. He paid them no heed, quickly arriving at Sky Dragon Pavilion where he was led by the receiving cultivator to a private room on the second floor. Soon after, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s hearty laughter reached his ears. ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t Daoist Chen! It¡¯s been a long while; you have my salutations!¡± Tang Xiuyuan greeted, bowing with his hands clasped and a smile on his face. Lin Tianming stood to return the gesture and then both men sat opposite each other. He took a sip of the Spiritual Tea before him and said: ¡°Hehe, indeed, it¡¯s been over a year. I¡¯m here today to look for two types of Spiritual Medicine Materials!¡± Hearing this, and recalling Lin Tianming¡¯s generous spending in the past, Tang Xiuyuan immediately showed interest. ¡°Oh? What might those be?¡± ¡°Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit! Does your esteemed establishment carry these items?¡± Lin Tianming asked expectantly, getting straight to the point. ¡°Autumn Night Grass? Xing Luan Fruit?¡± Tang Xiuyuan seemed surprised, but he didn¡¯t show any particular reaction as he said: ¡°These items may not be of high tier, merely Second Order inferior grade Spiritual Medicines, and indeed they aren¡¯t common. But, Daoist Chen, you¡¯re in luck¡ªour shop happens to have three stalks of Autumn Night Grass and five Xing Luan Fruits!¡± Lin Tianming, excited to hear that these two types of Spiritual Medicine Materials were available, inquired: ¡°May I know the price?¡± ¡°Each stalk of Autumn Night Grass is priced at two hundred and ten Spirit Stones, and each Xing Luan Fruit at one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± Tang Xiuyuan replied forthrightly. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by the prices. Ordinary Second Order inferior grade Spiritual Medicine Materials would typically cost just over a hundred Spirit Stones, but the two types he sought were rarer, hence the higher prices. Still, he decided to purchase these Spiritual Medicines. Although he would only have materials for three batches, considering that he was merely attempting to produce Dragon Bone Pills for the first time, and unsure of its feasibility, it made sense to try out three batches. If they proved to assist his cultivation, he¡¯d then purchase materials on a larger scale for pill refining. ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯ll take three portions of each of these two Spiritual Medicine Materials!¡± Having made his decision, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t bother to negotiate and directly handed over one thousand one hundred and seventy Spirit Stones to Tang Xiuyuan. Tang Xiuyuan received the Spirit Stones, then with a wave of his sleeve, six Jade Boxes appeared in his hand. Lin Tianming took the six Jade Boxes, checking the contents to confirm they were indeed Autumn Night Grass and Xing Luan Fruit of the correct medicinal properties, then stowed them in his storage bag. With the transaction complete, Lin Tianming exchanged some pleasantries with Tang Xiuyuan before leaving the Sky Dragon Pavilion and returning to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming sat on the floor and ran the Cultivation Technique for a cycle of Grand Circulation, bringing his body to its peak condition. Opening his eyes, he suddenly produced two Jade Slips. One contained the Dragon Bone Pill Formula he had bought from the stall area, and the other recorded the Alchemy Experience gifted by Ye Pinghai. Even though he had already reviewed both Jade Slips several times, committing their contents to memory, he sent out his Divine Sense to go over the recorded information once more. After a quarter of an hour had passed, Lin Tianming put away the two Jade Slips and then took out the Four Symbols Furnace. He made a Single-handed Seal, expertly ignited the Earth Fire, and then tossed the Four Symbols Furnace to hover steadily above the Earth Fire¡¯s opening. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Effortlessly completing the preparatory steps before pill refining, he then picked up a Second Order Qingxu Serpent Demon Elixir, examining it in his hand. Looking at the grey-white inner core, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the difficulty of its acquisition. Regaining his focus, he arranged all the necessary materials for the Dragon Bone Pill, setting them neatly on the nearby stone platform. Now, everything was in place, except for the eastern wind. Taking a deep breath, he began warming the furnace, and when the temperature reached the desired level, he tossed a stalk of Spiritual Medicine Material into the Four Symbols Furnace. The initial stages of decomposition and purification were no different from regular elixir production, posing no challenge for him. Chapter 240: 176 Undertows_3 Chapter 240: Chapter 176 Undertows_3 Soon, after an hour of high-intensity decomposition and purification, batch after batch of Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Fruits were broken down completely. At the bottom of the Four Symbols Furnace, a multicolored blob of Elixir Essence lay within the furnace. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead, then tossed the Second Order Qingxu Snake Inner Pill into the Four Symbols Furnace. As the ash-white Qingxu Snake Inner Pill entered the incredibly hot furnace, it suddenly came to life, bouncing around wildly. Lin Tianming dared not be careless, for a Demon Beast Inner Pill was not as gentle as Spiritual Medicine Materials, and a slight misstep could cause an explosion. The energy contained within a Second Order Demon Core was terrifying; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator might face mortal danger at such close proximity. He focused all his attention on maneuvering his Divine Sense, forcibly suppressing the inner core before starting to break it down. As half a day passed, inside the Four Symbols Furnace, the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill had completely disappeared, and the original Elixir Essence had expanded in size, its color also undergoing a drastic change to greenish-red. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. The most dangerous step was over, and what followed was the most critical Solidifying Pill process. He took a deep breath, then performed a Single-handed Seal, striking a Law Decree on the Earth Fire vent. With a quiet sound, the Earth Fire spurted out, raising the temperature inside the Four Symbols Furnace to another level. Lin Tianming had a grave expression, constantly sensing the changes within the Four Symbols Furnace. Once the temperature was about right, he slapped the Four Symbols Furnace, unleashing a stream of Spiritual Power from his hand that plunged into the furnace and vanished without a trace. With the Infusion of Spirit complete, he controlled the temperature of the Earth Fire while chanting to himself. ¡°Solidify!¡± A piercing sound emanated, followed by several crisp pops from within the Pill Furnace. Hearing the noise, Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed color. After the sounds ceased, he immediately lifted the lid of the furnace. All that lay inside were a pile of medicinal dregs mixed with two broken pills. He picked up one of the shattered elixirs, holding it in his hands and pondering over it carefully. ¡°It seems possible to have successfully concocted it; it was just that I didn¡¯t control the temperature and timing of the Infusion of Spirit well, causing the Alchemy to fail!¡± ¡°It looks like the Qingxu Snake Inner Pill can indeed replace the Qinglong Jiao Inner Dan, and it really can be used to concoct the Dragon Bone Pill,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, a smile flashing across his face. Although the first batch of elixirs was a failure, it was close to being a success, giving him unlimited hope. After cleaning up the wasted medicinal dregs, he began to recuperate, waiting until his condition was at its peak before continuing with the concoction. ¡°With three sets of materials, I must successfully create a batch of pills!¡± he thought to himself, then began to recover his energy. Half a day later, Lin Tianming¡¯s condition had recovered, and he once again dove into the intense process of pill concoction. Having learned from the first failure, he was extremely cautious while concocting the second batch of elixirs, doing his best to execute each step perfectly. With familiarity and diligent effort, he saw his work pay off, successfully solidifying the second batch of pills. In the Pill Refining Room, when a unique medicinal fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace, he didn¡¯t care about his profuse sweating and hastily uncovered the lid of the furnace. Inside were five greenish-red pills suspended in the furnace. He immediately took out one pill and carefully examined it. ¡°This is certainly a finished product, no doubt about it, but I wonder if it will be effective!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, his face expressing excitement. However, not being in good condition at the moment, he could only try it out another day. With that thought, he closed his eyes and began to meditate, preparing to refine the remaining set of materials and then to test the finished elixirs. Chapter 241: 177 The Secret Realm Appears_1 Chapter 241: Chapter 177 The Secret Realm Appears_1 Two days later¡­ In the alchemy room, a fragrance wafted from the Four Symbols Furnace, quickly filling the entire alchemy room. Lin Tianming was overjoyed and hastily lifted the lid of the furnace, only to see five pills, intermingled with shades of green and red, lying at the bottom. He stored the pills in a jade bottle, then took out two to carefully compare. The results showed that the pills from both batches were identical, each one saturated with color, indistinguishable from the description of the Dragon Bone Pill. From three sets of materials, two successful batches yielded ten pills; both the success rate and quantity of pills were quite impressive. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, then tidied up the pill refining room, and moved on to the cultivation chamber. Sitting on a meditation mat in the cultivation chamber, he closed his eyes to regulate his breathing until he reached his peak condition, then opened his eyes. Lin Tianming then took out a Lingshen Pill and, without hesitation, swallowed it. As soon as the pill entered his mouth, he began to channel his energy to refine it, and the power contained within the pill started to flow through his meridians, bringing on a familiar sense of pain. Sweat began to seep out of Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead; clenching his teeth, he quickly swallowed a prepared Dragon Bone Pill. The moment the Dragon Bone Pill was ingested, he started to refine it. Within a few breaths, the energy from the Dragon Bone Pill was gentle, like stepping into warm water, the comfortable sensation slowly suppressing the pain in his body. ¡°This improved Dragon Bone Pill really works.¡± Lin Tianming was ecstatic, and he then started to fully operate his cultivation technique, refining the potency of both the Lingshen Pill and the Dragon Bone Pill. As the speed of refinement increased sharply, the power of the Dragon Bone Pill took effect, suppressing the pain from the Lingshen Pill while also improving his physique. Crackling sounds came from inside his body. He extended his Divine Sense to observe the energetic flow of the pill¡¯s potency quicken within him, eventually seeping into his skin, bones, and organs. A unique sensation reached his mind, and simultaneously, assisted by the pill, his sinews and bones began to strengthen until they became more solid and powerful. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t contain his delight, and he retracted his Divine Sense, wholeheartedly devoting himself to cultivation. Several days later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and a smile spread across his face, his heart trembling with excitement. The effects of the Dragon Bone Pill were truly unexpected; it not only perfectly suppressed the pain during cultivation but also further strengthened his body, surpassing the Body Strengthening Pill by quite a margin. Just one Dragon Bone Pill had made his physique stronger by a notch, an outcome he had never anticipated. However, on reflection, the Dragon Bone Pill was hard to come by and quite valuable. The spiritual medicine materials used in a single batch were worth hundreds of Spirit Stones, and more importantly, a Second Order Qingxu Snake Demon Core was valued at over a thousand Spirit Stones. Hence, for this batch of five pills, the cost per pill was several hundred; such an effect was actually to be expected. Currently, with nine Dragon Bone Pills and over ten Qiuxing Fruits remaining, he wouldn¡¯t lack resources for cultivation for a few years. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming closed his eyes and resumed cultivation. Months later¡­ At the southern border of the Wei Kingdom, near the boundary with Jingzhou¡¯s Huangyang Kingdom, a sudden ear-splitting rumble echoed from a colossal canyon. The ground shook violently, fissures spreading for several miles around the valley, eventually giving way to a flash of golden light, followed by the sudden appearance of a barrier of light. This scene unfolded simultaneously across the vast expanse of land straddling the border between the Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom. The Whirlwind Mountain Range, located at the border of Jingzhou¡¯s Huangyang Kingdom and the Wei Kingdom, and only a thousand miles from the Luoyun Mountain Range of the Wei Kingdom, is a rarely populated and lawless region. The same upheaval occurred here as well, the ground splitting open as a barrier of light emerged. At that moment, the nearby cultivators quickly detected the disturbance and all rushed towards its source. A middle-aged cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining flew on a sword towards the heart of the Whirlwind Mountain Range. This man was named Li Zhen, a Loose Cultivator who had spent years roaming between the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and the Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Upon noticing the commotion, he was certain that a treasure had emerged and flew straight toward the interior of the Whirlwind Mountain Range without hesitation. In no time, he reached the vicinity of the newly formed light barrier. By then, over a dozen Qi Refining Cultivators had gathered, all cautiously observing the barrier, hoping to discover something from it. All the cultivators present were of the Qi Refining Cultivation level, with limited experience, and were unable to discern anything about the sudden appearance of the light barrier. Among the crowd, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining became impatient. With a single-handed seal, he unleashed a blast of Sword Qi at the barrier. ¡°Clang¡­¡± With a resounding bang, the Sword Qi rapidly rebounded upon hitting the light barrier, hurtling back towards the cultivator who released it. The cultivator let out a scream; unable to dodge in time, his arm was severed by the rebounding Sword Qi. He turned pale and his face revealed a look of terror; had he not shifted his body just in time, he might have fallen right there. With this earlier example set, everyone else was afraid to act rashly. Seeing Li Zhen arrive, the assembled Qi Refining Cultivators stepped back and showed a wary expression. Li Zhen looked at the light barrier here and, thinking of the rumors of a secret realm opening in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, swiftly concluded that this was indeed the opening of a secret realm. However, seeing the vigilant eyes of the crowd and the injured cultivator, he did not betray any unusual reaction. Casting another glance at the cultivators present, he no longer paid them any attention and flew away on his sword, disappearing from their sight. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 242: 177: The Secret Realm Appears_2 Chapter 242: Chapter 177: The Secret Realm Appears_2 Qianchuan Market¡­ In the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard¡¯s training room, there was some strange movement coming from the Mysterious Moon Order inside the storage bag. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and he quickly took out the Mysterious Moon Order, then held it in his hand to inspect it. At that moment, the patterns on the Mysterious Moon Order became clear. Not only that, as he infused Spiritual Energy, he distinctly felt waves of fluctuation emanating from the token. The Mysterious Moon Order, silent for several years, reacted for the first time. A few breaths¡¯ time passed, and Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed ecstatic joy. He immediately sent out a message and then hurriedly rushed out of the training room. In no time, in the courtyard of the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were sitting opposite each other. Seeing the expression on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, Lin Shilu was instantly alarmed and quickly thought of the reason. ¡°Tianming, has the Mysterious Moon Order responded?¡± he probed. After nodding, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the Mysterious Moon Order just stirred. When I infused it with Spiritual Energy, the patterns on it became clear. From the aura emitting from the token, it is clear that the Secret Realm has materialized!¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming took out a Mysterious Moon Order and passed it to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu¡¯s face lit up with joy as he took the Mysterious Moon Order and began to examine it carefully. Indeed, he quickly noticed the aura emanating from the Mysterious Moon Order and also sensed the conditions for entering the Secret Realm. At this time, Lin Shilu¡¯s face showed wild excitement as he spoke to himself. ¡°This Mysterious Moon Order is truly miraculous. If nothing unexpected occurs, there will be many entrances to the Secret Realm, and the conditions for entry are quite lenient. As long as one is not over a hundred years old, they can carry the token and enter the Secret Realm!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu affirm this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was also filled with excitement. An age limit of one hundred years was, by the standards of the Cultivation World¡¯s many Secret Realms, not high at all. It is said that some Secret Realms have very peculiar entry requirements, and often not many people meet the criteria, only able to watch helplessly as opportunities slip away before their eyes. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what should we do next?¡± ¡°Such an opportunity, even if it is filled with extreme danger, we must not forsake it!¡± ¡°From the current situation, there is a month from the materialization to the opening of the Secret Realm. We need to immediately return to the family and inform the Third Brother and the others, then hasten to find the entrance to the Secret Realm and wait for its opening!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, aware of the urgency and that they had no time to delay. ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose; let¡¯s set off for the family at once!¡± Lin Tianming declared. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s take action immediately!¡± responded Lin Shilu, then issued a transmission, summoning Lin Xingping over. Seeing the firm joy on the faces of Lin Tianming and another, Lin Xingping asked curiously: ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, I¡¯ve heard many rumors about Secret Realms recently. Does our family have a way to get in?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ indeed, that¡¯s the case!¡± Lin Shilu nodded in confirmation, then instructed: ¡°Tianming and I must rush back to the family immediately. I leave Qianchuan Market in your hands, Xingping. Remember not to stir up trouble or reveal our whereabouts. Just say we¡¯re in closed-door cultivation if anyone asks. If there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t deal with, you can seek the help of Daoist Ye!¡± Hearing the instructions, Lin Xingping stood up, his expression resolute as he said: ¡°Rest assured, Fifteenth Uncle, I will take good care of the market. Please, be safe!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set off right away!¡± Having spoken, Lin Tianming and the other person immediately got up and left the courtyard of the Cave Mansion. After changing their appearance, they quickly made their way to the market entrance. Having left the market, the two of them did not stop for a moment, mounted the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, and turned into a dark shadow flying towards the south. Riding on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu¡¯s Divine Sense was fully open, constantly monitoring every movement around them. And just like that, ten days passed in a blink of an eye¡­ During this period, both the Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom were abuzz with activity as over ten entrances to the Secret Realm appeared, the news quickly spreading throughout these two regions. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and the other were blissfully unaware, as they were in the midst of hastened travel. With Lin Shilu accompanying him, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have to worry too much about safety, as the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle was pushed to its limit. In ten days, they had travelled from Qianchuan Market to the edge of Green Bamboo Mountain, and even passed by Golden Horn Mountain without having time to stop and greet Lin Xingrong. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his companion looked exhausted, but they forewent rest and dove straight into the Protective Clan Formation. Shortly thereafter, at the Cave Mansion Courtyard atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, where Lin Shikang resided. Lin Shikang, Lin Shihua, and Lin Shigong were gathered in the courtyard, staring wide-eyed at the two who had hastily returned. Knowing the urgency of the situation, Lin Shilu didn¡¯t hold back and immediately spoke up about the matter at hand. ¡°Third brother, the Mysterious Moon Order has activated, the Secret Realm has appeared!¡± ¡°What? The Secret Realm has appeared?¡± ¡°When? And what are the entry restrictions?¡± Upon hearing the news, the others exclaimed in shock, their faces filled with incredulous expressions. Lin Shilu was inundated with questions before he could even catch his breath. Seeing this, Lin Tianming interjected with information about the Mysterious Moon Order. ¡°Ten days ago, the Mysterious Moon Order suddenly became active. We confirmed the requirements and restrictions for entering the Secret Realm, and without delay, we rushed back to the family to discuss the matter with our elders!¡± ¡°As for the restriction on entering the Secret Realm, any cultivator below the age of one hundred can enter freely!¡± Upon hearing these restrictions, the Lin Family was completely eligible, and the faces of Lin Shikang and the others were overjoyed. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and immediately said: ¡°Shilu, among our family members under a hundred years old, your cultivation is the highest. My age doesn¡¯t meet the requirements, so it looks like we must rely on you!¡± Before he finished speaking, Lin Shihua also chimed in. ¡°Indeed, the Secret Realm is filled with unimaginable dangers. You must be careful on your own. If it truly becomes unsustainable, find a place to hide. When the Secret Realm closes, you will be transported out!¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu frowned, remembering that they only knew of Lin Tianming acquiring one Mysterious Moon Order, but were unaware that over a year ago, the two of them had obtained another token from Gu Tong. He chuckled and said, ¡°Third brother, after we killed Gu Tong in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, we acquired another token. We didn¡¯t pay much attention to it at the time and therefore didn¡¯t inform everyone!¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± Lin Shikang was somewhat incredulous. Lin Tianming promptly took out both tokens and placed them before everyone. Lin Shikang picked up both tokens to examine them, and then laughed heartily. ¡°Truly, the heavens bless our Lin Family. With two tokens, our chances of seizing opportunities have greatly increased!¡± Lin Shihua was also thrilled and quickly added: ¡°Tianming¡¯s cultivation is not low, and he has fought side by side with Shilu on many occasions. Let¡¯s settle on these candidates for entering the Secret Realm.¡± Lin Shikang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the pair before asking for their opinions. Lin Tianming and his companion naturally wouldn¡¯t decline. Although entering the Secret Realm was fraught with immense danger and could even cost them their lives, among the family members under a hundred, only their cultivation was somewhat higher. Beyond that, the Secret Realm also offered vast opportunities. If they obtained treasures, they could keep a portion for themselves, which would be of great assistance on their path of cultivation. ¡°As Lin Family members, it is our bounden duty!¡± the two declared in unison. Lin Shikang nodded and then instructed: ¡°Shihua, you and a few others immediately gather some clanspeople above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Search around Luoyun Market and the nearby Qianchuan Mountain Range. Once the Secret Realm Entrance is found, report back to the family without delay!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it!¡± After responding, Lin Shihua stood up and left to summon family members and search for news. With Lin Shihua¡¯s departure, Lin Shikang began to issue orders: ¡°Shigong, I must stay to guard the family. You and a few others also need to go out and search for the Secret Realm Entrance. The Qi Refining Clanspeople¡¯s search is too slow; they can hardly gather any news. It will be easier for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to search!¡± ¡°Remember to focus on searching the major mountain ranges. Do not venture too deeply into the mountains and prioritize the mission over everything else!¡± Lin Tianming and the others nodded, understanding the urgency. Despite their fatigue and not having time to rest, they stood up and left the courtyard. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After exiting the Protective Clan Formation, they briefly discussed before each chose a direction and hurriedly set off. Chapter 243: 178 Preparation_1 Chapter 243: Chapter 178 Preparation_1 In the southern part of the Luoyun Mountain Range, above a mundane city. Through the thick clouds, a Purple Gold Eagle swiftly flew over Qingfeng Town, heading straight towards the south. It had been nearly ten years since Lin Tianming last visited Qingfeng Town. Returning to this place and looking down at the vast range of buildings below, he felt a great sense of nostalgia. Following the end of the clan war within the Luoyun Mountain Range, many mortals from the Jin and Wu Families had been relocated, gathering in the five major towns of their clan. Now, Qingfeng Town had further expanded in size and its population had noticeably increased. Gazing at the newly-built wooden pavilions below and the city having expanded by a third, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t stay long before continuing to fly southward on the Purple Gold Eagle. Half a day later, Lin Tianming arrived at the southern part of Qingfeng Town, near the edge of the Whirlwind Mountain Range close to Huangyang Kingdom. He stopped atop a hill and gazed at the lofty, distant mountains on the horizon, lost in thought. Just then, three Qi Refining Cultivators flew in his direction as a group, their expressions showing some excitement. The three cultivators failed to notice Lin Tianming at all until they were a few hundred zhang away, when they finally realized he was standing with his arms folded, waiting for them to approach. Seeing Lin Tianming, the fact that they hadn¡¯t detected him sooner surely meant that he must be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, without a doubt. The highest-cultivated among them, Xiao Jingshan, looked somewhat nervous upon realizing this and did not dare to leave directly. He bravely came forward to pay his respects, followed closely by the other two who stepped up to the front of Lin Tianming. ¡°This younger generation pays respect to the senior!¡± The three, led by Xiao Jingshan, bowed respectfully with clasped hands. Lin Tianming waved dismissively, adopting an indifferent demeanor as he spoke, ¡°Why are you three in such a rush? Has something significant occurred?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s interrogating words, the faces of Xiao Jingshan and the other two turned pale, and they immediately divulged the strange occurrences within the Whirlwind Mountain Range without any reservations. Hearing this, Lin Tianming was puzzled, but at this critical juncture, all peculiar events had to be thoroughly investigated. With this in mind, he asked, ¡°Is there a treasure that has appeared? In what exact location?¡± ¡°Senior, the three of us encountered it while cultivating in the Whirlwind Mountain Range. The location is at the edge of the mountain range, roughly a few hundred li to the south,¡± they replied. Before they had finished speaking, Lin Tianming remained composed and then spoke, ¡°Tell me the details. If I find this information interesting, I could reward you generously!¡± Hearing the promise of a reward, one of the Qi Refining Cultivators at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement immediately started speaking, eager to make a good impression. ¡°Senior, it was ten days ago when suddenly, there was a huge noise in that mountain range. The ground shook violently, and a crack opened on the valley floor out of nowhere. Soon after, a light screen appeared between heaven and earth that could reflect attacks. It is very bizarre!¡± ¡°Yes, at the time, many cultivators were drawn over, but no one could do anything about the light screen that appeared out of thin air. Some even had their arms severed by the rebounding attacks!¡± The three took turns explaining the strange happenings, providing far more detail than they had initially offered. In no time, Lin Tianming had a rough understanding of the situation and also knew the exact location of the valley. ¡°Without a doubt, the strange disturbances within the Whirlwind Mountain Range are the signs of a Secret Realm¡¯s emergence!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Excited by the thought, Lin Tianming kept his emotions hidden, maintaining a distant expression. ¡°This information you¡¯ve provided is indeed interesting to me. Here is a little token of appreciation,¡± Lin Tianming said, and casually took out three hundred Spirit Stones, distributing them to the three Qi Refining Cultivators. Each person received a hundred Spirit Stones, which was nearly equivalent to several months of their earnings. Seeing the Spirit Stones, Xiao Jingshan and the others showed delighted expressions and quickly bowed to express their gratitude. Lin Tianming gestured dismissively, then paid them no more attention. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that he had found the entrance to a Secret Realm, he naturally wanted to investigate it immediately. After that, he would rush back to his clan. His time was pressing, and he needed to reach the Whirlwind Mountain Range with Lin Shilu as soon as possible. It would be a pity to miss the opportunity to enter the Secret Realm due to any delay. With this thought, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger and, with a great leap covering a hundred zhang, he quickly disappeared into the sky. Watching Lin Tianming vanish, Xiao Jingshan and the other two let out a sigh of relief, their faces filled with joy as they left together. ¡­ By evening half a day later, Lin Tianming followed the directions provided by Xiao Jingshan and his companions, quickly arriving near the entrance to the Secret Realm. From a distance, he could see the earth cracked open, revealing a light screen with golden light twinkling and emitting faint fluctuations of a prohibition, easily discernible even from behind a small hill. ¡°It seems these three had the sense not to deceive me!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, having confirmed the location of the Secret Realm Entrance. He didn¡¯t care for the darkness of night and turned directly north, flying away. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t too far from the Luoyun Mountain and no powers resided in this area. With the Purple Gold Eagle flying at full speed, it wouldn¡¯t take long to enter the territory of his clan. ¡­ Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming, who had rushed back from the edge of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, plunged into the Protective Clan Formation. Once back on clan grounds, he immediately sent messages to several elders and made his way to Lin Shikang¡¯s abode to gather. In no time, he arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwellings. Seeing Lin Tianming return first, Lin Shikang quickly pressed, ¡°Tianming, have you located the Secret Realm Entrance?¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, your nephew found an entrance to a Secret Realm at the border of Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom, within the Whirlwind Mountain Range!¡± Lin Tianming reported. Chapter 244: 178 Preparation_2 Chapter 244: Chapter 178 Preparation_2 Before the sound of his words faded, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression grew overjoyed, and his stern face instantly flushed with color. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Are you certain you saw it with your own eyes?¡± Lin Shikang asked. As Lin Tianming recalled the scene he had witnessed, he assuredly replied: ¡°Third Grandfather, even from several miles away, I could easily detect the ripples of the barrier around the entrance to the Secret Realm and that golden glimmering light; I am definitely not mistaken!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s utterly affirmative words, Lin Shikang nodded, his heart brimming with joy. Lin Tianming, just as overjoyed, had sent out messages for a long time yet without seeing Lin Shilu and his grandfather arrive. He then asked: ¡°Third Grandfather, have my grandfather and Fifteenth Grandfather not returned yet?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming bring up this matter, Lin Shikang said: ¡°You were all spread out in search of the Secret Realm Entrance; they probably haven¡¯t found it yet. You stay with the family, I¡¯ll immediately go and find Shilu!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then instructed: ¡°Before we split up, I was responsible for searching the south, and Fifteenth Grandfather went to the Luoyun Mountain Range in the west. If nothing has gone wrong, he should still be in that direction!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back quickly!¡± With that reply, Lin Shikang immediately vanished from his side, moving so quickly that even Lin Tianming could not detect him. ¡°Third Grandfather¡¯s Ninth Layer ability is truly terrifying!¡± Lin Tianming muttered softly to himself, then left his cave dwelling and returned to his own small courtyard. Sitting in the training room, Lin Tianming took out the Thousand Beast Banner as well as two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans and placed them before him. The entrance to the Secret Realm awaited, and what lay inside would certainly be fraught with deadly perils; he had to make full preparations. Gazing at these treasures, he fell deep into thought. Currently, in terms of attack, he had the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to entrap enemies, and the Thousand Beast Banner to assist; unfolding both tactics simultaneously would make it exceedingly difficult for foes to dodge. The Tiangang Sword would be utilized for launching attacks, and having reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, he could now conjure an additional sword strike; he hadn¡¯t tested the power of two conjured swords overlapping, but undoubtedly, it would be astonishing. Beyond that, the two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans were the cards up his sleeve for saving his life, not to be used lightly unless in a critical moment. It was only a pity that the sword qi generated by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had already been used, and reassembling it quickly would yield sword qi that was too immature; barely a year and a half old, forcefully conjuring it would probably barely exceed the strength of an ordinary attack¡ªit would be impossible to use it against enemies. After reviewing his attack methods, Lin Tianming thought to himself. With his strength, he estimated that handling a Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator wouldn¡¯t be a problem, and even if he faced a slightly weaker Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivator, he could manage some resistance. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming started to organize his defensive measures. The defensive artifacts on his person were few, consisting only of two First Order Top-Quality Defensive Spiritual Weapons and three Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans. Since Defense Talismans of Second Order Medium Quality and above were particularly rare, he had not prepared any, but with the Eye of Five Colors to spot flaws, attacking him wouldn¡¯t be so easy either. Though his defensive artifacts were few, as long as he did not encounter a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivator, escaping defeat should be no issue. Having gathered his thoughts, Lin Tianming brought his palms together and began to cultivate, circulating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. Three days later¡­ A Messaging Aura flew into his training room, causing Lin Tianming to furrow his brows, then he stood up and left the training room. In a short while, he arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. By then, Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang were sitting in the courtyard, both looking somewhat weary. Lin Tianming stepped forward and bowed to the two of them, saying, ¡°I greet Third Grandfather, I greet Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, motioning him to sit down, while Lin Shilu smiled and then asked: ¡°Tianming, you found the entrance to the Secret Realm?¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Third Grandfather didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Lin Tianming asked, somewhat surprised. ¡°Of course he did, but it¡¯s just to confirm in passing!¡± Lin Shilu replied. ¡°Alright, Shihua and the others have not yet returned to the family; with time pressing, we cannot wait for them. You two should set out for the entrance to the Secret Realm immediately; as soon as the moment arrives, enter the realm at once!¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, he took out two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans and two Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans and handed them to Lin Tianming and the other person. At the same time, he also took out two fiery red beads and handed one to each of them. ¡°Fire Spirit Pearl?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was rosy with delight. The Fire Spirit Pearl was a one-time offensive treasure, made from the inner core of a Second Order Fire Elemental Demonic Beast. The higher the grade of the inner core, the greater the power of the Fire Spirit Pearl that was refined, and the greater the difficulty of its creation, making it quite precious. The Fire Spirit Pearls that Lin Shikang took out were clearly refined from the inner cores of Late Stage Second Order Demonic Beasts, so their power was naturally significant. Neither person acted pretentiously and casually accepted the talismans and beads. Lin Shikang then spoke again, advising them: ¡°There will definitely be many Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators entering the Secret Realm, as well as people from the Five Great Golden Core Forces; their strengths are very strong. The slightly better treasures from our family are these. You should carry them all, and remember to prioritize your safety. After the Secret Realm closes, I will wait at the entrance to pick you up!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, then stood up and clasped his fists, replying with a resolute expression: ¡°Third Brother, rest assured, Tian Ming and I will definitely be cautious and ensure our safe return!¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, don¡¯t worry, we will definitely return safely!¡± Lin Tianming said with equal firmness. ¡°Go then!¡± Lin Tianming and the other stood up, clasped their fists, and together walked out of Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. Once out of the clan¡¯s territory, the two of them wasted no time mounting the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, and then they turned into a streak of afterimage before disappearing from Green Bamboo Mountain. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu took out the two talismans given by Lin Shikang, and then pulled out a blue shield, which was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. ¡°Tian Ming, last time we killed quite a few Qingxu Snakes and obtained many scales. I used Second Order scales and added a lot of valuable Spirit Materials to refine two Second Order Magical Artifacts. I kept one of the Second Order Medium Quality ones for myself, and this Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifact was specially refined for you,¡± said Lin Shilu. As he finished speaking, Lin Shilu passed the little blue shield and the two talismans to Lin Tianming. Second Order Defense Artifacts were rare; many Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Loose Cultivators didn¡¯t even have a Second Order Low Grade Attack Artifact, much less a Defense Artifact. Yet Lin Shilu always considered Tian Ming¡¯s best interests, unhesitatingly giving the precious Second Order Defense Artifact to him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes turned slightly red, and he quickly spoke up: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the Secret Realm is full of dangers, and even you dare not say that it will be safe. You should keep it for yourself!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled heartily, speaking earnestly: ¡°Silly boy, I have a Second Order Medium Quality Artifact. These talismans are actually not so useful for me; they are better off with you. Only if you are safe will I have no concerns, won¡¯t I?¡± After Lin Shilu said this much, Lin Tianming was no longer ceremonious. He took the small shield and talismans, then waved them around, showing a look of loving them dearly. After a hearty laugh, Lin Shilu spoke, reminding Lin Tianming. ¡°Name this Defense Artifact and refine it as quickly as possible. This journey is fraught with immense danger but also huge opportunities. Once again, grandfather and grandson fight side by side!¡± ¡°Yes, with grandfather and grandson working together, we will definitely return safely!¡± Lin Tianming said with determination. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the other chatted for a few moments, named the small shield the Green Scale Shield, and then began to close their eyes and rest. With the Green Scale Shield, his defense for the trip was further strengthened, taking his strength up another notch. Pleased beyond measure, Lin Tianming played with the shield for a while, then circulated his cultivation and rested, waiting for his condition to reach its peak before he began to refine the Green Scale Shield. Holding the Green Scale Shield, he cast several Law Decrees, then spat fresh blood onto the shield and began the refinement process. One day later, the luster on the Green Scale Shield was bright, and the densely packed runes on its surface became even more lively. Seeing that the refinement was almost complete, Lin Tianming began imprinting his Divine Sense into the core of the Green Scale Shield. Two days later, the refinement of the Green Scale Shield was completed. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming struck the shield with a Law Decree, then infused it with Spiritual Energy. The Green Scale Shield instantly expanded and quickly formed a solid shield in front of him. Lin Tianming slammed a Sword Qi against the shield, which was easily blocked without leaving even a faint mark. Lin Tianming was very satisfied and gained some understanding of the Green Scale Shield¡¯s defensive power. By his estimation, the shield could easily withstand attacks from someone at the Foundation Building Fourth Level, and even to break through it with his full-powered attack would take considerable effort. After handling the shield for a while, Lin Tianming stored it away, and then he closed his eyes to cultivate and rest. Chapter 245: 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_1 Chapter 245: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_1 Huangyang Kingdom, Whirlwind Mountain Range. The Purple Gold Eagle carried Lin Tianming and his companion southward. After three days of flying with a brief rest overnight, they finally arrived near the Secret Realm Entrance in the evening. By that time, more than twenty days had passed since the Secret Realm became visible. When a month was reached, they would be able to enter the realm with the Mysterious Realm Token. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and his companion landed in a small valley outside the Secret Realm Entrance, preparing to cultivate there and wait out the last ten days. The place was less than fifty miles from the Secret Realm Entrance and far from the land of disputes, which made it relatively safe for the time being. They quickly set up a simple cave dwelling in a nearby valley and both entered to begin seclusion. The long journey had left Lin Tianming and his companion quite exhausted, with significant consumption of spiritual power and Divine Sense, leaving them in poor condition. Both sat cross-legged in the cave. Lin Shilu took out an elixir, swallowed it, and quickly entered a state of cultivation. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t idle either. With ten days left, he wanted to enhance his cultivation as much as possible to survive in the Secret Realm. With that thought in mind, he casually took out a Sparse Star Fruit and swallowed it without hesitation. Inside the cave dwelling, the sound of their even breathing carried through as they both entered a deep state of cultivation. At this moment, many mountain ranges in both Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom had visible entrances to Secret Realms, the news of which had spread quickly throughout the Cultivation World. From Golden Elixir Experts to Qi Training Cultivators, everyone was paying attention to the affairs of the Secret Realm. In the outskirts of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, within the layers of overlapping mountains shrouded in year-round dense fog, lay a scene that looked like a paradise on earth. Before a vast square, Zhenyang Sect¡¯s gate looked majestic and solemn, filled with an ancient air. More than ten cultivators stood respectfully on the white jade square, each with a different expression¡ªsome brimming with excitement, others filled with worry, though most remained calm. In front of them stood an old man with thinning white hair and a Daoist bearing, hands clasped behind his back. The breeze lifted his robe, revealing an aura of a formidable being. This man was named Du Qiong. An old Golden Core Cultivator and the Second Elder of Zhenyang Sect, he had held a high position and had broken through to the Golden Core Stage over two hundred years ago. Turning his head to gaze at the more than ten people before him, Du Qiong then spoke seriously, ¡°The Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm has opened. This is an unclaimed Profound Secret Realm, extremely dangerous within. Apart from Demonic Beasts, there will also be disciples from other forces!¡± ¡°According to my knowledge, other Golden Core Forces in Wei Kingdom will have varying numbers of disciples entering, and even the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom has many forces that have obtained the Mysterious Moon Order. They too will be involved.¡± Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the more than ten people on the field changed somewhat, but none retreated. Observing his disciples and Sect members, a fleeting and almost imperceptible smile crossed Du Qiong¡¯s aged face. ¡°Chu Jie.¡± Hearing Du Qiong¡¯s call, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level stepped forward, standing respectfully before the elder, awaiting orders. ¡°Though this journey is fraught with dangers, it also contains great opportunities. As the disciple with the highest cultivation in the team, you will take charge of leading them.¡± ¡°I will heed the Second Elder¡¯s decree,¡± Chu Jie replied firmly and respectfully. With a nod, Du Qiong continued, ¡°All disciples must follow orders, work together with sincerity, both for yourselves and to obtain more treasures for the Sect. Understand?¡± ¡°We will honor the Second Elder¡¯s decree,¡± all of them answered in unison with a salute. Turning away, Du Qiong waved his sleeve, and a palm-sized, intricately crafted boat appeared in his hand¡ªit was a Flying Artifact. He sent a spell into the miniature boat, which immediately expanded countless times in size. It quickly transformed into a Spirit Boat over thirty feet long, suspended above the square, and sporadically flickering with the light of runes. Seeing the Spirit Boat grow, the eyes of the surrounding cultivators burned with desire, as such Spirit Artifacts¡ªlet alone Magic Artifacts¡ªwere rare, and typically only Golden Elixir Experts could afford to use them. ¡°Set off!¡± Without paying further attention to the crowd, Du Qiong leapt up after his light command and landed steadily on the Spirit Boat. Hearing Du Qiong¡¯s order, the cultivators gathered their focus and one by one jumped onto the Spirit Boat, then stood to one side. As Du Qiong looked westward, he cast a spell on the Spirit Boat, which until then had been motionless. Suddenly, the craft shot forward, becoming a blur, and vanished from its original spot. As the Secret Realm manifested and its opening approached, such scenes unfolded simultaneously in several Golden Elixir Forces within Wei Kingdom. Not just them, but also Foundation Establishing Families and Loose Cultivators rushed in large numbers toward the Secret Realm Entrance. Although many came just for the excitement, there were also cultivators with ulterior motives mixing in among them. ¡­As ten days passed in a flurry¡­ Whirlwind Mountain Range at dawn, with night not yet completely gone and the early morning light just starting to rise. Inside the simple cave where Lin Tianming and his companion had secluded themselves, Lin Shilu was the first to open his eyes, feeling the state of his body, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. During these few days, he hadn¡¯t been idle either, cultivating diligently, doing everything possible to improve his cultivation level in preparation for entering the Secret Realm. At that moment, Lin Tianming heard movement and also awoke from his deep state of cultivation. After ten days, having consumed a Sparse Star Fruit, he had elevated his spiritual power cultivation and organized his offensive and defensive methods, fully preparing himself. Lin Tianming got up and walked to the entrance of the cave, where it was just starting to get light. The dim sky was growing brighter as the light screen at the Secret Realm Entrance turned more substantial. Chapter 246: 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_2 Chapter 246: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_2 ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, is today the day the secret realm opens?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Hmm,¡± Lin Shilu nodded, then stood up and, as he walked away, he said: ¡°Tianming, today is indeed the day the Secret Realm Entrance opens. Are you prepared?¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming has been prepared for a long time. To others, the secret realm may indeed be dangerous, but it also presents a great opportunity. The path of cultivation is inherently against the natural order, and if we, as cultivators, lose our adventurous spirit, we are bound not to get far,¡± Tianming replied. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s bold and vigorous words, Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, feeling immensely gratified in his heart. However, considering how important Lin Tianming¡¯s talents were for the family, he could not help but caution: ¡°Tianming, I¡¯m very pleased with your ambition and spirit, but don¡¯t be overly confident. There are countless strong figures in this world, and many genius cultivators with outstanding talent have fallen halfway.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Fifteenth Grandfather, Tianming remembers your advice,¡± Lin Tianming responded. Lin Shilu nodded with a smile, feeling very reassured about Lin Tianming, but he still tirelessly reminded him: ¡°The secret realm is full of dangers. The Five Great Golden Core Forces will surely enter, and we must be cautious. Don¡¯t come into conflict with the big powers and prioritize our own safety above everything else.¡± Lin Tianming knew that Lin Shilu was nagging him for his own good. Touched by his concern and with a resolute attitude, he said: ¡°Understood, please rest assured, elder.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confident demeanor, Lin Shilu said no more. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let us set off now.¡± With that, Lin Shilu strode out of the cave, with Lin Tianming following closely behind without delay. Outside the cave, after concealing the entrance, the two of them quickly headed toward the distant light barrier. An hour and a half later, they arrived at the valley where the Secret Realm Entrance was located. By now, dozens of people had already gathered at the valley entrance. They were either alone or in small groups, with more people continuously arriving. Looking around, the majority of those present were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with a few Qi Refining Cultivators standing by and watching from a distance. Fortunately, not spotting any trace of the Golden Elixir Forces, the group of cultivators each occupied a small area on the hillside and sat down to meditate, waiting for the secret realm to open. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion let out a sigh of relief and landed on an unoccupied hilltop. Their arrival only caused the cultivators present to frown slightly before disregarding them. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two of them naturally did not seek trouble and found a flat spot to sit down and meditate, while also covertly keeping an eye on the activity around them. Time slowly passed by, and an hour went by. At noon, the sun shone brightly. The scorching sunlight shone down on the earth, and the pale golden rays penetrated through the clouds, illuminating the golden light barrier. As the color of the light barrier became more solid, everyone knew that the secret realm was about to open. At this moment, a black-robed figure suddenly descended from the sky, stopping on a hilltop not far from the Secret Realm Entrance. ¡°Long Hai?¡± a cultivator exclaimed. Seeing Long Hai, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator who occupied this hilltop dared not show any dissatisfaction and quickly vacated the spot, moving elsewhere. The Black Robed Cultivator ignored everyone¡¯s gazes and sat down on a rock to meditate. His reputation seemed to be quite significant, as he made no effort to disguise himself, allowing the cultivators present to recognize him easily. Lin Tianming and his companion also had their attention drawn to this person. As they knew, most people would enter the secret realm stealthily, not showing their true appearance, and would even conceal their aura. The fact that this person did not bother to hide indicated great confidence in his strength, not worrying about being targeted or robbed. Observing Long Hai from several hilltops away, Lin Tianming sent a telepathic message to Lin Shilu. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, have you ever heard of Long Hai?¡± Upon being asked, Lin Shilu pondered for a moment before replying telepathically: ¡°Looking at his demeanor, his cultivation is not low, at least at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, yet within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, I have never heard of this name. He is most likely from the Huangyang Country Cultivation World!¡± After hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave. A Loose Cultivator with a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivating in this place likely possessed a Mysterious Moon Order. If they encountered this person in the secret realm, their chances of victory were slim. ¡°The opening of this secret realm has indeed attracted a large number of cultivators. Apart from the Golden Core Forces, even among the Loose Cultivators, there are some with profound cultivation. It seems this journey is fraught with extreme danger!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the number of cultivators in the canyon had increased significantly. From a few dozen at the beginning, there were now more than a hundred waiting. ¡°Giggle giggle giggle¡­¡± At that moment, a light laughter came along. A richly dressed young woman suddenly appeared on one of the hilltops, attracting the gaze of most cultivators. This woman was dressed in blue palace robes, her eyes were like silk, and she twisted her slender waist as she looked over the crowd. Any cultivator her gaze touched, especially those below the late Foundation Establishment stage, could not help but become entranced, falling into a daze. Only after a few breaths did the affected cultivators regain their clarity. Those who came to their senses changed their expressions dramatically and no longer dared to look directly into her eyes. ¡°Giggle¡­ I didn¡¯t expect Brother Long Hai to be here as well. It seems I won¡¯t be lonely on this trip!¡± The laughter of the richly dressed young woman echoed around, drawing the attention of Lin Tianming and his companion as well. Chapter 247: 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_3 Chapter 247: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_3 Lin Tianming and his companion also opened their eyes, sizing up the palace-dressed young woman and casting a wary look at the momentarily bewildered cultivators around them. Meanwhile, Long Hai regarded the enchanting woman opposite him with an unchanging expression. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°Yun Xianzi, there¡¯s no need to put on an act before me. Your little tricks have no effect on me. It would be best for you to keep your distance in the Secret Realm, otherwise I don¡¯t mind destroying beauty!¡± Long Hai coldly uttered these words and then paid no further attention to Yun Yanrong across from him. On the surface, he seemed indifferent, but internally, he was filled with apprehension. ¡°Giggle¡­ Brother Long really doesn¡¯t spare any pity for beauties¡­ how boring!¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yun Yanrong retorted and then her expression turned serious. She closed her mesmerizing eyes as she waited for the Secret Realm to open. Lin Shilu was sizing up this unfamiliar female cultivator when he secretly sent a message to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tianming, this female cultivator is not simple. She is skilled in Illusion Technique; once affected by it, even for just a moment or two, one could lose their life!¡± Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming nodded. Inwardly, he was curious whether his Eye of Five Colors, which could see through restrictions and formations and had a great suppressing effect on illusions, would be effective against Yun Yanrong whose cultivation far exceeded his own. ¡°I hope I don¡¯t run into these two ruthless individuals,¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. ¡°Tianming, once we enter the Secret Realm, it¡¯s best if we don¡¯t separate. If we do get separated, it¡¯s very dangerous to act alone. We should leave bamboo markers to indicate our path and so facilitate a quick reunion,¡± Lin Shilu instructed via a mental message. After receiving Lin Shilu¡¯s orders, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and, after giving a few instructions, ceased the mental communication as he waited for the Secret Realm to open. Time slowly passed, half an hour went by. The sunlight was at its peak at this time of the day, and as the golden yellow light on the barrier grew deeper, the opening of the Secret Realm was imminent. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Once again, the ground began to shake, and a ten-zhang-wide gap slowly formed on the golden yellow barrier. ¡°The Secret Realm has opened!¡± A few cultivators in the crowd pointed at the gap on the barrier, shouting excitedly. At that moment, all the cultivators present opened their eyes, their gazes fervently fixed on the gap in the barrier. On two mountain peaks, Long Hai and Yun Yanrong each took out a Mysterious Moon Order, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the token. The blood quickly disappeared into the tokens. In an instant, the tokens emitted a bright light and then released a sphere of light that directly entered their foreheads and vanished. Long Hai and Yun Yanrong leapt up and rushed into the gap in the barrier, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. Watching the two enter the Secret Realm, cultivators holding the Mysterious Moon Order began to follow suit. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer stood atop a mountain peak, taking out a Mysterious Moon Order and spewing blood onto it. Just as the blood was about to fall onto the Mysterious Moon Order, a shadow flashed from behind on another peak, snatching the token directly from his hand. The blood sprayed onto the stones in front of the cultivator. Realizing what had happened, the shocked cultivator hastily shot out a fireball towards the shadow. The shadow turned back and with a slash, a Sword Qi engulfed the panic-stricken cultivator. ¡°Ahh¡­ Ahh¡­¡± Two agonized screams sounded. When the dust settled, the silhouette of the cultivator emerged. Struck back by the shadow, the young cultivator had lost an arm and lay weakened on a stone. While everyone was still in a state of shock, the shadow had already taken out blood to activate the token and then dashed as a phantom into the gap of the barrier, vanishing from sight. From the token being snatched to the young cultivator being injured, then to the activation of the token and entry into the gap of the barrier ¨C all of these events happened in the blink of an eye. Before the crowd could react, a series of actions had been completed. With the token snatched and the cultivator wounded, his expression sullen, he immediately took to his flying sword and left. This person was quite decisive. Now injured and with his power halved in the presence of so many covetous cultivators, he did not leave, perhaps even his life would have been forfeited there. While the departure of the injured young cultivator drew everyone¡¯s attention, Lin Tianming and his companion quickly took out their Mysterious Moon Orders, spitting blood onto the tokens. By the time the others reacted, several ferocious-looking cultivators had already rushed over, each clutching a Magic Artifact in their hands. For a moment, the flashing of blades and swords seemed to engulf them both. Learning from the earlier example, Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared, with Second Order Talisman paper in hand, they activated it, forming several barriers in front of them. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± With several loud crashes, the barriers blocked the attacks. At that moment, the tokens shot out two Spirit Groups. As the light spheres entered their foreheads, the two immediately felt a warmth on their brows, and the Spirit Groups eventually vanished into their minds. Lin Tianming and his companion dared not delay; Lin Shilu grabbed Lin Tianming with one hand and a Spirit Sword with the other, unleashing a tremendous Sword Qi as they both charged into the gap in the barrier. Not until their figures disappeared did the several cultivators who had tried to intercept them curse in frustration. At this time, the expressions on the faces of the cultivators at the scene were all tense, witnessing such a scenario, some cultivators with Mysterious Moon Orders began to hesitate. If they activated their tokens, they would inevitably attract the attention of others, possibly even losing their lives if they failed to rush into the Secret Realm Entrance. If they didn¡¯t try to use the token, the Mysterious Moon Order in their hand could turn into a mere fantasy, missing out on this opportunity for nothing. Chapter 248: 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_4 Chapter 248: Chapter 179 Seven-Colored Golden Lotus_4 Watching as the tear in the light screen gradually shrank, if they didn¡¯t make a move now, it would be too late. Some cultivators seemed to have made up their minds. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level was the first to act, but those with impure motives weren¡¯t going to give up the dwindling opportunity. Soon, the scene turned chaotic, as cultivators took advantage of the turmoil to activate their tokens, hoping to rush into the Secret Realm Entrance amidst the confusion. As the tear at the Secret Realm Entrance slowly closed, the light screen returned to its original form. After a chaotic battle, several cultivators still risked their lives to charge into the Secret Realm Entrance, and everyone was above the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level in cultivation, having gone through a baptism of blood and blade to complete the feat perilously. The valley at this time was a sorry sight, littered with ruins and over a dozen corpses sprawled on the ground. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In addition, there were dozens more injured cultivators, each regretfully looking at the restored light screen, their hearts filled with unknown thoughts. To obtain opportunity one had to pay a bloody price, but such a shocking scene had nothing to do with Lin Tianming and his companion. When Lin Tianming and his partner entered the Secret Realm Entrance, and after a dizzy spell, Lin Tianming found himself in a swamp with no one else around. As expected, upon entering the Secret Realm, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were randomly separated. Once everything returned to normal, Lin Tianming started to survey this utterly unfamiliar place. It was a vast swamp, as far as the eye could see, shrouded in a pale green poison fog, which even affected his Divine Sense, reducing it by at least a third, he estimated. Seeing this, Lin Tianming looked tense, quickly taking out a dark green pill from his storage bag¡ªbefore this, he had specially prepared a few such elixirs, spending a hefty sum, and each had retained three pills, in case they encountered this kind of poisonous fog. In just a short while, Lin Tianming felt the inhaled poison fog causing a throbbing pain in his chest; his expression grave, he didn¡¯t hesitate to swallow the Detoxifying Pill in his hand. Having done all this, he gripped the Tiangang Sword in his hand and swung it a few times, creating a discreet bamboo mark on the ground. ¡°I hope Fifteenth Grandfather quickly discovers my mark so we can meet up soon; it¡¯s too dangerous to be alone!¡± After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming, looking at the mark hidden on a mound of dirt, shot off in the direction the bamboo point was indicating. After walking for half a day, Lin Tianming arrived beside a pond. Standing on a rock at the edge of the pond, Lin Tianming fell into a moment of contemplation. ¡°Strange¡­ this swamp is too big. Half a day¡¯s journey and I haven¡¯t reached the edge, nor have I encountered any other cultivators, not even the shadow of a demonic beast!¡± ¡°Is this the legendary, peril-filled Secret Realm?¡± ¡°It feels too unreal!¡± While Lin Tianming talked to himself, he scrutinized the pond spanning tens of feet before him. ¡°Eh¡­ This pond seems rather strange!¡± Lin Tianming murmured softly, noticing something odd about the pond in front of him; despite a breeze blowing by, the not-so-small pond remained completely waveless, calm as a mirror, which was simply too eerie. Under normal circumstances, winds would create ripples across a body of water of this size, but this pond was too still, unsettlingly so. ¡°No matter¡­ this place is too strange. Best to leave for now!¡± Lin Tianming made up his mind; since nothing had emerged, no demonic beasts or treasures, he wouldn¡¯t go looking for trouble. Just as he turned to leave, the undisturbed water surface produced a single ripple, and then, from the center of the pond, a seven-colored lotus emerged. This lotus had only seven petals, each a different color, swaying in the light wind, casting a beautiful seven-colored halo on the surface of the pond. Seeing the lotus appear on the still water, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy as he exclaimed. ¡°The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus!¡± The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was a Third Order Spiritual Material, with every part valuable; its petals could be used to refine elixirs, many of which used these petals as auxiliary materials. Consuming the petals could also enhance one¡¯s cultivation. Beyond that, once the Golden Lotus¡¯s petals fell, they would form varying numbers of seeds. These seeds were truly precious, each capable of strengthening a cultivator¡¯s vital energy and refining their internal organs with remarkable effects, a rare treasure for Body Cultivators. Lin Tianming, watching the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, started to breathe more heavily. ¡°I must obtain it!¡± Lin Tianming thought resolutely. However, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was still not fully ripe and probably needed more time before it could form the seeds¡ªan ordeal that could take half a day to several days. Apart from that, once the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus matured, it was bound to attract demonic beasts, certainly leading to a struggle for possession. Even so, Lin Tianming was not about to pass up such an excellent opportunity. Deciding, he took out fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and covertly positioned all the Spirit Swords in the swamp surrounding the pond, just in case he encountered other cultivators or demonic beasts, so that he could be prepared. After doing all this, the Earth Evil Swords were hidden in the mud, nearly undetectable to the unwary eye. Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then quietly found a small mound, dug out a few feet deep cave, reclined within, and closed in on his mind, concealing his breath as he began to wait. Chapter 249: 180 Innocent Bystander_1 Chapter 249: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_1 In a valley within the secret realm, Lin Shilu¡¯s steps were light as he flitted across the treetops. From the moment he entered the secret realm until now, when his figure emerged, he was constantly on edge, navigating through this vast valley. His luck had been fairly good, not being thrown directly into the path of any demonic beasts, but it wasn¡¯t exceptionally good either, as he hadn¡¯t appeared directly in front of a treasure of heaven and earth. At this moment, he had already been traveling through the valley for two days, covering hundreds of miles. He hadn¡¯t encountered any demonic beasts on his way but had collected a few Second Order spiritual medicines, which was somewhat of a reward. ¡°Huh? Seems like there¡¯s some noise!¡± Lin Shilu thought he had discovered something! He quickly turned his body and concealed himself within the dense foliage of a large tree, gazing intently ahead. Before long, a blue-robed cultivator passed by in front of him, his expression looking somewhat odd, as if, like him, he was puzzled by the lack of living creatures around. This was the only cultivator Lin Shilu had discovered in the two days since he had entered the secret realm, and the only living creature he had seen. Apart from this person, there wasn¡¯t even a bird in sight. Lin Shilu concealed his presence extremely well; the passing cultivator did not notice him. ¡°Forget it, the most important thing now is to find Tian Ming. It¡¯s too dangerous to wander in this vast secret realm alone, I should not create unnecessary complications for now!¡± Lin Shilu secretly thought to himself, and only after the person disappeared in the distance and he could no longer sense his presence, did he emerge from the dense foliage and continue on his way. After one day had passed, Lin Shilu finally crossed the vast valley and arrived at a swamp. Stopping at the edge of the swamp and looking at the thick poisonous fog before him, he hurriedly took out a Detoxifying Pill and swallowed it, then continued to move forward. After walking for a day, he still hadn¡¯t crossed the swamp. Looking around at the poison fog, he felt a bit lost. The situation was too peculiar; he had thought the secret realm would be full of dangers at every turn, but to his surprise, he hadn¡¯t encountered anything along the way. He had barely left the valley and now arrived at this swamp, which he had no idea how large it was. Having walked for so long and still not out, he was now at a loss about where to go next, making him feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Lin Shilu looked resigned as he was about to adjust his direction and prepare to leave when he quietly discovered a discreet marking on a nearby mound. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seeing the marking, he didn¡¯t hesitate a moment and immediately dashed over, arriving at the marked mound. Looking at the bamboo marking on the ground, Lin Shilu¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he immediately looked in the direction it pointed. ¡°Finally found traces of Tian Ming!¡± Lin Shilu murmured to himself, his heart filled with excitement. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had assumed that the secret realm would scatter them far and wide, but unexpectedly they weren¡¯t too far apart; a few days¡¯ travel, for this secret realm of unknown size, could be considered relatively close. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because the two of us entered together that we weren¡¯t scattered too far apart, otherwise it really would have been troublesome!¡± Lin Shilu muttered softly to himself and then quickly followed the direction indicated by the marking. ¡­ At the swamp, beside a placid pond. Time slowly passed, and night gradually fell. In the cave by the pond, Lin Tianming¡¯s divine sense was fully activated, constantly monitoring every movement in his surroundings. It had been two days since the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had surfaced, and there was still no sign of a lotus pod forming, let alone seeing the shadow of a lotus seed. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus formed yet? If this continues, other cultivators will be attracted, which could spell trouble!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, feeling helpless. Despite his urgency, all he could do was wait patiently. Deep into the night¡­ The petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus deepened in color, their multicolored light shining like a bright lamp in the darkness, visible from a hundred yards away. A breeze swept by, and the petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus began to fall, floating on the calm surface of the water, with a unique fragrance drifting through the air. Seeing this, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Tianming¡¯s face, but it quickly turned serious. The blooming of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus in the night was so eye-catching that it was bound to cause trouble, especially since demonic beasts were accustomed to being active at night. There was a chance that the beasts would smell the unusual fragrance or see the dazzling light. Under such circumstances, obtaining the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus would likely entail a significant struggle! ¡°Fortunately, although this poisonous fog brings trouble, it also effectively shields the bright light and prevents the strange aroma of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus from spreading. Only by approaching this pond can the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus be discovered!¡± Hidden in a cave, Lin Tianming thought to himself, praying that no trouble would come his way. Unfortunately, his wish was not granted. Ripples suddenly formed on the previously undisturbed water surface, and a large snake covered in green spots emerged from the water, opening its huge mouth as snake saliva dripped from its green-spotted hide onto the pond bank, making one¡¯s scalp tingle. ¡°Green-Spotted Poison Python!¡± Upon seeing the snake¡¯s head emerge, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned anxious, but he dared not make any rash moves. The Green-Spotted Poison Python was a water-attribute demonic beast and contained a faint trace of an Ancient True Dragon¡¯s blood. Although diluted, it was not to be underestimated and was quite rare in the current Cultivation World, likely only present in some secret realms. And this Green-Spotted Poison Python was a Second Order Late-Stage demon beast. The divine skills of ancient monster serpents were strong, and this snake¡¯s power was probably not less than that of a cultivator at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. Thinking this, Lin Tianming inwardly felt alarmed. Fortunately, he had not stayed by the pond; otherwise, being discovered by this serpent, he might already have become its prey. Chapter 250: 180 Innocent Bystander_2 Chapter 250: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_2 Just as his mind wandered beyond the earthly plane, the Green-Spotted Poison Python in the water pool moved. It swam around the pool as if patrolling its surroundings. After circling around, the Green-Spotted Poison Python didn¡¯t seem to detect anything abnormal and returned to the side of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. Looking at the seven colorful petals that had fallen into the pool, the Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its mouth wide and sucked forcefully, causing several petals to slide over along with the water flow. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt a pang of regret. If Lin Shilu were here, the two of them together might have been able to snatch a few petals, but with his strength alone, he dared not reveal even a breath of his presence, which would be no different from seeking death. He could only watch as the precious petals were swallowed by the monster serpent. Just as the monster serpent was about to swallow the petals, a sound of breaking air came. A grey-robed cultivator emerged from the poison mist, holding a Crescent Hook Artifact in his hand, and on his Daoist robe hung a dark green gourd. ¡°Evil creature, dare not!¡± The grey-robed cultivator shouted angrily, and the Crescent Hook Artifact in his hand shone brightly, sending moon-shaped spots of light directly at the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Meanwhile, the Green-Spotted Poison Python, seeing the moon-shaped spots of light coming at high speed, had no choice but to abandon the petals at its mouth. Raising its head, the Green-Spotted Poison Python saw the approaching spots of light and spat out a green mist, engulfing all the light spots within it. ¡°Ssssss¡­Sss¡­¡± A series of strange sounds came as the light spots in the green mist corroded, producing a plume of black smoke that rose up. Although the attack from the magic artifact was corroded away, the grey-robed cultivator did not panic at all, instead revealing an expression of great joy. He slapped his palm towards his waist, and the dark green gourd hanging there suddenly appeared in his hand. The grey-robed cultivator formed a single-handed seal, mumbling an incantation, then spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the dark green gourd. The dark green gourd instantly glowed with green light and began to swell crazily until it reached half a zhang in size and then hung suspended in front of the grey-robed cultivator. Facing the approaching poison mist, the grey-robed cultivator issued a Law Decree, striking the dark green gourd. The gourd immediately opened its mouth, sucking in the oncoming poison mist. Soon¡­ the poison mist sprayed by the Green-Spotted Poison Python was completely absorbed by the gourd, and the scene regained its normal state. Seeing this, the monster serpent thrashed its body, as thick as a water bucket, and stirred up waves. ¡°Heh heh¡­ This Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s toxin is of good quality, enough for this old man to use for a few days!¡± The grey-robed cultivator laughed contentedly, speaking to himself while watching the enraged Green-Spotted Poison Python. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This gourd of his had a special ingenious use; it was specifically designed to counter all kinds of poisonous mists. It could not only collect the toxic mist of demonic beasts but also release them. It was a nefarious weapon against cultivators. He had used this object multiple times to turn danger into safety, and the role of this dark green gourd was indispensable. In the water pool, the infuriated monster serpent would not give up. It swung its massive body, churning up waves, and quickly formed ice walls that covered the sky and whistled towards the grey-robed old man. It seemed that the monster serpent possessed not insignificant Spirit Wisdom, knowing that the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s gourd could suck in the poison mist, so it switched to a different method of attack. The grey-robed cultivator¡¯s expression became serious as he faced the serpent¡¯s changed method of attack. Faced with the overwhelming ice balls, while he retreated, the magic artifact in his hand once again burst forth with spots of light aiming at the monster serpent. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud explosions sounded as the moon-shaped spots of light collided with the oncoming ice balls. A few moments later, the moon-shaped spots of light were worn down to nothing, but there were still a considerable number of ice balls hurtling towards the grey-robed man. The grey-robed man¡¯s face showed a trace of seriousness. He hadn¡¯t expected the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s other means of attack to be so ferocious, momentarily putting him at a disadvantage. However, being a Loose Cultivator who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level and had slain many powerful enemies and Second Order Demonic Beasts, he had already seen all sorts of strange and wonderful methods. As he retreated explosively, he waved his sleeves, and several Second Order Talismans suddenly appeared in his hand, which he triggered without hesitation and threw out. As the ice balls slammed into the barriers created by the Second Order Talismans, deafening blasts rang out. One by one, the barriers shattered, and the ice balls broke into fragments or fell directly into the mire. For a time, the battlefield was splattered with mud, and numerous deep pits appeared, obviously created by the impact of the ice balls. At that moment, the grey-robed cultivator stabilized his stance. With a slap to his storage bag, he produced a blood-red curved saber in his hand. It emitted a strong evil aura, causing the temperature in the vicinity to involuntarily drop a few degrees. Hidden in the cave, Lin Tianming held his breath, bearing witness to the fierce battle between the grey-robed cultivator and the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Seeing this man take out the evil-filled Curved Saber Artifact, which was irrefutably a Second Order Medium Quality Artifact and a powerful Blood Evil Blade at that, it seemed he was about to get serious. The grey-robed cultivator laughed wildly, with spells flying from his hands and incantations coming from his mouth. ¡°Ice Blood Evil Saber, kill!¡± The Blood Evil Blade in his hand glowed intensely, releasing terrifying Blade Qi that shot straight toward the Green-Spotted Poison Python. In the water pool, the monster serpent moved its body, raising its massive head and spraying out a large amount of dark green liquid, corroding much of the surrounding air. In an instant, the blood-colored Blade Qi arrived above the head of the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The Green-Spotted Poison Python twisted its massive body, desperately trying to dodge the terrifying blood-colored Blade Qi. However, the speed of the Blade Qi was astonishingly fast. While its massive body had explosive force during attacks, at this crucial moment, it became a burden. Chapter 251: 180 Innocent Bystander_3 Chapter 251: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_3 ¡°` sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a piercing screech, the Green-Spotted Poison Python writhed its body desperately, trying to dodge the fatal attack. Alas, having left the water, its flexibility was hindered, and although it avoided the vital parts being hit, its tail was struck by the bloody Blade Qi. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± In pain, the Green-Spotted Poison Python fell back into the pool, rolling about wildly. The dark green liquid it spat out enveloped the grey-robed man like a downpour. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± An acrid stench permeated the air. Only when the dark green poison landed on the swamp did the figure of the grey-robed man become visible again. At this moment, his complexion had turned a bit pale with numerous holes in his Daoist robe, revealing the flesh underneath, much of which was burnt and charred, portraying a somewhat tragic sight. However, the grey-robed cultivator seemed to pay no mind to the minor injuries on his body as he raised his hand to inspect the gourd, a satisfied look appearing on his face. ¡°Heh heh¡­ This poison is quite good, many times stronger than the previous poison mists.¡± He muttered to himself before raising his eyes to look at the pool where the Green-Spotted Poison Python was. The water churned, mixed with scarlet blood, looking quite gorgeous, yet somewhat unnerving. Only when the waves had subsided a little did the shape of the Green-Spotted Poison Python reveal itself. The Monster Serpent seemed weakened, with an injury several inches long on its tail, revealing the flesh inside, almost being decapitated. The serpent no longer dared to expose most of its body, only poking its head above the surface, glaring at the grey-robed cultivator with a malevolent look. At this time, the scent of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus in the middle of the pool became even more potent. The proud lotus pod¡¯s color grew even more vibrant, with the seeds inside breaking free from the confines of the pod, revealing translucent seeds. Seeing the seeds start to emerge, he estimated that in half an hour, they would be fully exposed and ripe. Witnessing this, the grey-robed man¡¯s face lit up with joy as he thought to himself. ¡°I can¡¯t delay any longer. This Secret Realm is filled with danger, and many disciples from the Golden Core Forces have come in. I must fight quickly and decisively, or if discovered by the major powers, all treasures will be lost.¡± Determined, his Ice Blood Evil Saber glowed intensely in his hand as a torrent of Sword Qi and fireballs erupted in the sky, charging towards the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The Green-Spotted Poison Python, eying the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus nearby, became extremely agitated, evidently unwilling to relinquish the treasure it had guarded for many years. Seeing the human approaching again, the serpent opened its mouth to spray poison, turning into a rain of toxic liquid that shrouded the grey-robed man. At the same time, it thrashed its massive tail, sweeping towards the grey-robed man. Obviously, with the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus about to ripen, both the grey-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python had become desperate for the chance, sparing no effort in the fight. For a time, the swamp shuddered non-stop, and flashes of light zipped through the night. Lin Tianming watched the entire scene, not daring to breathe. With such a commotion, neither the grey-robed man nor the Green-Spotted Poison Python was something he could contend with alone. He simply wished for the battle to end quickly, for the victor to collect the spoils and leave so that he might be free to find as many treasures as possible in this incredibly precious time. ¡­ On a mound in the northwest corner of the swamp, Lin Shilu¡¯s feet lightly touched the ground, leaping dozens of feet to land atop a hill. After exiting the ravine, he had come to the midst of this vast swamp, following the markers left by Lin Tianming to his current location. His luck had been far better than Lin Tianming¡¯s. Following a similar path through the swamp, he encountered several Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts, which he killed without exerting much effort, gaining numerous Second Order spirit materials, all prized among their tier. Standing on the mound, Lin Shilu looked thoughtfully at the faint bamboo patterns beneath him. Three days had passed since entering the Secret Realm, and he had traveled nearly a hundred miles in the swamp, spending a whole day without a trace of Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Shilu felt worried as he gazed in the direction indicated by the markers. Just then, a glimmer of light flashed in the night in the direction he was looking at. Despite its briefness, he noticed it. ¡°There¡¯s a disturbance. I wonder if it¡¯s Tianming. It looks like I need to quicken my pace.¡± His face grew serious, filled with anticipation and concern, his emotions complex. Taking a deep breath, he hastened towards the direction of the bamboo markers and soon vanished into the night. By the pool, the waves surged, and the sky was ablaze with light. The grey-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python had fought dozens of rounds, each giving as good as they got. The battle had reached a fever pitch. By now, the grey-robed man¡¯s clothes were torn, his flesh a bloody haze, with large areas corroded by the serpent¡¯s poison. His complexion was pale, and his overall aura was much deflated. Conversely, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was in an even more wretched state, its body covered with dense cuts, most of its scales shed, and a small section of its tail already missing. The Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its maw and let out a shriek, looking at the cultivator in the distance, seemingly considering retreat. Shooting forth a barrage of ice arrows towards the grey-robed man, it then turned and bit towards the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus on the verge of ripening. Seeing the serpent¡¯s actions, clearly not intending to wait for the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus to mature, it was preparing to swallow the most precious part, the pod, and flee. ¡°` Chapter 252: 180 Innocent Bystander_4 Chapter 252: Chapter 180 Innocent Bystander_4 Although the lotus seeds were not fully mature, falling just short of ripe and thus their effect greatly diminished, they were still far better than obtaining nothing at all, or even perishing here. If the monster serpent succeeded, even if he killed the Green-Spotted Poison Python, he would fail to secure the most precious thing. As a result, his loss would be significant. Thinking of these things, the gray-robed man was both shocked and enraged, baring his teeth and grimacing. He waved his sleeve, and several Second Order talismans flew out, transforming into various forms of barriers in the path of the ice arrows, while simultaneously, his Ice Slaughter Knife shone brightly as he furiously slashed at the Green-Spotted Poison Python, intent on stopping the monster serpent¡¯s actions. The gray-robed man, having employed his most powerful efforts, attacked the Green-Spotted Poison Python with a frenzy. Seeing that the ice arrows were mostly dissipated by the barriers formed from the talismans, what remained posed no real threat to the gray-robed man. With a storm of attacks arriving, if it still forcefully swallowed the lotus pod, it would surely not have time to escape and its fate would be death right here. In that instant, the Green-Spotted Poison Python seemed to recognize the dire situation, and under immense pressure, temporarily gave up on swallowing the lotus pod. Even so, under the relentless onslaught of blade Qi and talismans, it had to fight desperately to survive. The monster serpent let out a piercing shriek, spitting out a blood arrow that struck with extreme speed, aimed directly at the gray-robed man. This blood arrow was the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, its strongest strike, used only in desperate times to carve a bloody path for its escape. Seeing the blood arrow coming at an alarmingly high speed, the gray-robed man¡¯s expression turned extremely grave. As he retreated, he pulled out the few remaining Defense Talismans, activating them, which transformed into various barriers in front of him. After doing all this, he still did not feel assured, and quickly took out a small turtle shell shield, pumping it full of vast spiritual power, until the turtle shell expanded and formed a large shell that covered him before he felt somewhat relieved. ¡°Boom¡­¡± a thunderous and earthshaking noise erupted. The gray-robed man and the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s strikes met at the same time. In the blink of an eye, the barriers formed from the talismans shattered one after another, and the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s blood arrow slammed into the turtle shell. Although the barriers formed from the talismans had absorbed some of the power of the blood arrow, its force was still incredibly potent, ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise echoed, and a crack suddenly appeared in the turtle shell, while the red ice arrow began to dissipate. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, the gray-robed man was flung dozens of meters back by the impact of the ice arrow on the turtle shell, barely managing to steady himself. The gray-robed man now looked pale and powerless, with fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, clearly having sustained serious injuries. He raised his hand and saw the crack on the turtle shell, which was about to break apart, resulting in the shell¡¯s defensive power being greatly weakened, probably retaining less than thirty percent of its defensive capacity. Second Order Defense Artifacts are not commonly seen, even a lower-grade Defense Artifact is nearly equivalent to a medium-grade Attack Talisman. Even though he was a cultivator at the late stages of Foundation Establishment, with considerable wealth and status, losing a Defense Artifact was still a painful blow. But he didn¡¯t even have time to feel the pain, as the miserable cries of the Green-Spotted Poison Python came from the water. Looking over, the monster serpent was twisting its body wildly; almost none of its skin was intact. It writhed vigorously, drenched in blood, making no hesitation to flee, no longer caring about the now-ripe Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. The monster serpent turned and twisted, moving rapidly through the mud, heading straight in the direction where Lin Tianming was hiding. Suddenly, a distinct trail of blood-red colored the swamp, evidently the monster serpent¡¯s blood mixing with the mud. For some reason, apart from the direction of the gray-robed cultivator, the monster serpent could have escaped any other way, yet it chose to head in Lin Tianming¡¯s direction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was shocked and horrified. ¡°Why drag me into this mess, you beast!¡± Lin Tianming cursed under his breath, seething with anger. He was a bystander caught in the crossfire, initially considering giving up this opportunity, but now he found himself unexpectedly entangled. More importantly, even if the gray-robed cultivator was injured and his power somewhat diminished, a cultivator at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment was beyond his ability to confront. If it were a Fifth Level Foundation Establishment, he wouldn¡¯t have given up on this chance, willing to take the risk, but against an Eighth Level, he knew very well that he was no match. ¡°How can I escape this!¡± Lin Tianming was extremely anxious, pondering over strategies in his mind. Chapter 253: 181: Annihilate the Enemy_1 Chapter 253: Chapter 181: Annihilate the Enemy_1 Swamp¡­ The grey-robed man¡¯s mouth twisted into a malicious grin upon seeing the Green-Spotted Poison Python attempting to escape. After all, the battle had taken a great deal of effort; he had exhausted an array of tactics and spent a significant amount of treasures, and he had also sustained serious injuries. Thus, the gravely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python had to die to quench his fury. The grey-robed man put away the turtle shell he had in his hand, then grasped the Ice Slaughter Knife, unleashing a terrifying Blade Qi, which he directed at the fleeing Green-Spotted Poison Python. At this moment, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was less than three hundred yards from Lin Tianming, a distance it could quickly cover. Lin Tianming¡¯s heart raced with anxiety, uncertain of what to do. If he revealed himself, he could hardly guarantee that the grey-robed man would spare him; if he remained hidden, he could only hope that the grey-robed man would kill the Green-Spotted Poison Python before it discovered him. Seeing the grey-robed man in pursuit, the Green-Spotted Poison Python was also extremely angry. However, with its strength greatly depleted, the Monster Serpent wanted nothing more than to escape this place as quickly as possible, rather than entangle with the grey-robed man. Yet the injured Monster Serpent slowed down, its power greatly diminished, unable to break free. Just then, the grey-robed man caught up, his presence bursting with Blade Qi, his hands conjuring various Five Elements Spells like fireballs and ice swords. ¡°Monster, you think you can escape? No way!¡± The grey-robed man roared in anger, the Ice Slaughter Knife in his hand ablaze with blood light, as he poured down all his methods, instantly engulfing the Green-Spotted Poison Python. The fury of the storm was clearly intended to kill the Green-Spotted Poison Python in one strike. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Red and yellow light flashed in the night, dazzling like shooting stars. The trapped Green-Spotted Poison Python turned its head and spat out another Ice Arrow, confronting the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s attack head-on. Unfortunately, the severely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s strength was greatly diminished, and its Ice Arrow was immediately overwhelmed by the storm-like Blade Qi, quickly dissipating in the blood light. The relentless Blade Qi struck with the speed of lightning. In this desperate situation, the gravely injured Green-Spotted Poison Python had no way to dodge; it could only try to move away from its vital areas to find a slim chance of survival. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, the blood-colored Blade Qi enveloped the Monster Serpent, countless Blade Qi nicks marking its body as flesh flew and large patches of scales and flesh fell into the mud, staining a large area of the swamp red. ¡°Hss hss hss¡­¡± The Green-Spotted Poison Python opened its mouth, hissing frantically, appearing as if in unbearable pain. The Green-Spotted Poison Python struggled mightily, twisting its riddled body, seemingly still desirous of living. Meanwhile, the grey-robed man¡¯s face wore a stern expression as he watched the Monster Serpent crawl towards Lin Tianming, a hint of mockery in his eyes. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression darkened, his inner hopes completely shattered. The situation was developing in the worst possible way. As the Monster Serpent and the grey-robed man drew closer, Lin Tianming would eventually be discovered if things continued this way. Sure enough, the grey-robed man grasping the Snow Evil Blade leapt forward, releasing a burst of Blade Qi that pierced through the Monster Serpent¡¯s vital spots. The Green-Spotted Poison Python cried out several times, its enormous body struggling a few moments before it lay still, lifeless. The grey-robed man sighed with relief, walked over to the corpse of the Monster Serpent, and began to extract its inner core. At that moment, the grey-robed man¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked toward the mound where Lin Tianming was and sneered. ¡°Fellow Daoist, show yourself!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned extremely solemn as he reluctantly emerged from the cave and stood atop the mound, warily watching the grey-robed man across from him. Their eyes met, and Lin Tianming maintained his composure, bowing to the grey-robed man and explaining, ¡°Esteemed fellow Daoist, I was simply here first and happened upon you arriving. However, I mean no harm and do not intend to interfere. As for the spoils of this place, they are all yours, and regarding this matter, I will absolutely not reveal a single word.¡± Hearing this, the grey-robed man chuckled, also weighing the pros and cons in his heart. Since he couldn¡¯t see through Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation, he hesitated, and since Lin Tianming had stayed hidden, if he had intended to attack, he would have done so by now. Since he had not attacked, it was clear that he wasn¡¯t confident, hence his continuous backing down. ¡°Enough, let¡¯s test the waters first!¡± The grey-robed man thought to himself, then with a smile, he respectfully replied to Lin Tianming, ¡°I see, you may leave at your leisure.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he appeared very nonchalant. He bowed to the grey-robed man and then said casually, ¡°Ha ha¡­ thank you for understanding, fellow Daoist¡­ I shall take my leave now.¡± With that, Lin Tianming turned to leave, but remained vigilant of the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s every move. He was well aware that this man was likely a Loose Cultivator with unpredictable and vicious methods; probably he hesitated to act rashly because he could not fathom Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation. But such a ruthless person would not let him leave so easily, that much was certain. As expected, just as Lin Tianming turned around, the grey-robed man¡¯s Blood Evil Blade surged with blood light. Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed, and as he retreated, he clenched several talismans in his hand, and without any hesitation, activated them. After a loud explosion, the Blade Qi pierced through the barrier formed by the talismans and slashed toward Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming swiftly dodged the greatly weakened Blade Qi, landing on a small mound. Once he had steadied himself, Lin Tianming stared at the grey-robed man, his expression one of shock and anger as he said, ¡°What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoist? Why go back on your word?¡± Chapter 254: 181 Extinguishing the Enemy_2 Chapter 254: Chapter 181 Extinguishing the Enemy_2 Upon hearing these words, the man in the gray robe looked at Lin Tianming with a mocking expression. Clearly, after a probing strike, he had gauged Lin Tianming¡¯s approximate strength and knew that in a one-on-one fight, Lin Tianming was absolutely no match for him. With this in mind, he no longer pretended to play nice and scoffed, ¡°Only the dead tell no tales, so prepare to leave your life behind!¡± Before his words had even finished, the cultivator in the gray robe¡¯s Blood Evil Blade burst into a bright blood light, emitting a multitude of Blade Qi, and slashed toward Lin Tianming. Seeing that the gloves were completely off and fearing that turning to run would only hasten his death, Lin Tianming realized the situation was grim. Yet, as his opponent was likely heavily drained of both Spiritual Power and talisman paper after the previous battle, there was still hope to repel him head-on. Thinking this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart hardened and he decided to fight with all his might, holding nothing back for the sake of himself. With a wave of his hand, his Tiangang Sword shone brilliantly as it too burst into a barrage of Sword Qi, colliding head-on with the oncoming Blade Qi. The two forces exploded upon impact in the sky, with successive booms echoing out. The Blade Qi clearly had the upper hand, breaking through the Sword Qi and continuing its path toward Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming¡¯s face grew stern as he hastily retreated, simultaneously hurling forth the talisman paper in his hand to envelop the cultivator in the gray robe. After making these moves, as the Blade Qi drew perilously close, Lin Tianming pulled out his Green Scale Shield and poured in a copious amount of Spiritual Power, causing the shield to bulge and protect him from behind. The Blade Qi, weakened by the Sword Qi, struck the Green Scale Shield with a thunderous crash, pushing Lin Tianming back dozens of feet before he could steady himself. The swamp was left in shambles, presenting a harrowing sight. Following the clash, Lin Tianming felt numbness in his arms and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He forcibly suppressed it and continued to watch his opponent warily. Merely one exchange had resulted in minor injuries for Lin Tianming, confirming the formidable strength of the cultivator in the gray robe. Upon seeing the Second Order Magical Artifact, the Tiangang Sword, and the Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, in Lin Tianming¡¯s possession, the cultivator hesitated for a moment. ¡°This person¡¯s cultivation might not be high, yet he carries such treasures. Could he be a young master from a Golden Elixir Force?¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Forget it, no matter which force¡¯s offspring he is, if he dies in the Secret Realm and the job is done cleanly, even the Golden Elixir Experts won¡¯t be able to trace a thing!¡± ¡°If I can obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item in the Secret Realm, I can flee far away. After all, I¡¯m just a lone cultivator.¡± The cultivator in the gray robe thought greedily to himself. Little did he know, these treasures were but a small part of Lin Tianming¡¯s wealth. Because this person possessed the Dark Green Gourd, designed specifically to counter poison mists, Lin Tianming dared not use his Thousand Beast Banner for fear that the other could capture its black mist and Soul within the gourd ¨C that was the sole reason he hadn¡¯t employed it. After another round, both fighters lapsed into a brief interlude, during which Lin Tianming pondered his strategy. No longer capable of withstanding a frontal assault, he needed to lure his opponent into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation; with the Sword Array, there might be a sliver of hope. Lin Tianming quickly assessed the situation and decided on a plan. He took out several more pieces of talisman paper, activated them, and threw them at his adversary. His Tiangang Sword then burst forth with Sword Qi, assaulting the cultivator in the gray robe. When Lin Tianming took the offensive, the cultivator was somewhat surprised, but he retaliated with a cold laugh and waved his Blood Evil Blade, unleashing a torrent of Blade Qi again. The two of them threw themselves into battle, a whirlwind of attacks igniting the sky as if flowers blossomed in the night. With frequent swings of his Blood Evil Blade, the cultivator in the gray robe kept the onslaught of Blade Qi coming, while Lin Tianming was just barely able to hold his ground using a multitude of talismanic weapons and the Green Scale Shield. Several rounds of intense fighting rapidly depleted their Spiritual Power. Even though the cultivator had deeper reserves, the successive battles wore him down, preventing him from holding out for much longer. Moreover, after several rounds of attack, the power of the cultivator¡¯s offensive visibly weakened, which was indeed good news. After exchanging blows, Lin Tianming used his Green Scale Shield to block a strike, and exploiting the rebound force, he leapt towards the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming appeared above the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, reaching out to snatch it from the air. Seeing this, the cultivator in the gray robe¡¯s complexion darkened, and he surged with Spiritual Light as he leaped toward Lin Tianming. The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus was not yet ripe; naturally, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t truly destroy the immature plant. His actions were merely to lead the cultivator into the center of the Sword Array. As expected, in desperation, the cultivator failed to think it through and, with the Blood Evil Blade in hand, entered the center of the Sword Array. A hint of joy flashed over the pale-faced Lin Tianming as he pinched a Law Decree and chanted sotto voce. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With the sound of swords humming, the Earth Evil Swords flew up from the depths of the mud, swiftly spinning and quickly forming a Barrier. Lin Tianming released a Law Decree with his hands, striking the operating Sword Array. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, entrap!¡± Lin Tianming shouted forcefully while exerting all his strength to command the Sword Array, trapping the cultivator in the gray robe securely within it. Feeling the constriction of the Sword Array and the wandering Sword Qi inside, the cultivator¡¯s countenance turned exceedingly gloomy. However, he did not panic. Although the Sword Array operated smoothly, it covered a wide area, making it somewhat unstable. While the roving Sword Qi was not weak, it was still not too difficult for him to dodge. It didn¡¯t take long for the cultivator to assess his situation; his Blood Evil Blade glinted red as he fired Blade Qi against the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Under frenzied attacks, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shake violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Chapter 255: 181 Annihilate Enemy_3 Chapter 255: Chapter 181 Annihilate Enemy_3 Lin Tianming dared not be careless, ignoring the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, desperately maintaining the stability of the sword array. ¡°Simply trapping him like this isn¡¯t a solution, the sword formation must be narrowed quickly, otherwise it won¡¯t be long before he breaks through the barrier and comes out!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and immediately started swinging the Tiangang Sword in an attempt to push back the grey-robed cultivator, to buy himself some time. ¡°Tiangang Nine Swords Second Sword!¡± A terrifying burst of Sword Qi shot towards the grey-robed cultivator, its speed so fast it was frightening. After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, this was the first time he had used this Divine Skill. The combined power of the two swords exceeded his expectations. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s face turned solemn, and he took out the damaged turtle shell to shield himself. In an instant, the Sword Qi struck the turtle shell, leaving a deep crack and causing the already weakened shell to sustain more damage. The grey-robed man was forced back several zhang by the Tiangang Sword Qi, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, evidently suffering an internal injury. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Tianming quickly reduced the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, soon reaching a range of several dozen zhang. The grey-robed cultivator turned, his ferocious face glaring at Lin Tianming, looking extremely enraged. With a flick of his fingers over the Law Decree, he spat out blood onto the Blood Evil Blade, which then merged into the blade and disappeared without a trace. At that moment, the Blood Evil Blade began vibrating intensely, letting out series of piercing cries, its blood light growing even more vivid. ¡°Blood Evil Heavenly Blade, break for me!¡± A dreadful moonlight shot up into the sky, then burst forth, slamming into the walls of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face filled with horror; he operated the sword formation with all his might in hopes of withstanding this terrifying strike. In less than a moment¡¯s time, the already stable Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to shake violently, then it stopped functioning, and the fifty-six Earth Evil Swords fell from the sky, dropping into the mud. With the Earth Fiend Sword Formation broken, Lin Tianming¡¯s mind was hit hard. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his breath instantly weakening. The grey-robed cultivator, now free from confinement, looked even paler. To escape the sword formation, he had been forced to use all his strength, resulting in greater consumption of his spiritual power and further aggravating his injuries. His angry gaze fixed on Lin Tianming, now that he had witnessed his Divine Skills, he would no longer take him lightly. At this point, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was dark. Having spent most of his spiritual power and his injuries worsening, he had less than thirty percent of his strength remaining. He gripped the Tiangang Sword, eyeing the grey-robed cultivator in the distance, brainstorming ways to survive. However, with limited strength and severe injuries, this situation clearly seemed like a dead end. And the grey-robed cultivator would not give him any more chances. As he struck the Law Decree on the Blood Evil Blade, a fierce Blade Qi was unleashed, intending to take Lin Tianming¡¯s life. Facing the terrifying Blade Qi, Lin Tianming was all too aware of its power. As the ferocious Blade Qi approached, he bore the intense pain throughout his body and poured a great amount of spiritual power into the Green Scale Shield, desperately blocking this lethal strike. ¡°Pu¡­¡± Where the Blade Qi struck, a crack opened up in the Green Scale Shield. Lin Tianming flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing into the mud, immediately spewing several mouthfuls of blood, nearly vomiting his internal organs. Lin Tianming lay in the mud, his body riddled with open flesh wounds, exposing pale golden bones. The grey-robed cultivator¡¯s full-powered strike had been blocked by Lin Tianming using the Green Scale Shield, but the violent force had injured him, and the shield¡¯s defensive power was greatly reduced, unlikely to withstand a second attack. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, the injuries he sustained were external; his meridians were almost unharmed, and with his robust physique, recovery should not be difficult. He propped himself up with the Tiangang Sword, shakily standing up from the mud, his eyes bloodshot, staring down the grey-robed cultivator. ¡°Hm?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming still alive and able to stand up on his own, the grey-robed cultivator looked utterly incredulous. ¡°No matter the reason, meeting me was your bad luck. But considering your exceptional talent, I¡¯ll grant you a quick end!¡± After muttering to himself, the grey-robed cultivator¡¯s Blood Evil Blade once again unleashed a wave of Blade Qi, slashing straight down. Lin Tianming watched the oncoming Blade Qi with a wry smile, then closed his eyes to await death. Just then, a sound of tearing through the air arrived. Lin Shilu shot towards him at lightning speed, positioning himself firmly in front of Lin Tianming. Lin Shilu steadied himself, his spiritual power surged, and he expanded the Green Scale Shield immensely, shielding both of them behind it. ¡°Bang¡­¡± With a loud noise, the Green Scale Shield remained intact, effortlessly blocking the terrifying Blade Qi until it completely dissipated into spots of spiritual light in the night. Lin Tianming, who hadn¡¯t felt the separation of his body from his head, opened his eyes to see Lin Shilu¡¯s towering figure and wondered if he was hallucinating. He shook his heavy head and lamented, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming is going to meet the ancestors, I¡¯m going to break my promise to protect our family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu immediately slapped his cheek, hoping to wake him up. ¡°Tian Ming, you lad aren¡¯t dead; I¡¯ve arrived in time!¡± Feeling the real sensation on his face and hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s voice, Lin Tianming finally realized that he indeed hadn¡¯t died. At the critical moment, Lin Shilu arrived to block the fatal strike, then he turned to inspect Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries. Thankfully, they had not reached the meridians; healing the external wounds wouldn¡¯t be difficult. He took out two elixirs and stuffed them in Lin Tianming¡¯s mouth, settling him down before turning around, angrily eyeing the grey-robed cultivator. Chapter 256: 181 Exterminate Enemy_4 Chapter 256: Chapter 181 Exterminate Enemy_4 At this moment, upon seeing Lin Shilu rush over, the complexion of the gray-robed cultivator turned extremely ugly. He had previously been locked in intense battle with the Green-Spotted Poison Python for quite some time, already depleting a large amount of Spiritual Power and Talismanic Weapons. In his attempt to kill Lin Tianming, he had exhausted all his methods, leaving his Spiritual Power nearly spent. Now, with Lin Shilu arriving, possessing even stronger strength and Magic Artifacts, under such relentless attack, there was no way he could be his opponent. Thinking of this, the cultivator in the gray robe had already developed the intention to retreat, yet he dared not show it, for fear of betraying his weakness to Lin Shilu. He feigned composure and, with a calm expression, greeted Lin Shilu with a clasped fist: ¡°Fellow Daoist, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus has matured. Why don¡¯t we stop here and share the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus equally, what do you say?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Shilu let out a mocking laugh. ¡°You nearly took the life of my junior, and had I not arrived in time, even extracting your soul and refining your spirit would not quell my anger!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, the gray-robed cultivator realized the gravity of the situation, and he knew that today¡¯s matters could not be resolved amicably. He sighed inwardly, no longer saying much, as the red light from the Blood Evil Blade in his hand intensified and he took the initiative to attack. Seeing the corpse of the Green-Spotted Poison Python on the ground, as well as Lin Tianming¡¯s condition, Lin Shilu knew that this man¡¯s power must have been greatly diminished, not worth fearing at all. ¡°Hmph¡­ merely the last burst of a dying flame. I will send you on your way and avenge my grandson!¡± Lin Shilu let out a cold chuckle, his Spirit Sword emitting waves of sonorous sword cries while Spiritual Power frantically poured into the sword. In an instant, the Spirit Sword blazed with Golden Light and the wind rose fiercely, billowing his robes and revealing a terrifying intent to kill. Without any reservations, his move was the strongest attack, intending to end the battle with a single strike. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A thunderous roar echoed, as blood-red Blade Qi collided with the Golden Sword Qi, exploding in the night sky and forming a huge and dazzling fireball. After the strike, neither had the upper hand. Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed and he felt the fearsome strength of the man in the gray robe, wondering how Tian Ming had managed to endure for so long against him. Regathering his focus, he did not give his adversary any chance to catch a breath as his Spirit Sword once again burst forth with power. In an instant, the two were locked in combat, the night sky flashing with light, each burst signifying a fierce clash. After nearly ten rounds, the gray-robed man managed to block a strike but his face turned pale and bloodless, gasping for air. After a fierce exchange, initially, the two were almost evenly matched, but as the fight progressed, his Spiritual Power depleted rapidly and hit bottom, constantly pressured by Lin Shilu, forcing him into a defensive position. At this moment, he felt incredibly stifled. Had he been in peak condition, Lin Shilu would not have been a match for him. Now, with little Spiritual Power left and no Magic Artifacts or talisman paper to help, he found himself on the brink of life and death. Lin Shilu¡¯s condition was still much better. Although he also had several wounds and had consumed a lot of Spiritual Power, his combat strength was hardly affected. Well aware of the dangers in the Secret Realm, he sighed a breath of murky air, resolving to finish off this man quickly. Making up his mind, his Spirit Sword glittered with Golden Light, holding a few more talisman papers in hand, and he showered them down on the man in gray, vowing to thoroughly exterminate him. Seeing Lin Shilu pull out all the stops without reservation, the man in gray turned deathly pale, knowing his chances were slim. The Spiritual Light of his turtle-shell artifact flashed as he poured all of his remaining Spiritual Power into it. The inflated turtle shell protected him from behind, awaiting the judgment of fate. At that moment, the gray-robed man intensely regretted not having settled the Green-Spotted Poison Python and that junior earlier. Alas, time could not flow backward, and what was done could not be undone. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A loud boom erupted, lighting up a thousand zhang radius in the night with a massive fireball. As the firelight dissipated and the sky returned to pitch black, it was revealed that many charred limbs were scattered, falling haphazardly among the swamp¡¯s muddy terrain. And then, in the night, all fell silent once again, everything returning to calm¡­ Chapter 257: 182 Collaboration_1 Chapter 257: Chapter 182 Collaboration_1 Seeing the gray-robed man¡¯s head severed from his body, not a single limb remained intact. Lin Shilu let out a long sigh of relief and walked towards Lin Tianming¡¯s location. At that moment, Lin Tianming was sitting cross-legged on a mound. Due to the healing pills he had taken earlier, his injuries had slightly improved. Although unable to fight, he was now able to move normally. Seeing Lin Shilu kill the gray-robed man without any harm, Lin Tianming was extremely excited inside. ¡°Tianming, how are your injuries?¡± Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s concerned greeting, Lin Tianming felt warmth in his heart, and then said: ¡°They are mostly superficial wounds, it won¡¯t take long for me to recover to my peak condition.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, gave a few instructions for him to rest and recover from his injuries, and then stepped towards the body of the gray-robed man. The two of them had finally decided the outcome after a fierce battle. However, this was truly a close call. If he hadn¡¯t arrived in time, Lin Tianming might have already fallen. As for the gray-robed man, his luck was extremely bad. Despite being a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, after several battles, he was actually killed by Lin Shilu, whose cultivation was two realms lower. ¡°This truly is the capriciousness of fate!¡± Lin Shilu sighed, and then collected the storage bag of the gray-robed man. After doing these, he immediately went to the edge of the pool, looking at the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus with a face full of ecstasy. The Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had now fully matured, and its plump lotus pod was embedded with five crystal-clear seeds. The seven colorful petals that had already fallen were floating on the clear water surface. Lin Shilu reached out his palm and, through the air, he gathered the seven petals, then plucked the plump lotus pod. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the lotus vine with its petals and pod collected, Lin Shilu felt a bit of regret; it would have been great if he could bring it back to his clan. Unfortunately, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus had extremely high requirements for its growing environment and couldn¡¯t be transplanted, so he had no choice but to leave the vine there. Lin Shilu turned around, then walked towards the body of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, collecting the scales that had fallen along the way. These scales were treasures, even higher grade than those of the Qingxu Snake. Lin Tianming¡¯s Green Scale Shield was severely damaged, so it was a good idea to collect some scales to repair his defense artifact. Soon, he had gathered enough scales to repair the Green Scale Shield. He then swung the Spirit Sword in his hand, cutting off parts suitable for artifact refining, and then chopped the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body into segments to collect. In less than half an hour, the corpse of the monster serpent had vanished without a trace, and the body of the gray-robed cultivator was burnt to ashes by a fireball. Lin Shilu did a simple cleanup of the battlefield, erasing a lot of traces. After clearing the battlefield, Lin Shilu scanned the pond and the surroundings once more, but unfortunately, did not find any more treasures. After a complete search, Lin Shilu finally returned to the original spot. After a short rest, Lin Tianming finally regained some spiritual power, the injuries on his body stopped bleeding, and he could move freely. The two of them gathered together, with Lin Shilu looking at the calm pond and suddenly speaking: ¡°Tianming, this place is extremely dangerous, we must leave immediately and find a place to recuperate and prepare.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and after discussing with each other, they chose a direction and hurried away. Half a day later. The two of them finally exited the swamp and entered a beautiful valley. Lin Shilu¡¯s Divine Sense spread wide, checking the surrounding situation, and found no anomalies. After ensuring safety, they immediately found a spot to set up a simple cave abode. He raised his hand to cast a few Illusion Techniques, then took out a set of First Order Array Flags and arranged them around the cave. After doing these, he felt somewhat at ease, and the two of them then entered. Sitting in the cave, Lin Shilu took out the lotus pod of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, and a special fragrance emitted, soon filling the entire cave. Seeing this item, Lin Tianming showed a look of longing. Lin Shilu chuckled, and then carefully handed over a lotus seed to Lin Tianming. ¡°The time that the Secret Realm is open is limited. We can¡¯t afford any delays now. This lotus seed is extremely effective; it can rapidly restore spiritual power and accelerate injury healing. More importantly, it can assist your physical body in breaking through.¡± He listed many benefits in one breath. Then he instructed: ¡°Time is of the essence. Use it to recover from your injuries while enhancing the strength of your physical body. Also, bring your Green Scale Shield over, and I will repair it for you.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, his complexion filled with excitement. With Lin Shilu¡¯s help, the damaged Green Scale Shield could be used again. Otherwise, it would be way too dangerous in the perilous Secret Realm. After taking the lotus seed, he handed his Green Scale Shield to Lin Shilu, and then immediately sat down and began rotating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation to adjust his condition. Seeing this, Lin Shilu wasn¡¯t idle either. He sat down, adjusted his own condition, and then took out a large number of Green-Spotted Poison Python scales and the materials needed for Artifact Refining from his storage bag, and began repairing the Green Scale Shield for Lin Tianming. After nearly half an hour, Lin Tianming felt his condition had reached its peak. He looked at the lustrous and transparent lotus seed in his hand and swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the lotus seed entered his mouth, a powerful energy immediately burst forth, like a raging fire, extremely domineering. Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned red, as the violent energy coursed through his meridians. Not daring to delay, he quickly operated his cultivation technique to begin integrating the energy. After half a beat, the energy had become milder after integration but was still domineering. Chapter 258: 182 Cooperation_2 Chapter 258: Chapter 182 Cooperation_2 He carefully manipulated the stream of energy, guiding it through the seven meridians and eight collaterals, finally converging in the Qi Sea Dantian. However, as the energy flowed through, a peculiar sensation reached his mind, and he felt as though he was drifting atop the clouds, experiencing an ultimate level of comfort. Not only that, but as more and more energy was refined, his wounds began to tingle pleasantly, visibly healing at a speed visible to the naked eye, quickly scabbing over. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with great joy, astonished at the unexpectedly powerful effect of the lotus seed. Once he collected his thoughts, he focused all his efforts on refining the lotus seed¡¯s energy, further healing his injuries and tempering his own body. ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± Sounds resonated as his organs, skin, and meridians were all effectively strengthened by the powerful energy transformation from inside the lotus seed. Time quietly slipped away, and three days passed in the blink of an eye. In the simple cave abode, Lin Tianming breathed steadily, and from within his body, sounds echoed at intervals with each deep breath. After a series of sounds, he opened his tightly shut eyes, and a flash of brilliance flickered through them. By then, the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus seed had been completely refined. Feeling the quick flow of spiritual power throughout his body, as well as the further strengthened organs and meridians, Lin Tianming clenched his fist, revealing a gratified smile. Within three days, his injuries had largely healed, and his strength was now greater than before. Lin Tianming stood up and twisted his slightly stiff body, then turned to look at Lin Shilu. At this moment, Lin Shilu was busily engaged in repairing the Green Scale Shield, seemingly at a crucial juncture. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was seen flickering the spells in his hand, emitting talismans that flew out and then disappeared into the surface of the Green Scale Shield. Half a quarter of an hour later, a piercing noise sounded, and the Green Scale Shield lit up with spiritual light before returning to normal. With a single wave of his hand, the Green Scale Shield quickly shrank and he grabbed it in his hand. After a close examination, Lin Shilu revealed a satisfied expression. With the addition of scales from the Green-Spotted Poison Python, the defensive power of the Green Scale Shield, although slightly inferior to before, could still reach about eighty to ninety percent of its original strength, which was very impressive. If not for the limited time and materials, restoring the Green Scale Shield to its peak condition was absolutely possible, or even surpassing its previous state wasn¡¯t impossible, considering the scales of the Monster Serpent belonged to a Second Order Late Stage Beast, which was much stronger than those from the initial or middle phases. ¡°Tianming, give it a try,¡± Lin Shilu said, chuckling as he tossed the Green Scale Shield to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming caught the Green Scale Shield, activated the spell, and then channeled a large amount of spiritual power into it, causing the palm-sized shield to swell rapidly. After a moment, he retracted the shield, sporting a satisfied look on his face. ¡°How is it? Are you satisfied?¡± Lin Shilu asked with a smile. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, to restore the shield¡¯s defensive power to eighty or ninety percent in such a short time exceeds my expectations,¡± Tianming replied. ¡°Hmm, indeed it does,¡± Lin Shilu said chuckling again, before taking out the storage bag of the man in the grey robe and handing it to Lin Tianming, gesturing for him to open it and check the spoils of the battle. To count their loot was certainly something Lin Tianming enjoyed. He took the storage bag and effortlessly wiped away the remaining Divine Sense from it. He extended his Divine Sense and took out the items one by one from inside the storage bag, arranging them before both of them. At that moment, the duo looked at the treasure spread before them with an exceptionally thrilled expression. The belongings of the cultivator in gray robes were extremely wealthy. After all, as a Loose Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level who had cultivated for nearly a hundred years to reach this realm, he must have done many heinous and murderous acts. Just from his storage bag, they obtained more than thirty thousand Spirit Stones, one Third Order Spiritual Medicine, dozens of Second Order Spiritual Medicines, and a complete variety of Second Order Pills, numbering over twenty in total, mostly used for everyday cultivation and combat. Besides these, there were varying amounts of Artifact Refining Materials and Demon Beast Corpses, clearly accumulated from his years of hunting or acquired from other cultivators. Regrettably, they did not find any high-grade Cultivation Techniques or advanced insights; they only acquired two Yellow Grade Techniques and some experiences from a Second Order Inscription Master, all of which were quite ordinary and not very useful for the Lin Family at this point. As for magic artifacts, there were just his eerie Dark Green Gourd and the Blood Evil Blade. The defensive tortoiseshell artifact was already badly damaged, nearly reduced to junk, and other defensive measures like talismans had long since been used up. Even so, the gains from the battle were still beyond imagination, and excluding the magic artifacts and technique insights, the treasures acquired were worth at least sixty to seventy thousand Spirit Stones. Looking at the treasure scattered on the ground, Lin Shilu, with an excited grin, said: ¡°Tianming, we¡¯ll split the magic artifacts and Spirit Stones between us, and we¡¯ll divide the pills as well. We¡¯ll select some useful items for ourselves from the rest, and contribute the remainder to our family. What do you think?¡± Naturally, Lin Tianming had no objections, and with understanding smiles, the two of them began the division. In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu had completed their division, each stowing their treasures in their storage bags. Lin Tianming obtained the mysterious gourd and was also allotted ten thousand Spirit Stones, while all the pills went to Lin Shilu, since Lin Tianming, being an Alchemist, found the pills relatively unnecessary. Apart from this, his greatest interest was in the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus; the effect was simply too beneficial. Just one lotus seed had significantly increased the strength of his body, and if all were refined, he would undoubtedly become even stronger. Chapter 259: 182 Cooperation_3 Chapter 259: Chapter 182 Cooperation_3 Lin Shilu knew that Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, so he only took a petal and a lotus seed, leaving the rest to him. From the remaining treasures, Lin Tianming took more than ten relatively uncommon spiritual medicines and the inner core of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, while Lin Shilu accepted several pieces of precious spirit material and some Demonic Beast materials. After the allocation, both of them obtained a great number of treasures. Lin Shilu gave a knowing smile, then changed the topic to discuss the next plan. ¡°Tianming, we have been in the Secret Realm for more than seven days, a quarter of the time has passed. What do you think should be our next move?¡± Lin Tianming pondered for a moment before speaking: ¡°We obtained the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, as well as so many treasures; this journey has already been quite fruitful. If we stay here safely until the Secret Realm closes, that would be the most prudent.¡± ¡°However, the Secret Realm is full of opportunities, and such a chance is rare. It would be a pity to waste time just like that.¡± Upon hearing this, a flash of spiritual light gleamed in Lin Shilu¡¯s eyes, and he nodded, saying: ¡°I have the same considerations. Although we have already gained a lot, these things alone are not enough to raise our family to a new level.¡± ¡°Moreover, there¡¯s still plenty of time. If we give up this opportunity, who knows how many years it might be before we can enter a Secret Realm again.¡± Lin Tianming nodded his head, finding Lin Shilu¡¯s thoughts aligned with his. In the remaining time, as long as they were cautious, and avoided provoking those major forces¡¯ descendants, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about their lives when encountering ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, since the two of them could join forces. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming immediately discussed the next detailed plan with Lin Shilu. Half an hour later, the two left the makeshift cave dwelling and appeared in the valley. The harsh sun beat down on the quiet, beautiful valley. Lin Shilu glanced at the scorching sun overhead, chose a direction, and then entered the dense forest. Lin Tianming quickly followed him, and the two disappeared from the spot. Time slowly passed, and several days went by. They had now reached a vast forest, where they paused atop a tree canopy, pondering the endless forest in the distance. After trekking for several days, they still hadn¡¯t left the forest. Gazing at the boundless jungle ahead, Lin Tianming felt a sense of helplessness. Over the past few days, they hardly rested, searching for treasures during the day and finding places to rest at night, never wasting a moment. Along the way, they encountered a few Loose Cultivators, all of whom wisely avoided each other, and no unnecessary conflicts occurred. Lin Tianming and his companion were especially cautious. When they encountered two Second Order Demonic Beasts, they killed them. With such efforts, they both gained a fair bit, acquiring dozens of Second Order Spiritual Medicines, most of them quite rare. Just then, a series of loud noises came from a valley ahead, alerting both of them instantly. ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s noise ahead; it seems like there¡¯s a fight going on,¡± Lin Shilu said. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming nodded and asked with curiosity: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what shall we do next?¡± Lin Shilu furrowed his brows, feeling somewhat conflicted in his heart. The situation was still unclear, and rash involvement could mean danger. However, before he could ponder further, the commotion ahead grew louder, and it was clear that it was moving rapidly. Lin Tianming and his partner quickly hid in the nearby bushes and then vigilantly watched ahead. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a short while, they saw a man in black hurrying towards their location, his expression quite panicked. It wasn¡¯t until the man got closer that the two recognized him; it was Long Hai, whom they had seen at the Secret Realm Entrance. It seemed Long Hai had discovered them beforehand, as he came straight towards the bushes, pausing several hundred yards away and looking intently at what was pursuing him. At that moment, a group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts, each about a zhang in size, chased after him. Seeing Long Hai stop fleeing, they halted, baring their teeth and watching him warily, seemingly hesitant to approach. Long Hai¡¯s expression grew serious. He turned and addressed the bushes: ¡°There¡¯s no need for you two fellow cultivators to hide any longer. I have come here because I¡¯ve already spotted you.¡± At these words, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s expressions shifted, and they unwillingly emerged from the bushes, then cautiously eyed Long Hai and the Dragon-Eyed Beasts before them. Maintaining some distance from Long Hai, they prepared themselves for possible action. ¡°What do you mean, Long Dao-you? We are just passing through, and we bear no grudges against you, nor are we interested in getting involved in your affairs,¡± Lin Shilu said coldly. Hearing this, Long Hai maintained a calm expression and looked at them with a wry smile: ¡°Now it¡¯s not a matter of whether you want to be involved or not. The Dragon-Eyed Beasts are not weak and have already set their sights on us. It won¡¯t be easy to retreat unharmed without fighting them off.¡± Lin Tianming and his partner¡¯s expressions darkened at this, as they looked towards the Dragon Eye Beast Clan opposite them, feeling a touch of helplessness. Long Hai¡¯s words weren¡¯t untrue; the power of this group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts was extremely formidable. Fifteen Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts were among them, including two at the Late Stage, and the rest at the Medium Stage and the Initial Stage. As for the First Order, there were nearly a hundred of them. Although the strength of the First Order beasts was not a significant threat to them, the sheer number was still quite formidable. And such a mighty clan of Dragon-Eyed Beasts was indeed terrifying. More importantly, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts were Ancient Exotic Beasts. Although not known for their attack power, they were incredibly fast. Even a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast could move faster than a Medium Stage Cultivator, making it easy to imagine the difficulty of retreating unharmed from their clutches. Chapter 260: 182 Cooperation_4 Chapter 260: Chapter 182 Cooperation_4 No wonder Lian Longhai, a Loose Cultivator with such a formidable reputation, fled at the wind. Lin Tianming muttered to himself internally. Well aware of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts¡¯ formidable strength, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned unpleasant as he spoke to Long Hai: ¡°Dragon friend, by drawing disaster toward us and involving us innocents, shouldn¡¯t you give us an explanation?¡± ¡°An explanation?¡± Long Hai let out a chuckle, then said: S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In the nest of these Dragon-Eyed Beasts, there is no shortage of treasures, among which is White Jade Grass. How¡¯s that for an explanation?¡± Hearing mention of White Jade Grass, the two Lin Tianming were shocked. White Jade Grass is the main ingredient in crafting Foundation Establishment Pills. Apart from Golden Core Forces, it¡¯s almost impossible to find in the Cultivation World and only appears in such Secret Realms. What the Lin Family currently lacked was White Jade Grass. If they could obtain some and craft Foundation Establishment Pills, the clan¡¯s foundation would reach a new level. Thinking this, Lin Shilu was very clear-headed. How could one easily believe the words of a stranger? Seeing the expression on their faces, Long Hai continued: ¡°Although these Dragon-Eyed Beasts are strong, with our combined efforts, it¡¯s not like we have no fighting chance. How about we join forces to kill them and then divide the treasures within?¡± Upon hearing Long Hai¡¯s words, the two Lin Tianming did not believe him and began to communicate in secret. ¡°Tianming, do you think there¡¯s truth or deception in his words?¡± Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming communicated back: ¡°Regardless of truth or falsehood, we have no choice now. With his deep cultivation, if he were to leave directly, it would not be easy for us to retreat unharmed. Although cooperating with him is akin to seeking skin from a tiger, it¡¯s still better than facing the Dragon-Eyed Beasts alone.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s communication, Lin Shilu secretly nodded. Then, he asked aloud: ¡°Dragon friend, words alone are no proof. If there really is White Jade Grass, I¡¯m willing to take a chance. But if there isn¡¯t, the two of us will definitely not take the risk.¡± Long Hai seemed to anticipate their worries. He waved his sleeve, and suddenly, a spiritual plant about one foot tall with a body of pure white appeared in his hand. Seeing this item, it was undoubtedly genuine White Jade Grass, and the two Lin Tianming¡¯s breathing quickened. Long Hai put away the White Jade Grass and then asked: ¡°How about it? Have the two fellow Daoists thought it through?¡± Lin Shilu nodded, having made up his mind, he replied, ¡°Dragon friend, let¡¯s speak frankly. If we succeed, how shall we divide the spoils of war?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu speak of cooperation, Long Hai smiled and said: ¡°Since I discovered this item and my strength is superior to yours, naturally, I should take the larger share. Of the treasures we obtain, I will take seventy percent, and you will take thirty percent.¡± As soon as Long Hai proposed his division scheme, Lin Shilu immediately protested. ¡°Dragon friend, your words are unfair. It¡¯s true that you discovered this, but seventy percent is too much. Our contribution to the effort should at least give us fifty percent.¡± Before he could finish speaking, Long Hai¡¯s expression changed. However, he also had concerns¡ªshould Lin Tianming really decide not to cooperate, it would be impossible for him to escape unscathed alone. With this in mind, his attitude softened considerably, and he began to bargain. Soon, they reached an agreement: Long Hai would receive sixty percent, and they would get forty percent. To this division of spoils, the two Lin Tianming were quite satisfied. Given the current situation, it was unlikely for either party to succeed against the Dragon-Eyed Beasts alone. Only by cooperating could they achieve greater results and was the most advantageous approach. Long Hai and Lin Shilu both chuckled, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed. They then looked toward the group of Dragon Eye Beasts ahead. Neither side launched an attack, and the Dragon-Eyed Beasts did not dare to initiate one either. The two sides were at a standoff, with a big battle on the verge of erupting. Chapter 261: 183: Join Forces to Exterminate Demons_1 Chapter 261: Chapter 183: Join Forces to Exterminate Demons_1 As the standoff ensued, Lin Tianming was sizing up the Dragon-Eyed Beasts on the opposite side. Each of these Dragon-Eyed Beasts was baring their teeth and snarling, with the two strongest at the Second Order Late Phase having an aura almost as formidable as that of the Green-Spotted Poison Python. Among the dozen or so other Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, each radiated a robust presence, clearly indicating they were not to be trifled with. In the current situation, fraught with extreme risk, Lin Tianming clenched his Tiangang Sword tightly, his expression immensely solemn. ¡°Long Hai, since we have decided to make a move, let¡¯s do it quickly and decisively,¡± Lin Tianming said. No sooner had Lin Shilu spoken than he was the first to strike. With a flick of his Law Decree, his Spirit Sword glowed brightly with golden light, and the Golden Sword Qi burst forth, cutting towards the group of Dragon-Eyed Beasts in an instant. Lin Tianming was no less decisive. With a slap to his storage bag, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords shot out and scattered, quickly forming a Sword Array that enveloped an area several hundred zhang around. With the Dragon-Eyed Beasts all clustered together, they were unable to react to Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden move. Only the Dragon-Eyed Beasts of the Medium Stage and above managed to escape the range of the Sword Array; the majority were ensnared within it. Only when the Sword Array began to operate did the Dragon-Eyed Beasts feel the constraints it imposed, desperately trying to break free. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming and another make their move, Long Hai wasted no time. He waved his sleeve and out came a three-foot-long Curved Saber from his hand, emanating a fierce Blade Qi that devoured the surrounding Spiritual Energy, revealing it to be a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact. He struck the back of the saber with his palm, unleashing a powerful Blade Qi that slashed at the Dragon-Eyed Beasts trying to break the constraints. Where the Blade Qi passed, the Dragon Demonic Beasts scattered to avoid it, but there was still a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast that couldn¡¯t escape in time and was cleaved in two by his single strike. In a single blow, none of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts below the Late Phase of Second Order proved a match for him, and his Eighth Level Foundation Establishment might was fully showcased. Long Hai¡¯s actions, which not only killed an Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast, alleviating a great deal of pressure for himself, but also blocked those attempting to escape from the Sword Array, bought him enough time. Seeing the Sword Array begin to function, Long Hai leapt into action, charging toward the two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts that had escaped. The two Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts gathered together. They seemed to recognize Long Hai¡¯s prowess, surrounding him and lunging with their formidable claws towards him. The remaining four at the Middle Stage, recklessly charging over, sought to rescue their trapped kin but were intercepted by Lin Shilu. In a moment, the entire battlefield was divided into three areas: Long Hai dealt with the two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts, Lin Shilu with the four at the Second Order Medium Stage. And Lin Tianming contended with the remaining eight at the Second Order Initial Stage, as well as a large number of First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Witnessing a multitude of Demonic Beasts within the Sword Array, Lin Tianming¡¯s countenance was grave, not daring to be the least bit careless. While controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his Tiangang Sword moved frequently in his hands, steadily repressing those Dragon-Eyed Beasts and confining them firmly within. For a time, the sky was filled with swirling Sword Qi, and the growls of many First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts being slaughtered filled the air. Seeing a large number of First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts dying, the eight Second Order ones inside became completely enraged. Though restricted by the Sword Array, there was still a large area for them to maneuver around with their remarkable speeds, and the density of the Sword Qi within the array was insufficient to catch them. Moreover, the sheer number of the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts put so much pressure on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation that it began to tremble violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Observing this, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, casting several Second Order Attack Talismans from his hand, which transformed into copious Sword Qi to block several Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts from completely breaking through the Sword Array¡¯s defenses. In the gap created as these Demonic Beasts were thwarted, he stabilized the faltering Sword Array. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, even though the Sword Array was made stable once more, it would likely collapse again without some means of suppression. With this in mind, he patted his storage bag and the Thousand Beast Banner appeared in his hand instantly. The Law Decree in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flickered and struck the Thousand Beast Banner, infusing it with a massive amount of Spiritual Power. The banner radiated a glow, sending a wave of black mist towards the nine Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. At the same time, within the black mist, spheres of light transformed into fearsome giant beast illusions that savagely pounced on the opposing Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Inside the Sword Array. The eight Dragon-Eyed Beasts roared and lunged, fangs bared and claws waving, engaging in fierce combat with the multitude of Monster Beast Souls. ¡°Roar, roar, roar.¡± Intense roars erupted as one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts raised its powerful claws, swatting away a Qingxu Snake Soul from the Initial Stage of the Second Order. At that moment, more Monster Beast Souls converged, bounding and tearing into a Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast, trapping it in their midst. The pained Dragon-Eyed Beast grew wildly agitated, struggling hard to break free. Despite its speed, however, it was hard-pressed to escape due to the roaming Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the relentless biting of the Monster Beast Souls. Under this double pressure, escape was near impossible. Seeing this, the remaining Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts joined the fray, fighting ferociously with the Monster Beast Souls. With the addition of these few Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, the battle took a sharp turn. Despite the large number of souls and a fair number of those at the Second Order, their attacks were considerably weaker than when they were alive, rarely reaching even twenty percent of their original strength. Chapter 262: 183: Joining Forces to Exterminate the Demon_2 Chapter 262: Chapter 183: Joining Forces to Exterminate the Demon_2 For a time, the souls within the Thousand Beast Banner were at a disadvantage, with the souls of the First Order Demonic Beasts dying in great numbers. Only the Second Order managed to hold on, but the entire group of souls was beaten back steadily. Lin Tianming showed no panic. He spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Thousand Beast Banner, and the dark green flag suddenly burst into bright light. A thick black fog surged out, quickly enveloping a large area within the sword array. As soon as the black fog appeared, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts¡¯ speed was affected, and they barely managed to stop the decline. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword flickered with silver light and shot towards the Dragon-Eyed Beasts within the black fog. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Second Sword.¡± The sword qi moved with incredible speed, stabbing towards a Dragon-Eyed Beast that was surrounded by monster beast souls. The targeted Dragon-Eyed Beast panicked upon seeing the attack of the Tiangang Sword coming, frantically biting at the souls around it, trying to break through and escape. However, although the souls¡¯ strength was limited, they were not easily letting it escape due to their overwhelming numbers. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword pierced through the body of the Dragon-Eyed Beast, and a pitiful howl sounded as the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast was slain by the Tiangang Sword. As the Dragon-Eyed Beast fell to the ground, the Tiangang Sword, dripping with blood, returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. With the suppression of the sword array and the black fog, and the relentless entanglement by the souls, the Dragon-Eyed Beasts¡¯ speed no longer held any advantage. Although Lin Tianming possessed only the strength of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, the power he burst forth with was definitely not inferior to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator. Under such circumstances, dealing with a Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast was naturally not a problem. However, such a confrontation caused him a great drain on his spiritual power. With the overwhelming number of Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts, relying on the Tiangang Ninth Sword to slay them all would likely be somewhat laborious. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not use the Tiangang Ninth Sword again, but instead, he steadily controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, starting to shrink it. In the blink of an eye, the range of the sword array shrank to just over two hundred zhang and had become extremely stable. As the sword qi inside became more dense, the pressure on the Dragon-Eyed Beasts intensified. The Dragon-Eyed Beasts were now extremely terrified, as the remaining seven Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts simultaneously opened their huge maws, spewing out fireballs towards the Sword Array Barricade. Seeing the Dragon-Eyed Beasts unleash their Innate Divine Abilities, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew extremely grave. The attacking power of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts was otherwise not remarkable, but the fireballs produced by the collaborative effort of the seven would certainly be formidable. He feared the Earth Fiend Sword Formation might not withstand their relentless onslaught. Thinking this, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and a Flaming Red Talisman suddenly appeared in his hand, which was a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman he had purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. As he looked at the fire attribute attack talisman in his hand, a look of pain flickered across his face. He had not used it even during the fierce battle with the grey-robed cultivator, considering that a talisman capable of a strike akin to a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn¡¯t be very effective against the grey-robed man at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. That¡¯s why he had kept it until now. ¡°This cost three thousand spirit stones,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Meanwhile, he threw the talisman into the air and followed by a spell that he cast on the Flaming Red Talisman. The talisman instantly shot out countless flames, forming a vast sea of fire that poured down upon the Dragon-Eyed Beasts within the sword array. ¡°Boom, rumble¡­¡± The flames produced by the talisman and the fireballs spat by the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts collided fiercely, creating a massive mushroom cloud. For a moment, the sky was ablaze with red, the heat from the explosion so intense that it roasted the First Order Medium Grade Dragon-Eyed Beasts alive. After the explosion subsided into torrents of flaming rain, it covered the entire sword array, drenching any surviving Dragon-Eyed Beasts, leaving them soaking wet. Just one Second Order Superior Attack Talisman had killed eighty percent of the First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. Only a few from the First Order Late Stage remained alive, each with varying degrees of injuries. The Divine Skills of the seven Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts were interrupted, and they roared in fury; but, upon looking at Lin Tianming again, a trace of fear appeared in their eyes. Lin Tianming¡¯s face brightened with joy. Although he had used the precious Second Order Talisman and failed to kill any Second Order Demonic Beasts, it essentially wiped out the First Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts and stopped the Second Order¡¯s Divine Skills, achieving his goal. Taking advantage of the moment of dread among the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts, Lin Tianming reduced the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation even further, down to a hundred zhang. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt secretly delighted, his hand brewing another wave of attack, preparing to further expand his victories. His Tiangang Sword glowed brightly as he launched several beams of sword qi, then with a leap, he charged into the sword array. He had consumed a fair amount of spiritual power, and with the need to cooperate with Long Hai, with whom he had no previous interaction, he had to reserve some spiritual power to face any crisis that might arise at any time. Seeing Lin Tianming actively charge into the sword array, the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts resumed their snarling and became agitated once more. Cultivators and Demonic Beasts usually fought from a distance; Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had charged directly into the midst of seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts for close combat. The frenzied Dragon-Eyed Beasts immediately sprang into action, their strong paws lashing out toward Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead. If hit, his head would likely explode in an instant. The attack of the Dragon-Eyed Beast was incredibly swift, its paw a mere blur under the sunlight. Lin Tianming was not startled; he opened his Eye of Five Colors and effortlessly dodged the furiously swiping paw of the Dragon-Eyed Beast. Then he took to his heels, putting a slight distance between them. After a brief disengagement, the seven Dragon-Eyed Beasts were quite surprised. They were known for their speed and yet they did not expect this human cultivator to be equally fast and incredibly precise. Chapter 263: 183: Joint Effort to Exterminate the Demon_3 Chapter 263: Chapter 183: Joint Effort to Exterminate the Demon_3 Little did they know that Lin Tianming had the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, no matter how fast they were, he could predict their trajectories in advance and make the most ideal evasions. Stabilizing his stance, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with silver light, and he followed with a slash that repelled the two pursuing Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The pained Dragon-Eyed Beasts let out a shriek and then surged forward once more, surrounding Lin Tianming. The Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand swung frequently as he engaged in close combat with the attacking Dragon-Eyed Beasts. For a time, the silvery white sword light flashed, colliding with their iron-hard claws. ¡°Clang, clang, clang.¡± The sound of metal colliding, thousands of pounds in forces clashing, came like music from the heavens. After dozens of exchanges, Lin Tianming, with his powerful physique, did not fall into disadvantage. At this point, his body was drenched with sweat, and the temperature of the Tiangang Sword had reached a terrifying level; sweat droplets evaporated into steam as soon as they landed on the sword. ¡°Haha, exhilarating!¡± Lin Tianming let out a long howl towards the sky, and as his physique further strengthened, he could match a Second Order Demonic Beast with just his bodily strength. With the aid of the Eye of Five Colors and a vast amount of magic artifacts, his combat power peaked. While the fierce battle raged, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation revolved continuously, slowly reducing the area it enveloped, compressing the living space of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts along with the Thousand Beast Banner. At this time, the area of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a hundred feet, the Sword Qi within was dense and exceptionally stable. By now, the seven surviving Dragon-Eyed Beasts gradually fell into disadvantage and soon began to sustain injuries, forcing the entire group to further retreat. Having gained the upper hand, Lin Tianming did not give the Dragon-Eyed Beasts a chance to catch their breath. While controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, he unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword again. With the suppression and binding of the Sword Array, he successfully inflicted severe wounds on two of the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The gravely wounded Dragon-Eyed Beasts lay on the ground, struggling and howling, their bodies torn in several places, one even having its tail severed, presenting a dismal sight. Seeing their compatriots in such a state, the few Dragon-Eyed Beasts still capable of fighting rushed over in fury, gnashing their teeth. Lin Tianming remained calm, clashing with them while wielding the Tiangang Sword. With two Dragon-Eyed Beasts rendered powerless, the rest of the group steadily retreated, trapped beasts in a fight. The remaining five Dragon-Eyed Beasts, in sheer terror, began frantically ramming the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in a last-ditch effort. Lin Tianming¡¯s sword light flickered as he obstructed them, simultaneously controlling the Sword Array to continuously shrink their living space. The current situation was akin to a frog being boiled in warm water, it was only a matter of time. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea¡­ As the Sword Array narrowed to an area of several dozen feet, a miserable cry echoed from within. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation also ceased operating and all flew to Lin Tianming¡¯s side, beginning to rotate around him. Simultaneously, he put the Thousand Beast Banner into his storage bag, finally letting out a sigh of relief. His battle had ended, with all eight Second Order Initial Stage Dragon-Eyed Beasts vanquished. Looking across the battlefield on his side, there were corpses everywhere, lying in disarray. The flesh of many lower-order Dragon-Eyed Beasts had been scorched dry by a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, leaving only a pile of desiccated skeletons. Gazing upon this hellish scene, Lin Tianming did not have time to clean up the battlefield as he rushed towards a nearby battle group. At this moment, Lin Shilu was locked in fierce combat with three Dragon-Eyed Beasts, and judging from the situation, he seemed to have the upper hand, with one already slain and the rest wounded. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this since Lin Shilu was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, already nearing the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and with a plethora of magic artifacts assisting him, dealing with four Second Order Medium Stage Dragon-Eyed Beasts was not challenging. With Lin Tianming joining the fight, the struggling Dragon-Eyed Beasts had little power left to resist. ¡°Tianming, make it quick!¡± Lin Shilu uttered as he enlarged the Golden Seal in his hand and slapped it down on one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The targeted Dragon-Eyed Beast, seeing this, frantically tried to flee but was blocked by Lin Tianming who had come to assist. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud bang, the three-foot tall body of the Dragon-Eyed Beast was sent flying by the Golden Seal, crashing heavily to the ground and leaving a deep pit upon impact. Under the attack of the Overturning Mountain Seal, the robust Dragon-Eyed Beast was still struggling, though it had lost its ability to fight. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming rushed over and delivered an angry slash, ending the life of the Dragon-Eyed Beast conclusively. The remaining two Dragon-Eyed Beasts, sensing the situation, thought of escaping, but it was already too late. Lin Tianhong had already laid down the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, cutting off their escape routes completely. Subsequently, the two men repeated their tactics, skilfully coordinating to slay the two Dragon-Eyed Beasts one by one. Soon, Lin Tianming and his companion were free to act. After swallowing a Huiyuan Pill each, they started paying attention to the major battle above. At that moment, Long Hai was engaged in combat with two Second Order Late Phase Dragon-Eyed Beasts and was gradually gaining the upper hand. Long Hai¡¯s three-foot long saber emitted intense Blade Qi, slicing off the tail of one of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts. The pained beast howled in agony. Witnessing Long Hai¡¯s upper hand and fearsome strength, the two felt extremely apprehensive. ¡°Fellow Daoists, come over and lend me a hand!¡± Chapter 264: 183 Join Forces to Eliminate the Demon _4 Chapter 264: Chapter 183 Join Forces to Eliminate the Demon _4 Hearing Long Hai¡¯s call, Lin Shilu said to Lin Tianming: ¡°Tian Ming, I will go and lend a hand so we can quickly end the battle, and you should not get involved!¡± Lin Tianming nodded. Facing a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demonic Beast was still too risky for him; any accidents could lead to more loss than gain, especially since Long Hai was not at a disadvantage even by himself. More importantly, he could recover his Spiritual Power as soon as possible, so if Long Hai went back on his word, he could be prepared. Watching Lin Shilu join the fray, Lin Tianming did not clean up the battlefield but started meditating on the spot to recover. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Explosive noises emanated from the sky, lasting the time it took to drink a cup of tea before stopping. After a short while, Lin Shilu descended from the sky, landing beside Lin Tianming with a flicker of exhaustion in his eyes. Soon, Long Hai also descended from the sky, stopping at a distance opposite to the duo. The battle over, Long Hai appeared rather pleased, addressing Lin Tianming and company: ¡°Fellow cultivators, quickly tally your spoils of war, and after that, we shall enter the lair of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts to plunder.¡± Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, beginning to count their spoils of war. In less than half a quarter hour, they had collected all the inner cores from the Dragon-Eyed Beasts, stuffing the bodies wholesale into storage bags to be divided up when they had more time. After all, these spoils of war were nothing compared to the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, the White Jade Grass. After gathering the spoils of war, Lin Shilu addressed Long Hai: ¡°Lead the way, Brother Long. I hope you won¡¯t play any tricks, or we certainly won¡¯t let it go easily!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s threatening words, Long Hai did not respond, but simply chuckled wryly and led the way north. Lin Tianming and his companion hastily followed, not daring to let him out of their sight before seeing the White Jade Grass. With Long Hai guiding them, it didn¡¯t take long for the trio to arrive at a valley spanning several miles. The three stopped, and Lin Tianming and his companion took in their surroundings. Looking ahead from about a hundred yards away was a lush, rushing gorge filled with dense vegetation, towering trees, and vibrant flowers, presenting a breathtaking view. ¡°Brother Long, is this where the lair of the Dragon-Eyed Beasts is located?¡± asked Lin Shilu. It was hard to believe that the massive population of the Dragon Eye Beast Clan inhabited such a small area. ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t believe me, let us go in and see for ourselves!¡± With those words, Long Hai left them behind and headed into the gorge filled with flowers. Lin Tianming and his companion exchanged glances before following. Soon, they reached the deepest part of the valley, stopping atop a hill with red soil. The soil here was markedly different from that outside the valley, growing darker in hue the deeper one went¡ªquite a peculiar sight. Long Hai pointed toward a small area at the top of numerous mounds and said, ¡°Fellow cultivators, please look over there!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion lifted their gaze, looking toward the direction Long Hai indicated. They saw a patch of blood-red soil at the top of the mounds, covering an area of several acres, sparsely dotted with snow-white Spirit Grass. ¡°White Jade Grass!¡± ¡°Indeed, it is White Jade Grass!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed with excitement. Overjoyed at the sight, Lin Shilu rushed over to inspect it closely. Long Hai remained calm; the White Jade Grass in his hand had been collected here, and the sight of it no longer thrilled him as it once had. ¡°Fellow cultivators, have I not been true to my word?¡± he said. Lin Shilu, looking much pleased, laughed in response, ¡°Ha-ha¡­ Brother Long, you indeed keep your promises!¡± ¡°I had discovered this place earlier and collected a plant, but then the Dragon-Eyed Beasts detected me and pursued me relentlessly, which is why I sought cooperation with you,¡± Long Hai explained, recounting his harrowing experience and lightening the atmosphere. Having joined forces, Long Hai was no longer as indifferent as before. He reminded them with a smile: ¡°Fellow cultivators, our recent battle made quite a commotion. If other cultivators, especially those from the Golden Elixir Forces, are attracted, our troubles could multiply!¡± Lin Shilu and his companion nodded. They needed to remain vigilant; encountering the Golden Elixir Forces could mean getting nothing and possibly even losing their lives here. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering this, he said: ¡°Let us quickly gather the grass and then divide our shares afterward!¡± Long Hai naturally had no objections, and taking the lead, he began collecting White Jade Grass. Lin Tianming and his companion, not wanting to fall behind, spread out to collect their own shares. Chapter 265: 184 The gathering of the strong _1 Chapter 265: Chapter 184 The gathering of the strong _1 With Long Hai occupying this hilltop, Lin Tianming and his companion continued to walk deeper into the area. Soon, they spotted White Jade Grass on different hilltops and began to disperse to collect it. Lin Tianming arrived at a hilltop and dug up a mature White Jade Grass, observing it in his hands. Aside from seeing the White Jade Grass from afar before the big battle at Long Hai, this counted as his second encounter with this precious Spirit Grass. Looking at the snow-white body of the White Jade Grass, Lin Tianming was thrilled. Just on this hilltop, he found three mature White Jade Grass plants, and more than ten saplings¡ªan abundant harvest indeed. With several such red-soiled hilltops in this small valley, if they could all yield a few plants, they would be able to divide up quite a number of Spirit Grasses among themselves. With that thought, he stored the precious White Jade Grass in a prepared Jade Box, and then began to collect the others. As for the White Jade Grass saplings, he naturally wouldn¡¯t overlook them. Although the survival rate of this Spiritual Medicine was frighteningly low, even if only one were to survive, it might bring a Foundation Establishment Clan Member to the family, wouldn¡¯t it? On two nearby hilltops, Lin Shilu and Long Hai were also busy at work. They worked efficiently and meticulously, their faces showing excitement throughout the process. Although Long Hai had succeeded in Foundation Establishment and was still a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator, he had no use for White Jade Grass. However, one plant could easily fetch tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, making it extremely valuable. Moreover, he needed to prepare for his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, which required accumulating a large amount of Spirit Stones, so the White Jade Grass was essentially bundles and bundles of Spirit Stones to him. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An hour later, the three of them regrouped. ¡°Let¡¯s all take out the White Jade Grass we collected!¡± After Long Hai spoke, he took out more than twenty Jade Boxes and opened them to reveal the White Jade Grass he had collected. Lin Tianming and his companion glanced over them¡ªfive mature White Jade Grass plants and twenty-one saplings. Following Long Hai, Lin Tianming and his companion also took out all the White Jade Grass they had collected and placed them together. ¡°Nine mature White Jade Grass plants, and thirty-seven saplings!¡± Long Hai nodded; the three hadn¡¯t been far apart while collecting, and each had a clear idea of how much Spiritual Medicine the others had obtained. They had quite a haul this trip, with fourteen mature White Jade Grass plants and fifty-eight saplings in total. Long Hai smiled and said to Lin Tianming and his companion: ¡°Fellow cultivators, according to our agreement, I get sixty percent of these White Jade Grass. Eight mature plants are mine, and I¡¯ll take thirty-five saplings, unless there are any objections!¡± Upon hearing Long Hai¡¯s words, Lin Shilu calculated carefully and found the distribution to be fair according to their agreement. ¡°Of course, we always keep our word and will not go back on our promises,¡± he replied. Long Hai nodded, waved his sleeve, and collected his share of White Jade Grass. Without delay, Lin Shilu collected all the remaining Jade Boxes into his storage bag and then addressed Long Hai with a cupped fist: ¡°Fellow Daoist Long, I wonder if you would consider selling some of your White Jade Grass to me? I¡¯m willing to pay a high price!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Long Hai was somewhat surprised. Lin Shilu¡¯s statement, along with the fact that Lin Tianming had been acting in concert throughout, indicated that there was at least one Foundation Establishment Power behind them. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be buying White Jade Grass from him, clearly gathering it for the power behind them, since White Jade Grass was otherwise nearly impossible to find outside. Since he himself had reached Foundation Establishment and was not an Alchemist, he had almost no use for White Jade Grass and ultimately intended to sell it. As long as the price was right, it mattered little who the buyer was. With this in mind, Long Hai inquired: ¡°What price do you offer?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu became even more excited. Long Hai wasn¡¯t opposed to selling to them, otherwise, he could have just refused. However, White Jade Grass was not cheap; if the offer was too low, he likely wouldn¡¯t agree. ¡°Fellow Daoist Long, for mature White Jade Grass, eleven thousand Spirit Stones per plant, and for the saplings, eight hundred Spirit Stones each. What do you think?¡± Lin Shilu asked. Long Hai found Lin Shilu¡¯s price to be reasonable, even slightly higher than the market rate, so he quickly made up his mind. ¡°I agree to your terms without objection,¡± he said. Lin Tianming and his companion were overjoyed to learn that Long Hai was willing to sell, as White Jade Grass was extremely important to the Lin Family, and they were willing to buy it at any cost. Fortunately, they had recently killed a gray-robed cultivator and obtained thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and with their accumulations over the years, as well as the family¡¯s subsidies of Spirit Stones, they could indeed gather a large fortune. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his companion communicated privately to arrange the payment of Spirit Stones. They quickly reached a consensus, and Lin Shilu took out all his Spirit Stones, a total of sixty thousand. Lin Tianming also took out all his Spirit Stones, a total of fifty thousand, collecting a total of one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones. They placed all the Spirit Stones in a storage bag, ready to trade with Long Hai for the White Jade Grass. ¡°Fellow Daoist Long, we¡¯ve gathered one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones in exchange for all your White Jade Grass, and we¡¯ll take the excess in saplings!¡± Long Hai was stunned to hear Lin Shilu¡¯s words, as even he could not produce such a vast fortune. Regaining his composure, Long Hai said: ¡°I can only sell a maximum of eight mature White Jade Grass plants, but there¡¯s no limit on the saplings.¡± Lin Shilu and his companion, seeing Long Hai¡¯s resolute gaze, did not press further and traded for the eight mature White Jade Grass plants and twenty-eight saplings from him. Chapter 266: 184 Gathering of the Mighty_2 Chapter 266: Chapter 184 Gathering of the Mighty_2 The exchange between the two men had nearly depleted Long Hai¡¯s stock of White Jade Grass, leaving him with only one mature plant and eight seedlings. After completing the exchange and verifying that the Spirit Stones and White Jade Grass were correct, they walked out of the canyon together. As the three of them walked and chatted, Long Hai asked Lin Shilu: ¡°Fellow Daoists, this Secret Realm is fraught with danger. What are your plans now?¡± It seemed Long Hai was interested in joining them; after all, the strength of a single person was ultimately limited. If the three worked together, at the very least, their chances of survival would be greater. Considering Long Hai¡¯s strength, which both had seen before, Lin Shilu was somewhat tempted to cooperate for the long term. After discussing it with Lin Tianming, they decided to go it alone. Although it was riskier, their origins and movements would not be exposed. Lin Shilu then politely declined Long Hai¡¯s offer, and Long Hai did not insist. After exchanging a fist salute, Long Hai took his leave. Watching Long Hai depart, Lin Tianming did not linger either and quickly vanished on the spot. After parting with Long Hai, the two did not wander aimlessly but found a secluded valley and carved out a simple cave dwelling. The great battle had just ended, and both of their Spiritual Powers were not at their peak; Lin Shilu had also suffered a light injury. It would be very dangerous to move around blindly in this perilous Secret Realm. Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu sat on the ground, their faces full of excitement. Lin Shilu took out a mature White Jade Grass, examining it carefully in his palm with an expression of cherishing fondness. Lin Tianming watched silently, knowing full well what White Jade Grass meant for people of their stage, so he did not interrupt him. Time passed, and Lin Shilu finally looked up, addressing Lin Tianming: ¡°Tian Ming, what should we do next? Continue to explore the Secret Realm or stay here and wait for it to close?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s question plunged Lin Tianming into deep thought. They had been in the Secret Realm for less than ten days, and their harvest was enormous. Even if they left now, it would still be a successful trip. Moreover, carrying so much White Jade Grass, encountering big trouble and dying in this place would mean the family would gain nothing. Considering these things, Lin Tianming felt conflicted; time was plentiful, but running around with so many treasures was incredibly risky. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, Tian Ming doesn¡¯t really mind. Staying here is not a bad idea!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s view, Lin Shilu made his decision not to wander further and stayed to wait for the closure of the Secret Realm. The two smiled at each other, then, with a unified opinion, they began to meditate and cultivate. Lin Tianming sat on the ground, began to operate Heaven¡¯s Will, and when his state reached its peak, he took out a lotus seed from the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and swallowed it in one gulp. A familiar energy burst forth, which he slowly refined; soon, the Spiritual Power formed and circulated through his meridians. Time flew, and more than ten days passed. The ten-plus days of fierce fighting at the beginning of their Secret Realm journey made this period of quiet cultivation a rarity. During this opportunity, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu each refined a lotus seed, further increasing their Spiritual Power. Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them, indicating considerable progress in his cultivation. Feeling the enhancement of his Spiritual Power throughout his body, he was extremely excited. After ten-plus days of arduous cultivation, he had reached the pinnacle of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment. With one or two more lotus seeds, he was confident that he could make a breakthrough. Feeling that Lin Tianming had finished cultivating, Lin Shilu opened his eyes and teased the excited Lin Tianming: ¡°Tian Ming, you seem to have made great progress. You must be close to reaching the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ If I consume two more lotus seeds, I am confident I can break through within half a year!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh, his eyes filled with confidence. ¡°That is incomparable indeed!¡± Lin Shilu exclaimed, then said: S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I took more than ten years to advance from the first to the third layer of Foundation Establishment, while you, you rascal, are likely to reach that stage in just a few years. Indeed, you are a monster¡­¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming humbly replied: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather flatters me. What were the cultivation conditions like for you back then? I am simply relying on a large number of elixirs and treasures!¡± Before his words had finished, Lin Shilu¡¯s face changed, startling Lin Tianming. Seeing the serious expression on Lin Shilu¡¯s face, he asked puzzledly: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, has something gone wrong?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s expression returned to normal, and then he exclaimed, looking somewhat crazed. ¡°Tian Ming, an incredible opportunity¡­ An incredible opportunity!¡± Hearing this news, Lin Tianming was completely baffled but quickly guessed something. ¡°Could it be a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item?¡± ¡°Only a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item could make Fifteenth Grandfather so crazed. If this is true, then indeed, it would be an incredible opportunity!¡± Lin Tianming pondered to himself, and before he could speak, Lin Shilu began to explain. ¡°Just now, several people rushed past not far from us. Among them, two cultivators mentioned that they discovered a Star Moon Fruit Tree near a colossal lake to the north!¡± ¡°What? A Star Moon Fruit Tree!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed in shock, his face showing disbelief. The Star Moon Fruit Tree, a Third Order Spiritual Fruit tree, blooms once a millennium and bears fruit only once another millennium, producing only nine fruits each time. One fruit could increase a simple 30% chance of making a Golden Core breakthrough¡ªit was considered Heaven-Defying Treasure within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Quickly regaining his composure, Lin Tianming asked with an excited expression: Chapter 267: 184: A Gathering of the Strong _3 Chapter 267: Chapter 184: A Gathering of the Strong _3 ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, it seems we can¡¯t just wait here for the Secret Realm to close!¡± Before the sound of his voice had faded, Lin Shilu, with a face full of longing, hesitantly began to speak: ¡°Indeed¡­ Even if we are crushed to pieces, we must strive for the Star Moon Fruit at all costs. Third brother has reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and if he obtains a Star Moon Fruit, he will have a chance to break through to the Golden Core Stage!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming quickly thought of something and, with a worried expression, said: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, this thing is truly a hot potato. Whoever obtains it will not have an easy time. Do we still have time if we go now?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hehe¡­ This news must have already spread throughout the Secret Realm by now; otherwise, the person who just passed by wouldn¡¯t have blurted it out like that!¡± ¡°The cultivator who just passed by might have spotted us, yet he spoke without restraint. It¡¯s likely he intended to spread the news¡­¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words confounded Lin Tianming. Who would reveal such crucial information without good reason? ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, please quickly clarify what has happened!¡± urged Lin Tianming. Reminded by Lin Tianming¡¯s urgency, Lin Shilu remembered he had only shared half of the information and then continued to speak: ¡°According to those two, the Star Moon Fruit Tree is guarded by a group of Tianluan Turtles, among which there is one at the Third Order Early Stage!¡± ¡°A Third Order Early Stage Tianluan Turtle?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed red, once more overwhelmed with shock. That¡¯s right¡­ A complete group of Tianluan Turtles, including a Third Order one at that. With such a lineup, even if the disciples from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom joined forces, they might not succeed. Only under such circumstances would they spread the news everywhere, presumably to gather everyone¡¯s strength and obtain the treasure smoothly!¡± With the full explanation, Lin Tianming finally saw the light and then said: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, this matter is extremely important. Whether true or false, we must go and verify it before making plans. What do you think?¡± ¡°That is exactly what I intend to do!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, as his thoughts were the same. If the news was true, whether loose cultivators or people from Sect Families, at the very least, they would need to gather a large number of cultivators to participate. Otherwise, they could not hope to successfully obtain the Star Moon Fruit! This was destined to be a fierce competition, but they first needed to unite and deal with the Tianluan Turtle group. ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s no time to lose; let¡¯s set out immediately!¡± commanded Lin Shilu. Lin Tianming nodded, and then the two of them left the cave dwelling together. For their own safety and to avoid exposing family information, they disguised themselves and swiftly headed north. Along the way, they crossed many mountains and rivers. They encountered many cultivators who, just like them, were all converging toward the north. For several days the two traveled nearly a thousand miles, meeting more and more cultivators. Many groups of cultivators discussed the matter of the Star Moon Fruit. As they traveled, everyone¡¯s focus was on hurrying on their way, and harmoniously so, without any thought of starting trouble. Lin Tianming quite understood this unusual situation; after all, compared to the Star Moon Fruit, petty profits and personal grudges were simply insignificant. Moreover, the cultivators who could partake were all at least at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and above. When it came to an opportunity to advance to the Golden Core Stage, no one could ignore it. Under such circumstances, no one would actively start trouble at this time. Early this morning, after traveling non-stop on horseback, the two of them arrived at the outskirts of a massive lake. By now, over a hundred people had gathered on the shore, among them were sect members, as well as clan disciples. Beyond that, there was also a considerable number of cultivators acting alone or in groups who had hurried over. It was foreseeable that the number of people would continue to increase, and although many cultivators were only there to watch the excitement, those with a desire to compete were certainly not in the minority. The hundred-plus cultivators scattered about, each finding a spot to wait, and discussed the matter of the Star Moon Fruit without any reservations. By this point, one could almost confirm that the news of the Star Moon Fruit was true; otherwise, there would not be so many cultivators waiting here. The two chose a spot to settle down, maintaining a safe distance of several hundred zhang from the nearby cultivators, and then began to assess the cultivators and forces present at the scene. Before long, he spotted the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect and Golden Sword Sect, as well as clan members from the West River Li Family, all wearing uniform Daoist robes with distinct insignias, easily identifiable at a glance. However, among the multitude of cultivators, there was no sign of anyone from Myriad Medicine Valley or the Yingchuan Chen Family. It was unclear whether they chose not to participate or were simply too spread out to receive the news. Lin Tianming surveyed the entire venue, and from the number of people present, there were eleven cultivators from Zhenyang Sect, eight from Golden Sword Sect, and four from the West River Li Family. Although it was difficult to discern the cultivation level of most Golden Elixir force¡¯s disciples, one could presume that they definitely possessed cultivation of at least Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Besides that, he also noticed the Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom; Qingyun Valley and Purple Yin Sect were in no way inferior to Zhenyang Sect in strength. Another Golden Elixir force was the Pengcheng Liu Family, which also had two Golden Core cultivators from the clan overseeing it, their strength exceeding that of the West River Li Family of the Wei Kingdom. Among the Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom, the number of people was also sizeable: Qingyun Valley had ten, Purple Yin Sect had nine, and Pengcheng Liu Family had five. In total, they came close to matching the number of disciples from the Golden Elixir forces of Wei Kingdom. Three out of the five Golden Elixir forces from Wei Kingdom were present, and similarly, three out of the six major Golden Elixir forces from Huangyang Kingdom were there, with dozens of disciples from these forces combined. Among the remaining hundred or so loose cultivators, there were certainly quite a few at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and while no one revealed their true identities, it was certain that many were from Foundation Establishing families. The Golden Elixir forces of both countries¡¯ cultivation worlds had each occupied a vast area of the ground, seemingly reaching an unspoken agreement as they awaited the arrival of more cultivators. Although having more cultivators join would affect their gains, the more people there were, the smaller their losses would be. As for the intentions of the Golden Elixir forces, the loose cultivators and Foundation Establishment Stage families present were well aware, yet no one was willing to give up on such a rare opportunity. Seeing so many disciples of the Golden Elixir forces, as well as a great number of loose cultivators and cultivators of unknown origins, Lin Tianming had a serious expression, inwardly murmuring to himself. ¡°Such a formation indeed is a gathering of powerful individuals!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s heart was similarly churning with tumultuous waves, filled with unease. In such a setting, they were as ordinary as could be. To gain something in this situation was exceedingly difficult! Nevertheless, for the sake of the Star Moon Fruit, they would not easily give up. After exchanging views, they unanimously decided to wait and see what moves the Golden Elixir forces would make next. Having made up their minds, the two sat cross-legged on the ground, closed their eyes to rest, and waited for the next move. Chapter 268: 185 Planning_1 Chapter 268: Chapter 185 Planning_1 One day later¡­ Since Lin Tianming and another had arrived here, they had been waiting on the side. Except for the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces, everyone was waiting for the actions of the Golden Elixir Forces. Within this day, there were still sporadic cultivators rushing over. After several days of waiting, there were already more than two hundred cultivators gathered here. Now, only three days were left until the one-month deadline! If they didn¡¯t take action now, or if the process of collecting the Star Moon Fruit wasn¡¯t smooth, they would miss this rare opportunity. On the shore of the vast lake, the Six Major Golden Core Forces occupied the best observation spots. The eleven disciples of the Zhenyang Sect were sitting together, excitement written on each person¡¯s face. Chu Jie sat squarely in the center. He scanned over the Zhenyang Sect members and then fell into deep thought. Upon entering the Secret Realm, they had an average harvest in the first half of their journey. Although they had gathered some White Jade Grass, they hadn¡¯t found anything particularly precious, which had worried him considerably. Before entering the Secret Realm, the Second Elder had repeatedly instructed him to seize this opportunity to obtain more treasures for the Sect. There were not a few disciples within the Sect with outstanding talent, and the competition was particularly fierce; there were many with greater talent and cultivation than him. Under these circumstances, only by securing enough treasures to make a significant contribution to the Sect could he possibly be cultivated as a key figure and be assisted in reaching the Golden Core Stage. This time, discovering the Star Moon Fruit was a rare opportunity. Just obtaining a single fruit would suffice as an explanation to the Sect; if they could get two, the reward would be substantial, and with three, his chances of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would greatly increase. Conversely, if he didn¡¯t make enough of a contribution, relying on the Sect to form a Golden Core would be almost unrealistic. He recalled again the earnest words of the Second Elder before entering the Secret Realm, as if they had been spoken just yesterday. ¡°This time, having discovered the Star Moon Fruit Tree, we must obtain more than two fruits no matter what!¡± Chu Jie silently made up his mind, his expression filled with a fighting spirit. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Quickly, Chu Jie regained his focus and looked towards the occasionally visible island in the middle of the lake. After erecting a soundproof Barrier, he spoke: ¡°Fellow disciples, this news has been spreading for a few days now, and fewer and fewer cultivators are arriving. I don¡¯t think anyone else will come, and the Secret Realm will close soon. If we don¡¯t take action now, there will be no time left!¡± Chu Jie¡¯s words calmed his fellow disciples, and they each began to ponder internally. In the crowd, an ordinary-looking man spoke up to remind: ¡°Chu, the Tianluan Turtle is very powerful; I¡¯m afraid no one dares to act rashly. We must not become the sacrificial pawns!¡± Before he had finished speaking, another Zhenyang Sect disciple also chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ Although the Tianluan Turtle is not known for its offensive power among Third Order Demon Beasts, its defensive power is definitely at the top. If we want to kill this beast, ordinary methods will be like scratching an itch.¡± ¡°We had people spread the news with the very aim of gathering everyone¡¯s strength. Otherwise, just relying on a few dozen cultivators attacking, it¡¯s simply not going to be successful!¡± another Zhenyang Sect disciple said. Chu Jie was well aware of what his fellow Zhenyang Sect disciples said, but he didn¡¯t feel confident himself. Chu Jie looked around and then said: ¡°Fellow brothers, the defensive power of the Tianluan Turtle is terrifying. It¡¯s not something that any one or two Golden Elixir forces can handle. We must find allies and cooperate if we are to succeed; what do you think?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone nodded thoughtfully. Having cultivated to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, they were naturally no fools. The Tianluan Turtle was a Third Order Demon Beast, known for its defense, and there were also many Second Order Tianluan Turtles. Just with these people, even possessing treasures left by the Sect, it was impossible. With that in mind, everyone spoke in unison: ¡°We will follow whatever instructions you give, Brother Chu!¡± Seeing this, Chu Jie nodded in satisfaction and then looked towards the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect and the clan members of the West River Li Family not far away. If they wanted to form an alliance, the Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom were, of course, the first choice. Although they were all from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and had minor frictions from time to time, there had been no great wars for a thousand years. In this view, the Golden Sword Sect and the West River Li Family were much more reliable than the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. In fact, every one of the Golden Elixir Forces was well aware of his thinking. He opened the Barrier, intending to communicate secretly with the people from the Golden Sword Sect and the Li Family. Just then, two voice transmissions reached his ears, exactly from Su Yunlong of the Golden Sword Sect and Li Wenyi of the Li Family. In a short while, after he had re-established the Barrier, he then said to his fellow disciples: ¡°Fellow disciples, Su Daoyou of the Golden Sword Sect and Li Daoyou of the Li Family have just communicated with me to discuss an alliance, which I have agreed to!¡± Upon hearing this, the disciples seemed unsurprised and showed no intention of disagreement. Forming an alliance was inevitable; they weren¡¯t concerned about which power to form an alliance with, but about how the benefits would be distributed. If too much of the benefit was given away, they would have less to gain. In the crowd, Jia Yuanchun stood up to inquire: ¡°Brother Chu, if we succeed, how will the benefits be distributed?¡± Before he could finish, another figure stood up and said fervently: ¡°Our Zhenyang Sect has the most people; splitting the benefits equally would not be fair to us!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes¡­¡± The crowd agreed one after another. Chapter 269: 185 Plotting_2 Chapter 269: Chapter 185 Plotting_2 Seeing everyone turning to him for advice at ordinary times, only to clam up when it came to discussing interests, he felt utterly disgusted. However, despite his annoyance, he did not show any abnormality outwardly; after all, he still relied on them to establish great achievements for his sect! Thinking of this, he chuckled and expressed with a rather satisfied expression, ¡°I dare not make promises lightly, hence I gathered the opinions of all my fellow disciples to discuss this matter with you!¡± ¡°Elder Chu handles matters with utmost care. Coupled with Second Elder¡¯s previous instructions to follow your commands, the alliance is entirely up to you to decide!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Elder Chu¡¯s cultivation is profound; just take charge directly, we have no objections!¡± Despite not knowing how sincere the flattering words were, Chu Jie was still very satisfied. He nodded, scanned his fellow sect members, and then communicated with Su Yunlong and Li Wenyi through voice transmission. Within moments, based on the number and strength of disciples from all three sides, they reached a simple agreement regarding the alliance. If they succeeded in killing the Tianluan Turtle, the scene was bound to spiral out of control; at that time, the three families would move forward or retreat together to deal with the Golden Core Stage cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom. As for the treasure distribution, regardless of the quantity of Star Moon Fruits obtained, the Zhenyang Sect would take forty-five percent, Golden Sword Sect forty percent, and the Li Family, fifteen percent. If they were fortunate enough to acquire the Star Moon Fruit Tree, given the immense value of the tree, it couldn¡¯t be split into three parts; any distribution would have to be decided by the Golden Core Stage Cultivators of each party. Moreover, in cases where it was impractical to split equally, the party obtaining the Star Moon Fruits must provide treasures of equivalent value as compensation. But all these terms were predicated on having killed the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, otherwise, all would be but idle chatter. As the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom formed an alliance, the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom also secretly reached an agreement, with terms similar to theirs: the forces with more people got a larger share, while those with fewer got less. After all, in the Cultivation World, it has always been might that makes right, and the stronger one¡¯s fist, the greater one¡¯s say. Half a quarter hour later¡­ By the lakeside, cultivators from Qingyun Valley, Purple Yin Sect, and Pengcheng Liu Family gathered together, putting the other cultivators on alert. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among the crowd, Xu Hua of Qingyun Valley stood up and addressed the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s side: ¡°Fellow Daoist Chu, the Tianluan Turtle is a Water Attribute Demonic Beast, and its attack power will slightly weaken at noon, which will be our best opportunity to make a move!¡± Hearing Xu Hua¡¯s remarks, no one in the crowd contradicted, evidencing their agreement. Chu Jie, along with Su Yunlong and Li Wenyi, nodded to each other and then gathered their disciples, positioning themselves in a stand-off against the cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom. The Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom had more than twenty cultivators, all of which were at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. Similarly, the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom had about the same number of cultivators, all Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, creating a balanced power on both sides. However, the two countries¡¯ cultivators were unlikely to spark any conflict for the time being. Before the Third Order Tianluan Turtle was killed, they needed to restrain themselves and even cooperate sincerely. Seeing the movements of the Golden Elixir Forces of the two countries, everyone could guess that it was probably time to take action. Lin Tianming and another person were sitting on an open space in the northwest corner, eyeing the cultivators from both sides while remaining vigilant. Lin Tianming, observing the dynamics of the scene, voice transmitted to Lin Shilu and asked: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, looking at the scene, the Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom are numerous and immensely powerful. Do you think they stand a chance of success?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Lin Shilu frowned and then responded: ¡°The Third Order Tianluan Turtle is certainly formidable, but facing the onslaught of over a hundred mid- to late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it is likely to be overwhelmed. However, this battle is sure to result in a substantial number of cultivators falling here!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming looked puzzled and said, ¡°You¡¯re so confident about this, Fifteenth Grandfather?¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was serious, and his eyes revealed wariness as he explained: ¡°Tianming, do you think the Golden Elixir Forces have no trump cards?¡± ¡°Based on my estimation, before entering the Secret Realm, they must have been given powerful treasures by their sects, which will be the key to determining the outcome of this battle!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded. Zhenyang Sect and Golden Sword Sect of Wei Kingdom, as well as Qingyun Valley and Purple Yin Sect of Huangyang Kingdom, have at least several millennia of inheritance as Golden Elixir Forces. Entering such an ownerless Secret Realm, they were sure to hold some trump cards; only then could they acquire more treasures and reduce the losses of their disciples. Just as he was speculating about their trump cards, the conversation between the cultivators of the two countries interrupted his thoughts. At this time, the Golden Elixir Forces of both countries were gathered together, discussing strategies for attacking the Tianluan Turtle. Xu Hua chuckled, then decisively addressed Chu Jie: ¡°Fellow Daoist Chu, since this place was first discovered by you, could you share some insights into the strength of the Tianluan Turtle herd?¡± After exchanging smiles with Su Yunlong, Chu Jie said: ¡°Fellow Daoists of Huangyang Kingdom, it is true that we were the ones to find this place, but we also do not have detailed knowledge of the Tianluan Turtle herd¡¯s exact strength!¡± Upon hearing this, the cultivators from Huangyang Kingdom displayed distinctly displeased expressions. The outspoken voice of Wu Xu, the leader of Purple Yin Sect, rang out, directly questioning: ¡°Is Fellow Daoist Chu playing with us? We have been waiting here for several days; surely we haven¡¯t been wasting our time for nothing!¡± Chapter 270: 185 Strategy_3 Chapter 270: Chapter 185 Strategy_3 ¡°Wu Daoyou¡¯s words are very true!¡± Liu Kaiquan of the Pengcheng Liu Family agreed. ¡°Then why do you go around spreading rumors that there is a Star Moon Fruit Tree in the lair of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle?¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s scorn and ridicule, Chu Jie¡¯s face changed, and he immediately sneered back. ¡°It¡¯s true I was the one who released the news, but I never forced anyone to come. It was you who coveted the Star Moon Fruits, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t discover any treasure, would you still vent your anger on me?¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Hearing Chu Jie¡¯s mocking words, Wu Xu became infuriated but was unable to retort. Seeing the situation getting out of control, Su Yunlong hurriedly stepped in to mediate. ¡°Fellow Daoists from Huangyang Kingdom, do not be irritated. Daoist Chu did not deceive us. Think about it, haven¡¯t the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also been waiting here for such a long time?¡± Even though Su Yunlong¡¯s words were reasonable, they managed to calm the atmosphere. Xu Hua nodded and then spoke: ¡°Daoist Chu, no more beating around the bush, just be straightforward. Tell us about the situation with the Tianluan Turtle clan. Without killing a Third Order Demonic Beast, our cooperation is necessary, isn¡¯t it?¡± As soon as these words were uttered, Liu Kaiquan echoed them. ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m not hiding anything either. As long as the Third Order Demonic Beast is not dead, we won¡¯t conflict with each other. Even if we do kill the Third Order Demonic Beast, it will still be based on our abilities. Aren¡¯t we all just trying to fulfill our Sect¡¯s mission?¡± The frankness of these blunt words made people less repelled. Chu Jie and the others nodded, their expressions gradually easing. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I don¡¯t intend to hide it from you, the matter of the Tianluan Turtle is indeed absolutely true,¡± Chu Jie said, then his expression turned mournful. ¡°Twelve of us entered the Secret Realm, and one of our fellow disciples died on the small island in the middle of the lake. Before that disciple perished, he sent back a message using a secret technique, and by judging the disturbances at that time, it was indeed an Early Stage Third Order Tianluan Turtle without a doubt!¡± No sooner had he finished than Xu Hua hurriedly asked, ¡°Was there any mention of the overall strength of the Tianluan Turtle clan?¡± Seeing Xu Hua¡¯s inquiry, Chu Jie¡¯s expression became solemn, and then he responded: ¡°According to the description from our perished fellow disciple, there is only one at the Third Order, but there are likely many at the Second Order¡ªno less than dozens of them. Their strength is formidable. That¡¯s the reason why we haven¡¯t driven away so many Loose Cultivators who have come here!¡± Upon hearing Chu Jie¡¯s explanation, everyone seemed to awaken from a dream. No wonder he had spread such important news far and wide. ¡°That makes sense¡­ With a Tianluan Turtle clan of such strength, even we, the Six Major Golden Core Forces, might not be able to handle it,¡± said Xu Hua. Chu Jie nodded and then shifted the topic. ¡°Fellow Daoists, that¡¯s the situation. We don¡¯t have much time. You may want to think of a plan. We must finish this within three days, or we will waste this opportunity!¡± On hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought, and then some suggestions were made, only to be quickly dismissed. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed¡­ Seeing that they could not find a reliable method, Xu Hua finally spoke up: ¡°If we forcibly attack the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s territory, the risk is too great, and even if we succeed, our losses will certainly be huge. We can try to lure them out!¡± ¡°How do you suggest luring them out? Who would be willing to seek death?¡± Su Yunlong said. ¡°Exactly¡­ Even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection would be practically going to their death by entering the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s cave in the middle of the lake!¡± Li Wenyi commented as well. ¡°Hehe¡­ take a look at this!¡± Xu Hua chuckled, then took out a jade box, opened it, and placed it in front of everyone. Within the jade box lay a spirit grass, half a foot long, entirely water-blue in color, with patterns of clouds adorning it, looking quite peculiar. Seeing the spirit grass in the jade box, Chu Jie asked with a surprised and pleased expression, ¡°Is this Tianluan Grass?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Chu Daoyou, you have a discerning eye indeed!¡± Xu Hua responded. Tianluan Grass is a Third Order Water Attribute Spirit Grass. Although it¡¯s not of much use in alchemy, with only a scant few elixirs requiring it, it has immense attraction for water attribute demonic beasts, especially the Tianluan Turtle. It¡¯s nearly their favorite spirit material, easily capable of drawing water attribute demonic beasts from a distance. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Haha¡­ with this, we can indeed lure the Tianluan Turtles out¡­¡± Chu Jie said with a hearty laugh. Su Yunlong was also very happy, and then spoke up: ¡°We can find a place rich in Fire Attribute Spiritual Energy, set up a Second Order Formation, and then use the Tianluan Grass to attract the Tianluan Turtle clan. With the power of the formation, we might be able to reduce our casualties significantly!¡± Hearing Su Yunlong¡¯s plan, everyone¡¯s expression turned excited, with Xu Hua speaking up: ¡°Exactly¡­ That¡¯s also what I was thinking. It is said that Su Daoyou is a Second Order Medium Quality Array Master, so I¡¯m certain he will have a very powerful formation.¡± Before he had finished speaking, everyone present was fixating their gaze on Su Yunlong, apparently eager to hear his thoughts. Seeing this, Su Yunlong confidently stated: ¡°I have a complete set of Second Order Medium Quality Array Flags on me, which can be used to set up a Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. Although only relying on this formation wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill a Third Order Tianluan Turtle, with the advantage of the right timing and location, restraining its power for a period of time is doable!¡± ¡°Good¡­ This plan is solid!¡± Chu Jie said. ¡°Yeah¡­ Does anyone else have anything to add?¡± asked Xu Hua. Seeing that no one spoke, Chu Jie and the others began to discuss the specific implementation plan. Half a quarter of an hour later, the Golden Core forces¡¯ disciples of the two countries reached a consensus: using the Tianluan Grass to attract the Tianluan Turtles into the formation, then combining the power of many cultivators, they planned to kill the Third Order Tianluan Turtles. As for the Star Moon Fruit and the spoils of the big battle, it would come down to each person¡¯s capabilities. After working out the results and methods, representatives from the Six Major Golden Core Forces gathered together, surveying the loose cultivators present. All six were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, their strength undeniably among the strongest of the over two hundred cultivators present. With solemn expressions, Chu Jie among them, addressed all the cultivators present with a fist salute, laying out their plan in full and inviting everyone to join in the fight against the Tianluan Turtle clan. As for those who did not want to take action, they had to leave this place by a hundred miles now. If they did not heed the advice and lingered, they would immediately be driven away. Those who were unwilling to take action but dared to lay hands on the Star Moon Fruit and spoils after the successful killing of the Tianluan Turtle clan, no matter their background or cultivation, would face pursuit and attack by the Six Major Golden Elixir Forces. However, those who did participate would have the right to vie for the Star Moon Fruit and spoils; whether they could obtain them would depend on their own abilities. Of course, if they died here, it wouldn¡¯t be the fault of the Six Forces. Hearing Chu Jie¡¯s threats and incentives, along with the stern expressions of the other five, it didn¡¯t seem like a bluff. Instantly, the cultivators present began discussing amongst themselves, with many hesitating, although some had no intention of leaving from the start. Some cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level were very aware of their own limitations; they had come to watch the excitement and maybe pick up some bargains. If they perished here, what use would the Star Moon Fruit be to them? Quickly, nearly a hundred people left the scene, yet still, more than a hundred people remained, seemingly reluctant to give up on this opportunity. Seeing many cultivators leaving, Lin Tianming was in a dilemma. He then sent a message to Lin Shilu asking: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what should we do, give up participating, or join their camp?¡± After pondering for a while, Lin Shilu spoke resolutely: ¡°Hearing their plan, the feasibility is quite good, and there¡¯s even a considerable chance of success. We¡¯ve come all this way, for the sake of the family¡¯s centuries of effort, I¡¯m willing to stake everything!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s determined expression, a fierce fire suddenly ignited in Lin Tianming¡¯s chest, and a surge of momentum arose. ¡°For the sake of the family¡¯s long-held expectations, let¡¯s stake everything¡­¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s message, the two grandparent and grandchild shared a smile! Chapter 271: 186 Siege_1 Chapter 271: Chapter 186 Siege_1 Lin Tianming and his companion made up their minds to get involved. Although the hope was slim, if they did not try, there would be no hope at all. By trying, at least there was a glimmer of hope, wasn¡¯t there? After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, led by the six major Golden Core forces, they planned to temporarily leave the lakeside to find a location rich in fire properties to set up the formation. With a small portion giving up the opportunity and those with ulterior motives leaving, those who confirmed their participation followed Chu Jie and the others away. The two followed behind a group of cultivators, walking for half an hour before they arrived at a valley filled with boulders. About a hundred cultivators stood at the top of the valley, then surveyed the surroundings. Looking around, there was a seemingly bottomless canyon with boulders scattered on both sides, and even the ground was reddish-brown soil. A stream of heat wafted out from the depths of the canyon, clearly a natural spirit land of fire. At this moment, Su Yunlong, standing at the forefront, smiled joyfully and then said to the cultivators beside him: ¡°Fellow daoists, this is a natural fire spirit land I stumbled upon by chance. It is quite suitable for setting up the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. As long as that Third Order Tianluan Turtle enters the formation, we can certainly weaken its strength within a short time.¡± Feeling the intense fire properties of the spiritual power enveloping them, Chu Jie and Xu Hua couldn¡¯t help but reveal a trace of satisfaction. ¡°With such a natural spot, our chances of success have greatly increased. As long as that Third Order Tianluan Turtle comes here, it will surely leave its life behind,¡± Chu Jie said excitedly. Xu Hua nodded and looked up at the scorching sun overhead, then said as a reminder: ¡°We should not delay. Let¡¯s set up the formation before noon and do our best to lure the Third Order Tianluan Turtle here.¡± ¡°Indeed, after today¡¯s time passes, we would have to wait another day, and we don¡¯t have much time left,¡± Li Wenyi chimed in. ¡°Let¡¯s trouble Su Daoyou to take action and set up the formation, and then place the Tianluan Grass within the formation.¡± Xu Hua waved his sleeve, handing over a jade box containing the Tianluan Grass to Su Yunlong, signaling him to quickly set up the formation. Su Yunlong took the Tianluan Grass and without hesitation leaped from the mountaintop, landing at the bottom of the valley. He scanned the area at the bottom, picked a relatively small and uneven location, and then took out five fire-red flags and a dark-colored array plate. After surveying his chosen spot, Su Yunlong nodded with satisfaction, then threw the five flags into the sky, which then steadily disappeared into the soil beneath some boulders. At the same time, he made a spell gesture with his hands, light after light of spiritual light bombarding the array plate. ¡°Hum hum hum¡­¡± Some time passed, and a few unique humming sounds emanated. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A faint red light screen suddenly appeared over the valley, covering a large area. The formation light screen showed briefly before dissipating, and the valley returned to calm. He nodded in satisfaction, then took out the Tianluan Grass and placed it at the center of the formation. Feeling the formation activate, he then left the formation¡¯s interior and came to the front of the group of cultivators. Looking at his handiwork, Su Yunlong¡¯s eyes gleamed with pride as he said to the cultivators: ¡°Fellow daoists, the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation has been activated, and the Tianluan Grass has also been placed inside. Let us all retreat deep into the valley and conceal any traces of our presence, lest we startle the beast unnecessarily.¡± ¡°Everyone retreat deep into the valley, and remember to collect your composure so as not to disturb the Tianluan Turtle. Otherwise, if our plan fails, the consequences need not be mentioned by me!¡± After saying this with a threatening tone, Chu Jie led the Zhenyang Sect cultivators away, and the disciples of the other Golden Elixir Forces hurriedly followed suit. The remaining cultivators of unknown origin quickly followed; Lin Tianming and his companion blended among them, disappearing in the sky above the canyon. They reached deep into the canyon, a few miles away from the formation, where everyone subdued their minds and spirits, waiting for any movement within the formation. In the blink of an eye, it was already midday. The sun shone brightly at this hour, generating massive amounts of heat from the depths of the canyon. The heat evaporated into dense mist, enveloping the whole valley as if it were a mystical land of immortals. Lin Tianming and his companion sat inconspicuously at the back of the crowd, keenly observing any movement at the entrance of the canyon, ready to flee at any moment. Although they had a Second Order Formation and over a hundred cultivators to attack the clan of Tianluan Turtles, no one could guarantee that nothing unexpected would happen. If two Third Order Demonic Beasts appeared, all their planning would be in vain. At that time, they would not stay to fight to the death; likely everyone was thinking the same. Chu Jie and Xu Hua kept their eyes wide, staring at the dense fog ahead, full of worry. After some time had passed at the edge of the valley, one by one, immense turtles appeared. They were huge, each several meters in size, with blue and white intermingled shells easily identifiable on their backs. ¡°The Tianluan Turtle clan has finally arrived,¡± Chu Jie and Xu Hua were excited, and spiritual light twinkled faintly from the magic artifacts in their hands, clearly ready to strike. All the cultivators on the scene noticed the arrival of the Tianluan Turtles and prepared themselves accordingly. However, the figure of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle was still nowhere to be seen, causing the cultivators to feel somewhat helpless, continuing to wait. After a short while, a deep and unique sound came. Chapter 272: 186 Siege_2 Chapter 272: Chapter 186 Siege_2 A Tianluan Turtle, some ten zhang in size, made its way towards the entrance of the gorge, causing the smaller Tianluan Turtles scattered about to make way for it, seemingly fearful. The largest Tianluan Turtle, though immense in size, was surprisingly agile, instantly shifting a hundred zhang to the side and appearing just outside the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. The gigantic Tianluan Turtle seemed to loathe the place, but at the sight of the Tianluan Grass in the dense mist, it became extremely excited. However, this huge Tianluan Turtle was quite cautious. It stretched out its head, staring intently at the Tianluan Grass within the formation, neither stepping inside nor turning away. This largest Tianluan Turtle was undoubtedly Third Order, its aura exceptionally strong and easily distinguishable. Everyone held their breath at this moment, not daring to make a sound, quietly waiting for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to enter the formation. This was the first time Lin Tianming had seen a Third Order Demon Beast, especially one with such a long lifespan and remarkable resilience. He even thought that if he could subdue this Third Order Tianluan Turtle, his family wouldn¡¯t have to fear the Golden Elixir Forces for a thousand years. But he quickly abandoned the idea: A Third Order Demon Beast wouldn¡¯t easily accept a master, and without the strength of the Golden Core Stage to suppress it, subduing it was impossible. As he was lost in thought, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle made a move. Perhaps the Third Order Tianluan Grass was too tempting for it. After pacing back and forth outside the formation, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle finally decided to swallow the grass. All held their breath, waiting for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to take that step. Finally, the Tianluan Turtle raised its massive head, leading a few Second Order Tianluan Turtles into the formation, while the majority remained outside. Just as everyone tensed up, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle moved at an astonishing speed, charged to the side of the Tianluan Grass, gulped it down, and then let out a satisfied roar. Seeing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle enter the formation, Chu Jie and Xu Hua, among others, grew excited, waiting for Su Yunlong to give the signal to strike. As the Third Order Tianluan Turtle entered the formation, an Array Plate flew out of Su Yunlong¡¯s hand, followed by several Law Decrees hitting it. The light screen, which had previously dissipated, shone brightly once more, with colors even more vibrant than before. ¡°Boom rumble.¡± After a ground-shaking tremor, the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation was successfully activated before the Tianluan Turtles inside could react. As the formation activated, the temperature within its embrace soared, and countless fireballs fell from the sky, pouring down towards the ground. Under the fierce attack of the massive fireballs, the Tianluan Turtles started to dodge, but the fireballs were dense, and many Second Order Tianluan Turtles were hit, quickly getting injured. The huge Third Order Tianluan Turtle, despite its speed, was still hit by some fireballs on its shell. Yet these terrifying fireballs only left a tiny wound on its carapace, posing no threat to its life. ¡°Fellow cultivators, strike quickly!¡± Chu Jie let out a loud shout and then leaped forward, heading towards the entrance of the gorge. Behind him, a multitude of cultivators followed closely behind the juniors of the Six Major Golden Core Forces. Lin Tianming and his companion symbolically followed suit, always staying alert. More than ten breaths later, Chu Jie and the others arrived first at the formation, having rushed there at full speed. Inside the formation, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, greatly irritated, began to ram the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation while dodging the fireballs, leading its juniors. In the time it took for them to arrive, the formation had already been struck several times by the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, each impact shaking the earth, teetering on the brink of collapse. Seeing this, Su Yunlong quickly shouted: ¡°Everyone, act quickly to stop them from breaking out of the formation. Once they escape, it will be difficult to deal with this creature.¡± Before his words fell, Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others from the Golden Core Forces began to attack frantically. With a wave of his robe, Chu Jie sent out a set of nine Circular Ring Artifacts, then cast several spells on them. The Nine Ring Artifacts rapidly enlarged and hurtled towards the Third Order Tianluan Turtle at lightning speed. Xu Hua was not to be outdone. As the leader of Qingyun Valley, he couldn¡¯t let Chu Jie of Wei Kingdom take all the spotlight. He slapped his storage bag, then pulled out a Spirit Sword gleaming with red light and brimming with Spiritual Energy, obviously also a Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact. Injecting a great amount of Spiritual Power, the entire Spirit Sword flickered, slashing angrily toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle inside the formation. While the two took action, the remaining cultivators each made their move. Lin Tianming took out an Earth Evil Sword. The pair launched a few symbolic attacks, not using even a third of their strength. Many cultivators probably shared this mindset, as no one wanted to lead the charge or reveal their strength and methods. Still, the combined attack of over a hundred cultivators was terrifying nonetheless. For a moment, the entire formation was ablaze, various magic and spiritual artifacts emerged, and countless exotic attacks were unleashed, quickly engulfing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Explosions rang out, darkening the sky within the formation. The multitude of spells and attacks from Spirit Instruments washed over the area, and in just a moment, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles suffered horrific casualties, with nearly only those at the late phase of Second Order surviving, albeit injured. Chapter 273: 186 Siege_3 Chapter 273: Chapter 186 Siege_3 The Third Order Tianluan Turtle, however, had hardly sustained any damage. The attacks from Foundation Establishment Cultivators had limited destructive power, and when faced with a defensive creature like this turtle, even the combined assaults from Chu Jie and Xu Hua merely left tiny cracks on its shell. After one strike, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle became incredibly furious. It lifted its head and let out a shrill screech, then swung its powerful limbs and charged at the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud bang erupted, and the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation began to tremble wildly, intense light flickering over the barrier of the formation. Meanwhile, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles outside the formation launched an attack at the cultivators, seemingly attempting to coordinate with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle inside. Seeing this, Chu Jie and the others wore grave expressions. Su Yunlong quickly shouted loudly: ¡°All cultivators except for those from the Six Major Golden Core Forces, focus on exterminating the peripheral Tianluan Turtles!¡± Chu Jie and Xu Hua wore cold expressions as well, speaking in a threatening tone: ¡°Do not try to hold back or hide your strength. If the Third Order Tianluan Turtle breaks free, nobody will get their hands on the Star Moon Fruit, and nobody will have an easy time!¡± Hearing the words of Chu Jie and the rest, and considering the terrifying power of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, the cultivators began to fight more fiercely. Lin Tianming and his companion also unleashed seventy percent of their full strength, at least appearing like typical Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators. As the battle intensified, the Second Order Tianluan Turtles on the periphery were vastly outnumbered by the cultivators and quickly suffered heavy casualties. The key to the battle still lay with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle within the formation. As dozens of cultivators from the Six Major Golden Core Forces joined forces, various moves bombarded in a frenzy, and the Second Order Tianluan Turtles were almost completely torn apart, with very few surviving. As for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, its famously defensive shell now bore numerous cracks. Though they weren¡¯t deep, it had still suffered some minor injuries. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle was unusually angry at this point. In this place rich in fire-attributed spiritual power, the effect on it was not small, and the restrictions of the formation imposed yet another handicap on its strength. The enraged Third Order Tianluan Turtle, a mighty Third Order Demon Beast, found it humiliating to be besieged by so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators and to have sustained injuries, which was incredibly frustrating. As the infuriated Tianluan Turtle continued to ram the formation relentlessly, the stability of the Myriad Flames Sky-Scorching Formation also began to weaken. Seeing this, Su Yunlong¡¯s expression became grave, and he quickly explained the situation to the Six Major Golden Core Forces, who all realized the importance of the formation to them. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fellow Daoists, do not hold back any longer. This Third Order Tianluan Turtle is stronger than we expected, and it must be close to the Third Grade Medium Stage!¡± Chu Jie spoke up. Xu Hua and the others exchanged glances, then the magic artifacts in their hands glowed with increased spiritual light, their attacks becoming even more fierce. After two rounds of assaults, the Tianluan Turtle seemed to realize that its situation was also dire. Although the regular methods of Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn¡¯t kill it, if the fight dragged on, unpredictable incidents could occur. At that moment, the furious Third Order Tianluan Turtle became even more agitated, suddenly shooting out a barrage of Cold Jade Arrows from its mouth, which heavily bombarded the formation¡¯s barriers. ¡°Not good¡­ the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s Innate Divine Ability!¡± Chu Jie cried out in alarm. ¡°Thump, thump, thump¡­¡± Thunderous booms resounded, and the formation shook violently, teetering on the brink of collapse. Chu Jie and the others¡¯ faces changed drastically, their magic artifacts shining brightly, attempting to stop the Third Order Tianluan Turtle from continuing its assault. However, it seemed that the Tianluan Turtle was determined, withstanding their attacks in its resolution to break the formation. As a torrent of attacks poured down, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, the Cold Jade Arrows, struck the formation once again. For a moment, the colors of the sky and earth shifted, and a flurry of attacks slammed against the thick shell of the Tianluan Turtle. A section of the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s hefty shell shattered, revealing flesh white as jade. The frenzied onslaught from Chu Jie and the others wounded the disregarding Tianluan Turtle, which let out a crazed howl from the pain. At the same time, the Cold Jade Arrows also broke through the formation¡¯s barriers. Just as the formation shattered, the light screen in the sky dissipated, and the Jade Staff Small Flags burst into flames, quickly burning into ash. At that moment, with the formation broken, the enraged Tianluan Turtle turned its head, staring at the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces who had injured it. They had underestimated the strength of the Third Order Demon Beast, thinking that with a Second Order Formation and the advantage of terrain they could succeed, but they never imagined that the Third Order Tianluan Turtle would be so powerful and resolute. They had held back throughout the fight, which resulted in the Tianluan Turtle breaking free. At that point, the faces of Chu Jie and the others turned pale, and they started to retreat frantically. Chapter 274: 187 Collapse_1 Chapter 274: Chapter 187 Collapse_1 Seeing the Third Order Tianluan Turtle break free, the cultivators who were besieging the remaining demonic beasts immediately ceased their attacks. Lin Tianming and his companion hastily retreated, positioning themselves behind the forces of the Six Major Golden Core Powers at the first opportunity. With the Tianluan Turtle free and no longer restrained, if it were to go on a rampage, staying within its sight was an invitation to death. They were prepared to flee for their lives at the first sign of danger, letting the Golden Elixir Forces bear the brunt. As expected, over a dozen cultivators who were late to retreat, caught off guard, were effortlessly slain by the escaped Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Those quick enough to evade scrambled away in panic, eventually taking their place behind the Six Major Golden Core Forces, their faces pale as they looked upon the mangled corpses on the ground, all revealing expressions of lingering fear. Some of the surviving cultivators, witnessing this scene, immediately wavered in their resolve and, seizing the moment of shock and confusion, stealthily left the valley, evidently abandoning their plans to continue the siege. Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and others turned cold, watching the deserting cultivators with faces ashen. They were unable to prevent their departure, as there was no time to deal with the faint-hearted and fearful. In the blink of an eye, dozens feared the power of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle and hastily left, leaving behind mostly cultivators above the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Even so, nearly a hundred cultivators remained, and the overall strength had not diminished by much. Those willing to stay were still reluctant to give up this opportunity for a breakthrough to the Golden Core. After cursing the fleeing cultivators, Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others turned their gaze to the Tianluan Turtle flock. At this moment, the surviving peripheral Tianluan Turtles, given a chance to breathe, quickly regrouped with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. With more than ten cultivators slain and dozens abandoning the siege out of fear of the Third Order Demonic Beast¡¯s power, the conflict subsided for a moment. The cultivators and the Tianluan Turtle flock were now facing each other across the valley, the atmosphere extraordinarily tense. The current situation was still difficult to predict. From a strength perspective, there were still over a hundred cultivators, most being above the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, their power still formidable. While the Tianluan Turtle flock, despite the Third Order Tianluan Turtle having some injuries, was not significantly affected. Aside from that, with the aid of several dozen Second Order Tianluan Turtles, their strength was no less impressive than that of the cultivators. Both sides occupied their own hilltops, prepared for the impending battle. Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others wore somber expressions as they cautiously observed the enraged Tianluan Turtle flock, ready to engage at any moment. After a few moments passed, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle launched its attack, spitting out a barrage of Cold Jade Arrows towards the cultivators. ¡°Everyone, be careful, strike quickly and vanquish them!¡± Xu Hua warned, as the Magic Artifact in his hand radiated intensely, slashing furiously at the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. ¡°All Golden Core disciples, join me in attacking the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, the rest focus on quickly exterminating the Second Order Demonic Beasts, then we¡¯ll all combine forces to deal with the Third Order,¡± Chu Jie bellowed, as he flung his Hoop-shaped Magical Artifact which, after expanding in size, smashed toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Simultaneously, all disciples from the Golden Core Forces made their move. Suddenly, a myriad of attacks from various magical artifacts clashed with the Cold Jade Arrows spewed by the Tianluan Turtles. ¡°Boom, boom, boom.¡± The sky echoed with successive explosions, the Cold Jade Arrows colliding with the Six Forces¡¯ attacks, generating explosive shockwaves, sending debris flying throughout the valley, and the heavens ablaze. At this moment, the intense battle was initiated by the Cold Jade Arrows launched by the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, entering a thrilling stage. Lin Tianming and his companion remained vigilant, targeting some of the injured Second Order Tianluan Turtles, making their battle surprisingly effortless while conserving their strength and not arousing suspicion among the other cultivators. In less than half a quarter of an hour, the valley was littered with corpses, both demonic beasts¡¯ and cultivators¡¯. The Tianluan Turtle flock suffered heavy losses, fewer than fifty capable of fighting remained, each bearing some injuries. Yet despite the relentless attacks, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle had not sustained fatal damage. The cultivator¡¯s side also suffered significant losses, with dozens falling there, including over ten offspring of the Six Major Golden Core Forces, most killed by the Divine Skills of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. At this point, the showdown between cultivators and demonic beasts reached its climax. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle didn¡¯t hesitate to unleash a flurry of Cold Jade Arrows at Chu Jie and the others. With the Third Order Demonic Beast¡¯s Spirit Wisdom comparable to that of a human child, it seemed to know which cultivators posed a greater threat, and began to target them. As the Third Order Tianluan Turtle adjusted its tactics, Chu Jie, and the others had their complexions change drastically, scattering in haste. However, once their formation was broken, the pressure on the Third Order Tianluan Turtle eased, affording it an opportunity to retaliate. Seizing this chance, the Tianluan Turtle moved with astonishing speed towards Chu Jie and the Golden Core disciples, intent on wiping them out completely. But the Third Order Demonic Beast was too fast, and in the blink of an eye, two more disciples from the Zhenyang Sect had fallen, leaving the rest pale and huddled together. Stabilizing their positions, Jia Yuanchun¡¯s face was pale with fright. If not for his quick reflexes dodging a lethal blow, he might well have perished. Chapter 275: 187 Collapse_2 Chapter 275: Chapter 187 Collapse_2 Thinking back to the recent peril, his face gloomy, he spoke to Chu Jie: ¡°Brother Chu, the defensive power of this Third Order Tianluan Turtle is too strong; ordinary methods simply can¡¯t kill it, and if we continue like this, it will be impossible to slay it.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Indeed, if the Third Order Demon Beast doesn¡¯t die, none of us will get the Star Moon Fruit,¡± another person chimed in. Hearing the words of his fellow brothers, Chu Jie¡¯s face turned sour, but he had to face the reality that if they continued this way, not only would they fail to obtain the treasure, but they might also lose their lives here. He was extremely conflicted at this moment. If he used the trump card given by his sect, he would inevitably be at a disadvantage when it came time to compete for the Star Moon Fruit. ¡°No, the trump card can only be used once; once used, it¡¯s gone. It must be used by everyone together, otherwise, we can¡¯t afford to lose our lifesaving trump card.¡± Chu Jie thought to himself, clearly having made up his mind. He shouted to Xu Hua and the others: ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t hold back any longer. I believe your elders have surely given you a trump card. Whatever the means, we must bring them all out, slay the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, and then we will each rely on our own abilities.¡± Chu Jie¡¯s words made the descendants of the other Golden Elixir Forces hesitate; none wanted to lose their trump card, but the current situation didn¡¯t allow them to ponder any longer. ¡°Alright¡­ Qingyun Valley agrees!¡± Xu Hua spoke up. ¡°The Purple Yin Sect also agrees¡­¡± ¡°Golden Sword Sect agrees too¡­¡± As the Four Great Golden Core Sects showed their stance, the representatives from Pengcheng Liu Family and West River Li Family had no choice but to reluctantly agree. Seeing this situation, Chu Jie and the others were very satisfied. Their cultivation and strength were the strongest and their numbers the most, so even without their trump cards, it would be easier for them to get the Star Moon Fruit than it would be for the Liu or Li families. ¡°Everyone, take action quickly. The six major forces will take care of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. As for the Second Order ones, they will be left to those Loose Cultivators!¡± Chu Jie said. As he finished speaking, Chu Jie released the Nine Ring Artifacts from his hands, and with a spurt of blood, the nine rings rapidly grew in size and smashed toward the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. At the same time, the remaining cultivators struck again, their attacks clearly stronger than before. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle, seeing the cultivators¡¯ attacks, moved swiftly to try to avoid their sharp edges. However, the Nine Ring Artifacts unleashed by Chu Jie were incredibly fast and, after striking its shell, ensnared its body. Seeing the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s speed greatly reduced, Chu Jie¡¯s face lit up with ecstasy. The greatest capability of his Nine Ring Artifacts was not to kill the enemy but to trap them. Once entangled by the rings, the speed of escape would greatly diminish, and over time, it would even restrict the Spiritual Power, causing the trapped demon beast to lose its strength¡ªan extremely peculiar power. But before he could rejoice, the Nine Ring Artifacts broke two of their number under the violent struggle of the Tianluan Turtle. Chu Jie spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, for when the artifacts were damaged, he too suffered a backlash. It was then that he realized he had been too naive; with his Second Order Medium Quality artifacts and his Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivation, trying to trap a Third Order Demon Beast with just his artifacts was impossible. After all, a Third Order Demon Beast is formidable, and if faced alone, it could likely kill him in an instant. Although unable to trap the Third Order Tianluan Turtle to death, before the Nine Artifacts completely shattered, they could still greatly reduce the turtle¡¯s speed, serving some purpose. ¡°Everyone, seize this opportunity to use your trump cards and completely eliminate this brute,¡± Chu Jie urged. ¡°Good¡­ Let¡¯s do it together!¡± several leading figures replied in unison, preparing to employ their trump measures. Seeing everyone¡¯s resolute expressions and agreement to use their trump cards, Chu Jie was thrilled. He slapped his storage bag and a talisman paper flashing with red light appeared in his hand, clearly a Golden Core Talisman. As soon as the Golden Core Talisman appeared, the surrounding Spiritual Energy was stirred up, and a wild wind howled around Chu Jie. All the cultivators turned their attention to the Golden Core Talisman in Chu Jie¡¯s hand, revealing a look of fear. At this time, Lin Tianming remained calm while pursuing the Second Order Tianluan Turtle, having already guessed in their hearts that the trump card Chu Jie produced would definitely be either a Third Order Talisman or a Golden Core Talisman condensed by a Golden Core Cultivator. After all, the Four Great Golden Core Sects here have been heritage forces for more than a thousand years, and the lineage of Golden Core Stage Cultivators has never been broken; each dying Golden Core Cultivator would condense a Golden Core Talisman, serving as their final contribution to their sect. The Patriarch of the Lin Family also left behind a Golden Core Talisman, which on multiple occasions saved the family from danger and preserved their ancestral business. Seven or eight years ago, when the Lin Family faced the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family, it was by employing this treasure that they directly killed the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Jin Zhiying without giving him a chance to fight back. The power of the Golden Core Talisman was well known to everyone. But the three offensive uses within the family¡¯s Golden Core Talisman had been expended, and the Lin Family had lost their protective trump card. As for the Golden Core Talisman that Chu Jie produced, whether it had been condensed by an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator or by an even more powerful Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator was yet to be determined; only after activation could a rough judgment be made. It did not take long for him to know the result. As the Golden Core Talisman in Chu Jie¡¯s hand was activated, a gigantic fireball descended from the sky. The entire fireball moved incredibly fast, engulfed in surging flames, with a terrifying temperature that vaporized the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Seeing the Terrifying Fireball, it appeared to be left behind by a fire-elemental Golden Core Expert, and judging by the fearsome temperature, it was very likely condensed by a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. It was clear that with the Secret Realm appearing near Wei Kingdom, the Zhenyang Sect, as the local authority, had made extremely thorough preparations and heavily invested in them. Chapter 276: 187 Collapse_3 Chapter 276: Chapter 187 Collapse_3 Chu Jie was thrilled beyond measure, his eyes fixated on the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, eager to witness whether the power of the Golden Core Talisman was as terrifying as the legends suggested. Not only that, Xu Hua and others also activated their trump cards. In Huangyang Country Cultivation World, Xu Hua and Wu Xu¡¯s trump cards were also Golden Core Talismans, though their power seemed slightly weaker than those of the Zhenyang Sect, while the other three factions¡¯ trump card was a Lower Third Order talisman paper, not as powerful as the Golden Core Talismans, but their might was still formidable. The combined trump cards of the Six Major Golden Core Forces created a terrifying momentum that shattered the rocks and vegetation within the gorge. At that moment, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, seeing the terrifying fireballs and Sword Qi above, struggled frantically, clearly aware that these attacks could threaten its life. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle writhed intensely, with the Circular Rings binding its body shattering one after another, leaving only the last two intact. Although only two Circular Rings remained to bind it, under normal circumstances, it would hardly need a moment to break free, but there was simply no time to spare in the current situation. Facing the all-encompassing attack, the Third Order Tianluan Turtle made a decisive move, retracting its entire body into its massive shell to withstand the trump cards of the six powers. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The massive fireballs were the first to hit the shell of the Tianluan Turtle, instantly engulfing it in a sea of flames. At the same time, the other attacks arrived as expected, striking the shell of the Tianluan Turtle from all directions. For a moment, the sky was ablaze with fire, and the powerful aftermath opened a deep abyss in the gorge, the resulting surge instantly killing the nearby cultivators and Second Order Demonic Beasts. Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared early on, hiding behind the Golden Elixir Forces, protected from being used as cannon fodder. After more than ten breaths, the scene became very quiet, everyone waiting for the firelight and smoke to dissipate. As the fire died down and the smoke cleared, a miserable cry rang out. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle was now in a terrible state, its thick shell mostly shattered, two of its limbs severed, as it howled in agony, its aura significantly weakened compared to before. Seeing this, everyone was overjoyed. The Third Order Tianluan Turtle had suffered an unprecedented blow, and with the surrounding humans¡¯ onslaught, killing it was only a matter of time. Although Chu Jie¡¯s magic artifact had been destroyed, seeing the main culprit in such a state made him burst into crazed laughter. ¡°Strike now, finish this beast!¡± Chu Jie bellowed, pulling out a Second Order Lower Magic Artifact and launching the first attack, with the other cultivators also acting quickly, surrounding and attacking the severely injured Third Order Tianluan Turtle. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, the critically wounded Tianluan Turtle was overwhelmed by a sky full of magical attacks and sword rain. Under such heavy injuries, it was difficult to escape, let alone resist the attacks from so many people. However, the dying Third Order Tianluan Turtle, acutely aware of its plight, became insanely fierce, obviously intending to drag some cultivators down with it. Cold Jade Arrows shot out in large numbers from its mouth at an incredibly fast speed, assaulting the surrounding cultivators. The death-fueled attack of a Third Order Demon Beast was extraordinarily fearsome. Some of the cultivators who were too close couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were directly pierced through by the Cold Jade Arrows, falling dead on the spot. Meanwhile, the cultivator¡¯s attacks arrived as scheduled, each one draining away at its life force. A few breaths later, the ground was littered with corpses and severed limbs, with the Third Order Tianluan Turtle lying lifelessly at the bottom of the gorge, surrounded by the bodies of dozens of cultivators sprawling in all directions. In its dying moments, the Third Order Demon Beast took the lives of dozens, with all Six Major Golden Core Forces facing varying degrees of casualties. With the death of the Third Order Demon Beast, the Cultivator Alliance instantly crumbled. Chu Jie and Xu Hua were the first to act, vying for the inner core of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle. Since Chu Jie¡¯s magic artifact had been destroyed, and his injuries slowed him down, he ended up losing the inner core to Xu Hua. Xu Hua let out a triumphant laugh, then abruptly turned and shot towards the lair of the Tianluan Turtle, not even bothering to contest the corpse. Seeing Xu Hua¡¯s action, which was clearly premeditated, the faces of the heirs of the several Golden Core Forces changed, cursing loudly before immediately giving chase. Lin Tianming and his companion made a decisive move at the moment Xu Hua turned around, already leaping a hundred yards away. Suddenly, a portion of the Loose Cultivators abandoned the corpse of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, rushing towards the beast¡¯s cave as well, their speed not at all inferior to Xu Hua¡¯s, clearly also at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level or above. Chapter 277: 188 Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_1 Chapter 277: Chapter 188 Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_1 At this moment inside the canyon, corpses were strewn everywhere, with nearly a hundred Tianluan Turtle carcasses as well as a great number of cultivator limbs. As the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces and those cultivators intent on competing for the Star Moon Fruit left, the nearly hundred cultivators remaining fought each other without any reservations, vying for the Third Order Tianluan Turtle carcasses and the numerous deceased cultivators¡¯ belongings. Those who stayed in the canyon were very clear that with their cultivation, hoping to compete with the disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces for the few Star Moon Fruits was extremely unlikely. In light of this, it was better to aim for the Tianluan Turtles and the possessions of the dead cultivators. After all, nearly a hundred cultivators had perished here, along with a large number of demon beast corpses, which amounted to a considerable fortune, not to mention the high value of a single Third Order Tianluan Turtle carcass. There were no shortage of cultivators with such thoughts, but only the top Foundation Establishment Cultivators would gamble on the chance for the Golden Core Path. At this time, the entire canyon was in utter chaos; in the sky, a multitude of spells and magic artifacts collided thunderously. Every cultivator held nothing back, unleashing lethal moves and displaying the full extent of human greed. However, Chu Jie and Xu Hua paid no heed to this, considering these treasures to be insignificant compared to the Star Moon Fruits. Lin Tianming did the same; in the moment Xu Hua turned around, he hurriedly took a few storage bags from the cultivators and immediately gave chase. Chu Jie and others were also infuriated, quickly securing any convenient valuables and chased after them, turning into lingering shadows. Xu Hua led the way, racing towards the location of the Tianluan Turtle den, which was that vast lake. Following behind him were Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and Wu Xu. Lin Tianming and his companion were also in pursuit, maintaining an above-average speed, with more than a dozen cultivators trailing behind them. The group whistled past, arriving in a majestic procession at the lakeside, surpassing the spot where they had initially stopped. Xu Hua and others looked at the vaguely visible island in the center of the lake, showing no signs of pausing as they blasted towards it. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the group of cultivators arrived above the small island. Looking around, the island was now enveloped in a dense fog, with numerous caves evident throughout the area. With the Tianluan Turtle clan wiped out, the whole island was eerily silent, save for some Tianluan Turtles guarding the nests who looked ferociously at the newcomers, spitting out Cold Jade Arrows to try and blast those who dared to enter their caves. Upon seeing a Second Order Tianluan Turtle attacking him, Xu Hua snorted coldly; a flash of spiritual light from the great sword in his hand and a face-to-face strike killed the Second Order Initial Stage Tianluan Turtle. The moment he was briefly slowed down, Chu Jie and the others arrived, their faces grim as they looked at Xu Hua. At this time, Chu Jie had seven Zhenyang Sect Disciples by his side. Nearby, Su Yunlong of the Golden Sword Sect also had several cultivators, while only three remained from the West River Li Family¡¯s Li Wenyi. Opposite them, Xu Hua was accompanied by cultivators from the Purple Yin Sect and the Pengcheng Liu Family, adding up to seventeen cultivators from the three major Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. After the brutal battle in the canyon, the cultivators from both sides had been visibly diminished, all having died at the mouths of Third Order Tianluan Turtles. Currently, the strengths of both parties were evenly matched; in terms of numbers, Xu Hua¡¯s side seemed to have a slight advantage. However, even though the Golden Elixir Forces were powerful, they couldn¡¯t afford to be complacent. Cultivators with unclear backgrounds like Lin Tianming were also present, numbering over thirty people, among them many above Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Given the circumstances, it was still uncertain who would ultimately claim the Star Moon Fruits. At this point, the Loose Cultivators were subtly gathering together, showing no inferiority in momentum compared to Chu Jie and Xu Hua. Seeing this, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Xu Hua¡¯s face, as he secretly communicated with Chu Jie and others, seemingly discussing something. With the weird atmosphere and the changing expressions of Chu Jie and others, Lin Tianming and the majority of the Loose Cultivators wore serious expressions, readying themselves for an imminent battle. As expected, Xu Hua and Chu Jie seemed to have reached some agreement, launching an attack on the nearest cultivators without anyone noticing. In an instant, the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces who suddenly took action successfully killed several cultivators. Lin Tianming and his companion were prepared, immediately retreating to quickly create distance. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following the surprise attack, the remaining twenty or so Loose Cultivators had grim expressions, with someone angrily cursing: ¡°Xu Daoyou, what is the meaning of this? We had agreed that upon the death of a Third Order Demon Beast, everyone would have the right to compete for the Star Moon Fruit.¡± Hearing these words, Xu Hua and the others sneered, ¡°How naive you are!¡± ¡°With the Third Order Tianluan Turtles dead, what use are you?¡± Infuriated by Xu Hua¡¯s scoffing taunt, the assembled Loose Cultivators were seething with anger, but being overpowered, they could only unite with other Loose Cultivators to confront Xu Hua and his group. Xu Hua and his peers were ungentlemanly, seeing that masks were torn off, they attacked directly. The Loose Cultivators did not shrink back, retaliating and engaging in a fierce battle. Lin Tianming and his partner teamed up against a disciple from the Purple Yin Sect. With their close coordination, they stood toe-to-toe with the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator without falling behind. By now, the situation had become chaotic again, and the previously ceased combat reignited once more. Although the average cultivation level of the Six Major Golden Core Forces was superior, there were still more than twenty extra people among the Loose Cultivators. Under this situation, the entire battle became even more intense. Flares burst in the sky above the island as massive spells and talisman papers collided, and the explosive waves uprooted flowers, plants, and trees from the ground. Chapter 278: 188: Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_2 Chapter 278: Chapter 188: Grabbing Chestnuts from the Fire_2 In just a short moment, the picturesque island lay in ruins. Meanwhile, screams echoed from time to time, with cultivators from both sides falling here. After a small quarter of an hour of intense battle, the fight had reached a fever pitch. Xu Hua leapt up, his spirit sword radiating brilliantly, and then a golden sword qi shot out, piercing through the chest of a Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator. The defeated cultivator fell to the ground unwillingly, blood gushing from the chest wound, creating a truly desolate scene. Seeing the cultivator¡¯s death, Xu Hua sneered and picked a new target, then struck again. At this moment, all the loose cultivators were in utter panic, except for a few who remained composed; the rest were ashen-faced, and some even started to beat a retreat. As another Foundation Establishment Seventh Level loose cultivator fell to Chu Jie, their body was pierced directly by a spirit sword, and the unwilling cultivator¡¯s body convulsed on the ground in a terrifying sight. Seeing this, the remaining alive loose cultivators completely gave up on competing for the Star Moon Fruit. With the first cultivator fleeing, it quickly triggered a chain reaction, and another one dashed away in the direction they had come from. Soon, the initially numerically superior group of loose cultivators, with some dead and others escaped, was reduced to just over twenty who still held on. Seeing that they had the absolute upper hand, Xu Hua refrained from making another move and instead turned to rush alone towards the center of the island. At the same time, Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and others followed suit, leaving their brothers and sisters to block the loose cultivators. Lin Tianming and his companion quickly deduced their intent, which was to leave people to hinder the loose cultivators, while the leaders of the Six Major Golden Core Forces went to seize the Star Moon Fruit. Not just them, some among the loose cultivators had also figured it out, soon someone shouted: ¡°Fellow daoists, Xu Hua, Chu Jie, and the others have gone to find the Star Moon Fruit, hurry and break through their blockade, or we¡¯ll have no hope at all!¡± Before the words had even faded, the loose cultivators spontaneously converged together, launching an attack on the disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces that were blocking them. At this critical juncture, no one hid their cultivation level or held back their strength anymore. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave as fifty-six Earth Fiend Swords shot out, trapping several cultivators who were in their way. At the same time, the Second Order Talisman in his hand flew out, transforming into a sea of fire that engulfed the enemy. After one strike, his attack was easily caught by the enemy; after all, his cultivation was too low, and these techniques were merely time-consuming for them. However, before the cultivators within could celebrate, Lin Shilu¡¯s attack had already arrived in haste. The sky erupted in Golden Sword Qi, and the Overturning Mountain Seal slammed down furiously. A cultivator failed to dodge in time and was directly killed by the sword light and sword qi, his body torn to pieces, a sight most miserable indeed. The remaining two¡¯s complexions changed dramatically, then they began attacking the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, trying to break out. But at that moment, a blood-colored blade qi shot towards them with extreme speed. The two inside the sword array had not anticipated a third person attacking them and couldn¡¯t react in time; they could only try to dodge vitally. Yet the blood-colored blade qi was too fast. A scream pierced the air as one cultivator was unable to dodge in time and was struck dead. The other, more decisive, twisted his body to dodge the fatal blow but lost an arm in doing so. Inside the sword array, the sole surviving cultivator went pale with a look of terror, fortunate to have kept his life. Seeing the blood-colored blade qi, Lin Tianming and his companion immediately recognized that the attacker was none other than Long Hai, with whom they had previously cooperated. Similarly, Long Hai, upon seeing the fifty-six Earth Fiend Swords launched simultaneously, knew that the person whose face had changed was the pair who had battled alongside him against the Dragon-Eyed Beast. Noticing Long Hai¡¯s intervention, the pair looked towards the approaching Long Hai and then heard his transmitted message. The three nodded to each other, seemingly in tacit understanding, and together they shot towards the direction where Xu Hua and the others had fallen. Due to their sudden burst of power, they killed two of the three that blocked them, leaving the surviving one injured and unable to stop them further. The cultivators who wanted to provide support were also busy dealing with the frenzied loose cultivators and couldn¡¯t spare their hands to close the gap. Under the watchful eyes of many cultivators, Lin Tianming and the other two quickly disappeared from their view. Lin Tianming and the other two¡¯s successful breakthrough also gave the loose cultivators renewed confidence, and their attacks became increasingly fierce. Under such circumstances, the pressure on the disciples of the Golden Core Forces doubled, and they began to fall into a disadvantage. Meanwhile, the three paid no attention to this, flying towards the center of the island, and subsequently searching for the Star Moon Fruit Tree. After more than ten breaths had passed, booming noises echoed from the center of the island, evidently, Chu Jie and his six companions were also fighting fiercely for the chance. The trio carefully made their way over, stopping by a hidden cave entrance to watch the intense battle unfolding before them. Looking over, Chu Jie, Su Yunlong, and Li Wenyi were fighting together against Xu Hua, Wu Xu, and Liu Kaiquan. The six Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level unleashed powerful fluctuations as they clashed, significantly stronger than the Cultivators trying to hold them back. Behind the six people, an eye-catching golden fruit tree about three meters tall stood out, with nine silvery-white fruits hanging from its golden trunk. Each fruit was the size of a child¡¯s head, covered in dense patterns, and surrounded by a great amount of Spiritual Energy, appearing extremely tempting. ¡°Star Moon Fruit!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, the three were extremely excited, almost wishing they could rush over and uproot it at once. However, they forcefully suppressed the restlessness in their hearts, as it was not the right moment to act. It would be better to wait until the others were embroiled in a critical moment of their battle, increasing the likelihood of obtaining the Star Moon Fruit. Soon enough, their opportunity arrived. In front of the trio, Chu Jie wielded a large number of Second Order Talisman, at least ten, and without hesitation, he launched them. They transformed into a rain of swords that enveloped Xu Hua and the others. At the same time, Su Yunlong slapped his storage bag, and several pale gold beads appeared in his hands¡ªthese were Gold Spirit Beads refined from Demon Beast Inner Pills. They shared some similarities with the Fire Spirit Pearls in Lin Tianming and his companions¡¯ possession, differing only in attributes. He threw the Gold Spirit Beads towards Xu Hua and the others, then prepared an even more violent assault. Seeing Chu Jie and the others¡¯ strike, Lin Tianming was inwardly amazed. ¡°These leaders of the Golden Core Forces truly are extravagant, casually throwing out over a dozen Second Order Talisman and several Gold Spirit Beads. Just these attack methods have already cost tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, it¡¯s simply too wasteful.¡± While he was astounded, Xu Hua¡¯s expression turned very grim under the relentless attack, but he didn¡¯t seem overly panicked. All he did was wave his robe¡¯s sleeve, and a small umbrella-shaped Defense Artifact covered him, blocking the offensive from Chu Jie and the others. After the blow, a series of explosive noises followed, as the umbrella withstood the attacks from Chu Jie and his group. When the dust cleared, Xu Hua and the others were still standing. At this point, Xu Hua and his companions¡¯ faces were grim as they took out a large number of treasures and began to counter-attack. Xu Hua¡¯s Spirit Sword burst forth with earth-shattering Sword Qi, furiously slashing towards Chu Jie and the rest. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Chu Jie and his companions each pulled out their own Defense Artifacts to resist the onslaught from Xu Hua and his group. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The Golden Sword Qi slammed against the Defense Artifacts, and the resultant shockwaves lifted a huge amount of sand and stones, whirling them through the air. For a time, the sky was ablaze with fireballs, turning it red. Taking advantage of this, Lin Shilu dashed towards the Star Moon Fruit. And the several individuals still engaged in fierce combat had not expected someone to have already broken through the blockades and arrived at the scene. While the Cultivators were astonished, Lin Shilu quickly surpassed them, reaching the Star Moon Fruit Tree. At this moment, without any time for joy, Lin Shilu hesitated not a moment, grabbing three Star Moon Fruits and rapidly retreating. Seeing Lin Shilu take away three Star Moon Fruits, everyone¡¯s faces changed dramatically. They immediately stopped their battle, aiming to kill Lin Shilu in order to obtain the fruits. Witnessing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression drastically changed, his Fire Spirit Pearl flying out of his hand towards Chu Jie and the others. At the same time, a blood-red long blade in Long Hai¡¯s hand glowed fiercely, unleashing a torrent of terrifying Blade Qi. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t dare delay, hurling a handful of talisman paper he had in hand, raining them down on the group like a storm. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Flames soared to the sky, and with the help of numerous treasures, as well as Lin Tianming and Long Hai¡¯s support, Lin Shilu successfully broke through the encirclement and joined his companions. Chapter 279: 189 Escape from Death_1 Chapter 279: Chapter 189 Escape from Death_1 ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The Fire Spirit Pearl and a large number of Second Order talismans exploded in the sky, unleashing horrendous waves of fire that instantly illuminated the entire small island. In order to help Lin Shilu break through the encirclement, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about anything else; he threw the only Fire Spirit Pearl he had, just to make the attackers give up on Lin Shilu. At this moment, with grim expressions, Chu Jie and Xu Hua watched the terrifying fireball erupt from the Fire Spirit Pearl, helplessly ceasing their attacks on Lin Shilu and each took out a Defense Artifact to block the assault. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, the power of the Fire Spirit Pearl and the talismans was limited. Had they been Third Order talismans, even a body protected by a magic artifact would have been like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. As time silently passed, with the flames gradually dying down, a figure emerged from the remnants of the inferno, clothes in tatters and body charred. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how are you!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu in such a tragic state, with even his breath weak, Lin Tianming hurriedly went to meet him. ¡°There¡¯s no time to talk right now, they¡¯ll catch up soon, we need to run!¡± Lin Shilu secretly transmitted his voice to Lin Tianming, then took out a Star Moon Fruit and unhesitatingly handed it to Long Hai, who was beside him. Long Hai, upon seeing the Star Moon Fruit, was ecstatic, and without hesitation swallowed the fruit. Then he heard Lin Shilu¡¯s secret message, his expression became extremely grave. In an instant, whatever Lin Shilu had told him, Long Hai, pulling along Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming, turned into a blurred shadow and shot away. The faces of Xu Hua and the others, having regained their senses, grew exceedingly dark. To think that the core disciples of the Six Major Golden Core Forces would be played by a Loose Cultivator and even had three Star Moon Fruits snatched from right behind them. For whatever reason, if this incident were to spread, they would lose all face in the Cultivation World. Thinking this, Chu Jie and his group looked especially ugly. Just when they were preparing to flee, the magic artifacts in their hands started flickering with light. Chu Jie and Xu Hua attacked first, followed closely by Wu Xu and Su Yunlong. When the six Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators made their move, it shook the heavens and earth, vowing to stop the trio. At that moment, the sky was filled with frenzied Sword Qi, and a barrage of talismans and Law Decrees came at them, sending Lin Tianming and his companions into a state of alarm. In his heart, Lin Tianming¡¯s pulse raced. As the three of them made their retreat, Long Hai waved his sleeve and a gray-white talisman paper suddenly appeared in his hand. Seeing the gray-white talisman paper, which was actually a Second Order Superior Defense Talisman, the complexion of Lin Tianming and the other man finally calmed down. Long Hai was well aware of their predicament. Facing the joint attack of six cultivators superior to him in cultivation, even with Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, a moment of carelessness could lead to his demise here. In a crisis, the three were tied together. Whether for his own sake or for Lin Tianming and the other man, he had to give it his all. Understanding this, Long Hai dared not hold back. He released the gray-white talisman paper from his hand, flung a Law Decree upon it, and the talisman paper immediately flickered with light, then swiftly transformed into a gray barrier behind them. At the same time, the attacks from Chu Jie and the others arrived as expected. Explosions sounded as their attacks slammed into the barrier created by the Second Order Superior Talisman. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The defense of the Second Order Superior Talisman was indeed formidable, successfully blocking the attacks of the six for a moment. And though that moment was extremely brief, for Foundation Establishment cultivators in a life-and-death situation, it was enough to cross a distance of several dozen feet. Lin Tianming and the other man had fought side by side many times and were in perfect harmony, naturally not letting such a rare opportunity slip by. As for Long Hai, it goes without saying. As a Loose Cultivator who managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level before the age of a hundred, his path of cultivation was filled with countless trials of life and death. Under the assault of the six, he naturally seized the slim chance of survival. With the help of the explosive force created by the talisman¡¯s destruction, Lin Tianming and his companions had already moved over a hundred feet away from the six, and the distance was still increasing. After the flames dissipated, seeing Lin Tianming and his companions growing ever more distant, the faces of Chu Jie and the others darkened to their limits. However, each harboring their own schemes at this moment, actively giving up the struggle against the other Golden Elixir Forces to chase after Lin Tianming did not necessarily guarantee they would be able to kill the three. After all, the strength they had shown was not to be underestimated. Thus, the difficulty of seizing the three Star Moon Fruits from them was equally immense. But if they stayed here, competing for the remaining six Star Moon Fruits among the Six Major Golden Core Forces, even with extraordinary luck, they couldn¡¯t possibly obtain two or three. The six individuals were entangled in their decision, with Chu Jie and Xu Hua and the others being somewhat better off, as they held an absolute advantage among the Sect Cultivators. Even at their worst, securing one Star Moon Fruit was a sure thing. But Liu Kaiquan from the Pengcheng Liu Family and Li Wenyi from the West River Li Family made a decision in a very short time. They were painfully aware that although they too belonged to the Golden Core Forces, they were at the bottom of the Six Major Golden Core Forces. Not only that, but Chu Jie, Xu Hua, and the others, as leaders among the Great Sect Cultivators, were not as simple as they appeared. The difficulty of securing one Star Moon Fruit from the other four was self-evident. Considering this, pursuing Lin Tianming and his two companions, despite the dangers, could result in a more substantial reward if successful. Thus, taking the smallest risk for the greatest gain was undoubtedly the wisest choice. Chapter 280: 189: Escape to Freedom_2 Chapter 280: Chapter 189: Escape to Freedom_2 At that moment, Liu Kaiquan and Li Wenyi didn¡¯t pause for a second; the instant they stabilized their figures, they turned into lingering shadows in pursuit. Soon, relying on their superior cultivation, they slowly closed some distance. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his two companions, who were frantically fleeing ahead, hadn¡¯t even the chance to catch their breath before having to face a new crisis. On their left, the loose cultivators and the Golden Elixir Forces disciples, who had been embroiled in a fierce battle, seemed to have reached a conclusion. Several of the loose cultivators were already heading their way, clearly having broken through the blockade to compete for the Star Moon Fruit. The ones in mad pursuit behind them were six disciples of Golden Core Cultivators. Besides, Li Wenyi and Liu Kaiquan were getting closer and closer. If they were held up even for a moment, they would be surrounded and meet with even greater trouble. Seeing this, the expressions on the faces of Lin Tianming and his two companions were extremely troubling. They had managed to obtain the Star Moon Fruit with great difficulty, burst out from Chu Jie and the others¡¯ encirclement, and now faced these aggressive loose cultivators and a host of Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ descendants. The Golden Elixir Forces wouldn¡¯t hold back against them, and if the loose cultivators learned that they had the Star Moon Fruit, they certainly wouldn¡¯t lend a hand. Instead, they would make a move to snatch it, after all, no one would give up such a treasure. ¡°It¡¯s truly like facing wolves in front and tigers behind, such ill-fortune!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself in despair while anxiously trying to figure out a way to escape. Watching Li Wenyi and the loose cultivators get closer, Lin Shilu once again took out a Star Moon Fruit, his face showing an unwillingness to part with it. Seeing Lin Shilu taking out the Star Moon Fruit, the breath of everyone on the scene quickened, and like ravenous wolves, they pounced towards it. For a moment, a myriad of attacks filled the sky as if they couldn¡¯t wait to tear them to shreds on the spot. Lin Tianming and Long Hai¡¯s expressions were grave as they simultaneously attacked, trying to carve out a path. Sword Qi and Blade Qi burst out from their hands, slashing towards the direction with the fewest people. At the same time, Lin Shilu tossed one of the Star Moon Fruits towards the approaching Li Wenyi. Suddenly, Li Wenyi¡¯s face was full of confusion. Facing the Star Moon Fruit coming straight at him, he did not hesitate to catch it in his hand. Li Wenyi, who had caught the Star Moon Fruit, showed an ecstatic expression, never expecting that the Star Moon Fruit would fall from the sky right into his palm so perfectly. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°To think it arrived without any effort at all!¡± However, before he could even feel happy, his face turned to one of horror. At that moment, apart from a few individuals from the West River Li Family, the eyes of all cultivators greedily fixed on him. Only then did he understand that at this moment, the Star Moon Fruit was a hot potato, as well as a death knell. And at this time, although the cultivators¡¯ gaze shifted, their attacks arrived as promised, and Lin Tianming and his two companions were still not out of danger. The frenzied attacks of more than twenty people created a true crisis. The trio dared not be careless; if they lost their lives, what use would it be to keep the treasures? Lin Tianming, fully aware of this, used up all prepared measures in one breath. Whether it was First Order Talismans or Second Order Talismans, any method that could attack or defend was activated without reservation. Lin Shilu did the same; he threw out his only remaining Fire Spirit Pearl without any hesitation, hoping to clear a path to survival. At the same time, his Second Order Medium Quality Magic Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, was already protecting the three of them, ready to face the cultivator¡¯s attacks. Long Hai also spared no measures; he threw out several Second Order Talismans and then frantically infused a vast amount of spiritual power to activate his defense artifact, forming a gigantic shield in front of the trio. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Pops and crackles erupted in the sky as a myriad of attacks broke through the barriers formed by the Defense Talismans and a mass of fireballs, ice swords, and various Sword Qi and Blade Qi hammered against the Defense Artifact. At this moment, both the sky and the ground erupted into an endless sea of flames, violently shaking the entire battlefield. After enduring for three breaths¡¯ time, the attacks from the sky ceased, and tranquility returned. Then, under such an onslaught, Lin Tianming and his companions each spat out a mouthful of blood, their faces quickly paling. Taking advantage of a brief lull, and the fact that a great number of cultivators were distracted by the Star Moon Fruit in Li Wenyi¡¯s hands, the three turned into lingering shadows and shot towards a forest-covered mountain range. For a full breath¡¯s time, by the time everyone returned to their senses, the trio had vanished into the dense woods, leaving the crowd with faces of disbelief. Soon, the cultivators snapped out of it; several chased in the direction Lin Tianming and his party had fled, seemingly unwilling to give up on the murder and robbery. The remaining cultivators launched attacks at Li Wenyi, converging on him in a mad pursuit of the Star Moon Fruit. At this moment, the most miserable was Liu Kaiquan; empty-handed, he not only failed to catch up with Lin Tianming and his group but also faced the collective onslaught of a large number of cultivators. The battle erupted once again, throwing the scene into renewed chaos. As for Lin Tianming and his companions, after exhausting all means to escape death, they cared not who would end up with the Star Moon Fruit they had surrendered. The trio crazily scurried through the expanse of forest-covered mountains, heedless of any danger along the way. Thus, their speed was incredibly fast, with Lin Tianming being dragged through the air by Lin Shilu and Long Hai for the entire journey. Time passed quickly, and in half a day, they had traversed several large mountains and covered a few hundred li, putting considerable distance between them and the land of strife. Fortunately, the journey was smooth, and the cultivators chasing them, slower than them in escape speed, were shaken off in less than an hour, finally losing track of the trio completely. Chapter 281: 189 Escape from Death_3 Chapter 281: Chapter 189 Escape from Death_3 After that, they encountered several lone travelers on the road, who were all frightened to see the trio¡¯s fierce and villainous appearance. Fortunately, both parties had no particular intentions, and they quickly disengaged from each other. As evening approached, the three had also left danger behind. Lin Tianming and his companions landed on a secluded mountain peak, then they all took a long breath and showed smiles of someone who had survived a calamity. Long Hai took a Huiyuan Pill and looked at Lin Tianming and his companion with a hint of admiration in his eyes. He knew that Lin Shilu and his companion¡¯s cultivation was not as advanced as his, but combined, their strength was no less than his own. Under such dangerous circumstances, to be able to obtain three Star Moon Fruits despite the attacks from the Six Major Golden Core Forces was an extremely difficult feat. Even more precious was the fact that without hesitation he had made a choice in a desperate situation, trading one Star Moon Fruit for a chance at their lives. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this respect, both in terms of strength, courage, and character, the two had reached the pinnacle. Having cooperated twice, both parties had reaped exceedingly rich rewards. Thinking of these things, Long Hai couldn¡¯t help but admire them. On this trip to the Secret Realm, he had gained a wealth of treasures and the priceless Star Moon Fruit; he was very content. With these thoughts in mind, he cupped his hands towards the two and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, we have now left danger behind, and the Secret Realm will close in two days. Let us part ways here!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companion showed expressions of regret. Although the Secret Realm was about to close, the three of them were all somewhat injured, and with two days remaining, the danger was still unpredictable. Given that Long Hai was not weak and they had cooperated several times, if the three of them were to move together and watch out for each other, it would certainly be safer. However, a stranger was after all a stranger. Each carrying a Star Moon Fruit, it would be easy to share misfortune together, but sharing fortune was difficult, and it was impossible for either side to be completely unguarded. Perhaps it was better for each to go their own way. With these thoughts, Lin Shilu no longer insisted on staying. After exchanging methods of communication with Long Hai, they prepared to say their goodbyes and leave. ¡°Fellow Daoists, if fate wills it, we shall meet again!¡± Long Hai said with a cupped fist, not asking about their backgrounds or identities. Then, after tossing out eight Jade Boxes with a hearty laugh, he disappeared from their sight. Watching Long Hai leave, Lin Shilu opened the Jade Boxes, which contained one mature White Jade Grass and seven seedlings left by Long Hai. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion showed astonished expressions. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect this person to be so loyal and righteous. Although we didn¡¯t discuss rewards when cooperating with him, he still took the initiative to gift us the White Jade Grass in his possession, truly commendable!.¡± After sighing, Lin Shilu said, ¡°Tianming, Long Hai is indeed worth getting to know deeply!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, agreeing inwardly. Although most Loose Cultivators were selfish and unscrupulous in achieving their goals, there were also many who were free-spirited. Character is a very mysterious thing; often, those who are free-spirited have an easier time overcoming the Heart Demon when breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, such loyal and righteous Loose Cultivators are indeed rare, we may meet again in the future!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shilu smiled knowingly, then instructed, ¡°We have gained much from this journey, but the danger is not yet over. Let¡¯s immediately find a safe place to retreat for healing. Don¡¯t wander around anymore, just wait for the Secret Realm to close.¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu stepped away, followed by Lin Tianming. The two headed rapidly into the depths of the mountain range. As night fell, the entire sky turned completely dark. The two traveled dozens of miles, hastily rushing into a quiet canyon. With the sky growing darker, it was time for Demonic Beasts to appear, so it was not suitable to wander about anymore. The two found a hidden natural cave on the spot and set up several Illusion Arrays and a First Order Formation. Having taken precautionary and protective measures, they entered the cave and began to close-off for healing, waiting for the end of their time in the Secret Realm. Chapter 282: 190 Convergence_1 Chapter 282: Chapter 190 Convergence_1 Time flew by, and soon two days had passed. In a secluded cave, Lin Tianming and his companion sat on the ground, their breathing steady and regular, the pallor of their faces having returned to a normal, healthy flush. After parting ways with Long Hai, the two of them had hurriedly found a natural cave to shelter in before nightfall. Over the past two days, all had been rather calm; no accidents had occurred, and they did not step foot outside the cave. At that moment, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes, and a satisfied smile flashed across his face. After two days of meditative recovery, the injuries sustained from being attacked had mostly healed, and he could walk and fight normally again. Seeing Lin Tianming emerge from his meditation, Lin Shilu also opened his eyes, which flashed with a bright light, indicating that he had also made a good recovery. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened with joy as he quickly asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how are your injuries?¡± Moved by Lin Tianming¡¯s concern, Lin Shilu laughed heartily while waving his hand, indicating that he was fine. Seeing this, Lin Tianming could not hide his excitement and blurted out: ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, today is the day the secret realm closes. Our journey here has yielded incredible treasures. Once we return to our family, we will surely surprise Elder Wu and the others!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu nodded. They had been too weary to rejoice previously. Now that the closing of the secret realm was imminent, they could finally leave this dangerous place and return to familiar territory. How could they not be thrilled? Lin Shilu¡¯s calm face was infected by Lin Tianming¡¯s enthusiasm, and a smile flickered across it. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu produced several storage bags and said: ¡°Tianming, there¡¯s still some time before the secret realm closes. We should take this opportunity to inventory the storage bags we¡¯ve obtained before!¡± Reminded by Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming recalled that, starting from their ambush of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, they had collected a few unlucky cultivators¡¯ belongings. Now that they were out of danger and had nothing else to do, they naturally should sort out their loot. With this in mind, Lin Tianming chuckled and took out two storage bags, quickly wiping away the remaining Divine Sense on them. Lin Shilu also got busy, swiftly cleaning off the Divine Sense from the storage bags before tallying the contents inside. In a short while, the two had finished inventorying the five storage bags they had acquired. A mountain of treasures was piled up, including Spirit Stones, elixirs, various Artifact Refining Materials, and a large number of Demonic Beast Materials, nearly blocking the entrance to the cave. At this point, both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu were excited. One sorted the items while the other recorded the ones to be handed over to the family. Before long, the two had gone through the five storage bags and determined the amount and types of their unexpected windfall. The wealth of the five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including both Loose Cultivators and Sect Cultivators, was substantial, with the combined value of Spirit Stones alone reaching an impressive total of more than 130,000! Beyond that, there were over twenty bottles of Second Order Pills, a large quantity of Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Ore, including three mature White Jade Grass plants and seven seedlings, though the rest weren¡¯t particularly rare or valuable. Apart from cultivation resources, there were numerous Magic Artifacts and talisman papers that could enhance their strength. They secured two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Artifacts and two Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts, with even one Attack Artifact being quite a treasure. However, they were somewhat disappointed not to find any Mysterious Grade Techniques or insights from a Third Order Master. They only obtained one Yellow Grade Technique and insights from a Second Order Refiner, which were of marginal value to the family. After all, these were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, some of whom were strong individuals above the fifth level, who should have possessed high-grade Techniques or insights. Yet, they only acquired a few things that were of little significance to the family. But the two soon came to terms with it. After all, the treasures they had acquired were numerous enough, and most of these storage bags had been picked up effortlessly. Aside from the most precious Star Moon Fruits and White Jade Grass, just the Spirit Stones and various treasures and Artifacts combined were worth over 200,000 Spirit Stones. Looking at the small mountain of Spirit Stones and treasures, Lin Shilu¡¯s face blossomed with happiness. Once he regained his composure, he then said: ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s divide these Spirit Stones and talismans between the two of us, and we can hand over all the rest, including the Artifacts, to the family. Those in Xing Ping¡¯s generation don¡¯t have many Artifacts. With this batch, every Foundation Establishment Clan Member in the family will have two Artifacts each, which can greatly enhance our strength!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s suggestion, Lin Tianming naturally had no objections. Over the years, the two of them had fought in many battles together, experiencing numerous life and death situations. They had acquired so many Spirit Stones and far more Artifacts than even their fathers, so they had more than enough. As for the cultivation elixirs and lower-grade Artifacts, they had no shortage and didn¡¯t mind giving them away to their clanspeople. With this in mind, Lin Tianming readily agreed. Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, and they each received three Second Order Talismans: two Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans and one Second Order Low Grade Defense Talisman. During the previous attacks by a group of cultivators, fortunately, part of the damage was blocked by Long Hai¡¯s Defense Artifact. Although their Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, had sustained some damage, Lin Shilu had already repaired it with some Spirit Ore, and it was still usable for the time being. With the addition of these few Second Order Talismans, if they had to fight again, they would barely be adequate. After dividing the Spirit Stones, Lin Shilu received 70,000, while Lin Tianming got 60,000. They picked out a few useful items from the remaining treasures, and collected the rest into different storage bags. Chapter 283: 190: Convergence_2 Chapter 283: Chapter 190: Convergence_2 The two busied themselves for a good quarter of an hour, classifying and recording all the treasures. After completing these tasks, they began to close their eyes to conserve energy, waiting for the secret realm to close and teleport them out. Less than half an hour later, a series of rumbling sounds came, and the earth began to shake violently. Lin Tianming and his companion opened their eyes and could clearly feel that the spiritual light that had submerged into their Sky Spirit Covers when they entered the secret realm was stirring. Lin Shilu exclaimed with a look of surprise and excitement, ¡°Tianming, the secret realm is about to close, let¡¯s get out immediately!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with excitement. They had waited two days for this moment. Both nodded to each other and immediately dashed out of the natural cavern. Soon, the ground stopped shaking, and a dazzling light flashed across the clear blue sky. As the light in the sky grew stronger, the two experienced a sharp pain in their divine sense, followed by a bout of dizziness in their minds, and their bodies uncontrollably swept toward the void as if yanked by some force. When the two regained their normal senses, they found themselves in an unfamiliar valley. Fortunately, there were no other people around, and they both heaved a sigh of relief. Lin Shilu extended his divine sense to search the surroundings of the two of them, detecting no abnormalities. Regaining his composure, he spoke in an even tone, ¡°Tianming, we are still unable to determine our location, but according to the records, when a secret realm closes, cultivators inside are most likely to be teleported near the entrance.¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded, his tense nerves relaxing a bit. He had been genuinely worried that they would be separated upon exiting the secret realm, as was the case when they entered. At such a critical moment, it was certain that some cultivators with impure motives would be out to kill and rob. After all, those cultivators with impure motives could not enter the secret realm, but by killing just one person, they could opportunistically seize the fortune obtained from within the realm. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming said to Lin Shilu, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the crisis is not yet over. Let us have the Purple Gold Eagle fly us north immediately. Once we determine our location, we¡¯ll head straight back to the family!¡± Lin Shilu nodded. They carried treasures that were immensely important to the family, and there was no time for consideration; they needed to return to the family as quickly as possible. Understanding this, Lin Tianming swiftly released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. After feeding the Purple Gold Eagle a segment of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body, the two mounted its back, and the eagle swiftly ascended into the clouds, heading north. Sitting on the broad back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shilu kept his divine sense fully extended, ever vigilant of their surroundings. The Purple Gold Eagle carried the two for nearly a hundred miles. Using the features of the surrounding mountain ranges to guide them, they quickly determined their precise location¡ªwithin the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom. However, their position was somewhat deeper in the mountains than the entrance to the secret realm. The journey home would take them across a vast expanse of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, possibly encountering other cultivators. Fortunately, as they traveled together, and as long as they did not come across cultivators above the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, they should have nothing to fear with their strength. Moreover, within these vast mountains, who would know whether they were of any particular identity or if they had entered the secret realm. With this in mind, as long as they remained cautious, they would be able to enter the territory of Wei Kingdom after traveling more than eight hundred miles. Once within Wei Kingdom, they would not be far from the Luoyun Mountain Range. Should they successfully rendezvous with Lin Xingrong, they would be completely safe. Resolving to do this, the two decided to fly in a straight line and return to their clan¡¯s territory at top speed. Having made up their minds, Lin Tianming signaled to the Purple Gold Eagle, which, understanding his intention, picked up speed and continued flying north. ¡­ In the Whirlwind Mountain Range, near a valley on the side closer to Wei Kingdom. This place was only a couple hundred miles from the edge of the Purple Sun Mountain Range, still at the border between the two countries. In the beautiful valley, where vegetation was lush, occasional common wild beasts scurried, unaware of two figures lurking atop a large tree. One of them, looking toward the depths of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, mumbled, ¡°Third Uncle, Tianming and his companion should pass by here, shouldn¡¯t they?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong maintained a calm demeanor. Lin Xingrong had already asked this question three times, and each time he had answered, yet he was being asked again. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator who can¡¯t remember things? Clearly, Lin Xingrong was excessively worried; after all, entering the Secret Realm was too dangerous, and with the large number of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators entering, even if the two of them joined forces, they couldn¡¯t guarantee their safety. Being fully aware of this, Lin Shikang did not get angry, and instead spoke to reassure him, ¡°Xingrong, I had an agreement with Tianming before they left, that as soon as they come out of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, they will definitely meet up here. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s response, Lin Xingrong finally felt somewhat relieved. The family had temporarily summoned him back from Golden Horn Mountain to facilitate their return, and with Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu entering the Secret Realm, the overall strength of the family was now higher with just the two of them. With their departure from the family land, the entire family now relied on Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua to oversee the premises, significantly reducing the security of Green Bamboo Mountain. However, this was a necessary move. Although the family had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they had broken through too recently, so their cultivation was not high. Additionally, they were spread too thin, with Lin Xingyuan presiding over Luoyun Market and Lin Xingping in Qianchuan Market, so he could only be temporarily reassigned. However, the family had made considerable progress over these past ten-plus years, with those advancing from the Qi Refinement Realm to the Foundation Establishment Stage experiencing a qualitative leap in overall strength. What the family lacked now was time, since ten-plus years were still very brief for Foundation Establishing Families. Given another fifty years, the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators would definitely be able to enter the mid to late phase of the stage. By then, the family would no longer face restrictions as they did now. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, nearly two days have passed since the Secret Realm closed. If they are still in the area of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, they should have arrived by now!¡± Lin Xingrong said. Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang¡¯s normally unflappable face briefly revealed a hint of concern, but he quickly regained his composure. He had always had great confidence in Lin Tianming and the others, especially Tianming. As the most talented member of the family since its foundation, Tianming had been through many battles and his strength far surpassed cultivators at the same level. His quirky, unfettered ideas often led to unexpected advancements. Besides these, with the experienced Lin Shilu accompanying him, it was unlikely there would be any mishaps. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression brightened. Seeing the faint worry on Lin Xingrong¡¯s face, he said, ¡°Xingrong, extend your reach a bit more toward the depths of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, but don¡¯t go too far. If any unforeseen incident occurs, I won¡¯t be able to support you in time!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s instruction, Lin Xingrong nodded and then swept toward the deeper parts of the mountain range. Just as he was turning to leave, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression suddenly turned ecstatic, and he immediately shot off at an unbelievably fast speed. Seeing this, Lin Xingrong guessed the reason and immediately followed. An hour later, atop a mountain, Lin Shikang stood with his hands behind his back, watching as a black shadow in the sky grew larger, his face brimming with excitement. The pursuing Lin Xingrong, seeing the shadow in the sky, took a long breath of relief. Soon, the shadow grew larger, and finally, it landed in front of Lin Shikang. The two people who approached were indeed Lin Tianming and another. After two days of continuous travel, they had managed to journey without rest, and thankfully, with their not insignificant cultivation levels and having disguised their appearances, they had a relatively smooth journey, even though they encountered several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After some probing attacks, realizing the strength of the two, the blocking cultivators had no choice but to watch them leave. Having travelled for two days, they finally crossed the Whirlwind Mountain Range safely and without mishap, meeting up with Lin Shikang, whose cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, thus eliminating their immediate danger. At this moment, they could finally relax their constantly tense expressions. When they reached Lin Shikang, Lin Tianming immediately greeted with a fist and palm salute. ¡°Tianming pays respects to Third Grandfather, and to Father!¡± Before the words fell, Lin Shikang stepped forward, taking their hands and asking eagerly, ¡°Was your journey smooth? Have you been injured?¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s concerned manner, which did not mention any gains at all, Lin Tianming felt deeply gratified. Lin Shilu felt the same, but he was well aware of Lin Shikang¡¯s nature. He chuckled, then said, ¡°Third Brother, we are both unharmed. It¡¯s not safe to linger here, so let¡¯s return to the family land first. As for the expedition to the Secret Realm, we can talk on the way!¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Although we have successfully gathered, we must not be complacent. Let¡¯s set out immediately and head back to the family first!¡± Following Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the group of four hopped onto the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, ready to travel through the night back to Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 284: 191 Shock_1 Chapter 284: Chapter 191 Shock_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. After two days of non-stop travel, the Purple Gold Eagle carried a group of four and dashed straight into the Protective Clan Formation. Their hurried journey over the past two days had been quite smooth. With four Foundation Establishment Cultivators moving together, and with Lin Shikang, a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator, as their rear guard, nobody foolish enough sought to court death by approaching them. During the journey, Lin Tianming and his company mentioned nothing of their adventures in the Secret Realm, and Lin Shikang did not inquire. However, their ever-present smiles spoke volumes, and knowing them as he did, he was certain their venture had been abundantly fruitful. The reason Lin Tianming and his companion didn¡¯t bring it up was simply because they were too exhausted. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had spent the last few days burdened with heavy responsibilities and nerves stretched thin. They were utterly drained, both mentally and physically. Since the treasures were already in their possession, there was no harm in waiting a few more days until the arrival of other important clan members to share their story in detail. Understanding this, Lin Shikang and Lin Xingrong kept silent, all wearing looks of anticipation for the day they would reunite with family. As the four men and one eagle entered the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming and his companion let out a long sigh of relief, allowing their tense nerves to finally relax. Atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, on the Bluestone Plaza, Lin Shikang saw the still weary expressions of the two and said, ¡°Shilu, you two have worked hard these past days. Go back and rest; we¡¯ll meet at my cave mansion in two days.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the two men didn¡¯t decline but nodded and bowed before heading towards their respective cave mansions. Lin Tianming returned to his cave mansion, without any delay, dove into his room, and collapsed onto the stone bed he hadn¡¯t seen in so long. It wasn¡¯t long before he fell into a deep sleep, his room filled with the sound of his even and rhythmic breathing. Two days later, early in the morning, Lin Tianming finally opened his eyes and awoke. He had slept for a full two days, and the feeling of exhaustion had completely vanished from his body, leaving him in peak condition. Lin Tianming got up, stretched, then left his cave mansion and made his way to Lin Shikang¡¯s abode. Before long, he arrived at the courtyard of Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. At that time, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong were seated in the courtyard, sipping tea and chatting leisurely as they waited for others to arrive. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, their faces lit up with joy, and they hastily invited him to sit down. Lin Tianming promptly approached to pay his respects, and afterward sat down to join in their idle chatter. Soon, Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and Lin Xingrong arrived together. After a brief exchange of greetings, the six of them each found seats and continued their conversation. With the exception of Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan, who were still at Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Market respectively, all six Foundation Establishment Clan Members were now gathered together. As the junior among them, Lin Tianming got up to pour tea for his elders. When he came to serve Clan Leader Lin Shihua, he discreetly noticed that in just over a month¡¯s time, the Clan Leader had successfully made a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer. A surge of happiness washed over Lin Tianming, who then asked, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, have you successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer?¡± Lin Shihua chuckled and then said reflectively, ¡°We broke through too late and can¡¯t compare to the potential of you youngsters. It has been six or seven years since I entered Foundation Establishment, and it would have been improper not to make a breakthrough.¡± Lin Tianming felt helpless hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s reply. Many clan members of the Shihua generation were held back by the Lin Family¡¯s lack of resources. Clan Leader Lin Shihua had been tied down with clan obligations, spending at least half the year on affairs other than cultivation¡ªfar less time than Lin Xingrong devoted to his own. From the perspective of the cultivation path, the position of Clan Leader was even a heavy burden. Grandfather Lin Shigong was in the same boat, serving as the Alchemy Hall Master while being responsible for training the younger generation as well as studying Pill Formulas and conducting Alchemy. Additionally, he was older when he reached his breakthrough, and thus his cultivation progress naturally lagged behind the younger generation. With this in mind, Lin Tianming offered consolation, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, having been a long-serving Clan Leader, you¡¯ve shouldered the burden and concerns of the family, it¡¯s the family that has held you back.¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face shone with joy, and he was deeply touched by these words. Ten years ago, the family was on the brink of collapse, and he had resigned himself to the possibility that he would die at the Qi Refinement Realm. Who could have imagined¡­ That the family would rise so meteorically within such a short span of time, giving him a glimpse of hope for reaching Foundation Establishment, which both he and Lin Shigong managed to seize. Meanwhile, Lin Shiji and Lin Shixin failed in their breakthroughs and sacrificed their last bit of strength for the clan during the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. At the thought, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, and he spoke with a regretful tone, ¡°Fate is indeed mysterious. It¡¯s just a pity for Elder Shi and the others¡­¡± Seeing Lin Shihua¡¯s choked speech and his reminiscing expression, Lin Shikang quickly offered a few comforting words. Lin Shihua knew he had lost his composure but soon recovered, then he started discussing more pressing matters. Seeing the eager looks from the clan members, Lin Shilu chuckled and began recounting their experiences in the Secret Realm. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Tian Ming fought alone against a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level cultivator and obtained the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus!¡± Facing Lin Shigong¡¯s exclamations, Lin Tianming replied with an embarrassed smile, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Fifteenth Grandfather, I might¡¯ve not made it!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu solemnly said, ¡°This kid is really bold¡­ Staying near that pool was so dangerous. Next time, you should keep your distance. That way, if things get impossible, you can still make an escape, right?¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, recalling the situation. In such a dangerous Secret Realm, with his own level of cultivation, he indeed should have kept his distance. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t get the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus on his own, he should have been ready to flee rather than staying there and almost losing his life. Chapter 285: 191 Shock_2 Chapter 285: Chapter 191 Shock_2 Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming spoke up, ¡°The lad will remember not to take risks lightly in the future!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shilu nodded and moved past the subject, continuing to share their experiences, from the two of them partnering up to search for treasures, to their encounter with Long Hai, and finally their cooperation in attacking the Dragon-Eyed Beast tribe, which led to them obtaining more than ten mature White Jade Grasses. Upon hearing this news, Lin Shikang and the rest of the clan members were beyond shocked. They originally thought that acquiring the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and some Second Order Spiritual Medicine was decent enough, but they had not expected to obtain the primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, which the family was in desperate need of. With this, the clan now had the ability to refine Foundation Establishment Pills on their own, and these more than ten mature White Jade Grasses could at least create several Foundation Establishment Clan Members. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang and a few others laughed heartily, their emotions running high. However, before they could celebrate for long, Lin Shilu started talking about the encirclement of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle, causing everyone¡¯s heart to once again hang in suspense, as if they were experiencing it themselves. If it weren¡¯t for seeing the two return safely and without any major injuries, they would surely think they were joking. Only after Lin Shilu mentioned the Star Moon Fruit did they understand why the two had been so reckless, even driving the usually prudent Lin Shilu to take such risks. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t stop there; he recounted the entire battle as well as their adventurous feat of obtaining three Star Moon Fruits with Long Hai. Hearing this earth-shattering news, all four were breathing rapidly, their faces soon flushing red. After a silence lasting more than ten breaths, none of them spoke until Lin Shikang was the first to come around, asking in a probing tone, ¡°Shilu¡­ is this¡­ is this true?¡± ¡°Tian Ming¡­ are you not joking?¡± Hearing these hesitant words, which clearly lacked confidence, Lin Shilu frowned, took out the Star Moon Fruits from his storage bag, and placed them in Lin Shikang¡¯s hand. Felling the substantial weight in his palm, as well as that peculiar energy fluctuation, Lin Shikang finally believed it. Lin Shihua and the rest, seeing the Star Moon Fruit, cautiously approached and inspected the fruit thoroughly, understanding it completely. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the scene was very quiet until everyone confirmed the authenticity of the Star Moon Fruit, and then it completely erupted into excitement. Watching Lin Shikang laugh heartily, even with tears brimming in his eyes, Lin Tianming also felt extreme excitement. Seeing the thrilled expressions on everyone¡¯s faces and recalling their own nerves stretched tight during those days and the moments seeking a lifeline on the verge of death, they felt that their efforts were entirely worthwhile. They were even immensely relieved that they had made the right decision and that their hard work had paid off accordingly. Soon, the crowd calmed down from their euphoria, and Lin Shilu continued with what happened next. Upon learning that he traded a Star Moon Fruit for a thread of survival, everyone looked relieved, showing not the slightest hint of regret for the loss. ¡°Shilu, you both did well. In such a moment of crisis, even if you had to throw away everything, it was necessary!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shihua chimed in as well. ¡°Yes¡­ having life is better than any treasure!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, recalling the situation at the time, knowing that if one Star Moon Fruit couldn¡¯t resolve the crisis, he would not hesitate to throw away the rest to secure a chance at life. He himself wasn¡¯t afraid of death, but given that Lin Tianming was with him, if they had died in the Secret Realm, the loss to the family would certainly exceed a Star Moon Fruit. Considering his own talent and the potential he had demonstrated, not to mention the Star Moon Fruit, even for a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, he would naturally give it up without hesitation. Bringing his mind back to the present, Lin Shilu changed the topic and said, ¡°Elders, although our journey to the Secret Realm was treacherous, the outcome was very satisfying, and it wasn¡¯t in vain that Tian Ming and I walked through the gates of death twice!¡± Before the words had even finished, Lin Tianming also interjected, saying: ¡°Indeed¡­ we must quickly transplant the White Jade Grass seedlings. Although they may not all survive, even if a single plant does, it could create one or two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the future!¡± After saying this, Lin Shilu handed over all the White Jade Grass seedlings to Lin Shihua and gave the mature White Jade Grass to Lin Tianming to prepare him to refine the Foundation Establishment Pills for storage within the clan. Lin Tianming accepted the fifteen mature White Jade Grass plants. Now that his success rate in refining Second Order lower-grade elixirs was quite high, such precious elixirs naturally had to be refined by him. However, he planned to enter secluded cultivation for a time. After breaking through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, he would practice refining some elixirs to warm up before he began refining the Foundation Establishment Pills, to make the process as foolproof as possible. After arranging for the White Jade Grass, Lin Shilu subsequently took out several prepared storage bags, which contained the spiritual objects they had obtained during this period. However, the treasures beneficial to them had already been picked out and distributed. Apart from the Second Order Magical Artifacts and elixirs, there were not many valuable items left, but the quantity was exceptionally vast, a rare find for the clan¡¯s Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. Lin Shilu passed the storage bags to Lin Shihua, then spoke: ¡°Twelfth Brother, these items were acquired by Tian Ming and myself in the Secret Realm. Apart from the Second Order Magical Artifacts and elixirs which are prepared for you, the rest will be unconditionally turned over to the clan.¡± As soon as Lin Shilu finished speaking, Lin Shikang first took the storage bags. After a sweep with his Divine Sense, he found that the treasures inside were numerous, and their value was not at all insignificant. Lin Shikang handed the storage bags to Lin Shihua and said: ¡°Shilu, let Shihua deposit these treasures into the clan¡¯s treasury. Besides the Spirit Stones you spent on purchasing White Jade Grass, the clan will reward you with thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and Tian Ming with twenty thousand. How does that sound?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shilu began to refuse. ¡°Elder Brother, there¡¯s no need for a reward. We already obtained plenty from our trip; this is something we willingly offer to the clan!¡± ¡°Yes, Third Grandfather¡­ Tian Ming and Fifteenth Grandfather don¡¯t lack Spirit Stones. Let¡¯s forego the rewards!¡± Lin Tianming also chimed in. In the Secret Realm, they had each gathered tens of thousands of Spirit Stones from several storage bags they had picked up, along with many treasures. At present, they were not in need of Spirit Stones or cultivation elixirs. As for the clan¡¯s rewards, they had no intention of accepting them before they made their offer, let alone after. Hearing the response from Lin Tianming and the others, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression turned serious as he said: ¡°How could that be acceptable? You¡¯ve already done so much for the clan, it¡¯s only right if you¡¯d accept regardless of the amount!¡± ¡°Stop being so formal. Over the years, you two have toiled and traveled far for the clan, gone through numerous skirmishes, and established countless merits. No matter how small, do not refuse this token of appreciation!¡± ¡°Moreover, now that the clan has the income from Luoyun Market and Luoyun Pavilion, we¡¯re not in the same financial strain as before!¡± Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong, due to their status, did not speak much, but they also persuaded Lin Shilu to accept, while suggesting that Tian Ming¡¯s reward be skipped since he was already wealthy and did not require much. ¡°What do you think, Tian Ming?¡± Lin Shilu left the decision to him, and Lin Tianming hesitated. Faced with Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua¡¯s stern expressions, he was at a loss for words. ¡°This¡­ this¡­ alright then!¡± With Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua persistently persuading, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming had no choice but to accept the reward situation. In the end, Lin Shilu took out a storage bag containing the Second Order Pills and several Second Order Magical Artifacts. He handed the storage bag to Lin Shihua, then said: ¡°Shihua, these Second Order Magical Artifacts are exquisite treasures, used by cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. When you have time, distribute them to Ninth Brother and Xing Yuan!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ then I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of Xing Yuan and the others!¡± Lin Shihua, not one to be overly courteous, accepted the storage bag on behalf of the clan members who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, promising to pass it on to them. ¡°Heh heh¡­ I only have one Attack Talisman myself, previously used by a Jin Family Cultivator, indeed its power is quite ordinary. With this Second Order Magical Artifact, my strength can also increase somewhat!¡± Faced with Lin Shihua murmuring to himself, everyone smiled knowingly, and securely stored their treasures away. Chapter 286: 192 Breakthrough_1 Chapter 286: Chapter 192 Breakthrough_1 The matter of contributing treasures came to a conclusion, and everyone was in high spirits, sitting down to enjoy tea and chit-chatting about the Star Moon Fruit. Lin Shilu picked up the teacup, took a slight sip, and then asked about Lin Shikang¡¯s plans. Lin Shikang gave a bitter smile, then began to speak, ¡°I am currently at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, it was only with the help of a Hun Tian Pill that I broke through five years ago, and only five years have passed since then, and it¡¯s still uncertain when I¡¯ll enter the Great Perfection Realm, maybe one or two years, or it could take up to ten years, it¡¯s too early to talk about this now!¡± ¡°What¡¯s more important is, it¡¯s not so easy to break through to the Golden Core Stage, and just preparing for it takes a considerable amount of time. Your cultivation is increasing rapidly; I expect it won¡¯t take twenty years for you to attempt breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. And this Star Moon Fruit, let¡¯s leave it for Shilu and Tianming!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, it was clear he planned to give the opportunity to break through to the Golden Core to those with a higher probability of success, Lin Shilu or Lin Tianming. His reasoning was indeed sound. After all, Lin Shilu was not yet ninety years old and had already reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, not far from the Seventh Level. Once he breaks through, he could then use the Hun Tian Pill to break through another realm. If all went well, there was indeed a very high probability of him attempting to impact the Golden Core Stage within twenty years. Although Lin Tianming was not yet thirty years old and only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, his cultivation speed was unbelievably fast. With his talent, it was very possible he would be ready to impact the Golden Core Stage within thirty years. From the perspective of potential, the probability of Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was indeed higher than Lin Shikang¡¯s, especially for Tianming, who had at least a seventy percent chance, provided there were no accidents. In this light, entrusting this heavy hope to the more promising Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu was also a prudent approach. The family would just need to wait longer and plan more meticulously. Although the emergence of a Golden Core Stage family member would be delayed, this arrangement offered a greater assurance. Those who were aware of the situation said nothing, and the room fell into silence. Lin Tianming too was thinking about this matter, though he was not particularly concerned about the hard-won Star Moon Fruit. He was well aware that although Lin Shikang was over a hundred years old, that age was not considered old, and the probability of breaking through with the help of the Star Moon Fruit was not low. It was just that he felt too much pressure, wanting to give this rare opportunity to a clan member with a better grasp on success. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming said, ¡°Third Grandfather, you should break through to the Great Perfection Realm as soon as possible and then attempt the Golden Core Stage with the Star Moon Fruit. If we delay for decades, it may become even more difficult to break through.¡± As soon as he finished, Lin Shilu also began to persuade. ¡°That¡¯s right, Third Brother¡­ Tianming and I share the same view. Even if you fail, at the worst, we can wait a few more decades. With Tianming¡¯s talent and cultivation, it¡¯s completely worth the wait!¡± Soon, others like Lin Shigong also started to agree. Seeing the clan members all speaking up and persuading, and even Lin Shilu indicating that if he failed to break through, it would be okay if their generation never progressed beyond the Foundation Establishment Stage, Lin Shikang was deeply comforted and also quite fearful at hearing this. To say he didn¡¯t want to break through to the Golden Core Stage would be a lie; no one would easily give up that slim chance of breakthrough, and he felt the same. And breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would not only fulfill the centuries-old aspirations of the family but also double his lifespan, allowing him to live up to five hundred years. If he found an elixir that could extend life, he might even be able to protect the family for several hundred years. It was because of this that he dared not gamble with the family¡¯s fate on this hard-won opportunity. At this point, Lin Shikang let out a rueful smile, then spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s too early to discuss this now. Let¡¯s wait until I reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection before we decide. What do you all think?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, though it sounded like he might be buying time, he hadn¡¯t outright refused, showing some signs of relenting. Lin Shilu chuckled and then adopted a serious demeanor, ¡°Then, for now, let¡¯s follow Third Brother¡¯s words. However, I have to make it clear upfront, you better not slack off. Although it seems calm now, and the family is thriving, no one can be certain when a crisis might arise. Don¡¯t let it be that when the moment of danger comes, our opportunity is lost because our cultivation was insufficient!¡± ¡°Indeed, Third Grandfather¡­¡± Lin Tianming smiled and then sternly said, ¡°Our ancestors broke through to the Golden Core Stage at the age of one hundred and sixty, and you are not even one hundred and thirty years old. Even if you delay for another twenty years, would you still not be younger than the ancestor at that time?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words elicited laughter from the clan members, and Grandfather Lin Shigong also joined in, S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Third Brother¡­ listen to this, wasn¡¯t it even harder for our ancestor all alone? And yet he managed to do it. Now with the substantial support of the family, you shouldn¡¯t have any psychological burdens!¡± After this, the usually silent Lin Shihua chimed in. ¡°Exactly¡­ if you ask me, with this Star Moon Fruit, Third Brother¡¯s probability to break through to the Golden Core Stage is at least forty percent or more, which is much higher than what our ancestor had.¡± Listening to his clan members, a fierce fire ignited deep inside Lin Shikang, and his conviction seemed to become even firmer. Lin Shikang stood up, bowed with cupped hands to everyone present, and then confidently said, ¡°Very well¡­ since everyone has such faith in me, I will borrow your auspicious words and give it my best effort!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ that¡¯s more like it¡­¡± Chapter 287: 192 Breakthrough_2 Chapter 287: Chapter 192 Breakthrough_2 Lin Shilu chuckled, and everyone¡¯s faces were filled with excitement; the entire scene was bustling and lively. Shortly after a brief chat of half an hour, they exchanged information about some clan affairs and then left with cupped fists. Before leaving, Lin Shikang instructed him and Lin Shilu to stay in the clan for a few years of cultivation. Lin Xingping would be stationed in Qianchuan Market for several years. With Luoyun Pavilion establishing a foothold, their presence there would no longer make much difference. As for his task, it was, of course, to focus on cultivation and the preparation of Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, the family already had quite a few members above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, all waiting for the Foundation Establishment Pills for breakthrough. Both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu nodded and agreed to this matter, as it was a good opportunity for cultivation. In the end, Lin Tianming and his two grandchildren left the cave dwelling together, heading toward his father¡¯s dwelling. With the secret realm journey over, Lin Tianming would also likely stay within the clan for long-term cultivation for a few years. However, before starting his seclusion, he would first reunite with his family and then commence closed-door cultivation and the preparation of Foundation Establishment Pills. That night, upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s safe return, his mother and sister hurriedly came out of seclusion. Seeing Lin Tianming return unharmed, his mother¡¯s worried heart could finally relax. From his departure to Qianchuan Market to now, after not seeing him for two years, his mother¡¯s cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, not far from the Great Perfection Realm. Following this rate of cultivation, she would likely make a move to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage within three years. And his sister had seized a spot amongst the Qi Refining Seven Champions. With the resources provided by her grandfather and brother Lin Tianming, she had made rapid progress in the past two years, also reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Level, becoming one of the fastest cultivating women of the Tian generation in the clan. With the current cultivation levels of the mother and daughter, plus an abundance of resources, it was highly probable they could impact the Foundation Establishment Stage together. In the evening, the family of five finished their dinner and sat in the small courtyard chatting about everything from clan members to cultivation and even to the Four Arts of Cultivation, talking for quite some time. In the two years he had been stationed in Qianchuan Market, apart from sending serpent eggs and Spirit Stones back to the clan and quickly returning from the last secret realm affair, he had no time to attend to the clan¡¯s internal matters. Listening to the others, the selection of the Qi Refining Seven Champions had taken place last year. Except for the Great Perfection slot, which was secured by Lin Xingzhi, the six slots from the Fourth to Ninth Layer of Qi Refining were all taken by members of the Tian generation. Lin Tianfeng was the one who obtained the Ninth Layer slot, while Lin Tianqin took the Eighth Layer. It was a pity for Lin Tianhong; although also at the Eighth Layer, he was a year older than Lin Tianqin and had to concede. Despite his likely superior strength at the same realm, as a male member of the clan, it was difficult for him to challenge her. And Lin Tianyue, his sister, won the Seventh Layer slot. Now that she had broken through to the Eighth Layer, Lin Tianqin no longer had a chance past this year, especially since Lin Tianyue, his sister, was seven years younger than this elder sister of the Tian generation. As for the clan members below the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, apart from Lin Tianhu at the Sixth Level being a familiar face, the rest started cultivation after the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain and all had the talent of Three Spiritual Roots, also all exceptionally talented young cultivators. With lesser hardships in their cultivation journey and the clan doubling the monthly stipend and merit points for services over the past ten years, the resources for the new generation¡¯s cultivation significantly increased. With resource assistance, their pace of cultivation was much faster than during the times of Lin Tianfeng and his peers. This is the result of the clan¡¯s strength; they were also fortunate to live in a good era where the resources for cultivators in the clan currently far exceeded those of the other two major clans by several times. At this rate, the disparity between the three major clans of Luoyun Mountain would only grow wider and wider. Before they knew it, the night grew quiet¡­ The casual conversation was drawing to a close, and Lin Tianming took out a large number of Spirit Stones and elixirs to distribute to his family members. He did not share the petals and seeds of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus with his grandfather and father, not because he was stingy, but because there were too few of them. Moreover, since he practised Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, it would have the greatest effect if he used them himself. Seeing the vast number of Spirit Stones Lin Tianming brought out¡ªtotally thirty thousand¡ªand more than ten bottles of Second Order Pills, as well as some Qi Refinement elixirs for his sister and mother to use. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s current cultivation and wealth, probably only Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu could surpass him. Under such circumstances, his grandfather did not refuse, and each of them accepted some Spirit Stones and elixirs before putting an end to their chat. After his grandfather gave several words of advice, they finally got up to leave his father¡¯s small courtyard. The two grandchildren walked on the road, then parted ways at the empty Bluestone Plaza, each returning to their own cave dwellings. Lin Tianming entered the training room, sat on the meditation cushion, and reflected on his cultivation schedule. After experiencing trials in adversity, he felt that he was not far from the third level of Foundation Establishment, and decided to attempt a breakthrough first. With his mind made up, he began to cultivate and breathe deeply, rotating his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and when his condition reached its peak, he immediately took out a petal of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and held it in his hand. Looking at the brightly colored petal emanating bursts of special fragrance, it was refreshing and delightful to the senses. He had previously consumed lotus seeds and was extremely satisfied with the effects, and with six petals left that he had never used before, his anticipation for these petals began to rise. Regathering his focus, he swallowed the petal without hesitation. The bright petal dissolved in his mouth, a special sweetness spread, refreshing the mind and spirit. The energy from the petal was gentle and began to overflow soon after consumption, not at all violent like the lotus seeds. Lin Tianming did not hesitate to start refining it, the energy contained in the petal was slowly refined and then transformed into spiritual power that flowed along his meridians, eventually converging in his Seven Sea Dantian. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling the refined spiritual power and its effects, it was somewhat inferior to that of the lotus seeds, but still significantly better than the effects of Second Order Pills. Moreover, refining such heaven and earth treasures did not cause any discomfort or side effects, making the use of Dragon Bone Pills unnecessary. In light of this, even he did not want to endure the previous agonizing pain. Returning to his task, Lin Tianming did not pause and continued to cultivate at full strength, quickly refining the energy contained within the petal. Time passed slowly, and half a year went by in this way. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming was statue-like, having remained in seclusion without moving an inch for half a year. At this moment, he was at the very peak of the second layer of the Foundation Establishment, on the verge of a breakthrough at any time. During the half-year period, he had consumed three petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus, and this was the fourth. Feeling that the energy of this petal was nearly refined, yet still without a successful breakthrough. Lin Tianming increased his pace, frantically refining the remaining energy, and then marshaled the immense spiritual power to mount one final assault. By now, the spiritual power in his Dantian had reached its limit; all it needed was an infusion of even greater spiritual energy to break through the shackles. With a determined expression, he controlled the accumulated vast spiritual energy, pouring it into his Qi Sea Dantian, and then began to impact the barrier of the third level of Foundation Establishment. Time and again, he sweated profusely, the accumulated spiritual energy began to wane a little, still without a successful breakthrough. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned frenzied. ¡°Today, I must break through the third level of Foundation Establishment¡­ break for me!¡± Lin Tianming gritted his teeth and concentrated all his spiritual energy together, charging madly against the realm¡¯s barrier. After an indeterminate amount of time, a peculiar sound emanated. His Qi Sea Dantian suddenly broke its restraints, like a dam bursting, and a great flood of river water poured into a vast lake or sea. Feeling the increase in spiritual power throughout his body, he was much stronger than before, and moreover, the exhilaration of the breakthrough filled him with immense excitement. Now that he had successfully broken through, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. It was not easy to make a breakthrough, and if his realm was not stable, causing a fall back, it would waste another year or two to re-cultivate. If he fell back in his realm, although he would be free from the boundaries of that realm, wasting two precious years to re-cultivate was not desirable, so naturally, he had to solidify his cultivation as soon as possible. With this in mind, he dared not be careless and instantly set out to cultivate and regulate his breath, running his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and started to consolidate his cultivation. Chapter 288: 193: Foundation Establishment Pill Success_1 Chapter 288: Chapter 193: Foundation Establishment Pill Success_1 Half a month later. Inside the training room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing briefly through his clear gaze. Sensing the formidable strength after his breakthrough, he stood up and clenched his fists, his true yuan swiftly circulating throughout his body. ¡°Crack, crackle¡­¡± The sounds of bones vibrating and popping resonated, his spiritual power flowing extremely smoothly throughout his body. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile knowingly and began to talk to himself. ¡°This Third Level of Foundation Establishment is indeed much stronger than the Second Layer, my strength has doubled, and I should be able to hold my own against a cultivator at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment without falling into a disadvantage,¡± he mused. Previously in the secret realm, he had already sparred with Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts and had not fallen into a disadvantage either. According to his judgment, after breaking through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, relying on a few Second Order magical artifacts and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in his hands, he would not be at much of a disadvantage when fighting against cultivators below the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment. However, this was just a rough estimate, after all, there were many core disciples from great sects whose talents were even higher than his, and they possessed a multitude of precious treasures, capable of unleashing even more formidable power. Regaining his composure, he tidied up the training room before walking out. As he walked, he pondered his future cultivation plans. Now that he had successfully broken through, and as he would not be leaving the clan¡¯s territory for a short time, it was naturally time to start preparing to forge Foundation Establishment Pills. For half a year, the family had been collecting auxiliary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill, which were not considered extremely rare. Over the years, the family had acquired quite a few spiritual medicines, and now they were fully capable of gathering them together. Moreover, there were already clan members who met the requirements for impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, so forging Foundation Establishment Pills had become a matter of urgency. Thinking of this, he changed direction and flew towards the towering mountains behind the main peak. The Purple Gold Eagle had reached the First Order Peak Period a while ago, and when he returned to the clan after the secret realm had ended, he had intended to help it break through to the Second Order, making future travels faster and safer. Soon, Lin Tianming arrived at the valley where he once practiced his divine skills. Looking at a huge cave on the side of the mountain, he called out loudly, and the Purple Gold Eagle quickly flew over and landed in front of him, rubbing its enormous beak against his clothes in an almost comical manner. Lin Tianming caressed its feathers, with a doting expression on his face. The Purple Gold Eagle had been with him for nearly ten years, and as the gap in their combat abilities grew wider, although it hadn¡¯t provided much help in battle, it had been quite useful shuttling through various markets and mountain ranges over the years. One could say that the Purple Gold Eagle had contributed significantly not just to him, but to the entire family as well. From any perspective, helping it break through to the Second Order was only right and proper. With these thoughts, he patted his storage bag and took out two gray-white demon cores. Advancing as a demonic beast was even harder than for cultivators. The Purple Gold Eagle had consumed many First Order demon beast inner pills before, and its realm growth had been quite slow. Fortunately, they had long lifespans, and with these two Second Order demon cores, coupled with some demon beast corpses and blood, it should be enough to help it break through to the Second Order. At this moment, seeing the two Second Order Initial Stage demon beast inner pills in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s eyes gleamed, clearly impatient. It excitedly screeched, seemingly aware that Lin Tianming was going to help it break through, and began rubbing its beak against his clothes again. Lin Tianming touched the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s slightly golden feathers, finally calming it down. Over the years, he had traveled far and wide and been through many great battles. During his journey in the secret realm, he had also obtained many Second Order demon cores. Among them, the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s inner core was at the Second Order Late Phase, and it was the only Second Order Late Phase inner core he had. Beyond that, Lin Shilu had given him two of the Second Order Middle Stage Dragon-Eyed Beast inner pills, and during the Tianluan Turtle¡¯s great battle, he had acquired three Second Order Middle Stage Tianluan Turtle inner pills, as well as numerous Second Order Initial Stage inner pills. With more than ten Second Order monster beast inner pills at hand, including several Second Order Middle Stage demon cores, he had plenty. With so many demon beast inner pills, as well as a considerable number of demonic beast corpses and blood, it was more than enough to help the Purple Gold Eagle advance to the Second Order Middle or Late Phase. Lin Tianming chuckled and took out several portions of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body, tossing them to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle, thrilled, swallowed the monster serpent¡¯s body in one gulp and then eagerly fixed its gaze on the two demon cores in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Seeing this, Lin Tianming laughed and teasingly chided: ¡°Hey hey¡­ after eating so many good things, if you can¡¯t advance to the Second Order, watch how I¡¯ll deal with you.¡± Without waiting for the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s reaction, he threw the two demon beast inner pills straight to it. The Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t hesitate to gulp down the two Second Order demon beast inner pills, unfazed by the risk of the explosive energy from the cores potentially bursting its body. ¡°This bird¡­ truly worthy of being a demonic beast!¡± Lin Tianming laughed and cursed. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator were to swallow these Second Order inner cores whole, they would certainly lose their life, and even a Golden Core Cultivator could suffer serious injuries or be on the verge of death. Yet, the path to advancement for demonic beasts was so simple and brutal¡ªeither the bodies of cultivators or heavenly treasures, as well as demonic beasts¡¯ bodies and inner cores, were all consumed directly. Relying on their unique natural gifts, they could easily convert it to the energy needed for their breakthroughs. Coming to his senses, the Purple Gold Eagle took Lin Tianming around Green Bamboo Mountain for a flight, and finally, they returned to the original spot. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to immediately start refining the demon beast inner pills and to break through to the Second Order as soon as possible. The Purple Gold Eagle screeched a few times, conveying a sense of utter confidence. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 289: 193: The Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_2 Chapter 289: Chapter 193: The Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_2 Lin Tianming nodded, then left the familiar small valley without looking back and headed to the Hall of Merit. It wasn¡¯t long before he saw Lin Xingcheng, and the two sat opposite each other, making small talk. Lin Tianming chuckled, then teased Lin Xingcheng by saying, ¡°Uncle, having not seen you for a few years, you must be close to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?¡± Lin Xingcheng laughed wryly, then responded, ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. Although with your alchemy skills, it won¡¯t take long to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, but looking at the current situation, it seems like it will take at least a few years of preparation for a successful breakthrough!¡± Hearing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement¡ªmore preparation was definitely safer; unless absolutely necessary, rushing a breakthrough was indeed dangerous. After exchanging a few more words, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s tone shifted, already anticipating the purpose of Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. As the Clan Leader of the Hall of Merit and one of the high-ranking members of the clan, he was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s return to the clan and the White Jade Grass he had brought with him. Moreover, half a year earlier, the Clan Leader had instructed him to gather the auxiliary herbs for more than ten batches of Foundation Establishment Pills in the shortest time possible, clearly intending to refine Foundation Establishment Pills without doubt. Knowing this, he was immensely excited; the Minor Foundation Building Pills that Lin Tianming had obtained earlier, after being distributed by the clan, left no more exchange quotas for the Xing clan members. Now that the clan had obtained White Jade Grass and had the capability to refine it, they would have more effective Foundation Establishment Pills to use; even if the exchange for Merit Points was higher, clan members would prioritize the Foundation Establishment Pills over the Minor Foundation Building Pills. After all, the Minor Foundation Building Pills could only increase the chances of breakthrough by twenty percent, while Foundation Establishment Pills could reach fifty percent, a significantly better outcome. With this in mind, for their own successful breakthrough, most would choose the Foundation Establishment Pills first, unless clan members who lacked enough Merit Points would opt for the Minor Foundation Building Pills. Regaining his composure, Lin Xingcheng, looking excited, greeted Lin Tianming and then headed straight to the storeroom. In a short while, he came out with a storage bag, which he then handed to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the storage bag and swept it with his Divine Sense, confirming the count and medicinal properties of the fifteen batches of Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯s auxiliary herbs met the refining requirements. After the handover was complete, Lin Xingcheng began to give additional instructions. ¡°Tianming, the Clan Leader has instructed that once you refine the Foundation Establishment Pills, aside from contributing thirty percent to the clan, keep three for yourself, and if there are more Foundation Establishment Pills, exchange them all at the Family Merits Hall¡ªthe clan will repurchase each one for thirty thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded and accepted the task. In fact, even if the clan didn¡¯t mention it, he would have done the same, for Foundation Establishment Pills were tremendously valuable and fundamental to a clan. Even if the surplus Foundation Establishment Pills were his, he wouldn¡¯t let them out of the clan. He couldn¡¯t forget the scene of the family¡¯s plight over a decade ago, nor the history of the sacrifices of many ancestors for a single Foundation Establishment Pill. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger long. After bidding farewell to Lin Xingcheng, he headed to the Alchemy Hall. Soon, he arrived inside the Alchemy Hall. At the moment, Lin Shigong was teaching a few young clan members about alchemy. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t disturb them and stood quietly to the side, waiting. Finally, after the grandfather dispatched the youngsters, they found a spot to sit down, drink tea, and chat casually. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup, enjoying the rich aroma of the Spiritual Tea, the unique taste lingering in his mouth. ¡°Not bad¡­ This Spiritual Tea is excellent!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed, then said, ¡°Grandfather, I plan to start refining the Foundation Establishment Pills and would like to borrow the Three Star Furnace. My Four Symbols Furnace is somewhat lacking in grade. Although it is not unusable, it would still be advantageous to increase the success rate of the pill formation as much as possible!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s request, Lin Shigong promptly took out a fiery red Pill Furnace, which was the very Three Star Furnace he had used for many years. Lin Shigong handed the Three Star Furnace to Lin Tianming and then asked, ¡°You¡¯re starting the refining so soon, kid?¡± ¡°If you need this old man¡¯s help, just say the word. I¡¯ve got plenty of time. Although my alchemy skills aren¡¯t as good as yours, I¡¯ve got no problem assisting you!¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming chuckled and quickly replied, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ve got it under control. With the Three Star Furnace, I have even greater confidence. You should take this opportunity to go into seclusion and strive to break through to the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming decline his offer graciously, Lin Shigong didn¡¯t insist. After a few simple admonishments, Lin Tianming finally got up, bowed with cupped hands. Having bid farewell to his grandfather and leaving the Alchemy Hall, he returned to his own cave dwelling. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he sat cross-legged on the ground, running his cultivation techniques to breathe and adjust his condition. When his condition reached its peak, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t immediately begin refining but took out a large number of Jade Slips and books, all of them containing Pill Formulas and Alchemy Experiences. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed an Alchemy Experience in hand and began to ruminate and comprehend it. Although he had already gone over these experiences several times and knew their contents by heart, when it came to refining Foundation Establishment Pills, he preferred to be more meticulous; producing one more pill might result in one more Foundation Establishment Cultivator. In such circumstances, it was only natural to be cautious, striving for perfection without fail. Several days quickly passed by. Lin Tianming reviewed all the Pill Formulas and Alchemy Experiences in his possession, whether they were for Second Order or Third Order Alchemists, all over again. Chapter 290: 193: Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_3 Chapter 290: Chapter 193: Success of the Foundation Establishment Pill_3 Although he had reviewed it many times, each time he delved into it, he felt his understanding of the Alchemy Dao deepened. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s an illusion or if there really is progress!¡± After muttering to himself, Lin Tianming then put all of the pill formulas and insights into his storage bag. Having done that, he began the preparations for alchemy, taking out a complete set of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials and placing them on the stone platform beside him, sorted into different categories. Next, he checked the Earth Fire and the Pill Furnace. After making sure all the details were perfect, he began to adjust his state. It was unclear how much time had passed, but he eventually reached his peak condition. All was ready except for the right opportunity! S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming opened his eyes, formed seals with his hands, and struck the Earth Fire¡¯s vent with a Law Decree. As the Earth Fire erupted, the temperature in the Pill Refining Room began to slowly rise. He placed the Three Star Furnace above the Earth Fire, starting the various preparations for alchemy. When the temperature inside the Three Star Furnace reached a critical point, he immediately took out a piece of Spiritual Medicine Material and tossed it into the furnace to begin the basic decomposition process. The procedure was the same as for other elixirs; he had already successfully refined numerous Second Order Pills, so decomposing these auxiliary medicines wasn¡¯t difficult. Soon, after over an hour of intense decomposition, each Spiritual Medicine Material and Spirit Fruit was processed. At the bottom of the Three Star Furnace, a mass of multicolored Elixir Essence lay there. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead and gazed at the liquid essence of the Spiritual Medicine, showing a satisfied expression. With the auxiliary medicines decomposed, the main medicine, White Jade Grass, was left to be processed. He looked at the Spirit Grass with a jade-like sheen and took a deep breath. This White Jade Grass had cost him 11,000 Spirit Stones to purchase from Long Hai; its value was certainly not low. After a brief distraction, he quickly regained his calm and resolutely threw the White Jade Grass into the Three Star Furnace. At that moment, he opened his Eye of Five Colors to observe the White Jade Grass inside the Three Star Furnace, focusing his Divine Sense to start the decomposition. Half a day passed. Inside the Three Star Furnace, the Elixir Essence had grown larger in volume and changed dramatically in color, becoming a mix of blue and white that looked akin to a piece of Supreme Quality jade. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. With all the Spiritual Medicine Materials decomposed, the next crucial step was the Solidifying Pill. He took a deep breath and formed a Single-handed Seal, then struck the Earth Fire¡¯s vent with another Law Decree. A soft sound followed, and the Earth Fire burst forth, raising the temperature in the Three Star Furnace by another notch. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became serious, attentively sensing every change inside the Three Star Furnace. When the temperature seemed right, he slapped the Three Star Furnace with his palm, and a burst of Spiritual Power shot out from his hand into the furnace and disappeared without a trace. ¡°Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡­¡± A few noises sounded out, marking the completion of Infusion of Spirit. While controlling the Earth Fire¡¯s temperature, he murmured to himself. ¡°Solidify the pill!¡± In an instant, a distinct sound echoed, followed by a few crisp crackles from within the Pill Furnace. The noise suggested that the pills might have shattered. Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed, showing an expression of distress. As the noise subsided, he promptly lifted the lid off the furnace to look inside. He saw a pile of residue mixed with some broken pieces of a pill, emitting an unpleasant odor. He picked up a fragment of the failed elixir, holding it carefully in his hand to ponder over. ¡°This Foundation Establishment Pill is indeed difficult; failure to control the temperature and timing of the infusion of spirit led to the failure of the alchemy process!¡± Lin Tianming talked to himself, thereafter contemplating the reasons for failure in his mind and summarizing the issues to watch out for next time. The entire process of this batch of pills was smooth; the decomposition and purification were done meticulously¡ªhow could it have failed? Lin Tianming wore a puzzled expression as he recalled the entire procedure and pondered over the reasons for the failure. ¡°It seems that during the pill solidification, the timing of the spirit infusion and the Earth Fire didn¡¯t match, leading to the failure of this batch!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, quickly pinpointing the problem. ¡°Let¡¯s try another furnace and hope for success!¡± Though the first batch had failed, he was not discouraged at all. After all, it was his first attempt at producing this pill, and failure was nothing unusual. Moreover, although the Foundation Establishment Pill was classified as a Second Order Inferior Grade Pill, the difficulty of its refinement could rival many Second Order Medium Quality pills. After clearing out the wasted residue, he took out another set of Spiritual Medicine Materials and placed them on the stone platform. Once that was done, he began to recuperate until his condition peaked before continuing to refine. ¡°Materials are hard to come by; they must be refined successfully soon so as not to waste them. This complete set of materials cost more than 10,000 Spirit Stones!¡± he muttered to himself, thinking in his heart. Half a day later, Lin Tianming recovered, and once again, he plunged into the intensive alchemy process. With the lesson learned from the first failure, he was extra careful with the second furnace, striving to perfect every step. The entire process went smoothly, as familiar as the path beneath one¡¯s feet, with each step of decomposition, purification, and the control of infusion and Earth Fire right on point. His efforts bore fruit; his cultivation made a breakthrough, and aided by the Eye of Five Colors, he succeeded in solidifying the pills in the second furnace. In the Pill Refining Room at that moment, a unique fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace. Not caring about his sweaty forehead and weary expression, he quickly lifted off the furnace lid. He saw three pills with a blue and white hue suspended inside the furnace, immediately taking one out and comparing it with the Pill Formula, examining it in great detail. ¡°After careful verification, this is undoubtedly a finished product. I just don¡¯t know how effective it is yet!¡± Lin Tianming thought excitedly, his face expressing immense joy. The process of refining two batches of Foundation Establishment Pills¡ªfailing the first and succeeding the second¡ªcould be considered a smooth start. Though he usually managed to produce about five pills of Second Order Inferior Grade elixirs, and this batch only yielded three, considering the difficulty of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Tianming was still extremely satisfied. He placed the three Foundation Establishment Pills into a prepared Jade Bottle, then began to recuperate, waiting for his condition to recover before starting to forge ahead and refine a few more batches. Chapter 291: 194 Announcement of News_1 Chapter 291: Chapter 194 Announcement of News_1 One day later. As his condition recovered, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and took out three plump Foundation Establishment Pills, looking overjoyed. Feeling that his state was just right, he planned to refine a few more batches of elixirs, striving to improve both the pill concoction rate and the number of successful pills. Having made up his mind, he took out another portion of Spiritual Medicine Materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill and began pill refining. Familiar with the procedure, one by one, the Spiritual Medicine Materials were decomposed and purified into differently colored liquid essences, which settled at the bottom of the Three Star Furnace, waiting for the infusion of spirit and pill solidification. Two months hurried by. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming looked at the seventeen Jade Bottles laid out before him, his expression quite satisfied. Since he had entered the Pill Refining Room for secluded cultivation, nearly three months had passed. The difficulty of refining Foundation Establishment Pills was not small; only three to four batches could be refined each month. Forcing more could affect both the rate of pill success and the number of pills, so he wasn¡¯t in a rush. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He proceeded carefully and steadily, always waiting to return to his peak condition before starting on the next batch of elixirs. After all, the auxiliary herbs for Foundation Establishment Pills were the lesser concern, but the main herb, White Jade Grass, was limited. Wasting one meant one less available; refining an extra one could potentially create another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the clan. Under such cautious conditions, he successfully refined four batches from seven portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, yielding a total of seventeen Foundation Establishment Pills, all of good quality. While not reaching the highest quality, they were still quite rare. With these seventeen Foundation Establishment Pills, even if the restrictions were completely lifted, the clan wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Foundation Establishment for its members for the next ten years. Contemplating this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became ecstatic as he put the Jade Bottles into his storage bag, then tidied up, preparing to end this period of pill refining. The reason he was emerging from seclusion now, aside from having addressed the urgent need for Foundation Establishment Pills, was because he wanted to save half of the Spiritual Medicine Materials until he became a Second Order Medium Quality or Second Order Superior Alchemist before continuing refining. By then, if he could refine top-quality Foundation Establishment Pills, the medicinal power within them would be stronger, increasing the odds of breakthrough just a bit. And that slim chance, in many instances, could change a person¡¯s destiny. Back then, when Lin Shixin was breaking through to Foundation Establishment, if he had used such a pill, his odds of success would have greatly increased, with at least a sixty to seventy percent chance of entering the Foundation Establishment Realm. Regrettably, the clan¡¯s resources were insufficient at the time, and even the Minor Foundation Building Pill was their last lifeline. Under the pressure of formidable enemies and advancing age, they had no choice but to stake everything on one gamble. Under the same age constraints, Lin Shigong seized that final opportunity, breaking through at the last moment and thus changing his own fate. Recalling Lin Shixin¡¯s unruly character and his amiable face, always fooling around and joking with him, and the many times he had offered assistance, Lin Tianming¡¯s bright eyes were filled with a reflective look. His thoughts returning, he sighed helplessly. ¡°Perhaps this is destiny; it¡¯s such a pity for Tenth Uncle.¡± Listening to his own sigh echoing in the Pill Refining Room brought him back to reality. Having tidied up the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming then left his cave residence and headed towards the Family Merits Hall. Soon, he met Lin Xingcheng. The two of them sat opposite each other, exchanging greetings, and then Lin Tianming directly took out fifteen Jade Bottles and passed them to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took a bottle and opened it, his breathing becoming hurried at once. Even though he knew he would eventually see the real Foundation Establishment Pills and was also preparing to exchange Merit Points for them, the sight of these actual elixirs still thrilled him immensely. Seeing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s excited expression, Lin Tianming spoke up, ¡°Uncle, out of the fifteen portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, seven have been refined. The rest will be continued after my alchemy skills have further improved.¡± After speaking, he passed a storage bag containing the remaining eight portions of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials to Lin Xingcheng. Lin Xingcheng took some time to calm down before taking the storage bag and checking its contents. He then said, ¡°The fifteen Foundation Establishment Pills you¡¯ve given are for the clan, fulfilling the requirements. These remaining eight portions of materials, strictly speaking, belong to you personally.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t refuse and said, ¡°These Spiritual Medicine Materials are extremely valuable and unsafe to carry on me. I will leave them with the clan for safekeeping and will come to collect them when I plan to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.¡± After he spoke, Lin Xingcheng put away the storage bag and personally assured that he would take good care of the materials and report honestly to the Clan Leader. Lin Tianming nodded, and after a few more casual words, he said his goodbyes and left. Watching Lin Tianming depart, Lin Xingcheng hurriedly took the Foundation Establishment Pills that Lin Tianming had brought to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly to report in person. He soon arrived at the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. At that moment, Lin Shihua was discussing something with several clan members. After giving a few instructions, he turned around. Seeing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s arrival, Lin Shihua seemed a bit surprised, chuckled, and asked, ¡°Xingcheng, what brings you here today? It¡¯s not yet the day for the monthly report, is it?¡± Lin Xingcheng stepped forward and respectfully bowed, then took out the storage bag Lin Tianming had given him and handed it to Lin Shihua for inspection. Lin Shihua furrowed his brow, wondering what could have happened so recently, but when he saw the Foundation Establishment Pills inside the storage bag, his breathing immediately quickened. Chapter 292: 194 Announcement of News_2 Chapter 292: Chapter 194 Announcement of News_2 Several breaths of time passed, Lin Shihua calmed down before instructing, ¡°Xingcheng, I will temporarily keep the Foundation Establishment Pill. After I discuss it with the Third Brother and the others, I will message you, and then we can announce the exchange price.¡± ¡°By the Clan Leader¡¯s decree.¡± Lin Xingcheng respectfully complied, then cupped his fist and left the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. At this point, Lin Tianming had already returned to his own cave dwelling. He sat cross-legged in the secret chamber, pondering his next arrangements. Over the past few years, he had been running around everywhere: markets, taking part in secret realms, refining pills for the Luoyun Pavilion and the clan, indeed delaying a lot of time. Now that the Foundation Establishment Pill had been refined, there were enough for the clan to use for a very long time. Next, he should also go into secluded cultivation, practicing Divine Skills in his free time to exert the power of Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. There were still two petals left of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus. He planned to fully refine them before going to the back mountain to practice the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. Once the Divine Skills were completely mastered, he could lead the clan¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad to train in the Luoyun Mountain Range, experiencing real combat while doing some things within his ability for the clan. Having made up his mind, he sat up straight, then started to form hand signs and ran the Cultivation Technique for a Grand Circulation. When his state reached its peak, he took out a petal of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus and swallowed it. A special energy poured out, and he immediately cycled the Cultivation Technique to refine it into Spiritual Energy, eventually gathering it in the Seven Sea Dantian. Feeling the slowly increasing Spiritual Power within the Seven Sea Dantian, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful as he continued to refine. In the secret chamber, the even breathing of Lin Tianming could be heard, clearly indicating he had entered a deep state of cultivation. At the Summit of Green Bamboo Mountain, in the cave dwelling of Lin Shikang. A few Xing Clan Members of the Shi generation were sitting together chatting casually, with more than a dozen Jade Bottles placed in front of them¡ªthese were the Foundation Establishment Pills that Lin Tianming had refined. At the moment, the few of them had smiles on their faces, looking quite excited. Lin Shihua picked up a Foundation Establishment Pill, examined it in his hand, and then asked, ¡°The Foundation Establishment Pills that Tianming refined are of good quality. Now, there are also a few people in the clan who are prepared to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. How should these pills be distributed, and at what price shall they be exchanged?¡± After speaking, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°In the Qianchuan Market auctions, a Foundation Establishment Pill basically goes for around thirty thousand Spirit Stones each. This price is not small pressure for those younger clan members; I¡¯m afraid the vast majority of the clanspeople won¡¯t be able to offer that much.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong also began to voice his opinion. ¡°Indeed, thirty thousand Spirit Stones is not a small amount. When I exchanged for a Minor Foundation Building Pill, I took out all the Spirit Stones I had and sold quite a few treasures before I could afford the Spirit Stones for the exchange. Those younger generations who have been cultivating for decades would still find it unaffordable, even if they took out everything they had.¡± As his words ended, Lin Shihua also spoke up, ¡°Yes, I suggest we adjust the exchange prices of all treasures. In the past, the Hall of Merit used to buy them below market price and sold them at the same price. We resorted to this last-ditch strategy because the clan was too poor.¡± ¡°Now that the clan is better than before, with extra income, let¡¯s also make an adjustment. Whether buying or exchanging, we will use the market price as the standard. For high-value treasures like the Foundation Establishment Pill, we will sell it at 80% of the price to reduce the pressure on the younger generations as much as possible.¡± Hearing the suggestions discussed by the few, Lin Shikang gave it some thought before speaking, ¡°I have no objections. On top of that, we can make some further adjustments. Those clanspeople who do not have enough Spirit Stones can first pay more than half of the Stones, and the remaining half can be repaid slowly over time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, the young ones won¡¯t have any worries now,¡± Lin Shilu chuckled. Hearing this, the rest of the group smiled knowingly and decided on the matter. Then, Lin Shikang spoke again. ¡°In half a year, Tianfeng and Tianhong¡¯s three-year term will be up,¡± Lin Shikang said. ¡°Those two should also be close to meeting the conditions for impacting the Foundation Establishment stage. It¡¯s time to call them back and prepare for their Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Then, which clanspeople should we send to Qianchuan Market for some experience?¡± Lin Shihua asked. After contemplating for a moment, Lin Shikang opened his mouth and said, ¡°Tian Qin and Tian Yue, the two girls, are quite good. One is an alchemist, and the other is a talisman maker. Their cultivation is not low, and with Xing Ping leading in the market, and the Luoyun Pavilion increasingly stable, they can indeed go there and prepare for Foundation Establishment.¡± Upon hearing this, several people nodded. The two golden flowers of the family had considerable cultivation and possessed not-to-be-snubbed skills. After cultivating for so many years, apart from joining the Monster Hunting Squad into the Luoyun Mountain Range, they had never gone out to gain experience. Taking this opportunity to visit Qianchuan Market was indeed a good choice. Lin Shihua chuckled and stored all the Foundation Establishment Pills, then said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll choose some of the clanspeople to go with Tian Yue in half a year to Qianchuan Market to replace Tianfeng and the others.¡± ¡°At that time, let Tian Ming escort them to Qianchuan Market and bring back Tianfeng and the rest.¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s arrange it this way,¡± Lin Shikang nodded and said with a smile. Once the conversation was finished, they chatted idly for a few moments and then left, each returning to their own cave dwellings. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next day, outside the main halls of the family¡¯s major institutions, notices posted attracted many clanspeople to gather around. Previously, the news about the White Jade Grass was known only to a few of the family¡¯s upper echelons. But now, the news about the Foundation Establishment Pills was made public, as was the adjusted exchange price at the Hall of Merit. The two explosive pieces of news quickly spread throughout the entire family, causing a great commotion. Outside the major institutions, the gathered clanspeople were excited and discussed the news about the Foundation Establishment Pills. The news about the Foundation Establishment Pills had all the clanspeople thrilled. With these pills, the Xing clan members saw reignited hopes for achieving Foundation Establishment. Previously, although there were three Minor Foundation Building Pills left, those were allocated to the Tian clan members. With Lin Xingping¡¯s successful Foundation Establishment, the Xing clan members had already used up their quota. But now, with the even more effective Foundation Establishment Pills available without any exchange restrictions, as long as clanspeople reached Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage and were under a hundred years old, they could exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Under such circumstances, for those clanspeople above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, a mere decade or so of diligent cultivation could give them hope to breakthrough. Moreover, the Foundation Establishment Pill was priced at an exchange rate of 24,000 spirit stones, a price that brought even more joy to the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople of the family. Before, many were worried they might meet the required cultivation level but couldn¡¯t gather enough spirit stones to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill, causing unnecessary delays. Now, with an 80% discount on the pill and the option to pre-pay half the price, meaning just 12,000 spirit stones, they could exchange for the pill in advance. With the family¡¯s twice-increased salaries, the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople now had the capability to accumulate spirit stones. For those clanspeople at the Eighth or Ninth Levels of Qi Refinement, gathering seven or eight thousand spirit stones was not difficult at all. With some borrowed spirit stones, they could quickly gather enough for the advance payment. As expected, right after the announcement regarding the exchange of Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Xingzhi was the first to find Lin Xingcheng, easily producing 12,000 spirit stones and exchanging them on the spot for the first Foundation Establishment Pill. Under the envious gaze of his fellow clanspeople, he accepted the precious pill, equally excited and ready to begin preparations for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, ready to impact the stage whenever conditions permitted. Besides Lin Xingzhi, Lin Xingcheng had also reached the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refining and was the second to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, he had just broken through to the Great Perfection Realm of Qi Refining; he would need at least two to three years to consolidate before attempting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. The remaining clanspeople above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement were all like chickens injected with adrenaline, preparing to cultivate crazily, as well as accumulate the 12,000 spirit stones necessary to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Instantly, the entire family was once again caught up in a frenzy of cultivation and training, all striving desperately to advance their cultivation and accumulate spirit stones, making preparations for the future. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming knew nothing of this, still immersed in his secluded cultivation. Chapter 293: 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_1 Chapter 293: Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_1 Three months hurried by. Inside the practice room, Lin Tianming sat upright on the cushion and then opened his eyes. ¡°Huu huu¡­¡± He exhaled a breath of foul air, then stood up and exited the secret chamber, ending his three-month cultivation. During these three months, the last two petals of the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus he had left were also consumed and refined; thanks to his hard cultivation, his cultivation became even more solid. Although he was still far from reaching the Foundation Building Fourth Level, he was still immensely satisfied with this speed. The reason he was emerging now was to practice his Divine Skills, as mastering them soon would increase his strength a bit more. Having made up his mind, he left his cave dwelling and flew towards the rear mountain. In a short while, he arrived at the valley where he had practiced his Divine Skills before. Not far from the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s cave, Lin Tianming called out, but for a long period, there was no response from the Purple Gold Eagle. It seemed that the Purple Gold Eagle was sleeping or perhaps at a critical moment of breaking through to the Second Order. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t disturb it; he chose another valley not too far away and relatively quiet and began practicing his Divine Skills there. In the valley, Lin Tianming was bare-chested, revealing his explosive muscles and aesthetically-pleasing lines, drenched in sweat. He formed a Single-handed Seal, and the Law Decree slammed into the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword, strike!¡± In an instant, the surface of the Tiangang Sword in his hand glowed brightly, transforming into a phantom shadow, shooting towards a large tree a thousand feet away. ¡°Puff¡­¡± A loud noise rang out as the half yard thick tree exploded from the middle and then fell, creating a deep pit on the ground. Lin Tianming leaped over, and seeing the tree that was easily broken, he revealed a contemplative expression. The power of the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword was truly formidable, definitely the strongest Divine Skill he possessed currently. However, it consumed a lot of Spiritual Power to execute, and the casting speed wasn¡¯t fast enough; the Sword Qi was easy for the enemy to dodge. But this was just the beginning; he was still not very accustomed to it, after practicing more, he should be able to bring it to the Minor Achievement Realm and use it in combat. With these thoughts, he was not at all discouraged; on the contrary, he was full of confidence. Lin Tianming retreated a hundred yards, and then once again he wielded the Tiangang Sword, beginning to practice his Divine Skills repeatedly. Each time he would deplete all the Spiritual Power in his body, then meditate and cultivate until he fully recovered, then start practicing again. Time flew by, and another two months had passed. In the valley, Lin Tianming was sweating profusely, practicing the Tiangang Sword Qi over and over again. The Tiangang Sword in his hand flashed with silver light, turning into a phantom that streaked toward a large tree a thousand yards away. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud explosion, the entire giant tree burst apart, turning into scattered wood chips, floating through the valley like celestial flowers. Lin Tianming ceased his practice; although he appeared quite exhausted, he still had a satisfied smile on his face. After two months of arduous practice, not stepping out of the valley once, practicing Divine Skills, and waiting for the Purple Gold Eagle to break through. Unsure of how many times he had practiced, but with his efforts, the casting speed of the Tiangang Sword Qi had greatly improved, and its power and accuracy had also significantly increased, clearly reaching the Minor Achievement Realm. The current Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword, with its triple overlay, was exceptionally powerful. Having reached the Minor Achievement Realm, it was more than enough to handle cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and if he met slower enemies, he could easily kill them. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming was very pleased, stored the Tiangang Sword away, and prepared to meditate and restore the nearly depleted Spiritual Power in his body. As he was about to turn around, a sharp screeching sound spread throughout the valley, familiar yet piercing. At the same time, an aura of the Foundation Establishment Stage rushed towards him. ¡°The Purple Gold Eagle is breaking through!¡± Upon hearing this commotion, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, not minding his fatigue, and flew towards the valley where the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s nest was located. Soon, he arrived at the valley. By then, the Purple Gold Eagle had already left its nest, emanating a strong presence. Seeing Lin Tianming come, it was extremely excited, dragging its huge body unsteadily towards him. Looking over, many feathers from the Purple Gold Eagle had fallen onto the ground, and its expression looked somewhat listless. However, from the eyes of the Purple Gold Eagle, there was clearly an excited look. Apparently, after several months of slumber, the Purple Gold Eagle had successfully advanced to Second Order Lower Grade. Seeing the successful breakthrough of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming was very happy. He walked up, took several sections of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s body from his storage bag, and tossed them to the Purple Gold Eagle. Then he took out several First Order Demon Beast Inner Pills and let the Purple Gold Eagle swallow them all at once. The Purple Gold Eagle swallowed the snake meat and Demon Beast Inner Pills in one gulp, affectionately nuzzling his clothes, appearing very excited. Lin Tianming patted the beak of the Purple Gold Eagle and then said, ¡°Xiao Diao, you, this bird, have finally broken through, and it wasn¡¯t in vain that I invested so many resources in you!¡± Hearing this, the Purple Gold Eagle cried out grievously, as if to say that for a Demonic Beast, breaking through was even harder than for a cultivator. Lin Tianming chuckled, naturally not about to argue with a bird. Just then, several figures flew towards them; it was Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and two Qi Refining Stage clanspeople from the Enforcement Hall. Seeing them approach, it was obvious they were alerted by the disturbance caused by the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s breakthrough, and so they came to check. Chapter 294: 195 Purple Gold Eagles Breakthrough_2 Chapter 294: Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s Breakthrough_2 Lin Tianming immediately approached and saluted the several people with clasped hands. Lin Shilu waved his hand, and next to him Lin Shihua, wearing a smile, then began to speak: ¡°Tianming, the Purple Gold Eagle has broken through to Second Order, this is indeed a cause for great celebration!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and waved his hand as he spoke: ¡°Xiao Diao has indeed made quite a few contributions over the years. I used two Second Order Monster Beast Inner Pellets and added some of the body of a Green-Spotted Poison Python, finally helping it break through to the Second Order. It was worth the effort of nurturing it so diligently!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua chuckled and said: ¡°Hmm¡­ the Purple Gold Eagle indeed played a significant role for our clan, consider this Yunshang Grass as a reward for it from our family!¡± With that said, he took out a water blue Spirit Grass and handed it to Lin Tianming. Yunshang Grass is a Second Order High Grade Spiritual Medicine Material with a stabilizing effect on the injuries of Demonic Beasts; though it is of little use to a cultivator, for a Demonic Beast, it is an excellent healing medicine. Upon seeing the Yunshang Grass, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of delighted surprise; with this grass, the Purple Gold Eagle could recover from its injuries quickly and stabilize its newly advanced rank. ¡°Then, I shall thank the family on behalf of the Purple Gold Eagle!¡± Lin Tianming said, cupping his fist in gratitude. ¡°Oh, and Tianming, in a month¡¯s time, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s injuries should be mostly healed. At that time, you¡¯ll represent the family on a trip to escort Tian Qin and the others to Qianchuan Market and collect the past year¡¯s Spirit Stone earnings from Luoyun Pavilion to bring back with your brother Tianfeng and the others!¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed to the task. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s breakthrough, its flying speed was certain to increase significantly. The Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword had also been cultivated to the Minor Achievement Realm. Presently having no pressing matters, Lin Tianming found it convenient to make the trip for the family, as coming and going would not take more than a month. Seeing Lin Tianming agree promptly, Lin Shilu chuckled and said: ¡°Tianming, hand over your Green Scale Shield to me. It was hastily repaired during our last venture into the secret realm. Since you¡¯re going to Qianchuan Market, I¡¯ll take the time to fully repair it for you. In case any mishap occurs, it will provide you with some safety.¡± The Green Scale Shield had proved quite useful during their venture into the secret realm. After several major battles, it had only been simply repaired once. However, it could currently exhibit only about eighty percent of its defensive power. With Lin Shilu¡¯s repairs, this trip would surely be safer. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and began to express his thanks graciously. ¡°I thank you, Fifteenth Grandfather.¡± Afterward, he slapped his storage bag and hurriedly handed the Green Scale Shield to Lin Shilu. Lin Shilu accepted the shield. The two did not stay long and, after a few more words of instruction, left the valley with the patrolling clan members. As he watched them leave, Lin Tianming held the Yunshang Grass in hand and instructed: ¡°Xiao Diao, this Yunshang Grass can help stabilize your realm and injuries quickly. Take this medicine, and after one month¡¯s time, we¡¯ll be heading to Qianchuan Market again.¡± The Purple Gold Eagle looked at the blue Yunshang Grass with an almost instinctive longing, and as soon as Lin Tianming tossed it, the eagle swallowed it immediately. After swallowing the Yunshang Grass, the Purple Gold Eagle gave an excited cry and, with a flap of its massive wings, easily stirred up a whirlwind in the valley. ¡°This silly bird¡­¡± Watching the excited Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming lightly scolded with a laugh and then gave a few more instructions before leaving the valley. Having returned to his own cave dwelling, Lin Tianming once again entered the secret chamber. Sitting cross-legged, he took out many jade bottles from his storage bag, all filled with Monster Beast Souls obtained from the venture into the secret realm, tallying up to well over a hundred. Most of these Monster Beast Souls were those of Tianluan Turtles, some of which he had slain together with Lin Shilu. Though fewer in number, they were basically all Second Order Demonic Beasts. Among the souls taken from the Tianluan Turtle group, the Second Order ones were few, numbering only about twenty; the rest were First Order. Otherwise, amid such chaos, the stronger Monster Beast Souls would have already been targeted by other cultivators. He saw no need to fight over such little things. Besides, among these hundred-plus Monster Beast Souls, the most powerful were those of the Green-Spotted Poison Python, which were also the rare Second Order Late-Stage Monster Beast Souls. Looking at the multitude of glowing orbs, within which were fierce and translucent shadows, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful as he took out the Thousand Beast Banner, preparing to seal all the Monster Beast Souls inside to further enhance the artifact¡¯s power. He tossed the Thousand Beast Banner into the air, sprayed a mouthful of essence blood onto the Five Rod Flag, and then pinched a spell, sending strands of Spiritual Light blasting onto the flags. In an instant, the Five Rod Flags shone brightly and started to revolve around him at an incredibly fast speed. Without pause, Lin Tianming continued to throw Monster Beast Souls at the spinning Thousand Beast Banner and frequently issued sealing inscriptions with his hands, merging them onto the banner. The Thousand Beast Banner seemed quite spirited, joyfully swallowing the Monster Beast Souls and merging them into the vast pool of souls. Wearing a pleased smile, Lin Tianming once again took out a Monster Beast Soul from a jade bottle and skillfully sealed it within the Thousand Beast Banner. After more than ten days, the hundred-plus Monster Beast Souls had all been sealed. At this point, the Thousand Beast Banner radiated layers of Spiritual Light, looking as though its power and spirituality had once again increased. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming looked at the Five Rod Flags circling around him, displaying special luminescence, and then showed a satisfied expression. Chapter 295: 195: Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_3 Chapter 295: Chapter 195: Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_3 Before this, the Thousand Beast Banner already contained the souls of several hundred demonic beasts. Although the overall strength of the beast souls was rather weak, the addition of this batch of powerful souls greatly enhanced the power of the banner, which also possessed immense potential for further growth. ¡°If this Thousand Beast Banner had tens of thousands of demonic beasts within it, how great would its power be? Maybe it could even advance to the level of a Second Order Superior,¡± Lin Tianming mused to himself, envisioning the day when the number of beast souls in the Thousand Beast Banner would break through ten thousand. After a short while, he collected his thoughts, tidied up the messy cultivation room, and then settled back onto the cushion. There were still twenty days left before the trip to Qianchuan Market. By now, he had completed cultivating his Divine Skills, the Purple Gold Eagle had broken through to the Second Order, and the Thousand Beast Banner had been re-cultivated. Most of the preparations were done. With nothing else to do, he decided to engage in a brief period of cultivation, waiting for the day of departure to draw near. Having made up his mind, he took out a Second Order Lingshen Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. As the elixir entered his body, it turned into a furious energy that raced along the pathways of his meridians. Soon, the familiar feeling of intense pain arrived. His face grew pale, and large beads of sweat dripped onto the bluestone floor. ¡°This damned cultivation technique is practically torture!¡± Lin Tianming cursed internally, but he quickly regained his composure. After all, when he had decided to cultivate this technique, it had been made clear to him, and it was his own choice. With the great strength it provided, enduring such inhuman pain seemed worth it. He gritted his teeth against the pain until his body was nearly numb, then quickly took out a Dragon Bone Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it. As soon as the Dragon Bone Pill was consumed, he began to refine the energy contained within the elixir. Not long after, as the medicinal power of the Dragon Bone Pill spread, the pain in his body began to ease, returning to normal shortly after. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief, then concentrated on refining the energy and strengthening his physique. The twenty days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Tianming left his dwelling and came to the valley where the cave of the Purple Gold Eagle was located. As soon as he appeared, before he could call out, the Purple Gold Eagle had already flown out of the cave and was heading towards him, clearly having sensed his arrival. Looking at the Purple Gold Eagle now, its feathers were even brighter than before. Previously, only a small patch on its head had golden-yellow feathers, but now its entire head was covered with them, giving it a rather majestic appearance. Moreover, the current aura of the Purple Gold Eagle was quite formidable, giving him the impression that it was no weaker than those demonic beasts that had been in the Second Order for a long time. Lin Tianming smiled and, after forming a spell with his hands, shot a fireball towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The sudden appearance of the massive fireball, filled with terrifying heat and explosive power, would have turned the large Purple Gold Eagle into a roasted bird if hit directly. The Purple Gold Eagle showed no panic. It flapped its huge wings, retreating a bit, and spat out successive large fireballs that collided with the fireball Lin Tianming had fired. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The two fireballs collided in the sky, instantly exploding into a sea of fire that rained down, burning all the trees on the hillside to ashes. For a time, the entire hill became barren. The excited Purple Gold Eagle let out a triumphant cry, evidently seeking praise for showcasing its strength. However, before it could delight in its achievement, Lin Tianming charged over. His skinny fists, seemingly harmless, smashed directly against the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s body. In an instant, the mournful cries of the Purple Gold Eagle echoed as its large body was sent flying, crashing into a small hill and leveling the entire mound in an instant. Flapping its wings a couple of times, just as the Purple Gold Eagle was about to rise, Lin Tianming¡¯s teasing voice rang out. ¡°Heh heh¡­ You big yellow bird, just after breaking through to the Second Order, let¡¯s see how you handle this!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and struck the Purple Gold Eagle with his clenched fist. Soon, the valley was filled with the bird¡¯s pitiful cries. At that moment, several clan members from a nearby patrol heard the huge commotion caused by the exploding fireballs and quickly rushed over to investigate. Seeing Lin Tianming beating up the massive Purple Gold Eagle stunned the patrolling clan members, and their admiration for him deepened. The watchers stayed where they were, not daring to get close or interrupt. One of them, a Sixth Level of Qi Refinement clansman, observing the battered Purple Gold Eagle, said to his companions: ¡°Let¡¯s move on. Tian Ming seems to be sparring with the Purple Gold Eagle. With his strength, no accidents are likely to happen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ We still have our patrol duties. Let¡¯s leave,¡± another clan member replied. With that, the five of them engaged in Sword Flight and quickly disappeared into the mountain ranges. A tea-time later, the wails in the valley finally ceased. By this point, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers were disheveled, many on the ground, and its aura had diminished, looking quite sorry for itself. Lin Tianming was also panting heavily, with most of his clothes shredded, revealing his bronze-skinned body, and several long wounds on both his arms and chest, clearly inflicted by the claws of the Purple Gold Eagle. Just moments ago, in the valley, one man and one bird engaged in fierce combat. Lin Tianming had suppressed his strength to the level of Foundation Establishment, fighting dozens of rounds with the Purple Gold Eagle to test its capabilities. Chapter 296: 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_4 Chapter 296: Chapter 195 Purple Gold Eagle Breakthrough_4 Even though he had suppressed his cultivation realm, having battled extensively and being a dual cultivator of body and law, Lin Tianming was bolstered by his strong life force and experience. The Purple Gold Eagle was simply no match and spent most of the time on the receiving end of the attack. However, the Purple Gold Eagle wasn¡¯t weak either. After taking beating after beating, it finally erupted in a rage, unleashing a fierce counterattack that even managed to wound Lin Tianming. At this moment, both man and bird stopped fighting and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air heavily. ¡°Not bad, Xiao Diao. To have sparred with me until now and not fallen behind much,¡± Lin Tianming said with a chuckle. He then took out a piece of the Green-Spotted Poison Python¡¯s carcass and tossed it to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle quickly stood up, clamped the snake meat in its beak, and gobbled it down without a tremor, soon emitting a satisfied sound. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly. The attacking talents of flying monster beasts lie not in close combat but in their long-range attack capabilities and rapid flight. The Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s innate physique wasn¡¯t bad either. It must have consumed a large amount of elixirs and heavenly treasures, making its body extremely formidable. Its offensive and defensive power were both quite impressive and obviously, it wasn¡¯t any weaker than those monster beasts that specialized in close combat. After his assessment, the Purple Gold Eagle could stand toe to toe with him in close combat despite his suppressed cultivation level, and didn¡¯t fall behind much. Given this, the strength of the Purple Gold Eagle was undoubtedly stronger than a cultivator who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and it might not necessarily lose even if it faced a Second Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator alone. In this regard, Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied with the growth rate and strength of the Purple Gold Eagle; all the resources he had expended to help it break through were not in vain. After a while, Lin Tianming recovered his strength. With a casual wave of his hand, he changed into a clean, green shirt and then rose to walk towards the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle immediately stood up and rubbed Lin Tianming¡¯s clothes with its beak, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud. ¡°Come, take me for a flight around, let¡¯s see how fast you are,¡± Lin Tianming said and leapt onto the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, standing there quietly. No sooner had he settled than the Purple Gold Eagle began flapping its gigantic wings and soared into the sky, flying towards the distant mountain range. Lin Tianming stood on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, circling around the vast Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory on its back. Feeling the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle as it flew, it was more than three times faster than before its breakthrough. Lin Tianming thought to himself that with this speed, he could travel from his family to the Qianchuan Market in five days at full speed, which was beyond reproach. At least in the Wei Kingdom, apart from flying artifacts and more powerful flying spiritual birds, there was nothing faster than the Purple Gold Eagle. While Second Order Demonic Beasts were perhaps not rare within Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom, flying Second Order Demonic Beasts were extremely scarce. Besides the Golden Elixir Forces possessing varying numbers of Second Order flying spiritual birds, only a few top-tier Foundation Establishing families owned them. Not only did the Lin Family possess a late-phase Second Order Soul-Eating Spider, but they also had an early-phase Second Order Purple Gold Eagle. Additionally, they had as many as eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators with a projected exponential growth in the coming decades. From this angle, as long as a Golden Core cultivator emerged within the family, they could ascend to the forefront of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. With this thought, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement, and his blood boiled unconsciously. Unknowingly, the Purple Gold Eagle had already soared past the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain with its wings that could blot out the sun, and the winds stirred by its flapping swiftly caught the attention of the tribe members. ¡°Look¡­ that¡¯s Tianming and the early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle,¡± an excited Xing Clan member shouted. A young tribesman, looking up at Lin Tianming in the sky, exclaimed with an admiring expression, ¡°It¡¯s Sixth Brother; he¡¯s so strong! His own strength is formidable, and he even has a Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as his spiritual pet.¡± At the foot of the peak, many tribespeople lifted their heads to gaze at the Purple Gold Eagle and Lin Tianming in the sky, their faces filled with excitement and admiration. The crowd stopped in their tracks, looking up at the pair in the sky, and burst into discussions. A Fifth Level of Qi Refinement Xing Clan Cultivator looked up at Lin Tianming above him and then spoke to his companion beside him: ¡°Tianming has been in the Foundation Establishment stage for about five years now, hasn¡¯t he? With his talent, he should have reached the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment by now,¡± he said. Hearing these words, a middle-aged cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement immediately responded, ¡°Xing Ya, you¡¯re really underestimating our clan¡¯s Hidden Dragon. Although none of us know Tian Ming¡¯s exact level of cultivation, judging by his past speed of cultivation, he must be at least at the second layer of Foundation Establishment by now, and there¡¯s even a great chance he¡¯s reached the third layer.¡± Upon hearing this, the surrounding clan members gasped in surprise, and soon someone else spoke up. ¡°No way? How old is Tian Ming, just over thirty years old, and already so formidable?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± The cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement furrowed his brows, a smug smile spreading on his face as he spoke: ¡°You need to realize that Tian Ming was only twenty-six when he established his foundation. It¡¯s impossible for any of us to break through two layers in five years, but for him, it¡¯s entirely possible.¡± Before he had even finished speaking, everyone took a deep breath. A youth under twenty from the clan bowed to the speaker and then asked: ¡°Uncle, does Sixth Brother really cultivate so quickly? At this rate, if everything goes well, wouldn¡¯t he be able to attempt the Golden Core Stage within a hundred years?¡± These words from the young cultivator aroused the interest of everyone present, and a cultivator at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement also interjected a word. ¡°Yes, assuming he¡¯s now at the second layer of Foundation Establishment and has nearly sixty years left, there¡¯s great hope that he¡¯ll reach the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment,¡± they said. At that moment, the cultivator at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement gestured with his hand, and everyone ceased their discussions to listen attentively to his words. Seeing this, he resolutely said, ¡°In my opinion, under smooth conditions, Tian Ming has at least a 70% chance of reaching the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment before the age of one hundred, and even breaking through to the Golden Core Stage is highly possible.¡± ¡°What?¡± The gaping mouths of several people revealed their shock. Seeing this, a clan member at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, excited, then said: ¡°The Golden Core Stage? If that day really comes, our clan could restore its former glory and once again become the sixth Golden Elixir Force in the Wei Kingdom.¡± At that time, aside from those Xing clan members above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, everyone was greatly astonished. The older clan members had almost all witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s meteoric rise and had immense confidence in him. As for the younger Tian clan members, apart from a few who were about the same age as Lin Tianming, many had never even seen him in person and only heard about the clan¡¯s Hidden Dragon from their elders. But today, not only did they witness his true face, but also heard a great deal about his feats from the Xing clan members, making their admiration for him grow even stronger. Seeing the worshipful gazes of the Tian clan members, the Xing clan members spoke seriously: ¡°You youngsters should take Tian Ming as your example. It¡¯s not realistic to say you¡¯ll surpass him, but as the clan¡¯s foundation grows stronger and the rewards and benefits improve, it¡¯s absolutely possible for you to break through to Foundation Establishment with a bit more diligence.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Back when the clan¡¯s foundations were poor, the same-level rewards barely reached half of what they are now, and with our lack of talent and no resources, we wasted many years,¡± another member added. ¡°So, the situation is different now. Even those with average talent, as long as they work hard and with the support of the clan¡¯s resources, have a great chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment,¡± they continued. Hearing these words, the young clan members all bowed in thanks, their expressions becoming resolute. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had already soared past over their heads, quickly arriving at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. The Purple Gold Eagle carried him around the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory for a full quarter of an hour, proving to be much faster than before. This speed excited Lin Tianming. He ordered the Purple Gold Eagle to land on the Bluestone Plaza at the peak, hopped off its back, and made his way to his father¡¯s cave dwelling. The Purple Gold Eagle, without delay, continued flying toward the rear mountain, quickly disappearing from sight. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 297: 196 Leaving_1 Chapter 297: Chapter 196 Leaving_1 ¡°` It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived at his father¡¯s cave mansion courtyard. Sitting in the courtyard, his mother and younger sister also came out upon hearing the news, and the three of them sat in the yard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Lin Tianming lifted his teacup to taste a sip, and then took out two Second Order talismans and five thousand spirit stones from his storage bag, handing them to Lin Tianyue. ¡°Tianyue, you will be going to Qianchuan Market to gain experience tomorrow, Take these two Second Order talismans, they will make you a bit safer out there!¡± Seeing the two Second Order talismans in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, one a Second Order Low Grade Attack Talisman and the other a Second Order Low Grade Defense Talisman, Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression lit up with joy. ¡°Brother¡­ I¡¯m already a First Order Superior Grade talisman maker, and I¡¯ve saved up some spirit stones over the years, I¡¯ll take the talismans, but let¡¯s forget about the spirit stones, I still have quite a few!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist. Although five thousand spirit stones did not mean much to him, relying too much on her brother would not be beneficial for Lin Tianyue¡¯s growth. Thinking this, he didn¡¯t persist and put the spirit stones away. Lin Tianyue took the two Second Order talismans, inspecting them carefully in her hands and showing a look of adoration. As a talisman maker herself, she certainly had seen many Second Order talismans, but Second Order Defense Talismans were rare, and it was perfect that Lin Tianming had given her one, which she could study to perhaps enhance her own talisman-making skills. Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming felt very gratified. Their mother also took out several pieces of Late Stage First Order Demonic Beast skins, and then said meaningfully: ¡°Tianyue, this is your first time going to Qianchuan Market, and you¡¯ll be gone for three years. I can¡¯t compare to your brother and don¡¯t have anything nice to give you, but since you¡¯re a talisman maker, take these beast skins for talisman making!¡± After speaking, she handed the pieces of beast skin to Lin Tianyue. ¡°Mother, why say such things? Even a single spirit stone is the most precious gift in your daughter¡¯s eyes!¡± Lin Tianyue spoke joyfully, then took the beast skins from her mother¡¯s hands and placed them into her storage bag. Afterward, the three of them sat together chatting leisurely, and Lin Tianyue spoke up: ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve been in Qianchuan Market for a few years, tell me about the situation there.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled. Even if his sister hadn¡¯t asked, he still would have told her ¡ª why else had he come so early that day? ¡°Qianchuan Market is one of the two medium-sized markets governed by the Zhenyang Sect of Wei Kingdom, also a renowned existence throughout the entire kingdom, with numerous powerhouses, including Golden Core Cultivators!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression brightened with excitement and she looked forward to the trip even more. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush and continued: ¡°Generally speaking, the market is relatively safe, with fighting prohibited inside. There are many Loose Cultivators and countless treasures, and business is extremely prosperous¡ªit really is a paradise for cultivators.¡± As he spoke, Lin Tianming seemed to remember something and said excitedly: ¡°You¡¯re in luck, in half a month¡¯s time, the ten-year market fair will take place!¡± Hearing about the market fair, Lin Tianyue immediately showed interest. She had attended Luoyun Market¡¯s fair the year before last and witnessed many extraordinary treasures and events, so the thought of a fair was always memorable to her. ¡°A market fair? Is it like the one at Luoyun Market?¡± Lin Tianyue inquired. As Lin Tianyue asked this, Lin Tianming frowned slightly and then explained: ¡°The market fair at Qianchuan Market can¡¯t be compared to Luoyun Market¡¯s; not only are there more participants, but the rank of the treasures appearing is also several levels higher. It¡¯s said that even Golden Elixir Experts might participate!¡± Before he could finish, Lin Tianyue was visibly shocked, clearly overwhelmed by the revelation. Lin Tianming continued to speak: ¡°You think that¡¯s all there is? Qianchuan Market is filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators are countless, and the number of natural treasures is beyond measure. Every market fair draws cultivators from surrounding areas, and even from the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom. With every fair, the number of people in the market easily surpasses tens of thousands!¡± ¡°A market with tens of thousands of people, that certainly exceeds Luoyun Market!¡± Lin Tianyue said with emotion upon hearing this. ¡°Brother, how is the Lin Family perceived in Wei Kingdom nowadays?¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How is the business in Luoyun Pavilion?¡± ¡°Is the competition fierce among the shops inside the market?¡± One question after another rolled off Lin Tianyue¡¯s tongue, rendering Lin Tianming momentarily speechless. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t withhold anything, taking an hour to share all he knew. He detailed the forces in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the background of the market, and the well-known cultivators and shops inside it, explaining all the crucial information once over. In doing so, Lin Tianyue was no longer completely ignorant and gained a deeper understanding of her family and the Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom, leaving her better prepared to survive on her own without feeling utterly in the dark. Unbeknownst to them, the sky had already darkened. At that moment, Lin Shigong walked in, his expression looking rather excited. Seeing Lin Shigong enter, the three rose to greet him respectfully. Lin Shigong waved his hand and then sat down, and Lin Tianming promptly offered a cup of Spiritual Tea with all due respect. Lin Shigong took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then said to Ren Yuxuan sitting beside him: ¡°Yuxuan, go prepare dinner, let¡¯s give Tianyue a proper send-off!¡± ¡°Father, please rest, I¡¯ll go prepare the dinner now!¡± Ren Yuxuan replied respectfully and then headed deeper into the courtyard to prepare dinner for them. Watching their mother leave, Lin Tianming chuckled and asked: ¡°` Chapter 298: 196: Departure_2 Chapter 298: Chapter 196: Departure_2 ¡°Grandfather, have you broken through to the second layer of Foundation Establishment?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong¡¯s expression slightly changed as he spoke: ¡°You rascal, I haven¡¯t leaked a hint of aura, how did you detect it?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ It might seem to you that you haven¡¯t leaked, but at such a close distance, your grandson naturally has a way to sense it,¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Seeing this explanation, Lin Shigong furrowed his brows, said nothing more, then took out a defense artifact from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming¡ªit was the Green Scale Shield that Lin Shilu had taken away. Lin Tianming took the Green Scale Shield and casually played with it, then revealed a satisfied smile. After Lin Shilu¡¯s repairs and the addition of some precious treasures, the Green Scale Shield was now thoroughly repaired, its defensive power even stronger than before it was damaged. Seeing this, Lin Shigong also took out two Second Order Talismans and handed them to Lin Tianyue, saying: ¡°Tian Yue, you¡¯re going to the market for three years, and your grandfather doesn¡¯t have much to give. Take these two Second Order Talismans and carry them with you!¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianyue quickly thanked him and then took the two talismans from Lin Shigong, revealing an overjoyed smile. ¡°Tian Ming, remember to stop for a night when you pass by Golden Horn Mountain tomorrow and take the opportunity to visit your father!¡± ¡°Grandfather, rest assured, I will definitely visit Father!¡± Lin Tianming said. Lin Shigong nodded and started to give long and earnest instructions, no different from when he had set off for Qingfeng Town. After speaking for nearly half an hour, the brother and sister kept nodding their heads, occasionally interjecting a few words. Seeing that Lin Shigong showed no sign of stopping, Lin Tianming helplessly said, ¡°Grandfather¡­ rest assured, Qianchuan Market is not a desolate wilderness. As long as we don¡¯t leave the market, there won¡¯t be any danger!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming speak up, Lin Tianyue also chimed in. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, Grandfather¡­ with Uncle Xing Ping watching over us in the market, and in case of any unresolved major issue, we can still ask Venerable Ye for help, right!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming and his sister speak to this point, Lin Shigong nodded, his heart somewhat relaxed, and he stopped his relentless talking. Then, Lin Tianming changed the subject, chatted leisurely for a while, and then began to have a meal. Except for Lin Xingrong, who was stationed at Golden Horn Mountain and had not returned, the family of four ate and chatted, the atmosphere very harmonious. After a satisfying meal, the grandfather and grandson left the courtyard of the cave mansion where their mother lived. As the two walked along the road, Lin Shigong took out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming, saying: ¡°The vast resources from these past years have all been collected by the clan. The Clan Leader asked me to pass them to you to bring to Luoyun Pavilion for Xing Ping.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming took the storage bags and inspected them. They indeed contained a huge amount of resources; by his estimate, they were worth nearly a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming put away the storage bags and then said: ¡°Grandfather, this trip coincides with the great assembly period of Qianchuan Market. I shall catch the auction and will need to stay for some days. Adding on the accumulated Spiritual Medicine Materials of Luoyun Pavilion, I have to help with the refinement. After busying with all that, it will take at least a month, but I will return with Tianfeng and the others within two months at most.¡± ¡°Hm¡­ Try not to cause trouble and come back early!¡± After Lin Shigong gave his advice, the two went their separate ways, each heading back to their own cave mansion. In no time, Lin Tianming was back at his cave mansion. Instead of continuing with his cultivation, he lay straight on his stone bed, ready to rest well for the night. Soon, he fell into a deep sleep, snores filling the room. The next morning, at the clan¡¯s entrance gate plaza. Five clan members were already waiting there, including both men and women. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were among them. Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi were also present. As members of the clan selected to go to Qianchuan Market, the pair, being of an older generation and age, were clearly part of a team composed of middle-aged clan members. The remaining clan member was Lin Tianhu. In just over a decade, his cultivation had soared, reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. At such a speed, even the well-resourced Lin Tianyue was slower, which was quite inconceivable. Apart from Lin Tianhu, who was at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, the other four were at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, making it a team of no weak strength. This lineup was in no way inferior to the group of clan members like Lin Tianfeng and the others. They chatted with each other while waiting for Lin Tianming to arrive. After a short while, Lin Tianming arrived on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, landing before everyone. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, the group greeted him with formalities. Lin Tianming laughed and exchanged greetings with them. ¡°Uncles, second sister, and Tianhu, Tian Ming greets you all!¡± Seeing how polite Lin Tianming was, Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi did not dare to be casual. They immediately clasped their fists and bowed: ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s no need for such courtesy. In terms of cultivation, we two cannot compare to you!¡± Tian Ming joked in response, ¡°Uncle speaks jestingly. We are a family, not a sect. The rules of the clan must not be overstepped. Even if Tian Ming were a Golden Core Cultivator, he would still regard himself as a junior in the presence of family elders.¡± Hearing this, the expressions of Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi eased, and they started chatting casually with Lin Tianming. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and then spoke up: ¡°The hour is late. Let¡¯s set out!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± they replied in unison. Although privately they observed seniority, Lin Tianming was courteous, but as the leader and the highest cultivator in the team, even the elders had to obey. Chapter 299: 196: Departure_3 Chapter 299: Chapter 196: Departure_3 Lin Tianming nodded and led several people towards the Protective Clan Formation, with the Purple Gold Eagle following behind. They quickly arrived at the edge of the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming took out the Family Token, cast a Law Decree, and a gap opened in the light screen of the Protective Clan Formation. The group leaped through, exiting the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the formation, they all jumped onto the back of the massive Purple Gold Eagle. Lin Tianming gave a command, and the eagle immediately soared into the air, flying into the clouds a thousand feet high, before it turned into a black shadow, heading towards Qianchuan Market in the north. Seated on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, everyone settled into a lotus position, forming a small circle. The speed of the Purple Gold Eagle was incredibly fast, as fierce winds swept past them and the surrounding mountains gradually receded into the distance. Lin Tianming looked over the group and then began to talk, sharing basic information about Qianchuan Market and the Cultivation World. Everyone listened intently, afraid to miss any information. As Lin Tianming spoke, various strange and unusual questions were raised by the others. Lin Tianming patiently explained everything, not holding back any answer he knew. Soon, thanks to his meticulous explanations, everyone¡¯s understanding of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and Qianchuan Market had deepened, and aside from the already knowledgeable Lin Tianyue, the rest had learned a great deal. A day later, the Purple Gold Eagle had already appeared above Golden Horn Mountain. The clan members responsible for patrolling saw the figure of the Purple Gold Eagle and immediately sent a message to Lin Xingrong, then waited at the mountain gate. The Purple Gold Eagle landed at the mountain gate. Everyone jumped down and greeted Lin Xingyou. After exchanging pleasantries and discussing some family affairs, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Uncle, has my father finished his secluded cultivation?¡± ¡°Tianming, I¡¯ve already sent a message to your father, and he has replied that he¡¯s on his way here!¡± Before the voice faded, Lin Xingrong¡¯s figure appeared before the group. Lin Tianming and his sister Lin Tianyue immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, ¡°We greet father!¡± Lin Xingrong chuckled as he saw his children, helped them up, and then greeted the other clan members behind them. After chatting casually for a few moments, Lin Xingrong turned to Lin Xingyou and instructed, ¡°Let¡¯s rest here for the day. Xingyou, immediately have someone prepare the evening meal. Tonight we¡¯ll take the opportunity to gather.¡± Hearing the order, Lin Xingyou nodded. ¡°Good! This is a rare chance, I¡¯ll immediately send a message to the clan members who aren¡¯t in seclusion. Tonight, a grand gathering!¡± Then the group headed towards the interior of Golden Horn Mountain, quickly arriving at Lin Xingrong¡¯s Cave Mansion District. That evening, over ten clan members who guarded Golden Horn Mountain gathered with the six people from Lin Tianming¡¯s group to toast and enjoy themselves, creating a harmonious atmosphere. The discussion covered everything from cultivation exchanges and the Four Arts of Cultivation to the odd tales and gossip of the Cultivation World. They also organized a small clan cultivator exchange meeting, as those who usually stayed on Golden Horn Mountain seldom returned to their family, often running out of Spiritual and Elixir Pills. As alchemists, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue naturally had a good stock of pills, which they sold on the spot at friendly prices to their clansmen, making everyone very happy. As the night fell and the lively banquet ended, Lin Xingyou led everyone away to arrange accommodations for them. Naturally, Lin Tianming and his sister stayed overnight in Lin Xingrong¡¯s Cave Mansion. In Lin Xingrong¡¯s courtyard, Lin Tianming recounted everything about the Foundation Establishment Pill and the reforms made by the family, which delighted his father immensely. Then Lin Tianming produced two bottles of elixirs and handed them to his father, claiming they were from grandfather to be given to him. Lin Xingrong didn¡¯t make a fuss, took the two bottles of elixirs, and began to give instructions. In the past, Lin Xingrong was reticent with Lin Tianming, but as his son grew increasingly mature and had surpassed him in cultivation, he completely let go of his worries. Lin Tianyue, as a woman, had hardly ever left the family during her more than ten years of cultivation, and the furthest she had gone was to Luoyun Market, and that too, under the supervision of family elders. Given this, she had virtually no experience in handling matters, which made it hard for him to rest at ease. In response to her father¡¯s words of advice, Lin Tianyue confidently assured him that she would be careful. Lin Tianming also spoke up to reassure their father, finally putting Lin Xingrong¡¯s mind at ease. ¡°Well, if Yue¡¯er is confident, then as a father, I am relieved!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll leave tomorrow, and I won¡¯t see you off. Just be careful, both of you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyue nodded, bowed to their father, and then each returned to their rooms to rest. Once in his room, Lin Tianming immediately fell asleep, preparing to fully rest up for the journey ahead tomorrow. Early the next morning. It was just getting light, and the morning glow, piercing through the dense morning fog, shone onto the main peak of Golden Horn Mountain. Occasionally some mundane wild beasts would shuttle back and forth in front of the mountain gate. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In silence, Lin Tianming and his group of six left Golden Horn Mountain, carried by the Purple Gold Eagle as they flew towards Qianchuan Market in the north. With the eagle flying at full strength, their speed was incredibly fast. The mountains, with their layers upon layers, whizzed by below, while the Gang Wind in the high altitude tossed their hair about. Sitting upright on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense covered the surrounding area, capturing every rustle of grass, making him appear as steadfast as a bamboo, unaffected by the roaring Gang Wind. The others, however, were struggling. Lin Xingqi and Lin Xingyi momentarily lost focus but quickly stabilized their postures. Being relatively older, they had gone through numerous battles and had plenty of experience, so they adapted quickly to the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s sudden burst of speed. Lin Tianhu might have had the lowest cultivation, but he seemed to have good experience. His Spiritual Power flowed slowly through him, and he quickly stabilized his posture, earning a new level of respect from Lin Tianming. Chapter 300: 196: Departure_4 Chapter 300: Chapter 196: Departure_4 Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were buffeted by the strong Gang Wind, which made them lose their composure as they had not yet adapted. Lin Tianyue steadied herself and said indignantly, ¡°Hmph, that darn Xiao Diao, why wasn¡¯t it this fast yesterday? It suddenly sped up, making this young lady look bad.¡± Her words made everyone burst into laughter. Lin Tianming said, ¡°We weren¡¯t in a hurry to travel quickly yesterday. With its breakthrough to the Second Order, it could easily reach Golden Horn Mountain, so there was no need to fly so fast. Now, we¡¯re headed to Qianchuan Market, and the journey is far. If we flew at the same speed as before, it would delay us a lot of time.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianyue nodded helplessly, and then she sat cross-legged on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, stabilizing herself with her spiritual power without speaking. Each of them stabilized their own postures as the Purple Gold Eagle accelerated greatly, flying northward over numerous mountains and rivers. Time slowly passed by, and several days went by in this manner. In a mountain valley on the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, the Purple Gold Eagle descended from the high sky, and Lin Tianming, along with the group, dismounted from its back and gathered together. Thanks to the significant increase in the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flying speed, just a few days of travel had smoothly brought them to the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. With a clear route and a smooth journey, no mishaps occurred along the way. Atop a quiet hill, Lin Tianming looked up at the edge of the sky where the outlines of a city could be faintly seen and said to the others, S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The city that can be vaguely seen ahead is our destination, Qianchuan Market. Next, we will proceed with Sword Flight. Remember not to cause any trouble and avoid unnecessary problems.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Tian Ming. We all know the rules of the market, we won¡¯t cause any trouble,¡± Lin Xingqi said with a smile. Lin Tianming nodded. He had already told them this several times, but he just couldn¡¯t help worrying. Seeing that everyone was resolute and their cultivation wasn¡¯t low, and with elders watching over, he said no more and immediately took off into the air, flying towards the entrance of Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianyue and the others quickly followed suit, and the six of them shot towards the market entrance. As they neared the entrance of the market, there were several cultivators flying by on the road, some in groups, others alone, each hastening on their way. Clearly, as the days of the grand market assembly were drawing near, loose cultivators and family-team cultivators alike from the outskirts of Qianchuan Market were all rushing to participate and witness the grandeur of the event. Lin Tianming and his group had disguised themselves and were heading towards the market entrance as a team. At the entrance, there was already a long line of cultivators waiting to enter the city. When Lin Tianming and his party of six arrived, they immediately attracted a great deal of attention from the other cultivators. Their group was too eye-catching. All six members had high cultivation levels, while those in line were all at the Qi Refinement Realm, unable to discern the true cultivation of Lin Tianming¡¯s group. But it was certain that they were a family team, presumably comprised of cultivators at least at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Under such circumstances, many cultivators were secretly guessing the background of this team. Lin Tianming, seeing this, paid no mind and led his group straight past the line of cultivators to the Market City Supervisor who was collecting the entrance fee. Now that he was quite wealthy, he didn¡¯t intend to make everyone wait in line. By paying some extra Spirit Stones, they could gain priority entry into the city. At that moment, he took out several dozen Spirit Stones and handed them to the collecting officer, exchanging a few words with him through a secret transmission. The officer, upon seeing the Spirit Stones and after exchanging a few words with Lin Tianming, instantly brightened up with joy and did not hesitate to let them through. After Lin Tianming thanked him, he led the group towards the inner sections of the market, appearing among the shops. Upon entering the market, the bustling crowds filled the streets; numerous cultivators moved between the various shops, giving the market a very lively atmosphere. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin began to look around eagerly, as if they were impatient to experience all that the shops had to offer. Lin Tianming laughed softly to himself, as it was their first visit to Qianchuan Market, and such reactions were normal out of curiosity. He recalled his first time visiting Qianchuan Market; he had been no different from them. With that thought, he said nothing more and looked at Luoyun Pavilion, which was now so close. He decided not to visit any shops at first, but instead to go directly to the Cave Mansion Courtyard they had rented. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°After several days of travel, everyone must be tired. Let¡¯s first head to the family¡¯s rented Cave Mansion Courtyard in the market. Tomorrow, Tianfeng can take you all to look around. He has many friends in the market and can help you integrate quickly into this place.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement and followed Lin Tianming¡¯s steps toward the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Chapter 301: 197 Rumors and Gathering_1 Chapter 301: Chapter 197 Rumors and Gathering_1 In the market cave dwelling, the figures of Lin Tianming and a few others appeared. Upon hearing that several people had arrived at Qianchuan Market, Lin Xingping and many clan members stopped their cultivation one after another, rushing over from their training rooms or Luoyun Pavilion. The clan members simply greeted each other before all gathering in the courtyard to chat idly. Lin Tianming and a few others of the Tian generation formed a small group, each sharing the various events of the past two years. Lin Xingping and his peers of the Tian generation sat together, discussing the recent developments. Having not seen each other for a long while, everyone was in a great mood, with Lin Tianfeng laughing throughout, sharing amusing stories from the market and delighting both Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the midst of casual conversation, Lin Tianming also inquired from Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingping about any news, looking to see if, following their journey to the Secret Realm, there had been any reaction from Qianchuan Market, and if they could gather some useful information. Since Lin Tianfeng often mingled in various places within Qianchuan Market and was acquainted with many cultivators of different statuses, his information was certainly well-informed. Seeing that Lin Tianming was so concerned about this, Lin Tianfeng did not dare to withhold anything, divulging all the news he had learned. As expected, during the time in the Secret Realm, many powerful Loose Cultivators took part, and some obtained a great deal of treasures and left unscathed, later spreading the news widely, creating a buzz in the Cultivation World that even the Golden Core Forces couldn¡¯t stop. There had also been rumors about the Luoyun Mountain Range a while before, which were quickly discovered by the clanspeople in the market and then reported to the family, hence Lin Tianming and the others were aware of this. However, it was unknown who had spread these rumors, nor was it possible to discern their truth, but everything remained calm and so eventually, the matter was forgotten. According to Lin Tianfeng, after the journey to the Secret Realm, some significant events that took place there were being circulated in the market, causing quite a stir. Among the swirling rumors, two major incidents had become the talk of the town, discussed for a long time. The first involved the Zhenyang Sect discovering a Star Moon Fruit Tree, spreading the news to gather a large force of cultivators and Loose Cultivators to besiege a Third Order Tianluan Turtle. After the Third Order Tianluan Turtle perished, several Golden Core Forces vied for the Star Moon Fruit Tree and its nine fruits. Following a fierce battle, three of the nine Star Moon Fruits vanished without a trace, the remaining six being divided between the Wei Kingdom and the Golden Core Forces of Huangyang Kingdom. Qingyun Valley acquired two Star Moon Fruits, whereas the West River Li Family fared the worst, with Li Wenyi perishing under the onslaught of many cultivators; this resulted in the loss of the Li Family Cultivators¡¯ qualification to vie for the Star Moon Fruits. The remaining four Golden Core Forces each secured a Star Moon Fruit, whereas the other three Star Moon Fruits and the inner core of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle were said to be obtained by Loose Cultivators who changed their appearance and went to great lengths to hide their identities, hence no one knew who they were. At that point, Lin Tianming chuckled, for what they didn¡¯t realize was that one of the Star Moon Fruits had been obtained by the Lin Family. What was even less known was the pivotal role he and Lin Shilu played in the entire siege of the Third Order Tianluan Turtle; otherwise, the West River Li Family wouldn¡¯t have met such a dire fate, and Li Wenyi wouldn¡¯t have perished within the Secret Realm. As for the precious Star Moon Fruit Tree, after intense contention, it was acquired by the Zhenyang Sect. However, the other Golden Core Forces wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily, and high-ranking members, undoubtedly, would negotiate over this object. As for the ultimate outcome, aside from the Golden Core Forces involved, no one else knew. The second significant incident was equally unbelievable: Myriad Medicine Valley, in alliance with Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Liujin Gate and several other Golden Elixir Forces, jointly attacked the lair of a Third Order Wind Xun Beast, acquiring several Yuqiong Fruits. The Yuqiong Fruit, also a Spirit Fruit meant to aid Core Formation, wasn¡¯t far behind the Star Moon Fruit in effectiveness, making it one of the treasures of immense value as well. However, they did not have the best of luck, as this Wind Xun Beast was remarkably swift and formidable in its attacks. Despite their numerical advantage, killing it was no easy feat. Ultimately, the descendants of the Golden Core Forces had to reveal their trump cards, forcing the Wind Xun Beast to abandon its lair¡¯s Yuqiong Fruits. Only after a hard-fought battle did it manage to escape their siege. While the cultivators¡¯ goal was achieved, with each Golden Core Force involved acquiring a Yuqiong Fruit, the fierce battle resulted in nearly half their members perishing, with tremendous losses sustained. After Lin Tianfeng finished reporting all the news about these matters, the weight on Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was finally lifted. Previously he and Lin Shilu, along with a few family higher-ups who were privy to the facts, had been quite worried that their identities would be exposed, attracting the greed of other forces, or even the Golden Core Forces. Now it was all good, as it had been over half a year since the incident, and throughout the Wei Kingdom, there had been no talk of any forces or renowned Loose Cultivators being killed. Clearly, the Golden Core Forces were uncertain about the identities of those who obtained the Star Moon Fruits. They could not possibly exterminate all Foundation Establishing Families based on baseless speculations; if they really did so, even the Golden Core Forces would become the public enemy of all Loose Cultivators and would have difficulty establishing themselves in the Cultivation World. At this point, Lin Tianming heaved a long sigh of relief, then proceeded to tell of his and Lin Shilu¡¯s experiences after leaving the market, including their venture into the Secret Realm. Except for the number of Foundation Establishment Pills they crafted from the Star Moon Fruits and White Jade Grass, which was kept secret, he disclosed almost everything else. Upon hearing the thrilling tale of the journey to the Secret Realm, aside from Lin Tianyue who was already informed, the other clan members were overwhelmed with shock. Chapter 302: 197 Rumors and Gathering_2 Chapter 302: Chapter 197 Rumors and Gathering_2 Upon learning that the clan had liberalized access to Foundation Establishment Pills and greatly reduced the burdens on the clanspeople, the few Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople staying behind in the market let out a long sigh of relief, their hearts swelling with excitement. Their cultivation had reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement or Great Perfection Realm, and making a move to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage was to be put on the agenda, allowing them to start making early preparations. Overwhelmed with excitement, and finally gathering their spirits, Lin Tianfeng chuckled and turned to Lin Tianming to ask, ¡°Little Brother Six, it¡¯s been a long time since we saw each other, and how do I feel that you seem to have become stronger again? Have you possibly broken through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Purely by good fortune, I managed to break through, that¡¯s all.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng inquire about his cultivation level, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t conceal it, nor did he have anything to hide, and he simply acknowledged the fact. When Lin Tianfeng and the others heard Lin Tianming generously admit this, they were incredibly astonished, secretly thinking, ¡°Is this kid even human? His rate of cultivation is just too fast, and the gap between their cultivation levels is growing larger and larger.¡± However, none of them displayed their thoughts, merely teasing him a few times, taking it all as a joke. Lin Tianming chuckled and inquired, ¡°Big Brother, returning to the clan this time, you should be starting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming ask, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression immediately grew solemn as he then said, ¡°I have already broken through to the Great Perfection Realm. As long as I have a Foundation Establishment Pill, I would be able to retreat and impact the Foundation Establishment Stage within two years. For this, I have been preparing for a long time. Having been on the cultivation path for over thirty years, I¡¯ve been waiting for this day.¡± To this, Lin Tianming had already anticipated. While Lin Tianfeng¡¯s talent wasn¡¯t considered outstanding in the clan, it was still quite good, and with his traditionally diligent cultivation practice and frequent participation in the clan¡¯s training, his cultivation was incredibly solid. With the assistance of a Foundation Establishment Pill, the chance of breakthrough would likely not be small. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming said with great confidence, ¡°Big Brother, your cultivation is solid, you¡¯ve participated in many major battles, and your foundation is extremely stable. The probability of breaking through the Foundation Establishment is at least sixty percent, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s comforting words, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s confidence soared, and his desire to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage grew even more fervent. ¡°Haha, then I¡¯ll take the good words of Little Brother Six. With your encouragement, my heart feels much at ease,¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a cupped-fist laugh. Lin Tianming nodded and then changed the topic, addressing Lin Tianhong, ¡°Second Brother, with Big Brother working so hard, you must also be close to impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming turn to him, Lin Tianhong responded solemnly, ¡°I can¡¯t compare to Big Brother. It was only recently that I broke through to Qi Refining Great Perfection. I¡¯m not yet equipped to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage in the short term. I plan to consolidate for two or three years before considering it. After all, we¡¯re still young. Consolidating for a few years will increase the likelihood of a successful breakthrough when the time comes.¡± Hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s sensible plan, Lin Tianming nodded, inwardly giving his approval. Then, Lin Tianming began to inquire about the cultivation realms of Lin Xing Li and the others. Lin Xing Li and his peers were overjoyed, each sharing their own circumstances. Before they came to Qianchuan Market, they each were at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refinement. After three years of cultivation, Lin Xingyao¡¯s cultivation had also reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement, even almost touching the edge of the Great Perfection Realm. As for Lin Xingsu and Lin Xing Li, they were currently at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm and would only need to calmly prepare for two years, appropriately consolidating their cultivation, to have a not low chance of making a successful breakthrough. After listening to their perspectives, Lin Tianming felt he understood the situation quite well, and his heart was filled with satisfaction. Given the current state, although no new Foundation Establishment Stage members had appeared in the clan in the past few years, a solid foundation had been laid. Lin Xing Li, Lin Xingsu, Lin Xingcheng, and Lin Xingzhi, these four members of the Xing generation, had preliminarily met the conditions to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Beyond that, among the Tian generation of clanspeople, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong were also at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm. In the years ahead, Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue, among others from the Tian generation, will also successively reach the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm and begin to emerge as a large group of seeds ready to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Looking at it now, the various policies and reforms that the clan began a decade ago are about to yield a rich reward. At this thought, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was filled with intense excitement, and he couldn¡¯t help but envision a scene where Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the clan filled the sky. Unconsciously, the group of clanspeople engaged in a long exchange, each obtaining a great deal of insight. Through introductions from Lin Tianfeng and the others, Lin Tianyue and her peers came to have a deeper understanding of the basic situation of the market. The atmosphere at this moment was excellent, Lin Tianming¡¯s mood was buoyant, and a reassuring smile was constantly on his face. Watching the lively scene, Lin Tianming said to Lin Tianfeng with a smile, ¡°Big brother, these next few days you take Tianqin and the others around the market to get familiar with the situation at Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Pavilion. When the auction starts, you all can participate together. It¡¯s not easy to come upon such a grand meeting that happens only once every ten years. We must not give up this opportunity.¡± Before he had finished speaking, the hearty voice of Lin Tianfeng rang out. ¡°Sixth brother, rest assured, the grand market meeting is just a few days away. In these days, I will definitely take Tianqin and the others for a good stroll, and I¡¯ll introduce a few female cultivators to them as well.¡± ¡°Then, thank you, big brother.¡± Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue said excitedly, expressing their thanks. Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and nodded toward Lin Xingping before saying, ¡°That¡¯s all for today. Everyone is tired from traveling these past few days. Go back and rest.¡± After he finished, Lin Tianfeng left with several clanspeople to select their rooms and prepare to rest, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping behind without departing. After everyone had left, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags he had brought from the family and handed them to Lin Xingping, then inquired about the business situation of the Luoyun Pavilion. Lin Xingping took the storage bags and began to report on the business of Luoyun Pavilion. After Lin Xingping¡¯s introduction, Lin Tianming basically understood the overall situation of the Luoyun Pavilion for the past two years. The business was similar to what it was when he was there, quite stable over the past two years. However, there had been some improvements lately, entirely due to the influence of the grand market meeting. Generally speaking, making a few thousand spirit stones in profit each month was hardly difficult. During the time of the market meeting, that could go up to several tens of thousands of spirit stones in a month, but such opportunities were not many. Lin Tianming picked up his tea cup and took a sip of spiritual tea before saying with a smile, S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This is already quite good. Business can¡¯t be booming every day; there are always slow and busy seasons. All of this relies on the strategic operation by Uncle.¡± Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s compliment, Lin Xingping waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s the foundation you and Fifteenth Uncle laid down, along with everyone¡¯s efforts, that led to the results today. I¡¯m just doing my duty.¡± Then, Lin Xingping changed the subject and said, ¡°Tianming, many cultivators have come to Luoyun Pavilion these past few days, all of them loose cultivators looking to request alchemy services. Since you were not around, I did not have Xing Li and the others take on this business. What do you think?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Let Uncle Xing Li handle this matter. Now that Tianqin and I have come to Qianchuan Market, along with Tianhong, the three of us can do the alchemy for about a month, and that won¡¯t leave much left over.¡± When Lin Tianming spoke up, Lin Xingping was delighted. With Lin Tianming joining in, the matter would be much easier to handle. Attracting those cultivators commissioning alchemy would not only enhance the reputation of Luoyun Pavilion but would also indirectly boost the shop¡¯s business. Plus, it would allow the alchemists to quickly improve their alchemy skills¡ªit was a win-win-win situation. Although the alchemists in the family might be a bit tired, the benefits were plenty and well worth expanding the business for. Thinking of this, Lin Xingping excitedly said, ¡°Good, I will arrange this matter as soon as possible and before you leave, I will hand over the accounts and profits for the last two years of Luoyun Pavilion to take back to the family.¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and then invited Lin Xingping to attend the auction together, and they quickly set a date to meet in a few days¡¯ time. ¡°Alright, let us call it a day. Tianming, you should rest early, and we will meet again in a few days,¡± said Lin Xingping. ¡°Uncle, have a good rest. Tianming takes his leave.¡± Lin Tianming cupped his hands towards Lin Xingping, then stood up and walked toward the rooms deeper inside the courtyard. Once back in his room, he lay straight down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 303: 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_1 Chapter 303: Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_1 The next day, Lin Tianming left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed towards the market district. As the grand gathering at the market drew closer, the streets were bustling with cultivators, and the market¡¯s foot traffic had further increased, noticeably busier than the day before. During his expedition to the Secret Realm, his Second Order talismans had all been consumed. Of the few storage bags he had found, he had originally divided three talismans and even given two of those to Lin Tianyue, leaving him with only one Second Order Low Quality Attack Talisman. In his storage bag now, apart from Spirit Stones and elixirs, there were hardly any consumable treasures. If he were to encounter a fierce battle, relying solely on his own abilities would require considerable effort. Since he had enough Spirit Stones, it was natural to make ample preparations for his own safety. Having made up his mind, he headed straight for the Sky Dragon Pavilion without any hesitation. Before long, he arrived in front of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. As he stepped in, a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator came forward to greet him. ¡°Is Daoist Tang in?¡± ¡°If senior is looking for Daoist Tang, please follow me!¡± the welcoming cultivator replied respectfully and led the way to the second floor, with Lin Tianming following behind. The cultivator showed him to a private room, served a pot of Spiritual Tea, and then retreated. Lin Tianming had been sitting quietly for a while when a hearty and familiar voice reached his ears. ¡°It turns out to be Daoist Chen visiting us, my apologies for the oversight!¡± When Lin Tianming saw Tang Xiuyuan coming over, he quickly got up, clasped his fists in greeting, and then said with a smile, ¡°Haha¡­ not at all, I am sitting in this private room being served excellent Spiritual Tea, enjoying such leisure and elegance. How could there be any neglect!¡± Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, invited Lin Tianming to sit down, and after pouring him a cup of Spiritual Tea, said, ¡°I¡¯m glad you don¡¯t mind, Daoist Chen. It¡¯s rare to see you today, and we should definitely take the opportunity to meet up and relieve the longing I¡¯ve been feeling!¡± Hearing these insincerely flattering words, Lin Tianming¡¯s hair stood on end, although his expression remained as usual, showing nothing out of the ordinary. He took a sip from the teacup and went straight to the point. ¡°Here I am. Today I¡¯m looking to purchase some treasures, and I hope Daoist Tang can offer me a good deal!¡± ¡°What do you need, Daoist Chen? I will certainly offer you a favorable price!¡± asked Tang Xiuyuan. ¡°Either Second Order talismans or other one-time consumable treasures would be fine. I need both Attack Talismans and Defense Talismans, the higher the grade the better!¡± ¡°Besides that, there¡¯s also the Autumn Leaf Grass and Xing Luan Fruit that I asked you to look out for, the more the better!¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s complexion lit up with joy, deducing from Lin Tianming¡¯s tone that a big business deal was coming. He suppressed the joy in his heart and said, ¡°Please wait a moment, Daoist Chen. I¡¯ll prepare the Autumn Leaf Grass and Xing Luan Fruit for you, and I¡¯ll bring out a precious treasure that will surely not disappoint!¡± With that, Tang Xiuyuan left the private room. Lin Tianming sat and drank his tea, his face full of anticipation. Less than the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, Tang Xiuyuan returned to the private room, carrying a storage bag with unknown contents. Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and then took out over a dozen stems of Autumn Leaf Grass and eight Xing Luan Fruits, placing them on the stone table in the mountain retreat. He then brought out more than twenty Second Order talismans, including several High Quality Attack Talismans; the rest were Medium Quality Talismans, and among them were some Defense Talismans, with even two Second Order Medium Quality Talismans present. Looking at the more than twenty Second Order talismans, all of which were rare and valuable, Lin Tianming was very satisfied, but he didn¡¯t show any particular reaction. Lin Tianming carefully examined the High Quality Attack Talismans he held in his hand and then asked, ¡°What are the prices for these talismans and Spiritual Medicine Materials?¡± Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and then announced the prices, which were almost the same as those from previous purchases. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded. These were higher grade talismans, usually hard to come by, and since they were available, he naturally wanted to purchase some for potential emergencies. Having made up his mind, he began to discuss the types and quantities of talismans he wanted. ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯ll take all these Spirit Grasses. I want three Superior Attack Talismans, three Medium Quality Talismans, and all of the Defense Talismans!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s request to buy eleven Second Order talismans in one go, including five Superior Attack Talismans, Tang Xiuyuan was ecstatic. It didn¡¯t take long for Tang Xiuyuan to calculate that the eleven Second Order talismans Lin Tianming wanted were worth nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones, truly a significant transaction. Lin Tianming was evidently willing to spend Spirit Stones, clearly intending to diversify his offensive methods as much as possible. Lin Tianming toyed with several High Quality Talismans and, remembering Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s previous mention of a precious treasure, asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, may I know what the precious treasure you spoke of is?¡± Daoist Tang chuckled, promptly took out a grey talisman from the storage bag, and handed it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming took the grey talisman and examined it carefully, revealing a pensive expression. The grey talisman was surrounded by Spiritual Power, occasionally devouring the faint Spiritual Energy around it. Its surface color was somewhat dull, giving it a peculiar feeling. After a moment, he tentatively asked, ¡°Could this be a Golden Core Talisman? Yet it doesn¡¯t quite seem like it.¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled ambiguously, remained silent for a moment, and then answered, ¡°Daoist Chen has a discerning eye indeed. This is indeed a Golden Core Talisman.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was astonished and was just about to speak when Daoist Tang continued, ¡°However, strictly speaking, this talisman cannot be considered a true Golden Core Talisman, since the attack sealed within it does not reach the level of Golden Elixir Experts. It can only be seen as a semi-finished product, also known as a Fake Golden Core Talisman.¡± Chapter 304: 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_2 Chapter 304: Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_2 With Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming, puzzled, asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, why is this so? Can Golden Core Talismans also have incomplete products?¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled and then began to narrate the origin of the Golden Core Talisman. ¡°This talisman is condensed by a Fake Core Cultivator, whose effects are significantly less than those of a true Golden Core Cultivator, but it¡¯s much more powerful than the attacks of a common Great Perfection Cultivator. Compared to a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, this one is incomparable.¡± ¡°Fake Core Cultivators are those who have failed to break through to the Golden Core Realm. They have condensed a Golden Core but failed to withstand the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Nevertheless, the True Essence Spiritual Power inside their bodies has already been formed, maintaining a Fake Elixir Realm. Their strength lies somewhere between that of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator and a Golden Core Cultivator,¡± he explained. ¡°As for this Fake Golden Core Talisman, it is a concentration of the Fake Core Cultivator after they passed on. Although its effects cannot surpass a true Golden Core Talisman, its power should certainly not be underestimated.¡± Once Tang Xiuyuan finished speaking, Lin Tianming completely understood the origins of the talisman and then said: ¡°Daoist Tang indeed has broad vision. In this light, it¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re willing to part with this talisman. If it were a complete Golden Core Talisman, I¡¯m afraid your pavilion wouldn¡¯t sell it at all.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ That goes without saying. If it were a real Golden Core Talisman, even we, the Sky Dragon Pavilion, or any Golden Elixir Forces, wouldn¡¯t easily part with it,¡± Tang Xiuyuan said with a smile. Lin Tianming nodded, then asked, ¡°So, at what price is this Fake Golden Core Talisman being sold?¡± ¡°Since Daoist Chen has asked, I won¡¯t ask for too much¡ªthirteen thousand Spirit Stones for you,¡± Tang Xiuyuan said. ¡°Thirteen thousand Spirit Stones?¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed in surprise. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s astonished expression, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s face changed slightly, then he said: ¡°This is a Fake Golden Core Talisman, after all, not something that a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman can compare with. At an auction, this item could easily go for more than fifteen thousand Spirit Stones. I¡¯m giving you this low price because I feel a sense of kinship with Daoist Chen.¡± Thinking it over carefully, Lin Tianming then felt reassured. While the price of this Fake Golden Core Talisman could compare to more than four Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, those talismans could at best injure a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator and would struggle to directly kill one. However, even an incomplete Golden Core Talisman could unexpectedly kill a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. With such a comparison, spending thirteen thousand Spirit Stones for such a deadly weapon was certainly not a loss. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming promptly took out thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan, signaling he would buy the Fake Golden Core Talisman along with the Spiritual Medicine Materials and Second Order Talismans. Tang Xiuyuan received the hefty amount of Spirit Stones, verified the quantity, and then looked surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Lin Tianming to be so decisive and affluent. He wondered whether Lin Tianming was a core disciple of some Golden Elixir Force or a direct heir of a prominent Foundation Establishing Family. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming did not reveal any information from beginning to end, nor did he expose any cultivation or secrets, leaving Tang Xiuyuan rather helpless. Returning to his senses, Tang Xiuyuan handed over the Fake Golden Core Talisman and all other talismans and spiritual medicines to Lin Tianming. The transaction was complete¡ªLin Tianming acquired a large number of talismans, and Tang Xiuyuan sold treasures for a substantial amount of Spirit Stones. At this point, Lin Tianming, despite having spent over thirty thousand Spirit Stones, did not feel any pain at the cost. He was now exceedingly wealthy, having received fifty thousand Spirit Stones for advancing the White Jade Grass purchase for his family. Before coming to Qianchuan Market, he had collected that sum, and together with several storage bags from the Secret Realm, his personal Spirit Stone tally had increased by more than sixty thousand. In total, he had over a hundred twenty thousand Spirit Stones. In addition to that, he had many treasures. The Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials stored by his family were, strictly speaking, his personal possessions; he wasn¡¯t short on Spirit Stones for the time being. Gathering his thoughts, while chatting casually, Lin Tianming then inquired, ¡°Daoist Tang, does your shop also have any Second Order Alchemy Furnaces for sale? The higher the quality, the better.¡± ¡°Second Order Alchemy Furnace?¡± Tang Xiuyuan pondered. After a short while, he replied, ¡°Second Order Pill Furnaces are not easy to find. Even in our Sky Dragon Pavilion, they are rare. We only have two Second Order Inferior Grade Alchemy Furnaces, which I¡¯m afraid might not meet Daoist Chen¡¯s standards.¡± At this, Lin Tianming was somewhat disappointed. He still relied on the Four Symbols Furnace, a First Order Superior Grade Pill Furnace, for alchemy. It could barely be used to concoct Second Order Inferior Grade Pills, but its pill formation rate and yield were impacted. As his alchemy skills improved, the Four Symbols Furnace no longer met his needs. Second Order Pill Furnaces were hard to acquire. A furnace of the same grade was worth at least several times more than a magic artifact of equivalent grade, especially those of Second Order Medium Quality or above, which were even rarer and more precious. However, he didn¡¯t think much of Second Order Inferior Grade Pill Furnaces¡ªif he bought one, it would only be a matter of a decade or so before it ceased to satisfy his needs. Previously when he concocted Foundation Establishment Pills, he had borrowed his grandfather¡¯s Three Star Furnace; otherwise, the pill formation rate and yield would have been even lower. His grandfather had even suggested that he use the Three Star Furnace himself, an offer he directly declined. Under these circumstances, he would need at least a Second Order Medium Quality Pill Furnace to last him a few decades; so that he wouldn¡¯t need to search for a new furnace before entering the Golden Core Stage. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s slightly disappointed expression, Tang Xiuyuan suddenly thought of something and then spoke up: Chapter 305: 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_3 Chapter 305: Chapter 198 Fake Golden Core Talisman_3 ¡°Daoist Chen, there¡¯s no need to be disheartened,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°To my knowledge, in a few days at the auction, there will be a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace up for bid. You might try your luck there. With your financial resources, it should not be too difficult to secure the item.¡± Hearing this news, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy. He hadn¡¯t expected Tang Xiuyuan to be privy to such information, much less to share such favorable news with him. However, considering the terrifying background of Sky Dragon Pavilion, it wasn¡¯t strange for them to know such information. After all, at the Luoyun Market auction, local powers with some strength generally had access to the list of key auction items before the event, and this unspoken rule was equally applicable to the larger Qianchuan Market. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming cupped his hands and bowed to Tang Xiuyuan, ¡°I thank Daoist Tang. I have reaped much today and won¡¯t stay long. I shall come to visit you at the pavilion another day.¡± ¡°Farewell.¡± Having expressed his intentions to leave, Tang Xiuyuan also stood up and returned the gesture, cupping his hands and bowing. He then watched Lin Tianming leave the Luoyun Pavilion and disappear into the bustling crowd. Upon leaving Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming stood on the bluestone-paved street and observed the cultivators coming and going, lost in thought. Having frequented the market, he knew that every time there was a gathering, the vending area would be bustling with popularity. Even though the peddling cultivators had lower cultivation levels and their treasures weren¡¯t considered remarkable by his current standards, they weren¡¯t entirely useless. With some luck, he could find overlooked treasures, although the chances were slim. However, since the auction wouldn¡¯t start for a few days, and he was idle anyway, he thought a quick stroll wouldn¡¯t take much time. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming followed the crowd and headed towards the vending area¡¯s plaza. In less than half an hour, he arrived at the vending plaza and stood at its edge. Looking out, he saw that the numerous stalls were already crowded with people, and the noisy flow of individuals, mixed with a few shouts from Qi Refining Cultivators, resembled a worldly marketplace. He glanced over the vending area and then walked in a particular direction, soon arriving at a cultivator¡¯s stall. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing Lin Tianming approach, the sitting cultivator immediately stood up and enthusiastically introduced the herbs and ores laid out in front of him. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t speak and scanned the beast skin that displayed various Spiritual Medicine Materials and ores, showing a look of disappointment. While the displayed items might be considered decent for Qi Refining Cultivators, they were quite ordinary and even somewhat unnecessary to someone with high standards like himself. Nevertheless, out of respect for the eager Qi Refining Cultivator¡¯s enthusiasm, he spent several dozen Spirit Stones and bought a few herbs that he could use. After paying the Spirit Stones, he collected the Spiritual Medicine Materials and, under the grateful gaze of the vendor, headed deeper into the vending area. In less than half an hour, as he wandered around, he had already covered a large part of the vending area. During this time, he bought some Spiritual Medicine Materials and a few pieces of Beast Skin, intending to give the latter to Lin Tianyue for Talisman Making, and keeping the former for his own use. Beyond that, he didn¡¯t come across anything exceptional. Common items were not in short supply for him, but he wasn¡¯t surprised. One couldn¡¯t always be lucky, nor could one expect to encounter great finds every time. He stood at the edge of the vending area and sighed. Glancing at the scorching sun in the sky, he headed back to his Cave Mansion Courtyard. It wasn¡¯t long before he returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Only Lin Xingyao was on duty at the courtyard; Lin Xingping was cultivating, and the other clan members had been taken out by Lin Tianfeng to enjoy themselves. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the on-duty Lin Xingyao, he planned to refine a portion of the Spiritual Medicine Materials collected from the Luoyun Market as soon as possible, so that after the auction ended, they could quickly return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Resolved, he went straight into the Pill Refining Room. Sitting in the Pill Refining Room, he looked at the hundreds of portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials, most of which were First Order, with only a small fraction tailored for Second Order Pills. He habitually exercised his cultivation to regulate his breathing and peak his condition. After making a series of preparations, he started with the more challenging types of materials to refine, leaving the simpler ones to Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong. Before long, the Earth Fire was burning in the Pill Refining Room, and batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials were being broken down and purified. With practiced ease, a distinct fragrance of elixirs emerged from the Four Symbols Furnace every few half-days, and pill after pill was thus created. Chapter 306: 199: The Lin Familys Name_1 Chapter 306: Chapter 199: The Lin Family¡¯s Name_1 Several days later, the market auction was held as scheduled. At this time, Qianchuan Market was bustling with activity, its foot traffic more than doubling the usual amount. On this day, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion, and together with Lin Xingping, led a mighty procession of clan members out of the cave dwelling, towards the location of the auction. Their group was grand in scale, and the subtle aura emanating from Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping caught the attention of many cultivators. Some Qi Refining Cultivators who were acquainted with the group greeted Lin Tianfeng and others warmly; Lin Tianfeng responded with equal courtesy, surprising many Loose Cultivators with his grace. It wasn¡¯t until they disappeared into the crowd that some unfamiliar Loose Cultivators began to inquire about their origin and background with the surrounding cultivators. A cultivator who had just greeted Lin Tianfeng chuckled and then, with a look of surprise, said: ¡°Friend, have you been in seclusion for so long or have you not visited Qianchuan Market for over a decade to not have heard the name of the Lin Family from the Luoyun Mountain Range?¡± Upon hearing this, the inquiring cultivator showed an embarrassed expression and then spoke up: ¡°I am Feng Meng, I haven¡¯t been to Qianchuan Market in a long time. I¡¯ve been active near Liuyun Market, so I¡¯m out of the loop!¡± ¡°Can it be the same Lin Family from Green Bamboo Mountain that rose like a comet over ten years ago?¡± Before the question was finished, a Qi Refining Cultivator with a reverent look and tone said, ¡°That¡¯s precisely the Lin Family that Daoist Feng mentioned!¡± Hearing this, Feng Meng suddenly realized and remembered how, ten years ago, the Lin Family had quietly risen, uprooting the once-dominant Jin Family and revealing their collective strength. Furthermore, the Luoyun Pavilion had gained a considerable reputation in the market over the years, selling treasures that were both fine and inexpensive, and helping cultivators with alchemy, accumulating a vast amount of popularity and goodwill. With Lin Tianfeng being adept at networking and having made many cultivator acquaintances over the years, the reputation of the Luoyun Pavilion had spread far and wide, making the Lin Family behind it well-known and further expanding their influence. Aside from Feng Meng, other Loose Cultivators who were unaware of the Lin Family¡¯s details also showed expressions of awe and began inquiring about the various deeds of the Lin Family with the cultivators beside them. Informed cultivators also took delight in recounting the various deeds and rumors of the Lin Family, further dispersing their influence. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his party had long since walked away, utterly unaware of these discussions. The group walked along the Bluestone Street. Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianyue chattered incessantly, while Lin Tianfeng patiently introduced the various aspects of the market to the two golden flowers of the family. Lin Tianming chatted idly with Lin Xingping, leading the clan members through the crowd towards the auction. Soon, they arrived at the square in front of the auction house. At that moment, a large number of cultivators were standing in a long queue, orderly handing over Spirit Stones before being allowed passage by the Market City Supervisor. Lin Tianming and the others bypassed the line and headed towards the interior. Upon reaching the Market City Supervisor, Lin Xingping immediately took out the Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s shop Token and handed it to him. Upon seeing the Luoyun Pavilion Token, the Market City Supervisor¡¯s expression changed instantly, and he respectfully said: ¡°So it is the Elders from the Lin Family. I am Song Yunzhi, Uncle Li¡¯s junior. He has instructed that if Daoists from the Lin Family come to participate in the auction, they should be allowed to pass directly, and two VIP rooms shall be arranged for the Lin Elders!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, appreciating the gesture from Li Xiuyuan, acknowledging that even though arranging two VIP rooms did not cost much in terms of Spirit Stones, for someone of his stature to extend such a courtesy meant a great deal. However, they could not blatantly disregard the rules and cause Li Xiuyuan to be the subject of gossip. With that in mind, he quickly took out two hundred Spirit Stones and handed them to Song Yunzhi, then said: ¡°Li is too courteous. I accept his kindness on behalf of the Lin Family, but the market¡¯s order must not be broken. These Spirit Stones will reserve two VIP rooms, and the rest is for you, young friend Song, and your fellow disciples, to buy some Spiritual Wine. After the auction is over, I will treat Li to a drink of Spiritual Wine.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ In that case, I thank Elder Lin on behalf of my juniors!¡± Song Yunzhi nodded, expressed his thanks with a cupped fist salute, and then respectfully accepted the Spirit Stones, instructing two Qi Refining female cultivators at the Third Level to lead the way. Seeing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and said: ¡°Good¡­ You young friends should often visit the Luoyun Pavilion and share some cultivation insights with our younger generation!¡± ¡°I have already met Daoist Tianfeng and will certainly visit at a later date!¡± replied Song Yunzhi. After the conversation, Lin Tianming nodded and led the clan members, following the Qi Refining female cultivators into the inner part of the auction. As they left, the cultivators in line started whispering among themselves, many showing envious expressions. In the Cultivation World, this is the display of strength. For those formidable Foundation Establishing Families or long-established cultivators, even those with Golden Core Strength would not ignore them. While the market has rules, many conveniences are offered to attract those powerful Foundation Establishing Families, and such matters are an open secret. In the grand hall on the first floor of the auction, after instructing Lin Tianfeng on a few matters, Lin Tianming alongside Lin Xingping went straight to the second floor and finally entered one of the VIP rooms. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both settled into their seats, and the guiding female cultivators respectfully stood by the entrance. Chapter 307: 199: The Name of Lin Family_2 Chapter 307: Chapter 199: The Name of Lin Family_2 As there was still some time before the auction started, Lin Shilu took out the Spiritual Tea, and the two of them chatted idly while drinking tea. At this moment, the main hall of the auction house filled with the sound of a bustling crowd, and the two shifted their gaze toward the noise. Looking around, the seats in the public area were already filled with a majority of cultivators; some of them were dressed in odd and unusual clothes, and did not seem to be from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Apart from that, the cultivators¡¯ levels of cultivation varied greatly, with some above the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, and a few whose aura was chaotic, as if they had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and had not yet consolidated their cultivation. Seeing the variety of attire and exchanging information with other cultivators, Lin Tianming and his companion exchanged smiles, discussing the state of the cultivation world in various countries. A quarter of an hour later, as the seats in the auction house were filled, an elder emerged from behind the curtain; it was Xue Chong, who had previously hosted the auction, and he made his way to the central stage while greeting the attendees with folded hands. With the elder¡¯s appearance, the noisy atmosphere gradually calmed down, and occasionally, a few cultivators greeted Xue Chong. Xue Chong¡¯s expression was serene, and a smile was ever-present on his face. He bowed to the hundred or so cultivators below and the private rooms around before speaking: ¡°I, Xue Chong, am honored to host today¡¯s Foundation Establishment Area auction. Many of you are familiar faces, and a lot have attended auctions multiple times. As for the rules, I believe there¡¯s no need to repeat them, as you all know them well!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ The treasures this time are all rare and unprecedented; many fellow cultivators can hardly wait any longer, so let¡¯s get straight to the point. Let us begin the auction with the first item.¡± After he spoke, an elder¡¯s hand revealed a fiery red talisman paper, surrounded by dazzling Spiritual Light, looking quite powerful. ¡°One Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman for the starting bid of one thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than twenty Spirit Stones.¡± No sooner had his voice fallen, a few cultivators immediately started bidding, all of them being at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment or below. ¡°One thousand and fifty Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°One thousand and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± The first item for auction was a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman; a Medium Grade Defense Talisman was quite valuable and not easy to come by. In the Qianchuan Market, only some large stores had them, and the prices were not low. As the opening item of the auction, the prices continued to climb, indicating the significance the auctioneers placed on this sale. While Lin Tianming and his partner chatted in their private room, they observed the fiery bidding below. Lin Tianming had plenty of Second Order Talismans on him, and even more so, he had as many as five Defense Talismans, which were enough for a while, so he had no intention of bidding. Lin Xingping, on the other hand, seemed to be considering making a bid. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said to Lin Xingping: ¡°Uncle, Medium Quality Defense Talismans are rare, and the power of this talisman seems impressive. It looks like the cultivator who made this talisman is quite skilled. If you like it, don¡¯t let the chance slip by!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, let¡¯s see how it goes first ¨C if the price is right, I might just make a bid¡­¡± Lin Xingping replied. Just then, the price of the Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman had reached one thousand three hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. Such a price had already surpassed the value of a typical Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, and the number of cultivators below still bidding was dwindling, with only two remaining persistent. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the two bidders hesitating, Lin Xingping made his first bid. ¡°One thousand three hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!¡± With Lin Xingping significantly raising the price, the cultivators who had been bidding seemed to give up on continuing their bids. After a few breaths with no further bids, Xue Chong announced the first item sold on the spot. Lin Xingping prepared the Spirit Stones, completed the transaction with Xue Chong through a barrier, and both parties obtained the Spirit Stones and the item. The first treasure sold for a high price, satisfying Lin Xingping, while Xue Chong continued to preside over the auction. ¡°The second treasure, a Second Order Spirit Material Mature Millet Seed Tree, an excellent material for Artifact Refining. The starting bid is three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than ten Spirit Stones.¡± The first item had whipped up enthusiasm, and although the second was somewhat less exciting, there were still many cultivators bidding fiercely. ¡°Three hundred and seventy Spirit Stones!¡± ¡­ The cultivators below continued their intense bidding, and neither Lin Tianming nor Lin Xingping, who weren¡¯t into Artifact Refining, had any intention of bidding. They drank their Spiritual Tea as mere spectators, thoroughly enjoying themselves. The second treasure was acquired by a cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment for five hundred and forty Spirit Stones. The heated auction continued and, in the blink of an eye, it was time for the last ten showstopping items. After auctioning off hundreds of treasures, nearly all Second Order Spiritual Items, there were plenty of Spiritual Medicine Materials, various Spirit Ore Materials, and numerous Demonic Beast bodies. During this period, Lin Tianming spent more than three thousand spirit stones to purchase a few stalks of Spiritual Medicine Materials, all rare and precious varieties. Besides, Lin Shilu was busy with his cultivation and had no time to attend the auction; he specifically bid on two fist-sized pieces of Obsidian Iron to prepare for gifting Lin Shilu for Artifact Refining. After all, the elder had been very generous to him, going all out to forge the Earth Evil Sword and Tiangang Sword for him, and had repaired his Magic Artifacts many times, not to mention how many cherished treasures he had spent on his behalf. Now that such an opportunity had arisen, he naturally wanted to express his gratitude. Lin Xingping also made several bids, acquiring some fairly good treasures to further strengthen his power. As the auction of ordinary items concluded, everyone¡¯s anticipation grew for the climactic final items. After a brief rest, Xue Chong took out a Jade Box again and opened it. Inside the Jade Box held by Xue Chong lay a fist-sized Spirit Fruit, the whole fruit appearing translucent and emitting an enticing fragrance. It was yet another Flame Fruit; previously, he had successfully bid for one at a high price of two thousand one hundred spirit stones. The effect of the Flame Fruit was notable, and he had been longing for it ever since; unexpectedly, another one appeared as the finale of this auction. However, only one Flame Fruit could be consumed, and the effect was greatly diminished with repeated use, which was truly a pity. As he was momentarily lost in thought, many cultivators in the auction hall had flushed faces, their breathing suddenly quickened. The Flame Fruit held little allure for those cultivators who had already consumed it, but more than ninety percent of the cultivators, including Lin Xingping, were drooling over it. As expected, as soon as Xue Chong announced the starting bid, more than ten cultivators immediately began a heated competition, and after a dozen rounds of bidding, the price of the Flame Fruit had already risen to more than one thousand six hundred spirit stones and was still climbing. At this point, Lin Xingping was resolute, having made up his mind to obtain the fruit, he joined the bidding straight away. ¡°One thousand seven hundred twenty spirit stones!¡± He raised the bid by one hundred spirit stones in one go, leading many cultivators to secretly speculate. Even so, there were still several cultivators who were not ready to give up easily; after all, the Flame Fruit was quite rare, hardly seen in ordinary times, and it was only during market gatherings that it might appear. Missing this opportunity meant waiting several years. ¡°One thousand six hundred fifty spirit stones!¡± ¡°One thousand seven hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡­ The price continued to rise; after several more rounds of bidding, the Flame Fruit¡¯s price had reached over one thousand nine hundred spirit stones and was about to break the two-thousand-mark barrier. By then, with such a price, most cultivators had decided to give up on further bidding. Lin Xingping seemed hell-bent on winning; as soon as the last bid was called, he was the first to call out his bid, raising the price by dozens of spirit stones each time, suppressing those cultivators who were still hesitant. ¡°Two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones!¡± After three rounds of bidding, once he called out the price, the remaining two competing cultivators did not raise their bids any further. As five breaths of time passed with no further bids, Xue Chong bowed toward the VIP room where Lin Tianming was, and then announced the result of the auction. Upon hearing Xue Chong¡¯s announcement of the successful bid, Lin Xingping let out a long sigh of relief. Surprised and delighted, he quickly took out two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones and completed the transaction with Xue Chong across the restrictive barrier. In the VIP room, Lin Xingping was excited, holding the blood-red Flame Fruit and admiring it lovingly. The first finale treasure sold for the high price of two thousand three hundred fifty spirit stones, much to the thrill of all the cultivators present. This price was more than two hundred spirit stones higher than when Lin Tianming bid for the Flame Fruit, showing that the same treasure sold for a higher price at large gatherings than at smaller ones. However, Lin Xingping didn¡¯t mind in the least¡ªhe was willing to pay more if necessary, as treasures were serendipitous; once missed, who knows how long it would be till the next opportunity. Chapter 308: 200 Blueflame Furnace_1 Chapter 308: Chapter 200 Blueflame Furnace_1 ¡°` The first star item was successfully auctioned, snapped up by Lin Xingping through spirited bidding at a high price, igniting the atmosphere of the auction hall. In the center of the auction, Xue Chong looked around at the excited crowd with a satisfied smile, continuing to preside over the proceedings. He waved his hand for silence; as the room¡¯s excitement calmed down, he promptly brought out the second star item. Looking over, he revealed a silver-white Spirit Ruler in his hand about two-feet long, its surface covered with dense, golden runes, an impressively Second Order Lower Quality Attack Talisman. Many cultivators¡¯ eyes lit up with avid spiritual light at the sight of the glittering small ruler. Although the attack treasures of Lin Tianming and his companion were numerous and the power of the Spirit Ruler was not weak, they were not keen on wasting Spirit Stones. However, many Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivators in the audience, still utilizing First Order Spiritual Tools against their enemies, burst into fierce bidding the moment Xue Chong announced the starting price. ¡°Five thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°I bid five thousand four hundred Spirit Stones,¡± shouted a cultivator rising from the crowd. ¡­ Lin Tianming and his companion sat in the VIP room, observing the intense bidding below as they chatted leisurely over tea, waiting for the dust to settle on this item. A teatime later, the small ruler was bought by a Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator for four thousand four hundred Spirit Stones. With the second star item settled, the third item was taken out by Xue Chong, yet another piece the pair showed no interest in. They still had no intention of bidding, quietly waiting for the remaining star auction items. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time gradually passed, and soon an hour went by. In this period, five star items had been consecutively auctioned off, each fetching a high price. At the time of the fifth item, Lin Tianming finally took action, expending over nine thousand Spirit Stones to win a fierce competition for a Third Order Spirit Ore Red Copper Crystal as a filial gift for Lin Shilu. Red Copper Crystal is a high-quality material used in Artifact Refining, able to greatly enhance the toughness and power of magical instruments; even some Golden Elixir Experts¡¯ Magical Treasures incorporate this material. Among Third Order Spiritual Ores, it is considered top-notch. In the VIP room, Lin Tianming, holding the red stone, imagining the scene where he would present the Black Meteoric Iron and Red Copper Crystal to Lin Shilu, couldn¡¯t help but show an excited expression on his face. The auction continued, with Lin Tianming and his companion in the VIP room looking on expectantly. Before they knew it, it was nearing the end of the auction. The first eight items featured many rarely seen treasures: Hun Tian Pill, Second Order Medium Quality Offensive Magical Instruments, Three Sessions Spiritual Medicine Materials¡ªeach commanded a high price. Now, the atmosphere in the venue was boiling with anticipation, with only the last two star items left to be auctioned. The final two star items have always been the most precious, and each time they met with bids that reached astronomical prices. All the cultivators in attendance fixed their eyes on Xue Chong, their expressions filled with eager anticipation. Many who did not have the means to participate in the bidding felt just witnessing such a spectacle was worth their while. In the center of the auction, Xue Chong chuckled and then placed a little cauldron that was red and blue in color in his palm. As soon as the small cauldron appeared, it immediately elicited gasps from the cultivators in attendance, drawing Lin Tianming back to reality from his reverie. Gazing at it, the small, palm-sized, red and blue cauldron was extremely delicate, covered with dense runes, and was clearly a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemy Furnace. Xue Chong struck it with a Law Decree, and the little cauldron instantly shone with Spiritual Light, then began to enlarge until it was the size of a table before it stopped growing. Looking at the exquisite little cauldron, Xue Chong¡¯s expression turned eager as he reluctantly shifted his gaze from it to the cultivators in front and began to introduce the item. ¡°This furnace is named the Blueflame Furnace, Second Order Medium Quality, capable of significantly increasing pill-concocting success rates and pill quantities. It¡¯s a rare treasure; fellow daoists who practice Alchemy shouldn¡¯t miss it,¡± explained Xue Chong. Even Second Order Medium Quality Magical Instruments were rarely seen, let alone a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace, which was extremely rare. Many well-known Second Order Medium Grade Alchemists, and even High Quality Alchemists, often use Lower Order Alchemy Furnaces. And a Second Order Superior Alchemy Furnace is so valuable that it¡¯s almost always a hereditary treasure, almost never auctioned. Amongst the circulating pill furnaces within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace was already the best available. Furthermore, there were plenty of Alchemists in the Cultivation World, but good Alchemy Furnaces were scarce. One could say a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace was in high demand within the entire Wei Kingdom Cultivation World, always sparking fierce competition whenever it became available. ¡°Brother Xue, what¡¯s the starting price? Stop beating around the bush,¡± an impatient cultivator called out, pressing for an answer. ¡°Hehe¡­ The Blueflame Furnace will start at thirty-three thousand Spirit Stones, and each bid must be at least one hundred Spirit Stones higher,¡± Xue Chong detailed. Before his words fell, numerous bids were already being called from several VIP rooms, heating up the scene instantly. Many cultivators breathed rapidly, ready for an intense bidding war. Lin Tianming, equally thrilled, sighed in relief when he saw the Blueflame Furnace featured as the ninth star item. He had been tipped off by Tang Xiuyuan back at the Sky Dragon Pavilion and, now that he had personally witnessed it, began to prepare himself resolutely to win it. While he was contemplating, the bidding for the Blueflame Furnace had already gone through several rounds, shooting up to thirty-seven thousand Spirit Stones, with numerous cultivators on stand-by, ready to jump into the fray. ¡°` Chapter 309: 200 Blueflame Furnace_2 Chapter 309: Chapter 200 Blueflame Furnace_2 After several more rounds of bidding, a voice from a VIP room called out a price of 41,000 spirit stones, pushing the atmosphere in the hall to a climax. Inside the VIP room, Lin Xingping was so shocked that he could hardly take it anymore. The price of the Blueflame Furnace had already reached the amount required to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, with more than 10,000 spirit stones to spare, and it was still increasing. Seeing the cultivators in these VIP rooms bid so ferociously, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue, thinking that these people really didn¡¯t consider spirit stones as anything important. But after thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t surprising. A Second Order Low Quality Magic Artifact cost several thousand spirit stones, and a Second Order Medium Quality artifact went for over ten thousand. Considering that pill furnaces have always been rare and precious, and that they are valued several times higher than attack artifacts of the same grade, it was not strange that a Second Order Medium Grade pill furnace would fetch tens of thousands of spirit stones. True to expectations, there were still over a dozen VIP rooms persisting in the bidding war, clearly not willing to give up easily. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t planning to just watch the fun unfold. The moment the previous VIP room announced their price, he called out a bid of 46,000 spirit stones. Hearing the price from Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP room, which increased by 3,000 spirit stones in one go, many cultivators were immediately stunned. At this moment, Lin Xingping was again shocked beyond belief. He had already spent most of his savings on second order talisman paper and Flame Fruits, yet Lin Tianming kept his composure even after calling out more than ten thousand spirit stones. ¡°This young man is really too rich!¡± Lin Xingping thought secretly, but he didn¡¯t say anything. After all, Lin Tianming was always prudent, and since he made a bid, he surely had his reasons. Regaining his composure, the whole auction house suddenly fell silent, the faces of cultivators who came to enjoy the show flushed and their breathing quickened. In a certain VIP room, two Foundation Establishment cultivators sat side by side. One of them was grim-faced, swearing profusely. The other, an old man with a bitter smile, noticing his companion¡¯s restlessness, took the opportunity to advise, ¡°Hong Hao, this is an auction, where the highest bidder wins by rule. Besides, every alchemist powerful enough to join this bidding war is overflowing with wealth. Although your cultivation is strong and you are a young Second Order Alchemist, the cultivation world is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. There are many talented individuals out there who surpass you, and you really need to change your arrogant ways. Otherwise, if you clash with someone formidable, you¡¯ll be at a disadvantage.¡± Seeing the old man¡¯s advice, the young cultivator¡¯s expression eased slightly, but he still looked rather displeased. ¡°I understand, but I¡¯m determined to get this Blueflame Furnace, no matter the price,¡± Wei Honghao said emphatically. Thereupon, seeing the young man¡¯s resolve, the old man shook his head helplessly and said nothing more to avoid upsetting him further. ¡°47,000 spirit stones!¡± The young cultivator remained unyielding. Although he did not raise the bid by much, adding a thousand spirit stones in one breath was still significant. Lin Tianming remained unphased and instantly matched the increased bid with an additional thousand spirit stones of his own. As the two of them continued to bid, raising the price by a thousand each time, the Blueflame Furnace¡¯s price had already broken the fifty-thousand threshold, reaching a frightening 54,000 spirit stones. By this point, the entire auction had fallen into absolute silence, with only Lin Tianming and the young cultivator still in competition, all eyes fixated on the two VIP rooms. Encountering someone so determined to win, Lin Tianming felt a slight irritation but quickly calmed down. When it comes to a contest of spirit stones, he was by no means inferior. Although he had spent tens of thousands on Second Order Talismans earlier, he still had seventy to eighty thousand spirit stones on him and was not worried about running out. Even though the Blueflame Furnace had sold for an exorbitant price, if he managed to produce just two more Foundation Establishment Pills with it, he would recover the cost. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming remained unwavered and raised the bid once again. ¡°55,000 spirit stones!¡± Hearing the price, the young cultivator could not contain himself any longer, crushing the spirit stone he had been toying with into dust. ¡°56,000 spirit stones!¡± the young cultivator called out his bid once more. ¡°Hong Hao, just let it go. The cultivator you¡¯re bidding against clearly has far greater wealth than you, and it¡¯s very likely he comes from a Great Sect or one of those top Foundation Establishment families.¡± Hearing these words, the young cultivator¡¯s face turned displeased, as if he had lost his rationality. Seizing the lull, he said towards the elder: ¡°Fourth Grandpa, if we don¡¯t bid for the Blueflame Furnace, it won¡¯t be easy to find another Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace. How many more spirit stones do you have? I want to take one more gamble!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the elder¡¯s expression became grave, and he then earnestly cautioned: ¡°I¡¯ve already loaned you more than ten thousand spirit stones, and now I only have two thousand left. We simply don¡¯t have the confidence to engage in a dogfight with them to the end!¡± Upon hearing this, the young cultivator¡¯s expression dimmed. He called out another price, then fixed his gaze in the direction where Lin Tianming was seated. ¡°Fifty-nine thousand spirit stones!¡± Lin Tianming declared his bid without hesitation, prepared to increase his offer at any moment. However, as soon as he made his bid, the other party did not raise the price any further; it seemed they had given up. Within the private room where Wei Honghao was, his face was exceedingly grim. The elder beside him began to advise him. After a few words of persuasion, Wei Honghao reluctantly nodded his head. The Wei Family was also one of the Foundation Establishing Families of the Hengyang Mountain Range, and their influence ranked high even throughout the Wei Kingdom; however, the price of the Blueflame Furnace was too steep, his personal supply of spirit stones limited, so he could only abandon the idea of continuing the bidding. Xue Chong looked towards the direction of the young cultivator, wearing an expression of anticipation. He truly wished for the other party to keep raising the bid, further driving up the price of the Blueflame Furnace, so that he could receive a more substantial reward. However, his hopes were not met. A few moments passed, the auction hall remained silent, and no cultivator advanced the bid beyond fifty-nine thousand spirit stones offered by Lin Tianming. Xue Chong sighed helplessly, then publicly announced that the ninth auction item, the Blueflame Furnace, was sold for fifty-nine thousand spirit stones. Hearing Xue Chong¡¯s resonant voice, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then prepared the spirit stones, completing the transaction through the barrier of the private room. Not long after, Lin Tianming received the Blueflame Furnace and began to closely inspect it, his expression extremely excited. He casually played with it for a while; satisfied with the Alchemy Furnace despite the heavy expenditure of spirit stones, he still felt it was worth it. With the transaction of the treasure completed, the suffocating atmosphere in the auction hall was lifted, and a host of cultivators began murmuring amongst themselves. Many were secretly speculating about the identity of the person who had won the bid. Unfortunately, with the barrier in place, no one could know their identity information, except for the Zhenyang Sect behind the auction. Returning his focus, the auction continued. Lin Tianming was also filled with anticipation, reasoning that since the ninth item was a Second Order Medium Grade Pill Furnace, the final auction treasure should be even more precious. While he was speculating, Xue Chong had already brought out a water-blue jade box adorned with myriad runes, clearly indicating it was no ordinary object. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The final star item, a Gold Fruit, with a starting bid of one hundred thousand spirit stones, and each increment must be no less than two hundred spirit stones!¡± As soon as he finished, the entire hall of cultivators gasped, many completely astounded. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping both breathed heavily, equally shocked. The Gold Fruit was a Third Order Spiritual Fruit that matured once every five thousand years, and it was one of the rare items that could increase the chances of advancing to the Golden Core Realm by ten percent. Although just a one in ten chance, it was still the dream treasure of all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After all, often times, a ten percent chance is enough to change a person¡¯s fate. If one could step into the Golden Core Realm, their lifespan would greatly increase, propelling them into the ranks of High Order Cultivators and becoming a powerful figure revered by thousands. In light of this, no matter how many spirit stones it cost, no one would be stingy with such external possessions. Although the Lin Family already had a Star Moon Fruit, they still coveted any treasure that could aid in Core Formation. At this moment, the auction hall was deathly silent; needles could be heard dropping, and the atmosphere had fallen into a strange calm. Chapter 310: 201 - Belonging_1 Chapter 310: Chapter 201 ¨C Belonging_1 sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time passed indiscernibly when Xue Chong, seeing the situation, let out a cough, and only then did he bring the mesmerized cultivators back to their senses. Soon, the bidding started like a tempestuous storm, with the price of the Gold Fruit skyrocketing, quickly surpassing 120,000 Spirit Stones. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces flushed with health as they sat in the VIP room drinking Spiritual Tea and watching the intense bidding among the cultivators, without any intention to participate. Despite their intense desire for it, hearing the fierce bidding, they could only express regret. More importantly, this Gold Fruit was a hot potato¡ªeven if they could successfully win the bid, there was no way to safely bring it back to their family. At this time, the number of cultivators bidding below gradually lessened, with only a few VIP rooms still participating, each belonging to either the top families of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World or Loose Cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. In one of the VIP rooms, Ye Pinghai sat on a precious wooden armchair, staring at the intense bidding below and showing a pensive expression. He had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and was very close to reaching the Great Perfection Realm, so he needed to prepare in advance for the impact of the Golden Core Stage. He had been preparing for more than ten years, accumulating a significant amount of wealth. He attended the auction today because he had learned of the Gold Fruit¡¯s presence through Li Xiuyuan in advance. Not just him, many top Foundation Establishing families and Loose Cultivators from Qianchuan Market, who got wind of it early, aimed precisely for the most precious items like the Blueflame Furnace and this Gold Fruit. Although the Gold Fruit could only increase the Core Formation rate by ten percent, in today¡¯s Cultivation World, it was one of the rare Nascent Soul Spiritual Items that even a Golden Core force like Zhenyang Sect could not easily obtain in sufficient quantities. As for why a Gold Fruit would appear in this auction, no one knew for sure¡ªit could be to attract popularity for the market, or the item might have come from the hands of a Loose Cultivator. Regardless of the reason, his goal was very straightforward. If he gave up the chance to bid for the Gold Fruit now, he would have to wait another ten years until the next grand meeting¡ªmoreover, he might not be successful in the bid, further delaying several years. With these thoughts, he firmed his resolve. With the wealth that he had amassed as a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master over many hard years, it was worth it to bid for the Gold Fruit. After an unknown passage of time, he regained his composure and joined the fierce bidding. ¡°146,000 Spirit Stones.¡± Ye Pinghai announced his price, increasing it by 3,000 stones in one breath to a staggering almost 150,000, plunging the whole venue into a brief silence again. At this point, many cultivators breathed rapidly, not even daring to let out a loud breath. The previous bids were mere child¡¯s play¡ªit was only now that the real top forces had joined the battle. ¡°147,000 Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°149,000 Spirit Stones.¡± After more than ten rounds of bidding, the price of the Gold Fruit had reached 163,000 Spirit Stones. At this stage, including Ye Pinghai, only three were still bidding, the rest of the bidders having been deterred by the frightening price. Both Lin Tianming and his companion were also shocked; the price of over 160,000 Spirit Stones was enough to purchase several Foundation Establishment Pills. Each bid was increased by thousands, and the price was still climbing. ¡°This Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and Qianchuan Market really are places full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; to nonchalantly offer tens of thousands of Spirit Stones without a second thought, it seems our previous assessment on the family¡¯s strength was too optimistic.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, yet his heart remained undisturbed, after all, the family was on the rise. Given another ten years, the family would reach a new peak and could match the standard of the top Foundation Establishing Families. In the VIP room where Ye Pinghai was, he appeared extremely composed, displaying the courage of a sinking ship, and bid 175,000 Spirit Stones, raising the stakes by 6,000 at once. A few breaths passed without another bid from any VIP room; the whole scene descended into silence. Xue Chong was excited at this point. Seeing that no one else was bidding, he publicly announced the results of the auction. Upon hearing the announcement, Ye Pinghai was thrilled, hastily taking out 175,000 Spirit Stones. Through the restrictions of the VIP room, he threw his storage bag out, and it landed firmly in Xue Chong¡¯s hands. Xue Chong received the storage bag, used his Divine Sense to count the Spirit Stones and, confirming the correct amount, immediately threw the Jade Box containing the Gold Fruit towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s VIP room. Ye Pinghai caught the Jade Box, opened it at once, and looked at the golden fruit inside, containing powerful energy, his expression one of unrestrained excitement. Not knowing how much time had passed, atop the auction stage, Xue Chong surveyed the whole venue, then announced the end of the Foundation Establishment Area auction. In the public seating area, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had yet to regain their senses, clearly shocked by the astronomical price of over 170,000 Spirit Stones. Only when some cultivators stood up and greeted Xue Chong did they come back to themselves. After exchanging pleasantries with some acquaintances, they orderly left the venue. In the VIP room where Lin Tianming was, the two watched the cultivators gradually leaving and were in no rush to leave themselves. At this moment, Lin Xingping was extremely excited. Attending the auction had been quite rewarding for them, and they had witnessed such an intense bidding process, making the trip worthwhile. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, Lin Tianming finally stood up, turned to Lin Xingping, and said, ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s a swap meet next. Do you want to take a look?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingping nodded, agreeing with the idea. Chapter 311: 201 - Belonging_2 Chapter 311: Chapter 201 ¨C Belonging_2 Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up and walked toward the exit of the VIP room, with Lin Xingping following closely behind. Upon leaving the VIP room, the female cultivator standing at the door had not left. Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion emerge, she immediately greeted them. Lin Tianming casually took out twenty spirit stones and handed them to the female cultivator, and then he led Lin Xingping further down the corridor. After a short while, they entered a secret chamber where more than ten cultivators were already engaged in casual conversation, some of whom were familiar faces. Upon seeing the two men enter, several Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately stood up to welcome them, specifically those they had met at a previous exchange meeting, showing great courtesy. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping did not dare to act arrogantly and immediately performed a fist-and-palm salute in greeting, then started to chat with the familiar cultivators. As this was Lin Xingping¡¯s first time attending an exchange meeting and he was unfamiliar with many of the cultivators, the intention today was to introduce him to some so that his future guardianship of the market would be more convenient. Seeing Lin Xingping¡¯s unfamiliar face, a cultivator promptly asked, ¡°Lin, it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen Daoist Lin Shilu. Who might this fellow Daoist be?¡± Lin Tianming let out a chuckle and then earnestly replied, ¡°Daoist Meng, my Fifteenth Grandfather is currently in secluded cultivation, and this person beside me is my uncle Lin Xingping. From now on, our Lin Family will have him stationed in the market. I hope fellow Daoists can do us the honor of lending a hand in times of crisis.¡± ¡°No problem at all. The name of the Lin Family is well-known to all. I presume there are no fools bold enough to cause trouble,¡± said Meng Zhaosong, the first to compliment. The rest of the cultivators were also very polite, echoing the sentiment. ¡°Indeed, the Lin Family is thriving like the midday sun, rising swiftly among the many Foundation Establishing families in the Wei Kingdom. Nobody dares to offend them lightly,¡± they said. Lin Tianming and his company¡¯s faces flushed with modesty as they continuously waved their hands, displaying great humility. While Lin Tianming and the others were chatting leisurely, some previously unacquainted cultivators, seeing the respect shown to Lin Tianming, quickly exchanged whispers with nearby cultivators to inquire about the background of the two. After learning that Lin Tianming and his companion were from the recently prominent Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain, some cultivators took the initiative to come over and greet them. Lin Tianming was very courteous in response to these kind gestures, engaging in mutual exchange. At this moment, Ye Pinghai also entered the secret chamber, seeing that Lin Tianming had already arrived, he greeted him with a smile. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong quickly got up and returned the salute with a fist-and-palm salute, then laughed and said, ¡°Grandpa Sea, as I expected, how could you possibly miss this rare opportunity for a gathering?¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and replied with a hearty laugh. ¡°Of course, this grand market meeting happens only once every ten years. With so many Daoists rarely gathering, it¡¯s only natural for an old man like me to join the fun,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s right, a rare opportunity indeed. Usually, everyone is busy with their cultivation; such chances are indeed few and far between,¡± agreed the other cultivators. Everyone nodded, then took their seats and chatted briefly, waiting for the exchange meeting to begin. Soon after, Li Xiuyuan and Song Xun walked into the secret chamber together, accompanied by Tang Xiuyuan. Seeing the three arrive, all the cultivators in the chamber promptly stood up to welcome them. After saluting the crowd with a fist-and-palm greeting, the three made their way directly towards Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai. Seeing Tang Xiuyuan attending the exchange meeting and coming with Li Xiuyuan was not a surprise to Lin Tianming. Given his role as the person in charge of Sky Dragon Pavilion in Qianchuan Market and his origin from the top-tier Tang Family of Qingzhou, his status was naturally not to be taken lightly, not even by the Zhenyang Sect. When Tang Xiuyuan saw Lin Tianming, he chuckled and took the initiative to greet him. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Daoist Chen to be from the Lin Family. No wonder the first time we met, I had the impression of your extraordinary background.¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan, Song Xun, and the other cultivators were taken aback. Li Xiuyuan then asked with a smile, ¡°Daoist Tang, you¡¯re acquainted with young Lin?¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯ve had the fortune of meeting Daoist Tang a few times before. I had always concealed my true name and background, which has led to some misunderstandings. If I¡¯ve given any offense, I hope Daoist Tang can forgive me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯s perfectly normal for cultivators to hide their identities from one another. Lin, don¡¯t give it another thought, it¡¯s no big deal to me,¡± Tang Xiuyuan replied with a smile. Listening to Tang Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, several cultivators nodded, understanding the reasons behind it. They all laughed, dissolving the awkwardness, and after exchanging formalities, they began to chat casually. Many cultivators present were unfamiliar faces, and upon hearing the conversation among several people and seeing that renowned cultivators from Qianchuan Market were very polite to Lin Tianming, many noted Lin Tianming and the Lin Family in their minds. In the future, they would naturally be more cautious to avoid provoking these powerful Foundation Establishment families. After a short while, as Li Xiuyuan and two others entered, no other cultivators continued to come. Finding that no more were joining, Li Xiuyuan stood up and announced the start of the exchange meeting. Once everyone had settled down, he waved one hand and two treasures landed steadily on the stone table in front of the crowd. Looking over them, both items were extraordinary: one a Second Order Medium Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill, and the other a Second Order Medium Grade Attack Magical Artifact. Admiring the two treasures, Li Xiuyuan smiled and then said, ¡°These two items of mine are but ordinary, so there are no restrictions. As long as I deem the items offered in exchange satisfactory, anything can be traded.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, a cultivator took out a Third Order Spirit Medicine Material and a cultivation-enhancing Spiritual Fruit to trade for his two treasures. Next, Song Xun also brought out two treasures, and after some comparison, successfully traded for two items he wanted. In a short time, several well-known Foundation Establishment cultivators completed their trades, and Ye Pinghai brought out a Hun Tian Pill and a Second Order Spiritual Fruit, exchanging them for a precious Third Order Spirit Medicine Material. What Tang Xiuyuan put forth was also impressive: a Third Order Solid Gold Stone and a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill. Soon, Song Xun traded for the Solid Gold Stone, and the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill was traded to a Loose Cultivator. As several renowned cultivators looked at him with anticipation, Lin Tianming felt embarrassed. He hadn¡¯t planned on acquiring any particular treasures at the exchange meeting, as aside from Demon Beast Inner Pills and talismans, he didn¡¯t have much suitable for trading. Still, with many eyes on him, he took out a Second Order Mid-tier Dragon Eye Beast Inner Pill, as well as an ordinary Third Order Spirit Medicine Material, and placed them on the stone platform in front of him. Although these items were not the most precious, they were above average among the treasures and were swiftly traded away by several Loose Cultivators. In return, Lin Tianming acquired a Third Order Spiritual Ore and several pieces of Second Order Initial Stage Beast Skin Armor, planning to gift the ore to Lin Shilu and the beast skin to Lin Tianyue. As Lin Tianming completed his trades, when it was Lin Xingping¡¯s turn, he decisively stated that he would not participate. Lin Tianming had anticipated this. His Foundation Establishment phase was still short, and having spent all his Spirit Stones on Second Order Talismans and the Flame Fruit, he had no high-value treasures that could interest these cultivators. It seemed better to abstain than to be the subject of ridicule. Seeing Lin Xingping abstaining from trading, the next cultivator moved past him and continued the exchange meeting. An hour later, the exchange meeting concluded. Except for Lin Xingping, all the cultivators had traded for items they desired, though a few treasures remained unclaimed. In the private room, Li Xiuyuan and the others chatted briefly, then organized a sharing of cultivation experiences, including discussions on the Four Arts of Cultivation. As Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping¡¯s cultivation levels were too low, they didn¡¯t show off unnecessarily, instead absorbing the experiences shared by others with patience. As dusk approached, the day-long auction and exchange meeting drew to a close. Laughter echoed through the large private room with the atmosphere among the cultivators being extremely amiable. Lin Tianming and his companion made a few more acquaintances and gained much experience, sparing them some detours on the cultivation path. After half a quarter of an hour, Li Xiuyuan stood up, bowed with cupped hands to the group of cultivators, and then said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, this exchange meeting has concluded successfully. As we have all gathered here and each has gained something, I look forward to continuing our interactions next time!¡± As his words ended, some cultivators greeted each other and then stood up to leave. Lin Tianming and his companion bid farewell to the other cultivators and also stood up to leave, departing the auction with Ye Pinghai. While walking through the streets of the market, Lin Tianming arranged to visit Ye Pinghai another day, who graciously agreed to the invitation. Only when the two reached the Cave Mansion District did they part ways, each returning to their own caves. Chapter 312: 202 Extensive Alchemy_1 Chapter 312: Chapter 202 Extensive Alchemy_1 Having returned to the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianfeng and the other members of the family had already returned in advance. Seeing the lively group sitting in the courtyard chatting idly and sharing amusing stories from the auction, Lin Tianming and his companion joined in. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming inquired about everyone¡¯s gains. Lin Tianfeng let out a chuckle and then took out a Second Order Junior Attack Talisman and a crystal clear Spirit Fruit, excitedly discussing the auction process at the Qi Refining Area. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin also had fruitful results, each snapping up some good materials for alchemy and talisman making. During the subsequent exchange meeting, they also obtained some elixirs and Spirit Fruits that would enhance their cultivation, reaping a rich harvest indeed. The rest of the group had also gained considerably, acquiring various treasures and becoming acquainted with many cultivators from the Sect Families, as well as some highly skilled Loose Cultivators. Through these days of understanding and connections made with other cultivators, the new family members were able to integrate more swiftly into the Qianchuan Market. As they listened to the accounts, Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, feeling much reassured. Lin Tianming then asked about the recent cultivation plans of the family members, in preparation for their return to the Lin Family. Upon Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianfeng immediately responded, ¡°Sixth Brother, just give your instructions. I don¡¯t have any specific plans for this period. I will cultivate by assimilating the Spirit Fruit I have, and then get Tianhu and the others acquainted with the business at the Luoyun Pavilion.¡± Before he finished speaking, Lin Tianhu chimed in, ¡°Yes, Sixth Brother, if you, Second Brother, and Third Sister are going to do alchemy, just give us your direct orders.¡± Lin Tianming nodded then began to think about his own arrangements. In the past few days, he had nearly completed making half of the Second Order Pills, and there were still many left, including the accumulation from recent days, plus a lot of materials for First Order Elixirs. Fortunately, with Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong, who were both First Order Superior Grade Alchemists, the making of First Order Elixirs could be left to them. Beyond that, he had acquired the Blueflame Furnace from the auction. He believed that, once he had bonded with it and started refining elixirs, his speed would increase significantly. With these thoughts in mind, he said, ¡°Next, Second Brother and Third Sister will start making First Order Elixir materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion. I will handle the Second Order ones. Uncle Xing Ping will be in closed-door cultivation, and the Pavilion is quite busy right now, so the rest of the family should take turns helping out at the Luoyun Pavilion.¡± Hearing the orders, Lin Tianfeng and the others immediately agreed and then stood up to leave, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingping sitting in the courtyard. After the departure of the others, Lin Xingping still looked excited. After calming down, he said, ¡°Tianming, you better start your closed-door cultivation to assimilate the Blueflame Furnace as soon as possible. I will also assimilate the Flame Fruit. It should not take many days before I can leave seclusion. I¡¯ll pay attention to the market in the meantime, and I believe nothing unexpected will happen.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and responded, ¡°Alright, Uncle, go ahead with your cultivation in seclusion. Once I have assimilated the Blueflame Furnace, I¡¯ll also have to refine elixirs for a while. Once we have processed a good amount of the Spiritual Medicine materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion, I will take Tianfeng and the others back to the family.¡± After a few more words, the two said farewell with clasped hands and headed towards their respective training rooms. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay either. He had been eager to get the Blueflame Furnace since the moment he received it. If it were not for the fact that he was still at the auction and didn¡¯t have the conditions to assimilate the pill furnace, he would have wanted to begin immediately. Now back in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, he naturally wanted to start assimilating it right away. Thinking this, he immediately entered a training room. Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he took out the blue and red Blueflame Furnace and placed it in front of him. Excitement filled his expression as he looked at the exquisite Blueflame Furnace. With this Blueflame Furnace, the Lin Family possessed its third Second Order Pill Furnace, in addition to the Three Star Furnace used by himself and his grandfather, while another Second Order Junior Pill Furnace was in use by Lin Xingyuan. Moreover, the Lin Family was making equal strides in alchemy and Artifact Refining. Lin Shilu, as a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner, was highly skilled in the Way of Artifact Refining and was regarded as preeminent in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. In the sphere of alchemy, they had Lin Shigong and Lin Xingyuan, both Second Order Junior Alchemists, and with the assistance of the Blueflame Furnace, breaking through to Second Order Medium Quality should not take long. At most five years, or perhaps ten years, they would surely step into the rank of Second Order Medium Quality. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for First Order Alchemists, there were many clan members with considerable talent. Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin were both First Order Superior Grade. As long as they successfully established their Foundation, becoming Second Order Alchemists should be a natural success. At that time, the family¡¯s alchemy domain would have several Second Order Alchemists, and this alchemic strength would be sufficient to step onto a new stage. He did not know how much time had passed before he came back to his senses and began to regulate his breath and circulate his cultivation technique. Half an hour later, after circulating his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation and ensuring that his state reached its peak, he formed hand seals and cast spells which transformed into beams of Spiritual Light bombarding the Blueflame Furnace. ¡°Humming¡­¡± The Blueflame Furnace emitted a series of sounds, its surface gleaming brightly, followed by intense vibrations, as it swelled to the size of a table before quietly settling in front of him, motionless. On closer inspection, the exquisite patterns and tiny inscriptions on the Pill Furnace were clearly visible, and numerous lifelike depictions of Demonic Beasts emerged, lending the entire Pill Furnace an air of indomitable grandeur. Looking at the hard-earned Blueflame Furnace, his expression was one of excitement. He then spat a mouthful of blood essence onto the Blueflame Furnace. In an instant, as the blood essence touched the surface of the Pill Furnace, the entire furnace erupted with an invisible aura, creating gusts of wind that stirred the faint Spiritual Energy of the training room. Chapter 313: 202: Alchemy on a Large Scale_2 Chapter 313: Chapter 202: Alchemy on a Large Scale_2 ¡°` Seeing this, Lin Tianming grew even more excited, thinking to himself, ¡°It seems that the Blueflame Furnace¡¯s grade is unexpectedly high, almost reaching the level of a Second Order Superior artifact.¡± Recollecting his mind, at this moment, the surface of the Blueflame Furnace burst with spiritual light and began to spin wildly. Lin Tianming brought his palms together and then cast a series of spells onto the pill furnace. At the same time, he started to focus his consciousness, controlling his divine sense to penetrate the central system of the Blueflame Furnace. As long as he could imprint his consciousness on it and refine it once more, his great accomplishment would be complete. By then, the entire cultivation room was flickering with light, and strange sounds were emerging. Lin Tianming was in the midst of intense refining. Time flew by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming looked somewhat weary, but he did not mind it. After casting another spell, he slowly began to wrap up his work. Lin Tianming felt the Blueflame Furnace in tune with his mind, as if it were a part of his own body, clearly indicating successful refining. At this point, the Blueflame Furnace stopped spinning, silently standing on the floor before him. Looking at it, the previously unclaimed Blueflame Furnace, though lively in appearance, had a somewhat dim luster. But now, after his refinement, it looked more spirited, with a bright surface sheen and occasional flashes of demonic beast phantoms that seemed to have come back to life. Looking at the successfully refined Blueflame Furnace, Lin Tianming waved his hand, and the Blueflame Furnace instantly shrank dramatically, turning back to palm-size, and he caught it in his hand. He infused it with spiritual power, the entire Blueflame Furnace glowed brilliantly and swelled rapidly before starting to spin alongside him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled, and he took the Blueflame Furnace back into his hands for a close inspection, appearing to be utterly lovestruck by it. After several days of refining, he finally succeeded in claiming and refining the Blueflame Furnace. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and then began to meditate with closed eyes, waiting to return to peak condition. Then he would start alchemy to test the effect of the Blueflame Furnace. Half a day later, once his condition had fully recovered, he went to the pill refining room. After sitting on the cushion, he took out some Second Order Lingshen Pill spiritual medicine materials, ready to begin alchemy. With preparations complete, he performed a Grand Circulation, and then cast a spell onto the Earth Fire vent. When the Earth Fire erupted, a wave of heat spread, and the temperature in the pill refining room began to rise gradually, the high temperatures created by the flowing heat waves causing his robe to billow. Then, unhurriedly, he took out the Blueflame Furnace and cast a spell onto it, making it rapidly inflate before it was suspended in the air above the Earth Fire. Once the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace reached the required threshold for alchemy, he immediately threw in a piece of spiritual medicine material into the furnace. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle.¡± The spiritual medicine materials entered the Blueflame Furnace and were quickly refined by the high heat, emitting a faintly special fragrance. He ignored this and began the most basic process of decomposition and purification, turning each piece of spiritual medicine material into essence that collected at the bottom of the furnace. Soon, after more than an hour of intense decomposition and purification, the pieces of spiritual medicine material were completely broken down. At the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace, a multicolored mass of elixir essence lay within. Lin Tianming wiped the sweat from his forehead, gazing at the essence of the spiritual medicine, showing a satisfied expression. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the Blueflame Furnace, his impression was that this pill furnace was better than his grandfather¡¯s Three Star Furnace; it was more intuitive to use, the efficiency of the decomposition and purification was improved by more than thirty percent, and the resulting elixir essence was purer. This significant change was a great help and enhancement to his alchemy. At this thought, he was extremely excited and prepared to complete the final steps of Infusion of Spirit and Solidifying Pill to see the results of this batch of pills. He took a deep breath and with a single-handed seal, cast another spell onto the Earth Fire vent. With a soft sound, the bright red Earth Fire burst forth, directly heating the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace. At that moment, the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace skyrocketed within a very short time. Seeing that the temperature was about right, he struck the Three Star Furnace with his palm, and immediately, a blast of spiritual power surged into the furnace and disappeared. Suddenly, Lin Tianming shouted, ¡°Solidify the pill!¡± In an instant, a unique fragrance of elixirs emanated from the furnace, quickly filling the entire pill refining room. ¡°` Seeing this, he didn¡¯t bother about the beads of sweat on his forehead and hurriedly lifted the lid of the furnace to take a look. Inside the furnace, eight dull gray pills were suspended. He immediately took out one and began to carefully examine it in his hand. After a short while, Lin Tianming¡¯s face revealed an extremely excited expression. This batch of pills had been refined incredibly smoothly. Even though they were just ordinary Second Order Lingshen Pills, which he had refined many times before, the energy contained in the pills refined with the Blueflame Furnace seemed somewhat higher. Not only that, the yield was typically six pills, with seven occurring in rare cases, but this first batch yielded eight. This made it clear that with the help of the Blueflame Furnace, his yield and the success rate of pill production might have both improved. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt joyful and was very pleased with the Blueflame Furnace¡¯s performance. ¡°Each time I can produce one or two more pills, and if they are valuable pills, in one or two instances, I could make back the nearly sixty thousand Spirit Stones spent to buy this Blueflame Furnace. Indeed, it was worth it,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. He then collected the pills from the bottom of the furnace, ready to strike while the iron was hot and promptly refine all the materials. Determined, he immediately sprang into action. In no time, the Pill Refining Room was engulfed in waves of heat. Every half day, bursts of medicinal fragrance spread out. The days of frenzied pill refining quietly passed by, and without realizing it, a month had gone by. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming had several hundred Jade Bottles arranged in front of him¡ªall the fruits of his labor over the past month. During this month, he spent his days pill refining and his nights in meditation, not wasting a single moment. With such hard work, he achieved tremendous gains. All the Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials accumulated by Luoyun Pavilion had been fully refined by him, and he had also managed to refine more than a third of the First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. He left the rest for Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin to refine. Since acquiring the Blueflame Furnace, there had been a slight increase in both his pill success rate and yield. After a month of continuous pill refining, he had crafted over a hundred Second Order Pills and just as many First Order Pills. After setting aside those owed to the people who commissioned the pills, he could keep over sixty percent. With over two hundred pills, their value had already surpassed twenty thousand Spirit Stones, earning him back nearly half the capital for the Blueflame Furnace. At this moment, Lin Tianming was exhilarated and in high spirits. After tidying up the cluttered Pill Refining Room, he took all the pills and left. Shortly after, he arrived at the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Seated in the courtyard, he sent out several messages to gather his family members. Before long, except for Lin Xingyao and Lin Tianhu, who were guarding the Luoyun Pavilion, the others had all arrived in haste. They exchanged greetings and then sat down to chat leisurely for a while. Lin Tianming handed over the hundred-plus bottles of pills he had prepared in advance to Lin Xingping and then asked Lin Tianhong about his and the others¡¯ accomplishments over the month. Lin Tianhong chuckled and said, ¡°The First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials accumulated by the Luoyun Pavilion have been mostly refined by us. Aside from the portion we owe to those commissioning pills, the two of us have acquired close to a hundred pills. The remaining twenty percent of the materials will be left for Tianqin. I believe it won¡¯t take long for her to finish refining them all!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and felt happy for them. Although their pill refining was arduous, after a month, not only could they improve their pill production skills, but they also obtained a large number of pills. Nearly a hundred pills were worth close to a thousand Spirit Stones. With more opportunities like this, it would take less than ten years to gather enough Spirit Stones for the Foundation Establishment Pills. Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming looked around at everyone and then said, ¡°It¡¯s been over a month since we left the family. The auction has been attended, the Spiritual Medicine Materials have been almost fully refined, and all matters are settled. Tomorrow morning, let us set out to return to the family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, everyone was overwhelmingly excited. They had left the family three years ago, and finally, they could return. ¡°We¡¯re going home tomorrow!¡± Lin Tianfeng said excitedly. ¡°Everyone should go and rest. We¡¯ll gather tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded, stood up, and left one after another. After a short time, only Lin Tianming and his siblings, along with Lin Xingping, remained in the courtyard. Seeing everyone depart, Lin Tianming spoke, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ve already messaged Old Ye. Let¡¯s set out!¡± ¡°Mm¡­ let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Xingping nodded in response. With that, the three of them left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s abode. Chapter 314: 203 Guess_1 Chapter 314: Chapter 203 Guess_1 In the North District of Qianchuan Market, outside a delicate and quiet residence. Lin Tianming and his two companions paused for a moment before a message was sent out, and the residence¡¯s gate swiftly opened automatically. The three stepped in. At that time, Ye Pinghai was sitting in the small courtyard, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Upon seeing the three enter the courtyard, he politely stood up, greeting Lin Tianming and the others. ¡°Tian Ming has met Grandpa Sea,¡± Lin Tianming saluted with folded hands, and Lin Xingping also greeted Ye Pinghai with clasped fists. Ye Pinghai waved his hand in a dismissing gesture and then turned to Lin Tianyue, asking, ¡°Heh heh, I am truly delighted by the visit of the three young friends. Is this Elder Shi Gong¡¯s granddaughter?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianyue nodded and then bowed respectfully, ¡°Tian Yue has seen Elder Ye. I have often heard grandfather and my brother mention the elder. I have been in the market for some days now, and it is only today that I have come to pay respects. I hope elder will not blame the younger generation for any disrespect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. Your grandfather and your elders are very good friends of mine, and the Lin Family has been kind to me, so there¡¯s no need for such politeness. Just call me as Tian Ming does from now on,¡± Ye Pinghai replied. ¡°I will follow Grandpa Sea¡¯s instructions,¡± said Lin Tianyue, once again bowing respectfully. ¡°Hmm.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and then with a wave of his sleeve, a rather exquisite silver-white small sword and a jade bottle appeared in his hand. Ye Pinghai waved the spirit sword in his hand, its nimble blade quickly turning into a series of afterimages, clearly a supreme quality spiritual artifact. ¡°This Ice Sword was obtained by me in my early years; among supreme quality spiritual artifacts, it¡¯s considered a fine item. This Jade Ring Pill in the bottle will benefit your cultivation. Consider them a meeting gift from me,¡± Ye Pinghai said. Seeing the Ice Sword and Jade Ring Pill, Lin Tianming was excited. The aura from the spiritual artifact suggested it was very close to the standard of a Second Order Magical Artifact, extremely nimble yet possessing formidable piercing power¡ªindeed, it was a rare treasure among spiritual artifacts. The Jade Ring Pill was an elixir that improved cultivation, its effects even stronger than the Lingshen Pill. However, spiritual medicine is hard to find, and only a few Golden Elixir Forces had a small reserve of it. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both items were exceptional treasures. It was clear to see that Ye Pinghai was very pleased with Lin Tianyue to present such valuable items. ¡°Tian Yue, Grandpa Sea is quite generous; you should accept these,¡± Lin Tianming said. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianyue, looking delighted, quickly took over the Ice Sword and Jade Ring Pill and thanked Ye Pinghai respectfully. Ye Pinghai nodded, very satisfied, and then invited the three to sit down and chat casually. After conversing leisurely for a while, Ye Pinghai changed the topic and solemnly asked, ¡°Tian Ming, what is Daoist Shi Kang¡¯s current cultivation level? If nothing unexpected happens, he should be close to reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Does he have any chance of impacting the Golden Core Stage?¡± These words made Lin Tianming¡¯s heart tighten. The family had always kept the advancement of Shi Kang to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment a secret, known only by the most core members. Ye Pinghai¡¯s direct inquiry was puzzling, leaving Lin Tianming uncertain of his intentions and what his plans were, yet it was inappropriate to outright reject answering. Musing over these thoughts, Lin Tianming said with a wry smile, ¡°The younger generation is not clear about Third Grandfather¡¯s exact cultivation level. At your level, every step forward is extremely difficult. As for the Golden Core Stage, without heaven-defying treasures, it¡¯s an unreachable realm and not something easily achieved.¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Quickly recovering, he said with a resigned tone, ¡°That¡¯s true, without heaven-defying treasures, the hopes of impacting the Golden Core Stage are slim.¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement and then said, ¡°Today, I came to visit you, Elder, because I will return to my family tomorrow. My sister and uncle will remain in the market. I earnestly request Grandpa Sea to look after them. If there¡¯s an opportunity in the future, we will invite Grandpa Sea to visit Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± After finishing, Ye Pinghai maintained his composure, then firmly added: ¡°As long as your family members do not provoke the Golden Core Forces, there won¡¯t be any danger in the market. Even the Golden Core Forces will give this old man some face. Rest assured and go in peace.¡± ¡°Moreover, in a few years, perhaps less than five or within ten, I plan to visit Green Bamboo Mountain to meet with your elders and discuss some important matters.¡± Hearing that Ye Pinghai intended to visit Green Bamboo Mountain and had significant matters to discuss with his Third Grandfather and others, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but speculate. After pondering carefully, given Ye Pinghai¡¯s status and cultivation, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t fathom what matter would require the Lin Family¡¯s assistance. ¡°Could he be planning to impact the Golden Core Stage?¡± Lin Tianming thought suddenly, feeling a spark of realization. That was the only possibility; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t see any reason for Ye Pinghai to seek help from the Lin Family. Keeping his expression neutral without directly addressing the issue, since no one would lightly disclose such significant matters, Lin Tianming said, ¡°I will then thank Grandpa Sea in advance for his help. Once I have returned to my family, I will surely mention this to Third Grandfather and the others and await Grandpa Sea¡¯s arrival at Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°In no more than five or ten years, I shall surely make the personal visit,¡± Ye Pinghai said excitedly. Then, after chatting casually for half an hour and as the evening approached, they got up to say their goodbyes and returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Sitting in the courtyard, Lin Tianming took out the acquired Second Order Demonic Beast skin armors from the exchange and handed them to Lin Tianyue, then instructed her, ¡°These beast skins were specially prepared for you by your brother. I will return to the family tomorrow. Spend the next three years peacefully cultivating in the market. The outside world is too dangerous; never leave on your own. Always follow Uncle Xing Ping¡¯s arrangements and hopefully, when you return to the family after three years, you can directly impact the Foundation Establishment Stage.¡± Chapter 315: 203 Guessing_2 Chapter 315: Chapter 203 Guessing_2 Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianyue nodded her head and took the demonic beast skin armor he handed over, saying: ¡°Understood, brother. You can rest assured, I will definitely follow the arrangements. Be careful on your journey.¡± ¡°Alright, go cultivate. We are leaving tomorrow morning, so we won¡¯t be disturbing you anymore,¡± Lin Tianming said. Lin Tianyue nodded her head, then walked towards the depths of the courtyard, disappearing into the night. At this moment, Lin Xingping also took out a book and three storage bags, handing them to Lin Tianming and saying, ¡°This is the profit from Luoyun Pavilion for the past two years, totaling over eighty thousand spirit stones, as well as a batch of precious cultivation resources. The details are all recorded in the book. Be careful on the road.¡± Lin Tianming accepted the storage bags and the book, his Divine Sense sweeping through them to verify the contents, then spoke, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry. Tianhong is returning to the family with me tomorrow. I believe it won¡¯t be more than a few years before he can attempt to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. With his talent and age, the chance of success is great, so you need not worry too much.¡± ¡°As for Tianyue and the others, and Luoyun Pavilion, I¡¯ll leave them in your care, Uncle. If there is anything you can¡¯t resolve, you can go ask Elder Ye for help.¡± ¡°Mm, rest assured. I won¡¯t see you off when you leave the market tomorrow,¡± said Lin Xingping. ¡°Alright, Uncle, rest early. I should head back, too.¡± With those words, Lin Tianming bowed with clasped hands, then headed to his own room, and both men returned to their rooms. That night, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t cultivate but went to bed early, preparing to rest well. The next morning, dawn was just breaking. Lin Tianfeng and the others were ready to go, sitting in the courtyard waiting for Lin Tianming to come out. After a short while, Lin Tianming came out and greeted everyone with a smile, ¡°Everyone looks spirited!¡± Lin Tianfeng laughed and said with an excited expression, ¡°Well, of course! It¡¯s been three years since we¡¯ve been home, and I do miss the days on Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°Since everyone is eager to return home, let¡¯s not delay any longer. Let¡¯s go home!¡± With those words, Lin Tianming took the lead, and Lin Tianfeng and the others followed closely behind. Soon, they left the market in a grand procession and arrived in a valley more than ten miles outside the market. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from its Spirit Beast Bag, and then they all jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle. Feeling the aura of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and blurted out, ¡°It has broken through to Second Order?¡± ¡°Mm¡­ has been for half a year!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmative words, the others were visibly excited. With the breakthrough of the Purple Gold Eagle, the family had added another Foundation Establishment combat power, and it was a flying Spiritual Bird at that. Seeing the excitement of his companions, Lin Tianming glanced at the map and then issued a command to the Purple Gold Eagle. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding, the Purple Gold Eagle with everyone on its back soared into the sky, entering the thousand-foot-high clouds and reaching its top speed as it shot towards the south. A few days later, Lin Tianming and the others successfully returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. After entering the mountain gate, Lin Tianming bade farewell to the others and then hastened to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode. It wasn¡¯t long before he saw Lin Shikang, and Lin Shihua, having heard the news, hurried over as well. The three of them sat in the courtyard chatting over tea. Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Is Fifteenth Grandfather in secluded cultivation?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded and said with a laugh, ¡°After coming out of the Secret Realm, Shi Lu showed signs of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. With everything going smoothly, it¡¯s time for him to go into seclusion to attempt the breakthrough!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. If Lin Shilu broke through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, the family would have an additional Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, raising the family¡¯s strength to a new level. Given this, the family¡¯s two Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators were stepping into the threshold of the top Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement, Lin Shihua asked about the trip to the market, ¡°Tianming, was the trip to Qianchuan Market smooth?¡± Lin Tianming collected his thoughts and then reported the entire process of the trip to Qianchuan. At the same time, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Shihua. After listening to the whole process, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua nodded. Lin Shihua checked the storage bags and then expressed satisfaction. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve worked hard on this trip. Now you can focus on cultivating in the family, aiming for an early breakthrough to the Foundation Building Fourth Level,¡± Lin Shikang said. Lin Tianming nodded, ¡°Third Grandfather, rest assured. Tianming won¡¯t neglect his cultivation!¡± ¡°Hmm, go ahead!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand and said. Just as Lin Tianming was about to get up, he remembered the words of Ye Pinghai and spoke: ¡°Right, Third Grandfather, before I left the Qianchuan Market, I made a special trip with Uncle Xing Ping and Tian Yue to pay a visit to Elder Ye!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded, extremely satisfied with how Lin Tianming had handled things. ¡°You did well; he has been of great help to the family over the years, and he indeed deserves a visit!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and began to talk about what Ye Pinghai had mentioned during the visit. ¡°Elder Ye said he would be back to Green Bamboo Mountain in the coming years to visit you and a few other elders, as he has important matters to consult about, though he didn¡¯t mention what it was about!¡± ¡°Ye Pinghai inquired about my cultivation level? He even asked about my confidence in reaching the Golden Core Stage and intends to visit Green Bamboo Mountain?¡± Lin Shikang was somewhat surprised; Ye Pinghai had not visited Green Bamboo Mountain for over thirty years, and with his cultivation level and influence, his sudden visit must have some motive. After reflecting for several days, Lin Tianming had an uncertain idea, but he could not confirm it. With these thoughts, he immediately said: ¡°Third Grandfather, didn¡¯t the auction at the market convention feature a Gold Fruit?¡± ¡°In my opinion, with Elder Ye¡¯s cultivation and wealth, I think he must have participated in the auction, and he might even have acquired the Gold Fruit!¡± ¡°As for his reasons for visiting, it¡¯s very likely related to his impacting the Golden Core Stage and perhaps seeking assistance from the Lin Family!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang and another person did not speak but started to ponder over the possibility. After a short while, Lin Shikang nodded and then said, ¡°This speculation of yours is indeed very plausible!¡± At this time, Lin Shihua also spoke up: ¡°Third brother, impacting the Golden Core Stage, loose cultivators always do so in secret, seeking a quiet and safe place to break through, who would make a big show of it and spread the word around!¡± ¡°Yes, Third Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming echoed: ¡°Even though Elder Ye has always had a good relationship with our Lin Family, and is even close friends with a few of the elders, the importance of the Golden Core Stage is too great. Would he really disclose this matter to you?¡± As soon as the words fell, Lin Shikang smiled and then shared his own opinion. ¡°What Tian Ming said does make some sense, but impacting the Golden Core Stage is extremely tough, especially during the final Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Many cultivators can condense a Golden Core but fail to successfully pass the tribulation and ultimately perish, leaving only a very small number who survive with the aid of treasures and remain in the Fake Elixir Realm!¡± ¡°It can be said that this Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation is the biggest obstacle on the path to the Golden Core!¡± ¡°And as a loose cultivator, Ye Pinghai cannot impact the Golden Core Realm within the market; without a stable and safe place for the breakthrough and no one to protect him, rashly attempting it would be incredibly dangerous.¡± ¡°If he comes to the Lin Family for help and borrows some high-quality defensive artifacts, his chances of breaking through the Golden Core Stage will greatly increase!¡± ¡°Considering this, that¡¯s very likely the reason for his visit!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang discuss this matter, Lin Tianming and the other person suddenly saw the light and felt that it was indeed a strong possibility. However, Lin Tianming still had some doubts, and he then asked: ¡°Third Grandfather, Elder Ye is well-known in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and many powers owe him favors. If he seeks help from other forces, shouldn¡¯t it be easy?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ If he seeks help from the Zhenyang Sect, wouldn¡¯t the breakthrough be even more secure?¡± Lin Shihua said. ¡°Zhenyang Sect?¡± Lin Shikang snorted coldly and explained: ¡°You think the Zhenyang Sect would be that benevolent?¡± ¡°Even if they were willing to help, he¡¯d probably have to pay a heavy price, or they might even kick him when he¡¯s down.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and the other person nodded, fully agreeing with his statement, knowing the complex inner workings of sects, with various factions and the constant undercurrent of power struggles, it indeed wasn¡¯t a guarantee of safety. Seeing that Lin Tianming and the other person had no further questions, Lin Shikang continued: ¡°These are all our speculations, after all. If it¡¯s really as suspected, helping him would be to our advantage, but whether it is so or not, we¡¯ll know when he actually visits!¡± ¡°Also, this matter should not be spread around. Only the few of us should know, understand?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lin Tianming and the other person nodded in agreement, chatted for a bit longer, and then left Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling together, each returning to their own. Chapter 316: 204: Training Once Again_1 Chapter 316: Chapter 204: Training Once Again_1 Back to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming lay on his stone bed, relaxed his tense nerves, and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, after a night of rest, Lin Tianming stepped out of his cave dwelling, feeling no trace of fatigue. It was early morning, and the warm sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on his mature face. He stretched lazily, his entire body relaxed, and he exuded a vibrant vitality. Over the years, bustling about ceaselessly, he was now at ease with all affairs smoothly handled and calm both inside and outside the family; his leisure was incomparably comfortable. Looking around at some of the empty courtyards, perhaps in a few years, the Tian-generation family members would successively break through to Foundation Establishment, bringing new occupants here and enlivening the area. He strolled through the courtyard, idly wandering while contemplating his next plans. With no clan tasks for the short term and no worries about resources for cultivation, he could finally devote himself to uninterrupted cultivation for a few years. Unconsciously, he arrived at his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. His sister had gone to Qianchuan Market, and these past few years his mother had peacefully secluded herself, preparing to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. After a brief reunion, Lin Tianming left behind some top-quality elixirs and then departed. Afterward, Lin Tianming paid a visit to his grandfather. The grandfather and grandson sat sipping tea and chatting in the small courtyard. Lin Shigong lifted his teacup and took a sip, then asked, ¡°Tianming, now that you¡¯re quite free, what are your plans for the future?¡± Lin Tianming thought for a moment; he had originally planned to temper himself in Luoyun Mountain Range but had his schedule disrupted by the trip to Qianchuan Market. Now with ample time, he could perhaps lead family members who were above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining to the Luoyun Mountain Range for experience, meanwhile consolidating their cultivation and honing their divine skills. Having thought this through, Lin Tianming shared his thoughts, quickly gaining Lin Shigong¡¯s approval and encouragement. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this, as experience was beneficial for both the family and himself; it could not only enhance combat experience but also consolidate cultivation. And with some luck, it could yield heaven-sent treasures, accumulating wealth. More importantly, it could strengthen the faith of family members on the cultivation path, helping them to understand the purpose of cultivation¡ªtruly a case of killing several birds with one stone. At that moment, Lin Shigong looked at his grandson with a satisfied expression. He was very proud and comforted by his grandson, whose cultivation advanced rapidly, who always considered the clan in every regard, who was indifferent to personal gain or loss, and who had become increasingly mature and stable with age, displaying a character and temperament beyond reproach. ¡°Tianming, experience is a good thing, but you must be careful. Go and discuss the matter with your Twelfth Grandpa. I believe he will also support this initiative,¡± Upon hearing his grandfather¡¯s words, Lin Tianming immediately stood up to take his leave and headed towards the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. In no time, he met with Clan Leader Lin Shihua. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two sat in the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, and Lin Tianming proposed the idea of the venture, then awaited the Clan Leader¡¯s directives. Lin Shihua chuckled and said, ¡°That¡¯s a good thing. The clan¡¯s ventures have never ceased over the years, but none with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, only those above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement attending in groups; their strength is limited, and they have not ventured deep into Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± In the past, the clan¡¯s expeditions were almost always on the fringes of the internal regions. After years of hunting, the outer demonic beasts were reduced to one-tenth of their original number, making it relatively safe as long as one remains cautious of the Second Order Demonic Beasts inside. ¡°Since you are willing to lead the venture, you can advance toward Golden Horn Mountain. With your strength, there is no difficulty in clearing out the Second Order Initial Stage beasts around the periphery, and even a singular Second Order Middle Stage beast is unlikely to match you,¡± Hearing what the Clan Leader said, Lin Tianming nodded. Now, with his Third Level of Foundation Establishment and being a Dual Cultivator of Body and Law, ordinary Second Order Initial Stage demonic beasts were no match for him; even if he faced a Second Order Middle Stage beast, he could retreat intact. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confident expression, Lin Shihua continued; ¡°Pushing toward the direction of Golden Horn Mountain has many benefits. After sweeping through those demonic beasts, a safe route to Golden Horn Mountain can be opened. With the explosive growth of mortal family members in recent years, some of them can be relocated to live around the area. If we come across some rivers and mountains with richer Spiritual Energy, we can develop Spirit Fields or Spiritual Medicine Gardens, growing Spirit Valley Elixirs and accumulating Spirit Stones for the clan.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming strongly agreed. The family¡¯s numbers were growing quickly, and their annual consumption of Spirit Stones was vast. If they relied solely on Luoyun Market and Luoyun Pavilion, they would eventually be unable to sustain the clan¡¯s expenses; they needed to put those with poor talent and low cultivation to good use. Their cultivation was low and their talent lacking, rendering them unremarkable in the Four Arts of Cultivation, but they were quite sufficient for planting Spirit Valley crops and guarding the lower-order Spiritual Medicine Gardens. ¡°It¡¯s perfect timing. Tianfeng and Tianhong are about to meet the requirements for Foundation Establishment, along with some Xing Clan Members whose cultivation is all above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. We can assemble some clan members to open up Luoyun Mountain, simultaneously tempering them,¡± Lin Shihua said. Lin Tianming nodded. The clan¡¯s current generation was advancing rapidly in cultivation. Aside from some Xing Clan Members who had participated in the battle of Luoyun Mountain, many had not undergone much life-or-death experience, like Lin Xingqi and Lin Tianhong, who had been secretly taken away by Lin Xingrong as the clan¡¯s lifeline and thus missed the thrilling battle of Luoyun Mountain. As their cultivation had reached the threshold for Foundation Establishment, leading them to experience and settle would perhaps ease their own impacts on the Foundation Establishment Stage. Chapter 317: 204 Again Training_2 Chapter 317: Chapter 204 Again Training_2 Returning his attention, Lin Tianming spoke, ¡°The Clan Leader has issued an order that all clan members above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining must participate in a trial within two years, barring special circumstances. Please ask Fifteenth Grandfather to lead the mission; we will clear the outskirts of the Luoyun Mountain Range and, incidentally, forge a safe passage to Golden Horn Mountain.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I will arrange this matter later,¡± Lin Shihua nodded in response. ¡°Then, Twelfth Grandpa is busy, Tianming will take his leave first.¡± Lin Tianming stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and walked out of the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. After leaving the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, Lin Tianming walked on the paths of Green Bamboo Mountain. It was exactly noon, and a large number of clan members were bustling between various clan institutions, making the clan¡¯s atmosphere seem very lively. At that moment, a voice came from behind. He turned his head to see Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong approaching him side by side, greeting him from a distance away. Lin Tianming returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute and immediately asked, ¡°Big brother, second brother, what brings you here?¡± Excited after returning from Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianfeng spoke, ¡°The two of us are preparing to exchange for some treasures at the Hall of Merit and then enter seclusion to cultivate for a while.¡± Hearing this, it seemed the two brothers were not here to find him; it was merely a chance encounter. However, thinking of the trial discussed with the Clan Leader, Lin Tianming mentioned the matter to them. After all, they would soon be informed and needed to participate in this trial. After a short while, Lin Tianfeng and the others nodded. They naturally had no objections to the clan¡¯s arrangements, nor did they dare to have any. ¡°Sixth brother, we¡¯ll participate in the first batch of the trial. Let us reunite in three months, hoping to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage after this trial,¡± Lin Tianfeng said. No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianhong excitedly added, ¡°Yes, I wanted to consolidate my cultivation; this is a great opportunity.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Use these next few months to prepare well. In three months, we will enter the mountains for the trial,¡± Lin Tianming said, and after bidding farewell to the two, he returned to his cave dwelling. Back in his cave dwelling, he went straight to the training room and began another session of seclusion, striving to further improve his cultivation. The next morning, notices were posted at the entrance of every clan institution. Crowds of clan members gathered to observe, and although the mountain trial wasn¡¯t directly relevant to cultivators below Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, it did not stop everyone from discussing it. Soon, the news of the clan organizing those above Ninth Layer of Qi Refining for the mountain trial spread throughout the clan, drawing a lot of attention. Aside from those in seclusion or not present in the clan, the rest of the clan was informed about the matter. Moreover, the members in seclusion would eventually learn about it, as there were still three months before the mountains were to be entered, and since the groups were being split into two waves, there was ample time to prepare. Meanwhile, those eligible for the trial rushed to the Hall of Merit to extensively prepare elixirs and talismans, readying themselves for departure at any moment. As for Lin Tianming, he was in seclusion in the training room, oblivious to these developments. Time flew by swiftly, and three months passed just like that. On this day, in the plaza in front of the clan gate, Lin Xingzhi stood at the forefront, his gaze sweeping over the gathered cultivators. At that moment, the plaza was filled with more than a dozen people. As the Enforcement Hall Master, Lin Xingzhi was also there with his Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage cultivation. Below him were Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong, as well as Lin Xingyu, who was also at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, totaling four clan members with that level of cultivation. And the remaining individuals, all at the Ninth Layer Qi Refining stage, were all backbone forces of the clan. Lin Xingzhi and the others struck up casual conversation, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival. After a short while, Lin Tianming arrived via Sword Flight and landed beside Lin Xingzhi. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°Clan Uncle, long time no see, and now even you are participating!¡± ¡°Even though I serve as the Enforcement Hall Master, I still meet the requirements for this trial. It¡¯s a good opportunity to venture out in the trial and then return to the clan to seclude myself and impact the Foundation Establishment Stage!¡± responded Lin Xingzhi. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming nodded, glanced at the nine people on the field, and said to Lin Xingzhi: ¡°Uncle, have all the clansmen for this training gathered?¡± Lin Xingzhi chuckled, and then responded, ¡°Fifteenth Uncle is still in secluded cultivation. We are the first group of clansmen to enter the mountain, and we have all assembled here. Another group of clansmen will be led by Fifteenth Uncle to replace us in half a year.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, no wonder Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingshun, and the others with Great Perfection cultivation weren¡¯t seen. After scanning the crowd of clansmen, Lin Tianming suddenly spoke up: ¡°This mountain training will last for half a year; the purpose needs no further explanation. Everyone here is the backbone of the family. I hope you seize this opportunity to temper yourselves, so that upon returning to the clan, you can breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage at the earliest.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set off!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand and stepped past the Protective Clan Formation, followed by a crowd of clansmen who promptly disappeared from the spot. Once out of the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, leading everyone towards the bordering Luoyun Mountain Range. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, fierce winds howled past their ears, and the rivers and valleys behind them gradually receded into the distance. The group sat together, discussing matters related to their training. Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Does anyone have any suggestions for this training?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi spoke up, ¡°For this training, the family hasn¡¯t set any particular goals. We will clear out the demonic beasts along the way towards Golden Horn Mountain, penetrating deeper into the mountain range according to our strength¡ªthere are no mandatory requirements.¡± ¡°We can infiltrate a few dozen miles into the interior, and then advance towards Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s direction. With our line-up, and having Little Sixth Brother anchoring us, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult,¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a smile. After hearing the thoughts of the few, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°A few dozen miles¡­ let¡¯s see. If the demonic beasts are not too strong, even infiltrating two hundred miles shouldn¡¯t be a problem!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi and the others had solemn expressions on their faces, seemingly apprehensive. Although the Luoyun Mountain Range isn¡¯t as vast as the Qianchuan Mountain Range, it still covers a thousand miles or so, and the core interior is home to a large number of Second Order demonic beasts¡ªits strength should not be underestimated. And Lin Tianming¡¯s words about infiltrating two hundred miles would nearly reach the territories of those Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts. Considering this, Lin Xingzhi quickly said, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s first test out the actual situation with the demonic beasts. If conditions allow, we still have no objections!¡± ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s go see what we¡¯re up against first,¡± Lin Tianming replied. Seeing that Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist, the others breathed a sigh of relief. After half a day, the Purple Gold Eagle with all the clansmen arrived in a valley. With the high-speed flight of the Purple Gold Eagle, coupled with the near-eradication of the outer demonic beasts, they didn¡¯t need to worry about danger and thus moved quickly. In just half a day, they had reached the borderline between the outer and inner areas of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Standing on top of a small hill, Lin Tianming took out a map to check their location with Lin Xingzhi. Behind them, Lin Tianfeng and the others were cleaning up the battlefield, taking down demon cores and useful materials from some First Order demonic beasts. This place bordered the inner region, and it was also the territory of a First Order demon beast tribe with just over twenty members and not particularly strong. He didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger, and his clansmen tackled them effortlessly. In no time, Lin Tianfeng and the others finished cleaning up the battlefield and gathered together. Looking at his excited companions, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°How did the battle go, and how is everyone¡¯s condition?¡± Lin Tianfeng, energized, began reporting the results. ¡°All twenty-seven First Order demonic beasts have been slaughtered, including four at the First Order Late Stage, seven at the Middle Stage, and the rest were all at the Initial Phase!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, then instructed, ¡°Search their lair thoroughly but safely, heed no carelessness. After the cave is searched, we¡¯ll camp here for tonight. Tomorrow, we will infiltrate deeper into the mountain range!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Tianfeng replied and led a few men deeper into the valley, leaving Lin Tianming and Lin Xingzhi standing there. Chapter 318: 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_1 Chapter 318: Chapter 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_1 The next morning, in the misty canyon, Lin Tianming and his clanspeople gathered together. After scouring the dens of the Demonic Beasts the previous day, they had acquired some Spiritual Medicine Materials. These were all rather common varieties, and the quantities were not significant; the harvest was quite average. The night passed peacefully, with no unexpected incidents. The clanspeople convened, and among them, Lin Tianming¡¯s seniority was not the highest, but his cultivation was. Everyone eagerly awaited his instructions. As the leader of this expedition, Lin Tianming scanned the crowd and quickly made a decision¡ªto continue deeper into the Luoyun Mountain Range. After briefing the clanspeople, the group set off, swiftly making their way into the dense forests deep within the mountain range. The clanspeople moved swiftly¡ªevery one of them was at least at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. With Lin Tianming, who was at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, leading them, they felt much more assured and ventured on with few concerns. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the clanspeople were at ease, Lin Tianming dared not be careless; the Tiangang Sword was always in his hand, and his Divine Sense enveloped their surroundings, alert to any potential dangers. The group proceeded without incident, pushing deeper into the mountain ridges. Three days flew by in a flash. Over these few days, Lin Tianming and the others had traveled over a hundred miles, encountering only a lone Demonic Beast at the First Order Late Stage, which was swiftly slain by the group. Now, they arrived at a hill, where Lin Tianming stood on the summit, gazing thoughtfully at the dense mounds in the distance. ¡°Tianming, is there something moving?¡± Lin Xingzhi asked. After a moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze shifted back, his expression somewhat solemn. ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle!¡± With that command, Lin Tianming immediately took out fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and tossed them into the air. The swords quickly scattered, then disappeared underground. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction and his verbal warning, Lin Xingzhi and others promptly got ready for combat. Just then, the ground began to tremble. Their expressions changed as they focused on the noise coming from ahead. Lin Tianming, who had been through numerous life-and-death battles, stayed calm. He pivoted, shielding his fellow clanspeople behind him, ready for the appearance of the Demonic Beasts. In no time, dust kicked up into the air. Once the dust settled, the silhouettes of dozens of Demonic Beasts became visible as they converged, fixing their gaze on Lin Tianming and his companions, poised to attack at any moment. ¡°Scorpion Clan beasts!¡± Lin Tianfeng shouted. Surveying the scene, it was indeed a Scorpion Clan group, numbering over fifty, among which were two Second Order Initial Stage beasts, evidently a male and a female pair. Beyond them were more than ten First Order Late Stage beasts, and the rest were at the Initial Phase and Medium Stage¡ªhardly a threat. ¡°Leave those two Second Order beasts to me; eliminate the rest as quickly as you can!¡± After shouting his orders, Lin Tianming, gripping the Tiangang Sword, charged forth with the speed of an arrow. At the same time, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianfeng were the first to engage, unleashing a flurry of attacks and charging towards two First Order Late Stage Sword Venom Scorpions. Upon witnessing Lin Tianming and his kinsmen take action, the two Second Order Scorpions let out a shrill cry, wielding their giant pincers, and leaped a hundred yards towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming snorted coldly. His Tiangang Sword radiated a brilliant Spiritual Light, sending out streaks of Sword Qi at extreme speed, slashing towards the Scorpions. ¡°Boom!¡± The Scorpions hastily dodged the attack and then swiped their massive pincers towards Lin Tianming. Seeing the incoming giant pincers, Lin Tianming knew a direct hit could cause serious damage, even with his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. Fortunately, the Scorpions weren¡¯t very fast, and their Second Order Initial Stage wasn¡¯t very high, making them not too difficult to dodge. Lin Tianming, unruffled, dodged and released multiple bursts of Sword Qi from his Tiangang Sword. This time, one Scorpion wasn¡¯t so lucky. Under the barrage of Qi, it failed to evade in time and was struck by a burst of Sword Qi on its tail. ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± A series of metallic clangs rang out as cracks formed on the Scorpion¡¯s black shell-tail. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The Scorpion writhed in pain, wildly swinging its venomous tail spike like an invisible sword, stabbing towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave. His attack failed to sever the Scorpion¡¯s not-so-large tail, which was somewhat unexpected. This was his first encounter with such a beast. Although he had heard of them and seen descriptions in books, after one exchange, it was clear their attack and defensive power were extremely strong, but their speed was a significant weakness. Now, as the Scorpion¡¯s venomous tail spike drew near, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, slowing the seemingly lightning-fast attack. Elated, Lin Tianming moved like the wind, effortlessly dodging the furious blow. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the other Scorpion¡¯s attack promptly followed. Facing the fierce onslaught of the two Scorpions, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming became a blur, weaving between them. Meanwhile, he seized every opportunity to counterattack. At this time, the entire mound was under siege. Lin Tianming fought fiercely with the two Second Order Scorpions at the edge, with constant, thunderous blasts echoing as countless mounds were battered into a mess by their respective attacks. Not far from them, Lin Xingzhi and his fellow clansmen battled with the First Order Scorpions. Although the Scorpions had a numerical advantage, Lin Xingzhi and the others were not outmatched in cultivation. With experience in battle and strength nearly at the limit of the Qi Refinement Realm, they held their own. Chapter 319: 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_2 Chapter 319: Chapter 205 Sword Venom Scorpion_2 Under such circumstances, the Sword Venom Scorpions were being suppressed by them; the corpses of early to mid-stage Demonic Beasts lay scattered everywhere, with only a few mid-stage or higher beasts clinging to life thanks to their tough defensive carapaces. Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt relieved. He no longer needed to split his focus on the clan members and could concentrate fully on dealing with the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions. After dodging another strike, the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions were squeezed together, getting closer and closer to the center of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Perfect opportunity! Lin Tianming performed the hand seals, chanting under his breath. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, activate!¡± The Earth Evil Swords hidden beneath the ground shot into the sky, spinning rapidly in an exceedingly short amount of time. Quickly, the sword array was activated, and an invisible barrier enveloped the area within several hundred yards. At the moment the sword array was activated, a pressing feeling came over them, with copious amounts of Sword Qi roaming about. The two Sword Venom Scorpions seemed to realize that something was amiss and scrambled, in a panic, to escape the coverage of the sword array. Seeing this, how could Lin Tianming let them have their way? ¡°Tiangang Ninth Sword, third strike!¡± Lin Tianming thundered, the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand, carrying silvery-white light and shooting towards the Sword Venom Scorpions within the sword array. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword was already in front of the Sword Venom Scorpion. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted. In their panic, the Sword Venom Scorpions were too slow to evade, hampered by the constricting sensation of the sword array, and harassed by the Sword Qi within it, leaving them unable to dodge. The Tiangang Sword, carrying an earth-shattering momentum, directly struck the back of one of the Sword Venom Scorpions. With a wretched cry, the scorpion¡¯s back shell split open over a large area, exposing the flesh underneath. At this point, the Sword Venom Scorpion, struck by the Tiangang Sword, writhed painfully, severely injured but not yet dead. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. This was the first time he used the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword in combat, and the power of the three overlapping strikes was indeed fierce, causing severe damage to the defensively impressive Sword Venom Scorpion. The other Sword Venom Scorpion that had evaded the attack saw its companion severely wounded and immediately became enraged. It let out an angry hiss and then raised its terrifying stinger, spewing out a large amount of dark brown venom. As soon as the venom was released, a pungent, fishy smell spread, and the air itself seemed to corrode with a sizzling sound. For a creature like the Sword Venom Scorpion, its venom is the most dangerous weapon. If one were covered in its venom head-on, even cultivators at the Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment would be gravely injured, if not killed. Seeing the venom spurting towards him at a terrifying speed, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to be careless. As he retreated explosively, he threw out a Second Order inferior-grade Defense Talisman, which after infusing it with Spiritual Power, rapidly turned into a light screen in front of him. In the blink of an eye, the dark brown venom came into contact with the light screen. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± A series of harsh sounds echoed. The light screen instantly burst into flames and could only hold for a brief moment before the venom corroded it into a puff of black smoke that dissipated between heaven and earth. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knit, not expecting the venom to be so terrifying that a Second Order inferior-grade talisman was so easily destroyed. Facing the continuing onslaught of venom, he quickly brought out the Green Scale Shield in front of him. In that instant, a small amount of the venom splashed onto the Green Scale Shield causing more black smoke to billow, disappearing quickly. Fortunately, the Green Scale Shield blocked the horrific venom, but a small amount of venom still corroded a part of the shield, reducing its spirituality and thereby decreasing the shield¡¯s overall defensive power. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have time to lament the damage to the Green Scale Shield; filled with anger, he once again unleashed the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. At the same time, with a pinch of his Law Decree, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a range of a hundred yards. Inside, the Sword Qi was incredibly dense, and the barriers were exceptionally solid. Watching the sword qi roaming inside the formation becoming stronger and the even more terrifying Tiangang Sword assaulting, the trapped Sword Venom Scorpion frantically charged at the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, struggling desperately to break free. Regrettably, its strength was limited, and under such an overwhelming attack, any response was already too late. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded as the Tiangang Sword directly struck the head of the Sword Venom Scorpion. A miserable scream was heard, and the scorpion¡¯s head instantly shattered. The Tiangang Sword had pierced through its head, and its three-zhang-long body fell to the ground. After a few instinctive twitches, there was no more movement; it was clearly killed by the Tiangang Sword. Seeing this, another Sword Venom Scorpion dead and one severely injured and deprived of its fighting ability, the outcome of the battle was decided, and Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was filled with surprise and joy. Facing the only dying Sword Venom Scorpion left, he leaped forward, the Tiangang Sword in his hand piercing straight through the heavily injured scorpion, ending its life. Having dealt with the two Sword Venom Scorpions, he then turned his head to observe the battle of his clan members. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingzhi¡¯s First Order High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts in their hands burst forth with powerful Sword Qi, stirring up dust clouds and alternating flashes of firelight and the sounds of explosions. The Lin Family members held an absolute advantage, with many of the low-order Monster Beasts already dead. The Scorpion Clan was already no match for the power of the Lin Family, and now they were in even more of a retreat, likely unable to hold out much longer before being completely annihilated. Lin Tianming stood on top of a mound, and although he had expended over half of his Spiritual Power, his own strength still peaked. He had no intention of joining the battle, as this trial was meant to temper his clan members. Besides, they held a definitive upper hand; steady and assured victory was just a matter of time as long as they eradicated the remaining members of the Scorpion Clan. In such a situation, he had no reason to intervene. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng, seeing that the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions had been killed, was surprised and delighted, suddenly laughing heartily: ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, let¡¯s have a little competition to see who can end the battle faster, shall we?¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi, after repelling a First Order Late Stage Sword Venom Scorpion with his sword, responded with a chuckle, ¡°Hehe¡­ you lad dare to challenge me, if you lose, you have to give me two jars of Jade Flower Brew!¡± ¡°Fine¡­ we¡¯ll bet two jars of Jade Flower Brew!¡± After Lin Tianfeng shouted, the Spirit Sword in his hand erupted with even more intense Spiritual Light, a shocking golden Sword Qi shot out, cutting towards the Sword Venom Scorpion in front of him. Seeing Lin Tianfeng going all out with his strongest Divine Skill, Lin Xingzhi did not show weakness either. He poured a massive amount of Spiritual Power into his Spirit Sword, causing his First Order High-Grade Spiritual Artifact to burst with Spiritual Light, unleashing countless tiny silvery Sword Qi projectiles, bombarding his targeted Sword Venom Scorpion. Lin Tianming, watching the battle from the side, judged their strength. ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, who has reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage longer, has had two more years of experience. Plus, he has been battle-hardened and shone brilliantly in the great battle at Luoyun Mountain. He should be the first to finish the battle!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Sure enough, as his mind returned to the present, Lin Xingzhi¡¯s Sword Qi struck the head of the Sword Venom Scorpion. A metallic clash resonated, followed by a scream. The head of the Sword Venom Scorpion hit by Lin Xingzhi¡¯s Sword Qi shattered, with copious amounts of blood and dark brown fluids spewing out, the mixture immediately corroding the mound beneath the beast into a deep pit. Meanwhile, the scorpion twitched a few times and then laid still, evidently dead from Lin Xingzhi¡¯s attack. On the other side, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s attack struck the Sword Venom Scorpion at the same time. However, the outcomes were different. The carapace on the back of the scorpion struck by Lin Tianfeng broke apart, exposing the internal organs, and it struggled on the ground without dying immediately. With this, the difference between their strikes was clear. ¡°Haha¡­ Tianfeng, you better not back out!¡± Lin Xingzhi shouted excitedly. ¡°I, Tianfeng, a man of my word, will accept the loss!¡± After replying, Lin Tianfeng swung his Spirit Sword once more, bringing an end to the life of the injured Sword Venom Scorpion. Chapter 320: 206 Qilin Beast_1 Chapter 320: Chapter 206 Qilin Beast_1 Lin Tianming stared at the battlefield of his fellow clansmen, as Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingzhi finished their battle, the entire Sword Venom Scorpion Clan was already at the end of its road. ¡°Tianfeng, quickly help our clansmen finish the battle!¡± After Lin Xingzhi shouted, he pounced toward the remaining Sword Venom Scorpions like a tiger descending the mountain. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng was not to be outdone, and with a wild laugh, he too joined the fray. With the addition of Lin Tianfeng and another, what was already a winning situation for Lin Tianhong and the others became an overwhelming rout, encircling and slaughtering the remaining Sword Venom Scorpions. Fire soared to the sky amidst the mounds, screams mingled with the clanging of metal echoed forth. After the time it takes to brew a pot of tea passed, all movement stopped on the hills, signaling the end of the battle. Looking around, the hills were now riddled with holes¡ªmany of them caused by attacks from various Lingjian Spells, resulting in a lot of deep pits either blasted by Sword Qi or corroded into existence by the venom of the Sword Venom Scorpions. At this time, Lin Tianfeng and the excited clansmen gathered around Lin Tianming. Seeing that everyone had finished the battle without major injuries¡ªonly Lin Tianhong and Lin Xingxiao looked a bit pale, but they appeared to be alright¡ªLin Tianming swept his gaze over the people and carelessly asked out of concern, ¡°The battle is over, did anyone get hurt?¡± Lin Tianhong took out a Consolidating Essence Pill and swallowed it before replying, ¡°The venom of those Sword Venom Scorpions is quite tricky, barely a touch and it corroded a small part of my arm. But it¡¯s not serious, I only need a few days of rest to recover!¡± No sooner had his words fallen than Lin Xingxiao spoke, ¡°Tianhong and I have similar injuries, just some minor ones. It won¡¯t take long to recover!¡± After Lin Tianhong and the other had spoken, the rest remained silent, clearly indicating that they were uninjured. Lin Tianming nodded, approving of his clansmen¡¯s performance, and then ordered, ¡°Everyone, quickly clean up the battlefield. After that, find their nests, collect all the treasures, and then we can rest here overnight!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s be swift and avoid wasting time!¡± Lin Xingzhi followed up right after speaking and took some people with him to collect the corpses of the demonic beasts. Seeing everyone busily getting to work in their excitement, Lin Tianming headed toward the two Second Order Sword Venom Scorpions he had killed. Arriving beside a Second Order Sword Venom Scorpion, he swung his Tiangang Sword, extracted the demon beast¡¯s inner pill, and then easily sliced off the creature¡¯s shell to store in his storage bag. Every part of this Sword Venom Scorpion was treasure; its shell was extremely tough and could serve as a main material, combined with some Spirit Ore Stones to refine a shield. The other parts such as the venomous stings and pincers were also good Artifact Refining Materials, useful for making attack-type weapons. Soon, he had finished dissecting the corpse of a Second Order Sword Venom Scorpion, collecting all usable parts, including the soul and flesh, as they also contained a considerable amount of energy. Although cultivators couldn¡¯t consume it, the Purple Gold Eagle was not picky, and it would make a fine meal for it. After a quarter of an hour, the battlefield was cleansed. The ground was littered with the limbs of Sword Venom Scorpions, mostly Low-order Monster Beast bodies, and numerous discarded items. At this time, every clansman was brimming with excitement; the spoils from this battle were not small. A clan of over fifty Sword Venom Scorpions could fetch a good number of Spirit Stones from just their corpses, not to mention their yet-to-be-collected nests. With the thought of the Sword Venom Scorpion Clan¡¯s nests, Lin Tianming wore an expectant look and led several people in the direction the demonic beasts had come from. In a short time, they arrived at a place crisscrossed with ravines. Looking around at the edge of the ravine, there were many holes of varying sizes, scattered in every direction with nearly a hundred in number. From the aura emanating above and the size of these caves, they were positive these were the nests of the Sword Venom Scorpions. Lin Tianfeng and the others couldn¡¯t contain their excitement, showing eagerness to begin. Looking into the unfathomable caves, Lin Tianming deployed his Divine Sense to scan the area and detected nothing unusual. ¡°I¡¯ve already checked, there¡¯s no danger in the ravines, but as for inside the caves, that¡¯s unknown. Everyone split up into pairs, stay alert, and go gather the treasures inside!¡± After Lin Tianming gave the command, Lin Xingzhi and the others nodded in acknowledgment and quickly formed four teams. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingzhi and four other Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage clansmen each took a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining clansman; the one extra person was allocated to Lin Tianhong¡¯s team. After all, it was obvious that Lin Tianhong¡¯s strength was somewhat weaker after the group battle. Having an extra person on his team meant their overall strength improved, nearly matching the other three teams. Following their descent into the ravine, Lin Tianming also jumped down, heading straight for the two largest caves. Entering one of the caves, Lin Tianming carefully proceeded deeper, his Tiangang Sword in hand. Soon, he reached the end and found several stalks of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, all of fairly good quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming remained calm. Although he didn¡¯t find anything of high value, the discovery was still satisfying. He quickly collected the Spiritual Medicine Materials and then moved on to another cave. The second cave was the same, containing several stalks of the same variety of Spiritual Medicine Materials and nothing else. Not discouraged by this, Lin Tianming pressed on. After all, the Sword Venom Scorpion Clan¡¯s strength was limited. The two highest-ranked demonic beasts were only at the Second Order Initial Stage and were unlikely to possess any remarkable treasures. Chapter 321: 206 Qilin Beast_2 Chapter 321: Chapter 206 Qilin Beast_2 He finished collecting the spiritual medicine materials within the two caves and, instead of exploring the empty ones, he patiently waited for his clan members, leaving the opportunities to them. Half an hour later, his clan members had collected everything from all the caves and gathered around Lin Tianming, reporting their individual findings. After the clan members¡¯ reports, they had found over twenty Second Order spiritual medicine materials, along with some seedlings, which were estimated to be exchangeable for over three thousand spirit stones. Such a haul, along with the demonic beast corpses, was indeed very satisfying. Lin Xingzhi and the other clan members were extremely content, their faces brimming with hearty smiles. Influenced by them, Lin Tianming was equally excited. After a casual chat with his clan members, Lin Xingzhi inquired about their next move, the most important of which was whether to continue delving deeper. Lin Tianming took a moment to think, considering they had already encountered such a large Sword Venom Scorpion clan. If they continued further, it was quite possible they might run into a Second Order Middle Stage demon beast tribe. If the tribe was too large, with too many Second Order demonic beasts, it might lead to casualties among the clan members. Keeping these things in mind, and for the safety of his clan members, he decided not to venture deeper. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming said, ¡°For the sake of safety, let¡¯s not go any deeper. There should be no danger here, so let¡¯s rest for a few days before continuing northward in search of greater gains!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingzhi and the others nodded in agreement. They tended to be conservative by nature, so since Lin Tianming decided to stop while ahead, naturally, they had no objections. The group then sought out a quiet and hidden place to create several temporary cave abodes for a brief rest. Although the Sword Venom Scorpion clan in the vicinity had been completely killed off, leaving a vast territory of over a hundred yards in diameter without any obvious danger, the clan members still did not dare to let their guard down. They took turns assigning a member to guard day and night, so they could sound an alarm at the first sign of danger. Inside one of the secret chambers, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, his hands forming the gesture of holding a treasure vase, and the steady sound of his breathing could be heard, signaling he had entered a deeply focused state of cultivation. Days of tranquil cultivation passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, several days had gone by. On this day, Lin Tianming¡¯s brief seclusion came to an end. He emerged from the secret chamber and gathered all his clan members together. After scanning everyone, Lin Tianhong and Lin Xingxiao, who had suffered some minor injuries, now had rosy complexions. After several days of recovery, they seemed to be out of danger. Seeing their condition, Lin Tianming asked about their state, and only after confirming that both were indeed at their peak did he feel at ease. As the leader of this expedition, he had the responsibility to bring the clan members back to their family safely. If anyone were gravely injured or fell in this place, the leader of the Monster Hunting Squad could not shirk the blame. Therefore, he was always on edge, cautious about making any risky moves, prioritizing safety over all else. After all, the clan had ample time to develop and further exploit these potential resources. Having discussed with his clan members, he decided to lead them north, methodically killing off any demonic beasts they were capable of handling, and avoiding the territories of any more powerful beasts, leaving them to be dealt with later when they could gather more of their people. Having made up their mind, the group of clan members bid farewell to the land and resumed their journey. Time flew, and months passed in the blink of an eye. During these months, Lin Tianming and his clan members lived a life of sleeping rough, exploring northward during the day and searching for Heaven and Earth spiritual treasures, and for safety, creating temporary cave abodes to rest at night. They did not have an easy time during this period either, having endured over a dozen large and small battles, with a fight breaking out every few days on average. The most heart-stopping battle they faced was against a powerful demon beast tribe, led by three Second Order Initial Stage demon beasts, supported by nearly a hundred First Order demonic beasts, and even included over a dozen First Order Late Stage beasts. This formidable demon beast tribe forced Lin Xingzhi and the Qi Refining clansmen to use all their techniques. Lin Tianhong and several other clan members all sustained various injuries, with Lin Tianhong suffering severe wounds that required nearly half a month to recover eighty percent of his strength. The other members also had significant injuries, but despite the ferocity and frequency of these battles, Lin Tianming and his people gained a lot. Throughout these months, they had accumulated a considerable amount of demonic beast corpses, spiritual medicine materials, and various low-grade spirit ores. A preliminary estimation showed that this massive wealth was worth at least seventy to eighty thousand spirit stones. During this period, Lin Tianming led his clanspeople in a frenzied hunt of demonic beasts, advancing more than two and a half thousand six hundred li toward the north in the direction of Golden Horn Mountain. Amidst such fervent warfare, the entire clan¡¯s combat experience rapidly improved. Lin Tianming himself also worked hard to refine his divine skills. He could now cast the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword instantly, and their power had significantly increased. The effort yielded rich rewards. He felt that the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was about to break through to the Great Achievement Realm, at which time its power would become even more formidable and stable, further enhancing his strength. In terms of the spoils, as the team leader, Lin Tianming played an essential role in the entire Monster Hunting Squad and thus rightfully claimed more than thirty percent of all the treasures, at the very least receiving no less than twenty thousand spirit stones worth of loot. The remaining clanspeople shared the other seventy percent, with each person also reaping several thousand spirit stones, which could be considered a bountiful harvest. That day, Lin Tianming and others found themselves in a mountain valley. Standing atop the mountain and looking around, they saw a canyon filled with huge boulders, surrounded by towering trees. A thick mist pervaded the area, so dense that even the midday sun couldn¡¯t penetrate it, and even divine sense was greatly affected. With Lin Tianming¡¯s Third Level of Foundation Establishment and divine sense far stronger than cultivators of the same level, he could only cover a few li in radius. Lin Xingzhi and the others were probably even more heavily affected, considering it quite remarkable to cover a single li. A valley as strange as this was clearly a haven for demonic beasts, a territory where human cultivators dared not tread lightly. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave, sensing danger in this unfamiliar and unknown canyon. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s solemn expression, and knowing him well, Lin Xingzhi and the others immediately tensed up. Lin Xingzhi took a deep breath, calming himself first as a battle-hardened veteran, ¡°Tianming, I feel a chill here that¡¯s eerily uncomfortable, as if it¡¯s unnaturally affecting the body!¡± ¡°Yes, this place gives off an incredibly strange feeling; it must be extremely dangerous!¡± Lin Tianfeng added. Hearing what they said, Lin Tianming collected his thoughts and then spoke, ¡°This place is too unusual. I sense a crisis. Let¡¯s quickly retreat several ten li to avoid this area for now!¡± No sooner had his words fallen than, just as they were preparing to turn and leave, the valley was rocked by tremors, followed by sounds akin to a thundering stampede. ¡°Thud thud¡­ thud thud thud¡­¡± The noise drew closer, growing louder, and a powerful blast of air swept over them. Although it was not yet clear what kind of formidable demonic beast tribe was inside the canyon, judging from the momentum and sound, this tribe was definitely not an easy adversary. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face drastically changed, and he cried out in alarm. ¡°Not good, this is clearly the sound of footsteps from overly large demonic beasts running, and there¡¯s a huge number of them!¡± ¡°We need to retreat quickly!¡± In the instant after alerting everyone, Lin Tianming waved his hand and launched a gust, propelling the Qi Refining clanspeople nearly a hundred zhang away. With the boost from the gust, Lin Xingzhi and the others¡¯ escape speed increased greatly, turning into a blur as they shot back in the direction they had come from. At the same time, he waved his hand, releasing two lower Second Order and one medium Second Order attack talisman paper. They turned into a rain of swords that poured down toward the misty canyon. Having done all this, he fled without looking back, with no hint of reluctance. Just then, behind him, a burst of fire lit up the sky in the valley, accompanied by a series of continuous sounds and a few sparse cries of agony. However, before the clanspeople had scattered even several hundred zhang away, numerous demonic beasts began to emerge out of the mists. Lin Tianming glanced back slightly, and his face immediately turned pale. He exclaimed in shock, ¡°Qilin Beast!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 322: 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_1 Chapter 322: Chapter 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_1 Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s cry of alarm, Lin Xingzhi and all the clan members turned back, spotting the Qilin Beast Horde whose numbers far surpassed any they had encountered before. Not only that, but the overall strength of this Qilin Beast Horde was also a whole tier stronger than any Demon Beast Tribe they had previously met. Faced with such a terrifying Demon Beast Tribe, everyone¡¯s face turned pale instantly. At the moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was also grim, and as he forced himself to stay calm, he shielded his clanspeople behind him while thinking of a strategy to escape. However, the Qilin Beasts did not give him any time to react. After pausing for just a moment, they launched an attack as if wanting to test their strength. Seeing this, Lin Tianming shouted, ¡°The Qilin Beasts¡¯ speed is incredibly fast, we can¡¯t safely escape unless we kill or severely injure them. All clanspeople prepare for a fight to the death.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi and the others were well aware that what he said was true. The Qilin Beasts were descendants of Ancient Exotic Beasts, with extremely powerful divine skills, and their speed was among the top within the Demon Beast Race. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation, leading all Qi Refining Clanspeople to retreat safely was almost a certainty of death. If they faced other Demon Beasts with ordinary talents and fewer in number, they certainly would not be so shocked. As such, encountering such a powerful Qilin Beast Horde and simply running away would put them at a disadvantage, causing the group to fall apart. Since the battle was inevitable, their only option was to give it their all and fight for a slim chance of survival. Thinking of these, Lin Xingzhi and the other clan members had solemn expressions, immediately preparing themselves for a fight to the death. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming felt heartened. Including himself, after such a long period of hardship, all the clan members had greatly improved their combat experience. They understood that the current situation was not in their favor, they were prepared to fall there, and they had the courage of a last stand. The bigger reason for deciding to fight to the death was that he had many aces up his sleeve, including the many Second Order talisman paper he had purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. The power of the Fake Golden Core Talisman had yet to be revealed, but it was expected to be formidable. In addition, the Silver-White Sword Qi that had been nurtured by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art for a few years would also be quite powerful once unleashed. And these methods unknown to others were his biggest confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll take on those three Second Order Qilin Beasts, you all cooperate with the Purple Gold Eagle and quickly injure the First Order Demon Beasts severely, then spare some people to help me!¡± After Lin Tianming¡¯s shout, with a wave of his sleeve robe, the Purple Gold Eagle appeared directly above Lin Xingzhi and the others. There was no time to hold back in the current situation, nine clanspeople facing nearly a hundred First Order Qilin Beasts was too much pressure, the Purple Gold Eagle had advanced to Second Order, although it might not be a match for a Medium Stage Second Order Qilin Beast, it could easily handle First Order Demon Beasts. No sooner had the Purple Gold Eagle appeared, it let out a sharp screech. Flapping its massive wings, it created gusts of wind and lunged directly towards several First Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts. Meanwhile, Lin Xingzhi and the others also made their moves, each picking varying amounts of First Order Demon Beasts as their opponents. In an instant, the entire canyon was filled with sparks and the deafening sounds of explosions came one after another. The intense battle grew fiercer and fiercer, but the key to this battle lay with Lin Tianming. If he couldn¡¯t hold off the attack from the three Medium Stage Second Order Qilin Beasts, even if Lin Xingzhi and the others killed all the First Order Demon Beast Tribe, they still could not change the outcome. At this time, in a corner of the canyon, Lin Tianming had already engaged fiercely with three Second Order Qilin Beasts. Fifty-six Earth Evil Swords hung above his head, rotating a few times before scattering like flowers thrown by heavenly fairies, finally plunging into the ground and disappearing from sight. Having set up the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in advance, he did not immediately activate it, because he was well aware that relying on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap Medium Stage Second Order Qilin Beasts was too unrealistic when they were prepared. The Qilin Beasts, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, retreated about a dozen yards, seemingly slightly afraid, but since they did not feel any fluctuations, they began to surround him again. After a brief probe, the Qilin Beasts seemed to understand the overall strength of Lin Tianming and the others; they moved again, and their attack became even more powerful. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, he pinched his Law Decree, pouring a large amount of Spiritual Power into the Tiangang Sword in his hand, which then erupted with numerous powerful Silver-White Sword Qi. The terrifying Sword Qi appeared, evaporating a portion of the surrounding mist and, after lingering for an instant, shot toward the Qilin Beasts. Simultaneously, he also unleashed the Thousand Beast Banner. With over five months of training, the Thousand Beast Chess had gained the Souls of more than ten Second Order Monster Beasts, with innumerable First Order Monster Beast Souls, further enhancing the power of the Thousand Beast Banner. When the black fog released from the Thousand Beast Banner covered a large area, filled with numerous raging Monster Beast Souls, it assaulted the Qilin Beasts in a frenzy. The Qilin Beasts, seeing the ceaseless Sword Qi and the vicious Monster Beast Souls coming, spat out a great number of light orbs, crashing into the Silver-White Sword Qi and Monster Beast Souls. ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom¡­¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A series of earth-shattering noises resounded, as numerous towering trees fell in response, smashing into the ground and creating deep pits. Chapter 323: 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_2 Chapter 323: Chapter 207: The Mighty Qilin Beast_2 The silver-white Sword Qi collided with the light orbs spat out by the Qilin Beast, creating an explosive noise that mingled with the sound of falling trees and shattering boulders, forming a sort of symphony that sounded quite peculiar and wonderful. Little did one know, behind these seemingly wonderful sounds, was a heart-stopping scene. After several rounds of fierce combat, the silver-white Sword Qi was completely exhausted, and a large number of First Order Monster Beast Souls were reduced to ash, dissipating into the atmosphere. In the ferocious battle, the Qilin Beast truly had an extraordinary talent; its strength was beyond imagination. Despite Lin Tianming unleashing a plethora of techniques, he still found himself at a disadvantage. At this moment, his spiritual power was depleting at a rate visible to the naked eye, and with every exchange, the formidable impact would cause internal injuries to his organs, and wounds covered his entire body. If it weren¡¯t for his reliance on the Eye of Five Colors to dodge most of the attacks, and his dual cultivation of body and law which far surpassed fellow cultivators of the same rank, any ordinary Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivator would have likely fallen prey to the demonic beasts, leaving not even bones behind. After another round of exchange, Lin Tianming retreated a hundred zhang backwards, his expression growing even graver as he looked around at the several agitated Qilin Beasts. ¡°It seems I was too optimistic, having underestimated the strength of this Qilin Beast horde!¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do¡­ if the battle continues in this manner, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t last much longer. The situation is critical, and there¡¯s no room for holding back!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and immediately, several Second Order Talismans appeared in his hand, including two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans. Without time to feel distressed, he formed a Law Decree with his fingers, and without hesitation, activated several Second Order Talismans. Instantly, the two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans shone brightly and, in a very short period, they conjured up a golden Sword Qi and a huge red fireball. Now, as the two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans were activated, the originally cold temperature within the canyon rose slightly. Looking up at the two formidable attacks, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied and muttered to himself, ¡°That¡¯s thousands of spirit stones worth of attack; it better not disappoint me!¡± ¡°Vajra Sword Talisman¡­ Heaven-burning Flame Talisman¡­ go¡­¡± Lin Tianming chanted under his breath as the two attacks split the sky, hurtling towards the Qilin Beasts at a terrifying speed. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the terrifying golden Sword Qi and the massive fireball coming their way, three Qilin Beasts let out a piercing scream, then quickly shuffled their feet, trying to dodge the horrifying attacks. Their speed was fast, their huge bodies unexpectedly agile, but the speed of the Second Order Superior Attack Talismans was even faster; in an instant, they were already before the beasts. Realizing they could not escape the incoming attack, the Qilin Beasts reacted quickly, spewing out a large number of orbs that looked rather like ice but contained powerful energy within. ¡°The Qilin Beasts¡¯ Innate Divine Ability!¡± Lin Tianming observed the incredibly powerful orbs, his expression extremely grave. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A continuous barrage of thunderous noises erupted. The golden Sword Qi and massive fireball collided with the orbs, their explosion generating powerful shockwaves that broke off the towering trees in the canyon at their bases, and even the ancient boulders weathered by countless years of wind and rain were shaken into rubble. Lin Tianming, too, was knocked back tens of zhang, his blood churning within him. As he steadied himself, he couldn¡¯t help but spew out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion turning even paler. The power of the Second Order Superior Talismans was indeed formidable. The golden Sword Qi and massive fireball broke through many of the orbs, and although they consumed most of their energy, a small part of their attacking force remained. At this time, both the golden Sword Qi and the massive fireball had weakened significantly, their sizes much reduced. However, the remaining energy was still strong, pouring down onto the two Qilin Beasts. Two of the three Qilin Beasts were locked onto by the attack and had no chance left to evade. In their panic, the golden Sword Qi and the massive fireball arrived as expected, one striking the back of a Qilin Beast, the other the leg of another. ¡°Ao ao ao¡­¡± Two of the qilin beasts that were hit let out agonized screams, and the one that escaped injury also cried out, as if calling for its companions. As the dust and flames dissipated, three qilin beasts revealed themselves. One qilin beast had lost a leg, while another had a charred patch on its back, with a blood hole as large as a bucket caused by the fireball¡¯s impact. However, the bucket-sized blood hole didn¡¯t seem severe on the large body of the qilin beast; it still appeared vigorous, only its breath was slightly weaker. At this moment, the three qilin beasts were incredibly angry, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws as if they wanted to tear Lin Tianming limb from limb. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed. He hadn¡¯t expected that after such a terrifying attack, the two qilin beasts would only suffer some moderate injuries. This showed how incredibly strong the vitality of these qilin beasts was. At this time, the three qilin beasts grouped together, growling while they glared at Lin Tianming with wary eyes. Just then, Lin Tianming cast the Law Decree with his hands, and channeled his spiritual power from within. The fifty-six Earth Evil Swords hidden underground suddenly burst forth, encircling the three qilin beasts in a frenzy, covering an area of over a thousand yards. Feeling the oppression from the sudden activation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, as well as the Sword Qi roaming within, the qilin beasts, whose souls were known for their fearlessness in the face of death, suddenly sensed a threat of death. Their spirit wisdom was slightly higher than that of other demonic beasts. Instinctively, they clumped together and fiercely rammed into one of the barricades of the Sword Array. Seeing the qilin beasts¡¯ frenzied actions, Lin Tianming¡¯s face paled. He immediately infused a massive amount of spiritual power, controlling the Sword Array firmly, hoping to trap them. After all, for the qilin beasts, known for their incredibly fast speed, the Sword Array was an essential tactic. It could effectively counter the qilin beasts¡¯ strengths. As long as they couldn¡¯t escape, his attacks would hit their mark, and he could thus turn defeat into victory. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the attack, if they dodged it, it would be a completely ineffective maneuver and a waste of opportunity and spiritual power. Hence, there was absolutely no room for failure with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At this moment, Lin Tianming brought his palms together, his spiritual power running in overload. Not content with just that, he spat out several mouthfuls of his essence blood onto the barricade of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. As the fresh blood entered the light screen of the sword array, the originally invisible screen suddenly flashed brightly, its spirituality greatly increased, and the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation became more stable. Meanwhile, the qilin beasts were navigating within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Given their terrifying speed, the roaming Sword Qi could hardly deal any substantial damage. As for the bites of the Second Order demonic beast souls, their numbers had greatly reduced, making their attacks feel like mere tickling. Soon, they collided with the Sword Array barricade. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± Three consecutive loud impacts echoed. The uninjured qilin beast was the first to crash against the barricade, followed by the one with a wound on its back, and lastly, the beast with a severed leg, obviously impeded by its injury. When the first crash sounded, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s barrier shook due to the strong impact force of the qilin beast, while the subsequent two collisions were clearly weaker. However, with these continuous impacts, the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was wavering, on the verge of shattering. Hit by the strong backlash from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, Lin Tianming turned extremely pale, unable to help spurting out several mouthfuls of blood, his internal organs nearly shifting out of place. Taking advantage of the qilin beasts¡¯ reformation to ram the Sword Array¡¯s barricade again, Lin Tianming gathered his will to steady the Sword Array while releasing the Tiangang Sword from his hand. ¡°Tiangang Ninth Sword, the third strike¡­ Exterminate!¡± As the Tiangang Sword shot out, it sliced directly toward the qilin beast with a severed leg, aiming to momentarily halt the beast¡¯s frenzied ramming or even kill it, easing the pressure on him significantly. Chapter 324: 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_1 Chapter 324: Chapter 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_1 Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword broke through the Sword Array Barricade, and under the cover of the black mist, it was just a whisper away from the Qilin Beast with the severed leg. Facing the sudden Tiangang Sword, the Qilin with the severed leg was thrown into a panic, its injury severely hindering its speed. Too late to dodge the attack, it was helpless to avoid it. In a flash, the Tiangang Sword cleaved directly onto the head of the injured Qilin Beast. A loud boom echoed as the Tiangang Sword struck precisely on the beast¡¯s head. ¡°Aow.¡± With a pained roar, the Qilin Beast¡¯s massive body swayed and finally collapsed to the ground, twitching occasionally. Although it didn¡¯t breathe its last, its fighting strength was utterly spent. At this moment, Lin Tianming lifted his eyes to the beast, seeing its massive head covered in blood, a grotesque wound so large it almost pierced through completely. The remaining two Qilin Beasts, seeing their companion incapacitated, for some reason became blood-red with rage and unbearably frenzied. They seemed to understand that if they didn¡¯t break through the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the longer they dragged on, they too would share their companion¡¯s fate. The two Qilin Beasts spat out masses of light, bombarding the Sword Array Barricade, while their formidable bodies also charged towards the point of impact over and over. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. Clenching his concentration, he stabilized the operation of the Sword Array. Then, the Tiangang Sword in his hand flew out again, slashing towards the Qilin with the back injury. Just then, the first Qilin Beast¡¯s body slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, quickly followed by its mountain-like body. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± Series of loud noises continued to sound. The Sword Array shook violently, its barrier rapidly dimming and wavered treacherously before finally stabilizing with difficulty. Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes were wide with fear, hardly daring to breathe, forcibly suppressing the intense pain and the blood that had reached his mouth. Fortunately, the attack of the second Qilin Beast was interrupted by the projectile Tiangang Sword, otherwise another charge would have certainly shattered the Sword Array, and the situation would be far worse. But the current predicament was still far from optimistic for him. Lin Xingzhi and the others were also in dire straits; the clansmen were caught in hard battles and couldn¡¯t regroup to help him in the short term. With his Spiritual Power running low, unless he used the Fake Golden Core Talisman or relied on the remaining talismans and the Sword Qi formed by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, if he could slay another Qilin Beast, he might bridge the gap between them. Otherwise, he saw no chance of reversing his fortunes. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned unprecedentedly solemn, closely watching the Qilin Beast¡¯s every move. Before he could catch his breath, the two Qilin Beasts launched another attack, seemingly tireless. Lin Tianming could not afford to hold back, producing over ten Second Order talismans. Most of them were of medium and lower quality, with only one being a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, the strongest method he had besides Spirit Art and the Fake Golden Core Talisman. Looking at the talismans, valued at nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, he did not hesitate to activate the spell, turning all talismans into various Sword Qi and fireballs, launching them at the Qilin Beasts inside the Sword Array. ¡°Roar boom.¡± Explosions sounded. As far as the eye could see, the Sword Array was a sea of fire, with attacks filling every inch of space, leaving no escape for the two massive Qilin Beasts, which were entirely engulfed by the attacks unleashed by the Second Order talismans. Once the firelight dispersed, the figures of the two Qilin Beasts were revealed. At that point, the breaths of the two Qilin Beasts seemed weaker. The one with back injuries now had more and more blood holes, its injuries increasingly severe. The other, however, fared much better with only several wounds opening up, none of which were fatal. Seeing the vigorous figures of the two Qilin Beasts, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a tingling on his scalp. ¡°These two beasts are outrageously strong; no matter how much they¡¯re hit, they just won¡¯t die. This is preposterous,¡± Lin Tianming cursed inwardly, his face incredibly grim. Common Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts would have perished under such intense bombardment, yet these three Qilin Beasts had rendered more than ten of his Second Order talismans useless. Even three High Quality Attack Talismans had only managed to injure them without taking their lives. He had never encountered such a situation before. Previously, while searching for Purple Yin Grass with Lin Shikang, he had witnessed the strength of a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast. Moreover, during his journey to the Secret Realm and battles with the Qingxu Snake Clan, he had also seen the might of the Green-Spotted Poison Python and the Second Order Dragon-Eyed Beast. With such experience, he considered himself battle-hardened and experienced. But the current Qilin Beasts were incredibly formidable, giving him the impression that even a common Seventh Level Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a match for them. ¡°Do I really have to use the precious Fake Golden Core Talisman to overcome this difficulty?¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself. At that moment, the two Qilin Beasts grew exceedingly furious, not giving him time to think. Roaring in rage, they charged again towards the barrack of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°You vile beasts shall not escape!¡± Lin Tianming shouted, as the Tiangang Sword left his hand, unleashing the third strike of the Tiangang Ninth Sword at the more severely injured Qilin Beast. At the same time, he had to attend to the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Even if he couldn¡¯t hold on, he had to delay as much as possible, waiting for Lin Xingzhi and the Purple Gold Eagle to come to his aid. Chapter 325: 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_2 Chapter 325: Chapter 208: Fierce Battle, Great Achievement of the Sword Array_2 ¡°Clang clang¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword repelled a Qilin Beast, forcing it back again. However, the bigger problem was the Qilin Beast that was not seriously injured. Its strength was clearly superior to the other two, evidently the leader of the Qilin Beast Horde, its power belonging to the top of the Second Order Middle Stage. This Qilin Beast recklessly charged at the Sword Array Barricade, and Lin Tianming, spitting out a mouthful of blood, strenuously stabilized the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, struggling hard to withstand the impact. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was pale, his body¡¯s Spiritual Power wildly circulated, bearing the brunt of the Qilin Beast¡¯s collision. The Qilin Beast would not give up easily, regrouping and charging at the Sword Array Barricade once more. Lin Tianming roared angrily, his hands forming seals, his mouth reciting a special Law Decree. Then, a majestic and chilling Sword Qi slowly appeared above his head, exuding an astonishing aura. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, annihilate!¡± Lin Tianming bellowed, his single hand furiously smashing down towards the injured Qilin Beast. The massive Sword Qi above his head shot out, directly striking the back of the injured Qilin Beast. The Qilin Beast let out a tragic cry, as the bloody hole on its back further widened, almost half of its body being sliced off by the Sword Qi, exposing its internal organs and presenting a very gruesome sight. It staggered a few steps before collapsing unwillingly, struggling on the ground. Seeing that this Qilin Beast was severely injured by the Spirit Art, breathing more out than in, and had completely lost fighting capability, Lin Tianming breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The Sword Qi that he had nurtured for several years indeed did not disappoint him with its displayed might. Meanwhile, inside the Sword Formation, the last Qilin Beast started to panic, its companions being consecutively heavily injured, shocking it greatly. The look in its eyes towards Lin Tianming was filled with fear. Seizing this gap, Lin Tianming quickly took out a Consolidating Essence Pill, swallowing it in one gulp, trying to recover some injuries and Spiritual Power as much as possible. Time was uncertain, and when the Qilin Beast regained its senses, it launched an attack, charging toward the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave, facing the tireless Qilin Beast, his situation growing increasingly difficult. Now with all his tactics used up, he only had one last Fake Golden Core Talisman, which he did not want to employ unless it was a life-and-death moment. Fortunately, the range covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was shrinking, no longer as fragile as it was initially. Moreover, his own physique was strong, his injuries and Spiritual Power slowly recovering, and with only one Qilin Beast left, the threat was greatly reduced. If he really couldn¡¯t beat it, he would have no choice but to use the Fake Golden Core Talisman to eliminate it¡ªafter all, preserving his life was more important than anything else. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes became resolute, watching the Qilin Beast drawing nearer, he circulated his Spiritual Power within his body, firmly controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The Qilin Beast repeatedly crashed into the Sword Array Barricade, each collision firmly stabilized by the Sword Formation at the critical moment. At that time, it was like a tug-of-war, seeing who could persist longer. Then, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned extremely pale; he clenched his teeth and persisted, his body¡¯s Spiritual Power operating to its limit, fighting desperately to survive. In the midst of this battle of attrition, Lin Tianming suddenly entered a state of trance-like emptiness. And he was completely unaware of it himself¡ªonly Lin Xingzhi and the others nearby noticed something special. At this moment, the Sword Qi within the formation moved faster, its power continuing to grow. Furthermore, the invisible light screen formed by the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation occasionally flickered with Spiritual Light, looking as if its Spirituality had increased. The Qilin Beast also noticed the changes in the Sword Formation, becoming more frightened, crashing into it frantically, totally going all out to survive. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Its repeated impacts made the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation as solid as a fortress, incomparable to its former self. Time passed, and Lin Tianming awoke from his empty state, feeling the changes in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his expression filled with joy, he immediately exclaimed. ¡°Heavens truly favor me, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation has broken through to the Great Achievement realm!¡± He had been cultivating the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, this Divine Skill, for over ten years, having gone through more than a dozen heart-pounding battles. Up until now, he had always been stuck at the minor completion stage and had not managed to break through to the Great Achievement realm. Unexpectedly, on the brink of death and through a fortunate coincidence, he had successfully made a breakthrough! He laughed heartily, a hint of color returning to his pale face, as he simultaneously cast the Law Decree in his hand. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, slaughter!¡± Lin Tianming shouted loudly, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords started to spin furiously, their speed increasing exponentially, creating cyclones sharp as ordinary blades that shredded the surrounding trees and rocks to pieces. Within the Sword Array, vast amounts of Sword Qi and Spiritual Light flared dramatically, as its power and speed continued to escalate, furiously slaughtering the Qilin Beast. Seeing its living space rapidly diminishing, and the terrifying Sword Qi weaving around, the Qilin Beast was struck with panic and struggled fiercely. Unfortunately, its efforts were ineffective. The Sword Qi, which had previously felt like mere tickles, had greatly increased in power. Each strike of the Sword Qi left a bloody wound on its body. The Qilin Beast howled miserably, while Lin Tianming showed no signs of relenting, controlling the Sword Array and slaughtering it madly. After more than a dozen breaths of time, as the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s range grew smaller, shrinking to less than a hundred yards, the pathetic cries inside also ceased. Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief and slumped to the ground, sitting heavily. Once the smoke and dust cleared, three massive Qilin Beast corpses lay inside, all of them breathless, utterly dead by his hand. The three corpses were riddled with injuries, drenched in blood, without a single spot intact, looking unspeakably pitiful. With the greatest threat eliminated, Lin Tianming then turned to check on the situation of his clansmen. At that time, the entire canyon was strewn with corpses, a complete mess; numerous giant trees had fallen, trenches had formed, and the battlefield resembled a hell on earth. Lin Xingzhi and the others, under the lead of the Purple Gold Eagle, had gained an absolute advantage. The First Order Initial Phase Qilin Beasts had been wiped out, and all that remained alive were those from the First Order Middle Stage and above. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings, spewing out huge fireballs from its mouth, engulfing the two Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts ahead. After the blaze dissipated, the bloody Qilin Beasts were revealed. Lin Xingzhi and the others wielded their Spiritual Artifacts, unleashing a variety of attacks and completely annihilating the critically injured Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was excited. He was utterly exhausted, his Spiritual Power completely depleted, and he truly had no capacity left to fight. Fortunately, even if he could not act, his clansmen, under the leadership of the Purple Gold Eagle, would likely achieve victory. So there he sat on the ground, recovering his Spiritual Power, while observing the battle. ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, the Qilin Beasts possess powerful innate abilities and are very formidable. Now that all Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts are annihilated, see if you can subdue the ones in the First Order Middle Stage!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi nodded and took the opportunity to reply during a lull in the battle. ¡°Okay¡­ There¡¯s no chance of subjugating Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts, but perhaps we can try with the First Order Middle Stage ones!¡± After replying, the Purple Gold Eagle overhead seemed to understand and dove from the sky. Its claws struck a Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beast with a thunderous blow. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± The Qilin Beast struck by the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s claws howled in agony, its back instantly splitting open, flesh and skin flayed. The Purple Gold Eagle did not intend to spare it; its other claw struck like lightning, grabbing the beast¡¯s head and after a fierce struggle, the Qilin Beast was dead. At that moment, the Purple Gold Eagle was like a god of war, harvesting lives within the Qilin Beast Horde with its terrifying speed and powerful claws. By then, the Qilin Beast Horde was in total chaos; more than half of about a dozen Second Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts had perished, the number of Demonic Beasts drastically reduced to less than fifty. Meanwhile, Lin Xingzhi and his people were in high spirits, hitting even harder, and under the seamless cooperation with the Purple Gold Eagle, the entire Qilin Beast Horde was in retreat. Chapter 326: 209: Huge Harvest_1 Chapter 326: Chapter 209: Huge Harvest_1 Half an hour later, Lin Xingzhi, after slaying a Qilin Beast, withdrew from the battle group. The remaining twenty or so Qilin Beasts, being surrounded and attacked by Lin Tianfeng and others, were already sufficiently handled. Gasping for breath, he approached Lin Tianming, looking quite exhausted. Seeing Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming, having slightly recovered some spiritual power, stood up out of concern and courtesy, and asked, ¡°Uncle, are you hurt?¡± Lin Xingzhi responded with an understanding smile, his expression brimming with excitement. ¡°Just some minor injuries, they will heal in a few days.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and the two shifted their gaze back to observe the ongoing battle. With the combined effort of Lin Tianfeng and the Purple Gold Eagle, they killed the last First Order Late Stage Qilin Beast, leaving over ten Qilin Beasts of the First Order Medium Stage. By then, the Purple Gold Eagle and Lin Tianfeng stopped taking action, and the group of Lin Family Members surrounded the ten or so Qilin Beasts, beginning to exert pressure. The Qilin Beasts that remained alive huddled together, glaring balefully at the surrounding Lin Family Members, their expressions actually quite enraged. Lin Tianming and one other walked over and stopped beside the Purple Gold Eagle, assessing these Qilin Beasts. This battle had indeed given them a hard time; nearly every clan member was injured, with two of them seriously so, requiring at least ten to fifteen days of closed-door healing to fully recover. And he himself, after fighting against three Second Order Middle Stage Qilin Beasts, was completely exhausted, with his life force depleted, spiritual power and divine sense greatly consumed, and injuries all over his body; he had almost exhausted all his techniques. If it wasn¡¯t for his array of techniques and trump cards, along with a breakthrough in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation at the critical moment, the outcome of this battle would still be uncertain. Looking at those frightened yet ferocious Qilin Beasts opposite them, all the people showed expressions of covetous longing. These Qilin Beasts had extraordinary talents, their skin tough and their meat thick, and both their speed and attack power were formidable. Their strength far surpassed that of other Demonic Beasts of the same order, and they had great potential for growth. If they had enough opportunities, it was not impossible for them to advance to Third Order. If the Lin Family could subdue some Qilin Beasts, they could be used to defend Green Bamboo Mountain. Furthermore, they could carry people and goods, allowing clan members traveling back and forth to Qianchuan Market to save a lot of time and spiritual power. The safety of short-distance travel would also greatly increase, which would bring many benefits. However, these Qilin Beasts were fierce and proud by nature; subduing them was not so simple. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming¡¯s presence suddenly became formidable, pressing down like Mount Tai upon those Qilin Beasts. Feeling Lin Tianming¡¯s strong Foundation Establishment Stage pressure, all of the Qilin Beasts became frightened. They wanted to resist and struggle, but the pressure was too overpowering, on par with that of their leader. Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation poured out, and his divine sense pierced into the sea of consciousness of all the Qilin Beasts, attempting to forcibly imprint the submission to the Lin Family. ¡°Submit to our Lin Family or die.¡± Soon, after a fierce struggle and resistance, all the Qilin Beasts went into a brief stupor, the scene of the battle between Lin Tianming and their leader echoing in their minds. Looking around, all the Qilin Beasts appeared pained, desperately enduring the pressure and the strong divine sense imprint within their sea of consciousness. After a few breaths, one Qilin Beast bled from the seven orifices and then collapsed, motionless. Following that, several more Qilin Beasts fell one after another, their deaths nearly identical to the first¡ªunable to withstand the strong pressure and divine sense, their souls were killed, and they bled from the seven orifices and died. Seeing this, Lin Tianming somewhat relaxed, and the situation started to improve; otherwise, if all of the Qilin Beasts were to die, finding such a rare opportunity again would be difficult. A quarter of an hour passed, and Lin Tianming had been at a stalemate with the Qilin Beasts for quite some time. ¡°Submit to the Lin Family. With our clan¡¯s support, your achievements will definitely not be low, and we will treat you well. Submit.¡± The alluring voice of Lin Tianming echoed over and over again in the minds of all the Qilin Beasts. Finally, unable to resist the invasion of divine sense, one Qilin Beast folded its legs and prostrated itself on the ground. As it opened its sea of consciousness, Lin Tianming¡¯s divine sense directly invaded and swiftly imprinted his own divine sense imprint. Once the divine sense imprint was successfully inscribed, this Qilin Beast signaled its submission, and Lin Tianming then released it. With the first Qilin Beast submitting, and spurred on by Lin Tianming¡¯s tempting voice, successive Qilin Beasts opened their sea of consciousness and lay prostrate on the ground to signal their submission. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression lit up with joy. He hurriedly inscribed his divine sense imprint and planned to hand them over to the Clan Leader for arrangements once back with the clan. Half an hour later, the remaining Qilin Beasts had all submitted. Nine Qilin Beasts lay united on the ground, no longer bearing ferocious expressions. Seeing this, Lin Xingzhi and the others were overjoyed. With these Qilin Beasts, and given some opportunities, it was very possible for them to enter Second Order, which would significantly strengthen the clan¡¯s power. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that those Second Order Qilin Beasts couldn¡¯t be subdued, that would have been¡­¡± Lin Tianhong mumbled to himself softly. Hearing these words, Lin Tianming frowned and then spoke, ¡°Qilin Beasts are born with outstanding talents and extremely proud natures. Even these First Order Medium Stage Qilin Beasts have strong convictions to never submit, preferring to explode into death rather than yield. There¡¯s no need to even think about those in the First Order Late Stage or Second Order. Unless it is a Golden Elixir Expert, even Third Grandfather¡¯s cultivation might not be enough to subdue a First Order Late Stage Qilin Beast.¡± Chapter 327: 209 Enormous Harvest_2 Chapter 327: Chapter 209 Enormous Harvest_2 ¡°Yes, although First Order Demon Beasts are not highly intelligent, they are inherently fierce and explosive, and it is not so easy to force them into submission,¡± Lin Xingzhi added a sentence of agreement. Hearing what the two had said, the clanspeople all nodded their heads, taking these experiences to heart. Lin Tianming then proceeded to put the nine Qilin Beasts into the Spirit Beast Bag, which could just accommodate these Qilin Beasts, but the Purple Gold Eagle was too large to fit and could only follow beside them. Fortunately, after this battle, it wasn¡¯t long before the half-year period was up, they needed to explore the Qilin Beast¡¯s lair and recover from their injuries for a short time, so they wouldn¡¯t continue to head north for trials. In such a situation, keeping the Purple Gold Eagle by their side, with its alert nature and Second Order realm, was perfect for a guard duty. Lin Tianming, his spirits excited, swept his gaze over everyone before saying, ¡°Now that the crisis has been resolved, but danger still lurks at every moment, let¡¯s quickly clean up the battlefield, and then go scavenge the Qilin Beast¡¯s lair.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone had rosy complexions, the Qilin Beast Horde¡¯s strength was so formidable, and they were located at the border of Luoyun Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain, deep within the two mountain ranges¡ªsurely there would be some treasures that were rarely seen. Thinking of this, everyone could hardly contain their joy, and they began to tidy up the chaotic valley with swift and efficient movements. Lin Tianming also walked towards the corpses of the three Second Order Qilin Beasts, reaching the carcasses quickly. A quarter hour had passed since the three Second Order Qilin Beasts were slain, Lin Tianming had consumed too much spiritual power earlier and hadn¡¯t cleaned up the battlefield immediately, but now that the fight was over, it was naturally time to tidy up the battlefield without delay. Looking at the scars covering the bodies of the three Qilin Beasts, Lin Tianming had an expression of pain. Earlier, the three Qilin Beasts had borne the brunt of numerous talismans and the wounds from the Tiangang Sword, and afterwards, they were brutally ground down by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡ªthe precious beast skins were now torn and tattered, with many parts of their bodies outright missing. Having spent so many treasures, just the talismans alone were worth tens of thousands of spirit stones; if they couldn¡¯t obtain some good items, it would be such a pity. Luckily, the most valuable horns and Demon Cores were well-preserved, enough to make up for his losses, otherwise, he would be beside himself with regret. Gathering his wits, Lin Tianming wielded the Tiangang Sword in his hand to extract the Demon Cores from the three Qilin Beasts, and then chopped off the precious horns¡ªthese were excellent materials for refining a Second Order Magic Artifact. Crafted properly and with the addition of some rare materials, refining a lower quality Second Order Magic Artifact would be no trouble at all. Although the hide was battered and torn, it was still usable for Talisman Making; given the Qilin Beast¡¯s defensive power, the talismans produced would certainly be extraordinary and could be taken back to the clan, later to be given to his sister. As for the remaining Monster Beast Souls and flesh, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t waste any of it, collecting everything. The souls could be sealed into the Thousand Beast Banner to compensate for the souls it had lost, and the flesh could be swallowed by the Purple Gold Eagle to help it accelerate its breakthrough in the realm. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, Lin Tianming had processed the corpses of the three Second Order Qilin Beasts; turning his gaze, he saw his clanspeople busily engaged. Although the battle had been perilous, and every Qi Refining Clansperson had given their all, with many suffering serious injuries, the rewards were substantial. The clanspeople were thrilled, their faces brimming with joy as they collected all the useful items. After a quarter hour, the disorderly valley had been tidied by the clanspeople, its appearance greatly improved. Though it was far from the state before the great battle, at least it didn¡¯t look as desolate anymore. The clanspeople gathered around Lin Tianming, their faces beaming with the joy of victory. ¡°Have we finished tallying?¡± queried Lin Tianming. Lin Xingzhi nodded and then replied: ¡°We¡¯ve collected all the usable items, and the traces of battle in the valley have been erased. We can now search for the Qilin Beast¡¯s lair!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming surveyed the area to ensure nothing was missed, then began to give instructions. ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, let¡¯s divide into three teams and search deeper into the valley. The Qilin Beasts were powerful, so there should be some good items!¡± Upon hearing this, several people were excited, quickly forming three teams, eager to start their search as if they had forgotten their injuries. Lin Tianming did not delay either and led the others deeper into the valley, planning to find a safe place to recuperate and heal wounds after the search was complete. Shortly, they had traversed more than ten miles and arrived at the deepest part of the valley. Looking around, the terrain here resembled that of the valley entrance, but there were differences¡ªthe fog was thicker, and the temperature much cooler, with an immediate chill that made it slightly uncomfortable. Even stranger was the fact that his Divine Sense was even more restricted here, the covered range significantly reduced compared to the entrance, barely extending a few hundred yards, and for Lin Xingzhi and the other Qi Refining Clanspeople, their Divine Sense probably covered an even smaller area, almost no different from being blind. Lin Tianming stopped with his clanspeople on a large boulder, his gaze intently fixed ahead, a thoughtful expression on his face. After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Tianming slowly spoke: ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, this must be the lair of the Qilin Beast Horde, but it¡¯s quite peculiar. Let¡¯s split into three groups to be cautious and quickly gather everything in this place, then regroup here!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ everyone, be careful!¡± After Lin Xingzhi and several others responded, they led their groups in different directions to explore. Chapter 328: 209: Huge Reward_3 Chapter 328: Chapter 209: Huge Reward_3 Lin Tianming then looked at the Purple Gold Eagle and instructed it to stay put and keep watch. If there were any movements in any direction, it should rush over to provide support immediately. After arranging this, he chose a direction and started walking towards the deepest part of the canyon. Walking on this road filled with dense fog, his Divine Sense was fully open, and although its covered range was limited, it was still better than being completely in the dark. With his Divine Sense and the Eye of Five Colors¡¯ attention, every movement in the surroundings was clearly visible. Soon, he reached the very center of the canyon. At that moment, he watched the depths of the canyon with vigilance, and began searching the area. Just ahead, there was a land of Ice. Chilling, bone-piercing cold air spurted from underneath the ground and finally converged within the thick fog. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with excitement, and he immediately rushed towards the cold. Looking at the cold air gushing from beneath the ground, he became thoughtful. ¡°There must be something extremely cold of the Water Attribute under the ground. The fog here is formed from the essence released by whatever is below, creating such a large expanse,¡± he thought. ¡°And the Qilin Beast, being a Water Attribute Demonic Beast that has taken over this area, could only have grown such a large group because of the extraordinary thing beneath us!¡± Thinking of this, he was overjoyed and quickly took out the Tiangang Sword, ready to excavate the area and see what treasures lay within. The hard Magic Artifact, the Tiangang Sword, struck the ground and quickly dug a deep pit several tens of meters deep. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as he dug deeper, the difficulty increased dramatically, and with his strength, a strike of the sword barely scraped away a bit of soil. ¡°Why is this place so hard!¡± Noticing that the color of the soil beneath was gradually becoming lighter, Lin Tianming muttered quietly to himself. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t give up. Despite the slow pace of excavation, it wasn¡¯t completely impossible to dig. He kept swinging the sword, one strike after another. Who knows how long had passed when he dug several meters deeper again, the soil inside grew even lighter in color, with strands of water blue. With another swing of the sword, he struggled to cut out a large chunk of crystal-like soil, revealing a water-blue stone at the bottom that had a cool, translucent spiritual essence. ¡°Ice Crystal!¡± Seeing the stone that was partially exposed below, Lin Tianming¡¯s face blossomed into euphoria, and he promptly swung the Tiangang Sword to excavate the Ice Crystal. In a short while, he had dug out the brick-sized Ice Crystal and started examining it closely in his hands. Ice Crystal was a Second Order Superior Spirit Ore, a Water Attribute Artifact Refining Material containing extremely strong chill. Given its great hardness, whether for offense or defense, it could be extensively applied in making various treasures and was considered one of the best Artifact Refining Materials. Just this piece of Ice Crystal alone was worth at least several hundred Spirit Stones, far surpassing the value of the previously obtained Earth Mysterious Crystal. The Ice Crystal in his hand had an excellent color, full of Water Attribute energy, and with a clear, translucent appearance, it was quite attractive to the eye. It was uncertain just how much Ice Crystal there was to be mined. Should he be able to excavate a hundred or so pieces, the losses from the previous tough battles could be compensated. And if he could dig up several hundred pieces, this hardship would turn into a huge profit. Lin Tianming thought about this with an involuntary smile creeping across his lips. At that moment, Lin Xingzhi emerged from the dense fog. Seeing Lin Tianming there, he quickly approached. Lin Xingzhi looked at the Ice Crystal in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands with an incredulous expression and stammered to ask, ¡°Tian Ming¡­ this¡­ this is¡­ Ice Crystal?¡± Lin Tianming nodded, almost in jest, before saying: ¡°Uncle Xing Zhi, go and find Tianfeng and the others immediately. Leave a team to search this area, and gather everyone else here to dig out these crystals and see how much Ice Crystal we can find.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi was instantly ecstatic, fully aware of the significance, he did not hesitate to turn around and look for Lin Tianfeng and the others. As Lin Xingzhi left, Lin Tianming continued swinging the Tiangang Sword, laboriously digging. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword struck the hard layers of rock and soil methodically. Half a moment later, Lin Tianming was gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his forehead, and his face a shade paler. His injuries and Spiritual Power had not had the chance to recover before he began this high-intensity mining of the Ice Crystal, making the process exceedingly slow. If he kept at this rate for much longer, there was a chance that his injuries could worsen. Considering all this, he stopped digging, plopped down on the ground and took two more elixirs, beginning to cultivate while waiting for his clansmen to arrive. Soon, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion slowly became ruddier, and his body¡¯s Spiritual Power also gradually recovered somewhat. At that time, Lin Xingzhi, accompanied by Lin Tianfeng and a few others, arrived. They were clearly overjoyed, already informed by Lin Xingzhi about the discovery of the Ice Crystal¡ªeach person showed ecstatic expressions. The group gathered around Lin Tianming, waiting for his instructions. Lin Tianming opened his eyes, looked over everyone, and then said, ¡°How did everyone¡¯s search go? Have you found any treasures?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and the rest of the clansmen began reporting their findings. Their haul from this trip was mediocre, having only found some Second Order Water Attribute Spirit Medicine Materials, totaling up to several dozens of plants, which were just common varieties, barely worth almost a thousand Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming nodded, expecting as much since this place was the lair of the Qilin Beast, but with the presence of Ice Crystals, ordinary Spiritual Medicine Materials simply could not grow, with only a rare few Water Attribute Materials able to survive here. Chapter 329: 209: Huge Harvest_4 Chapter 329: Chapter 209: Huge Harvest_4 He began by reassuring everyone with a few words, then went on to recount how they had discovered these Ice Crystals. Lin Tianfeng and the others could hardly contain their joy, having initially thought they had suffered a huge loss, they hadn¡¯t expected that the real treasure wasn¡¯t those Spiritual Medicine Materials. Seeing the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces, Lin Tianming spoke: ¡°It¡¯s not easy to excavate these Ice Crystals. We¡¯re all injured, so let¡¯s divide into two groups to take turns digging. Those with minor injuries can start excavating first, and those with more serious injuries can rest up a bit before switching in. Let¡¯s work around the clock to try to extract all of it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The tribe members responded in unison. After that, everyone naturally divided into two groups. Lin Xingzhi, with light injuries, led Lin Tianfeng and three other tribe members into the pit, starting the excavation of the Ice Crystals with great excitement. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming sat down with Lin Tianhong and a few others to begin cultivating. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed. After two days of recovery, Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries had largely healed, and his strength had returned to about eighty percent of its peak. Except for two family members who were too severely injured to join the digging, the remaining eight members were all enthusiastically excavating. In several days of continuous excavation, they managed to unearth dozens of Ice Crystals, each as large as a brick and of exceptional quality. During this time, they also roughly explored the extent and reserves of the Spirit Vein. If nothing went wrong, this Ice Crystal vein was a small-scale vein. At the very least, they could extract two hundred Ice Crystals, and if the density of the Spirit Ore was high enough, extracting several hundred wasn¡¯t out of the question. Despite their exhaustion, no one was slacking off; everyone was giving it their all, chiseling through the hard rock layers. With the highest cultivation, Lin Tianming worked the fastest due to his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, wielding physical strength of several thousand pounds, while the speed of the rest, working together, wasn¡¯t far behind. Time flew, and more than twenty days had passed. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had been half a year since they left Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, and now only a small portion of the Ice Crystal vein remained unexcavated. ¡°Everyone come down and give it your all. We can¡¯t afford to delay much longer, or the family might think we¡¯ve run into some serious trouble!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingzhi and the others took a brief rest before rejoining the excavation. With all tribe members digging together, the speed indeed increased, and one after another, the Ice Crystals were unearthed. A few days later, the entire Ice Crystal vein was depleted. Now, the surface of the ground had completely transformed. What had appeared to be a rather flat canyon floor had been turned into a deep pit spanning hundreds of yards and reaching depths of a hundred yards, like a man-made abyss. Wearily, Lin Tianming gathered all the tribe members to hand over the excavated Ice Crystals. Lin Xingzhi led the charge, producing over thirty Ice Crystals and neatly arranging them on the ground. Upon seeing so many Ice Crystals, the complexions of the other tribe members flushed with satisfaction, clearly pleased with the haul. Lin Tianfeng was the next to produce Ice Crystals, totaling thirty, only four less than Lin Xingzhi, also reaping a rich harvest. After that, one by one, the tribe members took out their Ice Crystals, with Lin Tianming counting alongside and recording the numbers on a Beast Skin so that they could be exchanged for Spirit Stones or meritorious service when they returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. As the remaining nine people took out their Ice Crystals, the count reached two hundred eleven, far exceeding their expectations, and Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t even taken out the Ice Crystals he had obtained. Watching the eager eyes of the tribe members, Lin Tianming chuckled and then produced his own haul, albeit secretly keeping a few Ice Crystals aside to bring back for Lin Shilu¡¯s Artifact Refining. Soon, a staggering one hundred sixty-five more Ice Crystals appeared on the ground. Lin Xingzhi and the others were completely astounded; together with his haul, they had obtained three hundred seventy-six Ice Crystals, far surpassing their original estimates. Looking at the small mountain of Ice Crystals, everyone was overjoyed, as their value alone exceeded 150,000 Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming had taken the lead in this venture, spent a great deal of treasures, and alone slain three Second Order Medium Quality Qilin Beasts. In terms of merit, he was due to receive at least half of the profits, and the treasures he had used paled in comparison to the gain. Even so, the remaining merit distributed among the others would still afford each a hefty reward. Under the excited gaze of the tribe members, Lin Tianming gathered up all the Ice Crystals. Glancing at the tribe members, Lin Tianming, exhilarated, said: ¡°The matter is resolved, our gains far exceed expectations, it¡¯s time for us to return home!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ this experience has greatly advanced my skills, I¡¯ll be ready to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage once we get back to the family!¡± Lin Xingzhi excitedly added. ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s make our way home!¡± With that, Lin Tianming led the tribe members back to the canyon entrance, where they rejoined the Purple Gold Eagle and took off directly for Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 330: 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_1 Chapter 330: Chapter 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_1 Two days later, Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. After two days of travel, the Purple Gold Eagle safely returned with a group of clan members from the border of the Luoyun Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain. As the Purple Gold Eagle flew into the Protective Clan Formation and they saw the familiar Bluestone Plaza, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief. In recent days, they had been digging every day, exhausting themselves to the bone. Initially, they didn¡¯t even have time to care for their injuries, all in the hopes of finishing the excavation of the Ice Crystals so they could return to the family. Now that they had finally returned smoothly, they could enjoy some peaceful cultivation time. Once inside the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming bid farewell to the clan members, and after exchanging greetings, they dispersed. Lin Tianming instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to return to the back mountain, and then he headed directly to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly. In a short while, he arrived at the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly and met with Lin Shihua, and the two sat down for a chat in a secret chamber of the Council. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others return safely excited Lin Shihua tremendously, and when he learned what they had acquired from their journey, it shocked him. An elated Lin Shihua, taking Lin Tianming with him, went straight to the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, entering Lin Shilu¡¯s courtyard. Upon seeing Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming immediately sensed that he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and began to confirm it. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t hide it and had no need to; he readily admitted to his breakthrough. With nearly half a year of seclusion and a successful breakthrough, Lin Tianming was mentally prepared and quickly moved on from the topic. The three chatted idly for a while without mentioning the details of their adventure. Soon, Lin Shigong also rushed over upon hearing the news, and the four sat in the courtyard. Seeing the excited smiles on Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua, both Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong were puzzled and began to speculate in their hearts. ¡°Could this youngster have stumbled upon another treasure?¡± Lin Shigong could hardly wait and said with a laugh and slight reprimand, ¡°Third brother is in seclusion, preparing for the Assistant Great Perfection; he won¡¯t be emerging in the short term. You rascal, no need to beat around the bush, just spill all the details of your adventure!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled and started from the entry into Luoyun Mountain. The uneventful beginning and the ordinary gains didn¡¯t interest the other two much. Learning that at the last moment, they had encountered a formidable horde of Qilin Beasts, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong¡¯s hearts leaped to their throats. Knowing Lin Tianming had led the clan members to escape unscathed further stunned them. ¡°You lad, you¡¯ve really got guts, fighting one against three and managing to annihilate them all!¡± Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but say. Although he was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, he could never have imagined the young man being so fierce as to once again shatter his perceptions. Recalling the hair-raising battle, Lin Tianming also felt a wave of fear and reflected gravely, ¡°Indeed, the battle was extremely dangerous. If it weren¡¯t for the more than ten Second Order talismans I had stockpiled, including three High Quality Attack Talismans, as well as the Sword Qi released by the Spirit Technique Condensation, and the crucial breakthrough of the Sword Array to the Great Achievement Realm, I might have really been in trouble!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take such risks in the future!¡± Lin Shigong advised. ¡°Understood, Grandpa!¡± Lin Tianming replied, and then continued to talk about the Ice Crystals. In just a short time, upon hearing that they had obtained more than three hundred Ice Crystals and subdued nine First Order Middle Stage Qilin Beasts, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong were once again staggeringly shocked and speechless. Lin Tianming let out a sly chuckle and quickly took out a few Ice Crystals, handing them to everyone for inspection. Lin Shilu took up an Ice Crystal and, as a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner, he was naturally very familiar with all types of Artifact Refining Materials. After a quick examination, he soon affirmed the veracity of Lin Tianming¡¯s words. Lin Tianming then handed over the storage bag containing three hundred seventy-six Ice Crystals as well as another storage bag full of Demonic Beast Materials and Spiritual Medicine Materials to Lin Shihua. After handing over all storage bags, including the Beast Skin listing the number and types of treasures, they completed the transfer process. Then Lin Tianming led everyone out of the dwelling, heading to the back mountain of Green Bamboo Mountain. The four appeared in front of the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s dwelling. Lin Tianming released the nine First Order Qilin Beasts from the Spirit Beast Bag. Before long, the nine Qilin Beasts emerged in front of them, their massive stature imposing. However, in the presence of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they dared not make any movement and meekly lay on the ground. Seeing these nine Qilin Beasts, everyone was enormously excited. In recent years, not only had the cultivation of the clan members advanced by leaps and bounds, but the number of Spirit Beasts had also grown. With one Second Order Late Phase Soul-eating Spider in the family, an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, and several Qingxu Snake Eggs from before, successfully hatching four Qingxu Snakes, although they were of a lower rank at the First Order Initial Stage. Now, with nine more Qilin Beasts, each at the First Order Middle Stage and endowed with sufficient talent¡ªstronger than the Qingxu Snakes¡ªif nurtured properly, breaking through to the Second Order was almost a certainty. Basing on the strength of the Spirit Beasts alone, the Lin Family could now compare to the Foundation Establishing Families of the Luoyun Mountain Range. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, everyone was thrilled, and Lin Shihua was so happy stroking the fur of the Qilin Beasts that he was at a loss for words. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, these Qilin Beasts have submitted, and I¡¯ve already imprinted them with my Divine Sense. Now, I hand them all over to you, elder. From now on, they¡¯re members of the Lin family, so please treat them well,¡± Lin Tianming said. Chapter 331: 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_2 Chapter 331: Chapter 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_2 Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua finally regained his composure. He nodded and said, ¡°You can rest assured, but as the family¡¯s spirit beasts continue to increase in number, it looks like the area of the Spirit Beast Garden will need to be expanded!¡± ¡°The area behind Green Bamboo Mountain is vast. We can allocate thirty percent of it as a habitat for the spirit beasts. After all, the family doesn¡¯t need that much space,¡± Lin Shilu added. Lin Tianming nodded, showing his full agreement. In fact, the territory of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan was not small; within a hundred li, there were mountains of varying heights. Apart from the Qingling Bamboo Forest, most of the area was vacant, and not to mention these spirit beasts, even if another hundred or so were added, it wouldn¡¯t feel crowded. After a brief exchange between the two, even with Lin Shikang absent, the four agreed unanimously to expand the Spirit Beast Garden. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming and his grandfather bade farewell to Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua and made their way to his father¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. His father had been stationed at Golden Horn Mountain for many years. Although it wasn¡¯t far from Green Bamboo Mountain, he rarely returned home due to his long-term cultivation seclusion, perhaps only once a year. His sister had gone to Qianchuan Market and wouldn¡¯t return for three years, and his mother was also busy, in seclusion to strike at the Great Perfection Realm to prepare for Foundation Establishment. He was accustomed to visiting his mother in her cave mansion to pay his respects after each period of seclusion or training. After all, as their cultivation levels rose higher, the lengths of their seclusions also tended to increase. More importantly, the elders were aging. If they couldn¡¯t break through to the Golden Core Stage, they would only have a little over a hundred years of life left. While that may seem like a lot, Foundation Establishment Cultivators often spent years in a single session of seclusion, so the opportunities for family gatherings in over a hundred years were very limited. Although the path of cultivation favors a clear mind and few desires, it is not devoid of emotion. Those with a firm Dao heart gain twice the result with half the effort in their cultivation. Moreover, they have a greater chance of breaking through to higher realms. Therefore, frequent gatherings with the elders were necessary, not only to show filial piety but also to offer a glimmer of hope and warmth amidst the dull and monotonous journey of cultivation. That evening, upon receiving Lin Tianming¡¯s message, his mother also briefly left seclusion, and the three generations sat together in the courtyard to chat leisurely. Lin Tianming shared the events of his training journey, although he kept silent about the more perilous and bloody incidents. He mainly discussed the more mundane moments and his gains, much to his mother¡¯s delight. His grandfather didn¡¯t spill the beans either, instead, he greatly admired his idea, understanding that discussing certain matters too much could worry his mother. As the night became still, Lin Tianming shared a bit about his cultivation plan, and only after that did he and his grandfather bid his mother farewell, each returning to their own cave mansions. Sitting in his Cultivation Room, Lin Tianming exhaled a breath of turbid air and thought about his upcoming cultivation plans. With injuries still unhealed, he naturally prioritized their recovery. Once he returned to peak condition, he planned to enter seclusion for a few years, hoping to make a breakthrough to the Fourth Level of Foundation Building. Resolved, Lin Tianming immediately began the practice of his Cultivation Technique. Once he felt slightly better, he took out an elixir for healing and without hesitation swallowed it. As the medicinal power of the elixir diffused through his body after being refined, it slowly healed his wounds. A soothing sensation spread throughout his body. Lin Tianming breathed evenly, entering a deep state of cultivation. Several days later in the early morning, on the plaza in front of the clan¡¯s mountain gate. Today was the day the second group of Ninth Layer Qi Refining clansmen were to set out for their training. A group of eligible clansmen gathered in anticipation of the arrival of their leader, Lin Shilu. In a short while, Lin Shilu arrived on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, landing on the expansive Bluestone Plaza. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was calm as he looked over the seven clansmen present, Lin Xingzhi, Lin Xingyou, each one excited and with an eager expression and passionate eyes. The success of Lin Tianming and his peers from their recent excursion had spread throughout the clan in the few days, inciting envy in many and rekindling the interest in training among numerous clansmen. The tale of Lin Tianming taking on three opponents had once again shocked the clan, with many members from the Tian generation admiring him even more. However, Lin Tianming was unconcerned with all this; he had just collected his share of gains from the training at the Hall of Merit, a whopping ninety thousand merit points, constituting more than half of the total gains. Back at his cave mansion, he entered his Cultivation Room and began to focus on his cultivation in seclusion. At the plaza by the mountain gate, Lin Shilu held a map in his hands, on which Lin Tianming and others had carefully marked various mountain ranges and river details. He looked up at the eager clansmen and then stepped out of the Protective Clan Formation with the Purple Gold Eagle, the clansmen eagerly following suit, their faces full of excitement. Once outside the Protective Clan Formation, everyone mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which transformed into a vast shadow that headed north towards Golden Horn Mountain. As Lin Shilu and the others departed, life within the clan continued as normal, with cultivators who had finished their training, like Lin Xingzhi, entering seclusion to prepare for their breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. Everything was going smoothly, and the clan remained peaceful. Lin Tianming also began his long-term cultivation in seclusion. As spring turned to autumn, two years swiftly passed by. At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, several clansmen stood respectfully in a courtyard. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In front of them, Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua sat facing each other, appreciating Spiritual Tea. Their sharp gazes lingered on Lin Xingzhi and the others, revealing a look of satisfaction. Chapter 332: 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_3 Chapter 332: Chapter 210: Consecutive Breakthroughs_3 Lin Shihua set down his teacup and promptly took out a large stack of thick books from his storage bag, then handed them out to several people. ¡°Since you are all prepared, after you comprehend these breakthrough insights, get ready to go into seclusion and impact the Foundation Establishment stage,¡± he said. Beside him, Lin Shilu also smiled, his kindly face full of anticipation. With the family clan¡¯s monster hunting experience coming to an end, he led Lin Xingcheng and others, spending over half a year starting from the valley where Lin Tianming discovered the Ice Crystals, pushing northward all the way to Golden Horn Mountain. Their journey was not without challenges. The further north they went, the stronger the Demonic Beasts they encountered. Fortunately, Lin Shilu had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and with Lin Xingrong, who had joined upon hearing the news, they killed a large number of Demonic Beasts, including dozens of Second Order creatures. They were not as lucky in other areas, aside from encountering several Third Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, they did not find any treasures more valuable than the Ice Crystals. However, they did acquire numerous Spiritual Medicine Materials and innumerable Demonic Beast Materials, as well as finding many places rich in Spiritual Energy. And for the past two years, the clan had organized many of its members to go into the mountains and reclaim land. They cultivated exceptional quality Spirit Fields in places where the Spiritual Energy was dense. As time passed, it was foreseeable that these areas, once occupied by Demonic Beasts, would soon be developed by clan members, bringing substantial profits to the clan. Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng, along with Lin Tianfeng who had accumulated experience for quite some time, had been in the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage for a few years by now. They had long accumulated enough Merit Points to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills, and already had them in hand, ready to go into seclusion at any time to impact the long-anticipated Foundation Establishment Stage. However, despite being fully prepared, they still lacked the guidance and protection of their elders. The clan¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, Lin Shikang, was still in seclusion, so they came together to seek out Lin Shilu, the most advanced in cultivation, to follow his guidance and have him guard over their breakthrough. Lin Shilu looked at the few family members before him. Lin Xingzhi, who had served as the Enforcement Hall Master for many years, had performed outstandingly during the family clan¡¯s battle at Luoyun Mountain and was very stable in his cultivation, so there was no need to worry about him. Lin Xingcheng, also the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master, had followed Lin Shilu closely during their experience and had fought bravely against several First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, also putting in a splendid performance. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng, the highest in cultivation among his generation beneath Lin Tianming, joined the Enforcement Hall twenty years prior, also battle-hardened. Among them, Lin Xingcheng was the oldest at just over sixty years of age, while Lin Tianfeng, the youngest, had just entered his early forties. With the more effective Foundation Establishment Pills to aid them, their chance of breakthroughs was significant, at the very least, over sixty to seventy percent. This kind of breakthrough condition was much stronger than it was more than a decade ago. Within the clan, the last person to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage was Lin Xingping, several years ago. During these intervening years when no clan members attempted a breakthrough, now that these three were impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage together, and with several more clan members meeting the conditions for doing so, the clan¡¯s strength was poised to improve qualitatively within a few short years. The clan¡¯s golden age was finally upon them. Thinking about this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression eased a great deal, and he suddenly spoke, ¡°The family has been thriving these years, and your conditions for breakthrough improve continuously. I shall not say much more, only hope that you do not let down the expectations of all the clan members, choose a small courtyard next door to go into seclusion, and the Clan Leader and I will take turns guarding over you.¡± ¡°Yes, we thank the Elders for their guidance,¡± replied Lin Xingzhi and the others in unison, then slowly left the courtyard, heading toward a nearby complex of buildings. Before long, each of them chose an unoccupied Cave Mansion and entered, thereafter going into the secret chambers to commence their comprehension of the breakthrough insights. In the courtyard, Lin Shilu lifted his teacup to take a light sip and spoke to Lin Shihua across from him, ¡°Twelfth brother, with the family affairs keeping you so busy, let me handle this guardianship.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lin Shihua didn¡¯t refuse, the clan was becoming increasingly powerful, and no Foundation Establishment Cultivator dared to cause trouble on Green Bamboo Mountain. With this batch of clan members¡¯ talents and the assistance of more effective Foundation Establishment Pills, within at most a month¡¯s time, the results of their attempts to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage would be known. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In reality, having someone to guard over them did not matter much, but it was insisted upon as a precaution against sudden emergencies and to reassure them. ¡°Then brother, I shall take my leave. Contact me if there¡¯s anything,¡± Lin Shihua said, then left his Cave Mansion Courtyard. After Lin Shihua had left, Lin Shilu continued to sit in the courtyard, his gaze fixed on the nearby courtyards, lost in thought. Inside the Cave Mansion where Lin Xingzhi was, he sat cross-legged, holding the breakthrough insights left by his ancestors, meticulously contemplating them. It was half a month later that he finally put away the breakthrough insights, then took a long, deep breath, showing a determined expression. He had already reviewed these cultivation insights once before, and having rehearsed them once more, he had committed them thoroughly to memory and was now ready to take the Foundation Establishment Pill to prepare for impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. Having made the decision, he clasped his hands together and began the process of meditative breathing to reach his peak state. When ready, he waved his sleeve robe, and a Jade Bottle appeared in his hand, containing the precious Foundation Establishment Pill. He took out the Foundation Establishment Pill and placed it in his palm, its fragrance wafting up, immediately making one feel refreshed and uplifted. Gazing at the Foundation Establishment Pill, he didn¡¯t hesitate and swallowed it whole. Once the elixir entered his mouth, the rich energy contained within started to spread. He didn¡¯t dare to delay and began to refine it immediately. The energy, once refined, converted into gentle Spiritual Power, slowly gathering in his Seven Sea Dantian. Chapter 333: 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_4 Chapter 333: Chapter 210 Consecutive Breakthroughs_4 Time slowly passed, and the energy within the Foundation Establishment Pill gradually transformed into spiritual power, filling up his Qi Sea Dantian. Scenes like this unfolded at the same time in two other courtyards. Lin Shilu sat in the small courtyard, taking out some of his artifact refining insights, comprehending them while keeping an eye on the movement in the neighboring courtyard, and incidentally protecting the three. Days passed, and for over a month, he didn¡¯t move from his spot. On this day, inside the secret chamber of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cave abode, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face was pale, his robe soaked with sweat. He had refined his own cultivation¡¯s spiritual power and combined it with the spiritual power extracted from the Foundation Establishment Pill for an assault. Sure enough, the first assault failed, but fortunately, the energy contained in the Foundation Establishment Pill was enormous. Despite some losses, he could still persist for a while. He was not discouraged. Looking at the denser spiritual power in his dantian, he hesitated not at all, organizing a large mass of spiritual power and relentlessly assaulting the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment. After several days of continuous assaults, finally, at one moment, he suddenly felt a warm current spread throughout his body, and his spiritual power surged with a floodgate-opening sense of liberation. At the same time, his divine sense also increased explosively; every flower and blade of grass, every movement, was clear in his mind. The moment he made his breakthrough, his cultivation radiated outwards, and the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was instantly detected by Lin Shilu. ¡°It¡¯s that youngster Tianfeng; youth really is an asset,¡± Lin Shilu remarked with a laugh and a sigh of relief, then leapt up from the cave and stood outside the courtyard where Lin Tianfeng was in seclusion. At that time, the nearby clan members felt the aura of a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator and were overjoyed, each secretly guessing who the person breaking through was. ¡°The clan member has just broken through to Foundation Establishment. Everyone, stay away from here and do not make loud noises, lest you disturb them. Go about your own business,¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s stern and excited voice came, and the nearby clan members didn¡¯t dare to breathe loudly, quickly leaving the area. Lin Shilu nodded and looked worriedly at the other two courtyards. At that moment, Lin Shihua sensed the breakthrough aura and suddenly arrived at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, appearing beside him. Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s concerned expression, he reassured, ¡°Tianfeng is younger, after all, facing slightly less resistance in his breakthrough. It¡¯s not surprising that he broke through first. However, although they differ in seniority, their ages are not that different. Xing Zhi and Xingcheng should also be close.¡± Lin Shilu nodded; what Lin Shihua said was indeed true, and he himself was well aware of it. He quickly regained his composure. Seeing that the neighboring courtyards were still quiet and that Lin Tianfeng had no intention of coming out, it was obvious he intended to continue consolidating his cultivation. ¡°Brother, come to my courtyard and wait. Xing Zhi and the others should be breaking through soon,¡± said Lin Shilu, inviting Lin Shihua. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s invitation, Lin Shihua nodded, and the two walked towards Lin Shilu¡¯s courtyard. A few days went by, and while the two sat in the courtyard drinking tea and chatting, they felt another oppressive aura belonging to the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was brief and quickly returned to normal. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s Xing Zhi.¡± No sooner had he spoken than from another courtyard adjacent to the one they were watching, the pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator emanated anew. ¡°Haha, Xingcheng has succeeded as well.¡± The two men had broken through on the same day, and together with Lin Tianfeng who had broken through several days prior, all three had achieved Foundation Establishment. Such a success rate had Lin Shilu and the other man excited beyond measure. And as the pressures of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators spread, clan members all over the place felt it, each filled with elation. Seeing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s loud voice echoed across the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, as all clan members went about their own business. Lin Shilu and the other man returned to the courtyard, discussing the family¡¯s strength over their tea. With the three consecutive breakthroughs to Foundation Establishment, the family¡¯s overall strength surged once again, with the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators reaching eleven, and in the next ten years, this number would only increase further. With over ten Foundation Establishment members, even within the whole Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family should rank in the top five. Thinking of these matters, Lin Shihua was thrilled, eagerly awaiting Lin Tianfeng and the others to emerge from seclusion. Chapter 334: 211: Foundation Establishment Fourth Level_1 Chapter 334: Chapter 211: Foundation Establishment Fourth Level_1 sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One month later, within a secret chamber of a certain courtyard at the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s hands were clasped together, his breathing even, as he was consolidating his cultivation. Unaware of how much time had passed, he finished his practice and opened his tightly shut eyes, feeling the potent strength throughout his body and a broad smile spread across his face. This attempt at breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm had gone smoothly; he had broken through the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment after only a few attempts, which was somewhat unexpected. However, feeling the effect of the Foundation Establishment Pill and recalling the gentle flow of spiritual power and the immense energy during his breakthrough, he came to terms with it. Lin Tianfeng chuckled softly and murmured to himself, ¡°No wonder those Golden Core Sects can endure for so long; the Foundation Establishment Pill plays a crucial role. Together with their naturally gifted disciples and numerous followers, the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Realm is hardly a hindrance to them.¡± Regathering his focus, he stood up and left the secret chamber. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he arrived at the cave dwelling where Lin Shilu resided. At that moment, Lin Shilu was sitting opposite Lin Shihua, chatting and laughing over tea, looking very pleased with themselves. Lin Tianfeng hurried forward, clasping his fists in a respectful salute, and said, ¡°Tianfeng pays respects to Twelfth Grandpa, and to Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Shilu chuckled, waved his hand, and said, ¡°Tianfeng, no need for such formalities, come sit!¡± Only then did Lin Tianfeng lift his head, move over, and take a seat without saying another word. Seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s somewhat reserved manner, Lin Shilu smiled and signaled for him to relax. Lin Tianfeng nodded awkwardly and then engaged in casual conversation with the two elders, sharing some of his experiences and feelings about the breakthrough. Soon, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng, who had consolidated their cultivation, arrived together to pay their respects to the elders. They were visibly excited, their emotions not yet settled, and they paid their respects earnestly and with great sincerity. With an affable smile, Lin Shilu pulled them up and invited them to sit, and after a few moments of idle talk, began imparting some of his cultivation experience, benefiting them immensely. Three generations chatted leisurely for quite some time before parting ways to attend to their own concerns. Several days later, in the secret chamber where Lin Tianming was staying. He sat on the floor, his expression slightly pale, sweat from his forehead dropping to the ground, his clothes already drenched with sweat, but he remained as still as an old monk in meditation, his sturdy body appearing very upright. In this posture, he had persisted for a whole year. For the past year, he hadn¡¯t left the house, deeply engrossed in secluded cultivation. With such hard work, his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, and he was preparing to attempt breaking through to the Fourth Level. By now, he had already attempted the breakthrough several times, all ending in failure. He wasn¡¯t surprised by this; entering the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, the medium stage of Foundation Establishment, was particularly difficult, far more challenging than breaking through from the Second to the Third Level. Undeterred, he mustered his courage for the fifth attempt, which was at the critical moment of breaking through. He now looked resolute, gathering his spiritual power to launch the final onslaught. Within his Seven Sea Dantian, the converged spiritual power surged like a flood, directly striking at the bottleneck of the Fourth Level of Foundation Building. Over and over again, with no awareness of how much time had passed. Just when his body was nearly numb and his consciousness was beginning to scatter, suddenly a warm current spread throughout his body. It was as if a mass of mud had suddenly been submerged in warm water¡ªthe feeling of comfort was immensely satisfying. Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly directed his Divine Sense inward to observe. Inside his Dantian, the once solidified spiritual power merged into a larger Qi Sea Dantian and then quickly became more viscous. Furthermore, as the barriers were broken, a tremendous amount of energy emerged within his body, cleansing his flesh. A foul smell arose and his body exuded some smelly impurities¡ªclearly, after the breakthrough, the spiritual power combined with the medicinal power inherent in his body had strengthened him once more. This was a frequent occurrence which he didn¡¯t take to heart. His hands clasped together, he cycled the Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and after the True Yuan had flowed through his veins and spread throughout his whole body, he exhaled a long sigh. It had been almost five years since he broke through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. In those years, he endured the trials of his journey, his cultivation becoming incredibly consolidated. Having refined the seeds of the two remaining Seven-Colored Golden Lotuses and spent three years in dedicated seclusion, he had finally broken through the bottleneck smoothly. It was fortunate that his efforts had been duly rewarded. Feeling the vigorous spiritual power surging through his body along with the explosive strength, which was now much denser and contained more energy than before, he felt more than twice as strong as he had been at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. As his emotions finally settled, he didn¡¯t get up immediately, but started to run his cultivation to regulate his breath, aiming to consolidate his cultivation to avoid instability and a potential fall in his realm after the breakthrough. He sat serenely, cycling the Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, quickly circulating the spiritual power throughout his body. Half a month passed in this manner¡­ In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming, who sat serenely, opened his tightly shut eyes, with two flashes of sharp light darting from his eyes. Lin Tianming stood up, feeling the robust spiritual power throughout his body, which now flowed more smoothly with every movement, each filled with immense energy¡ªmore than double the strength he had at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Now that he had broken through to the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, he had also entered the medium stage of Foundation Establishment. Chapter 335: 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_2 Chapter 335: Chapter 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_2 If he were to battle those three Second Order Middle Stage Qilin Beasts once more, he feared he wouldn¡¯t even need to use Spirit Arts to defeat them with ease. He clenched his fist, and several cracking sounds echoed throughout the quiet chamber. After consolidating his cultivation for a period, his cultivation had now stabilized at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, and it was very solid. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± He exhaled a breath of air. Looking at the smelly black mud on his body, he formed a seal with one hand and cast a Five Elements Spell to clean off the filth and changed into a fresh set of blue robes. After getting these matters in order, he tidied up the quiet room once more before stepping out, emerging in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. ¡°It¡¯s been a long while since I came out of seclusion. Tian Yue and the others should have returned to the Lin Family by now. I wonder how their cultivation has progressed over the years, whether they have reached the basic requirements for impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. After sending out two messages, he quickly left the cave dwelling to check on his grandfather first. Before long, he arrived at the Alchemy Hall and met Lin Shigong. Seeing Lin Tianming come out of seclusion and having broken through to the Foundation Building Fourth Level, Lin Shigong was extremely satisfied. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, despite his own hard work in cultivation over the years, Lin Shigong¡¯s cultivation had been stuck at the peak of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment without any signs of breaking through to the Third Level. ¡°Alas¡­ it surely is due to my age, and the considerable gap in talent that each advancement becomes exceedingly difficult,¡± Lin Shigong thought to himself. He quickly collected his thoughts; grandfather and grandson sat opposite each other as Lin Tianming began to inquire about the various happenings in the family over the past few years. It was only after Lin Shigong finished speaking that Lin Tianming learned, to his shock, that Lin Tianfeng, Lin Xingzhi, and Lin Xingcheng had all successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage without fail a year ago. ¡°The success rate is incredibly high. Are the effects of the Foundation Establishment Pill that strong?¡± Lin Tianming wondered. He soon returned to normal, his face filled with excitement as he asked about his parents¡¯ and sister¡¯s well-being. According to Lin Shigong, his father had come back once during his seclusion and had broken through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, being transferred to Qianchuan Market to replace Lin Xingping. Golden Horn Mountain was handed over to the now-replaced Lin Xingping to guard. Both his mother and sister had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage for a while now; they needed to settle for two years before attempting to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. At that moment, Lin Tianming felt a sense of emotion, realizing that the upcoming few years remained critical for the Lin Family. Even though Lin Tianfeng and the others had broken through to Foundation Establishment, there were likely even more clan members preparing to do the same. Clan members like Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, and many of the Xing Clan Members were also at this stage. As long as the Foundation Establishment Pills were sufficient, the family would not lack people above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. A few years ago, the family was in a transitional period lacking people above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Now, such a situation marked an enormous shift; the family was truly beginning to take a qualitative leap forward. Thinking of this, his excitement was palpable, and influenced by Lin Tianming¡¯s mood, Lin Shigong also became emotional. After calming down from their excitement, the grandfather and grandson chatted idly for a while before leaving the Alchemy Hall and heading towards the Cave Mansion Courtyard where his mother lived. Having received his message, his mother and sister had ended their seclusion and were waiting in advance for their arrival. Having not seen his mother and sister for several years, Lin Tianming felt some longing and quickened his pace. In a short while, the two entered the familiar courtyard to find his mother and sister eagerly coming forward to greet them. Seeing his mother and sister, Lin Shigong smiled and waved his hand; the four of them sat down in the courtyard to chat. Upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s smooth breakthrough to the Foundation Building Fourth Level, his mother¡¯s face was brimming with gratification. She had always been reassured about Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation; he was far ahead of his peers, and had even left the Xing Clan Members behind. These thoughts filled her with immense pride. His sister, however, felt somewhat disheartened. As siblings, her talent was also not inferior, and even though she couldn¡¯t compare to her brother, she was still among the top in her generation. Previously, during the Qi Refinement Realm, the difference in their cultivation wasn¡¯t as conspicuous. Now, it had widened even further, surpassing several levels. ¡°Alas¡­ if I don¡¯t make an effort now, it will be even harder to catch up with my brother!¡± Lin Tianyue frowned slightly as she thought to herself. Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s expression, Lin Shigong quickly guessed her thoughts and began to comfort her. ¡°Cultivating is not just about secluded cultivation. It requires experience and opportunity. Besides, among your peers, your cultivation speed is already extremely fast. With only a few being able to match you, that¡¯s already quite an accomplishment,¡± Lin Shigong said. Before he finished speaking, Lin Tianming also began to console her. ¡°Yes, Tian Yue, blindly cultivating in seclusion will make your cultivation unstable. Without facing life-and-death crises, even if you had an endless supply of elixirs, your progress would be limited,¡± Lin Tianming added. Hearing the words of the grandfather and grandson, she realized she had not undertaken trials for a long time. Lin Tianyue nodded thoughtfully, firmly resolving to undergo a proper trial, sharpen her cultivation, and then attempt the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thinking this, she spoke up, ¡°Grandfather, brother, tomorrow I will invite Sister Three and the others to train in the Luoyun Mountain Range. What do you think?¡± Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s determined eyes, Lin Tianming naturally didn¡¯t want to undermine her confidence; he promptly made a suggestion. ¡°It¡¯s definitely feasible. However, the Luoyun Mountain Range has already been cleared out once. The former safe line has extended hundreds of miles inward, but the Demonic Beasts on the fringes are far different from before. Their strength is formidable, and I wouldn¡¯t dare to enter lightly,¡± Lin Tianming said. Chapter 336: 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_3 Chapter 336: Chapter 211 Foundation Building Fourth Level_3 ¡°If you form a team and go to the outer periphery, it won¡¯t really serve the purpose of training, and going to the inner area is too dangerous.¡± Thinking about the embarrassing and difficult situation when battling the three Qilin beasts, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but shudder with fear, and he immediately continued: ¡°If you really want to train, you can consider the remote branches of the Luoyun Mountain Range, where not many cultivators have set foot. You might encounter some treasures that no one has discovered.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more important is that the strength of the Demonic Beasts is not high, only one or two at most are Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts, and most are First Order Late Stage or Second Order Initial Stage. If you form a team, you should be able to deal with a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast.¡± ¡°Yes, Yueyatou, Tianming is right, going to the inner parts of the Luoyun Mountain Range is too dangerous, those branches are very good!¡± Lin Shigong echoed. ¡°Got it, we¡¯ll go to those branches. I have quite a few Second Order talismans, and countless First Order ones. Together with third sister and Tianhu and them, handling a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand, don¡¯t be rash and reckless, and be as careful as possible!¡± Lin Shigong cautioned. Seeing Grandpa had spoken, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t say more. He had already heard that Lin Tianhu was very talented, shining among the Tian Clan Members, his cultivation having reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, and he had rich experience in fighting, no less skilled than Lin Tianfeng. Such a fierce person, whose cultivation speed was second only to Lin Tianming, even the historically advantaged Lin Tianyue felt inferior; his strength was unmatched among his peers. With him participating in the training, the clan members involved should not be in great danger. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming changed the topic, and started discussing the way of Alchemy Dao with Grandfather. After more than a decade, Lin Shigong had immersed himself in Alchemy Dao, and his success rate in refining lower grade Second Order elixirs had become very high. With an increasing number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family, there was a large consumption of elixirs, plus the need to train the young clan members in alchemy, cumbersome clan duties seriously hindered his own cultivation. However, he didn¡¯t care about this. He was very clear that breaking through Foundation Establishment had been extremely difficult for him, his potential almost exhausted, and the hope for advancing to the Golden Core Stage was too slim. He might as well devote himself to studying alchemy and do his best for the family. Lin Tianming also tried to persuade him, saying he was still young, and with some Heaven-Defying Treasures, it wasn¡¯t impossible to have a breakthrough. However, Grandfather was not swayed at all, so there was nothing he could do. Lin Shigong chuckled, temporarily sidestepping the subject and finally lightened the heavy atmosphere. An hour later, Lin Tianming and his grandfather left the cave dwelling to busy themselves with their own affairs. After leaving his mother¡¯s cave dwelling, he walked on the Bluestone Plaza atop the main peak. Just before reaching his own cave dwelling courtyard, he bumped into Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong. Seeing Lin Tianming, faces of Lin Tianfeng and the others lit up with joy, and they hurriedly walked up to greet him. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯re out of seclusion?¡± ¡°Big brother, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment!¡± Lin Tianming cupped his fist and smiled. Lin Tianfeng forced a smile and then said, ¡°Sixth brother, there¡¯s no need to be so formal, you¡¯re already at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, the difference in our cultivation is growing bigger and bigger!¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Sixth brother is getting stronger and stronger, and our gap is widening. I¡¯m afraid that gap will only grow more, and we might never catch up!¡± Lin Tianhong chimed in. Seeing what they said, Lin Tianming felt a bit helpless but could only comfort them with a few words. ¡°You both are overthinking it. As cultivation progresses toward the later stages, breakthroughs become increasingly difficult. It took me five years to break through a single realm, and the intervals following will be even longer. Without the aid of treasures, it could take ten years to break through a single level.¡± ¡°Once you enter the Foundation Establishment Stage, the initial cultivation shouldn¡¯t be hard, and you will soon catch up to me!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s comforting words helped firm their resolve, and a glimmer of hope sparked in their hearts. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Afterward, Lin Tianfeng invited Lin Tianming and himself to his cave dwelling for a small gathering, to which both readily agreed. Soon, the three of them arrived at a courtyard, not far from Lin Tianming¡¯s dwelling within the same area. With Lin Tianfeng¡¯s successful foundation building, the Tian branch welcomed its second Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and the empty courtyard gradually gained an occupant. Sitting in the courtyard, the three brothers had tea and chatted leisurely, enjoying their rare moments of relaxation. Soon, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingcheng also rushed over. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingzhi excitedly said, ¡°Tianming, I thought you hadn¡¯t left seclusion. It¡¯s great we¡¯ve met today, we must have a proper gathering.¡± Lin Tianming laughed. He had only come out of seclusion today, and only Grandfather and a few others from his mother¡¯s side were aware. Lin Tianfeng had merely come across him by chance, so it was normal for them to be unaware. However, upon hearing about their foundation building, he was also ecstatic, having intended to congratulate them in person, he didn¡¯t expect to encounter them here. His thoughts returning, he laughed and replied, ¡°Congratulations to the two Elder Uncles on your breakthrough in Foundation Establishment, the family has gained a few more pillars.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ pillars, I dare not claim to be. It was just luck, but we have all benefited from your light these years. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for us to achieve Foundation Establishment in this lifetime,¡± Lin Xingcheng sincerely said. No sooner had he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhi also reflected, ¡°Indeed¡­ without the White Jade Grass Tianming obtained from the Secret Realm, it would have been a tough call whether we could have established a foundation at all!¡± Gathering together brought the atmosphere to a high point. The five enjoyed drinks while chatting and sharing cultivation insights, each gaining a lot from the exchange. The spirited gathering continued late into the night, and only then did everyone rise to say their farewells and leave. Ling Tianming walked alongside them on the Bluestone path, with Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingzhi heading to the Xing Clan Members¡¯ courtyard area, while Lin Tianhong, yet to establish a foundation, lived in his father¡¯s courtyard. Lin Xingzhi and the other invited Lin Tianming to get together another day, and he generously accepted the invitation before saying goodbye to them all and returning to his dwelling. Sitting on the meditation cushion in his secret chamber, he brought his hands together and smoothly ran his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, and began his cultivation. Chapter 337: 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_1 Chapter 337: Chapter 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_1 The tranquil cultivation days continued, and two years had passed since Lin Tianming broke through to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. During these two years, he would emerge from seclusion every six months for a brief period, assisting the family in making Second Order Pills during his spare time, and sometimes visiting the Alchemy Hall to help his grandfather instruct some of the younger clan members in alchemy. He would also visit some of the elders or help the family handle some simple affairs, leading a life that was quite fulfilling and peaceful. By this time, he had been on the cultivation path for nearly thirty years, and his age had quietly approached forty. If judged by a cultivator¡¯s lifespan, he was still young, at a golden age, but in the secular world, being forty meant reaching middle age, potentially with a wife and children, and grandchildren filling the household. At the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling. He completed his cultivation and left the secret chamber, sitting down in the stone pavilion within the small courtyard. Five years had passed in the blink of an eye; he had only entered seclusion a few times, and time had passed like this. Although such a daily routine of cultivation was nothing unusual for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he realized that such peaceful and comfortable days were something he was experiencing for the first time. It was good, nevertheless. Too much fighting and killing could lead to weariness, and if not for the pursuit of opportunity and longevity, who would want to risk their life for it? Lin Tianming looked up at the noon sun and then let out a long sigh, pulling back his wandering thoughts. ¡°Sister and mother should be preparing to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage; I should go and check on them,¡± he murmured to himself. After speaking to himself, Lin Tianming left the courtyard and walked along the path on the peak¡¯s summit. As he walked, he observed the newly-built courtyards around him¡ªthese were the cave dwellings that the family had built in recent years. They didn¡¯t differ much from the old courtyards that had stood for hundreds of years in style and decoration, the only difference being they did not bear the traces of time. With the increasing number of Foundation Establishment Cultivator clan members and the explosive growth expected in the next few years, the original twenty or so courtyards had become insufficient. Therefore, dozens of new courtyards were constructed and planned anew, still divided into four large areas, each with over twenty courtyards. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking around, the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain had been transformed, with a larger Bluestone Plaza and a unified architectural complex, appearing quite majestic and befitting of a Foundation Establishing Family. As he walked, it didn¡¯t take long for him to arrive at his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. Sitting in the courtyard and having tea, his mother and sister ended their seclusion and joined him in the yard shortly after. Just as the three of them were about to take their seats, grandfather arrived, and they all hurried forward to pay their respects. Seeing Lin Tianming and his family, Lin Shigong had a smile on his face and seemed to be in a good mood. Noting such an expression, Lin Tianming vaguely felt an unusual aura emanating from him. ¡°Grandfather, have you broken through to the third level of Foundation Establishment?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s been several years since I¡¯ve been stuck at the second layer of Foundation Establishment. I thought it would take a few more years of cultivation, but when I tried during my recent seclusion, I broke through unexpectedly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just like they say, sometimes flowers don¡¯t bloom when you want them to, and trees you plant without thought suddenly provide shade,¡± Lin Shigong said with a smile. Lin Tianming chuckled, realizing that such occurrences weren¡¯t unusual in cultivation. Often, after failing to break through, a cultivator might succeed if they tried again after some time; indeed, it was unpredictable. ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve made a breakthrough!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Lin Shigong nodded and then asked about Lin Tianyue and her daughter¡¯s plans for Foundation Establishment. Ren Yuxuan considered for a moment before responding, ¡°I reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage around two years ago, and after half a year of adventuring outside with clan members, I plan to choose a date to begin seclusion and impact Foundation Establishment.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Lin Tianyue also said, ¡°Mother and I have discussed it and tentatively decided to begin seclusion in half a month!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his grandson were visibly excited. Both of them had already achieved Foundation Establishment, and now, with mother and daughter still at the Qi Refinement Realm, they had waited many years to finally attempt Foundation Establishment. If successful, their little family would include five Foundation Establishment members, an exciting prospect indeed. What was more important was that even if there was no hope of Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong, his wife, breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shigong would live for at least another hundred years, giving the family plenty of time to live together. After all, no one is indifferent to longevity, nor does anyone wish to be eternally separated from their loved ones. Now that the mother and daughter were planning to take that step, it was crucial for the family and the clan. Lin Tianming, eager and impatient, quickly took out two Foundation Establishment Pills he had made and handed them to the mother and daughter. These two pills were reserved specifically for this day. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s gesture, his mother Jiao Nan spoke, ¡°Mother has prepared quite a bit of merit over the years, and Tianyue is ready too. We were planning to go to the Hall of Merit to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills. Keep these pills for yourself!¡± ¡°Yeah, brother,¡± ¡°We can¡¯t always rely on you to bail us out. I¡¯m a First Order Superior Grade Talisman Maker myself, and I¡¯ve managed to save up twenty thousand points of merit,¡± Lin Tianyue added. Hearing their words, Lin Shigong, who had been listening, became serious and then spoke persuasively, ¡°You two should not refuse Tianming¡¯s generosity. The wealth accumulated on him is probably the most in our entire clan. Even Shi Lu and your third uncle might not match up!¡± Chapter 338: 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_2 Chapter 338: Chapter 212 Mother-Daughter Retreat_2 Lin Tianming didn¡¯t refute this, as over the years he had experienced numerous battles, obtained many cultivators¡¯ storage bags, and during his adventures, acquired numerous heavenly and earthly treasures. The cumulative amount of spirit stones and merits reached over a hundred thousand, along with many elixirs and spiritual medicines, the value of which was now difficult to estimate. Not only that, but over the past few years he had refined a large number of elixirs, and with his breakthrough in cultivation, becoming a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist was not far off. With his terrifying success rate and quantity of elixirs produced, he could accumulate a vast fortune just through alchemy. With his current value and wealth, it could be said that he was not short of spirit stones. Thinking of this, he then gently persuaded, ¡°Grandfather is right. Apart from these elixirs, with the yellow spirit stones and merits combined, there are over a hundred thousand. Even the Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s worth is not necessarily comparable to mine, so Mother and Tian Yue, you shouldn¡¯t refuse!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming say this, and remembering the large amount of Ice Crystals he had gained during his adventures years ago, with his share of merits then amounting to eighty thousand, plus the annual family subsidies of spirit stones and salary, he indeed was a wealthy man. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianyue finally accepted a Foundation Establishment Pill and then tightly placed it into her storage bag. Seeing Lin Tianyue accept the Foundation Establishment Pill and considering the look in the eyes of Lin Tianming and his grandson, Ren Yuxuan couldn¡¯t refuse anymore. She resolutely took the Foundation Establishment Pill and put it into her storage bag. Lin Tianming and his grandson laughed heartily and then sat down to chat casually, sharing their experiences of impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage with the mother and daughter. Knowing the difficulty of Foundation Establishment, the mother and daughter listened intently, afraid of missing a single detail. Although they were worried about Foundation Establishment, Lin Tianming was quite confident. Lin Tianfeng had said before that the effect of the Foundation Establishment Pill was very good and the entire breakthrough process went smoothly. As for Lin Tianyue, who was only in her thirties with a decent Spiritual Root Talent, breaking through should not be difficult at all. Though the mother was nearly seventy years old and her Spiritual Root Talent was not as good as Lin Tianyue¡¯s, that age was not really considered too old. Previously, the Fifteenth Grandfather, at the age of a hundred, managed to succeed with the help of a Minor Foundation Building Pill with only half the usual efficacy, a difficulty which simply couldn¡¯t compare to the mother¡¯s situation. Therefore, the probability of Mother¡¯s breakthrough in Foundation Establishment was at least fifty percent or more. Unknowingly, evening had arrived, and Lin Tianming and his grandson had spent half a day sharing all their experiences. The mother and daughter took it all to heart, making ample preparations. As the evening approached, the mother finally left to prepare dinner for them. That night, three generations of the family had dinner together and afterward returned to their respective caves. Lin Tianming briefly cultivated, waiting for the moment his mother and sister entered seclusion to break through, so he could come out and protect them. Half a month passed, and Lin Tianming, along with his grandson, their mother, and sister, rushed to the cave where Lin Shilu stayed. After greeting each other, they sat down to drink tea and chat casually. The mother and sister stood aside, busily preparing the tea, clearly enjoying themselves. Shortly after, Lin Shihua arrived with several clan members, all of whom were old acquaintances of Lin Tianming. Amon the Xing generation were Lin Xingyu, Lin Xingyao, Lin Xingqi, Lin Xingshun, and others. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were also three members of the Tian generation, including Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianqin, and Lin Tianhu. Together with the mother and sister, there were nine clan members in total, all at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage. The clan members respectfully greeted the elder Shi generation and then stood aside reverently. Lin Shilu and the others nodded in response to the greeting from the clan members. Then, Lin Shihua stood up, glanced over all the clan members and spoke, ¡°To prepare for today, the family has worked diligently for over twenty years, improving many clan rules and policies, and provided extensive support. The family¡¯s strength has risen steadily, and now the time has finally come to bear fruit.¡± As he spoke, Lin Shihua wore a look of reminiscence, recalling the difficult situation of the family twenty years ago, his eyes filled with complex emotions. Returning his focus, he continued, ¡°This time nine clan members are secluded for Impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage, such an unprecedented event has never occurred in the over eight hundred years since our family¡¯s founding!¡± At this moment, all the clan members were visibly excited, and Lin Tianming was equally thrilled. This time, with nine people simultaneously impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage and all of them being young with significant potential, assisted by Foundation Establishment Pills, their chances of success were at least over sixty percent. By conservative estimates, four or five individuals were expected to break through successfully, and that would bring the count of Foundation Establishment Clan Members in our family to nearly seventeen or eighteen. With such strength, we have far surpassed any Foundation Establishing Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. The family had been developing rapidly for over twenty years for this day, and had finally made significant progress. Seeing the clan members so excited, Lin Shihua, the Lin Family Patriarch, also felt immense excitement. After calming himself down, he then took out a large number of books made from beast skin, all specially printed by the family, and distributed them one by one to the nine clan members. Looking at the clan members in the courtyard, Lin Shihua said, ¡°These are the breakthrough insights left by our ancestors, which I believe many of you have already reviewed.¡± ¡°Whether you have committed them to memory or not, I hope you will read them over carefully before your breakthrough so that you can recall them with ease and thereby successfully break through to Foundation Establishment,¡± he said. Having said these words, his expression became solemn as he loudly asked, ¡°Do you understand?¡± Before the echo of his words faded, the ten clan members responded in unison, their voices firm, ¡°Understood!¡± Hearing the clan members¡¯ resounding reply and feeling the strong confidence that radiated from them, his heart was greatly comforted. Lin Shilu also stood up at this moment and offered words of encouragement, further boosting everyone¡¯s confidence. Half an hour later, after Lin Shihua had given several instructions and spoken earnestly, he said, ¡°Next, each of you should select a courtyard for secluded cultivation. Elder Shi Lu and I will stay here to protect you from external disturbances!¡± ¡°The path of cultivation spans a lifetime; whether for the family or for yourselves, I hope you will break through in one fell swoop and contribute further to our family!¡± With that, he waved his arm, and seven clan members filed out of the courtyard in an orderly fashion, heading in various directions to select their own caves for seclusion, leaving behind only his mother and sister in the courtyard. Lin Tianming walked over to his mother and sister, took their hands in his, and although he felt some worry, he dared not show any sign of it so as not to add to their psychological burden. A failure due to this would be a loss too great to bear. He feigned calmness and with a warm smile, said to his mother and sister, ¡°You will definitely succeed. I¡¯ll be right here waiting for you!¡± Seeing his warm and soothing smile, the mother and daughter nodded firmly and said, ¡°Definitely!¡± Having said their piece, the two of them turned and walked out of the courtyard towards two vacant courtyards nearby. Lin Tianming and his grandfather watched as their mother and sister left. Everything that needed to be reminded and said was already done half a month ago; now there was nothing left that he could do, except to rely on them. Before long, as the nine people each chose their caves for seclusion, Lin Shihua ordered the clan members to seal off the top of Green Bamboo Mountain and deployed members of the Enforcement Hall to patrol, not allowing any other clan members to disturb them during this time. With so many clan members attempting to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage together, the family took this matter seriously, and the security throughout the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was extremely strict. Many of the clan members with lower cultivation levels were not privy to this information and began to guess the family¡¯s motives. However, since the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was very calm and no major events happened within the family, many clan members soon speculated that some were impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. Yet they could never have imagined that there would be so many clan members attempting at the same time, a total of nine pursuing a breakthrough, an impressive show of force rarely seen even among Golden Elixir Forces. Lin Tianming and his grandfather did not leave, but chose to cultivate in seclusion within Elder Shi Lu¡¯s dwelling, waiting for the outcome of their breakthroughs. After the Patriarch held a brief conversation with Lin Shilu and the grandfather, he left the area, leaving only Lin Shilu and the grandfather sitting in the courtyard, protecting the clan members as they cultivated. Chapter 339: 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_1 Chapter 339: Chapter 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_1 Day by day, time passed peacefully. The entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was exceptionally calm; the clan members had adapted to the family¡¯s state of martial law, which hardly affected them as long as they stayed within the clan territory. Those who needed to undergo secluded cultivation did so, everything was as quiet as usual, no different from peacetime. After thirty-five days. At noon, under the blazing sun, beams of sunlight pierced through the dense clouds, shining on every corner of Green Bamboo Mountain. At that moment, from a courtyard at the summit of the main peak, an aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread out but soon dissipated. Feeling this familiar presence, Lin Tianming, who was in the midst of cultivation within Lin Shilu¡¯s cave dwelling, opened his eyes and left the secret chamber. In the courtyard, Lin Shilu had already sensed this pressure and immediately turned his gaze towards that cave dwelling. After greeting Lin Shilu with a clasped fist and bow, Lin Tianming said, ¡°It¡¯s only been forty days, and Tianhu has indeed broken through to Foundation Establishment first. In the next half month, I¡¯m afraid many more clanspeople will make their breakthrough!¡± Lin Shilu nodded, not surprised that Lin Tianhu was the first to achieve Foundation Establishment. Although Lin Tianhu came from the Lin Family¡¯s ordinary town, Qingfeng Town, his Spiritual Root Talent was extraordinary, ranking among the top three of his generation, plus he was very diligent in cultivation, often participating in family trials, experiencing numerous battles, and thus, his cultivation was extremely solid. With such repeated tempering, he faced less resistance in breaking through, and being the first among the clan members was within expectations. As the aura inside the dwelling receded without incident, Lin Tianming¡¯s face glowed with health, and the two of them became excited. Lin Tianhu had set a good precedent, and if nothing went wrong, more clanspeople would continue to break through in the following days. With the critical moment approaching, he decided not to enter seclusion anymore; after all, it was at most just half a month, and he planned to wait here until all the clan members in seclusion had completed their cultivation. Just three days passed, and another Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s aura emanated from a cave dwelling, undeniably belonging to Lin Tianhong. The two rejoiced, but before they could catch their breath, more good news followed. Lin Tianyue¡¯s dwelling also exuded the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Feeling the presence of Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue breaking through one after another, Lin Tianming and the others became even more excited. Soon after, they both contained their aura, still consolidating their cultivation in seclusion. Lin Tianming and the others sat down again for tea and a casual chat, while waiting for the outcomes. Time flew by, and ten days passed. Following the breakthroughs of Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue, during these ten days, Lin Tianqin, Lin Xingyu, and others had successively made their breakthroughs. Out of the nine clan members who entered seclusion together, only three had yet to show any signs. Among these three, his mother was one, and the remaining two were Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao. At this point, Lin Tianming felt worried. Before their seclusion, he wasn¡¯t worried about his sister, for she was not even forty years old and her Spiritual Root Talent was good. As long as there were no accidents, a successful Foundation Establishment breakthrough shouldn¡¯t be difficult. Indeed, his sister lived up to expectations. Although she wasn¡¯t the first to break through, being the third was expected and a natural progression. In contrast, his mother was the oldest among those in seclusion, plus her Four Spirit Roots talent, and her limited life-and-death experiences, with only the Luoyun Mountain family battle, and a few excursions into the mountains to hunt Demonic Beasts. In terms of the solidity of cultivation, she couldn¡¯t compare at all with the male clan members. Even with the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills, her chances of breaking through were only about sixty percent. More than forty days had gone by, and yet there was still no movement from his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. If this breakthrough failed, his mother would have less than fifty years left of her lifespan. While all their relatives had already achieved Foundation Establishment, they could only watch helplessly as she passed away, unable to reverse such an outcome. For the family and for herself, everyone hoped to advance further, not only to increase their cultivation but also to double their lifespan. What¡¯s more, if the breakthrough failed, they would have to face a painful parting after decades. Just the thought of that day ¨C when loved ones would be powerless and forced to say an eternal goodbye ¨C was unbearable. ¡°How excruciating that would be!¡± Thinking of this, Lin Tianming, as a son, was deeply concerned, yet felt helpless, silently praying in his heart. Seeing this expression on Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong shared the same grave and worried look, wanting to comfort his grandson but was unable to find the words, instead, he just let out a long sigh. Seeing their downcast faces, Lin Shilu quickly spoke up to comfort them. ¡°Tian Ming, your mother is not that old, and considering her situation, she has better odds than your grandfather had when he broke through. He managed to overcome that hurdle, and I believe your mother can too,¡± said Lin Shilu. ¡°Yes, back in the day when I was breaking through, that situation was so terrifying, it still gives me the shivers. The current situation, no matter how bad, is still better than what I went through!¡± Lin Shi Gong added. ¡°So don¡¯t worry too much, just wait patiently!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s firm words, Lin Shi Gong also chimed in. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though worried himself, he knew that worry was pointless ¨C they could not help with this challenge; all they could do was wait patiently. Lin Tianming also understood this reality and, after looking towards his mother¡¯s cave dwelling and letting out a sigh, gradually calmed down in his heart. Chapter 340: 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_2 Chapter 340: Chapter 213 Consecutive Foundation Establishment_2 At this moment, not far from next door, within a secret chamber of a cave dwelling. Ren Yuxuan sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her complexion somewhat pale, sweat dripping from her forehead onto her robe, dampening her white palace attire and revealing her mature and graceful figure. More than forty days had passed since she entered the secret chamber. In the first half month, she had repeatedly reviewed the breakthrough experiences left by the cultivators of her family until she knew them by heart, only then did she take the Foundation Establishment Pill. She was well aware of her own talent and age, and had not undergone much life-or-death training. Among the family members who had entered closed-door cultivation this time, her challenge was the greatest, so she was especially careful and cautious. She had to be fully prepared, all to spare her relatives the pain of parting and the anguish of death. In such a situation, her progress was very slow, and she, who moved cautiously step by step, had not made any disturbances. More than twenty days had passed since she took the Foundation Establishment Pill, and under her determined refinement, the spiritual power within her body had become exceptionally condensed. At this time, her spiritual power had been successfully condensed and she had already experienced several impacts, but each time she had failed to breach the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was as if she was missing something! Feeling the dwindling energy from the Foundation Establishment Pill, which likely wouldn¡¯t support many more attempts, if she didn¡¯t seize these last two chances, this breakthrough would have to be declared a failure. Thinking of the regretful eyes of a loved one, she suddenly became anxious, but quickly regained her calm and started to meditate deeply. Time passed, and her face showed a delighted expression, as if she had an epiphany. ¡°I understand now¡­¡± ¡°My experiences are too few, the life-and-death situations I¡¯ve faced are limited, and I haven¡¯t even gone through a true parting of life and death. I lack that kind of courage that is resolute and ready to cut all means of retreat!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ the courage to ¡®burn all bridges¡¯ in order to succeed!¡± Ren Yuxuan murmured to herself, an epiphanic joy flickering across her face. At the same moment, with a resolute expression, she merged a portion of the Foundation Establishment Pill¡¯s energy with the condensed spiritual power within her body, preparing to launch another assault. Half an hour had passed, and the newly refined spiritual power merged with the cultivated spiritual power, once again reaching the limit of the Qi Refinement Realm. At this point, the tremendous spiritual power inside her reached its peak, almost as if it was about to overflow from her body. Feeling this spiritual power, Ren Yuxuan¡¯s expression was determined, and her pale face looked a bit crazed. ¡°To not disappoint my clan and family¡­ I¡¯ll stake everything¡­¡± After silently repeating this phrase in her heart, she resolutely controlled the massive spiritual power within her body and charged at the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Stage. At this time, the massive spiritual power battered against the bottleneck over and over again. Waves of pain surged through her, turning her cheeks, which had barely regained a hint of color, deathly pale once again. Moreover, as long as the onslaught continued, the unbearable pain would not cease, growing more intense instead. Soon, her white forehead was covered in sweat, and large beads of perspiration, like raindrops, dripped onto the blue stone floor without making a ripple, absorbed by the ground and vanishing without a trace. Her teeth clenched tightly, she persevered through the agony. Time passed, and the breakthrough continued. By now, she was drenched in sweat, with blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, looking not much different from a beggar who hadn¡¯t eaten for several days. However, she didn¡¯t care about her appearance, for the critical moment had arrived. With her persistence, there was an obvious improvement this time, giving her the illusion that she could break through at any moment. Her expression excited, she controlled the spiritual power within her body to launch a crucial assault. ¡°Break for me!¡± She whispered quietly to herself, then launched a frenzied assault that looked both decisive and fearsome. God knows how much time had passed. As a warm current flowed within her body, her original Seven Sea Dantian suddenly expanded several times in size. The spiritual power that had been assaulting the bottleneck rushed into this enlarged Qi Sea Dantian, covering only a thin layer, in stark contrast to the previous state of overflowing. At the same moment, Ren Yuxuan¡¯s Divine Sense surged, multiplying several times over. Everything around her¡ªevery blade of grass, every move¡ªbecame crystal clear in her mind. Just then, without any warning, the aura and oppressive might of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator spread out rapidly in all directions. Besides, the few strands of white hair mixed within her lustrous black locks quietly turned dark, and the faint lines that had begun to appear on her cheeks also disappeared without a trace. At this moment, she radiated an aura of spiritual light, full of vitality and radiance. If Lin Xingrong were here, he would notice that her appearance and vital signs had scarcely changed since her girlhood, though the charm of a mature woman remained, now more enchanting and captivating than ever. ¡°Is this breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage?¡± ¡°Did I break through?¡± Ren Yuxuan could hardly believe it. As she felt the significant increase in spiritual power and divine sense throughout her body, she became overjoyed, and tears of happiness started welling up in her beautiful eyes. ¡°I broke through¡­ I did it¡­¡± In just a breath¡¯s time, she calmed herself down and quickly retracted the outward flow of her aura, careful not to affect the other clan members. Having done this, her slender jade hands formed the gesture of a treasure vase, and after activating her cultivation technique, she hastily immersed her divine sense to inspect the inside of her body. Outside in the courtyard, within Lin Shilu¡¯s cave mansion courtyard. Lin Tianming, with his grandchild Lin Shigong and Lin Shilu, sat in the pavilion of the yard, with cups of fine, now cold, spiritual tea in front of them. The grandchild and grandparent both wore expressions of unease, creating an atmosphere of incredible heaviness, so quiet it was almost terrifying. Lin Shilu, seated nearby, shook his head and poured them each a new cup of spiritual tea. Caught up in their state of worry, even the typically composed Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. ¡°Could it truly be a failure?¡± Lin Shilu muttered to himself, though he dared not voice a single word aloud. Right then, footsteps were heard in the small courtyard. Preoccupied with clan affairs, Lin Shihua also took time from his busy schedule to join them, all for awaiting the final outcome of the last three clan members¡¯ breakthroughs. Before he arrived, his resonant voice echoed, ¡°Ninth Brother¡­ any sign yet?¡± Lin Shigong shook his head but said little else; Lin Shihua had no choice but to start offering words of comfort. Just as he was about to speak, the distinct presence and aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator emerged from Ren Yuxuan¡¯s courtyard, quickly retracting. Lin Tianming and the others felt this aura immediately; it was undoubtedly Ren Yuxuan¡¯s. An excited look instantly flashed across everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°Mother has broken through!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed. Both grandparent and grandchild were ecstatic, with Lin Tianming¡¯s hand crushing the fine tea cup into powder. This showed just how excited and thrilled he was at this moment. After half an hour, the four finally regained their composure. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The atmosphere in the courtyard was no longer as oppressive, but their worries hadn¡¯t completely vanished¡ªfor two clan members¡¯ results were still uncertain, signaling an ominous situation. It was hard to say whether they would succeed in their breakthroughs to Foundation Establishment. Though seven out of the nine who went into seclusion had already succeeded, this success rate was quite satisfying, even exceeding expectations. But until the final outcome was determined, no clan member wished to accept a failed result. As long as hope wasn¡¯t shattered, everyone harbored the fantasy of all nine succeeding; after all, cultivation to this point was not easy, and every additional Foundation Establishment Clan Member would strengthen the clan¡¯s collective power. These were Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts at the moment. The two remaining had deep ties with him: Lin Xingshun had managed the Luoyun Market shop, and before the great clan war, they had worked together overseeing the shop¡¯s operations for some time. Lin Xingyao was also a close friend; they had joined hands on the Qianchuan Market venture and were responsible for establishing Luoyun Pavilion, forging a profound friendship over three years. Publicly and privately, he hoped for no clan member to fail. Unfortunately, his fantasy was soon shattered. Chapter 341: 214 Clan Meeting_1 Chapter 341: Chapter 214 Clan Meeting_1 Several days later, commotion arose from the two remaining courtyards, but it wasn¡¯t the aura and pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao emerged from the courtyard one after the other, with merely a quarter of an hour¡¯s difference between them. Inside Lin Shilu¡¯s cave mansion, Lin Tianming and three other Foundation Establishment Clan Members were seated around a stone table. In the center of the yard, Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao stood side by side, both wearing expressions of utter dejection. Given the circumstances, Lin Shihua sighed helplessly, then began to offer words of comfort. ¡°Xingshun, Xingyao, you two mustn¡¯t be disheartened. Although you¡¯ve failed once, it¡¯s not unheard of for someone to succeed at Foundation Establishment on the second attempt. Cultivate diligently. If you can obtain Heaven-Defying Treasures, you might still have a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ do not lose heart, dear uncles¡­¡± Lin Tianming also chimed in comfortingly. What Lin Tianming and the others said was meant as comfort, as most people had heard of instances where the second attempt at Foundation Establishment was successful. However, the chances of this were exceedingly slim. Those who had failed once found it doubly difficult to break through again, and the use of Heaven-Defying Treasures was required, at the very least Fourth Order treasures of such power. The two were mere scions of a Foundation Establishing Family, where even Third Grade Treasures were rare, let alone Fourth Order Heaven-Defying Treasures for aiding Foundation Establishment, which even Nascent Soul Forces might not possess. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aware of this, Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao had already accepted their fate. They nodded to the others, bowed respectfully, and said in unison: ¡°We have taken your teachings to heart. We have accepted the outcome and will not lose our Daoist will because of it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded. Though their breakthrough had failed, their Daoist will remained firm, making them suitable for taking on important responsibilities in clan affairs. Regaining his composure, he spoke, ¡°Hmm¡­ You two are injured. You should withdraw and enter seclusion to heal your wounds.¡± ¡°We shall take our leave!¡± Lin Xingshun and his companion bowed to everyone one by one, and then, in each other¡¯s company, they left the courtyard, vanishing atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. The matter of the nine clan members¡¯ breakthroughs had settled, with seven succeeding and Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao failing. This outcome, having exceeded expectations, was considered satisfactory despite some regrets. Ren Yuxuan and Lin Tianyue had both achieved breakthroughs and would need at least another month to consolidate their cultivation, hence they wouldn¡¯t be emerging from seclusion anytime soon. Lin Tianming and his grandson also stood to bid farewell. Seeing them about to leave, Lin Shihua planned to depart with them. After greeting Lin Shilu, the three companions left Lin Shilu¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard together. Their spirits lifted as they chatted and laughed along the way. Soon, each returned to their respective cave mansions to attend to their own affairs. Two months later¡­ On this day, inside the Family Elders¡¯ Hall, over twenty clan members gathered joyously. The hall was bustling with voices as clan members chatted in groups of threes and twos, either discussing recent events in the Cultivation World, exchanging cultivation methods, or sharing leisure pursuits from the Four Arts. The lively scene mirrored that of the Secular World. Within the hall, six chairs were placed side by side at the high table, five of which were already occupied. Only the central seat remained vacant. Of the five seated clan members, three looked like middle-aged cultivators¡ªLin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and Lin Shigong. The other two, with greying temples and beards, exuded the air of the aged. They were Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe. With nearly 120 years under their belts, they were only a few years away from the lifespan limit of Qi Refining Cultivators. The five members of the Shi clan generation chatted idly, Lin Shihe clutching Lin Shigong¡¯s hand, reminiscing fragmented memories from their youth while Lin Shihua occasionally added his input. Lin Shilu listened quietly by the side, scarcely speaking a word. With a considerable age gap between himself and Lin Shigong and others, he was barely over ninety, not yet even a centenarian. Thus, he was entirely unfamiliar with his elder brothers¡¯ younger days and had only heard some anecdotes from them. Below them, more than twenty chairs stretched out in rows, filled with cultivators. The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was nearly equal to that of Qi Refining Clanspeople, each group with more than ten members. Lin Tianming was among them, seated next to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhong, with Lin Tianyue and other recently advanced Foundation Establishment clan members nearby. Since Lin Tianhu¡¯s breakthrough, more than two months had passed, and their cultivation had stabilized. They had secured their Foundation Establishment first-layer realm and emerged from seclusion. This assembly was clearly convened for an important family meeting and to celebrate the seven newly inaugurated Foundation Establishment members. Lin Tianming and the other Tian clan generation members sat together chatting leisurely while the Xing generation members also whispered amongst themselves, everyone in high spirits. In the bustling atmosphere, clan members bonded while awaiting the arrival of Lin Shikang, the occupant of the last vacant chair, signaling the official commencement of the clan meeting. Half a quarter of an hour passed. Laughter rang out, and the entire hall instantly fell silent. As the new arrival approached, clan members stood and saluted with cupped fists, welcoming Lin Shikang. Having not been seen for six years, Lin Shikang¡¯s reappearance gave the illusion of an ordinary mortal. Lin Tianming understood that this was the effect of a breakthrough in cultivation, reaching an unfathomably profound level, where one¡¯s aura becomes so condensed and controlled as to create this illusion. Lin Shikang surveyed the entire assembly, his eyes meeting those of his younger kindred, then strode energetically toward the high chair waiting for him, looking thrilled. Chapter 342: 214 Clan Meeting_2 Chapter 342: Chapter 214 Clan Meeting_2 ¡°` As he walked past Lin Tianming, a glint of Spiritual Light flashed in his tiger-like eyes, revealing an almost imperceptible aura. Lin Tianming nodded toward Lin Shikang, his heart brimming with joy as he thought to himself, ¡°Third Grandfather has truly lived up to our expectations. After six years of closed-door cultivation, he has successfully broken through to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.¡± While he was lost in his thoughts, Lin Shikang had already approached Lin Shilu and a few others, his equally sharp gaze becoming noticeable to them. All three of them didn¡¯t say much, as they knew the gravity of the matter was best kept among as few people as possible, and it was enough that key members of the family like Lin Tianming were aware. Fully aware of this, Lin Shihua, his face flushed with health, pulled on Lin Shikang¡¯s sleeve, urging him to take the high seat in the center, with Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe respectively occupying seats to his left and right. He, Lin Shilu, and Lin Shigong casually took their places beside them. Lin Tianming now turned his attention to those seated in the high positions, noticing that the seating order was not arranged by cultivation level but by generational seniority and age within the family. Lin Shikang, being the oldest and with the highest cultivation, naturally sat in the center. Lin Shihe ranked fifth, and Lin Shigang ranked seventh in the Shi generation¡ªjust above the ninth-ranked Lin Shigong. Considering their limited remaining lifespans, it seemed only proper for them to sit by his sides. Lin Tianming was very familiar with these two senior elders, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe, as they each managed important family institutions and often provided guidance to the younger members of the family. It was fair to say that they had made outstanding contributions to the stable development of the family. Now that their time was drawing near, with at most a few years or as little as one to two years left, it was hard not to feel a sense of poignant melancholy. A short while passed, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The hall fell silent with the ringing of Lin Shihua¡¯s resonant voice, and everyone turned their attention to him, awaiting his direction. ¡°It has been a long time since we gathered everyone together. Today is truly a good day, as most of the core members of our family are here. Such grand family gatherings are rare indeed,¡± Lin Shihua said with a hint of emotion. His booming voice then continued to echo through the hall, with all present listening intently and some occasionally echoing his sentiments. Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, the family hadn¡¯t held a gathering of this scale in many years. Policies and major family matters were typically discussed with just a few members of the Shi generation, and only occasionally would Lin Tianming attend to offer his advice. Most of the younger generation were not involved. Although major family decisions were primarily made by the few members of the Shi generation along with Lin Tianming, Qi Refining clanspeople felt no involvement; they simply carried out the Clan Leader¡¯s decisions. If this were to continue for an extended period, it could potentially dampen their enthusiasm, which wouldn¡¯t bode well for the stable development of the family. And this family meeting was significant. The intention was to gather everyone together, involve the clan members, foster relationships, and discuss a few important matters. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shihua then said, ¡°I see that all the family members have arrived, aside from Xing Yuan who is guarding Luoyun Market, and Xing Rong who is at Qianchuan Market. Nearly all the core members of our family are present.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming began to survey the clanspeople in the great hall. It was indeed a gathering of elites. There were sixteen Foundation Establishment clan members with the remaining twenty-something Qi Refining clanspeople, all above the Qi Refining Eighth Level except for Lin Shigang and one other whose time was near. They either held important positions within the family institutions or were promising clanspeople with decent talent and young age. The assembly of members indeed represented the family¡¯s elite forces. He couldn¡¯t help but speculate that the Lin Family¡¯s current strength must rank at the forefront of the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Even compared to the Golden Core families like the West River Li Family, excluding their Golden Core Stage clansmen, they might not be able to best the Lin Family. ¡°How shocked would the external forces be to see such formidable strength in the Lin Family?¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. As he pondered, Lin Shihua took out a book made of beast skin, flipped through a page, and began to speak, ¡°Let¡¯s skip the pleasantries and allow me to report on the basic situation of our family first, followed by discussions on a few important matters.¡± ¡°Starting with the scale of our clanspeople, after more than a decade of stable development, our family now has a registered population of eight hundred seventy-seven members. Among them, six from the Shi generation, one hundred thirty-five from the Xing generation, seven hundred thirty-six from the Tian generation; we have thirty-two Mortal Towns with an estimated population of around three million mortals.¡± Hearing this, all the clanspeople couldn¡¯t contain their excitement. Judging by the current number of clanspeople, the policies to encourage childbirth and support mortal marriage over the past decade or so since the Green Bamboo Mountain battle had been effective. Following the battle, the Lin Family acquired the mortal towns of the Jin and Wu Families, which at one time had reached a combined population of two million. As the number of mortals increased, the frequency of Spiritual Root testing was changed from once every three years to annually. It had only been just over a decade, but the family had already restored its Yuan Qi. The number of its members had almost quadrupled, and the population of mortals had increased by nearly a million. The overall strength far exceeded previous levels, even surpassing the collective strength of the three big families before the war. One could imagine that such explosive growth, though not lasting, meant maintaining a modest natural increase would not be difficult. ¡°` sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 343: 214: Clan Meeting_3 Chapter 343: Chapter 214: Clan Meeting_3 The lively atmosphere finally calmed down, and Lin Shihua chuckled, continuing to deliver his report. ¡°Now, the clan¡¯s Yuan Qi has fully recovered, and our overall strength has surged further, not just in the number of clan members, but especially in a qualitative leap in quality,¡± he said. ¡°Following a period of seclusion by a group of our clan members, we now have eighteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators and nearly eighty of our members are at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation or above, and this number is still growing,¡± he added. Before his words had settled, apart from a handful of informed clan members, the vast majority were so shocked by the news that they couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in astonishment. ¡°Eighteen?¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s eighteen? You didn¡¯t read it wrong, did you?¡± Many clan members were ecstatic, and they could hardly believe the result for a moment. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few months ago, although they had guessed that the clan¡¯s activity was an attempt by clan members to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, they never thought it would be on such a large scale, much less that the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the clan would have soared by so much. ¡°Read it wrong? How could a dignified Foundation Establishment Cultivator make such a mistake.¡± Some clan members quickly accepted this explosive news, their joy intermingled with whispering and sharing their excitement with the clan members beside them. Upon hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement of the clan situation and seeing the ecstatic scene of the clan members, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe, who were seated in high positions, found their eyes turning red, and they couldn¡¯t help but weep with happiness. ¡°Fifth Brother, Seventh Brother, didn¡¯t you learn about this a long time ago?¡± Lin Shigong said, holding Lin Shihe¡¯s hand. Lin Shihe raised his sleeve, wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes, and then said, ¡°Third Brother, Shigong, we are just too excited, seeing the prosperous state of the clan fills us with pride, and after we pass away, we will have the face to meet our ancestors.¡± Hearing this, more clan members of the Shi generation felt even more bitter, but there was nothing they could do about it. Cultivation is inherently tough; out of the billions of cultivators in the world, how many can truly achieve immortality? Seeing the bitterness on their faces, Lin Shihe continued: ¡°Third Brother, Ninth Brother, you don¡¯t need to be sad for us. The day we gave up on Foundation Establishment, we already laid the groundwork for today¡¯s outcome. We have come to terms with it over the years.¡± ¡°Now that the clan¡¯s strength has surged and we are witnessing prosperity, we have no concerns left. The only thing is that the talents and cultivation of our two descendants are rather poor. If there are outstanding talents among later generations, we hope you can provide them with some extra care,¡± he said. Both of them currently have several descendants, but only one direct blood relative possesses a Spiritual Root, and it is the least desirable Five Spirit Roots. They don¡¯t have much time left, and cannot hope to witness the emergence of a talented descendant in their lifetime. They could only place their hopes on the grandchildren or great-grandchildren. These thoughts were quite natural for them as elders, considering a bit more for the descendants was the last thing they could do. Lin Shikang, who fully understood this sentiment, nodded in agreement, gripping the hands of the two men firmly, promising that he would help their descendants as much as possible, allowing them to rest assured. A tea time passed, and the emotions of several people gradually stabilized. Lin Shihua continued to preside over the clan meeting. After a sweeping glance over everyone, he waved his hand, and the entire hall returned to silence. ¡°The number and specific levels of cultivation of Foundation Establishment Clan Members within our clan are strictly forbidden to be revealed to outsiders. Anyone who disobeys will face the family¡¯s punishment!¡± he declared with sharp words. After these stern statements, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes suddenly turned cold, and he sharply inquired, ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°We shall abide by the Clan Leader¡¯s decree!¡± the younger clan members answered in unison, their voices echoing in the grand hall for a long time before gradually fading. He nodded in satisfaction, then said, ¡°Fifth Brother and Seventh Brother have been managing the Skill Transmission Hall and the Scripture Pavilion for more than fifty years. Given their advanced age, it¡¯s no longer appropriate for them to continue enduring hardships for the clan.¡± ¡°We will now discuss their successors. The requirements are to have a cultivation level above the Seventh Level Qi Cultivation and be under eighty years old. Feel free to voice any recommendations or nominate yourself!¡± he announced. Upon hearing this, the vast majority of clan members had already anticipated this matter, knowing the ages of the two elder Lin Shihe well. Electing new heads for these two major family institutions was just a matter of time. Such positions were high in status and influence, and came with generous family rewards. Securing one of these roles would not just elevate one¡¯s status within the family but also provide resources to accelerate the improvement of cultivation. Therefore, numerous clan members began to speak up, with some nominating themselves and others recommending fellow clan members. After a quarter of an hour and some discussion among the clan members, several candidates were quickly selected. Among them, Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao had the highest support, both of whom had failed in their attempts at Foundation Establishment. Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao, both under sixty years old with a cultivation level at the Qi Cultivation Great Perfection, stood little chance of achieving Foundation Establishment again. Since they wouldn¡¯t need to spend much time on cultivation, taking on the role of managing the Scripture Pavilion and Skill Transmission Hall would allow them to wholeheartedly nurture the clan¡¯s younger generation, making them exceedingly suitable candidates. Indeed, after a brief exchange among the senior Shi generation clan members seated in high positions, they decided on the matter. Lin Shihua then stood up and asked Lin Xingshun and his companion for their opinions. For them, these positions were indeed suitable, and both Lin Xingshun and his companion readily accepted the roles. The younger generation was not surprised by this outcome. Although many clan members met the requirements, taking up a managerial role would take up a great deal of time that could be spent on cultivation. Only those with limited potential and slim hopes for Foundation Establishment would vie for these positions. As for the two of them, their path was nearly cut off, so taking on these positions was indeed fortunate. With their acceptance, Lin Shihua nodded and publicly declared the decision. The rest of the clan members offered their congratulations, and Lin Xingshun and his companion quickly stood and returned the courtesies, behaving very politely. With the replacement for Lin Shigang and others decided, the matter came to a close, and Lin Shihua continued to preside over the clan meeting. Chapter 344: 215 New Policy_1 Chapter 344: Chapter 215 New Policy_1 After a brief rest, Lin Shihua once again brought up a discussion topic, which was to find new ways to earn Spirit Stones and encourage every clansperson to offer their opinions and suggestions. Over these past ten years, the number of Lin Family Members had increased substantially. Although most of the clanspeople were young with low cultivation, they would inevitably grow up in time. When that time came, the family¡¯s expenses would also rise significantly. The Spirit Stones and resources that had been accumulated over the years would not last for long. Therefore, it was urgent to plan ahead and find new avenues for making money. In the grand hall, as the clanspeople heard Lin Shihua¡¯s topic, some of them quickly began to express their opinions. For a while, numerous clanspeople offered their advice, but most opinions were not very reliable. However, there were some suggestions that were rather interesting and could serve as inspiration. A period of time enough to sip a cup of tea passed. The once lively hall grew gradually quiet, with only a few members¡¯ ideas gaining everyone¡¯s approval. Lin Shihua now sat in the seat of honor, pondering the suggestions from several members and discussing them intermittently with a few other clanspeople of the same generation. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a while, Lin Shihua stood up and looked down at the silent Lin Tianming before asking, ¡°Tian Ming, what is your view on this matter?¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s question, Lin Tianming began to ponder for a moment. He was roughly aware of the family¡¯s situation. Currently, the main economic sources were focused on sharing profits from Luoyun Market, the earnings of Luoyun Pavilion, and the cultivation of Spiritual Medicines and Materials on several of the family¡¯s lands. The Green Bamboo Mountain was known for its prolific Qingling Bamboo, which could be harvested each year to craft Spiritual Artifacts, later to be sold in the family¡¯s various shops. Both Golden Horn Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain possessed vast areas of Spirit Materials, particularly Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s Golden Flower Trees. Having been maintained by the Jin Family for a thousand years, they were more extensive than the Lin Family¡¯s Qingling Bamboo, yielding nearly double the profit annually. This was why the Lin Family valued Golden Horn Mountain so highly and why they stationed a Foundation Establishment cultivator and more than ten Qi Refining clanspeople there year-round. As for Jiuhua Mountain, its Spirit Material resources were small. After its destruction at the hands of the Jin Family, they cut down many of the older Double Cherry Wood trees, leaving only younger saplings that would likely need decades to return to their former glory and start generating a substantial income. Thus, for these years, the Lin Family hadn¡¯t prioritized Jiuhua Mountain, with just over a dozen Qi Refining clanspeople stationed to safeguard the remaining Spiritual Medicines and Materials. With the family¡¯s overall strength having surged, they were no longer lacking in High Order Cultivators like at the end of the great war. Back then, the family¡¯s elite were either injured or dead, and suddenly inheriting a vast amount of territory and Spirit Lands, they faced a shortage of personnel, which led to some wasted time and benefits. Given the current situation, the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family reigned supreme, with the remaining two Foundation Establishing Families unable to compete. Fortunately, they were all sufficiently wise, and over the years they subtly followed the Lin Family, not coveting the wealth that the Lin Family had acquired. Now with strong forces, it was also time to properly maintain and utilize the acquired Spirit Lands. If developed correctly, they would become a source of economic income for the Lin Family in the coming decades. With these thoughts, he then said, ¡°The methods summarized by our clanspeople are feasible. Previously, with insufficient strength and personnel, we couldn¡¯t take big steps. But now that we have matured, we naturally should develop and maintain all the areas we can utilize properly.¡± ¡°Several years ago, when I and Fifteenth Grandfather were on our journey, we secured a vast territory. Some places rich in Spiritual Energy have already been developed, and though they don¡¯t yield profits in the short term, that doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t in the future.¡± ¡°Now, we should replicate this method in all the territories we control. As long as the Spiritual Energy meets the cultivation requirements, we should make full use of them, preparing for the future.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s detailed explanation, all the clanspeople in the hall nodded in agreement, clearly finding the ideas acceptable. At that moment, Lin Xingzhi also spoke up, saying, ¡°Tian Ming has already given a detailed introduction. I think in addition to the integration of resources, we should also focus on developing Luoyun Market.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Xing Zhi, if you have a good plan, feel free to share,¡± Lin Shihua said with some surprise, followed by excitement. Lin Xingzhi chuckled and then continued, ¡°I have paid close attention before, and the popularity of Luoyun Market has been steadily increasing each year. This may have something to do with the market¡¯s stable operation over the years, but a more significant reason is the appearance of more precious and rare treasures in the shops and auction house, which attracts many Cultivators.¡± ¡°We can enhance the quality of the auction items by purchasing some essentials for Qi Training Cultivators from Qianchuan Market, creating an atmosphere for the auction and thereby attracting merchants and Loose Cultivators to settle in.¡± ¡°As long as we persist for a few times, we can further increase the market¡¯s popularity, and the Lin Family can gain more profit.¡± Before he finished speaking, a member of the Xing Clan Members nearby said, ¡°We, the Lin Family, work tirelessly to devise plans to increase the market¡¯s popularity, even offering up rare treasures. Yet some of the profits would be taken away by other family powers for nothing.¡± ¡°Why should that be so?¡± ¡°Exactly, why should they reap more benefits without doing anything? It¡¯s unfair,¡± another clansperson chimed in. Hearing these members¡¯ remarks, many clanspeople found them reasonable and began to ask about the family¡¯s countermeasures. Watching the noisy scene, Lin Shihua exchanged a few words with some of his generation members before saying, ¡°It would certainly be inappropriate for our Lin Family to exert effort and gain nothing in return. We can discuss this with the other families involved, and if they wish to gain greater benefits, they need to bring something valuable to the table.¡± Chapter 345: 215: The New Policy_2 Chapter 345: Chapter 215: The New Policy_2 ¡°Given the overall strength of the Lin Family, I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t dare to have any objections.¡± Hearing this, a group of clansmen voiced their agreement. After a while of discussing the details, Lin Shihua declared the arrangements on the spot. Green Bamboo Mountain, Golden Horn Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain, including the vast lands rich in Spiritual Energy conquered through trials, selected several clanspeople to reorganize them. The task of pioneering each major Spirit Land was entrusted to the leaders in charge. The family set a term limit of ten years, after which the achievements of each area would be rewarded handsomely based on their performance. Before they realized it, half a day had passed. The solemn clan meeting was drawing to a close. After half a day of exchanging ideas, the family discussed and summarized many matters and altered many policies. Most changes were for the benefit of the clanspeople, modestly improving their treatment. But also, many rules were added, completely eliminating some clanspeople¡¯s wishful thinking. As per the current family regulations, those who have not broken through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement by the age of fifty will have their stipends halved. Additionally, they will be required to guard the family¡¯s Spirit Lands and are responsible for planting Spiritual Medicine and maintaining the Spirit Plants. Such strict regulations completely cut off the hopes of those who were just coasting by, giving up on themselves. To receive high stipends and rewards from the family, one must cultivate diligently without the mentality of letting things fall apart, only looking to take advantage of the family. Only with effort can one receive the family¡¯s support. Although this policy change will inevitably face resistance and opposition from some, those who oppose are the ones with low cultivation and poor talent. They practically have no say within the family. This change has no impact on those with higher cultivation. It even improves some benefits for them, so even if those who oppose feel dissatisfied, they can only let it go under the resolute decision of the family¡¯s upper echelons. Inside the great hall. As Lin Shihua announced the end of the clan meeting, the vast majority of clanspeople stood up, bowed with a clasped fist towards the seated elderly members of the Shi Generation, greeted the familiar clanspeople around, and then slowly exited the great hall. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng and the others didn¡¯t leave with the group. All the Foundation Establishment Clan Members waited in place, as if they had agreed to do so. After most of the clanspeople had left, they too stood up and made their way towards the seated elders. Lin Tianming approached Lin Shikang. After bowing to the elders, the remaining clanspeople followed suit and paid their respects. Sitting beside Lin Shikang, Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe looked at their junior clansmen with satisfaction, nodding their heads in approval, their hearts once more filled with emotion. After a moment of calm, Lin Shihe spoke, ¡°Tianming, Tianfeng, you younger generations have done well, not disappointing us old folks who are halfway into the grave.¡± Lin Shigang, looking upon several Tian Generation clansmen, also expressed his sentiments, ¡°Indeed, seeing this group of talented Tian Generation clansmen, this old man can depart without worries.¡± ¡°Elder Wu, Seventh Grandpa, what are you saying? Without your teachings, how could we juniors have cultivated so rapidly?¡± ¡°I vividly remember when I was eleven; just after I learned the Fireball Technique, I accidentally set your wooden hut ablaze,¡± Lin Tianming said, his eyes reflecting a nostalgic glimmer. He had been quite mischievous as a child. Growing up in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, he often lived with his grandfather, making him very familiar with the Shi Generation of the Lin Family, whom he was particularly fond of. After his talent of Dual Spiritual Roots was detected at the age of ten, he became the darling of the clan. His mischief had led to quite a few outrageous incidents. ¡°Ha-ha, you were just like a monkey when you were small. Every lesson turned into utter chaos, and it was your father who ended up giving you a good thrashing,¡± Lin Shigang said with a laugh. Hearing this, many of the clanspeople around them started laughing as well, surprised to hear about such episodes from Lin Tianming¡¯s youth. Lin Tianming nodded awkwardly. In his memory, that thrashing from his father had been so severe that he wouldn¡¯t have been able to get out of bed for days if it weren¡¯t for Lin Shixin¡¯s protection. However, it was from then on that he no longer indulged himself and became focused on his cultivation. As these memories came to him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel nostalgic. When he thought of Lin Shixin¡¯s kind face and the realization that these two elders would pass away in a few years, his heart ached. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he reminisced, one by one, the clanspeople around him paid their respects to Lin Shihe and the others, almost as a premature farewell. After all, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were busy. They had to cultivate and take on tasks assigned by the family, so this goodbye could well be the last. The mood was somewhat mournful; Lin Shikang witnessed the whole ceremony, feeling reluctant to let go, as his generation of family members deeply shared these emotions. Perhaps in a hundred years, they too would experience this same sad scenario. After a short while, the clanspeople finally left the great hall. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng, with the other Tian Generation family members, returned to the Cave Mansion District. As Lin Tianhong and the others succeeded in their Foundation Establishment, except for his mother who did not choose a new Cave Mansion Courtyard, the rest picked their own. His sister¡¯s Cave Mansion was right next door to his, and Lin Tianhong¡¯s was not far away; they all gathered together, making the Tian Generation¡¯s Cave Mansion District very lively. After exchanging pleasantries with the clanspeople, everyone returned to their Cave Mansion Courtyards. Lin Tianming went straight into the secret chamber. He sat cross-legged on the cushion, pondering over his cultivation plan going forward. Chapter 346: 215 New Policy_3 Chapter 346: Chapter 215 New Policy_3 Over these past few years, in terms of his cultivation journey, it had been an unprecedented period of tranquility, almost entirely spent in closed-door cultivation. After much thought, and with no tasks assigned by the family at present, he had intended to venture out for some experience. However, the Luoyun Mountain Range had been cleared of Demonic Beasts, leaving only those in the Second Order Middle Stage, which were quite powerful. It would be too dangerous to go alone. There wasn¡¯t much point in visiting Qianchuan Market either, as there hadn¡¯t been any major gatherings for the past two years. A trip there would only be to replenish some expended treasures, a waste of time without much meaning. After contemplating for a long time and finding no desirable destination, he could only continue his closed-door cultivation for another year or two, then prepare some Second Order Pills for the family. Having made up his mind, he placed his hands together in prayer and circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, slowly entering a state of deep cultivation. ¡­ Qianchuan Market. Inside a secret room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Xing Rong and Ye Pinghai were sitting opposite each other. Lin Xing Rong respectfully poured Spiritual Tea for Ye Pinghai, contemplating the purpose behind Ye Pinghai¡¯s sudden visit in his heart. Years ago, he had learned from Lin Tianming that Ye Pinghai planned to visit Green Bamboo Mountain in a few years. Now, nearly six years had passed, and if the visit were for this matter, the timing would align. Ye Pinghai chuckled at that moment, looking across at Lin Xing Rong, then said, ¡°I have come today to ask for a favor. I wonder if Lin, my young friend, has heard any news from his son?¡± Seeing Ye Pinghai¡¯s direct approach, Lin Xing Rong immediately understood that he indeed planned to visit Green Bamboo Mountain to seek assistance from Lin Shikang. ¡°Could it really be for the breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm?¡± Lin Xing Rong thought secretly, but maintained his composure on the outside. Regaining his focus, he didn¡¯t conceal the truth, nor was there any need to. Lin Xing Rong spoke, ¡°To be honest with you, Uncle Ye, I indeed heard from my nephew that my third uncle and father have been looking forward to Uncle Ye¡¯s visit. May I ask when you plan to set off to Green Bamboo Mountain?¡± After contemplating briefly, Ye Pinghai replied directly, ¡°I plan to depart in half a month. If my young friend has anything to send, he can entrust it to me to deliver to your elders at Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°Leaving in half a month? That¡¯s about the right time.¡± Lin Xing Rong nodded. He had planned to return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, and this timing was not far off from his own expectations. It would be feasible to travel back with the company, and with Ye Pinghai accompanying him, the journey would certainly be safer. Returning to his senses, he said, ¡°I was actually planning to make a trip back home. Would Uncle Ye mind taking me along?¡± ¡°Good, with my young friend as a companion, the journey will not be lonely,¡± Ye Pinghai replied delightedly. Hearing the response, Lin Xing Rong chuckled and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s meet at the peak ten miles outside of the market in the early morning half a month from now.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ it¡¯s decided then.¡± With a hearty laugh, Ye Pinghai finished his Spiritual Tea and stood up to leave. Lin Xing Rong offered some polite words and then quickly rose to see him out. As they both exited Luoyun Pavilion and watched Ye Pinghai disappear around the corner, Lin Xing Rong returned to the secret room on the third floor. In the early morning half a month later, within the Lin Family Courtyard at the Cave Mansion. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After giving a few instructions to some clan members stationed at the market, Lin Xing Rong changed his appearance and stepped out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard, heading for the market entrance. Outside the Qianchuan Market, on a small hill, Lin Xing Rong¡¯s figure emerged. He looked ahead as a dark shadow flew towards him, undoubtedly the expected Ye Pinghai. Before the figure arrived, he stepped forward to meet him, then bowed and said, ¡°My respects to Uncle Ye. Right on time as expected!¡± ¡°My young friend need not be so polite. Having made an appointment with you, I will naturally be on time,¡± Ye Pinghai said. After saying this, Ye Pinghai waved his sleeve, and a dark green boat appeared in his hand. At a glance, the little boat was covered in golden inscriptions, and judging by the aura it emitted, it was a Second Order lower-quality Flying Artifact. This was Lin Xing Rong¡¯s first time seeing a Flying Artifact up close, and he couldn¡¯t hide the envy in his eyes. Ye Pinghai chuckled, then with a Single-handed Seal, a Law Decree struck the boat. Suddenly, the boat flashed golden-yellow and instantaneously enlarged to a thirty-foot long boat floating in mid-air. Looking at the dark green boat, Ye Pinghai said to Lin Xing Rong, ¡°Our journey spans over two thousand miles. We shall use my Inkwind Spirit Boat!¡± With excitement showing on his face, Lin Xing Rong nodded before replying, ¡°It couldn¡¯t be better. With Uncle Ye¡¯s Flying Artifact, our journey will certainly be much faster!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Ye Pinghai affirmed with a sound, then leaped aboard the Inkwind Spirit Boat first, followed closely by Lin Xing Rong. Standing on the Spirit Boat, Ye Pinghai unleashed a Law Decree in his hand, striking the surface of the Boat. ¡°Weng weng weng¡­¡± The Inkwind Spirit Boat hummed a few times, then flickered with light before shooting southward like a fleeting shadow. As Lin Xing Rong stood on the Spirit Boat, the mountains and rivers below gradually receded. The strong Gang Wind whipped through his robe, and as he heard the whistling by his ears, he mentally compared the speed of the Inkwind Spirit Boat with the Purple Gold Eagle. The boat was swift, not much slower than the full-speed flight of the Purple Gold Eagle. By his estimation, the speed of the Inkwind Spirit Boat was at least eighty percent that of the Purple Gold Eagle, which was very impressive. Spiritual Birds suitable for flying were rare; they could be found deep within the major mountain ranges, and chances of encountering them on the outskirts were slim. A Second Order lower-quality Flying Artifact commanded a higher price than a Mid-tier Second Order Attack Magical Artifact, often fetching staggering bids at auction that were almost priceless. Such an item only appeared at the large markets of Qianchuan Market, selling at incredibly high prices each time. Given Ye Pinghai¡¯s wealth, cultivation level, and his powerful influence, obtaining a Flying Artifact did not come as a surprise. Snapping back to his senses, the Inkwind Spirit Boat had already carried them more than ten miles away. With Ye Pinghai to accompany him, there were no concerns for safety. Lin Xing Rong sat cross-legged, eyes tightly shut, seizing the opportunity to engage in brief cultivation. Chapter 347: 216 Ye Pinghais Request_1 Chapter 347: Chapter 216 Ye Pinghai¡¯s Request_1 ¡°` Golden Horn Mountain. As evening fell, the Inkwind Spirit Boat crossed over a range of mountains and rivers. Lin Xingrong opened his tightly closed eyes and looked out at the familiar valleys and rivers ahead. They were just as they had always been, and his expression became excited. This journey, after five days of flight and smooth progress, found them traveling by day and resting briefly at night, arriving at Golden Horn Mountain just as evening approached. He had guarded the mountain for many years, and under the Lin Family¡¯s management for over a decade, it had stabilized; some clan members had lived there long-term. Golden Horn Mountain had truly become an important stronghold for the family. Now that they had arrived, they were completely safe. They prepared to rest overnight and would head directly to Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory the following day. At the mountain gate. Lin Xingyou, as usual, was leading several Qi Refining Clanspersons in Sword Flight, planning to patrol the vast area tens of miles around Golden Horn Mountain. After half an hour of patrolling, they returned to the mountain gate. As he was about to send the others away and leave, one of the clanspersons by his side suddenly turned serious. He pointed at the rapidly moving shadow in the distance and said, ¡°Uncle Xingyou, look quickly, what is that swift shadow in the distance? It seems to be heading this way!¡± Hearing the clansperson¡¯s warning, Lin Xingyou quickly turned his gaze, watching the approaching shadow turn from serious to joyful. Upon recognizing the arrival, he immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s twelfth brother and his companions, and it seems that the person with him is Elder Ye!¡± ¡°Elder Ye?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Could it be Ye Pinghai, who is friendly with our Lin Family?¡± The clansperson seemed uncertain and asked with doubt. Lin Xingyou nodded his head and softly explained, ¡°Exactly, in the whole Wei Kingdom, apart from Ye Pinghai who has a good relationship with our family, there are no other renowned figures with the surname Ye!¡± While they were whispering among themselves, Lin Xingrong and another person landed at the mountain gate. Seeing them from a distance, Lin Xingyou and the others hurried forward, first saluting Ye Pinghai with clasped hands and then greeting Lin Xingrong. Lin Xingrong nodded and casually introduced the few clanspersons, and Ye Pinghai also returned the greeting one by one, leaving them quite touched. With their modest cultivation, it was rare to receive such courtesy from a renowned cultivator like Ye Pinghai in Wei Kingdom. Seeing the excited group of people, Lin Xingrong said, ¡°Xingyou, hurry and arrange a cave residence for Elder Ye. We¡¯ll rest here tonight, and then set off for Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory in the early morning.¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s instructions, the clanspersons reacted and quickly led the way. Shortly after, the group arrived at the cave residence where Lin Xingrong had once lived. Lin Xingping, who had been informed in advance, was already waiting at the entrance to greet them. After seeing the arrivals, he smiled warmly and stepped forward to greet Ye Pinghai and the others, seeming to be in a good mood. Ye Pinghai likewise courteously returned the greeting. Lin Xingping had been stationed at Qianchuan Market for several years, and their frequent interactions meant that they were quite familiar with each other. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Xingyou also arranged a cave residence for Ye Pinghai, and everyone retired to their rooms to rest. The next morning, Lin Xingping and another person set off again, continuing their journey south. Standing on the Inkwind Spirit Boat, watching the mountains and rivers below, from time to time they could see some Lin Family Members working in areas rich with Spiritual Energy, clearly developing Spirit Fields according to the family¡¯s policy in suitable locations. Seeing the bustling scene below, Lin Xingrong felt a surge of excitement. Noticing this, Ye Pinghai asked curiously, ¡°This place used to be the territory of Demonic Beasts, how has it completely changed now?¡± Lin Xingrong chuckled and explained, ¡°In recent years, my family has cleared the vast area between Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain of Demonic Beasts. Nearly all of them above the First Order Middle Stage have been eradicated. We now plan to develop these usable Spirit Lands, plant a large number of low-grade Spiritual Medicines, and reap some benefits in the years to come.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded, remembering that the power of the Demon Beasts in this region was not insignificant. Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts were plenty, and there were even more powerful Demon Beast Tribes with exceptional talents inhabiting the area. But upon further reflection, considering the current overall strength of the Lin Family, it didn¡¯t seem strange that they had taken some time to conquer this land. As the two stood on the Inkwind Spirit Boat, they chatted casually from time to time. In the face of Ye Pinghai¡¯s indirect probing about the situation among the Lin Family¡¯s higher echelons, Lin Xingrong did not divulge any important information. He particularly avoided mentioning sensitive information such as the number and cultivation levels of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Although Ye Pinghai had indeed provided considerable help to the Lin Family over the years, human nature is unpredictable; being a bit more cautious and maintaining a sense of mystery wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Unknowingly, after spending the better part of the day, they arrived in the vicinity of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. After that matter, the clanspersons patrolling the mountain gate weren¡¯t surprised to see Lin Xingrong appear with them. After exchanges of greetings, with Lin Xingrong leading the way, the two entered the mountain gate smoothly. Walking on the stone path of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, Lin Xingrong introduced Ye Pinghai to some of the family¡¯s institutions without revealing any significant details. Ye Pinghai nodded, observing the greatly changed surroundings and the bustling scenes, as well as the busy Lin Family members, which led him to deep contemplation. It had been decades since he last visited the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and this rare visit now presented a stark contrast to what he had seen in the past. ¡°` Chapter 348: 216 Ye Pinghais Request_2 Chapter 348: Chapter 216 Ye Pinghai¡¯s Request_2 Before, the Lin Family Clan Grounds seemed lifeless, with not many members and all at low levels of cultivation, nowhere near the bustle we see today. Beyond that, even the cultivation levels of the clan members have visibly risen by several notches, with just anyone you see being at least at the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, and there¡¯s even a considerable number of members above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. Looking at the expressions of these clan members, and the Spirit Swords beneath their feet, all of Second Order High Quality, it was clear their worth had greatly increased. From the excitement of every member, it was evident that the atmosphere within the family was superb. Seeing this scene, so starkly different from decades ago, he couldn¡¯t help but hold the Lin Family¡¯s strength in even higher regard. By the time he had gathered his thoughts, the two of them had already arrived at the Elders¡¯ Council Hall. At this time, several elders of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation had been waiting before the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, standing in a row, looking at the two men as they slowly approached. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang greeted them with a smile and his loud voice rang out, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s been decades since I¡¯ve seen Brother Ye, I¡¯ve missed you a great deal.¡± Upon seeing Lin Shikang and the others, as well as hearing his loud voice, Ye Pinghai also burst into laughter, walking forward to greet the elders of ¡®Shi¡¯ generation. He took Lin Shigong¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Indeed, it has been many years since we last met, Brother Shikang, Brother Shigong, Brother Shihua, how have you been recently?¡± ¡°And Brother Shilu, it¡¯s been a few years since we last met, and it seems your cultivation has improved further, the Lin Family truly harbors hidden dragons.¡± Lin Shigong replied with a twinkle in his eyes, ¡°Thanks to Brother Ye¡¯s blessing, I fortuitously broke through to the Foundation Establishment over a decade ago, I have to thank you, Brother Ye. Without the Minor Foundation Building Pills you helped refine back then, Shihua and I might have been sitting on the brink of death.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua chimed in, ¡°Yes, it was a perilous breakthrough back then, that Minor Foundation Building Pill was our lifesaver, without it, it would have been difficult to say whether we could meet Brother Ye once more.¡± ¡°Haha, I merely did what I could, it was nothing significant. You two are fortunate men, and it¡¯s clear that fortune has favored you with a successful breakthrough,¡± laughed Ye Pinghai. ¡°Alright, since Brother Ye has kindly visited, I happen to have some treasured tea to share. Let¡¯s go inside to enjoy the tea and rest for a bit, and we will entertain Brother Ye well at dinner later.¡± ¡°Shihua, instruct them to prepare some fine ingredients for the dinner, we must do our best to show hospitality,¡± Lin Shikang said and grabbed Ye Pinghai by the hand, heading toward the interior of the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, with Lin Shigong and the others quickly following behind. Lin Shihua promptly gave a few instructions to the clansmen beside him and then followed them inside, disappearing in front of the grand hall. Elders¡¯ Council Hall, inside an austere and dignified reception room. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai sat in the high seats while Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua took their places on either side. As they chatted casually, Lin Xingrong stood by, offering tea and pouring water for the elders. Lin Shikang was excited, and while attending to Ye Pinghai, he soon said, ¡°This Dragon Stream Flower Tea is part of my personal collection, harvested from a Second Order Dragon Stream Tree, a legacy from our ancestors. I¡¯m only willing to share it when Brother Ye visits, so take a sip quickly and let me know how it tastes.¡± ¡°Oh? Second Order Dragon Creek Tea.¡± Ye Pinghai was excited, as he was also a tea aficionado. Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, he promptly took the jade cup and tasted a sip of the tea. As the Spiritual Tea entered his stomach, a scalding energy moved through his meridians and finally settled slowly into his Seven Sea Dantian, causing his complexion to grow rosier. After a few moments, he nodded in satisfaction and then said, ¡°Not bad at all, this Dragon Creek Tea is truly exceptional, the peculiar aroma is pervasive, and just smelling this natural fragrance is refreshing to one¡¯s spirit.¡± ¡°Not only that, but after drinking the Spiritual Tea, I can clearly feel my blood flowing more swiftly. It¡¯s like having consumed half a Lingshen Pill; without even cultivating, the energy contained within has already taken root in my body, slowly transforming into spiritual power¡ªno doubt, it is indeed a High Quality Spiritual Tea.¡± Lin Shikang nodded and replied, ¡°Brother Ye, you are right, this Dragon Creek Tea indeed has its unique uses. Seven leaves to a pot, its effects when consumed regularly are outstanding, although it is a pity the quantity is too little, only about half a pound left. If Brother Ye likes it, I will give it to you.¡± Upon hearing this, Ye Pinghai chuckled and, after declining several times, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t insist further ¨C after all, it was but a courteous offering, and Ye Pinghai certainly wouldn¡¯t take it seriously. The group then went back to leisurely sipping tea and chatting. After Ye Pinghai took another sip of the Spiritual Tea, he changed the topic. ¡°Brother Shigong, is your grandson Tian Ming at the family grounds? It¡¯s been several years since I last saw the lad,¡± said Ye Pinghai. Upon his mention of Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong chuckled and replied, ¡°Thank you for remembering him, Brother Ye. I have already sent a message to him, and he should be here to pay his respects shortly. Let¡¯s drink tea and wait a moment.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s wonderful, I haven¡¯t seen the boy in a few years and I¡¯d bet his cultivation has significantly improved. The Lin Family is indeed like a dragon lying in wait, destined to return to its former glory one day,¡± Ye Pinghai said with a chuckle. ¡°Brother Ye flatters us. The boy indeed cultivates swiftly, but the path to the Golden Core is not so easily trodden. From what I see, Brother Ye, you¡¯ve been at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment for many years and must have reached the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm by now,¡± interjected Lin Shikang, probing for more information about Ye Pinghai¡¯s condition and trying to gather as much news as possible. Ye Pinghai looked serious in response to Lin Shikang¡¯s inquiry, about to speak, when Lin Tianming entered the room. Chapter 349: 216 Ye Pinghais Request_3 Chapter 349: Chapter 216 Ye Pinghai¡¯s Request_3 He strode forward and gave Ye Pinghai a bow, then spoke, ¡°Tian Ming greets Grandpa Sea. Just six years apart, and you seem to have grown even stronger.¡± Ye Pinghai waved his hand modestly and said, ¡°You¡¯re really impressive, young man. A few years go by, and your cultivation has broken through to the Foundation Building Fourth Level. When I was your age, I had just broken through Foundation Establishment. Compared to you, I¡¯m hardly in the same league.¡± ¡°Haha, Grandpa Sea overestimates me.¡± Lin Tianming replied and proceeded to greet the elders, then sat down with his father at the lowest seating, waiting for something. Seated in a high position, Ye Pinghai surveyed the few people in the hall, and Lin Shikang immediately understood. He spoke with a grave expression, ¡°The people here are all core members of our Lin Family and those familiar to Brother Ye. If there¡¯s anything you need help with, just speak frankly. Over the years, you¡¯ve gone to great lengths for the Lin Family. As long as it¡¯s within our power, I can speak on behalf of the Lin Family and promise to do our utmost.¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s earnest expression and firm tone of voice, Ye Pinghai let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°If the brothers speak so straightforwardly, then I won¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Tianming and all the other clan members perked up, all eager to learn if Ye Pinghai¡¯s reason for visiting was indeed for the Golden Core Path as they had guessed. Ye Pinghai pondered for a moment, then made up his mind. ¡°I do have a matter to discuss on this visit. If Tian Ming had attended the major auction at Qianchuan Market several years ago, perhaps you could guess some of it. I did indeed obtain the Gold Fruit.¡± ¡°And this visit is to make preparations for my impact on the Golden Core Stage.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s expression grew serious. The Gold Fruit had indeed been obtained by him, and the impact of reaching the Golden Core Realm was no trivial matter. The entire Wei Kingdom had only a few dozen Golden Core Cultivators, which showed how much attention this matter would attract if it got out. Ye Pinghai seemed to have anticipated the crowd¡¯s reaction and continued while they were in astonishment; ¡°As a Loose Cultivator, my situation is well known to everybody. I plan to make an attempt on the Golden Core Realm in three years¡¯ time, for which I wish to rely on the Lin Family Treasured Land and the wisdom of Ancestor of the Lin Family. The spiritual energy in Green Bamboo Mountain is rich enough to support my advancement. ¡°As for the actual process of reaching the Golden Core Stage, I do not need any help from you all. If I die under the Heavenly Tribulation, consider my possessions as compensation. If, by chance, I succeed, I shall not hesitate to face death for any crisis the Lin Family might face in the future.¡± ¡°Should there be any falsehood in my words, may I never advance an inch on my path again. I wonder if Brother Lin and everyone present is willing to help me out?¡± No sooner had the words fallen than Ye Pinghai looked at Lin Shikang with an anxious yet hopeful expression. He had made full preparations for his attempt on the Golden Core Realm. Although it was possible to forge ahead alone, finding a spiritually abundant and safe locale was not easy. Beyond that, more crucial was the breakthrough wisdom left by the ancestor of the Lin Family. Such knowledge was rare throughout the Wei Kingdom, and he dared not seek help from Golden Elixir Forces. There were other families with ancestors who had reached Golden Elixir Experts, but his relationships with those families were mediocre. They would not help without receiving some treasure in exchange, and he had to be wary of them coveting the Gold Fruit. In such circumstances, the Lin Family was his first choice. His interactions over the years had shown that the Lin Family Members were of good character and the family¡¯s reputation in the Cultivation World had always been excellent; they were unlikely to commit avarice. If the Lin Family were to turn greedy and snatch the Core Formation treasures, he wasn¡¯t completely powerless to resist. He had prepared a trump card capable of inflicting severe damage on the Lin Family, which was extremely important. If the Lin Family refused his request for help, he had other families in mind. If there was truly no suitable option, he would have to take a risk and find an appropriate Spirit Land to attempt the Golden Core alone. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Shikang, sitting nearby, did not seem to ponder much. He exchanged nods with Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu, and finally turned to Lin Tianming, seemingly seeking his opinion. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, as they had discussed and reached a unanimous decision beforehand, if Ye Pinghai sought help, they would agree immediately. Whether he succeeded or not, there would be no loss for the Lin Family; once he made a breakthrough, remembering the previous life-saving grace and the assistance of Core Formation this time, the Lin Family would have a slim chance of survival in any future crisis. Besides, him attempting a breakthrough in the Lin Family Clan Grounds meant all Foundation Establishment Clan Members could closely witness the Power of the Threefold Thunder Tribulation, an extremely rare opportunity. In time, when someone from the Lin Family made an impact on the Golden Core Realm, they could make advance preparations. No matter the outcome of the impact on the Golden Core, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t be at a loss and would even gain a lot of experience. Having thought this through, Lin Tianming nodded without hesitation to express his opinion. Seeing Lin Tianming confirm, Lin Shikang spoke up, ¡°Brother Ye has been kind to the Lin Family over the years, and now that he needs the Lin Family, naturally, we should lend a helping hand. Brother, you can represent the Lin Family and accept this matter; we hope Brother Ye can step onto the Golden Core Path in one fell swoop.¡± When Lin Shikang agreed to the matter, Ye Pinghai breathed a sigh of relief. As he was getting older and his potential was dwindling, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste much time. If the Lin Family refused to help, it would have caused him much trouble and delayed him unnecessarily. Fortunately, the Lin Family nearly agreed without a second thought, which was somewhat unexpected for him. Regaining his composure, he laughed heartily and then said, ¡°A great kindness does not warrant thanks; if by some fluke I succeed, I will definitely not forget the grace of the Lin Family.¡± Lin Shikang laughed as well, ¡°Brother Ye, no need to overthink it. Helping out is just a minor effort. Honored that Brother Ye holds the Lin Family in such regard, just focus on your Golden Core breakthrough with peace of mind. I here make a promise, there will be no vile intentions, and should I harbor any malevolence, may my path in cultivation not advance a single inch.¡± Seeing Lin Shikang state his position so clearly and make such a promise, if he harbored any greedy thoughts and acted against him, it would be difficult to make further progress with his state of mind damaged. At this thought, he was somewhat moved and let down his guard. What followed was a lively scene, as the clan members and Ye Pinghai exchanged cultivation experiences, with Ye Pinghai having no reservations. In his Second Order Superior Alchemy Expertise, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong absorbed a lot of experience in the art of Alchemy. The lively exchange continued well into the day, with everyone reaping benefits. As evening approached, accompanied by the family¡¯s senior members, they warmly hosted a banquet for Ye Pinghai, where the clan members also had the rare opportunity to gather and heartily drink Spiritual Wine, creating an extremely warm atmosphere. In a moment filled with laughter, the wariness between them melted away, and their affection deepened. Time flew swiftly, and half a month passed quickly. On this clear morning, on the Bluestone Street of the clan grounds, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were walking in front, followed by several key clan members, with Lin Tianming among them. Soon after, they arrived at the plaza in front of the mountain gate. With a smile, Ye Pinghai clasped his fist towards Lin Shikang and the others and said, ¡°Brother Shi Kang, fellow daoists, thank you for your warm hospitality. I need to make further preparations, and in three years, I will come on time as agreed.¡± ¡°Take care, I shall take my leave.¡± The Lin Family members on the other side nodded, returned the gesture with clasped hands, and then Lin Shikang gave a few instructions to Lin Xingrong beside him. Lin Xingrong nodded and then approached Ye Pinghai, ready to accompany him back to Qianchuan Market. After the two nodded to each other, they left the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the Protective Clan Formation, Ye Pinghai summoned the Inkwind Spirit Boat, and the two hopped on, one after the other. Then, turning into a dark shadow, they flew toward the northern Qianchuan Market. Chapter 350: 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_1 Chapter 350: Chapter 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_1 At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within the cave mansion courtyard of Lin Tianming. With Ye Pinghai leaving Green Bamboo Mountain, half a month had already passed, and the family had returned to peace. The clan members cultivated as usual, everything as it was in the past. In a pill refining room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, with his hands joined together. He began the process of circulating his energy and breathing, soon entering deep cultivation. Half a day went by. When his condition reached its peak, he opened his eyes and felt his body¡¯s state. Then he took out a large quantity of Spirit Essence Pill materials, totaling dozens of portions. In the years since he had become a Second Order Junior Alchemist, he had refined a large number of Second Order Spirit Origin Pills. The pills consumed by the family, as well as those sold in various shops, were mostly produced by him. However, the pills he refined were for the family¡¯s use. Both his grandfather and Lin Xingyuan were also Second Order Junior Alchemists, but the quality of the pills they refined could not compare to his, so they all went for sale. After so many refining sessions, refining Second Order Inferior Grade Pills had almost become a sure thing for him. Moreover, the pills produced by his hands were all of superior quality, with a potency a notch stronger than those refined by ordinary people. This time the family had accumulated some spiritual medicine materials, including twelve portions of a type of Elixir Essence called Melting Yuan Pill, all slowly collected over the years by the family. The Fusion Spirit Pill was a Second Order Medium Quality elixir, also used to aid cultivation just like the Spirit Origin Pill, but its potency and value differed greatly. The potency contained in a single Fusion Spirit Pill was at least worth more than two Spirit Origin Pills, and it was also smoother to refine. Therefore, the price of a Fusion Spirit Pill was more than three times that of a regular Spirit Origin Pill. Since the spiritual medicine materials needed for the Fusion Spirit Pill were hard to collect, such pills only circulated in small quantities among the Golden Core forces. Under normal circumstances, considering its stronger medicinal properties, those who had the Fusion Spirit Pill were almost unwilling to trade it, preferring to keep it for their own cultivation. After more than ten years of gathering little by little, the family had finally obtained enough materials for more than a dozen Fusion Spirit Pills. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Taking advantage of this time, he planned to refine all the Spirit Essence Pill materials and then try his hand at the Second Order Medium Quality Fusion Spirit Pill to see if he could produce it and advance to a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist. Regaining his focus, he made a single-handed seal and cast a spell at the Earth Fire inlet. When the Earth Fire surged out, the temperature in the pill refining room slowly rose. He then took out the Blueflame Furnace, made all the necessary preparations, and began refining the Spirit Origin Pills. With adept experience, one after another, the spiritual medicine materials were decomposed and purified into Elixir Essence lying at the bottom of the Blueflame Furnace. He then skillfully infused them with his spiritual power, completing the Solidifying Pill process. At this moment, the pill refining room was bustling with activity, and every half a day, a fragrance indicated that a batch of pills had successfully solidified and come out of the furnace. ¡­ Time flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed. In the pill refining room, Lin Tianming still sat on the cushion. In front of him, numerous Jade Bottles were neatly placed, emitting a special Elixir scent that was refreshing. After a month of intensive refining, he had completed the refining of fifty portions of Spirit Essence Pill materials. He refined pills during the day and meditated at night. Engaged in dual management of both alchemy and cultivation, he wasted not a single moment, living quite a fulfilling life. Under such diligent efforts, the fifty portions of spiritual medicine materials resulted in nearly three hundred pills, all of them rare high-quality products. After setting aside a third for the family, he himself was left with almost two hundred pills, earning a substantial fortune. Looking at the large number of pills in front of him, he was pleased, then stored them in two different storage bags, planning to deliver them to the Hall of Merit once he emerged from seclusion. With the refining of the Spirit Origin Pills completed, he prepared to strike while the iron was hot and give the Fusion Spirit Pills a try to see if he could refine them. If he could produce them, he would use the Fusion Spirit Pills to cultivate for a while, aiming to push his cultivation toward the peak of the Foundation Building Fourth Level. Once that happened, he planned to venture out and after a round of battles, he might have an opportunity for a breakthrough. Having made up his mind, he began to circulate his energy and adjust his state. Four hours later, his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power had fully recovered, returning his condition to its peak. Feeling the state of his entire body, he waved his sleeve, and a pale gold Jade Slip appeared in his hand. This Jade Slip contained the Pill Formula for the Fusion Spirit Pill. It was unknown how the family had obtained it. No matter how, now that the Pill Formula and spiritual medicine materials had been collected, it was only natural to refine them as soon as possible to help the Foundation Establishment Clan Members accelerate their cultivation. Refocusing his mind, he began to comprehend the formula. Although he had already read through it several times, the spiritual medicine materials were not easy to collect, so he had to be well-prepared, increase his chances as much as possible, and avoid wasting the materials. After half a day, he reviewed the Pill Formula for the Fusion Spirit Pill several times until he could recite it by heart and felt that his understanding of the formula had reached a certain level. Only then did he put away the Jade Slip. Now everything was ready, except for the Wind. Lin Tianming took a deep breath, then made a seal with his hands, casting a Law Decree at the Earth Fire outlet. As the Earth Fire erupted, a fiery red Earth Fire scorched the bottom of the yet unmoved Blueflame Furnace. Chapter 351: 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_2 Chapter 351: Chapter 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_2 For a moment, the temperature within the pill refining room began to rise again. He then slapped his storage bag, and the spiritual medicine materials for the Fusion Spirit Pill appeared on the stone platform. Feeling that the Earth Fire was about the right temperature, he didn¡¯t hesitate. He picked up a piece of spiritual medicine material and tossed it into the Blueflame Furnace. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± The spiritual medicine quickly began to decompose under the high temperatures. He controlled his Divine Sense with precision, carefully separating the impurities from the essence within the spiritual medicine material. Soon, the first piece of spiritual medicine material was fully decomposed, leaving a small glob of greenish liquid at the bottom of the furnace. Following that, another piece of spiritual medicine material was thrown into the furnace, and he skillfully decomposed it. Four hours passed, and all of the spiritual medicine materials had been decomposed, leaving a fist-sized glob of Elixir Essence at the bottom of the furnace, teeming with a great deal of both main and auxiliary medicine¡¯s essence. Observing the glob of Elixir Essence, with its purity gathered together, Lin Tianming felt quite elated. After calming himself down and feeling that the Blueflame Furnace was reaching a critical temperature, he could not afford to care about the sweat on his forehead and began to inject Spiritual Energy. With a slap on the Blueflame Furnace, a faint ball of Spiritual Power passed through the body of the furnace, accurately entering the Elixir Essence. At the same time, he controlled the Earth Fire once more, instantly raising both the flame¡¯s temperature and size. Just when he was about to solidify the pill, he activated his Eye of Five Colors, concentrating intently on the changes within the Blueflame Furnace. Feeling the Earth Fire reaching the level required for solidifying the pill, he made his preparations for the pill solidification without hesitation. ¡°Solidify the pill!¡± With his shout, the Earth Fire surged out fiercely, and the temperature inside the Blueflame Furnace peaked. After a brief moment, a special fragrance wafted from the Pill Furnace. He immediately sensed the fragrance, and his complexion flushed with excitement. ¡°The first furnace seems to have succeeded directly!¡± He murmured to himself, then hurriedly removed the lid of the furnace. Inside lay two golden-yellow elixirs, roughly the size of apricot kernels, with surfaces marked by fine lines, looking quite attractive. Indeed, the first furnace had succeeded, something Lin Tianming himself hadn¡¯t expected to happen so easily. Overjoyed, he took one elixir into his hand and began to study it closely. Looking at the patterns on the elixir and its unique fragrance, compared with the records in the Pill Formula, he was certain that it was undoubtedly a genuine Fusion Spirit Pill. Being successful with the first furnace was a bit of a surprise to him as well, but after thinking about it, this elixir was very similar to the Lingshen Pill, only higher in grade and made with more precious spiritual medicine materials. Having refined countless furnaces of Lingshen Pills himself, his alchemy skills had long reached the standards of Second Order Medium Quality. With the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he had somehow managed to refine it successfully. However, the number of pills was a bit low; at the very least, reaching three pills would be considered formally entering the realm of Second Order Medium Quality. Even so, he was still very satisfied with such an achievement. Once his mood had settled, he stored the two Fusion Spirit Pills into his storage bag, then began to sit in meditation to restore his spent Divine Sense and Spiritual Power. Once his condition had recovered, he continued while the iron was hot, striving to refine the remaining ten plus batches of spiritual medicine materials into elixirs. Another month went by. In the pill refining room, as another fragrance permeated the air, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned excited, and he eagerly lifted the lid of the furnace. At this time, four golden-yellow elixirs lay inside the Pill Furnace, each one full of color and undoubtedly genuine Fusion Spirit Pills. With this batch of spiritual medicine materials successfully refined, twelve batches of materials were all completed, yielding a total of five furnaces of pills. The first two furnaces had produced only two elixirs each, followed by two furnaces with three each, and as he refined more, the number of elixirs slowly increased, with the last furnace yielding four, totaling fourteen Fusion Spirit Pills. Having to contribute twelve to his clan, keeping two for himself was quite a good outcome. Now that his alchemy had successfully advanced to Second Order Medium Quality, overall, the pill formation rate had reached thirty percent, but it was still short of forty percent. He would need to practice a bit more, and reaching forty percent shouldn¡¯t take too long. However, lacking the materials to refine Second Order Medium Quality elixirs, it was not as easy to make rapid progress in his alchemy skills as before. After storing the elixirs into his storage bag, he habitually tidied up the messy pill refining room. Lin Tianming then left the room and entered his own bedroom. After two months of pill making, even though the frequency wasn¡¯t high, as he spent most of his nights in cultivation, the duration still left him a bit weary. Now that the pill making was done and there wasn¡¯t much else to do besides cultivating, he planned to rest well for a few days. Once he was fully rejuvenated, he would start testing the effects of the Fusion Spirit Pill and also focus on secluded cultivation for a while. Making up his mind, he directly lay on the stone bed, and within just a short period, he fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ Luoyun Mountain Range. In a small valley where Green Bamboo Mountain and Luoyun Mountain meet. This was the very valley where Lin Tianming and his companions had fought the Qilin Beast Horde and acquired a great quantity of Ice Crystals during their training. Seen from high above, this petite valley was shrouded in mist and rich in Spiritual Energy. Although it didn¡¯t match the standards of Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, it was still considered an excellent Spirit Land outside the wilderness. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thanks to the policies issued by his clan over the years, this small valley had been designated as one of the Spirit Lands to be developed by the clan and had been given a new name¡ªIce Valley. Chapter 352: 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_3 Chapter 352: Chapter 217: Fusion Spirit Pill, Attack_3 After the concerted efforts of many lower-ranked clan members, the once dense towering trees were cut down by the Lin Family Members, clearing a large expanse of rough spiritual medicine fields. It was now evening, and dozens of Lin Family Members were swinging specially made spirit shovels, turning over the grey-brown soil, after which blocks of spirit stones were buried in the pits, followed by the addition of some special powdery substances. This step was part of the process to cultivate the soil, and after such a series of procedures, only one or two years of careful maintenance were needed for the clan to obtain a fertile spiritual medicine garden. Looking around, orderly spiritual medicine fields layered like terraces wrapped around the peaks on both sides of the valley. At the edge of one spiritual medicine field, Lin Tianfeng stood side by side with Lin Xingyou, watching the people working below, with a look of satisfaction on their faces. Lin Tianfeng looked at the slowly setting sun overhead and said to Lin Xingyou beside him, ¡°Uncle, if this progress continues, it should be finished in a few months, and then we can report back.¡± ¡°The sky is getting dark, let the clansmen return to camp for a rest,¡± he added. Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Xingyou nodded. They were tasked by the Clan Leader with the defense of this place. Having been here for over half a year, fortunately, the reclamation went smoothly without attacks from powerful demonic beasts. They only encountered a few first order demon beasts straying into the area, which Lin Tianfeng easily killed. Today¡¯s progress was not bad, and both their moods were quite pleasant. Lin Xingyou then shouted, ¡°Fellow clan members, it¡¯s getting late, prepare to return to camp, and continue work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Haha¡­work¡¯s over¡­work¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Time to rest¡­I¡¯m really a bit tired today, we¡¯ll continue tomorrow!¡± Upon hearing that work was over, the clansmen were in a good mood, joking and playing with each other. In a short while, dozens of clansmen had already gathered together. After Lin Tianfeng and the others checked that everyone was present, they prepared to lead the clansmen towards the valley. Just at that moment, a roar from demonic beasts came, quickly followed by the sound of pounding footsteps. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression drastically changed, and in a hurry, he shouted, ¡°Uncle Xingyou, take the clansmen and quickly retreat to the valley! Relying on the formation protection, it might be safer.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyou¡¯s expression became grave, and he quickly led the clansmen toward the valley. At this time, the Qi Refining Clanspeople appeared slightly panicked, but they did not dare to delay, following Lin Xingyou in haste. However, the demonic beasts were too fast. Just when the clansmen had descended the terraced fields and were yet to reach a safe area, two second order initial stage Iceflame Lions had appeared at the distant entrance of the valley. When the two sides met eyes, there was a brief pause. Soon after, a tide of first order Iceflame Lions rushed over from behind the two leaders, with at least dozens in number. Seeing the scale of the oncoming Iceflame Lion tribe, both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyou¡¯s expressions turned incredibly solemn. The Iceflame Lions were also social demonic beasts, their tribe sizes varying. Adult Iceflame Lions were at the second order initial stage, very powerful, favoring water attribute spirit lands and rare treasures. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This tribe was of medium size, aside from the two second order initial stage Iceflame Lions, there were also several at the first order late stage, a force that should not be underestimated. They appeared here likely because they sensed the rich water attribute spiritual energy of the place. If they could claim this land, the advancement of their offspring would be much faster. Lin Tianfeng thought to himself, contemplating countermeasures. But the Iceflame Lion tribe was approaching quickly, giving him little time to react. Led by the two second order initial stage Iceflame Lions, they advanced like a swarm of locusts towards them. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression changed as he hurriedly made his way towards the interior of the valley, soon joining the clansmen. Lin Xingyou¡¯s face darkened, his eyes fixed on the approaching Iceflame Lion tribe as he asked, ¡°Tianfeng, what should we do next? The strength of this Iceflame Lion tribe is too formidable. If Tian Ming or Fifteenth Uncle were here, we wouldn¡¯t fear them, but our clansmen are too weak. Relying solely on the three of us, even with the formation, we definitely won¡¯t hold out for long.¡± Lin Xingyou¡¯s words added to the gravity of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression. Among the clansmen arranged here, he himself was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment first layer, and Lin Xingyou was at the peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, with one more Qi Refining clansperson from the Xing clan at the Ninth Layer, and the rest all below the Fifth Level of Qi Refining. Against the opposing Ice Flame Lion Tribe, their strength was indeed strained. The only good news was that considering the low strength of the clansmen, the family had brought a First Order Superior Defense Formation specifically for this land reclamation. He had not expected it to be needed so soon. It was uncertain whether it could hold off the Ice Flame Lion Tribe for a few days. However, there was no better plan at the moment, and all he could do was try his best and hope it would work. With these thoughts, he quickly decided on a plan. ¡°Uncle Xingyou, I¡¯ll help you leave this place. You must travel to Green Bamboo Mountain for reinforcements as quickly as possible. Uncle Xing Luan and I will hold the fort using the formation. If we can last two or three days, we may just overcome this crisis.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Xingyou knew the situation was urgent and that there was no time to waste. He nodded in haste and said, ¡°Then take care of yourselves and be sure to hold on for a few days until I bring back reinforcements.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianfeng gave Lin Xingyou a push on his back, using the force to send him over a ridge and disappear into the gloomy sky. The approaching Iceflame Lions had no time to react, powerless to stop Lin Xingyou from vanishing from their sights. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng had already led all the clansmen deep into the valley, drawing ever closer to the area protected by the Formation. The focus regained, the Iceflame Lion tribe charged after them, ready for a fight. ¡°Uncle Xing Luan, lead the clansmen into the formation, I¡¯ll hold off these beasts for a while,¡± instructed Lin Tianfeng. Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s order, Lin Xing Luan quickly led the clansmen towards the edge of the formation, leaving Lin Tianfeng to guard their retreat. Chapter 353: 218 Situation_1 Chapter 353: Chapter 218 Situation_1 As the Iceflame Lion Tribe surged forward, Lin Tianfeng was already prepared for a great battle. He gripped a Spirit Sword in one hand and a handful of talismans in the other, among them three talismans of the Second Order Lower Grade. The current situation left him no room to hold back. If he didn¡¯t take this opportunity to test and significantly weaken the overall strength of the Iceflame Lions, they would face great pressure if trapped later on. Once the Formation they relied on was compromised, he might escape, but the dozens of Lin Family members here would likely suffer heavy casualties. Therefore, as soon as he made a move, it was a lethal one, aiming to achieve the greatest victory. Looking at the approaching Iceflame Lion Tribe, they had entered the optimal range for attack. He made up his mind and released the handful of talismans, which turned into a sky full of Sword Qi and fireballs raining down on the oncoming Iceflame Lion Tribe. Simultaneously, his Spirit Sword shone brightly as he infused massive amounts of Spiritual Power into it; the Sword Qi overflowed from the sword, stirring the surrounding Spiritual Energy. ¡°Kill!¡± With an angry shout, he swung his Spirit Sword, unleashing terrifying Sword Qi that shot toward two Second Order Iceflame Lions. The two Second Order Iceflame Lions sensed the threat immediately. They roared towards the heavens, and their offspring seemed to understand something as they scattered in all directions. At the same time, the two Iceflame Lions dashed away, swiftly leaving the land to avoid the horrifying Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianfeng. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky filled with Sword Qi and fireballs exploded upon the land beneath the Iceflame Lions¡¯ feet, illuminating the dim sky with fire and turning the entire valley bright. At that moment, a series of screams sounded, causing one¡¯s scalp to tingle. When the light of the fire dispersed, the two Second Order Iceflame Lions burst out of the smoke, their huge maws open as if to swallow Lin Tianfeng whole. Seeing the two attacking Second Order Iceflame Lions, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression grew solemn. His initial barrage of attacks had succeeded in killing more than a dozen First Order Initial and Medium Stage Iceflame Lions, but the two Second Order Iceflame Lions had only sustained minor injuries and were not fundamentally harmed. By now, the majority of his people had entered the area covered by the Formation, but about ten had not yet made it inside. For the lives of these few, he had no room to retreat. He had to figure out a way to block the two Second Order Iceflame Lions to buy them time. Determined, he brought his palms together and began chanting a special incantation. In an instant, a silver-white Sword Qi slowly appeared above his head, a concentration of Mystical Solar Sword Qi Art. This Spirit Art, which he was arranged to study after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment, had been successfully cultivated with ease and nurtured within his Dantian for over two years. It was one of the few trump cards he had. Watching the approaching Iceflame Lions, he unhesitatingly activated the terrifying Sword Qi. He roared, ¡°Beasts, die!¡± In a flash, the silver-white Sword Qi burst forth at an inconceivably fast speed. The two Second Order Iceflame Lions sensed the fatal danger, hurriedly turned their bodies, trying to dodge this horrifying strike. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The silver-white Sword Qi struck, and despite the Iceflame Lions¡¯ speed being exceptional among the Demon Beast Race, one weaker Lion didn¡¯t manage to avoid it and was struck in its sturdy leg. The pained Iceflame Lion screamed sharply, then wildly twisted its body in painful howls. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s horrific strike injured the slightly weaker Iceflame Lion. Although it didn¡¯t lose its fighting ability altogether, its strength was greatly reduced, making it less troublesome to deal with. During this brief respite, the Qi Refining clanspeople had entered the area enveloped by the Formation, temporarily escaping danger. Lin Tianfeng finally let out a long breath, surprised at how terrifying the Great Sun Sword Qi Art was. No wonder the Lin Family restricted its cultivation to Qi Refining people. If this got out, or if some Golden Core Stage Expert discovered it, the Lin Family couldn¡¯t avoid a clan extinction crisis. Fortunately, the Lin Family had the foresight: this terrifying Spirit Art was known only to the core members of the family. Otherwise, if any clansperson could practice it, it would always be a potential danger. With these thoughts, his tense nerves relaxed slightly, and his expression finally eased a bit. Across from him, the other Iceflame Lion, seeing its companion injured, became very angry. It fixed its gaze on Lin Tianfeng and with a leap, charged towards him. Lin Tianfeng snorted coldly, moving his Spirit Sword to release several Sword Qi to block the Iceflame Lion. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few explosive sounds followed as the Sword Qi clashed with the Iceflame Lion¡¯s sharp and fierce claws. A strong blast of air pushed Lin Tianfeng back dozens of yards, and the Iceflame Lion was similarly repelled more than ten yards. After this exchange, their relative strengths became somewhat clear. Lin Tianfeng might not lose in a one-on-one fight, but winning would undoubtedly be very difficult. On the other hand, this Iceflame Lion had reached the pinnacle of the Second Order Initial Stage, not far from the Middle Stage. In a one-on-one fight, its odds of winning were a bit higher. Knowing this, Lin Tianfeng used the force of the blast to retreat to the edge of the Formation-covered area, putting a safe distance between himself and his opponent. ¡°Thank goodness that strike injured the weaker Iceflame Lion; otherwise, if the two joined forces, I would definitely be no match for these two beasts!¡± Chapter 354: 218 Situation_2 Chapter 354: Chapter 218 Situation_2 He muttered to himself inwardly and then lifted his foot to step into the area enveloped by the formation. As they watched him enter the formation, the waiting clansmen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Under the current circumstances, Lin Tianfeng represented their hope for survival. Although their powers were not great, and they had no prospect of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in their lifetimes, nobody wanted to die. After entering the formation, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression grew solemn. The defensive array, a First Order Superior Grade, was under siege by so many Iceflame Lions that it was uncertain whether it could hold for more than three days. By now, the injured Iceflame Lions had calmed down. One glared angrily at Lin Tianfeng and charged at him, accompanied by another Second Order Iceflame Lion and a large number of First Order Iceflame Lions. Soon, one Iceflame Lion after another slammed into the formation¡¯s barrier. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Loud collision sounds rang out, shaking the formation with each strike. Especially the impacts of the two Second Order Initial Stage Iceflame Lions were considerable; every hit caused the First Order defensive array to vibrate violently, teetering on the brink of collapse before stabilizing once more. At that moment, including Lin Tianfeng, every clansman took a long breath and relaxed their tense nerves for a short while. ¡­ South of the Cold Ice Canyon, atop a mountain. Lin Xingyou, whom Lin Tianfeng had sent out, was speeding on his Flying Sword, skimming over the mountaintops. No sooner had he escaped than he shot towards Green Bamboo Mountain at the fastest speed possible, fully aware of his clansmen¡¯s dire situation and the urgent need for help. In this situation, his speed reached its maximum, not a bit slower than when fleeing for life. However, the distance to Green Bamboo Mountain was over five hundred li, and even at his speed, he would need a full day to arrive, even if he traveled without stopping day and night. It was already night, and though this land was originally the domain of Demonic Beasts, some Low-order Monster Beasts still roamed, and night was their peak activity period. Unless he continued flying southeast for two hundred li, he wouldn¡¯t be completely safe. With time so pressing, there was no time to consider the dangers. He flew at full strength through the hazy night, all to return home as soon as possible. Beneath him, the successive peaks grew distant, while he drew ever closer to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Within the cave residence of Lin Tianming at Green Bamboo Mountain. He had slept for two days straight. When Lin Tianming opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance passed through them. He stretched his back, his body reaching peak condition. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He rose from his room, preparing to deliver the elixirs he had refined to the Hall of Merit and pay a visit to his elders. Soon after, he made his way into the Hall of Merit. At that time, the Hall of Merit was bustling, with numerous clansmen busy exchanging various Spiritual Objects, their activity was a sight to behold. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, some of the younger cultivators immediately became excited, as if they were seeing an idol. Not just them, but several Xing Clan members were excited too. Many clansmen familiar with Lin Tianming greeted him one after another. Lin Tianming also returned their greetings with a fist and palm salute, acting very courteously. Afterwards, he directly approached the deeper part of the hall to chat with the attending Hall of Merit Executive Officer. This person, named Lin Xingquan, with a Fifth Level of Qi Refinement cultivation and at the age of seventy, knew that Foundation Establishment was out of reach. Supported by his keen eye and ranking by age, the clan valued him and appointed him as the Executive Officer of the Hall of Merit. With Lin Xingcheng¡¯s advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had to focus on cultivation, so the Hall of Merit underwent some changes, adding a few Qi Refinement Realm clansmen as Executive Officers, rotating in charge of the hall¡¯s affairs. Other clan institutions did the same. As soon as the person in charge broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, they couldn¡¯t afford to be as leisurely as before and had to accelerate their cultivation. Thus, the number of Executive Officers in those institutions increased as well. After a brief chat, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags, which contained the fruits of two months of labor. He handed the storage bags to Lin Xingquan and said, ¡°After setting aside what should be submitted to the clan, exchange all the remaining Lingshen Pills for Merit Points. Also, there are twelve Fusion Spirit Pills which have all been refined; they all are handed over now.¡± Lin Xingquan accepted the storage bags and swept them with his Divine Sense, his expression turning excited. He already knew Lin Tianming had a high level of Alchemy skills and worked faster than ordinary people; it took just over two months for him to refine everything. Besides the higher-grade Fusion Spirit Pills, the rest were all high-quality elixirs. ¡°This quality and efficiency, it¡¯s truly terrifying!¡± Lin Xingquan couldn¡¯t help but utter in amazement, then he began to record in the ledger. After a short while, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingquan and, after exchanging pleasantries with familiar clansmen, he left the Hall of Merit. Having exchanged all the Lingshen Pills he had refined for Merit Points, keeping only thirty for his personal cultivation, he accumulated over fourteen thousand Merit Points. Combined with the Spirit Stones he had, his available assets reached a staggering one hundred and fifty thousand. That didn¡¯t even include the remaining eight batches of Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Materials and the Spiritual Objects he carried. If everything were totaled, his wealth was truly formidable. An excited Lin Tianming walked on Bluestone Street, in an extraordinarily good mood. As he walked, he arrived in front of Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode, and sent his Divine Sense into the cave¡¯s restrictions. Quickly, the restrictions of the cave¡¯s door opened, and he stepped in right away. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode, Lin Shilu was also present. Lin Tianming walked up with a smile and respectfully greeted the two with a fist and palm salute. Chapter 355: 218 Situation_3 Chapter 355: Chapter 218 Situation_3 ¡°Hehe¡­ Tian Ming, no need to be polite, come over and have a seat!¡± Lin Shikang beckoned, and only then did Lin Tianming walk over to pour a cup of Spiritual Tea for both of them before sitting down in the chair opposite. Lin Shilu took a sip of his tea, then started to inquire, ¡°What have you been busy with lately, has your cultivation made any progress?¡± Feeling Lin Shilu¡¯s concern, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°My cultivation level has improved slightly but not by much. I attempted to refine the Second Order Medium Quality Fusion Spirit Pill a while ago and have now successfully produced it!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were astonished. Lin Shikang said with a smile, ¡°How long has it been, and you¡¯ve already concocted the Fusion Spirit Pill? What¡¯s the success rate?¡± Lin Tianming laughed, then honestly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve just broken through a thirty percent success rate, barely approaching forty!¡± Before he could finish, Lin Shilu laughingly scolded, ¡°You kid, are truly a monster. I really don¡¯t know how you cultivate!¡± Lin Tianming gave a wry smile, then continued, ¡°The twelve batches of Spiritual Medicine Materials that our family collected over the years have been used up by me in refining, and have already been handed over to the Hall of Merit, twelve pills in total. Third Grandfather¡¯s cultivation level temporarily has no potential for improvement, but Fifteenth Grandfather could give them a try to see the effects!¡± Lin Shikang nodded, then said, ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°Shi Lu, you¡¯ve been at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level for several years now. If you continue to cultivate with the Fusion Spirit Pill for a long time, perhaps in a few years, your cultivation level could take another step forward. Once you break through to the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, you can utilize the Hun Tian Pill to advance another realm, possibly reaching the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level within a few years!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu waved his hand with a laugh, then said, ¡°Third brother, you jest. You know how hard it is to cultivate at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Indeed, the effect of the Fusion Spirit Pill is several times better than the Lingshen Pill, but with these many pills, even if all were given to me to cultivate, I¡¯m afraid it would not be possible to break through the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Furthermore, progressing too swiftly might leave behind hidden troubles, and it might be easier to reach the Golden Core Realm later on, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in relief. It was commendable that Lin Shilu was not impetuous and still intended to make steady progress. Many cultivators neglect the cultivation of their mind, eager for quick success and instant benefit, leading to an unstable realm. Once they encounter a major bottleneck, they might not make any progress for the rest of their lives. Besides, with Lin Shilu¡¯s current level of cultivation and talent, there was simply no need to be so anxious. A steady enhancement was all he needed, and the push towards the path of the Golden Core would be easier in the future. I recall when I myself advanced from the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level to Great Perfection, it took me over twenty years from the great battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. Only then did I lay down a solid foundation. Lin Shilu¡¯s prudence, with his long-term considerations, was indeed the most secure approach. Shifting their thoughts, the three of them resumed their casual conversation. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming was preparing to take his leave. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression suddenly turned grave. Lin Tianming¡¯s heart jolted, and he immediately asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, has something serious happened?¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s face returned to normal, and he said to Lin Shilu, ¡°Tianfeng and the others have been attacked by Demonic Beasts in the Cold Ice Canyon, and they urgently need clan members to support them.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming¡¯s expressions also turned solemn. An anxious Lin Shilu immediately inquired, ¡°How¡¯s Tianfeng¡¯s situation, and what¡¯s the strength of the Demonic Beasts?¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, the current situation wasn¡¯t very clear to him either; he had just received a magical communication from Lin Xingyou, who was in such a rush that he didn¡¯t explain clearly. But now, these details were no longer important. No matter the situation, they must hurry there as soon as possible. With that in mind, he instructed, ¡°Shi Lu, you stay and guard the family, Tian Ming, take the Purple Gold Eagle, and accompany me on a trip!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move out immediately!¡± Lin Tianming, along with another person, acknowledged the command and followed Lin Shikang out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once outside the mansion, Lin Tianming sent a signal to the Purple Gold Eagle, instructing it to wait for him in the clan¡¯s gate plaza. Soon, the trio arrived at the clan¡¯s gate plaza, and the Purple Gold Eagle also arrived at the same time. Just then, Lin Xingyou happened to pass through the Protective Clan Formation and appeared in front of them. To quickly inform the family, he had flown all of last night and half of the day, finally arriving safely at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. He did not dare to stop along the way, having expended all his Spiritual Power, and nearly fell from the sky as he approached the clan territory. As he was within the communication range when he neared the clan territory, he immediately sent out a message to save time. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It so happened that Lin Shikang quickly came along. Seeing him, Lin Xingyou wore a look of joy, but before he could speak, he fainted, collapsing on the ground completely passed out. Lin Shikang and the others quickly rushed over, and after examination, they found Lin Xingyou extremely pale. It seemed like spiritual exhaustion had taken its toll, but he was not in any mortal danger. Lin Shikang gave Lin Xingyou an elixir and then instructed Lin Shilu on what to do, telling him to take care of Lin Xingyou before leading the way out of the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle followed close behind, stepping outside the Protective Clan Formation. The two jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, which took to the skies and shot towards the direction of Cold Ice Canyon. The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to understand the urgency, speeding to its maximum. The mountains below quickly receded, and soon they disappeared from sight. ¡­ Chapter 356: 219: Scattered Escape_1 Chapter 356: Chapter 219: Scattered Escape_1 Cold Ice Canyon. It had been a day and a half since Lin Xingyou had left. The Iceflame Lions incessantly rammed against the formation, with one wave following another, almost without respite. As the strikes accumulated, the spirit stones within the formation depleted rapidly. Whenever the spirit stones were replaced, the formation¡¯s defensive power reached its weakest. Moreover, the house¡¯s formation had suffered some damage, and it had become unstable. Within the formation, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was grave; he distinctly felt the defense of the formation weaken. While enduring the impact from two second-order Iceflame Lions, he began to feel outmatched. With the recent strikes, the formation hovered on the brink of collapse. As the two Iceflame Lions continued their onslaught without breaking the formation, they became even more frenzied and vicious, putting more force into each consecutive strike. After several more impacts. At this point, the two second-order Iceflame Lions shared a glance, seemingly wiser now. They roared up at the sky, then simultaneously charged in the same direction, followed by a large number of first-order Iceflame Lions. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face drastically changed; at this rate, the formation would not be able to withstand many more strikes. Lin Tianfeng, with a solemn expression, said to the clan members beside him, ¡°This formation might not last much longer. Once it breaks, I will do my best to hold off some of the Iceflame Lions. You all must follow Uncle Xing Luan and immediately escape towards our clan lands. If the family¡¯s reinforcements arrive in time, perhaps you can retreat unharmed!¡± Hearing this, and seeing the ferocious Iceflame Lion Tribe outside the formation, many clan members panicked. They knew the disparity between their own cultivation and the might of the Iceflame Lion Tribe. Once they were outside the protective formation, the demonic beasts would swarm them. At that time, it would be like lambs entering the tiger¡¯s den. With these thoughts, the clan members grew pale, and two of them nearly fainted. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng bellowed angrily, subduing everyone and restoring a measure of calm. Lin Xing Luan also spoke up, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic. The situation is critical now; maintain your formation.¡± ¡°If the formation breaks, follow me and leave quickly. Don¡¯t stay here and add to Tianfeng¡¯s burden, understand?¡± Hearing this, some of the clan members finally faced reality. They each took out their spiritual artifacts, preparing for battle. Lin Tianfeng nodded, gripping the spirit sword in his hand, holding a large amount of talisman paper, ready to give it his all. Outside the formation, the two second-order Iceflame Lions collided against it several times, and on the sixth strike, the entire formation shook violently and finally broke. The moment the formation fell, the Iceflame Lions surged in like a flood. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianfeng charged at the oncoming Iceflame Lions, leading the charge. The situation was urgent; he had to buy time for his clanspeople to escape. Otherwise, how many of them would make it out alive remained uncertain. Fully aware of this, his every move was a lethal attack. Numerous talisman papers flew from his hand, followed by fierce gusts of sword qi sweeping across. With his wave-like assault, the two second-order Iceflame Lions dared not get close to the force of his attacks and thought only of evading for the moment. But the first-order Iceflame Lions struggled to avoid them and were decimated by his ferocious attack, leaving a trail of severed limbs and bodies strewn across the ground. As Lin Tianfeng held off the lions for a moment, Lin Xing Luan led the clan members past the cleared Spirit Fields, escaping towards Green Bamboo Mountain. Once Lin Tianfeng¡¯s attack subsided, the herd of first-order Flame Ice Beasts immediately pursued the Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople. The two second-order Flame Ice Beasts then charged at Lin Tianfeng, quickly pinning him down in a pincer movement. Lin Tianfeng glanced back at the escaping clanspeople, feeling helpless and praying that his clan would arrive soon to rescue them. Returning his focus with a grave expression, his own situation was just as dire. If he were delayed for too long, he, too, could perish here. At that moment, the two second-order Iceflame Lions unleashed a roar and initiated their attack. Both lions, waving their razor-sharp claws, struck from different directions. If hit, one would likely be severely injured, if not killed. Lin Tianfeng dared not be careless. His spirit sword swung, releasing bursts of sword qi, and he engaged the two Iceflame Lions in a fierce battle. For a moment, the canyon was filled with the flash of swords and the roar of explosions. Lin Tianfeng fought and retreated, struggling valiantly against the encirclement of the two Iceflame Lions. ¡­ A few miles away, in a hilly region, Lin Xing Luan led dozens of clanspeople over a small hill. Not far behind them, more than thirty first-order Iceflame Lions caught up, now significantly faster than before. At this pace, it was feared they wouldn¡¯t make it five miles before being overtaken. Realizing the impending crisis, the clan members turned very pale. Seeing the rapidly approaching Iceflame Lions, one clansperson said, ¡°Xing Luan, at this rate, we¡¯re not going to make it. Those beasts are too fast; we can¡¯t possibly escape.¡± ¡°Yes, we can¡¯t run away now. We have to fight with everything we¡¯ve got and see if we can repel them. Otherwise, if they catch up while we¡¯re running, we¡¯ll die even quicker!¡± another clansperson added. Hearing the other clanspeople¡¯s comments, Lin Xing Luan nodded, then steeled his resolve, ready to fight to the death. Deciding, he said, ¡°Everyone is aware of our current situation. Don¡¯t hold back anything; use all your lifesaving means. Only by surviving can we have the chance for any treasures.¡± Chapter 357: 219 Fleeing in All Directions_2 Chapter 357: Chapter 219 Fleeing in All Directions_2 Before his words had fallen silent, Lin Xing Luan gripped his spirit sword and immediately set off a great number of First Order talismans, utilizing all of his techniques in one go. Behind him, a large number of clan members, wielding spiritual artifacts and talismans, struck out at the same time. Although the cultivation levels of the clan members were not high, their wealth allowed them to have an abundant array of First Order talismans, and the grades of the spiritual artifacts they used were also quite decent. In their desperation, the attack power they unleashed far surpassed anything from before. For a moment, the sky above this stretch of hilly terrain was filled with sword qi and seas of fire, mixed with a great number of Five Elements Spells, engulfing the oncoming Ice Flame Lion Tribe. ¡°Boom Boom Boom.¡± The sound of explosions continued one after another, occasionally pierced by the agonized roars of Ice Flame Lions, the sound of which was enough to make one¡¯s heart go numb. Once the dust settled, the figures of the Ice Flame Lion Tribe could be seen, almost every one of them had sustained injuries to varying degrees. However, the defensive power of the First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions was so strong that these injuries were negligible, and their strength was hardly affected at all. At this juncture, the Ice Flame Lion Tribe was in a state of extreme rage. The first round of attack had reduced their numbers somewhat, the First Order Initial Phase lions were basically wiped out by their attack, but the remaining twenty or so were all of a grade above the First Order Middle Stage, with as many as six at the First Order Late Stage. Underneath their ferocious expressions, sharp claws were brandished, and at the moment the dust cleared, they charged forward to attack. Seeing this, Lin Xing Luan¡¯s expression grew taut, aware that the true test was just beginning. At the moment, however, there wasn¡¯t time to think further. He moved swiftly, charging ahead first, with his spirit sword shining brightly, he intercepted three First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions. When the three Ice Flame Lions saw him approaching, they roared with excitement as if encountering delicious prey. They then swung their paws in a fierce blow, clashing with the oncoming sword qi. ¡°Bang Bang Bang.¡± The collision of sword qi and the Ice Flame Lions¡¯ claws sounded like metal striking metal. The strength of the Ice Flame Lions was astonishing, and their defensive power was extremely strong. They withstood his sword qi without any sign of injury. Seeing this, Lin Xing Luan¡¯s face darkened. He had exerted all his strength, but he struggled to pose a fatal threat to the three Ice Flame Lions. If things continued like this, not to mention defeating them, it was doubtful if he could even survive. Indeed, while he was barely managing to hold on, the situation of the clan members was even more dire. Despite their advantage in numbers, they simply could not compare when it came to high order combat power. The other three First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions pounced like tigers descending the mountain, each swipe injuring a clan member. Only those at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement could barely withstand a few attacks, but for those at the Third Level of Qi Refining, a single touch meant certain death. As Lin Xing Luan watched his clan members fall one by one, his heart raced with urgency, but he too was in a perilous situation, quickly sustaining serious injuries under the onslaught of three Ice Flame Lions. He could only watch as another clan member was impaled through the body by the claws of a First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lion, dying reluctantly in the end. This scene, along with the desperate gazes of his fellow clan members, struck him with immense shock. He let out an angry roar, and the sword qi in his hand grew even more fierce. He attacked recklessly, as if betting his life, which finally made the Ice Flame Lions that were attacking him somewhat wary. Despite his frenzied state, he was unable to stop the tide of battle, and the clan members were also in retreat, with more than a dozen having already perished. In a short amount of time, the battle continued unabated, and it had escalated to an intense level. At this point, the entire area in the hills was stained red with blood, the corpses of clan members and Ice Flame Lions lay scattered haphazardly on the ground. After a brief respite, Lin Xing Luan gathered the remaining twenty or so people together and looked angrily at the Ice Flame Lion Tribe. On the other side, the Ice Flame Lion Tribe fared much better. They still numbered over twenty, all of which were of the First Order Middle Stage, they had the Lin family members completely encircled, ready to continue their attack at any moment. After fierce fighting, the Lin family members were clearly at a disadvantage. From the original count of over fifty, less than thirty remained, most of them wounded and their reserves of spiritual power nearly depleted, greatly diminishing their overall strength. Such a great loss, the Lin Family hadn¡¯t suffered in over ten years. As for the Ice Flame Lion Tribe, only more than a dozen had died, and the strength of the surviving demonic beasts remained formidable. Lin Xing Luan¡¯s face had turned utterly pale at this point; he knew the situation had become irreversible. If help didn¡¯t arrive soon, a total annihilation of his forces was highly likely to ensue. With a helpless sigh, he considered that if he only looked after his own escape, there might be a slim chance of survival. But he didn¡¯t want to abandon his clansmen, to watch them die right before his eyes. He couldn¡¯t do it; he didn¡¯t want to live as a coward, abandoning his people. At this moment, one of the clansmen spoke up to persuade him, ¡°Xing Luan, we have no hope of breaking through the encirclement. With your cultivation not low, and having the potential for Foundation Establishment, we will find a way to hold off the Ice Flame Lions for a moment, and you take the chance to break out.¡± Among the crowd, the clansmen began to echo in agreement, ¡°Yes, since there¡¯s no hope, don¡¯t burden yourself with guilt. Don¡¯t give up your path for us. When you are safe, let Uncle San avenge us by wiping out this tribe.¡± Hearing his clansmen¡¯s exhortations, Lin Xing Luan felt warmth in his heart but was all the more resolved in his decision. That was to live or die with the clansmen present. With these thoughts in mind, he laughed heartily and said, ¡°My fellow clansmen, how could I, Xing Luan, abandon you to save my own life? I have been on the cultivation path for over seventy years; it is fine to end it here.¡± Before he finished speaking, the clansmen were touched in spirit, and smiles flashed across their faces. But the more he spoke, the more they tried to convince him; being of low cultivation, they couldn¡¯t contribute much to the Lin Family, but Lin Xing Luan was different. As someone in the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm, he was the backbone of the current family. However, before they could speak again, the ferocious Ice Flame Lions launched their attack. Watching the oncoming fierce Ice Flame Lions, Lin Xing Luan swung his Spirit Sword, releasing a mass of Sword Qi sweeping across them. At the same time, he patted his storage bag, and his hand produced a large number of talismans, including a blood-red talisman, which was actually a Second Order low-grade Attack Talisman. This Second Order low-grade Attack Talisman had always been his life-saving trump card, never to be used unless it was absolutely necessary. In the current hopeless situation, it was useless to hold back; he had to use everything, even if it meant dying, to inflict heavy damage on the Ice Flame Lions. Making up his mind, he didn¡¯t hesitate to activate the talismans in his hand, transforming them into a huge fireball that he smashed down towards the Ice Flame Lions facing him. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Two tragic cries were heard as two Ice Flame Lions at the First Order Late Stage couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were directly hit by the massive fireball. When the firelight dissipated, the figures of the Ice Flame Lion Tribe were revealed. Lying on the ground were two enormous Ice Flame Lions, their bodies charred black, with a hole as big as a bucket in their stomachs, from which large amounts of blood poured out, quickly pooling into a blood pond. They struggled unwillingly for a moment, before becoming motionless, clearly dead. Seeing their companions¡¯ tragic state, the remaining four Ice Flame Lions let out a furious roar and swung their sharp claws from different directions, raging towards Lin Xing Luan. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Xing Luan¡¯s expression turned eerily calm; his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted, and all his methods had been exhausted, leaving him no way to evade so many simultaneous attacks. Yet, in this life and death crisis, he released all his Spiritual Power, activating one of the Defensive Spiritual Tools in his hand to inflate into a brown shield, doing his best to protect as many clanspeople as possible. In an instant, several sharp and forceful gigantic claws struck the shield. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of booming sounds followed; the shield in front of Lin Xing Luan held up for just a moment before shattering completely. The Ice Flame Lions¡¯ terrifying claws paused briefly and then continued their assault on his flesh, ready to smash him to death with one swipe. Chapter 358: 220 Rescue, Search_1 Chapter 358: Chapter 220 Rescue, Search_1 Lin Xing Luan gave a bitter smile, and with a palm strike, collided with the oncoming claws. This final blow was also his last act of defiance; he absolutely wouldn¡¯t just stand by and wait for death. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah!¡± When intense pain shot through his arm, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a wretched scream as his body was sent flying backward, crashing into a mound and creating a ten-foot deep crater, burying him within. At that moment, the clanspeople who had witnessed this scene hurried toward Lin Xing Luan. They arrived at the edge of the mound, their palms digging away the soil covering Lin Xing Luan. They saw his face pale to the extreme, his entire arm severed, blood slowly seeping from the wound and quickly soaking his robe. Seeing Lin Xing Luan unconscious and grievously injured, but still breathing, the clanspeople desperately shouted his name. After several calls with no response, everyone¡¯s faces grew grim, their eyes filled with murderous intent as they stared at the approaching Ice Flame Lion Tribe. Lin Xing Luan had sustained severe injuries while protecting them; his life hung in the balance. Lin Tianfeng was being besieged by two Second Order Ice Flame Lions and was equally in danger, unable to attend to their plight. Before the clan¡¯s rescue could arrive, their last straw of hope had vanished. In the crowd, one clansperson roared, ¡°Fellow clan brothers, let¡¯s fight them with all we¡¯ve got¡­¡± ¡°Fight them¡­¡± With those words, the Spiritual Artifacts in the clanspeople¡¯s hands flickered with Spiritual Light as they fearlessly charged toward the Ice Flame Lion Tribe. At that moment, they seemed to forget the huge disparity in strength between them, as their valiant charge was nothing but a futile effort. Just as the clanspeople were willing to die heroically, a massive dark shadow descended from the sky at an extreme speed. As the shadow drew nearer, the clanspeople realized that the two figures standing atop it were the clan¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, Lin Shikang, and Lin Tianming. The Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s speed was astonishingly fast, plummeting from a thousand feet in the blink of an eye. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, ten miles away, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming were the first to spot the clanspeople below. Seeing the tragic scene below, the color drained from their faces. Since leaving Green Bamboo Mountain, they had been flying non-stop, and in just half a day, the Purple Gold Eagle had covered hundreds of miles. Finally, at this critical moment, they arrived on the battlefield. Even before they landed, Lin Tianming shouted fiercely, ¡°Evil beasts, courting death.¡± The clanspeople below, hearing this angry shout and seeing them arrive at this life-or-death moment, were overjoyed and their expressions instantly lit up with ecstasy. They had already resigned themselves to their fate and accepted death, but to their surprise, Lin Tianming had arrived in time. With him here, there was no chance for the Ice Flame Lions to survive, and they too might live. After all, no one wishes to die easily, not even the weaker clanspeople. In mid-air, Lin Tianming leapt from the Purple Gold Eagle, his powerful Foundation Establishment Stage might pressing down fiercely. Feeling the terrifying might, all the Ice Flame Lions were momentarily petrified, panicked and disoriented, with some First Order Medium Stage Ice Flame Lions unable to withstand the horror and bleeding from all seven orifices, ending up writhing on the ground. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a pat on his storage bag, fifty-six Earth Evil Swords flew out in an instant, quickly spinning a few circles before dispersing, encompassing most of the Ice Flame Lions. In a fleeting moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation activated, and the majority of the Ice Flame Lions trapped couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure of the formation, faced with inevitable death. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, only a few Ice Flame Lions could still move, among them, just four First Order Late Stage Ice Flame Lions struggled mightily against the barriers of the Sword Array, attempting to escape. But sadly, no matter how they struggled, they could not change their fate. Not only that, their leader¡¯s fate was equally tragic, targeted by Lin Shikang and the Purple Gold Eagle who had rushed to support Lin Tianfeng. Under the terrifying power of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, it was likely that not even remnants would be left. Lin Tianming, at that moment, spared no mercy. Seeing his dead clanspeople, he was filled with rage and resolved to claim the lives of all the Ice Flame Lions. Suddenly, wretched cries echoed from within the Sword Array. Under the wandering Sword Qi, even Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts would suffer grave injuries or death upon contact, let alone these weaker First Order Demon Beasts. Some clanspeople who had come to their senses also joined the battle, unleashing their remaining Spiritual Power in fierce attacks, slaughtering the weaker Ice Flame Lions on the periphery. With Lin Tianming¡¯s might suppressing them, the Ice Flame Lions¡¯ power was greatly diminished, their escape speeds reduced, leaving them with no chance to flee. The clanspeople struck decisively and ruthlessly, as if venting the hatred in their hearts. A quarter of an hour passed, and the battle ceased, leaving silence in its wake. Lin Tianming waved his hand, summoning all the Earth Evil Swords back into his storage bag. Looking around, the ground was littered with Demon Beast Corpses. Those that had been trapped in Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Array met particularly gruesome ends, bodies drenched in blood, riddled with holes. The materials once valuable for Artifact Refining and Talisman Making were almost completely ruined, leaving little of use. Although these materials were of little concern to Lin Tianming, for the Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople, they were precious commodities. Nevertheless, none of the clanspeople seemed upset about this, as the Ice Flame Lions had killed more than twenty of their kin, their claws drenched with the blood of their people. Even hacking the beasts to pieces wouldn¡¯t quell the hatred burning in their hearts. Chapter 359: 220 Rescue, Search_2 Chapter 359: Chapter 220 Rescue, Search_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression gradually calmed down. He immediately ran to Lin Xing Luan¡¯s side and thoroughly examined his injuries. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One after another, the clan members also gathered around, looking at Lin Xing Luan with concern without uttering a word. After Lin Tianming¡¯s examination, he furrowed his brows and then took out a Consolidating Essence Pill for him to swallow before laying him flat on the ground. From the crowd, a clansman asked, ¡°Tianming, how serious are Xing Luan¡¯s injuries? Are they serious, and will they affect his cultivation path?¡± Another clan member joined in, ¡°Yes, Xing Luan got so seriously injured for our sake; he mustn¡¯t be left with any hidden ailments.¡± Hearing the clansmen¡¯s concerned words, Lin Tianming helplessly shook his head. ¡°Uncle Xing Luan¡¯s injuries are severe. Not to mention the loss of an arm, the meridians inside his body have been damaged to varying degrees. Although it¡¯s not fatal, it will be very difficult for him to make further progress.¡± Hearing this, all the clansmen¡¯s faces darkened. They had noticed the severity before but didn¡¯t dare to believe it, clinging instead to the hope of a full recovery. Since Lin Tianming, who had such discerning eyes, had said so, it was feared that Lin Xing Luan¡¯s cultivation path would be difficult to advance further. Perhaps he could cultivate to Complete Qi Refining, but the difficulty of breaking through Foundation Establishment would be doubled, almost certainly ending in failure. For a moment, all the clansmen showed a look of regret, but when they looked at Lin Xing Luan, a warm smile appeared on their faces involuntarily. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instructed, ¡°All fellow clansmen, start cleaning the battlefield immediately, bring back the remains of our deceased clansmen to rest in our clan¡¯s land, and as for those Demonic Beast Materials, just take care of them along the way.¡± After he spoke, the clansmen nodded and began to clean the battlefield. Lin Tianming stood on top of a small hill, contemplating the origins and the whereabouts of the Iceflame Lion Tribe. Just then, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianfeng came over, followed by a Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing that Lin Tianfeng was safe and sound, aside from being pale and having some minor injuries, looking like he was overexerted, Lin Tianming immediately went up to greet the two of them. ¡°Big brother, are you alright?¡± With a wry smile, Lin Tianfeng said, ¡°Nothing too serious, just overexertion and some minor wounds. I was surrounded by two Second Order Initial Stage Iceflame Lions. If Third Grandfather hadn¡¯t arrived just in time, I¡¯m afraid I would have been left behind here.¡± As Lin Tianfeng spoke, recalling the perilous scene, his expression showed fright. At that time, when the formation was breached, he was surrounded and fought bitterly against the two Iceflame Lions while constantly being overpowered. Fortunately, he had been through many fierce battles and had rich combat experience. In addition, the attack power of the Iceflame Lions was not too formidable, which allowed him to hold on until the rescue arrived. Otherwise, if it had dragged on for half an hour and his Spiritual Power had been exhausted, he might have ended up in the maws of the demon beasts. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianfeng wore an uncomfortable expression and said with regret, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that we still couldn¡¯t protect the clansmen, leading to the loss of more than twenty in this battle.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shikang consoled, ¡°Tianfeng, you¡¯ve done your best. Those two Iceflame Lions were among the stronger Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts.¡± ¡°Especially the uninjured Iceflame Lion, its strength almost reached the level of the Second Order Middle Stage. You managing to protect yourself is already a success. As for the lower-cultivation clansmen, it truly was beyond help.¡± Upon hearing this comforting response, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s complexion finally improved. On the side, Lin Tianming was pondering. They had just exterminated the Qilin Beast Horde and hadn¡¯t had time to explore the surrounding area. When the family sent people to reclaim the land here, they had surveyed it, finding no trace of Second Order Demon Beasts within dozens of miles. Moreover, with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading, they had let down their guard. But where did this massive Iceflame Lion Tribe come from? Beasts of the Demon Beast Race generally didn¡¯t leave their own territory, much less easily set foot in another demon beast¡¯s territory. If it were a small demon beast tribe, or just a single beast or two, there might be wandering ones. This Iceflame Lion Tribe was of moderate size and was likely a group that had long lived in the Luoyun Mountain Range. It could be that they just happened upon the territory whose owner had died, setting their sights on this land rich in Water Attribute Spiritual Power. After much thought, he still couldn¡¯t come up with any possibilities, so he could only speculate. Lin Shikang, who was next to him, was also pondering this slightly eerie matter, and when he failed to come to a conclusion, he exchanged a glance with Lin Tianming, as if they were telepathically in sync. Lin Tianming voiced his thoughts, ¡°Third Grandfather, I always feel that this ambush was rather strange. For the sake of long-term safety, let¡¯s have Tianfeng lead the clan back to the sect after a while. We¡¯ll explore the nearby area to see if we can discover anything.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in agreement and replied, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking. Tianfeng, you and the Purple Gold Eagle take the clan back to the mountain. We¡¯ll abandon this place for now and once we have thoroughly scouted the surroundings, we¡¯ll make further plans.¡± After receiving the instructions, Lin Tianfeng nodded and then sat down to meditate and recover from his injuries and spiritual power. Half an hour later, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s spiritual power had recovered somewhat, and the clansmen had also finished cleaning up the battlefield. At this time, on the mountainous terrain, there were hardly any remaining traces, and the seriously injured Lin Xing Luan had also regained consciousness. Lin Tianming and others approached to check on him, and seeing that his condition was temporarily stabilized, Lin Shikang uttered a few words of comfort before instructing the Purple Gold Eagle to lead the clan members back to Green Bamboo Mountain. The two watched as the Purple Gold Eagle took off with the clansmen, flying towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Shikang shifted his gaze and said to Lin Tian Ming, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s get moving, and scout out the Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± After speaking, he took out his Golden Wind Sword and strode rapidly into the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Lin Tianming, not daring to be careless, had already experienced the demonic beasts in this mountain range. He drew his Tiangang Sword and held it in hand, stepping forward to follow Lin Shikang¡¯s pace. The two turned into two shadows leaping across the mountain tops and disappearing into the dense fog. Time flew by, and two months had passed. In the Luoyun Mountain Range, within a dense forest, the figures of Lin Tianming and another appeared. They had reached the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range, far from the Hanbing Mountain Range. By their estimation, they had ventured at least three hundred miles. Although they hadn¡¯t reached the center of the range, they were not far off. Having travelled this far, the two dared not venture any further. Going a hundred more miles forward, they might encounter Third Order Demon Beasts. Once confronted, even with Lin Shikang by their side, escape would likely be difficult. The two stood atop a pair of large trees, scrutinizing their surroundings deep in thought. In these two months, the two had traversed many peaks and crossed numerous rivers within the vast Luoyun Mountain Range. They had explored a large region and gathered basic information on various demonic beasts, which they recorded in a specially crafted book. During this time, they had fought more than a dozen battles. Fortunately, with Lin Shikang¡¯s Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivation to back them up, they did not covet the Second and Third Order Spiritual Medicines¡ªthey were merely exploring. As such, no life-threatening battles occurred. With their careful investigation, they discovered that the number of demonic beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range had notably increased, and their overall strength had become stronger. There were quite a few tribes of Second Order demonic beasts, and they also found many Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. Lin Shikang had even had a few skirmishes with Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. After brief encounters, he would take Lin Tianming and hastily retreat. At this moment, Lin Shikang looked at the fog-enshrouded dense forest ahead and then said, ¡°Tianming, going any deeper would be too dangerous. We have roughly scouted the situation in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Let¡¯s head back.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ This place is too dangerous, let¡¯s immediately return to the mountain,¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response, aware of the peril. The central area could harbor the presence of Third Order Demon Beasts. Though their combined strength was nearly a match for any Second Order demonic beast, facing a Third Order would likely leave them with no chance of escape. Thus, venturing any further would be too risky, and with their objective achieved, it was time to pull back. Already in agreement, after a brief exchange, they turned around and hastened back along the route they had come from. Chapter 360: 221 Precautionary Measures_1 Chapter 360: Chapter 221 Precautionary Measures_1 Half a month passed. In the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, Lin Tianming and another flew on their swords and landed outside the Protective Clan Formation. One after the other, they entered the formation, looked at the familiar family scenes, and immediately let out a sigh of relief. After nearly three months of living on the wing and being constantly on edge, even fighting a fierce battle with a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, the high-intensity journey of exploration left them utterly exhausted. It wasn¡¯t until they entered the clan gate that the crisis from the outside world was completely lifted, allowing them to finally relax. After sending out several messages, Lin Shikang led Lin Tianming to fly towards the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. In a short while, the two of them returned to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. Soon after receiving the message, Lin Shilu, Lin Shihua, and Lin Shigong arrived one after another. After exchanging greetings, the group of five sat in the courtyard and started to chat casually. Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang immediately inquired about Lin Xingluan and the deceased clan members. According to Lin Shihua, Lin Xingluan¡¯s injuries had stabilized. However, as he had previously speculated, due to the severity of the injuries, even if he recovered, the hope for advancing far on his cultivation path was still very slim. The more than twenty deceased clan members had been buried, and their compensation had been distributed to their descendants according to the clan rules; those without direct descendants with Spiritual Roots had their portion temporarily held by the clan. If a descendant with Spiritual Roots appeared within a hundred years, the full compensation would be given to them. Hearing the Clan Leader¡¯s arrangements, which seemed quite appropriate, it was just a pity that the Lin Family had lost a Foundation Establishment seed. However, that Lin Xingluan managed to survive was a piece of fortunate news amidst the misfortune. At that moment, Lin Shikang nodded with a look of regret and then sent a message to Lin Tianfeng. Soon after, Lin Tianfeng arrived, greeted everyone, and sat aside waiting. As for being summoned, Lin Tianfeng was well-prepared, certainly to inquire about the incident where they were attacked by the Ice Flame Lion Tribe in the Hanbing Mountain Range and then to discuss it with the clan members. As expected. Once everyone had arrived, Lin Shilu was the first to inquire about the attack on Lin Tianfeng and the others. Although Lin Tianfeng had reported the incident to his family as soon as he returned, he himself was quite baffled by the Ice Flame Lions¡¯ attack and had no idea why it had happened. In this way, since Lin Tianming and another had entered the mountain range to investigate, with their cultivation and strength, they might uncover some clues. Listening to Lin Shilu¡¯s tone, which also revealed some unusual undertones, Lin Shikang immediately said, ¡°I and Tianming also find this matter quite strange!¡± ¡°After more than two months of investigation by me and Tianming, we did discover some peculiarities.¡± ¡°Based on some ancient records in the Cultivation World, we found that the number of Demonic Beasts in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range has clearly increased compared to before, and their strength has also improved somewhat.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s brows furrowed, sensing the matter to be even more unusual. Lin Shikang chuckled and continued, ¡°However, we did not go to the center of the Luoyun Mountain Range, so the situation inside remains unknown, and we cannot confirm it!¡± ¡°These changes could be the natural patterns of Demonic Beasts, but it does not rule out the possibility that the higher-ups of the Demonic Beasts Race might be planning something!¡± This remark from Lin Shikang caused Lin Shilu and the other older clan members to tremble inwardly, leading them to think of the dreaded beast tides in the cultivation world. Beast tides, almost universally known in the cultivation world, are irregular and incomprehensible in their patterns. Sometimes, there is a beast tide every century, but their scale varies; a minor beast tide might involve only some Third Order Demonic Beasts while during a major one, even Fifth Order Demonic Beasts have emerged. Legend has it that ten thousand years ago, there was a major beast tide with as many as three Fifth Order Demonic Beasts involved. At that time, the territory of Qingzhou was not even a third of what it is now; that one major beast tide directly took over part of the adjacent Yunzhou, with the lives of Golden Core Stage cultivators being as dispensable as grass. A large number of high-order cultivators perished at the maws of the Demonic Beasts. In the critical moment, several Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Human Race came forth, leading powerful beings from several continents to engage in a fierce battle with the Demon Beast Army. After a brutal fight, the Human Cultivators emerged victorious. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That battle was earth-shattering, with two of the Fifth Order Demonic Beasts being slain and one Nascent Soul Cultivator gravely wounded. Finally, the Demonic Beast Race withdrew of their own volition, giving up a large expanse of territory. Much of the current Qingzhou¡¯s land was gained during that time, and after thousands of years of struggle and evolution, it eventually formed several nations. These rumors are recorded in the annals, although there might be some discrepancies due to the long passage of time. However, in the treasure vaults of the ancient Sect Families, there must be more detailed historical documents. Beyond that, there are no patterns to the outbreak of beast tides; the records in the cultivation world indicate that there have been many places where beast tides have erupted. The vast areas of Qingzhou and Jizhou bordering the Demonic Lands have the highest probability of experiencing beast tides and have done so most frequently. Wei Kingdom has not experienced a beast tide in hundreds of years, causing many newer generations of cultivators to nearly forget about it; only those who are Golden Core Stage cultivators might have the chance to have lived through one. Coming back to the moment, upon seeing everyone¡¯s serious expressions, Lin Shikang started to offer reassurances. ¡°This is only speculation, because the number of Demonic Beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range has not doubled, it¡¯s just a bit abnormal.¡± Chapter 361: 221 Precautionary Measures_2 Chapter 361: Chapter 221 Precautionary Measures_2 ¡°` ¡°Furthermore, if a beast tide were to erupt, not to mention the Lin Family, even a Golden Elixir Force would be but a trifle in the vast ocean, instantly swallowed by the beast tide!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded and said, ¡°Third Brother speaks the truth!¡± ¡°If a real beast tide is approaching, it¡¯s very difficult to say from which direction their main force would attack the heartland of the Human Race.¡± ¡°If it does happen, this isn¡¯t something within our control. When the sky falls, the tall ones will handle it, so let¡¯s not borrow trouble!¡± As soon as these words fell, the faces of Lin Shihua and the others finally returned to normal. ... Lin Shikang chuckled, then spoke seriously, ¡°What Shilu has said is exactly my point.¡± ¡°However, for safety reasons, our family must further strengthen its defenses and send more clan members to patrol the mountain gates.¡± ¡°Besides, we are not short of elixirs; we need to extensively purchase talisman paper and other consumable war resources as a precaution.¡± After speaking, Lin Shikang looked up at Lin Shihua, signaling for his opinion on the matter. Lin Shihua nodded and said, ¡°I will arrange for clan members to secretly handle this. But what about those external territories and the Spirit Lands we¡¯re preparing to cultivate? How should they be disposed of?¡± With this question, Lin Shihua posed a challenging problem for the others. The family had just planned to focus on these industries and had already invested a lot of manpower, resources, and financial efforts into them. It would be a pity to give them up. As expected, everyone fell into silence, evidently lacking any good solutions. Seeing that no one was speaking, Lin Shikang broke the silence, ¡°Everyone, please share your thoughts and let¡¯s try to work out a reliable solution.¡± One by one, the clan members expressed their opinions, and Lin Tianming was not left out. His view on the matter was rather bold. There were no signs of the Demon Beast Tide, and even if it were true, it was difficult to pinpoint the location and timing of the beast tide¡¯s eruption. If they were to hunker down and waste precious time, it would be a case of lost gains. In addition, the family had been developing smoothly over the years, with overall strength on the rise. If their progress were to be disrupted, getting back on track would take a lot more time. Thinking about this, he began to share his thoughts, and soon they were acknowledged by everyone. Seeing this, Lin Shikang made up his mind and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s follow Tianming¡¯s suggestion. The family will strengthen its defenses and secretly accumulate war resources.¡± ¡°As for those territories and Spirit Lands, we¡¯ll proceed as normal with their development. However, everything must prioritize safety, whether it¡¯s the Luoyun Market, Golden Horn Mountain, or Jiuhua Mountain, all must heighten their defenses.¡± ¡°As for cultivating those Spirit Lands, we must be more careful. Currently, the clan has enough Foundation Establishment Clan Members. We should investigate the surroundings of the Spirit Lands more thoroughly, assign more people to lead teams, and prioritize prudence to avoid repeating the mistakes that happened to Xing Luan and his group.¡± Upon hearing the instructions, the clan members all nodded and then discussed some finer details. The sun set in the west, and they talked until evening, arranging many family affairs before finally greeting each other and leaving Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion. Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng walked together, discussing their cultivation plans for the coming period as they went. Lin Tianming smiled. The family and the outside world had been relatively stable these past years, and he rarely had a chance to relax. With no urgent business requiring him to go out, he planned to continue his closed-door cultivation, striving to elevate his strength as much as possible. If a beast tide were indeed to happen, an extra measure of strength would make his family and himself a bit safer. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the other hand, Lin Tianfeng had family duties; the cultivation of Spirit Lands must continue, and his experience and strength were the foremost choices besides Lin Tianming. Therefore, he and Lin Tianhong had more family responsibilities assigned to them, and if he wanted to cultivate in peace like Tianming, he might need to wait a few more years. To this, Lin Tianfeng felt no dissatisfaction. In his heart, he felt he had not contributed to the family as much as Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu. Having made his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, it was natural for him to start repaying the family for their years of nurturing. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words deeply moved Lin Tianming, who thought that if every clan member had the same awareness as Lin Tianfeng, ¡°` The family has nothing to worry about its prosperity! As time passed by unknowingly, the two of them reached the Cave Mansion District. After giving each other a few reminders, they entered their respective cave mansions. Lin Tianming returned to his cave mansion, feeling somewhat weary from his three-month exploration journey. Now that he was back in his own abode, he naturally wanted to rest properly. Having made up his mind, he walked into his room and lay down on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Two days later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and climbed out of bed. A two-day sleep had completely dissipated all feelings of fatigue, and he felt his condition return to its peak. He exhaled a breath of stale air and stretched languidly before heading to the training room. Sitting on the meditation cushion with his hands clasped and eyes tightly shut, he began to meditate and regulate his breathing, appearing ready to enter a closed-door cultivation. He planned to cultivate with the help of the Fusion Spirit Pill and concurrently test the effects of the elixirs he had concocted. After half an hour, once his condition reached its peak, he took out a Fusion Spirit Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. Once the elixir entered his mouth, its energy slowly began to spread. After refining it through cultivation, the energy transformed into gentle spiritual power, eventually converging in his Seven Seas Dantian. Feeling this spiritual power, he realized its quality was indeed much stronger than that of the Lingshen Pill, and it was refined faster as well. Upon careful observation, he could even feel his cultivation level slowly rising. Although it was slow, the increase was distinctly noticeable. By now, he had taken too many Lingshen Pills. Only the Superior Spirit Essence Pills he concocted himself had some effect; the ordinary Lingshen Pills were remarkably ineffective, only slightly better than pure meditation. Thinking about it, this wasn¡¯t surprising. The Lingshen Pill was the most common elixir in the Cultivation World. As long as the Spiritual Medicine Materials were old enough, even fourth-order pills could be produced. However, Spiritual Medicine Materials capable of producing fourth-order Lingshen Pills were extremely rare in the Cultivation World, almost impossible to come by. Moreover, once one reached the Golden Core Stage realm, there were hardly any cultivators who would choose to cultivate with Lingshen Pills. After all, there were many types of elixirs to aid cultivation, and from the perspective of Golden Core Stage cultivators and the energy required for cultivation, Lingshen Pills were simply inadequate. Instead of looking for third-order Lingshen Pills, they could completely replace them with other elixirs. And Lingshen Pills of average effect were generally only found among lower-level cultivators. Many cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, who had a decent wealth, switched to better elixirs like the Fusion Spirit Pill or other cultivation aids. Regaining his focus, he had already been cultivating for a short while. At this moment, the long-lost pain began to gradually arrive, although it came later and was less intense than what he experienced when taking Lingshen Pills. The current pain was not strong, but Lin Tianming endured it, wanting to persist as long as possible. Another quarter of an hour passed, and the pain intensified. His complexion turned a bit pale, and sweat began to pour from his forehead, soaking his robe. When the pain became unbearable, he took out a Dragon Bone Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. As the elixir took effect, the medicinal power of the Dragon Bone Pill began to emerge, and its gentle energy covered the painful sensations in his body. Soon, the severe pain gradually subsided and eventually returned to normal. Afterward, Lin Tianming circulated his cultivation technique, voraciously refining the energy contained within the two kinds of pills. Under the Heavenly Grade Technique, the energy within the pills visibly diminished at a swift pace. At that moment, he could clearly feel his spiritual power increasing slightly, advancing towards the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. Although there was still some distance to breakthrough, his long-stagnant cultivation level was also slowly climbing. A look of joy crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s face as he inwardly exclaimed, ¡°The effect of the Fusion Spirit Pill is indeed much stronger than the Lingshen Pill, one pill is comparable to three, and the refinement is faster with fewer side effects, truly worthy of its grade and price!¡± Regathering his focus, he continued to operate his cultivation technique, refining the medicinal power contained within the Fusion Spirit Pill. Chapter 362: 222 Funeral_1 Chapter 362: Chapter 222 Funeral_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. On a mountain peak outside the Protective Clan Formation, several clan members were practicing Sword Flight as they swept across the peak. These individuals were members of the Lin Family¡¯s Law Enforcement Hall. Following Lin Shikang¡¯s orders to strengthen the security, the Enforcement Hall temporarily issued many tasks, recruiting a number of cultivators at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement and above to take turns patrolling. Today, it was Lin Xingpu¡¯s turn to lead the patrol. Following the arrangements made by the Law Enforcement Hall Master, Lin Xingzhi, they split into two groups to patrol the expansive area spanning tens of miles beyond the Protective Clan Formation. Regarding these orders, Lin Xingzhi didn¡¯t offer any explanation. Although Lin Xingpu was somewhat puzzled in his heart, he still carried out his duties as usual. Today marked the tenth day he had led the patrol. Accompanied by several members, he arrived at a location tens of miles from the Protective Clan Formation as required and began the patrol. ... At this moment, within the patrolling group, one member was murmuring something as they practiced Sword Flight. Lin Xingpu frowned upon hearing this idle chatter. His expression serious, he immediately said, ¡°Xing Ji, the patrol duty is an arrangement from the family. Don¡¯t speak carelessly anymore. If Xingzhi finds out, be careful the family rules and laws don¡¯t come after you.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, another member chimed in, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve even heard about a Tian Clan Member who made a mistake, had their cultivation sealed, and was sent to a secret chamber to face the wall and reflect for three years.¡± Another clan member, hearing this and with a look of terror, couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Three years, if it were closed-door cultivation for three years, that would be one thing. But being sealed and facing the wall for three years is no different than being an ordinary person. I can¡¯t even begin to imagine what that would feel like over these three years.¡± Hearing these words from his fellow members and thinking about Lin Xingzhi¡¯s usual stern and serious way of handling things, Xing Ji¡¯s complexion changed, and he quickly looked around cautiously, afraid that some clan member passing by might hear the complaints he had just uttered. Seeing his expression, the rest of the clan members started to laugh. ¡°Alright, stop talking about useless things. Patrolling is the family¡¯s arrangement. Everyone must do their duty, and not bring trouble to the family by neglecting your responsibilities or harboring complaints. After all, having received the family¡¯s salary, we must do our jobs well with peace of mind,¡± they said. ¡°Understood?¡± Hearing Lin Xingpu¡¯s stern words, the several members immediately responded with a grave expression, ¡°Yes.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingpu nodded his head, then resumed Sword Flight, leading the members to continue patrolling around the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Time slowly passed, and a year went by in tranquility. ¡­ On this day, within the cave dwelling of Lin Tianming. In the Pill Refining Room, he sat cross-legged on the floor. Spiritual Power flashed in his hand, striking the Blueflame Furnace until a scent of elixirs wafted out, and he ceased his efforts. Lifting the lid of the furnace, several Lingshen Pills lay at the bottom. He collected the elixirs and stored all of them in a Jade Bottle. Just as he was about to strike while the iron was hot and continue with alchemy, a message pierced through the prohibitions and hovered before him. Pausing, he then cast a Law Decree to read the content of the message. After a few moments, his expression turned mournful. After tidying up the chaotic Pill Refining Room, he pushed the door and walked out. Before long, he arrived in a courtyard located halfway up the mountain. By this time, more than a dozen clan members had gathered in the courtyard. They were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family, and apart from those who had been dispatched elsewhere, nearly everyone in the Clan Grounds was there. Seeing Lin Tianming arrive, Lin Xingzhi and a few others came up and nodded greetings to each other. Lin Xingzhi¡¯s face was touched with sorrow as he said, ¡°Tianming, Seventh Uncle¡¯s time is drawing near, and he has only a few days left. He specifically asked to see you. Hurry inside!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and proceeded toward the depths of the courtyard. After passing through several long corridors and pavilions, he arrived at a quiet chamber. At this point, several members of the Shi Clan were present, as well as one member of the Xing Clan, the only descendant of Lin Shigang with a Spiritual Root. His name was Lin Xinghan, more than eighty years old, with a cultivation at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Lin Xinghan was kneeling in front of the bed, his eyes red and tears streaming down his face as he waited quietly. Above, the elderly and haggard Lin Shihe with white hair sat at the head of the bed, with Lin Shikang on the other side. One on the left and one on the right, they held Lin Shigang¡¯s hand, occasionally nodding and saying something. But most of the time, it was Lin Shigang speaking. He was apparently giving instructions concerning his last wishes. Lin Shigang, a year or two younger than Lin Shihe, was facing the end of his life sooner than the older Lin Shihe, which is not unusual in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators of the same age, with deeper cultivation or having consumed some genius treasures, generally possess stronger vitality and can live a few extra years. Since Lin Shihe previously served as the head of the Scripture Pavilion and compared to the overworked Lin Shigang of the Skill Transmission Hall, he had a somewhat easier time, with more opportunities for cultivation and a marginally deeper cultivation. Therefore, it was not surprising that he could live a few years longer than Lin Shigang. However, now that Lin Shigang¡¯s end was near, it meant that Lin Shihe, who was even older, wouldn¡¯t have much time left either. Aware of this, Lin Shihe gripped Lin Shigang¡¯s hand tightly. Both had given up on the attempt to reach Foundation Establishment more than twenty years ago and could only wait for their natural end. They both had long since come to terms with this reality and had accepted it, so there was no expression of reluctance on their faces. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, Lin Shikang waved his hand, indicating for him to hurry over. Lin Tianming did not delay, quickly stepping forward to come to Lin Shigang¡¯s bedside. Chapter 363: 222 Funeral_2 Chapter 363: Chapter 222 Funeral_2 Upon seeing Lin Tianming, a flush of red briefly passed over Lin Shigang¡¯s pale face. Lin Tianming bowed to Lin Shigang and then said, ¡°Seventh Grandpa, your nephew Tianming has come to see you!¡± With Lin Shikang¡¯s support, Lin Shigang slowly leaned against the wall, nodded after looking at Lin Tianming, and revealed a satisfied smile. ¡°Tianming, my time is nearly up, and I don¡¯t have many days left. The family has prospered and grown stronger, which puts my mind at ease,¡± he said. ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s just a pity that I won¡¯t have the chance to see the family produce a Golden Core Clan Member. Otherwise, after I pass away, I could share this joy with our ancestors.¡± ¡°What a pity¡­ such a pity¡­¡± ... Hearing Lin Shigang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge in his nose and said with tear-filled eyes, ¡°Seventh Grandpa, what are you saying? In my eyes, your time is still far away!¡± Lin Shigang chuckled bitterly a few times. He was well aware of his own condition ¨C his life force was dwindling, and he didn¡¯t have much time left. He lifted his head to look at the clan members around him, seemingly trying to memorize their faces. Time passed, and out of the silence in the side room, Lin Shigang¡¯s voice could be heard. ¡°Tianming, everyone, there¡¯s no need to be sad. Although I won¡¯t witness a clan member break through to the Golden Core Realm, with Tianming here, it¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± ¡°Now that I¡¯ve seen you all, I consider my wish fulfilled. I¡¯ve said and arranged everything that needed to be said and arranged. Everyone, please go back to your tasks!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang also gestured with his hand and said, ¡°Tianming, you should leave first.¡± Lin Tianming nodded, bowed three times respectfully to Lin Shigang, and then slowly left the room. Back in the small courtyard, Lin Xingzhi and some others came up to greet him and started asking about Lin Shigang¡¯s condition. Lin Tianming candidly shared some details about Lin Shigang¡¯s physical state, causing the clan members present to tear up and sigh. As the Head of the Skill Transmission Hall, Lin Shigang had taught the first lessons of the Immortal Path to most of the clan members. For this elder, who had dedicated most of his life to the family, all of the Lin Family Members felt a mixture of love and gratitude. Now that his last moments were approaching, despite having anticipated this day and believing they were prepared, the clan members still found it hard to let go. Lin Tianming said a few words of comfort, and the moods of the clan members finally began to settle somewhat. As Lin Shikang and a few others exited, the rest quickly went up to greet them with clasped fists. Lin Shikang waved his hand, instructing everyone to disperse, and they all left Lin Shigang¡¯s cave abode. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t go into seclusion, and neither did the clan members in the courtyard, as they all knew that in just a few days, Lin Shigang would pass away completely, and they would have to see him off on his last journey. He returned with his grandfather, mother, and sister to his father¡¯s cave, taking the opportunity to rest and spend some quality time with his family. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three days later, Lin Xinghan sent a message announcing Lin Shigang¡¯s passing. Upon hearing this news, Lin Shigong wore a sad expression and hurriedly led Lin Tianming and the others to the Spirit Hall to pay their respects. Before long, the four of them arrived at Lin Shigang¡¯s cave abode, and outside the courtyard, a large number of Qi Refining Clanspeople bowed deeply, their faces filled with sorrow. These were all Qi Refining members of the Lin Family, each had stepped onto the path of cultivation under Lin Shigang¡¯s guidance. Learning of their mentor¡¯s demise from their elders, they had set aside their work and come to pay their last respects, sending him off on his final journey. Seeing the large number of clan members outside, Lin Shigong nodded and led the others into the courtyard. By this time, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had arrived, and several core members of the family had come to pay their respects and offer incense to Lin Shigang. Lin Tianming and the others joined in, and even the Foundation Establishment Clan Members adhered to the customs of the Secular World in such a solemn and serious situation. Here, it was only one¡¯s seniority that mattered, not one¡¯s cultivation level, and even Lin Shilu, at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, still had to pay homage to Lin Shigang¡¯s Spirit Tablet. After the rituals were performed, they sat on the stone benches to the side, chatting casually as they waited for all the clan members to finish their respects before burying Lin Shigang¡¯s remains in the family cemetery. Following Lin Shigang¡¯s burial, his Spirit Tablet would be moved to the family ancestral hall. This process held a profound significance for all Lin Family Members. Only with the Spirit Tablet placed in the ancestral hall could one receive recognition from the family and the ancestors. Since the establishment of the Lin Family, there had been no shortage of treacherous individuals who, during their lifetime, had done things detrimental to the family¡¯s interests or unity. In the end, their Spirit Tablets were not permitted in the ancestral hall. This kind of punishment, in some sense, was much more severe than being confined or stripped of one¡¯s cultivation and cast into the mundane world. For the vast majority of clan members, as long as they diligently practiced cultivation, even with modest cultivation levels, their Spirit Tablets would smoothly enter the ancestral hall after they passed away. The placement of a Spirit Tablet in the ancestral hall symbolized recognition from both the ancestors and the descendants. Some clan members who had made significant contributions to the family would even be revered by the future generations. Only by completing this step could one¡¯s life be considered truly concluded. Once Lin Shigang¡¯s Spirit Tablet was enshrined in the ancestral hall and the clan members paid their respects, this process was considered complete, marking the end of the events. The clan members returned to their peaceful lives, focusing on cultivation once again, and Lin Tianming prepared to go into seclusion. Chapter 364: 222 Funeral_3 Chapter 364: Chapter 222 Funeral_3 However, Elder Wu, Lin Shihe, didn¡¯t seclude himself for a few days when his time ran out; he personally witnessed Lin Shigang passing away. After Lin Shigang¡¯s funeral was over, Lin Shihe followed suit in just a matter of days and passed away directly through meditation. As the head of the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Shihe guarded the pavilion for decades and made significant contributions to the family. With his age only second to Lin Shikang, he was both virtuous and highly esteemed. Having attended Lin Shigang¡¯s funeral, it was natural not to neglect this revered ancestor. Lin Tianming had no choice but to end his seclusion and participate in Lin Shihe¡¯s funeral. All the procedures were as before, and after a few days of busy preparations, things gradually returned to calm. With the passing of both Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe, only four Foundation Establishment stage Clan Members of the Shi generation remained, so there wouldn¡¯t be any more elder deaths in the short term. ... However, the Xing generation Clan Members were aging, with the eldest among them nearing a hundred years old, but fortunately, they still had some years left. Moreover, not every Clan Member¡¯s funeral would be so solemn¡ªonly those who had made great contributions to the family would receive such treatment. The funerals of the ordinary Clan Members were mainly attended by close relatives and intimately associated Clan Members. Otherwise, if the hundreds of Lin Family members had to participate in every single funeral, they would hardly have the peace of mind to cultivate. With the passing of the two Shi generation elders, the Tian generation stepped into middle age, which signified a new starting point for the family. Currently, the Tian generation had the most members, totaling over seven hundred, with Lin Tianfeng, the oldest, now in his forties. In a few years, the family would welcome a new Chang generation. At the moment, there were six Foundation Establishment Clan Members among the Tian generation, eight among the Xing generation, and four from the Shi generation. The Tian generation was rapidly catching up to the Xing in numbers and would easily surpass them in a few years. What¡¯s more, among the Tian generation were many who were at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement and some with excellent Spiritual Root Talent. They were still young, and given enough resources, their potential to breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage wasn¡¯t low; successful or not, they would become the backbone of the family. Indeed, the Tian generation brimmed with talent, forming the foundation and hope for the family¡¯s continued strength. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and a year and a half went by in tranquility. The sadness from the loss of the two Shi generation elders gradually faded into oblivion, and the family enjoyed peace. Each Clan Member resumed their normal lives and cultivation practices. On this day, it was Lin Xingpu¡¯s turn to lead the patrol team. Early in the morning, at the break of dawn, the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was shrouded in thick fog while hints of morning twilight began peeking through the clouds, casting a soft glow on the peak of the main mountain. In a courtyard at the mountainside, Lin Xingpu arrived at the Enforcement Hall with several Clan Members to meet the ones they were replacing, ready to begin their patrol duty for the next six months. Looking at the few Clan Members of the enforcement squad, who had already served two terms, each term lasting six months, it was acknowledged that patrolling delayed their cultivation progress. However, the family provided generous subsidies, allowing them to purchase elixirs for cultivation. Calculating it out, the difference from secluding themselves in meditation wasn¡¯t that big. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After surveying everyone, Lin Xingpu waved his hand and led the Clan Members toward the mountain gate. They left the gate and started patrolling the very familiar Green Bamboo Mountain. Chapter 365: 223 Sworn Siblings_1 Chapter 365: Chapter 223 Sworn Siblings_1 As evening descended upon the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within a courtyard¡­ Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes suddenly fluttering open, revealing a trace of joyous smile on his steadfast cheeks. For over a year, he had been in seclusion, emerging briefly only twice to reunite with his family and elders before resuming his closed-door cultivation. During this period, he not only refined pills for the clan but also began to engage in arduous cultivation, and the Fusion Spirit Pills he produced mostly ended up back in his own hands. With the aid of eight Fusion Spirit Pills provided by the clan, and two from his own stock, he intermittently secluded himself for over two years. After assimilating a considerable amount of Lingshen Pills and ten Fusion Spirit Pills, his cultivation astonishingly broke through to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. ¡°It truly is a case of ¡®the flowers blooming effortlessly when least tended, and the willows forming a shade when unbidden¡¯,¡± he reflected with a light-hearted chuckle. ... Upon further thought, perhaps it was because the progression from Foundation Building Fourth Level to Fifth Level remained within the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and not as challenging as the transition from the Third to Fourth Level, or Sixth to Seventh Level. After all, the breakpoints from early to middle stage, or middle to late stage, proved more difficult and yielded greater strength increases. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Never mind¡­ a breakthrough is a good thing. Being overly concerned would just be too sentimental!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and then began to conclude his practice, tidying up the training room before walking out the door. At a mountain top a hundred miles outside the Protective Clan Formation of Green Bamboo Mountain, an ink-colored Spirit Boat whizzed past the peak. On the Spirit Boat stood two people, none other than Ye Pinghai and Lin Xingrong. Three years had passed, and the time for the agreement between Ye Pinghai and the Lin Family had arrived. He had made all the necessary preparations, ready to attempt the Impact of the Golden Core Stage at Green Bamboo Mountain. Gazing at the nearing Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, Ye Pinghai furrowed his brows, contemplating internally. Breaking through to the Golden Core Realm was no small feat. Success would grant him entry into the ranks of High Order Cultivators and elevate him among the top experts of the entire Wei Kingdom, not to mention even among the teeming masses of cultivators in Qingzhou, he would no longer be an unknown figure. Hence, this hurdle was twice as difficult compared to Foundation Establishment. Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators numbered at least a hundred in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, yet together, there were barely over twenty Golden Core Cultivators. Moreover, among those who achieved Golden Core Stage as Loose Cultivators, outside of the Golden Elixir Forces, the last was Real Person Lingxiao from several decades ago. This individual possessed extraordinary talent, a startling genius native to the Wei Kingdom. As a Loose Cultivator, in scarcely less than a hundred years, he broke through to the Golden Core Stage; afterward, he roamed frequently between Qing and Ji states. And the Golden Core Cultivators residing in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World were almost all from sects or clans, as resources there were rather scarce, with the majority held by those with Golden Elixir Forces. With limited resources in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it was profoundly difficult for Loose Cultivators to practice cultivation. By the time one reached the Golden Core level, the need for resources grew exponentially. Unless competing for opportunities with the Golden Core Sects, one would have to venture elsewhere for a chance at breakthrough. As such, the majority of Loose Cultivator Golden Core Masters, after breaking through, would leave the Wei Kingdom for broader horizons. From this, one could comprehend the immense difficulty Loose Cultivators faced in the Wei Kingdom attaining the Golden Core Realm. ¡°Uncle Ye¡­ we¡¯re almost at the clan¡¯s mountain gate,¡± Lin Xingrong remarked, pulling Ye Pinghai back from his reverie. Ye Pinghai nodded and smiled, his expression filled with determination. Soon, the pair drew closer to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain looming vaguely in the distance. Lin Xingpu and several other patrolling members were performing Sword Flight, circling a large portion of Green Bamboo Mountain. Everything appeared normal, and they were about to head back to the gate. At that moment, they happened upon Lin Xingrong and Ye Pinghai, heading their way. Recognizing Lin Xingrong on the Inkwind Spirit Boat, Lin Xingpu immediately led his fellow clan members to welcome them, bowing respectfully to Ye Pinghai. Ye Pinghai returned the gesture with a wave and a smile, and after exchanging pleasantries, they flew together towards the mountain gate. In the Elders¡¯ Council Hall located mid-slope of the main peak of Green Bamboo Mountain¡­ Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai sat in two high seats, with a few members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation seated below, and Lin Tianming and his son at the very bottom. Having learned of his father and Ye Pinghai¡¯s return to Green Bamboo Mountain, and with his seclusion freshly concluded, Lin Tianming had come to greet Ye Pinghai at the special request of Lin Shikang. Ye Pinghai chuckled, inspecting Lin Tianming for a moment before turning his head to Lin Xingrong and commenting, ¡°Xingrong, it has only been three years, yet Tianming has once again broken through in his cultivation.¡± ¡°Your talent may be ordinary, but Tianming is truly extraordinary, a blessing for the Lin Family indeed,¡± he added teasingly. Lin Xingrong responded humbly to Ye Pinghai¡¯s playful words, ¡°You flatter him too much, Uncle Ye.¡± ¡°While Tianming¡¯s talent is not bad, it¡¯s certainly not exceptional either. Among the known cultivators in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there are at least dozens with Dual Spiritual Roots Talent like his, not to mention the unknown cultivators, making such talent hardly something noteworthy,¡± he explained. Hearing this, Ye Pinghai did not say much more. Instead, he took out a Jade Box and three Jade Bottles and held them in his hands. ¡°Tianming, I no longer have any use for these items, so I¡¯m giving them to you,¡± he said. After saying that, he tossed the Jade Box and three Jade Bottles to Lin Tianming, who caught them steadily. Glancing briefly at the two sets of items, Lin Tianming expressed his surprise, ¡°Grandpa Sea, the Demon Soul Fruit and the Fusion Spirit Pills are far too precious, I simply cannot accept them.¡± Chapter 366: 223 Becoming Sworn Siblings_2 Chapter 366: Chapter 223 Becoming Sworn Siblings_2 ¡°¡±Hehe, I have already reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, I¡¯ve had these items for some time now, and indeed, there is no use for them anymore.¡± ¡°Furthermore, I wish to take your father as my sworn son, and as several fellow Daoists are here today, I wonder if you could all indulge this junior brother.¡± After Ye Pinghai finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong, one being the strongest in the Lin Family and the other the father of Lin Xingrong; naturally, their opinions were to be sought. Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong exchanged a glance, each pondering for a moment. They were very clear about the profound meaning behind Ye Pinghai¡¯s actions. He was now aiding the Lin Family, proactively taking Lin Xingrong as his sworn son as a gesture of goodwill and as a promise. He also saw potential in the Lin Family. As long as they nodded their agreement, it meant that Ye Pinghai would be considered half a member of the Lin Family, and he could then pursue the Impact of Golden Core Stage without worrying about the Lin Family harboring any ill will toward him. ... Moreover, such a sworn kinship was greatly beneficial for the Lin Family. Even if he failed to break through, the mere news of this relationship would greatly bolster the reputation of the Lin Family. At the very least, they would be seen as a family with the strength of three individuals at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, most certainly standing out among all Foundation Establishment Families in the Wei Kingdom. If Ye Pinghai were fortunate enough to break through to the Golden Core Stage, it would be like adding wings to a tiger for the Lin Family, firmly positioning them at the forefront of all Foundation Establishment Families. Considering these points, the two quickly returned to their senses, and only after Lin Shigong nodded did Lin Shikang smile and say, ¡°Since we¡¯ve had many dealings and share a tangled web of connections, honored by brother Ye¡¯s high regard, brother Xing and I have no objections to this sworn kinship.¡± No sooner had these words fallen than Lin Shigong, with a hearty laugh, chimed in, ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve been associating with each other for decades, and we¡¯ve always gotten along well. Establishing this sworn kinship will bring mutual support in the future. What greater fortune could there be?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Upon hearing the words from Lin Shikang and the others, Ye Pinghai was thrilled, then turned to Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Now that I have taken your father as my sworn son, you are like my sworn grandson, and these items are my meeting gifts to you.¡± ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± Lin Tianming hesitated for a moment. Although he was very tempted by these treasures, they were all quite valuable. It goes without saying for the Fusion Spirit Pill¡ªit has a great effect on cultivation. Even more precious is the Demon Soul Fruit. This fruit is a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit, born where the souls of Monster Beasts have perished, and collecting it is extremely difficult. It has the effect of refining vitality and tempering both skin and muscle, serving a very powerful and precious purpose. Both these items would greatly enhance him, and with his powerful Divine Sense and physique, having this Demon Soul Fruit could further enhance him. Its benefits for both combat and Alchemy were clear. For Ye Pinghai to offer such treasures off the bat, if it were ordinary items Lin Tianming would have had no need for courtesy, but these two items were so valuable that to accept them too casually might incur displeasure. With these thoughts in mind, he looked towards his grandfather, Lin Shigong, as if seeking his approval. As Lin Shikang nodded and chuckled, he looked at Lin Tianming and his son, saying, ¡°Xingrong, Tianming, won¡¯t you come forward and pay your respects to your elder?¡± Reminded by Lin Shikang, Lin Tianming then accepted the Demon Soul Fruit and three bottles of Fusion Spirit Pills. Afterward, father and son hurriedly stepped forward, presenting the Spiritual Tea with great respect to Ye Pinghai, before bowing deeply to him. ¡°Sworn son Xingrong pays respect to Uncle Ye, and sworn grandson Tianming to Grandpa Sea.¡± Seeing the sincere salutations from father and son, Ye Pinghai was overjoyed and quickly got up to pull them to their feet. The two treasures given away were actually obtained through numerous auctions and exchange meets over the years, specifically intended for Lin Tianming, all to bring himself closer to the Lin Family. Ye Pinghai was very satisfied with taking Lin Xingrong as his sworn child, and he had his own considerations for the gifts he gave away. With Lin Xingrong¡¯s frequent stays at Qianchuan Market over the years, their interactions had increased considerably. Moreover, Lin Xingrong¡¯s shrewdness in dealing with people and his keen observation won Ye Pinghai¡¯s admiration. Add to that his need for the Lin Family¡¯s support, and having no direct descendants, he took Lin Xingrong as his sworn son. This was not only to put the Lin Family at ease, but also for his own peace of mind as he pursued the Golden Core Realm. Besides, Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and the overall strength of the Lin Family were also of great interest to him. If all went well, with the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength, they could very well help Lin Tianming, who was blessed with extraordinary talent, achieve Core Formation with a high success rate and possibly even reach the Nascent Soul Stage in the future. For a Loose Cultivator like himself who had cultivated to his current level, no one knew better than he the hardships encountered along the way. The Lin Family had been good to him, and it was these factors together that were the primary drivers for establishing this sworn kinship. In this way, forging a strong relationship with the Lin Family in advance would offer him something to rely on in the future, creating a win-win situation.¡± Returning his focus, Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were genuinely interested in fostering a good relationship with Ye Pinghai, given that the elders of the Lin Family were very supportive, resulting in a further warming of relations between both parties. After some casual conversation, the atmosphere gradually settled down. Lin Shikang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then got straight to the point. ¡°Ye, the three-year agreement is fast approaching, have you made your preparations, and how confident do you feel about it?¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression grew solemn, and after a wry laugh, he said, ¡°You all should be well aware of how difficult it is to break through to the Golden Core Realm, lacking either Nascent Soul Spiritual Items or defensive treasures is out of the question.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made quite a few preparations in these past few years. Although I have a Gold Fruit to aid me, and several defensive magic artifacts, I still don¡¯t feel confident about succeeding. At most, I have a thirty percent chance!¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°A thirty percent chance is already quite high,¡± Lin Shikang replied. ¡°The longer one lingers in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the lower one¡¯s potential becomes. I¡¯m risking it all, hoping for success this time.¡± Ye Pinghai responded with a wry smile after hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words. But upon further thought, a thirty percent chance was quite good; many people didn¡¯t even have such an opportunity, resorting to a forced breakthrough on the verge of dying, which is immensely more difficult. Ye Pinghai¡¯s words also served as a wake-up call to Lin Shikang, who was over a hundred years old. If he didn¡¯t attempt to reach the Golden Core Realm soon, as his potential gradually diminished, it would become even harder to make a breakthrough. Refocusing his mind, Lin Shikang then asked, ¡°Ye, our ancestors¡¯ insights on breakthroughs have been readied. When do you plan to start your attempt to enter the Golden Core Realm?¡± Ye Pinghai calmly replied, ¡°I have made all the necessary arrangements. After a period of seclusion to recuperate and studying the breakthrough insights, I can try to impact the Golden Core Realm.¡± ¡°As for the timing, it should be roughly half a year at the shortest, or a year at most.¡± ¡°When the time comes, I will have to trouble the elders to arrange a suitable place for my seclusion and to guard it for a while.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then discussed with Lin Shihua and the others about the location for the breakthrough. Considering the density of spiritual energy, as well as the destructive power of the Golden Core Tribulation, the Protective Clan Formation would need to be deactivated for a while before the Tribulation, and then reactivated afterward. Otherwise, the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation would likely be destroyed by the Golden Core Tribulation. If the formation were to be destroyed, losing the foundation of the clan would be a tremendous loss for the Lin Family. While there have been examples of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation with the aid of formations, the requirements were excessively stringent and not something the Protective Clan Formation of the Lin Family could handle. Ye Pinghai did not insist, as he had never considered using a formation to survive the Golden Core Tribulation. After some deliberation by everyone involved, it was decided to choose a secluded valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain as the location for the breakthrough. Not far from the main peak, the valley was filled with bird songs and floral fragrances, rarely trodden by clan members, and its spiritual energy density was comparable to that at the peak¡¯s summit. Besides, if the Threefold Lightning Tribulation were to come, its potent destructive force would not cause much damage to the main peak. Ye Pinghai was very satisfied with this arrangement after inspecting the site and quickly finalized the place and time for the seclusion, deciding to commence in two days. With the seclusion arrangements concluded, several family members spent some time chatting leisurely with Ye Pinghai. In the evening, Lin Shihua organized a lavish dinner to entertain Ye Pinghai, with Lin Tianming and his son taking turns toasting with spiritual wine. The Lin Family¡¯s warm hospitality and the joyful atmosphere delighted Ye Pinghai throughout the evening. Being a loose cultivator with mortal parents who had passed away early in life, he had devoted himself to his cultivation path for nearly a century without ever having a companion. It was through such diligence that he was able to advance swiftly to his current realm. Now, with the Lin Family and in such an atmosphere, he felt a sense of warmth he had not experienced in a long time. The lively atmosphere persisted, and after they were full and merry, everyone returned to their respective residences to rest. Chapter 367: 224 Seedlings_1 Chapter 367: Chapter 224 Seedlings_1 The next day, within the cave abode of Lin Shikang. Several clan members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation gathered together, with Ye Pinghai and father and son Lin Tianming among them. After exchanging a few words of small talk, Lin Shikang took out a golden-yellow jade slip, precisely the ancestral breakthrough knowledge left by the Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch. This breakthrough knowledge left by the Ancestral Patriarch had not been comprehended by anyone for more than two hundred years. Over the past two hundred years, the Lin Family had not produced even one person at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and therefore it remained in the hands of the clansman with the highest cultivation, untouched by anyone else. As Lin Shikang had made his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, he immediately spent over half a year comprehending it and had long since memorized its contents. Although this object could not increase cultivation, its value was extremely high, and it was rare even throughout the Wei Kingdom, having always been kept by Lin Shikang. ... The fact that Ye Pinghai had chosen to seek help from the Lin Family, this jade slip was one of the key factors. Looking at the golden-yellow jade slip, Ye Pinghai appeared excited, already somewhat impatient to comprehend it. Seeing his eagerness, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t keep him in suspense and directly tossed the jade slip to Ye Pinghai. After Ye Pinghai caught the jade slip and briefly examined it, he cupped his fists in a bow toward the other clan members present and started to earnestly express his gratitude. Lin Shikang waved his hand, and then spoke up, ¡°Brother Ye, now that the knowledge has been passed to you, I hope you can breakthrough at an early date.¡± Ye Pinghai nodded, feeling very excited in his heart, and then responded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take your auspicious words, Brother Lin. I will now start my seclusion for comprehension. Please take care of the protective spell on my behalf!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Ye, I will designate your seclusion area as a forbidden zone and protect the law for you, until your breakthrough is complete.¡± After Lin Shikang responded, he turned to Lin Shihua and instructed him on a few things, commanding him to restrict the clan members from approaching Ye Pinghai¡¯s secluded valley for the next two years, so as not to disturb his tranquil cultivation. Lin Shihua nodded and then agreed to see to the matter. Seeing these arrangements, along with Lin Shikang, whose cultivation was not lower than his, acting as his protector, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. After Ye Pinghai stored the breakthrough knowledge in his storage bag, he took his leave to immediately enter seclusion. Lin Shikang and the others nodded, then got up and accompanied him out of the courtyard to the designated seclusion spot. Lin Tianming stood behind the senior members, looking up at the selected spot and discovered that it was not far from where he had once cultivated his Divine Skills. The tranquil and elegant environment, along with the rich concentration of Spiritual Energy, was slightly inferior to the main peak¡¯s summit but, in comparison with other places in the Family, it was considered to be exceptionally good. Within this small valley, a Temporary Cave Abode had already been prepared in advance for Ye Pinghai¡¯s secluded breakthrough. Ye Pinghai stepped forward to inspect it and then nodded in satisfaction. He had no particular requirements for the cave abode, as long as it was secluded, safe, and undisturbed, providing shelter from the wind and rain. Though the place was somewhat simple, it met all his expectations and was sufficient for his secluded breakthrough. After surveying the terrain and bowing to the clan members present, Ye Pinghai entered straight into the cave abode. Lin Shikang and the others watched as Ye Pinghai disappeared from view, then he continued to delegate a few tasks to Lin Shihua and finally dismissed everyone, choosing to stand guard there alone. Lin Tianming returned to his own cave abode and directly entered the training room. He sat cross-legged, took out the Demon Soul Fruit and the Fusion Spirit Pill given to him by Ye Pinghai, his expression revealing his excitement. He took out the Demon Soul Fruit and carefully examined it in his hand. The chilly and piercing sensation of the Demon Soul Fruit, along with a unique fragrance, made one feel refreshed and invigorated with just a whiff. Such items were rare; among the many treasures he had consumed, it was second only to the Seven-Colored Golden Lotus seeds, and in some ways, it was not even inferior to them. Because this fruit could enhance Divine Sense, and throughout the years, he had never stopped consuming Strong Spirit Pills. However, the effects of the Strong Spirit Pills had dwindled after he entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and even if he consumed them like candy, the increase in Divine Sense was extremely limited and could be considered negligible. It might also be due to his exceptionally strong Divine Sense that these minor enhancements were too insignificant for the large base number; therefore, progress felt slow. In such a situation, he was thinking about discontinuing the Strong Spirit Pills when he received this Demon Soul Fruit, which came just in time. With nothing else pressing at the moment, he planned to utilize these elixirs and Spirit Fruit to enhance his strength. Although certainly unable to advance to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level was still a substantial hope. Having made up his mind, he immediately started regulating his breathing to reach his peak condition, preparing to consume the Demon Soul Fruit and to strengthen his Divine Sense and physical veins. Half an hour later. Feeling that his body had reached its peak condition, Lin Tianming took out the Demon Soul Fruit and swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the icy, bone-chilling Demon Soul Fruit was swallowed, his body instantly felt frosty, as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his blood almost freezing. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Simultaneously, the powerful energy from the Demon Soul Fruit surged out, fiercely impacting every meridian and internal organ in his body. Soon, his insides were burning hot while his skin remained icy and piercing; the two opposing energies of cold and heat coexisted within his body. At this moment, his surface was frosted over, while the heat inside him roiled; beads of sweat the size of beans fell from his forehead, quickly turning into icicles that hung beneath his eyelids. Chapter 368: 224 Sprout_2 Chapter 368: Chapter 224 Sprout_2 Under the stimulation of two different energies, his face alternated between red and white, accompanied by intense pain. Only now did he truly understand the meaning of ¡°Ice and Fire Duality.¡± He forcibly suppressed the agony, running his Cultivation Technique at full capacity to refine and dissolve these energies. The refined energy became milder, a warm current flowing within his body, while another force nourished his Divine Sense, strengthening his sea of consciousness. At the same time, the sensation of pain in his body weakened, and a comfortable feeling stimulated both his body and sea of consciousness¡ªan extreme sense of comfort, akin to wandering among the clouds. He expanded the use of his Cultivation Technique, further refining the energy within him. When the energy reached a certain level, it actively scoured his flesh, transforming his skin and meridians, and by extension, also reinforcing his internal organs. ... The strength of Divine Sense, refined from the Demonic Soul Fruit, surged into his sea of consciousness, becoming increasingly formidable. Time slowly passed, and several days went by. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat in meditation like an ancient monk, motionless for several days. At this moment, his hands still joined in prayer, the pallor on his face had long since vanished, replaced by a rosy hue. After several days of refining, the energy contained within the Demonic Soul Fruit was nearly depleted. It wouldn¡¯t take much longer to completely refine it. A tea-time later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes after completing his practice, his face brimming with excitement. The complete refinement of the Demonic Soul Fruit yielded indeed a powerful effect. His physical body had once again been strengthened. Feeling the great power throughout his body, he believed that his physical form alone could withstand the attack of a Cultivator at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment without any difficulty. Even against a Cultivator at the Foundation Building Fourth Level, he was confident he could rely on his physical strength to battle them. Besides the growth of his physical body, his Divine Sense had also increased by nearly ten percent. His Divine Sense was now vaster, which provided, albeit modestly, an improvement in both operating a Sword Array and performing Alchemy. This single Demonic Soul Fruit brought significant progress, far exceeding his expectations. Elated, Lin Tianming stood up, cast a spell to cleanse the dirt from his body, and then resumed his seated cultivation. With no plans to go out, he decided to continue his closed-door cultivation, attempting to push his cultivation towards the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. He then took out three bottles of elixirs that Ye Pinghai had given him, initially intending to share them with his grandfather and father, but they had flatly refused to accept them and insisted that he uses them for his own cultivation. Unable to convince them otherwise, he had no choice but to accept them begrudgingly, resolving to gather some Spiritual Medicine Materials and craft some Fusion Spirit Pills for them once his own cultivation improved. With this belief in mind, Lin Tianming swallowed a Fusion Spirit Pill and began his closed-door cultivation. Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had passed. Today was the day Lin Xingrong was to return to the Lin Family with the profits from the Luoyun Pavilion. Early in the morning, he and a few Lin Family Members sat in the rented Cave Mansion Courtyard, chatting idly. After several years of development, the Lin Family had moved from a temporary abode in the market to a larger residence, which stood just across the street from Ye Pinghai¡¯s former courtyard, positioned diagonally. With his efforts, Luoyun Pavilion, after accumulating steady clientele over the years, saw a stable customer flow and a steady increase in sales volume, generating substantial profits for the family each year. In the beginning, it was a group of five accompanying the family on these excursions. As more family members took part and the number of Lin Family Members venturing out to gain experience increased, those who accompanied him to the market for training had changed several times, with almost every person facing the trials of the Cultivation World. This broadened their horizons and allowed them to make connections with numerous Cultivators, turning them into the elite members of the family. Furthermore, with the Lin Family¡¯s gratuitous Alchemy services, coupled with the fair prices for quality treasures sold at the Luoyun Pavilion, the family¡¯s reputation was firmly established. This significantly expanded the Lin Family¡¯s influence, making them almost a household name in the peaceful Southern Wei Kingdom. During this round of market training that had just passed a year, nearly half of the ten family members were from the Tian generation, all with a cultivation at or above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, including two Xing Clan Members at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Unnoticed, the Tian clan members had been operating extensively in the outside world, becoming the backbone of the family. In the courtyard, after sweeping his gaze over all the clan members, Lin Xingrong began to issue instructions to Lin Xinghuan by his side. ¡°This time, my return to the family territory will take at least a month, there and back. Stay calm in the market city, don¡¯t run around, and keep a good watch over the business of the Luoyun Pavilion.¡± ¡°If you encounter any issues you cannot resolve, seek refuge at the Market City Hall. I¡¯ve already briefed a few executive officers. As long as you don¡¯t provoke those top-tier forces, your safety is guaranteed.¡± ¡°Xingyan, you are a bit older, and after I leave, you will be responsible for all the affairs of the market city and also keep an eye on several clansmen, understand?¡± Upon hearing the instructions, Lin Xingyan bowed with folded hands and then said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, elder cousin. I will definitely manage the Luoyun Pavilion well with the clan members. Just have a quick and safe trip.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lin Xingrong nodded, having spent time with him over the past few days, seeing Lin Xingyan as the oldest among them and a person who handled matters with steady prudence. His cultivation level was also quite good, so entrusting him felt reassuring. After giving a few more instructions, he left the cave mansion courtyard and hurried to the entrance of the market city. Once out of the market city, he rose into the air and flew on his sword, shooting towards the south. Since he had traveled the route back to the family many times before, he had committed it to memory. Besides, with his cultivation level having reached the peak of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, his speed was quite swift. Ten days passed, and Lin Xingrong made good progress through the borders of the Hengyang Mountain Range and the Luoyang Mountain Range. Gazing at the towering peaks vaguely visible ahead, he knew that once he crossed this area, one more day of flying would bring him smoothly to the territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Standing on his spirit sword, as he looked at the mountains, rivers, and streams whistling beneath him, his expression turned unusually solemn. ¡°Strange, I never saw these low-order demonic beasts before when I passed through these areas. Why are there suddenly some First Order demonic beasts this time, even a few at the First Order Middle Stage?¡± Muttering to himself, he then thought of what Lin Shikang had mentioned about the beast tide, and his expression became extremely grave. Though these low-order demonic beasts posed no threat to him¡ªhe could wipe out a great number of them with a mere flick of his hand¡ªthe phenomenon clearly indicated a major disturbance within the beast mountain ranges. With these thoughts, the speed of the spirit sword beneath him increased significantly. Perhaps the family had already noticed and taken action, but this was a situation that he must report on as quickly as possible. That day, as he hastened his sword flight, after he crossed distant peaks and entered the range of the Luoyun Mountain Range, he found the situation here to be somewhat better compared to the Hengyang Mountain Range, which was closer to the Qianchuan Market. He silently breathed a sigh of relief. The further north he went, the denser the population of demonic beasts seemed. It looked like the Luoyun Mountain Range was not a concentration area for the beasts. After two days of flight, he finally arrived at Golden Horn Mountain. Entering Golden Horn Mountain, he met Lin Xingping at once, and the two sat in the courtyard, exchanging the information they wanted to convey to each other. According to Lin Xingping, he had also noticed the abnormalities in the demonic beasts only yesterday, suggesting that the event was quite recent. The family had been prepared for years, constantly monitoring the movements within the Luoyun Mountain Range. Any changes would likely be detected very quickly. After listening to Lin Xingrong¡¯s account, Lin Xingping also realized the gravity of the situation and knew that they must make thorough preparations. After exchanging a few words, Lin Xingrong gave his instructions with a solemn expression. ¡°Xing Ping, I am afraid I can¡¯t rest. I have to rush back to the family to report the situation. Since Golden Horn Mountain is close to the north, it serves as the family¡¯s front station. If the chaos of the demonic beasts is concentrated in the north, this place will be in danger.¡± ¡°Gather the clan members ahead of time and prepare any resources that can be taken away. If any emergency arises or if the demonic beasts¡¯ strength is too great, we should be ready to retreat to the family territory at a moment¡¯s notice.¡± Lin Xingping nodded, and then said, ¡°Alright¡­ You set off right away. I will immediately arrange for the clansmen to prepare for this!¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After finishing their conversation, the two left the cave abode together. Lin Xingrong rushed towards the mountain gate, while Lin Xingping gathered the clan members at that location. Chapter 369: 225 Countermeasures_1 Chapter 369: Chapter 225 Countermeasures_1 ¡°` One month ago. Qingzhou, Yuanwu Kingdom. Yuanwu Kingdom is one of the forty-eight countries in Qingzhou, located in the northwestern part of Qingzhou, far from Wei Kingdom in the southern Qingzhou, with several countries of varying sizes in between. The Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm is full of sects, with more than a dozen Golden Elixir Forces, even the weakest among them is a bit stronger than the Zhenyang Sect of Wei Kingdom. With such strength, the overall power of the Yuanwu Kingdom is considered mid-tier among the forty-eight countries of Qingzhou. ... Wei Kingdom, on the other hand, is situated at a corner, bordering Jingzhou, with extremely limited cultivation resources, completely a barren place, its overall strength is at the very bottom of the vast Qingzhou. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time inside Yuanwu Kingdom, with the outburst of the Demon Beast Tide, a large number of cultivators spread out across the region, fighting with groups of demonic beasts of various sizes, throwing the whole Yuanwu Kingdom into chaos. Led by dozens of Third Order Demon Beasts, several Golden Elixir Forces hadn¡¯t even reacted before their sect gates were breached, and their entire sects were almost wiped out in silence, thus vanishing from the Cultivation World. Eastern Yuanwu Kingdom. On a sprawling plaza by a massive sect gate, a great number of Liyang Sect disciples gathered, most with faces pale with shock, seemingly aware of the arrival of the beast tide. Standing on the high platform before them was an old man with white hair and a saintly aura. The elder¡¯s name was Zheng Yuanfeng, at the ninth layer of Golden Core cultivation, having served as the Great Elder of Liyang Sect for many years. Behind him stood eight Golden Core Cultivators, all elders of the Liyang Sect, six men and two women with varying levels of cultivation and ages. On the high platform, Zheng Yuanfeng scanned the multitude of sect disciples below, and then a resonant voice rang out. ¡°All disciples of the sect, the beast tide has erupted suddenly, and several Golden Core Sects in Yuanwu Kingdom have been wiped out, with Foundation Establishing Families suffering countless deaths and injuries.¡± ¡°Liyang Sect, with a nearly ten-thousand-year legacy, now faces a crisis of extinction, truly a stroke of misfortune.¡± Hearing this, the faces of many disciples in the plaza grew even paler. The Golden Core Sects within the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm were almost all at comparable strength, and with several sects already annihilated, how could the Liyang Sect withstand the coming beast tide? At this moment, everyone was deeply worried; even the sect leader himself spoke so, what chance did they, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators or even the Qi Refining Cultivators, have of surviving the beast tide? Then, with the faces of the cultivators in the plaza growing paler and some even considering fleeing, devoid of any will to fight. Seeing their morale, the elder on the high platform shouted, pulling the disciples back to reality from their reverie. Looking at the thousands of disciples, after a brief pause, the elder solemnly said: ¡°Do not panic like this, though the Demon Beast Army is formidable, I judge this to be only a minor or medium-sized Demon Beast Tide.¡± ¡°Word of Yuanwu Kingdom¡¯s plight will soon spread, and the sects are already joining forces with other Golden Elixir Forces to fight the enemy; we only need to hold our ground and wait for help for a while.¡± ¡°When the Nascent Soul Experts from Qingzhou arrive, and with the concerted efforts of the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Forces, all difficulties shall be effortlessly resolved!¡± Hearing this, the Liyang Sect disciples on the plaza finally breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions gradually returning to normal. They knew that without reinforcements, relying solely on Golden Core Sects, they would not be able to hold out for long. But if Nascent Soul Cultivators joined the fight, this might also be an opportunity; as long as they could survive the beast tide, the gains would undoubtedly be substantial. Thinking this, some cultivators in the crowd were already eager to try, planning to seize this opportunity to make a fortune in Spirit Stones. However, what they did not know was that these words spoken by the elder were merely consolatory. The lower-order cultivators might not understand the current state of Yuanwu Kingdom, nor grasp the cruelty of the Cultivation World; these Golden Core Cultivators, however, were all too clear. They knew that the Nascent Soul Forces would eventually take action but would demand a price. The support from neighboring countries was difficult to predict, and surely many would wait and see, some sects even hoping for their demise so they could swoop in to exploit the aftermath, gaining more territory and resources. In the Cultivation World, such occurrences were commonplace, without offering up benefits, no sect or family would kindly lend a hand. This would happen only if a large beast tide was encountered which would eventually affect them too, compelling them to offer proactive aid. Otherwise, staying out of the fray would already be considered quite decent. This beast tide at the moment, appeared to be a minor one, with not many high-order demonic beasts, just some Third Order Demon Beasts mobilized; although the numbers were not small, without Fourth Order Demonic Beasts, their destructive power was extremely limited. Yet, this could just be the vanguard of the demon beasts, maybe an even larger force would follow, potentially escalating into a medium or large beast tide. At present, Golden Elixir Forces of Yuanwu Kingdom were arranging to deal with the crisis, they had to unite and confront the beast tide head-on, or if they failed, at least hold out as long as possible. No one was willing to give up their sect gates that had been established for thousands of years unless absolutely necessary, for they represented the heart¡¯s blood and wealth of the sect over many years. With these thoughts, he momentarily lost himself in contemplation, a subtle concern growing inside. It was only when his junior reminded him that he snapped back to awareness and began to issue a series of strategies in response. The senior disciples under him responded one after another to his call, joining the ranks to resist the beast tide. The entire Liyang Sect, like a war machine, began to turn into action. ¡°` Chapter 370: 225 Countermeasures_2 Chapter 370: Chapter 225 Countermeasures_2 And this scene was enacted across numerous sect families in the Yuanwu Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World as they began to pour into the struggle against the demonic beasts. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. Lin Xingrong, traveling by Sword Flight, neared his family increasingly with less than a hundred miles to go. Throughout these days, he had hardly taken any breaks, almost relentlessly on the move. From the moment he noticed the abnormality in the demonic beasts to these past few days, most of his time had been spent in flight without proper rest. Along the way, he kept his nerves tightly wound, trying to capture as much information as possible to make more accurate judgments. ... Indeed, on his flight back to the family from Golden Horn Mountain, he had encountered numerous tracks of demonic beasts, but their number and rank had gradually decreased. The further south he went, the less dense the demonic beasts became, mostly consisting of First Order Initial Phase demon beasts. Such a situation also corresponded with his own guess. Fortunately, he had not encountered any Second Order Demonic Beasts on his way until he arrived at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, where he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. As he drew nearer to the clan territory, he encountered a clansperson patrolling the mountain entrance. Ignoring his fatigue, he swiftly flew over. After greeting a few fellow clanspeople, Lin Xingrong urgently inquired, ¡°Has anything happened in the Luoyun Mountain Range recently, or has any disturbance been reported?¡± Hearing this, the leading clansperson looked puzzled. The family had been on edge in recent years, significantly increasing the scope and number of people patrolling the mountain entrance, yet there had been no sign of stopping or changing for so long. Nothing unusual had appeared in the family recently, everything was calm. The clanspeople went about their cultivation uninterrupted, and no incidents had been reported. The puzzled clansperson laughed and then asked proactively, ¡°Clan brother, you seem weary from your hasty journey; has some major event occurred?¡± Lin Xingrong did not elaborate but simply instructed them to patrol the clan grounds well and not to inquire too much. Having said that, he had already disappeared, leaving the other clanspeople even more puzzled as they stayed in place. Half an hour later, in the secluded valley where Ye Pinghai was in seclusion, several Lin Family members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation had already arrived. Lin Tianming also had just come out of seclusion, and upon receiving Lin Shikang¡¯s message, he immediately rushed to the valley. Seeing Lin Xingrong¡¯s pale face, the several clanspeople quickly realized that something serious had happened. The anxious Lin Shihua quickly asked, ¡°Xingrong, has some major event happened, causing you to rush back in such a panic?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingrong¡¯s expression was solemn as he spoke, ¡°Elder, after I left Qianchuan Market and was passing through the border of the Hengyang Mountain Range and Luoyun Mountain Range, I discovered a large number of First Order demon beasts.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shikang and the other clanspeople¡¯s expressions changed, immediately bringing to mind the previously mentioned beast tide attack. ¡°Xingrong, what about the Golden Horn Mountain and Luoyun Mountain on this side, have you noticed anything abnormal?¡± Lin Shihua asked. Lin Xingrong, not daring to delay, quickly relayed his observations and findings. ¡°While passing through here, I paid special attention to this matter. The situation on Luoyun Mountain¡¯s side was evidently better than on our own Luoyang Mountain Range and the Hengyang Mountain Range.¡± ¡°Based on what I understand, this is indeed a prelude to a beast tide, and the outbreak point is in the north; the specific location is, as of now, unknown.¡± ¡°The north?¡± Lin Shikang pondered for a moment, then followed up with a question, ¡°When you left Qianchuan Market in the north, did you notice any irregularities?¡± Lin Xingrong recalled carefully for a moment to ensure no oversight and then replied, ¡°When I left Qianchuan Market, everything was normal, and there seemed to be nothing unusual about the market itself.¡± ¡°Besides that, I didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary on my way, only encountering changes in the demonic beasts at the junction of the three great mountain ranges.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the other clanspeople fell into deep thought. Clearly, the changes in the demonic beasts had only emerged while he was en route. After all, it took him nearly ten days of flight upon leaving Qianchuan Market to arrive at the junction of the three great mountain ranges, where he had first noticed the abnormal situation. So it turns out, these peculiar changes started only in the past few days. ¡°Shi Lu, what do you think about what Xing Rong said?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s inquiry, Lin Shilu was the first to speak. ¡°Xing Rong¡¯s judgement is probably correct. The epicenter of the beast tide is in the north; it may have already erupted, and for only a short time at that. The signs are just beginning to emerge here.¡± Having said that, Lin Shihua also agreed, ¡°I concur with this opinion. Our earlier assessments were correct. The only unknowns are where the eruption point is located, how large the scale of the beast tide attack will be, and whether it will impact the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Verifying these points as soon as possible is critical right now.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shikang nodded and then said, ¡°You¡¯re right. We don¡¯t know the details yet, but it¡¯s certain that the beast tide has erupted.¡± ¡°The task at hand is to gather information as soon as possible and then make preparations in advance.¡± Having said this, Lin Shikang¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°Tian Ming, what are your thoughts on this? Do you have any good strategies to suggest, feel free to share for our reference.¡± Lin Tianming thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Currently, Grandpa Sea is attempting to break through to the Golden Core Stage. Should he succeed, our family¡¯s crisis might be averted.¡± ¡°However, it¡¯s hard to say when this will happen, and no one knows when he¡¯ll break through. Third Grandfather is protecting him, so he certainly won¡¯t be able to leave his side.¡± ¡°Sitting idly by will only make us passive. We can¡¯t afford to concern ourselves with other places for the time being. We should take the initiative to attack and clear some of the demonic beasts around Luoyun Mountain as soon as possible. If we do that when the number of demonic beasts increases, the pressure on our family will be reduced.¡± After Lin Tianming finished speaking, all the clanspeople present nodded their heads, clearly in agreement. After scanning the audience, Lin Shikang spoke, ¡°The arrangements made by Tian Ming are indeed comprehensive, so let¡¯s settle on that.¡± ¡°However, what about those Spirit Lands and Luoyun Market our family holds? Do we abandon them, or do we send people to guard them?¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words caused everyone present to fall into deep thought. Lin Tianming was no exception; Qianchuan Market was not for them to worry about, with Zhenyang Sect at the forefront. If they were to give up, then no matter how hard the Lin Family tried, it would be a futile effort. What they needed to consider the most were Golden Horn Mountain, Luoyun Market, and the region around Jiuhua Mountain. After thinking for a while, Lin Shilu took the lead and said, ¡°Given our limited manpower at present, we can only temporarily abandon the Spirit Lands our family has developed. However, Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain are of utmost importance and cannot be forsaken.¡± Before he finished speaking, Lin Tianming also offered his support. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is right. Those developed Spirit Lands, while they have consumed some resources, have not yet formally generated value; abandoning them now is a reluctant but necessary action.¡± ¡°But Golden Horn Mountain and Luoyun Market are too important for the Lin Family, producing a large amount of Spirit Materials and Spiritual Medicine every year. It would indeed be too regrettable to give them up.¡± ¡°For Luoyun Market, we must inform the other family powers as quickly as possible, asking them to send some of their people to defend the Market. Those who are unwilling to make a move should either contribute Spirit Stone resources or be directly deprived of their rights to share the market profits,¡± ¡°after all, we can¡¯t be the only ones worrying about it while they reap the benefits without lifting a finger!¡± After pondering for a moment, Lin Shikang found that his own thoughts aligned with the arrangements proposed by Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu. With these thoughts, he immediately instructed, ¡°Then we¡¯ll proceed as Tian Ming and Shi Lu have suggested. Contact the other families and bring back all the Spiritual Objects from Jiuhua Mountain to our clan.¡± ¡°Call back everyone developing the Spirit Lands and dispatch more clanspeople to defend Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain. Strengthen the defenses of these two critical areas.¡± ¡°In addition, immediately send out elite clanspeople to hunt down those demonic beasts in the mountains, and for those that infiltrate the secular world, dispatch Qi Refining Clanspeople to deal with them.¡± ¡°In a nutshell, we must take advantage of this lull before the full outbreak of the beast tide, to weaken their forces as much as possible, minimizing the threat.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else to add, then let¡¯s proceed with these arrangements. Everyone agrees, right?¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, Lin Tianming and others nodded in response. ¡°No objections!¡± After Lin Shikang gave a few more instructions, all the clanspeople dispersed from the valley. Chapter 371: 226 Call to Action_1 Chapter 371: Chapter 226 Call to Action_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, the clan¡¯s gateway plaza. Many people, upon receiving the Clan Leader¡¯s summons, hastened to leave their seclusion. Dozens of clanspeople gathered here, all possessing cultivation levels above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. At this moment, those standing in the field were all the elite forces of the family, with the Xing Clan Members making up the majority, and the Tian Clan Members accounting for about thirty percent. The gathered clanspeople were discussing in groups of twos and threes, speculating about the reason behind the Clan Leader¡¯s call. Before long, Lin Shihua and a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators arrived. Seeing several people approaching, the clanspeople on the field stopped their whispering conversations. Lin Shihua looked over the crowd and then walked up to a high platform in front of them. ... Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lin Shihua¡¯s resonant voice spread throughout the field, informing everyone about the threat of the Beast Tide. Lin Shihua didn¡¯t conceal anything, clearly understanding that what lay ahead was a significant test for the Lin Family. Upon learning the news of the Beast Tide, some clanspeople looked horrified, their expressions extremely solemn, utterly shocked by the news. Seeing their reaction, Lin Shihua offered a few words of comfort, finally stabilizing the clanspeople. Afterward, he explained the family¡¯s preparations from a few years back and their predictions about the Beast Tide. The clanspeople then breathed a sigh of relief, realizing the Lin Family had made ample preparations with a wealth of resources accumulated over the years for war. Moreover, the specifics of the Beast Tide were still unknown¡ªit might well be small-scale or far from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In such a case, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t be in any danger. However, Lin Shihua dare not be careless. According to the results of their consultation, he began to issue commands. As orders were dispatched one after another, the clanspeople started to carry out the family¡¯s arrangements methodically and orderly. Subsequently, in accordance to the predefined plan, the clanspeople began to leave the family lands in batches¡ªsome to locate other clanspeople, some to visit other families, preparing to rally these forces for a preemptive strike against the Beast Tide. ¡­ Hanbing Mountain Range. Lin Tianming and Lin Xing Rong were seated atop the Purple Gold Eagle, with more than ten clanspeople behind them, all with cultivation levels beyond the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. At this time, the clanspeople had solemn expressions, observing the increasingly close Hanbing Mountain Range. The Purple Gold Eagle soon descended within the mountain range, coming to rest on the peak of a mountain. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was discussing something with several clanspeople as they sat together in a circle. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and the other person, Lin Tianfeng and the others in charge of defending the area quickly rose to greet them. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming first asked about the situation of Lin Tianfeng and the others. Lin Tianfeng was puzzled to see Lin Tianming suddenly arrive with so many clanspeople; perhaps some unforeseen event had occurred. Thinking of the recent changes in the Hanbing Mountain Range, he promptly said, ¡°Recently, the surrounding Demonic Beasts have noticeably increased, occasionally launching attacks here. Fortunately, their ranks are not high, and we can still cope for now.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Sixth Brother? Has something happened?¡± Relieved that no mishap had befallen the clanspeople, Lin Xing Rong on the side began to issue instructions. ¡°Tianhong, the threat of the Beast Tide may be imminent. Immediately organize all clanspeople to take away anything that can be carried and rush back to the clan lands as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Tianfeng, you come with us to Golden Horn Mountain, to prepare for support over there!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and the others immediately looked serious. Although they had never witnessed a Beast Tide, they were well aware of its horror from the records in ancient texts and the legends in the Cultivation World. Seeing Lin Xing Rong¡¯s serious demeanor, coupled with such a grand mobilization, it was clear the matter was of great importance. Regaining their composure, Lin Tianfeng and others nodded their agreement. They then turned and departed, starting to look for clanspeople scattered in the vicinity. Soon, the group tasked with pioneering the land gathered together, each of them utterly clueless, obviously unaware of the reason they were summoned. Lin Xing Rong surveyed the group, ensuring no one was missed, and after giving a few instructions, he let Lin Tianhong lead them away from Cold Ice Canyon. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ Luoyun Mountain Range, at the base of a certain mountain peak. Lin Shikang and Lin Xingzhi led more than twenty Qi Refinement Clanspeople above the Seventh Level, riding on Qilin Beasts as they swept over the mountain head in a formidable procession. Following the family¡¯s orders, they were heading to some slightly renowned families in the Luoyun Mountain Range to discuss alliances against the Beast Tide. Lin Shilu, seated on a First Order Late Stage Qilin Beast, instructed Lin Xingzhi beside him: ¡°I¡¯ll head to the Sun Family lands, while you split into several teams and make rounds to various Qi Refining Families.¡± ¡°Remember to explain the situation of the Beast Tide. Any family unwilling to participate should withdraw from Luoyun Market and forfeit their rights to the market¡¯s profit shares.¡± ¡°Once the mission is complete, everyone should gather in Luoyun Market.¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded in acknowledgment, then gathered the people and began allocating targets. A quarter of an hour later, the more than twenty clanspeople, divided into groups of three, flew off in different directions. Watching the departing clanspeople, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingzhi did not linger¡ªthey too had their tasks. Lin Shilu was to head to the Sun Family lands, and Lin Xingzhi to the Luo Family. After all, both of these great families had Foundation Establishment Cultivators, though not as powerful as the Lin Family, they were still significant support against the Beast Tide. One day passed. Spirit Turtle Mountain is situated in a valley on a spur of the Luoyun Mountain Range and was named because the mountain¡¯s shape resembles a giant turtle. According to legend, a Fifth Order Spirit Turtle once fell here, its massive body transforming into this mountain peak, but this is just a myth with no records in any official texts. Chapter 372: 226 Call to Action_2 Chapter 372: Chapter 226 Call to Action_2 Spirit Turtle Mountain is now the territory of the Chen Clan, having proliferated here for more than three hundred years. Among the many Qi Refining Families, it is considered to be one of the more long-standing families. Due to the relatively dense spiritual energy of Spirit Turtle Mountain¡ªalthough it cannot compare with the land of Foundation Establishment families¡ªit is among the best treasured lands of the numerous Qi Refining Families¡¯ territories. The entrance to the Chen Clan¡¯s mountain. At this time, Lin Xingzhong, accompanied by two clan members, had finally arrived at the territory of the Chen Clan after a full day¡¯s travel. With the appearance of the three, the Chen Clan members patrolling the mountain¡¯s entrance immediately took notice. Chen Yusong, who was responsible for patrolling the entrance, relaxed his vigilance upon seeing that they were Lin Family members. ... In recent years, the Lin Family has strongly supported several Qi Refining Families, and because the Chen Clan has always been a vassal and sided with the Lin Family since the battle at Luoyun Mountain, it was naturally favored by the Lin Family as a key entity to support. Such actions were taken after the family had made its considerations. With the Lin Family¡¯s current strength, they already occupied roughly sixty percent of the Luoyun Mountain Range¡¯s territory, and their population accounted for about fifty percent. Even if they were opposed by all the families of Luoyun Mountain, they were strong enough to confront their combined forces and could even achieve an overwhelming victory if need be. However, over the years, the Lin Family had not done so. Instead, they allowed the Sun Family and Luo Family to recover their strength and nurtured some other Qi Refining Families loyal to the Lin Family. Because the family needed a stable environment¡ªif things were handled too harshly, it would not only provoke public anger but also be unfavorable for the development of Luoyun Market. After all, the Lin Family took the lion¡¯s share of the market¡¯s profits, and their overall strength far surpassed the others. As long as they developed steadily, there was no need to be utterly ruthless. Besides, keeping these families around would serve as a buffer against external forces. The only potential threat was the two Foundation Establishment families of the Sun and Luo Families. After all, they had a certain amount of territory and various levels of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If they managed to cultivate a Golden Core Cultivator, the situation would immediately flip. But such a possibility was extremely slim; the Luo Family, before the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, was already weaker than the Lin Family. Even if they did not suffer much loss during the battle, with their strength and resources, it was practically impossible for them to cultivate a Golden Core Cultivator. The same held true for the Sun Family. Although Sun Dingxian of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level survived the war, and along with Foundation Building Fourth Level¡¯s Sun Dingfeng, the Sun Family remained powerful. But at that time, Sun Dingfeng was seriously injured. Given his age, it would be good enough if he could maintain his cultivation level; there was no chance for him to reach Golden Core. As for Sun Dingfeng, being more than ten years older than Lin Shilu, even Lin Shilu did not have much confidence in such a rapid progression. With the diminishing family fortune of the Sun Family, whether Sun could advance to the late stage of Foundation Establishment in his lifetime was in question. Under these circumstances, the threat the Sun and Luo Families posed to the Lin Family was not significant. The Lin Family only needed to guard against the growth of the Sun and Luo Families and discreetly weaken their power, preventing their rapid development, to avoid any dangers. Outside the mountain gate of the Chen Clan. Chen Yusong walked out from within the Protective Clan Formation with a smile, warmly greeting Lin Xingzhong from a distance. ¡°Haha¡­ I didn¡¯t expect a visit from a Daoist of the Lin Family. I am Chen Yusong, and I greet the three Daoists!¡± Lin Xingzhong chuckled, approaching with the two clan members and making a gesture with his hands clasped in front as a way to return the greeting. Both parties were enthusiastic. Lin Xingzhong did not belittle them for being a Qi Refining Family nor did he look down on someone in charge of patrolling the gate because of the difference in cultivation. Such an approachable yet noble guest made Chen Yusong very happy. After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Yusong directly asked about the purpose of Lin Xingzhong and the others¡¯ visit. Lin Xingzhong chuckled and said, ¡°Lin Mou has come today to discuss an important matter with Daoist Chen Yuqiang. I wonder if Daoist Chen is within the clan?¡± Seeing how solemn Lin Xingzhong was and that he had no intention of revealing anything, Chen Yusong did not dare to ask further, lest he upset Lin Xingzhong and affect the relationship between the Chen Clan and Lin Family. He said with a smile, ¡°Our Clan Leader happens to be within the clan these days, so the three esteemed Daoist friends may follow me into the mountain gate to rest for a moment. I will then inform the Clan Leader to come and receive you.¡± As soon as he had finished speaking, Chen Yusong sent out a message, and then gestured for them to follow him, leading Lin Xingzhong and the other two into the Chen Clan¡¯s Protective Clan Formation. Entering the Chen Clan¡¯s mountain gate, Lin Xingzhong and the others walked within the Chen Clan¡¯s territory, observing their surroundings. The Chen Clan¡¯s land was not large, estimated to be only about ten to twenty percent of the Lin Family¡¯s territory. A large plot of flat land on the mountain top housed quite a few courtyards, perhaps a few dozen, scattered across different corners of the mountaintop. It was the first visit for all three of them to the Chen Clan, and seeing the internal state of the Chen Clan, it was apparent that they could not compare with the Lin Family. However, the Chen Clan¡¯s infrastructure was fairly good. At least the important institutions and defense mechanisms were in place, there was a hint of historical presence, and the basic elements of a family were established. Many small Qi Refining Families didn¡¯t even have a Protective Clan Formation, and their territories often changed. These families had few members and relatively low strength, just over a dozen members opening up a few Spirit Fields constituted a small family. And there were quite a few such small families in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Although called families, in reality, they were not much stronger than Loose Cultivators. Throughout the walk, Chen Yusong was very enthusiastic, introducing the Chen Clan¡¯s situation to Lin Xingzhong and the others. Before long, the four of them arrived in front of a large hall made of green stone. Chen Yuqiang, the Clan Leader of the Chen Clan, was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Lin Xingzhong, he immediately came forward to greet them. After exchanging pleasantries, he invited the three inside the hall to rest. Inside the hall, Lin Xingzhong sat in the high seats with Chen Yuqiang, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. Soon, Chen Yuqiang tentatively inquired about the purpose of Lin Xingzhong and the others¡¯ visit. Lin Xingzhong had no intention of hiding anything. With a grave expression, he directly informed them of the Lin Family¡¯s judgment and asked the Chen Clan to send members to the Luoyun Market to strengthen the market¡¯s defensive capabilities. Upon hearing what Lin Xingzhong said, it suddenly dawned on Chen Yuqiang, and he couldn¡¯t help but start to view the Lin Family with even more regard. He had also noticed the changes in the Demonic Beasts of Luoyun Mountain recently and had been secretly guessing the reasons. His speculation was similar to what the Lin Family had said, but this made him even more worried. After all, even the Lin Family was taking this so seriously; clearly, the destructive power of the beast tide was extremely formidable. With the Chen Clan¡¯s limited strength, how would they survive the crisis? Thinking of these concerns, Chen Yuqiang was deeply troubled. Facing the demands presented by the Lin Family, he had no choice but to take them seriously. After all, the Chen Clan had been supported by the Lin Family over the years and had developed quite quickly. Plus, they had a share of the market¡¯s profits, so it was reasonable to deploy members to strengthen the defenses of Luoyun Market. Whether it was due to the pressure from strength or to fulfill the Chen Clan¡¯s obligations, it was necessary to deploy some family members. After much thought and faced with Lin Xingzhong¡¯s mix of soft and hard tactics, Chen Yuqiang readily agreed, promising to send five Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivators and two members above the Qi Refinement Seventh Level to the Luoyun Market within the agreed time. With satisfactory results negotiated on this matter, Lin Xingzhong was very pleased and promptly revealed some more important information, also casually giving Chen Yuqiang a few pointers. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Yuqiang was overjoyed, knowing that as long as they closely followed the Lin Family, the Chen Clan could, given a few more decades, cultivate their own Foundation Establishment members. At that time, they would be able to become the fourth Foundation Establishing Family of the Luoyun Mountain Range, fulfilling the Chen Clan¡¯s centuries-old aspiration. With these thoughts, Chen Yuqiang was so excited that he repeatedly thanked them. Lin Xingzhong waved the matter off. Disclosing some information to a family loyal to the Lin Family was no big deal. After exchanging a few more courteous words, Lin Xingzhong broached the subject of leaving. Their task was heavy, and time was pressing. Each small team had to visit at least two or three Qi Refining Families, and the more families they could mobilize to resist the tide of beasts, the less pressure there would be on the Lin Family and the smaller the losses for the Luoyun Mountain Range would be. As a result, they had to hasten their pace and quickly move on to the next family, continuing to call on more Qi Refining Families to join the fight against the beast tide. Chen Yuqiang also knew the situation was urgent and did not detain Lin Xingzhong and his companions, personally seeing them off from the Chen Clan¡¯s territory. Chapter 373: 227: Encirclement (9K words long , please subscribe)_1 Chapter 373: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_1 Flying Eagle Mountain, Sun Family ancestral land. Since the end of the great battle at Luoyun Mountain Range, the Sun Family had suffered heavy losses, with eighty percent of their clan members perishing, leaving only a few dozen scattered in different places to avoid disaster. At that time, the number of clan members in the Sun Family was even less than that of some of the more powerful Qi Refining Families. Fortunately, their Mortal Town had not been greatly affected by the devastating conflict, and with Sun Dingxian¡¯s deep and cunning plans, he had previously sent away several clan members with higher talents before calling them back after the battle ended. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After more than twenty years of recovery, the Sun Family had regained its vitality. The number of clan members had reached over a hundred, which was about seventy to eighty percent of what it had been before the battle, not as much as before, but still quite impressive. In addition, with the limited resources left to them, the Sun Family had managed to cultivate another Foundation Establishment Clan Member, none other than Sun Ruiyang, who had once participated in the Luoyun Market¡¯s grand competition. ... With Sun Dingxian and Sun Dingfeng present, the Sun Family¡¯s High Order Combat Power was still formidable, retaining their position as second in strength within the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, the Sun Family was currently in an awkward phase, lacking talented clan members, with a too hollow core of strength, and with both Sun Dingxian and Sun Dingfeng having no potential for breakthroughs and being quite old. In a few decades, once Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Sun Dingxian passes away, the Sun Family¡¯s overall strength will continue to decline. And such an embarrassing situation was not known to last for how long. ¡­ Inside a large hall at the mountaintop. Lin Shilu and Sun Dingxian sat opposite each other, with several Qi Refining Clanspeople standing behind them. Sun Dingxian was quite surprised by Lin Shilu¡¯s visit to the Sun Family after many years. Normally, Foundation Establishment Cultivators like themselves rarely visited in person, usually only meeting in the Market, and trade or favors between families were mainly handled by the Qi Refining Clanspeople. Lin Shilu¡¯s personal visit meant there must be a significant reason, prompting Sun Dingxian to start guessing. According to the recent anomalies that occurred in the Luoyun Mountain Range, Sun Dingxian had also noticed, but, unlike others, he hadn¡¯t made a decisive judgment and took it as a normal occurrence within the mountains. The two made small talk for a while, exchanging some news about the Cultivation World, after which Sun Dingxian finally asked about the purpose of Lin Shilu¡¯s visit. Lin Shilu didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush and directly stated the Lin Family¡¯s speculation and arrangements, requesting that the Sun Family dispatch some clan members to enter the Luoyun Market to strengthen its defensive capabilities. Upon hearing this, Sun Dingxian thought it over, and combined with the information provided by Lin Shilu, quickly realized the seriousness of the matter. The Sun Family had been developing in obscurity for twenty years since the end of the great battle, never daring to clash with the Lin Family. Just as they had finally regained a bit of Yuan Qi, they now faced the terrifying threat of a demonic beast tide, an exceptionally unfortunate turn of fate. At this moment, Sun Dingxian¡¯s face showed worry as he pondered how to send out as few clan members as possible. Afterward, he asked Lin Shilu about the number and strength of the clan members the Sun Family needed to dispatch. Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°One Foundation Establishment Clan Member, or fifteen Qi Refining Clanspeople of the Late Stage. The spoils from the beast tide belong to those who earn them, and the Market will also reward those who distinguish themselves during the beast tide.¡± Hearing this, Sun Dingxian did not immediately promise to dispatch clan members, nor did he outright refuse. While silent, he was also secretly considering his options. Although the Sun Family bore the name of a Foundation Establishing Family, apart from Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they really did not have many late-stage Qi Refining Clanspeople to spare for dispatch. Dispatching fifteen late-stage Qi Refining Clanspeople would almost require the entire layer of the Sun Family¡¯s clan members of that cultivation level to be sent out, making the internal functioning of the family somewhat strained. Lin Shilu had anticipated this and hence provided two options. If they didn¡¯t want Qi Refining Clanspeople to take the risk, then the only choice was to send out Foundation Establishment Clan Members. If the Sun Family dispatched a Foundation Establishment Clan Member, their effectiveness would be much greater than that of fifteen Qi Refining Clanspeople. In the Luoyun Market, there were always thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators gathered, with at least a few hundred of them being of the Late Stage. The Market was not lacking in Qi Refining Cultivators, but in combat power at the Foundation Establishment Stage. After all, the destructive power and damage a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could cause were at least dozens of times more than a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator. Thus, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were the key factor in whether they could withstand the onslaught of the demonic beast tide. It didn¡¯t take long before Lin Shilu¡¯s reminder brought Sun Dingxian back to reality. He was conflicted, not wanting to send Qi Refining Clanspeople into danger, but the Sun Family¡¯s ancestral land also couldn¡¯t lower its guard. If they were besieged by demonic beasts, resulting in the destruction of their headquarters, the consequences were unimaginable. However, the Sun Family had always reaped profits from the Market, and it was indeed unreasonable not to send clan members there. Seeing that Sun Dingxian was still silent, Lin Shilu directly asked, ¡°Daoist Sun, have you decided whether to send a Foundation Establishment Cultivator or Qi Refining Cultivators to support the Market?¡± Coming back to his senses, Sun Dingxian gave a wry smile, then in a probing tone asked, ¡°Lin, you are aware of the Sun Family¡¯s situation. Is there any chance you could lower the requirements?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Shilu looked embarrassed, but considering that the Lin Family had dispatched quite a few clan members to the Market, deploying much more force than what he was asking for. ¡°Daoist Sun, our Lin Family, including myself, have dispatched three Foundation Establishment Clan Members, along with dozens of Qi Refining Clanspeople. By this count, the Lin Family has indeed given its all for the Market.¡± Upon hearing that the Lin Family, including Lin Shilu, had dispatched a total of three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Sun Dingxian was immediately taken aback. Chapter 374: 227: Encirclement (9K words long , please subscribe)_2 Chapter 374: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_2 The Lin Family had unexpectedly exposed six Foundation Establishment clan members back then and, in alliance with the Sun Family, vanquished the Jin Family, which was already beyond belief. It revealed the overall strength of the Lin Family. It was unexpected that this time, including Lin Shilu, the deployment of three clanspeople, while guarding various territories, would surely necessitate considerable power for protection. From this, one could deduce that the strength of the Lin Family had increased again. Besides the eight Foundation Establishment clan members who had already made their presence known, there must be other hidden forces. It¡¯s just that the exact number and cultivation levels were unknown. Thinking of these, Sun Dingxian was extremely shocked, and the confidence to haggle further drained from him. ¡°Forget it, the Sun Family wanted to catch up to the Lin Family but is being left further and further behind. From now on, we can only avoid their edge and follow the lead of the Lin Family.¡± ... Sun Dingfeng muttered to himself, his demeanor significantly weakened. ¡°Lin, the Sun Family truly does not have the strength to support the market, but since the Lin Family is so devoted to it, the Sun Family will not stand idly by. In two days, we will send a junior in the Foundation Establishment Stage, who is inexperienced in the ways of the world and whose strength is quite weak. At that time, we will have to rely on your assistance, Lin, in times of crisis!¡± After finishing his speech, Sun Dingxian took out two fist-sized stones with a golden color¡ªremarkably, they were Jindun Stones, Third Order Forging Materials. Jindun Stones are Metal Attribute materials for Artifact Refining, both very ductile and extremely hard, making them high-quality materials. This particular Jindun Stone was not small and could be used separately, to be incorporated into several Second Order Magical Artifacts to enhance their power and toughness. It was very valuable. If auctioned in the cultivation world, it could fetch at least ten thousand Spirit Stones, a price beyond measure. This Jindun Stone, being one of the few remaining Third Order items of the Sun Family, had to be presented as a gift to ensure Lin Shilu would not interfere, in hope of his solicitude. Thinking of this, Sun Dingxian¡¯s face showed a pained expression, and he reluctantly handed over the Jindun Stone to Lin Shilu. Moreover, Sun Dingxian¡¯s gesture had a deeper meaning; it was akin to bowing and recognizing fealty. The reason for offering such benefits was to ensure Lin Shilu would look after the Sun Family members and not let his juniors die in vain. After all, seizing the opportunity to weaken them in such a manner, if a clansperson were to die in the beast tide, it would be a meaningless death. Additionally, given the strength of the Lin Family, there was no way for the Sun Family to seek justice. Fortunately, there was no animosity between the Sun Family and the Lin Family, nor any grudges. If it were a rival power faced with such an opportunity, they would definitely not miss this chance to weaken them openly and justly. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, Lin Shilu had no intention of making things difficult for the Sun Family. The Lin Family merely wanted to limit the Sun Family¡¯s development and would not take any excessive actions. After a few courteous words, and Sun Dingxian¡¯s insistence, he finally accepted the Jindun Stone, and even patted his chest as a promise not to let the junior take any risks. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words, Sun Dingxian finally breathed a sigh of relief. Afterwards, following a brief conversation, Lin Shilu rose to take his leave with the two clanspeople, leaving Flying Eagle Mountain and hurrying toward Luoyun Market. ¡­ Golden Horn Mountain, inside a bluestone attic. Lin Tianming, his son, Lin Xingping, and Lin Tianfeng were seated together, with some thirty Qi Refining clanspeople gathered in small groups in front of them. After a day of hurried travel, Lin Tianming arrived at Golden Horn Mountain with his clanspeople, in line with the family¡¯s plan to support Lin Xingping, preemptively exterminating low-order Monster Beasts around the area, to avoid a passive situation when the beast tide erupts. At the moment, the hall was silent, all clanspeople waiting for Lin Tianming to distribute tasks. Among the assembly, although Lin Tianming was not of high rank, and both his father and Lin Xingping, two Xing-generation Foundation Establishment clan members were present, the clan had entrusted the management of affairs here to Lin Tianming before leaving the family home. Given that his cultivation was highest and his experience in battle was rich, he often came up with unexpected good strategies. As a result, the clan had entrusted him with full authority over matters at Golden Horn Mountain, while Lin Shilu led Lin Xingcheng and a group of clanspeople to support Luoyun Market. In the great hall, Lin Tianming scanned the crowd and then began to speak, ¡°You are all presumably aware of the situation regarding the beast tide and the family¡¯s arrangements. Next is how we shall proceed.¡± ¡°I wonder if our fellow elder clanspeople have any good strategies?¡± With that, Lin Tianming looked to the several Foundation Establishment clan members, clearly wanting to hear their opinions. Seeing no one speaking, Lin Xingrong was the first to break the silence. ¡°There¡¯s no denying that we must urgently eradicate the low-order Monster Beasts. Fortunately, their ranks aren¡¯t high, but they are spread out everywhere, even appearing in some Mortal Towns.¡± ¡°Thus, to quickly eliminate them in a short time will be a strain on our manpower indeed!¡± Lin Xingrong¡¯s words initiated a discussion among the clanspeople, who started voicing their own thoughts. Lin Xingping nodded in agreement. He had been stationed at Golden Horn Mountain for several years and had become very familiar with the territory. Golden Horn Mountain was even larger than Green Bamboo Mountain, and with over ten Mortal Towns scattered throughout, with a vast number of mortals living in various corners, searching and accounting for them required the deployment of numerous clanspeople. Yet, within Golden Horn Mountain, there were only just over forty clan members, among whom more than ten were not even at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. The members available for dispatch were only around thirty. Given this, there were indeed not enough clan members for the task. This was clear to everyone, but there was no solution at hand¡ªafter all, the family only had so many members available for deployment. Chapter 375: 227: Encirclement (9K words long , please subscribe)_3 Chapter 375: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_3 Thinking of this, Lin Xingping immediately expressed his opinion, and Lin Tianfeng by his side also added some thoughts. Hearing the suggestions from the others, Lin Tianming fell into deep thought. Over at Mortal Town, there was no need for them, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to take action. They could divide the clanspeople who were at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement or higher into pairs, and together with the clanspeople who were stationed there, form three-member teams for the extermination. With some time, they should be able to complete the task. However, the number of demon beasts around Golden Horn Mountain was immense, and their grades were evidently higher than those around the mundane towns. As time went on, even Second Order Late Stage demon beasts began to appear in small numbers. Presumably, if they were to delay for another ten days or half a month, perhaps even Second Order Demonic Beasts would emerge, and by then, if they rushed en masse towards the mundane towns, the clan would face even greater trouble. If three out of the four Foundation Establishment Clan Members were to take action, they might not be able to exterminate all of them, but they could inflict heavy damage, and by then, wait for the Qi Refining Clanspeople to finish clearing the demonic beasts in the mundane towns before coming to reinforce them, forming a defensive line, it should be somewhat easier. ... As of now, there wasn¡¯t much time left for them, and under the constraints of limited time, they must act swiftly. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon deciding on this, Lin Tianming split the Qi Refining Clanspeople into pairs to enter the ordinary towns for their beast-cleansing mission. He rode the Purple Gold Eagle, with Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng by his side. They divided into two groups and started eliminating demon beasts from both sides of Golden Horn Mountain, killing as many as they could before any outbreak occurred. Lin Xingping took charge of the remaining Qi Refining Clanspeople stationed at Golden Horn Mountain, prepared to take action if necessary, but not venture too far out to avoid being attacked by demonic beasts. Having made up his mind, he began discussing the plan with several clan members. Soon, everyone was in agreement, and so the matter was settled. Immediately after, Lin Tianming began assigning the Qi Refining Clanspeople, trying to balance their cultivation levels, dividing them into fifteen teams¡ªperfect for one team per town. Looking at the arranged clanspeople, Lin Tianming gave them a few more instructions before sending them off from Golden Horn Mountain to start their extermination of the demonic beasts in their respective assigned areas. With the Qi Refining Clanspeople gone, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s group also immediately sprang into action. Soon, the majority of the people from Golden Horn Mountain left, leaving behind only Lin Xingping and a dozen other Qi Refining Clanspeople to keep watch. To the north of Golden Horn Mountain, in the direction of Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming left Golden Horn Mountain and continued to fly northward for over two hundred li before spotting traces of demon beasts in a valley. The Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, while Lin Tianming stood on its back, looking down at the valley below. Gazing down, the valley seemed to be bustling with some dozens of First Order Demon Beasts, most of them in the Initial Phase, with only seven or eight in the Middle-Late Stage, merely a small demon beast tribe. With a piercing cry from the Purple Gold Eagle, the demon beast tribe was momentarily thrown into a brief halt. Immediately after, the Purple Gold Eagle dove down. Its massive wings thundered down, killing more than ten demon beasts before they could react. Sitting cross-legged on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming continuously flicked his fingers, and one by one, magical rockets shot out, bombarding the demon beasts in all directions. With his Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivation, even the most common Fireball Technique was too much for these First Order Demon Beasts to handle. As the fireballs exploded on their bodies, the demon beasts were immediately showered with sparks, many of them killed directly by the blasts. In no time, the valley echoed with pitiful screams. Very soon, the dozens of demon beasts were easily eradicated under the relentless attacks of both man and eagle. After wiping out the demon beasts, Lin Tianming¡¯s spiritual power was not significantly exhausted. A flying demonic beast like the Purple Gold Eagle, with speed as fast as lightning, was simply a massive weapon in such a slaughter. Looking at the scorched remains of demon beasts and the tragic scene, Lin Tianming quickly collected their demon cores, and then gathered the souls and more valuable parts for Artifact Refining Materials. Although these materials were not worth much in terms of Spirit Stones for him, it would be a pity to waste them. He did not, however, care for the flesh of the demon beasts. The Purple Gold Eagle, on the other hand, was not picky. With its appetite, it easily swallowed more than ten demon beasts, along with their demon cores and flesh, until it could eat no more. Only then did Lin Tianming cast a fireball to turn the remaining carcasses into ashes. After cleaning up the scene, the Purple Gold Eagle carried him into the clouds. With its terrifying vision, it easily covered targets within a range of several li. The man and the eagle flew northward, beginning their search for demonic beast groups. At the same time. To the south of Golden Horn Mountain, a hundred li away, in a dense forest, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng were in a fierce battle with a tribe of over a hundred demon beasts. With Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation at the peak of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, plus the Second Layer Lin Tianfeng, they were relentless in their attacks, leading to a multitude of low-order monster beasts falling on the spot. However, their speed of killing couldn¡¯t compare to Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle. Given the sheer number of beasts, sensing the terrifying presence of the two men, the demon beasts fled in all directions from the beginning. Even with their formidable cultivation and strength, facing such large numbers, they couldn¡¯t manage everything at once and could only target those Middle-Late Stage First Order demon beasts. As for the Initial Phase ones that escaped, they were too weak to cause much damage even if they got away. Quickly, the two men killed about eighty percent of the demon beasts. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, they only collected the demon cores and souls, as well as the more valuable parts of the bodies that could be used as Artifact Refining Materials. Chapter 376: 227: Encirclement (9K words long , please subscribe)_4 Chapter 376: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_4 Even if these materials can¡¯t be used to refine high-quality Spiritual Artifacts, they could serve as practice for low-level Artifact Refiners. After collecting these items, the two quickly burned the corpses, disposed of the scene, and began to seep around the area once more, continuing their search for traces of Demonic Beasts. Nanshan Town. Nanshan Town is one of the fifteen major towns of Golden Horn Mountain. It was once a mortal town under the Jin Family, with a population exceeding one hundred thousand. Among the many towns controlled by the Lin Family, it has a relatively large population. Outside the town, in a vast expanse of farmland. Lin Xingpu, along with two Lin Family Members, was exterminating some Low-order Monster Beasts, numbering only seven or eight, ... clearly having strayed from the Luoyun Mountain Range. ¡°Act quickly and eliminate them, there are still many places waiting for us to clear!¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that command, Lin Xingpu brandished his Spirit Sword, reaping the lives of the Demonic Beasts. With the Demonic Beasts eradicated, Lin Xingpu led his clanspeople once again in searching for traces of beasts in the vicinity of Nanshan Town. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain. Outside the Lin Family Clan Grounds, within several different valleys, Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianhu, Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Xingcheng, five Foundation Establishment Clan Members, were leading groups of more than fifty clansmen at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement or above, divided into five teams, to start clearing the Low-order Monster Beasts around the clan territory. For the clan territory, the family had dispatched the most people, all of whom were recent breakthroughs to the Foundation Establishment within the family. Considering the relative safety around the clan territory, these clan members, who needed to be hidden, were sent out, leading middle-generation Qi Refining Clanspeople to exterminate the Monster Beasts near the family. Under such a sizable assembly, the efficiency of these teams was high, and a large number of Demonic Beasts were slain. With each group of Monsters defeated, the five teams continued to infiltrate deeper into the Luoyun Mountain, striving for even greater victories. ¡­ Luoyun Market. In the Market City Hall, Lin Shilu sat in a high seat, with people like Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingzhi seated below him. Further down, Luo Chenggu of the Luo Family and Sun Ruiyang of the Sun Family were also sitting. Below the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the spacious and grand hall was lined with over a hundred seats, each occupied by a Cultivator. After several days of waiting, the majority of Qi Refining Families from the Luoyun Mountain Range had responded to the call of the Lin Family, and sent clan members to station in the Market, assisting in defending against the Beast Tide. There were also some Qi Refining Families who made excuses and refused the summoning of the Lin Family Members in secret. As for this, the Lin Family Members in charge sneered inwardly, knowing that even a family with the strength of the Lin Family dared not take the slightest risk under the onslaught of the Beast Tide. It was precisely because of this that they had notified these families in advance, aiming to gather the strength of everyone, not only to preserve the strength of the Lin Family as much as possible but also for the greater good, to preserve the overall strength of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Yet there were still those self-righteous families who thought the Lin Family was crying wolf. As for those in charge of summoning the families, they did not persuade them too much; if they participated reluctantly, having such thoughts, they would hardly be effective with their discontent and disaffection. Furthermore, the absence of a few Qi Refining Families had virtually no impact on Luoyun Market. And these Qi Refining Families still believed they were indispensable, which was a joke indeed. Inside the hall. Lin Shilu sat in the high seat, his potent aura subtly revealed. Among the numerous Cultivators below, feeling this alternatingly tangible and intangible oppressive aura, many were overcome with inner trepidation. At this time, Luo Chenggu was immensely shocked. Before the great battle at Luoyun Mountain, Lin Shilu and he had both been at the Foundation Building Fourth Level. Now, barely twenty years had passed, and Lin Shilu had already reached the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. Such a terrifying pace of advancement was indeed horrifying. As for himself, having been injured in the great battle, twenty years on, he had managed to cultivate only to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and simply couldn¡¯t compare. Sun Ruiyang was equally taken aback by Lin Shilu¡¯s cultivation. He had also participated in the Market City¡¯s competition, with the Sun Family being led by Sun Dingfeng and the Lin Family by Lin Shilu. Back then, Sun Ruiyang¡¯s elder Sun Dingfeng was a level higher in cultivation than Lin Shilu. In all these years, Sun Dingfeng had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level two years ago, yet Lin Shilu had unexpectedly surpassed him in cultivation. Moreover, the aura that Lin Shilu revealed was as intimidating as Sun Dingxian¡¯s, who was at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. In such a scenario, the most powerful member of the Lin Family, Lin Shikang, might have already reached the complete Foundation Establishment realm. Considering the Lin Family¡¯s publicly known eight Foundation Establishment Clan Members, such formidable strength was even stronger than the Jin Family at their peak. With these thoughts, Sun Ruiyang inwardly sighed: ¡°The Lin Family has soared to the skies and risen irresistibly. The power dynamics among the Luoyun Mountain families are no longer as evenly matched as before!¡± Such thoughts were shared by Luo Chenggu, who inwardly thought that once the Beast Tide ended, the Luo Family might not be able to engage in the little maneuvers they used to, as angering the Lin Family could mean the Luo Family, even if allied with the Sun Family, would not be a match for the Lin Family. With this in mind, keeping a low profile and discreetly developing one¡¯s clan members was the strategy the Luo Family ought to implement. At this moment, as Luo Chenggu and Sun Ruiyang harbored such thoughts, the representatives of the Qi Refining Families were similarly relieved that they had heeded the call of the Lin Family; otherwise, when the Beast Tide was over, if the Lin Family settled accounts afterward, how could they resist? Meanwhile, they also worried for those families who refused to heed the call, even hoping that the Lin Family would deal with those with grievances or friction between them. Chapter 377: 227: Encirclement (9K words long , please subscribe)_5 Chapter 377: Chapter 227: Encirclement (9K words long chapter, please subscribe)_5 At this moment, everyone fell into contemplation, and the entire scene was as quiet as a graveyard. Apart from the Lin Family members, no one dared to make eye contact with Lin Shilu; they were all intimidated. And he had deliberately exuded this imposing aura; these families sent representatives who each had their own stance and schemes. If they were to actually command them, it was inevitable that some would lose loyalty and work without effort. Therefore, it was necessary to display some strength and intimidate them so that they could exert greater fighting power. Clearly, his goal had been achieved, and to an extent beyond expectations. After scanning the crowd with his gaze, he saw that almost all family powers had sent representatives, and everyone who made eye contact with him responded with a smile. ... He nodded in satisfaction, then spoke, ¡°Xing Zhi¡­¡± ¡°Report on the defensive forces of Luoyun Market so we can make a thorough plan and ensure Luoyun Market can withstand this beast tide attack,¡± he said. Upon hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s instruction, Lin Xingzhi stood up and retrieved a book from his storage bag. After flipping through it, he projected his loud voice throughout the entire hall, ensuring everyone could hear him clearly. ¡°The previous defensive forces of Luoyun Market were as follows: one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one hundred ten Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level, of which fifty were Late Stage Qi Refinement Cultivators,¡± he announced. ¡°With the response of all Daoist friends to the call, there have been an additional four Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than six hundred twenty Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level added, including more than one hundred eighty at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement,¡± he continued. ¡°After the additions, Luoyun Market currently has five Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than seven hundred thirty Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level, with more than two hundred thirty being in the Late Stage or above,¡± he concluded. Upon hearing the report, the Cultivators in the hall were overjoyed, such a formidable force, not even including the Loose Cultivators within the Market. Under this formidable force, even if two Second Order Late Stage Beasts came, they would probably perish here. Lin Shilu nodded and then said, ¡°Daoist friends, your support for Luoyun Market is deeply appreciated and I thank you all for honoring the call!¡± With that, Lin Shilu stood up and bowed with cupped fists towards the Cultivators below. Seeing this gesture, the Cultivators below also rose to their feet and returned the salute with cupped fists. In the crowd, Chen Jingshan from the front row even spoke up to flatter, ¡°Elder Lin and the Lin Family have taken great pains for the safety of the Luoyun Mountain Range, even deploying such a powerful arrangement for its defense.¡± ¡°As people of the Luoyun Mountain, the Luoyun Market holds great significance for us all. For juniors like us to respond to the call of the Lin Family and strive to maintain the market¡¯s safety is only right!¡± he said. No sooner had his words fallen than another family Cultivator at the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­it is only natural for us juniors to take action; I just hope that Elder Lin won¡¯t look down on us for our lower strength,¡± he added. Witnessing the Chen Clan and Liu Family representatives speaking ingratiating words, many representatives of Qi Refining families spoke up as well. In an instant, the once silent hall was filled with various flattering remarks. Hearing the compliments from the Cultivators below, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°I am very gratified that everyone holds the Lin Family in such high regard.¡± This statement from Lin Shilu seemed very sincere and was well received by the Qi Refining Cultivators present. Everyone reveres the strong, and since Lin Shilu didn¡¯t belittle them at all, it left the Qi Refining Cultivators quite excited. Then, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression changed, and he said gravely, ¡°I do not wish to conceal anything. The dangers of the beast tide are well known to everyone, so there¡¯s no need to repeat it. Let¡¯s begin to arrange our course of action.¡± ¡°We have five Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. Apart from me overseeing the market, the remaining four will each lead one hundred Qi Refining Cultivators to clear Low-order Monster Beasts in the four directions from the west side of the market.¡± ¡°As for the area to the east of the market, which falls under Human Race control, only a small number of demon beasts have infiltrated, and it will only require dispatching one hundred Qi Refining Cultivators above the fifth level to clear them,¡± he finished. Upon hearing this, Luo Chenggu, sitting in front of him, spoke up, ¡°Then which Daoist friend will take responsibility for the area due west of us, close to the Luoyun Mountain Range, where encountering large Demon Beast Tribes is highly probable?¡± His remarks and question reflected the truth, as the Luoyun Mountain Range itself was irregularly shaped, with a massive area in front that was a gathering place for demonic beasts. It was certain that this direction was the most dangerous side, and although the dangers of the other three directions were not as severe, they were roughly comparable in the peril they posed. Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s brows furrowed. He then spoke, ¡°I wonder if Luo Daoyou has any wise suggestions?¡± Seeing that Lin Shilu had addressed him, Luo Chenggu found himself at a loss for words. If his suggestion benefited the Lin Family, it was fine, but if it made it seem like he was using the Lin Family as a pawn, he was bound to offend them. After all, Lin Shilu was astute. Attempting to deceive him would certainly offend the Lin Family. The Sun Family was already having a hard time, and facing sanctions from the Lin Family would only make matters worse. At this moment, Luo Chenggu was filled with regret, questioning why he had spoken out of turn. Now, whether he moved forward or retreated, he found himself in an exceptionally awkward position. Faced with Lin Shilu¡¯s somewhat oppressive gaze, Luo Chenggu let out a bitter laugh before continuing, ¡°Since Daoist Lin is holding the fort at Luoyun Market, among the remaining four, I have the highest cultivation.¡± ¡°In doing so, it is my unavoidable responsibility to take on the area directly ahead.¡± Upon hearing these words, the Qi Training Cultivators in the hall burst into cheers, with many cultivators standing up to bow towards Luo Chenggu, followed by a flurry of compliments. ¡°Luo is deeply aware of the greater good, a role model for our fellow cultivators¡­¡± ¡°Luo is truly a blade of fervor, worthy of all fellow Daoists¡¯ admiration for his spirit that fears not the danger ahead, all for the sake of the many cultivators and mortals of Luoyun Mountain¡­¡± The ceremonious praise twisted Luo Chenggu¡¯s heart, as he inwardly cursed himself for speaking up, inadvertently creating trouble for himself with no easy way to express his distress. Seeing Luo Chenggu take initiative, Lin Shilu chuckled, then cupped his hands and said, ¡°I have great admiration for Luo Daoyou¡¯s action. Once you return victorious, I shall personally come out of the city to greet you.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll leave the frontline to Luo Daoyou. Now, let¡¯s arrange Qi Refinement Realm teams for you.¡± Without waiting for Luo Chenggu¡¯s response, Lin Shilu decided on the spot, which complicated Luo Chenggu¡¯s expression even further. After a moment to compose himself, Luo Chenggu, with a gloomy face, said, ¡°I have no objections to Daoist Lin¡¯s arrangement.¡± ¡°However, the situation at the frontline is still unclear; no one knows if Second Order Demonic Beasts are present. Therefore, I suggest allocating more Qi Refining Cultivators under my command so that we can complete the task given by Daoist Lin more efficiently.¡± After considering the proposal, Lin Shilu thought Luo Chenggu¡¯s request to be reasonable and well-founded. He chuckled and said, ¡°Then, let¡¯s assign twenty Qi Refining Cultivators each from the forces of two Lin Family members to you, Luo Daoyou. No more objections then, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Chenggu was about to further negotiate, but the thought of Lin Shilu¡¯s Foundation Establishment Seventh Level strength deflated him. With a bitter smile, he nodded and conceded, ¡°I am impressed by Daoist Lin¡¯s understanding of my predicament, I will comply with Daoist Lin¡¯s decision.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Lin Shilu smiled, finding Luo Chenggu quite decisive¡ªone who dared not offend the Lin Family; therefore, he was forced to suffer in silence without means of retort. He nodded and declared, ¡°Then that¡¯s settled. Luo Daoyou has the front, and two Lin Family members will handle the area from here to Green Bamboo Mountain, while Daoist Sun will take the section down to Flying Eagle Mountain.¡± ¡°Do Daoist Sun and Luo Daoyou have any objections?¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No objections.¡± Then, Lin Shilu began to assign Qi Refining Cultivators to the teams of the four individuals. After some negotiation, the final team compositions were established. Families close to the Lin Family naturally followed the Lin Family¡¯s lead. Families like the Chen Clan and Liu Family, which had some strength, were assigned under Lin Xing Yuan and Lin Xingcheng. Other Qi Refining Families that had been close to the Sun and Luo Families, who now sought to cling to the Lin Family, were ruthlessly rejected and, with no choice, continued to join the ranks of the Sun or Luo Families¡ªhoping that their old masters would not disregard their lives. An hour later, the arrangements for the extermination of the demonic beasts were thoroughly settled, and all cultivators started to take action. After many cultivators had left the hall, Lin Shilu then instructed Lin Xing Yuan and Lin Xingcheng to be cautious and complete the extermination tasks swiftly. After that, Lin Xing Yuan and the others left, leading the allocated Qi Refining Cultivators in grand processions towards the Luoyun Mountain Range. Chapter 378: 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_1 Chapter 378: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_1 Luoyun Market southwest corner. This place is 300 Li away from Luoyun Market and not too far from the edge of the Green Bamboo Mountain of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, less than 200 Li. At this moment, a figure emerged in an area of hills formed by mounds of earth, revealing Lin Xingyuan. Behind him, eighty Qi Refining Cultivators stood in line, tightly grasping Spiritual Artifacts in their hands, ready for a great battle at any moment. Among this group of Qi Refining Cultivators, more than twenty were Lin Family Cultivators, with the rest being nearly all from the Lin Family¡¯s vassal clans. After several days of searching, they encountered several small tribes of Demonic Beasts along the way and effortlessly exterminated them all. ... As they continued to venture deeper, they finally came across an even larger Demon Beast Tribe, made up of over three hundred Demonic Beasts, nearly half of which were in the Middle-Late Stage of First Order, with formidable strength. This was the strongest tribe they had encountered in several days, practically a Monster Beast Legion. Looking at the vast group of Demonic Beasts in the distance, a group of Qi Refining Cultivators rubbed their hands in anticipation, as if they had spotted some kind of natural treasures. They had easily suppressed the Demonic Beasts in their previous few encounters and thought that this group would be as easily exterminated as before. However, Lin Xingyuan didn¡¯t see it this way. Even though the group of Demonic Beasts didn¡¯t include any of Second Order, their numbers were overwhelming, with each Qi Refining Cultivator having to face the onslaught of at least three Demonic Beasts on average. Even though they had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading them, they would definitely achieve victory, but it was inevitable that some Qi Refining Cultivators would be wounded or killed. Even with his presence as a Third Level Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was unrealistic to expect that he could attend to everyone, nor was it possible. In this way, maintaining the integrity of their formation would be difficult. But he had no choice but to engage in battle; if he let this Monster Beast Legion go unchecked, in just a few days, they could gather into an even larger group, making them even more troublesome to deal with. Thinking of this, he immediately said, ¡°Gentlemen, we must not underestimate the strength of this Monster Beast Legion, we must eradicate them quickly.¡± ¡°Everyone be cautious, don¡¯t fall here, let¡¯s make it a quick battle!¡± Before his voice fell, Lin Xingyuan leapt forward, his mighty Foundation Establishment Stage presence instantly suppressing a large number of Demonic Beasts. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, Lin Xingyuan¡¯s Spirit Sword erupted with tens of thousands of Sword Qi, bombarding the Demonic Beasts ahead. With a series of pitiful screams, large numbers of Demonic Beasts, before they could react, were penetrated by the Sword Qi, immediately falling dead on the spot. ¡°Good¡­ with Elder Lin leading us, let¡¯s strike and wipe them out!¡± Seeing Lin Xingyuan take the lead, a Qi Refining Cultivator shouted loudly, then charged forward, rushing toward the Demonic Beasts opposite him. Following that, the Qi Refining Cultivators behind him seemed inspired and surged forward. The Demonic Beasts that recovered also became agitated, forgetting their previous fear, and surged forward like a tide, clashing fiercely with the Qi Refining Cultivators. Seeing the Qi Refining Cultivators had already engaged, the Lin Family Qi Refining Clanspeople also began to join the fray. At that moment, the entire hilly region was engulfed in battle, with numerous Spiritual Artifacts and talisman papers releasing a wealth of attacks entwined with the Demonic Beasts. For a time, the whole area was ablaze with fiery lights, and the ground was littered with Demonic Beast corpses. The Lin Family Members formed a small group, lending support to each other, and with superior Spiritual Artifacts and talisman papers, were noticeably a cut above the other Qi Refining Cultivators. Under these circumstances, the Lin Family Members¡¯ efficiency in killing Demonic Beasts was much higher, and none were injured. Half an hour later, the screaming stopped, and the battle came to an end. Now, among the scattered cultivators on the field, many had pale faces, and even some bore injuries. There were also several cultivators¡¯ bodies lying on the ground, surrounded by a few of their kin, their expressions filled with sorrow. However, most of the cultivators were excited; they had won the battle and obtained a large number of Demon Beast Corpses that could be exchanged for Spirit Stones for cultivation. While some rejoiced, others mourned. The surviving cultivators were extremely excited, and those who had kin perish had to accept the outcome after their grief had passed. After all, in a campaign to eradicate Demonic Beasts, there would always be casualties. If a true beast tide had erupted, the number of deaths would have likely been many times higher. Moreover, they all entered the campaign with the awareness of the potential for loss, and the Lin Family Cultivators had also done their best, slaughtering nearly half the Demonic Beasts, significantly reducing their pressure; otherwise, the casualties would have been even higher. Thus, although the outcome was regrettably anticipated, it was also not unexpected. As the battle concluded, Lin Shilu descended from the air, landing on a hilltop. Gazing over the scene, the ravines of the vast hilly region were filled with Demonic Beast corpses, presenting a chaotic and pitiful scene to behold. As for the Human Cultivators, as previously anticipated, among the other Qi Refining Cultivators, several at the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement had perished in the battle. Depending on superior Spiritual Artifacts and talisman papers along with adept cooperation, and occasionally aided by Lin Xingyuan, the Lin Family Qi Refining Clanspeople miraculously suffered no injuries. Besides, they achieved excellent battle results, having killed nearly half of the Demonic Beasts and obtained nearly half of the spoils of war. Standing on a small hilltop, Lin Xingyuan surveyed the scene full of corpses and began instructing the Qi Refining Cultivators below. ¡°Gentlemen, clean up the battlefield quickly. As for the clan members who fell here, I, as the commander, express deep regret. Once we return to Luoyun Market, you may collect your compensation according to market rules,¡± he said. Chapter 379: 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_2 Chapter 379: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_2 Upon receiving the command, a group of Qi Refining Cultivators sprang into action, each beginning to clean up the battlefield. Soon, the corpses on the field were cleared, and anything of use was collected by the people. Lin Xingyuan gathered everyone together, and after half a day of recovering from injuries and replenishing Spiritual Power, once more than seventy to eighty percent was restored, they continued to explore the surroundings. ¡­ Qianchuan Market. In a valley outside the market, three men in green robes were using Sword Flight, sweeping over the mountaintops. ... The trio were Lin Family Members. With Lin Xingrong staying behind in the Luoyun Mountain Range to aid the family in resisting the potential beast tide, those in the market were unaware of the situation. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, Lin Xingmin and two others were arranged by Lin Shihua to head to Qianchuan Market to join forces with family members stationed there, on one hand to convey the arrangements on their side, and on the other to gather intelligence regarding the beast tide. Should there be any significant developments, they needed to relay the information back to the family at the first opportunity. After nearly twenty days of travel, with the sight of the vast city beginning to loom, Lin Xingmin breathed a sigh of relief. Being assigned this task at such a critical juncture carried no small risk for the three of them. Were they to encounter a large group of Demonic Beasts, they faced the risk of perishing. With the precise map left by Lin Xingrong, their luck had been good. Along the way, they only encountered a few First Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts, which they managed to kill with ease using their Qi Refining Eighth and Ninth Level strength. As they drew closer to Qianchuan Market, they descended from the sky and walked toward the market entrance. Soon, after paying the Spirit Stones as an entrance fee, the three of them smoothly entered the market. Walking on the cobblestone streets, they did not rush to Luoyun Pavilion or the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Lin Xingmin observed the situation within the market to gauge the reactions of the Zhenyang Sect and other Foundation Establishing Families. After observing for a while, they went to the Welcoming Guest Tower, where the flow of people was heavy, and all kinds of individuals were present, making the information here extremely well-connected. Through his meticulous observation and the topics of casual conversations among passersby, he also gleaned some useful information. Currently, everything in Qianchuan Market was normal, with all major shops still conducting business as usual, and the market¡¯s ins and outs were no different from ordinary times. Perhaps some clan powers had also speculated that a beast tide might occur, but most clans did not take this matter to heart. Families reacting as the Lin Family had were even rarer; clearly, the vast majority of clan powers weren¡¯t concerned, focusing on their cultivation without planning any preemptive measures. It was not until evening that the three of them left the Welcoming Guest Tower and headed towards the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. At this time, Lin Xinghuan was standing in the courtyard, while several other family members were sitting together, all with furrowed brows and very worried expressions. In the silence of the atmosphere, a Tao Clan Member glanced at the pacing Lin Xinghuan and asked softly, ¡°Uncle¡­ It¡¯s been more than forty days since Uncle Xingrong left the market, and we haven¡¯t seen him return. Could something have happened?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xinghuan, already in a state of turmoil, had an even uglier expression. When Lin Xingrong left the market, he had made it clear that he expected to return within a month. However, it had been over a month since Lin Xingrong left, and he had yet to return, exceeding the expected time by almost ten days. Without a Foundation Establishment Clan Member in the market to take charge, they were almost leaderless, and the lack of clear messages made them very worried. Lin Xinghuan looked up at the southern night sky, knowing he needed to stay calm under the current circumstances and provide a sense of reassurance to the family members here. With these thoughts in mind, he gradually calmed down. Lin Xinghuan offered a confident smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s astronomy¡­ Perhaps Twelve Brother got held up by some urgent business and that¡¯s why he¡¯s a few days overdue. Let¡¯s wait patiently a bit longer; he may return tomorrow!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ It¡¯s only a matter of a few days, and currently, the market is very peaceful. No major events should occur, so let¡¯s not add to our worries unnecessarily!¡± another Xing Clan Member chimed in. Hearing the words of the two Xing Clan Members, everyone indeed relaxed, and their sorrowful expressions gradually returned to normal. At that moment, a messaging token flew into the courtyard and steadily hovered in front of Lin Xinghuan. He quickly read the contents, and his face lit up with joy. He hurriedly took out the Restriction Order Token and cast a Law Decree. Soon, Lin Xingmin and the other two entered the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Seeing Lin Xingmin, all the family members¡¯ faces burst into elation¡ªas if thinking of something would make it come true. Now that family representatives had arrived, their worries were alleviated. Lin Xinghuan settled himself first, then after greeting them, he asked, ¡°Xingmin, why have you come instead of Twelve Brother?¡± ¡°Twelve Brother is tied up with other important matters. Let us catch our breath first, and then I¡¯ll explain everything in detail!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xinghuan invited the three to sit down, then poured a cup of Spiritual Tea and waited quietly for Lin Xingmin¡¯s explanation. Subsequently, Lin Xingmin began to recount everything about the family¡¯s arrangements and matters of the beast tide, also explaining their mission in coming to the market. When they heard that the beast tide might be returning, Lin Xinghuan and the uninformed family members were utterly shocked. They had only read about the beast tides in books, never imagining a phenomenon that occurred once every few centuries would be encountered by their generation. Fortunately, the family had made some preparations in advance, accumulated a substantial amount of wartime resources, and had already formulated a thorough plan. Chapter 380: 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_3 Chapter 380: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_3 ¡°` However, even so, the family¡¯s crisis had not been lifted without confirmation of the scale of the beast tide; it was no wonder Lin Xingrong couldn¡¯t make it back to the market city on time. Afterward, the group discussed some arrangements. Those from the family in Qianchuan Market must continue to hold their ground, maintain the business of Luoyun Pavilion as much as possible, and according to the family¡¯s demands, use the reserve of Spirit Stones in the shop to secretly acquire consumable war resources like talisman paper. What¡¯s more important, Lin Xingmin needed to gather intelligence in a timely manner; as the largest market in the southern Wei Kingdom, the Cultivation World was undoubtedly the most well-informed in this region. As soon as they obtained specific information, they must send it back to the family immediately to allow the family to prepare in advance for overcoming the crisis. ... In the dead of night, when everything was quiet, all the family members arranged all matters and plans, and then dispersed. ¡­ Time passed day by day, and in a blink of an eye, half a month had elapsed. During these days, Lin Xingmin and three other family members mingled in various parts of the market city every day. Auction houses, street stalls, the Market City Hall, and various restaurants and shops all saw the figures of these people. Their purpose was clear: to mingle wherever there were crowds of people and to interact with Loose Cultivators who liked to travel or undergo training. That day, on the square outside the Market City Hall. At that moment, Lin Xingmin was planning to cross the square to check the street stalls, intending to both purchase some cultivation necessities and to continue gathering intelligence. For several days in a row, there had been no news about the beast tide, which made Lin Xingmin suspect that his family might have made a misjudgment. However, considering that this matter was too crucial¡ªif they encountered a medium or large beast tide, advance preparation could greatly increase the chances of surviving the crisis¡ªhe thought that even if it was a misjudgment, the family would only be sacrificing some resources and manpower, which was surely better than losing the lives of family members. With these thoughts, he understood the painstaking efforts of the family. Regathering his focus, he took steps towards the street stall area, ready to continue his intelligence gathering. Just as he was about to cross the vast plaza and enter the street stall area, three powerful rings of a bell sounded. Immediately after, several Cultivators wearing golden Daoist robes appeared in front of the doors of the Market City Hall; embroidered on their chests was a round sun, marking them undoubtedly as disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. Upon hearing these three bell rings, Cultivators in every corner of the market, who were busily engaged in their own affairs, ceased their activities, and some of the Cultivators who had been staying there for years suddenly turned pale. They knew what the three bell rings signified. Usually, in the market city, if a fight broke out among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, there would be at most one bell ring. Only in the event of a major incident that could threaten the safety of the market would the bell be rung thrice in succession. Some Cultivators walking on the streets even quietly speculated whether these three bell rings signified an attack on the city¡¯s Formation by a Golden Elixir Expert. At that moment, Lin Xingmin also paled considerably upon hearing the bells. Seeing the Zhenyang Sect disciples outside the Market Hall who seemed to be about to post an announcement, he rushed over, eager to find out what was happening to warrant such an alarm. Since he was not far away, he was one of the first to reach the front, securing an excellent vantage point. Behind him, a large number of Cultivators flowed towards the area like waves, soon resulting in nearly a thousand people gathered here, and the number continued to rise. On the raised platform outside the great hall, two Zhenyang Sect disciples put up a huge announcement on a carved pillar. Lin Xingmin checked the contents of the announcement immediately, and as his gaze swept over it, his face turned white in an extremely short time. Not only him, but all the Cultivators present, whether in the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refinement Realm, all turned an ashen color. At that moment, a huge number of Cultivators reading the brief message on the announcement couldn¡¯t help but mutter to themselves. ¡°The Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm was destroyed by a beast tide outbreak?¡± ¡°The beast tide erupted in Qingzhou of the Yuanwu Kingdom and is rapidly spreading to the surrounding areas; it is assessed that it could be a medium-sized beast tide.¡± Some Cultivators who arrived heard the murmured words, and all were shocked beyond measure. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Xingmin considered the message announced and the discussions among the Cultivators. He fell into contemplation. While the outbreak was in Yuanwu Kingdom, the beast tide was not small in scale and was still expanding. Even though several countries separated the Wei Kingdom from Yuanwu Kingdom¡ªmaking it unlikely to be the primary battleground¡ªthe Wei Kingdom would definitely experience some impact and shock. This made the medium-sized beast tide a serious test for the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. However, thus far in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there had been no news of large-scale Demonic Beast attacks, and the Sect Families and powers had some time to react. That being the case, this could be considered somewhat good news. Nevertheless, a beast tide outbreak was a matter of when, not if, and the attitudes and responses of the Golden Elixir Forces within the Wei Kingdom were extremely important and could be considered the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World¡¯s main force against the beast tide. After all, in the face of the vast Demon Beast Army, if ordinary Foundation Establishment Powers were attacked, they would easily be annihilated. Moreover, within the Cultivation World, aside from the Golden Elixir Forces and some family powers, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World also had a vast number of Loose Cultivators. When a beast tide broke out, they either had to leave the Wei Kingdom for places like Qingzhou or stay in medium to large market cities, fighting alongside Golden Elixir Forces to survive the crisis. Otherwise, going alone outside, encountering a Demon Beast Army, was absolutely a deadly situation. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 381: 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_4 Chapter 381: Chapter 228: Shocking News (7K words, please subscribe)_4 Indeed, some cultivators had already thought of this and promptly asked the Zhenyang Sect disciples their opinions and plans regarding the beast tide and the market. On hearing the inquiries, the leading Zhenyang Sect disciple replied gravely, ¡°Currently, the sect hasn¡¯t communicated any specific arrangements.¡± ¡°However, fellow daoists, a target as large as the Qianchuan Market is highly likely to attract the attack of the Beast Tide Army, and thus requires substantial support from cultivators.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Moreover, it is far too dangerous for loose cultivators to remain outside alone; we hope that unless it¡¯s necessary, no one will leave the market rashly.¡± At this point, he spoke earnestly, ¡°Many of you have long been residents here, with no shortage of family members among you, regardless of whether you have properties here or not, we hope you can stay and join us in repelling the attacks of the beast tide!¡± ¡°In addition to this, I believe the market will issue a statement later on, promising rewards for those who contribute significantly to repelling the beast tide. The sect will not let you down, and may create an exception to include you within the sect, or bestow heavenly materials and earthly treasures, even possibly Foundation Establishment Pills as rewards.¡± ... ¡°Foundation Establishment Pills?¡± ¡°Joining Zhenyang Sect, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple!¡± Hearing these words, some Qi Refining cultivators were thrilled, their fear instantly dissipating, and some even began to look forward to the arrival of the beast tide. The cultivators with such thoughts were almost all those with lower cultivation levels, not blessed with great talent and leading difficult lives for the sake of cultivation and survival. If they could join a Golden Core Sect, they would be able to make use of the sect¡¯s resources for cultivation and also earn respect from other cultivators. Even if they could not join Zhenyang Sect, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill might also allow them to defy the heavens and transform their fate, becoming Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such a beast tide could thus be seen as an opportunity for them to leap over the dragon gate. An opportunity that might change their destiny! And there were not a few people who harbored such thoughts. However, more cultivators were sober-minded, fully aware that obtaining rewards from Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t be easy, and if they lost their lives in the process, no amount of glory would be of any use. There were also some cultivators with calm expressions, who started to contemplate quietly. Their cultivation wasn¡¯t high, and leaving the market, they had nowhere else to go. If they didn¡¯t leave, they would have to share their fate with a significant target like the market; if the Defensive Great Formation was breached by the demonic beasts, they might also face life-or-death straits. Their dilemma was reasonable, for everyone strives for survival. Meanwhile, Lin Xingmin had no time to entertain such considerations, as he hurried away from the crowd towards the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Half an hour later, a group of family members gathered together. Lin Xingmin relayed everything he witnessed and heard in the Market City Hall from the Zhenyang Sect disciples to the family members without omitting a word. As expected, the family members were all shocked, their previous wishful thinking shattered by this explosive news. Once they had regained their composure, they began to discuss their next steps. They were acutely aware of the importance of this news; it had to be communicated to the family immediately so that a comprehensive plan could be formulated. Besides, they had to make arrangements for Luoyun Pavilion to minimize the family¡¯s losses. At this moment, family members put forward suggestions, and it was swiftly decided that three people would stay behind in Qianchuan Market. The rest of the family members would leave with the vast wealth inside Luoyun Pavilion and relay the message to the family in the shortest time possible. However, no consensus had yet been reached on who would stay behind in the market. Staying in Qianchuan Market during such a crisis was perilous for Qi Refining clanspeople; they might well end up as cannon fodder. Even if the Lin Family had some connections with the higher-ups in the market and weren¡¯t used as cannon fodder, without the help of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the situation would still be highly dangerous. In such circumstances, those staying in the market would cut off contact with the family and would struggle to receive any support from them; everything would depend solely on themselves. In this situation, our clan members are almost completely isolated and without support. If the market city is breached by the demonic beasts, we might perish right here. At this time, everyone was arguing heatedly over who should remain behind. Lin Xingyan waved his hand to calm everyone down and then said, ¡°You are all young, and your strength is not high, staying behind is too dangerous!¡± ¡°And I am nearing eighty years old. My cultivation progress is very slow, and it¡¯s possible I may not break through to Foundation Establishment in this life. It¡¯s most appropriate for me to stay!¡± Before he could finish speaking, a Xing Clan Member objected, ¡°Uncle, precisely because your cultivation is relatively high, you should return to the family to contribute to its safety!¡± Another Xing Clan Member chimed in, ¡°Yes¡­ even if we fall here, it would be for the family, we are not afraid of death!¡± ¡°What a joke¡­ as Lin Family Members, if I allowed you juniors to stay behind, how could I have the face to return to the family?¡± ¡°If anything happens to you, when we are dead, how could we face your parents?¡± Lin Xingyan¡¯s rebuttal left the crowd of Xing Clan Members at a loss for words. After a few moments of silence, Lin Xingyan spoke, ¡°No matter what your thoughts are, I¡¯ve made my decision. Before Twelfth Brother left, he entrusted me to take care of Luoyun Pavilion and all our fellow clansmen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine under normal circumstances, but at this time, I will absolutely not allow a junior to take the risk!¡± Lin Xingyan¡¯s resolute words stirred a fiery passion in the hearts of the few Xing Clan Members present. A Xing Clan Member said, ¡°Fellow clansmen, time is of the essence. Our family does not have much time left, we must settle this matter and send the news back to the family as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Yes¡­time is life, arriving at the family even a moment sooner could save a life!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyan¡¯s expression was serious, and he spoke in a very decisive tone, ¡°Xing Zhou, Xing Pu, do you have the courage to stay behind in the market city with me?¡± Lin Xingpu burst into a hearty laugh and said, ¡°Haha¡­ what¡¯s there to fear!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhao also let out a laugh, then said imposingly, ¡°Brother Fifteen¡­ in terms of talent and cultivation, we Xing Clan Members indeed can¡¯t compare to the Xing Clan Members, but when it comes to courage and spirit, we refuse to be left behind!¡± ¡°This¡­is not proper¡­¡± Just as a Xing Clan Member began to speak, he was loudly rebuked by Lin Xingyan. ¡°We three have already decided. I am the oldest here, so no more discussion is needed. Carry out the orders!¡± Seeing the determination and the firm, non-negotiable tone of the other Xing Clan Members, the Xing Clan Member¡¯s face flushed, and he wanted to persuade further but was silenced by Lin Xingyan¡¯s resolute gaze. With Lin Xingyan¡¯s decision on who would stay behind, the eyes of the Xing Clan Members reddened, and spurred by his urging, the clan members all sprang into action. Quickly after, the clan members collected all the valuable resources they could carry from Luoyun Pavilion, preparing to take them back to the family. If this tremendous wealth were left in the market city and something unexpected happened, it might all be in vain. An hour later. Under Lin Xingyan¡¯s watchful eye, a group of ten people, reluctant to leave, left the Cave Mansion Courtyard together and made their way to the entrance of the market city. At that moment, the entrance of the entire market city was chaotic. A large number of cultivators were rushing out, almost all of whom were family cultivators. Fortunately, the news had not completely spread yet. The cultivators outside did not know about the imminent arrival of the beast tide. Otherwise, even more loose cultivators would have gathered at Qianchuan Market City, hoping to rely on the market to survive the calamity. By then, it would have been very difficult to get out. Lin Xingmin, leading the Lin Family Members, found the Zhenyang Sect Disciple responsible for overseeing entry to the market city and showed the token left by Li Xiuyuan, swiftly gaining passage through the market city entrance. Otherwise, following the queue to get out would have delayed them significantly. Once out of the market city, the clan members did not dare to delay. They flew non-stop towards the south. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 382: 229 Escort_1 Chapter 382: Chapter 229 Escort_1 Golden Horn Mountain. Over three hundred li from Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, a massive swamp, the Purple Gold Eagle waged a fierce battle against an early Second Order Kui Yin Python. Not far away, Lin Tianming was swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand, rapidly clearing the body of another Kui Yin Python, stripping off all the useful Artifact Refining Materials from it. In the midst of the intense battle, the Purple Gold Eagle flapped its huge wings, stirring up a massive amount of mud which cascaded down onto the Kui Yin Python like a deluge. At the same time, its large beak spewed out numerous fireballs, continuously bombarding the Kui Yin Python. This was the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s Innate Divine Ability. As its cultivation level increased, so did the power of its ability. ... At that moment, the Kui Yin Python, its face obscured by the muck, was unprepared for the rain of fireballs striking it. The fireballs hit the body of the Kui Yin Python and then erupted in a series of explosions. The Python¡¯s scales were blasted off along with its flesh, leaving behind charred, bloody holes. The Kui Yin Python writhed in agony upon being attacked by the fireballs, its movements tragic. Unable to help itself, it opened its mouth wide and let out one piteous scream after another, a sound that chilled anyone who heard it. The Purple Gold Eagle, having the upper hand, did not stop and swooped in for the kill. After dozens of rounds of battle, the Purple Gold Eagle, relying on its speed and slightly greater strength, finally managed to severely wound the Kui Yin Python. Seeing the Kui Yin Python grievously injured, the Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t hesitate and dived down from the sky, its claws, sharp as knives, aiming for the Python¡¯s vital points. In this sight, the Kui Yin Python was terrified, watching the Purple Gold Eagle draw nearer and intensely twisting its body in an attempt to dodge the fatal blow. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the Kui Yin Python, already injured and slower than the Purple Gold Eagle, found escape impossible. In its desperate plight, it was well aware that survival was unlikely, but it could still try to avoid its vital parts and look for another opportunity. In an instant, as the sharp claws of the Purple Gold Eagle descended, the Kui Yin Python managed to dodge the blow to its vital areas. Nevertheless, its tail was firmly grasped by the claws. With a fierce twist by the Purple Gold Eagle, the large body of the Kui Yin Python snapped into two unequal lengths. The Kui Yin Python cried out one last time and then spurted a profuse amount of dark brown liquid. The Purple Gold Eagle, swift as before, easily evaded the venom. It turned around and came back once more, ready to end the life of the Kui Yin Python for good. The heavily injured Kui Yin Python, suffering another fatal wound and its speed greatly reduced, had no hope of escape anymore. As the massive claws approached, it struggled in vain, unable to avoid the inevitable. In the blink of an eye, those giant claws gripped the Kui Yin Python by the head. After a miserable shriek, the large body of the Kui Yin Python fell to the ground. After a few twitching movements, it lay still, clearly dead. By this time, Lin Tianming had finished clearing the other Kui Yin Python, and seeing the Purple Gold Eagle victorious, he hurried over. He wasn¡¯t surprised by the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s victory. These two Kui Yin Pythons were the seventh wave of Second Order Demonic Beasts they had encountered this month. With extensive practice against same-class Demonic Beasts, the fighting skills of the Purple Gold Eagle were highly prominent. And with its strength on the verge of breaking into the Middle Stage of the Second Order, defeating this ordinary early-stage Kui Yin Python was just a matter of time. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, the Purple Gold Eagle stretched its beak to nuzzle the hem of his clothes, apparently seeking praise. Lin Tianming chuckled and affectionately stroked its beak, then took out the Demon Core of the Kui Yin Python and tossed it to the Purple Gold Eagle. The Purple Gold Eagle excitedly flapped its wings, swallowed the Demon Core in one gulp, and couldn¡¯t help letting out a triumphant cry. Lin Tianming nodded and, without further attention to the Purple Gold Eagle, began to clear the body of the Kui Yin Python. Soon, the battlefield was cleared, and the Purple Gold Eagle, carrying Lin Tianming, soared into the sky, continuing to fly northward. Sitting on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, Lin Tianming pondered. After a long month of exploring and exterminating, he had lost count of the number of Demonic Beasts he had killed. He had started from Golden Horn Mountain, ventured hundreds of li deep into Luoyun Mountain Range to the west, then headed north, covering a linear distance of more than six hundred li, approaching Hengyang Mountain Range territory. As time passed and the further north he traveled, the stronger the Demonic Beasts became, having encountered seven waves of Second Order beasts already. Given the situation, a beast tide erupting was a foregone conclusion. Now, nearing the junction of the two great mountain ranges, the clearing mission on the side of Luoyun Mountain Range was successfully accomplished. Continuing north would be unnecessary. He wasn¡¯t so idle, nor did he have the power to worry about the fate of Hengyang Mountain Range. With these thoughts in mind, he planned to survey the tall mountains ten li ahead, the junction of the two ranges. If no Demonic Beasts were found, he would start his return journey to Golden Horn Mountain. Once decided, he flew northward and soon reached the summit of the high mountain. Indeed, there was no further incident, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he gave the command, the Purple Gold Eagle was about to turn around to return when a party of seven appeared in his line of sight. ¡°Eh¡­ those people have changed their appearance, but they¡¯ve left a hidden mark of Green Bamboo Mountain on their bodies!¡± Recognizing the familiar mark, he was certain that this group was none other than the Lin Family Members. Since many cultivators needed to go out, often changing their appearance and even concealing their cultivation, Lin Tianming thought. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 383: 229 Escort_2 Chapter 383: Chapter 229 Escort_2 Therefore, the family had its members create unique markings to distinguish friends from foes when encountered outside. Although these markings could sometimes expose the family¡¯s secrets, they were changed every three years, with a total of ten different markings completing a cycle every thirty years. Under such circumstances, as long as a cultivator remembered the markings and their order of change, they could safely identify a person¡¯s affiliation without revealing themselves in inconvenient situations. Many families and sects used this method of marking. However, this method was of little use against cultivators whose power far surpassed others; they only needed to capture the target individual and use Divine Sense to search the soul, thus gaining all of the targeted person¡¯s memories. But soul searching was not so easy; at minimum, a great disparity in Divine Sense was required for success, otherwise it was very difficult to achieve. ... For example, an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator trying to search the soul of a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator might be able to do it, but after the search, they would definitely suffer weakness in their Divine Sense for a while. However, the difficulty was not as great when searching the soul of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator, and the impact would be smaller as well. In other words, to perform a soul search without leaving any problems behind, there must be at least a gap of two major realms. In addition, the technique of soul searching required a strong Divine Sense, at least the strength of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator¡¯s Divine Sense. Thus, unless it was essential to know particularly important news, few people would resort to soul searching. And in the entire Wei Kingdom, there were not many individuals with the capability to conduct a soul search. In this way, using these markings to hide the identities of cultivators was a very good strategy. Regaining focus, the distance between the two parties grew closer. Having confirmed that they were Lin Family Members and that they were coming from the Hengyang Mountain Range in this direction, it was certain that they were people returning to the family from Qianchuan Market. However, their powers were limited and they failed to notice Lin Tianming among the clouds. Having discovered his clansmen, he naturally could not leave alone. He instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to fly towards the group of family members. As they descended, the family members saw the Purple Gold Eagle flying straight towards them, identical to Lin Tianming¡¯s own. Whether it was the grade¡¯s aura or the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s unique cry, everything matched perfectly, so they immediately understood who the unfamiliar face on the eagle¡¯s back was. At that moment, Lin Xingmin and a few others were overjoyed, a hint of color returning to their pale faces. Cautious and vigilant on their journey, they had encountered several waves of First Order Demonic Beasts, including some in the Late Stage. After a hard fight, they had emerged victorious without incident. Then, ignoring their minor injuries, they continued to hasten on their way, now finally approaching the border of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Meeting Lin Tianming here greatly increased their safety, how could they not feel unexpectedly elated? Once Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle reached them, and after exchanging greetings, he led the group into the clouds, heading towards Green Bamboo Mountain. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, everyone gathered together. Lin Xingmin began to report on what he had seen and heard in Qianchuan Market, shocking Lin Tianming beyond measure upon learning that the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm had been annihilated by Demonic Beasts. Following that, upon hearing about the movements in Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. He estimated that there could not be many safe havens left in Qingzhou, unless one moved far away from Yuanwu Kingdom, otherwise they were bound to be affected somehow. And Qianchuan Market was also preparing to deal with the Beast Tide by calling in Loose Cultivators to join them inside the market, fighting together against the oncoming Beast Tide, which was an expected move. After all, Zhenyang Sect had a large establishment to protect, not only the territory of the sect but also two major markets and various mining Spirit Lands; relying solely on sect disciples for protection was never going to be enough. In such a situation, it was very clear to him that the decisions made by his family members were indeed prudent. These family members could only leave a small part of their people to guard the market and look after the family¡¯s businesses. The rest had to take the many resources from Luoyun Pavilion and this explosive news back to the family, to allow for more comprehensive planning and measures. Understanding the critical importance of this information, he praised everyone for their efforts and instructed the Purple Gold Eagle to fly at full speed to escort the group back to the family as quickly as possible. Sensing Lin Tianming¡¯s urgent emotions, the Purple Gold Eagle responded with a sharp cry. Then it picked up speed dramatically, becoming like a blurred shadow as it flew southward. Golden Horn Mountain. After a day of flight, the group of family members arrived above the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Lin Tianming stood on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking down at the scenery below, which appeared normal, with no Demonic Beasts in sight. He breathed a sigh of relief. Recently, they had divided into two teams from two different directions to cleanse the monster menace, and he had almost completed his planned tasks. However, since the Beast Tide was bound to strike sooner or later, the areas he had cleared might once again see the emergence of Demonic Beasts. Therefore, they had to be vigilant at all times, guarding against any stragglers and the impending onslaught of the Beast Tide Army. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, the family members gathered together. Due to the urgency of time, he had no intention of stopping. After hurriedly signaling to his family members and explaining his plans, he flew directly past the clan territory, continuing southward. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One day later. The Purple Gold Eagle landed on a mountaintop, meeting with Lin Xingrong, who had circled back to Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming immediately went up to meet his father, exchanged greetings, and then began to talk about the news Lin Xingmin had brought back from Qianchuan Market. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 384: 229: Escort_3 Chapter 384: Chapter 229: Escort_3 Hearing the news that the Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm had been destroyed, both were equally shocked. Because the incident was indeed too appalling, a nation formed of over a dozen Golden Elixir Forces, with such powerful strength, had actually been trampled flat by the iron hooves of the Beast Tide Army in just a short half-month time. An earth-shattering event like the destruction of a country last occurred in the Qingzhou Cultivation World over a thousand years ago, during a medium-sized beast tide. The previous beast tide was merely a small one, not very strong, and a country with above-average strength had managed to hold it off. Yet this time, a medium-sized beast tide erupted in Yuanwu Kingdom, and once again followed the same pattern of devastation seen over a thousand years ago. If the beast tide had broken out in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, Wei Kingdom might not even have been able to hold out for three days. ... But fortunately, Wei Kingdom is located in a remote place; although it is in a barren land, there are advantages as well. At least there have been no High Order Monster Beasts or those powerful beast races born in this region. Thus, the likelihood of a beast tide endangering the Cultivation World emerging in Wei Kingdom is not very high. Perhaps, this is what is meant by blessings and misfortunes relying on each other! Having finally calmed down, Lin Xingrong hurriedly inquired about Qianchuan Market and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s plans regarding the beast tide. Clearly, he was very concerned about Zhenyang Sect¡¯s attitude, as all the family forces surrounding the market were very attentive to this matter. It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say that their stance would determine the families¡¯ plans to combat the beast tide, even affecting the destiny of these family forces. The Foundation Establishing Families were better off; if they didn¡¯t run into a large troop of monster beasts, they might not suffer too much damage. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But for those Qi Refining Families, it was completely a matter of luck. If they encountered even a moderately large group, they might be directly annihilated. Therefore, the Golden Core forces of Wei Kingdom were absolutely the main force against the beast tide. If they were indifferent and did not resist, it would be a truly isolated and unsupported situation. Seeing his father so anxious, Lin Tianming continued to explain. Learning that Qianchuan Market was gathering cultivators to join and had made some reward-based arrangements was more or less in line with the practices recorded in the classics. However, this approach was a win-win situation for both cultivators and Zhenyang Sect. After all, under the formidable strength of the Beast Tide Army, discarding past grudges and uniting to survive the crisis became a much more likely possibility. In this way, Zhenyang Sect¡¯s response was also within expectations. Thinking of these things, Lin Xingrong said, ¡°Tianming, you must immediately take Xing Min and the others back to the clan, and tell Third Uncle to immediately make a meticulous plan.¡± ¡°Tianfeng and I have already cleared a large area in the southern part of Golden Horn Mountain, connecting it with the cleared area of Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Before the beast tide breaks out in Wei Kingdom, this place should be safe. ¡°And with the Purple Gold Eagle with you, you can serve as a bridge between us. Wherever support and message delivery are needed, you can carry out these tasks more safely.¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded. If the beast tide erupted, Qianchuan Market and Golden Horn Mountain would be virtually in a state of isolation and without aid. The transmission of messages between the three locations would be very difficult. Resorting to Sword Flight or relying on Spirit Beasts to travel on the ground would be very dangerous. Given this, entrusting him with this arduous and dangerous task would be most appropriate. Fully aware of this, he and Lin Xingrong exchanged a few more instructions, then continued on with a group of clan members towards Green Bamboo Mountain. ¡­ Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 385: 230: Asking for Orders_1 Chapter 385: Chapter 230: Asking for Orders_1 Within half a day, the Purple Gold Eagle successfully entered the Protective Clan Formation. Inside the clan, everything seemed normal; cultivators occasionally flew over, people continued their cultivation practices, and although the number of clan members patrolling had increased, it appeared they were not impacted by the beast tide. In the square behind the mountain gate, Lin Tianming dismissed the gathered clan members and then took Lin Xingmin with him as they flew towards the valley where Ye Pinghai was in seclusion. Soon, the two arrived at the valley, and shortly after receiving his message, Lin Shihua and a few others also hurried over. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and Lin Xingmin, their expressions turned grave, as if they were expecting significant news. Indeed, learning about the beast tide that had erupted in Yuanwu Kingdom and that it had overwhelmed the powerful Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm in a short period of time, even those who were prepared couldn¡¯t help but gasp in shock. ... Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure, urgently asking about Zhenyang Sect¡¯s stance on this matter. Lin Tianming repeated the information he knew, and the group fell into silence, seemingly contemplating their next move. After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Shikang addressed Lin Xingmin, suggesting he rest, and then asked the others for suggestions, bringing everyone back to reality. Lin Shihua sighed and then spoke, ¡°Due to the outbreak point of the beast tide being far from Wei Kingdom, it¡¯s difficult to say how quickly the Beast Tide Army is advancing. No large tracks of demonic beasts have been discovered here, making it hard to judge the situation.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone nodded. Yuanwu Kingdom was a great distance from Wei Kingdom, with several countries larger than Wei Kingdom lying between them. Since teleportation formations are rare, with only a few large markets or Great Sects possessing them, even using teleportation, it would still take at least half a month to transmit messages to this side. As such, it was difficult to predict the Beast Tide Army¡¯s next move, but based on previous beast tides, it was highly likely they would spread outwards, specifically targeting medium to large markets and Great Sect powers. After all, the Demon Race¡¯s purpose in initiating a beast tide was to seize resources and covet the bodies of the Human Cultivators. For the Demon Beast Race, their lengthy lifespans meant they had an overwhelmingly large population. With limited resources, the bodies of Human Cultivators were a precious commodity, and the abundance of Spiritual Objects stored within mid to large-sized powers was precisely why they instigated the beast tides without restraint. Their vast numbers and frightening reproduction rate meant that any offspring of the demonic beasts had the potential to advance in rank. Although the Human Race was also numerous, the chances of being born with a Spiritual Root were too low, and it was uncertain whether the offspring of cultivators would have them. Competition within the Demon Beast Race was even more ruthless and violent than among the humans. Unleashing beast tides to attack humans not only reduced their own numbers but also gained them resources, serving as an ideal means for High Order Monster Beasts to maintain balance. At that moment, Lin Shikang frowned and said after looking at everyone, ¡°Unless things go unexpectedly, Wei Kingdom might not face the danger of extinction, but it will surely be affected.¡± ¡°Fortunately, the family had made some preparations in advance. We must quickly complete the tasks previously planned and then wait to see how the beast tide develops.¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Tianming also chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ with the family¡¯s large businesses and population, it¡¯s impossible to seek refuge at Qianchuan Market. ¡± ¡°Therefore, we can only stay in the Luoyun Mountain Range, trying our best to protect key industries and strength, believing that this beast tide won¡¯t last too long before it ends.¡± Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Lin Shihua continued, ¡°Luoyun Market is crucial to our family. Like Qianchuan Market, we must gather the Qi Refining Families and Loose Cultivators to fend off the attacks of the demonic beasts together.¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then added, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa is right. The more help we have, the better our chances. Calling upon Loose Cultivators and those Qi Refining Families is a win-win strategy.¡± ¡°But without incentives, I fear we cannot sway them. For Loose Cultivators and those with lesser powers, seeking safety in Qianchuan Market would be a preferable option.¡± As soon as he spoke, Lin Shikang thought for a moment and then added, ¡°Then we¡¯ll introduce some reward policies. If they join Luoyun Market in resisting the beast tide, those Cultivators with significant merits can receive rewards.¡± Everyone strongly agreed with Lin Shikang¡¯s suggestion, and they immediately began discussing the terms of the rewards and the treasures to be offered. Choosing the right incentives was not easy; if the clan offered items of high value, it could severely impact its finances. On the other hand, if the incentives were too meager, they would fail to attract people to join Luoyun Market. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After some time, and much discussion, it was Lin Shikang who finally made a decision. He announced that the family would offer three remaining Minor Foundation Building Pills as a reward for the Qi Refining Cultivators. Anyone who made significant contributions in the upcoming defense of Luoyun Market would receive a pill free of charge. Though a Minor Foundation Building Pill was not as potent as a Foundation Establishment Pill, its appearance in Luoyun Market would still provoke strong competition among Qi Refining Cultivators. The Foundation Establishment Pill was too valuable and the competition too fierce, causing many Cultivators to miss the optimal period for Foundation Establishment, leading to lifelong regret. Although the Minor Foundation Building Pill was not as powerful, it was still a rare treasure that held immense allure for all Qi Refining Cultivators. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 386: 230 Requesting Orders_2 Chapter 386: Chapter 230 Requesting Orders_2 If a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator joins the market, we must spare no effort to win them over, after all, the strength of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is far stronger than that of a Qi Refining cultivator. As long as the market remains unharmed, even if it costs us something, it is completely worth it. Afterward, the few people discussed some details and the progress of the extermination mission, and then the meeting came to an end. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before leaving, Lin Tianming said to Lin Shikang, ¡°The cleaning operation at Golden Horn Mountain is already completed; the other places must continue to speed up their progress.¡± ¡°Elder Wu cannot leave the family, Fifteenth Grandfather is in charge of Luoyun Market, and I plan to shuttle between Golden Horn Mountain, the family, and Luoyun Market, responsible for delivering messages and providing timely support. I hope Elder Wu permits this!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang was briefly silent. ... What Lin Tianming had said was indeed a fact; the family¡¯s overall strength was too dispersed, even after giving up the Wu Family¡¯s clan lands and some of the developed Spirit Lands, otherwise it would be even more scattered. As a result, the risk of guarding these places greatly increased, but they had no choice but to do so, as it was impossible to give up these hard-won treasures. However, the thought of assigning Lin Tianming such a dangerous task made them hesitate. It was okay for him to go out on missions normally, but this was a crucial period during the beast tide. If unlucky, encountering a Third Order Demon Beast would be far too dangerous; if anything happened to him, the loss would be much greater than the entire Luoyun Market. Seeing their indecision, Lin Tianming urged sincerely yet firmly. After a long silence, seeing how insistent Lin Tianming was and unable to find anyone more suitable in the family to take on the task, Lin Shikang let out a long sigh before he instructed, ¡°Since you are so confident, then I will agree for now.¡± ¡°However, while shuttling between the three locations, remember to not be careless. Although I have not experienced a beast tide, the horror of a beast tide is clearly recorded in various documents and books.¡± ¡°If you encounter a larger tribe of demon beasts, don¡¯t bother with anything, just run for your life, understand?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded his head and then said with a smile, ¡°Elder Wu, rest assured, with my current strength, plus the Purple Gold Eagle, as long as I don¡¯t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast or a Second Order Late Phase flying Spiritual Bird, my chance of escaping is still very good!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua did not object. They had heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; when he was at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, he dueled with a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and did not fall much behind. Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and had the assistance of the Purple Gold Eagle, ordinary Second Order Late Stage beasts probably could not trouble him. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang gave a few earnest reminders before finally letting Lin Tianming leave the valley. Lin Tianming bowed respectfully to the others, and then left the valley to rush to his father¡¯s Cave Mansion. In a short while, he arrived at his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion, with his grandfather and sister also having hurried over. In the small courtyard, as they sat opposite each other, learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s upcoming mission, Lin Shigong was very concerned about his safety. However, as Lin Tianming was adamant, and since no suitable family member could be found for the task, even if he wanted to persuade, he couldn¡¯t prevail over his own grandson. There was nothing to do but to repeatedly give his warnings, and then the matter was put to rest. Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then changed the topic to inquire about the progress of clearing the demonic beasts in Green Bamboo Mountain. Seeing Lin Tianming asking about this, Lin Tianyue chuckled and then recounted her experience participating in the clearing of demonic beasts. Their extermination team was strong and had many hands, thus they completed the cleaning operation earliest within the three main areas. And the squad she led performed very well, killing a large number of demonic beasts. Although not as many as Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianhu, it was still quite impressive. Unknowingly, Lin Tianyue had also become a mainstay of the family, capable of handling things on her own, no longer the naive and innocent sister of the past. ¡°` Seeing his sister¡¯s progress, Lin Tianming was greatly excited. He sincerely praised her a few times, which made everyone¡¯s faces look much better. Lin Tianyue, after being praised by Lin Tianming, was equally thrilled and immediately took out a handful of second-order low-quality attack talisman paper, more than ten sheets in total, and handed them to Lin Tianming without hesitation. Seeing so many second-order talisman papers, Lin Tianming was puzzled, but judging from the residual aura on the talisman papers, he quickly guessed that they were made by Lin Tianyue¡¯s hands. ¡°Tian Yue, have you entered the second-order low-quality talisman maker level?¡± he asked. Lin Tianyue nodded her head at Lin Tianming¡¯s question, exciting him even more. As her cultivation progressed, she successfully became a second-order low-quality talisman maker, and her success rate at drawing second-order low-quality attack talisman paper wasn¡¯t low either. Now, the family had two second-order low-quality talisman makers, both of whom had advanced in the past ten years. Initially, the Jin Family got many classics and skills from the Sun Family, which ultimately fell into the hands of the Lin Family. These items have played a significant role in the four arts of cultivation for the Lin Family. Coupled with the family providing a large number of materials for training, there was considerable progress. Now, except for an Array Master, the family had at least two second-order practitioners in the other three arts, meaning that in terms of cultivation resources, the family could essentially be self-sufficient. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming refused his sister¡¯s kindness; to him, the second-order low-quality attack talisman paper wasn¡¯t very useful anymore, almost negligible. Unless it was second-order medium-quality talisman paper which could still be somewhat useful, the low-quality ones were basically like scratching an itch for those second-order middle-stage demonic beasts; he really didn¡¯t need them. It wasn¡¯t easy for Lin Tianyue to make talisman paper; it was better that she keep them for self-defense or give them to their mother. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s refusal, Lin Tianyue immediately said, ¡°Then take these talisman papers to father. He and brother Tianfeng are defending Golden Horn Mountain. The pressure on both of them is great. With these talisman papers, they might be able to get some help.¡± ¡°We, staying in the family lands, face basically no great danger. Moreover, I will continue drawing them in this period and will soon replenish them!¡± Hearing his sister¡¯s words, his mother also persuaded him. Only then did Lin Tianming accept the talisman papers, and after chatting casually with everyone for a while, he finally bid farewell to his mother and sister and returned to his own cave mansion courtyard. Once back at the cave mansion, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t cultivate. He had been clearing demonic beasts for days and traveling everywhere; he wasn¡¯t in great shape and felt somewhat exhausted. Entering his room, he directly fell onto the bed and deeply slept. The next morning. Early at dawn, as the sky was still dim, Lin Tianming, together with the Purple Gold Eagle, left the family lands and flew towards Luoyun Market. Along the way, he was very cautious, first circling a hundred miles around Green Bamboo Mountain to scout the nearby situation with the demonic beasts. With Lin Xingzhi leading the clan¡¯s people divided into five teams, and with the family¡¯s thunderous moves, most of the demonic beasts around Green Bamboo Mountain had been cleared, with only a few low-order stragglers left. However, these beasts were few in number and not strong, scattered around the outskirts of Luoyun Mountain. With the family continuously sending people for patrols and clearing, these low-strength demonic beasts posed no threat to the Lin family, so Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pay them much mind. After spending an hour to ensure the safety of the family, confirming no second-order demonic beasts were around, he then continued flying to Luoyun Market. On the way, Lin Tianming encountered several groups of Qi Refining cultivators traveling together towards the north and south. They all looked panicked, hurrying on their way as if they were fleeing for their lives. He stopped them to ask a few questions, learning that the news of a demon beast army erupting in Yuanwu Kingdom had leaked, and even the secluded Luoyun Mountain had already heard about it; presumably, the entire Wei Kingdom was already aware. These hurrying Qi Refining cultivators were either headed to Qianchuan Market or to the relatively close Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, traveling to larger markets or to the Huangyang Kingdom, which had overall stronger strength, was much safer than staying in Luoyun Mountain. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t stop them. After clarifying some nearby situations, he let them go. ¡°` Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 387: 231 A Huge Upheaval_1 Chapter 387: Chapter 231 A Huge Upheaval_1 Watching the Qi Refining Cultivators gradually move farther away, he couldn¡¯t help but worry about the safety of Luoyun Market. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Afterward, he ordered the Purple Gold Eagle to fly at full speed, to arrive at Luoyun Market as quickly as possible and to urgently announce the Lin Family¡¯s plan to resist the Demonic Beasts Tide. At the same time, with generous rewards, they aimed to retain as many Loose Cultivators and members of Qi Refining Families as possible; if they could enlist a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the market¡¯s security would be even more assured. With these thoughts, their speed of escape increased yet again. In just over half a day, he and the Purple Gold Eagle had smoothly reached the outskirts of the market. He didn¡¯t rush to descend but instead circled around Luoyun Market once. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking down, he saw that Luoyun Market was already on alert. ... A large number of cultivators responsible for defense were walking on the tall city walls, each one with a solemn expression, looking deeply concerned. At the entrance of the market, it was bustling and even somewhat crowded at the moment, with a large number of cultivators coming and going. However, only a small number entered, most of them around the Fourth or Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, with only a few of higher cultivation. The number of people leaving Luoyun Market was several times greater than the number of those entering, and their cultivation was generally above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. It was evident that the cultivators within the market had likely received news about the outbreak of Demonic Beasts and the destruction of Yuanwu Kingdom by the Beast Tide Army. Some higher-level cultivators and those from the Qi Refining Families who acted more decisively had already prepared to leave the market first. However, judging from the current flow of people, not many in the market were aware of the news yet, which was good. Otherwise, it would not be so easy to retain them with rewards after everyone else had left. Regaining his composure, he exhaled deeply and commanded the Purple Gold Eagle to land at the market entrance. At the entrance of the market, Tian Jingshan was queuing to leave the city. Seeing the giant Purple Gold Eagle descending from the sky, followed by a young cultivator in a blue robe jumping down from the back of the spirit bird and putting the Purple Gold Eagle into a Spirit Beast Bag, he started walking slowly toward the entrance of the market. The young cultivator exuded a faint but formidable presence, causing all the cultivators who were preparing to leave the city to halt, standing still, not knowing what to do. Tian Jingshan, looking at the young cultivator¡¯s resolute face, felt it seemed somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. As the young man approached closer, Tian Jingshan suddenly remembered who he was and exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s Lin Tianming of the Lin Family, it¡¯s said he succeeded in Foundation Establishment in his early twenties, and in just ten-plus years, he has already reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level.¡± Tian Jingshan¡¯s words made some of the more obtuse cultivators¡¯ faces change, displaying expressions of disbelief. A Qi Refining Cultivator at the Sixth Level cried out, ¡°Foundation Establishment in his early twenties, and Foundation Establishment Fifth Level before forty?¡± ¡°Such a rate of cultivation, even in the Zhenyang Sect, must be a rare existence!¡± Before his voice fell, another Qi Refining Cultivator sneered and said, ¡°That rate of cultivation, even Zhenyang Sect might not necessarily have, right?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ This is truly a talented youth, and he¡¯s from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. If he¡¯s fortunate, maybe he can break through to the Golden Core Stage within a few decades. The Lin Family will then rise to its peak again, becoming the third Golden Core Family in Wei Kingdom!¡± One by one, the cultivators seemed to forget Lin Tianming¡¯s presence, discussing in low voices, directly interrupting the flow of people entering and leaving. Because Lin Tianming rarely appeared in public places and never took action in front of other cultivators, this led to the fact that his reputation and exact cultivation level were generally only known to the higher echelons within the Lin Family, with the outside world being unaware. Now, by deliberately revealing himself and his strengths, Lin Tianming had a purpose. At that moment, the cultivators all stopped in their tracks, all eyes on the approaching Lin Tianming, showing respect and admiration in their eyes. In the Cultivation World, strength has always been paramount, and Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and cultivation level inspired genuine admiration from everyone. And this time, by showing himself without reservation, he aimed to demonstrate the strength of the Lin Family, thus gathering more Loose Cultivators and family members to join Luoyun Market, uniting everyone¡¯s strength to resist the Beast Tide attack. With such intentions, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance of the market and greeted the two Executive Officers from his family. Afterward, with a calm demeanor, he looked at the assembled cultivators and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am Lin Tianming of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family!¡± Hearing this, those who found it hard to believe no longer had any doubts as Lin Tianming openly acknowledged his identity. Lin Tianming chuckled, waved his hand to the crowd, and then earnestly said, ¡°I believe many of you are already aware of the Beast Tide outbreak!¡± ¡°Indeed, this is absolutely true!¡± ¡°The destructive power of the Beast Tide, I trust you all know well. Luoyun Market is our market, and the scale of the Beast Tide within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is still unknown.¡± ¡°Luoyun Market¡¯s foundation is not deep, and the resources of the entire Luoyun Mountain are scarce, making cultivation difficult for cultivators. These factors, among others, lead to the weakness of the cultivators¡¯ powers in the entire Luoyun Mountain.¡± ¡°Therefore, during the outbreak of the Beast Tide, Luoyun Market needs everyone to stay and fight alongside the vast number of Luoyun Mountain cultivators to resist this attack from the Beast Tide.¡± ¡°For this visit to Luoyun Market, I have come to announce the family¡¯s arrangements. If you stay to help defend against the Beast Tide and perform exceptionally, you may be rewarded with a Minor Foundation Building Pill!¡± ¡°A Minor Foundation Building Pill!¡± Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 388: 231 Turmoil_2 Chapter 388: Chapter 231 Turmoil_2 ¡°Could it be the Minor Foundation Establishment Pill that aids Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Exactly, this elixir, when auctioned in medium to large markets, commands a price of at least ten thousand Spirit Stones, and some are even priceless¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words caused quite a stir among the crowd, with some cultivators of higher cultivation and broader horizons discussing animatedly. This lively scene attracted even more cultivators to gather, and upon hearing the topic of discussion among the cultivators, many were thrilled, including some loose cultivators at the Eighth or Ninth Level of Qi Refinement. Their age meant they couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer; if they couldn¡¯t obtain Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, they might be stuck at the Qi Refinement Realm forever. However, Foundation Pills were too precious; relying on hunting Demonic Beasts and exploring, they had accumulated some Spirit Stones over decades but were still far from the thirty thousand Spirit Stones needed. ... They had thought they might never have a chance to obtain Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects in their lifetime, but to their surprise, the Lin Family was so invested in the Luoyun Market that they were willing to offer a Minor Foundation Building Pill as a prize. After all, Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects were a limited resource for the Lin Family as well, and it wasn¡¯t possible to have too many; being willing to offer a Minor Foundation Building Pill already demonstrated the Lin Family¡¯s sincerity. As the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects were limited, and many cultivators were present, the competition to receive a reward was fierce indeed. Thinking this, some cultivators seemed not to want to give up, though there were still some with higher cultivation who wanted to stay in the Luoyun Market to try their luck. In their view, even if they did not receive the Minor Foundation Building Pill as a reward, they could still take the opportunity to earn some Spirit Stones. Seeking shelter in a larger market might be safer, but they wouldn¡¯t have as many opportunities to earn Spirit Stones. Besides, leaving the market now was also very dangerous; encountering a Demon Beast Tribe en route, even a small one, would be extremely dangerous for these Qi Refining Cultivators. Seen this way, risk and opportunity coexisted; it was an unchanging truth that the greatest rewards could only be found in the most dangerous places. In the crowd, a Qi Refining Eighth Level cultivator thought for a moment and then cupped his hands in a bow to Lin Tianming, asking, ¡°Elder Lin, may I know the specific details of this reward and the conditions for making merit?¡± ¡°Could you please elaborate a bit more, so that our juniors have a clearer understanding to make a decision!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming remembered that he had only mentioned offering a Minor Foundation Building Pill as a reward, without specifying the quantity; it was understandable for some less confident cultivators to have their concerns. He chuckled and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, no one can predict this Demon Beast Tide. Our Lin Family has gone to great lengths for the cultivators of the Luoyun Mountain Range! With this emotional appeal and reasoned persuasion, Lin Tianming urged the many cultivators to stay in the market and make a modest contribution for the entire Luoyun Mountain Range. He continued, ¡°In response to this Demon Beast Tide, the Lin Family is willing to offer three Minor Foundation Building Pills as rewards for the three Daoists who contribute the most during the effort to fend off the Monster Beast Tide.¡± ¡°In addition, Daoists who perform outstandingly will receive varying amounts of elixirs and Spirit Stones, from Lingshen Pills to Pozhang Pills, and Spirit Stones ranging from five hundred to ten thousand.¡± ¡°As long as the merits you earn rank within the top thirty, excluding the three major Foundation Establishing Families, you all have a chance at a reward!¡± No sooner had his voice fallen than some cultivators who were prepared to leave stopped in their tracks, clearly attracted by Lin Tianming¡¯s words. If there were only a few rewards, they might not have had any chances, but as long as it was within the top thirty, they saw a lot of opportunities. If they were lucky enough to be among the top three, they could get a Minor Foundation Building Pill, and even just within the top thirty, they could still receive some rewards. With these thoughts in mind, some of the Late Stage of Qi Refining cultivators in the crowd changed their minds about leaving the Luoyun Market and were keen to participate. Seeing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief; he wasn¡¯t really concerned about the cultivators below the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement. Their cultivation and strength were limited, making it difficult for them to contend with the immense Monster Beast Legion. Only those at the Late Stage of Qi Refining could make a difference. However, he did not show any unusual expression; facing the inquiries of the cultivators, he still explained the Lin Family¡¯s policies patiently, reassuring the cultivators. In the crowd, Li Yuancheng and his wife stood in a corner, silent and seemingly lost in thought. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After more than twenty years, both had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. They had spent years adventuring in the Luoyun Mountain Range, treasure hunting, and had accumulated a large number of Spirit Stones. However, they had never managed to find the Spiritual Objects necessary for Foundation Establishment. Their brief stay in Luoyun Market coincided with the news of a Demon Beast Tide erupting. The couple had planned to leave Luoyun Market for Whirlwind Market in Huangyang Kingdom to take refuge, when they happened upon a large gathering of cultivators at the entrance of the market. Out of curiosity, they came closer and happened to hear the reward promised by the Lin Family¡¯s genius, Lin Tianming, which aroused their interest. After a moment of silence, Song Yurong¡¯s complexion rosy, she sent a message to Li Yuancheng with her inner voice, ¡°Husband¡­ what do you think the credibility of Lin Tianming¡¯s words is?¡± Li Yuancheng frowned, recalling the behaviors and styles of the Lin Family in recent years. A moment later, he replied, ¡°Wife¡­ in my opinion, there¡¯s a seventy to eighty percent chance they¡¯re credible!¡± Upon hearing this, Song Yurong was surprised. She knew her husband to be very cautious, rarely trusting others so easily, let alone someone offering three Minor Foundation Building Pills in one go. Such a generous Foundation Establishing Family was a rarity in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Regathering her thoughts, Song Yurong spoke up, ¡°Seventy to eighty percent¡­ You trust the Lin Family to such an extent?¡± ¡°Wife¡­ you must not underestimate the Lin Family, for they have produced an expert at the Golden Core Stage,¡± he reminded her. ¡°Just consider how the Lin Family, after years of silence, has recently risen like a comet with an unstoppable momentum,¡± he continued. ¡°Recall how the Lin Family quietly uprooted the once foremost clan of the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Jin Family, and has since secured over sixty percent of the profits of Luoyun Market. The number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators openly acknowledged in their family has reached as many as eight, with certainly one or two more concealed,¡± he added. ¡°All these developments have taken place over the past twenty years. Imagine how terrifying that is!¡± he concluded. Before he finished speaking, Song Yurong replied, ¡°Is that why you rate them so highly?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ that¡¯s only one aspect!¡± ¡°The Lin Family has kept a very low profile these recent years; with their strength, they could totally dominate the Luoyun Mountain Range, but they choose not to,¡± he explained. ¡°Moreover, the Lin Family has been around for over eight hundred years. We might not have been aware before, but in the last fifty to sixty years, there¡¯s been no talk of the Lin Family bullying others with their power or breaking their word,¡± he recounted. ¡°Even when they were at a low point, the Lin Family, now so powerful, still maintains a modest and honest demeanor. Such families are hard to come by!¡± he stressed. ¡°What¡¯s more important is that they¡¯ve made this promise in front of so many people; they are highly unlikely to renege on it,¡± he asserted. Listening to Li Yuancheng¡¯s explanation, Song Yurong nodded in agreement. If she were the leader of the Lin Family, she wouldn¡¯t announce such a thing so openly either. If they broke their word, though the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t necessarily be in danger, their continued development would become very difficult. After all, at the level of the Lin Family, reputation plays a huge role in their growth, and it just wouldn¡¯t make sense to sacrifice the Lin Family¡¯s bright future for a few Minor Foundation Building Pills. Which was more important was clear to a family as vast and with as much potential as the Lin Family, they were sure to know the difference. This line of thought wasn¡¯t unique to her; many people in the crowd were considering the same thing. The credibility of the Lin Family wasn¡¯t built overnight but over hundreds of years. Loose cultivators might not be clear on this, but the old families were well aware. Considering these points, Song Yurong communicated with her inner voice, ¡°Husband¡­ why don¡¯t we stay in Luoyun Market? It might be difficult for us to obtain two Minor Foundation Building Pills, but securing one should be well within our reach!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Wife, we truly think alike; I was thinking the exact same thing!¡± Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 389: 232 Recruitment_1 Chapter 389: Chapter 232 Recruitment_1 Li Yuancheng smiled as he said this, and then continued: ¡°Despite some opportunities over the years, as we age, our potential only diminishes¡ªit¡¯s definitely not the time to dally!¡± ¡°While this opportunity does involve some danger, if the Lin Family values the Luoyun Market so highly, with Elder Lin Shilu and Elder Lin Tianming there, plus the Market¡¯s formation, unless a Third-Order Demon Beast attacks, or perhaps several dozen Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, it¡¯d be hard to break through the formation.¡± ¡°So perhaps inside the Luoyun Market, it might not be that dangerous!¡± ¡°If we can obtain a Minor Foundation Building Pill, we can first attempt Foundation Establishment with one person. If successful, it will be easier for the others to make their breakthroughs!¡± Hearing Li Yuancheng¡¯s words, Song Yurong¡¯s face lit up with joy. Over the years, the two had lived on the brink of death and had long become numb to unknown dangers. ... Now that such an opportunity had presented itself, why not forsake the Foundation Establishment Pill for the slightly less effective Minor Foundation Building Pill? Succeeding first with one person would make it easier for the others to make their own breakthroughs. With the same idea in mind, after a short exchange, the couple quickly made their decision. Soon after, the husband and wife moved slowly to the forefront of the cultivators, not far from Lin Tianming. Seeing the crowd buzzing with discussion, Li Yuancheng and his wife stepped forward to greet Lin Tianming with clasped hands and said, ¡°Elder Lin, junior Li Yuancheng would like to join the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad with his humble wife!¡± Before he even finished speaking, the scene became lively, and cultivators who had heard of the couple started discussing among themselves. ¡°Li and his wife are willing to join the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad!¡± ¡°With the combined strength of the husband and wife, even a Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beast might not be a match for them! ¡°Hehe¡­ With the strength of Li and Fairy Song joined together, a Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beast would certainly be no match for them. Facing slower and less formidable beasts, it¡¯s not impossible for them to take on two at once!¡± In the midst of the discussions, Li Yuancheng and his wife instantly became the focus of the crowd, as cultivators familiar with them began to talk. The couple were frequent fixtures at the Luoyun Market, going into the Luoyun Mountain Range with other Loose Cultivators to gain experience, thus they had a wide network. Seeing their willingness to risk it all for a Minor Foundation Building Pill, it encouraged other hesitant cultivators to make up their minds. At the entrance of the market, seeing the bustling activity, Lin Tianming chuckled and then said, ¡°Li and I have cooperated before!¡± Hearing this, Li Yuancheng and his wife looked puzzled. They thought for a long time but could not recall anything. Seeing their expressions, Lin Tianming explained, ¡°We went to Luoyun Mountain together to harvest the Sky Fei Fruits. You should remember that.¡± Upon hearing the explanation, Li Yuancheng quickly remembered. Back then, Lin Tianming had been in disguise, looking nothing like he did now, with vastly different strength. In just over twenty years, he had cultivated to the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, which was quite unbelievable. But reflecting on the process of harvesting the Sky Fei Fruits and the strength that Lin Tianming had exhibited at the time, he knew this person was exceptionally talented, a formidable individual indeed. Now that Lin Tianming had revealed his identity, it was not surprising that he could accomplish those feats. Regaining their composure, Li Yuancheng and his wife happily approached and respectfully greeted Lin Tianming with clasped hands, not daring to presume upon their past cooperation. Lin Tianming chuckled and chatted casually with Li Yuancheng and his wife, then started conversing with other cultivators who wished to join the Monster Hunting Squad. The lively scene of recruitment continued. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s approachable demeanor, some cultivators felt lucky he didn¡¯t carry the arrogance typical of genius cultivators. Lin Tianming also promised substantial rewards, increasing the prestige of the Lin Family while also drawing in a large batch of cultivators, including some at the Late Stage of Qi Refining and even beyond the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. After half an hour had passed, Lin Tianming held a thick registry, looking over the more than two hundred names with satisfaction. In just half an hour, the number of cultivators who had signed up for the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad had reached over two hundred and sixty, with the majority being cultivators of the Sixth or Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, and less than twenty above the Ninth Layer. However, that was just half an hour¡¯s work. Given more time to spread the news through the market, perhaps they could recruit more cultivators. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming thought to himself, pleased with the outcome so far. Watching as the cultivators conversed energetically, he handed over recruitment to the family members at the market entrance and then bid farewell to the crowd, heading towards the Market City Hall. Before long, he arrived at the Market City Hall. In a secret chamber, Lin Shilu sat in the highest seat, with Lin Tianming and Lin Xingcheng seated below him. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu was quite happy. He chatted with the two before asking, ¡°Tianming, did your third brother give any instructions for your visit to the market? How¡¯s the situation at home and at the Golden Horn Mountain?¡± Lin Tianming promptly relayed the status of the key industries within the family and the internal affairs before discussing the purpose of his visit to the market. Learning about the recruitment policy the family had issued, Lin Shilu nodded in approval and fully supported the decision. The situation with the beast tide was still unclear, and the significance of the market to the Lin Family went without saying. Preparing well in advance would help minimize losses during the imminent beast tide. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 390: 232 Recruitment_2 Chapter 390: Chapter 232 Recruitment_2 Regaining his focus, Lin Shilu instructed Lin Xingcheng with a few words, asking him to oversee the recruitment of the Monster Hunting Squad in Luoyun Market. Lin Xingcheng clasped his fists to accept the order and then stood up to leave the secret chamber, ready to begin the work of recruitment. As Lin Xingcheng left, Lin Shilu said, ¡°Tian Ming, solely recruiting Qi Refining Stage Cultivators for the Monster Hunting Squad cannot provide strong support for the market¡¯s safety. What are your thoughts on recruiting Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators to join the Monster Hunting Squad?¡± His words made Lin Tianming fall into deep thought. Although the family had discussed this matter before and agreed to recruit Foundation Establishment Cultivators as much as possible, it was not an easy task to accomplish. After all, the Minor Foundation Building Pill wasn¡¯t so attractive to Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators unless they were for their offspring or their companion, which might persuade some cultivators to join. Otherwise, for the lone Loose Cultivators, with their capabilities, they could easily head to larger markets or seek temporary refuge in the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World to avoid danger, rather than join a small market and put themselves in peril. ... Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, how many Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators are currently in Luoyun Market, and what do they think of the upcoming beast tide?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu pondered for a moment and then said, ¡°Currently, there are three Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators in the market. Their cultivation is not very high, including one at the Initial Foundation Establishment Stage, one at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, and the remaining one is the previously traded Su He!¡± ¡°Su He?¡± Lin Tianming recalled and quickly remembered that this person had attended a trade meet and provided information about mature Purple Yin Grass. To acquire some mature Purple Yin Grass, the Lin Family had sent Lin Shikang, who had exerted considerable effort to obtain it, and then refined some Hun Tian Pills, allowing Lin Shikang to break through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Regaining his focus, he then said, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, since there are a few Loose Cultivators in the market, we must bring them over by any means and strive to have them stay within the market to rise or fall together with our Lin Family!¡± Lin Shilu nodded and then frowned, showing a thoughtful expression. ¡°Tian Ming, this matter is indeed very important. However, what benefits we can offer is somewhat troublesome. If the item is too precious, our Lin Family can¡¯t afford it; if it¡¯s too trivial, it will not move them!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag and from it, he retrieved a Hun Tian Pill, passing it along with the storage bag to Lin Shilu. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, before I left the family, Third Grandfather gave me this Hun Tian Pill and two Second Order Low Grade Artifacts to bring to you, Elder. As for the matter of recruiting Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, you have full authority. And this Hun Tian Pill is among the treasures the family can offer, with relatively high value and appeal!¡± Lin Shilu accepted the storage bag and the Hun Tian Pill, showing a satisfied look. The value of this Hun Tian Pill was not low, in no way inferior to a Foundation Establishment Pill, and for all Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, it was a rare treasure. And Second Order Low Grade Attack Talismans also have some appeal for cultivators at the initial stages of Foundation Establishment, with these treasures in hand, convincing those Loose Cultivators might not be impossible after all! Regaining his focus, he smiled and said, ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s no time to lose; the beast tide could happen at any moment. Let¡¯s go pay a visit to the three of them right away!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and left the secret chamber with Lin Shilu. Less than half a moment later, the two came to a residence within the market. Standing in a corner, Lin Shilu sent out a message, and soon a figure emerged from the residence, it was the previously dealt with Loose Cultivator, Su He. Before he even arrived, his hearty laugh could be heard: ¡°Ha ha¡­ I¡¯m honored by the visit of the two fellow Daoists!¡± Lin Shilu gave a chuckling smile as well, joining Lin Tianming in clasping fists and bowing to greet Su He. Su He quickly returned the gesture, then ushered the two into his residence with an inviting wave of his hand, and went on to serve them Spiritual Tea. The three sat down in the courtyard, and after some small talk, Su He inquired about their visit. Lin Shilu took a light sip of tea before getting straight to the point, ¡°Su Daoyou must already be aware that a beast tide has erupted in the Yuanwu Country, and within a mere month¡¯s time, it overran the mighty Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm!¡± Su He nodded; this news had spread like autumn leaves scattering in the wind, quickly reaching the surrounding areas from Yuanwu Country Xiuxian Realm. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment he heard the news in Luoyun Market, he knew about it and planned to leave for a while to seek refuge in the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World. After all, as a Loose Cultivator without any ties, where he cultivated made little difference to him¡ªit was merely a waste of some time and a minor loss. There was no need to stay in the weak Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, where a beast tide could come crashing down their way and possibly bring about mortal danger. ¡°Lin, we¡¯ve had many dealings, and I won¡¯t hide it from you. I plan to leave for Huangyang Country Cultivation World as soon as possible, to take refuge for several years!¡± Su He said. Hearing this, Lin Shilu seemed to have anticipated the reply; he immediately said, ¡°Su Daoyou doesn¡¯t have to be so anxious. The Yuanwu Country is far from the Wei Kingdom, and although the beast tide is indeed terrifying, it¡¯s still uncertain whether it will reach the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°And the reason for our visit today is indeed to discuss a matter, and we hope Su Daoyou will consider our proposal carefully before making your plans!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°If you have something to say, Lin, please speak your mind. Though I am of low strength, I still have some affection for my homeland, Luoyun Mountain, and given the many dealings our Lin Family has had with you, as long as it¡¯s within my power and I am not putting myself at risk, there¡¯s no issue in lending a hand!¡± Su He stated. Su He¡¯s words were well-spoken, but he also made it clear he would only help if his safety was assured. If it involved risking his life, it wouldn¡¯t be so simple. However, he didn¡¯t outright refuse, and with the promise of substantial rewards, there might still be room for negotiation. Returning to the matter at hand, Lin Shilu chuckled and then said, ¡°Su Daoyou truly is a man of sentiment, which I greatly admire!¡± ¡°The reason we¡¯ve come to visit is indeed to ask for assistance. While the matter of the beast tide is uncertain, if it turns out to be a false alarm, naturally all is well. However, our Lin Family has been established here for more than eight hundred years, and all our roots and property are here, so we need to make comprehensive preparations!¡± ¡°In preparation for this potential crisis, the Lin Family has made some arrangements. I and two younger Foundation Establishment members will be stationed in the market, and we have also summoned two daoyou, Luo Chenggu and Sun Ruiyang.¡± ¡°Moreover, the market has spent a great deal of treasures, and the Lin Family has even offered Minor Foundation Building Pills, recruiting a large number of Qi Refining Cultivators to stay in the market with us, to jointly defend against the beast tide attack!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s remark startled Su He. It was evident that the Lin Family valued Luoyun Market highly. Not only did they dispatch Lin Shilu, who was at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, but they also deployed two Foundation Establishment Family members. In addition to that, they had gathered a substantial force of elite members from their family, and even provided all their scarce Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects to strengthen the market¡¯s defenses, having put their utmost effort into this task. Seeing that Su He remained silent, Lin Shilu continued, ¡°As a local family, the Lin Family has the responsibility to protect the land of Luoyun Mountain Range; even if it requires some sacrifice, it¡¯s only right.¡± With those words, he seized the moral high ground. Although to Cultivators, power was everything and there was no place for morality, in some cases, moral standings did have their influence. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Su He nodded, his demeanor becoming somewhat more conciliatory¡ª at least not as resistant as before. Observing this, Lin Shilu seized the moment to persuade him, mentioning the matter of rewards. If Su He helped Luoyun Market survive the beast tide attack, whatever Demonic Beasts he killed, their spoils would be his to keep, and he would be offered a Hun Tian Pill as compensation. Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 391: 233 Song Family Attacked_1 Chapter 391: Chapter 233 Song Family Attacked_1 ¡°¡±¡± ¡°Hun Tian Pill!¡± Upon hearing that the Hun Tian Pill was offered as a reward, Su He¡¯s expression remained unchanged, yet excitement was already surging within him, although he did not betray any sign of it. Having cultivated to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, the prospect of reaching the Seventh Level seemed distant and without any sign of a breakthrough. Over these ten-plus years, he frequently roamed the Luoyun Mountain Range and had encountered some opportunities, but even so, he had only managed to advance two levels in that time. A Hun Tian Pill, with its potential to directly grant a breakthrough of one level, was extremely expensive and rare in the cultivation world, virtually priceless. ... It was precisely because of this that every Foundation Establishment Cultivator found it impossible to resist the opportunity to break through in their cultivation. He himself had found it difficult to make any progress, and with a Hun Tian Pill, there was a high probability of entering the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment and becoming a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Although there was only a one-level difference, in the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators were few and far between, possessed only by a few major Foundation Establishing Families. Among known loose cultivators, they were an exceedingly rare breed. Under these circumstances, this Hun Tian Pill was of immense importance to him. Thinking of this, he had already made plans, but he did not show it. At that moment, Lin Shilu was still speaking, promising that after the demonic beast attack had passed, the Hun Tian Pill would be offered as compensation, and he pledged that the Lin Family would honor the agreement. Seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s sincere words, Su He pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, ¡°Since Lin has made the request, as a native of Luoyun Mountain, it is only right for me to contribute my modest efforts to my homeland!¡± ¡°But let me be frank, my abilities are limited. If the demon beast tide is too vast, and even the market city cannot withstand it, if I am unable to save the situation, then I will only be able to look after myself!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Su Daoyou is truly a man of character. Rest assured, this undertaking is about doing our best within our capabilities. If the situation is dire and beyond our control, then it is enough to just look after oneself. It would be best if you could lend a hand, but there¡¯s no harm if you can¡¯t!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s statement, Su He nodded. The credibility of the Lin Family was indeed good, and it made sense for him to do his part out of a heartfelt desire to help his homeland. Besides, as a solitary individual with no attachments, if the situation turned grim, he could leave the market city at any moment. Even if he were alone, surviving wouldn¡¯t be that difficult. Thus, he clarified this matter with Lin Shilu ahead of time to avoid any unpleasantness. Lin Shilu nodded. After discussing some details, they confirmed the arrangements for Su He to stay and protect Luoyun Market. With Su He joining, boosting their ranks with his Sixth Level Foundation Establishment cultivation, combined with Lin Shilu and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed in the market, their lineup was already quite impressive. After a successful recruitment, Lin Tianming and his colleague left, feeling upbeat, and continued on to the Cave Mansion Courtyard of another independent Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Shortly after, they arrived at a cave mansion and met with the independent Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Li Hongliang. Li Hongliang was also a native cultivator of the Luoyun Mountain, having reached the Foundation Establishment Stage for over thirty years, with a Second Layer Foundation Establishment cultivation. He was a frequent visitor around Luoyun Market and had some acquaintances with Lin Shilu. Li Hongliang was excited to see the visitors. After all, the strength of the Lin Family was well-known to the people of Luoyun Mountain, and the cultivation of the two men greatly surpassed his, which somewhat flattered him. After a brief chat, Li Hongliang was well aware of the purpose of their visit. With the promise of substantial rewards and Lin Shilu¡¯s sincere attitude, Li Hongliang was easily recruited into the Lin Family¡¯s fold. The two men departed soon after and continued to visit the last independent Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Liu Zhirong. Liu Zhirong¡¯s background was a mystery. It was said that he was from Huangyang Kingdom and had been forced to leave the Huangyang Country Cultivation World after offending a powerful Foundation Establishing Family. After many twists and turns, he eventually settled in Luoyun Market. He was over a hundred years old with a Third Layer Foundation Establishment cultivation. Though his exact strength was unknown, the mere fact that he had established himself in the Luoyun Mountain Range indicated that he was no pushover. Seeing Lin Shilu coming to visit, he was very composed and just as aware of the purpose of their visit. But considering the formidable strength of the Lin Family, he hardly hesitated and easily agreed to stay in the market city and face challenges alongside the Lin Family. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His readiness was somewhat surprising to Lin Shilu and company as they had not interacted much before and thought it might take some effort to convince him, but this saved them a great deal of trouble. Successfully recruiting three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the safety of the market city was more assured. Lin Shilu and his colleague felt pleased and, after saying goodbye to Liu Zhirong, returned to the Market City Hall. ¡­ Half a day later, in a secret chamber. Lin Xingcheng, Lin Shilu, and Lin Tianming sat opposite each other, each sipping Spiritual Tea as they chatted leisurely. ¡°Xingcheng, how goes the recruitment of Qi Refinement Cultivators to form the Monster Hunting Squad?¡± Lin Shilu asked. Faced with Lin Shilu¡¯s inquiry, Lin Xingcheng looked solemn. He then took out a thick tome from his storage bag and, after flipping to a page, began to report. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle¡­ After one day¡¯s efforts, we have recruited a total of over eight hundred and eighty people. Among them, three hundred and seventy-two cultivators are above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, and more than five hundred and ten cultivators are between the Fourth and Fifth Levels of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°With the limited population of the market city, the numbers are unlikely to grow much more. Other cultivators below the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement are of little help to the city¡¯s defense!¡± ¡°¡±¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 392: 233: Song Family Attacked_2 Chapter 392: Chapter 233: Song Family Attacked_2 Hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded his head. Indeed, the number of cultivators in Luoyun Market was limited. Even a few years ago, the population of the entire market did not exceed a few thousand people, among whom Qi Refining Cultivators below the fifth level accounted for more than half. The actions taken by the Lin Family initially had already caught the attention of a small portion of cultivators, and some of them left at the first sign of trouble. Over the years, the number of cultivators within the market had dwindled, so the number of recruited cultivators was within expectations. Thinking of this, he immediately smiled and said, ¡°Xingcheng, you¡¯ve done your best, and we cannot force these matters. Having this number has already met our predetermined goal, so there¡¯s no need to fuss over it any longer!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Recruiting those low-level cultivators is also meaningless. Under the vast demon beast tide, they simply can¡¯t resist, and there¡¯s no need to sacrifice them¡­¡± Lin Tianming and another casually exchanged a few words. By now, Luoyun Market already had nearly ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators defending it, plus the nearly thousand Qi Refining Cultivators and the protection of the Defensive Array, its overall strength wasn¡¯t much less than that of the Lin Family Clan Grounds. With this matter concluded, the two chatted idly for a while before Lin Shilu asked Lin Tianming about his plans going forward. ... Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll rest tonight, and tomorrow I¡¯ll return to Golden Horn Mountain to join my father. There are fewer clan members there, and their defensive power is limited, so I cannot be away for too long.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Then be careful. The defenses at Golden Horn Mountain are indeed a bit weak, but having a smaller target has its advantages. If you¡¯re lucky, maybe no demonic beasts will attack after all!¡± Lin Shilu comforted him. Lin Tianming nodded, and after a few more casual exchanges, they each returned to their private chambers. The next morning, Lin Tianming quietly left Luoyun Market, appearing on a mountain peak outside the market. Looking at the vast city that was barely visible in the distance, he immediately turned and left, flying toward the direction of Golden Horn Mountain. The Purple Gold Eagle flew into the clouds, with the fierce wind howling past him as he carefully observed every movement around him. Heading north, despite the clan¡¯s clearance, demonic beasts still appeared from time to time. They were either in groups of two or three or in small groups of over a dozen. Fortunately, he did not encounter many demonic beasts in the First Order Late Stage or Second Order. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows furrowed. He knew that the demonic beast tide was imminent. With this in mind, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s speed greatly increased, turning into a blur as it shot northward. In just one day, he smoothly arrived at Golden Horn Mountain. Looking at the familiar mountain gate, everything was as usual without a trace of beasts having been there; he breathed a sigh of relief. Entering the mountain gate, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng, who had been notified of his safe return, immediately gathered. Seated in the Cave Mansion Courtyard, they chatted, exchanging recent news. Everything was peaceful, and they only needed to wait for further updates on the beast tide. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Learning that the family had recruited cultivators to remain at Luoyun Market, Lin Xingrong and the other person were very satisfied, fully approving of this strategy. Currently, the clan¡¯s strength was most potent, and Luoyun Market was also formidable¡ªonly Golden Horn Mountain was relatively weaker. Observing the two with furrowed brows, Lin Tianming quietly pondered countermeasures. Their combined strength, including the Purple Gold Eagle, amounted to merely four combatants at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so their overall strength wasn¡¯t considered high. If they encountered a large-scale demon beast tribe, even with the former Jin Family¡¯s Protective Formation, the situation would still be quite perilous. However, regarding the situation at Golden Horn Mountain, he felt relatively helpless. The family members still lacked time to grow; most were at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, many having just broken through in the past few years, making them the strength the family needed to keep hidden, afraid to reveal themselves lightly. Seeing the atmosphere turn somewhat melancholic, Lin Xingrong chuckled reassuringly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so pessimistic. Golden Horn Mountain has unique terrain. Forming a triangular standoff with the clan grounds and Luoyun Mountain, should any danger arise, I believe the family will sense it and come to support us!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ A full-speed flight on the Purple Gold Eagle is just a day¡¯s journey. This distance isn¡¯t very far, so there¡¯s no need to worry so much!¡± Lin Tianming echoed the sentiment, and gradually, everyone¡¯s faces looked better. Lin Xingrong nodded, and they began discussing the matters of defense. After consultation, they decided to rotate one person every ten days to take charge of patrolling and defending, while the other two cultivated. The two naturally had no objections, and with one accord, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianming then took their leave. Before leaving, Lin Tianming took out the talisman paper drawn by his sister and handed most of them to his father before returning to a secret chamber to begin his cultivation. Time flew by, and before he knew it, half a month had passed. Wei Kingdom, Yunyang Mountain Range. The Yunyang Mountain Range is located on the northern edge of the Wei Kingdom, its area roughly comparable to that of the Luoyun Mountain Range, and it borders the Cultivation World of Xi Country in Qingzhou, known as well for its barren lands. On this day, in a corner of the Yunyang Mountain Range, a large number of demonic beasts, for some unknown reason, suddenly surged out in groups from the depths of the mountain, launching an attack towards the heartland of the Wei Kingdom. Song Family¡¯s mountain gate¡ªthis is a corner of the Yunyang Mountain Range and a place rich in spiritual energy. As one of the four Foundation Establishing Families of the Yunyang Mountain Range, the Song Family had stood for over five hundred years and was considered an established clan. Early this morning, outside the Song Family¡¯s grounds, a massive number of demonic beasts had gathered. Among them were three Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts, over a dozen Second Order Middle and Initial Stage demonic beasts, and more than a thousand First Order demon beasts. This formidable demon beast tribe attacked the Song Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation without any reservations. After a round of earth-shaking tremors, a large number of Song Family cultivators inside the mountain gate were ashen-faced. Among the crowd, an elderly man with white hair stood with an extremely grave expression. This man was one of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Song Family, Song Zhiying, who was at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment and had served as the Clan Leader of the Song Family for nearly a hundred years. Seeing the panicked clan members, he forced a composed demeanor, and his resonant voice was heard. ¡°Fellow clansmen, our family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation is of Second Order Medium Quality, and if nothing goes awry, it should be able to withstand the beasts for a while.¡± ¡°As long as we hold firm for a few months, once the Myriad Flames Sect becomes aware of the demonic beast invasion, they will surely send out their elite disciples to eradicate them!¡± Hearing this, the clan members calmed down a bit, but most were still heavily worried, seeming not to have much confidence in the Song Family¡¯s future. Their concern was understandable; though the Protective Clan Formation was strong, these beasts were no trifles, and the destructive power of the Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts was unimaginable. Besides, with the large number of Second Order Initial and Middle Stage demonic beasts in this group, it was entirely feasible for them to muster enough strength over time to break through the Song Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation. Under such circumstances, the crisis was upon the Song Family. To strike out was to court death; they could only stand firm and await aid, praying for the Myriad Flames Sect to dispatch their best to help. Just as everyone was in a daze, a loud voice rang out, bringing relief to the Song Family members. Above everyone¡¯s head appeared a scholar-like middle-aged man; this was Song Zhiwen, the highest cultivator of the Song Family, at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, who had been in seclusion and would only emerge when the family was in dire straits. Upon seeing the newcomer, Song Zhiying¡¯s face regained calmness. He then turned and spoke to several clansmen nearby: ¡°All clansmen must emerge from seclusion immediately, prepare for battle as soon as possible, and distribute all the family¡¯s stored resources to our members. If the Protective Clan Formation is breached, be ready to break out! After issuing several commands, Song Zhiying¡¯s voice echoed with responses from the crowd. Soon, once the arrangements were made, the clan members dispersed, leaving Song Zhiying and Song Zhiwen standing there. Seeing the clan members leave, Song Zhiying furrowed his brow tightly and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Eighteenth brother, I fear the Song Family will suffer heavy losses this time!¡± Upon hearing this, Song Zhiwen¡¯s face also grew dark. The moment the Protective Clan Formation was struck by the demonic beasts, he had already perceived the overall strength of this group of beasts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 393: 234 Strategy_1 Chapter 393: Chapter 234 Strategy_1 S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was equally pessimistic about this group of demonic beasts. The power of this group of demonic beasts was beyond imagination; both in terms of numbers and quality, they were very strong. Although the Song Family had a legacy of hundreds of years and had developed extremely rapidly in recent years, their overall strength was still not strong enough. There were too few cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the reserves of war resources were very limited. Only their Protective Clan Formation was considered decent among the Foundation Establishing Families. In such a situation, he had no confidence that they could withstand the attack of this group of demonic beasts. Besides, waiting for reinforcements was merely a comforting lie to the clan members. Although the situation outside was unknown, it could be deduced from the current circumstances that there were definitely various sizes of demon beast tribes that had erupted in the outside world, even the dominant force, Myriad Flames Sect, had been attacked by the demonic beasts. ... Under such circumstances, the situation of the Myriad Flames Sect was also hard to say¡ªthey simply didn¡¯t have the time or energy to care about their life or death. Such thoughts of his were both rational and well-founded. According to the records of past demonic beast attacks, there would be many Monster Beast Legions. They formed legions of various numbers and scales, attacking lands rich in Spiritual Energy without restraint. The more Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands there were, the more likely they were to be attacked by demonic beasts. Having a legacy of over five thousand years, the Myriad Flames Sect occupied one of the best Spirit Lands in the Wei Kingdom. The likelihood of it being attacked was extremely high. When they themselves were hardly able to ensure their own safety, how could they care about others? Regaining his composure, Song Zhiwen let out a long sigh and then said, ¡°Elder Brother, we should prepare for a breakout in advance!¡± ¡°Gather the elite members of the clan. If the Protective Clan Formation is breached, take the clan members out through the secret passages immediately and act according to the family¡¯s emergency plan!¡± Hearing this, Song Zhiying nodded helplessly. Even Song Zhiwen at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment said so, implying that the Song Family likely had little hope of being saved. He sighed deeply and, after a few exchanges with Song Zhiwen, turned and left, leaving Song Zhiwen alone at the gate. ¡­ At the same time, at Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming had replaced Lin Xingrong and had been patrolling around Golden Horn Mountain for a hundred miles for a period of four days; today was the fifth patrol. Sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, he watched as a large number of low-order demonic beasts shuttled through the dense forest below, his brows deeply furrowed and his heart somewhat worried. Over these days, he noticed that the density of demonic beasts had increased significantly again and they were beginning to gather together. It was clear that there was the potential for an outbreak. Although he had been mentally prepared, the worrying situation was still imminent. Helpless, he could only accelerate to gather more information in order to make accurate judgments. Before long, he arrived at a valley to the north of Golden Horn Mountain. The huge figure of the Purple Gold Eagle emerged from the clouds, with Lin Tianming sitting on its back. His Eye of Five Colors opened, peering down at nearly a hundred demonic beasts below, his face somewhat grim. Below, in that valley, hundreds of demonic beasts had gathered, among them a Second Order Late-Stage demonic beast, along with one of the Middle Stage. Besides, there were several at the Initial Stage of Second Order, with the rest being First Order demon beasts, most of which were in the Early or Middle Stages. This was a medium-sized demon beast tribe, extremely powerful and heading towards Golden Horn Mountain, clearly preparing to attack. Upon seeing the demonic beasts set off, Lin Tianming immediately turned around and hurried towards Golden Horn Mountain. He had to get back to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory ahead of the demonic beasts and, with the help of the formation, might be able to make a clean escape. Otherwise, if the demonic beasts spotted him, even with the Purple Gold Eagle, it would take some effort to break free. With these thoughts, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s speed increased further, clearly sensing the urgency of the situation. The speed of one man and one eagle was quick, and in an instant, they left hundreds of zhang behind, leaving the angry demon beast tribe in the dust. Luckily, the speed of the demon beasts was not fast. As long as there were no hindrances along the way, it was not difficult at all to return to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory unharmed. After half a day¡¯s time, the Purple Gold Eagle carried Lin Tianming into the defensive array of Golden Horn Mountain. Once back at Golden Horn Mountain, he hurriedly summoned Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng, and the three of them sat in the cave dwelling. Seeing his solemn expression, Lin Xingrong immediately sensed something and then asked, ¡°Tianming¡­ has there been any movement?¡± Lin Tianming nodded and replied, ¡°Today during my patrol, I already discovered a group led by a Second Order demonic beast heading our way. If nothing unexpected occurs, they may arrive near Golden Horn Mountain in no more than a day¡¯s time!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words made both of them look extremely solemn. The onset of the Demon Beast Tide had been hinted at several months ago, though everyone held onto some fantasy that it would turn out to be a false alarm. However, after months of waiting, the fantasies were shattered, and the beast tide arrived as expected. Lin Xingrong sighed deeply and then asked, ¡°What¡¯s the strength of the discovered demon beast tribe?¡± ¡°One at the Late Phase of Second Order, one at the Middle Stage, several at the Initial Stage, and hundreds of First Order beasts!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expressions changed and they couldn¡¯t help but be secretly startled. This roaming demon beast tribe was powerful, and within the entire Golden Horn Mountain, there were only three of them who were Foundation Establishment cultivators, with the highest-cultivated Lin Tianming being only at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Both he and Lin Tianfeng, one at the Peak Third Level of Foundation Establishment and the other at the Second Layer, with only dozens of Qi Refining Stage clanspeople, were simply not strong enough to compare with the demon beast tribe. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 394: 234 Strategy_2 Chapter 394: Chapter 234 Strategy_2 ¡°` Thinking of these matters, his expression darkened and he immediately began to give orders. ¡°Tianfeng, immediately summon all the clansmen out of seclusion and activate the full power of the Defensive Great Formation.¡± ¡°Furthermore, distribute all the various war resources brought by the family and prepare for battle!¡± Hearing the commands, Lin Tianfeng stood up, saluted with a clenched fist, responded, and then immediately left the courtyard to prepare to gather all the clansmen and get ready for defense. ¡°Tian Ming, facing such a strong demon beast tribe, what are your plans?¡± ... Hearing his father¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming began to ponder. The strength of this group of demonic beasts was not low; he might be able to withstand the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, but there were too many at the Initial Stage, and there was also one at the Medium Stage. With the strength of Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng in comparison, the pressure would undoubtedly be immense. In addition to this, the number of First Order Demon Beasts was more than ten times that of their clansmen. If they didn¡¯t take this into account, they could very well be completely wiped out. At present, it seemed that Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market might both suffer attacks from demonic beasts, and the pressure there would be considerable. They likely wouldn¡¯t have the capacity to provide support to Golden Horn Mountain. With these situations in mind, his expression grew serious, yet he had no strategy to counter them. He could only take one step at a time. Lin Xingrong felt the same. The majority of Qingzhou, a vast area, was suffering from demonic beast attacks. Wei Kingdom was relatively on the fringe, which was somewhat fortunate in comparison. Considering Yuanwu Kingdom, which was the first to be destroyed, the situation in Wei Kingdom was relatively better. If the beast tide had erupted in Wei Kingdom, the whole of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would have likely been wiped out by now. Regaining his focus, Lin Xingrong spoke a few words of comfort and, after exchanging some suggestions with each other, they left the cave mansion courtyard and went to the plaza at the mountain gate. At this time, the plaza was already filled with dozens of people, all of whom had heeded Lin Tianfeng¡¯s call to assemble there. Learning that demonic beasts were very likely to attack the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, every person¡¯s expression turned solemn. Seeing Lin Tianming and the other arrive, the clansmen¡¯s faces regained some color, especially when they saw the two powerfully cultivated Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Lin Tianming looked over the fully prepared clansmen and turned to look outside the formation. ¡°Tianfeng, has the Protective Clan Formation been deployed and the combat resources distributed?¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianfeng nodded and replied, ¡°Following your orders, all the usable talisman paper, Spiritual Artifacts, and a large number of elixirs have been distributed to the clansmen.¡± ¡°Everything is ready now; we just wait for the demonic beasts to come!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong nodded slightly, then ceased to speak further. Lin Tianming looked at the Protective Clan Formation. This formation was once the Protective Clan Formation of the Jin Family. Although he had broken it, all the equipment was intact, requiring only simple repair and reinforcement to restore it to its glory. Feeling the fluctuations from the formation, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. The grade of this formation was not low; it was of a Second Order Superior grade, just like the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation. Although its defensive power was not as formidable as the family¡¯s, it was still a rare treasure. With the three of them holding the fort, resisting the Second Order Late-Stage attack for a while would not be a problem. They just needed to wait until the family could spare some forces, at which point they could coordinate from inside and outside and annihilate this horde of demonic beasts. However, the strength of this group of demonic beasts was indeed extraordinary. If Lin Shikang were here, there would be no need for worry. The reality of the situation was that everything depended on themselves. If they could defeat the beasts head-on, they could spare more forces to support the family. Defending passively was not his style. A proactive strike might achieve surprising effects. With these thoughts, he considered the strategy for defeating the enemy. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had the speed advantage of the Purple Gold Eagle. As long as he wasn¡¯t surrounded by the demonic beast tribe, he could use hit-and-run tactics to exhaust the strength of this group of demonic beasts as much as possible. This way, the pressure on Golden Horn Mountain would be reduced, and if they really couldn¡¯t hold out, they could still persist for a while longer. Having made up his mind, he immediately discussed this plan with Lin Xingrong. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s plan, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression changed and he immediately began to persuade him otherwise. ¡°` ¡°Tianming, this is too risky,¡± someone pleaded, ¡°let us stay within the great formation. At least it¡¯s safer here, and even if we can¡¯t hold out, we could still lead a part of the clan to escape from this place!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Xingrong also began to urge. ¡°Yes¡­it¡¯s too risky for you to go alone. If there were any mishaps, it would be fatal for the family!¡± Hearing the solemn words of the two, Lin Tianming said with focused determination, ¡°Sitting idly by is not a solution, either. We must take the initiative and relieve as much pressure as possible on the family and Luoyun Market.¡± ¡°Moreover, we don¡¯t know how vast this beast tide will be, nor how long it will last. We must seize the early advantage to overcome this crisis!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s earnest words left the two hesitating. They also knew the situation was unpredictable, and the family was under great pressure; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have made such extensive preparations. Seeing the two fall silent, Lin Tianming continued to persuade, ¡°Time is pressing. You can rest assured that without flying demonic birds in this demonic beast horde, with the speed advantage of the Purple Gold Eagle, I won¡¯t take unnecessary risks!¡± ¡°As long as we¡¯re careful and pick off some demonic beasts, then switch locations, we can delay time with hit-and-run tactics. As this drags on, our chances of success will grow!¡± Hearing this dense plan, Lin Xingrong and company hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement, unanimously approving Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, giving them a reassuring smile. Lin Xingrong sighed deeply, repeatedly admonishing with utmost concern, and watched as Lin Tianming left Golden Horn Mountain and disappeared into the forests before him. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. On the clan square, Lin Shihua¡¯s face was stern as he watched the enormous demonic beast horde outside the Protective Clan Formation, his brows tightly furrowed. At this moment, the entire Protective Clan Formation was in full operation, and a large number of clan members had assembled at the square at the mountain gate, each of them above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. Outside the great formation, three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts led a multitude of demonic beasts, charging towards the Protective Clan Formation again and again. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A tremor shook the ground and the mountains, and the Protective Clan Formation began to quiver slightly, ripples appearing on the dazzling golden light screen. Lin Shihua watched the fluctuations coming from the Protective Clan Formation, feeling somewhat weighed down. The strength of this demonic beast horde was formidable; in addition to the three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, there were several at the Medium Stage, and more than a dozen at the Initial Stage. As for the lower ranked First Order Demon Beasts, there were well over a thousand of them; their strength was truly formidable. Among the clan members at the mountain gate, other than Lin Shikang who was guarding Ye Pinghai, all Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered here. At this time, the faces of the clan members were solemn. When the demonic beasts came within a hundred miles of the clan territory, patrolling clan members discovered them and reported back to the family at the first opportunity. Lin Shihua immediately gathered all clan members above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, ready for a great battle. Luckily, the family was well-prepared, and after several drills, the response to emergencies was very well coordinated. Now that the crisis had arrived, the entire family operated like a vast war machine, running smoothly and orderly. Lin Shihua nodded with satisfaction. Although the demonic beast horde was strong, the overall strength of the Lin Family was not weak either. Lin Shikang¡¯s cultivation was at the Great Perfection Stage of Foundation Establishment, and with the Ancestor¡¯s left behind Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, the Qingfeng Sword, even facing three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, he would not be at too much of a disadvantage. Although among the rest of the clan members, no one could handle those dozen plus Initial and Medium Stage Demon Beasts by themselves, Ye Pinghai was in the midst of his retreat; once he broke through, all the demonic beasts in the Luoyun Mountain Range would be unable to escape their fate of annihilation. The family here should be fine, but Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain might be under great pressure. After all, the family had too many places to defend, and the clan members were spread too thin. Moreover, there weren¡¯t many at the Medium or Late Stages of Foundation Establishment. If faced with a large horde of demonic beasts, it would likely be challenging to withstand. At this moment, Lin Shihua was deeply concerned, secretly sweating for Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 395: 235 Deployment and Strike_1 Chapter 395: Chapter 235 Deployment and Strike_1 As he was lost in thought, a breeze swept by, and Lin Shikang and the Soul-eating Spider appeared before everyone. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression lit up with surprise, and he hurried forward to give a respectful bow. ¡°Third brother, you¡¯re finally out. How is Daoist Ye doing?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Shikang chuckled and said, ¡°He has been in closed-door cultivation for half a year by now. Theoretically, there should be some activity, and currently, it has caused the convergence of Spiritual Energy but there are no signs of a breakthrough!¡± ¡°It looks like it will take at least another half-year to see any prospects. For now, we still have to rely on ourselves!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded helplessly. If Ye Pinghai were to come out of seclusion, these Demonic Beasts could be eradicated in an instant. Given the current situation, it seems to be a war of attrition. ... Seeing Lin Shihua¡¯s changing expression, Lin Shikang spoke to comfort him, ¡°Have our clanspeople prepare for the battle. Daoist Ye doesn¡¯t need my protection for now. I¡¯ll go scout out the situation later before making a plan!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange it now!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shihua replied and then his booming voice spread throughout the plaza, assigning tasks to some important Lin Family Members. Hearing the orders, each clansperson¡¯s expression was solemn as they quickly took out various weapons and talisman paper from their storage bags, ready for battle. Behind the crowd, the large limbs of the Soul-eating Spider moved menacingly. Lin Shikang stepped forward, and after looking over everyone, he said, ¡°Fellow clansmen, you all see the situation before us!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to elaborate on the threat of the Demonic Beast Tide. All of you are well aware that the situation does not allow us to shrink back; we must repel them or even exterminate them.¡± ¡°I will also join the battle personally. Leave the three Second Order Late Stage Beasts to me and the Soul-eating Spider. Do not hold back, aim to break them in one fell swoop!¡± ¡°For the sake of our family, give it your all!¡± Before his words had even finished echoing, the faces of all the Lin Family Members flushed with determination, and the tension immediately disappeared, some even bubbled with high spirits and full confidence. ¡°For the sake of our family, give it your all!¡± ¡°For the sake of our family, give it your all!¡± ¡­ Seeing the clanspeople shouting loudly, Lin Shikang surveyed all the Lin Family Members, a satisfied look on his steadfast face. The Lin Family had experienced many battles over the years, from the great battle at Green Bamboo Mountain to the trials organized by the family, and they had fought extensively with a multitude of Demonic Beasts. Facing the Demonic Beasts again, they were no longer as fearful. Watching the fearless clanspeople, Lin Shikang let out a long howl to the sky. Next to him, Lin Shihua slapped his storage bag, and a green-yellow Token immediately appeared in his hand. He cast a Law Decree, and a light golden barrier opened up a crack, through which the fierce wind raised by the charging Demonic Beasts howled through. Seeing this, Lin Shikang was the first to charge, his Qingfeng Sword flashing with terrifying beams of Sword Qi, transforming into a blur as he shot forward, Following Lin Shikang out of the Protective Clan Formation, all the clanspeople kept up the pace, swarming out like locusts, and they appeared outside the formation in just a few breaths¡¯ time. As soon as the clan members appeared within the sight of the Demon Beasts, all the beasts ceased their attack on the formation, turned around, and charged towards the clanspeople. Looking ahead, this was a Biyun Beast Tribe, numbering over a thousand, with more than a dozen Second Order Beasts among them, posing a fearsome collective strength. The Biyun Beast, a common Second Order Demon Beast resembling a crocodile, has adult beasts that are all of the Second Order Late Phase, widely spread throughout the Cultivation World. With their vast numbers, even the smallest of the Biyun Beast Tribes would not have fewer than several hundred members. This tribe was only of moderate size. However, the ratio of Second Order Beasts within the Demon Beast Tribe is quite high, making its power among the mid-sized tribes extremely formidable. At this moment, three Second Order Late Phase Beasts bared their teeth and swung their blade-like tails viciously at Lin Shikang. With a cold snort from Lin Shikang, his Sword Qi burst forth, striking directly at the tail of a Second Order Late Stage Beast. A series of crackling noises followed, accompanied by flames, as a bright light streaked across the sky, a dazzling sight to behold. After the strike, two Second Order Late Stage Beasts were pushed back, and Lin Shikang, too, took a step back, distancing himself from the beasts. Meanwhile, the other Second Order Late Stage Beast and the Soul-eating Spider were locked in a fierce battle, clashing back and forth, enjoying themselves thoroughly. Below the Soul-eating Spider, a large number of Lin Family Members were already face to face with a crowd of Demon Beasts. Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong vied to take the lead, followed closely by Lin Xingshun and Lin Xingyao, who were equally unwilling to be outdone. The ¡®Tian¡¯ generation members were also quick to act, with Lin Tianhu leading the way, followed by Lin Tianyue and others, striking decisively and ruthlessly. The Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople, relying on a wealth of talisman papers, unleashed a sky full of Sword Qi that covered most of the Demon Beast Tribe. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The battle outside the Protective Clan Formation was chaotic, with each clansperson fiercely engaged with the Demon Beasts, entering a phase of intense confrontation from the start. With the coordination of the family¡¯s cultivators, the Demon Beasts and the clanspeople fought evenly, neither side gaining much of an advantage. In such a situation, the outcome of the battle was still unpredictable. However, as the exhaustion of the clanspeople increased, the Demonic Beasts were bound to gain the upper hand. Lin Shikang was very aware of this. Leveraging the Qingfeng Sword, he engaged the two Second Order Late Stage Beasts in fierce combat, with both sides unleashing deadly moves without holding back. For a time, above all the clanspeople, world-shaking fluctuations erupted. Lin Shikang, a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, had reached the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment Stage, and his unleashed attacks were terrifying. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 396: 235: Deployment and Strike_2 Chapter 396: Chapter 235: Deployment and Strike_2 And the strength of two Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts should also not be underestimated; among the Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts, they were certainly among the best. Between Lin Shikang and the two Second Order Demonic Beasts, both sides went back and forth, employing various tactics. The fluctuations from their fight were earth-shattering. Neither the Lin Family Members nor other Demonic Beasts dared to come close. After a quarter of an hour of bitter fighting, as the Spiritual Power and talisman papers of Lin Family Members were partly depleted, their overall defense line started to show signs of strain. Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople began to suffer casualties; even more critical were the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, aside from Lin Shikang and the Soul-eating Spider who were not at a disadvantage, the rest, including Lin Shihua and others, began to steadily retreat. Lin Shihua, with his peak Third Level of Foundation Establishment cultivation, already had some difficulty dealing with a single Second Order Middle Stage Biyun Beast. Facing the assault of three Second Order Demonic Beasts, his situation became perilous. Not just him, Lin Shigong¡¯s cultivation was even slightly lower than his. Facing the attack of two Second Order Middle Stage Biyun Beasts, he could only defend passively and in just a few dozen exchanges, he had already sustained heavy injuries! ... The situation of other Foundation Establishment Cultivators was not any better, each person had to face the assault of two to three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts, all teetering on the edge of defeat. High in the sky, Lin Shikang repelled the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts with a single blow. Taking advantage of this brief respite, he turned his attention to his clansmen below, his brows furrowed with worry. He had underestimated the strength of this group of Demonic Beasts. As time went on, their disadvantage would only increase, leading to an inevitable collapse. The current situation dictated that they either retreat back to their clan¡¯s territory to wait for another opportunity or lay all their cards on the table and attempt a heavy blow to the Biyun Beast group, making them realize the difficulty and possibly retreat. With these thoughts in mind, he leaped towards the Soul-eating Spider. Seeing him break away from the battle, the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts mistook it for an attempt to flee and immediately gave chase. Soon, Lin Shikang converged with the Soul-eating Spider, and the three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts also converged, giving him no chance to catch his breath as they aggressively pursued him in a menacing attack. Lin Shikang slapped his storage bag, and his hand appeared filled with Second Order talisman papers, dozens of them. These Second Order Talismans were the war resources accumulated secretly by the family over the years, and each member had received some, varying from three to over a dozen. As for him, being the Stabilizing Sea Needle of the family, it was only after decades of accumulation that he could afford to expend so many talisman papers. Among these dozens of Second Order Talismans, even though most were of lower Second Order, the number was substantial, and the combined attack power was formidable! Without the slightest hesitation, he activated them all at once, not sparing a thought for his sinking heart, as the Biyun Beasts launched their assault. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sky immediately filled with a torrent of Sword Qi, mingled with countless fireballs and ice arrows, raining down mercilessly on the Biyun Beasts that advanced head-on. Due to the density of these attacks, even though the Biyun Beasts were fast and had powerful defensive abilities, they still couldn¡¯t evade a portion of the attacks. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of violent explosions rang out. Only when the blaze dissipated did the figures of the three Biyun Beasts become visible. Each of the Biyun Beasts was wounded, their bodies covered with dense scars, and one even had a piece of its tail severed off. A furious roar escaped them; they were completely enraged by Lin Shikang and continued their attack with bared fangs and claws. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang¡¯s expression darkened. Such tactics still hadn¡¯t severely injured them; it seemed that the battle to come would only grow more brutal. Hesitation could lead to being devoured by the Demonic Beasts, falling completely here. However, given the circumstances, there was no time for second thoughts. The situation of his people was deteriorating, and withdrawing from the fight was not as easy as imagined. He forced himself to remain calm and then pinched a Law Decree; a large amount of Spiritual Power surged into the Qingfeng Sword. In an instant, the Qingfeng Sword radiated Spiritual Light. A strong fluctuation of Sword Qi whipped up the surrounding sand and trees in a frenzy under the clear sky. ¡°Qingfeng Sword, kill!¡± With a furious shout, he swung the Qingfeng Sword in his hand, unleashing powerful sword qi that cleaved towards the three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts. At this very instant, the Soul-eating Spider opened its mouth and spat out a vast quantity of spider silk, transforming into a series of huge webs that hurtled towards the Biyun Beasts at an extreme speed. ¡°Pffft pffft pffft¡­¡± The spider webs were too fast; two of the Biyun Beasts failed to dodge in time and were ensnared by several webs, trapping most of their bodies. Quickly, the Biyun Beasts struggled violently, attempting to break free from the indestructible webs and regain their normal speed of movement. Regrettably, the Soul-eating Spider was also at the Second Order Late Phase; its webs were highly effective for trapping enemies. It was impossible for them to break through this binding force in a short amount of time. Seeing the Biyun Beasts¡¯ speed drastically reduced, nowhere near sixty percent of their peak speed, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Shikang¡¯s face. With two of the Biyun Beasts restricted by the spider webs, he alone dealing with these three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts should be relatively safe as long as he remained cautious. And the freed Soul-eating Spider could help Lin Shihua and the others. With the addition of the Second Order Late-Stage Soul-eating Spider, none of the remaining Biyun Beasts was a match. If things went smoothly, at the very least, it could significantly reduce the pressure on the clanspeople, potentially turning the tide in their favor. With a bit of luck, they might even seize this opportunity to repel the powerful enemy. With this in mind, he cast a Law Decree, and the Soul-eating Spider disengaged from the fight, hastening towards Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong. Soon, the Soul-eating Spider joined the fray. The several Second Order Medium Stage Biyun Beasts that were assailing Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong converged and clashed with the oncoming Soul-eating Spider. The pale complexions of Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong regained some color. After exchanging glances, they tacitly moved towards the other clan members to assist Lin Xingshun and the rest against the Second Order Initial Stage Biyun Beasts. With their cultivation at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, they drew a great number of Demonic Beasts to assault them. Fortunately, neither was short of wealth; possessing numerous quality Magic Artifacts, and their strengths weren¡¯t too shabby, facing several Second Order Initial Stage Biyun Beasts wasn¡¯t too much pressure. A little over half a quarter of an hour passed, and the great battle continued. By now, outside the mountain gate, the corpses of Demonic Beasts were strewn haphazardly across the ground, some still twitching and struggling, a sight most pitiful. After a harrowing bout, the numbers of the Biyun Beast horde had sharply declined to fewer than two hundred, reducing their overall numbers by more than eighty percent. On the side of the Lin Family Members, the losses were substantial as well; more than forty Qi Refining Clanspeople had perished in battle, with the majority of the survivors injured. Lin Shihua and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were all pale-faced. They were nearly drained of all their Spiritual Power, and every talisman they carried had long been expended. High above, Lin Shikang¡¯s face was pale as he looked at the three heavily wounded Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts. Without hesitation, he brought his hands together and chanted under his breath. Instantly, a silver-white sword qi coalesced out of thin air above his head, hovering vertically above him. As the silver-white sword qi grew more substantial, the entire sky erupted with a fierce wind, whipping up dust and debris. After an indeterminate amount of time, he released a Law Decree from his hands and bellowed, ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, kill!¡± In that moment, the silver-white sword qi shot skyward, transforming into an invisible meteor, furiously descending upon the three Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts. Seeing this terrifying sword qi approach, moving at an extreme speed, the three Biyun Beasts immediately felt a threat of death. They had already been fighting Lin Shikang for dozens of rounds before this. Although they had sustained some injuries, none were fatal, and their strength wasn¡¯t greatly affected. But now, faced with this powerful silver-white sword qi that seemed capable of cleaving heaven and earth, they were stricken with fear and couldn¡¯t muster the will to resist. Under this lethal threat, the three Biyun Beasts fled in a frenzy, not wanting to linger a moment longer. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 397: 236 Facing the Battle_1 Chapter 397: Chapter 236 Facing the Battle_1 ¡°` Unfortunately, except for the one that wasn¡¯t bound by the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s web, the speed of the other two Biyun Beasts was significantly reduced, unable to escape the area within a short time. At that moment, silver-white Sword Qi, moving at an extremely fast velocity, struck directly at the head of a Biyun Beast. In the blink of an eye, a scream of agony resounded! The entire battlefield fell silent in a very brief moment, with some Qi Refining Stage clanspeople having their eyes wide open, watching the terrifying Sword Qi slash with uncontrollable excitement. While some Lin Family members had witnessed the Spirit Arts of their family, the majority were completely uninformed about them. ... At this time, everyone was speculating whether that terrifying attack was a Divine Skill attached to a Cultivation Technique or some secret technique, not daring to even entertain the possibility of it being a Spirit Art. As everyone looked on in amazement, Lin Shikang, possessing a Foundation Establishment Great Completion cultivation, unleashed a power that shook the heavens and the earth, cultivated for many years, which was now comparable to the Golden Core Talisman left over from the great battle at Luoyun Mountain. Time passed, and the two Biyun Beasts that had escaped death had already left the battlefield and were now angrily staring at Lin Shikang from atop a hill. The Biyun Beast struck by the silver-white Sword Qi had fallen, not rising again, with a gaping bloody hole on its massive head, its body still twitching. After struggling for a few moments, it moved no more. At this point, Lin Shikang was suspended in mid-air, his complexion slightly pale. After this difficult battle, having fought one against three, lightly injuring two, and slaying one Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beast, it was quite satisfying to have achieved such a result. However, his current situation was not very good, as only less than half of his Spiritual Power remained, and his consumable treasures were all used up. Having exhausted all his moves, the outlook for what was to come was still unpredictable. In this brief respite, the Lin Family Members regrouped, led by the Soul-eating Spider. Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong along with other members responded, attacking all the Second Order Biyun Beasts. Seeing this development, the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts roared and spat out a massive number of Spirit Groups, surging towards Lin Shikang. Subsequently, the remaining Biyun Beasts joined the fray, unleashing a variety of attacks. On the clan¡¯s side, Lin Shikang leaped skillfully, dodging most of the Spirit Group attacks; those he couldn¡¯t avoid were blocked by the Defense Artifact in his hand. On the other side, the Soul-eating Spider let out a series of shrieks, while simultaneously extending its blade-like legs, moving with extreme speed. With such terrifying speed and strength, the Soul-eating Spider occasionally reaped the lives of several lower-level Biyun Beasts. As the battle erupted once more, both sides commenced another round of fierce combat. However, since there were no Biyun Beasts capable of containing the Soul-eating Spider, their offensive faltered, and they soon found themselves at a disadvantage. The entire Lin Family exhibited a tremendous momentum at this time, almost ready to completely wipe out the entire Biyun Beast group. Above them, Lin Shikang and the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts were deeply engaged in a fierce battle. Without any powerful moves left to inflict major damage, Lin Shikang did not gain much of an advantage. While the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts were injured, and wary of Lin Shikang¡¯s terrifying silver-white Sword Qi, they fought cautiously, always on the defense, which affected their performance. Even so, with the formidable endurance of demonic beasts and their thick hides, they weren¡¯t afraid of common attacks. Few things could threaten their lives, and if the battle dragged on until Lin Shikang¡¯s Spiritual Power was exhausted, the situation with the entire Biyun Beast group would immediately reverse, potentially increasing the Lin Family¡¯s losses. Aware of this, Lin Shikang was also struggling to hold on. Given his current state, killing two more Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts seemed too difficult; he could only try to delay as much as possible. The Lin Family side had the unstoppable Soul-eating Spider, so the pressure was only on the Biyun Beast group. As long as the Soul-eating Spider could severely damage the whole Biyun Beast group before his Spiritual Power was depleted, the clanspeople would surely come to assist and secure the final victory. With these thoughts, his attacks had gradually changed, prioritizing survival over power. Down below, the clanspeople also understood the urgency of the situation and knew that they had to fight quickly and decisively. Even if they could not kill all of them, they had to inflict heavy losses on the Biyun Beast group or even drive them back. Consequently, the attacks from the Soul-eating Spider and people like Lin Shihua became exceedingly decisive and ruthless, suppressing the remaining Biyun Beasts. After half an hour, the fierce battle continued. By this time, the area outside the Protective Clan Formation was a mess, littered with the corpses of Demonic Beasts and Lin Family Members. At the crests of two hills, both sides gathered, cautiously watching each other, and neither dared to make any rash moves. After a round of extremely brutal combat, the entire Biyun Beast group had dwindled to less than a hundred, with over ninety percent perishing there. Besides the two Second Order Late Phase Biyun Beasts, there were only six Second Order Biyun Beasts left, which included two Second Order Middle Stage and four Second Order Initial Stage. Apart from the eight Second Order Biyun Beasts that escaped, the rest were First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, each one heavily scarred and greatly weakened. As for the Lin Family Members, their situation was far from optimistic. After the fierce battle, Lin Shikang was almost completely drained of strength, significantly weakened. The Soul-eating Spider was also not without serious injury; three of its blade-like legs were broken, and its body riddled with large wounds, with its aura significantly weakened. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 398: 236 Facing the Battle_2 Chapter 398: Chapter 236 Facing the Battle_2 Fortunately, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were alive, but Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianqin were gravely injured and had almost lost their combat ability. Besides that, other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were all wounded, with their strength reduced to less than half; over sixty Qi Refining Clanspersons, all above the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement, had perished. In the more than twenty years since the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, the Lin Family had never suffered such heavy losses. To see such a large number of clanspeople fall, all of them being their main force, truly was a first. Lin Shikang stood on the mountaintop, his Qingfeng Sword in hand with Sword Qi swirling around it. His eyes bloodshot with anger, he glared at the Biyun Beast Clan ahead. Behind him, each clansperson gritted their teeth, putting aside their sorrow, already engulfed in hatred. In the ranks of the Biyun Beast Clan, there was no longer the unstoppable momentum they had had initially. In their eyes seemed to be a mixture of fear and reluctance. ... On the eerily silent battlefield, neither side dared to initiate hostilities. Lin Shikang turned to look at Lin Shihua and others, silently pondering the next move. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the current situation, if the battle continued, the Lin Family might be able to achieve victory, but the loss of clanspeople would only increase further. If they gave up on annihilating the struggling Biyun Beast Clan, the clanspeople could retreat to the Protective Clan Formation. With the protection of the Protective Clan Formation, this severely damaged Demon Beast Tribe had no chance of breaking through the formation. However, even so, the demonic beast attacks would not cease. If they were unlucky enough to encounter an even larger Demon Beast Tribe joining in, it was very possible. If the next wave of demonic beast attacks came quickly and the two large tribes joined forces, the clan territory would once again be plunged into crisis. Considering these factors, Lin Shikang hesitated slightly, uncertain of what to do. Among the Biyun Beast Clan, two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts growled at each other, seemingly communicating. After a few breaths, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts took the lead, shooting towards the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range. Following them, the rest of the Biyun Beast Clan kept pace, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from sight. Seeing this, the clanspeople were dumbfounded, not expecting the Biyun Beast Clan to retreat on their own, which took them by surprise. At this moment, Lin Shikang breathed a sigh of relief. The voluntary retreat of the Biyun Beast Clan avoided an even more brutal battle. This couldn¡¯t have been better, otherwise, he would have had a hard time making a decision. As for pursuing these Biyun Beast Clan members, he had no interest whatsoever. Currently, all the clanspeople were exhausted, and with the injured injured and the dead dead, the strength they could muster was very limited. Even if they managed to kill those First Order Demon Beasts, the two Second Order Late-Stage Biyun Beasts remained powerful. His own condition was greatly diminished, and even with the combined efforts of the Soul-eating Spider and the clanspeople, they still couldn¡¯t ensure the beasts were left behind. Further, it¡¯s unwise to chase a desperate enemy, as it might provoke the Biyun Beast Clan into a deadly counterattack in their desperation, which would only lead to even greater losses for the family. Therefore, pursuing them was extremely unwise. Gathering his thoughts, he turned and instructed Lin Shihua, ¡°Immediately collect the remains of the clanspeople and bury them in the family cemetery; make sure the compensations are delivered promptly.¡± ¡°And these Demon Beast corpses, we must also deal with them quickly. Everyone should recover from their injuries as soon as possible to be prepared for the next crisis!¡± Hearing the orders, Lin Shihua nodded and immediately turned to direct some clanspeople to clean the battlefield. The clanspeople behind him busied themselves, with some collecting the bones of the fallen clanspeople, others gathering all the useful Demonic Beast Materials, and finally burning the useless parts of the demon beast corpses. After looking over the busy crowd, Lin Shikang stepped into the Protective Clan Formation and disappeared from the sight of the clanspeople. ¡­ Golden Horn Mountain. A river valley, located over a hundred miles away from the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, formed by the confluence of three rivers. Due to the abundance of water resources, after the water vapor evaporated, it condensed into a thick fog that enveloped an area spanning dozens of miles. In the midst of the dense fog, a Purple Gold Eagle was circling, with Lin Tianming standing on its back, using his Eye of Five Colors to size up what lay beneath the fog. Directly below, a group from the Golden Fang Beast Clan was gathering together. The Golden Fang Beasts were Metal Attribute social demonic beasts that enjoyed consuming minerals rich in Metal Attribute and would store the ingested minerals. When engaged in combat, they could spit them out with formidable power. Their bodies were not large, adult Golden Fang Beasts were only about a zhang in size, but they had sharp teeth and beaks capable of crushing even Second Order magical artifacts without much effort, making their offensive power extremely strong. Adult demon beasts could reach the Second Order Late Phase, and the size of the tribe varied, usually numbering around 300. Slightly larger groups could reach over 500. This cluster of Golden Fang Beasts was a particularly vast group, nearly 500 in scale, which was extremely rare in the Cultivation World. This demon beast tribe was the one he had previously discovered. After leaving the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, Tian Ming took advantage of the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flying capability and followed behind this group of Golden Fang Beasts. He was very aware of his own strength; handling a tribe led by a Second Order Medium Stage demon beast would not pose much danger. However, this group of Golden Fang Beasts included a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast along with other Second Order demonic beasts. If he wasn¡¯t careful and got surrounded, he might end up dying here. Thus, he was not in a hurry to act but instead followed behind, waiting for the opportunity. Thanks to the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flying speed, along with the thick fog, the demonic beasts had yet to discover him. After tracking the Golden Fang Beast Clan for a long time, he arrived at the core area of this river valley. Under the influence of this thick fog, the perception of the Golden Fang Beasts was weakened. Although his Divine Sense was also reduced, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, the fog did not greatly affect his strength. If it came to a fight, his strength would not diminish, and with the Golden Fang Beasts¡¯ reduced perception, their strength would certainly not be as formidable as in other areas. Consequently, this river valley became an opportunity. If used correctly, he might be able to complete his plan ahead of schedule. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became excited. He silently took out the Tiangang Sword and several Second Order talisman papers, readying himself to attack at any moment. As time slowly passed, the Purple Gold Eagle stealthily descended further, bringing them closer to the beasts. With the Purple Gold Eagle having descended to less than a thousand zhang, the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast seemed to notice something and looked up at the dense fog with a puzzled expression. Seeing that the Golden Fang Beast might have noticed him, Lin Tianming frowned and immediately decided to attack first. He made up his mind, pinched a Law Decree, and the Second Order talisman papers in his hand flashed brightly, followed by a downpour of sword qi from the sky. At the same time, he patted his storage bag, and fifty-six Earth Evil Artifacts shot out, swiftly disappearing into the surroundings under the cover of the fog, quickly concealing themselves. After completing these preparations, he recited an arcane incantation without holding anything back, and the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand. It immediately unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, slicing towards the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back at all when he made his move. He was so resolute in his attack to see if he could try to kill the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast, or at the very least, severely injure it. If he succeeded, without a Second Order Late-Stage demon beast to lead them, dealing with the remaining First and Second Order Initial and Medium Stage Golden Fang Beasts would be much easier with his strength. As the Tiangang Sword created intense fluctuations, the ambushed Golden Fang Beast reacted. It let out a sky-piercing roar, alerting the nearby demon beast tribe to quickly disperse to avoid being affected by the attacks coming from above. Hearing the roar from the Golden Fang Beast leader, the nearby beasts turned and scrambled in different directions to escape. The Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast then leaped forward and spat out a golden stone, seemingly a Second Order Superior Metal Attribute Spirit Ore. The stone moved swiftly, colliding with Lin Tianming¡¯s sword qi in a brief instant. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 399: 237: The Tactics of Harassment (1) Chapter 399: Chapter 237: The Tactics of Harassment (1) ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± An explosion echoed, spreading out an air wave that engulfed some of the Goldfang Beasts that failed to dodge in time. Screams followed, as numerous First Order Late Stage Goldfang Beasts were directly shaken to death by the blast, and more than a dozen spat out fresh blood with their vitality rapidly waning. However, the Tiangang Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianming was powerful, piercing through the protruding rocks of the Goldfang Beasts, and still heading towards its target. But, delayed for just a moment and its trajectory slightly altered, the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast easily dodged the attack. After this lethal attack was avoided, the Second Order talisman paper detonated, unleashing a sky of Sword Qi and fireballs, enveloping a vast area. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The explosions were incessant, and under this massive attack, the physique of the Second Order Goldfang Beasts wasn¡¯t greatly harmed, whereas the First Order beasts couldn¡¯t withstand it at all. A large number of First Order Goldfang Beasts were directly pierced by the Sword Qi and fireballs, dying unwillingly. As the explosions ceased and the fire and smoke cleared, Lin Tianming and a group of Goldfang Beasts were revealed. After Lin Tianming¡¯s sneak attack, the Second Order Goldfang Beasts hadn¡¯t sustained much damage, but nearly a hundred First Order beasts had died, which was almost two-tenths of the entire Goldfang Beast clan¡¯s number. Among the dead were mostly beasts at the early and mid-stages of the First Order; their strength was too low. While the attack from the Second Order talisman paper could hardly deal with Second Order Demonic Beasts, it was still lethal for the First Order beasts. Among these dead Goldfang Beasts, only about a dozen were at the late stages of the First Order, and though the quantity was considerable, it did not greatly impact the strength of the entire Goldfang Beast Clan. After all, whether it was Demonic Beasts or cultivators, High Order combat power was the decisive factor in overall strength. At this moment, the Goldfang Beasts were converging, with the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast snarling and staring at Lin Tianming angrily. Lin Tianming, however, was somewhat surprised. Before he launched his attack, the distance between them wasn¡¯t far, and with each breakthrough in his cultivation, his Tiangang Sword Qi could layer on an additional level. Now, at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, with the five layers added together, the power and speed of the Tiangang Sword Qi had undergone a qualitative leap, many times stronger than when he previously cast the Tiangang Sword Qi Third Sword. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even so, his ingenious attack hadn¡¯t achieved significant results, which disappointed him. But there was no time to think too much about it, as the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast launched an attack first. Suddenly, hundreds of Goldfang Beasts opened their mouths and spat out a mass of golden stones in a dense assault, bombarding Lin Tianming. At the same time, a few Second Order beasts leaped a thousand feet into the air, opening their gaping maws to bite at the Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows furrowed and his expression became serious. His original intention was to harass this group; if he could drive them into another area, or inflict serious damage, he would consider his objective accomplished. But now, having completely enraged them and facing the concerted attack of these Goldfang Beasts, he hesitated. Had he decided to leave immediately, relying on the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, he should be able to retreat safely. Yet, this Goldfang Beast clan was located close to Golden Horn Mountain. If he didn¡¯t try to stop them, they might discover and attack the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory before long, and at that time, Golden Horn Mountain would also be in trouble. With these thoughts, he still decided to attempt an intervention. If it proved impossible, he would have to retreat to Golden Horn Mountain and rely on the Protective Clan Formation to hold out for reinforcement. Having made up his mind, he slapped his storage bag and brought out three Second Order Low Grade Defense Talismans, which transformed into several barriers, briefly stopping the stones. Shortly afterward, the Purple Gold Eagle flapped its huge wings and retreated like a flash of lightning. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± As deafening sound erupted, the three barriers quickly shattered, but the attacks of the First Order Goldfang beasts were all blocked, leaving only a few stones spat by Second Order Goldfang Beasts to pierce through the barriers and continue hurtling towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming remained calm and collected, drawing out the Green Scale Shield and pouring a large amount of Spiritual Power into it, turning it into a sturdy and immense shield that covered the Purple Gold Eagle. Meanwhile, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, flying towards higher altitudes. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The golden stones struck the shield formed by the Green Scale Shield, and fortunately, their weakened attacks were limited, so all were blocked by the Green Scale Shield. Using the repelling force, the Purple Gold Eagle created some distance and incidentally avoided those gaping maws. Frustrated by their failed attempt, the Goldfang Beasts became even more frenzied. Enraged and humiliated, the Goldfang Beast Clan, though large in numbers and nearly having ten Second Order beasts, only those Second Order beasts posed any threat to Lin Tianming, while the First Order beasts could do nothing but endure the attacks and were completely powerless to retaliate. As the Purple Gold Eagle entered the clouds, Lin Tianming, on its back, was overjoyed. These beasts, unable to fly and with limited attack range, found it extremely hard to fight against him, their strength barely usable. The moment he dodged their attacks and hid in the dense fog, he lay in wait for an opportunity to further assault the Goldfang Beast clan. The Goldfang Beast clan at this point was angry yet helpless. Despite their vast numbers and nearly ten Second Order Demonic Beasts, only the Second Order beasts posed any threat to Lin Tianming, while the First Order beasts could only take hits passively, entirely lacking the power to fight back. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 400: 237: The Tactics of Harassing_2 Chapter 400: Chapter 237: The Tactics of Harassing_2 As time passed, Lin Tianming struck time and time again with sneak attacks, executing each move just right. After achieving some results, he never lingered in battle or acted recklessly in his pursuit of success. In this way, the entire Golden Fang Beast Clan was constantly on the receiving end of the onslaught, one by one the Golden Fang Beasts fell to his burst attacks. After half an hour, of the original hundreds of Golden Fang Beasts, only slightly more than two hundred remained¡ªtheir total numbers were reduced by a staggering sixty percent, and those that survived were all beyond the First Order Middle-Late Stage. Atop a hill at the bottom of the valley, the leader of the Golden Fang Beasts, a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, lifted its head to the sky and let out a long howl at Lin Tianming, its eyes filled with wariness. Within the clouds, the Purple Gold Eagle zoomed past, flapping its enormous wings, spitting out a mass of fireballs, violently bombarding the Demon Beast Tribe below. Lin Tianming was now on its back, frequently swinging the Tiangang Sword in hand, unleashing blades of Sword Qi that mercilessly swept over everything. ... Seeing the fierce attack approaching, the Demon Beast Tribe below was thrown into commotion. Some Second Order Golden Fang Beasts bared their teeth and grimaced as they dodged the attacks, while opening their mouths to spit out a large number of fireballs at the Purple Gold Eagle in the sky. Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh. After several rounds of harassment, he had come to understand the weak points of this group of demonic beasts. Although their attacks were very powerful, typical Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts or Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators would find themselves in great danger against them. But for those spiritual birds flying at high altitudes, coupled with the dense fog, the attacking power of the Golden Fang Beasts was indeed limited. As long as he didn¡¯t become overzealous and get surrounded, there generally wouldn¡¯t be much danger. With this in mind, Lin Tianming found it easier to deal with them, making his moves with proper measure and control. Watching various attacks soar towards the heavens, Lin Tianming once again unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, killing several First Order Demon Beasts and severely wounding a Second Order Initial Stage Golden Fang Beast before retreating with ease. Seeing Lin Tianming skillfully evade the attacks, the leader of the Golden Fang Beasts felt an exceptional rage. Its eyes turned blood red as it leapt a thousand feet into the air, lunging towards Lin Tianming¡¯s direction to attack. By now, Lin Tianming had already spotted the movement of this Golden Fang Beast. He signaled the Purple Gold Eagle to slow down slightly, intending to let it come closer. The reason for this maneuver was that he had already silently laid out the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, but due to the vast size of the Demon Beast Tribe, he couldn¡¯t suppress too many of them. Choosing this Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast was the target he had carefully considered. If he could trap it within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation for a while, he might be able to take its life directly. Once this most threatening Golden Fang Beast was grievously injured or dead, relying on the few remaining Second Order Demonic Beasts would hardly inflict fatal damage to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, thereby resolving the threat posed by the Golden Fang Beast Clan. This move was extremely risky, but after much deliberation, Lin Tianming decided to give it a try. He had been preparing for a long time, with the specific aim to lure this Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast into the center of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and strike it severely, catching it off guard. As the target drew nearer, Lin Tianming maintained his composure. He certainly did not want to spook the target and miss this rare opportunity. In the blink of an eye, the Golden Fang Beast Leader was getting closer to him; its terrifying maw was almost at the tail of the Purple Gold Eagle, ready at any moment to bite off a chunk of flesh. The Purple Gold Eagle suddenly accelerated, shaking off the Golden Fang Beast Leader and vanishing into the dense fog once again. Still, propelled by inertia, the Golden Fang Beast Leader continued to move forward. As it landed firmly on the ground, it found itself almost at the center of the Sword Array. Seeing the Golden Fang Beast Leader fall for the trap, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and hastily started to operate the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Humming noises¡­¡± A series of sounds emanated, and a pale golden light shield appeared in the sky, engulfing the whole area within hundreds of feet. At the same time, the Sword Qi within the formation began to move, attacking the Golden Fang Beast Leader. At this moment, the Golden Fang Beast Leader felt an invisible constriction and instantly panicked, starting to thrash about wildly. Lin Tianming snorted coldly, and with a single-handed seal, the Thousand Beast Banner flew from his hand, quickly distributing itself in every corner of the Sword Array. The Thousand Beast Banner began to operate in an extremely short time, containing a vast number of Monster Beast Souls that viciously tore at the Golden Fang Beast Leader. Trapped by both the Thousand Beast Banner and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the Golden Fang Beast was both shocked and enraged. It opened its mouth to spit out some golden stones, shattering some of the Monster Beast Souls. However, there were too many souls within the Thousand Beast Banner. Having acquired a large number of Monster Beast Souls from the clan¡¯s extensive culling of beasts over the past few years, he had almost exclusively bought them all, refining them into the Thousand Beast Banner. The current Thousand Beast Banner had long been incomparable to its past self, truly containing the souls of over a thousand demon beasts. Although the newly replenished Monster Beast Souls were mostly First Order Middle-Late Stage beasts, their overwhelming numbers, when fearless of death, could still inflict massive damage. Within the Sword Array, as each Monster Beast Soul was slain by the Golden Fang Beast, even more surged forward, overwhelming it in a short period of time. Not only that, the Sword Qi roaming within the Sword Array was also immense. Occupied with fending off the Monster Beast Souls, the Golden Fang Beast Leader could hardly pay attention to much else. The Golden Fang Beast Leader finally realized the gravity of its situation. It struggled furiously, trying to break the bonds of the Sword Array and reunite with its descendants. Outside, upon seeing their leader trapped, the Golden Fang Beasts surged forward in an attempt to aid its escape. The vast Demon Beast Tribe, still numbering over a hundred and all above First Order Middle-Late Stage, charged with such force that their onslaught was incredibly powerful. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn. Having planned for so long, he wouldn¡¯t let the Golden Fang Beasts get their way easily. He slapped his storage bag and tossed out several Second Order talisman papers to block the Demon Beast Tribe momentarily, followed swiftly by unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword Fifth Sword to buy time. With the talisman papers and the Tiangang Ninth Sword Fifth Sword¡¯s assault, the Second Order Demonic Beasts dared not be careless and had to either dodge or rely on overwhelming offensive to preserve their lives. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Some of the Demon Beast Tribe dodged the attacks, while others spat out golden stones, colliding head-on with the incoming assaults. Lin Tianming remained unrelenting, pushing his strength to the limit, blocking the beasts¡¯ attacks while intensifying his assault on the Golden Fang Beast Leader. Inside the Sword Array, swathes of Monster Beast Souls perished, with over two hundred dying in a matter of moments. The Golden Fang Beast began to sustain injuries, its body covered with numerous wounds inflicted by savage tearing, bleeding profusely, and presenting a terrifying sight. It twisted its body, frantically rampaging within the Sword Array, trying to shake off the locust-like souls. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of sounds echoed as the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook slightly, but fortunately, the attack from the sole Golden Fang Beast Leader was hindered by the souls, lacking the force to break free. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nevertheless, with the overwhelming number of the Demon Beast Tribe, Lin Tianming could not block all the beasts. Several Second Order Middle Stage Golden Fang Beasts breached his defense, their bodies as hard as iron, simultaneously striking against the Sword Array Barricade. Amid several explosive noises, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook violently, at constant risk of being breached. Lin Tianming, with madness in his eyes, clenched his teeth and unleashed several Sword Qi attacks, trying to interrupt the Second Order Middle Stage Golden Fang Beasts rushing to rescue their leader. Simultaneously, he pressed his hands together and started to chant. After an indeterminate time, a silver-white Sword Qi slowly condensed above his head, suspended midair. Once the silver-white Sword Qi appeared, a gentle breeze swept by, stirring unease among the surrounding demon beasts. In the current situation, he couldn¡¯t focus on both fronts. If he didn¡¯t use his trump card, it would be nearly impossible to severely injure the Golden Fang Beast Leader. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 401: 238 Goal Achieved_1 Chapter 401: Chapter 238 Goal Achieved_1 In a moment of desperation, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression darkened, utterly unfazed by the oncoming Golden Fang Beast Clan charging toward him. This rare opportunity must yield certain results; otherwise, taking this risk wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Having made up his mind, he resolved to both fend off the Demonic Beasts attacking the Sword Array¡¯s perimeter and to stabilize the operation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Meanwhile, the condensed silver-white Sword Qi had reached its peak, ready to be activated at any moment to severely injure the Golden Fang Beast Leader. As the momentum of the condensed silver-white Sword Qi peaked, the entire sky suddenly brightened, and the fog was stirred by the Sword Qi until it finally dispersed. Feeling this formidable Sword Qi, all the Golden Fang Beasts were struck with immense fear, halting in place, having forgotten both to attack and to flee. ... Seeing this, and sensing the familiar power stronger than ever before, Lin Tianming was thrilled and couldn¡¯t wait to see the Golden Fang Beasts being slain by the Sword Qi. Taking advantage of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ momentary daze, he released a stroke of Sword Qi to temporarily block the outer Demonic Beasts, and then he roared aloud. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art, annihilate!¡± With a single wave of his hand, he made a strange gesture and activated the condensed Sword Qi. As a flash of silver light passed, the terrifying silver-white Sword Qi shot out with extreme speed, quickly disappearing into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud noises thundered continuously as he opened his Eye of Five Colors and closely monitored every movement within the Sword Array. The silver-white Sword Qi moved incredibly fast, and the focused Golden Fang Beast Leader recovered its senses right away. Watching the approaching silver-white Sword Qi, it was filled with terror and struggled desperately to evade the strike. In this dire situation, the Golden Fang Beast Leader¡¯s speed increased even more, like a bolt of lightning, dodging the Sword Qi within the Array and attempting to escape the attack of the silver-white Sword Qi as well. However, the Sword Array had already shrunk to a certain range, the Sword Qi inside was too dense, and fearless Monster Beast Souls kept on assaulting, even if one batch perished, more came to take their place. The relentless tearing and biting of the Demonic Beasts fueled the fury of the Golden Fang Beast Leader, yet it couldn¡¯t break free from these restraints and entanglements. As the silver-white Sword Qi drew closer, the fear in the eyes of the Golden Fang Beast Leader grew, and it struggled frantically to dodge. In an instant, the silver-white Sword Qi struck with incredible speed, hitting the back of the Golden Fang Beast in the blink of an eye. A scream ensued as the massive body of the Golden Fang Beast Leader collapsed to the ground, its entire backside and half of its body torn open, revealing internal organs with blood gushing out, quickly pooling into a puddle. Even in its downfall, the Golden Fang Beast Leader continued to thrash and roar, not yet breathless. As it convulsed and struggled, the pitiful cries of the Golden Fang Beast Leader echoed through the entire valley, causing all of the Golden Fang Beasts to become even more terrified, their eyes full of fear as they looked back at Lin Tianming. Seeing the Golden Fang Beast Leader gravely wounded by the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, and having accomplished his goal, Lin Tianming was thrilled and immediately shrank the Sword Array further, intending to end its life. He snorted coldly and then urged on the Sword Array to start grinding down the Golden Fang Beast Leader. As the Sword Array further shrank, the eyes of the Golden Fang Beast Leader filled with terror. It struggled to rise, but after several attempts, it still couldn¡¯t stand up. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The outer Golden Fang Beasts recovered their senses and launched an attack, charging at the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all their might, trying to prevent Lin Tianming from continuing his attack on their leader. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The impacts of the Golden Fang Beast Clan came one after another, and with such an overwhelming number of Demonic Beasts and Lin Tianming focused on finishing off the Golden Fang Beast Leader, he no longer had much energy to block the beasts. In such a state, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook violently, and the backlash from the Demonic Beasts¡¯ collisions caused Lin Tianming¡¯s mind to suffer, unable to help but spew a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning pale. At that moment, he didn¡¯t have time to think too much; he must seize the opportunity to kill the Golden Fang Beast Leader. If so, the Demon Beast Tribe would break without an attack, and he would be able to retreat gracefully. With firm conviction, fortunately, the area of the Sword Array had already been reduced to less than a hundred zhang, greatly increasing its stability compared to before. As the Sword Array¡¯s range got smaller and smaller, Lin Tianming held the Sword Array steady, unwilling to give up halfway even though his mind had been wounded. In an instant, the Sword Array shrank even more, the Sword Qi inside becoming incredibly dense, a myriad of Sword Qi darted around, leaving the immobilized Golden Fang Beast Leader with nowhere to hide. When the thick Sword Qi pummeled the Golden Fang Beast Leader, flesh and blood flew in all directions, and the suffering leader seemed to muster strength from nowhere, struggling and screaming fiercely. After several heartrending cries, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation ceased operations in that moment, and the fifty-six Earth Evil Swords converged together, then spun madly before vanishing into the clouds, returning to the space above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. With the Array stopped, the dust on the ground slowly dispersed, revealing the figure of the Golden Fang Beast Leader. Looking over, the Golden Fang Beast Leader was now lifeless, its massive body lying on the ground, completely battered and torn, with hardly any intact spot left, the blood on the ground forming a horrifying pool. Seeing this, all the Golden Fang Beasts present were in extreme terror, with some First Order Demon Beasts starting to flee, seemingly scared out of their wits. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Paragraph copied Chapter 402: 238 Achieving the Goal_2 Chapter 402: Chapter 238 Achieving the Goal_2 With the Golden Fang Beast Leader¡¯s death, their target had been achieved, and the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain was temporarily resolved. Thinking of these things, he began contemplating his next arrangements. His spiritual power had nearly run out, all his Second Order talismans had been used up, and the sword qi he had gathered had already been deployed. Besides a Fake Golden Core Talisman, he had practically exhausted all his methods. Although unharmed, his current condition was very poor. Luckily, the demon beasts were now without a leader. Even if pursued, he could make a full retreat relying on the Purple Gold Eagle. With these thoughts, he let out a long sigh of relief, and his tense nerves relaxed. A few breaths passed, and as a roar echoed, Lin Tianming¡¯s attention returned. ... By this time, the Golden Fang Beast Clan was in complete disarray. Nearly half of the First Order Demon Beast had vanished without a trace, but a few Second Order Goldfang Beasts had yet to leave. The Medium Stage Second Order Goldfang Beast let out a roar, seemingly calling the remaining demon beasts to regroup. A series of harsh roars followed, and the majority of the demon beasts shifted and gathered around the Second Order Demonic Beasts. Many let out cries as if responding to it. At this moment, a large number of beasts were roaring, and the entire valley was filled with thunderous howls, even the ground seemed to tremble. Soon, the howling stopped. The demon beast tribe had regrouped, numbering just over a hundred. However, all the Second Order Demonic Beasts were present; it was only the First Order Middle Stage beasts that had left. Even with just over a hundred beasts, their strength was still formidable. Subjugated by the Medium Stage Second Order Goldfang Beast, the Golden Fang Beast clan regained its cohesion with a leader once again. The Medium Stage Second Order Goldfang Beast looked up to the sky and let out a long howl, then set its eyes on Lin Tianming, its expression seeming somewhat angry. With a roar, the Golden Fang Beast Clan began moving again. A barrage of golden stones shot out, covering the sky as they assailed Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn. Given his current state and having used all his methods, clashing head-on with them was unwise. He unleashed a few sword strikes to block for a moment, and the Purple Gold Eagle also spewed out a multitude of fireballs, coming head-to-head with the golden stones. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky erupted in fierce collisions, and for a moment, the sky was alight with flames, smoke mixed with mist, dazzlingly brilliant. Taking advantage of this, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, reaching thousands of feet in mere moments. As the dust settled, Lin Tianming¡¯s form was no longer visible. All the Golden Fang Beasts looked up to the sky, howling with rage and indignation, while venting their fury. Under the watchful eyes of the Golden Fang Beasts, the Purple Gold Eagle sped away swiftly toward the north. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking down at the demon beast tribe below, as well as the body of the Second Order Late Phase Goldfang Beast, Lin Tianming thought to himself what a pity it was. The body of this beast was quite valuable, and the souls and flesh of the many low-order Monster Beasts were treasures. Gathered together, they would represent a considerable fortune. However, the strength of the beasts below was still formidable, and with his condition, he was really not a match for them. With no other choice, he had to abandon them. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, swallowed two elixirs, and began to recover with his eyes closed. The Purple Gold Eagle circled the vicinity, not wishing to reveal their traces and also to survey the situation nearby, in order to make an accurate judgment. After half a day had passed, the Purple Gold Eagle plunged with Lin Tianming into the Protective Clan Formation of Golden Horn Mountain. At this time, Lin Xingyou was patrolling the clan territory. Seeing Lin Tianming return safely, he immediately went to greet him. The two exchanged greetings and chatted for a few moments. Lin Tianming also asked, ¡°Uncle, is everything in the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory normal?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyou responded with a serious tone, ¡°Everything is normal; we¡¯ve encountered no demon beasts. Although some low-level beasts have intruded into the clan territory, there has been no appearance of any large-scale tribe!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and let out a long sigh of relief. Although he had successfully blocked the Golden Fang Beast Clan, their location was not too far from the Gengyang Mountain Range in the north. Considering the overall strength of the clansmen guarding this place was not strong, it was highly possible that a Second Order Demon Beast leading a tribe could break into the territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range. In such a situation, Golden Horn Mountain faced a significant pressure as it was the family¡¯s frontline stronghold. Fortunately, everything at Golden Horn Mountain was normal, which allowed him to relax the heavy burden on his heart. Just then, an anxious voice came through, ¡°Tian Ming, how are things? Are you injured?¡± Lin Tianming turned around to see Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng quickly walking towards him. Ever since Lin Tianming had left Golden Horn Mountain, they had been extremely worried. If he had been injured or fallen, it would have been like a bolt from the blue for the Lin Family. Seeing Lin Tianming return with a seemingly good spirit and apparently unscathed eased their tense nerves. Upon seeing the comers, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Father, big brother, Tian Ming encountered the Golden Fang Beast Clan. After a fierce battle, I killed a Second Order Late-Stage Gold Fang Leader and hundreds of First Order Gold Fang Beasts have perished or been wounded, temporarily lifting the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianfeng¡¯s incredulous voice sounded, ¡°The Golden Fang Beast Clan? You killed a Second Order Late-Phase Gold Fang Beast Leader?¡± The disbelief in Lin Tianfeng¡¯s voice, compounded with Lin Xingrong¡¯s astonished expression, made it seem as though they couldn¡¯t believe what they were hearing was true. Lin Xingrong was the first to regain his composure and asked casually, ¡°Tian Ming, is what you say really true?¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The news was simply too unbelievable, even though they knew well of Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful strength. With his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, facing a Second Order Late-Phase Demon Beast wouldn¡¯t put him at much of a disadvantage. But this was a huge beast tribe comprised of hundreds of demon beasts, which included not only a Second Order Late-Phase Demon Beast but also a considerable number of Second Order Early and Middle Stage Demonic Beasts. With such formidable strength, Lin Tianming still managed to kill the leader and heavily injure the Demon Beast Tribe. Seeing their expressions, Lin Tianming nodded and then added, ¡°Father, big brother, what Tian Ming has said is absolutely true. Relying on the Purple Gold Eagle to soar high into the sky, and considering that the Gold Fang Beasts¡¯ attack range was too short, I exploited our strengths and avoided weaknesses. Although it was somewhat risky, the outcome indeed turned out to be perfect!¡± Upon hearing this affirmative explanation, Lin Xingrong and others were overjoyed. Had they not known Lin Tianming to be someone who never spoke falsely or exaggerated to deceive them, they might have truly thought it was a joke. The crisis had been temporarily resolved, and the clansmen avoided a major battle, which left everyone excitedly buzzing with joy. After a moment of cheer and laughter, the four of them made a round of inspection around the clan territory together. Everything as usual, the clansmen stepped up their patrolling, and the Protective Clan Formation was fully operational, with all clansmen entering a state of combat readiness. Having ascertained the temporary safety of the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory and that all defensive operations were normal, the four returned to the square in front of the mountain gate. Lin Xingrong looked at the others and then spoke up, ¡°Tianfeng, although the crisis is temporarily lifted, we can¡¯t be lax. The demon beast attacks are probably not that simple. According to the records of past Demon Beast Tides, this is likely just the beginning. The real test is still to come.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianming chimed in, ¡°Indeed, Golden Horn Mountain is at the very north of the Luoyun Mountain Range and is the most likely to encounter the beast tide. If the two areas behind us do not exert enough strength to exterminate the demon beasts, the pressure on us will increase.¡± ¡°Thus, we must be completely vigilant and help alleviate some pressure from the family.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded in agreement. He took their words seriously and did not dare to treat the matter lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, uncle. Tian Ming has just been through a big battle and needs to rest properly. I¡¯ll take care of the mountain gate. If there¡¯s any sign of trouble, I will immediately inform you both!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Lin Tianming and his father both nodded in response and then left Lin Tianfeng at the mountain gate to constantly monitor every move outside the formation. Along the way, father and son chatted idly for a bit before returning to their respective caves. Sitting in the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat crossed-legged and circulated his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation, then entered into a brief state of cultivation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 403: 239 Cedar Beast_1 Chapter 403: Chapter 239 Cedar Beast_1 One day, at noon. The sky above Luoyun Market was clear and boundless, the scorching sun piercing through the clouds, shining in every corner of the market. As the news of the Demon Beast Tide outbreak spread throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the bustle of Luoyun Market also diminished, some decisive cultivators left for the larger Qianchuan Market, or went to the nearby Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Now, the foot traffic in Luoyun Market was less than seventy percent of its peak, business in the shops of all sizes was sluggish, except for wartime resources such as Elixir Charms which were in high demand and nearly out of stock. Regarding other resources, such as Spiritual Medicine or various tomes and documents, hardly anyone was spending resources to purchase them at this critical time. The once bustling streets were now desolate, with only the occasional panic-stricken cultivator passing by or market-organized patrol teams moving about. ... Outside the market, atop a mountain several dozen miles to the west, several cultivators were seated inside a simple cave, including a member of the Lin Family. Lin Xinglei, as the person in charge of this outpost for the Lin Family, with a cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, had been stationed there for several years, responsible for monitoring a vast area of over a hundred miles. His responsibility was significant; he had to send an emergency message to Luoyun Market immediately upon any trace of demon beasts, to ensure they were prepared. Besides him, there were several Loose Cultivators who were recruited, with cultivations around the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement, who would not have taken on such a dangerous task during this sensitive period if not for the substantial compensation offered by the market. Lin Xinglei sat in the chief seat, and two cultivators below were reporting on their patrol situation. Before he had left Green Bamboo Mountain to follow Lin Shilu to Luoyun Market, the Clan Leader had made it clear, entrusting him with this arduous and dangerous task. Therefore, he had been very attentive to patrol duties over the years, never daring to be negligent. He was well aware of the horrors of a beast onslaught; an early warning could prevent many sacrifices if Luoyun Market were attacked by a large-scale Demon Beast Tribe. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After several years, the patrol duties had to be carried out every few days, and today was another day scheduled for patrol. Hearing the cultivators below report that everything was normal and no large-scale Demon Beast Tribe traces had been found, Lin Xinglei nodded and after letting the two leave, his tense nerves relaxed slightly. However, considering there was still one cultivator who had been out patrolling in one direction for half the day, who should have returned by now but had been delayed by a quarter of an hour with no sign of return, he couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s been some delay!¡± Lin Xinglei thought to himself, offering some reassurance. Regaining his composure, at this moment, a transmission came through and hovered before him; it was from the cultivator who was late and hadn¡¯t returned. Without hesitation, he cast a Law Decree, reading the content inside. Suddenly, his face changed dramatically, and he turned, exiting the secret chamber and appearing outside the Temporary Cave Abode. Seeing him emerge, frantic and pale-faced, the several Loose Cultivators gathered around, then began to ask what had happened. Lin Xinglei urgently said, ¡°Daoist Hu has discovered traces of the Demon Beast Tribe, heading towards Luoyun Market from the west, a legion of over a thousand Cedar Beasts. We must hurry back to Luoyun Market to report!¡± ¡°A Demon Beast Tribe made up of over a thousand Cedar Beasts?¡± ¡°To think it¡¯s Cedar Beasts, and such a large scale!¡± Hearing Lin Xinglei¡¯s words, two cultivators couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, their faces filled with disbelief. Cedar Beasts were Second Order Demonic Beasts, attaining the Second Order Late Phase upon maturation, with terrifying attack power. With their tribe often being large, even a small one could easily surpass a hundred beasts, and a large-scale tribe made of a thousand was not unusual. This time, however, there was a legion of over a thousand Cedar Beasts headed for Luoyun Market, surely possessing formidable strength. Although the cultivator who sent the message did not reveal the strength of the demon beasts, one could imagine that, with such a large tribe, Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts would definitely be present, and likely even more than one. Considering this, Lin Xinglei glanced over the others and quickly instructed, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the situation is too urgent, staying here would be a near-certain death. We must set off immediately, not only to seek refuge but also to ensure the message is delivered as soon as possible.¡± Hearing this, the others regained their senses, and even without Lin Xinglei¡¯s warning, they dared not stay any longer, knowing a direct encounter with the Demon Beast Tribe would obliterate them instantly with their cultivation level. Each nodded in agreement, responding in turn. Seeing they were all on edge, he said no more, immediately summoning a Supreme Quality First Order Flying Sword and leaping aboard, becoming a fleeting shadow headed in the direction of Luoyun Market. The Loose Cultivators behind him each summoned a Spiritual Artifact and leaped up, following Lin Xinglei¡¯s lead and leaving the place. ¡­ Luoyun Market. The market¡¯s formations were running at full power, and atop the tall city walls, patrols crisscrossed, their expressions solemn, ever-vigilant to the slightest movement around them. Among the crowd, a member of the Lin Family was the first to spot a red light shooting towards them from outside the market. As the red light closed in, he recognized the figure standing on the Spirit Sword. It was undoubtedly Lin Xinglei. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 404: 239 Cedar Beast_2 Chapter 404: Chapter 239 Cedar Beast_2 Before he had even arrived, Lin Xinglei took out his Family Token, and then a clear voice rang out, ¡°Open the formation immediately, I must report urgent matters to the elders!¡± Seeing Lin Xinglei¡¯s anxious expression, the clan member in charge verified the authenticity of the Family Token and then opened the formation to let Lin Xinglei in. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He immediately went up to him and then asked in a private transmission, ¡°Xinglei, has something big happened?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Xinglei hastily replied, ¡°Brother, the Demon Beast Tribe is attacking, prepare for battle quickly, I must see Fifteenth Uncle immediately!¡± After Lin Xinglei finished transmitting the message, he immediately rushed towards the inner parts of the market, leaving behind a clan member with a grave expression. In no time, Lin Xinglei had reached Lin Shilu, with several Lin Family Members also present, along with Su He and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Foundation Establishing Families. ... Seeing his panicked look, Lin Shilu thought to himself, could it be that the beast tide is upon us, they have discovered the traces of the Demon Beast Army, or else I would not have such an expression. Sure enough, Lin Xinglei, with no regard for propriety, spilled all the news he knew, startling several Loose Cultivators. Hearing the report, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned equally serious. With his insight and experience, he could imagine that such a vast Cedar Beast Tribe would certainly have more than one Second Order Late Phase Demon Beast. With such a massive tribe and terrifying collective strength, the pressure on Luoyun Market can be imagined. ¡°Who knows how Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain are faring, since we¡¯ve discovered traces of the beasts here, the other two places must have some movement as well. Tian Ming is under the most pressure, I don¡¯t know how the situation is, whether they can withstand the pressure!¡± Lin Shilu thought to himself, his frowning face making everyone present worried. ¡°Fifteenth Uncle, let¡¯s go to the city wall first to take a look, and then quickly come up with countermeasures!¡± Hearing Lin Xingcheng¡¯s reminder, Lin Shilu came back to his senses, immediately nodded, and led several people out of the great hall to the entrance of the market. On the high city walls, Lin Shilu stood in the sky above the city head, accompanied by a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides the cultivators from the three major Foundation Establishing Families, Su He and several other Loose Cultivators were also present. The group was grave, with tightly furrowed brows, gazing in the direction of the west. Lin Shilu hovered in midair, and the city wall was already gathered with thousands of people, all of them were clan Cultivators or Loose Cultivators staying behind in Luoyun Market to participate in the resistance against the Demon Beast attack. He scanned the crowd, and his loud voice echoed, ¡°Fellow Cultivators, according to the information received, it won¡¯t be long before the Demon Beast Army arrives, everyone prepare for battle!¡± Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the Cultivators changed. Although they had been summoned and psychologically prepared, hearing Elder Lin Shilu speak unequivocally, they all still became anxious. Seeing that many Cultivators were pale and some even seemed terrified, Lin Shilu continued to speak, ¡°Fellow Cultivators need not panic, with me and seven other Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed here, and the Formation Protection, it should not be difficult to overcome this crisis!¡± Upon hearing this, the faces of the vast majority of Cultivators looked much better. Luoyun Market had attracted a large number of Cultivators to stay behind by relying on various generous rewards and had also drawn in several Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivators, making its overall strength one of the very best among the nearby markets. If even Luoyun Market could not resist, the situation of other smaller markets was likely to be even worse. With these thoughts, some Cultivators on the scene started to echo a few words, ¡°With Elder Lin and several other Cultivators here, and the protection of a Second Order Superior Defensive Array, even if led by a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, they will definitely be unable to break through the array!¡± ¡°Indeed, unless it is a powerful tribe composed of thousands of demon beasts, for any ordinary tribe of beasts to trouble us, what difference is there from seeking death!¡± With a few joking remarks and some light-hearted banter, the scene finally regained calmness, with some Cultivators eager for glory even looking forward to the arrival of the Demon Beast Tribe. Lin Shilu nodded his head in satisfaction. He would not interrupt these people, nor would he throw cold water on them at this time. Most of the time, confident people could burst out with a more formidable fighting strength. However, it is also not good to take the Demon Beast Tribe too lightly. Those who are arrogant and complacent can suffer losses when they encounter tough challenges. He coughed once, breaking through the clamor, and then he began to speak, ¡°Fellow Daoists are not wrong; compared to other small markets, the overall strength of the Luoyun Market is at least twice as strong.¡± ¡°However, we must not underestimate the power of the demon beast tribes. After all, there¡¯s no telling what they will do. If Luoyun Market has the misfortune of encountering a powerful demon beast tribe, that too is entirely within the realm of possibility!¡± ¡°So, everyone need not worry too much, nor should we belittle those beasts. No matter the size or strength, let¡¯s work together to get through this crisis.¡± ¡°Rest assured, all the conditions promised by the Lin Family and the market are valid at any time. As long as you meet the reward requirements, you will certainly be acknowledged and rewarded post-success, without any delay!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words neither discouraged the crowd¡¯s confidence nor understated the demon beasts¡¯ strength and emphasized the Lin Family¡¯s promise with ardor, reigniting the cultivators gathered there. ¡°We will abide by Elder Lin¡¯s decree!¡± A chorus of cultivators responded in unison, then each began to take out their various spiritual artifacts, talisman papers, and other means of confronting the enemy. By then, everyone was nearly ready for the great battle, prepared to strike immediately should the demon beast tribe not be strong enough, ready to deliver a thorough and satisfying thrashing. Seeing this, Lin Shilu nodded and began to discuss tactics with the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators beside him. A few breaths later, whatever Lin Shilu had said made Su He and Luo Chenggu nod their heads, and the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators also began pulling out their weapons, preparing for the impending battle. An hour had passed. ¡°Thud, thud, thud¡­¡± With an orderly rhythm, the sound came forth, and the earth began to tremble faintly. Lin Shilu was the first to feel it. Soon, the sound grew louder and the trembling more distinct. Su He and Luo Chenggu both felt the commotion as well, their brows furrowed tightly as they peered into the distance, vigilant to every move. A dense cloud of dust approached, spreading over the sky and sweeping towards them. The fierce Gang Wind struck an invisible barrier, creating a series of noises as the wind was absorbed by the formation, dissipating into the atmosphere. The Qi Refining Cultivators within the formation could only see the overwhelming dust and discern nothing special about it. The strong Gang Wind was a clear sign that the demon beast tribe was on the move, stirring up the dust like wavering billows sweeping forward. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was grave. Though he hadn¡¯t yet seen the shadows of the demon beast tribe, he surmised from the heat wave that the tribe¡¯s strength must be exceptionally formidable, likely comprising a large number of Second Order demonic beasts. He took a deep breath, showing no sign of concern, and exchanged a few words with the cultivators beside him. Quickly, the Gang Wind became more turbulent, and the earth-shaking noise intensified, indicating that the demon beast tribe was closing in on the city. Due to the dense dust, Lin Shilu and the others dared not act rashly, keeping their eyes fixed on the movements within the dust cloud, waiting for it to clear and reveal the demon beasts¡¯ silhouettes. It wasn¡¯t long before the uproar gradually subsided; the dust slowly dispersed, revealing a portion of the demon beasts¡¯ figures. Lin Shilu was the first to spot the approaching demon beasts: indeed, it was a tribe of Cedar Beasts. Gazing forward, two Second Order Late-Phase Snow Cedar Beasts raised their heads, looking directly toward where Lin Shilu and the others were. Behind the two Cedar Beasts, four Second Order Medium-Stage and nine Second Order Initial-Stage demon beasts sat on the ground with savage faces displaying a hint of avarice. Beyond that, as the dust settled, the figures of more than a thousand First Order Snow Cedar Beasts were revealed. They were seated on the ground, seemingly waiting for the tribe leaders to sound the horn of attack. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 405: 240 Fierce Battle_1 Chapter 405: Chapter 240 Fierce Battle_1 Seeing such a formidable Cedar Beast Tribe, with no fewer than fifteen Second Order Demonic Beasts, just the middle and late-stage beasts amounted to six, Lin Shilu and his companions¡¯ expressions immediately turned grave. By their side, Su He and the rest were equally shocked and seemed lost in thought. At this moment, the scene became extremely quiet, whether it was the Lin Family Members, members of other families, or those Loose Cultivators¡ªeveryone was silent. As the dust settled, the entire Cedar Beast Tribe came into view, over a thousand Demonic Beasts neatly seated on the ground, stretching as far as the eye could see. The two Cedar Beasts sitting side by side at the very front looked at the people within the Formation, their expressions greedy. The bodies of Cultivators were also greatly nourishing for Demonic Beasts, and despite their covetousness, they did not immediately launch an attack. ... After all, at this level of power, their Spirit Wisdom was not low, and the faint aura emanating from the Cultivators inside the Formation was in no way inferior to theirs. In this situation, attacking rashly could lead to passivity if the Human Cultivators were well-prepared or had laid a complex trap. So they did not make a move. Furthermore, the market was such an enormous target that it was impossible to move, and since they had already reached this point, the beasts had plenty of time and energy. At this time, each side was sizing up the other; the silence felt somewhat eerie. Within the Formation, Lin Shilu¡¯s brows were tightly knit as he occasionally communicated in whispers with Lin Xingcheng at his side. The surrounding Foundation Establishment Cultivators all remained silent, though it was hard to say whether they had been communicating in secret. Lin Shilu was not surprised by this. The situation could certainly be described as facing a formidable enemy. The Qi Refining Cultivators¡¯ strength was limited, and perhaps they had no ideas of their own. They were stuck here, firmly tied to the fate of the market; they could not leave without repelling the Demon Beast Tribe, and attempting to leave by force would also mean a nine out of ten chance of death. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators were different. If the array protecting the market was breached by an overwhelmingly powerful Demon Beast Tribe, they would not risk their lives for the market. Consequently, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators had their own thoughts and were even prepared to flee. The Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Sun and Luo Families were better off since their ties were too great. If they left without permission, and the Lin Family settled scores in the autumn, how could they ward off the formidable strength of the Lin Family? The Loose Cultivators, however, were a different story. Unfettered by bonds, they could simply leave the Luoyun Mountain Range. The Lin Family might be powerful, but it was unlikely to go through great lengths to hold a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator accountable. Lin Shilu was well aware of this and did not show any sign of surprise. Maintaining his composure, he then spoke up: ¡°Fellow cultivators, I didn¡¯t expect this group of Demonic Beasts to be so formidable; it¡¯s completely beyond our expectations.¡± ¡°As everyone can see the current situation, I won¡¯t say more than necessary. Although they are powerful, we are not weak. Relying on the Formation Protection, holding out for some time is not an issue.¡± ¡°However, waiting passively for help is too reactive. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to speak them out, no matter if they are useful or not, the Lin Family will not take offense.¡± Once he finished speaking, the several Foundation Establishment Cultivators all remained silent, with no one rushing to speak first. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the atmosphere turn a bit cold, Lin Shilu shook his head in resignation, as it seemed that nobody had any ideas or strategies to repel the enemy. He sighed and then took the initiative to speak: ¡°Luo Daoyou and Su Daoyou both have Medium Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. Both of you are experienced and knowledgeable, why not share your thoughts!¡± Upon hearing this, the two silently chuckled, then each began to express their opinions. Seeing the two speak up, the rest of the group also started sharing their views. In a short while, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators expressed their opinions, and among them, Su He and Luo Chenggu, with their higher cultivation levels, had particularly important views. According to them, they advocated against any reckless actions, neither to take the initiative to attack nor to wait for help. They both suggested observing the intensity of the Demon Beasts¡¯ attack first. If it were too strong, certain changes would need to be made, possibly taking the initiative to strike and weaken the power of the Cedar Beasts. This plan was indeed prudent, and Lin Shilu and Lin Xingcheng had the same thought. Regaining his composure, Lin Shilu scanned the crowd and eventually agreed with Su He and Luo Chenggu¡¯s suggestions. With that settled, everyone looked out at the Cedar Beasts outside the Formation, ready to act at any moment. An hour passed in silence. Seeing that no one inside the Formation was making a move, the two Cedar Beast leaders growled at each other as if communicating something. After a few breaths, the two Demonic Beasts seemed to have made up their minds. With two roars that echoed through the heavens and earth, the originally calm Cedar Beast Tribe suddenly became restless. Quickly, the entire Demon Beast Tribe stood up, focusing intently ahead. The two Cedar Beasts howled to the sky, then spat out a large number of ice orbs, each the size of a bucket and covered in a layer of cold mist, bombarding the Formation¡¯s light barrier. Following the two First Order Demonic Beast leaders, all of the First Order Demonic Beasts also spat out ice orbs, though these were smaller and clearly less powerful than those from the Second Order Late Phase Cedar Beasts. But the sheer number was overwhelming; over a thousand Demonic Beasts¡¯ ice orbs poured down like a torrential downpour. In an instant, the entire sky was filled with ice orbs raining down in a surge toward the Formation¡¯s light barrier. Upon seeing this, the faces of Lin Shilu and others changed, many of them astonished beyond measure. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 406: 240 Intense Battle_2 Chapter 406: Chapter 240 Intense Battle_2 Unexpectedly, the demonic beasts only ceased their assault for a moment before they began to attack the formation again, relying on their innate divine abilities, seemingly in an attempt to break through the grand formation in one fell swoop. As everyone watched, a barrage of ice spheres bombarded the formation¡¯s light screen. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The numerous ice spheres exploded upon impact with the formation, creating waves that spread outwards. A thunderous noise echoed, the invisible light screen flickered with light, and the ground shook. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open, watching to see if the formation could continue to operate under such an attack and the extent of the damage it would cause. ... After a few moments, the majority of the ice spheres had exploded and dissipated, the formation was still in operation, but a faint color appeared on the invisible light screen. It seemed the formation¡¯s energy was greatly depleted. Although it wasn¡¯t immediately breached, if it were to endure many more such relentless bombardments, it likely wouldn¡¯t last long. Having withstood a volley of the Cedar Beasts¡¯ ice spheres, the formation held up against this round of bombardment, and the anxiety of Lin Shilu and the others was somewhat eased. Lin Shilu chuckled wryly before speaking: ¡°Luo Daoyou, Su Daoyou, it seems that these demon beasts possess great offensive power. If we allow them to keep bombarding the formation, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t last half a month, and our situation will become even more difficult!¡± Su He and Luo Chenggu both nodded. After a round of probing, the strength of the Cedar Beasts was indeed terrifying, and hiding within the formation without going out was just delaying the inevitable. Sooner or later, they would still have to meet in battle and experience a fierce slaughter. Otherwise, there was no possibility of driving the enemy back. Thinking of this, Luo Chenggu nodded and said, ¡°Lin Daoyou is correct; awaiting reinforcements while holding our ground may bring temporary safety, but it¡¯s just living on borrowed time. We must find a way to weaken them, or we won¡¯t last long.¡± Following his words, Su He also said, ¡°Lin Daoyou, just give your orders. Since I have promised to advance and retreat together with the market town, I will not go back on my word.¡± ¡°Whether we launch a proactive attack or hold our ground awaiting reinforcements, you have but to command it, Daoyou Lin, and I will not hesitate.¡± At this time, Su He¡¯s words significantly improved the spirits of the worried group. The two Loose Cultivators, who had been lacking in fighting spirit, remembered Lin Shilu¡¯s promise and quickly regained their composure. Hearing these words, and as several cultivators stood taller, their morale surged. Lin Shilu let out a hearty laugh and then began to give orders. ¡°Since everyone is so generous, let¡¯s take the initiative to strike and see if we can weaken the strength of the demon beast tribe. If we manage to kill some Second Order demonic beasts, I believe the market town will be temporarily safe.¡± ¡°Once we break out of the formation, those two Second Order Late Phase Cedar Beasts will be left to me to hold off.¡± ¡°Su Daoyou and Luo Daoyou will each face one of the Second Order Middle Stage Cedar Beasts. We only need to hold them off, and the rest of us will do our best to eradicate the Second Order Initial Stage demonic beasts.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re losing or suffer too many casualties, we¡¯ll immediately retreat back inside the formation, and we can then plan our next move.¡± Following Lin Shilu¡¯s orders, the cultivators nodded in agreement, and Lin Xingcheng promptly relayed the commands, with all the Qi Refining Stage Cultivators responding. Seeing the high spirits of the crowd, Lin Shilu took out his attack talisman, and then he stepped forward, the formation¡¯s light screen briefly opening a gap through which he stepped outside. The rest of the cultivators followed behind, with Su He and Luo Chenggu also crossing through the light screen. Lin Xingcheng, along with the Qi Refining Cultivators, emerged from the formation one after another, like locusts. In an extremely short amount of time, thousands of cultivators reached outside the formation, and upon seeing the cultivators from inside the formation appear before them, the Cedar Beast Tribe also halted their attack. The two sides faced each other directly, creating a tense atmosphere. Lin Shilu stood at the forefront, eyeing the demon beast tribe, his gaze filled with a thick fighting spirit. With the beast tide underway, he had no idea how the situation was at Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain. He must break the stalemate to free up his forces to aid the other territories. In such a situation, he had no room for other thoughts; he merely wanted to achieve victory as quickly as possible. Gathering his focus, he spoke a few words to give the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators a bit of comfort. Soon, after a brief restraint from both sides, as the leader of the Cedar Beasts made the first move, the immense Monster Beast Legion behind it also began to move. Their snarling and ferocious charge came forth, and the two sides immediately engaged in an intense slaughter. Lin Shilu, as the person with the highest level of cultivation on the field and a member of the Lin Family, took the lead and charged towards the two Cedar Beast leaders approaching him. Following suit, Su He and Luo Chenggu each found their targets and tasks, intercepting two Medium Stage Second Order Cedar Beasts. Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng exchanged a glance, immediately invoking their Attack Talismans, charging toward the Initial Stage Second Order Cedar Beasts like tigers descending the mountain. The Qi Refining Clanspeople behind them sprang into action, with the Lin Family Cultivator setting an example, the other family members and Loose Cultivators didn¡¯t hesitate, launching into fierce attacks. In the high skies, Lin Shilu waved the Magic Artifact in his hand frequently, clashing the astounding Sword Qi with the Ice balls spat by the Cedar Beasts. With his Seventh Level Foundation Establishment cultivation, along with a formidable Attack Talisman and a variety of strange treasures, he initially held some advantage. Below him, the situation for Su He and Luo Chenggu was somewhat more difficult; as a Loose Cultivator, Su He¡¯s Attack Talisman was too simplistic, relying on two Initial Stage Second Order Talismans to barely block the two Medium Stage Cedar Beasts. Though Luo Chenggu was a cultivator from a family, having a wider array of offensive methods, his cultivation was only at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. The two Medium Stage Cedar Beasts were very quick and coordinated exceptionally well, soon putting him at a disadvantage. However, fortunately, the members of the Lin Family were relatively strong, relying on a myriad of Magic Artifacts and talisman paper, they suppressed their opponents. At this moment, the sky above was filled with battles between Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Second Order Demonic Beasts, each occupying a spot, unleashing earth-shattering attacks, clashing directly with the demonic beasts. ¡°Boom-boom-boom¡­¡± The sky outside the Formation flashed with dazzling, multicolored lights as various talisman paper spells and Divine Skills from the demonic beasts collided. For a time, screams were heard, belonging both to the demonic beasts and the Human Cultivators. The battle continued, both sides plunging into a fierce phase. After nearly half a quarter-hour of fighting, the ground was riddled with holes, and everywhere were the bodies of demonic beasts and Human Cultivators, with rivers of blood and mountains of corpses, a sight too horrendous to endure. In the high sky, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was grave. Faced with a mass of oncoming Ice balls, he called forth the Green Scale Shield, transforming into a massive shield barrier, blocking all attacks. Using the rebound force, he managed to pull away somewhat, and both sides briefly came to a halt. After a dozen rounds of fighting, both Cedar Beast leaders had sustained some minor injuries. He himself had not come out unscathed, with over half of his Spiritual Power depleted and some injuries on his body, but they did not affect his combat power. Seizing this opportunity, he began to pay attention to the state of the surrounding cultivators. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Glancing around, there were skirmishes everywhere, with the ground beneath littered with countless corpses. Both Su He and Luo Chenggu were struggling to hold on; while it seemed they were not gaining any advantage, they wouldn¡¯t be in mortal danger for the time being. As for the key Lin Family members, Lin Xingshun, relying on his Third Level Foundation Establishment cultivation, had already killed an Initial Stage Cedar Beast and severely injured another, having the absolute upper hand. Lin Xingcheng had also achieved victories, severely wounding an Initial Stage demonic beast, while the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators hadn¡¯t severely injured any beasts, they were not at a disadvantage either. Surprisingly, on the side of the Qi Refining Cultivators, the Human Cultivators had gained the upper hand. The lower-order Monster Beasts had limited Spirit Wisdom, and in such a crowded battlefield, their speed couldn¡¯t be fully utilized. Facing overwhelming attacks, they could only rely on their defensive power to clash head-on. The Human Cultivators were comparatively more agile and could cooperate with nearby cultivators, cross-attacking, yielding doubly effective results. At this moment, the entire Qi Refining side was roaring with momentum, pressing down on the Demon Beast Tribe with frenzied attacks. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 407: 241 Weaken_1 Chapter 407: Chapter 241 Weaken_1 Under the leadership of the Qi Refining clanspeople of the Lin Family and the married couple Li Yuancheng, Qi Refining Cultivators and the Demon Beast Tribe engaged in fierce combat. Disciples of the Lin Family gathered together, relying on the many talisman papers and even better Spiritual Artifacts, plunged into the heart of the Demon Beast Tribe like a sharp blade. Lin Xingshun, having failed in his attempt at Foundation Establishment previously and due to his long-term defense of the Luoyun Market, was incredibly familiar with the area. After the beast tide erupted, he followed Lin Shilu to the market, taking charge of managing all the Qi Refining Cultivators. Even though his breakthrough failed, with his cultivation at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, he was far stronger than an average Qi-Refining Cultivator. Under his leadership, the clanspeople struck decisively and ruthlessly, each of them unleashing their strongest abilities. For a while, the entire land was engulfed in intense battle, the sky filled with all manner of attacks. ... Lin Xingshun took the charge, fighting like an untiring beast using his full strength to its limit. With each powerful strike, First Order Demon Beasts were nearly scared out of their wits. One after another, First Order Demonic Beasts were slain; even the ordinary Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts couldn¡¯t hold out long under his attack before swiftly having their lives taken. At this time, the battlefield presented a polarized situation; on the side of top combat power, the Human Cultivators hadn¡¯t managed to break through. Ironic as it was, the lower-ranked cultivators were gaining the upper hand, but this situation was still insufficient to alter the ultimate outcome of the grand battle. High in the sky, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression was grave. After battling for so long, he and the two Cedar Beast leaders had both sustained injuries, neither gaining an advantage. It was clear that relying on him alone would be difficult to secure victory. Thinking of this made him somewhat anxious. Although he had Spirit Arts that he had not used, in front of so many people, he dared not reveal them casually, unless it was a life-and-death situation. Now was certainly not the time. Facing the continuous assault of the two Cedar Beast leaders, Lin Shilu¡¯s Magic Artifact and Overturning Mountain Seal were frequently employed, launching strong attacks and clashing fiercely with the two beasts. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sound of explosions rang frequently throughout heaven and earth, like the horn of battle, stirring the fighting spirit of the many cultivators. At this point, the great battle had been raging for a while, with both Humans and Demonic Beasts paying a price, both sides suffering losses. Overall, apart from Lin Shilu and Su He himself, Luo Chenggu, the other Human Cultivators had gained a slight upper hand. Not far away, Su He¡¯s sword released an attack, the Sword Qi colliding head-on with an incoming ice ball. As the two powerful attacks collided, the ice ball broke through the obstacles, with a small part of them already nearing him. Realizing it was too late to dodge, he didn¡¯t hesitate to pull out a shield made of turtle shell, infusing it with a large amount of Spiritual Power to form a barrier in front of himself. With a loud crash, the ice ball bombarded the turtle shell shield, the powerful impact flipped Su He over, smashing him directly into the ground. The Demonic Beasts¡¯ Divine Skills were extremely powerful, and even though the turtle shell shield blocked it, the resulting rebound force was still so powerful that it injured him. He couldn¡¯t help but spit out a mouthful of blood, climbing out of the deep pit with difficulty, looking helplessly at the two Cedar Beasts attacking him with eyes full of dread. He was already not a match for the two Cedar Beasts, and had been passively defending against the attacks of the beasts; with the increased consumption of Spiritual Power, his situation became increasingly difficult. After a long battle, he had already begun to sustain injuries under the combined attack of the two beasts. Given the current situation, relying solely on this power to wipe out all the beasts at once seemed difficult; if the battle continued, he might even fall here. With these thoughts in mind, Su He had already begun to consider retreating, but out of concern for face and because it was not yet a life-or-death moment, he said nothing about retreating. It wasn¡¯t just him, Luo Chenggu felt the same. Both men faced attacks from two Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts and were constantly in a defensive position. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, Luo Chenggu had more means to defend himself, and for the time being, there was no danger to his life. High in the sky, the Overturning Mountain Seal above Lin Shilu¡¯s head slammed down, colliding with the Cedar Beast¡¯s attacks. The immense destructive power created gusts of wind, whipping up the surrounding sand and stones, and the whole sky dimmed. With the repelling force of the attacks, Lin Shilu put some distance between them, hovering in mid-air with a pale face. Having fought for so long, he had nearly exhausted all his means besides his Spirit Arts and still hadn¡¯t gained a significant advantage. As time went on, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he would be at a disadvantage. Aware that the longer the battle dragged on, the worse it would be for him, and considering that the Human Cultivators had already achieved some results at this time, Lin Xingyuan had slain a Second Order Demonic Beast and severely injured a Second Order Cedar Beast, achieving brilliant results. Lin Xingcheng also killed a Second Order Demonic Beast and was intensifying his attacks on the remaining beasts, all to alleviate his clanspeople¡¯s pressure. Apart from the two from the Lin Family, Independent Cultivator Liu Zhirong had also killed a Second Order Cedar Beast, and severely wounded another, achieving results no less impressive than Lin Xingyuan¡¯s. Such achievements had everyone looking on with newfound respect. Clearly, among the Loose Cultivators, there were indeed some extraordinary individuals. Liu Zhirong¡¯s ability to come to the Luoyun Mountain Range from other regions and thrive meant he had some skills indeed. Other Loose Cultivators, like Li Hongliang and Sun Ruiyang from the Sun Family, though their achievements weren¡¯t as spectacular, had also severely wounded a Second Order Demonic Beast and were hot on the pursuit, striving to further expand their victories. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 408: 241: Weakening_2 Chapter 408: Chapter 241: Weakening_2 Apart from Lin Shilu and two other Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators all achieved certain results, almost reaching their pre-battle goals. At this point, the Human Cultivators successfully weakened the Demon Beast Tribe, killing two Second Order Initial Stage Cedar Beasts and severely injuring four Initial Stage Demon Beasts. If the battle continued, the situation could likely turn around, with losses only increasing. Thinking of this, Lin Shilu already had plans for a temporary retreat. Making up his mind, he bellowed, ¡°All Qi Refining Stage Cultivators prepare to retreat back into the Formation, I will temporarily hold off the Demon Beasts with Su Daoyou and Luo Daoyou. Seize the time to retreat!¡± As soon as his words fell, the market¡¯s Defensive Array once again opened a gap, temporarily maintaining the pathway for the cultivators¡¯ retreat. Lin Shilu repelled the two Cedar Beast leaders with one strike, then leapt forth, converging with Su He and Luo Chenggu. ... The Qi Refining Cultivators below, upon hearing the news of the retreat, were all excited. Although they currently had some advantages, when it came to the endurance of a large-scale battle, the Human Race couldn¡¯t compare to the Demon Beast Race; the longer the fight was dragged out, the more unfavorable it would be for them. The Qi Refining Cultivators, keenly aware of this, involuntarily converged together, forming a long dragon, retreating while fighting, slowly entering the Formation. Seeing the Human Cultivators wanting to retreat, the Second Order Cedar Beasts seemed a bit annoyed. Their tribe had suffered more losses than the Human Race, and with the upper hand in high-order combat power, how could they possibly let the Human Cultivators retreat so easily? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, a few Second Order Demonic Beasts bared their teeth and converged, charging toward Lin Shilu and the others as if they intended to retain them and salvage some face. Facing the surging Cedar Beast Tribe, Lin Shilu and his companions had extremely grave expressions. They were already at a disadvantage prior to this and now had to face even more desperate attacks from the Demon Beasts, all to buy time for the Qi Refining Stage Cultivators to retreat, which only increased the pressure. Lin Shilu gave a bitter smile, then spoke up, ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t hold back anymore. As long as we retreat unscathed, our mission will be fully accomplished, and the remaining Demon Beasts are nothing to fear!¡± Hearing this, Su He and Luo Chenggu nodded, fully agreeing with his words. Now that their goal had been reached and Lin Shilu had issued the retreat order, it allowed the two of them to breathe a sigh of relief. Otherwise, if they continued to fight, they would be severely injured, likely having to reveal some of their trump cards, and even use some of their life-saving measures. The two agreed to advance and retreat together with the market, and were willing to wade through this muddy water, but if this were the result, it was not what either of them desired. Regaining their focus in the face of the oncoming Demon Beast Tribe, Su He and Luo Chenggu had no time to think further or dare to hold back, suddenly unleashing even more formidable power. Together, the three mustered a powerful attack, forming a protective wall to block the vast Demon Beast Tribe, fighting to buy time for the Qi Refining Cultivators. Accompanied by a series of earth-shattering sounds, their attacks collided with the Demon Beast Tribe. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Explosions echoed throughout the heavens and earth, the powerful clash kicking up a mass of dust and obscuring everyone¡¯s vision. Seizing this opportunity, the Lin Family members rushed into the Formation first, followed by a large number of Qi Refining Cultivators entering the Formation. At this moment, Lin Shilu and the others launched their fierce attacks in succession, frequently bombarding the Demon Beast Tribe with Sword Qi and the Overturning Mountain Seal. Amidst the wails of agony, aside from the Second Order Demonic Beasts that could withstand an attack, the First Order Demon Beasts met certain death upon contact. Witnessing their offspring and progeny being slaughtered, the two Second Order Demonic Beasts¡¯ eyes turned blood red as they bared their teeth at Lin Shilu and the others, appearing extremely angry. The two Cedar Beast leaders roared to the sky, spitting out a large quantity of ice balls, far more than any previous time. It was evident they were enraged; facing the grim massacre, they completely released any reserve, expelling nearly all their limited ice balls, vowing to take the three with them. Facing this even more terrifying attack, Lin Shilu and his companions¡¯ expressions turned solemn, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t hold back. If we join forces to block this strike, we should be able to retreat unscathed!¡± Lin Shilu shouted loudly, his Spirit Sword unleashed a massive amount of Sword Qi, and the Overturning Mountain Seal above his head also pressed down on the Cedar Beasts. His goal was simple: to make the Demonic Beasts hesitate in their attacks for fear of damaging their own, to halt their assault on them; otherwise, under the combined force of so many desperate Demonic Beasts, the pressure on them was enormous. A moment¡¯s carelessness could lead to severe injury or even death. Hearing these words, Su He and Luo Chenggu, who stood beside him, dared not take any chances. They each brought out their trump cards, evidently fighting for their lives. Su He waved his sleeve, and a pale golden Token flew from his hand, transforming into a wall that stood in front of the three men. This Magic Artifact was one of his trump cards, containing a wealth of earth-property spiritual objects. It had been refined over a long time and at great expense. It consumed significant energy with each use and was extremely troublesome to replenish. He was reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary. Facing such a terrifying attack, in the current situation, he had no choice but to use it. Luo Chenggu was not to be outdone, as a gourd-type Magic Artifact appeared in his hand. Following a Law Decree, a large amount of blood-red smoke erupted and poured towards the oncoming Demon Beast horde. As the smoke and Lin Shilu¡¯s attacks arrived as expected, all the Demonic Beasts dared not take them lightly. Some First Order Demon Beasts couldn¡¯t avoid in time, falling directly to the ground dazed by the smoke and soon died silently. Seeing the smoke so eerie, some Second Order Demonic Beasts also started to panic. Two injured Second Order Demonic Beasts tried to dodge but were pierced through the head by the Sword Qi blasted by Lin Shilu. With their dying cries, they fell unwillingly, provoking the two Cedar Beast leaders once again. The two Demon Beast leaders roared angrily, intending to continue their assault on Lin Shilu and the others, but a golden Seal descended from above, pressing down like a massive mountain. Despite their rage, they had to halt their attack, as this was an assault from a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, one they couldn¡¯t simply ignore. Both Demon Beast leaders twisted their bodies, moving at extreme speed, and narrowly avoided the Overturning Mountain Seal¡¯s strike. At that moment, the ice balls they had spat out also descended in front of Lin Shilu and the others. Confronted with ice ball attacks far superior to the earlier ones, Lin Shilu¡¯s Green Scale Shield shone with Spiritual Light, transforming into a huge shield that protected the three men behind it. In an instant, the ice balls bombarded the shield and the wall barrier. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The explosion was deafening, incessant to the ear. The Green Scale Shield blocked a majority of the ice ball attacks. However, the sheer number of ice balls, most of them aimed in his direction, was overwhelming. Fortunately, the Green Scale Shield¡¯s defensive power was exceptionally outstanding. After being carefully refined by Lin Shilu, containing a large number of spiritual objects, and having withstood many great battles, it had repeatedly blocked powerful attacks. This time, it did not disappoint, blocking all of the incoming ice balls. The remaining ice balls hit the wall barrier. The Defense Artifact that Luo Chenggu had summoned had some tricks, blocking all of the ice ball attacks with practically no damage, only dimming the light on the Token slightly. As the last ice ball exploded, this round of terrifying ice ball attacks temporarily ceased. When the dust cleared, Lin Shilu withdrew the Green Scale Shield and, seeing the several cracks on it, had no time to feel distressed. Although the Defense Artifact was damaged, as a Second Order Refiner, with the right Artifact Refining Materials, it wouldn¡¯t take him long to repair it. Lin Shilu turned around to see that nearly a thousand people had almost all successfully entered the Formation. It was time for the three of them to start their retreat. ¡°Fellow Daoists, it¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s retreat!¡± Lin Shilu called out loudly, and then he hurriedly retreated, moving with extreme speed. Su He and Luo Chenggu were not slow either. The two of them followed Lin Shilu¡¯s lead, one in front, one behind, and turned into blurs as they rushed straight into the Formation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 409: 242 Victory_1 Chapter 409: Chapter 242 Victory_1 As the three individuals safely retreated back within the formation, the crack that had opened on the light curtain immediately sealed, and a complete pale golden light shield reappeared, with the formation once again set into motion. Watching the three slip away right before its eyes and return to the formation, the Cedar Beast chieftain seethed with rage. It opened its mouth and spat out several ice orbs, attacking the defensive array and venting its fury upon it. A few loud noises were heard, but the light of the formation only flickered a few times, without any excessively violent reaction. However, the ice orbs spat out by the demonic beasts were limited and could not be used endlessly. The two beast chieftains had already expended a large number of ice orbs during the fierce battle, so there were not many left for attacking in the short term. With just these two beasts attacking, the power was very limited; against this defensive formation, there was simply no solution. The two Cedar Beast chieftains stared at the indifferent formation. Despite their anger, they were helpless. ... Shortly thereafter, after the Cedar Beast chieftain roared a few times, a large number of demonic beasts gathered in response to its call. They rallied the entire Demon Beast Tribe and spat out a great number of ice orbs, attempting to attack the defensive array once more. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky filled with ice orbs bombarding the formation; explosion after explosion was heard, and as a burst of light flashed, the formation blocked all attacks. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even with the entire tribe attacking together, they only managed to slightly shake the formation, which quickly returned to normal. Clearly, to fully break the formation, it would require an uninterrupted attack for a very long period. The unyielding Cedar Beasts continued attacking the formation, seemingly determined not to stop until achieving their goal. Meanwhile, Lin Shilu and the other Qi Refining Cultivators had all successfully retreated inside the formation. Watching the ripples emanating from the formation, and relying on the remaining Demon Beast Tribe, it was impossible to break through in a short time. Lin Shilu¡¯s pale complexion regained some rosiness, and he soon let out a sigh of relief. At this moment, on the city walls within the market, Lin Shilu and few Foundation Establishment Cultivators were seated together. Having successfully weakened the Cedar Beast Tribe¡¯s strength, they had achieved their goal. The cultivators present were joyful, and their moods were quite good. Below the city walls, numerous Qi Refining Cultivators were clustered in groups. Within this large gathering of cultivators, the majority were thrilled, as quite a few had reaped substantial rewards from the battle. However, some cultivators were pale, many had sustained injuries, and more still had fallen in the battle. Overall, compared to those who had fallen, being alive was the greatest fortune. Looking around, the atmosphere among the cultivator group was lively. Some cultivators were chatting, while others sat cross-legged, immediately meditating in place to recover from their injuries. On the city wall, Lin Shilu looked out over the group of cultivators below, then turned to ask Lin Xingshun about the Lin Family Members¡¯ losses in this great battle. Lin Xingshun paused for a moment, then slapped his storage bag, took out a book of records, and began to report as he flipped through it. ¡°According to the statistics, in this battle, eighteen Lin Family Qi Refining clanspeople fell, seven were severely injured, and the rest of our people suffered injuries, more or less.¡± ¡°Among the fallen clanspeople, twelve were of the ¡®Xing¡¯ generation, six were of the ¡®Tian¡¯ generation, all above the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement. However, those above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining are all alive, and our clan¡¯s core strength has not suffered major losses.¡± Hearing the report, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned sorrowful. The Lin Family had not faced such a large loss in years; at least some twenty-odd cultivators had died at the claws of demonic beasts, but mostly those of lesser talent and cultivation. This battle, however, had claimed the lives of the clan¡¯s core strength. Yet on reflection, given the scale of the Demon Beast assault, some casualties were to be expected. The Lin Family Members are flesh and blood, too, and they had to lead by example. Under such a brutal battle, such a loss was already very low. With these thoughts, he slowly regained composure, only feeling pity for the fallen clanspeople. ¡°Alas¡­ if Tian Ming were here, he and I joining forces might well have wiped out this Demon Beast Tribe!¡± Lin Shilu murmured this thought to himself, his mournful expression causing several Lin Family Members to feel regret as well. Gathering his thoughts, he sighed deeply and then addressed his kin: ¡°With limited options at this crucial time, first cremate the remains of our clanspeople and temporarily store them within the market. Once I return to our clan, we¡¯ll give them a proper burial and enter their spirit tablets into the ancestral hall with the witness of our people.¡± ¡°By Fifteenth Uncle¡¯s command!¡± Lin Xingshun nodded, replying respectfully, as that was indeed the only arrangement that could be made at the moment. Seeing Lin Shilu looking at him, Lin Xingshun sighed and continued to report the losses and outcomes for the other cultivators. After a while, Lin Xingshun finished reporting the results of the great battle. According to his tally, in addition to the Lin Family¡¯s losses, more than one hundred sixty other Qi Refining Cultivators had perished, most at the Sixth or Seventh Layer, but more than ten cultivators of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement had also fallen. The Cedar Beast Tribe had suffered even greater losses: four Second Order Initial Stage beasts had died, over sixty of the First Order Late Stage, and as for lower order beasts, several hundreds had perished. Now, the Cedar Beast Tribe¡¯s numbers had dwindled to less than sixty percent of their peak. Nevertheless, those that survived were all First Order Medium Stage and above, and their overall strength remained formidable. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 410: 242 Battle Achievement_2 Chapter 410: Chapter 242 Battle Achievement_2 As for the human cultivators, though nearly two hundred of them also fell, their top combat forces had not decreased. When comparing these losses to those of the demon beast tribes, they simply cannot be mentioned in the same breath. This fierce battle can be said to have ended in a phased victory for humanity, perfectly achieving the goals set before the great war. Some well-known cultivators achieved glorious records in battle, among them, Li Yuancheng and his wife stood out remarkably, slaying as many as seven Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts, with a considerable number of Initial and Medium Stage First Order beasts as well. In addition, the Chen Clan, a subsidiary family of the Lin Family, led by Chen Jingshan, also killed several Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts, and more than a dozen of the lesser Medium Stage beasts. Such achievements, while incomparable to those of Li Yuancheng and his wife, are enough to rank them among the top few outside of the Foundation Establishing Families. ... Following this battle, the crisis of Luoyun Market has been temporarily resolved, but they still cannot afford to take it lightly. After all, the beast tide attack has not yet passed, and they could encounter other demon beast tribes at any time; if these tribes attack the market together with the Cedar Beast Tribe, their troubles would be even greater. Thinking of these possibilities, Lin Shilu dared not take it lightly; he heaved a long sigh and then spoke, ¡°Xingshun, those Qi Refining Cultivators made an effort for the market¡¯s safety as well, distribute some of the family¡¯s elixirs from our reserves to aid their quick recovery and breakthroughs in cultivation.¡± ¡°As for those cultivators who have fallen, arrange the compensation according to the rules previously set; if there are Loose Cultivators with no next of kin, convert their compensation into elixirs and distribute them to all the Qi Refining Cultivators.¡± ¡°In addition, make sure to accurately tally all the cultivators¡¯ contributions and battle achievements so that, after the tide attack, rewards can be disbursed according to the rules.¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words were extremely sincere, there was not the slightest hint of concealment, and all cultivators present heard them loud and clear. At this moment, those Qi Refining Cultivators were greatly moved. Originally, they stayed in the market for the generous rewards, and even if the Lin Family did nothing, they wouldn¡¯t have any complaints. After all, it was their own choice to be cultivators; if their lack of strength led to their fall, no one else could be blamed. Unexpectedly, the Lin Family handled matters so fairly and humanely. During the great battle, the Lin Family members took the lead without discriminating against them. Moreover, the Lin Family not only provided them with elixirs to heal their wounds but also distributed additional compensations meant for other cultivators to them. This act showcased the strength and credibility of the Lin Family, which truly surprised them. At that time, some cultivators were deeply touched and felt fortunate that they had stayed to defend Luoyun Market. Otherwise, with their low level of cultivation, even if they went to other places, they likely would have been cannon fodder and perhaps would have already perished. Among the crowd, some Qi Refining Cultivators, with genuine attitudes, respectfully bowed in the direction of Lin Shilu. Clearly, the Lin Family¡¯s way of handling matters had thoroughly won over the vast majority of cultivators, and in future fights, they would not hold back. Seeing the sincere attitudes of the cultivators below, Lin Shilu chuckled and spoke loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, you have all worked hard. Rest assured, I have seen your efforts, and as long as Luoyun Market overcomes this disaster, the Lin Family will not be stingy. The rewards and compensation will not be lacking.¡± ¡°For now, everyone take a good rest, hurry and heal your wounds and make breakthroughs in your cultivation.¡± ¡°Although we have severely damaged the demon beast tribes, the crisis is not completely over. We cannot let down our guard; I look forward to fighting side by side with you again.¡± These words promised many benefits but also reminded everyone not to be complacent, earning the cultivators¡¯ favor. In the crowd, a Seventh Level Qi Refining Cultivator was the first to speak up with extreme sincerity. ¡°¡±Elder Lin is indeed magnanimous. We, the juniors, will surely continue to strive and pledge to stand or fall together with the market!¡± No sooner had the voice faded away than someone in the crowd echoed, ¡°Yes¡­ Under the leadership of Elder Lin, we have already inflicted heavy losses on the Demon Beast Tribe. With a few more attacks, we will definitely be able to annihilate the Cedar Beast Tribe in one fell swoop!¡± With that said, the scene became suddenly lively. Many cultivators started speaking up, chiming in one after another, and the entire group of cultivators was suddenly emboldened. At this moment, the crowd of cultivators was almost mobilized by his speech, some promises, and the actions of the Lin Family. It was an excellent start, and even those who had been muddying the waters began to work wholeheartedly for the sake of the market. Lin Shilu was secretly pleased in his heart; his goal was achieved. Now, all the cultivators were united, and as long as they persevered and worked together to resist the attacks of the Demonic Beasts, the chances of the market surviving this crisis significantly increased. Regaining his focus, he immediately sent Lin Xingshun away to manage the Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople, while he casually chatted with Su He and Luo Chenggu. Although Su He and his companion did not achieve any spectacular results in this battle, they had given it their all. Lin Shilu expressed his gratitude and did not forget to mention the promises he had made before, which caused several Loose Cultivators and Luo Chenggu and his companions to breathe a sigh of relief. Then, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned solemn, and he said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, we have achieved our objective in this battle, but the Demonic Beasts have not retreated. I wonder what everyone plans to do next; feel free to speak your minds!¡± Hearing these words, the group fell silent for a moment, with no good solutions readily coming to mind. Lin Xingcheng, who was nearby, turned his head and then said, ¡°Considering the current situation, everyone has suffered some injuries and the expenditure of our resources has been considerable. In the short term, we are likely inadequate for organizing another attack!¡± Hearing this, Luo Chenggu also started to chime in, ¡°Yes¡­ Our consumption has been no small matter, but the Demonic Beasts have also suffered heavy losses, with four Early Stage Second Order Demonic Beasts killed and another two severely wounded.¡± ¡°If these beasts don¡¯t intend to leave this place, once we¡¯ve recovered, it¡¯s absolutely necessary to attack again and further weaken their strength. If we can kill a few more Second Order Demonic Beasts, perhaps we really could break them altogether, maybe even annihilate them!¡± Luo Chenggu put forward this suggestion also with the Luo Family¡¯s interests in mind, speaking candidly. If this group of Demonic Beasts chose to leave, they could potentially attack other Spirit Lands in the Luoyun Mountain Range. And if it happened to be the Luo Family¡¯s territory, the Luo Family might not be able to withstand it and could suffer even more devastating losses. Putting themselves in others¡¯ shoes, with the Demon Beast Tribe right there, eliminating them with the help of everyone would be a boon for the Luo Family and other family forces, with no drawbacks. This line of thinking was well understood by Sun Ruiyang and the people from the Qi Refining Families, so during the major battle, the cultivators with backing from powerful factions spared no effort, not only for the Lin Family but also for the greater good and for their own families. With these considerations in mind, Luo Chenggu, Lin Shilu, and the other family members quickly reached a consensus: they decided to wait until everyone had recovered somewhat before acting again, aiming to eliminate the Cedar Beast Tribe as much as possible. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this decision, Su He and Liu Zhirong, three Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, were somewhat hesitant, but since they had already promised to stay and guard the market, despite some reluctance, they eventually agreed, constrained by face and the Lin Family¡¯s influence. As the discussion yielded a result, Lin Shilu was very satisfied. After chatting with a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he instructed Lin Xingcheng: ¡°Xingcheng, we all need to recover our Spiritual Power and heal our injuries. You should select some family members to stay here and be responsible for guarding the Formation. With the current strength of these beasts, they are unlikely to break through our Formation in the short term. However, we can¡¯t let our guard down; if other Demonic Beasts come, the trouble will be even greater!¡± ¡°In this way, focus wholeheartedly on this task. If there is any change, send word to me immediately!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Fifteenth Uncle, I will take charge of this matter. Please concentrate on your cultivation!¡± Lin Xingcheng replied, cupping his fist in salute. Hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded, greeted the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and then they all left the city wall to return to their respective caves to recover from their injuries and restore their Spiritual Power. The Qi Refining Cultivators below, seeing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators leave and under the arrangements of Lin Xingshun, dispersed from the spot and all retreated to their caves to cultivate in seclusion. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 411: 243: Towering Figure_1 Chapter 411: Chapter 243: Towering Figure_1 Golden Horn Mountain. In a small courtyard, Lin Tianming sat opposite his father, and Lin Tianfeng was also present. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half a month had passed since Lin Tianming had returned to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory after battling the Golden Fang Beast Clan. After a brief period of secluded cultivation, his injuries and spiritual power had fully recovered, giving him a slight edge in strength compared to before. Today, upon leaving his seclusion, Lin Tianming¡¯s first act was to visit his father, and it just so happened that Lin Tianfeng was also there. The three of them sat in the courtyard, chatting over tea. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup and then began inquiring about the recent developments at Golden Horn Mountain and within the Cultivation World, knowing it was a critical time during the beast tide attack; the crisis was not yet over, and they had to remain vigilant, paying close attention to every move of the beast tide. ... Upon hearing the question, Lin Xingrong chuckled and started discussing the recent events and developments. According to him, the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory had been tranquil during this half-month, with few demonic beasts appearing. The occasional First Order Demon Beast that did appear was easily slain by the patrolling clan members without even breaking a sweat. However, the situation at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market was still unclear, as there had been no news from them. At this, Lin Tianming and the others were silent, their brows furrowed, each harbouring their own worries. Time passed until a long sigh broke the silence. ¡°Father, brother, the Golden Fang Beast Clan has been severely damaged, and they are incapable of stirring up any trouble now,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Since Golden Horn Mountain is temporarily safe, I plan to go on a patrol and take a look at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng exchanged glances. They were generally confident in Lin Tianming¡¯s decisions and arrangements, especially since they were equally concerned about the situation in the other two territories. Moreover, with the precedent set by Lin Tianming¡¯s abilities, it seemed unlikely that ordinary demon beast clans could detain him. Therefore, letting Lin Tianming go out and look around would not only offer timely support to the other two locations, but also allow for mutual reassurance of safety. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Xingrong looked at Lin Tianfeng, and the two quickly reached an agreement. Then, with a smile, Lin Xingrong earnestly advised, ¡°Be cautious on your journey. Tianfeng and I will stay and guard Golden Horn Mountain. Try to go and return quickly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, father. With the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, it will only take a few days at most to go and return. As long as I don¡¯t encounter a demonic beast attack, I¡¯ll surely be back here within ten days,¡± Lin Tianming assured him. ¡°Once I leave, don¡¯t you two wander off. If demonic beasts attack our territory, don¡¯t engage them rashly. Wait for me to return before deciding what to do,¡± Lin Tianming added, then he instructed his father and Lin Tianfeng on what to do in his absence. ¡°Alright, make it a swift journey!¡± responded Lin Xingrong. Once everything was arranged, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng stood up to take their leave from the courtyard together. Without delay, Lin Tianming, under Lin Tianfeng¡¯s watchful gaze, crossed the Mountain Protection Array with the Purple Gold Eagle and flew towards the surrounding mountains. Sitting atop the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming surveyed the rapidly receding landscape below, meticulously scanning for any signs of demonic beasts. Before leaving, he had to check the surroundings of Golden Horn Mountain one more time to ensure temporary safety before he could depart with peace of mind. If he had just left and demonic beasts attacked Golden Horn Mountain, and if the beasts were powerful, it would mean great pressure for Tianfeng and the others. In this way, although the search was time-consuming, it greatly increased the safety of the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory and was absolutely necessary. Considering this, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, and his sharp gaze pierced through the clouds, with every flower and blade of grass on the ground coming into clear view. With his careful investigation, the situation below was thoroughly surveyed. Half a day passed, and Lin Tianming appeared in a valley at the northern part of Golden Horn Mountain, close to the Luoyang Mountain Range. Here, amidst numerous peaks, it was close to the boundary between two mountain ranges. A few more miles ahead would bring him into the Luoyang Mountain Range, a no-man¡¯s land. His journey thus far had been smooth, with no sighting of Second Order Demonic Beasts, only encountering a few small groups consisting of First Order Demon Beasts. Pressed for time, he ignored them, as such roaming beasts were unlikely to trouble the Lin Family and were not worth the time. Standing atop a barren peak, Lin Tianming gazed at the northern Luoyang Mountain Range, lost in thought. It had been about a month since news of the beast tide had spread, and the current state of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was still unknown. If nothing was amiss, the situation in other regions would be similar to that of Luoyun Mountain, where everyone was fighting their own battles against the demonic beasts, leading to an information blackout in the Cultivation World. Even the Zhenyang Sect, the powerhouse in the southern Wei Kingdom, hadn¡¯t made any moves or sent elite disciples to aid the big and small forces of the Cultivation World in fighting against the demon beast attacks. At this moment, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t know what Zhenyang Sect was up to, whether they had encountered attacks from demonic beasts, and even less about the plans of other Golden Core forces. Lost in these thoughts, a breeze came by, bringing Lin Tianming back to reality. ¡°Forget it, I can¡¯t control what happens elsewhere. I¡¯ll just focus on Luoyun Mountain for now, and as for the life and death of other forces, it¡¯s not something we should concern ourselves with,¡± he muttered to himself, then prepared to turn around and head in the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. In a short while, as he crossed a mountain ridge, he suddenly heard the roar of demonic beasts and explosions, causing the ground and the mountains to shake violently. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 412: 243 The Majestic Figure_2 Chapter 412: Chapter 243 The Majestic Figure_2 Lin Tianming stopped in his tracks and landed on a mountaintop, immediately opening his Eye of Five Colors to scan the distance, searching for the origin of the sounds made by the Demonic Beasts. Soon, the sounds grew louder, accompanied by several swooshing noises through the air. A few miles away on a mountaintop, several Yinming Beasts bared their teeth and leapt agilely as they pursued a female cultivator, their speed extraordinarily strange. In the chase, several dark figures were hurtling towards him. As they looked on, the speed of the Yinming Beasts was clearly faster than that of the female cultivator. With time passing in this chase, the quickest among them, a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast, was already less than thirty meters away from her. In such a critical moment, the woman¡¯s face was pale; it was evident she was injured. ... Her blue robes were now heavily stained with blood, the collar at her chest area tattered, revealing skin pale as snow. The Demonic Beast was getting closer, its terrifying claws already lashing out. A moment¡¯s delay and it might very well pierce through her body. At this moment, it was apparent she could no longer escape the fearsome Demonic Beast. In this desperate moment, the woman¡¯s expression darkened, slightly panicked for a moment before calming down. Before this, she had already sustained injuries, and her cultivation was not strong enough to stand up to this group of Demonic Beasts. As the pursuit continued, her injuries worsened and her Spiritual Power was depleted. Even if she kept running, it seemed unlikely that she would escape. In such dire straits, it might be better to go all in. If she could kill the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast, there might still be a chance for survival. Having made up her mind, she turned and unleashed a sword strike, bursting forth with a pale blue Sword Qi that blasted towards the Yinming Beast. Faced with the woman¡¯s sudden Sword Qi, which was steeped in fearsome Ice chill, it was far more formidable than any attack she had made before. At that moment, the Yinming Beast preparing to attack her became extremely wary. Their advancement was not easy, and faced with Sword Qi that threatened their lives, the Yinming Beasts weren¡¯t foolish enough to continue the attack and were forced to dodge in haste. In an instant, the decisiveness of the Yinming Beast allowed it to dodge successfully. The terrifying Sword Qi brushed past the body of the Yinming Beast and struck the ground, easily carving out an abyssal pit. Seeing the Yinming Beast avoid the attack, the woman¡¯s face turned grim. Seizing the brief respite, she turned to continue her escape. However, just as she turned, the Yinming Beasts that had fallen behind caught up and encircled her completely. Witnessing this, the woman, who had so far been undisturbed, couldn¡¯t help but start to panic. If there had only been one Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast pursuing her, there might have been hope for escape. Following a struggle, the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast dodged her desperate attack, and the four Yinming Beasts at the rear took advantage of the momentary delay to catch up, surrounding her from different directions. With enemies in front and predators behind, had it been dealing with a single Second Order Initial Stage Yinming Beast, she still could have hoped to escape. But this was a Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast, along with a group comprising four Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts. Now, with severe injuries and depleted Spiritual Power, she was backed into a corner with no way out, no capacity for counterattack. Seeing the bared teeth of the surrounding Yinming Beasts as they rushed over, seemingly ready to devour her. At this moment, the woman¡¯s face turned deathly pale, standing motionless in the middle of the circle. ¡°Grandfather, your granddaughter can¡¯t avenge you, but if there¡¯s an afterlife, Xi¡¯er will definitely annihilate the entire Chen Clan to avenge you!¡± The woman murmured in her heart, resigning to her fate in the face of certain doom. As the Yinming Beasts closed in, she could even sense the various scents emanating from their bodies, fearing that in the next instant, she would be torn to pieces and meet her end here. ¡°Haha¡­ since death is inevitable, the manner in which I die holds no fear for me!¡± The woman let out a self-deprecating laugh, her pallid complexion momentarily regaining some color, and a brief smile that flashed across her brows shone as brightly as the most radiant star in the nine heavens, extremely charming. Just as the Yinming Beast¡¯s blade-like claws were about to touch the enchanting body of the woman, a powerful pressure swept through. Following that, several pale golden Sword Qi tore through the sky, directly bombarding the bodies of a few Yinming Beasts. Several screams resounded, but the woman, who felt no pain whatsoever, stood frozen, making no move. As moments passed, she remained unmoved, until a breeze stirred her hair across her cheeks, and only then did she notice something amiss. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How am I not dead? And I can¡¯t feel any pain at all!¡± ¡°Why is this happening? Could this be an illusion?¡± The woman pinched her breathtakingly beautiful face, and upon feeling a faint pain, she finally opened her eyes and saw a man in a blue robe standing in front of her. The man in the blue robe was none other than Lin Tianming, currently holding the Tiangang Sword in one hand, while the breeze fluttered the hem of his robe, his towering figure like a fortress. He had noticed the woman being besieged by the Demonic Beasts, nearly a certain death situation. And he happened to realize that, as both were from the Human Race and it was a critical moment during an invasion, one more cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage would increase the chances of the Luoyun Mountain Range surviving the onslaught. Besides, the woman¡¯s appearance somehow felt familiar, and moreover, he was not the type to commit evil deeds, let alone watch a beauty perish before his eyes. Thus, under these various factors, he was moved to lend a hand. At the moment, as she looked at his upright silhouette standing before her, even without seeing his face, she felt an inexplicable familiarity, as if they had met somewhere before or had some past encounter. However, there was no time to ponder further, as the noises around her interrupted her speculation. By this time, two of the five Yinming Beasts had died, with the remaining three all injured, and only the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast was not seriously hurt. The rest were lying on the ground, severely wounded, and unable to exert much strength. The Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast climbed up from the ground, baring its teeth in a furious snarl, clearly enraged. It had thought the woman would surely die under its claws, but at the crucial moment, she was saved by several sword energies. If it hadn¡¯t sensed the attack in advance, it might well have been killed on the spot under such a sneak attack. The Yinming Beast, livid with rage, glared at the man and, in the blink of an eye, launched another attack. Facing the oncoming attack of the Yinming Beast, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh. The strength of this Demonic Beast was admittedly remarkable, but it paled in comparison to the Demonic Beasts he had fought before; they were simply not in the same league. Furthermore, it was already injured. Even at its peak, it would not be a match for him. If he took the fight seriously, killing it would not be difficult. ¡°Dare to attack me? You¡¯re courting death!¡± After Lin Tianming coldly uttered those words, he leapt into action, the Tiangang Sword already in his grip as he charged towards the Yinming Beast. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of collision sounds erupted; Lin Tianming did not use any Spiritual Power but relied on his physical body to engage in close combat with the Yinming Beast. In previous fights with Demonic Beasts, he was always at an absolute disadvantage and never had the opportunity to fight with his physical body. This time, he finally encountered a Demonic Beast that was a match for him, the perfect opportunity to test his physical strength. At that moment, Lin Tianming gripped the Tiangang Sword and swung it, clashing directly with the claws of the Yinming Beast. Sounds of metal against metal echoed through the field, and with every sweep of the Tiangang Sword, sparks flew. Feeling the recoil force in his hand that numbed his palm, he knew the force was limited and wouldn¡¯t cause much damage. After the clash, the Yinming Beast was forced back dozens of yards, while Lin Tianming himself only retreated a few yards. In the first exchange, both the Yinming Beast and Lin Tianming retreated a bit, but neither was injured. Feeling the explosive power coursing through his body, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and then ferociously shot toward the Yinming Beast. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 413: 244 The Lin Family Genius Cultivator!_1 Chapter 413: Chapter 244 The Lin Family Genius Cultivator!_1 At that moment, his hand gripping the Tiangang Sword tirelessly swung it, its dance intertwining with the sharp claws of the Yinming Beast. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Man and beast had already exchanged several rounds of blows, nearly matching each other in strength, but Lin Tianming, relying on his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, subtly held a slight advantage. ¡°Heh, I¡¯m done playing with you. Die!¡± Lin Tianming said with a laugh, before getting serious, once again shifting his footing to strike the Yinming Beast with his sword. As the Tiangang Sword made contact, Wind sprang up beneath his feet, and his speed increased by a thread. ... Simultaneously, he punched out, his fist as hard as iron and incredibly fast, catching the Yinming Beast completely off guard. The beast, already larger than Lin Tianming, was also slower, and unable to dodge in time, it was directly hit by his steel-like fist. A miserable scream rang out as the massive body of the Yinming Beast was sent soaring into the air, crashing down into the ground with such force that it made a large pit on impact. Lin Tianming¡¯s physical strength was immense¡ªthis punch carried the weight of ten thousand pounds. An ordinary Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast relying only on its physicality would likely perish from a single punch. At that moment, the full force of his punch bore through the Yinming Beast¡¯s back, immediately blowing a hole through it. Flesh and blood flew, briefly exposing horrifying white bone and internal organs. Behind him, the woman watched with sparkling eyes as the beast writhed in misery, a joyful smile flickering across her face. Earlier, she had nearly perished at the jaws of the demonic beasts. In her time of dire need, the Blue Robed Cultivator had appeared out of nowhere, taking the initiative to rescue her. Upon reflection, she still could not recall any past interactions between them. Under the circumstances of being strangers, his current efforts to injure the Yinming Beast that had nearly claimed her life moved her deeply. As a woman, a Rogue Cultivator, she had spent years in hiding, bearing a vendetta and enduring countless hardships, often falling victim to the schemes of other cultivators. Today, in a moment of despair when she had given up the struggle, a man unexpectedly emerged to save her from a perilous fate, an occurrence which was indeed astonishing. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s not my time to die yet,¡± the woman mused silently to herself. Coming back to her senses, she looked towards the pit where the pained Yinming Beast bared its teeth and howled miserably. Having just risen, the beast staggered and struggled to stand. Before it could steady itself, Lin Tianming was already upon it, faster than before, and his Tiangang Sword was slashing down, mere feet from striking the beast¡¯s head. In its panic, the Yinming Beast tried to evade, but wounded and weaker, evasion was impossible. Under its gaze of utter despair, the Tiangang Sword did not slow down, striking decisively upon its head. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± A light sound marked the moment the Tiangang Sword pierced through the demonic beast¡¯s skull. Immediately following, there was a thud¡ªno cry of agony was heard as the large body of the Yinming Beast collapsed to the ground; the impact sent dust rising, drifting into the sky. As the dust settled, the form of the Yinming Beast was revealed. Now the beast lay on the ground, its vast head almost split in two, while fresh blood pooled on the ground. It had long been devoid of any sign of life. Seeing the creature lifeless, dead beyond doubt, Lin Tianming turned to look at the other two grievously wounded beasts struggling on the ground. With the death of the Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast, the remaining two at the Initial Stage, already seriously injured¡ªand unable to match Lin Tianming even at full strength¡ªwere simply biding their time until death. Lin Tianming casually walked over, his sharp and steely gaze akin to that of the Grim Reaper himself. The two wounded Yinming Beasts watched him approach at a slow pace, and terror seized them. They struggled fiercely, but with such debilitating injuries, they could not manage to stand. After an indeterminable period, Lin Tianming reached the two beasts, and without a shred of mercy, he decisively lifted the Tiangang Sword, effortlessly ending their wretched lives. Then, the sword kept moving, harvesting any useful materials from the carcasses of the beasts and placing them into a prepared storage pouch. Having completed this task, he finally turned and looked at the woman who stood frozen in place. Now, the two sized each other up in silence, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere. The woman, recalling their past encounter, finally remembered that over ten years ago, they had interacted in the Luoyun Market stall area. She had bought a Pill Formula from his grandfather back then; it was no wonder the sense of familiarity washed over her upon their reunion. Though they had met only once before, and his appearance seemed upright¡ªnot resembling that of a deceitful person¡ªshe remained guarded. She didn¡¯t wish to escape one calamity only to fall prey to another, especially since her Spiritual Power was nearly depleted. Her power now less than that of a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, any ill intent from him could lead to an outcome far worse than being devoured by a beast. ¡°Enough, I was as good as dead anyway. Having been saved by him, even if I were to die right now and give my life back to him, it would be only right. Besides, even at my peak, I¡¯d stand no chance against him. There¡¯s no point in such caution when there¡¯s nothing I can do,¡± she thought to herself. After this consideration, she first composed herself. The blushing woman bowed gracefully and then spoke, ¡°My name is Qin Xi; I am a First Order Rogue Cultivator!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 414: Lin Familys 244th Genius Cultivator!_2 Chapter 414: Lin Family¡¯s 244th Genius Cultivator!_2 ¡°At the critical moment, I must thank the cultivator for your generous rescue. I am deeply grateful, and should an opportunity arise in the future, this young lady will surely repay your kindness.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming snapped out of his reverie. Gazing at the lady¡¯s beauty that could overthrow states, and the large expanse of her chest revealed, his cheeks suddenly flushed, and he hurriedly turned his head away. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction and the change in his complexion, the woman then remembered her own injury, the hurried escape that left her with no time to cover the exposed charm in front of her chest. Moreover, in the heat of the fierce battle just now, she had been too shocked to think of changing her clothes; thus, her beauty had remained revealed, showing a fierce weapon no one else had seen before. At that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s face underwent a swift change. The originally somewhat pale cheeks suddenly blushed, becoming hot to the touch instantly. She hurriedly turned, took a set of blue robes from her storage bag, and in the blink of an eye, she had changed into them. ... Soon, she turned back around, with the exposed skin now covered, and her flushed cheeks returning to normal. Looking at Lin Tianming, who was still facing the distance, she smiled awkwardly, ¡°Fellow cultivator¡­ you can turn around now!¡± As her words fell, Lin Tianming then turned back to look at the woman anew. By then, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion had greatly improved. A green gown concealed her jade-like skin, giving her a fresh and unblemished look as if untouched by mud. Her demeanor granted a refreshing feeling to the onlooker, a stark contrast to the blood-quickening sight from before, showing two entirely different states. However, Lin Tianming did not pay much attention to her dazzling beauty, as he was in a state of shock. Fortunately, his exterior remained calm, showing no sign of agitation. Upon reflection, they had interacted some twenty years ago, when Qin Xi was but a cultivator at the Second Level of Qi Refining. And now, in such a short time, she had advanced to the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment. ¡°What kind of cultivation speed is this?¡± Lin Tianming wondered to himself. He had been fighting battles in all directions over the years, faced countless life-or-death situations, and aside from that, he had the support and guidance of family elders. In twenty years, he had only cultivated from the Eighth Level of Qi Refining to the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment. Comparing this, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation speed seemed not at all inferior, even perhaps a little faster than his own. ¡°Perhaps her talent is equally remarkable, and she has had her share of fortunes. After all, in the vast cultivation world, there are always higher heavens and more capable people, and my achievements are nothing extraordinary,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself with amazement. Regaining his composure, and not daring to look too long at the delicate jade beauty that was Qin Xi, Lin Tianming was cautious not to give the wrong impression and be thought of as a frivolous dandy. And Qin Xi, after taking a glance at Lin Tianming, opened her mouth again to express her thanks, her tone genuinely sincere. ¡°You have been righteous in coming to my aid, yet I do not know your esteemed name. May I ask it, so I can surely repay this life-saving grace in the future?¡± In the face of the lady¡¯s inquiry about his name, Lin Tianming smiled openly. It was a critical time, as the beast tide had not passed and the Lin Family¡¯s crisis had yet to be resolved, urgently requiring the assistance of cultivators from all walks of life. Now that he knew of Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation and background, it was crucial to vigorously befriend such a gifted loose cultivator. He hadn¡¯t expected any reward for helping earlier; it was just lending a hand as the situation called for it, also serving as fostering goodwill for himself and the Lin Family. At this time, facing Qin Xi¡¯s questions about his identity, there was indeed nothing to hide. He had already appeared publicly at the Luoyun Market, and his cultivation level was more or less known to all; it wouldn¡¯t be long before this information spread throughout the southern regions of the Wei Kingdom. Considering this, his expression changed, he revealed his true appearance, and then he spoke: ¡°I am Lin Tianming, a member of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. Passing by this place by chance and encountering Fairy Qin in danger, it was a simple effort to lend a hand. There is no need for such courtesy!¡± Hearing this and again observing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute and youthful appearance, Qin Xi herself was equally surprised and found it somewhat incredible. The Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain¡¯s great name was almost universally known in the southern regions of the Wei Kingdom, and Lin Tianming was no stranger to her either. Among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who frequented the southern Wei Kingdom, there were already rumors that Lin Family had a genius cultivator, who likely shone brightly in the great battle at Luoyun Mountain, Lin Tianming. Although Lin Tianming rarely made public appearances in the Cultivation World in recent years, and his exact cultivation and strength were not known to others, it could be inferred that the genius cultivator of the Lin Family, often discussed secretly among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, was very likely Lin Tianming himself. With these thoughts, Qin Xi took another look at Lin Tianming, deducing from his age that he was not much older than herself, barely forty years old. So young, yet already at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, his strength was terrifying. With just the power of his body alone, he had beaten a Second Order Middle Stage Yinming Beast with almost no effort. The genius cultivator who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, one could only imagine how strong he would be if he used his full strength. As she collected her thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s revelation of his true face and his forthright introduction reassured her of the rumors¡¯ accuracy. Now calm, Qin Xi¡¯s face was placid, and she let out a long and involuntary sigh of relief. The reputation of the Lin Family was excellent, and Lin Tianming¡¯s face seemed kind; plus, her intuition told her that Lin Tianming was not a wicked person and probably harbored no ill intentions towards her. Keeping these considerations in mind, Qin Xi courteously smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor that Lin Family has a genius cultivator, I had no idea it was indeed Lin.¡± ¡°No matter the reasons Lin offered help, the fact remains that you saved my life, a truth that I will never forget. Should Lin ever encounter any difficulty, do not hesitate to ask for my aid, even if it means going through fire and blade, I shall not refuse.¡± ¡°Fairy Qin, there¡¯s really no need to take it so seriously!¡± Lin Tianming replied, then steered the conversation in another direction. ¡°Fairy Qin, I have some questions, why did you fall into danger, and where did these Yinming Beasts come from?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi remained composed and fell into recollection. For years, she had frequented the Hengyang Mountain Range, holding a grudge against the Chen Clan, a Foundation Establishing Family in the range. With the Chen Clan¡¯s significant strength, which openly included several Foundation Establishment Cultivators and even a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, she dared not linger long in marketplaces. Hence, for years she stayed incognito, cultivating on the fringes of the two large mountain ranges, all the while evading the Chen Clan¡¯s searches. In doing so, she found a site with relatively abundant Spiritual Energy to engage in closed-door cultivation. Due to her extensive two-year cultivation period, by the time she emerged, a beast horde had erupted. Unfortunately for her, as soon as she left her seclusion, she encountered a group of Yinming Beasts passing by her dwelling, forcing her to leave prematurely. After a fierce battle, she was no match and managed to shake off the main force of the Demon Beast Tribe, but she was chased by Second Order Demonic Beasts. Fleeing all the way, fortunate to have had some heaven-defying opportunities, she eventually broke through the siege using every trick at her disposal and headed south. Finally arriving here, her Spiritual Power almost depleted, she found herself in dire straits. She thought she would perish under the claws of the beasts, only to be saved by the timely intervention of Lin Tianming. Collecting her thoughts, Qin Xi began to recount her harrowing experiences being chased by the Yinming Beasts, though without revealing the hatred in her heart. She had kept these memories buried deep inside, never sharing them with anyone. Years of arduous cultivation were all for the day when she could root out the Chen Clan from Hengyang Mountain Range to avenge her grandfather¡¯s death. Qin Xi continued to narrate her ordeal of being pursued by the beasts, her expression unchanged, revealing nothing out of the ordinary. As time equivalent to the burning of an incense stick passed, Lin Tianming learned of the circumstances behind Qin Xi¡¯s pursuit. From his guess, the current situation saw various regions and powers within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World threatened by the beast horde. Fighting independently, neither the descendants of the powers nor the Loose Cultivators were moving around much, causing information within the Cultivation World to become scarce. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 415: 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_1 Chapter 415: Chapter 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_1 Qin Xi had been in closed-door cultivation for nearly two years and had not gone to the deeper areas of the Hengyang Mountain Range, let alone the more distant Qianchuan Market. As such, she hardly had access to any news from the Cultivation World, or else she might have been able to learn about the situations in other regions. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he immediately asked, ¡°Fairy Qin still has injuries, may I know how severe they are? What are your plans for the future?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s caring words, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned slightly red, seeming somewhat reserved. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Lin,¡± she replied, ¡°my injuries are not a hindrance. I¡¯ve only consumed a great deal of Spiritual Power, and with a short period of closed-door cultivation, I should be able to recover as usual!¡± After saying this, Qin Xi changed the subject, ¡°Lin, may I inquire about the situation with the demonic beast tides in the Luoyun Mountain Range?¡± ... Hearing this question, Lin Tianming felt puzzled, but after thinking it through, he was able to deduce her intention. The demonic beast tides hadn¡¯t subsided yet and seemed far from over. With her current injuries, the priority must be to find a safe place to engage in closed-door cultivation. After all, it was perilously dangerous to be alone outside. With her current level of cultivation, if she encountered a group of Second Order Demonic Beasts, she could very well be in danger of falling. Considering this, Lin Tianming thought about recruiting Qin Xi. If she was willing, she could stay at Golden Horn Mountain to cultivate and incidentally help defend against the demonic beast tide. With a Foundation Establishment Cultivator at Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, safety would be more assured, and it would also make her owe another favor, reaping both reputation and benefits. Such a move would be mutually beneficial for both parties. With this in mind, he spoke warmly and earnestly. ¡°Fairy Qin, with the demonic beasts running rampant, everyone in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s mountain ranges is in danger. It¡¯s too risky for you to be outside alone. Why not come with me back to Golden Horn Mountain? We have two fellows of the Foundation Establishment Stage there to defend the place. You can cultivate in peace there, and when the beast tide passes, you are free to leave whenever you like,¡± he said. After finishing his invitation, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi with an expectant expression. And this sincere invitation from Lin Tianming did not seem false, which rather moved Qin Xi. Given her current predicament, her intermediate Foundation Establishment Level Two cultivation meant that staying alone outside was indeed dangerous; joining some faction¡¯s territory or market was a good choice. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, under the current circumstances, the markets or families of Luoyun Mountain were not the best choice since the overall strength of the forces there was not very robust, and whether they could safely weather the beast tide was questionable. Normally, the Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom or even the stronger and larger Qianchuan Market would be more suitable for her. But under special circumstances, with her injuries and her Spiritual Power drained, her strength was not at its peak, and she couldn¡¯t travel too far. Moreover, to go to Qianchuan Market, she would inevitably have to pass through the border of Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges, and even a small part of Chen Clan¡¯s territory. If she was not careful and her tracks were discovered, it would be like a lamb walking into the mouth of a tiger, with no possibility of escape. She could either take a detour to Qianchuan Market or go directly south to the more powerful Huangyang Country Cultivation World, or accept Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation, enter Lin Family¡¯s territory to help resist the beast tide, and conveniently engage in cultivation. At this moment, Qin Xi hesitated, unsure of which option to choose. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s prolonged silence, Lin Tianming beside her was quite patient and did not urge her. After a while, Qin Xi, who had been thinking for a long time, made up her mind and decided to accept Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation. The reasons she accepted Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation were key factors that influenced her decision. Firstly, the reputation of the Lin Family had been circulating in the Cultivation World for a long time. Although it was just a Foundation Establishing Family that lived in seclusion, its thunderous action that annihilated the Jin Family twenty years ago shook the major powers of the southern Wei Kingdom. Since then, the Lin Family emerged suddenly, moving into Qianchuan Market shortly thereafter, becoming the focal point of the southern Wei Kingdom¡¯s powers, enjoying the limelight. Such a dark horse family, with its strength ranking high among many Foundation Establishing Families, had a great likelihood of safely enduring the beast tide. Secondly, the beast tides¡¯ attacks were unpredictable, with danger everywhere. Unable to travel far, she couldn¡¯t directly cross the Hengyang Mountain Range to reach Qianchuan Market, nor could she go to the more distant Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Thirdly, Lin Tianming gave her an unusual feeling; an instinct told her he bore no malice or ulterior motives, and his presence felt quite pure. This unique sensation existed from their first meeting, and upon meeting again, the strange feeling persisted, which was somewhat bizarre. Fourth and most importantly, Lin Tianming had shown her kindness. No matter what his intentions, his proactive invitation was exceedingly generous. Being someone who returned favors, and since the Lin Family generally had a good reputation, it was unlikely they would do anything excessive. In such a situation, accepting Lin Tianming¡¯s invitation was also a gesture; it not only acknowledged his kindness but also contributed a modest effort to the Lin Family¡¯s cause. Additionally, it could help establish good relations with the Lin Family, so if the Chen Clan pursued her in the future, she could seek refuge from a willing protector. Resolved, Qin Xi spoke softly, ¡°Lin has shown me kindness, but with my injuries and moderate strength, I am touched that you think highly of a minor woman like myself.¡± ¡°Furthermore, being a person of Luoyun Mountain, I am willing to accept your invitation to resist the demonic beast attacks for the sake of Luoyun Mountain Range, to offer a thin strand of my humble strength!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 416: 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_2 Chapter 416: Chapter 245 Disrespectful Elder Lin Xingrong_2 Hearing that Qin Xi had accepted the invitation, the always composed Lin Tianming became extremely excited and couldn¡¯t help bursting into hearty laughter. ¡°Haha¡­ with Fairy Qin joining us, our Lin Family¡¯s strength grows stronger, and our confidence in overcoming crises is much greater!¡± Hearing this, and seeing the man¡¯s excited demeanor, a warmth began to soften Qin Xi¡¯s usually guarded heart, making her feel a bit excited as well. Ever since her grandfather died at the hands of Chen Clan cultivators for her sake, she had spent the years living austerely and had been resistant to outsiders, focused only on taking revenge. Yet, encountering the man before her, she couldn¡¯t muster the slightest resistance; it was as if there was a natural attraction, making her forget her deep hatred, which was quite inconceivable. After finally calming herself down, Qin Xi then said, sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... ¡°Fellow Lin, this place isn¡¯t safe to linger in, we should leave. I will now follow your arrangements.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming also regained his composure. At this moment, he too felt puzzled, wondering why he, who was usually so calm, was acting so out of the ordinary, far from his usual self. Turning around, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi before him, then whistled, and the Purple Gold Eagle hidden among the clouds swooped down, landing in front of them. Previously, when Lin Tianming rescued Qin Xi, the Purple Gold Eagle had been hidden high in the sky to keep watch. Should a powerful Demon Beast Tribe approach, it could sound an alarm in time for them to escape. However, at the instant the Purple Gold Eagle appeared, it gave Qin Xi quite a start; she thought they had encountered another attack from demonic beasts, and it was a skilled flyer, the Purple Gold Eagle at that. But seeing the Purple Gold Eagle land in front of them and affectionately nuzzle Lin Tianming¡¯s robe, she let out a sigh of relief, and couldn¡¯t help but hold Lin Tianming and his Lin Family in even higher regard. After all, to possess a Second Order demonic beast as a spiritual pet, especially a flying one like the Purple Gold Eagle, was rare even in the entire Wei Kingdom. Regaining her focus, she immediately exclaimed, ¡°Noble houses indeed possess great strength, to have a Second Order flying spiritual bird is quite rare in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin flatters me; Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is vast and full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Our Lin Family is just a small clan; we really don¡¯t count for much!¡± Lin Tianming said with a wave of his hand and a smile. ¡°Well, with the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flight, we¡¯ll be able to return to Golden Horn Mountain quickly. Let¡¯s set off!¡± With that, Lin Tianming leaped onto the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back first, followed closely by Qin Xi, who stepped up and sat behind him on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back. The Purple Gold Eagle then soared into the sky and soon entered the clouds, becoming a black shadow as it flew towards Golden Horn Mountain to the south. Seated on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s back, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and continued to watch every move in the surroundings vigilantly. Meanwhile, Qin Xi sat nearby, entering a state of meditative breathing; clearly, she intended to cultivate and recover from her injuries. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not disturb her, allowing the Purple Gold Eagle to carry them through the flight. ¡­ Half a day later. After half a day¡¯s journey without mishap, the Purple Gold Eagle appeared over the airspace of Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. On the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Qin Xi was still sitting upright. Following half a day of meditation and cultivation, her complexion looked much better; her spiritual power had recovered by a good half, and her injuries had also improved significantly. At that moment, Lin Tianming, standing with his hands behind his back, gazed at the scene below and coughed to interrupt Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation. Hearing the sound, Qin Xi opened her eyes and then stood up, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lin Tianming. Seeing Qin Xi rise with improved complexion and aura, Lin Tianming immediately began to introduce the place. ¡°Fairy Qin, this is Golden Horn Mountain. It used to be the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, but after their downfall twenty years ago, it fell into our Lin Family¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°With twenty years of development, along with the restoration of the might of the Jin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation, this place has returned to its former glory, becoming a very important domain for our Lin Family.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s introduction and learning that the Jin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation still existed with its strength undiminished, Qin Xi nodded, feeling even more thankful for her decision. A Defensive Formation is of paramount importance to a power; it is often the key to surviving major crises. And the Lin Family had almost wholly secured the Jin Family Clan¡¯s Territory, protected by the original Protective Clan Formation, this place now possessed a decent measure of self-defensive capability. Thus, with the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family and with her standing guard together, the security of this place had significantly increased, and her safety too was reasonably guaranteed. Regaining her focus, she looked at the solemn and majestic sect entrance, and feeling the rich Spiritual Energy of this place, she couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡°This place indeed has rich Spiritual Energy, no wonder the Jin Family stood tall for a thousand years. With such a treasure ground and the powerful strength of the Lin Family, the nobility will probably rise thoroughly!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin overpraises, the Jin Family committed many evils, and we the Lin Family were merely executing justice on behalf of the heavens. Fortunately, luck was on our side, and we were able to annihilate the Jin Family, hence acquiring this precious land!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled in response and then the Purple Gold Eagle dived down, revealing its form from among the clouds. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng who was sitting on the Sect Entrance Plaza, saw the appearance of the Purple Gold Eagle and couldn¡¯t help but feel shocked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Tianming planning to return to Green Bamboo Mountain? It hasn¡¯t been long since he left, and now he¡¯s returning so soon, could it be that some unforeseen events have occurred?¡± While he was speculating, the Purple Gold Eagle had already entered the Defensive Great Formation, and Lin Tianming walked up with Qin Xi. Lin Tianfeng immediately went up to greet them, bowing with a fist in his palm and then asked what had happened to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming was quite composed, returning the greeting before saying, ¡°Big brother, everything around Golden Horn Mountain is normal, there hasn¡¯t been a new emergence of Second Order Demon Beast Tribe.¡± ¡°And my sudden return was to escort Fairy Qin here, she accepted my invitation to come to Golden Horn Mountain for cultivation, and to help stand guard at this place!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng finally let out a sigh of relief, and then quickly became surprised. ¡°Fairy Qin?¡± ¡°Tianming, what¡¯s this all about?¡± ¡°You rarely interact with female cultivators, let alone bring a female cultivator to the family¡¯s territory!¡± Faced with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s questioning, Lin Tianming waved his hand and did not directly begin to explain. ¡°Big brother, let¡¯s go see our father first, then I will explain, and incidentally introduce Fairy Qin!¡± Lin Tianming said and then walked with Qin Xi towards the depths of the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, leaving Lin Tianfeng stunned in his place. Unknown time had passed before Lin Tianfeng finally came back to his senses and quickly followed after them. In no time at all, the four of them were seated in Lin Xingrong¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Gathered together, Lin Tianming pointed at Qin Xi and began to introduce, ¡°Father, big brother, this is Fairy Qin, Qin Xi, also a local cultivator from the Luoyun Mountain Range!¡± At this point, Qin Xi stood up, graciously bowing to Lin Xingrong and the other, displaying calm composure. Lin Xingrong, who sat to one side, furrowed his brows at that moment, guessing inwardly. ¡°Looking at their demeanor, it feels quite unusual!¡± ¡°This block of wood, Tianming, is bringing a female cultivator before my eyes for the first time; moreover, a Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivator. What exactly happened between them?¡± ¡°Hehe, with such exceptional talent and cultivation, this lady seems to be a good match for that boy, Tianming!¡± The disrespectably aging Lin Xingrong allowed his thoughts to run wild, secretly conjecturing. Lin Tianfeng, on the other hand, was also making guesses, with all sorts of thoughts passing through his mind, his interest greatly piqued and he eagerly anticipated Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation. Seeing the two of them looking like this, Lin Tianming was somewhat speechless, worried they might misunderstand that there was some involvement between him and Qin Xi. After finally calming down, he began to narrate the encounter between them and how he invited her to Golden Horn Mountain. ¡°Father, big brother, after I left Golden Horn Mountain to patrol our territory, I happened to meet Fairy Qin at the border between the Luoyun Mountain Range and the Hengyang Mountain Range.¡± ¡°At that time, she was being pursued by several Second Order Yinming Beasts, among them was a Second Order Middle Stage demonic beast, and after an intense battle¡­¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 417: 246 Hui Ethnicity_1 Chapter 417: Chapter 246 Hui Ethnicity_1 About half an hour later, having heard Lin Tianming¡¯s complete explanation, the two of them finally understood the events and reasons behind them. Looking at Lin Tianming, who seemed a bit embarrassed, Lin Tianfeng chuckled and then said, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin truly understands the greater good, and since she has accepted Tianming¡¯s invitation, she should stay at Golden Horn Mountain with peace of mind.¡± ¡°With Fairy Qin joining us, our overall strength has greatly increased, and the hope of surviving the tide attack is much greater.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingrong also began to chime in with a smile. ¡°Yes¡­ Fairy Qin, rest assured, this place is quite safe. There¡¯s no need to worry about safety, and if you need anything, just ask. Our Lin Family takes the treatment of our guests very seriously!¡± ... The earnest words and sincere attitudes of the two men made Qin Xi feel somewhat embarrassed. Having calmed down, Qin Xi smiled knowingly and then replied: ¡°I thank all members of the Lin Family for their kindness. This young lady will respectfully accept your invitation. Lin Tianming, Lin, has saved my life, so if the two gentlemen have any requests, just let me know and I will not refuse!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ All right, all right, Fairy Qin is still injured and needs to begin closed-door cultivation for recovery as soon as possible.¡± Lin Xingrong responded and then turned to Lin Tianfeng and instructed, ¡°Tianfeng¡­ prepare a cave mansion for Fairy Qin immediately. Unless it¡¯s a matter of great importance, do not disturb her cultivation!¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s instructions, Lin Tianfeng nodded fervently like a pecking chicken, eager to show his enthusiasm. He patted his chest and quickly replied, ¡°Twelfth Uncle, don¡¯t worry, leave it to me. I¡¯ll make sure everything is arranged perfectly and won¡¯t cause even the slightest discomfort for Fairy Qin!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin, please follow me!¡± Lin Tianfeng got up, cupped his fists towards Lin Xingrong as a salute, and then gestured for Fairy Qin to follow, taking the lead towards the outside of the courtyard. ¡°Gentlemen, I take my leave. If there is something, you can pass a message to me!¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Qin Xi got up and said a word, then left her contact method, and immediately left the courtyard, led by Lin Tianfeng away from the place. Watching Qin Xi and her companion leave, Lin Xingrong still looked somewhat excited. With Lin Tianfeng there, he was embarrassed to ask too much. Now that they were gone, and only father and son were left, there were no concerns about asking anything. Turning his head, he glanced at the expressionless Lin Tianming and then began to speak. ¡°Tianming, have you and this lady encountered anything?¡± Hearing these words, his father was obviously too sensitive, still incessantly asking questions, as if he somewhat disbelieved his explanations. Lin Tianming sighed helplessly and then stated righteously, ¡°Father¡­ don¡¯t overthink it, the account I just gave of the incident is absolutely true and just a coincidence.¡± ¡°My relationship with Fairy Qin is extremely straightforward and pure, inviting her to Golden Horn Mountain was also a mutually beneficial outcome, with no personal grudges or considerations involved.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words were sincere and devoid of any emotion; indeed, as he had said, Qin Xi, whether in looks or cultivation talent, was an outstanding choice. But one couldn¡¯t develop feelings just by meeting twice, could they? The fact that they met again was a coincidence, his intervention to save her was instinctual, and inviting her to Golden Horn Mountain was out of safety considerations¡ªall this was to establish a collaborative relationship. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanations that did not seem false, it was clear that it was a misunderstanding. Lin Xingrong felt slightly disappointed. In his heart, he actually hoped that Lin Tianming would proactively entertain the idea of finding a partner; after all, he was nearly forty years old and at a marriageable age. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Furthermore, a partner was incredibly important for a cultivator. If he found a partner to cultivate with, mutual support could help them both progress further on the path of cultivation. Beyond that, his inherited cultivation potential was very limited and hopes of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage in this lifetime were slim. Therefore, of course, he hoped Lin Tianming would marry soon and have children, enjoying a house full of descendants and fostering even more outstanding offspring¡ªthese were their heartfelt desires. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Xingrong began to give his advice. ¡°You¡¯re not old yet, and matters of affection are still a blank slate for you. Keep your eyes peeled and don¡¯t get lost in beauty. Reflect thoroughly before acting on anything.¡± ¡°However¡­ don¡¯t be too sensitive either. If you encounter a female cultivator you like, take action, and if you really can find a good match, your mother will definitely be happy!¡± Listening to his father¡¯s words, Lin Tianming was speechless once again, and could only agree to everything, before changing the subject to bring the awkward conversation to an end. He let out a long sigh of relief and then said, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve already patrolled the surroundings of Golden Horn Mountain, everything is normal. Now that I¡¯ve arranged everything here, it¡¯s time for me to continue on my way!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Be careful on the road and return quickly!¡± Lin Xingrong nodded and replied. After acknowledging his father¡¯s words, Lin Tianming stood up to bid farewell and left the cave mansion courtyard to head towards the gate of the mountain. Before long, he and the Purple Gold Eagle were high in the sky outside the gate, and with the eagle¡¯s high-speed flight, man and bird set off once again on their journey back to the Hui Ethnicity. ¡­ Half a day later, Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. In the valley where Ye Pinghai was in closed-door cultivation, Lin Tianming came to visit Lin Shikang. Learning of his return to the clan¡¯s territory, Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua also hurried over, and the four men sat together for a leisurely chat. Lin Tianming first inquired about the progress of Ye Pinghai¡¯s closed-door cultivation. After Lin Shikang¡¯s explanations, it was known that Ye Pinghai had almost been in seclusion for a year, and during this time, there had been little disturbances, nor signs of an impending Heavenly Tribulation, just that the spiritual energy gathered here was becoming increasingly dense, surpassing the most concentrated area of spiritual energy in the entire Green Bamboo Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 418: 246 Hui Ethnicity_2 Chapter 418: Chapter 246 Hui Ethnicity_2 Regarding this, Lin Shikang was equally helpless; after all, he had never attempted to break through to the Golden Core Realm. All he knew about the breakthrough process were some secrets from the ancestral legacy, which was far from a deep understanding. Besides, everyone¡¯s situation is different, and the process of breakthrough varies immensely. It is said that some can draw the Heavenly Tribulation for the Golden Core within half a year, while others may need several years. Therefore, it was not surprising that there had been no news from Ye Pinghai, who had been in seclusion for almost a year. Following that, they exchanged some information about the beast tide attack, and Lin Shikang was particularly concerned about the situation at Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianming then shared his experience of the fierce battle with the Golden Fang Beast Clan and how he had saved Qin Xi. Upon learning of this, Lin Shikang and the others were shocked. ... It was hard to believe that Lin Tianming alone had inflicted heavy damage on the Golden Fang Beast Clan, played them like a fiddle, and cleverly resolved the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain. This was a clan led by a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, with seven others from the Initial and Middle stages of the Second Order! Such formidable strength was heavily wounded, the Second Order Late-Stage Golden Fang Beast Leader killed, and the whereabouts of the Demon Beast Tribe were unknown. They might have retreated deep into the Luoyun Mountain Range or attacked other branches to strike other forces, or moved to other areas. In any case, the crisis at Golden Horn Mountain was resolved for the time being. Whether the Demon Beast Tribe went to other mountain ranges or attacked other forces was not something the Lin Family needed to worry about. After calming down from their shock, Lin Shikang could not help but exclaim, ¡°Tianming¡­ you truly have the guts and the strength, extremely formidable indeed!¡± ¡°But don¡¯t take such risks in the future, it¡¯s not shameful to hunker down within the clan¡¯s territory given the overall lack of strength at Golden Horn Mountain!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ If something were to happen to you, the family¡¯s loss would be tremendous!¡± Lin Shihua also started to instruct. Seeing the two elders giving earnest admonishments, Lin Tianming nodded, patted his chest, and said, ¡°Elders, please rest assured¡­ Tianming knows his limits, and he values his life too much to clash head-on with those beasts!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s sincere attitude, Lin Shikang finally relaxed and then smiled satisfactorily. Lin Tianming also smiled, feeling good, and inquired about the situation of the clan¡¯s territory. ¡°Third Grandfather, has the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory been attacked by the Demon Beast Tribe?¡± On hearing the question, Lin Shihua also started talking about the clan¡¯s territory being attacked, sharing the story of how the clan members fought the Biyun Beasts. Learning that three Second Order Late-Phase Biyun Beasts led the Demon Beast Tribe¡¯s attack on the territory, he couldn¡¯t help but be astounded. Hearing that Lin Shikang alone had fought against three, killing one Second Order Late-Phase Biyun Beast, and that the clan members, together with the Soul-eating Spiders, combined their efforts to kill many Second Order Biyun Beasts. At that moment, Lin Tianming was similarly overwhelmed with shock; it was evident that the Green Bamboo Mountain side also faced a major test. Fortunately, with the united efforts of the clan and at a certain cost, they repelled the Biyun Beast Tribe, thus resolving the crisis. The only regret was that more than forty clan members had perished in the battle, all of whom were the core strength of the family. Such a heavy loss had not even occurred during the great battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. With mixed emotions, the group fell into a brief silence, each harboring a fiery resentment towards the demonic beasts in their hearts. After a while, they calmed down somewhat. Looking at the three elders, Lin Tianming also asked for permission to set off for Luoyun Market as soon as possible. Lin Shikang almost immediately agreed to the request. He was just as concerned about Lin Shilu, considering that both Green Bamboo Mountain and Golden Horn Mountain had faced groups led by Second Order Demonic Beasts, indicating the scale of the beast tide should not be underestimated. Given its size, Luoyun Market is particularly susceptible to attracting demonic beasts. In light of this, it was certain that Luoyun Market would be attacked by demonic beasts, possibly by an even stronger tribe than the one faced by the family. Thus, the challenges Lin Shilu faced were no less significant, and his safety was of concern to everyone. At this moment, Lin Shihua spoke up, admonishing him to be extra careful and not take unnecessary risks. Lin Tianming nodded, then stood up to take his leave, preparing to immediately set off for Luoyun Market. Given the urgency of the situation, there was simply no time for a reunion with his mother and the others, he had to hurry to Luoyun Market as fast as possible. Outside the Protective Clan Formation. Lin Tianming sat atop the Purple Gold Eagle, gazing down at the familiar scenery below, no time for nostalgia. After giving the Purple Gold Eagle an instruction, it soared into the clouds, turning into a black shadow, flying at the ultimate speed towards the direction of Luoyun Market. ¡­ Luoyun Market. Outside the Defensive Array, led by two Second Order Late-Stage Cedar Beasts, the rest of the Cedar Beasts gathered together. At this moment, two Cedar Beast leaders bared their fangs and grimaced, looking at the city walls revealed within the formation, their expressions extremely furious. In the great battle ten days prior, several of their Mid Stage and higher demonic beasts even held some advantages. Yet, despite such circumstances, they ended up being taken advantage of by the Human Race, with four First Order Cedar Beasts killed and two other First Order demonic beasts seriously injured. In addition, nearly half of their First Order offspring had died, hugely discounting the strength of the entire Demon Beast Tribe. Having suffered a loss, even Second Order Demonic Beasts with their limited Spirit Wisdom were enraged. Consequently, the Cedar Beast leader ordered its progeny to form groups, relentlessly ramming the Defensive Array at intervals. After nearly ten days, the defensive formation of the entire market had also been affected to some extent. From the outside, the energy on the surface of the array¡¯s light screen had obviously been significantly weakened, the shield turning from invisible and colorless to a pale yellow now. If the battering continued, it was likely that within half a month, the formation could be completely breached. At this moment, within the formation, atop the massive city walls. Under the leadership of Lin Shilu, eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered together, while hundreds of Qi Refining Cultivators sat neatly arranged in the plaza below the walls. After ten days of recovery, nearly all the cultivators who had been injured in the previous battle had recovered, with only a few who had been severely wounded still not fully healed. At this time, the cultivators couldn¡¯t help but feel angered as they looked at the Cedar Beast Tribe outside. These demonic beasts were too stubborn, having taken a loss they refused to back down and continued to retaliate against the Defensive Array. At that moment, Lin Shilu, watching the demonic beasts outside, furrowed his brows, turned his head to look at the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and then began to ponder. After ten days of recovery, the fighting capability of the Human Cultivators had rebounded to over ninety percent. While the Cedar Beast Tribe had also gained a respite, their strength had been greatly reduced. Aside from the two Second Order Late-Stage beast leaders and four Second Order Mid-Stage Cedar Beasts, the remaining demonic beasts were not a significant threat. However, the way he, along with Su He and Luo Chenggu, had managed to hold their ground for a while previously, they could do the same now. Though their Talismanic Weapons had been somewhat depleted, weakening their strength, resisting for a period of time was not a problem. Under such circumstances, it was worth considering making another sortie to battle the Cedar Beast Tribe once more. Having made up his mind, he voiced his thoughts, seeking the opinions of the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the cultivators with clan backgrounds, his idea was no issue at all; in essence, he was merely soliciting the opinions of Su He and the other two Loose Cultivators. Especially Su He, who was tasked with holding off two Second Order Mid-Stage Cedar Beasts, a critical component of their strategy. And with the diminished number of First Order Cedar Beasts, with four dead and two severely injured out of the nine, Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingyuan were more than enough to handle them. The remaining Sun Ruiyang, Li Hongliang, and Liu Zhirong were entirely capable of freeing their hands to alleviate some pressure from Lin Shilu¡¯s trio. Therefore, without question, Li Hongliang and Liu Zhirong were willing to fight again, to further extend their battle achievements. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 419: 247: Just in Time_1 Chapter 419: Chapter 247: Just in Time_1 At that moment, Lin Shilu looked at Su He with a smirk, his intentions clear without words. Su He turned his head, glancing at everyone, and seeing that all eyes were on him, he thought of how having Liu Zhirong and others to aid in the upcoming battle would also alleviate some of their pressure. With these considerations, he had nothing to worry about and straightforwardly agreed to fight. As Su He agreed to join the battle, Lin Shilu was quite excited. He chuckled, his eyes ablaze with the desire for battle, longing to avenge the deceased Lin Family Members and annihilate the entire Cedar Beast Tribe in one fell swoop. Surveying the crowd and then looking down at the Qi Refining Cultivators, he projected his sonorous voice across the entire plaza. ¡°Everyone¡­ We¡¯ve almost recovered, and the Demonic Beasts still refuse to leave!¡± ... ¡°Since that¡¯s the case¡­ then let us thoroughly exterminate them and avenge our fallen comrades!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, Lin Xingshun was the first to raise his arm and cry out: ¡°Revenge¡­ Slaughter them!¡± Following suit, a host of Lin Family Members began to shout, and in their loud and synchronized voices was a profound aura of murderous intent and vengeance. Inspired by them, the other Qi Refining Cultivators also cheered, and in no time, the battle spirit of the Human Cultivators reached an unprecedented peak. Seeing this scene, Lin Shilu nodded in satisfaction, feeling very pleased. He slapped his storage bag, took out a Magic Artifact in hand, and then shouted loudly: ¡°Then follow this old man and let¡¯s break out!¡± As his voice fell, Lin Xingcheng waved his sleeve and took out a Token, inputting a Law Decree to open up the market¡¯s Defensive Array. As a gap appeared in the light screen, Lin Shilu leaped forward, leading the way out of the range the Defensive Array covered. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Behind him, Su He and Luo Chenggu hastily followed suit, soon joined by Lin Xingcheng and Lin Xingyuan leading the throngs of Lin Family Members. The other Qi Refining Cultivators didn¡¯t want to be left behind either, quickly following the Lin Family Members¡¯ lead and emerging outside the array. At that moment, seeing the massive surge of Human Cultivators suddenly appearing before them, the Cedar Beasts, with their fierce and fiendish appearances, seemed somewhat taken aback. Apparently, they hadn¡¯t expected the Human Cultivators to take the initiative to come out and prepare to strike at them. The two Late-Phase Second Order Cedar Beast leaders looked at Lin Shilu and let out a roar to the sky, as if to express their rage. Seeing this, Lin Shilu gave a cold snort, appearing utterly disdainful. And so, neither the Humans nor the Demonic Beasts made a move immediately; deep down, both sides seemed to understand the other¡¯s substantial overall strength. The awkward standoff persisted, with both parties gazing at each other, waiting for an opportunity. Just then, a shadow suddenly appeared thousands of feet in the sky, accompanied by a pleasant chirping sound. At once, every Cultivator, including the Cedar Beasts, looked up into the sky. The shadow, which had been a mere speck, grew larger as it plunged toward the marketplace entrance at an incredibly fast speed, taking form in just a short amount of time. As the distance closed, Lin Tianming could be seen astride the familiar giant bird, the Purple Gold Eagle, and Lin Shilu, one of the first to notice, was immediately overjoyed. He burst into wild laughter, declaring: ¡°Haha¡­ Tian Ming has arrived at such a pivotal moment; these beasts won¡¯t be able to escape now!¡± Hearing this bold proclamation, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng¡¯s eyes widened as they gazed into the sky, indeed spotting the unmistakable figures of the Purple Gold Eagle and Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng also became elated, unexpectedly seeing Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle arriving just in time during this crucial juncture. Others might not be aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, but the core members of the Lin Family were well informed. Lin Xingyuan and his partner understood in their hearts that with Lin Tianming¡¯s addition, the strength of the Human Cultivators would significantly increase. About this imminent battle, with the Cultivators¡¯ side almost holding a sure victory, and with little cost expected. Looking at the excited Lin Family Members, Su He, Liu Zhirong, and the three Loose Cultivators, upon seeing Lin Tianming on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, their formerly solemn expressions began to reveal a hint of a smile. Su He in particular, who had some concerns about the battle, now felt assured of victory with the addition of a Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivator to their side; the fight against the Demonic Beasts was almost a sure win. With these thoughts, any previous complex emotions vanished, his eyes filled with eagerness to start the fight. On the side of the Cedar Beast Tribe, the two leaders, witnessing Lin Tianming¡¯s figure, sensed his not-to-be-underestimated strength merely from the aura he emitted. The two Demonic Beast leaders realized this man was undoubtedly a formidable opponent and couldn¡¯t help but show a look of wariness. Under the watchful eyes of both Cultivators and the Demon Beast Tribe, the Purple Gold Eagle circled over the head of Lin Shilu, with Lin Tianming disembarking to stand shoulder to shoulder with Lin Shilu. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu felt extremely content and laughed, saying, ¡°Tian Ming, your timing couldn¡¯t have been better!¡± ¡°Tian Ming greets Fifteenth Grandfather¡­ How has the market fared recently?¡± Lin Tianming said, bowing in greeting before asking. Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s expression suddenly shifted slightly before he succinctly recounted the events of the great battle from ten days prior. Learning of the fierce battle his kin had faced and the loss of some Family Members, Lin Tianming felt a heavy weight in his heart. His eyes fixed on the Cedar Beast Tribe opposite him, filled with murderous intent. Seeing his expression, Lin Shilu knew that Tian Ming was truly enraged. A furious Lin Tianming was known to be extremely ruthless and bloody. Lin Shilu patted Lin Tianming on the shoulder, then reminded him, ¡°All right¡­ Now that you¡¯re here, we¡¯ve got a great chance of winning; it¡¯s time to settle the score!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 420: 247: Just in Time_2 Chapter 420: Chapter 247: Just in Time_2 Lin Tianming nodded, his sharp eyes fixed on the Cedar Beast Tribe, and immediately drew out the Tiangang Sword, ready for a great battle. Seeing his actions, Lin Shilu shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone, it¡¯s time to make a move!¡± Right after, he leaped forward and charged towards the Cedar Beast Tribe on the opposite side. As Lin Shilu took the lead, the silence was suddenly broken, and the two Cedar Beasts leaders also roared angrily and launched an attack on Lin Shilu. At that moment, Lin Tianming also burst forth, blocking a Cedar Beast that was at the Second Order Late Phase. Behind him, all the cultivators struck out, each choosing their own opponent. The great battle ignited in that instant, with various attacks frequently crisscrossing the sky, and the Cedar Beasts were not to be outdone, their attacks intertwining with those of the cultivators. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky resounded with bursts of explosions, and colorful lights flickered, with the ground shaking from time to time. On the outskirts of the battlefield, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming were each engaged in fierce combat with a Cedar Beast leader. The two of them were powerful, and their attacks far surpassed others, inflicting even more damage. As mighty attacks swept out, the terrifying force made one¡¯s scalp tingle. Looking around, within a hundred yards of their vicinity, there were basically no living creatures. Both Demonic Beasts and Human Cultivators all stayed far away, not daring to approach the slightest, since any one of the attacks, if it hit them, would likely result in severe injury or death. Not far from their battlefield, Su He and Luo Chenggu were also embroiled in combat with Cedar Beasts at the Second Order Middle Stage, assisted by Lin Xingyuan and Liu Zhirong, two cultivators at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. With the joint efforts of the four, the previously disadvantaged Su He and his companion managed to gain some upper hand, suppressing the four Medium Stage beasts. Seizing the moment when the Demonic Beasts were repelled, Su He and the others spared some attention to pay heed to Lin Tianming¡¯s battle. By then, Lin Tianming had already exchanged several rounds of fierce blows with the Cedar Beast leader, and under his frantic assault, the Cedar Beast leader was actually at a disadvantage and even sustained some minor injuries. Feeling the burst of his immense strength and repelling the Cedar Beast leader, this scene left Su He and the other cultivators utterly shocked. Before this, they had imagined that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was definitely not weak, but it was beyond their expectation that he, with the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, could actually suppress a Cedar Beast leader at the Second Order Late Phase. ¡°To fight across ranks and still have the upper hand, what kind of terrifying strength is this!¡± Su He couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. Luo Chenggu and Liu Zhirong thought the same, especially Luo Chenggu, who was greatly shaken by the strength Lin Tianming displayed. One had to know that the Lin Family¡¯s power was already formidable, and with a junior like Lin Tianming possessing such terrifying talent, the Lin Family boasted three cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and their strength was still growing. Besides, among the Lin Family Members, Lin Xingyuan and Lin Xingcheng showed prominent prowess, all displaying exceptional strength. With this in mind, one could imagine, to occupy such a vast territory, the Lin Family must have other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, otherwise, how could they defend such a large ground. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Contemplating these matters, Luo Chenggu¡¯s emotions stirred, and he could not help but feel inwardly moved. ¡°The Lin Family¡¯s overall strength, just thinking about it is frightening!¡± ¡°It looks like when I get back to the family, I must discuss with my second brother. From now on, the Luo Family must keep a low profile, or even be prepared to bow down to the Lin Family!¡± While Luo Chenggu harbored such thoughts, the others were all unaware, busy dealing with the Demonic Beasts. Above in the high sky, Lin Tianming repelled the Cedar Beast leader with a sword strike, and the pained beast couldn¡¯t help but let out a piercing roar. Seeing this, Lin Tianming shouted loudly, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, let¡¯s finish this quickly and see who among us gets rid of this beast first!¡± Confronted with the contest proposed by Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu replied with a cold laugh, ¡°Hmph¡­ You¡¯re indeed strong, young man, but this Demonic Beast isn¡¯t a pushover either. You think you can beat me? That¡¯s absolutely impossible!¡± After saying that, Lin Shilu¡¯s Overturning Mountain Seal glowed brightly with golden light, as he forcefully smashed it down onto the Cedar Beast leader opposite him. Lin Tianming, too, refused to fall behind. Since a competition had begun, he naturally exerted all his strength to win. Indeed, his actions were purposeful. Since he could not conceal his cultivation strength, he might as well display it to everyone present, letting them witness the Lin Family¡¯s power, so that in the future, all within the Luoyun Mountain region would hold the Lin Family in awe. Thus, when Lin Tianming and the others acted, they held nothing back, putting forth their full strength with every strike. With earth-shattering sounds echoing around, like the war drums of cultivators, everyone¡¯s morale surged, and they pushed the already faltering Cedar Beast Tribe into further retreat. Above in the sky, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword moved swiftly in his hands, and the dense Sword Qi covered the heavens, engulfing the body of the Cedar Beast leader. On the ground, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had started to operate, covering a vast range that encompassed the Cedar Beasts, then began to slowly constrict the space. In addition, with the aid of the Thousand Beast Banner, a torrent of Demonic Beast Souls surged forth, attacking and tearing at the Cedar Beast leader. Meanwhile, the Cedar Beast leader was dodging the bombardment of Sword Qi while frantically destroying the Demonic Beast Souls. With each swipe of its claws, a varying number of Demonic Beast Souls were burst asunder, eventually dissipating into the cosmos. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was not the least bit distressed. The souls within the Thousand Beast Banner had reached a considerable number, and he still had many more Demonic Beast Souls that had yet to be refined into it. Although the assault of the Demonic Beasts was fearsome, it allowed for the collection of a large quantity of Demonic Beast Souls, quickly enhancing the power of the Thousand Beast Banner. Such an opportunity was not easily found under normal circumstances. Given this, the early losses were inconsequential, for if they could eradicate this group of Demonic Beasts, they would soon be replenished. Without any remorse, Lin Tianming controlled the Demonic Beast Souls to recklessly charge forward, and soon a portion of them broke through and latched onto the body of the Cedar Beast leader, starting to tear and bite. In pain, the Cedar Beast leader thrashed angrily and spat out a great number of ice spheres in retaliation, clashing with the Sword Qi released by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The fiery Sword Qi and the ice spheres collided violently, with the ice spheres immediately bursting apart, scattering across the ground like a celestial maiden spreading flowers, creating numerous holes in the terrain. The Cedar Beast leader swiftly maneuvered to avoid the falling shards of ice spheres from the sky. Before it could catch its breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s next attack swept over. The previous move was merely a probe to attract its attention; this one was even more powerful, unleashing the fifth of the Tiangang Ninth Swords. With a stunning, dragon-like stream of fiery Sword Qi shooting forth, all eyes were drawn to it. Those lower-order Demonic Beasts and cultivators, upon seeing the terrifying pale-gold Sword Qi, ceased their attacks and became momentarily dumbfounded. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the formidable Sword Qi moved incredibly fast, emerging from the dense mass and charging directly towards the Cedar Beast. Feeling the Sword Qi¡¯s speed and fearsome power, the Cedar Beast leader became panicked, attempting to flee in its alarm. But Lin Tianming would not let it escape so easily. While managing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to suppress the beasts, he also urged the souls within the Thousand Beast Banner, firmly dragging the Cedar Beast leader, leaving it no time to deal with the incoming Tiangang Sword Qi. As the Sword Qi drew ever closer, the Cedar Beast leader could feel the blazing heat it emitted. Desperate to live, it knew it had to dodge; otherwise, it would surely die here. It twisted its body with all its might, moving faster than ever before. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword Qi accelerated even more, silently descending. In utter despair, recognizing it could not dodge the attack, the Cedar Beast leader made a decisive choice immediately. If it could not avoid it, it had to minimize the damage; life could yet offer a chance to turn things around, but death would leave no opportunities. In the critical moment, it flipped and arched its back, evading its vital areas. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 421: 248 Victory_1 Chapter 421: Chapter 248 Victory_1 In that instant, the Tiangang Sword Qi had already descended quietly, striking directly at the tail of the Cedar Beast Leader. ¡°Pu¡­¡± A grating sound, followed by the wails of the Cedar Beast Leader, carried through the air. Upon closer inspection, the Tiangang Sword Qi had pierced right through the tail of the Cedar Beast, leaving behind a bloody hole as large as a bucket. Simultaneously, scalding blood spurted out, its crimson color appearing exceedingly vivid and delivering a profoundly shocking visual impact. The enormous body of the Cedar Beast Leader lay half in a deep pit, writhing in agony, struggling to stand up, and hobbling towards another comrade. ... It hoped to regroup with its kind and seek help, but the other Cedar Beast Leader was also in a dire state, being forcefully driven back by Lin Shilu and incapable of attending to it. At this moment, Lin Tianming watched the Cedar Beast Leader attempting to flee, his resolute face breaking into a gratified smile. He was very satisfied with the power of his sword strike, as it had severely injured the beast leader. Although it did not take the Cedar Beast Leader¡¯s life outright, it was clear that the injured beast¡¯s strength was greatly diminished. The struggle was merely a desperate gasp for survival, and death was simply a matter of time. The cultivators who witnessed this strike were all stupefied, unable to believe that a Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beast could be so easily incapacitated. They had assumed that even if Lin Tianming emerged victorious, it would require considerable effort; however, the difference from what they expected left them reeling once more. While the cultivators were still marvelling, Lin Tianming walked towards the stumbling Cedar Beast, intending to end its life. Gazing at the approaching Lin Tianming, whose expression bore not a hint of vivacity, and his cold, merciless eyes, the Divine Cedar Leader felt a sense of terror and finally sensed the approach of death. It struggled furiously, seeking to flee the dreadful human, but injured as it was, its speed was too slow. Not just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even a Qi Refining Cultivator could catch up with it. In its desperation, the Tiangang Sword Qi in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand descended once more, cleaving the head of the Cedar Beast right off. With the thud of a blood-drenched head hitting the ground, the body of the Cedar Beast Leader fell, stirring up a cloud of dust that obscured everyone¡¯s vision. When the dust settled slightly, they found that the demonic beast no longer moved, its scarlet blood pooling into a puddle on the ground. This bloody scene, alongside the large eyes on the severed head still wide open, definitively declared the fact of the beast¡¯s death. Just then, another gruesome cry echoed from not too far away, followed by the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground. Lin Tianming looked up to see Lin Shilu withdrawing his Overturning Mountain Seal, and the Cedar Beast he had been fighting lay motionless on the ground, evidently slain by him. Lin Shilu, looking towards Lin Tianming with a somewhat joyous expression, said, ¡°You lad, you were a hair faster than me!¡± ¡°It was just luck. The one that Fifteenth Grandfather fought was clearly more powerful!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t wrong; though both Cedar Beast Leaders were Second Order Late Phase, there were distinct differences in their strength. Despite Lin Tianming killing his opponent first, when it came to real power, he was still no match for Lin Shilu. However, he estimated that the gap between them was not large. In a life-and-death struggle, victory and defeat could hinge on a single thought; often, one moment of hesitation could affect the final outcome. Under such circumstances, who could ultimately emerge victorious among them was truly unpredictable. Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts and assessments weren¡¯t much different from Lin Shilu¡¯s, but Lin Shilu knew well that even if his own strength had a slight edge, his chances of victory were not as good as Lin Tianming¡¯s. He understood Lin Tianming too well after fighting side by side with him for many years and experiencing numerous life and death crises together. To Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming was meticulous, cunning, resolute, and audacious. Such a character could often unleash greater strength at critical moments. Thus, Lin Tianming¡¯s power was not inferior to his own, and with each advancement in cultivation, the gap would only widen further, eventually far surpassing all Lin Family members. Thinking of these things, Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. ¡°This kid has grown up now, surpassing the older generation in strength. He no longer needs us old folks to shield him from the wind and rain.¡± Lost in his thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s words brought him back to reality. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Elder Wu, let¡¯s quickly help the others eliminate the Demonic Beasts to avoid any mishaps and to prevent further sacrifice among our clansmen.¡± Lin Shilu nodded, and then they both stepped forward, heading towards where Su He and Luo Chenggu were fighting. At that moment, Luo Chenggu and Su He were each battling a Demonic Beast, with Lin Xingyuan and Independent Cultivator Liu Zhirong assisting nearby. Two Foundation Establishment Fifth Level cultivators and two at the Third Level were split into two groups, each facing a Second Order Middle Stage Cedar Beast. With their paired efforts, they both gained the upper hand and tightly suppressed the Cedar Beasts. As Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu joined the battle, the already disadvantaged Cedar Beasts were further besieged, with no chance or means to resist. They lasted only two more strikes before they were ruthlessly slain by the two men. Following the demise of several High Order Cedar Beasts, the surviving Cedar Beast Tribe, already at a disadvantage, were killed off one after another under the ferocious assault of the cultivators. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 422: 248 Victory_2 Chapter 422: Chapter 248 Victory_2 Now that the Demon Beast Tribe was headless, it began to collapse, and many demonic beasts were scared out of their wits, fleeing in all directions. In the midst of the chaos, Lin Xingshun leapt into the air and his booming voice resonated. ¡°Fellow cultivators, the Demon Beast Tribe has completely collapsed and has begun to scatter and flee, we must not miss this opportunity, let¡¯s chase them down and eliminate them all!¡± In fact, it made no difference whether Lin Xingyuan said this or not! Because whether it was members of family powers or loose cultivators, everyone was well aware that these defeated demonic beasts were on their last legs, dying or injured, and could barely exert any strength at all. In the eyes of the cultivators now, they were nothing but moving Spirit Stones or resources; if someone was slow to act, they might not get anything at all. ... Therefore, no one would miss this opportunity to kick someone when they were down, let alone pass up these resources. As expected, once the demonic beasts began to escape, many cultivators chased after them. Loose cultivators Li Yuancheng and his wife were the first to charge. The couple worked together, and no Late Stage First Order demonic beast could withstand their attacks for more than a few exchanges. Around them, a large number of cultivators were hunting down demonic beasts, and the whole scene was in utter chaos. In the few directions where demonic beasts were fleeing, only the Lin Family Members were faring a bit better, under the speed and strength of the Purple Gold Eagle, not a single demonic beast could escape and was easily killed by the Purple Gold Eagle. At this point, atop the city walls of the Market City, Lin Tianming and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood together, each watching the battle ahead. As expected, in this great battle, the side of the cultivators would emerge completely victorious. It was not hard to imagine that, under such pursuit by the cultivators, very few of the Cedar Beast Tribe would be able to escape, and they might even be wiped out entirely. At this moment, the crowd¡¯s expression relaxed; the gloom before the great battle had already dissipated, replaced by knowing smiles. Lin Tianming was in good spirits. While keeping an eye on the Lin Family Members with Lin Shilu, they chatted casually, waiting for the great battle to conclude. Soon, the noises gradually ceased, the light streaking across the sky faded, and the sky slowly returned to normal. This brutal battle ended with the cultivators¡¯ victory, and ninety-nine percent of the Cedar Beasts lay dead, with only a few scattered demonic beasts escaping. Now, looking outward from the city wall, one could see a vast area littered with corpses, the ground stained red with blood, a scene that resembled a purgatory on earth. At this time, many cultivators were clearing the battlefield, each scavenging useful items from the demonic beasts, from Demon Cores to Artifact Refining Materials, and even Souls and flesh were not spared. All the cultivators were visibly joyful; they had survived the grim battle and were now basking in the joy of victory and the rich spoils of war. However, as the uncontested spoils were scavenged, those put to death in the siege or killed separately ¨C owned by those who perished in the ensuing battle ¨C these spoils became ownerless and were soon contested by the cultivators. It¡¯s easy to share hardships, but sharing wealth is hard; people are inherently selfish and greedy, and that is human nature. Some Qi Refining Cultivators fought over the ownerless items, attracting the attention of all cultivators and once again stirring up the silence. Soon, Lin Xingshun arrived at the scene with a few clan members and managed to stop the fighting cultivators. After understanding the situation, Lin Xingshun comprehended the course and cause of the events. Clearly, those who took action were coveting more spoils of war, seeking loopholes. Although the Lin Family had set rules before the great battle, they had not actually specified the ownership of these ownerless items. In this way, their scramble was not in violation of the Lin Family¡¯s regulations. Luckily, it was just loose cultivators who were involved, without any background powers to complicate matters further. Nevertheless, the situation was not easy to handle; there were not a few ownerless Demon Beast Corpses, at least a hundred, and though they were just First Order, their cumulative value was also quite high. Even for a family like the Lin Family, it was impossible to remain indifferent and simply overlook this. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, if the Lin Family were to claim all the spoils, it would likely cause public outrage, while distributing them to the cultivators would also be challenging due to the difficulty in measuring fair shares, and uneven distribution could easily cause dissatisfaction among the cultivators. Therefore, Lin Xingshun felt helpless about the outcome of the matter and could only ask Lin Shilu to make a decision. Soon, Lin Xingshun arrived at the top of the city wall. In the presence of several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he explained the cause and effect of the matter to Lin Shilu and asked for his decision. At that moment, Lin Shilu let out a wry smile to himself. The situation was indeed tricky; before the previous battle, there simply hadn¡¯t been the mood or time to set these terms, and now it had become an issue. He turned his head, communicating privately with Lin Tianming, asking for his opinion and decision on the matter. Lin Tianming pondered for a moment and felt that if the Lin Family alone kept the spoils, although others might not dare to say anything, they would definitely feel discontent. The Lin Family had always been known for its sincerity and had never intended to oppress Loose Cultivators or other families excessively. In that case, it would be better to openly distribute some to them, while also winning their hearts. After all, the onslaught of the Demonic Beasts had not completely subsided, and they might be attacked by other Demon Beast Tribes at any moment. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming transmitted his opinion to Lin Shilu, and then they discussed the specific distribution proportions for the various groups. Quickly, the two reached a consensus on the matter, and Lin Shilu, in front of everyone, began to instruct Lin Xingshun. ¡°This victory was achieved through the efforts of everyone, whether from the major families or the Loose Cultivators, all did their utmost,¡± ¡°Since everyone has made an effort, they should indeed receive a share of the spoils!¡± Lin Shilu first recognized everyone¡¯s merits, also praising the Qi Refining Cultivators, which elicited excitement and emotion from the crowd. At this point, some Cultivators even began to cheer, clearly very much appreciating the Lin Family¡¯s decision and praising Lin Shilu¡¯s character. Lin Shilu waved his hand to interrupt the cheering Cultivators and continued: ¡°As for the unclaimed items, they will first be recorded in the ledger by the Lin Family. In the end, the Lin Family will take forty percent, and another twenty percent will be distributed among the major families; the remaining forty percent will go to the Qi Refining Cultivators!¡± Hearing these words, some Qi Refining Cultivators were surprised; they hadn¡¯t expected the Lin Family to be so generous, offering a full sixty percent to the Qi Refining Families and Qi Refinement Realm Loose Cultivators, which was beyond their expectations. But with the Lin Family being so generous, they certainly wouldn¡¯t refuse; no one would think they had too many spoils. Soon, the outcome of the matter was decided, and Lin Xingshun carried out the distribution according to this plan. With clear regulations and a distribution plan in place, no one objected or obstructed, making the process much smoother. Under the leadership of Lin Xingshun, the Cultivators began to clean up the battlefield with great vigor, followed by the distribution of the spoils. ¡­ Half a day later. In a grand hall of the Market City Hall, Lin Shilu sat in the highest seat, surrounded by Lin Tianming, Su He, and others in order. Below them, representatives of the Qi Refining Cultivators sat neatly on cushions. Li Yuancheng and his wife were seated in the front row, mostly surrounded by Qi Refining Clanspeople of the Lin Family or other Cultivators with distinguished battle achievements. In these two rounds of battles, the couple had distinguished themselves. They had slain no fewer than twenty Late Stage First Order Demonic Beasts. With such incredible battle achievements, their place in the front row did not elicit any skepticism. It could be said that, except for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and people from Foundation Establishing Families, no one wanted to provoke them, nor dared to question this outcome. Sitting in this position was also an affirmation of their fierce battle achievements. After all, in the Cultivation World, strength is paramount, and the strong are respected everywhere. At this time, the entire hall was quite silent, except for a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were conversing above, the Qi Refining Cultivators below did not even dare to breathe loudly, all sitting quietly, waiting for the small meeting to begin. With the battlefield cleaned up and the distribution of ownerless items completed, everyone was satisfied with their lot, and the Market City had returned to its normal operation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 423: 249 Post-Battle Gathering_1 Chapter 423: Chapter 249 Post-Battle Gathering_1 Now that the busy work was over, it was natural for the cultivators to gather. Lin Shilu summoned several Foundation Establishment Cultivators and representatives of the Qi Refinement realm in order to report on the post-battle results, the cultivators¡¯ losses, and to discuss the subsequent arrangements. After all, the beast tide had not yet passed, and the market needed to maintain constant vigilance. It was also crucial to understand their own strength to make the right preparations to cope with the next crisis. Looking over the crowd, Lin Xingshun confirmed that all the participants had arrived before standing up to announce the start of the meeting. As the host and de facto controller of the market, Lin Xingshun began with some pleasantries, which the Qi Refining Cultivators greatly appreciated. Some of the Qi Refining Cultivators even took this opportunity to offer compliments and ingratiate themselves. ... Lin Xingshun smiled and waved his hand to stop the flattery before saying, ¡°The Cedar Beast Tribe has been exterminated; it¡¯s time to report the results and losses of the battle!¡± Upon hearing these words, the vast majority suddenly took a keen interest, eagerly focusing their attention. Clearly, the cultivators were more concerned with the reports of the battle¡¯s outcome, listening intently to every word. Though the beast tide was not yet over, everyone was deeply invested in the roster of battle results, as it related to the ultimate honors and rewards. At that moment, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming sat with composure, their satisfied smiles reflecting the fiery enthusiasm in the eyes of the cultivators below them. Lin Xingshun gestured, and the hall quieted down once more. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He walked in front of Lin Shilu and bowed before reporting on the situation of the Lin Family members. According to Lin Xingshun¡¯s report, with this battle concluded, the Lin Family had lost three Qi Refining clanspeople: one at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement and two at the Sixth Level; there were four seriously injured, but the number of those lightly wounded was negligible. The losses were much less than during the first battle. This level of casualty, given the scale of the skirmish, was not significant and provided some relief to Lin Tianming and his peer. As for the gains, they greatly exceeded expectations. Besides the two Second Order Late Phase Cedar Beasts killed by the two of them, the Purple Gold Eagle had independently slain a Second Order Initial Stage Cedar Beast, in addition to a kill from Lin Xingyuan in the first encounter. As for the demise of other Second Order Demonic Beasts, members of the Lin Family were involved, able to claim a significant share of the spoils. From this perspective, the high-order combat power of the Demon Beast Tribe had essentially fallen at the hands of the Lin Family, which was a weighty presence in the larger battle. On the part of the Qi Refining clanspeople, through proficient cooperation, they had accumulated a significant kill count over the two battles: nearly a hundred First Order Late Stage beasts, and altogether more than four hundred of the early and medium stage beasts, amounting to roughly forty percent of the total. It could be said that in the team resisting the beast tide assault, the Lin Family members had contributed the most, both the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the Qi Refining members, achieving astonishing battle accomplishments and gains. By this time, hearing Lin Xingshun¡¯s report on the Lin Family¡¯s battle results, the hall buzzed with discussion amongst the Qi Refining Cultivators. The strength of the Lin Family was overwhelming, achieving such dazzling accomplishments in this battle, profoundly impacting many in their hearts. And for the safety of Luoyun Market, the Lin Family had truly given their all. It was conceivable that with increased security, more loose cultivators and shops would be attracted to settle in the market over time. The populace of the market would grow, and the Lin Family¡¯s power would further increase. Consequently, most people began to hold the Lin Family in even higher regard. At this time, seeing the reaction of the cultivators in the hall, Lin Shilu was genuinely moved and relieved. Lin Tianming felt the same. After this battle, the image and influence of the Lin Family would definitely rise, and their efforts were rewarded. Regaining his focus, Lin Xingshun calmed the excited cultivators before continuing to report on the achievements of the other cultivators. According to his tally, during this battle, over one hundred and ten other cultivators had fallen, with more than sixty seriously wounded. The loss was less than the first, and within their expectations. After all, the strength of the Demonic Beasts was considerable. Had it not been for the timely arrival of Lin Tianming and the involvement of the Purple Gold Eagle, victory would have been uncertain, and the casualties would likely have been greater. The announcement of the cultivators¡¯ achievements attracted considerable attention. As expected, Li Yuancheng and his wife topped the rankings among those other than the Foundation Establishment Cultivators through their formidable prowess. With their overwhelming strength and seamless cooperation, they managed to kill fifteen First Order Late Stage Cedar Beasts over the two rounds of battle. Such achievements were incredibly fearsome, drawing the focus and hot discussions among numerous loose cultivators. Following the couple, Lin Xingshun, with his Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage, also killed eleven First Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, closely followed by Chen Jingshan with eight kills. Besides that, many of the Lin Family members ranked high in battle results, and those from other Qi Refining families also had notable performances. Pure loose cultivators who made it into the top thirty were few. This was not surprising, as there were already few loose cultivators at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining in the market, and with lower strength and treasures, it was difficult to stand out among many competing cultivators from the families. As the report on achievements concluded, the lively atmosphere persisted. With a look to Lin Shilu, Lin Xingshun then found a spot to sit down. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 424: 249 Post-war Gathering_2 Chapter 424: Chapter 249 Post-war Gathering_2 Lin Shilu also stood up, his stern gaze sweeping over the cultivators present, instantly silencing the gathering. Seeing this, he let out a chuckle and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, after these two consecutive battles, we have finally eradicated the Cedar Beast Tribe. I am very gratified and wish to thank everyone for their contributions to the market.¡± ¡°Rest assured, fellow Daoists; your efforts are well remembered by our Lin Family, and we will not forget the promises we made!¡± Lin Shilu¡¯s words once again excited the Qi Refining Cultivators, who also felt much relieved; a few even began to offer compliments. Lin Shilu waved his hand to cut off those who were speaking and then continued, ¡°Although the Cedar Beast Tribe has been wiped out, the beast tide has not passed. We will still need everyone to unite and continue to defend our position until the tide has completely receded.¡± ¡°As for the promised rewards, they will be distributed to everyone according to their achievements as soon as the beast tide is over!¡± ... No sooner had the words been spoken than some cultivators smiled and said, ¡°Elder Lin, rest assured, if there are more demonic beasts attacking, we shall give it our all!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ even if another Cedar Beast Tribe comes, we will surely exterminate them and catch up to the combat achievements of that couple, Li and his wife!¡± Listening to the words of the cultivators, Lin Shilu chuckled and did not interrupt; instead, he chatted casually with everyone, further closing the distance between them. The lively meeting continued for half an hour, during which many issues concerning the market were discussed, and numerous arrangements were made. Seeing that matters were nearly settled, Lin Shilu then announced the conclusion of the meeting and dismissed the cultivators. As the Qi Refining Cultivators exited, Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming, Su He, Luo Chenggu, and others chatted leisurely for a while before, after a few formalities, they departed from the Market Hall, leaving a few Lin Family Members behind. Once the others had left, Lin Shilu, looking at the few core family members who remained, started chatting with a smile. Previously occupied with the great battle, the family members had had no time to sit down together; now that they were at ease, it was natural to exchange some news. Particularly Lin Shilu, who had considerable concerns about the family and Golden Horn Mountain, inquired about the situation at the first opportunity. Lin Tianming chuckled and then shared the situation at Golden Horn Mountain and the course of his battle with the Gold Fang Beast Clan, eliciting shock from everyone. Even Lin Shilu, who knew Lin Tianming very well, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°This youngster truly has boundless courage, but his strength is indeed formidable!¡± Lin Xingyuan and the others were still in shock at this point, despite having witnessed his great strength in the earlier battle with the Cedar Beast Tribe. But it was still hard for them to imagine that he, at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, had confronted an entire Gold Fang Beast Clan alone. Lin Xingyuan clenched his fists, his heart murmuring, ¡°What kind of courage and strength is this? Ordinary people can¡¯t even think of killing a Second Order Late Phase Gold Fang Beast, let alone escaping unscathed!¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s faces flush with excitement, Lin Tianming coughed, pulling them back to reality. Lin Tianming continued to share his experiences after leaving Golden Horn Mountain, encountering Qin Xi, rescuing her, and bringing her back to Golden Horn Mountain. Hearing this part of the story, Lin Shilu¡¯s interest was piqued, his eyes fixed on Lin Tianming, his mind evidently calculating something. Seeing him with this expression, Lin Tianming¡¯s face reddened, and he began explaining hastily, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Time passed as they talked over a cup of tea, and eventually, the topic was settled, and everyone finally returned to calm. Lin Shilu breathed a sigh of relief; with another cultivator joining Golden Horn Mountain, their safety could be further enhanced. ¡°Tianming, how is the situation with our family?¡± Lin Shilu asked. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming then continued his story, recounting his experience upon returning to Green Bamboo Mountain and the family¡¯s battle against the Biyun Beasts. This time, everyone was not too shocked, perhaps because they had been desensitized by Lin Tianming¡¯s earlier battle with the Gold Fang Beasts. Learning that the family¡¯s elite had mobilized in full force to defeat the Biyun Beast Clan, but had also lost several dozen of their own, their expressions grew somewhat melancholy. Lin Tianming offered a few words of consolation; as cultivators, they knew that making sacrifices during a beast tide was all too normal, so they quickly recovered. Thereupon, Lin Shilu changed the subject and asked, ¡°Tianming, what are your plans moving forward?¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, the market is safe for the time being, and I plan to rest here for the night to adjust my condition. I will return to Golden Horn Mountain tomorrow.¡± Lin Shilu nodded his head, aware that the defenses of Golden Horn Mountain were the weakest and that it was indeed inappropriate to stay away for too long, so he didn¡¯t consider asking him to stay. Returning his focus, he instructed, ¡°Then rest assured and depart after a good night¡¯s rest. Be careful on your way, and don¡¯t take any more risks!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, and the conversation among them shifted as they began to make small talk. As a pot of tea time passed and the sky grew dark, Lin Tianming and his fellow clan members stood up to say their farewells. Seeing their tired expressions, Lin Shilu did not hold them back any longer, immediately allowing everyone to go and rest. Before leaving, Lin Shilu took out a storage bag filled with Monster Beast Souls that he had instructed Lin Xingshun to collect, specially prepared for Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the storage bag, and upon scanning it with his Divine Sense, he was overjoyed. This storage bag contained quite a number of Jade Bottles, nearly several hundred in quantity. Each Jade Bottle contained a Cedar Beast Soul of varying ranks, with the lowest being at the First Order Middle Stage. Not a single Second Order Demonic Beast Soul was spared, all were included. It was evident that they had been collected specifically for him; this quantity almost made up the majority of Cedar Beast Souls above the First Order Middle Stage within the entire Cedar Beast Tribe. Appreciating Lin Shilu¡¯s kindness, Lin Tianming did not decline. The Thousand Beast Banner had lost many Monster Beast Souls after several rounds of fierce battles, resulting in a decrease in the banner¡¯s power. With this batch of large quantity and high-quality Monster Beast Souls, as long as he refined all of them into the banner, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner would undoubtedly return to its peak, or even further enhance its power. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was quite excited, almost wishing he could begin refining the Thousand Beast Banner right then and there. However, now was not the time; he needed to hurry back to Golden Horn Mountain, and the refining would have to wait a few days. Gathering his thoughts and seeing that he indeed needed these and could make the best use of the Monster Beast Souls, he stopped being polite with Lin Shilu. He pocketed the storage bag and after giving Lin Shilu a fist salute to express his thanks, he left the great hall. It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived at the Cave Mansion District where the Lin Family Members resided. This place was located at the southernmost part of the market¡¯s residential area, where the concentration of Spiritual Energy was one of the densest in the entire market. As the Lin Family intensified their presence in Luoyun Market, the number of clan members visiting each year increased, and the original cave mansions were too small to accommodate everyone. Therefore, they cordoned off this area specifically as a resting place for Lin Family Members. Looking at the tidy courtyards, Lin Tianming walked to the farthest reaches and stopped in front of one. He produced the Family Token and activated the Law Decree. As the barrier opened, he stepped inside. After walking down a long corridor, he chose a room, entered, and collapsed onto the bed to sleep. Having been on the road for several days and after experiencing a major battle, he was not injured, but his spirit was utterly exhausted. He closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep slumber, as even breathing sounds began to emanate from the room. The next morning. As dawn broke, while others were still cultivating or deep in sleep, the quiet Luoyun Market saw the figure of Lin Tianming emerge. After a night¡¯s rest, his spirits had greatly recovered, his body shone with vitality, and he was nearly at his peak condition. He decided not to disturb the other clan members and planned a stealthy exit from the market to return to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Shortly, he left the market without any issues and arrived at a mountain top outside, using the dim morning light to release the Purple Gold Eagle. Lin Tianming mounted the Purple Gold Eagle, and as it soared into the sky, it turned into a dark silhouette, flying towards the direction of Golden Horn Mountain. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 425: 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_1 Chapter 425: Chapter 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_1 At dusk, within a courtyard in the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory, Lin Tianming and his son sat opposite each other, enjoying tea and casual conversation. Since Lin Tianming had left Luoyun Market, the cautious man made a round trip around the vicinity of the market to ensure there were no traces of large-scale Demon Beast Tribe, before he embarked on his journey back to Golden Horn Mountain. After spending the better part of the day traveling, he finally managed to return to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory before twilight. Upon learning of his return, Lin Xingrong, who had been worried, relaxed. He promptly asked for a gathering and remembered to send word to Lin Tianfeng to join them. While the father and son chatted, Lin Tianming first inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s condition. ... According to his father, Qin Xi was still in seclusion and definitely would not make an appearance in the short term unless there was a Demon Beast attack on the clan territory. Lin Tianming nodded; Qin Xi had been injured, and it had only been a matter of days since his departure. Such a short time would not be enough for her to recover to peak condition. Furthermore, as a Loose Cultivator, she wouldn¡¯t often join them. She would undoubtedly be cultivating in seclusion, only appearing when necessary. While he pondered, the protective formation flickered and then Lin Tianfeng entered the small courtyard. Seeing Lin Tianming had returned, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face brightened, and he immediately greeted him with a smile. Lin Tianming gave a cupped-fist salute in return, then invited Lin Tianfeng to sit and drink tea. Now that everyone was present, Lin Xingrong nodded and first asked about the situation at Golden Horn Mountain. Lin Tianfeng reported that the area around Golden Horn Mountain had been quiet lately. Clan members responsible for patrolling the gates had not spotted any large-scale movements of Demonic Beasts, encountering only some First Order Demon Beasts wandering around, posing no threat to Golden Horn Mountain. The whole of Golden Horn Mountain was as usual, with everyone focusing on their cultivation. However, there was no slack in defense and patrol. Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his father nodded in agreement; they were confident in leaving this matter to Lin Tianfeng. After all, Lin Tianfeng had previously served in the Enforcement Hall, and his experience in defense matters was much richer than theirs. Next, Lin Xingrong asked Lin Tianming about the situation at the family clan and Luoyun Market. Lin Tianming did not hold back, revealing every detail about the situation in both places. Learning that the family and Luoyun Market had experienced a great battle, where dozens of clan members had fallen, the mood of both men became somewhat somber. Lin Tianming offered some words of comfort, aware that conflict would inevitably lead to sacrifices, and even as Foundation Establishment cultivators, they still risked falling during a beast tide. Fortunately, everything was fine in both places, and the sacrifices, they concluded, were not too substantial. Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianfeng then accepted reality. Once calm had been restored, the three began discussing their plans for what was to come. For this matter, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have many ideas. Given that the beast tide had not yet passed, they had no choice but to remain on guard at Golden Horn Mountain. Sometime later, after chatting for half an hour and confirming their duties, Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong would continue their seclusion for cultivation, Lin Tianfeng would be responsible for overseeing the clan members, and they could communicate with each other if anything arose. With everything arranged, they each stood up and then left the small courtyard. Lin Tianming returned to his Temporary Cave Abode and immediately entered the secret chamber. Sitting on the meditation mat, several Jade Bottles were arrayed before him, containing Monster Beast Souls given to him by Lin Shilu. Current circumstances were not suitable for long-term seclusion; beast fights could happen at any moment. In such a situation, his time was short and unstable; it was an ideal time for alchemical work or Magic Artifact enhancement. It so happened he had many Monster Beast Souls on hand. Even if he fully committed to the task, it would still take ten days to half a month. He planned to use this time to refine the Monster Beast Souls into the artifact to quickly enhance the power of the Thousand Beast Banner, preparing for any upcoming confrontations. Having made up his mind, he closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and began performing breathing exercises. An hour passed, and Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his condition at its peak. He took out the Thousand Beast Banner, casting Law Decrees upon it, and its fabric blazed with Spiritual Light, illuminating the dim chamber. Then, he picked up a Jade Bottle and released the Monster Beast Soul. The Monster Beast Soul floated mid-air, its ephemeral shadow flashing within a sphere of light, screeching ferociously at Lin Tianming, baring its fangs. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Lin Tianming scoffed. This was the Soul of a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, which couldn¡¯t even be his match while alive, much less in death. With a single sweep of his hand, Lin Tianming grabbed the Monster Beast Soul; it struggled fiercely the moment he grasped it, attempting to break free. Unconcerned, Lin Tianming continued to enhance the Thousand Beast Banner. When the timing was right, he began sealing the Monster Beast Soul within it. Already accustomed to the process, his expertise meant that even the Beast Soul¡¯s resistance was a futile act. At this moment, Lin Tianming flicked his fingers repeatedly, striking the Thousand Beast Banner with Law Decrees. The Monster Beast Soul resisted in vain, ultimately succumbing to the successful refinement. After an hour, the Thousand Beast Banner glowed, signifying that the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast Soul had been successfully sealed inside. Feeling the fluctuations coming from the Thousand Beast Banner, and seeing its dazzling brilliance, Lin Tianming was very pleased. The power granted by this Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast was comparable to that of several hundred First Order Demon Beasts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 426: 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Chapter 426: Chapter 250 Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Looking at the remaining spheres of light, along with the numerous Second Order Demonic Beast souls, he was overjoyed, thinking how much the power of the Thousand Beast Banner would increase if he refined and sealed all the souls. Regaining his focus, he did not rest for a moment, and continued the refining process. In the chamber, bursts of light and low roars of Demonic Beasts emanated repeatedly; every so often, the light from the Thousand Beast Banner grew brighter, and with it, its aura became increasingly formidable. ¡­ The Yuxu Mountain Range. Located in the eastern part of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the Yuxu Mountain Range¡¯s vast territory, filled with dense forests and terrain of thousand oddities, spanned several times the size of the Luoyun Mountain Range. ... In the southeastern corner of the Yuxu Mountain Range, within a beautiful valley, appeared an enormous cluster of buildings, majestic and ancient, exuding a sense of time-worn grandeur. Looking around, the valley was rich in Spiritual Energy, with large Spirit Fields and scattered building complexes reflecting off each other, presenting a unique charm and elegance. At the entrance of the valley, a massive stone bore the vigorously carved characters of Myriad Medicine Valley. This was the location of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s sect gate, which had dominated this land for tens of thousands of years. Among the Golden Core forces of Wei Kingdom, Myriad Medicine Valley had the most ancient history and formidable foundation and strength, often being the strongest force among the three major sects. However, despite its formidable strength, Myriad Medicine Valley acted very discreetly, seldom participating in struggles among forces and rarely reported to have bullied the weak. Its just and low-profile manner of conduct, coupled with an aversion to making enemies, garnered widespread approval from the Cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. This might be the reason why Myriad Medicine Valley had thrived for so long, standing tall over the millennia without falling. On this day, the sky was clear, and beams of sunlight pierced through the clouds to shine on Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s sect gate. In the central region of the valley, within the core area of Myriad Medicine Valley. A row of wooden pavilions stood behind a vast square, and upon closer inspection, every pavilion was constructed from centuries-old Tianyou wood. Tianyou wood, being Second Order Superior wood-attributed Spirit Material, possessed excellent flexibility and hardness, and was extremely valuable, ranking as one of the top Artifact Refining Materials. Myriad Medicine Valley had used such precious Spirit Material to construct more than a dozen pavilions of various sizes, truly reflecting the strength and wealth of a Millennium Sect. This area with the pavilions was the core area of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s sect gate, accessible only by the Sect Elders and True Disciples. Ordinary cultivators had no qualification to enter. In a secret chamber of one of the pavilions. Seated at a higher position was an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a grey Daoist robe, his stern face betraying the strength and vicissitudes of a seasoned powerhouse. This person was none other than Zhou Yunxiao, the current Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley. He had led Myriad Medicine Valley for over a hundred years, with his Mid Stage Golden Core realm cultivation, making him a veteran Golden Core Cultivator in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Below him, two other Golden Core Cultivators sat. One was Zhu Yun of the Zhenyang Sect, whose cultivation was at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. Holding a position of great authority within the Zhenyang Sect, he was ranked as the Third Elder and was a seasoned Golden Core Cultivator. The other was Song Hanchun from the Golden Sword Sect, also at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. As the fourth elder of his sect, he was renowned in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Inside the grand hall, the three nodded to each other. As the host and the one who initiated the invitation, Zhou Yunxiao promptly opened his mouth to express his welcome. At this moment, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun exchanged glances and then turned their heads toward Zhou Yunxiao, reciprocating with a clasped fist in return. Observing the eerily quiet atmosphere, Zhou Yunxiao chuckled and directly spoke to break the stalemate. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the beast tide has now fully erupted, and our respective territories have suffered ferocious attacks from the Demonic Beasts. May I inquire about your situations?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he then roughly recounted the situation of the Zhenyang Sect. According to his description, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s territory had been fiercely attacked by Demonic Beasts. Led by four Third Order Demon Beasts, several mountain ranges had been trampled, and more than ten Foundation Establishing Families were exterminated. After they received the news, Zhenyang Sect didn¡¯t only defend their sect gate. Instead, they sent several Golden Core Cultivators along with over a thousand sect disciples to fight a fierce battle against the Monster Beast Legion in the Hengqiu Mountain Range. Both sides sustained injuries, and the situation had been at a stalemate. Immediately after, Song Hanchun and Zhou Yunxiao also shared the situation of their own sects. The circumstances of the Golden Sword Sect were similar to those of Zhenyang Sect, but the Golden Sword Sect faced even greater pressure. Although there were only three Third Order Demon Beasts, the scale of the Monster Beast Legion was extremely large, and they had paid a significant price to temporarily hold back the beasts. Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s situation was not much better. Although they had temporarily fended off the beasts, the demonic beasts would launch an attack every so often, and each battle resulted in the loss of many sect disciples. If this continued for an extended period, even if they managed to annihilate all the demonic beasts and secure victory, the elite progeny of Myriad Medicine Valley would likely suffer great losses. Such a victory would also be a pyrrhic one for the Golden Elixir Forces, who would take more than a hundred or two hundred years to recover their Yuan Qi. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the few of them exchanged information about the beast tide, their expressions turned ugly as they pondered counterstrategies. Soon, each of them offered several suggestions but, due to their respective standpoints, the three parties were unable to reach a consensus. At this point, the meeting reached an impasse, and no one spoke further, plunging the room back into silence. Seeing the silent Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun, Zhou Yunxiao sighed, then spoke up to break the deadlock. ¡°I wonder¡­ what do the two fellow Daoists think about forming an alliance between our three factions?¡± Hearing this, it was clear that Zhou Yunxiao had long held this idea, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have invited them to discuss negotiations. Understanding this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded, then fell into deep thought. Currently, across the entire Wei Kingdom, almost every place was resisting the beast tide. Among them, the battles on the lands of the Golden Sword Sect to the north and Myriad Medicine Valley were particularly fierce. The beast tide had been raging for nearly a month, and the powers of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World were essentially scattered like a sheet of loose sand, each fending for itself. Under such conditions, quite a few of the capable Foundation Establishing Families had been wiped out by the demonic beasts. Overall, although the Wei Kingdom had not completely collapsed, if the situation continued like this, the kingdom would suffer heavy losses, even if not entirely destroyed. And now, as the scale of the beast tide grew larger, the pressure on all the forces, including the Golden Elixir Forces, was mounting as well. Amidst such grim circumstances, if they did not take some measures, the losses would surely continue to climb. Thinking about all this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun furrowed their brows, feeling a tinge of anger toward the beast tide assault in their hearts. While the two were silent, Zhou Yunxiao continued, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the purpose of inviting you here was to discuss forming an alliance. Since you both have come, I assume you share this sentiment to some extent.¡± ¡°Since that is the case, let¡¯s not beat around the bush and directly discuss our conditions and suggestions!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun exchanged glances, as if they had reached some sort of agreement. At that moment, Zhu Yun took the lead and said, ¡°An alliance is not out of the question, but we can¡¯t let our three Great Sects fight valiantly at the forefront while those Loose Cultivators and families pick up easy gains!¡± As soon as the words were out, Song Hanchun chimed in agreement. ¡°Exactly, we¡¯re fighting to the death up front while those family forces and Loose Cultivators do nothing and still make it through the crisis. That¡¯s hardly fair.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao silently nodded in agreement; he himself thought the same. Despite the fact that the strength of the several Golden Core Forces was among the best in the Wei Kingdom, in addition to the three major Sects, there were also Two Great Golden Core Families present in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Beyond that, there were several hundred Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and together with those Loose Cultivators, they could form a powerful alliance that could instantly overwhelm the three Great Sects. In such a situation, it was indeed difficult for them to accept being the ones who put everything on the line. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 427: 251 Recruitment Order_1 Chapter 427: Chapter 251 Recruitment Order_1 Having regained his composure, Zhou Yunxiao said, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for us Three Great Sects to risk our lives in vain. Why don¡¯t we issue a Recruitment Order to gather Foundation Establishing Families and Loose Cultivators to fight against the beast tide together!¡± ¡°A Recruitment Order?¡± Zhu Yun couldn¡¯t help but be stunned, summoning other family forces and Loose Cultivators to battle had not happened in the Wei Kingdom for several hundred years. In the Cultivation World, a Recruitment Order, to put it simply, means offering some recompense to forcibly mobilize those forces or Loose Cultivators weaker than them to join their camp. Fearing their strength, these families or Loose Cultivators, even if reluctant and unwilling, would send people to participate to avoid being targeted or retaliated against later, not wanting to offend the forces at the Golden Core Stage. Considering this, Zhu Yun spoke up, ¡°The beast tide attack is vexing, but surely it doesn¡¯t warrant issuing a Recruitment Order!¡± ... After he had finished speaking, Song Hanchun nodded and then added a sentence. ¡°Daoist Zhu speaks the truth, issuing a Recruitment Order can easily offend others and is generally reserved for crises that threaten the entire Cultivation World. We shouldn¡¯t issue it lightly!¡± No sooner had the words fallen than Zhou Yunxiao rebutted with a smile, ¡°The beast tide doesn¡¯t only threaten our Three Great Powers; other forces are also under attack. Isn¡¯t this a crisis that endangers the whole Cultivation World?¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun couldn¡¯t help but smile, seeming somewhat tempted. The beast tide had emerged not only on their territories, but in over ninety percent of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s land, there had been incidents of Demonic Beasts attacking. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the ferocious onslaught of the Demonic Beasts, numerous forces had been annihilated or had suffered tremendous losses. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a major event? Doesn¡¯t it endanger the entire Cultivation World?¡± With this thought, the two no longer opposed the idea of the Recruitment Order and promptly expressed their agreement. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao chuckled and the group began discussing the specifics of the Recruitment Order and the compensation needed. In a short while, they had initially agreed on the terms, but there was some disagreement over the price to be paid for the Recruitment Order. After all, there were quite a few families and Loose Cultivators to be summoned, and with other forces also in dire straits, offering just Spirit Stones and ordinary treasures was unlikely to attract Cultivators to join. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao thought for a moment and then had a sudden flash of inspiration. He smiled and then said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the Tianfeng Secret Realm is about to open. We could offer some entry spots as rewards. I¡¯m sure that could attract many family forces and Loose Cultivators to respond to the Recruitment Order!¡± ¡°Using entry spots for the Tianfeng Secret Realm as rewards?¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun were intrigued and began to ponder. The Tianfeng Secret Realm is a Profound Secret Realm and is the only known realm of its kind within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Inside the dangerous realm, there is a wealth of Demonic Beasts as well as many opportunities, including Spiritual Medicines and Fruits that assist in the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. The Tianfeng Secret Realm opens once every two hundred years, offering only one hundred spots for entry. Any Foundation Establishment Cultivator, whether at the first layer or at Great Perfection, can enter smoothly without any age restrictions. Unlike wandering secret realms that leave no trace and whose opening times can¡¯t be predicted, the Tianfeng Secret Realm is nothing like unclaimed property. This realm opens at fixed times and at a specific location, jointly owned by the Three Great Golden Core Sects, thirty spots each, with the remaining ten spots auctioned off. The proceeds from the auction are then divided evenly amongst the Three Great Sects. The origin of the Tianfeng Secret Realm dates back three thousand years when it was discovered by a Loose Cultivator. It quickly became famous, eventually sparking a great conflict among the Three Great Sects. Initially, the three powers sustained losses against one another, and the ownership of the realm remained undecided. Finally, after the strongest members from the Three Great Sects clashed and nearly came to a draw, and considering their forces were evenly matched with each restraining the others, none wanted to let other powers reap the benefits. Since neither was assured of vanquishing the others, they eventually came to a peace agreement, each obtaining thirty entry spots. The issue of the secret realm was thus settled and has been stably opening for three thousand years. The Three Great Sects have been able to maintain their power for nearly three thousand years, bolstered by this realm. The use of entry spots to the realm to issue a Recruitment Order does have precedent; the most recent being a thousand years ago when the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Country Cultivation World united to invade the Wei Kingdom. At first, the Three Great Sects joined forces to fight back, but the overall strength of Huangyang was superior to that of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, resulting in a series of defeats with heavy losses for the Three Great Sects. In desperation, the Three Great Golden Core Sects of Wei Kingdom jointly issued a Recruitment Order, offering entry spots to the Tianfeng Secret Realm as a reward. They amassed many Foundation Establishing Families and Loose Cultivators into the Wei Kingdom¡¯s army. With the advantage of fighting on their own terrain and after a prolonged hard battle where many Cultivators fell, they finally repelled the invading forces from Huangyang Country Cultivation World. Back then, the Lin Family had not yet officially established itself, and could only learn of this sensational battle through historical records. After much contemplation, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded at each other, as if they had made a decision. Seeing this, Zhu Yun said, ¡°Using entry spots to the Tianfeng Secret Realm as rewards to issue a Recruitment Order is indeed feasible.¡± ¡°However, this matter is of great importance. As a mere individual, I cannot make the decision alone; I must return to my Sect and report to the elders before we can confirm.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 428: 251 Recruitment Order_2 Chapter 428: Chapter 251 Recruitment Order_2 As the words fell, the person beside him, Song Hanchun, nodded and agreed. ¡°Indeed¡­ This matter is of no small importance, and we alone cannot bring it to pass; it must go through the Elders¡¯ Council¡¯s deliberation. Only if more than half of the elders agree can it be confirmed!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao smiled and then nodded, saying, ¡°What the two Daoist friends have said, Zhou naturally understands.¡± ¡°The intensity of the beast tide attacks is increasing by the day, and the Recruitment Order matter cannot be delayed. The two Daoist friends might as well set off for the sect immediately, to discuss with several fellow Daoists. Once there¡¯s a result, notify me at the earliest convenience.¡± ¡°At that time, we will join hands to issue a notice and then dispatch some disciples to visit those family clans worth inviting to formalize the matter of the Recruitment Order.¡± ... ¡°Hmm¡­ that is indeed feasible!¡± Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded in response. ¡°Haha¡­ There¡¯s no time to delay. I won¡¯t hold you two Daoist friends any longer, and once there¡¯s a result, our three parties will dispatch a Golden Core Stage Cultivator at the earliest time to take charge of preparing this matter!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said. Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun nodded, then got up and cupped their fists. Zhou Yunxiao returned the gesture and personally escorted the two out of the great hall. Outside the great hall, Zhou Yunxiao instructed a disciple waiting outside, Zhao Mingli, ¡°Mingli, see Daoist Zhu and Daoist Song off for me!¡± ¡°As per the master¡¯s command!¡± Zhao Mingli bowed and replied, then faced Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun with a cupped-fist salute, ¡°Please, two senior predecessors!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Daoist Zhou, we shall meet again later!¡± ¡°We shall meet again later!¡± Zhou Yunxiao replied, then watched as Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun and their companions left the pavilion, flying towards the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. ¡­ Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed. Zhenyang Sect. That day, at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, on a vast square. At this moment, the square at the mountain gate was already filled with dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, both men and women, whose cultivation uniformly was at the Fourth Level of Foundation Building or above, all of them the backbone of the Zhenyang Sect. Dozens of cultivators, dressed uniformly, sat neatly on the ground, some familiar ones started to chat idly, guessing at the purpose for which the Sect Leader had summoned them. There were various discussions among the crowd, with many guessing that they were going to be sent out of the sect to fight on the frontline against the Demon Beast Army; the cultivators with this thought wore somewhat melancholic expressions. In the crowd, some cultivators inquired with each other or discussed the situation on the frontline, making the scene extremely lively for a time. As a whooshing sound approached, everyone promptly stood up and saluted the man in front of them with cupped fists, bowing in greeting. ¡°Junior greets Uncle-Master Zhu (or Grandmaster)!¡± The newcomer was Zhu Yun, who had been invited to the Golden Core gathering at Myriad Medicine Valley. He stood in front of everyone and, after nodding and scanning the assembled cultivators, projected his booming voice. ¡°At ease!¡± As everyone completed their salutations and looked up at Zhu Yun, their expressions varied, but most of them appeared nervous, seemingly fearful that Zhu Yun would assign them to the frontline to partake in the great battle. Seeing this expression on everyone¡¯s faces, Zhu Yun¡¯s own countenance grew displeased, thinking to himself that these disciples were too lacking in resolve, one and all too fond of life and afraid of death, and really not cut out for significant tasks. He snorted coldly, silencing those with pale faces, but he didn¡¯t say much more, considering that most of these disciples were the personal successors of his fellow senior brothers or were their recorded disciples. If he spoke too much, it could easily offend others. After all, they weren¡¯t his disciples. Whether or not they shaped up had nothing to do with him, as long as his own¡­ Regaining his composure, Zhu Yun looked at the several disciples among the crowd. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he nodded his head in satisfaction. A moment later, as the crowd fell into silence, he finally spoke, ¡°Everyone, the Sect Leader has summoned you because there is a very important task for you all!¡± ¡°There is no need for me to explain the situation with the beast tide, as I¡¯m sure you are all well aware. The sect, in order to cope with the increasing pressure on the front lines, has already formed an alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley and the Golden Sword Sect. We plan to issue a Recruitment Order to summon those families with fairly strong abilities and Loose Cultivators to join the Demon-Hunting Army.¡± Upon hearing this, many disciples showed expressions of shock, not expecting that the Recruitment Order, which hadn¡¯t been issued in nearly a thousand years, would now be issued again at this time. ¡°Has the situation at the front deteriorated further?¡± ¡°Or perhaps the Human Race has suffered heavy losses; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t resort to using this Recruitment Order!¡± Many Cultivators secretly speculated but dared not show any peculiar expressions, obviously fearing another reprimand from Zhu Yun. At this time, Zhu Yun spoke again, ¡°You have been summoned here to assign tasks to you. Each pair of you will be responsible for the Foundation Establishment Families of one mountain range and the propaganda tasks for both large and small markets.¡± Having said this, Zhu Yun waved his hand and took out a book from his storage bag, flipping it open casually. After perusing a moment, he found a particular line on the third page that mentioned the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, as well as the Sun Family of Flying Eagle Mountain, including Luoyun Market. It seemed that both the Lin Family and Sun Family were targets for the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s impending Recruitment Order, while the Luo Family, still existing, was not on the list, seemingly not valued enough by the Zhenyang Sect. After flipping through a few more pages, Zhu Yun then began to read out the names of some Cultivators and the areas they were responsible for. ¡°Zhou Ke¡­ responsible for the propaganda task in Flame Residence Mountain Range for the Liu, Luo, Gu, and Hu Families, as well as Flame Residence Market!¡± ¡°Su Muxue¡­ responsible for the propaganda task in Blue Moon Mountain Range for the Li, Chen, and He Families, as well as Blue Moon Market!¡± Zhu Yun read out the names of more than a dozen disciples in one breath, also mentioning the names of more than a dozen family areas. The disciples whose names were called stepped forward, responding with a cupped fist and then quietly waiting on the side. At this moment, Zhu Yun nodded and then continued with a loud voice before the crowd. ¡°Li Huafeng¡­ responsible for the propaganda task in Luoyun Mountain Range for the Lin Family, Sun Family, and Luoyun Market.¡± ¡­ A quarter of an hour passed, and all the family names and market names recorded in the book had been read out. More than twenty Zhenyang Sect disciples responded with a cupped fist, accepting the task of conveying the Recruitment Order. Zhu Yun looked at the disciples who had their names read, then took out more than twenty golden tokens, throwing them toward the disciples, who caught them steadily. Following that, Zhu Yun said, ¡°Those who have been named, pick a partner each, and then head to the Spirit Beast Garden to claim a Cloud Luan Crane. Set off tomorrow morning and rush to the families and markets you need to convey within one month.¡± ¡°As long as you show the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Token, they must dispatch at least one member above the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level to Qianchuan Market or Dragon Mountain Market within two months!¡± ¡°Furthermore, it is essential to clarify one thing: any Cultivator participating in the Recruitment, be they Loose Cultivators or from family clans, if they make significant contributions in the battle against the beast tide, the top thirty will receive either one Foundation Establishment Pill or a Hidden Dragon Pill.¡± ¡°Those who rank in the top ten for contributions in the entire Demon-Hunting Army organized by the three Great Sects can earn a spot to enter Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Those with exceptionally great merits will not only receive a spot but will also be awarded a significant amount of cultivation resources.¡± The disciples showed surprise and shock once again upon hearing this. Unexpectedly, the Sect and the other two Great Golden Core Sects had agreed on such rewards, for without them, those families or Loose Cultivators would not easily agree. If some incentives weren¡¯t provided, their tasks would not be so easily accomplished. At this time, the disciples refocused their minds, answering with a cupped fist, and then under Zhu Yun¡¯s supervision, they began choosing their partners. Soon, dozens of Cultivators picked their partners, and after arranging their tasks, Zhu Yun didn¡¯t delay any further, directly dismissing everyone. At Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate and Golden Sword Mountain Gate, a similar scene unfolded. Under the summons of the sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators, disciples of their respective Sects took on the task of recruitment. Subsequently, these disciples tasked with duties set out in different directions at different times. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. SEND GIFT Chapter 429: 252: Qin Xis Provocation_1 Chapter 429: Chapter 252: Qin Xi¡¯s Provocation_1 Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Inside a secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with a jade bottle haphazardly toppled over in front of him on the ground. Above his head, the Thousand Beast Banner hung in mid-air, rapidly spinning as he hammered it with Law Decrees, one after another. Time was difficult to track, but eventually, a flash of light sparked, and the banner of the Thousand Beast Banner glinted with golden light, followed by the sounds of demonic beasts¡¯ roars. At that moment, he opened his eyes and looked at the brightly shining Thousand Beast Banner, a satisfied smile on his face. He had been in secluded meditation for more than twenty days, refining the Thousand Beast Banner during the day and taking elixirs to cultivate at night. After more than twenty days, he had sealed all the monster beast souls he had into the Thousand Beast Banner. ... As the number of monster beast souls increased, including the souls of nine second-order Cedar Beasts, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner surged insanely. By his estimation, the current power of the Thousand Beast Banner was at least more than twice as strong as before. Such an increase in power was beyond his expectation and pleasantly surprising. Yet this was a good thing; with such a boost, the Thousand Beast Banner, combined with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, would make him even more formidable in battle. Regaining his focus, he waved a single hand and caught the Thousand Beast Banner that hung above his head, then fondled it lovingly. After a moment, he collected the disarrayed jade bottles in front of him and then stepped out from the secret chamber. It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived at Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling. Upon hearing of his emergence from seclusion, Lin Xingrong came out of his secret chamber, summoned Lin Tianfeng as well, and the three of them sat in the small courtyard, drinking tea, chatting leisurely and exchanging news about recent developments. According to Lin Tianfeng, over these past twenty days, Golden Horn Mountain had been lucky to remain calm and peaceful. Despite occasional small-scale demonic beast attacks on the clan territory, these beasts were not in large numbers and were easily slaughtered by Lin Tianfeng leading some of the clansmen or driven away from around the territory. Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected that after encountering the Golden Fang Beast Clan and a fierce battle that left them severely wounded, they would disappear without a trace. He had anticipated that in the near future, other large groups of second-order demonic beasts would attack, but instead, they hadn¡¯t encountered any demon beasts of considerable strength. Unless led by a second-order late-phase demon beast or in overwhelming numbers, second-order demonic beasts posed no real threat to Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. Refocusing, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Father, Brother, this beast tide feels a bit strange¡­ After the first wave of strong demonic beasts, the rest seem to get weaker, and it¡¯s unclear where they have gone.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded and continued. ¡°It¡¯s too strange. I stayed near the mountain gate for nearly two months and, aside from encountering a group of over a hundred beasts led by a first-order demon beast that attacked our clan territory ten days ago, we haven¡¯t seen any other groups of powerful beasts.¡± ¡°Since the largest demon beast tribe was not very strong, there was no need to disturb you.¡± ¡°I led the team myself, and with the help of our clansmen, we easily defeated this beast tribe. That second-order initial stage beast was severely wounded by me. Had that creature not fled so quickly, it would have surely died at Golden Horn Mountain.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong was also surprised. After regaining his composure, he inquired, ¡°How are the casualties among our clansmen?¡± ¡°No one has fallen; only four clansmen suffered severe injuries. However, they should recover with some time spent in secluded cultivation!¡± Lin Tianfeng replied. Lin Tianming and his father both nodded, then breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Tianfeng was still quite prudent in his actions. Since he had led the clansmen into battle alone, he must have been fairly confident; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have initiated an attack that would result in pointless sacrifices among their people. Returning to the matter at hand, Lin Xingrong said, ¡°This beast tide is indeed strange. It might be that the Luoyun Mountain Range is more remote, so the density of demonic beasts is lower here.¡± ¡°Or perhaps the demon beast army has gathered them together to attack the more powerful families and clans!¡± ¡°Or they¡¯re conserving power, readying themselves for an even larger attack in the near future!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°Father¡¯s predictions are quite likely!¡± ¡°Given the massive scale of the demonic beasts, it shouldn¡¯t be this simple. Although Wei Kingdom is not the epicenter of the demonic beast outbreak, such a mild response is indeed unexpected.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ it¡¯s been too quiet lately, eerily quiet!¡± said Lin Tianfeng. Lin Xingrong nodded and then declared, ¡°No matter the reason, we will meet the challenges as they come. We must remain vigilant at all times, and keep up with our scouting and defense protocols!¡± ¡°Father¡¯s right, the more it stays like this, the less we should relax, and the more cautious we need to be.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, I will go out for a thorough inspection and scout for new information; you and Brother continue guarding the clan territory!¡± ¡°Good¡­ With your absence, we haven¡¯t expanded our scouting range for a while, and it¡¯s time for a detailed survey,¡± Lin Xingrong replied. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and then said: ¡°Then it¡¯s decided; I will set out early tomorrow morning, scouting as thoroughly as possible, and I¡¯ll inform you both immediately if there are any developments!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s prepare to depart,¡± Lin Xingrong said. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Waving his hand, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianming got up, bowed, and then left their father¡¯s cave dwelling together. ¡­ On the next day at dawn, with the morning glow already risen, Lin Tianming walked out of his dwelling into the streets paved with blue stone. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 430: 252 Provocation by Qin Xi_2 Chapter 430: Chapter 252 Provocation by Qin Xi_2 He glanced around at the several cave abodes nearby, which belonged to the Lin Family members at the Foundation Establishment stage who were cultivating. Among them, Qin Xi had also been arranged to cultivate in one of the cave abodes. During this nearly one-month period, she had never left the courtyard and had no idea how the situation was now. As Lin Tianming was pondering, a beautiful figure accompanied by a faint fragrance appeared before him. Lin Tianming looked up and saw the person coming, it was undoubtedly the Qin Xi he had been thinking about. At this moment, with a smile on her lips, Qin Xi had concluded her one-month retreat, her injuries and spiritual power fully recovered, radiating an indescribable glow. And today, as she came out of her retreat, she coincidentally met her savior, Lin Tianming, which couldn¡¯t help but bring her some secret joy. ... She came back to her senses and graciously bowed toward Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, this young lady pays her respects.¡± Seeing Qin Xi approach, Lin Tianming smiled and promptly cupped his hands in return, saying, ¡°Fairy Qin, there is no need for such formality.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How is Fairy Qin¡¯s injury? Has it fully recovered?¡± ¡°Are you accustomed to Golden Horn Mountain?¡± Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s several caring inquiries, Qin Xi felt a warm current surge in her heart. She giggled and said, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Lin. My injuries have all recovered.¡± ¡°As for cultivation, the scenery of Golden Horn Mountain is like a beautiful painting, and it¡¯s so safe. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve troubled your noble clan, and for that, I¡¯m somewhat embarrassed!¡± Looking at Qin Xi¡¯s enchanting smile, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart skip a beat, then he waved his hand and said, ¡°That¡¯s just a trifle, Fairy Qin needn¡¯t worry about it. Moreover, should a Demon Beast Tribe attack this place, we would hope for Fairy Qin¡¯s assistance!¡± ¡°Giggle¡­ That¡¯s only natural!¡± Qin Xi covered her mouth with a laugh in response, then continued to ask, ¡°Lin, how has the beast tide been recently? Has anything major happened?¡± ¡°Fairy Qin is overly concerned, Golden Horn Mountain has been quite peaceful lately; we haven¡¯t found any large-scale tribes¡¯ tracks, and I don¡¯t know why.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi had anticipated this. If there had been any demon beast attacks on the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory during her seclusion, Lin Tianfeng and the others would have surely sent her a message. Since she hadn¡¯t received any messages, it naturally meant everything was normal. Her active inquiry regarding this matter was also to show that she cared about the situation, leaving a good impression on the Lin Family, lest by not inquiring she might be misunderstood. Regaining her composure, she chuckled and then asked a question. ¡°Lin, where are you off to now? Do you have time to join my mother and Daoist Tianfeng for a gathering at my retreat? It would serve as a small token of my gratitude too, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a look of surprise, and after pausing for a moment, he regretfully said, ¡°Fairy Qin, I¡¯m about to patrol outside the clan, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have time to attend!¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi puckered her cherry lips, then replied, ¡°Is that so¡­ then I¡¯ll make a special invitation to you another day!¡± ¡°However, Lin, I don¡¯t have anything to do right now, so why don¡¯t you take me with you, as a way to contribute even a little to your noble clan?¡± ¡°Fairy Qin plans to accompany me on the patrol?¡± Lin Tianming asked with some confusion. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded and then said somewhat helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ve just recovered from my injury, and apart from cultivation, I have nothing else to do.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve been in seclusion for cultivation for a few years now, and I¡¯m a bit bored. I plan to go out with you to clear my mind, and accompanying you would also provide some mutual support, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not directly refuse Qin Xi¡¯s request, but he also didn¡¯t immediately agree. He was very aware that long-term seclusion for cultivation was not necessarily a good thing for one¡¯s state of mind. If one were to remain in seclusion for many years, the improvement in cultivation would usually be very limited. More importantly, being in seclusion for too long without undergoing trials and gaining experience could lead to stagnation in cultivation at best, or at worst, to becoming possessed, turning into a bloodthirsty creature. At that point, such individuals would be shunned by all cultivators and even become enemies of the Cultivation World, facing endless pursuit and attack. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming found no reason to refuse. Regaining his composure, he showed an expression of difficulty and said, ¡°Fairy Qin, are you sure you¡¯ve considered this thoroughly? Once we leave Golden Horn Mountain, it will not be as safe without the protection of the formations.¡± ¡°If we encounter a large-scale demon beast tribe, or even several Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, it could be life-threatening!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi pursed her lips as if a bit annoyed. She herself was at least a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and although her strength did not match Lin Tianming¡¯s, dealing with an ordinary Second Order Middle Stage Demon Beast was still well within her capabilities. Following Lin Tianming, as long as they did not encounter too powerful a Demon Beast Tribe, she still had the confidence to come back unscathed. Regaining her composure, she put on an upset expression and said, ¡°Lin, you must not look down on me. Although I am no match for you, dealing with a Second Order Middle Stage Demon Beast is a piece of cake.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Lin, if we encounter a powerful Demon Beast Tribe, you can just leave me behind, I absolutely won¡¯t hold you back!¡± Upon hearing these resentful words, Lin Tianming¡¯s old face reddened. As a man, how could he abandon her and flee alone? He also wouldn¡¯t let Qin Xi look down on him, or else it would be too shameful. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming then spoke up, ¡°Alright, isn¡¯t it okay if I agree!¡± When Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement, her heart blossomed with joy. It was unexpected that this despicable ruse would be so effective. She rejoiced secretly in her heart but did not show it, for fear that Lin Tianming would notice. At that moment, Qin Xi looked up to see Lin Tianming¡¯s cheeks slightly red and excitedly said, ¡°You said it yourself, Lin. Then let¡¯s set out as soon as possible!¡± Lin Tianming nodded his head and then took the lead with a step, flying in the direction of the sect¡¯s gate. Following behind him, Qin Xi kept pace with his steps, and the two arrived at the plaza behind the gate very quickly. At that time, Lin Tianfeng was sitting in the plaza, meditating with his eyes closed, constantly attentive to every move at the sect¡¯s gate. Seeing Lin Tianming and Qin Xi landing in the plaza, he immediately went over to them, greeting with a salute from a distance. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi returned the gesture, greeting each other with clasped hands. The three of them gathered together, and Lin Tianfeng, seeing Qin Xi after many days, asked with concern about her injuries. Qin Xi smiled lightly and replied, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Daoist Tianfeng. My injuries have healed, and I can now relieve our family of some worries!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded and then turned to Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tianming, are you planning to take Fairy Qin with you to patrol the sect¡¯s gate?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said somewhat helplessly, ¡°Fairy Qin said that being in seclusion for too long has made her feel restless. She wants to join me for a walk outside, to do something for the family as well.¡± Hearing this explanation and finding it reasonable, Lin Tianfeng nodded without asking further. ¡°Then take care and make it a quick trip!¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Brother, we¡¯re off then!¡± Lin Tianming clasped his hands in farewell and then took out the token, opening a gap in the Defensive Array. With a swift movement, he appeared outside the array. Qin Xi also made a formal salute, then without looking back, followed Lin Tianming¡¯s steps and flew out of the array. Outside the array, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side; Lin Tianming looked composed, while Qin Xi seemed excited. Seeing her slightly flushed face, she was rather charming, stirring his spirit unexpectedly. For some reason, every time he saw her profile, his heart surged uncontrollably. Lin Tianming collected his spirit, finally managing to calm himself, then released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. Looking at the Purple Gold Eagle before him, it had become even more powerful, almost reaching the limit of the Second Order Initial Stage. Lin Tianming¡¯s face revealed a gratified smile. Since the Purple Gold Eagle had advanced to the Second Order, it had swallowed many Second Order Demon Cores and consumed countless Second Order Demon Beasts. With several Second Order Late-Phase Demon Cores in his hands, he planned to keep them for the Purple Gold Eagle to use in breaking through minor boundaries; for now, Second Order Initial or Middle Stage cores would suffice. ¡°After this patrol mission is over, we can try letting the Purple Gold Eagle consume one or two Second Order Middle Stage cores to see if it can reach the Second Order Middle Stage,¡± he thought. ¡°If it can successfully break through, it will be able to provide even greater help in future battles.¡± Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming mounted the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, and Qin Xi immediately followed suit. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the Purple Gold Eagle instantly took off and darted toward a certain direction outside. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 431 253: An Unexpected Encounter with Li Huafeng_1 The following day, at noon. The scorching sun shone upon the earth, gradually increasing the temperature. A large cluster of clouds gathered in the sky, covering a vast area. It seemed that a downpour was soon to arrive below the clouds. North of Golden Horn Mountain. At this moment, on a mountain peak near the Luoyang Mountain Range, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle was revealed. With their backs on the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, gazing thoughtfully at a distant mountain peak. Since they left Golden Horn Mountain, they first flew south for more than three hundred li, then began circling around, using Golden Horn Mountain as the center point for their surveillance. After a day and a half of searching, they had almost completed their patrol of an area spanning over seven hundred li in radius. Reaching the borders of the Luoyun Mountain Range and two other major mountain ranges also signaled the nearing end of their surveillance mission. Despite their meticulous investigation, they had discovered very few Demonic Beasts. Not even a single Second Order Demonic Beast had been found, which was quite strange. At that time, Lin Tianming looked in the direction of the Luoyang Mountain Range and said to Qin Xi beside him, "Fairy Qin, this area is eerily calm, what are your thoughts on this?" After hearing the inquiry, Qin Xi pondered for a moment before starting to express her view. "The first wave of the moisture assault has already passed, and the Demonic Beasts are likely accumulating strength, or they have all gathered in some place to prepare an attack on a bigger target!" The opinions expressed by Qin Xi were similar to those of Lin Xing Rong. At present, family powers within the Cultivation World, including Loose Cultivators, were all plunged into deep trouble. Communication between Cultivators was scarce, and news about other regions and forces was hard to come by. Therefore, families like the Lin Family could only blindly speculate about the progress of the attacks by the Demon Beast Tribes. Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. For now, all they could do was speculate. Since they couldn''t get accurate information, they had to make their defensive measures even more meticulous to prevent any opportunity for Demonic Beasts to exploit. "Fairy Qin, ahead is the Luoyang Mountain Range. We have already patrolled a sufficient area, we just need to search this remaining bit and then we can return," Lin Tianming said. Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, and the two of them hopped back onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, preparing to make their way back to Golden Horn Mountain. Just as the Purple Gold Eagle was about to take off, Lin Tianming had it stop, then stared intently in the direction of the Luoyang Mountain Range, a cautious look on his face. Seeing his sudden expression, Qin Xi was clearly puzzled. "Lin, has there been some major event or have you found traces of a Demon Beast Tribe?" Upon hearing these questions, Lin Tianming regained his composure. He raised his hand, pointing ahead, and said leisurely, "There are fellow Zhenyang Sect Cultivators approaching from ahead!" When Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming''s reminder, she frowned slightly. Her cultivation and Divine Sense were far inferior to Lin Tianming''s, so it was natural that she hadn''t noticed. She looked up ahead and indeed saw a dark shadow flying towards them, it seemed the other party had also discovered them. The two of them stood solemnly on the mountain top, cautiously awaiting the newcomer''s arrival. Soon, the dark shadow got closer, revealing its form¡ªit was a Cloud Luan Crane at the Second Order Initial Stage, carrying a male and a female Cultivator from Zhenyang Sect on its back. Riding the Cloud Luan Crane, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu stood side by side. They had been dispatched by their Sect to the Luoyun Mountain Range to communicate a conscription mission formulated by the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. After spending more than twenty days on their journey, with some close calls but no actual peril, they finally arrived in the area of the Luoyun Mountain Range smoothly. Li Huafeng glanced at a distant mountain peak which was faintly visible, took out a map to look at it, and then his expression turned to joy. "Junior Sister, we''ve almost reached the boundary of the Luoyun Mountain Range," he said. Upon hearing his words, Shen Yu nodded, and was about to speak when Li Huafeng interrupted her. "Junior Sister, I''ve found a Second Order Demonic Beast and two Foundation Establishment Cultivators ahead!" Hearing the alert, Shen Yu then turned her attention to the dark figures on a distant mountain peak. If not for the Purple Gold Eagle''s substantial size, it would have been difficult to spot. At this moment, Li Huafeng looked serious. The instant Lin Tianming spotted them, they also noticed him and his companion. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not knowing the strength and origin of the other party, they had to be careful. Although backed by a powerful Sect, aside from disciples from the other two Great Sects, ordinary Cultivators in Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World wouldn''t dare to offend them. But with the Luoyun Mountain Range being so remote, if they encountered a powerful evil presence, the name of an Inner Sect Disciple from Zhenyang Sect might not be of much use. Furthermore, with Demonic Beasts rampant at this time, if they were to die here, it would be difficult for Zhenyang Sect to investigate the cause, and the case might just be dismissed without resolution. Regaining their senses, the two of them looked solemn, closely watching every move of the figures ahead, ready to turn tail and flee at any moment. Soon enough, neither side made any further moves, causing both parties to internally let out a sigh of relief. At this point, Lin Tianming looked at Li Huafeng and his companion, confirmed they had no malicious intent, and then stepped forward to introduce himself. "Fellow Cultivators, I am Lin Tianming from the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain. May I approach for a discussion?" "The Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain?" Upon hearing Lin Tianming declare his origin, Li Huafeng and his companion relaxed, their expressions brightening with excitement. Their first destination for this mission was precisely the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, and they could not have expected that just upon entering the Luoyun Mountain Range, they would encounter Lin Family Members. From a distance, Li Huafeng observed Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, as well as the Purple Gold Eagle not far away, his expression one of surprise. Chapter 432 253: An Unexpected Encounter with Li Huafeng_2 At this crucial moment, two members of the Lin Family who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage and an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle were out on an assignment. "It seems the Lin Family''s overall strength is much stronger than it appears on the surface!" Li Huafeng silently marveled to himself. Regaining his focus, he said to Shen Yu beside him, "Junior Sister, the other party is from the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain. Let''s go over and exchange a few words!" "Hmm...whatever Senior Brother decides is fine," Shen Yu nodded in response. Li Huafeng chuckled softly, and the Cloud Luan Crane he was mounted on continued flying towards the peak where Lin Tianming was. A few moments passed and Li Huafeng, along with his companion, arrived at the peak where Lin Tianming was located. They sized each other up from about a hundred yards apart. Lin Tianming eyed the two, confirmed that they had no prior encounters, but he saw that they were indeed dressed in the Zhenyang Sect attire. Considering their cultivation level and his mount, the Cloud Luan Crane, they were undoubtedly disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. After all, there weren''t many forces that simultaneously met these several conditions within the entire Wei Kingdom, and no one would dare to impersonate a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect lightly. Meanwhile, Li Huafeng and his companion examined Lin Tianming, showing an expression of half-belief and half-doubt upon seeing the unfamiliar faces. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, "I am Lin Tianming. I have had quite a number of interactions with Daoist Li Xiuyuan from your sect, so there is no need for Daoist friends to be overly nervous." "Hehe..." Hearing this, Li Huafeng laughed awkwardly. "So, you''re a friend of Brother Li''s. My name is Li Huafeng, and this is my Sect Junior, Shen Yu," he said. "I am Lin Tianming, I''ve met Daoist Li and Fairy Shen!" Lin Tianming greeted with a clasped fist salute. Li Huafeng returned the gesture, then glanced at Qin Xi beside Lin Tianming, with a hint of ardent desire flickering in his eyes. This woman''s appearance and aura were indeed extraordinary; she was most certainly deserving of phrases like ''nation-toppling beauty'' and ''calamity of the state''. Li Huafeng forced himself to calm down and then asked, "May I inquire about the identity of this fairy?" At this, Qin Xi took a small step backward, and Lin Tianming immediately understood her intention. He chuckled and then explained. "Daoist Li, this is my younger sister Lin Tianxi. She has been quite bored within the clan, so she followed me to oversee the family''s domain," he said. Following this, Lin Tianming gently patted Qin Xi''s shoulder, signaling her to greet Li Huafeng and his companion. Qin Xi''s cheeks turned slightly red, surprised that Lin Tianming noticed her reluctance to reveal her identity and used the Lin Family to cover for her, even referring to himself as her elder brother, making her feel a bit embarrassed. Gathering herself, she came forward promptly and offered a salute, "I am Tianxi, I''ve met Daoist Li and Fairy Shen!" Li Huafeng nodded, finding the appearance of the handsome man and beautiful woman quite sibling-like, and thus harbored no further doubts. He and Shen Yu likewise returned the salute, then walked towards Lin Tianming and his company. As they came together, Lin Tianming inquired about the situation in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, including the latest news of the Qianchuan Market incident. Being a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, Li Huafeng had a clearer understanding of the beast tide attack. Having encountered one another, it was natural for him to inquire about it, to better prepare himself psychologically. Li Huafeng furrowed his brows, then relayed some of the information he had learned. According to him, the main force of the demonic beasts was concentrated around the territories of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, and there had been several major battles with casualties on both sides. Fortunately, there had been no casualties among the Third Order demon beasts and Golden Core cultivators. It seemed that both sides were intentionally restraining themselves; otherwise, there would have been earth-shattering and devastating battles. In the various mountain ranges, many families had suffered heavy losses, and quite a few had been wiped out by the demonic beasts. It was said that at the onset of the beast tide in the Wei Kingdom, the powers in three mountain ranges in the northern part of the kingdom were nearly completely destroyed, with very few surviving. As the major clans quickly responded, by joining forces to eliminate some of the demonic beasts, the beast tide had mostly stabilized. Under such circumstances, any family with a bit of strength and foundation was basically still holding on, and if the scale didn''t continue to expand, things shouldn''t worsen. At this moment, hearing Li Huafeng''s message, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. ``` However, considering that Li Huafeng arrived at the Luoyun Mountain Range during such a precarious time, he definitely wasn''t here for training; there might be some major decision-making among the Golden Elixir Forces. After all, the beast tide had not yet passed, and the areas where the three great sects'' gates were located were the focal points of the Beast Tide Army, so it was entirely possible that there were plans in place. Lin Tianming''s brow furrowed as he clasped his hands towards Li Huafeng and tentatively asked, "Daoist Li, have the two of you come to Luoyun Mountain on a mission?" "Hehe..." Li Huafeng laughed and then said, "Lin Daoist is right, we are indeed tasked with an important matter and have come to discuss it with the nobility and Daoist Lin Shikang." "By the way, is Daoist Lin Shikang on your noble territory?" Hearing this, Lin Tianming''s heart tightened, and he couldn''t help but think that Li Huafeng''s arrival in Luoyun Mountain was definitely no simple matter; there might be a significant event about to occur. He forced himself to be calm and did not show any anomalies, responding with a smile, "The elders at home are currently repelling a demonic beast attack. Since Daoist Li has taken the trouble to visit, I suggest you proceed directly to them. If there is any inconvenience, feel free to speak directly to me as well." Lin Tianming continued to fish for more information indirectly, yet Li Huafeng remained tight-lipped, refusing to disclose the specifics of his mission. Lin Tianming did not dare to probe too aggressively, to avoid any misunderstandings, so he had to let it be. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, having exchanged a few words, Li Huafeng took his leave from the two, preparing to head immediately to Green Bamboo Mountain. He specifically invited Lin Tianming to pass through. However, Lin Tianming still had patrol duties to fulfill, and if he were to leave for several days and not return, Lin Xingrong might worry. Therefore, he did not accept the invitation to accompany him, instead giving a few words of caution with clasped hands and then watching as Li Huafeng and the other left, flying towards Green Bamboo Mountain and eventually disappearing into the hazy distance. As Li Huafeng and the other left, Lin Tianming let out a wry smile of resignation, before continuing the patrol of the territory with Qin Xi. Half a day later, at evening time, Lin Tianming and the other returned to the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory. After two full days of scouting, they found no trace of large-scale demon beast activities within the vast area surrounding Golden Horn Mountain. Upon returning to the clan territory, Lin Tianming immediately went to visit Lin Xingrong with Qin Xi, informing him of the unexpected encounter with Li Huafeng and all the news he had brought. Hearing what Lin Tianming reported, Lin Xingrong became deeply concerned, his sense of helplessness growing. It is said, "No one visits a temple without a cause." Given that someone had taken the initiative to go to Green Bamboo Mountain and considering the usual conduct of Golden Core Sects, it was indeed rather unusual. Thinking of this, Lin Xingrong said to Lin Tianming, "Tianming, the situation is too strange; I can''t help but feel uneasy." "Now that the attack of the beast tide is gradually stabilizing, you should immediately return to the clan to see if something significant occurs so you can share the burden with your third uncle and the others." Hearing this, Lin Tianming reluctantly replied: "What about you then? If I leave and Golden Horn Mountain is subjected to a large-scale demonic beast attack, we could suffer heavy losses, couldn''t we?" "First, don''t worry about that; besides, with the Purple Gold Eagle for travel, a few days back at the clan shouldn''t pose any danger." "Furthermore, with the Defensive Great Formation for protection, even if we encounter very large demon beast tribes, holding out for ten days to half a month should not be difficult." Lin Xingrong spoke earnestly, trying to persuade Lin Tianming, who found it hard to decide. "Don''t worry about it too much; Green Bamboo Mountain is always more important than Golden Horn Mountain. As for what''s more significant, you should be able to discern that," Lin Xingrong said with a stern face. At that moment, Lin Tianming sighed deeply, then nodded and agreed to the plan to return to the clan immediately. "There''s no time to lose; set off immediately and if anything happens, send someone to Golden Horn Mountain to report immediately." Seeing Lin Tianming agree, Lin Xingrong sighed in relief and then instructed him with a few words, gesturing for Lin Tianming to depart without delay. Lin Tianming said no more and promptly got up with clasped hands, leaving Lin Xingrong''s cave dwelling. Upon exiting Golden Horn Mountain, he released the Purple Gold Eagle and then, with it carrying him, flew towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. ``` Chapter 433 254: Volunteering for the Task_1 The next morning. After a night''s journey, Lin Tianming successfully returned to Green Bamboo Mountain. At this time, the overnight downpour had just cleared, and the pure sunlight once again spread across the land. In a grand hall on the mountainside of the main peak within the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, this place was the family''s Guest-Receiving Palace for hosting visitors. At this moment, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua sat at the higher seats in the hall, with Lin Tianming, who had returned to the clan overnight, sitting below them. Opposite him, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu sat side by side, sipping tea while sizing up Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua. As for Lin Shikang, it was Li Huafeng''s first time meeting him, but he had long heard of Lin Shikang''s great reputation. In the southern region of the Wei Kingdom, Lin Shikang''s name resonated like thunder. Twenty years ago, the Lin Family gained fame through a battle, with Lin Shikang being the key to the victory. Although it is unknown by what means he slew Jin Zhiying, it is certain that Lin Shikang was at least at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. With such cultivation strength, he is definitely a top-notch powerhouse in the southern Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom, and a well-known figure. Seeing Lin Shikang''s calm-as-water expression, and feeling that barely discernible powerful aura, Li Huafeng was even more convinced of his speculation. "Absolutely at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and very likely has already reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm!" "This Lin Family seems quite extraordinary. It looks like I should be a bit more polite to avoid unpleasantness," thought Li Huafeng silently. Shifting his thoughts, Li Huafeng took another look at Lin Tianming and seemed slightly surprised by his appearance. It made sense, after all, since Lin Tianming had refused his invitation to travel together and had rushed back to the clan through the rain at night, disregarding fatigue. Ultimately, he arrived at Green Bamboo Mountain around the same time as Li Huafeng and also sat in on this meeting. Clearly, Lin Tianming held a high position in the Lin Family, or he would not have been given such priority, let alone be here. At this time, Lin Shihua glanced at Li Huafeng and Shen Yu, then spoke, "I am Lin Shihua, serving as the Lin Family Patriarch. The person beside me is my third brother, Lin Shikang, and opposite Li, is my younger relative, Lin Tianming." "Hehe... Lin and I have already met before," said Li Huafeng with a smile. "Oh? Li has had an encounter with my young relative?" Lin Shihua appeared puzzled. Lin Tianming had returned in haste and had not yet reported back to Lin Shikang and himself, so some surprise was to be expected. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smilingly recounted the chance meeting they had earlier. "Twelfth Grandpa, your nephew had an encounter with Li at the edge of Golden Horn Mountain. I had patrol duties in Qianchuan Market, so I couldn''t travel back to the clan with him," he explained. Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, showing a surprised expression. "No wonder... Today Li and Fairy Shen''s sudden visit brings glory to our humble clan." "Hehe..." chuckled Li Huafeng. "Chief Lin is being too modest. My junior sister and I came to visit your noble house indeed with important matters to discuss." "Regarding the beast tide, I imagine everyone here knows something about it, and our visit to your house is to convey the Sect''s summons for your house to join the effort against the beast tide''s onslaught." "Summoning the Lin Family?" Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua''s expressions changed abruptly, thinking it was as they had expected. Throughout the beast tide''s outbreak, there had been several council meetings within the family''s higher echelons, and the possibility of a summons had been speculated. It was unexpected that the summons would come so swiftly; after all, only a little over two months had passed since the beast tide began, and it had already progressed to the point of requiring summons? "It''s utterly inconceivable!" exclaimed Lin Tianming and the others, silently marveling in their hearts. Regaining his composure, Lin Shikang then asked, "Li, has the beast tide attacked your Sect? Or does your Sect need to temporarily avoid the brunt of the Demonic Beasts'' onslaught?" "Yes... With your Sect''s strength, wouldn''t handling the Demonic Beasts be troublesome?" Faced with Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua''s questions, Li Huafeng waved his hands and began to explain the Zhenyang Sect''s overall plan, including the number of Cultivators being summoned and the various reward mechanisms. A pot of tea later, Lin Tianming and the others were informed of the reasons and details behind the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom''s Recruitment Order, and subsequently, they too fell into deep thought. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect and the other Great Sects were not incapable of resisting the beast tide. The launch of the Recruitment Order was to minimize their own losses, to avoid the Sects being greatly weakened afterwards. As for the summons'' rewards, although they were very appealing, at the moment, the various major clans and powers were not certain that they could secure their own safety, let alone have the extra capacity to heed the call of the Three Great Sects. Although the Lin Family was currently stable, and the intensity of the Demonic Beasts'' attacks had weakened, no one could predict the subsequent developments. If they were to heed the call and send clansmen to the front lines to participate in the battle, the overall strength of the family would be affected, as those clansmen sent must be with a cultivation of at least the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment. Besides Lin Shikang, only Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming met these requirements from the Lin Family. However, if they refuse the call, they might offend the Zhenyang Sect. Although the Zhenyang Sect might not be able to act against the Lin Family at the moment, once the beast tide''s assault passes, they will inevitably target the Lin Family. And whether the Lin Family had any Golden Core Cultivators, with businesses in Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Pavilion bringing in wealth, if they were targeted, there would indeed be no way to respond. From a holistic viewpoint, the Lin Family, whether in terms of overall strength or influence, was leagues apart in comparison. Chapter 434 254: Volunteering for the Task_2 Thinking of these matters, Lin Tianming and his two companions found themselves in a thorny situation and were at a loss for an immediate countermeasure. After a moment of silence, Lin Shikang glanced at Li Huafeng, then spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Li, this matter is of great importance. May we discuss it amongst ourselves before giving you an answer?" "Hehe... Fellow Daoist Lin, please feel free to discuss. There''s no need to give me a response!" "I am merely conveying the conscription notice. If your esteemed clan is unable to participate, there''s no need to force yourselves," said Li Huafeng. Upon hearing this, the expressions of Lin Shikang and his two companions shifted slightly, but they did not show any further reaction. Li Huafeng sounded relaxed, without any hint of coercion. He said that if they couldn''t spare the manpower, they didn''t have to join¡ªthe mistake would be to actually believe that. Suppressing their internal thoughts, Lin Shikang turned to Lin Shihua and said, "Shihua!" "Fellow Daoist Li and Fairy Shen have taken the trouble to come to Green Bamboo Mountain. Arrange for them to rest within the clan for a day, and ensure they are well attended to, fulfilling our duty as hosts." Upon hearing this, Li Huafeng''s smile deepened slightly, thinking that the status of a Zhenyang Sect Disciple really did wonders. The Lin Family''s top brass were all very courteous and did not dare to offend him in the slightest. Seeing Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua''s behavior, Li Huafeng knew that the Lin Family needed to discuss internally. He had no intention of staying long, and even less of making them uncomfortable. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, understanding the situation, he stood up and cupped his fists, saying, "Your clan''s sincere invitation is appreciated. I will thank you for your hospitality then." "My junior sister and I are indeed a bit weary. We will stay with your esteemed clan tonight, and tomorrow we will visit the Jiuhua Mountain Sun Clan. Once the tasks of conveying the messages to both your clans are completed, I shall return to the sect to report back." "Hehe... Fellow Daoist Li''s efforts for the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World are truly exemplary for our generation!" Lin Shihua complimented him, then made a welcoming gesture and left the great hall with Li Xiuyuan, personally arranging accommodation for the two of them. A quarter of an hour passed. Lin Shihua returned, and Lin Shigong, having received a summons, rushed over. All three elders of the Lin Family with ''Shi'' in their generational names were present. Joining Lin Tianming, the four of them sat together, repeated the entire sequence of events, and discussed the conscription conveyed by Li Huafeng. At this moment, all present furrowed their brows, their expressions grave. Lin Shikang sighed. His previous conjectures had been entirely confirmed. At this critical juncture, the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom had issued a recruitment order, seriously disrupting the clan''s plans. Lin Shihua''s face was also dark. He looked at the few worried people and initiated the discussion, "What are everyone''s thoughts? Shall we respond to the conscription?" "Twelfth Grandpa, from the current situation, not responding is definitely not an option. Although it is said we are not obliged to, is that really the case?" "That''s merely a courtesy. If we really refuse to respond, we will undoubtedly infuriate the Zhenyang Sect, and in such a case, our Lin Family doesn''t have the capability to contend with the Zhenyang Sect," Lin Tianming said. No sooner had he finished speaking, than Lin Shigong, who had been silent, chimed in with his own agreement. "Third Brother, Tianming is right. We can''t afford to offend the Zhenyang Sect right now. If there are repercussions in the future, both the family and Luoyun Pavilion will likely be affected," Shigong added. Hearing the explanations from his grandson and peers, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Shihua as if exchanging opinions. Lin Shihua nodded and said, "Third Brother, even if we don''t want to answer the call, we have no choice but to send someone to the front lines to join the battle!" "What Tianming and the others have said is correct, regardless of the reasons, we currently cannot afford to offend the Zhenyang Sect. Not just our Lin Family, but hundreds of families in the southern region look up to the Zhenyang Sect. It''s not bad to keep a low profile when we don''t have enough capital¡ªat least, not until someone from our clan reaches the Golden Core Stage. We shouldn''t antagonize the Zhenyang Sect," he added. Hearing the continuous reasoning from the others, Lin Shikang nodded. He was well aware of the apparent circumstances. "Sigh... When one''s strength is insufficient, this is all we can do!" Lin Shikang sighed. As things quieted down, Lin Shikang asked, "Now that we''ve decided to answer the call, who shall the clan send?" This question once again plunged Lin Shihua and the others into a difficult dilemma. According to the Recruitment Order''s requirements, currently in the Lin Family, the only ones who met the cultivation level were Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu, and Lin Tianming. Among the other clan members, Lin Xingyuan, Lin Xingrong, and Lin Shihua were all at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment and did not meet the minimum cultivation requirement of the recruitment decree. And among the many clan members, Lin Shikang had to preside over internal family affairs, Lin Shilu oversaw the Luoyun Market, and Lin Tianming likewise had the task of guarding Golden Horn Mountain. Under such circumstances, since everyone had their own responsibilities, it was not convenient for them to leave their posts. Moreover, with the front lines fraught with danger, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were like small fish crossing the river, where a slight lapse could lead to their downfall. It was truly a conundrum as to who should be sent to the front lines to participate in the great war. After a long silence, Lin Shihua spoke up, "Third brother, let me undertake the recruitment mission!" "Shihua... You are still at the Foundation Establishment Third Level, you do not meet the minimum cultivation requirements of the recruitment order!" Lin Shigong reminded. "Heh heh..." Lin Shihua chuckled. Then he began to explain. "Our family still has two Hun Tian Pills. If I take them, I can definitely break through to the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level in a short period of time, thus meeting the requirements of the Recruitment Order." Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang''s expression changed slightly. He sternly rebuked, "No... Even if you break through to the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level, going to the battlefield to resist the beast tide, what difference would it be from seeking death?" "Indeed..." Lin Tianming agreed with a nod. "Twelfth Grandpa, the beast tide assault on the main battlefield is a completely different matter from the clan''s situation. For the horrifying meat grinder of a battlefield, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator amounts to nothing." "Tianming is right, when the great battle erupts on the main battlefield, even Golden Elixir Experts are at risk of falling. The Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivator is merely part of the main force." "If you rely on the Hun Tian Pills to forcefully advance a realm, this level of strength, fighting against the Demon Beast Army on the main battlefield, would be far too dangerous. The hope of surviving would be slim." Lin Shigong also spoke up to persuade. Hearing his clan members'' successive attempts to persuade him, Lin Shihua smiled helplessly. The truth was as they said, but since he had brought up this proposal, he hadn''t expected to survive the journey back. He merely wished to complete the recruitment task, to lessen the losses for the family as much as possible. After all, the family was growing stronger and the loss of one Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn''t have too much impact. At this point, Lin Tianming lapsed into silence, deep in thought. Given the current situation, the clan members who qualified all had their own tasks. To send any other members to undertake the recruitment task would almost certainly result in a nine in ten chance of death. He sighed, then stood up and bowed to the elders, saying, "Third Grandfather, Twelfth Grandpa, let me undertake the recruitment task!" "You? No way!" Before Lin Shikang could speak, Lin Shihua flatly refused, his tone severe as if there was no room for discussion. Seeing this, Lin Tianming began to persuade, "Twelfth Grandpa, given the current situation, no one is more suitable than I am!" "Third Grandfather must preside over the family and act as a guardian for Grandpa Sea as he attempts the Golden Core Stage, so it''s not possible for him to leave." "And with Fifteenth Grandfather in charge of the Luoyun Market, he needs to lead the overall situation and simply can''t spare the time. As for the importance of the market, there''s no need for me to say more!" "Tianming, combined with the Purple Gold Eagle, possesses strength almost on par with Fifteenth Grandfather. As for Golden Horn Mountain, if it truly cannot be defended, letting it go wouldn''t be much of a loss." ... "In that case, it seems I am the most suitable person to go!" Lin Tianming expounded on his own strengths in one breath, even detailing his counter-strategies for an escalated beast tide assault in great detail. Hearing Lin Tianming''s watertight arguments, Lin Shikang and the others fell silent, uncertain of what to decide. Seeing their expressions, Lin Tianming continued to urge, "Third Grandfather, make a decision. A cultivator''s life is all about defying fate. Others might see this as a calamity, but I view it as a potential opportunity. " "For the sake of the family and the path to immortality, Tianming is confident of returning safely, perhaps even securing an entry spot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!" Chapter 435 255 Qingyu Fruit_1 Hearing Lin Tianming''s impassioned speech, Lin Shikang''s face flushed with excitement, and a surge of hot blood boiled within him. He couldn''t help but sigh. "Alas... it''s really a tough decision!" "If only I could step into the Golden Core Stage, or Daoist Ye could break through to the Golden Core Stage, all problems would be easily solved." Regrettably... regrettably, time does not wait for the Lin Family!" At that moment, Lin Shikang longed intensely for the path to the Golden Core. If the family had a Golden Core Cultivator, the three great sects would not dare to offend the Lin Family lightly, and things would not be so difficult. Regaining his composure, Lin Shikang scanned the few people present and finally nodded, saying, "Enough... since you, Tianming, have such confidence and are willing to take this risk, I will agree to your request." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, feeling a surge of warm blood rushing to his heart. "Third Grandfather, Twelfth Grandpa, rest assured, I will definitely return safely, and the family here can only rely on you!" Lin Shihua waved his hand in response, "Since Tianming is confident, we old folks won''t say much else!" "At Golden Horn Mountain, we''ll send out Xing Zhi and Tianhu to strengthen their defenses. With Formation Protection, they shouldn''t encounter any powerful Demon Beast Tribes, and there should be no trouble for a short time." Lin Shikang nodded and then instructed, "Alright... Tomorrow, let Shihua receive Li Huafeng, and Tianming, rest in the clan for two more days before departing." "That''s the arrangement, everyone go about your tasks!" Lin Tianming and the others stood up one after another and left the great hall. Exiting the grand hall, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong returned together to the dwelling of their mother. Having been constantly at war in the south and north, or in seclusion for cultivation, he definitely needed to prepare well before leaving and take the time to reunite with his mother and others. That night, except for Lin Xingrong who was not back from Golden Horn Mountain, Lin Tianyue also emerged from seclusion to gather with them. After dinner, the family of four sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting. Learning that Lin Tianming was going to the front lines to participate in the war, the mother and sister''s expressions were less than pleased, aside from Lin Shigong. At this moment, both mother and sister were persuading him, hoping he would give up the idea. Seeing the stiff expressions on the faces of Lin Tianyue, Lin Shigong began to speak. "Yuxuan, this matter has been discussed by Third Uncle and Shihua, and given Tianming''s personality, persuasion is pointless, so let''s not say anymore." "Mother, rest assured, I know my limits. Now I''ve cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and the resources needed for further cultivation are becoming increasingly substantial." "Granted, participating in a major battle is risky, but doesn''t it also come with opportunities?" "We cultivators should always forge ahead. If we shrink back when we face challenges, how can we make progress?" Lin Tianming spoke sincerely, displaying extreme determination, without any thought of retreating. Seeing him so resolute, and considering the situation in the clan, Ren Yuxuan was very helpless but had to give up on the idea of continuing to persuade him. Lin Tianyue sighed helplessly and then took out a large number of Second Order talisman papers from her storage bag, easily over a dozen, and judging by the residual aura, they appeared to be drawn by her. This time, Lin Tianming did not refuse his sister''s kindness and took all of the talismans. Although these lower-grade Second Order talismans were of limited use to himself, he took them to put his sister''s mind at ease. Then, the grandfather and mother took out some treasures, including some talismans and elixirs. Lin Tianming wasn''t pretentious and took the useful items. He did not accept the cultivation and healing elixirs, since he had a surplus of these resources, which were mostly provided by him and would last for several years. Afterward, the grandfather and mother gave a few words of advice, and Lin Tianming earnestly promised he would be careful, only then did they leave the matter. As night fell, each returned to their own rest, and Lin Tianming left the courtyard with his grandfather to return to his own dwelling. The next day, in the family''s Guest-Receiving Palace. Several members of the family with the surname ''Shi'' sat together, including Lin Tianming. In the guest''s chair, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu were seated. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shihua said to Li Huafeng, "Li, after discussion within the family, Tianming will be sent to Qianchuan Market in a couple of days, and at that time, we hope you and the rest will take good care of him!" Once he finished speaking, Lin Shihua threw two storage bags at Li Huafeng and Shen Yu. Li Huafeng and Shen Yu each caught a bag and briefly glanced at the Spirit Stones inside before revealing a knowing smile. The Lin Family was generous; twenty thousand Spirit Stones was not a small amount. For an ordinary Foundation Establishment Medium Stage cultivator, twenty thousand Spirit Stones could be nearly their entire wealth apart from their Magic Artifacts and elixirs. Although they were Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, the Spirit Stones they had on hand were quite limited. If they attempted to advance to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, they would need plenty of resources, so these twenty thousand Spirit Stones were a significant fortune to them. They had a not insignificant status within the Sect. Undertaking this transmission task, although it came with some risks, was considered an easy job. Many families, for the safety of their members participating in the big war, had to offer some treasures to win their favor, and they didn''t need to be polite. Collecting his thoughts, Li Huafeng stowed the storage bag and then said with a smile, S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Haha... Chief Lin, you''re too kind. Rest assured, brethren. My mentor is also participating in the great battle at the front lines and commands a small team." "Once I return to the Sect, I will surely introduce Tianming to my mentor and put in some good words. If all goes smoothly, arranging some simple tasks for Tianming will not be difficult at all." Chapter 436 255: Qingyu Fruit_2 Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others all let out a long sigh of relief. To win over Li Huafeng and his companion, the family had taken out forty thousand Spirit Stones as a bribe, allowing Lin Tianming to go to the battlefield and potentially arrange some safe and relaxing tasks, so he wouldn''t be treated as cannon fodder. After all, on such battlefields, many tasks were fraught with danger, and even used as sacrificial ploys. For Tianming''s safety, it was necessary to bribe and win people over. Such unwritten rules were not exclusive to the Lin Family; other families would surely do the same, though the value of the treasures they offered might vary. After all, nothing is more important than staying alive. What are a few ten thousand Spirit Stones in the grand scheme of things, and besides, the Lin Family''s current wealth was not what it used to be; giving away several tens of thousands of Spirit Stones wouldn''t cripple them. Recovering his composure, Lin Shihua nodded and said, "Then I must thank Li for his help. If there''s a chance in the future, please visit our Lin Family again." "Hehe... Chief Lin''s hospitality is much appreciated, I will surely visit again if there''s an opportunity," Li Huafeng said in return, glancing at Shen Yu beside him before continuing, "Lin Tianming need not rush to the frontline; arriving at Qianchuan Market within a month will suffice." "Once the cultivators participating in the war have gathered, they will likely move to the frontline. At that time, you can pay a visit to my senior brother, Xu Chengli." After saying this, Li Huafeng took out a dark-colored stone which was, unmistakably, a Soundstone. A Soundstone was a fairly common auxiliary Spiritual Object that could capture sounds, including the voices of cultivators, and usually preserve them for several months before they naturally dissipated. Its utility may seem minor yet peculiarly significant. Li Huafeng cast a Law Decree on the Soundstone and then spoke a few words to record on it. After making sure nothing was missed, he handed the Soundstone to Lin Tianming, then prepared to stand and take his leave. As the two rose to their feet, Li Huafeng gave a fist-and-palm salute and said, "Since everything has gone smoothly, my sister and I should start our journey!" "Fellow cultivators, we take our leave!" "Farewell!" Lin Shikang and the others also stood up and responded in unison, after which Lin Shihua personally escorted Li Huafeng and his companion off the clan grounds. In no time at all, Lin Shihua returned, and everyone sat around Lin Tianming. After some casual conversation, Lin Shikang took out a storage bag and passed it to Lin Tianming, gesturing for him to take it. Lin Tianming accepted the storage bag, sent his Divine Sense inside to take a quick look, and found that it contained a good number of treasures, including more than thirty Second Order Low-grade Attack Talismans and as many as six Second Order Medium-grade ones. These talismans were not particularly valuable, but what was precious were the two Second Order High-quality Attack Talismans, which were obviously among the rare treasures of the family. Besides those, the storage bag also contained a light blue fruit, a red jade pendant, and a gray bead that looked like a Demon Core but had no aroma of Demonic Beasts; it was unclear what kind of treasure it was. Nevertheless, coming from Lin Shikang, it was surely not ordinary. Looking at these treasures, Lin Tianming did not fuss but simply put away the storage bag to examine later in his cave dwelling. Seeing him accept the treasures, Lin Shikang and the others nodded with satisfaction. Tianming''s journey was filled with uncertainties, and it was unknown what kind of trials and dangers he might face, so these treasures were specially prepared for him, almost depleting the most precious items from the family''s Treasure Vault. "Tianming, there is a Qingyu Fruit among them. Consume it immediately and try to increase your cultivation within half a month. Once you come out of seclusion, you should have enough time to rush to Qianchuan Market," Lin Shihua instructed. "Alright, no time like the present; I''ll start preparing right now!" Lin Tianming replied and stood up, giving a fist-and-palm salute to the others before walking out of the hall. Returning to his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming entered his secret chamber without delay. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he took out the storage bag Lin Shikang had given him, then removed and laid out all the items before him. Earlier, he had only glanced at the contents briefly and had no time to inspect them closely. Now, he''d cleared his own storage bag to get a good sense of all the treasures and means of combat he possessed, to avoid overestimating his strength. Lin Tianming first took out the lustrous and translucent Qingyu Fruit, observing it closely in the palm of his hand. The Qingyu Fruit is a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit that contains powerful energy; one fruit is equivalent to a year of arduous cultivation, and there is no diminishing effect from consuming it in excess, making it one of the best treasures for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to rapidly enhance their cultivation. No one knows where this Qingyu Fruit came from, but such a rarely seen treasure, besides being ineffective for a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, is an extremely precious existence for any Foundation Establishment Cultivator. "No matter, advancing my cultivation is the priority right now!" Refocusing his mind, Lin Tianming stowed away the Qingyu Fruit, then picked up the blood-red jade pendant in front of him to examine it. This was a defensive treasure, comparable to a Second Order Superior Defense Talisman. Judging from the energy within, it should be able to be used twice without issue; it''s a rare defensive treasure. "With this blood-red jade pendant, as long as I don''t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast or a large group of Second Order Late Stage Beasts, survival shouldn''t be difficult," Lin Tianming thought. It was evident that the Lin Family had pulled out all the stops to ensure his safety on the battlefield. Looking at the two valuable treasures, Lin Tianming felt moved and reassured. After storing the treasures in front of him, he proceeded to examine his original storage bag. A little less than a quarter of an hour later, after tallying his resources, he found that his wealth was quite considerable; he had over one hundred and ten thousand Spirit Stones, a veritable fortune. In terms of offensive capabilities, he had the Tiangang Sword and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, as well as the greatly empowered Thousand Beast Banner to assist him. He had dozens of Second Order Talismans, including two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans. Besides these, he had one more truly deadly weapon ¨C the Fake Golden Core Talisman purchased from Tianfeng Pavilion that he hadn''t had a chance to use yet. Regrettably, the Sword Qi condensed from the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had been used up during the previous battle with the Golden Fang Beast Clan, and it wouldn''t be able to provide assistance in the short term. Otherwise, if he had a Spirit Art up his sleeve, his safety on this trip could be greatly enhanced. But after careful consideration, in a battlefield teeming with Demonic Beasts and Cultivators, and potentially Golden Core Cultivators present, a Spirit Art truly shouldn''t be revealed lightly; otherwise, attracting the attention of Golden Core Cultivators could bring about a disaster more terrifying than an attack from Demonic Beasts. With these treasures and trump cards, for now, he wasn''t lacking in attack methods. As for defense, he had the blood-red jade pendant, along with the Green Scale Shield and several Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans, which should be barely sufficient. In terms of various elixirs, he was hardly lacking. Even if something was missing, being a Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist himself, he could produce whatever was needed provided he had the materials. Furthermore, carrying quite a number of Spirit Stones and Demon Cores, once he reached Qianchuan Market, he could make grand purchases of more treasures for thorough preparation if conditions allowed. After all, on this trip to the battlefield, he would have no backing; everything would rely solely upon himself, so utmost caution was required. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming packed all the treasures and picked out some items of little use to give his father when they passed Golden Horn Mountain. After all, once he left, his father would bear great pressure, and leaving behind more treasures might prove crucial. Having completed these tasks, he began to meditate and adjust his breath until his condition reached its peak, then took out the Qingyu Fruit. Beholding the lustrous, translucent Qingyu Fruit exuding bursts of refreshing aroma, one couldn''t help but become elated and refreshed. "With this Spirit Fruit, my cultivation might reach the peak of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment," Lin Tianming murmured to himself. No sooner had the words left his mouth than he swallowed the Qingyu Fruit without hesitation. As soon as the fruit entered his mouth, a surge of overwhelming energy burst forth, making his blood boil. Lin Tianming concentrated intently and began to circulate his cultivation technique, slowly refining this energy, which, through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, finally pooled into the Seven Sea Dantian. Feeling this formidable energy, which was countless times stronger than the Fusion Spirit Pills he had taken before, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. He focused on refining the energy with all his might, and his Seven Sea Dantian, like a parched pond, greedily absorbed the Spiritual Power that formed. At this instant, the energy contained within the Qingyu Fruit gradually dwindled. And as this vast energy flowed into the Seven Sea Dantian, he could feel his cultivation, which hadn''t changed much for a long time, slowly improving, drawing ever closer to the peak of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. At this moment, the sound of breathing emanated from the secret chamber, and Lin Tianming was absorbed in the intense process of cultivation. Chapter 437 256 Departure_1 Luoyun Market. With the annihilation of the Cedar Beast Tribe, the entire Luoyun Market experienced a brief period of tranquility. The cultivators returned to their normal lives and cultivation, everything remained as usual, except that their vigilance had not decreased, and the majority of cultivators had gone back to their everyday routine. One day, in one of the grand halls of the Market City Hall, Lin Shilu and a few other Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat together. Opposite them, Li Huafeng and Shen Yu sat side by side. While sipping tea, they were also observing the several Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. As soon as the brother and sister duo left Green Bamboo Mountain, they made their way to the Sun Family estate and met with the helmsman of the Sun Family, Sun Dingxian, informing him about the recruitment order. Upon learning about the demands and rewards of the recruitment order, Sun Dingxian felt extremely helpless. At present, the Sun Family was beset with internal and external troubles. As the beast horde erupted, the Sun Family estate also did not escape unscathed, enduring attacks from a myriad of demonic beasts. Relying on a large number of Second Order talismans and consuming the accumulation of many years, the Sun Family lost quite a few members, but they managed to repel the demon beast tribe that assaulted their lands. Just as they were catching their breath, the three Great Sects issued the Recruitment Order, which undoubtedly added insult to injury for the already distressed Sun Family. Under pressure and afraid of post-conflict targeting by the Zhenyang Sect, no matter how reluctant he was, Sun Dingxian had no choice but to arrange for Sun Dingfeng, at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, to join the frontline battle. Having delivered their message, Li Huafeng and his companion bade farewell to Sun Dingxian and left the Sun Family estate, immediately heading for their final destination, Luoyun Market. In just half a day, they arrived smoothly at the Luoyun Market, and due to their status, Lin Shilu received them warmly. At this moment, Li Huafeng once again explained the recruitment issue and the situations of both the Lin Family and the Sun Family, shocking the gathered cultivators beyond measure. Lin Shilu''s expression turned melancholic, deeply concerned about Lin Tianming''s safety. However, since the family had already determined the participants, and Luoyun Market required his presence to deal with threats of demonic beast attacks at any moment, he felt stuck. Otherwise, he even contemplated leaving his post and returning to his family to replace Lin Tianming in the battle. At this time, besides the distressed Lin Family Members, Sun Ruiyang from the crowd looked pale, her demeanor one of disarray. The Lin Family, being a large family with vast resources, could spare a Foundation Establishment Clan Member of the Fourth Level or above without greatly affecting the overall situation. The Sun Family, however, was a different story. With only three Foundation Establishment members, each stationed in different locations, and only Sun Dingxian left to defend the family lands alongside a group of terrified members, the pressure on Sun Dingxian and Sun Dingfeng could only be imagined. Another family member, Luo Chenggu, rejoiced in secret that the Luo Family, being the weakest among the three major families, had avoided this crisis incidentally. Although the Zhenyang Sect looked down on the Luo Family''s strength, causing some loss of face, it also indirectly helped them. If the Luo Family had to participate in the recruitment, their situation would have been even worse than that of the Lin and Sun families. At this moment, members of the three major families each harbored different mindsets, all falling into a deep silence. After an unknown length of time, Li Huafeng glanced at Liu Zhirong and a few other Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, as if curious whether they were willing to go to the frontline. Liu Zhirong and his two companions decisively refused Li Huafeng''s invitation in a subtle manner before everyone. Li Huafeng seemed to have anticipated the attitudes of Liu Zhirong and his group. After all, the influence of Luoyun Market was minimal, and the Loose Cultivators it attracted were very limited. Those who chose to stay in Luoyun Market weren''t powerful. In that case, those at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment going to the frontline battle was nearly the same as seeking death. Anyone who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage was definitely not a fool and would not seek out trouble for themselves. Being Loose Cultivators without ties, they didn''t have to fear the Great Sects too much, and those with lower Foundation Establishment levels were unlikely to head to the frontline voluntarily. Only a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator might risk going into battle for a chance at the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm entry slot and perhaps find a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item which, with a bit of luck, could be an opportunity to impact the Golden Core Stage. But for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators, participating in the frontline battle would likely mean being cannon fodder, with slim chances of securing a slot in the secret realm. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su He and Liu Zhirong were well aware of their limitations. With their level of cultivation, they had no interest in diving into these troubled waters. As for the Qi Refining Cultivators of the marketplace, Li Huafeng didn''t bother spending time or energy on them. Since even Su He at the Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment was unwilling to get involved, Qi Refining Stage Cultivators stood no chance on the frontline and wouldn''t even qualify as cannon fodder. Moreover, given the remote location and lower quality of cultivators in Luoyun Market, it was impossible to rally a significant number of practitioners. Considering this, Li Huafeng lost any interest in speaking further, giving the Lin Family face in the process. In the grand hall, seeing Su He and the others had no intention of joining the battle, Li Huafeng took the initiative to express his intention to take his leave. Lin Shilu made a token effort to retain him, but Li Huafeng and his partner naturally wouldn''t linger, politely declining Lin Shilu''s hospitality. Lin Shilu didn''t have much to say and personally ushered Li Huafeng and his companion to the entrance of the marketplace. As they walked along the streets of the market, Lin Shilu even took out two pieces of rare Artifact Refining Materials to give to Li Huafeng, hoping he could somehow look out for Lin Tianming. Li Huafeng didn''t refuse his kindness, unabashedly accepting the gifts. Chapter 438 256: Departure_2 At last, under the gaze of everyone, he boarded the Cloud Luan Crane and left the Luoyun Market. Not until the figures of the two had disappeared without a trace did Lin Shilu lead everyone back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. ... Half a month had passed. On this day, in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, on the plaza at the mountain gate. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming appeared on the spacious plaza, accompanied by more than a dozen clan members, with his grandfather, mother, and sister naturally among them. Besides them, the long-unseen Lin Tianqin and Lin Tianhong were also present, and even the busy Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua had come to see him off. After half a month of seclusion, he had successfully refined the Qingyu Fruit, and his cultivation had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment Fifth Level as expected. If he had some high-quality Spiritual Medicines and Fruits to aid him, it might be possible for him to step into the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm within a year. The procession made its way to the Bluestone Plaza, and Lin Tianming chatted with several Shi generation clan members, with most of the conversation consisting of stern exhortations from his elders. This journey''s duration was uncertain, filled with both danger and opportunity. In a foreign land, without the support of his clan, he could only rely on himself. Under such circumstances, though they knew his strength was comparable to Lin Shilu''s, it was difficult for the elders to be at ease. After all, Lin Tianming was the Lin Family''s guarantee of rising to power, and it was very likely that he could enter the Golden Core Stage within several decades if he continued his cultivation in an orderly fashion. Regrettably, contrary to their wishes, the surge of Demonic Beasts had completely disrupted the peace, utterly derailing the family''s plans. The possibility of cultivating peacefully was no longer an option. Walking along, the group reached the edge of the plaza, not far from the Protective Clan Formation. "My fellow clan elders, don''t worry, for the family, Tianming will definitely return safely." With a deeply respectful bow, Lin Tianming addressed Lin Shikang and the others with unwavering conviction. Seeing his resolute expression and utmost faith, Lin Shikang and the others nodded, then began to offer words of advice. "Tianming, we''ve said what needs to be said, I won''t say more. Be careful in everything you do outside!" Lin Shigong advised. "Xingzhi, Tianhu, on your journey to Golden Horn Mountain, do not slacken. Make a trip back every so often. With Tianming absent, we can only count on you two!" Lin Shihua advised Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianhu. Following Lin Tianming''s departure, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Tianhu headed to Golden Horn Mountain to fill the void left by Lin Tianming. "My fellow clan elders, rest assured. At Golden Horn Mountain, I will certainly, together with the twelfth brother, keep the clan members in check and ensure the safety of Golden Horn Mountain." "Without the Purple Gold Eagle to hasten our journey, this time I have brought two First Order Late Stage Qilin Beasts. Although their speed and safety are lesser, without accidents, we will have someone return to the clan to report periodically." Lin Xingzhi said, his fists clasped, arranging to report back to the clan at regular intervals, setting Lin Shihua and others at ease to let them depart. Hearing Lin Xingzhi''s words, Lin Shihua nodded. Both Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong had experience managing the Luoyun Market, having considerable strength in cultivation and abundant experience in handling affairs. With Golden Horn Mountain guarded by these two, assisted by the experienced fighters Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, and the cooperation of the younger and older generations of the Lin Family, protected by a formation not inferior to the Lin Family''s Protective Formation, as long as they did not encounter too powerful a Demon Beast Tribe, there should be no danger. "I won''t say more, just be careful in everything you do outside!" "Depart!" Lin Shikang looked up at the sunlight overhead and commanded with a wave of his hand. Lin Tianming and the other two bowed to the clan members and replied in unison, "Take care, my fellow clan elders!" Immediately after, Lin Tianming was the first to step into the fissure of the formation''s light screen, followed by Lin Xingzhi and the others. Lin Shikang and others watched the departing trio, their eyes filled with reluctance, and only after they had vanished from sight did Lin Shikang dismiss the crowd. After exchanging a few words with Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong beside him, he too left the plaza and headed to the entrance of Ye Pinghai''s seclusion valley. ... Outside the Protective Clan Formation. With the Purple Gold Eagle at their back, the three of them sat together, looking back at the receding clan territory with solemn expressions. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s state of mind had undergone significant changes. In the past, whenever he left the clan territory, he was always accompanied by a few clan members, with the more powerful Lin Shilu often providing protection. If any danger arose, there were always people to shield him from the wind and the rain. But this time, there was no shelter from the storm; he had to rely entirely on himself for life or death opportunities. Seeing his solemn expression, Lin Xingzhi understood very well, and he was both envious of and admiring toward Lin Tianming. As the pride of the Lin Family, Lin Tianming was steady and composed, neither arrogant nor rash in his cultivation practice, which he pursued with great dedication. The indefatigable Tianming had cultivation strength that surpassed his peers, and even the older Xing clan members could only sigh and look on in admiration. He had even begun to catch up with the pace of the Shi clan members. One could imagine that in not more than a decade, he might likely surpass the older generation in the family and become the family''s Stabilizing Sea Needle. Regaining his composure, Lin Xingzhi started to offer words of comfort. "Tianming, when the soldiers come, block them, when the water comes, cover it with soil, I believe you will definitely rise against the current, making all clan members proud of you!" No sooner had his voice faded than Lin Tianhu, who was at his side, also spoke up in agreement. "That''s right, Sixth Brother, I''ve always taken you as my example over the years, never daring to slack off, just to catch up with your footsteps." "Heh heh... Uncle, Tianhu, I''m just a little emotional, don''t worry about me!" Lin Tianming replied with a smile, his eyes shining with a different light. He was, in fact, looking forward to this experience. Seeing his resolute gaze, Lin Xingzhi and the other man were influenced, their previous concerns vanishing, replaced by a strong sense of confidence. The three lapsed into silence, watching the peaks below gradually recede as the Purple Gold Eagle carried them rapidly northward. After half a day, Lin Tianming and his two companions arrived at Golden Horn Mountain smoothly. Following tradition, they first scoured the area around the clan territory, casually eliminating a few low-order monster beasts to ensure that there were no potential threats, before entering the clan territory together. In Lin Xingrong''s cultivation cave dwelling courtyard, five Foundation Establishment clan members were sitting together, sharing recent news. Upon learning of Li Huafeng''s call to arms, Lin Xingrong''s and Lin Tianfeng''s expressions changed dramatically, both becoming worried about Lin Tianming. It was only after Lin Tianming''s persistent persuasion, and with the situation being inescapable, that they reluctantly accepted the outcome. Lin Xingrong sighed deeply, then asked, "Tianming, when do you plan to depart?" "I will rest here for a day, and set off tomorrow morning!" Lin Tianming replied truthfully. "Well... Given the circumstances, I won''t say more, just be careful out there! When you encounter danger, don''t think too much, preserving your life is the most important thing, regardless of how the beast tide develops," Lin Tianfeng advised. Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and reassured them both, "Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing. The matter of defending Golden Horn Mountain now falls on you." "Just as you advised me, if it''s impossible, lead the clan members to retreat from here. As long as we have the green hills, we won''t fear running out of firewood!" "Yes, everyone be careful!" Lin Xingrong responded. After some idle chat, Lin Xingzhi and the others stood up to leave, leaving Lin Tianming alone with his father. Once they had left, Lin Tianming fetched a large amount of cultivation resources, including elixirs and Second Order low-grade talisman paper, which were not very useful to him and could be considered dispensable treasures. Though they were of little use to himself, they were extremely valuable treasures for his father, who was at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment in his cultivation. Lin Tianming handed all the treasures to his father, but Lin Xingrong promptly refused to accept them, feeling it inappropriate to do so. Lin Tianming was about to go to the frontline to fight, and as a father, he felt it was somewhat inappropriate to take the treasures his son left behind since he couldn''t offer any help. Seeing his father refuse firmly, Lin Tianming felt quite helpless. He could only put away the talisman paper and other treasures that were meant to boost combat strength and leave behind the treasures useful for cultivation. Finally, Lin Xingrong, though reluctantly, accepted them. Straight after, the father and son chatted casually for a while before Lin Tianming bade farewell and left. Chapter 439 257 Stubborn Woman_1 Having left his father''s courtyard, Lin Tianming came to the entrance of his own cave dwelling. Just as he was about to lift his foot and step into his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming stopped in his tracks and then turned to visit another cave dwelling not far from his. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s emotions were rather complex, and for some reason he couldn''t quite pinpoint, he just felt the need to see Qin Xi. Since he was due to leave Golden Horn Mountain tomorrow, he intended to visit Qin Xi. After all, they had become acquainted, and Qin Xi still resided on Golden Horn Mountain. The journey ahead was fraught with life and death uncertainties and with no clear return date. If he left without saying goodbye, it would likely create an awkward situation should they meet again. Lin Tianming thought to himself and soon displayed a slight smile as he sent a message through the restrictive spell around the dwelling. In a short while, the restriction was lifted, revealing a familiar figure. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Qin Xi''s face flushed slightly red as she hurriedly waved and said, "Lin, please come in quickly!" "Hehe..." Lin Tianming chuckled softly and immediately stepped through the restriction, as the two took seats in the exquisitely arranged courtyard. "Lin, please try the fruit wine I''ve made myself!" Qin Xi took out a beautifully crafted wine pot and poured two cups of Spiritual Wine, inviting Lin Tianming to taste it. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming nodded and then picked up the wine cup to take a sip, immediately praising, "It''s fragrant on entry, sweet and delicious, and it contains a faint energy within, truly a rare delicacy." This assessment from Lin Tianming genuinely came from the heart. Over the years, he had tried many precious Spiritual Wines. The energy contained in Qin Xi''s Spiritual Wine was not abundant, clearly indicating that the materials used for brewing were not of high rank. However, the intense aroma of the wine was captivating, providing an unforgettable aftertaste with a distinct charm. Therefore, while this Spiritual Wine may not be as precious as the treasures presented by Ye Pinghai and Li Xiuyuan, in terms of the experience it brought to the drinker, it was absolutely no less pleasing than any other fine wine he had tasted before. Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s evaluation, Qin Xi became very excited. She had always harbored a passion for brewing fruit wine, but unfortunately, the rank of the Spirit Fruit she had on hand was limited, and they were barely sufficient for her cultivation, let alone any surplus for brewing wine. Luckily, her skills were commendable. With only some lower grade Spirit Fruits, she managed to produce a taste that resembled high-quality fruit wines, which was an unexpected joy. At this point, Qin Xi displayed a charming smile as she poured more wine for Lin Tianming, gently urging him to drink a few more cups. Lin Tianming, too, was not one to refuse, drinking down the Spiritual Wine in one gulp, and then he began to discuss the purpose of his visit. "Fairy Qin, tomorrow I shall be heading to Qianchuan Market, and then to the front lines of the great battle!" Upon hearing this, Qin Xi looked slightly puzzled and then asked, "At a time when Demonic Beasts constantly threaten us, the Lin Family is hard-pressed to manage its own affairs. Why would you go to the front lines of the battle?" "Hehe... Fairy Qin may not be aware, but the two men we encountered previously, Li Huafeng and his companion, were on their way to deliver the Great Sects'' Recruitment Order to the Lin Family," Lin Tianming explained. "Recruitment? A summons for the Lin Family to send people to resist the Demonic Beasts in battle?" Qin Xi pressed further. "Exactly, the Lin Family is currently in no position to refuse the Recruitment Order from the Great Sects. Should we decline, it''s likely that we would face the Sects'' censure." "Under such circumstances, the consequences for the Lin Family would be inconceivable!" Lin Tianming explained the process of the recruitment in one breath, including the conditions and the rewards involved. After half a quarter-hour had passed and Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming''s detailed introduction, she finally understood the entire incident. She sighed deeply, also feeling concerned for the Lin Family''s situation. Seeing his demure expression, Lin Tianming gave a wry smile and then said, "Fairy Qin, I shall be leaving Golden Horn Mountain, but you are free to stay here." "I''ve already informed my father. As long as the Demonic Beasts do not attack our clan''s lands, they will not disturb your cultivation, nor will they coerce you to join the battles." "Lin, you''re too kind. I have been cultivating on your territory, and with Lin saving my life, it is only natural that I should lend a hand," Qin Xi replied. "However, hearing what you''ve said, Lin, I have a rather audacious request, if you''re willing to hear it?" "Oh?" Lin Tianming asked, clearly surprised, and pursued the matter with a smile. "Fairy Qin, please speak. If it doesn''t harm my family''s interests and I''m capable of it, I''ll consider it. Should the conditions permit, I will not refuse." Hearing these words, Qin Xi nodded and then mustered the courage to express her thoughts. "Lin, I would like to join the battle under the name of the Lin Family, alongside you." "You? To voluntarily participate in the battle at the front lines?" Surprised by her words, Lin Tianming found it incredulous that while others avoided the battle, she sought after it willingly, prompting him to wonder about her motivations. Seeing his puzzled expression, Qin Xi explained, "Lin, not to contradict you, but I have several reasons for this idea." "Firstly, you''ve shown me kindness, Lin, and joining you in the battle is also a way to contribute to the Lin Family." "Secondly, I haven''t had the opportunity to gain experience for a long time; this would serve as a chance to accumulate wealth and maybe even secure an entrance spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!" Hearing Qin Xi''s words, Lin Tianming was half convinced, yet still found it somewhat unbelievable. Seeing his silence, Qin Xi continued, "Lin, you need not be so skeptical. Although my strength is not on par with yours, I definitely won''t hold you back." "Should any danger arise, feel free to leave on your own. I will bear no resentment." "Moreover, any gains I make on the front lines, regardless of whether they''re from Demonic Beasts or storage pouches, I will give half to you, Lin, as a gesture of repaying the Lin Family''s kindness." Chapter 440 257: Stubborn Woman_2 Hearing Qin Xi''s successive remarks, Lin Tianming felt a complex mix of emotions, his expression filled with great confusion. He simply couldn''t understand what confidence Qin Xi had to survive on a battlefield as deadly as a meat grinder, where even a Cultivator at the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment would be eager to avoid such a conscription mission. He, at least, had some means to protect himself and could understand going to the front lines for the sake of his family; but she, merely at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, would be better off practicing safely at Golden Horn Mountain¡ªyet she insisted on stirring into this muddy water. What exactly was her reason? Seeing that the dumbfounded Lin Tianming didn''t express his stance, Qin Xi reminded him, "Lin, let me go with you!" "Ah... Why go through all this trouble?" "The front lines are fraught with danger. You really don''t need to do this. Although I did save you once, there''s truly no need for you to follow me." "I don''t want you to lose your life in vain, let alone make a needless sacrifice!" Lin Tianming''s earnest persuasion continued, hoping Qin Xi would change her mind to prevent him from watching this devastating beauty''s demise. "Lin, if you don''t take me with you, I''ll go by myself as a Loose Cultivator. There are no restrictions on Loose Cultivators by the three Great Sects, as long as one volunteers to join. What''s the difference?" Qin Xi said resentfully, revealing a determination not to give up until her goal was reached. Seeing this, it was clear that Qin Xi had set her mind on going, and although Lin Tianming wanted to persuade her, he didn''t know how to begin. In the silence, Qin Xi continued to press on persistently, resolved not to give up, leaving him without any viable options. After what felt like ages, weary of her bothering him, Lin Tianming said helplessly, "I really can''t be the one to decide on this matter. Let me discuss it with my father and others. How about I give you an answer tomorrow?" Hearing Lin Tianming put it that way, Qin Xi couldn''t force the issue too much and agreed to let him discuss it first. Seeing her agree to his suggestion, Lin Tianming didn''t want to stay there any longer; he immediately got up to take his leave and left her Cave Mansion. Before long, Lin Tianming returned to his father''s Cave Mansion Courtyard, where Lin Xingzhi happened to be present. Seeing him return abruptly, both Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi were puzzled and promptly asked what had happened. With a resigned expression, Lin Tianming sat down with them in the courtyard and relayed Qin Xi''s request, inquiring about the thoughts of Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi. At that moment, both Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi were similarly conflicted. From the perspective of the Lin Family, it was unexpectedly good news that Qin Xi was willing to follow him to the battlefield. However, they were equally aware that Qin Xi''s cultivation level was not high, and going there might lead to a pointless sacrifice. They were not heartless and certainly couldn''t bear to watch such a distinctively gracious woman perish in vain. After a moment of thought, Lin Xingrong spoke up, "Tianming, leave quietly at the break of dawn tomorrow, without alerting anyone, especially Qin Xi." "Her claim of going to the battlefield alone is likely just a ploy, fearing your disagreement, intended to force your hand. There''s no need to take it to heart." As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhi also added his voice in agreement. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes... Although we too hope that some of our clan members can accompany you, we really don''t want to see her sacrifice herself in vain, so it looks like you will have to go to the battlefield alone." Lin Tianming nodded, feeling that what they said made sense and quickly decided to leave in secret. "I hope she can understand my goodwill and won''t actually venture there alone!" Lin Tianming muttered to himself. Regaining his composure, he then stood up to bid farewell and left his father''s courtyard. Returning to his own Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming entered his room, planning to rest well and leave Golden Horn Mountain first thing in the morning. Determined, he lay down on the bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory was serene. At that moment, it was time for sleep or cultivation for some clan members. Lin Tianming left his Cave Mansion quietly and walked towards the mountain gate of the clan''s territory. As he was about to step out of the Defensive Great Formation, a graceful figure interrupted his step. Seeing the person approaching, Lin Tianming''s face darkened, and he looked hesitant and utterly resigned. He hadn''t expected this woman to be so stubborn or to have arrived here to wait in ambush, fearful that he would leave without her. Under the dim moonlight, Qin Xi approached Lin Tianming, and at the same time, a resentful voice came through. "Lin, you actually left without saying goodbye. Fortunately, I was prepared, otherwise, you would have slipped away unnoticed!" "Sigh..." Lin Tianming let out a helpless sigh. His attempt to leave secretly had been caught by Qin Xi, and his original plan dissipated like bubbles. "Fairy Qin, are you really so insistent on following me?" "Aren''t you afraid of death?" Upon hearing these frank words, Qin Xi let out a cold snort, then firmly said, "Death?" "Ever since I was chased by Demonic Beasts, I had already accepted the outcome of dying." "But having been saved by you, I am not afraid of death!" Hearing this, and seeing Qin Xi''s faintly evident determination, Lin Tianming wavered. "So be it... Since you are always ready to fall, then come with me." Seeing Lin Tianming''s agreement, a touch of moving joy flashed across Qin Xi''s face. "You can follow me, but let''s get one thing straight first, no conditions, all actions must follow my arrangements." "Otherwise... I will never agree!" Lin Tianming said righteously. Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming''s serious eyes, chuckled, and then sincerely replied. "I understand. Just rest assured, whatever you tell me to do, I''ll do it without any objections, is that okay?" "Hmm..." Lin Tianming nodded, then sent a message, explaining to Lin Xingrong that Qin Xi would be leaving with her. Otherwise, if they couldn''t contact Qin Xi, it might cause some trouble. After sending the message, Lin Tianming turned back to look at Qin Xi and took the lead in stepping out of the Formation. Following closely, Qin Xi matched his pace and the two disappeared from the square together. Outside the Formation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle. The two of them jumped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle in succession. Then, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, flying into the clouds thousands of feet high. Under the bright moonlight, it shot towards the north. Sitting side by side, Lin Tianming took out a map to have a brief look. Since he had been to Qianchuan Market several times, he was relatively familiar with the route and quickly put away the map. Looking at Qin Xi beside him, Lin Tianming smiled helplessly, then waved his sleeve and more than ten Second Order low-grade talismans appeared in his hand, with a majority being Attack Talismans and only two being Defense Talismans. "These Talismans are for your protection!" After saying this, Lin Tianming handed the talismans to Qin Xi. Touched by his gesture, Qin Xi knew talismans were consumables that no one would ever have too many of, and even the most talented members of the Lin Family would have limited consumables on them. Yet here he was, before a battle filled with unknown dangers, giving her more than ten Second Order Talismans, seemingly without a second thought about their worth. It was evident that Lin Tianming was quite concerned about her safety; otherwise, he wouldn''t give away talismans worth thousands without even blinking an eye. "Take them... I don''t want you to become a burden to me!" Lin Tianming urged somewhat impatiently. Qin Xi puffed her cheeks, just about to retort, but quickly halted her intention to speak, taking the talismans from Lin Tianming''s hand and storing them in her own storage bag. "Thank you, Lin!" With a faint blush of gratitude, Qin Xi thanked him and then, opening her bright eyes, she looked at Lin Tianming''s handsome profile, her mind seemingly preoccupied with thoughts. Lin Tianming did not engage in conversation either; he closed his eyes to meditate, his Divine Sense searching the movements around them. He could not afford to be careless; they were about to enter the unknown conditions of the Luoyang Mountain Range not far ahead. That place was not like the Luoyun Mountain Range; he had to be extra careful, guarding against both Demonic Beasts and other Cultivators. Seeing his cautious expression, Qin Xi knew better than to interrupt him. The two sat cross-legged on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, rushing towards their destination. Chapter 441 258: Return to Qianchuan Market_1 More than ten days had passed. Atop a mountain located over ten miles from the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Zhenyang Sect had gathered numerous cultivators who had responded to the recruitment order, providing two assembly points to choose from. Qianchuan Market was closer to the Lin Family, so the Cultivators of the surrounding families and the Loose Cultivators naturally gathered nearby. There was no need to travel a greater distance to a farther place. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, gazing at the faintly visible colossal city in the distance. After more than ten days of travel, Lin Tianming and his companion had successfully arrived at their destination, Qianchuan Market. During their journey, they passed through the territories of the Luoyang and Hengyang Mountain Ranges and encountered two groups of Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushing on their way¡ªZhang Changfeng of the Zhang Family from the Hengyang Mountain Range, and Meng Nanhe from the Meng Family of the Luoyang Mountain Range. The Zhang Family''s strength was average, slightly stronger than the Luo Family of the Luoyun Mountain Range, and they were also within the scope of invitation by the Zhenyang Sect. The strength of the Meng Family was not to be underestimated, much more formidable than the Jin Family was twenty years ago, naturally making them a target of Zhenyang Sect''s recruitment. After Lin Tianming initiated a conversation for an exchange, he learned that they had all responded to Zhenyang Sect''s recruitment order and were family members heading to assemble at Qianchuan Market. Having witnessed things firsthand and combined with the information divulged by Zhang Changfeng and Meng Nanhe, he also learned the general situation of Luoyun Mountain Range''s two large neighbors. The situation in the Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges was similar, both had been fiercely attacked by Demon Beast Tribes, with many familial forces suffering heavy losses; more than ten Qi Refining Families had been wiped out. However, some Foundation Establishing Families had only suffered severe injuries and had not been exterminated because of it. On reflection, it was quite normal; the several large mountain ranges south of Qianchuan Market were not too far apart. Judging from the scale of the Demon Beast Tribe in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the situations in the other two mountain ranges were probably similar. Although the Demonic Beasts that appeared were not weak, even the major forces of the impoverished Luoyun Mountain Range were able to withstand their assaults, so the stronger Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges were unlikely to be annihilated by the Demon Beasts. As the families that reacted began to act, the chaotic situation in the two mountain ranges gradually calmed down, thereby stabilizing the situation. Subsequently, Zhenyang Sect issued the Recruitment Order. Even if the heavily afflicted families were reluctant to send members to participate, they had no choice but to respond to the summons due to the strength of Zhenyang Sect. Without surprises, at this moment, virtually all the Foundation Establishing Families with some strength in Wei Kingdom had begun to take action. On the hilltop outside Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming looked at the outline of the vast city in the distance and said to Qin Xi, "Let''s go in!" Qin Xi nodded. Lin Tianming stored the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, and then the two headed towards the market entrance. As they got closer, they met a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the road, all of whom seemed to be responding to the recruitment call. Given the special circumstances of the time, each of them was likely of at least the Fourth Level of Foundation Building, and their identities were either family members or Loose Cultivators with some strength. After all, during these perilous times, ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn''t roam around carelessly. Without at least the Fourth Level of Foundation Building cultivation, it was too dangerous to venture outside, as one could lose one''s life upon encountering a Demon Beast Tribe. Lin Tianming and his companion minded their own way, as Cultivators did not interfere with each other, all moving towards the market entrance. In a short while, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the entrance. Standing outside the city gate entrance, looking out, the entrance was sparsely populated at this time, with only occasional Cultivators entering¡ªa stark contrast to the usual bustle of the everyday scene. On the towering city walls, some Cultivators were constantly watching every move outside, appearing very cautious, obviously defending against attacks from the Demon Beast Army. Lin Tianming and his companion paused only briefly before walking towards the market entrance. At the market entrance, a few Cultivators dressed as Zhenyang Sect executives were stationed, responsible for verifying the identities of those entering the city and for registration. Every person entering took out two Tokens; one of them was a golden Token engraved with the three big characters of Zhenyang Sect, evidently left by the Cultivators heeding the recruitment call, As for the other Token, it was presumably the Family Token of the person entering. Clearly, at this critical juncture, Zhenyang Sect''s defensive posture was very cautious, constantly controlling any uncontrollable factors, to avoid disaster for the thousands of years old Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and three Tokens appeared in his hand, including one Zhenyang Sect Token left by Li Huafeng; the other two were the Family Tokens of the two individuals. He led Qin Xi to the Market City Supervisor and presented the Zhenyang Sect Token, along with his own Identity Token. At this moment, Chen Shengping took the three Tokens and checked them carefully before asking, "Are both of you Taoist friends from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family? Are you responding to the Recruitment Order to join the Demon-Hunting Army?" "Indeed!" Lin Tianming nodded and then introduced himself and his identity. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I am Lin Tianming, and this is my younger sister, Lin Tianxi. We have responded to your esteemed sect''s Recruitment Order to participate in the great war!" Upon hearing this, Chen Fei was a bit perplexed and even more so astonished. The reason was simple: while other families were reluctantly sending one member, the Lin Family had proactively sent two members to participate in the war, which was somewhat extraordinary. Apart from that, the Lin Family''s influence had been growing among the more than ten mountain ranges surrounding Qianchuan Market. In the nearly twenty years since he last came to Qianchuan Market on a mission, it was the first time he was receiving Cultivators from the Lin Family, which was rising like the sun at noon, inevitably making one somewhat emotional. Chapter 442 258: Return to Qianchuan Market_2 Having finally calmed down, Chen Fei courteously said, "I am Chen Fei, an Inner Sect Disciple of Zhenyang Sect. Could the two Daoist friends please declare their cultivation levels so that I may complete the registration procedures?" "I am at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and my younger sister is at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer!" Lin Tianming replied. Hearing Lin Tianming declare his cultivation level, Chen Fei nodded, his expression becoming even more amiable, clearly different from his attitude toward other cultivators entering the city. While registering Lin Tianming and his companion, he cast a Law Decree, etching their names onto the Zhenyang Sect Token. As a light flashed across the Zhenyang Sect Token, the token visibly changed. After completing these steps, he handed the three tokens back to Lin Tianming, then warmly said, "Daoist friends, your information has been successfully registered." "This token has been specially crafted to serve as proof of your identity and strength, and can also be used for communication." "If all goes well, once the recruitment deadline passes in a few days, there should be instructions issued by a senior sect brother. At that time, the two of you should assemble at the designated location to await further arrangements." "In the meantime, you are free to move about within Qianchuan Market. Just do not leave the market area on your own, and if you have any issues, feel free to head to the Market Hall for inquiries." Listening to this detailed explanation, it was clear that Chen Fei was intent on forging a relationship with the Lin Family; otherwise, he would not have been so patient in his introduction. Knowing this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn''t reject his kindness. He clasped his hands in a salute, taking the tokens from Chen Fei''s hands. Then, with a smile, Lin Tianming said, "Daoist Chen, I thank you in advance!" "Luoyun Pavilion is a property of the Lin Family. If Daoist Chen has time, please come over for a visit. You are welcome at any time!" "Haha... Certainly, certainly!" Chen Fei replied with a clasped hand as well. Lin Tianming nodded, then continued deeper into the market with Qin Xi, disappearing from Chen Fei''s sight. Within the market, the familiar streets and the hustle and bustle of the crowd allowed Lin Tianming to breathe a sigh of relief. With the outbreak of the beast tide, a large number of cultivators had flooded into Qianchuan Market, and the overall quality of these cultivators'' cultivation was quite high. Typical Qi Refining Cultivators simply couldn''t travel in the perilous outside world, so those who could move around on a large scale were generally cultivators above the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. In a very short period of time, loose cultivators from over a dozen surrounding mountain ranges had sought refuge in Qianchuan Market, causing its population to reach a peak, almost comparable to the market''s decennial grand assembly. If one were to add up the collective strength of these cultivators, Qianchuan Market at that time was even more powerful than during the grand market gatherings. Walking along the wide streets, watching the endless stream of people, Qin Xi''s gaze wandered around, seeming quite excited. Lin Tianming was much more composed. He led Qin Xi through several streets before pausing in front of Luoyun Pavilion. At that moment, Luoyun Pavilion didn''t appear to be very popular. Occasionally, some cultivators would enter, but upon leaving, they seemed disappointed, evidently having failed to find any satisfactory treasures, hence leaving disheartened. To this, Lin Tianming wasn''t surprised. Several months prior, when the beast tide had fully erupted, Lin Xingmin had taken the vast majority of Luoyun Pavilion''s assets back to the family, leaving Lin Xingyan and three Xing Clan Members to hold the fort at Luoyun Pavilion. In the subsequent months, Luoyun Pavilion didn''t replenish any treasures. With the increased flow of people in the market and the threat of the beast tide, all resources for warfare were incredibly scarce. As a result, after several months of selling, there was probably not much left in Luoyun Pavilion''s inventory. Under these circumstances, entering Luoyun Pavilion now and hoping to find good items was hardly possible. Upon further thought, the shops of other familial powers were likely in a similar situation. After all, the reaction of the Lin Family had also occurred to other families, who surely would have moved most of their treasures back to their own clans. However, it was hard to say for certain. Although the risks were significant at this time, it was also an opportunity to make a fortune, and inevitably some families would take the gamble to earn Spirit Stones by going against the norm. For instance, some deeply entrenched shops, such as the auction houses set up by Zhenyang Sect and Sky Pavilion established by the Tang Family of Qingzhou, with their powerful backgrounds, normal attacks by Demonic Beasts were unlikely to impact their business significantly. On the contrary, they could take advantage of the situation to make a substantial profit. Thinking about these matters, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but reflect inwardly. "This is the advantage of being powerful, for ordinary cultivators, the beast tide is a crisis, yet also an excellent opportunity for development." "However, the current situation is not suitable for the Lin Family to take risks, the lives of my clan members are simply not comparable to those Spirit Stones!" Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming took the lead in entering Luoyun Pavilion, with Qin Xi hurrying to follow his footsteps. Inside Luoyun Pavilion, Li Rong was settling accounts with a troubled expression. In the few months since the beast tide erupted in Wei Kingdom, Luoyun Pavilion''s business had suffered greatly, all the items of slightly higher value had been taken away by the Lin Family. Without outstanding treasures to attract clientele, the business of Luoyun Pavilion was dismal, barely maintaining basic cash flow, unable to generate much value. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a clerk, the quality of business was heavily tied to his salary. During better times, he and his sibling could earn nearly a hundred Spirit Stones each month on average. In addition to generous rewards from some well-off patrons, their income was considerable, almost comparable to clerks of major powerhouse shops. It was with this substantial income that he could exchange for a large amount of resources, allowing him to reach the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement in just under ten years, and the Eighth Level was not far off. He had thought that guarding Luoyun Pavilion, which was like a cash cow, he could cultivate to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage in another ten or so years. If he was lucky enough to get a Foundation Establishment Pill, he might even be able to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Once successful, he could become a somewhat famous cultivator, with a lifespan of over two hundred years. Unfortunately, the beast tide''s attack on Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World had disrupted his plans, and with things going the way they were, he didn''t know how many years his dream would be delayed. "Ah... this damned demonic beast attack!" Li Rong cursed inwardly. Just then, a figure silently approached, startling the distracted Li Rong. He looked up displeasedly, and seeing Lin Tianming''s calm face, he jumped up in a panic. Seeing that Lin Tianming had a calm demeanor and seemed not to blame him for his previous absentmindedness, he finally let out a sigh of relief. "I''ve seen... Elder... Elder Lin!" Li Rong bowed with clasped hands, paying respect to his employer with an exceptionally reverent manner. Lin Tianming nodded slightly, gestured for him to sit, and then began to inquire about the whereabouts of Lin Xingyan and the others. "To report to Elder Lin, in recent days Daoist Lin Xingyan is on duty at Luoyun Pavilion and is currently cultivating in seclusion on the third floor. As for the whereabouts of the other Daoists, this junior does not know!" Li Rong answered honestly. Although Lin Xingyan and the others were also Qi Refining Cultivators, their status was much higher than his. He only knew that many cultivators from the Lin Family had not shown their faces recently, and he did not know their whereabouts, nor did he need to know. Being a clerk recruited by the Lin Family, he was very clear about his status and what he should and should not do. It was precisely because of his reliably dutiful character and his ability to read the room that he had managed to secure his position in Luoyun Pavilion and had been validated by several batches of Lin Family members. At this moment, hearing Li Rong''s reply, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. He had spent several years in Qianchuan Market; Li Rong was clever, had boldness coupled with meticulousness, but most importantly, he was reliable. After working together for several years, Li Rong had given him a satisfactory impression. His talent was not bad either; he practiced cultivation diligently and might have the chance to succeed in Foundation Establishment in the future. Supporting him with some resources now could foster his gratitude and nurturance towards the Lin Family, tying him firmly to the Lin Family''s camp. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming took out a bottle of Lingshen Pills he had previously refined and placed it in Li Rong''s hand before speaking. "The shop cannot be neglected, and neither can your cultivation, go attend to your duties!" With that, Lin Tianming, without waiting for Li Rong''s reaction, led Qin Xi towards the Luoyun Pavilion''s third floor, leaving Li Rong standing there, at a loss for what to do. Chapter 443 259 Reunion Auction News_1 Luoyun Pavilion, third floor. At this moment, Lin Xingyan was sitting on the stone platform by the window, looking at the grand Market Hall not far away, his face full of worry. Since the news of the demonic beasts'' attacks reached Qianchuan Market, it had been several months since Lin Xingmin left with the members of the clan. During this time, the three relatives remaining at the market had been extremely careful and cautious, ensuring the normal operation of Luoyun Pavilion while also gathering information about the beast tide attacks, paying particular attention to the situation at the Luoyun Mountain Range. Because the Luoyun Mountain Range was rather remote with few cultivators of higher cultivation, the strength of the cultivators there was relatively low. Moreover, during such a critical time, it wasn''t conducive to large-scale movements of cultivators, leaving them almost completely in the dark about their family''s circumstances. However, the Recruitment Order had been the talk of the town these days. Many family cultivators and loose cultivators responded to the call and gathered at Qianchuan Market, reaching its peak number of people. They were able to gather some information from some Qi Refining Cultivators who had arrived earlier, but those they were in contact with were all of the Qi Refinement stage, and all of them had arrived shortly after the outbreak of the demonic beast attacks. Under such circumstances, the information they had was limited. They only knew that Luoyun Market had offered quite a few rewards and retained some cultivators -- but as for the situation of the battle that broke out afterward, they had no idea. "Alas... I wonder how the clan is doing? Did the Zhenyang Sect include our Lin Family in their Recruitment Order?" "I hope not!" Lin Xingyan muttered to himself. Just then, a familiar voice resonated from the secret chamber, pulling the deeply preoccupied Lin Xingyan back to reality. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Uncle! " Lin Xingyan looked up to see Lin Tianming approaching with another person, his expression filled with excitement. However, it only lasted a moment before his face turned pale again. He wasn''t sure why Lin Tianming had come. Was he appointed by the family to guard Luoyun Pavilion, or was he responding to the Zhenyang Sect''s Recruitment Order? It was difficult for him to determine for the moment. If it was the former, he would naturally be excited, as it would indicate that the family was faring well and still had the resources to dispatch someone as capable as he to Luoyun Pavilion. If it was the latter, however, the situation was entirely different. Responding to the call and going to the front lines implied obvious dangers. With Lin Tianming being a core member of the family, any mishap could indefinitely postpone the family''s rise to power. At that moment, with mixed feelings, Lin Xingyan silently prayed that Lin Tianming''s purpose was the former. "Uncle... Uncle?" Seeing Lin Xingyan''s expression, Lin Tianming called out twice, and Lin Xingyan finally snapped back to the present. Right now, Lin Xingyan couldn''t care less about proprieties or ask who the person with Lin Tianming was. He urgently wanted to know Lin Tianming''s intentions. He sighed, then asked, "Tianming... why have you come to Qianchuan Market at this critical time? How is the family?" Lin Tianming, seeing his condition, knew what he was thinking. But now that he was here, even the worst outcome couldn''t be changed. He took a seat across from Lin Xingyan, with Qin Xi following suit, sitting silently beside them. Then, Lin Tianming started to explain the reasons behind the Zhenyang Sect''s Recruitment Order and his own purpose for coming to the market. His suspicions confirmed, Lin Xingyan''s face grew pale once more, and he looked deeply concerned. "It is what it is..." "The matter is settled. Our family isn''t in a position to provoke the Zhenyang Sect, so we might as well accept reality!" Lin Xingyan exclaimed. Eventually calming down, he continued to inquire, "What about the clan? Have we been attacked by demonic beasts?" Lin Tianming responded immediately, outlining the overall situation of the family. "Uncle, rest assured... the family made quite a few preparations before the beast tide erupted. When the beast tide assault occurred, all three key clan territories were attacked by the demonic beasts, but fortunately, there were no disasters, and all three territories repelled the Demon Beast Tribe." "However, in these battles, the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and Luoyun Market both suffered some losses. Dozens of our clan members fell in defending against the beast tide, a truly regrettable loss!" Hearing this, Lin Xingyan''s expression turned mournful, and he couldn''t help but sigh. "Alas... life and death are ruled by fate. Given such a massive beast tide assault, they died for the clan and deserve to be remembered by all!" "Yes... our family''s situation is somewhat better. Other mountain clans suffered even greater losses, with some Foundation Establishing Families nearly ceasing to exist," Lin Tianming replied. Lin Xingyan nodded. Overall, the Lin Family''s losses were not significant; their top combatants of the Foundation Establishment Stage were unharmed, and the loss of a few cultivators of the sixth or seventh Qi Refinement levels had a negligible impact on the current overall strength of the Lin Family. Regaining his composure, Lin Xingyan glanced at the silent Qin Xi beside Lin Tianming, wearing a thoughtful expression. He had had quite a few interactions with Lin Tianming but had never seen him bring a female cultivator before the clan, discussing internal affairs of the Lin Family in front of them. Typically, the clan members were cautious, but Lin Tianming was so casual, which took him by surprise. "Clearly, this woman is no ordinary individual," Lin Xingyan thought to himself. Qin Xi, under his scrutiny and seeing the change in Lin Xingyan''s demeanor, felt her cheeks flush slightly, somewhat embarrassed. Chapter 444 259 Reunion Auction News_2 Seeing her like this, Lin Tianming chuckled and began to introduce Qin Xi''s identity as well as the fact that the two of them were representing the Lin Family in the great war. Soon, Lin Xingyan understood the whole story, and since Lin Tianming had made the decision, he naturally did not have any objections; he just needed to follow his orders. Subsequently, the two began to chat idly. Lin Tianming inquired about the situations of the other family members and the recent events that had occurred in the market. According to Lin Xingyan, over the past few months, those in the family who remained to look after the market had not been idle, operating Luoyun Pavilion on one hand and gathering information on the other, compiling all major events occurring around the market to seek an opportunity to send back to the family so that they could make the right decisions. After a short while, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. Thanks to Lin Xingyan''s briefing, he had learned a lot of useful information, which brought him great comfort. Although Lin Xingyan and a few other family members did not have a Foundation Establishment Clan Member to lead them, they had played a significant role in the market, ensuring that Lin Tianming did not feel completely helpless upon his arrival. Looking at Lin Xingyan''s somewhat weary face, Lin Tianming felt great respect in his heart. He cupped his hands in a traditional gesture and then began expressing his admiration. "Clan Uncle, in this critical time, all of you have done very well. Luoyun Pavilion has operated smoothly, and we''ve obtained a lot of useful information." "Once we return to the family, I will surely inform Twelfth Grandpa of this matter, and the rewards then should not disappoint you!" "Hehe..." Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s words, a hint of joy flashed across Lin Xingyan''s face. He chuckled and then responded. "As members of the Lin Family, at any time, someone needs to make sacrifices and contribute. We might be of average talent, but it is our duty to make contributions to the family." Hearing these words, Lin Tianming felt a surge of passion in his chest and an invincible aura manifested. The members of the Lin Family had always been united and willing to contribute to the family, even at the cost of their lives if necessary. And he had volunteered to come to this perilous battlefield, also to strive for the family because, in times of danger, someone always needed to lead the charge. At this moment, Qin Xi, who had been sitting quietly to the side, felt envious upon seeing Lin Tianming''s aura. With her grandfather''s death, she now had no attachments and had been alone for a long time, keeping solitary company, longing for the warmth of kinship. However, after being saved by Lin Tianming and spending some time with him, her mindset began to shift subtly. It was as if ripples had disturbed the previously calm waters of her life, creating a wonderful sensation. Yet, all these changes were subtle and imperceptible, unknown to others. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi''s face flushed slightly as she continued to silently watch Lin Tianming and Lin Xingyan chat. At this time, Lin Tianming took out a storage bag filled with a considerable number of valuable treasures, all of which the Clan Leader had specially prepared for him before he left the family. He handed the storage bag and the record book to Lin Xingyan, instructing, "Clan Uncle, here are some treasures. Restock them into Luoyun Pavilion as soon as possible. If the beast tide can''t be repelled shortly, these treasures might be the only batch we can supplement for a while." Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan accept the storage bag and nodded, his Divine Sense briefly scanning it before his expression turned to one of delight. The inventory of items for sale in Luoyun Pavilion was minimal, sustained only because they were intentionally managing their supply. If they had opened sales fully, they would have likely run out long ago. Now with these treasures, although none were of high value, the quantity and variety were considerable, and they would certainly alleviate the immediate crisis. Lin Xingyan stored the bag and account book and then said, "I will arrange these treasures immediately. Tianming, you all must be tired from your travels these days. Go back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard to rest first. Tomorrow, we''ll gather Xing Pu and the others to discuss the subsequent arrangements." Lin Tianming nodded. Indeed, the journey of more than ten days had been tiring, and there were still several days left before the end of the conscription. There was nothing much to do in this timeframe. In any case, it was best to rest and adjust their condition before making further plans. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingyan and then left the secret room with Qin Xi. In no time, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi passed through several streets to reach the Cave Mansion Courtyard rented by the Lin Family. As soon as they entered the mansion, Lin Tianming settled Qin Xi into her accommodations before finding a room and going straight to bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep due to exhaustion. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next morning. After a full night''s sleep, Lin Tianming''s condition returned to normal. He got up from the bed and stepped out into the courtyard. At that moment, Lin Xingyan and Lin Xingpu were already sitting in the courtyard, chatting leisurely, evidently waiting for him. Seeing him emerge, Lin Xingpu and Lin Xingzhao became excited and quickly rose to greet him. Lin Tianming smiled and returned their gesture, greeting the family members warmly. "Tian Ming greets the three Clan Uncles." "Hehe... Tian Ming, you young fellow, have had us worried. Come, come, take a seat," urged Lin Xingyan, motioning for Lin Tianming to sit and then pouring him a cup of Spiritual Tea, waiting for him to give instructions. Seeing everyone gathered, Lin Tianming took a sip of the Spiritual Tea and then asked Lin Xingpu about the latest information gathered in the market. Chapter 445 259 Reunion Auction News_3 Lin Xingpu offered a faint smile and then spoke, "These past few days, I''ve been lurking in every corner of the market, inquiring with several Qi Refining Cultivators and learning a good deal of news, but nothing significant has happened." "However, it''s said that Elder Zhu Yun from the Zhenyang Sect has arrived at Qianchuan Market, presumably to take command of the cultivators in this area who will participate in the recruitment." Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded. Since the three great sects had issued the Recruitment Order, naturally, they had to dispatch Golden Core Cultivators to lead. Otherwise, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators at Great Perfection would not be able to keep the many clan cultivators or Loose Cultivators in check. Then, as if remembering something, Lin Xingpu looked at Lin Tianming and spoke again. "Besides that, it is rumored that a grand auction is being organized in the market three days from now. There should be many treasures surfacing then, and the number of cultivators participating will probably not be small!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately became interested. Before coming to the market, he had wanted to replenish his supplies in Qianchuan Market, especially in terms of offensive methods. Now in possession of a considerable amount of Spirit Stones, if he could acquire one or two Fake Golden Core Talismans, he would be safer in the upcoming battle. At the very least, acquiring some Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, or a large quantity of Second Order Medium Quality Talisman Papers, would significantly enhance his strength. Thinking about these things, Lin Tianming felt somewhat excited and then took the initiative to say, "This auction event doesn''t seem to be of a small scale. You all might want to take a look; perhaps there will be some gains!" "Ha ha... We must definitely attend. The cultivators participating in this auction are generally of high cultivation; it surely won''t disappoint everyone," Lin Xingyan added with a laugh. Lin Tianming quite agreed with this statement. As the deadline for the Recruitment Order drew closer, a large number of clan Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered in the market, along with many well-known Loose Cultivators. Furthermore, in the last few days, more cultivators would continue to arrive for assembly. It was easy to imagine that in two days, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators congregating in the market would increase even more. Under such circumstances, the standard of the auction would be on par with a grand market gathering. As for the exchange event to follow, it would also be well-attended, and no doubt some fine items would appear. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement. He looked at the several clan members and began to give instructions. "From now on, everyone has their duties. Someone from the clan must take turns guarding Luoyun Pavilion while the rest engage in closed-door cultivation. Just keep an eye out for any news on beast tides." "As for Fairy Qin, I will arrange everything for her. All you need to do is show her respect. If there is any significant news, we will discuss it privately. For minor matters, there''s no need to exclude her!" "Get to work!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright... we''re off then," Lin Xingyan responded, then got up, cupped his fist in respect, and left the courtyard with Lin Xingpu. Lin Tianming watched as the three of them left the courtyard one after the other, contemplating his next steps. He had nothing to do for the next few days and could only engage in short-term cultivation, waiting for the auction to start. However, he planned to visit Sky Dragon Pavilion to meet with Tang Xiuyuan and inquire about the beast tide news since the Sky Dragon Pavilion, as a property of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, had news sources even more informed than the Zhenyang Sect. Perhaps there would be significant news. In addition, he could see if Sky Dragon Pavilion had any worthwhile items for sale. If there were, he would pay the necessary price to acquire them to increase his arsenal against enemies. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming rose to his feet and began to walk out of his cave dwelling. Chapter 446 260 Blue Star Armor, Gathering Information_1 Sky Dragon Pavilion. In a VIP room on the second floor, Lin Tianming and Tang Xiuyuan sat opposite each other, sipping tea and making casual conversation. After leaving his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming had headed straight to the Sky Pavilion. His appearance had somewhat surprised Tang Xiuyuan, but he quickly understood the reason. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, with the outbreak of the beast tide, all cultivators in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World had been affected. Lin Tianming, a rising star of the Lin Family with considerable strength, was inevitably on the list for the Recruitment Order. His presence at the marketplace was highly likely in response to the Recruitment Order issued by the Zhenyang Sect to participate in the front-line battle. Without a good reason, one does not visit a temple. After the pleasantries, Tang Xiuyuan soon asked Lin Tianming about his visit. Lin Tianming chuckled. At this critical juncture, the cultivators who came to the Sky Dragon Pavilion were all after treasures, and he was no exception. At that moment, Lin Tianming took a sip of tea and then smiled, "Daoist Tang, my visit this time is naturally to purchase some treasures, and also to catch up with you!" "Oh?" Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan''s brow furrowed. Lin Tianming''s mention of catching up was undoubtedly just polite chitchat and certainly not to be taken earnestly. Whether it was true or not, he didn''t mind. With a calm demeanor, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled, "Lin, what do you need?" "Elixirs? Talisman paper? Or magic artifacts?" "Hehe..." Lin Tianming''s smile was wry. Without beating around the bush, he inquired straightforwardly. "I wonder if you still have the Fake Golden Core Talismans I bought from you before? If not, Second Order Medium or High Quality Attack Defense Talismans will do. Any treasures that can enhance strength are acceptable; the more, the better!" Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan remained composed. The financial strength Lin Tianming had previously demonstrated made such a bold request quite normal. Otherwise, most people would have thought such words empty talk. Regaining his composure, Tang Xiuyuan took out a ledger, inserted his Divine Sense to check it, and then put it away. Then, he smiled, "Lin, there are some Second Order Talismans available, but unfortunately, I don''t have any more Fake Golden Core Talismans. That item is quite rare. The only one we had in years was acquired by you, and we haven''t replenished our stock." Hearing this, Lin Tianming was slightly disappointed, but upon reflection, he could understand. Fake Golden Core Talismans were not common, and the Sky Dragon Pavilion wouldn''t sell too many of them. Especially now, such powerful treasures were coveted by everyone. He and Tang Xiuyuan didn''t have a strong relationship, being merely a major customer. Whether Tang was telling the truth or not, it wasn''t appropriate for him to press the issue too far or to express doubts, as it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Seeing his expression, Tang Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, as if remembering something. "Lin, although we don''t have Fake Golden Core Talismans, our store does have several other treasures that are not too shabby. Might you be interested?" At these words, Lin Tianming appeared much more pleased. He looked earnestly at Tang Xiuyuan and then pressed for details. "Daoist Tang, feel free to show them. As long as the items are satisfactory, the price is no issue!" "Alright...please wait a moment, I''ll be right back!" After responding, Tang Xiuyuan stood up and left the reception room, disappearing from his view. Lin Tianming waited patiently for Tang Xiuyuan to return with the treasures, his face full of anticipation. Soon, after a short while, Tang Xiuyuan came back, holding a storage bag, the contents unknown. Seeing Lin Tianming''s hopeful gaze, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and took out two different treasures and more than ten Second Order Talismans from the bag. Upon seeing the numerous talismans, including two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, Lin Tianming remained calm. But when his gaze shifted to the other two different treasures, his eyes blazed with eagerness, looking as if he couldn''t wait to have them. Among the two treasures, one was a grayish-white bead that was identical to one found in the storage bag given to him by Lin Shikang. This type of bead was known as a Spirit Detonation Bead, a consumable treasure with many grades. They were said to be refined from Demon Beast Inner Pills using a special method, ranging from First to Fourth or Fifth Order. The higher the grade, the more powerful they were. The bead that was the same as the one given by Lin Shikang was a Second Order Superior grade, its power surpassing that of an ordinary Second Order Superior Talisman. For Lin Tianming at the moment, such a Spirit Detonation Bead could indeed be considered an invaluable treasure. The other item was a piece of blue armor, seemingly made from the hide of some beast, a defensive garment. Tang Xiuyuan placed the two treasures in front of Lin Tianming, then began to introduce them. "Lin, you must be familiar with this bead. As for the Blue Star Armor, it''s a Second Order Medium Quality garment, crafted from a complete Blue Horned Rhinoceros Hide. Its defensive power is exceptionally impressive, making it a rare defensive item." Hearing the introduction, Lin Tianming picked up the blue armor and examined it closely. Based on the remnants of aura on the armor, the beast from which the hide came was not to be underestimated; it most likely had been a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, crafted from the tough hide of a Blue Horned Rhino. Lin Tianming placed the armor back where it was and then began to inquire about the prices of the two treasures and the Second Order Talismans. Chapter 447 260: Blue Star Armor, Gathering Information_2 Tang Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, then spoke, "Second Order Superior Spirit Detonation Beads are priced at five thousand Spirit Stones each." "This Blue Star Armor, created from the hide of a Blue Horned Rhino in the Second Order Late Phase, possesses exceptionally strong defensive power, and is priced at eleven thousand Spirit Stones!" "As for these Second Order Superior Attack Talisman papers, they are three thousand Spirit Stones each, while the Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman papers are two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones each." Upon hearing the prices quoted by Tang Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming furrowed his brows and then immediately questioned, "Daoist Tang, why are these talisman papers so much more expensive than before?" "Hehe... Lin, you are not taking into account the current situation. The beast tide attacks continue, and the prices of all treasures such as Spirit Fruits, elixirs, Magic Artifacts, and talisman papers that can swiftly enhance strength have started to skyrocket." "If it weren''t for the fact that I hit it off with you right away, coupled with your generous spending and forthright personality, I would definitely charge others more than this." Tang Xiuyuan''s flattery and his reasoned and emotional explanation slightly improved the look on Lin Tianming''s face. In reality, Lin Tianming also knew what Tang Xiuyuan was saying wasn''t wrong. Not just in Qianchuan Market, but in any small and medium-sized market within the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, the prices for such war preparations and resources had all substantially increased. Take the Luoyun Market under the control of the Lin Family, for example, the prices of these treasures had generally risen by thirty percent compared to normal times. Considering this, the prices given by Tang Xiuyuan were fairly honest, and he wasn''t asking for an exorbitant amount. At that moment, Lin Tianming began to consider that although the prices of these treasures were not low, as time went on, if the beast tide attacks did not recede shortly, the prices of these treasures might very well continue to climb. Furthermore, these treasures at this time were almost as rare as hen''s teeth, becoming more scarce as time went on. If he didn''t act now, after a while, he might not even have the opportunity to replenish his supplies. With these thoughts, he quickly made up his mind. Regardless of the cost, he must acquire them to enhance his strength as much as possible. Having decided, Lin Tianming spoke, "Daoist Tang, I''ll take the Spirit Detonation Beads and Blue Star Armor, along with these two Second Order Superior Attack Talisman papers, and three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman papers." "This is a large transaction for me, so I expect you to offer a fair price!" "Hehe... Naturally, you certainly spend like no other, Lin," Tang Xiuyuan nodded and complimented. "The Spirit Detonation Beads and Blue Star Armor together are priced at sixteen thousand Spirit Stones, and these five Second Order Talisman papers combined are thirteen thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, making a total of twenty-nine thousand five hundred Spirit Stones." "Since you are so straightforward, I won''t say much more. Let''s settle the total for twenty-nine thousand Spirit Stones, how about that?" Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan reduced the price by five hundred Spirit Stones in one go, and Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. "Let''s do as you say, Daoist Tang. However, the next time you have a Fake Golden Core Talisman or any other outstanding treasures, remember to keep them for me, or at least give me an advance notice!" Lin Tianming said with a smile. Upon hearing Lin Tianming agree to the substantial transaction, Tang Xiuyuan''s expression was one of joy, as he stood to extract a sizeable number of Spirit Stones from the deal, which would also lead to obtaining more resources in the Sky Dragon Pavilion in the future. Gathering his wits, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled and patted his chest in response, "No problem, Lin. Rest assured, I''ll notify you as soon as there''s anything good!" "Hmm..." Lin Tianming nodded, then took out a large number of Spirit Stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan on the spot. Tang Xiuyuan received the substantial number of Spirit Stones, quickly verified the amount with his Divine Sense, and handed over the treasures that Lin Tianming had purchased. The transaction completed, both parties reaped considerable benefits, leaving them both in good spirits. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming then asked, "Daoist Tang, regarding the beast tide attacks, does your noble family, as one of Qingzhou''s top powers, have any significant news to share?" Hearing the question, Tang Xiuyuan appeared bewildered. As a power in Qingzhou likened to a towering giant, the Tang Family naturally had a more detailed grasp of the events occurring throughout the entire region. However, he was merely a peripheral member of the Tang Family, with neither outstanding talent nor cultivation, which is why he became one of the consuls at the Qianchuan Market for the Sky Dragon Pavilion. This status afforded him a middle-ground standing in the Qianchuan Market, but even Golden Core cultivators treated him quite courteously. Yet all this was only because he was born into the Tang Family, which provided a powerful background to support him. Without the Tang Family''s backing, his cultivation talent would hardly be worth mentioning. As for the information Lin Tianming was seeking, he indeed knew a bit more than the average person. That''s because the Tang Family''s caravans would periodically travel through Qingzhou''s major and large markets, responsible for allocating various resources and collecting treasures, which would ultimately be sent back to the Tang family clan lands. As one of the few consuls in Qianchuan Market, he could get some of the latest news about the Qingzhou land from the leaders in charge of transporting goods. Regaining his composure, he looked at Lin Tianming''s seemingly amused expression and thought that since Lin Tianming approached him for several major business dealings, it would not hurt to reveal some information. After all, this news would eventually spread far and wide. Revealing some information earlier might obligate Lin Tianming to owe him a favor, so why not do it! With these thoughts, he immediately began to speak, "Daoist Lin, the annihilation of Yuanwu Country''s cultivation realm has already been reported." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As far as I know, the Beast Tide Army is currently in Yuanzhen Kingdom''s cultivation realm. Thanks to the support of several neighboring countries'' forces, numerous cultivators have been dispatched, and the Beast Tide Army has been caught in a stalemate with the Human Race''s powers." "Yuanzhen Kingdom is too far from Wei Kingdom to significantly affect Wei Kingdom''s cultivation world, so we needn''t worry too much." "However, Daoist Lin should pay close attention to what''s happening on the Wei Kingdom''s cultivation side. After all, the nobility''s survival and development here are closely bound to the situation of the beast tide," he noted. "Hehe..." Lin Tianming smiled, then bowed in response, "Daoist Tang is correct. The outside world is indeed too distant for a minor clan like ours. We should focus all our attention on the immediate issues!" "The Lin Family has limited strength and hardly understands the basic situation in the southern Wei Kingdom, so I would appreciate any insights from Daoist Tang!" Tang Xiuyuan nodded and then began to explain, "Here in the Wei Kingdom''s cultivation world, the Three Great Golden Core Sects have had several rounds of clashes with the Monster Beast Legion at three locations, with both sides sustaining injuries, resulting in a temporary deadlock. "In the mountains below, family forces have all suffered losses to varying degrees. However, these places are not the main battlefield, and if they survive the first wave of demonic beasts, the subsequent intensity should weaken," he added. Lin Tianming sighed with relief upon hearing this. If the beast tide attacks were as ferocious as the first time, the pressure on the Lin Family would be enormous. Regathering his thoughts, Tang Xiuyuan changed the topic to the Zhenyang Sect. Tang Xiuyuan said, "The Three Great Sects issuing the Recruitment Order is also to minimize their own losses." "Next, the cultivators gathered here in Qianchuan Market are likely to join the Golden Core cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect and converge at the main battlefield west of Zhenyang Sect''s mountain gate, the Songling Mountain Range," he continued. "The Songling Mountain Range?" Lin Tianming pondered the situation regarding the Songling Mountain Range. The Songling Mountain Range, situated near Zhenyang Sect''s mountain gate in the western part, is several times larger than the Luoyun Mountain Range and hosts many powers, including seven Foundation Establishing families, each stronger than the Jin Family had been. Then, Tang Xiuyuan went on to say, "Things are chaotic at the Songling Mountain Range, with five of the major families already destroyed and the remaining two also suffering heavy losses." "If not for Yangzong''s proactive deployment of cultivators, it''s likely that the entire Songling Mountain Range''s families would have ceased to exist!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming was shocked. Seven families, each with respectable strength and guarded by Protective Clan Formations, had been wiped out by the demonic beasts¡ªfive of them completely. It was almost unbelievable. Chapter 448 261 Auction (Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_1 With great difficulty calming down, Lin Tianming continued to ask, "Daoist Tang, what about the situation in the territories of the other two Great Sects?" "The situation in the territories of the other two Great Sects is even more serious, especially in the Myriad Medicine Valley. Although the Myriad Medicine Valley is powerful, the attacks they''ve suffered are even stronger," Tang Xiuyuan said with a grave expression. "Several mountain range families have been directly annihilated, even the Golden Core Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts have clashed fiercely," Tang Xiuyuan said seriously. Hearing this explosive news, at this very moment, Lin Tianming was almost numb. Nowadays, battles raged everywhere in the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, whether it be Qi Refining Stage Cultivators or the lofty Golden Core Cultivators, none could escape unscathed. It was evident that as the summoning of cultivators for assembly progressed, the Beast Tide Army was also building up its strength. Unless unexpected, the great battle that was about to begin would be a clash between two grand camps, erupting in an earth-shattering conflict, with the Human Cultivators reaching a critical moment. One could imagine just how many cultivators would fall on that terrifying battlefield, and how many would rise to fame and prominence. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming wore a serious expression, beginning to worry about the upcoming battle. He was only at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and while dealing with a Second Order Late Stage Beast was not an issue, the Demon Beast Army included several tens of thousands, not to mention a substantial number of Second Order Beasts, and even a few Third Order Beasts. Against such a formidable Monster Beast Legion, with his current level of cultivation, one careless move could spell his doom. "Alas... my strength is still too weak!" Lin Tianming sighed to himself. Gradually regaining composure, Lin Tianming''s expression recovered somewhat, and then he asked a few topics of more concern. Seeing his serious demeanor, Tang Xiuyuan did not hold back, virtually sharing all the news he knew with Lin Tianming. After half an hour, having learned a lot of useful information, Lin Tianming stood up, cupped his fists in salute to Tang Xiuyuan, preparing to take his leave. "Daoist Tang, I will remember the advice you gave today in my heart. Should an opportunity arise, I will certainly repay your guidance," Lin Tianming said. "Daoist Lin, you are too courteous. This information will eventually spread across the entire market city, so there''s no need to take it too seriously," Tang Xiuyuan replied with a smile. "Hehe... then I''ll take my leave now, looking forward to our next meeting!" Lin Tianming chuckled and politely expressed his thanks. Then, he stood up and left the reception room. Walking on the broad Bluestone Street and watching the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, it seemed to him that these cultivators had yet to anticipate the coming storm. At this moment, Lin Tianming''s expression grew solemn as he started contemplating his next arrangements. Despite the treacherous frontlines, fortunately, he was not completely unprepared. He had bid on a few treasures at the Sky Dragon Pavilion and replenished some Second Order Talisman paper, trying his best to enhance his own strength. Besides, at the auction and exchange meetings in two days, some good items might surface, and he must prepare some more to get through this difficult battle. Without realizing it, he returned to his Cave Mansion Courtyard, where Lin Xingyan and the others were all busy. Finding himself with nothing to do, he went back to his own cultivation room. Sitting on the meditation cushion, Lin Tianming took out the treasures he had just purchased, carefully inspecting them one by one. Among these treasures, he was highly satisfied with the Second Order Medium Quality Blue Star Armor. You should know, as a Dual Cultivator of Body and Law, his physical body was no weaker than that of an ordinary Second Order Initial Stage Beast. With this Blue Star Armor, facing attacks from a Second Order Middle Stage Beast should not cause him much harm. Now that he had added a Spirit Detonation Bead, in terms of attack capability, with a Fake Golden Core Talisman and two Spirit Detonation Beads, his combat power was not to be underestimated. And in defense, with a Blood-red Jade Pendant and a Green Scale Shield, plus this Blue Star Armor, if he only faced a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, he would be able to hold his ground. After inspecting each of the treasures, Lin Tianming had a clear understanding of his various capabilities, making it easier to act with certainty. After taking stock of his belongings, Lin Tianming closed his eyes and began to meditate, waiting until he reached his peak condition, then took out some elixirs and undressed to start closed-door cultivation, waiting for the auction to commence. Two days later. In the central auction venue in the market city, a huge square, the figures of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi appeared. Behind the two of them, Lin Xingpu and Lin Xingzhao followed, and apart from Lin Xingyan, who was left to guard the Luoyun Pavilion, several clan members from the market city were all planning to join the auction. Looking at the long queue ahead, Qin Xi wore an excited expression. Although she had been successful in Foundation Establishment for several years, she had not participated in many auctions of this caliber. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was very calm at this time. He had attended such auctions several times, and even though this time''s popularity was exceptionally high and the cultivators participating were generally of higher cultivation than any previous occasion, he was undisturbed by it. After scanning the forefront, Lin Tianming led the group past the lining queue, heading straight to the entrance. Upon his arrival, the Zhenyang Sect Executive Officer in charge of collecting the entrance fee seemed to recognize him and immediately greeted him cordially. Lin Tianming chuckled and handed over his Token to the Market City Supervisor and paid for two VIP rooms with Spirit Stones. The Executive Officer in charge of the Spirit Stones was also tactful, promptly allowing them through and even arranging two young maids to lead the way. In the main hall on the first floor of the auction, Lin Tianming instructed Lin Xingpu on a few things before heading to one of the VIP rooms on the second floor with Qin Xi, following the female cultivator leading the way. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 449 261 Auction (Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_2 "Senior has arrived!" the maid said respectfully. "Hmm... Wait here for me, I will instruct you further if there''s anything!" Lin Tianming nodded and spoke a sentence, then the two, one in front and the other following, entered the VIP room, leaving the maid to stand guard alone at the entrance. Once inside the VIP room, he and Qin Xi each took a seat on a peach wood chair, watching the bustling public area below and started chatting idly. By that time, the hundreds of seats in the entire public area were nearly filled with cultivators, and there were still cultivators continuously filing in. Given the popularity of the scene and the cultivations of those who came to participate, the auction indeed seemed to be very promising. At a glance, one could spot a number of cultivators in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, a scene hotter than the decennial grand assembly auction. "Fairy Qin, this time it truly is a gathering of talents, there must be many treasures rarely seen; be sure not to miss them," Lin Tianming reminded her. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, then smiled and said, "That is of course natural, for the sake of the auction, these past few days I have also made quite the preparations, they surely won''t disappoint us, right!" Lin Tianming smiled and changed the subject, then closed his eyes to rest in the lively scene below. A little half an hour passed. At this moment, the auction venue was packed to the brim, the public seating area was completely full, and even nearly a hundred extra seats had been temporarily added, which were also filled with people. With just the public area alone, there were more than six hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, adding in a hundred or so people from the VIP rooms, the cultivators gathered here were no fewer than seven or eight hundred. One must know that in Luoyun Market, on regular days it''s not easy to gather ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet here there were so many, and all with considerable cultivation levels. Although there were factors such as the Recruitment Order and the beast tide, this fundamentally demonstrated just how popular Qianchuan Market was. At this time, the auction was in full swing, and many cultivators chatted with each other as if they were not affected in the least by the beast tide''s assault. Following a loud voice, an elderly figure emerged from a corner of the auction venue¡ªundoubtedly, it was Xue Chong who had hosted several Foundation Establishment Area auctions. Xue Chong cupped his hands in a salute, walking around and greeting some acquaintances among the cultivators. Several cultivators returned the gesture, it was evident that Xue Chong had a good reputation in the market. Thinking about it, it made sense, with the number of auctions Xue Chong had hosted at least a hundred times, he had been active in this field for nearly a century, so naturally, he knew a considerable number of cultivators. Soon, Xue Chong reached the central stage of the auction venue, surveyed the entire gathering of cultivators, and then began to deliver the opening remarks with formal courtesy. "Hehe... Old Daoist Xue Chong is honored to host this auction. Many of you here are old acquaintances," he said. "This time, as fellow Daoists have gathered, the auction has also prepared many rare and precious treasures, even I myself am quite envious!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At these words, many cultivators in the venue showed expressions of anticipation, some could hardly wait. Xue Chong was very pleased, his few words had ignited the desires of the cultivators, and going by this trend, the subsequent bidding section was bound to be fierce. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... Enough of the idle chatter, let us begin the auction!" Xue Chong called out loudly. As soon as his voice fell, the cultivators below started cheering, making the already started auction even livelier. Seeing this, Xue Chong wore a smug expression, chuckled, and then waved his hand to interrupt the cheering cultivators. Then, he flung his sleeve and his resonant voice filled the entire auction venue. "The first item for auction, a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, starting bid is one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than twenty Spirit Stones! Immediately, cultivators began to call out bids, as a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, at such a critical time, was very much in demand; it might save a life at times. ``` "One thousand eight hundred fifty spirit stones!" "One thousand nine hundred twenty spirit stones!" ... Cultivators were raising the bid by no less than fifty stones each time, and the price continued to climb, soon reaching as much as two thousand six hundred spirit stones. Clearly, with the great battle approaching, such consumable treasures were highly sought after, even if the price was far higher than usual, there were still many cultivators willing to pay. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi witnessed the whole process, but Lin Tianming was not interested; he already had several Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans on him, and one more or one less did not make much difference to him. Under their watchful eyes, the first item, the Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman, was sold for two thousand eight hundred spirit stones, which was even higher than the price Lin Tianming had paid for it alone at the Sky Dragon Pavilion. At that moment, in the public area of the auction hall, a Third Level Foundation Establishment Cultivator joyfully handed over spirit stones and received the talisman paper from Xue Chong, examining it with great fondness amidst envious glances from those around him. In the center of the hall, Xue Chong nodded his head in satisfaction. The first item had fetched a high price and had successfully boosted the atmosphere in the hall. Immediately afterward, Xue Chong continued to preside over the auction, presenting the second item, which was a Second Order Superior metal ore. Although at this moment, ores for Artifact Refining were not in high demand, since treasures were hard to come by, many cultivators still competed fiercely in bidding, and in the end, a Second Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator acquired it for two thousand two hundred spirit stones. The first two items were of good quality and sold for relatively high prices, which made the atmosphere in the hall extremely lively. Lin Tianming sat in the VIP room, watching the fervent atmosphere below with a look full of anticipation. Below them, Xue Chong was in high spirits, as the auction''s atmosphere was enthusiastic and the selling prices were higher than usual. Once all the items were auctioned off, he could expect a generous commission reward. Collecting his thoughts, Xue Chong continued to oversee the auction. Under everyone''s gaze, he brought out the third item, which was a Second Order Superior Spiritual Medicine Material. Upon seeing the Spiritual Medicine in his hand, Lin Tianming remained very calm. This plant was too common¡ªtheir Clan Spiritual Herb Garden had more than a dozen mature ones, so there was no need to waste spirit stones. However, while he was not interested, there should be plenty of Alchemists below, or other cultivators collecting this medicine, who drove the price of the Spiritual Medicine quite high. After seven or eight rounds of competitive bidding, a female cultivator purchased the plant for one thousand eight hundred spirit stones. The auction continued at a brisk pace. The regular auction items had all been sold, a good hundred or more items, all rarities that were hard to see on ordinary days. In this process, Lin Tianming did not bid often, spending only a little more than seven thousand spirit stones to acquire several Second Order Superior Spiritual Medicine Materials and a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pill. The Spiritual Medicine Materials were the kinds he could use and were acquired for reserves. Beyond that, he gained almost nothing, mainly because his tastes were too refined, and the things he was missing would not appear among these regular items; the inferior ones did not catch his eye. His attention was focused only on the last ten showcase items. Not just him, out of about seven to eight hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the hall, at least half were there for the final showcase items. Meanwhile, Qin Xi had not done badly at this bustling auction, coming across rare treasures during the middle and latter stages of the auction, which included all kinds of elixir charms. After fierce competition, Qin Xi, well-prepared, triumphantly secured the items she wanted, leading to a rewarding experience. At this moment, with the regular-stage items auctioned off, more than a hundred treasures had been sold without a single pass, each for a price above thirty percent higher than usual. In such circumstances, the atmosphere of the entire auction had reached a whole new level. All the cultivators present, whether they were just onlookers or were there for the final showcase treasures, were all eager and ready to try their luck. In the VIP room on the second floor, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi perked up and focused their attention on Xue Chong below, their expressions filled with anticipation. ``` Chapter 450 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for last months leave)_1 Atop the auction stage, Xue Chong looked at the cultivators below, his expression showing peak excitement. At this moment, many cultivators'' eyes shone brightly, all of them fixated on every move Xue Chong made, as if afraid to miss anything. Seeing this scene, Xue Chong was very satisfied. As an experienced professional auctioneer, to have a firm grasp over the atmosphere of the entire venue was a confirmation of his profession. Observing the eager expressions of the audience, he dared not delay too much, lest he offend some quick-tempered cultivator and bring unnecessary trouble upon himself. He chuckled and then loudly announced, "Now we will proceed to the final ten key treasures of the auction, everyone, please pay attention!" As soon as these words fell, a pretty female cultivator emerged from a corner, holding a tray with a jade bottle on it, which appeared to be an elixir. The cultivators in the audience stared intently at the jade bottle, silently guessing what treasure it could be. "The first key treasure, one Hun Tian Pill, I trust everyone here is familiar with it!" Xue Chong began his introduction. "He he... Friend Xue, no need for mysterious airs, state the starting price quickly so that I can secure this item as soon as possible," a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level interrupted Xue Chong''s words, attracting the attention of many cultivators. At that moment, some cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage exhibited an expression of both envy and fear. Those who didn''t know the name of this person also began whispering, inquiring about his background from the cultivators nearby. The cultivator who had spoken listened to the flattering words around him, his face showing a smug expression. His cultivation was a bit away from reaching the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, but if he managed to win the Hun Tian Pill, he could step into the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and his strength would undergo a qualitative change. Although they were only separated by one stage, the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level represented the middle stage of cultivation, while reaching the Seventh Level meant entering the late stage. The difference of one stage could at least double one''s strength, and during this perilous time, it would significantly increase the chances of surviving any conflict. Moreover, breaking through from the Sixth to the Seventh Level without external help posed a considerable challenge, and many cultivators with inadequate potential might be forever stuck at this point. His goal was very clear, even if using the Hun Tian Pill at this stage was somewhat wasteful, he still wanted to take the gamble. After all, crises could arise at any time, and it was crucial to break through in cultivation first to increase the chances of survival. Seeing this person''s impatient demeanor, Xue Chong also didn''t dare prolong the matter. After taking a look at the audience''s expressions, he chuckled and then declared, "One Hun Tian Pill, starting at nine thousand spirit stones, each bid must be no less than fifty spirit stones!" "Nine thousand five hundred spirit stones!" No sooner had the words dropped than the previously urging cultivator immediately placed a bid, raising the price directly to nine thousand five hundred spirit stones. This person seemed determined to win, and by raising the bid by five hundred spirit stones in one go, the bidding process instantly reached a fever pitch. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a public seating area, a middle-aged burly man immediately started to bid, clearly unwilling to back down, drawing the gaze of everyone present. "Nine thousand eight hundred spirit stones!" "Ten thousand spirit stones!" The first cultivator to bid didn''t give in, and as the two competed, the value continued to climb, soon reaching eleven thousand five hundred spirit stones. Inside the VIP room, Lin Tianming and his companion watched the fierce bidding below, completely detached, as if they were enjoying a show. Just when everyone thought that a little over eleven thousand spirit stones was already the limit, several more cultivators joined the battle for the Hun Tian Pill. Clearly, it was only now that the real competition began, the previous fierce bidding having been merely a warm-up. With a few cultivators joining the bidding, the price of the Hun Tian Pill surged again. After more than ten rounds of bidding, it was now heading towards fourteen thousand spirit stones. At this moment, the two cultivators who had started the bidding wore somber expressions. They had thought the bid for the Hun Tian Pill would be a show between the two of them, never expecting they were merely part of the prelude, and when the real battle began, they were no longer involved. Under the constantly rising price, the two cultivators helplessly looked on; they had a limited number of spirit stones, and the price had already far exceeded their limits, leaving them no choice but to give up on the auction for the Hun Tian Pill. With their withdrawal, the price stabilized after several rounds of changes and was eventually won by a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level for fifteen thousand two hundred spirit stones. The auction of the first key treasure fetched a high price, satisfying all in attendance. Seizing the moment, Xue Chong immediately began the auction for the second key treasure, an Attack Talisman of the Second Order inferior quality. Giving the excellent quality of the magic artifact, loose cultivators made up a significant portion of those present, and many cultivators of modest strength still lacked suitable artifacts. The intense competition further heated up the already fervent atmosphere, taking it to new heights. At this time, the bustling auction continued, with each key treasure being sold, and the prices growing round after round. Before long, five key treasures were auctioned successfully, and half of the ten key treasures had been sold. The remaining five treasures were undoubtedly priceless items. With the atmosphere at its peak, Xue Chong was thrilled and very satisfied with the atmosphere and prices achieved during this auction. Amidst the audience''s urging, he gestured grandly, and a female cultivator emerged from the rear passageway, walking towards the stage. Looking over, the female cultivator held a tray with a fist-sized orb on it. Around the orb swirled copious amounts of vapor, accompanied by the sound of water and the rolling of waves, echoing throughout the venue. Chapter 451 262 Sky Rainbow Fruit (Making up for last months leave)_2 As soon as this item appeared, it immediately caught the listless attention of Qin Xi, who stared intently at the sphere and revealed a delighted expression. Below them, numerous cultivators watched the sphere with their eyes tightly fixed, many breathing rapidly with a look of impatience. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also looked up and noticed that the sphere was, in fact, a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact with Water Attribute. Based on the strong aura emanating from the sphere, its attack power was extremely formidable; within Second Order Medium Quality artifacts, it definitely ranked as a premium. On the high platform, Xue Chong was excited. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he introduced the sixth and final auction item. "The sixth and final auction item is named ''Heavenly Water Pearl'', a Water Attribute Second Order Medium Quality artifact, with a starting bid of twenty thousand spirit stones, with each bid increment being no less than one hundred spirit stones!" The moment his words ended, several cultivators immediately started bidding, none willing to be outdone. In no time, the bidding became even more intense, far surpassing that for any previous item. In this situation, the price of the Heavenly Water Pearl continued to rise, and in an extremely short period of time, it broke through twenty-three thousand spirit stones and was still climbing. Inside the VIP room, Qin Xi looked at the Heavenly Water Pearl and listened to the continually climbing prices below, her expression complex. She turned to look at Lin Tianming, then back at the Heavenly Water Pearl, seeming as if she had something to say but hesitated. Seeing her expression, Lin Tianming immediately understood something. "Fairy Qin, if you like this treasure, you should try to obtain it. If you don''t have enough spirit stones, I can lend you twenty thousand to start with!" Upon hearing Lin Tianming''s words, Qin Xi felt somewhat embarrassed, but the Heavenly Water Pearl was powerful and perfectly matched her attributes; it was indeed very suitable for her. Until now, she had always lacked an appropriate magical artifact, which significantly diminished her strength. At this auction, she had finally come across such an artifact, and missing out on it would mean that finding another suitable one wouldn''t be easy. With these thoughts, Qin Xi''s expression firmed, and she was determined to win the Heavenly Water Pearl at all costs. Making up her mind, she resolutely joined the bidding war for the artifact. "Twenty-four thousand spirit stones!" Qin Xi increased the bid by a thousand stones in one go, stunning many people present, who looked in the direction of the voice, trying to figure out who the bidders were. Unfortunately, due to protective restrictions, the aura of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi was blocked, and the onlookers couldn''t discern any information or guess their identities. In the brief silence that followed, the price called out by Qin Xi indeed deterred several competing cultivators, but there were still many determined bidders, and the price continued to climb. After several rounds of competition, only three cultivators, including Qin Xi, still refused to give up on the Heavenly Water Pearl. As the previous bidder in another VIP room called out twenty-five thousand five hundred spirit stones, Qin Xi''s face looked a bit upset. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A typical Second Order Mid-tier Attack Talisman would usually be worth around twenty thousand spirit stones, and this bid had already reached more than twenty-five thousand. Although the Heavenly Water Pearl was of exceptional quality and a rare Water Attribute artifact, it made sense to be a bit more expensive. But the current price was now substantially inflated, surpassing her limit. With a sigh of resignation, despite her attachment, Qin Xi was ready to give up bidding. Just then, Lin Tianming promptly spoke up, bidding on behalf of an indecisive Qin Xi. "Twenty-six thousand spirit stones!" "Twenty-six thousand five hundred spirit stones!" Another cultivator in a separate secret chamber didn''t back down and continued raising the bid right after Lin Tianming spoke. "Twenty-eight thousand five hundred spirit stones!" Lin Tianming snorted coldly and immediately upped the bid by two thousand stones, his authoritative and undeniable voice completely stunning all the cultivators present. At that moment, Qin Xi''s beautiful eyes were fixed intently on Lin Tianming; her breathing was even a bit rapid. In the venue, a silence had fallen, and after a few moments passed, no cultivator spoke up, seemingly giving up on continuing the bidding. Xue Chong, watching the private room competing with Lin Tianming, appeared to be enjoying the show, not minding the chaos at all. He did hope others would continue to bid, so he could take a larger cut. Regrettably, with a price approaching thirty thousand spirit stones, it was already very high. If the bidding continued, it would definitely easily surpass thirty thousand spirit stones. Beyond that, combined with Lin Tianming''s determined tone and the price he showed no sign of relinquishing, cultivators who initially planned to compete hesitated. A few more moments went by. Seeing that no one else spoke up to continue bidding, Xue Chong was slightly disappointed and could only helplessly announce that the private room where Lin Tianming was located had successfully won the auction. Upon hearing Xue Chong declare the result, Lin Tianming chuckled, casually taking out twenty thousand spirit stones and handing them to Qin Xi. "Here are twenty thousand spirit stones, quickly seal the deal on the Tian Water Pearl!" Urged by Lin Tianming, Qin Xi''s face flushed, and she took the spirit stones from his hand, then took the rest from her storage bag, and threw them together at Xue Chong. Xue Chong caught the spirit stones, confirmed the correct amount, and casually tossed the Tian Water Pearl back, which Qin Xi took through the air. At this time, Qin Xi held the smooth and round pearl, her expression one of irresistible fondness. Lin Tianming glanced at the Tian Water Pearl and then smiled, "This item is indeed extraordinary, among Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifacts, it''s definitely a rare treasure!" "Hehe... Congratulations to Fairy Qin on acquiring a valuable treasure!" "I must thank Lin for lending me the spirit stones. Otherwise, no matter what, I could not have afforded this treasure!" "As for the spirit stones, I will find a way to repay them as soon as possible. If it causes any inconvenience, please bear with me!" Qin Xi replied sincerely. "Fairy Qin is too courteous. Next, we should travel together and even depend on each other for survival. Enhancing your strength can also be of some help to me, greatly increasing our chances of survival," Lin Tianming responded. "As for the spirit stones... I should not lack them in the short term, so Fairy Qin need not worry about this matter!" In fact, when he said this, it was true. Before leaving his clan, he had carried more than a hundred thousand spirit stones. After arriving at the market, he had already spent over thirty thousand and lent twenty thousand to Qin Xi, and he still had sixty or seventy thousand left to use. Furthermore, he had many demon cores and treasures on him, so in the short term, he shouldn''t lack spirit stones. Moved by these words, Qin Xi felt a great deal of gratitude. Lin Tianming had not only saved her life but also lent her twenty thousand spirit stones in one go, which was no small sum. Many cultivators in the initial stages of Foundation Establishment would consider twenty thousand spirit stones practically their whole net worth. Even she herself only had a little more than twenty thousand at first. After bidding on some treasures previously and adding this Tian Water Pearl, she had drained all her savings and was now steeped in debt. At this moment, Qin Xi had a helpless expression, but fortunately, she obtained a suitable treasure that greatly enhanced her strength. As for the debt, there was no choice but to pay it off slowly afterward! Regathering her thoughts, she noticed Lin Tianming watching Xue Chong below, with an expectant look on his face. On the auction stage, Xue Chong was pointing to a jade box, starting to introduce the seventh and final highlight item. "The seventh highlight item, a Sky Rainbow Fruit, starts at a bid of eighteen thousand spirit stones, with each increase no less than a hundred spirit stones!" "What?" A cultivator exclaimed in surprise. "Sky Rainbow Fruit? Is that for real?" At this moment, the already lively atmosphere in the venue instantly erupted with various exclamations; many cultivators'' eyes were fervent, staring fixedly at the fruit on the stage, their expressions revealing intense desire. The Sky Rainbow Fruit is a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit that contains potent energy, capable of cleansing and cutting the meridians and purifying mana. Beyond that, once the energy inside is refined, it can improve a portion of one''s cultivation, making it a powerful, multifaceted enhancer. Compared with the Qingyu Fruit, though both belong to Second Order Superior, the Sky Rainbow Fruit''s effects are more comprehensive and provide an even greater enhancement. Chapter 452 263: Blood Crow Grass_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming''s eyes were burning with passion as he stared eagerly at the Sky Rainbow Fruit, impatient to claim it for himself. Before this, he had consumed a Qingyu Fruit, pushing his cultivation to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. If he were to get this fruit, he was highly confident he could step into the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm with a single leap. In the venue, as everyone marveled, Xue Chong spoke up to remind them, "Fellow cultivators, it''s time to start bidding!" Hearing this, the cultivators snapped to their senses and began calling out their bids. In an instant, the price surged like towering waves, each bid higher than the last, and it quickly reached twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones. Inside the VIP room, Lin Tianming''s face was glowing as he watched the intense bidding unfold, ready to join the auction. "Twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones!" The familiar dominant tone and bidding style, instantly raising the bid by two thousand Spirit Stones, silenced the cultivators with shallower pockets. Nevertheless, there were still many wealthy individuals present. Facing this rare Sky Rainbow Fruit, no one knew when they''d encounter such an opportunity again. "Twenty-five thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!" "Twenty-five thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!" ... Lin Tianming was determined to win, and several other cultivators were not to be outdone. Each raise was at least three hundred Spirit Stones¡ªunder such a frenzied atmosphere, the price continued to climb. At this point, not many cultivators with both the intention and financial resources to bid remained. Including Lin Tianming, only a mere five people were left, each with at least Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation and considered outstanding among their peers. Within the venue, the intense bidding thrilled some of the lower-level cultivators who were watching. When Lin Tianming once again called out a bid of twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones, the atmosphere reached a new climax. Many cultivators looked towards the VIP room where Tian Ming was situated with envious expressions. Because the bidder was too conspicuous. Earlier, when bidding for the Heavenly Water Gem, Lin Tianming''s VIP room had attracted the attention of many cultivators. This time, the price of the Sky Rainbow Fruit was even higher. Nearly thirty thousand Spirit Stones¡ªa price already comparable to one Foundation Establishment Pill, and there was still room for it to rise. Following a brief silence, two of the five bidding cultivators bowed out, leaving only Lin Tianming and two others from different VIP rooms contesting for the Sky Rainbow Fruit. By this time, ordinary cultivators could only watch; the price was too high, surpassing the fruit''s intrinsic value. However, during the era of the beast tide, the price of all treasures grew to some extent, especially for Spiritual Objects that could enhance cultivation¡ªthose prices were even more exorbitant. Having come across such a treasure, the cultivators from powerful families, willing to spare no expense, could likely drive the price even higher. Clearly, Lin Tianming and the two bidding cultivators were among such individuals. At this moment, with Lin Tianming raising the price once more, a new round of bidding began. "Thirty-one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as the price was announced, many cultivators in the venue were so shocked they couldn''t help but curse inwardly. "Such profligacy!" Qin Xi included, was also stunned by his bid and couldn''t help muttering to herself, "What kind of monster is this guy?" Unaware of this, Lin Tianming''s expression was resolute, facing the pressing bids from the opposing cultivators; he had to secure the item no matter what. The reason for his madness was crystal clear¡ªhe knew that under the current circumstances, nothing was more solid than cultivation. In preparation for the upcoming battles, what did Spirit Stones matter? Life was more important than anything. In such a situation, he couldn''t care less about squandering wealth or whether the price was worth it. His sole focus was on obtaining the Sky Rainbow Fruit to push his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. Regaining his focus, the cultivators opposite him called out their next bids. However, judging by their tones, both seemed to lack confidence; evidently, they were overwhelmed by Lin Tianming''s extravagant bidding style. At this time, Lin Tianming chuckled and his loud voice resonated throughout the venue. "Thirty-four thousand Spirit Stones!" Upon hearing this, the venue fell into sudden silence. Everyone, including Xue Chong and the cultivators enjoying the spectacle, was mute¡ªto the point where one could hear a pin drop in the empty venue. A few breaths passed, and as the impactful scene remained still, no sound came from the two other competitive VIP rooms. Seeing this, Lin Tianming''s face was calm. As no one else spoke up, he promptly reminded Xue Chong that the time for the auction had elapsed. "Xue, the time is up. If no one else is bidding, then the Sky Rainbow Fruit belongs to me!" Hearing this, Xue Chong finally came around, and the cultivators in the venue regained their senses, waiting for Xue Chong to announce the outcome. Xue Chong smiled awkwardly and then declared the result of the auction, settling the dust. Inside the VIP room, hearing that he had won the bid, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. He then took out thirty-four thousand Spirit Stones and threw them down to Xue Chong below. Xue Chong caught the Spirit Stones, verified the count, and then tossed the Sky Rainbow Fruit in its Jade Box down to Lin Tianming''s VIP room. Lin Tianming waved his sleeve and caught the Jade Box securely, then eagerly opened it. Looking at the brightly colored Sky Rainbow Fruit with its radiating aura, he couldn''t help swallowing before stowing it away. At that moment, Qin Xi congratulated him, "Congratulations, Lin, on acquiring the treasure. It seems breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level is now well within reach, isn''t it?" Chapter 453 263: Blood Crow Grass_2 "Hehe... I do have some confidence, but it''s also hard to say, nobody can predict until the very end!" Lin Tianming humbly replied. "Lin is being too modest!" Lin Tianming smiled faintly, then looked down at Xue Chong, unable to resist secretly speculating. Since the seventh treasure to appear was the Sky Rainbow Fruit, what could the last three treasures possibly be? But at the moment, he didn''t have many spirit stones left, just over twenty thousand, and if he wanted to bid for the upcoming treasures, he would have to put up some other treasures as collateral. As he pondered, Xue Chong''s loud voice spread across the entire square, introducing the eighth and final treasure. Lin Tianming looked up to see that the eighth treasure was actually a Second Order Medium Quality Alchemy Furnace, which seemed about the same quality as the Blueflame Furnace he had successfully auctioned before. However, the starting price of this pill furnace reached 36,000 spirit stones, a full 3,000 more than the starting price of the Blueflame Furnace back then. Even so, this pill furnace still received fierce bidding, surpassing the bidding for the Sky Rainbow Fruit just earlier. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although an alchemy furnace didn''t offer much help to cultivation in these times of impending war, there were many family members and a good number of alchemists present. Alchemists were already quite wealthy, and encountering such a grade of alchemy furnace, they certainly wouldn''t give up the opportunity easily. At this moment, bids kept coming in the venue, and the price of the Second Order pill furnace rapidly increased, soon surpassing 40,000 spirit stones. Lin Tianming sat in his chair, watching the fierce bidding below, without any intention to participate. He already had a Blueflame Furnace that was no worse than this pill furnace, and considering his limited spirit stones, there was no point in purchasing another unnecessary item. Besides, if he were to join the bidding again, he would surely attract some people with malicious intentions, as he had already revealed too much wealth. There were always some malicious individuals willing to risk much for numerous treasures. A stick of incense''s time passed. After fierce competition among over a dozen cultivators, the Second Order pill furnace was sold for 52,800 spirit stones, once again setting a new highest transaction record. As for the buyer, it was also someone from one of the private rooms, and their specific identity was hard to guess. Probably only the Zhenyang Sect, who was behind the market, would know. At this time, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but click his tongue. The price of this pill furnace was several thousand spirit stones higher than when he had bid for the Blueflame Furnace. "These people are really insane!" "However, the Cultivation World indeed hides dragons and crouching tigers, with quite a number of wealthy individuals!" Lin Tianming mused inwardly. Regaining his focus, on the stage below, Xue Chong had already brought out the ninth and final treasure, a complete Metal Attribute Profound Grade Technique, starting at 30,000 spirit stones. Seeing this, Lin Tianming had no interest, because the techniques in his family were quite comprehensive, and they were not short of Profound Grade Techniques. If it were an Earth-grade Technique, he might have competed for it, but otherwise, it was pointless to make the effort. However, there were always some family forces that were interested. After all, it''s not every day that Profound Grade Techniques came up, and many Foundation Establishing Families didn''t have a complete set of Five Elements techniques, wasting their members'' cultivation time. Under such circumstances, complementing a full attribute technique was something these Foundation Establishing Families had to do sooner or later. In the venue, Xue Chong was hosting the auction, with fierce bidding taking place in several private rooms. As time passed, the ninth and final treasure was acquired by a cultivator in one of the private rooms for 45,000 spirit stones, not reaching the price paid for the Second Order Alchemy Furnace earlier. This price, in fact, wasn''t very high. It could be because techniques like these didn''t yield quick results, and some families didn''t want to spend too many resources on techniques at this critical period. Therefore, bidding for techniques at this time was undoubtedly a good opportunity to save a lot of spirit stones. At this time, the atmosphere in the venue briefly eased. Following the conclusion of the eighth finale treasure, although the final price wasn''t too high, it still reached the value of the Mysterious Grade Technique itself. On the high platform, Xue Chong glanced at the group of cultivators below, then proceeded to start the auction for the ninth finale treasure. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the female cultivator behind Xue Chong swayed her waist and then lifted the red cloth in front of her, revealing a blue array plate and five small flags of different colors. Xue Chong looked at the array plate and the flags, then began to introduce them. "Fellow daoists... this is a set of Second Order Medium Quality defensive array instruments, named Five Elements Rotation Array. As long as you insert spirit stones, it can be activated immediately, and its defensive power is extremely strong. Even an attack from a Third Order Demon Beast can be withstood for a short while," he said. "The starting bid is thirty-five thousand spirit stones, with each bid increase not less than one hundred spirit stones!" he declared. Upon hearing this, the majority of cultivators in the public area remained calm as formations were of little use to them as loose cultivators. However, among those cultivators in the private rooms, there were quite a few whose expressions were one of excitement; they all came from clan backgrounds where the role of formations was incredibly important. Often, a good formation could change the fate of a family. Unexpectedly, a Second Order Medium Quality defensive formation had appeared this time, which was an opportunity not to be missed for those families whose formation grades were not high enough. Indeed, just like the previous technique, the array instruments formed an extreme scene. The vast majority showed no interest at all, yet a small portion engaged in a heated competition, driving the price continuously higher. At this moment, Lin Tianming sat in the VIP room, thoughtfully watching the bidding below. Such a set of Second Order Medium Quality formations was indeed rare in the Cultivation World, especially during the period of beast tides. Families with insufficiently powerful formations should consider bidding for this item. If successful, the probability of the family surviving the beast tide would also increase. As for himself, he likewise would not bid. The Lin Family''s Protective Clan Formation was not of a low grade and had been running smoothly for hundreds of years; it had also been improved to fix many hidden issues and had reached a state of perfect harmony. To replace it would be an unnecessary move. Having refocused his mind, the set of formations had already been won by a cultivator from one of the private rooms. The final price of forty-eight thousand spirit stones brought the somewhat subdued auction back to a climax. At this moment, all the cultivators were staring intently at Xue Chong, anticipating the last and most precious treasure of the finale. Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Xue Chong did not dare delay. With a wave of his hand, a jade box appeared in it; he then opened it up to reveal a strand of blood-red spirit plant material in front of everyone. An observant cultivator caught sight of the blood-red plant and displayed an incredulous expression, murmuring to himself, "This... Could this possibly be... Could it be the legendary Blood Crow Grass?" "Blood Crow Grass!" Several cultivators who heard this trembled in their minds, then showed shocked expressions. "It is indeed Blood Crow Grass!" one cultivator finally confirmed, shouting out loud. Soon, some cultivators quickly recovered from their astonishment and stared intently at the spirit grass with crazed expressions. In the meantime, Lin Tianming was also frowning. He looked at the blood-red plant; it was indeed Third Order Blood Crow Grass without a doubt. Blood Crow Grass was a Third Order Low Grade Spiritual Medicine. Although not very high in grade, it was extremely precious; it contained a powerful essence of blood within it and had formidable effects, its greatest use being to assist cultivators in breaking through to the Golden Core Realm. This item, although only increasing the probability by a mere ten percent, was still regarded as one of the once-in-a-lifetime treasures amongst Foundation Establishment Cultivators, every bit as effective as the Gold Fruit they had encountered before, if not even more powerful. In the auction hall, seeing many people''s incredulous reactions, Xue Chong smiled and then introduced the final masterpiece. "Hehe¡­ A strand of Third Order Low Grade Blood Crow Grass with a starting bid of one hundred thousand spirit stones, and each bid must not be less than one hundred spirit stones," he said. No sooner had his words fallen than several cultivators began bidding against each other, creating an atmosphere that far surpassed that of any previous finale treasure. Chapter 454 264 Exchange Meeting_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming, despite his covetous desire, was powerless. He had a very limited number of spirit stones on him, and should he succeed in acquiring this item, he would become the target of envy for all cultivators. Among these bidding cultivators, there were surely many desperate individuals; facing their open attacks and hidden threats, he feared it would be difficult to safely return it to his clan. In such a situation, he could only stand by and watch as those frenzied cultivators vied for the Blood Crow Grass. In the venue, a bid had barely been announced when it was immediately replaced by a new one; the price of the Blood Crow Grass continued to climb, easily reaching as much as 140,000. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi watched, their blood boiling with excitement, unable to help but curse inwardly, "Are these people insane, do they think spirit stones are carried in by the wind!" Even though Lin Tianming had already experienced an auction of Gold Fruit, the auction for the Blood Crow Grass was even more intense than that of the Gold Fruit. Under the watchful eyes of the two, the final price of the Blood Crow Grass kept climbing, soon reaching more than 170,000, now nearly equal to the final price of the Gold Fruit. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, this time, there were many cultivators participating in the auction, and overall, their cultivation was impressive, with Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators being a dime a dozen. Under such circumstances, the final price of the Blood Crow Grass skyrocketed, quickly reaching 190,000 spirit stones, easily breaking the previous record. In the venue, there were still several cultivators vying for the item; each one was a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, and three had even reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, looking ready to make a bold move. As the bidding entered an intense phase, several cultivators put forth their utmost effort, each with a determination to win at all costs. They were very aware that if they missed this opportunity, the next chance would be hard to predict, perhaps three to five years away, or even more than a decade. However, they could not afford to wait! Knowing this well, the cultivators had no reservations; they were willing to spend nearly all their wealth to acquire the Blood Crow Grass. The fierce auction continued, everyone had become numb, all were focused on the final price of the Blood Crow Grass and who would take it home. A period for drinking a cup of tea passed by. With a bid of 210,000 spirit stones coming from a VIP room, the entire venue fell utterly silent, everyone gasping for breath, staggered beyond measure by the astounding price. Lin Tianming couldn''t help but click his tongue, having thought his own wealth to be substantial, only to find that among Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, someone had bid 210,000 for the Blood Crow Grass. Although his own entire wealth amounted to no less than 200,000, how could someone who could afford to spend 200,000 spirit stones at once be an unknown individual. Regaining his composure, he saw the person who had won the bid exchanging with Xue Chong, handing over a large number of spirit stones to obtain the Blood Crow Grass. As the final coveted treasure settled, the entire auction came to a close. On the stage, Xue Chong was ecstatic, the auction had been filled with treasures, and the final prices had repeatedly hit new highs, his own earnings were definitely not insignificant. Thinking of this, he was somewhat impatient to conclude the auction, eager to collect his earnings from the Market Hall. He managed to suppress the excitement within, bowing with his hands clasped towards the assemblage of cultivators, he began with some formal remarks, and then announced the successful conclusion of the auction. Subsequently, the cultivators from the public area began to stand up, chatting briefly with familiar cultivators before leaving the venue. Within the VIP room, Lin Tianming watched the departing crowd but did not leave immediately. After a period long enough to drink a cup of tea, with most of the cultivators from the venue having departed, Lin Tianming led Qin Xi out of the VIP room. At the entrance, the female cultivator responsible for guiding them stood respectfully, hurrying to greet them with flirtatious eyes as she saw Lin emerging. Lin was not stingy, casually handing over twenty spirit stones to the female cultivator, sending her on her way. The woman knew to take a hint; a one-time tip of twenty spirit stones was more than usual, and furthermore, the beautiful woman beside Lin had been staring at her, the slightest display of power making her heart tremble with fear. In such a case, she dared not linger, taking the spirit stones and vanishing from before them. Lin gave a wry smile and led Qin Xi deeper into the corridor, stopping in front of the innermost secret chamber. "Lin, is this the designated location for the exchange meeting?" Qin Xi asked. "Hmm..." Lin Tianming nodded and began to explain. "This place is different from those spontaneously organized exchange meetings; those who can participate in this kind of exchange meeting either have profound backgrounds or are among the mighty," he said. "Later, we should pay attention if there''s anything particularly needed, and actively inquire whether it can be exchanged!" he added. "Hehe... I''m just here to join Lin for the excitement and to broaden my horizons!" Qin Xi said with a laugh. Lin Tianming didn''t respond further, then sent a message. Soon, the chamber''s restrictions opened, and he and Qin Xi stepped in together. Upon entering the secret chamber, there were already more than a dozen cultivators gathered inside, chatting. Many were acquaintances, all of whom had attended exchange meetings together before. Seeing Lin Tianming enter, those familiar cultivators all got up to greet with clasped fists from afar, being very cordial. Lin Tianming was affable as well, leading Qin Xi to reciprocate with clasped fists, returning greetings with Li Jiliang and a few perfunctorily polite cultivators. Chapter 455 264: Exchange Meeting_2 "Hehe, Daoist Lin, who is this fairy?" Li Jiliang looked at Qin Xi''s unfamiliar face and asked with a smile. "This is my junior sister, Lin Tianxi, it''s her first time coming to Qianchuan Market, so it''s normal for you all not to recognize her," Lin Tianming said, pointing to Qin Xi beside him, and introduced with a smile. "The young lady has seen all the fellow daoists," Qin Xi also greeted with a smile, and then stood next to Lin Tianming without saying more. "So she is a golden flower of the Lin Family, my apologies for the oversight!" another cultivator said with a laugh. Lin Tianming waved his hand and immediately shifted the topic, not dwelling on Qin Xi''s identity anymore. Seeing that no one continued to ask, he then began to inquire about some information from Li Jiliang and several Lin family cultivators, also taking the opportunity to learn about the matter of the recruitment. After all, at this time, most of the cultivators still in Qianchuan Market were those who were going to join the war at the front lines. Gathering more information and making acquaintances with new cultivators would help each other during the upcoming war, significantly increasing their chances of survival. At this point, Li Jiliang and the others became serious, each sharing bits of insider news they had gotten hold of. A little while passed, and the group exchanged quite a bit of the information they had, mostly aligning with one another, each person gaining some insights. After Lin Tianming summarized it, he gathered a few pieces of seemingly credible news. Coupled with his own knowledge, he didn''t have to face the upcoming recruitment completely blind. Just then, as a cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect entered the private room, they ended their casual conversation. All the cultivators stood up and greeted the newcomer from the Zhenyang Sect. The person who entered was neither Li Xiuyuan nor Song Xun, but an unfamiliar face; however, his cultivation was not weak, at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. He was probably one of the executive officers from the Zhenyang Sect in Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming, bringing Qin Xi with him, stepped forward and saluted the Zhenyang Sect cultivator with a fist and palm greeting, "Lin Tianming at your service, I have seen this daoist friend!" "The Luoyun Mountain Lin Family?" Wang Zhi thought for a moment and quickly recalled Lin Tianming from the Lin family, a person who Li Xiuyuan had mentioned to him as a prodigious individual with extraordinary talent. Regaining his composure, he looked at Lin Tianming and felt his subtly exposed aura, which was not inferior to his, perhaps even denser, indicating that his strength was definitely not low. "Indeed a remarkable person!" Wang Zhi silently exclaimed in his heart. Gathering his thoughts, he then politely said, "So it is Daoist Lin Tianming, I am Wang Zhi from the Zhenyang Sect!" "I''ve previously heard brothers Li and Song mention Daoist Lin''s great reputation. Seeing you today, you truly stand out from the ordinary!" Hearing these flattering and courteous words, other cultivators showed looks of envy. All being Foundation Establishment Cultivators with similar backgrounds, and with so many people present, Wang Zhi was exceptionally polite to Lin Tianming, prompting some cultivators to regard Lin Tianming even more highly. Lin Tianming waved his hand with a smile, "Daoist Wang thinks too highly of the Lin Family and of me." "My cultivation and strength are modest, nothing of note in front of your sect''s disciples, whereas Daoist Wang, so young and yet possessing such cultivation, must undoubtedly have a great chance at advancing to the Golden Core Path." "The Golden Core Path!" "It''s not so easy, but for Daoist Lin, being so young with such cultivation, I suspect you have quite a good chance as well!" Wang Zhi said politely. Lin Tianming chuckled, then changed the subject by asking, "For this exchange fair, why are Daoist Li and Daoist Song not in attendance?" Hearing this, Wang Zhi started explaining. "Brothers Li and Song have already rushed to the front lines. Perhaps Daoist Lin will be joining them shortly, and you might meet up!" "I see, that explains why the two daoist friends are not here. They must have been called away due to the demonic beast attack," Lin Tianming said with a smile. "Hmm... Let''s set aside this matter for now and proceed with the exchange fair!" Wang Zhi proposed. Lin Tianming and others nodded in agreement, and then they each took their seats. As the host, it was still the Zhenyang Sect cultivator who began by showcasing treasures first. Wang Zhi looked at the cultivators present and then took out two items from his storage bag: one was a Second Order Low Grade Artifact shaped like a curved hook, and the other was a piece of Third Order Ore. Although the ore was of a high grade, it was not particularly cherished. "Fellow Daoists, these two treasures can be exchanged for anything as long as the value is comparable," he said. "Hehe... Everyone, feel free to display your own treasures. If you see something of interest, you can directly ask to exchange!" Wang Zhi suggested. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and others nodded in agreement. This way of exchanging was good; there was no need to showcase one by one, saving a considerable amount of time and potentially allowing for a quick exchange for the desired item. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and the others took out their treasures and placed them in front of themselves. Qin Xi had no intention of participating and quietly waited on the side. Looking around, various Spiritual Medicines, Magic Artifacts, and ores were dazzling to behold, all of them rare and good items. In front of Lin Tianming was a Third Order Spirit Medicine Shadow Flower, a treasure he had cherished for many years, and two inner cores from Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts. While not extremely valuable, they were also rare treasures, good for use in Alchemy and Artifact Refining. Lin Tianming scanned the crowd and saw several bundles of Scales in front of Li Jiliang. Judging from the aura preserved on them, he surmised they must be the scales of a Blackwind Python at the Second Order Middle Stage. Seeing these, Lin Tianming became interested in exchanging; there were quite a few scales from the defense-renowned Blackwind Python, and they were of high quality. If he could obtain these scales, he could look for an opportunity to reforge his Green Scale Shield, possibly upgrading it to a Second Order Medium Grade Artifact. Determined, he sent a message to Li Jiliang to ask if he was willing to trade. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, Li Jiliang replied, expressing willingness to trade for his Third Order Spirit Medicine Material. Lin Tianming was delighted and handed over the Third Order Spiritual Medicine to Li Jiliang, receiving in exchange a large bundle of Blackwind Python Scales. No sooner had he exchanged the Monster Serpent Scales than a Loose Cultivator sent a message to trade a small piece of Third Order Ore for the two Demon Beast Inner Pills he held. After a brief consideration, Lin Tianming agreed to the trade. Even though he was not an Artifact Refiner and the use of Artifact Refining Materials was not significant for him, he had a lot of Demon Beast Inner Pills in his possession, and their value would only decrease over time. Under such circumstances, it was better to trade for some Spirit Medicine Materials or Artifact Refining Materials. After all, he was about to go to the frontlines to join the great battle and, barring any accidents, there certainly would be no shortage of Demon Beast Inner Pills. After completing his exchanges, Lin Tianming then turned his attention to other cultivators who had not yet finished trading. A quarter of an hour later, the majority of cultivators had completed their exchanges, turning idle treasures into urgently needed items, with only a few leaving disappointed. Once the exchange meeting was over, Wang Zhi, as the host, began to share cultivation experiences, with the participating cultivators also sharing some of their cultivation experiences. As Lin Tianming''s cultivation was not very high and he hadn''t been cultivating for long, he learned a lot of valuable lessons from the interactions. The lively exchange meeting lasted for more than half an hour and was finally concluded by the host, Wang Zhi. After a brief chat among the cultivators and introductions from Wang Zhi and Li Jiliang, Lin Tianming got to know many family cultivators and Loose Cultivators. These individuals were either pillars of great families or well-known Loose Cultivators. For these cultivators, it was a pleasure to form ties with Lin Tianming. After all, the Lin Family had become quite prominent over the years in the Southern Wei Kingdom. Even if they wished to keep a low profile, their fame had spread throughout the region. Lin Tianming was very polite with the cultivators who were interested in forming connections with him and the Lin Family. They exchanged contact methods and agreed to meet frequently before slowly dispersing. Seeing only a few people left in the now-empty secret chamber, Lin Tianming was about to stand up and bid farewell to Wang Zhi when he was interrupted by a transmission from Wang Zhi, who requested him to wait until the other cultivators had all left. The purpose of Wang Zhi keeping him behind was likely concerning the matter of the beast tide attack. As the strongest force in the region, Zhenyang Sect, and with Wang Zhi being a core member of the Sect, he surely had more and quite accurate information than the average person. Thus, Lin Tianming intended to inquire about it and make the necessary preparations. Before long, everyone had left, leaving only Lin Tianming and Wang Zhi in the secret chamber. Chapter 456 265: Arrangements Before Departure_1 Seeing no one around, Lin Tianming tentatively asked, "Daoist Wang, are you detaining me for any specific commands?" "Hehe... Lin, don''t panic. I presume you already have some guesses in mind," "The reason I''ve detained you is none other than for the ongoing monster tide attack, and the Sect''s issuance of the Recruitment Order!" Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in understanding; with Wang Zhi''s status, it was sure to be about this matter at such a critical juncture, or else he wouldn''t have made such a fuss. "Daoist Wang, if you have any commands, just say them. If it''s within my power, I shall not refuse!" Lin Tianming said determinedly. "Hmm..." Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi nodded, then went straight to the topic at hand. He first shared some frontline information that Lin Tianming had not been aware of, much to Lin Tianming''s delight. Immediately after, Wang Zhi finally addressed the main reason for keeping him behind. "In two days, the cultivators responding to the summon will head to the frontlines. At that time, you will be assigned to multiple squads. When facing the demonic beasts, you will also fight as squads, helping each other out as a team, which can also lessen the losses on the cultivators'' side." "I''ve detained you to relay a message from Brother Li, inviting you to join his Monster Hunting Squad!" "Li Xiuyuan, Daoist Li?" "To join Daoist Li''s Monster Hunting Squad!" Lin Tianming wore an expression full of confusion and disbelief. Seeing his expression, Wang Zhi explained, "Before Brother Li was urgently summoned by the Sect to the frontlines recently, he made a special request to me. If any of the Lin Family Members respond to the Recruitment Order, I was to inform you of this matter ahead of time!" "Besides that, to proactively inform you and invite you to join his squad. As for the terms of joining, Lin, feel free to ask, and I can make arrangements on Brother Li''s behalf." No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Tianming, after a moment of thought, began to ask more questions. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Daoist Wang, hearing you say this raises several doubts in my mind," Lin Tianming said. "You should know that there are at least hundreds of cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order, including some at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. With so many talented individuals, why specifically recruit members of the Lin Family?" "Although our Lin Family has a good private relationship with Daoist Li, I really can''t understand why he would specifically choose me." "That is something you don''t know!" Wang Zhi laughed softly. "With so many cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order, plus our own Sect sending Foundation Establishment Cultivators to resist the monster tide, there are at the very least hundreds to thousands of people." "With so many cultivators, they obviously can''t be allowed to move freely; they must be led by the sect''s disciples, formed into several squads, and assigned precise tasks for their strikes." "As for why you''ve been recruited, it''s not only because of the good personal relationship but also because of your strength." "Since the leading sect disciples'' squads are competing for the top ten spots, they can receive generous rewards from the sect and the opportunity to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!" "Brother Li''s cultivation is close to reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection; to gain resources for the Impact of Golden Core Stage, he must obtain significant credit and rewards." "And within Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, there are Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. To achieve this goal, he actively volunteered to be sent to the frontlines to participate in the great battle." "Thus, Lin, you should now understand Brother Li''s purpose in recruiting you, right?" After Wang Zhi''s explanation, Lin Tianming sank into thought. Their response to the Recruitment Order was not only out of fear of Zhenyang Sect''s retaliation against the Lin Family afterward but also to obtain entry into the Tianfeng Adverse Realm. Inside the Zhenyang Sect, there is competition among disciples as well. The resources for Core Formation are tremendously precious; even an established sect like Zhenyang Sect, which has existed for thousands of years, has limited quantities of Nascent Soul Spiritual Objects. However, there are many talented disciples and with factions entrenched within the Sect, absolute fairness is impossible to achieve. For Inner Sect Disciples, to gain the sect''s support and acquire Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, this monster tide attack is also an opportunity. As long as the squad they lead gains significant merit, they can earn a slot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and possibly obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. At the very least, they can receive enough rewards to accumulate resources for future attempts at the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, Zhenyang Sect has established this fair and just competitive opportunity, where everything is spoken for by achievement. Those with merit will naturally receive opportunities. On the other hand, those without contributions will lose the chance to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and thus drift further away from the Golden Core Stage. Such a system is fair and just for the elders backing these disciples and serves as a way to filter out who to focus on cultivating. If one''s own disciple does not perform well under the same conditions and falls behind other sect brothers and sisters, they cannot blame the Sect, not even the Great Elder''s Disciples. Thinking this through, Lin Tianming nodded, finding Wang Zhi''s explanations quite credible. However, he did not rush to express excitement. They had not yet reached the frontlines, and it was uncertain what might unfold. Joining a squad that could be assigned extremely dangerous tasks without careful consideration would not be wise. But Li Xiuyuan had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch through Wang Zhi. If Lin Tianming rejected it outright, he might easily offend someone. At this point, Lin Tianming thought it over and decided to inquire more about the specifics and see what benefits Li Xiuyuan could offer him. After all, he couldn''t simply agree to everything just because of a good personal relationship. "Daoist Wang, if I join Daoist Li''s team, what would I gain? Will we be assigned particularly dangerous tasks?" Chapter 457 265 Pre-departure Arrangements_2 ``` "Hehe..." Seeing that Lin Tianming was indeed cautious, Wang Zhi smiled without revealing anything out of the ordinary but patiently explained. "If Daoist Lin doesn''t join a team, it will be very difficult to obtain a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm." "This time, aside from Li, there are at least a dozen other senior brothers inviting external cultivators to form teams. In such a situation, no matter how strong you are alone, how can you compare with a team?" "Besides, regarding the dangers, whether following the main force or teaming up with the senior brothers to fight the demonic beasts, how could there not be danger?" "Risk and reward coexist, Daoist Lin has been cultivating for decades, so you shouldn''t need me to remind you of this!" Having said all this, Wang Zhi changed his tone and then sincerely added, "As for the benefits, Li didn''t say much." "However, at the very least, in Qianchuan Market, Daoist Lin can rest assured. As long as the market doesn''t encounter any accidents and the Lin Family Members don''t stir up trouble, as one of the Market City Supervisors, I can certainly assist your Lin Family and ensure the safety of your family members." Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was somewhat tempted. Before leaving, he had also been worried about Lin Xingyan and the others. Having someone like Wang Zhi, with his status, looking after them meant he would have no worries. Moreover, speaking of the dangers at the front lines, whether joining or not, they would all be at great risk. Upon arriving at the battlefield, one must follow the orders of the Zhenyang Sect. If the higher-ups intended to target him, he would have no way to resist. With lower strength, he would have to carry out even the most dangerous missions. In this way, since there were risks either way and he couldn''t control the situation, he might as well join Li Xiuyuan''s team. Maybe, given his disciple status, he could be a bit safer. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming made up his mind to temporarily join the team, relying on the warmth of the group for possible unexpected benefits. Deciding, Lin Tianming immediately said, "Daoist Wang, I am willing to join Li''s team!" Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi smiled knowingly and then responded, "Daoist Lin doesn''t need to make a statement right now. I am just informing you in advance. When you get to the front lines, you can visit Li. He will clarify this matter in person!" "When the time comes, there might be other brothers recruiting you, so you can make your decision then; there''s no hurry!" Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and smiled, "In that case, that''s for the best." "However, I still have to thank Daoist Wang for the reminder. Li has been very kind to me and Luoyun Pavilion. As long as it doesn''t involve life and death, I won''t hesitate to join his team." "Hmm... Li has indeed not misjudged you!" Wang Zhi laughed and praised. At this point, Lin Tianming bowed with clasped hands and then took out twenty thousand spirit stones from his storage bag and handed them to Wang Zhi. Afterwards, he sincerely said, "Daoist Wang, this is a small token from our Lin Family. Please accept it and, when circumstances permit, help keep an eye on Luoyun Pavilion and our Lin Family Members. Once the demonic beast tide recedes, our Lin Family will certainly offer significant gratitude!" Hearing these sincere words, Wang Zhi nodded appreciatively of Lin Tianming. After all, he took the polite words he had said for real and generously offered tangible benefits. This kind of upfront person, unconcerned about small gains and losses, combined with his exceptional talent, was indeed worthy of making a deeper connection. Regathering his thoughts, Wang Zhi didn''t play coy, smiling as he took the spirit stones from Lin Tianming''s hand and accepted them, then reassured him that he would keep his promises. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded. With no further worries, he could now head to the front lines to participate in the great battle with peace of mind. Then, Lin Tianming gave a few instructions, confirming the arrangements for Luoyun Pavilion and Lin Xingyan and the others. After making sure everything was taken care of, Lin Tianming clasped his hands to say goodbye. After some pleasantries, the two left the secret chamber together, and Lin Tianming returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard with Qin Xi. By this time, the sky had gradually darkened. After a whole day of attending the auction and the exchange meeting, they had been busy until now. Only then did Lin Tianming and his companion get a chance to relax. Back at the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Qin Xi exchanged a few pleasantries and then returned to her own secret chamber to cultivate. Lin Tianming called over Lin Xingyan and the two other family members, and they sat down in the courtyard to chat. Looking at the three slightly excited faces, Lin Tianming chuckled and asked, "Seeing the uncles'' expressions, you must have had a good haul at the auction today, right?" ``` Upon hearing this, Lin Xingpu immediately became interested, eagerly chatting away non-stop. "Hehe... Don''t think that just because this auction was hastily organized, it didn''t have its fair share of rarely seen treasures..." "Yeah... items like the Sky Fei Fruit, Pozhang Pill, and those last few Foundation Establishment Pills, they all fetched sky-high prices!" Lin Xingzhao also said excitedly. "How did it go for the two of you, uncles?" Lin Tianming asked. At these words, Lin Xingpu glanced at Lin Xingzhao and then said, "Xingzhao, you won a Sky Fei Fruit. If you focus on seclusion for half a year, you should be able to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, right?" Lin Xingzhao nodded excitedly, saying, "If I''m in seclusion for half a year, indeed, I do have a fair chance!" Hearing his affirmative response, it won''t be long before Lin Xingzhao advances to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Several Qi Refining clanspeople here are all of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation. Perhaps upon returning to the family lands, they could break through to the Great Perfection Realm and start impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thinking of this, Lin Xingyan and the others couldn''t hide their excitement, and smiles of long absence appeared on their faces. However, with Lin Tianming leaving the market city in a few days, only a few Lin Family members will remain here without a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to support them. Their power would be too weak, and should anything happen, the pressure on them would be immense. With these thoughts, Lin Xingyan''s smile faded slightly, and he looked visibly worried. Seeing the change in his expression, Lin Tianming looked at his family members and then said with a smile, "Uncle Xingyan... I estimate that in two days I will leave the market city. The heavy responsibility of Luoyun Pavilion will fall upon the three of you elders." "However, before I leave, Wang Zhi, one of the current Market City Supervisors, has promised to give the Lin family members, as well as Luoyun Pavilion, some special consideration." "Everyone, rest assured, as long as there''s no major trouble and you don''t invite disputes, the safety of our family members and Luoyun Pavilion is absolutely guaranteed!" Hearing this, the worry on Lin Xingyan''s face was swept away. "Really? The current Market City Supervisor is willing to offer us some special treatment?" Lin Xingyan asked further. "Really!" "We had a good personal relationship with the former Market City Supervisor. Before Li left, he specifically instructed his junior brother, so the current Supervisor is also willing to make friends with the Lin Family and is happy to grant us some small favors." Lin Tianming confirmed with a response, but he didn''t mention the private agreements to avoid giving the family members any trouble. Hearing his confirmed response, Lin Xingyan and the others smiled again, and the tension that had been in their hearts eased. Lin Tianming also smiled following this, and then he inquired about the Luoyun Pavilion''s business situation over the past few days from Lin Xingyan. Lin Xingyan took out the account book and handed it to Lin Tianming to review before reporting. "The large batch of treasures you brought in was quickly placed in the shop, and business has significantly improved in recent days. Even though it hasn''t reached its peak, it''s about seventy to eighty percent there." "I believe that as time goes on and more of our regular customers hear about it, business will continue to pick up in the following days, gradually returning to its former glory." "Hmm..." Lin Tianming nodded and then said, "The only issue is that we don''t know when this beast tide will end. At this rate, this batch of treasures might not last a year." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But while I''m at the front lines, I''ll have chances to visit the market city. Moreover, I discussed with the Clan Leader before leaving our family home; if I haven''t returned in half a year, depending on the Demonic Beast attacks, and if the conditions allow, we may send a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to the market city." Hearing this, Lin Xingyan nodded and said, "Hehe... Tianming, you''ve arranged everything so thoughtfully; we can rest easy now." "Let''s stick to this plan then. In a few days when I leave the market, I won''t say goodbye to everyone." "The situation here in the market will be entrusted to the three of you, uncles!" Lin Tianming stood up, cupped his hands respectfully, and spoke sincerely to Lin Xingyan and the others. "Then you be careful, Tianming!" Lin Xingyan cautioned. "Hmm... I will!" After speaking, Lin Tianming stood up and moved deeper into the courtyard, entering his private chamber for seclusion. Chapter 458 266: Departure_1 Two days later. In the secret room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with his hands together, fully immersed in his cultivation. After two days of cultivation, he had not immediately consumed the Sky Rainbow Fruit he had obtained from the auction. Since the time when cultivators would gather was uncertain, if he received the summons while in the midst of refining the Sky Rainbow Fruit, he might not achieve the best effect and would waste the fruit''s energy. Hence, he was not anxious. He planned to wait until he reached the front lines and had more than ten days of free time before refining the fruit. At this moment, while Lin Tianming was cultivating, he felt a token inside his storage bag stir. He immediately ended his cultivation, slapped his storage bag, and took out the Zhenyang Sect Token that Chen Fei had given to him when he entered Qianchuan Market. At that moment, the token flashed with spiritual light, and soon after, a commanding voice emanated from it. "All cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order, gather at the Market Hall''s plaza within half an hour, latecomers will not be entertained!" Hearing this commanding voice, Lin Tianming silently guessed which Golden Core Stage Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect it might be. "Oh well... whoever it is, I don''t have the capital to defy them!" Lin Tianming murmured to himself, then got up, tidied up the secret room, and sent a message to summon Qin Xi. After both joined up, they left the Cave Mansion Courtyard together and headed toward the plaza of the Market Hall. Walking the familiar streets, numerous unfamiliar cultivators, scattered here and there, were converging in the direction of the Market Hall. It was unclear whether they were gathering for the summons or just to watch the excitement. The two paid no heed and soon arrived at the bottom of the plaza outside the Market Hall. Looking around, the plaza was already filled with more than a thousand people, many of whom concealed their aura so well that even Lin Tianming couldn''t discern their exact cultivation. As for those he could see through, they were uniformly Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the majority of whom were at the second or third level. These people were clearly Loose Cultivators who volunteered to go to the front line to fight, as the minimum requirement for the summoned family cultivators was to be at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment. At that time, over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat scattered across the plaza, each silent and apparently waiting for something. Beneath them, a large crowd of cultivators gathered, some groups of whom were discussing some well-known Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Of course, the ones discussing were of limited strength, and their words were full of flattery. Otherwise, for these Qi Refining Cultivators to discuss Foundation Establishment Cultivators was akin to courting death. In the noisy crowd, several Qi Refining Cultivators were discussing a topic when Lin Tianming became aware of their conversation. "Lu Daoyou, since you''re from the Luoyun Mountain Range, do you know which member of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family will respond to the Recruitment Order?" Hearing this, Lin Tianming''s keen gaze pierced through the crowd in front of him and landed on the few discussing cultivators. Among the Qi Refining Cultivators, one at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement asked, "Lu Daoyou, the Lin Family has risen rapidly over the past few years and has become quite famous in Qianchuan Market!" "Since you come from the Luoyun Mountain Range, have you seen any Elders from the Lin Family come here?" On hearing the inquiries from the few cultivators, Lu Feng nodded and then looked over the thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the plaza, searching for members of the Lin Family. Soon, he confirmed that he had not seen any Lin Family Members, and then spoke, "Among the elders up there, I don''t see any from the Lin Family." "However, given the Lin Family''s strength, they must be on the list of families summoned. Logically, the Lin Family will definitely send members, and it should be either Lin Shilu or Lin Tianming who will come." Hearing this, the other two Qi Refining Cultivators nodded, and someone asked, "Elder Lin Shilu is renowned, but this Elder Lin Tianming seems quite reclusive, and I wonder what his cultivation and strength are like?" "Yeah, this Elder Lin Tianming, does he have any exceptional abilities?" another Qi Refining Cultivator chimed in. "Heh heh... You all are really out of the loop!" Lu Feng said with a hint of scorn. "Oh? Then Lu Daoyou, please enlighten us about the Lin Family, and talk about Elder Lin!" Upon hearing this, Lu Feng suddenly remembered when Lin Tianming had appeared publicly in Luoyun Market; he happened to be there. However, he did not stay in Luoyun Market but took a risk and came to the larger Qianchuan Market to seek refuge. When Lin Tianming made his public appearance and demonstrated his cultivation, he came into the view of many cultivators and stunned quite a few people. Including himself, who was greatly shocked back then and even admired him. Regathering his thoughts, Lu Feng laughed and said, "Heh heh... do you know how terrifying Elder Lin Tianming is?" This statement from Lu Feng immediately attracted the attention of several surrounding cultivators, and soon a group of Qi Refining Cultivators gathered around, all looking at him and eager to hear about Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lu Feng was quite excited. With his low level of cultivation, when had he ever felt like this, surrounded by a group of cultivators who were of similar or higher levels than him? After calming down a bit, he then spoke, "According to reliable information, as well as what was publicly shown by Elder Lin Tianming, he is not yet fifty years old and has already reached the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, truly a genius with extraordinary talent!" "What!" "Not yet fifty years old and already cultivated to the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment?" "What kind of terrifying cultivation speed is that? With this kind of cultivation speed, even in the Zhenyang Sect, it must be an extremely rare occurrence!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 459 266 Departure_2 Hearing Lu Feng''s words, a group of Qi Refinement Cultivators all showed expressions of shock, their faces filled with disbelief. Soon, some Qi Refinement Cultivators were the first to calm down. Then someone said, "Not even fifty years old, and to have reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, such speed, even in the entire Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, though not leading the pack, should certainly be among the best." "Yes, with Elder Lin Tianming''s talent and sufficient resource support, following the correct steps in cultivation, it''s quite possible that he''ll break through to the Golden Core Stage before the age of a hundred!" "The Golden Core Stage!" Upon hearing this, all the cultivators instantly wore solemn expressions, no longer daring to speak further, as the words "Golden Core Stage Cultivator" were too distant in their world. Reverence was the only appropriate response, not flagrant discussion. At this moment, seeing that the crowd had stopped discussing Golden Core Cultivators, Lu Feng continued, "The cultivation of Elder Lin Tianming, I have seen it with my own eyes, there is not the slightest falsehood!" "Moreover, for this recruitment of families to join the demon-hunting team, the Lin Family will certainly be among the invited, and Elder Lin Tianming might possibly appear!" "Hehe... If Elder Lin indeed makes an appearance, I will have to take a good look and admire such an exciting and peerless cultivator!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Indeed... such a genius cultivator is truly the envy of others!" Cultivator after cultivator could not help but sigh, their expressions incredibly sincere and full of envy. As several people discussed, Lin Tianming couldn''t help but smile openly, not paying attention to them as he led Qin Xi through the crowd to the square. By that time, there were already many cultivators gathered in the square, including some that Lin Tianming recognized. Lin Tianming and his companion found an inconspicuous spot to sit down, and soon, cultivators like Li Jiliang discovered them and came over to greet them immediately. Lin Tianming greeted them with a smile, then chatted casually with them while waiting for the arrival of the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect. After an unknown amount of time had passed, down below in the square, Lu Feng and others seemed to have discovered Lin Tianming''s whereabouts, promptly informing the cultivators around them, attracting quite a few Qi Refining Cultivators'' attention. To this, Lin Tianming chuckled. The content of their conversation had nearly all passed by his ears and none of it had offended him. After all, his movements and true appearance were now completely public at the Foundation Establishment Cultivator level, so there was no need for subterfuge. Compliments from those cultivators, or discussions for that matter, were completely unworthy of his care. As time passed and with cultivators gradually arriving, the time set by the token was drawing closer. Amidst the noise, as several cultivators dressed in golden robes from the Zhenyang Sect arrived, all the cultivators immediately stood up, and the previously lively scene instantly quieted down. Lin Tianming raised his head and looked at the five Zhenyang Sect cultivators dressed in uniform Daoist robes, displaying a sun embroidery on their chests. Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator, undoubtedly the Golden Core Stage Cultivator Zhu Yun from Zhenyang Sect. Almost all cultivators were extremely familiar with the publicly known Golden Core Stage Cultivators of Wei Kingdom, as the images of such powerful individuals had long been disseminated. Although it was his first time seeing Zhu Yun''s true face, he recognized him at first glance. At this moment, all cultivators stood up to pay their respects to Zhu Yun, leading the way, and said in unison, "We''ve seen Elder Zhu!" Zhu Yun nodded, his deep gaze sweeping over all the cultivators present. Then, he turned to a cultivator behind him and said, "Chen Shuo!" "Your disciple is here!" Chen Shuo took a step forward, respectfully waiting by the side, ready to follow orders. Zhu Yun took out a shimmering golden token, gave it a satisfied glance after inspecting it, and nodded approvingly. Immediately after, he instructed Chen Shuo beside him, "Everyone has arrived, lead all recruited cultivators out of Qianchuan Market, then board the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, and let''s hurry to the Songling Mountain Range." "Your disciple obeys!" Chen Shuo responded with respect, then walked to the front of all the cultivators, his loud voice ringing out. "Fellow daoists, follow me out of the market, and we''ll board the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat shortly. Once we reach the frontline, we''ll arrange the next steps." ``` No sooner had the words been uttered than Chen Shuo shot towards the direction of the market entrance. At this time, the cultivators in the square also began to lift their feet and follow suit, leaving the square in an orderly manner. Within the crowd, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi exchanged a glance, and under the gaze of some Qi Refining Cultivators, they followed the pace of the main force as well. Before long, all the cultivators had gathered outside the market, many with solemn expressions, their state of mind seemingly undergoing some changes. Clearly, upon leaving the market, they were also about to embark on a journey to the front lines; from this moment on, they would need to be prepared for battle at any time, even ready for the possibility of falling. In the crowd, Lin Tianming looked back at the market and then let out a long sigh. He was relatively calm, even though among such a vast number of cultivators he was certainly the youngest; but when it came to experiences of life and death, he was certainly no less experienced than others. "Well... life and death are decreed by fate, wealth and honor are in the hands of heaven. What is meant to come will eventually arrive," Lin Tianming thought to himself. Regaining his composure, he looked around; at this moment, Zhu Yun was instructing something, with Chen Shuo nodding from time to time at his side. A little more time passed. Zhu Yun ceased speaking, and after sweeping his gaze over everyone, he slapped his storage bag, and a dark-colored Spirit Boat appeared in his hand. As he executed a Law Decree, the palm-sized flying boat suddenly expanded, quickly transforming into a nearly hundred-zhang-long flying ship, hovering in the sky outside the market. Feeling the aura emanating from the flying boat, it was clearly a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact, leaving everyone with expressions of shock and envy. In the Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, Second Order Superior Flying Artifacts were extremely rare, incredibly valuable, and normally only Golden Core Stage Cultivators possessed flying artifacts of such high quality. Ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had a Second Order Lower Quality Flying Artifact were already considered quite remarkable; those with Second Order Medium Quality Flying Artifacts were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. It was also Lin Tianming''s first time witnessing such a high-quality magical artifact, and for a moment, he was astonished as well. "This is the foundation built by a sect over thousands of years; this is the might of a Golden Core Cultivator¡ªtruly impressive!" "If only the Lin Family had a few such treasures, how great that would be," Lin Tianming thought to himself. At this time, not only he, but all the cultivators present were deeply shocked, their hearts coveting such a flying treasure. While everyone was still in a daze, Zhu Yun''s clear voice rang out, urging the cultivators to board the flying boat. Hearing the order, the cultivators dared not delay, and led by Chen Shuo, they boarded the flying boat in an orderly fashion. Soon, everyone had boarded one by one, and the thousands of people standing on the spacious deck scarcely made it seem crowded. Under Zhu Yun''s watchful eye, everyone sat down on the floor, awaiting his dispatch. Zhu Yun did not say much; he sat at the very front, controlling the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, flying into the high sky. At that moment, the flying boat was like a black lightning bolt, heading towards the Songling Mountain Range in the northwest, its speed reaching the utmost limit. Lin Tianming, seated in a corner of the deck, witnessed the surrounding scenery rapidly receding, and couldn''t help but click his tongue in amazement. This Second Order Superior Flying Artifact was several times faster than the Purple Gold Eagle and extremely steady; not even a whisper of Gang Wind could be felt, which was quite novel indeed. It should be known that this was not his first time aboard a flying artifact. Previously, he had ridden on Ye Pinghai''s flying artifact as they traveled from Qianchuan Market back to Green Bamboo Mountain¡ªa journey that lasted over ten days and felt entirely different. Not only in speed, but the comfort level was also worlds apart. This Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat could accommodate a thousand people at a time, its speed was incredibly fast, and it was remarkably steady; it was truly an excellent means of travel. In contrast, Ye Pinghai''s flying boat could barely fit a dozen people, and riding it was nowhere near as comfortable; the difference was stark. However, possessing a flying artifact was already a symbol of status and strength and was extremely impressive in itself. Finally regaining his focus, Lin Tianming then tightly grasped his composure, closed his eyes to rest, and awaited the arrival at their destination. ``` Chapter 460 267 Yuyao City_1 Songling Mountain Range. The Songling Mountain Range was located to the west of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, forming a triangle with the Dragon Spring Mountain Range and the Yuexiu Mountain Range. It was one of the three mountain ranges closest to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. These three great mountain ranges occupied no small territory, ranking among the top even among dozens of mountain ranges in the southern part of the Wei Kingdom. Owing to their proximity to the Zhenyang Sect and the fame of Phoenix Mountain¡ªone of the renowned mountains of the Wei Kingdom¡ªthe land was fertile and densely populated. With numerous and powerful cultivation forces present, it was an area with an exceptionally superior level of cultivation. Ever since the beast tide erupted in the Wei Kingdom, the Songling Mountain Range had suffered greatly from the havoc caused by the demonic beasts. Nearly half of its land had been flattened by the Monster Beast Legion, with only the part closer to the Zhenyang Sect still unoccupied by the beasts. With the support of forces from Zhenyang Sect and the other two mountain ranges, coupled with the remaining two Foundation Establishing Families in the Songling Mountain Range, human cultivators had managed to barely hold off the footsteps of the demonic beasts after a hard battle. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since then, the two camps of the human race and the Monster Beast Legion had been in a stalemate for a month or so. The conflict had subsided temporarily, with both sides showing some restraint. On this day. Near a subsidiary vein in the eastern part of the Songling Mountain Range, atop a vast mountain peak, which had originally been a barren wasteland. As the beast tide erupted, numerous cultivators gathered here, and on this flat and open mountaintop, they used bluestone to build up towers and pavilions, forming a fortress. This was the frontline for resisting the Monster Beast Legion, a temporarily constructed small city known as Yuyao City, enveloped by a formation. At this moment, high above in the sky, a Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat swept through the air, eventually coming to a halt above the city. After traveling for more than ten days, they had now arrived at this gathering place in the Songling Mountain Range. With a Golden Core Cultivator in transit, the journey was quite smooth, and with the speed of the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, they had traveled tens of thousands of miles in just over ten days, moving from the southernmost tip of Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World to the central heartland near the Wei Kingdom. At that time, on the huge deck, a group of cultivators all stood up, curiously staring down at the city below, taking a careful look. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi looked down, sensing the faint aura of the Defensive Array, which seemed to be a Third Order Great Array. Inside the formation, squads of cultivators were occasionally shuttling around the city, looking quite vigilant, probably on guard against attacks from demonic beasts. On the deck, Zhu Yun looked at the city below and then scanned the people around him. He then controlled the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat to land on a clearing outside the city. "Everyone disembark and assemble on the ground!" Hearing Zhu Yun''s order, the cultivators did not dare delay and began to disembark, gathering on a patch of open land, waiting for Zhu Yun''s next instruction. Lin Tianming and another stood shoulder to shoulder in the crowd, waiting while also observing their surroundings. Their arrival quickly caused a stir among the cultivators inside the city, with many gathering on the city walls. With reinforcements arriving, everyone''s face in the city seemed excited and somewhat thrilled. Just as the sky had calmed down, another gust of wind whistled through. Following that, the clouds dispersed, revealing another Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat in the sky, hanging over the heads of the crowd. Zhu Yun was the first to sense the existence of this flying boat. He remained calm, quietly waiting. Lin Tianming soon felt it too. He looked up into the sky and noticed that this flying boat was exactly the same grade as the one Zhu Yun had, both in appearance and in overall aura, with no difference between them. Clearly, both flying boats belonged to the Zhenyang Sect and were crafted by the same Artifact Refiner. As for the people on the flying boat, by now a large number of cultivators had gathered, each observing the city and the cultivators below with different expressions¡ªsome were composed, while others looked uneasy. Lin Tianming watched as the flying boat slowly descended and then noticed the large number of figures on it. There seemed to be several thousand people, many more than on their flying boat. Obviously, this flying boat likely carried the cultivators gathered from another large market of the Zhenyang Sect, the Dragon Spring Market. The Dragon Spring Market and Qianchuan Market were both medium-sized markets, but when it came to overall strength, the difference was quite clear. The Dragon Spring Market was closer to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, situated in the heartland of Wei Kingdom''s Cultivation World, with a much higher overall standard of cultivation. Whether it was Loose Cultivators or family forces, they were much stronger than those around the Qianchuan Market. In such a case, the families and Loose Cultivators who were conscripted were stronger and more numerous. So, it was quite normal for so many of them to rush here. As he was momentarily distracted, the flying boat had already landed in front of them, and a number of cultivators disembarked. Leading them was an old man with white hair who also had a Medium Stage Golden Core cultivation. Recognizing the man, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment and then recalled the person''s name¡ªit was Wang Hengqiu, a Golden Core Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect. Wang Hengqiu was also a veteran Golden Core Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect. In terms of age, he was a century older than Zhu Yun, but their cultivation was both at the Medium Stage Golden Core. As for who was more powerful, that was hard to say. Regaining his focus, everyone watched as Wang Hengqiu approached, their faces filled with respect. From a distance, Zhu Yun walked forward to greet him with a smile and a salute, "Senior brother, what a coincidence today, I''ve just arrived and you''re already here!" "Hehe..." Wang Hengqiu laughed and replied, "Qianchuan Market is quite a bit farther than the Dragon Spring Market I went to. Junior brother Zhu''s speed is indeed not slow!" "Considering Qianchuan Market''s relative remoteness and the urgent situation up ahead, I was afraid of delay, so I set off early. And with more than ten days left before the deadline, I thought senior brother you would arrive a few days later!" Zhu Yun replied. Chapter 461 461 267 Yuyao City_2 ?Chapter 461: Chapter 267 Yuyao City_2 Chapter 461: Chapter 267 Yuyao City_2 Hearing these words, Wang Hengqiu nodded and then said, ¡°Junior brother speaks the truth!¡± ¡°The front lines are eagerly awaiting our reinforcements. Every day of delay is an added danger. Arriving here earlier is certainly the right move!¡± After finishing his words, Wang Hengqiu approached Zhu Yun, looked at the cultivators behind him, and began to size them up carefully. While Wang Hengqiu was observing everyone, Lin Tianming and the others also folded their hands and bowed in greeting to Wang Hengqiu. Wang Hengqiu waved his hand, signifying a response. Then he turned around, standing together with Zhu Yun, and walked towards the entrance of the city. At that time, the Defensive Great Formation opened a gap, and more than ten Zhenyang Sect cultivators came out, led by two Golden Core cultivators. ... One of these two Golden Core cultivators, a middle-aged scholar named Lan Yu, was among the current elders of Zhenyang Sect and the last to break through to the Golden Core Stage; his cultivation was at the Early Stage Golden Core. The other Golden Core cultivator was a middle-aged Taoist, the same Chen Jingtian Lin Tianming had once witnessed battling in magic. Years ago, when Lin Tianming was returning to Green Bamboo Mountain from Qianchuan Market, he fortuitously encountered Chen Jingtian fighting another Golden Core cultivator from Huangyang Kingdom over an unclaimed Mysterious Moon Order and engaging in fierce combat. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, Lin Tianming held his breath and hid in a cave dwelling until Chen Jingtian and the others left, unsure whether he had been discovered or not. Seeing Chen Jingtian again, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he did not show any irregularity to avoid being noticed by Chen Jingtian. Luckily, it was a false alarm; perhaps too much time had passed, and Lin Tianming back then was not worth his attention. Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu now approached Zhu Yun and began chatting pleasantly with them, showing no particular interest. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that after all this time, Chen Jingtian probably did not care about the past incident. Having barely calmed his mind, Lin Tianming looked at the four Golden Core cultivators present, and even his firm face could not help but reveal shock. This was his first time seeing so many Golden Core cultivators, three of whom had Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation. Such immense power all came from the Zhenyang Sect. Clearly, there were only these four Golden Core cultivators here, but this was not the full extent of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s strength. At the very least, the Great Elder of Zhenyang Sect had yet to make an appearance, certainly presiding over the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. With the presence of these four Golden Core cultivators here to deal with the Demon Beast Army, there should not be much of a problem. This line of thought was similar to many other cultivators present. Seeing such overwhelming force vastly raised the morale of the cultivators and gave them a sense of security. Otherwise, this group would already be nervous enough, and if they were to really fight the demonic beasts, they would suffer immense losses. Presumably, the Golden Core cultivators also knew the disadvantages of this situation, which is why they came out together, to stabilize the people¡¯s minds and ensure that these loose cultivators and family members could perform to their full abilities in the later stages of the great battle. Some time passed. The four Golden Core cultivators turned around, and Chen Jingtian stepped forward, looking at the two groups of cultivators gathered before him, his resonant voice carrying forth. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I am Chen Jingtian, the commander of the front-line army, and I welcome you here.¡± ¡°You have long lived within the boundaries of Wei Kingdom and fully understand the greater good. In the face of the Beast Tide Army¡¯s threat, you heeded the call of our sect, and for this, I am very gratified.¡± ¡°Next, I hope everyone will share a hatred for the enemy and join forces to repel this Demon Beast Army, restoring peace to the southern part of Wei Kingdom.¡± As soon as the words fell, all the cultivators replied in unison, ¡°We will carefully follow Senior Chen¡¯s command!¡± Hearing the sound and momentum, Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction and then instructed several Zhenyang Sect disciples beside him. Afterward, he led Zhu Yun and others into the city, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. After several Golden Core Cultivators left the area, a few Zhenyang Sect Disciples stepped forward. One of them had clear brows and handsome features, dressed in Zhenyang Sect attire, exuding an impressive aura, and was a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, with an identity and status that seemed quite high. He swept his gaze over everyone, then a loud voice followed. ¡°Fellow Daoists, my name is Long Qingshui, please follow me into the city to assign residences for rest, and within three days head to the Zhenyang Hall in the city center to register and arrange teams.¡± No sooner had the words settled than the cultivators beside Long Qingshui sprang into action. The Zhenyang Sect Cultivators split into groups and gathered the cultivators in an area together, then led them away from there and into the city. The Cultivator leading the group from Lin Tianming¡¯s area was also at Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. According to his introduction, his name was Zhou Xing, also an Inner Sect Disciple of Zhenyang Sect, responsible for settling these several hundred people. Lin Tianming, along with a few acquaintances, followed Zhou Xing¡¯s lead and entered the city. Walking on the streets within the city, surrounded by numerous stone halls, with many cultivators shuttling on the streets. Among them were many in Zhenyang Sect attire, as well as some Loose Cultivators and family cultivators, who seemed to have come earlier to provide support. As they walked along, Zhou Xing also simply introduced the basic situation of the city to the cultivators. According to him, this city was temporarily built, also divided into four major areas: east, west, south, and north. In the very center were the living quarters of the Golden Core Elders and the important institutions of the entire Demon-Hunting Army, which also included a temporarily constructed auction house. In the other directions, the east and south sides were the residential areas of the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, the north side had some shops, not many, only several dozen, all of which belonged to deep-rooted powerful factions. And the area to the west was the residential area for the numerous Loose Cultivators and family cultivators. It was the largest area, occupying half of the entire city¡¯s territory. Since the summoned cultivators and Loose Cultivators were numerous, outnumbering the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, the land needed for their settlement was also more, which made such an arrangement seem quite fair and reasonable. This city was somewhat similar to a market layout, but with not many commercial areas and a relatively smaller overall size. Lin Tianming and his companion mingled quietly in the crowd, taking in the surrounding buildings, their moods very calm. Soon, under Zhou Xing¡¯s guidance, they arrived at a vast residential area. Looking around, the area was filled with stone palaces, neatly arranged in an overwhelming number, easily many thousands. In front of the crowd, Zhou Xing glanced at the people before speaking, ¡°Fellow Daoists, as the stone halls in the city are limited, everyone is free to form pairs and select a stone hall in this area to serve as your dwelling in the city.¡± ¡°After making your selection, mark the stone hall, remember its number, come to me to register it, and then within three days proceed to the Zhenyang Hall for your team assignments.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, along with other cultivators, began to disperse, each in search of a stone hall to use as dwelling. The two of them, claiming to be siblings to outsiders, naturally remained together for the free pairing and hence did not seek others to team up with. Under these circumstances, they walked into the deeper parts of the residential area and soon came across numerous unoccupied stone halls. A short while later, they chose a secluded corner, selected an unoccupied stone hall, made their mark, and noted the number of the hall. After completing these tasks, they returned to where they started and saw Zhou Xing. By now, many of the original several hundred cultivators were no longer present, presumably having chosen their dwellings or still in the process of selecting. Once the cultivators in front had left, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi approached Zhou Xing. Lin Tianming cupped his fists in salute, then took out a wooden plaque that bore a series of numbers, corresponding to the chosen stone hall¡¯s door number. He then took out the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s issued Token, handed them to Zhou Xing, and said, ¡°Daoist Zhou, my sister and I have already chosen our dwelling, here is the number, please kindly register it for us!¡± Chapter 462 462 268 Visit_1 ?Chapter 462: Chapter 268 Visit_1 Chapter 462: Chapter 268 Visit_1 Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing accepted the token and the wooden plaque, then he reached out to probe the token with his divine sense, and a smile soon appeared on his face. He then returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute and asked, ¡°Are the two Daoist friends from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family?¡± ¡°Precisely, I am Lin Tianming, and this is my younger sister, Lin Tianxi!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Zhou Xing nodded and, after giving a smile, said, ¡°How remiss of me. The Lin sibling Daoists truly are as outstanding as dragons and phoenixes among men. Once the dwelling distribution is complete, if there¡¯s anything you need, feel free to come and find me.¡± ¡°Certainly, we will. Then we¡¯ll take our leave first and thank Daoist Zhou in advance!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Zhou Xing nodded and, without saying much more, showed considerable politeness. He returned the token to Lin Tianming and then took out the wooden plaque, examined the number on it, and thereafter noted down the number of the gateway in an account book. ... Having done this, he immediately took out two pale golden tokens and handed them to Lin Tianming and the other person. After that, Zhou Xing said, ¡°The dwelling registration is complete. You two Daoist friends can go and rest first, but remember to register at the Zhenyang Hall within three days!¡± ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Zhou. I understand!¡± Lin Tianming replied and then, with a cupped fist and a bow, he turned with Qin Xi and left, heading towards the stone hall they had selected. In a short while, they arrived in front of the stone hall they had chosen. Lin Tianming took out one of the tokens given by Zhou Xing, unlocked the restriction on the stone hall, and they both entered one after another. Upon entering the stone hall, they first made a round inside and out to familiarize themselves with the basics. From their investigation, they found that the hall was not small and even included several training rooms, alchemy and artifact forging rooms, and everything needed for Earth Fire, basically equipped to function as a normal dwelling should. After casual conversation, they each picked a room to enter; Lin Tianming lay directly on the stone bed, and the tiredness of more than ten days quickly showed. He forced himself to perk up, thinking over his plans for the coming days. There were still several days left before the team allocation registration, so there was no need to rush. He decided to take a nap to replenish his energy and, after returning to his usual state, he would first visit Li Xiuyuan before going to Zhenyang Hall. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming then closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep. The next day, at noon. Lin Tianming emerged from his room after half a day¡¯s sleep, now appearing well-rested and back to his normal spirits. After stretching, he went to a nearby room and, with a message sent indoors, Qin Xi soon walked out. Glimpsing her, Qin Xi¡¯s whole body radiated with luster, her previous fatigue nowhere to be found, enhancing her already stunning beauty. Watching Qin Xi approaching, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but gaze at her for a moment, causing her to blush with shyness. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming gave an awkward smile and started a new topic just to ease the embarrassing silence. ¡°Fairy Qin, did you rest well yesterday?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I was indeed a bit tired, but now I feel quite spirited. But it seems, Daoist Lin, you¡¯ve also recovered quite nicely!¡± Qin Xi responded with a smile. Lin Tianming nodded and chatted with Qin Xi for a while, casually mentioning his plan to visit Li Xiuyuan and invited her to accompany him. Qin Xi didn¡¯t refuse. They had come to Yuyao City together, and before the demonic beast tide receded, they could only rely on each other for survival. No matter where Lin Tianming was, she had to stay with him. Whatever they did together, it would be more convenient and without worries. After confirming these plans, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi left the dwelling and started wandering around Yuyao City. They had never had the chance to explore before, and since they would be living here for the time being, naturally they wanted to quickly familiarize themselves with the area to prepare for cultivation and defense against enemies. Walking on the bluestone-paved paths, many cultivators bustled about in all corners, and they walked among them, exploring various places and observing interesting establishments. Before they knew it, they arrived at the shopping area in the northern part of the city. By now, this place had gathered a significant number of cultivators, each of the dozens of shops bustling with popularity. Out of curiosity, they looked around and soon recognized the names of some familiar shops, which nearly all had Golden Core forces behind them. It made sense, considering this was the front line and the beast tide had not been raging for long. The city was built temporarily and had to defend against potential demonic beast attacks at any time. In such circumstances, it would be impossible for ordinary forces to have the leisure and strength to open shops in such a perilous place. Those who had businesses in Yuyao City were backed by Golden Core cultivators, and many were famous forces from Qingzhou, including properties belonging to Nascent Soul forces. Besides these well-known powers, at the very least, there were shops run by notable Foundation Establishing families from Wei Kingdom, whose strengths were not negligible and who could manage their business activities while coping with demonic beast attacks. As they walked, upon seeing the sign for the Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi entered together. Inside the Sky Dragon Pavilion, a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator greeted them. Lin Tianming browsed through some treasures and noticed that the prices here were astonishingly high. Ever since the outbreak of the demonic beast assault, the prices of treasures sold in the Qianchuan Market were several percent higher than usual. Chapter 463 463 268 Visit_2 ?Chapter 463: Chapter 268 Visit_2 Chapter 463: Chapter 268 Visit_2 Here, the prices of treasures were significantly higher, often nearly double the usual rate. Even so, the business here was enough to make any power envious. Upon reflection, Lin Tianming could understand why. The dangers here were self-evident, and the risks involved in moving treasures were much higher, compounded by the limited number of shops and the overall strength of Foundation Establishment Cultivators far surpassing any market in the Wei Kingdom. Given these reasons, such high prices were normal, and such bustling business was the due reward for those involved. After all, ¡°Where there is risk, there is opportunity¡± was no lie; the more dangerous the place, the easier it was to earn Spirit Stones. Fortunately, he had made ample preparations before coming to Yuyao City, with a good supply of Elixirs and talisman paper, so he wouldn¡¯t need to restock on treasures for a while unless he suffered a significant loss. ... Otherwise, with prices like these, even though he had plenty of Spirit Stones and treasures, spending them would be painful enough. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two strolled around the Sky Dragon Pavilion and left empty-handed, continuing their leisurely walk through the shop district. Soon, Lin Tianming and his companion arrived at the East District of Yuyao City, where Zhenyang Sect Disciples resided. Glancing around, the layout here was similar to their own living area, with numerous stone halls arrayed together, but here the buildings were larger and appeared more exquisite. The two approached a secluded stone hall. Lin Tianming cast a Law Decree, and soon the hall¡¯s protective spells receded, revealing an entrance. Stepping through one after the other, they entered, where Li Xiuyuan was already waiting at the entrance, calling out warmly from afar. ¡°Lin, it¡¯s been a while. To think that you representing the Lin Family in this war against the Demon Beasts!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Our Lin Family¡¯s strength is limited. The elders truly couldn¡¯t spare the effort, so I had to join the battle myself!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, then respectfully clasped his hands and exchanged pleasantries with Li Xiuyuan. ¡°And who might this be?¡± Seeing the woman by Lin Tianming¡¯s side, Li Xiuyuan was very curious, as he had never seen Qin Xi before, which prompted his question. ¡°Li, this is my cousin, Lin Tianxi, who has joined me in responding to your Sect¡¯s call to arms.¡± ¡°Hurry and greet Li!¡± urged Lin Tianming, looking at Qin Xi by his side. ¡°I offer my greetings to you, Li!¡± Qin Xi curtseyed graciously, with all the poise expected of a Lin Family member. ¡°Haha¡­ So this is Lin¡¯s cousin, truly a lady of talent and beauty, a genius with both gifts combined, truly the envy of others!¡± Li Xiuyuan couldn¡¯t help but praise her as he looked at Qin Xi. Indeed, he was captivated by her beauty upon first sight. Moreover, she was younger than Lin Tianming yet had already reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, which was simply unbelievable. Lin Tianming¡¯s talents had already impressed many, but here was a female member of the Lin Family with frightening abilities. One could imagine that with its pool of talented individuals, the Lin Family would certainly rise to prominence and perhaps even become a Golden Core Family if they had a hundred years of stable development. Such fortune of the Lin Family was indeed enviable. Regaining his composure, Li Xiuyuan exchanged pleasantries with Lin Tianming and then promptly invited Lin Tianming and his cousin into his abode. Lin Tianming was not one to stand on ceremony, so he and his cousin followed Li Xiuyuan deeper into the stone hall, while he began to introduce the place to them. Through Li Xiuyuan¡¯s introduction and his own observations, it was indeed clear that the treatment Zhenyang Sect Disciples received was much better; not only were their private abodes larger, but each also had their own stone hall. Besides, the Spiritual Energy in this area was even denser than where they resided. Although it¡¯s not obvious, if one stays here to cultivate for a long period, the difference will become apparent over time. But there¡¯s nothing to be done about it, who would that person be if not a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. As the overlord of the Southern Wei Kingdom, it¡¯s natural to give priority to disciples from their own sect, so such a disparity is to be expected. Before long, the three people including Lin Tianming were seated in the reception room, where Li Xiuyuan served his treasured Spiritual Tea as hospitality, and then they started to chat leisurely. After exchanging pleasantries, Li Xiuyuan got straight to the point. ¡°Lin, I assume that during our meeting at Qianchuan Market, my junior brother Wang Zhi might have shared some matters with you. What are your thoughts on this?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Li, I¡¯m not opposed to joining your team.¡± ¡°However, could you disclose a bit more information, so that I can make a clearer decision before committing?¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and responded, ¡°Your concerns, Lin, I fully understand. Even if you hadn¡¯t asked, I would not have concealed anything.¡± ¡°You must be aware of the reason behind my envy to form a team, and why I¡¯m making such a grand effort for this task.¡± ¡°Frankly speaking, with the battle against the Demon Beast Army at the front lines involving thousands or tens of thousands of cultivators, forming teams of a certain size is quite common.¡± ¡°The sect encourages us disciples to use this opportunity to compete for merits and talents, in preparation for the upcoming exploration of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°As for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, you¡¯ve certainly heard of it. The top three contributors, be they from families or Loose Cultivators, can enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°This time, my goal is to prepare for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage in the future. As long as my recruited team is among the top ten in terms of the number and quality of Demonic Beasts killed, I will earn a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°So, this opportunity is something I¡¯m pursuing with clear purpose, that¡¯s why I¡¯m recruiting cultivators, to take a chance for my own path.¡± Li Xiuyuan explained earnestly, with a detailed introduction, sharing almost everything he knew and his plans without reservations. Soon, Lin Tianming understood the arrangement of the Zhenyang Sect and was somewhat interested in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s earnest invitation. Still, he remained prudent and didn¡¯t immediately agree. At this time, Lin Tianming asked with a perplexed expression, ¡°Li, may I know how many teams the Zhenyang Sect will organize this time, and are there any restrictions on the teams you¡¯re recruiting?¡± ¡°Besides, in the upcoming battles against the Demon Beasts, will it be fair among the teams, and are there chances we¡¯ll be assigned to some dangerous tasks?¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back, laying out all the questions he wanted to know. Hearing these questions, Li Xiuyuan nodded. He did not seem reserved about Lin¡¯s caution and inquiries. Li Xiuyuan thought for a moment and then began to explain patiently. ¡°For this frontline resistance against the Demon Beast Army, besides our Zhenyang Sect, the other two Golden Core Sects have made similar arrangements.¡± ¡°Regarding the issues you¡¯re concerned about, Lin, I can tell you clearly that this time our sect has deployed two hundred disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage, all with the qualifications to recruit a team.¡± ¡°Each disciple can recruit up to fifty Foundation Establishment Cultivators to form a team, without a limit on the level of cultivation.¡± ¡°As for whether we will be assigned to execute special tasks, it¡¯s hard to say. However, if there are dangerous tasks assigned, the sect will provide compensation accordingly, and won¡¯t let us perish for nothing.¡± Relieved by Li¡¯s words, Lin Tianming could see that the Zhenyang Sect took this matter seriously, with well-thought-out and relatively fair rules. As Li had said, this was not only a test for their disciples but also for the summoned cultivators. To secure a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, one must achieve enough merit. Given how difficult it is for a cultivator alone to rank among the top three, due to the large base of summoned cultivators and the inclusion of many at the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage, it indeed seemed a wise choice to join a team formed by disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, to cooperate and fulfill mutual needs. Chapter 464 464 269 Impacting the Boundary_1 ?Chapter 464: Chapter 269: Impacting the Boundary_1 Chapter 464: Chapter 269: Impacting the Boundary_1 His mind returned to focus. Lin Tianming suddenly remembered Li Huafeng¡¯s once-mentioned Senior Brother Xu Cheng, who had also left behind a Soundstone. He had also mentioned that if Lin Tianming arrived at the front line, he could seek him out. Therefore, since Xu Cheng also participated in the great battle on the front line, he must have plans to recruit a team as well. It might be worthwhile to inquire with Li Xiuyuan about Xu Cheng¡¯s situation, to find out who joined his team and what their strengths were. After all, under the principle of mutual benefit, joining a stronger team would provide greater opportunities to achieve merits and ensure more safety. Having made up his mind, he immediately asked, ¡°Li Daoist friend, the Li Huafeng who went to the Lin Family to issue the call for recruits mentioned his Senior Brother Xu Cheng. Are you aware of his background?¡± ... ¡°Xu Cheng?¡± Li Xiuyuan shook his head, then explained, ¡°Xu Cheng is indeed a disciple of our sect with a cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, and he is also recruiting a team.¡± ¡°As for my side, more than twenty fellows have joined my team, most of them being at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, with two at the Seventh Level, one at the Eighth Level, and one at the Ninth Level.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised; obviously, Xu Cheng¡¯s cultivation level would not match his own. One must know that Li Xiuyuan was at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment a few years ago and must now be infinitely close to reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Furthermore, having been the Market City Supervisor for many years, his wide range of connections and acquaintances meant that the cultivators he could recruit were certainly not ordinary. In such a short time, Li Xiuyuan had already recruited more than twenty cultivators, including four at the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage. Comparing the two, Xu Cheng¡¯s team¡¯s overall strength was definitely not on par with Li Xiuyuan¡¯s. In addition, Li Xiuyuan put in a great deal of effort for the Lin Family¡¯s Luoyun Pavilion in establishing itself in Qianchuan Market, both before and after. Coupled with his upright character and popularity¡­ Looking at it this way, joining Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team seemed like the most prudent choice from every aspect. ¡°Lin Daoist friend, although there are many people in our sect¡¯s team, the majority do not have a higher cultivation than me,¡± Li Xiuyuan offered. ¡°Moreover, given our relationship, I can promise that if my team eventually ranks in the top ten and secures entrance to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, I will certainly provide a reward,¡± he continued. ¡°If I¡¯m fortunate enough to break through to the Golden Core Stage, I will forever remember the assistance of the Lin Family and will never refuse to help when needed in the future.¡± Hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s sincere persuasion, Lin Tianming nodded his head. The reason he had not yet agreed to join was to wait for Li Xiuyuan to mention the matter of compensation; after all, it would be somewhat embarrassing to bring it up himself and he would not have the initiative. If Li Xiuyuan brought it up himself, it couldn¡¯t be more perfect for him. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This mattered a great deal to Lin Tianming. In his eyes, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s talent was not lacking, and if he truly had treasures to aid in Core Formation, his chances of success were considerable. In such circumstances, even without providing material treasures, a promise had self-evident value once he broke through to the Golden Core Stage in the future. For the Lin Family, a promise from a Golden Core Cultivator could sometimes change the family¡¯s fortunes. With this in mind, he had no reason to insist any further. At that moment, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and said, ¡°I am flattered by Li Daoist friend¡¯s high regard for the Lin Family and for me!¡± ¡°Li Daoist friend, you¡¯ve already been a great help in the Market City. Given such an opportunity, I naturally wish to offer my assistance and am willing to join your team to fight side by side as a way of repaying your kindness,¡± Lin Tianming continued. Hearing that Lin Tianming was willing to join his team, Li Xiuyuan nodded, his mood considerably brightened. He had been planning and working hard for this great battle for a long time, and he had made great efforts to win over many cultivators. Beyond those at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, the Lin Family was also a key focus of his attention. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t the strongest among cultivators, it was certainly not to be underestimated. Apart from that, the potential that Lin Tianming and his sister showed was simply astonishing. Their mutual cooperation was an opportunity for both sides. If the Lin Family fully rose to prominence, it would be a tremendous help in his own pursuit of the Golden Core Stage. Now, having received Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmation, Li Xiuyuan was overjoyed, and in his elated mood, he treated the two siblings with great hospitality. ¡­ An hour passed. In a harmonious atmosphere, they exchanged many details about the front line. Li Xiuyuan also introduced a few of the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage team members to him, and mentioned the list of teams they were focusing on this time. According to him, among the disciples sent by the Zhenyang Sect to the front line this time, there were more than twenty at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection alone. Many of these twenty disciples were the personal disciples of Golden Core Cultivators, all brilliant and outstanding, and held high status within the Zhenyang Sect. These people, with their talents and cultivation levels, had attracted many cultivators to join their teams, with many teams exhibiting exceptional overall strength. Aside from these twenty or so disciples, there were also quite a few at the Eighth and Ninth Levels of Foundation Establishment. However, these individuals had limited strength and influence, mostly attracting unknown cultivators to join their ranks. Such teams did not compare in strength to theirs and were not worth their attention. It was only the teams formed by those more than twenty Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators that posed as their most significant competitors, whom Lin Tianming should be particularly wary of. Chapter 465 465 269 Assaulting the Realm_2 ?Chapter 465: Chapter 269: Assaulting the Realm_2 Chapter 465: Chapter 269: Assaulting the Realm_2 Afterward, Li Xiuyuan also brought up the matter of registration. Since Lin Tianming had volunteered to join his team, he naturally wouldn¡¯t be mixed in with those cultivators who hadn¡¯t been recruited. All they needed to do was to go to Zhenyang Hall to register, stating their willingness to join the team, and they could then stay in Yuyao City with peace of mind, waiting for the senior cultivators¡¯ strategic plan and be ready to fight when needed. In the reception room. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan were having a pleasant conversation; both were in a good mood. Li Xiuyuan was very forthcoming in response to Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiries, explaining in great detail. As the day grew late, on Li Xiuyuan¡¯s suggestion, the three of them left his cave dwelling and headed for the Zhenyang Hall at the center of the city to take care of the registration. ¡­ ... Before long, the three of them arrived at Zhenyang Hall. At this time, there were already quite a few cultivators registering inside Zhenyang Hall; it was bustling with activity. Under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s lead, they didn¡¯t need to wait in line and quickly completed the registration process. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was clear to see that Li Xiuyuan held a not insignificant position within the Zhenyang Sect and had an extremely wide network of connections¡ªotherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to influence other cultivators so readily. This was a good thing; the greater his influence, the higher the likelihood of achieving his goals, and it made his choice worthwhile. Having finished with the registration, the three left Zhenyang Hall and walked along the streets. While chatting as they walked, Li Xiuyuan inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s plans for the coming days. ¡°Li, do you have any actions planned for the next while?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Actions? Hard to say¡­¡± ¡°However, as far as I know, the cultivators who have just been summoned to Yuyao City aren¡¯t familiar with the situation here. In the short term, it seems that the higher-ups don¡¯t have plans to launch an offensive.¡± ¡°But while we cultivators may not take the initiative to strike, the movements of the demonic beasts are another story¡ªthey attack unpredictably and are difficult to understand.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt a bit helpless. He had wanted to take a short retreat to assimilate the Sky Rainbow Fruit and break through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, but it looked like that would have to be delayed. ¡°What, Lin, do you have plans of your own?¡± Seeing his look of resignation, Li Xiuyuan asked with concern. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Tianming laughed wryly and said, ¡°Before coming to Yuyao City, I won a Sky Rainbow Fruit at the Qianchuan Market, and I haven¡¯t had the chance to assimilate it yet.¡± ¡°If there are no imminent plans for action, I might take this opportunity to digest the fruit and boost my cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level! However, if the demonic beasts attack while I am in the middle of a breakthrough, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to join the fight, and I might just have to postpone my retreat.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°Lin, you don¡¯t have to worry so much. It hasn¡¯t been long since the last demonic beast incursion; they probably won¡¯t attack again so soon. Besides, if the demonic beasts do attack while you¡¯re in retreat, you don¡¯t need to force yourself into battle. I will explain to the sect, and they won¡¯t blame you.¡± ¡°You just need to focus on your breakthrough. With stronger power, you¡¯ll be able to achieve greater feats in battle!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his face showing a slight excitement. If that was the case, it was exactly what he wanted. He could first retreat for cultivation, raising his power to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. If the demonic beasts did attack, he would join the fight if he could; if not, Li Xiuyuan would manage the situation on his behalf, and he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about it. After all, there was no specific rule in the Zhenyang Sect stating one must join the fight during a beast tide. Many times, a cultivator might have a breakthrough or even be injured, which could lead to various reasons for not participating in battle. Under such circumstances, not everyone could go into battle, and special reasons were understandable. Thinking this over, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, no longer harboring any concerns. With a major battle looming, there was no time to delay; he needed to close off and rush his cultivation breakthrough! Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming bowed to Li Xiuyuan with a fist in palm, proposing to head back for his retreat. Li Xiuyuan chuckled and did not reject the idea, agreeing to his request on the spot. Lin Tianming was very pleased. The three exchanged courtesies and then went their separate ways, each hurrying back to their respective cave dwellings. ¡­ Returning to their cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi exchanged a few casual remarks before immediately entering the training room and beginning their closed-door cultivation. In the training room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the floor, circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation, and then started to adjust his state. Not much time had passed. Feeling that he had reached his peak condition, he calmly took out a jade box which contained the Sky Rainbow Fruit. He opened the jade box, revealing the crystal-clear Spirit Fruit. A unique and refreshing fragrance assaulted his senses, invigorating his mind. Looking at the Sky Rainbow Fruit, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turned rosy. With this item, his cultivation, which had been stagnant for several years, could finally advance further. To obtain this Spirit Fruit, he had paid a significant price¡ªmore than thirty thousand Spirit Stones, almost equivalent to the cost of one Foundation Establishment Pill. However, despite the great cost, as long as it could enhance his cultivation, Spirit Stones were nothing more than external possessions, hardly worthy of concern. Regaining his focus and feeling enticed by the fragrant aroma of the Sky Rainbow Fruit, excitement stirred within him, and he began to grow impatient. He took out the Sky Rainbow Fruit and placed it on his palm. After observing it for a moment, he swallowed it without hesitation. As soon as the Spirit Fruit entered his mouth, the energy within it immediately spread out, traveling along his meridians. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare delay and hurriedly activated his cultivation technique to refine this powerful energy. At this moment, the energy gradually transformed into new Spiritual Power and finally converged in his Seven Sea Dantian. The Spiritual Power that had already reached the brink began to expand further. At the same time, this roaming energy also tempered his internal organs, seven meridians and eight channels, and even his skin, bones, and hair were somewhat enhanced. It should be known that his cultivation level had already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, needing only a supplement of Spiritual Power to meet the requirements to attempt the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. As the energy from the Sky Rainbow Fruit tempered his body and refined his soul, with every bit of Spiritual Power he assimilated, his cultivation level saw a slight increase, and he felt the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level drawing ever nearer. Feeling this tremendous and inexhaustible energy, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart throbbed with excitement; the effects brought by the Sky Rainbow Fruit were beyond his expectations. Continuing at this rate of improvement, he felt that after refining just thirty percent of the energy, he would possess the basic condition to make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. And with the remaining energy, if utilized properly, he could further enhance his cultivation after the successful breakthrough, allowing him to be even more powerful in the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. At this moment, the sheer enjoyment of increasing his cultivation level made him feel as if he was soaring unrestrained in the sky, an extremely comfortable sensation. Lin Tianming was so immersed in this wonderful world that he found it hard to extract himself. Lin Tianming eventually came to his senses after some indeterminable time, becoming more serene. He focused his mind, operating his cultivation technique to the limit, which again accelerated the speed of the energy refinement process. Looking down at his Dantian once more, he saw the speed of the circulating Spiritual Power increase, the Seven Sea Dantian nearing the critical point and seemingly about to overflow at any time. ¡­ Time flew by, and the day passed just like that. In the training room, Lin Tianming sat motionless like an old monk in meditation, having maintained the process for a whole day, refining nearly thirty percent of the energy contained in the Sky Rainbow Fruit. The Spiritual Power within his Seven Sea Dantian had reached a critical point, and after another half an hour of refinement, it no longer continued to grow. Clearly, he was at the critical point now, and refining any more Spiritual Power wouldn¡¯t result in further improvement. ¡°It¡¯s time to attempt the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Then, he began to manipulate the vast Spiritual Power within his Seven Sea Dantian, launching an assault on the barrier to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. ¡°Bang¡­ bang¡­ bang¡­¡± At this moment, the usually silent training room echoed with a series of special sounds. Although not loud, they were indeed there. After more than ten consecutive attempts, each more forceful than the last, there was still no sign of a breakthrough. Clearly¡­ breaking through as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was not that easy! Even someone like him, who could be considered exceptionally talented, was no exception and faced obstructions. Chapter 466 466 270 Breakthrough Team Member_1 ?Chapter 466: Chapter 270: Breakthrough, Team Member_1 Chapter 466: Chapter 270: Breakthrough, Team Member_1 At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was somewhat pale, with sweat frequently dripping down his forehead onto the ground, where it quickly evaporated. ¡°Without breaking, there can be no establishment¡­ break and then establish!¡± With a cold snort, he pushed the Cultivation Technique to its limit. Even though the refining speed had already reached its peak, under his relentless squeeze, the speed actually increased slightly. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although the gap didn¡¯t seem large, that slight acceleration had a noticeably different effect. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of joy as he tirelessly manipulated the Spiritual Power, launching another assault. At every moment of decline, he immediately replenished the refined Spiritual Power, incessantly hammering at the barrier. Time ticked away second by second, and before long, the third day had arrived. ... By now, he had launched countless assaults, so many that even he had lost count. Even in such a state, nearly numb to the process, he still didn¡¯t stop. And then, at some unknown moment, accompanied by a piercing yet distinctive sound, a rosy hue flashed across his pale face. Following that, his Seven Sea Dantian suddenly expanded, with the previously refined Spiritual Power reconvening in a new spiritual pool. At the same time, his Divine Sense was sublimated in an instant, and all of his meridians and organs were strengthened at that moment. Feeling the changes in his body and soul, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. ¡°I¡¯ve finally broken through!¡± He murmured to himself, then continued to operate the Cultivation Technique to refine nearly half of the remaining energy within the Sky Rainbow Fruit. After ten days. In the training room, Lin Tianming ended his session and opened his eyes, a sharp light shooting out from his bright pupils. The piercing gaze stirred the air, forming an invisible blade that swept over the spot in front of him, and carved a faint trace with sheer force. With his Divine Sense, he surveyed his inner and outer body and discovered that his original Qi Sea Dantian had expanded significantly, with the stored Spiritual Power becoming more consolidated. Moreover, every bit of skin over his body, from inside out, had been tempered, leaving a thick layer of grime on his whole body, emitting an offensive odor that was quite revolting to behold. ¡°The human body is truly marvelous, with each breakthrough strengthening the physique to some extent.¡± ¡°And this grime seems endless, but it is said that when Body Cultivation reaches its pinnacle, as with those Fourth Order Body Cultivators and above, no grime will appear anymore.¡± ¡°That level of state is the foundation of a natural body and signifies reaching a perfect, flawless realm.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, looking forward immensely to reaching that legendary state one day. Collecting his thoughts and looking at the filth on his body, he cast a spell with a hand gesture and quickly cleaned his body. In no time, he had changed into a clean Blue Taoist Robe, looking very spirited. Now, feeling the full Spiritual Power within his body and the further enhanced soul, his entire being felt refreshed and comfortable, void of any fatigue. And the aura emanating from his body steadily settled at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm without the faintest sense of instability. It was obvious that the foundation he had laid for himself was solid enough. Although there were some obstacles in breaking through, it was a smooth process and expected. After more than ten days of seclusion, his cultivation had successfully broken through, and he had also completely refined the remaining nearly half of the energy from the Sky Rainbow Fruit. Following the breakthrough, the refinement of Spiritual Power had further improved, significantly reducing the energy required to reach from the Sixth to the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment. Feeling the Spiritual Power throughout his body and the strength gained after the breakthrough, he was ecstatic and in an extremely good mood. ¡°I wonder how the beast tide is going? Has there been a great battle?¡± Lin Tianming pondered silently. ¡°Never mind, I should leave seclusion first and visit Li Xiuyuan to look around and gather some information!¡± Gathering his thoughts, he stood up to tidy the training room before heading outside. In a short while, Lin Tianming appeared in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave abode, without bringing Qin Xi along. Seeing Lin Tianming and learning of his successful breakthrough, Li Xiuyuan was thrilled and immediately invited him into the guest room. At that time, several Cultivators were already sitting in the guest room; among them were four men and one woman, all of them at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Li Xiuyuan let out a chuckle, introduced Lin Tianming to the few, and then proceeded to introduce their backgrounds. After Li Xiuyuan¡¯s introductions, it turned out that these five were Cultivators he had recruited: two from clans and three being Loose Cultivators. The two clan Cultivators were Tang Liusheng from the Longgang Mountain Range¡¯s Tang Family and He Qiancheng from the Tiantai Mountain Range¡¯s He Family. The power of their respective families was considerable; they were well-known entities in the Qianchuan Market vicinity. Knowing that Lin Tianming was from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family, perhaps because of the Lin Family¡¯s rising fame in recent years, Tang Liusheng and He Qiancheng were quite polite, seemingly eager to make connections. Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t reject their goodwill and exchanged pleasantries with Tang Liusheng, quickly closing the distance between them. As for the three Loose Cultivators, they were Hu Yuan, Liu Zhenshan, and He Hongfu, all of whom were recluses who regularly roamed the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. Although Hu Yuan and the others were alone, being able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage on their own meant they were quite powerful. Chapter 467 467 270 Breakthrough Team Member_2 ?Chapter 467: Chapter 270 Breakthrough, Team Member_2 Chapter 467: Chapter 270 Breakthrough, Team Member_2 Hu Yuan had reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, while Liu Zhenshan and He Hongfu were both at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, making them somewhat stronger than the cultivators with family backgrounds. Although the three of them were Loose Cultivators, their strength was undeniable, and even Li Xiuyuan, with his identity and cultivation, had to rely on them to achieve a significant result. In this situation, Li Xiuyuan was very courteous towards the six of them, actively matchmaking, so they could cooperate sincerely in the likely upcoming battle. Lin Tianming and the others, of course, had no objections; everyone shared the same goal, and with these individuals¡¯ extraordinary strength, they quickly became acquainted. The group chatted over tea for a while, exchanging many cultivation-related questions, and everyone gained something from the discussion. A pot of tea time passed. Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Li Xiuyuan was very satisfied, then he began to speak about serious matters. ... ¡°Fellow Daoists¡­ Today, Lin has just left seclusion, and the core members of my team are all present here, which is indeed very rare,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ve been in Yuyao City for nearly half a month, and I¡¯m afraid such peaceful days will not last much longer!¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Liusheng frowned and quickly followed up with a question. ¡°Li, are the demon beasts preparing to launch an attack?¡± he asked. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded, his expression suddenly becoming serious. ¡°According to reliable information, while our Human Race is mobilizing troops, the Demon Beast Army is also expanding its strength. With many mountain ranges within the Wei Kingdom, numerous beasts with higher Spirit Wisdom are gathering together.¡± ¡°Given this situation, the next battle will likely escalate, and it won¡¯t be the minor skirmishes we¡¯ve had before!¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Liusheng nodded his head. ¡°No wonder the number of demon beasts in the various mountain ranges has noticeably decreased recently; it turns out that those with some strength have moved locations and joined the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°Alas¡­ With the pressure greatly reduced in the various mountain ranges below, the Songling Mountain Range here might face a great deal of pressure,¡± Tang Liusheng said helplessly. Hearing Tang Liusheng¡¯s words, the expressions of everyone present became serious, and they started to worry about the ensuing battle. ¡°Fellow Daoists, although the power of the Monster Beast Legion has increased significantly, our side is no weaker. With four Masters guarding this place, I believe the Monster Beast Legion won¡¯t be able to make big waves!¡± No sooner had the words fallen than Hu Yuan, who had been silent for a while, smiled calmly and then chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ With four Golden Core seniors stationed here, and with Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect also gathering a large number of cultivators, even though the strength of the demon beasts is formidable, the human side is not unprepared!¡± Hu Yuan spoke with ease, his confidence stemming from his own strength. As a Loose Cultivator with no ties, in the event of a great crisis, he could simply flee if need be. With his cultivation strength, thinking only of escaping, ordinary Second Order demonic beasts couldn¡¯t possibly stop him. Hu Yuan¡¯s displayed confidence had an impact on the others, settling their minds somewhat. Lin Tianming also felt this to be true, as he was quite confident in his own strength. Before his breakthrough, he was capable of handling one or two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts; even if he couldn¡¯t emerge victorious, his life wouldn¡¯t be in jeopardy. With his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, his strength had further improved, so unless it was a demon beast about to break through to the Third Order, he probably wouldn¡¯t be threatened. This was the intense self-assurance that came with increased strength! With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s serious expression relaxed, and the melancholy in his heart also vanished. Refocusing, Lin Tianming looked at the people sitting around and then asked, ¡°Li, when is the beast tide likely to erupt? Is there a specific time?¡± ¡°Yes, if there¡¯s a specific time and scale, it would help everyone to prepare!¡± Tang Liusheng added. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say right now!¡± ¡°Based on the actions of the Demon Beast Army, the sects can only anticipate that the attack is coming soon, but they are still unable to precisely predict the specifics,¡± explained Li Xiuyuan. Hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding; the situation was indeed as such. The Demon Beast Army was mighty, with many Third Order Demon Beasts. Ordinary cultivators did not dare to scout for information; if discovered by a Third Order Demon Beast, a careless mistake could lead to their demise. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, information was hard to come by and subject to great change, making it extremely difficult to accurately predict the actions of the demon beasts. Then, Li Xiuyuan looked at everyone and laughed lightly, saying: ¡°My friends, there¡¯s no need to worry too much. Whatever is coming will come; we simply need to wait for instructions from above.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ If they don¡¯t come, we can relax a bit more. But if they do, it¡¯ll be another tough fight!¡± Tang Liusheng remarked. Lin Tianming nodded and said nothing further; the conversation among the group shifted, and they casually chatted for a while. An hour had passed. The sky neared noon, and after this gathering, everyone had become more acquainted with one another. Tang Liusheng glanced at the people present and then stood up, expressing his intention to take his leave. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others also spoke up, expressing their own intentions to leave and planning to return to their caves for some cultivation, while they waited for the arrangements of the higher-ups. Out of courtesy, Li Xiuyuan tried to persuade them to stay longer, but was declined by everyone. After some polite exchanges, they said their goodbyes and went back to their own caves. Lin Tianming returned to the stone hall, where Qin Xi, having not been seen for a long time, had just emerged from seclusion. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and sensing the faint aura emanating from him, Qin Xi was slightly puzzled and quickly asked about his breakthrough. ¡°Lin, have you successfully broken through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ By a stroke of luck, I did!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmative response, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion glowed with excitement. She had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength with her own eyes, and now that his strength had increased, he was undoubtedly going to be even more terrifying. With this, their chances of surviving the upcoming battle had greatly increased, and they might even achieve impressive results and consequently receive generous rewards. Thinking of these possibilities, Qin Xi felt excited and extremely fortunate about her decision. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Seeing her slightly excited expression, Lin Tianming smiled and then asked, ¡°Fairy Qin, it seems your cultivation has improved during these few days you¡¯ve been out of sight. You¡¯re not far off from the Third Level of Foundation Establishment now, are you?¡± ¡°Lin, your Divine Sense is indeed powerful, you can¡¯t be deceived by even the slightest growth!¡± Qin Xi replied with a sense of helplessness. She had been in seclusion, refining the Spiritual Objects she had and pushing her cultivation to the peak of the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment, very close to the Third Level. She had hoped to press on and break through to the Third Level in one go, but since she had only progressed beyond the Second Layer less than two years ago, her foundation was not solid enough, preventing her wish from being fulfilled. However, she believed that with only half a year¡¯s consolidation and some battles of life and death, her breakthrough should not be too difficult with her talent. When Lin Tianming heard her reply, he could not help but be amazed. Qin Xi¡¯s talent was truly fearsome, she was a few years younger than him, yet her cultivation at the same period wasn¡¯t much different from his. It¡¯s worth mentioning that he cultivated a Heavenly Grade Technique, had been through numerous life and death battles, had several fortuitous encounters, and with support from his family, managed to cultivate at such speed. Yet Qin Xi, a Loose Cultivator, had to rely on herself for all opportunities and also guard against enemies seeking revenge. Such comparison showed that her cultivation speed was in no way inferior to his, perhaps even more significant. ¡°This lady¡¯s Spiritual Root Talent must be extraordinary, and she must have great fortune as well!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. At the moment, Lin Tianming was intensely curious about Qin Xi, and even considered asking about it. But delving into such sensitive matters was easily offensive and could create misunderstandings, making her think he coveted her opportunities. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming suppressed the impulse within him, maintaining a calm demeanor. Unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts, Qin Xi finally calmed down and then shifted the conversation towards the subject of the approaching monster onslaught. During this period, Yuyao City had been unusually calm, completely contrary to her expectations. ¡°Lin, is there still no movement from the monster onslaught?¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s question, Lin Tianming gave her the information he had obtained from Li Xiuyuan. Soon, Qin Xi nodded, knowing that with Lin Tianming taking care of the matter, there was no need for her to worry. As long as there were no movements from the Demonic Beasts and they had no tasks assigned to them, she just needed to focus on her cultivation. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi and Lin Tianming exchanged some information. After chatting casually for a while, Lin Tianming suggested Qin Xi go back to seclusion to cultivate, and she had no objections. With everything settled, the two went back to their respective training rooms. While they cultivated, they also made some preparations, waiting for what was likely to be an impending great battle. Chapter 468 468 271 Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_1 ?Chapter 468: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_1 Chapter 468: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_1 Yuyao City. The tranquil days continued past, and since the Cultivators had come, more than half a month had elapsed. During this time, the vicinity of Yuyao City was particularly calm, with no outbreaks of Demonic Beast attacks, and the fierce slaughtering the cultivators had anticipated had not occurred. Under these circumstances, all the cultivators remained within Yuyao City. Apart from strengthening patrols, most were cultivating as usual, living rather peacefully. On this day, the Songling Mountain Range. Several hundred miles to the west of Yuyao City, a vast array of towering mountains served as a gathering place for a large number of Demonic Beasts. Looking over this extensive forest, Demonic Beasts were everywhere, as far as the eye could see, numbering at least tens of thousands. ... The types of Demonic Beasts were diverse, including the three-headed Night Wolf, the Red-tailed Poison Scorpion covered with dark brown venom, as well as various grotesque and vicious species. Diamond Giant Ape, Blood Jiao, Xuanbing Crocodile¡­ The species of Demonic Beasts varied, and their sizes were extremely different. Some of the largest were almost as big as a hundred-foot-tall hill, while the smaller beasts were only half a Zhang in size, with a shocking contrast in scale. However, despite the vast size differences among these beasts, their strength was not necessarily proportional. Some smaller species were quite a few Second Order Demonic Beasts, whereas many of the larger ones were First Order Demon Beasts, with their strength being completely opposite to their sizes. In the center of this huge group of Demonic Beasts, a dozen or so were particularly conspicuous. Although not the largest, they exuded an extraordinarily strong aura. Around them, several Second Order Demonic Beasts showed a look of fear, consciously keeping their distance, appearing quite terrified. If there was someone here, they could easily discern that the strengths of those Demonic Beasts in the middle of the group were undoubtedly that of Third Order Demon Beasts. At this moment, these dozen or so Third Order Demonic Beasts were gathered together. A few of them were growling at each other, as if they were communicating something. A short while passed. Suddenly, as a Blazing Flame Celestial Lion at the center of the beast horde let out a mighty roar to the sky, the entire massive group of Demonic Beasts began to stir. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, being at the Late Stage of the Third Order, was the temporary leader of this vast Demon Beast Army, and its roaring was a command. At this point, under the orders of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, the Demon Beast Tribe began to move, all heading towards the east. ¡°Stomp stomp stomp¡­¡± As the massive horde of Demonic Beasts started to move, the entire forest echoed with earth-shattering noises, as if a swarm of locusts was passing through, and with increasing speed, a thunderous clamor ensued. The dust stirred by the Demon Beast Tribe rose hundreds of Zhang high, resembling a storm, surging forward in the direction they advanced. Above the Demon Beast Army, a dozen Third Order Demonic Beasts began to move; with each leap, they would appear miles away, their speed reaching its extreme. In this moment, the long-silent Monster Beast Legion finally made their move. However, the Human Cultivators remained completely unaware of this development. In the western direction of Yuyao City. Two hundred miles away, on the summit of a mountain, Lu Hong and several other Cultivators stood on the peak, gazing toward the west with grave expressions. Lu Hong was a core disciple of Zhenyang Sect, and his cultivation was not weak. With his cultivation realm at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he was considered one of the top existences below the Golden Core Cultivators. In recent days, Yuyao City had increased its patrol forces, issued several patrolling missions, and further expanded the range of patrols, all in preparation for the upcoming Demonic Beast attacks. Under these circumstances and with hefty rewards being offered, Lu Hong led his assembled team to take on the task of watch duty in this area. Atop the mountain, Lu Hong wore a solemn countenance. For some reason, his eyelids kept twitching involuntarily, and he felt an inexplicably growing tension in his heart. ¡°Could it be that something big is about to happen?¡± ¡°According to the messages from above, there shouldn¡¯t be any major incidents in the next few days¡­then why this uneasy feeling?¡± Lu Hong pondered silently. While he was lost in thought, a Cultivator next to him pointed toward the end of their line of sight at the gray shadow and stuttered out a cry. ¡°Quick¡­quickly look¡­what¡­is that?¡± Regaining his composure, Lu Hong and several Cultivators lifted their heads and looked in the direction indicated by the speaker. At that moment, in front of them, gray shadows slowly rose from the horizon, quickly-reaching dozens of Zhang in height and becoming increasingly discernible. In an instant, the shadow grew larger, forming a hundred Zhang high storm and Gang Wind that swept towards them with terrifying speed. Lu Hong widened his eyes, trying to see what lay behind that storm. However, the dust was too extensive and moved too quickly; bare eyes could hardly discern anything, and even Divine Sense was greatly affected, unable to clear up what lay beyond. Soon, the storm drew closer, and in the blink of an eye, it reached a few miles in front of them. ¡°Stomp¡­stomp stomp stomp¡­¡± The Monster Beast Legion¡¯s thunderous charge only now reached them, accompanied by an even more intense Gang Wind that blew them all off their feet. The disheveled Lu Hong swiftly stood up, steadying himself, and his complexion instantly turned pale. ¡°The Demon Beast Army is coming¡­¡± ¡°Everyone, run for your lives!¡± He hastily dropped these words, then immediately turned and shot towards the direction of Yuyao City at breakneck speed, with no desire to look back. In the blink of an eye, he had run a thousand Zhang away, frantically fleeing for his life without a second glance. Hearing Lu Hong¡¯s warning and seeing his speed in flight, the few Cultivators beside him only then came to their senses. Chapter 469 469 271 Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_2 ?Chapter 469: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_2 Chapter 469: Chapter 271: Lu Hong Escaping for His Life_2 Just as a few people turned to run, a deafening roar, like thunder blasting beside one¡¯s ear, pierced the air. Immediately after, a huge red shadow flashed and pounced toward them. At this moment, the people desperate to escape turned deathly pale. The thunderous roars knocked them dizzy and disoriented, leaving them frozen in place for a moment. Before they could regain their senses, the vast red shadow had opened its massive jaws and lunged to bite at them. The dazed individuals raised their hands and threw out several Second Order Talismans, which formed a thick wall to shield them at the back. However, the wall was like paper and was effortlessly pierced by the demonic beast¡¯s gigantic mouth. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­¡± ... Screams followed as several cultivators were bitten and held in the grasp of the red shadow. The red shadow shook its enormous head and then snapped its jaws several times, easily crushing and swallowing the cultivators. A thousand feet away, Lu Hong, who narrowly escaped a calamity, heard the screams and looked back only to witness his companions¡¯ tragic deaths, which left his face extremely pale. In that instant, he had no time to grieve for the deceased companions. With just a quick glance, he continued to flee for his life. He was well aware that the Demon Beast Army was vast in number. The red shadow from before was a Third Order Late Stage Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Furthermore, among the demonic beasts that were following, there were several with immense presences, undoubtedly all from the Third Order. With such terrifying strength, with his level of cultivation, if he slowed even slightly and was surrounded by the demonic beasts, he would undoubtedly meet his end here. In this critical moment, whether to save his own life or to quickly relay the message to Yuyao City, he had to escape from this place as soon as possible. It was a time for survival, and he summoned the wind beneath his feet, fleeing relentlessly. However, the terrifying Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, without any effort, killed several cultivators in one breath, swallowing three of them. It was not satisfied, showing a ravenous look. It raised its head and looked toward Lu Hong, its wrath further incited upon seeing the cultivator escaping. With a furious roar, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion chased after Lu Hong in the direction he fled, its speed even faster than his. In just a few breaths, the distance between them had closed significantly. Had Lu Hong not been decisive enough to have fled a few thousand feet from the start, with the speed of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, he would have already been caught by now. As the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion drew ever closer, Lu Hong¡¯s inner turmoil grew, his face darkening to the extreme. Soon, the distance between them narrowed even further, reaching just about a thousand feet. For a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, this distance was merely a couple of strides. ¡°No good¡­ I must find a way to block it for a moment, otherwise, with this kind of escape, there¡¯s no way I can shake it off,¡± thought Lu Hong to himself. ¡°Roar¡­ Roar¡­¡± The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion roared in fury and leapt toward Lu Hong with its gaping maw snapping at him. In his urgency, Lu Hong waved his sleeve, and a large handful of Second Order Talismans appeared in his hand, numbering over twenty. Then, with a movement of his Law Decree, he let go of the talismans in his hand, casting them at the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± The sky suddenly filled with a rain of fire, mixed with sword qi, pouring down like a deluge. Seeing the flashes of fire in the sky, Lu Hong spared nothing, producing another shimmering talisman. Upon closer inspection, it as well was a Fake Golden Core Talisman, a treasure Lu Hong had obtained at great expense and kept as a last resort for saving his life. He understood the power of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Although the Second Order Talismans he had thrown out weren¡¯t few, and even included two Second Order Superior ones. If taken by surprise, such a handful of Second Order Talismans could damage even Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts. But to a robust and powerful Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, such an attack was little more than a tickle, at best causing a fleeting delay. ¡°` But even so, he dared not hold back. The Second Order Talismans were used to buy time, while the reserve Fake Golden Core Talisman created trouble for the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. He just needed to delay for a bit, so he could take the chance to escape, to widen the distance as much as possible, and even shake them off. In such a situation, even if he was extremely reluctant, to survive, he had to make a desperate bid and seek a sliver of a chance for life. Lu Hong, who was well aware of this, didn¡¯t hesitate to activate the Fake Golden Core Talisman in his hand. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The firelight in the sky dissipated, revealing the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion unscathed. As expected, the ocean of fire and Sword Qi created by the Second Order Talismans had no effect on it, not even a scratch, and only succeeded in delaying it for an instant. However, Lu Hong¡¯s purpose had been achieved. In that precious instant, the Fake Golden Core Talisman in his hand had been successfully activated. At this moment, with a flash of golden light on the Fake Golden Core Talisman, at some point, a Golden Light Greatsword had condensed above his head. At a glance, the aura emanating from the Golden Light Greatsword was immense, swallowing even the faint Spiritual Energy in the vicinity, its power formidable, far beyond what the previous Second Order Talismans could compare to. At this time, Lu Hong let out a loud shout, and the Golden Light Greatsword, condensed above his head, shot out, transforming into a heaven-piercing Sword Qi that furiously slashed towards the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion charging at him. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion hadn¡¯t expected the human before it to be so cunning. The attacks before were just to delay it, and the real threat was this terrifying Sword Qi. Seeing the Sword Qi coming straight for it, it let out an angry roar, seemingly without any intention to dodge. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise rang out as the Golden Sword Qi struck the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s back without deviation. In an instant, sparks flew in all directions, and the powerful collision between the two created a deep ravine in the ground. With flying sand and rocks, the sky suddenly became overcast. By the time the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was pushed back a hundred yards by the Sword Qi, it steadied itself and merely grunted in pain, without any cries of agony. Seeing this, Lu Hong knew the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion wasn¡¯t injured, just in pain. Lu Hong¡¯s face showed helplessness. To him, the incredibly valuable life-saving Fake Golden Core Talisman had, astonishingly, only managed to push back the Celestial Lion without causing injury. But after careful consideration, this Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was a creature in the Late Stage of the Third Order, its aura seemingly at the peak of this stage, not too far from the Fourth Order. Against such a fearsome demonic beast, even a Third Order Talisman might not achieve a significant effect. That his own Fake Golden Core Talisman could stop the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion in its tracks and push it back a hundred yards was already quite an achievement. Thinking this way, Lu Hong¡¯s pained expression eased slightly. Regathering his focus, he glanced at the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion faintly visible within the dust storm and took out a grey-white talisman paper. This was a Second Order Medium Quality Godspeed Talisman, with a special function to greatly enhance a cultivator¡¯s speed of escape. Although only Second Order Medium Quality, its value was higher than that of a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, exceedingly precious. This was also one of the most valuable possessions he had, obtained at a great cost and always kept as a means of escape. At this time, he couldn¡¯t afford to fret over its value. To survive, he didn¡¯t hesitate to cast the Law Decree. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon the flash of Spiritual Light from the grey-white talisman paper, an invisible, colorless light entered his chest. Immediately afterward, he turned and continued his escape, his speed now significantly enhanced, almost more than double the previous rate. In just a few breaths, before the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion could react, Lu Hong had already escaped thousands of yards away, quickly disappearing into the dense forest. When the dust finally settled, the angry figure of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was revealed. It roared with fury in the direction of Lu Hong¡¯s escape, as if venting its dissatisfaction. Then, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion leapt into the air, chasing after Lu Hong. However, with Lu Hong¡¯s speed doubled and the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s delayed reaction, catching up to Lu Hong was not so easy anymore. ¡°` Chapter 470 470 272 Beast Approaching the City_1 ?Chapter 470: Chapter 272 Beast Approaching the City_1 Chapter 470: Chapter 272 Beast Approaching the City_1 Flameguard City. Within the cave dwelling of Lin Tianming, in a certain secret room, he sat cross-legged, his hands forming seals as he cultivated. Fine strands of spiritual energy entered from his slender palms, flowing through his meridians and ultimately converging into his Seven Sea Dantian. Just as he was immersed in his cultivation, three urgent, deep bell tolls rang out, clearly audible in every corner of Flameguard City. At this moment, a great number of cultivators poured out from their dwellings, rushing toward the city walls. Upon hearing the bell tolls, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help furrowing his brow, his previously calm face suddenly tensing. Having arrived at Flameguard City almost a month ago, he had been peacefully cultivating as if the threat of demonic beast attacks didn¡¯t exist. ... Yet this moment shattered the calm; the sudden tolling of the bells was a warning signal, with each toll representing the severity of the situation. When three tolls rang out urgently, it meant that Flameguard City faced an unprecedented threat. ¡°Alas¡­ it has still come!¡± Lin Tianming sighed involuntarily. At that time, a message entered the secret room. He swept his Divine Sense across the content and promptly got up and left the room. Outside the secret chamber, Qin Xi had emerged from seclusion a step earlier and was waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s appearance. The moment she saw him, Qin Xi¡¯s expression was grave, and she promptly asked, ¡°Lin, could it be that the demonic beasts are attacking Yuyao City?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming helplessly nodded. Joined with his combat-ready expression, Qin Xi¡¯s face darkened. ¡°The three urgent bell tolls probably mean the long-silent Demon Beast Army has mobilized!¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The situation is critical. Let¡¯s quickly head to the city walls to see for ourselves and meet up with Li and the others on the way.¡± Lin Tianming spoke briefly before immediately striding out, with Qin Xi closely following behind as they left the dwelling. Before long, the two arrived at the vast plaza beneath the city walls. Looking around, the plaza already teemed with numerous cultivators, most of whom possessed Qi Refining Cultivation. In several directions not far away, even more cultivators were gathering. On the higher city walls, it was equally crowded. Thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood atop, gazing into the distance, each one with a grim expression, exchanging speculations with the cultivators nearby about what was to come. On the plaza, Lin Tianming quickly located Li Xiuyuan and several others, including Tang Liusheng. He pulled Qin Xi with him as they leaped onto the city wall, landing steadily beside Li Xiuyuan and the group. ¡°Lin, you and your sister have finally arrived!¡± Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Li Xiuyuan greeted them with cupped fists, speaking while also acknowledging them with a nod. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi returned the gesture, and then Lin asked, ¡°Li, are the demonic beasts about to attack? What¡¯s the current situation?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s pressing questions, Li Xiuyuan let out a wry smile before responding, ¡°Lin, I don¡¯t know the specifics either. Presumably, no one present does.¡± ¡°However, let¡¯s not panic. If nothing unexpected occurs, our sect¡¯s Martial Uncle should soon appear to take charge and provide accurate information.¡± ¡°As for what we should do next, there will be instructions from above. We only need to patiently wait.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others nodded in agreement. The current situation was beyond their control. What to do and what decisions to make were for the Golden Core Cultivators to decide; they just had to follow orders. Just as everyone was momentarily lost in thought, a streak of light shot toward the city wall at an incredible speed, quickly attracting everyone¡¯s attention. As it drew closer, they could make out that it was unquestionably Wang Hengqiu, whom they had seen once before upon arrival at Flameguard City. At that time, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s complexion was pale and, even while flying at high speed, he was holding a cultivator drenched in blood. Due to the severity of the injured cultivator¡¯s wounds and his chaotic aura, his clothes were torn to shreds, and his face was obscured by clotted blood, leaving the majority unable to identify who it was or their status. Not until Wang Hengqiu approached within a hundred feet of the city wall did Li Xiuyuan recognize the insignia of the Zhenyang Sect on the tattered Daoist robe, and, judging by the faint aura of the blood-covered person, he seemed to know who it was. ¡°Lu Hong¡­ it¡¯s actually Lu Hong!¡± Li Xiuyuan muttered under his breath. Although his voice was low, those nearby heard it clearly. ¡°Judging by the aura, it is undoubtedly Senior Brother Lu!¡± In the crowd, another Zhenyang Sect Disciple confirmed the identity of the bloodied person, unable to help but exclaim. Soon, several disciples of the Zhenyang Sect on the city wall confirmed that the bloodied person was indeed their fellow sect member, Lu Hong. Having substantial cultivation, each Foundation Establishment Late Stage Disciple was a core force of the Zhenyang Sect. Even if they hadn¡¯t interacted much, they were all quite familiar with him, or at least had heard his name. At this moment, the cultivators who didn¡¯t know Lu Hong began inquiring about his identity from the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, and the wall was suddenly abuzz with speculation, as if they had forgotten about the alarm that had sounded. Lin Tianming and others were also greatly interested, and Li Xiuyuan didn¡¯t keep them in the dark, providing information about Lu Hong¡¯s condition. Before long, after learning about Lu Hong, Tang Liusheng and others were astonished at the seriousness of his injuries. If he managed to survive, his path of immortality would most likely end here, with little hope for further advancement. Chapter 471 471 272 Beast Approaching the City_2 ?Chapter 471: Chapter 272: Beast Approaching the City_2 Chapter 471: Chapter 272: Beast Approaching the City_2 Yet Lu Hong, with his Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment status, possessed such incredible strength that he was an absolute pinnacle presence, second only to Golden Core Cultivators. Even so, no one knew what had happened to Lu Hong for him to have sustained such grave injuries, and it was presumed that if it hadn¡¯t been for the rescue of a Golden Core Cultivator, his fate would surely have been sealed. As everyone was discussing fervently, an opening was made in the Defensive Great Formation, and Wang Hengqiu, holding the unconscious Lu Hong, landed on the city wall. With the arrival of the Golden Core Cultivator, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples quickly gathered around, surrounding Wang Hengqiu and his charge so tightly that not even water could seep through. Li Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming greeted them and moved closer to Wang Hengqiu and the others, leaving them standing there, uncertain of what to do next. Though Lin Tianming and his group did not approach, they were close enough to have a clear understanding of the exchanges between Wang Hengqiu and the others. At that time, with a pale face, Wang Hengqiu waved his hand to lift up the kneeling Zhenyang Sect Disciples and then glanced at some of the faces in the crowd. ... ¡°Long, nephew, quickly take Lu Hong down for treatment!¡± Upon hearing the command, Long Qingshui, who was not far in front of him, hurriedly stepped forward, picking up the unconscious Lu Hong, and then made his way past some fellow disciples toward the central Zhenyang Hall in the city. With Long Qingshui¡¯s departure, Wang Hengqiu finally let out a long sigh of relief, and a trace of color slowly returned to his pale face. ¡°Elder Wang, are you injured? What exactly happened?¡± In the midst of the crowd, a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level Zhenyang Sect Cultivator with a grim expression couldn¡¯t help but ask Wang Hengqiu. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded slightly and then began to explain. ¡°The Demon Beast Army has mobilized. Nephew Lu encountered the Monster Beast Legion while patrolling and was pursued by a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast. Had it not been for good fortune, encountering me as he fled for his life, he would have faced certain death.¡± After saying this, Wang Hengqiu no longer paid attention to the horrified looks on everyone¡¯s faces. He leaped up and hovered over the city wall, scanning the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators below, his voice authoritative and loud as it spread among them. ¡°The Demon Beast Army is on its way. All of you, whether you are disciples of our sect or Loose Cultivators, quickly prepare to meet the enemy!¡± As soon as his words fell, the complexions of all the Cultivators present drastically changed. Even though they had some inklings when the bells tolled, hearing it from a Golden Core Cultivator directly shattered any illusions of luck they still held onto. At this point, the faces of many Cultivators turned pale, and some Qi Refining Cultivators simply collapsed on the spot in the plaza, seemingly at a loss for what to do. However, the majority of Cultivators remained relatively calm. Under the direction of the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, they took out their weapons, forming groups of a hundred, and readied themselves for the impending assault of the Demon Beast Army. While everyone was busy, three figures flew over the heads of the Cultivators, heading towards Wang Hengqiu. From afar, Chen Jingtian¡¯s voice could already be heard. ¡°Brother Wang, what¡¯s the situation? How strong are the Demonic Beasts that have invaded this time?¡± ¡°Alas¡­¡± When Wang Hengqiu saw the newcomers, he sighed helplessly and then said, ¡°The specifics are not yet clear! When I was patrolling, I happened to encounter the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, chasing after Nephew Lu. I tried to intervene and managed to save him. Knowing I was no match, I had to leave first.¡± ¡°Fortunately, at that time, I only encountered that one beast or else even I would have perished under its claws!¡± ¡°However, due to this, the details of the Monster Beast Legion are unknown, but based on earlier assessments, we can expect that there will be at least five Third Order Demonic Beasts!¡± Hearing these words, Chen Jingtian¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, and his face involuntarily showed a grave expression. Previously, they had already clashed with the Demon Beast Army twice, and at that time, there were only four Third Order Demonic Beasts of varying strengths. Neither side had gained an advantage over the other. Now, after a month of silence from the Demonic Beasts and the core areas of the major mountain ranges housing a small number of Third Order Demonic Beasts, the Monster Beast Legion must have grown stronger over time. Just as the Human Race would marshal its forces, the Demonic Beasts were not to be outdone. It could be anticipated that this attack by the Demonic Beasts would exceed the number of Third Order Demonic Beasts from the first encounter and might even reach double digits. Given this, with only four Golden Core Cultivators present to face such a powerful Demon Beast Army, the pressure they were about to face was unimaginable. With these thoughts, Chen Jingtian felt extremely helpless and stared intently into the distance, lost in contemplation. Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Wang Hengqiu spoke up to remind him. ¡°Brother Chen, as the leader of all the cultivators of Yuyao City, quickly mobilize all the cultivators and prepare for the enemy!¡± Hearing the reminder, Chen Jingtian came back to his senses and nodded his head, then began to issue orders with his authoritative and resonant voice. ¡°Everyone, form teams according to the predetermined plan, with the help of the Defensive Great Formation, fight to the death against the incoming enemies!¡± His loud voice spread across the entire plaza and over the walls, his penetrating voice pulling the distracted cultivators back to reality. A group of Qi Refining Cultivators all looked up, gazing towards the sky at Chen Jingtian, who was standing with his hands behind his back. With several Golden Core Cultivators present, the cultivators in this moment seemed to have forgotten fear itself. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators began to move, forming into groups of a hundred, lining up spontaneously. In no time at all, nearly ten thousand people had formed into ranks. At the forefront of each team, there were three Zhenyang Sect Qi Refining Cultivators leading. On the vast plaza, hundreds of teams were neatly arrayed. Each person¡¯s face was filled with a deadly seriousness. Nearly ten thousand Qi Refining Cultivators gathered, all at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Such a grand lineup spontaneously burst forth an imposing aura that could make any Foundation Establishment Cultivator feel oppressed. On the city walls, Lin Tianming, Li Xiuyuan, and others stood shoulder to shoulder, with over forty Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered behind them, most of them at the fourth or fifth level of Foundation Establishment, with only a dozen or so at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. These were all Loose Cultivators recruited by Li Xiuyuan, who were now comrades of Lin Tianming and others, standing side by side in the upcoming slaughter. Although some were meeting for the first time, Li Xiuyuan had long introduced them to Lin Tianming¡¯s identity and strength. With his strength at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, coupled with the Lin Family¡¯s well-known reputation, when these people looked towards Lin Tianming, they all showed eyes filled with both envy and respect. At this moment, the Defensive Great Formation was fully operational. A pale golden light dome enveloped the entirety of Yuyao City, with everyone ready for action, focusing on the noises coming from afar. The scene was extremely calm at this moment, including Golden Core Cultivators like Chen Jingtian, all gazing into the distance, waiting for the Demon Beast Legion to appear. Time passed slowly, and the time it took to brew a cup of tea went by. Above the city walls, Chen Jingtian watched as a sandstorm slowly appeared on the horizon, his face immediately turning somewhat solemn. ¡°Brothers¡­ The Demon Beast Army is here!¡± As soon as his voice fell, expressions changed on the faces of Wang Hengqiu and others as they widened their eyes to look ahead. Sure enough, there appeared a vast sandstorm in the distance, with no visible end, making it impossible to determine its scale. As they observed, the speed of the sandstorm was incredibly fast. In just a few breaths, what was a thin grey line skimming the ground transformed into a wave tens of feet high, surging toward them. Feeling the wind speed picking up and carrying with it faint sounds, Zhu Yun, who had been silent until now, couldn¡¯t help but comment. ¡°It¡¯s definitely the Demon Beast Army, no doubt. The scale seems to have multiplied several times from before. It looks like we¡¯re in for a fierce battle indeed!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded and added his own words. ¡°My fellow brothers, let the formation first wear down the Demon Beasts¡¯ vitality. We¡¯ll then make arrangements based on the actual strength of the Beasts!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Everyone be careful!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded in response. ¡°Thump thump thump¡­¡± The sound grew louder, and the approaching storm increased in height as the Demon Beast Legion drew ever nearer to Yuyao City. At this time, the ground began to quake, and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the walls could also feel this strong disturbance. ¡°They¡¯re coming¡­ they¡¯re here!¡± With a grave expression, Li Xiuyuan watched the massive storm approach, unable to resist giving a warning. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan felt the disturbance at the same moment. He remained calm and then patted Qin Xi on the shoulder to alert her. Subsequently, some of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind them also detected the disturbance. Everyone wore an extremely solemn expression, as if facing a great enemy. Under such an atmosphere, the approaching storm was almost upon them. At that moment, a strong Gang Wind hit their faces but was blocked by the pale golden light dome, while the earth trembled under the trampling hooves of the Demon Beast Army. Chapter 472 472 273 Testing_1 ?Chapter 472: Chapter 273: Testing_1 Chapter 472: Chapter 273: Testing_1 How much time passed was unclear, but the noise significantly decreased, although the dust and smoke were too vast and dense to dissipate quickly. Even someone with the cultivation of Li Xiuyuan found it impossible to make out the specific conditions of the demonic beasts. However, Lin Tianming remained unaffected. He had already noticed the changes in Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression and had some guesses in his heart. Driven by curiosity, he had previously opened his Eye of Five Colors and intently watched every movement within the dust. Through the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, at this time, tens of thousands of demonic beasts had gathered, occupying a vast area with no end in sight. Besides, at the very forefront of the demon beast army, the auras of nine Third Order demonic beasts were incredibly strong and easily detectable. They stood side by side, each beast staring at the light barrier in front of them, as if assessing something. ... Among these fierce beasts, the leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was massive, with its hundred-yard-high body engulfed in flames, its powerful strength at the Late Stage of the Third Order on full display. Besides this single Third Order Late Stage demonic beast, the rest of the Third Order beasts were equally formidable, including two at the Medium Stage and six at the Early Stage. Just the terrifying strength of these nine Third Order beasts alone was enough to make a Foundation Establishment Cultivator tremble, with no thought of resistance. Apart from these Third Order beasts, the number of Second Order beasts was equally terrifying, conservatively estimated to be no less than three thousand, among which quite a few had auras no weaker than a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level Cultivator like Li Xiuyuan. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such a powerful demonic beast lineup, no wonder even a formidable being like Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t help but reveal a wary expression. Finally having calmed down slightly, he then turned his attention to the situation on the cultivators¡¯ side. At this time, aside from a few Golden Core Cultivators and himself, it was estimated that no one at the scene was aware of the shocking scene within the dust. ¡°Once the dust settles in a while, the expressions of the cultivators will definitely be quite amusing!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Qin Xi, who stood by Lin Tianming, noticed the change in his complexion and her beautiful eyes stared at the dust in front of them, showing a curious expression. ¡°Lin, have you discovered something? Why does your face suddenly look so awful?¡± Qin Xi communicated telepathically. Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but give a wry smile and then relayed what he saw through telepathic communication to Qin Xi. Mentioning just the situation with a few Third Order demonic beasts was enough to shock Qin Xi to the core, her face turning alternately pale and flushed. Originally, she thought that four or five Third Order demonic beasts would have been enough to trouble the Human Race on this side. According to what Lin Tianming said, there were a total of nine Third Order demonic beasts, including one powerful Late Stage creature, this scale of power completely beyond her expectations. Such shocking news left her stunned for a long time until Lin Tianming reminded her, and she came back to her senses. By this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression had gradually calmed, and the shock in his heart had also settled, because he knew that although the human cultivators seemed to be at an absolute disadvantage, they were not without the power to resist, protected by the Third Order Defense Array. After regaining his composure, he glanced over the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the city wall and found, as he had anticipated, each person¡¯s face was expressive, all showing different emotions, some calm, some fearful, and others full of fighting spirit. Thus, the crowd with their complex emotions and expressions continued to stare intently at the dust, awaiting the commands of the Golden Core Cultivators. After an indeterminable amount of time, Chen Jingtian in the sky made up his mind. He glanced at the Third Order Demon Beast Blazing Flame Celestial Lion on the opposite side and then shouted loudly, ¡°Immediately launch formation attacks, the rest wait for orders!¡± No sooner had his voice fallen than the originally pale golden defensive barrier suddenly burst into dazzling light, with a mighty aura breaking through the skies, causing the air within several miles outside Yuyao City to inexplicably tremble violently. At the same time, countless beams of light and fireballs erupted from the barrier, each as thick as a bucket and radiating terrifying heat, indiscriminately attacking everything within the dust. At this moment, everyone¡¯s eyes widened in shock as they sensed the terrifying beams and fireballs, each displaying an expression of disbelief. It was said that formations of the Third Order and above generally possessed offensive capabilities, but the power was unknown. This was also Lin Tianming¡¯s first time seeing a formation launch an active attack. The Protective Clan Formation of the Lin Family was merely a Second Order Superior with only defensive capabilities, lacking such overwhelming powers. Yet even so, the Family¡¯s formation was exceptionally strong in defense, helping the clan through many crises. Such an outstanding formation was extremely rare among Foundation Establishing Families, making many other families envious. And a Third Order Great Array was even rarer, only possessed by forces with thousands of years of heritage such as Zhenyang Sect, or those ancient family powers that could feature a small number of Third Order Great Arrays. Previously, the Wei Kingdom had always been peaceful, with few major conflicts arising between powerhouses, and since the forces with Third Order Formations were so few, such offensive capabilities were unseen without a war leading to the destruction of an entire family. In light of these circumstances, he was inwardly assessing the effects of this formation, wondering whether it could deal fatal damage to the Second Order demonic beasts. However, it was foreseeable that although the attack launched by this formation was not weak, its impact on the Third Order demonic beasts would surely be negligible. After all, demonic beasts were innately tough and exceptionally strong in defense; ordinary attacks either couldn¡¯t keep up with their speed and were easily dodged, or they lacked enough force to inflict fatal damage. Chapter 473 473 273 Testing_2 ?Chapter 473: Chapter 273: Testing_2 Chapter 473: Chapter 273: Testing_2 As he pondered, the Formation¡¯s attack arrived as expected. Within the dust and smoke, the Third Order Demon Beasts reacted first, with the leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion letting out an angry roar, seemingly issuing commands. As the roaring echoed across the land, the huge group of Demon Beasts behind the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion started to move, attempting to avoid the attacks of the light beams and fireballs. Atop the city walls, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, closely observing every move within the dust, unwilling to miss the slightest action. Under his watch, he saw those Third Order Demon Beasts effortlessly dodge the light beams and fireballs, navigating through them with ease. However, Third Order Demon Beasts could easily avoid them, even using their bodies to block some of the attacks. Those First Order Demon Beasts would die upon contact, while ordinary Second Order Demon Beasts, if struck directly, could be severely injured or even killed instantly. ... Only those Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts could withstand some attacks. However, being hit a few times was not significant, but if struck too many times, they could still be injured or even die. At this moment, as the more powerful Demon Beasts avoided the attacks, the weaker ones behind them were not so fortunate. As soon as they were hit by the light beams and fireballs, screams would immediately follow, and for a time, continuous cries of agony permeated outside Yuyao City, chilling even the Human Cultivators who heard them. Soon, the first round of attack ended and the dense dust dissipated significantly, revealing the outline of the entire Demon Beast Army. At a glance, the ground was littered with corpses of Demon Beasts, at least three thousand had fallen, and many Second Order Demon Beasts also met their doom under the Formation¡¯s barrage of light beams and fireballs. It was apparent that the first round of attack was effective; although the number of Second Order Demon Beasts killed was limited, the overall number was staggering. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the attacks continued for several more rounds, even a Demon Beast Army as large as this could not withstand such a loss. However, such a tactic was merely wishful thinking, for the Demon Beasts would not just stand still and be hit. The first round of attack was completely unexpected, but once the Demon Beasts were prepared, the effectiveness of the Formation¡¯s attack would be greatly reduced, and to expect to achieve the same result was unrealistic. Sure enough, while he was contemplating, the Formation¡¯s second round of attack had already been launched. The prepared Demon Beast Army was no longer in chaos. The leading Third Order Demon Beasts showed no sign of dodging; instead, they stood side by side at the forefront, using their mountain-like robust bodies to form a barrier, shielding the Demon Beasts behind them from the attacks. Clearly, their Spirit Wisdom was not low, and they understood that the effect of these attacks was almost negligible, so they ignored them, even shielding the ones behind them. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The explosive sounds continued, with the light beams and fireballs dissipating upon striking the bodies of the Third Order Demon Beasts, fading away into the world. To the Third Order Demon Beasts, these seemingly fearsome light beams and fireballs were indeed just a tickle. Within the dust, since the battle line of the Demon Beast group was too long, the bodies of the Third Order Demon Beasts could only block a small part of it. As a result, a large area was still exposed to the Formation¡¯s attacks, and in the second round, nearly a thousand Demon Beasts were killed by the light beams and fireballs. With the two rounds of attacks over, the original tens of thousands of Demon Beasts had directly lost a tenth of their power. By this time, the Demon Beasts had already moved away from the range of the Formation¡¯s light screen, being pushed back several miles. At this moment, the Demon Beast Army stopped advancing and made no further moves, with only a few Third Order Demon Beasts glaring at the Formation light screen and roaring furiously, looking rather enraged. In the sky above the city walls, Chen Jingtian¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his face showing no emotion, and no one knew what he was thinking. He surveyed the Demon Beast Army in front, then looked at the Formation¡¯s light screen where its power had obviously weakened, and instructed Wang Hengqiu beside him. ¡°Cease the Formation¡¯s attack for now. Launch the attack again if the Demon Beasts advance several miles closer; otherwise, don¡¯t waste the energy of the Formation!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded and responded. Wang Hengqiu agreed with Chen Jingtian¡¯s decision, understanding that the Formation¡¯s attacks also required energy consumption. If there were no energy limitations and attacks could be launched continuously, even Third Order Demon Beasts could be ignored, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to effectively attack Yuyao City. In that case, wouldn¡¯t it mean that as long as the city¡¯s defenders kept launching attacks without venturing out, Yuyao City would never fall? Clearly, that was unrealistic. Even a Third Order Formation was not invincible. Whether on defense or offense, the consumption of stored energy in the formation was significant. Once the stored energy was depleted, merely relying on High-Quality Spirit Stones would decrease its power and it wouldn¡¯t last long. Moreover, the number and overall strength of Human Cultivators were already inferior to the Demonic Beasts. Under the current circumstances, the Third Order Great Array was their reliance. With such constraints, they had to manage their energy consumption well, leveraging the formation¡¯s greatest power to inflict maximum damage, thereby lessening the losses of the Human Cultivators. With these thoughts in mind, Wang Hengqiu took out the token that controlled the Third Order Great Array and immediately shut down the formation¡¯s offensive capabilities. As the offensive force was cut off, the spiritual light on the formation¡¯s protective screen seemed to rise, strengthening its defensive capability. Such changes were noticed by all Cultivators, who felt relieved in their hearts. They were fortunate to have the Formation Protection¡ªif they had to engage in direct combat, the losses on the Human side would be unimaginable. At this moment, with the formation¡¯s attack halted, the Demon Beast Army retreated several miles. For a time, there was a brief calm as both sides sized each other up, also contemplating their next move. The silent time slowly passed, with only the scent of blood lingering in the air. It was as if to remind both sides that the glorious scene that had occurred was real and that it would continue to unfold. After half a quarter of an hour, with a deafening roar, the brief tranquility was once again shattered. Looking ahead, nine Third Order Demon Beasts took the lead in the attack. Among them, several Third Order Demon Beasts spat out orbs of various colors, along with some Second Order Demonic Beasts capable of long-range attacks, unleashing a variety of bizarre techniques, bombarding the formation¡¯s protective screen in front of them. At the same time, several Third Order Demon Beasts led a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts charging forward, striking the formation¡¯s screen with their thick and powerful bodies. The First Order Demon Beasts remained where they were, not moving an inch, seemingly not intending to join the attack. Clearly, the Spirit Wisdom of this Late Stage Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was high. Those First Order Demon Beasts were too weak and wouldn¡¯t be of much use under the formation¡¯s defense and offense. Advancing would have only meant a needless sacrifice. It was better to preserve these numerous First Order Demonic Beasts. If the Human Cultivators were to leave the formation later, they could then launch these creatures in an attack, potentially achieving a greater victory. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The various attacks of the Demon Beasts tore through the void, and those relying on their bodies impacted the formation¡¯s screen, erupting with earth-shaking noises. At that moment, the ground shook violently, and countless flashes of light from the explosions streaked across the screen. Lin Tianming stood on the city wall, his eyes fixed intently on the front, his heart lifted to his throat. This first round of attacks was critical. If the power of the Demon Beasts¡¯ attack was too strong and sustained, the formation might not hold on for long. In that case, holding their ground was not a long-term solution¡ªthey had to make a change, find a way to weather the crisis. There were many with similar thoughts, each one closely watching the intense reactions from the formation¡¯s screen. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The sounds of explosions continued incessantly, the screen pulsating with light that illuminated the entire sky. Under the attack of the Demon Beasts, the formation¡¯s screen trembled, and the air inside Yuyao City became chaotically turbulent. A few breaths of time passed, and the Demon Beasts¡¯ first round of attacks temporarily ceased. Seeing that the ground was no longer shaking and the formation was still smoothly operating, most people couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. However, Chen Jingtian and several Golden Core Cultivators, along with those with keen sight, including Lin Tianming, had more grave expressions. Chapter 474 474 274 The Great War Begins_1 ?Chapter 474: Chapter 274 The Great War Begins_1 Chapter 474: Chapter 274 The Great War Begins_1 The first round of attack had ended, and the formation appeared to have sustained minimal damage, but the keen-eyed could clearly sense a difference. It was evident that the energy flow in the formation had visibly slowed, and its defensive power had weakened. If the demonic beasts¡¯ attacks were not halted, and continued like this, I fear it wouldn¡¯t withstand much longer. At this moment, sensing these changes, Lin Tianming felt somewhat pessimistic. High above, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression was grave as he secretly communicated with Wang Hengqiu and a few others using his divine sense. Aside from the Golden Core cultivators, no one knew what they were thinking or planning. Meanwhile, the attack of the demonic beasts did not cease, led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, they relentlessly assailed the Defensive Great Formation. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± ... The booming noises continued, the bright lights in the sky never ceased, and the earth trembled along with them. Under the assault of the demon beasts, the formation¡¯s screen flickered with streaks of light, causing many to clench their hearts in distress, yet feeling helpless about the situation. At this time, Chen Jingtian and the few other Golden Core cultivators nodded to each other as if reaching some consensus. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Chen Jingtian glanced at the cultivators below the city wall and suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Everyone, heed my command!¡± This sudden voice pulled the multitude of cultivators, with their mixed feelings and scattered thoughts, back to reality. Each person looked up at Chen Jingtian in the sky, the fear on their faces temporarily dissipating as they waited for his orders. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded, and then his loud voice carried out, audible in every corner of the city. ¡°Fellow Daoists¡­ You have all seen the strength of the Demon Beast Army; I do not wish to conceal the truth from you!¡± ¡°To be frank, the situation for us human cultivators is still dire, the Defensive Array can only hold off for a short while, if no measures are taken, in at most ten days¡¯ time, the formation will likely fail! Hearing this, many were inwardly shocked, but they did not dare reveal it, so as to not add more pressure to the cultivators¡¯ side. Lin Tianming, quite calm, found Chen Jingtian¡¯s assessment similar to his own analysis, making it easier to accept. Regaining his focus, he patted Qin Xi¡¯s shoulder in a comforting manner and continued listening to what Chen Jingtian had to say next. Chen Jingtian said, ¡°That¡¯s the situation, though the circumstance is disadvantageous for us, there¡¯s no need for excessive worry!¡± ¡°I disclose this only to inform everyone of the actual situation, so you can prepare yourselves to fight with all your might. ¡°After all, we are all in the same boat. At the brink of desperation, we must have the courage to sink our boats and fight bravely to repel the formidable enemies. As for the promises of my sect, they will absolutely be fulfilled, and you can rest assured.¡± As soon as these words fell, many cultivators, moved by Chen Jingtian¡¯s impassioned speech, began to respond. ¡°Chen, rest assured, since we younger generations have answered the summons of your esteemed sect, we have already made preparations for the possibility of falling¡­¡± ¡°Yes¡­ the demonic beast assault is a great concern to all human cultivators. From any perspective, retreat is not an option¡­¡± ¡°Right¡­ As cultivators, we do not fear death. Since there is no retreat, we can only fight with everything we have¡­¡± Firm voices rang out across the area, and under their influence, the morale of the entire human cultivators surged dramatically. Hearing these stirring words, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained calm, though he admired the attitude of these people, he did not truly believe them. For Golden Core cultivators, no matter how dire the situation, they could just avoid the sharp edge for the time being and if they truly could not hold back, they were completely able to leave these external cultivators behind with ease. It would be tragic for those of lower strength, who would find it nearly impossible to escape the demonic beasts¡¯ attacks and ultimately fall here. Lin Tianming thought to himself, his expression still calm without making any declarations. High above, seeing that the cultivators were emboldened by his speech, Chen Jingtian was quite satisfied, and a hint of color passed over his solemn face. ¡°Fellow Daoists, since everyone is so confident, then neither I nor the disciples of my sect will fall behind you!¡± ¡°After discussing with several brother cultivators, we have decided to take the initiative to strike, first to probe the depth of the Demon Beast Army and weaken their strength as well. ¡°If our losses are too great, we will fall back and recuperate for a few days before making further plans. If we hold a decisive advantage, we will seek to expand our victory and strive to crush them! ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± Upon saying these four words, Chen Jingtian¡¯s voice rose even further, inciting the cultivators, who had been riled up by his speech, to even greater fervor. Immediately after, the Token in Wang Hengqiu¡¯s hand shone brightly, and a gap suddenly opened in the Formation¡¯s screen, with the obstructed dust and debris pouring in. Chen Jingtian took the lead, passing straight through the gap in the Defensive Array, closely followed by Wang Hengqiu and others. ¡°Fellow Daoists, it¡¯s time for us to move!¡± Li Xiuyuan called out to Lin Tianming and his teammates, then followed the steps of the Golden Core cultivators, crossing through the gap in the formation. At that moment, led by the Golden Core cultivators, several thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators began to step forward, followed by nearly ten thousand Qi Refining cultivators, all of them pouring towards the perimeter protected by the Formation. Soon, all of the human cultivators had exited the formation, gathering on an open field outside the city. At this time, the forces of both humans and demons had assembled here, facing off across a vast plain. On the human cultivators¡¯ side, the immense power comprised of four Golden Core cultivators at the forefront, more than two thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators, and nearly ten thousand Qi Refining Cultivators. Chapter 475 475 274 Great War Begins_2 ?Chapter 475: Chapter 274 Great War Begins_2 Chapter 475: Chapter 274 Great War Begins_2 Even though thousands of Demonic Beasts had fallen to the Formation, the remaining force was clearly more superior, consisting of nine Third Order Demon Beasts, several thousand Second Order Demonic Beasts, and over forty thousand First Order Demon Beasts. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a massive force, in both number and quality, clearly demonstrated that the Demon Beasts¡¯ overall strength was stronger than that of the Cultivators present. At this moment, the two sides looked at each other. Even though the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was angry, it did not rashly launch an attack, seemingly wary of any tricks the Human Race might play. This cautious behavior was, after all, normal, since a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast possessed Spirit Wisdom not inferior to humans. Seeing the Human Cultivators walking out from the Formation, it wasn¡¯t a three-year-old child, so naturally, it dared not take risks lightly. As a result, neither side took the initiative to attack, and the situation momentarily entered a deadlock, the atmosphere turning somewhat eerie. The Human side, of course, was pleased to see such a stalemate. ... Chen Jingtian was very cautious. If the Demonic Beasts did not launch an attack, the Human side also would not act recklessly. The standoff continued for a short while, with neither side able to advance or retreat. Seeing the Human Cultivators making no moves and showing no intention of attacking, it seemed that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was growing impatient. After all, they were Demonic Beasts, inherently irritable, perhaps a flaw in the nature of Demon Beasts. It growled lowly at the few Third Order Demon Beasts nearby, seemingly discussing tactics. As time quickly passed, the Third Order Demon Beasts growled at each other and then simultaneously turned their heads to stare at Chen Jingtian and his companions, their eyes filled with a fighting spirit. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian and his companions were taken aback, their eyes filled with wariness, seemingly understanding that the Demon Beasts were about to attack. As expected, unable to contain its impatience, the Third Order Demon Beast launched an attack with the angry roar of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. At that moment, the Third Order Demon Beasts charged at Chen Jingtian and his companions, but they were cautious, their advance was limited and they did not directly rush into the Formation¡¯s attack range. Clearly, the Third Order Demon Beasts did not want to give the Human Cultivators the geographical advantage, and only moved forward a small step. With the battle horn sounding, the vast Demon Beast Tribe surged forward toward the Human Cultivators like endless waves. The sight of thousands of beasts stampeding was an overwhelming and awe-inspiring spectacle. Upon seeing this, everyone¡¯s faces turned incredibly grim, waiting for the Golden Core Cultivators to give orders. At the very front of the Cultivators, with the Demon Beasts initiating the attack, Chen Jingtian and the others refused to fall behind. After issuing the attack command, Chen Jingtian leaped forward as four Golden Core Cultivators joined forces to advance, clashing with the nine Third Order Demonic Beasts high in the sky. Immediately following, the tens of thousands of Cultivators behind them all stepped forward, each activating various techniques, engaging in a fierce battle with the oncoming Demon Beast Army. Just outside Yuyao City, scenes of battle were everywhere, with Third Order Demon Beasts and Golden Core Cultivators fighting in the highest skies, and Second Order Demonic Beasts occupying the vast southern region with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Meanwhile, the remaining Qi Refining Cultivators and First Order Demon Beasts occupied the largest territories, in the western and northern directions, all filled with the figures of these Cultivators and Demonic Beasts. Both sides seemed to agree tacitly; every group had a clear target and did not often see Second Order Demon Beasts running into First Order Demon Beast¡¯s fighting locations. It was clear that both sides understood that High Order Cultivators going to the battle sites of Low Order Cultivators could achieve greater victories, but the Demon Beast side would not allow Cultivators to slaughter Low Order Demon Beasts at will. If the Human Cultivators acted recklessly, the Demon Beasts would similarly deploy Second Order Demonic Beasts to the Qi Refining Cultivators¡¯ battleground to slaughter Cultivators. Thus, unless one side gained an overwhelming advantage, it would be unlikely to witness such a reckless scene. The spectacle was truly magnificent, with three groups fighting among each other, trying not to affect other areas as much as possible. Even with both sides exercising restraint, whether it was Human Cultivators or the Demonic Beasts, a large number of lives were still being lost. However, across the entire battlefield, once the battle commenced, the key to victory lay with the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Qi Refining Cultivators lacked the strength to influence the final outcome. In the high sky, Chen Jingtian and several others joined forces against the enemy. Unbeknownst to them, two Third Order Demonic Beasts appeared within the cultivators¡¯ field of vision. Looking out, both were at the early stage of the Third Order, fighting together against the three demonic beasts they faced. Many cultivators were puzzled, but as the fight went on, they realized that these two suddenly appearing Third Order Demonic Beasts were Spirit Beasts raised by the Zhenyang Sect. That the Zhenyang Sect possessed Third Order Spiritual Beasts was no secret; at the very least, powers with a legacy spanning over a thousand years knew something of it. Seeing this development, many cultivators couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh of relief. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect had come prepared, and not only had they deployed four Golden Core Cultivators, but they also brought Third Order Spiritual Beasts with Chen Jingtian to Yuyao City. With the addition of these two Third Order Demonic Beasts, the top fighting strength of the Human Cultivators increased significantly, with four Golden Core Cultivators and two Third Order Demonic Beasts, at least not much weaker than the opposing Third Order demonic beasts. No wonder Chen Jingtian, facing nine Third Order Demonic Beasts, still had plans to take initiative in the attack; it turns out he had some assurances. ¡­ The Southern Battlefield occupied by Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Second Order Demonic Beasts. In the southernmost corner, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi closely followed Li Xiuyuan, fifty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and nearly a hundred Second Order Demon Beasts were locked in battle. Near them, there were other Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, almost all part of varying-sized groups, each battling against their own demon beast tribes. In their combat area, Li Xiuyuan, as the leader and the strongest among them, took on three Second Order Late Stage beasts by himself without falling into a disadvantage. Besides Li Xiuyuan, Hu Yuan and a few other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also key figures on whom Lin Tianming focused. Hu Yuan and Liu Zhenshan were among the top-tier in terms of strength within their team, each dealing with varying numbers of Second Order Late-Stage beasts. Apart from Hu Yuan who had the upper hand, the situation for the others was also favorable; they wouldn¡¯t be defeated so easily in a short time. However, some cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment within the team were not faring well. With their limited strength, they faced attacks from two or more Second Order Demon Beasts. Some cultivators were getting injured, and a few had even fallen. Powerless, Lin Tianming helped when he could, but if someone was too far to reach in time, he could only stand by and witness their demise. In one corner, Lin Tianming was entangled in a fight with a demon beast. He was not far from Qin Xi, who was fiercely battling three Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts. Given that Qin Xi¡¯s strength was only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, she seemed rather frail on this battlefield littered with Second Order Middle Stage beasts. As a result, Lin Tianming frequently swung his Tiangang Sword, simultaneously handling three Second Order Middle Stage beasts and reducing the pressure on Qin Xi. Facing the three Middle Stage beasts, Lin Tianming was quite at ease. However, despite his strength, it wouldn¡¯t take him long to kill them if he really fought desperately. Still, he deliberately kept a low profile, not revealing too much of his power, just holding off several Second Order Middle Stage beasts and having a slight advantage. Even so, the strength he displayed still astonished his teammates. Li Xiuyuan was not surprised by this; he had interacted with Lin Tianming plenty, and the occasional hint of aura that Lin Tianming let slip made his heart race. As such, with Lin Tianming¡¯s strength at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, along with his numerous treasures and methods, he could truly fight, and even the common Second Order Late Stage Demon Beast might not be his match. Knowing this, Li Xiuyuan began to fight more freely, engaging fiercely with his opponents. Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t be outdone either; he suppressed the three beasts he faced, waiting for the right moment to end their lives, then to assist Qin Xi. Chapter 476 476 275 Testing the Knife_1 ?Chapter 476: Chapter 275 Testing the Knife_1 Chapter 476: Chapter 275 Testing the Knife_1 At the corner edge. Lin Tianming was engaged in a fierce battle with three Gale Rats, both sides exchanging blows. Relying on their speed, the rats managed to evade his attacks each time. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t get irritated but progressively increased the force of his attacks. At that moment, his Tiangang Sword burst with surges of red light, each beam stacking upon the previous one, rapidly accumulating five beams in a short span of time. Following his breakthrough in cultivation, he could stack six sword Qi, but to deal with these three Gale Rats, he didn¡¯t need to go all out. Moreover, he didn¡¯t use the Earth Fiend Sword Formation or Thousand Beast Banner, merely relying on the Tiangang Sword to contend with three Second Order Middle Stage Gale Rats. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword!¡± ... With a roar of rage, the Tiangang Sword shot out with five beams of sword Qi, slashing towards the oncoming trio of Gale Rats. Perceiving the terrifying flying sword and the immense sword Qi on it, they knew a direct hit would result, if not in death, then at least grave injury. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the Tiangang Sword drew closer, the three Gale Rats became panicked and scrambled away in different directions in fright. The three rats twisted their bodies, their nimble forms instantly covering more than thirty feet. Famous in the Cultivation World for their speed, though not particularly remarkable among Second Order Demonic Beasts in attack power, they were definitely renowned for their speed and defensive capabilities. As the dreadful Tiangang Sword approached, under this threat, the three Gale Rats managed to increase their speed once more. Eventually, before the Tiangang Sword Qi could reach, all three Gale Rats miraculously dodged the lethal attack. But before they could stabilize their forms, Lin Tianming had already stepped forward to follow up, his piercing gaze locking onto one of the Gale Rats. At this moment, Lin Tianming swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand once more, unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, charging toward the focused Gale Rat. That previous strike had been dodged, which took Lin Tianming by surprise; he had thought that exerting sixty percent of his strength would be enough to eliminate a Second Order Demonic Beast with minimal effort. However, he had underestimated the speed of the Gale Rats, and continuing the same level of attack would make killing them a considerable challenge. Thus, Lin Tianming increased his speed and power in his attacks, using almost eighty percent of his strength. ¡°Squeak, squeak¡­¡± Following a shriek, one Gale Rat was too slow to dodge and got hit in the back by the enhanced Tiangang Sword Qi, blowing a bloody hole through it. Crimson blood gushed out, presenting a ghastly sight. The seriously wounded Gale Rat collapsed to the ground, trying desperately to struggle to its feet, but the severity of its injuries meant it could only howl in agony and writhed in pain. Seeing their companion severely wounded and utterly devoid of combat strength, the other two Gale Rats felt a mix of rage and helplessness. They had been on the defensive from the start, constantly being suppressed by Lin Tianming, and now with their companion on the brink of death, they could offer no assistance. With this, their situation became even more dire; whether they could survive was a big test. At this time, the two Gale Rats glared fiercely at Lin Tianming, their eyes full of fear and apprehension. Seeing the expression of the two Gale Rats, Lin Tianming snorted coldly. Now in control, he wouldn¡¯t give them any chance to catch their breath. He swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, cutting through the air with numerous Tiangang Sword Qi, blocking the Gale Rats¡¯ escape routes. Simultaneously, he leapt forward towards the remaining two Gale Rats, his agile figure as fast as lightning. In their desperation, the two Gale Rats exchanged glances before turning their heads to spit a dark brown earth ball toward Lin Tianming. At first glance, the earth ball looked ordinary, about the size of a head, and no different from a regular clod. However, under the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, one could see that the earth ball contained astounding energy within. If a common Foundation Establishment Cultivator failed to notice it and got hit, they would undoubtedly be injured, perhaps even facing death. Seeing this, presumably a Gale Rat¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, cleverly disguised to conceal its true nature, Lin Tianming did not dare to take it lightly; after all, what a Second Order Demonic Beast spat out couldn¡¯t possibly be common. But the Gale Rats¡¯ attack power was not strong, and he himself practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, possessing formidable defensive capabilities and vitals, plus he had discovered the plot of the Gale Rats in advance. Under such circumstances, there was obviously no way for them to inflict a heavy blow on him. As the earth ball drew nearer, Lin Tianming calmly took out the Green Scale Shield and infused it with a large amount of Spiritual Power. The Green Scale Shield shone brightly with Spiritual Light and transformed into a massive barrier, thoroughly shielding his body. ¡°Bang, bang¡­¡± After two loud impacts, the earth ball spat by the Gale Rats was blocked by the Green Scale Shield. The enormous impact force only paused Lin Tianming¡¯s advance momentarily before he continued his pursuit of the Gale Rats. Seeing that Lin Tianming had easily blocked their attack, the Gale Rats became even more panic-stricken, immediately beginning to flee. Regrettably for them, Lin Tianming had already locked onto them and had preemptively unleashed a vast amount of Sword Qi to firmly block their path. In an instant, Lin Tianming was less than thirty feet from the Gale Rats, and his Tiangang Sword was almost upon one of the fleeing creatures. In a moment of despair, that Gale Rat turned around, opened its massive jaws, and launched a desperate final strike. ¡°Pff¡­¡± Chapter 477 477 275 Trial of the Novices_2 ?Chapter 477: Chapter 275 Trial of the Novices_2 Chapter 477: Chapter 275 Trial of the Novices_2 The light on the Tiangang Sword surged brilliantly, and a terrifying Sword Qi shot out from the tip of the blade, piercing straight through the gaping maw. At the same time, Lin Tianming immediately halted his movement, so as not to charge into the gaping maw of the Gale Rat. Stabilizing his stance, he heard a scream followed by a crisp sound¡ªthe noise of the Gale Rat¡¯s body falling to the ground. Looking over, the body of the Gale Rat laid on the ground, stirring up clouds of dust. It struggled in agony for a moment before breathing its last. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was filled with joy. With this Gale Rat dead and another critically injured, the remaining rat was hardly worth mentioning. Just then, as the last Gale Rat was trying to flee, it heard its companion¡¯s scream. ... It involuntarily turned its head to look and, seeing the plight of its companion, knew that it was no match for Lin Tianming. Staying here would surely result in death at his hands. Thus, the surviving Gale Rat lost all fighting spirit and immediately spun around to flee for its life without looking back. Seeing the Gale Rat flee, Lin Tianming smiled indifferently and immediately began to pursue it. The Gale Rat was fast, but Lin Tianming, when chasing with all his might, was a bit faster. As the distance between them closed, and with the obstruction of Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Qi, the Gale Rat was utterly overwhelmed. Lin Tianming firmly locked onto the remaining rat, giving it no chance whatsoever. By now, the last Gale Rat was at a dead end with no chance of escape. In an instant, Lin Tianming closed to within less than fifty yards of the Gale Rat¡ªa distance he could cover in a blink of an eye. With a leap, he increased his speed by a notch, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand was already flying out. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, Annihilate!¡± The Tiangang Sword shot forward, its terrifying Sword Qi swirling around it, moving several times faster than any flying speed. In the blink of an eye, the Sword Qi appeared directly above the head of the Gale Rat, ready to strike down at any moment. Sensing the threat of the Sword Qi, the Gale Rat panicked, attempting to flee. Lin Tianming gave it no opportunity. In desperation, the Gale Rat spat out another earth ball, trying to shatter the oncoming Tiangang Sword¡ªit had no other choice but to wait for death otherwise. In this do-or-die moment, the earth ball was much larger than any before, clearly showing that the Gale Rat was making its last stand. If it could break the Tiangang Sword, it might survive a little longer; otherwise, it would perish under the sword. However, how could it possibly match Lin Tianming. Even three Gale Rats together couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand, much less a solitary one making a desperate final gamble¡ªit was nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot. At this moment, time seemed to stretch out, yet also pass in an instant. In no time, the Tiangang Sword descended vertically, colliding with the earth ball spat out by the Gale Rat. A loud explosion sounded, and the Tiangang Sword paused for only an instant, consuming a fraction of its power before piercing straight through the earth ball and continuing its descent toward the Gale Rat. Seeing this, the Gale Rat was utterly stunned, as if it had even forgotten to flee. In reality, it wasn¡¯t that it didn¡¯t want to escape; rather, there was simply no time. Although the Tiangang Sword¡¯s power and speed were somewhat reduced due to being momentarily obstructed, the two were far too close to each other; even with its speed, the Gale Rat couldn¡¯t dodge at such a short distance. In this dire moment, with no escape to heaven or earth, the Gale Rat could only twist its agile body, try to dodge its vital points, and delay the inevitable as much as possible. ¡°Pfff¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword struck the back of the Gale Rat, its formidable Sword Qi instantly slicing off a large chunk of flesh from its hindquarters. The Gale Rat screamed in pain as its three-yard-long body heavily crashed into the ground, leaving a deep pit in the hard earth. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After several agonized howls and struggles, it managed to climb up with great effort. The Gale Rat that had struggled to stand, with its breath utterly chaotic and its body trembling, showed it was grievously wounded, completely incapable of mounting any further attacks. Despite its grave injuries, the Gale Rat still fixated on Lin Tianming, growling lowly as if venting its emotions. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh and then stepped forward, intent on putting an end to the Gale Rat¡¯s life. Watching Lin Tianming move slowly, like the Grim Reaper, each step he took struck at the heart of the Gale Rat, pressing on its nerves. Even though it was unwilling and filled with despair, the Gale Rat was powerless to change the outcome. Under its desperate gaze, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword pierced directly through the Gale Rat¡¯s head. As the body of the Gale Rat fell, blood spilled onto the ground, quickly pooling into a puddle, signaling the end of the battle. Seeing that this Gale Rat no longer struggled, Lin Tianming then turned around, focusing his attention on the first severely wounded Gale Rat. At this time, that Gale Rat was still struggling, trying hard to stand up. However, its injuries were too severe, half of its body had been cleanly severed by the Tiangang Sword, and blood kept gushing from the wound, thoroughly drenching its surroundings in red. Seeing Lin Tianming approach, it struggled violently, its eyes full of terror. Lin Tianming remained unmoved, taking steps forward, then swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand, chopping down at the now defenseless Gale Rat. Mercy towards enemies is irresponsibility towards oneself. Having experienced many life-and-death situations, how could Lin Tianming not understand this principle. His actions were incredibly decisive; his strokes were quick, accurate, and ruthless, the sword light from his Tiangang Sword flashing. The Gale Rat felt no pain as its massive head fell clean off, thumping to the ground with a muffled sound, presenting a shocking image in death. With the three Gale Rats dead, Lin Tianming finally diverted his attention to observe the battle status of his teammates. Looking around, aside from himself, who had finished the battle first, the others were still engaged in fierce combat. However, some Cultivators in the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment had gained a definite advantage, victory being just a matter of time. Yet, the outcome for their team hinged on the battle involving Li Xiuyuan and a few other Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators. As long as the Demonic Beasts they were fighting hadn¡¯t lost their fighting ability, the combat wouldn¡¯t cease. At this time, the three Second Order Demonic Beasts battling Li Xiuyuan were at a disadvantage, with one seriously injured and at less than half strength. The other two also bore many wounds, remaining on the defensive under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s relentless attacks, constantly in a passive situation. Hu Yuan was likewise gaining the upper hand; the three Demonic Beasts he was fighting were all injured. Without any accidents, he should be able to win. As for Tang Liusheng and He Qiancheng, their situations were similar. Facing uneven numbers of Demonic Beast assaults, their chances of victory were slim, but their lives were not at risk. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not interfere, nor did he have any intention of stepping in to help. He turned and headed towards Qin Xi not far away, not even taking the time to deal with the corpses of the three Gale Rats. At this moment, there was no time to clean up the battlefield; after all, the Demonic Beasts were dead, the corpses couldn¡¯t run away, and no one would dare humiliate his achievements or do something as despicable as to steal them. In such circumstances, he had nothing else to consider and planned to first help Qin Xi finish her battle, then assist some of the other Cultivators who were at a disadvantage. As he arrived, Qin Xi was in the midst of an intense battle with three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts. Expecting Qin Xi to be struggling, he was surprised to find that she, too, was not to be underestimated, gaining the absolute upper hand amidst the encirclement of three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts. The three beasts attacking her were formidable, with two at their peak and not far from mid-Second Order. Such strength, among the beasts of the Second Order Initial Stage, was considered exceptional. Even so, Qin Xi still maintained the advantage, which made Lin Tianming take another look at her prowess. With Lin Tianming joining the fray, Qin Xi did not reject his assistance. With the two working together, backed by Lin Tianming¡¯s terrifying power, the three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts had no chance of escape and couldn¡¯t inflict any real damage on them. At this moment, Lin Tianming weaved through the three Demonic Beasts, frequently swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand. Under the dreadful Sword Qi, none could withstand a single exchange. Chapter 478 478 276 Admirable Strength_1 ?Chapter 478: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_1 Chapter 478: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_1 Under Lin Tianming¡¯s lead attack and Qin Xi¡¯s interference, the two had no trouble eliminating all three demonic beasts. After the battle ended, they temporarily regrouped. At this time, Lin Tianming, with a calm expression, asked about Qin Xi¡¯s condition. Qin Xi laughed and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve used up most of my spiritual power, but thankfully, I¡¯m uninjured, which is a stroke of luck.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and sighed in relief. He then looked around at his nearby teammates and decided on their next target. Not far from them on another battlefield, several Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivators were being suppressed by two Second Order demonic beasts and were retreating in a very problematic situation. ... Elsewhere, Tang Liusheng was being attacked by three Second Order demonic beasts and was in an extremely bad situation, barely holding off their attacks and unable to launch any effective counterattacks. If this continued, it wouldn¡¯t be long before these teammates would be defeated and even lose their lives. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instructed Qin Xi, who was by his side, to go help some of the weaker cultivators while he rushed over to Tang Liusheng nearby. Soon, both joined their teammates in battle. Seeing Lin Tianming coming to help, Tang Liusheng¡¯s expression brightened, and he silently breathed a sigh of relief. Before this, he had been attacked by three Second Order demonic beasts, including two from the Second Order Late Phase. Being at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, he could barely hold off the two Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts, but it was difficult to win relying on his own strength. However, his opponents weren¡¯t just two Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts; there was also a Medium Stage beast assisting them. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Already at a disadvantage, he found it even more challenging. After dozens of rounds of fighting, he had drained a lot of his spiritual power and had also accumulated some injuries, putting him at a significant disadvantage. Now with Lin Tianming joining, his pressure was greatly reduced, and the situation began to turn around. At that moment, Lin Tianming joined the fray with thunderous might, planning to first deal with the Second Order Middle Stage demon beast. Under his formidable strength, this Second Order Middle Stage demon beast, weaker than the previous Gale Rats, was no match for Lin Tianming. He didn¡¯t need to exert much effort before he successfully killed the Second Order Middle Stage demon beast, then regrouped with Tang Liusheng. Side by side, they faced the two Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts, and the atmosphere was tense. Then, Tang Liusheng, with a sincere look, thanked Lin, saying, ¡°Thank you, Daoist Lin, for your generous help. Otherwise, I would have been injured, or even perished here.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and appeared quite nonchalant. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re too courteous, Daoist Tang. We¡¯re all human cultivators and teammates. It¡¯s only right to do what one can to help.¡± ¡°Daoist Lin understands the greater good, but now is not the time to delay. Let¡¯s join forces to kill these two beasts first. As long as we survive, my Tang Family and I will surely repay you handsomely,¡± Tang Liusheng responded with a smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take down these two beasts first,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a hearty laugh, and then he took the lead in attacking the two demonic beasts. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s decisive action, admiration filled Tang Liusheng¡¯s eyes, and he promptly followed suit. The two of them made their moves, each choosing a demonic beast to fight against. At that moment, a series of loud noises erupted on the field, and a great deal of Sword Qi filled the sky. With their combined mighty strength, they easily turned the tables. Under Tang Liusheng¡¯s watchful eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword slashed out time and time again, and the terrifying Sword Qi forced the demonic beast he was fighting to retreat frequently. Even though Tang Liusheng had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength before, being so close this time, he realized that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was definitely not inferior to his own. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about that; the strength he unleashed now was almost the same as when he had killed the Gale Rats. Facing this late-stage demonic beast, he had a slight edge. As time passed, Tang Liusheng was not to be delayed. Facing a demonic beast alone, he had no reservations and his attacks became increasingly fierce, seemingly venting the anger from being previously surrounded. A short time later, Lin Tianming and his partner had successfully dealt with their opponents. With the two demonic beasts dead, the duo then turned to concern themselves with the grand battle of their comrades. Looking around, at this moment, many demonic beasts lay slain, their battlefield littered with corpses. Pools of crimson blood had formed, belonging both to demonic beasts and human cultivators. Of the nearly hundred Second Order demonic beasts that initially entered the battle, less than half were still alive, and many were injured, with their strength greatly compromised. Their team of fifty cultivators had also sustained some losses, with a total of eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators perishing here, including two from the Foundation Building Fourth Level, who were individuals with family backgrounds. The rest of the fallen were Loose Cultivators with cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer or Third Layer. Fortunately, there were no casualties among the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, and the loss of a few Initial and Medium Stage cultivators didn¡¯t greatly impact the overall strength of the team. At this time, Lin Tianming looked calm as he gazed at the bodies of the fallen, with a hint of sorrow in his eyes. Chapter 479 479 276 Admirable Strength_2 ?Chapter 479: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_2 Chapter 479: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_2 Although the fallen cultivators had no ties with him, nor were they acquaintances, the stark contrast between them being alive just moments ago and their demise now was still hard for him to accept. However, upon further reflection, in the face of such a massive beast tide attack, casualties were only too normal. And since he did not possess the power to do everything and save everyone, not to mention that these losses were not substantial, there was no need for him to dwell on it. As such, there was no need for him to overthink things, it was enough to do his best, and as for the outcome, he could only leave it to fate. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes regained their brightness. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Tang Liusheng exchanged a glance and immediately headed towards the location of Li Xiuyuan and others. At this point, their team¡¯s morale was soaring, each person ready to take down the remaining demonic beasts. ... With cultivators freed up to join the battle, under the ferocious onslaught, the remaining few demonic beasts began to crumble. The intense battle reignited, and with the addition of Lin Tianming and other cultivators who were now free to fight, the situation swiftly tipped in one direction. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The surviving Second Order demonic beasts attempted to regroup, yet Li Xiuyuan and other Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivators gave them no chance. They were well aware that these Late-Stage demonic beasts were the key to victory, especially now that their fellow team members had gained an absolute upper hand. Whether it was to compete for the entry spots to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, for rewards, or to avenge their fallen comrades, with such a favorable opportunity to kill these demonic beasts, they could not pass up the chance. Only with the death of these Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts would come the true victory. Knowing this, Li Xiuyuan and the others unleashed an even stronger fighting force, tenaciously entangling the Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts, offering them not the slightest chance to breathe. And Lin Tianming and his peers went all out, coordinating both from the inside and out, trapping and attacking each demonic beast with cultivators of superior strength. Lin Tianming had now joined Li Xiuyuan¡¯s combat group; both were very strong. Li Xiuyuan, facing the combined attack of three Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts, was already at a slight advantage. With Lin Tianming¡¯s participation, distracting one beast, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s pressure significantly decreased, allowing him to attack without any restrictions ¡ª truly a case of adding wings to a tiger. Although it was the first time the two cooperated against an enemy, they worked in perfect harmony. Suddenly, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s golden spirit ruler gleamed and a terrifying blade of energy shot forth, slashing towards the two opposite beasts. Watching the energy blade fly, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s face was full of excitement and his eyes shone with confidence. The spirit ruler he was using now was his strongest magic artifact, of exceptionally high quality, and a rare fine piece among the Second Order Superior magic artifacts. For this spirit ruler alone, he had expended a great cost, using numerous whole artifact refining materials and having an Third Order Artifact Refining Master from the Zhenyang Sect refine it for him. Fortunately, as a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect and serving as an Executive Officer in the Qianchuan Market with a fair amount of gray income, his wealth was naturally considerable. An ordinary cultivator¡¯s wealth could hardly bear the cost of this spirit ruler. Under his gaze, the energy blade moved at great speed; the two beasts, sensing the threat of death, tried to flee in panic. Li Xiuyuan let out a cold snort, immediately formed a single-handed seal, and two Second Order High-Grade Attack Talismans flew from his hands, transforming into two streaks of sword qi to block the escape path of the beasts. At that moment, the demonic beasts, throwing caution to the wind, charged forward. They spat out a large volume of spirit groups colliding with the sword qi, then tried to twist their bodies to dodge the energy blade attack. Unfortunately, the speed of the energy blade was extremely fast, much quicker than their escape, and given the large size of their bodies, made them too big of a target. In an instant, at such terrifying speed, they simply could not dodge in time. ¡°Roar¡­¡± A wretched scream sounded. The beast struck by the energy blade lay on the ground wailing, its huge body convulsing violently. Looking closely, the wound on the beast was severe; a horrific wound at its belly, with crimson blood ceaselessly seeping out, revealing some internal organs, the sight horrendously pitiful. It lay there on the ground, struggling with an extremely ferocious expression, trying a few times in succession. Alas, the injury was too serious for it to stand and continue the fight. At this point, the beast fortunate enough to escape the attack was panicked, not daring to remain. Seeing it attempting to abandon its companion and flee, Li Xiuyuan immediately gave chase. On the battlefield, Li Xiuyuan doggedly pursued the fleeing beast, seemingly determined to claim its life. The beast, in blind flight, careened directly towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan was filled with joy and shouted, ¡°Lin, block this beast for a moment!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled. The moment the beast began its flight, he had already anticipated its escape route, and immediately channeled the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword. By the time Li Xiuyuan¡¯s reminder had just been uttered, the Tiangang Sword Qi had descended from the void, striking the beast¡¯s head with precise accuracy. With a scream, the fleeing beast collapsed straight to the ground, its hefty body creating a deep pit. A bloody hole could now be seen on the beast¡¯s head, the wound still oozing blood, quickly pooling into a bloody basin. The beast writhed unwillingly a couple of times, then the eyes the size of its head closed, losing the breath of life altogether. Chapter 480 480 276 Admirable Strength_3 ?Chapter 480: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_3 Chapter 480: Chapter 276 Admirable Strength_3 Seeing the demonic beast slain, Li Xiuyuan was excited and began to praise from afar. ¡°Lin¡¯s divine skills are indeed formidable. This creature¡¯s strength was not weak, yet it was slayed by your single sword strike. Truly astonishing!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming smiled indifferently and said, ¡°The demonic beast was caught off guard, it was just luck on my part!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words were modest, and although there was indeed an element of luck involved, it also required sufficient strength to seize the opportunity. If it had been a cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, even if afforded the chance, they probably couldn¡¯t stop the escaping demonic beast, let alone kill it with ease. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Xiuyuan had witnessed the entire process and saw how effortlessly he killed the beast. How could he not understand this principle? ... Regaining his focus, Li Xiuyuan did not say much more. He saw the remaining demonic beast being suppressed by Lin Tianming and promptly went over to help. With the addition of Li Xiuyuan, the sole remaining demonic beast had no way to escape. Caught in the pincer attack of the two men, it revealed a crazed look, ready to fight to the death. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care at all, his moves thunderous and swift. Li Xiuyuan was not to be outdone, his Spirit Ruler unleashing terrifying blades of qi. Two attacks descended from the sky, the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast desperately spat out Spirit Group in an attempt to block. However, before the Spirit Group could fully emerge, the two attacks they had launched had already penetrated its head, with bright red blood gushing out, drenching the surrounding area. Despite its unwillingness, the demonic beast had no means to resist and could only let its head and body fall to the ground in succession. With the demise of the demonic beast, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan immediately turned around and rushed towards Hu Yuan not far away. ¡°Daoist Hu¡­ let us assist you with all our might!¡± Li Xiuyuan shouted from a few hundred feet away, then joined the fray with Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others coming to support him, Hu Yuan was thrilled, his attacks becoming even fiercer. Under the combined efforts of the three, the three demonic beasts facing Hu Yuan were continuously pushed back, their injuries worsening. Hu Yuan laughed heartily, then shouted loudly, ¡°Daoist Li, Lin, let¡¯s see who amongst us can slay their foe first!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ surely it will be I who finishes the battle first!¡± As Li Xiuyuan fought, he replied in the midst of the beast¡¯s attempt to flee and gave chase. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, did not respond, his Tiangang Sword leaving his hand even earlier, blocking the path of the fleeing demonic beast. As time passed, in less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, three cries of despair were heard in quick succession. Li Xiuyuan¡¯s target was the first to be slain, followed closely by Hu Yuan, with Lin Tianming completing his last. However, the time when the three demonic beasts they were pursuing died was very close, with only slight intervals between them. ¡°Haha¡­ I indeed reached the goal first!¡± Hearing Li Xiuyuan, Hu Yuan smiled helplessly and then said, ¡°Daoist Li¡¯s divine skills are truly mighty, I am outmatched!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled and waved his hand, then spoke. ¡°I was joking, don¡¯t take it seriously. In my view, Lin should rank first!¡± As he approached, Hu Yuan spoke in agreement. ¡°I agree¡­ Lin, with your Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation, you casually killed three Second Order Medium Stage demonic beasts and assisted us in slaying two more in the late stage. Such strength shames us!¡± Hearing the courteous words of the two, Lin Tianming waved his hands and humbly said it was luck, then expressed that it was they who thought highly of him. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s humbleness, Li Xiuyuan and the other person didn¡¯t say much more. However, in their hearts, they had a newfound appreciation for Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and felt great admiration. At this time, Li Xiuyuan looked at the other major battles of his teammates and then made a suggestion to Lin Tianming and the others. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s go help the others and quickly end the fighting here!¡± ¡°Good, swift and decisive!¡± Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming replied in unison, and the three of them immediately fled in different directions. Chapter 481 481 277 Profound Righteousness_1 ?Chapter 481: Chapter 277: Profound Righteousness_1 Chapter 481: Chapter 277: Profound Righteousness_1 On the battlefield. With Lin Tianming and a few others freed to join the fight, the morale of the remaining cultivators surged dramatically, and their strikes became even more fierce. Soon, cries of agony were heard nonstop, each one signifying the death of a demonic beast. Through the cooperation of the cultivators, in less than half a moment, all the resisting demonic beasts were killed. As the last demonic beast fell and did not rise again, the prolonged battle finally came to an abrupt halt. Looking around, the battlefield was littered with the corpses of Second Order Demonic Beasts, the land for miles around stained red with blood, various limbs and severed arms lay scattered about, a scene too horrific to bear. At this time, the expressions of the surviving cultivators were grave and complex, some mourning for fallen companions, others feeling fortunate to be alive. ... After a moment of silence, the cultivators took a deep breath and then focused on the fighting conditions of other Human Cultivators. At this time, within a huge range of dozens of miles outside of Yuyao City, battles were everywhere, with Foundation Establishment Cultivator teams in the Southern District engaged in fierce combat with a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts. Among them, a portion of teams suffered heavy losses with barely more than ten people remaining, also in a precarious and defensive situation under the fierce attack of the demonic beasts. Without any reinforcements, these weaker teams were at risk of being wiped out at any moment. However, there were a few teams like theirs that had already killed the opposing demonic beasts. These completed missions were generally accompanied by the presence of at least a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, if not several at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, an average team¡¯s overall strength would be limited, making it difficult to achieve victory under the powerful collective attacks of the demonic beasts. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for those teams that finished their battles first, the leading late-stage cultivators were in good shape and began to support the other teams. The lower-cultivation level cultivators retreated to the rear of the many cultivators, began to meditate and rest, and started to recover their consumed Spiritual Power and injuries. ¡­ At this time, Lin Tianming also redirected his attention to keep an eye on the great battle involving Qi Refining Cultivators and Golden Core Cultivators in the high sky. Thousands of feet up in the sky. Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu cooperated with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, engaging in fierce battle with the opposing Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. At this moment, the sky above was constantly flashing with light, the air between heaven and earth turbulent, and the fierce Gang Wind and fluctuations from the battle swept all around. Under the terrifying battle, the clear and sunny sky actually turned dark. Feeling the tremendous fluctuations from the Golden Core Cultivators and the Third Order Demonic Beast clashing, no matter whether they were Second Order Demonic Beasts or Human Cultivators, even a brush with a remnant ripple could result in death there and then. In such a situation, all cultivators and demonic beasts wisely kept their distance, fearful of unwarranted calamity. And at this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was ruddy, and his heart was incredibly shocked. This was the second time he had witnessed a Golden Core Cultivator in action; Chen Jingtian, with his Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, unleashed an attack that seemed even more powerful than the encounter he had stumbled upon before. The strength of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was equally formidable, with a cultivation at the Late Stage of the Third Order, surpassing Chen Jingtian in every way. Their powerful strengths clashed, and the resulting shockwaves resounded throughout heaven and earth, even causing the ground to tremble slightly. Watching the fierce battle, Lin Tianming managed to regain his composure and continued to follow the progress of the conflict. Clearly, the Demon Beast Race had the advantage in numbers among the Third Order Demonic Beasts, and together with the powerful Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, the overall strength of the Demon Beast Race seemed a bit stronger. Chen Jingtian, being only at the Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, was also powerful but visibly strained dealing with the attack of the Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast on his own. However, Chen Jingtian and his team did not fight individually; instead, they came together. The four brothers cooperated with each other, providing timely support and fully leveraging the advantage of teamwork among the Human Race, thus avoiding collapse for the time being. Under these circumstances, the Demonic Beasts led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion couldn¡¯t find a breakthrough. Unable to break through after a prolonged attack, the Lion became enraged yet helpless. Seeing this, Lin Tianming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Clearly, on the crucial front of the Golden Core Cultivators, there would be no sign of collapse in the short term. However, demonic beasts were undoubtedly formidable, with better defensive power and stamina, and with their numerical advantage, they had the means to prolong the battle. If the conflict dragged on, Chen Jingtian and others¡¯ depletion would continue to increase, and their defense would collapse without being attacked. By then, even if the Foundation Establishment Cultivators gained an upper hand, it wouldn¡¯t prevent the retreat of the Human Race. Having cultivated for hundreds of years, Chen Jingtian was well aware of these potential dangers. However, the truth was that the Demon Beast Army was too massive, and hoping to win in a single battle was clearly unrealistic. Luckily, on the side of Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators, they had gained some advantage, desperately holding on with a very clear purpose¡ªto weaken the strength of the Demon Beast Army. As long as they achieved their goal before their exhaustion became too severe, they could retreat first, At that time, the Human Cultivators could withdraw to defend Yuyao City, relying on the protection of the Defensive Array for the long-term strategy. After all, Chen Jingtian and his brothers had made preparations for a protracted battle before they set out. In this moment, Lin Tianming watched Chen Jingtian and others engage in the fierce battle, confirming his judgment, and then turned his attention to the Qi Refining Cultivators. Chapter 482 482 277 Profoundly Understanding the ?Chapter 482: Chapter 277 Profoundly Understanding the Principles_2 Chapter 482: Chapter 277 Profoundly Understanding the Principles_2 In the vast northern region, this was the main battlefield for Qi Refining Cultivators. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Across the field of view, the scene of battle here was even more bloody and brutal, with nearly ten thousand Qi Refining Cultivators and tens of thousands of First Order Demonic Beasts engaged in a slaughter akin to a gigantic meat grinder. Under the intensity of the great war, every minute and every second saw a large number of Qi Refining Cultivators and First Order Demonic Beasts fall. After just half an hour of fierce battle, the conflict among the Qi Refining Cultivators had reached a fever pitch. The situation for both sides seemed to be at a stalemate with neither gaining much of an advantage. Although the Demonic Beasts outnumbered the Human Race five to one, among them were many at the initial and medium stages of First Order. On the side of the Human Cultivators, the vast majority involved in the battle were at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement or higher, with those below the Seventh Level accounting for less than thirty percent of the total. ... Therefore, the collective strength of the Human Qi Refining Cultivators was composed of elites; though fewer in number, the power they unleashed was by no means inferior to that of the Demonic Beasts. As time progressed, the morale of the Human Cultivators reached its peak, with every Qi Refining Cultivator fully engaged, delivering increasingly fierce attacks. After a tough fight, the Cultivators united and exploited the weakness of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ uneven strength, slowly suppressing the Demon Beast Race. Following several rounds of attacks by the Qi Refining Cultivators, a large number of Demonic Beasts at the initial and medium stages of First Order died off, drastically reducing their numbers, and the entire legion even showed signs of collapse. Finding a moment to catch their breath, the First Order Demonic Beasts grouped together to reorganize their defenses and clashed with the Cultivators once again. At this moment, some Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had freed themselves turned their attention to the side of the Qi Refining Cultivators. As the battle went on, the corpses of both humans and beasts had piled up into mountains, and a vast amount of blood gathered, silently forming a river of blood in the lower terrains. Yet amidst such a bloody scene, those Qi Refining Cultivators, preoccupied with fending off the Demonic Beasts, were completely unaware. Clearly, both sides had long since become enraged, paying no heed to the gruesome sight, as the Qi Refining Cultivators and the Demonic Beasts continued to slaughter each other. Even someone like Lin Tianming, who had witnessed many gruesome scenes, couldn¡¯t help feeling his scalp tingle with shock at the sight. Not just him¡ªLi Xiuyuan and several others also turned pale, with two Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivators unable to bear the bloody scene and started vomiting. Yet the brutal battle continued, with neither the Human Golden Core Cultivators nor the Third Order Demon Beasts issuing new commands, making withdrawal for both sides impossible. However, such significant decisions regarding retreat were not something these Foundation Establishment Cultivators needed to worry about. Realizing this, Lin Tianming gradually calmed his mind. Following that, he approached Li Xiuyuan, and the other Cultivators also walked over, gathering around Li Xiuyuan spontaneously, intending to listen to his arrangements. At that moment, Li Xiuyuan glanced at the more than forty Cultivators beside him, noting that most were safe and sound, and nodded in satisfaction. The strength displayed by the Cultivators he had recruited during this battle had completely exceeded his expectations. Especially Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡ªwhile the former casually killed three Second Order Medium Stage Demon Beasts and even a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast proved no match for him, his strength was almost comparable to his own. As a Loose Cultivator, Hu Yuan¡¯s strength was similarly formidable; he dominated in battle against three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, and although he did not single-handedly kill them, the strength he demonstrated was such that even Li Xiuyuan himself might not be able to best him. With these two, along with several other Cultivators of decent strength, as long as they proceeded with a steady and firm approach and achieved some results, they stood a good chance of earning a place in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. With these thoughts, excitement bubbled in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s heart, and the somber look on his face gradually disappeared. He forcibly suppressed his inner excitement, turned his attention to the Cultivators present, then looked at other groups and saw that some were in dire straits. After a moment of thought, Li Xiuyuan opened his mouth and said, ¡°Fellow daoists, although our side¡¯s battle has ended, the overall battle for the Human Race has not stopped.¡± ¡°You have all seen the situation of the other teams¡ª¡¯When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,¡¯ I believe we are all clear about this principle, so I will not belabor the point.¡± ¡°As Cultivators of the Human Race, facing the assault of Demonic Beasts, we should stand on the same front. My condition is still good, so I have decided to help the other teams and kill as many Demonic Beasts as possible.¡± ¡°As for all of you, it would be best if you¡¯re willing to take action, but no one is compelled against their will!¡± Hearing this, the cultivators present showed various expressions, with some at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment having expended a great deal during the previous major battle, and many cultivators still bore injuries. In such a state, even if they joined the battle, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily be able to exert much strength. However, there were also some cultivators with decent strength who were still in good condition, although not at their peak, but they could easily restrain one or two Demonic Beasts of the same order. As for Lin Tianming¡¯s condition at this time, it goes without saying that he had merely consumed some of his spiritual power. If he went all out, his strength would be several times stronger than during the earlier battle, but others didn¡¯t know that. At this moment, Hu Yuan was the first to take a stance, stating his willingness to join the battle alongside Li Xiuyuan. Lin Tianming pondered for a moment, considering his good condition, and then decided to join the battle as well. The reason for his decisive action was not only confidence but, more importantly, for the sake of obtaining an entry spot into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Just in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team, there was a powerful Loose Cultivator like Hu Yuan. It was conservatively estimated that there were more than twenty such capable teams. To secure one of the three entry slots into the Secret Realm from such competitive conditions, the number of Demonic Beasts that needed to be killed was certainly significant. Thus, he had to accumulate some achievements against Demonic Beasts as much as possible to gain an advantage in the subsequent competition. Besides, considering the greater good of the Human Race, it was not wrong for him to do his best. Moreover, helping others was also a way for him, and the Lin Family, to form good connections; if he faced any difficulties in the future, these people might be able to lend a hand and offer an extra layer of security in a crisis. Understanding this, he agreed to join without hesitation, leading many cultivators to look at him in a new light. Influenced by Lin Tianming¡¯s decisiveness, some hesitant cultivators also made up their minds. Soon, more than twenty cultivators voiced their stances one after another, most of them being at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. They agreed to join Li Xiuyuan and assist those teams that were struggling. As for the remaining twenty-odd who were unwilling to join, they were either in poor condition, injured, or simply lacked the strength. Li Xiuyuan understood their choices as well, because after all, everything should be considered with one¡¯s own safety in mind; one could only be more useful if they were alive. Thinking this way, their decision seemed all the more human and was easily understandable. At this time, seeing everyone agreeing to help, Li Xiuyuan was very pleased inside. He smiled and then gave a sincere salute to the crowd, saying, ¡°I am truly impressed by everyone¡¯s understanding of the greater good!¡± Seeing Li Xiuyuan being so polite, Lin Tianming and the others hurriedly returned the salute. Li Xiuyuan waved his hand, then began to give instructions. ¡°Very well¡­ everyone, remember to prioritize your own safety above all else. If the situation is hopeless, there is no shame in giving up the rescue!¡± ¡°As for the Demonic Beasts killed by everyone, or those who participate in it, I can guarantee a fair distribution of the spoils!¡± Hearing this, those willing to join the rescue team breathed a sigh of relief. After all, they were willing to help not without purpose; nearly everyone had their own agenda and were willing to take risks for rewards. Since Li Xiuyuan made a point of clarifying this before they set out, they felt reassured and could fully commit to the task at hand. At this moment, everyone was full of spirit, with satisfied expressions on their faces. ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose, let¡¯s make our move immediately!¡± Having said that, Li Xiuyuan was the first to dash off in a certain direction, swiftly joining the battle group of other cultivators. Right behind him, Lin Tianming and others like Hu Yuan wasted no time and charged in different directions. Chapter 483 483 278 Temporary Retreat_1 ?Chapter 483: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_1 Chapter 483: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_1 In a corner of the battlefield, Lu Qiao¡¯s face was pale. Surrounded by three Second Order Late Phase Demonic Beasts, he struggled to hold on. Had it not been for several Defense Artifacts of decent quality on him, plus his ample experience in magical combat, he would have probably been heavily injured or even fallen by now. However, aside from his own dire situation, his teammates were in an even worse state; more than half of his team members were lost, and those who were still alive were all wounded to varying degrees. The main reason they were so passive was that his team as a whole wasn¡¯t strong enough. Even though his own cultivation was not bad, he only had forty people recruited in his team, and their powers were generally on the lower side. There were only two Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, and the number of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators didn¡¯t even make up half. With such team strength, they were at the bottom of all teams recruited by the core disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. At this moment, after battling with the Demonic Beasts for dozens of rounds, most of his Spiritual Power was drained, and there were several wounds on his body still bleeding profusely, leaving him in a state of extreme weakness. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... As a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect with the reputation of a Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, he was in quite a sorry state at this desperate moment. As the fierce battle continued for half an incense stick¡¯s time, the occasional screams of agony around him made him increasingly anxious. There was nothing he could do since his team was on the verge of collapse. If this continued, they were likely to be wiped out before any side had the chance to retreat. ¡°Damn these beasts!¡± Just as he was cursing under his breath, the Demonic Beasts surrounding him launched another attack. His expression somber, he watched the three beasts swing their massive tails at him from different angles, sweeping across at an incredibly fast speed, stirring up the Spiritual Energy in the air. At this moment, Lu Qiao¡¯s face tensed as he hurriedly twisted his body, trying to dodge the terrifying tail attacks. His speed was fast as well, but the angles of the beast¡¯s attacks were cunning, and the timing was perfect. Dodging the attacks without a scratch would be extremely difficult. But he had no other choice. He had to avoid at least two attacks and use a Defense Artifact to fend off the remaining one for even a glimmer of hope to escape unscathed. Otherwise, he might be seriously injured by these Blackwind Lizards. Aware of this, he did not dare to be careless. As he moved, he hastily conjured up a Black Shield and poured in a large amount of Spiritual Power, positioning it in front of him. He was very cautious. Having battled with these Demonic Beasts for dozens of rounds, he was well aware of the strength of the Second Order Late Stage Blackwind Lizards. These beasts were incredibly fast, their huge bodies full of strength, and their attacks were extremely powerful, causing his spirit to tremble with every hit, making him suffer greatly. While he was pondering, the attack from the three Blackwind Lizards arrived as expected. He turned his body and, in an instant, moved a dozen yards to the side, narrowly missed being hit by the two tails. ¡°Boom¡­¡± a loud noise erupted. The other tail slammed onto his shield, creating a shallow crack, and the tremendous impact threw him several dozen yards away. In that moment, his body, like a leaf in the autumn wind, spun out of control and ultimately crashed harshly onto the hard ground, embedding him into a deep pit. Lying in the pit, his face even paler than before, he couldn¡¯t help but spit out a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. The joint attack from the Blackwind Lizards worsened his injuries, exacerbating the already disadvantaged position he was in. He felt helpless and anxious, but with the overwhelming power against him, there was little he could do for the moment. Watching the Blackwind Lizards preparing to attack again, he couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh. It had already been difficult enough to dodge their last onslaught. How would he fend them off this time? Rising to his feet with a restless heart, he watched the approaching tails of the Demonic Beasts, his eyes filled with determination. At that moment, he channeled all his available Spiritual Power into the shield in his hand. In an instant, the shield in his hands shone brightly, expanding a hundredfold and enveloping his entire body in its protective embrace. In the nick of time, the three tails got closer to the shield, their tremendous force almost vaporizing the air around them. ¡°Is my nearly a hundred years of cultivation coming to an end here?¡± Lu Qiao thought to himself. Just as the tails were about to blast into the shield, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan suddenly appeared in front of him. Each conjured their own two Defense Artifacts, blocking the tail of a Blackwind Lizard each. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Three explosive sounds rang out, and Lu Qiao felt a numbness in his palms, and like a kite with its string cut, he was thrown backwards, landing a hundred yards away. He lay in the pit, blood at his mouth now darker, and his face even paler. Feeling the force of the attacks that had just occurred, he noticed something out of the ordinary. ¡°The force isn¡¯t right. Though still powerful, it wasn¡¯t as strong as the last hit!¡± Regaining his senses, he finally noticed the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. The two, along with Li Xiuyuan and others, observed the surrounding battle situation and then joined Lu Qiao¡¯s fight in unison. They arrived just in time, coming to Lu Qiao¡¯s aid in his moment of crisis, each taking on a tail attack, and thus saving him from danger. Looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat unfamiliar face, his expression mixed with excitement, a surge of post-disaster emotions overwhelmed him. Chapter 484 484 278 Temporary Retreat_2 ?Chapter 484: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_2 Chapter 484: Chapter 278 Temporary Retreat_2 Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, a cultivator rushed to the rescue, completely beyond his expectations. ¡°Two Daoist friends¡­ Thank you for righteously lending a hand!¡± Lu Qiao clasped his fists in salute towards Lin Tianming and the other, speaking with utmost sincerity. ¡°Daoist Lu is too polite, now is not the time for thanks. Let¡¯s deal with these beasts first!¡± Lin Tianming replied. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lu Qiao nodded, and glancing at the three Blackwind Lizards with wary eyes, his own gaze was filled with rage. ¡°Good, let¡¯s get rid of these beasts first, and then I will express my gratitude!¡± After Lu Qiao replied, the Attack Talisman in his hand shone with brilliant Spiritual Light, as he took out several Second Order talismans and launched them all at once. ... At this moment, Lu Qiao was seriously provoked, using all his moves as if to avenge the recent grudge. Seeing Lu Qiao make the first move, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were not to be outdone; they consecutively brought out their Magic Artifacts, selecting a Blackwind Lizard to kill. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sky erupted with bursts of explosions as a great deal of Sword Qi and other attack methods illuminated the battlefield. Hu Yuan held formidable strength, each of his strikes contained immense power, forcing the Demonic Beast he targeted into constant retreat. Lin Tianming was still using only eighty percent of his strength, and although he did not blow the Demonic Beast apart immediately, he still held an absolute advantage. And the enraged Lu Qiao was extremely fierce in his attacks; while he could not defeat three Demonic Beasts, a single one was no match for him. Under such circumstances, the Blackwind Spirit Beast targeted by him was in a dire state, barely able to parry any attacks. As time passed, the three strongest Demonic Beasts were suppressed by the trio, and the other cultivators also burst out with stronger strength, quickly turning the tide of the battle at this location. Lu Qiao¡¯s teammates followed suit with overwhelming momentum, each gaining the upper hand. After several exchanges, the wails of the Demonic Beasts came one after another. The Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand glowed fiercely, unleashing waves of Sword Qi in an instant, engulfing the injured Blackwind Lizard opposite him. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The attacked Blackwind Lizard let out a painful roar. Following the burst of Sword Qi, the Blackwind Lizard¡¯s body was left with few intact spots, and blood seeped from its skin, presenting a gruesome sight. Seeing the severely injured Demonic Beast, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give it any chance to catch its breath and rushed over immediately, aiming to end the battle with one strike. In an instant, he launched an attack; five strands of Tiangang Sword Qi overlapped to form a terrifying blast of Sword Qi that shot forward, beheading the Blackwind Lizard. A scream rang out, followed by the sound of a body falling to the ground. Looking over, the Blackwind Lizard was already lying motionless on the ground with a gaping hole in its neck, blood pooled all around it, having lost all signs of life. At the moment Lin Tianming killed the Demonic Beast, Hu Yuan and Lu Qiao had each killed their respective opponents just a moment before. The interval between the three slaying their Demonic Beasts was short; Hu Yuan, being the most powerful, finished his battle first, followed closely by an angry Lu Qiao. At this point, the three of them looked at the situation of the other cultivators and joined the fray without hesitation. After a short while, the battle here also came to a complete end. More than twenty cultivators gathered together, and aside from Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, the others had more or less sustained some injuries. The survivors wore various expressions, looking at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, their eyes full of gratitude. As the organizer of the team, Lu Qiao clasped his fists towards Lin Tianming and the other, saying, ¡°Thank you, two Daoist friends, for your timely help. I am extremely grateful, and when we return to Yuyao City, I shall invite you both to gather together so that I may express my thanks properly!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming responded courteously. ¡°Daoist Lu need not be so polite. As fellow Human Cultivators facing a crisis that concerns the Cultivation World, it is only right to lend a hand!¡± ¡°What Lin Daoist said is true. In the face of the Human Race¡¯s greater good, we should temporarily set aside our differences and support each other through this calamity,¡± Hu Yuan added. As soon as these words were spoken, Lu Qiao and the others were deeply touched, their admiration for the two men growing even more. ¡°` At that moment, Lin Tianming immediately said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now is not the time for celebration. There are still many among us in peril, and those who can should offer their help. We can have a detailed chat after the battle ends.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ That is indeed true, helping others now is helping ourselves!¡± Lu Qiao nodded and expressed his agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s words. The other people present had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage, obviously not a bunch of fools, after all, what Lin Tianming said was extremely correct for all Human Cultivators. Realizing this, apart from those who genuinely lacked the ability to lend a hand, the rest of the crowd began to voice their consent, willing to contribute their efforts. Soon, the people present made up their minds to assist other cultivators who were in trouble. Then, under the leadership of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, more than ten cultivators formed a team on the spot, moving around above the battlefield. Meanwhile, those cultivators with more severe injuries or in poor condition retreated and gathered at the edge of the formation to recuperate. As the grand battle continued, half a quarter of an hour passed. By then, the battle had been raging for quite some time, and the battlefield was like a meat grinder, with significant losses on both the human and beast sides, with numerous cultivators perishing here, and the Demon Beast Race suffering heavy damage. Above in the high skies, Chen Jingtian and others were entangled in a fierce fight with Third Order Demon Beasts. During a lull in the demon beasts¡¯ attacks, he took the chance to observe the situation on the Human Cultivators¡¯ side of the grand battle. Surveying the entire field, both Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gaining the upper hand, with the number of demonic beasts dropping sharply, essentially achieving the goal set before the battle. However, there was still no significant progress on the critical front of the Golden Core Cultivators. He and his fellow disciples had been resisting strongly, focusing on buying time for the other Human Cultivators to increase their victories as much as possible. But Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not influence the ultimate outcome of the grand battle; all the hopes lay on them, the few. As the leaders of the Human Cultivators, Chen Jingtian¡¯s role was vital and very apparent. It was then he felt his Spiritual Power was almost depleted. The cultivation and strength of the other disciples didn¡¯t differ much from his, and even he was persisting with gritted teeth, so Zhu Yun, Wang Hengqiu, and the others were likely nearing their limits as well. Although they had gained some advantages over the demon beasts, they had yet to crush them completely. But now the situation seemed somewhat mysterious; continuing to persevere until their Spiritual Power was exhausted made retreating unscathed rather unrealistic. Thinking this over and glancing at his younger disciple Lan¡¯s somewhat pale face, Chen Jingtian began to consider a retreat. Deciding on a plan of action, Chen Jingtian then spoke earnestly: ¡°Fellow senior disciples, we have reached our initial objectives. Let¡¯s hold out for another half quarter of an hour, to buy the youngsters some time to retreat to Yuyao City!¡± ¡°Right, everyone hang in there a little longer!¡± Wang Hengqiu immediately replied. As soon as these words fell, a golden light flashed from the token in Wang Hengqiu¡¯s hand, and a great gap once again appeared in the Defensive Great Formation of Yuyao City. At this moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s resonant voice echoed to every corner of the battlefield; both Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators could hear him. ¡°The objective has been achieved, all personnel orderly retreat back into the range of the Defensive Great Formation.¡± Upon hearing this message and seeing the entrance to the formation had been opened, the cultivators who had been resting at the edge due to injuries were overjoyed and immediately rushed into Fhe formation. At this time, Lin Tianming was still with Hu Yuan and others, helping other cultivators, and had been engaged in fierce combat for a long time. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s order, Lin Tianming too was excited, finally able to exit the battlefield and take a temporary respite from the brutal combat. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Daoist Hu, the Monster Beast Legion here has already lost more than half its forces, they should hardly be able to stop us now.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Let¡¯s take this opportunity to retreat!¡± Hu Yuan nodded back. With that, a flash of Spiritual Light burst forth from Hu Yuan¡¯s magic artifact, unleashing a powerful attack that pushed away the demonic beasts obstructing their path. Lin Tianming reacted quickly, seizing the opportunity and, alongside Lu Qiao, led dozens of cultivators in the team to quickly break away. The cultivators were swift, with Lin Tianming and several other powerful cultivators leading the way, breaking through the demonic beasts¡¯ blockade and converging with the other retreating cultivators. ¡°` Chapter 485 485 279 The Four-Wheeled Scorching Sun_1 ?Chapter 485: Chapter 279: The Four-Wheeled Scorching Sun_1 Chapter 485: Chapter 279: The Four-Wheeled Scorching Sun_1 At this time, the cultivators on the field, retreating while fighting like a receding tide, had already seen many successfully retreat back within the range of the formation¡¯s coverage. However, the demonic beasts understood the intentions of the human cultivators, and they tenaciously pursued the retreating army, clearly not willing to allow them to withdraw so easily. Nevertheless, the human cultivators were also prepared; under the leadership of Chen Jingtian, several Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators immediately changed the defensive formation. At this moment, they lined up in a straight line at the forefront of the cultivator army, relying on their own strength to resist the Third Order Demonic Beasts. Apart from this, Chen Jingtian and a few others also activated several Third Order Attack Talismans, unleashing torrents of attacks and holding back the enraged Monster Beast Legion. Because the attacking power of Golden Core cultivators was too formidable, even the slightest touch would result in the complete destruction of the low-order monster beasts. Under such circumstances, the low-order demonic beasts dared not approach and could only rely on the Third Order Demonic Beasts to launch attacks, hoping to inflict heavy damage on the human cultivators. ... At this time, Lin Tianming and the others had entered the defensive array, and they turned their heads to look back at the cultivator army, their faces filled with shock. Looking out, the number of human cultivators in the army seemed to have decreased by about thirty percent, but the total was still considerable; the movement of thousands of people was like an eclipse of the sun. Behind them was an even larger number of demonic beasts; tens of thousands of them used all kinds of bizarre attacks, completely illuminating the dark sky. Seeing this situation, Chen Jingtian and the others furrowed their brows tightly, pushing their magical treasures to the limit, and unleashed several Third Order Talismans, thinking only of blocking the demonic beasts for a while longer to buy time for the great retreat of the human army. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Third Order Demon Beast, Blood Jiao, released countless ice arrows from its mouth, which collided with the Jiaolong Soul unleashed by Wang Hengqiu, creating massive fluctuations that tore open a deep ravine in a large expanse of the ground. This was a contest between Wang Hengqiu, a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator, and the Blood Jiao, a Third Grade Medium Stage beast. The Blood Jiao was a descendant of the ancient demonic beast Red Blood Jiao. Although the ancient bloodline had vastly diluted, even a faint trace was extremely rare, greatly enhancing the Blood Jiao¡¯s strength. This Blood Jiao was extremely powerful, and its formidable divine skills were a testament to its strength. While the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was strong in close combat and lacked long-range divine skills, its destructive power, even when impeded by Chen Jingtian, was still not as formidable as the Third Grade Medium Stage Blood Jiao. As the Third Order Demonic Beasts attacked wantonly, Chen Jingtian and others faced enormous pressure. Still, the human cultivators needed time to retreat, and these cultivators were also crucial for the battle. Under such circumstances, they had to persevere long enough to secure time for the cultivators. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian and his companions all unleashed unprecedented power, firmly blocking the Third Order Demonic Beasts. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The continuous thunderous booms mingled with screams; it sounded as if both the human and beast clans were in anguish. In this manner, under Chen Jingtian¡¯s support, the army of cultivators retreated in an orderly fashion and soon completed the retreat of more than half the contingent, leaving only about thirty percent of the cultivators still beyond the formation¡¯s range. At this time, the attacks from the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao became even more fierce, seeking to kill more cultivators to appease their fury. Chen Jingtian did not retreat at all; his powerful attacks cut through the void, staunchly blocking the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were equally formidable, and with their cultivation strength being not insubstantial, they each dealt with one Third Grade Medium Stage and Early Stage demonic beast. The remaining four Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts were blocked by Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect and two Sect Guardian Spiritual Beasts at the Third Order Early Stage. Nine Third Order Demonic Beasts clashed with four Golden Core cultivators and two Sect Guardian Spiritual Beasts. The earth-shattering noises deafened everyone, the ground cracked frequently, and intense fluctuations enveloped large areas that no one dared to approach. Seeing such a scene, the retreating cultivators did not dare to delay, but still, some areas were fiercely attacked by Second Order Demonic Beasts. After all, the battlefront was far too extensive, and the number of Golden Core cultivators was limited; it was impossible to attend to all areas. Under such circumstances, the human cultivators could not solely rely on the Golden Core cultivators; powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators were needed to withstand the demonic beasts¡¯ assaults on the front lines. Looking across, in the northern zone of the battle line, dozens of cultivators dressed in the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s attire gathered, with Li Xiuyuan among them. Apart from him, the rest were all at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, likely to be core disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. As disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, at such a critical juncture, Chen Jingtian ordered these core disciples to block the Second Order Demonic Beasts for a moment to buy time for the other retreating cultivators. For them, this task was exceedingly arduous. But the situation was indeed dire, and ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn¡¯t hope to hold the line; even if they reluctantly went up, it would be no more than a futile sacrifice. Besides, in such a crisis, if Loose Cultivators from the Loose Cultivators¡¯ Hall were dispatched afterward, it could easily arouse public indignation, causing resistance among the loose cultivators, leading to the disintegration of the entire army of cultivators. Therefore, even if the core disciples of the Zhenyang Sect had any grievances, they had to face it due to Chen Jingtian¡¯s authority and taking on the challenge. At this time, dozens of Zhenyang Sect core disciples, as well as tens of Foundation Establishment Late Stage loose cultivators and clan members, stood at the rear of the cultivator army, engaging in a fierce battle with a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts. Chapter 486 486 279 Four Wheels Blaze Sun_2 ?Chapter 486: Chapter 279: Four Wheels Blaze Sun_2 Chapter 486: Chapter 279: Four Wheels Blaze Sun_2 Although the battlefield here was far less terrifying than that of the Golden Core cultivators, the bloodshed was much more severe. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, among others, were inside the formation, focusing on the intense battle unfolding before them. The other cultivators, like them, had their hearts in their throats, sweating for the Golden Core cultivators of Zhenyang Sect, as well as other Foundation Establishment cultivators. As for Zhenyang Sect¡¯s arrangements, the loose cultivators and family cultivators were also very satisfied, as they were not forcibly sent out to resist the demonic beasts at the very back. Otherwise, it would have been far too dangerous. Lin Tianming felt the same way; his impression of Zhenyang Sect had greatly improved. In his heart, although the Golden Core sects and such powers usually acted very domineeringly, even forcibly conscripting many families to join the battle, but upon arriving at Yuyao City, the Zhenyang Sect acted without discrimination, and at least in the matter of retreat, they were quite fair. Feeling this way, many cultivators shared his sentiment. Their hearts were not so resistant anymore, and they seemed to accept the leadership of Zhenyang Sect. ... Turning his attention back, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze towards the retreating army of cultivators. By this time, under the resolute resistance of Zhenyang Sect, ninety percent of the cultivator army had already retreated within the range of the formation. The only remaining cultivators were almost all those in the Qi Refinement realm and those associated with the Zhenyang Sect. At this, the demon beast army, despite their rage, also started to feel somewhat helpless. Obviously, the arrangements that even the core disciples of Zhenyang Sect were clueless about, Chen Jingtian had already planned ahead. In this manner, the operation proceeded swiftly and silently, with the human cultivators seizing the initiative and pulling the demon beast army by the nose. At this moment, seeing that his objective was about to be completed, Chen Jingtian nodded to Wang Hengqiu and a few others, and passed a few words through a voice transmission to confirm the specific timing of their retreat. Less than the time it takes for a cup of tea to brew. The remaining human cultivators had almost all successfully retreated, leaving not many behind, all of whom were Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators from Zhenyang Sect, as well as several dozen loose cultivators. Seeing his struggling sect disciples, the magical treasure in Chen Jingtian¡¯s hand erupted with a stronger light, exerting all his might to stop the increasingly furious Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Since the cultivator troops had already retreated, the battle line had significantly shortened, and Wang Hengqiu and others once again changed formation. Four of them, along with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, formed a formation and stood in front of the sect disciples. With these few top tier combatants taking on the pressure, Li Xiuyuan and others finally felt a sense of relief. Otherwise, if they were to fight with Third Order demonic beasts, even these nearly a hundred people might not be able to stop a Third Order Early Stage demon beast. As time passed, the great battle approached its climax. With Chen Jingtian¡¯s watertight defense and his disregard for the cost of resistance, the Third Order demonic beasts, after a long attack that showed no effective results, could only watch helplessly as Li Xiuyuan and the others retreated back within the range of the formation. Seeing almost all the sect disciples were now safe, a flush of rosiness crossed Chen Jingtian¡¯s pale face. He looked at Wang Hengqiu and others, then at the furious Blazing Flame Celestial Lion; thereafter, his resonant voice echoed across the land. ¡°Fellow brothers, let¡¯s join forces to repel these beasts, and then retreat back into the formation!¡± Hearing this, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were equally excited. Both patted their storage bags, and several Third Order talisman papers flew out from their hands. Lin Tianming and the others were all watching the movements outside the formation, their faces showing shocked expressions. At this time, among the numerous Third Order talisman papers, three were Defense Talismans, which turned into two huge walls in an extremely short period of time, shielding Chen Jingtian and the others in front of them. The remaining two Attack Talismans turned into two streaks of silver-white Sword Qi that shot out, slashing towards the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. In an instant, a heaven-shaking sound echoed throughout the earth. The Sword Qi, transformed from the Third Order Attack Talismans, collided with the tail of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, and in a flash, flames surged to the sky like mighty waves. Witnessing this terrifying collision, Lin Tianming wore a solemn expression, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel inwardly. ¡°This time, Zhenyang Sect has indeed exerted its full strength, using over a dozen Third Order talisman papers, truly bringing out their family heirlooms.¡± ¡°Worthy of being a top force that has stood among the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom for thousands of years!¡± Just as Lin Tianming was marveling, the attacks from Chen Jingtian and the others arrived as expected. In their eyes, the Third Order talisman had merely been a delay tactic, a means to sap the attack strength of the Third Order demon beast. After all, although the destructive power of a Third Order attack talisman was great, it was difficult to pose a fatal threat to a demon beast of the same level. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian harbored no hope that the Third Order talisman could achieve any substantial progress. Therefore, after the attacks transformed from the talismans ended, the attacks they had been brewing were the real killing moves. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± At this moment, the combined attack from the four cultivators collided with the oncoming Third Order demon beasts. While the demons were busy dealing with this, Chen Jingtian waved his hand, and two Third Order attack talismans appeared out of thin air. Upon closer inspection, these two talismans were fire-red, with faint sparks floating around them, occasionally devouring the surrounding fire-attribute spiritual energy. The flames seemed ordinary, but they possessed a terrifying temperature. All the cultivators within Yuyao City recognized these two attack talismans as being Third Order Medium Grade Fire Talismans. While everyone was astounded, Chen Jingtian formed a single-handed seal, and the two fire-red talismans in his hand shone brilliantly with spiritual light. Immediately afterward, countless fireballs appeared out of nowhere and quickly enlarged a hundredfold in size, suspended in the clouds like fiery clouds. Without any hesitation, he released them, and thousands of fireballs rained down on the ground where the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was located. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The ground instantly turned into a sea of flames, countless Second Order demon beasts frantically fled, and numerous First Order demon beasts who couldn¡¯t avoid in time were instantly turned to ashes by the terrifying heat. Under such a horrifying talisman attack, only Third Order demon beasts could cope, and even Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts could end up pulverized if they weren¡¯t careful. Two breaths passed. The sea of flames gradually died down, revealing the landscape and the figures of the demon beast army. Looking around, the earth was scorched black, with many demon beast corpses devoid of flesh, and only white, jade-like skeletons scattered across the land, presenting a sight of extreme misery. Not only were the corpses of the demon beasts evaporated by the sea of flames, but many of the human Qi Refining Cultivators suffered the same fate. Even the bodies of the human cultivators at the center of the inferno didn¡¯t leave behind bones; they were directly turned to ash by the high temperatures. In such indiscriminate attacks, neither demon beasts nor human cultivators could evade. Knowing this, the myriad of cultivators also understood Chen Jingtian¡¯s drastic actions and showed no resentment. At this moment, nearly ten thousand cultivators stared at the gruesome battlefield, troubled at heart for a long time. Just those two talismans alone had killed thousands of demon beasts, although most were low-order. The backbone of the force, like the Second Order Late Phase, had suffered few casualties. And as the two talismans dissipated, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lions and other Third Order demon beasts broke through the many obstructions and attacked Chen Jingtian and his group. Seeing the distance between the two parties closing, Wang Hengqiu and his companions, who had been preparing for a long time, exchanged glances and then all four made the same strange hand gesture. Suddenly, four suns appeared in the dark sky, all of different sizes, although the differences weren¡¯t too substantial. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking up, the four suns hung high in the clouds, their fiery red light illuminating the entire battleground. At this time, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was chaotic, the already dry air became scorching with heatwaves, and the parched, blackened earth cracked even further. Many cultivators witnessing this unusual spectacle revealed expressions of shock. Some cultivators, not understanding what was happening, couldn¡¯t help but question the cultivators next to them. ¡°Why are there four suns in the sky? And why do I feel the temperature rising so rapidly?¡± To this, the cultivators nearby were just as clueless, left speechless by the query. Upon witnessing this earthshaking commotion, Lin Tianming noticed it was somewhat similar to the scenes he¡¯d caused when he¡¯d used the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Chapter 487 487 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven ?Chapter 487: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_1 Chapter 487: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_1 He stared intently at the scene unfolding before him, his face involuntarily changing as he couldn¡¯t help but cry out in his heart, ¡°A Spirit Art?¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely a Spirit Art, and a Profound Grade one at that!¡± As he was caught in a daze, among the nearly ten thousand cultivators present, some with keen eyesight also began to cry out in alarm. ¡°Could this be the legendary Spirit Art?¡± Hearing these words, like a spark igniting a prairie fire, it drew the attention of all the cultivators and stirred up numerous discussions. ¡°What? Is this a Spirit Art?¡± ¡°Which grade could it be? Yellow Grade? Or Profound Grade?¡± ... ¡­ While the cultivators were shocked and discussing intensely, Chen Jingtian and his companions were chanting under their breaths, followed by their voices thundering through heaven and earth. In unison, they shouted, ¡°Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art!¡± No sooner had the words left their lips than the four suns hanging high in the sky transformed from the size of fists to several dozen zhang across in an instant. At the same time, the four suns brought with them a terrifying high temperature that evaporated and devoured the air, and then they fiercely smashed down toward the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. As the four scorching suns drew ever nearer, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion finally lost its rage and composure. They looked up at the terrifying four suns, feeling the overwhelming heat waves from each, knowing that any one of them had the power to grievously injure or even obliterate them in a single strike. At that moment, the nine Third Order Demonic Beasts could hardly care about pursuing Chen Jingtian and his friends, hastily turning tail to flee in all directions. Clearly, these four scorching suns presented an unprecedented threat to the demonic beasts, and even their formidable bodies struggled to withstand the force of the Spirit Art. Though they possessed long lifespans, advancing in their cultivation was extremely arduous; having reached this level and gained a certain degree of Spirit Wisdom, how could they not understand the value of choice and sacrifice? After all, chasing down Chen Jingtian and his group was far less important to them than their own lives, for as long as they survived, the Human Cultivators would still struggle to defeat the Demon Beast Army. Given this, they had ample time and energy to lock horns with the Human Race, so there was no need to take such a risk. Understanding this, the nine Third Order Demonic Beasts moved with astonishing speed, scattering in a flurry. However, the speed of the scorching suns was extraordinary, and under Chen Jingtian and his friends¡¯ control, targets for their attack were soon identified. At this time, the four scorching suns each pursued one of the Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, intentionally avoiding the strongest Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao. Clearly, Chen Jingtian and the others understood that while Spirit Arts were powerful, attacking the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion might end fruitlessly, thus wasting their precious trump card. In such a situation, it was better to be cautious, selecting the most likely successful targets to either kill them or at least inflict heavy damage. If they could take down a few Third Order Demonic Beasts, the pressure on them would greatly diminish. Once back in battle against the Demon Beast Army, whether they fought head-on or a war of attrition, the Human Cultivators would no longer be at a disadvantage. With such decisive action, the four scorching suns bombarded the four Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, rapidly catching up with the fleeing creatures. By now, the four targeted Demonic Beasts, seeing the scorching suns closing in and feeling their dreadful presence, were unable to dodge in time. Instantly, they were seized by terror, frantically trying to avoid their vital points, hoping to stay alive. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, having escaped to the outskirts, turned to watch the assaulted beasts, torn between relief and rage. ¡­ Within Yuyao City. All the Foundation Establishment Cultivators flocked to the city walls, eyes wide, witnessing with their own eyes the Spirit Art attacking the Third Order Demonic Beasts, afraid of missing any detail. Under the watchful gaze of thousands of cultivators and demonic beasts, the four scorching suns silently bombarded the bodies of the beasts. Ear-splitting explosions resounded one after another, and the parched, scorched earth became an utter mess. Suddenly, several screams echoed through heaven and earth, audible clearly from any corner of the battlefield. The mournful howls sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Looking over, the four targeted beasts all lay in deep pits; two were struggling painfully, while the other two showed no signs of life. At this sight, all the cultivators stared blankly ahead, their expressions stunned. After several breaths¡¯ time had passed, the watching cultivators gradually regained their senses, immediately erupting into a deafening cheer. Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flushed with color. The Spirit Art invoked by Chen Jingtian and his companions¡ªthe fearsome attack of the four scorching suns on the four Third Order Demonic Beasts that had resulted in two dead and two injured¡ªcaused him immense shock. And the earth-shattering strike prepared by Chen Jingtian and his fellows had obviously achieved an unprecedented victory. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, and he couldn¡¯t help but compare the power of Chen Jingtian¡¯s Spirit Art with his own practice of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Judging from the Spirit Art used by Chen Jingtian, it was no ordinary technique. But it felt less powerful than the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, though the difference wasn¡¯t vast, probably due to the disparity in their cultivations. Besides, the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had its limitations on accumulation; if one didn¡¯t accumulate for long enough, it might not even compare to a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But with an accumulation of ten or eight years, its power would definitely surpass that of the Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art. Clearly, judging from the power and outcome of this Spirit Art, it was undoubtedly a genuine Profound Grade Spirit Art. And the preciousness of Spirit Arts goes without saying; even Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques are extremely rare within the Wei Kingdom. Chapter 488 488 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven ?Chapter 488: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_2 Chapter 488: Chapter 280 Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art_2 Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts are even more extremely rare, and even a Golden Elixir Force like Zhenyang Sect, with its thousands of years of heritage, might not have a second one. Originally, it was thought to be quite remarkable for Zhenyang Sect, with its thousands of years of history, to possess one or two Yellow Grade Spirit Arts, but unexpectedly, they also had a Mysterious Grade Spirit Art. It was truly beyond anyone¡¯s expectations! At this moment, not only did Lin Tianming broaden his horizons, but the other cultivators, whether Zhenyang Sect disciples, family cultivators, or those Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, were all shocked. It was simply because Spirit Arts are too rare and not easily seen. Even if Zhenyang Sect had Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts, they would definitely not be something that ordinary disciples or even core disciples could cultivate. It is estimated that at the very least, it would be the direct disciples of Golden Core cultivators, or the Golden Core cultivators themselves who are qualified to cultivate it, while the others might not even be aware of the existence of Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... In such a situation, including the core disciples of Zhenyang Sect, the vast majority of people exhibited expressions of shock. While everyone was stunned and overwhelmed, Chen Jingtian and a few others, taking advantage of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s evasive movements, had already successfully retreated back within the range covered by the formation. Once inside the formation, Wang Hengqiu immediately took out the Token and reactivated the Defensive Array. By the time the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion realized what had happened, the formation had already been reactivated, and a pale golden light shield once again protected Yuyao City. Despite its anger, it could only helplessly ram against the light shield in a kind of venting frenzy. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds followed, and the pale golden light shield merely vibrated slightly a few times before returning to calm. After several rounds of ramming by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, seeing that the Array was unshaken and the effects far less significant compared to the beginning, it was clear. The strength of these Third Order Demon Beasts, two dead and two seriously injured, even the ones that had not received fatal attacks, had some flesh wounds and were no longer at their peak condition. Furthermore, with their numbers reduced, the threat they posed to the Array was further weakened. If this continued, even if they rammed day and night for one or two months, there was no guarantee they could break the Array. Aware of this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion roared several times at the direction of Yuyao City inside, finally having to retreat unwillingly and meet up with the other Third Order Demon Beasts. Inside Yuyao City. In a pavilion upon the city wall, Chen Jingtian and a few Golden Core Cultivators were seated together. At that time, apart from Chen Jingtian, Wang Hengqiu and the others all looked pale, their breathing somewhat disordered. From his higher position, Chen Jingtian scanned the others before speaking, ¡°How are my fellow brothers doing?¡± On hearing the inquiry, some color returned to Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face as he glanced at Zhu Yun and Lan Yu beside him, before responding. ¡°The consumption was too great, but I am still alright. Just need to rest quietly for ten to fifteen days, and I should be able to recover to peak condition.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I am almost the same!¡± Zhu Yun replied. Chen Jingtian then turned his gaze toward Lan Yu, the weakest in strength, and asked, ¡°What about you, Junior Brother Lan?¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brothers, for your concern. The Scorching Sun Burning Heaven Art requires immense Spiritual Power. After this battle, it will be difficult for me to return to my peak condition within six months!¡± No sooner had the words fallen than Zhu Yun nodded sympathetically, then revealed a look of regret and unwillingness. ¡°Sigh¡­ Zhu Yun sighed helplessly, then said, ¡°It¡¯s truly a pity. With nine Third Order Demon Beasts, two dead and two grievously wounded, their strength has substantially weakened.¡± ¡°If we brothers were all in our peak condition, we could have launched an offensive and wiped out this swarm of demon beasts in one fell swoop!!¡± Upon hearing this, the expression on Chen Jingtian¡¯s face changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. Chen Jingtian comforted, ¡°Junior Brother Zhu, achieving such results was already somewhat unexpected.¡± ¡°Moreover, even if we were still at our peak, it is uncertain whether we would have much advantage against the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and those Demon Beasts.¡± Upon finishing, Wang Hengqiu, who had been silent until then, also began to concur. ¡°` ¡°Yes¡­ The main reason we could achieve such results is due to the Spirit Arts,¡± ¡°However, although two of those beasts are dead and two injured, the strongest among them, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, are completely unharmed, their combat strength hasn¡¯t been diminished at all,¡± ¡°Under these circumstances, without the Spirit Arts up our sleeve in the short term, even if we join forces against those beasts, it¡¯s unlikely we will gain much advantage!¡± Upon hearing this detailed analysis, Chen Jingtian nodded his head, deeply agreeing with the words. In his heart, Wang Hengqiu deserved to be amongst those with the longest cultivation periods and plentiful combat experience. His analysis was extremely cautious and thoroughly insightful, he had almost predicted the specific situations of both sides with pinpoint accuracy. After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yun understood the rationale behind Wang Hengqiu¡¯s words. Indeed, their overall strength was at a disadvantage. If it weren¡¯t for the might of Spirit Arts and their timely retreat, a full-on clash with the Demon Beast Army would only lead to the Human Cultivators suffering losses. Even now, with the Demon Beast Army severely wounded, they were still not a force that could be easily annihilated by just a few of them. Understanding this and recognizing the gap between their powers, Zhu Yun no longer insisted on his previous stance, even feeling somewhat fortunate. At this time, Chen Jingtian looked at his fellow sect members before speaking, ¡°Fellow senior and junior brothers, what should we plan for the next step?¡± ¡°Does anyone have any good strategies? Feel free to share them.¡± Hearing the inquiry, Wang Hengqiu thought for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Given the current situation, we¡¯ve expended a great deal. Having used Spirit Arts, there¡¯s no chance to use them again for a year and a half!¡± ¡°With things as they are, we shouldn¡¯t act rashly. At the very least, we need to recover to our peak condition before we try to further weaken the Demon Beasts¡¯ power. When the conditions are right, we can eliminate them all at once!¡± Nodding at the conclusion of his words, Zhu Yun expressed approval and then introduced his own perspective. ¡°Wang, you¡¯re correct. The Demon Beasts have also suffered heavy casualties, and Yuyao City¡¯s Defensive Array should be safe for a month or two,¡± ¡°By that time, we should have mostly recovered, and even if the array is breached, we shouldn¡¯t be easily defeated!¡± Seeing that Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun both made such suggestions, Chen Jingtian nodded in agreement, highly approving of their views. He shared the same belief. In this battle, they had paid a lot and achieved their goal: they had brought the weaker Human Cultivators and the Demon Beast Army to the same starting line. Next, both humans and beasts were nearly equal in strength, hinting at the possibility of a protracted war. However, for the Human Cultivators, this was both expected and a welcomed scenario. Regaining his composure, he expressed his agreement with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s and Zhu Yun¡¯s views, suggesting that Human Cultivators should leverage Yuyao City¡¯s Defensive Array to recuperate and adjust their state. After all, they, including the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, needed to heal their injuries and restore their Spiritual Power¡ªit would be difficult to exert their full strength for some time. In that case, recuperation was the top priority and an unavoidable matter. The timing for resuming the battle would depend on the movements of the Demon Beast Army. Soon enough, Chen Jingtian and the other three reached a unanimous decision and made many corresponding arrangements. After setting the strategy and arrangements, Chen Jingtian glanced at Lan Yu, who looked pale, as if drained of Spiritual Power. Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu exchanged glances, and then he said, ¡°Lan, you¡¯re not in good condition; you should go rest first.¡± ¡°After we summon the Sect Disciples and assess the losses on the Human side and make some arrangements, we too shall begin our seclusion for cultivation!¡± Hearing this, Lan Yu nodded, not refusing Chen Jingtian¡¯s kindness. He stood and bowed to everyone before departing from the pavilion and disappearing into the crowd. Once Lan Yu had left, Chen Jingtian called out to several Zhenyang Sect Disciples in the distance, ¡°Long Qingshui, come over here, you and the others!¡± Hearing the summon, Long Qingshui, not far off, promptly approached with several fellow disciples. ¡°Disciple pays respects to Master and all senior sect members!¡± Long Qingshui, leading several fellow disciples, respectfully saluted Chen Jingtian and the others, then stood aside waiting for orders. Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction. His True Disciple¡¯s talent and cultivation were excellent, and his strength was formidable among peers of the same level. And in the great battle, his True Disciple had shone brilliantly, completing the tasks assigned to him to his utmost satisfaction. ¡°` Chapter 489 489 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_1 ?Chapter 489: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_1 Chapter 489: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_1 Having regained his focus, Chen Jingtian looked at his personal disciple and began giving instructions with a smile. ¡°Qingshui, how are the casualties on the side of the Human Cultivators? Has the count of the battle¡¯s achievements been tallied up?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Long Qingshui didn¡¯t dare to delay, hurriedly taking out a book from his storage bag and respectfully handing it over. After receiving the book, Chen Jingtian flipped it open and looked through it, soon showing a pleased expression. Standing to the side, Wang Hengqiu, seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s demeanor, knew he must be quite satisfied, and he was also very interested, quickly asking for details. ¡°Brother Chen, how is the outcome of this great battle?¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Chen Jingtian tossed the book to Wang Hengqiu for him and Zhu Yun to examine it amongst themselves. ... In a short time, Wang Hengqiu and the others had finished looking through the book and had learned the details of the battle¡¯s outcomes. In this battle, the Human Cultivators had achieved remarkable results, with two Third Order Demonic Beasts dead and two injured, over one thousand two hundred Second Order Demonic Beasts killed, and a staggering approximate fifteen thousand First Order Demonic Beasts. On the side of the Human Cultivators, no Golden Core Cultivators fell, it was merely that their energy was greatly depleted. Among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, over four hundred perished, while Qi Refining Cultivators suffered over two thousand casualties. It seemed like the Human Cultivators also suffered significant losses, but compared to the Demon Beast Army, it was hardly comparable. In just this first battle, nearly thirty percent of the Demonic Beasts were killed. Such an outcome was a serious blow to the massive Demon Beast Army, which had suffered a significant loss. On the Human Cultivators¡¯ side, the top combat powers were completely unscathed, and losses among the main forces were within expectations, even lower than anticipated, which could be considered a pleasant surprise. In the case of the Qi Refining Cultivators, the number of casualties didn¡¯t carry much significance given that their power was limited and couldn¡¯t have much impact on the overall result of the war. Wang Hengqiu closed the book with a slightly pale face, a touch of joy flashing across his features. Zhu Yun, standing beside him, was equally elated. He glanced at his two seniors and couldn¡¯t hold back a sigh of admiration. ¡°Though this battle was perilous, the result is indeed satisfying!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ the achievements have exceeded expectations!¡± ¡°Now, with the aggregate strength of the Human and Beast Clans nearly on the same starting line and the protection of Yuyao City¡¯s Defensive Array, winning the final victory of the war is only a matter of time!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded, sharing his analysis with Chen Jingtian, who very much agreed. ¡°Brother Wang is right, we¡¯ve perfectly achieved our objective with this battle, and indeed the results are satisfying!¡± Chen Jingtian said with a smile. After saying this, Chen Jingtian looked at his beloved disciple, then instructed, ¡°Qingshui.¡± ¡°Disciple is present!¡± Long Qingshui replied respectfully with a bow. ¡°Once the Demon Beast Army has fully retreated and the battlefield is safe, you must immediately lead a group of disciples and Loose Cultivators to clean up the battlefield. Be extremely thorough in verifying the Cultivators¡¯ merits in the shortest time possible.¡± ¡°Especially regarding the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, extra caution is necessary, and fairness and justice must be enforced. Do not allow any unnecessary rifts to form between the Loose Cultivators and our Sect¡¯s disciples, lest the martial spirit be shaken!¡± ¡°Once the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ achievements are tallied, hand them to me for inspection. Then, directly compile a Demon Hunter Leaderboard and post it at the entrance of the Demon-Defying Palace and other key institutions.¡± ¡°Demon Hunter Leaderboard?¡± Long Qingshui and the others were somewhat puzzled but not surprised. They knew that the results of the great battle would certainly be made public, it was just that they hadn¡¯t expected it to be announced in such a manner. At that moment, Chen Jingtian paid no mind to their surprise and continued, ¡°It must be done in this open and honest way to show all Cultivators that our Sect handles affairs fairly and justly, and to encourage them to redouble their efforts to repel the Demon Beast Army quickly!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Hengqiu immediately voiced his agreement. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Indeed, Brother Chen¡¯s arrangements are impeccable. Let us proceed in this manner, and remember not to stir up conflicts that could fragment the favorable situation on our side!¡± Hearing this series of instructions, Long Qingshui and the others promptly nodded with respect, repeatedly assuring that they would fulfill the task satisfactorily. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded with satisfaction, then dismissed Long Qingshui and his group. At that point, Long Qingshui retreated back to the city wall, exchanging a few words with the fellow Sect members waiting there, and biding his time for the Defensive Great Formation to open. Time passed by in a moment. The battlefield outside the city was exceptionally quiet; the Demon Beast Army had vanished without a trace, leaving only the corpses scattered across the land and the heavily damaged earth. From the towers on the city walls, Chen Jingtian extended his Divine Sense, ensuring that no dangers lurked for dozens of miles outside the city, then he breathed a long sigh of relief. It looked like the Demon Beast Army had retreated for the time being, but their next move was still indeterminable, so heightened vigilance was the plan for now. Refocusing, Chen Jingtian exchanged a few words with Wang Hengqiu, finalizing the arrangements for what was to come, with Wang Hengqiu taking charge of the defense. Once this was settled, Chen Jingtian instructed Wang Hengqiu to open the Defensive Array, planning to let Long Qingshui lead the Cultivators to clean up the battlefield first. After all, there were two Third Order Demon Beast Corpses outside, a considerable treasure, too significant even for someone of his status and cultivation to overlook. Having refocused, and with the battlefield appearing calm, he transmitted a message to Long Qingshui to head out and clean up the battlefield. Upon hearing the summons, Long Qingshui didn¡¯t dare to hesitate and quickly led a large group of people out of the Formation¡¯s area. Followed by more than three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect and over two hundred Loose Cultivators, they began the large-scale task of collecting Demon Beast Corpses as well as gathering the remains of Human Cultivators. At that time, the battlefield was busy with activity, with Li Xiuyuan and Lu Qiao among them, each cleaning up the Demonic Beast Corpses in the areas they were initially responsible for. Chapter 490 490 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_2 ?Chapter 490: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_2 Chapter 490: Chapter 281 Demon Hunter Leaderboard_2 In the towers atop the city wall, Chen Jingtian and a few others kept a vigilant watch on every movement in front, guarding against the return of the demon beasts. As time slowly passed, there were no signs of the demon beasts mobilizing, and Wang Hengqiu also stepped out of the formation to collect the corpses of two Third Order demon beasts. Half a day went by. With the efforts of hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the battlefield was mostly cleaned up, and over ten thousand demon beast corpses were collected. The bones of the fallen human cultivators were also gathered and buried in an open space below Yuyao City. After these tasks were completed, the land, once riddled with holes and laden with tragedy, looked much better, at least not so heart-wrenchingly shocking. The numerous cultivators, having returned to the formation, congregated together, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators still on the city walls and Qi Refining Cultivators gathered in the square. ... In the pavilion, Chen Jingtian and the others stood side by side, scanning all the cultivators present. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction, his loud voice reaching every corner of Yuyao City. ¡°Fellow Daoists, in this battle, our Human Race has achieved a great victory, a result of everyone¡¯s combined efforts, which I find very comforting!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s words were sincere and did not omit to acknowledge the contributions of loose cultivators and clan cultivators, sparking a round of cheers from the many cultivators. In the bustling scene, numerous cultivators started to offer their compliments, creating an extremely warm atmosphere. ¡°The seniors are too modest; we juniors have low cultivation and strength. If not for the seniors disregarding the cost, we might not have been able to repel the demon beast army!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ The seniors¡¯ great strength and the slaying of two Third Order demon beasts are truly the greatest contributions to this battle!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right; it is precisely under the leadership of the seniors that we were able to win a great victory¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hearing the flattering remarks, Chen Jingtian was quite pleased, but he also remembered to further enhance his authority and win the good will of the cultivators. ¡°Hehe¡­ No need for such praise, the victory belongs to us all.¡± ¡°However, although we have won this battle, the demon beast army has not collapsed and is likely to not retreat easily. They may return at any moment.¡± ¡°Therefore, everyone should not relax their vigilance too soon. What follows is still a tough fight, and I hope everyone will redouble their efforts to repel the demon beast army as soon as possible and restore peace to the Wei Kingdom!¡± His words were heartfelt and equally factual, acknowledging the cultivators¡¯ sacrifices while also reminding everyone of the continued threat. No sooner had he finished speaking than the cultivators¡¯ enthusiasm ignited once more, and cheers erupted anew. ¡°Repel the demon beast army, restore peace to the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the midst of the noisy ambiance, Chen Jingtian gestured with his hand to calm the crowd. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the great battle has come to a temporary halt, and I will not say more. Everyone should find the leader of their team, claim your spoils of war, and then promptly enter closed-door cultivation to recover to your peak condition, preparing for the upcoming battles.¡± ¡°Additionally, in a few days, our sect will release the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. At that time, everyone will be ranked according to their achievements. I hope you will all continue to strive for excellence!¡± ¡°Rest assured, the distribution of the spoils and the Demon Hunter Leaderboard will be fair and just. There will be no favoritism or cheating, nor any concealment from you!¡± Upon hearing this, a wave of excitement swept through the cultivators, with many inquiring about the details of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Chen Jingtian did not put on airs and began to explain some basic questions, making the rules of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard clear to everyone. Soon, the basic understanding of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was known, and the cultivators grew impatient. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian smiled calmly and then proceeded to dismiss all the cultivators. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were gathered with their teammates, including Li Xiuyuan. From the initial departure to battle, their fifty-person team had only forty return safely, although some cultivators came back with injuries and were in urgent need of secluded cultivation for recovery. Li Xiuyuan swept his gaze over everyone and chatted with Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan, and a few others, inquiring about their specific conditions. Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming were unharmed, while Tang Liusheng and a few other Late Foundation Establishment cultivators had expended a great deal of energy but were not in serious trouble, needing only a few days of rest to recover. Seeing this situation, Li Xiuyuan nodded in satisfaction, feeling very comforted inside. According to the exchanges with his fellow sect members, their team had suffered relatively minor losses and ranked among the top in terms of demonic beasts slain, so when the final results were in, they should be able to achieve a good standing. If they continued to maintain this momentum, by the time the Demon Beast Army fully retreated, they could likely be listed among the top ten in their sect. As the organizer of this demon-hunting team, with such outstanding achievements, he might even earn a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Thinking of these prospects, he was extremely excited, even somewhat impatient to see the leaderboard for the first stage. Once he calmed down, Li Xiuyuan exchanged a few pleasantries with some cultivators he considered less important, gave instructions about the day to claim their spoils, and then let them leave to pursue their cultivation in seclusion. After most of the team members had left, he then laughed and chatted leisurely with Lin Tianming and the others, displaying a strikingly different attitude. It was quite normal when one thought about it, though. While those at the initial and middle stages of Foundation Establishment belonged to the same cultivation level as Lin Tianming and the others, the gap in strength was substantial. Both Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were extremely strong, ranking among the elite of all Foundation Establishment cultivators in Yuyao City. Their strength was such that each of them could match the might of ten to twenty Late Foundation Establishment cultivators, playing a pivotal role for the whole team. Understanding this, Li Xiuyuan was very courteous to them, and even though his own status and strength were considerable, he did not dare offend them and even relied on their support. In response to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s politeness, Lin Tianming and the others did not dare to put on airs and were very warm. After all, Li Xiuyuan also demonstrated his strength admirably in this battle, his talent was not weak, and his status and position were notable too. From any perspective, befriending him would be of great help for establishing themselves in the Southern Wei Kingdom in the future. Under such circumstances, the group talked and joked around in a very harmonious atmosphere. While they were chatting, Lu Qiao arrived with the only two Late Foundation Establishment cultivators in his team. Seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan as well as Li Xiuyuan, Lu Qiao quickly greeted them with a cupped fist salute. ¡°Daoist Li, Daoist Lin, Daoist Hu, greetings to you all!¡± Upon the newcomer¡¯s arrival, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan quickly returned the salute with a cupped fist. Li Xiuyuan, smiling at their side, cupped his fists in return before asking, ¡°Daoist Lu, how are you? Any serious issues?¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Brother Li. I¡¯ve only sustained some minor injuries; a few days of cultivation in seclusion should see me recovered!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded and then introduced Tang Liusheng and the others, encouraging them to get to know each other better. Lu Qiao likewise introduced the two Late Foundation Establishment cultivators from his team to everyone, and they exchanged communication methods, so they could assist each other in the future. After the introductions, the two brought by Lu Qiao were found to be at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. One was a family cultivator named Han Yongyang from the Han Family of the Lianhua Mountain Range. The Lianhua Mountain Range, located north of Qianchuan Market, was home to several Foundation Establishing Families with considerable strength, the renowned Han Family had a thousand-year heritage and was not to be underestimated. The other was a Loose Cultivator, a practitioner of ascetic cultivation, who frequently roamed the areas surrounding Qianchuan Market. Lin Tianming was very pleased to make their acquaintance, behaving extremely politely without bringing up the previous incident where he had lent a hand. Unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s background, Han Yongyang and the other were quite surprised and did not dare underestimate the Lin Family or him. Moreover, Lin Tianming had come to their rescue at a critical moment, turning the tide against a small squadron of demonic beasts, thus they owed him a favor. As a result, Han Yongyang and the other spoke with great deference, eagerly inviting Lin Tianming to visit them sometime so they could properly host him. Seeing their sincere invitation, Lin Tianming found it difficult to decline and so agreed to the visit, which put Han Yongyang and the other at ease. Chapter 491 491 282 A Place on the List_1 ?Chapter 491: Chapter 282: A Place on the List_1 Chapter 491: Chapter 282: A Place on the List_1 A little less than half an hour passed. Li Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming, among other cultivators, were having a pleasant conversation, exchanging a wealth of battle experiences, with each person gaining something from the discussions. As cultivators gradually began to disperse from the city walls and nearly a thousand had already left, Li Xiuyuan finally spoke up. ¡°Lu, fellows, the demonic beasts have temporarily retreated, and there should be no tasks for a short while. Everyone might as well return to closed-door cultivation and rest for a bit. Let¡¯s get together when we have time!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and a few others nodded in agreement, naturally having no objections to this proposal. At this moment, Lu Qiao glanced at Lin Tianming and the other cultivators, then cupped his fists and spoke, ¡°Brother Li, fellow Daoists.¡± ¡°One of these days, I shall host a gathering at the Welcome Banquet Hall to express my gratitude. I sincerely hope that all fellow Daoists will be sure to come.¡± ... After speaking, Lu Qiao looked at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan with an expectant expression. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded and said with a smile, ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lu, your kind invitation is much appreciated, I will certainly attend!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I would be disrespectful to decline!¡± Hu Yuan said. Hearing their acceptance, Lu Qiao showed a delighted expression, then exchanged a few courtesies with them before leaving the city wall with Han Yongyang. As a few people left, Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t plan to stay much longer. After exchanging a few polite words with Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, he left the city walls with Qin Xi and hurried back to his cave dwelling. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the two walked through Yuyao City, Lin Tianming¡¯s demeanor was calm, and as he watched the bustling crowd, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. With the temporary retreat of the demon beast army, Yuyao City had regained its tranquility. In such circumstances, cultivators were returning to their closed-door cultivation or their practice routines, as the flow of people surged through the institutions in various districts, Yuyao City once again thrived with vitality. Before long, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi had returned to their cave dwelling. After exchanging a few words, they entered their respective cultivation rooms and began a brief period of practice and adjustment. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, his somewhat pale face flashing with a hint of rosy color. In the previous battle, he faced demonic beasts that were not very strong, and he handled them relatively easily, without having to use his full strength, so his spiritual power wasn¡¯t completely expended, and his condition wasn¡¯t bad. Under such circumstances, he only needed to cultivate in seclusion for two days, and he should be able to return to his peak condition. The same went for Qin Xi. With his care, her consumption wasn¡¯t significant in the grand battle, and she would be able to recover after two days in seclusion. Regathering his focus, he then brought his hands together and circulated his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. At that moment, the faint spiritual energy in the cultivation room began to slowly flow toward various parts of his body, eventually vanishing as it merged into him. With divine sense looking down at the Dantian, the absorbed spiritual energy was refined into wisps of spiritual power, which flowed through the network of meridians and converged into the Dantian. Soon, as spiritual power replenished, his complexion gradually recovered, and his presence became heavy and solid. Just like that, with steady breathing sounds coming from the cultivation room, Lin Tianming fell deeply into his cultivation. ¡­ Two days later, in the early morning. In the reception room of the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sat facing each other, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi¡¯s rosy cheeks, which seemed to have recovered to their peak condition. He nodded and said, ¡°Fairy Qin seems to have returned to peak condition, and has your cultivation even made some progress?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi giggled, her already exceptional beauty becoming even more prominent. For a moment, Lin Tianming was mesmerized, staring dazedly, his behavior causing Qin Xi¡¯s face to turn red with embarrassment. Lin Tianming then came to his senses, hurriedly turning his head to ease the somewhat awkward atmosphere. Seeing his expression, Qin Xi said, ¡°Daoist Lin truly has a keen eye. Though my strength did not increase from this battle, I settled my cultivation and had some realizations, which is a small step forward!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, fully appreciating what Qin Xi had said. Many cultivators progress too fast, resulting in an unstable foundation, but after a big battle, when their cultivation is consolidated, their strength naturally increases, and it was the most normal outcome. Clearly, Qin Xi was such an individual; with her cultivation consolidated, her foundations became sturdier, making it quite a small advance. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°With these two days passed, the Demon Hunter Leaderboard arranged by Yuyao City should be out by now, right? ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look, what do you think, Fairy Qin?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded, having no objections. She was very aware of her own strength; facing a few Second Order Initial Stage demonic beasts wouldn¡¯t be difficult. However, with thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the area, including hundreds in the late stage, competing for a spot to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm or even to rank among the top in the Foundation Establishment cultivators was practically impossible. As such, before joining the grand battle at Yuyao City, she hadn¡¯t set overly ambitious goals for herself, aiming only for experience and to repay Lin Tianming for his help. Nevertheless, she was still very much in admiration and curious about those strong and exceptionally talented cultivators who might have earned a spot on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Moreover, she was also looking forward to seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s results, to see if he could rank among the top and possibly earn a spot in the secret realm. With this curiosity in mind, Qin Xi accompanied Lin Tianming out of the cave dwelling, heading toward Zhenyang Hall in the city center. They strolled through the streets, taking a leisurely walk and observing the somewhat quiet Yuyao City. By now, two days had passed since the end of the grand battle, and with the demon beast army showing no signs of movement, Yuyao City once more found itself in serene calm. Chapter 492 492 282 Famous on the List_2 ?Chapter 492: Chapter 282: Famous on the List_2 Chapter 492: Chapter 282: Famous on the List_2 The number of pedestrians on the road was not very many; they walked in groups of three or two. Clearly, little time had passed, and many cultivators were still in closed-door cultivation. Those who were out and about were almost all those who had come out unscathed from the great battle or had only suffered minor injuries. Looking around, the flow of people in the Cave Mansion District was small, but the shop area was bustling with popularity. It seemed that some cultivators were busy replenishing treasures consumed in the big battle or selling their spoils of war. After all, too many demonic beasts had died in this battle, and a myriad of artifact refining materials had emerged. Lin Tianming was indifferent to this; his war loot was still with Li Xiuyuan, and even after receiving it, he had no intention of selling it in Yuyao City. The reason was simple. During the great battle, the supply of demonic beasts¡¯ materials for artifact refining had surged, far exceeding demand. ... As such, it was predictable that selling now would not fetch a high price; it would be an insult to these hard-won spoils of war. In such a situation, it was better to keep them and, after the battle ended, take them back to his clan to have Elder Wu refine them into Spiritual Artifacts or Magic Artifacts. There were many Artifact Refiners in the clan, and their value would skyrocket immediately after being crafted by an Artifact Refiner. Whether for sale or for contribution to the clan, this would maximize the benefits; anyway, he was not short of Spirit Stones or treasures for the time being. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming strolled leisurely with his companion, blending into the crowd, and soon arrived at the location of Zhenyang Hall. By this time, a considerable number of cultivators had already gathered here, a large crowd that could not be less than a thousand people. Thousands of people assembled here, chatting in small groups¡ªit was quite lively. The two made their way through the crowd to the front of Zhenyang Hall. Some familiar cultivators saw them and hurriedly greeted Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming looked up and saw Hu Yuan was also there; he hurriedly clasped his hands and reciprocated the salute. ¡°Daoist Hu, is the Demon Hunter Leaderboard about to be released? Why have so many people gathered here?¡± Hearing the question, Hu Yuan smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s said that the rankings will be released today, should be soon, I guess!¡± As soon as the words fell, Lin Tianming nodded, and his heart couldn¡¯t help but speculate whether his achievements in battle could make it onto the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. After all, in the previous great battle, he had single-handedly slain three Second Order Middle Stage demonic beasts and then helped Tang Liusheng and Li Xiuyuan kill several more. Beyond that, he had led his team to join Lu Qiao¡¯s combat group, killing another Second Order Late Stage Beast. In total, he had slain seven or eight beasts, including those at the Second Order Middle Stage and Late Stage, putting him at the top of the list in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team. However, the subsequent battle spoils involved help from other cultivators, and how they would be distributed was hard to say; it would depend on Li Xiuyuan and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s decisions. Considering these matters, Tian Ming was very curious and looked forward to the announcement of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Hu Yuan, asking about his achievements in battle, while waiting for Yangzong to announce the rankings. Through casual conversation with Hu Yuan, he learned that the latter had killed four Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts and three Second Order Initial Stage beasts. With such battle exploits, Hu Yuan¡¯s results were not much different from his own, and perhaps Hu Yuan had a slight advantage. To this, Lin Tianming was not surprised. He had concealed some of his strength during the battle, whereas Hu Yuan was a genuine Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator with profound and unfathomable strength. It was to be expected that he would achieve such results. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming gave a compliment with a smile and then exchanged information with Hu Yuan, inquiring about potential competitors. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time slowly passed, and half an hour went by. As cultivators continued to arrive incessantly, the number of people in the square further increased, quickly doubling several times over, conservatively estimated to be more than three thousand people. The noisy scene and the chattering cultivators conversed, creating a very lively atmosphere. Lin Tianming also learned quite a bit, focusing his attention on those cultivators above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. After all, these powerful cultivators were strong contenders for spots in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, and ordinary Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators only took note of a few well-known ones, paying no mind to the rest. Just then, several men in uniform attire came out from Zhenyang Hall; among them, four men and one woman had embroidery on their chests that made their identities clear¡ªthey were undoubtedly cultivators from Zhenyang Sect. As these individuals appeared, the originally noisy scene suddenly quieted down, and everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on Long Qingshui at the forefront, showing an expectant look. At the square, Long Qingshui swept his gaze across the crowd, spotting many familiar faces. A calm smile spread across his face as he nodded in greeting, as if to acknowledge them all. Following that, seeing the anticipatory looks in the cultivators¡¯ eyes, Long Qingshui didn¡¯t plan on delaying and risking offense. He gave a calm smile, then took out a golden yellow scroll, which turned out to be a Second Order Magical Artifact. The item had hardly appeared before all eyes were wide open, fearing they would miss something. Everyone was determined to witness the names and achievements on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard the instant they were revealed. Seeing the reaction of the cultivators, Long Qingshui cast a Law Decree onto the golden yellow scroll, which slowly unrolled, its surface flashing brilliantly with golden light. Afterwards, he tossed the scroll towards a pillar at the entrance of Zhenyang Hall. The scroll unfurled completely and adhered straight onto the pillar. As the light dimmed, the scroll fully opened, forming a scroll painting several zhang in length, which looked ancient and majestic, exuding a profound world¡¯s atmosphere. Immediately after, Long Qingshui formed seals with his hands and made a specific gesture. Then, uttering words under his breath, he seemed to be reciting some kind of special incantation. With his incantation concluded and his hand movement ceased, the scroll painting once again radiated dazzling golden light. Having done all this, Long Qingshui¡¯s expression remained calm, his sonorous voice echoing across the entire square. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the Demon Hunter Leaderboard is now presented, please feel free to peruse at your leisure. If there are any questions, you may come to Zhenyang Hall with your leader to consult with me,¡± ¡°If no inquiries are made within half a month, it will automatically be assumed that you all accept the allocation. After that, no further adjustments will be made.¡± After speaking, Long Qingshui bowed with clenched fists to the many cultivators and, without waiting for their reactions, re-entered Zhenyang Hall with several fellow sect members. Only then did the cultivators react, hastily shifting their gaze towards the scroll hanging on the pillar. Looking over it, the scroll depicted two large sections, each with dozens of lines, with each line featuring a cultivator¡¯s name along with a detailed explanation of their achievements. On the square, everyone stared intently at the scroll, scrutinizing every name and achievement, not wanting to miss even a single word. Lin Tianming stood in a corner, his sharp eyes piercing through the dozens of zhang, scanning from the top downwards, the words on the scroll coming into view quite clearly. Rules: Demonic Beasts are calculated by points, a Second Order Initial Stage Beast is worth ten points, a Second Order Middle Stage Beast is worth fifty points, a Second Order Late Stage Beast is worth one hundred points. Rules: In cases where Demonic Beasts are slain collectively, points will be distributed by Golden Core Cultivators. If not accepted, one may go with the leader to Zhenyang Hall to request a review. Seeing these rules, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have any doubts, as Chen Jingtian had mentioned them before, so there were no surprises. Regaining his composure, he continued to look down anxiously, still uncertain whether his own name would appear or not. He took a deep breath, finally calming down, and then looked further down. Demon Hunter Leaderboard First Place: Long Qingshui, seven hundred forty points. Achievements: Individually killed five Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted in killing numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. Demon Hunter Leaderboard Second Place: Jun Buhui, six hundred fifty points. Achievements: Individually killed four Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted in killing numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. Demon Hunter Leaderboard Third Place: Jiang Yuyao, six hundred twenty points. Achievements: Individually killed four Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted¡­ ¡­ Demon Hunter Leaderboard Sixteenth Place: Lin Tianming, four hundred seventy points. Achievements: Individually killed three Second Order Late Stage Beasts, assisted in killing numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts. ¡­ Lin Tianming read through the scroll from top to bottom, from left to right, examining it in great detail. Having seen his name on the list, and placed at sixteenth overall, he finally couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh of relief. Chapter 493 493 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_1 ?Chapter 493: Chapter 283: Claiming the Spoils of War_1 Chapter 493: Chapter 283: Claiming the Spoils of War_1 His mind refocused, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was somewhat excited, with a faint smile always on his face. Concerning his ranking and the points distributed by Li Xiuyuan, his heart was very satisfied. Actually, right after the battle ended, he had some guesses about his score, an approximate figure in mind. As long as Li Xiuyuan distributed the points fairly, it should be just over four hundred. And yet, he had not expected to reach four hundred and seventy points, a bit more than he had predicted. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan was quite fair after all, and even took good care of him, truly worthy of deep friendship. As for the ranking, it was a bit unexpected. He had thought that reaching the top thirty would have been achieving his goal, but entering the top twenty was indeed satisfying. ... It wasn¡¯t that he was complacent, but given his cultivation strength, securing this rank among the thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was not easy. After all, those ranked in the top ten of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard were basically Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators. People like Long Qingshui, Jun Buhui, and Jiang Yuyao, all direct disciples of Golden Core Cultivators, had talents and cultivation that, along with various Magic Artifacts for combating enemies, nearly reached the limit of what a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could achieve. In addition, those in the overall top ten were already well-known, famous figures in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Under such circumstances, it was extremely difficult to compete with Zhenyang Sect Disciples for a spot in the top ten. Knowing all this, such a ranking still meant reaching his goal, even exceeding expectations. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming cast another glance over the scroll, looking at a few familiar names, and then fell into contemplation. Among the cultivators he knew, aside from himself, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan were also on the list. Li Xiuyuan was powerful, one of the best among the Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, ranked eighth overall. Hu Yuan, a Loose Cultivator, was also unfathomably strong. Throughout the great battle, he had mostly been with Lin Tianming, slaughtering many Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, thus ranking fourteenth overall. Lu Qiao, whose strength was not outstanding, had relied on Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡¯s help to overcome difficulties and thus did not make it onto the list. As for these acquainted few entering the list, it had been within his expectations, not particularly exciting. However, the ones at the top of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard did arouse his keen interest. Looking over, the names among the top ten on the leaderboard were all individuals of exceptional talent and brilliance. The top-ranked Long Qingshui, whose fame preceded him, possessed extraordinary talent and was a True Disciple of Chen Jingtian. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was said he had Dual Spiritual Roots and, at just the age of twenty, had already reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, an extremely talented and powerful cultivator. Both Jun Buhui and Jiang Yuyao were also Dual Spiritual Root cultivators and True Disciples of Golden Core Masters. Around the same age as Long Qingshui, they were also at the stage of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, showcasing formidable natural talent. At this moment, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but compare himself to them, secretly wondering whether he had the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm before sixty years of age. Now approaching forty, he had just broken through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, with a considerable distance still to go to reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. With only twenty years left until sixty, he needed to break through four realms, which would not be difficult if things went smoothly. If not, it would be hard to say. However, he was quite confident in his own natural talent and cultivation. As long as he cultivated systematically, achieving a realm every five years was entirely possible. On the bustling square, Lin Tianming, looking at the chattering crowd and then at the list of genius cultivators on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, felt a surge of overwhelming pride well up inside him. Just on this battlefield alone, there were several Dual Spiritual Root cultivators present, a gathering of the strong. One could imagine, within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World or even among the Three Great Golden Core Sects, there might well be Single Spiritual Root genius disciples. Throughout his years of cultivation, although he could be considered diligent and hardworking, his journey had been relatively smooth overall, without facing any significant bottlenecks. Moreover, having never ventured far or met many genius cultivators, he stood unrivaled in cultivation among his peers and in his area of residence, scarcely meeting any rivals. Thus, secluded in his own world, his understanding of the outside realm was limited, and his perspective exceedingly narrow. Now, having the rare opportunity to compete with these geniuses, equals in talent, was also a great test for him. Thinking of this, he was also somewhat excited, feeling a surge of blood rush to his heart. As he was lost in thought, Daoist Hu, standing beside him, interrupted his musings. ¡°Lin, it¡¯s truly admirable that you¡¯ve secured a place on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard with such results!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and smiled, ¡°Daoist Hu jests. It was just a stroke of luck.¡± ¡°But as for you, Daoist Hu, your position is even higher than mine. With your strength, you surely have a good chance of securing an entry spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, right?¡± These words of Lin Tianming invigorated Hu Yuan, igniting a fire within him. Once he had calmed down, he replied, ¡°I hope so. But this great battle was truly a crouching tiger, hidden dragon situation, teeming with geniuses. It won¡¯t be so easy to obtain that spot!¡± ¡°However¡­ it is a good start, and no matter the odds, I shall strive for it with all my might!¡± This statement resonated with Lin Tianming¡¯s own thoughts. After all, everyone knew the competition would be fierce before coming here, but they still chose to risk participating for this precious opportunity. Chapter 494 494 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_2 ?Chapter 494: Chapter 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_2 Chapter 494: Chapter 283 Claiming the Spoils of War_2 Not only he, but probably the majority of cultivators thought the same way. You must know, advancing in cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage is very difficult, and one must seize every opportunity. The Tianfeng Secret Realm contains many such opportunities, even including Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, which no Foundation Establishment Cultivator can ignore. Even though joining the intense competition for an entry slot is indeed difficult, it is still better than having no chance at all. However, within the Zhenyang Sect, there are thirty entry slots that won¡¯t be part of the fierce competition for these hard-to-come-by three slots. Otherwise, if they had to compete for these three slots against cultivators of exceptional talent, and those with strong backgrounds, one could basically assume they would stand no chance. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For these family-affiliated cultivators, as well as the Loose Cultivators, fighting over three slots in the Secret Realm¡ªalbeit an elusive hope¡ªis still better than competing with Zhenyang Sect disciples. ... Realizing this serves as both a consolation and a goal for themselves; no matter how tough it might be, they must give it a try. With this mindset, after an intense battle, Lin Tianming ranked sixteenth on the individual Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Regarding this result, he was indeed very satisfied. Moreover, setting aside the Zhenyang Sect disciples, only four people scored higher than him, two of whom were from families and two were Loose Cultivators, all possessing cultivation at or above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Among the two Loose Cultivators with higher scores than him, Hu Yuan was one, and the other, named Zheng Xiao, with five hundred seventy points, ranked sixth overall, even two places above Li Xiuyuan. At the same time, in the rankings of all family-affiliated cultivators and Loose Cultivators, Zheng Xiao was first, and in the top ten overall, the only non-Zhenyang Sect Cultivator. The other two family-affiliated cultivators were named Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun, both well-known figures, hailing respectively from the Northern Ridge Mountains¡¯ Deng Family and the Luoping Mountains¡¯ Yang Clan. Both these mountain ranges, located near the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, are among the top forces in Wei Kingdom, relying on the Dragon Mountain Market for strength. However, they were far from Qianchuan Market and even further from the Luoyun Mountain Range where the Lin Family was located. Therefore, Lin Tianming had only seen their names on the map of Wei Kingdom, and was not very familiar with the specifics of the two major families. Nevertheless, Deng Guanghua ranked eleventh overall, and Yang Tongshun thirteenth, with a fifty-point lead over the sixteenth place Lin Tianming. Under such circumstances, with Zheng Xiao ranking sixth, Deng Guanghua eleventh, Yang Tongshun thirteenth, Hu Yuan fourteenth, and Lin Tianming with four hundred seventy points at sixteenth place overall. It was these four individuals ranked ahead of him, as well as the closely scored non-Zhenyang Sect cultivators behind him, who were his main competitors for the slots. For this reason, Lin Tianming made sure to remember the names of potential competitors, always keeping an eye on their status. Bringing his mind back, Lin Tianming exchanged a few words with Hu Yuan, then left with Qin Xi, heading towards their residence. In no time, the two chatted calmly as they walked, and quickly returned to their abode. Lin Tianming said nothing more; they each returned to their practice rooms and began a brief period of cultivation. ¡­ Two days later. Inside a residence in the East District of Yuyao City, Li Xiuyuan and several team members, including Lin Tianming, sat together chatting leisurely. This morning, Lin Tianming received a message from Li Xiuyuan, summoning him to his residence for a gathering. As for the purpose of this visit, Lin Tianming had anticipated it; it was likely because Li Xiuyuan was back in peak condition and wanted them to collect their respective spoils of war. As expected, after a few polite exchanges, Li Xiuyuan glanced at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, a few of his teammates in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and then got straight to the point. He smiled and greeted them with a cupped-hands salute, then began to speak, ¡°Fellow Daoists, the first battle has ended perfectly, and our Human Race side has achieved a complete victory.¡± ¡°Regarding the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, I believe everyone has already taken a look. Myself, Daoist Lin, and Daoist Hu, we have all placed within the top twenty of the overall individual leaderboard.¡± ¡°In addition, in the teams leaderboard recruited by our sect, our team also ranks eighth overall.¡± ¡°One could say that the team I recruited has performed exceptionally well, far exceeding my expectations.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Li Xiuyuan chuckled mischievously, a face full of tenacious features adorned with a smug expression. It was evident that as the team leader, Li Xiuyuan was indeed very satisfied with this achievement. Upon reflection, it was quite easy to understand. Among the numerous teams, at least ten had leaders like Long Qingshui who were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection level. Yet, Li Xiuyuan, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, worked hard with his recruited team members and surpassed many other Foundation Establishment Great Perfection fellows, achieving eighth place on the team leaderboard. It truly wasn¡¯t easy. As such, if the competition were to end with their current results, his team¡¯s achievement would definitely secure a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Therefore, it was only natural for Li Xiuyuan to feel excited and satisfied with this outcome. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and the others all smiled and handed out a few compliments, which made the already delighted Li Xiuyuan burst into uproarious laughter. After a short while, the lively atmosphere finally settled down. At this moment, Li Xiuyuan took out several storage bags and handed them one by one to Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan, and others. Lin Tianming and the rest did not stand on ceremony and each accepted a storage bag, their faces soon displaying satisfaction upon inspection. Upon his inspection, Qin Xi¡¯s storage bag had an abundance of Demon Beast Corpses. Most of them were personally slain by her without support from others, so there were no complications, and the points she received were equivalent to the value. As for his own storage bag, it contained the perfectly preserved corpses of three Gale Rats, with the Demon Cores and Souls all intact. In addition, there were some materials from the Second Order Late Stage Beast that he supported Li Xiuyuan and Lu Qiao in killing. Although some of the Demon Beast Corpses weren¡¯t complete, after all, some beasts were jointly slain, and both parties had contributed, so they each needed to take some spoils of battle. Therefore, with the value of materials from a single beast differing, it wasn¡¯t easy to allocate, but Li Xiuyuan made up for it with items of equivalent value, even slightly more than the original value, ensuring they didn¡¯t suffer an obvious loss. In this way, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s distribution was relatively fair, and he showed tact by not being overly concerned with petty profits. His actions indeed resulted in Lin Tianming and the others having nothing to say and even feeling a sense of gratitude. With the spoils fully distributed, everyone was overjoyed as they began discussing potential competitors on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Li Xiuyuan said with a smile, ¡°Our first phase yields are fruitful. Now, let¡¯s see if everyone can continue to maintain this, striving for good results both in the team and individual rankings to secure a place in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Tang Liusheng nodded and chimed in. ¡°Daoist Li is right. In our team, both Daoist Lin and Daoist Hu have decent achievements,¡± he said. ¡°In the upcoming battles, if they slay a few more demonic beasts, it¡¯s possible that both could enter the top three together and secure a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ That¡¯s indeed possible!¡± He Qiancheng giggled as she began to share her analysis. ¡°Aside from those from our noble sect, these two rank fourth and fifth on the individual leaderboard, merely a difference of a few dozen points from the top three,¡± she said. ¡°Such a gap isn¡¯t much; it¡¯s equivalent to the points for a Second Order Late Stage Beast. As long as we seize the opportunity, they can certainly push their way in,¡± she added. Upon hearing this, Liu Zhen, who was usually quiet, also spoke up in agreement. ¡°Yes¡­ If that happens, our team would have two fellow cultivators securing spots. Just the thought of it is exciting!¡± he exclaimed. At this point, as everyone exchanged their thoughts, both Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming gave a wry smile. They knew that while such thoughts were pleasant, putting them into action would not be that easy. After all, the people ahead of them in ranking were very formidable in terms of cultivation strength, not the slightest bit inferior to Hu Yuan, and perhaps even stronger. Chapter 495 495 284 Transaction_1 ?Chapter 495: Chapter 284: Transaction_1 Chapter 495: Chapter 284: Transaction_1 Especially Zheng Xiao. He should be the only one among the many non-Zhenyang Sect cultivators who has reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. With such strength, even the always proud Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh with admiration. He was very clear about his own capabilities, if it was the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he might be able to compete without falling short. However, even though Foundation Establishment Great Perfection only seemed a small realm above the Ninth Level, and couldn¡¯t even be considered a full realm, the gap was still significant. Anyone who took that step, whether it was during the Qi Refinement Realm or the Foundation Establishment Stage, it meant that their spiritual power had reached the limit within that realm, and there was no possibility for further improvement. In such a situation, this small realm difference was like the difference between heaven and earth, and crossing over was not easy. ... Knowing this, Lin Tianming dared not be too ambitious; he didn¡¯t entertain the thought of pushing Zheng Xiao out of the top three. Instead, he set his sights on Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun, who were at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, as his targets to catch up to. Hu Yuan felt the same way, and he even considered Lin Tianming as a potential rival; however, that did not affect their cooperation. After all, Hu Yuan had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. The two working together would be safer in a big battle and could unleash stronger power, thereby achieving better rewards. Thinking of this, Hu Yuan had made up his mind. He planned to actively seek out Lin Tianming after the gathering was over to see if they could cooperate further. Half an hour later. Everyone ended the gathering, and Tang Liusheng and others said their goodbyes and left Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave residence together. Seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan getting up to leave, Li Xiuyuan quickly called out to them, seemingly having something to discuss. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan stopped in their tracks, looking puzzled, and retook their original seats. At this time, Li Xiuyuan smiled, took out a pot of Spiritual Tea, and brewed it anew, pouring a cup for each of them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, this is Second Order Medium Quality White Dew Tea, I normally wouldn¡¯t bring this out for just anyone, so you must savor it!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately became interested. He was very fond of Spiritual Tea, but Second Order Spiritual Tea was not commonly seen, and one would only have the chance to taste it when entertaining extremely important guests. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Hu, seems like we are in for a treat!¡± As soon as Lin Tianming¡¯s joking words fell, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression showed excitement, and he then spoke up. ¡°That¡¯s right, White Dew Tea is a rare variety. A pot of Spiritual Tea like this has effects comparable to several Fusion Spirit Pills, without any side effects!¡± Li Xiuyuan on the side nodded and urged: ¡°Fellow Daoists, don¡¯t be shy, please taste it!¡± Thereupon, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan no longer stood on ceremony and each lifted their jade cups to take a sip. Upon tasting the Spiritual Tea, its refreshing fragrance overwhelmed the senses, with a delightful sweetness amidst the bitterness, and the tea water also contained a gentle energy. Feeling a hot sensation in his Dantian, Lin Tianming¡¯s face gradually turned a flushed red. This peculiar sensation was extremely profound, with ancient and persistent energy, naturally flowing through the meridians, bringing utmost comfort. Soon, Lin Tianming calmed down and opened his mouth to offer praise. ¡°This Spiritual Tea, upon drinking, brings a fragrance that overwhelms the senses, bitterness with a hint of sweetness, and contains a gentle energy¡ªeven just a sip refreshes the spirit and saves decades of hard cultivation, truly a rare and commendable tea!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s evaluation, Hu Yuan nodded and also shared his opinion. ¡°Indeed, indeed¡­ I am also a lover of tea, and this tea is definitely a precious rarity among Second Order Spiritual Teas!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Since both of you seem so satisfied, feel free to drink more. I only hope you¡¯ll do your best to secure a spot on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard in the upcoming battles.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan nodded, understanding Li Xiuyuan¡¯s reason for keeping them behind. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan, to secure a spot, had a hard time contending with other teams on his own, and hence he was pulling them in to join forces. However, from any perspective, Lin Tianming and his peers saw no reason to refuse. After all, he and Hu Yuan themselves aimed to secure a spot. Therefore, they must make every effort, in order to score more points in the coming battles. And their performance would also be linked to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team, helping him to obtain a spot within the Zhenyang Sect. It could be said their goals were aligned and they were in the same boat. With this in mind, Lin Tianming responded with a cupped fist: ¡°Daoist Li, rest assured, even without you saying so, we would have tried our best anyway.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ gathering together, striving for the same goal, there¡¯s really no conflict.¡± Hu Yuan echoed. Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expression brightened with excitement, very satisfied with their attitude. At this moment, Hu Yuan smiled faintly, then spoke of his idea of traveling together with Lin Tianming. ¡°Daoist Lin, what do you think?¡± Lin Tianming pondered for a moment, feigning hesitation, then finally spoke: ¡°I have no objections!¡± ¡°However, regarding the spoils of battle, could Daoist Hu let me have the Monster Beast Souls in your possession, as well as those you will acquire later?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming agree, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression lit up with excitement. He was curious about why Lin Tianming wanted the Monster Beast Souls, but he didn¡¯t outright reject the request nor did he ask for an explanation. Regaining his composure, Hu Yuan said: ¡°Daoist Lin, I could let you have the Monster Beast Souls.¡± ¡°However, regarding other spoils of war, I hope you could let me have a larger share. If it¡¯s hard to divide, I don¡¯t mind taking a slight loss!¡± Chapter 496 496 284 Trade_2 ?Chapter 496: Chapter 284: Trade_2 Chapter 496: Chapter 284: Trade_2 Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded his head, his heart filled with satisfaction at Hu Yuan¡¯s statement. He himself had no intention of taking advantage, after all, Hu Yuan was a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator with formidable strength, a Loose Cultivator without any encumbrances, and it wasn¡¯t worth offending him over trivial gains. Since he agreed to his request and wasn¡¯t concerned about some small gain or loss, that was all the better. Returning to his senses, Lin Tianming clasped his fists in thanks and then said, ¡°Thank you, Daoist Hu.¡± ¡°In addition, if the two Daoist friends wish to sell the Second Order Demon Beast Souls you have, I am willing to exchange them for elixirs or Spirit Stones, and the price will definitely be fair!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan seemed to understand that Lin Tianming needed a large number of Second Order Demon Beast Souls and was willing to purchase them in bulk. However, the use of Demon Beast Souls wasn¡¯t very widespread, and they were only used in some special Magic Artifacts to enhance the power of the weapons, but during major battles, they could be consumed in great amounts. ... Thus, with such limitations, the value of Demon Beast Souls wasn¡¯t very high under normal circumstances, and during the year the Demon Beast Tide erupted, a large number of souls flooded the market, making it even harder to sell them at a good price. The value of the more than ten Second Order Demon Beast Souls held by the two of them would only decrease over time. Thinking of this, the two no longer intended to hold onto them, especially since their value wasn¡¯t very high, and it was a perfect opportunity to forge a bond with Lin Tianming. Making up their minds, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan each took out over ten Jade Bottles, with each bottle containing a Second Order Demon Beast Soul. Li Xiuyuan looked at the Jade Bottles and then handed them over to Lin Tianming without hesitation, showing no sign of distress. Immediately after, Li Xiuyuan said, ¡°Lin, please accept this small token as a gesture of goodwill from your brother!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Li is right, I have no use for these Demon Beast Souls, so since Lin needs them, I¡¯ll give them to you!¡± Hu Yuan laughed heartily and then likewise handed his Jade Bottles to Lin Tianming. ¡°This?¡± Lin Tianming looked at the Jade Bottles before him, and although he coveted them, he did not immediately take them. After hesitating for a moment, he took out some Second Order Monster Beast Inner Pellets from his storage bag, giving each person three as a trade for these souls. Seeing his actions, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan¡¯s faces reddened, and they feigned anger. Li Xiuyuan said with displeasure, ¡°Do you perhaps look down on us, Lin?¡± ¡°Li is right, not to boast, but even though we¡¯re not the strongest, there aren¡¯t many below the Golden Core Cultivators who surpass us in strength or wealth,¡± said Hu Yuan. ¡°And these few Demon Beast Souls are hardly worth mentioning. Lin, please don¡¯t be so modest, otherwise, it¡¯ll look bad!¡± Seeing that they had spoken to this extent, Lin Tianming no longer insisted, so as not to seem insincere and repulsive. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll not stand on ceremony, I thank you both in advance!¡± After accepting the Jade Bottles and clasping his fists in thanks, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll take these Demon Beast Souls; if you acquire more later, please be sure to reserve them for me.¡± ¡°At that time, I must exchange them for treasures of equivalent value; otherwise, I definitely won¡¯t accept them!¡± Listening to his words and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute expression, Hu Yuan didn¡¯t persist any longer. ¡°Well said, we¡¯ll do as Lin suggests!¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Given there are quite a few cultivators in our team, since Lin is in such need of Demon Beast Souls, I¡¯ll mention it to them and exchange their Demon Beast Souls for Demon Cores,¡± Li Xiuyuan said with a smile. Hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming became even more excited. A great amount of Demon Beast Souls would be available after this grand battle. Depending solely on their few people, the number of Second Order Demon Beast Souls they could get was limited. To significantly enhance the power of the Thousand Beast Banner, a vast quantity of souls was necessary. And Li Xiuyuan¡¯s offer was indeed a helpful reminder. With his help in collecting them, if he also established contact with a few other teams, he could indeed amass a large quantity of Demon Beast Souls in a short time, thereby increasing the power of the Thousand Beast Banner. Excited by these thoughts, Lin Tianming was eager to get started. ¡°Haha¡­ That¡¯s really a great help, thank you, Li!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded, as the leader of the team, such a small matter was really nothing to him, it was merely a matter of speaking up. Furthermore, not everyone needs the souls of demonic beasts; if they can be exchanged for more useful demon cores or artifact refining materials, it simply meets different needs. For those who have no use for the souls of the demonic beasts, there is no reason to refuse this trade. Refocusing his mind, Li Xiuyuan continued to entertain Lin and Hu Yuan, chatting over cups of spiritual tea. The three conversed for half an hour, exchanging a good deal of news and reaching many common understandings. Feeling the time was right, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan stood up to take their leave, planning to depart together from this place. Just then, three messages flew in simultaneously and stopped in front of them. After each had checked their messages, they exchanged smiles; it turned out to be an invitation from Lu Qiao for them to gather at the Welcome Pavilion. They had expected Lu Qiao to invite them in a few days, but to their surprise, it came so soon after the battle, which had only ended a few days ago. ¡°Since Brother Lu has invited us, why don¡¯t we all go to the feast together?¡± Li Xiuyuan said with a smile. ¡°Sure!¡± Lin and Hu Yuan nodded, and then the three of them stood up and left the cave abode, hurrying towards the street where the Welcome Pavilion was located. Before long¡­ In a private room on the second floor of the Welcome Pavilion, a massive stone table was already filled with fragrant and tempting dishes. At this moment, more than twenty cultivators were seated together, chatting. Aside from the late-stage cultivators in Lu Qiao¡¯s team, those attending the feast were the ones who had provided support during the big battle. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan sat together among the cultivators, talking and laughing, creating a very lively atmosphere. Seeing that all the invited guests had arrived, Lu Qiao stood up with his wine cup, and everyone gradually fell silent to listen to him. ¡°Hehe¡­ today we have a full house of distinguished guests, and I am both thrilled and honored!¡± ¡°Taking this opportunity with Brother Li present, I wish to express my gratitude to all the fellow Daoists for their generous assistance during the great battle¡­¡± From his high seat, Lu Qiao spoke sincerely, his expression and tone genuine, seemingly moved by the sentiment. Lin Tianming listened quietly, not caring much for these formalities. In his heart, such receptions were less practical than helping collect the souls of demonic beasts. With Lu Qiao¡¯s pleasantries over, he scanned the crowd and then raised his glass: ¡°Let me offer a toast to all of you!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, everyone, including Li Xiuyuan, picked up their cups and stood up to have a drink of spiritual wine together. As the spiritual wine, brewed from spiritual medicine, was consumed, its energy spread instantly, causing everyone involuntarily to flush with warmth. Then, under the hosting of Lu Qiao, everyone took their seats again and began tasting the dishes made from the flesh of demonic beasts. Having not eaten spirit beast meat for a long time since leaving his family, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back and began eating heartily. After three rounds of drinks and five courses of dishes, everyone ate and drank without restraint, immersing themselves in the food. During this time, they exchanged cultivation insights, discussed the Four Arts of Cultivation, and even shared various rumors and interesting stories from the world of cultivation, creating a lively atmosphere. Through their conversations, it was learned that Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team had become quite famous among the many teams. Being led by two Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators, and achieving such a high rank on the overall leaderboard, surprised and envied many. In addition, the names of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan spread throughout Yuyao City. For a time, they attracted the attention and discussion of many cultivators, as both of them were ranked high on the individual leaderboard. Especially Lin Tianming, who achieved such a dazzling result and won the gold medal with merely a Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation Realm, was indeed incredible to many. To this, Lin Tianming felt helpless; although he did not want to be high-profile, he had to display his strength to compete for a spot. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such circumstances, attracting attention was unavoidable and there was nothing that could be done about it. Seeing that the situation had reached this point and was unchangeable, Lin Tianming did not think too much about it and accepted it as it was. ¡­ Chapter 497 497 285 Refining the Thousand Beast ?Chapter 497: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_1 Chapter 497: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_1 Immediately following, Lin Tianming, in front of everyone, brought up the matter of exchanging demon beast inner pills for second order demon beast souls. Those seated here were either his teammates or people he had helped. Faced with such a mutually beneficial request, it quickly received everyone¡¯s consent. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and the cultivators reached an agreement on the details of the trade with remarkable smoothness. Lin Tianming was very pleased with this and looked forward to it greatly. As the banquet drew to a close, everyone was full and satisfied with the hospitality provided by Lu Qiao. At this moment, Li Xiuyuan took the lead in expressing gratitude to Lu Qiao and then requested to take his leave. ... Seeing this, Lu Qiao and Li Xiuyuan exchanged a few courtesies, followed by everyone asking to be excused and leaving the scene. Lu Qiao did not insist on detaining anyone and, after greeting them, left the Guest-Receiving Palace along with the crowd. Strolling leisurely down the streets of Yuyao City, Lin Tianming felt quite content. His day had been fulfilling; he had collected the spoils of the great battle, enjoyed the finest spiritual tea courtesy of Li Xiuyuan, and was still harboring a surge of energy within. Then, he accepted Lu Qiao¡¯s invitation to the banquet, indulged hugely in the delicacies, and secured a source for monster beast souls, reaping a rich harvest. On the streets, Lin Tianming appreciated the surrounding shops and soon returned to his own cave dwelling. ¡­ Inside the Guest-Receiving Palace. Lin Tianming stood with his hands clasped behind his back; it had been two days since he had gone to Zhenyang Hall to check the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Seeing that Qin Xi was still in closed-door cultivation and showed no sign of coming out, he did not wish to disturb her and planned to directly enter the training room for cultivation. As for the spoils of war that Li Xiuyuan had given him to bring over, he would hand them over when they met next; there was no need to rush. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming turned and headed towards the deeper training room. Just then, the door to Qin Xi¡¯s closed cultivation chamber opened, and that familiar silhouette appeared in his field of vision. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Qin Xi¡¯s face showed a flash of joy, but she quickly returned to calmness. ¡°Fairy Qin, what a coincidence that you have just finished your cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming greeted her with a smile and then took out the storage bag that Li Xiuyuan had entrusted to him and handed it to Qin Xi. ¡°This is from Li Xiuyuan for you, the spoils of your battle contributions. Take it and have a look!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, took the storage bag, and released her divine sense to inspect it, revealing a look of surprise. ¡°Lin, before we came to Yuyao City, we agreed on an even split of the spoils. Not only are the demon beast corpses in this storage bag intact, but their number is even slightly more than agreed.¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming frowned, recalling the agreement they had made initially. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the time, his proposal was more of a test; he wasn¡¯t truly concerned with the division of spoils. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about the initial agreement on the distribution. Your spoils of war are all yours; I don¡¯t want a single bit of it!¡± ¡°How can that be? We should divide it as agreed!¡± ¡°Although my strength is not great and the spoils I can obtain are limited, a promise once made must be kept!¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Qin Xi took out several second order monster beast inner pellets and some parts from demon beast corpses, almost half the value of the entire loot. She glanced at Lin Tianming¡¯s dumbfounded expression and unhesitatingly handed them over to him. Seeing her determination and that she had no intention of changing her mind, Lin Tianming felt quite satisfied with her actions. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming said calmly with a smile, ¡°Fairy Qin, let¡¯s do it this way. ¡°From this point on, and in the future, I¡¯ll only take monster beast souls from your spoils; everything else is yours. Can we agree on this?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi frowned and then inquired, ¡°The value of monster beast souls isn¡¯t high. Are you sure you¡¯re not at a loss?¡± Laughing heartily, Lin Tianming felt a bit helpless regarding Qin Xi¡¯s stubbornness. ¡°Fairy Qin, as a loose cultivator and a woman alone, it is not my style to take advantage of you. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss it further; it is decided!¡± Overwhelmed by Lin Tianming¡¯s assertive and incontrovertible words, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks flushed with color, and she was momentarily at a loss. Seeing that Qin Xi had no rebuttal, Lin Tianming felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± At this time, Lin Tianming chuckled mischievously, feeling very relaxed. ¡°Fairy Qin, quickly hand over my share of the monster beast souls, so that I may begin my cultivation right away!¡± Upon the prompting, the daydreaming Qin Xi, somewhat helplessly, took out a jade bottle containing the souls and handed it to Lin Tianming. Without being courteous, Lin Tianming took the jade bottle, exchanged a few pleasantries with Qin Xi, and advised her not to wander off unnecessarily. Qin Xi nodded, and then watched Lin Tianming stride away from the Guest-Receiving Palace toward his training room. As he departed, she stood there alone, a peculiar feeling welling up inside her. This sensation was strange, indescribable, and difficult to express. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± With flushed cheeks, Qin Xi let out a long sigh and then turned to leave the Guest-Receiving Palace. ¡­ Inside the training room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, with his hands together, engaging in his breathing exercises, and the even sound of his breath filled the training room. At this time, his body was filled with a great amount of energy, the result of the fine spiritual tea and spiritual wine he had consumed during the day¡¯s gathering and hadn¡¯t yet had time to refine. Chapter 498 498 285 Refining the Thousand Beast ?Chapter 498: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_2 Chapter 498: Chapter 285: Refining the Thousand Beast Banner_2 Now that he had some free time, Lin Tianming began to refine the stored energy within his body, trying his best to increase his cultivation. Under his methodical refinement, he saw the energy within his body gradually transform into spiritual power, converging within his Qi Sea Dantian through the meridians. At the same time, the spiritual power in his Dantian slowly increased, and his aura also rose gradually. Although it was hard to notice, he could still feel these subtle changes himself. Feeling this, Lin Tianming was excited and began to fully operate his cultivation technique, entering a deep state of cultivation. Several days passed quietly. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes leisurely and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. ... After several days of secluded cultivation, he had refined all the stored energy in his body, and his cultivation had increased significantly. Although there was still a long way to breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, the results of these few days of cultivation were at the very least equivalent to several months of arduous meditative cultivation. ¡°Hehe¡­ Li and Daoist Lu have hosted me well, and the effects and benefits of this Spiritual Tea and Spiritual Wine are not small, comparable to cultivating with elixirs!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then took out the Thousand Beast Banner from his storage bag and held it in his hand. He needed to begin with refining the energy inside him in order not to waste it, and now that the goal was achieved, it was time to seal the Monster Beast Souls into the Thousand Beast Banner. Having made up his mind, he immediately took out nearly a hundred Jade Bottles, most of which contained a soul of a Second Order Demonic Beast, with only a very few holding souls of First Order Demonic Beasts. Looking at so many decent-grade Monster Beast Souls, aside from about ten that were his own spoils of battle, the rest had all been acquired through exchanges or gifts. Before leaving his family, the Thousand Beast Banner had already been upgraded once, when his family obtained many Monster Beast Souls while resisting an attack by demonic beasts, which ultimately fell into his hands. However, although that batch of Monster Beast Souls was abundant, their quality fell far short of this current batch. In this batch of Monster Beast Souls, there were more than twenty from Second Order Late Phase beasts, with quite a few from Mid Stage, and the worst were from the Initial Stage of Second Order. Among the previous batch of souls, the majority were from First Order beasts, with only a small percentage from Second Order, and souls from Second Order Late-Stage beasts were particularly rare. Under these circumstances, if he were to seal these Monster Beast Souls into the Thousand Beast Banner, the increase in power should not be inferior to the improvement from the previous time. Thinking of this, and looking at these Second Order Monster Beast Souls, Lin Tianming was excited and somewhat impatient. Once he had calmed down, he immediately threw the Thousand Beast Banner in front of him, followed by several Law Decrees bombarding the banner. ¡°Hum hum hum¡­¡± The banner glowed brilliantly, then hovered above his head, spinning rapidly around him. Seeing that the time was about right, he took a luminous orb from the Jade Bottle and held it in his palm. This orb contained the soul of an Initial Stage Second Order demon beast, its semi-transparent form snarling and struggling as it looked at him. However, the struggle was meaningless, as such a beast would not be his match even in life, let alone in death. Watching the angry and resentful beast soul struggling, he certainly had no pity in his heart. Despite the beast soul¡¯s roars, he released a Law Decree from his hand and then decisively sent it into the Thousand Beast Banner. As a beam of light flashed by, the Thousand Beast Banner trembled slightly, seeming very pleased with the entry of the Monster Beast Soul. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not pause; he continued to imprint inscription upon inscription, the glow on the Thousand Beast Banner growing brighter and emanating spirituality. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand movements were relentless, not paying any attention to these changes. In less than half an hour, the Thousand Beast Banner stopped spinning and quietly hovered above his head. The first Monster Beast Soul was successfully sealed inside, and Lin Tianming held the Thousand Beast Banner in his hand to examine it. Feeling the increased aura and inherent spirituality of the banner compared to before, it had obviously improved. That was just from one Initial Stage Second Order Monster Beast Soul, and the Thousand Beast Banner had already shown significant changes; how much would its power increase if all these souls were sealed inside? It was hard to imagine! Thinking of this, he felt very satisfied and looked forward with even more anticipation. Looking at the vast number of Monster Beast Souls remaining, he planned to strike while the iron was hot, until all the souls were sealed inside. Having made up his mind, the movements in his hands started anew. Familiar with the process, he began supplementing them again, and the speed and efficiency of the sealing improved significantly. At that time, inside the cultivation room, the sealing of Monster Beast Souls was in full swing, and every half hour or an hour, a flash of light would pass over the body of the Thousand Beast Banner. Simultaneously, the color on its body became more vivid and its aura increasingly powerful. ¡­ Half a month passed. Inside the cultivation room, Lin Tianming held five dark green flags in his hand, his expression brimming with excitement. After half a month of refining, nearly a hundred Second Order Monster Beast Souls were all sealed within the Thousand Beast Banner. Now, the color on the Thousand Beast Banner was even more vivid and bright, and its aura was incredibly substantial, a great difference from before, making it obvious at a glance that it was no ordinary object. Though the Thousand Beast Banner was still of a Second Order Low Grade, due to the sealing of numerous powerful Monster Beast Souls, its might had increased tremendously. At that moment, Lin Tianming clenched the Thousand Beast Banner in his hand, silently guessing if its power could compare to the Tiangang Sword. Upon reflection, the Tiangang Sword was of a Second Order Medium Quality, and it was specially custom-made for him by Lin Shilu using many precious materials. Besides, the Tiangang Sword had been through many battles, making it handy in use and his primary method against enemies; its offensive power went without saying. While the Thousand Beast Banner was of a slightly lower grade and more of a restraining artifact, its offensive power naturally couldn¡¯t match that of the Tiangang Sword. In the past, the Monster Beast Souls sealed in the Thousand Beast Banner were too weak and not numerous, so it hadn¡¯t been used much. However, now that it had received a supplement of Monster Beast Souls, its grade might not rise, but its power had reached the limit for a Second Order Low Grade Artifact. Such an artifact, when facing particular opponents or during chaotic battles, could both attack and restrain the enemy, possibly producing unexpected effects. At this time, Lin Tianming fondly touched the Thousand Beast Banner, muttering to himself, ¡°If there¡¯s an opportunity later, I must ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help raise the grade of the Thousand Beast Banner.¡± ¡°With the Monster Beast attack this time, Monster Beast Souls were easy to obtain. If I truly seal tens of thousands of Monster Beast Souls, its power might be comparable to a Second Order Superior Artifact.¡± With these thoughts, Lin Tianming was quite excited and very satisfied with the results of the refining. Managing to contain his excitement, he put away the Thousand Beast Banner, planning to test its actual power the next time there was a great battle. At this moment, he sat down on the floor, lost in thought. Over twenty days had passed since the first battle. During this period, Yuyao City was quite peaceful, and he had spent the majority of his time in closed-door cultivation, receiving no summons to battle. It seemed the Demon Beast Army posed no significant threat; otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t have been complete silence. He just didn¡¯t know what the Demon Beast Army¡¯s next move would be, nor what arrangements the Golden Core Cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect had in store! ¡°Sigh¡­ It¡¯s been several months since I left my family, I wonder how things are at Luoyun Mountain, whether Grandpa Sea has made a breakthrough?¡± ¡°Enough of that¡­ I¡¯ll go out and gather some information later!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself with a worried look on his face. Bringing his mind back to the present, he got up, tidied the cultivation room, and then stepped out. Before long, after leaving his cave residence, he strolled through the streets inside Yuyao City. With the goal of gathering information, he went to the busier commercial district. As he wandered, he overheard some conversations among Qi Refining Cultivators, but none contained any noteworthy information. It was quite normal; these people¡¯s cultivation was not high, and they were unlikely to know about critical information. To really understand the situation, he needed to visit the Zhenyang Sect cultivators or those shops with deep backgrounds. With this in mind, he turned around and headed towards the location of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 499 499 286 News_1 ?Chapter 499: Chapter 286: News_1 Chapter 499: Chapter 286: News_1 Sky Dragon Pavilion, ground floor hall. At this moment, the place was bustling with noise, as a large number of cultivators strolled inside, and the atmosphere seemed lively. Lin Tianming stepped in, casting a glance around the ground floor hall. Seeing his imposing entrance, a Qi Refining cultivator immediately approached to greet him. ¡°Welcome to our establishment, this humble one is Tang Jinhua. It¡¯s an honor to meet the elder!¡± Hearing this, and looking at the respectfully clasping-handed and neither overbearing nor servile Tang Jinhua, he indeed had the demeanor of a Tang Family member. Lin Tianming nodded, then gestured with a wave of his hand as a greeting. ... ¡°Elder, if you have any requests, just mention them. If I can resolve them, I certainly will not be stingy, and if not, you may discuss them with the store owner.¡± ¡°Store owner?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained calm, for he was out to casually explore and learn about the situation in Yuyao City. Coming to the Sky Dragon Pavilion, he had also intended to visit the person in charge of this establishment and inquire about news of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Since Tang Jinhua brought it up, he seized the opportunity to express his wish to visit. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Tang, my young friend, who is the person in charge of this establishment? Could you please take me to meet them?¡± ¡°Elder, may I ask who you are?¡± Tang Jinhua looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s face and tentatively asked, seemingly trying to ascertain his identity. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, and then revealed his identity. ¡°I am Lin Tianming, a member of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, and a good friend of your family¡¯s Tang Xiuyuan in the Qianchuan Market!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming declare his identity and his connection with a member of their Tang Family, Tang Jinhua immediately became much more accommodating. Besides, Lin Tianming¡¯s name and his prominent achievements on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard were recently hot topics among cultivators. Although he was just a cultivator with Qi Refining cultivation, he paid close attention to the significant events in Yuyao City and was of course aware of the great reputation of Lin Tianming and the Lin Family. With these thoughts, Tang Jinhua smiled and his tone became much more respectful. ¡°It turns out to be Elder Lin from Luoyun Mountain, and even a friend of my clan uncle. I have been disrespectful!¡± ¡°Not at all, not at all, Tang, my young friend, there¡¯s no need for formalities!¡± Lin Tianming smiled and waved his hand before adding, ¡°I¡¯m here today with the main purpose of visiting the person in charge of this establishment. I hope, Tang, my young friend, you can make the introduction!¡± ¡°Please follow me, Elder Lin!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Tang Jinhua took the lead, walking through the main hall and guiding Lin Tianming through a passageway to the second floor. In no time, the two arrived in front of a private room on the second floor. At that moment, Tang Jinhua sent out a message, and soon the room¡¯s restrictive spells were lifted, and they both entered, one after the other. Upon entering the room, they saw a middle-aged cultivator sitting inside. He turned around without speaking, just appraising Lin Tianming. The middle-aged cultivator wore a blue robe embroidered with a small mountain on the chest, which must be the Tang Family of Qingzhou¡¯s clan emblem. His aura was quite reserved, with only a faint trace showing sporadically. Those with much weaker cultivation or insufficient Divine Sense would find it hard to detect. However, Lin Tianming was already at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, and his Divine Sense was certainly not weaker than a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. He caught the slight traces of the man¡¯s aura. Based on his estimation, this person¡¯s cultivation was likely at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, definitely not inferior to Tang Xiuyuan, who was also in charge of a shop. While he was absorbed in his thoughts, the store owner clasped his hands and took the initiative to break the silence. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I am Tang Xiuhe, in charge of the Sky Dragon Pavilion in Yuyao City. I pay my respects to Daoist Lin!¡± ¡°Daoist Tang, you¡¯re too polite. I am Lin Tianming from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family, a good friend of Tang Xiuyuan. I hope you¡¯ll forgive my unsolicited visit today,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. ¡°Haha¡­ not at all¡­ Daoist Lin, your talent is extraordinary, and your reputation now echoes throughout the entire Yuyao City. You¡¯re well known to everyone!¡± Tang Xiuhe said with a laugh, then gestured for Tang Jinhua to leave and immediately invited Lin Tianming to sit down for tea. As Tang Jinhua left, only Lin Tianming and Tang Xiuhe remained in the private room. At this point, Tang Xiuhe directly asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions. Seeing his straightforwardness, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t intend to withhold anything. He took a sip from his tea cup before saying, ¡°Daoist Tang, with your noble family¡¯s deep resources and excellent information network within the Cultivation World, might you share some news, especially regarding the situation around Qianchuan Market?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Daoist Tang, I will not let you exert effort for nothing. Whatever the cost in Spirit Stones, I shall pay as usual!¡± Upon hearing these words, Tang Xiuhe¡¯s expression remained steady; he neither refused nor took up the offer. After a brief silence, he finally spoke, ¡°Daoist Lin, you needn¡¯t be reserved. Since you and my clan brother are good friends, it¡¯s no issue to share some news with you, especially since this information will soon be public knowledge in the Cultivation World anyway!¡± Elated by Tang Xiuhe¡¯s willingness to share some news, Lin Tianming managed to regain his composure and did not rush him, so as not to breach decorum. Tang Xiuhe, observing Lin Tianming, was quite satisfied internally. His willingness to share the news was not only due to the Lin Family¡¯s reputation but also because he recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s exceptional talent and strength. With Lin Tianming¡¯s rise to prominence in the ongoing conflict, it was certainly worth fostering a connection with him. After all, he was merely an outer disciple of the Tang Family, and although he managed the Sky Dragon Pavilion in Yuyao City, his cultivation and strength meant little amidst the multitude of powerful members within the Tang Family. Chapter 500 500 286 News_2 ?Chapter 500: Chapter 286: News_2 Chapter 500: Chapter 286: News_2 Apart from that, if he wanted to obtain clan resources for cultivation and make further progress, he had to contribute first. Therefore, he needed to expand his network and manage the Sky Dragon Pavilion well. As long as he broke through to the Golden Core Stage, he would also enter the higher echelons of the family. Under such circumstances, making friends with cultivators of strong talent and strength was something every member of the Tang Family was eager to do. For this reason, using some prophetic information to gain the support of these cultivators was a bargain too good to miss. Thinking of this, Tang Xiuhe had no reservations, and immediately began to speak. ¡°Daoist Lin, the beast tide attack in Qingzhou is now in full swing.¡± ¡°The main battlefield in Yuanzhen Kingdom sees a major battle erupting every now and then. As the Human Race¡¯s army strikes back, both sides suffer losses. The Demon Beast Army has not spread further but has also not retreated.¡± ... ¡°At this rate of attrition, unless something unexpected happens, the defeat of the Demon Beast Army is just a matter of time.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Demon Beast Army had not retreated, from the current situation, the Human Cultivators were prepared and had organized a large number of cultivators to rush to the battlefield. If things continued this way, even if the beast tide¡¯s attack worsened, the effect would not be devastating. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming continued to ask, ¡°Daoist Tang, since things have stabilized in Yuanzhen Kingdom, there shouldn¡¯t be too much impact on the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, right?¡± ¡°How about the overall situation on the side of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World?¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, Tang Xiuhe picked up the conversation. ¡°Hehe¡­ Wei Kingdom?¡± ¡°The Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, along with the progress in Yuyao City, have temporarily narrowed the overall strength gap between the two sides, which is quite a surprise!¡± ¡°However, the situations in Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect are not looking optimistic. The Human Cultivators are at an absolute disadvantage, but it is not yet a rout!¡± Hearing this news, Lin Tianming, who had only just calmed down, felt his heart suspended once again. In his heart, if the weakest among the three Great Sects, Zhenyang Sect, could achieve a victory and pull themselves to an evenly matched position, Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, with their longer heritage and thicker annals of strength, surely should be at least doing better than Zhenyang Sect. To think that they were actually performing worse than Zhenyang Sect was completely unexpected. Returning to his senses, wearing a puzzled expression, Lin Tianming inquired. ¡°Daoist Tang, it is said that Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect are stronger. Families in their areas also have higher overall strength. Although the Demon Beast Army is more formidable, they shouldn¡¯t be completely inactive, right?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Tang Xiuhe replied with a resigned smile, somewhat dismissive of Lin Tianming¡¯s doubts. ¡°Daoist Lin, you are not aware of the whole picture.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect have greater overall strength, and the scale of the demonic beasts is also larger.¡± ¡°The lack of progress is due to the people, due to the human leaders and participants.¡± ¡°You must understand, they do not possess the desperate courage like Zhenyang Sect; all have ulterior motives, aiming to preserve their own strength, and the results are as you might expect.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming actually agreed. The leaders on the Yuyao City side, such as Chen Jingtian, and Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun, were indeed decisive and had invested considerable effort and resources before and after the battle. Caught off guard by such a fierce offensive, the Demon Beast Army suffered a setback and lost the initiative. The intense response was likely because Zhenyang Sect understood the situation and pressure here and dared not hold back. Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, apparently too arrogant and manipulative, missed the prime opportunity and thus the army of cultivators fell into a disadvantageous position. Looking at it this way, such an outcome was indeed understandable and served as a lesson. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming fall silent, Tang Xiuhe offered a word of comfort. ¡°Daoist Lin, you need not be pessimistic. In my view, Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect do indeed have formidable strength, and if they really got serious, sparing no expense, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to defeat the demonic beasts.¡± Lin Tianming nodded. Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect weren¡¯t his concern; as long as they didn¡¯t affect Yuyao City and the Luoyun Mountain, that would suffice. Thinking of the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a touch of melancholy, filled with a sense of longing. ¡°Daoist Tang, how is the situation with the Luoyun Mountain Range, where my Lin Family resides? Has there been any news?¡± Lin Tianming asked. ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Lin worries too much!¡± ¡°At present, the main force of the Demon Beast Army in the Wei Kingdom is entangled with the Three Great Sects. Unless one is near the main battlefield, most other places are actually quite tranquil and safe, with hardly any strong demonic beasts causing chaos!¡± Before the words were finished, Lin Tianming asked anxiously, ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°True? It is indeed so at the moment!¡± Tang Xiuhe responded affirmatively. Then he changed the subject, saying, ¡°However, no one can predict the movements of the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°If the Demon Beast Army changes their plan and begins targeting the territories of various families, it will depend on the choices and response speeds of the different Great Sects!¡± Hearing this information and analysis, Lin Tianming nodded, his heart involuntarily releasing a sigh of relief. His greatest concern remained with his family. As for the demonic beasts changing their plans to attack those families, in the short term, it likely wouldn¡¯t pose a great threat to the Lin Family. After all, Yuyao City was no short distance from the Luoyun Mountain Range, separated by several vast mountain ranges. Any sudden incidents would first affect them. The life and death of others had little to do with the Lin Family; at most, they would offer some assistance. ¡°Hehe¡­ Although the Luoyun Mountain Range is remote and barren, it is quite safe at times like these. There are bigger concerns to deal with before it comes to the Lin Family¡¯s turn to take action!¡± Muttering this to himself, the melancholy on Lin Tianming¡¯s face faded, and he appeared quite spirited. At this moment, he looked at Tang Xiuhe with an expression of gratitude. Without hesitation, he took out three thousand spirit stones from his storage bag, ready to give them to Tang Xiuhe as a token of his thanks. ¡°Daoist Tang, I¡¯m very grateful for the information you¡¯ve provided. Please do not disdain this small token of appreciation!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming handed over the spirit stones with utmost sincerity. Seeing his gesture, Tang Xiuhe waved his hand and smiled, making a gesture of refusal. ¡°Daoist Lin, there¡¯s no need for courtesy. This news will soon spread throughout Yuyao City, even across the Cultivation World. It¡¯s not worth such a sum!¡± ¡°Furthermore, before I spoke, I had no intention of asking for any reward, and I certainly won¡¯t now.¡± ¡°Besides, Daoist Lin is exceptionally talented, and you are also friends with my clan member. You really don¡¯t have to be so courteous!¡± Hearing this and seeing that Tang Xiuhe did not appear to be pretentious, Lin Tianming did not insist further. However, he felt that it was proper to express his gratitude somehow, and not doing so would seem unappreciative. With that in mind, Lin Tianming praised, ¡°Daoist Tang is truly magnanimous and understands the greater good. I admire you immensely.¡± ¡°I will remember your advice today, and should you ever find yourself in difficulty, please feel free to mention it. If I am capable, I will not hesitate to help.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ certainly, certainly!¡± Tang Xiuhe laughed heartily, very satisfied with Lin Tianming¡¯s attitude, and was secretly glad he had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of the exceptionally talented Lin Tianming and even have him owe a small favor. At that moment, he poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for Lin Tianming with a smile and then started to chat leisurely with him. After a short while, The two exchanged quite a bit of news. Having achieved the purpose of his visit, Lin Tianming had the thought of bidding farewell. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming stood up, cupped his fists towards Tang Xiuhe, and then announced his departure. ¡°Daoist Tang, it¡¯s getting late, and I must leave now. I am deeply grateful for your generous hospitality today!¡± ¡°There will be other days ahead. Should you have the chance, please visit my cave dwelling so that I may return your kindness in kind!¡± ¡°Good words, good words. I will surely call upon you if I have the chance. Seeing as you are busy, Daoist Lin, I won¡¯t keep you any longer. Let me escort you out!¡± Tang Xiuhe replied, then walked out of the secret chamber with Lin Tianming, personally seeing him to the grand hall on the first floor. Lin Tianming bowed his thanks, and under Tang Xiuhe¡¯s watchful gaze, he disappeared into the crowd. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 501 501 287 Assault Again_1 ?Chapter 501: Chapter 287: Assault Again_1 Chapter 501: Chapter 287: Assault Again_1 Yuyao City. In Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, within a training room, he sat cross-legged with his hands clasped, deeply immersed in cultivation. After returning to his cave dwelling from the Sky Dragon Pavilion, he immediately began a closed-door cultivation, which had now lasted half a month. During this period, he had not left his dwelling, dedicating himself to cultivation and preparing for another great battle. At that moment, the stillness of his sitting meditation was quietly broken by the sound of a bell tolling. ¡°The assembly bell tolls, it¡¯s been quiet for quite a while, the demon beasts must be on the move again!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, then swiftly rose to his feet and left his cave dwelling. ... Outside, Qin Xi had been waiting for him. Seeing him emerge, she promptly approached him. ¡°Lin, could it be that the demon beasts are about to attack Yuyao City again?¡± Qin Xi asked with a grave expression. ¡°It must be so!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response. ¡°Since the end of the first great battle, more than a month has passed. With their ferocious nature, the demon beasts would certainly not retreat so easily.¡± ¡°Their return, in my view, is also within expectations!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi nodded, knowing the situation was such, but she had not expected the demon beasts to return so soon. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The situation is still unknown, but since the assembly bell has sounded, let¡¯s first go to the city walls and see!¡± Lin Tianming said calmly, then turned to leave the cave dwelling. Qin Xi sighed with resignation and immediately turned to follow his steps, the two of them departing the dwelling together and heading off into the distance. Shortly after, the two arrived atop the city walls of Yuyao City. By then, a large number of cultivators had gathered at this location. On the streets within the city, cultivators swarmed like locusts, still with a great many rushing towards this side. Li Xiuyuan and most of the teammates had already arrived, all gathered in one area of the city wall. Lin Tianming, accompanied by Qin Xi, slowly approached them and soon reached their presence. Seeing the teammates all looking ahead, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t have the time to greet them. Like the other teammates, he too focused his attention on the situation outside Yuyao City. Looking out, at that moment, on the plain several miles away from the city, the demon beast army had reassembled, led unquestionably by the fearsome Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Apart from that strongest being, all six of the previously seen Third Order demon beasts were present here. In the previous battle, two Third Order beasts were injured by the Spirit Arts unleashed by Chen Jingtian and others. Now, judging by the appearance of the two beasts, their wounds seemed to have mostly healed. Judging by their aura, although not at their peak, their strength remained formidable. ¡­ Inside the pavilion atop the city wall. With the discovery of the demon beast army, Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu were among the first to receive the news, and they quickly arrived at this place. At this time, the four Golden Core Cultivators stood side by side, and including the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the walls, everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on the demon beast army outside the Formation, expressions of apprehension on their faces. As for the numerous Qi Refining Cultivators in the city plaza, lacking sufficient Divine Sense and eyesight, they couldn¡¯t penetrate the Formation to clearly see the demon beast army several miles away. In such a situation, they all gathered in the plaza, unaware of what was happening outside the city, left only to speculate and discuss quietly among themselves. At this moment, Lin Tianming was still surveying the opposing demon beast army. While the others showed signs of apprehension, his expression appeared more composed. From his observation, the scale of the demon beast army this time hadn¡¯t changed much from before; there was only a slight increase in numbers. Fortunately, it was still the same few Third Order beasts, and overall, it was mostly those who had survived the previous battle, with little change in their overall strength. Seeing this, Lin Tianming slowly let out a breath, not overly pessimistic about the upcoming battle. After all, in the last battle, the Human Cultivators had emerged victorious, killing two Third Order demons, and injuring two Third Order demon beasts, bringing both sides¡¯ overall strength back to an even keel. Given such a disadvantage, the Human Cultivators had still managed to win; now, with the protection of the Defensive Array and the peak condition of the cultivators¡¯ strength. It could be said that the overall strength of the Human Race now was in no way inferior to the demon beast army. Under such conditions, there was no reason to fail in the upcoming battle. However, his optimism was entirely based on the information he got from Tang Xiuhe; if not for that, he might not have been so hopeful. Because the Wei Kingdom was relatively isolated and not the main battlefield of the beast tide, the strength of the demon beast army here was quite limited. The longer the siege dragged on, the weaker their attacks would become. With time on their side, and the cunning strategies of the Human Cultivators, it was only a matter of time before the demon beasts would retreat. Regaining his composure, he turned his head to look in Chen Jingtian¡¯s direction, curious to see the response and plans from the leader of the Human Cultivators. Inside the pavilion atop the city wall. Chen Jingtian glancing at the motionless demon beast army opposite him, seemed relieved that they had no immediate plans to attack. Then, turning to look at Wang Hengqiu and the others, he spoke, ¡°The demon beast army seems poised to launch an attack, what are my Martial Brothers¡¯ thoughts?¡± Hearing his inquiry, Wang Hengqiu pondered for a moment, then spoke his thoughts. ¡°Chen Junior Brother, we had the advantage in the last battle and achieved a rich military success, indeed leveling the field for the Human Race,¡± he said. ¡°However, the overall strength of the demon beast army remains robust, not least the strength of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, which are quite troublesome to deal with.¡± Chapter 502 502 287 The Second Assault_2 ?Chapter 502: Chapter 287: The Second Assault_2 Chapter 502: Chapter 287: The Second Assault_2 ¡°Under such circumstances, the situation ahead is still severe, and we need to exercise caution,¡± As soon as the voice fell, the taciturn Zhu Yun echoed the sentiment. ¡°Wang is right. It¡¯s been calm for over a month. During this time, the Demon Beast Army must have been adjusting their condition and healing their wounds. Now that they¡¯ve recovered, they are ready to attack again.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our own substantial consumption and lack of certainty in a decisive battle, otherwise, we would have wiped out these monsters before they had a chance to recover.¡± Hearing these words, Chen Jingtian nodded his head, remembering the scenes from the first battle. At that time, after the first battle ended, the consumption of the Human Cultivators, especially the few Golden Core Cultivators, was too great, leaving them with scarcely any spiritual power. You could say they were completely out of condition. The consumption of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who were the backbone of their power, was also not small, with many cultivators heavily wounded. In a fight, they could not last as long as the Demonic Beasts. Otherwise, taking advantage of the victory and following through with a chase, since the Demon Beast Army was weary from battling, they might have actually been able to expand their victory, or even completely crush them. ... But the Human Cultivators couldn¡¯t take risks. Without this geographical advantage and facing considerable exhaustion, a hasty chase could lead to an unexpected accident, potentially widening the gap they had so difficultly narrowed once again. In that case, it would be too passive. Precisely because of this, they didn¡¯t act rashly, but stuck to a steady approach, as the Human Cultivators could afford the consumption. Returning to the present, Chen Jingtian looked at the eager Demon Beast Army and then began to speak, ¡°What you said is right. Although we won a victory before, the Demonic Beasts are well aware that they still hold the initiative.¡± ¡°To expect a single victory to deter them is unrealistic!¡± ¡°In this situation, the Demonic Beasts won¡¯t retreat easily. In my opinion, we need at least two more significant victories before there¡¯s a chance they will recognize the difficulty and retreat.¡± Upon hearing this, Lan Yu nodded and then offered a compliment. ¡°Chen has analyzed it well. We must face reality. However, I believe that under Chen¡¯s leadership, the upcoming battles will still be ours to win!¡± As the youngest Golden Core Cultivator of the Zhenyang Sect and the one with the least authority, flattering a bit at this moment could help to bridge relations. ¡°Haha¡­ Lan speaks well. With Chen strategizing, the Demon Beast Army is no cause for concern,¡± Zhu Yun laughed appreciation. Having said that, Chen Jingtian waved his hand with a smile, feeling inwardly gratified. Collecting his thoughts, he looked at the several people present and expressed his satisfaction with their grandeur. Then, getting straight to the point, he said, ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s set the jokes aside and discuss our countermeasures!¡± ¡°Wang, as the eldest among us with rich experience, why don¡¯t you share your thoughts?¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian calling upon him, Wang Hengqiu remained calm and considered the matter for a moment, also feeling undecided. However, the current situation was unavoidable; they would have to face the battle sooner or later. ¡°Chen, looking at the current situation, if we do not engage in battle, the Defensive Great Formation will last at most a month. After that, we still cannot avoid a major battle, and acting hastily will put us in a disadvantageous position,¡± said Wang Hengqiu. ¡°It¡¯s better to be well-prepared in advance, maybe even repeat the trick, and further weaken the power of the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°As long as we take the advantage several times, once we have fully gained the upper hand, then we can come out in full force and completely eliminate the Demonic Beasts.¡± Upon hearing these words, Chen Jingtian and the others all nodded in agreement, highly approving of Wang Hengqiu¡¯s views. In their minds, Wang Hengqiu, having lived for over four hundred years, was rightfully simple and steady in his style, with a composed demeanor that was fitting for moments like these, capable of offering incisive and reasonable advice. At this time, Chen Jingtian was also pondering internally about what goals to set for this critical battle and how much loss they could withstand. After all, in the previous battle, their capacity for a full retreat was crucially dependent on the use of a Spirit Art. And now, the Spirit Art had been used already; it would be unfeasible to employ it again for at least a year, and furthermore, the Demonic Beasts were now on guard. Without this powerful trump, how could they withstand the pursuit of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion when they decided to retreat? After deliberating for a while and being fully aware of the power of the Demonic Beasts, he had no great strategy to cope with them. Snapping back to reality, he asked, ¡°Engaging in battle is naturally not a problem, but when we retreat, we will inevitably be obstructed by the Demonic Beasts. How then do we withstand the pursuit of the Demonic Beasts at that time?¡± At these words, the normally composed Wang Hengqiu also found himself at a loss for a secure solution. At that moment, everyone was silent, all deep in thought over the most critical issue. Chen Jingtian was also hesitating, his own strength was not weak, and in his earlier years, he had acquired a powerful weapon, one he was reluctant to use unless absolutely necessary. However, at this point, the situation was quite thorny, and if things became truly dire, he would have no choice but to use his concealed tactics. While he thought this, Wang Hengqiu and the others were unaware. But having cultivated to the Golden Core Stage, which one of them wasn¡¯t cunning and deep? Aside from the obvious tactics, each had their own hidden trump cards. It all depended on the situation, whether they were willing to reveal them when backed into a corner. At this time, amidst the imbued silence, Chen Jingtian and the others had different expressions, each running their own calculations. After an unknown amount of time, several roars snapped everyone back to reality. Looking over, the Demon Beast Army had already formed up, led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, it appeared they were ready to attack the Defensive Array. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression became solemn, his heart seemingly making a resolute decision. ¡°Fellow brothers, it seems the demonic beasts won¡¯t give us a chance to consider our options or countermeasures. Since a decisive battle is inevitable, let¡¯s confront this horde of beasts,¡± he announced. As his voice fell, Wang Hengqiu and the others furrowed their brows, their faces showing a hesitant expression. Seeing the reaction of the crowd, Chen Jingtian changed his tone, and with a laugh, he added, ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± ¡°I know everyone has their own cards to play and tactics to use. At this critical moment, I hope no one holds back. If we eliminate these Third Order Demon Beasts, all losses will be replenished, and we might even come out ahead,¡± he said. Hearing these straightforward words, Wang Hengqiu and the others had awkward expressions on their faces. But they were all shrewd people. With things having come this far, and being from the same sect with over a hundred years of camaraderie, they were well aware of each other¡¯s schemes. Having cultivated to the Golden Core Stage, none of them were fools, all holding back some of their trump cards to tide over an emergency. And Chen Jingtian, being the strongest among them, was the first to broach the subject and willing to go all out for the battle. Under these circumstances, any further hesitation from them would seem rather unappreciative. Considering this, Wang Hengqiu made up his mind and was the first to express his readiness to fight with all his might. Seeing the elder Wang Hengqiu take a stance, Zhu Yun did not hesitate either and agreed to go all out. At that time, Lan Yu, being the weakest, naturally wouldn¡¯t fall behind, lest he be looked down upon by the others. Soon, Chen Jingtian and the others reached an internal consensus and prepared to lead the Cultivators¡¯ army to meet the enemy, aiming to further weaken the beasts¡¯ strength. With a unified front, Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu discussed some details and arrangements with each other. Shortly thereafter, at that point, Chen Jingtian gazed at the ready Cultivators and his loud voice spread throughout Yuyao City. ¡°Fellow cultivators, the demonic beasts are attacking once again. This battle is unavoidable. To drive them back swiftly, a few of us have decided to go all out. Are you willing to give your all as well?¡± he asked. Hearing his words, the numerous cultivators below responded, and the scene became incredibly noisy for a time. ¡°The seniors¡¯ strengths are formidable, willing to risk their lives for the Cultivation World is truly admirable,¡± they said. ¡°Though we juniors may lack in strength, our resolve is no weaker than that of our seniors; of course, we wish to follow the seniors¡¯ steps and fight to the death against the demonic beasts,¡± they declared. ¡­ In the pavilion atop the city walls, Chen Jingtian¡¯s speech had secured the Cultivators¡¯ support and ignited their battle spirit. And as Wang Hengqiu and the others heard the flattering words and resolute statements of many Cultivators, they all showed satisfied expressions. ¡­ S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 503 503 288 Old Tricks Repeated_1 ?Chapter 503: Chapter 288: Old Tricks Repeated_1 Chapter 503: Chapter 288: Old Tricks Repeated_1 A little less than half an hour passed quietly. On the vast field outside the city, a multitude of demonic beasts glared at Yuyao City in the distance, growling furiously. Tens of thousands of demonic beasts roared in unison, the sound deafening, so much so that even within Yuyao City several miles away, it could be heard loud and clear. This massive scene and momentum invisibly created a tremendous pressure on those Qi Refining Cultivators within Yuyao City who were unaware of the circumstances. ¡­ Atop the city walls within the city. As Chen Jingtian¡¯s words ignited the cultivators¡¯ fighting spirit, the cultivators quickly assembled in a very short time. ... At this moment, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, among others, came back to their senses, greeted each other, and chatted casually for a moment. As the leader of their team, just before the outbreak of the impending great battle, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expression became slightly solemn. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, upon seeing that only a little over forty people remained in his team, his expression eased considerably. After the last great battle, their team had suffered minimal losses and had thus achieved significant results. Some teams were in dire straits, with more than half of them wounded or killed, and there were many weaker teams that had been reduced to just a few people, almost in name only. Thinking of these circumstances, Li Xiuyuan felt much calmer, and looking again at his teammates, he clasped his fists and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists.¡± ¡°As Elder Chen has already said, the great battle is inevitable. We¡¯re about to face another fierce fight, and I hope we can once again unite and cooperate to achieve rich battle results!¡± ¡°Moreover, there¡¯s no need for everyone to worry too much, after all, the number of demonic beasts has greatly decreased. This battle should be somewhat easier than the last one.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming and others nodded, and the expressions of some Cultivators at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment looked much better. Seeing the change in many of the cultivators¡¯ expressions, Li Xiuyuan let out a long sigh of relief, then turned his gaze to the Demon Beast Army outside the city. ¡­ At this moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion lost its patience as it looked at the still quiet Yuyao City. It had thought that its roaring and clamoring would draw the Human Cultivators out to battle. Little did it know that the high-ranking Human Cultivators were indeed planning to respond to the challenge. In such a situation, if the Demon Beast Army did not take the initiative to attack and forcibly assault the Defensive Array of Yuyao City, they were not likely to go out and fight easily. After all, the Human Cultivators were protected by a Formation; there was no need to be so anxious. They could fully leverage the power of the Formation to deplete a wave of the demonic beasts¡¯ living forces and reduce the burden on the cultivator army as much as possible. Under these circumstances, Chen Jingtian and a few others were completely calm and not affected by the vile tricks of the demonic beasts. Outside the city. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, whose temperament was volatile, and whose Spirit Wisdom could not be compared with that of the Human Race, had very little patience to speak of. Seeing that Yuyao City remained silent for a long time, they growled angrily, but their provocations were futile. At this time, the lion roared furiously at Yuyao City a few times, wanting to vent its dissatisfaction. To no avail, Yuyao City remained calm, not showing any sign of coming out to face them. Seeing this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion turned its head and growled a few times at several Third Order Demon Beasts not far away, as if communicating something. Following the exchange of growls among the several Third Order Demon Beasts, they soon reached an agreement. However, these movements among the Third Order Demon Beasts were seen clearly by Chen Jingtian in the pavilion, and he understood immediately that the demonic beasts were about to make a move. At this time, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression remained calm. He looked at his still composed fellow disciples, and then began issuing instructions. ¡°Wang, it looks like the demonic beasts are about to attack. Like before, let¡¯s use the Formation to drain them first, then we¡¯ll go out and confront these beasts!¡± ¡°Good¡­ don¡¯t worry, brother Chen, leave this to me!¡± After Wang Hengqiu responded, he immediately took out the Token to control the Formation, readying for an attack. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± Just then, another deafening roar sounded from outside the city, accompanied by vibrations from footsteps that drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°The attack from the Demon Beasts is coming!¡± Chen Jingtian muttered to himself, then looked at the approaching Demon Beast Army with a wary expression. At this moment, Lin Tianming and others had a similarly serious look, their eyes wide open, watching every move of the Demon Beast Army. Glancing over, the numerous demonic beasts under the leadership of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion surged toward Yuyao City. The charge of tens of thousands of demonic beasts, their formidable momentum, and the scene still made people¡¯s scalp tingle and breaths quicken. Even though many cultivators had already witnessed such a scene before, the repetition was still awe-inspiring. ¡°Thump¡­ thump, thump¡­¡± As the Demon Beast Army drew closer, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s hands formed a Law Decree, and Spiritual Light bombarded the prepared Token. In an instant, the invisible and colorless Formation light screen flashed with Spiritual Light, its color becoming more vibrant. Simultaneously, within the area covered by the Formation, the Spiritual Energy suddenly became chaotic, accompanied by gusts of Wind howling through. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The Demon Beast Army was fast, with the powerful body of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion smashing against the light screen of the Defensive Array. At the same time, tens of thousands of demonic beasts, incapable of long-range attacks, followed behind it. Those demonic beasts capable of long-range attacks, led by the Blood Jiao, launched a multitude of attacks, smashing towards the light screen of the Formation. Chapter 504 504 288 Repeating an Old Trick_2 ?Chapter 504: Chapter 288 Repeating an Old Trick_2 Chapter 504: Chapter 288 Repeating an Old Trick_2 Such a massive number of demonic beasts attacked indiscriminately from all angles, filling the sky and casting a veil of darkness over the clear blue day, plunging the world into sudden darkness. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A succession of explosive sounds ensued as the powerful impact of the demonic beasts caused the ground to tremble. Following one wave of attacks, the defensive array vibrated slightly before quickly returning to its original state. Previously, the formation had already been tested, and these reduced numbers of demonic beasts attempting to breach the formation in a short time was simply too unrealistic. However, before everyone could catch their breath, the demonic beasts¡¯ assault came again, relentless as if they would not stop until their goal was achieved. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu let out a cold snort and the token in his hand shone brightly, activating the formation once more. ... ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Thunderous sounds echoed in the sky. Immediately after, the light of the formation screen continued to flicker, with pale golden beams contrasting sharply against the gloomy sky. Looking up, the darkened sky was filled with a barrage of fiery balls of light raining down upon the demon beast army below. At that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lions and several other Third Order Demon Beasts remained unaffected, continuously assaulting the formation¡¯s screen. Although these attacks were not weak, they were ineffective against them, and there was no need to dodge. However, the First and Second Order Demon Beasts behind the Third Order could not ignore these attacks, hitting the formation¡¯s screen while quickly moving to evade the attacks launched by the formation. Yet, with the sheer number and density of the Demon Beast Army, even though some beasts managed to escape, many were still obliterated by the formation¡¯s offensive. In an instant, the battlefield was filled with screams of agony as a multitude of demonic beasts met their end. At this moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, as the leader of the Demon Beast Army, remained unfazed by this turn of events. After all, the Demon Beast Army had already experienced one encounter, and thus was quite aware of the formation¡¯s offensive might. In such a situation, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion continued to initiate attacks, evidently ready to provoke the human cultivators and prepared to sacrifice a portion of the demonic beasts. Inside the pavilion atop the city walls, Chen Jingtian watching the scene below couldn¡¯t help but sigh. With the first round of attacks over, it was clear the outcome was nowhere near as effective as any of the previous ones. Obviously, with the reduction in the number of besieging demonic beasts, there was more room to maneuver, making it much easier for them to dodge. Beyond that, a more significant reason was that the Demon Beast Army had gained a substantial understanding of the formation¡¯s attacks, and achieving the same effect as the first time was indeed not very realistic given their preparedness. Looking at the formation¡¯s screen gradually fading in color, its power diminishing over time, it was clear that if this continued, its energy would eventually be depleted. Considering these factors, Chen Jingtian and the others felt somewhat helpless and lacked any means to change the situation. Collecting his thoughts, Chen Jingtian sighed once more, then gave an order, ¡°Wang, hold out for a few more rounds of attacks, then prepare to have the army of cultivators launch their assault!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded in response and began to control the formation, launching another offensive. ¡­ Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the time it takes to brew a pot of tea had passed. After several rounds of formation attacks, the size of the Demon Beast Army had diminished somewhat, with a large number of First Order Demon Beasts dead outside the city. Although the number of demonic beasts had noticeably decreased, the Second Order, which formed the core strength of the Demon Beast Army, had not suffered much loss, merely around three hundred or so. As for the peak force of the Third Order Demon Beasts, they had not been affected at all. Atop the city walls, everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open, monitoring every move of the demonic beasts outside the city. Looking out, the ground was littered with demon beast corpses and severed limbs, and the soil stained red with blood, which was still a ghastly sight to behold. Lin Tianming gazed at the blood-soaked battlefield, frowning deeply, and couldn¡¯t help but murmur to himself. ¡°The traces of the previous battle had barely been cleansed, and it hasn¡¯t been long before it has once again become like this.¡± Luckily, no one knew of his thoughts, as others would surely be amazed¡ªafter all, at such a critical juncture, who would care about such trivial matters? Refocusing, he observed the changes on the formation¡¯s screen, thinking that the formation¡¯s attacks were no longer very effective. Under such circumstances, the army of cultivators should be about to deploy. With his own predictions in mind, he turned his head to look at Chen Jingtian and the others in the attic, silently preparing himself. Just then, Chen Jingtian, who had been silent for a long time, boomed his voice throughout Yuyao City. ¡°Everyone, get ready. After the next round of attacks ends, follow this old man out of the city and into battle!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, all cultivators drew their weapons and gathered with their team members, preparing for the upcoming battle. At this moment, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan exchanged glances with each other and nodded in agreement. Li Xiuyuan had already said what needed to be said earlier, and team members had gone through a round of coordination, achieving significant effects, and were mentally prepared for the impending battle. Soon, as the formation¡¯s light barrier ripped open a giant fissure, the bloody smell of the battlefield, along with dust and smoke, surged into the formation. Chen Jingtian and a few other Golden Core Cultivators took the lead, charging out of the range covered by the light barrier of the formation first. As the Golden Core Cultivators made their move, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the city walls did not want to be outdone, quickly following Chen Jingtian and the others¡¯ footsteps. Lin Tianming closely followed Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan¡¯s footsteps, taking Qin Xi out of the formation with him. Behind them, Qi Refining Cultivators poured out like a flood from the gaping opening. Soon, the army of cultivators quickly exited the formation, lining up on the open space outside the formation. At that moment, the Demon Beast Army retreated a few miles away in an instant, as the formation¡¯s light barrier began to crack open. The massive Demon Beast Tribe waited in groups, and the leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, cautiously staring at Chen Jingtian in the forefront, showed an expression of wariness. The might of the Spirit Arts wielded by Chen Jingtian and his peers still lingered in their minds. Even the Late Stage of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion felt the breath of death under the Spirit Art Chen Jingtian wielded. This way, despite its formidable strength, it still dared not take things lightly for fear of dying on this battlefield. Watching the extremely wary Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, Chen Jingtian also wore a solemn expression. The Third Order Demon Beasts probably did not realize that they couldn¡¯t activate that Spirit Art again in a short time. Otherwise, they would not have retreated to maintain a safe distance. This hidden danger was only known to them, and without this trump card, the upcoming battle certainly would not be easy. As he lost himself in thought, the Demon Beast Tribe also dared not act rashly. At this time, the Human and Beast Clans confronted each other in place, sizing up and probing one another, creating an atmosphere that was quite strange, and the situation momentarily fell into a deadlock. Lin Tianming, witnessing the tense standoff, knew that this was merely the calm before the storm. Given the volatile nature of a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, it certainly would not be intimidated by the aura of the Human Cultivators; initiating an attack was merely a matter of time. As expected, after a period of silence, with a roar from the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, the vast Demon Beast Tribe began to advance forward, appearing to launch an attack. And the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion leading the charge targeted Chen Jingtian with its first attack. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian bellowed, ¡°Attack!¡± Before his voice died away, he leaped forward, the Law Decrees in his hands being cast out, sending a series of light beams flying forth. Following him, Wang Hengqiu and several others immediately followed his lead, adopting the same strategy as in the first battle. During the first great battle, four of them had worked with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to form a battle array, mutually supporting each other to withstand the more numerous and stronger Third Order Demon Beasts. Now it was the same, the four of them formed a battle array that covered each other, trying to maximize the advantage of teamwork. Following Chen Jingtian and his peers¡¯ engagement, higher up in the sky, they clashed with the Demon Beasts led by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. Lin Tianming and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, along with their teammates, also engaged in battle with the Second Order Demon Beasts, becoming entangled in a fierce melee. At this time, the battlefield was in utter chaos; across a vast area, the clashing of the two sides could be heard everywhere. ¡­ Chapter 505 505 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 ?Chapter 505: Chapter 289: Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 Chapter 505: Chapter 289: Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 A small area in the southern part of the battlefield, this is where the Foundation Establishment Cultivators primarily engage in combat. Just like the previous battle, Golden Core Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts were fighting fiercely above. With each move they made, powerful shockwaves spread out, and whether it was the thick-skinned monsters or the relatively agile Human Cultivators, none could dodge in time, let alone rush towards the fray. Otherwise, how would that be any different from seeking death? In the vast area to the south, that was the main battleground for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while Qi Refining Cultivators occupied a large portion of the north. At this moment, the team Lin Tianming was part of was fiercely battling over sixty Bloodthirsty Jiaos. This round of battle was different from their previous opponents, composed of a dozen different monster races. ... This time, however, they were facing beasts from the same species, and even though their overall number was smaller, their cooperation with each other was incredibly tacit. It was this powerful Bloodthirsty Jiao Tribe, whose collective strength was by no means weaker than the monster group they had faced before, piling on more pressure on his team. At this time, Lin Tianming pinched his Law Decree, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand immediately burst forth with radiant light. Shortly after, a powerful burst of Sword Qi shot out, its pale white light particularly noticeable in the slightly gloomy sky. In the blink of an eye, the silver-white Sword Qi slashed towards two opposing Bloodthirsty Jiaos with incredible speed. On the opposite side, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos twisted their bodies, their barrel-thick forms surprisingly agile, moving with astonishing quickness. The levels of these two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were not low; both were powerful beings in the Second Order Late Phase, with extremely ferocious and irritable temperaments and formidable strength. As the attack closed in, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos, sensing the presence of the Sword Qi, didn¡¯t dare to take it lightly despite their notable strength. At the same time, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos quietly dodged the assault, lingering on the side, staring menacingly at Lin Tianming, as if searching for an opportunity. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed, but he wasn¡¯t too surprised. After all, this was merely a probe, and given the strength of those two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, it was expected they would dodge it. Regaining his focus, he looked at the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos with a wary expression. The pressure on him during this round of battle was not insignificant; the grade and strength of these two monsters were formidable, their attacks were incredibly powerful, and compared to the Second Order Middle Stage beasts they faced earlier, it was a world of difference. However, even so, Lin Tianming was unafraid. As long as he didn¡¯t encounter a Third Order Demon Beast, with his own strength, he should not fear for his life. ¡°Roar Roar¡­¡± Two roaring growls arose, and the Bloodthirsty Jiaos, after sizing things up for a moment, began to launch their attack proactively. At that time, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos opened their massive maws, spewing out a cluster of blood-red liquid. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± Looking on, the blood-red liquid seemed to possess intense corrosiveness, dissolving the air itself, spreading a foul stench that quickly encompassed the area. Simultaneously, the blood-red liquid shot out at an incredibly fast pace, rushing towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, it was clearly the Bloodthirsty Jiaos¡¯ Innate Divine Ability, with tremendous killing power. If one were to get even slightly touched, it¡¯s likely that even a Second Order Magical Artifact would suffer a great loss of spirituality. If one were unlucky enough to have their body come into contact, they might very well lose their life. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. ¡°These two beasts really don¡¯t hold back, launching their killing moves without even the patience for probing!¡± Mentally cursing, Lin Tianming dared not delay, quickly twisting his body to dodge the attack of the blood-red liquid. At this time, facing the terrifying blood-red liquid, a gust of wind was born under his feet, and his speed also reached the limit. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The blood-red liquid he dodged then struck an empty spot on the ground, corroding into a deep, bottomless pit in an instant. Seeing the frightening corrosiveness and such destructive power, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened. Fortunately, he was fast enough. If he had been touched even slightly, even with his strong physical body from Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and even with Blue Star Armor, he likely would have been severely injured. Coming back to his senses and noting the Bloodthirsty Jiaos¡¯ missed strike, they gave him no opportunity to catch his breath. The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos glanced at each other, then swung their whip-like tails toward him in a sweeping motion. Though their bodies were only as thick as a bucket, they were very long, longer than those of other Monster Serpent races, and possessed both fearsome defensive power and formidable attack power. Watching as the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao got increasingly close, compressing the air and making sharp, cracking sounds, there was an obvious, terrifying force behind it. Lin Tianming looked serious, and as his figure retreated explosively, he wildly swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, releasing a barrage of Sword Qi to clash with the iron-hard tail of the monster snake. ¡°Clang clang clang¡­¡± a series of metallic clashing sounds echoed. The Sword Qi struck the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao, only to be repelled by the great force, ultimately dissipating into the ether. And yet the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s tail appeared entirely unscathed, its speed only slightly slowed, but still swept towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming acted without panic, moving quickly to evade. As the tails of the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were momentarily hampered by the Sword Qi, even though no actual damage was inflicted, evading became considerably less difficult. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The strike missed, Lin Tianming, relying on his own methods, perfectly dodged, surprising the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Chapter 506 506 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 ?Chapter 506: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 Chapter 506: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 In their eyes, the cultivator¡¯s body was a source of great nourishment; several Foundation Establishment cultivators had perished in their jaws during the previous battle. Yet now, as the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos joined forces to attack, he had easily dodged, which seemed absolutely incredible. Little did they know, Lin Tianming had relied on the Eye of Five Colors; such attacks, against ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, would naturally be unstoppable. But with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming was able to find the most perfect timing and routes in the shortest time possible, thereby rendering the Bloodthirsty Jiaos¡¯ attacks fruitless. At this moment, having avoided the strike, Lin Tianming created a safe distance from the beasts. He stared at the Bloodthirsty Jiaos opposite him, his expression somewhat solemn. After two rounds of probing, he realized that these two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were indeed formidable, noticeably stronger than the average Second Order Late Stage Beast. ... It seemed that these Bloodthirsty Jiaos had been in the Second Order Late Phase for quite some time, and they also possessed exceptional talents. One must know, in the Cultivation World there are myriad Demonic Beasts, and the strength of beasts within the same rank can also vary greatly. This is due to the length of time spent breaking through and the natural talents of the Demonic Beasts themselves. Just like these two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, their attack speed was incredibly fast, and they possessed an extremely formidable defensive ability; their combined might was significantly stronger than most Second Order Late Stage Beasts he had faced before. Under such circumstances, if he relied only on eighty percent of his power, it would probably be very difficult to exterminate them here. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming hesitated and was quite conflicted. If he suppressed his cultivation level, it might take a great deal of effort and still not necessarily succeed in killing them. In that case, this fight might not yield much in terms of results and thus not earn many points. On the other hand, if he revealed his cultivation strength now and couldn¡¯t use Spirit Arts, in case of an unexpected event in the future, there would be no hope of turning defeat into victory. ¡°Forget it¡­ It¡¯s better to keep some of my cultivation strength hidden, after all, the Cultivation World is full of crises, especially on such a dangerous battlefield, where no one can guarantee what might happen.¡± ¡°However, some of my other offensive techniques can be revealed moderately to see if I can achieve my goal.¡± Having made up his mind, he slapped his storage bag and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords immediately appeared above his head. Once the Earth Evil Swords were unleashed, they began to spin wildly, stirring up the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth. At the same time, with a thought, he produced five dark green banners in his hand, which were the re-refined Thousand Beast Banners. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the previous battle, he had not activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, thinking to keep some unknown tactics in reserve. But now, without using some of his treasures and techniques, it would be truly difficult to kill the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. At this moment, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos stepped back involuntarily, revealing a wary look upon seeing the Sword Array and the Thousand Beast Banner activated by Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, formed a single-handed seal, and beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the spinning Earth Evil Swords above him. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The fifty-six Earth Evil Swords received the command and shot out in all directions, swiftly enveloping thousands of feet around. Immediately after, the Thousand Beast Banners were also activated, and a sky full of black mist shrouded a large area around. All this happened in the blink of an eye; despite some preparation, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos were astounded by the speed of the expanding Sword Array and black mist. Before they could escape, they were enveloped within it. Fortunately, the black mist only covered them and nothing untoward happened, so they didn¡¯t react too violently. To this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help sneering. The Thousand Beast Banner and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation were merely activated and set up, covering a wide area; if he launched an immediate attack, the effect might not be very good. Therefore, he was in no hurry, planning to wait for the right moment to activate them fully, trapping them completely, and then gradually wear down their strength before ultimately exterminating them on the spot. However, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos clearly did not anticipate this, and they had no idea about the Sword Formation¡¯s and the Thousand Beast Banner¡¯s formidable power in the latter phase. When they realized what was happening, it would be too late. At this moment, having set up the Earth Evil Swords and the Thousand Beast Banner, Lin Tianming uncharacteristically charged towards one of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Upon seeing this, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was even more surprised. When humans and Demonic Beasts normally engaged in battle, cultivators would attempt to create distance from the beasts. After all, Demonic Beasts had stronger bodies, and a casual strike held immense energy. Yet Lin Tianming did the opposite, taking the initiative to attack, going against the norm with an unknown purpose. As distance between them narrowed, despite their confusion, they had no time to ponder. The Jiaos growled at each other and then opened their massive jaws, biting at Lin Tianming from two different directions. Lin Tianming remained unfazed, swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand repeatedly, covering one of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos in Sword Qi. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds erupted. In a flash, they were less than ninety feet apart¡ªa distance negligible for both parties. At that moment, a flash of light shone from Lin Tianming¡¯s body as he wielded his sword with one hand and punched with the other, engaging in close combat with one Bloodthirsty Jiao. Seeing this, the Bloodthirsty Jiao became furiously enraged, its massive head and tail lashing out wildly. Clearly, for the Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were not only a blatant provocation but also an insult. Chapter 507 507 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_3 ?Chapter 507: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_3 Chapter 507: Chapter 289 Bloodthirsty Jiao_3 Although their spirit wisdom is inferior to that of the Human Race, by the Second Order Late Phase, they are not at the intelligence level of a three-year-old child anymore. However, after several rounds of fierce combat and feeling the pain in its body, the Bloodthirsty Jiao realized the prowess of this human. Lin Tianming, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, could unleash immense power with a casual punch from his physical body alone; even a Second Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast would not dare to claim it was stronger than him. At this moment, the Bloodthirsty Jiao dared not harbor any more luck or contemptuous thoughts; it fought with all its might. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Fist collided head-on with the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao, the powerful impact made even the ground tremble slightly. On closer inspection, despite Lin Tianming¡¯s small fists, a single punch possessed the strength to kill a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... After a few rounds of attacks, with the force of one strike, Lin Tianming used the recoil to put some distance between himself and the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. When he stabilized his stance, Lin Tianming was already panting heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead, his tattered robe soaked through. Underneath that tattered robe lay countless wounds of varying depth, exposing his bronzed skin. Luckily, these injuries were inconsequential, only requiring some time to rest for a complete recovery, thus they were almost negligible in terms of his overall strength. As for the Bloodthirsty Jiao, it also suffered numerous flesh wounds, with lots of scales fallen on the ground. The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos looked somewhat bedraggled, but their bodies were incredibly strong; these injuries hardly counted for anything. After several rounds of combat, Lin Tianming, utilizing the Eye of Five Colors, grappled with the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, with neither side gaining much of an advantage. Now, having deliberately put some distance between himself and the Jiaos, Lin Tianming, who had steadied himself, watched the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos carefully and revealed a cunning smile. In front of him, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos had blood-red eyes and were growling angrily, yet were extremely wary of him. After a moment of silence, Lin Tianming looked at the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos and channeled a large amount of Spiritual Power into the Tiangang Sword. As the Tiangang Sword began to tremble slightly, he shouted loudly, ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword!¡± The Tiangang Sword blazed with spiritual light, the hilt flew out of his hand, transforming into a dazzling rainbow that furiously struck down at the Bloodthirsty Jiao opposite him. In the blink of an eye, while the Tiangang Sword descended, the targeted Bloodthirsty Jiao scrambled to dodge. However, because the distance between them was too close and the speed of the Tiangang Sword too fast, completely evading it was basically unrealistic. In desperation, the Bloodthirsty Jiao rolled to the ground and then burrowed into a shallow ditch, attempting to use the advantageous terrain to avoid some damage. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword struck down, but the Bloodthirsty Jiao, taking advantage of the shallow ditch, managed to avoid the vital areas. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack angle was incredibly tricky, and the timing was impeccably grasped; the Tiangang Sword hit directly on the tail of the Bloodthirsty Jiao. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud blast had just sounded, followed by a painful roar. As the fire and dust settled, it was revealed that the Bloodthirsty Jiao lay in the ditch, a long wound on its tail, showing the flesh within. At the same time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s blood sprayed out, staining a small patch of land, and a large number of blood-red scales fell off, scattering on the ground. The Bloodthirsty Jiao struggled and howled in pain, looking quite pitiful. Chapter 508 508 290 The Submission of the ?Chapter 508: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 Chapter 508: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_1 Seeing his own attack succeed, Lin Tianming felt somewhat excited. ¡°Kick them when they¡¯re down, take their lives!¡± Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao any chance to catch a breath; he had to seize the opportunity and try to kill it if possible. At the very least, he intended to deprive it completely of its combat ability. In doing so, the other Bloodthirsty Jiao would definitely not be able to hold out for long, and it would eventually meet its end at his hands. Knowing this, he leaped into the air, the Tiangang Sword in his hand once again blazing brightly. As the Sword Qi reached its peak, he gripped the Tiangang Sword and charged at the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao, aiming to further expand his victory. ... This relentless strike was even more ruthless than before. Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful momentum was unstoppable, filled with the determination to succeed at all costs. In the shallow ditch at this moment. The injured Bloodthirsty Jiao struggled and roared before lifting its dirt-covered head, appearing extremely enraged. The previous strike had injured its tail, causing it to lose a significant number of protective scales and Yuan Qi. But its defensive power was astounding, and thanks to its decisive evasion, it hadn¡¯t completely lost its fighting ability from that hit. Before it could react, Lin Tianming¡¯s fierce attack was already following up, clearly intending to finish it off. Feeling the powerful aura emanating from the Tiangang Sword, the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao was in a state of panic, ignoring the pain from its body as it crawled towards its companion. Seeing this action, if it were to join up with the other Bloodthirsty Jiao, he feared it would take additional effort to defeat them. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t allow them to get their way, quickening his attack speed even further. However, just as the Tiangang Sword was about to land, for some unknown reason, the speed of the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao suddenly doubled. In the blink of an eye, the Bloodthirsty Jiao appeared several dozen yards away. The Tiangang Sword Qi boomed onto the ground, its powerful attack force slicing open the soil and forming a canyon. But the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao had narrowly dodged his attack and managed to join up with its counterpart as it wished. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming was greatly surprised, not expecting that the Bloodthirsty Jiao would have such an innate divine ability to double its speed instantly in a critical moment. But upon further thought, this was not too strange. There are countless odd occurrences in the Cultivation World. Just as there are humans with unique talents and strong bloodlines, there are also Demonic Beasts with peculiar innate abilities. Besides their innate divine abilities, they also have a slim chance of acquiring additional divine skills. This particular Bloodthirsty Jiao was a descendant of an ancient Monster Beast, and it was likely that its thick bloodline had awakened some divine skills at a critical moment. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dwell on the matter any longer. When he looked again at the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos opposite him, they appeared to him like treasures waiting to be claimed. And at this moment, although the beast had escaped a fatal blow, its injuries seemed even more serious. The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, having joined together, stared at him in both shock and anger, their eyes full of wariness. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, with no intention of holding back, he prepared to resolve the fight quickly to assist his other teammates. At this time, the Spiritual Light shining from the Tiangang Sword in his hand burst forth, releasing a vast amount of Sword Qi that slashed towards the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Meanwhile, the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had considerably diminished, and the black mist emitted by the Thousand Beast Banner continued to envelop the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Before the great battle, he had been waiting for an opportunity. Now that one monster was injured and both were together, it was the perfect chance to net them both in one swoop. In an instant, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner sprang into action, the Sword Array Barricade steadily contracting and along with a multitude of Sword Qi and Monster Beast Souls, they fiercely attacked the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Looking around, the area within a thousand yards had become incredibly dark. Streaks of silver-white Sword Qi flashed through the darkness, and roars could be heard as a surge of Monster Beast Souls emerged. At this very moment, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos reacted as soon as Lin Tianming moved. Feeling the oppressive force from the Sword Array¡¯s operation, their speed increased dramatically as they struggled to escape the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s coverage. But by now, the range of the Sword Formation had shrunk to less than a thousand yards, and the barricade was extremely solid. Furthermore, the Sword Qi roamed densely within the Array, and a massive number of Monster Beast Souls wandered through the black mist. With Lin Tianming¡¯s determined efforts to obstruct them, the difficulty of breaking out under such circumstances was unimaginable. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The two Bloodthirsty Jiaos collided with the Sword Array Barricade, which shook with each impact, nearly breaking each time, but always just a bit short of doing so. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation, having reached the Minor Achievement Realm and being extremely stable under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, did not give them any chance to escape. Within the Sword Array, they dodged the roving Sword Qi while resisting the assault of the Monster Beast Souls. Looking around, Sword Qi would sometimes slice across their scales, sparking off flares of light. Following that, before they could take a breather, a multitude of Monster Beast Souls swarmed in, gnawing at their flesh. Experiencing the endless gnawing of Monster Beast Souls, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos were in agony, desperately trying to break free but finding themselves unable to shake them off. In a panic, the Bloodthirsty Jiao attempted to sway its tail to smash the pesky Monster Beast Souls like plaster. With one swipe, some Monster Beast Souls that couldn¡¯t dodge in time perished, yet new ones continued to replenish their ranks. Seeing this, fear seemed to flash through the eyes of the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos as they began to flee recklessly. Chapter 509 509 290 The Submission of the ?Chapter 509: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 Chapter 509: Chapter 290: The Submission of the Bloodthirsty Jiao_2 ¡°` But they had endured a barrage of sword qi; despite their rapid evasive speed, it was simply unrealistic to dodge everything. In addition, a large number of monster beast souls surged out of the black fog, fearlessly attacking with considerable force. One must know that this Thousand Beast Banner had been re-refined by Lin Tianming, replenishing it with a large number of monster beast souls over the past few years. Especially recently, he had added nearly a hundred Second Order Demonic Beasts, including some from the late phase of the Second Order. As the number of monster beast souls substantially increased, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner greatly enhanced, and now, when used against the enemy, its might was truly satisfying. According to his estimate, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner had more than doubled compared to before he arrived at Yuyao City. Watching the oppressive force brought by the combined might of the sword array and the Thousand Beast Banner, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of joy, and he felt extremely excited. ... At this moment, under the crushing pressure, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos desperately resisted, putting up a fight to the death. Inside the formation, the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was continuously shrinking, soon reaching a size of just over a hundred zhang. By that point, the sword qi within the sword array had become extremely dense, leaving the Bloodthirsty Jiaos with limited room to move, making it extremely difficult for them to hide. Besides, there were too many Second Order Demonic Beasts within the Thousand Beast Banner, and the relentless Demonic Beasts kept them constantly restrained, leaving no room to escape. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling an ever-increasing sense of restraint, and the tiny space for survival closing in, the Bloodthirsty Jiaos were filled with terror. In their desolation, they opened their massive jaws and once again spat out several blobs of blood-red liquid, smashing them into a specific area of the Sword Array Barricade. ¡°Crackle and pop¡­¡± Strange noises followed by bursts of blue smoke issued forth. The Sword Array Barricade seemed to have suffered severe corrosion, looking ready to collapse, and its operations were also hindered. Seeing this, Lin Tianming spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, sprinkling it over the Sword Array Barricade. The sword array immediately stopped shaking and quickly returned to normal, resuming its suppressive effect. Seeing that his blood had the desired effect, Lin Tianming¡¯s pale face gradually regained its color. At this time, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, realizing their dire situation, frantically slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, but they struggled to achieve any significant effect. Lin Tianming had no pity in his heart, and he controlled the sword array, step by step, reducing their living space. As the space became smaller and smaller, the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos nearly stuck together. At this point, they had no way out, and their struggle was merely a delay of the inevitable. Watching the two Bloodthirsty Jiaos being bombarded by sword qi and torn by monster beast souls, Lin Tianming coldly smiled, pushing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to its limit. At the same time, his Tiangang Sword shone brightly, as he once again unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword, slashing directly at the less injured beast. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword Qi descended upon the target¡¯s head, ready to take its life at any moment. At that moment, the targeted Bloodthirsty Jiao felt an indescribable despair. It opened its mouth wide, attempting to fight back using its innate divine ability. If it could repel the Tiangang Sword Qi, it might still live, but otherwise, it was destined to die here. In desperation, the Bloodthirsty Jiao spat out a vast amount of liquid, far exceeding any previous attempt. Clearly, it was truly fighting for its life. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword Qi collided with the liquid, and despite being severely corroded and hindered, it did not dissipate, continuing its furious slash towards the target. At once slow and swift, the Tiangang Sword Qi struck the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s head. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud noise emanated as the Tiangang Sword Qi directly pierced through the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s head. In that instant, the massive head of the Bloodthirsty Jiao burst open, with flesh and blood spraying everywhere, the scene was exceedingly gory. Soon, another scream echoed through the heavens and earth, followed by the sound of the Bloodthirsty Jiao collapsing. When the dust settled, the corpse of the Bloodthirsty Jiao was revealed, lying motionless in a ditch, apparently lifeless. Seeing his strike succeed, Lin Tianming felt a rush of joy and couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Inside the formation, the other surviving Bloodthirsty Jiao, the one that had been injured first, saw its companion die and was completely hopeless. It seemed to understand that even without injuries, facing Lin Tianming alone, it had little chance of winning. ¡°` Moreover, now that it had sustained injuries, trapped by this powerful Sword Array, there was an endless number of Demonic Beast Souls that it couldn¡¯t shake off or destroy. In such a predicament, it had no hope of escape by relying solely on its remaining strength. Nevertheless, there was nothing it could do to change the situation; it could only try its best. At this moment, Lin Tianming ignored the dead Bloodthirsty Jiao and gradually narrowed the Sword Array. As the range of the Sword Array decreased, the bombardment of Sword Qi within reached an ultimate density. After resisting for just a few moments, the Bloodthirsty Jiao sustained numerous wounds, and countless blood-colored scales fell off. With the Bloodthirsty Jiao having nowhere to escape, as the Sword Array shrank to a range of fifty zhang, Lin Tianming had no plans to proceed further. While stabilizing the Sword Array, he held the Tiangang Sword and entered the range of the Sword Array, approaching the Bloodthirsty Jiao at a location not far from it. At that time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao had blood-red eyes, staring fixedly at Lin Tianming, who hadn¡¯t made any move, displaying an expression of rage. Lin Tianming just gave a cold laugh in response, completely unaffected. The reason he hadn¡¯t immediately ended the life of the Bloodthirsty Jiao was that he had his considerations. In his eyes, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s innate bloodline was not low, its rank was quite good, and it was also very powerful; given enough opportunities, there was a high probability it could advance to Third Order. If he could try to subdue it and make it his Spirit Beast, that would naturally be the best outcome. After all, having subdued the Purple Gold Eagle years ago had brought him great convenience and served his family well. Yet now, he only had the Purple Gold Eagle as a Spirit Beast, which was of the avian type, lacking an attack-oriented Spirit Beast. If a Bloodthirsty Jiao were to submit to him, with its powerful Second Order Late-Stage strength, it would provide considerable help in combat. However, achieving this goal wouldn¡¯t be easy, as the higher the rank and strength of the Demonic Beast, the less likely it could be subdued. Despite this, Lin Tianming still wanted to make an attempt. If it really proved impossible, he would have to give up this chance and wait until he had the conditions in the future to subdue a powerful Spirit Beast adversary. Having made up his mind, he trapped the injured Bloodthirsty Jiao within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, then extended his Divine Sense, forcefully plunging it into the consciousness of the Bloodthirsty Jiao. At that time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao desperately resisted, trying to stop Lin Tianming from entering its sea of consciousness. However, Lin Tianming had consumed a large number of Strong Spirit Pills over the years, along with many treasures that increased Divine Sense. His Divine Sense was now exceptionally strong, comparable if not superior to that of Cultivators at the Eighth or Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. In such a state, when Lin Tianming released his Divine Sense, it was like a sharp blade aiming to pierce the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s defensive barrier. Nevertheless, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, being of Second Order Late-Stage rank with exceptional talent, did not make it easy to imprint a Consciousness Imprint within its sea of consciousness. Thus, a struggle ensued between the two, with no immediate success. Seeing that he had not achieved his goal after some time, Lin Tianming frowned deeply, suspecting that he might have trouble succeeding this way. He sighed, then immediately stimulated the Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, crazily lashing at the Bloodthirsty Jiao. But he did not deliver a killing blow, the force applied was just right ¨C enough to not kill it, but also enough to ensure it didn¡¯t have it too easy. With this, his action was merely meant to intimidate it, so as to accomplish his goal. The defiant Bloodthirsty Jiao naturally wouldn¡¯t submit easily, resisting the Sword Qi attacks while fiercely opposing Lin Tianming in its sea of consciousness. Regrettably for it, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was too strong, and resisting it resulted in immense pain. Unknown time passed. At this point, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was full of wounds and blood, with scales scattered all around, its aura growing weaker, clearly having suffered a great loss of vitality. Now, after being tormented by Lin Tianming and facing both kindness and severity, finally, the Bloodthirsty Jiao growled low at him, seemingly agreeing to let him imprint his Divine Sense, submitting to him to become his Spirit Beast. Feeling the intentions conveyed by the Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming was exceedingly excited. After calming himself down, he promptly imprinted his Consciousness Imprint within the sea of consciousness of the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Only with the Consciousness Imprint set in place would the recognition of the master be complete; otherwise, anything could happen. Understanding this, he dared not relax and hastened to complete the process. Since he had previous experience with recognition, he was fairly familiar with the process. Soon, after the Consciousness Imprint was engraved, he immediately felt the connection between them. Chapter 510 510 291 Sun Linger_1 ?Chapter 510: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_1 Chapter 510: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_1 Soon, the Consciousness Imprint was engraved within the consciousness sea of the Bloodthirsty Jiao, and the entire process went very smoothly. Not until Lin Tianming felt the connection of minds did he know that the recognition of the master was successful, the life and death of the Bloodthirsty Jiao were now at his whim. Having confirmed the successful recognition multiple times, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and heaved a long sigh of relief. In fact, from the moment the Bloodthirsty Jiao suddenly understood the technique of escaping, he had intended to subdue it as a Spirit Beast. After all, the strength and the natural bloodline of the Bloodthirsty Jiao were of a rare variety, and combining that with his own strength, subduing the Bloodthirsty Jiao was definitely more beneficial than killing it. However, before this, he was not very certain, merely trying with hopeful intent. But unexpectedly, under his combined hard and soft threats, the Bloodthirsty Jiao submitted so easily, which indeed surprised him. ... And now, with the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Purple Gold Eagle as his Spirit Beasts, if coordinated properly, his overall strength could rise to another level. Thinking of these, Lin Tianming was ecstatic, with the excitement in his heart lingering for a long time. Finally calming down, he looked at the Bloodthirsty Jiao lying prostrate in front of him, its injuries quite severe. Although not life-threatening, they could not be neglected for too long, lest they result in lasting damage and decrease its strength. Now that it had become his Spirit Beast, with substantial innate strength, it was only natural to treat it well. Given sufficient opportunities, there was a real possibility for it to advance to Third Order. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming took several healing elixirs from his storage bag and without hesitation, tossed them to the Bloodthirsty Jiao. The Bloodthirsty Jiao swallowed the elixirs in one gulp, and its previously fierce and evil expression softened considerably. Looking at the content Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly and fell into thought. Now, as the battle on his side had ended, his teammates were still embroiled in combat, with many Cultivators at a disadvantage. The situation was urgent and time was of the essence; he could not afford to waste any. However, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was injured and not yet able to fight alongside him. The immediate priority was to give the Bloodthirsty Jiao a name and then place it into the Spirit Beast Bag for healing. As for himself, once the Bloodthirsty Jiao was taken care of, he would assess the situation and decide whether to assist Qin Xi in dealing with her opponent or to help the others. Making up his mind, he slapped the Spirit Beast Belt at his waist and took the Bloodthirsty Jiao into it. As the Bloodthirsty Jiao disappeared from its spot, he retracted all fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, as well as the Thousand Beast Banner. Having done this, he then turned his attention back to the combat situation of Qin Xi and his teammates. Looking over, the entire battlefield was in chaos at this moment, with figures of Cultivators fighting everywhere within sight. Looking at the overall situation, although the numbers of the Human and Beast Clans had decreased by more than thirty percent compared to the first battle, the intensity of this battle was in no way inferior to the last one. At that moment, on a battlefield not far from him. Qin Xi was working together with a woman at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, facing several Bloodthirsty Jiaos of the early to middle stages of Second Order. They faced a considerable number of opponents, including two of the middle-staged Second Order, clearly possessing a somewhat stronger overall strength. Fortunately, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation was not weak. Despite being only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, her combat power was strong. Holding her own against a middle-staged Second Order Demonic Beast, she was not at much of a disadvantage. The other woman, surrounded and attacked by four Second Order Demonic Beasts, struggled to cope in the skirmish, hence in a less favorable position, and could only forcefully persevere, waiting for her teammates¡¯ assistance. Seeing this, if the fight dragged on, their situation would get progressively worse. Lin Tianming did not dare delay and hurriedly charged in, activating the Tiangang Sword in his hand from a distance. In an instant, a silver light flashed across the dim sky like a meteor, its speed reaching the limit. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud explosion sounded. The Demonic Beast engaged in fierce battle with Sun Ling¡¯er fell to the ground at the sound, a bloody hole appearing on its neck from which hot blood still spurted, and after a couple of struggles, it breathed its last. Seeing this, both Qin Xi and Sun Ling¡¯er turned their beautiful eyes and looked overjoyed. They turned their gaze and saw Lin Tianming rushing over, continuously wielding the Tiangang Sword in his hand and slashing towards their opponents. ¡°Fairy Qin, let¡¯s work with Lin and quickly resolve the fight!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er was the first to react and immediately joined the fray, her attacks growing even more ferocious. Qin Xi was not to be outdone, infusing her Spiritual Power into the Magic Artifact and engaging the Demonic Beast before her in combat. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Lin Tianming¡¯s entry into the fray and his silent dispatching of a middle-staged Second Order Demonic Beast, the three of them working together against the remaining beasts was akin to a hot knife through butter. In just a matter of more than ten breaths, under Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength, all the Second Order Demonic Beasts were vanquished. After exterminating the beasts in that location, the chaotic sky finally quieted down, leaving only the corpses of the beasts lying on the ground. As the battle ended, Lin Tianming dusted off his hands and then looked in Qin Xi¡¯s direction, walking over to her. Soon, he stood before Qin Xi. At this very moment, Qin Xi, who had just finished the fight, her ample chest heaving up and down, appeared to be quite drained. And the panting Qin Xi, upon seeing Lin Tianming arrive, had eyes filled with gratitude. In the previous battle, Lin Tianming, while fighting, had never forgotten to keep an eye on her, including this time. After each fight, he rushed over to provide support as soon as possible. Chapter 511 511 291 Sun Linger_2 ?Chapter 511: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_2 Chapter 511: Chapter 291 Sun Ling¡¯er_2 Clearly, although there was no significant entanglement between them, they kept each other in mind and helped each other in times of crisis. Thinking of this, Qin Xi was deeply moved as she recalled their interaction over the past few days. She looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s unflappable face, and inexplicable emotions surged within her resilient heart. Finally calming down, the two of them exchanged glances and then asked in unison, ¡°Brother (Sister), are you alright?¡± As soon as the words were out, Lin Tianming replied with an embarrassed smile, ¡°No¡­ no problem!¡± Hearing this and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s feigned composure, Qin Xi also felt equally awkward. For a moment, Qin Xi¡¯s exquisite cheeks flushed rapidly, and her heart was in turmoil as if a deer were prancing about within. ... Seeing that Qin Xi did not reply, Lin Tianming asked again, ¡°And you, little sister? Are you injured? Is it serious?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned inquiry, Qin Xi felt a warmth in her heart and replied. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just a considerable consumption of spiritual power and some minor physical injuries, no big deal!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and didn¡¯t say much more to avoid another awkward situation. At this time, both turned their gaze toward Sun Ling¡¯er, who was not far off. Lin Tianming was not familiar with Sun Ling¡¯er, knowing only that she was a loose cultivator, travelling around Dragon Mountain Market, with average strength and talent, able to reach the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level solely through various experiences and opportunities. Thus, there wasn¡¯t much connection between them; they were just teammates recruited by Li Xiuyuan, with whom they had had a few encounters recently. In fact, he had very little communication with most of his teammates. After all, in the Cultivation World, one¡¯s status and strength speak for themselves; people at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage often found it hard to mix with those at the Medium Stage. Similarly, though Sun Ling¡¯er was not weak at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, she was simply not on the same level as team leader Li Xiuyuan and others like Hu Yuan. Sun Ling¡¯er had joined Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team merely to earn points to gain rewards from the Zhenyang Sect and didn¡¯t have overly ambitious goals. As for Lin Tianming, although he had not reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, he possessed great talent and a not insignificant family background. More importantly, his strength was not less than Li Xiuyuan¡¯s; even Tang Liusheng and others in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage were not his match. With such strength, he initially aimed for a place in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, and he had a fair chance of achieving his goal. Under these circumstances, his strength and objectives were not on the same level as Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s, so naturally there was not much interaction. As for Qin Xi, being a rogue cultivator at the same stage as Sun Ling¡¯er, in such a perilous battlefield, it was natural for them, as women, to gravitate towards each other. Thus, by joining forces against enemies, they were able to reap more substantial battle rewards. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to help Sun Ling¡¯er, thinking of it as a favor to Qin Xi. At this moment, Sun Ling¡¯er was curiously staring at Lin Tianming, her beautiful eyes filled with envy. With Qin Xi present, she had always been considered Lin Tianming¡¯s sister, and it was only natural for Lin Tianming to come to her aid. Being a First Order rogue cultivator and a woman at that, she was incredibly vulnerable in the dangerous Cultivation World. As the saying goes, ¡°beauty loves heroes¡±; genius cultivators, no matter where they are, are the objects of many female cultivators¡¯ admiration. And Lin Tianming, with his extraordinary talent, whether it¡¯s in terms of cultivation strength or his family background, was an excellent choice for a cultivation partner. If she could become partnered with a genius cultivator like Lin Tianming, once he reached the Golden Core Stage, his assistance would enable his partner to cultivate faster, and perhaps even step onto the Golden Core Path. With these thoughts, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s gaze towards Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but carry a special brilliance. However, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s watchful eyes, she repressed the slight stirring in her heart and greeted Lin Tianming enthusiastically. ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lin, for lending a hand. Sister is truly grateful!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand with a smile in response, ¡°Fairy Sun is too polite. Sister has taken good care of me, so it¡¯s only right that I repay the favor!¡± ¡°Kekeke¡­ Lin¡¯s words are indeed very pleasing to the ear!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s polite remarks, Sun Ling¡¯er laughed heartily, feeling very delighted inside. ¡°Fairy Sun, now is not the time for idle chatter. I must go and help Li and the others. You all have exhausted quite a bit of energy, so retreat to the back and rest!¡± With that said, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi beside him. The two exchanged looks and then nodded to each other. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming turned around without looking back, transformed into a residual shadow, and shot toward the nearby battlefield. Soon, he arrived at the battlefield where Li Xiuyuan was fighting. At that time, Li Xiuyuan was battling fiercely with three Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Both sides fought openly and ferociously, taking pleasure in the battle. His opponents were Bloodthirsty Jiaos, beasts of significant rank and strength. Relying on his powerful magic artifacts and a myriad of strategies, Li Xiuyuan was able to handle the attack of three demonic beasts without falling into much of a disadvantage. Li Xiuyuan was neither surprised nor dissatisfied with Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, but instead overjoyed. ¡°Lin, let¡¯s join forces to slay these beasts quickly and go assist the other cultivators!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily, ¡°Haha¡­ That is exactly my intent!¡± As soon as the words fell, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flew out, emitting a powerful Sword Qi, and charged toward the Bloodthirsty Jiao opposite Li Xiuyuan. With Lin Tianming joining in, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s momentum surged, and he fought without any hesitation. The two coordinated exceedingly well. Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were equally fierce, with each Sword Qi he casually slashed leaving wounds on the Bloodthirsty Jiaos. At this moment, the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos began to retreat step by step, barely resisting a few rounds of attacks as their injuries worsened. Facing the continuous attack of Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, they grew extremely angry, but were helpless. In a desperate situation, the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos once again activated their innate divine ability, spitting out a large amount of red liquid. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan did not dare to be careless, each activating two Second Order Defense Talismans, forming several barriers in front of them. ¡°Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡­¡± A series of corrosive sounds came, accompanied by green flames, illuminating the dim world. Taking advantage of the red liquid being blocked by the barriers formed from the talisman paper, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan took the opportunity to escape dozens of feet away. Waiting for the dust and firelight to disperse, the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos searched for Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan¡¯s figures. Just then, a silver-white Sword Qi descended from the sky, and before they could react, one of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos let out a miserable scream. ¡°Roar, roar!¡± Immediately afterward, the Bloodthirsty Jiao with its head pierced by the Sword Qi fell to the ground, its vast body hitting the earth and stirring up a breeze that swept out. The other two Bloodthirsty Jiaos, seeing their companion dead, became panic-stricken and started to flee in chaos. However, when it rains it pours, and Li Xiuyuan¡¯s attack had already blocked their escape route. In desperation, another Bloodthirsty Jiao failed to evade and was directly pierced through the body by Li Xiuyuan¡¯s magic artifact. By this point, the only remaining Bloodthirsty Jiao was thoroughly frightened and started to flee without choosing its path. However, with the strength of Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, there was no way they would let this Bloodthirsty Jiao escape. Watching the fleeing Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan chased at the same time, forming a pincer movement and blocking its escape from different directions. Seeing no escape, the Bloodthirsty Jiao opened its huge maw, ready for a final gamble. To this, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan shared a cold smile. Before the Bloodthirsty Jiao could successfully launch its attack, they ended its life. Following the thorough extermination of the three Bloodthirsty Jiaos, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan did not rush to clean up the battlefield. They exchanged a smile, and without uttering a word, both shot towards Hu Yuan¡¯s location not far away. Chapter 512 512 292 Tragic_1 ?Chapter 512: Chapter 292 Tragic_1 Chapter 512: Chapter 292 Tragic_1 In a corner of the Southern Battlefield, Hu Yuan was also deeply engaged in an intense battle with three Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiaos. Both sides were fighting fiercely with each other, exerting their full strength in every strike, causing great destruction. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan finished their battle and arrived at Hu Yuan¡¯s side immediately afterward. In their minds, it was a priority to deal with the powerful Bloodthirsty Jiaos first. Once their strongest members were free, they planned to assist their comrades who were at the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment. By freeing up their High Order combat power, they would be able to end the battle in the shortest time possible and achieve the greatest results. Knowing this, they came to assist Hu Yuan. After all, his strength was in no way inferior to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s and might even be stronger. At that moment, upon seeing Lin Tianming and another person arrive, Hu Yuan exclaimed with joy, ¡°The two Daoist friends have arrived with incredible speed. I hope you can lend a hand!¡± Before his voice had even faded, Hu Yuan moved quickly, with no hesitation. ... Lin Tianming and his companion wasted no words either. Each selected a Bloodthirsty Jiao as their target and began their attack without delay. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Bright flashes crossed the dark sky while bursts of explosive sounds followed one after another. Their assault was like a tidal wave. The Bloodthirsty Jiaos were forced to retreat again and again. None of them could stand alone against any one of the three men. Even though they were furiously angry, they could only put up a defensive fight. However, Lin Tianming and his two companions wouldn¡¯t give them any chance to catch their breath, attacking with all their might. Soon, after several rounds of fierce attacks, a grievous scream could be heard every few breaths. The intense battle was nearing its end. Hu Yuan was the first to finish his fight, followed by Li Xiuyuan, with Lin Tianming right after. From the moment the two joined the battle, it took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The three Bloodthirsty Jiaos couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and died reluctantly amid their unwillingness. With the death of the last Demonic Beast, the slaughter temporarily came to a pause. Looking over the tragic battlefield, Lin Tianming and the others retrieved their Magic Artifacts, then regrouped together. At this time, Li Xiuyuan looked at Tianming and the other with a knowing smile, feeling immense relief inside. As the team leader, he had been dutiful and responsible in the great battle. Whenever a stronger Demonic Beast appeared, he was always the first to rush in without shirking his duty. His teammates were equally outstanding. Among them, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were incredibly strong, achieving great results on the battlefield and reaping rich rewards. It was noteworthy that in almost every battle, Lin Tianming was the first to open the situation. This was indeed a rare quality. Although it was also a result of their subconscious arrangement to block the strongest Demonic Beasts, the strength of the beasts Lin Tianming faced was formidable as well. Yet, he was still able to fight swiftly and decisively, then join their battle group to eventually exterminate these significantly powerful Demonic Beasts with united strength. Thinking of all this, Li Xiuyuan was truly grateful. It was fortunate that he had helped the Lin Family Members during their arrival in the Qianchuan Market and formed a deep connection with them. Otherwise, for this beast tide attack, the difficulty for his team to achieve great results and win a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm would have been unimaginable. Regaining his focus, he looked at Lin Tianming and the other and then asked with concern, ¡°How are you two Daoist friends? If you still have the strength to fight, let¡¯s help our other friends as soon as possible!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much¡­ These few beasts couldn¡¯t possibly make me exert myself too much!¡± Hu Yuan laughed heartily, brushing it off casually as if it were nothing. Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan chuckled and held Hu Yuan in even higher esteem. Lin Tianming felt the same. To him, Hu Yuan really did seem carefree and possessed tremendous strength. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming looked around at the still ongoing battles and casually reminded them, ¡°Let¡¯s save any discussions for after the great battle has ended. The urgent task at hand is to finish this fight quickly!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ indeed!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded and added, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move immediately and completely exterminate this Bloodthirsty Jiao Tribe!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Li Xiuyuan turned into a fleeting shadow and disappeared from in front of them. ¡°Daoist Hu, we can¡¯t fall behind!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile, then swiftly stepped forward and dashed off. Hu Yuan followed closely, each heading in different directions. After they left the place, they roamed the battlefield, rushing to help wherever their comrades were in dire straits. Now that the strongest of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos had fallen by their hands, the majority of the remaining Demonic Beasts were Second Order at the initial and middle stages. Only Tang Liusheng and several other Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators were still fighting with a few Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiaos. However, they weren¡¯t in a bad situation. Although they might not be able to triumph, they also weren¡¯t in immediate danger for their lives. Under these circumstances, the three only needed to assist teammates with lower cultivation. With their cultivation level, Second Order Middle Stage Bloodthirsty Jiaos couldn¡¯t last more than a few moments against them and were quickly eliminated. At the present moment, Lin Tianming and the others were like reapers, harvesting the lives of the Bloodthirsty Jiaos with abandon. The time for a cup of tea passed. As the final ten or so Second Order Bloodthirsty Jiaos were surrounded and killed by the united cultivators, the area suddenly fell silent. At that time, the entire team was visibly excited and couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Soon, under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s direction, they all gathered together and joined Lin Tianming and the others. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 513 513 292 Gruesome_2 ?Chapter 513: Chapter 292: Gruesome_2 Chapter 513: Chapter 292: Gruesome_2 As this round of intense battle ended, a glance across the field revealed a further reduction in the number of cultivators. Originally, before the battle began, the team had as many as forty members, but after this fight, only thirty-six remained, with four having fallen on this land. When one thinks about it, it¡¯s somewhat acceptable, as battles inevitably lead to casualties. Moreover, the Bloodthirsty Jiao Tribe possessed formidable strength. Not to mention their speed, their defensive power was extremely tough, making them comparatively more difficult to kill than the group of Demonic Beasts they had encountered in the previous battle. Thus, the loss of only four people in this battle was actually not that significant. Nevertheless, everyone¡¯s expression was rather grim, especially Li Xiuyuan¡¯s, considering that every cultivator present was his asset in contending for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Seeing the somewhat low spirits of the crowd, Li Xiuyuan couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth to offer a few words of consolation. ... Immediately thereafter, under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s leadership and with representatives like Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, more than ten cultivators above the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment prepared to support other teams. Soon, they formed a trio and rushed in all directions, joining the battlefields of other teams. As the ferocious battle continued, corpses lay strewn across the vast battlefield, countless lights pierced the sky, and various forms of attacks interwove with one another. For a time, earth-shattering sounds, accompanied by the frequent screams of both Human and Beast Clans, filled the air. In the blink of an eye, a small quarter of an hour passed. By now, the entire battle had reached its climax, with both the Human Cultivators and the Demon Beast Army suffering substantial losses. At that moment, in the highest battleground above. This was the area where the top combat forces of both clans were engaged in a fierce struggle. Chen Jingtian, together with Wang Hengqiu and a few other brothers, as well as two Third Order Spiritual Beasts from the Sect, were battling against the lead of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and other Demonic Beasts. With their combined efforts, they formed an impenetrable defense, holding back the opposing Third Order Demonic Beasts. Even with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s supreme strength and numerical advantage, it still failed to break through their defenses. However, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was not foolish enough to persist in ineffective attacks. If it could not land a deadly blow on Chen Jingtian and the others, it planned to shift focus and exterminate the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After all, with their strength and formidable defensive abilities, they had virtually no concerns. Even if they simply charged wildly across the battlefield, they could cause widespread damage, and even the stronger Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be unable to withstand them. Thus, under the leadership of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, seven Third Order Demonic Beasts scattered and began to slaughter the Foundation Establishment Cultivators with abandon. At this very moment, Lin Tianming and others who were supporting other teams fortunately detected this in time. They reacted immediately, hastily retreating to take refuge behind Chen Jingtian and the others. Across from them, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was relying on its powerful body to rampage among the cultivators, and many Foundation Establishment Cultivators were knocked senseless before they could react. Not just the Human Cultivators, but also those Demonic Beasts of the Demon Beast Race who failed to dodge in time, were equally trampled to death. It was an indiscriminate attack on both the Demon Beast Race and the Human Cultivators. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s actions undoubtedly aimed to make Chen Jingtian and his companions hesitate, thereby dividing their formation. While many cultivators were still unresponsive, dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already been trampled recklessly by Third Order Demonic Beasts, thus losing their lives. And in this great battle, although Foundation Establishment Cultivators occasionally fell, overall, the rate of sacrifice was not fast. Compared to the previous battle, almost all who survived were those with strong cultivation and abilities. Yet in that instant, nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators died under the bodies of the Third Order Demonic Beasts. Even the Inner Sect Disciples of Zhenyang Sect, those elite Disciples at the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, were not all fortunate enough to escape. Clearly, the actions of the Third Order Demonic Beasts played right into Chen Jingtian¡¯s hands. At this moment, the battlefield was a brutal, bloodstained scene as one after another of the human race¡¯s main forces fell. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face became extremely gloomy, forced to contrive a response in haste. In urgency, looking at the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were scattering in flight, Chen Jingtian¡¯s resonant voice spread across the entire battlefield. ¡°All listen to my command, Foundation Establishment Cultivators who can¡¯t find a place to hide quickly gather behind me, and those with the ability along with Qi Refining Stage Cultivators retreat into Yuyao City!¡± After speaking, Chen Jingtian looked toward Wang Hengqiu, signaling him to arrange for the retreat. Not far away, Wang Hengqiu tacitly understood and nodded at Chen Jingtian. Then, Wang Hengqiu controlled the token of the formation, opening the entrance to its widest to allow Qi Refining Cultivators to retreat as quickly as possible. Having done this, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun took action, sweeping toward the battlefield where the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gathered. At this moment, with Chen Jingtian¡¯s retreat order issued, the style of the entire battlefield suddenly changed. Upon receiving the command, the Qi Refining Cultivators, covered by Wang Hengqiu, retreated toward Yuyao City like a tide. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered together, protected by a few Golden Core Cultivators like Chen Jingtian and the Third Order Spiritual Beasts from Zhenyang Sect. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan, among others with faster speeds, reacted first and successfully made it to the rear of Chen Jingtian and his group. Qin Xi, who did not join them in supporting the other teams, had already retreated into Yuyao City with many Qi Refining Cultivators. In front of them, Chen Jingtian and others intercepted the charging Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. By now, these Golden Core Cultivators did not dare to hold back anymore. A massive amount of Third Order talisman paper exploded forth, with formidable attacking force streaking across the sky. Besides that, Lin Tianming and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also weren¡¯t idle, unleashing a multitude of attacking methods, striking at the Demon Beast Tribe and incoming Third Order Demonic Beasts from a great distance. For a moment, dense attacking methods converged, producing earth-shattering noises that made one¡¯s scalp tingle involuntarily. The Demon Beast Army too made changes, Blazing Flame Celestial Lion ferociously attacked Chen Jingtian and his party, while several Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts roamed the battlefield, specifically to exterminate Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Soon, almost all Foundation Establishment Cultivators escaped the pursuit and gathered behind Chen Jingtian. However, under the pursuit of the Third Order Demonic Beasts, still hundreds of people were too slow to evade and died under the claws of the Third Order Demonic Beasts. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Latterly, the Third Order Demonic Beasts, finding no targets, did not trouble the Qi Refining Cultivators, seemingly aware that those people would not have any significant impact on the overall situation. Following that, the Third Order Demonic Beasts quickly gathered together and fiercely engaged with Chen Jingtian and his group. Under such circumstances, the originally segmented battlefield completely transformed into two opposing, powerful forces. As time passed, Chen Jingtian and his party exchanged several rounds of fierce blows with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, and relying on a few treasures they had, both the human and beast clans suffered some injuries. Among them, Lan Yu, who had not fully recovered, was wounded again, and one of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beasts was also seriously injured, its strength halved directly. On the side of the beasts, the Blood Jiao was also severely injured, its entire tail severed by Wang Hengqiu, its strength greatly diminished, and it would probably take three to five years to recover. After this great battle, it seemed neither the strongest forces of the human nor beast clans had gained much advantage. After repelling the demonic beasts with a single strike, both parties retreated a bit, standing off against each other. At this moment, looking at the snarling Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression was incredibly grave. This battle showed they had still underestimated the strength of the demonic beasts and did not expect the beasts to be so cunning; a mere change in strategy had thrown the human forces into complete disarray, resulting in such heavy losses. However, even so, on the whole, the Demon Beast Army too suffered heavy losses, with a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts obliterated and countless First Order Demonic Beasts killed or injured. Although they did not achieve their expectations before going to battle, this mutually detrimental outcome was still not unacceptable. Regaining his composure, Chen Jingtian looked at the severely wounded Human Cultivators, realizing that continuing the fight would hardly solve the Demon Beast Army completely. In his heart, the lives of demonic beasts were simply incomparable to those of the human race. With this in mind, and then looking at his fellow disciples struggling to cope, as well as the terrible battlefield, he could not help but contemplate a retreat. Chapter 514 514 293 Blue Star Bead_1 ?Chapter 514: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_1 Chapter 514: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_1 Outside Yuyao City. Chen Jingtian glanced at the army of human cultivators. The Qi Refining Cultivators had all completed their retreat, with only a few hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind them, assisting in fending off the Demon Beast Army. This group of people was the true backbone of the human race¡¯s strength, each of them at least at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and many were disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their overall strength was even stronger than the thousands who had already retreated. Thus, the role of these people in a battle with an unknown duration was self-evident. Now, their few top fighters had expended a great deal of energy. Once these core forces had successfully retreated, they must return to Yuyao City to recuperate. As for repelling the Demon Beast Army, that would require further plotting. ... ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®As long as the green hills last, there will be wood to burn!''¡± Having cultivated for hundreds of years, he understood this truth all too well. After much thought, Chen Jingtian sighed with reluctance, having made up his mind. Decided, he immediately shouted: ¡°All those who have not yet retreated, fall back to Yuyao City immediately. We will stop the demonic beasts from attacking you!¡± Upon hearing this, the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind him ceased their attacks on the demonic beasts and hastily began to retreat. Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan were among the fastest, taking the lead, ahead of the majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Thankfully, the human cultivators were agile and flexible in their retreat, and with only a few hundred people, they were not too crowded. Otherwise, with so many people running together while trying to ensure their own safety, the efficiency would have been notably lower. At that moment, Chen Jingtian and his comrades watched the orderly retreat of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, without dragging their feet. Satisfied, Chen Jingtian nodded and turned his full attention to the Third Order Demon Beasts ahead. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion howled at the sky, seemingly unwilling to let the retreating cultivators go easily. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression grew stern, and he murmured to Wang Hengqiu and the others beside him. ¡°Fellow brothers, let¡¯s join forces to stop them, and then find an opportunity to retreat!¡± ¡°Understood. Everyone, be careful!¡± As Wang Hengqiu responded, he was the first to initiate an attack. Seeing his brother act, Chen Jingtian did not delay. He waved his sleeve, and several Third Order Talismans appeared in his hand. Spiritual Light burst forth from the talismans upon Chen¡¯s Law Decree, transforming into a sky filled with a downpour of fire that rained down upon the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Loud explosions sounded, and the sky turned fiery red in an instant. Many demonic beasts were unable to avoid the deluge and were directly ignited by the sea of flames. Screams filled the air as numerous First Order Demon Beasts were evaporated by the fire, leaving no remains behind. Underneath the terrifying sea of fire, only the demonic beasts at or beyond the middle and late Second Order could resist a little, but even then, they were severely wounded if not killed outright. In such a situation, the battlefield at that moment resembled a purgatory on earth. Now, seeing Chen Jingtian and his comrades strike with such ferocity, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion became utterly enraged, its blood-red eyes fixated on the retreating crowd, clearly intending to retaliate against the humans. However, Chen and his comrades had anticipated this and had made ample preparations in advance for the demonic beasts¡¯ attack. With a clear goal in mind, and considering their considerable expenditure of spiritual power, they aimed only to lead the human cultivators back to Yuyao City. Therefore, they did not overestimate themselves, still prioritizing defense and avoiding rash actions. After several rounds of intense combat, even though the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was the most powerful, it could not breach the immaculate defenses, and the Demon Beast Army still did not achieve success. Seeing the gradual retreat of the hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, if they did not inflict significant damage, the Demon Beast Army would still fail to gain the upper hand in this battle. In such circumstances, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, extremely aggravated, led the entire Demon Beast Army and numerous demonic beasts to unleash their strongest attacks. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky continued to rumble with thunder, the very air filled with various means of attack, each strike gathering the power from all sides. At this moment, neither demonic beasts nor humans would easily yield to the other. ¡°Crackle¡­¡± The attack unleashed by Chen Jingtian was furiously powerful, colliding fiercely with that of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. The affected area shook. Many lower-level demonic beasts unable to evade the shockwave were left dead in its aftermath. At this sight, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion roared in complete fury. With a bellow to the sky, the Blood Jiao behind it was similarly enraged. Each of the seven Third Order Demon Beasts activated their Innate Divine Abilities. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Various peculiar attacks manifested, every one capable of obliterating a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator without leaving even dust behind. At this critical juncture, Chen Jingtian and his comrades, faced with the divinely powerful attacks of the demonic beasts, looked extremely solemn. ¡°Brothers, the juniors have almost completely retreated. Let¡¯s not hold back any longer. After this strike, we¡¯ll retreat immediately!¡± Chen Jingtian shouted loudly. He then patted his storage bag, and a faint blue bead appeared in his hand. ¡°Blue Star Bead!¡± ¡°Brother Chen is indeed willing to part with such a treasure!¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s action and the brightly colored bead, everyone recognized its purpose and exclaimed in unison. The Blue Star Bead, similar to a talisman in function, was a one-time consumable item. Its difficulty in crafting was immense, relying entirely on the inner cores of numerous late-stage Third Order water-attribute demonic beasts. Its value was self-evident. Chapter 515 515 293 Blue Star Bead_2 ?Chapter 515: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_2 Chapter 515: Chapter 293 Blue Star Bead_2 Just a single bead, and when speaking purely of its power, a Third Order Superior Attack Talisman can¡¯t hold a candle to a Blue Star Bead. Therefore, the value of the Blue Star Bead is extremely high, and within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it¡¯s an exceedingly rare existence. Such a high-value treasure can only circulate in small quantities in the central region of Qingzhou, and more often than not, it is found in the auctions of large markets, where every bidding war ends undoubtedly with a sky-high price. Thinking of these, Wang Hengqiu and the others couldn¡¯t help but smile with satisfaction, the tension on their faces easing considerably. Having finally calmed down, they no longer held back and each took out their most treasured possessions. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the blink of an eye, each of the four had several different treasures in hand, and none of them was ordinary. Apart from the bead offered by Chen Jingtian, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun each produced two Third Order Superior Attack Talismans. ... As for Lan Yu, whose cultivation was lower than the others and whose personal wealth was limited, he also brought out two Third Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans. Though his trump card was obviously inferior to Wang Hengqiu and the others, and even more so compared to Chen Jingtian, a Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman is already not something ordinary for a Golden Core Cultivator. If a Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast let its guard down, it might very well lose its life in his hands. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The demon beasts¡¯ attacks drew closer and closer, and Chen Jingtian, facing forward, reached the pinnacle of his aura under this oppressive force. ¡°Attack!¡± Upon his loud command, the Blue Star Bead in his hand suddenly burst into radiant light and was filled with an extremely terrifying chill. As the Blue Star Bead unleashed a trace of its aura, the temperature in the battlefield dropped significantly in an instant, making it hard for one to avoid feeling a hint of chill. At this moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion sensed the change in the Blue Star Bead and its eyes immediately filled with a look of dread. However, at this critical juncture, Chen Jingtian was not about to make any changes. Seeing the demon beasts¡¯ attacks approaching, he did not hesitate to activate the Blue Star Bead and hurled it towards the oncoming Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. At the same time, Wang Hengqiu and the others were also quick to act, activating the Third Order Talismans in their hands without delay. In an instant, the dim sky was illuminated by a dazzling blue flash, along with numerous colorful attacks transformed from the talismans. At this time, seeing the multitude of talisman attacks, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion remained relatively calm, seemingly not taking them too seriously. But when it saw the terrifying Blue Star Bead morph into a massive iceberg and smash towards the Demon Beast Army, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion suddenly became extremely panicked. Without any hesitation, it immediately abandoned its attack on the Human Cultivators. Not only did the lead Blazing Flame Celestial Lion move swiftly, but the Blood Jiao, being powerful, also possessed excellent judgement in the face of danger. It recognized the power of the Blue Star Bead was not to be underestimated, and it definitely had the potential to severely injure or even kill it. It dared not take the risk! Consequently, the Blood Jiao¡¯s actions were equally swift; it had no plans to engage directly and fled at the first opportunity. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The multitude of demon beasts¡¯ attacks collided with those launched by Chen Jingtian and company. The entire sky suddenly became resplendently bright, and the earth started to shake violently as screams of agony rang out. Lin Tianming had already successfully returned to Yuyao City at this time. Standing on the city wall, his eyes were firmly fixed on the battlefield, and he was beyond shocked. The commotion up ahead was truly immense; Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack, along with the Blue Star Bead, was even more fierce than the one they had encountered previously. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, the Third Order Talismans transformed into an attack that spread like wildfire, instantly killing a large number of demonic beasts, while only the Third Order Demonic Beasts could rely on their speed and strong defensive power to resist for a moment. But before they could even react, the iceberg formed by the Blue Star Bead came crashing down on the Third Order Demonic Beasts like Mount Tai. Clearly, Chen Jingtian¡¯s target was the Third Order Demonic Beasts; he did not even consider the First Order Demonic Beasts as his targets. Such a move was completely within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the value of the Blue Star Bead was too high. To use it against those First Order Demonic Beasts would indeed be an overkill. Good steel is used on blade¡¯s edge, and these practitioners who have cultivated for decades or even a century are all too clear on this principle. As the iceberg descended, at that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao had already fled from the attack, halting on an open piece of ground, their eyes full of shock and horror. However, two Third Order Demon Beasts were not quick enough to escape and were directly hit by the sharp edges of the iceberg. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Two loud noises sounded, and the sharp edges of the iceberg crushed half the body of a Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast, causing a great amount of flesh and blood to be exposed under the broad daylight. This sight, of flesh blurred and blood soaring and spraying, appeared incredibly tragic. Another Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast had it even worse; it had already been injured in a previous battle, which significantly weakened its strength. Under the terrifying attack of the iceberg, they became prime targets, with numerous Third Order Talismans all around, attacking and cornering. Even against a single Third Order Medium Grade Attack Talisman, it had to exert all its effort. Yet among all these attacks, there were quite a few Third Order Superior Talismans, and even the more fearsome Blue Star Bead. Under such ferocious attacks, how could it withstand? It could only be struck, dying reluctantly in the end. The Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast that was hit by the iceberg struggled for a few moments before it also breathed its last. ¡°Rumble, rumble¡­¡± As the attacks from the iceberg and numerous Third Order Talismans neared their end, the trembling of heaven and earth gradually ceased. At this moment, the previously continuous noise also gradually stopped, leaving only the cries of some injured demon beasts on the noisy battlefield. A short while passed. The dust in the sky dispersed, the darkened sky gradually brightened, and the figures of both the Human and Beast Clans came into view. At this time, on the Demon Beast Race¡¯s side, a great number of demon beasts lay dead, with the large bodies of two Third Order Demon Beasts lying on the ground, especially conspicuous among the corpses strewn across the battlefield. The leading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, along with the remaining Demon Beast Army, gathered on the plains a few miles outside of the city. Most of them bore some injuries, and after this battle, the number of the entire Demon Beast Army had once again sharply decreased by nearly thirty percent, leaving only a little over thirty thousand. On the side of the Human Cultivators, Chen Jingtian and the others had already returned to the inside of the formation when the demon beasts were dodging. At this moment, the two sides looked at each other, their gazes filled with great fury. Inside the tower of Yuyao City. Chen Jingtian and the others looked pale and seemed to be in a bad state. Especially Lan Yu, whose cultivation strength was clearly a great deal weaker than Chen Jingtian¡¯s. With old injuries compounded by new ones, his entire being was in turmoil, his realm even showing signs of instability. Chen Jingtian looked at everyone, then at the Demon Beast Army. His brows, previously furrowed in worry, relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief. This battle had originally not favored the Human Race, but fortunately, he and his peers had sacrificed many precious treasures and had killed two Third Order Demon Beasts, one of which was a powerful Third Order Medium Stage existence. Besides, the number of Second Order Demon Beasts that died was not small. Although in total it was less than the first battle, this result was still quite remarkable. After all, as the war dragged on, those who survived from the first battle were demon beasts of not inconsiderable strength. In addition, the numbers of Human Cultivators were also steadily decreasing. Therefore, as the battle dragged on further, with the decreasing numbers, the outcome of the battle would only shrink. Nevertheless, even though the number of slain demon beasts in this battle was less than that in the previous one, in terms of top combat power, it was even better than the first. After all, the Demon Beast Race had lost two Third Order Demon Beasts, including one powerful Third Order Medium Stage presence. On the side of the Human Cultivators, only Lan Yu and one Third Order Spiritual Beast were injured, with no direct fatalities. Given time to recuperate, they would eventually return to their peak or even advance further. In this way, overall, the Human Cultivators achieved their pre-set goal for the battle and won the victory in this fight. Chapter 516 516 294 Move Up One More Place_1 ?Chapter 516: Chapter 294: Move Up One More Place_1 Chapter 516: Chapter 294: Move Up One More Place_1 In the attic atop the walls of Yuyao City, Chen Jingtian glanced at the unwilling Demon Beast Army, feeling a surge of excitement deep within. This battle had seen them repel the Demon Beast Army, thus achieving their pre-war goals and obtaining a wealth of spoils. As his emotions surged and thoughts flew in disarray, the sound of explosions came from outside the Formation. Chen Jingtian turned his head and saw that at that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion leading a multitude of Second Order and higher Demonic Beasts was angrily attacking the Defensive Array, seemingly to vent their frustration. However, Chen Jingtian and others, having already retreated from the battlefield, had long since reactivated the Defensive Array, which now once again shrouded the entire Yuyao City in its protective light. Outside Yuyao City, Despite the still vast number of the Demon Beast Army, the energy of the Defensive Array had also been significantly drained, diminishing its defensive power compared to before. Yet, this Defensive Array remained quite stable, withstanding multiple attacks, with the light of the Formation only trembling slightly, showing no signs of collapse. ... Clearly, with the number of Demonic Beasts further diminishing, and especially with four fewer Third Order Demon Beasts, relying solely on this power, it would be very difficult to breach the Defensive Array. If things continued this way, just a few more major battles, and perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be long before the struggle at this part of the Songling Mountain Range could be concluded. Thinking of this, and looking at the furious Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face was brimming with smiles, his excitement long unable to subside. Not just him, but Wang Hengqiu and the others could also foresee this, equally exhilarated. Time passed, unknown how long. Chen Jingtian was the first to regain his composure from the joy, and seeing the expressions on the faces of the many Cultivators within Yuyao City, he soon addressed his companions. ¡°Wang, Brother Lan and the Spirit Beast have been seriously injured and urgently need to recuperate¡ªthey cannot afford any delay!¡± At these words, Wang Hengqiu came back to his senses. He nodded and then replied, ¡°Indeed, with this battle over and no reinforcements arriving for the Demon Beast Army, they should no longer pose a threat!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No sooner had he spoken than Zhu Yun, his face flushed and expression excited, chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ With more of the elite Demonic Beasts lost in this battle, especially the Third Order Demonic Beasts, those few that are still alive hardly seem a match for our frontal array.¡± Even with Chen Jingtian¡¯s conservative approach to matters, he deeply agreed with this analysis. He chuckled and then said, ¡°My fellow brothers are absolutely right, we now have the initiative and are in an invincible position!¡± ¡°However, Brother Lan is not lightly wounded, he should immediately go into cultivation to recover. As for the Human army here, everyone should start recuperating and restoring their condition.¡± ¡°When the right opportunity arises, we will strike with a heavy blow and completely annihilate the Demon Beast Army in one fell swoop!¡± Having finished speaking, Wang Hengqiu nodded in agreement and then volunteered himself for the task. ¡°Good¡­ Yuyao City is safe for the time being, everyone should return to closed-door cultivation, and leave the post-battle tasks to me!¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded in approval and then gave some instructions to Long Qingshui waiting atop the city wall. ¡°Qingshui, the task of battlefield cleanup and the distribution of spoils will be entrusted to you¡ªremember to be fair and just, and assist your Teacher Wang well.¡± ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°Your Disciple obeys!¡± Long Qingshui bowed in response and then stood quietly to one side, ready to act according to Wang Hengqiu¡¯s commands. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded with satisfaction, then exchanged a few words with Wang Hengqiu before leaving the attic with Zhu Yun and others. Once Chen Jingtian and the others had left, Wang Hengqiu turned his attention to the Demonic Beasts outside the Formation. At that moment, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, having attacked the Formation for a long time to no avail and not able to provoke the humans, seemed to be considering a retreat. After a fierce blow, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion halted its advance. With a roar to the sky, it then turned around, leading the Demon Beast Army to slowly withdraw, quickly vanishing without a trace. It seemed that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had realized that such collisions with the Formation were largely ineffective and came with significant risk. After all, if they delayed for too long and the spiritual power of the Human Cultivators recovered, they might launch a counterattack with the help of the Formation, leading to even greater losses for the Demon Beast Army. Understanding this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion merely hit the Formation symbolically for a while¡ªas a venting of fury, not daring to linger too long or to provoke the Human Gold Core Cultivators. Watching the retreating Demon Beast Army, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face was full of smiles, and he let out a long sigh of relief inside. ¡°All Zhenyang Sect Disciples, follow me later to clean up the battlefield; the rest of you may leave!¡± With his loud voice echoing across the walls and the square, Wang Hengqiu, in the presence of the numerous Cultivators, gave a few instructions to Long Qingshui and then sent everyone away. Soon, a vast number of Cultivators began to depart from the walls and the square, and the once quiet Yuyao City suddenly bustled with activity and noise. On the city walls, Li Xiuyuan, involved in the task of cleaning the battlefield with limited time, exchanged a few words with Lin Tianming and others before heading in the direction of Long Qingshui. Seeing the leaving Cultivators, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger. Since the Zhenyang Sect Cultivators were responsible for cleaning the battlefield and distributing the spoils, there was no need for him to worry. In such circumstances, it would be better for him to return to his cave dwelling and cultivate without delay. Having made up his mind, he said goodbye to the teammates he knew well and quickly disappeared into the crowd with Qin Xi. Chapter 517 517 294 Advance One More Step_2 ?Chapter 517: Chapter 294: Advance One More Step_2 Chapter 517: Chapter 294: Advance One More Step_2 Not long after, the two returned to their cave abode. In the main hall of the cave abode where guests were received, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sat opposite each other, both with calm expressions and steady breaths. It seemed that neither of them had expended much in the great battle they had just fought. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi, whose expression was as usual, and asked with concern, ¡°How are you, Fairy Qin?¡± Upon hearing this caring inquiry, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, and a touch of joy stirred secretly within her heart. Yet she maintained her composure, forcibly suppressing the agitation inside, and then responded. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Lin. The demonic beasts weren¡¯t very strong in this battle, and with Lin¡¯s timely support, combined with Fairy Sun, our expenditure wasn¡¯t substantial,¡± she replied. ... ¡°Hehe¡­ that¡¯s good, that¡¯s good!¡± Lin Tianming smiled and nodded, then pondered the next moves of the demonic beasts in order to make his arrangements. The great battle had just concluded, and the Demon Beast Army had retreated once again. Considering the remaining power of the demonic beasts, breaching Yuyao City would be no small feat. However, with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao unharmed, the overall strength of the demonic beasts remained formidable. Yet, barring any surprises, the demonic beasts would not easily withdraw, nor would they launch an immediate attack. Under such circumstances, the Human Cultivators also had a brief period to rest and reorganize. As for the duration, it might be similar to the last time, perhaps ten days to half a month in the short term, or even two to three months in the long term. No matter how long it was, he had to seize the time for cultivation, to improve his strength as much as possible in order to survive in the great battle and even compete for a spot in the Tianfeng Secret Realm. With these thoughts in mind, he then said to Qin Xi, ¡°Fairy Qin.¡± ¡°There should be a period of calm coming up. Once the new Demon Hunter Leaderboard is out, I intend to go into closed-door cultivation for a while. If Fairy Qin has nothing urgent, you might also seize this time for cultivation,¡± he suggested. Upon hearing his words, Qin Xi nodded. She had also come to a similar conclusion to what Lin Tianming had said. Besides, she would have made this plan and arrangement herself even if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi replied with a smile, ¡°As it happens, I have planned the same, but for the matter with Li, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to speak to him, Lin!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Fairy Qin, I will take care of it!¡± Lin Tianming replied, then stood up, gave her a bow with his fists clasped, and headed to his cultivation room. Watching Lin Tianming stand up and leave, Qin Xi¡¯s bright eyes flashed momentarily before she too walked towards her cultivation room. Two days later, on the plaza in front of Zhenyang Hall. By this time, a large number of cultivators had gathered, including both loose cultivators and members of various families and sects. The scene was bustling with small groups here and there engaged in lively discussions. Lin Tianming blended into the crowd, his sharp eyes fixed on the leaderboard in front of him, a slight smile flickering across his face. Today was the day the results of the second great battle were unveiled. Although he had a rough idea of the points he had earned for the demonic beasts he killed, he had no way of predicting other people¡¯s results. Some might fall in rank, or others might surpass them¡ªit was all possible. With potential changes like these, only the leaderboard could provide the most accurate information. So, early in the morning, he had left the cave abode to check the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Looking over the leaderboard, the names were still familiar, with the majority of rankings unchanged and only the points continually rising. However, there was still a small portion of unfamiliar names that had entered the top fifty, placed in relatively lower positions. As he expected, the top five positions were still occupied by the genius cultivators, with no change in their rankings. Long Qingshui was in the first place with one thousand and sixty points, the only cultivator among all whose points had surpassed a thousand, clearly in a league of his own. Jun Buhui and Jiang Yuyao followed closely behind with 970 and 930 points, respectively. Further down, among people familiar to him, Zheng Xiao¡¯s rank fell from sixth to seventh, while Li Xiuyuan maintained his eighth-place ranking. Other cultivators who ranked higher than him in the first round of scoring saw varied changes: Deng Guanghua fell one spot to twelfth, Yang Tongshun remained at thirteenth, and Hu Yuan continued to hold the fourteenth place. As for himself, in this round of the great battle, he killed a Second Order Late-Stage Bloodthirsty Jiao and subdued another; later, he supported Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, and together they killed two more Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beasts. Therefore, his points should have increased by at least two hundred, very likely approaching or even surpassing seven hundred points. As expected, after this battle, his points reached seven hundred and fifty, and his ranking rose one place to fifteenth on the overall leaderboard, only twenty points behind Hu Yuan in fourteenth place. Continuing the comparison upwards, he was only fifty points behind Yang Tongshun, who was ranked higher. Above him, the point difference between the tenth and fifteenth positions was small, spanning only over a hundred points; killing one or two more Second Order Mid to Late Demonic Beasts could greatly boost one¡¯s ranking. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, the duration of this second round of the great battle wasn¡¯t long, due to the strategy changes of the Demon Beast Army, plus the surviving Second Order Demonic Beasts from their ranks were becoming stronger. Therefore, it became even more strenuous for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to kill them, leading to a significant difference in point increase compared to the first round. Under such circumstances, it was hard for large-scale changes in the high rankings on the leaderboard to occur ¨C at most, a swap between one or two ranks. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming¡¯s ranking and points were still quite considerable. In the next great battle, if he maintained this momentum and state, it was very possible he could surpass Deng Guanghua and a few others ahead of him, thus breaking into the top ten of the overall leaderboard. Besides the cultivators from the Zhenyang Sect, among the many Loose Cultivators and those with family sect backgrounds, only Zheng Xiao, who ranked higher, led by a considerable margin in points, making it difficult to catch up with him in the short term. However, there were three spots for the Tianfeng Secret Realm allocated to them, and as long as some steady progress was made in accumulating points and displacing a few people ahead, securing an entrance spot into the secret realm wasn¡¯t an extremely difficult task. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming felt excited, and even looked forward with some anticipation to the upcoming great battle. After calming himself down, he glanced at the crowd that was engaged in various discussions, exchanged pleasantries with a few Cultivators he knew, and then left the square, walking towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave dwelling. A short while passed. Inside Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat opposite Li Xiuyuan; the two sipped tea and chatted casually. At that moment, Li Xiuyuan picked up his teacup, invited Lin Tianming to taste it, and joked with a smile. ¡°Lin, congratulations, your ranking on the overall leaderboard has advanced even further!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming took a light sip of his tea and then responded with a smile. ¡°Heh¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Li¡¯s help. When assigning tasks, you handed over some lesser demonic beasts for me to deal with and generously allocated points for the assistance provided. Without that, advancing further wouldn¡¯t have been so easy!¡± His honesty was evident; he himself had speculated about his score before looking at the leaderboard. By his estimates, an increase of two hundred and fifty points in the second round would already be decent. Yet, after the post-battle point distribution, his score went up by a hefty two hundred and eighty points, thirty more than expected. Though those thirty points might not seem like much, equivalent to just one or two Second Order Demonic Beasts, after three rounds, it almost amounted to the score of a Second Order Late beast. In addition, even though thirty points seemed negligible, the difference between almost every rank on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was merely thirty to fifty points. For some, just a ten-point difference meant being two ranks apart. As time went on and the Demonic Beasts grew stronger, gathering points became more challenging, and a surplus of one hundred and eighty points could lead to very different outcomes. In such a situation, even the slightest subconscious bias from Li Xiuyuan could have a massive impact on his subordinates. Chapter 518 518 295 Xins Secret _1 ?Chapter 518: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret _1 Chapter 518: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret _1 Li Xiuyuan did this because he saw the potential in Lin Tianming¡¯s talent, as well as the overall potential of the Lin Family. Undertaking such a risk came with significant pressure and hazard, but these actions needed to remain subtle, to avoid stirring controversy. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s own strength was indeed remarkable, and his performance and achievements in the great battle were there for all to see. Plus, with his network and popularity, even if there was some small favoritism, the cultivators under his command wouldn¡¯t offend Li Xiuyuan and Lin Tianming over such a trivial amount of points. After all, among the remaining thirty or so team members, only Hu Yuan and Lin Tianming possibly had a chance to enter the Tianfeng Secret Realm. Among the others, including Tang Liusheng who was at the same late stage of Foundation Establishment, clearly did not possess the strength to vie for the Tianfeng Secret Realm quota, and could only settle for ordinary rewards. In this way, considering Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and strength, along with the overall strength of the Lin Family, no one was foolish enough to take this matter too seriously. ... It was better to be generous, so when Lin Tianming stepped into the Golden Core Stage, these people might reap a larger reward. It was because he understood this that Li Xiuyuan showed some favoritism, albeit with certain goals in mind. But in his view, all these risks should be worth it. Thinking of this, Li Xiuyuan immediately waved his hand, smiling as he replied, ¡°Lin, there¡¯s no need for formalities.¡± ¡°My actions are only in the hopes that I can join hands with Lin to enter the Tianfeng Secret Realm, and I even aspire to embark on the Golden Core Path alongside you!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ then I¡¯ll take Li¡¯s auspicious words to heart!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, clasping his fist in a gesture of sincere gratitude, and then continued, ¡°Li, rest assured, whether we succeed or not, I and the Lin Family will never forget the help you provided today.¡± ¡°No more need be said¡­ no more need be said, it¡¯s enough that we understand each other!¡± Li Xiuyuan quickly waved his hand, signaling Lin Tianming to tacitly gloss over the matter. Lin Tianming understood this perfectly well; after all, having the matter widely known wasn¡¯t good for either of them. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded with satisfaction, and then took out two storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, these are your share of the spoils from the battle, and regarding the Second Order Demon Beast Souls you requested, I managed to exchange quite a few for you. See if they meet your satisfaction.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy. He accepted the storage bags and sent his Divine Sense into them to check. He was immensely satisfied with what he found. The items within these two storage bags were indeed their loot from the second round of the battle. Qin Xi¡¯s share could be disregarded, but his own was substantial. In this battle, he had slain a Blood Jiao, whose corpse was intact within the storage bag. Besides that, there were numerous Second Order Demon Beast Souls¡ªno fewer than a hundred, including more than twenty from Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, with the rest being from the early to mid stages. During the great battle, his team had encountered just over seventy Second Order Demonic Beasts, but there were more than a hundred Second Order Demon Beast Souls in this storage bag. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan had leveraged his connections to acquire at least seventy to eighty Second Order Demon Beast Souls for him. From any perspective, Li Xiuyuan had indeed given him substantial help. After recovering his composure, Lin Tianming looked at Li Xiuyuan with a smile that was not quite a smile, feeling deeply moved in his heart. At that moment, he did not hesitate to take out ten thousand Spirit Stones and hand them over to Li Xiuyuan. ¡°Li, I won¡¯t say much more, please accept this small token of my appreciation!¡± Hearing this, and seeing his earnest expression, Li Xiuyuan promptly refused the generous offer. In his heart, even though ten thousand Spirit Stones was not a negligible amount, it was inconsequential to his current status. Ten thousand Spirit Stones, where could they compare to the goodwill of Lin Tianming, let alone the value of the debt of gratitude owed! At this moment, seeing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s steadfast refusal, Lin Tianming did not insist further and reluctantly took back the Spirit Stones. Following that, the two of them chatted over tea, exchanged a great deal of information, and arranged many matters. Seeing that their business was nearly concluded, Lin Tianming then stood up, cupped his fists, and took his leave. Li Xiuyuan exchanged pleasantries and did not overly insist on keeping him, promptly standing up to see him off, watching as Lin Tianming left his cave abode. Less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Lin Tianming returned to his own cave, had a detailed exchange with Qin Xi, shared some information, and handed over the spoils to her. Afterward, they both returned to their individual training rooms and began to immerse themselves in cultivation. ¡­ Time flies, and a year passes by in a blink. In the western part of Qingzhou, the region is filled with mountains, rivers, and vast primeval forests. The lush environment, enriched with relatively dense Spiritual Energy, causes the flora to grow extraordinarily large, and the land is teeming with numerous rare and Exotic Beasts. This place is home to Demonic Beasts, housing a massive number of creatures. Second Order Demonic Beasts are as common as weeds, almost always within sight, and even Third Order Demonic Beasts occasionally make appearances. Some ancient Demonic Beasts and even Fourth Order Great Demons also reside in this land. This region, densely populated and terrifying with Demonic Beasts, is a forbidden zone for most Human Cultivators. Even Nascent Soul Cultivators do not dare to enter lightly; one moment of carelessness could lead to a catastrophic end. ¡­ In the boundless forests, Where Spiritual Energy is extremely rich, a dazzling silver hall stands out prominently. Chapter 519 519 295 Xins Secret_2 ?Chapter 519: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_2 Chapter 519: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_2 If a cultivator approached and looked closely, they would realize that this vast great hall spanned several miles. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What was even more incredible was that the entire hall was built from low-grade spirit stones. Such a large area, constructed mainly from spirit stones, caused the spiritual energy here to nearly solidify. In such a treasure land, anyone cultivating here would find their cultivation speed difficult to slow down. It goes without saying that just the spirit stone-built great hall, along with the cultivation environment here, would be worth an immense number of spirit stones. Even a Qi Refining cultivator estimating its value would likely come up with an astronomical figure! At this moment, within the hall constructed of spirit stones, several individuals with strange appearances were sitting together in a circle. ... Their features were peculiar, and while their stature wasn¡¯t much different from human cultivators, some had horns on their heads or others had abnormally large eyes or ears; it was unclear what race they belonged to. However, even if their race was difficult to discern, based on their aura, there was no doubt that these strange individuals were Fourth Order demonic beasts. According to ancient texts and high order cultivators, once demonic beasts of the Demon Beast Race entered the Third Order, their spirit wisdom would greatly increase and their bodies could change shape. They would fight in their true forms during great battles and could transform into several zhang in size when in deep cultivation. Once they reached the Fourth Order, the demonic beasts¡¯ innate capabilities and appearance further evolved, enabling them to transform into human form, although there were still some obvious differences from true humans. At the very least, their external features made it clear that there were significant differences between these Fourth Order Great Demons and Human Cultivators. Therefore, it was nearly impossible for them to conceal themselves in front of cultivators of the same order, and even some Foundation Establishment Cultivators could easily distinguish them if they observed carefully. Within the spirit stone hall. At this time, the atmosphere in the great hall was rather silent; the demonic beast powerhouses were each seated solemnly, none spoke as if they were waiting for something. A period of time as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea passed. With the flash of a red light, a middle-aged man with two horns on his head silently appeared in front of the group. This man had a determined expression, no emotion visible on his face, and just by standing there, he exuded a powerful aura and presence. Upon his arrival, the others in the hall quickly stood up and cupped their fists in salute, then quietly waited by the side, not daring to make a sound, and they were extremely respectful in their demeanor. Clearly, to command such respect from Fourth Order Great Demons, this beast¡¯s status and strength were certainly not low. And indeed, this was the case. This beast was named Yan Qian, a late Fourth Order Great Demon of the Flame Wind Jiao lineage, only one realm away from the strongest Fifth Order demonic beasts of the Huarong Realm. Flame Wind Jiaos were descendants of the ancient dragon race, containing innate bloodlines that bestowed them with various dragon talents and divine skills. With their formidable strength, the Flame Wind Jiao clan possessed several Fourth Order Great Demons, ranking them at the forefront of the entire Demon Race. This strong and well-established demon powerhouse made the other Fourth Order Great Demons present treat him with utmost respect, fearing to offend him. In the silent atmosphere. Yan Qian looked at the few Demon Race powerhouses present and then spoke, ¡°I have obtained ¡®that thing¡¯, and the main force of the Demon Beast Army has been brought back by me. You may instruct the juniors to retreat back to their territories.¡± Upon hearing this, the faces of the few Fourth Order Great Demons present lit up with joy as they started to offer flattery. ¡°Though the beast tide we launched was not of a large scale, several Nascent Soul Human Cultivators also made a move.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Even so, Brother Yan Qian managed to obtain that item right from under their noses and even came back unharmed. Your strength is extraordinarily formidable!¡± ¡­ No sooner had the voice faded, a crafty-eyed old man spoke up with a mix of emotions, ¡°Indeed¡­ the strength of those human cultivators in Qingzhou is not weak. Just last time, I almost fell into Tang Tianlong¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Had I not been resolute enough, plus having a precious item for escaping, I might have really fallen for that old Tang¡¯s trap!¡± Speaking of this, the old man¡¯s face darkened, and his tone became fiercely grim. But on closer inspection, the old man¡¯s face showed a mix of resentment and fear; it was clear that he had yet to forget the dire straits of his hasty flight. Listening to the old man, the other Demon Race powerhouses present couldn¡¯t resist teasing him a few words. ¡°Haha¡­ Brother Wu Xun may be mediocre in direct combat, but there¡¯s no doubt that your ability to flee is unmatched.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Inside the great hall. Hearing the flattering remarks from the other Great Demons, Yan Qian didn¡¯t interrupt but rather seemed to become lost in deep thought. This beast tide that had affected half of Qingzhou Land was indeed of his own doing, having secretly instigated several relatively weaker races, leading to the outbreak. The reason for this was that he had discovered a Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine in a hidden location within the cultivation world of Nanfeng Country on Qingzhou Land. This stalk of Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials was extremely precious and was instrumental for his breakthrough to the Fifth Order. Currently, he had been cultivating for over two thousand years without any sign of breaking through to the Fifth Order. Having come across such a treasure, he could not let it go, especially since he had made no progress for so long. This stalk of Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, located in the cultivation realm of Nanfeng Country at the heart of Qingzhou, wasn¡¯t too far from the cultivation realm controlled by the Tang Family, the top clan of Tang Country, with only one country separating them. Therefore, to obtain this stalk of Spiritual Medicine Materials unnoticed under the watchful eyes of human powerhouses was not an easy task. Chapter 520 520 295 Xins Secret_3 ?Chapter 520: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_3 Chapter 520: Chapter 295: Xin¡¯s Secret_3 Therefore, it had incited several subordinate tribes to launch a medium-scale beast tide in the Yuanzhen Kingdom and Yuanwu Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm, not too far from Tang Country, thereby diverting the attention of the Tang Family and other powerful human cultivators. Its purpose in doing so was very simple; it was to take advantage of the chaos to obtain those Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. However, at the beginning of the beast tide, human cultivators did not react violently, and top-notch Nascent Soul cultivators were unwilling to act. Especially Tang Tianlong, the elder ancestor of the Tang Family, whose strength and cultivation were not low, had never shown his face, and his exact whereabouts were unknown. Yan Qian, who was afraid of startling the snake by beating the grass, did not dare to act rashly, lest he was detected by human cultivators. He was well aware that it was alright if he temporarily could not obtain that treasure. Once his whereabouts and the news of the treasure leaked out, trying to obtain those Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials from the prepared human cultivators would not be as simple as launching a medium-scale beast tide. ... As a result, he could only be more patient, intensifying the beast tide¡¯s onslaught to attract the attention of Tang Tianlong and other powerhouses. As time passed, it had been almost half a year since Yuanwu Kingdom was eradicated. Seeing the war between the two races getting increasingly fierce, both sides had paid a price. And the Demon Beast Army continued its onslaught deep into human territory. Even with Yuanwu Kingdom eradicated, there were still no signs of retreat. At this point, Qingzhou¡¯s top human powerhouses were finally paying attention to the progress of the beast tide¡¯s attack. Eventually, the Demon Beast Army continued to advance, entering the Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm and getting not too far away from Tang Country. Seeing that Tang Family¡¯s territory was about to be threatened, Tang Tianlong had no choice but to get involved. He had to come forward, inviting top forces from the surrounding areas for support, before sending out a large number of elites to join the resistance against the beast tide in Yuanzhen Kingdom. Tang Tianlong himself took the field, took charge within Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s borders, and led the many cultivators who had come to support, to cope with the Demon Beast Army¡¯s attack. However, such a move played right into Yan Qian¡¯s hands. Taking advantage of the human cultivators¡¯ diverted attention, Yan Qian stealthily infiltrated Nanfeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm and successfully obtained those Fifth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. However, upon obtaining the treasure, he caused quite a stir and attracted the attention of some Golden Core Forces. Yan Qian couldn¡¯t be bothered with them and, having gained the treasure, promptly left Nanfeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Even though those Golden Core Forces noticed the commotion and reported it to Tang Tianlong at the earliest opportunity, sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the speed of human cultivators was no match for the Fourth Order late-stage Yan Qian. They were simply not on the same level. By the time Tang Tianlong received the news and wanted to give chase, Yan Qian had long since joined up with the Demon Beast Army. With his goal achieved, continuing the fight had little meaning. Moreover, not wanting to waste any time, Yan Qian led the Demon Beast Army to slowly retreat from the mountains, rivers, and lands within Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s borders back to the Demon Race¡¯s heartland. Seeing this, human cultivators at the center of the great battle naturally would not let things go easily. They poured out in droves, keen to kill as many of the demonic beasts as possible. Yan Qian had anticipated this and ordered some demonic beasts to cover the rear while leading the main forces to successfully retreat back into Demon Race territory. As for the abandoned Monster Beast Legion, as well as those branch legions distributed across various countries, they would retreat if possible. If not, they were to be sacrificed to quell the fury of the human powerhouses. ¡­ Recalling these secrets unknown to the human race, Yan Qian couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of emotions. But now that the matter had come to an end, even the top human powerhouses, despite any complaints, could not do anything to him. Returning to the present, Yan Qian exchanged a few words with the few strong members of the Demon Race by his side, confirming some details about the remnants of the Demon Beast Army. Soon, high-level consensus within the Demon Race was reached; they would abandon some of the less important Demon Beast Tribes, leaving them to fend for themselves. However, the human cultivators were unaware of these decisions. In the vast majority of regions, they were still resisting the invasion of the demonic beasts. Chapter 521 521 296 Year 1 ?Chapter 521: Chapter 296: Year 1 Chapter 521: Chapter 296: Year 1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. It has been more than half a year since the Demon Beast Tide erupted in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. During this period, Green Bamboo Mountain has been relatively calm, despite the occasional incursion of demon beasts into the nearby forests, which were quickly exterminated by a combined force of Lin Family Members. In a valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. At this very moment, it was noon. Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua sat opposite each other, sipping tea while casually chatting. Lin Shikang lifted his teacup for a light sip, then looked in the direction of the valley, revealing a thoughtful expression. ... He then let out a long sigh and asked Lin Shihua opposite him, ¡°Shihua, how have the family¡¯s major strongholds been holding up recently?¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyebrows relaxed, and after pondering for a moment, he began to respond. ¡°Third Brother¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain is relatively peaceful, occasionally, some groups led by Second Order Demonic Beasts would intrude near Green Bamboo Mountain.¡± ¡°However, the demon beasts¡¯ ranks aren¡¯t high. Under the leadership of Ninth Brother and myself, our clanspeople, with excellent coordination, have repelled the demon beasts multiple times.¡± ¡°Quite a few Foundation Establishment Clan Members remain in the family to guard our home, and with the help of the Soul-eating Spider, Ninth Brother and I were able to cope without alarming you, Third Brother.¡± ¡°As for Shi Lu, according to what people say when they return to the clan, everything seems to have been quite uneventful, given that the strength of Luoyun Market is not to be trifled with.¡± ¡°Xing Rong, on the other hand, faces a slightly more severe situation as their power is relatively weak, and the pressure on Xing Rong is greater.¡± ¡°Nevertheless, both Xing Rong and Tianfeng are experienced, and together with Tianhu, who has both talent and strength, and their rich combat experience, they can barely manage.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded, showing a satisfied smile. For nearly a year, he has been guarding Ye Pinghai while also paying attention to the movements of the demon beast attacks. He thought he would be overwhelmed, but unexpectedly, the intensity of the beast tide at Luoyun Mountain continued to weaken. Thanks to Lin Shihua¡¯s rich experience and strategic planning, things turned out to be rather leisurely. Still, this was ultimately a good thing. Snapping back to reality, he quickly followed up with, ¡°Everyone has worked hard. How have the casualties been among our clanspeople?¡± Upon finishing, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, a trace of sorrow on his face. He took a deep breath and then reported back truthfully. ¡°Based on preliminary counts, nearly dozens of our Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople have perished in battle this year. Among them, many were at the later stages, with as many as eight, and the rest were mostly around the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement.¡± ¡°Luckily, none of the clanspeople above the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining were sacrificed, and the Foundation Establishment Clan Members mostly suffered minor injuries, nothing serious.¡± Hearing the report, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but turn slightly pale at the loss of so many clanspeople over the past year or two. But after careful thought, Defending so many treasures under the shadow of the beast tide, and the fact that the clanspeople were completely dispersed made it very difficult to cope. If it weren¡¯t for the significant improvements in the overall strength of the Lin Family over the past few decades and occupying such a vast territory, it truly would have been difficult to manage. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shikang gradually calmed down, and color slowly returned to his pale face. He turned his head to look silently towards the north, his mind filled with countless thoughts, unknowing of what he was pondering. Seeing his state, Lin Shihua seemed to understand that he was worrying about Lin Tianming¡¯s safety. Lin Shihua thought silently, as Lin Tianming had been away for no short amount of time, and his face also showed a touch of melancholy. After regaining his composure, he saw Lin Shikang still silent, and began to offer reassurance. ¡°Third Brother, the intensity of the beast tide has been weakening recently, it should be approaching its end.¡± ¡°Moreover, news came a few days ago that a Yuyao City was established in the Songling Mountain Range. The Zhenyang Sect mobilized four Golden Elixir Experts and two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to fight two battles against the Demon Beast Army.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before he could finish, The previously silent Lin Shikang immediately returned to normal and eagerly inquired, ¡°What was the result? Is there any news of Tianming?¡± Seeing this, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t dare to delay and quickly began to convey the message. ¡°It is said that Tianming broke through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level and shone brilliantly in the great battle, ranking among the top twenty amongst all cultivators.¡± ¡°What? Is this news true?¡± ¡°That lad Tianming is truly that formidable, with his battle achievements ranking at the top among thousands of cultivators of the same stage?¡± Lin Shikang was visibly excited and even in disbelief, so he pressed for confirmation. At that moment, Lin Shihua recalled the excitement and disbelief he had felt when he first received the news. After careful confirmation and inquiries, he finally came to believe the explosive news. He was thrilled and also breathed a sigh of relief. The importance of Lin Tianming to the entire Lin Family was critical. As long as he smoothly continues his cultivation and has access to a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, given Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and cultivation speed, it was highly likely he could successfully impact the Golden Core Realm. For this reason, Lin Shihua also had to be extremely cautious, always paying attention to Lin Tianming¡¯s movements. Thankfully, his persistent efforts finally led to accurate news, which eased his anxious mind. Regaining his composure and hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s expectant inquiry, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t hold back. With a brisk demeanor and a healthy flush on his face, he explained, ¡°The person who delivered the news is from a merchant caravan belonging to a Golden Elixir Force; they have set up shop in Yuyao City, so the news should not be false.¡± ¡°Good! Good¡­ Good¡­¡± Lin Shikang exclaimed three ¡®good¡¯s in a row, his previously pale face now suffused with a healthy glow, clearly overwhelmed with excitement. Chapter 522 522 296 One Year_2 ?Chapter 522: Chapter 296 One Year_2 Chapter 522: Chapter 296 One Year_2 After finally calming down a bit, he burst into hearty laughter, as if driven to madness. ¡°Haha¡­ good lad, I just knew it, our Hidden Dragon from the Lin Family will shine brilliantly wherever he is!¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s appearance, Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but be influenced, and what¡¯s more, when he received the accurate news, his own expression was not in the least bit worse than Lin Shikang¡¯s. At this time, he too laughed out loud, and the two of them continued laughing for a long time before returning to normal. As they calmed down, Lin Shihua then shifted the topic, inquiring about Ye Pinghai¡¯s breakthrough. Speaking of which, it had been two years since Ye Pinghai entered the valley to adjust his state. During this period, they paid close attention, and some even guarded the place day and night. ... But even so, including Lin Shikang, they knew nothing about the progress of Ye Pinghai¡¯s Golden Core breakthrough. The Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation showed no signs of happening, and it was very calm within the clan territory, with no signs of a breakthrough nor of failure. However, it wasn¡¯t without changes. At the very least, the Spiritual Energy converging in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory became increasingly dense, reaching an abnormally intense state. At this moment, after much consideration, Lin Shikang, recalling many insights left behind by the ancestors, also had some speculations. Regaining his focus, he then began to voice his thoughts. ¡°Shihua, Daoist Ye has been in seclusion for more than two years now, and the Spiritual Energy in this area has reached its pinnacle.¡± ¡°From my estimation, whether Daoist Ye succeeds or not, there will definitely be some clear movements within a short time span of ten days to a half month, or at most within a year.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded. Taking into account the rumors in the Cultivation World and the insights left by the ancestors, indeed, whether Ye Pinghai succeeds or not, there should be some movements by this point in time. Regaining his composure, Lin Shihua said with a light smile: ¡°Third brother, we are at a critical juncture now. I¡¯ll leave this place in your hands; I will go take care of clan affairs.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve taken good care of the family affairs, if there¡¯s any major news, especially regarding Tian Ming, inform me immediately!¡± ¡°Go!¡± Lin Shikang nodded, giving a serious and earnest instruction, his demeanor extremely serious. ¡°Third brother, rest assured, I understand the priorities!¡± Lin Shihua responded, then cupped his hands in salute and left the valley without looking back. ¡­ In Yuyao City. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, he sat cross-legged with his hands forming seals, clearly engaged in deep cultivation. Time flew by; it had been over a year since the beast tides erupted in the Wei Kingdom. And it had been nearly a year since he came to Yuyao City to take part in the great battle. As the war continued, he had experienced several major battles, appearing in every one of them. The latest major battle between both sides had ended just a few days ago. As expected, after several battles, the overall strength of the Demon Beast Army had further weakened, and the Human Cultivators had firmly gained the upper hand. Furthermore, after the great battle that ended two days prior, the attacking force of the Demon Beast Army seemed extremely fatigued, nearly collapsing. If the combat endurance of the Human Cultivators had been sufficient, Chen Jingtian even contemplated unleashing the full force in a decisive battle to end the war. However, the cautious Chen Jingtian did not act rashly; he further suppressed the restlessness in his heart, stopping the frenzied cultivator army. In his mind, he planned to wait until there was a near certainty before launching a final decisive battle, to crush this group of demonic beasts thoroughly, and even leave most of their lives behind. In such a situation, although the army of cultivators was as mighty as a rainbow, they dared not defy Chen Jingtian¡¯s command. ¡°` After all, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator had been fierce in this year of resisting the Demonic Beasts, and his reputation had long been established. Therefore, even if the army of cultivators had any objections, they had no choice but to retreat to Yuyao City to rest and recuperate before making any further plans. Of course, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t dare offend a Golden Core Cultivator, so he obediently took Qin Xi and returned to Yuyao City as well. In the practice room. After resting for two days and feeling his condition return to its peak, Lin Tianming let out a slight sigh and immediately fell into deep thought. At present, the combat power of the Demon Beast Army had sharply declined, and if nothing unexpected happened, perhaps after one or two more battles, the human cultivators would be able to annihilate them. During this past year, he had experienced numerous skirmishes, and his points on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard had steadily increased. Up to now, not counting the large battle from two days ago, he had accumulated 1,850 points, ranking twelfth overall, surpassing both Yang Tongshun and Hu Yuan, and was only twenty points behind Deng Guanghua, who was in the previous position. Although this result was slightly below his expectations, it was not unacceptable. As the great battle continued, the surviving Demonic Beasts grew stronger through the baptism of prolonged combat. As a result, it became significantly more difficult for cultivators to earn points. Thus, earning 300 points from one tough battle in the later stages of the war was considered quite an achievement for Lin Tianming. If luck was not on their side and they encountered a Demon Beast Tribe that was too strong, they might not even secure 200 points. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, having participated in seven large battles and totaling 1,850 points, thus advancing two places forward, was indeed noteworthy. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming decided not to dwell on his achievements and leaderboard points. ¡°The Demon Hunter Leaderboard is updated today; I should go check the specifics before making any plans!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, then stood up, tidied up the practice room, and left the cave dwelling headed towards the Zhenyang Hall. ¡­ Before long, Lin Tianming arrived at the familiar square. At this time, the square was bustling with noise as a large number of cultivators gathered, discussing the various feats of the genius cultivators listed on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. From a distance, Lin Tianming could clearly hear a few men discussing amongst themselves with great admiration in their tone and expression. ¡°Daoist Long Qingshui truly deserves to be a True Disciple of Chen; his points lead the way by a large margin, leaving the second and third places far behind!¡± ¡°That goes without saying¡­ Daoist Long is a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection level.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ both Daoist Long¡¯s cultivation strength and magic artifacts, as well as his combat experience, are among the strongest in his class. To achieve such results is completely within expectations.¡± ¡­ Elsewhere, a few other cultivators were discussing something different, their topic revolving around Loose Cultivators and family cultivators instead of Zhenyang Sect disciples. Soon, their topic attracted the attention of many cultivators, drawing a large crowd and making the scene even livelier. Lin Tianming became interested, and he blended into the crowd while waiting for the Zhenyang Sect cultivators to update the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. At that moment, a Foundation Building Fourth Level cultivator looked at the crowd and then spoke to his companion, ¡°It looks like the Demon Beast Army won¡¯t last much longer, which means the great battle is nearing its end. What do you all think about how our family cultivators and Loose Cultivators will fare in competing for the Demon Hunter Leaderboard?¡± This topic indeed sparked a lively debate among many cultivators. After all, it was expected for Zhenyang Sect cultivators to occupy the top spots; for Loose Cultivators and family cultivators to climb to the high ranks was quite challenging. Under these circumstances, these cultivators spoke their minds freely, without the caution shown when discussing Zhenyang Sect cultivators. In the midst of the boisterous atmosphere, an excited cultivator suddenly spoke up, ¡°Speaking of which, Daoist Zheng Xiao is truly a role model for our peers. As a mere Loose Cultivator, it¡¯s incredible that he could rank seventh among thousands of peers!¡± No sooner had these words been uttered when another cultivator seemed to recall something and, with a look of envy, said, ¡°Daoist Deng and Daoist Lin are no less formidable. ¡°In particular, Daoist Lin, so young yet so powerful, given another twenty or so years of cultivation, he might even surpass Daoist Long Qingshui!¡± These words immediately ignited a flurry of comments from the many cultivators, making the noisy scene even more enthusiastic. ¡°` Chapter 523 523 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_1 ?Chapter 523: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_1 Chapter 523: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_1 Clearly. There was a large base of cultivators within Yuyao City, yet despite the widespread reputation of Lin Tianming, some ascetics coming from around the Dragon Mountain Market had never seen him. With a sizable assembly of cultivators gathered here, many were unfamiliar with Lin Tianming. Upon hearing discussions about him, they quickly converged. ¡­ Less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed. The number of cultivators congregating in the plaza had reached over a thousand, but the majority were Qi Refining Cultivators. It was now high noon, and Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators each occupied their own territories, forming small groups here and there and chatting among themselves. ... In the crowd, a cultivator who regularly roamed the Qianchuan Market overheard the conversations and added his own comment. ¡°Li is right. The current thirteenth-ranked Lin Tianming hails from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family.¡± His words instantly opened up the floodgates for conversation among many cultivators, and those unfamiliar with Lin Tianming eagerly started asking questions. ¡°The Lin Family? Which Lin Family?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ there are quite a few Lin families in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World¡­¡± Seeing this, the speaking cultivator, face flush with excitement, immediately began to recount the details of Lin Tianming and the Lin Family. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hehe¡­ The Lin Family from Luoyun Mountain Range produced Golden Core experts in the past.¡± ¡°As you¡¯ve seen, the prowess of our friend Lin Tianming is formidable; breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level in his forties, his strength is terrifying. His talent is simply frightening!¡± ¡°If you ask me, he¡¯s one of the strongest contenders for a spot in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, among both clan cultivators and loose cultivators.¡± Upon hearing this, many previously uninformed people were filled with astonishment. Now looking at the Demon Hunter Leaderboard¡¯s names and ratings, they showed envious expressions. Some of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators with lower cultivation also did not forget to offer a few compliments, and there were even cultivators who took the opportunity to cozy up for no apparent reason, as if they were very familiar with the Lin family. In the midst of the crowd, Lin Tianming was quietly listening, not bothering to expose the rumors and hearsay. It was, after all, a bit of amusement during the tedious wait. ¡­ Less than half an incense stick¡¯s worth of time had passed. As several Zhenyang Sect Disciples emerged from the Zhenyang Hall, the bustling atmosphere finally broke. Seeing this, it was clear that the achievements from the previous battle had been announced, and these individuals were here to update the scores on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. The multitude of cultivators stopped their conversations, focusing intently on the leaderboard in front of them, their faces filled with anticipation. At this moment, Lin Tianming also perked up with impatience evident on his face, eager for the upcoming update of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. His purpose for being here was clear, simply to see how his own points stacked up against the gap with potential competitors. Knowing this swiftly was vital for those with clear goals and significantly important. After all, the situation with the demonic beasts could take a dramatic turn potentially not lasting much longer. Therefore, quickly being informed allowed for adjustments and enabled one to give their all in the upcoming battles. Here, many, including Lin Tianming, shared this sentiment. With everyone watching, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples clasped their fists in greeting before skillfully casting their spells. In just a short while, the updated Demon Hunter Leaderboard reappeared before everyone. At a glance, the top five remained unchanged, with Long Qingshui leading by a considerable margin with 2720 points. Chasing behind him, Jiang Yuyao with 2510 points had overtaken Jun Buhui, who had long held second place. Further back, Zheng Xiao with 2240 points ranked sixth overall, while Deng Guanghua with 2110 points claimed the tenth spot. As for himself, he climbed further, landing at the eleventh position on the overall list, still ten points behind Deng Guanghua in tenth. Right after him, Hu Yuan took the twelfth spot, with Yang Tongshun closely behind him. The difference between the two was minuscule; one or two early-stage demonic beasts could switch their positions. Not just them, the whole leaderboard from ninth to fifteenth place was separated by a mere hundred points, indicating that slaying a single Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast could leapfrog someone from fifteenth to the top ten. Such a small margin meant the competition was particularly fierce. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. Unexpectantly, as the great battle was drawing to a close, those previously stable positions had seen numerous shifts. Initially, he thought that Jiang Yuyao, being a woman, did well to maintain third place. However, outdoing his expectations, Jiang Yuyao had surged forward at the tail end of the battle, surpassing Jun Buhui who had been suppressing her. Besides her, Zheng Xiao¡¯s point growth was remarkably stable, and his ranking was steadily rising, threatening to break into the top five soon. Deng Guanghua¡¯s score was stable as well, stepping firmly into the top ten, becoming the non-Zhenyang Sect cultivator following right after Zheng Xiao. ¡°It seems that Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World indeed hides dragons and crouching tigers. Among loose cultivators, there are also those with tremendous natural talent and strength!¡± Lin Tianming mumbled to himself, his eyes brimming with admiration. Zheng Xiao¡¯s point lead among non-Zhenyang Sect cultivators was significant, and barring any surprises, he was highly likely to secure one of the spots to enter the Tianfeng Secret Realm. As for the remaining two positions, it was still too early to tell. However, among those with the capability to compete, apart from himself, were Deng Guanghua, Hu Yuan, and Yang Tongshun. And within the Yangzong team¡¯s board, the competition was not fierce. Chapter 524 524 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_2 ?Chapter 524: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_2 Chapter 524: Chapter 297 Demonic Beasts Retreat_2 After all, there were just over a hundred people in the teams from Yuyao City, and they were given quite a few spots; a conservative estimate would be around ten or so. As for the remainder, those were certainly the internally arranged spots by Zhenyang Sect, not partaking in this competition. Li Xiuyuan, who was leading their team, could be said to have achieved outstanding results, both personally and as a team. According to the points on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, Li Xiuyuan ranked seventh on the individual list, slightly ahead of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. In the team rankings organized by Zhenyang Sect, Li Xiuyuan also held the sixth position. The teams ahead of his were led by genius cultivators who were at the top of the individual rankings. Among them, the team organized by Long Qingshui and others still held a place within the top three, having pulled ahead by a considerable margin. From the current situation, the gaps between the ranks on the team list were significant. Trying to make a substantial leap during the final moments would be considerably more challenging than in the individual competition. ... In such circumstances, all Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team needed to do was stay the course and maintain their ranking. Once the great battle concluded, Li Xiuyuan, as the recruiter of the team, would have a high probability of directly securing a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Compared to loose cultivators and those from family clans, the disciples within Zhenyang Sect with higher talent didn¡¯t need much competition to obtain better opportunities. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming felt some envy and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°We are all fighting for opportunities, yet look at them; this is the deep heritage of Golden Elixir Forces!¡± After sighing, watching Zhenyang Sect cultivators depart, Lin Tianming decided not to linger for long. Determined, he immediately turned around and stepped away from the square. ¡­ Several days passed. In the practice room of the cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut, as still as an old monk in meditation. In front of him, the Thousand Beast Banner hung above his head, occasionally flashing with light. Following that were the roars of demonic beasts, their echoes floating around the practice room before gradually fading away. This state had continued for several days. After leaving the square in front of Zhenyang Hall, Lin Tianming had made his usual visit to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave dwelling to collect the spoils of war for himself and Qin Xi. After some small talk and exchanging quite a bit of news from the Cultivation World, he returned to his own dwelling to seclude himself for cultivation. With no shortage of spoils in hand, and a recent end to a great battle, it was unlikely there would be combat soon. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t one to sit idle. He took advantage of this lull to seal the Monster Beast Souls into the Thousand Beast Banner, and then to refine it thoroughly to maximize its power. After several days of refinement, the newly acquired Monster Beast Souls had all been sealed. As the Thousand Beast Banner stopped spinning, Lin Tianming waved a hand and grasped the Five Rod Flag in his hand. Feeling the aura emitted by the Thousand Beast Banner, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, revealing a satisfied smile. Throughout the year since the Demon Beast Tide erupted, many Monster Beast Souls of considerable grade had been sealed within the Thousand Beast Banner. Previously, the majority of souls in the Thousand Beast Banner were First Order Monster Beast Souls, with a not so high proportion of First Order Late Stage ones. Since the outbreak of the Demon Beast Tide, through his family and Yuyao City, he had obtained a significant number of Monster Beast Souls, including quite a few Second Order Demon Beast Souls, conservatively estimated at several hundred. And the strongest of the Second Order Late Stage Beasts had now accumulated to dozens, with no small number of Second Order Medium Stage as well. Under these conditions, the current Thousand Beast Banner was several times more powerful than before. It was safe to say that aside from the Tiangang Sword, the Thousand Beast Banner had become Lin Tianming¡¯s most powerful Attack Talisman. The only regret was that the level of the Artifact Refiner who had created the Thousand Beast Banner seemed not that high, and the materials used were not the best, resulting in a not so high grade. With the number of Monster Beast Souls sealed within skyrocketing, the power of the Thousand Beast Banner seemed to have reached its limit. If the grade of the Thousand Beast Banner itself wasn¡¯t improved, even increasing the Monster Beast Souls wouldn¡¯t lead to much more enhancement. ¡°After the Demon Beast Tide battle is over, I must ask Fifteenth Grandfather to help raise the grade of the Thousand Beast Banner, otherwise, this Magic Artifact might not be able to keep up with my strength!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, then put away the Thousand Beast Banner and prepared to start meditating for cultivation. Just at that moment, a sudden ringing of bells echoed throughout Yuyao City. ¡°Hm?¡± Hearing the bell, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed confusion, and he began to ponder. The last battle had just taken place a few days ago and, based on past patterns, it seemed very unlikely that demonic beasts would be attacking Yuyao City so soon. Furthermore, with the war dragging on for so long, the overall strength of the Demonic Beast Army has been decimated by more than half. Aside from the few top Third Order Demon Beasts that are still alive and capable of exerting formidable power, the number of Second Order Demonic Beasts has been greatly reduced, simply no match for the Human Cultivators. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Could it be that the Demonic Beasts have a large number of reinforcements?¡± ¡°Or have they gone mad? Or are the Demonic Beasts trying to flee?¡± Lin Tianming conjectured three possibilities in succession. Based on his own judgment, he felt it was more likely that there was a new development within the Demonic Beast Army. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s go out and take a look first!¡± Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming immediately got up and left the training room. Outside the house, Qin Xi, who had also heard the bell, was already waiting at the door ahead of time. Upon seeing him come out, she greeted him promptly, her eyes also filled with a puzzled look. ¡°Lin, what¡¯s going on now?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming shook his head and said helplessly, ¡°I have no idea, but whatever happens, there are Golden Core Cultivators up front to deal with it, so there¡¯s no need to panic.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go out and see!¡± Qin Xi nodded, and then the two of them left the cave dwelling one after the other and headed towards the city walls of Yuyao City. Along the way, many Cultivators gathered in small groups, everyone wearing puzzled expressions, all moving in the direction of the city walls. Lin Tianming and his companion did not delay and soon arrived at the city walls. By then, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, along with some teammates, had already arrived, and a small portion of people were still on their way. Lin Tianming and his companion went up to greet everyone and then gathered together. In a short span of time, more and more Cultivators gathered on the city wall, and the members of their team were all present. Looking around from the initial fifty people at the beginning of the war, now only a little more than thirty people had survived, with nearly twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators having fallen on this battlefield. The majority of those who had survived were Cultivators with a cultivation of Foundation Establishment Fifth Level and above. For a Cultivator like Qin Xi at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, if it were not for Lin Tianming¡¯s constant protection, she might have perished in this brutal war long ago. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s primary focus was on the direction outside the city. Using both his Divine Sense and the Eye of Five Colors to their fullest, he seemed to want to see what exactly was going on. However, outside Yuyao City, within the range of his exploration, all was silent, showing only signs of damage from the war, with no unusual activity detected. He withdrew his Divine Sense and turned to Li Xiuyuan beside him, ¡°Li, what is the reason for suddenly assembling everyone? What exactly happened?¡± The moment he finished speaking, Hu Yuan also asked with confusion. ¡°Indeed¡­ Under normal circumstances, this isn¡¯t the time for Demonic Beast attacks, and no traces of any Demonic Beast movements have been detected!¡± Hearing their questions, Li Xiuyuan looked at the tranquil outdoors and appeared quite helpless. In truth, he was also puzzled, as no message had come from above, nor were there any signs. ¡°Fellow Cultivators, I also haven¡¯t received any news and am just as puzzled,¡± he said. ¡°However, it shouldn¡¯t be anything serious. After all, everyone is aware of the state of the Demonic Beast Army, and everything is calm outside the city. It¡¯s unlikely to be bad news.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone nodded and couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Subsequently, people stopped their inquiries, chatting with each other and waiting for the Golden Elixir Experts to make an appearance, at which point everything would naturally be explained. A short while, no longer than the time it takes to brew tea, passed. With the sound of the bell signaling assembly, a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already gathered on the city walls. In the square below the wall, thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators also gathered, discussing among themselves. With a few flashes of light, several figures of Golden Core Cultivators, including Chen Jingtian, quietly appeared in the pavilions atop the city walls. At that moment, Chen Jingtian and the others were beaming with smiles, apparently in high spirits. Seeing this, the crowd below didn¡¯t dare to make a sound, all waiting patiently. After some time passed, Chen Jingtian and his peers concluded their casual chat and then looked in the direction outside the city. Chen Jingtian turned around, looked at the many Cultivators present, and his resonant voice rang out. ¡°Young ones, we have just received reliable news that for some unknown reason, the Demon Beast Army has suddenly retreated.¡± Before his words even finished, the place erupted into deafening cheers. Chapter 525 525 298 Pursuit_1 ?Chapter 525: Chapter 298 Pursuit_1 Chapter 525: Chapter 298 Pursuit_1 The sudden news was extremely important for everyone present. It was something they had long hoped for. After all, the war had been going on for over a year, and the cultivator army had also suffered significant losses, with at least thousands of cultivators falling in battle, including many Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Among them was Sun Dingfeng from the Luoyun Mountain Range, who had also fallen on this battlefield. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling a rush of emotions. Initially, Lin Tianming had first gone to Qianchuan Market to gather before finally arriving at Yuyao City to join the great battle. In that period, he had occasionally run into Sun Dingfeng a few times, and since they both hailed from the Luoyun Mountain Range, there was no deep-seated enmity between the Lin Family and the Sun Family¡ªon the contrary, they had even allied during the previous great clan battle at Luoyun Mountain. ... In the midst of this perilous battlefield, knowing each other¡¯s background, the two exchanged some information. Unexpectedly, during the third round of the great battle, Sun Dingfeng had fallen, catching him by surprise. However, from the family¡¯s perspective, this wasn¡¯t exactly bad news for the Lin Family. Although the Lin Family had previously formed an alliance with the Sun Family, as the Jin Family perished and the Lin Family suddenly rose to power, the Sun and Luo Families began to distance themselves and regarded the Lin Family as a thorn in their side. It was only because they feared the Lin Family¡¯s formidable strength that they dared not take any action, to avoid being targeted for revenge. Now with the fall of Sun Dingfeng, the once powerful Sun Family had only the aging Sun Dingxian and the young Sun Ruiyang left among its Foundation Establishment Clan Members, a truly awkward situation of lacking a suitable successor. Moreover, during the battle, many of the Sun Family¡¯s Qi Refining Clanspeople were either killed or injured. They hardly had any talented descendants left, and in terms of numbers, they were even fewer than some Qi Refining Families. If this continued, the Sun Family would only grow weaker. Eventually, without the Lin Family having to resort to force, they would degrade into an ordinary family and then vanish from the Cultivation World. ¡­ On the city walls. Upon hearing the news of the demon beasts¡¯ retreat, Lin Tianming¡¯s face brightened slightly, his heart filling with excitement. And it wasn¡¯t just him¡ªmost of the people were overjoyed, sharing their happiness with each other. At that moment, the sonorous voice of Chen Jingtian once again echoed from the tower, cutting through the commotion of the cultivators. ¡°Fellow cultivators, although the Demon Beast Army has retreated, the crisis has not been completely resolved. There¡¯s a strong possibility they may return.¡± ¡°Therefore, for the stability of the Cultivation World, I have decided to lead you out of Yuyao City to pursue them and take their lives, if possible.¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd buzzed with renewed fervor as many privately exchanged their opinions through voice transmission. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian remained calm, betraying no sign of his thoughts. Soon enough, a cultivator raised a question, asking whether participation was mandatory or voluntary. Clearly, Chen Jingtian seemed to have anticipated the cultivators¡¯ queries. He swept his piercing gaze across all the cultivators and then explained. ¡°Qi Refining Cultivators may participate voluntarily, but Foundation Establishment Cultivators and disciples of my sect must join unless there are special circumstances!¡± Upon hearing this, the Qi Refining Cultivators immediately erupted in an uproar of cheers. As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, each wore a hesitant expression, their feelings extremely complex. Lin Tianming felt the same, his emotions particularly conflicted. The reason for this was easy to understand. After all, the war had dragged on for so long, and many were weary of it. Moreover, the horrific nature of the war was evident to all, with the majority having witnessed comrades and teammates perish by their side. Just when the demon beasts had voluntarily withdrawn and everyone could finally cultivate in peace, here they were, tasked with pursuing the beasts. If the demon beasts were driven into a corner, they would not submit to slaughter and would undoubtedly fight desperately. To perish in the pursuit of these beasts would be a major loss indeed. At that moment, Chen Jingtian, seeing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ expressions, appeared to understand their reluctance all too well. He chuckled and said, ¡°The Qi Refining juniors are too weak, and the pursuit of the demon beasts needs to be swift¡ªthey would struggle to keep up.¡± ¡°Even if they did keep up, it would only lead to unnecessary casualties. Hence, there¡¯s no need to enlist their service.¡± Having said that, Chen Jingtian¡¯s demeanor suddenly turned stern, his tone brooking no argument. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, you are the mainstay of our Demon-Hunting Army and absolutely crucial. For the safety of the Cultivation World, you must contribute your strength.¡± ¡°During this pursuit, the squads composed of my disciples will serve as the foundation. All achievements will be calculated as points, contributing to eligibility for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± After these words, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators looked helpless but dared not show it, lest they incur Chen Jingtian¡¯s displeasure. The difference in power was clear¡ªafter all, a Golden Core Cultivator is a Golden Core Cultivator; if they wanted to reason with you, fine, but if not, there¡¯s nothing you could do. Lacking the strength, you don¡¯t even have the right to refuse. At that point, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the situation. Although he longed to return to his family immediately, it seemed he would have to delay for some time and involve himself in the great battle against the demon beasts. Aside from him, there were also cultivators who didn¡¯t mind undertaking this mission. After all, many Loose Cultivators had chosen to come to Yuyao City with their own goals in mind. If the war ended abruptly, those with the ability to vie for a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm would lose their chance. Now this pursuit was their last opportunity to strive for a spot in the realm. Besides, there were also many who loved adventure and rarely found an opportunity for training against such a multitude of demonic beasts. Moreover, with the Demon Beast Army at a distinct disadvantage, hunting them down would likely result in greater rewards. Chapter 526 526 298 Pursuit_2 ?Chapter 526: Chapter 298 Pursuit_2 Chapter 526: Chapter 298 Pursuit_2 As long as they survived, their strength would improve, and treasures would not be scarce. From this perspective, chasing down the Demon Beast Army was also a rare opportunity for this group of people. Risk and reward have always been directly proportional, a fact well understood by everyone. It is unknown how much time had passed, but the noisy and chaotic scene gradually quieted down. By then, those who were hesitant seemed to have made their decisions, accepting Chen Jingtian¡¯s arrangements. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction. In fact, he had made this decision after careful deliberation. ... In his heart, there was consideration for the Cultivation World as well as private concerns for Zhenyang Sect and himself. After all, the Demon Beast Army was at an absolute disadvantage, which had come at a great cost. It must be understood that Zhenyang Sect and the few Golden Core Cultivators had expended quite a few treasures in this great battle. Just the Third Order Talisman alone had used up dozens of sheets, not to mention other various treasures. Now that they had finally gained the upper hand, it would be a pity to let them retreat easily. Besides, the cultivators who fell in the great battle had left behind many unclaimed items. Although there might not be many good items, the large number of resources accumulated was a substantial wealth, and the value of the Demon Beast Corpses themselves was an extremely large sum. As leaders, the Golden Core Cultivators, apart from handing over a portion of resources to the Sect, could also retain a portion for themselves. Even a very small portion was a substantial benefit. Thus, as long as the great battle continued, each faction could scoop up resources. From their standpoint, they were sure not to lose but instead stand to gain abundantly. It was precisely because of this that Chen Jingtian was so decisive and firm, not allowing any room for rebuttal. Regaining his composure, Chen Jingtian exchanged smiles with Wang Hengqiu and the others, with a slight hint of excitement in their expressions. Once calm had been restored, Chen Jingtian then began to speak, organizing the details and arrangements for chasing the Demon Beast Army. ¡°Gentlemen, your profound understanding pleases me greatly!¡± ¡°Follow me out of the city shortly, track the footprints of the Demon Beast Army along the Songling Mountain Range, and be ready to confront them at any time.¡± ¡°I hope everyone will not hold back but also not be careless, and try to kill as many demon beasts as possible.¡± ¡°Understood?¡± Chen Jingtian said sternly. ¡°We will follow the senior¡¯s command!¡± Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s sharp words, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present dared not oppose and responded in unison. Up in the attic, Chen Jingtian nodded satisfactorily and then instructed Lan Yu beside him. ¡°Junior Brother Lan, your injury has not recovered, and I fear you can¡¯t exert more than fifty percent of your strength. Stay and guard Yuyao City and keep an eye on those Qi Refining Cultivators. Leave the pursuit of the Demon Beast Army to the three of us.¡± ¡°As the Senior Brother commands!¡± Lan Yu bowed in response. Immediately after, Chen Jingtian and Wang Hengqiu next to him exchanged a few words, confirming many details about the pursuit of the beast army. A little time passed. With the Defensive Great Formation of Yuyao City opening, Chen Jingtian waved a single hand, and then he and Wang Hengqiu led the way out of the Formation-covered area. Atop the city walls, upon seeing the Golden Core Cultivators mobilizing, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators did not delay and followed their steps, appearing on the open ground outside the city. Outside the city, over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators were divided into several groups, neatly waiting for orders. At the forefront, Zhu Yun took out the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, and after casting a Law Decree, the boat quickly expanded, turning into the first shape seen. Following that, Chen Jingtian and the others leapt aboard, boarding the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat first. As the three appeared on the deck of the boat, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators below began boarding as well, and the assembly was completed promptly. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sat side by side on the ground, not far from Li Xiuyuan and the other teammates, everyone quietly waiting. Then, seeing the timing was about right, Zhu Yun manipulated the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, turning into a blur as it shot towards the west. The Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat was fast, covering a hundred zhang in the blink of an eye, piercing through the clouds. ¡­ Two days quietly passed by. On this day, the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat appeared above a range of towering mountains. Chen Jingtian and a few others stood on the deck of the flying boat, gazing down below. They extended their Divine Sense in all directions, apparently in search of traces of demonic beasts. Below them, amidst the lush green valleys, a path suddenly appeared. On both sides, several towering trees were snapped in half, and the ground was littered with countless broken rocks and some peculiar footprints, which looked incredibly clear. Clearly, such obvious traces had to be left by demonic beasts as they passed through. Chen Jingtian was the first to finish scouting and now furrowed his brows, wearing a reflective expression. ¡°Wang, there are obvious traces of demonic beasts passing below, and the tracks are fresh. The air is even filled with the scent of demonic beasts.¡± ¡°If everything goes as expected, we should be able to catch up with the main forces of the Demon Beast Army not far ahead.¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Hengqiu nodded his head in agreement, showing great trust in Chen Jingtian¡¯s judgment. The Demon Beast Army was too large and included many low-order demonic beasts. If the Third Order demonic beasts didn¡¯t leave them behind, their speed definitely couldn¡¯t be very fast. But they were light on their feet, relying on the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat for travel, making them at least several times faster than the Demon Beast Army. After two days of pursuit, they theoretically should have indeed been very close to the Demon Beast Army. ¡°Chen, this is definitely a Monster Beast Legion; the only question is whether they will disperse and retreat,¡± Wang said. ¡°If it¡¯s a mass retreat, we must be careful. If they scatter, I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have enough hands to hold them all back.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Jingtian nodded to this, finding it a reasonable point. After all, the number of the Demon Beast Army was still massive; the movements of tens of thousands of demonic beasts were inevitably too conspicuous. Furthermore, the speed difference between high-order and low-order demonic beasts was too great; they were likely not to retreat together. Considering these, Chen Jingtian spoke up, ¡°No matter, regardless of the size or intent of this monster beast legion, all of our elites are here. Let¡¯s catch up first and then see.¡± His words were considered and left little room for worry. Wang Hengqiu and the others naturally had no objections. Without delay, Chen Jingtian instructed Zhu Yun to control the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat and shoot along the traces below. Quickly, in less than a quarter of an hour, the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat appeared in front of a canyon. Standing on the deck and looking down, the canyon was flanked by high mountains on both sides, with dense jungles covering the peaks and thick fog enveloping the vast canyon. As it scarcely received any sunlight throughout the year, the dark and damp canyon seemed even colder than other places. The clear traces also abruptly ended as if they had vanished into thin air. Looking at this eerie valley, coupled with the dark terrain, one couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill run down their spine. At that moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s brows were deeply furrowed. He looked toward the canyon, spreading his Divine Sense into it and thoroughly scouted the surroundings. Suddenly, he seemed to have discovered something. With a cold snort, he leaped from the deck as Spiritual Light blazed brightly around the Magical Treasure in his hand. ¡°Still hiding here, seeking death!¡± As the words fell, a colossal beam of Spiritual Light tore through the sky, striking deep into the recesses of the canyon. In an instant, a deafening explosion was heard, with flames shooting high into the sky, lighting up the darkened skies abruptly. At that moment, numerous cultivators on the flying boat stood on the deck, each one gazing intently at the commotion below, their expressions filled with confusion. As everyone watched, the flames quickly dissipated, followed by a crescendo of intense screams. Then came the sound of demonic beasts running, chaotic and loud, making it unclear how many there were. A few breaths passed in the blink of an eye. Shortly after, a large number of demonic beasts emerged from the dark canyon, about a few thousand in number. Seeing this, everyone was surprised and even more puzzled. It was somewhat unexpected that among the demonic beasts appearing here, no Third Order demonic beasts were found, and there were not many Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts either. The majority were First Order demonic beasts, or those at the Second Order Initial Stage. Clearly, the Demon Beast Army had split into several groups, or perhaps this group of demonic beasts had been intended as sacrifices to hinder their pursuit. Chapter 527 527 299 A Trap_1 ?Chapter 527: Chapter 299: A Trap?_1 Chapter 527: Chapter 299: A Trap?_1 ¡°` Seeing this situation, Chen Jingtian was quite calm as he had surmised this earlier. ¡°Roar roar¡­¡± As the deafening roar echoed, some of the dazed people finally snapped back to reality, looking at the group of demonic beasts with mocking eyes, showing an air of indifference. Yet, these demonic beasts, unaware of their imminent death, stayed in place, seemingly knowing they couldn¡¯t escape, or perhaps they were intentionally waiting for them here. At this time, Chen Jingtian surveyed the monster beast legion in the valley and discussed with Wang Hengqiu and a few others beside him. ¡°Wang, the strength of this monster beast legion is not high, do we bypass them to pursue the main force or eradicate this group first?¡± Upon hearing the question, Wang Hengqiu nodded and pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Despite their strength not being high, their numbers are still considerable. Even if we take action, along with the younger generation, it will take some effort to eradicate them.¡± ... ¡°However, if we ignore them, these demonic beasts may wander around and the nearby forces might suffer.¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded, obviously understanding Wang Hengqiu¡¯s point. He looked at the unassuming demonic beast legion opposite them¡ªwithout even a single Third Order Demon Beast among them. Even if there were one or two Third Order Demon Beasts, they couldn¡¯t possibly be a match for them. Under these circumstances, if they took action and focused on exterminating the stronger demonic beasts, The remaining demonic beasts could be dealt with by some of the less powerful younger cultivators, while they continued to pursue the main force of the demon beast army. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a plan that ensured nothing was neglected. With that decision made, he quickly began to give orders. ¡°First, let¡¯s strike them hard together, then leave some people behind to finish them off. Our main force will set off immediately to chase after the elite of the demon beast army.¡± ¡°Good, such an arrangement is excellent!¡± Wang Hengqiu nodded in response. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s resonant voice spread out, instructing all cultivators to disembark from the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat and join this certain victory in annihilation. Immediately after, Chen Jingtian and a few other Golden Core cultivators took the lead. Their powerful attacks ripped through the sky, descending oppressively upon the demonic beasts across. Seeing Chen Jingtian and the others taking action, a great number of cultivators leaped from the flying boat, rushing their attacks toward the demonic beast legion. As the cultivators struck collectively, the sky was brilliantly alight, the temperature in the dark, gloomy canyon rose sharply, completely different from before. Upon witnessing Chen Jingtian¡¯s initiative, the terrifying attacks sweeping in, the demonic beast legion began to desperately resist. Unfortunately, without the presence of a Third Order Demon Beast, faced with Golden Core cultivators¡¯ attacks, these Second Order Demonic Beasts had no way to resist. Before long, many demonic beasts lay dead in the valley, their screams filling the canyon, which was quite unsettling to hear. Clearly, this was purely a one-sided slaughter. Yet, Chen Jingtian and the other Golden Core cultivators still showed no intention of relenting or subduing them. In less than half a quarter hour, the screams in the valley grew noticeably sparser. Now, looking back at the canyon, it was torn asunder, ravines running crisscross. On both the inside and outside of the canyon, the scene of corpses strewn everywhere and blood flowing into rivers was unspeakably tragic. Upon closer inspection, the vast majority of the corpses on the ground were demonic beasts, with human cultivators making up less than half the total. However, the slaughter had not yet ended. At this time, only less than thirty percent of the several thousand demonic beasts remained, all of them wounded and their expressions filled with panic. They attempted to break free and escape, but with the clear disparity in strength, they could not make it a hundred paces before being repulsed by the tempestuous attacks of the human cultivators. Clearly, they were no match for the human cultivators, and their stubborn resistance only served to delay the inevitable. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian let out a cold snort, unleashing an incredibly powerful attack that obliterated nearly a hundred demonic beasts. Having done this, Chen Jingtian leaped up and hovered in midair. ¡°All younger cultivators of at least Foundation Building Fourth Level, retreat to the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat with me to pursue the main force of the demon beasts!¡± ¡°The rest of you, stay here to exterminate these beasts, and after they are dealt with, catch up with the main force as quickly as possible!¡± As soon as his words fell, a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators heeded his command, leaving the battleground and flying towards the flying boat in the sky. Lin Tianming also ceased his attacks, exchanged a glance with Qin Xi, and after conveying a few instructions through a transmission, they rushed towards the flying boat. Very quickly, nearly half of the original thousand-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators left the battleground and entered the boat. And on this battlefield, there were still nearly six to seven hundred cultivators remaining, most of whom were at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. Qin Xi was among them, and at this moment, she was fiercely attacking the opposing demon beast army. Without Lin Tianming¡¯s protection, she seemed even more cautious, and the strength she exhibited was stronger. Clearly, excessive protection had only made her hesitate. Separated from Lin Tianming, she had to put forth her full effort, or else she risked falling at any moment. In this state, she attacked without reservation, her strength at the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment surging forth in attacks that were almost stronger than most cultivators at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, letting out a sigh of relief, and felt reassured. ¡­ On the deck. Chen Jingtian looked over the neatly arranged Foundation Establishment cultivators, then back at the intense fight below, showing a satisfied expression. Here, there were still six to seven hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators remaining. Although the cultivators at the Middle and Late Stages were few, there were several Inner Sect Disciples from the True Yang who led the way, all of them at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. ¡°` Chapter 528 528 299 Trap_2 ?Chapter 528: Chapter 299 Trap?_2 Chapter 528: Chapter 299 Trap?_2 The number of remaining demonic beasts barely approached two thousand, but the majority were First Order Demon Beasts. Within the Second Order Demon Beasts, those with considerable strength had nearly all been exterminated. Although they held the advantage in numbers, there were less than six hundred Second Order Demon Beasts, each bearing wounds of varying severity. Their overall strength was clearly not a match for the Human Race. After all, quality was the key factor that determined overall strength. With these six to seven hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators expending a bit more energy, it would be sufficient to annihilate this group of demonic beasts clinging to life. Considering this, Chen Jingtian decided not to delay any further and immediately ordered Zhu Yun to control the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, heading in the western direction. As the flying boat departed, the canyon continued to resonate with the tumult of battle as cultivators and demonic beasts clashed once again. ¡­ ... A day passed. In the heartland of the Tianluan Mountain Range, within a vast expanse of mountains and seas, the silhouette of the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat appeared. This place was located in the southwestern part of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, adjacent to the Songling Mountain Range and the Lianhua Mountain Range, and was slightly smaller compared to the neighboring larger areas. This Tianluan Mountain Range was close to the edge of Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory; with their current speed of flight, two more days of travel westward would bring them to the outskirts of the Boundless Western Region. In other words, this place was not too far from the dwelling of the demon beasts in the Boundless Western Region. It was a vast distance from Yuyao City, virtually spanning across two large regions. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After traveling for several days, with the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat¡¯s remarkable speed, and only a brief delay the day before, they continued westward and finally arrived at this location. On the deck of the flying boat, Chen Jingtian and several Golden Core Cultivators stood shoulder to shoulder, all staring into the distance at a valley with contemplative expressions. After an unknown period, Chen Jingtian was the first to break the silence. ¡°Brother Wang, do you also feel that the valley ahead has an eerie sense about it?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Wang Hengqiu did not respond immediately. Instead, he released his Divine Sense, meticulously scrutinizing every movement, every hill, and every water body ahead. In front of them was a seemingly endless range of peaks. To be precise, they weren¡¯t towering mountains but resembled hills about a hundred zhang tall. However, their sheer number made it impossible to determine the specific boundaries. A moment later. Wang Hengqiu withdrew his Divine Sense and then took out a map made from beast skin, examining it carefully, as if trying to discern their location. Soon, he discovered something unusual. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, according to the map, this place is indeed a hilly area,¡± ¡°However, these hills seem rather unusual, extending over a much larger area than what is recorded on the map.¡± Having said this, Wang Hengqiu handed the map to Chen Jingtian, gesturing for him to take a look. Chen Jingtian took the map, compared it closely, and then agreed with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s statement. Indeed, he had initially felt something amiss; it was just a guess, somewhat uncertain. Now, after comparing with the map, his observations coincided with what Wang Hengqiu had said and matched his own speculation. With these thoughts, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but caution, ¡°Brother Wang, there may be deceit ahead!¡± ¡°Although the strength of the demonic beasts has greatly diminished, the might of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao is genuinely not weak. And the Demon Beast Army is still formidable; we must be on our guard!¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Hengqiu nodded, highly approving of Chen Jingtian¡¯s cautious attitude. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, what you say is indeed true. Third Order Demon Beasts possess significant Spirit Wisdom, and this place is so close to the den of the beasts. If there is any ambush that catches us off guard, the losses would be great.¡± ¡°As your elder brother, I think it¡¯s best to be cautious, whether there¡¯s deceit or not!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Everyone, prepare for battle just in case anything unexpected occurs!¡± Chen Jingtian spoke with a heavy heart, and although his voice was not loud, everyone on the deck of the flying boat could hear him clearly. At this time, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators took out their magic artifacts and clutched talisman paper in their hands, obviously prepared. Lin Tianming also held the Tiangang Sword in his grasp, opened his Eye of Five Colors, and stared intently at the numerous hills ahead with a solemn expression. From his observations, he too had detected some unusual spots, but the distance was too far to make an accurate judgment. Regathering his focus, the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat continued to fly westward at a speed that was several times slower than its peak velocity. Chen Jingtian and several others each took out their magical treasures, ready to act at any moment to deal with any sudden developments that might occur. Clearly, everyone was very cautious, afraid of encountering an ambush. As the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat moved slowly, the distant, hazy hills got closer and closer, now visible enough to make out some of their features with the naked eye. Soon, when the flying boat was less than three thousand zhang (approximately 9,840 meters) away from those hills, Chen Jingtian at the forefront finally saw the specific situation clearly. On the deck, at this moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face turned pale, and he couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. ¡°Ahead is a Demon Beast Army, and their numbers are vast, even greater than those we left at Yuyao City. Everyone, be careful!¡± Hearing this, it seemed indeed as anticipated, that the Demon Beast Army had new contingents join them. At this very moment, it was unclear whether the monsters, realizing they couldn¡¯t escape, were mounting a passive defense, or whether they had come prepared, laying a trap with the intention of taking this opportunity to defeat them. If it were the former, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad, but if it were the latter, wouldn¡¯t that be playing right into the monsters¡¯ hands? And now, whether it was a trap or not, there was no time or energy left to investigate these matters. Thinking of these things, Wang Hengqiu and several others, including the multitude of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, all turned pale. ¡°Roar roar¡­ thud thud thud¡­¡± Just as they brought the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat to a halt and before they could catch their breath, a series of deafening roars accompanied by a noisy rush of footsteps arrived. Immediately following was a scene akin to a stampede of ten thousand horses, as tens of thousands of demonic beasts surged toward them like a tidal wave, with just their momentum kicking up Gang Wind and sending clouds of dust into the air, causing the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat to shake slightly. As the distance between the two sides narrowed, Chen Jingtian and a few others were the first to perceive the strength of the Demon Beast Army. There were exactly six Third Order Demonic Beasts, and nearly twenty thousand First and Second Order Demonic Beasts¡ªsignificantly more than when they had departed from Yuyao City¡ªby an extra ten or twenty percent. The number was not much of a concern; the main issue was that among the six Third Order Demonic Beasts, four had survived from Yuyao City. As for the other two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, they had not appeared in Yuyao City before and it was unknown where they had emerged from. Seeing this, for a moment, their complexions turned rather pale. Chen Jingtian, after all, had the highest cultivation strength and had experienced many major scenes, so he was the first to regain his composure. He looked at the rapidly approaching Demon Beast Army and was the first to remind everyone, ¡°Everyone, this Monster Beast Legion is powerful, and it won¡¯t be easy to get away.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s no need to panic too much. We have all witnessed their strength, and with the addition of two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts, we are not without the power to fight!¡± Hearing these comforting words, Wang Hengqiu and a few others were the first to calm down, and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also became less tense. Seeing this situation, Chen Jingtian nodded in relief. In reality, he didn¡¯t have much certainty, but he was not so panicked that he would flee in disarray. After all, the human side also had three Golden Core Cultivators and two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Although they were still at a numerical disadvantage, it did not mean they had no fighting chance. Beyond this, they had the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat, as well as over a year¡¯s worth of understanding of the Demon Beast Army, and abundant combat experience. If they really couldn¡¯t overcome the enemy, they could leave with their sect disciples and potentially even take these family cultivators and Loose Cultivators. After all, there were no low-level Qi Refining Cultivators in this place. With the overall power they had now, whether attacking or retreating, they possessed great maneuverability and were fully equipped for a quick resolution. With these thoughts in mind, Chen Jingtian was extremely calm inside, a strong fighting intent radiating from him, infecting many cultivators. ¡­ Chapter 529 529 300 Going All Out_1 ?Chapter 529: Chapter 300 Going All Out_1 Chapter 529: Chapter 300 Going All Out_1 At this moment, he glanced at the Demon Beast Army, his loud voice resonating through the entire sky. ¡°Everyone, these beasts aren¡¯t as dumb as they seem, whether they came prepared or are on the defensive. Let¡¯s not hold back, follow me and take this opportunity to finish them off in one fell swoop!¡± Before his voice faded, he slapped his waist, and the Spirit Beast Bag immediately appeared in his hand. As soon as the Law Decree was executed, two Third Order Spiritual Beasts silently appeared beneath the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat. Soon after, the Magical Treasure in his hand also erupted with Spiritual Light, launching the first attack on the Demon Beast Army. Just as Chen Jingtian made his move, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were not to be outdone; they leaped from the flying boat and joined forces with Chen Jingtian. At the same moment, the two also unleashed a myriad of techniques, in response to Chen Jingtian, engaging the Third Order Demon Beasts in the Demon Beast Army head-on. ... ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Chen Jingtian and the other two struck in succession, coordinating with the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, and fiercely clashed with the six incoming Third Order Demon Beasts. For a while, a torrent of powerful attacks rained down, causing shockwaves that were truly earth-shattering. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the dark sky suddenly brightened, with Sword Qi pervading a sea of flames¡ªa spectacular sight. Above in the sky, the scene of Golden Core Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts battling was terrifying to the extreme, no one dared to come close. Meanwhile, the six or seven hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had disembarked from the flying boat were also engaged in fierce battle with the Demon Beast Army. The number of Demon Beasts was too great, and they could run fast. Soon, they formed a large circle enclosing all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the center. They fearlessly assaulted the Human Cultivators¡¯ defenses, and on the outskirts, a large number of Demon Beasts launched Divine Skills from afar, coordinating with the inner Beasts to attack the group of Cultivators. At this moment, the sky was interwoven with myriad Divine Skill attacks; the densely packed skyline was enough to make one¡¯s scalp tingle just by looking at it. At this time, the entire battlefield was in utter chaos; from the start, it had entered an intense phase. Lin Tianming, still side by side with Hu Yuan, Li Xiuyuan, and other teammates, formed a circular battle formation. Having cooperated for over a year and been through many brutal battles, they covered each other with remarkable tacit understanding, fearlessly slaughtering the Demon Beasts. Screams echoed as a multitude of First Order Demon Beasts, not yet in close quarters, were killed by the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, causing no harm. However, the quantity of Demon Beasts was overwhelming. For every group slain, immediately, more surged forward. In addition, there were still many Second Order Demonic Beasts, not to be underestimated, capable of posing a lethal threat to the Cultivators. Therefore, under such intense pressure, the Cultivators unleashed their full might, utilizing all sorts of talisman papers and lifesaving trump cards without any hesitation. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± At this moment, the sky was already filled with the Divine Skill attacks of both Human Cultivators and Demon Beasts, intense like a torrential downpour, colliding with each other. After waves of earth-shattering sounds, screams echoed through the heavens and earth, some belonging to the Demon Beast Race, others to Human Cultivators. At this instant, both sides resembled war machines, mutually harvesting each other¡¯s lives. In the blink of an eye, both parties had been in combat for nearly half a quarter of an hour. After the first round of fighting, the battlefield was littered with a multitude of corpses, most of which were First Order Demon Beasts, with only a few from among the Human Cultivators. Clearly, in the first round of battle, Human Cultivators relied on their good condition and a multitude of talismans and trump cards to easily fend off the Demon Beasts¡¯ onslaught. As time passed and consumption by the Cultivators increased, important factors like Spiritual Power and talisman papers were affected. The pressure on the Cultivators would only grow as the battle continued. As expected, after a period of mutual attacks, the pressure on most Foundation Establishment Cultivators became substantial. They had to fend off the Demon Beasts¡¯ charges and the deluge of Divine Skills raining down from above. In such a situation, everyone exerted themselves to the utmost, their Spiritual Power draining rapidly, showing signs of fatigue. If this continued, it was doubtful they could hold on for much longer. At that point, it would be difficult to ensure their own safety, let alone eradicate the more than twenty thousand Demon Beasts. Compared to others, Lin Tianming was in a relatively good situation. After all, his strength was sufficient, his Spiritual Power was profound, and with Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, he could manage without using Spiritual Power at many times, relying solely on his Physical Strength to deal with one or two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. Thus, in this battle that had already escalated to an intense stage from the very beginning, Lin Tianming was able to cope quite comfortably, not so overwhelmed as to fall into crisis. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with countless manifestations of Spiritual Light from both the attacks launched by the Demon Beasts and those of the Human Cultivators, intermingling to the point where one could hardly distinguish the specific sides. At this time, nobody was concerned with this; they were all focused on confronting the enemy before them. In the midst of the crowd, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword shimmered with a flash of Spiritual Light, unleashing a powerful burst of Sword Qi that swept across the battlefield. Across from him, dozens of First Order Demon Beasts, along with two Second Order Demon Beasts, clearly sensed the fatal threat and began to flee immediately. However, the Tiangang Sword Qi was incredibly fast, and the small gaps between the Demon Beasts left no room for them to dodge in time. Chapter 530 530 300 Going All Out_2 ?Chapter 530: Chapter 300 Going All Out_2 Chapter 530: Chapter 300 Going All Out_2 A series of wails came. Looking down, dozens of fresh corpses had been added to the ground, each death a grisly sight, some bodies cut in half, others with heads flying off. With that one sword strike, dozens of First Order Demonic Beasts were killed, and two Second Order Demonic Beasts were also slashed by the Sword Qi, barely escaping with their lives. After the strike, Lin Tianming glared ferociously at the opposing Demonic Beasts, managing to momentarily stun them. Clearly, the beasts were intimidated by his formidable strength as well as the tragic demise of their companions. Taking advantage of this brief respite, Lin Tianming also turned his gaze to get a sense of the overall situation in the battle. From his investigation, he found that the intensity of this battle far surpassed any before. ... By now, even the Golden Core Cultivators were fighting desperately. Especially Chen Jingtian, with his Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, was fiercely contending with the Late Stage Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. As the strongest existence on the side of the Human Cultivators, his victory or defeat was tied to the fate of all the cultivators present. Therefore, Chen Mingtian fought with exceptional brutality, revealing all his trump cards from his arsenal. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was not to be outdone. Although it did not have powerful Divine Skills to attack, its very body was the most effective weapon, with both its defense and attack being incomparably strong. Their fight, heedless of consequences, was at a stalemate. Among the other Golden Core Cultivators, Wang Hengqiu was dealing with the Third Order Medium Stage Blood Jiao, while Zhu Yun tackled two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts simultaneously. Plus, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s two Third Order Spiritual Beasts were each fighting a Demonic Beast of the same order. The several top combatants, except for Chen Jingtian¡¯s disadvantageous cultivation, were not able to gain a significant upper hand, while the other two had a slight advantage. However, it was hard to tell what the outcome would be if this continued. Especially for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the casualties among the Human Cultivators were severe after this round of battle. According to his exploration, a conservative estimate suggested that nearly a hundred people had fallen, nearly amounting to two-tenths of the cultivators present. Those who were alive, many were wounded, and not at their peak condition. Moreover, most groups were at an absolute disadvantage. Only the teams organized by those ranked high on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, relying on their strong overall strength, were able to remain relatively unharmed, not on the brink of defeat. As for the reason behind such a situation, it was simple. From their side, nearly half of their force had already stayed in Songling Mountain Range, to kill those Demon Beast Legions that had been abandoned. Those who could make it here were all people above the Foundation Building Fourth Level, and there were only six or seven hundred of them. And the number of Demonic Beasts was too large, simply impossible to eliminate in a short time. Furthermore, the Demon Beast Army boasted nearly two thousand Second Order Demonic Beasts, most of which had survived numerous battles through Yuyao City. Their survival proved the strength of this group of Second Order Demonic Beasts. As a result, each person present had to face three times their number in Demonic Beasts, while also guarding against the fearlessly ferocious First Order Demonic Beasts. One could imagine, as time went on and the consumption of Spiritual Power and personnel increased, how great the pressure on the cultivators would be. ¡­ Coming back to his senses. By that time, the Demonic Beasts opposite him, which had paused momentarily, stirred once again. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside their ranks, it seemed that they had forgotten their fear and surged forward once more, giving the Human Cultivators hardly any chance to catch their breath. At a glance, the group of Demonic Beasts that had come up was even more powerful than the last. Among them, there were two Second Order Late Phase Green Wave Beasts, plus three Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beasts joining forces, including the two previously slain by him, a total of seven Demonic Beasts, along with dozens of First Order Demonic Beasts attacking him all at once. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew grave, and his Tiangang Sword burst forth with Sword Qi, blasting towards the oncoming Demonic Beasts. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The advancing Green Wave Beasts, unyielding, met the Tiangang Sword Qi attacks head-on, causing massive explosive sounds upon impact. After the strike, the Sword Qi dispersed, and the oncoming Demonic Beasts were slightly halted, also briefly pausing. At this moment, Lin Tianming regarded this group of Demonic Beasts with furrowed brows, the look of someone facing a formidable enemy. Just then, as the recruiter of this expedition, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s voice rose among them all. ¡°Fellow cultivators, we can no longer hold back. If this continues, our comrades won¡¯t last much longer!¡± Hearing these words, everyone had a solemn expression, with no room for complacency. At that moment, Hu Yuan repelled a Demonic Beast with a single strike, then turned his gaze towards the others and spoke. ¡°Everyone, if we want to survive or wait for Senior Chen and the others to achieve victory, we can only rely on ourselves for this period!¡± ¡°That part of our team in Songling Mountain Range likely can¡¯t catch up anytime soon, so we must give our absolute effort without any reservations, or else we definitely won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°The two fellow cultivators are right, this battle is incredibly important for us all. There¡¯s no Yuyao City or Third Order Formation here to stall the Demonic Beasts.¡± ¡°Everything relies solely on ourselves!¡± Lin Tianming chimed in. No sooner had he spoken than Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan expressed their agreement, and then said, ¡°Lin is right!¡± ¡°This battle could very well be the final confrontation between the Human and Beast Clans, and we cannot afford to retreat in any way.¡± ¡°Therefore, this battle is a rare opportunity for both the Demonic Beasts and us.¡± Chapter 531 531 300 Going All Out_3 ?Chapter 531: Chapter 300 Going All Out_3 Chapter 531: Chapter 300 Going All Out_3 ¡°The final victory and defeat shall be determined in this battle!¡± With that conclusion, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s voice grew louder, his momentum surging, it was clear that he had made up his mind and was prepared to fight desperately. At this moment, influenced by Li Xiuyuan and others, everyone understood that his words made sense. And in that instant, everyone made their decisions, with no thoughts of holding anything back. In such a case, the whole team¡¯s spirit was like a rainbow, their moves became even more fierce, with almost every strike as a killing blow. Lin Tianming also started to employ the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, after all, both these means of attack were suitable for large-scale attack, and with the number of low-order demonic beasts, they were perfectly suited for such an occasion. On the battlefield. ... Lin Tianming¡¯s spiritual power was fully channeled, covering a thousand zhang around him, all enveloped by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At the same time, the black mist released from the Thousand Beast Banner covered several hundred zhang around him, with a multitude of monster beast souls roaming within. In that moment, under the pressure of dual methods, the sky was filled with Sword Qi and monster beast souls, slaughtering the demonic beasts that were enveloped from every angle. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, seven Second Order Demonic Beasts were trapped, and among them, only two at the Second Order Late Phase could still face it with composure while the other five were greatly affected. As for the First Order Demon Beasts, they had nowhere to hide and were easily slain by the Sword Qi or the monster beast souls. With pitiful cries coming through, a large number of corpses lay on the ground inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, clearly lifeless. Seeing this gruesome scene, those eager demonic beasts outside did not dare to approach. Meanwhile, inside the Sword Array, several Second Order Demonic Beasts felt a great threat and began desperately attacking the Sword Array Barricade, seemingly realizing that if they continued to remain inside, they would eventually meet the same fate as the First Order Demon Beasts. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Five Second Order Initial and Medium Stage demonic beasts slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, causing the Sword Array to shake violently, nearly collapsing, but it soon returned to normal. Seeing the Sword Array still operating normally and continuing to shrink its area, Lin Tianming¡¯s suspended heart was also relieved as he couldn¡¯t help but heave a long sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t noticeably obstruct the attacks of these Second Order Initial and Medium Stage demonic beasts, only firmly controlling the Sword Array, using the Sword Qi and monster beast souls inside to hassle them a bit. He placed his hopes on the Sword Array; as long as he dealt with the two Second Order Late-Stage Green Wave Beasts, the rest of the demonic beasts wouldn¡¯t be able to stop him. And for the attacks of the two Green Wave Beasts, Lin Tianming dared not let them have their way. The strength of these two Green Wave Beasts was not to be underestimated; if he allowed them to attack the Sword Array with their companions, the Earth Fiend Sword Array might not be able to withstand the attack simultaneously. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it collapsed, he would be trapped again, and from then on, his pressure would only grow, and he probably couldn¡¯t last long. Therefore, when the two Green Wave Beasts attacked, Lin Tianming madly spurred the Tiangang Sword, erupting with a large amount of Sword Qi to fend off the two demonic beasts. As for the other several Second Order demonic beasts, he could only temporarily ignore them, having to deal first with the most threatening ones. In such a situation, Lin Tianming did not have any reservations, with all his spiritual power unleashed to the utmost. This battle was unlike any other he had fought before; in the past, to conceal his strength, he only employed eighty percent of his power. But now, except for Spirit Art and the Fake Golden Core Talisman, he planned to use up his full force, going all-out in this decisive battle between the Human and Beast Clans. Chapter 532 532 301 Sharp Edge Revealed_1 ?Chapter 532: Chapter 301 Sharp Edge Revealed_1 Chapter 532: Chapter 301 Sharp Edge Revealed_1 As several sword qi obstructed the two demonic beasts momentarily, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate at all and promptly took out several Second Order Attack Talismans, casting them immediately. Right after, with a clench of his Law Decree, the Tiangang Sword suddenly burst forth with a brilliant radiance. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword!¡± With a loud shout, the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand, hurtling towards the opposing Green Wave Beast. In that instant, the figure of the Tiangang Sword appeared within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Looking on, the speed of the Tiangang Sword was incredibly fast, like a bolt of lightning, descending upon the head of a Green Wave Beast in the blink of an eye, poised to strike at any moment. At this moment, feeling the sharp and formidable aura of the Tiangang Sword, the targeted Green Wave Beast distinctly sensed the taste of death. ... In a state of panic, it hastily twisted its body, generating wind under its feet in an attempt to evade this lethal attack. However, this sudden assault caught them completely off guard, and coupled with the extremely fast attack speed and the Sword Array and Monster Beast Souls binding within the formation, their movement speed was significantly reduced. Ordinarily, such minor interference wasn¡¯t fearsome, and dodging the Tiangang Sword would naturally be easy. But now, the situation was vastly different; even the slightest binding sensation could be fatal. In an instant, as the Tiangang Sword descended from the sky, carrying an overwhelmingly powerful momentum, it thrust directly at the vital areas of the Green Wave Beast. At this time, the targeted Green Wave Beast was in utter panic, pushing its movement speed to the limit. Yet the Tiangang Sword was already thrusting down; it could feel the coldness above its head, which caused it to shiver in fear. The other Green Wave Beast was equally anxious, desperately trying to aid its companion. Despite its efforts, Lin Tianming had already invoked a barrage of sword qi and Second Order Attack Talismans, firmly holding it back, leaving no opportunity for it to provide any assistance. In desperation, the Green Wave Beast targeted by the Tiangang Sword realized that hope for escape was exceedingly slim¡ªit was better to fight back with all its might. Swiftly, it made a resolve to battle to the death. In a flash, it fiercely turned its body and let out a low roar, unleashing a special sonic attack. Once the sonic attack was launched, the Tiangang Sword indeed was affected, as if it had plunged into a quagmire, its speed and might both diminished. Not only that, the Sword Qi and Monster Beast Souls within the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation were also affected, not to mention a slowdown in attack speed¡ªsome First Order Monster Beast Souls even exploded and dissipated on the spot. Outside the formation, Lin Tianming was also greatly affected. As the sonic attack spread, at that moment, he felt as though his orifices were about to burst, and the spiritual power within his body suddenly became turbulent, nearly causing an explosion. In urgency, Lin Tianming steadied his mind, driving his Cultivation Technique to its limit while continuing to control the Tiangang Sword and suppressing the violent reactions in his body. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was well aware that the sonic attack was the Green Wave Beast¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, capable of severely affecting a cultivator¡¯s spiritual power and harming the soul. If one¡¯s cultivation was insufficient or their soul was not strong enough, they could accidentally explode and die. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to be careless, holding back the discomfort brought by the sonic attack while securing the Tiangang Sword, continuing his thrust towards the Green Wave Beast. However, at this moment, with the Tiangang Sword being influenced by the sonic attack, whether it could be effective was uncertain. At this point, he couldn¡¯t help but frown deeply, his heart hanging in his throat. Clearly, if this continued, the strike would hardly be able to kill the Green Wave Beast. Just as expected, as the Tiangang Sword thrust down, it directly bombarded the back of the Green Wave Beast. A loud noise erupted, and the body of the Green Wave Beast was blasted dozens of feet away, eventually crashing into the ground, creating a big crater on impact. Looking over, the Green Wave Beast was half-lying in the crater, a thick blood hole gaping on its wide back, with crimson blood trickling from the wound. Inside the crater, the Green Wave Beast was roars in pain as it struggled miserably. A few breaths passed, and it seemed to endure the damage from the Tiangang Sword, as it stood up again, its eyes blood-red and casting an exceedingly wary look at Lin Tianming. In the nick of time, its rapid use of the sonic attack caused the Tiangang Sword to be greatly affected, reducing the damage significantly. Therefore, the strike only inflicted a wound, and relying on its strong defensive power, the neither light nor serious injury didn¡¯t significantly affect its combat power. Outside the Sword Array, seeing the Green Wave Beast escape disaster, Lin Tianming felt greatly disappointed and sighed again. But upon reflection, the strength of the Green Wave Beast was indeed remarkable, able to survive many battles over the year, naturally not just any ordinary demonic beast could compare. Furthermore, the Green Wave Beast¡¯s attacks were indeed bizarre; seemingly invisible sonic attacks hid tremendous threats. If it weren¡¯t for his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law and his strong soul power, ordinary cultivators would easily fall prey if they were not careful. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming glanced at the two enraged Green Wave Beasts and his expression grew somewhat solemn. Since the attack didn¡¯t achieve a fatal effect, he feared the battle ahead would be a tough one. But now was not the time for him to ponder further, for the Green Wave Beasts had already gone berserk, jointly attacking the Sword Array Barricade. Seeing this, Lin Tianming once again issued several Second Order Attack Talismans, targeting the uninjured Green Wave Beast, needing only to hold it off for some time. Chapter 533 533 301 The Sharp Edge is Fully ?Chapter 533: Chapter 301: The Sharp Edge is Fully Revealed_2 Chapter 533: Chapter 301: The Sharp Edge is Fully Revealed_2 He made his move with all his might, aiming to quickly slay the injured Green Wave Beast before dealing with the remaining one. Once successful, the solitary Green Wave Beast, coupled with the few Second Order Demonic Beasts that he did not regard as a threat, would pose no danger to his safety. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was extremely decisive in his actions. Taking advantage of the moment when the Green Wave Beast was blocked by the Second Order Talisman, Lin Tianming first swung the Tiangang Sword, releasing numerous bursts of Sword Qi to block the injured beast¡¯s path of escape. Immediately after, he threw the Tiangang Sword into the air and swiftly cast several Law Decrees. The entire sword body of the Tiangang Sword flashed with light, spinning wildly, creating a tornado that pierced the ground with numerous holes around it. At the same time, sand and rocks flew within a hundred paces of him as the air around became incredibly chaotic. ... Feeling the fluctuations emanating from the Tiangang Sword, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression solidified, revealing a look of determination. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword, execute!¡± With a loud shout, the light from the Tiangang Sword grew even more blinding, like a meteor in the night sky, transforming into a streak of silver-white Spiritual Light that shot out fiercely. At that moment, the dim sky brightened considerably, as the Tiangang Sword¡¯s attack wildly disturbed the space enveloped by the Sword Array. The Green Wave Beast, now targeted by Lin Tianming, had completely lost its nerve. It seemed to understand how terrifying this attack was, far surpassing the previous one. Even with its formidable defensive power, it made no attempt to resist and started to desperately flee. Seeing the Green Wave Beast¡¯s actions and once more feeling the fluctuations from the Tiangang Sword, Lin Tianming was not surprised. This was the first time he had used the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword since his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. In the past, to conceal his strength, he had only ever used up to the Tiangang Sword Qi Fifth Sword. The power from stacking five swords was already terrifying; the power from stacking six swords would, at the very least, double in strength compared to five. Thus, with this sword, he had put forth all his strength, determined to kill the beast and open the battle situation for himself. With such expectations, Lin Tianming watched intently, not missing the slightest movement of the Tiangang Sword¡¯s trajectory. It wasn¡¯t just him; a few teammates nearby sensed the powerful fluctuations the instant the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was stirred by the Tiangang Sword¡¯s release. Everyone, including Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, was shocked by the attack Lin Tianming had launched. At this moment, the gazes of Li Xiuyuan and the others were all drawn over, all watching on his side, to see if this ultimate strike would end the life of the Green Wave Beast. Under the watchful eyes of several teammates and Lin Tianming, the Tiangang Sword arrived as promised. Within the Sword Array, under the lethal threat, the Green Wave Beast fled in a panic, its speed reaching its peak. However, before it could get far, the Tiangang Sword descended, slamming directly into its neck. ¡°Bang¡­ Roar¡­¡± A loud boom followed by a scream resounded through the area. The Tiangang Sword pierced through the massive head of the Green Wave Beast, finally returning to Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. The huge body of the beast fell to the ground with a large hole in its neck, clearly the result of being slain by the piercing strike of the Tiangang Sword. It lay motionless on the ground as scarlet blood flowed, signaling the end of its life. Seeing the beast dead, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of great excitement, and he breathed a sigh of relief. At that time, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but draw a breath of cold air, their feelings complex, and even could not help but think, ¡°Is Lin this strong?¡± ¡°Could it be that he has hidden much of his strength over this past year?¡± ¡°If he goes all out, under such a powerful attack, I might not be able to withstand it either!¡± Clearly, though Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation was three minor realms lower than theirs, his strength was sufficient to have the means to kill them. With these thoughts, when they looked at Lin Tianming again, their eyes revealed a hint of fear. As for Tang Liusheng and the other Foundation Establishment Late Stage teammates, including the ordinary cultivators, they were utterly shocked by Lin Tianming¡¯s splendid display of aggressive tactics and had no way to recover from their astonishment. In the past, they had only thought that Lin Tianming, being at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment, was comparable in strength to them, at most slightly superior. However, as they interacted over the past year, Lin Tianming had time and again shattered their perceptions. Before this battle, they were also aware that Lin Tianming was immensely powerful, almost on par with the strongest of the team, Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan. Yet they never imagined he had still hidden much of his strength. And judging from the strength Lin Tianming had just unleashed, even Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan would probably not dare claim they had the confidence to withstand it. Now, it seemed that Lin Tianming was possibly the strongest individual within this team. What¡¯s more, he was just over forty years old; achieving such cultivation and terrifying strength in a mere thirty years of cultivation was truly astonishing, on par with the genius cultivators from Wei Kingdom. Thinking of this, when his teammates looked at Lin Tianming again, their eyes were filled with awe and reverence. Including Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, as well as Tang Liusheng and several others of family heritage, they had all made up their minds: after the great battle ended, they must visit Luoyun Mountain to make connections with the Lin Family, and even establish business dealings. All of this, however, was unknown to Lin Tianming. At this moment, he had no intention of stopping. He was engaged in a fierce battle with the living Green Wave Beast. Having seen what had happened to its companions and looking at their pitiful corpses, the Green Wave Beast already wanted to retreat. While coping with Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks, it was also trying to move closer to the other few Second Order Demonic Beasts, evidently planning to gather their strength and break free from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s confines. Nevertheless, at this critical juncture, Lin Tianming had already gained the upper hand and naturally would not give them any chance. Seeing this, the Green Wave Beast was filled with rage but also helplessness. Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword moved swiftly, each strike powerful. Except for the Green Wave Beast, which could resist somewhat, the other Second Order Demonic Beasts dared not come into contact with it in the slightest. After several rounds of attacks, the two Initial Stage Second Order Demonic Beasts couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and were annihilated by the Tiangang Sword Qi. Meanwhile, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was slowly contracting, covering an area of only about less than five hundred feet. At this moment, the roaming Sword Qi inside had become very dense, and with thousands of Monster Beast Souls restraining, the space for the Demonic Beasts to exist was getting smaller and smaller, and the Sword Array Barricade was becoming as solid as a fortress. Watching its companions die one after another, and the Sword Array further pressuring in, the Green Wave Beast felt both anger and a sense of despair. In its desperation, the Green Wave Beast let out another low roar, a wave of invisible sonic energy spreading outward. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was well prepared. He immediately focused his mind, easily withstanding the sonic attack. Then, not intending to sit idly by, he took the chance to summon the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword once again. With this terrifying sword strike unleashed, the Green Wave Beast panicked, starting to flee recklessly. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming let out a cold snort, without any hesitation, and propelled this most potent attack, aiming to end the life of the Green Wave Beast completely. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword, carrying boundless might and stirring up intense waves of Sword Qi, shot down towards the Green Wave Beast. Feeling the powerful attack, the Green Wave Beast could neither evade nor escape, frozen in place. ¡°Roar¡­¡± a miserable scream was heard. The Tiangang Sword had directly beheaded the Green Wave Beast, with its scarlet blood spraying out on the spot. Concurrently, the immense body of the Green Wave Beast fell straight to the ground, motionless; it was clearly dead as dead can be. At this time, seeing the Green Wave Beast dead, a hint of rosiness passed across Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat pale face. Looking at the two corpses on the ground, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily, feeling extremely elated. With the two strongest Demonic Beasts vanquished, the remaining few Second Order Demonic Beasts were like fish on the chopping block to him, utterly at his mercy. Chapter 534 534 302 Consecutive Kills_1 ?Chapter 534: Chapter 302 Consecutive Kills_1 Chapter 534: Chapter 302 Consecutive Kills_1 Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze toward the several Second Order Demonic Beasts that were struggling to survive, and holding the Tiangang Sword, he walked towards them. At this moment, he seemed like the Grim Reaper harvesting lives, with each step heavily oppressing the nerves of the Demonic Beasts. Within the Sword Array, the few remaining Second Order Demonic Beasts desperately launched attacks at Lin Tianming, showing a posture of fighting to the death. However, Lin Tianming simply smiled indifferently, appearing completely unconcerned. He didn¡¯t use any Spiritual Power at all, relying solely on his Physical Strength. Ordinary Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beasts could hardly injure him. Among these several Demonic Beasts, the strongest was only at the second Order Middle Stage; he could block these attacks with his body alone, which also saved the little remaining Spiritual Power for the ensuing slaughter. In this way, with one hand tightly gripping the Tiangang Sword and the other swinging an iron fist, he clashed directly with the attacks of the Demonic Beasts. ... ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of metallic impacts sounded. It was visible that when the tails or sharp claws of those Demonic Beasts intermingled with Lin Tianming¡¯s fists, the ones that screamed in agony were all on the side of the Demonic Beasts. Under such circumstances, the few Second Order Demonic Beasts were no match at all and kept being pushed back. A short while later, The Earth Fiend Sword Formation had shrunk to a distance of a hundred zhang, within which the Sword Qi was extremely dense and filled with a large number of Second Order Demon Beast Souls, leaving hardly any room to survive. And now, There were only two Second Order Demonic Beasts left, and they had both been severely injured by him using just his physical strength, with barely any combat power left. As he punched out, one of the Second Order Demonic Beasts was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, and as it struggled in pain, it vomited large amounts of blood. The other Demonic Beast, while filled with fear and rage, was helpless in the face of its companion¡¯s plight. Regarding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, waving the Tiangang Sword in his hand, and ended the life of the seriously wounded beast. After dealing with this beast, he immediately turned around and casually threw out a punch. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded. Lin Tianming¡¯s fist, as hard as iron, clashed with the sharp claws of the Demonic Beast. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, the beast let out a miserable shriek, its body, as large as a few zhang, flying out like a kite with a broken string before finally crashing heavily to the ground. After this strike, Lin Tianming only felt a sharp pain before briefly pausing his movement, then slowly returned to normal. Clearly, the power of the beast¡¯s attack caused him limited damage and was hardly effective. He didn¡¯t waste any time watching the continuously screaming Demonic Beast, but immediately pursued to continue the kill. Before it could even rise, Lin Tianming had already caught up, and the Tiangang Sword in his hands descended upon the Demonic Beast¡¯s head. Under such despair, the Demonic Beast, despite being unwilling, had no chance to escape and could only watch helplessly as the Tiangang Sword fell, taking its life. With the last Second Order Demonic Beast dead, the seven Second Order Demonic Beasts at Lin Tianming¡¯s side had all been executed. There were no survivors left, all buried by his hand. At this moment, he looked calm, his face brimming with a satisfied smile. He had given this battle his all, bringing his strength to its limit and securing rich spoils of war. It could be anticipated that by the end of the battle, his points would increase by more than three hundred. This significant rise was the first of its kind since the first battle, throughout the year. Regaining his focus, he glanced over the battlefield, riddled with holes. The nearby First Order Demon Beasts were clearly terrified, merely his gaze alone thoroughly intimidated these low-order Monster Beasts, keeping them from daring to take a step forward. And those wandering Second Order Demonic Beasts, seemingly aware of his formidable strength, had recognized him as a tough character. Thus, before the battle had even ended, they had already run without a trace. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and had no intention of killing these low-order Monster Beasts, to avoid wasting his time. In such a state, he looked at his teammates next to him, intending to go and help out first. Having made up his mind, he retrieved all his Magic Artifacts and then immediately turned around, shooting towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s location. At this time, Li Xiuyuan was engaged in a fierce and perilous battle with four Second Order Late Phase Thousand Blade Beasts. As a core disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s strength need not be mentioned, whether Magic Artifacts or treasures, he was the foremost among the team. And his opponents in this battle were the extremely troublesome Thousand Blade Beasts. The beast¡¯s attacking power was incredibly fierce, and its speed was also very fast, with Divine Skills that possessed great lethal force. Ordinary Cultivators, even faced with just one, would find it extremely difficult to cope with. Despite his many Magic Artifacts and consumable treasures, the significant number and strength of the Thousand Blade Beasts were still overwhelming. Handling the attacks from four Thousand Blade Beasts simultaneously was extremely perilous, several times putting him in dangerous predicaments. Ultimately, relying on his trump cards and treasures, he had managed to turn danger into safety, securing his life. However, even so, his current situation was still very critical. If it were to continue like this, without the support of his teammates, he might not last long. At this time, being attacked by several Thousand Blade Beasts no weaker than himself, Li Xiuyuan inwardly cursed his bad luck, forced to persevere. Apart from Li Xiuyuan, the situation of the other ten-plus teammates was not optimistic, each one struggling to hold on. However, the number of Demonic Beasts they faced in this battle was too massive, and they seemed to keep coming incessantly. Chapter 535 535 302 Consecutive Slayings_2 ?Chapter 535: Chapter 302: Consecutive Slayings_2 Chapter 535: Chapter 302: Consecutive Slayings_2 After much difficulty, they had killed a few Second Order Demonic Beasts, only to have their ranks immediately replenished, leaving no chance to catch their breath. In the continuous flow of battle, the situation was grim for everyone, yet there was nothing they could do. It wasn¡¯t until Lin Tianming unleashed an unprecedented attack, killing his opponent with the swift ferocity of thunder and not giving it a chance to cover its ears. Li Xiuyuan glimpsed hope at that moment, and it also gave the team the confidence to win. At this point, with Lin Tianming freed up to join Li Xiuyuan¡¯s battle group, their circumstances immediately changed. Seeing Lin Tianming coming to his aid, Li Xiuyuan was overjoyed, and his offensive power surged, turning the tide of the battle. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Explosive sounds rang out one after another. ... On this battlefield, Lin Tianming and another each dealt with two Second Order Thousand Blade Beasts, coordinating tacitly. As soon as they made their move, they suppressed the two beasts. With a strike that fended off the monster, Lin Tianming once again brought out the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and, aided by the Thousand Beast Banner, used these two wide-ranging offensive tools to reap the lives of low-order monsters on the battlefield. Besides, the Thousand Blade Beasts already had some light injuries, and under the dual pressure of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, they were being dominated by Lin Tianming. As the binding sensation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation grew stronger, their speed was hindered, and the Thousand Blade Beasts started to panic. In their desperation, they let out a roar. Suddenly, thousands of invisible and colorless blades of light burst forth from their mouths, akin to flying needles, bombarding Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. This blade of light was the Thousand Blade Beasts¡¯ Innate Divine Ability, not only numerous but also possessing a colossal destructive power. If struck by the light blades, even just one, he might be seriously injured or even fall here. Realizing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be complacent. Using the Eye of Five Colors, he discerned the optimal route to dodge and narrowly avoided the attack. Seeing Lin Tianming easily evade, the Thousand Blade Beasts were visibly surprised, momentarily stunned in place. ¡°Good opportunity!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. The brief moment of daze from the two Thousand Blade Beasts was an excellent opportunity to attack. If he wasted this chance, it would take much more effort to claim their lives later. In that brief instant, Lin Tianming had already activated the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword, slashing at one of the Thousand Blade Beasts. By the time the Thousand Blade Beast reacted, it was already hindered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and many Second Order Demon Beast Souls, making escape difficult. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud bang, the head of the Thousand Blade Beast fell to the ground, and its blood spurted out, quickly forming a pool of blood. The massive body of the Thousand Blade Beast lay in the bloody pool, twitching slightly, as if to express its unwillingness. At this time, having witnessed its companion¡¯s death, the other Thousand Blade Beast had fallen into madness. It roared furiously and began spewing out a massive number of light blades, seemingly determined to overwhelm Lin Tianming. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was very clear that the fate of its companion could be a harbinger of its own; if it couldn¡¯t escape or kill the Human Cultivator before it, it would meet the same fate, or something even more bloody and miserable. Therefore, at that moment, the Thousand Blade Beast unleashed an unprecedented attack, desperate to continue living. At this very moment, Lin Tianming, seeing the dense array of light blades, had a very grave expression on his face. This monster beast seemed stronger, releasing not just more light blades but also possessing greater destructive power. He couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. The instant the light blades shot out, the Eye of Five Colors had already pierced through their trajectories, finding the optimal path to dodge. With a pivot and the creation of a gust beneath his feet, his body moved with incredible flexibility, and he passed through the tiny gaps at an unbelievable angle. After a moment, Lin Tianming reappeared dozens of yards away. Now, his face was slightly pale, with several wounds of varying depth on his arms. Fortunately, these were only flesh wounds that were not fatal for him, a cultivator who pursued the dual cultivation of body and law. At this very moment, the Thousand Blade Beast was greatly disappointed that Lin Tianming had evaded its divine skill attack. It let out a low growl and immediately turned to flee. However, how could Lin Tianming let this perfect opportunity slip away? He sneered coldly and immediately gripped the Tiangang Sword like a ferocious beast, charging forward with the speed of an arrow. The Thousand Blade Beast, bound by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and relentlessly harassed by an endless stream of monster beast souls, couldn¡¯t shake them off, let alone dodge the attack. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of cracking and explosive sounds followed as the Tiangang Sword and fists as hard as steel ferociously hammered the body of the Thousand Blade Beast, causing a tremendous disturbance. Then, the beast let out a pitiful, blood-curdling howl that was truly hair-raising. Time passed, and eventually, the screams subsided, returning this small battlefield to a brief moment of tranquility. Looking across the field now, there lay a fresh corpse on the ground, undoubtedly that of the Thousand Blade Beast slain by Lin Tianming. At this time, the beast lay askew in a ravine, half its body embedded in the deep trench, most of its skin a bloody mess, and from its huge mouth blood gushed out, quickly staining a large area of the ground red. Lin Tianming stood next to the body, gasping for breath, clearly exhausted. Looking at the lifeless demonic beast, he took several deep breaths, and his hurried breathing gradually returned to normal. This final battle was extremely dangerous; had it not been for the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors, he might have been seriously injured by the divine skill attack unleashed by the Thousand Blade Beast, or even have lost his life. Fortunately, without mishap, he had dodged the attack and, seizing the opportunity, had exploded with all his physical strength. Relying solely on hand-to-hand combat, he had bombed the beast to death on the spot. Such an exhilarating battle experience¡ªwith his blood boiling and power erupting wildly¡ªgave him a different sensation. Reflecting on the course of the battle, he felt a distinct yearning for power in his body and the slight increase in strength also made him somewhat infatuated with it. However, as pleasing as this sensation was, he couldn¡¯t be overly confident, nor could he afford to take risks lightly. After all, if the enemy¡¯s strength was too great, such direct, brute force combat would be no different from courting death. Only when there wasn¡¯t much spiritual power left, or when he was sufficiently confident, should he try this approach more often. It would not only save spiritual power but also give him the chance to temper his own physical body and gain more rich combat experience. It was indeed a case of killing three birds with one stone, making it worth taking some risks! Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was excited, and his blood surged once again. After calming down, he turned to look towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s side and saw that he had also finished his battle and was walking over. At this time, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s face bore an excited expression, and his eyes were filled with envy and admiration as he looked at Lin Tianming. From afar, Li Xiuyuan called out with a smile, ¡°Lin, you¡¯ve really hidden your strengths deeply!¡± In response, Lin Tianming gave an embarrassed smile, then began to explain. ¡°Haha¡­ Li, don¡¯t take it amiss. I had a breakthrough in my divine skills just a while ago, and just in time for this battle. The strength of the demonic beasts wasn¡¯t high; it was just a stroke of luck that I managed to succeed!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded, not pursuing the veracity of the statement any further. After all, such sensitive topics could easily cause misunderstandings. Since Lin Tianming had put it this way, any clever person would choose to drop the subject. Nevertheless, he was very clear in his heart that Lin Tianming was likely hiding some of his abilities. Based on the strength that Lin Tianming had displayed, he was certainly not any weaker than himself, perhaps even stronger by a margin. This conclusion was deducible from the progression of the intense battle, during which Lin Tianming had successively slain several Second Order Late-Stage demon beasts. Having calmed down, Li Xiuyuan hurriedly changed the subject. After some polite conversation, the two of them checked on the condition of their companions and exchanged glances before quickly making a decision. Immediately after, they both leapt up and shot towards the locations of their teammates. ¡­ Chapter 536 536 303 Golden Core Self-Destruction_1 ?Chapter 536: Chapter 303 Golden Core Self-Destruction_1 Chapter 536: Chapter 303 Golden Core Self-Destruction_1 On the battlefield. At this point, the intense battle between the Human and Beast Clans had reached a feverish stage. Everywhere one looked, the riddled ground was littered with corpses, and the blood had long since dyed the land red. High in the sky, at a certain location, Chen Jingtian and the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion were engaged in fierce combat, exchanging blows without holding back. The commotion seemed to indicate their intent to end the fight in one fell swoop, thus taking the victory of the great battle. Clearly, Chen Jingtian was very aware that the longer the fight dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for the Human Race. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s momentum was like a rainbow, and one magical treasure after another was offered from his hands; he was obviously ready to spare no expense. ... S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a crazy bout, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, despite being the highest rank and the strongest in the field, also began to fall slightly behind. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu and Zhu Yun were overjoyed and began to attack with even more decisiveness and fierceness. They were clearly intending to take advantage of the situation to suppress the Demonic Beasts. As time passed, in the blink of an eye, both sides had been locked in battle for over a dozen rounds. From the overall situation, Chen Jingtian and his companions had taken the upper hand thanks to their fierce offensive and their willingness to attack regardless of the cost. And at this time, among the Third Order Demon Beasts, aside from the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao showing no signs of collapse, the rest were being suppressed and accumulating severe injuries. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± After a full-powered strike, Chen Jingtian and the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion both retreated a hundred yards and finally steadied themselves. At this moment, Chen Jingtian was suspended in midair, blood churning within him, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. After struggling to keep it down, his pale face finally looked a bit better, but he still appeared extremely grave. Just now, he had seized a rare flaw in the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s defense to deliver his strongest blow, finally managing to directly injure the beast. At this time, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was half-crouching on the ground with a huge wound on one leg, from which blood seeped down and quickly formed a small pool. Its massive body trembled slightly, and it occasionally let out low growls, appearing to be in pain. However, despite the injury to its leg, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s defensive power and vitality were incredibly strong, and it soon stood up again. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian could not help but let out a wry smile. Overall, achieving such an advantage was already quite difficult. Therefore, he was quite satisfied with the outcome. Turning his attention back to the battle, Chen Jingtian¡¯s gaze swept across the entire battlefield, assessing the situation of the Human Cultivators. Looking around, the Human Cultivators as a whole seemed to be at a bit of a disadvantage. Of the original six to seven hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, under the massive onslaught of the Demonic Beasts, the majority of the groups were in critical condition, teetering on the brink of collapse. However, there were also some groups whose overall strength was formidable, almost effortlessly killing their adversaries with the ease of pulling up withered weeds. Long Qingshui, Jiang Yuyao, and several others represented this strength. And Lin Tianming, who had suddenly demonstrated impressive strength, as well as his remarkable achievements, was not inferior to Long Qingshui and the others. Such a performance also attracted Chen Jingtian¡¯s attention for a moment. After pondering briefly, he recalled the struggle against the Golden Core Cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom for the Profound Learning Command and realized that he had coincidentally encountered this person before, thus having had an interaction. At that time, Lin Tianming was merely in the Qi Refinement Realm, and his abilities seemed as insignificant as ants to him. As a result, he hadn¡¯t taken the matter seriously. Yet unexpectedly, in just over a decade, the once inconsequential figure had developed such impressive and dazzling strength. ¡°This young man¡¯s cultivation has advanced so rapidly, his talent is definitely not weak, and his strength is extremely outstanding, ranking him among the top of the Cultivators in his order.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just not clear what his background is. Does he have a sect or a master?¡± At this time, Chen Jingtian also became interested in Lin Tianming, even murmuring to himself inwardly. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± A series of roars snapped Chen Jingtian out of his reverie. He looked at the enraged Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, silently planning his next move. At present, with the three of them working together and aided by two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, they had gained some advantage. Such an opportunity naturally should not be missed. After all, the great war had been ongoing for a year, and the Demonic Beasts were also planning to retreat. Both sides were hoping to gain a little more in what could be the final battle. However, the current situation still favored the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion with its overwhelming strength. Even if one person was to help him, killing it would be extremely difficult. It would be better to target the other Third Order Demon Beasts, combine everyone¡¯s strength to first eliminate the weaker ones, and then consider how to deal with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion based on the situation. Having made up his mind, Chen Jingtian started to communicate his plan to Wang Hengqiu and the other person beside him via message transmission. Soon, Wang Hengqiu and the other person received the message and immediately indicated that they had no objections. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian took advantage of the moment the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was wary of attacking him, and abruptly shifted his attention. He leapt into the air, disappearing before the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s eyes at an unbelievable speed. Quickly, he appeared hundreds of yards away beside Zhu Yun. At the same time, with a loud shout, his magical treasure descended from the sky, striking before two Second Order Initial Stage Third Order Demon Beasts could react. ¡°Bang¡­ Roar¡­¡± Two distinct sounds echoed. One Third Order Demon Beast lay on the ground, struggling and howling, with a huge bloody cavity exposed, some of its organs spilling out through the wound. Chapter 537 537 303 Golden Core Self-Destruct_2 ?Chapter 537: Chapter 303: Golden Core Self-Destruct_2 Chapter 537: Chapter 303: Golden Core Self-Destruct_2 It was clear that the Third Order Early Stage Demon Beast had completely lost its fighting ability. However, the vitality of a Third Order Demonic Beast was extremely tenacious; despite such severe injuries, it hadn¡¯t died immediately. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun were overjoyed, a hint of a smile flashing across their faces. It was at this moment that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion finally realized what had happened, noticing that Chen Jingtian had shifted his target and attacked its companion instead. Not only that, but his attack was earth-shattering, catching it off guard and seriously injuring its companion in one fell swoop. At this point, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was extremely enraged. With blood-red eyes, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion let out a furious roar and suddenly disappeared from where it was. ... The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, it was near Wang Hengqiu, who was fiercely battling. When Chen Jingtian saw that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had also shifted targets, hurtling toward the direction where Wang Hengqiu was fighting, it was clear that it was employing the same strategy he was ¨C to attack those with lower strength. Obviously, the spirit wisdom of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was not low, knowing that the strength of both Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun was formidable, and together they were even stronger. If it forcefully withstood attacking Zhu Yun directly, it would be difficult to achieve much, and it might even suffer a significant loss. Therefore, Wang Hengqiu, who was in a fierce fight with the Blood Jiao, was its best choice for an attack. After all, though Wang Hengqiu was not weak, the Blood Jiao was also powerful. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, there was a considerable hope of achieving a result in battle. As long as Wang Hengqiu was seriously injured or fell, the Demon Beast Race would still have the advantage in this round. With that in mind, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion made its target clear and acted decisively, without any hesitation. Seeing that the distance was getting closer and closer, it opened its massive jaws and aimed to bite at Wang Hengqiu¡¯s head. In that instant, Chen Jingtian, who had been the first to perceive everything, was extremely anxious. ¡°Brother Wang, watch out behind you!¡± Having heard Chen Jingtian¡¯s warning from a distance, coupled with the chilly sensation at his back, Wang Hengqiu reacted immediately. He twisted his body and his feet sprang up windily, making a strange evasive maneuver. However, the speed of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion surpassed his expectations, and as its mouth came up empty, its whip-like tail had already swept over. Before he could even run ten-odd zhang, the tail of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had already lashed out at him. At this moment, feeling the horror of the approaching tail, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale, and he hastily summoned a green and red shield for defense. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise rang out as the chain-like tail struck the shield with a tremendous booming sound. Wang Hengqiu¡¯s body was sent flying backward, and before even touching the ground, he was spewing blood in great gouts. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He crashed into the ground with a heavy thud, one arm completely severed, while blood continuously dripped from the corner of his mouth, his eyes reflecting a look of sheer terror. In his hurried defense, his Magical Treasure had not been fully activated before being struck by the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s tail. Under the immense impact, the Defense Treasure suffered severe damage, causing a significant loss of spirituality; however, it managed just enough to protect his vital area, sparing his life. Yet, that terrifying tail was incredibly agile, rebounding off the Defense Treasure and returning at an odd angle to slice off one of his arms directly. If not for his resolute decision-making and timely evasion, he might well have perished at that moment. Now, the narrowly surviving Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face was somber, his wariness towards the powerful Blazing Flame Celestial Lion unmistakable. He had barely breathed a sigh of relief when another attack from the Blood Jiao arrived, clearly aiming to take his life while he was severely wounded. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu was horrified. He was now injured, an arm severed, causing his strength to drop significantly. And the strength of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was immense; even Chen Jingtian, the strongest among them, could not confidently claim the upper hand. Besides, there was also the equally formidable Blood Jiao attacking jointly. Bear in mind that even if he were in peak condition, handling an attack from either of these Demonic Beasts alone would be an extremely difficult situation, let alone now that he was wounded. In such circumstances, for him to survive this storm-like assault was exceedingly difficult. Realizing this, Wang Hengqiu was frantic. All he could do now was to try and escape from there and join up with Chen Jingtian. As long as he could join forces with them, he might leverage their strength to survive. With his mind made up, he raced with the speed of wind, dragging his injured body toward the direction where Chen Jingtian was located. As he ran, Wang Hengqiu shouted, ¡°Junior brother Chen, save me!¡± At this moment, Chen Jingtian, who had heard the call for help, also quickly moved forward to meet him. He had anticipated the outcome the moment Wang Hengqiu¡¯s arm was severed by the tail of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. To know, he had fought the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion for a year, and during that time, he had gone through several life-and-death battles, so he was very aware of its strength. Although Wang Hengqiu was also at the Mid Stage of Golden Core cultivation, his strength and combat experience were evidently much less than his. Even he had to be extremely careful in dealing with it, so it was unavoidable for Wang Hengqiu to get injured without any preparedness. Therefore, he took the initiative to move first, making preparations in advance to back up Wang Hengqiu. As Wang Hengqiu drew ever closer to him, with the distance between them just over a hundred yards, and could be reached in one breath¡¯s time, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s expression finally improved somewhat. However, unexpectedly, a Third Order Early Stage Wind Dusk Beast blocked their path. Seeing this, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face turned pale once more. He had not expected another Third Order Demonic Beast to join in at this critical juncture. Right now, he must kill the Wind Dusk Beast in the shortest time possible to meet up with Chen Jingtian. Otherwise, should he be delayed even for an instant, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao would catch up. By then, with his Defense Treasure damaged and having lost an arm, how could he, severely injured, withstand their attack? At this very moment, Wang Hengqiu felt a desperate urgency and once again sensed the breath of death. In this critical moment, he burst out with incredible momentum, his Spiritual Power operating to its utmost limit. At the same time, the Offensive Magical Treasure in his hand shone brightly as he furiously smashed it down towards the blocking Wind Dusk Beast. And at this time, the Wind Dusk Beast was quite cunning, having no intention to forcefully resist. Its appearance was merely to stall for time. If Wang Hengqiu were delayed even for a moment, its companions would catch up and launch a deadly strike. Under such circumstances, before Wang Hengqiu could even activate his treasure, the beast had already made its move to flee. Regrettably, with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s all-out attack from such a close distance and Chen Jingtian backing him up with an attack from behind, even its swift speed could not avoid this retaliatory strike. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise resounded as the Wind Dusk Beast avoided Wang Hengqiu¡¯s attack but had one of its hind legs and its entire tail chopped off by the strike from Chen Jingtian behind. At that moment, the hit Wind Dusk Beast, like a kite with its string cut, heavily crashed to the ground not far away. Looking over, its tail was soaked red with blood, but even though these parts were lost, it was not fatal. It lay on the ground wailing, then dragging its wounded body, it got up and quickly retreated. Meanwhile, on the battlefield. Wang Hengqiu missed his strike, and the Wind Dusk Beast was hit by Chen Jingtian, creating an escape path. His expression filled with joy, he hurriedly attempted to cross the hundred-yard distance to converge with Chen Jingtian. However, before he had gone even several dozen yards, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion had already caught up. At this moment, he felt a chill once again on his back. This was clearly the premonition that comes between life and death! Wang Hengqiu glanced from the corner of his eye and saw the colossal head of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion descend above his head. At the same time, the Blood Jiao, lagging a body length behind, spat out a giant blood clump, cutting off his escape route from another angle. At this moment, two deadly attacks came at tricky angles, assaulting him simultaneously. And right now, Chen Jingtian, who was coming to rescue him, was still some distance away; meeting up with him before the attacks landed seemed impossible. With these thoughts, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face turned deathly pale. He knew that the remaining several dozen yards, which seemed short, were actually an insurmountable divide between heaven and earth. With no way out, his complexion suddenly flushed, and he quickly made a decision. At that moment, with a determined expression, he shouted towards Chen Jingtian approaching him, ¡°Brother Chen, my life is over!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face turned pale. When he looked at Wang Hengqiu again, he saw his face flushed red, Spiritual Energy crazily pouring into his body, quickly reaching a terrifying level. Such an action clearly indicated his intention to overload his body with Spiritual Energy, preparing to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. ¡­ Chapter 538 538 304 Ruthless Killing_1 ?Chapter 538: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_1 Chapter 538: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_1 The battlefield overhead. At this moment, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s face was incredibly flushed, a frenzied expression on his wrinkled, aged face. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All around him, within a thousand zhang radius, Spiritual Energy crazily surged into his Sky Spirit Cover. In this moment, the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth was in total chaos, an intense wind howling as a dazzling light shone upon the entire land. Seeing this terrifying situation, Chen Jingtian became even more certain of his conjecture. This formidable preparation was undoubtedly for a Self-Detonating Golden Core! In an instant, Chen Jingtian was shocked and angry, immediately turned around, and shot backwards, attempting to create a safe distance. ... Having cultivated for a hundred years, he was acutely aware of the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-destruction. One must know that in the Cultivation World, the self-detonation of a Golden Core is extremely powerful, and it is the last life-risking move of every Golden Core Cultivator. However, once the Golden Core is detonated, it¡¯s a certain death situation, with neither treasured artifacts of the immortals nor heaven-defying elixirs capable of saving the life of the one who detonates. Under normal circumstances, unless one is in an utterly dire situation, no one would use this method that ensures death. Especially with Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, the power unleashed by the self-detonation of his Golden Core would be unimaginable. And according to hundreds of thousands of years of experience in the Cultivation World, the might of a self-detonated Golden Core exceeds even the strongest attack unleashed by a Golden Core Cultivator. Therefore, the power of Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core would at least rival his own strongest attack. In this way, even with his greater strength, at such a close distance, chances were that he would be gravely injured, or even perish here. Under these circumstances, Chen Jingtian¡¯s speed was exceedingly fast, retreating over a hundred zhang in an instant. Not just him, but the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao, which were about to swallow Wang Hengqiu whole, also rapidly pulled back. At this moment, the attacks of the two Third Order Demon Beasts were just an inch away, where only a moment was needed to claim Wang Hengqiu¡¯s life. However, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao also felt the breath of death and immediately retreated explosively. Even the Late Stage of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion recognized the might of Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core. If they continued their attack, even if they could forcefully take Wang Hengqiu¡¯s life, it would inevitably delay them for a few moments. By then, once the Golden Core detonated, being so close, they might withstand the blast¡¯s injury, but would still be wounded at the very least. By that time, how could they be a match for Chen Jingtian? Understanding this, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao¡¯s speed reached its peak, no less desperate than if fleeing for their lives. Clearly, they too were determined to escape at all costs to avoid as much damage as possible from the Golden Core¡¯s explosion! At this precise moment, with Wang Hengqiu at the center, everyone, whether it was Chen Jingtian who came for rescue or the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao who wanted his life, began to rapidly retreat, increasing the distance between them. Including Zhu Yun and the other battling Demonic Beasts from both sides, they all spontaneously ceased their fighting and scattered around the perimeter. As time went on. Inside Wang Hengqiu¡¯s body was a complete upheaval, with Spiritual Power hidden within his body crazily pouring into the Golden Core, incapable of stopping. Soon, he found his Golden Core, which had been greatly depleted of Spiritual Power, had become fully recharged once again. In this instant, he could clearly feel that the Spiritual Power within his Golden Core was chaotic and complex, yet the accumulated energy was unmistakably more than what it had been at its peak. As the energy reached its zenith, seemingly about to overflow at any moment. By now, the crazed Wang Hengqiu had calmed down, yet his eyes revealed a complicated look, as if he were filled with regret or unwillingness. In fact, in that moment of absolute desperation, he had no choice but to avoid the fatal attack, and the decision to Self-Detonate the Golden Core was a forced choice. And now, his Golden Core being charged with Spiritual Power, had reached the condition for detonation. Everything was set in stone, even if he regretted it, nothing could be done now. Since that was the case, might as well make a decisive move, using his own life to gain the greatest advantage possible. After all, he only had a few decades of his lifespan left, and without any hope of advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage, he could at least make some contributions for his juniors and disciples. By then, considering his sacrifice, the Zhenyang Sect would likely provide significant support to his descendants and juniors. Thinking of this, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s expression was resolute, ready to trigger the explosion of his Golden Core. Having made up his mind, Wang Hengqiu looked at the retreating Chen Jingtian and suddenly shouted loudly. ¡°Junior Brother Chen, please report the truth to the Sect Leader, and take good care of my descendants in the future!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ this brother is going!¡± With a hearty laugh, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s gaze shifted, his blood-red eyes staring at the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, revealing a maniacal smile. By this time, many at the fringe of the battle group were at a safe distance. Whether Demonic Beasts or Human Cultivators, all stopped their actions and turned their gaze unifiedly towards Wang Hengqiu in the sky. Under everyone¡¯s watch, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s momentum climbed to the apex. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A thunderous explosion resounded. One could only see the overcast sky suddenly filled with a radiant, scorching sun. Immediately after, a mushroom cloud surged into the sky, swiftly expanding in an exceedingly short time until it shrouded the entire battlefield¡¯s sky. At that moment, looking around, the sun was exceptionally blinding, and the powerful shockwave scattered in all directions, stirring heaven and earth into chaos. At this time, many First Order Demon Beasts were left dizzy and disoriented just by the sound of the explosion. Chapter 539 539 304 Ruthless Killing_2 ?Chapter 539: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_2 Chapter 539: Chapter 304 Ruthless Killing_2 ¡°` Amidst the powerful shockwave that swept through, the First Order Demon Beasts were simply too weak to resist. They were shaken until blood flowed from all seven orifices, and many of the low-order Monster Beasts were killed outright. On the side of the human Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who were at a considerable distance from the center of the explosion, and without any Qi Refining Cultivators present, with the cultivation and strength of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it wasn¡¯t difficult to defend against the ever-weakening shockwaves, as long as they made some effort to protect themselves. At the moment Wang Hengqiu self-detonated, Lin Tianming resisted the sweeping shockwave while opening his Eye of Five Colors to observe any movements from Wang Hengqiu¡¯s side. In his field of vision, the instant Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Golden Core exploded, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao had just managed to escape a distance of a hundred yards. As the vast shockwave from the self-detonating Golden Core spread, both Third Order Demon Beasts were still at the edge of the central area. In particular, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, which was not particularly fast among the Third Order Demon Beasts, had sustained almost the full brunt of the damage. The Blood Jiao fared slightly better; it was further away from Wang Hengqiu to begin with, and its speed was among the top in its order. ... Therefore, the instant the explosion occurred, the Blood Jiao bolted over a hundred yards away, barely escaping the core area affected by the blast. As for Chen Jingtian, his reaction was quicker than that of the two Blazing Flame Celestial Lions. The moment Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Golden Core detonated, he fled hundreds of yards away. Given his cultivation and the preparations he had made, he managed to withstand the shock relatively easily, barring any unforeseen circumstances. At that moment, time seemed to stand still. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t until the mushroom cloud in the sky gradually dispersed that the sounds of wails and screams reached the ears of the people on the battlefield. Following the roars and cries, everyone noticed the figures of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao. At this point, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was sprawled on the ground, covered in gaping wounds, charred black with blood nearly covering every inch of its body. It was truly a blood-drenched giant lion! Besides this, its aura had significantly weakened, evidently suffering from severe injuries. The condition of the Blood Jiao was equally pitiful, with a large number of its scales shed and over ten wounds oozing blood, with part of its tail broken off as well. Based on its aura, even if it wasn¡¯t critically injured, its strength had dropped by at least twenty to thirty percent. As for Chen Jingtian, in the instant the Golden Core exploded, he had deployed several Third Order Defense Talismans in front of him. Still not reassured, he pulled out a Defense Treasure to protect himself at the center, sparing no expense. His cautious actions indeed had the desired effect. Under the terrifying force of the exploding Golden Core, he was only pushed back over a hundred yards by the shockwave. After steadying himself, his internal energy churned and, unable to hold back, he spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood. Nevertheless, he did not sustain any serious injuries. As the sky slowly returned to calm, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun, without a second thought, took advantage of the moment and charged towards the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao. Both knew very well that the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao were seriously wounded and their strength had greatly diminished. If they did not take this opportunity to kill them, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s self-detonation of his Golden Core would have been for nothing. One could say that it was the best possible moment, and their chance of success in killing them had significantly increased, as long as they seized it. Realizing this, both were extremely determined in their targets, striking fiercely with a relentless fervor. Yet at that time, even though the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion was enraged, at the instant they made their move, it forcibly dragged its wounded body and fled towards the west. The Blood Jiao was not to be outdone, having no intention of fighting, it immediately followed the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion¡¯s lead and fled for its life. The Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao were extremely fast and in the blink of an eye had escaped several hundred yards. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian and his partner were both shocked and angered. With the death of Wang Hengqiu and the loss of his Golden Core combat strength, they were left with only himself and Zhu Yun, along with two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. With their limited strength, and the presence of four Second Order Initial Stage Demon Beasts in the vicinity, one of which had lost its combat effectiveness and could be ignored, if the two of them pursued the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao, it was feared that few of the Sect Disciples here would survive. If they chose not to pursue, merely killing the remaining Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts would clearly not achieve the best outcome. Hence, both halted in their steps, their faces showing the difficulty of decision. Chen Jingtian, watching the fading Blazing Flame Celestial Lion, made a decision on the spot. There were only three Demon Beasts left here capable of fighting, one at the Third Grade Medium Stage and two at the Third Order Early Stage. None of these three Demon Beasts were particularly strong, and all had sustained varying degrees of injuries. If Zhu Yun stayed behind along with the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, they could easily gain an absolute advantage over them. ¡°` If that were the case, he could free his hands to pursue and kill the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion or the Blood Jiao and strive for the greatest battle results. After all, the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and the Blood Jiao were fleeing in the same direction, even if they joined forces to deal with him, given their strength after being severely injured, they were not necessarily a match for him alone. If he really couldn¡¯t beat them, at least he was confident he could retreat in one piece. Having made up his mind, his figure twisted and he immediately chased in the direction of the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. The moment he shot off, his loud voice echoed across the entire battlefield. ¡°Brother Zhu, I¡¯ll go after those two beasts!¡± ¡°Leave this place to you, all sect disciples will assist you, try to kill all these Third Order Demon Beasts!¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun was just about to reply when Chen Jingtian had already disappeared without a trace. He looked in the direction Chen Jingtian had chased after, let out a helpless sigh, and caught his breath. Then, he turned his attention to the battlefield below, preparing to make the final attack arrangements based on the situation. Under his watch, the entire battlefield once again plunged into chaos. Human Cultivators had already initiated an attack before he could give an order, with an extremely ferocious momentum, pinning down the already Golden Core self-detonating wounded Demon Beast Army. Seeing this, he no longer delayed and immediately joined the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to attack the Third Order Demon Beasts. At this moment, the three Third Order Demon Beasts left on the field were both shocked and enraged and immediately began a counterattack. For a time, high above the battlefield, Zhu Yun was locked in battle with a Third Grade Medium Stage Diyan Tiger. Meanwhile, the other two Third Order Spiritual Beasts respectively faced the injured Wind Dusk Beast and an early stage Third Order Spotted Spirit Tiger. The clash was incredibly intense, as if both sides harbored deep-seated hatred. Suddenly, the scene became earth-shattering, and the hard-earned peace was once again broken. Below them, the attacks of Human Cultivators were unceasingly fierce, and Foundation Establishment Cultivators suddenly unleashed even greater strength. At this very moment, Lin Tianming and Li Xiuyuan had helped Hu Yuan and his teammates eliminate all the enemy¡¯s Demonic Beasts. Having freed themselves, they immediately joined other teams, harvesting the lives of Demonic Beasts. As the strongest Blazing Flame Celestial Lion and Blood Jiao fled, the remaining three Third Order Demon Beasts, each injured, were clearly outmatched compared to the Humans¡¯ side. After a few rounds of fierce combat, the three Third Order Demon Beasts were directly suppressed by Zhu Yun leading the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. On the side of the Demon Beasts, with their leadership gone, the ranks of the Low-order Monster Beasts descended into complete disarray, and their momentum hit rock bottom. Seeing this, the Human Cultivators redoubled their assault, seemingly determined to wipe out the entire Demon Beast Army in one breath. Lin Tianming at this moment was like a fierce beast, recklessly charging into the horde of Demonic Beasts. His Earth Evil Sword Array ran wildly, coupled with the Thousand Beast Banner, he subdued several Second Order Demon Beasts. At the same time, he also wielded the Tiangang Sword, crazily spewing attacks, with no intention of conserving any Spiritual Power. He knew very well that the current situation provided no more chances for the Demon Beast Race. If he didn¡¯t seize the opportunity to score more points, it would be very difficult to improve his ranking later on. Besides, even without Spiritual Power, relying on his Physical Strength, he was more than capable of dealing with a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast. In such a situation, there was no need for him to hold back; he simply needed to indulge in the killing. At the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ battlefield, Lin Tianming was like Death incarnate, vigorously reaping the lives of Demonic Beasts. His actions, the commotion he caused, attracted the gaze of many cultivators. Some lower strength cultivators, upon witnessing this scene, couldn¡¯t help but mutter in their hearts. ¡°He really is a fierce one, too brutal!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too bloody! He¡¯s like an unfeeling killing machine with no emotions whatsoever!¡± Some cultivators had complex expressions in their eyes as they looked at Lin Tianming, with fear, envy, and awe! As for this, Lin Tianming had no idea, still engrossed in his own slaughter. ¡­ Chapter 540 540 305 Siege_1 ?Chapter 540: Chapter 305: Siege_1 Chapter 540: Chapter 305: Siege_1 Time slipped away quietly. Half an hour had passed with an intense battle raging on. The battlefield was now riddled with holes, endless corpses of Demonic Beasts piled up like mountains. The fresh blood of Demonic Beasts, mixed with that of Human Cultivators, pooled into a long river, slowly flowing towards the lower grounds. In some depressions, the blood collected into pools, eventually cooling into a sticky substance, creating a nauseating sight. Looking down from the sky, describing the scene as a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood was by no means an exaggeration. At this moment, at the highest point of the battlefield, Zhu Yun was locked in fierce combat with the Diyan Tiger. ... After over ten rounds of brutal fighting, The Diyan Tiger was now covered in numerous wounds, missing a limb, its tail gone, and a fist-sized hole in its neck was still oozing crimson blood. The blood-soaked Diyan Tiger was low in spirit, its energy halved, appearing in an exceptionally dismal state. From its aura, the Diyan Tiger looked truly pitiable. On the opposite side, Zhu Yun¡¯s face was alternating between shades of green and white, with blood beginning to churn inside him, a few streaks of fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. At this time, he was staring at the Diyan Tiger opposite him, breathing heavily. He was clearly exhausted, his Spiritual Power nearly depleted. However, his condition was far superior to that of his opponent, the Diyan Tiger. As he pressed his frenzied attacks, the already wounded Diyan Tiger struggled to cope, being suppressed throughout the fight. In the end, having used all his valuable treasures, Zhu Yun finally managed to inflict severe injuries on the Diyan Tiger. Zhu Yun looked at the severely wounded Diyan Tiger, a trace of color flashing across his pale face. Now, with the Diyan Tiger grievously injured and the other two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts also suppressed, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gained the absolute upper hand, mercilessly slaughtering the defeated Demon Beast Army. In this way, the side of the Human Cultivators could be said to have the situation well in hand, with victory almost a certainty. Considering this, Zhu Yun became excited, eager to use what little Spiritual Power he had left to end the Diyan Tiger¡¯s life and secure a decisive victory. He laughed heartily, the Magical Treasure in his hand gleaming brightly as he unleashed all his strength, pressing down on the Diyan Tiger before him. At this instant, seeing his actions, the Diyan Tiger let out a furious roar, spewing out a volley of stone pellets, colliding head-on with Zhu Yun¡¯s Magical Treasure attack. Seeing this, Zhu Yun sneered coldly, thinking to himself that the Diyan Tiger was trying to stop a car with its mantis arm, overestimating itself. After such a lengthy battle, Zhu Yun was very clear about the strength of the Diyan Tiger. If it were at its peak, with the Diyan Tiger¡¯s rank and astonishing defensive power, blocking his attack would be no problem. But now, things were vastly different. Given its grievous injuries and the strength it had left, it was no match for him. Under his gaze, Sure enough, his Magical Treasure pierced through the incoming stone pellets and then directly struck the Diyan Tiger¡¯s head. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise, followed by a scream of utmost misery, echoed across the entire battlefield. Immediately after, the Diyan Tiger¡¯s massive body fell to the ground, its head, a bloody mess, no longer recognizable. With such injuries, the Diyan Tiger twitched a few times then lay still, as if in a final expression of its unwillingness to die, before it breathed its last. Seeing this, Zhu Yun could not help feeling overjoyed, heaving a long sigh of relief, a faint smile appearing on his pale face. He then turned his attention to the battle involving the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts of the Sect. Under his scrutiny, he noticed the Wind Dusk Beast moving incredibly fast, breaking away from the fight in an instant and shooting toward the south the moment the Diyan Tiger fell. This action clearly indicated that the Wind Dusk Beast knew the tide had turned against the Demon Beast Race and that staying would end in the same fate as the Diyan Tiger. Since the Wind Dusk Beast did not flee to the west, it was obvious it knew about Chen Jingtian in that direction and that encountering him would mean certain death. Therefore, it chose to flee south, greatly increasing its chances of survival. The Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s movements also drew the attention of the other Third Order Demon Beast. As the Wind Dusk Beast made its escape, the other also increased its speed dramatically, dragging its injured body to the north without any hesitation. Seeing this, Zhu Yun, like Chen Jingtian, found himself in a difficult situation for a moment. With the Wind Dusk Beast and the other Third Order Demon Beast fleeing in opposite directions, Moreover, although both Third Order Demon Beasts were wounded, their remaining strength was not to be underestimated. Too much pressure could result in a scenario of mutual destruction. Furthermore, with his own Spiritual Power nearly spent, he could not pursue too far. If his Spiritual Power were to be exhausted, he might even risk falling himself. However, letting them get away so easily was too regrettable. After all, the corpse of a Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast was a treasure trove in itself, and his fellow disciples had laid out their treasures lavishly for this battle to level up. Wang Hengqiu had even fallen here. Having paid such a price, they needed to secure sufficient gains, otherwise, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s death would be meaningless. With these thoughts, he commanded the Third Order Spiritual Beasts and then shouted to Long Qingshui and the others below. ¡°Long Qingshui, heed my command. Have all the disciples and cultivators follow your lead, and eradicate as many of the Demon Beast Army as possible!¡± As soon as the words were out, Zhu Yun, along with one of the Third Order Spiritual Beasts, shot off towards the north, evidently in pursuit of the fleeing Third Order Demon Beast. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 541 541 305 Encirclement_2 ?Chapter 541: Chapter 305: Encirclement_2 Chapter 541: Chapter 305: Encirclement_2 As for the other Third Order Spiritual Beast, as per his instructions, it chased the fleeing Wind Dusk Beast to the south. The reason for this arrangement was considering the speed of the Wind Dusk Beast, which was very fast. If he had gone after it himself, it was very likely he would have returned empty-handed. On the other hand, the demonic beast that fled north had strong defensive power but was not very fast, so the likelihood of capture was clearly higher compared to pursuing the Wind Dusk Beast. The most prudent arrangement was to have another Third Order Spiritual Beast from Zhenyang Sect go after the Wind Dusk Beast. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was merely an attempt, and if it could achieve success, that would naturally be best; if it really couldn¡¯t catch up, then they would give up. With this in mind, Zhu Yun and the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts of Zhenyang Sect each went after their respective targets. As they left one after another, only the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators and those Second Order Demonic Beasts abandoned by the Third Order Demonic Beasts remained. ... At this moment, the battle was still raging on. As the leader designated by Zhu Yun before he left, and with cultivation strength that stood out among all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, Long Qingshui took up the task of commanding everyone. Following Zhu Yun¡¯s instructions, he organized the many teams to encircle and attack the pack of demonic beasts from different directions. And with the Third Order Demonic Beasts having fled, the Human Cultivators held an absolute advantage. The group of Second Order Demonic Beasts, facing these exceedingly mad Cultivators, clearly lost all will to fight and began to retreat in an organized manner. Lin Tianming¡¯s and Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team, along with a few other teams, took the south side, responsible for blocking in that direction. Long Qingshui, Jiang Yuyao, and Jun Buhui, these top Zhenyang Sect Disciples, each led their own teams, responsible for the other three directions. For a time, most of the demonic beasts were trapped by the Cultivators. As they became surrounded, the Monster Beast Legion fell into chaos, with many First Order Demonic Beasts not even dying at the hands of the Cultivators but rather under the feet of their comrades. However, the more chaotic the scene, the more frenzied the demonic beasts became. In such a situation, the demonic beasts, pushed to desperation, fought back crazily, attempting to carve out a bloody path. As time slowly passed, with the combat reaching a fever pitch, a large number of demonic beasts fell. In just half a quarter of an hour, many First Order Demonic Beasts suffered heavy casualties, and the number of Second Order Demonic Beasts had been reduced by fifty percent, leaving only around a thousand or so. On the other hand, the losses of the Human Cultivators were much smaller in comparison, with nearly several hundred surviving. Only just over two hundred Cultivators had fallen, and they were generally the ones with mediocre strength among their peers. This had not a great impact on the overall strength of the Human Race. It was clear that those who had survived until now had all gone through the test of a grueling battle, with strengths that were relatively outstanding among their rank. Thus, having gone through another brutal battle, very few demonic beasts managed to escape. The situation became increasingly dire for the Demon Beast Army, completely suppressed by the Human Cultivators, with scores of beasts dying without taking many Cultivator lives in exchange. At this point, the losses of the two sides were not even on the same scale. If it continued like this, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the remaining demonic beasts would be completely annihilated, barring any unexpected developments. ¡­ On the battlefield. As time went on, the losses to the demonic beast army were severe, with less than three thousand combatants left. Among them, a little over a thousand Second Order Demonic Beasts were the absolute main force, and the remaining two thousand or so were mostly First Order Late Stage existences. At this point, those who had survived on the side of the demonic beasts were also their elite forces. Looking at the overall situation, the number of the Demon Beast Army had almost reached twenty thousand before the battle began. Yet now, they had been largely annihilated, leaving less than twenty percent of their original numbers. This exhilarating battle, as well as the victory that was about to be achieved, was simply unimaginable. In the heart of the battleground. Lin Tianming was frantically suppressing the demonic beasts with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, preventing them from breaking through from the south side. Li Xiuyuan and Hu Yuan, too, were giving it their all, organizing beast charges while reaping the lives of the doomed demonic beasts. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Thunderous roars echoed in the sky. Among the top cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage, Long Qingshui¡¯s moves were terrifyingly powerful, with each strike containing immense might. Even Lin Tianming, who always had confidence in his own strength, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration. ¡°True disciples of the Zhenyang Sect really do have some abilities!¡± Snapping out of it, Lin Tianming wildly brandished the Tiangang Sword in his hands, severely injuring the Second Order Demon Beasts opposite him. Li Xiuyuan was not to be outdone. Their strength was not much weaker than that of Long Qingshui, apart from a few top individuals, they were almost the highest presence there. Including them, the leaders of some teams kept their eyes fixed on those Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts. Under the concerted effort of everyone, the demonic beasts were driven into a desperate situation. At this moment, on the western side of the battlefield. Since it was close to the demonic beasts¡¯ territory, this was where the demonic beasts focused their efforts to break through. Within the chaotic horde of demonic beasts, a few Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts gathered together. From their auras, it was evident that these beast¡¯s strength was not weak, edging infinitely close to Third Order Demon Beasts. It seemed that these were beasts that had been in the late phase of advancement for many years and possessed extremely powerful innate strength. Given the right opportunity, it was very likely that they could step into the Third Order within a few decades. At that time, these beasts were growling low at each other, with sounds that were rather peculiar, seemingly communicating messages. After an unknown amount of time, these Second Order Demon Beasts seemed to have reached a consensus. ¡°Roar¡­ Roar¡­¡± Following a prolonged howl to the sky from one of the Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, the chaotic Monster Beast Legion suddenly quieted down significantly. Then, before the crowd had time to react, all the Second Order Demon Beasts within the Demon Beast Army turned around and, as one, charged towards the western direction. Seeing this scene, many people present deduced that this was the demonic beasts unifying their powers to attempt a breakout from the west. In this moment, Long Qingshui¡¯s expression grew solemn, pondering countermeasures. Given the current situation, although the beasts¡¯ side was in disarray, even headless, it was impossible for this to continue indefinitely. And for the Demon Beast Army to temporarily appoint a new leader was just a matter of time. Now, they had chosen a new leader and had made a desperate move. In light of this, he had to be more cautious, as if the Monster Beast Legion regrouped, they could still muster quite a bit of strength. If they could hold on for a while or tear open a safe passage, then many demonic beasts could escape later. And by that time, human cultivators would be completely exhausted, and with the constraint of weaker strength, it would become extremely difficult to annihilate them completely. Besides, if the Demon Beast Army gathered the remnants of its strength to attack in one direction, their impact would undoubtedly be strong. Therefore, before reinforcements from the army of cultivators could arrive, the pressure on the western position would be immense. Thinking of this, Long Qingshui¡¯s face darkened, and he immediately shouted, ¡°All cultivators, hurry and move towards the west to hold back those demonic beasts!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Long Qingshui led his team, shooting towards the west ahead of the others. Meanwhile, in several other directions, many disciples from Zhenyang were leading their teams to the west, preparing to respond to Long Qingshui¡¯s call. At this time, Li Xiuyuan glanced at Lin Tianming and the others, then quickly telepathically communicated a few words before leaving the team alone to assemble to the west. Soon, the regrouped Demon Beast Army had reached the position of the teams on the west side and engaged in fierce combat. And at this juncture, the reinforcements led by Long Qingshui had yet to arrive in significant numbers. For a time, the defensive power on the entire western front was extremely limited. Under the relentless assault of the fearless Demon Beast Army, the formation began to show signs of collapse. Seeing this turn of events, the leading Second Order Demon Beasts seemed to see a glimmer of hope for survival. When they attacked again, they became even more frenzied. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Explosions resounded across the battlefield; the cultivators on the west suffered horrendous casualties. Those who were alive still desperately held on, hoping to last a few more breaths until Long Qingshui and the others arrived. Unfortunately, they had underestimated the willpower and explosive power of the Second Order demonic beasts. Chapter 542 542 306 The Great War Concludes - 1 ?Chapter 542: Chapter 306: The Great War Concludes ¨C 1 Chapter 542: Chapter 306: The Great War Concludes ¨C 1 ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± With the lead of several Second Order Demonic Beasts launching further attacks, they finally broke through a three-hundred-zhang-wide space at this moment, and it was still expanding. At this time, the grim-faced Long Qingshui, who rushed to provide support, involuntarily quickened his pace. A few breaths of time passed, and he finally arrived at the western front. Before he had time to catch his breath, he immediately joined the battlefield, and after his frenzied large-scale attacks, he finally managed to temporarily plug the gap. Nevertheless, in the few breaths before, some of the stronger Second Order Late-Phase Demon Beasts had broken through the encirclement and were fleeing in all directions. Among them were those leading Second Order Demonic Beasts, as well as over a hundred of medium and late-stage beasts that had taken the opportunity to slip away. ... Looking at the rapidly escaping Demonic Beasts, which had pulled away to an uncatchable distance, the difficulty of pursuing them was not small. Long Qingshui was greatly disappointed, yet he had no good solution and could only deal with the remaining beasts first. After he finished killing the Demon Beasts here, he could consider the plan for pursuit. Determined, Long Qingshui unleashed a powerful attack, venting all his anger on these beasts. At this moment, with Long Qingshui joining in, the arrival of a large number of teams followed on the western battlefield. With the escape of the hundred or more Second Order Demonic Beasts, most of the remaining beasts were Second Order Middle Stage or lower. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, with no leaders left in the Demon Beast Legion, they fell back into chaos during the continuous siege. Seeing this, Long Qingshui snorted coldly and charged madly into the Demon Beast Tribe, attacking those Second Order beasts without restraint. His strength was formidable; almost every strike could severely injure a Second Order Middle Stage beast, if not outright kill it. Thus, he vented his anger while reaping the lives of the Demon Beasts. Meanwhile, under his leadership, the Cultivators attacked the remaining Demon Beast Tribe without hesitation. By this time, with the elite of the Monster Beast Legion gone, most remaining monsters were of average strength. Facing opponents several times stronger than themselves, they were completely out of options. It was a situation of no escape to heavens or earth, with no possibility of fleeing. In the blink of an eye, a quarter of an hour passed. As time went on, the thunderous noise gradually decreased, and the vibrations on the ground were noticeably reduced. Soon after, the battlefield fell silent with only an occasional whimper, seemingly from those beasts that had not died completely, suffering greatly and letting out the sounds involuntarily. Looking around, the battlefield was in complete disarray, covered with the remnants of tens of thousands of Demon Beast corpses, which nearly piled up into small hills. The whole land had been dyed red with blood, with some low-lying areas or ditches even forming pools of blood. The corpses of all kinds of strange Demon Beasts lay exposed before everyone¡¯s eyes. Their deaths were varied: some bodies were severed into several pieces, some were missing heads, some were riddled with holes, and others had their bodies almost disassembled, while some of the low-order beasts were left without even scraps remaining. All in all, the Demonic Beasts met their ends in a myriad of ghastly ways, each more tragic than the last. However, the Human Cultivators would not harbor any pity in their hearts. Towards those beasts that were still gasping for life and wailing in agony, some Cultivators did not hesitate to finish them off with ease. At this time, seeing that all the beasts had been wiped out, the hundreds of people present were very excited. Though many had pale faces, they couldn¡¯t hide their feelings of excitement and joy, with satisfied smiles spilling over their faces. The Cultivators spontaneously gathered, seeming to forget the known ones who had perished, as they shared their joy with one another. In the southern part of the battlefield, Lin Tianming was equally elated. This frontline battle that had lasted over a year, with several fierce fights in the meantime, had each person pouring their heart into it and facing life and death crises. Finally, with the Third Order Demon Beast fleeing and nearly ninety-nine percent of the others eradicated, Dead, injured, or escaped, the Human Cultivators claimed victory in this battlefield. And now, with the end of the great battle in this region, the surviving Cultivators would receive bountiful spoils of war and rewards. Besides, these Loose Cultivators and those with family backgrounds could leave Yuyao City and return to the places they yearned for. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was animated, and his emotions took a long time to settle down. It was only when Li Xiuyuan approached, gathering many Cultivators to come together, that he finally snapped back to reality. At this time, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expression was animated, and when he looked at Lin Tianming, his eyes were filled with gratitude. From leaving Yuyao City until now, they had been through two major battles, with Lin Tianming¡¯s strength nearly maximized. Especially in this last battle, Lin Tianming, who killed with abandon, dazzled and stood unmatched for the moment, almost rivaling True Disciples like Long Qingshui. Such a Lin Tianming was simply spectacular, breaking all expectations and deeply shocking him. Although the detailed tally of the battle results had not yet been done, a rough estimate could be inferred from the outcomes of his fighting. He preliminarily estimated that Lin Tianming¡¯s achievements in this battle would surely place him in the top five of the individual rankings for this war, inevitably boosting his overall points once more. Chapter 543 543 306 ?Chapter 543: 306 Chapter 543: 306 As the team leader, he was a direct beneficiary and could further improve the team¡¯s points on the leaderboard. In doing so, he would also receive generous clan rewards, but more importantly, he would gain access to an entry spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Thinking of these imminent rewards, Li Xiuyuan felt thrilled inside, his face always wearing a smile, his joy indescribable. Influenced by his mood, the members of the team also burst into laughter, congratulating each other and chatting leisurely. Li Xiuyuan glanced at Lin Tianming, cupped his hands in a salute, and then said in an amiable tone, ¡°Lin, you¡¯ve really shocked me time and time again!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Li is right, Lin¡¯s strength is formidable, enviable indeed!¡± Hu Yuan added with a laugh. In fact, what he said was indeed what he thought in his heart. ... He had already been shocked by Lin Tianming time and again, but he hadn¡¯t expected that Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t done yet, continuously surpassing their understanding and leaving them even more astounded. Especially in this battle, Lin Tianming¡¯s unmatched stance and his figure entwined in the act of slaying left many cultivators unable to forget for a long time. It was precisely Lin Tianming, with his family cultivator identity, who possessed such strength at such a young age¡ªit was truly dazzling. He knew all too well that, as a loose cultivator himself, every minor breakthrough required enormous effort and precious resources. Compared to Lin Tianming, there was simply no competition. Realizing this, beholding Lin Tianming¡¯s natural talent and strength filled him with immense envy and admiration. At this time, hearing the flattering and admiring words of others, Lin Tianming simply smiled faintly, without any insincere politeness. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, in the Cultivation World, strength was the highest authority, and since one could cultivate to the Medium Stage or beyond, nobody was there by being foolish. Understanding this, Lin Tianming merely responded with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to everyone¡¯s help that I can fight without worries!¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming smoothly changed the topic, ¡°Now it¡¯s not the time for everyone to celebrate!¡± Before his words fell, Li Xiuyuan took over the conversation. ¡°Exactly, Brother Long has messaged me to have everyone clear the battlefield, and once the clearing is done, to gather all the Late Foundation Establishment cultivators together!¡± Hearing this, the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, including Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, began to speculate about Long Qingshui¡¯s purpose. After some thought, Lin Tianming guessed that it was very likely a pursuit of the hundred plus fleeing demonic beasts. Although cleaning the battlefield would delay them and they¡¯d need some time to recover their spiritual power, the demonic beasts, moving as a group, would be much slower. Furthermore, the Tianluan Mountain Range was not small, certainly much larger than the Luoyun Mountain Range. For Second Order Demonic Beasts, reaching the safe area to the west would take at least several days. Besides, Chen Jingtian, the strongest among them, was in the direction to the west. If these wounded beasts were unlucky enough to encounter him, they would likely meet a total annihilation. In such a scenario, as long as they didn¡¯t delay too long, there was still a good chance they could catch up. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t spell it out, and everyone tacitly followed Li Xiuyuan¡¯s lead to begin cleaning up the battlefield. An hour passed. By this time, the battlefield had been largely cleared, with the bodies of all the Second Order Demonic Beasts collected, and various Artifact Refining Materials filling their storage bags. The remaining First Order Demon Beasts were numerous, but their materials were no longer very attractive to Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Then, Li Xiuyuan gathered together a few of the strongest Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including Lin Tianming. He glanced over the group. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were notably present, as were Tang Liusheng and others. Following this battle, their team¡¯s ranks were rather intact. Although several had fallen, all the Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators had survived. Still, the original group, prior to the massive battle, numbered in the dozens. Now, only half remained alive here, with more than twenty having perished on this battlefield. As for the other teams, the losses varied. Teams like Long Qingshui¡¯s, comprised of True Disciples from the Zhenyang Sect, had lost only about a dozen, all of them at the Initial-Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, so their losses were indeed not significant. Some teams suffered great losses, with the better ones keeping a dozen or so members, and the weakest teams facing complete annihilation. This demonstrated just how devastating the beast tide attack was and how ferocious the battle had been. But on reflection, the Cultivation World was a place where the strong preyed upon the weak, and with the uneven strength levels of different teams, varying outcomes were to be expected. Just like Long Qingshui, a genius cultivator who is a disciple under Chen Jingtian, whether in terms of strength or influence, naturally had to be stronger than him. Having such favorable conditions naturally attracted more formidable people to join, resulting in a stronger overall team strength. After all, it¡¯s always nice to be in the shade under a big tree; having a good platform also makes it easier to achieve better team results, and personal achievements become easier too. Understanding this, Li Xiuyuan felt relieved. Beyond this, he was quite satisfied with the achievements his team had made. Regathering his focus, Li Xiuyuan said a few words to his Foundation Establishment Fifth Level teammates, tasking them with staying behind to continue harvesting artifact refining materials from the demonic beast carcasses. Having arranged this, he then took Lin Tianming with him and left to hurry in the direction where Long Qingshui was. ¡­ Soon, everyone arrived at the western part of the scene. By now, over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered here, nearly every one of them at or above the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. A glance around revealed only a very few, like Lin Tianming, who were at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Clearly, these Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivators also possessed formidable combat capabilities, otherwise they would not have entered such a circle. Li Xiuyuan, with Lin Tianming and a few others, greeted some familiar cultivators and then waited to the side. In a short while, more Late Foundation Establishment cultivators hurried over, with the number of Late Foundation Establishment cultivators nearly reaching two hundred. At this moment, Long Qingshui, who had been sitting in the middle of the crowd, stood up, surveyed the gathered cultivators, and found that nearly everyone had arrived. He nodded in satisfaction, and then his loud voice rang out. ¡°Fellow daoists, after enduring for more than a year, the beast tide that attacked the Southern Wei Kingdom has finally been vanquished by us.¡± ¡°Hehe, this is a victory for us all!¡± Hearing these indifferent words, some cultivators began speaking, their language full of complimentary and polite phrases. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, did not speak, quietly waiting for the main issue to be addressed. Soon, Long Qingshui seemed to feel it was about enough, and he continued, ¡°The battlefield here has been cleared of Second Order demonic beast corpses, and the First Order ones are almost dealt with as well.¡± ¡°Besides that, everyone has recovered some of their spiritual power by now. Those escaping Second Order demonic beasts shouldn¡¯t have gotten far. I wish to lead a group of us to pursue those beasts. I wonder if you would be willing to follow?¡± After he spoke, Long Qingshui looked at the many cultivators with an expectant expression, smiling. ¡°Under Long Daoist¡¯s leadership, I naturally will follow!¡± replied a Loose Cultivator with a smile from behind Long Qingshui. ¡°If Brother Long is leading, Junior Brother naturally has no objections!¡± ¡­ After a while, over a hundred people had indicated their willingness to follow, almost all being Zhenyang Sect disciples, or from Long Qingshui¡¯s team. At this time, seeing that those agreeing were Sect disciples or from his team, with Loose Cultivators and family-affiliated cultivators seemingly hesitant, He laughed, appearing quite easygoing, and then said, ¡°Hehe¡­ it¡¯s all voluntary, I absolutely do not insist!¡± ¡°However, one thing to note, if we kill demonic beasts during the pursuit, those will also count towards the points.¡± Hearing these words, the cultivators who had been reticent to commit themselves no longer held reservations and began to voice their agreement to be dispatched. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, he practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, not too reliant on spiritual power, and this seemed a not very dangerous task that would also not be unrewarded. Working a bit more did not seem too bad. Shortly after, over ninety percent of the cultivators present agreed to participate, and the remaining few, feeling the pressure even though they were reluctant, had no choice but to agree to the matter. Seeing this, Long Qingshui nodded in satisfaction. His confidence in accomplishing the task Zhu Yun gave him greatly increased. Once the situation calmed down, Long Qingshui gave a few instructions to his Sectmates nearby and then took out the Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat that Zhu Yun had left behind. He then led everyone aboard. An hour went by. The Spirit-Connecting Flying Boat turned into a lingering shadow, chasing after the traces left by the fleeing demonic beasts toward the west. Chapter 544 544 307 Omens_1 ?Chapter 544: Chapter 307 Omens_1 Chapter 544: Chapter 307 Omens_1 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. In a valley behind the main peak, Ye Pinghai sat on the ground, his pale face alternating between shades of green and white. Fresh blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, and large beads of sweat continuously dripped from his forehead. His gray-white Daoist robe was already drenched through. Clearly, he seemed to be in some pain at the moment. In fact, that was indeed the case. At this time, his body had undergone a complete transformation. His Seven Sea Dantian had shattered, and the pure Spiritual Power he had cultivated was compressed to its limit, vaguely taking on the form of a nascent Golden Core. However, this nascent form was too transparent, its ethereal and substantial quality suggesting it still lacked a final touch. Unbeknownst to others, during his more than two-year retreat, he had completely refined the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, the Gold Fruit, and he had never ceased to refine the Spiritual Power within his body. ... No further progress had been made in this half a year, signifying that he had reached his limit, with no possibility of further improvement. At this moment, Ye Pinghai gazed inward at his body, his eyebrows tightly knitted together in a frown as he showed a hint of confusion. In the years before his seclusion, he had made quite a few preparations for the Impact of the Golden Core Realm. During this period, he visited many Golden Core Forces and some declining families, expended considerable resources, and consulted numerous ancient texts and records of breakthrough insights. However, the content recorded in many ancient texts was vague and ambiguous, and some insights were entirely misleading, as if they had been tampered with. Only the legacy left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family was the most complete, covering everything from purifying Spiritual Power to the Heavenly Tribulation, with the most detailed and accurate content. If not for the legacy from the Patriarch of the Lin Family being so precisely recorded, he would have even doubted whether something had gone wrong during his two years of seclusion. Why does the Golden Core look like this? The aura it emitted was clearly much weaker than that of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Yet, when he carefully reflected on the content from other texts, such an occurrence did not seem so surprising after all. If nothing unexpected happened, he should already meet the basic requirements to condense a Golden Core. Next, all he needed to do was to continue to top up with Spiritual Energy, relying on the Spiritual Energy attracted over these two years to forge the Golden Core in one fell swoop. As long as the Golden Core formed and the Spiritual Power flowed in and could operate normally, he would have completed most of the process, becoming the so-called Fake Core Cultivator as rumored. However, a Fake Core Cultivator was not yet a Golden Core Cultivator. The difference was not just nominal but more importantly in the disparity between their power and lifespan, which was still worlds apart. Therefore, he was still missing two critical steps: reshaping the Golden Core and enduring the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only by calmly surviving the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, further refining the True Essence Spiritual Power with the power of thunder, letting lightning forge the Golden Core, Primordial Spirit, and even the organs and body, could one become a true Golden Core Cultivator. This Threefold Lightning Tribulation is feared by all cultivators, and it is an inevitable challenge for anyone seeking the Golden Core Path. For those about to reach the Golden Core Stage, this is a tribulation and also an opportunity. If they survive, they will ascend the Golden Core Path, from where their lifespan and strength will increase greatly, becoming well-known powerhouses in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If they fail, the worst outcome is death and the destruction of their path. At best, their meridians will be shattered, they¡¯ll never progress an inch in cultivation, losing their peak fighting prowess, and can only live out the remainder of their lives in a pathetic struggle for survival. Once failed, even if they are lucky to survive, the result is barely better than death. And this Heavenly Tribulation is certainly not easy to overcome. After all, there are more than a million cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, among which are no shortage of prodigiously talented individuals, but only about a dozen or so can successfully step onto the Golden Core Path. Such a low ratio indicates that the Golden Core Path is not so easily conquered. Thinking of all this, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Soon, he managed to calm himself down, and his eyes shone anew with fighting spirit and brightness. Immediately after, he released his Divine Sense, beginning to investigate his surroundings, readying himself for reshaping the Golden Core. At this time, he sensed through his Divine Sense that Lin Shikang was sitting at the entrance to the valley, calmly protecting his breakthrough. Above their heads, the Spiritual Energy over the entire valley was extremely rich, with clouds and mist swirling around, tightly enveloping an area of several miles. It should be known that although the density of Spiritual Energy was quite good in the past, it was unquestionably different than now. And all these changes were because of him. Since the Spiritual Energy needed for breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was so immense, besides the Spiritual Energy he absorbed himself, the Protective Clan Formation of the Lin Family also contributed significantly, continuously gathering Spiritual Energy from other areas to this place, and locking it here. Now, the Spiritual Energy was almost tangible. Such safe and abundant conditions greatly increased the likelihood of his success. Clearly, the Lin Family had also made a lot of effort and resources available for his breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. Seeing this scene, Ye Pinghai¡¯s heart was filled with great emotion. After all, as a Loose Cultivator, having practiced cultivation for nearly a hundred years, he had always been a lone wanderer, detached and drifting with no attachments. Therefore, when dealing with anyone, whether it was Golden Core Forces or other Loose Cultivators, he always kept his guard up. Conversely, the same was true for others when dealing with him. There weren¡¯t many who would truly do their utmost for an outsider, let alone give without asking for anything in return. And a family force like the Lin Family that had, from beginning to end, not made a single demand, had been so considerate, and had put in so much effort, was indeed very rare to come by. Chapter 545 545 307 Omens_2 ?Chapter 545: Chapter 307: Omens_2 Chapter 545: Chapter 307: Omens_2 Although he and the Lin Family members had become sworn kin, they often had dealings with each other over the past decades, providing mutual assistance on numerous occasions. In consideration of the long term, the Lin Family¡¯s full support now was also common human sentiment. In any case, regardless of whether the Lin Family had an ulterior motive or not, he had indeed received their kindness. If he were to break through to the Golden Core Realm, by both sentiment and reason, he would owe the Lin Family a debt of gratitude. Regaining his focus, a trace of a smile crossed Ye Pinghai¡¯s face, his eyes filled with unyielding determination. He looked around and then felt the abundant spiritual energy nearby, fully sufficient for his breakthrough attempt. Under these conditions, he had no intention of delaying any longer and prepared to immediately attempt to reshape his Golden Core. ... Once he made up his mind, his expression turned resolute as he began to operate his cultivation technique. A short time, about the length of brewing a cup of tea, passed. His cultivation technique had completed a Grand Circulation, and the spiritual power within his body also slowly began to revolve. Feeling his state, Ye Pinghai formed seals with both hands, twisting them into an arcane gesture. Following that, his complexion suddenly reddened, his eyes widening as if in great agony. Simultaneously, a spiritual light suddenly condensed at his Sky Spirit Cover, suspended directly above his head. Just then, the spiritual energy above the valley began to surge tumultuously. The previously still spiritual energy, as if finding an outlet, poured crazily into the cave where he was in seclusion. Within the cave, a massive amount of spiritual energy flowed in from his Sky Spirit Cover, eventually converging into his somewhat ethereal Golden Core. At this moment, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face reddened once again, fresh blood continuously spilled from the corners of his mouth, his countenance twisted in pain. He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with a maniacal fervor. Clearly, at this stage, there was no turning back. Either he would leap over the dragon gate to become a lofty Golden Core Cultivator, or he would die and his path would end here. Knowing this, Ye Pinghai dared not delay, furiously absorbing the spiritual energy entering his body. At the same time, he pushed his cultivation technique to the limit, refining the influx of spiritual energy and eventually focusing it within the nascent Golden Core. In that moment, his body began to undergo a transformation, as the newly added spiritual power was further refined into an extremely dense liquid, where even the slightest bit held a higher quality than before. And the new spiritual power gradually filled the ephemeral Golden Core; with every strand of spiritual power integrated, the incorporeal Golden Core slowly became more substantial, seemingly enhancing its quality. Surely, once the Golden Core was filled, reshaping it successfully, it would provoke the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation. Acutely aware of this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s confidence soared as he hastened the process, refining the surging spiritual energy within him. ¡­ At the entrance of the valley. At this moment, Lin Shikang sat cross-legged at the valley¡¯s entrance, his eyes tightly shut, deep in cultivation. At some point, the copious spiritual energy above him began to converge toward the depths of the valley. At this very moment of change, he immediately felt the clear disturbance. He hurriedly opened his eyes and stood up, gazing thoughtfully into the interior of the valley. Quickly, based on the change in spiritual energy and the ancestral breakthrough wisdom passed down, he surmised that these signs likely indicated Ye Pinghai was preparing to form his Golden Core. With this thought, Lin Shikang became quite excited, inwardly exclaiming. ¡°Over two years inside, and finally there are signs of a breakthrough!¡± Coming back to his senses, he immediately sent a message, summoning Clan Leader Lin Shihua over. In just a short while. Lin Shihua hastened over, sensing the changes within the valley from a distance, his face brightening with excitement. ¡°Third Brother, Brother Ye has been in seclusion for over two years, without a hint of activity. Now it looks like he might have reached the step to form his Golden Core, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s question, Lin Shikang nodded then responded, ¡°According to the records of ancestral experience left to us, coupled with the changes in the spiritual energy, it is very likely the case!¡± Hearing these affirmative words, Lin Shihua recalled the statements recorded in his insights and combined them with the current changes, finally confirming the truth of the matter. Coming back to his senses, Lin Shihua was overjoyed, as if the Lin Family Members had taken this step themselves. Seeing his reaction, Lin Shikang gave a faint smile, then instructed. ¡°Shihua, Brother Ye is approaching the critical moment in his breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm. If all goes well, he may be able to forge a Golden Core within a month or so.¡± ¡°By that time, I¡¯m afraid the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation will also be upon us.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, clearly understanding the terrifying nature of the tribulation. ¡°I called you here today to discuss the tribulation in advance. If you have any opinions, feel free to speak up and discuss!¡± As Lin Shikang brought up the matter, Lin Shihua thought it over and then replied, ¡°Third Brother is right!¡± ¡°The power of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation goes without saying. If not handled properly, our clan territory could suffer heavy losses.¡± ¡°The loss of the clan territory is the lesser concern; we can always rebuild. What I fear most is that if the tribulation¡¯s power is too great and our people are harmed, that would be the worst outcome.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ thus, we must take some precautions to avoid unnecessary losses to the family!¡± Lin Shikang echoed. As soon as Lin Shikang finished speaking, Lin Shihua continued, sharing his own thoughts. ¡°Third Brother, I suggest expanding the restricted area and strictly notifying everyone that entry within a twenty-mile radius of the valley is strictly forbidden during this period.¡± ¡°Furthermore, we should strengthen the internal vigilance of the entire clan territory, deploying more family members to widen the patrol areas.¡± ¡°In addition, replenish the spent spiritual power of the Protective Clan Formation as much as possible. If necessary, we can use spirit stones to create spiritual energy to aid Brother Ye.¡± ¡°As for when the tribulation begins, we will likely need to temporarily deactivate the Protective Clan Formation and reopen it once the tribulation ends.¡± Hearing these careful and cautious arrangements, Lin Shikang nodded in approval. In his eyes, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, might not be the most powerful, but his management of clan affairs was always meticulous and watertight. At this moment, Lin Shikang chuckled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s do as you say. Arrange for this as soon as you leave here.¡± ¡°Alright, rest assured, Third Brother!¡± Lin Shihua replied. After concluding, Lin Shikang changed the subject and inquired about the development of the beast tide attack and Lin Tianming¡¯s participation in the war at the front. Hearing the inquiry, Lin Shihua nodded and spoke truthfully. ¡°Third Brother, the situation in the Luoyun Mountain Range is becoming more stable. Although traces of Demonic Beasts appear from time to time, there haven¡¯t been many Second-Order Demonic Beasts showing themselves; the family¡¯s key territories are not encountering any major problems.¡± ¡°At this rate, the beast tide should end soon!¡± ¡°As for the frontlines, according to the latest news, there have been several major battles in Yuyao City, with the Human Race consistently gaining the upper hand.¡± ¡°Tian Ming is quite strong and has slain numerous Demonic Beasts in these battles, rising to prominence and maintaining a steady spot at the top of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Lin Shikang was still somewhat concerned and couldn¡¯t help but press for more details. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely true, the family has spared no effort in tipping off people from the Commerce Alliance for this latest information,¡± Lin Shihua responded. Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang finally let out a sigh of relief. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Pleased, Lin Shikang laughed heartily for a while before sharing his own thoughts. ¡°The current situation is excellent; signs show that the beast tide attack is receding.¡± ¡°Our family has been quite stable over the past few years, and overall, the losses have not been significant.¡± ¡°Most critically, Tian Ming has achieved such great success, and if he keeps it up, he might even compete for a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°And with Brother Ye finally showing signs of activity, once he breaks through to the Golden Core Stage, the wealth and resources we¡¯ve invested may well yield a good return!¡± Hearing these comments and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s knowing smile, Lin Shihua was also swept up in excitement. Then, in high spirits, the two conversed back and forth for a short while. Seeing that things had been sufficiently arranged, Lin Shihua then proposed to take his leave. Seeing this, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t hold him back but instead, gave a few more instructions before letting Lin Shihua depart from the valley. Chapter 546 546 308 Thunder is Coming_1 ?Chapter 546: Chapter 308 Thunder is Coming_1 Chapter 546: Chapter 308 Thunder is Coming_1 Luoyun Mountain Range, northern part. At the border between Luoyun Mountain Range and Hengyang Mountain Range, within a vast valley. Here, life thrived; towering trees were everywhere, rivers and lakes densely scattered, and colorful plants dotted the landscape between the mountains and waters. It was now noon, sunlight scattered across the ground, reflecting a picturesque scene. Yet within this beautiful valley, a fierce battle was erupting. Looking over, two demon beasts, one large and one small, were locked in combat. From their auras, it was clear that they were undoubtedly Third Order demon beasts. ... At this moment, anyone who had participated in the defense against the beast tide in Yuyao City would recognize the origins of these two Third Order demon beasts. The two embattled Third Order demon beasts were none other than the Third Order Wind Dusk Beast that had fled during the great battle in the Tianluan Mountain Range, and the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order spiritual beast, the Tyrant Spirit Ape. After the battle in the Tianluan Mountain Range, several Third Order demon beasts had scattered in all directions, and among them, the Wind Dusk Beast had fled south for thousands of miles, reaching the border between the Hengyang and Luoyun Mountain Ranges. At that time, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun were each chasing after the escaping Third Order demon beasts, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape relentlessly pursuing this way. During the chase, the two Third Order demon beasts had fought several rounds, and the Wind Dusk Beast had been wounded before and was constantly at a disadvantage. However, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s speed was extremely impressive, and even when suppressed, it was still able to break free from the Tyrant Spirit Ape and continue its escape. As the Tyrant Spirit Ape gave chase all this way, it had never managed to catch the Wind Dusk Beast and had itself accumulated many injuries. Therefore, the infuriated Tyrant Spirit Ape kept up its relentless pursuit of the Wind Dusk Beast, vowing to take its life. In such a situation, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s predicament became more and more difficult, with each battle adding to its injuries, causing a decline in its speed as well. In their most recent skirmish, the Wind Dusk Beast, exhausted and severely injured, had nearly lost its life to the Tyrant Spirit Ape. At the critical moment, the Wind Dusk Beast devised a plan and deliberately fled towards the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. Depending on its speed and destructive power, even the Defensive Great Formations of the Foundation Establishing Families were mercilessly trampled by it. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Capitalizing on the chaos and with the Tyrant Spirit Ape somewhat reluctant to involve humans, the Wind Dusk Beast temporarily shook off the pursuit and finally escaped all the way here. Believing this place to be safe, it thought that as long as it could hold on for half a day, with its speed, it could easily enter the territory of the demon beasts. However, before it could catch its breath and stop, the Tyrant Spirit Ape caught up once again. Seeing no chance to shake it off, the two beasts were forced into a great battle right there. Under the relentless assault of the angry Tyrant Spirit Ape, the Wind Dusk Beast was still no match; its injuries were now too severe to bear. If this continued, it wouldn¡¯t last much longer, and the Wind Dusk Beast was sure to meet its end here. ¡°Roar, roar¡­¡± At this moment, the confidence of the Tyrant Spirit Ape surged; it thumped its chest and roared furiously, then swung its enormous paws, charging at the Wind Dusk Beast. Though the Tyrant Spirit Ape was not known for its speed, it was clearly less injured than the Wind Dusk Beast. Thus, the Tyrant Spirit Ape was still quite fast, and its attacks were filled with powerful force. Seeing the paw drawing nearer and nearer, if struck by it, even at the same Third Order Early Stage rank, the Wind Dusk Beast would undoubtedly die on the spot. Seeing this, the Wind Dusk Beast was infuriated but did not dare waste time. At this moment, it suddenly whipped up the wind beneath its feet, its speed surged dramatically, and in a rush, it moved a hundred zhang away. Seeing the danger averted, the Wind Dusk Beast hesitated not at all and spat out a grey gas from its mouth, shooting it towards the Tyrant Spirit Ape. Having done this, the vitality of the Wind Dusk Beast decreased significantly, which meant it had activated its Innate Divine Ability, and its wounds had worsened. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The grey gas flew swiftly, instantly forming a fierce tornado that enveloped the Tyrant Spirit Ape. Having fought many times before, the Tyrant Spirit Ape could not have expected the Wind Dusk Beast to still be able to activate its Innate Divine Ability, and it was caught off guard. In that instant, unable to dodge and with no way to escape, it had to rely on its defensive power to withstand this counterattack. ¡°Roar, roar¡­¡± No sooner said than done, the tornado, like countless blades, cut numerous wounds into its body, each one deep enough to reveal the flesh beneath. At that moment, the expression of the Tyrant Spirit Ape was ferocious, as though it was undergoing intense pain. The tornado came swiftly and dissipated just as quickly; and after it faded, the Tyrant Spirit Ape was revealed once more. Now, the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s body was covered in blood, and it was riddled with wounds, as if shredded by a thousand knives. Luckily, its defensive power was exceptionally strong and its vitality robust, plus the Wind Dusk Beast had already activated its Innate Divine Ability multiple times, reducing its potency significantly. Otherwise, with the Innate Divine Ability at its peak, even with its strong defensiveness, the Tyrant Spirit Ape wouldn¡¯t have dared to withstand it so boldly. Even with the weakened potency of this attack, the symmetry managed to just increase its injuries, unable to kill it outright. ¡°Roar, roar¡­¡± The surviving Tyrant Spirit Ape roared angrily and immediately turned its gaze around, searching for the Wind Dusk Beast with its blood-red eyes. However, in the instant it was attacked by the tornado, the Wind Dusk Beast, without looking back, hesitated not and forced its severely injured body to continue fleeing southward. It was clear that the Wind Dusk Beast seemed to know the tornado wouldn¡¯t be enough to deal with the Tyrant Spirit Ape and, before the attack was over, had already turned into a fleeting shadow, widening the gap between them. Chapter 547 547 308 The Approach of the Heavenly ?Chapter 547: Chapter 308: The Approach of the Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 547: Chapter 308: The Approach of the Heavenly Tribulation_2 By the time it realized what happened, the Wind Dusk Beast had already dashed a thousand zhang away, leaving only its silhouette and the traces under its feet. Seeing this, the Tyrant Spirit Ape became even angrier. It had assumed that the Wind Dusk Beast, already injured and seemingly out of strength to fight back, would not escape its pursuit. Yet, to its surprise, the Wind Dusk Beast in its dire situation managed to unleash a divine skill attack, buying itself some time. At this moment, the Tyrant Spirit Ape thumped its chest and stomped its feet a few times, as if to vent its emotions. Then, not bothering with its own injuries, the Tyrant Spirit Ape took the first step and hurried after the Wind Dusk Beast in the direction it had fled. ¡­ ... Green Bamboo Mountain. In a valley behind the main peak, Ye Pinghai sat on the ground in meditation, as still as an old monk. At this time, his breathing was steady and the paleness on his face had faded, revealing a hint of color. Beyond that, his previously chaotic body seemed to have stabilized, with a hidden strength in his formidable aura that involuntarily made others feel a sense of dread. Time passed quickly; three months had gone by since he began channeling Spiritual Energy into his body to form the Golden Core. Throughout this period, Ye Pinghai had not stopped for a moment, refining all the gathering Spiritual Energy for the creation of the Golden Core. After such a long time of refinement, he was quite pleased with the progress. Now, as Ye Pinghai looked down at the illusory Golden Core within him, he saw that it had drastically changed in appearance. Initially, the Golden Core was only in its rudimentary form, looking extremely ethereal, as if it could shatter at any moment. But now, the Golden Core appeared much more stable; it had taken on a golden luster, with indescribable patterns upon it. Moreover, the biggest change was the Spiritual Power within the Golden Core. Though the Spiritual Power inside looked far from abundant, even the slightest bit contained energy far surpassing what it held before. Looking at this potent Spiritual Power and the nearly complete patterns on the Golden Core, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he began to feel a surge of excitement. ¡°At this rate, I might reach completion in just a few days and thus invite the Threefold Lightning Tribulation!¡± Ye Pinghai thought to himself. Having calmed down, he immediately gathered his focus and swiftly entered a deeper phase of the refinement process. ¡­ At the entrance of the valley. Lin Shikang was sitting on a rock, and as he opened his eyes, his sharp gaze fell upon the diminishing Spiritual Energy above him, revealing a thoughtful expression. Over the months, he had distinctly felt a change in the Spiritual Energy in the air; the Spiritual Power here was still rich, but there was a noticeable decrease compared to before. ¡°With such a large amount of Spiritual Energy refined, the Golden Core Tribulation is likely imminent!¡± Lin Shikang muttered to himself. As he was lost in thought, several Lin Family Members approached the valley. They dispersed to different locations and began to place a vast number of Spirit Stones around the edges of the valley. Simultaneously, one among them arranged the scattered Spirit Stones into a basic Spirit Gathering Array. Soon, the Spirit Gathering Array activated, refining the placed Spirit Stones into Spiritual Power, which was then channeled into a Spirit Group in the air, locking it in this area. After completing these tasks, several individuals passed by Lin Shikang, saluting him with a bow, and then left towards different directions inside the clan grounds. Lin Shikang nodded and watched as his clan members left the valley, disappearing from sight. Subsequently, he sent several messages to Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, informing them of the changes here and instructing them to prepare for the approaching Golden Core Tribulation. Once that was arranged, Lin Shikang turned his gaze to the interior of the valley, perking up and staying focused on the surroundings and the sky above, ready for any sudden developments. ¡­ S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three days later. At noon, when the sun was blazing high in the sky, searing rays illuminated every corner of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Above the valley, a large mass of Spiritual Energy gathered together; some were condensed by the Protective Clan Formation, and others were refined from Spirit Stones by the Lin Family Members through their formation. Looking over, this large group of Spiritual Energy seemed peaceful, steadily flowing into the center of the valley. Suddenly, the vast Spiritual Energy started to churn, and then it rapidly accelerated into the valley. Upon witnessing this unusual change, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression drastically shifted, filled with concern. Meanwhile, inside the valley, Ye Pinghai was sitting cross-legged, his face flushed with an exceedingly complex expression, as if he was feeling a sensation of being on the cusp of emergence. At the same time, his body was radiating brilliantly, with a tumultuous upheaval occurring within. Just then, he looked within his body and discovered a Golden Core radiating golden light and brimming with intricate patterns. ¡°This¡­ could this truly be the formed Golden Core?¡± Ye Pinghai was somewhat uncertain and even somewhat incredulous. After calming down with some difficulty, he promptly circulated his cultivation technique to give it a try, and immediately felt an overwhelming surge of spiritual power. At this moment, his whole body seemed filled with strength, inducing a feeling of comfortable ecstasy. Unsure how much time had passed, he recalled the Patriarch of the Lin Family¡¯s breakthrough insights combined with this exhilarating sensation, and this affirmation settled in him. ¡°Ha¡­ hahaha¡­ the Golden Core has been successfully formed!¡± Unable to contain himself, Ye Pinghai laughed heartily, his expression exceptionally excited as he could not help but exclaim aloud. After an entire two and a half years in closed-door cultivation, at this moment, he finally succeeded in forming his Golden Core, taking a significant step forward. As long as he could peacefully overcome the Threefold Golden Elixir Thunder Tribulation, he would become a Golden Core Cultivator, looked up to with admiration and awe. And he, a mere Loose Cultivator who had stumbled upon the cultivation path by chance, had cultivated for a hundred years and faced countless life-or-death crises, of which only he himself was truly aware. Thinking of these things, tears streamed down Ye Pinghai¡¯s face, an indescribable feeling welling up inside him. However, before he could regain his composure, a clap of thunder suddenly sounded in the sky, followed by a raging wind. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Subsequently, the previously clear and azure sky suddenly darkened with the rapid gathering of thunderclouds. In an instant, the sky flashed with thunder and howled with fierce winds. Yet these thunderclouds refrained from descending, as if still brewing for what was to come. At this time, Ye Pinghai snapped out of his excitement, his face immediately taking on a gravely serious expression. He had been too thrilled before, nearly forgetting the most crucial matter: the successful formation of the Golden Core would immediately attract the Golden Core Tribulation. One is not truly considered a Golden Core Cultivator until they safely weather the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Though he had never experienced nor witnessed it firsthand, the records in various texts, as well as the rumors circulating in the Cultivation World, had given him a clear understanding of the sheer terror of the Heavenly Tribulation. In that instant, not daring to be careless, he quickly got up to check all the items he had prepared to cope with the tribulation and made all preparations to deal with it. ¡­ Outside the valley. When the Spiritual Energy suddenly shifted, followed by a thunderous clap that arose from nowhere, Lin Shikang was jolted awake, as were the rest of the Lin Family Members on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. At this time, with a serious expression, Lin Shikang looked up at the thunderclouds brewing in the sky, his face showing a look of horror. This was clearly a precursor to the imminent arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation! Having been through his share of storms and life-or-death crises, he typically faced them with unflappable calm. But this was the first time he had witnessed the Golden Core Tribulation with his own eyes. Thinking that he might face such a day himself, Lin Shikang wore a complex expression, filled with surging heroic passion as if ready to charge forward, yet tinged with a hint of fear at the same time. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sound of thunder continued, and the long-brewing thunderclouds seemed to signal their impending descent. In a hurry, Lin Shikang quickly retreated, reaching the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain in the blink of an eye. At that point, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were already waiting there. Upon seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s arrival, Lin Shihua and the other immediately approached, their expressions brimming with excitement. From afar, Lin Shihua¡¯s urgent voice carried over, seemingly quite agitated. ¡°Third Brother¡­ Ye has successfully formed his Golden Core, he¡¯s about to undergo the tribulation, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang smiled faintly, nodding his head to confirm the truth of the matter. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s nod, Lin Shihua and the other became certain of their guess, their expressions filled with indescribable excitement. Chapter 548 548 309 The Terrifying Thunder ?Chapter 548: Chapter 309 The Terrifying Thunder Tribulation_1 Chapter 548: Chapter 309 The Terrifying Thunder Tribulation_1 Immediately following that, he urgently continued to question, ¡°How are the preparations for dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation coming along that I asked you to arrange?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Lin Shihua nodded and began to report truthfully. ¡°Third Brother, rest assured, almost all of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who can be mobilized within the clan lands have gone out with varying numbers of elite forces, constantly guarding a hundred-mile radius around our territory in recent days. The Qi Refining Stage clanspeople have also been moved to a safe location.¡± ¡°In addition, the Protective Clan Formation has been temporarily shut down, and all measures are in place!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and showed a satisfied expression. ¡°We will wait here for Ye¡¯s good news and prepare to observe his Golden Core Tribulation and make records.¡± ... S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having said that, Lin Shikang seated himself at the highest point of the main peak, his gaze fixed in the direction of the valley, unwilling to miss any slight movement. Lin Shihua and the other person did not delay either, they approached and sat beside him, watching the same direction. Under their watchful eyes, the thunderclouds in the sky, which had been inactive for a long time, began to surge downward. Clearly, the Heavenly Tribulation was about to descend imminently. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Feeling the movement of the thunderclouds, Ye Pinghai leaped up and stood atop a mountain in the valley. At this moment, as he looked at the thunderclouds in the sky, his expression was complex, showing both joy and anxiety. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± As the rumbling of thunder continued, one could tell from the sound that the Heavenly Tribulation was getting closer. By now, the thunderclouds in the sky had descended significantly, covering several nearby mountain peaks with dark clouds, indicating the impending storm. Ye Pinghai gazed upward at the sky, his mana in his Dantian becoming increasingly restless. At this time, even though the spiritual power drawn from the Golden Core during the operation of his cultivation technique was clearly purer and more powerful than before, it still showed signs of instability. This was not something Ye Pinghai could fully control with his Primordial Spirit or Soul alone; he knew that only by enduring the baptism of the tribulation could the power of the Golden Core be truly consolidated. Quietly, the time it took to brew a cup of tea passed. After amassing energy for nearly half a quarter of an hour, suddenly the thunderclouds started churning violently, revealing flashes of lightning power apparent to the onlookers. ¡°Sizzle sizzle¡­¡± The sound of electric arcs resonated. Seeing these signs, it was evident that the Heavenly Tribulation was about to descend. From this moment on, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression grew even more solemn, gripping firmly in his hand the defense artifacts needed to face the tribulation. And sure enough. Just as he readied himself, thick bolts of lightning emerged quietly from the thunderclouds and began to strike down towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. At a glance, each streak of lightning was golden yellow, with arcs flickering across them, their terrifying aura chilling to the bone. Not only that, the speed of the lightning was incredibly fast, arriving above his head in the blink of an eye. By his estimations, there were at least a hundred bolts of lightning, each with immense destructive power, capable of easily killing even Mid to Late Second Order Demonic Beasts without question. At this time, Ye Pinghai remained unperturbed, showing no fear or hesitation. For he knew that retreating was meaningless; only by directly withstanding the tribulation could he resolve the problem once and for all. Understanding this, Ye Pinghai let out a long howl toward the heavens, his eyes immediately revealing a strong confidence. ¡°Heavenly Tribulation, come!¡± With a loud shout, he hastily slapped his sleeve, and several artifacts flew out at once¡ªall of them Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts. Over the years, Ye Pinghai had slain no small number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among them many strong ones, and acquired artifacts of very good quality. Some of lesser quality were directly disposed of, while those of decent quality were consecrated and prepared for this very tribulation. Furthermore, as a Second Order Superior Alchemist, he had done alchemy for many in exchange for compensation and accumulated quite a wealth over a hundred years. With the wealth he¡¯d accrued, he had made special preparations of valuable items for this attempt at the Golden Core. The several Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts were rare treasures to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but they might be insufficient against the Golden Core Tribulation. Nevertheless, the defense artifacts of Second Order Medium Quality were valuable and not common, and these were all he could collect, a compromise in absence of better options. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± The five Second Order Low Grade Artifacts faced the descending tribulation lightning in succession. There was a succession of crackling and popping sounds in the air as the Second Order Low Grade Artifacts were shattered into fragments by several dozen bolts of the tribulation, falling scattered across various corners of the valley. The remaining bolts of lightning paused slightly, then continued to pound down relentlessly. Facing the subsequent waves of thick lightning that were faster than the last, Ye Pinghai remained calm as if he had anticipated this. According to the records, and the rumors of the Cultivation World, the first round of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation was also the least powerful. However, even the first round of lightning was not something that a few Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifacts could withstand. Knowing this, he did not lift an eyelid as he once again brought out three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifacts. These three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifacts were apparently three identical Jade Pendants, exuding the same aura, clearly a set of defense artifacts. These artifacts, being not only a set but also of a higher tier, might be able to withstand the first round of the tribulation. With that hope, Ye Pinghai immediately deployed the Jade Pendant artifacts. Chapter 549 549 309 ?Chapter 549: 309 Chapter 549: 309 In an instant, the three jade pendants grew frantically in size, then hovered over his head, emitting a sheet of jade light that welcomed the descending heavenly lightning. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz.¡± The radiating jade light dimmed continuously over the azure pool. Ye Pinghai¡¯s complexion shifted slightly; the power of the subsequent strikes of the first wave of tribulation lightning was seemingly even more formidable than he had anticipated. This was only the first wave of the heavenly tribulation, and these defensively powerful artifacts were already struggling to withstand it. Before long, the jade pendants pulverized into dust, but the first strike of tribulation lightning had also dissipated. Seizing the brief respite, Ye Pinghai immediately swallowed a Huiyuan Pill, recovering a bit of spiritual power to make even more thorough preparations. Quickly, right after the first wave of the heavenly tribulation, the second wave thunderously descended, giving him no chance to catch his breath. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom.¡± The sound of thunder continued to explode. At this time, many members of the Lin Family began to show shock on their faces around Green Bamboo Mountain. Although their divine sense couldn¡¯t extend very far due to the influence of the tribulation lightning, the commotion caused by the heavenly tribulation couldn¡¯t be concealed from them. The sound of the descending tribulation lightning was deafening, each burst stronger than the last, leaving no respite whatsoever. ¡°This tribulation of the Golden Core is truly terrifying. Any single strike could annihilate a Foundation Establishment Cultivator,¡± muttered a member of the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement from one of the mountaintops. No sooner had these words fallen when a nearby member nodded and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth.¡± ¡°You know, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World has seen only a few Golden Core Cultivators over the years. From this alone, the horror of the Golden Core Tribulation can be appreciated.¡± While the cultivators scattered across several mountain peaks were freely criticizing the fearsome heavenly tribulation, Ye Pinghai had already faced the third wave of tribulation lightning. In the first two waves, he had used up more than a dozen Second Order Defense Artifacts and a good number of Second Order Talismans. By now, the treasures left in his hands were extremely limited. Facing this most terrifying third round of tribulation, he was not certain he could survive. In that instant, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face appeared calm, but inside, a trace of anger stirred. As a Loose Cultivator, he had practiced cultivation for a hundred years, surviving by a hair¡¯s breadth on multiple occasions to reach his current realm. Though he had never witnessed the tribulation of the Golden Core, he had made ample preparations and believed in his strength, which gave him some hope of success. Yet, the tribulation he was now encountering proved to be incredibly formidable, causing his heart to palpitate uncontrollably. Caught in a moment of distraction, a vast amount of electrical energy filled the air around him and small relentless bolts of lightning penetrated his body, leaving a tingling numbness across Ye Pinghai¡¯s skin. Ye Pinghai¡¯s attention was entirely fixed on the thunderclouds above, rendering him incapable of dealing with these minor, less lethal bursts of lightning. Witnessing how terrifying the tribulation of the Golden Core was, clearly intent on snuffing him out in his cradle, dozens of tribulation lightning strikes rained down in succession. Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression changed dramatically. Both people and artifacts have their limits of endurance. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± The heavenly tribulation didn¡¯t give him time to think or react much. As the third round of terrifying golden lightning poured down, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression turned grave as he swiftly wielded his Attack Artifact. For a moment, several sharp silvery lights slashed through the air, cleaving the tribulation lightning descending upon his head. With a rolling explosion in the sky, the silvery light collided with the tribulation lightning with force, but the speed of the tribulation lightning was ultimately too fast; even Ye Pinghai could not manage to shatter all of it in time. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Ye Pinghai raised his hand and threw a punch, his strong fist-force scattering two more strikes of tribulation lightning. However, his arm and leg were still struck by two relentless bolts of lightning one after another. A regular Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator, faced with such an onslaught, would be lucky to survive, let alone escape without serious injury. Ye Pinghai, struck by two bolts of lightning, was dealt a harsh blow to his body. He was thrown into the air from the ground, and the mighty force of the electrical energy penetrated through a Second Order Medium Quality Nail Protector on his body, causing havoc. At that moment, Ye Pinghai spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, a bloody hole appeared in his arm, and his entire body convulsed. Then, several more bolts of tribulation lightning struck, and Ye Pinghai¡¯s body rolled uncontrollably on the ground, leaving trails of blood where he tumbled. In the midst of incessant lightning and thunder in the sky, massive lightning balls thick as buckets fell one after another. Since the heavens didn¡¯t afford him time to recover, and no one was able to help withstand it, everything was solely reliant on himself. At this moment, Ye Pinghai had gained some experience, using magic artifacts in conjunction with defense talismans to alternately dissipate some of the lightning balls, winning more time for himself and avoiding unnecessary damage from the lightning. Although he had been hit by the tribulation lightning twice just now, receiving injuries consecutively, the force of that lightning seemed to have also purified the mana within his body. He distinctly felt that the mana, refined by the force of the lightning, had become purer and more concentrated, and his Primordial Spirit, after being numbed by the lightning, had become stronger. His perception of his surroundings had also become unprecedentedly clear. A hint of an unusual glint flashed through Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes, suggesting that blocking all the tribulation lightning might not necessarily be a bad thing after all. How can one see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain? However, the destructive power of the lightning was equally terrifying; if it exceeded the body¡¯s capacity, he would meet the same fate as other cultivators who had failed their tribulation¡ªutterly destroyed, with little chance of survival. In fact, as Ye Pinghai looked up at the thunderclouds in the sky, he couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. He feared that he didn¡¯t need to purposely let the lightning balls come down, as whether he could ultimately endure was still uncertain. Ye Pinghai had an indomitable spirit ever since he was a child. If he had surrendered easily, he wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. Gazing at the powerful thunderclouds in the sky, Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes were firmer than ever before¡ªwhen the heavens don¡¯t help, one must help oneself. The fact that he had reached this point was partly due to luck, but more so because he had fought hard for it. The same was true for the current heavenly tribulation. When there was no path left, he was determined to cut through the thorns to carve out his own. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The lightning from within the clouds seemed to have gathered enough energy and once again hurtled towards him, giving the impression that it was determined to destroy him on the spot. As the lightning balls approached, Ye Pinghai raised both hands upward; the magic artifact in his hands shot up, emitting a blinding sword light that was nearly too bright to look at with the naked eye. Not only that, but the sword light also resonated with a series of gentle hums, defying the descending tribulation lightning by surging upward! Explosions resounded in the sky, with other lightning bolts sneaking through the gaps in the flying sword and hitting the ground; some were dispersed by Ye Pinghai using his magic artifact, while some hit him directly. One after another, the sky was filled with flashes and rumbles of thunder. Wave after wave of thunderous explosions left the family members at the edge of their territory only able to watch from a distance, their faces filled with nothing but shock. The commotion here vividly conveyed the sensation of a ground-shaking event, as if a Golden Core expert was making a move without any restraint. And that terrifying heavenly tribulation seemed endless at this point. Under such intense lightning strikes, could a Foundation Establishment Cultivator still survive? These were members of the Lin Family, who, to varying degrees, had heard rumors about the Cultivation World, with many having directly heard their Foundation Establishment Stage elders speak of the Golden Core Tribulation. Yet, they had never witnessed such a shocking scene with their own eyes. At this moment, Ye Pinghai truly found himself in an extremely sorry state. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the barrage of lightning strikes, his body was riddled with bloody holes, and a Second Order Medium Quality defensive inner armor he wore was torn and tattered, diminishing its defensive power. Nevertheless, the thunderclouds in the sky had yet to disperse. Although they felt weaker than at their peak, they were still very strong, creating a suffocating pressure that made it difficult for him to breathe. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Ye Pinghai¡¯s body was once again struck in the chest by thick bolts of lightning, and he was sent flying, his body completely numb. Lying semi-prone on the ground, Ye Pinghai spat out blood, his eyes stubbornly fixed on the oppressive thunderclouds. In this moment, the look in Ye Pinghai¡¯s eyes seemed to be even sharper than the sword qi in his hands. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The thundercloud continued to churn relentlessly. At this moment, the thick lightning illuminated the entire mountain peak where Ye Pinghai was, creating a stark contrast with the oppressive clouds and the dark surroundings. The Lin Family members watching from afar could only discern, amidst the frenzied dance of electric serpents, a figure drenched in blood, appearing frail yet stubbornly and proudly resisting. It seemed he could be extinguished by the wild lightning at any moment. Even some family members who watched a bit longer had their eyes dazzled by the brightness of the lightning-formed light. By now, even though these people did not know who the cultivator undergoing the tribulation was, what remained in their hearts was only horror and awe. After all, how many could withstand such powerful attacks from the lightning balls? Chapter 550 550 310 Thunders Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 550: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_1 Chapter 550: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_1 For a brief moment, even the clansmen who were watching the Heavenly Tribulation from afar felt as if several years had passed, so lengthy had it seemed. Even when the lightning that had nearly illuminated the central area dissipated, these clansmen were still immersed in the unprecedented shock brought by the Heavenly Tribulation. At this time, on the small summit where Ye Pinghai was, one¡¯s naked eye could no longer clearly make out anything. The surroundings were only filled with a large amount of ash that had disintegrated into dust and the occasional flickering of residual sparks. A clear and piercing cry rang out from that hazy area, causing the spreading smoke and sparks to shake and scatter, revealing a man with tattered clothes, his body covered in blood. That cry vibrated through the land, a complete release of an unyielding, indomitable, and unresigned will. Not until his strength was utterly depleted did Ye Pinghai collapse to the ground, utterly exhausted, his limbs clinging to the hard, cold rock. ... At this moment, Ye Pinghai felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body, and given his normally reserved disposition, he would seldom lose control to such an extent. However, the Heavenly Tribulation had seemed determined to destroy him, shaking even his usual calm and inducing fear within him. Fortunately, it was all over now. This very moment, feeling the Golden Core within his body, which radiated an entirely different sort of brilliance, he realized that the faint spiritual power that remained was several times more potent than before. Not only that, but the surface of the Golden Core shone with a golden glow and was filled with mysterious patterns, clearly a world apart from its previous ethereal state. More importantly, as the thunderclouds dissipated in an instant, a formidable pressure overflowed. The vast majority of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory was enveloped by this incredible aura. ¡°Is this the power of a Golden Core Cultivator?¡± Ye Pinghai casually formed a Spirit Group, looking at the terrifying aura it emitted. He still couldn¡¯t quite believe it and was softly muttering in disbelief. ¡°Ha¡­ hahaha¡­¡± After an unknown period, he suddenly burst into long laughter, the corners of his eyes tinged with tears, evidently overwhelmed by emotion. It was not until he had somewhat calmed himself that he accepted the fact that he had successfully achieved a breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± He coughed out two mouthfuls of fresh blood, a tumultuous surge of qi and blood within him causing his face to turn pale. In the excitement of earlier, he had forgotten that his body was already overwhelmed after enduring the Heavenly Tribulation. Presently, even though he had passed the tribulation, his realm was somewhat unstable, and his injuries were indeed severe. His current state could be described as extremely pitiful. If he didn¡¯t immediately go into seclusion to stabilize his condition, there was even a risk of falling from his current realm. Thinking of this, he forced himself to stand up, found a relatively flat stone to sit upon, and then took out several healing elixirs to consume. Having done all this, he immediately joined his hands together and began to circulate his cultivation technique, assuming the posture of someone engaged in cultivation. Soon, as spiritual power began to flow, his pale face slowly regained some color. ¡­ At the summit of the main peak. The three Lin Family members, Lin Shikang, Lin Shigong, and Lin Shihua, were standing side by side, all gazing towards the direction of the valley and witnessing the entire process of the tribulation. As they watched the terrifying thunder descend, the powerful force shook the ground beneath them. Although the three of them were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with Lin Shikang at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, they too were incomparably shocked. Not until the clouds of thunder gradually disappeared and the gloomy sky regained its brightness did the land also reveal its usual tranquility. After a long while, their minds were still absorbed in the aftershock of what they had witnessed. After an indeterminate time, Lin Shikang was the first to come back to his senses. He lightly coughed, pulling Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua back to reality. Seeing the paleness of the other two¡¯s faces, Lin Shikang had already regained his composure, and his expression had returned to its usual fervor. ¡°Third brother, Brother Ye has succeeded; he actually managed to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation and became a Golden Core Cultivator!¡± Lin Shihua exclaimed with excitement, and he danced with joy, seemingly in disbelief that this was true. Seeing his reaction, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong also shared a knowing smile, feeling a similar surge of excitement. After all, Ye Pinghai and the Lin Family had a deep connection. The Lin Family had been kind to him, and later they had become sworn kin, establishing a very solid framework for cooperation. Although Ye Pinghai was ultimately an outsider to the Lin Family, regardless of his cultivation strength, and even as a sworn kin, it was unlikely that he would become a core member of the family. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But after decades of interaction, at the very least, Ye Pinghai was affable and valued loyalty, far from being a villainous character. The Lin Family had expended so much for Ye Pinghai¡¯s attempt at the Golden Core Stage, and now that he had successfully advanced, he would be expected to at least provide some care for the Lin Family in the future, facilitating quicker development. It just so happened that in recent years, the Lin Family had expanded rapidly. The size of the clan and the strength of their cultivations had both increased swiftly. Therefore, the cultivation resources accumulated over the years from the family¡¯s battles in all directions were nearly exhausted. It could be said that if things continued this way, the Lin Family would enter a bottleneck period once again. And for this very reason, the Lin Family was so invested in Ye Pinghai¡¯s breakthrough effort this time, not just because of their relationship but also for the subsequent development, making preparations on both sides. If he were to break through to the Golden Core Stage, especially as an Alchemist, this favor would be well worth the Lin Family¡¯s time and effort. And now, with Ye Pinghai¡¯s advancement in cultivation, this would become a reality. Thinking of all this, Lin Shikang and the others felt somewhat relieved, grateful that the Lin Family had made such a decisive and greatly rewarding decision. Chapter 551 551 310 Thunders Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 551: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_2 Chapter 551: Chapter 310 Thunder¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation Passed, An Uninvited Guest_2 Having finally calmed down, Lin Shikang glanced at the valley, thinking that since Ye Pinghai had just broken through, under normal circumstances, he shouldn¡¯t come out to meet anyone. The most urgent task at hand must be to close off and consolidate his cultivation. Once that¡¯s stable, they could then invite each other for a gathering. Having made up his mind, he turned to Lin Shihua and gave an instruction. ¡°Shihua, immediately gather the clan members to return to normality. The Protective Clan Formation must also be reactivated to prevent any accidents,¡± he ordered. Hearing the instruction, Lin Shihua dared not delay, quickly sending out several messages before taking out the token that controlled the Protective Clan Formation and reactivating the defensive formation. Soon, the Protective Clan Formation was reactivated, and the invisible and colorless defensive light screen once again enveloped the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Feeling the world return to normal and the clan territory unharmed, the scattered clan members began to gather again. ... S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction and took a long sigh of relief inwardly. Subsequently, the three of them exchanged a few words and discussed some arrangements for clan duties before Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong took their leave. Watching them leave the mountaintop, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t stay long in the area, shooting towards the direction of the valley to continue acting as a guardian for Ye Pinghai, who was consolidating his cultivation, until he emerged successfully. ¡­ Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. This morning, with a gentle breeze and the sun filtering through the thick clouds, shone into every corner of Green Bamboo Mountain. Flowers and green plants decorated the landscape, and strangely shaped rocks scattered across the paths, while some ordinary wild beasts lurked in the dense woods of the clan territory. At such times, numerous clan members shuttled through the core institutions of the clan territory, their busy figures harmonizing with the tranquil and peaceful sunlight, presenting a scene out of a celestial blessed land. ¡­ On a plain over a hundred miles away from Green Bamboo Mountain, the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape were chasing and fleeing towards the direction of Green Bamboo Mountain. The two Third Order Demon Beasts, after a fierce battle in the Hengyang Mountain Range, were frantically fleeing nearby, causing unwarranted disasters to many clan settlements before finally breaking into the Luoyun Mountain Range. At this moment, the injuries of the Wind Dusk Beast were becoming increasingly severe, and the Tyrant Spirit Ape was also not lightly wounded, with its strength significantly reduced. The two demon beasts fled aimlessly and appeared near Green Bamboo Mountain. However, the Lin Family had no inkling of the imminent crisis and continued with their cultivation and routine patrol duties as usual. The speed of the two demon beasts was incredibly fast, covering a thousand zhang in the blink of an eye. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before they were discovered by the patrolling Lin Family Members. As expected. When the two demon beasts approached within several tens of miles of the Protective Clan Formation, several clan members in the late stage of Qi Refining were performing their routine patrol duties. The leading clansperson, named Lin Tianqin, was flying over a mountaintop with Sword Flight, and while flying, was also scouting for any traces of demon beasts. If there was any disturbance, the first thing to do was report back to the family in order to prepare for defense. At that moment, the shadows of the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape, transformed into two dark figures, appeared in their line of sight. Their speed was incredibly fast, and they brought with them a terrifying aura that swept in. Within just a few breaths, the two demon beasts had arrived in front of them. Before Lin Tianqin and the others could react, several of the clan members couldn¡¯t resist the terrifying pressure and directly fell from their spiritual tools to the ground. Immediately after, mouthfuls of fresh blood spilled out, and their complexions turned instantly pale. Lin Tianqin, being slightly stronger, was also subjected to overwhelming force, causing turbulence of qi and blood in his body and a steady flow of blood from the corners of his mouth. But he reacted quickly enough so that before losing consciousness, he used the spiritual power in his hand to pick up the four clan members and hide them away. Fortunately, the two terrifying demon beasts seemed not to pay any heed to their lives. In the course of their pursuit, they did not strike out to attack, otherwise with their level of cultivation, facing such terrifying power, they would have had no power to fight back and would have been easily killed on the spot. At this moment, Lin Tianqin and a few clan members who had survived the ordeal hid in the crevice between two mountains, their faces pale and their hearts filled with fear. Watching the demon beasts soar overhead and feeling their powerful aura made it impossible for them to harbor any thought of resistance. The expressions of Lin Tianqin and his clan members changed dramatically as they speculated about the rank of the two demon beasts and their intentions. At that time, an experienced Lin Family Clansperson was the first to recall something and hurriedly reminded Lin Tianqin, ¡°Tianqin, these two demon beasts are at least at the late phase of Second Order, and they¡¯re heading towards the clan territory. We must inform the family of this as soon as possible,¡± he said. ¡°Yes¡­ We don¡¯t yet know the purpose of the demonic beasts, so we must inform the family to prepare for defense as soon as possible!¡± As the two family members started speaking, Lin Tianqin did not dare to delay, and immediately took out the specially made Communication Disc, launching several Law Decrees onto it. Light flashed on the Communication Disc before slowly returning to normal. After doing this, Lin Tianqin¡¯s complexion regained a bit of color, and the surging spiritual power inside him also began to stabilize. Luckily, before this patrol mission began, the family had equipped the Enforcement Hall with two Communication Discs. The Communication Disc, a Magic Artifact for communication, is at least Second Order inferior quality. Although its value doesn¡¯t compare to a common Attack Talisman, it is much more valuable than an ordinary First Order Spiritual Tool. It has a much longer communication range, and in the past two years, in order to resist the onslaught of the beast tide, the family spared no expense to specially equip the Enforcement Hall and some core family members with it. With the Communication Disc, the distance for messaging between them and the family members increased significantly, allowing them to send back the latest news in the first instance. Otherwise, even though the family has the Protective Clan Formation for defense, they would still be thrown into disarray, leading to unnecessary trouble. After regaining his senses, Lin Tianqin, pressing down the pain from his injuries, quickly led several family members toward the direction of the clan¡¯s territory. Their speed was fast, choosing not to follow the route the demonic beasts had taken. If they accidentally ran into the demonic beasts returning, they might very well lose their lives. Soon, they disappeared from the spot, flying toward another hidden entrance to the family¡¯s territory. ¡­ Valley behind the main peak. At the entrance of the valley, Lin Shikang had been seated in meditation, not having moved his body for a long time. It had been over half a month since Ye Pinghai had passed the Golden Core Tribulation. During this period, the entire Lin Family had returned to normal. Inside and outside the clan territory, all was peaceful, with only occasional low-order monster beasts appearing within the territory, which would be eradicated by the Enforcement Hall¡¯s dispatched clanspeople. At this moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s hands were clasped together, and ripples of energy were occasionally emitting from his body, clearly deep in cultivation. Just then, a loud noise erupted, and quickly spread to every corner of the Green Bamboo Mountain. At the same time, the ground of the entire clan¡¯s territory shook ever so slightly, and the sky rapidly flickered with light. Clearly, it was the noise of the formation¡¯s light screen being attacked. In an instant, Lin Shikang¡¯s eyes flew open, his face clouded with anger, and his expression exceedingly grim. He immediately rose to his feet and shot out at an extreme speed. In the blink of an eye, Lin Shikang arrived at the square where the mountain gate was located. At this point in time, quite a few family members had already gathered, each looking pale with faces filled with fear. Upon seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianyue, who was leading them, seemed a bit relieved and quickly went to meet him. From a distance, Lin Tianyue¡¯s voice reached out, ¡°Third Grandfather¡­ These two demonic beasts turn out to be Third Order, why have they appeared in our clan territory?¡± Hearing her words, the family members present couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply, obviously shocked by Lin Tianyue¡¯s statement. Yet, their reaction was understandable. After all, most of these family members were at the Qi Refinement Realm, and none had ever seen Third Order Demonic Beasts, let alone two appearing at the same time. Such a scene, if not for this moment, they might have never witnessed it in their lifetimes. At this moment, faced with Lin Tianyue¡¯s question and looking at the unwelcome guests outside the formation, Lin Shikang was equally puzzled. He took a deep breath and then instructed, ¡°Tian Yue!¡± ¡°This place is very dangerous. You must immediately take the other family members away from here. After making sure they are settled, proceed to the back mountain and wait for Brother Ye to come out of seclusion.¡± Hearing his instructions and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s solemn expression, Lin Tianyue dared not ask further questions. However, she was very clear in her mind that Lin Shikang wanted them to leave for their own good. After all, with the appearance of two Third Order Demonic Beasts, with her at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, along with those Qi Refining clanspeople, remaining here would be no help but rather a burden. Once the demonic beasts attacked the Protective Clan Formation, even Lin Shikang would be in grave danger, and he would have to guard them while worrying about his own safety. Understanding this, Lin Tianyue didn¡¯t hesitate, quickly leading the other family members away from the square. Chapter 552 552 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_1 ?Chapter 552: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_1 Chapter 552: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_1 As Lin Tianyue led the clanspeople away from the plaza, Lin Shihua, who had heard the commotion, and Lin Shigong had also rushed over. At this moment, the expressions on their faces were somewhat panicked. It was clear from the collision sound that had just come through and the violent upheaval it caused that the approaching enemy meant ill and possessed formidable strength. Before the person arrived, Lin Shihua¡¯s voice was already carried over from afar. ¡°Third brother, how come these two Third Order Demonic Beasts have appeared here?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ The Tyrant Spirit Ape from the battlefield is the Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect!¡± ¡°Our place is so far away from Yuyao City. How could they appear in the Luoyun Mountain Range, and what¡¯s more, coincidentally show up in our clan¡¯s territory?¡± ... Hearing Lin Shigong¡¯s corroborating words and his reminder, Lin Shikang looked both innocent and helpless. Considering the appearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape here, he pondered many reasons carefully and had some speculation in his heart. After all, the Tyrant Spirit Ape being the Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect was common knowledge throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Since the Tyrant Spirit Ape appeared near Green Bamboo Mountain during this period, it was unlikely that the Zhenyang Sect had any plots against the Lin Family. After all, although the Lin Family¡¯s reputation had risen in recent years, it still wasn¡¯t enough to make the Zhenyang Sect wary, let alone be troubled by them at the critical time of a Demon Beast Tide. Thus, the presence of these two Third Order Demonic Beasts here might have been due to them pursuing each other after battle in Yuyao City. During the chase, it was obviously apparent the Wind Dusk Beast was no match for the Tyrant Spirit Ape and fled in panic without choosing a path. By a twist of fate, it ended up in the Luoyun Mountain Range. As for the Lin Family, their luck was simply too bad. Just when they saw indications of the Demon Beast Tide receding, they got caught in this calamity without reason. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression darkened, his heart filled with helplessness and anger. At this time, the three people with complex expressions stood shoulder to shoulder, sighed deeply, and then gazed together into the distance, beyond the protective formation¡¯s light screen. They saw the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape fiercely battling. The two demonic beasts clashed mightily, exchanging blows without a care for their own injuries. As they fought, their bodies kept moving, only a thousand zhang away from the formation¡¯s light screen, and the distance continued to close. As for the attack that caused the violent upheaval, it seemed to be the inadvertent result of the demonic beasts¡¯ actions. Clearly, their arrival here was also by chance, and their attack on the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation was due to the overpowering impact of the battle that they couldn¡¯t control. However, now wasn¡¯t the time to fret over these causes. Looking at the situation, the urgent task was to come up with a strategy to prevent the Lin Family from suffering any losses. Realizing this, Lin Shikang put aside those trivial thoughts and focused on the condition of the demonic beasts¡¯ battle. At this point, from the overall situation in the skirmish, the Wind Dusk Beast was grievously injured. If it weren¡¯t for its incredible speed, it likely wouldn¡¯t have lasted long under the ferocious attacks of the enraged Tyrant Spirit Ape. After two rounds of collision, it was evident that the Tyrant Spirit Ape had a more formidable attack capability and was determined to take the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s life. As such, every move the Tyrant Spirit Ape made was a deadly blow, each strike filled with immense power. The severely wounded Wind Dusk Beast was basically struggling to defend itself. At that time, the cornered Wind Dusk Beast, equally enraged, had no choice but to fight back against the tide-like assaults of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud noise, the Wind Dusk Beast was thrown backward, and its massive body crashed into the formation¡¯s light screen. For a moment, the protective light screen trembled once more, taking several breaths to gradually stabilize. This caused Lin Shikang and the others to furrow their brows tightly, displaying extremely unsightly expressions on their faces. Witnessing the fluctuations transmitted through the light screen and the large amount of stored energy being consumed, Lin Shihua¡¯s face darkened. In his eyes, the energy contained within the formation had been accumulated by the family over years. Even a year ago, when a large number of Second Order Demonic Beasts attacked their land, the Lin Family hadn¡¯t used up much. Now, to be implicated like this and lose so much energy in the Protective Clan Formation was truly infuriating. ¡°These two beasts!¡± Lin Shihua cursed under his breath before he couldn¡¯t help reminding Lin Shikang. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Third brother, if it continues like this and they keep fighting, I¡¯m afraid the Protective Clan Formation won¡¯t last much longer!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang felt helpless as well. He gave a wry smile and immediately began to ponder the strategy to repel the enemy, to prevent the Lin Family from getting harmed. Looking at the situation, if the two demonic beasts left on their own, it would be a cause for celebration, and the Lin Family could avoid any damage. But if the demonic beasts continued to fight here, even if they didn¡¯t aim to attack the Protective Clan Formation, it would still be difficult to avoid being affected. Considering the worst-case scenario, if the beasts fought for long enough, it was very likely that the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation would be breached. At that time, many Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople might not be able to escape, leading to unnecessary sacrifices. However, whether the demonic beasts would leave or not was completely beyond the control of the Lin Family. Even with his Foundation Establishment Great Perfection strength, he couldn¡¯t intervene in their struggle. Only if Ye Pinghai came out of seclusion, with his Golden Core Stage strength, could he drive the two Third Order Demonic Beasts away from this place and resolve this potential crisis. Otherwise, the Lin Family¡¯s situation could only remain passive, waiting and watching to see if the demonic beasts would retreat. But for the time being, with Ye Pinghai having just survived the Golden Core Tribulation and still in seclusion consolidating his cultivation, it was hard to tell when he might emerge. Chapter 553 553 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_2 ?Chapter 553: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_2 Chapter 553: Chapter 311 The Helpless Lin Shikang_2 With this in mind, trying to buy as much time as possible was the priority right now, the longer they could hold out, the safer the Lin Family Clan Grounds would be. Having thought this through, Lin Shikang looked toward the direction of the valley and immediately said, ¡°Shihua, activate all the power of the Protective Clan Formation, hold out for as long as possible.¡± ¡°As long as Brother Ye comes out of seclusion successfully, all our problems will be easily solved!¡± Hearing these words, the Lin Family wasn¡¯t completely without the means to resist, and Lin Shihua¡¯s face finally looked a little better. Right after that, he fully activated the Protective Clan Formation, and then he turned his attention to the battle outside. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape clashed fiercely, and the force of their impact swept through the entire battlefield. ... At that moment, the impact created a massive wave that surged violently toward them, only to be blocked by the Protective Clan Formation. After one round of attacks, the colors on the formation¡¯s light screen faded slightly once again, and the formation¡¯s defensive power was clearly further weakened. Faced with this outcome, all three members of the Lin Family were helpless. The Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape, however, didn¡¯t care about these issues. They fought recklessly without any regard for the Lin Family¡¯s losses or life and death. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± While they were reduced to mere spectators, earth-shattering noises continued to come from outside the formation as two Third Order Demon Beasts fought each other. The Tyrant Spirit Ape let out a roar and its gigantic fist, like a huge rock, violently smashed down toward the Wind Dusk Beast. The Wind Dusk Beast didn¡¯t dare delay, and while dodging, it didn¡¯t forget to counterattack. At that time, with its back toward the Lin Family Clan Grounds, the Wind Dusk Beast was less than a few hundred yards away. As the fist drew closer and closer, it suddenly dodged, once again activating its Innate Divine Ability. In an instant, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s speed surged dramatically. As the Wind Dusk Beast evaded the attack, the Tyrant Spirit Ape missed its strike. Before it could retract its strength, its steel-like fist directly hammered onto the formation¡¯s light screen. A loud boom echoed, and the Protective Clan Formation violently shook. A few breaths later, the formation¡¯s light screen returned to normal, and the ground stopped shaking. Seeing this, the usually calm and experienced Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but curse, his face looking extremely grim. Just that one strike had reduced the Protective Clan Formation¡¯s defensive power. A few more like that, and it definitely wouldn¡¯t hold. Having calmed down a bit, Lin Shikang said to the Lin Shihua next to him, ¡°Immediately organize the clan members to gather and prepare to leave through the secret passage.¡± ¡°Once the formation can¡¯t hold any longer, directly take the clan members and leave.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the other person knew the situation was not optimistic. Although they were reluctant to leave their well-built clan grounds and were worried about Lin Shikang staying alone, they didn¡¯t hesitate at his command. After all, their own strength was extremely limited; staying here would only be a burden. Understanding this, the two nodded toward Lin Shikang and flew directly toward the back mountain, soon disappearing from sight. Watching them leave, Lin Shikang waved his sleeve robe, and the Qingfeng Sword appeared in his hand. Then, he held a large amount of Second Order Talisman paper in his hand, clearly ready to act. ¡°Roar rumble¡­¡± The fierce battle outside continued. Soon, half an hour passed. At that moment, the battle between the two demon beasts had reached a feverish stage. In the meantime, the Protective Clan Formation had withstood several more rounds of attacks from the beasts, with both the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape contributing. By now, the formation¡¯s energy had been greatly depleted, teetering on the brink of collapse. Under his watchful eye, the Tyrant Spirit Ape struck again, and after the Wind Dusk Beast dodged it, the force directly hit the formation¡¯s light screen. ¡°Boom!¡± After a loud explosion, the formation¡¯s light screen shattered into countless points of light, which then dissipated between heaven and earth. Simultaneously, the entire scene of the Lin Family Clan Grounds was exposed to the sight of the two Third Order Demon Beasts. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s face darkened, his heart filled with immense rage. Lin Shikang had initially fantasized that after a few rounds of the demonic beasts¡¯ battle, they would leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds and, by then, the Lin Family would have been spared from calamity. In the end, they still couldn¡¯t avoid this unnecessary involvement. At this moment, the two demonic beasts continued their relentless battle, utterly disregarding whether Lin Shikang was present. It seemed as though they didn¡¯t even consider him worthy of their attention, utterly disdainful. Lin Shikang didn¡¯t dare to delay either; the moment the formation broke, he immediately retreated explosively and flew towards the valley behind the main peak. Facing the battle of two Third Order demon beasts, he dared not stay in the area. Once entangled in their skirmish, even with his Foundation Establishment Great Completion cultivation, he could still lose his life. His plan was to first create a safe distance, as long as their fight didn¡¯t disturb Ye Pinghai¡¯s secluded cultivation. As for the clan¡¯s houses, cave mansion courtyards, and even those valuable Spiritual Medicine Gardens, if they had to suffer losses, so be it. If one were to die, all the treasures in the world would be meaningless. Conversely, as long as one lived, with some time, effort, and financial resources, one could always restore things to their former state. Knowing this, his speed was swift, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared atop a mountain outside the valley. He looked from afar at the family¡¯s mountain gate, where occasional massive fluctuations and sparks of light were erupting, his expression filled with worry. Before he could even catch his breath, his face turned pale again, and he couldn¡¯t help but curse loudly. ¡°These two damn beasts, it was bad enough they broke through our Protective Clan Formation, but they¡¯re relentlessly pursuing this and have even started fighting inside the clan grounds!¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, he stared angrily ahead. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In front of him, just over a thousand zhang away, the Wind Dusk Beast was fleeing, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape hot on its tail. Beneath them, more than a dozen clan members¡¯ dwellings and Cave Mansion Courtyards collapsed, with a large amount of trees and stones scattered around. Fortunately, he had timely instructed Lin Shihua to relocate the clan members. Otherwise, under such an onslaught, even Foundation Establishment Stage members would have been injured, if not lost their lives senselessly. But even so, the current situation was still dire. Because the two Third Order demon beasts were fast approaching the valley where Ye Pinghai was in secluded cultivation. If left unchecked, they would certainly disrupt his consolidation of cultivation. Should he be disturbed at a critical moment, leading to an unstable consolidation, there was a risk of falling back in cultivation levels. At this very moment, Lin Shikang found himself once again faced with a dilemma. If he chose to fight, with his level of cultivation, intervening might mean a near-certain death. If he chose to retreat, he himself would be unharmed, but it would inevitably force Ye Pinghai to emerge and interrupt his cultivation. In that case, at best Ye would face a fall in his cultivation realm, and at worst, he could be at risk of perishing. Understanding this, Lin Shikang¡¯s complexion turned extremely unsightly, his heart filled with complexity. However, the Wind Dusk Beast and Tyrant Spirit Ape didn¡¯t give him time to react; in just a few breaths, they came to a place not far in front of him. At that moment, Lin Shikang stood in the way of the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s path of escape, finding himself in an embarrassing situation where he could neither advance nor retreat. As the Wind Dusk Beast was about to break into the valley entrance, Lin Shikang, after pondering repeatedly, decided to take the risk and intercept them. In his eyes, killing the Wind Dusk Beast was the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s objective in this pursuit. As long as the Wind Dusk Beast died, the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s goal would be achieved, and likely it would avoid mindless killing, sparing the Lin Family unnecessary losses. After all, the Tyrant Spirit Ape was a Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect, fundamentally different from those ferocious Third Order demon beasts. Furthermore, from the standpoint of the greater good of the Human Race, it was only proper to intervene against these demonic beasts if it was within his power to do so. More importantly, by taking this risk to buy time for Ye Pinghai, though extremely dangerous, it would leave Ye indebted to him, thus binding him more firmly to the Lin Family¡¯s ship. Having made up his mind, he immediately activated the Law Decree, unleashing all the Second Order talisman papers he had prepared. Beyond that, he channeled spiritual power to its limit and stimulated the Qingfeng Sword in his hand, which erupted with numerous sword qi. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Part of the sky at the entrance of the valley was completely engulfed by the various Second Order Talisman attacks. Instantly, multicolored rays scattered, and countless Sword Qi and fireballs streaked across the sky, completely sealing off the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s escape route. Chapter 554 554 312 Misunderstanding_1 ?Chapter 554: Chapter 312: Misunderstanding_1 Chapter 554: Chapter 312: Misunderstanding_1 Seeing this, the already heavily injured Wind Dusk Beast was infuriated. Its situation was already critical, and escape was fraught with peril, where every moment was of essence. If it were at its peak, with its speed, even if it couldn¡¯t defeat the Tyrant Spirit Ape, it could naturally leave unharmed. But now, its situation had changed drastically, its body was severely wounded, and its strength greatly diminished. The power of these Second Order Talismans was not strong, they couldn¡¯t inflict significant damage, but their sheer numbers and cumulative power couldn¡¯t be completely ignored. In such a case, it was very likely to delay it for a moment or two. Under these circumstances, the pursuing Tyrant Spirit Ape would catch up, leading to yet another bitter fight. ... By that time, its chances of escaping would be virtually non-existent. Perhaps realizing the direness of its situation, the Wind Dusk Beast unleashed unprecedented power in the face of Lin Shikang¡¯s blockade, along with the relentless pursuit of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The frantic beast dodged attacks while counterattacking like a mad creature, each strike bursting with immense power. A few breaths of time passed just like that. After an earth-shattering sound, the talisman paper Lin Shikang activated dissipated. Only when the sky had returned to a brief calm did the figures of the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape emerge. At a glance, the leg of the Wind Dusk Beast had been completely severed, its body covered in wounds of varying depths, dripping with blood in a grisly sight. The Tyrant Spirit Ape was also spewing blood, with many wounds clearly inflicted by the Wind Dusk Beast. However, its defensive power was extremely high, and its injuries were evidently much lighter than those of the Wind Dusk Beast. As for Lin Shikang, he had been knocked back dozens of meters, his body smashing against several rocks before halting, all due to the clash between the two Third Order Demon Beasts and the attack from the Wind Dusk Beast. He lay there half-prostrate, his face ghastly pale, coughing up blood continuously, his eyes filled with a look of shock. He had thought that with his Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivation, catching a few rounds of the injured Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s attacks shouldn¡¯t have posed a problem. Yet, he had underestimated the power of the Wind Dusk Beast. Just that last strike from the Wind Dusk Beast had seriously wounded him, almost costing him his life. One could imagine, if the Wind Dusk Beast had been at its peak, targeting him alone, it could have killed him in a single round. The gap between them was beyond imagination. ¡°Roar roar¡­¡± A few low growls sounded out. At this moment, the eyes of the Wind Dusk Beast were blood red, its expression extremely angry. Lin Shikang¡¯s reckless intervention had only delayed the inevitable for moments, leading to the attack from the Tyrant Spirit Ape that it couldn¡¯t avoid, causing the loss of its leg. After this round, its injuries had deepened further, and its survival-dependent speed was greatly reduced; there was no longer any chance of escape. The Tyrant Spirit Ape seemed to comprehend this but showed no intention of stopping. After all, the night was long and filled with dreams, and it had let the Wind Dusk Beast slip away several times before. Now with Heaven and Earth on its side, it naturally wouldn¡¯t waste this rare opportunity. Before the Wind Dusk Beast could catch its breath, the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s attacks arrived on schedule. Seeing this, Lin Shikang ignored his injuries. He forced himself up and, from a distance, launched attacks to harass the Wind Dusk Beast, creating better opportunities for the Tyrant Spirit Ape. This time, he had clearly become much more prudent. He knew his own strength, and understood the vast difference between himself and a Third Order Demon Beast. Therefore, he wouldn¡¯t recklessly enter the fray but instead provided long-range support to assist the Tyrant Spirit Ape. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, as long as the Wind Dusk Beast didn¡¯t approach Ye Pinghai¡¯s closed-off valley, his purpose would be considered fulfilled. In essence, his actions prioritized his own safety and guarding the valley. If he could provide some assistance, that would be best, but if it really wasn¡¯t feasible, he would certainly not risk himself again. Knowing this, Lin Shikang was extra cautious, and his subsequent attacks were noticeably weaker compared to the first round. And at this point, facing the successive strikes from the Tyrant Spirit Ape and Lin Shikang, the Wind Dusk Beast, though enraged, was helpless. It could only passively defend and dodge, trying to drag out the fight, waiting for an opportunity to flee. However, the Tyrant Spirit Ape wouldn¡¯t afford it even a glimmer of hope, its strikes becoming increasingly fierce, vowing to take the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s life in the shortest possible time. Under such circumstances, after several rounds of attacks, the Wind Dusk Beast was in a complete retreat and soon found itself in an inextricable predicament. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds erupted. The entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory trembled slightly, the sky lighting up with fire, accompanied by the roars of demonic beasts, reverberating through every corner of the territory. After several rounds of attacks, the Wind Dusk Beast was severely injured, and the battlefield had been pushed closer to the valley. Seeing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned rather unsightly. It was clear that this outcome was not what he had hoped for. He had only wanted to stop the demonic beasts from advancing, even if it meant getting injured in the process. But he hadn¡¯t expected that the Wind Dusk Beast would be forced back step by step by the Tyrant Spirit Ape. At that moment, Lin Shikang even doubted whether he should have intervened, wondering why, despite his desperate efforts, he was still unable to prevent it. However, despite being so grievously injured, the Wind Dusk Beast still possessed formidable strength, which meant that the combat situation was beyond his control. Chapter 555 555 312 Oolong_2 ?Chapter 555: Chapter 312 Oolong_2 Chapter 555: Chapter 312 Oolong_2 Not only that, but the Tyrant Spirit Ape acted without any hesitation, completely indifferent to the damage to the Lin Family Clan Grounds and unconcerned about the true purpose of its actions. Perhaps the Tyrant Spirit Ape did not know its own intentions, which is why it was so ferocious, driving the Wind Dusk Beast even further towards the direction of the valley. However, for whatever reason, the actions of the Tyrant Spirit Ape completely chilled Lin Shikang¡¯s heart, fueling a hint of anger within him. But at the moment, he didn¡¯t dare to directly confront the Tyrant Spirit Ape, since after all, it was the Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect with a rather profound background. More crucially, as a Third Order Early Stage beast, its strength was not significantly different from that of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Although fundamentally, as a Demonic Beast, a Tyrant Spirit Ape is subdued and of a status clearly beneath that of a Human Race Golden Core Cultivator. But its strength was still something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator or a Foundation Establishing Family could not afford to offend. ... Therefore, even though Lin Shikang had opinions, he dared not express them, lest he make an enemy for the Lin Family. As he was lost in thought, the two Demonic Beasts clashed with each other once more. Under the overwhelming onslaught of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, the situation of the Wind Dusk Beast was perilous, and it could be killed at any moment. However, in its desperate situation, the Wind Dusk Beast seemed to go mad. Its eyes blood-red, it stared intently at Lin Shikang, as if it was blaming him for its dire circumstances. Or perhaps it sensed Ye Pinghai in the valley and was trying to take advantage of his strength to find an opportunity to escape amidst the chaos. No matter the reason, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but be alarmed. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tyrant Spirit Ape charged in for another attack, its formidable strike aiming straight for the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s head. This attack was relentless, carrying a mighty force as if it sought to claim the life of the Wind Dusk Beast directly. At that moment, facing this fatal blow, the Wind Dusk Beast forcibly dragged its injured body towards the direction where Lin Shikang was. Along the way, the Wind Dusk Beast showed no intention of stopping or retaliating, focused only on breaking through Lin Shikang¡¯s blockage, hoping to make the Tyrant Spirit Ape hesitate. Seeing the Demonic Beast¡¯s actions, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned pale, and he was somewhat at a loss. However, the current situation did not allow him the luxury of time to think of a countermeasure. In desperation, Lin Shikang could only steel himself to go forward. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s spiritual power surged to the extreme, and his Qingfeng Sword burst forth with powerful Sword Qi. At the same time, he didn¡¯t dare to hold anything back, using all available offensive and defensive treasures he had at his disposal. Under these circumstances, the sky above the valley entrance was filled with numerous talisman papers and Sword Qi tearing through the void. For a moment, a dense array of attacks completely overwhelmed the oncoming Wind Dusk Beast. With a series of crackling sounds, the whole world was thrown into chaos, countless rocks and trees scattered in all directions. After the ground shook a few times, the figure of the Wind Dusk Beast burst out from the dust and smoke. At this time, the skin of the Wind Dusk Beast was scorched black, and the blood on its body had already clotted, as if it had been rapidly dried by the rising temperatures. It angrily charged towards Lin Shikang, fleeing towards the valley while its tail whipped toward Lin Shikang¡¯s head. A whooshing sound reached Lin Shikang¡¯s ears, and the iron-chain-like tail shattered the surrounding air, clearly containing immense power. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s feet seemed to catch the wind as he frantically started to dodge the terrifying attack. Nevertheless, even injured, the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s speed was still not something Lin Shikang could easily avoid. As the approaching tail drew closer, Lin Shikang¡¯s face displayed great alarm, hastily bringing out a blood-red jade pendant, transforming it into a thick barrier to encase himself within. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A crisp explosion sounded. The barrier in front of Lin Shikang shone brightly, and after resisting for a brief moment, it cracked apart. Taking advantage of the brief delay from the Wind Dusk Beast¡¯s attack, Lin Shikang pivoted to avoid his vital areas. In an instant, The tail of the Wind Dusk Beast struck true, hitting Lin Shikang¡¯s shoulder. In that moment, Lin Shikang let out a pained roar and his body described a parabola as he was sent flying, eventually crashing heavily into the valley. As his body hit the ground, he immediately began to cough up copious amounts of blood, his complexion turning an extreme shade of pale, and his breath becoming exceedingly feeble. At this time, he shakily climbed to his feet, looked at the wound on his body, and let out a bitter laugh. Upon inspection, he found an extremely deep wound on his shoulder, within which the white glint of bone was faintly visible, looking particularly striking. And his arm had nearly been snapped off by the tail of the Wind Dusk Beast, if he hadn¡¯t dodged the vital spot, that strike would have undoubtedly taken his life. After that blow, he had sustained severe injury, his strength had definitely been reduced by more than 30%. Watching the Wind Dusk Beast still flying toward him, Lin Shikang¡¯s face was ashen, and he wanted to forcefully launch an attack to see if he could stop the beast. Just as he was about to make his move, a hot wind suddenly blew over from behind him. Without knowing when, a man in a gray robe suddenly appeared beside him. ¡°Lin, you step back, I¡¯ll take on these two beasts!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang quickly turned his head back and found Ye Pinghai looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, his expression filled with confidence. At this moment, he was certain that the person was indeed Ye Pinghai, with a powerful and stable aura, showing no signs of an unstable realm. Lin Shikang¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. Now that Ye Pinghai had successfully exited his closed-door cultivation, with his strength after the breakthrough, killing the injured Wind Dusk Beast should not be an issue. ¡°Ye, be careful, the Wind Dusk Beast is fighting for its life!¡± With these thoughts, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t insist any longer, he admonished Ye Pinghai and then quickly retreated to a rock behind him. Immediately after, he hurriedly took out healing elixirs to consume and then watched every move in front of him with vigilance. At this moment, with the appearance of Ye Pinghai, the dynamics on the field suddenly changed dramatically. The Wind Dusk Beast, as if anticipating Ye Pinghai¡¯s possible appearance, abruptly stopped its forward momentum at that instant. However, the Tyrant Spirit Ape had already caught up, and its claws were already slamming toward it. Not only that, but Ye Pinghai, fresh from his closed-door cultivation, also made his move. He looked furious and launched a powerful attack from the magic artifact in his hand towards the Wind Dusk Beast. From Ye Pinghai¡¯s mannerisms, one could tell that his strength was formidable, not at all like a Golden Core Cultivator who had just broken through. In that moment, under the pincer attack of Ye Pinghai and the Tyrant Spirit Ape, the Wind Dusk Beast seemed to have nowhere to escape. However, as the attacks of both were about to land, the Wind Dusk Beast let out a low growl, and suddenly, its massive body appeared a hundred yards away in an open space. The Wind Dusk Beast, having dodged the attack, started to cough up large mouthfuls of blood, its breath once again becoming feeble. In this desperate situation, the Wind Dusk Beast had once again unleashed its Innate Divine Ability, causing its injuries to worsen and its strength to further diminish significantly, down to less than 50% of its peak. At this time, both the Tyrant Spirit Ape and Ye Pinghai had not expected that the Wind Dusk Beast would be able to dodge the fatal attack in such a dire situation. ¡°Bang¡­¡± As they were taken aback, a loud noise came. Ye Pinghai¡¯s magic artifact glowed brightly, its powerful attack clashing hard against the claws of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, a scream was heard. The enormous body of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, like a parabola, fell from the sky and eventually slammed heavily onto the ground, creating a crater several yards deep. Upon closer inspection, the ape¡¯s claw was nearly severed, and its entire arm swung like a tree branch. As it couldn¡¯t help but spit out blood, the aura of the Tyrant Spirit Ape rapidly decreased, clearly having suffered a heavy injury. At this moment, the Tyrant Spirit Ape, which had withdrawn nearly half of its strength when the Wind Dusk Beast dodged, was stricken by Ye Pinghai¡¯s blow, losing an arm. Otherwise, with its strength, even when injured, it wouldn¡¯t have been so severely wounded by Ye Pinghai, who had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage, with just one hit. At that time, the Tyrant Spirit Ape looked up in pain at Ye Pinghai, growling repeatedly, seemingly venting the dissatisfaction in its heart. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but darken his face, revealing an expression of helplessness. He had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage and wasn¡¯t precise enough in controlling the strength of his attacks. Moreover, he had not anticipated that the severely injured Wind Dusk Beast would be able to rely on its inconceivable divine ability to escape under such dire circumstances. Thus, the blow was not intended; it was merely a misunderstanding. Chapter 556 556 313 Both Perish_1 ?Chapter 556: Chapter 313 Both Perish_1 Chapter 556: Chapter 313 Both Perish_1 But in reality, this blunder had already occurred, and it had even dealt a heavy blow to the Tyrant Spirit Ape. At this moment, he was afraid that the Tyrant Spirit Ape might have misunderstood his intentions, and how would he explain himself to the Zhenyang Sect? Moreover, explaining might not even be useful! With these thoughts, Ye Pinghai¡¯s face grew a bit grim, and for a while, he couldn¡¯t think of a solution. ¡°Roar roar¡­¡± Several roars of Demonic Beasts could be heard, followed quickly by the sound of intense collisions, which brought Ye Pinghai back to his senses. He turned his gaze and looked up at the scene before him. ... At this time, he saw the Wind Dusk Beast, having narrowly escaped disaster, was again changing its position, fleeing towards where the Tyrant Spirit Ape was. Clearly, with Ye Pinghai¡¯s emergence from seclusion, and judging from the power he displayed, he seemed to be somewhat stronger than the heavily injured Tyrant Spirit Ape. The Wind Dusk Beast seemed to understand its dire situation, realizing that breaking through Ye Pinghai¡¯s side was no longer realistic. Moreover, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape already injured and having been further wounded by Ye Pinghai¡¯s strike, its ability to exert power compared to itself was, presumably, not much stronger. Therefore, the Wind Dusk Beast made a decisive move and ferociously attacked the Tyrant Spirit Ape while it was still unresponsive. Seeing this, the Tyrant Spirit Ape, both shocked and enraged, ignored its injuries and hastily entangled with the Wind Dusk Beast in battle. Once they engaged, the battle between the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast was brutally intense, with both sides fighting without any restraint. They fought as if they cared not for their lives, seemingly trying to vent the rage accumulated from the relentless chase and escape. Seeing this sight, Ye Pinghai frowned, also shocked by the two Demonic Beasts¡¯ battle. Having barely calmed down, he prepared to join the fray, to help the Tyrant Spirit Ape annihilate the Wind Dusk Beast and thus end this battle. ¡°Roar¡­ roar¡­¡± At that moment, two sounds, mournful to the ear, came through. Hearing the noise, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression changed slightly as he looked in the direction of the screams. He saw the Tyrant Spirit Ape lying on the ground with a huge hole in its chest, exposing its internal organs. At the same time, the ground was soaked with blood, and the Tyrant Spirit Ape lay in the pool of blood, struggling weakly. Its movements were not great, and its breaths were already significantly weaker, appearing to have more difficulty inhaling than exhaling, looking extremely sorrowful. From his perspective, it might not be long before the Tyrant Spirit Ape would breathe its last. Meanwhile, not far from the Tyrant Spirit Ape, in an open space, the Wind Dusk Beast was also lying on the ground. The contrast was clear, the Tyrant Spirit Ape on the verge of death was still struggling and crying out, whereas the Wind Dusk Beast lay motionless on the ground, silent, evidently having no breath left. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai was taken aback. He had thought that although both Demonic Beasts were severely wounded, the outcome should not have come so swiftly. However, in just a short span of a few breaths, the battle between the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast had concluded, and they had nearly perished together. Ye Pinghai found this outcome somewhat unbelievable. But as things stood, with the result before his eyes, he could only accept the fact. He looked at the dying Tyrant Spirit Ape, whose cries of agony made Ye Pinghai sigh helplessly, feeling somewhat at a loss inside. Just then, Lin Shikang behind him stood up and walked towards him, quickly arriving in front of him. From a distance, Lin Shikang clasped his hands in salute and then said, ¡°Congratulations, Ye, on reaching the Golden Core Great Achievement!¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression turned cold as he said sternly, ¡°Lin, if you keep mocking me like this, I might get angry!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Ye, with your breakthrough to Golden Core, according to the Cultivation World¡¯s rules where strength dictates seniority, it is indeed proper to refer to you as a senior.¡± Before he could finish, Ye Pinghai quickly waved his hands, speaking earnestly. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lin, please don¡¯t be like this!¡± ¡°You must know, for my attempt to reach the Golden Core, the Lin Family went to great lengths to provide a sacred place for my breakthrough, not to mention lending me the ancestral insights for my perusal.¡± ¡°Besides that, the Lin Family has already shown great kindness to me, and with this added, I fear I might never be able to repay it.¡± Hearing these sincere words, Lin Shikang¡¯s pale face regained some color, feeling very satisfied with Ye Pinghai¡¯s attitude. In the Cultivation World, it was not uncommon for cultivators who had been on good terms to drastically change after advancing to a higher realm. Some even turned against friends who had helped them, going as far as to retaliate against their benefactors, and even kin has been killed in such cases. Such extreme acts of treachery and malevolence could be found in the complex hearts of the Cultivation World. Although Ye Pinghai did not outwardly show any signs of change, at the very least, he was still very courteous on the surface, and he always remembered the Lin Family¡¯s kindness, making their assistance not in vain. In truth, Ye Pinghai was indeed grateful. He was aware of how much effort and resources the Lin Family had spent on his advancement to the Golden Core Realm. Aside from their previous kindness to him, for this advancement, they provided a safe haven for cultivation and used numerous Spirit Stones to enhance the Spiritual Energy needed for his breakthrough. Just these factors alone, for someone with no blood relation, were already not easy. In addition, the Lin Family had lent him the precious insights on breakthroughs, offering significant help during his critical moment. More critically, during his consolidation period, the intense battle between the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape could have affected the valley, and the desperate Wind Dusk Beast even nearly barged in. Chapter 557 557 313 Both Die_2 ?Chapter 557: Chapter 313 Both Die_2 Chapter 557: Chapter 313 Both Die_2 At that moment, he had entered a state of deep cultivation, on the brink of a critical juncture, with no strength to mount an effective counterattack. Under such circumstances, should he be disturbed and forced to exit his retreat to engage in battle, there was a genuine risk he might suffer a decline in his realm of power. It was at this critical moment that Lin Shikang, with his cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, braced himself against the risk of perishing, desperately guarding the entrance to the valley. Lin Shikang did this solely to buy him time, and in the process, sustained significant injuries. From any perspective, the Lin Family, including Lin Shikang himself, had made indelible contributions to his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Thinking of this, Ye Pinghai was deeply moved and solemnly resolved that even though he had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, he would definitely stand with the Lin Family. In doing so, he was not only repaying the Lin Family¡¯s efforts, but also remaining true to his Daoist heart, which would further aid him in the pursuit of immortality. ... Collecting his thoughts, Ye Pinghai looked at Lin Shikang with concern and asked, ¡°Lin, how are your injuries?¡± ¡°Take this Nourishing Yuan Pill as soon as possible, with it, your injuries should recover before long!¡± As he finished speaking, a jade bottle appeared in Ye Pinghai¡¯s hand, containing the very Nourishing Yuan Pill he had mentioned. ¡°Nourishing Yuan Pill?¡± Lin Shikang blushed slightly, surprised inwardly. Nourishing Yuan Pills were revered elixirs for healing, of second-order superior grade, with excellent restorative effects, certainly the strongest among all second-order healing elixirs. Such sacred healing elixirs were exceedingly rare, and needless to say, valuable. Only alchemists of Ye Pinghai¡¯s caliber would possess a few in their collection. Ordinary cultivators, in general, could only acquire them at auctions in mid to large market fairs. Such a revered healing elixir, needing just one dose, could heal common injuries within a few days, as long as one¡¯s meridians were not completely severed or the body dismembered. There were even claims that after taking one Nourishing Yuan Pill, even severed limbs could regrow. Ye Pinghai had just undergone the Heavenly Tribulation, sustaining severe injuries, and certainly, he would not have many Nourishing Yuan Pills left. At this moment, though Lin Shikang greatly coveted the pill, he also felt somewhat embarrassed and thus repeatedly refused Ye¡¯s kind offer. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai feigned anger and said, ¡°Lin, do you look down upon me, brother?¡± ¡°The Lin Family has bestowed upon me both the favor of saving my life and rebirth. Now I wish to repay the Lin Family, and you won¡¯t even allow me that small gesture of gratitude?¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Lin Shikang was at a loss for words, stammering uncertainly. After several remonstrations from Ye Pinghai, he finally forced the jade bottle containing the Nourishing Yuan Pill into Lin Shikang¡¯s hands. Seeing his sincerity, and acknowledging that the Lin Family truly had made great sacrifices on his behalf, Lin Shikang accepted the elixirs with a bow of thanks, no longer demurring. Satisfied with this, Ye Pinghai nodded, but his expression suddenly turned grave as he glanced at the wailing Tyrant Spirit Ape not far off. He sighed and then said, ¡°Lin, what shall we do about this Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang also let out a long sigh, his expression complicated and troubled. He had speculated earlier that these two Demonic Beasts had fled from the battlefield and ended up dying on the Lin Family Clan Grounds by a twist of fate. It was a poignant reminder of the fickle nature of fortune. Yet on reflection, whether they died from mutual destruction or were slain by others, once the Zhenyang Sect learned that the Tyrant Spirit Ape had perished on Lin Family grounds, the Lin Family could not shirk responsibility. After all, a third-order Sect Guardian Spiritual Beast was nearly as formidable as a Golden Core Cultivator. Such a grave loss, even for a lineage like Zhenyang Sect that had lasted for thousands of years, could not be ignored. Facing this reality, Lin Shikang turned pale, uncertain of what to do. At that moment, both of them fell into a pensive silence, clearly faced with a difficult dilemma. Unable to decide, Lin Shikang pondered and resolved to collect the corpses of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and Wind Dusk Beast before devising a strategy, in an attempt to erase any traces and prevent word from getting out and bringing unnecessary trouble to the Lin Family. Fortunately, the particulars of this battle were witnessed only by the two of them. Lin Shihua and the other clan members had already evacuated from the clan grounds, and no one else was aware of the details and outcome of the battle. With this arrangement, as long as a few core clansmen and Ye Pinghai kept quiet, no one else would be the wiser. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang spoke, ¡°Ye, let¡¯s first collect the corpses of these two Third Order Demonic Beasts.¡± ¡°As for how to deal with them and how to face the Zhenyang Sect, let¡¯s have me and a few clan brothers discuss and then make an arrangement, alright?¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai nodded his head. He understood the gravity of the situation. The Lin Family¡¯s fear of trouble from the Zhenyang Sect made such caution only natural. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s indeed what we should do!¡± replied Ye Pinghai. With no further delay, the two of them went toward the lifeless bodies of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast. At this moment, the life force of the Tyrant Spirit Ape was fading fast, its body barely moving, with only a weak breath left. Even if they did nothing, it would naturally die within half a quarter of an hour. In its current state, unless there was a heaven-defying Spiritual Medicine, there was no hope for it to survive. Without hesitation, Ye Pinghai walked up to the Tyrant Spirit Ape and launched an attack, his strike ending its life. His movements were smooth and decisive, without any hint of reluctance. In fact, by doing so, he was signaling to Lin Shikang that he had personally ended the life of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and would naturally stand with the Lin Family. Even if the Zhenyang Sect learned of the battle¡¯s details, he was willing to bear the consequences. After all, the death of the Tyrant Spirit Ape was to some extent directly related to him. Seeing his actions, the signal he intentionally released was far more effective than any words could be. Lin Shikang sighed in relief internally, fully approving of Ye Pinghai¡¯s action. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his heart, he also firmly believed that the Lin Family had not misjudged him, and the risks taken would receive their due rewards. Refocusing his mind, Lin Shikang no longer delayed and quickly set about cleaning the body of the Wind Dusk Beast. His movements were fast, meticulously collecting every valuable part of the beast, leaving nothing behind. The inner core, in particular, was extremely precious; for a Foundation Establishing Family, its value was immeasurable. Since the two demonic beasts were already dead, clinging to these treasures would not change the outcome. This thought lifted the burden from Lin Shikang¡¯s shoulders, and within half a quarter of an hour, he had completed the collection. Ye Pinghai did likewise a short distance away. Both men finished processing the bodies and then erased much of the evidence of their fight. Soon, they regrouped with expressions filled with excitement and a tinge of anxiety. Just then, Lin Shihua stealthily crossed over from a mountain peak, flying towards them. Following Lin Shikang¡¯s orders, he led the clansmen to retreat from the Lin Family Clan Grounds and hide in a valley outside Green Bamboo Mountain. Concerned that Lin Shikang had not yet joined him, Lin Shihua entrusted Lin Shigong with leading the clansmen to stay put. He then sneaked back to the clan grounds to assess the situation of the battle and to look for Lin Shikang. Arriving at the outskirts of the clan grounds and finding no more commotion from the battle, he made his way deeper inside. Upon seeing Lin Shikang and another person there, Lin Shihua was overjoyed and quickly flew over. From a distance, his anxious voice reached them, sounding very worried. ¡°Third Brother, Ye, how are you? What about the two Third Order Demonic Beasts?¡± Noticing the confusion on Lin Shihua¡¯s face, Lin Shikang let out a wry smile before saying, ¡°Shihua!¡± ¡°Immediately organize the clansmen to return to the clan grounds and then swiftly rebuild the areas that were destroyed by the demonic beasts.¡± ¡°As for the specifics, I will explain them to you later!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua¡¯s confusion deepened, but as Lin Shikang had spoken, he refrained from pressing further. Presumably, what needed to be said, Lin Shikang would not hide; what didn¡¯t need to be known, there was no necessity for him to inquire. In all these matters, Lin Shikang¡¯s judiciousness ensured he would measure his actions properly. With these thoughts, Lin Shihua nodded and then turned around, flying back towards the area outside the clan grounds. Chapter 558 558 314 Strategy_1 ?Chapter 558: Chapter 314 Strategy_1 Chapter 558: Chapter 314 Strategy_1 Half a day later. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling, Ye Pinghai and Lin Shihua were seated opposite each other. At this moment, the four of them had calm expressions, except for Lin Shikang, whose face was slightly pale; the others had their aura withdrawn, and they all seemed to be in good spirits. ¡°Third Brother, how are your injuries? Are they serious?¡± Lin Shigong, who had been called back from outside the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory by Lin Shihua, asked with a concerned tone, his face showing some worry. Seeing Lin Shigong¡¯s anxious look, warmth filled Lin Shikang¡¯s heart. There weren¡¯t many of the ¡°Shi¡±-generation left in the Lin Family and they were always very close. Lin Shigong had always been very supportive of him. The fact that he was more concerned about his injuries than the matter of the demon beasts showed his genuine concern. ... With these thoughts, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Shigong and the others and then showed a comforting smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯m alright for now, just need to rest for about a month, and I should be healed.¡± Hearing his understatement, combined with his genuine expression, Lin Shigong and the others finally felt relieved. Following that, they congratulated Ye Pinghai with joined hands. Ye Pinghai responded with a light smile, without any airs of a Golden Core Cultivator, and repeated the conversation he had with Lin Shikang to Lin Shigong and the others. He also stated that Lin Shigong and the others would always be his sworn brothers, regardless of their cultivation or strength, and insisted they shouldn¡¯t be too formal with him. Hearing his heartfelt speech, Lin Shigong and the other person felt excited and somewhat moved. Having sworn brotherhood, and with Ye Pinghai¡¯s emphasis on loyalty¡ªcoupled with his Early Stage Golden Core strength¡ªit had significant implications for the Lin Family at the moment. The efforts previously made by the Lin Family were finally paying off. Thinking of this, the people in the Lin Family felt very excited and almost forgot about the matter of the Tyrant Spirit Ape dying in their territory. Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure and interrupted the excited Lin Shigong and the others. Snapped back to reality, Lin Shihua remembered something and began to inquire about the whereabouts of the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast. At this time, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression suddenly became solemn, his face turning a bit paler. He sighed helplessly and then informed Lin Shihua and the other person about the whole course of the battle. Hearing that both the Tyrant Spirit Ape and the Wind Dusk Beast had been killed, it shocked Lin Shihua and the other person beyond all measure. ¡°Third Brother, is this news true?¡± Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t seem to believe it and asked again in a questioning tone. Clearly, his expression couldn¡¯t be faulted. Indeed, the news was too astonishing and unbelievable. One must know that the fall of a Third Order Demon Beast was a huge event that usually only occurred during rare chances in a beast tide and was almost unheard of at other times. At least the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had not heard any news of a Third Order Demon Beast or a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s death in decades. And now, two Third Order Demon Beasts had died in the Green Bamboo Mountain Tribe Territory, which was beyond their comprehension. It wasn¡¯t just them; if this news were to spread throughout the Cultivation World, it would undoubtedly astonish many. At this moment, Lin Shihua spoke up, ¡°Ninth Brother, Third Brother has always been prudent. Since he has personally recounted the events, he would not deceive us.¡± ¡°Besides, given the gravity of this situation, how could Third Brother make a joke of it!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong took a deep breath and accepted the reality. Having calmed down somewhat, both Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua displayed worried expressions, clearly realizing the potential crisis behind this event. Now, Lin Shihua let out a bitter laugh and got straight to the point. ¡°Now that things have come to this, the question is how to deal with the bodies of these two demon beasts, and how to handle the investigation by the Zhenyang Sect!¡± Upon this statement, they each frowned deeply and fell into contemplation. Being a witness, Lin Shihua was clear about the cause and the course of events and secretly had some countermeasures in mind. After a long while, they still remained silent, so Lin Shihua took the initiative to break the brief quiet. ¡°Third Brother, if we proactively hand over the corpses and inner cores of the Third Order Demon Beasts, can this matter be considered resolved?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shigong chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ after all, our Lin Family was also involuntarily involved and even assisted in killing the Wind Dusk Beast while suffering some losses.¡± ¡°Although both demon beasts have perished, the death of the Tyrant Spirit Ape has no direct connection to our Lin Family!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Ye, who had been silent, smiled faintly and then spoke up, ¡°The two elder brothers have oversimplified the matter!¡± ¡°If any suspicion were to fall on the Lin Family, given my understanding of the Zhenyang Sect, the Lin Family¡¯s explanation would likely not convince them.¡± ¡°Furthermore, even if you proactively surrender the bodies and inner cores of the demon beasts, the Zhenyang Sect would not consider the difficult position the Lin Family was in at the time, after all, what died were Third Order Demon Beasts.¡± ¡°In that case, taking the initiative to report the matter would probably not be feasible!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the previously silent Lin Shikang nodded and added his agreement. ¡°Ye is right. The matter is now set, and hoping that the Zhenyang Sect will let us off easily is perhaps too optimistic.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the other person fell silent again, pondering the feasibility of the situation. Chapter 559 559 314 Countermeasures_2 ?Chapter 559: Chapter 314 Countermeasures_2 Chapter 559: Chapter 314 Countermeasures_2 After a while, Lin Shihua said incisively, ¡°Third brother, if we don¡¯t take the initiative to report this, once Zhenyang Sect finds out the outcome, how shall we deal with them?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression subtly changed, and his aura suddenly became much sharper. He let out a cold laugh and then answered, ¡°By the time that moment comes, it will no longer be realistic to expect that this matter can simply be brushed aside, we would have no choice but to stand in opposition to Zhenyang Sect!¡± Upon hearing this, even the normally composed Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but feel a jolt of fear. The power of Zhenyang Sect was indeed tremendous; in the entire southern region of Wei Kingdom, it was nearly an invincible presence. Even Golden Core Families of Wei Kingdom wouldn¡¯t dare to offend a Sect that had thousands of years of heritage and several Golden Core Cultivators at its helm. And with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s enduring and unyielding legacy, it had brought immense pressure to Foundation Establishing Families within Wei Kingdom. ... Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, no one wished to incur the life-and-death enmity of the Zhenyang Sect. At this point, Ye Pinghai, seeing the expressions of Lin Shikang and the other two, naturally understood their concerns. He suddenly stood up, a look of unwavering resolve on his face as he said, ¡°My brothers, this matter, after all, arose because of me, leading the Lin Family to face this crisis.¡± ¡°I can swear on my Dao heart that no matter when Zhenyang Sect learns of the details, or how they choose to deal with the Lin Family, I will stand with the Lin family,¡± he continued. ¡°Even if it means shattering to pieces, I will not hesitate.¡± Hearing these words and seeing Ye Pinghai¡¯s resolute demeanor, the hearts of Lin Shikang and the others eased. After much deliberation, Lin Shikang also carefully pondered Ye Pinghai¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t long before he made up his mind to conceal the details and outcome of the affair for the time being. The biggest reason he had the confidence to make this decision was threefold. First was Ye Pinghai himself; with his current cultivation at the Early Stage Golden Core, coupled with the status of a nearly Third Order Alchemy Master, he commanded tremendous deterrent power and influence and stood firmly with the Lin Family. If Zhenyang Sect really did come to know of the matter, having a Golden Core Cultivator on their side would make them hesitate to move against the Lin Family. After all, dispatching a Golden Core Cultivator is no easy feat, and should one be pushed to self-detonate their Golden Core, even a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator could be severely injured if caught off guard. Second was the hidden dragon Lin Tianming of the Lin Family, which was the most crucial point. Considering that Lin Tianming had already reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, with his talent and the family¡¯s treasures, there was a complete possibility that within ten years, he could meet the requirements to attempt advancing to the Golden Core Stage. Furthermore, with the Star Moon Fruit that had been kept in the family for several years, Lin Tianming had a sixty to seventy percent chance to break through to the Golden Core Stage in one fell swoop. Once a Golden Core Cultivator emerged in the Lin Family, along with Ye Pinghai, even if Zhenyang Sect wished to take action against the Lin Family, facing two Golden Core Cultivators, they would likely have to let the matter go. As for the third point, it lay in the fact that no outsiders had witnessed the battle between the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Ape, nor did anyone know the outcome. Under such circumstances, if Zhenyang Sect were to investigate the matter, there was no certainty that it would lead back to the Lin Family. Thus, the Lin Family could only feign complete ignorance, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, without revealing even the slightest anomaly. Even if Zhenyang Sect uncovered some clues, the Lin Family couldn¡¯t admit to being involved. Given the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength, claiming to have killed two Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beasts in one fell swoop would hardly be believed by anyone. So, as long as the Lin Family could produce a member at the Golden Core Stage within the next decade or so, the details and results of this event would become insignificant. However, for all these factors to be implemented, there was one vital point: Ye Pinghai must be stationed in the Lin Family for ten years. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beyond that, unless absolutely necessary, he should not show himself in public or expose his Golden Core Stage cultivation. Considering all this, Lin Shikang sincerely shared his thoughts with Ye Pinghai, who was at his side. Without any hesitation, Ye Pinghai agreed, allowing Lin Shikang to be fully reassured. As the details of the matter were discussed and settled, worry faded from the faces of those present. Subsequently, Lin Shikang inquired about the resettlement of the clan members and the reconstruction of the damaged buildings with Lin Shihua. Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded and indicated that all these family affairs had been properly arranged and there was no need for Lin Shikang to worry. As for the damaged buildings, they wouldn¡¯t take long to restore to their original state with the abilities of a cultivator. Hearing the results reported by Lin Shihua, Lin Shikang nodded with relief, and the pallor on his face faded significantly. Then, he remembered that the Protective Clan Formation had been breached during the battle with the demonic beasts and asked about the situation. Lin Shihua frowned slightly and responded with some helplessness, ¡°The Protective Clan Formation was indeed breached, and it suffered considerable damage to its structure. Without repairs, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be able to protect our clan territory.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in resignation. The impact wave from the battle of the two Third Order Demonic Beasts was indeed strong, and it had also withstood a direct attack from the Tyrant Spirit Ape. Considering the Formation was only of Second Order Superior quality, it had resisted for quite a long time. The breach was, after all, an unavoidable outcome. After all, he had witnessed the power of Third Order Demonic Beasts himself. Even now, the mere thought of it still sent chills through him. However, even though the Formation was temporarily out of operation and the dampness was not completely resolved, with Ye Pinghai in charge of the clan grounds, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger in the short term. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Shikang asked, ¡°Is there any difficulty in repairing the Formation? How long might it take?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua began to reply. ¡°The damage to the Formation is manageable, not too severe. At most half a year to a year, and it can certainly be completely restored!¡± ¡°Good, make sure to have our clansmen prioritize this!¡± Lin Shikang said, his tone extremely stern. In the Cultivation World, Defensive Arrays are crucial to any power, for without them, it¡¯s difficult to feel secure. He was no exception. In his heart, even though there were Golden Core Cultivators sitting in the clan territory, it was imperative to get the Defensive Formation operational as soon as possible. After all, Golden Core Cultivators need to cultivate too; they can¡¯t be disturbed all the time. Moreover, the Defensive Great Formation serves to gather Spiritual Energy. Therefore, if one strays from the formation for a long time, it can affect the cultivation speed of the clansmen and the spiritual plants in the Spiritual Medicine Gardens, more or less. Thus, the importance of the Formation goes without saying. Lin Shihua was also acutely aware of this and promptly reassured everyone present with a pat on his chest. Seeing this, Lin Shikang nodded, then casually chatted with the three of them. In a short while, they discussed numerous matters. As the arrangements were nearly complete, Ye Pinghai expressed his wish to leave and go into cultivation. Lin Shikang laughed and promptly got up to make a respectful gesture, saying, ¡°Brother Ye, please feel free to go into seclusion. Unless there is a major event, our clansmen will not disturb your cultivation.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ then I¡¯ll be troubling you!¡± Ye Pinghai returned the gesture and then took out a storage bag containing the corpse of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, passing it to Lin Shikang. Immediately after, with a smile on his face, Ye said earnestly: ¡°Lin! I believe that whether or not it¡¯s reported to the Zhenyang Sect, this beast¡¯s corpse should be handed over to the Lin Family.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang hurriedly waved his hands to refuse. ¡°The Tyrant Spirit Ape fell to Brother Ye¡¯s hand. Besides, I also have the complete body of the Wind Dusk Beast. It wouldn¡¯t be right for me to accept this one as well.¡± ¡°This¡­ How can this be acceptable¡­¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s resolved attitude, Ye Pinghai insisted a few times before finally giving up. He took back the storage bag, then exchanged greetings with the three men and left Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. As Ye Pinghai departed, Lin Shigong and the other person also did not linger any longer, promptly advising Lin Shikang to focus on recovering from his injuries. Lin Shigong then took out two treasured healing pills and handed them to Lin Shikang. Warmed by the gesture, Lin Shikang did not stand on ceremony with them. After laughing and taking the pills, he watched the two leave his cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 560 560 315 News_1 ?Chapter 560: Chapter 315 News_1 Chapter 560: Chapter 315 News_1 Yuyao City. In the center of the city, within the Zhenyang Hall, there was a secret chamber where Chen Jingtian sat in the seat of honor. Beneath him, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu sat opposite each other, all three looking somewhat melancholic, as if they had concerns weighing on their minds. In the dim light and the silent atmosphere, the scene appeared rather somber. At that moment, Chen Jingtian let out a long sigh, then spoke up, ¡°Junior Brother Zhu!¡± ¡°It has been nearly two months since the battle at the Tianluan Mountain Range ended. Is there still no news of the Tyrant Spirit Ape?¡± ¡°None,¡± Zhu Yun replied helplessly. ... Initially, they had pursued several fleeing Demonic Beasts from different directions, with the Tyrant Spirit Ape following his instructions to chase the Wind Dusk Beast to the south. They had thought that with the strength of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, even if it could not catch up with the Wind Dusk Beast, there would be no danger. Yet unexpectedly, after more than a month had passed, all of them had returned to Yuyao City, still without any sign of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. During that final great battle, the Human Race had an absolute advantage, and the Wind Dusk Beast pursued by the Tyrant Spirit Ape was seriously wounded. Logically, there should not have been any danger. In fact, apart from the Tyrant Spirit Ape not returning, their battle could indeed be considered a triumphant victory. Among them, Chen Jingtian took a huge risk to slay that Third Grade Medium Stage Blood Jiao. Afterward, he engaged in a fierce battle with the Blazing Flame Celestial Lion. However, the lion¡¯s strength was too formidable, and in the end, it managed to escape. Nevertheless, killing the powerful Blood Jiao was also considered achieving his goal, and he eventually withdrew back to Yuyao City. Apart from Chen Jingtian, he and another of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Sect Guardian Spiritual Beasts worked together to destroy a Third Order Demon Beast that fled northward. By the time the two of them joined forces, the entire battle had already come to a complete end, with only some Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators responsible for mopping up the fleeing Second Order Demonic Beasts. Given the situation at the time, with most Third Order Demonic Beasts exterminated, the Second Order posed no threat whatsoever. That being said, the Beast Tide at Yuyao City could also be considered truly over. After waiting for more than a month with no sign of the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s return, they were quite surprised and worried. At this very moment, Chen Jingtian, sitting in his high seat, furrowed his brows, speculating about the situation of the Tyrant Spirit Ape. After a good while, he still had no clue, and no plan of action. ¡°Junior Brother Zhu, now that the Beast Tide at Yuyao City is basically over, we can dismiss those Loose Cultivators and clan cultivators after distributing rewards according to the preliminary plan,¡± he said. ¡°In addition, send more people to the Southern Wei Kingdom to gather information to see if we can find any traces of the Tyrant Spirit Ape.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun nodded and promptly replied, ¡°Rest assured, Senior Brother Chen, I will arrange for this immediately.¡± ¡°But¡­ could the Tyrant Spirit Ape have encountered any danger after being missing for such a long time?¡± ¡°Danger?¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian was startled, and calculations began to race through his mind. In this battle, they had altogether slain seven Third Order Demon Beasts, which certainly counted as a great victory. However, they had also lost Wang Hengqiu, a Mid Stage Golden Core. Compared to what the Demon Beast Race had lost, this was still an acceptable loss. But if the Tyrant Spirit Ape were also dead, it would truly be a devastating blow for Zhenyang Sect, as losing two significant Golden Core Combat Strengths at once was a loss that likely exceeded their expectations. As the leader of this battle, how would he report such a loss to the Sect Leader? Pondering these concerns, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression grew increasingly grim. Seeing his state, Zhu Yun quickly spoke up to comfort him, ¡°Senior Brother Chen need not worry too much.¡± ¡°As I see it, the Wind Dusk Beast was already injured. It was at only seventy to eighty percent of its peak strength and could not be a match for the Tyrant Spirit Ape.¡± ¡°Besides, there are no Golden Elixir Forces in the Southern Wei Kingdom, nor are there Golden Core Cultivators stationed there permanently. If the Tyrant Spirit Ape went there, there should be no danger.¡± ¡°The reason for its prolonged absence could be that it has chased too far and gotten trapped somewhere. Once I dispatch our elite disciples to investigate, we would surely uncover some clues.¡± Hearing this series of reassuring words, Chen Jingtian reluctantly nodded, thinking that for the moment, that was all they could do. ¡­ In the city center. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, he sat with palms joined, in a state of deep cultivation. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, he opened his eyes, which had been closed for two days straight. His sharp gaze swept over the practice room, and he smiled with satisfaction. It had been two months since the battle at Tianluan Mountain Range, where Third Order Demonic Beasts fled in all directions. During this time, along with Li Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming had heeded the call of Long Qingshui, participating in the final task of purging the enemy. After spending a month, under the extermination carried out by a group of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, most of the more than a hundred fleeing Second Order Demonic Beasts had been killed. Only a small number of powerful Late Phase Second Order beasts escaped their pursuit, entering territories inhabited by the Demon Race and thus preserving their lives. In this final conflict, Lin Tianming once again displayed his prowess. Relying on his formidable strength and even more enduring combat power, he once again killed three Second Order Demonic Beasts, including two Late Second Order and one Middle Second Order beasts. His achievements were remarkable, and he truly stood out. In the end, on the battlefield managed by Zhenyang Sect, the Third Order beasts had either been killed or had fled. The entire Beast Tide Army was nearly annihilated. Thus, the grand battle between the Human and Demon Races ended with the Human Cultivators achieving a decisive victory. Following the end of the battle, all Foundation Establishment Cultivators returned to Yuyao City, waiting for the final tally of their battle contributions, as well as the announcement of those selected for entry into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Chapter 561 561 315 Message_2 ?Chapter 561: Chapter 315 Message_2 Chapter 561: Chapter 315 Message_2 And according to the arrangements of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s cultivators, today is the day to regularly update the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Even though he already had an idea, with his battle achievements, securing a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was practically a done deal. Therefore, Lin Tianming had ended his cultivation early, specifically to head to Zhenyang Hall and witness the final ranking on the list. Thinking about these things, Lin Tianming felt excited, his eyes filled with longing. Without realizing it, a year and a half had passed since he left the Lin Family. During this time, he had to join battles intermittently and had sustained some injuries, also going through many life and death trials. Though it was hard, the rewards were substantial. ... Now that the great battles had finally ended, only the results needed to be announced, and many cultivators might be able to leave Yuyao City, and he could return to the Lin Family, whom he missed day and night. Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming did not delay any further, quickly got up to tidy up the practice room a bit, and then sent a message to Qin Xi. A short period of time passed. The two of them sat in the reception room, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At that time, Lin Tianming, looking at the excited Qin Xi, teased her with a smile, ¡°Fairy Qin is truly gifted. Having been in Yuyao City for a year and a half, you¡¯ve managed to break through successfully!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin is joking!¡± ¡°This past year, I¡¯ve been through numerous battles and got quite a few demon beast corpses, which I exchanged for several cultivation-enhancing spiritual fruits. ¡°Thanks to the sufficient accumulation of my cultivation, it was merely by chance that I made the breakthrough!¡± Qin Xi, brushing her hair with one hand and laughing like silver bells, replied. Hearing her words, Lin Tianming waved his hand and then offered a compliment. ¡°Fairy Qin is too modest!¡± ¡°Fairy Qin was already at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer two years ago when we met, and it¡¯s been over two years since then.¡± ¡°With Fairy Qin¡¯s talent, braving such intense battles for two years, breaking through would naturally come as easily as a stream flows into a river, there¡¯s no luck about it!¡± Blushing slightly at this, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh. ¡°Giggle¡­ Lin really knows how to flatter someone!¡± Hearing this delightful laughter, and looking at Qin Xi¡¯s stunningly beautiful face, Lin Tianming found himself momentarily captivated. After finally regaining his composure, Lin Tianming felt a bit embarrassed, thinking to himself that his willpower seemed to be getting weaker and weaker. He laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Fairy Qin, today is the day the Demon Hunter Leaderboard is updated; there might be significant news. Let¡¯s go together and see!¡± ¡°Alright, I was just thinking of going out to see for myself Lin¡¯s battle achievements,¡± Qin Xi nodded in response. No sooner had she spoken than Lin Tianming rose to his feet, leading Qin Xi out of the cave dwelling and heading in the direction of Zhenyang Hall. Along the way, scattered cultivators were all heading towards Zhenyang Hall, evidently wanting to witness the prowess of the cultivators on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Following the crowd, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chatted and laughed as they walked, the atmosphere very harmonious. In less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the two arrived at the square in front of Zhenyang Hall. Looking around, the place had already gathered a lot of cultivators by now, with those at the Foundation Establishment Stage in the front and Qi Refining Cultivators standing further back, watching. In the meantime, many cultivators whispered excitedly, discussing the war that had persisted for a year and a half. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi made their way to the very front, and familiar cultivators greeted them, expressing both flattery and envy. In response, Lin Tianming remained calm, smiling and returning the greetings, appearing very amiable without displaying the airs of a genius cultivator. Such a modest demeanor, combined with the way the Lin Family handled matters, garnered the goodwill of all the cultivators. A while later. As time went by, more and more cultivators arrived, and the square became crowded with people. His teammates, Hu Yuan and Tang Liusheng, also made their way here, and upon seeing Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, they immediately came over. From a distance, Hu Yuan¡¯s hearty laughter could be heard. ¡°Lin, I didn¡¯t expect you to arrive so early today!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ you fellows are not slow either!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. As more people gathered, their small team grew larger, occupying a considerable piece of territory. The group started to chat casually, exchanging cultivation experiences while discussing the rankings on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, all the while waiting for the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect to arrive. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half a quarter of an hour later, Several cultivators emerged from within the Zhenyang Hall, including Long Qingshui; the others were also ranked individuals on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. As they appeared, the cultivators on the square stopped their conversations and fell into silence. Despite the quiet atmosphere, everyone¡¯s face was flushed, and their eyes were brimming with excitement. Clearly, they were all incredibly eager about the final rankings of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. On the high platform, Long Qingshui surveyed all the cultivators and greeted some familiar ones. When he saw Lin Tianming, he also nodded politely, showing great friendliness. In the last few rounds of battle, Lin Tianming had shone brightly, attracting the notice of many genius cultivators with his impressive strength and astonishing achievements. Even those prodigious talents ranked highly on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, like Long Qingshui, couldn¡¯t help but admire him. In the final elimination task, Lin Tianming had fought side by side with Long Qingshui, cooperating and forming an acquaintance with him. Therefore, faced with Long Qingshui¡¯s goodwill, Lin Tianming did not dare to act arrogantly and quickly returned the salute with clasped hands. He saluted everyone on the field with clasped hands, and then his loud voice spread throughout the entire square. ¡°Fellow cultivators, the Demon Beast Army has been vanquished, the great battle in Yuyao City has finally ended, and we, the cultivators of the Human Race, have achieved a decisive victory.¡± ¡°According to the instructions of our sect¡¯s elders, the individual rewards on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard can be claimed within one year at the main hall of either Dragon Mountain Market or Qianchuan Market.¡± ¡°In addition, the top three individuals on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard will obtain entry quotas to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. In two years, gather at the gates of our sect, where the elders of our sect will lead you to the Secret Realm Entrance.¡± ¡°Next, once the Demon Hunter Leaderboard has been announced, if you have no other business, you may leave Yuyao City directly.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the cultivators on the field burst into cheers, clearly too excited upon hearing the final arrangements. At this moment, Lin Tianming, like everyone else, felt very excited. With the clear directions from the high ranks of the Zhenyang Sect, they could finally leave Yuyao City and return to their normal cultivation. For this moment, numerous loose cultivators and family cultivators had been eagerly awaiting this day. Now, having finally achieved their wishes, how could they not be overjoyed? At this point, the many cultivators present were swept into a celebration, forgetting all about the soon-to-be-updated results on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. In the lively atmosphere, the cultivators conveyed their joy to each other, reigniting the previously calm scene with enthusiasm. After a while, the excitement gradually subsided. The cultivators returned to normal, their eyes intently fixed on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, showing anticipation. Then, Long Qingshui, seeing the eager eyes of the crowd, didn¡¯t dare to delay, lest he displease anyone. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, he skillfully cast several Law Decrees, striking the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. In a few breaths¡¯ time, the Demon Hunter Leaderboard shone brightly, and the names and achievements of many cultivators were revealed. Having done this, Long Qingshui glanced at the names on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard and then saluted Lin Tianming with a fist: ¡°Lin!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ my congratulations to you in advance, and I look forward to fighting alongside you once again in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily and promptly returned a sentence. ¡°Long, your esteem for me is an honor, Lin Mou is very flattered. Just as you said, I too look forward to fighting side by side with you again!¡± ¡°Indeed, indeed!¡± Long Qingshui laughed in agreement. The two exchanged smiles, their eyes revealing mutual admiration, seeming to have a tacit understanding of one another. Amidst the hubbub, Long Qingshui did not linger and, after greeting a few familiar cultivators, left the square with the Zhenyang Sect cultivators. ¡­ Chapter 562 562 316 Final Rankings_1 ?Chapter 562: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_1 Chapter 562: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_1 As Long Qingshui and others left, the cultivators in the square turned their attentions to the recently updated Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Lin Tianming did the same, looking at the list at the first opportunity, searching for his own name. Looking at the top of the list, the first position was still firmly held by Long Qingshui, whose score of 3,350 points was significantly ahead of Jiang Yuyao in second place. Still in third place was Jun Buhui, with a total score of 3,020 points; together with the first two, they were the only Foundation Establishment Cultivators to have broken through the 3,000-point mark. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but marvel. ¡°Three thousand points means they have killed thirty Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts with their own hands!¡± ¡°Thirty of them!¡± ... In fact, Lin Tianming¡¯s amazement was not unwarranted. Imagine, if these thirty were to form a Monster Beast Legion, they could easily sweep through the Luoyun Mountain Range and even the nearby areas. Such formidable strength was not something one mountain range could withstand alone, and even if several great mountain ranges joined forces, victory was not guaranteed. Thus, the impressive battle achievements of people like Long Qingshui did indeed seem somewhat inconceivable. Coming back to reality amidst the lively atmosphere, he continued to gaze down the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, his familiar name emerging in his mind. At the fifth position, he saw his own name on the list. His total score was 2,820 points, making him the top-ranking cultivator among all those who were not Zhenyang Sect Disciples. Seeing his name on the list and placed fifth overall, Lin Tianming felt very excited, with a composed smile flashing across his face. After calming his emotions, he continued to examine the positions later in the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. A tea¡¯s time passed, and Lin Tianming had thoroughly reviewed the entire Demon Hunter Leaderboard. From what he saw, the former Loose Cultivator Zheng Xiao had fallen to seventh place in the overall rankings, Li Xiuyuan was in eighth, and Hu Yuan stood at tenth. The formerly high-ranking Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun had dropped to twelfth and fifteenth respectively. Looking at the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, Lin Tianming felt somewhat surprised, which then led him into deep thought. Unexpectedly, following the last few major battles, the always consistent Deng Guanghua and his companion slipped beyond the top ten. But upon closer consideration, the gap between the cultivators on the list wasn¡¯t large to start with; just over a hundred points could drastically improve their rankings. Moreover, the key factor was that the final battle spanned a long time, and cultivators were spread out, with their collective strength not fully concentrated. Under such circumstances, those with good luck could achieve more, while those with less luck met lower-ranked Demonic Beasts or fewer in number, and naturally earned fewer battle achievements. Therefore, such significant changes in the rankings during the most crucial sprint phase were within reason. As for Deng Guanghua and Yang Tongshun, originally strong contenders for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, they were overtaken by Hu Yuan, who was previously behind them, due to their lesser fortune. And as Lin Tianming¡¯s teammate, Hu Yuan¡¯s ranking climbed further, securing the last available spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. For this, Hu Yuan was extremely excited, showing a look of gratitude in his eyes when he turned to Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin my friend, thanks to Brother Lin¡¯s wholehearted support this year, I might not have been able to secure my spot for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm otherwise!¡± said Hu Yuan with clasped hands and a sincere expression. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming modestly waved his hand, then smilingly replied, ¡°Daoist Hu, you¡¯re too kind!¡± ¡°Daoist Hu is powerful, and I too have been fortunate to receive your help this past year, allowing me to achieve a respectable ranking.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If you ask me, it¡¯s a win-win situation, we¡¯ve helped each other achieve success!¡± ¡°You make a good point, Lin,¡± Hu Yuan said with a laugh. ¡°We¡¯ve cooperated quite tacitly over the past year or so, and the results have indeed been satisfying!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, feeling quite in agreement with the sentiment. Gazing upon every name on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, each had more or less cooperated with others to achieve such impressive results. There were probably only a few such as Long Qingshui who could achieve such success on their own. In most instances, when cultivators cooperated, their strength increased and they could gain better rewards. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming felt a tinge of sentiment. This was the foundation of the Zhenyang Sect; aside from a few Golden Core Cultivators, there was also no shortage of talented Foundation Establishment Stage disciples. Zhenyang Sect dominated much of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, with Loose Cultivators and clan members comprising less than a third of listed names. Especially those top-ranked individuals, with their substantial cultivation and strength, could score points that left others in the dust, creating a gap between them and the rest. Although, in this great battle, figures like Long Qingshui benefited from their status as Inner Sect Disciples and team leaders, granting them some advantages. Yet, considering their cultivation and strength, it was evident they were genuinely formidable. Every person within the top ten of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was no pushover, with their strength by no means inferior to his own. Like such talented disciples, apart from those who appeared on the battlefield, the Zhenyang Sect undoubtedly had at least a dozen more within who did not participate in the battle. Chapter 563 563 316 Final Rankings_2 ?Chapter 563: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_2 Chapter 563: Chapter 316 Final Rankings_2 Clearly, this was the true foundation of the Zhenyang Sect, one that could not have been established in a short period of time. The reason why it had developed to this scale and such formidable overall strength was due to thousands of years of effort and the collective endeavor of hundreds of generations of disciples. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of longing and his fighting spirit was even more aroused¡ªhe aspired to lead the Lin Family to become a powerful Golden Core Family, or even a Nascent Soul Family. ¡­ While he was lost in thought, the bustling atmosphere on the plaza gradually settled down. At that moment, Hu Yuan turned to Lin Tianming with a proposal, ¡°Lin, I am going to pay a visit to Daoist Li. Would you care to join me?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and agreed to his suggestion. ... He planned to visit Li Xiuyuan, pick up his own loot, and after resting for a day or two, he would take Qin Xi back to Qianchuan Market. Having been away from his family for so long, it was time to return to that place that weighed on his mind day and night. Soon, both men hit it off and, after greeting some familiar cultivators, left the plaza and headed towards Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave residence. In a short while, the three appeared inside Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave residence. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others, Li Xiuyuan was overjoyed and quickly took out some fine Spiritual Tea to serve them. The four sat down in his guest room, sipping tea while casually chatting. At that moment, Lin Tianming took a sip of his tea and then smiled as he said a sentence. ¡°Daoist Li, first let me congratulate our team for ranking sixth on the team leaderboard!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Daoist Hu chuckled and chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ As our lead, Daoist Li, you must be receiving generous Sect rewards and an entry spot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily, feeling very delighted, and responded, ¡°Congratulations to you as well, fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°If I may say so, Lin ranked fifth on the individual leaderboard. It can be described as soaring to the sky, an achievement that I greatly admire.¡± ¡°Daoist Hu is also a powerful contender, as expected, claiming a spot in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm amidst many Loose Cultivators.¡± ¡°And our team¡¯s achievement in getting such a team result greatly relies on you two as the main force and the greatest contributors, right?¡± ¡°When it comes down to it, our team has reaped a rich harvest, and everyone has received the reward they deserve.¡± Upon hearing this succession of statements, both Lin Tianming and his companion nodded, clearly in full agreement. Indeed, that was the case. Before the great battle, their team¡¯s overall strength was only middle-to-upper among all teams. Yet by the end of the battle, their team¡¯s overall ranking had shot up to the sixth place on the leaderboard. Obviously, achieving such results was far beyond Li Xiuyuan¡¯s expectations. Therefore, in addition to the inherently splendid figures like Long Qingshui, as the team leader, he was arguably the biggest winner of this Demonic Beast Hunt. After this battle, he stood to gain not only the Sect¡¯s rewards but also an entry spot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. The rich results were achieved entirely thanks to the efforts of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. Moreover, their team¡¯s overall synergy, coupled with meticulous strategy, made correct arrangements every time, minimizing losses while maximizing gains. Thinking of these things, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s excitement took a long time to subside. Once he calmed down, Li Xiuyuan casually pulled out several storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming and the others. After scanning the contents with their Divine Sense, they all showed satisfied expressions. The storage bag Lin Tianming received contained the spoils from the last two battles, with a significant number of Demonic Beast Materials distributed very reasonably and even exceeding his expectations. Clearly, Li Xiuyuan was very generous, conducting his affairs magnanimously, without skimping on their loot. Little did they know that Li Xiuyuan had taken out half of his own loot to subsidize the cultivators in his team. Especially for Lin Tianming and his sister, as well as the powerful Loose Cultivator Hu Yuan, he gave even more. He was well aware that cultivators like Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, with exceptional talents and formidable strength, were destined to be extraordinary. By giving away some negligible benefits now, he could obtain greater profits in the future. His actions indeed earned the recognition and goodwill of Lin Tianming and the others. At that moment, Daoist Hu and Qin Xi also smiled contentedly, and the atmosphere became extremely harmonious. In the lively atmosphere, Lin Tianming and his friends chatted casually for half an hour, during which they exchanged many insights on cultivation as well as news from the Cultivation World. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming was most concerned about news from the other two battlefields, of which Li Xiuyuan was completely unaware. Perhaps his status did not grant him access to the latest information, which was somewhat disappointing. However, on further thought, since Chen Jingtian had dismissed the many cultivators who had responded to the call, it surely indicated that the other two battlefields were not facing any major problems. Lin Tianming guessed that the battles in the other two places might not have ended, but they were certainly not on the losing side. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to leave Yuyao City so soon. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming did not dwell on the matter. According to his plan, before leaving Yuyao City, he could visit Tang Xiuhe, the Executive Officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. With the formidable strength of the Sky Dragon Pavilion and its well-informed sources, he might be able to find out the latest news. It was then that Li Xiuyuan asked with a smile, ¡°Fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°Now that the great battle has ended and many Daoists are leaving Yuyao City in succession, I¡¯m not sure what plans you have or where you intend to go?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ I and Daoist Hu indeed came to bid farewell to Daoist Li,¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Hu Yuan chimed in afterward. ¡°Yes, after two years of battle, it has finally come to an end, and it¡¯s time for us to leave!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and then added, ¡°Since the two of you are determined to leave, I will not detain you any longer!¡± ¡°Your Sect rewards can be collected within a year, at either Qianchuan Market or Dragon Mountain Market.¡± ¡°Moreover, in just over two years, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm will open. Please remember to arrive early at our Sect¡¯s mountain gate, and be sure not to delay.¡± Although Lin Tianming and the other knew about this, they nodded in satisfaction at Li Xiuyuan¡¯s repeated instructions. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others chuckled, then stood up and expressed their intention to take their leave. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan did not hold them back. He stood up, cupped his hands in salute, and then, from his storage bag, took out three blood-red fruits and handed them to the three of them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, as you¡¯re leaving Yuyao City, I don¡¯t have much to give. These three Spirit Fruits are a token of my goodwill; please do accept them.¡± Seeing his gesture, Lin Tianming and his friends quickly turned their gaze to the object in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s hand. At a glance, they saw a fruit that was blood-red, crystal-clear, and contained rich energy and vitality. ¡°Blood Crow Fruit?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened as he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. The Blood Crow Fruit was also one of the heaven and earth Spirit Fruits. Metabolizing its energy and vitality could speed up cultivation and enhance one¡¯s own vitality. Although at their level of cultivation, the effects of consuming a Blood Crow Fruit would probably be extremely limited, it was still a rare treasure. Especially for Lin Tianming, who was not like Hu Yuan and Li Xiuyuan. Both Li and Hu were at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, while he was still only at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. The benefits he would gain from the Blood Crow Fruit would definitely be much greater than those of Li and Hu. At that moment, even though Lin Tianming was quite tempted, he also felt somewhat embarrassed to refuse the offer. ¡°Daoist Li, after this great battle, I have already received what I should have, and this fruit is quite valuable. I thank you for your kind intentions!¡± Lin Tianming said as he waved his hand to decline. No sooner had he finished speaking than Hu Yuan also waved his hand and echoed the sentiment. ¡°Yes¡­ Daoist Li, you are too kind. Please take it back!¡± ¡°Do you look down on me?¡± Li Xiuyuan feigned anger and said, before continuing to persuade them. ¡°The rewards from my Sect are definitely far superior to these Blood Crow Fruits, so please don¡¯t be shy!¡± ¡°If you refuse, I¡¯ll be truly upset!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan looked at each other and smiled, then laughed heartily and no longer refused. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The three of them each took a Blood Crow Fruit and stored it in their storage bags. ¡°Daoist Li, I thank you in advance. We shall meet again in two years!¡± Lin Tianming and the others said in unison. ¡°Good, in two years, at the mountain gate of my Sect, let¡¯s not miss it!¡± Li Xiuyuan responded with a cupped hand salute. After speaking, the three of them cupped their hands in a fist salute, bid farewell to Li Xiuyuan, and walked toward the exit of the dwelling. Chapter 564 564 317 Preparations Before Returning_1 ?Chapter 564: Chapter 317 Preparations Before Returning_1 Chapter 564: Chapter 317 Preparations Before Returning_1 Having left Li Xiuyuan¡¯s cave abode, Lin Tianming and his two companions walked together toward their respective dwellings. Along the way, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan chatted as they walked, discussing the topic of departing from Yuyao City. ¡°Daoist Hu, the great battle has ended, and everyone is free to leave now; what are your plans going forward?¡± ¡°If Daoist Hu plans to return to Qianchuan Market, would you care to join me on the journey?¡± Lin Tianming inquired. Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled helplessly and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to decline your kind offer this time, Lin.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised and promptly asked with curiosity, ¡°Does Daoist Hu perhaps have some other plans?¡± ... Hu Yuan chuckled and then began to explain. ¡°As a loose cultivator, I can truly say I have no ties or obligations!¡± ¡°In the past, I have lived around Qianchuan Market for so long that I¡¯ve grown tired of it.¡± ¡°With more than two years left until the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opens, I want to go to the area around Dragon Mountain Market to train and see if I can break through to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm in one fell swoop.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m fortunate enough to succeed, then when I enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, I¡¯ll also have a greater chance of surviving.¡± Hearing this detailed explanation, Lin Tianming did not insist any further. In his opinion, Hu Yuan¡¯s plan for travel was both decisive and correct. After all, once one had reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, the increase in spiritual power was incredibly limited; only by experiencing life-and-death trials or cultivating one¡¯s state of mind while traversing the world could one hope to achieve the Great Perfection Realm. Reflecting on these thoughts, Lin Tianming chuckled and then said, ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t try to keep you.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In a few days, I too will be leaving Yuyao City. I plan to return to Qianchuan Market first and go from there.¡± ¡°As such, the next time I might see Daoist Hu could very well be in two years!¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan stopped walking and nodded. Then, looking at the cave in front of him, he pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Hmm¡­ this is the place!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Hu Yuan slapped his storage bag, took out the Blood Crow Fruit that Li Xiuyuan had gifted, and handed it to Lin Tianming. ¡°Before we part, this Blood Crow Fruit is a token of my goodwill, presented to you, Lin!¡± ¡°I hope that in two years, you can reach the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and when the time comes for venturing into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, we can continue to cooperate.¡± Upon hearing this, and taking a closer look at the Blood Crow Fruit which was within arm¡¯s reach, Lin Tianming quickly began to refuse. ¡°Daoist Hu, this Blood Crow Fruit is beneficial for enhancing your cultivation; I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t accept it!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s refusal, Hu Yuan feigned a persuasive tone. ¡°Hehe¡­ As you¡¯re aware, at my level of cultivation, the benefits from this single Blood Crow Fruit will likely be extremely limited!¡± ¡°Given this, if I were to consume the fruit, it wouldn¡¯t yield its maximum effect, and that would be quite a waste!¡± ¡°How¡­ How could I accept this?¡± Lin Tianming appeared troubled and quickly began to refuse. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute attitude, Hu Yuan felt slightly embarrassed, but then he shifted the conversation. ¡°Please don¡¯t be formal, Lin. I¡¯m not forcing this fruit upon you!¡± ¡°I happen to need a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast¡¯s inner core, and the Sword Spirit Tiger¡¯s inner core that you possess is just right. How about we trade?¡± After hearing this, Lin Tianming hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement to the trade. He knew in his heart that although the Sword Spirit Tiger¡¯s inner core and the Blood Crow Fruit had similar value, the Blood Crow Fruit was more significant in effect and its potential value was higher. Hu Yuan¡¯s offer to trade was also a way of giving himself a way to retreat and was meant to help Lin Tianming. But after Hu Yuan had gone to such lengths, if Lin Tianming were to still refuse his generosity, it would show a complete lack of appreciation. Soon, Lin Tianming took out the Sword Spirit Tiger¡¯s inner core and completed the exchange with Hu Yuan. Subsequently, the two men bowed with clasped hands to each other and then turned around and departed in their respective directions. Back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming sat in the reception room with Qin Xi, chatting idly over tea. Both wore rosy complexions and appeared to be in good spirits. ¡°Fairy Qin, I intend to refine the Blood Crow Fruit before leaving Yuyao City and then head back to Qianchuan Market from there!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and replied, ¡°I have no obligations and no plans for the near future. Whatever is convenient for you, Lin, is fine by me. I have no objections.¡± After she spoke, Qin Xi took out the Blood Crow Fruit and handed it to Lin Tianming. Seeing her do this, Lin Tianming did not immediately take it but asked with puzzlement, ¡°What do you mean by this, Fairy Qin?¡± ¡°Li only gave me one because we claimed to be brother and sister to the outside world. Otherwise, with my level of cultivation, it¡¯s unlikely I would have received one.¡± ¡°In a way, I was also riding on your coattails. Now that I¡¯m returning it to its rightful owner, it¡¯s only right.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming frowned and immediately began to refuse. ¡°Fairy Qin, please keep it. I have two Blood Crow Fruits, and I fear that the effects will diminish significantly with the consumption of a third.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need for you to be so discerning. Just refine it with integrity and focus on enhancing your cultivation!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s firm stance and the non-negotiable tone in his voice, Qin Xi nodded reluctantly. At that moment, Qin Xi put away the Blood Crow Fruit and her eyes covertly sought Lin Tianming once more, stirring an inexplicable flutter in her heart, which caused a blush to appear on her face. Lin Tianming turned his gaze away, and as their eyes met, the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward. After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Tianming abruptly dropped a sentence and directly left the reception room, heading toward the training room. Chapter 565 565 317 Preparations before Returning_2 ?Chapter 565: Chapter 317 Preparations before Returning_2 Chapter 565: Chapter 317 Preparations before Returning_2 As Lin Tianming left, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion finally returned to normal, but her rapidly beating heart betrayed her inner turmoil. Qin Xi let out a long sigh of relief and soon after fell into deep thought. In her heart, after over two years of interaction, Lin Tianming¡¯s personality and the way he handled things left her with a greatly favorable impression. Sometimes he was considerate, sometimes domineering, other times a bit cold-hearted¡ªit seemed complex, but was indeed genuine. And Lin Tianming¡¯s assistance to her was absolute; he never asked for anything in return or made any demands. She had only felt this sense of protection and importance when her grandfather was still alive. After her grandfather passed away, she cultivated alone, wandering the Cultivation World. ... Throughout the years of her trials, as a Loose Cultivator, with insufficient power and cultivation, she faced endless oppression and hardships, unimaginable to many. Yet, she persevered, overcoming countless difficulties and life-threatening crises. The sole reason she struggled so desperately was to achieve a higher realm of cultivation, to seek revenge for her grandfather. Living with this hatred was exhausting, and incredibly taxing, like carrying a heavy burden that sometimes felt so overwhelming that she could hardly breathe. But since meeting Lin Tianming, it seemed as if she had placed the hatred at the bottom of her heart, and her spirit had revived. This feeling of trust and protection was wonderfully uplifting and allowed her to appreciate the true meaning of cultivation. At this moment, a subtle change began to take root deep within her heart, softening her. Finally regaining her composure, she looked towards Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation room before turning and walking towards her own secret chamber. ¡­ sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the cultivation room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, holding a Blood Crow Fruit in his hand. Gazing at the lustrous fruit, smelling its unique fragrance, his eyes sparkled with longing. The last breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Sixth Level happened soon after he arrived in Yuyao City, facilitated by a Sky Rainbow Fruit that enabled him to advance in one go. Now, nearly a year and a half had passed. During this period, aside from engaging in major battles, he spent all his time cultivating, leading a life of great fulfillment. A year and a half of intense battles had solidified his foundation mightily. And the cultivation realm, which was once somewhat tentative, had now reached the medium stage of Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, and he wasn¡¯t far from the latter stage. Now, with these two Blood Crow Fruits, he felt confident that he could reach the peak of Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. If lucky enough, he might even break through to Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. Thinking this, Lin Tianming was excited, clearly somewhat impatient. Resolved, he promptly straightened his posture and began circulating his cultivation technique. Once he reached his peak condition, he swallowed a Blood Crow Fruit without hesitation. As the Blood Crow Fruit entered his mouth, a sweet taste overwhelmed his senses with extreme comfort, blushing his face rapidly. Immediately, powerful energy burst forth from the fruit and spread rapidly along his meridians throughout his body. Sensing this energy, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression lit up with excitement, and he quickly began to circulate his cultivation technique, refining the energy. Soon, the refined energy transformed into surging spiritual power, starting to gather within his Seven Sea Dantian. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked down at his Qi Sea Dantian, the newly refined spiritual power began filling it. Beyond that, his aura was slowly becoming more solid as well, appearing increasingly condense. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not stop, but began to circulate his cultivation technique with all his might, aggressively refining the remaining energy. ¡­ Time swiftly passed, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had elapsed. Qianchuan Market. In the square before the market¡¯s auction house, numerous cultivators gathered. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open as they gazed at the notices posted on the square, sparking a flurry of discussions. Suddenly, the whole square buzzed with excitement as everyone engaged in heated debates about the content of the notices. At that very moment, Lin Xingpu was blending in with the crowd, looking at the contents of the notice, falling into a frenzy of elation. On closer inspection, the content posted on the notice detailed the final results of the battle in Yuyao City, rankings on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, as well as achievements and spoils of war. At that moment, a Qi Refining cultivator standing by Lin Xingpu¡¯s side seemed to recognize him and had also heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s illustrious name. He gazed at Lin Xingpu, who was standing there in a daze, and then congratulated him warmly, ¡°Lin, congratulations on your senior¡¯s tremendous achievement!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than another Qi Refining cultivator chimed in. ¡°Indeed, Lin Tianming has made a name for himself in Yuyao City, becoming renowned among many recruiters and landing the top spot. He truly is a role model for our peers!¡± Hearing these complimentary words, the distracted Lin Xingpu finally snapped back to reality. Listening to the familiar cultivators around him speak words of congratulations and envy, he smiled, his face beaming with pride. Soon, he regained his composure and replied politely, ¡°You flatter me, fellow cultivators!¡± ¡°Today, I received good news that has greatly excited me. I must return home to share the joy, and I hope to invite you all to gather another day when the opportunity arises.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, please feel free to go ahead!¡± A Ninth Layer Qi Refining Loose Cultivator said politely with a cupped-hand salute. Seeing this, Lin Xingpu did not linger and, after greeting a few familiar cultivators, hurriedly made his way to the Trading Quarter¡¯s Luoyun Pavilion. Inside a secret room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion. Lin Xingpu had just returned from the auction, his expression excited as he chatted with a few clan members stationed in Qianchuan Market. Seeing him like this, it was apparent something positive had happened. The oldest among them, Lin Xingyan, was quite puzzled. He looked at the mysterious Lin Xingpu and asked, ¡°Xing Pu, did you come across some treasure on your trip out?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ indeed, it¡¯s a treasure, a heaven-shaking treasure!¡± Lin Xingpu replied, laughing heartily, his excitement at its peak. Seeing him still beating around the bush, Lin Xingyan¡¯s face darkened, and he scolded, ¡°Stop the nonsense and spill it out, I¡¯m still busy here!¡± Seeing this, Lin Xingpu dared not delay and quickly recounted the details of the announcement he saw before the auction. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Tian Ming is actually ranked fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard and the first among all the recruited cultivators?¡± The faces of Lin Xingyan and the others showed disbelief, clearly shocked by the explosive news. Even though there had been rumors in Qianchuan Market about Lin Tianming ranking among the top ten on the leaderboard, these rumors had been merely circulating among cultivators and had never been officially confirmed by the Zhenyang Sect. Therefore, hearing this news, the group found it somewhat hard to believe at first. However, at that moment, seeing the shocked expressions on his clan members¡¯ faces, Lin Xingpu emphatically stated, ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± ¡°I just passed by the market after the auction and saw it with my own eyes, the Zhenyang Sect posted the announcement, and the details were very clear.¡± Hearing this and observing Lin Xingpu¡¯s earnest demeanor, the group finally accepted the truth of the matter. ¡°Haha¡­ Tian Ming indeed does our family proud as a Hidden Dragon, outshining numerous Loose Cultivators and those from many clans!¡± Lin Xingyan exclaimed excitedly at that moment. As he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhao, equally thrilled, quickly agreed. ¡°Yes¡­ I thought it was mere rumor, but who could have imagined it was true, and even beyond our expectations.¡± ¡°Since it comes from the Zhenyang Sect, then there¡¯s no doubt about its authenticity!¡± ¡°This means that Tian Ming will soon return to the clan or Qianchuan Market!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan and the others nodded, sharing the same belief. As they calmed down, Lin Xingyan, being the leader of the market, said to Lin Xingpu and the others, ¡°The great battle in Yuyao City has concluded, and unless something unexpected happens, Tian Ming won¡¯t stay there for long. He will most likely return within the next six months!¡± ¡°However, the specific timing is still unknown.¡± ¡°Now that the beast tide has mostly receded and safety is temporarily ensured, I suggest we send a clan member to deliver this good news back to the family, so that third uncle and the others can rejoice!¡± No sooner had these words left his mouth than Lin Xingpu spoke up, ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°This is the perfect opportunity to replenish Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s stock of sale items!¡± Lin Xingyan nodded upon hearing this and with an excited tone began to give orders. ¡°Good¡­ Xing Pu, Xingzhao, you two will set out tomorrow morning. Make it a quick trip!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s settled then!¡± Lin Xingpu and Lin Xingzhao both agreed to the plan, confirming the arrangement. Chapter 566 566 318 Buy and Sell_1 ?Chapter 566: Chapter 318: Buy and Sell_1 Chapter 566: Chapter 318: Buy and Sell_1 Yuyao City. Inside the cave mansion where Lin Tianming was located. After a month of secluded cultivation, he opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing across them. Lin Tianming finished his cultivation and a subtle smile emerged on his face, looking rejuvenated and at the peak of his energy. He exhaled a breath and immediately grasped the Thousand Beast Banner that he had refined in his hands. Observing the newly refined Thousand Beast Banner, it emitted strong fluctuations, along with the roaring sounds of the Demonic Beasts from within. He was brimming with excitement, his brows filled with a look of satisfaction. ... Over the month, he spent the first half refining two Blood Crow Fruits, raising his cultivation to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer. In the remaining ten-plus days, he re-refined the Thousand Beast Banner, replenishing it with a large amount of Second Order Demon Beast Souls. After the refinement, the Monster Beast Souls depleted in the previous wars were replenished, and their power was even slightly stronger. In terms of cultivation, just as he had anticipated, he still hadn¡¯t managed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, which was slightly regrettable. However, he had been aware of this possibility before he began his seclusion. The rank of the Blood Crow Fruit was limited, and its effects were not particularly impressive. Even if he consumed one or two more, it was unlikely he would break through. After all, he wasn¡¯t even at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer before his attempt at a breakthrough. And achieving the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm was a leap across a major realm. The chances of breaking through with just two Blood Crow Fruits were slim to none. Therefore, not breaking through in cultivation this time around did not disappoint him. Turning his attention back, Lin Tianming put the Thousand Beast Banner back into his storage bag and then checked the various treasures inside it. After a short while. After making an inventory, the treasures in the more than ten storage bags were numerous in both amount and variety. In the battles over the past year, he had killed more than a dozen Second Order Demonic Beasts, and the count for First Order Demonic Beasts was even in the hundreds. Just the Artifact Refining Materials from these beasts alone filled ten storage bags, and accumulated value could be a terrifying amount. Besides, he had also casually acquired some Spiritual Medicine Materials, along with various Artifact Refining Materials and ores, also filling several storage bags. However, the number of expendable treasures meant for combat purposes that were left was indeed not much. Most of the Second Order talismans were nearly exhausted, with only a few Second Order Defense Talismans and two Spirit Detonation Beads remaining. One of the beads was given to him by Lin Shikang when he left his family; the other was specially purchased at the Sky Dragon Pavilion for five thousand Spirit Stones during his visit to Qianchuan Market. Yet, the power of these offensive treasures may not be as great as the most precious Fake Golden Core Talisman he initially bought from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. In terms of defensive treasures, Lin Shikang had given him a Blood-red Jade Pendant before leaving his family. After several battles, most of the energy inside the Blood-red Jade Pendant was spent, and it probably could only endure one more fight before being completely worn out. As for the Green Scale Shield, which had always been his reliable defense, it had become worn-out and its Spirituality was noticeably weaker, resulting in very limited defensive power. Currently, the most effective defensive item he had was probably the Blue Star Armor he obtained at the Qianchuan Market auction. This piece of defensive treasure, which he wore on his body all the time, had rarely faced the attacks of Demonic Beasts head-on. Therefore, its defensive power and Spirituality had barely diminished, making it his most powerful piece of defensive equipment. Luckily, he was about to leave seclusion and planned to return to Qianchuan Market. Although most of his treasures were nearly consumed, he had yet to use his most powerful treasures and techniques. With these, he could still unleash even stronger power. Even when facing a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, if he could not win, he was fairly confident he could still retreat with his whole body. As for the Spirit Stones and elixirs in his storage bag, after the intense battles over the past year, he still had more than sixty thousand Spirit Stones, although the elixirs were mostly consumed. After calculating, he could sustain normal cultivation for over half a year without any issues. As for the absence of elixirs for cultivation, he could entirely refine them from the materials he had in hand. Therefore, none of these were problems. Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming stood up, tidied the somewhat disordered training room, and then stepped out. Standing at the entrance of the training room, he looked towards the secret chamber where Qin Xi was still in secluded cultivation. Without contact from him, there was no telling when Qin Xi would emerge. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming had no intention of disturbing her and headed straight for the exit of the cave mansion. Shortly after, he appeared on the streets outside the cave mansion. Gazing around, the Cave Mansion District seemed rather quiet at the moment, with only a few Cultivators moving around. Clearly, it had been a full month since the Demon Hunter Leaderboard had been released. Many Loose Cultivators and family Cultivators, unless necessary, had largely left the area. That included the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, who had returned to their Sect¡¯s location or to Qianchuan Market or Dragon Mountain Market. As a result, Yuyao City, which temporarily housed more than twenty thousand Cultivators, had quieted down significantly in a short period. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by this. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He moved forward and quickly arrived at Yuyao City¡¯s commercial district. Standing at the entrance of Sky Dragon Pavilion, he noticed that there were significantly more Cultivators in the commercial district, regaining some of the peak period¡¯s liveliness. However, these passing Cultivators were seventy to eighty percent unfamiliar faces, seemingly not those who participated in the war. Chapter 567 567 318 Buy and Sell_2 ?Chapter 567: Chapter 318 Buy and Sell_2 Chapter 567: Chapter 318 Buy and Sell_2 Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was puzzled, but after careful thought, he could understand the reason. Clearly, even though the battle for Yuyao City had ended, this temporary city, established by the Zhenyang Sect, was not going to be allowed to fall into desolation. After all, Yuyao City had a solid foundation and already possessed the scale of a small market town. With a bit of expansion, combined with the Third Order Great Array for defense, it could easily meet the requirements of a medium-sized market town. All that was needed was to further boost commerce and attract Loose Cultivators to reside there, and it could be developed into a small-to-medium-sized market town capable of generating a substantial amount of wealth each year. Therefore, the Zhenyang Sect would naturally take this opportunity to fully activate Yuyao City¡¯s potential. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the matter and stepped into the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Upon entering the first floor of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, there were over a dozen Qi Refining Cultivators picking out treasures. ... Lin Tianming did not hesitate to walk inside, and soon a Qi Refining Cultivator hurried over to attend to him. Seeing Lin Tianming, the Qi Refining Cultivator was very polite, obviously recognizing him or having heard of his achievements. To this, Lin Tianming was not surprised. After all, he had been a frequent occupant of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard this past year, consistently appearing at the top. Many cultivators in Yuyao City knew him, whether they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Qi Refining Cultivators, or even Golden Core Cultivators, who would pay attention to those with outstanding talent and strength. And the people of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, doing business in Yuyao City, would naturally pay attention to this as well. Since they were in business, they naturally had the ability to read people and pick up on subtleties, and they would certainly focus on Genius Cultivators or those with formidable power. They did this to avoid showing neglect when meeting them in person, causing them to lose customers or even offend these cultivators. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was at ease. ¡°Senior, if you need anything, you can go directly to the second floor, where this junior can give you an introduction!¡± Seeing the eagerness of the Qi Refining Cultivator, Lin Tianming spoke directly, ¡°Is Daoist Tang Xiuhe present?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ Allow this junior to send a message, and senior can follow this junior to rest on the second floor for a moment!¡± The Qi Refining Cultivator replied respectfully, then sent a message and led Lin Tianming towards the second floor. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shortly after, the Qi Refining Cultivator ushered Lin Tianming into a guest room on the second floor to wait for Tang Xiuhe, the Executive Officer of Sky Pavilion, to arrive. Time for a cup of tea passed by. From a distance, a friendly laugh could be heard at the doorway. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin graces us with his presence, I regret not having greeted you from afar, my apologies!¡± Seeing that it was Tang Xiuhe, whom he had planned to visit, Lin Tianming quickly got up, cupped his fists, and greeted him. ¡°I¡¯ve met Daoist Tang!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been some time, Daoist Tang, how have you been lately?¡± ¡°Very well¡­ I am quite fine, just a bit lonely, that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°With the war over, many Daoist friends have left Yuyao City, and I¡¯ve had some idle time on my hands.¡± ¡°I¡¯d never thought Daoist Lin would stay, let alone visit my Sky Dragon Pavilion to spend some time with me; it seems you¡¯ve been thinking of me.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, then sat down with Tang Xiuhe, chatting over tea as if they were quite familiar with each other. A short while passed, and after exchanging a few courteous but insipid pleasantries, Tang Xiuhe finally asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions. Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush, saying directly, ¡°Today¡¯s visit is not only to catch up with Daoist Tang but also to do business with you.¡± ¡°With Daoist Lin¡¯s formidable power, I assume ordinary items wouldn¡¯t catch your eye.¡± ¡°Feel free to speak up; my pavilion has just received a batch of goods that might satisfy Daoist Lin,¡± Tang Xiuhe replied with a smile. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was immediately intrigued. The purpose of his visit to Sky Pavilion was firstly to gather information on the Cultivation World. Secondly, it was to see if there were any treasures worth acquiring. After all, as a well-known Commerce Alliance in Qingzhou, Sky Pavilion had a relatively high chance of presenting valuable items. Aside from a few medium-sized marketplaces that have a Sky Dragon Pavilion, smaller-sized markets generally don¡¯t have many big shops and it¡¯s hard to come across fine items. It happens that I¡¯ll be leaving Yuyao City in a few days. It would be safer on the road to have a few more methods prepared. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming got straight to the point, ¡°I would like to stock up on some Second Order Talismans, be they for attack or defense, or other consumable treasures.¡± ¡°As long as they can enhance my strength or improve my cultivation, I¡¯m interested.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuhe nodded and then took out a ledger made of beast skin to examine it carefully. Soon, he laid out more than ten Second Order Talismans in front of himself. Upon a cursory glance, each talisman was at least of Second Order Medium Quality, with as many as four Second Order Superior Attack Talismans among them. ¡°Daoist Lin, the common items won¡¯t catch your eye. These are some talismans that might just meet your requirements,¡± he said. ¡°As for items that can enhance cultivation, we¡¯ve recently gotten a batch of Blood Crow Fruits. Would you be interested?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s demeanor showed excitement, clearly very much interested. Before coming, he had roughly guessed that what Sky Dragon Pavilion could sell were probably items of moderate value. Yet, he had not expected that there were quite a few Blood Crow Fruits for sale. However, he had already consumed two of them not long ago; even if he took a few more, the effect would be very limited. Still, despite this, he decided to inquire about the price of the Blood Crow Fruits. If the price was right, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to buy a few and take them back for his parents to use. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming directly asked about the prices of the various talismans and the Blood Crow Fruits. Tang Xiuhe pondered for a moment, then began to explain. ¡°Daoist Lin, you and I are old friends. Quite a few cultivators have left Yuyao City, and the prices of treasures have uniformly dropped,¡± he said. ¡°These Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans are two thousand Spirit Stones each, while the Defense Talismans are three thousand Spirit Stones each.¡± ¡°Second Order High Grade Attack Talismans are priced at three thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones each, and Blood Crow Fruits are five thousand Spirit Stones a piece.¡± At Tang Xiuhe¡¯s quoted prices, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow. The prices were indeed lower than during the great war, but still a bit more expensive than before the outbreak of the beast tide. Although he had over sixty thousand Spirit Stones in his storage bag, if he bought a lot, he would still be reluctant to spend that much. After considering for a bit, Lin Tianming finally said, ¡°I¡¯ll take all four Second Order Superior Talismans and four Second Order Defense Talismans.¡± ¡°I also want four Blood Crow Fruits. These treasures don¡¯t come at a low total price, so Daoist Tang, you should offer a fair discount.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ since Daoist Lin has made a request, naturally I should show some regard!¡± Tang Xiuhe replied with a hearty laugh and an excited tone. Soon, after some calculations by Tang Xiuhe, Lin Tianming got the treasures he specified for a total of forty-four thousand Spirit Stones. Tian Ming was quite satisfied with the deal, as Tang Xiuhe had reduced the price by one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones in one go. Afterwards, Lin Tianming immediately took out enough Spirit Stones and received the items he had purchased from Tang Xiuhe. With the transaction complete, Tang Xiuhe was quite excited inwardly. After all, a deal involving more than forty thousand Spirit Stones was exceptionally rare for a store in Yuyao City since its opening. Ordinarily, only core disciples from the Zhenyang Sect with substantial wealth or some strong Loose Cultivators could afford to spend like this. Therefore, when he looked at Lin Tianming once more, his attitude became even more enthusiastic. Seeing the change in Tang Xiuhe¡¯s expression and tone, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised. While his ties with Tang Xiuyuan weren¡¯t shallow, after coming to Yuyao City, he hardly brought any substantial benefits to Tang Xiuhe. So it wasn¡¯t realistic to expect that Tang Xiuhe would voluntarily share some information just based on their not-so-profound connection. In such a situation, he was willing to spend a large sum of money on these treasures as a way to repay Tang Xiuhe for the information about the cultivation world provided over the past year. Sure enough, before he could speak up, Tang Xiuhe took the initiative to introduce the recent situation in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Chapter 568 568 319 Xu Haiqiao_1 ?Chapter 568: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_1 Chapter 568: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_1 Half a quarter of an hour later. Under the enthusiastic farewell of Tang Xiuhe, Lin Tianming left Sky Dragon Pavilion feeling satisfied and content. Just now, according to the information revealed by Tang Xiuhe, it seemed that the beast tide in the Wei Kingdom was under control. In Yuyao City, Chen Jingtian had led the team and was the first to eradicate the Monster Beast Legion, ensuring that in the vast region of southern Wei Kingdom, the sight of these legions had nearly vanished. Only some First Order Demon Beasts occasionally appeared in the lands of the Human Race, but the beasts¡¯ strength was so feeble that it couldn¡¯t shake the foundation of Human Cultivators in the slightest. As for Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, although the scale and strength of the beast tide were greater, the power of these two Great Sects was just as formidable. As the great battle intensified, both Sects regained their footing and even gained an absolute upper hand. ... Continuing at this rate, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be long before the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would completely calm down and return to its former state. As for the Luoyun Mountain Range, which he was particularly concerned about, he didn¡¯t get much specific news, after all, this barren land was insignificant to the colossal Tang Family. According to Tang Xiuhe, the Luoyun Mountain Range didn¡¯t suffer much loss and the Lin Family was perfectly normal, without any significant events occurring. Therefore, the anxiety in Lin Tianming¡¯s mind finally eased. Returning to his cave abode, Qin Xi had just come out of seclusion as well. The two sat in the reception room, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi¡¯s expression and joked with a smile, ¡°Not seeing you for over a month, Fairy Qin¡¯s cultivation seems to have improved again!¡± ¡°Giggle¡­¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement as she responded flirtatiously. ¡°Lin is indeed perceptive; thankfully, that Blood Crow Fruit has brought my cultivation to the peak of the Third Level of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Had it not been for the fact that my last breakthrough was not long ago, I would have even considered attempting the Fourth Level!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his heart not at all surprised. Although the Blood Crow Fruit, among the many Second Order Spiritual Fruits, was not the top-tier, it was still distinct from ordinary ones. While its effectiveness on his own progress was quite limited, Qin Xi was still only at the Foundation Establishment Third Level, so naturally, the effects were substantial. It wasn¡¯t surprising that she achieved better results. Snapping back to reality, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°Fairy Qin¡¯s talent is not bad after all; the Blood Crow Fruit is just the icing on the cake!¡± ¡°Giggle¡­¡± Qin Xi¡¯s bell-like laughter filled the air, once again drawing Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. At that moment, Lin Tianming, gazing at her exquisite beauty, couldn¡¯t help but flush a tint of red on his face. He hurriedly changed the subject to prevent himself from acting improperly and falling into an awkward situation. ¡°Fairy Qin, I plan to set off in the next two days, first resting for a few days in Qianchuan Market before rushing back to my clan. Do you have any objections to this?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Qin Xi nodded and replied, ¡°This humble girl has no objections. I shall follow Lin¡¯s arrangements!¡± ¡°Good, things in Yuyao City have been mostly taken care of; without delay, let¡¯s depart early tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Tianming declared. ¡°Mmmhmm¡­¡± With that, Lin Tianming exchanged a few more words with Qin Xi, smiled slightly, and then left the reception room to return to his training room. Early the next morning. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi first went to Zhenyang Hall to return the token assigned to them for their cave abode, and then, taking advantage of the hazy morning light, they hurried out of Yuyao City. A few miles outside Yuyao City, atop a hill, the two of them appeared. Standing on the hilltop and watching, they saw a few cultivators occasionally passing by in the distance, seemingly heading towards Yuyao City. Just like them, there were only a few leaving Yuyao City, while more were entering. Clearly, most of the cultivators who had participated in the great battle had already left, and those coming to Yuyao City now were there to tour around or to conduct business. But this was no longer related to him and posed no conflict. Without any accidents, he did not plan on returning to Yuyao City in the coming years. Regathering his thoughts, he released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag. An excited screeching sound resounded as the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s vast body appeared before them, nearly blotting out the sky. In the recent years, Lin Tianming had been traveling extensively and had been through many great battles, while also killing a large number of Demonic Beasts. With the help of the ample spoils of war, the growth rate of the Purple Gold Eagle was impressive, seemingly reaching the pinnacle of the Second Order Initial Stage. If it were to swallow a few more Second Order Medium Stage inner cores, it would have completely had the chance to break through this initial stage. In fact, Lin Tianming had considered allowing the Purple Gold Eagle to break through before setting off. However, the timing of a demonic beast¡¯s breakthrough was unpredictable; it could take months, or even one to two years. If he were to delay here for too long, his family elders would likely worry. Besides, although Yuyao City was far from Qianchuan Market, given the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s current flying speed, if all went well, it would take about a month to return either to his clan or Qianchuan Market. Therefore, he did not plan to continue waiting in Yuyao City any longer. Looking at the excited Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming took a First Order Late Stage Demon Beast Corpse from his storage bag and tossed it to the bird. The Purple Gold Eagle caught the corpse reluctantly, seemingly a bit disdainful. Seeing this, a shadow crossed Lin Tianming¡¯s face, and he slapped the Purple Gold Eagle on the head. ¡°You mangy bird, now that your wings have hardened, you even disdain the corpse of a First Order Late Stage Demon Beast!¡± Lin Tianming scolded, half in jest, half in anger. Chapter 569 569 319 Xu Haiqiao_2 ?Chapter 569: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_2 Chapter 569: Chapter 319 Xu Haiqiao_2 Indeed, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s fierce and malevolent expression, the Purple Gold Eagle no longer dared to look as it did, hastily swallowing the remains of the Demon Beast in its mouth. Then, it knew to use its beak to affectionately nuzzle Lin Tianming¡¯s hem, making a pleasing expression. Lin Tianming gave a faint smile, indulgently stroking the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers. The false anger on his face dissipated immediately. In his heart, the Purple Gold Eagle had followed him through thick and thin over the years, and it had even accompanied Lin Shilu on journeys. To him and his family, the eagle had indeed rendered distinguished service. The words he had spoken earlier were nothing but jests, and he was not truly angry with the Purple Gold Eagle. Qin Xi, standing beside them, watched Lin Tianming and the familiar Purple Gold Eagle, unable to hold back a giggle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming finally spoke, ¡°It¡¯s getting late; let¡¯s set out!¡± ... Having said this, Lin Tianming leaped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle first, and Qin Xi followed closely in his steps. Soon, the Purple Gold Eagle took to the sky with both of them, shooting off in the direction of the south. Standing on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming gazed into the distance ahead, watching as the surrounding mountains and rivers gradually faded into the background. Having left his family for more than a year, he was finally on the journey home. At this moment, his mind was a whirl of thoughts, his heart was filled with excitement, and he felt a keen sense of eagerness. The Purple Gold Eagle was fast. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, it had already flown several miles. With the improvement in its strength, the Purple Gold Eagle was noticeably faster than before. At this speed, reaching Qianchuan Market within a month might not be difficult. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming smiled slightly, then began to extend his Divine Sense outward, alert to the movements around him, ready for any sudden incidents. The Purple Gold Eagle turned into a shadow within the thousand foot high clouds, flying towards the southwest. ¡­ Time flew swiftly, and half a month passed in a blink. Jinping Mountain Range. Within a vast marshland, three shadows, one after another, fled and pursued toward the north. Looking closely, one of the figures, a blue-robed middle-aged man, appeared disheveled with ragged breathing, multiple wounds on his body oozing blood, presenting a rather pitiful sight. Behind him, two Black Robed Cultivators sat on a black Flying Artifact, clutching Magic Artifacts with a look of mockery in their eyes, chasing after the wounded blue-robed Cultivator. ¡°Xu Haiqiao, I advise you to stop struggling pointlessly,¡± ¡°Just surrender to our Blood Red Alliance. If you hand over what we want, perhaps your sorry life can be spared!¡± Xu Haiqiao, fleeing ahead of them, was pale-faced, blood constantly dripping on the ground. Hearing this, he retorted disdainfully and angrily. ¡°Surrender?¡± ¡°Do you think I am a naive three-year-old child?¡± ¡°Expecting me to hand over the treasures? Only over my dead body, it¡¯s simply impossible!¡± He was clear in his mind that these people were desperados; his family had been wiped out without a trace. Even if he surrendered to the Blood Red Alliance and gave up the treasure, there was no chance of survival. ¡°Hmph!¡± Hearing Xu Haiqiao¡¯s words, one of the Black Robed Cultivators snorted coldly, his expression darkened, readying himself to strike once more. ¡°Since you¡¯re courting death, we brothers don¡¯t need to waste words on you!¡± The moment their statement ended, the two Black Robed Cultivators attacked together, their Magic Artifacts bursting with intense light, assaulting Xu Haiqiao. Their attack was extremely fierce, each strike imbued with immense power. Seeing this, Xu Haiqiao turned even paler, hastily engaging in combat despite his injuries. For a time, the three of them were locked in combat once again. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The Magic Artifacts in their hands emitted dazzling light, and fireworks burst forth, an enveloping dust cloud shrouding the entire battlefield. From the fluctuations of their battle, it was evident that all three were at least Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. In the midst of battle, Xu Haiqiao spat out a mouthful of fresh blood after a strike, his complexion turning a few shades paler once again. At this moment, Xu Haiqiao was extremely angry, yet felt utterly helpless. Their chase had persisted for several days now. Initially, he had been able to resist Zhou Xuan with the treasures accumulated by his family. But as time passed, his treasures and spiritual power were greatly depleted, and under the attack of two cultivators, he quickly fell into a disadvantage, also sustaining serious injuries. If there had been only one person pursuing him, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this dire situation. However, there were two of them, and each one¡¯s cultivation strength was not weaker than his. Besides, the forces behind the two men in black were clearly very strong, possessing a Second Order Medium Quality Flying Artifact for travel. Already injured, he simply couldn¡¯t escape with such a magical flying artifact at their disposal. In such circumstances, he felt wronged and was extremely frustrated. In his heart, he had no clue about the intentions of the two men in black robes. However, upon reflection, and considering his family had been attacked by an unknown Golden Core cultivator, he could guess it likely had something to do with a treasure he had acquired a few years back. And the ins and outs of this matter made for quite a long tale. He hailed from the Xu Family of the neighboring Baotai Mountain Range, a Foundation Establishment family within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and he was the highest-cultivating member of his family. The overall strength of the Xu Family was also not weak; though not among the very top of the numerous Foundation Establishment families, they were by no means obscure. Several years prior, his family had explored an ancient cultivator¡¯s cave dwelling, planning for several years and expending a great deal of effort to open it. Regrettably, due to the antiquity of the cave dwelling, all the treasures had turned to ashes, and they found nearly nothing, save for a fiery red stone. At first, they didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, only later to discover the stone¡¯s unusual nature. Despite its ordinary exterior, he had tried various methods to refine it, using Earth Fire or even his full-powered attacks, but the stone could not be melted down, nor could any marks be left on it. Clearly, being preserved from tens of thousands of years, or even longer, spoke to the unique nature of this stone. During the few years since acquiring the treasure, he kept it as the family¡¯s top secret, very well hidden, intending to slowly study and explore it in the future. With some time, he might have been able to uncover its secrets, thus obtaining a tremendous opportunity. Unfortunately, before a few peaceful years could pass, the Xu Family was mysteriously attacked, led by an unknown Golden Core cultivator, accompanied by more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. In less than an hour, the Xu Family¡¯s gate was breached, and nearly all members, regardless of age or gender, were dead or wounded. Only he, under the desperate protection of numerous family members, with a portion of the family¡¯s treasures in tow, managed to flee through a hidden passageway. However, before he could even leave the bounds of the Baotai Mountain Range, he was found by the men sent out by the Golden Core cultivator. After several rounds of fierce battle, he was seriously injured and could only hastily flee towards the gateway of the Zhenyang Sect. If he could just reach the vicinity of the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s gate, he might be able to escape with his life. If it really came down to it, he could also offer up that unknown treasure. With the power of several Golden Core cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect, he might receive protection. This was why he was so determined to escape northward. And that was the entire story behind these events. Piecing together these clues, it was very likely the treasure obtained by his family had been leaked or the Blood Red Alliance had some unknown means of discovering the treasure within their possession. But at the moment, all of this no longer mattered. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The situation now was grim; reaching the mountain gate of the Zhenyang Sect seemed utterly hopeless, and he was being pursued by two cultivators. Clearly, he was severely injured and at a critical juncture where his life was at stake. At this moment, his face pale, he used up the few treasures he had left to create a chance to flee for his life. He knew in his heart, with every moment he could persevere, his chances of surviving increased slightly. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± With an attack that repelled the two black-robed cultivators, he didn¡¯t care about his bodily injuries and forcibly seized this brief respite to continue his desperate flight northward. Chapter 570 570 320 Forced to Get Involved_1 ?Chapter 570: Chapter 320: Forced to Get Involved_1 Chapter 570: Chapter 320: Forced to Get Involved_1 However, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s intentions seemed to be already anticipated by the man in the black robe. As he made his move to escape, he hadn¡¯t even covered a thousand zhang before his path was blocked. ¡°Xu Haiqiao, you can¡¯t escape; resign yourself to death!¡± A man in black shouted angrily, followed by a fierce strike, intending to severely injure him, or even to take his life in one fell swoop. However, at that moment, all three present furrowed their brows, as if they had discovered something. At this time, on a mountain peak outside their battlefield, Lin Tianming wore an expression of helplessness. He looked at the fluctuations coming from ahead, smiled bitterly with helplessness, and couldn¡¯t help but talk to himself. ... ¡°Ah¡­ such bad luck, to accidentally stumble upon such a trivial matter!¡± Earlier, he had brought Qin Xi to this place and, with his stronger Divine Sense, was the first to detect the presence of the three people. Faced with this sudden situation, Lin Tianming dared not make any moves, choosing instead to hide there. He had thought that the grievances between the three had nothing to do with him and perhaps after a fight, they would leave indifferently. The two parties would not interfere with each other, each treating the other as a passerby. However, as it turned out, the Divine Sense of the three was not much weaker than his, and, because of a pursuit, the safe distance between them had been shortened. Up until this moment, all three had sensed his presence, and he could no longer hide. In such a situation, his desire to remain a bystander seemed impossible. Realizing this, Lin Tianming smiled bitterly with resignation, then stepped out from hiding behind the small mountain. Looking at the gloomy faces of the two men in black robes, and Xu Haiqiao¡¯s slightly pleased expression, Lin Tianming gave an awkward smile, then cupped his fists and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am unaware of your grievance and have no wish to get involved.¡± ¡°I am merely a passerby. I know nothing about the events of today and shall take my leave immediately!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming, regardless of the various expressions of the three, immediately started retreating with Qin Xi. At this moment, Xu Haiqiao, seeing that Lin Tianming was leaving without hesitation, anxiously shouted out. ¡°Fellow Daoist, those two are from the Blood Sea Alliance. Under the leadership of a Golden Core Cultivator, they wiped out my entire Xu Family over an item of unknown purpose!¡± ¡°If you save my life, I will definitely reward you generously in the future.¡± Hearing Xu Haiqiao¡¯s words, the faces of the two men in black robes changed dramatically, their expressions filled with murderous intent. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also changed and he looked somewhat angry for a moment. Clearly, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s actions were a deliberate attempt to drag him into the fray. However, if one considered Xu Haiqiao¡¯s perspective, his actions were also acts of desperation. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, under the siege of the two men in black robes, he had already sustained heavy injuries and could fall at any moment. At this dire juncture, Lin Tianming, a chance encounter, was undoubtedly his last lifeline. And Lin Tianming had just made it clear that he would not get involved, directly shattering his last hope. Since he was doomed either way, he might as well take a gamble and drag Lin Tianming into the mess; perhaps there was a sliver of chance for survival. Under these circumstances, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s actions were undoubtedly an opportunity for himself. Yet, much as this was the case, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s actions were shocking and enraging for both Lin Tianming and the two men in black robes, who probably wished they could tear him apart. After all, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s words not only revealed the mission of the men in black but also leaked secrets that should not have been divulged. On Lin Tianming¡¯s side, even if he did not plan to get involved, it seemed inevitable that he would have to become entangled in this troublesome situation. As expected, as he turned to leave, Xu Haiqiao also chased after him in the direction he was retreating. Obviously, Xu Haiqiao was insisting on sticking with him. As they set off, the expressions of the two men in black changed, and they hurriedly pursued them. In the blink of an eye, the original situation of two chasing one turned into two chasing three. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the distance between them narrowed. At this rate, if Xu Haiqiao did not fight back and kept following him, it would be impossible for them to shake off the two men in black robes. Thinking this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression darkened, and he felt anger building inside. However, given the current situation, it was not the time to blame Xu Haiqiao. They had to quickly come up with a plan, or perhaps join forces to kill the two men in black robes. Otherwise, continuing to flee like this was meaningless and would hardly change the outcome. After giving it some thought, Lin Tianming decided to join forces with Xu Haiqiao to take a stand and deal with the two men in black robes first. The reason for this decision was, in fact, well-considered. He was very aware of their current predicament. Although the two men in black robes were powerful, he alone was no match for them. But with Qin Xi¡¯s assistance, the Purple Gold Eagle, and the tamed Bloodthirsty Jiao on his side, plus the seriously injured Xu Haiqiao, they might have a chance to fight. Especially the Bloodthirsty Jiao, who was at the Second Order Late Phase, had the potential to be his greatest aid upon full recovery. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming suddenly halted in his tracks and prepared for combat. ¡°Fellow Daoist, prepare to join forces against the enemy!¡± bellowed Lin Tianming. He then slapped his storage bag, and fifty-six Earth Evil Swords immediately flew out, quickly dispersing around them. He then grasped the Tiangang Sword in his hand, unleashed a surge of Sword Qi, and attacked the two men in black robes who were in pursuit. Chapter 571 571 320 Forced into the Fray_2 ?Chapter 571: Chapter 320 Forced into the Fray_2 Chapter 571: Chapter 320 Forced into the Fray_2 ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± Potent sword qi slashed across the sky, shooting directly over the head of Xu Haiqiao. Seeing this, Xu Haiqiao was overjoyed, thinking to himself that his shameless strategy had indeed worked. At this moment, the faces of the two black-robed men darkened as they swiftly stabilized their postures and unleashed powerful attacks, clashing with the sword qi driven by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud explosive noises erupted, the forceful pressing action sweeping out, spattering the surrounding marshland with mud. As the exploratory attacks ceased, Xu Haiqiao also joined up with Lin Tianming. ... At this moment, both parties locked eyes, and within each pair of eyes, there was a mix of wariness and fury. Behind Lin Tianming, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Purple Gold Eagle had appeared at some point. One circled overhead, while the other reared its huge head, its blood-red eyes fixedly staring at the two black-robed men. The tense atmosphere hadn¡¯t lasted long before it was disrupted by the attacks of the two black-clad men. After exchanging glances, the two black-clad men began to activate their magic artifacts. They each wielded a blood-red short blade covered in a cold, sinister aura, which seemed somewhat malevolent. However, judging from the aura, these two blood-red short blades were actually second order superior attack talismans. ¡°If you¡¯re seeking death, don¡¯t blame us brothers for not being polite!¡± shouted one of the black-robed cultivators as he activated his magic artifact, unleashing countless red blade qi that resembled thin rain. As the two black-robed men made their move, Lin Tianming and Xu Haiqiao took action at the same time. ¡°Fellow daoists, these two brothers are very strong; the attack power of their blood blades is extremely formidable. I¡¯ve already suffered a great deal from them numerous times. You must be very careful,¡± warned Xu Haiqiao as he then activated his own magic artifact to meet the oncoming rain of red blade qi. Simultaneously, the Bloodthirsty Jiao behind Lin Tianming followed his command to assist the severely injured Xu Haiqiao by holding off one of the black-robed men. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, faced the other black-robed cultivator alone. As for Qin Xi and the Purple Gold Eagle, they followed Lin Tianming¡¯s orders, launching attacks from a safe distance to create some minor distractions for Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The massive battle commenced, with both sides split into two groups, fiercely fighting against each other. In the battle group where Lin Tianming was, after several rounds of probing attacks had ceased, the two opponents¡¯ expressions became dead serious. Clearly, after several exchanges, they seemed to have gauged each other¡¯s strength. Xu Haiqiao wasn¡¯t lying; the strength of the two black-clad men was indeed formidable. The one Xu Haiqiao fought was actually at the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Completion. The cultivator battling Lin Tianming was at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Beyond their cultivation levels, both men came from exceptional backgrounds and wielded second order superior attack talismans. And according to Xu Haiqiao, they were from the powerful faction of the Blood Red Alliance, with even a Golden Core Cultivator leading the team. They had backgrounds, strength, and the aid of high-grade magic artifacts. Such powerful opponents were the most challenging Lin Tianming had encountered in years. Knowing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to be negligent. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The attacks of the black-robed man were relentless like the tide, barely giving Lin Tianming any chance to react. As the sky once again filled with red blade qi, Lin Tianming held nothing back. His Tiangang Sword radiated spiritual light as sword qi burst forth, clashing with the oncoming blade qi. At the same time, he took out several Second Order Attack Talismans, including two of superior quality. With a pinch of the Law Decree, he activated the talismans without hesitation. In an instant, the talismans transformed into countless fireballs, and the sky was suddenly full of fireballs raining down on the black-robed man. Right then and there, the gray sky blazed with fire, and powerful oscillations spread out, causing the marshland around them to churn violently. After the strike, the sky returned to a brief calm. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knotted, and his heart could not help but feel a sense of surprise. The pressure from the man in black was too great; aside from not resorting to his last-ditch effort, there was basically no way to harm him. And on the other side, the man in black was equally astonished. To him, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation obviously did not match his own, but the strength he displayed seemed hardly inferior. Thinking this, the man in black instantly withdrew the slight arrogance in his heart and became serious. Their mission was critical, and failure, even with their brothers¡¯ level of ability, would definitely lead to severe punishment once back at the Blood Red Alliance. Given this, he had to act quickly; capsizing in a gutter was not an option. Understanding this, the man in black no longer held back and channeled his spiritual power to its peak, planning to end the fight quickly. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± In an instant, waves of blood-red saber qi coalesced from the black-robed man¡¯s magic artifact, quickly forming nine blood-red giant dragons. At that moment, the black-robed man¡¯s face flushed red as he suddenly bellowed, ¡°Bloodthirsty Jiao Invades the Heavens!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than the nine dragons opened their gaping maws, coming at him with immense momentum. Seeing this, and feeling the endless momentum that seemed to want to devour him in one fell swoop¡ª If he were to be struck by the nine blood dragons, even his robust body would have no possibility of survival. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew somber. But he did not panic. After all, he had been through numerous life-and-death battles, each time turning peril into safety, which enriched his combat experience. As the blood dragons drew closer, their tremendous momentum instantly evaporated the mud around them. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors. With a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, he directly unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword. He was well aware that ordinary attacks were of little use now; under such pressure, he had to exert all his strength and aim for a swift resolution. Realizing this, he hesitated no longer and spurred the Tiangang Sword Qi, clashing with the oncoming blood dragons. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds rang out, the intense explosion obscuring their vision. However, Lin Tianming, relying on the Eye of Five Colors, saw through this barrier and clearly observed the Tiangang Sword Qi easily shattering six blood dragons. But by the seventh, it seemed its might had been exhausted too much, barely breaking the seventh before dissipating. The remaining two blood dragons, their speed unabated, continued their fierce advance toward him as if intending to swallow him whole. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s feet became swift, and he instantly shifted dozens of yards away. Yet, like living creatures, the two blood dragons followed the trajectory of his movement and pursued. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression slightly shifted. In haste, he swung the Tiangang Sword, unleashing a torrent of sword qi to intercept one blood dragon. As for the impending other, he had already activated two Second Order Defense Talismans, forming barriers in front of him. In the blink of an eye¡ª A vast amount of Tiangang Sword Qi whittled away at the power of the blood dragon, while the other broke through the barrier formed by the Defense Talismans. For a moment, the two weakened blood dragons collided head-on with Lin Tianming¡¯s fists. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two loud thuds followed, with Lin Tianming staggered back dozens of yards by the force of the blood dragons, finally regaining his balance after a few stumbles. By then, the two blood dragons, their might spent, dissipated before his eyes. In that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s arms went numb and blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, his inner energy turbulent. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the sensation of shock within his body. As his inner energy circulated once more, his arms regained sensation and strength. With this most powerful strike concluded¡ª It was evident that despite having used many treasures and his physical strength, he was still suppressed by the black-robed man. Looking again at the black-robed man opposite him, his expression turned exceedingly grim, and his face filled with wariness. Chapter 572 572 321 Treasures Appear_1 ?Chapter 572: Chapter 321 Treasures Appear_1 Chapter 572: Chapter 321 Treasures Appear_1 Across from him, the black-robed man¡¯s expression shifted, betraying a hint of surprise. ¡°Dual Cultivation of Body and Law?¡± The black-robed man muttered to himself in a low voice. At this moment, following that last strike, the black-robed man was shocked once again. You should know, the attack he had just used would typically leave a Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator with very few able to handle it as calmly as Lin Tianming had. For instance, when he used his strongest strike against Xu Haiqiao, also at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, he had inflicted severe injuries. Furthermore, some Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators were unable to withstand even one hit and were directly killed by the Blood Dragon. ... However, Lin Tianming¡¯s current state seemed to be nothing more than impacted by some recoil. This trivial amount of damage had virtually no significant effect on his combat power. While he was momentarily distracted, Lin Tianming initiated his attack. At this time, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, grasping all of his remaining Second Order Attack Talismans in his hand. More than ten Second Order Attack Talismans, among them three of Superior quality, the rest were of Second Order Medium Quality. He chanted the Law Decree, activating all the Attack Talismans in one go. ¡°Boom¡­Boom¡­Boom¡­¡± The heavens and the earth were once again dominated by the various attacks produced by the talismans, a sky-obscuring frenzy that seemed wild to behold. Yet, merely these Attack Talismans were not enough to satisfy Lin Tianming. As the black-robed man dealt with the talismans, Lin Tianming had already activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. In addition, the Thousand Beast Banner was also unleashed, engulfing the black-robed man in a vast expanse of black fog. All these countermeasures were executed in an extremely short span of time. Before the black-robed man could react, he was already suppressed by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner. At this point, the black-robed man¡¯s face darkened, staring at the continuously shrinking Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the numerous Second Order Demon Beast Souls lunging towards him with their gaping jaws, revealing a look of extreme wariness. Moreover, the Sword Qi from inside the Sword Array bombarded him relentlessly, bringing with it intense feelings of constraint and pressure, posing a great trouble to him. However, being a veteran of countless battles, even though he found the situation problematic, he didn¡¯t lose his composure entirely. As the dense attacks continued to bombard him incessantly, the black-robed man began to rely on some consumable treasures to buy himself time. ¡°Boom¡­Boom¡­Boom¡­¡± echoed from within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. The Sword Qi circulating inside the Sword Array clashed violently with the black-robed man¡¯s Blood-colored Short Blade¡¯s Qi. In the blink of an eye, many strands of Sword Qi were deflected and eventually dissipated completely. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel helpless. The range covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was still too large, making the Sword Qi insufficiently concentrated. And the black-robed man¡¯s Blade Qi was extremely formidable, both in strength and number. Therefore, relying solely on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s current Sword Qi might be inadequate to fully block the black-robed man¡¯s attacks. Realizing this, Lin Tianming pushed his Spiritual Power to its limit, firmly stabilizing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At the same time, he sprayed a mouthful of his blood essence onto the surface of the Thousand Beast Banner. In an instant, the Thousand Beast Banner shone brightly, and a vast number of Monster Beast Souls surged out of the massive black fog once again. At a glance, there were nearly ten thousand Monster Beast Souls, the majority of them being First Order Monster Beast Souls. Yet, there were also three to four hundred Second Order Late Stage Monster Beast Souls. Such a multitude of Monster Beast Souls rushed toward the black-robed man ferociously, swarming him in endless waves like an overwhelming tide. At this moment, the black-robed man was not about to simply wait for death. He frantically deployed Second Order Talismans, their powerful attacks annihilating swathes of Monster Beast Souls in sheets. In a blink of an eye, thousands of First Order Demon Beasts were reduced to ash. Still, the Monster Beast Souls, fearless, surged forward relentlessly, giving the black-robed man no chance to catch his breath. They savagely tore at the barriers before the black-robed man, gradually gnawing away these unique energy bodies. A Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talisman could barely last a moment before completely collapsing. It was only then that the black-robed man truly understood the terrifying nature of these Monster Beast Souls. In desperation, a bright light emanated from his body and his Blood-colored Short Blade moved feverishly. Waves of Blood Blade Qi spread outwards in all directions. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang¡­Bang¡­Bang¡­¡± With each booming sound, a substantial number of Monster Beast Souls dissipated completely into the black fog. However, the sheer number of Monster Beast Souls was too vast to be eradicated in a short period. At that moment, seeing the black-robed man struggle to keep up, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t idle either. He firmly controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, reducing its range as quickly as possible. He was all too aware of just how strong the black-robed man was. Moreover, the situation with Xu Haiqiao was also dire; already severely injured and stripped of his treasures, his strength was significantly reduced. If he delayed too long and Xu Haiqiao was killed, he would have to face an even greater crisis. Therefore, he had to seize the opportunity, shrinking the range of the Sword Formation as much as possible before his opponent could free himself. Once it reached a hundred zhang in range, he could gain the upper hand and kill the black-robed man as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they would likely be drawn into an arduous battle. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare hesitate. In haste, he produced a gray-white bead that he hadn¡¯t used for a long time, the Spirit Detonation Beads. Chapter 573 573 321 Treasures Emerge_2 ?Chapter 573: Chapter 321 Treasures Emerge_2 Chapter 573: Chapter 321 Treasures Emerge_2 At this moment, his hand clutching a Spirit Detonation Bead, he infused a stream of pure spiritual power into it. Immediately after, the Spirit Detonation Bead started to turn a deep red. Seeing this, he didn¡¯t hesitate and threw the Spirit Detonation Bead towards the black-robed man. At that time, the black-robed man was still mired in the quagmire of attacks from the Monster Beast Souls. However, he was constantly monitoring Lin Tianming¡¯s every move while contemplating countermeasures. In the moment he saw the Spirit Detonation Bead, the black-robed man¡¯s complexion suddenly changed, revealing a look as if facing a formidable enemy. Clearly, he knew the great power of the Spirit Detonation Bead, and even at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he didn¡¯t dare to directly withstand the damage from this treasure. ... As he watched the Spirit Detonation Bead draw ever closer, the black-robed man grew slightly anxious. He was still trapped in the morass formed by the Monster Beast Souls¡¯ assault, and the toll it took was not small; fighting his way out and escaping the beasts¡¯ entanglement would truly require a desperate effort. Making up his mind, the black-robed man slapped his storage bag and pulled out a Second Order Medium-Quality Defense Artifact, placing it firmly in front of him. Then, not feeling entirely secure, he hastily brought out several Second Order Talismans, forming two barriers in front of him again. Seeing this, that the black-robed man brought out a Second Order Medium-Quality Defense Artifact and even needed to add a few Second Order Defense Talismans, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but frown, feeling incredibly surprised. After all, he had always had a considerable stockpile of expendables and Second Order Magical Artifacts were of extremely fine quality, giving him no small advantage in a fierce battle. And this fight had revealed the black-robed man¡¯s wealth to be beyond his expectations. A never-ending supply of magical artifacts, all of Medium to High Quality, coupled with what seemed to be an inexhaustible use of Second Order Talismans¡ªcontrasted with his own resources, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but murmur to himself. ¡°Who is this guy, to be so incredibly rich!¡± Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression hardened, and his determination to quickly kill the black-robed man grew even firmer. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud explosion resounded. The Spirit Detonation Bead, carrying a terrifying power and moving at an incredibly fast speed, pierced straight through the riddled barriers and slammed against the Defense Artifact summoned by the black-robed man. Brilliant colors streaked across the sky, and suddenly the entire sky lit up brightly. When the light had dissipated, the figure of the black-robed man was revealed. He had been blasted dozens of feet away by the terrifying shockwave of the explosion. Finally stabilizing himself, the black-robed man looked terrified, vomiting blood in mouthfuls, his face instantly turning pale. Just that one strike had inflicted serious injuries on him, causing his power to decrease. Furthermore, his Second Order Defense Artifact in hand had also sustained damage, resulting in a significant loss of spirituality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and extremely satisfied with the power of the Spirit Detonation Bead. He estimated that the power of the Spirit Detonation Bead was at least equivalent to two or three Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, indeed making it a rare consumable treasure. But with only two of these beads, and having used up one already, he still hadn¡¯t critically injured the black-robed man. Under such circumstances, he feared that relying solely on himself, without investing considerable effort, would still not be enough to kill the black-robed man. With that in mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, taking out another Spirit Detonation Bead, adeptly activating it, and then hurling it towards the black-robed man. His actions were resolute, without a hint of regret. At this sight, the black-robed man completely panicked. He knew his injuries were serious, and that the Second Order Defense Artifact had also been damaged to various extents, causing a decline in its spirituality. If he were to forcibly withstand another hit from the Spirit Detonation Bead, it was likely that the artifact would be utterly ruined. And for himself, under the assault of the terrifying Spirit Detonation Bead, it was extremely probable that at least he would be severely wounded, losing his combat effectiveness, or at worst, it could cost him his life. In his haste, disregarding his injuries, he began to flee. However, after investing so much, Lin Tianming was not about to easily let go of the advantageous situation he had created. At this point, as he watched the black-robed man flee in a panic, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword burst forth with a ray of Spiritual Light. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword!¡± With a loud shout, he unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi. The combined power of the six swords was terrifying; it had speed and immense destructive force. Charged with this powerful momentum, the Tiangang Sword Qi shot towards the black-robed man, relentlessly blocking his path. As the saying goes, slow in speech but swift in action, the Tiangang Sword Qi was already inches away. Besides, the Spirit Detonation Beads were getting closer and closer to exploding at any moment. In this instant, the black-robed man finally felt the breath of death. In such a desperate moment, the black-robed man was completely terrified. Seeing that there was no escape, the black-robed man forcibly calmed himself and then held his Second Order Medium-Defense Artifact in front of him. He knew very well that escaping at this stage was meaningless and would only hasten his death. Better to resist fiercely against one attack; perhaps there was still a chance to live. Therefore, he had to make the choice to stake everything and brace himself for the attack of the Spirit Detonation Beads. At this moment, time seemed to stop, yet it also seemed to stretch on for a long time. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Following a loud noise, the world was once again illuminated by a bright red light. A few moments passed. By then, tranquility had briefly returned to the heavens and earth. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± A few faint coughs sounded. Only when the dust had settled could one see the black-robed man lying on the ground, coughing while spitting blood, with his body already covered in scattered patches of fresh blood. Looking around, the black-robed man was drenched in blood, his body riddled with wounds, and half of his arm had vanished, making his flesh a blurry mess, presenting a truly pitiable sight. He lay on the ground with a sullen appearance, stubbornly raising his head and glaring at Lin Tianming with eyes that seemed intent on annihilating him. But it was only a look, devoid of any real threat. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh of relief. In his view, the black-robed man was now gravely injured and had lost his fighting ability. With such wounds, even if he did not continue to attack, the black-robed man had little hope of returning to his peak. If not tended to swiftly, he would most likely die outright. Under these circumstances, after depleting many precious treasures, he had finally achieved his goal. At this moment, he finally relaxed, preparing to shift his attention to the battle not far away. It was then that a scream pierced the air. He hurriedly redirected his gaze and discovered the source of the scream. Looking ahead, Xu Haiqiao, like a kite with its string cut, had crashed heavily into the marshland. The soft mud simply couldn¡¯t withstand such a powerful force, resulting in Xu Haiqiao disappearing from view. Several moments passed without a sign of Xu Haiqiao, nor could any breath be felt from him, as a torrent of blood gushed continuously from the hole. The crimson blood, mixed with the dark mud, was starkly conspicuous. Obviously, Xu Haiqiao¡¯s adversary had killed him with one strike, leaving no opportunity for him to struggle. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, the plight of the Bloodthirsty Jiao nearby was equally tragic, with a large number of scales fallen off its body and more than a dozen wounds of varying depths bleeding on its back. Gazing upon it, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s breath was weak, and its massive body lay half-prostrate on the ground, still groaning in pain. Clearly, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was also deeply wounded. Looking at the gravely injured Bloodthirsty Jiao, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was dark, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he stared at the black-robed man. However, he dared not act rashly at this moment. After all, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was his Spirit Beast, and he was very familiar with its strength. Together with the severely injured Xu Haiqiao, they had only held on until now, yet the situation was one dead and one critically injured. And that injured black-robed Cultivator, with merely the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, already possessed such formidable strength. Then how powerful must he be, having reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment? It was clear that the black-robed man¡¯s strength was beyond imagination. Chapter 574 574 322 Hesitating to Take Action for ?Chapter 574: Chapter 322: Hesitating to Take Action for Fear of Harming Something Valuable_1 Chapter 574: Chapter 322: Hesitating to Take Action for Fear of Harming Something Valuable_1 At this moment, across from him, the black-robed man was similarly enraged, as if he wanted to hack him to pieces. Thus, the two exchanged glares, the atmosphere taut with tension, making the scene somewhat eerie. It was hard to say how much time passed, but amidst the bizarre atmosphere, the black-robed man broke the rare calm and initiated an attack. At that instant, the blood-red short blade in the black-robed man¡¯s hand burst forth with bursts of spiritual light, unleashing a great amount of blood-red saber qi that pressed down towards Lin Tianming. The blade qi unleashed by the black-robed man looked incredibly sharp. The moment it appeared, the temperature of the entire world plummeted as if suddenly falling into an ice cave. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, his red blade attack was much more formidable than the one unleashed by the black-robed Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator who had been heavily injured by Tian Ming earlier that day. ... It was obviously apparent that the same attack methods, when used by someone of Foundation Establishment Great Completion, had a gap in power that was clear at a glance, compared to those at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew that the hard fight to come was sure to be fraught with danger, and his expression grew solemn. In his haste, he promptly turned and, with the significant help of the Eye of Five Colors, found the best route to dodge. Even though the black-robed man¡¯s attacks were powerful and dense, Tian Ming¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, his agile steps as unpredictable as the autumn wind. On the surface, each step he moved appeared to teeter on the brink of extreme danger, but with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, the deadly blood-red saber qi could never draw near him. Soon, as all the red blade qi dissipated, the land gradually returned to calm. And Lin Tianming had already appeared a hundred yards away, having narrowly escaped the attack unscathed. Even as Lin Tianming steadied himself, the black-robed man wore an expression of disbelief. He was clear about the extent of his younger brother¡¯s abilities. He knew that while there was a realm¡¯s difference between them, both cultivated the same cultivation technique, including similarities in their magic artifacts and divine skills. Nonetheless, the gap between his brother¡¯s strength and his own was still significant. Under such circumstances, for Lin Tianming to have escaped his attack was not something he could easily accept. However, the reality of Lin Tianming easily dodging the attack was right before his eyes. By this moment, he realized that his younger brother being severely injured by Lin Tianming was no accident. At this time, he exhaled a long sigh, his expression growing ever more grave. On the other side, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was full of wariness, much like that of the black-robed man. But before he could even catch his breath, the black-robed man attacked again, not intending to give him any chance to rest. Seeing the incoming red blade qi, Lin Tianming snorted coldly and quickly counterattacked. He reached into his storage bag and activated all the remaining Second Order Attack Talismans at once. Then, the Tiangang Sword in his hand vigorously swung, releasing a massive amount of sword qi that clashed with the incoming red blade qi. ¡°Boom¡­¡± For a time, the two engaged in a fierce exchange, with fire lighting up the sky, and the swamp once again splattering with mud. At a glance, Lin Tianming, with the help of some consumable treasures, was barely able to match the black-robed man attack for attack. However, a closer observation would reveal that Lin Tianming¡¯s ordinary attacks were still hardly a threat to the black-robed man. The black-robed man, on the other hand, appeared to have no major concerns or much consumption, pressing the attack on Lin Tianming throughout the fight. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming was clearly at a disadvantage. Not far from their battle, a period equivalent to the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, and the struggling Bloodthirsty Jiao that had finally recovered, pushed itself up. It glared angrily at the black-robed man who was fighting with Lin Tianming, its gaze filled with a thirst for blood. With a shrill cry, it twisted its body and charged at the black-robed man. Soon, with the Bloodthirsty Jiao joining in, Lin Tianming had an extra helper. One seeking to attack, the other focusing on defense; the two coordinated rather well. At this point, they once again faced the black-robed man¡¯s attacks, no longer so hard-pressed. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming¡¯s consumption was substantial; his Second Order Attack Talisman had been completely used up. Besides that, his spiritual power was draining rapidly. After all, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Cultivation and, coupled with the previous burst of battle, the remaining spiritual power in his body barely reached about thirty percent. Meanwhile, the black-robed man at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, with spiritual power and soul having reached the limit of the Foundation Establishment Stage, was certainly more solid than his. If it continued this way and his spiritual power was depleted first, he would only be able to rely on his physical strength to withstand the black-robed cultivator¡¯s attacks. By that time, relying solely on his physical strength, he would definitely be no match for the black-robed man. Beyond that, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was already severely injured; its strength greatly compromised, and the longer the fight dragged on, the more limited the help it could provide. As for the Purple Gold Eagle and Qin Xi, their strength was truly limited, and they couldn¡¯t get involved in their fight at all. In this way, if no breakthrough was found, their situation would become very dangerous, and they might even face total annihilation. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming was extremely anxious. And on the outskirts, Qin Xi and the Purple Gold Eagle, seeing Lin Tianming in a passive position, were likewise burning with anxiety. Despite their insufficient strength, they could only fret or occasionally launch a few attacks to harass the black-robed man¡¯s assault. Chapter 575 575 322 Hesitant to Take Action for Fear ?Chapter 575: Chapter 322: Hesitant to Take Action for Fear of Endangering Valuables_2 Chapter 575: Chapter 322: Hesitant to Take Action for Fear of Endangering Valuables_2 ¡°Boom¡­¡± In Qin Xi¡¯s hands, the magic artifact flashed intensely, and following that, with a pinch of her jade hands, a great number of Second Order Attack Talismans appeared. Without the slightest hesitation, she activated them all. In an instant, the sky was engulfed in a sea of fire as a mass of silver-white Sword Qi converged and ferociously poured down upon the Black Robed Cultivator. At that moment, the Black Robed Cultivator, who was in a fierce battle with Lin Tianming, let out an angry shout. He then slapped his hand, releasing a vast amount of blood-colored gas, which dismantled Qin Xi¡¯s attack. After the gas passed through the sea of fire, it continued to hurtle toward Qin Xi¡¯s position. ... The gas was fast; in the blink of an eye, it was about to hit Qin Xi square on. ¡°Fairy Qin, be careful!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who was the first to perceive the danger, cried out anxiously. By that time, Qin Xi had already reacted. Seeing the gas nearly upon her, her face instantly turned pale. In her urgency, she did not sit waiting for death; she immediately activated a Second Order Medium-Defense Talisman, creating a barrier in front of her. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted. The red gas directly penetrated the barrier formed by the defense talisman and then struck Qin Xi¡¯s chest with precision. In an instant, Qin Xi was sent flying like leaves swept away by the autumn wind, tumbling outwards. Under the gaze of Lin Tianming and the others, Qin Xi¡¯s graceful body heavily crashed into a mound of earth. Lying in the pit, she looked disordered, with a bloody hole showing on her shoulder, and her torn clothing soaked red with blood. She coughed up several mouthfuls of blood essence and then struggled desperately to stand. However, her injuries were severe; even a casual strike from a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator was not something she, at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, could withstand. Had it not been for Lin Tianming¡¯s warning and her decisive actions to dodge the vitals in time, the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s attack might have very well killed her in one blow. At this time, seeing Qin Xi seriously injured, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and a surge of indescribable fury ignited within him. He turned his gaze, his eyes blood-red, staring at the Black Robed Cultivator. At this time, the Black Robed Cultivator, gazing at the partially exposed Qin Xi, said with a lewd smile, ¡°Fairy, once I dispose of this guy, I¡¯ll come and spend a wonderful night with you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was overcome with rage, his already bloodshot eyes becoming even more terrifying. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± He cursed angrily and then stimulated the Tiangang Sword in his hand, unleashing Tiangang Sword Qi. In that moment, the power of the six overlapping swords seemed too much for even the surrounding air to withstand, as it was devoured by the sharp Sword Qi. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword!¡± With his loud shout, the Tiangang Sword flew out from his hand, transforming into a long rainbow that shot toward the Black Robed Cultivator. Opposite him, the Black Robed Cultivator sneered, seemingly not worried about the attack. As the Tiangang Sword approached, the Black Robed Cultivator swung his blade, unleashing a huge tide of Blade Qi that collided with the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword pierced through the Blade Qi, continuing with tremendous force toward the Black Robed Cultivator. ¡°Hmm?¡± The Black Robed Cultivator was slightly surprised, not expecting Lin Tianming¡¯s outburst to be so much stronger. Still, he didn¡¯t take it too seriously, seeming to feel that the threat Lin Tianming posed was still insignificant. As the Tiangang Sword reached above his head, the Black Robed Cultivator finally slapped his storage bag and took out a Second Order Medium-Defense Artifact to protect himself. This Second Order Medium-Defense Artifact, like the one his comrade used before, seemed to be crafted by the same person. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, fearing this strike would be futile once more. ¡°Bang¡­¡± As expected, the Tiangang Sword struck the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s artifact, and with just one breath, it was immediately repelled, eventually being retrieved by him. This attack merely pushed the Black Robed Cultivator back several tens of meters, leaving only a crack in his Defense Artifact. As the round of attacks came to an end, the two once again created a distance between them. At this point, Lin Tianming already had a pale face and couldn¡¯t help feeling powerless. The opponent was simply too strong; with the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, coupled with the endless magic artifacts, and those consumable treasures, he felt unprecedented pressure after the intense battle. It seemed that without using his trump card, he had absolutely no hope of victory. With this realization, Lin Tianming quietly pondered his strategy in his heart. Currently, he had basically run out of consumable treasures in his hands, with only a Fake Golden Core Talisman left. Besides that, his strongest divine skill that he hadn¡¯t used for several years was the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. However, to use this technique, he would need to at least delay the black-robed man for a moment. Otherwise, the attack of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art might fail against the highly cultivated black-robed man. As for the means to trap the enemy, he had only the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner. But whether the Earth Fiend Sword Formation could trap him or not, he had no confidence. After all, facing a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator whose strength made him struggle immensely. To set up the Earth Fiend Sword Formation right under his nose and trap him inside was extremely difficult. If the containment wasn¡¯t strong enough and the Great Sun Sword Qi Art couldn¡¯t kill him, then the outcome of this battle would be completely determined. Considering all this, Lin Tianming was undecided for a long time. However, the black-robed cultivator did not give him time to think and made the first move towards him. Looking over, the black-robed cultivator once again stimulated a vast amount of Red Blade Knife Qi, even more terrifying in number than before, engulfing him in a barrage. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned to the utmost severity. Seeing the reflection getting closer and closer, he dared not delay; he quickly turned around and nimbly wove through the multitude of Blade Qi. At this moment, the black-robed man, as if anticipating his moves, didn¡¯t stop his handiwork for even a moment as Knife Qi continuously appeared, bombarding from all directions, aiming to cut off his escape route. This instant, Lin Tianming felt the pressure on him multiplying; every dodge was incredibly strenuous. Several breaths passed, and the overwhelming Knife Qi still did not cease, firmly blocking his path. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the taste of death. This sensation was something he had not experienced in recent years. Confronted with this kind of crisis, he suddenly became extremely calm, with no ripples in his heart. Seeing that he was about to have no way out, Lin Tianming almost instinctively noticed the black-robed man he had severely injured. They were only a hundred zhang apart, and that area was not covered by the Blade Qi. Relying on the Eye of Five Colors, he could certainly transfer there. With a flash of movement, he found a gap and quickly arrived not far from the black-robed man. Looking at the unconscious black-robed man on the ground, the Tiangang Sword in his hand shone brightly as he slashed down towards him. This action caused the complexion of the black-robed man attacking him to change instantly. ¡°You dare!¡± The black-robed man let out a loud shout and then shot towards him madly, reaching extreme speeds. Clearly, the black-robed cultivator was deeply concerned about the life and death of the man on the ground; otherwise, he would not have been so alarmed, nor would he have acted so recklessly. Seeing the black-robed man getting closer and closer to himself, a look of joy appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. A good opportunity! At that moment, Lin Tianming deployed the Earth Fiend Sword Formation he had prepared in advance, and immediately began to activate it. At the same time, he deliberately slowed down the Tiangang Sword in his hands, as if it was an intentional move. Indeed, seeing Lin Tianming activating and running the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the black-robed man seemed to hesitate. However, after only a half breath of delay, he still charged into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation without any concern for his own safety. Such an action clearly indicated that he held Lin Tianming¡¯s countermeasures in contempt, which explained the absence of any hesitation. And his actions played right into Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, fulfilling the plan he had envisioned. Watching the black-robed man drawing near, Lin Tianming quickly operated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, reducing the scope of its coverage. Simultaneously, he unleashed the Thousand Beast Banner, releasing a mass of Monster Beast Souls to envelop the black-robed man. Chapter 576 576 323 Spirit Art Reappears_1 ?Chapter 576: Chapter 323 Spirit Art Reappears_1 Chapter 576: Chapter 323 Spirit Art Reappears_1 As the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner began to operate, the man in the black robe was immediately caught in a dilemma. At this time, Lin Tianming also switched his target and did not go after the man he had seriously wounded. Watching the man within the Sword Array, he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand frequently, unleashing a large amount of Sword Qi, shooting towards the man in the black robe. Seeing Lin Tianming give up on his initial target, the man in the black robe breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. However, his expression grew more solemn in face of his own situation, clearly understanding that he was being led by the nose by Lin Tianming. But in his heart, that was no longer so important. After all, he had some confidence in his own strength, and after several exchanges, he had formed a rough assessment of Lin Tianming¡¯s power. ... At this moment, facing the Tiangang Sword Qi that was getting closer and closer, the man in the black robe swung his blood-red short blade, which also erupted in bursts of shocking rainbows, slashing towards the incoming Sword Qi. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of loud noises reverberated, as the Tiangang Sword Qi and the man¡¯s Blade Qi violently collided with each other. For a moment, the area shrouded by the Sword Array was filled with flashes of light, and the ground was turned upside down. As the clash ended, the dissipating Blade Qi and Sword Qi gradually revealed the figure of the man in the black robe. At this point, his expression was somewhat grave; he was fending off the attacks of the Monster Beast Souls while unleashing various techniques in retaliation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened, and his Tiangang Sword burst forth with Spiritual Light, once again urging the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword. This sword, likewise a combination of six swords, carried an unstoppable momentum as it shot towards the man in the black robe. From the richness of the Sword Qi and its sharp aura, this attack seemed to be stronger than any before. Clearly, by now, he was desperately expending his Spiritual Power to its limit. He was acutely aware that he didn¡¯t have much Spiritual Power left and needed to create favorable conditions for his final move before it ran out. Under such circumstances, his use of the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword seemed more skillful, and its might was also increasing. At this time, Lin Tianming sensed the change and was immediately filled with surprise and delight. ¡°Could it be that the Tiangang Sword Qi has reached the Minor Achievement Realm?¡± He looked at the increasingly powerful Tiangang Sword, also somewhat incredulous that this was reality. It was only when the Tiangang Sword pierced through the Blade Qi and struck the man¡¯s Defense Artifact that Lin Tianming confirmed it. This sudden strike severely damaged the man¡¯s Second Order Defense Artifact, leaving a huge crack that severely hurt its spirituality. The man in the black robe spat out a mouthful of blood, and the look of horror on his face obviously conveyed his disbelief. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and finally accepted the fact that the Tiangang Sword Qi had achieved the Minor Achievement Realm. With this breakthrough, the power of the Tiangang Sword Qi greatly increased, further enhancing his strength. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s momentum was like a rainbow, continuously spurring the Tiangang Sword, seeking to expand his victory further. At this very moment, the man in the black robe was extremely furious. Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden increase in attack power caught him off guard, resulting in damage to his Second Order Defense Artifact and indirectly causing him to sustain injuries. Seeing the relentless attacks approaching, he finally lost his composure and began to fight back frantically. He realized that the situation was gradually slipping out of his control; if he remained indifferent, he could very well end up capsizing in the ditch. Under such circumstances, the man in the black robe¡¯s moves became increasingly fierce, each one carrying the momentum to kill Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A multitude of Sword Qi and Blade Qi intertwined, along with a massive amount of Attack Talisman. Looking over, the man in the black robe¡¯s attacks were exceptionally strong, attacking Lin Tianming with everything he had without reservation. And at this time, Lin Tianming was also unreserved. Despite the great pressure, he still persisted, waiting for the right opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged blows for several more rounds. As the two engaged in close combat, they were both pushed back by the powerful shockwaves, creating a safe distance between them. Having stabilized himself with great difficulty, Lin Tianming gasped for air, his chest rapidly heaving. His breathing was a little erratic, and his body bore wounds of varying depths; blood also oozed from the corner of his mouth. This appearance clearly indicated extreme exhaustion and light injuries. In contrast, the man in the black robe also had a restless breath and some injuries on his body. However, his condition was slightly better than Lin Tianming¡¯s; at least the injuries were superficial and his combat power had not decreased much. At this moment, Lin Tianming stared in the direction of the man in the black robe, silently planning in his heart. Having fought until now, his Spiritual Power was almost exhausted, and after a few more rounds of attack, he would enter a weakened state. Luckily, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had been reduced to a range of just over a hundred yards. It was operating very steadily. Combined with the Monster Beast Souls from the Thousand Beast Banner, it could greatly suppress the man¡¯s attacks and his movement speed. And for this goal, he had exerted all his strength, expending a great deal of Spiritual Power and sustaining serious injuries. Besides, the consumption of the Monster Beast Souls in the Thousand Beast Banner was enormous. Its attacking power was clearly a level below its peak, but it had achieved his goal, creating a condition favorable to himself. Chapter 577 577 323 Spirit Art Reappears_2 ?Chapter 577: Chapter 323: Spirit Art Reappears_2 Chapter 577: Chapter 323: Spirit Art Reappears_2 ¡°` As for the next part of the plan, it was to find a way to hold off the man in the black robe, giving him a chance to use his trump card. After much deliberation and assessing the entire state of the battle, he finally made up his mind. At all costs! Even if the Monster Beast Souls in the Thousand Beast Banner were to die out, or even to be destroyed, he would complete his plan. Furthermore, he intended to use the long-preserved Fake Golden Core Talisman to create the most secure opportunity. The reason for such decisiveness was that the black-robed man¡¯s strength was simply too formidable, putting him under immense pressure. Having fought up to now, he had been at an absolute disadvantage, basically getting pressed and hit with little chance to counterattack. ... And the black-robed cultivator¡¯s formidable power, as well as his endless attacking methods, had completely exceeded his expectations. Therefore, such a costly action was an act of desperation. Otherwise, he really would have been reluctant to use this rare Fake Golden Core Talisman. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming immediately began to execute his plan. At once, he unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword, putting enormous pressure on the man in the black robe head-on and diverting his attention. At the same time, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and Thousand Beast Banner were also pushed to their limits, quickly shrinking in size while causing trouble for the black-robed man, keeping him too busy to notice his movements. With a powerful attack descending, the black-robed man was completely surrounded by an endless tide of Monster Beast Souls and a sky filled with Sword Qi. His expression dark, spiritual power inside him rampaged, desperately killing those tirelessly emerging Monster Beast Souls. His offensive power was very strong; each strike dissipated hundreds of Monster Beast Souls. Unfortunately for him, the Monster Beast Souls had no fear and kept surging like a tide, gnawing at his protective barrier. On their own, one or two Monster Beast Souls seemed to have limited strength, but in numbers reaching tens of thousands, they were truly terrifying. Occasionally, some Monster Beast Souls broke through the blockade, latching onto the black-robed man¡¯s body and gnawing at a piece of defensive inner armor he wore. Soon, some unprotected parts of the black-robed man¡¯s body began to turn into a bloody pulp. If he hadn¡¯t had the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and, although not specializing in body cultivation, had cultivated for a hundred years with a consequently strong physique, these Monster Beast Souls alone would have been enough to devour him. At this critical moment, the black-robed man roared furiously, and his body abruptly shone with blood light, repelling many of the Monster Beast Souls. Having barely freed himself from these annoying Monster Beast Souls, before he could even catch his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword Qi Sixth Sword had already descended above his head. At such close proximity, with the speed of the Tiangang Sword, it was only a matter of an instant before it could reach him. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the black-robed man finally experienced the taste of death. Facing the sudden crisis, the black-robed man panicked but quickly calmed down relying on his abundant experience in magic combat. With a flick of his Law Decree, streams of spirit power poured into the defense artifact in front of him. ¡°Boom¡­¡± a thunderous sound followed. The Tiangang Sword struck the defense artifact, and the strong impact force repelled him dozens of feet backward before he stabilized his figure. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and his face gradually turned as pale as a fish¡¯s belly. This strike was indeed formidable, leaving deep cracks in his defense artifact, which further weakened its spirituality. He didn¡¯t even have time to grieve before he fell into even greater trouble. Since his position had moved closer to the center of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, which was also the area with the densest movement of Sword Qi, in addition, he was surrounded by an endless tide of Monster Beast Souls that were eating away at his protective barrier. By now, Lin Tianming had shrunk the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to a hundred feet in scope, truly possessing a strong suppressive power. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and the Fake Golden Core Talisman immediately appeared in his hand. Looking at the shining Fake Golden Core Talisman, Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, cast a Law Decree onto it. Suddenly, the talisman flashed with golden light and then condensed into a giant Golden Light Greatsword between heaven and earth, hovering above his head. ¡°A Fake Golden Core Talisman?¡± As the Fake Golden Core Talisman appeared in an instant, the black-robed man¡¯s face drastically changed, becoming incredibly frightened. Clearly, he knew very well what a treasure the Fake Golden Core Talisman was and possessed what sort of offensive power. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have shown such a reaction. At this moment, the normally unruffled black-robed man suddenly became frantic. ¡°` He lashed out in madness, attacking the barricades of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation recklessly in hopes of breaking the bind quickly to escape this dangerous place. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of explosions resounded, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook crazily, teetering on the verge of collapse, as if on the brink of shattering. At this moment, Lin Tianming, while stimulating the Fake Golden Core Talisman, was distractedly operating the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Suddenly, he spat a mouthful of fresh blood on the Sword Array Barricade in front of him. In the blink of an eye, the aura of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation surged, and the previously crumbling formation began to stabilize. Seeing this, Lin Tianming held no more reservations. With the final Law Decree slamming out, the Golden Light Greatsword condensed from the Fake Golden Core Talisman soared into the sky, shooting toward the Black Robed Cultivator at an unthinkable speed. In an instant, the dim sky suddenly brightened, the marshy mud evaporated into nothing, revealing the dark ground underneath. As the two of them watched, the Golden Light Greatsword had already descended above the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s head. At this moment, the Black Robed Cultivator, fully aware that his life hung by a thread, had exhausted all his methods solely to ward off this fatal blow. Looking over, numerous Second Order Defense Talismans had condensed in front of him, along with the repeatedly used Defense Artifact. ¡°Bang!¡± A thunderous noise erupted. The Golden Sword Qi, in the blink of an eye, shattered the Defense Talisman. Immediately after, the Golden Sword Qi continued along its predetermined trajectory, stabbing towards the vital points of the Black Robed Cultivator. The Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s face turned pale as he watched the unstoppable Golden Light Greatsword approach, feeling its sharp aura, he spat a mouthful of essential blood onto the Defense Artifact in front of him. In an instant, the aura of his Defense Artifact rose sharply, and its defensive power seemed to have increased significantly. Under his watch, the Golden Light Greatsword arrived as expected, slamming directly into his Defense Artifact. At that moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely, yet also feel incredibly brief. ¡°Bang!¡± Another loud sound boomed. His Defense Artifact, after persevering for but a moment, exploded into pieces. The Golden Light Greatsword that had originated from the Fake Golden Core Talisman continued forward, although its formidable penetrating power was much reduced after meeting the resistance of the Defense Artifact. However, he was left with no defense mechanisms now, and, being too close, he had no possibility to use any other techniques. In such a dire situation, he could only rely on his speed to dodge and the Defensive Inner Armor he wore to protect him. At this time, the Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s figure twisted, attempting to flee from the spot. Yet, the Sword Qi from within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had long been assaulting from every corner, along with the persistent Monster Beast Souls blocking his way, leaving him no time to evade. In his desperation, he could only twist his body, trying to protect his vital areas from being fatally wounded. As he struggled to adjust, the Golden Light Greatsword struck, hitting squarely on his shoulder. The Black Robed Cultivator let out a miserable scream, his body sent flying backward, eventually falling into a pit of mud. Lying in the pit, the Black Robed Cultivator spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his face turning pale and powerless. The Fake Golden Core Talisman had directly broken through his meticulously prepared defenses, and even shattered a corner of his inner armor. Had he not dodged in time, that strike could have taken his life. Yet, the blow still inflicted severe damage on him, causing a considerable decline in his strength. In the pit, he rolled over, struggling to his feet from the mud, staring intently at Lin Tianming. When he looked at Lin Tianming, the slight joy of a narrow escape from his expression instantly vanished. Opposite him, Lin Tianming had, at some point, condensed a silver-white Sword Qi above his head. Upon closer inspection, this silver-white Sword Qi looked as cold as ice yet as fiery as the blazing sun, carrying boundless momentum, stirring the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth. ¡°Spirit¡­ Spirit Art?¡± ¡°Is this actually? It¡¯s actually an Earth-grade Spiritual Art!¡± The Black Robed Cultivator¡¯s face turned to terror as he blurted out with a stutter. Feeling the oppressive force of the silver-white Sword Qi, the Black Robed Cultivator could no longer care about anything else; he frantically tried to flee. He knew full well that with the formidable power of an Earth-grade Spiritual Art, even with his cultivation, getting hit would leave no hope of survival. Under these circumstances, his speed soared to the extreme; he had probably never moved faster in his life. ¡­ Chapter 578 578 324 Tallying the Harvest_1 ?Chapter 578: Chapter 324 Tallying the Harvest_1 Chapter 578: Chapter 324 Tallying the Harvest_1 However, Lin Tianming had already activated the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, unleashing the sword qi he had nurtured within his body for over two years. At this moment, the silver-white sword qi, like a meteor, tore through the void. The powerful momentum completely stirred up the heavens and the earth. The black-robed man was extremely terrified and tried to flee, but the speed of the silver-white sword qi was too fast for him to escape. Under his desperate gaze, the silver-white sword qi came crashing down. ¡°Ah¡­¡± a horribly miserable voice sounded. The black-robed man was hit by the silver-white sword qi and his body fell straight from the sky, ultimately landing in the marsh. Looking around, the black-robed man¡¯s head and body were separated, the fresh blood dyeing the surrounding mud red. The dense and numerous wounds on his body were a ghastly sight to behold. ... Furthermore, the black-robed man lay motionless, clearly having no breath of life left. At this time, the operation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation ceased, and the black fog of the Thousand Beast Banner re-entered the banner itself, both falling to the ground. Lin Tianming also fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto a small hillock. He lay in a pit, with his insides churning like turbulent waters, continuously spitting out blood from his mouth, his chest clothing already soaked red. His condition seemed very poor. Unbeknownst to others, after a series of fierce battles, he had activated countless amounts of sword qi and numerous talisman papers. The spiritual power inside his body was long exhausted, even surpassing his limits. Looking at the dead black-robed man, Lin Tianming struggled to get up, shakily walking over to the heavily injured black-robed man. Even with no spiritual power left in his body, his strong physique allowed him to summon all his strength to deliver a punch that ended the black-robed man¡¯s life. Then, with several coughs of essence blood, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground and fell into a deep sleep. At this time, not too far away, Qin Xi, with a pale face, disregarded her own injuries and ran over. Seeing Lin Tianming unconscious with his chest still heaving, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly took out a few elixirs and fed them to Lin Tianming, then made sure he was settled. After doing all this, Qin Xi hurriedly got up and began to clear the battlefield. Half an hour later. Qin Xi, holding the unconscious Lin Tianming, sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, flying toward the west. Two days later. Shuirou Mountain Range, within a canyon densely covered in forests. Qin Xi, who had left the battlefield, did not dare to stay in the Jinping Mountain Range any longer. After all, according to Xu Haiqiao, a Golden Core Cultivator had led a team, and several Foundation Establishment Cultivators as accomplices, almost wiped out the Xu Family without a trace. She feared staying near the scene might lead to encounters with companions of the black-robed cultivators, risking another crisis. Therefore, with the Purple Gold Eagle hastening the journey, she traveled non-stop, fearing any trouble. Thankfully, after two days, she was able to exit the Jinping Mountain Range with Lin Tianming and finally arrived here. At this moment, inside a simple cave dwelling. Lin Tianming lay on a stone bed, his facial complexion seemed much better. At this time, Qin Xi sat beside Lin Tianming, her beautiful eyes fixed on his sleeping figure, lost in her memories. Recalling how she had been injured by the black-robed man and Lin Tianming¡¯s angry demeanor, she couldn¡¯t help but show a sweet smile. She was fully aware that Lin Tianming had been in a desperate situation himself, with no capacity to care for her. Yet, despite that, his angry expression upon seeing her wounded and his frenzied attack deeply moved her heart. The care Lin Tianming had provided her over the past two years allowed her to experience an unprecedented sense of family. More importantly, she had developed a fondness for the exceptionally talented Lin Tianming. Now, having gone through life and death together, she unconsciously harbored an indefinable sentiment toward Lin Tianming. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± A few coughs interrupted her reverie. She looked down and saw Lin Tianming staring at her with wide eyes, his face slightly flushed, not knowing how long he had been watching. Seeing this, Qin Xi¡¯s heart fluttered, her face quickly blushing to her neck, and she hastily turned her head away. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Lin Tianming pulled her down in one move. Qin Xi, caught off guard, found herself tightly embraced in his arms. ¡°Er¡­uh!¡± Instinctively, Qin Xi began to struggle by twisting her body. Lin Tianming held her even tighter, intensifying his grip with no intention of letting go. After some time passed, Qin Xi¡¯s movements ceased. Lin Tianming lowered his head to see Qin Xi also holding his neck, her head buried in his chest. At that moment, as Lin Tianming inhaled the scent from Qin Xi¡¯s hair and felt a certain sensation from his chest, his blood surged throughout his body. Feeling the change in Lin Tianming¡¯s body, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder. Lin Tianming, acutely aware of the changes in his body, unpredictably lowered his head and committed a rash act. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± In that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s mind went blank, as if she had forgotten everything. And so, the two embraced each other, pressing close without any further actions. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea passed. They both sat up, asking simultaneously, ¡°Are you alright? Is your wound still serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just some injuries and a bit of overexertion. Nothing of major concern!¡± It was as if they had a telepathic connection, their questions and answers echoing each other perfectly. Chapter 579 579 324 Inventory Gains_2 ?Chapter 579: Chapter 324 Inventory Gains_2 Chapter 579: Chapter 324 Inventory Gains_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming took the initiative to break the awkward silence and opened his mouth to speak, ¡°Fairy Qin, may I invite you to return with me to my family to meet my parents and all the elders?¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Qin Xi was at a loss for words, seemingly hesitant. Seeing this, Lin Tianming thought that Qin Xi did not understand his intention and hastily began to explain. ¡°Fairy Qin, I fell for you at first sight and wish to take you as my Dao companion to pursue the Dao of eternal life together!¡± As soon as these straightforward words were uttered, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed red, and her heart began to thump wildly. ¡°Would you be willing?¡± Lin Tianming pressed on. ... ¡°Mm-hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi turned her back to Lin Tianming, and then nodded her head slightly, like a pecking chicken. ¡°Haha¡­ Fairy Qin has agreed!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of excitement, and he could not help but burst into laughter. ¡°Hmph!¡± Qin Xi uttered a pretend huff of annoyance. Seeing her like this, Lin Tianming was utterly baffled, not understanding why the girl before him was angry. ¡°Fairy Qin?¡± Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, shaking her fragrant shoulders in an attempt to please her. ¡°Hmph¡­ still calling me Fairy Qin?¡± Qin Xi punched his chest with her fists, feigning anger as she spoke. Hearing this, Lin Tianming finally realized and quickly called out, ¡°My Lady!¡± At the sound of these words, Qin Xi¡¯s face grew even redder, looking very much like a bright red apple. ¡°Tian Ming, we haven¡¯t yet met your parents, nor have we had our wedding night; it¡¯s probably too soon to call me your lady.¡± ¡°Better to call me Xi¡¯er!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking to himself that indeed calling her ¡®my lady¡¯ was premature. After all, Qin Xi was a woman who surely was more shy and reserved. Even though they were cultivators, and worldly customs could no longer bind them, the appropriate ceremonies were still necessary. Otherwise, it would be too hasty and not show her due respect. Thinking this, Lin Tianming excitedly called out, ¡°Xi¡¯er!¡± ¡°Once we return to the family, I will inform my parents of this matter and ensure that you get a bustling wedding ceremony!¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, Tian Ming has it arranged then!¡± After Qin Xi spoke, she moved into Lin Tianming¡¯s embrace, hugging him and, at the same time, tears can¡¯t help but seep from the corners of her eyes. At that moment, her heart was filled with a mixture of emotions ¨C happiness, relief, joy, and also some regrets. Lin Tianming seemed to feel her emotions and gently held Qin Xi, patting her back with his broad palms softly. After a while, both of their moods gradually calmed down and they parted from their deep embrace. The two looked at each other and smiled, their faces filled with deep love. At that point, Lin Tianming suddenly remembered something and began to ask about what had happened after he had fainted. Hearing the question, Qin Xi began to speak, explaining all the subsequent events one by one. In a short while, after listening to Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming finally understood what had happened after he had lost consciousness. Back then, he had expended too much energy; although he had not been severely injured, the spiritual power inside his body was utterly drained, squeezing out every last bit of his strength. In a rush, he managed to kill two black-robed cultivators, but his body couldn¡¯t take it anymore, resulting in his fainting. Qin Xi had also cleaned up the battlefield, collecting all the spoils of war, and did not forget to erase the traces of battle. Afterward, they were carried by the Purple Gold Eagle towards the west, up to the Shuirou Mountain Range, where they found this place to serve as a temporary cave abode, allowing him to recuperate properly. And he had slept for a full three days. As for Qin Xi¡¯s decisions, Lin Tianming approved of them; after all, there were still companions of the black-robed men, including a Golden Core Cultivator leading them, and it was predictable that Xu Haiqiao would seek refuge from Zhenyang Sect in the north. Therefore, they could not continue southward, nor could they return the way they came; the best strategy was to detour to the west. And indeed, this move was the right one. At the very least, over the past few days, it had all been smooth sailing, without encountering other Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but burst into praise, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡¯s decision-making is truly wise, so completely different from mine!¡± ¡°Ming always says the nicest things!¡± Qin Xi smiled. Following that, Qin Xi took out quite a few storage bags, more than a dozen in total. She handed the storage bags to Lin Tianming, then said, ¡°Ming, these storage bags belong to two black-robed men and Xu Haiqiao. Take a quick look!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming recognized from the remaining aura and the intact Consciousness Imprints on the storage bags that Qin Xi hadn¡¯t touched them. He was deeply moved by Qin Xi¡¯s gesture. After all, this was the wealth and assets of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including some treasures from the Xu Haiqiao family. Such an abundance of treasures was likely to constitute a fortune of astronomical value. And faced with so many treasures, she did not hesitate to present them, nor did she leave him behind. Clearly, Qin Xi had given everything she had to him. His own investment had indeed paid off, as he had chosen the right person, and he had received the rewards he deserved. Considering these things, Lin Tianming chuckled, not bothering to be modest, and directly took the storage bags. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He then picked up a storage bag, whose lingering aura indicated it belonged to the first black-robed Cultivator he had severely injured. Excited, he hastily extended his Divine Sense and wiped off the remaining trace of it on the bag. Soon, the storage bag was rendered ownerless. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, the contents of the bag appeared in his mind. He hadn¡¯t thought much to look, but having done so, even the usually composed him couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath. The personal wealth of the first black-robed man was incredibly substantial! Just this storage bag alone contained tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, numerous Spiritual Medicine Materials and Artifact Refining Materials, as well as some common elixirs. However, most of the items were ordinary, like some consumable treasures which had almost all been used up in the fierce battle, leaving hardly any behind. After inspecting this bag, he promptly took out the second black-robed man¡¯s storage bag and skillfully erased the remaining Divine Sense on it. Upon his inspection, the wealth in this storage bag proved even more astonishing. After all, that man was at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, so his wealth was certainly richer than his brother¡¯s. Indeed, it was so. This storage bag alone had nearly a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, plenty of commonly used Spiritual Medicine and elixirs, two volumes of insights on Artifact Refining for Second Grade Refiners, and eight Second Order Magical Artifacts. Among them, there were two Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifacts and three Second Order Low Grade Attack Artifacts, and even a Second Order Low Grade Defense Artifact. From the aura emanating from these Second Order Magical Artifacts, they seemed to be of average quality. However, the sheer quantity made their cumulative value simply unimaginable. Besides that, the myriad of Artifact Refining Materials and Demonic Beast Materials in the bag were dazzling, with nearly a hundred types of First and Second Order materials. There were several types of Third Order Spiritual Ores too, each of a not insubstantial value and quantity. From the looks of it, this black-robed man at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection was at least a Second Grade Medium Quality Artifact Refiner. And the value of the treasures in just this storage bag alone, accumulated, was worth at least several hundred thousand. And that didn¡¯t even include the remaining unexamined storage bags. If each bag¡¯s worth could reach half of this one¡¯s, the total wealth of these two individuals would probably not be much less than the entire Lin Family¡¯s fortune. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, his excitement reaching a boiling point. Although he had used all his tricks in this battle, using up two Spirit Detonation Beads and even his trump card, the Fake Golden Core Talisman, and expending the Sword Qi he had nurtured for over two years. Yet, the value of the wealth in just these two storage bags exceeded the value of the treasures he had spent by several times over. ¡°Indeed, risk and opportunity coexist!¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t taken this risk and fought so hard, how could I have reaped such rich rewards?¡± thought Lin Tianming to himself. Collecting his thoughts, he then turned his attention to the remaining storage bags, his expression one of burning eagerness. ¡­ Chapter 580 580 325 Qilin Seal_1 ?Chapter 580: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_1 Chapter 580: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_1 Seeing his expression, Qin Xi next to him wore a curious look and hurriedly asked. ¡°What is it? Did you find something good?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ take a look for yourself!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile and then tossed the two storage bags to Qin Xi. Qin Xi caught the storage bags, and after a sweep of her Divine Sense, her complexion instantly turned a flushed red, evidently seeing something shocking. ¡°This¡­ so many Spirit Stones? And all these treasures?¡± Qin Xi stuttered and stammered, seemingly unable to accept or believe it. ... ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯re not seeing things, this is real!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi finally believed that these treasures were real. At this time, she couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, and began dancing with joy. Lin Tianming chuckled and paid her no mind, instead looking eagerly at the other storage bags, planning to continue his examination. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed each storage bag, his powerful Divine Sense erasing any traces of ownership. A short while passed. Apart from the three belonging to Xu Haiqiao, the remaining storage bags, which still bore traces of the two black-clothed men, had all their Divine Sense wiped clean by him. Upon scanning them with his Divine Sense, their contents filled his mind. After tallying their contents, he found that although these storage bags weren¡¯t empty, their value was obviously less than that of the two main storage bags. By his estimates, the Spirit Stones in these storage bags totaled only about ten thousand, clearly leftovers from some forgotten corners. As for the other items, they were mostly low-level Spiritual Medicine, elixirs, and Demonic Beast Materials, with hardly a few valuable items among them¡ªtheir accumulated value probably didn¡¯t even reach tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Beyond that, there were only some low-level manuals of insight and some personal belongings. From the above items, it was clear that these two black-clothed men indeed belonged to an organization called the Blood Red Alliance. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Recalling various books he had read before, Lin Tianming finally found some information about the Blood Red Alliance. It was said to be a powerful force in Qingzhou with unfathomable overall strength, even boasting several Nascent Soul Elders and numerous Golden Core Cultivators. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, where Golden Core Cultivators stood at the pinnacle, in the mighty Blood Red Alliance, they were only considered mid to upper hierarchy. The Blood Red Alliance was entrenched in the heart of Qingzhou, and the vast Yuxu Country was their territory. Such a powerful force, even when compared to top forces like the Tang Family of Qingzhou, was still slightly superior in overall strength. Besides, this organization conducted itself aggressively and with a style straddling good and evil, responsible for many deeds that provoked public outrage. From a certain perspective, this organization could be characterized as a group of deviant cultivators. Yet, despite their strong presence and overwhelming might, they were virtually at the top of Qingzhou¡¯s hierarchy of powers. Even though some forces were dissatisfied with their conduct, they did not dare to voice their anger in fear of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s influence. However, upon reflection, such a powerful organization had come to the impoverished Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and even destroyed a Foundation Establishing Family like the Xu Family. Such actions made one wonder what they were plotting? Lin Tianming pondered repeatedly but could not discern their motives. It wasn¡¯t until he remembered what Xu Haiqiao had told him when they met¡ªthat the Blood Red Alliance had annihilated the Xu Family for something¡ªthat everything started to come together. Considering how powerful the Blood Red Alliance was, to humiliate themselves by covertly annihilating a Xu Family as insignificant as ants, they must be after something extraordinary. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes shifted and he fixated on Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags, an expectant look on his face. Clearly, since Xu Haiqiao was the most powerful in the Xu Family and had fought desperately to escape, he likely took the family¡¯s most important treasures with him. His actions were probably aimed at reaching the northern Zhenyang Sect to offer treasures in exchange for protection. His luck just hadn¡¯t been very good, barely escaping from his family home only to be caught by two cultivators from the Blood Red Alliance. He might have thought that meeting Lin Tianming would offer him a chance at survival. But as it turned out, it seems Heaven¡¯s Will had different plans, and fate played its hand! Ultimately, the seriously injured Xu Haiqiao died, his path ended, and all his and his assassins¡¯ belongings fell into Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. In all likelihood, the object that the Blood Red Alliance sought with great effort and cost was within his storage bags. Realizing this, Lin Tianming did not dare delay. He quickly took Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags in hand and effortlessly wiped any remaining Divine Sense from them. Then, he hurriedly projected his Divine Sense to examine Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags. After scanning several storage bags in succession, he learned of the value of the treasures Xu Haiqiao had on him. Indeed, as he had guessed, the Xu Family¡¯s treasures were all on his person. Through his examination, he found that within Xu Haiqiao¡¯s storage bags, there were as many as one hundred and thirty thousand Spirit Stones, evidently Xu Haiqiao¡¯s personal reserves as well as some of the Xu Family¡¯s savings. The amount of Spirit Stones was almost as much as what was on the two Blood Red Alliance men. As for the other treasures, they too were varied and many were such that he couldn¡¯t help but envy. Among them, there were several bottles of Fusion Spirit Pills, with each bottle containing three pills, used for cultivation. With these at his disposal, he was confident he could break through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm before finishing them. Besides, there were two Cloud Mulberry Fruits, excellent items for enhancing one¡¯s cultivation. Chapter 581 581 325 Qilin Seal_2 ?Chapter 581: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_2 Chapter 581: Chapter 325 Qilin Seal_2 The Second Order Superior grade of the Cloud Mulberry Fruit, with its immense energy content, was at least several times stronger than the Blood Red Fruit he had consumed a while ago. And these were only a part of all the treasures. The greater and more valuable part consisted of various cultivation methods, and the inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation, as well as a large number of treasures used for the Four Arts, such as the items needed for Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Talisman Making. Among them were seven Cultivation Methods, three Mysterious Grade Techniques, and four Yellow Grade Techniques. The rest included two sets of Second Order Medium Grade Alchemist Insights, and one set of Second Order Lower Grade Talisman Maker Insights. There were also quite a few of the First Order, but with lower grades and more varied, they could only serve as a reference and were not expected to be of much use. However, even though these items were limited in grade, they could significantly strengthen the foundation of the Lin Family¡¯s Four Arts of Cultivation, allowing the clan members to absorb the essence and rapidly improve their skills. ... Beyond these, there were numerous Third Order Treasures and Second Order Treasures that the Xu Family had accumulated over the centuries. With such an enormous collection of treasures, undeniably prized by the Xu Family, their cumulative value was estimated to be over several hundred thousand. At this moment, after having preliminarily investigated the storage bag, Lin Tianming was already over the moon, exhilarated to the utmost. In his heart, this gain was simply too astonishing. And the risk he took was well worth it. After a long time, he finally calmed down, holding a red jade stone in his hand. This stone appeared very ordinary, exuding no aura, indistinguishable from a commonplace jade and undetectable by any common means. But after examining it with the Eye of Five Colors, he was able to discern some clues. Upon close observation, he found that inside this jade stone was a tiny fiery red seal, covered in profound runes and numerous Demonic Beast totems. Most prominent and eye-catching was the top of the fiery red seal, which bore the form of a mythical beast that resembled a qilin, along with three characters inscribed above it. ¡°Qilin Seal!¡± He surmised that this Qilin Seal was likely a high-order cultivator¡¯s cave abode key or a token to open a secret realm. However, with only this information, the specific function of the object and the opportunities that may lie behind it remained completely unclear. Nevertheless, he was well aware that the Blood Red Alliance would not have gone to such lengths for an ordinary object. Now that this object had fallen into his hands, if the Blood Red Alliance became aware, it would be uncertain whether it would be a chance or a disaster for the Lin Family. At the very least, for the Lin Family in its current state, this object also concealed a huge opportunity, and perhaps even a crisis. Upon further reflection, the greater the danger, the greater the opportunity it usually implied. It could very well be the capital for the Lin Family to soar to new heights. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming dared not make a hasty decision. ¡°No matter, whether it be a chance or a disaster, once I return to the family, I will discuss it with Third Grandfather and the others!¡± Determined, he immediately stored away the Qilin Seal. At that time, Qin Xi, noticing his alternating flush and pale complexion, hurriedly showed concern. ¡°Ming, did you find something incredible?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming¡¯s grave expression softened, and he then smiled, ¡°Nothing¡¯s the matter, it¡¯s just that the storage bag contains an enormous amount of treasures.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming handed the storage bag to Qin Xi, suggesting that she take a look. In truth, Lin Tianming said this to avoid letting more people know about the Qilin Seal. Even though Qin Xi had already established a romantic relationship with him, such a matter was too significant, and the more people who knew, the greater the risk. At that moment, Qin Xi, hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, did not overthink it and had no intention to examine the storage bag. She smiled lightly, ¡°As a wife, I shall not look into it. Ming, please keep the storage bag safe.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not insist any further and stored the storage bag away. Only then did he say, ¡°Xi¡¯er, we have already delayed for several days, and this place still poses great danger. We should set out as soon as possible!¡± ¡°As Ming arranges, Xi¡¯er has no objections!¡± Qin Xi nodded in agreement. ¡°` ¡°Alright, let¡¯s rest for today and set off first thing tomorrow morning!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming sat down on the ground, took out a Consolidating Essence Pill and swallowed it, then immediately entered a deep state of cultivation. Next to him, Qin Xi did the same, and both soon entered into cultivation one after the other. The following morning. As dawn barely broke, Lin Tianming and his companion took advantage of the dim morning light and left their temporary cave abode. After several days of rest, his spiritual power had returned to its peak state, and there were even signs of a breakthrough. However, this place was not suitable for a long stay. Lin Tianming did not dwell on the opportunity for a breakthrough, ready to leave and head towards Qianchuan Market first. As for his injuries, they were not serious to begin with. After several days of cultivation and with the help of some elixirs, he had almost completely recovered, with only minor external wounds remaining that did not significantly affect his combat capabilities. Similarly, Qin Xi had been injured by the man in the black robe but fortunately, it was not severe. After a few days of cultivation, her injuries too had mostly healed. With that, he had no concerns about setting off right away, embarking on the journey to Qianchuan Market. After skillfully concealing the entrance to their cave, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle from his storage bag. The Bloodthirsty Jiao continued to rest inside the Spirit Beast Bag, striving to recover to its peak condition as soon as possible. After feeding the Purple Gold Eagle the corpse of a Second Order Initial Stage demonic beast, one after the other, they mounted the back of the eagle. Immediately afterward, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, quickly ascending through the clouds to a height of several thousand zhang. Soon, a dark shadow flew southward in the direction of the Qianchuan Market, vanishing from the valley in the blink of an eye. ¡­ Qianchuan Market. More than two months had passed since news of the battle at Yuyao City had spread. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, inside a secret chamber in Luoyun Pavilion, Lin Tianfeng, Lin Xingyan, and several members of their family sat opposite each other, their expressions filled with gloom. It was then that Lin Xingpu, who had brought back the news from Hui Ethnicity lands, looked over at Lin Xingyan with a grave expression and asked, ¡°Cousin, it¡¯s been more than two months since the battle ended. Why hasn¡¯t Tianming come back?¡± ¡°Could something have happened?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Xingyan heaved a long sigh, his tone laden with helplessness. He was completely clueless about Lin Tianming¡¯s whereabouts, and it was likely that no member of the family knew his current situation. Seeing this, Lin Xingpu couldn¡¯t help but feel helpless and worried. At this time, Lin Tianfeng also spoke up to reassure everyone, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry so much. With Tianming¡¯s strength, unless he encounters a Golden Core cultivator, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger!¡± After he had spoken, several other family members joined in to offer their reassurances. ¡°Yes¡­ Tianming stood out among many Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivators, securing a spot in the top five of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. His strength speaks for itself.¡± ¡°And how many Golden Core cultivators are there in the entirety of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World? Besides, our Lin Family hasn¡¯t offended anyone, so he must be safe!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan thought it over and his expression finally relaxed. He then changed the subject and asked Lin Xingpu about the situation after returning to the family. At the question, Lin Xingpu¡¯s interest was piqued, and he eagerly began to recount his and Lin Xingzhao¡¯s return to the family. According to him, they had taken over twenty days to safely return to Green Bamboo Mountain. Upon their arrival, they first met with Lin Shikang and a few other senior family members. After their explanation, Lin Shikang and the elders learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s accomplishment of ranking fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard. Knowing that Lin Tianming had distinguished himself and also greatly increased in cultivation and strength, Lin Shikang and the others burst into joyful laughter, their faces unable to contain their excitement. Especially Lin Shigong, as Lin Tianming¡¯s grandfather, his heart was filled with indescribable excitement, and he was moved to tears. After calming himself, he took out a number of elixirs on the spot and bestowed them to the family members stationed in Qianchuan Market. ¡°` Chapter 582 582 326 Return_1 ?Chapter 582: Chapter 326 Return_1 Chapter 582: Chapter 326 Return_1 As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua made arrangements as soon as possible, summoning both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu to return to Qianchuan Market with him. The reason for this arrangement was that the Demon Beast Tide had essentially ended, and clan members were gradually returning to the Lin Family, which meant that key assets such as the Luoyun Pavilion also needed to be guarded by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. This move was not only to give the two of them some experience but also to welcome the return of Lin Tianming. They only stayed for two days before setting off again, and when they passed Golden Horn Mountain, they conveyed Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements. Subsequently, led by Lin Tianfeng, they took the family¡¯s replenishments for Luoyun Pavilion and made a smooth return to Qianchuan Market. After learning about the tasks of Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, Lin Xingyan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He, along with Lin Xingpu and several others, had been guarding Qianchuan Market for two years. ... Without the leadership of Foundation Establishment Cultivators during these two years, and under the pressure of the beast tide, they faced difficulties in all their affairs. The business of the Luoyun Pavilion was sometimes good and sometimes bad, lacking compared to its peak, but it had managed to hold on. Now, with Lin Tianfeng bringing several Qi Refining Stage clanspeople to take over his duties, he could relax quite a bit. This time, he might even be able to return to the family with the returning Lin Tianming. It just so happened that he too had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage and had amassed a significant amount of Spirit Stones. After returning to the family and settling down for a year or two, he would be able to exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill to Impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. If fortunate enough, he might become another Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the family. Thinking of this, Lin Xingyan¡¯s face glowed with health, and his previous worries disappeared. He looked at the confident expressions of Lin Tianfeng and the others and brought up a new topic, starting to discuss the upcoming arrangements. A quarter of an hour later. The clanspeople had discussed and arranged their upcoming tasks, and then dispersed. ¡­ Several days later. At noon, the blazing sunlight penetrated the clouds and shone upon the earth. In the hilly area outside of Qianchuan Market, a dark shadow grew larger and larger before finally skimming over a small hilltop and landing steadily on a relatively high peak. This dark shadow was undoubtedly the Purple Gold Eagle. At that moment, Tian Ming and another jumped down from the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, looking out toward Qianchuan Market, shrouded in clouds and mist, revealing faint smiles. Since leaving Yuyao City, more than a month had passed. During that time, they inadvertently got involved in the incident with Xu Haiqiao and took a detour for safety reasons. Otherwise, they could have arrived several days earlier. Now, Tian Ming looked at the familiar scenery, put away the Purple Gold Eagle into his storage bag, and led Qin Xi on a Sword Flight towards the entrance to Qianchuan Market. Along the way, many Cultivators were on Sword Flight, with the same destination as them, the nearby Qianchuan Market. Clearly, with the end of the beast tide, the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World gradually returned to its former state, and commerce between the major family powers and markets revitalized. A large number of Cultivators left the market, and a large number returned, a sight not seen for over two years. Tian Ming was not surprised by this. After all, when the beast tide broke out, many people, with thoughts of refuge in mind, had headed to Qianchuan Market from all directions. Now that the beast tide had ended, the Cultivators who hadn¡¯t experienced any significant battles in the past two years were leaving the market in groups to hunt and kill those low-order Monster Beasts lingering in the mountains. On their way back, they saw quite a few of these scenarios. As for the Cultivators along the way, the vast majority were Qi Refining Cultivators, and occasionally some Foundation Establishment Cultivators would dart past at high speeds, attracting the attention of some Qi Refining Cultivators. However, Tian Ming and his companion had concealed their true identities, revealing only the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, and flew at a relaxed pace, not intending to interact with strangers at all. Their appearance and aura gave everyone an unfamiliar feeling, and with the Foundation Establishment-level cultivation, no one dared to disturb them. In such a situation, the two quickly arrived at the entrance to the market. With their cultivation strength, there was naturally no need to queue like the Qi Refining Cultivators. Under Tian Ming¡¯s lead, they bypassed many Qi Refining Cultivators and went directly to the Cultivator in charge of collecting the entrance Spirit Stones. He casually threw a few dozen Spirit Stones to the guard and left with Qin Xi, leaving behind a crowd of envious Qi Refining Cultivators. He did not bring out the Lin Family¡¯s Token, so as to avoid unnecessary attention. Although his current strength rendered him not much of a threat by anyone below Golden Core Cultivators, his habitually low profile meant he preferred to keep his identity and whereabouts concealed. Moreover, the entry fee wasn¡¯t much in terms of Spirit Stones, and with over two hundred thousand on him, he didn¡¯t regard this expenditure as significant. Under the gazes of envy and awe from the crowd, the two quickly vanished into the entrance. Once inside the city, Tian Ming didn¡¯t delay and immediately led Qin Xi to Luoyun Pavilion. Not long after, the Lin Family members including Tian Ming and Tianfeng gathered in a private room on the third floor of Luoyun Pavilion. All around, clan members looked excited and immensely thrilled, with not a trace of gloom on their faces. At that moment, an excited Tianfeng grabbed Tian Ming¡¯s arm, eagerly greeting him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tian Ming, the other companions have already returned to the market; you¡¯ve been delayed so long, could there have been some unexpected event?¡± Chapter 583 583 326 Return_2 ?Chapter 583: Chapter 326 Return_2 Chapter 583: Chapter 326 Return_2 ¡°Yes, Sixth Brother!¡± Lin Tianhu also chimed in from the side. ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve specifically visited some cultivators, indirectly inquiring about Sixth Brother¡¯s news, but alas, they too knew nothing, which worried everyone terribly!¡± ¡°Indeed, indeed¡­ these days have really made us anxious¡­¡± Hearing the family members¡¯ words of concern, a warm feeling surged through Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, deeply moved. This is what family is about! No matter where he went, what he did, or what his level of cultivation and strength might be, there would always be people genuinely worried about his safety. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming bowed with his fists to the many clan members and began to speak about his own arrangements, but he did not mention anything about Xu Haiqiao¡¯s matter since it was extremely serious. ... It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust people like Lin Tianfeng. The matter was simply too serious and also a hidden crisis, which he planned to disclose only to a few Shi clan members within the family. As for the younger generation, including his own father, it was better not to reveal anything. After all, the younger generation¡¯s power was limited; the more people knew, the greater the danger. It was not long before everyone learned that he had been cultivating in Qianchuan Market for a while, and he had almost broken through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, causing many to involuntarily take a sharp intake of breath. ¡°Sixth Brother, just what kind of monster are you?¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng said with a mix of laughter and tears, and then he began to mutter to himself. ¡°More than a decade ago, there wasn¡¯t much disparity between us Tian generation clan members, but after a few years of diligent cultivation, I was fortunate enough to barely break through to the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°I thought that after the breakthrough, I would narrow the gap between us, but who could have expected the disparity to grow even further!¡± ¡°It¡¯s truly¡­ seemingly impossible to catch up!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s sighs, the Xing generation clan members¡¯ faces grew even more dejected. You see, the talents and strengths of Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, besides the monstrous Lin Tianming, lead among both the Xing and Tian generation clan members. They had been practicing thirty or forty years earlier than Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, yet they remained at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining or the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage. If compared with Lin Tianming, the difference was like heaven and earth. At that moment, seeing the expressions on many clan members¡¯ faces, Lin Tianming smiled and said, ¡°My fellow clansmen, there¡¯s no need to be so disheartened!¡± ¡°Cultivation itself should follow one¡¯s heart, and doing our best is enough; this way, the reward is worth the effort. Otherwise, if one blindly pursues a higher realm, it may well backfire!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianfeng spoke with a grave voice. ¡°What Sixth Brother says is true, not everyone is born with extraordinary talent!¡± ¡°Besides, talent can only decide the lower limit, not the upper limit. Sixth Brother¡¯s achievements today have come through numerous life-and-death crises over the years, as most of you have heard more or less.¡± ¡°We may not be able to become the Lin Family¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, but we can become the core backbone of the family, and in the future, we might return to being a Golden Core Aristocratic Family.¡± ¡°Or even¡­ even become the first Nascent Soul Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± Upon saying this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was resolute, his eyes revealing an indescribable confidence. ¡°A Nascent Soul Family?¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And upon hearing this, the clan members, inspired by his words, saw the confusion in their eyes give way to color, and they exuded renewed vigor. Indeed! Even if one could not become the most outstanding clansman, each member could still utilize their strengths and contribute their power to the family. As long as the family has a goal and the best talents to lead, with these clan members contributing, why would the family not prosper? A Golden Core Family was already within reach, and they might even become the first Nascent Soul Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in ten thousand years. Although this path is difficult and the chance of success is incredibly slim. But what of that? It was not for them to consider; they simply needed to do their utmost, give their all for the Lin Family, and leave the rest to Heaven¡¯s Will. Understanding this, the clan¡¯s morale soared, a stark contrast to the previously somber atmosphere. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction and then inquired about the situation back at the family. After all, having been away for nearly two years, he constantly worried about the family¡¯s affairs. According to Lin Xingpu and Lin Tianfeng, the Lin Family had developed tremendously over the past two years, although the impact of the beast tide had prevented new clanspeople from entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. But in these few years, the upper echelons of the family had been tempered by the demonic beasts, and with the family¡¯s various supportive policies, the cultivation strength of the members who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage in the past decade did not cease, but instead leaped up one or two realms. Among them, Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping stepped into the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, with Lin Xingrong even reaching the peak of the Fourth Level, poised to enter the Fifth Level realm, becoming the highest cultivator among the Xing Clan Members. The reason for such cultivation was thanks to the sponsorship by Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming, both alchemists. Plus, as he was stationed in Golden Horn Mountain all year round and seldom delved into family affairs, he had ample time for cultivation, which is why he could become the forerunner among the Xing Clan Members. Lin Tianfeng also stepped into the mid-stage of the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, and Lin Tianhu was notable as well. Although much younger than Lin Tianfeng, his cultivation had also just entered the Fourth Level Realm. Such a rate of cultivation was not much slower than Lin Tianming in the same age group. As for other clanspeople, like the Xing Clan Members¡ªLin Xingzhi, Lin Xingli, and Lin Xingyuan¡ªall were at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. The Tian Clan Members were not weak in their cultivation either; among them, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue had already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were nearly all at the peak of the First Layer or within the Second Layer Realm. Now, after years of covert development, the strength of the upper echelons of the Lin Family has almost seen a qualitative leap. It could be said that the family¡¯s current overall strength could definitely rank in the top ten of the several hundred Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom, even potentially in the top three. As for the losses after the beast tide, despite the fall of nearly dozens of Qi Refining clanspeople, not many potential Foundation Establishment seeds were lost. The fallen clanspeople were not highly skilled, and their talents were only average, which didn¡¯t substantially impact the overall strength or potential of the Lin Family, nor did it shake the foundation. When it comes to Luoyun Market and Golden Horn Mountain, the losses were almost negligible, and it was believed that in less than two years, everything would return to its former glory. Relieved by this news, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but feel gratified. Immediately thereafter, he changed the topic and asked about the situation of Luoyun Pavilion. At that point, Lin Xingpu took out an account book and handed it to Lin Tianming, indicating for him to take a look for himself. Lin Tianming nodded, took the account book, and started to look over it. According to the figures recorded, the revenue generated by Luoyun Pavilion over the past two years was considerable, nearly a hundred thousand Spirit Stones a year in profit, while not as much as at its peak, it still reached about sixty to seventy percent of its former levels. That these results were achieved under the influence of the beast tide that affected the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was completely beyond his expectation. However, it was a welcome surprise. Lin Tianming handed back the account book, then he praised, ¡°The stable operation of Luoyun Pavilion and the achievement of such a profit is greatly due to the efforts of several uncles. Once I return to the family, I will certainly report this to the Clan Leader, and I believe he will credit the uncles for their contribution and provide ample rewards!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Xingyan chuckled and promptly replied in a humble manner, ¡°Tianming, you are too polite. As members of the Lin Family, these are merely our duties.¡± ¡°However, to tell the truth, that Luoyun Pavilion could achieve such results amid a beast tide that affected the entire Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom, we really need to thank Senior Wang!¡± ¡°Oh? One of the Executive Officers of Luoyun Market, Daoist Wang Wang Zhi?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised. ¡°Indeed, Senior Wang. During your absence, he has truly given us much support!¡± With those words, Lin Xingyan continued to explain the difficulties Luoyun Pavilion had encountered in the past two years, as well as the help provided by Wang Zhi. A short while passed. After Lin Xingyan¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming learned of the reasons behind everything. Chapter 584 584 327 Explosive News_1 ?Chapter 584: Chapter 327 Explosive News_1 Chapter 584: Chapter 327 Explosive News_1 Soon, Lin Tianming learned of the reasons behind the events. He nodded approvingly, expressing great recognition and satisfaction with Wang Zhi¡¯s actions. It was true that he had informed Wang Zhi before he left Luoyun Market to go to Yuyao City and had received a promise that Wang Zhi would take special care of the Lin Family¡¯s Luoyun Pavilion and the family members. However, his relationship with Wang Zhi was not as deep as it was with Li Xiuyuan. Still, Wang Zhi had given great care to the Lin Family Members and the Luoyun Pavilion, which was somewhat surprising. Nevertheless, it was ultimately a good thing for the Lin Family. He planned to visit Wang Zhi on behalf of the Lin Family before leaving Qianchuan Market to thank him for his help and to establish a relationship with him. ... After all, as the Market City Supervisor, Wang Zhi would be someone the Luoyun Pavilion would need to rely on for at least the next few years. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming said to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, ¡°Big brother, Tianhu, come with me tomorrow to visit Daoist Wang; you might have dealings with him for the next few years.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianfeng nodded and smiled. ¡°Haha¡­ I was intending to do just that, had I not just arrived at the market, I might have gone even earlier!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡± After making these arrangements, Lin Tianming had pretty much found out everything he wanted to know. At this point, the family members began to chat about everyday matters, creating an amiable atmosphere. Lin Tianfeng chuckled and said, ¡°Sixth brother, you have truly made a name for yourself in Qianchuan Market this time!¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk¡­ fifth place on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard and first among Loose Cultivators and family Cultivators; such dazzling achievements have really brought great fame to our Lin Family.¡± Before he could finish, Lin Xingyan nodded in agreement. ¡°You know, since the Demon Hunter Leaderboard was published in Qianchuan Market, our business at the Luoyun Pavilion has increased significantly.¡± ¡°It seems to me that this has a lot to do with Tianming!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ What my cousin said is true, for a while many Cultivators were visiting, their words full of flattery; clearly they wanted to make connections with us Lin Family Members.¡± ¡°And some female Cultivators also began to make contact with us, intentionally or otherwise¡­¡± Lin Xingpu excitedly gesticulated as he recounted the glory of that period. At this moment, Lin Tianming, hearing these words, broke out in a cold sweat and smiled helplessly. Seeing his furrowed brow, Lin Tianfeng quickly changed the subject. ¡°Sixth brother, do tell your older brother about your experiences in the great battle at Yuyao City; I am quite curious.¡± Once he had finished speaking, Lin Xingzhao nodded and chimed in. ¡°Yes, although we¡¯ve heard some things in the market, the stories told by those people are too dramatized and fabricated to be believable.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming opened up and started to recount the process of the battle simply, but he did not go into detail about the extremely perilous situations. A short while later, the family members had a rough understanding of the overall process and were profoundly amazed. They were astounded to learn that the Late Stage of the Third Order Blazing Flame Celestial Lion led the group, accompanied by the powerful Blood Jiao and a formidable lineup consisting of nine Third Order Demon Beasts and tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts, which stood up against five Golden Core Cultivators and two Third Order Spiritual Beasts from the Zhenyang Sect. Especially in the first two battles, the Human Race army did not have the upper hand, and it was after those two deadly fights that the Human Cultivators suffered nearly total losses. However, as the battle dragged on, the Human Cultivators turned the situation around and gained the absolute upper hand. This war lasted for more than a year, with numerous skirmishes large and small, and ultimately, thanks to the tenacious resistance of the Human Cultivators, the demonic beast tide was put to an end. Yet, although the beast tide had ended, this brutal war would sooner or later be forgotten, and the Cultivation World would gradually recover to its former glory. But for those Human Cultivators who fell in battle, their loss was real; their families and powers behind them would not forget for a long time. Although he had heard some news about the brutality of the beast tide attack before, and understood its cruelty, such battles are, after all, a matter of racial conflict, with every Cultivator, regardless of status, being involved to some extent. But it was not until they heard it from Lin Tianming himself that they truly felt the whole significance of that war, and the bloody and brutal realities behind it. After calming themselves, the family members¡¯ spirits did not sink, but soared instead. Clearly, this war, which affected many Cultivators in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, also presented an opportunity for many. Take the Lin Family as an example: although they took on great risks, many family members gained experience from life-and-death battles, and their cultivation improved rapidly. Lin Tianming had been directly involved in the war, and his cultivation had improved swiftly, while the cultivation of other family members also generally increased by one or two realms. Beyond that, many Cultivators gained considerable benefits from the aftermath of the beast tide; anyone who survived the battle received the rewards they deserved. And while the Lin Family had cast a wide net and took on great risks, the gains were truly beyond imagination, at least far exceeding expectations. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling relieved, and he sighed inwardly, ¡°Indeed, risk and opportunity coexist; the greater the risk undertaken, the greater the reward.¡± Returning to the present, Lin Tianming chatted with a few family members for a while before leaving Luoyun Pavilion first, taking Qin Xi back to Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Chapter 585 585 327 Explosive News_2 ?Chapter 585: Chapter 327: Explosive News_2 Chapter 585: Chapter 327: Explosive News_2 ¡°` The next morning. In one of the rooms of the Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming sat upright from the stone bed. He took a long breath, feeling the abundant power within his body, and a smile crossed his face. After a night¡¯s rest, whether it was his spiritual power or divine sense, everything had recovered to its best state, and the fatigue from over a month of traveling had completely vanished. In a short while, he stepped out of the room and into the small courtyard of the Cave Mansion. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and some others were sitting together, chatting over tea. Seeing him come out, Lin Tianfeng quickly got up to greet him, then invited Lin Tianming to join them. ... Immediately after, Lin Tianfeng poured him a cup of spiritual tea, and then teased, ¡°Sixth brother, you seem to be in good spirits today.¡± ¡°Haha, the fatigue from the past few days has dissipated, so naturally, I¡¯m looking good,¡± replied Lin Tianming with a laugh, before turning his head and noticing Qin Xi standing at the entrance of the corridor. His spirits lifted, he waved and called out, ¡°Xi¡¯er, come over and sit.¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er?¡± At this address, Lin Tianfeng looked puzzled as if he had heard some explosive news. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His eyes were fixed on Lin Tianming, as though he was waiting for an explanation. That was when Lin Tianming realized that all the clan members present were staring, their eyes wide and faces wearing a somewhat strange expression mixed between a smile and confusion. Feeling his face turn red with embarrassment, Lin Tianming introduced, ¡°You are all aware of Xi¡¯er¡¯s situation and have met her before, so I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much need for me to say more.¡± ¡°After living together for the past two years, I plan to take Xi¡¯er as my Taoist companion as we pursue the great path of immortality together.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of hearty laughter filled the air from all around, and the atmosphere was lively and warm. Lin Tianfeng laughed heartily and then stood up, running over to Qin Xi, bowing with his hands clasped and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ Sister-in-law, please come over and sit.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks also turned red, but she quickly returned to her usual composure. She bent slightly in return and said, ¡°Big brother, there¡¯s no need to be so formal, I should be the one greeting you all as part of the family.¡± ¡°Sister-in-law is too polite, please, take a seat,¡± said Lin Tianfeng. Welcomed by Lin Tianfeng, Qin Xi bowed to the clan members, her attitude extremely sincere, without any hint of arrogance despite her superior cultivation level. Her demeanor was extraordinary and her humble manners ensured she was not seen as an outsider. Moreover, as Lin Tianming¡¯s Taoist companion, whether it was her own cultivation status or this new identity, no one would dare to pull rank on her. Under such circumstances, the other clan members quickly responded with earnest bows, very satisfied in their hearts. As Qin Xi sat beside Lin Tianming, the others finally settled down, but the constant smiles on their faces showed the clan members were in great spirits. At that time, the always easygoing Lin Tianfeng laughed and said, ¡°Sixth brother, once you return to the family in a while, if Ninth Grandpa and the others learn about Sister-in-law, they¡¯ll probably be eager to arrange your wedding.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly, as he was already prepared, and being pushed into marriage was no big deal to him. Moreover, members of their family¡¯s Tian generation were gradually reaching the age for marriage. Although marrying in their forties was considered relatively early in the history of their family, it wasn¡¯t uncommon and there was nothing to be averse to. With this in mind, Lin Tianming said, ¡°I¡¯m not opposed to getting married. If conditions allow it, all of you must come and join in my wedding celebrations.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a must. As a Hidden Dragon of the Lin family is getting married, such joyous occasion cannot be missed. When the time comes, we will definitely attend,¡± Lin Xingyan and the other clan members chimed in one after another. ¡°As for me and Tianhu, we¡¯ve been stationed in the Qianchuan Market for the past few years and might not be able to attend, which would really be a pity,¡± Lin Tianfeng added. ¡°But even if I might not make it to the wedding ceremony, I must attend when that little nephew comes along.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t do to miss both the joy of the wedding and the joy of welcoming a child,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi blushed slightly, wishing she could disappear into a hole. ¡°` ¡°Hehe, brother, you need to pick up the pace and find us a sister-in-law soon.¡± Lin Tianming said with a chuckle. As soon as these words came out, Lin Tianfeng was at a loss for words and could only respond with an awkward laugh. Seeing Lin Tianfeng at a disadvantage, the family members all burst into laughter, and the scene became extremely lively. A short while passed. The chatter ended, and Lin Tianming, along with Qin Xi, Lin Tianfeng, and Lin Tianhu, left the Cave Mansion Courtyard and headed toward the location of the auction. Walking on the streets along the way, Lin Tianming did not conceal his cultivation level or his face, quickly attracting the attention of many cultivators. In fact, he did this intentionally. With his cultivation level about to break through to the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment and strength not inferior to a Great Completion Qi Refining Cultivator, in the absence of Golden Core Cultivators, he was essentially the strongest around. And in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there were only so many Golden Core Cultivators, with hardly any stationed in Qianchuan Market during normal times. It could be said that his cultivation strength was basically at the top within the Southern Wei Kingdom and Qianchuan Market. Following the announcement of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, his cultivation strength had long since spread throughout Qianchuan Market; there was really no need to hide. Moreover, his public appearance also served to promote the reputation of Luoyun Pavilion and even deter petty criminals, to avoid unnecessary trouble from those who are seeking it. In such a situation, his bold appearance in the busy market attracted many cultivators¡¯ gazes and even led to much discussion. In the crowd, a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Fifth Level looked at Lin Tianming with awe in his eyes and said, ¡°Is that the Elder Lin who ranks fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard?¡± ¡°Indeed, Elder Lin has already risen to fame,¡± a voice replied. As soon as the voice fell, an elderly Qi Refining Cultivator, who seemed to be a regular at Luoyun Market, heard this nearly universally known question and immediately began an endless introduction. ¡°Yes¡­ Even before the great battle at Yuyao City, many cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage were discussing Elder Lin.¡± ¡°In the battle at Yuyao City, it¡¯s said that Elder Lin faced three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts at once, and without much effort, he killed them all!¡± ¡°What? He faced three and still easily killed them?¡± ¡°How strong must Elder Lin be?¡± Hearing this, some uninformed cultivators seemed incredulous. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯m afraid that below the Golden Elixir Experts, he¡¯s an invincible presence,¡± the Qi Refining elder spoke gravely. Hearing this, the group of Qi Refining Cultivators¡¯ breathing quickened, clearly shocked. Once they had calmed down, another Qi Refining Cultivator asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Luoyun Pavilion the property of Elder Lin¡¯s family?¡± ¡°Exactly¡­ Luoyun Pavilion has been open for nearly ten years now, doing very well business-wise, earning a significant profit every year¡­¡± ¡­ At that moment, Lin Tianming, who was passing by, heard the conversation between the cultivators but did not pay any attention to it. With a faint smile, he led Lin Tianfeng and the others across the street and quickly disappeared from view. Not long after, the group of four made their way through several streets and arrived at the auction square. The place was bustling with a large crowd, many cultivators coming and going in a lively scene that seemed very popular. As people came and went, they too noticed his presence, and many stopped in their tracks, apparently curious to see the recently famous Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming chuckled and greeted the many Qi Refining Cultivators with a cupped fist salute before leading his companions directly into the auction hall. His purpose here remained to collect the spoils of the great battle at Yuyao City. After all, these cultivation resources came from the Zhenyang Sect, and given the strength of Zhenyang Sect, the rewards would certainly be substantial. Furthermore, before leaving, it had been explained that the items should be collected within a certain period. And this time returning to his family and coming back to Qianchuan Market might be two years later, when it would be time to gather at Zhenyang Sect. In such circumstances, he naturally wanted to claim his rewards this time, so as not to waste this hard-earned opportunity. Chapter 586 586 328 Visit_1 ?Chapter 586: Chapter 328 Visit_1 Chapter 586: Chapter 328 Visit_1 With such a purpose in mind, Lin Tianming led several people into the auction hall. Upon arrival and his emergence, a Qi Refinement Realm disciple from the Zhenyang Sect immediately greeted them. ¡°Greetings, elders! May I know if there is anything I can assist you with?¡± ¡°Please come to our inner parlor to sit for a moment. I will immediately call for my uncle to keep you company!¡± The person¡¯s attitude was respectful, and his tone was filled with reverence. Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°You are too kind, young friend! Please lead the way then!¡± ¡°Elder Lin, you flatter me too much. This is what I should do!¡± ... The Qi Refining disciple replied, then led Lin Tianming and others deeper into the grand hall. Soon, the group entered a reception room, where the Qi Refining Cultivator prepared some Spiritual Tea, then excused himself. After a while, a loud, hearty laugh came from the entrance. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin, your visit today has indeed left me waiting quite some time!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming turned around and saw Wang Zhi stride in with an expression of pleasant surprise. ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you, Daoist Wang, for your concern!¡± ¡°Lin Tianming got up, cupped his hands with a smile, then explained, ¡°Recently, I had some insights, so I specifically stayed in Yuyao City to cultivate for a while; that¡¯s why I¡¯m a bit late returning to the Qianchuan Market!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Wang Zhi politely responded. ¡°Daoist Lin truly deserves his place at the forefront of the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, always prioritizing cultivation. It¡¯s no wonder you have achieved such brilliant success.¡± ¡°My senior brother is indeed lucky!¡± Wang Zhi sighed sincerely from the bottom of his heart, and soon, he had already approached the front, his gaze fixed on Lin Tianfeng and others besides Lin Tianming, and he then inquired. ¡°I am not familiar with these fellow Daoists; who might they be?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming quickly pointed to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, introducing them: ¡°These two are my clan brothers of the same lineage, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu.¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s introduction, Wang Zhi¡¯s mind stirred, but inwardly he was quite surprised. According to the information he had, the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators were very limited, and plainly did not include these two. Yet the strength of these two seemed far from weak, certainly above the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, apparently not those who had just entered the stage. With this in consideration, the Lin Family¡¯s publicly known cultivators now numbered over ten, including later-stage existences such as Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, coupled with Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful combat capabilities in the late stages of Foundation Establishment. Such strength was exceedingly rare among the many Foundation Establishing Families of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. One could imagine, how strong must the overall strength of the Lin Family be? Moreover, this was just the visibility on the surface; there might still be hidden Foundation Establishment Cultivators within the clan. It appeared that the overall strength of the Lin Family may be even more formidable than what was evident. Wang Zhi finally understood why his senior brother Li Xiuyuan valued the Lin Family so highly, as well as Lin Tianming. In fact, his vision was indeed accurate, and he also obtained a generous reward by relying on Lin Tianming in the great battle at Yuyao City. With these thoughts in mind, Wang Zhi couldn¡¯t help murmuring to himself. ¡°The Lin Family is truly extraordinary, after all, they are a Golden Core Family, with quite a profound heritage!¡± ¡°It seems necessary to provide some support to the Lin Family and establish a good relationship with them!¡± Regaining his attention, Wang Zhi looked at Lin Tianfeng and the others, then started to greet them with a very courteous manner and expression. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng and the others did not dare to delay and promptly returned the gesture, behaving extremely politely. After exchanges of pleasantries, everyone took their seats. Then, Wang Zhi picked up a teacup, took a sip, and finally began to inquire about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions. Lin Tianming smiled lightly and spoke directly about the rewards from the great battle in Yuyao City. Wang Zhi nodded his head, having anticipated this, but asked out of routine. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following that, Wang Zhi got up and left for a short while, returning with two storage bags which he handed to Lin Tianming and Qin Xi. Lin Tianming took the storage bag, and his Divine Sense eagerly swept inside. Inside the storage bag, there was a Foundation Establishment Pill, ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and a Purple Star Fruit. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful. It was evident that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s reward, aside from the Spirit Stones, included other items that were in urgent demand by both the families and Loose Cultivators. There¡¯s no need to go on about the Foundation Establishment Pill, for it was a sought-after item among all Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Even now, the Lin Family was short of Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, in recent years, the family had consumed quite a few, and the remaining pills were extremely limited. And he had used up half of the Purple Yin Grass he had initially obtained. Considering the pace of the Lin Family¡¯s development over the years, if there is no replenishment of Foundation Establishment Pills or main ingredients for them in the next decade, the clan¡¯s growth might be greatly impacted. Although there was only one Foundation Establishment Pill, compared to the difficult times the family faced more than twenty years ago, this single pill could potentially create one more Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the clan. Beyond that, the Purple Star Fruit was also very valuable, as a Second Order Superior Spirit Fruit, containing an immense amount of energy, which could be very beneficial for the cultivation of those in the late stages of Foundation Establishment. If accumulated enough, with a sufficiently stable base, it could perhaps enhance one¡¯s cultivation by a whole level without any side effects. Therefore, the Purple Star Fruit was precious, seldom circulating in the market, and even in large market auctions, it was difficult to come by. At this moment, Lin Tianming, looking at the treasures in the storage bag, was quite satisfied with the rewards from the great battle in Yuyao City. Chapter 587 587 328 Visit_2 ?Chapter 587: Chapter 328 Visit_2 Chapter 587: Chapter 328 Visit_2 In his heart, these treasures were not of low value. Aside from the entrance slot to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, the accumulated value of these items alone was at least worth sixty thousand Spirit Stones. Although he had taken considerable risks, the rewards were indeed extremely generous. Such rewards, even for a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator, were not something that could easily be offered. However, upon reflection, he was after all the person ranked first on the list, it was expected that he would receive such rewards. Otherwise, if too meager, it would be laughable especially given the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s thousands of years of heritage. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming took out the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Purple Star Fruit from the storage bag, and placed them into his own storage bag. Subsequently, he handed back the storage bag containing ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones to the nearby Wang Zhi. ... ¡°Lin, what is this?¡± Seeing this, Wang Zhi asked with a puzzled look. ¡°Heh¡­ over the past two years, Luoyun Pavilion and our family members have greatly benefited from Daoist Wang¡¯s care. This little token is a small gesture of our Lin Family¡¯s appreciation!¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Hearing this, Wang Zhi waved his hand modestly, then replied, ¡°You¡¯re too polite, Lin. Those were just small favors, no need for such courtesy!¡± ¡°Not at all, not at all. What you¡¯ve done, I heard all about it from my clan members once I returned to Qianchuan Market, and I was deeply moved at the time.¡± ¡°And today¡¯s visit was also to say thanks to you, Daoist Wang, for your assistance, and to introduce my clan brothers to you. ¡°In the future, should the Lin Family or Luoyun Pavilion face any difficulties, we¡¯d be grateful for your further assistance.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, than Lin Tianfeng also offered a cupped-fists salute, echoing the sentiment sincerely. ¡°Indeed¡­ my brother and I will be stationed in Luoyun Pavilion for a few years. We¡¯ll be dealing with you a lot, Daoist Wang, so if we run into any difficulties, we hope you can make things a little easier for us!¡± At this point, Wang Zhi, having heard their words and seeing the sincere expressions of Lin Tianming and the others, felt it would be inappropriate to refuse any further. ¡°Heh¡­ then I shall humble myself and accept!¡± ¡°As long as I am in Qianchuan Market, if you brothers have any difficulties, feel free to seek me out, any matter within my power, I won¡¯t turn you away.¡± Wang Zhi replied with a polite smile, took the storage bag, and put it away. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others nodded in approval of Wang Zhi¡¯s attitude. Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were also to ensure that Lin Tianfeng and the other had a support they could rely on, and that someone would look after Luoyun Pavilion in the market city. After all, Qianchuan Market had a lot of shops, and the competition was fierce. While on the surface, all shops seemed harmonious and non-interfering with each other, some would inevitably engage in malicious competition or even commit acts detrimental to others but not beneficial to themselves. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, building good relations with the Market City Supervisor like Wang Zhi had many advantages, even if it meant spending some Spirit Stones or treasures, it was no big deal. Other families would do the same if the Lin Family did not; it was almost an unspoken rule, well understood by every family and power. Returning his attention, Lin Tianming changed the topic and began to chat idly with Wang Zhi. Shortly after. After about a quarter of an hour of gathering, Lin Tianfeng, with his carefree personality, under Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangement, became more acquainted with Wang Zhi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming achieved his goal and promptly took his leave from Wang Zhi, leading the group away from the market auction. After leaving the auction, Lin Tianming did not go straight back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard but instead led the group towards the street where the Sky Dragon Pavilion was located. A quarter of an hour later. In a guests room on the second floor of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming and the others were sitting inside, chatting leisurely. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng glanced around the luxurious guests room and then asked Lin Tianming, ¡°Brother Six, who are we visiting today?¡± ¡°The Executive Officer of Sky Dragon Pavilion, Daoist Tang Xiuyuan!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng pondered for a while, then inquired, ¡°Tang Xiuyuan? A direct descendant of the Tang Family of Qingzhou?¡± ¡°Indeed, this person¡¯s identity and cultivation are not low, and his strength is definitely not weaker than mine. You all should be well aware of the Tang Family behind him, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression turned solemn, clearly understanding the might of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, and even more so, the significance of being a direct lineage member. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, younger brother, we know what we¡¯re doing!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, bringing them here was also to expand their connections. With Lin Tianfeng¡¯s current strength, befriending cultivators with profound backgrounds and formidable personal strength couldn¡¯t be anything but beneficial. Just then, Tang Xiuyuan walked in, and his hearty laughter could be heard from afar. ¡°Lin, congratulations, congratulations!¡± ¡°The battle in Yuyao City has ended, and Lin has risen to fame, becoming the topic of discussion among many cultivators in Qianchuan Market!¡± Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s words were much like Wang Zhi¡¯s, starting with pleasantries upon entering. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Regarding this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily, then waved his hand and replied, ¡°Daoist Tang is too kind!¡± ¡°This little achievement I¡¯ve earned is through desperate efforts and unlike Daoist Tang, who comes from a distinguished family, and doesn¡¯t have to take any risks to gain even greater benefits.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, you jest. Although the Tang Family is large and its business extensive, we have many family members, and the competition is just as fierce. Obtaining sufficient resources also requires great effort!¡± Lin Tianming actually agreed with Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s words. The Tang Family was a Nascent Soul Family, indeed a colossus among forces, but with a large family base and strict family rules, the competition for average talent members was just as fierce. Unlike the Lin Family, which currently had only a few hundred members and relatively simple family rules, they focused on cultivating members with exceptional talent. Over time, as the number of Lin Family Members grew, the family would have to refine their rules to better restrain the members. Returning to the matter at hand, Lin Tianming changed the subject and began introducing Lin Tianfeng and the others to Tang Xiuyuan. Tang Xiuyuan was also very polite, clearly recognizing the strength of the Lin Family and him. The group chatted idly over tea, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. After a little while, Tang Xiuyuan got straight to the point and directly asked Lin Tianming about the purpose of his visit. Lin Tianming chuckled and then opened his mouth to say, ¡°I am here today, naturally to purchase some treasures to enhance my strength.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan immediately became interested. ¡°What treasures does Lin need? Given our relationship, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied with the price!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Any treasure that enhances strength, talisman paper, elixirs, and heaven-and-earth treasures, I won¡¯t refuse them! ¡°Especially the Fake Golden Core Talisman, it would be even better with that!¡± Lin Tianming said. He had made a fortune recently and planned to take this opportunity to buy more treasures to enhance his cultivation and strength. Especially attack talismans; the consumable treasures he had been carrying were almost entirely depleted, leaving only a few low-grade attack talismans. He lacked any powerful treasures for inflicting heavy damage. At that moment, after pondering for a while, Tang Xiuyuan took out a ledger, browsed through it, and then said, ¡°Fake Golden Core Talismans are rare and we don¡¯t have any at the moment!¡± ¡°However, we¡¯ve recently stocked up plenty of Second Order Attack Talismans and spiritual fruits for enhancing cultivation. Lin might want to take a look, and if satisfied, you can use them first.¡± After finishing his words, Tang Xiuyuan took out a number of treasures from his storage bag, a decent variety of types. Looking over, among the treasures were talismans, several Second Order Spiritual Fruits, and two Spirit Detonation Beads. Seeing these treasures, there were indeed many good items among them. Although there were no high-grades talismans, the quality was not bad. Moreover, there were three Spiritual Fruits that were Second Order Medium Quality and High Quality, which would be greatly beneficial even to his current cultivation level. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was joyful, and he was very satisfied with these items. Looking at the treasures, Lin Tianming smiled and pointed to some of them, saying, ¡°Ten Second Order Medium Grade Attack Talismans, eight Second Order High Quality Attack Talismans, five Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans. ¡°I¡¯ll take all these Spiritual Fruits and those two Spirit Detonation Beads as well!¡± Chapter 588 588 329 Inquiring News_1 ?Chapter 588: Chapter 329 Inquiring News_1 Chapter 588: Chapter 329 Inquiring News_1 ¡°` Hearing this series of statements, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s face flushed with color, clearly shocked by the boldness of Lin Tianming¡¯s offer. After all, the cumulative value of these items was such that an average Foundation Establishment Cultivator really couldn¡¯t afford them. However, once he considered that Lin Tianming possessed the strength ranked fifth on the Demon Hunter Leaderboard, he quickly came to accept it. Regaining his composure, Tang Xiuyuan let out an awkward laugh and then said, ¡°The price for these talisman papers remains the same as last time.¡± ¡°As for the Spirit Detonation Beads, four thousand spirit stones each, that one Second Order Superior Silver Sun Fruit, six thousand spirit stones each.¡± ¡°Two Second Order Medium Quality Spirit Ginseng Fruits, two thousand spirit stones each, and for the remaining two White Orchid Fruits, eight hundred spirit stones each.¡± Hearing these prices, they were still considerably cheaper than in Yuyao City. ... Lin Tianming nodded and then asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, just give me the total price!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Tang Xiuyuan laughed and said, ¡°Daoist Lin really goes all out. The total for these treasures is sixty-two thousand two hundred spirit stones, but let¡¯s settle on sixty thousand spirit stones!¡± ¡°From now on, whenever Lin Family Members come to the Sky Dragon Pavilion to purchase treasures, as long as it goes through me, they will get a discount and only have to pay ninety percent of the cost! ¡°How¡¯s that? Fair enough, right?¡± Hearing this, the price was reasonable, and the discount was indeed significant, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. ¡°All right, that¡¯s settled then!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming immediately took out sixty thousand spirit stones and handed them to Tang Xiuyuan. Tang Xiuyuan received the spirit stones and, after a sweep with his Divine Sense, put them away. Then, Lin Tianming also collected the treasures he had bought, and the two of them exchanged smiles, both very satisfied with the transaction. With the transaction complete, Lin Tianming looked at Tang Xiuyuan and then asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, have there been any major news from the Cultivation World lately?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan smiled lightly, thinking to himself that it was just as he expected; Lin Tianming would certainly inquire about news from the Cultivation World after purchasing treasures. He had no intention of keeping it a secret, as there was nothing wrong with sharing some information. ¡°Daoist Lin, according to the information our Sky Dragon Pavilion has, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World has been quite peaceful recently. The conflict between Myriad Medicine Valley and the Golden Sword Sect is nearing its end, and I believe it won¡¯t be long before the entire Wei Kingdom returns to normal. ¡°To speak of it, there are indeed two matters that are somewhat strange!¡± ¡°Oh? What matters do you find strange, Daoist Tang?¡± Upon hearing Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s remark, Lin Tianming immediately became intrigued. He valued intelligence highly; if anything major were to occur in the Cultivation World, having such information would enable the Lin Family to respond swiftly to crises and help lead them through danger. At this moment, Tang Xiuyuan, faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s continued questioning, pondered for a while before finally beginning to explain. ¡°Firstly, the Zhenyang Sect has been behaving abnormally lately, seemingly dispatching quite a few Inner Sect Disciples to the mountain ranges around Qianchuan Market as if they are searching for traces of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, a Third Order Spiritual Beast of the Zhenyang Sect!¡± ¡°Secondly, a Foundation Establishing Family that had a nearly thousand-year heritage in the Baotai Mountain Range was mysteriously wiped out a few days ago¡ªallegedly by a Golden Core Cultivator.¡± Hearing these two pieces of news, he, too, was puzzled by the first and began to speculate in his mind. Could it be that the Tyrant Spirit Ape that was once pursued when hunting the Wind Dusk Beast has disappeared? Or has it been slain? Or could it be that using this incident as a means to investigate the annihilation of the Xu Family? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After much thought, he couldn¡¯t come up with any clues or conclusions. As for the second piece of news, he was quite clear about it, as he himself was a direct participant in the matter. Even though he was aware of the situation, Lin Tianming still showed an expression of great shock. ¡°What? A Foundation Establishing Family was quietly wiped out, and it was the work of an unfamiliar Golden Core Cultivator?¡± Seeing the surprised expressions on the faces of Lin Tianming and the others, Tang Xiuyuan seemed to have anticipated this reaction. ¡°Hehe¡­ this matter is undoubtedly true!¡± At this point, Lin Tianming, looking at Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s firm gaze, further pressed for information. ¡°Daoist Tang, in your opinion, what is behind these actions by the Zhenyang Sect? Who could be the perpetrator behind the eradication of the Xu Family? Could it be the work of a Loose Cultivator or another power? And what could their purpose be?¡± He asked these questions with the intention of using the news from the Sky Dragon Pavilion to gather useful clues. After all, he had been dragged into the incident involving Xu Haiqiao and had even obtained the storage bags of the three, possibly possessing something the Blood Red Alliance desired. And this object might be a hot potato, likely bringing danger to him or his family. Therefore, the more information he had now, the better prepared he could be to devise strategies when a crisis approached. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming subtly probed for information related to the matter. At this juncture, hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s string of questions, Tang Xiuyuan pondered a moment before starting to express his own views. ¡°According to the information we have, it¡¯s highly likely that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Spirit Beast has gone missing, and there¡¯s even a possibility that it¡¯s been killed.¡± ¡°As for the fall of the Xu Family, even our Sky Dragon Pavilion has too little information at the moment, and there¡¯s no clear idea of what happened.¡± ¡°However, based on my estimation, the perpetrator behind the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beast¡¯s demise might be significantly related to the incident with the Xu Family.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming nodded; the thought was indeed quite plausible. Recollecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming then said with a cupped fist salute, ¡°Daoist Tang, my cousin will be stationed in Qianchuan Market in the coming years. If there is any major news, please inform us promptly!¡± ¡°Certainly¡­ If you gentlemen have time, feel free to visit often. As long as it doesn¡¯t involve our store¡¯s secrets, I shall inform you about anything!¡± ¡°` Chapter 589 589 329 Gathering Information_2 ?Chapter 589: Chapter 329: Gathering Information_2 Chapter 589: Chapter 329: Gathering Information_2 Tang Xiuyuan smiled and politely replied. Hearing these sincere words, Lin Tianming nodded and then said goodbye to Tang Xiuyuan, taking Lin Tianfeng and the others to leave the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Before long, Lin Tianming and his two companions returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Back at the Cave Mansion Courtyard, the four of them sat in the yard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. ¡°Tianfeng, what do you two think about what Daoist Tang said?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Lin Tianfeng pondered for a while, and then spoke, ¡°Daoist Tang¡¯s speculation is indeed highly likely, after all, it concerns a Third Order Spiritual Beast, and there isn¡¯t a single power in the southern Wei Kingdom capable of slaying such a beast!¡± ¡°And the Xu Family being silently eradicated, the involvement of an unknown Golden Core Cultivator, truly has the power and motive!¡± ... As soon as he had spoken, Lin Tianhu also began to chime in. ¡°Tianfeng is right; the Xu Family may have been around for nearly a thousand years and its foundation is no worse than the Lin Family¡¯s.¡± ¡°Yet despite that, they vanished without a trace. This must be the work of a Golden Core Cultivator, and it¡¯s not impossible that someone at the Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation did it.¡± Hearing these opinions, Lin Tianming nodded; his own thoughts were along the same lines. However, what none of them knew was that the Tyrant Spirit Ape that once chased the Wind Dusk Beast had both perished on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. After half a quarter of an hour, they exchanged many ideas but still came to no conclusion, and so the topic came to a close. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, and then started to talk about the arrangements for leaving. ¡°Tianfeng, things at the market are almost settled, and I plan to leave for the clan grounds tomorrow. I¡¯ll leave things here to you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and thumped his chest in response. ¡°Sixth brother, rest assured, the Demon Beast Tide has been mostly stabilized, and with Tianhu and me here in Qianchuan Market, with our cultivation strength, as long as we don¡¯t recklessly leave the market, there won¡¯t be any danger.¡± ¡°Yes, elder brother, with Foundation Building Fourth Level cultivation strength, you are also quite formidable. Although not the top in the market, you¡¯re certainly not bad!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, feeling quite reassured about Lin Tianfeng and the others. After all, Lin Tianfeng had been stationed in Qianchuan Market for several years some time ago, and was very familiar with the various powers within the market. Coupled with his steady character and knack for making friends among cultivators, it was certainly not difficult for him to be stationed there. Additionally, both he and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cultivation strength were not low, making them strong figures in the current Qianchuan Market. It could be said that, with the overall increase in the family¡¯s strength, the previously strenuous personnel arrangements had also become much easier. ¡°In that case, I have nothing to worry about, but if you face any difficulties, you can seek help from Daoist Wang!¡± Lin Tianming advised gravely. ¡°You can be at ease, sixth brother, it¡¯s you who should be careful. Recently, it seems that the southern Wei Kingdom has been somewhat restless. Take extra precautions!¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s arrange it this way. Everyone be careful and do not slack in cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming gave a reminder and then exchanged a few words with Qin Xi, confirming the time of departure. Subsequently, the four individuals stood up and left, entering their respective training rooms. The next morning, at dawn, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi each emerged from their training rooms. By that time, Lin Xingyan and a few other Qi Refining Stage Clanspeople were already waiting in the courtyard. Seeing Lin Tianming come out, Lin Xingyan looked flushed, his facial expression filled with impatience. These clanspeople had been in Qianchuan Market for several years, coincidentally during the outbreak of the Demon Beast Tide, and had almost never returned to the clan grounds for all those years. Lin Xingpu was somewhat better off, having returned to the clan grounds once before to deliver a message. As the leader, Lin Xingyan hadn¡¯t stepped out of Qianchuan Market¡¯s boundaries in all these years. Now that the defensive duty had come to a successful close, he could finally return to the clan grounds for closed-door cultivation, attempting to Impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. For this day, he had long anticipated. Now that they were about to leave, Lin Xingyan was naturally thrilled. Seeing the eagerness of the waiting clansmen, Lin Tianming did not want to delay. ¡°Uncles, is everything arranged properly?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Xingyan responded, ¡°Everything has been arranged, everything that needed handing over has been handed over, and I¡¯ve prepared all the items that should be taken back to the clan grounds!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this and after giving a few words of instruction, he led the clan members out of the Cave Mansion Courtyard. The journey was smooth, and the group made their way out of Qianchuan Market to a mountain peak outside the market. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle and promptly jumped onto its back, followed by the others tracing his steps. At that moment, with a piercing screech, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky and quickly ascended thousands of zhang into the high altitude. Taking advantage of the faint moonlight, the Purple Gold Eagle turned into a dark shadow, carrying everyone southward, swiftly disappearing into the boundary of Qianchuan Market. ¡­ At the Luoyun Mountain Range, Golden Horn Mountain. At twilight, the setting sun¡¯s afterglow sprinkled over the peaks of Golden Horn Mountain, and clusters of red maple trees swayed in the breeze. What a splendid evening scene! At this time, several figures appeared high in the sky at the mountain gate on the outer perimeter of Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s peaks. It was Lin Tianming and the others, returning from Qianchuan Market. After ten days, the trip had gone quite well, and they had finally arrived safely at Golden Horn Mountain. Upon reaching this place, they stepped into the Lin Family¡¯s territory and were completely safe. However, now that the demonic beast tide had receded, with his cultivation strength, unless he encountered a Golden Core Cultivator, there was hardly anyone blind enough to trouble him. At this moment, viewing the familiar scenery, Lin Tianming felt elated and couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. ¡°Two years, I¡¯ve finally come back!¡± In his heart, although two years was not a long time and he had previously spent similar lengths of time away, this time was different. Before, it was nothing more than a trip to Qianchuan Market, either accompanied by Lin Shilu or fellow clan cultivators, so it wasn¡¯t a lonely journey and there were no risks. But this time, he had been to the perilous frontlines of Yuyao City. There, even a cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment could find their life terribly cheap. He estimated that, just from the battle at Yuyao City alone, nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators might have perished. These were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, essentially the mainstay and often the backbone of each Foundation Establishing Family. Yet, even so, there were so many Cultivators who fell during the battle at Yuyao City. Among them was Luo Chenggu of the Luo Family, a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who died on the battlefield. Such a dangerous place, he had traversed alone, without the company of clanspeople or assistance from family members. This was in stark contrast to being stationed in Qianchuan Market. Fortunately, during those two years in Yuyao City, although it was arduous and fraught with danger, he had persevered and survived. Beyond that, the rewards he garnered matched his expectations and even exceeded them by a good margin. Collecting his thoughts and looking at the familiar scenes before him, eager to see his long-missed father, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of excitement and impatience. The few clan members around him also wore smiles, clearly in a very good mood. Just then, several Lin Family Members were seen approaching on Sword Flight, apparently having spotted them. Even from afar, the voices of the Lin Family Members reached them. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s Tianming and the others, let¡¯s hurry over!¡± Leading the way, Lin Xingyou landed excitedly in front of Lin Tianming with his clanspeople. Seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming and the others went up to greet them and had a brief chat. After a short while, having patrol duties to attend to, Lin Xingyou and the others took their leave first. Watching Lin Xingyou and his group exit the Mountain Protection Array, Lin Xingyan smiled and said, ¡°Tianming, let¡¯s go in. Your father must be waiting for you too!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, inside!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand grandly and led the others deeper into Golden Horn Mountain, quickly vanishing from the spot. Chapter 590 590 330 Qin Xis Meeting Gift_1 ?Chapter 590: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_1 Chapter 590: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_1 A tea time had passed. In the master peak of Golden Horn Mountain, within a certain cave abode. Lin Tianming and several clan members sat opposite each other, having received the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s return, Lin Xingrong, who was presiding over this place, along with Lin Xingzhi had all left seclusion to gather together. The mood of the clanspeople who had returned to Golden Horn Mountain was extremely good, and with the expectation of Lin Xingrong and others, the atmosphere became very lively. Especially Lin Xingrong, having learned of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi¡¯s idea of becoming dao companions, seemed quite excited, the usually cold expression on his face also became exceptionally bright. In face of his future daughter-in-law Qin Xi, Lin Xingrong could be said to have undergone a complete change in temperament, the once harsh and rigid demeanor also became friendly and approachable. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming felt quite surprised in his heart. ... Although he knew his father was stern on the outside but warm on the inside, it now appeared that Lin Xingrong¡¯s rigid demands were only directed at him alone. When it came to his younger sister Lin Tianyue, the treatment was not nearly as strict. As for Qin Xi, looking at the current situation, there was a strong contrast with how he was treated. Under these circumstances, he also gained some new understanding of his father. After the jovial greetings had ended, the Qi Refinement Realm clanspeople bid farewell and left to rest. At this time, only Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were left in the small courtyard, along with Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Then, with a calm demeanor, Lin Xingrong finally brought up serious matters. Like the other clan members in Qianchuan Market, he first asked about Lin Tianming¡¯s experience in Yuyao City. Lin Tianming did not hold back much, just as he did in Qianchuan Market, except for the Xu Haiqiao incident, he shared all the information he could. Quickly, having learned the basic situation, Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingzhi were greatly relieved. However, upon hearing the news Lin Tianming had gathered from the Sky Dragon Pavilion, the two of them couldn¡¯t help but furrow their brows, their faces becoming somber. At this time, Lin Xingrong let out a sigh, and said helplessly, ¡°Tian Ming, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be long before this matter causes a huge uproar in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, after all, it involves the annihilation of a Foundation Establishing family, and Zhenyang Sect has also mysteriously lost a Third Order Spiritual Beast!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xingzhi chimed in. ¡°Indeed¡­ If the disappearance of the Third Order Spiritual Beast from Zhenyang Sect is the work of the murderers behind the Xu Family, then I fear the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World may not be peaceful in the coming years.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming actually agreed with Lin Xingzhi¡¯s remarks. In his heart, he too had made many speculations about this. Although the Blood Red Alliance was powerful, they still acted stealthily within Wei Kingdom, obviously being cautious not to alert everyone to their presence. Otherwise, with the strength and style of the Blood Red Alliance, what would Zhenyang Sect count for? With just a single Nascent Soul Cultivator, they could easily annihilate them. Yet the Blood Red Alliance only sent a Golden Core Cultivator and some Foundation Establishment Cultivators to Wei Kingdom, also planning to act low-profile, secretly tracking the treasure, perhaps without any major conflict of interest with Zhenyang Sect. However, contrary to their expectations, the item they were tirelessly seeking mysteriously ended up in his possession. Besides that, right after the end of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s great battle, the Third Order Tyrant Spirit Ape disappeared, coincidentally at the same time as the Xu Family¡¯s annihilation. Such a coincidence struck everyone as unbelievable. As a result, the disappearance of the Spiritual Beast, whether it was the work of the Blood Red Alliance or not, was probably going to be unclear. Under such circumstances, it seemed Zhenyang Sect had suffered a loss in vain and, given the powerful strength of the Blood Red Alliance, they had to let the matter go, begrudgingly. And being inadvertently involved in the Xu Haiqiao incident, this matter was very dangerous; if the news leaked and the Blood Red Alliance became aware, the entire Lin Family might also be in danger. Fortunately, the disappearance of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beast muddled the waters a bit. Moreover, by sending Foundation Establishment Cultivators to investigate, Zhenyang Sect has indirectly put some pressure on the Golden Core Cultivator of the Blood Red Alliance. If the Blood Red Alliance didn¡¯t want the issue to escalate, they might temporarily drop the investigation, allowing him some time. As long as he broke through to the Golden Core Realm, perhaps the issue could be easily resolved. Otherwise, if the Blood Red Alliance did investigate thoroughly at all costs, the probability of his exposure might grow larger and larger. Therefore, the pressure on him was still substantial, and the Lin Family must have family members strive for breakthroughs to the Golden Core Stage to enhance the overall strength of the Lin Family, so as to deal with this potential crisis. In the past two years, following the end of the beast tide war, all forces in Wei Kingdom, big and small, were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow; they became more cautious at any sign of disturbance. Such conditions were precisely what he needed to buy time, which was good news for him. Thinking of these things, the weight on his heart finally eased a bit, and he felt much more relaxed. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming spoke a few comforting words to alleviate the concerns of Lin Xingrong and the others. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a while and decided to continue their journey back to the clan lands the next day. Then, everyone dispersed. Before leaving, Lin Tianming took out a Spirit Ginseng Fruit he had purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion and handed it to Lin Xingrong. These Spirit Fruits were specifically bought as gifts for his parents and sister. Initially, Lin Xingrong was hesitant to accept it until Qin Xi mentioned that he had come into a windfall, only then did he accept the gift. It happened that his cultivation had also reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level, and with this Spirit Ginseng Fruit, perhaps he could break through the realm in one fell swoop. Once he made the breakthrough, he would become the fourth member of the Lin Family to reach above the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Chapter 591 591 330 Qin Xis Meeting Gift_2 ?Chapter 591: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_2 Chapter 591: Chapter 330: Qin Xi¡¯s Meeting Gift_2 By then, the Lin Family¡¯s top forces above the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level had reached a pinnacle level in the Cultivation World. Realizing this, Lin Xingrong grew somewhat impatient, planning to go into seclusion to cultivate as soon as possible and return to the clan after breaking through his current realm. Afterward, Lin Tianming and another person bid their farewells and returned to their respective rooms to rest. Once back in his room, Lin Tianming did not cultivate either, he simply lay down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, at the Sect Entrance Plaza, several figures from the Lin Family appeared. After a night¡¯s rest, the weariness seemed to have vanished from the clan members, each one of them looked spirited and seemed to be in a very good mood. Looking at the buildings behind him, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, and the clan members jumped on its back one after another. ... Taking advantage of the first rays of sunrise, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky and quickly flew up into the clouds thousands of feet high. In the blink of an eye, the familiar scenery behind them became farther and farther away, until it finally disappeared completely. In the evening. The Purple Gold Eagle was swift, and after just a day¡¯s journey, everyone had arrived at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. On the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Tianming and the others from the clan stopped there. At that moment, the clan members patrolling the entrance saw that the newcomers were Lin Tianming and immediately greeted them. After exchanging greetings and chatting for a few moments, Lin Xingyan and the others went their separate ways. Looking at the all-too-familiar scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was visibly excited, and Qin Xi beside him blushed, her shy appearance sending a thrill through Lin Tianming. ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s go see Mother first!¡± Lin Tianming said, then sent out a few messages and, not caring how Qin Xi reacted, took her hand and hurried toward his mother¡¯s cave dwelling. A short while later. Inside Mother¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Shigong sat in the high seat, with Ren Yuxuan and Lin Tianyue sitting on one side below him, and Lin Tianming and Qin Xi sitting on the other side. At that moment, everyone¡¯s eyes were on Qin Xi beside them, their faces filled with excitement. Especially Ren Yuxuan, who, after learning that Qin Xi and Lin Tianming planned to become Dao companions, was even more thrilled when she looked at Qin Xi. After inquiring about her family background and heritage, she seemed extraordinarily satisfied with her future daughter-in-law. Indeed, Ren Yuxuan was very satisfied. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s appearance, talent, and cultivation were all exceptional. With the talent of Dual Spiritual Roots, at the age of just over thirty, she had cultivated alone without guidance from clan elders or the help of resources. With such conditions, she had already reached the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Such innate talent and cultivation were not at all inferior to her son Lin Tianming, and if she were nurtured properly in the future, catching up to Lin Tianming was not an impossibility. Besides, Qin Xi¡¯s stunning beauty, her clear eyes, and her innocent appearance all indicated that she was also a delicate and considerate beauty. Even more crucial was Lin Tianming¡¯s firm and decisive attitude; he was protective in all he said. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that being the case, she naturally would not oppose. Lin Shigong and Lin Tianyue felt the same way, both being quite satisfied with Qin Xi. Thus, in a short time, the dear family members quickly accepted Qin Xi. In the hall, at the high seat, Lin Shigong was in an excellent mood. Not only had his eagerly awaited grandson Lin Tianming returned, but he had also brought back a granddaughter-in-law with outstanding talent and a gentle disposition, adding joy upon joy. At that moment, he took a look at Qin Xi sitting together with Lin Tianyue, took a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills and a crimson fruit from his storage bag. ¡°Xi¡¯er, since it is our first meeting, I don¡¯t have much to offer. This bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills and the Hongxing Fruit are my gifts to you!¡± Before he finished, Ren Yuxuan also took out a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills from her storage bag and handed it to Qin Xi. ¡°Hehe¡­ Xi¡¯er, since it is our first meeting, I, as your future mother-in-law, naturally can¡¯t come empty-handed. Although I can¡¯t compete with your father, this is also a gift from my heart!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Grandfather and mother-in-law are really generous!¡± ¡°Since you all are so generous, I, as her sister-in-law, can¡¯t be empty-handed either!¡± With that said, Lin Tianyue slapped her storage bag, took out more than ten Second Order lower-grade talisman papers, and handed them to Qin Xi. ¡°Sister-in-law, usually it¡¯s my brother looking out for me, but now that you¡¯ve come to our family, it¡¯s my turn to give something, even though it¡¯s modest. Please, you must accept it as a token of my heart!¡± At this moment, upon hearing the series of conversations and that new title only used after marriage, Qin Xi¡¯s face glowed with a bashful hue. Then, looking at the various treasures before her, Qin Xi¡¯s face showed a look of difficulty. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, holding Qin Xi¡¯s hand, reminded her, ¡°Since Grandpa and the rest are so generous, Xi¡¯er, you should accept it.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi then put away the storage bag. Afterward, she first walked up to Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan, respectfully offering them a cup of tea. ¡°Xi¡¯er thanks Grandpa and Mother!¡± Heehee¡­ ¡°Come here and let me take a good look at you,¡± said Ren Yuxuan, beaming with joy as she waved Qin Xi over and whispered something to her. In no time, Qin Xi¡¯s neck became even rosier. Seeing this, Lin Tianyue, curious, hurriedly took a step forward. ¡°Mother, what secret are you whispering to sister-in-law?¡± she asked. Hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face immediately turned even redder, like a bright red apple. ¡°Go on, go on¡­ There are some things a young lady shouldn¡¯t pry into!¡± Ren Yuxuan waved her hand and scolded Lin Tianyue, shooing her to one side. ¡°Hmph¡­ If you won¡¯t tell me, then don¡¯t!¡± Lin Tianyue pouted and sat down on a chair, pretending to be angry. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly came over to comfort her, ¡°Tian Yue, this is a gift I specially brought for you from Qianchuan Market!¡± With that, Lin Tianming took out two Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans and a White Orchid Fruit, handing them over to Lin Tianyue. Her excitement apparent at the sight of these items, Lin Tianyue grabbed them eagerly, looking as if she couldn¡¯t put them down. ¡°Hehe¡­ I knew it wouldn¡¯t be a bad bargain!¡± ¡°With this White Orchid Fruit, I might be able to break through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. And with these two Second Order Medium Quality Attack Talismans, I can study them and perhaps improve my Talisman Making skills!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming shivered at her straightforwardness, thinking how unabashed this young girl was. Lin Tianming smiled faintly, understanding it was all in jest and certainly wouldn¡¯t take offense at his sister¡¯s words. He turned around and took out another White Orchid Fruit, handing it to Ren Yuxuan. Then, he took out another Spirit Ginseng Fruit and gave it to Lin Shigong. ¡°Grandpa, Mother, these Spirit Fruits are gifts I specially brought back from Qianchuan Market, please accept them!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong chuckled and waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s the thought that counts, my boy. I appreciate it!¡± ¡°You young ones have a great need for resources to aid your cultivation. Keep them for your own use. I¡¯m old and lack potential now, so I won¡¯t waste these valuable treasures!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Ren Yuxuan also ended her secret conversation with Qin Xi and echoed her husband¡¯s words. ¡°Father is right; our natural talents and potentials have their limits. Just reaching Foundation Establishment is enough for us. Using these treasures would be a waste; better that you youngsters have them.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi picked up the two Spirit Fruits and firmly stuffed them into the hands of Lin Shigong and his wife. ¡°Grandpa¡­ Mother, please accept these. It¡¯s the least Ming and I can do¡ªespecially since he has recently come into a small fortune, and we now have access to even better Spirit Fruits!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Xi¡¯er and I have plenty of resources for our cultivation, and we won¡¯t be in need for quite some time. When passing by Golden Horn Mountain, Father even gathered a Spirit Ginseng Fruit, so please take it!¡± After Lin Tianming added his two cents, he took out a Second Order Superior Silver Sun Fruit and flaunted it a little. Hearing this and seeing the costly Silver Sun Fruit in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, Lin Shigong and his wife finally accepted without further refusals, and they put away the two Spirit Fruits. Seeing that Grandpa and Mother had accepted the Spirit Fruits, Lin Tianming nodded and then started to chat casually with them. Chapter 592 592 331 Persuasion_1 ?Chapter 592: Chapter 331 Persuasion_1 Chapter 592: Chapter 331 Persuasion_1 Half an hour later, Lin Tianming briefly recounted his basic experiences of the past two years. As before, he mainly shared the good news while neglecting the worries. Even so, the expressions of the few people in the hall were varied, Lin Shigong was extremely excited, while Ren Yuxuan displayed a face full of sympathy. She knew all too well that Lin Tianming¡¯s casual talk glossed over the difficulties; upon further thought, combined with the various rumors in the Cultivation World, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators perished on the battlefield, including quite a few at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Under such circumstances, they could understand just how brutal the battle in Yuyao City must have been. Luckily, that was all in the past. Lin Tianming had fought against the current, not only achieving dazzling results but also bringing back a delicate and obedient woman with extraordinary talent. Considering this, Ren Yuxuan finally felt somewhat relieved. ... As for his sister Lin Tianyue, she was incredibly curious about his experiences and also very envious. She had reached the Foundation Establishment Second Layer and was not far from the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. With such cultivation strength, she had never traveled alone, at most having only cleared out Demonic Beasts alongside Lin Xingzhi and other Foundation Establishment Cultivators during beast tides. In this situation, she had always envied her brother Lin Tianming. After all, in every family crisis, it was him who stood at the forefront, earning great achievements for the clan several times and becoming the pride and idol of all clansmen. She was no exception, also wanting to be the pride of the family and hoping one day to stand with Lin Tianming, shielding the clan from wind and rain when crisis struck. At that moment, seeing his sister¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming, with his understanding of her, knew what she was thinking. Lin Tianming patted Lin Tianyue¡¯s shoulder and earnestly imparted, ¡°Tian Yue, if you want to become strong, you must put forth even greater effort. Risks and opportunities exist side by side, and only by exerting extraordinary efforts can you achieve better results!¡± ¡°And as for me, I was thrust into these adversities. Just do your best in everything and leave no regrets.¡± ¡°If you fancy going through trials, you could join the older brother and the others. As long as you¡¯re careful, it shouldn¡¯t be too dangerous.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyue pouted her lips and shook Lin Tianming¡¯s shoulder, saying helplessly, ¡°My second sister and I have wanted to go to Qianchuan Market for experience for a long time, but grandfather and Twelfth Grandpa simply refuse to allow it!¡± ¡°Brother¡­ please talk to Twelfth Grandpa and persuade him, let us go, please!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ this?¡± Lin Tianming frowned, realizing this young girl¡¯s words were a ruse. He turned to look at Lin Shigong, seated at the higher position as if seeking his opinion. Seeing this, Lin Shigong chuckled and then said, ¡°Now that the beast tide has receded and the Cultivation World is temporarily stable, I have no objections.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ However, I won¡¯t be the one to arrange this. If you want to gain experience, go ask Twelfth Grandpa for permission. If he agrees, you may go; if he doesn¡¯t, I can¡¯t help!¡± Once he finished speaking, Lin Tianyue¡¯s eyes turned swiftly towards Lin Tianming; it was clear she wanted him to intercede. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing her expression, Lin Tianming gave a wry smile and then nodded his head. ¡°Alright, alright, but let me make it clear: you can go only after you have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Third Level.¡± ¡°Besides, it still depends on Twelfth Grandpa; if he doesn¡¯t agree, there¡¯s nothing I can do!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Tianyue finally nodded satisfactorily, her expression quite excited. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t blame you if it doesn¡¯t work out!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± After Lin Tianming promised, he then said to Lin Shigong, ¡°Grandfather, now that we have reunited, let¡¯s go visit Third Grandfather and the others together!¡± ¡°Indeed, it is time to visit Third Grandfather and the others!¡± Lin Shigong nodded and replied. ¡°Xi¡¯er, stay here and have a good time with mother and sister. Your grandfather and I will be back soon!¡± After these words, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong left the mansion, leaving Qin Xi and the other two women behind in the hall. As Lin Tianming and the elder departed, and with no men around, Ren Yuxuan once again called Qin Xi over and began to ask her all sorts of questions without any reservations. Of this, Lin Tianming and his grandfather were completely unaware. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming and his grandfather arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s dwelling. Seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang was exceptionally pleased and promptly sent out a message to summon Lin Shihua, who was occupied with clan affairs, and Lin Shilu, who had just returned not long ago. With their arrival, the senior members of the Shi generation gathered together with Lin Tianming. Such a scene had not occurred for two years since the outbreak of the beast tide. Now that they were reunited once more, and with Lin Tianming returning in triumph, each person¡¯s heart was excited, making the atmosphere very lively. After exchanging greetings, Lin Shikang finally spoke, ¡°Tian Ming, we old folks have already heard of your achievements in the battle at Yuyao City, and it truly fills us with consolation and satisfaction!¡± As soon as he finished, Lin Shihua on the side eagerly chimed in, ¡°Yes, when Xing Pu specially delivered this news back to the clan, it excited us old fellows to no end!¡± Once his words ended, Lin Shilu hastily gestured and urged, ¡°Alright, Third Grandfather, let¡¯s not talk about that! Tian Ming has gone through a lot in the past two years, better tell us about your experiences.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and responded,¡±The elders¡¯ satisfaction is what matters; I will go over the past two years¡¯ events gradually.¡± Chapter 593 593 331 Persuasion_2 ?Chapter 593: Chapter 331 Persuasion_2 Chapter 593: Chapter 331 Persuasion_2 Lin Tianming replied with a sentence before he began to recount the experiences of these past two years. This time, the narrative he recounted differed greatly from what he told the other clan members; it was a complete account, including the brutality on the battlefield, which he didn¡¯t conceal the slightest bit. As they listened to Lin Tianming¡¯s narration, the few listeners felt as if they were there themselves, experiencing everything just as imagined, or perhaps even more realistically. A short half quarter of an hour passed by, and the group had learned about the episode at Yuyao City. At this point, Lin Shilu and the others were full of sympathy, and when they looked at Lin Tianming, their eyes were filled with tender affection. After heaving a long sigh, Lin Shihua spoke up. ¡°Tianming, you¡¯ve had it tough these two years!¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and replied, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa is too polite. When the clan faces danger, as a descendant of the Lin Family, it is right and necessary to confront the difficulties head-on!¡± Hearing these spirited words, Lin Shikang and the others nodded with satisfaction and then burst into hearty laughter. Seeing the excited expressions on the faces of the few clan members present, Lin Tianming, despite not wanting to interrupt this brief moment of joy, felt compelled to start talking about the incident with Xu Haiqiao. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s serious expression, Lin Shilu knew that some significant event had occurred. He waved his hand to stop Lin Shikang and the others, and then pressed eagerly, ¡°Tianming, the delay in your return, could it be that something unforeseen has happened?¡± At that question, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help thinking that Lin Shilu understood him best. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming then began to speak, ¡°Elders, on my way back, I passed by the Jinping Mountain Range and encountered the pursuit of a Blood Red Alliance member chasing a cultivator from the Baotai Mountain Range!¡± Upon hearing this, both Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu were momentarily stunned. After considering carefully, their expressions suddenly changed. ¡°The Blood Red Alliance?¡± ¡°Could it be that ambiguous force in Qingzhou, both righteous and evil, a towering presence?¡± Lin Shikang seemed to recall something and spoke with an incredulous tone. Lin Tianming nodded, then continued to speak, recounting in detail what had happened when he encountered Xu Haiqiao. After another half quarter of an hour, Lin Shikang and the others were utterly shocked, unable to maintain the composure they had shown previously. After a long while, Lin Shikang finally sighed deeply and said, ¡°What¡¯s done is done, talking more is useless!¡± ¡°The Blood Red Alliance has acted this way, probably not wanting the matter to be widely known. Tianming has handled things cleanly and left no clues, so it might not lead back to us.¡± ¡°Even if it does lead back to our Lin Family, we are not to be compared with that Xu Family!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, Lin Shihua joined in. ¡°Indeed, we already have more than enough headaches, one more doesn¡¯t make a significant difference!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was confused and immediately inquired, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, what do you mean by more than one trouble?¡± At this question, Lin Shihua sighed helplessly and then began to explain about the Wind Dusk Beast and the Tyrant Spirit Ape dying on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. As a little time for a cup of tea passed. Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming furrowed his brows, his expression growing somewhat grim. In his heart, he thought the incident with Xu Haiqiao was a major trouble, but he did not expect his family to be in a similarly dire situation, inadvertently leading to the death of two Third Order Demon Beasts on their tribal lands. Although it was not the Lin Family¡¯s original intent, the event had already occurred, and whether by accident or design, it was difficult to clarify. More importantly, if the Zhenyang Sect got wind of this, they wouldn¡¯t care about the details and were very likely to vent their anger on the Lin Family. Under such circumstances, even if the Lin Family managed to survive, they would likely fall from grace, ruining the hard-won progress they had made. Fortunately, Ye Pinghai had broken through to the Golden Core Stage and was the mastermind behind the death of the Tyrant Spirit Ape; with or without the bond of kinship, he would be firmly tied to the Lin Family¡¯s fate. With Ye Pinghai steadying the Lin Family, they were at least not entirely defenseless. However, his power alone was ultimately limited, especially since the Zhenyang Sect had several Golden Core Cultivators, including those of the Golden Core Mid-Late Stage. Given these conditions, the pressure on the Lin Family remained immense. Seeing his expression, the other family members felt at a loss for words and sank into contemplation. At this time, Lin Tianming was also pondering countermeasures. After much thought, he realized that the Lin Family¡¯s current situation was indeed very bad; they dare not provoke either of the two major powers. Especially the Blood Red Alliance, their actions were exceedingly strange, and it was unclear just how much power they wielded within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If they found out that the object of their search was in his possession, they would likely attack the Lin Family as they did the Xu Family, deploying Golden Core Cultivators. And all of this was still an unknown; perhaps they would find out, perhaps not¡ªno one could control it. In any case, the Lin Family had to improve the strength of their clan members as quickly as possible, especially those with the highest combat capabilities. Currently, Lin Shilu was still at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and did not yet meet the requirements to attempt the Golden Core Stage. Only Lin Shikang qualified; he had already achieved Foundation Establishment Great Completion, and the family had that hard-won Star Moon Fruit. Besides, Ye Pinghai had recently succeeded in reaching the Golden Core Stage, and Lin Shikang had witnessed the entire process, making him exceptionally familiar with the force of the Heavenly Tribulation. With such conditions, it could be said to be great timing, favorable location, and good human relations. In light of this, Lin Shikang was undoubtedly the best candidate to quickly enhance the overall strength of the clan members. Having thought this through, Lin Tianming made up his mind. After an unknown time, with Lin Tianming finally speaking up, the quiet scene was broken. ¡°Third Grandfather, everyone understands the current situation; you must make an attempt at the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu also began to persuade. ¡°Third Brother, Tianming is right. Although the beast tide has passed, the situation that the Lin Family is facing is even more thorny than the tide itself.¡± ¡°So, no matter what you think, whether you wish it or not, it¡¯s necessary to take that step now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face showed a look of difficulty. In his heart, he couldn¡¯t allow himself to consume the hard-won Star Moon Fruit, let alone place such slim hope on his own shoulders. It wasn¡¯t just him; Lin Shilu was not the best choice either. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, this Star Moon Fruit, obtained through the tremendous risks taken by Lin Tianming and another, was key to the Lin Family¡¯s rise to power. But now, the Lin Family had just emerged from one crisis and immediately plunged into greater trouble. Under such circumstances, he truly had no other options. At this moment, seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s distressed and hesitant demeanor, many clan members began to speak up to persuade him. Lin Tianming also urged, ¡°Third Grandfather, this matter will soon spread far and wide, and many powers are speculating that the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape is related to the hands that destroyed the Xu Family.¡± ¡°But this is not the truth after all and cannot be hidden for long!¡± ¡°One can say that now is not the time to hesitate. To protect the Lin Family and get through this crisis safely, we must act quickly. If we delay for a year or two, they really might find some clues.¡± ¡°By the time they decide to retaliate, it will be too late!¡± As his voice fell, Lin Shilu also spoke with righteous indignation. ¡°Yes¡­ time is very important right now. Neither Tianming nor I qualify. We cannot wait any longer; if we¡¯re struck before your breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, everything will be too late!¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Listening to everyone¡¯s words, Lin Shikang stuttered, torn in his heart. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stood up, performed a deep bow respectfully, and then spoke earnestly, ¡°Third Grandfather, you want to place the greatest chance on us; we understand that.¡± ¡°No one will say anything, whether it succeeds or fails.¡± ¡°Moreover, Tian Ming will take part in the exploration of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm in two years. Given the grade of that Earth-grade Secret Realm, perhaps we might even obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded, then solemnly said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I will risk it all!¡± Hearing these words and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s determined gaze, Lin Tianming and the others let out a long sigh of relief. ¡­ Chapter 594 594 332 Shocking Wealth_1 ?Chapter 594: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_1 Chapter 594: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_1 As Lin Shikang began to speak, agreeing to take the Star Moon Fruit to attempt to ascend to the Golden Core Stage, Lin Tianming and the others started to discuss the specifics. At that moment, Lin Shilu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then was the first to speak. ¡°Third Brother, you must attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible!¡± ¡°I have already broken through to become a High Grade Second Order Artifact Refiner. This year, I will do nothing else but gather all the family¡¯s treasures we can afford to part with to forge several Mid to High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts for you to face the Heavenly Tribulation of the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Shi Lu is right. Shihua and I can¡¯t remain idle either; we must mobilize all family resources to prepare for your attempt at the Golden Core Stage,¡± Lin Shigong added. Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction, feeling a warm surge of emotion within. There were only a few of them left in their generation, and they had always been exceedingly close since childhood. Now, at the turning point of his fate, his brothers were all contributing their utmost. ... This was what family meant, the irreplaceable bond between blood brothers. Overwhelmed with emotion, he bowed to Lin Shigong and the others and said earnestly, ¡°Thank you for the support, my brothers. I will start the preparations in the next few days, first consulting with Brother Ye on the details of the Golden Core Stage attempt!¡± ¡°Once you¡¯ve made the preparations and have the appropriate Defensive Artifacts, I will immediately enter seclusion to attempt the Golden Core Stage,¡± he said. Then, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Shikang and the others and laughed, ¡°Since Third Grandfather has made up his mind and the elders are so generous, as the younger generation, I naturally want to offer my help as well.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags he had obtained from the great battle with Xu Haiqiao and placed them in front of everyone. Besides, the many spoils of war from the great battle at Yuyao City filled several bags, which he brought out all at once. However, the Qilin Seal that he had acquired from Xu Haiqiao was not among them. When they discussed this earlier, Lin Shikang and the others had said that the opportunity behind the Qilin Seal was nothing small. This item would also remain in his hands; if the Blood Red Alliance indeed came for the Lin Family, he as the hope of the family might need to take it and leave. At first, he disagreed, strongly opposing the idea. But Lin Shikang and the others pleaded persistently, and in the end, he had to agree, deciding to keep the Qilin Seal on him and slowly explore its secrets when the opportunity arose. As the multitude of storage bags appeared before them, Lin Shilu¡¯s face changed slightly with surprise, hurriedly grabbing the bags to check their contents with his Divine Sense. After a few breaths, seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s ruddy complexion and his breath becoming suddenly rapid, those who were unaware urged him on excitedly. ¡°Shi Lu, did you find a huge gain? Or some remarkable item?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s not just a huge gain, it¡¯s an enormous gain. Truly, fortune favors our Lin Family!¡± Lin Shilu laughed heartily, his eyes narrowed in joy, looking entirely different from his usually reserved self. Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others each picked up a storage bag to examine. It wasn¡¯t long before all the members of their generation showed rosy complexions, their expressions filled with excitement. The treasures inside were indeed plentiful, almost like a family¡¯s treasure vault passed down for a thousand years. And in truth, it was indeed the case. The wealth of the two members of the Blood Red Alliance was extraordinary, with at least one being a Second Order Medium Artifact Refiner. Coming from the formidable and fearsome Blood Red Alliance, it was unknown how many unspeakable acts of plundering they had committed. Given these circumstances, their personal wealth far surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator. The family of Xu Haiqiao also had a long ancestry, and the treasures accumulated over a millennium were certainly remarkable. In addition, Lin Tianming had participated in the great war at Yuyao City for two years, killing dozens of Second Order Demonic Beasts, amassing materials to an astonishing degree. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, the treasures within these storage bags were enough to shock any Foundation Establishment Cultivator. At that moment, the family members were extremely excited, smiling broadly, sharing their joy with one another. In that instant, they momentarily forgot the potential dangers and immersed themselves in joy. Once their excitement had settled, Lin Shihua took out some Third Order Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Ores, along with some other valuable items, placing them all on the stone table in front of him. Soon, the table was filled with a variety of treasures, mineral ores shining with different lights. As for the materials from the Demonic Beasts, there were simply too many to display, so they remained in the storage bags. However, a sweep of their Divine Sense easily informed them of the types of beasts and specific items inside. At this time, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong, as an Alchemist and Artifact Refiner respectively, checked each item with joyful expressions, repeatedly murmuring to themselves. ¡°Red Flower Grass¡­ Plain Heart Fruit¡­ Dragon Spring Stone¡­¡± ¡°And Bloodthirsty Jiao¡­ many Artifact Refining Materials from the Thousand Blade Beast¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s so much here, even a Second Order Mid Quality Flying Artifact!¡± Lin Shilu picked up the black flying boat previously used by the Blood Red Alliance cultivator, his expression showing obvious fondness. This Second Order Mid Quality Flying Artifact could be said to be the Lin Family¡¯s first flying boat. The value of Flying Artifacts was always high, and this Second Order Mid Quality Flying Artifact was definitely no less valuable than a High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifact. Chapter 595 595 332 Shocking Wealth_2 ?Chapter 595: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_2 Chapter 595: Chapter 332 Shocking Wealth_2 As for the High Grade Second Order Attack Talismans, they were even more incomparable. It is known that Ye Pinghai, a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, despite a hundred years of cultivating his path and accumulating a vast personal fortune, only possessed a lower Second Order Flying Artifact. Even many impoverished Golden Core Cultivators might not necessarily own a Flying Artifact. This Medium Quality Second Order Flying Artifact, if it were to be placed in the Qianchuan Market auction, would undoubtedly be the star item of the event. Regrettably, this immensely valuable treasure originated from the Blood Red Alliance, and although it possessed an exceedingly high flying speed, the Lin Family dared not use it, lest the Blood Red Alliance discover its use and ultimately trace it back to the Lin Family. Otherwise, Lin Tianming could have completely relied on this artifact to travel, its speed not only matching the Purple Gold Eagle but possibly even faster. Nevertheless, this item still held tremendous value and could be studied by Lin Shilu or even sold off in a black market far away from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. ... If all else failed, the item could be hidden away for a few decades until all was calm and the Blood Red Alliance had completely forgotten about it, and then it could be used once again. Half an hour later. With Lin Shihua recording at the side, the items in several storage bags were counted by Lin Shilu and another. Such an abundance of treasures, with an enormous quantity at that, including dozens of Third Order Spiritual Medicine, most of which were rare and precious items. As for Third Order Spiritual Ore, its quality was even better and the quantity extremely considerable, many of which were essential for the crafting of Third Order Magical Treasures. With so many high-quality Artifact Refining Materials on hand, crafting High Grade Second Order Defense Artifacts seemed almost too easy, and perhaps even a bit of a waste. As for the Spirit Stones and some Magic Artifacts, as well as numerous Cultivation Methods and various insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation, they can greatly enhance the clan¡¯s foundation. By now, everyone finally understood that what Lin Tianming had said earlier was definitely not mere talk. As the treasure inventory was completed, the mood among the clan members was excellent, and each of them regained their calm from the initial shock. At this time, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Shilu and then asked, ¡°Shi Lu, with so many Artifact Refining Materials, are you confident in crafting a few High Grade Second Order Defense Artifacts?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Shilu¡¯s gaze was firm as he confidently replied. ¡°Just with these Artifact Refining Materials alone, there are plenty, not to mention the Demonic Beasts killed by Tianming on the battlefield. The ranks of many of these beasts are quite high, and some of the best materials have been well preserved. Additionally, with the family¡¯s north and south battles over the years, we have also accumulated a large amount of Artifact Refining Materials.¡± ¡°With so many materials for refining, given a few years, each clan member having two or three Second Order artifacts is absolutely no problem, and we can even sell some of the medium-quality artifacts.¡± ¡°Although I have only recently become a Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner, with these items, I am highly confident in crafting superior Defense Artifacts.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded his head in satisfaction, his heart rekindling with excitement after finally settling down. In his eyes, these treasures had arrived at the perfect time. In recent years, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family had increased rapidly, but the family¡¯s heritage was limited after all. Each member essentially only had an Attack Talisman, and many didn¡¯t have Defense Artifacts. But now, with such a massive stockpile of Artifact Refining and Spiritual Medicine Materials, the family could take another step forward, and the overall strength of the clan members could be elevated. Given time, with the addition of more Foundation Establishment Clan Members and some powerful Second Order Magical Artifacts, the overall strength of the Lin Family would grow substantially, perhaps even surpassing the two Golden Core Families of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. All of this, though, required him to advance further. As long as there was a Golden Core Cultivator present, the Lin Family would also step into the ranks of the top families in the Wei Kingdom. Considering all this, Lin Shikang¡¯s demeanor was excited, his heart incredibly agitated, and a firm belief emerged spontaneously, making him even more confident about the impact of reaching the Golden Core Stage. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong also chimed in, ¡°There are also plenty of top-notch Alchemy Materials here.¡± ¡°And with Brother Ye having broken through to the Golden Core Stage, given his Alchemy Talent, he might be able to produce Third Order Pills. With these conditions, the chances of Third Grandpa¡¯s success have greatly increased!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu and others nodded in agreement. ¡°Ninth Brother is right, Tianming brought us these treasures like coal in snowy weather, all of which are urgently needed by the Lin Family, and we also happen to have the capability to craft them.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, this might just be Heaven¡¯s Will!¡± As soon as the voice had fallen, Lin Tianming picked up the thread and said, ¡°Alright, since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s get moving as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Shihua nodded and smiled, before saying to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, all the spirit ore and spiritual medicine, as well as the numerous artifact refining materials will be collected by the family; you can keep the spirit stones for yourself.¡± ¡°In addition to this, the family will provide you with three hundred thousand spirit stones in support and from now on, just like Shi Gong and Shi Lu, as long as the family has it, you may use it unconditionally. How does everyone feel about this?¡± No sooner had the voice fallen than Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu both laughed heartily and said, ¡°Heh¡­ Tianming should have had this privilege long ago. It¡¯s just that this lad never planned to rely on the family¡¯s power but has instead been feeding the family all along.¡± ¡°Now, the family owes him more and more. It is us old folks who have relied on his conquests to the north and south and the treasures he brought back that have brought us to where we are today.¡± Lin Shikang nodded, reflecting on the years of Lin Tianming¡¯s contributions to the family and the resources he brought back, and felt somewhat guilty. He sighed deeply and then looked at Lin Tianming and said earnestly, ¡°Tianming, from now on, all the treasures of the family are at your disposal. Even if we don¡¯t have them, we can mobilize all family members to find them.¡± ¡°For many small matters, just speak to your Twelfth Grandpa to arrange for the clan members to handle them. There¡¯s no need to do everything yourself. Spend more time on your cultivation, as only you can lead the family to greater heights.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming had no intention to refuse and quickly replied, ¡°Thank you Third Grandfather for your permission. Tianming will certainly not let you down and will break through to the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang and others nodded their heads in satisfaction. Following that, Lin Shilu finally asked about the situation of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements for the next two years. After pondering for a moment, Lin Tianming then spoke, ¡°The opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is less than two years away, at which time the gathering will take place at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate!¡± ¡°Elders, during these two years, I have obtained many treasures and my cultivation has reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer. I am planning to go into seclusion for two years to break through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level and then come out to participate in the exploration of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm.¡± ¡°However, before the seclusion, I¡¯m going to get married. When the time comes, I ask that all the elders witness my wedding.¡± ¡°Oh? Our Lin Family¡¯s Hidden Dragon is getting married?¡± ¡°This is a huge celebration indeed!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang and the others were overjoyed. Seeing this, Lin Shigong nodded, folded his hands, and smilingly said to Lin Shikang and the others, ¡°Brother, since time is pressing, let¡¯s arrange the wedding ceremony as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Once the wedding wine is drunk, begin the seclusion; those who refine elixirs should proceed with alchemy, and those who refine artifacts shall continue with their craft. You should also discuss breakthrough insights with Brother Ye and prepare thoroughly.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s how it will be arranged. The wedding will be set in three days!¡± Lin Shikang announced, before instructing Lin Shihua, ¡°Shihua, you are in charge of making arrangements for Tianming¡¯s wedding; make sure it¡¯s lively and festive. Invite any clan members who can leave seclusion, as well as those who can return to the family estates to attend the ceremony!¡± Upon receiving the order, Lin Shihua nodded and patted his chest, saying, ¡°My brothers, due to the special period and the urgency of time, three days is extremely limited, and the family will not be able to invite other families to witness. But rest assured, I and Ninth Brother will arrange Tianming¡¯s wedding to make it lively and festive.¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then spoke to Lin Tianming, ¡°Tianming, your Grandfather Ye is in seclusion consolidating his cultivation. Send a message to him tomorrow, and perhaps he will emerge. When he does, you and your grandfather pay a visit to him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Third Grandfather, if Grandfather Ye comes out of seclusion, I will surely pay him a visit and invite him to the wedding banquet,¡± Lin Tianming replied respectfully. ¡°Hmm!¡± Lin Shikang nodded, then picked up the various cultivation techniques and insights from the table and began to examine them, expressing praise all the while. Seeing this, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong, being the best artifact refiners in the family and the family¡¯s main alchemists, also picked up some related insights and began to read with great interest. ¡­ Chapter 596 596 333 Heartfelt Matters_1 ?Chapter 596: Chapter 333 Heartfelt Matters_1 Chapter 596: Chapter 333 Heartfelt Matters_1 An hour had just passed. After everyone had taken a preliminary look, Lin Shihua then put away the numerous treasures. Afterward, a few of them chatted casually amongst themselves, discussing numerous clan affairs, as well as the details of Lin Tianming¡¯s upcoming marriage. Only when the night grew deep did everyone disperse. ¡­ The next morning. As the sun rose from the east, warm rays of sunlight, from a sky clear as a mirror, shined down upon the earth. ... In the sky above a valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, a Purple Gold Eagle was circling among the layers of mountains. Standing side by side on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi held hands tightly, admiring the beautiful scene before them. Looking down, the gorge below had an odd and fantastic shape, with streams winding their way through and a blanket of blooming flowers all around, a veritable Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. At that moment, as Qin Xi¡¯s beautiful eyes took in the scenery below, she reminisced about her first encounter with Lin Tianming¡¯s mother and sister the day before, and her cheeks couldn¡¯t help but flush with color. This short span of less than a day had brought her an unprecedented sense of family. With these thoughts, when Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming again, her eyes conveyed a special kind of emotion. Seeing the enchantment in Qin Xi¡¯s eyes, Lin Tianming found it breathtaking and irresistible, his heart rippled with emotion. Finally steadying himself, he turned his gaze and then mustered the courage to call out, ¡°Xi¡¯er!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± Qin Xi turned her head, her large eyes fixed on Lin Tianming. Seeing his flushed expression, she seemed to have guessed what was on his mind. ¡°Ming, what happened?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush and said directly, ¡°Xi¡¯er, because of the clan elders, and because I need to enter closed-door cultivation to break through to the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level to prepare for entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm¡­¡± ¡°So, the clan elders intend to arrange our marriage ceremony in two days! What do you think?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned crimson. Although she had been prepared ever since she followed Lin Tianming to Green Bamboo Mountain, she had not expected it to happen so soon. She looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s sharply defined face, radiating with the vigor of manhood. Then, with a sigh, she spoke, ¡°Ming, I have no objections regarding when to marry.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯ve been harboring a deep hatred in my heart!¡± ¡°I want to tell you about it before we marry. If you still insist on marrying me, then you must join me in avenging my deceased grandfather!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t seem surprised. In actuality, he had long sensed that Qin Xi had something troubling her, but since she didn¡¯t speak up, he didn¡¯t feel it was right to delve into it, lest he reopen her wounds. Now that Qin Xi had brought it up herself, he naturally wouldn¡¯t oppose. Coming to his senses, Lin Tianming revealed an affectionate look, gently patted Qin Xi¡¯s shoulder, and began to speak, ¡°Xi¡¯er, no matter what it is, no matter who the opposite side is, I will always stand behind you, your strongest support!¡± Hearing this, and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s utterly sincere and resolute gaze, a warm current surged through Qin Xi¡¯s heart. ¡°Ming, do you still remember the first time we met in Luoyun Market?¡± Qin Xi asked. ¡°Remember, of course, I remember!¡± ¡°Back then you were just a girl with youthful charm, helping your grandfather sell Spiritual Medicine at a stall, only to exchange for a few elixirs for cultivation!¡± Lin Tianming said, his eyes full of memories. ¡°Exactly!¡± Qin Xi awoke from her recollection and then talked about their first meeting and the experiences that had occurred since then. ¡°That was our first encounter, and in the following years, grandfather and I moved around Luoyun Mountain Range and Hengyang Mountain Range, killing Demonic Beasts and cultivating. My cultivation grew rapidly.¡± ¡°Years later, I reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement. During one ordeal, I was seriously injured, nearly perishing.¡± ¡°To buy elixirs for me, my grandfather had to auction off some Spiritual Medicine in Hengyang Market. But we caught the attention of disciples from the Chen Clan, who followed grandfather after he left the market.¡± ¡°By the time I regained consciousness, with my injuries gradually healing, several days had passed without grandfather¡¯s return.¡± ¡°Worried, I forced myself to go out and investigate despite my injuries, and ultimately traced it back to the Chen Clan.¡± ¡°As for those members of the Chen Clan, all were slain by me, but this alarmed the Chen Clan Leader, who then sent several late-stage Qi Refining members after me.¡± ¡°Thus, I was gravely wounded and forced to flee!¡± ¡°However, for over a decade, I disguised myself and stayed near the Hengyang Mountain Range, quietly eliminating many cultivators from the Chen Clan.¡± ¡°During that time, I suffered injuries multiple times, but, luckily, I managed to escape death each time.¡± ¡°So it went¡ªI cultivated and sought revenge until the outbreak of the beast tide, and by chance, I was besieged by several Yinming Beasts. At the brink of death, I met you.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As for the past three years, you already know, so there¡¯s no need for me to elaborate!¡± Qin Xi spoke at length about nearly two decades¡¯ worth of events, her enmity with the Chen Clan explained clearly. As she relieved the burden that had long weighed on her heart, Qin Xi felt a sense of release, her whole being much lighter. Yet she was also hopeful and a bit nervous, afraid that Lin Tianming would be wary of the Chen Clan¡¯s strength and give up being with her. At that moment, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming held her hand tightly and pulled her into his embrace, then gently soothed her. Chapter 597 597 333 Heart Matters_2 ?Chapter 597: Chapter 333: Heart Matters_2 Chapter 597: Chapter 333: Heart Matters_2 Meanwhile, he spoke with grave sincerity, ¡°Xi¡¯er, be assured that your hatred is my hatred.¡± ¡°I can promise you that the Chen Clan will certainly pay a price. In the future, we must uproot the Chen Clan to avenge Grandfather and wash away the humiliation!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but have her eyes brimming with tears, feeling deeply moved. At that moment, as she sobbed softly, she said, ¡°The Chen Clan is powerful, and even though Ming is strong, I fear that even together, we might not be a match for the Chen Clan!¡± On hearing this, Lin Tianming sneered coldly, then wore an expression of disdain. ¡°The Chen Clan¡¯s strength is not bad, but to our Lin Family, they are hardly worth mentioning.¡± ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t plan on using the family¡¯s strength. Once the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm event is over, I will uproot the Chen Clan myself to avenge Grandfather.¡± ... Qin Xi stopped her sobbing after hearing this and looked at Lin Tianming with her big eyes, not doubting his words at all. In fact, during her travels over the years, she had heard many rumors about the Lin Family. Initially, it was said in the Cultivation World that the Lin Family had quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, at least several of them, and that was even twenty years ago. As time went on, more and more Foundation Establishment members of the Lin Family appeared, and their overall strength became formidable. Moreover, during their time in Yuyao City and Qianchuan Market, they also encountered many well-known Foundation Establishment Cultivators who held the Lin Family members in high regard. From their actions and behavior, it was easy to see that the Lin Family¡¯s strength was indeed high. Given this, combined with the fact that Lin Tianming was so young yet possessed the strength of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator, she could somewhat understand the power of the Lin Family. Although Lin Tianming had never revealed the specific strength of the Lin Family to her, she had made guesses. Now, hearing Lin Tianming say so, she became even more certain of her thoughts. Regaining her composure, Qin Xi tightly grasped Lin Tianming¡¯s hand and said seriously, ¡°Ming, I have waited for so many years, I can wait another ten or eight years.¡± ¡°The reason Xi¡¯er spoke of this matter was not to deceive you or make you think that Xi¡¯er is seeking shelter or even wants to use the Lin Family to deal with the Chen Clan.¡± Before she could finish, Lin Tianming held her tighter and interrupted her. ¡°Xi¡¯er, don¡¯t say anymore. My determination to take you as my Dao companion will not be swayed by these matters!¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, with no living relatives, I have no objections to the family elders¡¯ arrangement or the date set for the marriage,¡± Qin Xi replied. Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and let out a hearty laugh, feeling extremely excited. Once his emotions settled, he said, ¡°That¡¯s great, then it¡¯s settled. The wedding ceremony will be arranged for the day after tomorrow!¡± After finishing speaking, Lin Tianming sent out a few transmissions, informing Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua of the matter, instructing them to immediately start preparing for the wedding. Having done that, Lin Tianming patted the Purple Gold Eagle on its back and then led Qin Xi in jumping down. Simultaneously, the Purple Gold Eagle landed on the ground, rubbing its sharp beak against the hems of their clothes affectionately. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took out a few Second Order Middle Stage demon beast inner pills, along with a few smaller Second Order demonic beast corpses, and tossed them to the Purple Gold Eagle. Lately, he hadn¡¯t planned on leaving the area for a year or two. Conveniently, the Purple Gold Eagle had also reached the peak of the Second Order Initial Stage and could take this time to advance to the next level. The Purple Gold Eagle seemed to understand, excitedly gulping down the beast corpses and inner pills. Quickly, the demon beast corpses and inner pills vanished, leaving behind the excited Purple Gold Eagle rubbing affectionately against their hems, seemingly seeking their favor. Seeing this, Lin Tianming petted the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head and said with a smile, ¡°Xiao Diao, with all these treats for you, you should work hard. Once you advance to the Second Order Middle Stage, we will set off on our journey again!¡± The Purple Gold Eagle lifted its head in joy, letting out a sharp, excited cry as if responding to him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and flew towards the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, leaving the Purple Gold Eagle behind on the mountain peak. As they left, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky and flew towards the location of the nest it had once constructed. ¡­ Two days later. In the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, today was the day of Lin Tianming¡¯s wedding ceremony. At this time, the main areas of Green Bamboo Mountain were all decked out in shining lights and colorful decorations, with bright red flowers lining the streets on both sides, and the occasional Immortal Flying Birds swooping over the mountaintops. Meanwhile, groups of children chased and played in the streets, their movements agile, clearly having practiced martial arts from a young age. Looking around, these children were only about six or seven years old and had not yet had their Spiritual Roots tested, but the mere fact that they lived on Green Bamboo Mountain meant that at least one of their direct elders must be a Lin Family Cultivator. Otherwise, it was virtually impossible for children from Mortal Towns to be seen here at such an age. With the Lin Family¡¯s population skyrocketing in recent years and family benefits improving, Green Bamboo Mountain had become increasingly lively. Such young children, mere toddlers, were several times more numerous than they had been two or three decades earlier. Under these circumstances, the vitality of Green Bamboo Mountain was extremely robust. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this very moment, a sense of peace and joy filled Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, adding a different luster to a festive day. In a cave dwelling at the summit of the main peak. The place was already bustling with noise as many Lin Family Members gathered here. In the past two days, numerous Lin Family Members had emerged from seclusion. Many representatives of those stationed in the family¡¯s Spirit Lands were also preparing to attend Lin Tianming¡¯s wedding ceremony. For the occasion, a great majority of the Lin Family had come together, creating a true feast. Although almost nearly every year, or every few years, some Lin Family Members would marry. But unless they were core family members, the scale of the wedding ceremonies was quite small, and most Foundation Establishment Clan Members would not attend. However, this time, such a grand wedding ceremony hadn¡¯t been held by the family in many years. The reason was none other than Lin Tianming, a core family member with an exceptional talent, whose own strength was even a bit stronger than Lin Shilu¡¯s. Apart from that, all of his elders were Cultivators and core family members, making their influence within the entire Lin Family extremely prominent. It was foreseeable that this wedding ceremony would be the most bustling and the largest celebration the Lin Family had seen in a hundred years. At that moment, in the courtyard of this cave dwelling, many clan members gathered to chat idly, each one looking quite excited as they discussed Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation and news about the bride. The atmosphere was incredibly lively. Having received the news, Lin Xingrong returned from Golden Horn Mountain and was now at the entrance of the cave dwelling welcoming guests. From a distance, Lin Xingyuan approached, and before he had even arrived, his hearty laughter could be heard. ¡°Xing Rong, congratulations, congratulations!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ it¡¯s Seventh Brother, please come inside quickly!¡± Lin Xingrong quickly went to greet him, chatting with Lin Xingyuan for a few moments. ¡°Seventh Brother, I appreciate you taking the time to return to the family to attend Tian Ming¡¯s wedding ceremony amidst your busy schedule!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Luoyun Market is now quite stable, with Xing Li in charge of its defense, so I came to join in the excitement!¡± After speaking, Lin Xingyuan hastily took out more than a dozen items and a card made of Beast Skin from his storage bag and handed them to Lin Xingrong. Then, he said with a smile, ¡°Xing Rong, Xing Li and many other clan members have their duties and really could not get away, but they have specifically prepared gifts and asked me to convey their congratulations.¡± ¡°This is the list I prepared in advance, please take it!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xingrong laughed heartily and said, ¡°Why the formality between brothers and fellow clan members? They have their duties and must prioritize the greater good, naturally.¡± ¡°As for the gifts, that¡¯s really unnecessary!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lin Xingyuan waved his hand and quickly added a statement. ¡°How can that be? Tian Ming is a Hidden Dragon of our Lin Family, and his wedding is such a grand occasion, it certainly can¡¯t be too plain or hasty.¡± ¡°All right, then I¡¯ll thank all the fellow clan members on behalf of Tian Ming!¡± After returning a reply, Lin Xingrong finally accepted the gifts handed over by Lin Xingyuan and tucked them into his storage bag. He then promptly invited Lin Xingyuan into the cave dwelling. Chapter 598 598 334 Wedding Celebration_1 ?Chapter 598: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_1 Chapter 598: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_1 A while had passed. As the clan members gradually arrived, the number of people inside the cave dwelling had reached nearly eighty. It seemed that among the Lin Family, all the members who were in the late stage of Qi Refining and above, and who could free themselves, had all come to celebrate Lin Tianming¡¯s wedding ceremony. As for those below the late stage of Qi Refining, they did not have the privilege to sit here; Lin Shihua had unifiedly arranged for them to gather within the Family Elders¡¯ Hall. At this time, the vast courtyard was filled with tables, with many family members sitting around talking and laughing joyfully, sharing stories of the past years. In the blink of an eye, it was almost noon. Lin Xingrong still stood at the entrance of the cave dwelling, gazing far into the square ahead, seemingly anticipating something. ... ¡°The auspicious time should be about right, Third Uncle and the others should be arriving soon!¡± Lin Xingrong muttered softly. Just then, several figures appeared on the square, led by none other than Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, followed by Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong and other clan members of the ¡°Shi¡± generation. Seeing the arrivals, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face lit up with excitement, and he immediately went to greet them. ¡°Xing Rong pays his respects to the elders, and to Uncle Ye!¡± Lin Xingrong bowed deeply in a solemn greeting, smiling as he greeted the elders as well as Ye Pinghai, who had temporarily emerged from seclusion. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Shihua smiled and waved his hand, then instructed, ¡°Xing Rong, please lead Third Brother and the others inside!¡± ¡°Your father and I will take Tian Ming and the girl to the ancestral hall to pay tribute to our ancestors first; afterwards, we¡¯ll come to meet the rest of the elder clan members.¡± ¡°By the Clan Leader¡¯s decree!¡± Lin Xingrong respectfully responded and then signaled Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai to enter the cave dwelling. As a few of them entered the dwelling, all the chatting clan members inside stood up to pay their respects to Lin Shikang and the others. ¡°Today is Tian Ming¡¯s joyous day, and it is rare for all of us to be together, please sit down!¡± Lin Shikang said calmly as he waved his hand and then, along with Ye Pinghai, made his way to the main hall of the cave dwelling. Outside the dwelling, as Lin Shikang and the others left, Lin Xingrong and Lin Shihua did not linger either, starting to fly towards the direction of the family ancestral hall. It wasn¡¯t long before the two of them arrived in front of the ancestral hall. At that moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, waiting there specially. Upon seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming immediately led Qin Xi to approach them. ¡°Tian Ming pays his respects to the Clan Leader, and to father!¡± Witnessing this, Qin Xi also performed a reverent salute and said, ¡°Qin Xi pays her respects to the Clan Leader, and to father!¡± Then, Lin Shihua glanced at Qin Xi, who wore a golden robe and whose stunning beauty was strikingly well-matched with Lin Tianming at her side. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°Young lady, you need not be so formal. After paying tribute to the ancestors and meeting the family¡¯s elders, you¡¯ll be one of our Lin Family members!¡± At these words, Qin Xi blushed slightly, appearing somewhat shy. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took her hand, conveying a sense of comfort. At this time, noticing Lin Tianming¡¯s gesture, Lin Shihua chuckled heartily, then said, ¡°It¡¯s about time, follow me inside!¡± Upon finishing, Lin Shihua cast several Law Decrees to open the protective restrictions of the ancestral hall and then walked in with large strides. Following him, Lin Xingrong also waved his hand, indicating for Lin Tianming and Qin Xi to follow. ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Tianming said, then took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and walked deeper into the ancestral hall. Soon, the four of them passed through the corridors and arrived inside a hall deep within. At this moment, Lin Shihua looked around, his gaze sweeping over the myriad Spirit Tablets. Meanwhile, Qin Xi, experiencing the ancestral hall for the first time, curiously surveyed the surroundings, her thoughts unknown. As for Lin Tianming, he stood quietly next to Qin Xi, looking at the many names on the Spirit Tablets, and was lost in memories. It had been a long time since he had visited this family ancestral hall; the last time he came was after the battle on Green Bamboo Mountain with the Jin Family Cultivators, Later, when Lin Shigang and Lin Shihe¡¯s lifespans had come to an end and their Spirit Tablets were placed in the hall, he was out fulfilling a family task and did not get the chance to escort them on their final journey. Looking back, nearly twenty years had passed since his last visit to the ancestral hall. Now, re-entering the hall, it was on the day of his own wedding. After a while, he collected his thoughts and saw that Lin Shihua, with a serious expression, took out several offerings from his storage bag to refresh the sacrificial table. Having done that, he lit a few sticks of incense and, with great respect, made three bows to the central ancestral tablet of the progenitor. Behind him, Lin Xingrong stood by with reverence, his eyes filled with affectionate remembrance and a touch of joy. Time passed, unknowingly, as Lin Shihua finished the preparatory work. At that moment, he still stood in front of the sacrificial table, then, after a glance at Lin Tianming and Qin Xi below, he took on a deep and solemn tone. He then started to speak, ¡°On this most auspicious and joyful day, our clan descendant Lin Tianming and the daughter of a Loose Cultivator, Qin Xi, are united in marriage. We come to pay respect to all our forebears, marking the commencement of the wedding ceremony.¡± As his words echoed, Lin Xingrong ushered Lin Tianming and Qin Xi to bow in reverence, followed by presenting a cup of Spiritual Wine. Meanwhile, Lin Shihua continued his recitation. From his somewhat peculiar words, one could discern he was recounting Lin Tianming¡¯s contributions to the family over the years, as well as revealing Qin Xi¡¯s background. At the same time, amidst these peculiar phrases, there was also an expression of hope for a bright future. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi stood side by side, waiting and following the guidance of Lin Xingrong, paying their solemn respects. After a little less than half an hour had passed. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 599 599 334 Wedding Celebration_2 ?Chapter 599: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_2 Chapter 599: Chapter 334 Wedding Celebration_2 As Lin Shihua let out a loud shout, ¡°The ancestral worship ceremony is complete, newcomers, kowtow!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi hurriedly bowed and paid their respectful three kowtows to the ancestral spirit tablet in the center. ¡°All right, the ancestral worship ceremony is finished, everyone stand up!¡± Following Lin Shihua¡¯s reminder, Lin Tianming and the others immediately stood upright and waited quietly to the side. ¡°Hehe¡­ With the ancestral worship rites completed, the only thing left is to meet the clan elders. Once this rite is over, the formalities will be officially completed!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, the Third Grandfather and the others must be getting impatient waiting!¡± Lin Shihua said with a chuckle, then led Lin Tianming and the others out of the ancestral hall. ... A short while later, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group of four arrived at their father¡¯s cave dwelling. At this time, the cave dwelling was bustling with noise. Apart from the four of them, the rest of the clan members who should be present had pretty much all arrived. Seeing Lin Tianming and the others walk in, the crowd of cultivators cheered and shouted, each of them excited. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled and greeted the clan members, not forgetting to introduce Qin Xi to some of the more familiar ones. By his side, Qin Xi also politely smiled in return. Not only that, Qin Xi¡¯s basic details, such as her spiritual roots or cultivation, were not concealed. Soon, the small courtyard¡¯s clan members were introduced to Qin Xi through Lin Tianming¡¯s introduction. Each of the family members voiced their feelings spontaneously, praising them as a truly talented and good-looking couple, a match made in heaven. In fact, it was true. According to what Qin Xi privately disclosed, she possessed water-wood dual spiritual roots, serendipitously obtained an earth-grade cultivation technique, and primarily engaged in hunting demonic beasts and seeking treasures in the vicinity of the Hengyang Mountain Range with her adventures. Furthermore, she had slain no less than a dozen cultivators from the Chen Clan over the years. Utilizing the resources from their storage bags, combined with her own gains from adventures, she had obtained considerable wealth. As she toiled and advanced her cultivation over more than twenty years, she had managed to reach her current cultivation realm. When Lin Tianming learned about this, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity for her. One must know, his own rapid cultivation advancement, although marred by many brushes with death, was supported at least in spirit by the many elders of his family. Even if it was just spiritual support, its effect was unmistakable. Whenever he faced life and death, the thought of his family¡¯s parents and elders gave him the strength to maintain a firm Dao heart and the courage of a cornered rat. This subtle state of mind could help him break through realms and even burst forth with greater strength in times of desperation. From this, one could imagine the hardships and life-and-death crises Qin Xi faced over the years. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming sincerely admired such a woman. In such a context, what the family members said about them being a well-matched pair, a match made in heaven, was indeed true. ¡°The auspicious moment has arrived, the newlyweds pay respect to the parents and elders!¡± As a resounding voice echoed, under everyone¡¯s gaze, the four of them bid farewell to the Qi refining clanspeople and made their way to the main hall of the cave dwelling. Upon entering the main hall, there were already more than ten people seated. The two highest seats were occupied by Ren Yuxuan, with the other left vacant, clearly meant for Lin Xingrong¡¯s place. Below them, arrayed in two rows, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai sat opposite each other, with Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua, along with other members of the Shi generation, seated close by. Foundation Establishment cultivators like Lin Xingyuan and Lin Tianqin were seated according to their seniority and age. Looking around, out of the eighteen Foundation Establishment cultivators of the family, eleven were gathered here. If one were to include the Golden Core cultivator Ye Pinghai, such an assembly was certainly not much weaker than a Golden Core family from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. As Lin Tianming and the others entered the main hall, Lin Xingrong and the other family members exchanged greetings before he sat down directly in the highest open seat. Seeing this, Lin Shihua scanned the room to confirm no one was missing, then raised his voice to announce. ¡°On this auspicious day, with our ancestors¡¯ blessings, our clan¡¯s Tian Ming joins in matrimony with the daughter of the Qin Family, let the marriage ceremony begin!¡± ¡°The first bow, to heaven and earth!¡± As the words fell, Lin Tianming and his bride turned around and deeply bowed in the direction outside the house. ¡°The second bow, to the parents!¡± Lin Tianming and his bride walked forward, took the wine cups from Lin Shihua¡¯s hands, and respectfully toasted their parents. At this moment, Lin Xingrong and the others were all smiles, clearly very delighted with the couple before them. In their hearts, they had longed for this very day, and now, at last, it had come to fruition. Besides, Qin Xi was an outstanding choice in every aspect, so having her as a daughter-in-law filled them with great satisfaction. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Lin Xingrong and his partner received their cups of wine and, unable to contain their smiles, drank. ¡°The third bow, to greet the clan elders!¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming once again picked up his cup and approached Lin Shikang. ¡°Third Grandfather, your junior offers you his respects!¡± Lin Tianming and his partner offered the spiritual wine with utmost reverence, speaking in unison. ¡°Ha ha¡­ good, good, good!¡± Lin Shikang accepted their gesture with uncontained joy, repeating the word ¡°good¡± thrice. Straight after, he waved his sleeve, and a light blue longsword appeared in his hand. At a glance, the sword was about one and a half feet long, its blade emanating faint hints of cold, clearly, a Second Order inferior attack talisman. Obviously, the properties of this longsword were a perfect match for Qin Xi, as if it had been tailor-made for her. ¡°Tianming, I don¡¯t have much to offer for your wedding ceremony, so let this Second Order inferior Frost Sword be my gift to you!¡± Having said that, Lin Shikang drank two cups of spiritual wine in one go and then handed the Frost Sword to Qin Xi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, not expecting Lin Shikang to present such a valuable gift. It was known that when Qin Xi met with grandfather Lin Shigong, he had only bestowed upon her a bottle of elixirs and a Second Order inferior Hongxing Fruit. Yet Lin Shikang¡¯s gift was a Second Order inferior attack talisman, and while it was of lower grade, it was certainly a prime choice within its class. In addition, the Frost Sword¡¯s attributes so closely matched Qin Xi¡¯s that the short time it took to produce such an item clearly indicated considerable effort. At that moment, Qin Xi was deeply moved and seemed to quite fancy the Frost Sword before her. However, she did not take it immediately but turned her gaze to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, with no intent of defying Lin Shikang¡¯s meaning, reminded her with a smile, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the Third Grandfather is very generous. Shouldn¡¯t you thank him quickly?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi accepted the Frost Sword and, bowing respectfully, said, ¡°Xi¡¯er thanks Third Grandfather!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded with excitement and then gestured with his hand to continue the ceremony. Seeing this, Lin Shihua continued leading Lin Tianming to Ye Pinghai. Lin Tianming and his partner once again raised their cups, respectfully offering them to the seated Ye Pinghai. As the sworn brother of Lin Shigong, and thus practically a member of the Lin Family, Ye Pinghai was extremely happy when he heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s marriage. Without waiting for an invitation from Lin Shigong, he requested to attend the ceremony. Given his status, coupled with his Golden Core Stage cultivation, Lin Shigong naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse. The only requirement was that he modify his appearance and conceal his cultivation level. Nevertheless, no clan member could see through his cultivation realm, nor would they be able to reveal his true circumstances. However, Lin Tianming, looking at the unfamiliar face, naturally knew who was capable of attending his wedding ceremony and sitting in such a position. As for some of the family members who were unaware, they could only guess in secret. At that moment, Ye Pinghai chuckled and likewise produced a gift, two Second Order Superior Beautifying Pills. Beautifying Pills had the effect of vitalizing and preserving youth. With just one pill, one could maintain their current appearance, even if their lifespan was nearing its end, with little change. Such a pill was sought after by nearly every female cultivator, as the desire for beauty is universal, regardless of whether it¡¯s in the mortal world or the Cultivation World. However, given its high grade, only a scarce number of Beautifying Pills were in circulation. Each time one appeared, it was purchased by female cultivators at sky-high prices. Only an alchemist like him might have a small number of Beautifying Pills on hand. Clearly, the gift from Ye Pinghai might not have the same utility as Lin Shikang¡¯s Frost Sword, but its value was almost comparable, and it was certainly a thoughtful choice. At that time, Qin Xi was overjoyed to see such an item, her heart filled with excitement which she managed to suppress, maintaining an undisturbed demeanor. Seeing this, Lin Tianming led Qin Xi to offer their thanks without uttering a word of address. Then, under the watchful eyes of all those present, Ye Pinghai took the two cups of spiritual wine and drank with no hesitation. Lin Tianming then took the Beautifying Pills and stored them away. Chapter 600 600 335 Qin Xis Sense of Belonging_1 ?Chapter 600: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_1 Chapter 600: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_1 As Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai presented their gifts, the clan members gathered in the main hall were treated to an eye-opening display. An Ice Frost Sword and two Beautifying Pills; the value of these items was no less than tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Giving such generous gifts that were also very suitable for Qin Xi, it¡¯s clear that a lot of thought had gone into them. Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, but he also felt moved. It¡¯s known that it is not uncommon for family clans to provide gifts for newlyweds, and some elders do give presents, but the gifts from other clan members are usually not very expensive, often just a bottle or two of elixirs, as a token of their sentiment. Besides, at the wedding ceremonies of most clan members, attendance is limited, and elders like Lin Shikang usually don¡¯t participate; at most, the Clan Leader would attend as a witness. Yet for his own wedding ceremony, nearly every available family member had come, and they had brought a variety of treasures with them, some giving just a few Spirit Stones, others gifting a Second Order Magical Artifact. ... Such an outpouring of lavish gifts and such a grand wedding celebration were almost unheard of in the family¡¯s nearly thousand-year history. With the lively atmosphere continuing to surge, Lin Tianming and his bride proceeded to pay their respects to several elders of the Lin Family with ¡°Shi¡± in their names. At this moment, they bowed to Clan Leader Lin Shihua. Lin Shihua saw this and chuckled, saying, ¡°My gift can¡¯t compare to those of your third uncle and the others; don¡¯t look down on it, alright?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shihua took out two Medium Quality Second Order Attack Talismans and handed them to Qin Xi. Hearing this, Lin Tianming hurriedly waved his hands and responded, ¡°How could you say that, Twelfth Grandpa? Regardless of the gift¡¯s value, it represents the thoughtfulness of our elders, and Xi¡¯er and I would never disdain it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, and then he took a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp. Qin Xi then accepted the Second Order Talisman gifted by Lin Shihua and, led by him, the two of them continued to Lin Shilu¡¯s presence. As the youngest elder of the Lin Family, he was also the one with the most outstanding talent. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, Lin Shilu looked at Lin Tianming in front of him and nodded in approval. The Lin Family had many members, but not many youngsters could interact with him. Perhaps only a few core family members like Lin Xingzhi and Lin Xingrong were able to exchange a few words with him. As for Lin Tianming, he was someone Lin Shilu had watched grow up, personally witnessing and even participating in his cultivation. The first time he left the Luoyun Mountain Range was with Lin Shilu, and on their return, after visiting Qianchuan Market, they established the Luoyun Pavilion together. Latter on, during the expedition to the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, they faced life and death together, and Lin Shilu stood in front of him, protecting him from the elements. Putting aside their generational differences, their relationship could be described as both mentor and friend, and their affection for each other had always been strong. Now, Lin Tianming¡¯s talents and strength had surpassed Lin Shilu, leaving him far behind. To this, Lin Shilu felt sincere relief and happiness. ¡°Tian Ming pays respects to Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± With this greeting, Lin Tianming interrupted Lin Shilu¡¯s reminiscing. Then, Lin Shilu chuckled, stood up, patted Lin Tianming¡¯s shoulder, and said earnestly with a touch of sentiment, ¡°Not bad at all!¡± ¡°Who would have thought time could fly so fast; before you know it, you are now a family man.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Now that you are married, you should contribute to the family¡¯s lineage!¡± Upon this sudden change in tone, Lin Shilu¡¯s serious expression softened. This remark instantly filled the entire main hall with laughter. Clearly, the clan members understood the underlying meaning of his words. At this moment, under the gaze of all the women present, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but blush. Seeing his expression, Lin Shilu laughed heartily, completely ignoring the reactions of the clan members. He then waved his sleeve, took out the Green Scale Shield he had once used, and handed it to Qin Xi. At the same time, he said with a smile, ¡°For your wedding, your third uncle and the others have all given generous gifts.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Although my strength is not at par with your third uncle and the others, I cannot let them outdo me in terms of a gift.¡± After saying this, Lin Shilu¡¯s tone shifted as he gave a heartfelt exhortation. ¡°This Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact has been with me through many battles. Although it has sustained some damage, here and there, I have done my best to repair it to almost 90% of its full defensive power.¡± ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve acquired materials to forge new defensive artifacts, so I¡¯m passing this Green Scale Shield to Xi¡¯er.¡± ¡°I hope you and your spouse will work together in harmony and, sooner or later, both step into the Golden Core Stage to lead our family towards glory.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion turned rosy, deeply moved. In his heart, Lin Shilu and the late Lin Shixin had a significant influence on his cultivation and growth. As a child, he always followed Lin Shixin around, and as he grew older, when it came time to officially enter the Cultivation World, Lin Shilu became his guide. Over the years, Lin Shilu had taken great care of him, selflessly crafting various Spirit Instruments and accompanying him on treasure hunts. He was also wholeheartedly willing to instruct him on any cultivation doubts. Though Lin Shilu was amiable towards other clan members, providing guidance and even painstakingly crafting treasures for them, No one else had received such thorough and selfless attention like Lin Tianming had. Contemplating these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt deeply touched, and looking at Lin Shilu, he couldn¡¯t help but feel his eyes moisten. Chapter 601 601 335 Qin Xis Sense of Belonging_2 ?Chapter 601: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_2 Chapter 601: Chapter 335: Qin Xi¡¯s Sense of Belonging_2 After a long while, when he had finally calmed down, Lin Tianming looked into Lin Shilu¡¯s sincere eyes and then nodded. Seeing this, Qin Xi then accepted Lin Shilu¡¯s meeting gift and, together with Lin Tianming, respectfully paid their respects. ¡°Hehe¡­ wonderful, what a talented man and beautiful woman, a truly well-matched couple!¡± Lin Shilu was very excited and patted Lin Tianming on the shoulder while he exclaimed sentimentally. At this moment, Qin Xi was also incredibly moved. In her heart, today¡¯s wedding ceremony had made a significant impact. She had already overestimated the strength of the Lin Family, but seeing the clan members in this main hall completely shattered her assumptions. ... The eleven clan members present were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and they were mostly above the second level. This did not include Ye Pinghai, whose identity was unknown, as well as those clan members stationed at the various territories. She knew of two in the Qianchuan Market alone, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, along with Lin Xingzhi at Golden Horn Mountain. Besides these, there were likely several Foundation Establishment clan members from the Lin Family controlling the Luoyun Market who had not returned. Aside from the known and unknown, the mere presence of so many Foundation Establishment clan members, including the Great Completion Cultivator Lin Shikang, indicated the formidable strength of the Lin Family. With these in mind, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply shocked. Furthermore, the level of attention she received from the elders also moved her immensely. In her heart, the feeling of being valued was something she had only enjoyed when her grandfather was still alive. However, at this moment, the Lin Family, from top to bottom, whether elders or peers, had all accepted her and bestowed the utmost respect. It was this feeling of being valued and the care of the elders that gave her a profound sense of belonging to the clan. In this instant, she had completely integrated into the family, just like Lin Tianming, considering the clan as her backing and willing to protect it with her life. Unknowingly, her eyes had filled with tears, clearly moved by the family¡¯s atmosphere. Her emotions were noticed by many clan members, who cheered and encouraged her. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming tightly grasped Qin Xi¡¯s hand, soothing her emotions. After a good while, Qin Xi regained her composure, and it seemed as if her spirit had been elevated. Now, as she looked again at the clan members in the scene, they no longer felt unfamiliar and she was no longer restrained. Clearly, she had integrated into this large family and had become a member of the clan. With the completion of the visiting ceremony by a few members of the Shi generation, the clan members who remained were of the Xing and Tian generations. According to the family¡¯s arrangements, these clan members didn¡¯t need to be so formal; a simple greeting would suffice. What remained was for the clan members to gather together, dine while chatting, and following the end of these activities, the entire ceremony would be considered complete. As for the bridal chamber and wedding candles in the mundane world, cultivators did not have such complex rituals, for the mentality of cultivators was vastly different from that of mortals. In the Cultivation World, cultivators possess firm Dao hearts, with some even being of the pure-hearted and desireless sort. Therefore, cultivators do not place as much importance on the nuptial night. And so, Lin Tianming, accompanied by Qin Xi, proceeded to greet the Xing generation clan members, chatting casually with them for a bit. These clan members were also very polite, with their words filled with congratulatory sentiments. Besides that, although they couldn¡¯t present gifts like the elders, offering a few elixirs or a Second Order Talisman as a greeting gift was still quite respectable. In such circumstances, Qin Xi received quite a number of greeting gifts that day, which almost allowed her to fully arm herself from head to toe. As the lively atmosphere continued, Green Bamboo Mountain was exceptionally bustling today. Whether at the peak¡¯s summit or the Elders¡¯ Council Hall on the mountainside, many clan members seized the opportunity to gather, exchanging experiences or news about the Cultivation World, the scene brimming with liveliness. ¡°` In the blink of an eye, the time had reached evening. As the sky gradually darkened, the half-day-long wedding ceremony had also come to an end, with many clan members bidding farewell and returning to their normal cultivation routines. In the night, within Lin Tianming¡¯s cave mansion. With the conclusion of the ceremony, he had also bid goodbye to his parents and elders, returning to his own cave mansion. By that time, his own cave mansion courtyard had already been redecorated by his mother. Looking around, the entire cave mansion, from the front hall to the backyard, was adorned with numerous gemstones, and some doors and windows were embellished with patterns made of red silk. Such decorations were somewhat similar to those of the Mundane World¡¯s weddings. To this, Lin Tianming was not surprised. Although cultivators and mortals were quite different, some customs and habits had also evolved from the Mundane World. And the mother¡¯s hard work in decorating the cave mansion was entirely different from its usual simplicity, but it did indeed have a unique charm. ¡°Ming, let¡¯s rest!¡± At that moment, Qin Xi spoke in a soft voice and then her face blushed, seemingly a bit shy. ¡°Hmm?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow and feigned anger as he said, ¡°We¡¯ve already paid homage to the heavens and our parents and elders. What should my wife call me?¡± Reminded by his words, Qin Xi¡¯s face grew even rosier. Immediately afterward, she affectionately called out in a faint voice, ¡°My husband¡­¡± ¡°Haha¡­ My wife!¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming pulled her into his embrace with a mischievous chuckle. As the two held each other, Lin Tianming stroked Qin Xi¡¯s hair and said, ¡°My wife, if you¡¯re not used to it, you can still call me Ming. I¡¯m also used to calling you Xi¡¯er, so let¡¯s just call each other Xi¡¯er in private!¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Qin Xi nodded and nestled in his arms, her face flushing with a rosy glow. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and after holding her for a while, he finally released her. At that time, he slapped his storage bag and took out a large number of treasures, laying them out on the stone table in front of him. Looking at the table filled with treasures, most were common items, without anything too valuable. ¡°My wife, these treasures are the gifts we received today from others. Now I¡¯m handing them to you!¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Ming, today the elders gave us many precious items. My cultivation and strength are still quite shallow, and I can¡¯t make much use of them. It would be better to hand them over to you!¡± After saying this, Qin Xi then took out the Frost Sword gifted by Lin Shikang and the Green Scale Shield from Lin Shilu, as well as the Beautifying Pills given by Ye Pinghai. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and said, ¡°Third Grandfather obviously knew you have Water Wood Dual Spiritual Roots, which is why he specially chose this Frost Sword for your Spiritual Root attribute!¡± ¡°This Attack Talisman is of excellent quality and extremely compatible with your spiritual roots, and only you can bring out its greatest effect.¡± ¡°And as for Fifteenth Grandfather¡¯s Green Scale Shield, I have one too!¡± Lin Tianming took out his own Green Scale Shield and placed it in front of him. This Defense Artifact, the Green Scale Shield, had made significant contributions over the years and had been significantly damaged from over a decade of use. It had also been repaired several times through refinement. Since the battle at Yuyao City, it had been in a state of disrepair, but fortunately, there were plenty of Artifact Refining Materials on hand. With a bit of help from Lin Shilu to recreate it, it might even be possible to advance it to a Second Order Medium Quality. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°My Green Scale Shield may be of a lower grade, but I have collected many excellent refining materials.¡± ¡°Over the next two years, I plan to ask Fifteenth Grandfather for help in upgrading and refining it. It is entirely possible that it will become even stronger than yours in the future.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi helplessly nodded, knowing that what Lin Tianming said made sense. With this, she no longer insisted and put away the Frost Sword and Green Scale Shield. Having done this, the couple looked at the two Beautifying Pills, exchanged a smile, and took the pills on the spot. ¡°` Chapter 602 602 336 Request_1 ?Chapter 602: Chapter 336: Request_1 Chapter 602: Chapter 336: Request_1 Before long, a period of time passed. As they took the Beautifying Pill, they both felt a strange energy spreading from inside their bodies to the outside. Soon, their faces felt a hint of coolness, and their overall appearance seemed to become slightly younger. ¡°Ming, is this the effect of the Beautifying Pill?¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s question, Lin Tianming nodded and then replied, ¡°This Beautifying Pill really is quite magical. When I gather enough Spiritual Medicine Materials someday, I¡¯ll also refine some. I¡¯m sure the female members of the clan would like them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure, there¡¯s not a female cultivator who isn¡¯t concerned about her appearance!¡± Qin Xi sighed, then began to tally up the numerous Spiritual Objects in front of her. ... A tea-time passed. The two of them finished tallying up the Spiritual Objects in front of them. Although there were many treasures, cumulatively, their value was probably only equivalent to that of a Second Order Magical Artifact. Still, Lin Tianming did not show any disdain for their modest value, after all, it was a gesture of goodwill from his clansmen. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you keep these things. If you encounter some young clan members in need in the future, you can give them away,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and agreed. Lin Tianming did this to help her integrate into the Lin Family faster. He wanted to use these less significant treasures to establish connections with the younger clan members to help them grow more quickly. The astute and clever Qin Xi certainly understood his intentions. The night deepened into stillness. At this moment, Qin Xi glanced outside at the bright moonlight and then spoke, ¡°Ming, let¡¯s go rest.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming laughed heartily, scooped up Qin Xi in his arms, and headed toward the bedroom. In a short while, the two of them were embracing on the stone bed. Lin Tianming¡¯s large hand had already found its way into voluptuous curves, and Qin Xi, dressed in her palace attire, began to reveal hints of spring. At this time, Qin Xi felt a tingling sensation and couldn¡¯t help but blush and pant softly. She composed herself and took out a book from her storage bag, placing it between them. This book, given to her in advance by Ren Yuxuan, was a manual for marital dual cultivation. At the time, Ren Yuxuan had specifically instructed her to practice these techniques on their wedding night, stating that by utilizing the bodies of Yuan Yin and Yuan Yang, they could nourish each other and quickly enhance their cultivation. However, Lin Tianming was unaware. It was only when he felt the cool touch of the book that he stopped, picked up the book, and began to flip through it. Glancing at the somewhat indescribable drawings, he realized what this book contained. Instantaneously, heat began to rise within him. He blushed, feeling a sudden surge of desire. Despite his restlessness, he managed to calm himself down. As a forty-year-old, his age would almost count as venerable in the Mundane World. The joys of men and women were all too familiar to him, even somewhat longed for. However, as a cultivator, especially one earnest in seeking the Dao, his views on such matters were more detached. Moreover, he had his own plan, which was to wait until the Golden Core Stage to break through this barrier, thereby leveraging the effect of the first dual cultivation to make a leap in his realm. After all, cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage wasn¡¯t difficult; using up this opportunity now would be too wasteful. Furthermore, as cultivators¡¯ cultivation increased, the difficulty of having offspring also increased. But the upside was that children born to such cultivators tended to have better talents. With both of their talents from Dual Spiritual Roots, if they were to have children during the Golden Core Stage, there was a high probability that their offspring would possess Spiritual Roots and could potentially have exceptional talents. Considering these factors, Lin Tianming stopped what he was doing and then said to Qin Xi in his arms. ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s not rush into this matter. We¡¯d better save this opportunity for the Golden Core Stage,¡± he suggested. ¡°Our future children might also benefit from a better Spiritual Root Talent,¡± he added. Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded. In fact, she had the same idea but was worried that Lin Tianming might misunderstand, which is why she hadn¡¯t brought it up herself. Since Lin Tianming mentioned it, she naturally wouldn¡¯t object. However, if they didn¡¯t have children for a long time, she feared that the clan elders might have some thoughts about it. With these concerns, Qin Xi helplessly said, ¡°I have no objections to what Ming proposes, but I¡¯m afraid mother might not agree!¡± Hearing her, Lin Tianming smiled and then replied, ¡°Xi¡¯er, don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll explain it to her. As long as I clarify the pros and cons, I believe mother won¡¯t insist on this matter anymore!¡± ¡°Mhm, mhm!¡± Qin Xi nodded repeatedly, her smile becoming even more radiant. ¡°Hehe¡­ Even if we can¡¯t take it a step further right now, I won¡¯t miss out on the advantages I can take!¡± Lin Tianming said with a sly chuckle, then with both hands, he eagerly reached toward the enchanting figure in his embrace. For a while, the room was filled with laughter and heavy breathing. ¡­ The next morning. In the room, as the sunlight streamed through the small window and shined upon Lin Tianming and his companion. At this time, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, looked at the disheveled Qin Xi in his arms, sniffed her natural scent, and his face showed a faint smile. Qin Xi, too, opened her eyes and felt the warm heat of Lin Tianming¡¯s body, causing her to blush slightly. The night after their grand wedding ceremony, it was supposed to be their bridal chamber night, but they didn¡¯t cross the final barrier. Instead, he took some liberties, and then they fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms. Chapter 603 603 336 ?Chapter 603: 336 Chapter 603: 336 Now that the two were married and shared a bed, their relationship had made significant progress. ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s get up and pay a visit to my parents and then to a few of the Clan Elders with the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation name!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s reminder, Qin Xi got up from his embrace and quickly changed into a set of clean clothes. Seeing this, Lin Tianming flipped over and sprang up from the stone bed. At that moment, Qin Xi also stepped forward thoughtfully to straighten Lin Tianming¡¯s attire. Looking at the beautiful and affectionate person before him, who was also considerate and well-behaved, Lin Tianming was very pleased. Soon, with Qin Xi¡¯s assistance, the two got ready and then walked out of the cave dwelling together. ... On the streets, the lavish decorations of blooming flowers were still in place, but they encountered few clanspeople. Clearly, with the conclusion of the boisterous wedding ceremony from the previous day, most of the clanspeople had returned to their normal lives, some to cultivate and others to carry out their duties. Green Bamboo Mountain had regained its usual peace. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two arrived at the cave dwelling where Lin Tianming¡¯s parents resided. In the courtyard, his parents and younger sister were all present. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and Qin Xi come in, they immediately came up to greet them. Looking at his parents, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi bowed deeply. ¡°Greetings, Father, greetings, Mother!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ there¡¯s no need for such formalities!¡± At this moment, Ren Yuxuan was quite happy and quickly took Qin Xi to a corner of the courtyard to ask her something in private. Lin Tianming could only smile helplessly at this, and then sat down to chat with his father. Before long, Qin Xi reappeared and joined them, and then the mother, although silent, made her intentions clear with her gaze. Seeing this, Lin Tianming immediately understood her meaning and quickly began to share his thoughts. After a while, upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, despite the urgency for him to produce offspring, his parents did not press the matter further. The reason for their easy agreement was simple; they had confidence in the talents of the couple. In their eyes, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were not like other clanspeople. With their exceptional talents, as long as they solidified their foundations, they had a considerable chance of reaching the Golden Core Stage in the future. Having offspring at that time would likely result in children with better Spiritual Root aptitudes. Their situation was different; when they were young, most clanspeople typically married in their fifties or sixties, and many didn¡¯t marry at all. When it came to having children, there was less concern. The reason being that those clanspeople had limited potential, and delaying the birth of their children made no significant difference. Thus, waiting several decades for Lin Tianming¡¯s descendants to inherit better talents was not unacceptable. Given the situation, his parents did not dwell on the matter. After a casual conversation, they discussed the family¡¯s plans for the coming years. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi naturally planned to go into seclusion to cultivate. With only a little more than a year left before the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opened, time was pressing. They had already fought the Demon Beast Army in Yuyao City for over a year, solidifying a strong foundation. Beyond that, Lin Tianming had purchased many treasures at Qianchuan Market, and with the Spirit Fruits bestowed by the Clan Elders, they had no shortage of cultivation resources for the time being. Now that they finally had the opportunity to rest for two years, they intended to make the most of it by cultivating in seclusion to strive for a higher realm, ensuring their survival in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and maybe even reaping greater rewards. As for Lin Xingrong, he had returned for the wedding ceremony and couldn¡¯t delay for too long. He planned to stay only for a couple of days to rest and stock up on resources before heading back to Golden Horn Mountain. Lin¡¯s mother, on the other hand, was relatively free. Aside from cultivating, she also helped manage the Spirit Fields in the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden. As for his younger sister, Lin Tianyue, she was still pleading with Lin Tianming, urging him to speak kindly on her behalf to the Clan Leader, so she could gain experience at Qianchuan Market. Annoyed by her persistence, Lin Tianming had no choice but to agree. Later, the family sat down to eat together and, after the meal, Lin Tianming said farewell to his parents and took Qin Xi toward Lin Shikang¡¯s dwelling. After visiting a few of the Shi generation clan members, they each planned to start their respective secluded cultivation. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, several Shi generation clanspeople sat together, engaged in idle chat. When Lin Tianming and his wife arrived, the group was not surprised, as they apparently anticipated the visit, having gathered in Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion in advance. At this moment, upon seeing the group of elders, Lin Tianming, leading Qin Xi, promptly went forward to greet them. ¡°Hehe¡­ no need for such formality, Xi¡¯er, come and take a seat quickly!¡± Glad to see Lin Tianming and his wife, Lin Shilu beckoned to them with a smile, motioning them to sit down. Clearly, Lin Shilu had always liked Lin Tianming and now that Qin Xi had married into the family, he developed even greater fondness for this junior. Thus, his words were even warmer than toward Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t mind and immediately took a seat next to Qin Xi in the available spaces. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shikang then inquired about the purpose of their visit. Lin Tianming responded straightforwardly, explaining his and his wife¡¯s plans to enter secluded cultivation and casually mentioned his sister¡¯s request as well. The elders naturally had no objections to his plans. After all, with Lin Tianming¡¯s level of cultivation strength, he had no need to be distracted by other matters; cultivation was his main focus. Regarding the sister who had been persistent about going to Qianchuan Market, Lin Shihua casually agreed, even sending Lin Tianhong along as well. With the strength of these two, plus the support of Lin Tianfeng and others within the market, they would be basically safe as long as they didn¡¯t take any risks. Moreover, Lin Tianyue was a Second Order Inscription Master, and Lin Tianhong was a Second Order Alchemist. With these two family members in charge of Qianchuan Market, Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s supply of elixirs and talisman paper would be replenished swiftly. In a way, this was also an experience for them and a major development of the family¡¯s enterprises. Lin Tianming, of course, wouldn¡¯t question Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements, especially since he advocated for such experiences for the clanspeople as well. As the conversation continued for half an hour, Lin Tianming also entrusted Lin Shilu with the task of enhancing his Magic Artifacts. To this request, Lin Shilu naturally did not refuse but instead took his fifty-six Earth Evil Swords and the Tiangang Sword. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In addition, the Green Scale Shield, which was essential for defense, was also taken back by Lin Shilu. He explained that he planned to use the treasures accumulated by the family over the years and the abundant resources Lin Tianming had acquired to upgrade his offensive and defensive Magic Artifacts comprehensively. This undertaking aimed to enhance his strength in full preparation for the upcoming Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Hearing this, Lin Tianming could not contain his joy; he quickly handed over all his artifacts to Lin Shilu and prepared a batch of Artifact Refining Materials for him. Many of these reserved refining materials, mostly gathered from the Demonic Beasts slain in the battle at Yuyao City. The Scales from the Bloodthirsty Jiao, combined with the shell of some demonic beasts, were perfect for repairing the Green Scale Shield, and might even raise it by a minor grade. The Tiangang Sword along with the fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, including the Green Scale Shield, were all crafted by Lin Shilu. With the numerous treasures he had received from the battle with Xu Haiqiao, he was quite confident about improving the grade of these several artifacts. Thus, Lin Tianming was very reassured and even somewhat excited about the enhancements the new artifacts would bring. However, Lin Shilu now had a substantial task ahead, not only to forge defensive Magic Artifacts for Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation but also to upgrade them for Lin Tianming, likely making the next two years quite busy for him. After all, the defensive artifacts Lin Shikang needed were of no low grade, and there were more than one to be crafted. Additionally, Lin Shilu had only been a High Grade Second Order Artifact Refiner for two years. The difficulty of forging High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts and enhancing Lin Tianming¡¯s artifacts within two years was imaginable. Consequently, Lin Shilu¡¯s time was also urgent, necessitating him to begin his secluded cultivation immediately. As time passed, half an hour slipped away. During this period, the clan members shared a number of arrangements and also agreed with Lin Shilu to retrieve his artifacts within a year. Seeing that everything was well arranged, Lin Tianming did not linger long, bid farewell to the elders, and returned directly to his cave mansion. ¡­ Chapter 604 604 337 Foundation Establishment Seventh ?Chapter 604: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Seventh Level_1 Chapter 604: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Seventh Level_1 In the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, both wearing smiles on their faces, seemingly in a good mood. And indeed, it was so. They had just gotten married and enjoyed a rare few days of leisure. Plus, with the meeting gifts from clan members, they had received quite a few good items. Now, they had plenty of resources for cultivation in their hands. All they needed to do was to close off from the world and concentrate on their cultivation to further enhance their power. What was more important was that Lin Shilu would be enhancing his magic artifact comprehensively. If he could break through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, coupled with the greatly increased power of the magic artifact, what level would his strength reach? Perhaps he wouldn¡¯t need to use all of his techniques and could rely on his own strength to win when facing a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Peak. ... Thinking of these, Lin Tianming was both excited and looking forward to it with great anticipation. However, the enhancement of the magic artifact would take at least half a year before any results could be revealed, so no matter how much he anticipated, it was pointless. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming sent several messages to inform his parents that he and Qin Xi planned to start their seclusion for cultivation immediately. In addition, he communicated the arrangement for his sister, Lin Tianyue, and his entrusted matter had yielded results. Having taken care of these matters, he was not inclined to delay any further and had a brief chat with Qin Xi, reminding her to make use of the Spirit Fruit they had obtained to break through her cultivation as soon as possible. After giving these instructions, the married couple each went to the cultivation room. Entering the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat on a meditation cushion. He did not start cultivating right away but was contemplating the arrangement for the next year or so. It had been over two months since the great battle in Yuyao City officially ended. Now, with about a year and a half left until the opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it would be necessary to set off in advance and gather at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. All things considered, he only had about a year and a half left for cultivation. Therefore, he must seize the time to enhance his cultivation as much as possible to fully prepare for the upcoming Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm exploration. And this time in seclusion, breaking through the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment was almost a sure thing. However, he was not satisfied with just that. After all, he had already reached the limit of the Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment, his foundation was extremely solid, and with a Silver Sun Fruit and many Fusion Spirit Pills in his possession, breaking through the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment was not difficult. With ample time and in good condition, he might even reach the latter stages of the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. If he were to achieve that level, his strength post-breakthrough would indeed significantly increase his safety for the expedition to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and immediately started to regulate his breathing and find his state of cultivation. After some unknowable amount of time, he opened his eyes, feeling that his whole body was at its peak condition, and let out a long sigh. Then, with a sweep of his robe, he took out a bottle of Fusion Spirit Pills from his storage bag, planning to first try cultivating with the help of elixirs. After the battle in Yuyao City, he had obtained quite a few Fusion Spirit Pills, including rewards from the Zhenyang Sect and a small treasure trove from the elders. Following his wedding ceremony, most likely, the treasured Fusion Spirit Pills from the elders had all fallen into his hands. With these elixirs to enhance cultivation, if he could smoothly break through, that would be best; if not, he could use the vast energy of the Silver Sun Fruit to assault the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. With his mind made up, he immediately took out a Fusion Spirit Pill and swallowed it. As soon as the Fusion Spirit Pill was ingested, energy diffused, and after a bit of refining, pure spiritual power gathered within his Dantian along his meridians. Immediately, familiar intense pain followed. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this and hastily took out some Dragon Bone Pills to swallow. Over the years of cultivation and with the help of many Dragon Bone Pills, his physical body had become increasingly strong. He was also very familiar with the side effects of this cultivation technique. Obviously, the Dragon Bone Pills played a significant role. However, as his cultivation level rose, he could distinctly feel that the effects of the Dragon Bone Pills were diminishing. When he had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was fine, but after reaching the Sixth Layer, the effects were much worse than before. He estimated that if he broke through to the Golden Core Stage, the effects of the Dragon Bone Pills would be even less significant and might not even be sufficient. In that case, he would need to find new elixirs, or cultivation would become problematic again. But that was not an issue to consider at the moment. Breaking through his cultivation was the current priority. Realizing this, Lin Tianming began to voraciously refine the power of the Fusion Spirit Pill, funneling the refined spiritual energy into his Qi Sea Dantian. Soon, a series of popping sounds echoed through the cultivation room, and Lin Tianming entered a deep state of cultivation. Time flies, and half a year passed in an instant. On this day, within his Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming was still seated atop the meditation cushion. In such a posture, he had been for half a year, not having moved even slightly during that time. Over the course of the half-year in seclusion, he had taken several Fusion Spirit Pills in an attempt to assault the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm. He thought with his substantial foundation, he might succeed without relying on the precious Silver Sun Fruit, confident he had a decent chance. But he underestimated the difficulty of breaking through this realm. Luckily, after later consuming the Silver Sun Fruit, he breezed through the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment, which was a relief. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, the effects of the Silver Sun Fruit were excellent, not only breaking the barrier but also pushing his cultivation to the midpoint of the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment. In addition, with the breakthrough and the energy refinement from the Silver Sun Fruit, his physical body became somewhat stronger. Chapter 605 605 337 Foundation Establishment Level ?Chapter 605: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Level 7_2 Chapter 605: Chapter 337: Foundation Establishment Level 7_2 Feeling the surging power throughout his body, Tianming thought that defeating a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast with his bare hands shouldn¡¯t be too difficult, just relying on his physical strength alone. Overall, half a year wasn¡¯t a long period of time, but the results of his seclusion were still very satisfying to him. Now, with just a little over a year left before the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm commenced, he still had time to consolidate his cultivation base. However, just when he planned to continue his seclusion, he received a transmission from Lin Shilu, informing him that his magic artifact had been refined. Therefore, this exhilarating news disrupted his cultivation plans, and he had no choice but to leave his seclusion. Upon leaving the training room, Qin Xi was still in seclusion, showing no signs of emerging. Lin Tianming did not disturb her and hurried out of his cave dwelling, making his way directly to Lin Shilu¡¯s abode. ... In no time at all, Lin Tianming arrived at Lin Shilu¡¯s Artifact Forging Room and saw him there. At this moment, Lin Shilu sat on a cushion, his robe tattered and his complexion somewhat pale, looking utterly worn and haggard. It was clear that he was severely drained, both physically and mentally, as well as in terms of spiritual power, due to high-intensity artifact refining. This was so because time was pressing, and he had to refine magic artifacts for Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming in the shortest time possible, hence the hard work. Knowing this, Lin Tianming, upon seeing Lin Shilu¡¯s current state, felt deeply moved and a look of concern appeared on his face. Seeing his expression, Lin Shilu offered a knowing smile, trying to put on a comforting facade. Immediately afterward, he waved his sleeve and took out three magic artifacts, laying them in front of them. Upon closer inspection, these three artifacts were precisely the Earth Evil Sword, Tiangang Sword, and the defensively-geared Green Scale Shield that he had often used in combats. The difference was, with Lin Shilu¡¯s re-refinement, the once First Order Supreme Quality fifty-six Earth Evil Swords had all been upgraded to Second Order Low Quality. Moreover, the number of Earth Evil Swords had increased, reaching a total of seventy-two. he Tiangang Sword had also significantly improved in might. Although it was still of Second Order Medium Quality and had not been upgraded in grade, its current quality was definitely among the top in all of the Second Order Medium Quality magic artifacts he had ever seen. With such upgrades, it was foreseeable that the attack power of the Tiangang Sword would be even more formidable than before. As for the Green Scale Shield, it had been fully repaired and its grade had been elevated to Second Order Medium Quality. The defense of the previous Green Scale Shield was already impressive, and it had accompanied him through numerous battles. In the battle of the Xu Haiqiao incident, it had almost been destroyed. It was unexpected that after Lin Shilu¡¯s re-refinement and repair, it had improved so much. At this moment, seeing these familiar artifacts once again, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he exclaimed with a smile, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, your efficiency is astonishingly fast!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been half a year, and you¡¯ve managed to re-refine these treasures and even improved them, it¡¯s truly incredible!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words of praise, Lin Shilu waved his hand and responded, ¡°Hehe¡­ the reason for the swiftness mainly lies in the fact that these three magic artifacts are all my own creations.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Moreover, when I originally forged them, I anticipated this day would come and deliberately left a lot of room for improvement.¡± ¡°Additionally, my familiarity with these magic artifacts is probably not much less than yours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I could achieve this level of efficiency within half a year!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, finding this explanation quite convincing. In the Cultivation World, it was definitely easier for Artifact Refiners to re-refine and upgrade artifacts that they had created themselves. If it was an magic artifact refined by someone else, the difficulty of repairing or enhancing it by a different Artifact Refiner would be almost as much as forging a new one from scratch. And since his own artifact was created by Lin Shilu, re-refining it would naturally be much easier. In such circumstances, it was possible to complete this challenging task in a mere half year. Nevertheless, Lin Shilu appeared utterly exhausted, having pushed himself so hard, clearly for Tianming¡¯s upcoming venture into the Secret Realm. Only a few devoted family elders would go to such lengths under these conditions. Considering all this, Tianming felt deeply touched and immensely grateful. ¡°You better have a look, boy, and see how the re-refinement turned out,¡± said Lin Shilu, breaking Tianming¡¯s train of thought. At this moment, Lin Tianming regained his composure and grabbed the Earth Evil Sword to begin examining it. After a quarter of an hour had passed, Lin Tianming was filled with joy, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. ¡°How is it? Are you satisfied?¡± Lin Shilu asked. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, to achieve such a great improvement in such a short time, I am naturally extremely satisfied!¡± After his response, Lin Tianming fondly picked up the Tiangang Sword and played with it. Hearing these words and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s sincere expression, Lin Shilu laughed heartily, ¡°As long as you¡¯re satisfied!¡± ¡°You must know, for the enhancement of these magic artifacts, I added quite a few precious materials, including several third-order materials.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Having invested so much, as for the results, they have indeed met my expectations!¡± Lin Shilu said proudly, his rough palm gently caressing the Tiangang Sword, satisfaction also showing on his face. Hearing this series of remarks, Lin Tianming nodded his head and then complimented, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is truly a master of Artifact Refining!¡± ¡°Stop flattering me!¡± Lin Shilu put on a serious face and interrupted Lin Tianming¡¯s speech. As soon as his words ended, his complexion turned pale, and he nearly fainted. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew it was due to a great depletion of spiritual power and Divine Sense; the man looked utterly exhausted. At that moment, Lin Tianming supported Lin Shilu, advising him, ¡°The health of Fifteenth Grandfather is of utmost importance. You should rest and recuperate for half a month before considering resuming your work at the peak condition. There¡¯s no rush to continue refining!¡± Feeling the concern in these words, Lin Shilu felt a warm current surge through him, and his pallor improved slightly. ¡°Mmm!¡± Looking at Lin Tianming, he nodded, offering a look of reassurance. Immediately after, he said, ¡°The depletion this time was indeed not small!¡± ¡°After I rest for a while, I¡¯ll need to resume Artifact Refining. By the time you leave the clan and embark on your journey to the Secret Realm, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to leave my retreat to see you off.¡± ¡°That being the case, I won¡¯t keep you any longer!¡± Lin Shilu gestured for Lin Tianming to leave while giving him some long and serious advice. ¡°You, young man, are already stronger than I am and have gone through many life-and-death crises. You¡¯re very clear about the dangers of the outside world.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t say too much more, just remember to be careful out there, act according to your capabilities, and if some opportunities are missed, then they are missed. As long as you¡¯re alive, it¡¯s more important than anything!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Fifteenth Grandfather, I will definitely return safely!¡± Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s teachings, Lin Tianming replied earnestly, a confident smile flashing across his face. Seeing this, Lin Shilu nodded. He was very concerned about this junior of his and had great confidence in him. After all, he had seen Lin Tianming¡¯s combat abilities, experience in survival, and the entirety of his growth process firsthand. One could say that Lin Tianming had surpassed him, his elder, in every aspect. Gathering his composure, Lin Shilu waved goodbye, watching Lin Tianming leave the Artifact Forging Room with his magic artifacts. After leaving Lin Shilu¡¯s cavern abode, Lin Tianming paid his respects to his mother and grandfather before returning straight back to his own dwelling. Sitting in the training room, Lin Tianming placed the three magic artifacts in front of him. Looking at the greatly enhanced magic artifacts, Lin Tianming was excited and decided to first refine them, then leave two months to find an open space behind the mountain to hone his skills. Making up his mind, he immediately stowed away the Tiangang Sword and Green Scale Shield, ready to start with the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords. With a single wave of his hand, all the Earth Evil Swords flew up and began to revolve around him. Next, he formed a Law Decree with his hand, and streams of Spiritual Light bombarded the Earth Evil Swords. Soon, Spiritual Light frequently appeared in the training room, accompanied by sharp sounds echoing throughout. Chapter 606 606 338 Significant Increase in ?Chapter 606: Chapter 338 Significant Increase in Strength_1 Chapter 606: Chapter 338 Significant Increase in Strength_1 In the quiet, ten months had passed by. On this day, in a valley behind the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, a young man in a green robe landed on the valley floor using sword flight. The man, graceful and with a determined face, wore a faint smile; it was undoubtedly Lin Tianming who had concluded his closed-door cultivation. After nearly half a year of seclusion, he had spent months consecrating all of his magic artifacts. In the following months, with the aid of the Fusion Spirit Pills he possessed, he had pushed his cultivation a notch further. Now, he was but a step away from the Late Stage of the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment. At present, there were only a little over three months left until the opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. ... With the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, located in the Dragon Mountain Range, tens of thousands of miles away from his clan¡¯s territory and adding the exhaustion from travel, he was left with only two months. As for these two months, they were deliberately set aside to try out the enhanced power of his magic artifacts and to refine his Divine Skills. Previously, he had only activated fifty-six Earth Evil Swords, all of them Supreme Quality of the First Order. However, he had already reached the Minor Achievement Realm with them a long time ago. Now, the number of Earth Evil Swords had increased to the optimal seventy-two, and their grade had been promoted to Second Order Lower Grade¡ªa major improvement. Yet, Lin Tianming was uncertain whether he could unleash the complete Earth Fiend Sword Formation and reach the power of Minor Achievement once more. As for the Tiangang Ninth Sword, during the recent crisis with Xu Haiqiao, under the oppressive moment of desperation, it also broke through to the Minor Achievement Realm. With the power of the Tiangang Sword increasing, it indeed needed to be well-practiced in order to bring out its strongest power. Musing on these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s face now bore a resolute expression, ready to begin his practice. Just then, a piercing cry came from a distance. He looked up to see a shadow growing larger in the distance. As it approached, the colossal body of the Purple Gold Eagle came into view. Looking over, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers had more yellow in them and were even more brilliant. Its energy also felt much more powerful. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although the Purple Gold Eagle had advanced to the Second Order over the years, its body size had stopped growing, a sign that it had reached adulthood. At this moment, feeling the breath from the Purple Gold Eagle, it was clearly at the Middle Stage of the Second Order. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he quickly called the Purple Gold Eagle down to land beside him. At that moment, Lin Tianming stroked the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s feathers and casually said, ¡°Xiao Diao, you scruffy bird, you haven¡¯t let me down after all!¡± The Purple Gold Eagle, seemingly understanding, affectionately nuzzled his clothes with its sharp beak. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and then took out several Second Order Demon Beast Corpses from his storage bag. At the sight of the Demon Beast Corpses, the Purple Gold Eagle immediately showed interest, darting forward and tearing into the corpses decisively. After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, three Demon Beast Corpses of the Initial Stage of the Second Order had vanished into thin air. Seeing this, Lin Tianming frowned, thinking to himself that the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s appetite was too good. Fortunately, during the great battle in Yuyao City, he had acquired a large number of Demon Beast Corpses, and over the years, his clan had also stocked up quite a few during the waves of beast tide attacks. Otherwise, with the eating habits of creatures like the Purple Gold Eagle and a Second Order Late Phase Bloodthirsty Jiao, no matter how many Demon Beast Corpses there were, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for them. However, for the time being, there was no need to worry¡ªif there were no more corpses, it would only slow down their advancement. Lin Tianming then sent the Purple Gold Eagle away and started to refine his Divine Skills. After half an incense burn, a series of whistling sounds began to echo through the canyon. As far as the eye could see, seventy-two Earth Evil Swords, centered on Lin Tianming, began to spin rapidly. The speed of the flying swords was so fast that the Gang Wind they generated whipped up the surrounding flowers and grass, eventually turning them to dust. At the same time, the afterimages formed by the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords almost created a substantial Barrier, encircling the area for hundreds of yards around. In an instant, a huge column of light was born between heaven and earth, soaring straight up to the sky. This column, wide in scope and dazzling light blue, was astoundingly brilliant to behold. Yet beneath this gorgeous exterior hid a terrifying power¡ªjust a touch of its might, and even a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast might fall dead on the spot. At that time, sweat incessantly dripped from Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead, and his face showed an expression of pain. Enduring the agony from his Divine Sense and soul, he continued to control the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s normal operation. Shortly thereafter, the Barrier formed by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to visibly shrink. In the blink of an eye, it had already approached a hundred-yard range. By then, the terrifying suppressive power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to take effect. Once the range further narrowed to form an impregnable Barrier and disperse a vast Sword Qi, it could be considered to have successfully started operating. However, with the increase in number and grade of the Earth Evil Swords, the consumption of operating the Sword Array was immense. Especially for Divine Sense, the expenditure was extremely rapid. Even with Lin Tianming¡¯s unusually strong Divine Sense, he found the consumption taxing. At this time, Lin Tianming clenched his teeth and persevered, continuing to shrink the Barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Array. Chapter 607 607 338 Great Increase in Strength_2 ?Chapter 607: Chapter 338: Great Increase in Strength_2 Chapter 607: Chapter 338: Great Increase in Strength_2 ¡°` Clearly, despite feeling extremely strained, he did not want to give up. He knew very well that he had to diligently train to bring out the strongest power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. With this understanding, Lin Tianming firmly stabilized the sword formation, ensuring its normal operation. A few moments later. Lin Tianming suddenly let out a loud shout, like a clap of thunder on a clear day, echoing throughout the entire small valley. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡­ Annihilate!¡± In an instant, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation blazed with light, and the dull sky suddenly lit up with blue and white brilliance. ... At the same time, the speed of the countless sword shadows increased several times, and even more sword shadows appeared. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was delighted, but he did not dare to be careless and immediately continued to fully activate the sword formation. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± At this moment, the Sword Qi within the formation burst out wildly, like a sudden downpour, enveloping an area of a hundred zhang. After a few breaths, the area covered by the sword formation had already shrunk to about several dozens of zhang. By then, the density of Sword Qi inside had reached an extreme, each one capable of tearing a Second Order Initial Stage Demonic Beast into shreds. Feeling the oppressive force of the sword formation and the terrifying Sword Qi, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. ¡°Haha¡­ the full number of Earth Fiend Swords in the formation, combined with the increase brought by the upgrade in quality, is truly terrifying!¡± After saying this with a hearty laugh, Lin Tianming shouted loudly once again. In an instant, countless Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation furiously stabbed towards the ground. The solid stone, like tofu, was easily cleaved to form a bottomless cave. Seeing this, and feeling the terrifying penetrating power and formidable strength, Lin Tianming was deeply shocked. Finally calming down, he waved one hand and retracted the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Soon, all seventy-two Earth Evil Swords ceased operation and returned to his front. At this point, he reached out his palm, grabbed an Earth Evil Sword, and lovingly caressed it, unable to put it down. As expected, the fully upgraded Earth Fiend Sword Formation exceeded all expectations in power and stability. However powerful it might be, controlling it indeed placed a very high demand on Divine Sense. Just this short while had left him feeling dizzy and his head incredibly heavy. Yet on second thought, such side effects were not surprising. After all, the current Earth Fiend Sword Formation represented a comprehensive enhancement, requiring much more to properly execute. Think back to the initial attempts at practicing the formation, and that overwhelming feeling was much greater than this time. Now, though the consumption is vast, at least the operation is smoother, and the power is considerable. It could be said that now, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s power has truly started to reach a masterful level. He estimated that with the current power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, if he were to encounter that Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator from the Blood Red Alliance again, he might be able to suppress them without too much effort. With this thought, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited, his mood soaring, and he was eager to practice again. However, his Divine Sense had been significantly drained, and he had to rest at least for half a day. Forcing the activation of the sword formation might lead to adverse effects. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming did not push himself and sat down on a nearby stone, beginning to cultivate and regulate his breathing, planning to continue his practice once he had recovered a bit. After all, he still had two more months, there was no need to rush and risk setting back his progress. As a result, Lin Tianming began to recover his Divine Sense and Spiritual Power, and once he felt better, he started practicing again. Time flies, and two months passed in a blink of an eye. In the valley that day, Lin Tianming was drenched in sweat, never ceasing to practice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Skills whenever his condition allowed. At that moment, a glow flashed on Lin Tianming¡¯s fingertips, and several Law Decrees struck the Tiangang Sword on his body. The Tiangang Sword gleamed with silver light; after stacking seven times, it turned into a white dragon, bringing terrifying Sword Qi, rushing towards a mountain peak in the distance. ¡°` The Tiangang Sword transformed into a white dragon that moved incredibly fast, appearing hundreds of yards away in the blink of an eye. At the same time, wherever the white dragon passed, whether it was towering trees or hard stones, everything turned into dust. Clearly, the aura of the white dragon was magnificent, and its powerful strength directly destroyed everything in front of it. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The white dragon struck a distant mountain top, boring a large hole through it and unleashing a dazzling light with its formidable destructive power. Right after, the ground beneath shook violently, lasting for several breaths, until the white dragon disappeared into the horizon, then slowly calmed down. Looking around, the valley was now in ruins, with tops of several mountains inexplicably vanished. Furthermore, the canyon was full of holes, with gigantic trees lying around in disarray and remnants of broken walls scattered everywhere. All these changes were wrought by Lin Tianming. And at this moment, observing the devastated scene, Lin Tianming felt not an ounce of guilt but instead a grin of extreme satisfaction spread across his face. In fact, he was indeed very satisfied. For the past two months, he had been engrossed in practicing these two Divine Skills. With such dedicated cultivation, the results had met his expectations. Now, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and Tiangang Ninth Sword could be executed incredibly smoothly, activated in an instant. Beyond that, the offensive power of these two Divine Skills was indeed formidable. Especially the Tiangang Ninth Sword, with his Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment realm cultivation, coupled with the enhanced Tiangang Sword, deploying a seven-sword overlay attack, its destructive power far surpassed that of the past. It could be said that his cultivation strength and his arsenal of Attack Talismans had undergone a massive improvement. Thinking about this, Lin Tianming felt extremely content about the hard work of the past two months, quite satisfied indeed. As he reveled in his joy, several figures flew over from the distance and landed beside him. Recognizing the newcomers as clan members who regularly patrolled their territory, he hastily greeted them. The clan members who arrived appeared initially tense upon seeing Lin Tianming, but they relaxed after he greeted them and returned the gesture. After some small talk, Lin Tianming learned the reason for their hasty arrival; they had been attracted by the immense activity from his cultivation and had come to check on the situation, fearing something significant had occurred. Following his explanation that he was practicing his Divine Skills and they should not be unduly alarmed, the clan members then took their leave. This little interlude further demonstrated the formidable nature of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. Yet he was only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment realm, and the power unleashed by the seventh sword overlay was already causing such destruction; it was almost unbelievable. He even pondered secretly, if the power of nine swords were stacked, how many times greater the offensive force would be. Even so, the reforged and enhanced Tiangang Sword, combined with the seven-sword overlay he could now execute after breaking through his realm, remained extremely powerful. Now, based on his assessment of his own strength, ordinary Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators posed little threat of death to him. Unless they possessed powerfully offensive treasures, or several late-stage or Great Perfection cultivators joined forces. Otherwise, the likelihood of one or two individuals defeating him head-on was slim. And Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators were limited in number within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the majority being the strongest in Foundation Establishing Families. As for Loose Cultivators, those at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection were even less common. With that said, his current strength meant that unless Golden Core Cultivators intervened, he would scarcely encounter an evenly matched opponent. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and felt a burgeoning confidence for the upcoming journey to the Secret Realm. At this point, he glanced at the surrounding scene and muttered to himself. ¡°There is just over a month left before the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opens and we gather at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about time to prepare to set off!¡± Gathering his wits, Lin Tianming waved his hand and recalled the distant Tiangang Sword. Then, he cleaned up the battered valley a bit, at least making it less unsightly than before, and took to Sword Flight towards his own cave dwelling. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 608 608 339 Leaving Again_1 ?Chapter 608: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_1 Chapter 608: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_1 Half a quarter hour later. In Lin Tianming¡¯s cave mansion, Qin Xi emerged from her meditation ahead of schedule, specifically waiting in the small courtyard. Seeing Lin Tianming return, Qin Xi was quite delighted and immediately went up to meet him. ¡°Ming, have you broken through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment?¡± Hearing the query, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, and then nodded, saying, ¡°Breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment was entirely within expectations!¡± ¡°On the other hand, Xi¡¯er, haven¡¯t you also made a breakthrough to the Fourth Level of Foundation Building after more than a year?¡± Lin Tianming stroked Qin Xi¡¯s hair and responded with praise. ... At this moment, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks blushed slightly, burying her beautiful face in Lin Tianming¡¯s chest, before replying modestly. Giggle¡­ ¡°Speaking of which, I owe it much to you, Ming, as well as to the spirit fruits and elixirs given by the family elders.¡± ¡°Over this past year, Xi¡¯er has barely left her room, relying on the solid foundation laid by the great battle in Yuyao City, thus achieving a breakthrough in my realm as naturally as the river flows.¡± To these words, Lin Tianming greatly agreed. If cultivation relied solely on seclusion, even with the many treasures that enhance one¡¯s cultivation, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily mean soaring to the heavens. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Life-and-death experiences are crucial. Only after enduring battles and through meticulous refinement can one rid themselves of the superficiality in their cultivation and achieve a breakthrough. Otherwise, the path of cultivation would face many bottlenecks or even completely truncate one¡¯s journey. During these years, he had always been in the throes of such challenging experiences, which was exactly why he was able to cultivate so rapidly. The same was true for Qin Xi. Before they met again, Qin Xi alone had battled with demonic beasts and had to guard against the pursuit of the Chen Clan, always hovering on the brink of life and death. It was precisely because of such pressure that she was able to forge an indestructible Dao heart. And it was under such circumstances that she had no choice but to cultivate desperately, eventually achieving continuous breakthroughs. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of heartache. He held Qin Xi tightly in his arms, enjoying this brief moment of happiness. Half a quarter hour later, the couple finally let go of each other. At that time, Qin Xi looked melancholic. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s face and thinking of his imminent departure from the family, she felt somewhat reluctant to let him go. Seeing her expression, Lin Tianming obviously perceived his own concern, and he began to offer words of comfort. ¡°Xi¡¯er, my trip won¡¯t take too long, at most a little over a year, nearly the same as this period of closed-door cultivation. There¡¯s really no need to worry,¡± he assured her. ¡°Even so, Ming, this time you are heading to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Ninety percent of the cultivators there are from the three major sects, and their strength is no small matter,¡± she said. ¡°Apart from them, those loose cultivators who can enter the secret realm are all formidable beings as well.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, for you to go alone into such a perilous realm is incredibly dangerous.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and incisively responded, ¡°You said it yourself, those loose cultivators are all formidable beings.¡± ¡°And your husband, with his Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment strength, ranks at the top of the Yuyao City loose cultivator list. What does that tell us?¡± As his words ended, the look on Qin Xi¡¯s face improved a bit. She had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength firsthand; even the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Blood Red Alliance was no match for him. This proved that Lin Tianming¡¯s power was indeed unparalleled among Foundation Establishment cultivators. At that moment, Lin Tianming shifted the topic and continued to speak. ¡°Xi¡¯er, there¡¯s really no need for such concern. Your husband has also broken through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, which is a major advancement.¡± ¡°Furthermore, Fifteenth Grandfather has improved the quality of my magic artifact, making it even more formidable!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi inquired, ¡°Ming, you¡¯ve been practicing divine skills in the back mountain lately, and you must have tested the power of the magic artifact.¡± ¡°How is it? How powerful has it become?¡± Lin Tianming replied, ¡°The increase in power is extremely significant. By my estimate, with my current divine skills, it might not be difficult to slay a Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Xi, somewhat disbelieving, then asked, ¡°Has your power reached such a level?¡± Lin Tianming chuckled confidently and nodded in reply: ¡°Since your husband says so, I indeed have that confidence, Xi¡¯er. You may rest assured.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi thoughtfully nodded her head. Knowing Lin Tianming as she did, his confidence surely meant he had substantial certainty. With these thoughts, her complexion gradually returned to normal. Afterward, the couple chatted casually, decided on a time to depart, and made arrangements for Qin Xi. Following that, they left the cave mansion together, heading towards the dwelling of Lin Tianming¡¯s mother. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. In Ren Yuxuan¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming and his wife sat among the family. On receiving his message, Lin Shigong also hurried over. Other than Lin Xingrong, who was guarding Golden Horn Mountain, and Lin Tianyue, who had left the family to gain experience in the Qianchuan Market, only a few members of this small family remained within the clan. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan naturally understood that he was preparing to take his leave. As usual, the elders gave their advice and then refrained from going on further. They were very aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and disposition; having earned the chance to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, he certainly would not give up lightly. Thus Lin Tianming enjoyed some peace, as the family of four shared a meal together. After the meal, Lin Tianming informed everyone of his decision to depart in two days, heading straight for the assembly at the Zhenyang Sect. No one objected, and after some words of advice, Lin Tianming and his wife left with Lin Shigong. Chapter 609 609 339 Leaving Again_2 ?Chapter 609: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_2 Chapter 609: Chapter 339: Leaving Again_2 Qin Xi went straight back to her cave dwelling, while Lin Tianming and his grandson visited Lin Shihua¡¯s cave dwelling for a gathering. Before long, the grandfather and grandson, along with Lin Shihua, were sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At that point, Lin Shihua asked, ¡°Tianming, how do you plan to arrange this trip, and do you plan to pass through Qianchuan Market?¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Tianming started to ponder. His goal for this journey was the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate in the Dragon Mountain Range. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the expanse of the Dragon Mountain Range is vast, ranking within the top three of all mountain ranges in the Wei Kingdom, and it is also the core territory of the Zhenyang Sect. The Dragon Mountain Market is also one of the renowned markets in the Wei Kingdom. ... Although the southern Qianchuan Market is also one of the medium-sized markets, it is far inferior to the Dragon Mountain Market. And the destination of his journey was even farther than the Songling Mountain Range where Yuyao City was located. However, Yuyao City and the Dragon Mountain Range are in the same direction, and with the Purple Gold Eagle advancing to the Second Order Middle Stage, its flight speed will definitely see a significant increase. As such, if all goes well, it should take about a month to get there. With nearly fifty days left before the time to converge, there was still plenty of time. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming then said, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, my time is fairly abundant. If there are any instructions, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for Tianming to delay for a few days.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua waved his hand and then laughed, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that the family members stationed in Qianchuan Market have rarely come back this year. If time permits, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to bring a batch of supplies there.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in understanding and then said, ¡°Heading north towards the Dragon Mountain Range doesn¡¯t exactly take us through Qianchuan Market, but a small detour won¡¯t cause much delay. I will take care of this matter.¡± ¡°Good, since that¡¯s the case, I will have Xingcheng prepare the supplies immediately and hand them over to you before we depart the day after tomorrow!¡± After responding, Lin Shihua then sent out several messages, clearly instructing his family members to prepare the supplies. After taking care of this, Lin Shihua was in a good mood and proceeded to talk about family matters. Shortly thereafter, Lin Tianming changed the topic and asked about the situations of Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu. Upon hearing the question, Lin Shihua said, ¡°Your Fifteenth Grandfather has been working tirelessly these past two years; I haven¡¯t seen him for nearly two years now!¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming showed a look of surprise and then asked, ¡°Even if Fifteenth Grandfather is immersed in Artifact Refining, surely he wouldn¡¯t stay secluded for two full years, right?¡± Lin Shihua chuckled bitterly. He then went on to explain slowly, ¡°To allow your Third Grandfather to seclude himself as soon as possible, and to not delay your Secret Realm journey, Shi Lu indeed has not taken a single step out of his cave dwelling for the past two years.¡± ¡°Even after he finished refining the Defense Artifact for your Third Grandfather, he had Third Grandfather fetch it himself, then he resumed his seclusion right afterward.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming could imagine how Lin Shilu had spent the past two years. Clearly, the Lin Family was facing potential crises. To allow Lin Shikang to make an Impact on the Golden Core Stage, time was of the essence. And his own journey to the Secret Realm was equally important. On one side was the future of the Lin Family, and on the other was a step that had to be taken to face the crisis. Despite being exhausted, Lin Shilu had no choice but to grit his teeth and refine Defense Artifacts for them. Remembering his first sight of a haggard Lin Shilu, Lin Tianming felt a pang of heartache and a surge of fervor within him. Once he calmed down, Lin Tianming then asked, ¡°How is the preparation of the Defense Artifact for Third Grandfather¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation going?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua replied, ¡°It¡¯s almost ready!¡± ¡°After Shi Lu finished refining your Defense Artifact, he has successively crafted two High-Quality Second Order Defense Artifacts over the past year. He plans to continue his seclusion for the following year, refining at least two to three more High-Quality Second Order Defense Artifacts to have some assurance of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation.¡± Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, not surprised by this information. When Ye Pinghai faced his Heavenly Tribulation, he used up as many as seven or eight Second Order Defense Artifacts. In addition, quite a few Second Order Defense Talismans were consumed. Only by relying on so many treasures was he able to survive the Heavenly Tribulation. The same applied to Lin Shikang, who also needed to prepare several High-Quality Second Order Defense Artifacts. After all, the more Defense Artifacts and the higher their quality, the greater the chance of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming then inquired about Lin Shigong, asking whether the elixirs entrusted to Ye Pinghai had been refined. Through Lin Shigong¡¯s explanation, these past two years, Ye Pinghai has been in closed-door cultivation, using the Spiritual Medicine Materials on him and the Spiritual Objects provided by the family to refine many elixirs for Lin Shikang. During these two years, Lin Shikang had been preparing to impact the Golden Core Stage while refining the Defense Artifact that Lin Shilu had made. Therefore, when he left the family to enter the Secret Realm, he had no time to gather with them. This did not surprise Lin Tianming. At present, each of the strong members in the family had significant tasks and were under time constraints. Thus, not seeing Lin Shikang was within reason. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming no longer dwelt on this matter. After instructing the two elders, he then said his farewells and left. After returning to his cave residence, Qin Xi had been waiting for him all along. The couple sat together in the small courtyard, leaning against each other, while they admired the moonlight and chatted leisurely. ¡°Xi¡¯er, I will be leaving the day after tomorrow. The journey should take about a year,¡± he said. ¡°During this time, you can cultivate peacefully in the family. I have already instructed Mother and Grandpa; unless there¡¯s something important, they should not disturb you.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and snuggled closer into his embrace. ¡°Ming, I won¡¯t say much else. Just remember to be careful. I will wait for your return here at the family,¡± she said. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s hopeful gaze and hearing her heartfelt words, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze became resolute. While patting her back, he replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xi¡¯er. Just wait for me in the family!¡± The following day, instead of continuing his cultivation, Lin Tianming took this free day to wander and enjoy the scenery with Qin Xi, treating it as a time to cherish each other. On the morning of the third day, as dawn broke, Lin Tianming bade farewell to Qin Xi and appeared in the Lin Family¡¯s main gate square. After a short wait, Lin Shihua hurried over and landed next to him. After exchanging greetings, Lin Shihua took out three storage bags and handed them to Lin Tianming. Then, he instructed, ¡°These three storage bags contain treasures that are meant for Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s supplies for the coming year.¡± ¡°There are quite a few items, take them to Qianchuan Market and give them to Tianfeng.¡± Lin Tianming accepted the storage bags and nodded, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, rest assured, Tianming will remember!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shihua smiled satisfactorily, then with a wave of his robe, a Jade Bottle appeared in his hand. ¡°This Jade Bottle contains three Nourishing Yuan Pills, which Elder Sea helped refine at the request of Third Grandfather.¡± ¡°Your journey to the Secret Realm will also be fraught with danger. Having these Nourishing Yuan Pills should be of some help.¡± ¡°Take them!¡± After saying this, Lin Shihua handed the Jade Bottle to Lin Tianming. Seeing this gesture, Lin Tianming was moved, thinking that though Lin Shikang hadn¡¯t seen him, he was always in his thoughts. Knowing he was about to embark on a long journey, Lin Shikang had even instructed Lin Shihua to bring the Nourishing Yuan Pills, taking the trouble to aid him for his adventure in the Secret Realm. To understand, these Nourishing Yuan Pills had excellent healing effects. Lin Shikang, himself in the process of assaulting the Golden Core Stage, also needed such elixirs. Yet, even so, Lin Shikang had given priority to him with these pills. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was deeply touched and felt profound respect for his elders. After some time, upon Lin Shihua¡¯s prompting, Lin Tianming finally accepted the Jade Bottle. Then, after receiving a few more instructions, Lin Tianming took his leave. Afterward, under Lin Shihua¡¯s watchful gaze, he walked out of the Protective Clan Formation. Outside the Formation, he released the Purple Gold Eagle and then climbed onto its back. As the familiar gateways receded, the Purple Gold Eagle understood his intentions. Carrying him, it soared into the clouds, heading northward. In the blink of an eye, the man and the bird had disappeared into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 610 610 340 ?Chapter 610: 340 Chapter 610: 340 Ten days later. In Luoyun Pavilion, located in Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng, along with several other family members, sat together. Lin Tianming had left the Lin Family smoothly and, relying on the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, had arrived comfortably at Qianchuan Market. As per usual routine, aside from resting for a night at Golden Horn Mountain, he continued on his journey. Upon entering the market, once the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival spread, family members put aside their work and gathered together. At this time, there were seven or eight people in the secret room, almost all from the Tian generation of the family, including Lin Tianhu, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Tianhong. And among the Lin Family members in Qianchuan Market, the vast majority were from the Tian generation, with only three or four Xing generation members, all of whom had promising potential. ... It was clear that as the Tian generation family members entered middle age, they had become the main force of the family. As for those who were older and less promising, they could only manage the Spirit Lands or engage in some more tedious tasks. Lynchpins like Luoyun Pavilion or Luoyun Market were the proving grounds for core family members. After all, these tasks were relatively safe, offered more time for cultivation, and made it easier to accumulate cultivation resources. For this reason, the core family members had to experience life in Luoyun Pavilion or Luoyun Market. If they could guarantee no losses during a few years of guardianship, it was considered a significant achievement. Thus, Luoyun Pavilion and Luoyun Market had essentially become the preferred places for family members to gain experience. Once all the family members had greeted each other, they sat together, smiling, seemingly in good spirits. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianhong, unable to contain his excitement, couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Big brother, sixth brother, it¡¯s been a long while since we¡¯ve gathered like this!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking it was indeed the case. With the improvement in their cultivation, and the family¡¯s ever-growing affairs, these family members were scattered, either busy with cultivation or assigned tasks by the family, and rarely gathered like this. This situation was expected. After all, with their increasing cultivation, they would often go into seclusion for a year or two, or even longer. And Lin Tianming, who had been traveling outside for a long time, could not always encounter Lin Tianfeng and the others even when he returned to the family lands. Diligently striving during the family¡¯s prosperous times, it was truly the first time in years that the brothers were able to gather together like this. Reflecting on these thoughts, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°Second brother is right, it indeed has been a long time since we last gathered!¡± ¡°Moreover, this time, I cannot delay for too long, as I must set off in three days to assemble at Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, preparing to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s plans, Lin Tianfeng gave a wry smile before changing the subject. ¡°Sixth brother, it was a great regret for me not to attend your wedding due to my duties.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that big brother, family duties take precedence. Besides, the betrothal gift from you was quite generous; you¡¯ve really outdone yourself!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. ¡°Haha¡­ As long as your bride is happy, that¡¯s good!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded with an excited response. After a few moments of casual conversation, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Tianyue and others, sensed their aura, and nodded with satisfaction. It seemed that in the past two years, the cultivation of these family members had progressed. Lin Tianyue, upon reaching Qianchuan Market, had directly broken through to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, which impressed Lin Tianming. Lin Tianhong had also stepped into the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, moving forward as well. Although Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had not broken through to a new realm, their cultivation had also improved, bringing them some gains. It looked like while his own cultivation had broken through, Lin Tianfeng and the others had also been active and made some progress. At this point, Lin Tianming gave out several words of praise, then started chatting with Lin Tianfeng and the others, inquiring about the events in the Cultivation World over the last two years. What he was concerned about was the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape as well as the incident involving Xu Haiqiao. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, these two matters were significantly related to the Lin Family, and the Zhenyang Sect was also investigating. In the last two years, everything within the Lin Family had gone smoothly, and he wondered why the Zhenyang Sect had not taken any specific action; whether they could not find a cause or were misled, attributing the culprit of the Tyrant Spirit Ape¡¯s death to Demonic Beasts or a Golden Core Cultivator from the Blood Red Alliance. If that were the case, it would be the best possible situation for the Lin Family. However, given the Lin Family¡¯s connection to the matter, over time, there was still a possibility of being exposed. Currently, with the Blood Red Alliance taking the heat, even if the Zhenyang Sect had suspicions, they dared not act rashly and could only suffer in silence while investigating this matter privately. But the Lin Family could not place all their hopes on the Zhenyang Sect; only if Lin Shikang was successful in his Impact of the Golden Core Stage could they turn danger into safety. With these concerns in mind, Lin Tianming subtly probed for information on this matter. Although Lin Tianfeng was puzzled, he did not think much of it and straightforwardly shared the information he had learned. Through introductions by Lin Tianfeng and the other family members, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was relatively peaceful, with almost everyone¡¯s attention focused on the soon-to-open Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. And the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s investigation of the Tyrant Spirit Ape incident also made waves, quickly becoming the topic of discussion for everyone. Chapter 611 611 340 Guessing_2 ?Chapter 611: Chapter 340 Guessing_2 Chapter 611: Chapter 340 Guessing_2 The more crucial point was that over the past two years, the Zhenyang Sect had not made any moves at all, not even a whisper of rumor had come out. Obviously, such an outcome might indeed confirm their speculations. As for the Xu Family being exterminated by the Blood Red Alliance, the news caused an uproar as soon as it spread. However, much like the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, it caused a stir for only a while before fading into oblivion. According to the information obtained, it further confirmed Lin Tianming¡¯s suspicions. These various outcomes also further demonstrated the power of the Blood Red Alliance. Otherwise, the Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t be so wary. ... For the Lin Family, this turn of events was actually rather advantageous; after all, what the Lin Family lacked was time. The more the situation dragged on, the greater their chances of weathering the crisis. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but heave a long sigh of relief. Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming then took out several storage bags that Lin Shihua had given him and handed them to Lin Tianfeng. Following that, he started to inquire about the business of Luoyun Pavilion. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng took the storage bags and then reported on the situation of the Luoyun Pavilion. In a short while, according to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s report, Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s business had been very good over the past two years, earning profits of over one hundred thousand Spirit Stones each year. This result was perhaps due to the chain reaction brought about by Lin Tianming¡¯s rising reputation. Besides, the Lin Family had been established in Qianchuan Market for nearly twenty years; with the family¡¯s efforts over so long, the favor of two generations of Zhenyang Sect executive officers, and with a good reputation for cost-effective treasures, they had successfully accumulated quite a good name. Therefore, combined with the renown Lin Tianming had built, the Lin Family and the Luoyun Pavilion had become well-known throughout the Southern Wei Kingdom. Under such circumstances, Luoyun Pavilion had firmly established its footing in Qianchuan Market. Remembering the initial challenges faced when the Lin Family first entered Qianchuan Market, it had indeed taken a lot of effort from him and Lin Shilu. Fortunately, the outcome was satisfying; otherwise, the attempt to open up a new industry this time would have ended in failure. Now, with Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s business being stable, it could generate a good profit every year, greatly alleviating the family¡¯s burden. About this, Lin Tianming was very relieved and quite satisfied. With this matter concluded, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianfeng casually chatted for a while, discussing the specifics of their travel arrangements. He planned to set off again two days later, and if all went well, he might return in about a year and a half. After all, according to the records, once the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm began, people had to stay inside for one full year before they could leave. Calculating the round trip and wait times, a year and a half seemed about right if everything went according to plan. After discussing these matters, he bid everyone farewell and returned to his cave to rest. The next day. Lin Tianming left his cave and headed towards the Sky Dragon Pavilion. In a short while, Lin Tianming was sitting in a secret chamber of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, with Tang Xiuyuan sitting opposite him. At that moment, the two men sipped tea while casually chatting. Tang Xiuyuan took a sip from his tea cup and then, looking at Lin Tianming, he smiled and said, ¡°Lin, two years have passed, and your cultivation seems to have advanced even further!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was startled inside. Clearly, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s cultivation was unfathomable; not only could Lin Tianming not see through him, but Tang Xiuyuan had also immediately noticed his breakthrough in cultivation. ¡°This person must be at least at the level of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and must have reached this realm many years ago; otherwise, he would not be so perceptive,¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself, keeping an even expression on his face. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking it over, Tang Xiuyuan was after all a core member of the Tang Family, and being able to serve as an executive officer of a branch, he was certainly no ordinary individual. With that in mind, having such cultivation was not surprising. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve improved a bit by luck, but such strength is not even worth mentioning in comparison to Daoist Tang.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, you¡¯re too modest!¡± Tang Xiuyuan laughed, casually moving past that topic. Then he cut straight to the point, asking, ¡°Lin, what brings you to visit? What matter do you have in mind?¡± Seeing Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s straightforwardness, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose. ¡°Daoist Tang, I have come today for treasures and to inquire about some news,¡± Lin Tianming said. ¡°Oh? What treasures does Lin seek? Feel free to mention them!¡± Tang Xiuyuan became interested upon hearing that Lin Tianming intended to buy treasures. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianming thought for a moment, then said, ¡°If there are Second Order Medium Quality or High Quality Spirit Fruits, or superior attack or defensive treasures, I would not mind acquiring them.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s eyebrows twitched as he chuckled, ¡°There are indeed quite a few Second Order Treasures, but the Second Order Medium and High Quality Spirit Fruits are quite limited.¡± ¡°Right now, the highest we have in our store are two Second Order Medium Quality Luoyu Fruits, valued at two thousand Spirit Stones each. Would Lin be interested in those?¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll take them!¡± Without even blinking, Lin Tianming immediately agreed to take the Second Order Medium Quality Luoyu Fruits. Subsequently, Lin Tianming continued to inquire, ¡°What about attack or defensive treasures?¡± ¡°Currently, there aren¡¯t many great items available, and I presume ordinary wares wouldn¡¯t catch Lin¡¯s eye,¡± ¡°We do have a Spirit Detonation Bead and some Second Order Attack and Defense Talismans. Would Lin be interested in purchasing any of those?¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled as he replied and then took out the spirit fruits and some talismans, placing them in front of both of them. Chapter 612 612 340 Guessing_3 ?Chapter 612: Chapter 340 Guessing_3 Chapter 612: Chapter 340 Guessing_3 At this moment, Lin Tianming looked again and again, and although he was not entirely satisfied with these treasures, he decided to acquire some more since he had plenty of spirit stones on him. It was always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°I¡¯ll take this Spirit Detonation Bead, and also these Second Order talisman papers.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming grabbed five Second Order talisman papers, which included two Second Order Superior Attack Talismans and three Second Order Medium Quality Defense Talismans. Hehe¡­ Seeing this, Tang Xiuyuan smiled and then started to calculate the price. Before long, he determined the value of these treasures and said, ¡°That will be a total of fourteen thousand spirit stones!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not say much and immediately took out the necessary spirit stones, handing them over to Tang Xiuyuan. ... Then, he stored the newly purchased Spirit Detonation Bead and the Second Order Medium Quality Luoyu Fruits into his storage bag. Tang Xiuyuan, standing to the side, did the same, smiling from ear to ear as he took the spirit stones and put away the remaining treasures. After completing these transactions, the two exchanged a smile, seemingly in good spirits. After a few moments of small talk, Lin Tianming finally asked Tang Xiuyuan about the recent news from the Cultivation World. Hearing this inquiry, Tang Xiuyuan was not surprised. He knew that Lin Tianming would inevitably ask for the news upon his arrival. After all, over the years this had become a routine. Tang Xiuyuan had no intention of holding back and shared all the information he knew. A short while, the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, passed. Having listened to Tang Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming felt he had a grasp on some of the Cultivation World¡¯s recent news. According to Tang, about a year ago, Chen Jingtian of the Zhenyang Sect and an unknown Golden Core cultivator engaged in a fierce battle. The clash was earth-shattering, with both parties sustaining injuries. For unknown reasons, they both departed without discussing the matter with anyone else. Although this issue was kept secret, the Sky Dragon Pavilion still managed to get wind of it and confirmed its authenticity. However, as to what identity the unknown Golden Core cultivator had or their intentions, and specifically why they parted ways, even the Sky Dragon Pavilion had no knowledge. If even they were in the dark, it¡¯s likely that other major powers were just as clueless. The details of the incident were probably known only to the Zhenyang Sect. At this point, although Lin Tianming kept a calm exterior, his mind was anything but still. He had witnessed Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength during the great battle in Yuyao City; in the entire Wei Kingdom, Chen was an exceptional Golden Core cultivator, second to none. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To clash with Chen at this critical moment and to sustain mutual injuries was a sign that his opponent was no ordinary individual. Lin Tianming speculated that the unknown Golden Core cultivator might very likely belong to the Blood Red Alliance. Perhaps due to the extermination of the Xu Family, the Zhenyang Sect had uncovered some clues and suffered losses. Eventually, this led to Chen Jingtian taking action and culminating in a significant battle. As for why they both retreated, it¡¯s possible that their strengths were closely matched, with neither able to overcome the other. It could also be that Chen Jingtian became aware of the other cultivator¡¯s identity and, apprehensive of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s strength, had no choice but to step back. In any case, the exact reasons remained unknown. Since this incident had taken place a year ago and the Zhenyang Sect had made no further moves, it was assumed they lacked useful leads and had to temporarily set the matter aside. After all, with the imminent opening of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, coupled with the recent end of the beast tide attack, the Zhenyang Sect had already sustained losses and simply didn¡¯t have the energy to pursue the unknown cultivator¡¯s trouble. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming kept his expression unchanged, tucking away these matters in his mind, careful not to reveal anything. After a few more moments of idle conversation with Tang Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming took his leave and went straight back to his cave mansion courtyard. Chapter 613 613 341 Cooperation_1 ?Chapter 613: Chapter 341 Cooperation_1 Chapter 613: Chapter 341 Cooperation_1 ¡°` In the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Lin Tianming summoned Lin Tianfeng, as well as Lin Tianhu and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family to gather. After a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming began to share the news he had gathered from Tang Xiuyuan. A quarter of an hour later, upon hearing what Lin Tianming had to say, Lin Tianfeng and the others wore expressions of shock. For the past two years, they had been staying in Qianchuan Market, and Lin Tianfeng had often mingled with other cultivators. It was unimaginable that such an event had erupted a year ago. What was even more unexpected was that the event had passed quietly, without the slightest stir. It should be noted that even though Lin Tianfeng had occasionally met with Wang Zhi over the previous two years, and had indirectly inquired about some news, they still remained utterly unaware. ... As for this matter, Lin Tianming was not surprised. Given the gravity of the situation, it was not expected that Wang Zhi, despite being one of the Market City Supervisors, would be privy to such secrets. In such a scenario, it only made sense that Lin Tianfeng was completely in the dark. The reason Lin Tianming brought up the matter was to urge Lin Tianfeng to pay special attention to it, and to be particularly cautious of any moves from the Zhenyang Sect, or the Blood Red Alliance. His actions were out of concern for the safety of the family and to make some preparatory arrangements in advance. While Lin Tianfeng was full of confusion regarding Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, he readily agreed. Having discussed this matter, Lin Tianming then shifted the conversation away from the topic and chatted idly for a while before returning to his room. ¡­ The following morning at dawn. As the sky was barely bright, he bid farewell to the clan members and left Qianchuan Market on his own. Once outside the market, he released the Purple Gold Eagle and hopped onto its back, flying northward. A month later, at Dragon Mountain Range. In the midst of majestic mountains, where thousand-foot peaks were everywhere, and towering trees were as abundant as cow hair. Within the vast expanse of mountains lay a cluster that was somewhat odd. Viewed from the sky, this cluster was composed of nine main peaks, distributed in nine directions, their positions seemingly imbued with a sense of mystery. This place was called Jiuyang Mountain, where the mountain gate of the Zhenyang Sect was located. On this day, Lin Tianming, who had departed from Qianchuan Market, entered these mountains. In an area with a hundred-foot high hillock, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. At that moment, he was flying on his sword, landing on top of a small mountain. After setting out from Qianchuan Market, it had taken nearly a month to reach his destination. Thanks to the speed of the Purple Gold Eagle, he had not hurried on his journey, and things had gone smoothly. As he was about to enter the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate, he stored the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, planning to continue on by Sword Flight, so as not to attract unnecessary trouble. Standing on the mountain top, Lin Tianming gazed at the faintly visible distant peaks with a trace of a smile flickering across his face. At that point, in his line of sight, occasional cultivators flew towards Jiuyang Mountain, and some flew from Jiuhua Mountain in this direction. Among them, some were dressed in the attire of the Zhenyang Sect, while others wore strange and unique outfits, their specific identities unknown. Clearly, as one of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, the spot where the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate was located naturally thrived with vitality. Moreover, thousands of miles east of this location lay Dragon Mountain Market. Dragon Mountain Market was also a mid-sized market and one of the famed markets in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Because Dragon Mountain Market was close to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, only a few days¡¯ journey away, it could be seen as the gateway for the Zhenyang Sect, and was always bustling with activity. In such circumstances, the connection between the two valuable places was frequent, and the flow of people heading to the Zhenyang Sect was constant. At that time, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pay attention to the cultivators entering and leaving Jiuyang Mountain, keeping a safe distance from them. Not until they disappeared at the other end did he shift his gaze back towards Jiuyang Mountain. Originally, Lin Tianming had wanted to visit Dragon Mountain Market and see it for himself. After all, being one of the three great markets of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and the largest market in Southern Wei Kingdom, Dragon Mountain Market was bound to be frequented by numerous cultivators. Beyond that, Dragon Mountain Market was commercially developed, with many Commerce Alliances having interests within the market. High-value treasures would not be scarce, and a visit there might yield some unexpected findings. However, with just a few days left before the assembly, he didn¡¯t want to miss the big event and thus he gave up the idea. At that moment, Lin Tianming glanced at the distant Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate and then set off flying forward. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a short time, he arrived at a vast plaza. Standing in the plaza, Lin Tianming looked up at the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Mountain Gate. Looking around, the area where the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate was located was vast. The neat streets and numerous large stone buildings around were marked by the traces of the years. Looking at it, it seemed quite majestic. Moreover, if one took the time to feel it, the spiritual energy here was incredibly rich, much stronger than in the Lin Family¡¯s Green Bamboo Mountain or Qianchuan Market. Apparently, although no Mountain Protection Array was visible, there must be a high-grade Spirit Gathering Array in operation. That¡¯s not all; this was just the outer area of the Zhenyang Sect. If one were to go to the most central part, the spiritual energy would undoubtedly be even richer. At that time, countless cultivators were coming and going at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators as common as muck, making it seem lively. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming, visiting the Zhenyang Sect for the first time, could not help but express his admiration. ¡°Having thrived for thousands of years and still flourishing, it truly has the bearing of a Golden Core Sect.¡± ¡°` Chapter 614 614 341 Cooperation_2 ?Chapter 614: Chapter 341 Cooperation_2 Chapter 614: Chapter 341 Cooperation_2 Regaining his senses, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t linger and made his way deeper into the area. Soon, he arrived at a gathering place for cultivators. At that time, many disciples wearing Zhenyang Sect uniforms were attending to other cultivators. As Lin Tianming stepped forward, a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining immediately approached him from the crowd. The person¡¯s expression was calm, and with a neither servile nor overbearing bow he said, ¡°Elder, may I know the purpose of your visit to our Sect?¡± ¡°Do you have an invitation, or are you looking for a certain disciple from our Sect?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, returned the gesture with a polite bow, and did not feel that his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Stage warranted looking down upon the Qi Refining cultivator. ... ¡°Young friend, I am Lin Tianming of the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, responding to your Sect¡¯s call to join the battle at Yuyao City, I¡¯ve hurried here to participate in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm training,¡± he said. Lin Tianming revealed his identity and also presented his Lin Family Token. The Qi Refining cultivator¡¯s face suddenly became much warmer upon hearing his words, clearly having heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s reputation. ¡°So it¡¯s Elder Lin, please come inside!¡± The Qi Refining cultivator enthusiastically ushered Lin Tianming in, displaying utmost respect and even a hint of envy. His words also attracted the attention of many, as they all turned their gazes toward them. Not just those preparing to enter the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, even Zhenyang Sect disciples were looking at Lin Tianming. As they sized him up, they wondered, could this be the family cultivator who rose to fame during the battle at Yuyao City? In response, Lin Tianming chuckled and offered a polite smile. Shortly thereafter, he shifted his gaze and began to chat leisurely with the Qi Refining cultivator who greeted him. A short while later, after the Qi Refining cultivator verified Lin Tianming¡¯s identity, he then led him deeper into the plaza. As the two of them left, the disciples guarding the mountain gate began to discuss among themselves. At this moment, a Qi Refining cultivator in the crowd watched the direction in which Lin Tianming had disappeared and murmured to himself, ¡°Is that Elder Lin from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family? Indeed, he¡¯s so young and yet so powerful in cultivation!¡± Before he finished, a Zhenyang Sect cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement added. ¡°That¡¯s right, although Elder Lin didn¡¯t show any aura, when he casually glanced at me, I could feel an invisible presence.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ you¡¯re not wrong, I feel that Elder Lin, being fifth-ranked in Yuyao City, probably isn¡¯t much weaker than Uncle Long and the others!¡± Apart from these hushed discussions among the Qi Refining Cultivators, some Foundation Establishment Cultivators also talked about Lin Tianming as a topic. However, their casual conversations naturally did not contain the same level of respect and envy as those of the Qi Refining cultivators. Even as fellow Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they didn¡¯t dare belittle Lin Tianming openly. They just casually commented a few words, fearing that their remarks would be passed on to Lin Tianming and provoke his hostility. ¡­ The arrival of Lin Tianming caused quite a stir. However, Lin Tianming was completely unaware of these reactions. At this time, under the guidance of the Qi Refining cultivator, he had already passed through the Sect Entrance Plaza. Straightaway, they flew for half an hour, arriving in the midst of a chain of mountains. Looking around, the nine towering peaks clearly were the same location he had previously glimpsed from afar, the core of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. Upon arriving, Lin Tianming was captivated by the rich Spiritual Energy and the imposing buildings. Besides that, the place was bustling, with people shuttling between the mountain peaks, creating an atmosphere akin to a thriving hub. Observing this scene, Lin Tianming gained a new appreciation for the Zhenyang Sect. While he was taking it all in, the two of them arrived in front of a pavilion. Looking up, the pavilion was large and majestic, and the plaque above read Guest-Receiving Palace. Following the Qi Refining cultivator¡¯s lead, the two of them walked in, one after the other. Inside, the Qi Refining cultivator exchanged a few words with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and then said goodbye to Lin Tianming. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator came over to greet Lin Tianming and they casually chatted for a while. ¡°` ¡°Daoist Lin, my name is Zhao Liqun. Please follow me to complete the check-in procedures.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming clasped his hands in thanks. ¡°Thank you, Brother Zhao, for your trouble!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ There¡¯s no need for such courtesy, Daoist Lin. Please, come with me!¡± After responding, Zhao Liqun led Lin Tianming deep into the great hall, where the procedures for entering the Zhenyang Sect were swiftly handled. Having completed this, the two left the Guest-Receiving Palace and arrived at a nearby mountain peak. There were many courtyards here, frequented by cultivators in various unique garbs, clearly a place for the Zhenyang Sect to accommodate visiting cultivators. At that point, Zhao Liqun led him to the front of a courtyard. While pausing for a moment, Zhao Liqun said, ¡°Daoist Lin, this will be your dwelling for the next few days. Please do not wander around aimlessly. Should you need anything, you may contact me.¡± ¡°As for the specific day of the assembly, we will await the elder¡¯s command. I will contact you when the time comes.¡± ¡°Thank you for your troubles, Brother Zhao!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a courtesy after asking, ¡°Daoist Zhao, have the other two who are entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm from Yuyao City arrived at your sect?¡± Upon the inquiry, Zhao Liqun smiled and answered, ¡°Daoist Hu and Daoist Zheng arrived a few days ago and have also been settled here. If you have time, Daoist Lin, you may wish to visit them.¡± With that, Zhao Liqun handed over the token of the dwelling and, after clasping his hands in a fist salute, left the place. Watching him go, Lin Tianming wasted no time in unlocking the dwelling¡¯s restrictions and entering. After touring the interior of the dwelling, Lin Tianming found it to be well-equipped with a complete set of facilities for pill concoction and weapon forging, and the spiritual energy was very rich. However, he had no intention to cultivate for the time being and planned to rest well for the night to rejuvenate his spirit. Making up his mind, he entered the bedroom, lay straight on the stone bed, and swiftly fell into a deep sleep. The next day, well after the third morning watch, Lin Tianming finally left his room. After a night¡¯s rest, the weariness from his days of travel had vanished, and he felt at his peak. Sitting in the small courtyard, Lin Tianming sent out several messages. In a short while, Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao arrived together at his dwelling. As soon as they entered, Hu Yuan¡¯s hearty voice rang out. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin, it¡¯s been two years. How have you been lately?¡± At that moment, Lin Tianming turned around, greeted Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao with clasped hands and a smile. ¡°Greetings to the two Daoists!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you, Daoist Hu, for your concern. I have been doing very well these past two years.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lin, you¡¯re always so amusing!¡± Hu Yuan said bluntly, and then under Lin Tianming¡¯s hospitality, they sat in the small courtyard and casually chatted. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hu Yuan finally asked about the reason Lin Tianming had summoned them. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In response, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is about to open, and as some of the few loose cultivators or family members to enter, we naturally need to exchange ideas and see if we can work together.¡± Without any hesitation, the two immediately agreed to this proposal. After all, there were only three of them. Even with the other two spots created on the battlefield by the sects, that made for only ten cultivators. Whereas each of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom had thirty spots and had amassed information from several millennia of exploration. While that information might not seem plentiful and the secret realm opened only once every few hundred years, bringing much uncertainty, even the slightest detail from earlier explorations could be immensely beneficial. Hence, with more information and a clear numerical advantage, they held a significant head start. Yet, for them, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was nearly an unknown. What was certain, though, was that where great fortunes lay within the secret realm, peril would certainly abound. Thus, more discussions and potential collaboration in this perilous adventure could significantly increase their chances of survival. Because of this understanding, for Daoist Hu, who was an acquaintance of Lin Tianming and had already cooperated sincerely for more than a year, and was thus familiar with each other, there was naturally no objection. And though Zheng Xiao had not worked with them before, faced with such a dangerous trial and sharing the status of a loose cultivator, he too had no objections. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 615 615 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_1 ?Chapter 615: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_1 Chapter 615: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_1 ¡°` In this situation, the two reached a consensus to stick together and hunt for treasure after entering the secret realm. With the matter settled, the mood of the three improved, and they discussed the upcoming journey to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. At this time, Hu Yuan glanced at the two of them and then took out two books, offering them to the pair. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Zheng Xiao were momentarily stunned, seemingly confused. Seeing their expressions, Hu Yuan chuckled and then began to explain. ¡°Fellow Daoists, these two tomes have taken me quite some effort to collect over the past two years.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Take a look, although it is hard to verify their truthfulness, it¡¯s better than knowing nothing at all.¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the other person exchanged a smile, seemingly surprised. However, on second thought, this was quite normal. After all, anyone entering a perilous place would first gather some information to better ensure their survival. Including himself, who had done the same. Upon his return to the clan, he had made a special trip to the Scripture Pavilion, hoping to find some literature on the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and gather as much information as possible to survive the upcoming journey to the Secret Realm. Unfortunately, even after searching the entire Scripture Pavilion, he found little useful information. At this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless. But on further thought, it seemed normal not to find detailed information. After all, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had only a three-thousand-year history, opened every two hundred years, and few cultivators who entered it survived; thus, the information obtained was naturally limited. Furthermore, as the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was a treasured land controlled by the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, some information unearthed was not easily disclosed to outsiders. Thus, the information the Cultivation World could collect was mainly from a very few Loose Cultivators. Moreover, Loose Cultivators who entered in earlier years were mostly deceased; either they had reached the Golden Core Stage or, having entered the Secret Realm two hundred years ago, were long gone. In such circumstances, it was not easy for him to find these pieces of information. As for Hu Yuan, who had spent the last two years in Dragon Mountain Market under the watchful eye of Zhenyang Sect, it wasn¡¯t just for cultivation but also for collecting information. If he had been in Dragon Mountain Market, he would have done the same. And now, since Hu Yuan had found some information, it was better than nothing. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming became eager and quickly picked up one book to flip through. In response, Zheng Xiao also picked up a book and began to carefully inspect it. After a while, Lin Tianming and the other person finished reading the books in their hands and then exchanged them to read the other one. Soon, the contents recorded in the two books were both committed to their memory. In fact, the books did not seem very reliable, but the recorded content was not without use. According to the records in the books, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm seemed to be an unknown space. Its exact size was unknown. As for the entrance, it was located at the edge of the territories of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, within a triangular no-man¡¯s land. The window for entering the Secret Realm was one year, with no age restrictions, allowing for a maximum of one hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enter. Inside the Secret Realm, the area was vast and equally dangerous, housing many rare Demonic Beasts with formidable strength and unusual Divine Skills. Even Ancient Exotic Beasts might appear. It was said that the Secret Realm was left behind by a powerful entity from a hundred thousand years ago. Though extremely perilous, the treasures within were precious and plentiful. Since it was only discovered and opened by the Three Great Sects slightly more than three thousand years ago, in all, it had been entered only about fifteen times. It could be said that most areas within were still unknown even to the Three Great Sects. Thus, the quantity of unknown treasures inside was considerable, and they were varied and valuable. Such a place, fraught with danger and laden with treasures, was not easy to seek treasure in. Every cultivator who entered would be randomly teleported to different locations. If lucky, one might remain peaceful for a short time; if unlucky, one could be directly teleported to some Demonic Beast¡¯s lair and possibly perish in an instant. And these were just the basic contents of the books. Besides, both books contained a simple map that appeared rather crude, marking some mountain ranges and rivers, even indicating a few places where treasures might exist. However, whether these maps and marked treasures were genuine was hard to tell. Overall, the contents of these random records should not be blindly trusted but were not without their use. At least they provided a bit of information, so they wouldn¡¯t be completely in the dark. A good while later, Lin Tianming and his companion returned the books to Hu Yuan. At that moment, Hu Yuan put the books away, then looked at the two and asked, ¡°Fellow Daoists, what do you think of the contents of these books? Are they credible?¡± Upon the inquiry, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and said, ¡°They are somewhat useful for reference, but if they were reliable, they wouldn¡¯t have ended up in Daoist Hu¡¯s hands.¡± No sooner had he spoken, the silent Zheng Xiao chimed in. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lin is right; such information would absolutely be confidential to the Three Great Sects, not to be revealed lightly!¡± ¡°` Chapter 616 616 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_2 ?Chapter 616: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_2 Chapter 616: Chapter 342 Li Xiuyuan Visits_2 ¡°Being able to let this item circulate in the Dragon Mountain Market, the Zhenyang Sect is naturally aware of it.¡± ¡°In that case, since they don¡¯t intervene, they clearly believe this thing poses no great threat to their expedition into the Secret Realm.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ The two fellow Daoists speak sensibly.¡± After nodding in agreement, Hu Yuan immediately continued: ¡°I also bought this thing from an underground black market, so it¡¯s probably not genuine.¡± ¡°And the three Great Sects have already entered more than ten times, after long-term exploration they must have collected some territories, and even left behind complete map information.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, they will definitely not reveal it to us.¡± ¡°Otherwise, we could think of a way to get the information from the hands of the Sect Cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect who enter the Secret Realm.¡± ... Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming knew that Hu Yuan must be thinking of people like Li Xiuyuan. He smiled faintly and said, ¡°Daoist Hu is thinking too much, there will naturally be some news within the Zhenyang Sect, but those Sect Cultivators entering won¡¯t know much either.¡± ¡°Even if they do know, I¡¯m afraid no one would dare take the risk to leak it.¡± After hearing these words, Hu Yuan also spoke up. ¡°True, they are likely to give these messages to their Disciples just before entering the Secret Realm.¡± ¡°Otherwise, nobody can guarantee that Sect Disciples won¡¯t take risks out of desperation.¡± ¡°And such an arrangement can indeed prevent Cultivators from feathering their own nests and leaking information opportunistically.¡± After hearing this, Lin Tianming and Zheng Xiao both nodded, agreeing with these views. After a while, Hu Yuan continued to ask, ¡°So once we enter the Secret Realm, how should we converge together? And how should we distribute the treasures?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then echoed the sentiment. ¡°Indeed¡­ Let¡¯s agree on the distribution of benefits first, before resorting to arms, so as to not let the treasures sour the relationship!¡± After hearing both of their views, Zheng Xiao smiled faintly and then shared his own opinion. ¡°We don¡¯t have the foundation of the three Great Sects, nor do we have Magic Artifacts to sense teammates, so converging can only depend on luck.¡± ¡°As for the distribution plan, it¡¯s natural for everyone to share equally.¡± ¡°If there are items that can¡¯t be split evenly, or there are extras after the distribution, we can compensate with an equivalent amount of Spirit Stones.¡± No sooner had his words fallen than Hu Yuan frowned and said bluntly, ¡°If we are lucky enough to converge together and happen to discover a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, I¡¯m afraid neither fellow Daoist would be willing to give it up!¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s words struck at the heart of the matter; at their level of cultivation, ordinary items could naturally be split evenly, and even at a slight loss, it wouldn¡¯t matter much. But when it came to Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, it¡¯s unlikely that anyone would give up on them easily. Thus, conflict would inevitably arise. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming kept silent, the two of them then asked, ¡°Fellow Daoist Lin, do you have any opinions?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming let out a wry smile, then said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s not damage our harmonious relationship!¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Heh heh¡­ To me, whether we can successfully converge together is still quite uncertain.¡± ¡°As for the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, it¡¯s not that easy to find, and even if found, it surely won¡¯t be easy to obtain!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we distribute the common treasures equally, and if we really are fortunate enough to encounter a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item with only one available, we deal with the Demonic Beasts first.¡± ¡°Once we¡¯ve cleared the obstacles, we don¡¯t need to hide, conceal, or even strike at each other in the dark.¡± ¡°In a word, life and death are fated, and each relies on their own ability; whoever gets it, it¡¯s theirs.¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s series of remarks, Hu Yuan laughed heartily and then nodded in agreement. ¡°Haha¡­ Putting oneself first before acting righteous, I have no objections!¡± Seeing Hu Yuan speaking this way, Zheng Xiao also chimed in. ¡°Since the two fellow Daoists have spoken to this extent, naturally I won¡¯t object.¡± ¡°However, we should still make a Heart Demon Oath. If we truly encounter a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, before we have cleared the obstacles, the three of us must not engage in mutual slaughter.¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s do it that way!¡± Lin Tianming nodded as he spoke. Seeing this, Hu Yuan also expressed his agreement. Soon after, the three of them took the Heart Demon Oath right in front of each other and agreed on many specific details of their cooperation. With this important matter settled, the attitudes among the three of them changed a lot, becoming much more sincere. Afterward, the three of them chatted idly for a while before Hu Yuan and another took their leave. After seeing off the two guests, Lin Tianming, now finding himself with some free time, was about to enter his practice room for cultivation. Just at that moment, a transmission flew into his cave dwelling. Quickly, Lin Tianming deactivated the security measures, and Li Xiuyuan entered the cave dwelling. From a distance, Li Xiuyuan cheerily called out a greeting. ¡°Lin, my younger brother, it¡¯s been two years, how have you been recently?¡± Seeing Li Xiuyuan, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and hastily returned the greeting. ¡°Haha¡­ Thank you for your concern, brother Li, I am doing well!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I heard from junior brother Zhao that you¡¯d come, so I hurried over to meet you. I hope I haven¡¯t bothered you, Lin!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ With a distinguished guest like you, I¡¯m extremely welcoming, and there¡¯s no such thing as a bother!¡± ¡°Come, have a seat and try some of the Spiritual Tea you brought!¡± Lin Tianming hospitably invited Li Xiuyuan to sit opposite him as they began to sip tea and chat leisurely. In a little while, after exchanging a few courtesies, Lin Tianming then began to inquire about the purpose of Li Xiuyuan¡¯s visit. To this, Li Xiuyuan chuckled and simply said that he came by to renew their friendship. Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, and during the casual conversation, he subtly probed for information about the Tyrant Spirit Ape as well as the extermination of the Xu Family. Besides that, including the situation in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, he also discreetly raised some doubts, hoping to glean some useful information from Li Xiuyuan. Regrettably, it seemed Li Xiuyuan was not privy to the details, which were in line with their speculations. However, it was also possible that Li Xiuyuan did know something but was not willing to divulge. Seeing that it was unlikely he would obtain any information, Lin Tianming did not dwell on the matter, and hence inquired about the situation regarding the other two Great Sects. On this matter, Li Xiuyuan did not withhold anything and took a book from his storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming took the book and glanced through it, a hint of joy flashing across his face. The book contained a record of those from the Golden Sword Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley who might enter the Secret Realm, along with a list of their names. Some of the Cultivators with powerful cultivation were even highlighted in detail, which was exceedingly thorough. Pleased with this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and felt reconciled regarding Li Xiuyuan¡¯s actions. In truth, it wasn¡¯t that Li Xiuyuan was unwilling to reveal specific news about the Tianfeng Secret Realm. He truly did not know, with nothing to share. However, the individuals from the other two Great Sects were also potential competitors of the Zhenyang Sect and warranted close vigilance. Therefore, the Zhenyang Sect had always focused on the Genius Cultivators from the two Great Sects, spending considerable effort to collect information about their adversaries. Moreover, the other two Great Sects were likely doing the same, collecting intelligence about their competitors and perhaps even sharing some of it. After all, the enemy of one¡¯s enemy could be a friend. This way, the information about these competitors was not strictly confidential within the Zhenyang Sect. So Li Xiuyuan was willing to share with Lin Tianming, offering him intel so that he might be more cautious in the Secret Realm. Half an hour later, the two of them had exchanged plenty of information about the other two Great Sects. Thanks to Li Xiuyuan¡¯s detailed introduction, Lin Tianming gained a lot more basic information about the other forces. Subsequently, Li Xiuyuan inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s plans in the Secret Realm. In response, Lin Tianming said with a light smile, ¡°Brother Li, I¡¯m on my own, without any teammates, so naturally, I am a lone wolf. I¡¯ll be satisfied to just find some treasures and get out alive!¡± Hearing this, Li Xiuyuan nodded and said with resignation, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that our Sect doesn¡¯t allow us to act alone; otherwise, I¡¯d truly like to continue cooperating with Daoist Lin!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ No worries at all¡­ you folks acting with fellow Sect members is certainly much safer. Those of us without that option have no choice but to go alone!¡± ¡°Indeed, this is true!¡± Li Xiuyuan nodded in agreement. With that, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t press the issue, and after chatting a little longer, half an hour later, Li Xiuyuan took his leave. ¡­ Chapter 617 617 343 Departure_1 ?Chapter 617: Chapter 343 Departure_1 Chapter 617: Chapter 343 Departure_1 After sending Li Xiuyuan away, Lin Tianming returned to his small courtyard and sat down, immediately pondering the information they had exchanged during their casual chat. Based on what Li Xiuyuan had said, he now had a new understanding of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and the other two Great Sects. If nothing unexpected happened, the cultivators destined for the secret realm should all gather together within the next few days. Time was short. All he could do now was to adjust his state of being, make ample preparations, and then survive in the secret realm. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming immediately took out the book that Li Xiuyuan had provided and began to carefully review it. Catching his eye at the front of the book was a list of genius cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley, dozens of them, all potential candidates to enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Beyond the sheer number of geniuses, their basic information was also described in great detail, such as portraits, cultivation strength, and even records of their accomplishments. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming became very interested. After all, he had always been known as a genius by his family, and indeed, he lived up to the name of a genius. At just forty years old, he managed to cultivate to the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, a strength comparable to a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. Such strength was by no means inferior to those top-notch geniuses from the three Great Sects. And having this aura of genius since childhood, his cultivation strength indeed progressed rapidly, easily outstripping his peers in the clan. However, these accomplishments were only limited to the Luoyun Mountain Range. Except for the clashes in Demon-Subduing City Battlefield with some of the top disciples of Zhenyang Sect, that time, Zhenyang Sect had only sent about a dozen true genius cultivators. A feast like this one, where the top disciples of the three Great Sects would gather together, had never happened before. Under such circumstances, a hundred true genius cultivators seeking treasures and gaining experience in one secret realm also posed a great risk. In such a scenario, the difficulty of obtaining treasures and retreating safely could only be imagined. For this reason, this time entering the secret realm was a banquet of geniuses in the full sense of the term. Under these conditions, Lin Tianming could finally go all out and compete against these genius cultivators. This trip to the secret realm was, for him, a truly meaningful challenge. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming felt his blood starting to boil. Once he managed to calm down again, he looked solemn, developing a keen interest in these genius cultivators. For this reason, he had to be careful, acquiring as much information as possible, so that he wouldn¡¯t be completely uninformed if he encountered them. Understanding this, Lin Tianming began to flip through the book from the beginning, committing each person¡¯s details to memory. Soon, he turned the first page, which documented a person¡¯s name and introduction. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Chen, a cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. Seeing this name, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was startled, as he pondered the information about this individual. After a while, he had not heard any rumors about this person and continued reading. It was only when he saw the introduction below that his expression became serious. It turned out this person was known as the number one genius of Myriad Medicine Valley, with a Single Spirit Root talent, said to be the only Sky Spirit Root cultivator in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Unsurprisingly, at just over forty years of age, he was already at the Foundation Establishment Great Completion. More crucially, rumors suggested he was extremely powerful; at the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, he had single-handedly fought three Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts and easily slaughtered them without effort. And now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, his strength must definitely be at the peak of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and he might even be able to exchange a few blows with those who had just stepped into the Golden Core Stage. Such a formidable figure was no wonder ranked on the first page of this book. Aside from the uniquely talented Yang Chen, every person documented in this book could potentially be his competitor in the secret realm. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was extremely solemn as he firmly memorized the information about this person. Then, he continued to read on; several cultivators that followed all possessed Dual Spiritual Roots talent and their strength was also above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. As for the cultivators mentioned later, without exception, all had a cultivation strength above the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, and there were even several who were at the Foundation Establishment Great Completion. In no time at all, Lin Tianming had gone through the page introducing cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect. Having read the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators¡¯ introductions and broadened his horizons, he knew Golden Sword Sect was not weaker than Myriad Medicine Valley. He was curious about the talent and strength of their disciples. With an expectant look, Lin Tianming continued to flip through the pages. Chen Jianbin¡­ Dual Spiritual Roots Talent, Foundation Establishment Great Completion, easily killed a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast during a great battle when beasts swarmed the land. Li Yi¡­ Dual Spiritual Roots Talent, Foundation Establishment Great Completion, once easily killed a peer cultivator of the same rank. He Yanguang¡­ Dual Spiritual Roots Talent, Foundation Establishment Great Completion, had once faced three cultivators of the same rank without falling behind in a three-against-one fight. ¡­ After half a quarter of an hour, having flipped through the book page by page, Lin Tianming had reached the last page. As he finished the last page, the information of nearly a hundred cultivators documented in the book was solidly committed to Lin Tianming¡¯s memory. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his expression a bit grave. It had to be said that these two Great Sects truly deserved their reputation as Golden Core Sects with legacies spanning thousands of years. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators listed in these books all had a cultivation of at least the Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, and their talents were not low either; at the very least, they all had Three Spiritual Roots, and counting them up, there were more than a dozen talented cultivators with Dual Spiritual Roots. Chapter 618 618 343 Departure_2 ?Chapter 618: Chapter 343 Departure_2 Chapter 618: Chapter 343 Departure_2 Apart from this, among the individuals listed in this book, there are more than ten with the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Completion. Leaving out the Golden Core Cultivators for now, just those more than ten Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators alone are enough to sweep through all the Foundation Establishing Families in Wei Kingdom. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming sincerely exclaimed in his heart, ¡°Any one of these Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom is not to be underestimated, truly deserving of their strength inherited through thousands of years.¡± Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming put the book away and then fell into deep thought. Right now, the gathering might take place in these next few days. Having this information on potential rivals allowed him to have a deeper understanding of the people from the other two Great Sects. Next, it was just a matter of waiting for the day of assembly to embark on the treasure hunting expedition at the entrance to the Secret Realm. As for the matter of cooperation he had agreed upon with Hu Yuan once inside Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, he couldn¡¯t hold too much hope. After all, one cannot know the expanse of the Secret Realm, how many Demonic Beasts are within, nor the need to be wary of cultivators from the other Great Sects. ... Including the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, none could be fully trusted. Although he had ties with Long Qingshui, as well as Li Xiuyuan and others, they were in the end not the decision-makers, and under the pressure of absolute interests and their peers, they would not undertake actions detrimental to the Sect¡¯s interests. Due to all these reasons, he had no choice but to be extremely cautious and prepare for the worst. As for the specific plans within the Secret Realm, naturally, they involved searching for all treasures, especially Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, which was his main objective for this journey. After all, he had also reached the latter stages of the Foundation Establishment, and it might not be long before he met the requirements to attempt the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. If he could obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item beforehand, that would be the best. Otherwise, who knew how long it would be before another opportunity like this arose. Understanding this, the trace of unease in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart gradually faded away, replaced by a surge of bold and lofty aspirations. ¡°This time, for both my family and for myself, I must go all out and make a stand!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then stood up and walked over to the cultivation room, ready to make use of the last few days of spare time for cultivation. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, several days passed by. That day, Lin Tianming was still sitting cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the cultivation room, his eyes shut tight, hands together in deep meditation. Just then, a message flew into the cultivation room. Lin Tianming waved one hand and caught the message in his grasp, immediately checking its contents. Soon after learning the contents, he stood up and swiftly exited his cave dwelling. After a short while, he first went to Zhao Liqun to return the Restriction Order Token for his dwelling, then he made his way to the plaza at the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. Looking around, the place was already filled with many cultivators, among which were a few familiar faces, and a large number of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Qi Refinement disciples watched curiously. From the crowd, Lin Tianming spotted the figures of Long Qingshui and Li Xiuyuan, among others. He approached them, greeted them proactively, and then stood by Li Xiuyuan¡¯s side. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming then asked Li Xiuyuan, ¡°Li, could it be that we are preparing to assemble?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Li Xiuyuan nodded and replied calmly, ¡°Indeed, I have received a message from my master-uncle, summoning all participants of the Secret Realm to gather here!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then started to make idle conversation. A tea¡¯s time passed, and as more and more cultivators continuously arrived, the plaza filled with a substantial number of people. Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao also arrived and joined him. The three of them occupied a corner, distancing themselves slightly from the thirty or so cultivators of Zhenyang Sect. After all, although they too were allowed to participate in the Secret Realm, they were essentially external cultivators and not related to Zhenyang Sect. Otherwise, standing in their midst would seem somewhat odd. At this moment, the scene was somewhat lively, with acquainted cultivators chatting amongst themselves, waiting for a Golden Core Cultivator to take the lead. Lin Tianming also chatted with Hu Yuan, while surreptitiously sizing up the Zhenyang Sect disciples nearby. After his scrutiny, he recognized about ten or so cultivators. They were mostly those who had made an appearance in the battle at Demon-Subduing City, with Long Qingshui and Li Xiuyuan among them as representatives. The other ten or so cultivators, however, he had not seen before. Clearly, these individuals were disciples of high status and position within Zhenyang Sect, who didn¡¯t need to rely on military exploits in Demon-Subduing City to secure their place in the Secret Realm. These were the more than ten cultivators whom he had never seen before, all uniformly at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, even up to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. It was apparent that these ten-plus individuals were the strongest True Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming compared the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect with those from the other two Great Sects. After comparison, these disciples of the Zhenyang Sect were not inferior to those from the other large sects; their strength should be evenly matched. Seeing these people, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel envious, thinking that if the Lin Family Members could also reach this level, they too could secure a strong footing in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. While he was lost in thought, a commotion spread, breaking his reverie. He turned his head and saw Zhu Yun stepping through the air, eventually landing in front of the crowd. At this moment, all the cultivators present, including himself, bowed with folded hands in salute. Zhu Yun nodded in acknowledgment and then swept his gaze over all the cultivators present. ¡°Gentlemen, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is about to open; has everyone arrived?¡± No sooner had the words fallen when a Zhenyang Sect cultivator stepped forward and replied with folded hands, ¡°Reporting to Uncle-Master, all twenty-seven disciples of our sect have assembled, and the three friends who were pulled out from the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield are all present as well!¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun nodded, then turned his attention to Lin Tianming and the other two. Seeing this, Lin Tianming along with Hu Yuan and the third person, hurriedly stepped forward to bow with their hands folded. ¡°The juniors pay respects to Elder Zhu!¡± ¡°Hm¡­ Follow the main force later, once you enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, each of you will rely on your own ability; life and death will be left to fate!¡± ¡°You may retire!¡± ¡°Thank you, Elder Zhu!¡± Lin Tianming and the other two bowed with their hands folded, speaking in unison as they thanked him, then stepped to the side to wait. Afterward, Zhu Yun glanced at the disciples from his own Sect and began to admonish them. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm that opens once every two hundred years, you will represent our Sect, entering the Secret Realm to search for treasures and experience!¡± ¡°The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is very dangerous, there¡¯s no need for me to elaborate, as you are all well aware, so I won¡¯t say more!¡± ¡°However, even though it¡¯s dangerous, those who wish to seize the opportunity must take this risk!¡± ¡°So, if anyone wants to back out, it¡¯s not too late, otherwise, you¡¯ll have to go forward bravely!¡± ¡°Does anyone wish to withdraw?¡± Zhu Yun suddenly shouted. After a long while, seeing that no one responded to quit, Zhu Yun nodded his head. Then, he looked up at the scorching sun in the sky and took out the Inkwind Spirit Boat, activating it with the Law Decree. In the blink of an eye, an enormous boat expanded and then hovered above the heads of the crowd. This thing, Lin Tianming had seen before, and not just once had he ridden on it. When the beast tide erupted, the cultivators responding to the Recruitment Order had assembled at the Qianchuan Market, and it was Zhu Yun who took them to Yuyao City. The means of transportation they used at that time was still this Inkwind Spirit Boat. Seeing it again, he was quite calm, no longer having the shock he felt at first. ¡°Board the boat!¡± Following the command, the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect were the first to board the vessel. Lin Tianming came to his senses and followed along with Hu Yuan to board the Inkwind Spirit Boat. Soon, all thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators had boarded, and Zhu Yun also leaped aboard. On the deck, all thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators sat cross-legged on the ground, each with eyes closed, meditating¡ªnone dared to speak rashly. At the forefront, seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhu Yun did not delay, immediately controlling the vessel to fly past the Mountain Protection Array of the Zhenyang Sect. Once outside the gates of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, the speed of the Inkwind Spirit Boat increased significantly, heading in a northwest direction. ¡­ Chapter 619 619 344 Gathering of Geniuses_1 ?Chapter 619: Chapter 344: Gathering of Geniuses_1 Chapter 619: Chapter 344: Gathering of Geniuses_1 Time passed, and half a month had gone by. On this day, the figure of an Inkwind Spirit Boat appeared over a vast wilderness in the central part of the Wei Kingdom. The vast stretch of land below the flying boat was known as the Tianfeng Mountain Range, an area even larger than three Luoyun Mountain Ranges combined. The bald terrain and sparse Spiritual Energy made it utterly a barren land. The Tianfeng Mountain Rage lay in the central part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, taking the shape of a triangular vacuum zone that belonged to no particular Sect. This expanse of land, despite its vast size, had been scarcely trodden by human footsteps throughout its thousands of years of existence due to its barrenness. Consequently, not a single substantial power had emerged in such an infertile place, save for the existence of more than a dozen Qi Refining families at most. Such territory served as a buffer zone for the three great Sects¡¯ influence and, after thousands of years of friction, had ultimately become a no man¡¯s land. ... At this moment, on the deck of the flying boat. Zhu Yun stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the forefront, while thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat cross-legged on the ground behind him, each with their eyes closed in meditation. It was uncertain how much time had passed. The flying boat descended onto a gigantic platform, and only then did the Cultivators stand up to survey their surroundings. Lin Tianming also opened his eyes and discovered they were perched on a platform. Looking out, the surroundings were desolate, the barren expanse stretching as far as the eye could see. In such an open place, it was extremely rare to even spot any vegetation, and the air carried the scent of drought. It was quite peculiar! One must know that the borders of the Wei Kingdom stretched for a long distance alongside the habitat of Demonic Beasts known as the Endless Forest. In the past, the Wei Kingdom had also been a domain where the Demon Beast Race dwelled. There were countless mountains and steep peaks on this land, which fostered the dense vegetation and abundant water resources of the Wei Kingdom. Yet, such a region also possessed such unique climatic conditions, markedly different when compared to other nearby mountain ranges. However, upon further reflection, it wasn¡¯t incomprehensible. After all, the Nine Provinces Continent was vast, varied in terrain and landforms, and the vestiges left by powerful battles could create such curious landscapes, which was quite normal. Besides, there might be treasures or mineral veins in this place that could alter some natural conditions. Therefore, the emergence of such land was not entirely unacceptable. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming swept a glance over the surroundings and couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled in his heart. ¡°Could this be the location of the entrance to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm?¡± Lin Tianming wondered to himself. Besides him, the other Cultivators, including the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, also showed expressions of speculation. After a long while, seeing that Zhu Yun had not spoken, the crowd turned their gaze toward him, waiting for his command. ¡°We have arrived at our destination. Everyone disembark and wait on the side!¡± Following Zhu Yun¡¯s order, the Cultivators jumped off the flying boat and landed on the ground. Subsequently, the group of more than thirty Cultivators found places to descend, with Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan, and the other two sitting together at the rear, forming a small circle. At this time, the faces of the Cultivators were a mix of emotions, excitement, nervousness, and anticipation included. Lin Tianming, however, was relatively calm, continually pondering why he hadn¡¯t seen people from the other two Great Sects yet. Maybe they had not arrived? Or were there other entrances? As he was lost in thought, a shadow appeared from the north, drawing the attention of everyone. The shadow was fast, arriving before the group in the blink of an eye. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even from afar, a loud voice could be heard. ¡°Daoist Zhu, your Sect is further away than our Golden Sword Sect, yet you arrived a bit earlier than I did!¡± Following the direction of the voice, Lin Tianming looked up to see a golden flying boat in the sky. Upon closer inspection, this flying boat was also a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact, somewhat similar to the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Inkwind Spirit Boat, with the only significant difference being its color. At that moment, at the foremost position of the flying boat, a man in a white Daoist robe appeared, with similarly thirty Cultivators sitting cross-legged behind him on the deck. Most of these Cultivators were dressed in white Daoist robes, with a small sword emblem on their chests, indicative of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Disciples. The Cultivator at the front was also a Golden Core Cultivator of the Golden Sword Sect, Song Hanchun. Now, as Zhu Yun heard the incoming voice and saw the newcomer, he also spared a chuckle, ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Song isn¡¯t slow either, I too have just arrived!¡± After his response, Zhu Yun didn¡¯t wait to see Song Hanchun¡¯s reaction and swiftly changed the subject, probing with his next remark. ¡°I had thought that Elder Xue from your Sect would lead this expedition, but it turns out to be Daoist Song in charge!¡± Zhu Yun¡¯s question was loaded with significance, as the beast tide had inflicted considerable losses on the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom two years prior. Take the Zhenyang Sect for instance, the Golden Core Mid Stage Cultivator Wang Hengqiu had perished, and presumably, the other two Great Sects were aware of this news as well. After all, Wang Hengqiu¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core had caused a significant disturbance, witnessed by many Cultivators in person. To keep the news under wraps, it would have required the elimination of all non-Zhenyang Sect Disciples, which was impossible. Given the scale of the battle, such secrecy could not be achieved. As for the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, Zhu Yun was unsure whether the other two Great Sects knew about it or not. And during the entire beast tide, the other two Great Sects similarly suffered heavy losses, but they too would have trouble obtaining specific details. Chapter 620 620 344 Gathering of Geniuses_2 ?Chapter 620: Chapter 344 Gathering of Geniuses_2 Chapter 620: Chapter 344 Gathering of Geniuses_2 Therefore, when he asked this question, it was also a probe to gauge Song Hanchun¡¯s reaction and see if he could glean some useful intelligence. As expected, upon hearing the question, Song Hanchun¡¯s face slightly changed, but he quickly returned to normal. In fact, Golden Sword Sect also suffered significant losses during the beast tide battle, and Elder Xue, whom Zhu Yun mentioned, had also perished in the conflict. Apart from that, another Golden Core Cultivator at the early stage from Golden Sword Sect also fell on the battlefield. However, the deaths of these two Golden Core Cultivators were not witnessed by external cultivators. Therefore, the news of the demise of the two esteemed Golden Core Cultivators was sealed by them; the outside world was completely oblivious. At this moment, Song Hanchun waved his hand and laughed, ¡°Elder Xue was injured in the great battle and has been in closed-door cultivation ever since, unable to extricate himself, which is why I am leading the team.¡± ... While laughing, Song Hanchun managed to appear quite composed and quickly changed the topic. However, despite Song Hanchun hiding it extremely well, Zhu Yun still detected this faint change. In truth, Zhenyang Sect had also heard some rumors and made some speculations, but alas, they had no evidence. Now, based on Song Hanchun¡¯s response, Zhu Yun was also certain of the fact of Elder Xue¡¯s demise. However, Zhu Yun remained composed and did not dwell on the matter, promptly engaging Song Hanchun in casual conversation. As the two Golden Core Cultivators chatted idly, the disciples of Golden Sword Sect jumped down from the flying boat one by one, landing on a clearing diagonally opposite the Zhenyang Sect. They moved swiftly, and over thirty cultivators quickly found their spots, then also sat on the ground, sizing up the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect from across the way. Lin Tianming likewise surveyed the Golden Sword Sect cultivators, assessing the strength of the opposing side in his heart. Among this group of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s cultivators, there were indeed several at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, more than ten in the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and the rest at the Seventh or Eighth Levels. The other three Loose Cultivators participating in the Secret Realm were all above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, among which there were individuals at Foundation Establishment Great Completion. On their side, Hu Yuan and Zheng Xiao were both at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, a bit lacking in comparison to the three cultivators who had recently left Golden Sword Sect¡¯s battlefield. While Lin Tianming sized up the opposition, the three Loose Cultivators also looked over at them. In response, Lin Tianming looked back, locking eyes with the three directly, with only brief contact before each shifted their gaze. For some reason, as Lin Tianming observed one of the Loose Cultivators in Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, he felt a strange palpitation in his heart, sensing that this person was extremely dangerous. Yet upon closer reflection, he was certain he had never seen this person before, and all characteristics seemed ordinary, revealing nothing unusual. Nevertheless, the so-called pressure this person brought upon him was a profound sensation, albeit hard to articulate. ¡°Forget it, once we enter the Secret Realm, I must be extremely cautious, especially of this person!¡± Lin Tianming secretly thought to himself, memorizing the faces and the aura of their cultivation levels deep in his heart. This quiet waiting continued. The following day at noon, when the scorching sun was high in the sky, another flying boat descended above the crowd. This flying boat was immensely large, with its pale blue light continuously flickering, exuding a very extraordinary presence. This flying boat was indeed from Myriad Medicine Valley, and although it was also of Second Order Superior rank, the quality was obviously superior to those of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. As this grand entrance unfolded, everyone looked up, watching as the cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley descended from the boat, the last to arrive on the scene. At a glance, the cultivator leading the group wore a blue Daoist robe with pale white hair, already appearing to be of a venerable age. However, despite his old age, it was clear he was no ordinary individual. Lin Tianming had come across some records about this person in various classics. This person was a Golden Core Cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley known as Luo Anzhong, a well-established Golden Core expert, ranking within the top three oldest among all known Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom. Though he was also at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation, his appearance immediately attracted the attention of Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun. Upon spotting the newcomer, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun promptly went forward to greet Luo Anzhong with courteous salutations. ¡°Luo Daoyou, it¡¯s been many years since we last met, I hope you¡¯ve been well!¡± ¡°Indeed, Luo Daoyou is nearly five hundred years old,¡± Luo Anzhong said with a faint smile. ¡°The last time we met was over forty years ago. It¡¯s unexpected that your sect chose Luo Daoyou to lead the team this time,¡± Hearing the polite remarks of Zhu Yun and another, Luo Anzhong smiled faintly and soon started chatting with the two of them. As the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators arrived, the one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators entering the secret realm had all gathered. Among the three great sects, there were a total of ninety Foundation Establishment cultivators, with six loose cultivator spots on the battlefields of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. Only the battlefield for Myriad Medicine Valley had four loose cultivator spots. Altogether, precisely one hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. And indeed, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators who came with Myriad Medicine Valley were not to be underestimated either; all had cultivation above the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, with two at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. When it came to Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, their lineup was somewhat stronger than that of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. There were as many as seven at the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm, fourteen at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and the remaining nine were all at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm. Among these Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, the legendary disciple with a Sky Spiritual Root, Yang Chen, was surrounded by fellow disciples as if stars clustered around the moon. At that moment, seeing the Foundation Establishment disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley, Lin Tianming finally saw the true features of most of the top genius cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. This scene truly embodied a gathering of geniuses. In view of this, Lin Tianming compared the overall strength of the three parties based on the cultivation of these Foundation Establishment disciples. Unsurprisingly, relying on more Foundation Establishment Great Perfection disciples, the overall strength of Myriad Medicine Valley disciples was indeed stronger than that of Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect. The gap between Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect was not substantial, and on the surface, Zhenyang Sect had only a slight disadvantage. This made it understandable why Myriad Medicine Valley had the most ancient heritage among the three great sects. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though it had declined in recent years, a camel dead from starvation is still bigger than a horse, and the disciples cultivated by nearly ten thousand years of heritage were truly formidable. Understanding this, Lin Tianming paid extra attention to the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley. As they were observing the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators, the opposite was also true. Clearly, it was only during such a treasure-hunting opportunity that the top disciples from the three great sects would be convened together. Like Lin Tianming, all the cultivators present had an extraordinary bearing, seeming to await an opportunity to confront one another in the upcoming journey into the secret realm. Amidst the noisy atmosphere, the cultivators communicated privately, memorizing these potential opponents in their minds. In the blink of an eye, several days had passed. At noon this day, the blazing sunlight shone across the land. At that moment, the temperature soared rapidly, and a sandstorm raged across the barren, causing a storm to appear suddenly. With such changes, the three Golden Core cultivators present immediately sensed something. In an instant, Luo Anzhong and the other two Golden Core cultivators leaped into the sky, rising a thousand feet into the air. ¡°Fellow Daoists, the scorching sun is overhead, and the storm is upon us; the time is nearly upon us. Let us open the portal to the secret realm!¡± Luo Anzhong shouted, then took out a fiery red jade token and held it firmly in his hand. Seeing his action, Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun were not to be outdone and each took out a similar jade token and held it in their hands. Then, the three nodded to each other and, in different voices, they exclaimed, ¡°Shortly, we will open the portal to the secret realm. All of you enter quickly; the portal will open again in one year¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Those who remain inside after that time will be responsible for their own life or death.¡± Hearing this, all hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators stood up, and all of them widened their eyes, staring into the void, waiting for the portal to the secret realm to appear. Seeing this, Zhu Yun and the others did not delay and threw the jade tokens they held toward the front. As the jade tokens appeared, they swiftly positioned themselves in three different directions, emitting a fiery red glow from their surfaces. Then, the three of them formed hand seals, and beams of spiritual light struck each of their jade tokens. Simultaneously, beams of light appeared in the palms of their hands, accurately striking the three jade tokens. ¡­ Chapter 621 621 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_1 ?Chapter 621: Chapter 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_1 Chapter 621: Chapter 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_1 ¡°` ¡°Rumble¡­¡± After the ground shook violently, the sky suddenly grew dark. Anticipating such a change, Zhu Yun and his two companions paid it no mind, continuing their actions without pause. A few breaths later, dazzling light burst from the three jade tokens, illuminating the entire land brightly. Upon witnessing this, Zhu Yun and the others shouted into the void. ¡°Activate the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± In an instant, their faces turned exceedingly red, and beads of sweat the size of beans continuously dropped from their foreheads. ... Clearly, activating the jade tokens to open the secret realm consumed a great deal of spiritual power; otherwise, even Golden Core Cultivators wouldn¡¯t struggle this much. As time slowly passed, the glow from the jade tokens grew ever more splendid as True Essence Mana from within the three of them poured in. Eventually, it seemed the True Essence Mana absorbed by the jade tokens reached a certain threshold. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A crisp sound echoed through heaven and earth. The ground ceased its trembling, and the originally dim sky began to return to normal. At that moment, an enormous vortex appeared in the sky, motionless as it hung in midair. Seeing this, Luo Anzhong bellowed, ¡°The passage is open, everyone hurry and enter!¡± Hearing this, the thirty disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley didn¡¯t hesitate and leapt into the vortex. Behind them, the four loose cultivators, also without any hesitation, followed into the vortex. With the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators entering the secret realm, the remaining Golden Sword Sect and Zhenyang Sect cultivators didn¡¯t delay; they surged into the vortex as well. Lin Tianming exchanged a glance with Hu Yuan beside him, then followed the Zhenyang Sect disciples¡¯ footsteps, flying directly into the vortex and vanishing from sight. Meanwhile, Zhu Yun and the other two Golden Core Cultivators outside, watching as all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators entered the passage, ceased infusing True Essence Mana for the time being. Once the three of them finished, the original vortex quickly shrank, and the void returned to calm. At this time, their faces were red, their robes nearly soaked with sweat, and their breathing somewhat disorderly, looking quite weary. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s meet here again in one year!¡± Luo Anzhong cupped his hands towards Zhu Yun and the other in farewell, then vanished in a flash. Seeing this, Zhu Yun offered a nonchalant smile, bid Song Hanchun farewell, and left the platform as well. ¡­ Inside the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. As Lin Tianming charged into the vortex, his head quickly grew dizzy, feeling an intangible pulling force tearing at him. Thankfully, this sensation was brief, lasting only a few breaths before everything returned to normal. Still, his somewhat groggy head testified to that bizarre state he had just experienced. By the time Lin Tianming regained his senses, he found himself in a wasteland covered with yellow sand. Luckily, he hadn¡¯t been transported directly into a den of demonic beasts; otherwise, troubles would have been endless. With a serious expression, he drew the Tiangang Sword and cautiously surveyed his surroundings. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking around, all was silent, with nothing but the vast wasteland and the boundless yellow sandy ground¡ªno sign of any animals or plants. Further, the spiritual energy here was exceptionally thin, a far cry from the rich environment he had anticipated for a secret realm. In the Cultivation World, most secret realms are like Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. Even if they aren¡¯t, they are typically characterized by clear mountains, pure waters, and dense spiritual energy. Yet, this secret realm looked utterly desolate. Not a single living creature in sight, let alone any heavenly or earthly treasures. Indeed, the environment of this secret realm was far beyond his expectations. Recollecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming looked up at the sunlight in the sky, then took out the map Hu Yuan had given him for a quick review. Unsurprisingly, the map was useless; the territories depicted didn¡¯t match at all, clearly meant to deceive. Faced with this, a wry smile appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ¡°Well then, I¡¯m to stay in the secret realm for a year; there¡¯s still plenty of time. Let¡¯s pick a direction to start searching!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then set off in one direction with a gust of wind at his feet. Before he knew it, half a day had passed. During this time, Lin Tianming had traveled tens of miles, but he still hadn¡¯t left the desert. His pace was neither fast nor slow, always gripping the Tiangang Sword, ready to deal with sudden threats. With such a cautious mindset, his journey was quite smooth, encountering few attacks. Even so, he wasn¡¯t naive enough to think the secret realm lacked dangers. If that were true, it would be laughable. At that moment, he halted atop a small mound, deep in thought. After exploring for half the day, it was clear that the desert was vast, and the spiritual energy thin, without any sighting of animals or plants. Upon reflection, such conditions were indeed unsuitable for demonic beasts or the growth of precious materials. However, there are always exceptions; special environments can nurture special treasures. Since it existed, there must be a reason for it. With that realization, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give up and prepared to continue exploring ahead or at least find a way out of the desert to discover a new place. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming stepped forward, ready to leave. Just then, a sudden gust of wind stirred in the distance, rolling the yellow sand along the ground, fully capturing his attention. ¡°` Chapter 622 622 345 Earth Dragon Qiu_2 ?Chapter 622: Chapter 345: Earth Dragon Qiu_2 Chapter 622: Chapter 345: Earth Dragon Qiu_2 ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Tianming was momentarily stunned, and then he prepared to face the enemy. No sooner had he made his preparations than the distant yellow sand suddenly surged as if something was wriggling within it, and it rapidly approached him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face drastically changed, and he quickly leapt up, hovering in mid-air. Immediately after, he swung his sword single-handedly, releasing several Sword Qi that slashed towards the unknown creature beneath the ground. The speed of the Sword Qi was very fast; it descended to the ground in the blink of an eye. However, the creature beneath the ground was even faster; as the Sword Qi slashed down, it had already scurried more than ten zhang away, easily dodging the Sword Qi attack. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming felt as if facing a formidable enemy and prepared to leave this place, no longer wanting to entangle with this unknown thing. But right as he turned around, the creature wriggling underground leaped up, revealing its true form. ¡°Earth Dragon Qiu!¡± Lin Tianming exclaimed. In front of him now, several dozen Earth Dragon Qiu appeared, among them three were in the Second Order Late Phase, and there were also as many as six in the Early and Medium Stage, with the rest being First Order Earth Dragon Qiu. Seeing this pack of Demonic Beasts was clearly an Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe, and their numbers and overall strength were not weak. Looking around, those Second Order Earth Dragon Qiu were several zhang long, as thick as water buckets, with dark brown bodies that looked somewhat terrifying. They burst out of the yellow sand underground, leapt up with their massive bodies, and opened their hair-raising mouths, seeking to swallow him whole. In desperation, he waved his Tiangang Sword frantically in his hand, releasing a great amount of Sword Qi in front of him, trying to block the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s attack. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Sounds of explosions rang out as several Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu collided with the Sword Qi, creating sparks all around. But the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s defensive power was abnormally strong; a sword strike released casually didn¡¯t injure them in the slightest. Even so, he achieved his goal, as the several Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu were repelled by the forceful impact. Meanwhile, other First Order Earth Dragon Qiu that were closer were simply not strong enough, and were directly killed by the powerful shockwaves. Lin Tianming took advantage of this brief respite to pull away to a safe distance, stopping a hundred zhang away. Now, with his stance stabilized, Lin Tianming had a grave look on his face, seeming both wary and pleasantly surprised, his emotions somewhat complex. The reason for his wariness was the formidable strength of the Earth Dragon Qiu, especially the Second Order Late Phase ones, which had extremely formidable defensive power. Even with his strength, killing one of them wouldn¡¯t be easy. Besides, with so many of this group of Earth Dragon Qiu surrounding him, it would certainly not be easy to retreat unscathed. As for his pleasant surprise, it was because the Earth Dragon Qiu were earth attribute Demonic Beasts and a gregarious type, which according to their innate habits, meant that their lair would surely have a superior Artifact Refining Material. That material was the Earth Rampart Crystal. The Earth Rampart Crystal was an excrement of the Earth Dragon Qiu, scarce in quantity, and after accumulation and long-term storage, it would eventually turn into a crystal. If the Earth Rampart Crystal was formed over a sufficiently long time, it could reach as high as a Third Order quality, making it an extremely rare Artifact Refining Material. Moreover, the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm opened once every two hundred years, and this Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe was not small in number; their lair might really give birth to some Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals. If he could add this material to his Green Scale Shield, its defensive power would definitely see a significant increase. Furthermore, the Earth Rampart Crystal could also be used in impact Magic Artifacts, and even Magical Treasures used by Golden Core Cultivators could be fortified with Earth Rampart Crystal to enhance the strength of the Magical Treasure. One could say the Earth Rampart Crystal was enormously useful and very rare, and no Foundation Establishment Cultivator could easily walk away from it. However, to obtain Earth Rampart Crystal, one must find the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s lair; otherwise, it would all be in vain. As a consequence, it was necessary to defeat or even eradicate this group of Earth Dragon Qiu. Understanding this, Lin Tianming pondered for a while and then decided to give it a try. If the overall strength of the Earth Dragon Qiu was too formidable, he would simply abandon the target and flee. After all, there was a whole year for this Secret Realm excursion, and there was no need to take too great a risk. If everything went smoothly, that would be for the best. If not, he would have to give up on this opportunity. Resolved, he decided to strike first and strong, attempting to test the depth of this group of Earth Dragon Qiu. Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, quickly spreading in all directions. His fingers flicked rapidly, Law Decrees bombarding the Earth Evil Swords one after another. Soon, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was in operation, enveloping several Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qius within. Having done all this, he still didn¡¯t feel secure, and immediately stimulated the Thousand Beast Banner as well. For a while, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the black mist from the Thousand Beast Banner shrouded all the Earth Dragon Qius. His actions were quick, everything had been completed in the blink of an eye. These Earth Dragon Qius¡¯ advantage lay in their strong defensive power, while their speed and attack power were quite ordinary. Therefore, before they could react, they were already trapped by the Sword Array. Angered by this, the Earth Dragon Qius immediately launched an attack. Instantly, Earth Dragon Qius spat out some black stone pellets, smashing down on the Sword Array Barricade around them. At the same time, they twisted their bodies, slamming into the Sword Array Barricade. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Within the Sword Array, a series of explosions could be heard. The just-activated Earth Fiend Sword Formation was not very stable, and it started to wobble under the strong impact. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t sit by and do nothing. He roared, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, then bombarded it with several more Law Decrees. The previously shaky Earth Fiend Sword Formation slowly stabilized. At the same time, his Tiangang Sword radiated a brilliant light, directly unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword at a Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu inside the Sword Array. He struck decisively, using a deadly move immediately, aiming to first slay a powerful Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu to alleviate the pressure on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. As expected, his strategy worked, and one of the Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qius, upon seeing the terrifying Tiangang Sword, desperately tried to flee. However, the attack speed of the Tiangang Sword was far faster than its attempt to escape. Besides, the Earth Dragon Qius¡¯ speed on the surface was very limited, incomparable to that underground. The inescapable Earth Dragon Qiu had no choice but to endure the strike. Unfortunately, it had greatly underestimated the power of the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, especially the force of the seven swords combined. Quickly, the Tiangang Sword struck the body of the Earth Dragon Qiu, piercing through it in an instant. Yet even so, the Earth Dragon Qiu was not killed but relied on its strong vitality and defensive power to remain alive in the arena. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s full-powered strike had severely injured the Second Order Late Phase Earth Dragon Qiu, nearly robbing it of its ability to fight. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, very satisfied with the strike he had unleashed. Yet, he did not indulge in self-congratulation, seizing the brief moment when the other Earth Dragon Qius were stunned to significantly reduce the extent of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, he continued to unleash attacks, crazily raining them down on the surviving Earth Dragon Qius. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± Colorful blooms burst in the sky, numerous Attack Talismans transforming into various forms of Sword Qi, bombarding the Earth Dragon Qius. In that instant, the other Second Order Earth Dragon Qius, seeing their comrade so easily gravely wounded, were immediately enraged. In addition, Lin Tianming¡¯s attitude was extremely decisive, clearly intending to obliterate them all on the spot. Faced with the myriad Sword Qi attacks, they were not fooled, aware that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was formidable; they had to break through the Sword Array¡¯s suppression quickly. Otherwise, they would die at Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Realizing this, the Earth Dragon Qius twisted their bodies to dodge these attacks, not forgetting to strike at the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in the process. Their movements were swift, with each strike exerting their full strength, a fight to the death. Chapter 623 623 346 Third Order Earth Rampart ?Chapter 623: Chapter 346 Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_1 Chapter 623: Chapter 346 Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_1 ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions followed one after another within the Sword Array, amid the flying sand that filled the sky intermixed with flashes of fire. These attacks included the inherent Sword Qi of the Sword Array, the Tiangang Sword Qi driven by Lin Tianming, and a multitude of Second Order Monster Beast Souls, furiously gnawing at the body of the Earth Dragon Qiu. Unfortunately, the Earth Dragon Qiu lived up to its reputation for having formidable defensive power; its hide was simply too terrifyingly tough. Even the souls of Second Order Late Stage Beasts gnawing at a Second Order Late-Stage Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s body barely left a mark. Some First Order Monster Beast Souls biting into it was akin to tickling it; they caused absolutely no harm and only amounted to a bit of pressure. As for the Earth Dragon Qiu, they responded with a barrage of dark brown stone bullets and their steel-like bodies. ... Although these Earth Dragon Qius weren¡¯t known for their offensive power, the Divine Skills attack of a Second Order Late Stage Beast was never too weak. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave as he drove his attacks to stop those Earth Dragon Qius, hoping to make them give up assaulting the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Simultaneously, he changed his strategy and withdrew all the Monster Beast Souls, using them to deal with the Earth Dragon Qius of Second Order Early and Medium Stage. He did so because the defense of the Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius were too strong, making these Monster Beast Souls practically useless. It was better to deal with the weaker Earth Dragon Qius, and he himself focused on those few powerful ones. Indeed, his change in tactic proved to be quite effective. With his readjustment, the Second Order Monster Beast Souls, biting into the Second Order Early and Medium Stage Earth Dragon Qius, managed to inflict significant harm on the beasts. As for the other two Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius, they were firmly blocked by Lin Tianming. Despite their fury, they were no match for Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; relying on his Dual Cultivator of Body and Law physique, combined with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation trapping them securely. The two Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius, with very limited offensive power, could only passively take hits and were unable to inflict any fatal damage. For a while, the two strongest Earth Dragon Qius were forced into retreat. At that moment, Lin Tianming was unstoppable, swinging the Tiangang Sword in his hand frequently, each strike leaving a wound on the body of the Earth Dragon Qiu. Soon enough, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation continued to shrink, and in just a short period, its range had already contracted to a hundred zhang. By then, the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had truly achieved an impregnable effect. At this point, the First Order Earth Dragon Qius had long been dead, leaving only those two Second Order Late Stage Earth Dragon Qius, along with four of the Second Order Early and Medium Stage beings. One could say that the Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe no longer had any chances of escape. In such a desperate situation, the Earth Dragon Qius had nowhere to hide; unable to flee, they could only defensively shield themselves. Under such peril, they no longer harbored any thoughts of struggle, only wishing to flee the scene. A few Earth Dragon Qius burrowed into the ground, hoping to escape the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s barrier by taking advantage of their talent for underground movement. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming coldly smiled, clearly unconcerned. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation operated fully, blockading and suppressing all directions, including the ground and the sky, which still allowed for some movement. Even beasts like Earth Dragon Qius trying to escape underground were engaging in futile wishful thinking. As expected, the Earth Dragon Qius only managed to advance a few dozen zhang underground before colliding with the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and being rebounded. Having no other choice, they attempted to stay underground to dodge attacks. But Lin Tianming, with his vast combat experience, certainly wasn¡¯t going to give them such an opportunity. Driven by wave after wave of Sword Qi, they had nowhere to hide and were forced to counterattack. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To their attacks, Lin Tianming paid no heed, furiously spurring his own to quickly end the battle. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s assault arrived as promised, suppressing the Earth Dragon Qius within the Sword Array as if caught in a tempest. By now, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation was exceedingly stable, with the internal Sword Qi densely packed to the extreme. And the power of each strand of Sword Qi far exceeded that of the past. Such a stark increase in power could be attributed to the advancement in the rank of the Earth Evil Swords, combined with having achieved the perfect number of them. Under such intense force, the size of their last resort Sword Array continued to decrease. At that moment, Lin Tianming shouted with all his might, ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation, annihilate!¡± No sooner had his voice faded than the Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to spin wildly. In an instant, several pained screams sounded in succession. Hearing the commotion, Lin Tianming was visibly elated, but he did not stop, determined to eradicate them all before ceasing. In this situation, he continually swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, blasting out waves of Sword Qi. At this time, only four Second Order Earth Dragon Qius remained alive within the Sword Array, each bearing wounds, with the first one felled having lost its fighting capacity. Seeing the continuously shrinking Sword Array, and those terrifying and dense swathes of Sword Qi, they were struck with mortal fear. Desperate to escape, but utterly unable to break free from the Sword Array¡¯s confines or avoid the terrifying Sword Qi¡¯s assault. With no way out, they fought back vigorously, but it was as futile as trying to stop a car with a mantis arm, posing no threat whatsoever. In response, Lin Tianming wore a slight smile, his hands maintaining their steady pace. After a short period, the screams ceased. At that point, Lin Tianming gestured with one hand, withdrawing the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and collecting all the Earth Evil Swords. After completing these tasks, his expression was one of excitement, as he couldn¡¯t help but heave a long sigh of relief. Chapter 624 624 346 Third Order Earth Rampart ?Chapter 624: Chapter 346: Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_2 Chapter 624: Chapter 346: Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal_2 Then, he shifted his focus, searching for the silhouette of a demonic beast. As he scanned the area, the ground below was riddled with holes, and the dim sky was also gradually returning to calm. All the Earth Dragon Qius lay on the ground, covered with wounds, and had long since lost any signs of life. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and his heart was extremely satisfied with his own strength. Before making a move, he had some reservations, but it turned out he might have overestimated the overall strength of the Earth Dragon Qiu tribe. To be fair, this battle had proven the overall strength of the Earth Dragon Qius was indeed not weak, considering the presence of three Second Order Late-Stage creatures. Besides them, there were six Second Order Earth Dragon Qius as support; if it were an average Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even Hu Yuan at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he definitely would not be able to handle them. ... But they had encountered him, or rather, himself after a breakthrough in his cultivation and a significant improvement in his magic artifacts. He merely used routine tactics, relying on a few Second Order Attack Talismans, and did not even resort to powerful methods such as Spirit Arts and Spirit Detonation Beads. Moreover, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, also a Second Order Late-Stage spirit beast, was not released to assist in the battle. Even so, he had used just over half of his spiritual power to easily resolve the fight. Now, he gained a new understanding of his overall strength. If he were to use all his methods, facing several Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts at the same time, there might be a possibility for him to win. If he were up against Human Cultivators, it would probably be very difficult for three to four Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the Ninth Level to defeat him. At this moment, Lin Tianming was filled with confidence in his strength. After calming down, he immediately walked over to the corpses of the Earth Dragon Qius. Looking at the wounded bodies of the Earth Dragon Qius, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword swung into action, collecting all the inner cores and usable materials from the bodies of the demonic beasts. The Earth Dragon Qius were rare in the outside world, and the materials from their bodies were truly hard-to-find treasures. Beyond that, the Earth Rampart Crystals that might exist in their lair were also greatly coveted by Lin Tianming. He even thought that if he could bring back Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals to his clan and give them to Lin Shilu, it would surely please him greatly. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming worked efficiently, quickly collecting all the usable items. After cleaning the battlefield, Lin Tianming stood on a dune, pondering the possible location of the Earth Dragon Qiu lair. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the time, the Earth Dragon Qius had come from directly in front of him. If nothing unexpected happened, their lair was most likely located up ahead. Additionally, the traces left by the Earth Dragon Qius as they burrowed out of the ground were also clues to follow. As long as he followed the traces they left, he should be able to find it. Deciding this, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately began his search. Soon, he followed the traces left by the Earth Dragon Qius, walking several miles forward, reaching a depression. Here, there were no longer any signs of the Earth Dragon Qius passing through. Obviously, this place was most likely the location of their lair. At that moment, Lin Tianming stood mid-air, surveying the area, searching for the shadow of the Earth Dragon Qiu lair. Looking around, the terrain here was slightly better, with air that wasn¡¯t as dry, and the ground finally had some sparse vegetation. Even so, these conditions were far better than the sandy soil he had first encountered. Moreover, the area was low-lying, slightly more humid, with a small pool of water at its lowest point, making it a suitable habitat. The place was rather quiet, with no signs of demonic beasts. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was not overly anxious; he then swung his Tiangang Sword and quickly began to dig into the ground. The Tiangang Sword was very sharp, piercing through the ground as if it were made of water. Being a body cultivator, he dug with great speed. In the blink of an eye, a deep pit appeared on the ground, and he successfully found the entrance to the burrow of the Earth Dragon Qius. At that moment, he was visibly excited, his face overflowing with a broad smile. Having confirmed there was no danger, he walked in without hesitation. Upon entering the cave, he discovered a whole different world inside; each channel was more than a yard wide, branching out in all directions, leading to unknown destinations. Besides that, the entire cave was quite serene and extremely dark. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless, he promptly pinched a magic artifact and cast a fireball deep into the cave. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As the fireball exploded without making any sound, Lin Tianming wasted no more time and continued walking deeper into the cave. Fortunately, he possessed the Eye of Five Colors, which allowed him to see clearly in the pitch-black depths without being affected at all; otherwise, it would have been a considerable risk. It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Tianming, just as he had hoped, found a round cave. The cave was not small in size, rather damp inside, and scratched marks were everywhere. Moreover, it still bore the scent of the Earth Dragon Qiu, clearly revealing it to be their nest. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled and hastily began to search within. Soon, he had completely investigated the cave and, indeed, found some Earth Rampart Crystals. However, it was somewhat disappointing that all the Earth Rampart Crystals he found were of lower quality within the Second Order, obviously due to insufficient age, not yet having formed high-quality ones. Lin Tianming did not dwell on this matter; after all, this was just the beginning, and there might be some high-quality Earth Rampart Crystals deeper inside. Comforting himself with this thought, he continued his journey deeper into the cave, meticulously searching. An hour passed. By that time, Lin Tianming had explored more than a dozen caves, still not finding any high-quality Earth Rampart Crystals. Although he had gathered dozens of medium-low and several medium-high quality Second Order crystals. Having searched more than half of the caves and yet to find any Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals, Lin Tianming was slightly disappointed. The Earth Dragon Qiu tribe was not small, and the Secret Realm only opened once every two hundred years; logically, there should have been a reasonable chance of finding Third Order crystals. Yet for some reason, he had not found any, which was somewhat unexpected. ¡°Well, there¡¯s plenty of time anyway. Since I¡¯m here, I naturally have to give it my all. It would be great to find some, but there¡¯s nothing to be done if I don¡¯t. The harvest is still considerable!¡± he muttered to himself and continued to walk deeper. While walking, Lin Tianming came across a diverging cave. At first glance, this cave was much larger than any other sub-cave discovered thus far. Seeing the cave, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, thinking that such a large cave was likely the lair of higher-order Earth Dragon Qiu. With that thought, he wasted no time entering and began to search meticulously inside. Soon enough, after having scoured most of the cave, Lin Tianming arrived beside a pit in the ground. In front of him, more than ten dark brown crystals lay in the pit, shining with a unique luster. Seeing these, he smiled and picked up an Earth Rampart Crystal, admiring it affectionately in his hand. Upon examination, he noted that the crystal was the size of a fist with a semi-translucent feature, along with a special aura, all confirming its grade. As he had anticipated, it was indeed a Third Order Earth Rampart Crystal. Although not particularly large, there were four or five more crystals of similar size here, over a dozen of the medium-high Second Order, and not even one of a lower grade. At this point, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. Having secured a few Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals meant his risk-filled skirmish had not been in vain. The amount of other grades of Earth Rampart Crystals was also considerable, along with the multitude of Demonic Beast Materials, making this journey well worth the effort. Thinking of his fortunes, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel delighted at his luck. At the very least, upon entering the Secret Realm, he hadn¡¯t been transported to any dangerous locations, and he had gained so much on the first day. Once he had composed himself, he quickly collected all the Earth Rampart Crystals. After doing so, he left the cave and continued deeper, in search of more treasures. Chapter 625 625 347 Wind Spirit Root_1 ?Chapter 625: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_1 Chapter 625: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_1 An hour had passed. Inside a cave, Lin Tianming was smiling as he deftly stored several Second Order Medium Quality Earth Rampart Crystals into his bag. After completing this task, he left the cave and stood in the tunnel. Walking a short distance forward, he saw a solid rock wall, and there were no signs of any other caves nearby. At that moment, he examined the wall and realized he had reached the end. ¡°That should be enough; it¡¯s time to leave!¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, then followed the tunnel back towards the outside. ... Soon, he emerged from the Earth Dragon Qiu¡¯s nest and appeared above the desolate desert. The exploration of the Earth Dragon Qiu nest took just over half an hour. But the gains were indeed exceptionally rich. After calculating, he found that the haul of Third Order Earth Rampart Crystals alone totaled seven pieces, each the size of a fist, which could be used many times for Artifact Refining. Other Second Order Earth Rampart Crystals numbered over forty pieces, and more than a hundred of First Order, all of excellent quality. This was only the first day of the journey into the secret realm, and yet the haul was already so substantial¡ªwhat would a year¡¯s worth of such good fortune amount to? Thinking about all this, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, practically itching to charge headlong and seek out trouble with the Demonic Beasts. After calming his emotions, he looked ahead, contemplating his next moves. The journey in the secret realm had just begun, and with a long path ahead and without any intelligence, he could only wander aimlessly, striving to find fortune. If a Demonic Beast proved too strong, he would have no choice but to give up, but he would do his best to seize any obtainable opportunity. As for his next steps, he was nearing the edge of the desert, as evidenced by the sparse vegetation on the ground. If he continued in this direction, he should be able to leave the desert and enter the dense forest. Those areas are where the treasures of heaven and earth grew aplenty, unlike this desert covered in yellow sand, where the chances of finding anything valuable were lower. He didn¡¯t expect to be so lucky every day like today. Therefore, he decided to leave this place and head to the forests, where the Spiritual Energy was richer. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having made up his mind, he still held the Tiangang Sword in his hand and then lifted his feet to fly forward. ¡­ Luoyun Mountain Range, Nanyun Town. Nanyun Town was a Mortal Town with a population of over a hundred thousand, located very close to Jiuhua Mountain, nestled between Green Bamboo Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain, and only about five hundred miles from the ancestral land of the Jiuhua Mountain Wu Family. More than twenty years ago, Nanyun Town was a Mortal Town under the control of the Wu Family of Jiuhua Mountain. With the outbreak of the great clan war at Luoyun Mountain, and the downfall of both Jin Family and Wu Family, all the Mortal Towns they controlled were taken over by the Lin Family. As a result, the number of Mortal Towns under the Lin Family¡¯s control increased by more than threefold, and the population also surged several times. Initially, the Mortal Towns under Wu Family¡¯s control did not resist much against the rule of the Lin Family. After all, it was the Jin Family that had destroyed the Wu Family, and the Lin Family had avenged the Wu Family by defeating the Jin Family. Thus, the Lin Family easily took control over the Wu Family¡¯s Mortal Towns. On the other hand, the Mortal Towns that had been under the Jin Family¡¯s control reacted violently, which was expected by the Lin Family. After all, it was the Lin Family that had annihilated the Jin Family, causing the descendants of the Jin Family to want to rebel blindly against the Lin Family¡¯s rule without understanding the full context. For these people, the Lin Family showed no mercy, cleaning up these stubborn offspring with swift and decisive action. This method immediately stunned the numerous Mortal Town descendents of the Jin Family. Despite their anger and desire to resist, how could their mere Mortal bodies possibly stand against the Lin Family? It is known that to a Cultivator, Mortals are no more than ants, and not even considerable as ants. Over the past twenty plus years of rule, the Lin Family destroyed all traces of Jin Family¡¯s heritage, also relocating many of their own Mortal descendants, marrying into the compliant population, and giving birth to a new generation of Lin Mortals. Besides, the Lin Family widely propagated their own ideology and provided these Mortals with better living conditions. In time, the rebellious sentiment faded away, and all the Mortals were brought under the rule of the Lin Family. Today marked another annual Spirit Testing Convention for the Lin Family. Every year at this time, the entire Lin Family became quite busy, deploying a large number of clan members to host the Spirit Testing Conventions that all Mortals in the forty towns governed by the Lin Family looked forward to. Tasked with overseeing the Spirit Testing Convention in Nanyun Town were Lin Xingcai of the Xing generation and Lin Tianbo of the Tian generation. Lin Xingcai was no longer young and did not possess great talent, having struggled with cultivation and only reaching the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement in his lifetime. At this rate, it was highly unlikely he would ever make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Having lost much hope, Lin Xingcai focused only on earning merits for the family to raise his children. Therefore, he eagerly took on the task of the Spirit Testing Convention in Nanyun Town this time. Lin Tianbo was much better off. Despite being one of the youngest members of the Tian generation, he had promising talent and was diligent in cultivation, with the strong support of the Lin Family¡¯s stipend, he had reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement at just over twenty years old. If he was lucky, he had a reasonable chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in his lifetime. Thus, he took the family-issued tasks to heart. Chapter 626 626 347 Wind Spirit Root_2 ?Chapter 626: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_2 Chapter 626: Chapter 347 Wind Spirit Root_2 Especially tasks like the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, although the rewards are not as high as those adventures in search of treasures, at least the time involved is not too long, and it is very safe. Therefore, tasks like the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony become the object of fierce competition among the clan members every year. He was fortunate to have greeted the elder of his clan in time, which allowed him to smoothly take on the Spirit Root Testing task for Nanyun Town. At this moment, in the central square of the main city of Nanyun Town, nearly a thousand young boys and girls had gathered, all of whom appeared to be just over ten years of age. On the streets below them, a large number of mortals sat on the ground, looking up at the two cultivators from the Lin Family on the square with eyes full of fervent desire. It was clearly a look of both envy and respect. There were also some who gazed at the young boys and girls on the square, their eyes revealing a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. ... At that time, Lin Tianbo and another were sitting upright on the square, watching the thousand young boys and girls below them and casually chatting. ¡°Uncle, this year¡¯s Spirit Root Testing Ceremony seems to have more participants than in previous years,¡± Lin Tianbo remarked as he looked down at the young men and women, unable to help himself. Lin Xingcai, who was beside him, nodded upon hearing this. He had presided over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony numerous times and was fairly familiar with the number of participants from previous years. This year, there were indeed more participants, about twenty percent more than in the past. The reason for this was likely the family¡¯s policy from a few years ago, which explicitly encouraged childbirth. For this purpose, a great deal of money, treasures, and numerous support programs were invested. After more than a decade, the family¡¯s policies had finally borne fruit. The effects of these plans were excellent, and if this trend continued, the number of clan members in the Lin Family would increase substantially. In time, the overall strength of the Lin Family would also grow stronger. Thinking of these things filled Lin Xingcai¡¯s heart with immense satisfaction and pride. Turning his attention back, he looked at the young boys and girls on the square and said to Lin Tianbo beside him, ¡°It¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s start presiding over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianbo nodded and then stood up and walked to the front where the young boys and girls were waiting to be tested. ¡°Everyone form a line and queue up, pay attention to the order. Those who do not follow the rules will be directly disqualified from the testing!¡± Having said this, Lin Tianbo didn¡¯t concern himself with the reactions of the crowd; he then took out a Spirit Testing Bead from his storage bag and placed it on a stone pillar in front of him. After completing these preparations, he oversaw the young boys and girls, ensuring they quickly formed lines and waited for the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony to begin. Soon, the young boys and girls were arranged into ten lines, none daring to make a sound, neatly waiting at the side. Seeing this, Lin Tianbo was very satisfied and picked out one of the lines, instructing those young boys and girls to come forward one by one and place their hands on the Spirit Testing Bead. The first boy to be tested finished quickly, and the Spirit Testing Bead remained motionless. The boy¡¯s face was filled with reluctance as he left the square in a daze. Immediately after, the next in line quickly stepped forward to take his place. Dozens of people were tested in succession, but the Spirit Testing Bead remained without any reaction, clearly indicating that they lacked Spiritual Roots. Lin Xingcai and Lin Tianbo were not surprised by this situation. After all, they, too, had gone through the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony and had presided over it several times. It was rare for even one among dozens of testees to possess a Spiritual Root. After another hundred or so people were tested, the first individual with a Spiritual Root finally appeared, a girl, with four different colors flickering, proving she possessed a Hetero-attribute Spiritual Root. With the ice broken, Lin Tianbo and the other breathed a sigh of relief, promptly recorded the girl¡¯s information, and then had her wait separately to the side. Under the envious gazes of numerous young boys and girls, the girl who had succeeded in her Spirit Testing was excited and then dutifully waited behind Lin Xingcai. Lin Tianbo then continued to preside over the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Time flew by, and by the afternoon, more than half of the over thousand attendees had completed their tests, leaving only a little over a hundred people. At that time, from the only remaining queue, a filthy young boy stepped forward. His eyes were clear and, although his clothes were disheveled, like those of a beggar, his dirty face betrayed an indomitable will, clearly showing that he had endured many hardships. Seeing the boy¡¯s appearance, Lin Tianbo did not show disgust but instead patiently urged him to place his rough, pitch-black palm onto the Spirit Measuring Stone. ¡°Weng¡­¡± After a distinctive sound, a faint grey-white light flickered on the Spirit Testing Bead. The grey-white light was very weak and sporadic, almost missable if not looked at closely. The filthy boy, seeing the light on the Spirit Measuring Stone so faint and erratic, turned pale all of a sudden on his steadfast face, no longer as composed as before. He felt this way because, for this day, he had poured in an unspeakable amount of effort and undergone all sorts of miserable experiences. He had grown up in a poor family in a village outside Nanyun Town, losing his father at three and his mother to grief shortly after. At that time, he still had the care of his uncle¡¯s family and lived two years of stability. But as the tide of beasts erupted, a Monster Beast Legion trampled their ancestral village, and his uncle¡¯s family perished in the jaws of the demonic beasts. Only he and a few other children survived by hiding in the caves due to their playfulness, narrowly escaping certain death. Following that, the group of orphaned children had to beg their way to a larger place, Nanyun Town, to live. During the years in Nanyun Town, he accidentally learned of the Lin Family¡¯s annual Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, which filled him with boundless hope. To reach the eligible age, he had to cling on to life, dreaming of one day walking the elusive path to immortality, slaying more demonic beasts, and avenging his parents and uncle. Of that original group of surviving children, some died, some left, others were adopted by wealthier families and managed to lead a modest life. As for himself, he had no intention of depending on others, planning to survive on his own until he could participate in the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. That¡¯s why, through those tough years, his will had been honed, exhibiting maturity far beyond his peers. Now, seeing no significant reaction on the Spirit Testing Bead, he would just be another one with no fate for the greater path, leaving in disappointment. At this moment, he thought he had no destiny with the great path and that his last hope was completely dashed. However, the expressions on the faces of Lin Tianbo and Lin Xingcai were very strange at that moment, and they did not ask the filthy child to leave, nor did they ask him to stand behind them. For a time, the filthy boy was at a loss, uncertain whether to leave or stay. Perhaps noticing his discomfort, Lin Tianbo in front of him waved his hand, signaling the boy to come and stand behind him. Following that, he spoke with composure, quietly conversing with Lin Xingcai through voice transmission. ¡°Clan Uncle, there was only a shimmer of grey-white light just now, but it was quite faint. Could this child possibly have a Spiritual Root?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianbo kept his expression calm, unsure about the test result, so he resorted to voice transmission to ask for Lin Xingcai¡¯s opinion. Hearing this, Lin Xingcai pondered for a long while, equally uncertain about the boy¡¯s condition. Only after some time did he reply through voice transmission, ¡°The situation with this child, I¡¯m not sure either, but it does resemble the legendary Hetero-attribute Spirit Root!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianbo¡¯s expression changed, reminiscing about the earlier events. Soon, he recalled the long-rumored Hetero-attribute Spirit Root in the cultivation world, which was the Wind Spirit Root. The light that flickered earlier from the boy was indeed somewhat similar to the Wind Spirit Root, albeit not as prominent. But if it was really the Wind Spirit Root, the entire clan would be shaken. If other powers from Wei Kingdom were alerted, it could lead to bloody conflict. With these thoughts, Lin Tianbo¡¯s inner world turned upside down, feeling both excited and anxious, a mix of complex emotions. However, the matter was too significant, and no matter how excited he was, he had to maintain his composure to avoid giving anything away. Chapter 627 627 348 Bestow a Name_1 ?Chapter 627: Chapter 348: Bestow a Name_1 Chapter 627: Chapter 348: Bestow a Name_1 ¡°` After finally calming down, Lin Tianbo transmitted a message to Lin Xingcai: ¡°Uncle, this child¡¯s Spiritual Root is probably extraordinary!¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or false, we must send him back to the clan to the Clan Leader at the earliest opportunity!¡± Lin Tianbo¡¯s words were something Lin Xingcai very much agreed with. After all, this could be a Sky Spirit Root seed, and an anomalous one at that. If it could grow smoothly, it might provide the assurance for the clan to break out of the Wei Kingdom, or even Qingzhou. To know, with just a dual Spiritual Roots Lin Tianming, the Lin Family had risen sharply in just a few decades. If there were to come another Wind Spirit Root cultivator, why should the family worry about not prospering? Understanding the importance of this child, Lin Xingcai dared not delay and quickly transmitted a reply: ¡°Tianbo, you alone should take this child back to the clan. You must do it at the fastest speed and safely hand him over to the Clan Leader.¡± ... ¡°I will continue to stay here, wait for everyone to finish testing, and make all arrangements before returning to the clan grounds.¡± Lin Xingcai spoke thus for safety and to avoid being noticed by others, lest the opportunity for the rise of the Lin Family perish here. Clearly, Lin Tianbo also understood Lin Xingcai¡¯s concerns and approved of his plan just as much. In such a situation, the two of them quickly made a decision. Before long, Lin Tianbo, with the young man in tow, silently left the plaza and flew towards Green Bamboo Mountain, where the family was located. Two days later. Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. Within the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong sat at the highest seats. Beneath them, Lin Tianbo, who had rushed back to the clan, had a somewhat pale face and was still gasping for breath, evidently exhausted. Although the journey was exhausting, by traveling day and night without stopping, he had finally arrived at the clan. At this time, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, having urgently received the message, looked at the travel-worn Lin Tianbo with puzzled expressions. After a long while, seeing Lin Tianbo¡¯s complexion gradually recovering a bit, Lin Shihua finally spoke, inquiring about the situation. ¡°Tianbo, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony has just begun, why have you returned to the clan alone? Has some mishap occurred?¡± ¡°Yes Tianbo, your hasty return to the clan lands, could it be that something has happened?¡± Lin Shigong also asked. Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianbo took a deep breath and then said: ¡°Clan Leader, this child could be a Wind Spirit Root!¡± ¡°What? Wind Spirit Root?¡± ¡°Is it true? Quickly tell us the full story!¡± Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were shocked and promptly asked for the entire account of the events. Seeing their urgent expressions, Lin Tianbo did not dare delay and hurriedly recounted everything that had happened at the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Quickly, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong learned of the entire background, but their expressions still bore disbelief. After finally steadying themselves, Lin Shihua turned to Lin Shigong and suggested: ¡°Ninth Brother, the implications of this matter are significant, true or false, we must personally test him.¡± ¡°Indeed, we should do just that!¡± Lin Shigong nodded in response, and the two reached an agreement. Soon after, Lin Shihua took out a Spirit Testing Bead, placed it on the table in front of him, and then beckoned the young man over. The young man clearly understood Lin Shihua¡¯s meaning and immediately placed his dark hand on the Spirit Testing Bead. Before long, the Spirit Testing Bead once again shimmered with a greyish-white light, and while it flickered, a slight breeze blew by. This wind, though very faint, was easily perceived by Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, who were Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Wind¡­ Wind Spirit Root!¡± ¡°This is definitely the legendary Wind Spirit Root! Absolutely!¡± At this moment, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were very excited, their speech becoming somewhat disjointed. Lin Tianbo, hearing these words, was also incredibly thrilled, thinking his luck was too good; such a genius had appeared in the Lin Family and it was he who had discovered him. Besides, he and Lin Xingcai, in discovering such a talent, had performed a great service. If all went as expected, the clan¡¯s reward would certainly be substantial. With these rewards, he could exchange a large amount of resources and maybe even manage to successfully Impact the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thinking this, Lin Tianbo was extremely grateful for having been assigned the Spirit Root Testing task in Nanyun Town. Meanwhile, the boy witnessing the excited expressions of the people around him, had a very ruddy complexion and occasionally uttered some strange phrases. Even though he did not understand, he was not foolish and could vaguely sense that he had a Spiritual Root, which allowed him to step onto the path of cultivation. Realizing this, the boy¡¯s face finally returned to normal, and his entire being was filled with confidence once again. After a short while, Lin Shigong and the others finally calmed down. At that point, Lin Shihua waved the boy over. ¡°Child, what is your name? Where do you live?¡± Lin Shihua, with a fervent and indulgent look in his eyes, asked the boy about his family and background. The boy, seeing the kind face of Lin Shihua, was also somewhat moved inside. Then, he replied: ¡°To inform the two Immortal Masters, my name is Tian Yun, and I am from Tian Family Village, a hundred miles from Nanyun Town!¡± After stating his origins, Tian Yun continued with the story of his life, sharing everything that had happened over the years in detail with Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A period of time sufficient for a cup of tea to cool passed. After hearing the boy¡¯s narrative, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t help but sigh; the child indeed had a hard lot in life. Chapter 628 628 348 ?Chapter 628: 348 Chapter 628: 348 Apart from that, they were both deeply moved and pleasantly surprised by Tian Yun¡¯s resolute character. At that time, Lin Shihua sent a private message to ask Lin Shigong what he thought of Tian Yun¡¯s statement. In response, Lin Shigong stated that the importance of this child to the family was self-evident. As for his identity and background, it still had to be investigated. However, in terms of future training, it naturally had to be the highest secret of the family. As long as they ensured that this child smoothly entered the Golden Core Stage, looking at the overall strength of the Lin Family at that time, they could rest assured. Lin Shigong¡¯s viewpoint was also fully endorsed by Lin Shihua. Since they had finally found a genius, the family would naturally cultivate him with all their might, and as long as he didn¡¯t die prematurely, he would have a fair chance of reaching the Nascent Soul Stage. ... It was a pity that the family did not have a Wind-attribute Cultivation Method. If he temporarily cultivated a method of another attribute, his cultivation speed would be almost the same as that of an average person, or even slightly worse. It was truly a waste of such a great talent! But there was no other way since Wind-attribute Techniques were extremely rare, with High Order ones being even rarer. Regardless of the reasons or difficulties, they must seize this opportunity and use all the family¡¯s power to cultivate Tian Yun. Understanding this, Lin Shihua and his companion quickly reached a consensus. Immediately after, Lin Shihua called Tian Yun over to his side and asked in a doting tone, ¡°Child, you possess a Spiritual Root and can cultivate with our Lin Family.¡± At this point, Lin Shihua paused slightly, then continued. ¡°However¡­ since you are not of the Lin Family bloodline, you must change your surname to join our Lin Family and thus enjoy the same treatment as the Lin Family Members.¡± ¡°Are you willing?¡± Upon hearing this, Tian Yun thought for a moment and then agreed to the request. In fact, before the annual Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, the Lin Family would plainly explain the matter of changing surnames to all the boys and girls who participated. Moreover, the Lin Family had ruled Nanyun Town for decades, and 99 percent of the people of this generation, who adhered to the Lin Family¡¯s ideas, did not resist the Lin Family¡¯s rule. All of the Lin Family¡¯s policies had long been spread among the people, and he had already inquired about them and had made up his mind. Therefore, Tian Yun was not so resistant to change his name and surname. At that moment, Tian Yun took the initiative to say, ¡°Senior, these years of arduous waiting were all for the chance to one day embark on the Path of Immortality.¡± ¡°Now that I have such a rare opportunity, I naturally won¡¯t give up.¡± ¡°As for changing my name and surname, please bestow a new one, Senior. I have no objections at all!¡± Tian Yun¡¯s words were extremely sincere, and his determined face also showed true emotions. Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua, seeing how sensible Tian Yun was, were very pleased. Following that, the two of them chatted idly for a few moments and discussed Tian Yun¡¯s name. Quite quickly, they expressed their opinions to each other and came to a decision. At this time, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, said to Tian Yun in front of him, ¡°Since you already bear the surname Tian, according to the generational order, you should belong to the ¡®Tian¡¯ generation of our clan.¡± ¡°In my opinion, how about the name Lin Tianyun?¡± Upon hearing this, Tian Yun nodded in satisfaction with the name and inwardly approved of it as well. ¡°Thank you, Senior, for giving me my name!¡± Lin Tianyun bowed respectfully to Lin Shihua and his companion and then replied. ¡°Good¡­ very good!¡± Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianyun and repeated ¡®good¡¯ three times and then turned to Lin Shigong and said, ¡°Ninth Brother, we cannot reveal this child¡¯s identity yet, and before he reaches the Foundation Establishment Stage, I fear I must trouble you to take responsibility for his instruction!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong nodded. Among the Shigong generation of the Lin Family, Lin Shikang was in seclusion aiming for the Golden Core Stage. Lin Shilu¡¯s cultivation had also reached the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm and he was the family¡¯s best Artifact Refiner. Adding in his own cultivation, his time was indeed very limited. As for Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, he was managing the family¡¯s affairs and was extremely busy. As for himself, though he was an alchemist, the Lin Family truly did not lack Second Order Alchemists, people like Lin Xingyuan, Lin Tianqin, and Lin Tianhong could entirely replace him. Besides, his talent and potential were extremely limited; he feared that it would be difficult for him to enter the Golden Core Stage in this lifetime. Therefore, only he had ample time and energy to take on the task of instructing Lin Tianyun. Understanding this, Lin Shigong chuckled and replied, ¡°Shihua, rest assured, over the years, I have gradually shifted my focus to fostering the younger generation of our clan members. Adding Lin Tianyun to the group doesn¡¯t really make a difference!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ that¡¯s excellent, with Ninth Brother¡¯s guidance, I can rest easy as well!¡± Lin Shihua said with a laugh, complimenting him before chatting idly with Lin Shigong. After a short while, the two discussed many arrangements for Lin Tianyun, from his introductory cultivation education to his temporary choice of cultivation methods, planning everything quite meticulously. Beyond that, the results of their discussion also included mobilizing the full strength of the clan to secretly search for a Wind-attribute Cultivation Method for Lin Tianyun, at the very least, they had to find a Mysterious Grade Technique. If all else failed, they would at least find a Yellow Grade Technique. This matter of the Cultivation Technique was of utmost importance; the clan members in Luoyun Market and Qianchuan Market would certainly be the main force discreetly searching for techniques. Especially in Qianchuan Market, after all, there were many cultivation forces there, high-order cultivators moved about frequently, and there was no shortage of all sorts of strange treasures. Under such conditions, the probability of obtaining a Wind-attribute Cultivation Method in a short period of time was also the greatest. In light of this, Lin Shihua planned to immediately arrange for clan members to go to Qianchuan Market and inform Lin Tianfeng of this matter. After making these arrangements, the two exchanged greetings and then left the Elders¡¯ Council to attend to their respective matters. The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. At this moment, more than twenty days had passed since the day they entered the secret realm. Over these twenty days, Lin Tianming had been walking and stopping along the way, covering a great distance. His luck was extremely good during the first two days, encountering the Earth Dragon Qiu Tribe without expending much effort and obtaining a certain amount of Earth Rampart Crystals, which was a smooth start. In the following days, Lin Tianming finally crossed the wastelands and entered a vast expanse of mountains and forests. During the next half month, he continuously hunted for treasures in the dense forest, experiencing two major battles, but the demon beasts he came across were not strong, and the gains were rather limited. These two major battles accumulated less than what he gained from the first one. Such results were obviously unsatisfactory for Lin Tianming, who had high expectations. The demonic beasts he encountered in these few battles were not strong, which felt incongruent with the level of danger rumored about this secret realm. But upon reflection, perhaps it was because the secret realm was vast in size. Although there were many demonic beasts, they were spread far and wide. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be like this ¨C nearly a month had gone by, and he had only encountered three decent battles. Besides, during this time, he had not run into any other cultivators. Bearing in mind that there were as many as a hundred people entering the secret realm, wandering for a month and not meeting a single person was almost inconceivable. From various signs, this Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm might truly be immense, so much so that a hundred foundation establishment cultivators could enter and still have difficulty crossing paths with each other. However, this was favorable; by not encountering other people, the chances of conflict were low, and there was a greater possibility of acquiring treasures. Put that way, such a result was also a relatively advantageous situation for loose cultivators. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, and even hoped in his heart that it would continue this way. One day, Lin Tianming arrived in a vast canyon. At that moment, he was crawling on a huge rock, the Eye of Five Colors opening accordingly. His sharp gaze pierced through the thick fog, carefully scrutinizing the situation ahead. A short time later, after the time it takes to brew a cup of tea had passed. Lin Tianming closed the Eye of Five Colors, his expression extremely excited as if he had discovered something of great interest. In fact, though the fog in this place was very dense, the Eye of Five Colors was not affected in the slightest, capturing every movement ahead with absolute clarity. Thus, he indeed made some discoveries that left him quite covetous. Chapter 629 629 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_1 ?Chapter 629: Chapter 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_1 Chapter 629: Chapter 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_1 Upon his inspection, the valley ahead was thriving with a growth of Greenstone Wood, and the quantity was quite significant. Greenstone Wood is a type of wood Spirit Material and also one of the relatively common Spiritual Trees in the Cultivation World, widely used for various purposes. Whether it¡¯s Magic Artifacts for Foundation Establishment Cultivators or the Magical Treasures for Golden Core Cultivators, Greenstone Wood could be utilized, thus considered a staple among the tree-based treasures in the Cultivation World. In this valley, there were already many Greenstone Woods growing, many of which were hundreds of years old and had reached the Second Order in quality. However, as the valley was too vast to see the end, and he knew nothing about the risks hidden inside or what kind of Demonic Beasts he might encounter. Therefore, Lin Tianming was not sure whether there were higher-order Greenstone Woods deeper within. In his heart, if he could find a few Third Order Greenstone Woods here, then the gains from this trip would be on par with those from the Earth Rampart Crystal he found previously. ... At the very least, the batch of Greenstone Wood he had already detected was already of considerable value. If the Demonic Beasts were not strong, then these Second Order Greenstone Woods were definitely worth making a move for. After all, treasures were right in front of him. It would be a real pity to give them up without trying. If the Demonic Beasts were too strong, he had no intention of taking the risk and would simply run away. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming gripped the Tiangang Sword tightly and cautiously started to explore deeper into the valley. He moved quickly and lightly; in just a moment, he had already covered several hundred yards. Now, he was getting closer and closer to the outermost Greenstone Woods and would soon be able to reach these treasures. At this time, the valley was still silent, as if no Demonic Beasts were present. Lin Tianming was surprised by this, but over the years he had campaigned from the south to the north and had seen all sorts of strange phenomena. This place was a Secret Realm that only opened once every two hundred years, and its large area meant the Demonic Beasts inside could be powerful, with ancient Exotic Beasts of unique talents likely to appear. Knowing this, he did not believe such a place would be devoid of Demonic Beasts. With this cautiousness, he moved slowly towards the Greenstone Wood and soon safely arrived at the outer area. He stood in front of a First Order Greenstone Wood, ready to touch and even cut and collect it at any moment. Even this close, the valley remained as quiet as before, without the slightest sound. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who was always cautious, couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Could it be that the valley was truly unclaimed? Could it really not even have a single Demonic Beast? ¡°This place is too calm; something abnormal is a sign of an enigma; it¡¯s definitely not that simple!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, completely unmoved by the Greenstone Wood that he could easily collect right in front of him. Clearly, his cautious heart hadn¡¯t relaxed in the slightest. Even in such a calm situation, he didn¡¯t immediately chop down the Greenstone Wood that was close at hand. Instead, he opened his Eye of Five Colors again and closely examined the surroundings. After a careful look, everything appeared normal, but there were discoveries to be made. It turned out that at the entrance of the valley, the range the Eye of Five Colors could probe was very limited, detecting only Second Order Greenstone Wood at best. But as he moved deeper, he indeed spotted a few Third Order Greenstone Woods. Besides that, although the place was very quiet and no Demonic Beasts appeared, he did find something unusual and particularly interesting. That was, the vast expanse of Greenstone Wood turned out to be a mix of reality and illusion; some truly existed, while others were fake. Among them, the majority of the Greenstone Woods at the outermost part were illusory, with only a few being real, including the one in front of him. Lin Tianming was surprised at this and found it somewhat inconceivable. To know, with an incredible Eye of Five Colors aiding him, most Illusion Techniques and Formation Barriers in the Cultivation World could hardly elude his investigation. However, he had already walked deep into the valley before realizing that these Greenstone Woods were illusions, showing the extent of the power behind it, having achieved an effect deceivingly realistic. As for why he didn¡¯t detect these illusions with the Eye of Five Colors initially, it was because they were too far away. Even the incredible powers of the Eye of Five Colors could be hampered by distance, preventing timely discovery of any flaws. As he reduced the distance and took a closer look, he noticed these changes and the hidden dangers. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, understanding this, Lin Tianming looked towards the depths of the valley with a trace of seriousness on his face. ¡°Hmph¡­ no matter what kind of creature you are, today I¡¯ll be facing you!¡± With a cold snort, Lin Tianming unleashed a blast of Tiangang Sword Qi, attacking deep into the valley. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword Qi was quick and agile, in the blink of an eye, it had passed through the mix of real and illusory Greenstone Woods and struck towards a Third Order Greenstone Wood. As the Tiangang Sword Qi drew ever closer, the Greenstone Wood that was being attacked revealed its true form, showing itself to be a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. This Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was roughly the size of a human, with silvery-white fur all over its body, appearing strikingly conspicuous. Chapter 630 630 349 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_2 ?Chapter 630: Chapter 349: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_2 Chapter 630: Chapter 349: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox_2 Facing the incoming Tiangang Sword Qi, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox dodged with ease, flashing away rapidly. It was incredibly fast, appearing tens of meters away in the blink of an eye, fully utilizing its agility and speed to dodge this probing attack. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, having stabilized its form, stared at Lin Tianming with its pair of silver eyes, looking both cautious and somewhat angry. However, it seemed to understand that Lin Tianming was very strong and didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. At that moment, Lin Tianming, upon catching sight of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, immediately showed an expression of disbelief, and he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim inwardly. ¡°My goodness¡­ this is actually a Second Order Late Phase Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox!¡± The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was also an Ancient Exotic Beast, said to possess the extremely rare bloodline of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox. ... And the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, a beast said to be comparable to the True Dragon Celestial Phoenix, had adult strength that could match a Cultivator at the Divinity Transformation Stage, and was almost the pinnacle existence among the Demonic Beasts in the human realm. While it only had a faint Nine-tailed Spirit Fox bloodline inheritance, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was extremely powerful, and its innate Illusion Technique was particularly troublesome. However, the more uniquely talented the Demonic Beast, or the more powerful, the more difficult it was for them to produce offspring. In such circumstances, the number of Silver-Eyed Spirit Foxes was extremely rare, found only in the Boundless Western Region where Demonic Beasts dwelled or within the few Secret Realms. Within the regions controlled by the Cultivation World, it was almost impossible to encounter such rare species. The reason for this was due to the special talents of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which could create extremely realistic illusions, almost to the point of creating chaos with falsehoods. According to some records, if a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage fought against a Second Order Initial Stage Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, the fox could potentially influence the mind of a Cultivator of the same rank with its Illusion Technique, causing them to lose themselves in the illusion, and then be easily killed by the Spirit Fox. Facing such peculiar and tricky Divine Abilities, if a Cultivator¡¯s Divine Sense wasn¡¯t strong enough, or they lacked special means, it was difficult to remain unaffected when of the same rank. Besides that, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s strength was also generally formidable, and Cultivators were very wary of its Divine Ability Talent. As a result, Cultivators both feared and coveted the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s Divine Skills, capturing them for use as Spirit Beasts to assist in battle. And with a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox as a Spirit Beast, a Cultivator¡¯s overall strength greatly increased, making it one of the most favored Spirit Beasts among Cultivators. With the inheritance of the Cultivation World for hundreds of thousands of years, such uniquely talented Demonic Beasts found survival extremely difficult, leading to their utmost rarity. Thinking of these rumors, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat tempted. But he wasn¡¯t so overwhelmed by this rare Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox that he lost his sense of judgment. Instead, he was carefully considering the difference in strength between them, pondering whether to capture the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. After all, this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s rank was not low, and its strength was definitely not weak. To capture it successfully was certainly not going to be easy. Given that, despite being confident in his own strength, the outcome of a fight remained uncertain. If the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was set on fleeing, capturing it would be exceptionally difficult. Nevertheless, he was quite confident in his own abilities. Even though the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was not to be underestimated, he still intended to test the depth of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. If he could succeed, he would not only gain a significant boost but also acquire a large quantity of Greenstone Wood, reaping multiple benefits in one move. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t intend to delay any further. He immediately took out the Earth Fiend Sword and spread out in all directions. Following that, he pinched a Law Decree, and several Second Order Attack Talismans flew from his hand, transforming into numerous Sword Qi that flew towards the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, blocking its escape routes from different angles. As he made his move, the surroundings descended into chaos. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, having already sensed the commotion, dodged the talisman attacks with a swift flash. True to expectation, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was very fast, making it difficult for ordinary attacks to touch it. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by this. After all, with the beast¡¯s strength laid bare, if it were so easily neutralized, it wouldn¡¯t be a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Seeing that tentative attacks were ineffective, Lin Tianming became more serious. He slapped his Spirit Beast Bag and released the Bloodthirsty Jiao that had not appeared for a long time. As the Bloodthirsty Jiao emerged, a sharp cry resonated throughout the canyon. Freed from the Spirit Beast Bag, the Bloodthirsty Jiao seemed quite excited, thrashing about with claws and teeth bared. Lin Tianming gave an order for it to guard the valley exit closely, to prevent the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox from escaping. With the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s strength at the Second Order Late Phase and its moving speed, even though it was not as fast as the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, it could still be somewhat effective. His movements were quick, and all these precautionary measures were completed in an instant. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After making these preparations, he then urged the Tiangang Sword, unleashing a large amount of Tiangang Sword Qi, and attacked the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The canyon was ravaged by Sword Qi, and the entire world was filled with a powerful onslaught, pressing down on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox from different directions. Faced with this, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox naturally wouldn¡¯t just wait to be killed. It let out a sharp howl and then turned into a blur, dodging within the dense Sword Qi. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming had already exchanged several rounds with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, relying on its agility, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation could not trap it. Meanwhile, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox seemed to have plenty of leeways, focusing mainly on escaping and had yet to launch an offensive against Lin Tianming. After a futile attack, Lin Tianming, who had been unable to gain an advantage for a long time, gradually grew solemn and seemed somewhat helpless. The speed of this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was just too fast! If this kept up, even if his Spiritual Power was completely exhausted, he feared he might not achieve any substantive progress. Realizing this, Lin Tianming sighed and thought to himself that over the years, he had fought with many Demonic Beasts, and slaying enemies beyond his level was not uncommon. But he had never encountered a situation like this before. Having calmed down, he immediately activated the Thousand Beast Banner, covering different directions in combination with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, engulfing the entire battlefield. These two methods, now not used as attacks, could only broaden the covered area, aiming primarily to trap the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Only if his attacks could exert pressure on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, would there be a chance to kill or capture it. As expected, as soon as these two measures, normally used to suppress enemies, were deployed, the speed of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was greatly affected, forcing it to engage in combat with him. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and he increased the strength of his attacks. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword!¡± Lin Tianming stimulated his Divine Skills, and the Tiangang Sword, like a ghostly shadow, arrived above the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s head in a split second. Facing this terrifying sword, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox dared not be careless; it raised its mouth and spouted a red energy mass, colliding with the Tiangang Sword head-on. ¡°Puff puff puff¡­¡± Several distinctive sounds were emitted. The Tiangang Sword was firmly stuck by the gaseous mass, as if it had fallen into a quagmire, unable to advance any further. Seeing the once invincible Tiangang Sword make no progress, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. Clearly, he had underestimated the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. He had thought that the speed and Illusion Technique of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox were its most outstanding features. But he had not expected that the Demonic Beast¡¯s offensive and defensive capabilities would be so strong. This was still without the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox exerting its full strength; if it were to launch an attack or employ an Illusion Technique, he would likely fall into even greater trouble. If it were any other Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level encountering it, they would likely be killed by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox in an instant. It was only now that he truly recognized the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°As expected of the rumored Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, its strength is indeed enviable to Cultivators!¡± Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, his intention to capture or even subdue it becoming even more resolute in his heart. ¡­ Chapter 631 631 350 Cooperation_1 ?Chapter 631: Chapter 350 Cooperation_1 Chapter 631: Chapter 350 Cooperation_1 Gathering his wits, a flash of spiritual light erupted in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand as he unleashed a massive barrage of Tiangang Sword Qi from various directions, crushing down on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At the same time, he leaped into the air, using his powerful body to launch an attack on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Attacking on three fronts, his strikes were immensely forceful, with each blow containing tremendous might. If it were an ordinary Second Order Late Stage Beast, it would likely be gravely injured or even killed in a single hit. In response to Lin Tianming¡¯s renewed onslaught, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox started to counterattack as well. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s ghostly silhouette, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox refused to be outdone. Its agile body darted around like lightning, evading the bursts of attacks from Lin Tianming. Following an unsuccessful strike, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox brandished its seemingly ordinary claws, furiously swiping at Lin Tianming. In the face of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, channeling powerful spiritual power into the Tiangang Sword in his hand. ... For a moment, the Tiangang Sword shone brilliantly, clashing directly with the snowy white claws. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of clear collision sounds erupted. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Tiangang Sword and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s claws sparked flames as they met, sending powerful shockwaves sweeping through the canyon, shattering rocks and vegetation into debris. In an instant, Lin Tianming and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had exchanged several more rounds of blows, both moving swiftly, their fight brimming with lethal intent. After a fierce exchange of blows, Lin Tianming used the recoil from the head-on collision with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to create a safe distance. Steadying himself, Lin Tianming breathed heavily as his blood surged violently within him. His complexion was somewhat pale, and a trace of blood even spilled from the corner of his mouth. At this time, his expression was somber, his heart utterly shocked. After several exchanges, he still hadn¡¯t gained the upper hand, which thoroughly challenged his understanding of the strength of demonic beasts. Over the years, he had encountered many demonic beasts, often fighting three at a time and killing higher-order beasts was not uncommon. Yet, even so, facing a Second Order Late Phase Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and going almost all out, he still couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand. Now, it seemed the strength of this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox far exceeded his expectations. Continuing this way, without using life-saving measures, it would be difficult to make any substantive progress. During this brief pause, Lin Tianming reflected and started to entertain thoughts of retreat. As for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, it no longer looked composed. When it looked at Lin Tianming again, its eyes were filled with a hint of wariness. Almost immediately after, having pondered for a while, Lin Tianming realized the strength of this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was too formidable. With his own strength, it seemed hopeless to suppress it, not to mention capturing it. However, his ultimate goal was to obtain treasures that could aid in the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. If he used his trump cards for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and these Greenstone Woods, he might lose his fighting capability at the critical moment when competing for the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. While the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Greenstone Woods were indeed rare, compared to Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, they clearly weren¡¯t as significant. Considering that he had already reached the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm and Lin Shilu was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm, perhaps with just over a decade, they both might have the conditions to challenge the Golden Core Stage. In light of this, what the Lin Family lacked the most was not Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects or Third Order Spiritual Materials, but treasures that could aid in the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming decided to withdraw from this place. After all, if he wanted to leave, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox would have a hard time keeping him. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming was about to retract the Earth Evil Sword and the Thousand Beast Banner when his expression suddenly changed, apparently noticing something. At that moment, the sound of something cutting through the air reached him, soon revealing a figure. Looking over, this person was dressed in a white Daoist robe and had a clean and handsome face, appearing quite striking. Beyond that, there was a golden little sword emblem at his chest, which outright indicated the identity of the newcomer ¨C a disciple of the Golden Sword Sect. After recalling the book provided by Li Xiuyuan, which contained records of the top disciples from two major sects, Lin Tianming confirmed the man¡¯s identity. According to the information displayed in the records, this person should be Zhou Jin, a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect. He was very likely to be at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, also ranking among the top five elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, his strength unfathomable. This man was also the first living person Lin Tianming had encountered since he entered the Secret Realm more than a month ago. Surprised, Lin Tianming had not expected to encounter someone from the Golden Sword Sect at this critical juncture. While he was still in shock, the arriving Zhou Jin was visibly excited, evidently attracted by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the several Third Order Greenstone Woods. Having calmed himself, Zhou Jin then shifted his gaze to study Lin Tianming¡¯s unfamiliar face, pondering his identity and origin. By this time, Lin Tianming had already disguised himself as much as possible, altering all features that could potentially give away his identity. However, being a core disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, Zhou Jin¡¯s status and cultivation granted him access to plenty of information. What was more crucial was that Lin Tianming had been dazzling in the battles at Yuyao City, and such remarkable achievements made it difficult to stay under the radar. Chapter 632 632 350 Cooperation_2 ?Chapter 632: Chapter 350 Cooperation_2 Chapter 632: Chapter 350 Cooperation_2 Therefore, many people in the Cultivation World had grasped a lot of information about him. Even though Lin Tianming had changed his appearance and his exact cultivation level was not evident, one only needed to consider the fluctuations sensed just now as well as the weapons Lin Tianming used to ascertain his identity. Moreover, from the commotion Zhou Jin had just sensed, he was thoroughly convinced of Lin Tianming¡¯s identity. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s identity and strength should pose little threat to him, he thought. In such circumstances, Zhou Jin didn¡¯t regard him highly, merely nodding in greeting. Out of politeness, Lin Tianming also courteously returned the gesture. Zhou Jin then looked at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which he eyed with apprehension, and spoke to Lin Tianming. ... ¡°Daoist Lin, I have taken a fancy to this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. How about we join forces to capture it? The fox will be mine, and of the several Greenstone Wood plants, I will only take one of the Third Order, leaving the rest for you. How does that sound?¡± Zhou Jin¡¯s tone seemed somewhat indisputable, arousing strong aversion in Lin Tianming. However, due to the man¡¯s identity and strength, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t act out and replied politely, ¡°Daoist Zhou holds me in such high regard, naturally, I will not refuse the kindness.¡± ¡°I can only offer help within the limits of my abilities, though, and I hope Daoist Zhou won¡¯t find it too modest!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Lin is being too modest!¡± Zhou Jin chuckled, then continued, ¡°Daoist Lin¡¯s Sword Array, as well as these small flags, are quite mysterious and effective for entrapping enemies, perfect for dealing with this Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled lightly, then responded smilingly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s proceed as Daoist Zhou suggests!¡± Lin Tianming was so decisive because he naturally wanted to use Zhou Jin to his advantage. After all, he had experienced the strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox firsthand, and capturing it alone without paying a heavy price was not so easy. Including Zhou Jin, it was probable that he was not much better off than Lin Tianming. Thus, it was likely that Zhou Jin had the same mindset, desiring to use the strength of another to capture the fox before discussing it further. It could be said that, before capturing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, both parties had the same goal and could very well cooperate once. As for the sharing of spoils afterwards, the specific outcome would be difficult to predict. However, Lin Tianming was no three-year-old child and naturally wouldn¡¯t readily believe Zhou Jin¡¯s words. But that was of little concern, for he, too, had plans to use Zhou Jin; once his goal was achieved, if Zhou Jin turned on him, there was no need for Lin Tianming to hold back. After all, the Secret Realm was vast enough, and as long as his actions were clean, he didn¡¯t fear discovery. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s compliance, Zhou Jin also smiled and nodded. Yet behind that smile lay a dark heart, completely unconcerned with Lin Tianming. However well he might have concealed his malice, appearing harmless, Lin Tianming deep down never trusted him. And so, each harboring their own hidden agendas, they promptly began their assault, jointly dealing with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As Zhou Jin took the initiative to attack, Lin Tianming, not to be outdone, unleashed several streams of Tiangang Sword Qi, launching them toward the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Meanwhile, Zhou Jin slapped his storage bag, and a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman materialized in his hand. He pumped a substantial amount of Spiritual Power into it, activating his Flying Sword. Upon his engagement, Zhou Jin unleashed a ferocious attack that placed tremendous pressure on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Combined with his own Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the hindrance from the Thousand Beast Banner, as well as his Tiangang Sword¡¯s assault, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was increasingly overwhelmed, quickly becoming enveloped by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Then, after just a few exchanges, the previously confident Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox began to fall into disadvantage. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew serious, evaluating Zhou Jin¡¯s strength against that of Long Qingshui, whom he knew well. Clearly, both Zhou Jin and Long Qingshui were cultivators of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and neither was lacking in combat experience. Beyond that, the power of both men¡¯s Attack Talismans was formidable, making them standouts in both strength and talent. If one were to discuss who was the stronger, the two would likely be evenly matched. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh to himself. ¡°Daoist Zhou, as a top disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, truly has strength not inferior to Long Qingshui, and perhaps even stronger!¡± Gathering his focus, Lin Tianming also secretly thought that he couldn¡¯t exert too much effort; he had to rely on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s strength to deplete Zhou Jin¡¯s spiritual power as much as possible. If he could cause Zhou Jin to be injured, only then could he benefit from their struggle. Otherwise, even if they captured the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, a fierce battle would most likely still be unavoidable. Although his own power was not inferior to Zhou Jin¡¯s, and he wouldn¡¯t be in mortal danger, a great battle would definitely deplete some of his means. In that case, what would be the difference between that and facing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox alone? Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer put his all into the fight, but simply relied on the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner to pressure the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. When the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox faced danger, he would even pull his punches, significantly reducing the number of Sword Qi within the Sword Array, just to let the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox escape its predicament. And these little maneuvers, naturally, couldn¡¯t conceal themselves from Zhou Jin¡¯s eyes. With one strike missing its mark, Zhou Jin seemed to be annoyed, but he wasn¡¯t in a position to point it out directly. But for Lin Tianming to do less work than required wasn¡¯t fair to him. Thus, he still hinted indirectly. ¡°Lin, don¡¯t waste time, in this adversity, there are more than just the two of us. If we delay too long, we may attract unnecessary trouble,¡± he reminded. Hearing this, Lin Tianming showed a bit of embarrassment, but he didn¡¯t care about Zhou Jin¡¯s opinion. Next, he replied with a helpless face, ¡°Daoist Zhou speaks the truth, however, I have consumed quite a lot during the recent great battle.¡± ¡°If we want to resolve the fight quickly, I will certainly increase my effort. You shouldn¡¯t hold back either!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ Watch me!¡± Zhou Jin said, feigning anger, then slapped his storage bag, gripping a large number of Second Order Talismans in his hand. With a pinch of the Law Decree, the talismans transformed into attacks that buried the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At the same time, the Spirit Sword in his hand shone brilliantly, unleashing a terrifying Sword Qi that shot down from the sky, directly targeting the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Clearly, Zhou Jin was no longer holding back, preparing to end the battle as quickly as possible. In response, Lin Tianming merely smiled lightly and also unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, slashing down at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As the Tiangang Sword flew from his hand, the powerful fluctuations instantly drew Zhou Jin¡¯s attention. The strength of this strike was clearly not inferior to the fierce attack unleashed by Zhou Jin. Seeing this, Lin Tianming fully committing himself to the fight, Zhou Jin nodded his head in satisfaction. Their attacks were both swift and fierce, enough to slay the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At this moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox also recognized the power of the two attacks, knowing that if it was hit by either, it would struggle to survive. At the critical moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox didn¡¯t succumb to panic. As the two attacks drew closer, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox let out a sharp cry. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, it opened its mouth and spewed out a large clump of gas, shooting in two different directions. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two explosions sounded, and Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were once again scattered by the powerful gas. And the gas didn¡¯t disperse, but instead continued to thrust in the direction of the two. Seeing this, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated it, swiftly evading in advance. His speed was fast; in the blink of an eye, he had moved dozens of feet away, steadily landing on a boulder. As for Zhou Jin, he obviously hadn¡¯t expected the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to be so formidable. Taken by surprise, Zhou Jin summoned a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact, pouring a large amount of spiritual power into it, which transformed into a gigantic shield in front of him. ¡°Bang¡­¡± An explosion echoed throughout the canyon. The gas struck the shield, and though the powerful attacking force didn¡¯t break through the sturdy shield, the rebounding force still caused Zhou Jin¡¯s blood to surge, and he couldn¡¯t help but spit out a mouthful of blood. Chapter 633 633 351 Both Sides Suffer Losses_1 ?Chapter 633: Chapter 351 Both Sides Suffer Losses_1 Chapter 633: Chapter 351 Both Sides Suffer Losses_1 The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s fierce strike was indeed powerful. If Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t been decisive enough to promptly summon his Defense Artifact, that strike would have had a significant chance of severely injuring or even killing him. As peace briefly returned to the heavens and earth, the two balls of Qi, despite collapsing, did not immediately dissipate. As for Zhou Jin, who had managed to withstand the strike, he hadn¡¯t even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s pupils emit a ray of Spiritual Light, causing the Qi in front of him to churn violently. Immediately after, he felt the world around him start to change drastically. In that moment, he distinctly saw his master sitting before him, beckoning to him. At the same time, his master urged, ¡°Disciple, this Dragon Heart Pill was prepared for you by me, come and take it quickly!¡± ... At those words, Zhou Jin¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he began to step forward to take the elixir from his master¡¯s hand. All seemed so real that Zhou Jin hadn¡¯t the slightest inkling that this was an illusion conjured by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, meant to lure him into an unguarded approach and then take the opportunity to claim his life. At this time, Lin Tianming, who wasn¡¯t far from Zhou Jin, was also enveloped by the Qi that had yet to disperse. Similarly, a scene unfolded in front of him. There, Lin Shikang¡¯s silhouette appeared before him, seated with a Star Moon Fruit in hand, beckoning kindly to him. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tian Ming¡­ this object was not easily obtained, and I¡¯m getting old with limited talent and potential,¡± ¡°Thus, this must be handed to you, for you have a much greater chance of entering the Golden Core Stage!¡± In the illusion, Lin Shikang appeared amiable and his tone indistinguishable from the real Lin Shikang. Moreover, every detail of the scene seemed as tangible as reality. In that instant, Lin Tianming, too, was immersed in the dream, unable to extricate himself, and just like Zhou Jin, began to walk forward. In the blink of an eye, Zhou Jin had covered dozens of feet in distance, with only a little more than a hundred feet remaining between him and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Such a short range was not far for a Second-Order Late-Stage Demon Beast and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Given their speed and strength, it might only take a few breaths for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to directly claim the life of Zhou Jin, who was caught in its illusion. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was in a much better situation. After all, he had taken the opportunity to create a safe distance at the moment the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox unleashed its attack with the Qi, unlike Zhou Jin who had taken the brunt of the blow head-on. Furthermore, there was a distance between the Qi ball and him initially, making the strength of the illusion significantly weaker. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming was also slowly advancing, only more than a hundred feet away from the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, albeit at a slower pace. On the other side, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, seeing the two men trapped in the illusion, seemed quite pleased with itself, ready to move closer and then directly take their lives. Time slowly passed, and after one breath¡¯s time, Lin Tianming was still in the illusion, moving toward Lin Shikang to receive the Star Moon Fruit. Upon closer inspection, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow was furrowed, clearly resisting the illusion. As for Zhou Jin, his face was pale, and his breath seemed somewhat disordered. Seeing that the two continued to move forward, they were about to reach the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s attack range. Just then, Lin Tianming, still trapped in the illusion, seemed to notice a flaw. His expression suddenly changed, the Eye of Five Colors on his forehead flashed, and the original illusion vanished, revealing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s form replacing the one of Lin Shikang. At this moment, Lin Tianming instantly regained his clarity, and seeing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox again, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a chilling alarm in his heart. The illusion had been so realistic that he had almost been fooled completely. One must know that over the years, he had never ceased in administering Dragon Bone Pills to himself, enhancing his Divine Sense significantly over time, far beyond that of his peers. It was estimated that even at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, his Divine Sense was likely no weaker than those Cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Yet even so, he had been nearly ensnared by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s illusion. If he did not possess treasures like the Eye of Five Colors that could see through empty illusions, he might have actually lost his life here. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but sigh to himself. Not only was the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox powerful, but it was also so devious ¡ª no wonder countless Cultivators in the Cultivation World coveted the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s Divine Ability Talent over so many years. As Lin Tianming regained his senses, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, noticing his recovery, immediately resolved to attack. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox opened its mouth once more and spew out two more Qi balls, aiming to blast Zhou Jin, who was still caught in the illusion, as well as Lin Tianming. This preemptive strike was clearly to seriously injure or even kill one of them, thereby reducing its own pressure. Otherwise, if Zhou Jin came to his senses and joined Lin Tianming again, the Spirit Fox would likely be at a disadvantage. In such circumstances, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox decided not to hold back, attacking with even more ferocity, evidently willing to gamble everything at this moment. At this critical moment, with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox making its move, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of urgency, as he quickly cried out, ¡°Daoist Zhou, wake up at once!¡± After shouting, Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands, and the Tiangang Sword flew from his grip, unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, blasting toward the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Chapter 634 634 351 Both Lose_2 ?Chapter 634: Chapter 351 Both Lose_2 Chapter 634: Chapter 351 Both Lose_2 His voice was loud, complementing the ringing sound of the Tiangang Sword as it burst forth. Zhou Jin suddenly awoke from his surroundings. The breath sphere expelled by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had already descended, and in just a moment, it might claim his life. Seeing the terrifying sphere above his head, Zhou Jin¡¯s face turned deathly pale, his innermost heart filled with immense fear. He had already experienced the power of this sphere; initially, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had used this cluster of breath to crush his attack. The residual power had still blasted onto his Defense Artifact, directly injuring him. It could be said that the power of this breath attack was extremely formidable. Even with him being prepared, he had to give it his all and still suffered injuries. And now, in this situation, he was so close to the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and had previously been trapped in the environment with no defense at all. What¡¯s more critical was that the breath had descended directly above his head. Retreating unscathed was almost impossible. ... Understanding this, Zhou Jin also realized how dire his situation was. In this moment of desperation, Zhou Jin suddenly calmed down, more so than ever before. Watching the breath bearing down upon him, Zhou Jin slapped his storage bag, taking out the Defense Artifact he had used previously, and poured a large amount of Spiritual Power into it, transforming it into a massive shield in front of him. At the same time, he clenched his teeth, with a pale golden talisman paper appearing in his hand. Looking at the talisman paper, his face showed an expression of pain, but it quickly returned to normal. Immediately afterward, he did not hesitate to activate the talisman paper in his hand. In an instant, a silver-white great sword unexpectedly condensed above his head. With the emergence of the silver great sword, the entire gorge instantly lit up with a burst of silver light, sending sand and rocks flying chaotically throughout the canyon. This commotion was, of course, seen by Lin Tianming. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was complex, his heart utterly shocked. He was very familiar with the stir Zhou Jin was causing and had experienced it himself. He was absolutely certain, this was undoubtedly a Fake Golden Core Talisman! While he was slightly distracted, Zhou Jin¡¯s silver great sword had already transformed into a bolt of lightning, striking towards the nearby Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Simultaneously, the breath above Zhou Jin¡¯s head descended, directly blasting onto his Defense Artifact. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion echoed. One could only see Zhou Jin¡¯s Defense Artifact barely holding up for two breaths before it burst apart. While the breath scattered significantly, the remaining portion directly hit Zhou Jin¡¯s flesh. In that instant, Zhou Jin was like a kite with a broken string, suddenly appearing hundreds of feet away in a crevice between some rocks. Looking over, Zhou Jin¡¯s face was devoid of color, his Daoist robe was already ragged, and his flesh was drenched in blood with hardly a spot intact. The boulder beneath him had already shattered, forcibly pierced by the powerful force, finally embedding him within. The ground below pooled with blood, and Zhou Jin, in the crevice, kept spewing fresh blood from his mouth. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s strike had gravely wounded him, but Zhou Jin was decisive enough and had a bit of luck, not dying under the breath sphere. Even so, his injuries were still severe, and his current strength was probably not much better than an ordinary person¡¯s. All this occurred in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had no time to attend to this as he was also facing the bombardment of the breath and had also unleashed an attack, rushing towards the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. However, his situation was much better than Zhou Jin¡¯s. After all, he had awakened from the environment much earlier, and with enough distance, he had ample time to deal with the breath attack. At this time, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming had already determined the best evasion route. His figure agile and his speed reaching the extreme, he burst forth at his quickest pace, dodging the breath¡¯s bombardment. In just a single breath¡¯s time, he smoothly appeared dozens of feet away. And the breath also struck where he had originally been, causing such a powerful disturbance that even Lin Tianming, who had evaded it, was thrown more than ten feet away. Barely stabilizing his form, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, his internal energies roiling, as he couldn¡¯t help but cough up several mouthfuls of blood. As expected, the attack of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was too formidable. Any average Cultivator struck by it would surely perish on the spot. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it weren¡¯t for the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he might have ended up like Zhou Jin. However, he had managed to survive that terrifying strike. Despite sustaining serious injuries, fortunately, he had retreated in one piece and only needed half a month of rest to recover to his peak condition. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming finally regained his usual demeanor and then focused on every move on the battlefield. Under his watchful eye, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox also appeared somewhat panicked, evidently shaken by the Fake Golden Core Talisman that Zhou Jin had activated. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was an Ancient Exotic Beast with extremely powerful innate abilities and Spirit Wisdom far beyond that of ordinary Demonic Beasts. Facing the Fake Golden Core Talisman, it too understood the terrifying nature of the attack. The moment the Fake Golden Core Talisman appeared, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had already started to flee into the depths of the canyon, hoping to evade this deadly strike. Regrettably, the Fake Golden Core Talisman was faster and immensely powerful. Even the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, a Demonic Beast without obvious weaknesses, couldn¡¯t easily dodge the attack of the Fake Golden Core Talisman. As the saying goes, it¡¯s slower to talk than happen; in an instant, the Fake Golden Core Talisman had closed the distance with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. In less than the time it took to breathe, it had descended above the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s head. At that moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was in utter terror; despite pushing its speed to the limit, it still couldn¡¯t shake off the attack of the Fake Golden Core Talisman. Seeing that escape was impossible, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox made a decisive move, turning its body around and then opening its mouth to spit out a big clump of gas that collided head-on with the Silver-White Sword Qi. After expelling the clump of gas, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s aura became chaotic, seemingly exhausted to the limit. It makes sense, after all, the Divine Skills of Exotic Beasts are not without their limits. Ever since Lin Tianming started his probing attack, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had been fighting one against two, activating its Divine Skills several times. It should be known that Zhou Jin is a genuine Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator and also a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, so his strength is naturally incomparable to those of ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for Lin Tianming, although his realm is only at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, his strength is no weaker than Zhou Jin¡¯s. Now, under the pressure of the Fake Golden Core Talisman, he too was fighting with all his might, having such a reaction was the normal response. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Silver-White Sword Qi and the clump of gas collided with a thunderous impact, and the powerful shockwave swept across a vast area. The two made contact for only an instant before the gas clump ultimately dissipated. After the Silver-White Sword Qi shattered the gas clump, it didn¡¯t stop at all and continued slashing down towards the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. However, after a round of consumption, the might of the Silver-White Sword Qi had noticeably weakened quite a bit. Still, the Sword Qi remained terrifying, powerful enough to inflict heavy damage, even kill the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As expected, the Silver-White Sword Qi clashed directly with the claws of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosions resounded as the previously dim canyon was once again illuminated by an astonishing flash of light. Immediately followed by a scream. One could see that the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had its half body directly sliced off by the Sword Qi, and two of its limbs were gone as well; the severely injured fox slammed heavily onto the ground. At that time, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox whined in agony a few times; blood flowed from its body, and its snow-white fur had been stained red, presenting a somewhat eerie sight. It struggled fiercely to rise, but its injuries were too severe; despite struggling for quite a while, it had not moved far. As tranquility gradually returned to the world, Lin Tianming too recovered from the shock. At this time, seeing the severely injured Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, and he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim internally. ¡°No wonder it is the Fake Golden Core Talisman, its attacking power is still so terrifying!¡± His remark was indeed sincere, for he had witnessed the power of the Fake Golden Core Talisman for the second time, with one of those instances being when he himself had activated it. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming glanced at the heavily injured Zhou Jin and couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate. Fortunately, he had awakened from the environment in time; otherwise, his outcome might have been similar to Zhou Jin¡¯s, or even worse. Chapter 635 635 352 Submission_1 ?Chapter 635: Chapter 352 Submission_1 Chapter 635: Chapter 352 Submission_1 With difficulty calming himself, Lin Tianming sheathed his Earth Evil Sword and then dashed with an arrow step to the front of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. At this moment, as he watched the still struggling Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, he felt somewhat sigh with mixed emotions. This battle, when spoken of, was truly dramatic. At least before Zhou Jin appeared, no one could have anticipated such an outcome. Initially, he and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had engaged in a confrontation, yet given the formidable strength of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, he thought he would need to give up this opportunity. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, that was the case, as he had been planning to retreat. However, the coincidental arrival of Zhou Jin led them to ally with each other for a common purpose. ... After a fierce battle, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, though powerful, was severely injured when facing Lin Tianming and Zhou Jin, who possessed the Fake Golden Core Talisman. Now, Zhou Jin was also gravely injured, with barely a tenth of his strength remaining, and had lost all ability to compete. And the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, also being severely wounded, had virtually no chance of escaping this place. It could be said that the beneficiary of this battle was still himself. What he needs to consider now is naturally to subdue the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, thus acquiring this powerful Spirit Beast. However, this process will naturally not be easy, since the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox not only has excellent talent and strength but also possesses immense pride. To make it submit will certainly not be an easy task. As for Zhou Jin, he harbored a hidden agenda from the start, and though he did not directly attack Lin Tianming, his exploitative intentions were clear. Furthermore, with Zhou Jin desiring the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Greenstone Wood, there¡¯s no way his life could be spared; it¡¯s essential to eliminate any who are in the know right in their cradle. Thus, Lin Tianming did not intend to let him go. After all, the Secret Realm is teeming with Demonic Beasts, including powerful Third Order Demon Beasts, and the Second Order ones are as common as hairs on a cow. Even though the Golden Sword Sect is powerful, under these circumstances, losing a genius disciple is quite natural. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not delay and prepared to first end Zhou Jin¡¯s life and then quickly subdue the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. If the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox refuses to submit, he would have no choice but to kill it and then loot the area before leaving. If he could successfully make the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox submit, it would be a great help, and nothing could be better. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming approached Zhou Jin. At this time, Zhou Jin was not dead but simply too heavily injured, with most of his Spiritual Power depleted, posing no real threat. Seeing Lin Tianming walking toward him, he knew his predicament well. If they were outside the Secret Realm, perhaps Lin Tianming would have hesitated due to the influence of the Golden Sword Sect and given him a way out. But this place is a Secret Realm, rampant with powerful Demonic Beasts and filled with inexplicable dangers. If he died within, the Golden Sword Sect would have no way to investigate the cause of his death. In that case, Lin Tianming had nothing to be concerned about. Realizing this, Zhou Jin did not utter any threatening words, lest he irritate Lin Tianming. He gathered his spirits and spoke earnestly, ¡°Lin, since the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox is already seriously injured, our goal has been achieved.¡± ¡°However, my current condition is very poor. I will cede the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to you, Lin. What do you say?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming sneered playfully, thinking that Zhou Jin was indeed decisive, knowing fully well that his life was in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands and directly giving up the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Regardless, he had no intention of sparing him. Because he knew that if their situations were reversed, Zhou Jin would likely have no hesitation in directly killing him. After all, be it the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox or the Greenstone Wood, both were rare treasures. Under such benefits, no one would likely forsake the gains before them or leave any threats unchecked. Therefore, he need not feel any sense of guilt. With this understanding, Lin Tianming did not bother with more words and directly wielded the Tiangang Sword, intending to kill the defenseless Zhou Jin. And as he made his move, Zhou Jin¡¯s face turned ashen, and he immediately started to threaten him. ¡°Lin, I am a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, and my master is a Golden Core Cultivator!¡± ¡°If it were known that I died at your hand, you would definitely not survive, and neither would your family or clan members!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and his originally mild face suddenly turned gloomy. In his heart, his family and loved ones were his life, and he could not tolerate anyone joking about them. Zhou Jin had gone and directly threatened him with his family and clan members, turning the somewhat remorseful Lin Tianming instantly murderous. If they were outside the Secret Realm, for the sake of the thousands of clan members and the progress that the family had hard-won, he would actually consider the Golden Core Cultivator backing Zhou Jin. But now, in the Secret Realm, he could not let Zhou Jin live; if he got out successfully, he would surely reveal everything that happened here. By then, the Golden Core Cultivator would likely covet the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Third Order Greenstone Wood. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face grew dark with rising fury, wishing he could tear Zhou Jin to pieces. Then, he promptly raised the Tiangang Sword in his hand, intending to end Zhou Jin¡¯s life. Seeing this, Zhou Jin¡¯s expression changed, and disregarding his injuries, he forcibly released a burst of Sword Qi, slashing toward Lin Tianming. Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe, and even with all his might, the power was quite limited. Chapter 636 636 352 Submission_2 ?Chapter 636: Chapter 352 Submission_2 Chapter 636: Chapter 352 Submission_2 Such an attack, even if it were a cultivator at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, could easily catch it. Facing Lin Tianming, even relying on his physical body alone, he could easily crush him. Sure enough, Lin Tianming casually grasped the Sword Qi in his hand and with a slight exertion of force, crushed it into pieces. This scene completely erased the last trace of hope in Zhou Jin¡¯s heart. Seeing that he stood no chance at all, Zhou Jin was both shocked and furious; he couldn¡¯t hold back from cursing loudly. ¡°You dare, if you dare to kill me, my master will definitely investigate the cause and make the Lin Family accompany me in death!¡± ¡°You will not die well¡­¡± ... ¡°Hmph¡­ speak nicely, and maybe I¡¯ll let you off!¡± ¡°You¡¯re facing death and still dare to threaten me with your family¡¯s influence, you deserve to die!¡± Lin Tianming snorted in anger, then with a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, Zhou Jin lay on the ground, breathless. After doing all of this, Lin Tianming took the storage bag from Zhou Jin¡¯s body, then cast several fireballs to destroy the corpse and erase all traces. Immediately afterward, he once again approached the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and inspected it carefully. At this moment, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was equally terrified, as it had witnessed him kill Zhou Jin and understood the predicament it would face next. It wanted to flee, but its injuries were too severe, and after struggling for a long time, it didn¡¯t get very far. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t waste time and directly used a force to immobilize the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Then, regardless of whether the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox could understand him, he straightforwardly said, ¡°Your cultivation path wasn¡¯t easy, and this Secret Realm has trapped you within it; it¡¯s better to submit to me. I can take you out of here and assist you in breaking through to the Third Order, or even the Fourth Order!¡± His words were sincere and extremely reasonable. You should know, there are quite a few Demonic Beasts in the Tianfeng Secret Realm; if they cannot attach themselves to a cultivator to leave, they can only die trapped within it. Furthermore, the Secret Realm only opens once every two hundred years, which is a very long time even for Demonic Beasts, who live much longer than the Human Race. If the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox couldn¡¯t seize this opportunity, it would have to wait for the next one, which is two hundred years later. In this way, submitting to a human didn¡¯t seem like a bad thing at all. True to his prediction, after Lin Tianming finished speaking, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox seemed to understand and stopped struggling violently. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was pleasantly surprised and immediately continued persuading, ¡°You have seen my cultivation strength; submit to me, and I definitely won¡¯t mistreat you. I will certainly help you break through to the Third Order as soon as possible!¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming looked at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox again, awaiting its reaction. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox then prostrated itself voluntarily, clearly agreeing to Lin Tianming¡¯s terms. Seeing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox so understanding, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit incredulous. After a long time, Lin Tianming finally calmed down, then proactively extended his Divine Sense into the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s consciousness. The process was effortless, completely without any resistance. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and imprinted his Divine Sense within the consciousness of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Soon, the entire process of acknowledging a master neared its end; Lin Tianming could fully sense his mind connected with that of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and he could detonate the beast¡¯s consciousness at any moment, thus controlling its life. By now, the process of acknowledgment was officially complete. At this moment, Lin Tianming finally sighed in relief, his face filled with a joyous smile. Meanwhile, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was rubbing against Lin Tianming¡¯s robe, making a gesture of appeasement. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was even more thrilled and quickly took out several healing elixirs and a few Second Order Demon Beast Inner Pills for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to consume. Lin Tianming¡¯s generous gesture deeply moved the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which thought that following this human might not be so bad after all. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s watchful eye, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox consumed the elixirs and Demon Beast Inner Pills, and its injuries slowly started to heal. Afterward, Lin Tianming put the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao into the Spirit Beast Bag to heal inside. As for himself, he needed to promptly scour the area and collect everything that could be taken. After all, the recent commotion was not small; any nearby cultivator passing by might involve him in unnecessary troubles. Determined, Lin Tianming immediately began to act. He first approached the outermost Greenstone Wood, swinging his sword casually. The First Order Greenstone Wood was easily cut through by the Sword Qi, while the Second Order Greenstone Wood took a few more tries. Before long, he had collected dozens of Greenstone Woods, mostly of the First Order, with only a few of the Second Order. Soon, Greenstone Woods below Third Order had all been collected, totaling one hundred and fifty-six, among which one hundred and twenty-two were of the First Order, and thirty-four of the Second Order. Lin Tianming had also arrived deep in the gorge, standing in front of a Third Order Greenstone Wood. Looking up, the Third Order Greenstone Wood towered more than ten zhang high, its trunk as thick as a water bucket covered with distinctive patterns. He touched the tree trunk with his hand and was greeted by a thick wood property aura, filled with rich vitality. These Third Order Greenstone Woods were not like those of the Second Order. Not only were they much harder, but they also had stronger resilience, making them excellent materials for Artifact Refining. If Fifteenth Grandfather were to see these things, who knows how excited he would be. Lin Tianming thought inwardly, feeling very excited. After calming down, he took out the Tiangang Sword and slashed at the trunk of the Greenstone Wood. ¡°Bang¡­ Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of loud explosions followed, and the Greenstone Wood merely shook violently, leaving behind notches. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was astounded and gained a new level of respect for the Greenstone Wood. He then continued to wield the Tiangang Sword, starting to cut down the tree. An hour passed, and the first Third Order Greenstone Wood finally fell, crashing heavily onto the ground, carving a deep pit. He exerted quite a lot of effort before he managed to put this Greenstone Wood into his storage bag. Then, he continued to search in the gorge. Half a day quickly passed. With the last Greenstone Wood falling to the ground, the Third Order Greenstone Woods in the entire gorge had been felled at last. Upon verification, he had gained a total of seven Third Order Greenstone Woods this time, each over five thousand years of age, and even two that were approaching ten thousand years. Now, with these Third Order Greenstone Woods and the Earth Rampart Crystals he acquired a while back, if Lin Shilu could reforge his magic artifact, it was very possible that it would raise another grade. By then, his strength would be further enhanced. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. He thought the gains from this trip to the Secret Realm were already exceptionally rich. This was only after a little over a month, and he still had more than half a year to search for treasures. As long as he found some treasures that could advance his cultivation, this trip would be considered perfect. Bringing his mind back, Lin Tianming made sure nothing had been overlooked, then erased some traces. Without further delay, he shot off in one direction, planning to find a good place to go into seclusion and cultivate for a while. He would continue his treasure hunt once he was at his peak condition. Having made up his mind, he left the gorge and flew towards the dense forest deep within. A day later. Inside a towering mountain with lush, towering trees and various rocks standing between them. It was a place filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, quite serene and without any traces of Demonic Beasts or cultivators, an ideal location. In a hidden crevice between rocks, Lin Tianming carved out a Temporary Cave Abode and then walked inside, concealing the entrance. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, beginning to use elixirs to heal his injuries and recover the majority of his Spiritual Power that had been drained over the past couple of days. He planned to regain his peak condition before taking inventory of Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag. Given Zhou Jin¡¯s identity and strength, his worth was definitely not low. It was just unfortunate that the Fake Golden Core Talisman was used up. Otherwise, having this item in his possession would have been another significant trump card. But on second thought, he was perhaps being a bit too greedy. After all, without this item, inflicting severe damage on the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox would have been much more difficult, and success was not guaranteed. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the matter and began his cultivation. Chapter 637 637 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_1 ?Chapter 637: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_1 Chapter 637: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_1 Half a month ago, at the Qianchuan Market. Within a Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianfeng and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators were seated together, receiving Lin Xingyan who had rushed over from the family lands. About his purpose for coming, Lin Tianfeng had pondered time and again but could think of no reason. After all, the past two years had been relatively calm, and there had been no news of any significant events occurring in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Beyond that, over the past two years, those stationed here included a Second Order Talisman Maker, Lin Tianyue, and a Second Order Alchemist, Lin Tianhong, ensuring a rather complete staff configuration, capable of being self-sufficient in the most basic treasures. Consequently, the operations in the Luoyun Pavilion were very smooth, even earning more Spirit Stones than during the beast tide attacks of the previous years. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianfeng was deeply troubled by Lin Xingyan¡¯s arrival and couldn¡¯t help but speculate wildly. ... Could it be that there was some misfortune within the family? Or was there some significant policy being communicated by the family? Or perhaps there was some kind of reassignment? Long after, still unable to figure it out, he had no choice but to directly inquire about the reason for Lin Xingyan¡¯s visit. Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyan looked at Lin Tianyue and the others, then remembering the words entrusted to him by the Clan Leader before leaving the family, he showed a troubled expression. Lin Tianyue and the others naturally noticed, knowing there must be some significant matter that needed to be discussed alone with Lin Tianfeng. This certainly was a big issue, one that even they, could not be privy to. Realizing this, Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong tactfully got up, greeted Lin Tianfeng, and then left the courtyard together, leaving only Lin Tianfeng and Lin Xingyan behind. Watching his fellow clan members leave, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, then he asked, ¡°Uncle, is there some grave matter at hand? Otherwise, why such formality?¡± No sooner had his words fallen than Lin Xingyan, noticing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s anxious demeanor, couldn¡¯t help but nod and laugh, ¡°Tianfeng, don¡¯t worry, this matter is a good thing for the family?¡± ¡°A good thing?¡± Lin Tianfeng was startled, thinking that aside from Lin Shikang¡¯s retreat to impact the Golden Core Stage, and Lin Tianming¡¯s entry into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, no other joyous events had happened recently! Could it be that Third Grandfather had made great progress in his impact on the Golden Core Stage? Or had Tian Ming already returned from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, reaping a rich reward? Thinking diligently, neither seemed likely! After all, Third Grandfather had only closed up for so short a time, and Tian Ming had just entered the Secret Realm as well! With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng grew even more puzzled. However, hearing Lin Xingyan speak of the good news, the previously heavy heart of Lin Tianfeng finally returned to normal. ¡°Uncle, just get straight to the point!¡± Unable to wait, Lin Tianfeng promptly urged him on. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯ll get to it, I¡¯ll get to it!¡± Lin Xingyan nodded and then recounted the recent events where the family¡¯s Spiritual Root testing ceremony took place normally, and Lin Tianyun, who had been tested in Nanyun Town, was found to have the Wind Spirit Root. In a short while, upon hearing the account, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression changed dramatically, and his heart surged with excitement. ¡°Wind Spirit Root?¡± ¡°Uncle¡­ is this really true?¡± Lin Tianfeng, who had just calmed down, seemed still somewhat incredulous and had to ask again. At that moment, Lin Xingyan smiled lightly and then said. ¡°You, my boy, I especially came from the family for this, and have informed you with such caution. How could it be false?¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng laughed awkwardly, thinking it was indeed so. To know, this was truly a momentous joy for the family, and extremely important for them. Even the identities of Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue could not be privy to this news, showing just how highly the family regarded Lin Tian Yun¡¯s identity. Thinking it over, it was quite understandable to be so cautious. Once he regained his composure, Lin Tianfeng thought that the Clan Leader must have specially dispatched Lin Xingyan here for a reason; otherwise, it would not have been made into such a grand affair. With that in mind, Lin Tianfeng tentatively asked, ¡°Uncle, have you come here to the market because there is some instruction from the family?¡± Upon the inquiry, Lin Xingyan nodded and then replied, ¡°The Clan Leader has made Tianyun¡¯s identity the highest secret of the family, known to no more than ten people.¡± ¡°The purpose of my visit today, first, is to inform you of this, and second, the Clan Leader wants you to acquire a Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique at any cost.¡± As soon as he spoke, Lin Tianfeng nodded thoughtfully, knowing well that the family had always lacked a Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique, and Lin Tianyun¡¯s progression couldn¡¯t be delayed for too long. This explained why Lin Xingyan had come to the Qianchuan Market, to convey such a task from the family to him. Returning to his senses, Lin Xingyan continued, ¡°Before leaving the family, the Clan Leader repeatedly emphasized to me, insisting I remind you of a few points.¡± ¡°Qianchuan Market is teeming with powers and many high-level Cultivators, so the likelihood of encountering Wind-attribute Cultivation Techniques is relatively high.¡± ¡°No matter what method you use, as long as you come across a Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique, regardless of its rank, you can use the Spirit Stones stored by the Luoyun Pavilion to purchase it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded, aware that the family was truly investing heavily for Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation. ¡°Rest assured, Uncle, I will personally attend to this matter diligently and, upon receiving any news, will spare no expense to obtain the technique,¡± Lin Tianfeng promised. Lin Xingyan nodded at Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, feeling quite relieved about Lin Tianfeng¡¯s responsible nature. Even so, he naturally reiterated his instruction without tiring. Chapter 638 638 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_2 ?Chapter 638: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_2 Chapter 638: Chapter 353 Cave Mansion Ruins_2 ¡°This matter is indeed important, but we must also keep it as confidential as possible, even at the auction. We cannot easily reveal the Lin Family¡¯s intentions.¡± Lin Tianfeng was very much in agreement with this statement. After all, wind-attribute cultivation techniques are considered uncommon, and there are very few forces that can utilize them. If one were to win it at an auction at any cost, it would be tantamount to giving oneself away. Fortunately, powers in the Cultivation World, whether they are Golden Core Forces or Foundation Establishment Powers, all like to collect cultivation techniques. Even if they can¡¯t use them at the moment, they won¡¯t easily pass up the opportunity. In this way, as long as one maintains a balanced mindset, it shouldn¡¯t lead to suspicion. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and firmly committed to memory the instructions given by Lin Xingyan. ... Afterward, the two chatted idly for a few moments before leaving separately. In the days that followed, Lin Tianfeng left early and returned late every day, moving throughout every corner of Qianchuan Market. From the commercial areas of the shops to the free-trading stalls, and even the private, underground auction houses frequented by cultivators, his presence was seen everywhere. Besides this, he also visited many old friends and inquired subtly about anything concerning wind-attribute cultivation techniques. For half a month straight, he did not have a moment¡¯s rest. Even so, there was still no news concerning wind-attribute cultivation techniques. Regarding this, Lin Tianfeng dared not slacken his efforts, nor did he dare to intensify his actions carelessly, to avoid revealing the Lin Family¡¯s secrets. After staying in Qianchuan Market for half a month with no news of the cultivation technique forthcoming, Lin Xingyan had no choice but to return to his family. As for the cultivation technique, they would have to plan for it slowly. Lin Tianfeng understood the importance of the cultivation technique and devoted all his energy to it. Several more days passed. At the entrance of Luoyun Pavilion, Sun Ling¡¯er stood on the steps, looking at the bustling and lively scene inside. After hesitating for a moment, she stepped in. Li Rong, who was observant and perceptive, immediately went up to greet Sun Ling¡¯er upon seeing her. ¡°Esteemed senior, welcome to Luoyun Pavilion. May I know what treasures you are in need of? Please tell me!¡± ¡°Our store has recently been stocked with many treasures, including several rare items that are seldom seen, which I trust will satisfy the senior.¡± Li Rong courteously received Sun Ling¡¯er with full confidence, his demeanor filled with pride. Since the opening of Luoyun Pavilion, he and his sister had been working there for several years. Relying on the excellent treatment provided by the Luoyun Pavilion, their cultivation levels had both advanced rapidly. Li Rong, while earning spirit stones and cultivating, had reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level. As for his younger sister, Li Yuan, her cultivation exceeded that of her older brother by a few years, reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. If things continued this way, perhaps in another ten years or so, the siblings could gather enough spirit stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill, allowing one of them to undergo Foundation Establishment first. And this comfortable and satisfying life was all thanks to the Lin Family. Given these circumstances, Li Rong and his sister were very grateful to the Lin Family. Serving as executive officers in Luoyun Pavilion, they worked even harder. Over the years, the siblings developed a keen ability to appraise treasures and to read people¡¯s expressions and words. Upon seeing Sun Ling¡¯er, Li Rong immediately recognized that her cultivation level was extraordinary and her influence should not be underestimated. Indeed, this was true. In the great battle of Demon-Subduing City, Sun Ling¡¯er, as a teammate of Lin Tianming, had accumulated a large number of military exploits and formed a profound friendship. Leveraging those two years of experience and reasonably generous rewards from the Zhenyang Sect, her cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Today, she had come to experience Luoyun Pavilion for herself, as well as to get acquainted with other members of the Lin Family. Beyond this visit, she also had an important request to make. Realizing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded with satisfaction upon seeing Li Rong¡¯s courteous manner. Then she finally stated her purpose. ¡°Young friend, I wonder which Daoist friend is currently in charge of Luoyun Pavilion? Could you possibly convey a message, just say that an old friend of Daoist Tian Ming is here to visit.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Rong was thrilled at her polite demeanor, thinking that the Lin Family¡¯s influence was indeed great, as Foundation Establishment Cultivators like her often visited over the years. Realizing this, Li Rong felt immensely glad about his decision back then. Having calmed down with great difficulty, Li Rong dared not neglect and hurriedly responded, ¡°Senior, please follow this junior to the private room on the second floor for a brief rest, I will immediately send a message for the proprietor to come.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Lead the way!¡± As Sun Ling¡¯er gave a wave of her hand, Li Rong promptly led her to the second floor, arranged a private room for her, and served her some excellent Spiritual Tea. Following that, he quickly sent a message to Lin Tianfeng, informing him of Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s arrival. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianfeng, who had been wandering outside, arrived at Luoyun Pavilion and met with Sun Ling¡¯er who had come for a visit. At this moment, after exchanging greetings, the two sat opposite each other. Lin Tianfeng was half-skeptical about Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s intentions and the things she had said. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er chuckled, then began to explain. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, this young lady has fought side by side with Daoist Lin Tianming for more than a year on the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield,¡± she said. ¡°And the Lin Family¡¯s proud daughter Lin Tianxi, she has been like my shadow, sharing everything with me.¡± On hearing this, Lin Tianfeng furrowed his brow and then remembered that Qin Xi had entered the battlefield as a daughter of the Lin Family and had changed her name to Lin Tianxi. Furthermore, Lin Tianming had indeed mentioned Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s name and distinguishing features, including revealing some of her strength. Based on this information, he was able to confirm Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s identity. Thus, since she could be considered a good friend of both Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, their idle chat became less wary and competitive. As they chatted idly for a while, they found themselves very much in accord, quickly developing an inexplicable fondness for one another. This made Lin Tianfeng feel rather strange. As for Sun Ling¡¯er, her feelings towards Lin Tianfeng were also somewhat incredible. You see, Sun Ling¡¯er had developed a great fondness for Lin Tianming, subconsciously wanting to get closer to him. After all, the overall strength of the Lin Family was strong, and Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was exceptional, making him an excellent candidate for a cultivation partner. It was a case of a beauty loving a hero; Lin Tianming was the dream partner of all female Loose Cultivators. However, Lin Tianming had somewhat deliberately kept her at bay, and considering Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and strength, as well as the power of the Lin Family, she had no choice but to let the matter go. Yet unexpectedly, she felt an inexplicable fondness the first time she met Lin Tianfeng. Although she indeed had some special hopes for the Lin Family, the inexplicable fondness that emerged for Lin Tianfeng played a big part in her feelings. Under these circumstances, they quickly became good friends and talked without any reservations. After exchanging information for a good while, Lin Tianfeng directly inquired about Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s purpose for visiting. In response, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, Sun Ling¡¯er spoke frankly about the matter. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, please don¡¯t get me wrong, but this young lady¡¯s visit is indeed to discuss a matter of great importance,¡± she said. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianfeng immediately showed interest and followed with a question, ¡°With Fairy Sun¡¯s capabilities, what matter is so serious that you approach it with such caution?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Sun Ling¡¯er smiled lightly and then said solemnly, ¡°This young lady has luckily discovered a Cave Mansion Ruin. As for how many years it has been or the identity and cultivation of the original owner, that remains unknown.¡± ¡°However, based on the fluctuations of the peripheral prohibitions, this Cave Mansion Ruin has existed for a long time, at the very least belonging to a Golden Core Cultivator.¡± On hearing this, Lin Tianfeng was greatly shocked and an incredulous expression appeared on his face. He was aware that in the Cultivation World, Cave Mansion Ruins were not scarce, but they were not easily found. Moreover, the mansions of ordinary cultivators simply could not withstand the ravages of time and would erode away. But according to Sun Ling¡¯er, this Cave Mansion Ruin seemed very ancient, and the original owner¡¯s identity and cultivation were not low. If it indeed was a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s mansion, especially one from many years ago, there truly could be precious treasures left behind, or even some superior Cultivation Techniques. After all, even in the vast Qingzhou, a Golden Core Cultivator was considered a formidable force. Such a cultivator¡¯s leftover possessions and that keen insight were absolutely incomparable to those of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Thinking of these possibilities, Lin Tianfeng became excited and grew even more interested. Chapter 639 639 354 Explores_1 ?Chapter 639: Chapter 354 Explores_1 Chapter 639: Chapter 354 Explores_1 However, he was not so easily swayed by what Sun Ling¡¯er had said to lose his head. He feigned composure and asked, ¡°Fairy Sun, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but this matter is of great importance. While there might be treasures, it¡¯s also filled with considerable risks.¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in understanding. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s reaction was within expectation. After all, though they could be considered friends, the hearts in the Cultivation World are treacherous, and verbal promises are notoriously unreliable. But Sun Ling¡¯er was prepared; she retrieved a beast skin from her storage bag and handed it to Lin Tianfeng. Then, with a sincere look, she said, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, I understand your concerns.¡± ¡°Therefore, to prove my goodwill, perhaps you would like to examine this map, or follow me to check the place for yourself.¡± ... ¡°If what I say proves true, perhaps we can consider joining forces to seek the treasure.¡± ¡°Regarding the distribution of spoils, I would take sixty percent. What do you think of this arrangement, Daoist Tianfeng?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng did not immediately agree, nor did he outright reject her offer. Instead, he carefully pondered her proposal. In his heart, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s gesture was indeed a sign of good faith. She likely did this because it was difficult for one person to enter the Cave Mansion Ruins, prompting her to seek the Lin Family¡¯s strength for the treasure hunt. Additionally, she did not insist on the Lin Family¡¯s cooperation and was willing to reveal so much information without knowing their stance. In this light, she indeed seemed quite sincere. What¡¯s more, the distribution scheme she proposed was rather generous. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng thought it over and decided to first examine the specific location of the Cave Mansion Ruins to verify its truth. If things were as Sun Ling¡¯er said, he naturally wouldn¡¯t pass up such an opportunity. With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng scrutinized the map in his hands, only to discover that the marked location was in a mountain forest tens of thousands of miles west of Qianchuan Market. This place wasn¡¯t far, situated just on the edge of the Demonic Lands, so the danger wasn¡¯t too great. With their speed of travel, they could likely reach it within a fortnight. Such a place was too tempting not to explore. With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng chuckled and replied, ¡°Fairy Sun esteems the Lin Family, which I deeply appreciate and am grateful for.¡± ¡°It so happens that I am unoccupied, and I could take a clan member with me to accompany you to the Cave Mansion Ruins for an inspection.¡± ¡°If the situation turns out to be true, we can then plan accordingly and embark on the treasure hunt together, how does that sound?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Sun Ling¡¯er, without any hesitation, immediately responded. ¡°Let¡¯s do as Daoist Tianfeng says!¡± ¡°However, this area borders the land of the Demonic Beasts, and many cultivators come here to train. If we delay too long, others might discover it.¡± ¡°Hence, I hope Lin will be able to set off as soon as possible!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng quite agreed. After all, the location was indeed sensitive, and if discovered, it would surely invite unnecessary trouble. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and said, ¡°Rest assured, Fairy Sun, I will discuss this with my fellow clan members and give you an answer before evening.¡± ¡°If all goes well, perhaps we can depart tomorrow morning. How about that?¡± ¡°Good, very good!¡± The two reached an agreement and were both in excellent spirits. They chatted for a while longer and confirmed numerous details. Half a quarter of an hour later, Sun Ling¡¯er and Lin Tianfeng exchanged their methods of communication and she took her leave from Luoyun Pavilion. After sending Sun Ling¡¯er off, Lin Tianfeng did not dare delay and promptly returned to the Cave Mansion Courtyard, where he gathered Lin Tianhu and Lin Tianhong along with a few others. Before long. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed at Qianchuan Market gathered, chatting over tea. Lin Tianfeng had no intention of beating around the bush and directly brought up Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s proposal about the Cave Mansion Ruins. Upon hearing his account, Lin Tianhu and the others looked surprised, and then overjoyed. After they calmed down, Lin Tianhong spoke up with a reminder, ¡°Big brother, it all sounds well and good, but we don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or false!¡± No sooner had he finished than Lin Tianyue also chimed in. ¡°Second brother is right; although Sun Ling¡¯er is acquainted with you and sister-in-law, we cannot fully trust her.¡± Lin Tianfeng was well aware of what Lin Tianhong and Tianyue were saying. He had gathered them to discuss the details of this proposal. In his mind, whether the information was true or false, it was essential to visit the location to find out. If it turned out to be true, the Wind-attribute Cultivation Technique might be within reach; if false, at worst it meant a wasted month. As for safety, even if Sun Ling¡¯er harbored some malicious intent and possessed strength at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, he could join forces with Lin Tianhu. Even if they couldn¡¯t defeat her, escaping with their lives wouldn¡¯t be difficult. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, Sun Ling¡¯er was somewhat aware of the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength; it was unlikely she¡¯d make a bold move against the family members. With this in mind, he believed there was little to worry about regarding safety. With these thoughts, Lin Tianfeng expressed his opinion to proceed and inspect the site alongside Lin Tianhu. His idea directly matched Lin Tianhu¡¯s, and although Lin Tianhong and others had some concerns, they also recognized the strength of Lin Tianfeng and Tianhu. In such a situation, after Lin Tianhong gave a few words of advice, he and Lin Tianfeng finalized the details of their plan. Chapter 640 640 354 Searching_2 ?Chapter 640: Chapter 354: Searching_2 Chapter 640: Chapter 354: Searching_2 The following morning at daybreak, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu left the Qianchuan Market together and met up with Sun Ling¡¯er in a valley outside the city. After the acquaintances exchanged pleasantries, Lin Tianfeng introduced Lin Tianhu. Seeing Lin Tianhu¡¯s resolute and unadorned face, coupled with his youth, Sun Ling¡¯er couldn¡¯t help feeling that his strength must be substantial. If she were to consider Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cultivation level as well, even she wouldn¡¯t dare claim certainty in defeating the two of them. However, she held no ill intentions and naturally wouldn¡¯t harbor any designs against them, instead, she began to regard the Lin Family even more highly. After all, the Lin Family truly boasted an abundance of talent. There was no need to mention Lin Tianming; his talent and strength were a rare commodity within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Both Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu were quite young, and their talents and strengths were not insignificant either. ... And how many more like them did the Lin Family possess? One should know that it¡¯s not terrifying for a single person to be strong, but when a whole group is formidable, that is truly fearsome. Given the circumstances, Sun Ling¡¯er was quite courteous, and her words overflowed with the intent to make connections. In response, despite being somewhat taciturn, Lin Tianhu was also very polite, and the wariness between the two parties significantly diminished. It didn¡¯t take long for them to become friendlier toward one another. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng looked up at the sky and then urged, ¡°Fairy Sun, it¡¯s about time we set off. Let¡¯s hurry!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Indeed, it¡¯s time to move!¡± After nodding her agreement, Sun Ling¡¯er took out a map and started examining it once more. Soon, under Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s lead, the trio shot off towards the west. More than ten days passed. The figures of Lin Tianfeng and his companions emerged in a valley within the Qianchuan Mountain Range. This was the inner area of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, although it was adjacent to the outer edge, it still was not far. Even so, the place was sparsely populated, with numerous Second Order Demonic Beasts scattered about. Just along the way, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s party encountered several groups of Second Order Demonic Beasts; First Order Demon Beasts were even more common than hairs on an ox. Relying on the trio¡¯s strength, they managed to escape smoothly and thus arrived here. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng surveyed the surroundings with a puzzled look and asked, ¡°Is this the place mentioned by Fairy Sun?¡± ¡°Although this place is rich in spiritual energy, I can¡¯t discern anything particularly special about it!¡± Upon hearing the question, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded and then replied, ¡°It¡¯s not strange that Daoist Tianfeng can¡¯t spot anything amiss because I have laid down a concealing formation here!¡± ¡°A formation? Fairy Sun truly came prepared!¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a smile. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Tianfeng, you flatter me!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s laughter, reminiscent of silver bells, rang out, before she continued, ¡°This Cave Mansion Ruin must be extraordinary. If I didn¡¯t make some preparations, and someone else discovered it, wouldn¡¯t that have wasted a great opportunity?¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking to himself that Sun Ling¡¯er, despite being a lone female cultivator, had attained her current realm with considerable merit. Indeed, that was the case. Although Sun Ling¡¯er was somewhat older than them, her realm was two levels higher. To achieve such accomplishments, she had led a perilous life, constantly seeking treasures and honing her skills in various mountain ranges, facing endless dangers and challenges. Time and again, she confronted life-threatening crises, but she persisted. Risk and opportunity are proportional; only with effort can one reap rewards. This is the law of survival in the dog-eat-dog Cultivation World. Her experiences over the years were undoubtedly richer than those of Lin Tianfeng and the others. After all, without relatives to guide and support her, she had been competing for all resources on her own. Having such experiences, so different from Lin Tianfeng¡¯s relatively comfortable upbringing, the contrast could not be more profound. With this understanding, Lin Tianfeng genuinely admired Sun Ling¡¯er, a female cultivator, from the bottom of his heart. This feeling was not merely that of romantic affection, but more so, it stemmed from the core of his being. Returning his mind to the present, Lin Tianfeng spoke promptly, ¡°We should not delay, let¡¯s explore this place as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements!¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er wasted no time, pulling a compass from her storage bag and skillfully opening a gap in the hidden formation. After confirming there was no danger in the vicinity, Sun Ling¡¯er took the lead and entered. Watching Sun Ling¡¯er depart, Lin Tianfeng glanced at Lin Tianhu beside him, and after exchanging a look, they followed Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s steps into the hidden formation without hesitation. Once inside the formation, the trio traveled several hundred feet deeper, arriving at the entrance of a gorge. The scenery before them was quite different from what they initially encountered. Outside the formation, the jungle was dense, with rocks scattered haphazardly among the thick vegetation, characterizing this large expanse of forest. Inside, however, the landscape was picturesque, with two rivers meeting and then parting ways, creating a unique tableau of nature¡¯s beauty. Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but admire the view. ¡°If this place weren¡¯t inhabited by demonic beasts, it would indeed be a great location for a temporary cave abode.¡± Returning to his senses, he and Lin Tianhu closely followed Sun Ling¡¯er, walking further into the gorge. Soon, the trio reached the depths of the gorge and paused at a natural crevice. At that moment, Sun Ling¡¯er pointed to the crevice and said, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, this is the entrance to the cave mansion, do you think you can break through these residual prohibitions?¡± ¡°Or perhaps by brute force, forcibly shatter them?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng nodded and moved forward a short distance, stopping in front of an invisible light screen. After a thorough inspection, he realized that indeed, it was a site of cave mansion ruins, with many remaining prohibitions that included both offensive and defensive capabilities and were quite powerful. These prohibitions, however, seemed quite old, reducing their attacking force and defensive power significantly. Yet even so, these prohibitions could easily stop a cultivator above the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Of course, an anomaly like Lin Tianming, with his current strength, could forcibly break through the prohibitions. But such individuals were very few and far between. Refocusing his mind, Lin Tianfeng was utterly certain that Sun Ling¡¯er was not telling lies. Judging by the state of this place, the owner of these cave mansion ruins must have been at least a Golden Core Stage cultivator; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have set up so many prohibitions with such potent force. Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s reason for seeking an alliance with the Lin Family was due to the strength of the prohibitions here. Even with her sixth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation, it would not be easy for her to forcefully break through the defense and enter smoothly. Otherwise, Sun Ling¡¯er would not have sought cooperation and could have explored on her own. After all, if she were to succeed in entering, the gains would likely be even greater. But the location of these cave mansion ruins was quite awkward, situated right on the internal edge of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, where formidable Foundation Establishment cultivators often practiced, making it easy to be exposed. Time waits for no one; she could not delay finding a partner for cooperation, even if she were reluctant. Otherwise, she would have to wait at least a decade to reach the necessary level of cultivation. Such a duration was not short and if the ruins were exposed, she might end up with nothing. Thus, after much deliberation and considering many potential allies, Sun Ling¡¯er decided to seek Lin Tianming¡¯s help. After all, the two had fought side by side on the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield and forged a strong friendship. She had a good understanding of his character and strength. Therefore, Lin Tianming was the best candidate for cooperation. Knowing that Lin Tianming had entered the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and would not emerge for some time, she decided to look for Qin Xi or other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Lin family. It wasn¡¯t until she met Lin Tianfeng and after some discussion that she considered the Lin Family¡¯s reputation and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cultivation strength, which wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat to her. With that, she settled on the matter. As for all these reasons, Lin Tianfeng, after his investigation, could only guess at them. However, that was of little concern, as both parties had their needs, and with their combined strength, they indeed had a chance to forcibly break through these defensive prohibitions. Chapter 641 641 355 Successfully Entering_1 ?Chapter 641: Chapter 355: Successfully Entering_1 Chapter 641: Chapter 355: Successfully Entering_1 Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng made up his mind to try to obtain some treasures. If there were any Wind-attribute Cultivation Techniques, that would be the best. If not, they could still obtain some cultivation resources. Thinking of this, Lin Tianfeng transmitted his voice secretly, asking Lin Tianhu¡¯s opinion. Soon, after reviewing the situation, Lin Tianhu generally agreed with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s decision. However, he thought the restrictions here were still very strong, and with their combined strength, the three of them might have to put in considerable effort. As for his plan, it was to return to Qianchuan Market first, discuss with the Lin Family Members, and prepare more treasures. If possible, they could even bring Lin Tianhong along. ... After all, one more family member meant additional safety for them. After some exchanges, the two reached a unanimous decision on this matter. Then, Lin Tianfeng spoke to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, the Cave Mansion Ruins do indeed exist.¡± ¡°However, as you¡¯ve seen, although these restrictions are in poor condition, they are not likely to be easily broken by just the three of us.¡± ¡°More importantly, the cave mansion is filled with uncertainties¡ªwe are not clear about the existence of Demonic Beasts and whether there are loopholes in the Formation.¡± ¡°Therefore, I suggest we go back to Qianchuan Market to prepare, preferably with a few powerful offensive and defensive treasures, to ensure more safety.¡± ¡°Besides, our clan has two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the market. If they could come and help, it would surely be safer.¡± After hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er thought it over and found Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words to have some merit. Still, she had her reservations! If she misjudged them and Lin Tianfeng, along with other Lin Family Members, turned against her, she really wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in a three- or four-on-one situation. Thus, after hesitating for a moment, she spoke to Lin Tianfeng, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, your words are reasonable!¡± ¡°However, though the remnants of the restrictions here are powerful, we don¡¯t need too many people. In my opinion, adding one more member from the Lin Family would be feasible!¡± Her words were also out of consideration that if the three Lin Family Members turned against her, she could handle them with her cultivation strength or at least escape if things went south. Lin Tianfeng could also guess these concerns. In fact, in his heart, he did not believe that Sun Ling¡¯er would agree to a team of four from the Lin Family. Moreover, out of the four Lin Family Members in Qianchuan Market, at least one needed to stay at the Luoyun Pavilion, so it would not be possible for all of them to be mobilized. Internally, he thought if he could bring together three family members, that would meet his expectations. By saying so, he was also testing the waters, If Sun Ling¡¯er agreed, it would be ideal. If not, they would reduce one family member, trying to balance both sides. At this moment, when Lin Tianfeng heard Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s thoughts, his eyebrows relaxed, and he let out a sigh of relief internally. He thought as he had anticipated, under the pressure, Sun Ling¡¯er agreed to add another family member. Such a result was exactly what he wanted; achieving a balance would allow them to explore the cave mansion with more peace of mind. With this in mind, he immediately cupped his hands with a smile, ¡°Fairy Sun is truly understanding. In that case, let¡¯s get moving immediately!¡± Upon hearing these complimentary words, Sun Ling¡¯er giggled and nodded, agreeing with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s proposal. Soon, the three of them left the gorge by the same path they came and returned to Qianchuan Market together. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After half a month. Lin Tianfeng had arranged the specifics, with Lin Tianhong joining the team, leaving only Lin Tianyue to keep watch at the Luoyun Pavilion. Not only that, he specifically took a large number of items for sale from Luoyun Pavilion, found Li Xiuyuan, and purchased many High Quality Second Order talisman papers. For this exploration of the Cave Mansion Ruins, he used up all the wealth of several family members and even some of the Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s liquid assets to supplement their means of attack and defense. He prepared thoroughly. He was very clear in his heart that such cave mansion ruins, undiscovered for so long, surely had a master of no ordinary capability behind them. Such cave mansion ruins were filled with unknown dangers, but also with great opportunities. As the leader stationed in Qianchuan Market, he had to be well-prepared for the safety of his clan members. Otherwise, if any of them were to fall, it would be a severe loss for the current state of the family. Under these circumstances, he even took the liberty to use a portion of the family¡¯s funds, all to ensure a safe return to Qianchuan Market. Regarding his decision, Lin Tianhu and the others had no objections; instead, they admired his decisiveness. With preparations complete, Lin Tianfeng and the others instructed Tianyue, then left Qianchuan Market. After reuniting with Sun Ling¡¯er, the group of four made their way back to the gorge without much trouble, quite familiar with the route now. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng and the others stood outside the restrictions of the Cave Mansion Ruins, scrutinizing them closely. The concealed Formation around the perimeter still existed, and the entrance to the Cave Mansion Ruins appeared unchanged, but the power of the restrictions seemed to have declined. However, the extent of this decrease was so minor that it made virtually no difference to their overall strength. At that time, Sun Ling¡¯er looked at the three Lin Family Members before her and reminded them, ¡°Let¡¯s get started, fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°Good¡­ the energy here seems weaker. Later, let¡¯s focus our combined attack on this spot,¡± said Lin Tianfeng, pointing to a specific position. After replying, he looked to Lin Tianhu and the other family members by his side. Chapter 642 642 355 Smooth Entry_2 ?Chapter 642: Chapter 355: Smooth Entry_2 Chapter 642: Chapter 355: Smooth Entry_2 After exchanging glances, they all took out their attack magic artifacts and made ready to strike. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er was not to be outdone and likewise took out her own attack magic artifact, ready to launch an attack at any moment. A few breaths later. Following an order from Sun Ling¡¯er, the attack magic artifacts in the four people¡¯s hands burst forth with light of various colors. The attack magic artifact used by Lin Tianfeng was a Second Order Medium Quality, crafted by Lin Shilu, and it was quite powerful. As for Lin Tianhu and the others, they used Second Order Lower Quality attack magic artifacts, which although not of high grade, were of pretty good quality. The combined attack power of the three was, overall, still very strong. ... The attack magic artifact used by Sun Ling¡¯er was a Second Order Medium Quality flying sword. The body of the sword was a light blue color, and it unleashed a formidable attack power, clearly also a fine quality attack magic artifact. This magic artifact was something Sun Ling¡¯er had acquired through her years of training and as a reward for her merits in the great battle at Yuyao City, adding to her wealth. She was quite satisfied with its power and wielded it boldly and decisively, matching her Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivation, making her attacks obviously stronger than those of the Lin Family members. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of loud explosions was heard, and the ground shook with the force of their joint attack. Fortunately, they were well prepared, having laid out several First Order Formations in advance, which covered the entrance to the canyon, isolating much of the disturbance. Otherwise, noises like these could easily be detected by some Foundation Establishment Cultivators without taking any measures. Their combined attacks bombarded the barrier, causing only a ripple of energy on its surface, without breaking it. The group had anticipated such a result. After all, this was just a probing attack and lacked sufficient power, so it certainly could not succeed in one strike. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng was not discouraged but became even more resolute. ¡°Everyone, increase your strength, I believe it won¡¯t be long before we can break through it.¡± After Lin Tianfeng made this remark, Lin Tianhu and the others understood his intent and all increased the intensity of their attacks. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er also stopped holding back and continued to relentlessly attack the barrier along with the three others. ¡°Bang bang¡­ bang¡­ bang¡­¡± The sounds of explosions continued non-stop, the powerful vibrations growing incessantly, and the energy on the barrier¡¯s light screen visibly weakened. They sustained such an attack for a good half day. ¡°It seems the energy is nearly spent, let us make use of the power of talisman paper to see if we can break this barrier in one fell swoop!¡± After Lin Tianfeng spoke, Lin Tianhu and the others took out several Second Order Attack Talismans and activated them without hesitation. Sun Ling¡¯er also took out a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman and set it off. All four of them used their techniques, launching their strongest combined attack. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sky above the canyon suddenly became a blaze of colors as numerous Sword Qi, fireballs, and ice projectiles bombarded the barrier. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± a series of intense explosion sounds. The already weakened light screen rippled violently and the ground trembled several times. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng and the others all widened their eyes and stared fixedly at the light screen, holding their breath. Things happened in a flash, and after a few moments, the light screen collapsed. Immediately after, the scene within the barrier was exposed to everyone¡¯s eyes. Looking ahead, the view had drastically changed, revealing a bottomless cavernous passage. At the same time, an even denser Spiritual Energy rushed at them, refreshing everyone¡¯s spirit. Seeing this, their faces lit up with joy, and broad smiles emerged on their faces. ¡°Haha¡­ we finally broke through!¡± Lin Tianfeng laughed out loud and then said to Sun Ling¡¯er beside him, ¡°Fairy Sun, we¡¯ve broken through the barrier, let¡¯s go in and explore!¡± ¡°It should be so!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er nodded and responded. Seeing that Sun Ling¡¯er had no objections, Lin Tianfeng instructed Lin Tianhu and the others, ¡°Once we start, Tianhong will follow behind me, Tianhu will cover our rear, and everyone should be extra careful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big brother!¡± the usually quiet Lin Tianhu replied. Then, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er took the lead and rushed into the cave. ¡°Second Brother, let¡¯s get moving!¡± After Lin Tianhu spoke, Lin Tianhong nodded, and without delay, they followed Lin Tianfeng¡¯s pace, one after the other, into the passage. Inside the cave, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er probed carefully along the passage into the depths. They didn¡¯t know how long they walked, but after passing through the long corridor, they arrived safely at an even larger cave without any accidents along the way. Looking around, this cave was incredibly vast, with numerous stone tables and chairs made from artifact refining materials placed inside, and the walls were embedded with fist-sized beads, which appeared to decorate a hall. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The living room area was vast and there were many items, but most of the furnishings had turned to debris on the floor. Lin Tianfeng picked up a piece of a stone table fragment to examine and couldn¡¯t help but flush with excitement. ¡°The material of this stone table is actually made from Second Order Superior artifact refining material, bronze crystal!¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Lin Tianhu and the others also picked up some fragments to examine, and soon showed the same incredulous expressions as Lin Tianfeng. Clearly, judging by the remnants of these materials, the cave had been around for a long time, and even Second Order Superior artifact refining material like bronze crystal couldn¡¯t withstand the wear of the years. This very fact also suggested the antiquity of this cave abode, and that its owner must have been a mighty being. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been so extravagant as to use Second Order Superior artifact refining materials even for basic ornaments. Understanding this, everyone was filled with heightened anticipation for what they might encounter next. After regaining their composure, Lin Tianfeng continued to lead the group deeper into the interior. Soon, they discovered more than a dozen variously sized secret chambers along the sides of a passage. These chambers were also defended by enchantments, which left the group unable to guess the dangers or opportunities that might lie within. However, the defensive power of these enchantments had also waned significantly, and with some effort, they could be broken. Having come this far, there was no reason to give up. Knowing this, they once again began the process of breaking the enchantments. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± After half an hour, they joined forces and opened the first secret chamber. After exploring for a while, it appeared to be a bedroom, furnished with a jade bed made from high-quality artifact refining materials and other ordinary things, but nothing else. More critically, these objects were also severely weathered and valueless. Faced with this, the group felt a twinge of disappointment. Nevertheless, they quickly regained their morale and started attacking the second secret chamber. After the better part of the day, several chambers were opened in succession. Similar to the first, they found virtually nothing, nearly driving them to despair. All that effort had yielded nothing, and they had wasted quite a few Second Order talismans. If they didn¡¯t find something worthwhile, it would be an injustice to the nearly a month¡¯s worth of effort they had invested. Finally, after the sixth secret chamber was opened, they encountered some useful items. Upon investigation, this chamber turned out to be a Pill Refining Room. While there were no remaining elixirs, they found three Jade Slips. Perhaps because materials used for important hereditary treasures like Jade Slips were special, they were able to last a long time and thus were preserved. However, the content recorded on the Jade Slips appeared to be three Third Order Pill Formulas, and due to some damage to parts of the Jade Slips, the recorded content was also incomplete. As such, the value of these Pill Formulas was difficult to determine. If there was a way to fill in the missing parts, they could be quite valuable; otherwise, they were essentially useless. Even so, these three Jade Slips considerably improved the group¡¯s mood. At the very least, they broke the spell of finding nothing, keeping their hopes up for the remaining secret chambers. Chapter 643 643 356 Unknown Space_1 ?Chapter 643: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_1 Chapter 643: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_1 Immediately after, the four of them left the secret chamber and continued their search for the next one. As chamber after chamber was opened, by the time they reached the ninth, the quartet finally encountered something different. This secret chamber seemed to be a training room, quite spacious, and there, they discovered a skeleton. The skeleton appeared tall and slender; its owner must have been of considerable stature in life. Moreover, the skeleton was of a white jade color throughout, and in many places, it had turned pale gold. Even devoid of any sign of life, the skeleton still emitted a faint but formidable pressure. Upon encountering the skeleton, the group of four proceeded with utmost caution, daring not to let their guard down. ... After all, in the Cultivation World, some experts, even after death, might still possess unknown methods. If they were to be careless and become possessed, or attacked by any lingering traps, with their level of cultivation, they could very well fall here. Realizing this, eager as they were to discover opportunities, they dared not approach hastily for fear of losing their lives. Fortunately, after several cautious probes by Lin Tianfeng, the skeleton did not move, nor were there any signs of traps or hidden seals in the training room. Seeing that the skeleton posed no danger, Lin Tianfeng and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Big brother, the owner of this skeleton must have been at least a Golden Core Cultivator when alive, right?¡± At this moment, Lin Tianhong couldn¡¯t help but ask, looking at the skeleton before them. Lin Tianfeng nodded slightly at this remark, then shared his own thoughts. ¡°In my opinion, the owner of this skeleton must have had at least a Late Stage Golden Core cultivation level when alive.¡± ¡°It might even be possible that they were a Nascent Soul Cultivator!¡± ¡°A Nascent Soul Cultivator? Really?¡± Lin Tianhong seemed somewhat incredulous, muttering to himself in disbelief. In fact, Lin Tianhong¡¯s shock was not unwarranted; the guess was incredibly startling. Bearing in mind that the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World did not have even a single Nascent Soul Cultivator, and even across the vast expanse of Qingzhou or the Nine Provinces Continent, Nascent Soul Cultivators were top-tier powerhouses. And yet, this seemingly random Cave Mansion Ruins they were exploring might just be the abode of a Nascent Soul Expert, which was inconceivable. Hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s words, Sun Ling¡¯er, standing beside him, gently smiled and explained while pointing at the skeleton. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng¡¯s guess is quite plausible; judging by the weathered condition of these facilities, this cave mansion has existed for at least tens of thousands of years.¡± ¡°This skeleton has turned the color of white jade, which can only be achieved by Golden Core Cultivators¡¯ bodies. ¡°After all these years, the skeleton still glistens radiantly, retaining the formidable pressure of a mighty being, and it¡¯s even begun to turn a golden-yellow.¡± ¡°So, this person¡¯s cultivation level was at least Late Stage Golden Core, and perhaps even that of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.¡± Hearing Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianfeng nodded in agreement, deeply impressed by her insight. Seeing both attest to this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s face lit up with excitement, thinking that if this person was indeed a Nascent Soul Cultivator in life, then their fortune would naturally be immense. For Foundation Establishment Cultivators like them, even a tiny bit of the treasures left behind would be a Heaven-Defying Treasure. Understanding this, Lin Tianhong couldn¡¯t help but urge, ¡°Big brother, since this person was so powerful in life, there must be many treasures. Let¡¯s hurry and look for them!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, without further delay, each took out several Second Order Defense Talismans and held them in their hands. After ensuring they hadn¡¯t missed anything, they exchanged a smile and continued to approach. Soon, the four of them reached the front of the skeleton and began searching meticulously. Unfortunately, aside from finding some remnants of treasures¡¯ past glory, they found no treasures left behind. Seeing this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s face showed disappointment, and he couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°How could such a powerful person have left nothing behind?¡± Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng ignored his complaint and was intently studying a Jade Token sitting beneath the skeleton, appearing contemplative. The Jade Token¡¯s color was strikingly similar to the skeleton, and it clung closely to it, easy to overlook without a careful inspection. Quickly noticing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s lack of action, Sun Ling¡¯er followed his gaze and also spotted the Jade Token. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Her eyes dancing with curiosity, Sun Ling¡¯er pointed at the token and said, ¡°This might be the only thing left behind; it must have some special significance!¡± At this, Lin Tianhong came back to his senses and nodded to Sun Ling¡¯er, saying, ¡°Fairy Sun, let¡¯s pick up this item and take a closer look!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ be careful, Daoist Tianfeng!¡± replied Sun Ling¡¯er. Seeing no objections from Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng did not tarry and approached swiftly. With the speed of lightning, he took the Jade Token from beneath the skeleton in his hand. His movements were quick, and clutching the Jade Token caused no reaction from the skeleton, much to their relief. ¡°Big brother, have you discovered anything about the Jade Token?¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianhong, unable to quell his impatience, urged him on. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng began to closely examine the Jade Token. The material of the Jade Token was unknown, resembling the skeleton but slightly rougher in texture; it was covered with numerous intricate, fine talismanic inscriptions, indicating it could be a defensive artifact. However, that was all; there was no information about the skeleton¡¯s identity, nor any clue to how it might be activated. Chapter 644 644 356 Unknown Space_2 ?Chapter 644: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_2 Chapter 644: Chapter 356 Unknown Space_2 Seeing that he gained nothing, Lin Tianfeng had no choice but to tentatively infuse spiritual power into the jade token to see if it would react. No sooner had he tried than there indeed was a change. Accompanied by a strange sound, the jade token suddenly burst into brilliant light, instantly illuminating the entire secret chamber. At that moment, the vision of the four people blurred, and each of them felt a powerful pulling force dragging them into the endless void. In that instant, they all felt dizzy and swollen-headed, and then they lost consciousness. ¡­ Having no idea how much time had passed, when the four of them came to, they found themselves in an unfamiliar mountain valley. ... Looking around, the valley was filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, and the spiritual energy there was even denser than in the cave dwelling they had just been in. However, strangely enough, though the sky in the valley was blue, there was no sign of the sun. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng was the first to recover and couldn¡¯t help muttering. ¡°This seems to be an independent space!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianhong and the others recalled the descriptions of spaces in various classics, and their faces brimmed with ecstatic delight. It was said in the Cultivation World that treasures from independent spaces were of the Fourth or even Fifth Order rarity and value, making them extremely scarce and highly valuable. It was clear that the jade token Lin Tianfeng had just acquired was the key to entering this independent space. For some unknown reason, Lin Tianfeng merely infused some spiritual power into it without establishing ownership or refining the jade token, yet inexplicably transported the four of them here. Though the process was tortuous and entirely unexpected, the result turned out to be good. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but think to himself, ¡°I stumbled upon such a treasure by mistake!¡± Turning his attention back, Lin Tianfeng carefully observed the space beneath his feet. Upon his investigation, he discovered that this space was quite extraordinary, not only was it abundant with spiritual energy, but it was also a space that living beings could enter. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to survive. And such a spatial treasure is typically something only an Artifact Refiner of Fourth Order or above could create, and one must also possess Nascent Soul Stage Cultivation to construct such an item. Therefore, those who could create or possess such an item would definitely be considered powerful figures in the Cultivation World. Basing it on this information, the owner of the skeleton was most likely a Nascent Soul Cultivator in life. Otherwise, Golden Core Cultivators would probably not be able to obtain such a treasure. What¡¯s more critical is that such a treasure is extremely versatile, not only useful for storing treasures but also for keeping spirit beasts and even growing spiritual medicines, all of which could thrive normally within. In layman¡¯s terms, this was akin to the storage bags and spirit beast bags of High Order Cultivators, but with even more complete and powerful functions. Understanding all this, the four of them were excited to the extreme, their previously downcast mood instantly transformed. Once they calmed their thrilled emotions, Lin Tianfeng said to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, since the owner has been dead for many years, and no one has come in or out, there should be some good things here. Let¡¯s start looking immediately!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ indeed!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in response, her heart already brimming with anticipation. Soon, the four of them set out together, searching carefully through the valley. Not much time passed. The few searching came across a Spirit Field, and each person¡¯s face flushed red with excitement at the sight before them. It wasn¡¯t that they lacked composure, but what was in front of them was simply too enticing. Upon closer observation, the Spirit Field in front of them spanned over ten acres, with spiritual medicines growing lushly and displaying a riot of colors that looked incredibly attractive. And that rich fragrance of the medicines seemed to permeate through the barriers protecting them as if it had spread far and wide. Gazing at the large number of spiritual medicines in front of them, many of them Third Order varieties, most of which were familiar species. Through the transparent barrier, the group quickly cataloged the types and quantities of these spiritual medicines. Third Order White Orchid Flowers, Third Order Yuxu Grass, Third Order Silver Top Mushrooms¡­ The main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, White Jade Grass, Second Order Variegated Flowers, Second Order Snake Amaranth Fruits¡­ In the Spirit Fields found here, there are more than a dozen types of Third Order Spiritual Medicine, totaling over seventy plants. As for the Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, there are dozens of types, with a total of over three hundred plants. However, strangely and regrettably, there wasn¡¯t even a single plant of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine, nor was there any Second Order Spiritual Medicine or Third Grade Treasures that could directly aid in breaking through one¡¯s cultivation. Otherwise, if they could obtain the Spiritual Medicine from these Spirit Fields, they would have hit the jackpot. ¡°Big brother, hurry up and break this seal!¡± An impatient Lin Tianhong, who was also a Second Order Alchemist, upon seeing such a vast array of valuable Spiritual Medicine Materials, couldn¡¯t help but urge eagerly. It wasn¡¯t just Lin Tianhong; even Sun Ling¡¯er, who had a higher cultivation, was similarly drooling over them. If not for the barrier, she might have already charged in. Seeing the fervent looks of everyone, Lin Tianfeng also grew somewhat anxious. However, he forced himself to calm down, though he still hesitated internally. After all, the space they were brought to by the Jade Token was an ownerless item. If they could refine it, they might be able to claim everything inside as well as gain a powerful auxiliary treasure, thus there would be no need for brute force destruction. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, for some reason, the Jade Token had disappeared without a trace after bringing them to this space. He had tried various methods, but he was unable to summon it back, let alone refine it as his own. Not only that, they now had no way of exiting the space either. Upon thinking carefully, whether the situation in front of them was an opportunity or a crisis was still uncertain. If they forcibly broke the barriers inside, there was no telling if an accident might occur, or if it would damage the space, which was still difficult to say. After a lengthy silence, Lin Tianfeng pondered in secret, unable to make a decision for a moment. At this time, he glanced over at the still calm Lin Tianhu and privately sent a message to ask for his opinion. The same concerns Lin Tianfeng had, the usually reticent Lin Tianhu had also considered. After some discussion, both agreed that in the current situation, it wasn¡¯t up to them to choose. Since they couldn¡¯t leave anyway, they might as well make an attempt and secure the treasures before them first. Making up his mind, Lin Tianfeng then said to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, the barrier here should only be for gathering Spiritual Energy; its defensive power isn¡¯t strong, even weaker than those secret chambers outside. It probably won¡¯t take much effort to break through.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ we¡¯ve come this far, let¡¯s get started quickly!¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er naturally wouldn¡¯t object, especially since she had been itching to start. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all make a move together and claim the treasures of this place first!¡± After Sun Ling¡¯er responded, she was the first to strike. Lin Tianfeng and the others were not to be outdone and all attacked the spot Sun Ling¡¯er had chosen with ferocity. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of loud noises emanated, and ripples appeared on the light barrier protecting the Spirit Fields. The four worked together smoothly, tirelessly attacking the barrier. After only a few exchanges, the barrier of the Spirit Fields crumbled apart under their combined forces. Fortunately, the inside of the space was relatively calm, only causing a brief turbulence due to the clash of Spiritual Energy within and without, but it quickly returned to normal. And at this moment, the coveted Spiritual Medicine Materials were exposed before everyone, within arm¡¯s reach. ¡°Tianhu, you and Tianhong team up, and Fairy Sun and I will form another group. Collect all the Spiritual Medicine quickly!¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s instruction, Lin Tianhu nodded and after exchanging a glance with Lin Tianhong, they both rushed into the Spirit Fields. Their actions were swift, swiftly gathering several plants of Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. Chapter 645 645 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute ?Chapter 645: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_1 Chapter 645: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_1 And at this time, seeing Lin Tianhu and his companion had already made their move, Sun Ling¡¯er naturally would not fall behind them. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, let¡¯s get started!¡± After speaking to Lin Tianfeng, Sun Ling¡¯er rushed into the spirit fields and began collecting the third-order spiritual medicine. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianfeng also joined her ranks, and the four of them split into two groups, energetically beginning their collection of spiritual medicine materials. Their actions were swift, and in just an hour, several hundred spiritual medicine materials had all been gathered. When the four of them came together, everyone placed the collected spiritual medicine materials into specially designated jade boxes, neatly arranged in front of them. At this moment, everyone¡¯s face was brimming with excitement, the gloom from entering the cave mansion ruins gone. ... Looking at the spiritual medicine materials in front of her, Sun Ling¡¯er was incredibly excited. It should be known that there was a great amount of spiritual medicine materials here, including many third-order ones, which were hard to come by in the Cultivation World. And as the organizer of this expedition to the cave mansion ruins, the information she provided allowed everyone to reap rewards greatly, and according to the agreement made before they entered, she could claim nearly half of the benefits. Such an abundance of treasure was invaluable. As a Loose Cultivator, she was acutely aware of the hardships she had endured over the years in her cultivation journey. One could say she had never encountered such an enormous windfall before. With such a cache of resources, advancing to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm would be incredibly easy. If luck was on her side, it might even help her to enter the Golden Core Stage. And this was just a portion of their finds; the unknown expanse had many areas still unexplored, with the potential for even more rewards. Even if they were to leave now, the share of the loot each would receive was more than satisfying. With these thoughts in mind, Sun Ling¡¯er was extremely thrilled and very grateful to have met the Lin Family Members. After all, every time she joined forces with the Lin Family, she would gain something to various degrees. ¡°It seems that the cultivators of the Lin Family do indeed have incredible fate; every member of the family is extraordinary!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er mused dreamily to herself. Having calmed herself down, she then said to Lin Tianfeng, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, should we divide up now or wait until we leave?¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianfeng let out a chuckle in response. ¡°There are still many places here we haven¡¯t explored. How about we divide everything after we get out?¡± Listeining to this, Sun Ling¡¯er smiled indifferently, agreeing with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s thinking, and hence, she did not object to his suggestion. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s get moving quickly, secure the treasures of this place as soon as possible, and then leave this place!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er urged, taking the lead towards the deeper regions. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng let out a wry smile, and, together with Lin Tianhu and the others, followed in her footsteps. Before long, they arrived at the top of a mountain and stopped in front of a peculiar-looking pavilion. Looking over, the pavilion was oddly shaped and large, also protected by magical restrictions. Even from behind the restriction¡¯s light screen, it was hard to discern any useful information that might reveal the purpose of the pavilion. At this time, each person¡¯s brow was furrowed in deep thought, pondering something internally. ¡°Big brother, could this pavilion be where the treasures are stored?¡± Lin Tianhong was the first to speak, pulling everyone back from their thoughts to reality. Hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s words, they all thought it was quite possible. After all, some treasures are special and do not require specific environments like spiritual medicine or spirit beasts for storage. Cultivation techniques, elixirs, and even various weapons and talisman paper are less complex and just need a place to be kept. Clearly, the pavilion did indeed have the potential to be a treasure vault. Realizing this, the recently calmed group once again became excited. At this time, Lin Tianfeng glanced at Sun Ling¡¯er and Lin Tianhu and then said, ¡°Fairy Sun, this pavilion is surely extraordinary, let¡¯s get to work quickly!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er responded and immediately started her attack, launching a strike at the magical restriction light screen before them. Her movements were quick, not showing any hesitancy. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng smiled casually, joining in with Lin Tianhu and the others to collaborate with Sun Ling¡¯er in attacking the light screen. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Familiar sounds continued to ring out non-stop, and the energy on the restriction light screen depleted rapidly. With everyone¡¯s combined efforts, the pavilion¡¯s protective restriction began to collapse, eventually vanishing completely from view. The ground shook and the commotion was even louder than when the spirit fields¡¯ restrictions were breached. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng felt a pang of fear in his heart. Continuing this way, if they forcefully broke too many restrictions, could it cause the collapse of this space and their subsequent engulfment within? While Lin Tianfeng was lost in thought, Sun Ling¡¯er, taking the lead, was the first to rush into the pavilion. ¡°Big brother?¡± Lin Tianhong, seeing Sun Ling¡¯er disappear before his eyes, gave a reminder. Hearing the reminder, Lin Tianfeng regained his senses and then glanced at the still stable space, which didn¡¯t seem to show any signs of collapse. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m overthinking it!¡± ¡°No matter, since we can¡¯t leave, let¡¯s secure the treasures first!¡± Lin Tianfeng thought to himself, then pulled Lin Tianhu and the third person along as they too rushed in. Soon, they appeared on the first floor of the pavilion, standing side by side, eyes wide with surprise at the scene before them. A glance around revealed that the first floor of the pavilion was vast, but it was completely empty, with nothing inside. Chapter 646 646 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute ?Chapter 646: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_2 Chapter 646: Chapter 357 Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique_2 ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°If this attic really is a treasure vault, isn¡¯t it a bit too clean? There isn¡¯t even a single spirit stone!¡± The most restless, Lin Tianhong, couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. Hearing this string of complaints, Lin Tianfeng offered a wry smile and then pointed to a passage in the corner as he said, ¡°This floor is probably meant for storing ordinary treasures. Perhaps it¡¯s because so much time has passed that ordinary items simply couldn¡¯t be preserved, and that¡¯s why it¡¯s completely empty.¡± ¡°Things that have remained through the endless ages are certainly not these first and second order spiritual objects. Perhaps only treasures of the third or fourth order could have survived.¡± ¡°Thus, it¡¯s certain that we won¡¯t find anything on the first floor. As for the second floor, or even higher, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± ¡°In any case¡­ let¡¯s go up and have a look before we draw any conclusions!¡± ... After hearing what Lin Tianfeng had to say, Lin Tianhong finally relaxed, heaving a sigh of relief. His temperament was somewhat impulsive, and he was obsessed with alchemy. He certainly didn¡¯t understand as much about the countless documents and hearsay of the cultivation world as Lin Tianfeng did. Lin Tianfeng, on the other hand, was carefree and meticulous, having made acquaintances with all sorts of people from different walks of life. This seemingly rough and hearty temperament allowed him to thrive anywhere, proving to be extremely steady. On the other side, Sun Ling¡¯er was extremely satisfied with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s perspective. Soon, the four of them went together to the attic¡¯s passage and arrived on the attic¡¯s second floor. Just as Lin Tianfeng anticipated, the inside was empty just like below, filled only with a vast amount of debris, indistinguishable as to what treasures they once were. Fortunately, they had been prepared for this outcome, so there was no sense of disappointment. Undeterred, the group continued upwards, and it wasn¡¯t long before they arrived on the third floor. Standing in the somewhat spacious hall, they noticed that this area was much smaller than the two floors below and there were no further passages. Clearly, this was the topmost level and the most important place in the entire attic. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, everyone¡¯s expressions turned eager, and they began searching carefully throughout this floor. In a short while, they came upon a pile of colorful debris. Upon closer inspection, this pile was quite sizable, consisting of artifact refining materials, broken jade bottles, and even body parts of demonic beasts, haphazardly strewn on the ground. ¡°Big brother¡­ this piece of third order artifact refining material has weathered so badly that it hardly holds any energy. It¡¯s a real waste of natural resources!¡± Lin Tianhong extracted a blue ore from the pile and after scrutinizing it, couldn¡¯t help but curse in frustration. Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t respond. He too was holding a relatively intact jade bottle, pouring out the remnants of the elixirs inside. At that moment, the other couple were also busy sorting through the heap of rubbish. Soon, they had sifted through the debris, finding that all were items from which the energy had dissipated significantly. Many years ago, these objects might have been of great value, but now, with the passage of time, they were scarcely of any use. However, even so, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t let them go to waste, collecting everything that could be utilized. These third order ores, for instance, despite severe energy loss, could still potentially be used for artifact refining if processed properly, though they were no longer suitable for high order magic artifacts. Immediately after, the four continued to explore this floor, sequentially finding several more piles of items. As expected, items of high value were exceedingly rare. Even the few fourth order items they found had lost so much energy that they were not much different from ordinary second order treasures. In response to this, Lin Tianfeng felt rather helpless, only able to offer some words of comfort. ¡°Big brother, come over here and look!¡± Just then, Lin Tianhu found something in a corner, and his sudden exclamation drew everyone¡¯s attention. Lin Tianfeng rushed over in an instant and started examining a jade slip he picked up from a pile of objects. Soon enough, his breathing quickened, and his face flushed with excitement. Upon inspection, he found that the jade slip was actually the wind-attribute cultivation technique he had long been seeking. Named ¡®Wind-Chasing Daoist Scripture¡¯ Although the rank is only Earth Grade, it was already the Lin Family¡¯s highest grade technique available to the clan members. ¡°It¡¯s really a case of ¡®not noticing the willow tree that grows in the shade when you¡¯re just planting flowers without a care¡¯!¡± With this technique, Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation would surely progress with astonishing speed. Given his unique attribute talent, he might even catch up with Lin Tianming, the fastest cultivator among them, or even surpass him! One can imagine that under such circumstances, the breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage for the two great talents of the Lin Family was almost a sure thing, and even reaching the Nascent Soul Stage wasn¡¯t out of the question. ¡°Hehe¡­ bringing this technique back to the family, the Clan Leader and the rest will definitely be overjoyed!¡± Lin Tianfeng thought to himself with a smile that stayed on his face, looking somewhat strange. ¡°Big brother, did you find something good?¡± Lin Tianhong couldn¡¯t help asking upon seeing his expression. In response, Lin Tianfeng did not explain but simply stashed it directly into the storage bag that held his gains. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, did you find something? Won¡¯t you even let this little girl take a look?¡± Sun Ling¡¯er spoke with a tone of grievance, seemingly very dissatisfied. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianfeng quickly said, ¡°Fairy Sun, I swear by the Heavenly Dao that the item I just took is definitely of no use to you. ¡°But for our Lin Family, it is of great significance.¡± ¡°Therefore, I took it directly, but to compensate you, when we sort out the treasures later, our Lin Family will take one-tenth less, and I will owe you a favor. ¡°How does the Fairy feel about this proposal?¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression finally improved a bit. She knew in her heart that what Lin Tianfeng had taken was a Jade Slip, which was likely a Cultivation Technique or an inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation, and by not showing it to her, it was no doubt of significant rank, to avoid revealing any secrets. After all, their relationship was merely one of mutual fondness; it was purely a partnership. Thus, it made sense that he didn¡¯t involve her in the handling of important items. However, Lin Tianfeng was also tactful enough to know that taking advantage meant sharing some of the benefits and promising by the Heavenly Dao. Otherwise, how many people can stay calm when faced with absolute benefits? Besides, she did not internally insist on obtaining this item. She was aware that if it were a Cultivation Technique, it would surely be differentiated by attributes. And with her Three Spiritual Roots aptitude, not all of her root attributes were strong; the possibility of perfectly matching with that technique was quite low. If it were an inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation, it would be even less useful to her. After all, as a Loose Cultivator, she had been diligently cultivating for many years without practicing any of the Four Arts. Having that item would only mean selling it, which carries great risks, and might not bring much profit. In such a situation, the Jade Slip that Lin Tianfeng took indeed had little use for her; it was more practical to have a larger share of the benefits. More importantly, it would put the Lin Family in her debt. Considering all this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded and then replied, ¡°Since Daoist Tianfeng has spoken thus, if I persist, it would appear ungracious! ¡°I only hope that Daoist Tianfeng remembers the promise and avoids unnecessary trouble!¡± With that, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s tone became firm, and her expression turned stern. Seeing Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression and her firm tone, Lin Tianfeng smiled and tried to ingratiate himself. ¡°Fairy Sun rest assured, the men of the Lin Family are true to their word; we will not do anything despicable!¡± Upon hearing this, the harshness on Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face slowly faded, and a genuine smile reappeared on her cheeks. ¡°The little girl indeed trusts the Lin Family and believes in the character of the fellow Daoists; otherwise, I would not have chosen to collaborate with you.¡± ¡°Since no one has any objections, let¡¯s hurry up and clear out these things to see if there are any more treasures!¡± Reminded by Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng finally came to his senses and quickly led the others to start sorting through the remaining items. Chapter 647 647 358 Spatial Fissure_1 ?Chapter 647: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_1 Chapter 647: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_1 A teacup¡¯s worth of time passed. The four moved swiftly, scouring through the entire third floor, nearly dismantling it completely. Such a thorough search was indeed to the utmost extreme. In such a situation, aside from the wind-attribute cultivation technique they had obtained, they also found several other fine items. The first was three oddly colored ores, each the size of a fist, each containing rich energy, clearly not ordinary. Even with their discerning eyes, they could neither name them nor recall any information about these ores. However, given these ores had survived through the years, the likelihood that they were Fourth Tier items was high. ... Even if such treasures had lost some of their energy, they were beyond compare with ordinary Third Grade Treasures. As for the other two treasures, one was a crimson token, and the other, a Golden Leaf. The token seemed quite ordinary, except for the dense, small runes inscribed on it, which displayed characters they had neither seen nor heard of before, leaving no clues as to the object¡¯s origin or purpose. As for the other leaf, it too was profoundly mysterious, with its crystal-clear appearance revealing nothing. They only knew these things were not simple, having remained through the long years, they were certainly extraordinary. Even if they did not know their uses or bring any immediate reward, perhaps in the future, they could unravel their secrets. If their luck were good enough, who knew, their harvest might be much greater than this one. Understanding this, the group was immensely excited, quite satisfied with their gains. After scouring the attic, the group of four left the place, continuing their exploration within this ancient space. Before long, they found themselves in an open area, where they made a new discovery. This spot was no different from the others, but they detected the energy fluctuations of another prohibition. Their investigation revealed something peculiar about this prohibition, its power was noticeably stronger than anything they had previously encountered. Furthermore, this was not an invisible curtain; they could not see anything within it. As to the structure of this prohibition, it was formed by several golden pillars of energy, creating a special space. With limited vision and not being experts in formations, they could not predict whether the prohibition was concealing a Treasure Pavilion like the attic before or if it held dangers unknown. There was also no clear way to break it. At this moment, their expressions varied, caught in a dilemma. After a long while, Lin Tianhong spoke first, breaking the silence. ¡°Big brother, Fairy Sun, with your greater experience, what are your thoughts on this prohibition?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianhong¡¯s implication was naturally to ask the others whether they should try to break it, to see what treasures might lie behind it. After all, they had already tasted sweetness from the previous attic, reaping many fine items. And since this prohibition was so powerful, whatever it concealed, it surely wasn¡¯t ordinary. Having come this far, it would be a pity to give up the opportunity now. At this moment, aside from Lin Tianfeng who still maintained a bit of calm, the rest of the group were eager to try. Faced with this, Lin Tianfeng was conflicted, especially as he had been worried that this space was damaged too severely and might collapse completely. Yet now, without a way out, and faced with such an opportunity that could skyrocket the Lin Family¡¯s status, he truly found it hard to let go. In this moment, Lin Tianfeng hesitated, and he couldn¡¯t make up his mind. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng? What do you think?¡± Sun Ling¡¯er, seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s prolonged silence, urged him on. Lin Tianfeng, snapping back to reality faced with the others¡¯ questions, hesitated, but ultimately decided to give it a try. The prohibition was mysterious and unique, perhaps their chance to leave. Besides, he couldn¡¯t bear to waste such a rare opportunity. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng said to the others, ¡°Since everyone wants to give it a shot, then let¡¯s try. Maybe we¡¯ll really find treasures and a way out of here!¡± Upon hearing this, the others grew excited, itching to take action immediately. Seeing their eagerness, Lin Tianfeng could only give a wry smile. A teacup¡¯s worth of time later, preparations were complete, and they were ready to launch their attack. At Lin Tianfeng¡¯s command, the four unleashed their attacks on one of the energy pillars before them, striking it with a frenzy. ¡°Boom¡­¡± After a long silence, the space erupted with the sound of explosions and the ground shook beneath them. Their coordination was skillful, with each strike delivered with full force. Though the pillar had strong defensive power, it couldn¡¯t withstand such relentless assault, its energy visibly draining. If this continued, it might not be long before they broke it. Seeing their attacks making an impact, the group became even more enthused, their assaults unrestrained. After much of the day had passed, as they joined forces for a strike, a massive sound like a thunderclap exploded overhead. In that instant, the entire space deflated like a punctured balloon, and the ground shook wildly. Simultaneously, Gang Wind rose throughout the space, and the oppressive force seemed as if it was about to tear them apart. Chapter 648 648 358 Spatial Fissure_2 ?Chapter 648: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_2 Chapter 648: Chapter 358 Spatial Fissure_2 As this catastrophe unfolded in an instant, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s complexion changed drastically, and he couldn¡¯t help but cry out loudly. ¡°No good¡­ we¡¯ve blundered into breaking the spatial nexus system; this space seems to be collapsing!¡± Upon hearing this, the three people present turned pale and couldn¡¯t help feeling some regret. Blinded by greed for the treasures in the beginning, why had they thought to tamper with these light pillars? But now there was no time to think, let alone regret. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More and more spatial fissures were appearing above their heads, and the Gang Wind, like a sharp blade, carried a terrifying force. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it difficult to resist. If swallowed by them, those with good luck might survive, but the less fortunate could be torn apart by the Gang Wind, losing their lives in vain. At this critical juncture, Lin Tianfeng forcibly calmed himself down. ... He knew that the situation was urgent, and to leave this place smoothly, they must use the Jade Token that had brought them here. Otherwise, they could only rely on Heaven¡¯s Will. However, the Jade Token that had ushered them in had mysteriously vanished, and he had already tried to summon it previously, to no avail. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng felt helpless and out of options. ¡°Swish, swish, swish¡­¡± Several spatial fissures passed over their heads, and the Gang Wind nearly swept them into its grasp. Fortunately, the current density of spatial fissures wasn¡¯t very high, and the collapsing area of space was just a small part. Otherwise, the recent spatial fissures would have been enough to claim their lives. Temporarily avoiding catastrophe, Lin Tianfeng let out a sigh and then said to those beside him, ¡°There¡¯s still some time before space completely collapses. Let¡¯s try to make it back to the starting point!¡± As soon as the words were out, he dashed forward, with the three people following closely behind. Fortunately, the expanse of this space wasn¡¯t too vast. If they flew at full force, they would quickly arrive at the starting point. By then, the collapsing space behind them was spreading over this way. It might not take long for this last piece of living space to vanish entirely. ¡°Big Brother, what should we do? The collapsing space is about to disappear completely!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianhong turned his head and saw the spatial fissures getting closer behind them, and spoke in terror. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng tried to maintain his composure, searching within his body or his sea of consciousness for the missing Jade Token. He was clear in his mind that the item was mystical; since it had led them into this space, it should also be capable of opening a passage for them to leave smoothly. The reason he couldn¡¯t find it or summon it before must be that it was of high grade and held spirituality, not acknowledging him yet. Otherwise, there was really no reason to bring them here. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng searched meticulously, again and again attempting to summon the Jade Token. ¡°Swish, swish, swish¡­¡± The spatial fissures drew closer, and in the blink of an eye, space had collapsed in front of them. At this moment, they had less than a hundred zhang of living space left. For the spatial fissures that were as fast as lightning, this distance was negligible, perhaps one or two breaths away from descending right before them. As the living space continued to decrease, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face turned ashen, inwardly cursing the Jade Token. Why bring them here if not to let them out? Was this not meant to trap them here to die? Perhaps the curse had some effect, because as the spatial fissures swept towards them, a ten-zhang-high passage appeared dozens of zhang in front of them. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng was overjoyed. ¡°The spatial passage has appeared, let¡¯s hurry over there!¡± After reminding everyone, he grabbed Lin Tianhu and Lin Tianhong with each hand, turning into a streak of afterimage as he rushed towards the location of the spatial fissures. Meanwhile, Sun Ling¡¯er, upon seeing the spatial passage, also transformed into an afterimage, darting toward the portal. In the face of great crisis, the actions of the four were swift. They were about to reach the entrance of the passage. But the collapsing pace of the spatial fissures behind them quickened further, reaching the airspace above their heads in an instant. At that time, a dense array of spatial fissures swept madly overhead like lightning. At this rate, it was impossible for all four to rush into the passage. In the face of certain doom, Lin Tianfeng was exceptionally calm. Lin Tianhu beside him also understood the dire situation they were in. ¡°Swish, swish¡­¡± A deafening noise rang out, painfully vibrating their eardrums. Above their heads, there were already two huge spatial fissures coming at them, seemingly intending to engulf all four of them. ¡°Tianhu, send Tianhong in first!¡± After yelling out, Lin Tianfeng stuffed a storage bag into Lin Tianhong¡¯s hand. Immediately after, he slapped Lin Tianhong¡¯s back. At the same time, Lin Tianhu, too, had a determined look on his face as he forcefully slapped Lin Tianhong¡¯s back. Before Lin Tianhong could react, he found his speed had increased several-fold. In an instant, he arrived at the entrance to the spatial passage. At that moment, Lin Tianhong turned to look towards Lin Tianfeng and saw two spatial fissures closing in on their heads and had already engulfed half of them. As for Sun Ling¡¯er, though she was closer to the passage than they were, there was still some distance left. Chapter 649 649 358 Spatial Fissure_3 ?Chapter 649: Chapter 358: Spatial Fissure_3 Chapter 649: Chapter 358: Spatial Fissure_3 The speed of the spatial fissure was too fast; at this rate, even if she were closer and moved as fast as she could, it would still be difficult to reach the passage. At this moment, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face was also filled with the color of despair. ¡°Tianhong, no matter what, you must survive and bring the storage bag back to the Clan Leader. Other than the four elders and Tian Ming, no one should be told!¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In that moment, as the devouring abyss loomed over them, Lin Tianfeng shouted instructions to Lin Tianhong, his eyes filled with a resolve. Hearing this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he felt an immense sense of guilt. Initially blinded by the treasure, he had urged Lin Tianfeng to attack the forbidden formation made of five pillars of light. Now, their accidental disruption had broken the hub of space itself, causing the entire space to collapse completely. And as Lin Tianfeng and the others were engulfed by the spatial fissure, the likelihood of their survival was grim. ... Realizing this, Lin Tianhong¡¯s complexion turned pale as he called out to Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu incessantly. ¡°Tianhong, second brother, hurry into the spatial passage and leave!¡± The moment Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu were engulfed by the spatial fissure, both of them smiled serenely and loudly urged Lin Tianhong to move on. The smiles on Lin Tianfeng and the others¡¯ faces were calm, as if to avoid adding psychological pressure on Lin Tianhong. Clearly, they had come to understand what they would face next and had prepared themselves for life and death. Under Lin Tianhong¡¯s desperate gaze, the two of them vanished from view. And in that moment, Sun Ling¡¯er seemed to comprehend her own fate as well; after the two were consumed by the spatial fissure, the one that had swallowed Lin Tianfeng also swept her away. Watching as the three of them disappeared before his eyes, Lin Tianhong, despite his immense grief, had no choice but to brace himself. In that instant, Lin Tianfeng and the others¡¯ parting words echoed repeatedly in his mind. Although he did not know what the Jade Slip that Lin Tianfeng had collected was, he only knew it was of extraordinary significance. Now that they had suffered heavy losses, it was imperative not to leave that crucial item that Lin Tianfeng had valued here; he had to fulfill Lin Tianfeng¡¯s last wish and deliver the storage bag intact to the Clan Leader. With this understanding, he hesitated no more and lifted his foot, stepping into the spatial passage. Just as Lin Tianhong disappeared into the passage, the entire space collapsed completely, vanishing within the spatial fissure. A few breaths later, Lin Tianhong felt dizzy and briefly lost consciousness. When he regained his senses, he found himself in the cave dwelling where the skeletal remains were located. At this moment, everything was as usual, no different from when they had entered. He could not afford to think too much and immediately left the cave dwelling. Soon, he arrived at the cave¡¯s entrance, concealed it, and then set off toward Qianchuan Market along the path they had taken earlier. He was well aware that the journey back would not be easy. After all, this was deep within the Qianchuan Mountain Range, where Second Order Demonic Beasts were commonplace; they had encountered several such beasts on their way in. And he was merely at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, his strength quite limited. If he were to encounter a Middle Stage Second Order Demonic Beast, his life might be at risk. Luckily, the route was familiar, and as long as he was careful, leaving this place successfully was not impossible. Moreover, he had no choice now. To honor the trust placed in him by Lin Tianfeng, he must return to his clan in the shortest time possible. With this in mind, Lin Tianhong transformed into a fleeting shadow, disappearing into the dense forest. ¡­ Chapter 650 650 359 Unfamiliar Place_1 ?Chapter 650: 359 Chapter Unfamiliar Place_1 Chapter 650: 359 Chapter Unfamiliar Place_1 Jingzhou, the Cultivation World of Huafeng Country. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a certain forest of the Suolo Mountain Range, two bodies covered in blood lay in a ravine, not more than several dozen feet apart. Looking closely, the faces of both were pale, their clothes ragged and torn, with most parts of their bodies wounded, their blood dyeing much of the soil red. The two lay motionless on the ground, clearly having fallen into unconsciousness. At that moment, the roar of a demonic beast sounded. ¡°Aooo¡­¡± A Red-tailed Wolf at the peak of First Order leapt forward, opening its bloodthirsty maw as it ran toward the direction where the two lay. ... The Red-tailed Wolf was swift; its two-yard-long body trod upon the earth, making a series of crisp sounds. In that instant, perhaps sensing an impending crisis, Lin Tianfeng suddenly opened his eyes as he lay on the ground. On the other side, Sun Ling¡¯er, who had also heard the commotion, woke up as well and opened her eyes. However, her injuries were heavy, the channels throughout her body were in disarray, and her spiritual power had already been depleted. Facing the Red-tailed Wolf, which she could usually kill with a flick of her hand, Sun Ling¡¯er tried to move her body, but it was exceedingly difficult. It was unimaginable that the two survived the terrifying spatial fissure, and together were transported here. Although they were fortunate to have preserved their lives, their injuries were so severe that the strength they could muster was perhaps not even as good as a Qi Refining Cultivator at the start of their path to immortality. By this time, the Red-tailed Wolf had nearly reached the two of them, sensing the pungent smell of blood in the air as if it had spotted a nourishing treat. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Excitedly howling, the Red-tailed Wolf pounced fiercely at Sun Ling¡¯er, who lay still on the ground, its gaping maw nearly swallowing her in one bite. In a moment of desperation, Lin Tianfeng managed a flip and, regardless of how severe his own injuries were, instinctively lunged toward the Red-tailed Wolf¡¯s position. ¡°Bang¡­¡± a crisp sound rang out. Just as the Red-tailed Wolf was about to bite Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s fist struck the wolf¡¯s head. Instantly, the Red-tailed Wolf yelped in pain, and both it and Lin Tianfeng were knocked back more than ten yards by the rebounding force. Barely steadying his form, Lin Tianfeng clenched his fists, his face contorting in agony, a look of pain flickering across his expression. One must know that this Red-tailed Wolf was a Demonic Beast at the First Order Late Stage, possessing immense physical strength. Yet even with such grievous injuries and a cultivation that was two levels lower than Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s, he was able to stand and repel the Red-tailed Wolf. It was unknown where this strength came from, as he forced himself to use his physical body to collide fiercely with the Red-tailed Wolf despite his severe injuries. But with this outcome, Lin Tianfeng had a measure in his heart. Although he wasn¡¯t like Lin Tianming, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, when it came to the strength of his physical body, he too had used numerous treasures and elixirs. Back in the day, he had obtained some Spirit Fruits, many of which contained powers that strengthened the physical body, and with Dragon Bone Pills that Lin Tianming gave him from time to time, his physical body had been greatly enhanced. Although his physical body was far behind the realms of his cultivation, it was still much stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. In a life-or-death situation, being able to clash head-on with a First Order Late Stage Red-tailed Wolf was not impossible. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but take a long breath of relief deep inside; at the very least, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for this Red-tailed Wolf to capitalize on their injuries to take their lives. However, he didn¡¯t become reckless. After all, they were not Foundation Establishment Cultivators right now, and their strength was less than half of what it was at its peak. In such a state, to escape unscathed from the Red-tailed Wolf¡¯s attacks, they still had to endure a fierce battle. As expected, before Lin Tianfeng could even take a breath of relief, the Red-tailed Wolf charged again, with a demonic and malevolent appearance, clearly not intending to back down easily. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression became solemn, enduring the severe pain throughout his body, he resolutely guarded in front of Sun Ling¡¯er. ¡°Thump thump thump¡­¡± A series of thunderous sounds rang out as Lin Tianfeng¡¯s fists and the Red-tailed Wolf¡¯s claws clashed head-on. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianfeng had engaged in several rounds of combat with the Red-tailed Wolf. At this point, his complexion was growing paler, and his ragged clothes had few places left intact. At the same time, his body was drenched in blood, blood spilled continuously from the corner of his mouth, and his breath had become utterly chaotic. At this moment, his state was extremely poor, relying solely on his physical body and willpower to staunchly resist the ferocity of the Red-tailed Wolf, refusing to take a single step back. However, with the injuries on Lin Tianfeng growing ever more severe, and considering the Demonic Beast¡¯s physical endurance and explosive power, continuing the battle seemed unlikely to end well for him. Sun Ling¡¯er witnessed his difficult plight, her heart heavy with complex emotions. Throughout this exploration of the ancient cave, they had had smooth sailing, and their gains had been tremendously large. Yet, no one expected that by accidentally disrupting the spatial balance, they would cause a collapse, leading a spatial fissure to engulf the three of them, and only after sustaining serious injuries were they able to preserve their lives. They hadn¡¯t even had a moment¡¯s relief when they found themselves in another trouble. Furthermore, just before the spatial fissure consumed them, Lin Tianfeng handed over all their acquired treasures to Lin Tianhong, instructing him to bring them back to the Lin Family. She knew clearly that in such a desperate moment, had they not done so, they might have ended up with nothing. The reason for such an action was instinctual, merely an effort to minimize the losses. Fate is capricious; they did not die in the spatial fissure. Chapter 651 651 359 Strange Land_2 ?Chapter 651: Chapter 359: Strange Land_2 Chapter 651: Chapter 359: Strange Land_2 And those treasures all fell into the hands of the Lin Family, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t carry them with him. As a result, she didn¡¯t gain anything and fell into another crisis. To be honest, Sun Ling¡¯er initially harbored some resentment towards Lin Family members. After all, she provided information about the cave dwelling and spent no small amount of effort and resources, yet ended up with nothing and kept falling into life-or-death situations. Even though she had been impetuous at the time, she never expected such an outcome. In this way, even if she remained alive, she still gained nothing; even if Lin Tianfeng acknowledged her contribution, she likely wouldn¡¯t get much. But now, in such a crisis, Lin Tianfeng could have left on his own, letting her fend for herself. ... From his perspective, it would have been entirely possible to do so. However, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t do that; instead, he stood firmly in front of her without abandoning her. Despite his serious injuries and being forced to retreat step by step, he still refused to back down. Being valued and protected in this way touched the softest spot in her heart. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was still fiercely fighting the Red-tailed Wolf, landing blow after blow without holding back. Both sides were engaged in a bloody battle, determined to kill their opponent right there. It was hard to imagine such a primitive and bloody melee was being participated in by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± After several more exchanges, Lin Tianfeng was beaten back again and again, thrown through the air, and smashed heavily beside Sun Ling¡¯er. He struggled to get up, spitting out mouthfuls of fresh blood, but managed not to fall. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s tall and upright figure caused Sun Ling¡¯er to fall into a daze. ¡°Roar¡­¡± As a scream echoed, the body of the Red-tailed Wolf smashed into the ground, the sound of the impact completely pulling Sun Ling¡¯er back to reality. By the time she came to, she found the Red-tailed Wolf lying on the ground, its body separated from its beastly form, its blood staining a large expanse of earth. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face was pale, and he staggered toward her. At that moment, she found it hard to believe: how could Lin Tianfeng, who had seemed destined for defeat, have slain the fierce Red-tailed Wolf? In that brief period of time, what exactly had happened? Little did she know that Lin Tianfeng had just been driven to despair. Despite not wanting to reveal the secret of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, at that moment, Lin Tianfeng had no choice but to unleash the Sword Qi he had been nurturing for a long time. He knew very well the power of this Spirit Art. As it didn¡¯t require Spiritual Power to activate, it was often a last resort for desperate situations, even a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast might not be able to withstand this Sword Qi. To use such a life-saving tactic against a First Order Demon Beast was indeed an overkill, a waste of great resources on a minor problem. In fact, it was indeed so; the moment the Great Sun Sword Qi Art was activated, the Red-tailed Wolf was overwhelmed by the immense aura, forgetting even to run away. It might also have been the oppressive force of the Sword Qi that had immobilized the Red-tailed Wolf as well. In any case, the Red-tailed Wolf had no chance to resist and could only await the Sword Qi to swiftly decapitate it. And having used this life-saving card, exposing this secret in front of Sun Ling¡¯er, Lin Tianfeng had not a single regret. Perhaps it was because he understood that Sun Ling¡¯er had gained nothing and had fallen into crisis, Lin Tianfeng felt somewhat guilty. Or perhaps it was a special emotion within him that did not want to see Sun Ling¡¯er perish. No matter the reason, he had ultimately made this move. And at this time, as Sun Ling¡¯er looked at Lin Tianfeng¡¯s faltering figure, the trace of resentment in her heart disappeared completely. Replacing it was a sense of deep gratitude, and an indescribable affection. While she was lost in thought, Lin Tianfeng had already cleaned up the aftermath of the battle and once again came to her side. At that point, Lin Tianfeng looked around the unfamiliar surroundings, scooped up Sun Ling¡¯er in his arms, and then darted off in a certain direction. Being held in Lin Tianfeng¡¯s embrace, feeling his masculine scent, the heartbeat from his chest, and the hot temperature, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face turned red, her shy appearance incredibly charming. Lin Tianfeng also felt the strangeness of the delicate body in his arms, and the faint contact of skin; his heartbeat couldn¡¯t help but speed up significantly. With their faces flushed, the two of them disappeared into the woodland. Half a day later, Lin Tianfeng and his companion had traveled dozens of miles and arrived in a secluded canyon. This canyon was quite peaceful and well-hidden, with no traces of demonic beasts or cultivators nearby, making it an excellent place for a retreat. However, their condition was recovering very slowly, with their strength greatly diminished, and the unfamiliar surroundings posed a significant danger. Considering this, they decided to establish a temporary cave abode on-site and focus on healing their injuries before making any further plans. Quickly, Lin Tianfeng created a cave and entered it with Sun Ling¡¯er. Inside the cave, Lin Tianfeng and his companion sat on the ground, each taking out some healing pills and pills for recovering spiritual power to consume. Before long, the sound of steady breathing filled the cave, and both fell into a deep state of cultivation. ¡­ Jingzhou, Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Yu¡¯an Country bordered Huafeng Country, both being central states in Jingzhou with vast territories. Both the soaring cultivators and the weak mortal population had a large base number. In such a land where the Immortal Path flourished and sects and noble families were numerous, the Golden Elixir Forces were plentiful, and the overall strength of the country was much stronger than the distant Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In the Nanfeng Mountain Range west of Yu¡¯an Country, two figures appeared above a mountain top ¨C one chasing, the other fleeing. The speed of the two figures was not slow; one was panic-stricken with an exceptionally pale face. The other wasn¡¯t in a much better condition, but from his aura, it was clear that he was fairing somewhat better than the one fleeing. The one in pursuit happened to be Lin Tianhu, who had been sucked into a spatial fissure. The moment he was caught in the spatial fissure, Lin Tianhu had lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a river valley. But his luck was far better than that of Lin Tianfeng and his companion under similar conditions; at least he wasn¡¯t gravely injured, only his spiritual power was significantly depleted, and he suffered some minor flesh wounds. However, just as he planned to find a place to retreat for cultivation, he inexplicably encountered this Blue Robed Cultivator. Seeing that he was injured and guessing that his cultivation was only about the third level of Foundation Establishment, the Blue Robed Cultivator harbored malicious intent. Lin Tianhu, not knowing his whereabouts, didn¡¯t want to stir up unnecessary trouble. Yet the man was aggressive and attacked without reason, seemingly confident in his approach. Unfortunately, this person greatly underestimated Lin Tianhu¡¯s strength. Even though he was injured and his cultivation was a level lower than the aggressor¡¯s. But after just over a dozen exchanges, the man was forced to retreat with many injuries, and one arm had been severed. By now, the man had realized Lin Tianhu¡¯s strength, recognizing that he had underestimated him and provoked someone he shouldn¡¯t have. Although he initially thought to abandon his quarry and flee, Lin Tianhu was already agitated and was not one to shy away from troubles. He didn¡¯t like to cause trouble, but when faced with the enemy¡¯s malice, he was certainly not a benevolent person. Since the fight had begun and he had made enemies, not to mention his ignorance of this person¡¯s background or whether there was a family sect behind him. If this person left and returned with allies to cause him trouble, he could end up in an even bigger predicament. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rather than releasing a tiger back to the mountain, it was better to eliminate future troubles completely. Understanding this, Lin Tianhu relentlessly pursued him, chasing him for more than ten miles, until they reached this place. At this moment, the injured man¡¯s face was ashen, his expression extremely ugly, filled with immense regret. Of all the targets to choose from, he had to encounter such a tough individual! Regrettably, even cultivators have no elixirs for regret to consume. Otherwise, he would have taken one without hesitation to escape the clutches of this fearsome man. At this instant, as the gap continued to close, he feared that within a few breaths, Lin Tianhu would catch up and kill him. Considering the current situation, he was well aware that a good ending was absolutely impossible. ¡­ Chapter 652 652 360 Belief_1 ?Chapter 652: Chapter 360 Belief_1 Chapter 652: Chapter 360 Belief_1 At that moment, the blue-robed cultivator suddenly stopped in his tracks, forcing himself to calm down. Then, with extreme sincerity in his tone, he shouted to Lin Tianhu who was pursuing him, ¡°Fellow Daoist, I am Yuan Shuo!¡± ¡°The incident just now was all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianhu finally stopped walking, yet the distance between them was merely a hundred meters, and he could launch an attack to take Yuan¡¯s life at any moment. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, Lin Tianhu let out a cold laugh, his face flashing with a hint of ruthlessness. ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Daoist Yuan only speaks of misunderstandings now, but when you saw I was injured and harbored malicious intentions, why didn¡¯t you mention misunderstandings then?¡± ... Embarrassed by these sarcastic words, Yuan Shuo hurriedly responded with a forced smile. ¡°What you say is true, I was possessed by folly and had ill intentions!¡± ¡°However, I now realize my mistake and only ask for a chance to live. I am willing to pay a price!¡± Yuan Shuo¡¯s words made Lin Tianhu smile involuntarily. He thought to himself that Yuan had reached a dead end with no escape, his life entirely in Lin¡¯s hands, yet he was still trying to negotiate terms. However, now that he held the absolute advantage, it would be reasonable to first inquire about this person¡¯s identity and background, and to clarify his current whereabouts. Whether to take his life or not could be decided after getting all the information. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianhu then asked, ¡°Daoist Yuan, where do you hail from? And what price do you propose to pay? Feel free to tell me!¡± Upon hearing this, and seeing a sign of Lin Tianhu relenting, Yuan Shuo breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he began to respond, ¡°I am from the Yuan Family of the Foundation Establishment Clan in the Nanfeng Mountain Range, just several hundred li to the west of here lies our clan territory.¡± ¡°If Fellow Daoist spares my life, I am willing to compensate with fifty thousand Spirit Stones and a Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact, how does that sound?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianhu was startled, and deep thought crossed his mind. ¡°Nanfeng Mountain Range?¡± In the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, he had never heard of such a mountain range. ¡°Could it be that this is not the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World?¡± At this thought, Lin Tianhu was shaken, his expression turning grim. He had thought that even if he fell into a spatial fissure, he would still land within the territory of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, but unexpectedly, he had been displaced far from his homeland. Having calmed down, Lin Tianhu became impatient to ascertain his current location and which domain it was. ¡°Daoist Yuan, which state and which nation¡¯s territory is this?¡± Lin Tianhu asked bluntly. Now it was Yuan Shuo¡¯s turn to be taken aback, and he couldn¡¯t help but speculate about Lin Tianhu¡¯s identity and how he ended up here, seemingly clueless about his current location. However, he did not dare to ask too much, fearing it might irritate Lin Tianhu and ruin the atmosphere he had so difficultly managed to create. ¡°Fellow Daoist, this is a map of the central Ten Nations within Jingzhou. Take a look for yourself!¡± Before he had finished speaking, Yuan Shuo flicked his sleeve, sending a water-blue map flying, which Lin Tianhu caught securely. Lin Tianhu hurriedly opened the map and glanced at it, then his expression changed dramatically. At this moment, he was shocked. He guessed that the experience within the spatial fissure was brief, yet in such a short time, he had been swept away to the lands of Jingzhou, appearing right in the thriving heart of the central Ten Nations. Yu¡¯an Country was one of these central nations, and to be listed among them, Golden Elixir Forces must be numerous, with Foundation Establishment Powers ubiquitous. One must know, the area of just Qingzhou alone is vast, comprising at least a hundred nations. And in the Cultivation World, it is said that Jingzhou has an ancient history, not like the relatively brief span of a hundred thousand years that Qingzhou boasts. Moreover, the size of Jingzhou is far greater than Qingzhou. Although the two are adjacent, their sizes are not on the same scale. By his conservative estimate, this place is at least several hundred nations apart from the distant Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Now, finding himself inexplicably far from his clan, returning home in a short amount of time became an impossibility. In such a region where the Immortal Path thrives, with his current level of cultivation power, he would at the very least need to reach the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm to have some ability to protect himself. Only then could he use the large Teleportation Formation between Qingzhou and Jingzhou to return to Qingzhou. Even back in Qingzhou, reaching the central regions, those powerful nations might not necessarily have a Teleportation Formation that leads directly to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Thus, in order to return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, he would have to spend time improving his cultivation and then devote a lot of time to traveling. It could be said that his journey home was destined to be difficult and full of endless dangers. Yet, despite this, Lin Tianhu still worried about the safety of his clan and was unwavering in his resolve to return. After a long while, Lin Tianhu gradually calmed down, clearly understanding that the road home was long. Without the protection of his clan elders, he had to rely on himself, with enhancing his cultivation being the most pressing matter, and only then could he consider returning home. Realizing this, Lin Tianhu was unusually calm, a calmness beyond the ordinary. And at that moment, seeing Lin Tianhu¡¯s face alternating between pale and flushed, Yuan Shuo guessed that he might be a Loose Cultivator who had somehow arrived at this place. Otherwise, he would not have been so shocked upon receiving news of where he was. At this moment, after much thought, Yuan Shuo felt less wary of Lin Tianhu. After all, someone who finds himself in a strange land, unless they are highly skilled in cultivation, would not likely seek to make enemies everywhere. Chapter 653 653 360 Belief_2 ?Chapter 653: Chapter 360: Belief_2 Chapter 653: Chapter 360: Belief_2 So it seems he has the backing of a family; Lin Tianhu surely won¡¯t oppress him excessively. With these thoughts, Yuan Shuo took a long breath of relief, and his tone became much more casual. Not only that, he even harbored sinister thoughts, planning to lure the boy to the vicinity of his clan¡¯s territory first. If he had the support of his clan members, he could certainly kill him and thereby learn the secret of his sudden appearance here. Having made up his mind, Yuan Shuo glanced at the silent Lin Tianhu and couldn¡¯t help but urge him. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what do you think of the compensation I¡¯ve offered?¡± ¡°If you agree, I can immediately cash out a part, and as for the other Second Order Mid-tier Attack Magical Artifact, you can follow me to the clan to collect it.¡± ... ¡°In addition, I can recommend you to become a Guest Elder of our clan, providing a safe cultivation environment and support from our resources.¡± ¡°What say you, fellow Daoist?¡± Yuan Shuo offered several conditions in one breath, trying in every way possible to keep Lin Tianhu. In response, Lin Tianhu sneered in his heart and naturally didn¡¯t believe his deceitful words. After all, this man was of wicked heart; otherwise, he would not have made a move against him so readily. There was already enmity between them, and if he went to their territory, he¡¯d be putting his life and death in their hands. He was offering such generous rewards, clearly not out of consideration for his well-being but definitely with ill intentions. Though he was young, he had witnessed the cruelty of the Cultivation World and understood all too well the truth that strangers should not be trusted lightly. With these thoughts, Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t bother to waste words with him, planning first to take his life and end this karma. After all, the Yuan Family was just a Foundation Establishing Family; he was alone here, free from worries, and could go anywhere. Once he left the Nanfeng Mountain Range, even if the Yuan Family sought revenge, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy to find him. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianhu also refrained from idle talk and took advantage of Yuan Shuo¡¯s moment of self-satisfaction to suddenly make his move. In an instant, the Attack Artifact in Lin Tianhu¡¯s hand burst forth with a red light, slashing towards Yuan Shuo. His speed was very fast, and the distance between them was not far. Yuan Shuo was already wounded, and even if he was on guard, he still couldn¡¯t react in time. At that moment, Yuan Shuo was both shocked and angry, spinning his body trying to flee the place. While negotiating, he swore angrily, ¡°Fellow Daoist, this is going too far! My family has many Foundation Establishment Stage kinfolk; if you lay hands on me, you¡¯ll never get out of the Nanfeng Mountain Range alive!¡± Hearing these threatening words, Lin Tianhu sneered coldly, thinking that he was here all alone, unencumbered and without fear. After killing him, he could simply leave Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Even if the Yuan Family was stronger than the Lin Family, they couldn¡¯t extend their reach beyond Yu¡¯an Country. Without further worries, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attacks were decisive, and his burst of power was exceptionally fierce. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that flattery was ineffective and threats only added fuel to the fire, Yuan Shuo was utterly terrified. Despite his full attempt to escape, he couldn¡¯t shake off Lin Tianhu; the distance between them was closing, and with each attack, Yuan Shuo was pushed to the brink. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The talisman paper in Lin Tianhu¡¯s hand flew out, blocking Yuan Shuo¡¯s path from different directions. At the same time, Lin Tianhu leaped forward, an Attack Artifact in his hand bursting with red light, slashing down at Yuan Shuo with astonishing speed. Seeing no escape, Yuan Shuo smacked his storage bag and hastily summoned a Second Order Mid-tier Defense Artifact to shield himself. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The attack unleashed by Lin Tianhu hammered onto the Defense Artifact. After a loud noise, Yuan Shuo was seen spitting blood, his body violently shaken by the powerful force, flying backward and crashing heavily on the ground, kicking up a great cloud of dust. Lin Tianhu too was pushed back dozens of feet by the intense force, his qi and blood churning within him, his expression turning serious. Although this attack did not claim Yuan Shuo¡¯s life, Lin Tianhu was not disheartened. After all, Yuan Shuo might not have been very strong, but the Magical Artifacts he used were all powerful, clearly no ordinary items. All the more reason for Lin Tianhu¡¯s killing intent to intensify. Just then, Yuan Shuo staggered to his feet from the ground, his face alternating between pale and ashen. Lin Tianhu¡¯s recent blow had severely wounded him, exacerbating his injuries and greatly diminishing his strength. Before he could catch his breath, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attacks followed one after another, giving him no time to react. Clearly, to completely eliminate the problem, Lin Tianhu wasn¡¯t careless at all and had no intention of letting Yuan Shuo go. Realizing this, Yuan Shuo knew full well that he had no chance of survival, whether he tried to flee or fight back; he was no match for Lin Tianhu. In desperation, Yuan Shuo released all the offensive treasures he could use in a flurry. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sky filled with attacks from various talisman papers and expendable treasures, instantly engulfing Lin Tianhu, who was rushing forward. Although there were many of these expendable treasures, their power was truly limited, nothing as grand as the Magical Artifacts Yuan Shuo wielded. Over the years, Lin Tianhu had proven himself to be a fighter among the younger generation of his family, participating in many missions to suppress Demonic Beasts and cultivation trials, experiencing a wide array of situations. Over time, he had developed a resolute and astute nature, and his combat experience was extremely rich. Facing Yuan Shuo¡¯s desperate counter-attack, he didn¡¯t retreat but advanced, moving like a nimble fish in the water. His speed was quick, his agile body slipping through the obstacles, and in an instant, he was already in front of Yuan Shuo. Chapter 654 654 360 ?Chapter 654: 360 Chapter 654: 360 At that moment, seeing his ghostly silhouette and the flash of red light that arrived at his forehead in the blink of an eye, Yuan Shuo was completely panicked and stood frozen on the spot. No sooner had the red light descended than Yuan Shuo, without even time to let out a cry, was beheaded. After Yuan Shuo had been killed, peace returned to the world once more. By then, Lin Tianhu¡¯s complexion was somewhat pale; although he had succeeded in his objective, the toll had been considerable. However, with Yuan Shuo finally dealt with, the next step was to quickly clean up the battlefield and then leave this place. Determined, Lin Tianhu wasted no further time and quickly cast several fireballs to destroy Yuan Shuo¡¯s corpse and eliminate all traces. Subsequently, he collected Yuan Shuo¡¯s storage bag, as well as two magic artifacts for attack and defense. ... Both of these artifacts were of Second Order Medium Quality, with quite impressive attributes. The attack artifact was a sword, and the defense artifact was a grey small shield that had withstood his strike with almost no damage at all. Clearly, the overall standard for cultivation in Jingzhou was stronger than that of Qingzhou, especially the Ten Nations of Central Jingzhou, which were significantly more advanced than the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Moreover, the cultivation capabilities of the Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm, particularly the Four Arts of Cultivation, were evidently much more adept compared to the remote Wei Kingdom. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Yuan Shuo deployed the two artifacts, Lin Tianhu had already been coveting them, and now at last, they were his. Once he fully refined them, it was certain that his overall strength would improve even further. With the cleanup of the battlefield finished and all signs of the fight wiped clean, Lin Tianhu took out the map, gave it a look, and then shot toward the north. Yuan Shuo had mentioned earlier that the Yuan family¡¯s estate was located to the west, about five hundred li away. Always cautious, Lin Tianhu feared that Yuan Shuo might have deliberately lied to mislead him. Therefore, to be on the safe side, he decided to fly north. The reason for that decision was also because the neighboring Guang¡¯an Kingdom to the north of Yu¡¯an Country, of all the bordering nations, was the closest one. Furthermore, Guang¡¯an Kingdom was also one of the Central Ten Nations of Jingzhou, its overall strength just as formidable, if not more so, than that of Yu¡¯an Country. Such a kingdom, vast in territory with numerous dangerous places and secret realms, was definitely the best destination for any Loose Cultivator to gain experience. Therefore, as he was now alone, it was the perfect opportunity for Lin Tianhu to go to the Guang¡¯an Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm and witness Jingzhou¡¯s top-tier cultivation nations. Under these circumstances, his goal was very clear¡ªto reach the borders of Guang¡¯an Kingdom as quickly as possible, all the while ensuring his safety. As long as he left Yu¡¯an Country behind, the threat of the Yuan family would be almost negligible. Once there, he would then find a way to search for news of Lin Tianfeng and prepare thoroughly for the return to his family. In his heart, Lin Tianfeng had also been swept into a spatial fissure like himself; since he had survived, Lin Tianfeng might have too. However, rumor had it that those who were lucky enough to survive being caught in a spatial fissure had no choice as to where they would end up. Moreover, even those who entered the same spatial fissure could end up landing in vastly different places. Given that, the likelihood of him and Lin Tianfeng landing in the same place was almost improbable. But he firmly believed that Lin Tianfeng was alive. He even had a premonition that they would eventually reunite and return to their family together. This belief was unwaveringly firm in his heart and became his strongest motivation as he ventured on. ¡­ Chapter 655 655 361 Charging into Jingzhou ?Chapter 655: 361 Chapter Charging into Jingzhou Together_1 Chapter 655: 361 Chapter Charging into Jingzhou Together_1 The Cultivation World of Huafeng Country. In a certain cave abode within the Suolo Mountain Range, Sun Ling¡¯er was the first to open her eyes, immediately looking towards Lin Tianfeng who was not far from her side. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s eyes remained tightly closed, his sharply contoured cheeks revealing a resolute hue. Since they had mysteriously arrived at this place, more than a month had passed. During this time, the two of them had been cultivating in seclusion, recovering from their injuries and from the exhaustion of their spiritual power. Sun Ling¡¯er, with a higher realm of cultivation, was the first to recover her peak condition. After surviving that ordeal, her cultivation even seemed to have improved slightly. Right now, as she watched Lin Tianfeng still immersed in cultivation, her mind flashed with images of him fighting fiercely to protect her, refusing to step back even while gravely injured. ... In a daze, a faint smile couldn¡¯t help but form on the corners of Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s lips. Time passed without knowing how long, until a light cough broke her reverie. She turned her head and discovered Lin Tianfeng gazing straight at her, causing a flush to spread across her face. Once she had collected herself, she quickly started a conversation to divert the topic and hide the embarrassment she felt inside. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, how are your injuries recuperating?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Thank you for your concern, Fairy Sun. My injuries have recovered substantially, almost without much hindrance.¡± ¡°What about you, Fairy? How are your injuries? Are you still in discomfort?¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a gentle smile, his words filled with concern. Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s heart fluttered, and she quickly responded that she was fine. Seeing her like this, Lin Tianfeng breathed a sigh of relief. In his heart, he also harbored a mysterious fondness for Sun Ling¡¯er. Moreover, during this adventure to explore the cave abode, Sun Ling¡¯er had expended much effort but, unfortunately, ended up empty-handed due to unforeseen events. Under such circumstances, he felt a sense of guilt towards her. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lin Tianfeng sighed, a hint of helplessness crossing his face. Seeing his expression, Sun Ling¡¯er looked puzzled and asked with concern. Lin Tianfeng offered a wry smile, not holding anything back, and voiced his true thoughts. After a while, having listened to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s explanation, Sun Ling¡¯er was not concerned and instead began to comfort him. Through this heartfelt conversation, the resentment and guilt in their hearts faded considerably on both sides. Besides, having been through a life-and-death trial together, they also gained a new understanding of each other¡¯s character. However, unknown to them, should things continue this way, their relationship was likely to heat up quickly, ultimately leading to their complete capitulation to each other. ¡­ Unconsciously, half an hour went by. By now, their relationship had substantially softened, with both of them showing signs of admiration for each other. With a hearty laugh, Lin Tianfeng finally changed the subject. ¡°Fairy Sun, we¡¯re still unaware of our exact location. Now that we have recovered from our injuries, we should take a look around to ascertain our position, so that we can make proper arrangements.¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in agreement, ¡°Daoist Tianfeng speaks the truth, we really should first determine our location before deciding on our next steps.¡± Seeing Sun Ling¡¯er had no objections, Lin Tianfeng suggested they set out immediately. Once they left the unknown mountain range, they could seek out a cultivator to ask questions, or find a market town to rest and resupply, which would naturally reveal where they were. Sun Ling¡¯er naturally had no objections, and the two quickly came to an agreement. Under these circumstances, they wasted no time and immediately set out. Soon, they left the cave abode, destroying or concealing any traces until it was impossible to discern their path. Having done this, the two chose a direction and left together. Several days later, Lin Tianfeng and his companion managed to traverse the mountain range and emerged onto a plain. Gazing at the boundless expanse of the vast plain where even the spiritual energy had become much weaker, Lin Tianfeng knew they had entered the domain controlled by the Human Race. ¡°Fairy Sun, we should have left the mountains behind and entered the area inhabited by the Human Race!¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded, feeling a sense of relief within her. Since they had left the mountains, there was at least no threat from demonic beasts, and the safety had greatly increased. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, what shall we do next?¡± Sun Ling¡¯er asked for Lin Tianfeng¡¯s opinion, clearly intending to follow his lead. Even though they were temporarily out of danger, having escaped with their lives from the perilous spatial fissure, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it. In his heart, he was deeply concerned about Tianhu, who had ended up in the same predicament. But he was also well aware that surviving the horrors of a spatial fissure was akin to a one in a million chance. Still, even with the slightest possibility, he couldn¡¯t give up the search for Tianhu¡¯s whereabouts. Having brought him along, he had to ensure Tianhu¡¯s safe return home. After all, wasn¡¯t Tianhu the eldest among the Tian generation in his clan! Seeing his expression, Sun Ling¡¯er seemed to have an intuitive understanding of his thoughts. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, there¡¯s no need to worry. With Daoist Tianhu¡¯s strength, he surely will turn peril into safety just like us!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ he certainly will!¡± Strengthened by Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s comforting words, Lin Tianfeng replied with conviction. Before his words had faded, Sun Ling¡¯er seemed to have noticed something. ¡°Oh? There are people coming over there!¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianfeng regained his composure and hurriedly extended his Divine Sense to check. Indeed, several miles ahead of them, there was a group of Qi Refining Cultivators approaching together. Chapter 656 656 361 Venturing into Jingzhou ?Chapter 656: Chapter 361: Venturing into Jingzhou Together_2 Chapter 656: Chapter 361: Venturing into Jingzhou Together_2 They flew on their swords with casual expressions, clearly not noticing the two of them. Upon closer consideration, these people were traveling together, each strong and stable in breath, and heading toward the mountains, presumably a group of cultivators on a joint training mission. At present, the two of them were unclear about their whereabouts. Since they had encountered local cultivators, it was natural to approach them for inquiries. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianfeng said to Sun Ling¡¯er, ¡°Fairy Sun, let us stop those few and ask for some information!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that was indeed my intention!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er replied. Seeing she had no objections, Lin Tianfeng took the lead in stepping forward, with Sun Ling¡¯er following closely behind. A few miles distance was not long for them, and with their cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, flying at full strength took just a few breaths. ... Soon, Lin Tianfeng and his partner arrived directly in front of the five Qi Refining Cultivators, blocking their path. By the time they realized what was happening, they found a man and a woman suspended in midair, looking at them with open eyes. The auras of these two were concealed, making it impossible to discern their realm, but clearly, they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators without a doubt. In this moment, the Qi Refining Cultivators did not dare to ignore them for fear of angering their seniors and carelessly losing their lives. Under the lead of a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, the others quickly stepped forward and respectfully saluted the pair. Then, the lead Qi Refining Cultivator, with a respectful expression, clasped his hands in salute. ¡°Junior Yan Xin pays respects to the two seniors!¡± ¡°Hm!¡± Lin Tianfeng waved his hand to signal them not to panic. Then he began to ask, ¡°Where are you several headed? What mountain range is this, and where is the nearest trading city?¡± Lin Tianfeng bombarded them with a series of questions, leaving them puzzled. They thought it strange that Foundation Establishment Cultivators would ask such questions. However, owing to the cultivation realm of the pair, the group did not dare to act unusually, let alone express their inner thoughts. At this time, the leading Qi Refining Cultivator, with a consistent demeanor, respectfully answered, ¡°Responding to the seniors, this is the Suolo Mountain Range. We are a few Loose Cultivators planning to group together and train in the Suolo Mountain Range.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng felt a jolt in his heart and immediately recollected information about the Suolo Mountain Range. A few breaths later, after some thought, he still came up empty-handed. Clearly, the Suolo Mountain Range was not within Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory. Otherwise, every mountain range based area in Wei Kingdom would have been recorded in his map collection, or at least heard of. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng roughly understood that the spatial fissure had taken them to an unknown location. This was something he had anticipated, but only now was his suspicion confirmed. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianfeng resumed his usual expression and signaled for Yan Xin to continue answering his questions. ¡°Regarding the trading city that the senior asked about, a thousand li to the west from here is the Sole Trading City, the only trading city in the Suolo Mountain Range.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking, Yan Xin hurriedly took out a map from his storage bag and respectfully presented it. Lin Tianfeng accepted the map and reviewed it, finding that the geographic information recorded was quite comprehensive. As he saw that the Suolo Mountain Range was actually situated in the midst of the Jingzhou Huafeng Country Cultivation World, and was one of the central Ten Nations of Jingzhou, he couldn¡¯t help but be astounded. Even with some forethought, he hadn¡¯t expected the spatial fissure to be so terrifying as to have taken them to the distant central region of Jingzhou. To think that even though he had lost consciousness during the fleeting moment of the spatial fissure, he didn¡¯t feel that much time had passed. In just that brief interval, they had traversed hundreds of nations, which was simply unbelievable. ¡°Daoist Tianfeng, has something significant occurred?¡± Seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face turn shades of green and white, Sun Ling¡¯er inquired with concern. Lin Tianfeng came to his senses and immediately handed the map to Sun Ling¡¯er, gesturing for her to take a look. Quickly, Sun Ling¡¯er looked over the map, and her expression also turned unsightly, clearly just as shocked. Yan Xin, observing their change in expressions, feared he had offended them and asked with trepidation, ¡°Seniors? Do the seniors have any doubts?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and his partner came back to their senses. Thereafter, Lin Tianfeng casually took out thirty spirit stones and tossed them to Yan Xin. ¡°I¡¯m taking your map, and these spirit stones are for compensation. If there¡¯s nothing else, you may leave!¡± Lin Tianfeng stated and waved his hand, indicating that they could depart. Seeing the situation, Yan Xin and the others let out a sigh of relief and, after bowing to Lin Tianfeng and his companion, they quickly left the area. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After everyone had left, Lin Tianfeng opened his mouth to Sun Ling¡¯er and asked, ¡°Fairy Sun, we ended up in Jingzhou Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation World, and it seems hardly possible to return home in a short time!¡± ¡°Just arrived and without any encumbrances or dependents, do you have any plans for what to do next?¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er looked startled, then fell into deep thought. Lin Tianfeng was right; looking at the current situation, it seemed impossible to return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World anytime soon. After all, she was a Loose Cultivator, truly without attachments; it made no difference where she cultivated. And this Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation World was the central state of Jingzhou, with countless dangerous and Secret Realms, and powerful Sects and noble families abound. The overall standard of cultivation was naturally incomparable to the barren Wei Kingdom. Even though the journey to explore the Cave Mansion Ruins had yielded her nothing, and she had been transported here against her will by a Spatial Fissure, for her, the situation was set, and arriving in the vast land of Huafeng Country could also be seen as an opportunity. When it came to cultivation or seeking adventure, she really didn¡¯t mind where it happened. Thinking about this, Sun Ling¡¯er then replied, ¡°It has come to this; there is not much we can do!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we might as well settle down and cultivate here, and when the opportunity arises, it¡¯s not too late to return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianfeng nodded, knowing that what Sun Ling¡¯er said was true! Thinking too far ahead for now was not very realistic; it was better to focus on cultivation and, in passing, inquire about Lin Tianhu¡¯s whereabouts. When conditions allowed, he naturally wanted to return to his family. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng then said, ¡°Fairy Sun, you speak truly; that is also what I am thinking.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to fulfill the promise about exploring the Cave Mansion Ruins for the time being!¡± ¡°Giggle¡­ Daoist Tianfeng, you¡¯re too serious!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er giggled and then continued, ¡°Under those circumstances, I would have made the same choice as you.¡± Her words were sincere, giving no indication that she cared about the enormous treasure. What he didn¡¯t know was that her truthful words deeply touched Lin Tianfeng, causing him to hold Sun Ling¡¯er in even higher regard. At this time, Lin Tianfeng had calmed down and then said, ¡°Fate plays tricks on people, and by chance, we both ended up here.¡± ¡°Frankly, settling down for cultivation in this unfamiliar land won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°After all, this is not the Wei Kingdom; here, Foundation Establishment Cultivators are mere common fish, and securing resources will inevitably involve some fighting and killing.¡± ¡°Given that, Fairy Sun, why don¡¯t you and I join forces and try our luck together in this land?¡± Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was determined, filled with lofty ambitions. Hearing this, it did not take long for Sun Ling¡¯er to agree to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s proposal. She was well aware of the high level of cultivation in Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm and the many hidden opportunities that lay there. After all, danger and opportunity always co-exist. The two of them were only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; in the impoverished Wei Kingdom, they were considered strong in most places. But here, Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage were everywhere, so indeed, they didn¡¯t amount to much. Given this, the two understood each other, having shared life-and-death experiences together and coming from the same nation. From various angles, teaming up indeed seemed safer and more likely to encounter fortune. More importantly, the budding feelings she harbored for Lin Tianfeng in her heart were the biggest reason she followed him. Understanding this, Sun Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t hesitate and agreed to join Lin Tianfeng in his endeavors. Her decisiveness greatly pleased Lin Tianfeng. Even in a land far from his clan, his heart could still sense that warmth unique to the Wei Kingdom. In light of this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s fondness for Sun Ling¡¯er grew stronger. With their agreement set, Lin Tianfeng and his companion did not delay and decided to first head to Suolo Trading City to rest and regroup. As for their subsequent cultivation arrangements, they would adapt to the situation as it unfolded. If an opportunity arose, the two naturally would work together to seize it, and would share any dangers as well. In the coming decades, they were bound to support each other, leaving indelible memories on this land. Chapter 657 657 362 The Clan Leaders Shock_1 ?Chapter 657: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_1 Chapter 657: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_1 Qianchuan Market. Inside the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue sat together. At this very moment, Lin Tianhong¡¯s face was pale, and his breath was also very chaotic. After leaving the Cave Mansion Ruins, he had hurried non-stop toward Qianchuan Market, cautiously making his way and finally taking more than ten days to successfully return here. Seeing him dusty and haggard, Lin Tianyue quickly pressed with questions. ¡°Second brother, why have you returned alone? What about elder brother and the others?¡± Hearing this series of questions, Lin Tianhong let out several long sighs and then briefly recounted their experience in the Cave Mansion Ruins. ... However, he didn¡¯t mention their gains, focusing instead on the part where Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu were swept into the Spatial Fissure. ¡°What? Elder brother and Tianhu were swept into a Spatial Fissure, their life and death unknown!¡± Lin Tianyue was shocked beyond measure upon hearing this news. Her reaction was completely within Lin Tianhong¡¯s expectations, after all, the news was indeed shocking. Moreover, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu¡¯s status was not low; their talent and strength were considerable, and their cultivation ranked among the top in their generation within the clan. Such a calamity befalling two potential clan members was indeed too severe a blow for the Lin Family at the moment. Seeing Lin Tianyue turning pale, Lin Tianhong comforted her with a word and did not forget Lin Tianfeng¡¯s initial entrustment. ¡°Tian Yue, I¡¯ve been hastily traveling these past days, and I¡¯m not in good condition. For safety¡¯s sake, you must accompany me back to our clan territory to report a matter of great importance to the Clan Leader.¡± Lin Tianhong had made this arrangement out of necessity. Having just returned from the Qianchuan Mountain Range utterly exhausted, if he were to bypass Qianchuan Market and head directly to the clan territory, it would definitely take longer than expected, and Lin Tianyue might worry. More importantly, Lin Tianfeng had cautioned him repeatedly, implying that the contents of that storage bag were extraordinarily significant. In light of this, he had to be even more careful, to avoid losing the treasures they had risked their lives to obtain. With Lin Tianyue joining him, the safety factor greatly increased, and they could return to the clan territory more quickly to fulfill Lin Tianfeng¡¯s request. Therefore, his slight detour to Qianchuan Market had been a well-considered decision. At this moment, Lin Tianyue, upon hearing Lin Tianhong¡¯s instructions, didn¡¯t ask any further questions. She understood that the disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and the others was indeed a serious matter that needed to be reported to the family promptly. Thus, she agreed without hesitation, which pleased Lin Tianhong. Without delay, after taking a short rest, the two summoned the other Qi Refining clanspeople together. After arranging affairs for their departure, the two no longer tarried and immediately set out on their journey back to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Half a month later. The two safely returned to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory and met with Clan Leader Lin Shihua at the first opportunity. At a cave mansion on the summit of the main peak, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were sitting together, with Lin Tianhong and others, who had rushed back, standing before them. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, seeing the duo¡¯s dusty and travel-worn appearance, Lin Shihua¡¯s heart was filled with confusion. Could it be that the secret mission he had entrusted to Lin Tianfeng to collect Wind Attribute cultivation techniques was making progress? Or had Lin Tianming, who was far away in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, made some significant discovery or progress? With a puzzled expression, Lin Shihua motioned for the two to sit down, then asked about the reasons for their sudden return to the clan territory. Lin Tianhong did not dare to hold back, and promptly recounted the entire story of their exploration of the Cave Mansion Ruins from start to finish. Upon learning about Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu being swept into the Spatial Fissure, even Lin Shihua, who had weathered many storms, couldn¡¯t help but turn pale, and he even began lamenting repeatedly. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for elder brother and Tianhu fighting desperately, I would have certainly been sucked into the Spatial Fissure, too!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for dragging down elder brother and the others, if not for me, they would surely have escaped unscathed!¡± At that moment, Lin Tianhong¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he spoke with immense regret. Seeing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong both sighed deeply. Then, as if struck by a thought, they hurriedly led several people to the ancestral hall. Upon reaching the guardian of the hall, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t say much, merely greeted them briefly before rushing towards the inner depths. Entering a side chamber, which was decorated quite differently from the main hall, where many spirit tablets of the Lin Family ancestors were on display. The side chamber, also of considerable size, was where the Lifesoul Plaques of the Lin Family members were kept. Looking around, a circular platform in the center of the room stood upon which were erected thousands of Lifesoul Plaques, each one glowing brightly, emitting a vibrant aura of life. There were also some Lifesoul Plaques whose light was dim, and they exuded an aura of death all around. Obviously, those vibrant Lifesoul Plaques belonged to the younger generation of the Lin Family, or were those of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. And those with the aura of death were the plaques of older clan members whose potential had nearly been depleted. As for these Lifesoul Plaques, many families, as well as Sect powers, would similarly create them. This process, to speak of it, was not complicated. From the moment a Lin Family clansperson¡¯s Spiritual Root was tested, they would come to pay homage to the ancestors, and then proceed to the side chamber, where an elder would extract a strand of soul essence to serve as the spiritual guide, crafting the Lifesoul Plaque. If a clansperson were to fall in the future, the Soul Lamp within their Lifesoul Plaque would also be extinguished, signifying the loss of a Lin Family member. Chapter 658 658 362 The Clan Leaders Shock_2 ?Chapter 658: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_2 Chapter 658: Chapter 362: The Clan Leader¡¯s Shock_2 The Lin Family was thus able to receive news of fallen clan members and track down the perpetrators to make appropriate arrangements. Lin Shihua, along with several others, hurried over precisely to check on Lin Tianfeng and his companion¡¯s Lifesoul Plaques to see if their Soul Lamps were extinguished, which would determine their general situation. With a clear objective, Lin Shihua quickly located the Lifesoul Plaques of Lin Tianfeng and his companion. Upon inspection, their Lifesoul Plaques were as usual; their vitality was also very strong, indicating they were likely safe at the moment. Understanding this, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Especially Lin Tianhong, upon seeing that their lives were not in danger, suddenly relaxed his tense nerves. At that moment, Lin Shihua glanced at the few people present and then slowly said, ¡°Hmm¡­ there¡¯s no need to worry too much now, Tianfeng and his companion are temporarily safe!¡± ... ¡°We just don¡¯t know their current whereabouts yet. With their cultivation strength, as long as they are careful and don¡¯t stir up unnecessary trouble, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues.¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lin Shigong also spoke in agreement. ¡°Shihua is right. Both Tianfeng and Tianhu are among the best of the Tian generation in our clan, and their cultivation is top-notch. It¡¯s likely nothing serious.¡± Hearing this comforting discourse, everyone¡¯s expressions relaxed, no longer as somber as they had been before arriving. Seeing this, Lin Shihua said no more and led the group back into the cave mansion. Once everyone took their seats, Lin Tianhong looked around at the core members of the Lin Family. Then, she took out the storage bag that Lin Tianfeng had entrusted to her with his dying effort and handed it over to Lin Shihua. Seeing this, Lin Shihua was momentarily stunned, showing a puzzled expression. No blame could be placed on him, as Lin Tianhong had rushed back in haste, and the first report had been about how Lin Tianfeng and his companion had been swept into the Spatial Fissure. His account was quite simple and had not mentioned the efficacious materials they had found. He also hadn¡¯t spoken of the items Lin Tianfeng had retrieved from the attic. Therefore, seeing Lin Tianhong hand over a storage bag, Lin Shihua was somewhat puzzled, wondering what could be inside it. ¡°Tianhong, where did this storage bag come from? What does it contain?¡± At that moment, Lin Shihua took the storage bag from Lin Tianhong¡¯s hand and asked a question. Seeing his puzzled look, Lin Tianhong then began to recount their extensive plundering in that unknown space. However, he was not clear about what the Jade Slip obtained by Lin Tianfeng was. Yet, judging by Lin Tianfeng¡¯s cautious attitude, it was undoubtedly not to be underestimated; otherwise, he would not have been so solemn. As Lin Tianhong narrated, the worried looks on the faces of Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong disappeared, replaced by sheer excitement. Lin Shihua was tasked with inventorying the treasures in the storage bag, while Lin Shigong took notes by his side. Indeed, just as Lin Tianhong had described, the storage bag contained a large number of Third Order Spiritual Medicines and the Artifact Refining Materials found in the attic, all far from ordinary. These Spiritual Medicines and ores alone were of great value and were rarely seen treasures in the Cultivation World. At that time, reassured of the safety of Lin Tianfeng and his companion, and having acquired such a large trove of treasures, everyone¡¯s demeanor was one of joy. Almost unknowingly, the inventory of the treasures in the storage bag was nearly complete. At that moment, Lin Shihua took out the Jade Slip, glanced over it briefly, and his face immediately flushed red. Seeing this, Lin Shigong also wore a look of bewilderment. Lin Shihua was excited to see the myriad treasures in the storage bag, but it was nothing compared to his current state of excitement. Clearly, the Jade Slip was definitely not an ordinary item. ¡°Shihua, what kind of treasure is it that makes even you so excited?¡± Following Lin Shigong¡¯s query, Lin Shihua then realized his own lapse in composure. He gave everyone an embarrassed smile and then passed the Jade Slip to Lin Shigong. ¡°Hehe¡­ Ninth Brother, Tianfeng and the others truly deserve a great merit for what they¡¯ve done this time. Take a look at this yourself!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. He took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense. Soon, like Lin Shihua, his complexion turned red, and his breathing became rapid. ¡°Ha ha¡­ These lads took great risks, but the rewards, they truly satisfy!¡± Lin Shigong laughed heartily, unable to resist praising aloud. Hearing this, Lin Tianhong was prepared, yet he couldn¡¯t help but be curious. What treasure was contained within the jade slip that made Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong praise it so highly? With this curiosity, Lin Tianhong braced himself and asked a question. ¡°Ninth Grandpa, Clan Leader, what treasure is in the jade slip that has excited both of you so much?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua said in a deliberately deep tone, ¡°This matter is not trivial, it¡¯s just a good item, that¡¯s all.¡± As soon as his voice fell, Lin Shigong also chimed in. ¡°This matter indeed has significant implications. It¡¯s not suitable for indiscriminate disclosure. You two juniors should not inquire further!¡± After speaking, Lin Shihua nodded his head and then patted Lin Tianhong on the shoulder, giving him a long and heartfelt instruction. ¡°Ninth Brother is right. This matter concerns the Lin Family¡¯s secrets. Remember to keep it in mind and not to mention it to anyone else.¡± ¡°With the discovery of the Cave Mansion Ruins, each of you has made great contributions. Go to the Hall of Merit and collect fifty thousand spirit stones each. Later, when Shi Lu and the others return from seclusion, we will discuss and see how to reward you.¡± Hearing these words, both Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue were extremely satisfied with the reward and deeply understood the importance of this matter, promptly vowing to keep it firmly in mind. Seeing this, the two elders nodded and showed satisfying smiles. With this matter coming to a conclusion, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong began to discuss arrangements for finding Lin Tianfeng and others. This matter was also of great importance, as the identities of these individuals were very significant to the Lin Family. Furthermore, having just made significant contributions to the family, it would be too disheartening for the clan members if they were unsearched for. Realizing this, they knew the importance of the matter and that they had to search for them with all their might. After a while, the two reached a consensus on the matter. Then, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianhong and the others and began to instruct. ¡°Tianhong, after you and Tianyue rest for two days, set off with Tianqin. When you pass by Golden Horn Mountain, have Xingrong join you on your way to Qianchuan Market.¡± ¡°Once there, Tianqin will stay at Golden Horn Mountain, and Xingrong will accompany you to Qianchuan Market, taking full responsibility for finding Tianfeng¡¯s whereabouts.¡± ¡°Apart from you, I¡¯ll send out clan members to post rewards in Luoyun Market. We will mobilize anyone who can, searching in the Wei Kingdom and the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World.¡± ¡°In short, the Lin Family must find news of Tianfeng at all costs.¡± Upon hearing this series of instructions, Lin Tianhong and others nodded their heads and undertook the matter. With the arrangements for finding Lin Tianfeng and others made, and the family now fully devoted to the search, they finally felt relieved. Otherwise, if any harm were to befall Tianfeng and the others, Tianhong truly would not be able to rest easy. As the matter was settled, Lin Tianhong and the others bid farewell and left, leaving Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong sitting in the courtyard. ¡°Ninth Brother, how is Tianyun¡¯s training going?¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s question, Lin Shigong smiled and replied, ¡°Tianyun is exceptionally talented and perceptive!¡± ¡°Now that we have this cultivation technique, difficulties have been effortlessly resolved, and he can cultivate at the fastest speed.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If everything goes well, he has the potential to surpass Tian Ming and become the fastest in the family!¡± ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll leave this child in Ninth Brother¡¯s care!¡± Lin Shihua responded excitedly and then started a casual conversation with Lin Shigong. Two days later, having returned to the clan, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue set out again on their journey to Qianchuan Market. As directed by the Clan Leader, Lin Tianqin also set off with them, arriving at Golden Horn Mountain. After communicating with Lin Xingrong and conveying the Clan Leader¡¯s arrangements, and resting for a day, the three spent more than ten days and finally returned to Qianchuan Market. All of this happened quietly; the Cultivation World remained calm, while Lin Xingrong discreetly roamed the outskirts of Qianchuan Market, secretly investigating Lin Tianfeng¡¯s whereabouts. ¡­ Chapter 659 659 363 Pawn_1 ?Chapter 659: Chapter 363 Pawn_1 Chapter 659: Chapter 363 Pawn_1 Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Within a temporary cave abode hidden on a mountainside, Lin Tianming sat on the ground with his hands together as if in prayer, obviously deep in meditation. Who knew how long had passed when he opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance swept across them. ¡°Huff huff¡­¡± Lin Tianming exhaled a breath of stale air, a joyous smile flashing across his face. Since entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, three months had passed in the blink of an eye, and more than a month had gone by since he killed Zhou Jin. During that period, he took Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag and the Greenstone Wood scavenged from the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s lair before finally leaving that canyon. ... He intended to find a safe place to recuperate for a while, bringing his condition to a peak and incidentally taking inventory of Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag. Given Zhou¡¯s identity as a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect and a disciple under a Golden Core Cultivator, his wealth was certainly not low. If he could find another Fake Golden Core Talisman, his overall strength would increase significantly, making his treasure-hunting journey ahead much safer. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming was resolute and set out to find a place to cultivate. Alas, Demonic Beasts were aplenty in this secret realm. Though he had yet to encounter a Third Order Demonic Beast, there were plenty of First and Second Order beasts everywhere. Besides, he remained wary of other cultivators because anyone capable of training here was no ordinary individual. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even disciples from his own Zhenyang Sect, who he was somewhat familiar with, couldn¡¯t be fully trusted. In such circumstances, finding a disturbance-free area for half a month of seclusion was not so easy. After much wandering like a headless fly, he encountered Second Order Late Stage beasts thrice. The first two encounters were with very powerful beasts, all of which were social and in large numbers, possessing formidable collective strength. Living by the belief of fighting if he could and running if he couldn¡¯t, Lin Tianming was not overly adventurous. In his mind, unless it was a treasure that could impact his advance to the Golden Core Stage, he did not want to get stuck in quagmire, wasting his time and energy. Most importantly, it would be a loss if he got injured. Such cautiousness led to relative success in escaping these powerful adversaries and eventually making it into this forest. Here, a solitary Second Order Late Stage beast resided, powerful though alone, posing not too great a threat. After another fierce fight, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take much effort to kill it and then occupied the place. This location was rather hidden, and after some scouting during his arrival, it proved to be an excellent shelter. After plundering the lair of the slain beast, he didn¡¯t find any particularly valuable items, just a few common ones. Seeing the relative safety of the area, he stayed and began his closed-door cultivation. After spending nearly half a month in seclusion, he reached his peak condition and felt some improvement compared to when he entered. Unfortunately, as he had not been at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level for long, breaking through in this secret realm would require a high-energy treasure that could enhance cultivation. Otherwise, there wasn¡¯t much hope for a breakthrough here. To this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give it much thought, instead taking a very relaxed approach, following his heart. A breakthrough that came naturally would allow him to go further. Understanding this, Lin Tianming took things step by step, without any undue haste. At this moment, as Lin Tianming finished his cultivation, he immediately took out Zhou Jin¡¯s storage bag. Zhou¡¯s strength was not weak and his status was significant, so he probably had some good items. With anticipation, Lin Tianming skillfully wiped away the Divine Sense from the front of the storage bag. He then extended his Divine Sense and meticulously inspected Zhou Jin¡¯s collection. Before he knew it, half an hour had passed. Indeed, just as he expected, Zhou Jin, being a True Disciple of the Golden Sword Sect and under the tutelage of a Golden Core Cultivator, had an extremely rich wealth. Upon his investigation, there were nearly one hundred thousand Spirit Stones alone, not to mention numerous First and Second Order treasures. Items like Second Order Talisman Papers were still plentiful, though they were common items. For Lin Tianming¡¯s current state, unless they were elixirs or Spirit Fruits that could advance his cultivation, they could only be considered ordinary. Only Zhou¡¯s Attack Artifact and Defense Artifact were of good quality, but such items with questionable origins couldn¡¯t be used rashly without inviting trouble. Thus, these unique items could only be used in special circumstances, or perhaps be sold off on the black market when it was safe. In no time, Lin Tianming collected all common items into his own storage bag. After estimating their value, he found that even these ordinary items, when accumulated, were of tremendous worth, worth at least two hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Then, he carefully calculated and found quite a few valuable items. There were several Third Order Spiritual Medicines and three types of Third Order Spiritual Ores, though all were relatively common treasures, their values were still decent. The disappointment was the lack of Cultivation Techniques or inheritances from the Four Arts of Cultivation. Otherwise, such heritable treasures were what could enhance a family¡¯s foundation. However, on further thought, Zhou¡¯s storage bag was still rich in treasures, its cumulative value making him stand out among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for the lack of inheritances, perhaps the Sect regulated these treasures strictly, not readily allowing their cultivators to carry them. Chapter 660 660 363 Pawn_2 ?Chapter 660: Chapter 363 Pawn_2 Chapter 660: Chapter 363 Pawn_2 Actually, including the Lin Family Members, it¡¯s the same; whether it¡¯s cultivating the Cultivation Methods or inheriting the Four Arts of Cultivation, they all learn within the clan, and they are not even allowed to be taken out of the Scripture Pavilion. Thinking about it this way, it¡¯s understandable that they don¡¯t receive the inheritance of the Sect Cultivators. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming collected all the treasures and then picked up a Crimson Token to examine it carefully. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a short while, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened as if he had discovered something extraordinarily grave. Upon his investigation, he found that this Crimson Token was virtually identical to the one obtained from the Blood Red Alliance Cultivator he had killed previously. Thinking about it this way, could it be that Zhou Jin is from the Blood Red Alliance, or a spy planted within the Golden Sword Sect? With these thoughts, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a tremor in his spirit and couldn¡¯t refrain from sighing at the wide reach of the Blood Red Alliance. ... To think that the Golden Sword Sect, a Great Sect with a legacy spanning thousands of years, and home to several Golden Core Cultivators, could have one of their True Disciples being a spy for the Blood Red Alliance. It¡¯s simply inconceivable! Thinking further, it seems the Blood Red Alliance has planted many pawns in the Wei Kingdom, even managing to infiltrate the Golden Sword Sect to such an extent. If the other two Golden Elixir Forces are also in such a state, what exactly is the Blood Red Alliance plotting? Even more seriously, with the appearance of pawns from the Blood Red Alliance within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it¡¯s highly likely that there¡¯s more than one person. That being said, what is the Blood Red Alliance ultimately after? With these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt a chill run down his spine as he sensed an extraordinary crisis. However, at present, he didn¡¯t have a solution; there were many Cultivators in this Secret Realm, and although the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s pawns were deeply hidden, their number was ultimately limited, and they definitely couldn¡¯t contend with the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom. And disciples of the Three Great Sects would definitely travel together; even if the Blood Red Alliance spies had any schemes, they wouldn¡¯t be a match for the Three Great Sects. If that were the case, the object of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s plot might be a treasure outside the Secret Realm. That means, at least temporarily, the Secret Realm is relatively safe, and it¡¯s unlikely that anything major will occur. As long as he¡¯s careful, especially about not making enemies with the people from the Three Great Sects, he wouldn¡¯t be in great danger. Understanding this, Lin Tianming gradually calmed down, and his demeanor returned to normal. Putting this matter aside, Lin Tianming then considered his next steps. Currently, about a third of the time has passed, and there¡¯s still plenty of time left; he was also at his peak condition, so naturally, he should make the most of the time and try to gain as much as possible. As for the specific action plan, he still had no particular targets, so he could only wander around and see where there might be treasures worth making a move for, and if the conditions allowed, he would certainly give it a try. Besides, he also had to be cautious on this journey, especially of the hidden pawns of the Blood Red Alliance. These people are wicked by nature and are capable of anything. If he encounters one alone, with his cultivation strength, even if he can¡¯t win, he should be able to retreat unharmed. The problem is if others are also moving together; if he gets into a fierce battle with two to three Cultivators at or above the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, then he would be under great pressure. If he¡¯s unlucky, there might even be the risk of falling. However, even so, he shouldn¡¯t be afraid; after all, the opportunity presented by this trip to the Secret Realm isn¡¯t easy to come by, and if missed, it¡¯s uncertain when the next chance will be. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming immediately got up and left the Temporary Cave Abode. After concealing any traces of the Temporary Cave Abode, he chose a direction and set out on his treasure-hunting journey once again. Several days later. Atop a hill that was neither high nor low, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. At this moment, Lin Tianming had a solemn expression, focusing on the sounds coming from the distance, a thoughtful look on his face. In the several days that had passed, he had gained nothing, nor had he encountered any Demonic Beasts or seen any other Cultivators. Now, there was a significant commotion up ahead, clearly indicating a battle between Cultivators, but it remained to be seen whether the opponents were Demonic Beasts or fellow Cultivators. At this point, he could either bypass this area, as it had nothing to do with him, or go up to check out the situation and then decide. As he was lost in thought, the noise ahead steadily grew louder, as if something was charging in his direction. Sure enough, an unknown creature approached with great momentum, the sparse trees in the vicinity toppling in response, and myriad rocks crumbling apart, clearly moving at high speed towards him. Seeing this, his expression changed, and he had just decided to turn and leave, when he spotted a familiar figure rushing towards him. Upon closer inspection, the person was Hu Yuan, whom he had not seen for a long time. Since entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, the two had not encountered each other, nor had they seen any traces of one another; unexpectedly, they had now met. At this moment, Hu Yuan was running, with over a dozen Second Order Red Flame Beasts in hot pursuit, looking quite bedraggled. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan¡¯s originally pale face suddenly flushed with color. From a distance, he shouted loudly, ¡°Lin, there are a few Third Order Spiritual Medicines in this beast¡¯s lair. Why not lend me a hand in killing it? We can share the spoils equally!¡± Upon hearing these words and seeing Hu Yuan himself, Lin Tianming immediately halted his retreat. In his mind, if it were some other unknown cultivator, he would not get involved and would leave straight away without the slightest hesitation. But Hu Yuan was different; he had fought side by side with him for several years, and both knew each other¡¯s character well. Although they were not life-and-death friends, they were still extremely good friends. With this in mind, and considering the Third Order Spiritual Medicine Hu Yuan mentioned, it was highly likely to be true. The group of approaching Red Flame Beasts, though not low in rank and numbering over a dozen, including several of the Second Order Late Phase, the rest being Early to Medium Stage, posed little threat to their combined strength. With the two of them joining forces, it was not certain that they could defeat the Flaming Beast Clan, but escaping unharmed would not be a problem. Therefore, whether it was for the Third Order Spiritual Medicine or to help Hu Yuan out of his predicament, it was worth taking a shot at these Red Flame Beasts. If they succeeded, they would gain both wealth and gratitude; if they failed, they would simply flee for their lives. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming leaped forward, charging toward Hu Yuan who was coming head-on. At the same time, he slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords immediately flew out, spreading in all directions. Besides this, the Thousand Beast Banner was activated in coordination with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, creating a barrier that enveloped a large area behind Hu Yuan. His speed was incredibly fast, completing all actions within a short time. The charging speed of the Flaming Beast Clan was also not slow. Except for a few Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beasts that avoided the suppression of the barrier, all other Second Order Demon Beasts were enveloped within it. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming make a move and witnessing those familiar combat techniques, Hu Yuan¡¯s face grew overjoyed. ¡°Haha¡­ With Lin lending a hand, these beasts are nothing to fear!¡± After a hearty laugh, Hu Yuan quickly joined forces with Lin Tianming. In that moment, looking at the excited Hu Yuan, Lin Tianming laughed and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, now¡¯s not the time for catching up, let¡¯s take care of these Red Flame Beasts first!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ That¡¯s precisely what I had in mind!¡± After responding, Hu Yuan took the lead in attacking. Looking on, Hu Yuan¡¯s actions were decisive, and his attacks burst forth powerfully, seemingly venting the frustration of being chased by the Red Flame Beasts. Seeing this, Lin Tianming would not be outdone; his Tiangang Sword emitted bursts of silver light, rushing straight towards the few Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beasts. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky immediately became tempestuous with Sword Qi, with colorful arcs of energy tearing through the void, unleashing a formidable presence. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡¯s action, a few Red Flame Beasts outside of the Sword Array seemed to grow angry. ¡°Roar¡­¡± With a roar, they split into two groups¡ªwith three attacking Hu Yuan and two lunging with bared fangs towards Lin Tianming. In response, the two snorted coldly and each countered the oncoming Red Flame Beasts. ¡­ Chapter 661 661 364 Fierce Battle with the Red Flame ?Chapter 661: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with the Red Flame Beasts_1 Chapter 661: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with the Red Flame Beasts_1 ¡°` ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± In an instant, a series of crackling explosions echoed, and the world suddenly became chaotic. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, the battlefield was extremely fierce. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were both strong, with each strike displaying formidable power. The second-order late-phase Red Flame Beasts were also indeed very powerful; if they were alone, with the strength of the two men, it wouldn¡¯t take much effort to kill them. However, there were several Red Flame Beasts here. Relying on their strong defensive power and the stamina of demonic beasts, it was no wonder Hu Yuan fled in a panic. But with Lin Tianming¡¯s intervention, at least half of the demonic beasts could be dealt with. Thus, the battle between the two sides became evenly matched. In just a few rounds, the battle had already reached a climax. ... At this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation activated by Lin Tianming trapped many second-order early and mid-stage Red Flame Beasts. The strength of these more than ten Red Flame Beasts was not very strong, and even in sizeable numbers, they could only be trapped within the double suppression of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner. If things continued like this, the longer the delay, the closer they would be to the time they were anticipating. However, it seemed they did not understand this. Even if they did understand, what could they do? Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t let them escape easily and add to his burden. As the battle continued, after more than ten rounds, both sides began to bear injuries. At this time, Hu Yuan was under great pressure, dealing alone with three Red Flame Beasts, with many of his prepared treasures already consumed, and his spiritual power reduced by more than half. Moreover, he had some flesh wounds on his body, fortunately, they did not have a great impact. On the other side, the three Red Flame Beasts, despite their thick hides, had many gashes and their presence and momentum had decreased significantly. As for Lin Tianming, even without the suppression of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, he still handled the situation with ease. After another strike, Lin Tianming took advantage of the lull to shout to Hu Yuan. ¡°Daoist Hu, these demonic beasts are indeed not weak. Let¡¯s not delay, and strive to end this battle quickly!¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan laughed heartily and replied. ¡°Haha¡­ stop holding back. Let¡¯s see who finishes the fight first!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Hu Yuan pinched a tactic, and several second-order talismans burst forth from his hands. With each spell he cast, the second-order talismans turned into numerous fireballs, raining down towards the Red Flame Beasts. Clearly, his preparations for the Secret Realm were very thorough. Casual use of several second-order high-quality Attack Talismans was something that an ordinary cultivator couldn¡¯t afford. But Hu Yuan, at the peak of Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, should not be too far from the Great Perfection Realm. A Loose Cultivator who could cultivate to such a realm must have something special about them, so naturally, they wouldn¡¯t be too destitute. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± With a series of loud booming noises, fireballs fell from the sky, and the heat wave spread in all directions. Many trees that had fallen to the ground could not withstand the temperature and instantly burst into flames. For a time, the battlefield was engulfed in billowing smoke, presenting a spectacular sight. Facing such an attack, the Red Flame Beasts did not dodge or evade but even swallowed some of the incoming fireballs. Immediately after, they seemed to be quite excited, showing no signs of discomfort. This action surprised Hu Yuan. In fact, the Red Flame Beasts were fire-attribute demonic beasts, almost immune to ordinary flames. The fireballs created by the second-order talisman were just common flames. If they were flames from a Golden Core Cultivator or some special Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, they would not be so easily absorbed by the Red Flame Beasts. Upon further thought, Hu Yuan understood the reason. Understanding this, he completely abandoned fire-attribute Attack Talismans, opting for other elemental attacks instead, which naturally yielded better results. Indeed, after Hu Yuan made a targeted adjustment, the effect was immediate. An unrestrained Hu Yuan became more ferocious in his attacks. Under such circumstances, even when facing three second-order late-phase Red Flame Beasts, Hu Yuan began to gain the upper hand. On the other side, Lin Tianming was also going full out, significantly increasing the intensity of his attacks. With a loud shout, his Tiangang Sword glowed brilliantly, and silver-white Sword Qi flew out in quick succession, swiftly engulfing two Red Flame Beasts. After doing this, he did not pause but once again activated the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, slashing at one of the more heavily injured Red Flame Beasts. Ordinary Sword Qi was simply minor harassment; to kill a second-order late-phase Red Flame Beast in one strike was obviously not so easy. Therefore, Lin Tianming merely used ordinary attacks to keep the beasts at bay, saving his important moves for a fatal blow at the right moment. With the help of the Eye of Five Colors, the beasts¡¯ trajectories were entirely within his predictions. Moreover, Red Flame Beasts were not known for their speed, making the effect even more evident. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, it had reached the airspace above the beast¡¯s head. Accompanied by ordinary Sword Qi, the Tiangang Sword was hidden within, ready to catch the target off guard. At that moment, the Red Flame Beast targeted by his attack let out a roar, apparently unaware of the fatal threat of the Tiangang Sword. But as the Tiangang Sword fiercely slashed down, the beast finally realized. However, at such close range, any attempt to dodge the attack was clearly too late. ¡°` Chapter 662 662 364 Fierce Battle with Red Flame ?Chapter 662: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with Red Flame Beasts_2 Chapter 662: Chapter 364 Fierce Battle with Red Flame Beasts_2 With a pitiful shriek, the scene was immediately followed by a Red Flame Beast collapsing to the ground. Seeing his strike successful, Lin Tianming felt a surge of joy in his heart, his face revealing a satisfied expression. The attack just now was swift and tricky, giving him the feeling of perfect control, as if his Divine Skills had improved. Although the improvement was minor, at a critical moment, it might represent a qualitative leap. Thrilled by these thoughts, Lin Tianming felt an explosive boost in his state of being. At this time, seeing its companion killed by Lin Tianming in one strike, the remaining Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beast became enraged. It opened its huge mouth and spat out several massive fireballs towards Lin Tianming at an incredibly fast pace. ... Looking over, the fireballs were the size of water buckets, shrouded in terrifying high temperatures. The moment they appeared, the temperature on the battlefield rose a notch. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew it was a Divine Skill attack from the Red Flame Beast, certain to possess great destructive power. Being well aware of this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare be careless and immediately calmed down from his excitement. As the fireballs drew nearer, the Eye of Five Colors on Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead pierced through the void, making the trajectory of the fireballs crystal clear. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In just a moment, the Eye of Five Colors predicted the subsequent path of the fireballs, ultimately relaying it to his mind. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, leaping forward immediately with a ghostly silhouette, dodging the fireballs¡¯ attack. His speed was incredible, his agile body moving through the continuous fireballs, and he charged toward the Red Flame Beast, which was casting the Divine Skills. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming advanced dozens of feet, closing in on the Red Flame Beast, with less than a hundred feet between them, reaching the optimal attacking distance. At that moment, Lin Tianming punched out, a burst of invisible force erupting with extreme intensity. Seeing this, the Red Flame Beast, busy casting its Divine Skills, finally reacted. Seeing the fireball attack fail and Lin Tianming approaching menacingly, the Red Flame Beast hastily withdrew its Divine Skills. Following that, it also leaped forward, its claws drawing a beautiful arc as it furiously smashed down towards Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead. The Red Flame Beast¡¯s actions were also swift. Its claws were like blades¡ªif struck, any average Cultivator might be instantaneously cleaved into two halves. However, Lin Tianming was so confident in his approach because he had something to rely on. With a body comparable to a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast, even if it came to a head-on clash, he would at the very least inflict serious damage on the Red Flame Beast, if not emerge unscathed. Thus, with the strengthening of his body, Lin Tianming was filled with confidence. But the Red Flame Beast seemed not to understand Lin Tianming¡¯s prowess, thinking that this human, in his panic, had chosen the most foolish method to counter its attack. However, when their attacks collided head-on, the Red Flame Beast finally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Each struck hard, Lin Tianming exerting his full power, the force of his punch like Mount Tai bearing down. The Red Flame Beast, strong and vigorous, used its body as the ultimate weapon, also possessing tremendous destructive power. After the head-on collision, Lin Tianming was jolted dozens of feet back by the powerful force. Barely stabilizing himself, he forcefully suppressed the turmoil of qi and blood within him, his expression turning solemn. The Red Flame Beast¡¯s body was indeed formidable¡ªit had not been injured in the head-on clash, merely shocked back by the force. Although this strike did not achieve substantial progress, Lin Tianming was not discouraged. After a brief adjustment, he charged forward once more. This time, he relied not only on his physical body¡ªhis magical abilities were also fully utilized. Lin Tianming, now serious, unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword with almost no reservations, in an extremely short period of time. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword, like a silver dragon tearing through the void, accompanied by attacks transformed from Second Order Talisman Paper, poured in from all directions towards the Red Flame Beast. At this moment, the Red Flame Beast was not only angry but also increasingly fearful. It had already experienced Lin Tianming¡¯s strength¡ªhis body possessed immense power, and it had witnessed the Tiangang Sword slaying its companion. Now with Lin Tianming combining both physical and magical attacks, it was given no chance at all. As the fearsome Tiangang Sword drew closer, Lin Tianming also swung his seemingly ordinary fist, and the Red Flame Beast felt a mix of shock and fury. Under the immense pressure, the Red Flame Beast actually showed no intention of fighting and turned to run away. ¡°Hmph¡­ it¡¯s already too late to run now!¡± Seeing the Red Flame Beast¡¯s actions, Lin Tianming sneered coldly and then quickened his pace, charging towards the Red Flame Beast. Though the Red Flame Beast moved swiftly, it was not faster than Lin Tianming when he accelerated his pursuit, and certainly not faster than the attacks of the Tiangang Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword arrived on schedule, cutting off the Red Flame Beast¡¯s retreat in advance. By now, with the Tiangang Sword attacking from the front and Lin Tianming himself blocking from behind, the Red Flame Beast had no way out. Trapped in a desperate situation, the Red Flame Beast stopped fleeing and turned to charge at Lin Tianming instead. Clearly, the Red Flame Beast knew the situation was dire and decided to look for a breakthrough from Lin Tianming¡¯s side. If it could break through, perhaps there was still hope for survival. Otherwise, it was undoubtedly doomed. At this moment, the Red Flame Beast let out its full power without reservation, unleashing an astonishing aura. Simultaneously, its gaping maw and sharp claws, its weapons of attack, all came hurtling towards Lin Tianming¡¯s head. In the face of these changes from the Red Flame Beast, Lin Tianming sneered mockingly and didn¡¯t take them seriously. He had already tried before and knew that in a head-on clash, he wouldn¡¯t be at a disadvantage; he would merely experience some blood boiling within and feel the backlash of the impact. With this understanding, Lin Tianming¡¯s mountain-like fists collided directly with the sharp claws of the Red Flame Beast. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise echoed, followed by a scene of sparks flying and dust billowing. This strike turned out just as Lin Tianming had anticipated, with both sides being pushed back by the tremendous force. The Red Flame Beast hadn¡¯t even caught its breath when it felt a scorching sensation on its back. As it turned its head to see, the light on the Tiangang Sword flashed, and it had already arrived in front of the beast, merely a few yards away. At that moment, it felt not only the temperature from the Tiangang Sword but also the breath of death. It turned out that Lin Tianming¡¯s two-pronged attack was completely interlinked. Even if the Red Flame Beast could momentarily fend off his frontal assault, its back was still exposed to the attack of the Tiangang Sword. Not only that, the frontal attack had repelled the Red Flame Beast, and the Tiangang Sword had further shortened the distance of its attack. It wanted to evade the lethal strike, but the distance was too short, and its body was not small enough to be agile. Moreover, the speed of the Tiangang Sword was simply too fast. ¡°Pssh¡­¡± A crisp sound reverberated, utterly distinct from the sharp metallic clash of before. Then came the wail of the Red Flame Beast, making one¡¯s scalp tingle just by hearing it. Hearing these noises, Lin Tianming, with his Eye of Five Colors, could clearly see the Tiangang Sword piercing through the neck of the Red Flame Beast. For a moment, crimson blood erupted, forming a pillar of blood that shot straight into the sky. At the same time, the body of the Red Flame Beast collapsed with a thud, creating a large pit on the ground, with fresh blood pooling inside it and quickly forming a puddle. The Red Flame Beast struggled instinctively a couple of times before lying motionless, evidently dead. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief and casually called back the Tiangang Sword. With the major battle over on this front, Lin Tianming turned his attention to the Red Flame Beasts within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Looking over, only a few Second Order Middle Stage existences remained among the Red Flame Beasts in the Sword Array. Obviously, the initial stage Red Flame Beasts simply couldn¡¯t withstand the Sword Qi within the array, nor the ferociously undying Monster Beast Souls, and they perished one after another. And the few that remained were nearly all injured. Under the intense repression, they became frightened and helpless, repeatedly charging against the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. However, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had now contracted to a range of a hundred yards and had become impregnable, so even a Second Order Late-Stage Red Flame Beast trapped inside would not escape easily. Chapter 663 663 365 Fire Dragon Grass_1 ?Chapter 663: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_1 Chapter 663: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_1 As such, the few remaining Red Flame Beasts didn¡¯t stand a chance of causing any significant trouble, and their annihilation was just a matter of time. Realizing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t make another move, his attention instead shifting to Hu Yuan¡¯s battle. At this moment, Hu Yuan was still fighting valiantly. With his cultivation and strength, he had managed to gain the upper hand with his full power unleashed. However, the Red Flame Beasts were also naturally strong, with tough skin and powerful innate Divine Skills in their attacks, far surpassing those of the same order outside the Secret Realm. In such circumstances, even with all of Hu Yuan¡¯s techniques deployed, he only managed to gain the upper hand, but couldn¡¯t rout them, much less annihilate them. If things continued this way, once Hu Yuan¡¯s Spiritual Power was further depleted, the situation might completely reverse. After all, Demonic Beasts had much stronger vitality and endurance in combat compared to Cultivators. ... By then, Hu Yuan probably wouldn¡¯t be a match for them. At this moment, Lin Tianming, assessing the situation, wasn¡¯t delaying any longer and planned to join the fray quickly to finish off the Red Flame Beasts and then ransack their lair for treasures. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped into the air, darting in Hu Yuan¡¯s direction. Even from a distance, Lin Tianming shouted. ¡°Daoist Hu, let me lend you a hand!¡± Before his words had faded, Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand burst forth with Spiritual Light and then flew from his grasp, stabbing towards one of the Red Flame Beasts. He released the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, aiming to see if an outsider could succeed with a single strike. Seeing Lin Tianming lend his aid, along with the astonishing momentum, Hu Yuan¡¯s heart surged with excitement. ¡°Haha¡­ With Lin¡¯s help, these beasts won¡¯t be able to escape!¡± Hu Yuan was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; even if he had faced these three Red Flame Beasts alone, he would have had a good chance of killing them all. Now with his participation, the combined strength of the two of them was overwhelming; the Red Flame Beasts were like lambs to the slaughter and their demise was only a matter of time. As expected, Lin Tianming struck successfully from where the Red Flame Beasts were unguarded. With the death of that Red Flame Beast, the situation worsened for the remaining two. At this moment, they were both angry and frightened, but they were no match for the two men. Left without a choice, they attempted to escape. However, Lin Tianming and his companion had exerted so much effort, naturally they had no intent to let them escape back to their mountain. After a mere few hundred yards of pursuit, both Red Flame Beasts were killed. With the death of these two creatures, the Red Flame Beasts within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation were also eradicated by the Sword Array. By now, the great battle had ceased, and peace gradually returned to the world. At this time, Lin Tianming and his partner gathered together, their faces beaming with excitement. ¡°Lin, you truly live up to your reputation!¡± Hu Yuan, looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s calm expression that didn¡¯t show much exhaustion, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration. In fact, Lin Tianming¡¯s consumption wasn¡¯t significant at all; the battle had only depleted a little over half of his Spiritual Power, and he¡¯d hardly used any Second Order Talisman, not to mention his most powerful tricks. Moreover, of the five Second Order Late Phase Red Flame Beasts, two were killed by him alone, one of them unexpectedly in an ambush, and another one he took down by himself during the pursuit. Plus, considering those at the initial and medium stages, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that the vast majority of them were killed by him. On the other hand, Hu Yuan had used up almost all his techniques and nearly run out of Spiritual Power, and his accomplishments fell short of Lin Tianming¡¯s. Looking at this, the difference in strength between the two was clear. At this point, Lin Tianming responded to Hu Yuan¡¯s praise with a humble chuckle and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°You flatter me, Daoist Hu. I¡¯ve merely taken advantage of the moment to launch a surprise attack. Besides, you expended a lot of energy during the earlier stages.¡± Lin Tianming spoke lightly and pleasantly; naturally, Hu Yuan didn¡¯t take it seriously. In the Cultivation World, strength was the most respected. Lin Tianming was obviously stronger than him and had yet to show his full capacity. Understanding this, Hu Yuan smiled calmly and actively proposed, ¡°There is no need for such modesty, Lin!¡± ¡°In my view, we should redistribute the spoils of war. You should take sixty percent, Lin, and I would take the lesser share of forty percent, how about that?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Hu Yuan to be so sensible as to voluntarily offer up a ten percent share. However, upon further thought, it made sense that he should take the larger share, given that he had contributed more and had a more impressive record of kills. Some other person might have demanded seventy or even eighty percent without a second thought. But Hu Yuan, by offering a concession, made it awkward for Lin Tianming to haggle over the split. As for Lin Tianming, he didn¡¯t insist; he wasn¡¯t in need of that small benefit, and there was no point in antagonizing Hu Yuan over such trivial matters. It was better to be generous and create goodwill. With this in mind, Lin Tianming nodded with a smile and promptly urged Hu Yuan to finish cleaning up the battlefield. Soon, they each got to work, collecting all the corpses of the Red Flame Beasts and taking any valuable parts. Lin Tianming¡¯s collection was thorough, letting the Purple Gold Eagle out and allowing it to devour a large amount of flesh, stopping only when it could eat no more. Afterward, he collected a considerable amount of flesh to save for the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s future consumption. As for the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, they weren¡¯t released. After all, they were creatures of the Second Order Late Phase, and the energy from the flesh of the Red Flame Beasts was limited in effect. In this way, the Purple Gold Eagle had quite a feast, devouring without limit. Chapter 664 664 365 Fire Dragon Grass_2 ?Chapter 664: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_2 Chapter 664: Chapter 365 Fire Dragon Grass_2 As the battlefield was cleaned up, the two made sure to erase any traces of the battle. Having done this and seeing no obvious oversights, the two once again convened. At this time, Lin Tianming scanned the battlefield and then began to ask about the location of the Red Flame Beasts¡¯ lair. Lin Tianming was quite looking forward to this, considering the Red Flame Beasts¡¯ clan was not small in scale and relatively strong overall; their lair was likely to contain some valuable items. Besides, as Hu Yuan had mentioned upon meeting, there were at least a few plants of Third Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. With the carcasses of these demonic beasts included, their haul from this great battle would not be small. Knowing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t wait to ask about it. ... In response, Hu Yuan simply smiled, not daring to delay, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and prevent further complications. Thus, guided by Hu Yuan, the two followed the direction from which the Red Flame Beasts had come, walking for over ten miles before finally arriving at a canyon. Looking out, they found themselves within a huge ravine, with rugged stone walls on either side, an abyss below, and a wave of heat surging up from the bottom of the canyon. Clearly, the fire attribute elemental energy here was extremely rich; it was no wonder the Red Flame Beasts had chosen this place as their lair. At that moment, standing at the highest point of the canyon, Hu Yuan pointed in a direction and said, ¡°Daoist Lin, halfway up the canyon there¡¯s a sizable plateau where I found some spiritual herbs, which I believe to be Fire Dragon Grass.¡± ¡°Fire Dragon Grass?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, as the terrain and landscape did suggest that Third Order Spiritual Medicine like Fire Dragon Grass could be produced here. The Fire Dragon Grass was quite useful, being the main ingredient in the Third Order Yuan-Infused Pill. The Yuan-Infused Pill was one of the few elixirs used by Golden Core Cultivators, containing a rich energy that could assist Golden Core Cultivators in their cultivation, similar to the Fusion Spirit Pill used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but the effects were worlds apart. Moreover, at the Golden Core stage, advancement in cultivation becomes very slow, and relying on meditation and breath control was even more painstakingly slow. Elixirs that could aid in the improvement of cultivation were few, and the Yuan-Infused Pill was one of the more effective among them. Though he was currently only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm and wouldn¡¯t need Fire Dragon Grass for the moment, such a main ingredient was hard to find, and in the Cultivation World, it was a highly sought-after commodity that almost no Golden Core Cultivator would pass up. Furthermore, even if he did not need it right now, he could sell it for a large amount of Spirit Stones. However, should he truly acquire it, he certainly wouldn¡¯t foolishly sell it. After all, with Ye Pinghai¡ªa genuine Golden Core Cultivator¡ªpresent in the Lin Family, and Lin Shikang also potentially reaching the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family would be in dire need of a Spiritual Medicine like Fire Dragon Grass. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Retreating a thousand steps, even if he and the Lin Family did not need it right now, he wouldn¡¯t sell it unless absolutely necessary. He had already reached this realm, and perhaps in just a few years, he could step into the Golden Core Stage. Preparing some of the materials used by Golden Core Cultivators in advance would allow his future cultivation to progress faster. In any case, this Fire Dragon Grass was something he had to acquire. Recognizing the importance of the Fire Dragon Grass, Lin Tianming was eager to go down and investigate. ¡°Daoist Hu, now that the Flaming Beast Clan has been eradicated, we should go down and search.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If it really is Fire Dragon Grass, then we¡¯ll have hit the jackpot!¡± Lin Tianming said, laughing as he urged. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s how it should be!¡± After replying, Hu Yuan took the lead and leaped into the ravine. Seeing Hu Yuan leap without hesitation, as if he had everything under control, Lin Tianming also did not hesitate, immediately following his lead and jumping down. Their movements were quick and nimble, skillfully navigating through the ravine by using protruding rocks on the walls. Descending thousands of feet this way, they arrived on a spacious plateau. The area was not small, encompassing at least hundreds of feet, with various boulders and rocks chaotically piled up, forming a natural shelter. As soon as they appeared, the plateau was thrown into disarray, with numerous First Order Red Flame Beasts scurrying around, some of which even launched attacks at the two of them. There were quite a few First Order Red Flame Beasts, amounting to dozens, yet they were all of First Order. Such strength posed no threat to them at all. At that time, Hu Yuan casually killed several Red Flame Beasts that attacked them before turning to Lin Tianming with a smile and said, ¡°Daoist Lin, do you want to subdue these little guys and take them back?¡± ¡°If not, let¡¯s just kill them all so we can go and collect that Third Order Spiritual Medicine!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a while before deciding to kill them all. The reason for this decision was that the Red Flame Beasts had specific requirements for their living environment, and if they stayed in the Spirit Beast Bag all the time, they would likely not adapt and have difficulty advancing. Besides, Green Bamboo Mountain did not provide a suitable environment for them either, and forcibly taking them back would make advancement virtually impossible. Demonic Beasts that had lost their potential to advance were not very valuable. What¡¯s more, with his strength, he had no use for these First Order Red Flame Beasts. Otherwise, he could have captured some to take back and let his clansmen subdue and recognize them as masters to strengthen their power. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming signaled Hu Yuan that there was no need to hold back, and to kill them all as quickly as possible. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming¡¯s fingers flicked rapidly, and beams of Spiritual Light shot out, bombarding the Red Flame Beasts. The speed of this Spiritual Light was so fast that the First Order Red Flame Beasts couldn¡¯t escape, and they were easily killed by him on the spot. Seeing this, Hu Yuan did not waste words. With his cultivation power, killing these Red Flame Beasts was as easy as catching fish in a barrel. The two of them attacked from both sides, and in less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea, all the Red Flame Beasts were killed. After quickly collecting some valuable Demonic Beast Materials, the two continued on deeper. Soon, under Hu Yuan¡¯s guidance, they came to a crevice in the rocks. Looking ahead, in the crevice before them, a vibrant red Spiritual Medicine stood proudly. This Spiritual Medicine was about one foot tall, and its fiery red stem occasionally had sparks flickering on it. After comparing their memories, they confirmed without a doubt that this Spiritual Medicine was indeed the Third Order Fire Dragon Grass. Furthermore, this Fire Dragon Grass was several hundred years old and fully met the requirements to concoct Yuan-Infused Pills. At this time, Lin Tianming was thrilled, and he carefully collected it and placed it in a designated Jade Box. After completing these tasks, the two dispersed and began to collect in the vicinity. Half an hour later, the two met up again, each holding several Jade Boxes. Lin Tianming found four stalks of five-hundred-year-old Fire Dragon Grass, and Hu Yuan had found the same. Unfortunately, there were also some seedlings of Fire Dragon Grass in the area, but their survival rate was extremely low when transplanted due to their stringent growth environment. Clearly aware of this fact, both of them abandoned the idea of transplanting. However, all things considered, a total of eight stalks of five-hundred-year-old Fire Dragon Grass was a bountiful harvest that greatly exceeded both of their expectations. ¡°Daoist Lin, according to our agreed method of distribution, I can take three of these eight Fire Dragon Grass stalks, and the rest belong to you!¡± Hu Yuan said, then threw a Jade Box he was holding directly to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming did not bother with false modesty, catching the Jade Box and briefly checking it before confidently collecting all the boxes. Seeing this, Hu Yuan nodded with a smile, his mood looking very pleased. ¡°Daoist Lin, what shall we do next, where do we go from here?¡± Facing Hu Yuan¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming looked down at the abyss beneath their feet and after a moment¡¯s thought, replied, ¡°Daoist Hu, have you explored the depths of this abyss? Have you discovered anything out of the ordinary?¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan was momentarily stunned, wondering if Lin Tianming had noticed something. Yet on further thought, there indeed seemed to be something peculiar about this place. Based on what they knew so far, the abyss was bottomless, and even though they were only halfway up the mountain, the temperature was already so high. As for what might be at the bottom of the abyss, that was hard to say. ¡­ Chapter 665 665 365 Blue Heart True Flame_1 ?Chapter 665: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_1 Chapter 665: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_1 However, one thing was certain, the further down one went, the higher the temperature would become, and Divine Sense would also be affected. Even though they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it was still difficult to say whether they could safely reach the bottom under such suppression. Considering this, Daoist Hu tentatively asked, ¡°Lin, have you perhaps discovered something?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming chuckled and began to explain. ¡°Hehe¡­ No, I haven¡¯t found anything in particular. I just feel this place is so peculiar that it¡¯s worth our while to go down and explore!¡± ¡°Lin¡¯s words make sense, but as I see it, ordinary cultivators simply can¡¯t withstand this place,¡± said Daoist Hu, finishing his sentence before turning the conversation with a flattering remark. ¡°Hehe¡­ As a body cultivator, Lin, your resistance is naturally incomparable to mine,¡± he praised. ... ¡°Thinking about it, Lin could indeed give it a try. If you manage to reach the bottom smoothly, all the better, but if it¡¯s truly impossible, then giving up is the only option!¡± Daoist Hu¡¯s opinion unintentionally aligned with Lin Tianming¡¯s own thoughts. In fact, Lin Tianming was indeed planning to give it a try. After all, he had already obtained the Fire Dragon Grass, and even if he left this place, he would still be wandering around. More importantly, he was assisted by the Eye of Five Colors, his Divine Sense was extraordinary, and his physique had undergone Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. With such favorable conditions, it was better to explore on the spot, as there might be unexpected gains. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming courteously invited Daoist Hu to join him in the attempt. Daoist Hu responded with an indifferent smile, quite aware of the limits of his own strength. Even if he wanted to, he had no choice but to give up there and then. After all, if he were to be injured or even lose his life while exploring the abyss, it would be a loss not worth the gain. Understanding this, Daoist Hu directly declined Lin Tianming¡¯s kind offer. Seeing Daoist Hu¡¯s decisiveness, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist further. Then, he gave instructions, ¡°Daoist Hu, just wait here for a day and a half for me. If I do not return within a day, you may leave directly!¡± Upon hearing this, Daoist Hu nodded seriously and said no more. After arranging where to meet up later, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any longer and leaped directly into the abyss. As his body slowly descended, just as he expected, the temperature increased and his Divine Sense was severely suppressed. Beyond that, the fiery heat roasted his skin, causing intense pain, and his qi and blood churned incessantly inside him. At this moment, Lin Tianming operated his Spiritual Power, creating a light shield that enveloped his entire body. With the protection of this item, the acute pain from the heat was considerably alleviated. Continuing to descend relentlessly, he soon dropped by several hundred zhang. The abyss seemed bottomless, and he once again felt the intense heat, with the protective light shield barely offering any relief. At that instant, he distinctly felt his qi and blood begin to stir violently, and his whole body felt as though it was being roasted over a fire. Faced with this, Lin Tianming had no choice but to rely on the toughness of his body to endure. Luckily, his body was innately strong, constantly releasing an indescribable energy that effectively weakened the sensations of pain. Otherwise, under such intensity, an ordinary cultivator might have already fainted. Time slowly passed, and as he continued to descend, fighting through the pain, he kept sinking further down. In the blink of an eye, he had plunged several hundred zhang more. By this point, he had descended over a thousand zhang, and the temperature at this depth had risen to a terrifyingly high level. Clearly, the deeper he went, the closer he got to the source of the heat, and the temperature increased exponentially. At this time, his consciousness became a bit blurry, sweat continuously dripped from his forehead, and it was quickly evaporated by the high heat. Not only that, but flames started to emerge on some exposed parts of his body, which was an excruciating feeling, much more intense than the pain from Cultivation Method practice. Even so, he clenched his teeth and didn¡¯t entertain the thought of retreating. Perhaps having reached his limit, the energy from the elixirs he had taken before, or from the remnants of the Spirit Fruits, started to disperse, continuously strengthening his body. At that moment, he could clearly feel his body filled with strength, and both his physique and spirit seemed to be slowly improving. Although the degree of improvement was not significant, it was undoubtedly happening. If he continued like this, staying here for a while longer would advance his Body Refinement Art further. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He never expected to gain some benefits from enduring some pain. Having calmed down from his excitement, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to linger. Leaning on this surge of energy, he descended rapidly, even faster than before. After an indeterminate amount of time, his descent came to a halt. When he looked carefully, he realized he was at the edge of a fiery pit. Although the intense pain on his skin persisted, it had clearly eased compared to before. Besides, he noticed that a large amount of dirt had seeped out of his body. After cleaning it away, his skin appeared as white and lustrous as jade. Feeling his body further, he found that everything from his internal organs to his bones and spirit had significantly improved. In this moment, he felt an extraordinary surge of excitement, as if his body possessed boundless strength. By his estimate, his body had achieved a considerable upgrade. At that point, relying on his physique alone, he was nearly on par with the strength of his cultivation in Spiritual Power. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 666 666 365 Blue Heart True Flame_2 ?Chapter 666: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_2 Chapter 666: Chapter 365 Blue Heart True Flame_2 On the basis of their mutual enhancement, his strength was bound to rise again. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming could hardly contain his joy and was also very grateful for his own boldness. Otherwise, had he not taken this journey, he would not have encountered this unexpected delight. After calming down, he immediately began to scan his surroundings, searching for any potential treasures. Looking around, all he saw was barren fire ash stone, which, although capable of surviving high temperatures, was of little use. Even Qi Refining Cultivators had no interest in collecting it upon seeing it. In the center of the huge crater, a sky-high flame burned, a strong fire attribute element coming forth, accompanied by the heat wave hitting his face. ... Sensing the scene around him, he couldn¡¯t help but speculate that just this heat wave alone would likely be too much for a Qi Refining Cultivator to withstand. They would probably be extinguished in a moment. Regaining his senses, he opened his Eye of Five Colors and resumed his relentless search. After a while, he still hadn¡¯t found anything of use. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was slightly disappointed. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, the Eye of Five Colors suddenly focused on the center of the huge crater. He hadn¡¯t considered looking at the center of the crater; after all, in such high temperatures, common treasures could hardly survive. But with a glance through the Eye of Five Colors, there was a fist-sized red fire star hidden beneath the towering flames. This fire star was not big and appeared very ordinary, with no special characteristics, even giving the illusion that it could extinguish at any moment. Yet upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the surrounding flames all kept their distance from it, and the flames that burned could not affect the fire in the center in the slightest. Not only that, but among the countless towering flames, it was clear that they were surrounding this fire star, as if they were stars crowning the moon. This was only the surface difference; what was more peculiar was that the Eye of Five Colors could see directly through the exterior of the fire star and found that inside the red fire star, there was a hint of light blue. Clearly, this light blue fire star was out of the ordinary! After carefully recalling, he suddenly remembered something. ¡°Blue Heart True Flame!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s it!¡± Lin Tianming murmured to himself in shock, his face flashing with an excited smile. In his earlier years, he had read many classic texts, among which were descriptions of Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire. The Blue Heart True Flame was one of such fires, and it was in no way inferior to a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s Golden Core Truefire; in fact, it was even more powerful. Thus, the use of the Blue Heart True Flame was particularly outstanding; it could be used not only for Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging but also for repelling enemies. Its effects were clearly stronger and more comprehensive than the Golden Core Truefire. And such Heaven and Earth treasures were also the dream of many Cultivators. Especially for him, who not only possessed Fire Wood Dual Spiritual Roots but was also a Second Order Alchemist. If he could refine this Blue Heart True Flame, it would be of great help to both his cultivation and his Alchemy. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement reached its peak. After finally calming down his agitated heart, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at his own good fortune to have discovered such an immensely helpful treasure. But now wasn¡¯t the time to be excited; he had to refine the Blue Heart True Flame before he could celebrate. And as a Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, the Blue Heart True Flame was naturally not so easy to refine. Besides, the process of refining it was filled with danger. If luck was against him, or if he couldn¡¯t withstand the soul-scorching pain of the flames, not only would he fail to obtain the treasure, but he might also lose his life in the process. Understanding this, Lin Tianming hesitated only for an instant before making up his mind to give it a try. After all, risk and opportunity often coexist, and considering the great effort it took to reach this place, not to mention the discovery of the coveted Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, there was no reason to give up, despite the dangers. Moreover, he constantly remembered the potential crisis facing the Lin Family; both he and his family had limited time, which did not allow him the luxury of an uneventful cultivation life. Thus, even if it meant traversing mountains of swords and seas of flames, facing a situation of near-certain death, he had to seize this rare chance. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew serious; he dared not take any chances and pondered how to obtain the Blue Heart True Flame. As for the refining process of this Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, he had neither experienced it before nor even heard of how to refine it. A moment later, Lin Tianming found himself at wit¡¯s end, unable to think of a good method to collect it. ¡°So be it, no matter what, let¡¯s try to gather it up first and see what happens!¡± Lin Tianming pondered in silence and then attempted to approach the center of the fire sea. From his attempts, he discovered that the fire sea was indeed a bit special. As he stepped over the fire sea on the Tiangang Sword, he was completely unharmed, and to his surprise, the closer he got to the center, the pain from the scorching heat dwindled. It was simply inconceivable! However, this was a stroke of great fortune for him, propelling him forward when he was previously at a dead end. As he reached the center of the fire sea, Lin Tianming could now observe the Blue Heart True Flame up close. At this moment, he cautiously approached, using some First and Second Order ores to test the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s reaction. He was genuinely scared that the thing might suddenly erupt, releasing a tide of flames that would burn him to death. After all, such a flame was extremely dangerous, and no one could predict if it would have any violent reaction. Thus, he was highly focused now, ready to flee at the first sign of danger. But his worries proved excessive. After all his various tests, the Blue Heart True Flame remained motionless, standing tall in its original spot without any change. At this, the highly tense Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief. Straight away, Lin Tianming extended his Divine Sense, attempting to communicate with the Blue Heart True Flame. After all, such Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires might possess some spirituality, and this simple act was done to see if it could catch its attention. But to his surprise, the Blue Heart True Flame still didn¡¯t budge, as if it were looking down on him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed red, and he couldn¡¯t help but burst into profanities. Who knew that after his bout of cursing, the Blue Heart True Flame, as if understanding him, flashed toward his forehead. This sudden movement terrified Lin Tianming so much that he felt his soul scatter. In an instant, Lin Tianming leapt up, trying to flee as quickly as possible. Yet unexpectedly, the Blue Heart True Flame moved incredibly fast, catching up to him just as he reached the edge of the large pit. And at this moment, with Lin Tianming completely unguarded, the Blue Heart True Flame plunged directly into his Sky Spirit Cover. In the blink of an eye, he felt a piercing pain in his soul, followed by immediate unconsciousness. At this time, he found the Blue Heart True Flame had entered his sea of consciousness and erupted wildly. For a moment, his sea of consciousness was turned upside down. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Lin Tianming clung tightly to his mental faculties, enduring an unprecedented intense pain, striving with all his might to contain the explosion of the Blue Heart True Flame. Luckily, his Divine Sense was strong, and his tolerance for pain had long been honed by the drawbacks of his Cultivation Technique. Even though the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s destructive power was formidable, it was held in a stalemate under his resistance. As time slowly passed, the standoff between the two showed no signs of stopping. Time was indeterminate, but Lin Tianming felt the explosive power of the Blue Heart True Flame seemed to be weakening. Although it baffled him, and he had no time to ponder nor care about the reason. He wouldn¡¯t easily give up on this rare opportunity. So, Lin Tianming began to manipulate his Divine Sense, suppressing the Blue Heart True Flame. The Blue Heart True Flame offered only a token resistance before stopping its struggle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and immediately deployed his entire Divine Sense to refine the Blue Heart True Flame. Theoretically, the refining process was not easy, but without the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s resistance, it became much less difficult. In this state, the speed of refining the Blue Heart True Flame also increased significantly. In only half a day, the Blue Heart True Flame had been refined by a fraction, which filled him with immense joy. If progress continued at this rate, maybe it wouldn¡¯t take half a month to completely refine it. Realizing this, Lin Tianming wasted no more time and focused on refining the Blue Heart True Flame. ¡­ Chapter 667 667 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_1 ?Chapter 667: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_1 Chapter 667: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_1 Three days quietly passed by. At the waist of the abyss, Hu Yuan, who had been waiting for three days, now furrowed his brows tightly, endlessly peering into the depths of the abyss. ¡°According to what Lin said about the one-day agreement, it¡¯s been three days and still no return. Could something unexpected have happened?¡± ¡°Could he have perished already!¡± ¡°With Lin¡¯s exceptional talent and strength far surpassing mine, to collapse halfway like this.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah¡­ such a pity, such a pity!¡± With these thoughts in mind, Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but show a regretful expression on his face. ... They had originally agreed to wait for one day, but when Lin Tianming had not returned, he thought perhaps Lin was delayed by some treasure. Therefore, he waited an additional two days, just to meet up with Lin Tianming so they could venture together into the Secret Realm. After all, he highly recognized and felt extremely reassured by Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and integrity. Following him, he had also reaped a bounty over the years, at least far beyond his expectations. He was very clear in his heart that Lin Tianming was also a person with a great destiny. Being with someone like that, he could also practice cultivation by taking advantage of the situation, which was much stronger than his own solo trials and training. He had thought they could make a big splash in the Secret Realm, but Lin Tianming had disappeared, and he was once again on his own. ¡°Ah¡­ life and death are fated, wealth and honor lie in the heavens. I, Hu Yuan, also waited two extra days, which should be considered doing all that could be expected of me. I just hope Lin is safe and returns!¡± Hu Yuan sighed, then turned and leaped away, leaving the abyss behind. In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by. At the bottom of the abyss, Lin Tianming was still lying unconscious on the ground, his body covered in a layer of black mud, looking just like a statue. However, upon closer inspection, one could see the chest of the statue-like figure heaving rhythmically, along with the sound of breathing. Clearly, this statue was a living being! Such a lifeless thing, fortunately, was at the bottom of this abyss. Aside from flames burning around, there were no other dangers. Otherwise, if it were in some desolate mountain or valley within the Secret Realm, he would probably have been devoured by Demonic Beasts as food by now. A few breaths later, the statue slowly crumbled, revealing Lin Tianming¡¯s body. Immediately afterwards, he opened his eyes and stood up, a look of excitement on his face. Before he even caught a few breaths, Lin Tianming looked at his body and then disdainfully said, ¡°How stinky!¡± It turns out that the black mud on his body was impurities seeping out from within. Whilst smelling the stench, Lin Tianming quickly performed a spell to clean himself up. As he cleaned himself, the malodorous black mud disappeared, replaced by skin as white and pure as jade. At a glance, this skin seemed quite ordinary, but inside, the bones had a white-gold color, emitting a tremendous energy imperceptibly. It was clear that the Body Refinement Art had once again significantly improved. Feeling the abundant strength within his body, Lin Tianming was in a great mood, his heart¡¯s excitement lingering for a long time. Ha ha¡­ it¡¯s really too incredible. At that moment, Lin Tianming pinched his fingers, and a blue ball of fire appeared in his hand. As soon as the fireball emerged, the temperature around sharply rose, and the nearby red flames all dodged away, as if they were very afraid of the fireball in his hand. For Lin Tianming, these changes had no effect on him whatsoever, and he manipulated the fireball at will, changing it into various shapes. Looking at this all-too-familiar fireball that he could easily control and manipulate its energy, At this moment, he could feel the hidden power of the Blue Heart True Flame, which if used, would definitely be a devastating weapon. Although he had yet to use it in real combat, he estimated that the destructive power of the Blue Heart True Flame, even if not comparable to the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, was much more potent than common attacks. It¡¯s even possible that it¡¯s not much weaker than the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword in might. With the Blue Heart True Flame, his combat techniques became more diverse, and his strength had also significantly improved. But the role of the Blue Heart True Flame wasn¡¯t just for attacking; it also had good effects in assisting with Alchemy. Moreover, the growth potential of all Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames was not weak. According to legends in the Cultivation World, if other Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames were available for assimilation, its attacking power could be further enhanced, and its effects in assisting Pill Concoction and Artifact Refining would also improve. In that case, the Blue Heart True Flame could also grow, thereby bringing a greater assistance to the host. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming was excited, and still somewhat in disbelief as if it wasn¡¯t real. Only when he swept his Divine Sense through his body and found a flame existing within, exactly like the flame he had seen with the Eye of Five Colors, did he accept the fact. Obviously, that was the Blue Heart True Flame. And the further improvement in his Body Refinement Art was clearly a result of assimilating the Blue Heart True Flame. Seeing that the flame remained quietly within him and had integrated with him, Lin Tianming finally accepted reality. However, he naturally found it very strange that the Blue Heart True Flame had suddenly rushed into his sea of consciousness, catching him off guard. As a result, he fell unconscious, but he remembered everything that happened in his sea of consciousness vividly, which was still terrifying to think about. What was even more strange was that the Blue Heart True Flame did not truly rebel and was easily refined by him, which was puzzling. Anyway, whether it was his own incredible fortune or the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s willingness, it didn¡¯t matter. At this point, pursuing the reason was truly meaningless. Chapter 668 668 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_2 ?Chapter 668: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_2 Chapter 668: Chapter 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_2 ¡°` Anyway, he got a great opportunity for free, which would be of great help whether for Alchemy or for combat against enemies, thanks to the Blue Heart True Flame. Such opportunities, for a Cultivator, truly came once in a blue moon. Therefore, he should actually feel fortunate instead. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the reasons, and his entire demeanor returned to its normal state. Once his composure was regained, Lin Tianming glanced at the soaring flames around him and fell into deep thought. Counting from the time of his unconsciousness, more than half a month had passed; Hu Yuan must have left this place by now. That being said, leaving this place now and trying to find him again would probably depend on luck. ... However, that was not a major issue; with his current strength, having Hu Yuan with him would not be of much use anyway. Unless they encountered a Third Order Demon Beast, it was more convenient for him to act alone. And now, with the treasures here being thoroughly scavenged by them, there really was no need to stay any longer. After all, there was still more than half a year left of the one-year timeframe, which was enough time; he had to seize every moment to continue treasure hunting and try to acquire as many treasures as possible. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming decided to leave the area immediately and resume his treasure-hunting journey. Once he made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped up and rode the Tiangang Sword toward the heights of the abyss. While it had been a painful and slow descent, ascending was much easier now that he had assimilated the Blue Heart True Flame, and the high temperatures no longer affected him. Familiar with the path, Lin Tianming returned to the flat ground at the top in merely the time it took to brew a cup of tea. Just as expected, seeing that Hu Yuan had already left, Lin Tianming was calm and indifferent, without caring whether Hu Yuan had waited for him or not. After all, nearly twenty days had passed since he was last seen, so it was natural to presume he had perished. In that case, it was understandable for Hu Yuan not to wait for him. Understanding this, Lin Tianming simply smiled lightly and then chose a direction to fly off in. ¡­ Time flew, and half a year passed in a blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were traveling together, flying over a high peak. About a month prior, the two had unexpectedly rejoined each other. Seeing Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan wore a face full of surprise, having thought that Lin Tianming had met his demise in that abyss. In response, Lin Tianming made up a reason, merely saying that he had been delayed by encountering some treasures. Whether true or not, Hu Yuan naturally didn¡¯t ask further, as everyone had their own fortune to find; if he missed out, he couldn¡¯t blame others. Seeing Lin Tianming reappear with even a subtly enhanced strength, Hu Yuan was also overjoyed. Afterward, the two once again traveled together, exploring the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the month of their partnership, they did not gain much, obtaining only about a dozen Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials. In the nearly half a year before that, Lin Tianming¡¯s gains were also modest; he acquired quite a few Second Order treasures and killed several dozen Second Order Demonic Beasts. But he obtained only six Third Order Items, and none was particularly rare. Clear enough, this was a disappointing haul compared to the first three months, which also made him somewhat discontented. But upon further reflection, perhaps due to the passage of time, the treasures of the Secret Realm had been found by other Cultivators. After all, aside from them, there were nearly a hundred Cultivators in the Secret Realm, with strengths comparable to theirs. Moreover, ninety of them were disciples of the Golden Elixir Forces, with access to comprehensive information and intelligence. With such favorable conditions, their combined power undoubtedly much exceeded acting alone. Stronger power meant bigger targets, and they didn¡¯t need to be concerned about even powerful Monster Beast Legions. As a result, with others joining forces and scouring for half a year, the good items had become increasingly scarce. Going on like this, the chances of encountering high-value treasures would become tougher as time went on! With these realizations, Lin Tianming stopped dwelling on the matter. Anyway, according to the haul from the past half year, he was quite satisfied; even if he left the Secret Realm now, it wouldn¡¯t be an unacceptable outcome. At this moment, as Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were engaged in Sword Flight, looking at the towering peaks piercing the clouds below, Lin Tianming suggested to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, this place looks good. How about we rest here for half a day?¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan thought about how they¡¯d been running around for more than ten days without proper rest, indeed feeling a bit haggard. Plus, he just happened to want to recuperate, so he immediately agreed to Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion. Seeing Hu Yuan had no objections, Lin Tianming slowly descended, and the two stopped at the top of the mountain, one after the other. Then, Lin Tianming began to survey the area, searching for any signs of Demonic Beasts. It was this kind of cautious behavior that allowed him to avoid many unnecessary dangers. And in this Secret Realm so densely populated with beasts, it was all the more necessary to be vigilant. Hu Yuan on the other side did the same; as a Loose Cultivator who had managed to reach his current level of cultivation, he had survived countless crises. He always maintained vigilance, no matter where he was, and that was how he managed to cultivate to his current state. As the pair inspected the area carefully, the mountain peak turned out to be safe, with the exception of a fairly large plateau, no traces of Demonic Beasts were found. Once they ensured safety, they sat down cross-legged and took out some elixirs to consume, in order to replenish their spent Spiritual Power. ¡°` Chapter 669 669 366 Purple Gold Eagle Clan_3 ?Chapter 669: Chapter 366: Purple Gold Eagle Clan_3 Chapter 669: Chapter 366: Purple Gold Eagle Clan_3 By evening, the sky had gradually darkened. After sitting and regulating their breath for most of the day, both of their spiritual power had recovered to a great extent. However, as it was already late, neither of them seemed to have any intention to leave just yet, especially since the dangers of night far exceeded those of the day. Given the circumstances, they obviously planned to spend the night here. At this time, Lin Tianming also opened his eyes, Hu Yuan also ended his cultivation state, and the two of them started to chat casually as the night grew darker. After about half a quarter of an hour, both men, who were chatting idly, noticed something at the same time, and their expressions suddenly changed. ¡°There are flying spirit beasts coming our way!¡± ... At that moment, Hu Yuan, looking in the direction ahead of them, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Lin Tianming, with his powerful divine sense, had actually sensed the movements of these spiritual birds even before Hu Yuan did. ¡°Lin, let¡¯s hurry and leave!¡± Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming replied calmly with a wry smile. ¡°It¡¯s too late, these flying demonic birds are very fast. I¡¯m afraid they will fly over here momentarily!¡± Before he had finished speaking, dozens of shadows transformed from small black dots into massive creatures in front of their eyes. Looking closer, these demonic birds were enormous; the largest had a wingspan over twenty zhang wide, golden beaks, and feathers of a light golden color, all of which were strikingly familiar to him. ¡°Heh¡­ this is actually a Purple Gold Eagle Clan!¡± Upon seeing these Purple Gold Eagles, among them five were at the Second Order Late Phase and more than ten were at the Initial and Middle Stages of the Second Order, while the rest were all at the First Order. It was clear that this was a complete Purple Gold Eagle Clan, with overall power that was immensely formidable. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of surprise. In his years of campaigning in the south and north, he had visited many places, and he hadn¡¯t seen many flying demonic beasts, let alone encountered a Purple Gold Eagle clan. It is worth noting that even during the outbreak of a monster tide at the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield, with tens of thousands at stake, he had only seen two flying demonic beast tribes. Back then, when those flying demonic beasts appeared, they were considered treasures by the cultivators. Those of a slightly higher tier were quickly killed off by the Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, and the lower-tier ones were captured and tamed, barely leaving any for the others. Otherwise, he would have liked to kill a few more, or tame a few First Order or Initial Stage Second Order spiritual birds to bring back to his clan. Although he already had a Purple Gold Eagle and had nurtured Xiao Diao to the Second Order Middle Stage, no one would think of having too many of such kindred beasts. Even if they were no longer needed for traveling, they could still let Xiao Diao consume the essence blood of its own kind to refine the faint bloodline of the Golden Winged Great Peng, aiding in its successful ancestral transformation as soon as possible. The effect of devouring the essence blood and demon cores of these kindred beasts was much stronger than that of other species. Over the years, he had been looking for them but hadn¡¯t managed to find any trace of Purple Gold Eagles; otherwise, he would have really liked to search deep within the habitat of demonic beasts. And now, unexpectedly encountering a Purple Gold Eagle Clan within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was somewhat surprising. But thinking about it more carefully, the extent of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was unknown, as was how long it had existed and how many demonic beasts it contained. Even the Three Great Golden Core Sects of Wei Kingdom probably had no clear idea. In such a dangerous secret realm, the appearance of flying demonic beasts was nothing out of the ordinary. With this understanding, Lin Tianming felt at ease, his surprise turning into excitement. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 670 670 367 Spirit Beast Assists_1 ?Chapter 670: Chapter 367 Spirit Beast Assists_1 Chapter 670: Chapter 367 Spirit Beast Assists_1 As Lin Tianming gathered his thoughts, the Purple Gold Eagle Clan had already approached not far from the two. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking up, there were dozens of eagles. When they spread their wings and flew, their massive bodies almost blotted out the sun, making the already darkened sky turn even darker. ¡°Chirp¡­ chirp¡­¡± Piercing cries echoed through heaven and earth. Upon seeing the two people, the group of Purple Gold Eagles immediately dived down, launching fierce attacks. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened and he couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Hmph¡­ You flock of ragged birds would have been fine if you¡¯d just flown away. How dare you actively seek trouble!¡± ... ¡°You¡¯re simply courting death!¡± After Lin Tianming coldly uttered these words, he formed a Law Decree with his hand and slashed out a multitude of Sword Qi that shot out fiercely. On the other side, Hu Yuan, who was initially somewhat afraid upon seeing the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, soon had his expression replaced by excitement. Seeing so many Purple Gold Eagles appear, he was immensely eager as he did not have a flight-capable Spirit Beast of his own. For many years, he had wanted to tame a flying Spiritual Bird to cultivate, but since flying Spiritual Birds were rare, Second Order ones with higher intelligence were not easy to tame, and First Order ones required too much time and resources to raise. Thus, he had never encountered a particularly suitable opportunity. However, there were quite a few Purple Gold Eagles here, and with both First and Second Order present, the choices and chances increased, significantly boosting the probability of successfully taming one. Not only that, the talent and potential of the Purple Gold Eagles were quite good. With proper cultivation, they could possibly break through to Third Order. They could be used for travel, which had many purposes. Now that such an opportunity had arisen, the long-covetous Hu Yuan naturally wouldn¡¯t let it pass. Realizing this, Hu Yuan no longer hesitated and likewise unleashed a barrage of attacks, madly striking at the Purple Gold Eagles that were swooping towards them. As Lin Tianming and his companion took action in succession, Sword Qi whipped violently around the mountain peak. Not only that, but dozens of Purple Gold Eagles also flapped their wings furiously and spat out fireballs that rained down on the two of them. This fireball attack was something Lin Tianming was very familiar with. Years ago, when he first tamed a Purple Gold Eagle, he had also experienced it. But back then, the Purple Gold Eagle was only at the First Order Middle Stage, still in its juvenile phase, and the destructiveness of its fireballs was not great. But here, there were dozens of Purple Gold Eagles. The First Order ones could be ignored, but there were nearly twenty Second Order eagles as well. Their combined fireballs were tremendous in number, with terrifying temperatures on their surfaces and astonishing power within. As Lin Tianming and his partner made their moves, a mass of Sword Qi and talisman paper attacks collided with the sky-full of fireballs. ¡°Boom¡­ boom¡­¡± Explosion after explosion resounded without end. For a moment, the top of the mountain was a dazzle of Gang Wind and fire splashes, as brilliant as stars in the night. Not only that, the powerful shockwaves made the ground tremble. When the firelight dissipated, the land returned to a brief tranquility. At this time, looking around, several First Order Purple Gold Eagles had failed to evade in time and were struck by the powerful Sword Qi. They fell from the sky, their bodies smashing into the ground and creating deep pits. With this casual strike, Lin Tianming and his companion had killed a few First Order Purple Gold Eagles and injured two at the Second Order Initial Stage, but there were no other casualties. As the probing strike ended, this result was clearly unsatisfactory to them. However, upon further thought, given the talent and potential of the Purple Gold Eagles, their strength was bound to be more formidable than the Red Flame Beasts at the same rank. In addition, as flying Demonic Beasts, speed was their pride. Attacking them was not as easy as it seemed. Previously, when they battled the Flaming Beast Clan, they had faced several Second Order Late Phase beasts and more than a dozen at Second Order Medium and Initial Stages. Compared to this Purple Gold Eagle Clan, the Flaming Beast Clan was not much weaker. Yet, at that time, they had emerged completely victorious, slaughtering all the Red Flame Beasts without sustaining much injury. It could be said that the victory in that battle was relatively easy. However, now that the probing strike had ended, the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ losses were negligible, and their combat power had not diminished significantly. By that count, this Purple Gold Eagle Clan was proving to be much more troublesome than the Flaming Beast Clan. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s brows tightened, and their faces showed a solemn expression. Clearly, they had underestimated the overall strength of this Purple Gold Eagle Clan. But the two did not panic, they were also well aware that though the overall strength of this Purple Gold Eagle Clan was great, their combined force was not without the potential for victory. Even if they couldn¡¯t defeat the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, escaping them would definitely not be easy. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming said to Hu Yuan, who was not far from him, ¡°Daoist Hu, you¡¯ve seen the strength of these Purple Gold Eagles, we mustn¡¯t underestimate them; they¡¯re very fast, and escaping won¡¯t be easy!¡± ¡°Looks like we must give it our all this time!¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded. As a Loose Cultivator who had cultivated to his current realm, he had certainly experienced many crises. He knew very well that escaping from the Purple Gold Eagle Clan would be much harder than from the beast clans like the Flaming Beast Clan. After all, with the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ speed, they would likely be caught before they could get far. By that time, they would still have to fight desperately. Chapter 671 671 367 Spirit Beast Assists (Part 2) ?Chapter 671: Chapter 367: Spirit Beast Assists (Part 2) Chapter 671: Chapter 367: Spirit Beast Assists (Part 2) Since escape was not an option, he decided to annihilate them with thunderous means or drive them from this place. Having made up his mind, Hu Yuan¡¯s Magic Artifact in his hand frequently shone brightly, unleashing stronger attacks and locking onto two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles. Seeing Hu Yuan go all out, Lin Tianming did not delay. With a single slap on his storage bag, seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, swiftly forming a Barrier in front of him. At the same time, the Thousand Beast Banner was also summoned by him, working in conjunction with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to envelop a large area in front of him. His speed was remarkably fast, and many First Order Purple Gold Eagles were covered by the Sword Array, including those at the early Second Order stage who were unable to escape. However, the Purple Gold Eagles at the medium and later stages of the Second Order were very fast. They seemed to sense the danger at the moment the Sword Array appeared and dodged it. ... Given Lin Tianming¡¯s knowledge of Purple Gold Eagles, it was not surprising that the Earth Fiend Sword Formation failed to encompass those at the medium and later stages of the Second Order. His goal was merely to trap the First Order and early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles, so that he could attempt to tame them after the final battle had concluded. Therefore, he simply trapped them and did not trigger too much Sword Qi to roam inside, lest he kill them. As for the top combatants among the Purple Gold Eagles, which were those in the medium and later stages of the Second Order, they were considered to have reached adulthood and their Spirit Wisdom was not low, so the likelihood of directly taming them was not great. At the very least, without resorting to violent methods, there was absolutely no chance of subduing them. Understanding this, Lin Tianming focused all of his attention on those Purple Gold Eagles in the medium and later stages of the Second Order. At that moment, Lin Tianming slapped his Spirit Beast Bag and released Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. This battle was unlike the one against the Flaming Beast Clan. The Purple Gold Eagles were stronger and faster, making them not easy to kill. Therefore, he planned to let Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, who hadn¡¯t fought in a long time, come out to help, and he even considered releasing the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. However, considering the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s injuries had only barely healed and that the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was too rare, easily arousing greed in others, And more importantly, the Divine Skills of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox were very strong, and he didn¡¯t want to reveal too many of his trump cards. That¡¯s why he considered letting Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao come out to help. With the Bloodthirsty Jiao being of the Second Order Late Phase, holding off a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle should be no problem. As for Xiao Diao, at the Second Order Middle Stage, though its Order was not very high amongst the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, over the years it had consumed countless Demon Cores and various elixirs, and even rare treasures. Under such circumstances, Xiao Diao¡¯s overall strength was still stronger compared to other Purple Gold Eagles of the same class and Order. Even if it couldn¡¯t match those of the same kind in the late stages of the Second Order, its fighting prowess was by no means much weaker. Lin Tianming¡¯s plan was simple: let the Purple Gold Eagle and the Bloodthirsty Jiao each hold off a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle, while Hu Yuan dealt with two other Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles. With that, out of the five Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles here, four already had their opponents. He would go all out to quickly slay or seriously injure the remaining one, as well as the six Purple Gold Eagles in the Middle Stage of the Second Order. With his strength, taking on these Second Order Medium and Late Stage Purple Gold Eagles should not be a difficult task. Once he had achieved his goal, he could go and help Xiao Diao and the others to kill their opponents one by one. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasted no time and quickly gave orders to Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Suddenly, the Bloodthirsty Jiao twisted its huge body and was the first to charge at a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Xiao Diao, receiving the command, let out an excited screech, whether out of excitement at seeing its own kind or eagerness to fight. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and said to the eager Xiao Diao, ¡°Xiao Diao, this opponent is of your own kind. If you kill them, you can obtain their Blood Essence Inner Cores, which are important for your ancestral transformation, right?¡± Xiao Diao seemed to understand, as its excitement turned into a frenzied state, without a hint of fear. This behavior seemed to show it couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and unleashed a Sword Qi, slashing at a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Xiao Diao also understood and flapped its massive wings, ferociously pouncing towards the same Purple Gold Eagle. Soon, Xiao Diao and its opponent began to fight fiercely. Upon closer look, the entire process of their fight was incredibly ugly, consisting of close-range physical combat, tangling and grappling with each other. Such a method completely abandoned the use of their Divine Skills, differing as much as heaven and earth from the battlefield where the Bloodthirsty Jiao was located. It was unimaginable that two Purple Gold Eagles would not use Divine Skills and instead fought hand-to-hand like ordinary Demonic Beasts. Witnessing such a scene, Lin Tianming truly broadened his horizons. Perhaps it was a special way of fighting between the same species, after all, such strange phenomena were not uncommon among the Demon Beast Race. Snapping back to reality, with the addition of two Spirit Beasts joining the scene, each finding their own opponents, Lin Tianming did not delay any further. He leapt into the air, the Tiangang Sword in his hand swinging frequently, unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi, and he pounced toward the remaining Purple Gold Eagles. The moment he made his move, these Purple Gold Eagles naturally would not sit and wait for death; they spat out a large number of fireballs, colliding with the Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Neither of their attacks was weak. With the sheer number of fireballs, the Purple Gold Eagles easily blocked Lin Tianming¡¯s assault. Immediately afterward, they gathered together to form a formation, pouncing towards Lin Tianming. At the same time, the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ sharp talons were the best weapons, not only exceedingly hard but also possessing powerful penetrating power. They swooped down, their talons aiming for Lin Tianming¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. If they managed to land a hit, his head would likely shatter into pieces instantly. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were agile, and with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, evading was not very difficult. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, he dodged the attack of the leading Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. But for the attacks of the talons from the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles, he didn¡¯t show the slightest hint of fear. He not only didn¡¯t dodge, but instead leaped forward to meet them, the Tiangang Sword in his hand thrusting out fiercely, clashing hard against their talons. ¡°Clang, clang, clang¡­¡± A series of metallic clashes rang out, accompanied by sparks flickering about. This Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle clearly had not anticipated Lin Tianming to be so fierce, not evading and instead engaging in a direct confrontation. It was only after colliding with Lin Tianming that it understood the confidence Lin Tianming had. Lin Tianming¡¯s strike was not something an ordinary Cultivator could compare with. He was, after all, a practitioner of Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and not too long ago, he had obtained the Blue Heart True Flame, which elevated his physique to another level. With his physique comparable to a Second Order Late Stage Beast, the power of this strike was naturally immense, directly chopping off the talons of this Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle. Not only that, but the Tiangang Sword in his hand seemed unsatisfied, almost severing the wing of the Purple Gold Eagle with a single slash. After letting out a miserable cry, the Purple Gold Eagle fell out of formation and plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily into the ground. A cloud of dust rose up, and when it finally settled, a deep pit appeared on the ground, with the Purple Gold Eagle half-lying in it, struggling and letting out painful screams. It tried hard to stand up and take flight. However, with its talons chopped off and one wing nearly broken, such severe injuries made it impossible to support flight. After fruitless struggles, it could only let out pitiful screams, hoping to receive help from its kin. But at this moment, the other Purple Gold Eagles were either engaged or those in the same battlefield with Lin Tianming were stunned by his fierce attacks and did not dare to approach easily. In response, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, excitement surging within him. This was the effect he wanted; he had to shock the Purple Gold Eagles with a thunderous approach so that it would be easier to subdue them later. ¡­ Chapter 672 672 368 Blue Heart True Flame Shows Its ?Chapter 672: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Shows Its Power_1 Chapter 672: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Shows Its Power_1 However, such a tactic was probably not enough to make the Purple Gold Eagle Clan fear him. As expected, after a brief hesitation, the group of Purple Gold Eagles launched another attack. This time, they became much smarter, just keeping their distance and unleashing their innate divine skills, which were numerous and mighty fireballs. ¡°Booom¡­¡± Under the leadership of a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle, the remaining five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles spat out a large number of fireballs in succession. At a glance, the number of fireballs was immense, looking as if they obscured the sun and sky. And this scene lasted only a moment; initially scattered, for some reason the countless fireballs then converged into one gigantic fireball. ... This huge fireball was massive, even larger than the body of a Purple Gold Eagle, with flames raging on its surface, appearing extremely terrifying. Seeing this huge fireball, Lin Tianming¡¯s face changed, and his expression became very solemn. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ spirit wisdom was so great that they even knew the method of combining attacks. In his mind, if it were just a single Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle spitting out a fireball, he wouldn¡¯t need to care at all, likely able to crush it with ease. But the fireballs produced by the six Purple Gold Eagles fusing together had a power at least several times greater than that of one alone. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a situation, the fused fireball¡¯s power was immense, and even he could sense the taste of death. The last time he had such a feeling was during the fierce battle with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Nevertheless, even so, Lin Tianming did not fall into panic; instead, he became unusually calm. At this moment, as he watched the gigantic fireball coming at him, Lin Tianming made a strange motion with his hands. Soon, a red and blue interlaced fireball quietly appeared in his fair hands. At a glance, the fireball wasn¡¯t large, its aura did not seem strong, and it rotated slowly in his hands, occasionally swallowing the weak spiritual energy surrounding it. Others might not see anything remarkable about this fireball. But he knew very well, this ordinary-looking fireball contained a trace of the Blue Heart True Flame. Never underestimate this trace of Blue Heart True Flame, after all, it was one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, comparable to the king among fires. With this fireball, its power was probably no less than the fireball created by the combined efforts of the Purple Gold Eagles. Understanding this, Lin Tianming appeared calm and confident. Immediately, without any hesitation, he threw the fireball in his hand, colliding it with the oncoming gigantic fireball. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A boom like rolling thunder resounded through the sky. At this time, on the nearby battlefield, Hu Yuan and the two Purple Gold Eagles he was battling were attracted by the deafening explosion sound and stopped their attacks simultaneously. Staring at the tremendous firelight in the sky, Hu Yuan¡¯s face showed shock, and he couldn¡¯t help but mumble to himself inwardly. ¡°Lin is truly a master of concealment, over and over again refreshing my understanding,¡± his strength is indeed the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, utterly abnormal!¡± ¡°Hehe, those Purple Gold Eagles probably won¡¯t be able to stir up any more trouble!¡± While he was distracted, the instant the large and small fireballs made contact, a mushroom cloud rose in the sky, lighting up the world as if daylight had broken through. Meanwhile, the temperature between heaven and earth suddenly increased, reaching an incredibly terrifying level. Under the intense heat, the ground at the mountain peak melted somewhat, a charred massive pit appearing out of nowhere, filled with a large number of burning embers, and the scent of scorch hitting one¡¯s face. At that moment, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated this, retreating over a hundred yards with explosive speed before stopping. But the five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles had not the foresight. As the fireballs exploded, except for the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle that sensed the deadly crisis and managed to escape a distance with its swifter speed, Even so, it was greatly affected by the explosion, its enormous body showing many injuries. The remaining five Purple Gold Eagles were too close to the center of the explosion and were all affected by it. The power of the fireball¡¯s explosion was tremendous, achieving an extraordinarily high temperature, and even though they were fire-attributed Demonic Beasts, under this terrifying force, the several Purple Gold Eagles were dazed, their feathers igniting. Not only that, the explosion left their bodies with blurred flesh and blood, almost falling from the sky. Before they could catch a breath, the scorching embers attacked again, adding more damage to their already mutilated bodies. As the sky gradually returned to calm, the battlefield echoed with the sound of painful screams and whinnies, sounding extremely eerie. Looking over, the several Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles appeared listless, not a patch of skin on them intact. Many Purple Gold Eagles lost most of their feathers, their flesh nearly cooked, flapping clumsily in mid-air. This single strike had critically injured the five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles, their power reduced to less than a third of its potential. The Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle was in somewhat better shape but was also injured, and its power was clearly diminished. Adding insult to injury, the Purple Gold Eagles¡¯ divine skills, though not weak, were greatly weakened against Lin Tianming who possessed the Blue Heart True Flame. As for Lin Tianming, that strike just now only caused his blood to surge, receiving some backlash, with almost no impact on his strength. Chapter 673 673 368 Blue Heart True Flame ?Chapter 673: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Demonstrates Power_2 Chapter 673: Chapter 368 Blue Heart True Flame Demonstrates Power_2 Meanwhile, Hu Yuan had gained some advantage, and although Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao hadn¡¯t gained the upper hand, they were unlikely to be defeated in the short term. In such a situation, with Lin Tianming¡¯s strength undiminished and the Purple Gold Eagle Clan all seriously injured, continuing the fight offered no chance of victory. The Purple Gold Eagle Clan seemed to understand the situation, but they couldn¡¯t retreat smoothly. After all, within Lin Tianming¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation, there were dozens of First and Second Order Purple Gold Eagles trapped, and though these eagles were not the strongest, they were the future of the clan. Moreover, with the formidable Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan present, the possibility of them shaking off pursuit was slim to none. Now, the Purple Gold Eagle Clan was stuck between a rock and a hard place, completely lacking their initial momentum. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were overjoyed and knew to press their advantage and quickly expand their victories. ... Being so cautious, the two of them didn¡¯t give the Purple Gold Eagles any time to react and hastened to strike again. Seeing this, the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, despite their anger, had no choice but to fight desperately, seeking a sliver of hope. In the blink of an eye, as Lin Tianming and his comrade acted, the battle erupted anew. Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands, and the Tiangang Sword in his grasp shone brightly, subsequently transforming into a beam of light that shot out. The vigorous Lin Tianming held nothing back, directly employing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, targeting a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming turned his body, charging at the Purple Gold Eagle with his flesh and blood body. His speed was not slow, and the Tiangang Sword was even faster, arriving above the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head in an instant. This Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle was already wounded, and now, with the fearsome Tiangang Sword targeting it and Lin Tianming surging forward, that iron-like fist posed a lethal threat as well. In desperation, this Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle flapped its wings frantically and turned to flee. This move was an outright retreat without a fight. Seeing this, an expression of surprise spread across Lin Tianming¡¯s face. At that moment, he chuckled coldly, knowing that no matter how fast the Purple Gold Eagle was, it couldn¡¯t outrun his Tiangang Sword. But this Purple Gold Eagle had been scared out of its wits and had abandoned its companions to flee. Little did it know that such a choice would not change the outcome in any way, but would only hasten its death. Its companions, witnessing this, were also filled with shock and anger, crying out frantically as if trying to call back the fleeing eagle. Sure enough, the call of its companions had an effect, and the eagle turned its head again, attempting to use its Divine Ability Talent in a bid to block the attack of the Tiangang Sword. But by then it was too late! Just as the Purple Gold Eagle opened its mouth, the Tiangang Sword descended. In that instant, the light of the Tiangang Sword flashed, increasing its speed even further. ¡°Bang¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, amidst a loud explosion, the Tiangang Sword directly struck the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head. If the Purple Gold Eagle had not fled and faced the attack, it might have been able to withstand a few rounds. Regrettably, its poor choice hastened its demise. Lin Tianming¡¯s all-out strike decapitated the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head. Not even a cry of agony could escape before the eagle tumbled from the sky, crashing heavily to the ground. This scene was brief, and it was only when they heard the sound of the fall that its companions reacted. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled triumphantly, his diving body twisting as he charged straight toward another five Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. At this time, they were like frightened birds; seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s approach, their courage had already shattered. In this moment, they had no thought of resistance and scattered in all directions. But Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was astonishingly fast, and in an instant, he was already behind one of the Purple Gold Eagles. He threw a punch that the eagle couldn¡¯t evade, and it was directly struck by Lin Tianming¡¯s fist. A miserable cry came forth, as the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle writhed in agony, feeling as if it had been struck by a mountain. The seemingly ordinary fist, containing immense strength, punched through its body, creating a bloody hole. Not only that, the relentless might of the fist pierced right through its body. Already injured, the Purple Gold Eagle was devastated by this blow. It tried to escape, but no matter how frantically it flapped its wings, it couldn¡¯t take off and could only fall helplessly to the ground, crashing heavily. It attempted to struggle but was powerless, only able to screech in pain. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was undistracted, his entire being like a specter, slaughtering towards the other fleeing Purple Gold Eagles. He fought with both hands, the Tiangang Sword in his grasp swinging frequently, unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi to block the escape routes of the Purple Gold Eagles. At the same time, his body, like a fierce beast, would always explode with terrible bursts of light when he punched, targeting the vital points of the Purple Gold Eagles. These ordinary-looking fists were attacks propelled by his body, as mighty as that of Demonic Beasts, each blow capable of severely injuring or even outright killing a Second Order Middle Stage Demonic Beast. In the blink of an eye, the two Purple Gold Eagles closest to Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were struck directly by his fists. Two more cries of agony rang out, followed by their painful screams and subsequent crash into the ground. With three Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles grievously injured in rapid succession, the entire Purple Gold Eagle Clan suffered heavy losses. But Lin Tianming had intentionally held back, otherwise, if he had gone all out, they might not have survived. Lin Tianming had done so deliberately, wanting to spare their lives to attempt to subdue them once the great battle was completely over. Even though he had held back, these Purple Gold Eagles were deterred by his violent methods, devoid of any thoughts of resistance. With three Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles dead, only two remained trying to escape. They took advantage of their comrades being attacked to fly far away, each in opposite directions. At this point, if Lin Tianming wanted to catch up, he could only choose one, while the other would have to be let go. Knowing he couldn¡¯t be in two places at once, Lin Tianming picked one closest to Xiao Diao, planning to severely injure it before going directly to help the struggling Xiao Diao. As for the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle flying in the opposite direction, he let it go. After all, as long as they killed the remaining Purple Gold Eagles, they would have enough, and the loss of one Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle wasn¡¯t significant¡ªlosing one was inconsequential. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped into the air, chasing after his target. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His speed was swift, and in the blink of an eye, he had closed the gap. Upon seeing Lin Tianming catching up, that Purple Gold Eagle was a mixture of shock and rage. Already injured, it was not a match for Lin Tianming in a fight. As for escape, if it were high-speed flight, Lin Tianming naturally couldn¡¯t compare, but its current takeoff speed wasn¡¯t fast, at least not faster than Lin Tianming¡¯s. It was clear it couldn¡¯t win, nor could it escape¡ªit was a situation of certain doom. However, Lin Tianming was not one to go easy. He was not a particularly merciful person¡ªthe one that escaped did so simply because he couldn¡¯t pursue it, but the current target had to be captured at all costs. With such resolve, Lin Tianming had caught up, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand was even quicker, arriving above the head of the Purple Gold Eagle. This Purple Gold Eagle had already witnessed the power of the Tiangang Sword. Realizing it couldn¡¯t get away, it turned around and spat out a fireball, hoping to shatter the Tiangang Sword. However, this desperate counterattack was akin to a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Yet what else could it do? It had no other option. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Countless fireballs shot out, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword, and once again, explosions thundered through the sky and earth. But the fireballs could only block for a moment before being pierced by the Tiangang Sword, causing them to explode directly. At that moment, the Tiangang Sword didn¡¯t stop for even a second, its speed unaltered, stabbing towards the Purple Gold Eagle. Having just unleashed its Divine Ability Talent, the Purple Gold Eagle had no strength left to resist, apart from relying on its body. In this dire situation, the Purple Gold Eagle was decisive, stretching out its sharp claws towards the Tiangang Sword. Chapter 674 674 369 Excited Xiao Diao_1 ?Chapter 674: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_1 Chapter 674: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_1 In the blink of an eye, the sharp claws and the Tiangang Sword collided head-on. There were several crackling sounds, accompanied by sparks, which looked quite splendid. However, this scene quickly ended, followed by the miserable cry of the Purple Gold Eagle and the sound of its body hitting the ground. Like its companion, this Purple Gold Eagle was severely injured by Lin Tianming and could only lie on the ground, struggling and wailing. From the current situation, these Purple Gold Eagles couldn¡¯t even think about counterattacking, let alone escaping. Yet all of this was within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Seeing his goal achieved, Lin Tianming did not delay any further and directly approached Xiao Diao, which was not far away. ... From a distance, Lin Tianming noticed Xiao Diao was fighting fiercely with a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Their way of fighting was very primitive, relying entirely on close combat with their bodies. At this moment, looking over, Xiao Diao was riddled with injuries and its feathers were in complete disarray. Although its opponent was also seriously injured, it was obviously in a much better state than Xiao Diao. This would mean Xiao Diao had surely been at a disadvantage before. Thinking about it, it was quite normal, considering Xiao Diao was only at the Second Order Middle Stage, while its opponent was at the Second Order Late Phase. This difference in rank could mean a world of difference for the Demon Beast Race. Yet even so, Xiao Diao was completely undeterred by its injuries at this time, with its momentum undiminished and even on the rise. As the battle dragged on, Xiao Diao¡¯s combat skills slowly improved, and it actually managed to fight on equal terms with the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. Such a change was crucial for Xiao Diao. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, Xiao Diao had a smooth growth over the years, with not much strife and conflict, relying solely on the resources given by Lin Tianming to advance, which led to its lack of combat experience. However, with a very good understanding, Xiao Diao slowly turned the tide from its early disadvantage. Now, with the battle at a standstill, if it continued, Xiao Diao might keep growing and eventually defeat its opponent head-on. Lin Tianming, having grasped the situation, was very pleased and thus changed his mind, deciding not to join Xiao Diao¡¯s fight. By doing so, he wanted to see what Xiao Diao¡¯s limits were, how much potential it had, and whether it could prevail against stronger opponents. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming turned around to focus on Hu Yuan¡¯s battle with the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Looking over, Hu Yuan was fighting against two on his own, but he seemed to have a slight upper hand. However, the Purple Gold Eagles were faster than ordinary demonic beasts, and a slight disadvantage posed no fatal threat to them. If he didn¡¯t intervene, at most, Hu Yuan could only hold them off. It was obviously unlikely for Hu Yuan alone to kill two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles. Of course, Hu Yuan may only appear to have such strength on the surface. Perhaps he had some hidden trump cards. After all, in the Cultivation World, cultivators have always had the habit of hiding their trump cards for safety. Unless forced into a desperate situation, no one would readily expose their full strength in front of others. Including himself, Lin Tianming also had a Spirit Art and some consumable treasures that he had not yet used. Thinking about it, Hu Yuan probably still had some means at his disposal, but whether he was willing to use them all was another matter. Regardless, it seemed there was no need to worry about Hu Yuan for the time being. Understanding this, Lin Tianming had no intention of helping out so soon. And at this time, he, being above worldly concerns, naturally had something to do. He turned his gaze to another one of his Spirit Beasts, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, at that moment. At this very moment, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was in the midst of a fierce battle with a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle. At a glance, both were at the Second Order Late Phase, and both parties were very fast with equally formidable attacks. The fireballs spat out by the Purple Gold Eagle and the Blood Arrows spat out by the Bloodthirsty Jiao were both strong and of a group attack type. In such circumstances, the battle between the two was intense. As the great battle continued, both had sustained many injuries, with the Purple Gold Eagle losing many feathers and its breath weakened significantly. The Bloodthirsty Jiao was no better off, with a large portion of its scales fallen off, the unprotected areas charred black, and even the flesh a blurred mess. That being the case, the fight between the two seemed evenly matched. However, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s offensive and defensive powers, as well as its speed, were relatively balanced, with no distinct weak points. The Purple Gold Eagle had a slight speed advantage and, with its large-scale group attacks, seemed to be consuming more than the Bloodthirsty Jiao. If things continued this way, the Bloodthirsty Jiao should be able to gain the upper hand as long as it persisted longer. But if the Purple Gold Eagle wanted to leave, the Bloodthirsty Jiao would likely have a hard time keeping it. As expected, the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle, sensing Lin Tianming coming in this direction, seemed to understand its forthcoming plight. After repelling the Bloodthirsty Jiao with an attack, it used the recoil to flee backward. It wasn¡¯t just this Purple Gold Eagle, the two fighting with Hu Yuan, as well as the one fighting with Xiao Diao, did the same. Obviously, they realized that Lin Tianming was now free to act, and if they continued to fight, there was no chance of winning. At this moment, they lost their will to fight and only thought of escaping the location. However, this scene surprised Lin Tianming. Chapter 675 675 369 Excited Xiao Diao_2 ?Chapter 675: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_2 Chapter 675: Chapter 369 Excited Xiao Diao_2 Speaking of which, these four Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles hadn¡¯t suffered much damage, and their strength hadn¡¯t been greatly affected. Yet they were so decisive, and at this critical moment, they abandoned their kin trapped in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, not to mention those injured companions struggling on the ground. But upon closer thought, not fleeing at the beginning of the battle wasn¡¯t because they weren¡¯t intimidated by Lin Tianming¡¯s brutal tactics, nor had they reached a point of complete collapse. As the battle continued, the First Order Purple Gold Eagles were trapped with no chance of escape, and the main force of the Second Order Middle Stage was all severely injured, unable to provide further help. In light of this, continuing the fight was pointless, and fleeing became an act of desperation. After all, saving even one was better than all of them perishing here. By the time the Purple Gold Eagles thought of severing a limb to survive, it was already too late. ... The moment they turned and took flight, the Bloodthirsty Jiao immediately gave chase, blocking their path ruthlessly. Daoist Hu and Xiao Diao on the other side did the same, having anticipated the escape of the Purple Gold Eagles, and therefore were always ready. Suddenly, with their intervention, the four Purple Gold Eagles became furiously enraged, attacking even more savagely. They knew the longer they delayed, the lower the chances of escape, leaving them no choice but to fight desperately. As a result, the intensity of the battle once again escalated to a new level. With these Purple Gold Eagles back in the mire, they faced even greater trouble¡ªLin Tianming, who was ready to join the battle at any moment. At that time, he surveyed the entire battlefield and ultimately chose to head in the direction of Daoist Hu. ¡°Daoist Hu, allow me to lend you a hand!¡± From afar, Lin Tianming shouted loudly while rushing in this direction. Hearing these words, Daoist Hu¡¯s face lit up with excitement as he saw Lin Tianming flying towards him. ¡°Haha¡­ These beasts won¡¯t be able to run away!¡± Daoist Hu laughed heartily, his magic artifact glowing brightly in his hand, firmly restraining the Purple Gold Eagles that were fighting back desperately. At that moment, Lin Tianming also joined the battle. In the blink of an eye, his Tiangang Sword radiated a flash of silver light, and several streaks of Sword Qi, like mighty dragons, slashed towards one of the Purple Gold Eagles. Daoist Hu, equally vigorous, quickly spurred several attacks to match Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of explosions sounded off, and the sky immediately filled with dense Sword Qi, much more than at any other time. This was just the beginning for Lin Tianming; apart from ordinary Sword Qi, he once again stimulated the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, the cumulative attack¡¯s power earth-shattering and as fast as lightning. Seeing this attack, the Purple Gold Eagle that he targeted became furiously enraged, having to cope with Daoist Hu¡¯s attacks while also dealing with Lin Tianming, utterly unable to withstand the barrage from both sides. ¡°Pu pu pu¡­¡± It dodged many of the ordinary attacks, but there were just too many attacks from all directions to avoid. Even at its best, the Purple Gold Eagle couldn¡¯t avoid being struck. However, these attacks, while adding numerous wounds, were not the most lethal. The most deadly was the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword unleashed by Lin Tianming, an attack whose power and speed were incomparable to ordinary attacks. Such a fatal blow had the capacity to kill a Second Order Demonic Beast at any moment. Even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator couldn¡¯t be sure of surviving such an attack. As the Tiangang Sword came closer and closer, it descended upon the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s head almost instantly. At that moment, the Purple Gold Eagle once again stimulated its Divine Skills in a desperate attempt to resist. Unfortunately, it had already used up much of its Divine Skills, and the power of the fireballs was far from what it was at the start of the battle. A tragic scream was expectedly heard! The Purple Gold Eagle resisted only a moment before the Tiangang Sword directly cleaved away half of its body. As the body of the Purple Gold Eagle fell from the sky to the ground, Lin Tianming then turned his gaze and charged towards another Purple Gold Eagle. With the combined strength of him and Hu Yuan, this Purple Gold Eagle only lasted two rounds of ordinary attacks before being killed by one of Hu Yuan¡¯s divine skills. Watching his attack take down the Purple Gold Eagle, Hu Yuan let out a hearty laugh in satisfaction. ¡°Haha¡­ truly satisfying!¡± ¡°Daoist Hu, there are still two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles, let¡¯s make haste and deal with them!¡± After reminding him, Lin Tianming immediately headed towards Xiao Diao¡¯s location. Hu Yuan quickly regained his composure, and seeing Lin Tianming had left the area, he did not delay and prepared to join the battle. Having freed up their hands, the two each chose a direction, preparing to help Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao finish their battles. With the two joining the fight, the remaining two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles were put on the retreat, their injuries continuously worsening. At this time, Xiao Diao was ferocious, paying no heed to its wounds, fighting desperately as if betting its life. With the aid of its kin, its combat skills improved rapidly; before, it was coping alone against a Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle and had surprisingly not been at a disadvantage. Such a performance, seen by Lin Tianming, filled his heart with satisfaction over Xiao Diao¡¯s growth. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In less than the time it took to brew a cup of tea, with the assistance of Lin Tianming and his companion, the two surviving Purple Gold Eagles were each slain by Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. The two men seemed to intentionally accommodate Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, restraining their blows, not attacking with their full strength. Otherwise, with their strength, it would probably not have come to Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s killing blow. Clearly, such actions were meant to build their confidence, which was Lin Tianming¡¯s initial intention. Both the Bloodthirsty Jiao and Xiao Diao lived up to expectations, seizing the opportunity to perform before Lin Tianming and earning his approval. With the five Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles successively killed, the battlefield had finally calmed down quite a bit, only the four gravely injured Second Order Medium Stage Purple Gold Eagles lay on the ground, struggling and wailing. What remained were the First Order Purple Gold Eagles trapped in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the more than a dozen Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles still trying to escape. After trying for so long, with the great battle already over and they still hadn¡¯t escaped, it was nothing but a futile struggle with no chance of getting out. At this moment, with the battle ended, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces were flushed, and their moods were extremely content. And Xiao Diao was more excited than ever, after all, the essence blood and even the inner cores of these kin were of great help to it; they could not only enhance its order but also aid in its Ancestral Evolution, being one of the things it desired most. If Lin Tianming was willing to let it consume them, even just half of the spoils, for Xiao Diao to break through the Second Order Late Phase was simply too easy. If it were given all of them to consume, even breaking through to the Third Order was not impossible. Xiao Diao understood this and excitedly flew around the battlefield in circles, not showing any signs of fatigue after the great battle, even forgetting about its injuries. At that moment, Lin Tianming, looking at the chaotic battlefield, said to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, would you like to tame a few of these Purple Gold Eagles?¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded with a smile and responded, ¡°Hehe¡­ I have long admired your spiritual pet Xiao Diao, Daoist Lin, the help it provides when traveling is significant. Now that such an opportunity has arisen, I certainly won¡¯t pass it up.¡± ¡°But you need not worry, Daoist Lin!¡± ¡°There are plenty of Purple Gold Eagles here, and I alone cannot compare to you in wealth and possessions, having one as a spiritual pet will satisfy me. Too many, and I simply cannot afford to keep them.¡± Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking to himself that Hu Yuan was sensible, recognizing the importance of these Purple Gold Eagles to the Lin Family and Xiao Diao. So he didn¡¯t make excessive demands but only intended to tame and cultivate one. This approach couldn¡¯t be more appropriate; had he been greedy and asked for too much, it would have easily angered others and caused their relationship to break down. Understanding this, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°In that case, Daoist Hu, try your best as soon as possible. Once you have tamed one, we still need to clean up the battlefield.¡± ¡°And my task is heavy as well. So many Purple Gold Eagles must be domesticated before I can bring them back to my people for taming.¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded contentedly, thanked Lin Tianming with a bow, and then went directly to one corner of the battlefield. ¡­ Chapter 676 676 370 Taming_1 ?Chapter 676: Chapter 370: Taming_1 Chapter 676: Chapter 370: Taming_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming had yet to clean up the battlefield, nor had he gone to subdue the Purple Gold Eagle first; instead, he was intently watching Hu Yuan¡¯s every move. Under his gaze, Hu Yuan approached the four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. Clearly, Hu Yuan intended to focus on these Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. It wasn¡¯t surprising when you thought about it; after all, the Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles were dead, and the highest-grade among the still alive was only these four Second Order Middle Stage ones. If one could subdue a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle, the host could save many resources for its training and also gain considerable help during battles of magic. However, for a First Order or an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, for cultivators at their level of battle, they were essentially negligible, even distracting. It could be said that a First Order Purple Gold Eagle was as useless as chicken ribs; it was only the Early Second Order ones that were barely worth cultivating and using. ... Therefore, it was completely within expectations for Hu Yuan to set his sights on these four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. Yet, in his heart, Lin Tianming was not optimistic about Hu Yuan¡¯s chances of success. After all, Hu Yuan¡¯s cultivation strength and the intensity of his Divine Sense were just average, not significantly greater than that of the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. Choosing them as targets, it was highly likely he would return empty-handed. Despite understanding all this, Lin Tianming refrained from saying anything to avoid misunderstandings due to his remarks. Only by trying and realizing his Divine Sense was insufficient would Hu Yuan change his mind. Grasping this, Lin Tianming stayed silent, quietly waiting. Looking over, the Purple Gold Eagles were still struggling, but their reactions were not as intense as at the beginning. Seeing Hu Yuan approach, a few Purple Gold Eagles glared at him with bloodshot eyes, as if about to spit fire. Hu Yuan, however, did not care, and directly released all his Divine Sense, forcefully invading the sea of consciousness of one of the Purple Gold Eagles. His actions were straightforward and violent, showing no regard for the feelings of the Purple Gold Eagles. However, the Purple Gold Eagle he targeted struggled fiercely, showing significant resistance. Half a quarter of an hour passed. Hu Yuan had thought that with his Foundation Establishment Ninth Level power, approaching the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, he held an advantage over the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle. Such a gap in realm and strength, logically speaking, should easily make it submit. However, after three attempts, he still hadn¡¯t succeeded. After this ordeal, not only had he exhausted much effort, but he also gave Lin Tianming something to laugh at. Agitated, Hu Yuan wished he could just slay the Purple Gold Eagle with a single sword. But with Lin Tianming present and caring about the life of the Purple Gold Eagle, even though he was angered, he had to forcefully calm himself down. Not giving up, Hu Yuan quickly chose another Purple Gold Eagle as his target, seemingly determined to succeed. Another half a quarter of an hour passed, and just as Lin Tianming had predicted, Hu Yuan failed again. Having selected two Purple Gold Eagles as targets and trying several times, he ended in failure. Hu Yuan seemed to have accepted reality, wearing a look of embarrassed amusement with his bitter smile. Then, he cupped his hands towards Lin Tianming and said with a laugh, ¡°Lin, my Divine Sense is ineffective, and I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to subdue these four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles.¡± ¡°However, I do indeed like Purple Gold Eagles very much and really need one as a Spirit Beast to nurture. With my Divine Sense, since I cannot subdue those at the Second Order Middle Stage, I have no choice but to seek the next best thing and try for an Early Second Order one. I wonder if Lin would accommodate my wish and fetch a Purple Gold Eagle that meets the requirements?¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s tone was earnest, obviously determined to have what he wanted. Hearing this and seeing Hu Yuan¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming sighed, putting on a troubled demeanor. Seeing this, Hu Yuan thought Lin Tianming was unwilling and quickly forced a smile, before changing his approach. ¡°Hehe¡­ Since I¡¯ve made a request, I would not have Lin do something for nothing, nor would I let Lin suffer any losses!¡± ¡°I also exerted quite an effort in this grand battle, and by rights, I too should receive a portion of the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s corpse.¡± ¡°What if we do it like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll only take one intact Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpse, and the rest, whether alive or dead, will all belong to Lin.¡± Hearing his proposal, Lin Tianming chuckled, finding Hu Yuan to be an interesting and decisive person. To think that the battle had lasted quite some time, with Hu Yuan initially facing two enemies alone, killing a Purple Gold Eagle directly, and later, upon freeing up, aided the Bloodthirsty Jiao in slaying another opponent. Although Lin Tianming had assisted him in battle, considering the effort Hu Yuan had put into the battle, he truly had worked hard. In this light, it wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable for Hu Yuan to wish for two Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpses as his spoils. Yet, he took a step back voluntarily, asking for only one intact Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpse, plus subduing an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a request was indeed not excessive, perhaps even a bit of a loss for himself. But since Hu Yuan had made the proposal and it was in Lin Tianming¡¯s best interest, Lin had no reason to object. Understanding all this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly and then charged directly into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Chapter 677 677 370 Taming_2 ?Chapter 677: Chapter 370 Taming_2 Chapter 677: Chapter 370 Taming_2 At this moment, the dozens of First and Second Order Demonic Beasts inside were all present, and their injuries were not severe. Upon seeing Lin Tianming enter, they were infuriated and launched an attack toward him in a crazed manner, seemingly venting their rage. In response, Tianming gave a contemptuous smile, then stepped forward and easily roughed up an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle using merely his physical strength. Less than the time it takes for ten breaths, Tianming opened a gap in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and walked out through it. Apart from him coming out, a huge hand formed from Spiritual Power followed, gripping an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle and flying it out of the Sword Array. At a glance, the Purple Gold Eagle was held powerless in the palm of the spiritual hand, unable to move at all, its spirit utterly deflated. Witnessing Tianming¡¯s actions, and the state of the Purple Gold Eagle, Hu Yuan¡¯s face broke into an excited expression, looking quite satisfied. ... He then hurried over with a jog. At that time, Tianming was still holding the Purple Gold Eagle and then reminded with a smile, ¡°This guy has been beaten so badly by me that he¡¯s lost all his spunk, Daoist Hu can begin now!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I thank you for your efforts, Daoist Lin!¡± After giving his thanks with a bow, Hu Yuan directly summoned his Consciousness Imprint and started the process of subduing the Purple Gold Eagle. The process, familiar and well-practiced, was rather quick and smooth this time. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the hand made of Spiritual Power set the Purple Gold Eagle down. With its bindings removed, the once ferocious Purple Gold Eagle had become as docile as a lamb. It lay prostrate in front of Hu Yuan, and with its hook-shaped beak, it rubbed against his robes in a flattering manner. This behavior excited Hu Yuan tremendously. He quickly took out a Second Order Early Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill from his storage bag and let the Purple Gold Eagle swallow it. Clearly, the successfully subdued Hu Yuan was thrilled and lavished affection on the Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing this, it was clear that Hu Yuan had successfully subdued the Purple Gold Eagle and completely controlled its life and death. However, this was to be expected given Hu Yuan¡¯s cultivation strength and the intensity of his Divine Sense; subduing an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle wasn¡¯t a difficult task for him. Regaining his composure, Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Congratulations Daoist Hu on acquiring a Spirit Beast.¡± Hehe¡­ ¡°This guy¡¯s also lucky, to get to swallow a Second Order Early Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill as soon as he acknowledges his master. If this continues, the achievements of this Purple Gold Eagle will surely not be low!¡± Hu Yuan didn¡¯t take these words seriously. The reason he was so generous was because he was in high spirits, plus having a Spirit Beast acknowledge him as master, meant it was appropriate to give a welcoming gift to quickly foster affection and help enhance the Spirit Beast¡¯s strength. However, he couldn¡¯t ignore Tianming¡¯s congratulatory gesture and forget his manners. Understanding this, Hu Yuan, while stroking the feathers of the Purple Gold Eagle, gave his thanks to Tianming with clasped hands. As for Tianming, he didn¡¯t mind such formalities. After a few idle chats with Tianming, Hu Yuan decided not to delay any longer and planned to try taming the remaining Purple Gold Eagles. If these Purple Gold Eagles were willing to be tamed by him, he could take them back to his clan lands and have the ones with exceptional talent acknowledge them as masters. If they were stubborn and refused taming, there was no need to keep them alive. He could simply give them to Xiao Diao and let it consume these obstinate creatures. After all, they were of the same kind and it could refine their Blood Essence Inner Cores to leverage the faint trace of their Ancient Bloodline to further enhance Xiao Diao¡¯s rank. Thinking of this, Tianming swept his gaze around and approached the four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles. These four Purple Gold Eagles were of no low rank and would likely be the most difficult to tame, but also the most valuable. It would be a pity to kill them without even trying. Upon his arrival, the four Purple Gold Eagles became terrified as if they were quite afraid of him. Such a reaction was in stark contrast to that during Hu Yuan¡¯s approach. Although they were also fearful when Hu Yuan approached, they at least dared to struggle and resist, clearly very unreceptive. However, when Lin Tianming stepped forward, the Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t dare to move and just looked at him with a complex expression in its eyes. Obviously, Lin Tianming had previously severely injured them one by one, and even those Second Order Late Phase Purple Gold Eagles were easily killed by him. Such bloody and violent methods completely cast a psychological shadow on them. As their Spirit Wisdom was not low, to save their own lives, they dared not rebel at all. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianming maintained a calm demeanor, glanced at the four Purple Gold Eagles for a moment, and then decided on his first target. For the first target, he planned to start with the one that Daoist Hu had attempted first, since this Purple Gold Eagle had been tormented by Hu Yuan for several rounds, and its vitality was already at its lowest point. Now was the best time to tame this Purple Gold Eagle, and the likelihood of success was clearly higher. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming released his Divine Sense, directly invading the target¡¯s sea of consciousness. In that instant, the previously calm Purple Gold Eagle started struggling wildly, and its reaction became significantly intense. Lin Tianming had anticipated this and remained unaffected. Under his powerful Divine Sense, the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s frantic resistance was futile. Lin Tianming kept exerting high-intensity Divine Sense, intensely stimulating the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s sea of consciousness and nerves, but he did not imprint his Consciousness Imprint. If he wanted to, he could easily force his Consciousness Imprint upon it and successfully make it acknowledge him as its master. But with his strength already at this level, having an additional Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle was neither useful nor meaningful. What he truly wanted was to bring these Purple Gold Eagles back to his clan and let his clan members tame them, to maximize their benefits. Therefore, he always refrained from taking the final step, just to make the Purple Gold Eagles submit and be willing to serve him. If it was about acknowledging him as master, the Purple Gold Eagle might not resist since he was the one who had inflicted heavy injuries on them and had revealed his strength. In the Demon Beast Race, strength also spoke volumes, even more purely than in the Human Race. They too revered the powerful, and only by defeating them in combat could they be more easily tamed; to make them acknowledge someone they didn¡¯t accept, unless there was a great disparity in strength, was not that easy. However, this action required them to recognize someone else as their master. To say the least, whether the Purple Gold Eagle would accept such behavior was still hard to tell. But to be honest, this operation was much more difficult than directly imprinting the Consciousness Imprint and forcibly taming them. As for whether it would succeed, even he was uncertain. However, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t known for being kind or hesitant; if it really didn¡¯t work out, he would simply have to abandon the idea. Instead, he acted quickly and decisively; not submitting meant death. Perhaps sensing his determination, the Purple Gold Eagle resisted for only a few breaths before expressing a willingness to submit. Lin Tianming was quite excited about this, repeatedly conveying his intentions to the Purple Gold Eagle, signaling that he wouldn¡¯t tame them and planned to take them back to the clan to be handed over to other clan members. To go further, he stated that if the Purple Gold Eagle did not accept the person intending to become its master, it could consider sparing its life. Upon receiving this promise, the Purple Gold Eagle was quite direct: to save its life, it agreed to first depend on him as its master, and if conditions were favorable later on, it would also submit to someone it approved of. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was quite thrilled, thinking with the first Purple Gold Eagle setting the precedent, subduing the remaining ones should not be difficult. Indeed, under the same terms offered, the remaining three Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles hesitated for only a moment before quickly agreeing to his approach. With the taming of these Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles completed, only the First Order ones in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and more than a dozen Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles were left. These Purple Gold Eagles wouldn¡¯t require such hassle; with his violent methods and the promised conditions, it should all fall into place easily. Thinking this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Following that, he didn¡¯t delay any further and immediately began documenting this taming process. Chapter 678 678 371 All Happy_1 ?Chapter 678: Chapter 371 All Happy_1 Chapter 678: Chapter 371 All Happy_1 ¡°` Four hours passed quickly. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s combination of carrot and stick tactics, threats and temptations alike, the dozens of Purple Gold Eagles within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation were all tamed. Whether it was the First Order Purple Gold Eagles with relatively common Spirit Wisdom, or the Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles, all were moved by the conditions promised by Lin Tianming. As the dust settled on this matter, the two¡¯s goal was also achieved, even surpassing their expectations in smoothness. At this moment, Lin Tianming was beaming with joy, seemingly extremely delighted. Standing by, Hu Yuan had witnessed the entire process, and looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s excited expression, he could only offer a helpless, wry smile in response. Lin Tianming¡¯s actions had profoundly shocked Hu Yuan, who held a great deal of admiration in his heart. ... You should know, he himself had once attempted to subdue a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle, but, lacking sufficiently strong Divine Sense, failed several times. Yet Lin Tianming, without forcefully subduing them, managed to tame all of them, and with surprising ease at that. This also proved Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and Divine Sense were formidable enough to convince these Purple Gold Eagles to submit to him. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible to succeed so effortlessly and without a hitch. In such a circumstance, and judging by the strength he had previously demonstrated, it was clear that Lin Tianming was indeed powerful. This also confirmed his speculations; Lin Tianming was as strong as he had guessed, if not stronger. Realizing this, Hu Yuan¡¯s respect for both Lin Tianming himself and the entire Lin Family deepened further. Once he had composed himself, Hu Yuan looked at Lin Tianming and casually offered a compliment. ¡°Congratulations, Lin, these Purple Gold Eagles have rather decent strength and talent. If raised properly, the overall strength of the Lin Family can certainly be greatly enhanced!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming waved his hand and smiled modestly, thinking that if these Purple Gold Eagles were truly taken by the clanspeople as their own, the strength of the Lin Family would indeed increase significantly. After all, there were four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles here, and as many as nine at the Early Second Order, not to mention the dozens at the First Order. The First Order ones aside, if even half of these Second Order Purple Gold Eagles were tamed by the clanspeople, it would be as if the Lin Family had gained several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such an improvement, for the Lin Family as it stood now, might not be a qualitative leap, but at the very least, it greatly strengthened the family¡¯s Foundation Establishment power. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only that, with these Purple Gold Eagles, the family¡¯s connections to various Spirit Lands and markets would be much more convenient. With the Purple Gold Eagles, the clanspeople going out could save a lot of time on the road and be safer as well. This was something he himself could attest to. After all, having traveled far and wide over the years, Xiao Diao had contributed a lot, bringing many conveniences to the family. One could imagine, Lin Family Members carrying out family missions, or going to various mountain ranges for training, or doing business in the markets could use the Purple Gold Eagles for travel. This way, the Lin Family could carry out their family missions more quickly and effectively, and further extend the Lin Family¡¯s influence in external exchanges. Understanding this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the Clan Leader would react when he brought these Purple Gold Eagles back to the family, and what the clanspeople would feel? Probably, whether they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators or those in the Qi Refinement Realm, seeing so many Purple Gold Eagles, among them over a dozen at Early and Middle Second Order, would be incredibly excited. Having the precedent of him and Xiao Diao, who had already showcased Xiao Diao¡¯s elegance, the clanspeople would likely be eager to subdue these Purple Gold Eagles and raise them as their own Spirit Beasts. Thinking of these possibilities, Lin Tianming¡¯s smile grew broader, and his heart was filled with immense excitement. Finally calming down, he modestly responded to Hu Yuan and then moved on from the subject. After all, they had already delayed for quite some time here, and it was nearly late at night. The most pressing matter now was to get those Purple Gold Eagles into Spirit Beast Bags and quickly clean up the battlefield, erasing any traces of the fight. After that, they needed to quickly recover their expended Spiritual Power and prepare for all contingencies. After all, this was the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, filled with numerous Demonic Beasts and unfriendly Cultivators lurking everywhere. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan discussed for a few moments and then settled on the arrangements for the matter. Following that, Lin Tianming looked at the dozens of Purple Gold Eagles of varying sizes in front of him and casually pulled out more than a dozen Spirit Beast Bags to hold. Luckily, space treasures like Spirit Beast Bags were relatively common and not too expensive. Though they were more than ten times more expensive than ordinary storage bags, for the wealth and status of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it wasn¡¯t much. Therefore, once someone reaches the Foundation Establishment Stage, whether they have a Spirit Beast or not, they would prepare one or two Spirit Beast Bags just in case. And in his years of battling both in the south and north, he had killed quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Over time, he had accumulated a lot of Spirit Beast Bags, some of which were given to clanspeople, some handed over to the family, and the higher-grade ones, or those that looked better, he kept for himself. Plus, after killing Zhou Jin in Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, he had obtained two Spirit Beast Bags, so altogether, he had over a dozen spare Spirit Beast Bags on hand. Otherwise, with so many Purple Gold Eagles, large in size and number, it would be exceedingly difficult to safely take them out without enough Spirit Beast Bags. Chapter 679 679 371 Alls Well That Ends Well_2 ?Chapter 679: Chapter 371 All¡¯s Well That Ends Well_2 Chapter 679: Chapter 371 All¡¯s Well That Ends Well_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming glanced over the Purple Gold Eagles, no longer wasting time. With a few spells cast, four Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles vanished into thin air. Without pausing, he continued to store the remaining Purple Gold Eagles into different Spirit Beast Bags. The Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagles were not small, with each fitting exactly into one Spirit Beast Bag, while the Early Second Order ones required three bags. As for the numerous First Order Purple Gold Eagles, several Spirit Beast Bags were needed to hold them all. Only after filling up more than half of his ten storage bags did he finally collect all forty-plus Purple Gold Eagles. After finishing this task, Lin Tianming then turned to discuss the division of spoils with Hu Yuan by his side. ... After some discussion and considering Hu Yuan had previously stated he only wanted a complete corpse of a Late Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, the rest of the spoils were all for Lin Tianming. Considering this, there was no need for Lin Tianming to say much more. According to their agreement, after a brief chat, Lin Tianming and his companion each began to clean up the battlefield. At this point, Lin Tianming summoned Xiao Diao and the Bloodthirsty Jiao. With the battle over, both Spirit Beasts had put in a lot of effort, and their performance was quite satisfactory. Lin Tianming inspected the Bloodthirsty Jiao and noted, apart from a few injuries, it had consumed a significant amount of energy. After taking some treasures and resting for half a month, he guessed it should fully recover. Not skimping, Lin Tianming casually tossed a Second Order Late Stage Red Flame Beast inner core to the Bloodthirsty Jiao, signaling it to swallow it. At the sight of the inner core, the Bloodthirsty Jiao became excited, promptly opening its mouth wide and swallowing it whole. Its time with Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t very long, just over two years, and initially, it was already at the Late Second Order phase. While it occasionally received some Demon Beast inner pills, those had limited effect at the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s level. Providing it with a Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beast inner pill for consumption was a first in all these years. The Bloodthirsty Jiao was still content; after all, its opportunities to exert itself were rare, and it hadn¡¯t been under Lin Tianming¡¯s command for long. It was already fortunate to receive such treatment. Considering the effort it had made this time, the reward it received was indeed considerable. With this inner core, its injuries would likely heal soon, and it might even make further progress. Hence, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was naturally excited and quite satisfied with Lin Tianming as its master. Seeing the Bloodthirsty Jiao swallow the inner core, Lin Tianming was satisfied and nodded in approval. He saw the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s efforts, and he initially tamed it because of the demonic beast¡¯s decent strength and not-low Bloodline Power, making it worthwhile to cultivate. Up to now, he didn¡¯t have many Spirit Beasts tamed. Given the considerable number of Demon Beast corpses he had obtained, it wasn¡¯t a problem to allocate some extra resources for their cultivation. Apart from the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s rank was not low, and it was close to reaching the Third Order. If luck served well, it might even help it break through to the Third Order. If successful, the Lin Family would gain a Third Order Demon Beast, which equates to having Golden Core combat strength. By then, all the investment would pay off. Understanding this, Lin Tianming planned to focus on cultivating the current Xiao Diao, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, and the most valued Silver-eyed Spirit Fox. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming waited for the Bloodthirsty Jiao to consume the inner core before directly placing it back into the Spirit Beast Bag. Then, he looked at the excited Xiao Diao, stroked its head with his hand, and smiled. ¡°Hehe¡­ you scruffy bird!¡± ¡°You performed well this time, encountering your own kind was also a chance for you.¡± ¡°These Second Order Purple Gold Eagle corpses, whether it¡¯s their flesh or inner cores, must be used to their full potential. Seize the moment to break through to the Late Second Order, or even aim for the Third Order!¡± Hearing this, Xiao Diao seemed to understand and rubbed its beak excitedly against his clothes, as if responding to him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpse appeared, held in the hand formed by his Spiritual Power. He removed parts of the corpse that could be used for Artifact Refining, then threw the rest of the body to Xiao Diao, signaling for it to devour it quickly. Seeing the corpse of its kind, Xiao Diao certainly didn¡¯t hesitate, rapidly consuming the Purple Gold Eagle corpse that was no smaller than itself. Having devoured this member of its species, Xiao Diao licked its beak and looked towards the distant Purple Gold Eagle corpses, seemingly still unsatisfied. This series of actions left Lin Tianming utterly amazed. He had not expected the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s appetite to be so enormous; it was able to swallow a demonic beast of comparable size entirely within less than half a quarter of an hour. But upon further reflection, it didn¡¯t seem all that strange. After all, in a world so vast and full of wonders, the Demon Beast Race is diverse and varied with all kinds of innate racial abilities. Moreover, demonic beasts have large appetites, and ordinary flesh is not their main source of strength. It is quite common for a demon beast to swallow food several or even a dozen times its own size in one go. In that light, Xiao Diao swallowing a corporeal body of the same tier was completely normal. Seeing Xiao Diao¡¯s unsatisfied look, Lin Tianming chuckled, waved his hand again, and grabbed a Second Order Late-Phase Purple Gold Eagle corpse, removed the parts that could be used in Artifact Refining, and let it swallow them together with the Demon Beast Inner Pill. Seeing this member of its own species, which was previously one small tier higher, guarantying that the energy essence and the Bloodline Power contained within was extremely rich. Xiao Diao had already been drooling with anticipation, devoured it as if it was a rare treasure, swallowing it even faster than before. Another half quarter of an hour passed. After swallowing the Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpse, Xiao Diao let out a satisfied screech, and excitedly flew a few circles around Lin Tianming before finally stopping. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stroked Xiao Diao¡¯s head, thinking to himself that the creature had just swallowed two Purple Gold Eagle corpses in a row, including a Second Order Late-Stage one, along with its inner pill. With such a large intake at once, and from corpses of its own species no less, its innate Bloodline and own tier would surely improve considerably. And with three more Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpses available, how much progress would it make if it swallowed all of them? Was it possible that it could help it break through to the Third Order? Watching with anticipation, Lin Tianming looked at Xiao Diao who had shifted from excitement to sleepiness. It was clearly starting the refinement process and about to fall into a deep sleep. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and quickly put it back into the Spirit Beast Bag. Having done this, Lin Tianming then stepped forward and began collecting all the Purple Gold Eagle corpses. Important parts such as the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s talons, beak, feathers, and wings could be removed for Artifact Refining. The Artifact Refining Materials coming from a Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle were considered very valuable treasures. With Lin Shilu¡¯s standard of Artifact Refining, adding some other treasures, crafting a few Second Order Low-Grade Artifacts would be incredibly easy. In light of this, these materials certainly should not go to waste. Understanding this, Lin Tianming worked quickly, and in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had collected all the slain Purple Gold Eagle corpses. He also separately collected the parts for Artifact Refining to take back to the Lin Family for Lin Shilu. As for the flesh and inner pills, he decided to save them to slowly feed to Xiao Diao in the future, to help it reach a higher tier. With the collection complete, Hu Yuan had also almost finished erasing the traces of the great battle. After finishing, the two joined each other again, smiles brimming on their faces, seemingly very content with their spoils from this endeavor. Indeed, this was the case. The two had decided to descend here for a rest, not expecting the Purple Gold Eagle Clan to come to them. It was like whatever they thought of came to them! After a fierce battle, Lin Tianming gained the most, especially Xiao Diao, which was almost divinely fortunate, having obtained the most useful things for itself. Hu Yuan also did well, successfully taming an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as a Spirit Beast, and also obtaining a complete Second Order Late-Stage Purple Gold Eagle corpse. It can be said that the rewards that serendipitously came their way were beyond their expectations. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, outside of the Secret Realm, bumping into such a Purple Gold Eagle Clan would not be so easy. So, it turned out that the gains from this unexpected battle were not few. Both individuals were very satisfied, resulting in a situation where everyone was happy. ¡­ Chapter 680 680 372 Creation Fruit Tree_1 ?Chapter 680: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_1 Chapter 680: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_1 As the battlefield cleanup was completed, the mountain peak that had once been riddled with a thousand holes finally looked much cleaner. At this time, the brilliant moonlight pierced through the clouds and scattered onto the ground, forming an expanse of snowy white. Clearly, it had reached the late hours of the night. With the precedent of the Purple Gold Eagle attack, Lin Tianming and his companion were constantly on high alert. They chose a relatively hidden spot to sit down, laid down some warning restrictions, and planned to rest and recuperate. A whole day and two nights passed in this manner. On the morning of the third day, as a ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on Lin Tianming¡¯s resilient cheeks, he was the first to open his eyes. After surveying their surroundings, he found that Hu Yuan¡¯s complexion had returned to normal and his breath had stabilized. ... As for himself, after this period of recovery, his condition had returned to its peak, and he was fully capable of handling any sudden situations. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked up at the blue sky and breathed a sigh of relief, then sank into deep thought. The first thing to consider was, of course, the next steps, especially in terms of time. Now, most of the time in the Secret Realm had passed, with just over three months left. These last three months, although seemingly short, were crucial for everyone. He was no exception; he must make the most of this final period to find the most important Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. After all, the item for Core Formation was invaluable; it was the ultimate purpose of his journey to this place. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed tightly as a hint of urgency appeared in his heart. However, being anxious was useless. There was still no news of the item for Core Formation, and without a current solution, he could only make the most of his time exploring and training. After all, Spiritual Objects like Nascent Soul items were not ordinary. The Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was just a Profound Secret Realm, and the probability of encountering too many high-order treasures wasn¡¯t great. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More crucially, this realm was controlled by the Three Great Golden Core Sects of the Wei Kingdom, and after thousands of years of exploration, it was likely that most of the good items had already been discovered, with ownerless treasures being even rarer to come by. Thinking of this, it wasn¡¯t so strange that they hadn¡¯t encountered any item for Core Formation so far. However, the more this was the case, the less conservative he should be. He was very aware that the more dangerous a location, the higher the probability of finding treasures. Thus, for the next three months, he planned to take more risks and be more aggressive. As long as they didn¡¯t encounter Third Order Demon Beasts, he would try his best to see if he could find some treasures to aid with Core Formation. But with such a plan in mind, whether Hu Yuan was willing to join him on this venture was still very much in question. Nevertheless, if Hu Yuan didn¡¯t want to take the risks, he wouldn¡¯t change his mind. It would just mean he would act alone if necessary. Considering all this, Lin Tianming glanced at Hu Yuan, who was still in the midst of cultivation, and decided to test his attitude. At this very moment, perhaps sensing his gaze, Hu Yuan also opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile on his face. Hu Yuan also looked at Lin Tianming and chuckled, saying, ¡°Lin, you truly are formidable. Not only did you contribute the most in the great battle, but your energy consumption is also minimal. I¡¯m utterly impressed!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Tianming waved his hand and replied with a smile, ¡°Not at all, Daoist Hu also made considerable efforts during the battle with the Purple Gold Eagle Clan. You¡¯re overestimating me!¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan offered a faint smile, refrained from continuing the flattery, and instead deftly changed the topic. ¡°It¡¯s a pity about the battle with the Purple Gold Eagle Clan two days ago; only a Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle managed to escape. I wonder, Lin, do you have any way to locate their nest?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming frowned, thinking to himself that Hu Yuan, having benefited already, was still fixated on the Purple Gold Eagle Clan¡¯s nest, looking to profit further from any treasures there. It was as if he intended to completely annihilate them! But upon further contemplation, given the innate animosity between the Human Race and Demon Race, if the roles were reversed and they were pursued by Demonic Beasts, it would be unlikely for them to be spared either. So, in that light, harboring such thoughts wasn¡¯t too excessive. Yet the battle had ended two days ago, and with the passage of time being too extensive, the Second Order Middle Stage Purple Gold Eagle would likely not remain in its nest. If there were any treasures, it would have consumed them and then fled far away. Moreover, creatures like the Purple Gold Eagle didn¡¯t have territories like ordinary Demonic Beasts. Their abodes were impermanent, and they seldom stayed too long in one place, spending most of their time roaming the skies, looking for any target they could prey upon. Be it Human Race or Demon Race, all were targets for their predation. Consequently, locating the nest of the Purple Gold Eagle would not be easy, and even if found, it was likely that no treasures would be available to collect. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming shared his views. After hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Hu Yuan did not pursue the matter further but instead inquired, ¡°Lin, where do we go from here, then?¡± Upon being asked, Lin Tianming chuckled, then responded, ¡°Time is of the essence, and the Secret Realm is vast. We have been traveling for over half a year and have barely encountered any Sect Cultivators. Don¡¯t you find that odd, Daoist Hu?¡± No sooner had he spoken, when Hu Yuan by his side, upon hearing this, also lapsed into contemplation. In his mind, what Lin Tianming pointed out was indeed a fact and something worth pondering. On reflection, given the years of exploration by the Three Great Sects, it was likely that their Disciples had already assembled to act collectively. Chapter 681 681 372 Creation Fruit Tree_2 ?Chapter 681: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_2 Chapter 681: Chapter 372: Creation Fruit Tree_2 Nine months had passed, and they had encountered very few cultivators; in total, only a handful of people. As such, it revealed that the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was vast in size, and there were not many individuals venturing alone; the members of the three Great Sects must have already gathered together to act. Their large group had been without news for several months, which most likely meant they had gone to those well-known old places to search for treasure sites that had been explored by their predecessors. Or, they might be following the clues left by their forebears to search for possible treasures. Such a course of action was not surprising; instead, it was to be expected. However, this had nothing to do with them as loose cultivators; without information and not enough manpower, they could only wander around aimlessly like headless flies. With luck, they might find some decent treasures; with bad luck, they could end up in the jaws of demonic beasts. ... Understanding this, Hu Yuan could only helplessly give a wry smile, then asked, ¡°What does Lin think? What are your plans?¡± After speaking, Hu Yuan¡¯s gaze turned to Lin Tianming, somewhat expecting his plan. Seeing this, Lin Tianming began to explain with a smile. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Our remaining time is getting shorter and shorter, and in a secret realm operated by the three Great Sects for thousands of years, we won¡¯t find Third Order Treasures without taking some risks.¡± ¡°After careful consideration, I¡¯ve decided to be more aggressive. As long as we don¡¯t run into Third Order Demon Beasts, we should give it a try!¡± ¡°Would Daoist Hu be willing to cooperate with me once more?¡± After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Hu Yuan pondered carefully and realized that Lin Tianming¡¯s reasoning made sense. The three Great Sects had controlled the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm for thousands of years and had explored it at least a dozen times. The locations where Third Order Treasures appeared were probably mostly known, and undiscovered good places were extremely limited. Under such circumstances, searching for treasures in a lawful manner was almost impossible to yield anything valuable. With time running out, maintaining the same conservative approach as before would indeed likely end in failure. As a loose cultivator who had reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he wasn¡¯t far from the Great Perfection Realm. Cultivation had not been easy over the years, and now he was over a hundred years old. Gaining access to this entry into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was hard-won. Missing this opportunity, he had no idea when the next one would arise. In that sense, he couldn¡¯t afford to delay. It could be said that he was in more of a hurry than anyone else and had a greater need for Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Thinking of this, Hu Yuan made up his mind almost without hesitation and decided to take a gamble with Lin Tianming. With his mind made up, Hu Yuan spoke with a grave expression, ¡°Since Lin is so resolute, I can¡¯t afford to delay. Since Lin is all in, naturally, there¡¯s no reason for me to retreat.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming laughed heartily. ¡°Haha¡­ Since that¡¯s the case, we needn¡¯t hide or keep a low profile.¡± ¡°In my opinion, we can even charge recklessly, deliberately attracting the appearance of demonic beasts. As long as they are not Third Order Spiritual Beasts or demonic beast tribes with overly powerful Second Order beasts, we should explore their lairs.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words and seeing his confident expression, Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of bold enthusiasm in his heart. ¡°Then I¡¯m all in too, risking my life to try it out with Lin!¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s expression was excited, and he seemed to be influenced by Lin Tianming¡¯s spirit, becoming a bit crazy. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded, and after a brief chat to confirm a direction, they quickly left the place. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Since they had changed their strategy, the two of them had been traveling with a great deal of pomp, swaggering through dense forests and valleys as if they were afraid that the demonic beasts would not be aware of their whereabouts. With such tactics, in the past half a month, they had lightly taken on the challenge and explored many places. It was indeed an uninterrupted series of troubles, encountering not a few demonic beasts along the way. However, the majority of these demonic beasts were not very powerful, and after some encounters, they casually killed a few Second Order beasts and left with some Second Order Treasures. Until today, somewhere in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, above a vast lake, the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan appeared. At this moment, earth-shattering noises filled the air, with colorful orbs of light streaking across the void, indicating that a fierce battle was underway. Looking over, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan stood shoulder to shoulder, their magic artifacts constantly unleashing large amounts of sword Qi, bombarding the lake below them in a relentless assault. Their expressions were filled with excitement, and they struck with exceptional ferocity, clearly meaning business. Beneath them, two Cold Ice Crocodiles opened their massive jaws in the water, shooting out numerous ice spikes towards Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan. Both of these Cold Ice Crocodiles were at the Second Order Late Phase, their aura incredibly powerful. Although they had not broken through to the Third Order, they were considered among the top-tier Second Order Demonic Beasts they had encountered. It was evident that these two Cold Ice Crocodiles were very close to reaching the Third Order, and with the consumption of some quality treasures, they might be able to make the breakthrough in not too much time. As Lin Tianming passed by this place, his conspicuous movements did not go unnoticed and, unsurprisingly, attracted an attack. Fortunately, the two were always prepared for sudden incidents, and with Lin Tianming having a premonition, they were not successfully ambushed by the Cold Ice Crocodiles. Hu Yuan, having narrowly escaped a calamity, wore an angry complexion and burst forth with an attack, wanting to retaliate against the Cold Ice Crocodiles that had ambushed them. Lin Tianming likewise joined the fray, and after a round of intense fight, seeing the true face of the Cold Ice Crocodiles, both their expressions turned grave. The two Cold Ice Crocodiles were male and female, belonging to semi-solitary demon beasts, typically appearing in pairs. Although not abundant in number, their overall strength was no less than that of the Purple Gold Eagle Clan or the Flaming Beast Clan. In fact, they were much stronger. Facing such tough opponents, the two had originally planned to leave. However, Lin Tianming used the wondrous abilities of his Eye of Five Colors to peer through the darkened waters and spot something at the bottom of the lake that he had been desperately seeking. It was a Creation Fruit Tree! The Creation Fruit Tree was a Water Attribute Third Order fruit tree that bore fruit only once every five hundred years, and each time, it would yield only three fruits. The value of the Fruit of Fortuity was exorbitantly high; it was a treasure that could aid in Core Formation, and it was nearly as beneficial as the Star Moon Fruit he had obtained in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, similarly increasing the chances of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage by thirty percent. Such a treasure was deemed invaluable in the current Cultivation World. And Lin Tianming¡¯s luck was excellent; the Creation Fruit Tree he discovered was just about to ripen. He estimated that if things went smoothly, the Creation Fruit Tree might be able to mature completely within a month. Seeing this object was precisely what he had longed for day and night. If he got the Fruit of Fortuity, with his strength, he would be able to obtain at least two fruits, and including the Creation Fruit Tree itself, he could also bring it back to his family. If he succeeded, the chances of both Lin Shilu and his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage would increase significantly, and he could attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage within ten years. Moreover, if the Creation Fruit Tree was transplanted into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden, after five hundred years, the Lin Family would harvest three more Fruits of Fortuity. It can be said that the role and significance of this Creation Fruit Tree were also immense. At this moment, Lin Tianming, understanding this, felt no hesitation despite sensing the formidable strength of the Cold Ice Crocodiles and the enormous pressure they brought. He decided to go all out. He was clear in his mind that this object was extremely important for him and for the entire Lin Family; they must acquire the Fruit of Fortuity at all costs. Even if it meant revealing all his strength, it was worth the risk. Moreover, the maturation time of the Fruit of Fortuity did not conflict with the end of the Tianfeng Secret Realm; there was even some spare time to pursue other treasures. Thus, the emergence of the Creation Fruit Tree was like a godsend opportunity, compelling him to make his move. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming instantly unleashed a barrage of attacks, bombarding the Cold Ice Crocodiles below. ¡­ Chapter 682 682 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Lends a ?Chapter 682: Chapter 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Lends a Hand_1 Chapter 682: Chapter 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Lends a Hand_1 ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The sky erupted with a copious amount of Sword Qi, raining down upon the two Cold Ice Crocodiles. Meanwhile, the icicles spat out by the Cold Ice Crocodiles assaulted them, colliding with the barrage of attacks unleashed by Lin Tianming and his companion. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosive sounds transmitted through the air, and the formerly calm surface of the water suddenly churned into colossal waves. The attacks from both sides were incredibly fierce, the shockwaves from the explosions flipping Lin Tianming and his ally over. Barely stabilizing their forms, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s expressions were grave, particularly Hu Yuan, whose face appeared exceptionally grim. ... The bodies of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles were immensely large, their dozens of zhang long bodies incredibly agile. As they twisted through the water, their thick and lengthy tails swept across, aiming to beat the two men to death then and there. The fierce assault of the Cold Ice Crocodiles came lunging at them, the formidable force whistling through the air, something ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn¡¯t dare to withstand head-on. Even with Lin Tianming¡¯s sturdy physique, being struck by that massive tail would surely cause injury, and possibly even threaten his life. At that moment, Hu Yuan glanced at the attack of the Cold Ice Crocodiles, his face darkening as he hastily dodged. On the other side, Lin Tianming was even quicker, retreating dozens of zhang away in advance. Once they steadied themselves, Hu Yuan frowned deeply and spoke to Lin Tianming at his side. ¡°Fellow Lin, these Cold Ice Crocodiles are no easy adversaries. Even if we join forces, it may not be easy to emerge victorious, let alone the fact that we don¡¯t have much of an advantage.¡± ¡°In my opinion, if there is nothing of value, we had better leave quickly!¡± It was obvious that Hu Yuan didn¡¯t possess Lin Tianming¡¯s keen vision and had not discovered the presence of the Creation Fruit Tree at the bottom of the lake. Had he known about the tree at the lake¡¯s bottom, with three Fruits of Fortuity nearly ripe, he would never give up such an opportunity, regardless of the danger, given his level of cultivation strength. But he had not noticed, and having seen the power of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles after a round of attacks, he realized their strength far surpassed any opponent they had previously faced. As such, it was only natural for him to consider retreating. In reality, had Lin Tianming not seen the Creation Fruit Tree, he would not have wanted to engage in a major battle with the two Cold Ice Crocodiles, nor would he have wanted to waste time with a head-on confrontation. After all, there was scarcely less than three months left before the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Time had become increasingly important for them. Before encountering something worthwhile, he did not plan to overly deplete time, energy, or expendable items such as talismanic weapons. More importantly, if they were to be gravely injured, their subsequent competitiveness would be significantly weakened, and the chances of acquiring treasures would be even lower. What he desired, something Hu Yuan, who had been cultivating for over a hundred years, would also think of. Otherwise, considering his desire for Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, he probably wouldn¡¯t have suggested a retreat. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt quite torn at this moment. If Hu Yuan were to leave alone, Lin Tianming would be left to deal with the two Cold Ice Crocodiles by himself, which was a significant pressure. At the very least, he would no longer be able to reserve anything and might even have to use life-saving Spirit Arts. Despite going all out, he still might not be guaranteed victory over the two Cold Ice Crocodiles. However, a truth in the Cultivation World has always prevailed: risk and opportunity coexist! Should he manage to defeat the two Cold Ice Crocodiles on his own, he could then claim three Fruits of Fortuity and the invaluable Creation Fruit Tree for himself. But if he were to join forces with Hu Yuan, he would inevitably have to share some of the treasures, and differences might arise over the precious loot, leading to enmity. If it were just a minor disagreement, at most he would concede one Fruit of Fortuity and make some compensation. The fear was that the news would leak and reach the ears of the three Great Sects. Given their strength and modus operandi, they could totally commit acts of murder for treasures. If it came to that, how should he respond? If he were to take action, he wouldn¡¯t be their match; after all, one can hardly fight against greatly outnumbered forces, particularly here within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, sided by twelve Sect Disciples who were no less capable than he. Even if he managed to secure the treasure by chance, how would he leave the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm smoothly? And what then, after leaving? If he were to truly fall out with them, how could the Lin Family alone contend with a large Sect, even if they had Ye Pinghai, a Golden Core Cultivator, stationed within? S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Tianming was hesitant, clearly undecided. Yet, judging by the current situation, Hu Yuan was unaware of the existence of the Fruits of Fortuity. Without seeing sufficient benefits, he was unlikely to be willing to risk it all. But if Lin Tianming insisted on staying in this place, facing attacks from the two Cold Ice Crocodiles and still unwilling to leave, Hu Yuan, upon careful thought, would realize that something extraordinary must have been encountered. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t take on such a great risk. In such a scenario, it was likely that Hu Yuan would still detect subtle clues. Instead of that, it would be better to generously invite Hu Yuan to join the fight. After slaying the two Cold Ice Crocodiles, he could share one Fruit of Fortuity with him. If that was not satisfying, he could compensate with more treasures. After all, in any case, the Lin Family must acquire two Fruits of Fortuity and firmly control the Creation Fruit Tree. As long as Hu Yuan received benefits and became tied to him, he shouldn¡¯t offend the Lin Family before his Core Formation, nor would he likely reveal the news about the Fruit of Fortuity. After all, he knew the importance of the Fruits of Fortuity and understood that it was also a matter of life and death for him. Chapter 683 683 373 Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Joins the ?Chapter 683: Chapter 373: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Joins the Fray_2 Chapter 683: Chapter 373: Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox Joins the Fray_2 That way, he wouldn¡¯t be joking with his own life. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming instantly made up his mind, decided to explain the specifics of the Creation Fruit Tree to Hu Yuan, and invited him to join the battle against the Cold Ice Crocodiles. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming took advantage of a brief lull, turned to Hu Yuan and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, there is a treasure at the bottom of this lake!¡± Before he could finish speaking, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression changed sharply, he released his Divine Sense in full, carefully probing the lakebed beneath them. Within a few breaths, Hu Yuan¡¯s face had calmed down, and with a look of confusion, he asked, ¡°A treasure? What treasure?¡± ¡°The water in this lake is pitch black, clearly there is nothing, Lin, could it be that you are mistaken?¡± As expected, Hu Yuan¡¯s Divine Sense was limited and simply could not penetrate the dark and deep lake water, let alone see the Creation Fruit Tree at the lake bottom. ... Hu Yuan¡¯s reaction was completely within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Seeing his puzzled look, Lin Tianming spoke with a smile, ¡°Daoist Hu, please be patient. Since I¡¯ve said that there is a treasure, I naturally wouldn¡¯t deceive you!¡± ¡°Furthermore, the treasure I speak of is immensely valuable. It cannot be compared to those items we encountered earlier.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words made Hu Yuan feel even more anxious. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s excellent reputation, the likelihood that he was telling the truth was high. Thinking of the treasure being worth a fortune, Hu Yuan was immediately thrilled, his entire demeanor one of urgency. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush anymore and quickly started to explain. ¡°Daoist Hu, at the bottom of the lake are the very items we are looking for, and there is more than one of them!¡± ¡°I am determined to get my hands on them. Even if the Cold Ice Crocodile is powerful, we must still try our best.¡± After speaking, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t wait to see Hu Yuan¡¯s expression or reaction and quickly changed the topic. ¡°Heh heh¡­ However, Daoist Hu, the day when the Secret Realm closes is approaching. If we miss these items, it will be difficult to come across them again in the remaining time.¡± ¡°So, I wonder if Daoist Hu would be interested in taking a risk with me this time?¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan took only a moment to consider and felt that what Lin Tianming said made sense. After all, time was of the essence. Since Lin Tianming was so serious, indicating his determination, the item was definitely extraordinary. With Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and perspective, even though he did not specify what the treasure at the bottom of the lake was, the fact that he was so cautious indicated that this was no ordinary object. Based on the information Lin Tianming had given and his reaction, it was very likely that the treasure at the bottom was an item that aided Core Formation. If it indeed was such an item, even if it only increased the chances of breakthrough by ten or twenty percent, it was worth taking the risk, no matter the danger. With these thoughts, Hu Yuan was overjoyed, and he made up his mind to take the risk. Resolved, Hu Yuan laughed heartily and asked, ¡°Is what Lin has said true?¡± ¡°True!¡± Before he finished, Lin Tianming replied resolutely, his expression extremely serious. Seeing this, Hu Yuan nodded in satisfaction, then spoke, ¡°Since Lin holds me in such high regard, I too shall express my stance!¡± ¡°If it is indeed an item that aids Core Formation, I swear upon my Heart Demon that I shall take only one, and the rest shall belong to Lin!¡± ¡°In addition, I will keep this matter strictly confidential, never revealing a single word to others. Should I break this oath, may my path in cultivation not advance an inch in this lifetime.¡± In Lin Tianming¡¯s view, Hu Yuan was tactful, seemingly aware of Lin¡¯s concerns, and voluntarily took an oath on his own path of cultivation. This act dispelled Lin Tianming¡¯s last bit of worry. From this, and also considering their past cooperation, Lin Tianming felt reassured that he hadn¡¯t misjudged him. Hu Yuan was indeed trustworthy and worth building a deeper relationship with. With both parties reaching a consensus, joining forces to confront the two powerful Cold Ice Crocodiles became the urgent matter at hand. And at the moment they came to an agreement, the attack of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles arrived as expected. ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­¡± A series of urgent whizzing sounds arose. Looking ahead, a great number of ice pillars were erupting from the lake beneath them. Each pillar carried a terrifying chill and, upon appearing, even the moisture in the air condensed into mist. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The numerous ice pillars, hidden in the thick mist, shot towards them at an incredibly fast speed, as quick as lightning. Having experienced the power of these ice pillars, Lin Tianming and his companion did not dare to take it lightly. The two of them moved back and forth, one in front and one behind. While dodging the ice pillars, they unleashed a barrage of attacks toward the oncoming pillars. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± The world burst into roars again as the sword Qi they casually stimulated only resisted for a brief moment before being shattered by the vast number of ice pillars. Immediately afterwards, the ice pillars continued to soar upwards, bombarding the two of them relentlessly. Lin Tianming and his companion had anticipated this, knowing that their initial attack was not strong and was just to buy time for them to avoid the ice pillars. Taking advantage of the momentary delay caused to the ice pillars, they had already flown nearly a hundred yards away, escaping the densest area of the ice pillar assault. Just as they stabilized their figures, Lin Tianming shouted loudly at Hu Yuan beside him, ¡°Daoist Hu, you must delay a Cold Ice Crocodile for as long as possible, the longer the better.¡± ¡°I will swiftly kill another Cold Ice Crocodile, then join you to encircle and suppress the next one!¡± ¡°Alright, Lin, you go ahead and make your move, I absolutely will not let the one on the left disturb you for at least half a moment!¡± After Hu Yuan replied loudly, he leaped forward, releasing a large number of Second Order talismans from his hands. At the same time, his magic artifact flashed with a dazzling light, and a surge of powerful sword Qi flew past overhead, shooting towards a Cold Ice Crocodile to the left. Upon seeing Hu Yuan¡¯s action, which was mighty and obviously several times stronger than the power he had shown in previous fights, it was clear that in face of the more powerful attack of the Cold Ice Crocodile, Hu Yuan began to reveal his true strength, no longer holding back. Observing this, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, and then didn¡¯t delay any further. While Hu Yuan was entangled in battle with a Cold Ice Crocodile on the left, Lin Tianming also began his storm-like assault. At that moment, he tapped his Spirit Beast Bag, and in a flash of light, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared, one on his left and one on his right. This battle would not be easy, and Lin Tianming valued it tremendously. He directly released his most reliable combatants, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. As for Xiao Diao, he did not intend to summon it to assist. After all, Xiao Diao had just swallowed two complete Purple Gold Eagle carcasses and should be in a state of deep slumber, refining the Bloodline Power of the Gold-winged Roc. Moreover, with Xiao Diao¡¯s current strength, the help it could offer was extremely limited, and it was not in its best combat state. Thus, he only summoned the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Although the strength of the Bloodthirsty Jiao did not match that of the Cold Ice Crocodile, which was very close to Third Order, it could nevertheless provide some assistance. The Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was also at the Second Order Late Phase. After half a year of recuperation, its previous injuries had healed, and it was in peak condition. With the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox¡¯s elusive Divine Skills, it might play a special role at a critical moment. In fact, this was the first time Lin Tianming had released his two strongest spirit beasts at the same time, with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox making its first appearance. True to expectations, the moment the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared, Hu Yuan, who was not far away fighting, sensed it and recognized the origin of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°It¡¯s actually a Second Order Late Phase Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox!¡± At that time, Hu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. He looked over with a complex expression, appearing both surprised and rather wary. As for Hu Yuan¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming somewhat anticipated it. He was well aware that such a special creature like the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was even rarer than flying creatures like the Purple Gold Eagle, and moreover, it was a presence of Second Order Late Phase. Such a formidable Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was an uncommon sight, and its enigmatic Divine Skills were enough to make any Foundation Establishment Cultivator wary. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming had no mind to concern himself with these matters, nor did he have time to pay attention to Hu Yuan¡¯s surprise. Chapter 684 684 374 The Mighty Cold Ice Crocodile_1 ?Chapter 684: Chapter 374: The Mighty Cold Ice Crocodile_1 Chapter 684: Chapter 374: The Mighty Cold Ice Crocodile_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming issued several commands consecutively, directing the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to coordinate with him and besiege the Cold Ice Crocodile on the right. Quickly, upon receiving the instructions, the two Spirit Beasts transformed and unleashed their Divine Skills, attacking the Cold Ice Crocodile below. Seizing the brief opportunity while the two Spirit Beasts were holding off the Cold Ice Crocodile, Lin Tianming slapped his storage pouch, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords along with the Thousand Beast Banner flew out. His fingers flicked rapidly, unleashing spell after spell that bombarded the Earth Evil Swords and the Thousand Beast Banner. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The Earth Fiend Sword Formation revolved around him a few times, then swiftly plunged into the lake, dispersing into every corner. At the same time, the Thousand Beast Banner spewed out a massive amount of black fog, forming a huge sphere that shrouded the sky above the Cold Ice Crocodile. ... The time taken to employ the two Magic Artifacts for trapping the enemy was short; by the time the Cold Ice Crocodile could react, the setup was already successful. However, the Cold Ice Crocodile had already noticed his movements and, while dealing with the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s attacks, produced a large number of ice pillars, attempting to scatter the newly active Sword Array and black fog. Nonetheless, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was not one to sit still. In a flurry, it released a barrage of Blood Arrows, confronting the oncoming beams head-on. Thunderous booms rang out as flashes of red and blue light streaked across the sky. The impact of the Blood Arrows colliding with the ice pillars sent a powerful wave sweeping over, causing the pitch-black lake to churn violently. In the blink of an eye, the Blood Arrows began to crumble, while the ice pillars showed no sign of stopping, continuing to bombard the Bloodthirsty Jiao. Clearly, both the number and power of the Blood Arrows were considerably inferior to the ice pillars expelled by the Cold Ice Crocodile. At this point, the Bloodthirsty Jiao saw its Blood Arrows collapse and the oncoming ice pillars persisted, causing a momentary panic, clearly not expecting such a large gap between the two. It let out a fierce hiss, ready to twist its enormous body, comparable in size to the Cold Ice Crocodile, to evade the ice pillar attacks. Just then, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, on the other side, blinked in front of the Bloodthirsty Jiao with incredible speed. Immediately after, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox opened its mouth and expelled a cluster of red light, colliding head-on with the ice pillars approaching it. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud noise, the ice pillars completely dissolved, turning into a myriad of icicles that fell onto the lake¡¯s surface, splashing water everywhere. The Bloodthirsty Jiao took advantage of this opening to finally stabilize its form, hovering over the lake. At this point, its gaze fixed on the Cold Ice Crocodile below; it then let out a furious roar, seemingly venting its anger. It turns out, the Bloodthirsty Jiao had been careless, thinking that since both creatures were at the Second Order Late Phase, the gap in strength should not be so great. However, these two Cold Ice Crocodiles were among the peak existences of the Second Order Demonic Beasts, only a step away from the Third Order. Naturally, they remained here to protect the maturing Fruit of Fortuity and then bless it, hoping to utilize the energy within the Fruit of Fortuity to break through to the Third Order. Regrettably, due to a twist of fate and their poor luck, they encountered Lin Tianming just before the final moment. If the time were pushed back a few months and each of them had swallowed a Fruit of Fortuity, there was a very high chance they could have reached the Third Order. Once they overcame the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, they would truly become Third Order Demon Beasts. By that time, everything would have been settled, and even if Lin Tianming discovered them, he likely would not have stayed here, much less trouble them. But contrary to their desires, such an envious treasure-snatching situation occurred right at this critical juncture. Yet the outcome is still undecided, and no one can be sure what the final result will be. Unaware of these things, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s first round of attacks had almost resulted in a great disadvantage. Had the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox not arrived at the critical moment to directly face the attack of the Cold Ice Crocodile, it would not have been easy for it to escape unscathed. However, having suffered a setback, the Bloodthirsty Jiao became more cautious, completely devoid of its previous arrogance. At this moment, it roared angrily and whipped its massive tail towards the water, aiming directly for the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s head. The angle of the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s attack was extremely tricky, and with its naturally superior body, it was already the best offensive weapon. The Cold Ice Crocodile was no pushover either; its body was huge but immensely agile, and it was even more adept in the water. It elegantly dodged the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s thick tail with a turn of its body. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± With the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s tail attack missing, it slammed directly onto the water surface, stirring up many giant waves with the powerful impact. Not to be outdone as the Bloodthirsty Jiao attacked, the Cold Ice Crocodile, while rolling in the water, whipped its tail towards the Bloodthirsty Jiao on the lake¡¯s surface. Clearly, the tail was not only a powerful weapon for the Bloodthirsty Jiao but also for the Cold Ice Crocodile. They differ greatly from the Human Cultivators who, aside from having higher Spirit Wisdom, also rely on external forces like Talismanic Weapons to enhance their own strength. The Demon Beast Race, besides their innate Divine Skills, could only rely on their skills and body for combat. Yet their talents were equally enviable; not only did they possess long life spans, but any part of their bodies was stronger than those of the Human Race, serving as tools for both attack and defense. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The two Demonic Beasts fought fiercely, the powerful fluctuations echoing across the heavens and earth, whipping up a raging torrent in the lake. Meanwhile, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox assisted from the side, extending its terrifying claws from time to time to angrily swipe at the Cold Ice Crocodile. Chapter 685 685 374 The Formidable Cold Ice ?Chapter 685: Chapter 374: The Formidable Cold Ice Crocodile_2 Chapter 685: Chapter 374: The Formidable Cold Ice Crocodile_2 As the Cold Ice Crocodile and the Bloodthirsty Jiao clashed, the Cold Ice Crocodile, although firmly in the lead, was met with the swift, accurate, and ruthless attacks of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Each strike left a wound on the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile. For a time, the combined efforts of the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox didn¡¯t seem to yield much advantage against the Cold Ice Crocodile; they appeared evenly matched in strength. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming had set the Earth Fiend Sword Formation into motion, enveloping the entire battlefield with the Thousand Beast Banner. With the two major enemy-binding Magic Artifacts now in operation, Lin Tianming promptly brought forth the Tiangang Sword. Observing the intense battle below, his Tiangang Sword burst forth with an abundance of silver light. In an instant, numerous streams of Sword Qi shot out at an extremely fast speed, passing over his head. The target of the Sword Qi was clear, vast in number, with each beam containing tremendous might, slashing directly toward the Cold Ice Crocodile. ... At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile seemed to be provoked, attacking even more fiercely. Even though the Bloodthirsty Jiao was a Second Order Late Phase being, its power still fell short compared to the Cold Ice Crocodile. As the great battle continued to unfold, several monsters had clashed over a dozen times. The Bloodthirsty Jiao, shouldering the brunt in close combat, now bore many wounds, and its aura gradually began to wane. Had it not been for the assistance of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, with its own strength, would probably have been forced to retreat after not much longer. However, with Lin Tianming¡¯s joining the fight, the situation immediately reversed. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Huge bursts of Sword Qi poured down, leaving the Cold Ice Crocodile struggling to cope, as numerous beams bombarded it. Faced with the sky full of Sword Qi, the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile flashed with a blue light, shielding itself. A burst of flame scattered, and the onslaught unleashed by Lin Tianming was actually blocked by this blue light, finally being completely rebounded. Seeing this, Lin Tianming appeared stunned, not expecting the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s defensive power to be so formidable; common Sword Qi seemed to have little effect. In that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned solemn, looking at the still-clashing Bloodthirsty Jiao. He pinched a spell, and his Tiangang Sword once again emitted a burst of silver light. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword!¡± With a loud shout, he released the Tiangang Sword from his hand, turning it into a bolt of lightning, heading straight for the Cold Ice Crocodile. Seeing this attack, the Cold Ice Crocodile understood that it was considerably stronger than the ordinary attacks it had faced before. As the Tiangang Sword drew ever closer, the Cold Ice Crocodile repelled the Bloodthirsty Jiao with a swipe of its claw, then opened its mouth to spit out a large number of ice spears, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A thunderous sound echoed, as the Tiangang Sword was blocked by an ice spear, its path deflected, grazing past the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s back. However, the ice spears unleashed by the Cold Ice Crocodile were also influenced by the aura carried by the Tiangang Sword, veering off their intended path. By the time the attack reached Lin Tianming, its strength was greatly diminished, numbering only a few spears. Lin Tianming casually raised his hand, knocking aside some ice spears, and then crushed the last one with his bare hands. After this mighty strike, both parties ended up with no gains. This result was unexpected for Lin Tianming as well. After all, in past major battles, the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword had always been unstoppable, usually drawing blood before returning. But this time, it not only failed to draw blood but didn¡¯t even touch the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body, which was completely beyond his expectations. However, he did not become disheartened, for the opponents he had faced previously were merely ordinary Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts, not comparable to an entity nearing Third Order strength like the Cold Ice Crocodile. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze remained calm, showing no effects from the setback of the previous attack. Meanwhile, the fierce battle below persisted, with the Bloodthirsty Jiao accumulating more and more wounds and its aura gradually declining, tilting the overall situation in favor of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a scoff. Then he brought his hands together and murmured an incantation. In no time at all, his hands slowly began to produce a thread of red and blue flame. As the flame appeared, the temperature of the entire heaven and earth instantly rose by a level. Not only that, but the wind over the lake began to circle around Lin Tianming, as if it was intentionally fueling the fire. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors activated, as he watched the Cold Ice Crocodile still engaged in fierce battle, waiting for the best opportunity to strike. Meanwhile, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation spun wildly, its enveloping range shrinking rapidly, reaching a span of just over two hundred zhang in the blink of an eye. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From the black mist emitted by the Thousand Beast Banner, countless Monster Beast Souls also surged forth, tearing towards the Cold Ice Crocodile in the lake. Now, the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s space for survival drastically diminished, combined with the relentless attack by the Monster Beast Souls from the Thousand Beast Banner. Given its massive body, it was far too large a target and utterly incapable of dodging effectively. For a time, the Cold Ice Crocodile seemed trapped in a quagmire, its space for survival ever-shrinking, making each attack increasingly difficult. Lin Tianming, while controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Thousand Beast Banner, also readied the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand for a lethal strike. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two violent crashes sounded as the Bloodthirsty Jiao was slapped away by the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s claw, its huge body falling at the edge of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At this time, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was weak, its tail bearing numerous wounds, the bright red blood quickly staining the surrounding lake water. It writhed in agony, ignoring its injuries, eager to charge at the Cold Ice Crocodile again. Just then, Lin Tianming saw that the Bloodthirsty Jiao was severely injured and had also moved some distance away from the Cold Ice Crocodile, presenting an optimal moment to attack. He quickly issued a command to the Bloodthirsty Jiao, ordering it to stay out of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s range. Soon, the obedient Bloodthirsty Jiao calmed down and crossed the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, appearing outside. Seeing that the moment had arrived, Lin Tianming did not hesitate, casting a spell on the Blue Heart True Flame in the palm of his hand. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand trembled slightly, the world illuminated by bursts of blue light. Suddenly, a flame surged, quickly forming into a fireball. This fireball seemed ordinary on the outside, but it contained immense power within, enough to blast an ordinary Second Order Demonic Beast into dust. Lin Tianming felt the pulsing rhythm of the fireball in his hand and with a single slap, he sent the Blue Heart True Flame transformed fireball furiously smashing towards the Cold Ice Crocodile. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The fireball flew out instantly, traveling at an unbelievable speed. Almost immediately, it descended above the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s head. At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile sensed an unprecedented crisis. It twisted its body, attempting to dive into the lake, hoping to use the lake¡¯s power to escape the fireball¡¯s assault. Little did the Cold Ice Crocodile know, its intent had already been anticipated by Lin Tianming. Facing this hard-won situation, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh. With things having reached this point, how could he allow the Cold Ice Crocodile to avoid this fatal attack, wasting this excellent opportunity? Just as the Cold Ice Crocodile had plunged into the water, somehow, it suddenly stopped moving, ceasing to sink any further. The pause was short-lived, just a breath¡¯s length, after which the Cold Ice Crocodile returned to normal and continued to sink into the water. However, though the pause was brief, it was fatal during a battle between Foundation Establishment Cultivators. All the more so for someone like Lin Tianming! Taking advantage of the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s split-second pause, the fireball transformed from the Blue Heart True Flame exploded from its position above the lake¡¯s surface. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Following a loud bang, a gorgeous cloud appeared in the sky, and within the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, a sea of red and blue flames emerged. In a glance, the sea of flames engulfed everything in sight, whether it was the surface of the water or beneath it, there was fire burning everywhere. For a moment, the temperature in the sky soared to another level. And the lake seemed to be boiling, producing a massive whirlpool with hot air spurting straight up from the middle. The Cold Ice Crocodile hadn¡¯t sunk more than ten zhang when the sea of flames generated by the explosion of the Blue Heart True Flame covered it. At this moment, only a miserable cry could be heard. Immediately after, giant waves surged on the lake¡¯s surface, forcibly pulling up the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Chapter 686 686 375 Killing the Cold Ice Crocodile_1 ?Chapter 686: Chapter 375: Killing the Cold Ice Crocodile_1 Chapter 686: Chapter 375: Killing the Cold Ice Crocodile_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming fixed his gaze and saw that the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s entire body was charred, its massive body riddled with numerous injuries, with fresh blood gushing directly from some of the wounds. Not only that, the Cold Ice Crocodile let out several agonized roars, its huge body writhing non-stop, its tail slamming frantically into the lake water, staining a large area red with blood, appearing to be in excruciating pain. Yet, even after that blow, the Cold Ice Crocodile had not died but merely had its aura greatly diminished, clearly having sustained serious injuries. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, unable to help but feel inwardly moved. He had not expected the Cold Ice Crocodile to be so formidable, surviving an attack from the Blue Heart True Flame and only sustaining serious injuries. This outcome had been achieved only by combining the efforts of the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, plus himself. And this scene was something he had encountered for the first time since entering the Foundation Establishment Stage. ... Finally regaining his composure, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with light from the Tiangang Sword, and once again, he invoked the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. The Cold Ice Crocodile was in a bad state, its strength reduced by the wounds on its body, which put it in a passive position. He must seize this opportunity to take its life. The damage from the stacking of seven swords was no less formidable, and the wounded Cold Ice Crocodile would not be able to easily fend it off any longer. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was extremely decisive, transforming the Tiangang Sword in his hand into a long dragon, slashing directly at the Cold Ice Crocodile tumbling in the water. Facing this terrifying Tiangang Sword, the Cold Ice Crocodile was filled with fear. If it had been in its prime, then the Tiangang Sword would not have posed a threat to its life. But now that it had been injured, with its strength reduced by at least thirty percent, and with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox looming menacingly on the side, constantly using illusion techniques to influence it. Under these circumstances, evading the attacks unscathed was definitely not going to be easy. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The more he realized this, the more the Cold Ice Crocodile forced itself to calm down. Immediately after, it ignored its injuries and madly fled into the depths of the water. Unfortunately, the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was only slightly larger than two hundred zhang, not much larger compared to its body. With such a size, and with Lin Tianming having cultivated it to the Minor Achievement Realm, when it came to trapping enemies, the formation was as solid as a fortified wall, far surpassing the sword array that had been deployed by fifty-six swords initially. Sure enough, after the Cold Ice Crocodile moved its body a few times, it smashed directly into the barricade of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Sounds of collision rang out, the Sword Array Barricade initially shook violently, looking as if it was on the verge of collapse. However, Lin Tianming spat out a mouthful of essence blood, and the sword array quickly returned to normal, becoming even more stable. Seeing the Sword Array Barricade become so robust, the Cold Ice Crocodile rammed into it several times but failed to break through, becoming completely panicked. However, its crisis was not limited to just these. While the Cold Ice Crocodile was in a state of panic, outside the Sword Array Barricade, the Bloodthirsty Jiao also unleashed a barrage of Blood Arrows, penetrating through the Sword Array Barricade and raining down on the Cold Ice Crocodile in the water. Not just that, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox repeated its old trick, once again using illusions to affect the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s mind and spewing out a red mist to envelop the space above its head. For a moment, the attacks from one man and two beasts converged together, filling the entire range of the sword array, an intense aura sweeping across the heavens and the earth. Under such attacks, the Cold Ice Crocodile could neither escape nor hide, especially with the added effect of the illusions from the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. The illusion technique was equally terrifying. Just earlier when Lin Tianming had deployed the Blue Heart True Flame, he had coordinated with the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox to use it once, momentarily paralyzing the Cold Ice Crocodile for a brief moment. In that brief moment, a complete reversal occurred. Under such circumstances, it could be said that the Cold Ice Crocodile was doomed to escape. Under the combined assault of Lin Tianming and the two spirit beasts, the Cold Ice Crocodile could not escape the range of the sword array and had no choice but to take the hit head-on. Seemingly realizing its predicament, with no escape possible, it stalwartly raised its head and spewed out a large number of ice pillars to block above its head. It moved swiftly, and the ice pillars surged into the sky just before the three attacks landed, colliding head-on with them. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Explosions echoed continually, the entire sword array turned into a sea of fire, and the intense fluctuations caused the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to violently shake. At this time, Lin Tianming, with his gaze fixated, relied on the effect of the Eye of Five Colors to capture every detail of this earth-shattering clash. Unexpectedly, in a desperate situation, the Cold Ice Crocodile also exerted its full strength, once again refreshing Lin Tianming¡¯s understanding of its power. In his view, the Divine Skills attack of the ice pillars actually withstood the assault of three opponents for quite a while before collapsing. Immediately after, the assaults from the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox continued to rain down, and although it avoided vital areas, it still ended up with an abundance of wounds on its body. However, despite the multitude of injuries, with its formidable physique and that inhuman defensive power, the impact was still tolerable. But the attack from the Tiangang Sword was the greatest threat to it. Although the power had been greatly reduced by the ice pillars, this attack was almost Lin Tianming¡¯s strongest offensive means apart from Spirit Art. Consequently, when the Tiangang Sword eventually struck the Cold Ice Crocodile, it achieved a certain degree of effectiveness. The Cold Ice Crocodile managed to dodge away from the vital parts, and under the attack of the Tiangang Sword, its tail was almost severed. Had it not made a timely evasion, this strike could have very well taken its life. Chapter 687 687 375 The Slaying of the Cold Ice ?Chapter 687: Chapter 375 The Slaying of the Cold Ice Crocodile_2 Chapter 687: Chapter 375 The Slaying of the Cold Ice Crocodile_2 ¡°` As the firelight settled down, peace gradually returned to heaven and earth. Looking around, the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s tail was dripping with fresh blood, its bone clearly visible from the wound, and the blood-red lake grew even redder. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, the Cold Ice Crocodile was raging with fury. It raised its head to let out a roar and then immediately launched an attack. With a turn of its body, its sharp claws fiercely struck at the Sword Array Barricade, the powerful force overturning the water of the lake. It seemed to understand what was most important at the moment, so its goal was very clear: to break the endless binds and thus unleash its strongest power. Lin Tianming saw its actions and intentions clearly and certainly wouldn¡¯t easily let it have its way, let alone give up on this great opportunity. After all, the Cold Ice Crocodile was already injured, having sustained his two strongest consecutive attacks, its strength was greatly reduced. ... It could be said that the Cold Ice Crocodile was now fighting a desperate battle, and with just one or two more rounds of attack, it could be completely annihilated. Understanding this, Lin Tianming issued instructions to the two Spirit Beasts, directing them to fully cooperate with him. Following this, a large amount of Sword Qi burst from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, heading straight for the Cold Ice Crocodile. At the same time, he leaped into the Sword Array, and like a fierce tiger, he charged through, preparing to engage the Cold Ice Crocodile in close combat. In his eyes, the strength of the Cold Ice Crocodile was indeed outrageously strong. If it were in its prime, even with Dual Cultivation of Body and Law and his confidence in his own strength, he wouldn¡¯t dare to engage in close combat with the Cold Ice Crocodile. But now, the Cold Ice Crocodile was injured, its strength had been significantly reduced, and there was not a small chance of victory in close combat. Besides, his Spiritual Power was running low. There was another Cold Ice Crocodile to deal with later, and with the manifold dangers in this Secret Realm, he needed to conserve some Spiritual Power to cope with any unexpected situations. Therefore, he decided to take advantage of his Dual Cultivation of Body and Law to finish off this Cold Ice Crocodile as quickly as possible. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming was extremely decisive and pushed his power to the limit. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A large amount of Sword Qi passed through the Sword Array Barricade, coupled with the Sword Qi that was already inside the array, forming a dense net of swords that enveloped the large area where the Cold Ice Crocodile was. In the moment Lin Tianming made his move, the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox seemed to have a tacit understanding and burst forth with their Innate Divine Abilities to support Lin Tianming. In an instant, the Cold Ice Crocodile, which had just taken a breath of relief, was once again trapped in layer upon layer of attacks. As the onslaught from the man and two beasts drew closer, the Cold Ice Crocodile smelled the breath of death all around. It was angry, fiercely attacking the Sword Array Barricade, but the barricade merely swayed and showed no signs of collapsing. In this dire situation, it turned its head and opened its mouth wide, once again spitting out some ice pillars, hoping to make a final stand. But a closer look revealed that there were significantly fewer ice pillars this time, and the energy in them was not as strong as before. Clearly, as the battle raged on, after several waves of Divine Skills clashing, the power of the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s Divine Skills was greatly weakened, likely due to overexertion. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. However, he didn¡¯t let his guard down. With a spell cast, the Tiangang Sword in his hand flashed, releasing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. This strike was hidden among the many Sword Qi, clearly intending to be the final straw that would overwhelm the Cold Ice Crocodile. This moment seemed lengthy, yet it was over in an instant. In an instant, the sky filled with Sword Qi and ice pillars collided. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A series of loud booms came successively, and the air was in turmoil, the strong fluctuations from the collision relentlessly assaulting the barriers of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming, still inside the Sword Array, could clearly feel the blinding light before him and a wave of air that lifted his robes. Had he not been prepared, with his robust stature, the impact alone would have been difficult for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators to ignore and might have even caused some injuries. Barely stabilizing his stance, his rapidly advancing figure didn¡¯t stop, his fist aimed straight for the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s position. At the same time, he used the Eye of Five Colors to monitor the situation before him. Under his watchful eye, the ice pillars spewed by the Cold Ice Crocodile and the large amount of Sword Qi, as well as the Divine Skills unleashed by the two Spirit Beasts, collided and dispersed. ¡°` And hidden within the Sword Qi, the Tiangang Sword accelerated suddenly, appearing above the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s head in the blink of an eye. By then, the Cold Ice Crocodile had no divine skills at its disposal and could only rely on its defensive power to survive the crisis. Indeed, just as it had anticipated, the Cold Ice Crocodile reached out with its claw, hoping to swat the Tiangang Sword away. As the Tiangang Sword came attacking, it met the claw head-on. After a burst of sparks, the Tiangang Sword was deflected by the claw, diverted from its attack path, and finally slashed into the waters of the lake. Immediately, a huge wave surged, followed by the pitiful screams of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Lin Tianming took a closer look and saw that the Tiangang Sword had cleanly severed the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s claw, which fell into the lake and quickly sank to the bottom. At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile was rolling in pain, unable to pay any attention to Lin Tianming who was approaching. As Lin Tianming drew nearer, the Cold Ice Crocodile finally regained some composure. It twisted its head, trying to flee, and collided once more with the Sword Array Barricade. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A dull thud followed, as the Cold Ice Crocodile was repelled by the Sword Array Barricade. And right then, Lin Tianming¡¯s fist had descended, striking the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s back at a tricky angle. With no way to avoid it in such a desperate situation, the Cold Ice Crocodile could only try to protect its vital parts as best as it could. Another miserable cry rang out. The enormous body of the Cold Ice Crocodile was forcibly shifted over ten yards, stopping only when it hit against the Sword Array Barricade again. Looking over, the Cold Ice Crocodile was continuously rolling, its mouth open wide as it roared in pain from time to time. Looking down along its body, there was a bloody hole in its back, with blood pouring out and some organs plainly exposed to the air. That terrifying punch from Lin Tianming, possessing at least tens of thousands of pounds of force, would not have been much different from a small mountain crashing down. It was this terrifying punch that nearly pierced through the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body. Though the punch did not kill the Cold Ice Crocodile, it had caused severe wounds, making it incapable of stirring up any more trouble. Seeing his strike had been effective, Lin Tianming¡¯s footsteps hastened once more. He dashed forward with an explosive step, winding up his fists and raining blows upon the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of muffled impacts sounded, accompanied by the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s cries of agony, rhythmic in their own way. It¡¯s unclear how much time passed, but eventually, the noises inside the Sword Array stopped¡ªthere were neither sounds of fists colliding nor any more of the excruciating screams. Following a crisp sound, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook, and then seventy-two Earth Evil Swords flew out from the lake, revealing Lin Tianming¡¯s figure. At that moment, he waved his hand and collected all the Earth Evil Swords, including the Tiangang Sword, back into his possession. Now looking over the entire battlefield, one could see the body of the Cold Ice Crocodile amidst a vast expanse of blood-stained water, gently drifting on the surface with the breeze. Upon closer inspection, the massive body of the Cold Ice Crocodile looked utterly pitiable, with not a single spot on its body left intact. Numerous bloody holes were visible, with internal organs visible like a gruesome spectacle, hard to behold without feeling disgust. Just then, he had charged forward and battered it relentlessly, his fists flying wildly with no technique, relying solely on raw power to beat the grievously wounded Cold Ice Crocodile to death. Not until the Cold Ice Crocodile ceased moving and went silent did he finally stop his onslaught. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flushed as he looked at the still Cold Ice Crocodile, letting out a long sigh of relief. There was no denying the great strength of this Cold Ice Crocodile. The whole battle had lasted for quite some time, and under the assault of Lin Tianming and two Second Order Late Phase Spirit Beasts, it took several uses of the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, not to mention the lethal Blue Heart True Flame. And still, the Cold Ice Crocodile had persevered for a long while before it finally perished. ¡­ Chapter 688 688 376 The End of the Battle_1 ?Chapter 688: Chapter 376: The End of the Battle_1 Chapter 688: Chapter 376: The End of the Battle_1 With the death of the Cold Ice Crocodile, Lin Tianming finally shifted his gaze toward the battlefield where Hu Yuan was engaged in combat. Gazing over, Hu Yuan was currently battling fiercely with another Cold Ice Crocodile. As he fought, Hu Yuan had already been engaged in a prolonged struggle; now he was in a situation of constant retreat, with numerous wounds across his body, and his breath had become severely exhausted. Although the other Cold Ice Crocodile held an absolute advantage, enticed by the treasure, Hu Yuan had not held anything back, exhausting almost all his means. Relying on a large number of life-saving cards he had prepared, he had also managed to wound the Cold Ice Crocodile. At this moment, both were bearing injuries and had expended a great deal of energy, both struggling to persevere. However, if the situation continued in this way, it was only a matter of time before Hu Yuan would be defeated. If he were unlucky, there was even the risk of falling. ¡°Roar¡­¡± ... A roar interrupted Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. Following the direction of the roar, he saw the Cold Ice Crocodile swiping a claw at Hu Yuan, with the momentum to kill him on the spot. Facing this terrifying claw, Hu Yuan¡¯s face turned pale as he hastily brought out a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact to shield himself. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud bang, Hu Yuan was sent flying backward, vomiting blood profusely even before he hit the ground, and his complexion grew even paler. As he fell from mid-air into the lake, a large splash was created. Bearing the severe pain, he tried to fly out of the water, but the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s huge tail swept toward him. Seeing this, Hu Yuan¡¯s face turned white, and in a rush, he took out two gray-white beads, tossing them out with a look of agony on his face. Recognizing these two beads, Lin Tianming quickly identified them as Spirit Detonation Beads, which he had used many times before without a doubt. As a consumable treasure, their power was several times stronger than that of a Second Order Superior Attack Talisman, indeed qualifying as quite an impressive treasure. However, he estimated that these two Spirit Detonation Beads could not realistically kill the Cold Ice Crocodile, or even seriously wound it. Sure enough, under his watchful eye, the two Spirit Detonation Beads collided head-on with the tail of the Cold Ice Crocodile. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two fiery red clouds appeared in the sky, covering a large area, looking extremely spectacular. Then, a series of explosions were heard, accompanied by the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s roars reverberating between heaven and earth. At the same time, the shock wave from the Spirit Detonation Beads¡¯ explosion swept around, causing huge waves in the lake. The strong impact flipped Hu Yuan in the water, rolling him around for a long time until the water gradually calmed, and then he floated to the surface. After this strike, Hu Yuan¡¯s internal energy was in turmoil, and he spat out more blood, his face becoming as pale as death. He shakily stood up, feet on the surface of the lake, his eyes wide open as he looked at the distant Cold Ice Crocodile, wanting to see if the two Spirit Detonation Beads had seriously wounded it. He knew well the strength of the Cold Ice Crocodile; he had exhausted all his methods, yet was still at an absolute disadvantage. The two Spirit Detonation Beads he had just thrown were the last two high-power consumables he had reserved. Now that he had used them, he had no more left. However, he also understood that Spirit Detonation Beads had great killing power against ordinary Second Order Late Stage Beasts. If used well, they could completely kill them. But the Cold Ice Crocodile, whose strength was extremely formidable and had touched the threshold of Third Order, was terrifying in terms of both attack and defense capabilities, almost reaching the limit of Second Order Demonic Beasts. Under such circumstances, he had no confidence whatsoever that the Spirit Detonation Beads could achieve any effect. However, things having reached this point, he had done his utmost, also fulfilling the time commitment he had made before the great battle. With this expectation, Hu Yuan gazed intently at the distant Cold Ice Crocodile, assessing the extent of its wounds. Following his sight, the Cold Ice Crocodile was rolling in the water, with a large area of its tail scorched black, and two huge bloody holes evident, which were obviously caused by the two Spirit Detonation Beads just now. It rolled and roared in pain, clearly having sustained serious injuries, with its strength fallen by twenty to thirty percent from its peak. Seeing that his desperate counterattack had some effect, Hu Yuan¡¯s pale complexion finally showed a trace of color. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the enraged Cold Ice Crocodile also calmed down, becoming even more frantic. ¡°Roar¡­¡± At that moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile flipped over with a roar and opened its huge mouth to spit out numerous ice pillars. Upon closer examination, it was evident that the number of ice pillars was not great, and their contained power and momentum had diminished significantly. Clearly, as the battle raged on up to this point, both the Cold Ice Crocodile and Hu Yuan themselves had expended a lot, and the attacks they launched were naturally not as strong as at the beginning of the battle. Such a transformation was a fairly normal phenomenon. Although Demon Beast Race did not have restrictions like human¡¯s spiritual power, relying more on Divine Skills and physical strength in combat, However, the Demon Beast¡¯s Divine Skills were not infinite, and if used repeatedly, their power and quantity would certainly not match their prime. And for humans, excessive consumption of spiritual power has a more significant impact on strength. If depleted, it could weaken them to the point where they would be no stronger than ordinary mortals without cultivation. Thus, both parties¡¯ current strength had declined to varying degrees compared to their peaks. Chapter 689 689 376 The End of the Great War_2 ?Chapter 689: 376 Chapter The End of the Great War_2 Chapter 689: 376 Chapter The End of the Great War_2 Especially Daoist Hu Yuan, who had almost depleted ninety percent of his spiritual power, and consumable treasures like the Second Order Attack Talisman were completely exhausted. Adding to his injuries, the strength he could exert now, I¡¯m afraid, was less than half of his peak level. Knowing this, facing the divine skill attack of the Cold Ice Crocodile, he clearly didn¡¯t have much confidence he could survive. Seeing the ice pillar getting closer and closer, fully aware of the severity of the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s ice pillar, Hu Yuan¡¯s already pale face instantly turned extremely grim. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Hu Yuan let out a sigh, his condition was terribly poor at the moment; he could only try to delay as much as possible, waiting for Lin Tianming to join the fight which would herald their victory. With this realization, Hu Yuan forcibly circulated most of his remaining spiritual power, pouring it all into the defense artifact in his hand, preparing for one final gamble. ... However, as to whether he could block the ice pillar and survive this terrifying attack, he truly wasn¡¯t certain. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The light beam traveled swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it had already descended in front of Hu Yuan. Just then, the sound of tearing through the air could be heard, followed by the appearance of Lin Tianming blocking in front of him. Seeing the arrival, who was none other than the eagerly awaited Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression instantly turned to joy. At that moment, Lin Tianming, gripping the Green Scale Shield in one hand and after infusing it with a vast amount of spiritual power, transformed it into a large shield firmly guarding in front of them both. As the saying goes, in the nick of time, the ice pillars all crashed against the shield. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds continued to rise, and huge waves churned across the surface of the lake. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flushed red, as he held the Green Scale Shield steady. He was well aware that the strength behind him, belonging to Hu Yuan, was limited. If he dodged, given Hu Yuan¡¯s current state, it was highly likely that Hu Yuan would perish there. Although should Hu Yuan die, he could alone claim the three Creation Fruits and the Creation Fruit Tree and wouldn¡¯t need to bear the risk of potential exposure. But after spending several years together, he had found that Hu Yuan was a man of loyalty and righteousness, who had never wronged him or the Lin Family, and had even helped him quite a bit. Such broad-minded, grateful loose cultivators were rare in today¡¯s Cultivation World. Driven by the interest in a Creation Fruit, Lin Tianming, by nature, didn¡¯t want to commit such despicable acts of kicking a man when he was down. Consequently, he exerted his spiritual power to the fullest, standing steadfastly in front of Hu Yuan, refusing to budge an inch. At this moment, his silhouette and actions were etched into Hu Yuan¡¯s vision. He was also keenly aware that he and Lin Tianming were not related by blood or friendship; their partnership was merely a cooperative relationship. Being alone without any clan or power behind him, Lin Tianming could have simply let him fend for himself, a choice that would have brought greater benefits without risk. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, in the face of such interests, Lin Tianming chose not to do so! This act moved Hu Yuan intensely, filling him with admiration and gratitude. Time slowly passed by. Who knew how long it had been when the explosive sounds abruptly ceased. Looking now, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan had been flung into the air by the powerful recoil force. Floating midair, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was pale as snow, his blood churning inside. A trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. Although the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s divine skill, the ice pillar, was terrifyingly powerful, at this moment, its strength was clearly not as formidable as it had been at its peak. Being a dual cultivator of body and law, he hadn¡¯t expended much in the previous battle, and his strength was almost unaffected. Therefore, after taking on the entire ice pillar attack, he had suffered only some internal injuries, and his overall consumption was not significant. As for the Green Scale Shield used to deflect the attack, it had only some cracks; it could easily be restored to its original state with some re-enchantments from Lin Shilu. Once both had regained control of their postures, Hu Yuan coughed up blood in large mouthfuls, a flush of red passing over his pale face. At that moment, he looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s silhouette, with an expression of joy emerging. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Hu Yuan coughed and then bowed in thanks, saying, ¡°Lin, I¡¯m indebted to you for arriving just in time. Otherwise, my life would surely have been lost here!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming waved his hand in response. ¡°You¡¯re overstating it, Daoist Hu. During this grand battle, the time you bought was more than sufficient,¡± Lin Tianming replied. ¡°I also underestimated the strength of these two Cold Ice Crocodiles; the battle was rather lengthy, which is why I arrived a bit late,¡± ¡°Heh¡­ However, despite that, there were no mishaps, which is indeed cause for celebration!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Hu Yuan nodded in agreement, fully endorsing his statement. After this ferocious battle, everyone, including himself, had indeed underestimated the strength of the two Cold Ice Crocodiles. While Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was superior to his, it was still not something that could be done quickly to kill a Cold Ice Crocodile. Thus, it was clear that Lin Tianming had exerted his full strength to arrive in time. Understanding this, Hu Yuan expressed his gratitude, ¡°Lin has made every possible effort, fortunately, the outcome is satisfactory!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming also nodded and then addressed Hu Yuan. ¡°Daoist Hu, there is only this injured Cold Ice Crocodile left; let¡¯s join forces to finish it quickly and avoid prolonged troubles!¡± ¡°Good, Lin can make your move, I will assist you from the side!¡± Having responded, Hu Yuan¡¯s Attack Talisman flashed with Spiritual Light, and he immediately rushed towards the location of the Cold Ice Crocodile. Seeing this, Lin Tianming followed suit, quickly reaching the vicinity of the Cold Ice Crocodile. At this moment, the Cold Ice Crocodile was in the middle of the lake, its huge head sticking out as it glared at Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, a mix of shock and rage in its demeanor. The Cold Ice Crocodile had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and the process of killing its companion. Seeing its comrade killed and Lin Tianming now free to target it, the Cold Ice Crocodile was somewhat panicked. But even more so, it was enraged. At that moment, it wanted to eliminate these two humans right there and avenge its companion. It roared furiously and then launched an attack. In the blink of an eye, the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s huge tail swept towards the heads of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan without regard for its own wounds. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh; if the Cold Ice Crocodile had been at its peak strength, he might have had some reservations. However, it had been wounded by Hu Yuan, its abilities reduced by twenty to thirty percent, so with its weakened Divine Skills, it posed no significant threat. With this understanding, Lin Tianming performed a spell, and his Tiangang Sword flashed with silver light, followed by the release of Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, piercing towards the sweeping tail. Meanwhile, Hu Yuan unleashed several attacks from different directions towards the Cold Ice Crocodile. His Spiritual Power was greatly depleted; although his attacks were weak, they were enough to distract the Cold Ice Crocodile. This was just the assault from the two men; the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox that accompanied Lin Tianming also launched their attacks from various angles. In an instant, the Cold Ice Crocodile found itself besieged from all sides, utterly overwhelmed. Facing the onslaught of two men and two beasts, the Cold Ice Crocodile finally felt immense pressure. However, it understood that Lin Tianming was the greatest threat since he had just killed its companion, and his attack was the most formidable. Therefore, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, the Cold Ice Crocodile locked its sights on Lin Tianming as its target. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± A series of explosions sounded. The Cold Ice Crocodile twisted its body to avoid the attacks from Hu Yuan and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, while the Tiangang Sword collided head-on with its tail, the force repelling the sword. However, the damaging power of the Tiangang Sword was immense, almost severing its tail in one strike. In addition, the red mist spat out by the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox enveloped half of its body, the corrosive nature of it igniting some of its flesh. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± A foul odor spread as the Cold Ice Crocodile howled in pain, its already injured body thrashing violently. With the combined strike of the two men and two beasts, the Cold Ice Crocodile was no match. Especially Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, which nearly severed its tail, exacerbating its wounds even further. If the assault were to continue this way, perhaps in a few rounds of attacks, the Cold Ice Crocodile would inevitably be besieged to death. But even so, it had no room for choice. Lin Tianming had already instructed the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, including keeping Hu Yuan vigilant, to watch every move of the Cold Ice Crocodile, to prevent its escape. In such a situation, it could be said that the Cold Ice Crocodile was trapped, with no escape to the heavens above or the earth below. Chapter 690 690 377 True Face _1 ?Chapter 690: Chapter 377 True Face _1 Chapter 690: Chapter 377 True Face _1 The Cold Ice Crocodile, unable to fight back or escape, seemed to understand its predicament. Indeed, it was just as it seemed! It was already wounded, and its strength was greatly diminished. Here, apart from Lin Tianming, whose strength was overwhelming and who had killed its companion, there were also two Second Order Late Phase Spirit Beasts and a cultivator who had fought with it for a long time. The combined forces of four powerful opponents against a single injured Cold Ice Crocodile essentially left it with no chance of victory. However, before it could even catch its breath, a figure charged at it, fists swinging. This figure moved with astounding speed, and its momentum was like a mountain collapsing and the sea overturning, as if it intended to break through any obstacles. ... Just as the Cold Ice Crocodile was about to raise its claw in retaliation, it suddenly felt a burst of intense pain in its head. It let out an angry roar, wanting to turn over and attack, but its body felt as though it was clamped down by something, and very soon, an even more excruciating pain followed. The source of this unbearable pain was Lin Tianming¡¯s fists. At that moment, he was rolling up his sleeves, punching the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body again and again as if he was tireless. The Cold Ice Crocodile, writhing in pain, frantically rolled its body in a struggle. But Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t give it a chance to breathe; each punch was delivered with full force. With the strength of Lin Tianming¡¯s body, each punch was like a small mountain crashing down from the sky, relentlessly striking the Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s vital points. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, peace was restored to the heavens and earth, and the surface of the lake no longer rippled. Looking around, only two Cold Ice Crocodile corpses could be seen drifting on the lake surface with the wind. At this time, Lin Tianming was standing on the water¡¯s surface, gasping for air, his face alternating between red and pale, seeming somewhat tired. Daoist Hu, similarly, stood frozen nearby, his face deathly pale, his mind still flashing with the scene of Lin Tianming beating the Cold Ice Crocodile. Clearly, the way Lin Tianming had just beaten the Cold Ice Crocodile was somewhat brutal and extremely bloody. This action had completely shocked Daoist Hu, leaving him somewhat dazed. It took a while for Daoist Hu to regain his composure, and when he looked at Lin Tianming again, he couldn¡¯t help but shudder. He even muttered to himself that Lin Tianming was too ruthless! Ruthless toward himself, and even more so toward his enemies! Such a person was truly frightening when making a move, yet they possessed powerful strength. However, upon careful reflection, Lin Tianming was quite a laid-back individual, with a carefree character full of loyalty, and not the treacherous kind. The recent battle was the best example; Lin Tianming did not take advantage of someone¡¯s peril, but instead stood strong without backing down. Realizing this, Daoist Hu¡¯s expression brightened with joy, and respect appeared on his face. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He then bowed to Lin Tianming and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Both of these beasts are finally dead. Lin¡¯s strength really keeps refreshing my knowledge!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Hu¡¯s strength is not weak either, so don¡¯t make fun of me!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh as he waved his hand. Then, changing the subject, he said, ¡°Daoist Hu, now that the two Cold Ice Crocodiles are dead, I will collect their bodies first and then tend to serious matters!¡± As he said this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was flush with excitement. Daoist Hu, on the other hand, was also elated. Thinking of the treasures Lin Tianming had mentioned before the battle, he immediately began to look all around, his breathing becoming rapid. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming had not disclosed the location of the treasure or what it was. Daoist Hu guessed that it was probably at the bottom of the lake, but standing on the lake¡¯s surface, he could not see to its deepest parts with his divine sense. Concerned about Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and his rescue at the last moment, Daoist Hu did not want to search in front of Lin Tianming and cause unnecessary misunderstandings, which would also make him seem petty. Since clearing the battlefield wouldn¡¯t take Lin Tianming long, it was a good opportunity to recover some spiritual power and wait to explore the treasure with Lin Tianming. Understanding this, Daoist Hu nodded to indicate that he would wait on the side, urging Lin Tianming to quickly clean up the battlefield. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and quickly approached the body of one of the Cold Ice Crocodiles. Looking at the still corpse of the Cold Ice Crocodile, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was rosy as he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, beginning to carve up parts of the body. The body of the Cold Ice Crocodile was indeed a valuable item for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After all, the defensive power and attack strength of the Cold Ice Crocodile were astonishing. They had endured so many attacks and yet had survived for so long. Such skin could be excellent material for refining defense artifacts. Its teeth, claws, and long tail were all invaluable materials for artifact refining. In particular, the claws and tail were very suitable for making whips or claw-like attack talismans. If the artifact refiner¡¯s skills were sufficient, combined with some good artifact refining materials, they could even refine Second Order Superior attack talismans. Knowing this, Lin Tianming worked swiftly, with the sharp Tiangang Sword quickly starting to carve. In no time, many parts of the Cold Ice Crocodile were collected, leaving behind a huge empty shell and the large mass of flesh. After cleaning the carcass of the first demonic beast, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pause and began to carve up the second Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body. Like a well-oiled machine, the second Cold Ice Crocodile¡¯s body was soon gathered up. Chapter 691 691 377 True Face_2 ?Chapter 691: Chapter 377 True Face_2 Chapter 691: Chapter 377 True Face_2 As for the remaining flesh of the Cold Ice Crocodile, it contained a lot of energy. After all, it was a Demonic Beast on the verge of reaching the Third Order, even a Bloodthirsty Jiao at the late phase of the Second Order could benefit greatly from consuming it. He planned to collect it for his own Spirit Beasts to consume, hoping it would help them improve to some extent. Understanding this, Lin Tianming used several storage bags to gather all of these items. Afterward, Lin Tianming quickly tidied up the battlefield, erasing many signs of combat. However, the blood in the lake was not insignificant, and it had yet to blend fully with the rest of the water, so it remained somewhat conspicuous. If given time, as the blood mixed thoroughly with the lake water, there would be no trace left. In any case, he did everything he could; the rest would be erased only with time. Having done that, Lin Tianming called over the Bloodthirsty Jiao and instructed it to keep watch as they went down to the bottom of the lake to collect the Fruit of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree. ... Seeing his actions, a somewhat recovered Hu Yuan was excited and seemed eager to proceed. Seeing that, Lin Tianming chuckled, pointed to a spot in the lake, and said to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, the treasure lies at the bottom of the lake!¡± Hu Yuan, already expecting this, urged impatiently. ¡°Heh heh¡­ to avoid a long night full of dreams, let¡¯s hurry down¡­ hurry down¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and spoke to Hu Yuan. ¡°Daoist Hu, the lake beneath us is very deep, and the water pressure is bound to be astonishing. We don¡¯t even know if we¡¯ll be able to reach the bottom and get the treasure!¡± ¡°But with the threat of the Demonic Beasts removed, you can give it a try. If it doesn¡¯t work out, come back to the surface and wait for a while. If I manage to obtain the treasure, I will still honor my promise and share with you a piece of the treasure!¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan thought it over. Lin Tianming seemed very sincere in his words, offering reassurance and not leaving him behind, but instead actively inviting him to join the search. As for the certainty of obtaining the treasure, even Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t sure. If even Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t do it, he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the bottom either. If Lin Tianming were to take the treasure for himself and falsely claim he hadn¡¯t reached the bottom, Hu Yuan wouldn¡¯t be able to verify it. But if that were the case, he had no recourse. Who could blame him for not being as skilled! With insufficient strength, one could only be so passive, ultimately led by the nose without room for any thoughts. However, after giving it some thought, Lin Tianming¡¯s character was quite reassuring. During the great battle with the Cold Ice Crocodile, he could have completely abandoned him. Why would he bother doing more now? With these thoughts, Hu Yuan nodded at Lin Tianming and showed a grateful expression. ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s follow Daoist Lin¡¯s plan. If it doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll have to rely on Daoist Lin!¡± Hu Yuan said with a sincere look and a bow. Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, and without further delay, he leaped straight into the lake. Seeing his movement, Hu Yuan, who was nearby, didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly followed Lin Tianming, splashing into the water from the same spot. The two jumped into the lake, one after the other, Lin Tianming leading the way, surrounding himself with a ball of light created by his Spiritual Power. Immediately afterward, his body began to dive rapidly. In just a few breaths, he had descended hundreds of fathoms. At that point, Lin Tianming, surrounded by the pitch-black water, found his Divine Sense restricted, able to reach out only a hundred or so fathoms, leaving him as blind as a bat. Moreover, as the depth of the dive increased, the water pressure grew extraordinarily strong, making each step downward more difficult than when he had first dived in. Anticipating such a response, Lin Tianming activated his Eye of Five Colors, instantly broadening his vision. After his careful inspection, he found that the lake had a very peculiar terrain, large in area and incredibly deep, resembling a bucket. And the Creation Fruit Tree that he coveted so much stood proudly within the fissures of rocks at the bottom of the lake, one thousand fathoms deep. Such living conditions were not easily discovered by ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Probably only the Divine Sense of Golden Core Cultivators was strong enough to possibly detect it. Or perhaps, it was only possible for someone like him with some rare artifacts to discover it by a fortuitous coincidence. No wonder then that the creation fruit tree had remained undiscovered through several thousand years and dozens of explorations by the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. As the descent reached the depths of eight hundred fathoms, the pressure in the water grew even stronger, nearly squeezing the light shield of spiritual power to the point of breaking. Besides, the immense pressure was actually penetrating the light shield, pressing against his body. At this time, Lin Tianming continuously infused spiritual power to firmly stabilize the light shield. Simultaneously, his blood circulated rapidly, and his skin slightly bulged all over his body, resisting the oppressive force of the water pressure. Just then, Hu Yuan, who was a body¡¯s length behind him, transmitted his voice, indicating that the pressure of the water was too high, and he could no longer support it and had to return to the surface of the lake. Indeed, just as he had expected, Hu Yuan could not withstand the pressure of the lake and gave up on exploring the bottom of the lake together. Regarding this, Lin Tianming had done all that he could, fulfilling his duty. As for Hu Yuan¡¯s own lack of strength, which prevented him from reaching the bottom of the lake to witness the elegance of the Fruit of Fortuity, he could not be blamed. Understanding this, Lin replied with a transmission of his voice and then continued his descent. With the continuous descent, the pressure of the lake water was indeed great, but his body was refined through the Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and the spiritual power he had expended in the battle with the Cold Ice Crocodile was not too much. Fortunately, he had retained some spiritual power; under the current oppressive force, he was still not troubled for the time being. Another half quarter of an hour passed. After a total of a quarter hour of descending, Lin Tianming finally arrived at the depth of the lake bed. The water pressure here was very strong, but Lin Tianming¡¯s physique was astonishing, and he was basically unaffected in his freedom of movement. At this time, he approached the Creation Fruit Tree, feeling elated while also sizing up this legendary treasure. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking around, the Creation Fruit Tree stood tall in the stone crevice on the lakebed; its trunk was silver-white, not very tall, just over a fathom, with sparse branches¡ªmerely three in total. What was more peculiar was that these lone branches didn¡¯t bear even a single leaf. Such a height of this tree, to the myriad of flowers, plants, and trees in the Cultivation World, was merely the height of a small grass. However, in the Cultivation World, with the abundance of Spiritual Plants, it would be foolish to judge treasures merely by their size and appearance. Knowing this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t judge by appearances but viewed it from top to bottom as if admiring a piece of exquisite workmanship. During his inspection, he quickly saw a fruit hanging on each of the three branches. The fruits were silver-yellow in color, completely lustrous and translucent, and despite the spiritual power light shield and the pitch-black lake water, he could still smell a unique fragrance wafting towards him. Merely catching a whiff of it made him feel refreshed, his blood and qi boiling involuntarily within him. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the creation fruits close at hand, his face becoming flushed and his breathing starting to quicken. Even his hands, excited, could not help trembling slightly. This was the true form of the Creation Fruit and its tree! This Creation Fruit, valuable beyond measure, was the treasure that every Foundation Establishment Cultivator dreamed of obtaining. Even for the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, with their legacies spanning thousands, or even tens of thousands of years, such Nascent Soul Spiritual Items like the Creation Fruit were extremely rare. In the Cultivation World, there were many items that could aid in Core Formation, and among the numerous artifacts, the Creation Fruit was one of the best. According to the legends in the Cultivation World, among the known Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, aside from the Golden Core Pill concocted from a multitude of precious Spiritual Medicines, there were no better items for Core Formation than the Creation Fruit. Ever since Lin Tianming entered the Tianfeng Secret Realm, he had been searching arduously for more than half a year, braving who knows how many risks. Finally, he was lucky, having found a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item like the Creation Fruit. Chapter 692 692 378 Treasure Obtained_1 ?Chapter 692: Chapter 378 Treasure Obtained_1 Chapter 692: Chapter 378 Treasure Obtained_1 At that moment, Lin Tianming stepped forward, his hands tremblingly reaching through the barrier of spiritual energy to touch the Creation Fruit Tree. It wasn¡¯t his first encounter with a Core Formation Spiritual Item; years ago in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, he had obtained a Star Moon Fruit. But at this moment, the excitement brought by the Creation Fruit Tree before him was no less than when he had acquired the Star Moon Fruit. After all, this time it was not just one, but three. Even after promising to give one Fruit of Fortuity to Hu Yuan, he would still gain two. What¡¯s more, a transplantable Creation Fruit Tree was worth just as much as the three fruits. With this object, one could say they had the foundation of a Golden Core Family! ... Even if the family had been quiet for years or even completely faded, as long as they had the Creation Fruit Tree, it would only take a few hundred years to acquire three more Fruits of Fortuity. With this item, the family could have a complete chance of rising again. And the two fruits that belonged to him could potentially create two Golden Core Clan Members. And he would be one of them! When it concerned his own path, now that he had the assurance to break through to the Golden Core Stage, how could he not be thrilled? In that context, the gains from this time were truly substantial. Not just for him personally, but for the entire Lin Family, it could completely multiply the family¡¯s foundation several times over. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was inwardly very excited, his face brimming with a thick smile. Once he finally calmed his excited feelings, he did not delay any longer and began to put the three Fruits of Fortuity into the prepared Jade Box. Soon, the three Fruits of Fortuity were taken down. Holding the Jade Box with the Fruits of Fortuity, it felt surprisingly heavy in his hand. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked determination, nor was it lack of ambition, but indeed, the value of these three fruits was immense. If word got out, even the old timers from the Three Great Golden Core Sects of Wei Kingdom would throw caution to the wind and compete for them. But the more it was so, the more cautious he needed to be. After all, the two Fruits of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree were too important for the Lin Family. Even though the Lin Family had been prospering over the years, with the number and overall strength of the clan members soaring. Especially the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, which was nearly twenty, and Lin Shikang, who had the highest cultivation, was currently secluding himself in an attempt to breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. But since the outbreak of the beast tide began, with third-order spiritual beasts from Zhenyang Sect dying on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, a shadow had been cast over the family, constantly reminding the upper echelons of the urgency of time. And these two Fruits of Fortuity might just be the glory the Lin Family needed to get through the crisis. Bringing his thoughts back, Lin Tianming lovingly looked at the Fruits of Fortuity a few more times before putting away the Jade Boxes. Next, he swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, striking the crevices beneath the Creation Fruit Tree. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The sharp Tiangang Sword penetrated the rock, and Lin Tianming, exerting full strength, cleaved off a small piece of stone, revealing a small portion of the root system. It was indeed strange that such a treasure managed to grow in such a harsh environment. The stones beneath the Creation Fruit Tree seemed ordinary, yet they were so hard that despite his physical strength added to the sharpness of the Tiangang Sword, it took so much effort to cut off just a small piece. If he hadn¡¯t looked carefully and known that this stone was not some high-order ore, he almost thought it was some kind of treasure. However, even if it were just an ordinary object, continuing in this way, uprooting the Creation Fruit Tree with its roots intact would still take considerable effort. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t mind this, as it was unlikely that anyone else could find this place, let alone enter here. There was still some time before the end of the Secret Realm, and he had all the time he needed. With this realization, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword swung repeatedly, cutting through the rocks before him. After half an hour. The bottom of the lake was a mess, with a large number of stones scattered around, and the Creation Fruit Tree was nowhere to be seen. Having exerted considerable effort, he finally stored the Creation Fruit Tree in his storage bag. The life force of the Creation Fruit Tree was incredibly strong, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have survived in such an environment. He was very careful when collecting it, the roots were intact and undamaged, and he also collected a good amount of the surrounding soil and stones. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All he needed to do was return to the Clan, transplant it into the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden as soon as possible, spend some Spirit Stones to gather Spiritual Energy and take good care of the tree until it stabilized, then he could be completely at ease. After completing these tasks, Lin Tianming was excited and opened the Eye of Five Colors to search around. The bottom of the lake had given birth to a Creation Fruit Tree; there might be other good things around. However, he was being a bit too greedy. The mere appearance of a Creation Fruit Tree at the bottom of the lake was already incredible; how could there be other treasures? Once he confirmed that there was nothing there, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and began to ascend. Above the surface of the lake. At that time, Hu Yuan¡¯s gaze was fixed on the center of the lake, looking slightly nervous and expectant, as if waiting for some treasure to appear. Hu Yuan, who had returned midway, had stayed here, not daring to move an inch, always aware of every move in the center of the lake. One could understand his anxiety because when Lin Tianming emerged, he might carry the treasure he had mentioned. While he didn¡¯t articulate it clearly, a little guesswork suggested that this object was likely a Core Formation Spiritual Item. Such an item, no Foundation Establishment Cultivator would dare to take lightly. Chapter 693 693 378 Treasure Acquired_2 ?Chapter 693: Chapter 378: Treasure Acquired_2 Chapter 693: Chapter 378: Treasure Acquired_2 ¡°` Even the True Disciples of the three Great Sects would not be able to ignore a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. As such, this thing is crucial as to whether Hu Yuan can advance further on his cultivation path; it is inevitably very important. And his nervousness, his concern for the item, is also within reason. Time passed unnoticed, and with bubbles surfacing at the center of the lake, waves began to spread outward from the middle. Noticing this change, Hu Yuan¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he quickly made his way to the location of the bubbles. As more and more bubbles appeared, the figure of Lin Tianming soon emerged. Descending to the bottom of the lake had been difficult, but returning was much smoother. ... In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lin Tianming had returned to the surface of the lake. Seeing the newcomer, Hu Yuan eagerly greeted him, and although he did not speak, his face was completely overtaken by his anxious and eager mood. In this situation, Lin Tianming merely smiled gently and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, mission accomplished!¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and a Jade Box flew out of his hand, heading straight for Hu Yuan. Seeing this object, Hu Yuan¡¯s breathing quickened and, no longer caring about appearances, he grabbed the Jade Box to inspect its contents immediately. Soon after seeing the Fruit of Fortuity inside the Jade Box, Hu Yuan¡¯s face flushed with excitement, and his breathing became even more rapid. ¡°Fruit of Fortuity!¡± ¡°I never expected it to be this¡­ Hahaha¡­ This time my luck is excellent¡­ truly excellent¡­¡± Hu Yuan was visibly excited, his speech growing incoherent. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianming said nothing to interrupt him, and simply stood quietly aside. After a while, Hu Yuan put the Jade Box away and also regained his composure. Yet the delighted smile on his face was proof of his mood at the moment. At this instant, when Hu Yuan looked back at Lin Tianming, his expression was filled with awe and gratitude. He was very apprehensive before, worried that Lin Tianming might not be able to reach the bottom of the lake, or even concerned that he might hoard the treasure for himself. But now, with the invaluable Fruit of Fortuity in his storage bag, all his worries dissipated as matters settled. This great turnaround left him somewhat in disbelief. Fortunately, everything happened for real, and the Fruit of Fortuity was genuinely present. With this item, once he leaves the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and finds a safe place, he may close off the world and cultivate. If all goes well, it is entirely possible that within a few years, he could reach the long-desired Golden Core Stage. Just thinking about these prospects, Hu Yuan could no longer suppress the agitation in his heart, becoming extremely excited. Over the course of a cup of tea, he finally managed to calm down from his excitement. Looking at the silent Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan gave a respectful bow with clasped hands, performing a deep salute. Then, embarrassedly, he said, ¡°Lin, I apologize for making you witness such a display!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ it¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand to indicate it was no issue and to not worry about such things. ¡°To speak the truth, I owe a great debt to Lin, without you, it would not have been possible for me to find such an opportunity!¡± Hu Yuan¡¯s words were very sincere, and his attitude extremely respectful, not at all presuming his own strength was greater despite being two levels higher in cultivation. Such heartfelt words indeed confirmed his thoughts before the opening of the Secret Realm. Lin Tianming is a person of great fortune; being with someone like this, he too was subtly influenced. In fact, the experiences over the past six months had validated his decision. Thinking this, Hu Yuan felt relieved about his own decision making. When Lin Tianming heard Hu Yuan¡¯s words, he too nodded in satisfaction, harboring no undue thoughts over a single Fruit of Fortuity. In his heart, Hu Yuan was seen as a fairly easygoing person, one of sentiment and integrity; as long as he fulfilled his promises without remorse, that was enough. Not just towards Lin, but others as well¡ªonly by building a good network of connections could the Lin Family face less difficulty in case of trouble, with friends ready to help. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt no pang of regret over the lost treasure. This mindset was very comforting, leaving him deeply contemplative. ¡°` Hu had taken all factors into consideration, and at last Lin Tianming addressed Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, please do not mind these trivial matters, after all, you have also made significant efforts during this period, and this Fruit of Fortuity is indeed something you deserve!¡± ¡°Moreover, I am merely keeping a promise. Should the Lin Family, or I, encounter difficulties in the future, I hope that Daoist Hu will lend a helping hand if it is within your power, so that my taking this risk was not in vain!¡± Before the echoes of these words had faded, Hu Yuan bowed with his hands clasped together and replied with determination, ¡°Rest assured, Lin, I will certainly remember your kindness. Should I be fortunate enough to step onto the Golden Core Path, I will surely repay the Lin Family!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Very well!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response to this, and then swiftly changed the subject to more pressing matters. ¡°Daoist Hu, now that we have obtained the treasure, our goal for entering the secret realm has been fully achieved. What are your plans going forward?¡± Once Lin Tianming had asked this, Hu Yuan fell into deep thought. Lin Tianming did the same. In his heart, before this, he had already obtained the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, quite a lot of Third Order spiritual medicine and ore, along with the Purple Gold Eagle Clan, and his harvest was already rich enough. Even if he had left the secret realm before this time, it would not be too regrettable. And now, having secured two Fruits of Fortuity, as well as a Creation Fruit Tree, the rewards of this trip were truly overflowing. In fact, these gains had far exceeded the expectations he had prior to entering the secret realm. However, there were still over two months left before the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. This span of time wasn¡¯t particularly long, but it wasn¡¯t short either. If they were to be cautious, they could find a safe place to practice closure cultivation and conveniently spend this remaining time. That would also prevent any further risks and avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, bearing significant treasures and to then perish here because of the final two months of adventure would mean all the treasures would be gone in vain, evidently an unwise loss. But securing an opportunity to enter the secret realm was truly not easy, and the next opening would not be for another two hundred years. It could be said that missing this chance meant no further opportunities to enter again. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With over two months left, if they were lucky enough to find a few more Third Grade Treasures, it would represent an ideal situation. Currently, the Lin Family had limited Third Order treasures at their disposal. Once Lin Shikang succeeded in his Impact of Golden Core Stage, both he and Lin Shilu would also need to practice closure cultivation. Once the number of Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the Lin Family increased, their demand for resources would double, and ordinary items would scarcely be of use to Golden Core Cultivators. Considering this, if they were to choose to avoid battle now, wasting away the final moments, that too would seem regrettable. Thinking of these matters left Lin Tianming quite conflicted. On the other hand, Hu Yuan, after much deliberation, decided it would be more prudent to proceed cautiously. He was a Loose Cultivator after all, and the most critical matter at the moment was to break through to the Golden Core Stage; other concerns were less significant. If successful, it wouldn¡¯t be too much trouble to spend some time and energy finding more treasures. But if he failed, no matter how many Third Grade Treasures he found, they would be of no use, rendering the endeavor completely meaningless. Therefore, Hu Yuan still planned to find a safe place for closure cultivation and to use up the last of his time. Having made this decision, Hu Yuan spoke to Lin Tianming, ¡°Lin, the rewards from this journey are sufficient, and only by preserving our lives to make it out can there be opportunities to contend for more possessions once we¡¯ve stepped onto the Golden Core Path.¡± Though Hu Yuan did not explicitly state it, his meaning was clear. And upon hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming fell silent for a moment. Soon, after considering the situation, he too felt that what Hu Yuan had said made sense. If they had only acquired one Fruit of Fortuity, both Lin Shilu and he would need it in the short term. No matter how he considered it, allocating that one Fruit of Fortuity would be quite difficult. Given the situation, he might have risked searching for another Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. But having acquired two fruits, along with the even more valuable Creation Fruit Tree, taking any more risks would indeed be foolish. Considering all this, Lin Tianming also came to a decision: to follow Hu Yuan¡¯s opinion, to find a place for closure cultivation first, and to wait for the day when the secret realm closed. Once Lin Tianming was certain of his thoughts, he no longer dwelled on the matter and promptly discussed it with Hu Yuan. In a short while, the two reached a consensus. Subsequently, after gathering their belongings, they flew off in one direction and eventually vanished from the original spot. Chapter 694 694 379 The Three Sects Gather ?Chapter 694: Chapter 379: The Three Sects Gather Together_1 Chapter 694: Chapter 379: The Three Sects Gather Together_1 Two days later. In a certain valley of the secret realm, the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan appeared. Since leaving that lake, the two had smoothly made their way to this location. This was a place they had passed before, and because of its complex geography and topography, it was also very concealed, making it an excellent refuge. Since it was familiar territory, they could make use of it for closed-door cultivation, avoiding aimless wandering like headless flies, which could attract unnecessary troubles or even unknown dangers. After all, the goal of closed-door cultivation was to pass the days safely. With this in mind, the two quickly remembered this valley and successfully arrived here. ... At this moment, as they looked at the familiar valley, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were in good spirits, their faces always brimming with smiles. ¡°Lin, that place is not bad; how about we open up a temporary cave abode here?¡± Hu Yuan pointed to a depression deep in the valley and said with a smile. Lin Tianming looked in the direction Hu Yuan was pointing and thought that Hu Yuan was indeed a loose cultivator at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, who had spent years traveling to various places in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World; his vision was truly unique and sharp. This place was surrounded by mountains on three sides, and there was a narrow passage in the depths of the valley that cut through the mountains, very concealed; almost impossible to find without reaching the entrance. There was also a large river that flowed through the entrance, followed by an expansive open area with no visible end. Such a location was indeed perfect for a cave abode, as it would allow them to quickly leave in case of any disturbance. Since this place was so suitable as a temporary cave abode, he naturally had no objections. Having made up his mind, he chatted idly with Hu Yuan for a few moments before they each chose a spot to start digging. In less than half an hour, the two had dug out their cave abodes, then gathered together again. Then, Hu Yuan cupped his hands towards Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Lin, I have left the Purple Gold Eagle at the entrance of the valley as a guard so we can cultivate in peace.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that using Hu Yuan¡¯s tamed Second Order Initial Stage Purple Gold Eagle as a guard was quite suitable. If the demonic beast left behind was too strong, it would instead attract stronger demonic beasts and cultivators, who might think that something incredibly valuable was hidden here. After all, the cultivators who could enter the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm were at least at the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment and above. With their level of strength, they weren¡¯t likely to find anything valuable in the den of a Second Order Initial Stage demonic beast. So they probably wouldn¡¯t be interested in taking action. Given that the Purple Gold Eagle was fast and could hide high in the sky to provide early warning in case of danger, and with some warning restrictions in place, they could be alerted in advance. If they weren¡¯t facing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was much too powerful, or a Third Order Demon Beast, they were unlikely to be threatened. Knowing this, Lin Tianming naturally did not oppose Hu Yuan¡¯s suggestion. After chatting a bit more and confirming some protective details, they each entered their cave abodes. Sitting in the cultivation room, Lin Tianming was calm and did not immediately enter the cultivation state. He was still somewhat excited at heart, his face revealing a satisfied smile. It was truly a huge gain, and he had yet to calm down after so long. Now that he had found a place for seclusion, all he needed to do was wait for the time when the secret realm would close, and he could leave this place to return to his clan. Thinking of the Clan Leader and the other elders of his generation seeing the two Fruits of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree, what kind of expressions would they have? They would surely be shocked at first, followed by uncontrollable joy! Every time he pictured these wonderful scenes, Lin Tianming became somewhat impatient. However, there were still more than two months left, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless before returning to his clan. Only after returning to his clan¡¯s territory could he be completely safe. Understanding this, Lin Tianming steadied his mind, waited until he had fully calmed down, and then began his cultivation. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, two months passed. Now, there was only half a month remaining until the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm closed. That day, in a valley within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, the figures of dozens of cultivators appeared, forming three groups of people, each standing on a mountaintop. At a glance, each group wore uniform attire with the embroidered patterns on the chest of their daoist robes indicating their identities. Clearly, these people were disciples from Zhenyang Sect, Myriad Medicine Valley, and Golden Sword Sect. Among them, several cultivators in distinctive outfits mingled within, appearing quite conspicuous. These uniquely dressed individuals were the loose cultivators or family cultivators who had broken away from various battlefields. Among them was Zheng Xiao, sitting alone behind the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, silent. At this moment, the three groups of cultivators gathered together, all staring in the direction of the interior of the valley with odd expressions on their faces. Among them, only seventeen disciples from Zhenyang Sect were still here, nearly losing over half of their number. And Li Xiuyuan, Long Qingshui, Jun Buhui, and others familiar to Lin Tianming, all led the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, and when they looked towards the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, there was a sense of anger in their expressions. Not only the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, but the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley here only numbered twenty-two, who were sitting centered around Yang Chen. When they looked at the disciples of Golden Sword Sect, their reaction, though not as intense as the disciples of Zhenyang Sect, also appeared quite grim. Apart from the two great sects¡¯ cultivators, the disciples of Golden Sword Sect here outnumbered the other two factions, reaching a total of twenty-five. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 695 695 379 Gathering of the Three Sects_2 ?Chapter 695: Chapter 379 Gathering of the Three Sects_2 Chapter 695: Chapter 379 Gathering of the Three Sects_2 It is evident, following this nearly year-long journey through the Secret Realm, that the disciples of the three Great Sects have all suffered losses to varying extents. However, what is unexpected is that the overall strength of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples is not the strongest, yet the number of disciples who have survived is actually the highest among the three Great Sects. It is truly incomprehensible! One wonders what they have experienced during this period? At this time, although the situation between the three parties is tense, when they converged together, they did not show any intention of initiating combat. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The main reason for their mutual restraint must be something in the valley. As expected, following the sounds coming from within the valley, the cultivators from all three sides rushed into the inner part of the valley at the same time. ... Behind them, several Loose Cultivators also joined the ranks of the three Great Sects, heading towards the valley. A short while passed. Dozens of cultivators arrived at the depths of the valley, stopping on a mountaintop, each wearing a solemn expression. Following their gaze, about a thousand feet away on the ground opposite them, a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python was coiled within a pit. Its body, spanning more than twenty zhang, was curled into a circle with its massive head raised; meanwhile, a pair of blood-red eyes shot out a fierce light, angrily staring at the people present, seemingly infuriated by their disturbance. However, taking into account the mature Jiuli Star Fruit behind it, the Fire Scale Python did not act rashly. After all, this Jiuli Star Fruit tree had been under its guard for six hundred years, solely for the purpose of swallowing the fruit to make further progress. Having waited so long for the fruit to finally ripen, it naturally would not allow Human Cultivators to get their hands on it. On the opposite side of the Fire Scale Python, upon seeing such a formidable Demonic Beast, the crowd was somewhat frightened, but they did not have any intention of retreating. Clearly, they had gathered here at the same time and had voluntarily entered the valley, surely in pursuit of some treasure, to willingly take such a risk. In fact, that was indeed the case. This valley was a known treasure land, containing a Jiuli Star Fruit tree that had been growing here. Since its discovery by people from the three Great Sects, more than a few thousand years had passed. And the Jiuli Star Fruit was a Third Order Spiritual Fruit, capable of increasing by 30% the chances of breaking through to the Golden Core stage, making it one of the well-known Nascent Soul Spiritual Items in the Cultivation World. It turns out that the effects of this fruit and the Fruit of Fortuity were nearly identical, both being among the best of the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. The difference lies in the fact that more fruits can be produced from the Jiuli Star Fruit, with a growth cycle of six hundred years per maturity, which is a hundred years longer than that of the Fruit of Fortuity. More crucially, the Jiuli Star Fruit tree cannot be transplanted. Otherwise, the cultivators who discovered it would have long since uprooted it and taken it back to their Sect to claim the credit. As for the secret of the Jiuli Star Fruit tree being here, the higher-ups of the three Great Sects are all aware of it. Six hundred years ago, by the account of the previous time of maturation, today was the day the Jiuli Star Fruits matured. In the two previous openings of the Secret Realm, despite the high-ups of the three Great Sects being aware of the Jiuli Star Fruit¡¯s existence, no one had sent their disciples to visit this place. Under such circumstances, the disciples of the three Great Sects would not have gathered here right before the Secret Realm closed, were it not for the condition of the imminent maturation of the Jiuli Star Fruit. And the cultivators of the several Great Sects, who arrived just in time, were certainly acting under the instructions of the Sect Elders, specifically to collect the Jiuli Star Fruits and take them out of the Secret Realm. After all, such Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are tremendously tempting for the three Great Sects. Even when considering the overall strength of the three Great Sects, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are exceedingly scarce, and they would naturally not let go of a known treasure, nor would they give up the struggle for it. With this goal in mind, the surviving cultivators of the three Great Sects gathered here, obviously preparing to make a move on the Fire Scale Python. As for such an action, six hundred years ago, the disciples of the three Great Sects had also undertaken it once. And this time, the disciples of the three Great Sects were still divided into three groups, coming together for the same purpose. At this very moment, every person from the three sides was extremely grave, obviously intimidated by the Fire Scale Python. In the group from the Golden Sword Sect, the leader Chen Jianbin appeared calm, discussing something with his fellow Sect brothers. On the other side, the leaders of the two Great Sects, Myriad Medicine Valley was headed by the powerful Yang Chen, while Zhenyang Sect was led by He Xin of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. At this moment, they were similarly engaged in silent transmission with their sect brothers about something. A moment as brief as the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed. Chen Jianbin of the Golden Sword Sect glanced at the cultivators of the other two Great Sects before he took the lead to speak. ¡°Daoist Yang, Daoist He, we have all seen the Fire Scale Python, and it has reached the standard of a Third Grade Medium Stage.¡± ¡°Given the strength of this Demonic Beast, why don¡¯t we set aside our prejudices and deal with the beast first? How does that sound?¡± No sooner had his words fallen than He Xin of the Zhenyang Sect, with an angry expression, snorted coldly and said mockingly, ¡°Daoist Chen speaks as if it¡¯s such an easy matter. On this expedition to the Secret Realm, a great number of our disciples have died at your hands. ¡°Hmph¡­ don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve been discreet, I am unaware of your deeds.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jianbin also sneered mockingly before replying, ¡°Hmph¡­ without evidence, Daoist He, you should not slander recklessly!¡± ¡°You should know that this is the Secret Realm, the Demonic Beasts here outnumber all three of our sects combined many times over, and their overall strength far surpasses ours. It is not so strange for some fellow cultivators to fall here.¡± ¡°Take our Golden Sword Sect, have we not also lost several brothers here? What have I said of it?¡± ¡°Furthermore, even if disciples of the two sects fought over treasures and suffered casualties, such occurrences are unavoidable, life and death are predestined, and if one lacks the strength and gets killed, one cannot blame others!¡± His words made He Xin¡¯s face turn extremely somber. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you¡¯re full of shit!¡± Pointing at Chen Jianbin and after grumbling for a long while, He Xin couldn¡¯t come up with a rebuttal and could only curse. Chen Jianbin¡¯s series of statements left He Xin speechless, his entire being was like a furious beast. Just then, Long Qingshui from behind He Xin, unable to contain his anger, pointed at Chen Jianbin and retorted. ¡°Chen Jianbin, including those from Myriad Medicine Valley, the majority of our fallen comrades died at your hands.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that without concrete evidence we would remain clueless, stop your sophistry!¡± Long Qingshui¡¯s words indeed had an effect. Hearing this, Yang Chen, the leader of the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s team, also had his expression darken. In fact, he had his suspicions too, judging from the traces left on the battlefields of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s fallen disciples, it was highly likely the doing of the Golden Sword Sect Disciples. However, with the dead being gone and no witnesses, the traces alone were not enough to point the finger at the Golden Sword Sect. Besides, the loss of their forces was still within expectations. Therefore, even though he was suspicious, since the Jiuli Star Fruit had not yet been obtained, he refrained from completely tearing off the mask of civility. At this moment, Long Qingshui of the Zhenyang Sect had made a pun, bringing the contradictions to light during such a time. For the sake of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s dignity, if he did not suppress the overbearing arrogance of the Golden Sword Sect, it would be too disgraceful. What¡¯s more, the Golden Sword Sect had more surviving disciples, and their overall strength was subtly beginning to surpass that of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s disciples. You should know, Myriad Medicine Valley entered the Secret Realm with thirty-one cultivators, having the most in number and strongest in overall strength. It took half a year for them to regroup, and by then, only a little over twenty remained, and those who had not rejoined the group were most likely killed in the conflicts among cultivators. Later, when hunting for treasures, they suffered more losses and ended up as the team they were now. If they were to lose too many forces in the process of encircling the Fire Scale Python, they might truly be no match for the Golden Sword Sect when it came time to compete for the Jiuli Star Fruit. Realizing this, Yang Chen quickly made up his mind. That was to form an alliance with the weaker disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, to curb the movements of the Golden Sword Sect disciples, and strive for the greatest benefit. ¡­ Chapter 696 696 380 Nine Stars Extermination ?Chapter 696: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_1 Chapter 696: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_1 Making up his mind, Yang Chen glanced at the smug Chen Jianbin and then spoke. ¡°Hmph¡­ It would be wise for Daoist Chen to forego this opportunity!¡± ¡°Otherwise, do not blame me and my fellow disciples from the Zhenyang Sect for joining hands to annihilate all of you right here!¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing these words, Chen Jianbin was unconcerned, and instead responded with ridicule. ¡°Hehe¡­ This Fire Scale Python is a powerful being at the medium stage of the Third Order, its strength is undoubtedly terrifying.¡± ¡°A Third Order Demon Beast like this, is the highest-level one we¡¯ve encountered since the discovery of the Jiuli Star Fruit tree.¡± ¡°Not to boast, but without the addition of my Sect¡¯s brothers to your group, just the combined forces of your two Sects thinking of annihilating this Fire Scale Python is wishful thinking.¡± ... After saying this, Chen Jianbin let out a ¡®hehe¡¯ laugh, then changed the subject. ¡°Hehe¡­ I wonder what the Sect Leader and the Great Elders will think when everyone returns empty-handed? How will they punish you for your incompetence?¡± Hearing Chen Jianbin¡¯s words, the faces of Yang Chen and He Xin turned pale, seemingly caught in a tight spot. As for the Cultivators of both Sects, their expressions were indeed unsightly. Although each of them was seething with anger, they were unable to come up with a retort. They were also aware that all the Demonic Beasts previously encountered when collecting Jiuli Star Fruits were at the early stage of the Third Order. But this time, a Fire Scale Python of medium stage of the Third Order had appeared. In truth, this Fire Scale Python held the highest realm among the Demonic Beasts they had encountered thus far, its strength surely beyond imagination. If the disciples from the three Sects united sincerely, relying on the treasures bestowed by the Elders of their Sects, they might still have a fighting chance. But if any side among the three Sects were to withdraw their forces, this treasure hunt would end in failure for all. If they really reached that point, as the leaders of the team, it would indeed be difficult to explain to the Sect Leaders and the Elders. Although with their talent and cultivation, their lives were not at risk, punishment was indeed inevitable. Beyond that, if they failed to complete this mission, the Sect would lack better Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. These items might not be highly attractive for a Golden Core Cultivator themselves, but they were deeply connected to them. If they couldn¡¯t obtain these Jiuli Star Fruits, their opportunity to advance to the Golden Core Stage would be significantly postponed. Moreover, they might only be able to rely on the most ordinary Core Formation Spiritual Items to aid their advancement to the Golden Core Stage. The effect, of course, couldn¡¯t be compared with that of the Jiuli Star Fruit. Not only that, the Sect¡¯s supply of ordinary Core Formation Spiritual Items was extremely limited. Without these Jiuli Star Fruits, a fierce competition amongst dozens of disciples at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage would be inevitable. Indeed, these Jiuli Star Fruits were incomparably important for the Sect, and for them personally. Yang Chen, as the leader of the Myriad Medicine Valley, had managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm in just over forty years, breaking the centuries-old record of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World with his extraordinary talent. A genius Cultivator like him, how could he be a fool? And he was naturally very clear about the importance of the Jiuli Star Fruits. Thinking of the interests at stake and seeing Chen Jianbin¡¯s smug expression, Yang Chen felt furious inside, yet managed to not let it burst forth. In his eyes, Chen Jianbin wasn¡¯t as important as the Jiuli Star Fruits. And on further consideration, the immediate priority was indeed how to obtain the Jiuli Star Fruits, not the time to trouble the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. However, once their goal was achieved, there would be no harm in dealing with them then. Realizing this, Yang Chen forcefully calmed himself down, then offered a light smile in an attempt to play the mediator. ¡°Daoist He, Daoist Chen does make some sense. Now let¡¯s all set aside our prejudices and obtain the Jiuli Star Fruits first, there will be time later!¡± Upon hearing this, He Xin¡¯s expression became even uglier, but he also understood the reason in Yang Chen¡¯s words. Respecting Yang Chen¡¯s face, he swallowed his pride to avoid further embarrassment. Even if there was no immediate plan to take action, he still had to put on an angry front. ¡°Hmph!¡± Seeing this, Yang Chen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, quickly trying to mollify everyone. ¡°Let¡¯s calm down for the sake of successfully acquiring the treasure, everyone, cool off!¡± Having said this, he then secretly sent a message to He Xin, suggesting they join forces to act against the Golden Sword Sect after successfully obtaining the treasure. At this proposal, He Xin¡¯s face finally showed some relief. As for their expressions and rapid change in attitude, Chen Jianbin just smiled indifferently, showing no abnormal reaction. However, in his heart, he sneered, as if seeing right through the thoughts of Yang Chen and He Xin. ¡°Hmph¡­ Don¡¯t think you can deal with us just by joining forces, only to regret it when you make your move!¡± While Chen Jianbin silently mumbled to himself, his expression remained as calm as in the beginning, much more pleasant than when he was imposing earlier. Meanwhile, Yang Chen and He Xin were still feeling rather pleased with themselves. Little did they know that their schemes had already been seen through by Chen Jianbin, who had his own plans regarding them. But for now, as tempers had cooled on both sides and the previous disputes were put aside, the urgent task was to continue their cooperation. In such circumstances, the people from the three parties calmly discussed how to deal with the Fire Scale Python. Sometime later, it seemed they had reached a consensus. Following that, they wasted no time, immediately launching their assault on the Fire Scale Python. Soon, a fierce battle began, with an exceptionally intense scene unfolding. Looking around, various attacks poured out from all directions, targeting the Fire Scale Python. Chapter 697 697 380 Nine Stars Extermination ?Chapter 697: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_2 Chapter 697: Chapter 380: Nine Stars Extermination Formation_2 ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with vibrant, colorful hues as various Second Order talismans and Spirit Detonation Beads rained down incessantly. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the Second Order Late Phase, all outstanding disciples from the three Great Sects, naturally possessed considerable wealth and value. With their methods, when so many of them joined forces, their attack formation was incredibly fierce. Yet even so, the Fire Scale Python seemed quite disdainful. Facing the barrage of attacks, it hardly took care, as the densely packed scales on its body were its best defense. So many attacks bombarding the Fire Scale Python¡¯s scales only left some marks. ... Even the Spirit Detonation Beads, a huge threat to the lives of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, caused limited damage to the Fire Scale Python, merely some minor wounds. This bit of damage was insignificant, and for the defensive power of the Fire Scale Python, it was as if nothing had happened. In the face of this barrage, the Fire Scale Python let out a hiss, and its tail swept across with extreme speed. Not only that, its Third Grade Medium Stage rank, comparable to a Human Golden Core Cultivator, just its powerful presence alone was enough to suppress many cultivators. Under such conditions, the cultivators¡¯ strength was suppressed, many of their attacks weak, unable to have much effect. Only those at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level could inflict a bit of damage to the Fire Scale Python, relying on their more robust spiritual power or stronger magic artifacts. However, so far, it was only some damage after all. In the blink of an eye, the siege battle had already lasted for a quarter of an hour. Under the countless bombardments of consumable treasures, even the Fire Scale Python with its heaven-defying defensive power began to sustain some injuries. By now, the Fire Scale Python was extremely angry, harboring a killing intent for the human cultivators before it. ¡°Hiss, hiss, hiss¡­¡± With several hisses in succession, the Fire Scale Python opened its massive mouth, spewing out a vast amount of flames, swooping toward the cultivators in front of it. As soon as the flames appeared, they moved incredibly fast, rapidly covering a large area. Moreover, the moment the flames appeared, the temperature between heaven and earth suddenly increased, and the trees around the battlefield couldn¡¯t withstand the high heat, starting to burn. Seeing these terrifying flames, the more observant cultivators immediately understood that this was clearly a Divine Skill attack from the Fire Scale Python. The Divine Skill attack of a Third Order Demon Beast, in terms of power and speed, was something they had never witnessed before. Suddenly, the cultivators were thrown into chaos, with some of the more composed ones starting to flee in all directions immediately. Cultivators like Yang Chen, Chen Jianbin, and He Xin sensed the lethal danger right away and had swiftly dodged before the Fire Scale Python could launch its Divine Skill attack. Some of the cultivators present, varying in strength and experience, failed to evade in time, and several Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivators were engulfed by the sea of fire. In an instant, a series of horrifying screams echoed non-stop. After the flames gradually subsided, looking around, only a few charred skeletons remained, scattered haphazardly on the ground. Their deaths were tragic; the flesh of their entire bodies turned to ash by the fire, leaving behind only complete skeletons, still charred and blackened. This gruesome scene turned every observer pale, and the morale immediately plummeted to rock bottom. Seeing this, Yang Chen and several other Sect leaders spoke up to boost the spirits of their fellow sect members. With the reassurance from the three, the group¡¯s morale finally began to recover. At this moment, Yang Chen glanced at Chen Jianbin and the others, then said, ¡°Fellow sect members, fellow Daoists, there¡¯s no need to hold back anymore. This demon beast¡¯s strength is too formidable; we must make use of the treasures given to us by the Sect Leader!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jianbin was the first to express his stance. ¡°Daoist Yang is right; this beast is too powerful. Even without retaliating and merely enduring our attacks, with our measly abilities, we probably won¡¯t be able to kill it even if we fought all day,¡± he said. ¡°Given these circumstances, we must utilize the trump cards prepared by our Sects!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, even He Xin, who had significant issues with Chen Jianbin, nodded in agreement and then added his own statement. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we should put aside our hidden agendas. We must work together and not hold back anymore!¡± ¡°Right¡­ Let¡¯s do it!¡± Yang Chen and Chen Jianbin, speaking in unison, then waved their sleeves, each taking out a treasure. He Xin, too, was not slow to act, producing an item in his hand. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the treasures Yang Chen and his companions each pulled out were three small flags, along with a water-blue Array Plate. Looking closely, the aura of the flags and the Array Plate was extraordinarily powerful; they were actually the tools for a Third Order Great Array. Then, Yang Chen looked at the items before him, shouted loudly, and threw the three flags into the air. Seeing his action, Chen Jianbin and He Xin were not to be outdone. They also tossed the three flags in their hands into the air, repeating the same motions as Yang Chen. The instant they completed these actions, all the flags suddenly vanished into the void. This speed was impossible to track; even the Fire Scale Python failed to react in time. Without hesitation, the three of them continuously struck the Array Plate in their hands with several Law Decrees. Simultaneously, they murmured incantations, clearly activating the Third Order Formation. Soon after, the Array Plate shone brightly, and a forceful aura descended from the heavens, quickly forming a huge light dome that enveloped the Fire Scale Python. In an instant, before the Fire Scale Python could react, the Third Order Great Array was successfully deployed. The reason for this smooth implementation was that the formation had been practiced many times. Moreover, this place had been frequented by the Great Sects, and Array Eyes had been laid here long ago. The Nine Stars Extermination Formation was a joint effort of the three Great Sects, crafted to suit the special environment of this place, made at no small cost. The control of this formation through the nine flags and the Array Plate was divided among the three Great Sects in three parts. Once activated together, they could be used to combat the Demonic Beasts that appeared here. In such circumstances, the team leaders of the three Sect¡¯s cultivators who entered this place only needed to coordinate with these Array Flags and the Array Plate for quick deployment. As for this formation, its notoriety had spread over thousands of years, with many a Third Order Demon Beast meeting its demise under its assault. For the Human Cultivators of the three Great Sects that entered this area, this was their mightiest asset. True enough, once the Fire Scale Python felt the oppressive force, it immediately became somewhat frantic, seemingly very wary of the formation. It let out an angry hiss and then swung its tail, aiming a strike at the light dome made by the formation. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± A series of explosions rang out, and the formation¡¯s light dome shook violently. But after several simultaneous Law Decrees from Yang Chen and the others, a surge of blue light flashed over the light dome of the Nine Stars Extermination Formation. In an instant, the aura of the formation climbed even higher, quickly reaching a terrifying level. At that moment, witnessing this sudden appearance of the Array, they became horrified, clearly unaware that the formation left by the Sects was so formidable. Under their watchful eyes, as the formation¡¯s aura peaked, countless ice orbs appeared within the light dome, raining down upon the Fire Scale Python. At a glance, the ice orbs spawned by the formation were potent; each orb¡¯s power could at least match that of a Spirit Detonation Bead, and even surpassed it considerably. Not only that, but the number of ice orbs was dense and numerous, falling like hail in the formation¡¯s attack. The only difference was that these ice orbs were much larger than regular hailstones, and the destructive power was worlds apart. At this point, the Fire Scale Python, feeling the bombardment of the ice orbs, seemed to sense a deadly threat. It angrily opened its mouth to spit out a vast expanse of flames, forming a huge fiery cloud above its head, directly blocking the attack from above. As the fiery cloud appeared, those who had seen the might of these flames outside the formation were tense, concerned that the Python might neutralize the formation¡¯s attack. ¡­ Chapter 698 698 381 Breaking the Formation_1 ?Chapter 698: Chapter 381: Breaking the Formation_1 Chapter 698: Chapter 381: Breaking the Formation_1 ¡°` ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Countless ice balls bombarded the flame clouds above. In an instant, the sky erupted with earth-shattering noise, and the entire canyon trembled violently. Inside the formation, the flame clouds resisted for a moment, blocking this round of ice balls, before they gradually dissipated, eventually fading into nothingness. But before it could catch its breath, a new wave of ice balls gathered together, quickly forming in a short time, and then bombarded it relentlessly. Witnessing the endless ice balls within the formation, showing no sign of stopping. Having experienced the formidable power of the formation, the Fire Scale Python finally felt the threat of death and dared not take any chances. ... At this moment, watching the ice balls form clouds overhead, the Fire Scale Python was filled with both shock and rage. It wanted to dodge, but the formation tightly trapped it; despite attacking furiously several times with its body, it failed to break through the encirclement. It finally understood that the place it had guarded for hundreds of years was actually a deadly prison. But by now, such understanding was obviously too late. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The countless ice balls that had gathered in the sky came crashing down, and the scene was utterly terrifying. Faced with this horrific attack, the Fire Scale Python, feeling utterly helpless, could only open its mouth again and spew out many flames, firmly blocking the space above its head. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The familiar explosive sounds rang out again, shaking the land that had just regained a moment of peace. This strike was still evenly matched; many ice balls were blocked, and the flames also disappeared without a trace. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As this strike ended, Yang Chen and the others wore solemn expressions, their hearts also shaken. Others might not understand, but as the controllers of the Nine Stars Extermination Formation, they knew the formation¡¯s weaknesses all too well. One must know that in the Cultivation World, whether it¡¯s formations or some simple prohibitions, there¡¯s always a limit to their energy. Once consumed to a certain level, the energy of the formation becomes less and less, and the defensive power it can exert, even the Third Order Great Array¡¯s offensive power, will be weakened to a certain extent. In fact, if the consumption reaches the limit, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for the formation to collapse outright. Under such circumstances, the ice ball attacks within the Nine Stars Extermination Formation, and even its defensive capability, were not infinite. With these two consecutive rounds of ice ball attacks blocked by the powerful Fire Scale Python, the formation¡¯s energy had obviously dropped a lot. If a few more rounds of ice ball attacks still couldn¡¯t change the situation, then their predicament would become difficult. Understanding this, Yang Chen and He Xin couldn¡¯t help but start to worry. Not only him, but even the arrogant Chen Jianbin was extremely shocked, feeling a sense of fear inside. ¡°Sss¡­¡± With a hiss rising, Yang Chen and the others were pulled back from their reverie. Then, He Xin from the Zhenyang Sect was the first to speak. ¡°Daoist Yang, this creature is too strong. If the formation continues to consume energy like this, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be long before it collapses.¡± ¡°If it really comes to that, we¡¯ll all be in danger!¡± He Xin¡¯s words were clear to Yang Chen and Chen Jianbin; their understanding was as clear as a mirror. But even if they understood, they didn¡¯t have any good solutions. After all, the Demonic Beast was too strong; no one dared to enter the formation alone, let alone go toe to toe with it. However, Yang Chen¡¯s brow furrowed as if he had noticed something. ¡°Fellow Daoists, although the formation¡¯s energy consumption is large, and the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills are strong, these terrifying Divine Skills attacks are not endless either.¡± ¡°We have consumed a lot, but the Fire Scale Python is also depleting its energy; perhaps it¡¯s struggling as well!¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jianbin and He Xin recalled the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills attack and indeed noticed that the power of the flame clouds seemed somewhat diminished. It seemed that the Fire Scale Python might indeed be pushing itself to the limit. If that¡¯s the case, once the Fire Scale Python depletes its Divine Skills, relying solely on Physical Strength, its threat would be greatly reduced. Without the formidable Divine Skills attacks and relying only on Physical Strength, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s strength would inevitably decrease significantly. With so many Cultivators present, the possibility of jointly killing the Fire Scale Python was not out of reach. Thinking of this, Yang Chen and the others felt a weight lifted off their shoulders and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Yang Chen looked at the Fire Scale Python within the formation and turned to He Xin and the others, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s perform two more rounds of formation attacks to greatly deplete the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills.¡± ¡°If we find that the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills attack power is greatly weakened, we will join forces and try to see if we can seriously injure it.¡± ¡°Good¡­ very good!¡± He Xin was the first to respond, showing a ready-to-follow attitude. Although Chen Jianbin did not state his position directly, he understood that this method was indeed prudent. After all, the Nine Stars Extermination Formation was their greatest reliance and could not be overly depleted. If they could injure the Fire Scale Python by joining forces and then combining it with the formation attacks, it would be possible to inflict heavy damage on the Fire Scale Python. It was even possible to kill it on the spot. Understanding this, even though Chen Jianbin and Yang Chen did not get along, they had to cooperate. Thus, the three of them quickly reached a consensus. With the plan settled, Yang Chen and the others quickly began to implement it. For a while, the ice balls within the formation condensed, and the powerful attacks continued to descend relentlessly. ¡°` Chapter 699 699 381 Formation Broken _2 ?Chapter 699: Chapter 381: Formation Broken _2 Chapter 699: Chapter 381: Formation Broken _2 At this moment, the Fire Scale Python was also feeling a mix of shock and fury, forcibly drawing upon its Divine Skills to attack, seeking to buy itself some time. In the blink of an eye, two rounds of Ice Ball attacks had concluded. As expected, the further the battle went, the less powerful and numerous the flames summoned by the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills became. And by the end of the last round of Ice Ball attacks, some wounds had appeared on the Fire Scale Python¡¯s body, and its breath had noticeably weakened. It seemed that the rounds of Formation attacks had taken effect, not only greatly draining the Fire Scale Python¡¯s Divine Skills but also injuring it. Seeing this situation, just as they had anticipated, Yang Chen and the two others were immediately thrilled. After calming down, they followed the plan and paused the Formation¡¯s Ice Ball attacks, focusing all their strength on defense. ... Then, the three of them took the lead, with the fellow sect disciples swiftly following up, releasing countless attacks that passed through the Formation¡¯s light screen and poured down on the Fire Scale Python. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky within the Formation displayed a myriad of colorful attacks, with various talisman papers and Spirit Detonation Beads coming one after another. For this attempt to harvest the Jiuli Star Fruit, their Sects had really splurged, providing some top disciples with many consumable treasures to deal with unforeseen needs. Now, they no longer intended to hold back, planning to strike while the iron was hot and further expand their victory. With such resolution, the Cultivators¡¯ round of attacks was even more fierce than the first. And this time, the Fire Scale Python couldn¡¯t respond as calmly as it did at first. After all, it hadn¡¯t been injured then, and it hadn¡¯t expended much energy, its strength was at its peak. As attacks covered the sky coming for it, though the Fire Scale Python was seething with anger, it wasn¡¯t about to sit and wait for death. As the attacks drew closer, with a sweep of its tail, the long tail that caused massive waves directly smashed a large amount of attacks to pieces. Although these Second Order Attack Talismans were relied upon by Foundation Establishment Cultivators and were considerable in their level of battles, they couldn¡¯t do much against a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python. Therefore, the Python made no attempts to dodge and chose to face them head-on. In fact, it wasn¡¯t by choice; the range covered by the Formation was too small for its massive body, leaving it very limited space to move. Not only that, with over sixty Cultivators all activating various consumable attacks, once they struck within the Formation, the density of the attacks was terrifying. Under such conditions, even if it wanted to dodge, its large body couldn¡¯t avoid getting hit at all. However, the regular talisman paper attacks weren¡¯t powerful enough to pose a real threat. But the attacks from Yang Chen and Chen Jianbin still posed a significant threat. After all, these were Cultivators at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and they were amongst the elite of the Great Sects¡¯ disciples. There were even rumors that Yang Chen had once sparred with an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Although there was no detailed account of the battle, the fact that he could withstand several rounds of attacks from a Golden Core Cultivator without injury proved the strength of such Genius Cultivators. And there were over a dozen of such Great Perfection Cultivators here, although not every one of them had the same strength as Yang Chen, the damage they could inflict was still formidable. As a result, after several rounds of combined Cultivator assaults, even the impressive defensive power of the Fire Scale Python couldn¡¯t withstand their relentless barrage. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, the battlefield briefly fell into silence, and the sky regained some of its usual colors. Looking over, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s body was disheveled and riddled with numerous wounds, and many scales had fallen off onto the battlefield. And its breath had weakened even more, a stark contrast from its peak of disdainful invincibility. Through the Cultivators¡¯ combined exhaustion, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s condition deteriorated, and injuries kept accumulating on its body. At this moment, the Fire Scale Python understood its situation, realizing there was no hope in stubbornly resisting the Formation¡¯s attacks. If it continued to stay here, it would be like a frog being boiled in warm water; it still wouldn¡¯t change the inevitable deadly outcome. In dire straits, it unleashed an astonishing power. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A massive flame burst out from the Fire Scale Python¡¯s mouth, quickly condensing into a fireball. The fireball wasn¡¯t large, but its temperature was terrifyingly high, instantly raising the surrounding temperature to an extreme level. Seeing the fireball, Yang Chen and his two companions trembled, hurriedly unleashing the Ice Orbs attack from the Nine Stars Extermination Formation, hoping to destroy the Fire Scale Python¡¯s fireball attack. In the blink of an eye, numerous Ice Orbs converged, assaulting the Fire Scale Python. Just then, the Fire Scale Python directly propelled the fireball, not towards the Ice Orbs in the sky but rather at the Formation barrier. This unexpected move caused Yang Chen¡¯s group to tremble with confusion coloring their faces. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The fireball condensed first and launched first, striking the Formation barrier at an unbelievable speed. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud crash resounded. A streak of red light flashed over the Formation¡¯s light shield, followed by violent trembling of the light screen. In less than a breath¡¯s time, the light screen shattered, and the Nine Stars Extermination Formation was unexpectedly broken. The three controlling the Formation, sharing a connection of minds, instantly spat out mouthfuls of blood as their faces turned deathly pale and their breaths weakened. And just as the Formation¡¯s light screen was broken, the large number of Ice Orbs condensed by the Formation crashed down, instantly engulfing the Fire Scale Python. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, a flash of blue light passed by, blinding the watching cultivators for a moment. At the same time, several screams sounded in succession. When everyone¡¯s vision cleared, they found the Fire Scale Python writhing and hissing in agony on the ground. Upon closer inspection, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s body was riddled with bloody holes, with many places piercing through it, exposing organs. And the blood had already seeped from the holes, turning the already red skin even redder. It was clear that the Ice Orbs attack that formed when the Formation broke had heavily injured the Fire Scale Python, greatly diminishing its strength. The Fire Scale Python had risked its life to withstand the blow in order to break free from the Formation¡¯s restraint and escape. In its desperate situation, its risky move was fraught with peril but indeed achieved its objective. While the cultivators were still in shock, the Fire Scale Python charged at them, its massive tail sweeping across. Without the restraint of the Formation, it was unrestrained and had to exterminate these humans to quell its rage. With this purpose, even though the Fire Scale Python was gravely injured and deprived of Divine Skill attacks, its sheer physical strength was still terrifying. The Fire Scale Python was fast, its long tail sweeping across, instantly locking onto several Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators. ¡°Quick, dodge!¡± Yang Chen and his group were the first to recover their composure, promptly warning their fellow Sect brothers to avoid the frightening attack. Upon hearing this, several Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators tried to dodge, but before they could get far, four at the eighth and ninth level of Foundation Establishment were hit by the tail. In an instant, their bodies flew like kites with broken strings, flung hundreds of feet away before crashing to the ground. On closer look, it was evident that their bodies were a bloodied mess, one was even bisected, and life had obviously left them. And those who had narrowly escaped with their lives steadied themselves, faces pale as snow, inwardly rejoicing at their good fortune for being farthest away and having escaped successfully thanks to their swifter speed. If they were a moment slower, their fate would have been the same or even more tragic. The bloody scene that unfolded instantly subdued everyone present. On the battlefield, Yang Chen, observing his dead companions, wore an expression as dark as could be. At that moment, filled with anger, he inwardly cursed, ¡°You beast, there are others you could trouble, yet you had to mess with us Myriad Medicine Valley disciples!¡± Chapter 700 700 382 Fight of the Trapped Beast _1 ?Chapter 700: Chapter 382: Fight of the Trapped Beast _1 Chapter 700: Chapter 382: Fight of the Trapped Beast _1 Yang Chen felt rather helpless about the situation. After all, there were fifty to sixty cultivators present, with a significant number of people from all three camps. Why did the Fire Scale Python not trouble the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and instead went after them? Was Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s luck really that bad? But the fact was that their luck indeed couldn¡¯t be worse. The overall strength of Myriad Medicine Valley was the strongest at the beginning, but as they searched for treasures and underwent trials, inexplicably many had fallen. When they arrived here, there were still over twenty people alive, and their overall strength could compete with that of the Golden Sword Sect, which had the most people, or at least not fall behind. But now, after this battle, seven of their sect members had already died at the hands of the Fire Scale Python. ... Only fifteen were left, which put their numbers on par with that of the Zhenyang Sect, which initially had the fewest people. In contrast, the Golden Sword Sect had been lucky throughout the battle, losing only one disciple, leaving them with as many as twenty-four people remaining. Such a comparison only highlighted the widening gap in numbers. Thinking of this, Yang Chen felt furious. If it weren¡¯t for the immense strength of the Fire Scale Python, which made it impossible for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators to subdue it, he would have reason to suspect that someone from the Golden Sword Sect had sabotaged them. At this time, as he saw Myriad Medicine Valley suffering heavy losses, Chen Jianbin could not help feeling a little schadenfreude observing Yang Chen¡¯s livid expression. In his eyes, the overall strength of the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples was indeed formidable, and their leader, Yang Chen, represented the ceiling of Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s power. As for him, who was also at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, he had entered the realm earlier than Yang Chen and had a few more years to consolidate his power. Even so, he was quite wary of the man. Now, seeing the overall strength of Myriad Medicine Valley further weakened, he felt even more confident about executing his plan. Just as Chen Jianbin was reveling in his secret joy, a sharp hissing sound brought everyone back to reality. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The Fire Scale Python attacked once more, charging towards the position of the Golden Sword Sect disciples with its massive body. Seeing this, Chen Jianbin, who had just been taking pleasure in others¡¯ misfortune, suddenly had a drastic change in complexion. ¡°You beast courting death!¡± After shouting, Chen Jianbin¡¯s attack magic artifact flashed, and a golden light burst forth from his hands, unleashing an astonishing Sword Qi towards the oncoming Fire Scale Python. His move immediately alerted everyone. Immediately after, all Golden Sword Sect disciples took action, displaying a multitude of attack methods. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± More than twenty Golden Sword Sect cultivators, all at the eighth and ninth level of Foundation Establishment, launched a joint attack that was earth-shattering. Taking a lesson from the fate of the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, those who survived did not dare to separate from the main group and stayed close together. Doing so not only allowed them to attack together, but in facing the severely wounded Fire Scale Python, they also had some means to retaliate. This was precisely what the Golden Sword Sect disciples were doing. They unleashed a barrage of attacks, colliding head-on with the oncoming Fire Scale Python. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A myriad of attack techniques struck directly against the scales of the Fire Scale Python, instantly causing sparks to fly. The Golden Sword Sect disciples were decisive, and the combined force of their attacks was potent. And the already severely injured Fire Scale Python, despite its reduced strength and their preparedness, only managed to injure two Golden Sword Sect disciples before it was temporarily repelled. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following this counterattack, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face darkened as he looked at Yang Chen and others who remained indifferent, and he could not help but scold them. ¡°Daoist Yang, He, what do you mean by this?¡± ¡°Our Golden Sword Sect disciples are under attack, and you just stand by and watch?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, when that beast attacks you next time, we might as well just stand by and watch, too!¡± Hearing this string of reproaches, Yang Chen quickly responded with a forced laugh, ¡°Daoist Chen, calm down, the beast attacked so swiftly, we simply didn¡¯t react in time!¡± Upon hearing this far-fetched excuse, Chen Jianbin was somewhat angry, but they had responded in time, and the damage inflicted by the Fire Scale Python was very limited, not severely affecting their overall strength. Moreover, for the sake of his own plan, now was not the time to fall out with the two great sects. Understanding this, he forcibly calmed himself down and then led his sect disciples aside, keeping a safe distance. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°If you still intend to collect the Jiuli Star Fruit, then join forces quickly to kill it. Otherwise, we¡¯ll each rely on our abilities, and I won¡¯t waste my time here with you!¡± Chen Jianbin said with a dark expression, exerting pressure on Yang Chen and the others. At this moment, upon hearing Chen Jianbin¡¯s words and seeing his serious demeanor, Yang Chen smiled indifferently and promptly took a stand. ¡°What Daoist Chen says makes sense!¡± ¡°The Nine Stars Extermination Formation has been broken. If we can¡¯t kill this beast and bring the Jiuli Star Fruit back to our sect, we¡¯ll surely be punished by the Sect Leader!¡± ¡°Therefore, let¡¯s not hold back any longer, and immediately make a move to kill this beast, lest we allow for further complications!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than He Xin also voiced his agreement on the other side. ¡°Daoist Yang is right. Since things have come to this, let¡¯s not hide our capabilities. Let¡¯s take action quickly!¡± Hearing the words from Yang Chen and He Xin, the angry Chen Jianbin¡¯s complexion seemed to improve a bit. Then, pretending to be angry, he said, ¡°I know you have items like the Fake Golden Core Talisman or Third Order Attack Talisman.¡± ¡°I hope going forward, no one plays dirty. Bring out whatever means you have, or else I won¡¯t accompany you in wasting time!¡± Chapter 701 701 382 Battle of the Cornered Beast_2 ?Chapter 701: Chapter 382: Battle of the Cornered Beast_2 Chapter 701: Chapter 382: Battle of the Cornered Beast_2 Hearing this, Yang Chen and He Xin, whose ploy Chen Jianbin saw through, gave an awkward smile. They hadn¡¯t expected Chen Jianbin to be so direct, not only clearly recognizing their trump cards but also openly disclosing them. But on second thought, it wasn¡¯t surprising. After all, the three parties had encountered each other quite a few times in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and had a certain understanding of each other¡¯s way of doing things. Being team leaders of their respective groups, entering this dangerous secret realm, it was natural for the sects to bestow some treasures upon them to cope with unforeseen dangers. In fact, that was precisely the case. Both Yang Chen and He Xin had a number of Fake Golden Core Talismans and a Third Order Defense Talisman in their possession. And as the team leader of the Golden Sword Sect disciples, Chen Jianbin surely had his share of valuable treasures, at least no fewer than theirs. Knowing this, Yang Chen and the others naturally would not underestimate any party. ... ¡°Hiss¡­¡± While the three parties were shifting blame and dragging their feet, the Fire Scale Python launched another assault. This time, the Fire Scale Python once again targeted the disciple from Myriad Medicine Valley who had just been severely injured, seemingly perceiving this team as an easy target. Seeing this, Yang Chen, infuriated and alarmed, immediately shouted at the top of his lungs. ¡°Everyone follow me!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Chen swiftly moved as if borne by the wind, taking the lead towards the direction of the Golden Sword Sect disciples. The Myriad Medicine Valley disciples followed him closely, stopping only when they reached the side of the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Seeing the move by the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also did the same, positioning themselves at the two sides of the Golden Sword Sect cultivator group, one on the left and the other on the right. Yang Chen¡¯s actions were clearly indicative of his mistrust in Chen Jianbin, fearing that his own camp taking the initiative could lead to excessive consumption of their strength, putting Myriad Medicine Valley at a disadvantage. He Xin and the others were quick to react, upon noticing Yang Chen¡¯s behavior, they followed suit. Such behavior was clearly an indication of their distrust towards the Golden Sword Sect disciples, determined to drag everyone into the fray. Seeing their actions, Chen Jianbin, who still had some scheming in mind, looked displeased. However, since he had already agreed to joint action and mutual support earlier, the somewhat abrupt actions of Yang Chen and the others, although improper, were not exactly blameworthy. At this moment, the Fire Scale Python, having lost its target, immediately turned direction and shot towards the large group. Seeing a large number of people ready for battle, it didn¡¯t hesitate at all and launched an attack without pause. At this time, the Fire Scale Python seemed not to understand how many tricks these humans had up their sleeves, nor did it comprehend their grudges and grievances. As a Third Grade Medium Stage monster, a being that trod mightily throughout the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it had been severely wounded by a group of weak cultivators using formations. This was infuriating to it, and it sought to exterminate all these menacing Human Cultivators. With this objective in mind, the Fire Scale Python furiously initiated its attack, its tail thick as a water tank sweeping across. A series of crackling explosion sounds erupted, the powerful force shattering the air itself. Facing the ferocious assault of the Fire Scale Python, Yang Chen and others showed signs of panic, as their magic artifacts flashed with light, launching an attack in hurried defense. The cultivators behind them also struck in unison, a deluge of talisman paper and sword qi materializing and bombing the Fire Scale Python relentlessly. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of explosions continued to sound. The cultivators¡¯ attacks tore through the void, clashing hard against the Fire Scale Python with its tough hide, the sparks from their powerful impacts soaring into the sky. For a moment, the ground itself shook, and the heavens were cloaked in a multitude of dazzling colors. After one strike, the cultivators from the three sides were thrown into disarray by the powerful surges. Despite being gravely injured, the Fire Scale Python¡¯s strength was indeed formidable, its defensive power astonishing. Ordinary attacks could hardly pose a lethal threat to it. Seeing the Fire Scale Python advancing once again, Yang Chen shouted loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, use your trump cards, otherwise we¡¯ll never be able to kill it!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ strike together!¡± After Chen Jianbin and He Xin simultaneously responded, they each slapped their storage bags and pulled out two Fake Golden Core Talismans. The two exchanged a glance, then applied a Law Decree, and the Fake Golden Core Talismans in their hands suddenly flashed with light. Suddenly, several streaks of Sword Qi appeared in the sky. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon close inspection, the fluctuations of this Sword Qi were enormous, evidently much stronger than ordinary attacks. After all, it was a Fake Golden Core Talisman, comparable to a strike from a Golden Core Cultivator, naturally not something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could match. As the two pulled out their Fake Golden Core Talismans, Yang Chen wouldn¡¯t fall behind either. He likewise sent out two talismans and immediately activated them. In an instant, six powerful streaks of Sword Qi coalesced in the sky and hovered steadily above everyone¡¯s heads. The commotion they caused was significant, and naturally, the Fire Scale Python noticed it. Seeing these streaks of Sword Qi, it finally felt a fatal threat. Although they were not as powerful as the ice orbs within the Sword Array, they were enough to inflict further injuries on it. Yang Chen and the others would not waste time, knowing that once the precious Fake Golden Core Talismans were activated, there was no turning back. Even though they were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and the Sect had given them quite a few life-preserving trump cards, the consumables of the level of Fake Golden Core Talismans were still very limited. They wouldn¡¯t use them unless it was absolutely necessary. Now, in order to complete the mission assigned by their Sect, let alone a few Fake Golden Core Talismans, even stronger methods wouldn¡¯t be met with any hesitation. Moreover, this was for the Jiuli Star Fruit, crucial for their advancement to the Golden Core Stage, so using up these talismans wouldn¡¯t cause them any heartache at all. Understanding this, the three of them did not hesitate to activate them. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The six Sword Qi streaks tore through the sky, turning into several bolts of lightning, and in a blink of an eye descended right above the Fire Scale Python¡¯s head. The aura of the six Sword Qi was sharp, their powerful momentum earth-shattering, clearly intent on slaying the Fire Scale Python right there and then. Confronted with this terrifying Sword Qi, the Fire Scale Python wouldn¡¯t foolishly clash with it head-on. After all, it could ignore ordinary attacks from the cultivators, but these were precious Fake Golden Core Talismans, treasures that any Foundation Establishment Cultivator would consider prized possessions. If it were only one such treasure, it might not be too wary. But with six Fake Golden Core Talismans turning into an assault, if it were to take them all on, even a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python could face the peril of perishing there and then. Realizing this, the Fire Scale Python, with its injured body, moved nimbly. However, the six Sword Qi came from different directions, and from any angle, it could not avoid the attacks. The Fire Scale Python hesitated for a moment, then chose to charge towards a direction where only one Sword Qi was attacking. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The Fire Scale Python selectively took on one Sword Qi, its tail with astounding defensive power moved swiftly, striking the approaching Sword Qi head-on. After a burst of sparks, the Sword Qi from the Fake Golden Core Talisman dissipated, and the Fire Scale Python temporarily broke free from the encirclement of Sword Qi. The timing and angles of the three¡¯s attack were very good, further exacerbating its injuries. Gazing upon it, a deep wound appeared on the Fire Scale Python¡¯s tail, further impacting its strength. However, it hadn¡¯t even caught its breath when it suddenly felt three more powerful forces rising to the heavens. Seeing this commotion, the Fire Scale Python was both shocked and enraged, sensing a fatal crisis. At that moment, it had no intention of seeking revenge; it just wanted to leave this place and save its life. As for the Jiuli Star Fruit that could have helped it grow further, it was willing to forsake it, after all, precious as that fruit was, it couldn¡¯t compare to its life. The Fire Scale Python, with its high spirit wisdom, made up its mind in an instant and hastily tried to flee. But Yang Chen and the others, who had been preparing for a long time, each activated a Third Order Attack Talisman, seamlessly connecting to the Fake Golden Core Talisman attack that had just held the Fire Scale Python back. After such tremendous effort and vast expenditure of precious treasures, how could they allow it to slip away? The three, with a clear target and without any reservations, did not hesitate to activate the Third Order Talismans. In an instant, three attacks tore through the void, their speed reaching extreme levels, striking towards the Fire Scale Python from three different angles. Chapter 702 702 383 Traitor_1 ?Chapter 702: Chapter 383 Traitor_1 Chapter 702: Chapter 383 Traitor_1 At that moment, the Fire Scale Python had just darted out more than ten zhang when a powerful Sword Qi struck its head. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A painful hissing sound was heard. Immediately thereafter, the massive body of the Fire Scale Python writhed in agony, instantly crushing the surrounding rocks and stones with its bulk. Not only that, blood stained a vast area, with half of the python¡¯s head severed by the Sword Qi. This strike further aggravated the already severely wounded Fire Scale Python. Now, its strength had drastically declined, and its Divine Skills attacks were exhausted, which was utterly insufficient to withstand the joint attacks of the cultivators present. Realizing this situation, Yang Chen and his companions were overjoyed and took the lead, accompanied by many fellow sect members, to besiege, intending to annihilate the cornered Fire Scale Python right there. ... ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with a multitude of attacks, with dozens of cultivators swarming from various places, launching ferocious assaults. In an instant, the further wounded Fire Scale Python was attacked from all sides, unable to resist, followed by continuous pitiful cries. Seeing no escape, the Fire Scale Python, enduring its injuries, gradually became frightened and panicked, and finally went completely mad. In its dire straits, it endured the attacks of the cultivators while dragging its grievously wounded body and madly swung its tail in a desperate stance. Regrettably, it had already been too severely injured and its strength was greatly eroded; under such an onslaught, it could no longer withstand the siege of the cultivators. However, being a Third Grade Medium Stage formidable being, even its disorderly attacks still exacted a heavy toll on the group of attacking cultivators. Time slowly ticked away. After half an hour, the chaotic battlefield gradually calmed down. Looking around at that time, the entire battlefield was a mess, with the fresh blood of the Fire Scale Python mingled with that of the human cultivators, which had already dyed the ground red. On the ground, there were also numerous bodies of cultivators; their sect affiliation was identifiable by their robes, with several from each of the three Great Sects, including Loose Cultivators, two of whom had fallen in this great battle. In a corner of the battlefield lay the massive body of the Blood Scale Python, with many scales having fallen off, and the charred body riddled with wounds, presenting a shocking sight. With such injuries, the Fire Scale Python lay motionless on the ground, clearly without any sign of life. As for the survivors, the cultivators began to gather around their respective leaders the instant the Fire Scale Python ceased breathing. At this time, their faces were pale, some still alive but bearing varying degrees of injuries. Gazing at the lifeless Fire Scale Python, they panted heavily, appearing greatly fatigued. Clearly, in their effort to kill the Fire Scale Python, the three parties had made significant sacrifices. Not to mention the consumables like Second Order Talismans and Spirit Detonation Beads, just the Fake Golden Core Talismans alone, over a dozen had been used up. Besides, the more valuable Third Order Defense Talisman was used by all three parties¡ªone each¡ªto ultimately tip the scales against the Fire Scale Python, securing the final victory. It can be said that this battle was extremely dangerous, and the cost to the cultivators was no small matter. However, all things considered, despite the high price paid, they had joined forces and killed a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python and were now close to obtaining the coveted Jiuli Star Fruit. Now that the biggest challenge to their mission had been eliminated, being able to leave the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm alive was the greatest fortune. Not only that, but having fought to the death for an entire year, whether or not they obtained the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they were all set to receive considerable rewards. With this understanding, the surviving cultivators were elated, and smiles of relief finally appeared on their faces. However, it wasn¡¯t the final day yet, and anything could happen. With the Fire Scale Python slain, the cooperation between the disciples of the three sects came to a temporary halt; they all knew very well that under the temptation of the Jiuli Star Fruit and the Fire Scale Python corpse, anything was possible. For that very reason, Yang Chen and the others kept a distance from each other, warily watching the other cultivators, especially casting wary looks at the disciples of Golden Sword Sect. Yang Chen¡¯s reaction was entirely within Chen Jianbin¡¯s expectations. He too glanced at Yang Chen, then at He Xin and others, with a trace of a sly smile flickering across his face. At this moment, the three parties remained silent, making no further moves, ignoring the priceless corpse of the Fire Scale Python in front of them, as well as the Jiuli Star Fruit not far away. All the cultivators reacted in such a manner, seemingly wary of each other. After some time had passed, He Xin turned his head to look at Yang Chen not far away, their eyes meeting, Swiftly, the two came to a further consensus on the views they had reached before the great battle. And Chen Jianbin watched every glance and gesture between them. In response, he simply smiled indifferently, seemingly unconcerned about their scheming. This was because at the current battlefield, Golden Sword Sect still had the most survivors, with their twenty-two people clearly holding an absolute advantage over the fourteen from Myriad Medicine Valley and the eleven disciples from Zhenyang Sect. Even if the other two sects were to join forces, they would only outnumber Golden Sword Sect by three people. This numerical difference did not constitute a decisive advantage at this level, and besides, Chen Jianbin had his own plans in the shadows, which could turn the tide at a critical moment. Chapter 703 703 383 Traitor_2 ?Chapter 703: Chapter 383 Traitor_2 Chapter 703: Chapter 383 Traitor_2 Understanding these key factors, Chen Jianbin was very calm and planned to strike first. Having made up his mind, he glanced at Yang Chen and the few cultivators behind He Xin. Sensing his gaze, and the implicit meaning behind it, strong spiritual power fluctuations suddenly emerged in the crowd at the same time. In that instant, Yang Chen felt an intense murderous intent. He quickly turned his head to look and discovered that a fellow sect disciple had attacked him from behind. Not only that, another disciple and a recruited loose cultivator also launched attacks on the two nearest fellow sect disciples. These people had gathered together, and the distance between them was very short, merely a few yards apart. ... Previously, seeing Chen Jianbin¡¯s confident and composed demeanor, Yang Chen suspected that he might have some hidden measures. Therefore, he was extra cautious and always prepared for an emergency. However, such a close distance attack, even if they were prepared, would still make it difficult for them to react in time. Not just for the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley, He Xin, who was in the same realm, found himself in a similar situation at that moment. Among the crowd from Zhenyang Sect, Zheng Xiao and another Zhenyang Sect cultivator also took action. Zheng Xiao launched a sneak attack on the nearest Zhenyang Sect disciple, and the other, standing close to He Xin, attacked immediately after exchanging a glance with Chen Jianbin, aiming a deadly talisman directly at He Xin¡¯s vital parts. In a moment of urgency, He Xin twisted his body, and a blue protective light shield suddenly appeared around him. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, He Xin¡¯s light shield held up for an instant, and then shattered with a bang. Immediately after, there was a pained grunt from He Xin as the attacking disciple¡¯s strike pierced through his arm, the powerful force knocking him back and causing him to crash heavily onto the ground. He cried out in agony and then struggled to rise from the ground. And the light blue jade pendant in his hand shattered, ultimately turning to dust and drifting away. This jade pendant was a protective artifact specially given to him by the sect leader, capable of activating in an instant to form a shield to block attacks. If there was enough time, it could even withstand a common strike from a Golden Core Cultivator. However, the disciple who ambushed him was too close, and before the jade pendant could fully activate, he shattered it with a direct blow, severely injuring He Xin in the process. As for the other cultivator, he was not as fortunate, lacking an artifact like the jade pendant for protection, he failed to react in time and was fatally struck by Zheng Xiao¡¯s sneak attack. At this moment, He Xin, who had just narrowly escaped death, hadn¡¯t had the time to grieve over the loss of his defensive treasure. The other Zhenyang Sect disciples were all enraged with indignation, Long Qingshui and Li Xiuyuan quickly came over and anxiously inquired about He Xin¡¯s condition. Seeing that He Xin was only severely injured and his life was not in immediate danger, Long Qingshui and the others finally let out a sigh of relief. Right after, Long Qingshui glared at the two attackers, his expression filled with uncontrollable anger and his face extremely grim. ¡°Junior Brother Li, Fellow Daoist Zheng, why have you done this?¡± As for the attackers, Li Zhiyao and Zheng Xiao had already left the Zhenyang Sect group and had joined up with Chen Jianbin and others. Hearing Long Qingshui¡¯s accusation, Li Zhiyao calmly smiled and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ Long Daoist Friend, have you not yet understood?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Xiao on the other side laughed and chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ we have long abandoned the dark and sought out the light, pledging ourselves to the Golden Sword Sect, and remaining in the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s ranks was simply for today¡¯s action!¡± Upon hearing this, He Xin was overwhelmed with anger, and blood sprayed forth from his mouth. ¡°You two traitors have been lurking for such a long time!¡± He Xin was incensed; Zheng Xiao¡¯s betrayal could somehow be justified, as he was a loose cultivator with no ties to the Zhenyang Sect, nor had he received any favors from them. But it was different with Li Zhiyao! This man, since being discovered to have a Spiritual Root at the age of ten, had been cultivating within the Sect, and over a hundred years, had reached the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm, even becoming a True Disciple of Wang Hengqiu, counted among the elite disciples of the Zhenyang Sect. With Li Zhiyao¡¯s natural talent and cultivation, he wasn¡¯t considered among the top ranks of the many disciples in the Zhenyang Sect. The reason he was allowed to enter Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was also taking into account his status as Wang Hengqiu¡¯s disciple, given the former had fallen for the sake of the Sect in the great battle at Yuyao City. With this factor, he was able to secure a spot to enter the Tianfeng Adverse Realm without having to experience a major battle against the Demon Beast Tide. It could be said that the Zhenyang Sect had given him their all. Yet even so, Li Zhiyao still defected to the Golden Sword Sect, delivering a fatal blow to them at a critical moment. Now, the Zhenyang Sect had once again lost a disciple at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and even He Xin, their strongest team leader, had been ambushed and seriously injured. Their position was already weak, and now their situation had become even more disadvantageous. Besides them, the Myriad Medicine Valley was in no better situation. The Golden Sword Sect had planted spies in the Zhenyang Sect camp, and the Myriad Medicine Valley had not managed to avoid this either. At the same time when Li Zhiyao and Zheng Xiao launched their surprise attacks, someone from Myriad Medicine Valley also struck. Yang Chen, who was prepared, relied on a protective treasure given by a Golden Core Cultivator and also managed to escape disaster. However, as a result, he sustained serious injuries, and his strength was greatly compromised, although his condition was slightly better than that of He Xin. Apart from Yang Chen, two other disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley were successfully ambushed and perished there. Faced with this sudden calamity, Myriad Medicine Valley was thrown into chaos, each person¡¯s expression filled with anger, wishing to flay the traitorous attackers alive. One of the ambushing cultivators failed to escape in time and was killed by the retaliating Myriad Medicine Disciples. Only one Sect defector and one of the ambushing Loose Cultivators managed to evade the interception of the Myriad Medicine Disciples and converged with Chen Jianbin and the others. At this point, the severely diminished cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley could only gather with the disciples of Zhenyang Sect under Yang Chen¡¯s lead to band together for warmth. They knew that after this incident, the combined remaining cultivators of the two Great Sects amounted to only seventeen. Whereas the Golden Sword Sect, having gained four defectors, now had a total of twenty-five people. With the ebb and flow, the disparity in the remaining strength of the two sides was all too apparent. Moreover, with both sides¡¯ leaders being seriously injured, if it came to a fight, they were likely no match for Chen Jianbin and his people. Realizing this, both Yang Chen and He Xin were very clear about the current predicament of the two Sects, and knew that only desperate cooperation could barely allow them to contend with Chen Jianbin and his group. At this time, the three factions had completely split into two opposing camps, looking at each other from a distance. Gazing over, the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s people had gloomy expressions, and their morale had dropped to freezing point. Meanwhile, Chen Jianbin and the Golden Sword Sect cultivators were brimming with confidence, their faces full of smug smiles. In Chen Jianbin¡¯s heart, such an outcome was highly satisfactory, and they held an absolute advantage. Knowing this, Chen Jianbin was thrilled, becoming somewhat carried away, as if the people of the two Great Sects were already fish on the chopping board, and even the Fire Scale Python and the Jiuli Star Fruit were as good as in his pocket. And at this time, Yang Chen and He Xin were secretly pondering countermeasures. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, there were ten or so days left before the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm¡ªneither a long nor a short amount of time. The crux was, they had already lost their competitive edge. If they forcefully contested for the Jiuli Star Fruit and the corpse of the Fire Scale Python, they might fall right into Chen Jianbin¡¯s trap, leading to even greater losses, or perhaps even a complete wipeout. Yet if they gave up on the Jiuli Star Fruit now, how would they explain to the Sect Leader after leaving the Secret Realm? At this moment, the two were quite troubled. However, individuals like Long Qingshui, who saw the situation clearly, immediately proposed abandoning the treasures such as the Jiuli Star Fruit. After all, they were all top disciples of the Great Sects, with considerable cultivation and strength; each was a potential candidate for the Golden Core Stage. Particularly, Yang Chen was a cultivator with a Sky Spirit Root, and there were more than ten individuals with Dual Spiritual Roots. The lives of so many top disciples were incredibly precious to the two Great Sects. And only by preserving their lives could there be a chance for a turnaround. Besides, the dishonorable tactics of the Golden Sword Sect could be clarified to the Sects, and under such unforeseen circumstances, their abandonment of such accessible treasures was understandable. When the time came, upon learning the specifics of the situation, the Sect elders would naturally seek to discuss the matter with the high-level members of the Golden Sword Sect. If they could not reach an agreement, even a major confrontation between Golden Core Cultivators was a distinct possibility. Chapter 704 704 384 Escape_1 ?Chapter 704: Chapter 384 Escape_1 Chapter 704: Chapter 384 Escape_1 Upon hearing the persuasion from Long Qingshui and others, He Xin finally made up his mind and decided to give up competing for the treasure. On the other side, among the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators, there were also some who understood the situation clearly, and after being reminded, the leader of the group, Yang Chen, naturally understood these principles as well. Immediately afterward, Yang Chen and He Xin exchanged glances, and with just one look, they understood each other¡¯s intentions. Then, He and Yang Chen each glanced back at their fellow sect members and simultaneously declared, ¡°We¡¯re withdrawing!¡± No sooner had they spoken than Yang Chen and his companions turned around, ready to leave the valley. Seeing their actions, Chen Jianbin let out a chuckle and spoke. ¡°Heh heh¡­ want to leave now? It¡¯s already too late!¡± ... His voice had barely faded when a flash of spiritual light passed over the Attack Talisman in Chen Jianbin¡¯s hand, and immediately a beam of Sword Qi shot toward Yang Chen. Seeing this, Yang Chen¡¯s face flushed with a mix of shock and rage, as he hurriedly unleashed a counterattack to block Chen Jianbin¡¯s assault. ¡°Daoist Chen, what is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°He Daoist and I have already given up on the Jiuli Star Fruit and the spoils of this place, yet you still press us so aggressively?¡± ¡°Are you not afraid that, once we leave the Secret Realm, the elders of my sect will seek justice for this matter?¡± No sooner had he spoken than He Xin, likewise incensed, hastily said, ¡°Chen Jianbin, our three sects have worked together to open the Secret Realm for thousands of years, and although conflicts have occurred, there has never been such a great loss of life as this time.¡± ¡°Now, we have already given up the fight for the treasure, and yet you still attack us¡ªdo you intend to annihilate us completely?¡± Hearing these words, Chen Jianbin was indifferent. In his heart, since faces had already been torn, and moreover, he was acting on the instruction of the Sect Leader. All he needed to do was act according to the Sect Leader¡¯s orders, and as for the consequences, it was not his place to worry. With this in mind, Chen Jianbin gave a mocking laugh and did not respond to the questions from Yang Chen and the other, instead, he began instructing the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect behind him. ¡°Everyone, attack with all your might, we must leave none of them behind!¡± Upon hearing this command, the expressions on Yang Chen and his companions¡¯ faces changed drastically, and others were also in a state of intense fury, glaring fiercely at the cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect, readying themselves as if facing a great enemy. Chen Jianbin was not looking to waste time either, and immediately led his disciples of the Golden Sword Sect into the fray. Instantly, the sky, which had just calmed down, once again erupted with intense brilliance as countless attacks swept across the heavens. ¡°Boom¡­boom¡­boom¡­¡± Seeing Chen Jianbin take action in a manner far beyond a mere skirmish, Yang Chen and the others were both shocked and angry, and in their haste, they joined the battle. He Xin and his companions were also outraged, unleashing a barrage of attacks as they stormed toward Chen Jianbin. In the blink of an eye, the two sides were locked in fierce combat, with cultivators battling each other all over the battlefield. In the highest part of the sky, Yang Chen was at the forefront of the fight, engaged in a tumultuous bout with Chen Jianbin. Not far away, the cultivators of the two camps clashed. The Golden Sword Sect had a definitive numerical advantage; many of their cultivators paired up to besiege their opponents, quickly gaining the upper hand. The cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were wounded and clearly not as strong as their adversaries. If it weren¡¯t for their advantage in numbers at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, perhaps after a few exchanges, they would have been forced to retreat. In just half a quarter of an hour, the slaughter between the two sides intensified. At that moment, up in the highest part of the battlefield, Chen Jianbin struck, sending Yang Chen flying backward. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Already injured, Yang Chen was sent tumbling through the air, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-flight, his complexion paling further. Both being in the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, after more than a dozen exchanges, and already wounded, he was at a complete disadvantage; if not for his valuable Magic Artifact and his wealth of combat experience, he might have already been defeated. Taking advantage of this brief respite, he surveyed the battlefield. The situation for the cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect was hardly any better, nearly experiencing a rout. Even some who were already injured could not hold on any longer and began to fall one after the other, with four perishing. Only two disciples from Golden Sword Sect had fallen, and although several were injured, their combat strength had hardly diminished. At this point, their viable forces had further dwindled, and their spiritual power and treasures were almost exhausted. With the tide turning against them, there was no way they could repel the attack of the Golden Sword Sect disciples if things continued this way. Moreover, if the conflict dragged on, the casualties could be even greater, and the possibility of a complete rout was not out of the question. Seeing how dire the situation had become, Yang Chen immediately resolved to flee with his sect members. After all, the closure of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was imminent, and as long as they held on for half a month and left the Secret Realm, with Golden Core Cultivators present, they would be completely safe. With this realization, Yang Chen slapped his storage bag, and two Fake Golden Core Talismans flew out, transforming into two Sword Qi beams that hurtled towards Chen Jianbin. ¡°Boom¡­boom¡­boom¡­¡± Seeing the two Sword Qi beams, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face turned ugly; he hadn¡¯t expected that after slaying the Fire Scale Python, Yang Chen would still possess such powerful consumable treasures like the Fake Golden Core Talismans. But on further reflection, as the Chief Disciple of Myriad Medicine Valley, Yang Chen¡¯s talent and strength were evident to all. Such a Genius Cultivator would undoubtedly be heavily protected by the Sect, and possessing additional life-preserving treasures made sense. With this in mind, Chen Jianbin dared not be careless, nor push too hard, lest Yang Chen become desperate. At that moment, as the Sword Qi drew ever closer, Chen Jianbin¡¯s feet became like wind, his speed reaching an extreme. Chapter 705 705 384 Escape_2 ?Chapter 705: Chapter 384 Escape_2 Chapter 705: Chapter 384 Escape_2 He dodged the Sword Qi attacks while summoning a defensive artifact to shield himself. In the blink of an eye, a streak of Sword Qi brushed past him and slammed into a rock formation. Relying on his exceptional speed, Chen Jianbin evaded the attack of one Sword Qi. Yet another streak of Sword Qi descended upon his head and immediately struck his defense artifact. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud noise ensued, and Chen Jianbin was sent flying by the powerful force of the Sword Qi, retreating dozens of meters before stabilizing his figure. At this moment, his internal energy was in turmoil as he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion turning extremely pale. ... Looking at the large crack that appeared on the defense artifact in his hand, leading to a significant loss of spirituality, Chen Jianbin felt an immense heartache. This defense artifact was a High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifact, which he had acquired at a great cost. Its overall value was extraordinarily high, and it was also his strongest defensive treasure. Now, having taken a direct hit from Yang Chen, the spirituality of the treasure greatly diminished, reducing the defensive power to possibly less than that of a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact. However, upon seeing Yang Chen also suffering increasingly severe injuries and the cultivators of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect being suppressed by them, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression eased considerably. At this moment, He Xin was also struggling desperately. He was already seriously injured and was being suppressed by a Ninth Level Foundation Establishment cultivator. If it weren¡¯t for Long Qingshui watching over him from a close distance, his injuries could have worsened significantly. At this time, observing the situation on the battlefield, he realized that it was exceedingly disadvantageous for both sides. When he saw Yang Chen use two Fake Golden Core Talismans to injure Chen Jianbin, his face immediately soured. It wasn¡¯t because Chen Jianbin was injured, but because he could tell that Yang Chen was also at the end of his tether. This was not a good sign. After all, even Yang Chen, a name celebrated throughout the Wei Kingdom and unrivaled among Foundation Establishment cultivators, was fighting so desperately, obviously indicating that his situation was far from optimistic. Realizing this and observing his people continuously losing ground, He Xin also planned to flee for his life. As both Yang Chen and He Xin harbored this thought, they exchanged a glance. Quickly, they reached a consensus to lead their fellow disciples and retreat from the place. The reason for this was out of necessity. After all, it was evident that if they stayed, the losses would only mount and they might even risk complete annihilation. While retreating from the area could lead to being pursued by Chen Jianbin and others, they too would face a dilemma ¨C whether to prioritize the spoils of battle and the more valuable Jiuli Star Fruits. If Chen Jianbin chose not to give chase and instead focused on securing the treasures and cleaning up the battlefield, that would be the best outcome. However, if he pursued them, by normal reasoning, he would undoubtedly assign some disciples to remain and collect the valuables. If so, their strength would consequently be divided. This way, they would have a full opportunity to repel their pursuing enemies or even make them pay a heavy price. Precisely because of this understanding, both Yang Chen and He Xin immediately formed a plan. Soon, before Chen Jianbin could react, Yang Chen shouted aloud. ¡°Fellow disciples, fellow Daoists of Zhenyang Sect, retreat from this place!¡± With that, Yang Chen was the first to burst into retreat, making a show of fleeing the scene. He Xin, at this moment, did the same. He activated a life-saving trump card, launching an attack at the cultivator in front of him. Then he retreated explosively, instantly disengaging from the battle. Around them, the remaining ten plus cultivators each unleashed deadly strikes, repelling their opponents. Immediately after, they followed in the footsteps of Yang Chen and He Xin, disengaging from the battle and flying toward the outside of the valley. Seeing Yang Chen and the others¡¯ actions, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face darkened. In his haste, he unleashed attacks, attempting to block Yang Chen and the others. However, his fellow disciples were each preoccupied, dealing with the deadly blows of the cultivators from both factions and had no chance to intercept. With only Chen Jianbin¡¯s sole attack, it was easily repelled by the group of cultivators. Following that, Long Qingshui, standing behind the crowd, slashed out with his sword, unleashing a blue sword light that surged toward the Jiuli Star Fruit tree. At the same time, Chen Jianbin, having failed with his attack, was stimulating a Fake Golden Core Talisman, planning to hold Yang Chen and the others back for a moment. But when he saw what Long Qingshui was doing, his expression changed drastically. Clearly, Long Qingshui had seen through his intentions and planned to use the Jiuli Star Fruit to threaten him into giving up on continuing the activation of the Fake Golden Core Talisman. And indeed, this move was both vicious and highly effective. Now, Chen Jianbin was caught in a dilemma, whether to waste a Fake Golden Core Talisman to block Long Qingshui¡¯s onslaught, or to ignore the safety of the Jiuli Star Fruit and forcibly use the talisman to delay Yang Chen and the others for a moment until his fellow sect disciples could react and seize the initiative to hold them. Having understood the deeper meaning, Chen Jianbin hesitated only for a moment before activating the Fake Golden Core Talisman, hurling it toward Long Qingshui¡¯s sword energy. In his eyes, the lives of Yang Chen and his companions were certainly important, but compared to nine Jiuli Star Fruits and the tree itself, they were trivial. After all, the Jiuli Star Fruits were linked to his chances of entering the Golden Core Stage, and they were also coveted treasures among his fellow disciples; if Long Qingshui managed to destroy them, those who might have had a chance to reach the Golden Core might fail. Moreover, nine Jiuli Star Fruits meant nine opportunities. As for Yang Chen and the others, even if they escaped now, he would have the chance to catch up with them. By that time, he could eliminate them all in one fell swoop. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In view of that, the value of the Jiuli Star Fruits and the tree was far greater than that of these dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators. With these thoughts in mind, Chen Jianbin decisively blocked Long Qingshui¡¯s sword energy at the first opportunity. Once Long Qingshui had achieved his goal, under the leadership of Yang Chen and He Xin, more than ten cultivators shot out, disappearing in an instant at the entrance of the valley. Watching Yang Chen and the others leave, Chen Jianbin was shocked and furious, his whole demeanor like that of a ferocious beast with flames blazing in his eyes. He had not expected Long Qingshui to be so ruthless and decisive, completely seizing his weak point. To be outsmarted by someone made him feel an immense humiliation. The proud and arrogant Chen Jianbin simply could not accept such an outcome. Just as Chen Jianbin was raging, a Golden Sword Sect disciple watching the direction of Yang Chen¡¯s escape asked, ¡°Brother Chen, what should we do now?¡± Hearing this, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression turned serious as he forcibly calmed down from his anger. ¡°Hmph¡­ don¡¯t think you¡¯ll definitely survive just because you¡¯ve escaped for now!¡± Chen Jianbin let out a cold snort, then started instructing his fellow disciples. ¡°Junior Brother Ye, Junior Sister Liu, you two lead those with injuries to stay here and collect all the spoils of battle and the Jiuli Star Fruits.¡± ¡°The rest will follow me in pursuit of Yang Chen and his group, and once we catch up, we must stop them at all costs!¡± ¡°Do you all understand?¡± With that, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression became more severe, his tone much harsher ¡ª it was evident that he was deeply bothered by the escape of Yang Chen and the others. Seeing his expression, those present promptly responded, fearful of provoking Chen Jianbin¡¯s wrath. Listening to his fellow disciples, Chen Jianbin let out a cold laugh, then led seventeen cultivators in pursuit of Yang Chen¡¯s escaping troupe. As Chen Jianbin left, Ye Song and Liu Jingqiu, who had followed his orders, breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Junior Sister Liu, you handle cleaning up the battlefield, and I¡¯ll collect the Jiuli Star Fruits and the body of the Fire Scale Python!¡± ¡°As for the others injured, stay here on guard and take the opportunity to heal and recover the spiritual power you¡¯ve expended so you can restore your combat strength faster and provide support to Brother Chen and the rest at any moment.¡± Clearly, with Chen Jianbin gone, Ye Song, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, was now the leader of the injured group. While arranging for cleaning up the battlefield, he eyed the Jiuli Star Fruits deep in the valley with covetous excitement. Seeing this, the six people present, including Liu Jingqiu who was uninjured, did not dare to delay. Immediately after, they swiftly acknowledged and began to busily set about their tasks. ¡­ Chapter 706 706 385 Joining_1 ?Chapter 706: Chapter 385 Joining_1 Chapter 706: Chapter 385 Joining_1 Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Inside a cave dwelling in the valley, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, his even breathing indicating he was deep in cultivation. Ever since his arrival, he had been cultivating inside the cave dwelling for two months, never taking a single step outside. The place was very secluded, with Hu Yuan¡¯s Spirit Beast, the Purple Gold Eagle, on watch; these past months had been relatively peaceful. Now, after two months of cultivation, his aura was incredibly dense, and his physical state had reached its peak. Outside the valley at this moment, Yang Chen and his fleeing group appeared here. Looking around, there were only sixteen people left in their two parties, nine from Myriad Medicine Valley and seven from Zhenyang Sect. ... By this time, the cultivators were panting heavily, nearly all of them pale-faced, with many carrying injuries, their auras extremely weak. It seemed like they had been greatly exhausted under the relentless pursuit of Chen Jianbin and others, putting them in a very disadvantageous situation. At this moment, Yang Chen, who was leading the group, seemed to sense something unusual about the valley ahead. It wasn¡¯t just him; his companions like He Xin also noticed something off, and they began to investigate. Clearly, the cultivators who managed to survive under the pursuit of the Golden Sword Sect disciples were all at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, with over half of them having reached Great Perfection. Such cultivators, despite Lin Tianming¡¯s obscure concealments, could still find something peculiar with meticulous searching. At this very moment, a cultivator behind Yang Chen glanced in the direction deep within the valley and finally spoke up. ¡°Brother Yang, fellow daoists of the Zhenyang Sect, there seems to be some fluctuations of formations here, someone must be in secluded cultivation!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen nodded and said, ¡°With Brother Yan¡¯s eyes as a Second Order Mid-Grade Array Master, he shouldn¡¯t be mistaken.¡± According to what Yang Chen said, the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivator who spoke was a Second Order Mid-Grade Array Master. Upon reflection, this was not strange. After all, sects like Myriad Medicine Valley had a history of at least a thousand years, with a rich and comprehensive inheritance in the Four Arts of Cultivation. It is said that within Myriad Medicine Valley, there was even a Third Order Formation Master; it was quite normal for several Second Order Array Masters to be present. With the eyes of an Array Master, it wasn¡¯t going to be easy for Lin Tianming¡¯s rudimentary concealments to deceive them. As expected, among the remaining from Zhenyang Sect, there was also an Array Master present. This man was named Guo Feng, at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, with his formation skills also at the level of Second Order Low Quality. If Yan Hao from Myriad Medicine Valley could detect it, Guo Feng, being an Array Master of the same caliber, naturally sensed these anomalies as well. After a thorough investigation by Guo Feng, he spoke up, ¡°Brother Yan is right, the formations here are intact, and the cultivator who arrived must not have left yet!¡± Hearing Guo Feng¡¯s words, Yan Hao nodded and echoed. ¡°Brother Guo is correct, with the closing of the secret realm imminent, the cultivator hiding here for cultivation clearly intends to wait until the realm closes to leave.¡± ¡°However, the identity of this person is likely to be a Loose Cultivator or a disciple from our sects, and most likely not from the Golden Sword Sect. This is good news.¡± Yan Hao¡¯s words immediately drew the attention of some cultivators. Their current situation was grim, with Chen Jianbin and the others chasing them relentlessly. Although they had managed to get a brief respite, the distance wasn¡¯t large and they could be caught up to at any moment. If they were to fall into a predicament again, escaping would not be so easy. And here was an unidentified cultivator; if they could get him to join their side, it might be of some help. Understanding this, Yang Chen and the others quickly came to a decision to make contact and try their luck. Deciding this, Yang Chen communicated with He Xin for a moment, and they quickly reached an agreement. Immediately after, Yang Chen raised his hand to launch an attack towards the interior of the valley. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The sword light easily broke through the warning formations, immediately revealing the true entrance to the valley. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, a sharp screech sounded as Hu Yuan¡¯s Purple Gold Eagle Spirit Beast soared into the sky, quickly plunging into the valley and disappearing from sight. In that instant, many people on the scene looked on enviously at the sight of the Purple Gold Eagle. After all, Second Order flying Spiritual Birds were rare, and even for powerful forces like the three great sects, the number of Second Order flying Demonic Beasts was limited, with even fewer that could be tamed. Even among these talented disciples, not many had flying Spirit Beasts. Therefore, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators sought to possess one, and these individuals were no exception. In the midst of the numerous cultivators¡¯ discussions, Li Xiuyuan¡¯s face lit up with joy as he muttered to himself. ¡°This is a Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, and it has been tamed. If I remember correctly, doesn¡¯t Lin also have one?!¡± ¡°Could it be that the one in secluded cultivation here is Lin Tianming, whom we have not seen for a long time?¡± Hearing his words, Long Qingshui nodded in agreement. They, along with a few others, had fought side by side in the great battle of Yuyao City and had heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s Spirit Beast being a Purple Gold Eagle. Li Xiuyuan, who had interacted with Lin Tianming several times, had even seen Xiao Diao¡¯s figure once. Since Lin Tianming¡¯s whereabouts in the secret realm had been a mystery, seeing a Second Order Purple Gold Eagle naturally led him to think about Lin Tianming, whom they hadn¡¯t encountered for a year. Chapter 707 707 385 Joining _2 ?Chapter 707: Chapter 385 Joining _2 Chapter 707: Chapter 385 Joining _2 Not only that, among the cultivators who entered the Secret Realm, ninety percent were from the three Great Sects, and the Loose Cultivators, along with the clan disciples, totaled no more than ten. Among them, Loose Cultivators like Zheng Xiao had already shown themselves and joined the ranks of the Golden Sword Sect. Aside from these individuals who had made an appearance and those from the three Great Sects, the only one who fit the profile was Lin Tianming. In the eyes of Li Xiuyuan and the others, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was not inferior to any of theirs, and it was highly unlikely that he would have perished by himself while braving the dangers of the Secret Realm. Therefore, when they saw the Purple Gold Eagle once again, they were overjoyed, eagerly anticipating the reunion with Lin Tianming, especially at such a perilous time. Upon hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s words and seeing Long Qingshui¡¯s expression, Yang Chen and the others pondered briefly before recalling that the name Lin Tianming sounded familiar. He had seized three Secret Realm entries for the Zhenyang Sect during the beast tide assault. But that was not the most critical part; what was more important was that Lin Tianming, a family cultivator, had won the top spot among Loose Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. ... Such an outstanding achievement was hard to ignore. At this time, Yang Chen turned to Long Qingshui and asked, ¡°Long, how is Lin Tianming¡¯s strength? Can we draw him to our side?¡± Hearing this question, Long Qingshui nodded and immediately replied, ¡°Based on my understanding of Lin, his strength is extremely formidable, and he shone brilliantly during the battle against the beast tide.¡± ¡°Before entering the Secret Realm, he even broke through to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, and his strength is now certainly not below mine!¡± ¡°As for whether we can bring him to our camp, I think Junior Brother Li would be confident in this regard!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen looked at Li Xiuyuan, as if asking for his opinion. In response, Li Xiuyuan nodded and said, ¡°Lin is a man who values friendship and morality, as well as a person of righteousness. Given the history between him and our sect, we should be able to persuade him to join our camp.¡± Upon hearing these words, Yang Chen was delighted, indicating that they should immediately proceed with this matter. The disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, including He Xin, naturally had no objections and waited for the cultivators inside the valley to come out and meet them. It wasn¡¯t long before time passed. Inside the valley, sensing the disturbance, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were the first to meet up and walk out of the valley together. At the entrance, seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, Li Xiuyuan and Long Qingshui, along with other familiar faces, were overjoyed and hurriedly greeted them. At that moment, Lin Tianming sized up everyone present and noticed that Yang Chen, Li Xiuyuan, and the others all looked pale, their auras languid, and many were bearing injuries. ¡°Li, what happened to you all? Has there been some sort of disaster?¡± Lin Tianming inquired, revealing a puzzled look. Hearing his question, Li Xiuyuan answered with a face full of rage and spilled everything about the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s actions, exaggerating quite a bit, which made it sound extremely vile. In fact, the behavior of the Golden Sword Sect had indeed been despicable, nearly capturing them all. Even so, the losses sustained by their two sects over the past days had been severe, with casualties exceeding half. Quickly, after hearing Li Xiuyuan¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming was also shocked, finding it hard to believe that there were such secrets like the Jiuli Star Fruit between the three Great Sects, and even more so that they had banded together to slay a Third Grade Medium Stage Fire Scale Python. Besides this matter, he was also surprised to learn that Myriad Medicine Valley, a legacy that had lasted for ten thousand years, with the strongest overall strength among the disciples, had suffered such heavy losses. Moreover, the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect had also experienced severe losses, with only those above the ninth layer able to show up here. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering this action by the Golden Sword Sect, combined with his previous killing of Zhou Jin and the acquired Crimson Alliance Token, it wasn¡¯t hard to discern that this had been a long-planned move by the Golden Sword Sect. If the Golden Sword Sect truly defected to the Blood Red Alliance, then what the Blood Red Alliance was conspiring to obtain must be significant, not merely for the Qilin Seal, but also with intentions against the other two Great Sects. Understanding this, Lin Tianming roughly grasped the cause and effect of the situation. At this point, Li Xiuyuan, with a sincere expression, invited Lin Tianming to lend them his strength. Not just him, but Yang Chen and He Xin also spoke up, promising that after the Secret Realm ended, they would seek permission from the high levels of their sect to grant him a certain reward. Regarding this, Lin Tianming was quite indifferent and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. In his eyes, the object coveted by Golden Sword Sect was inevitably not simple, and that very object was in the hands of the Lin Family. Currently, both the Great Sects also fell under the watch of the Blood Red Alliance, even inciting the Golden Sword Sect to create friction, suggesting a possible outbreak of a Sect war. Under such circumstances, the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley as two major powers must not fall. They could draw the attention of the Blood Red Alliance, allowing the Lin Family additional time to develop. With this understanding, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate at all and accepted the invitation from Yang Chen and the others. As for Hu Yuan, upon seeing Lin Tianming accepting the invitation, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to get involved in this muddled situation. At this moment, seeing that both Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan agreed to join their camp, Yang Chen and He Xin let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. In their eyes, the strength of Lin Tianming and his companion was not weak. They hadn¡¯t experienced a major battle before, and their power was at its peak, capable of exerting exceptionally formidable strength. With the addition of these two, they wouldn¡¯t find it too difficult to cope when Chen Jianbin caught up. Realizing this, every cultivator present could breathe a sigh of relief. Following that, Yang Chen and He Xin discussed briefly and decided to rest for a while there to recover some of their condition before making further plans. Once this was settled, Lin Tianming immediately led the cultivators into the valley interior and re-established the entrance¡¯s restrictions. Furthermore, with the combined efforts of Yan Hao and Guo Feng, two Second Order Array Masters, they quickly set up a Second Order Defensive Array. After completing these arrangements, the cultivators could finally take a breath of relief. Time was precious at the moment; they had to seize this opportunity to restore their condition as much as possible to cope with the upcoming confrontation against Chen Jianbin and his group. Subsequently, everyone sat down on the spot, using elixirs to recover their consumed spiritual power and heal their injuries. However, merely half a quarter of an hour passed before the figures of Chen Jianbin and others appeared outside the valley. Looking over, their condition was much better than when Yang Chen and his party arrived at this place. Although each of them had also exhausted a considerable amount of spiritual power, their injuries weren¡¯t serious, and their strength wasn¡¯t greatly affected. At this time, Liu Jingqiu and others who had harvested the Jiuli Star Fruits had also gathered with Chen Jianbin, including Zheng Xiao and the Loose Cultivators within this crowd. In total, twenty-two cultivators fixed their gaze towards the interior of the valley, revealing puzzled expressions. Soon, Chen Jianbin also noticed something unusual about the valley, seeming to detect fluctuations from a restriction. He snorted coldly and then unleashed a sword light, breaking the concealed restriction and revealing the Second Order Defensive Great Formation that Guo Feng and others had just set up. Seeing this Defensive Formation, it was clearly something that Yang Chen and his group had just laid down. Chen Jianbin gave a cold smile and then spoke a few words to a disciple behind him. Quickly, a Golden Sword Sect Disciple stepped forward to investigate. Clearly, this person was also a Second Order Mid-Grade Array Master. Seeing the Defensive Array, he naturally wanted to inspect it and find out how to break it. It was evident that the three Great Sects had carefully selected the disciples entering the Secret Realm, ensuring that whoever they sent would be accompanied by one or two Array Masters. This arrangement was quite normal; after all, the role of an Array Master was extremely significant, especially during exploring and adventuring, where they might come across formations or even encounter some restrictions. The role of an Array Master was not only to break through restrictions but also to set up defensive formations, indeed a very important role. After the investigation by the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Array Master, he soon indicated that breaking this formation would not be difficult, and with just half a day¡¯s time, he could dismantle it. Hearing this, Chen Jianbin nodded in satisfaction and then instructed the Array Master to immediately set about this task. Shortly after, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Array Master stepped forward and began the action of breaking the formation. Chapter 708 708 386 Two Consecutive Kills_1 ?Chapter 708: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_1 Chapter 708: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_1 ¡°` In the valley. Lin Tianming and his fellow cultivators all sat down to hasten their recovery. As for the actions of Chen Jianbin and others outside the Formation, they saw them clearly but remained unmoved. At this moment, they had already been caught up to, and it was better to seize the time to recuperate. Once their condition improved a bit and with the addition of Lin Tianming and another joining their ranks, they weren¡¯t entirely without the power to fight. Understanding this, Yang Chen and the rest wouldn¡¯t waste this rare opportunity, let alone the precious time. In such a situation, Yang Chen and the others spared no effort, each fully focused on recovering. In the blink of an eye, half a day passed. ... S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At dusk, with a piercing sound, the light screen of the Defensive Great Formation shattered, revealing the inside of the valley at once. At this time, Lin Tianming and his fellow cultivators gathered together and then made their way to the entrance of the valley. Upon seeing Yang Chen and the others emerge, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face showed a smile that seemed to convey he had everything under control. After half a day¡¯s recovery, every cultivator¡¯s condition had significantly improved. Although their injuries were not completely healed and they were still far from their peak state, at the very least, their Spiritual Power had recovered quite a bit. They retained some combat strength for a short time and wouldn¡¯t sustain lingering effects. At this moment, seeing Chen Jianbin¡¯s nonchalant expression, anger colored the faces of Yang Chen and his fellow cultivators. The two sides stood some distance apart, staring at each other, with neither side making the first move. However, seeing Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan¡¯s figures, Chen Jianbin couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°No wonder you stopped running, so it¡¯s because you¡¯ve had two more join your side!¡± ¡°Heh¡­ Do you really think just because you¡¯ve become two more, you can escape unscathed? What a joke!¡± Hearing Chen Jianbin¡¯s words, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but give a cold laugh, a hint of anger visible on his face. Just then, Yang Chen glanced at Chen Jianbin and then responded. ¡°Chen Jianbin, since we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s cut the crap. Today, we¡¯ll settle this grudge right here!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than He Xin also spoke up in agreement. ¡°Right, this trip to the Secret Realm, you from the Golden Sword Sect have broken the rules. I¡¯m sure that after we eliminate you, the higher-ups of the Golden Sword Sect won¡¯t have anything to say!¡± Hearing the words of Yang Chen and another, Chen Jianbin was provoked. ¡°Haha¡­ so full of big talk!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re courting death, let¡¯s not waste any more time!¡± ¡°All disciples, heed my command, and join me in eradicating them here!¡± After Chen Jianbin sneered, he was the first to launch an attack. In an instant, disciples of the Golden Sword Sect attacked, and a barrage of assaults flew towards Lin Tianming¡¯s side. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Seeing Chen Jianbin and the others take action, Yang Chen and He Xin exchanged smiles and then said, ¡°He, leave Chen Jianbin to me. You all join forces to eliminate the rest!¡± After speaking, Yang Chen leapt up, the Magic Artifact in his hand shone brightly, and in an instant, he was engaged in battle with Chen Jianbin high in the sky. Seeing Yang Chen make a move, even though He Xin was injured, he refused to be outdone. He faced the incoming attacks head-on, his Magic Artifact likewise flashing with golden light, unleashing a barrage of attacks and engaging a Golden Sword Sect Disciple at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. As the leaders of the two Great Sects made their move, the remaining people surged forward, and soon, a fierce battle ensued. The opponents of Lin Tianming were a cultivator at Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and one at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Their strength wasn¡¯t strong and they were practically at the bottom among the Golden Sword Sect cultivators. At this moment, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand burst forth with Spiritual Light, and his powerful attacks overwhelmed the enemy. Clearly, the Golden Sword Sect Disciples were unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s true strength, merely sending two average cultivators to fight him. Luckily for them, they quickly realized the disparity in strength. In just a short while, using only fifty percent of his power, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword pierced through the chest of the Golden Sword Sect Disciple at Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, who fell unwillingly to the ground with a thud. This man had the misfortune of picking Lin Tianming as his opponent and ended up dying without even a chance to struggle or scream. This was the first cultivator to fall in the entire battle, completely unexpected by all the Golden Sword Sect Disciples. Seeing this, another cultivator at Foundation Establishment Ninth Level panicked and immediately started to flee. Lin Tianming certainly wasn¡¯t going to let him get away easily and promptly followed in pursuit. In that instant, Lin Tianming seemed like a ghost, relying on his swift speed to weave through the battlefield, hunting down the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator. He was fast, and before the enemy had gotten very far, Lin Tianming had caught up. At that point, they were only a hundred or so feet apart. For a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, this distance could be covered in a mere moment. As Lin Tianming¡¯s speed increased and the terrifying Sword Qi was about to strike, the fleeing cultivator was filled with dread. However, his location was not far from a Second Order Array Master of the Golden Sword Sect. Seeing this, the fleeing cultivator¡¯s face became somewhat relieved, and he immediately started calling for help. ¡°Brother Du, save me!¡± Upon hearing the call for help from his Sect Brother, Du Changqing, who was fighting nearby, leapt up, shaking off his opponent and rushing towards where Lin Tianming was. ¡°You dare, boy!¡± With a loud shout, Du Changqing unleashed a flash of sword light, releasing a powerful attack, attempting to block Lin Tianming¡¯s path. ¡°` Chapter 709 709 386 Two Consecutive Kills_2 ?Chapter 709: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_2 Chapter 709: Chapter 386: Two Consecutive Kills_2 Seeing the situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure twisted, and his speed increased slightly. At the same time, the Eye of Five Colors on his forehead opened, capturing Du Changqing¡¯s attack trajectory in sight and swiftly devising the optimal evasion path. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming, like a bolt of lightning, dodged Du Changqing¡¯s attack with an uncanny posture. Immediately after, a scream was heard. The cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level plummeted from midair, crashing heavily to the ground. Lying there, half of his body had been severed by the Tiangang Sword, many of his organs were directly exposed, and blood had stained the soil beneath him red. The man struggled only briefly before a silver light descended and completely annihilated him right there. ... All this happened in a flash; even the nearby Du Changqing failed to react before witnessing his fellow disciple being killed. This action left him utterly shocked. It should be known that the two men Lin Tianming had killed, although not the strongest among the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, could have held off a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator together for a moment without much trouble. But the actual situation was vastly different; the two had only held on for less than half an hour before being casually killed by Lin Tianming. He didn¡¯t even use his full strength, and easily took their lives right under Du Changqing¡¯s nose. The reason for this was not insignificant, after all, they were not aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Moreover, he had been cultivating continuously for two months and was now in his peak condition. In contrast, the Golden Sword Sect disciples had just gone through a fierce battle, with many sustaining injuries. Apart from that, they had been chasing Yang Chen and his companions for a long time, so neither their spiritual power nor their condition could compare to the well-prepared Lin Tianming. Under such circumstances, it was no surprise that Lin Tianming easily killed the pair. At this moment, Du Changqing, who had rushed to help, wore a gloomy expression, with a sense of fear in his heart. He was also at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and although he was slightly stronger than the earlier Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator, having witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s power, he didn¡¯t dare stay here any longer. In his mind, if Lin Tianming targeted him, he feared that he would not be a match for Lin Tianming. Realizing this, Du Changqing hastily retreated, attempting to avoid Lin Tianming, this scourge. But his every move had been in Lin Tianming¡¯s sight. Even as he broke through the formation here, Lin Tianming had been closely watching his every move. After all, this person was a Second Order Medium Quality Array Master, and with such a status, even with a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level realm, his position was no less than that of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator. Besides, there was another reason for paying close attention to him: the Lin Family was in dire need of an inheritance of a Second Order Array Master. In the thirty years of the Lin Family¡¯s rapid development, they had only obtained the inheritance of a Second Order Array Master by killing the Loose Cultivator Zhuang Zhenxin during the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. Relying on this, along with the family¡¯s collection of formation scriptures over the years, they had cultivated several First Order Array Masters, including one First Order Superior Grade Array Master. As long as this family member entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and spent more time, they could reach the Second Order standard. However, the advancement of an Array Master is not easy, as the resources required are no less than those of an Alchemist, perhaps even more demanding. The advancement of an Array Master requires a vast amount of formation insights and inheritance, as well as extensive practice and implementation of formations to extract experience and achieve the goal of advancement. It can be said that an Array Master depends on talent as well as numerous insightful scriptures, and requires sufficient perseverance. As a Second Order Medium Quality Array Master from a Golden Core Sect, Du Changqing must have some treasures for Array Masters on him. As for the scriptures and insights, that is not necessarily the case. After all, in the sects of the Cultivation World, no matter whether it is a great power or a small family, they value inherited treasures highly and do not easily allow disciples to make copies or take them away from the sect. Furthermore, Du Changqing and the others had come to a Secret Realm fraught with danger, making it unlikely they would bring those scriptures with them. But since he was young and had achieved this level, the chances are that he had some quality items on him. Understanding this, Lin Tianming would not let Du Changqing off the hook; he was determined to kill him on the spot and snatch his storage bag. Since faces had been torn anyway, standing on the opposite side of the Golden Sword Sect, it was better to embark on a massive killing spree and plunder as much treasure as possible that could benefit his family. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s moves became exceptionally decisive, and the power of his attacks grew even more terrifying than before. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, Du Changqing became a mix of shock and rage, hurriedly responding to the assault. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He waved his sleeves, releasing a large number of Second Order talismans to collide head-on with the Sword Qi emitted by Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds ensued as Lin Tianming¡¯s casual attack was neutralized by the numerous Second Order talismans used by Du Changqing. Seeing this, Du Changqing breathed a sigh of relief, then his Attack Talisman shone brightly, releasing a barrage of retaliatory attacks. At this moment, Lin Tianming seemed calm, effortlessly invoking attacks to deal with them. Meanwhile, he advanced forward, aiming to close the distance and wait for an excellent opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. Pursuing this objective, Lin Tianming moved unhurriedly, cautiously advancing forward without alerting his opponent. In the blink of an eye, Du Changqing had already exchanged several rounds with him. As the two transitioned between offense and defense, they appeared evenly matched, neither gaining much advantage over the other. Yet, silently, Lin Tianming had closed the distance significantly, and now they were barely a hundred yards apart, in the optimal position for an attack. At this moment, seeing that Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks didn¡¯t pose much of a threat, Du Changqing couldn¡¯t help but breathe a long sigh of relief. He even began to doubt whether Lin Tianming¡¯s earlier killing of their two fellow disciples had been a fluke! But as he secretly rejoiced, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with the light of the Tiangang Sword, and he directly executed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. In an instant, the seven layers of Tiangang Sword Qi accumulated, and the Tiangang Sword flew out of his hand. ¡°Swish¡­¡± A streak of silver light shot out, the Tiangang Sword cutting through the void at an unimaginable speed, aiming straight for Du Changqing¡¯s forehead. Feeling the intense Sword Qi and the dazzling silver light, Du Changqing¡¯s face turned pale as he hurriedly tried to escape. However, Lin Tianming, having long laid his plans, was not about to let him have his way. In that instant, Du Changqing, targeted by the Tiangang Sword, had no time to dodge. Only now did he realize that Lin Tianming¡¯s previous attacks were merely a distraction to get closer and wait for the best moment to strike a killing blow. In desperation, Du Changqing became incredibly agitated, his complexion deathly pale. Seeing that he could not avoid it, he quickly brought out a Second Order Defense Artifact to block firmly in front of him. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise erupted. A flash of silver light crossed the sky as Du Changqing¡¯s Defense Artifact blocked Lin Tianming¡¯s lethal strike. But the combined power of the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword was immense, and the force almost shattered Du Changqing¡¯s Defense Artifact. Although he temporarily warded off the deadly strike, the force of the impact was so powerful that it sent Du Changqing flying backward. By the time he was in midair, his qi and blood were wildly surging, and he was spitting out mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face as pale as could be. While this strike did not take his life, it almost destroyed his Defense Artifact, causing a significant loss in spirituality, and its defensive power was greatly reduced. Moreover, taking the strike head-on also severely injured him, drastically reducing his strength; he probably couldn¡¯t even leverage half of his peak capabilities. At this time, Du Changqing, who had barely managed to stabilize himself, spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his aura instantly becoming listless. ¡­ Chapter 710 710 387 Too Brutal_1 ?Chapter 710: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_1 Chapter 710: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_1 He looked up at Lin Tianming and noticed that Lin Tianming had already moved, shooting towards him with incredible speed. He himself was seriously injured, and his strength was greatly reduced. Since Lin Tianming was not far from him and given their close distance as well as Lin Tianming¡¯s lightning-fast speed, he had no chance of escaping Lin Tianming¡¯s pursuit. At this moment, he too felt the same despair as his fellow sect members. However, even in his despair, he decided to fight back, as death was the only thing waiting for him otherwise. Realizing this, Du Changqing¡¯s expression turned crazed as he activated all of his remaining Second Order Talisman papers, planning a final desperate attempt. At the same time, his Magic Artifact flashed with light as he forcefully gathered an attack and slashed at Lin Tianming, who was coming straight for him. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming smirked coldly. Most of the talismans Du Changqing had triggered were lower-middle rank Second Order ones with very limited lethality. As for his attack, it was diminished due to his injuries, and even at his peak, the power of his attack wasn¡¯t significant. To Lin Tianming, these attacks were nothing but the struggles of a trapped beast, hardly a threat to his life. ¡°Boom¡­¡± At this time, the sky was filled with colorful attacks that were getting closer and closer. Lin Tianming made a quick turn, increasing his speed even more, completely disregarding the strikes headed his way. In this moment, his body was incredibly agile as he weaved through the barrage of attacks. In the blink of an eye, he had moved past Du Changqing¡¯s assault and was now only a few dozen feet in front of him. In that instant, when Du Changqing saw Lin Tianming close up, he was stricken with terror and tried desperately to flee. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smirked coldly, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand flew out directly towards Du Changqing¡¯s head. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Tiangang Sword traced a beautiful arc, descending upon Du Changqing¡¯s head with the speed of lightning. As he saw the horrifying Tiangang Sword above him, Du Changqing felt his heart go cold. Already gravely injured and his Defense Artifact nearly shattered by Lin Tianming¡¯s previous attack, he had no hope of blocking a second strike. He understood his situation then: it was a scenario of almost certain death. But what could he do? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was no way to counter such an attack. Unless a fellow sect member could come to his aid, all he could do was await his fate. However, his fellow Cultivators were embroiled in fierce combat, and unless a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator could lend him a hand, any assistance would be futile. Understanding this, Du Changqing felt completely hopeless. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A soft noise was followed by a scream. Looking over, Du Changqing¡¯s body flew off like a kite with its string cut, eventually crashing to the ground. By then, Du Changqing was decapitated, his blood dyeing the earth beneath him, and his lifeless body lay motionless. In the face of this fatal blow, he had merely deployed his Defense Artifact in a final desperate stance. But as he had guessed, there was no chance of survival. By this time, Du Changqing¡¯s death had thoroughly ignited the fighting spirit of Yang Chen and others. It had only been a short while, and Lin Tianming had already easily slain three men with swift and decisive movements. This efficiency, along with the blood-stained scene, had completely intimidated the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. Meanwhile, the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were inspired by Lin Tianming¡¯s ferocity, each one¡¯s morale surging, gradually turning the tide of the battle that had been against them. Following Du Changqing¡¯s death, Lin Tianming reached out with one hand and collected his storage bag. He then scanned the battlefield, searching for Cultivators who were at a disadvantage, planning to go and assist them. He quickly pivoted and made his way to Hu Yuan, who was nearby. At this time, his opponent was a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level Cultivator, embroiled in a tough battle. Without his best form, Hu Yuan was surely no match. Lin Tianming had a good relationship with him¡ªover the years, they had teamed up on numerous occasions, encountering many opportunities as well as crises. Now that he had freed himself up, it was natural to prioritize helping those he was familiar with. With that, he immediately joined Hu Yuan¡¯s battlefield. With his help, Hu Yuan¡¯s morale soared, and his moves became even more aggressive. The two coordinated seamlessly, attacking from different directions. At this moment, Lin Tianming also used his Physical Strength in combat, his fists harboring a world-splitting force. It took merely three exchanges for the Cultivator to be blown away by a punch from Lin Tianming, his screams echoing far beyond anyone before. After all, this was the power of Physical Strength; killing with it was not as swift as with magic or Magic Artifacts. And this ghastly scream, as it arose, sent a mixture of fury and panic through Chen Jianbin and others. At this point, a Golden Sword Sect Disciple in the air, his anger boiling over and his face darkened, charged towards Lin Tianming. Even from a distance, his furious curses resounded through heaven and earth. ¡°You impudent brat, you¡¯re courting death!¡± ¡°Having killed three of our sect, do you really think the Golden Sword Sect has no one left?¡± Before his words had ended, the Magic Artifact in his hand blazed brightly, and a red Giant Axe shadow loomed fiercely down upon him. Looking at it, the red Giant Axe carried a momentous presence, almost giving the illusion that it could cleave the heavens and earth. Chapter 711 711 387 Too Brutal_2 ?Chapter 711: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_2 Chapter 711: Chapter 387 Too Brutal_2 And the attack talisman in this person¡¯s hand, that is, the giant axe, was also a second order superior attack talisman. The item was not small in size, it appeared quite heavy and seemed especially suitable for cultivators practicing dual cultivation of body and law. Seeing this thing, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but covet it. He even secretly imagined that if he obtained this magic artifact, with his physical strength in combat, he should be stronger than when using the Tiangang Sword. The person wielding the giant axe demonstrated strong offensive power in combat, apparently also a cultivator practicing dual cultivation of body and law. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became solemn, and he hurriedly moved forward to meet the challenge. At the same time, the Tiangang Sword in his hand flashed brightly, once again unleashing the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword. ... ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Tiangang Sword left his hand, colliding head-on with the red giant axe. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A huge noise resounded, shaking the ground. The Tiangang Sword and the giant axe clashed forcefully, the explosion of power sending out a strong shockwave that swept over everything. For a moment, the world was bathed in red light, and the nearby mountains and rocks couldn¡¯t withstand the impact, beginning to crumble. The two sides persisted for a few breaths before each dissipating, and the Tiangang Sword flew back, caught by Lin Tianming in his hand. After this exchange, it was a draw, and neither side had gained the advantage. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s methods were not limited to just these. As the Tiangang Sword flew back, he leaped into the air and disappeared from his original spot. Soon, he retracted the Tiangang Sword, and then moved forward, escaping a hundred feet away. When his opponent reacted, he saw Lin Tianming attacking with a fist, aiming straight for his vital areas. Upon seeing this, the man remained calm, also throwing a punch, colliding hard with Lin Tianming¡¯s fist. In less than a breath¡¯s time, he felt a severe pain. Immediately after, his entire body was sent flying backward, retreating a hundred feet before stabilizing his form. Whereas Lin Tianming paused only momentarily, retreating just several feet before steadying himself again. At that moment, the man clutched his arm, grimacing in pain with a pale face, blood constantly seeping from the corners of his mouth. Only now did he understand how formidable Lin Tianming¡¯s physical body was, the power in that one punch, at the very least, was no less than a hundred thousand pounds. Such strength, even if a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator unleashed an attack, could be taken head-on without any harm. This strike, however, had seriously injured his arm, and he dared not unleash all his strength for a while. Otherwise, even if he survived the battle, this arm would be rendered useless. Not only that, his internals churned wildly with the might of that one punch, almost causing his organs to bleed internally. If he himself were not also practicing dual cultivation of body and law, equally robust, an ordinary cultivator would likely have been killed outright. Realizing these things, the man¡¯s morale plummeted at this moment, no longer possessing the arrogance he had before. However, before he could catch his breath, a shadow charged at him again, with extreme speed. Seeing this, the man was utterly shocked, no longer daring to clash directly with Lin Tianming. He turned his body and retreated explosively, swinging the giant axe magic artifact forward, once again condensing a red giant axe phantom. As Lin Tianming drew nearer, the man didn¡¯t hesitate to propel the giant axe, furiously slashing it down towards Lin Tianming. Seeing the man changing his strategy, going back to using spiritual power against him, Lin Tianming was not the least bit flustered. He also burst forth with the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, crashing head-on into the red giant axe phantom. At the same time, he followed the same tactic, charging forward, his fist aimed directly at the cultivator¡¯s forehead. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A thunderous noise sounded as the Tiangang Sword and the red giant axe collided. Just like the earlier encounter, the Tiangang Sword flew back, caught by Lin Tianming, who then thrust it at his opponents. After the red axe¡¯s phantom image dissipated, the person sacrificed a Second Order Medium Quality defense artifact, placing it directly in front of himself. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another loud noise came as the Tiangang Sword struck the person¡¯s defense artifact. As expected, the person was sent flying backward once again, spewing mouthfuls of blood while still in mid-air. Lin Tianming¡¯s speed, however, did not decrease in the slightest. In the instant before the person landed, Lin Tianming¡¯s iron-like fist struck the cultivator¡¯s back. A scream rang out, and the person fell directly onto the ground. After struggling a few times, he managed to crawl up with difficulty, his complexion utterly void of color, his blood-drenched robe stained red in a large patch. Lin Tianming¡¯s consecutive strikes were like a tide, one following the other. The first strike was mostly absorbed by the defense artifact, which only caused his blood to churn and incurred some injuries. But the second strike was a solid hit that the body had to absorb directly, causing severe damage to the person. By this time, as the cultivator staggered to his feet attempting to flee from Lin Tianming, he found himself unable to muster any speed. What¡¯s more, Lin Tianming was already very fast, not giving him any time to react. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s figure draw closer and closer, the person¡¯s face turned as pale as death, and he could no longer remain calm. He looked at Lin Tianming with horror, and every step forward felt as if the grim reaper was approaching. He tried to move his legs, only to find them unbearably heavy, with the ten-zhang distance seeming as far away as the end of the world. He was unwilling to die; he wanted to live. But by now, no one was free to save him, and he couldn¡¯t run away. There was absolutely no hope of surviving. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± Lin Tianming, like a ghost, delivered an iron-like punch directly to the man¡¯s head. This time, not even a scream was heard, just a light thud which seemed to be the sound of the person hitting the ground. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Lin Tianming looked down, he saw the cultivator lying on the ground, his head burst open, red and white blood mixed together on the ground, creating a sickening sight. And the man had no signs of life, already dead beyond any doubt. At this time, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh and a triumphant smile crossed his face. Immediately after, he rushed forward to collect the person¡¯s storage bag. In addition to that, including the giant axe used by the cultivator, he also collected it, intending to refine it when the battle was over. After all, he had long coveted that attack talisman. Having finished these tasks, Lin Tianming then surveyed the entire battlefield, noting that the great battle had entered its most intense stage. Aside from the highest battlefields occupied by Yang Chen and the severely injured He Xin, all the others were clearly dominating. And as Lin Tianming struck down another person, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were utterly terrified, fearing they might be the next targets of this grim reaper. Clearly, Lin Tianming had cast a significant psychological shadow over them in just half a quarter of an hour. Considering it, it was actually quite normal, since Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was formidable and his methods of killing were both brutal and extremely bloody. In just half a quarter of an hour, one Eighth Level and two Ninth Level Foundation Establishment cultivators had met their demise. What¡¯s more terrifying is that even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, was blasted away by him here. In just half a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming had consecutively cut down four cultivators. The speed and the methods he displayed were truly fearsome. And now, as the battle raged on, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect had suffered tremendous losses, with eleven cultivators killed in succession. Nearly half of them died at Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, and the other fallen cultivators, mostly of Eighth and Ninth Level Foundation Establishment, included only two at the Great Perfection level¡ªone killed by Lin Tianming and another gravely wounded by Long Qingshui and finally killed in a group attack by the Zhenyang Sect cultivators. As for the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, they had only lost three people, all of whom were at the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, with not a single Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator fallen. In such a situation, the overall strength of the Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley had not much declined, and it could even be said to be unaffected. In contrast, aside from Chen Jianbin at the highest spot, the other members of the Golden Sword Sect were all fighting with injuries, barely holding on and possibly on the verge of being killed at any moment. Chapter 712 712 388 Rescue_1 ?Chapter 712: Chapter 388 Rescue_1 Chapter 712: Chapter 388 Rescue_1 If Lin Tianming joined the battle once again, it would turn into a one-sided slaughter. Understanding this, every disciple of the Golden Sword Sect felt endangered, wanting to flee the place but without orders from Chen Jianbin, they dared not run away on their own. However, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t care less about the life or death of the Golden Sword Sect. Since they had fallen out anyway, he might as well kill as many as possible. The more roundly he defeated his foes, the more protection the Lin Family could obtain from larger sects, and the better positioned they would be in the face of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s retaliation. Realizing these things, Lin Tianming charged into the fray like a man possessed. At that moment, he was like a ghost, his spectral figure darting freely among the crowd. Wherever he set his sights, the cultivators he targeted would be caught in a pincer attack. ... In the ensuing chaos, and with the cooperation of cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, Lin Tianming struck repeatedly, each blow inflicting serious harm or outright killing a cultivator below the rank of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. In the blink of an eye, the great battle was drawing to a close. At this time, the cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect were in full retreat. From the over twenty comrades who had joined this epic battle, only eleven survived till now, most of them wounded. Meanwhile high above the battlefield, Chen Jianbin was locked in fierce combat with Yang Chen, having exchanged scores of blows. Yang Chen, already injured, was hard-pressed to keep up. As the battle intensified, his wounds worsened, and it seemed he might be cut down by Chen Jianbin at any moment. But even so, Yang Chen¡¯s morale was far from low. His coalition was riding the tide of victory, and aside from himself and He Xin, the others held an absolute advantage. If things kept up at this pace, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the battle elsewhere was over. Yang Chen and He Xin just needed to hold Chen Jianbin off for a while longer, and sooner or later he¡¯d be overwhelmed. At that point, Chen Jianbin would face certain death. At this moment, Chen Jianbin glanced over at his comrades and saw that their situation was dire. If things continued this way, defeat was only a matter of time. Realizing this, even though Chen Jianbin had the upper hand against Yang Chen, he still planned to retreat. After all, continuing the fight would mean slim chances of victory, and they would likely meet their end here. With this in mind, Chen Jianbin¡¯s offensive suddenly became more ferocious. As Chen Jianbin fought desperately like a cornered animal, Yang Chen faced increasing pressure. But he also understood that this was Chen Jianbin¡¯s final frenzy, and if he could hold out a little longer, victory would be within reach. Realizing this, Yang Chen clung to Chen Jianbin fiercely, not giving him a single opportunity to escape. Seeing his attacks were ineffective, Chen Jianbin grew increasingly agitated, his demeanor bordering on madness. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In his desperation, Chen Jianbin flung his sleeve, and a Third Order Attack Talisman flew from his grasp. In an instant, the Third Order Talisman transformed into a Golden Light Greatsword, hurtling towards Yang Chen with extreme speed. As the Golden Light Greatsword appeared, its formidable presence caused the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth to churn chaotically. In this moment, everyone¡¯s attention was captured by the Golden Light Greatsword, each observing the outcome of this confrontation. Seeing the Third Order Attack Talisman unleashed by Chen Jianbin, Yang Chen¡¯s face turned pale, and he desperately tried to dodge. As the Golden Light Greatsword drew ever closer, Yang Chen¡¯s expression grew exceedingly grave, hardly believing Chen Jianbin could be so richly endowed. It was known that Chen Jianbin had used a Third Order Attack Talisman to obstruct their retreat during the scramble for the Jiuli Star Fruits. If not for Long Qingshui having threatened him with the Jiuli Star Fruits back then, causing him to waste a Third Order Attack Talisman, they might have already been heavily hit during the retreat. And since the ambush of the Fire Scale Python, Chen Jianbin had used several Third Order Attack Talismans by now. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a case, to still have a Third Order Talisman on his person was beyond imagination. Considering it carefully, those many Attack Talismans couldn¡¯t possibly belong to Chen Jianbin himself but were most likely specially bestowed by the higher-ups of the Golden Sword Sect. This action must have been intentional. Thinking about it, no wonder Chen Jianbin had been so composed all along, so calmly collected. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± As the Golden Light Greatsword bore down, it quickly descended above Yang Chen¡¯s head. With no way to avoid it, Yang Chen, while retreating explosively, flashed a small blue shield in his hand, which then enveloped him securely in its light. He was well aware of how powerful a Third Order Attack Talisman could be, an artifact whose might far exceeded that of any Second Order Talisman, and even the casual strike of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator couldn¡¯t compare. Given the situation, this Third Order Talisman represented a lethal threat. Even though he had once withstood a blow from a Golden Core Cultivator, that was merely a test from an elder, who had not put forth full strength. Thus, facing this deadly strike from Chen Jianbin, he had to commit his full strength just to have a sliver of hope for survival. Understanding this, Yang Chen poured a vast amount of Spiritual Power into the Defense Artifact in his hand. An instant later, in front of him stood a dazzling water-blue shield, its surface shimming with brilliant light. A closer look revealed that the small blue shield was a High Grade Second Order Defense Artifact, and the aura it emitted was testament to its extremely high quality. After all these preparations, Yang Chen, still not reassured, activated several Second Order Defense Talismans, creating multiple barriers in front of him. Chapter 713 713 388 Save the Scene_2 ?Chapter 713: Chapter 388: Save the Scene_2 Chapter 713: Chapter 388: Save the Scene_2 ¡°` At this moment, Yang Chen had exhausted all his defensive means. If he could withstand this deadly strike, Chen Jianbin would have no hope of victory. Otherwise, Chen Jianbin would either have to flee or leave his life behind here. Both of them were very clear about such an outcome, and at this moment, they were both doing their utmost. Not far from the two combatants, another cultivator was also staring intently at their battlefield. In their eyes, this strike could very well be the key to victory for both parties and could provide a clear insight into the entire battle situation. With such intent, all the bystanders were eager to see the result. ... ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds rang out, and in an instant, flashes of red and blue light swept across the heavens and earth, subsequently intertwining. Under the scrutiny of the onlookers, several barriers formed by Second Order Defense Talismans were shattered, easily broken through by the Golden Light Greatsword. And these high-quality Second Order Defense Talismans simply could not withstand the Golden Light Greatsword for even a moment, which was simply inconceivable. However, from this, one could see just how terrifying the attack strength of a Third Order Talisman was. Nevertheless, the Golden Light Greatsword did not pause at all and continued to surge towards Yang Chen, clearly intent on slaughtering him there and then. At that moment, Yang Chen had no way to dodge and was prepared to deal with this fatal strike. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another explosive sound echoed, this strike¡¯s noise far exceeding any before. Not only that, but as the Golden Light Greatsword slammed into Yang Chen¡¯s Defense Artifact, a powerful shockwave spread forth, knocking the two closest cultivators head over heels, their blood churning and soon blood spilled from the corners of their mouths. At this time, a huge crack appeared on the Defense Artifact in front of Yang Chen, which seemed to have lost much of its spirituality and was almost rendered useless. Subsequently, the Golden Light Greatsword began to dissipate, eventually fading into nothingness in the sky. Simultaneously, Yang Chen was sent flying backwards, and while still in mid-air, blood continuously poured from his mouth, his face turning extremely pale. With a thud, Yang Chen smashed into the ground, his expression dazed, struggling sporadically as though trying to get up. Despite his serious injuries and his great effort, he still couldn¡¯t stand up. Nevertheless, his vital force was still present, and his consciousness gradually regained some clarity. At this moment, his face pale, a faint smile appeared. In his eyes, after expending so many methods and taking such great risks, he had finally managed to successfully block the fatal strike. However, before he could catch his breath, Chen Jianbin lunged towards him, seeming to want to deliver one more strike to kill him there. This action immediately drew the attention of everyone. Especially the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley, their faces pale, they cursed from afar. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Chen Jianbin, you¡¯re courting death!¡± ¡°Chen Jianbin, don¡¯t be arrogant, I will come and meet you myself!¡± ¡°¡­¡± A number of cultivators, in a hurry, advanced to intercept Chen Jianbin¡¯s attack. However, at this time, the majority of Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s disciples were obstructed by the Golden Sword Sect Disciples, or they were too far away to provide timely support to the defenseless Yang Chen. In a moment of shock and anger, a dark shadow darted through the void like a ghost. In the blink of an eye, the shadow had already arrived in front of Yang Chen. When the dark shadow stabilized its figure, it was revealed that the person was none other than Lin Tianming, who had been drifting among various battlefields, without a doubt. Because Lin Tianming was not too far from Yang Chen and was not deeply mired, coupled with his ghostly speed, he had moved closer to this side before Chen Jianbin could activate the Third Order Attack Talisman. He knew very well that the attack power of a Third Order Talisman should not be underestimated, and ordinary means would likely not withstand even a fleeting moment. However, as Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s genius disciple, with a Sky Spirit Root talent that was unparalleled in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, And his own strength being sufficiently formidable, neither would his possessions and treasures. With his talent and strength, the higher-ups of Myriad Medicine Valley would certainly not be stingy, and they would have granted him some life-preserving treasures. ¡°` Yang Chen indeed did not disappoint, unleashing a large number of second-order defense talismans, coupled with that extremely valuable defense artifact, which truly matched his status. In such a situation, relying on his own strength, as well as the enviable defense artifact, he finally found a sliver of a chance at survival. As for Lin Tianming, he had anticipated some outcomes in advance. Therefore, he had arrived early to prevent Chen Jianbin from making a kill. Sure enough, seeing Yang Chen heavily injured and completely at the mercy of others, Chen Jianbin did not decide to quit while he was ahead and retreat, but instead wanted to seize this rare opportunity to take Yang Chen¡¯s life in one fell swoop. But at this moment, Lin Tianming stood in front of Yang Chen, unknowingly clutching a red-blue fireball in his hand. At a glance, the fireball in his hand burned and danced. Aside from the color, its other characteristics seemed quite ordinary. However, a careful feel would reveal that the temperature between heaven and earth suddenly increased by several degrees, quickly reaching a terrifying level. At this time, Chen Jianbin saw Lin Tianming blocking the way and hesitated. He had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s recent skirmish. Such a fierce star, ruthless and brutal, yet his strength was indeed formidable; even he himself could not confidently claim to surely defeat Lin Tianming. At this moment, he was uncertain whether to stop and seize the chance to retreat. But seeing Yang Chen¡¯s condition after being heavily injured made him hesitate. After all, Yang Chen was a cultivator with a Sky Spirit Root, who had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm by just over forty years of age. With such speed in cultivation, he always held the title of the number one prodigy in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and his strength was indeed formidable, overshadowing many other cultivators. Including himself, although he was also the number one prodigy of the Golden Sword Sect, when it came to prodigies in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the first person that came to mind was usually Yang Chen. Thinking of these things made Chen Jianbin feel some resentment. Despite being excellent himself, he was always over-looked by those cultivators. In such a situation, now that there was a chance to kill the top prodigy and replace Yang Chen, who could remain unmoved? Who could give up such a golden opportunity? Chen Jianbin couldn¡¯t do it, he still took a gamble, resolving to take the risk. Whether he succeeded or not, he wouldn¡¯t stay here afterwards. Thinking this, Chen Jianbin, without any hesitation, crazily channeled a great amount of spiritual power into the attack artifact in his hand. As a sword qi condensed above his head, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth began to surge. This strike, Chen Jianbin exerted all his power, vowing to kill all the enemies blocking him. With this resolution, as the sword qi took position, Chen Jianbin no longer delayed. He cast a spell incantation, muttering words under his breath. Immediately afterward, he activated it, directing the sword qi straight toward Yang Chen¡¯s vital areas. And at that moment, Lin Tianming also unleashed the fireball in his hand, clashing head-on with the sword qi. ¡°Booming thunder¡­¡± A sound of thunderstorm echoed through heaven and earth. In an instant, the fireball and sword qi collided, the sky suddenly burst into flames, the powerful shockwave swept across the surroundings, quickly spreading out. Then, suddenly, a mushroom cloud appeared between heaven and earth. At this point, everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the main battlefield, eager to see who was stronger or weaker, Lin Tianming the vicious star or Chen Jianbin the madman. However, the light was too dazzling, and for a moment, it was difficult to see the outcome of this strike. But time passed quickly, and as the light gradually faded, the figures of Lin Tianming and the others were revealed. At that time, Lin Tianming looked calm, with a trace of fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto the ground. Chen Jianbin, on the other hand, also spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his face pale and bloodless, then his expression suddenly turned incredibly grim. He truly did not expect that his vicious strike from just before would actually be caught by Lin Tianming. The powerful shockwave had made both of them shake, with their blood and energy tumbling, suffering no light internal injuries. Chapter 714 714 389 Annihilation_1 ?Chapter 714: Chapter 389 Annihilation_1 Chapter 714: Chapter 389 Annihilation_1 However, Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and although the strike was powerful, his stronger physique meant that the injury he sustained was not severe, and his strength was hardly affected. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Jianbin¡¯s condition at the moment, however, was much worse. After all, he had been embroiled in life-and-death battles all day, his strength extremely depleted, and he was already injured beforehand, which somewhat affected his prowess. Yet Lin Tianming¡¯s strength truly was formidable, as he managed to gain a slight upper hand in a head-on clash. However, at this point, Chen Jianbin had no time to concern himself with that. In his eyes, the completion of this exchange without achieving his goal meant that his plans had utterly failed. With Lin Tianming present, he saw no possibility of killing Yang Chen. ... In such a situation, what he should be concerned about was how to make a full retreat. Realizing this, Chen Jianbin consecutively triggered more than a dozen Second Order Attack Talismans, creating a sky full of Sword Qi that bombarded Lin Tianming, who was closest to him. Immediately after, his figure twisted as he hastily began a tactical retreat. At the same time, his booming voice echoed across the entire battlefield. ¡°All Golden Sword Sect disciples, prepare to retreat!¡± As soon as his words fell, Chen Jianbin had already retreated over a hundred zhang. And other Golden Sword Sect disciples, upon hearing his words, all shot toward the direction Chen Jianbin was retreating to. Seeing this action, Yang Chen, who had just recovered a bit, was both shocked and enraged, and quickly shouted out loud. ¡°They¡¯re trying to escape, we must stop them!¡± As Yang Chen spoke, He Xin on the other side was equally anxious, yelling from afar. ¡°All Zhenyang Sect disciples, at all costs, prevent them from escaping!¡± In fact, even if Yang Chen and the others didn¡¯t say anything, disciples from both sects would not let them escape easily. At this moment, aside from the badly injured Yang Chen, everyone was shocked and enraged, following the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ footsteps as they retreated. They had been guarding against the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s possible escape all along. And now, as expected, Chen Jianbin, seeing that he couldn¡¯t win, intended to retreat and save himself. This situation was not easily come by. Keep in mind, after failing to capture the Jiuli Star Fruit, as they retreated, they were closely chased down, almost losing their lives at the hands of Chen Jianbin and his men. Recalling that dire situation, it was equally difficult, with many fellow disciples falling at the hands of Golden Sword Sect disciples. And after being caught up to, they were essentially forced into a desperate last stand. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan joining their ranks, boosting their strength considerably, especially Lin Tianming¡¯s dominance in battle, single-handedly breaking the balance between the two sides, it would¡¯ve been hard to say whether they could¡¯ve achieved victory relying only on themselves. Understanding this, the current situation, which had finally turned around, meant that the disciples from both sects naturally wouldn¡¯t pass up the chance to beat the enemy while they were down. Such a committed approach had plenty of motive behind it, not only to vent their frustrations but also to reclaim what they had lost. After all, Chen Jianbin had nine Jiuli Star Fruits and an intact Fire Scale Beast corpse in his possession. Besides, the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ year of adventuring and treasure hunting must have yielded many gains, not to mention the treasures collected from the cultivators they had killed. So much treasure was now within reach. Once obtained, they could not only recoup their losses but also far exceed what they had before. With such interests at stake, it is likely that no one would forsake such an excellent opportunity to turn the tables. For this reason, the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were clear on what to do and acted promptly. And Lin Tianming was even quicker, charging towards Chen Jianbin as soon as he made his move. At this moment, facing the obstruction of these Second Order Attack Talismans, Lin Tianming opened the Eye of Five Colors. No matter how numerous or dense the attacks were, he could easily find the best path to evade them, allowing him to respond most effectively in the shortest time. His speed was very fast, and he quickly closed the gap by dozens of zhang. Seeing Lin Tianming react so swiftly, faster even than himself, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face turned extremely grim. This way, he feared he wouldn¡¯t get far before being caught by Lin Tianming. By then, he would yet again be trapped in dire straits. Even knowing this, Chen Jianbin had no means to counter the situation. He had long exhausted his high-powered treasures, and his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted, leaving him unable to engage in prolonged combat. Only he understood his current state. At this moment, Chen Jianbin was in a panic, his face looking exceptionally grim, no longer possessing the confidence he had at the beginning of the fight. It wasn¡¯t just him, at this time, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were all pale and bloodless, ignoring the pursuit behind them, and quickly converging in Chen Jianbin¡¯s direction. Meanwhile, the disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect appeared fierce and relentless, closely pursuing the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples. Quickly, Lin Tianming broke through the blockade and arrived behind Chen Jianbin. At this time, they were merely a hundred zhang apart, fully within attacking range. Watching the fleeing Chen Jianbin, Lin Tianming waved his hand and released several streaks of Sword Qi, blocking Chen Jianbin¡¯s escape paths from several directions. Chapter 715 715 389 Annihilation_2 ?Chapter 715: Chapter 389: Annihilation_2 Chapter 715: Chapter 389: Annihilation_2 Immediately following that, Lin Tianming unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi Seventh Sword, targeting the vital parts of Chen Jianbin. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming catching up and launching an attack, Chen Jianbin found himself unable to fend for himself. This instant, Chen Jianbin¡¯s expression was one of rage as he hurriedly dodged. Meanwhile, he turned around and forcefully propelled an attack toward the Tiangang Sword Qi that Lin Tianming had sent his way. ¡°Bang¡­¡± After a loud explosion, the attack Chen Jianbin had hastily launched was unable to withstand the Tiangang Sword, barely holding up for a half breath before being pierced through. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immediately afterward, the Tiangang Sword continued on its path, undiminished in speed, toward him. ... By the time Chen Jianbin had just avoided a few strikes of Sword Qi, facing the unstoppable Tiangang Sword, he found himself with nowhere to escape. In his desperation, Chen Jianbin slapped his storage bag and brought out a high-grade Second Order Defense Artifact to shield himself. In the nick of time, a small golden shield appeared in front of Chen Jianbin, enveloping him completely in its protection. Only when the Spiritual Light flowed over the shield did Chen Jianbin finally heave a sigh of relief. He had full confidence in this high-grade Second Order Defense Artifact; it possessed formidable defensive power and was one of the protective treasures bestowed to him by the higher echelons of the Golden Sword Sect. With this item for defense, even a casual blow from a Golden Core Cultivator could be resisted to some degree. Sure enough, the Tiangang Sword Qi propelled by Lin Tianming struck directly onto the small shield. The attack was so powerful that even a Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment cultivator would need to be fully prepared to face it. However, when it hit Chen Jianbin¡¯s Defense Artifact, it only caused a slight crack before being deflected away by the powerful impact. Yet this was to be expected; after all, Chen Jianbin¡¯s counterattack had held it off for a moment, depleting some of its force. By the end, the attack naturally wasn¡¯t as strong as it had been at the outset. Lin Tianming was well aware of this and, as the Tiangang Sword was deflected, he did not stop his pursuit but accelerated even further. Immediately following, he caught the rebounding Tiangang Sword in his backhand and, with an unbelievable speed, closed in on Chen Jianbin. At that point, his ethereal figure swooped down like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, pouring incredible power into the Tiangang Sword. Before Chen Jianbin could recover, the Tiangang Sword slammed directly onto his Defense Artifact. ¡°Boom!¡± A booming sound erupted, followed by a relentless succession. Within view, Lin Tianming¡¯s sword strikes landed on the small shield in front of Chen Jianbin one after another, a continuous flow without a hint of stopping. At that moment, Lin Tianming unleashed his full might, channeling the utmost physical strength into each strike, leaving a multitude of cracks on Chen Jianbin¡¯s Defense Artifact. Simultaneously, the powerful rebounding force sent Chen Jianbin flying backward. Chen Jianbin, now in full retreat, felt each strike transmit a reverberating force through his body, churning his blood and qi within. Soon, blood overflowed from the corners of Chen Jianbin¡¯s mouth, his complexion growing ever more pale. For his part, Lin Tianming showed no sign of relenting. His attacks grew stronger wave by wave, as if he knew no fatigue. As they clashed in offense and defense, deafening sounds came from several directions behind them. With a shrill scream, the first Golden Sword Sect disciple trying to flee was caught and slain by Long Qingshui. The first to fall in this retreat was Zheng Xiao, a Loose Cultivator who had once joined Lin Tianming in the great battle of Yuyao City. Immediately after, a second cultivator screamed in agony as another was caught and killed on the spot. With two consecutive deaths, the remaining Golden Sword Sect disciples were stricken with panic. Under their unsettled state of mind, their speed further decreased. Seeing this, the cultivators from the two Sects pounced like tigers and wolves, seizing the opportunity to firmly drag them into the fray. In no time, numerous Golden Sword Sect disciples found themselves caught in the frenzied pursuit of Sect Cultivators from the two Great Sects. And at the very front, Lin Tianming, who had already pounded more than ten times in a row, finally broke through when, after a loud explosion, the small shield in front of Chen Jianbin dissipated. At that moment, Chen Jianbin¡¯s face was deathly pale, his entire being weakened and despondent. Under the relentless attacks from Lin Tianming, his defense artifact had been shattered, resulting in a significant loss of spirituality and leaving it incapable of providing effective protection any longer. What was serious was that he had sustained heavy injuries; his internal organs were nearly displaced, and his veins were in complete disarray. Now, his strength was greatly diminished, his spiritual power nearly depleted, incapable of withstanding several more attacks. In this desperate situation, Chen Jianbin had a vacant look in his eyes, knowing full well that escape was impossible. And at this time, Lin Tianming certainly wasn¡¯t going to give him any chance to recover. As the small shield in front of Chen Jianbin dissipated, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy and, seizing the moment, he thrust his sword forth, piercing straight through Chen Jianbin¡¯s chest. A tragic scream echoed, followed by the sight of Chen Jianbin¡¯s figure collapsing to the ground. A moment later, Lin Tianming ceased his advance and steadied his stance. Turning around to look at Chen Jianbin, he saw him lying motionless on the ground, blood still pouring out from the hole in his chest, spreading across the floor. Chen Jianbin, acting on instinct, twitched a few times but soon showed no signs of life. Seeing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He then turned to look at the others, noticing that only seven disciples from the Golden Sword Sect remained alive. Glancing over them, they each had a look of despair, their vitality extremely weak, with each one facing the onslaught of at least two opponents. They were already at a disadvantage, their spiritual power depleted, and with their severe injuries, they stood no chance against the two-to-three-person encirclement. At this rate, they were bound to be annihilated at any moment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming had no intention of taking further action; after all, their fate was sealed, and there was no need for him to usurp other people¡¯s credit. Since they were all sect cultivators who had previously been hunted by Chen Jianbin and others, now with a chance for vengeance, there was no point in him joining the needless slaughter and inviting unnecessary trouble. Understanding this, Lin Tianming then approached Chen Jianbin¡¯s corpse. He raised his hand and searched the body, finding several storage bags, which he collected. Following that, he quickly took possession of Chen Jianbin¡¯s attack talisman as well as his defense artifact. He had long coveted these items, and now that Chen Jianbin had died at his hands, he naturally took first control over these spoils. After all, these were his and the entire Lin Family¡¯s capital for receiving protection from the two sects; he couldn¡¯t just hand them over lightly. Having done all this, he stood aside and began to focus on the remaining battlefield. Now, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were being pushed back, clearly no match for the united cultivators from both sects. In less than the time it took to brew a cup of tea, with the fall of the last disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, tranquility slowly returned to the world. The current state of the battlefield was a disaster, with dozens of corpses strewn about the ground, the majority of which belonged to the Golden Sword Sect disciples, though there were also some from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, albeit in smaller numbers. After this fierce battle, tranquility had finally been restored to the valley. However, the remnants of ruined walls and the land dyed red with blood painted a grim picture, bearing witness to the ruthlessness of the conflict. At that time, the fifteen surviving cultivators from the two sects ceased fighting, each finally displaying expressions of exhilaration for having survived the ordeal. Not long afterwards, the disciples from both sects gathered again, forming two camps as they faced each other. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan, however, stayed quietly in a corner some distance away, waiting for the next development. Soon, after a private discussion between Yang Chen and He Xin, the two approached Lin Tianming. Yang Chen¡¯s complexion had improved significantly, but with his serious injuries, his strength was probably less than thirty percent of its full capacity. He Xin too had been seriously injured earlier and had forcefully participated in a great battle with great exhaustion, his power clearly nothing to fear. Chapter 716 716 390 Closure of the Secret Realm_1 ?Chapter 716: Chapter 390: Closure of the Secret Realm_1 Chapter 716: Chapter 390: Closure of the Secret Realm_1 Both of them coming alone also showed their respective goodwill. At this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh of relief; he had truly been afraid that they would betray him and make a move against him after crossing the bridge. If that were the case, it would indeed be difficult for him to come up with a countermeasure. After all, having gone through this great battle, he had successively slain several Golden Sword Sect Disciples, thoroughly offending the Golden Sword Sect, with no possibility of reconciliation. And when he initially chose to join them and lend his full support, he had already taken a stand with the two Great Sects. Now that the battle was over, the greatest share of the treasure resources was in his hands. Indeed, these items were of great value, concerning whether the cultivators present could achieve Core Formation. ... Even a genius disciple from Myriad Medicine Valley like Yang Chen would surely covet them greatly. If he had misjudged them and they decided to kill and rob him, with the two groups combined, there were still more than a dozen people; he naturally would not be able to contend with them alone. Therefore, he had to be on guard all the time to prevent all the hard-earned gains from becoming someone else¡¯s wedding dress. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was very cautious and always ready to retreat. Luckily, his worries were somewhat superfluous. Yang Chen and He Xin coming alone to meet up clearly understood what Lin Tianming was worried about, so they didn¡¯t rally their fellow Sect members, to prevent Lin Tianming from misunderstanding. In response to their demonstrated goodwill, Lin Tianming smiled with relief. Seeing this reaction from Lin Tianming, Yang Chen and the others were quite satisfied. Especially Yang Chen, who had been severely injured by Chen Jianbin before, barely surviving the blow from a Third Order Attack Talisman. Thankfully, Lin Tianming stepped in to save the day; otherwise, he would have likely perished there. Understanding this, Yang Chen bowed to Lin Tianming and sincerely expressed his thanks. ¡°Daoist Lin, thanks to the strong support from you and another, otherwise, the disciples of our two sects might have faced grim prospects!¡± Before he had finished speaking, He Xin, with a solemn expression, also chimed in. ¡°Daoist Yang is right, the battle was indeed perilous; if it weren¡¯t for the two Daoists¡¯ selfless aid, even if we had managed to win, the cost might have been frightful.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hands and humbly replied, ¡°You two Daoists are too polite!¡± ¡°Daoist Hu and I are also people of principle; Golden Sword Sect¡¯s actions were treacherous, breaking faith, and causing trouble without cause.¡± ¡°Since we encountered it, we naturally had to draw swords to help, doing just our duty as upright cultivators.¡± Hearing these words, Yang Chen and the others nodded, becoming even more pleased with Lin Tianming. However, even so, the two did not lose their heads, as there was still a matter that was inevitable to discuss, no matter what. Understanding this, Yang Chen glanced at He Xin, and they exchanged a look. Then, He Xin spoke first: ¡°Daoist Yang, you do the talking!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen gave an embarrassed smile and then got straight to the point. ¡°Daoist Lin, let¡¯s not beat around the bush; the importance of the Jiuli Star Fruit to our two sects goes without saying, and I¡¯m sure you also know our purpose in coming.¡± ¡°So, I won¡¯t hide anything; may I ask if Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag could be examined by us, and if the Jiuli Star Fruit as well as the Fire Scale Beast¡¯s corpse could be entrusted to us for safekeeping?¡± Having said this, Yang Chen and the others anxiously stared at Lin Tianming, their hearts in turmoil, seemingly in a difficult position. In their minds, the Jiuli Star Fruit belonged to the three Sects communally, and entering the Secret Realm, their primary purpose was for this item. And the Fire Scale Beast, jointly killed by their three Sects, was also part of their spoils of war. If this battle had allowed Chen Jianbin to escape and return to his Sect, then they would have no recourse but to let the senior members of their Sects take care of the matter. But now that Chen Jianbin was dead, they had managed to reclaim the items, which were now in Lin Tianming¡¯s control. And if they wanted to get them back without causing conflict, they would need to secure Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement. While Lin Tianming taking Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag was a move they could understand. After all, Chen Jianbin had died at his hands, and even though Yang Chen had contributed a lot in the fight, Lin Tianming¡¯s role in the battle was crucial. It could even be said, he was the biggest factor in their victory. Emotionally and rationally, it was reasonable for Lin Tianming to claim the spoils of war. However, they didn¡¯t care about Chen Jianbin¡¯s personal wealth, but the Jiuli Star Fruit and the Fire Scale Beast¡¯s carcass had to be in their own hands at all costs. Those items were not just for themselves, after all; the Sect had tasked them with bringing back the Jiuli Star Fruit. In such a situation, to complete the mission given by the Sect, even at the risk of offending Lin Tianming, they had to make an attempt. If they could resolve the matter peacefully, it would be ideal for everyone. But if Lin Tianming still refused to hand them over, even if they were reluctant to fight, they would have no choice but to use force to compel him. Fully aware of this, Yang Chen and the others did not want to push Lin Tianming too hard, to avoid unnecessary trouble. At this time, Lin Tianming also understood what Yang Chen and the others meant, and he too felt somewhat troubled. After all, with the Jiuli Star Fruit in his possession, he had the leverage to negotiate conditions. Realizing this, Lin Tianming wore a troubled expression and then replied, ¡°I fully understand the difficulties you two Daoists face!¡± ¡°However, these items were hard-won by myself, and it would be difficult to ask me to hand them all over!¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 717 717 390 Secret Realm Closure_2 ?Chapter 717: Chapter 390 Secret Realm Closure_2 Chapter 717: Chapter 390 Secret Realm Closure_2 ¡°After careful consideration, I have concluded that after killing the Fire Scale Python, its body rightfully belongs to you,¡± ¡°As for the nine Jiuli Star Fruit, I will take out six and hand them over for you to divide equally. The remaining three will be kept by me until we exit the Secret Realm, at which point I¡¯ll hand it over to the higher-ups of both Sects to decide, if that¡¯s agreeable?¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Chen and the other person exchanged a glance and fell silent for a moment, communicating privately through voice transmission to discuss their opinions. Soon, Yang Chen and the other person seemed to reach an agreement. Subsequently, Yang Chen and He Xin both spoke up, indicating their agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s proposal. However, they had a condition: Lin Tianming must act together with them during this time. Once they exit the Secret Realm, they would certainly report the truth to the Sect leaders. Beyond that, the two of them solemnly swore that they would definitely speak to their merits on his behalf. ... As for rewards, they could not decide that themselves; it would have to be determined after consultation between the leaders of the two Sects. Hearing these words, Lin Tianming reflected and then refrained from making any further difficult demands. After all, neither he nor the entire Lin Family currently had the strength to stand against either Sect, especially right under their watchful eyes. Being too aggressive could easily provoke the ire of both Sects. If it came to that, the Lin Family might have to face the wrath of all three Sects. Should that truly happen, it would be the most troublesome situation and precisely the scenario he least wanted to see. Therefore, he decided it was wiser to accept the favorable turn of events and be content with what he had. Once the matter was settled, Lin Tianming briefly examined Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag and quickly found the nine Jiuli Star Fruit and the complete body of the Fire Scale Python. Though reluctant, he still transferred six of the Jiuli Star Fruit and the body of the Fire Scale Python to Yang Chen in accordance with their agreement. After completing these tasks, the three of them let out sighs of relief, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. They subsequently engaged in casual conversation, chatting on and off. After some interaction, the three parties who had cooperated warmed up to each other considerably, and the mutual wariness between them diminished significantly. Yang Chen and He Xin also sincerely admired Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, After all, the battle had just ended, and his formidable combat power and brutal methods were still resonating in their minds. Furthermore, upon learning that Lin Tianming was also in his forties and possessed strength not inferior to theirs, they were greatly shocked. It should be noted that Yang Chen was a Sky Spirit Root cultivator and came from a powerful force like the Myriad Medicine Valley. With over forty years of cultivation, his cultivation level and strength were just what they were. And Lin Tianming hailed from a declining small family; the resources available for his cultivation were incomparable. Yet even so, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was still formidable, not at all weaker than the top cultivators of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In the eyes of Yang Chen and the other person, they felt wary in their hearts towards such a genius cultivator. A short while passed. While the two were chatting, the cultivators of the two Sects cleaned up the battlefield, and the land began to show signs of life again. At this time, looking over the valley again, it bore little trace of battle after the thorough clean-up by the Sect cultivators. All of the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ storage bags had been collected. The Golden Sword Sect disciples that Lin Tianming had personally killed were disposed of without a trace by Li Xiuyuan. As for their storage bags, Li Xiuyuan personally delivered them back to him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming did not refuse the kind gesture and unhesitatingly took them. After all, these people were elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and their personal wealth was surely not insignificant. The Lin Family was in a period of rapid development, and resources needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators were extremely scarce. He would not willingly give up anything that was rightly his. Besides these people, he had already collected the storage bags of Chen Jianbin and Du Changqing. Both individuals¡¯ status and strength were not low, and the total number of storage bags gathered was well over ten. He believed that after going through the storage bags, he would definitely find many valuable items. At this time, Lin Tianming was visibly excited, almost unable to wait. However, since he was currently with Yang Chen and the others, it indeed was not the time to tally his gains. Lin Tianming forcefully suppressed the urge in his heart and then waited for the arrangements of Yang Chen and the other person. After a discussion between Yang Chen and his companion, they decided to stay in the same place to cultivate in a retreat, waiting directly for the secret realm to close. Anyway, there was only half a month left, and if they continued to hunt for treasures, there wouldn¡¯t be enough time. Besides, almost every cultivator from their two sects was injured, among which several, including Yang Chen, were seriously wounded, their strength drastically reduced. Under such conditions, it was not suitable to take any action. In response, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan naturally had no objections. In their minds, this trip had already reaped a bounty beyond expectations, so there was no need to take any more risks. Thus, after greeting Yang Chen and the others, Lin Tianming and his companion returned to the temporary cave abode they had created earlier. As for Yang Chen and the others, they each carved out several cave abodes in the valley, all the cultivators entering a short period of secluded cultivation. Once Lin Tianming entered the cave abode, he also immediately entered a state of cultivation. This action was clearly his plan to directly wait for the day the secret realm would close. In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed. At noon that day, in a valley within the Tianfeng Mountain Range, the entrance to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm was located there. Following the sound of a piercing through the air, the figure of a cultivator appeared soon after. This person was dressed in a golden Daoist robe with a pattern of a blazing sun embroidered on the chest, and upon closer inspection, it was undoubtedly Zhu Yun, responsible for welcoming disciples from the Zhenyang Sect. At this time, Zhu Yun glanced over the valley and noticed that Song Hanchun of Golden Sword Sect had already arrived earlier. Even from a distance, Song Hanchun greeted him with great enthusiasm. ¡°Daoist Zhu, the yearly cycle is soon to come, and the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm is about to close. You¡¯ve come quite early!¡± After speaking, Song Hanchun looked at Zhu Yun, a barely noticeable sly smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. At that moment, Zhu Yun saw the smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile on Song Hanchun¡¯s face and frowned slightly, feeling something off but unable to pinpoint what exactly it was. However, faced with Song Hanchun¡¯s pleasantries, he still started to respond. ¡°Heh, Daoist Song, this time you are even earlier than me!¡± ¡°Not at all¡­ I just came out two days early to get some fresh air and by the way meet with you and the other Daoist!¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually Daoist Luo who always appears last, but with only a few days remaining, he should be arriving soon, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhu Yun nodded as well, noting that Luo Anzhong from Myriad Medicine Valley was the last to arrive last time, and it¡¯s the same this time, not lacking in grandeur. Regaining his composure, Zhu Yun exchanged a few more words with Song Hanchun and then each chose a mountaintop to sit cross-legged on. Two days later, Luo Anzhong from Myriad Medicine Valley appeared. After greeting each other, the three of them stood by and waited for the final moment to arrive. Another three days went by. That day, around noon, a strong wind suddenly blew through the sky in the middle of the three men, and the ground also trembled slightly. All three felt this rumble at the same time and instantly leaped into the air. Then, working together, they took out a fiery red jade token and flung it upwards into the sky. At the same time, they made hand signs with their Law Decrees, shooting a beam of light that hit the jade token precisely. ¡°Open Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm!¡± The three shouted in unison. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± After a shaking of the earth and mountains, a passageway appeared in the dim sky, swaying as if it might collapse at any moment. Seeing this, the three continuously bombarded the jade token with their spiritual power, infusing the passageway with energy to stabilize it. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few breaths later, the three¡¯s faces turned red, evidently having expended a lot of energy. Nevertheless, the passageway eventually became stable. Watching the secret realm reopen, the three¡¯s expressions gradually returned to normal, and they looked much more relaxed. Then, they fixed their eyes on the secret realm entrance, eagerly hoping to see the appearance of their sect¡¯s junior members. ¡­ Chapter 718 718 391 Golden Core Battle_1 ?Chapter 718: Chapter 391 Golden Core Battle_1 Chapter 718: Chapter 391 Golden Core Battle_1 Especially Song Hanchun, whose entire being was filled with anticipation, his heart even quietly contemplating the scene of Chen Jianbin and the others returning fully laden with treasures. Besides that, he was also secretly guessing what expression Luo Anzhong and the other would have once they saw that all the younger generation of their Sect had been wiped out. Would they explode in rage? ¡°Heh, heh¡­ I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not even what will anger you the most!¡± At this moment, Song Hanchun wore a sneer, his heart pondering the scenes he would soon witness. Luo Anzhong and the other, however, were completely unaware of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s plans and could not comprehend what Song Hanchun was thinking. Less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed. ... As a figure emerged from the Secret Realm, it immediately attracted the attention of Zhu Yun and the other two. Looking over, the first person to come out from the Secret Realm was Yang Chen from Myriad Medicine Valley. Soon after, seven more Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators appeared in succession behind him. Following the appearance of the remaining eight from Myriad Medicine Valley, the seven from Zhenyang Sect closely followed. In just a few moments, fifteen people emerged from the passage in quick succession, with eight from Myriad Medicine Valley and seven from Zhenyang Sect. Only after both Sects¡¯ members did Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan make their appearances. Following them, two Loose Cultivators emerged from the passage. The two Loose Cultivators were unfamiliar in appearance and their aura was not recognizable, suggesting they hadn¡¯t had contact before. By now, nineteen people had appeared from the Secret Realm, with the cultivators from Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley waiting on different hilltops. Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan waited in a corner. The other two Loose Cultivators, who had not made an appearance in the Secret Realm and had not been involved in the feud between the three major Sects, were also able to leave smoothly. With Golden Core Cultivators present, they too waited politely to the side, seemingly intending to listen to further instructions. As the passage remained quiet for a long time, with no new cultivators emerging, Song Hanchun from Golden Sword Sect, while infusing mana to maintain the operation of the passage, wore an expectant look. After a while, as no new cultivators appeared from the passage, Song Hanchun began to realize something was amiss. At this moment, Song Hanchun observed Yang Chen and the others from Myriad Medicine Valley and noticed that their auras were not stable, clearly suggesting they had recently been in a great battle and their injuries were not yet healed. However, thinking of the disciples from Golden Sword Sect who had yet to appear for so long, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression became puzzled. Yet, upon careful consideration of the Sect¡¯s plans, he did not believe that the Golden Sword Sect disciples would stumble so early on, much less be completely annihilated. However, as no disciple from Golden Sword Sect had appeared for quite some time, Luo Anzhong, who was still maintaining the passage, grew displeased and couldn¡¯t help but urge them on. ¡°Song Daoist friend, your Golden Sword Sect disciples haven¡¯t come out yet. If this goes on, the passage will close on its own in less than half an hour!¡± Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yun also spoke up in agreement on the other side. ¡°Indeed¡­ If they don¡¯t come out or can¡¯t come out, there¡¯s no need for us to waste our mana!¡± Hearing the urging from the two, Song Hanchun also became somewhat doubtful. Nevertheless, he still maintained a composed expression and, feigning calm, looked at Yang Chen and the others before saying, ¡°Have you young ones from your two Sects seen our Golden Sword Sect disciples?¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Chen and He Xin had different expressions, remaining silent for a long time without answering. Seeing this, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression darkened, and he demanded, ¡°What exactly is going on with the two of you juniors? Speak immediately!¡± Hearing his words, Luo Anzhong¡¯s face also turned sour, but since they were all Golden Core Cultivators, remaining silent would seem disrespectful to their elders. Therefore, he did not retort but instead addressed Yang Chen, ¡°Yang Chen, my nephew, what happened in the Secret Realm? Tell me about it!¡± With a Sect Elder speaking up, Yang Chen finally disclosed everything about Chen Jianbin¡¯s actions. He described everything in detail, starting from the ambush on the Fire Scale Python, to Chen Jianbin turning on them, and then the ensuing chase and its aftermath. Learning that Chen Jianbin and the rest had all been killed, Song Hanchun was both shocked and furious. In an instant, a surge of oppressive force burst forth, aiming to subdue Yang Chen and He Xin. In a flash, Yang Chen and He Xin were caught off guard and flung back by this oppressive force, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood. Seeing this, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun¡¯s faces turned ugly, and they each severed their mana input, retracting the Jade Tokens that opened the Secret Realm. After completing these actions, the two of them looked furious and questioned Song Hanchun simultaneously. ¡°Song Daoist friend, what is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ Our three Sects have managed the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm together for thousands of years, and we had an agreement beforehand. You are betraying your promise and engaging in deceitful acts!¡± Hearing what Luo Anzhong and the other said, Song Hanchun let out a cold laugh. ¡°Heh heh¡­ What do I mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Song Hanchun released a talisman paper towards the sky. In an instant, the sky ignited with a flame that soared up high. Song Hanchun¡¯s action was not an attack on the two of them but made Luo Anzhong and the other highly vigilant, their hearts sensing that the situation was far from ordinary. After all, since Golden Sword Sect had provoked trouble and incited their disciples to break the rules set by the three Sects, wreaking havoc and slaughtering the members of the other two Sects in the Secret Realm. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such an act undoubtedly indicated they were well-prepared. Fortunately, the disciples of the two Sects were commendable. Although many still perished, the top talents managed to survive and had killed all thirty disciples of Golden Sword Sect. Understanding this, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun waved their sleeves, and two flying boat Magic Artifacts flew out, swiftly positioning themselves in front of Yang Chen and He Xin. Chapter 719 719 391 The Golden Core Great Battle_2 ?Chapter 719: Chapter 391: The Golden Core Great Battle_2 Chapter 719: Chapter 391: The Golden Core Great Battle_2 Immediately afterward, the two of them shouted in unison, ¡°You all must leave this place and return to the Sect immediately!¡± Hearing this, Yang Chen and the others also realized the seriousness of the situation. They were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, whose strength was indeed limited, a world of difference compared to a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Therefore, they did not dare to stay in this place, lest they get dragged into the fray of Golden Core Cultivators¡¯ combat. At this moment, Yang Chen and He Xin glanced at Lin Tianming, seemingly intending to take him away as well. But Lin Tianming was alone, and both Sects wanted to win him over; no matter which side he chose, it would likely cause a dispute. However, time was of the essence, and the two of them had no time to squabble over this, so as to avoid becoming embroiled in the intense battle of Golden Core Cultivators. ... If they lost their lives over this, it would be a complete loss. Understanding this, the two merely glanced at Lin Tianming, implying that he should make his own decision. At this particular moment, Lin Tianming witnessed the situation on the field and understood in his heart that this was not a place to linger. In his view, if he followed any one of the two Sects away from this place, it would carry a certain risk. If he left alone, he would be a smaller target and therefore, ironically, safer. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately communicated with the two, promising that he would not forget the commitments made. Besides, once a suitable time came and the higher-ups of both Sects decided on the ownership of the other three Jiuli Star Fruits, they could send Disciples to the Lin Family Clan Grounds to retrieve the Jiuli Star Fruits that should be handed over. Hearing this response and considering the urgency of time, Yang Chen and He Xin felt it inappropriate to say more and had to let the matter go. Quickly following this, they each led a group of Disciples into the flying boats, rapidly heading off in two different directions. Their movements were swift; in an instant, they had already vanished into the distant sky. Lin Tianming, likewise, did not dare to delay. He immediately, along with Hu Yuan, flew off in a different direction from the two Sects¡¯ forces. At that moment, upon seeing the younger generation of the two Sects leave, Song Hanchun attempted to intercept them. As expected, his attack was firmly blocked by Luo Anzhong and the others. After some probing and realizing his effort would be fruitless, he did not persist in attacking. In his eyes, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators were too few to be feared. Only Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun were worth his time and effort to confront. As long as he eliminated these two, everything would proceed according to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s plan. With this in mind, Song Hanchun no longer dwelled on the issue. He then kept a close watch on Luo Anzhong and the others, neither making another move nor allowing them to leave, as if waiting for something. Finally, after a few breaths, two streaks of light shot through the air, coming to a halt next to Song Hanchun and the others. When the light faded, the figures of two people were revealed. Looking at them, they were both clad in black robes, with no discernible clues on them, but their auras were very powerful, and very similar, evidently belonging to the same force. Seeing the newcomers, who were two unfamiliar Golden Core Stage Cultivators, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun¡¯s expressions darkened. At that moment, despite racking their brains, Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun could not determine the identities of the two. After all, they had had quite a few engagements with Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators and had never seen these two before; even their auras were extremely unfamiliar. Within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, aside from their three Sects, there were also two Great Golden Core Families, but they were well acquainted with the Golden Core Cultivators from these two families as well. Beyond these five powers, no other power could boast Golden Core Cultivators, let alone one being a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. It was clear that these two did not belong to Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World; they were likely from the Golden Core powers of another country, and powerful ones at that. Realizing this, Luo Anzhong wore a cautious expression and couldn¡¯t help but clasp his hands towards the two black-robed persons, then proceeded to question them. ¡°Fellow Daoists, who are you, and what is the meaning behind acting in concert with the Golden Sword Sect?¡± Hearing this, the two black-robed individuals did not speak but simply looked at Luo Anzhong calmly. It was Song Hanchun, however, who upon seeing the two black-robed Cultivators arrive, couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of joy. He then clasped his hands towards the two black-robed persons and said with a smile, ¡°Fellow Daoists, thank you for lending a hand to detain them!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ There¡¯s no time to waste, let¡¯s take action!¡± A black-robed cultivator said indifferently, his words seemingly dismissing Luo Anzhong and his companion as if they were beneath his notice. Upon hearing this remark, Luo Anzhong¡¯s face darkened, but he was cautious and did not dare to make the first move. Seeing this, Song Hanchun waved his sleeve, and a gourd-shaped magical treasure appeared in his hand. He then pinched a law decree and mumbled incantations under his breath. Quickly, a plume of smoke surged from the golden gourd in his hand, rushing toward Zhu Yun. Seeing Song Hanchun take action, the two black-robed cultivators did not waste words, each drawing their own magical treasures to attack Luo Anzhong. Witnessing this scene, Song Hanchun was evidently prepared, prompting Luo Anzhong and his companion to start making threats. ¡°Song Hanchun, do you Golden Sword Sect dare to join forces with outsiders to strike at us, without fearing the attention of Qingzhou Jiaoqin Power?¡± They were well aware that there were unspoken rules in the cultivation world, and under the constraints of top forces, grand battles between Golden Elixir Forces were not common. If the scale was too large, it could attract the attention of the Nascent Soul Forces, who might intervene. The initiators could even be held accountable. Therefore, seeing that the Golden Sword Sect had actually joined forces with an unknown power to strike at their two sects, it was undoubtedly an act of provocation leading to war. But upon hearing their words, Song Hanchun and his group showed no intention of stopping, instead continuously launching attacks at the two men. Seeing that their threats were ineffective, the faces of Luo Anzhong and his companion turned pale as they burst into curses. ¡°Song Hanchun, you old despicable man!¡± ¡°Old Song, don¡¯t think that with them here, you can capture the two of us!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Anzhong and his companion cursed out loud while urging on their magical treasures, clashing with Song Hanchun and his companions. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky lit up with multicolored lights, and the ground shook continuously, with bursts of explosions echoing through heaven and earth. The battle of Golden Core Stage cultivators truly was earth-shattering. At that moment, Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan were on Sword Flight, having flown only about twenty miles away when they felt a huge commotion from behind. They looked back, their faces also filled with shock. Afterward, they had no interest in watching the battle, nor did they dare to waste time, as they both were carrying treasures obtained from the secret realm and had no leisure to concern themselves with this matter. Right now, what they needed most was to safely return to their family and seize the time to engage in secluded cultivation to increase their cultivation level. As for the matters between the three great sects, it was not their place to worry; the high-level members of the sects would have their own headaches. Realizing this, Lin Tianming could not care about attracting attention and hurriedly released Xiao Diao. ¡°Daoist Hu, my spirit beast is very quick. Let¡¯s return to Qianchuan Market together and talk there!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, Hu Yuan nodded and responded, ¡°I was indeed thinking the same!¡± Having spoken, the two men leapt onto the back of Xiao Diao, who understood their intentions and flew at top speed toward the southern direction. Time flew, and more than two months had passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Tianming and another figure appeared in a valley outside Qianchuan Market. During this period, Lin Tianming and his companion had been on the move non-stop. For safety¡¯s sake, they had taken a long detour, avoiding the area where the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate was located, as well as another medium-sized market, namely Dragon Mountain Market. The reason for this was their concern about the presence of Golden Sword Sect disciples near Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, and they did not want to be taken to the sect¡¯s gate by Zhenyang Sect disciples. After all, a great battle between Golden Core Sects could potentially break out at any moment, and the Golden Core Sects were no longer safe. It would be a pity to be killed as assumed Zhenyang Sect disciples in a large-scale conflict. Therefore, the two did not mind taking extra time, choosing to travel through desolate areas to be safe. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this way, although it took more time, it was safer, and their journey was relatively smooth. Chapter 720 720 392 Conditions_1 ?Chapter 720: Chapter 392 Conditions_1 Chapter 720: Chapter 392 Conditions_1 By this time, in the valley, Lin Tianming and another person stood side by side on the peak of a mountain. They first surveyed the surrounding area and found that everything was calm, with no apparent danger. Afterward, they looked out toward the horizon, where a shadowy outline could be seen. It was the city walls of Qianchuan Market. After a long while, Hu Yuan was the first to break the brief silence. ¡°Lin, do you have any information on the outcome of that huge Golden Core battle? Is Qianchuan Market safe now?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming also showed a serious expression, his mind naturally starting to speculate. In fact, they had crossed more than a dozen mountain ranges during this period, passing through many places and encountering some cultivators. ... Every time they met someone, they would proactively approach and make inquiries about the major events that had recently happened in the cultivation world. However, perhaps because those they asked were too weak, or because they were not the kind who moved around much, the information was extremely limited and there were no clear messages. It could also be that the battle involving Luo Anzhong and others was kept rather secretive, or that no messages were spread about it, resulting in them not learning the outcome of the Golden Core battle despite all their inquiries along the way. Besides that, not even the various experiences within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm or the attitudes of the three Great Sects had been disclosed. And Golden Sword Sect, having initiated the conflict, had also not shown any extreme reactions, which was indeed puzzling. Nonetheless, the calmness within the cultivation world was a result they were happy to see. In their eyes, if a Golden Core Sect war had to erupt, the later the better, and the smaller the area of impact, the better. Not to mention the war settling down, but if they could push the start of the Sect war back by more than ten years, it would give them ample time for cultivation. After all, both of them had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage or even Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and they possessed numerous treasures, so nothing was more important than retreating for cultivation. If all went well, they could start aiming for the Golden Core Stage and possibly even make a successful advancement to that realm. Should they succeed, the possibility for Hu Yuan to weather the crisis, as well as for Lin Tianming and the entire Lin Family, would greatly increase. Understanding this, Lin Tianming remained silent for a moment before finally responding to Hu Yuan¡¯s question. ¡°Daoist Hu, even if the results of the Golden Core cultivator battle are out, ordinary cultivators probably wouldn¡¯t know about it, otherwise, we would have found out on our way here.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded, generally agreeing with Lin Tianming¡¯s view. Immediately after, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°As for whether Qianchuan Market is safe, I have no idea.¡± ¡°However, given its distance from the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, it¡¯s not highly likely to be attacked by Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°In any case, now that we¡¯re here, let¡¯s go in and have a look, and take the opportunity to gather some information.¡± ¡°After all, there are quite a few powerful forces from Qingzhou doing business in the market, and their information might be more accurate. They could possibly provide us with some leads.¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan thought for a while and then chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, I am really sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to find a safe place to retreat for cultivation and will not be entering Qianchuan Market with you!¡± ¡°Being a lone wolf, it doesn¡¯t make much of a difference where I choose to cultivate, so why be picky?¡± ¡°As for the grievances between the three Great Sects, they don¡¯t impact us Loose Cultivators much.¡± ¡°Even if a great war breaks out, we can always find a place to endure and cultivate bitterly, or travel to other cultivation realms for decades. Everything will return to tranquility.¡± ¡°By that time, returning to my homeland won¡¯t make any difference.¡± Hu Yuan said a lot in one go, his expression and tone carrying a hint of apology, seemingly feeling a bit guilty. And Lin Tianming understood in his heart that after all, Hu Yuan was a Loose Cultivator, and there was a great difference between them. Certainly, a Loose Cultivator without attachments could go anywhere in this vast world. No matter where they chose to retreat for cultivation, it hardly made any difference. Unlike him, who had hundreds of clan members to protect and plenty of Lin Family businesses to attend to, considering a large-scale migration was not that easy. What¡¯s more, Hu Yuan had reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and, with the treasures accumulated during the journey in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, even the items needed to attempt the Golden Core Stage had been obtained. In short, currently, he only needed to cultivate step by step and could try to break through to the Golden Core Realm within a short period. Realizing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist on Hu Yuan accompanying him into Qianchuan Market. After all, the situation within Qianchuan Market was unknown, and even though peace reigned now, once the Sect war erupted, given the market¡¯s status, it was highly likely to become a key target of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s attacks. And since Hu Yuan had joined Yang Chen¡¯s faction in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm and had taken action against Chen Jianbin and others, In such a case, if Golden Sword Sect sought vengeance, they could very well vent their anger on him. If it truly came to that, staying in Qianchuan Market would inevitably involve some risks. Luckily, Chen Jianbin and his group had been wiped out, and the only ones aware were the disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley. And since they were on the opposing side of Golden Sword Sect, it was unlikely for them to reveal their participation in the battle. With this in mind, Lin Tianming simply made casual conversation. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but mention, ¡°Daoist friend, you participated in the action against Chen Jianbin and his group, so the two Sects should have some rewards for you!¡± Chapter 721 721 392 Conditions_2 ?Chapter 721: Chapter 392 Conditions_2 Chapter 721: Chapter 392 Conditions_2 Hearing this, Hu Yuan pondered for a long time without saying a word, clearly not wanting to stay in Qianchuan Market, but also somewhat reluctant to let go of the rewards from both sects. After a long time, he finally made up his mind and then said, ¡°As for the rewards, if Lin has the chance, you may claim them on my behalf, and keep them for yourself as my repayment.¡± Seeing him say this, Lin Tianming did not insist, but he still asked one more question. ¡°Daoist Hu, if nothing unexpected happens, you¡¯re not far from reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, and within three to five years, you should be able to attempt impacting the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°If you are wandering the Cultivation World, have you found a good seclusion spot that could ensure a safe breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm?¡± With Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Hu Yuan fell into silence once again. A long time passed without him uttering a word, as if Lin had directly addressed his concerns. ... Seeing this, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to extend an olive branch while the iron was hot. ¡°Daoist Hu, you must also be aware that the Lin Family was once a Golden Core Family, and my family¡¯s ancestral patriarch also left behind his experiences of attempting the Golden Core Realm.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Hu Yuan immediately became somewhat excited. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Breakthrough experiences?¡± ¡°Lin, do you have those experiences with you? May I borrow them to take a look?¡± After saying this, Hu Yuan also seemed to realize that it might be inappropriate, and his face turned red as he laughed awkwardly. ¡°Hehe¡­ I have been presumptuous, please don¡¯t take offence, Lin!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming simply smiled indifferently and then waved his hand as he responded. ¡°No problem at all¡­¡± Immediately after, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Daoist Hu, the manuscript of experience is kept at the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and it is preserved extremely well, with its contents recorded in great detail.¡± ¡°Not to boast, but the notes left by our Golden Core ancestral patriarch are a treasure that all cultivators about to impact the Golden Core Stage yearn for in their dreams.¡± ¡°With that manuscript, the probability of breaking through is at least ten percent higher than attempting the breakthrough blindly.¡± Upon hearing these words, Hu Yuan¡¯s face flushed, and his breathing became somewhat rapid. It was evident that the mention of the Golden Core manuscript resonated with him, a Loose Cultivator with no background, as it held a fatal allure. ¡°Lin, just tell me straight, what price do I have to pay to have a look at this item?¡± Having said that, Hu Yuan looked at Lin Tianming with a sincere face, exuding an air of expectation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled playfully, looking somewhat cunning. ¡°Hehe¡­ Based on our friendship and the years we¡¯ve spent together, you could be considered a close and trusted friend.¡± ¡°I see that Daoist Hu is all alone, with no relatives to turn to, and it must not be easy for you to find an excellent place for seclusion in a short period of time.¡± ¡°However, I do have a suggestion, I wonder if you would consider it?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Hu Yuan looked serious, but he seemed quite interested. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Please, speak freely, Lin!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Since you have nowhere better to go, why not stay at the Lin Family Clan Grounds for cultivation until you have successfully impacted the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Our Lin Family Clan Grounds are also considered a prime cultivation site, where the Spiritual Energy is quite dense, and you can rely on the Protective Clan Formation to gather Spiritual Energy, aiding those in seclusion attempting to breakthrough.¡± ¡°Furthermore, I can make the decision to lend my family¡¯s ancestral patriarch¡¯s manuscript of breaking through to you, Daoist Hu, for your perusal.¡± Lin Tianming said with a sincere face, promising earnestly. Hearing this, Hu Yuan also fell into contemplation. In his heart, what Lin Tianming said was indeed very tempting, including himself; he was very eager for it. After all, Lin Tianming was right; he indeed had no good place to go, nor a stable and safe environment for seclusion, nor had he collected a comprehensive manuscript on breaking through. If he blindly attempted the Golden Core Stage and failed, the outcome would be death and the dissipation of his cultivation path. However, he also understood that although their relationship was good and they had shared life and death experiences for a few years, attempting the Golden Core Stage was no small matter, and the manuscript of breakthroughs left by the Lin Family¡¯s ancestral patriarch would not be easy to obtain. Realizing this, Hu Yuan asked directly, ¡°Lin, if I agree to it, what conditions do I need to meet?¡± ¡°If you have any demands, just speak frankly!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled to himself, thinking that Hu Yuan was indeed a sensible man. At the very least, his proactive invitation to visit the Lin Family had indeed had a purpose. In his heart, Hu Yuan was considered quite reliable. Besides, it was an eventful autumn, and the Lin Family¡¯s crisis was ongoing, with conflicts between the three sects erupting as well. It was foreseeable that the coming decade, or even several decades, would likely not be peaceful. And Hu Yuan, having reached his current realm, also possessed all the conditions necessary for an impact on the Golden Core Stage. The Lin Family would provide the insights for breakthroughs left by the ancestral patriarch, as well as assistance for his impact on the Golden Core Stage. If successful, Hu Yuan, owing a debt of gratitude to the Lin Family, would certainly stand with them. Should the Lin Family encounter great trouble, having one more Golden Core Cultivator to look after them would increase the likelihood of the family overcoming crises. Therefore, he took it upon himself to plan using these conditions in exchange for fifty years of Hu Yuan¡¯s care, should he successfully overcome his challenge. After all, he had already obtained quite a few treasures, and the Lin Family only needed fifty years to rapidly develop further and significantly enhance the family¡¯s overall strength. As long as he and one or two of his same generational clan members achieved Core Formation, the Lin Family would have the capital to contend against any of the three sects. One could say that this early investment was much the same as with Ye Pinghai. If Hu Yuan truly succeeded in his impact on the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family¡¯s expenditure would be entirely worth it. Understanding this, Lin Tianming no longer intended to hide his thoughts but spoke directly, ¡°Daoist Hu, indeed I have certain conditions!¡± Upon hearing this, not only did Hu Yuan not refuse, his heart instead eased. He was very clear that nothing was more suspicious than receiving something for nothing. Stating the conditions in advance and allowing him to make a choice was much more secure and cast no suspicions. Understanding this, Hu Yuan said, ¡°Lin Daoist Friend, do speak freely!¡± Upon finishing, Hu Yuan looked at Lin Tianming with anticipation. Seeing this, Lin Tianming spoke outright. ¡°Daoist Hu, the Lin Family will provide insights for breakthrough and a secure cultivation environment for secluded retreat. As long as you successfully form your core, you will stay and cultivate on the Lin Family Clan Grounds for fifty years, and should any great troubles arise, you will endeavor to lend your assistance as a way of repaying the Lin Family¡¯s expenditures.¡± ¡°How do you consider these conditions, Daoist Hu?¡± ¡°Fifty years?¡± ¡°To lend a hand in a crisis that threatens the extinction of the family?¡± Upon hearing the conditions given by Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan showed a face of surprise, not expecting it to be this. Despite the surprise in his heart, Hu Yuan did not immediately agree but pondered carefully. After a long while, he probed, ¡°Is fifty years perhaps too long a time?¡± ¡°If the Lin Family provokes Nascent Soul Forces during this period and encounters attacks from Nascent Soul Experts, even if I remain on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, would it not be of no help at all?¡± Hu Yuan began to bargain, expressing a look of difficulty. Hearing these words, Lin Tianming feigned profundity and instead of making concessions, began to persuade. ¡°Daoist Hu, you must know that even with a Fruit of Fortuity, reaching the Golden Core Stage is not so easy to achieve.¡± ¡°Just consider the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, how many Golden Core Cultivators are there?¡± ¡°This can show the difficulty of stepping into the Golden Core Realm!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have much confidence, yet you consider the matters after the Golden Core Stage so early ¨C isn¡¯t it a bit premature?¡± ¡°Moreover, if we were to encounter Nascent Soul Experts, they would surely be from the Qingzhou Jiaoqin Power. Our humiliated Foundation Establishing Family, how would we provoke such a force?¡± ¡°Moreover, for minor issues, we naturally wouldn¡¯t trouble Daoist Hu; you would just need to focus on your cultivation.¡± ¡°Even if we really face an attack by Nascent Soul Experts on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Daoist Hu can leave directly. There¡¯s no need for meaningless sacrifice.¡± Lin Tianming said a lot in one breath, analyzing the pros and cons for Hu Yuan. ¡­ Chapter 722 722 393 Conversation_1 ?Chapter 722: 393 Chapter: Conversation_1 Chapter 722: 393 Chapter: Conversation_1 Hearing this series of statements, Hu Yuan gave it some thought and felt that Lin Tianming¡¯s points made sense. After all, no one could guarantee a certain success in breaking through. Even Lin Tianming dared not say he was very confident, let alone himself, who was much older with far less potential. If he were to fail, not only would his life be lost, considering so many things would also be in vain. With these thoughts in mind, Hu Yuan made up his mind. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon after, Hu Yuan nodded and said, ¡°Alright¡­ Just as Lin has said, I agree to your conditions!¡± Hearing these words and confirming that Hu Yuan accepted his terms, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. ... In his eyes, recruiting Hu Yuan wasn¡¯t a significant expense for the Lin Family, similar to the situation with Ye Pinghai initially. And now that Ye Pinghai had succeeded and formed a blood alliance with the Lin Family, strengthened by what the Family had put forth, the relationship between the two could be considered unbreakable. Even if Hu Yuan were to fail, it wouldn¡¯t cause the Lin Family great harm. If he succeeded, however, it would mean the Lin Family would have a Golden Core Stage Guest Elder for the next fifty years, who could assist the Family in major matters. In the long run, what the Lin Family invested was absolutely worth what they would gain. The agreement between him and Hu Yuan was mutually beneficial for both parties, a win-win situation. Clearly, Hu Yuan understood this as well, which was why he accepted the conditions. However, Lin Tianming knew that words alone were not solid proof. After all, Hu Yuan did not have the same robust relationship with the Lin Family as Ye Pinghai did, so a few years of acquaintance were not enough to make a verbal promise and trust that he would keep his word. If the Lin Family helped him succeed in reaching the Golden Core Realm, and Hu Yuan left the Family after his Core Formation, there was little they could do. It wouldn¡¯t do to force him to stay by coercion, as that would only backfire. In short, it was better to agree on things beforehand to avoid any gaps, so the Lin Family would have no concerns. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at Hu Yuan and then with a clasped fist, he said, ¡°Daoist Hu, it¡¯s not that the Lin Family doesn¡¯t trust you, but to better assist you in your Impact of the Golden Core Stage, we should swear a blood oath!¡± Upon hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded, clearly understanding that the Lin Family would naturally demand this of him. Thus, when Lin Tianming suggested it, Hu Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate, seemingly feeling that it was the natural thing to do. Soon after, the two of them made a blood oath regarding this matter. In a short while, having completed these things, both men smiled involuntarily, appearing to be in a rather good mood. After a brief chat, Hu Yuan then said, ¡°Lin, I plan to cultivate nearby for the next two years, then travel a bit to prepare some treasures for the Impact of Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet again in two years at the Lin Family Clan Grounds!¡± ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, thinking of when he first learned that Ye Pinghai was breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, he then clasped fists towards Hu Yuan and smiled as he spoke. ¡°Daoist Hu is right to be cautious. Succeeding in the Golden Core Realm is indeed not easy; you can prepare more treasures with strong defensive power, the more the merrier!¡± ¡°Exactly, that is what I was thinking as well!¡± Hu Yuan nodded in response. Afterward, having no more to discuss, the two men clasped fists and after Hu Yuan took the lead flying off in one direction, he soon disappeared into the horizon. With Hu Yuan gone, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay further; he looked towards Qianchuan Market and flew towards the city gates. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming arrived at the city¡¯s entrance. At this moment, there were still many Qi Refining Cultivators queuing to enter and exit, a bustling scene with a cacophony of voices, seemingly unaffected by the discord of the three sects. Seeing this, Lin Tianming inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly been concerned that the strife among the three sects might erupt in full force and under the condition of Qianchuan Market being directly accountable to the Zhenyang Sect, it would likely become a prime target for attack. There were many Lin Family Members here, and the Luoyun Pavilion was a pivotal business for the Family. If the market were to be attacked, it would completely disrupt the Lin Family¡¯s current cultivation rhythm. Not only for him but for other main Family members, it would bring significant impact. Fortunately, the situation for now didn¡¯t seem too terrible. At this point, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with a Zhenyang Sect Executive Officer guarding the entrance and then entered the market. Soon, he successfully returned to the rented Cave Mansion Courtyard of the Lin Family. Learning of his safe return, the guardian Lin Xingrong was excited and rushed over with Lin Tianyue and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators for a reunion. In no time, the four of them gathered in the courtyard to chat. At this time, Lin Xingrong¡¯s expression was earnest, yet his face still revealed a broad smile, indicating his excellent mood. However, when interacting with his son, he was always stern, appearing relatively calm. His sister Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong, on the other hand, wore expressions filled with unrestrained joy. Although they were not aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s gains, the sheer delight of reuniting after more than a year was surprise enough. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianyue was the first to speak. ¡°Brother, wasn¡¯t your trip to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm supposed to last only a year? ¡°Why have you returned so late? ¡°Did something happen to delay you?¡± Lin Tianyue, still excited, clung to Lin Tianming¡¯s arm, asking several questions in quick succession, seemingly worried but also very curious about his experiences over the past year. Chapter 723 723 393 Conversation_2 ?Chapter 723: Chapter 393 Conversation_2 Chapter 723: Chapter 393 Conversation_2 Seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s curious expression, Lin Xingrong said with a serious face, ¡°Tianyue, your brother has just returned. He will naturally inform us of everything in due time. There¡¯s no need to be so anxious!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyue looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat pale complexion, clearly exhausted from traveling day and night. Seeing this made Lin Tianyue even more concerned and she asked another question with care, ¡°Brother, how have you been during this past year or more? This past month has nearly driven us to death with worry!¡± ¡°No worries,¡± he responded, ¡°about this past year, let me explain everything slowly.¡± After he finished speaking, Lin Tianming began recounting his experiences from the past year and a half, starting from his departure from Qianchuan Market and continuing until the closure of the Secret Realm, describing everything in great detail. However, he did not disclose the conflicts between the three sects or the battles between Golden Core Cultivators. Besides that, he also did not mention gaining the Fruit of Fortuity or the Creation Fruit Tree, or the Jiuli Star Fruit he had received from Chen Jianbin. ... It wasn¡¯t that he did not trust them. Given the current situation, letting them know about these secret matters would only add to their worries. Even the great joy of obtaining a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item was something he felt was not appropriate to disclose too soon. It was better to wait until he and the other senior members of the generation with ¡®world¡¯ in their titles had discussed and formulated a response before informing them. Soon, Lin Xingrong and the others were overjoyed to learn of the second- and third-order treasures Lin Tianming had acquired during the year, like the Earth Rampart Crystal, Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and Blue Heart True Flame¡ªitems that would enhance one¡¯s foundational strength. He did not hide anything about these. The mere mention of these items elated Lin Xingrong and the others. ¡°Haha¡­ It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve returned safely, good that you¡¯ve come back safe and sound!¡± At this moment, an excited Lin Xingrong found himself unable to maintain the serious expression on his face any longer, clearly overjoyed. At this time, a puzzled look appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ¡°Father, weren¡¯t you always stationed at Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory? How come you¡¯re appearing in Qianchuan Market at this time?¡± ¡°Has something changed within the family that prompted your relocation here?¡± ¡°Where are big brother and Tianhu?¡± Lin Tianming asked several questions in a row, clearly sensing something was amiss. As expected, upon Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiries, the expressions on the faces of Lin Xingrong and the others turned grave in an instant. Then, Lin Tianhong, as someone who had experienced the disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and another, began to explain the cause and effect of their cooperation in exploring the Cave Mansion Ruins. In no time, Lin Tianming was informed of the circumstances and understood the purpose of his father¡¯s stationing here. Fortunately, the situation concerning the disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and the other was not at its worst. Since their Life-bound Soul Lamps had not extinguished, this meant that they were currently not in mortal danger, but possibly just trapped somewhere or swept into a strange place by a Spatial Fissure. As long as their lives were not in danger, there would always be a day when they too would return to the family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming actually began to comfort an ever-guilty Lin Tianhong. Beside them, Lin Tianyue nodded in agreement, comforting the silently withdrawn Lin Tianhong in a similar manner. Following that, Lin Tianyue smiled and said, ¡°Big brother and the others will definitely be fine; they might even encounter a stroke of fortune!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ The strength of big brother and Tianhu is quite formidable. Since so much time has passed and their Life-bound Soul Lamps have not extinguished but have, in fact, become more vigorous, this is enough to show that they are in a good state and certainly not in any mortal danger.¡± ¡°And I have faith that they will surely return safely!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianhong looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s confident expression and seemed emboldened, finally shaking off his guilt and regaining his composure. Subsequently, as if remembering something, Lin Tianming said to Lin Xingrong, ¡°Father, we can ask Daoist Tang from Sky Dragon Pavilion to help us search for traces of big brother and the others!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Xingrong nodded reluctantly and replied, ¡°What you can think of, how could your father not have considered? I¡¯ve already made contact with Daoist Tang, and he has promised to help to the best of his abilities.¡± ¡°However, while the Tang Family is powerful, Daoist Tang¡¯s status within the vast Tang Family can only be considered ordinary. Coupled with the immensity of the Cultivation World and the abundance of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, searching for two ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators is like looking for a needle in a haystack.¡± ¡°Therefore, we currently have no leads, and I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll have any news in the short term.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, thinking it was indeed the case. However, the Lin Family¡¯s strength was limited at present, and with the shadow of the great war between the three sects looming, the Lin Family also had to prepare several core members to attempt the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. They probably didn¡¯t have much energy left to search for Lin Tianfeng and the other missing person. These thoughts, however, he kept to himself and did not share with the three others. Right after that brief exchange, Lin Tianming also received quite a bit of recent news about the Lin Family. None of them knew anything about Lin Tianyun, so they were not able to inform Lin Tianming. Otherwise, it would have added to the Lin Family¡¯s joy. Alas, that tremendous joy would have to wait until Lin Tianming returned to the clan territory and learned of it from several of the older generation clan members. As time drifted by, the four chatted casually for half an hour. At this point, Lin Xingrong, noticing the exhausted look on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and Tianming has been through life and death experiences these past years, he must be utterly exhausted.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. Tianming should go rest for now. Once you have recovered to your peak condition, we will gather again!¡± ¡°Yes, brother¡­ go rest, and we¡¯ll talk another day!¡± Lin Tianyue also spoke in agreement. ¡°Mmm¡­ I will go now!¡± After responding, Lin Tianming bowed to his father and then stood up to leave the courtyard. Upon entering a resting room, Lin Tianming did not engage in cultivation but immediately fell asleep. In just under half an hour, even breathing could be heard from the room, indicating that he had fallen into a deep sleep. The reason for this was indeed because he was too exhausted. Over the past year, he had been in a constant state of high tension, never letting his guard down even during his cultivation in the temporary cave abode. After leaving the secret realm, affected by the battle between Golden Core Cultivators, he had been on the road for more than two months, and was completely worn out and exhausted to the utmost. But now, he had finally returned to Qianchuan Market. In a place where a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator was the highest form of combat power and so close to his family, he could finally let down his guard and truly rest. At this moment, Lin Tianming finally experienced an unprecedented level of relaxation, unlike anything he had in over a year, and quickly entered deep sleep. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two days later. Lin Tianming finally emerged from his room, appearing in the courtyard. After a full two days of sleep, his complexion was rosy and he was in excellent condition, evidently having recovered to his peak state. After sending a message to his father and the others, the four gathered once more. After exchanging greetings, they sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting. Prior to the last two days, due to Lin Tianming¡¯s state of exhaustion, the four had hurriedly exchanged some recent events, discussing only some of the major matters. Now, the four gathered together again, finally having the time to talk about some lesser matters. As a result, they discussed many topics, from the business in Luoyun Market to the affairs of the Luoyun Pavilion, and even the situation of some potential members of the clan. It turned out to be a thorough exchange. However, Lin Xingrong also hadn¡¯t returned to the family for half a year and wasn¡¯t very clear about the latest developments. But according to him, the business of Luoyun Pavilion had been very stable over the past year, with a steady increase in revenue. With the strong development by the Lin Family and an extremely stable environment, Luoyun Market was rapidly gaining popularity, the number of shops greatly increased, and treasures that were rarely seen by Foundation Establishment Cultivators became increasingly abundant. Therefore, the revenue of Luoyun Market also grew substantially. As for the other important spirit lands of the Lin Family, they were also being developed strategically; even those areas abandoned due to beast tides were being activated again. In time, they too would bring considerable profits to the family. Chapter 724 724 394 Various News_1 ?Chapter 724: Chapter 394 Various News_1 Chapter 724: Chapter 394 Various News_1 Apart from that, the Lin Family has not organized a large-scale effort to push family members to the Foundation Establishment Stage in recent years. But now, with the Demonic Beast Tide completely passed, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World has enjoyed a rare few years of peace, and many Lin Family members have gained experience through blood and fire during the Tide, accumulating sufficiently solid cultivation bases. According to Lin Xingrong, the last time he left the family lands, the Clan Leader had arranged for twelve family members to enter closed-door cultivation together, aiming for the Foundation Establishment Stage boundary. Such a grand event had not been seen in the family for a long time. If you calculate the time, there should already be a result by now. But as he has not yet returned home, the number of successful cultivators from this large-scale attempt at Foundation Establishment remains unknown. However, all of these family members challenging the Foundation Establishment Stage belong to the Xing and Tian generations, with even the oldest among them being only seventy years old. ... And they all had experienced the great battle against the Demon Beast Tide, where they had shone brightly and played a pivotal role for the family. It could be said that the potential of this batch of family members was quite good, and with the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills, the chances of success were not small in theory. Thus, it can be foreseen that once they return to the family, there will undoubtedly be plenty of good news. Half an hour later. As the exchange proceeded, some important pieces of information were also shared with each other. At this time, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Xingrong and others, then he changed the subject. ¡°Father, your son has been away for a long time and plans to take a look around the market, and then tomorrow, how about the two of us set off to return to the family?¡± On hearing these words, Lin Xingrong nodded. Most of the treasures sold at Luoyun Pavilion were already sold out, although some Second Order Pills and talisman papers were still being produced by Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianyue. But some more precious items were already sold out. Plus, there were plenty of Spirit Stones from the half-year profits of Luoyun Pavilion, and it was about time to purchase a batch of scarce resources to send back to the family. According to the original plan, he had intended to visit the family soon anyway, and since Lin Tianming had just returned, it would be perfect for them to go together. With these thoughts, Lin Xingrong nodded and said, ¡°Tianming, your father was just about to buy some supplies as well. Let¡¯s go together!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Lin Tianming replied, and the two rose to their feet, greeted Lin Tianhong, and then left the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once outside, the two walked down the street. At this moment, as Lin Tianming walked, he observed his surroundings, checking the situation inside the market. Looking around, the bustling crowd on the streets and the thriving business of the various shops seemed oblivious to the storm that was about to sweep over the entire Wei Kingdom. But Lin Tianming was well aware of the emergence of the Blood Red Alliance in Wei Kingdom and its collaboration with Golden Sword Sect. And when he left the Secret Realm, the two black-robed Golden Core Cultivators had obstructed Zhu Yun and another, plus he had obtained a token of the Blood Red Alliance from the storage bag of Zhou Jin, whom he had previously killed. All signs indicated the Golden Sword Sect was indeed receiving support from the Blood Red Alliance. Otherwise, with the overall strength of the Golden Sword Sect, they would definitely not provoke Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. With the Blood Red Alliance stirring the pot, the conflict between the three major sects of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not be minor. Realizing this, a sense of urgency grew within Lin Tianming. However, he soon calmed himself. He had come to the market specifically to gather information, not just for Lin Tianfeng and others, but also to find out about the movements of the three major sects, so as to better prepare his family to survive the looming crisis. With this intention, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Xingrong and headed to Sky Pavilion alone. Upon entering Sky Dragon Pavilion, he was promptly greeted by a Qi Refining Cultivator. This person seemed to have seen or heard about Lin Tianming before. It made sense, considering Lin Tianming¡¯s ascent to fame in the Southern Wei Kingdom after the Demon Beast Tide Battle. Especially in Qianchuan Market, where almost every Foundation Establishment Cultivator and Qi Refining Cultivator had heard of or witnessed his prowess. And indeed, the attendant at Sky Dragon Pavilion was observant, offering his respectful greetings before leading him to a private room on the second floor. Shortly, Tang Xiuyuan arrived. Even from a distance, Lin Tianming could hear his familiar voice. ¡°Daoist Lin, to think that in just over a year, you would further impress me!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled placidly, thinking that Tang Xiuyuan must have learned something. He likely knew about the events in the Secret Realm, which explained his remark. However, whether they knew about the Blood Red Alliance was unclear. After all, with an organization as powerful as the Blood Red Alliance, even the top families in Qingzhou like the Tang Family might not compare. It seemed the Blood Red Alliance had been active in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for some time, laying the groundwork decades ago, meddling in the affairs of the three major sects. Given that the Tang Family¡¯s business spread across many nations in Qingzhou and was exceptionally well-informed, it was not strange that they could notice things inaccessible to the average person. Understanding this, Lin Tianming casually chatted, attempting to probe him by asking, ¡°Daoist Tang, would you care to guess the purpose of my visit this time?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan chuckled as well, sat down opposite Lin Tianming, and responded, ¡°Daoist Lin, you are naturally here to do business, and as per your habit, you are likely to inquire about some information as well!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ indeed, Daoist Tang knows me well!¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 725 725 394 Various News_2 ?Chapter 725: Chapter 394 Various News_2 Chapter 725: Chapter 394 Various News_2 ¡°Do you have some powerful artifacts?¡± Lin Tianming asked. Hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan didn¡¯t beat around the bush, slapped his storage bag, and several treasures appeared in his hand. Lin Tianming glanced at them and then shook his head, evidently not quite satisfied. Seeing this, Tang Xiuyuan helplessly said, ¡°Good items are extremely limited these days, these are all we have left now!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Although they¡¯re of little use to me, something is better than nothing. I will take them all!¡± Lin Tianming replied after a moment. Having spoken, he pointed to the items in front of Tang Xiuyuan and continued. As Lin Tianming took so many items at once, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression turned joyful, and he then began to calculate the price. ... In a short while, Lin Tianming casually took out ninety thousand spirit stones and handed them over to Tang Xiuyuan. The two quickly completed the transaction, each taking the spirit stones and treasures. This time purchasing treasures, the quality ones weren¡¯t many and were even somewhat unnecessary for him. However, with a storm approaching, it was foreseeable that, for at least the next decade, consumable treasures and those that could improve cultivation would become the hard currency of the cultivation world. Just like during the years when the beast tide struck, the prices of all kinds of treasures would increase by a lot, and some would even be priceless. In this situation, buying a good amount of treasures now and bringing them back to his family would definitely save a lot of spirit stones. What was more crucial, Lin Tianming currently possessed a substantial amount of wealth. Merely his own spirit stones amounted to nearly a hundred thousand, not including those storage bags he had obtained in the secret realm. Especially someone like Chen Jianbin, who was not only extremely powerful but also one of the top disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, his wealth was unquestionable. And Lin Tianming, being busy on his journey, hadn¡¯t even had the time to thoroughly check those storage bags. But a preliminary estimate indicated that acquiring several hundred thousand spirit stones would definitely be no problem. And the few spirit stones he was spending now were just the tip of the iceberg for him at present. Understanding this, Lin Tianming decided not to haggle over every little detail, as buying a large number of treasures now was certainly not a loss. With the transaction completed, Lin Tianming chatted idly with Tang Xiuyuan for a bit, arranged a good number of matters, and specifically asked Tang Xiuyuan to reserve some rare treasures for the Lin Family to prepare for the upcoming crisis. After all, the Tang Family¡¯s business covered all nations of Qingzhou, circulating countless treasures, some of which were quite valuable. It was not like the Lin Family; if they obtained some decent treasures, items like Spirit Detonation Beads and Fake Golden Core Talismans, they would keep them all within the family for use, and certainly not sell them. For Foundation Establishment Cultivators, these items were rare treasures, but for the Tang Family¡¯s enterprise, they were trivial. Therefore, to acquire some treasures, it was entirely possible to cooperate with the Sky Dragon Pavilion for a long term. For both sides, this was a win-win situation. With this intent, Lin Tianming and Tang Xiuyuan reached a good number of agreements on the matter. The price for bulk purchasing was even lower than the usual individual rates. With this matter concluded, both parties felt quite pleased with themselves. Afterward, Lin Tianming directly inquired about the matters between the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. And the Sky Dragon Pavilion indeed lived up to its reputation as a Nascent Soul Force¡¯s business. With caravans traversing the major nations of Qingzhou, their information network was incredibly extensive. According to Tang Xiuyuan, since the closing of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong were ambushed by Song Hanchun and two black-clad Golden Core Cultivators. The battle lasted a long time and caused quite an uproar. The final outcome was that Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong suffered severe injuries but, relying on a powerful treasure, they managed to escape back to their sects. With the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s scheme failing, they had thoroughly provoked the wrath of the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. However, hindered by the presence of strange Golden Core Cultivators aiding the Golden Sword Sect, whose power had greatly increased, and not knowing whether there were others helping them, both sects did not dare to act rashly, always investigating the matter covertly. Based on the various incidents that had happened over the past two years, it was only a matter of time before the sects traced the troubles back to the Blood Red Alliance. But even with knowledge of the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s moves, both sects probably wouldn¡¯t dare to strike first, for this was a Nascent Soul Force that even the Tang Family of Qingzhou would not dare to provoke lightly. Once the Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Blood Red Alliance take action, the two sects will have no possibility of survival. However, the Blood Red Alliance acts high-profile, rampaging through the lands of Qingzhou without any restraint, and naturally has many enemies. Even though their strength is quite formidable, they are stretched too thin, their power too scattered, so at most they could dispatch some Golden Core Cultivators to the Wei Kingdom. And Nascent Soul Cultivators, being mighty figures who reign supreme in their regions, are unlikely to come to the barren Wei Kingdom, even less likely to lower their status by personally dealing with such forces as the two sects. In light of this, once the two sects figure out these matters, there might be some action. However, according to Lin Tianming¡¯s speculation, the Golden Sword Sect probably would not grant the two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley much time to react. Since they have already exposed themselves, to achieve their goal, they definitely will not cease their efforts willingly. As for what the Golden Sword Sect will do next, it¡¯s likely that no one can predict it. Nevertheless, the more this is the case, the more eager he becomes, constantly keeping an eye on the situation between the three sects. For now, the three parties are cautious with their probing, just endlessly testing one another. Once a full-scale war erupts, it will certainly be an earth-shattering event. Understanding this, Lin Tianming, through Tang Xiuyuan, continues to monitor the situation closely and has him help gather information. In case any signs prevail, they would also inform the Lin Family, so that the family can be prepared. As the cooperation between the Lin Family and Tang Xiuyuan becomes more frequent, the two sides also find each other to be of like minds. And Tang Xiuyuan, knowing how to act appropriately, pledges to keep well-informed on the matter for such an important customer as Lin Tianming. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming did not stay long at the Sky Dragon Pavilion. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tianming got up to take his leave, and with Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s company, he left the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Walking on the streets of the market city, Lin Tianming looked around, observing the changes within the market. Before long, he arrived at Zhenyang Hall in the center of the market. Guided by a Qi Refining Cultivator, he met with Wang Zhi, one of the Market City Supervisors. The two sat in a reception room, chatting casually over tea. Wang Zhi greeted Lin Tianming with great courtesy upon seeing him, being even more polite than usual, not the slightest bit disdainful toward the Lin Family or Lin Tianming due to his own status. It was clear, the proceedings in the secret realm were also known to Wang Zhi. With Lin Tianming¡¯s current strength, even He Xin, the top-ranked disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, looked at him with new respect, even wariness. As for Wang Zhi, only at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm, his cultivation and strength were not considered particularly outstanding among all the Foundation Establishment Disciples in the Zhenyang Sect. Thus, when Lin Tianming actively sought him out, it was quite a pleasant surprise for him. Once the pleasantries were done, Wang Zhi asked, ¡°Daoist Lin, what brings you to me today? If there¡¯s anything you command, I will certainly do my utmost to assist!¡± Wang Zhi spoke with sincere earnestness, showing goodwill even before Lin Tianming had said a word. It seemed that, with the end of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Lin Tianming¡¯s reputation had already spread throughout Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect. That was good, for in the Cultivation World, strength is revered. With it, one could gain the recognition of others, making certain matters more convenient. This is the treatment reserved for the powerful! Knowing this, faced with Wang Zhi¡¯s initiative in showing goodwill, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush and directly inquired about the news concerning the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom. He considered this because the Sky Dragon Pavilion, being an external force after all, would naturally not have information to the extent that the Zhenyang Sect, being part of the situation, would have. Sure enough, upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose, Wang Zhi¡¯s expression turned angry. ¡°Daoist Lin, I won¡¯t hide it from you; I¡¯ve just received accurate information that the Golden Sword Sect has received support from a strange force and plans to make a move against our Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming pretended to be uninformed and asked, ¡°Daoist Wang, the three sects have been at peace for hundreds of years. Why are they making such a grand move this time, and for what reason? Besides, which force is assisting the Golden Sword Sect, and how many Golden Core Cultivators have come?¡± Chapter 726 726 395 Three Elders Weep with Joy_1 ?Chapter 726: Chapter 395: Three Elders Weep with Joy_1 Chapter 726: Chapter 395: Three Elders Weep with Joy_1 Hearing this series of questions, Wang Zhi said with a helpless face, ¡°The specifics of this matter are still unknown for the time being!¡± ¡°However, based on the guesses of our sect, the force helping the Golden Sword Sect is very likely to be the Blood Red Alliance, the top power in Qingzhou!¡± ¡°The Blood Red Alliance?¡± Lin Tianming continued to feign shock, mumbling as if recalling information about the Blood Red Alliance. Seeing this, Wang Zhi nodded and said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the Nascent Soul force of the Blood Red Alliance that dominates the Qingzhou Land!¡± ¡°As for the Golden Core Cultivators who have come to the Wei Kingdom, there are still no accurate details regarding their numbers and strength!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that it was as he had expected. The Zhenyang Sect, based on the storage bags of Chen Jianbin and other Golden Sword Sect disciples, would have certainly obtained some clues about the Blood Red Alliance. ... Moreover, with the Xu Family being mysteriously exterminated earlier and combining so many clues, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to trace some leads. In this way, it was only a matter of time before the Blood Red Alliance would be completely exposed to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Knowing this, Lin Tianming continued to indirectly inquire about the two sects¡¯ strategies regarding the situation with the Golden Sword Sect. However, Wang Zhi apparently did not have a high enough status and the information he obtained was very limited, almost of no use. Regarding this, Lin Tianming was quite frustrated. However, if there was any move within the Zhenyang Sect, it would certainly spread through the various Market Cities. And although Wang Zhi¡¯s status among the Zhenyang Sect disciples was quite ordinary, he had taken over Li Xiuyuan¡¯s position and received the lucrative post of Market City Supervisor, which came with certain authority. The saying goes that those who are near the water get the moon first, a truth known to all. Therefore, Lin Tianming had no choice but to ask Wang Zhi to pay attention to this matter. Should the Zhenyang Sect make any significant move, it would be good to reveal some information to the Lin Family in advance for preparation. Wang Zhi was quite perceptive. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s face and receiving a reward of twenty thousand Spirit Stones, he promised that if there was any sign of trouble, he would reveal some information in advance. With Wang Zhi¡¯s affirmative reply, Lin Tianming was very satisfied. After a few casual exchanges, Lin Tianming then bade farewell to Wang Zhi and left Zhenyang Hall alone. With this matter concluded, Lin Tianming did not idle away his time but went to the shop area within the Market City. At this moment, he stood in front of Luoyun Pavilion, discreetly observing the hustle and bustle of the street. It was early morning, the time of day when the streets were most bustling with activity. The crowd in front of Luoyun Pavilion was dense, with many cultivators entering to purchase treasures. The businesses of other shops were also thriving, but apart from those industries owned by Golden Core forces, the popularity of shops opened by other powers was clearly inferior to Luoyun Pavilion¡¯s. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was very pleased. He then walked around the shop area, spending a considerable amount of time and more than a hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase many treasures suitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. He kept busy until noon, only then returning to the Cave Mansion Courtyard. By this time, Lin Xing Rong had also returned, and the father and son sat down together for a chat. Lin Tianming took a sip from his teacup and then inquired, ¡°Father, how is the purchase of cultivation resources to bring back to the family going? Have you acquired enough treasures?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Xing Rong nodded and said, ¡°We have purchased quite a few treasures this time. Although there are limited numbers of high-order treasures, the overall quantity is substantial.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking how fortunate it was that the family always had this habit of purchasing a portion of resources with the Spirit Stones earned from Luoyun Pavilion and sending them back every once in a while. Otherwise, relying solely on the family¡¯s treasure hunting and his own refinement practices, it would be challenging to sustain the consumption of a family with hundreds of members. Subsequently, Lin Xing Rong also asked, ¡°Tianming, have you found any clues at Sky Dragon Pavilion regarding the whereabouts of Tianfeng and the other?¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Lin Tianming sighed helplessly. He had inquired about this during his recent visit to Tang Xiuyuan. The disappearance of Lin Tianfeng and the other had already been made known to Tang Xiuyuan early on, but their vanishing was too mysterious, and nobody knew their whereabouts. If they had left the Qingzhou Land, even the Tang Family backing Sky Dragon Pavilion could not extend their influence beyond it. Not to mention finding two ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the vast sea of people. Therefore, there was no progress on the search for Lin Tianfeng, leaving Tang Xiuyuan very helpless. Facing this, Lin Tianming could only ask Tang Xiuyuan to stay alert and spread the word wider, though he didn¡¯t hold much hope. In his opinion, the difficulty of locating the two was great, and everything depended on luck. He was more inclined to believe that Lin Tianfeng and his companion would eventually return to the family on their own initiative. After all, their lives were not in danger, and no matter where they were, as long as they were determined to return home, coming back was just a matter of time! Understanding this, Lin Tianming also spoke a few words of comfort to Lin Xing Rong. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Xing Rong also understood that the chances of finding them were slim, but as the family had entrusted him with this task, he must do his utmost regardless of whether he could succeed or not. Thus, the two discussed and planned various strategies to issue tasks for searching for Lin Tianfeng and his companion. The more people involved, the greater the chance of success. Soon after, they chatted for a while, finalized the methods to search for Lin Tianfeng and the other, and conveyed the plans to Lin Tianhong, who was to take charge of these matters. Having arranged this, they agreed on a time to set off the next day and then returned to their respective rooms. The next morning. As the sun just started penetrating the clouds and shining on the land, the sky gradually brightened. Chapter 727 727 395 Three Elders Shed Tears of Joy ?Chapter 727: Chapter 395: Three Elders Shed Tears of Joy _2 Chapter 727: Chapter 395: Three Elders Shed Tears of Joy _2 At this time, Lin Tianming and his son stepped out of Qianchuan Market together, successfully arriving at a hillside outside the city. Lin Tianming glanced at Qianchuan Market and then released Xiao Diao from the Spirit Beast Bag. It had been almost half a year since they started exterminating the Purple Gold Eagle Clan. Back then, Xiao Diao had consumed the flesh and blood of many of its kin, as well as many of their Demon Cores. Late into the period, Lin Tianming continued tirelessly to feed it, further assisting Xiao Diao. The effectiveness of these things on Xiao Diao was very apparent, and the improvement far surpassed that from the substances of other Demonic Beasts. At this moment, the golden feathers on Xiao Diao¡¯s body had become more plentiful, with almost half of its wings turning the color of gold. ... Not only that, Xiao Diao¡¯s presence had become even more powerful, seeming to be not far from reaching the Second Order Late Phase. It was evident that in this half-year period, Xiao Diao¡¯s growth had been rapid; perhaps in just a few years¡¯ time, it could reach the Second Order Late Phase and formally enter adulthood. When that time came, Xiao Diao¡¯s Spirit Wisdom would advance further. Beyond that, as the bloodline of the Golden Winged Dapeng within its body became more concentrated and pure, it was expected that its strength after breakthrough would certainly not be inconsequential. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied with Xiao Diao¡¯s growth. Lin Xingrong, upon seeing Xiao Diao, was also surprised, evidently not expecting that in just two years, Xiao Diao¡¯s growth could be so swift. The two men chuckled and felt in good spirits on the road back home. Next, Lin Tianming was the first to jump onto Xiao Diao¡¯s back, with Lin Xingrong following in his footsteps, sitting down on Xiao Diao¡¯s back as well. Soon, Xiao Diao let out an excited shriek and then transformed into a black shadow, shooting towards the south. ¡­ Several days passed. At the periphery of Green Bamboo Mountain, the figures of Lin Tianming and his son appeared on a hilltop. The two had left Qianchuan Market, travel-weary from the relentless journey, stopping only for one night at Golden Sword Mountain before continuing on their way. In the end, it took only a few days, and the journey had been quite smooth. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at the familiar scenery before him, his face brimming with a wide smile. At this moment, he felt extremely content, and his entire being was incredibly relaxed. Indeed, he was carrying two Creation Fruits and one Creation Fruit Tree, along with three Jiuli Star Fruits. Five Nascent Soul Spiritual Items in total, and in addition, numerous storage bags from the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, accumulating an immensely terrifying wealth. Walking through the Cultivation World with so many items, even though he no longer feared any Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was natural to still have concerns. If he were to fall, all these treasures and wealth would dissipate like smoke, and the greatest opportunity for the rise of the Lin Family would be completely lost. However, with the father and son entering the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, all worries would dissolve, and the two would be completely safe. Understanding this, Lin Tianming breathed a long sigh of relief while looking at the Formation light screen in front of him, then turned to Lin Xingrong and said, ¡°Father, let¡¯s enter the Clan Territory!¡± ¡°Hmm, we¡¯ve finally come back. Let¡¯s go!¡± Having said that, Lin Xingrong was the first to rush into the Formation light screen. As he watched Lin Xingrong¡¯s figure disappear, Lin Tianming did not delay, taking Xiao Diao with him as they both charged into the light screen of the Formation. The clan members responsible for patrolling the gate immediately greeted the two as they saw the father and son. After exchanging a few casual words, Lin Tianming and his companion directly made for the main peak¡¯s summit. Receiving the transmission from the two, several of the Lin ¡®Shi¡¯ generation family members were already waiting in Lin Shilu¡¯s cave dwelling, except for Lin Shikang, who was in the midst of his Impact of Golden Core Stage. Lin Tianming and his father did not tarry, skipping a visit to their own caves and their female family members, heading straight to Lin Shilu¡¯s abode to gather with the elder family members. As the two entered the cave dwelling, the others sitting and chatting leisurely in the small courtyard looked excited. At that moment, Lin Shilu was the first to greet Lin Tianming, seeing him. ¡°Xingrong, Tianming, you two have finally come back!¡± ¡°` ¡°I¡¯ve seen Grandpa (Father), and I¡¯ve seen all the elders!¡± Lin Tianming and his companion clasped their fists and bowed, speaking in unison to the group before them. ¡°Tianming, come over here and sit!¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face was filled with excitement as he waved eagerly for Lin Tianming and his companion to join them. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his father didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly went over to take their seats. Soon after, Lin Shigong, who had been quiet until now, couldn¡¯t wait any longer and eagerly began to ask about Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences over the past year. On the other side, Lin Shilu and another were feeling the same way, each with eyes full of anticipation, curious about Lin Tianming¡¯s adventures and what fortunes he had encountered. Seeing the elders¡¯ impatience, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and began recounting his various experiences since leaving the Lin Family, over the course of the past year. Half an hour later, when Lin Shilu and the others learned that Lin Tianming had tamed a Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, they were thrilled and envious. Understandably so, for the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox is no ordinary Spirit Beast; its Divine Skills are extremely cunning, and its strength profound. It was indeed a prime choice among Spirit Beasts. And Lin Tianming was lucky indeed; not only had he obtained numerous Third Grade Treasures, but he had also acquired such a Spirit Beast, which was no small gain. Yet, this was merely the tip of the iceberg of all his gains over the past year. When they heard that Lin Tianming had obtained two Fruits of Fortuity and an intact Creation Fruit Tree, Lin Shilu and the other elders of the Lin Family were moved to tears, weeping uncontrollably on the spot. Clearly, the impact of this news was so overwhelming that it was too much for them to take in all at once. At this moment, Lin Shigong, while wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeves, choked up and said, ¡°Tianming, is this really true?¡± ¡°Really, Tianming, is everything you¡¯ve told us true?¡± Lin Shihua also found it hard to believe and chimed in with a few words, continuously asking Lin Tianming if he was dreaming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay; he took out the two Creation Fruits and placed them on the stone table before the two men. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression became a bit more composed, but he was still breathing rapidly, seemingly excited to the extreme. Then, he glanced at his elder brothers and shakily picked up a Jade Box. Opening it, he finally revealed the true form of a Fruit of Fortuity. ¡°This is really the Fruit of Fortuity, truly the Fruit of Fortuity, no doubt about it!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Truly, heaven blesses the Lin Family!¡± Lin Shilu was ecstatic, holding the Jade Box with the Fruit of Fortuity, dancing and gesturing excitedly. In his heart, obtaining a Star Moon Fruit from the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm had been quite difficult, involving great risk. And that treasure had been given to Lin Shikang for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Originally, they all firmly believed that the best candidate for consuming the Star Moon Fruit was the Hidden Dragon of the Lin Family, Lin Tianming. After all, with Lin Tianming¡¯s Dual Spiritual Roots and the firmness of his realm, he was the most suitable candidate to consume the Star Moon Fruit. However, plans failed to keep up with change and external pressures forced them to advance a family member¡¯s attempt at entering the Golden Core Stage, in order to tide the Lin Family over through potential crises. The decision at that time was also made out of necessity. But now, Lin Tianming¡¯s luck was against the heavens; he had obtained two Creation Fruits and even a Creation Fruit Tree in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Not only that, but he had also made it safely back to the family. It was simply inconceivable! Lin Tianming had reached the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and Lin Shilu had reached the Ninth Level. Their cultivation was not far from Great Perfection, and with these two Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, should all go well, perhaps within ten years, they could both aspire to the Impact of Golden Core Stage. If they were lucky enough to both enter the Golden Core Stage, all of the Lin Family¡¯s problems would be solved easily. Thinking of these things, Lin Shigong and the other elders, including Lin Xingrong, were excited beyond measure. After calming down, Lin Shilu and the others, emotional and unable to part with it, took turns admiring the Creation Fruit, as if they feared it would vanish into thin air. ¡°` Chapter 728 728 396 Family Arrangement_1 ?Chapter 728: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_1 Chapter 728: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_1 After a long while, the group finally regained their composure. Clan Leader Lin Shihua gave a few awkward laughs and said, ¡°It seems we old folks have lost our composure!¡± ¡°Tian Ming, continue with your story!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and began to recount what happened next. Learning that Lin Tianming had fortuitously encountered Yang Chen and his party and had joined their alliance, Clan Leader Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat. After all, this was no small matter; the power of the Golden Sword Sect was still something the Lin Family alone could not contend with. Whether by choice or by necessity, provoking a Golden Elixir Force and standing against it was not a wise move. ... If the sect decided to settle scores after autumn, the Lin Family would surely be in constant trouble. Though the Lin Family was no longer the easy target it once was, if a major war broke out with the Golden Sword Sect, the Lin Family would undoubtedly suffer. If that happened, the great situation that the Lin Family had painstakingly managed for decades could be completely destroyed. However, upon hearing about the Blood Red Alliance and how Lin Tianming emphasized that the Golden Sword Sect had unilaterally decided to cause trouble for Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, disrupting centuries of peace, it was apparent that this was a despicable act, completely opposite to righteousness. From this perspective, Lin Tianming¡¯s choice to side with Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect was a just endeavor. Even if this affair spread throughout the Cultivation World and the Golden Sword Sect retaliated against the Lin Family, it would be difficult to sidestep the two Great Sects. After all, if the Lin Family was righteously assisting and then was attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, if the two sects stood by idly, they would be despised by all. Thus, the Lin Family would surely receive the protection of the two sects, at least ensuring the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have to face the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s retribution alone. Understanding this, Lin Tianming, as the hope for the family¡¯s rise, taking such an action, was not unacceptable. As Lin Tianming continued to narrate, the clan members received more and more information. Especially upon hearing that Lin Tianming had killed Chen Jianbin and obtained nine Jiuli Star Fruits, their recently calmed hearts surged once again. Clearly, this news was extraordinarily explosive, leaving them utterly shocked. Indeed, just having the Creation Fruit Tree had been an unexpected surprise and brought them immense joy. Yet Lin Tianming went on a rampage, eliminating Chen Jianbin and others, intercepting all of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s harvest, seizing what they had long plotted for. Such an unpredictable turn of events not only surprised them but also left them thoroughly astonished. After a long while, the group finally managed to calm down. At this moment, Clan Leader Lin Shihua¡¯s thinking was clearer. He also understood how hot a property the Jiuli Star Fruits were and that giving them all to Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect was too disheartening. He was well aware that whether it was any sect or family, no one would consider the Jiuli Star Fruits excessive. And the Lin Family coveted them deeply, wishing they could keep them all. However, such thoughts were not feasible and could only be wished for inwardly. After all, the Jiuli Star Fruits were supposed to belong to the three Great Sects in the first place; it was just that the Golden Sword Sect had disrupted the peace and was even planning to conspire against Myriad Medicine Valley and the other two Great Sects with external forces. The outcome was completely unexpected, with all of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples perishing in the Secret Realm and their hard-earned gain snatched away by Yang Chen and company in a desperate counterattack. The course of this event was too winding and beyond anyone¡¯s anticipation. At this time, Clan Leader Lin Shihua, much like Lin Tianming at the beginning, was full of indecision and found it troublesome to decide on handing over the Jiuli Star Fruits. The answerless Lin Shihua racked his brains but couldn¡¯t think of any good solutions. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few breaths later, he looked at Lin Tianming and then asked, ¡°Tian Ming¡­ the Jiuli Star Fruits originally belonged to the three Great Sects. After you took them, how do Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect plan to deal with these items?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and then explained how he had divided the Jiuli Star Fruits into three parts. After a long while, having learned the entire story, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. They were genuinely worried that if Lin Tianming mishandled the situation and kept the Jiuli Star Fruits, which should belong to the two sects, it would be easy to offend both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, making the already precarious situation of the Lin Family even more troublesome. Not only that, but Lin Tianming had to face the disciples of the two sects and also guard against them turning on him. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had his principles and understood the situation at the time, returning the Jiuli Star Fruits, which belonged to the two sects, intact. Furthermore, he did not take the initiative to decide the ownership of the remaining three Jiuli Star Fruits but kept them in hand as leverage over the two sects. Thus, he did so to ensure that he could exit the Secret Realm safely and return to the Lin Family Clan Grounds. As for the ownership of the three Jiuli Star Fruits, he stated that they were at the discretion of the high echelons of the two sects. And the Lin Family was only temporarily guarding the items, ready to have them retrieved by someone from the sects whenever conditions permitted. Overall, although the situation carried no small risk, given the circumstances at that time, there was no perfect solution! Fortunately, the situation was complex and the decisions made were reluctant, not causing any discord among the disciples of the two sects, nor placing the Lin Family against them. Chapter 729 729 396 Family Arrangement_2 ?Chapter 729: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_2 Chapter 729: Chapter 396 Family Arrangement_2 Understanding this, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianming and couldn¡¯t help but praise him. ¡°Tianming, the situation was complex at that time, but you handled it very well!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Twelfth Grandpa, you¡¯re joking!¡± ¡°The situation was indeed tricky, but fortunately, my grandnephew distinguished himself greatly in the battle and even saved the lives of Yang Chen and others.¡± ¡°And they knew to repay the favor, not showing any ingratitude by destroying the bridge after crossing the river.¡± ¡°More importantly, right after exiting the Secret Realm, the Golden Sword Sect played the two Golden Core Cultivators, leaving them no time or energy to care for the Jiuli Star Fruits they held.¡± Lin Tianming recalled the scene with an expression of relief on his face. ... Hearing this, Lin Shihua also nodded, a hint of a smile flashing across his face. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ If Luo Anzhong and his companion hadn¡¯t been attacked by the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators, the ownership of those few Jiuli Star Fruits may have already been decided.¡± ¡°And with your strength and the strength of our Lin Family being far inferior to theirs, we could only be at others¡¯ mercy, without any bargaining power.¡± ¡°From this perspective, ensuring your safe return would not have been easy!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu chimed in. ¡°Twelfth Brother is right!¡± ¡°The people from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect are no kinder, and with the high value of the Jiuli Star Fruits, keeping those three would be very difficult!¡± Seeing Lin Shilu speak thus, Lin Tianming smiled and revealed a pure smile as he spoke. ¡°Heh heh¡­ This matter is not so easy to say!¡± ¡°You see, the focus of both sects from Myriad Medicine Valley is currently all on the Golden Sword Sect, with even their High Order Cultivators being closely watched by disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. I fear they won¡¯t have the time to come to our family to reclaim Jiuli Star Fruits any time soon.¡± ¡°In this case, if the two sects only send Foundation Establishment Disciples, the Lin Family can fully delay things!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Shihua and the others looked puzzled, seemingly not quite understanding Lin Tianming¡¯s statement. Seeing their confusion, Lin Tianming quickly explained. ¡°My seniors, considering our current situation in the Lin Family, we are not without the means to delay!¡± ¡°You know, Grandpa Sea has already reached the Core Formation, Third Grandfather is also preparing for the Golden Core Stage, and both Fifteenth Grandfather and I have reached the late stages of the Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°In particular, Fifteenth Grandfather has reached the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. If all goes well, within at most five years, he could be prepared to make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage!¡± ¡°Once successful, the Lin Family will have not just one Golden Core Cultivator but potentially more, naturally granting us the strength to hold our own against the two sects!¡± ¡°In addition, I have managed to recruit the Loose Cultivator Hu Yuan, who accompanied me during our trials, by promising to help him with his attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°As long as Daoist Hu succeeds, he will be able to stand guard over the Lin Family Clan Grounds for fifty years and will lend a hand in matters he is capable of handling for the Lin Family!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others all nodded their approval, satisfied. They had not expected Lin Tianming to be so clever as to entice a Loose Cultivator preparing for the Golden Core Stage. If it turned out as he said, the Lin Family would truly not fear the encounter with one of the three sects. ¡°Good¡­ good¡­¡± Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua repeated the word ¡®good¡¯ several times, clearly endorsing his strategy. They very well understood the value of the Jiuli Star Fruits. After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s analysis of the current predicament of the two sects and how they were tightly monitored by the Golden Sword Sect, there was always the potential for an all-out sect-destroying war. Under such tough conditions, the High Order Cultivators from the Myriad Medicine Valley sects simply weren¡¯t able to intervene. With only the Foundation Establishment Cultivators coming to the Lin Family Clan Grounds, they indeed had some ability to delay. Just a delay of five to ten years was needed. Once either Lin Shikang or Lin Shilu succeeded in reaching the Core Formation, the overall strength of the Lin Family would see a tremendous increase. By that time, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy for the two sects to monopolize the Jiuli Star Fruits. Understanding this, Lin Shilu and others were all excited beyond measure. At that moment, Lin Tianming changed the subject and brought up the attack on Luo Anzhong and Zhu Yun by Song Hanchun and two unfamiliar Golden Core Cultivators. With the old issue resurfaced, those who were brimming with excitement felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on them, instantly realizing the events that could potentially unfold in the Cultivation World. Looking at the silent group, Clan Leader Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Shigong, then spoke up to ask a question. ¡°Ninth Brother, since Third Brother is making an Impact on the Golden Core Stage and now you¡¯re the eldest among us old brothers, what¡¯s your opinion on this matter?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lin Shigong sighed helplessly. ¡°We¡¯ve barely survived the beast tide attack, and before we could have a few years of peace, another war is about to break out that¡¯s no less severe than the beast tide!¡± ¡°This time, no family in the Wei Kingdom will be able to stand alone. As for which of the three Sects will emerge victorious, it¡¯s hard to say!¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve already positioned ourselves with the Zhenyang Sect and exist under its watchful eye. Apart from making some arrangements in advance to face this crisis, there isn¡¯t much else we can do!¡± Hearing Lin Shigong¡¯s words, the others also nodded their heads in resignation, their hearts filled with involuntary sighs. Then, Clan Leader Lin Shihua looked at Lin Tianming and his son, as well as Lin Shilu, signaling them to share their thoughts. Seeing this, Lin Shilu and Lin Xingrong both spoke up with several suggestions. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their thoughts were straightforward: to make arrangements in advance, temporarily close down some of the less profitable Spirit Land ventures, and strive for excellence. Next was to strengthen the defenses of the major Spirit Lands, and gather as many war resources as possible. For the clan¡¯s ventures, the focus should be on stability. As for external circumstances, they would take it one step at a time. Lin Tianming, after much contemplation, couldn¡¯t come up with a particularly reliable solution either. In his view, with the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s involvement, the inevitable clash between the three Sects would eventually erupt. By then, all powers in the Wei Kingdom, be they Foundation Establishing Families or Qi Refining Families, would likely find it impossible to avoid the conflict. Given the modus operandi of the three major Sects, issuing another Recruitment Order was certain, and the forces summoned might even be greater than those during the last beast tide. The Lin Family, now a top-tier Foundation Establishing Family with influence throughout the southern Wei Kingdom, would undoubtedly be on Zhenyang Sect¡¯s list for recruitment. Fortunately, the Lin Family had grown significantly since then and even if several Foundation Establishment Cultivators were to join the war, the overall strength of the family would not be greatly impacted. As for making preparations in advance, he had already taken some actions, having reached an agreement with Tang Xiuyuan of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. He also acquired over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones¡¯ worth of cultivation resources and consumable treasures from the stores in Qianchuan Market. Besides that, the family had also accumulated some treasure resources over the years, a considerable amount indeed. For the next few years, there must be an intensified effort to accumulate more war resources, so as to ensure the family¡¯s safety through the ordeal. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming shared his ideas, emphasizing the cooperation with Tang Xiuyuan of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and instructed the family to immediately arrange for this to take place. Soon after, following discussion among the group, a preliminary consensus was reached. Firstly, to start increasing the alert status of all major Spirit Lands, to recall those who are out on training, and to maximize the clan¡¯s defensive forces. Secondly, to have Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming enter secluded cultivation immediately, with the aim of shortening the time needed to reach the Golden Core Stage. Thirdly, to withdraw three hundred thousand strategic reserve Spirit Stones from the family¡¯s reserves and assigned the Hall of Merit¡¯s Master, Lin Xingcheng, along with Lin Xingrong to take charge of collecting various war resources. Anything that could enhance cultivation or strengthen power was needed, be it elixirs, Spirit Fruits, Magic Artifacts, talisman paper, or consumable treasures¡ª they wanted them all. Fourthly, to begin distributing some strategic reserve resources to the clan members to support their advancement in their cultivation realms. And to dispatch the Enforcement Hall Master, Lin Xingzhi, to organize several teams to enter the Luoyun Mountain Range for training, in order to improve the clan members¡¯ combat experience. Fifthly, to start integrating the various families within the Luoyun Mountain Range, forming an even larger force, and enhance the defensive power of Luoyun Market. With these matters settled, the preparations for the battle were mostly in place. ¡­ Chapter 730 730 397 Astonishing Wealth_1 ?Chapter 730: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_1 Chapter 730: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_1 ¡°` With the external affairs settled, the group of five finally shifted the conversation. At this moment, what Lin Tianming cared about the most were the changes within the Lin Family, especially Lin Shikang¡¯s attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage and the results of the family¡¯s large-scale arrangement for clan members to establish their foundations. Thus, Lin Tianming brought up the matter. According to Lin Shihua¡¯s introduction, the family had undergone significant changes over the past two years. Most importantly, Lin Shikang had been in secluded cultivation for nearly two years, and his early preparations should have been completed. Lin Shihua revealed that the spiritual energy at Lin Shikang¡¯s secluded cultivation site was extremely dense, appearing to almost reach the level that Ye Pinghai had when he attracted heavenly tribulation. Clearly, Lin Shikang¡¯s progress in attempting the Golden Core Stage was faster than Ye Pinghai¡¯s had been. ... The probable reason was that Lin Shikang possessed the breakthrough insights left by the ancestral founder. Moreover, Lin Tianming had personally protected Ye Pinghai during his cultivation retreat, witnessing the entire process of his breakthrough. Besides, after Ye Pinghai¡¯s successful breakthrough, his teaching by word and example naturally made the process less arduous than stumbling through it alone. As such, after nearly two years of seclusion, Lin Shikang had made significant progress. Back then, Ye Pinghai¡¯s initial preparations, coupled with the time for seclusion and breakthrough, spanned almost four years. Whereas now, Lin Shikang was just shy of two years into his retreat, yet he was already close to the stage of attracting heavenly tribulation. This pace excited all the clansmen, with everyone eagerly awaiting the arrival of the tribulation. Beyond the crucial matter of Lin Shikang, the results of the clan¡¯s mass foundation establishment were also very pleasing. Four months ago, all the clan members who had secluded themselves to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage emerged. Out of the twelve who attempted the breakthrough, eight succeeded. The two-thirds success rate satisfied everyone. Following this round of foundation establishment, there were now nearly thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators in the family, with almost half of them never having shown their faces in the outside world. One can imagine, with nearly thirty Foundation Establishment members and three of them boasting the combat power of Great Perfection, this force could easily top the list of all Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom aside from the Three Sects and Two Clans with Golden Core cultivators. If all the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment members were to appear before the public eye, it would certainly cause a huge sensation. However, the cultivation world was currently not very peaceful. These newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators were still shallow in their cultivation and would inevitably remain in the family to consolidate their cultivation and practice for several years. Only after their strength improved would they be assigned tasks according to the family¡¯s situation. It could be said that both the matter of Lin Shikang¡¯s seclusion and the clan members¡¯ results in impacting the Foundation Establishment Stage were very satisfactory. Apart from these two important matters, another issue also weighed on Lin Tianming¡¯s mind¡ªthe situation of the family¡¯s genius, Lin Tianyun. At this time, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Shihua and the others before asking, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, I heard from father that the family has identified a Wind Spirit Root genius, but our family does not possess any wind-attribute cultivation techniques. What shall we do about this?¡± Lin Tianming was unaware that among the treasures Lin Tianfeng had obtained in the Secret Realm, there was a wind-attribute cultivation technique. Those privy to this affair, including Lin Tianhong and Lin Xingrong, who was dispatched by the family to locate Lin Tianfeng, were also not aware of the existence of the wind-attribute cultivation technique. Thus, Lin Tianming raised the question. At this moment, upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua simply smiled and was about to reveal what Lin Tianfeng had secretly sent back with Lin Tianhong. The secret of Lin Tianyun and that wind-attribute cultivation technique was known to only a few senior family members bearing the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation title in the entire family. Even the few members responsible for seeking a wind-attribute cultivation technique were not aware of Lin Tianyun¡¯s existence. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This secret was also one of the Lin Family¡¯s greatest secrets. At the very least, it could not be revealed within the family until the Lin Family had its own Golden Core cultivator, let alone exposed in the cultivation world. Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong were also core members of the family, so Lin Shihua naturally had no intention of concealing it from them. After learning that the issue with the cultivation technique had been resolved, Lin Tianming and his son felt as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Currently, the Lin Family held several Nascent Soul Spiritual Items and had as many as three candidates ready to attempt the Golden Core Stage within a short time. There were also more than twenty Foundation Establishment members. This strength was strong and robust in every aspect. Beyond that, the Lin Family had all the foundations in place for a substantial increase in overall strength. What they needed now was time. Once Lin Shikang was successful in forming his core, the Lin Family would have a certain level of power to compete with the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom. And that time might be within the next one or two years. Realizing this, everyone present was wildly excited. Finally calming down, Lin Tianming took advantage of the atmosphere to deliver more good news. He waved his sleeve, and over ten storage bags were placed on the stone table in front of him. These storage bags belonged to the cultivators he had killed in the Secret Realm. The most valuable among them, naturally, were the storage bags of Chen Jianbin and Du Changqing. After all, they were among the top disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and Du Changqing was a Second Order Array Master. Their wealth was certainly higher than that of ordinary cultivators. With the past few months spent traveling, Lin Tianming had not had time to inventory these storage bags. Now that he had finally returned to clan territory, it was naturally time to thoroughly inspect these spoils of war to understand their full extent. ¡°` Chapter 731 731 397 Astonishing Wealth_2 ?Chapter 731: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_2 Chapter 731: Chapter 397 Astonishing Wealth_2 At this moment, Lin Shihua and the others looked at the storage bags in front of them, each with an excited expression. Although they¡¯d heard from Lin Tianming about the adventures in the secret realm, including the collection of no few storage bags, they couldn¡¯t say for sure what the ultimate gains would be. Now, at last, they could count their spoils, each bearing a tint of anticipation. Immediately after, with a single wave of his hand, Lin Tianming sent the storage bag flying towards the others, who caught them in their hands. Following that, each of them sent out their divine sense to forcefully erase the residual divine sense on the storage bags. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming was the first to see the items inside the storage bag, his face instantly becoming flushed, breathing turning inevitably hurried. Unsurprisingly, this storage bag happened to be one of the most valuable ones, belonging to Chen Jianbin. ... Upon his investigation, this bag contained numerous items from the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect; it seemed to be the storage bag where Chen Jianbin kept his spoils of war separately. After all, Chen Jianbin had personally killed quite a number of disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect in the secret realm. And those who died by his hand naturally had their loot taken by Chen Jianbin. This storage bag was not small in space, and it was packed full, various magic artifacts and cultivation resources piled together in a somewhat untidy mess. It looked like Chen Jianbin hadn¡¯t had the chance to sort through them and had inadvertently given Lin Tianming a bargain. According to his exploration, there were as many as 260,000 spirit stones, more than a dozen items when combining Third Order Spiritual Medicines and ores, and over ten pieces of attack and defense artifacts, both good and damaged. First and Second Order items were even more numerous, with hundreds of types and varying quantities. Besides, there were plenty of elixir charms and such; there were even two Foundation Establishment Pills, likely the stock of some unfortunate cultivators from the two sects. Regrettably, there were practically no inheritance items, such as cultivation techniques or records, in these storage bags. Thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t surprising, as sect cultivators didn¡¯t have the habit of carrying inheritance items with them. Especially when entering dangerous places like secret realms, they would be even less likely to bring such things. If they were to fall there, their backing sects couldn¡¯t afford such a loss either. However, even so, this storage bag wasn¡¯t without gains; there were very few inheritance items left by some cultivators, mostly insights related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. Yet, the ranks were not high, and the amount of useful stuff was very limited. Even so, the value of this storage bag was still immense. Based on his preliminary estimates, just the treasures inside this one storage bag amounted to at least the wealth of several Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If converted to spirit stones, its value would definitely exceed 500,000 spirit stones. While his face was flushed and slightly distracted, Lin Shilu beside him had a similar reaction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming came back to his senses, looked at Lin Shilu who was also breathing fast, and quickly asked. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, what did you find in this storage bag?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu smiled awkwardly. ¡°This storage bag also has quite a few treasures, various spiritual medicines, elixirs, talisman papers, and ores. Its value should also amount to over 200,000!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, revealing a dismissive expression. Seeing this, Lin Shilu looked embarrassed, then immediately asked, ¡°Tian Ming, what did you find in your storage bag?¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you can see for yourself!¡± With that said, Lin Tianming handed the storage bag he had to Lin Shilu, then picked up another one. Based on the residual aura, the items in this bag should belong to Chen Jianbin himself. He efficiently erased the divine sense on it and soon began a detailed investigation. In no time at all, he finished checking this private storage bag of Chen Jianbin. After his tally, the bag didn¡¯t contain many items¡ªless than 80,000 spirit stones¡ªand not many treasures, although a few Third Grade Treasures were considered quite decent. ¡°` Quite clearly, this storage bag must have been the personal belonging of Chen Jianbin; the quantity and value of these items, when summed up, were not very high¡ªjust barely reaching over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Even, it fell far short of his own wealth before entering the Secret Realm. Such a total wealth obviously did not match Chen Jianbin¡¯s status, which caused him some disappointment. However, after giving it some thought, Lin Tianming reasoned that the cultivators from the three great sects must all do the same, likely leaving a portion of their wealth within the sects before entering the Secret Realm. This action was not strange; this way, if they perished, the sect would not suffer too great a loss. So the wealth in this capacity did indeed match that of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator¡¯s wealth. With this disheartened feeling, Lin Tianming continued to inspect the remaining storage bags. In no time, the dozen or so storage bags before everyone had all been checked. And when Lin Tianming explored the third storage bag, he finally felt completely satisfied. After a thorough inspection, this storage bag¡¯s value far surpassed any of the previous ones; even the first one, valued at five hundred thousand Spirit Stones, could not compare to this one. The contents of this storage bag were rather uniform, solely storing Spiritual Medicine Materials and Spirit Fruits¡ªresources for cultivation. They included First, Second, and Third Order items, with a total count of at least several thousand plants. Ordinary items made up the vast majority, while the more precious ones were those Third Order Spirit Medicine Materials, amounting to as many as sixty plants. Besides that, there was also White Jade Grass, the main ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, totaling over thirty plants, all of which were five hundred years old and ready to be used for concocting Foundation Establishment Pills. The number of these Spiritual Medicines was not small, and their value was extraordinarily high. Based on his rough estimation, the accumulated value of the treasures in this storage bag could easily break one million Spirit Stones. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming immediately understood. This immensely valuable storage bag was where Chen Jianbin had stored their collection of Spiritual Medicines over the past year. This large batch of Spiritual Medicines was likely the treasures collected for the sect, all from Spirit Lands discovered by predecessors who would harvest them every two hundred years. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be such an amount and on such a grand scale. Apart from this storage bag, Lin Shilu and the others also explored a few storage bags each. After their investigations, the contents of these storage bags were also quite unique, with various Spirit Ores, Spirit Materials, and Demonic Beast Materials separately stored in different storage bags, evidently categorized by Chen Jianbin. The value of these items was likewise substantial; although individually none compared with the storage bag containing the Spiritual Medicines and Fruits, their cumulative value definitely surpassed that of the bag containing only those items. He estimated that their value was at least three million Spirit Stones. As the exploration of over a dozen storage bags was completed, the complexions of everyone present turned rosy, their breathing a bit heavier. Including Lin Tianming, their faces were flushed, and their emotions took a long time to settle down. It was indeed no wonder that they couldn¡¯t remain calm! The assortment of treasures was simply too comprehensive, covering resources needed for cultivator and the Four Arts of Cultivation, including Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Ores, and Spirit Materials. It was practically a Treasure Vault! And not just any vault, but one of a small Golden Core force! The value of these items was exceedingly high for the current Lin Family. With a rough calculation, the combined value of these items was at least worth over seven million Spirit Stones. This wealth was so substantial that even if all the Lin Family¡¯s assets were pooled together, including the private possessions of the family members, it would likely not reach half the value of these treasures. It was hard to imagine that Lin Tianming had intercepted a huge batch of resources that Golden Sword Sect had accumulated over two hundred years. With such a vast array of treasures, covering resources from all domains, giving the Lin Family a few more decades, it stood to reason that the entire family¡¯s power could make a qualitative leap. One could imagine that perhaps in just twenty to thirty years, the overall strength of the family could easily quadruple. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 732 732 398 Decision_1 ?Chapter 732: Chapter 398 Decision_1 Chapter 732: Chapter 398 Decision_1 Realizing the importance of this vast amount of resources, and understanding the transformation they would bring to the Lin Family, they clearly represented a tremendous opportunity for the Lin Family¡¯s rise. For quite a long time, a group of people found it hard to calm down. However, Lin Tianming, who had some forewarning, was the first to regain his composure. He knew that this chance was originally property of the Golden Sword Sect, and it took a full two hundred years to amass such a trove of treasures. Even for an entity like the Golden Sword Sect, which had a heritage spanning nearly ten thousand years, this was not an insignificant sum. Therefore, they would certainly not let the matter rest. Realizing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, worried about the Lin Family¡¯s future predicament. ... But since the Lin Family had already done this deed and brought everything back to their clan land, there was absolutely no reason to give it up. As long as they could get through these few years, and the Lin Family had its own Golden Core Clan Member, they would be able to breathe a sigh of relief. This was why the Lin Family had to be extra cautious and use this huge resource to quickly enhance their strength. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at the clan members still in the throes of ecstasy and then began to remind them. ¡°Elders, these resources are vast and, precisely because they are so valuable, our family¡¯s crisis is even greater. So we must seize the time to enhance our strength!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and the others were jolted back to reality. Indeed, opportunity and crisis often coexist! Now that the Lin Family had acquired these resources and intended to keep them, they had to bear the associated risks. Fortunately, the current Golden Sword Sect¡¯s attention had been drawn by both Myriad Medicine Valley and another party, and they were not aware that the items were in the Lin Family¡¯s hands. In such a situation, the Golden Sword Sect was also in a state of utter chaos, with their focus entirely on the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. It was unlikely, for the time being, that they could spare the effort to deal with a small-power Lin Family. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s current strength had not been exposed, and it was only a small target, unlikely to attract their attention. With these thoughts in mind, everyone was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Subsequently, the group discussed some strategies to respond to the situation before ending the topic. At this moment, they had only accounted for a good portion of the gains. The items Lin Tianming had acquired in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had not yet been presented. Thus, Lin Tianming then took out several storage bags, as well as the Spirit Beast Bag, and placed them in front of everyone. Soon, he also took out the things he had obtained in the secret realm. Aside from the Purple Gold Eagle in the Spirit Beast Bag, all Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore were taken out. Including the Fruit of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree, which were stored separately in a storage bag. This amount of resources, which he had obtained on his own, although not as valuable as the treasures from Chen Jianbin, their cumulative worth was also quite formidable. Just the Fruit of Fortuity and the Creation Fruit Tree alone, these two items amounted to a considerable wealth, and they were goods without a market price. And although Lin Shihua and the others had heard from Lin Tianming about his experiences in the secret realm and had a rough idea of his gains, when they saw items like the Earth Rampart Crystal, a Third Order Spiritual Ore, Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t wait to pick it up for a closer examination, then displayed an expression of not wanting to part with it. At this time, the gloomy expressions on several of their faces also lightened considerably at the sight of the treasures. Watching the excited group, Lin Tianming pondered for a long time and decided to keep three hundred thousand Spirit Stones for himself, then hand over most of the vast treasures obtained from the secret realm to the family. After all, he was not short of Spirit Stones currently, nor did he lack cultivation resources needed prior to the Golden Core Stage. As for what he needed, he kept a small portion of the more rare Spiritual Medicine for later use in concocting elixirs to enhance his cultivation. Besides, the useful Spirit Fruits for him were gathered and a few were kept for himself. For those not available, he could have the family collect them. The reason for this was that the family was currently beset with crises and desperately needed to improve the overall strength of the clan to face the upcoming crises. Apart from external factors, it was mainly because the resources were too vast for one person to use up. There were already quite a few Foundation Establishment Clan Members in the family, requiring a vast amount of resources. Moreover, with his limited energy at the moment, he had to focus on cultivating to improve his cultivation in preparation for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, handing over the majority of the treasures, whether for himself or for the family, was an essential course of action. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming looked at the people present and then spoke to Lin Shihua, saying, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, please incorporate these treasures into the family Treasure Vault!¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Lin Shihua looked troubled, seeming a bit embarrassed. However, as the family steward, who held the grasp of every matter in his mind, he understood the family¡¯s dire situation and the desperate need for these resources to enhance the strength of the clan members. Yet these resources were so immense that even selling the entire Lin Family might not fetch half their value. And Lin Tianming had already contributed enough to the family over the years. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon reflecting, from the initial Minor Foundation Building Pill to various cultivation techniques and resources, everything was related to him. Including the Star Moon Fruit Lin Shikang used for his Golden Core Stage, the Spirit Arts cultivated by the core clan members, and the Fruit of Fortuity and Creation Fruit Tree he had brought back this time, every item could substantially improve the family¡¯s strength. Chapter 733 733 398 Decision_2 ?Chapter 733: Chapter 398 Decision_2 Chapter 733: Chapter 398 Decision_2 It could be said that in just a few short decades, the Lin Family had transformed from a small clan struggling to survive amidst precarious circumstances into the leading Foundation Establishing Family in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Lin Tianming played an absolutely critical role in this transformation. No one could replace this role, let alone place it in the same category! Understanding this, Lin Shihua fell silent for a long time, unable to utter a single word. Seeing this, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, as a descendant of the Lin bloodline, it is only right for me to contribute to our clan! ¡°In addition to that, I have left behind three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and a small portion of the items useful to me, so if I need any treasures in the future, I can simply take them from the family¡¯s treasure vault.¡± ¡°Even if there is something we don¡¯t have, the family will help to collect it.¡± ... No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong also began to urge Lin Shihua to accept. ¡°Shihua¡­ you should accept on behalf of the family. This kid has always been lucky, he always gains a lot every time he goes out, and he certainly doesn¡¯t lack treasures for cultivation.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Twelfth Uncle, accept it. If Tianming needs to collect anything in the future, the family must help him!¡± Hearing the words of Lin Xingrong and the others, Lin Shihua nodded thoughtfully. Right after that, he casually took the storage bag and the Spirit Beast Bag in front of Lin Tianming. After finishing these actions, Lin Shihua stood up, cupped his fists towards Lin Tianming, and said a word of thanks. ¡°Tianming, your contribution is seen by all of us. On behalf of the more than five hundred members of our clan, I thank you!¡± ¡°No, no, this is too much!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming protested while quickly standing up, pulling an emotionally stirred Lin Shihua back to his seat. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa is too kind!¡± ¡°I have only done my best, hoping that the clan can use these resources to substantially strengthen our overall power, in order to face any crisis that might erupt at any moment!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua nodded. He was equally aware of the Lin Family¡¯s situation and understood what they were up against. Nevertheless, the Lin Family had to keep moving forward, no matter what¡ªonce they weathered this storm, they could truly make a name for themselves in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. And this could happen in ten years or perhaps twenty years. In short, the Lin Family had no other option. Realizing this, Lin Shihua glanced at everyone and then spoke, ¡°Tianming has made such a great contribution to the family; in fact, he already has the right to utilize all the family¡¯s strength and resources!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that this kid has always been self-reliant and hasn¡¯t exercised this right over the years!¡± ¡°Now that Tianming is so understanding of the greater good, I will not say any more useless words!¡± ¡°In any case, except for the Third Order Items, we will reserve all these treasures for Elder Shi, Shi Lu, and Tianming¡¯s use. All the other treasures must be distributed to those potential clanspeople, to help them improve their cultivation further, as well as their proficiency in the Four Arts of Cultivation.¡± Hearing this, the few people present had no objections. After all, Third Order Items are generally used by Golden Core Cultivators or those with a high level of proficiency in the Four Arts of Cultivation. And currently, only Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu, and Lin Tianming among the Lin Family qualified. One was a clansman in the process of impacting the Golden Core Stage, one was a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, and another was a Second Order High-Quality Artifact Refiner; ordinary clanspeople basically had no use for Third Grade Treasures. All things considered, the genuinely valuable treasures were indeed for the use of these three. Seeing no one opposed, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming added at this moment. ¡°The quantity of this batch of resources is substantial, and the variety of treasures is very comprehensive. When we distribute them to the clanspeople, we must also set some rules to stir up their enthusiasm for cultivation.¡± ¡°Therefore, I suggest we step up the efforts of the Monster Hunting Squad, for only through hard work can they obtain more resources!¡± ¡°Besides, a small portion of resources could be used to recruit some Qi Refining Families, including some capable Loose Cultivators, all of whom can serve our Lin family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion!¡± Lin Shilu, who had been silent for a long time, was the first to agree. ¡°The cultivation world is about to descend into chaos, and relying solely on the Lin Family¡¯s current strength may leave us spread too thin. Recruiting some families and loose cultivators can significantly enhance our family¡¯s error tolerance in crisis management,¡± he said. Hearing these words, Lin Shihua nodded his head in agreement, thinking to himself that this suggestion was indeed good, especially since it came from both Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming. ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll make the arrangements immediately!¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s proceed with that plan then. It seems, Shihua, you¡¯ll be quite busy during this time!¡± Lin Shigong said with a smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ for the sake of the family, it¡¯s only right that I be busy!¡± Lin Shihua waved his hand and smiled indifferently, seemingly in a good mood. Lin Shilu also spoke with a face full of joy, ¡°Since we¡¯ve almost settled the matters at hand, let Tianming and Xingrong rest as they¡¯re both exhausted. Let¡¯s all get to work.¡± ¡°With the large amount of spirit ore materials that Tianming brought back, along with several damaged defense artifacts, I plan to refine them over the next few years and then create a few more defense artifacts to help Tianming and me confront the Threefold Lightning Tribulation when we challenge the Golden Core Stage!¡± Having said this, Lin Shilu took the Green Scale Shield and a few attack talismans from Lin Tianming, intending to thoroughly refine them to see if he could raise them to the quality of Second Order Superior. Lin Tianming naturally had no objections to this. Now that he had obtained the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, all conditions for challenging the Golden Core Stage were met, and he also planned to seclude himself for cultivation to improve his cultivation. Perhaps in just a few years, he would be able to challenge the Golden Core Stage. The force of the Thunder Tribulation was indeed terrifying, and he would need some high-quality defense artifacts to withstand it. Even if Lin Shilu hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would have asked for his help. After all, among the Lin family members, Lin Shilu had the highest skill in artifact refining. After Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming exchanged a few words, they confirmed the next steps of their plan. Soon after, the group made small talk for a little while before leaving Lin Shilu¡¯s cave dwelling one after another. Lin Tianming and his two grandsons left together and returned to Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling. Having received the news of their return in advance, his mother and Qin Xi had both finished their cultivation practice and were specially waiting in Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave dwelling, obviously intending to spend some quality time together. When they arrived at his father¡¯s dwelling, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were already waiting there. After exchanging greetings, Lin Shigong and the others sat in the courtyard and chatted leisurely. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, shared a few words with her, and then joined the others. Having not seen her for nearly two years, his mother¡¯s cultivation level was still at the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, which seemed to indicate that as her cultivation level rose, it became increasingly difficult for her to make progress. Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation, however, had soared after her period of secluded cultivation and had already reached the realm of Foundation Establishment Fourth Level. Her aura was extremely stable, clearly only a step away from reaching the Fifth Level. With some Spirit Fruits, she could break through at any moment. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled and quickly took out a large number of Second Order Spiritual Fruits. These were items purchased from the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and some were leftovers found in Chen Jianbin¡¯s storage bag. The grade of these Spirit Fruits was not low; even the least among them was of Second Order Medium Quality. They were excellent Spirit Fruits for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enhance their cultivation. He had kept these items for his parents and sister, as it was he who had obtained them in the first place, and moreover, he had already turned in most of them. With his strength and status, how the remainder was distributed was entirely up to him, and no one else had the right to interfere. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, he quickly distributed these Spirit Fruits among them. Initially, Qin Xi and his mother were unaware and repeatedly declined. But after listening to Lin Shigong¡¯s explanation, once they heard about Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences in the Secret Realm, they couldn¡¯t help but gasp and were almost too anxious to speak. However, upon seeing that Lin Tianming had returned safely and appeared unharmed, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law finally calmed down. Seeing that their grandfather had accepted the Spirit Fruits, the two of them no longer insisted on refusing. Afterward, the family enjoyed a long and happy chat, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law even prepared a dinner feast. Everyone in the family was present, except for Lin Tianyue, who was still at the Qianchuan Market. After dinner, Lin Tianming and his wife bid farewell to their elders and returned to their own cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 734 734 399 Delay_1 ?Chapter 734: Chapter 399 Delay_1 Chapter 734: Chapter 399 Delay_1 Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave abode, the two of them embraced each other like a couple newly reunited after a brief separation. After not seeing each other for more than a year, and with elders present just now, Qin Xi felt somewhat embarrassed. Now that they were back in their own cave abode, she could no longer resist the longing in her heart: her entire being blushed slightly, curled up in Lin Tianming¡¯s embrace without moving. In her eyes, as long as Lin Tianming returned safely, that meant more to her than any rare treasure of heaven and earth. But she also understood that Lin Tianming was a man with great ambitions and was not content to be an ordinary cultivator; he had always placed the Lin Family first. How could such a man be content with being ordinary? In fact, including herself, before meeting Lin Tianming, for the sake of deep-seated hatred and survival, she too lived on the edge, licking blood off the knife¡¯s blade. ... Back then, facing the pursuit of enemies, she also fell into crisis numerous times. Each time she had to exert her full strength, often facing enemies several times her number. After a life-and-death struggle, she would emerge severely wounded, barely clinging to life. Those days were just a decade ago! Now that she thinks back, the memories are still vivid. However, ever since she met Lin Tianming, with him shielding her from wind and rain, she gradually stepped back, focusing solely on cultivation, striving to catch up to his pace as soon as possible. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, she didn¡¯t say much else. All her longing and worries were worn away by this embrace. Lin Tianming understood Qin Xi¡¯s concerns as well, but for the sake of the family and his own path, he had to take some risks. Only in this way could the Lin Family rise more quickly, and the people he cared about have a safe environment to cultivate in peace. And he himself could walk even further on the path of cultivation. It could be said that whether for the family or for himself, he had to give it his all. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not say much either, instead gently patting Qin Xi¡¯s beautiful back, making a comforting gesture. In this way, the two did not speak, simply embracing each other tenderly for a long time before eventually parting. At this moment, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks were flushed red, having been taken advantage of by Lin Tianming during their embrace, which also made her heart flutter. Lin Tianming felt this even more intensely, nearly losing his self-control. After all, he was an adult man, and facing his delicate wife in his arms, her body scent and that scorching warmth, as well as her soft and delicate body, constantly aroused his desire. If it weren¡¯t for their early agreement not to Dual Cultivate until the Golden Core Stage and no plan to have children for now, the situation might have easily spiraled out of control. Fortunately, they were both clear-headed, always suppressing the restlessness in their hearts, preventing things from developing further. At this time, the two sat opposite each other, and the commotion within their hearts gradually calmed down. Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s slightly exhausted expression and asked with concern, ¡°Ming, what are your plans next?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming simply smiled and then began to speak of his plans. In his view, since he had safely returned to the family lands and his cultivation had been in stagnation for two years, it was time to properly cultivate. It just so happened that he had obtained quite a few Spirit Fruits that could enhance his cultivation, including several with good effects that could be used for several years of secluded cultivation. Together with the Hun Tian Pills that Ye Pinghai had helped refine for the family earlier, with these treasures, he wouldn¡¯t lack for cultivation resources before entering the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, it was only natural that he should focus on cultivation. Thus, Lin Tianming talked about his plan to stay in the family lands for the coming years. Once his cultivation reached the requirements for the Impact of Golden Core Stage and Lin Shilu had refined the Defense Artifact, he would strike with all his might to directly impact the Golden Core Stage. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s plan, Qin Xi was naturally overjoyed. Immediately after, Lin Tianming inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s own plans. From Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, she intended to join the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad for a year and a half, to let her cultivation settle before secluding herself for cultivation within the family lands, using the Spirit Fruits given by Lin Tianming to improve her cultivation. Hearing this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t object. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation had been progressing quite fast. Since the end of the great battle in Yuyao City, she had been cultivating in the family lands without proper experience. Continuing like this wasn¡¯t beneficial for the improvement of her cultivation. The family was planning to distribute some resources to attract family members to experience trials, and she could take this opportunity to contribute to the family and display her potential. Although with Lin Tianming¡¯s current wealth and the status of the Lin Family, it was not necessary for Qin Xi to take such risks, and they could easily procure plentiful resources for her to cultivate. But to walk further on the path, one must still face the dangers that need to be faced. Only with real combat experience would her cultivation become more consolidated, and her breakthroughs smoother. It could be said that joining the Lin Family¡¯s Monster Hunting Squad was not only beneficial for herself. For the family, having a member at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level, and one with extensive combat experience, join the squad would significantly enhance the safety of the squad members. Beyond this, the chances of finding treasures during these trials would also greatly increase. Therefore, for both parties, this was a win-win situation. Understanding this, Lin Tianming would naturally not hinder her; instead, he took out quite a few Second Order Attack Talismans and some fairly good offensive and defensive treasures to give to Qin Xi so that she could contribute more in this Monster Hunting mission. Chapter 735 735 399 Delay_2 ?Chapter 735: Chapter 399: Delay_2 Chapter 735: Chapter 399: Delay_2 Lin Tianming¡¯s kindness, given the relationship between him and his wife, Qin Xi naturally would not refuse. With this treasure, her strength had also become much stronger; even if she were to face a Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beast alone, she would be able to put up a fight. After thus receiving a large amount of treasure, the couple chatted idly for a while before going their separate ways. After separating, Lin Tianming went straight to his room to rest, and Qin Xi began preparing for the demonic beast hunting mission. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. On this day, at dawn, sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone upon the towering mountains. ... At that time, within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, everything was prospering, with many clansmen moving through the grounds or gathering together, preparing to head deep into the Luoyun Mountain Range for experience. Inside the Guest-Receiving Palace on the peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu sat in the high seats, while two Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat below them. Looking out, one of them was dressed in a golden robe with sun embroidery on the chest, clearly a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. The other person was Xu Zhihua, an Inner Sect Disciple from Myriad Medicine Valley, both of whom had the cultivation of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. At this time, Lin Shihua looked at the expressions of both individuals, and even though they hadn¡¯t conversed much, he already knew the purpose of Xu Zhihua and the other¡¯s visit. However, even so, he still pretended as if nothing was amiss and then asked, ¡°What brings the two esteemed friends from your Sect to our humble abode today?¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Zhihua from Myriad Medicine Valley cupped his hands toward the seated Lin Shihua and replied calmly, ¡°Chief Lin, our visit today is firstly to greet our friends from the Lin Family.¡± ¡°And secondly, it concerns the Jiuli Star Fruit and the matter of the reward for friend Tian Ming!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Shihua showed an expression of doubt and then inquired, ¡°May I know how your Sect plans to distribute the fruit, and what reward you intend to offer?¡± After speaking, Lin Shihua looked at Xu Zhihua calmly, his face showing an expectant look. Seeing this, Xu Zhihua also decided not to beat around the bush and began to convey the decision of the Sect¡¯s higher-ups. ¡°For his merits in the Secret Realm, it has been decided after consultation between our Sects¡¯ high-level officials that we award friend Lin Tianming one hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, as well as three Foundation Establishment Pills!¡± ¡°As for the three Jiuli Star Fruits still in the hands of friend Lin Tianming, they will be reclaimed by our two Sects in entirety!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shihua¡¯s face remained unchanged, but inside he was somewhat furious. Considering Lin Tianming¡¯s great achievement within the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, it was no exaggeration to say it could be credited with saving the lives of the two Sects¡¯ disciples. Yet even so, they intended to dismiss the Lin Family with some Spirit Stones and a few Foundation Establishment Pills, as if these were comparable to the Jiuli Star Fruit. Clearly, the two Sects thought the Lin Family was too weak to negotiate. They had no regard for the Lin Family at all! Understanding all this, Lin Shihua felt annoyed inside, yet he still kept a placid face, showing no signs of abnormality. At this moment, seeing that Lin Shihua had not spoken for a while, Xu Zhihua continued to press the matter. ¡°I presume friend Lin Tianming has already returned to the clan grounds and informed you about this matter. May we request friend Tian Ming to appear for a meeting, so we may settle this affair and return to our Sects with news?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Shihua¡¯s face remained calm, and he lightly said with a smile, ¡°I am indeed aware of this matter, but unfortunately, the timing of your visit is not opportune!¡± ¡°My nephew Lin Tianming has obtained some gains from the Secret Realm and is currently in closed-door cultivation, attempting to reach a higher realm. I¡¯m afraid he will not be able to meet you any time soon!¡± ¡°However, since it¡¯s not easy for both honored guests to come here, why don¡¯t you stay at the Lin Family for a few days? It would be just right to wait for Tian Ming.¡± ¡°Should he just happen to come out, naturally he can meet you, and we presume he will not retain anything that should be returned!¡± ¡°However, if he does not come out, perhaps you might consider returning to your Sects first. Once Tian Ming comes out, I will certainly have him personally visit your Sects to deliver the Jiuli Star Fruit himself, how does that sound?¡± Knowing well the purpose of Xu Zhihua¡¯s visit, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t care about the rewards. Instead, he used the reason they had agreed upon before to delay. After all, it was never the Lin Family¡¯s intention to hand over the Jiuli Star Fruit. Rewards or no rewards, the Lin Family simply didn¡¯t care anymore. Sure enough, upon hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words, Xu Zhihua and his companion showed difficulty in their expressions. The reasons given by Lin Shihua were sound and well-founded. He didn¡¯t directly refuse them, nor did he say the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t hand over the Jiuli Star Fruit. Under these circumstances, it was hard for them to forcefully pressure the Lin Family, and they didn¡¯t want to leave so easily either. After all, the current strength of the Lin Family was not comparable to that of a few decades ago. Among them, Xu Zhihua had witnessed the strength of Lin Tianming in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. He was very clear that besides the nearly ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators whom the Lin Family had already exposed, there was definitely more to their strength than met the eye. And here, Lin Shilu was also at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment as well as the already famous Lin Shikang of the Southern Wei Kingdom, further complemented by Lin Tianming¡¯s remarkably killing style. The Lin Family was by no means ordinary. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a situation, even if they decided to pressure the Lin Family openly, they would probably not gain any benefit and might instead provoke the Lin Family, putting themselves in danger. But if they were to readily believe Lin Shihua¡¯s words and leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds just like that, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them to report back. This was indeed a dilemma. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± So, with no one speaking up, the scene became awkward for a while. Meanwhile, Xu Zhihua was discussing how to deal with the Lin Family with a Zhenyang Sect Disciple through voice transmission. Who knows how much time had passed before Xu Zhihua and his companion seemed to have come to a decision. At this time, Xu Zhihua looked at Lin Shilu¡¯s somewhat sullen face and then bowed his hands in greeting. ¡°Fellow cultivators, since Tian Ming cannot be disturbed right now, we two will return to our sect for now. Once he finishes his retreat, please bring the Jiuli Star Fruit to the Zhenyang Sect to return what belongs to our two sects!¡± ¡°As for the reward we two sects have negotiated, how about we give it to Tian Ming later on?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu¡¯s face looked better seeing Xu Zhihua and his companion taking a step back willingly. In their hearts, the rewards were something the Lin Family could take or leave. They simply didn¡¯t care. As long as they could delay for a few years, they had temporarily achieved their goal! Understanding this, Lin Shihua also smiled and then said there was no problem, telling them to be at ease. ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ I hope Tian Ming pays a visit to the Zhenyang Sect soon after his retreat. That way, our mission can also be accomplished!¡± After Xu Zhihua finished speaking, the other Zhenyang Sect Disciple also agreed. ¡°Indeed¡­ this matter cannot be delayed. If our Sect Leader assigns blame, the two of us will also have difficulty explaining ourselves!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Rest assured, fellow cultivators, I will inform Tian Ming about this matter as soon as possible and arrange for his visit promptly!¡± Lin Shihua assured them earnestly, his expression very sincere and not at all like he was daring to offend the two sects. Seeing this, Xu Zhihua and his companion nodded in satisfaction, seemingly convinced that the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t dare to defy the arrangements of the two sects. Then, to put them further at ease, Lin Shihua quickly produced forty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and gave twenty thousand each to Xu Zhihua and his companion, making an ingratiating gesture. He also asked them to help mediate on their behalf once they were back. This proactive display of weakness satisfied Xu Zhihua and his companion even more. Subsequently, Lin Shihua personally entertained the two, and after they had their fill of food and drink, Xu Zhihua and his companion temporarily left the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Little did they know that Lin Shihua and the entire Lin Family¡¯s scheme, were things they couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine. As they departed, Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu both heaved a sigh of relief. For the moment, they had managed to fool Xu Zhihua and his companion, but this wasn¡¯t a long-term solution. At present, they only hoped to buy more time, even hoping that the Golden Sword Sect would exert further pressure on the two sects, allowing the Lin Family more time to build their strength. As for how much time they could buy, that was anyone¡¯s guess. In short, if the Lin Family wanted to achieve their goal, they must hurry! Chapter 736 736 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the ?Chapter 736: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_1 Chapter 736: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_1 Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a year has passed. At dawn this day, atop a hill on the outskirts of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Next to the Purple Gold Eagle stood a man in black. Upon a closer look, one would discover that this man in black was the long-unseen Loose Cultivator, Hu Yuan. More than a year had passed since he parted ways with Lin Tianming at the Qianchuan Market, drawing ever closer to the two-year agreement between them. At this moment, Hu Yuan hurried over, and upon seeing the formation¡¯s light curtain in front of him, he revealed a delighted smile. Although it was his first time coming to the Lin Family Clan Grounds and he hadn¡¯t entered the interior, he could clearly feel that the Spiritual Energy around the periphery of Green Bamboo Mountain was quite dense. ... Besides, as he ventured deeper, he could sense that the Spiritual Energy became even denser. Given the current rate of increase in Spiritual Energy, the depths of the Lin Family Clan Grounds would surely have an even greater concentration. Having wandered the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for nearly a hundred years, Hu Yuan had also visited numerous Foundation Establishing Families¡¯ grounds, and even Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ sects several times. The Spiritual Energy in this Lin Family Territory was indeed dense, qualifying it as a rare Cave Heaven and Blessed Land. Even when compared to some Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ sects, it did not seem to fall far short. ¡°No wonder Lin said so definitely about the Lin Family Clan Grounds when he first mentioned it!¡± Hu Yuan, feeling the Spiritual Energy around him, thought to himself. While he was lost in thought, the Purple Gold Eagle, such a large target, quickly caught the attention of the Lin Family Members responsible for patrolling the Clan Gate. A few breaths later. Several Qi Refining Cultivators passed directly through the light curtain of the Protective Clan Formation and approached Hu Yuan. The leading Lin Family Member was Lin Tiansong, who was stunned to see the Purple Gold Eagle in front of him, not expecting that aside from the Lin Family, there were other Cultivators owning Purple Gold Eagles as Spirit Beasts. And an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle at that! Little did he know that the Purple Gold Eagle before him was from the same Purple Gold Eagle Clan as the batch Lin Tianming had brought back. Even less unknown to him, Hu Yuan¡¯s Purple Gold Eagle also came from the hands of Lin Tianming and had a significant connection with the Lin Family. Over this past year, most of the Purple Gold Eagles brought back by Lin Tianming had been subdued by many Lin Family Members. Whether they were Early Second Order existences or First Order Purple Gold Eagles, all were snatched up by the Lin Family Members. Most of the Purple Gold Eagles were successfully bonded with and became part of the Lin Family. Only a few Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagles chose death over submission, seemingly looking down on those Lin Family Members¡¯ strength. Out of no choice, they had to be released according to Lin Tianming¡¯s wishes, granting them their freedom. The rest of the Purple Gold Eagles mostly became the Spirit Beasts of the Foundation Establishment Clan Member, offering them a brighter prospect. Even the First Order Purple Gold Eagles were subdued by Qi Refining Clanspeople with decent talent and not insignificant cultivation. Some Late First Order Purple Gold Eagles even became the Spirit Beasts of Foundation Establishment Clan Members. After all, the number of Second Order Purple Gold Eagles was limited, and a small part had been released; it was not possible to provide each of the twenty-plus Foundation Establishment Stage clan members in the Lin Family with an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle. Therefore, some Foundation Establishment Stage clan members could only choose to bond with those First Order Purple Gold Eagles. Nevertheless, these Purple Gold Eagles were still extremely rare and valuable Spirit Beasts. If nurtured properly, they could certainly help attain higher realms of cultivation and play a more significant role. Lin Tiansong, who had potential talent, possessed a cultivation at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm, which was valued by his family, thus he was given the opportunity to bond with a Purple Gold Eagle. He was lucky enough to subdue a Middle-Stage First Order Purple Gold Eagle as his Spirit Beast. He had been excited about it for quite some time. Today, seeing an unfamiliar Cultivator arriving with an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tiansong was somewhat surprised and guessed at the identity of the man in black before him. However, with his limited status and strength, he had no chance to learn about the connection between Hu Yuan and the Lin Family. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet even so, the man in black appeared delighted and unguarded, also possessing a Purple Gold Eagle as his Spirit Beast. All indications were that this person must have some relationship with the Lin Family. Having cultivated to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm in just over thirty years, he was certainly not a fool, and could surely see that Hu Yuan was not an enemy. Therefore, he was the first to greet him, stepping forward to bow with folded hands, respectfully offering a salute. ¡°Esteemed senior, I am a Lin Family Member, Lin Tiansong. May I ask which fellow clan member you are looking for on your visit today?¡± Hearing this, Hu Yuan also returned from his contemplation. He then waved his hand at Lin Tiansong with a smile, showing no airs of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. ¡°Lin, young friend, is your noble clan member Lin Tianming in the clan grounds?¡± ¡°Oh?¡­You¡¯re looking for my clan cousin Tianming?¡± Lin Tiansong was somewhat surprised, not expecting Hu Yuan, who appeared to be nearly a hundred years old, to seek out Lin Tianming from the younger generation rather than a clansperson of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation. However, he didn¡¯t ask further and immediately conveyed a message to Clan Leader Lin Shihua, explaining Hu Yuan¡¯s purpose. Soon, Lin Tiansong received a response confirming Hu Yuan¡¯s identity, indeed as he had speculated; the man in black indeed had a certain connection with the Lin Family. ¡°Senior, please follow me!¡± Chapter 737 737 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the ?Chapter 737: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_2 Chapter 737: Chapter 400 Hu Yuan Goes to the Appointment_2 ¡°You few continue to patrol the clan grounds!¡± Lin Tiansong bowed slightly to Hu Yuan as a gesture of invitation, then instructed the Lin Family Members behind him to keep carrying out their patrol mission. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hu Yuan nodded and followed Lin Tiansong¡¯s steps into the Lin Family Clan Grounds. The two soon vanished within the formation energy screen and then navigated through the Lin Family Clan Grounds. It was now early morning, the most active time for Lin Family Members, with a vast number of clanspeople flying on their swords, shuttling around the main peak. At a glance, the vast majority of them were Qi Refining Clanspeople, with only an occasional Foundation Establishment Clan Member appearing. ... Although these people¡¯s strength was not worth mentioning to Hu Yuan, among them the proportion of those in the Late Stage of Qi Refining was not low, all of whom were the backbone of the Lin Family. Such numbers and ratios for a Foundation Establishing Family were already quite impressive. Besides, each clansperson was in high spirits, and the grade of Spiritual Artifacts they used was quite good. It was evident that the Lin Family Members were well-off, and their strength was top-notch among their peers. At this time, Hu Yuan followed Lin Tiansong at an unhurried pace, flying toward the direction of the main peak summit. As he flew, he observed the situation within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and upon seeing the thriving, busy clanspeople, he also felt satisfied. His satisfaction stemmed not only from the level of Spiritual Energy within the Lin Family, indeed sufficient for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to make the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Additionally, he was impressed by the atmosphere within the Lin Family, as well as its characteristics and the cultivation strengths of its members. Seeing this scene inside the Lin Family, Hu Yuan inwardly praised them. ¡°The Lin Family, indeed a family that has produced a Golden Core Cultivator, boasts members with excellent vitality and strength standards. Quite impressive.¡± ¡°Truly a stature worthy of a Golden Core Family!¡± A short period equivalent to the time taken to drink a cup of tea passed. At the entrance to the family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Palace, Lin Shihua who had received the news was already there waiting for Hu Yuan¡¯s arrival. From a distance, seeing Hu Yuan and his companion¡¯s figures grow larger, Lin Shihua hastened to meet them, bowing and smiling in greeting. ¡°Daoist Hu, your visit is a rare honor! Please, forgive me for not greeting you from afar!¡± Although they had never met before, Lin Shihua still appeared extremely enthusiastic, as if greeting an old friend he had not seen in a long time. Hu Yuan was similar, and although they had never interacted before, he had made a point to gather basic information about the Lin Family and naturally understood Lin Shihua¡¯s identity. In response to Lin Shihua¡¯s courtesies, he also smiled and bowed in return, showing great politeness. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shihua invited Hu Yuan inside the Guest-Receiving Palace, then directed the clanspeople to serve Spiritual Tea to entertain Hu Yuan. The two chatted idly for a while until Lin Tianming arrived. Lin Tianming had hurriedly left seclusion, having broken through to the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm after a year and a half in seclusion, which was not far from reaching the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. It¡¯s worth noting that before his seclusion, he was at the Seventh Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, some distance away from the Eighth Level. Yet, after just a year and a half, he had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. This rate of progress was simply astounding. And all this was thanks to the harvest from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. After all, he had spent a whole year there, went through many life-and-death battles, and had obtained a generous amount of Spirit Fruit that could enhance one¡¯s cultivation. After a year and a half of dedicated cultivation in seclusion, he had consumed several High Grade Second Order Spirit Fruits. With such a bounty of resources, he was able to progress smoothly to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with this progress, which met his expectations. At this time, when the two saw Lin Tianming hurrying over, Hu Yuan was somewhat excited. Lin Shihua was even more so, quickly beckoning Lin Tianming to come and sit down. Lin Tianming did so casually, greeting Hu Yuan before sitting next to Lin Shihua. He sipped his Spiritual Tea and then spoke to Hu Yuan, ¡°Daoist Hu, it¡¯s been nearly two years since we¡¯ve seen each other. How have the preparations been?¡± ¡°` ¡°Hehe¡­ In the past two years, I have traveled throughout the southern part of Wei Kingdom, including a trip to the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom, and I¡¯ve attended quite a few auctions and exchange events,¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯ve been to many places these past two years, spending a good amount of spirit stones and treasures; I¡¯ve finally managed to find a few decent defense artifacts; you could say I¡¯ve had some gains!¡± Daoist Hu spoke with a smile, his face brimming with joy, suggesting he had truly achieved some harvest. It¡¯s not surprising when you think about it; after all, he acquired quite a few treasures in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, including not a few second and third-order spiritual medicines and spirit ores. Coupled with nearly a hundred years of cultivation, he has amassed some wealth. As long as he was willing to pay the price and put in the effort, it wasn¡¯t impossible to find some high-grade second-order defense artifacts. Anyway, if one cannot enter the Golden Core Stage, the amassed wealth and treasures are of no use. So, speaking of which, one would pour all acquired wealth into items necessary for the impact of the Golden Core Stage. Such actions are believed to be something every loose cultivator would do. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t ask further, as long as Daoist Hu could enter the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family¡¯s rewards would be even greater. ¡°Hehe¡­ It seems that Daoist Hu is also well prepared!¡± Lin Tianming said with a nod and a smile. ¡°Um¡­ With my cultivation breaking through to the great perfection of Foundation Establishment, the preparations are nearly complete, that¡¯s why I have come to the esteemed family¡¯s sacred land to fulfill our appointment. ¡°In the days to follow, I may need to trouble the esteemed family¡¯s cultivators!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand with a smile. ¡°Where do you think¡­ the Lin Family is also doing its utmost, only hoping that Daoist Hu can make a breakthrough and step onto the Golden Core Path in one fell swoop!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Daoist Hu¡¯s face turned solemn, and then he let out a wry smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ The Golden Core Path is not so easily traversed, but still, I¡¯ll borrow the auspicious words of you two Daoist friends!¡± After saying this, Daoist Hu changed the subject and tentatively asked: ¡°But Lin Daoist friend, the breakthrough insights you mentioned are in the clan grounds, when do you plan to let me have a look?¡± ¡°Hehe, Daoist Hu, do not be impatient; since I have promised this matter, I will certainly deliver!¡± Right after these words, Daoist Hu¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he quickly spoke: ¡°The two Daoist friends can rest assured, if by some fluke I succeed, I will surely fulfill my promise!¡± Daoist Hu spoke very sincerely; it seemed he was prepared to risk it all for the challenge of the Golden Core Stage. Besides, his words also carried a tinge of helplessness, thinking Lin Tianming might be looking for an excuse to delay; thus, he hastily brought up the promise to reassure the Lin Family to hand over the breakthrough insights. Lin Tianming also noticed the unease in Daoist Hu¡¯s heart and immediately started to explain. ¡°Daoist Hu is overthinking it; it¡¯s not that I have the intention to delay, but currently, the item is being perused by an elder and isn¡¯t available just yet. ¡°However, Daoist Hu, rest assured, the breakthrough insights should be available within a year or so, and I will surely present them to you then.¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s straightforward explanation, without any beating around the bush, actually relieved Daoist Hu. ¡°That¡¯s good then!¡± ¡°Since the timing is not quite right, I can only wait awhile. It¡¯s a good chance to consolidate my cultivation and make some more preparations,¡± said Daoist Hu helplessly, yet his face looked much better than before. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded and spoke with a smile, ¡°Then, Daoist Hu, please stay at the Lin Family for a while, and as soon as the breakthrough insights are available, I will personally deliver them to you!¡± ¡°Um¡­ Much appreciated, Daoist friends!¡± Daoist Hu stood up and gave Lin Tianming a polite bow. There¡¯s no choice but to bow one¡¯s head under another¡¯s roof. Besides, given the Lin Family¡¯s strength and his own need for their help, lowering his stature was not a big deal. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this manner, Daoist Hu had to comply with the arrangements of the Lin Family. Shortly thereafter, Lin Tianming and Lin Shihua discussed briefly, then accompanied Daoist Hu to a cave mansion courtyard not far from the next door, arranging a temporary cave abode for him to enter closed-door cultivation. After all this was done, the two went their separate ways, each attending to their own matters. Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t idle after returning to his cave mansion but once again entered the practice chamber, immersing himself in a state of closed-door cultivation. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 738 738 401 The Arrival of the Heavenly ?Chapter 738: Chapter 401: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Chapter 738: Chapter 401: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Two months later. In a valley behind the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Ye Pinghai was sitting cross-legged on a mountain top. This was the very place where Lin Shikang was in retreat, and at the request of the Lin Family, he was here to act as Lin Shikang¡¯s protector. He wouldn¡¯t naturally refuse a request from the Lin Family. Having just broken through to the Golden Core Stage a few years ago, he also needed time to cultivate in retreat to solidify his cultivation at this stage. Therefore, he readily accepted the Lin Family¡¯s request and had been protecting Lin Shikang for almost three years. At this moment, Ye Pinghai seemed to sense something. He immediately opened his eyes and stared ahead, then felt the slight wind flowing towards the depths of the valley, accompanied by a large amount of spiritual energy converging inside. ... Although the change was still not obvious, as a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, he still perceived this fluctuation. Once he confirmed these changes, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression gradually became solemn. While he was lost in thought, the sky, which was clear just moments ago, slowly began to fill with dark clouds, and the world gradually darkened. At the same time, the range of the dark clouds continued to expand, quickly enveloping a large area. Such changes in heaven and earth were clearly out of the ordinary. Based on his own experience of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, Ye Pinghai immediately realized what was happening. Counting from the beginning of Lin Shikang¡¯s retreat, nearly three years had passed, and he was finally taking that step. And this disturbance was clearly the rhythm of attracting a Heavenly Tribulation! Realizing this, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression turned excited in an instant. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud thunderclap echoed through heaven and earth. In an instant, a bolt of silver lightning split the void, briefly illuminating the darkened sky. This commotion was not small and quickly spread throughout most of the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. At this time, inside the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, outside the structures of various major families, many clan members who were still busy immediately sensed this change. One by one, they put down their work, or stopped their hurried pace, landing on the ground. By now, everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the center of the dark clouds, their faces showing puzzled expressions. This kind of disturbance had actually been experienced once a few years ago. However, when the commotion first erupted, the clan¡¯s higher-ups responded quickly, dispersing them and making them leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds for a while. After everything returned to normal, the family did not disclose the reason and even issued repeated strict orders to forbid discussion of the matter. It was unexpected that in just a few years, such a disturbance would once again resonate through the Lin Family Clan Grounds. It was really quite unusual. The matter of Lin Shikang¡¯s retreat for the Impact of Golden Core Stage was a top-secret event within the Lin Family, known to fewer than ten people out of several hundred in the clan. However, as this disturbance emerged once again, some clan members with broader horizons seemed to understand something. They couldn¡¯t help but secretly speculate that this disturbance was too great; it was either someone cultivating some powerful Divine Skills or refining some formidable magic artifacts. But there was also a possibility that a clan member was impacting the Golden Core Stage. If it was indeed the latter, then it was no wonder the family placed such great importance on it. While the clan members were lost in thought, the figures of Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong suddenly appeared on the summit of the main peak. ¡°Hear the command of this old man, all clan members must immediately follow Ninth Brother and retreat fifty li outside the mountain gate. Do not step into the clan grounds without my order to return!¡± After he spoke, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Shigong next to him, and they nodded to each other. Immediately afterward, Lin Shihua leaped up and quickly disappeared from view. Lin Shigong, on the other hand, looked down at the large group of clan members below. He then waved his hand and shouted, leading them towards the mountain gate. Soon, the previously bustling clan grounds were empty. Behind the main peak in the valley, the figures of Lin Shihua and Lin Shilu appeared. Just a few breaths later, the figures of Lin Tianming and Hu Yuan also appeared. ¡°Grandson pays respects to Grandpa Sea and to Elders Shi Lu and Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Lin Tianming bowed to Ye Pinghai and the others immediately, his expression extremely excited. Apart from him, Lin Shilu and Lin Shihua were likewise beaming with wide smiles, clearly in a very good mood. They waved their hands, then greeted Ye Pinghai, the two sides appearing quite close, like they shared a deep relationship. At their side, Hu Yuan¡¯s face presently showed shock. In fact, when the changes in heaven and earth began, he had already sensed the disturbance and immediately made a judgment: the Lin Family was actually facing a Golden Core Tribulation. Then, outside his cultivation cave, he saw Lin Tianming, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for several months. Invited by Lin Tianming, he followed in his footsteps to this valley. Only when he witnessed with his own eyes the lightning clouds slowly gathering overhead did he confirm his suspicion. It was unthinkable that the usually low-profile Lin Family actually had someone who had reached this step. At this moment, Hu Yuan¡¯s face was full of shock. However, before he could catch his breath, seeing Ye Pinghai himself, Hu Yuan¡¯s expression froze, and he looked even more astonished. The impact of this scene on him was enormous. If learning that someone from the Lin Family had attracted a Golden Core Tribulation was shocking enough, Chapter 739 739 401 Thunders Tribulation Descends_2 ?Chapter 739: Chapter 401 Thunder¡¯s Tribulation Descends_2 Chapter 739: Chapter 401 Thunder¡¯s Tribulation Descends_2 So now, encountering the renowned Loose Cultivator of the Wei Kingdom, Ye Pinghai, Hu Yuan was once again shocked beyond measure, a feeling far surpassing the one he had just moments earlier. And such an outcome could hardly be blamed on him. For these two matters were truly too astonishing for words. After all, the Impact of Golden Core Stage, in the current Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, was exceedingly rare indeed. And yet, the Lin Family had someone quietly reach this phase, merely waiting to overcome the Golden Core Tribulation, adding another Golden Core Cultivator to the Wei Kingdom. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his eyes, although he had speculated more than once that the Lin¡¯s strength must be considerable, now it seemed that the Lin Family was far more powerful than initially surmised, with immeasurable strength and adequately concealed depth. Besides, Ye Pinghai, the Famous Loose Cultivator of the Wei Kingdom, who had disappeared for over a decade, had suddenly appeared on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, having successfully entered the Golden Core Stage. ... It was clear that a decade ago, the cultivation world was rife with news that Ye Pinghai planned to travel abroad to find Core Formation opportunities. Now it appeared that this was absolutely a ruse. His actual whereabouts were with the Lin Family Clan Grounds, where, with the help of the Lin Family¡¯s power, he had successfully made the breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. It was hard to imagine how these two events, if revealed, could set the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World abuzz, swiftly becoming the focal point of discussion among cultivators. And he himself had witnessed the transformation of the Lin Family firsthand and was the first to see Ye Pinghai after his entry into the Golden Core Stage. Such an experience left him utterly astounded, unable to believe that this was all actually happening. It was not until Ye Pinghai took the initiative to greet him that he came to his senses. Immediately following this, he stepped forward without hesitation, bowing with clasped hands to Ye Pinghai, displaying the etiquette due a junior. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai chuckled and then quickly gestured with his hand, indicating that Hu Yuan should treat him as an equal. ¡°Daoist Hu, we¡¯ve had several dealings with each other before, let¡¯s not stand on ceremony!¡± ¡°In the Cultivation World, prowess is always respected, and since Ye has already achieved the Golden Core Path, how could I, a junior, exceed my station!¡± Hu Yuan wore a serious expression, not daring to believe Ye Pinghai¡¯s polite words at face value. Otherwise, if met with someone who was only pretending to be modest, he could indeed offend them and suffer a great loss. However, Ye Pinghai was of a detached nature and naturally wouldn¡¯t concern himself with such trivialities. Moreover, since Hu Yuan could appear inside the Lin Family grounds at such a crucial moment, it was clear that he had a harmonious relationship with the Lin Family, or perhaps had reached a certain agreement. If it was the latter, then most likely he, like himself in the past, was preparing to use the breakthrough insights left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family, as well as the Lin Family¡¯s lands, to impact the Golden Core Stage. That being said, whether it was the former or the latter, both indicated that Hu Yuan had a deep relationship with the Lin Family; otherwise, it would not be possible as such. Understanding this, Ye Pinghai smiled faintly, his face revealing a touch of kindness and approachability. ¡°Ha ha¡­ There¡¯s no need for such formality, Daoist Hu. We are of similar age, and besides, brothers Lin are at the Foundation Establishment level, and they also deal with me on equal footing!¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, Hu Yuan contemplated briefly and could also guess the reason for Ye Pinghai¡¯s successful entry into the Golden Core Stage. Since he also had a strong connection with the Lin Family and chose the same path, now that Ye Pinghai had put it that way, it would seem ungracious for him to persist. With these thoughts, he then replied with a smile, ¡°Well then¡­ If Brother Ye insists, I shall oblige!¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it should be!¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and responded accordingly, his demeanor quite calm, showing no sign of annoyance. Seeing this, Hu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Subsequently, they chatted casually, idly waiting for the Heavenly Tribulation to arrive. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± Some time later, the dark clouds accumulating in the sky grew denser, and surges of thunder power continuously tumbled within them. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the Threefold Lightning Tribulation to descend its first strike. At this moment, everyone who saw the changing thunderclouds ended their casual talk and explosively retreated more than ten miles away, pausing atop a mountain peak. Immediately following, everyone looked up at the thunderclouds in the sky, their expressions solemn. Especially the Lin Family Members like Lin Tianming, all of them tense and anxiously staring at the thunderclouds, their hearts squeezed with worry for Lin Shikang. After all, this was the closest the Lin Family had come to the Golden Core since the Ancestral Patriarch passed away. If Lin Shikang could withstand the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, the Lin Family would possess a true Golden Core Cultivator, thereby reclaiming their status as a Golden Core Family. Consequently, the Lin Family would return to their peak, even surpassing their golden age. For this goal, many generations of the Lin Family had strived for hundreds of years, experiencing many ups and downs and surviving numerous crises. Hadn¡¯t they persevered all this time for this very moment? At this time, Ye Pinghai, noticing the heavy expressions on their faces, began to offer words of comfort. ¡°Lin, you really don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± ¡°In my view, Brother Shi Kang¡¯s time in seclusion is even shorter than mine was, suggesting he¡¯s well-prepared or he wouldn¡¯t have progressed so smoothly,¡± he continued. ¡°Moreover, the power of this Thunder Tribulation Force doesn¡¯t seem as strong as what I faced back then, and outsiders can¡¯t assist in the process of tribulation; everything depends on him.¡± ¡°However, considering Brother Shi Kang¡¯s strength, coupled with the preparations made by the entire Lin Family, his chances of overcoming the tribulation are not low,¡± Ye assured. No sooner had he finished speaking than Daoist Hu Yuan voiced his agreement. ¡°Ye is right, Brother Shi Kang is a man of good fortune and is surely destined to easily overcome the Heavenly Tribulation and step onto the Golden Core Path!¡± Hearing the comforting words from the two, Lin Shihua and the others, knowing they were powerless to help, felt somewhat calmer. Yet, because they cared so deeply about the outcome, they still couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious. But worrying now was useless; it was better to closely observe Lin Shikang¡¯s entire tribulation process, so when it came time for them to face the Impact of Golden Core Stage, they would be psychologically prepared. Specifically, for Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, given their current realm and cultivation, it might be only a few years before they faced such a day. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu fixed their gaze on the sky, not missing a single detail. Meanwhile, Ye Pinghai turned to Daoist Hu Yuan with a smile and said, ¡°Daoist Hu, we invited you here today to witness the tribulation so that you won¡¯t be caught off guard when you face your own Heavenly Tribulation in the future.¡± ¡°Such an opportunity is rare; you should watch carefully and absorb some experience from it,¡± he advised. Hearing this, Hu Yuan nodded, deeply moved. To witness the entire process of a Heavenly Tribulation was indeed an uncommon opportunity. Although the power of the Thunder Tribulation Force varied from person to person, being able to watch in advance, and from such a close distance, was incredibly beneficial for his upcoming assault on the Golden Core Stage. It could even be said, without exaggeration, that it would increase his chances of entering the Golden Core Stage by a significant margin. Such arrangements by the Lin Family, if not for deep trust, would not have included him here. One could say that the Lin Family¡¯s support was genuinely thorough and well-intentioned. Realizing this, Hu Yuan felt an intense wave of gratitude and was glad that his earlier decision had been so wise. Refocusing, Hu Yuan also lifted his head, his eyes glued to every motion within the thunderclouds. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Continuous flashes of silver light streaked inside the dark clouds as torrents of lightning churned within. At this moment, what was once a gloomy valley was illuminated by the flashing lightning, appearing as bright as day. After brewing for a long time, the position of the dark clouds dropped significantly, and the accumulated lightning became denser, reaching a terrifying level. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The massing of the thunderclouds quickly shaped into a lightning strike as thick as a barrel, resembling a silver-white Thunder Dragon, crashing down into the valley. The Thunder Dragon moved rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it descended over the valley. ¡­ Chapter 740 740 402 Shi Kang Survives Disaster_1 ?Chapter 740: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives Disaster_1 Chapter 740: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives Disaster_1 This instant, the sky lit up with a brilliant silver light, thunder roared, and lightning flashed. Below the expansive thunderclouds, a mighty Gang Wind swept across the land, sending vast amounts of sand and stone flying into the air. At this moment, under Lin Shihua¡¯s control, the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation¡¯s light screen vanished. Having learned from Ye Pinghai¡¯s experience with tribulation, the Lin Family had moved their people out of the clan¡¯s territory according to plan, and the Protective Clan Formation had been deactivated before the Heavenly Tribulation descended. Besides, Lin Xingzhi, along with several Foundation Establishment Stage clansmen, patrolled around the perimeter of Green Bamboo Mountain, on the highest level of alert. This time, for Lin Shikang to break through to the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family was not taking any chances; their defense measures were clearly several levels higher than before. In the valley behind the main peak. ... At this time, sensing the roaring Thunder Dragon above, a man in a green robe leapt up, flying from the depths of the valley to the top of a nearby mountain. Gazing out, the man in the green robe was none other than Lin Shikang. His expression was solemn, but his eyes bore a strong determination, as if filled with confidence. After nearly three years of seclusion, he had finally reached this moment. Lin Shikang had always held a strong determination in his heart, whether for his family or for himself, he had to give it his all. For this, he had prepared extensively, all to fulfill the long-cherished wish of the family. He knew very well that if he were to fail, it would not only be difficult for him to survive, but the Lin Family¡¯s expectations for hundreds of years would also be delayed. Understanding this, his eyes were filled with an indomitable spirit. ¡°Boom¡­ ¡± As the Thunder Dragon drew near, Lin Shikang waved his sleeve and multiple Law Decrees were cast. ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­ ¡± A crisp sound emanated, and several Second Order Medium-Quality Defense Artifacts in front of him flashed with light, then flew toward the Thunder Dragon. Looking over, these Second Order Medium-Quality Artifacts were all different, but the Spiritual Light bursting forth from them showed they were indeed very fine Defense Artifacts. These protective treasures had all been painstakingly prepared by Lin Shilu over several years, specifically for this tribulation. Although they were only of Second Order Medium Quality, they were rare treasures for an average Foundation Establishment Cultivator and could easily be sold for tens of thousands of Low-Grade Spirit Stones, a case of demand outstripping supply. Yet, even so, these Defense Artifacts were no more than a drop in the ocean compared to the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. What he had used now was merely the worst at his disposal, treated as disposable items. Fortunately, he was well-prepared; he still had some Defense Artifacts of this kind on him, which he could use later. As quickly as it came, a thunderous explosion echoed. The several Second Order Medium-Defense Artifacts could only block the Thunder Dragon for a moment before being blasted into fragments. However, Lin Shikang, who had already witnessed the force of the Heavenly Tribulation, was well-prepared in his heart. The instant the three Second Order Medium-Defense Artifacts shattered, he quickly brought out two Second Order Superior Quality Defensive Talismans, rapidly transforming them into two barriers in front of him. The previously weakened Thunder Dragon unsurprisingly shattered the barriers, yet the remaining force was exceedingly limited, and Lin Shikang easily dispersed it with a single strike. The force of the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation was not strong; Lin Shikang resolved it with some defensive measures. As the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation dissipated, the thunderclouds once again began to condense becoming even more terrifying, as if angered by Lin Shikang¡¯s actions. By now, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression had grown more serious, watching the newly brewing thunder, seemingly intent on annihilating it right there. But he was not panicked; he knew of the break between thunder strikes and was acutely aware of the horror of the Thunder Tribulation Force, knowing there was no retreat. Today, he would either succeed in withstanding the tribulation and step into the Golden Core Stage or perish on the spot. With this knowledge, he was psychologically prepared and possessed the courage for a do-or-die struggle. Seizing the break, he quickly took out two elixirs he had prepared and swallowed them to replenish the True Yuan he had just consumed. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before long, the thunderclouds seemed to have reached a peak, conjuring an even more colossal Thunder Dragon. This Thunder Dragon appeared formidable, with its gnashing teeth and claws, radiating intense anger. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± A thunderous roar ensued, and the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation arrived as expected. For a time, the entire land trembled, and the dark sky brightened with the lightning. At this time, the Thunder Dragon conjured by the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation appeared thick and strong, its body covered with countless crackling arcs of electricity, sizzling as they went. As the Thunder Dragon emerged, if a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator even slightly touched it, they would likely be annihilated on the spot. Watching the terrifying Thunder Dragon¡¯s furious approach, not only was it incredibly fast, but the force and pressure were clearly several times more ferocious than the first. At this time, Lin Shikang confronted the sky, watching the Thunder Dragon descend above his head, fierce Gang Wind causing his robe to flap loudly. In this moment, he keenly felt a sharp pain across his body, caused by the blade-like Gang Wind. And the formidable pressure of the thundercloud seemed intent on devouring him. Under such terrifying pressure, even a Cultivator appeared very insignificant. Then, faced with such massive pressure, he, a Cultivator on the cusp of the Golden Core Stage, found his body involuntarily bending forward. Chapter 741 741 402 Shi Kang Survives the Calamity_2 ?Chapter 741: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives the Calamity_2 Chapter 741: Chapter 402 Shi Kang Survives the Calamity_2 ¡°` Feeling the power of the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, it was clear that it was extremely formidable, far beyond what the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation could compare to. Facing such a terrifying force of Thunder Tribulation, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was solemn, and the Mana within his whole body ran to its utmost limit. As abundant True Yuan circulated through the meridians in his body, he stood with his back straight, his expression tinged with a hint of madness. He was well aware of his own predicament; confronting such a situation, he had to give it his all in order to safely get through this life-and-death crisis. In such dire straits, Lin Shikang dared not be careless, nor did he dare to hold anything back. In haste, he slapped his storage bag at his waist, and several Defense Artifacts flew out from his hand, quickly transforming into a number of barriers, firmly blocking above his head. The instant the Defense Artifacts fully deployed, the Thunder Dragon above his head descended in a flash, directly bombarding them. ... ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A succession of explosive sounds rang out, only to see the shields and barriers formed by the Defense Artifacts instantly shatter, eventually turning into bits of stardust scattering across the sky. At the same time, the powerful wave created by the Thunder Dragon breaking through these barriers swept over, tossing Lin Shikang around violently. After he barely stabilized his stance, Lin Shikang¡¯s complexion paled, blood welled up unstoppably within him, and a trickle of fresh blood couldn¡¯t help but spill from the corner of his mouth. At this moment, he looked up to see the Thunder Dragon roaring down unceasingly, giving him no chance to catch his breath. Seeing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, his face flashing with a thick shade of wariness. Even though he had been somewhat mentally prepared beforehand, he still hadn¡¯t expected the power of the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation to be so terrifying. After all, the Second Order Defense Artifacts he had just used were of pretty good quality, much better than the artifacts used in the first round. Apart from that, among these Defense Artifacts, there was also one Superior Second Order item. Even with so many Defense Artifacts activated at the same time, depleting much of his Mana, with such defensive power, he should have been able to withstand a hit from a true Golden Core Cultivator without any problem. Yet even so, these artifacts barely resisted the Thunder Dragon for a fleeting moment before they were easily shattered by it. Such destructive power was completely unstoppable. And he himself had also been injured by that formidable force. Now, having already sustained some injuries and having used up nearly half of his Mana, he still hadn¡¯t passed the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Considering the fact that the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was already this horrifying, it was truly hard to imagine how terrifying the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation would be. It probably would be many times stronger! However, now was not the time to think about such things, as the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was not yet over. What was most important at the moment was naturally to resist the continued assaults of the Thunder Dragon. Only by surviving the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation would he have the qualification to experience the terrifying power of the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Understanding this, Lin Shikang forced himself to calm down. Then, in his hurried state, he flicked his fingers, summoning two red jade pendants to shield himself in front. These two Blood-red Jade Pendants were rare Defense Artifacts, also one of the treasures collected by the family for many years and stored in the Family Treasure Vault. Back then, the family had expended a lot of manpower and resources to finally obtain these items. Now, in order to survive the Heavenly Tribulation, over ninety percent of the defensive treasures accumulated by the family over the past centuries had been brought with him. And among them, these two Blood-red Jade Pendants were the most top-tier Defense Artifacts, not only a whole grade higher but also several categories superior in quality compared to those previous Defense Artifacts. With these items for defense, the Thunder Dragon, which had already weakened quite a bit, should not have an easy time succeeding. Nevertheless, this was just Lin Shikang¡¯s presumption, and he couldn¡¯t be sure of the actual outcome. Under his watchful gaze, the Thunder Dragon came crashing down, colliding head-on with the two Blood-red Jade Pendants. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two thunderous explosions erupted, and the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory seemed to tremble slightly. In that explosive instant, two dazzling orbs of light burst forth in the sky, blinding like the searing sun. ¡°` Immediately after, two huge mushroom clouds appeared in mid-air and surged a few times before shooting straight into the sky. At the same time, the shockwave created by the explosion, with Lin Shikang¡¯s overhead space as the epicenter, rapidly expanded in all directions. As the Thunder Dragon dissipated, the explosion produced a strong gale that swept toward every direction. The power of this gale was also immense, many peaks where Lin Shikang stood were directly sheared off by the gale, leaving behind bald mountaintops. As for Lin Shikang, he was right in the center of the explosion. Because the range of the explosion was so vast, the gale swept in with incredible speed. Even he could not avoid it and had to withstand the powerful wind head on. However, the force of the gale produced by the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was just too strong. He managed to resist for only a breath before being toppled by the gale. Like a snapped kite, he was sent flying dozens of yards away, before he heavily crashed to the ground. ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± After struggling for a bit, he staggered to his feet, and then a mouthful of vital blood spurted out, making his complexion turn extremely pale. The strength of this gale was really beyond imagination. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although he succeeded in holding it off, many parts of his body were cracked and torn, and the blood within him was chaotically surging. At this moment, Lin Shikang, enduring the acute pain in his body, took out two healing elixirs and swallowed them all at once. His actions were meant to seize the precious time during the brewing lull of the thunderclouds to recover some injuries as best as possible, to face the last layer of Thunder Tribulation. After all, the Thirdfold Lightning Tribulation was bound to be much stronger than the second, perhaps by many times over. Thus, at the moment, he could not afford to worry about whether these precious elixirs were wasted. As long as they could restore some of his injuries, his chances of surviving would increase. Soon, the consumed elixirs began to have some effect, and his pale face finally regained some color. ¡°Boom, rumble¡­¡± In the dark clouds above the canyon, lightning continued to churn. At this time, the range enveloped by the thunderclouds expanded continuously as time passed. As far as the eye could see, the force of this lightning had already rapidly gathered, and in the blink of an eye, it had brewed into even thicker bolts of lightning. At this rate, in at most the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation would surely descend on schedule. At this very moment, on a peak behind the main mountain. Lin Tianming and a few others were on the mountaintop, their eyes firmly fixed on the direction of the canyon, not willing to miss a single detail. They were not only watching Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation process and drawing lessons from it, so as to have some mental preparation for the future, but they also genuinely hoped for his success. After all, if he succeeded, the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength would greatly increase, and their ability to face crises would be much enhanced. Consequently, the members of the Lin Family paid close attention, fearful of missing anything. And although this half-quarter of an hour was not long, for all of them, it felt eternally prolonged. During these moments, they had a clear view of Lin Shikang¡¯s entire process of surviving two layers of Heavenly Tribulation. Feeling the terrifying force of the Thunder Tribulation that seemed capable of leveling the land, including Ye Pinghai who had experienced it once, everyone¡¯s expressions were solemn, and they felt a cold sweat for Lin Shikang internally. If even the Golden Core Stage Ye Pinghai felt so, it goes without saying for the Lin Family members, whose faces were the picture of seriousness. Fortunately, after two folds of the tribulation, Lin Shikang appeared to be not seriously injured, and his strength was still at its peak. Furthermore, many precious treasures that the Lin Family had prepared for him in advance, as well as several valuable items, were still unused. With this in mind, even if the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation was going to be terrifying, Lin Shikang pouring all his efforts into it, the possibility of success was not absent. Realizing this, Lin Tianming and others¡¯ expressions finally eased quite a bit. ¡°Boom, rumble¡­¡± The dark clouds rolled ceaselessly, and the hitherto silent Thunder Tribulation seemed to be ready to descend once again. Chapter 742 742 403 Lin Family Golden Core_1 ?Chapter 742: Chapter 403 Lin Family Golden Core_1 Chapter 742: Chapter 403 Lin Family Golden Core_1 At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others were all staring straight ahead. As they say, time waits for no one, and while still mid-air, Lin Shikang pinched a Law Decree, and several Second Order Defense Artifacts flew from his hands, among which were three of Second Order Superior quality. In an instant, the Defense Artifacts shone brightly, quickly forming several barriers in front of him. The number of these artifacts was not few, and the combined defensive power was bound to be significant. However, these were also some of the few Defense Artifacts that he possessed. Even as he saw the Defense Artifacts take their positions, he was still not at ease. He understood the terrifying power of the final Heavenly Tribulation, and he knew that it was a matter of life and death; to him, any treasures left unused were meaningless. ... S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had to give his all without reservation, even if it meant using up all of the treasures the Lin Family had painstakingly collected. After all, as long as he could successfully pass the Heavenly Tribulation and enter the Golden Core Stage, all the losses would be worth it. With this understanding, he waved his sleeve, and a Golden Seal appeared in his hand. This Golden Seal was also one of the Defense Artifacts collected by the Lin Family over the past few decades, and although it was of Second Order Superior grade, its quality and spirituality were extraordinarily high, definitely one of the treasures among Second Order Artifacts. At that moment, looking at the Golden Seal in his hand, Lin did not hesitate to activate it. The Golden Seal flickered with light and rapidly expanded in a very short amount of time, eventually forming a firm protection over an area of more than ten zhang above his head. Just as he finished activating the various Defense Artifacts, three Thunder Dragons descended, their overwhelming presence sweeping in, as if an entire mountain were crashing down vertically. Suddenly, thunder roared and strong winds arose between heaven and earth. In an instant, silver-white lightning tore through the void, accompanied by a raging storm. ¡°Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Boom¡­¡± Under Lin Shikang¡¯s watch, the three Thunder Dragons rapidly fell, striking precisely on the topmost five barriers. ¡°Crack¡­ Pop¡­¡± A series of explosive noises rang out, and the sky instantly filled with fire, the flames, along with the silver-white lightning, illuminating the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. In the dazzling light, the five Defense Artifacts resisted for less than a moment before being directly penetrated by the three Thunder Dragons. Immediately after, the five Defense Artifacts shattered, and the remaining fragments, unable to withstand the power of the Thunder Dragons, either turned to ash or fell directly to the ground. As a result, many of the mountains, rocks, and trees in the vicinity suffered for naught, pulverized by the debris. At this time, the Thunder Dragons¡¯ advance did not pause, continuing their bombardment towards the top of Lin Shikang¡¯s head. Seeing this, Lin Shikang spat out a mouthful of Lifeblood Essence, accurately sprinkling it onto the Golden Seal above his head. Quickly, with the addition of Lifeblood Essence, the light around the Golden Seal grew brighter, and its defensive power clearly increased. Little did he know, this action was Lin Shikang¡¯s last resort against the Heavenly Tribulation. If he could not withstand the Thunder Dragons, he would have no choice but to use his Physical Strength to directly withstand the strike. At that point, everything would be left to luck. But even so, Lin Shikang had no time to react, nor any other means to cope. Just like that, he poured his Mana into the Golden Seal above his head, striving to unleash the strongest defensive force. ¡°Bang¡­ Bang¡­ Bang¡­¡± After three loud bangs, a mushroom cloud once again rose between heaven and earth, encompassing several miles. The powerful collision between the Thunder Dragons and the Golden Seal produced an explosive force that was incredibly shocking, causing the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory to tremble slightly. Amidst the fire in the high sky, The Golden Seal shook violently a few times before completely collapsing, eventually turning into specks of starlight and disappearing in the vast expanse of fire. And the three Thunder Dragons, having met the Golden Seal¡¯s resistance, had not dissipated yet, continuing to barrel straight towards Lin Shikang¡¯s vitals. Seeing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression became grave; he could not believe that even the Defense Artifacts his family had gathered with all its might could not withstand the Thirdfold Lightning Tribulation. Although he had anticipated it, this outcome once again shattered his understanding. But by now he had realized the true power of the Threefold Thunder Tribulation was indeed formidable; even the attacks of a Golden Core Cultivator would surely not compare to the force of the Thunder Tribulation. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, Golden Core Cultivators were indeed supreme beings who dominated territories, and even in the vast expanse of Qingzhou, they were regarded as High Order Cultivators. Yet in the vast Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom, there were at least thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, whereas the openly known Golden Core Cultivators numbered only twelve. From this perspective, there were certainly not a few who attempted to break through to the Golden Core Stage, but very few succeeded. Most of these individuals died in the final Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, it is no wonder that everyone says the Threefold Thunder Tribulation is the greatest obstacle when attempting to enter the Golden Core Stage, and countless have met their end at this final hurdle. This just goes to show how difficult it is to reach the Golden Core Stage; it¡¯s not as simple as rumors suggest. Regathering his focus, Lin Shikang looked up at the Thunder Dragons roaring down from the sky, aware that his crisis was far from over. However, after two consecutive head-on confrontations, the three Thunder Dragons were clearly not as strong as before. It was evident that after two rounds of attrition, especially with the resistance from the Golden Seal, the horrifying power of the three Thunder Dragons had been significantly weakened. Chapter 743 743 403 ?Chapter 743: 403 Chapter 743: 403 ¡°` Now, each Thunder Dragon¡¯s power and even speed were significantly diminished, hardly comparable to when they first descended. At this rate, there was a possibility that he might successfully resist. Understanding this, Lin Shikang silently breathed a sigh of relief. However, it was not yet time to relax, at the very least the Heavenly Tribulation had not dispersed, and he still needed to protect his life under it. Spying the Thunder Dragon drawing nearer, its formidable presence already reached him first, causing his robe to flutter. Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was resolute, his eyes revealing a strong and intense aura. In his heart, after the entire clan had worked so hard for so long, finally reaching this point, whether for the sake of his family or himself, how could he easily resign himself to fate? ... Carrying this heavy burden of expectation, Lin Shikang did not shrink back but leaped towards the Thunder Dragon. At the same time, his fist was tightly clenched, channeling all the remaining mana in his body into it. Then, he threw a punch, with an unstoppable momentum aiming to obliterate the Thunder Dragon. It appeared as if his resolve to sink or swim was majestic and grand, bent on erasing the Thunder Dragon. Seeing Lin Shikang neither dodging nor evading, and instead directly confronting it, the Thunder Dragon seemed quite annoyed. It swooped down with bared claws and its gaping maw snapped towards Lin Shikang. Over ten miles away at the peak of a mountain. Lin Tianming and the others had their eyes wide open, fists clenched tight as they stared at Lin Shikang, their breathing becoming more rapid. ¡°Third brother¡­ you must hold on!¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, a man of fortune will surely have heavenly protection, you can definitely overcome this last tribulation!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others were chanting in their hearts. Apart from them, Lin Shigong, who was several dozen miles away from the mountain gate, was also looking at the flickering silver light in front of him, fists tightly clenched. It was obvious that the informed Lin Family members were united, and even though they knew they could not provide any substantial help, they were praying wholeheartedly for Lin Shikang. As the Lin Family members were paying close attention, the storm clouds in the sky had already descended. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The furious Thunder Dragon poured down, its momentum even stronger than Lin Shikang¡¯s, squarely hitting his fist. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise followed by a flash of silver light. At that moment, Lin Shikang spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion deathly pale, falling vertically from the sky. While still in mid-air, he felt a trace of thunderous energy enter his body from his fist, then it coursed through his veins throughout his body. In that instant, he experienced a pain so intense he almost lost consciousness. Yet he gritted his teeth and forcibly kept himself awake. A breath¡¯s time passed, and a crisp sound was heard. Lin Shikang was seen covered in blood, his robes tattered, his whole body charred black, without a single clean spot. He fell from the sky and was embedded in the rocky mountain by the powerful force of the Thunder Dragon. Just then, the Thunder Dragon above his head vanished, and the dark clouds in the sky gradually dissipated. Immediately after, the pressure of the Golden Core Stage swept across. In the blink of an eye, the gloomy sky gradually brightened, and Green Bamboo Mountain seemed to regain its usual tranquility. Now, Lin Shikang lay motionless in a crevice of rock, his eyes staring into space, with only the heaving of his chest as proof of life. Despite his severe injuries, he insisted on remaining conscious and focused on feeling his own condition. First thing, he felt a continuous intense pain all over his body, indescribable in words. Still, he clenched his teeth and looked down at his Dantian. Soon, he discovered that the once nebulous Golden Core was now dazzlingly brilliant, with a hint of mana inside that was now more than a hundred times stronger than during the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was clear: he had succeeded and had survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation! Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, he knew he had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and his heart was filled with ecstatic joy, which even overrode the intense pain. At this moment, a faint smile began to appear on his pallid face. Who knows how much time had passed when he felt almost devoid of mana, utterly exhausted. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and soon passed out. Let¡¯s rewind the moment a bit. When the body of the Thunder Dragon shattered, the rolling dark clouds finally dissipated completely. And then, a powerful presence of the Golden Core Stage swept in. ¡°` Apart from Ye Pinghai¡¯s incomparable calm, Lin Tianming and the others were all staggering, nearly toppled over by the overwhelming pressure. After much difficulty in steadying themselves, the faces of Lin Tianming and his companions were flushed red as they burst into loud cheers. Upon seeing Lin Shikang fall from the sky, Lin Tianming and others rushed over like madmen, their speed astonishingly fast. It was likely that these individuals, who had lived for decades or even a century, had never moved so swiftly before. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group had covered a safe distance of over twenty miles and arrived in front of Lin Shikang. At this moment, the faces of Lin Tianming and his companions showed deep concern as they carefully lifted Lin Shikang out of the crevice between the rocks. Immediately after, they busied themselves happily, administering various elixirs in quick succession to the unconscious Lin Shikang, unfazed by whether he could bear them. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle resignedly. ¡°Lin¡­ why must you all be so anxious?¡± ¡°Brother Shikang is merely exhausted and too severely injured, but the vitality and recovery power of a Golden Core Cultivator are quite astonishing. He just needs to sleep for a few days and he will wake up!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua¡¯s old face turned red, and he hastily replied with an awkward smile, ¡°Ah¡­ perhaps we were a bit too anxious!¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± The people present laughed heartily, each with a healthy glow on their face, all in good spirits. Especially Lin Tianming and his companions, for now that Lin Shikang had survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, he was truly a genuine Golden Core Cultivator. The weight in their hearts finally lifted, their mood was one of wild joy, more excited than ever before. At this time, Hu Yuan looked at the excited group, his face showing a hint of envy. Then, he clasped his hands towards Lin Tianming and the others and said with a smile, ¡°Congratulations to the Lin Family, and congratulations to my fellow cultivators. From now on, the Lin Family is probably going to rise swiftly!¡± Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s congratulatory words, Lin Shihua also clasped his hands in return, politely responding. ¡°Daoist Hu is too kind. You¡¯ve seen the process of the Heavenly Tribulation with your own eyes, so surely in a few years, you too will prosper!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Brother Lin speaks good fortune!¡± ¡°To tell the truth, I owe a lot to Brother Lin¡¯s invitation, I will certainly remember it deeply!¡± Hu Yuan replied with a sincere expression on his face. He was well aware that the Lin Family had already risen far beyond their former status, and with Lin Shikang¡¯s successful breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, the ascent of the Lin Family was unstoppable. Having requests of the Lin Family, he took the opportunity of extending congratulations to show his loyalty, hoping for their strong support in return. Hearing Hu Yuan¡¯s words, Lin Shihua and the others nodded, quite satisfied inwardly. Then, they casually chit-chatted for a moment. ¡°Alright¡­ give this elixir to Brother Shikang, then take him to rest well!¡± After saying this, Ye Pinghai took out a Jade Bottle and tossed it to Lin Tianming. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Sea!¡± Lin Tianming received the Jade Bottle and then respectfully replied. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Tianming, now that the Heavenly Tribulation has passed and everything is settled, I will return to my cave to cultivate. If there¡¯s anything important, you can contact me at any time!¡± ¡°Fellow cultivators, I will take my leave first!¡± After saying a few words, Ye Pinghai clasped his hands towards the group and then vanished from the spot. Following suit, Hu Yuan, being perceptive, also bid farewell and flew towards the summit of the main peak. With the two of them leaving one after another, Lin Tianming helped Lin Shikang take the elixir. After completing these tasks, everyone¡¯s complexion was rosy, still excited and unable to calm down. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming was the first to regain his composure. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, with the Heavenly Tribulation just passed, we should reactivate the Protective Clan Formation and the clan members outside should return to our clan lands!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua and another person came back to their senses. ¡°Haha¡­ Brother Three has successfully stepped into the Golden Core Stage, I¡¯m genuinely too excited, I almost forgot all these important matters!¡± Lin Shihua danced with joy, his face full of bright smiles. Then, the two of them discussed for a moment, deciding on their respective tasks to follow. After all, even though the most important Heavenly Tribulation was behind them, the Lin Family still had many matters to attend to. At the very least, they needed to make proper arrangements for the clan members, keep sensitive matters confidential, and remain cautious to prevent the Lin Family from falling into unnecessary trouble. Thus, none dared to delay, and they each acted according to the plan and dispersed from the place. ¡­ Chapter 744 744 404 High-Level Gathering (Requesting ?Chapter 744: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_1 Chapter 744: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_1 Six months had passed. On this particular morning, as the sun rose as usual from the east, the family clan¡¯s internal regions bustled with people, and everything was tranquil. At the summit of the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, within Lin Shikang¡¯s cave abode, several Lin Family members were sitting together. At this moment, the chatty crowd was visibly excited, and their spirits seemed extremely high. It should be said that since Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation had ended, such a lengthy period had unknowingly passed. Today also marked his first public appearance since his Core Formation. At this time, Lin Shikang, after half a year of seclusion and cultivation, had consolidated his Golden Core Stage cultivation, and the injuries left from his tribulation had been completely healed. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... His complexion was ruddy, his vitality seemed excellent, and his aura was incredibly condensed. Upon a careful look, he appeared like an ordinary scholar, seemingly incapable of trussing a chicken. Clearly, with his cultivation reaching the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shikang had achieved the realm of ¡®returning to simplicity.¡¯ If he didn¡¯t wish to reveal it, probably nobody with a cultivation level lower than his would know his true cultivation realm. However, everyone present was in the know, especially people like Lin Tianming, who had witnessed the entire process of Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. The terrifying force of the Heavenly Tribulation still sometimes surfaced in their minds. They were well aware that the current Lin Shikang was a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, and while his power was not the strongest existence in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, he had stepped into the top echelons. Now, with the Lin Family finally having a Golden Core Stage clansman, the entire clan¡¯s strength had substantially increased, and when facing other Golden Elixir Forces again, they possessed some self-preservation power. Upon thinking of these things, Lin Tianming and the others were overjoyed, and their mood took a long time to settle down. As the group chatted for a while, they exchanged a lot of information about the family and the cultivation world. Since Lin Shikang¡¯s seclusion began until he ended his retreat, nearly four years had passed. This period, it seemed, was not brief. During this time, the Lin Family discovered the talented Lin Tianyun, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu disappeared, and they acquired an Earth-grade Wind Attribute Technique. A lot of significant events also took place within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and many changes occurred within the Lin Family. After the others elaborated, it became known that Lin Tianming had gained quite a few treasures in the Secret Realm, obtaining two more Nascent Soul Spiritual Transmutation Fruits, as well as a Creation Fruit Tree. Upon hearing this explosive news, Lin Shikang was as shocked as Lin Shihua and the others had been when they first learned of it. In his heart, he felt that his own talent and potential were quite average, yet he had used the unique Star Moon Fruit obtained by Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, which was key to the Lin Family¡¯s rise. Therefore, he had always felt a sense of guilt. After all, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items were exceedingly precious and rare, and once used, who could say when the next one would be found? Luckily, his recent seclusion to impact the Golden Core Stage had gone quite smoothly, and he managed to break through successfully, living up to expectations. Otherwise, had he failed, even if he had perished under the Thunder Tribulation, he would have felt immense remorse. And now, Lin Tianming¡¯s trip to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had yielded even more terrifying gains! He not only obtained two Fruits of Fortuity but also brought back the entire Creation Fruit Tree; given time, the Lin Family could obtain more Fruits of Fortuity over a few hundred years. Such a tremendous harvest greatly enhanced the family¡¯s foundation. Such a result was, frankly, incredible. Once they had regained their composure, Lin Tianming continued to recount his experiences in the Secret Realm. After a quarter of an hour, Lin Shikang, who had heard the whole story, saw his ruddy complexion gradually replaced by a serious one. Now knowing the friction between the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom and the actions of the Golden Sword Sect, various signs already indicated that the Blood Red Alliance was scheming something in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If things continued this way, a major conflict between the three sects seemed inevitable. And as the Lin Family had started to stand out in Wei Kingdom and was involved in grudges between two sects, it was bound to be affected. In such a situation, even though he had succeeded in Core Formation, the Lin Family¡¯s crisis still existed. Under these circumstances, the Lin Family had no choice but to act low-key and cautiously deal with any crisis that may arise. Understanding this, Lin Shikang asked Lin Shihua, ¡°So much time has passed since the issues with the three sects; have there been any major moves? How has our family responded?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader and having already discussed countermeasures with Lin Shilu and others, had been strictly implementing the plan. Over the past year, apart from having people from two sects come to retrieve the Jiuli Star Fruit and the Lin Family delaying the process, no other significant events had been reported. It seemed that the three sects hadn¡¯t completely fallen out with each other yet, or there might have been some friction, but given Luoyun Mountain¡¯s remote location, the news might not have gotten there. With this understanding, Lin Shihua honestly reported the news he had. After hearing the plan discussed by several people, Lin Shikang nodded in agreement, evidently satisfied. Then, he added a few words of his own and instructed Lin Shihua to continue following the plan. With this matter concluded, Lin Shihua looked at the clan members present and then spoke. ¡°Fellow clansmen, our Third Brother has finally emerged from retreat after his Core Formation. This is truly the greatest joy for our Lin Family!¡± Chapter 745 745 404 High-Level Gathering (Requesting ?Chapter 745: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_2 Chapter 745: Chapter 404: High-Level Gathering (Requesting Monthly Passes and Subscriptions)_2 ¡°` ¡°Logically speaking, after centuries, the Lin Family has returned to its peak, and my Core Formation is such a joyous occasion, we should hold a Core Formation celebration and could even invite other families or sects to attend.¡± ¡°However, the current situation in the Wei Kingdom is chaotic, and a war that will sweep across the Wei Kingdom is about to erupt. The Lin Family will inevitably be affected, and I fear it would make the Core Formation celebration impossible to hold.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand and then continued, ¡°These formalities are not important. Moreover, given the current situation, the Lin Family should not expose its strength prematurely. Thus, it¡¯s better not to hold the celebration.¡± ¡°In addition, before Tian Ming attains his Core Formation, the news of my Core Formation should not be made public within the family. And I strictly forbid clan members from discussing it and forbid spreading any speculations beyond the family.¡± ¡°Once discovered and if the situation is true, it will be dealt with strictly according to the family rules, with no leniency!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded his head. ... ¡°Rest assured, Third Brother, as soon as your tribulation ended, I have already instructed all those who knew and notified Xing Zhi to enforce the plan strictly.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Shilu¡­ Tianming, you both are aware of the current situation. With the family facing a crisis and now that the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items have been obtained, you two should also prepare and strive to reach the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, both Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. Even if Lin Shikang hadn¡¯t mentioned it, they had been preparing for this event recently. In particular, Lin Tianming had been in seclusion since his return to the family, except when he came out during Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. Thanks to his efforts, his cultivation had now reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, which could be described as rapid progress. Next, he planned to continue his seclusion, using the Hun Tian Pill in his possession to break through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. If he was fortunate, he might directly reach the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and, after consolidating for a year or so, he could attempt the Great Perfection Realm. Following this path, perhaps within three years, he would be ready to attempt the life-and-death tribulation, aiming for the Golden Core Stage that everyone aspires to. Over the past few years, Lin Shilu had also been busy, spending most of his time on Artifact Refining, preparing Defense Artifacts necessary for Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. With the additional need to upgrade attack and defense artifacts for Lin Tianming¡¯s venture into the Secret Realm, he had been extremely preoccupied. Following that, Lin Tianming acquired the Fruit of Fortuity, which caused his cultivation to surge, putting him within a few years of attempting the Golden Core Stage. And with his own cultivation reaching the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, he needed to start preparing for Core Formation as well. In such circumstances, he had to prepare Defense Artifacts for himself and Lin Tianming to use during their tribulations. It means that, as a Second Order Superior Artifact Refiner, he has to prepare about twenty to thirty Second Order Medium Quality or higher Defense Artifacts for three people within a decade. The quality and quantity of such artifacts represent a significant workload, and unfortunately, he is the only one in the Lin Family with such Artifact Refining expertise. Therefore, the enormous pressure of Artifact Refining rests solely on him. Fortunately, Lin Tianming acquired numerous Spirit Ore Materials and a large number of Second Order Magical Artifacts in the Secret Realm, most of which are of Medium Quality or higher. With these ready-made artifacts and the acquired Spirit Ore, Artifact Refining will be much easier. Otherwise, if he had to start from scratch, he would either wear himself out in the Artifact Forging Room or have no time left to improve his cultivation. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that Lin Shikang has successfully formed his Core, the family¡¯s safety also had a basic guarantee, and they could devote themselves entirely to their preparations for Core Formation. Understanding this, the two discussed their own plans. ¡°Third Grandfather, from now on, the family¡¯s affairs will most likely depend on your esteemed self, as your great-grandson will be fully devoted to seclusion for cultivation. Unless the family faces a crisis of existence, it is unlikely that I will come out!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu also added. ¡°Yes¡­ I also need to hasten my Artifact Refining and improve my realm. I aim to attempt the Golden Core Stage within three years of seclusion!¡± ¡°` The few people present listened to Lin Tianming and his partner¡¯s plans, their expressions filled with excitement. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was solemn as he started instructing Lin Shihua beside him. ¡°Shihua, the matter of Tianming¡¯s two people¡¯s retreat is currently the most important affair for the Lin Family, and we must pool the entire clan¡¯s efforts to collect items needed for their tribulation,¡± he said. ¡°Furthermore, considering the current unstable situation and the looming war, all war resources will become scarce,¡± he added. ¡°Therefore, we must act quickly; regardless of the grade and price of the treasures, as long as they can enhance our cultivation strength, the family must spare no expense to acquire them!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua replied earnestly, ¡°Third brother, rest assured, the matter is already under orderly progress!¡± ¡°Over the past two years, the family has accumulated some war resources and issued numerous tasks, setting many policies to encourage clan members to participate in trials, thereby enhancing their cultivation strength to face the upcoming crisis.¡± ¡°Good, I still feel very assured with you handling things!¡± Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction, Lin Shihua indeed had a watertight way of managing things and could be considered extremely reliable. With Lin Tianming and several other clan members offering their advice and consolidating everyone¡¯s opinions, even in his absence, they could make accurate judgments and allow the family to quickly respond in times of crisis. Upon this reflection, Lin Shikang felt a profound sense of relief in his heart. At this time, he glanced at Lin Shigong and then asked about Lin Tianyun¡¯s situation. Seeing this, Lin Shigong began to talk about Lin Tianyun¡¯s progress over the years. With his Sky Spirit Root talent, in less than four years, he had reached the peak of the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement, much faster than Lin Tianming at the same stage. The reason for this, besides the advantages in spiritual root, was primarily due to the vast difference in their cultivation environments. It should be noted that before Lin Tianming reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, the family¡¯s overall conditions were quite poor. At that time, the Lin Family faced enemies on all sides, and their foundation was exceptionally weak, to the point where even basic resources like Lingshen Pills for Qi Refining Cultivators were very limited within the family. As Lin Shigong¡¯s grandson and the direct descendant of the Lin Family¡¯s best alchemists who also possessed the best talent in eight hundred years, Lin Tianming still only managed to use a few Lingshen Pills each month compared to others. Most of these were secretly funded by Lin Shigong and his parents. Now, Lin Tianyun had come upon the best era of the Lin Family in over eight hundred years. At the very least, Qi Refining Stage clanspeople within the Lin Family no longer lacked cultivation resources. Even those with Five Spirit Roots received two Lingshen Pills and ten low-grade Spirit Stones as a basic stipend each month. With such foundational conditions, anyone willing to put forth the effort could easily acquire sufficient resources for cultivation by completing a few simple tasks each month. Being the most talented in the family¡¯s history and personally mentored by Lin Shigong, Lin Tianyun received a generous monthly stipend and enjoyed many privileges, including exemption from clan tasks, allowing him to devote all his time to cultivation. With Lin Shigong, an experienced alchemist, the elixirs required during the Qi Refinement Realm were practically stockpiled for Lin Tianyun¡¯s use. Given these innate advantages, he was able to quickly advance his cultivation and break many of the fastest records held previously by Lin Tianming. However, although the Lin Family¡¯s foundation had greatly improved, as the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators increased, the elixirs and magic artifacts required by Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also limited and far from being supplied unconditionally like those for the Qi Refining Stage clanspeople. Once Lin Tianyun entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, his cultivation speed would inevitably slow down. In such circumstances, if he wished to catch up to Lin Tianming, there would be a long way to go. Having learned about the situations of Lin Tianyun and Lin Tianfeng, Lin Shikang gave a few instructions before ending the topic. As the group continued to chat, Lin Shikang also became informed about the progress of some key matters within the family. Half a quarter of an hour later, this gathering after his Core Formation came to a gradual end. After greeting some of the elders, Lin Tianming returned directly to his own cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 746 746 405 Action_1 ?Chapter 746: Chapter 405 Action_1 Chapter 746: Chapter 405 Action_1 Having left Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, Lin Tianming went straight back to his own. Qin Xi had already been waiting in the courtyard. In the two years since his return, Qin Xi had been leading the Lin Family members to gain experience deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During this time, he had almost always been in closed-door cultivation, occasionally emerging for a day, but it was difficult to meet Qin Xi when she returned. The last time the couple had seen each other was a year ago. Seeing Qin Xi again after a year, Lin Tianming was very excited, and hurriedly took her hand, inquiring with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you returned from your training?¡± ¡°Hmm? Your cultivation has even broken through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ... Before Qin Xi could respond, Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful Divine Sense had already detected her transformation. Although Qin Xi did not reveal any aura of her cultivation, she could not hide it from Lin Tianming¡¯s perception. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned words, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed slightly, then she nodded. Over the nearly two years, she had almost constantly been training in the Luoyun Mountain Range, leading the Lin Family members to slay demonic beasts and search for all kinds of treasures of heaven and earth. After nearly two years of training, having gone through many intense battles, they even encountered attacks from Second Order Late-Stage demonic beasts. It had taken considerable effort to escape the pursuit of the demonic beasts with her family members, and as a result, she had sustained some injuries. Fortunately, the demonic beasts they encountered were not of a gregarious species, otherwise the loss of family members would have been significant. After two years of fighting and tempering, with several instances of life-and-death crises, her cultivation had not broken through, so she had planned to consolidate it thoroughly. Just two months ago, she briefly entered closed-door cultivation for half a month and, without using the large number of Spirit Fruits that Lin Tianming had given her, she successfully broke through to the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. For this, Qin Xi was quite surprised. Clearly, the effects of the long period of battle and training were good, having solidified her cultivation base. Due to her talent with Dual Spiritual Roots, coupled with a solid foundation, she was able to naturally break through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. Now, she still had several Second Order Medium Quality Spiritual Fruits in her hand. If she had another year or two for closed-door cultivation, using some of these Spirit Fruits, she might be able to break through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment Realm. Thinking of this, Qin Xi felt very excited, even somewhat impatient. However, now that she had finally met Lin Tianming after he left closed-door cultivation, she did not plan to start closed-door cultivation immediately. At least, the couple should spend some time together, share the bitterness of longing, and then go into closed-door cultivation. With this in mind, Qin Xi smiled and said, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er didn¡¯t even use the Spiritual Fruits you gave, and successfully broke through!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er, with your exceptional talent, coupled with the training of the past two years, it was expected that you would break through smoothly!¡± ¡°Being able to break through in cultivation without the help of external objects is the most ideal state. I believe that after another year of closed-door cultivation and consuming some of the Second Order Spiritual Fruits, you will undoubtedly make further progress!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and said with praise. ¡°Well¡­ I hope it¡¯s as smooth and easy as you say, Ming!¡± replied Qin Xi. Right after, Qin Xi continued, ¡°The family members who returned from the training are resting back at the mountain, and it¡¯s Uncle Xing Zhi¡¯s turn to lead the team. Xi¡¯er is planning to go into closed-door cultivation for a while, to see if it¡¯s possible to break through to the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became excited. ¡°Great! ¡°Right now, with so many things happening, the family is facing new challenges and needs the members to improve their strength as soon as possible. Since Xi¡¯er, you have such confidence, that¡¯s the best thing indeed!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go see Grandfather and Mother today, gather together this evening, and then come back to closed-door cultivation!¡± Qin Xi suggested. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s respect for elders and her constant thoughts of Grandfather and Mother, Lin Tianming felt very comforted. After chatting for a while, the couple left their cave mansion and walked towards the Cave Mansion Courtyard where the Mother lived. That night, Lin Tianming gathered with Grandfather and his parents. The family, except for Father Lin Xingrong and Sister Lin Tianyue, who were still stationed in the Qianchuan Market, enjoyed dinner together across three generations. In between, they exchanged a lot of information about the changes within the family and also talked about the situation in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Only when the night grew deep did the couple bid farewell to their elders and return to their cave mansion. Once back in the cave mansion, the couple didn¡¯t rest; they immediately entered the cultivation room for closed-door cultivation. In the cultivation room, Lin Tianming sat on a meditation cushion and circulated his Cultivation Technique through one Grand Circulation. After about a quarter of an hour, following a session of sitting meditation and regulating his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s condition reached its peak. At that moment, he opened his eyes, took out a Jade Bottle from his storage bag, and poured out a pill that was blue and yellow in color. Upon closer inspection, the pill was full in color, containing a tremendous amount of energy. This pill was the Hun Tian Pill, which the family had commissioned Ye Pinghai to refine many years before. This pill was quite potent and, just like the Pozhang Pill taken by Qi Refining Cultivators, could ignore bottlenecks and directly advance a Foundation Establishment Cultivator by one realm. In some special cases, if a cultivator at the peak of the initial layer of Foundation Establishment Stage used it, there was a chance to break through two realms consecutively, advancing directly to the Third Level of Foundation Establishment. Therefore, the value of the Hun Tian Pill was extremely high; even a Foundation Establishment Pill could not compare to this pill. After all, although the Foundation Establishment Pill was valuable, that was only for Qi Refining Cultivators. Once one truly advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, the progression became difficult, and the Foundation Establishment Pill was of no help for advancing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator further. The Hun Tian Pill, however, ignored the realm¡¯s bottlenecks. Whether it be an early stage or a late stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it would advance at least one level. Chapter 747 747 405 Action_2 ?Chapter 747: Chapter 405 Action_2 Chapter 747: Chapter 405 Action_2 ¡°` Having mentioned that, one would understand just how significant the effects of the Hun Tian Pill are and how high its value is. At the time, the Lin Family had obtained the main ingredients for the Hun Tian Pill and specially went to Qianchuan Market to commission Ye Pinghai to help refine it. In the end, they acquired a total of three Hun Tian Pills. Initially, Lin Shikang successfully broke through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment with the help of this pill. A few years ago, Lin Shilu similarly used this pill to break through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. As for this last Hun Tian Pill, it had always been kept in the family¡¯s Treasure Vault, and its future owner had already been decided ¨C it was reserved for Lin Tianming¡¯s use. Lin Tianming also knew that the pill was extremely valuable and had significant effects, so he had always planned to use it once he reached the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. After all, for him, it was relatively easier to improve his cultivation in the early and middle stages of the Foundation Establishment Phase. ... But past the late stage of Foundation Establishment, even with his dual Spiritual Roots talent, each step forward at his current level wasn¡¯t as easy as it had been during the early stages. Therefore, using this Hun Tian Pill at his current realm would maximize the pill¡¯s value. Not just him, but Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had taken the pill before him, did the same. Now, he had reached the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, and his cultivation was at the very peak of this stage, only a half step away from the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Using this Hun Tian Pill, his success in breaking through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment was almost a certainty, and he might even reach the middle or late stages of the Ninth Level in one go. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t wait to consume the elixir. As soon as the pill entered his mouth, he immediately activated his cultivation technique to refine the Hun Tian Pill. Soon, the vast energy contained within began to seep out slowly, and after refinement, it coursed through his meridians and finally gathered in the Seven Sea Dantian. Looking down at the Dantian, he could see the Spiritual Power inside increasing at a visibly slow pace. At this rate, breaking through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment wouldn¡¯t take very long. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied with the effects of the Hun Tian Pill, thinking that the pill was indeed as powerful and effective as the rumors in the Cultivation World suggested. He then fully exerted his Cultivation Technique, continuing to increase the intensity of the refinement. In less than three months¡¯ time, the Hun Tian Pill was successfully refined by him. As he expected, his cultivation successfully broke through to the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, and although he hadn¡¯t reached the peak of this level, he wasn¡¯t far from it either. Overall, the effects of the Hun Tian Pill met his expectations. With his cultivation breakthrough, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t exit his closed-door cultivation immediately but continued to cultivate, preparing to use the few remaining Second Order Superior Grade Spirit Fruits in his hand to push his cultivation to the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. If possible, he even planned to attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm in one fell swoop. And so, with these expectations, Lin Tianming continued his closed-door cultivation, impervious to the outside world. ¡­ Time flew by, and two years had passed since he began this period of seclusion. On this evening, as the sunset approached and the sky gradually darkened. In the northeastern part of Zhenyang Sect, within the Bluewater Mountain Range, three flying vessels were hidden in the clouds at an altitude of tens of thousands of feet, quickly crossing many mountains and rivers with extreme speed. In the blink of an eye, the flying vessels had vanished without a trace. The Bluewater Mountain Range, similar in size to the Luoyun Mountain Range, is located in the northeastern part of the Zhenyang Sect and is part of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s territory, bordering the Tianqing Mountain Range controlled by the Golden Sword Sect. This location is somewhat like the Luoyun Mountain Range, with generally scarce resources. For this reason, the strongest forces in the Bluewater Mountain Range are a few Foundation Establishing Families. As the Lin Family rose rapidly, the overall strength of the Luoyun Mountain Range also surged significantly. As of now, the Bluewater Mountain Range naturally could not compare to the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, it was in this barren land that three priceless flying vessels appeared today. Such Flying Artifacts were seldom seen in this impoverished place. ¡°` Yet today, three ships appeared in formation, a rather unusual occurrence. At this moment, on the deck of the leading flying boat. Five cultivators stood at the forefront, all staring down at the landscape disappearing swiftly below them, with a sinister smile on their faces. Among the five cultivators at the front of the deck, stood Song Hanchun. Behind them, more than a dozen cultivators wearing uniform attire sat in a row on the ground, their expressions serious. Clearly, judging from their attire and the situation with Song Hanchun, this large group was composed of disciples from the Golden Sword Sect. At that time, one of the cultivators glanced at the scenery below, then looked at the map in his hand and spoke to Song Hanchun beside him. ¡°Junior Brother Song, we have already entered the Bluewater Mountain Range!¡± ¡°Following the plan, we will soon send out some disciples to take down Tianshui Mountain Range and then hide nearby, to see if we can draw out Chen Jingtian!¡± Upon hearing this, Song Hanchun nodded seriously. Shortly after, Song Hanchun pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands together and said to Xiang Changqing, ¡°Senior Brother Xiang, capturing the Tianshui Mountain Range will hardly require much effort. However, we¡¯ve already burnt bridges with the two powerful factions of the Zhenyang Sect; they must be on their guard.¡± ¡°Under these circumstances, it won¡¯t be easy to lure them out individually!¡± Upon hearing Song Hanchun¡¯s words, the leading Xiang Changqing¡¯s expression jolted, and he coldly smirked, ¡°Humph¡­ If they don¡¯t come out, we¡¯ll just intensify our efforts, take down the mountain ranges near Tianshui Mountain Range, and force the Zhenyang Sect to send out their higher-ups.¡± ¡°At that point, we¡¯ll strike down both individuals in one go and then directly attack the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate.¡± ¡°With the help of Daoist Zhao and the others, the Zhenyang Sect will certainly not be able to withstand us. If all goes well, we could completely take down the Zhenyang Sect before Myriad Medicine Valley can send support.¡± ¡°At that time, facing us alone, Myriad Medicine Valley will stand no chance at all!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, than Song Hanchun nodded, then said with a hint of helplessness. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong¡¯s escape last time, we wouldn¡¯t have needed to wait these years, nor would we need to waste so much effort!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a man in a black robe among the crowd darkened his expression, seemingly irritated. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Xiang Changqing quickly started to fawn over him, apparently very wary of the man in black. ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on the past; with the help of the Blood Red Alliance, we are sure to take down both sects.¡± ¡°By then, I hope Daoist Zhao remembers his promise!¡± Hearing this, the previously displeased man in black nodded contentedly, his face revealing a sinister smile. Witnessing this, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he cursed inwardly. ¡°Hmph¡­ If it weren¡¯t for your arrogance and carelessness which allowed Luo Anzhong to score a cheap shot, we wouldn¡¯t have to be grovelling like this.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ Forming an alliance with a wolfish power like the Blood Red Alliance won¡¯t be simple. I wonder if the Sect Leader and Great Elder¡¯s decision was correct!¡± Song Hanchun silently reflected on this while maintaining a poker face. Although the man in black was unaware of what Song Hanchun was thinking, he too was muttering internally. ¡°Humph¡­ If it weren¡¯t for the alliance leader¡¯s death order to find that item as quickly as possible, not to mention our alliance¡¯s strength being too scattered and other top forces keeping watch, I wouldn¡¯t bother wasting words with you all!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you, I might just annihilate your Golden Sword Sect when the time comes!¡± At that moment, the few of them each harbored their own secret conjectures, with none aware of the other¡¯s thoughts. And thus, they all briefly fell into silence. The flying boat continued its rapid flight, speeding towards the depths of the Tianshui Mountain Range, moving as fast as it possibly could. While the Golden Sword Sect made their move, both the Tianshui Mountain Range and the Zhenyang Sect remained oblivious. Little did they know, a crisis was imminent; the tranquil state of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was about to face another tempest. ¡­ Chapter 748 748 406 Once Again Summoned_1 ?Chapter 748: Chapter 406: Once Again Summoned_1 Chapter 748: Chapter 406: Once Again Summoned_1 Two months later. On this day in the Lin Family Clan Grounds at Green Bamboo Mountain. Inside a certain training room, Lin Tianming, who was sitting on a meditation cushion, opened his eyes, and a glint of sharp light flashed briefly from the corner of his eye. Following that, he took a deep breath, and a crackling sound came from within his body. Over the past two years, he devoted himself to uninterrupted cultivation retreats. With the aid of the Hun Tian Pill and several reserved Second Order Spiritual Fruits, his cultivation successfully reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. Two months prior, he had attempted to break through to the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment, but was unsuccessful. ... To this result, he was not surprised. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, in nearly three years¡¯ time, he consumed a large number of heavenly and earthly Spirit Fruits. Such an abundance of treasures caused his cultivation to soar too quickly, skyrocketing directly from the Seventh Level to the Ninth Level Peak of Foundation Establishment, leaving only a single step away from the Great Perfection Realm. In fact, reaching the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment had already met his inner expectations. If he hadn¡¯t experienced numerous battles in the Secret Realm, where his overall cultivation foundation became quite solid, and his base well established. Otherwise, relying on treasures to advance two great realms in such a short time during the late stage of Foundation Establishment could easily damage the firm foundation he had laid, leading to greater obstacles later on. If that were the case, it would indeed be a loss rather than a gain. Therefore, his inability to directly reach the Great Perfection this time was not disappointing. Understanding this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly, planning to exit seclusion to visit his elders and, incidentally, to inquire about the situation of the Cultivation World and his family. Resolved, just as Lin Tianming was about to stand up, a message transmission flew into the training room and halted before him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming cast Spiritual Light upon it and quickly checked the contents of the message. Soon, his expression became solemn, and he swiftly left the cave dwelling, heading towards the Guest-Receiving Palace halfway up the mountain. Before long, in the family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Palace, he came across Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong. At that time, the two were sitting in the hall, chatting with a man in golden robes. When the golden-robed man saw Lin Tianming enter, he promptly got up and greeted him warmly. Recognizing the visitor, it was Li Huafeng, a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect. Obviously, following the conclusion of the training in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength had also spread within the ranks of Myriad Medicine Valley and its two Sects. Having previously encountered him at Golden Horn Mountain, they had specifically visited the Lin Family Clan Grounds to deliver a Recruitment Order from the Zhenyang Sect, requesting the Lin Family send members to Yuyao City to resist the onslaught of the Beast Tide Army. Li Huafeng, now seeing Lin Tianming again even with the status of a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, did not dare to put on airs in Lin Family territory in front of Lin Tianming. Therefore, his demeanor was very polite, a significant change from before, clearly showing great wariness. At that moment, upon seeing Li Huafeng appear at the Lin Family Clan Grounds again, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but skip a beat. With a little thought, and considering the current situation of the Cultivation World, he understood that there must have been a major change among the three Great Sects, or perhaps it was about the Jiuli Star Fruit. Otherwise, the Zhenyang Sect wouldn¡¯t have sent Li Huafeng back to the Lin Family at this critical juncture. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t beat around the bush. After exchanging a few polite remarks with Li Huafeng, he directly asked for the reason behind his visit. Seeing this, Li Huafeng¡¯s expression turned serious, and he began to explain the purpose of his visit. Indeed, Lin Tianming¡¯s guess was accurate. According to the news conveyed by Li Huafeng, the Golden Sword Sect suddenly attacked the territories controlled by the Zhenyang Sect two months prior, causing a large region to the north of their mountain gate to fall. The Bluewater Mountain Range, lying close to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory, was naturally the first to be hit, including various forces within several surrounding mountain ranges and a few small market towns. Nearly all of them had been pillaged by the Golden Sword Sect disciples before they could react. As a result, many family cultivators, including Loose Cultivators, perished in that unjust battle. As for Li Huafeng¡¯s purpose, it was naturally to convey the Recruitment Order, organizing all major family forces under their command, including Loose Cultivators, to head to the frontline to resist against Golden Sword Sect¡¯s invasion. This time, the demands of the Recruitment Order issued by the Golden Sword Sect were even more stringent than during the previous Beast Tide attack. In explanation, Li Huafeng claimed he was only conveying the intentions of the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s higher-ups, noting that the Lin Family had many cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their strength was among the top ranks of the Foundation Establishing Families. Thus, the Zhenyang Sect required the Lin Family to send at least three Foundation Establishment Cultivators to the frontline, and among the three, at least one must possess Medium Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation or higher. These conditions were not only for the Lin Family but also applied to other families with comparably strong overall power, who were similarly demanded upon. Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming and the others became solemn, and anger stirred within them. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect faced great pressure, and the situation was perhaps grim. They might have been compelled by this pressure to make such demands. However, over the years, the Lin Family had also made significant contributions to the Zhenyang Sect. Especially Lin Tianming himself, who, in the recently concluded expedition to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, had saved cultivators from both Sects and reclaimed the Jiuli Star Fruits that rightfully belonged to them. And with Lin Tianming yet to receive any reward, the Zhenyang Sect was making such harsh demands on the Lin Family. Such actions undoubtedly reflected the view that the Lin Family was weak and wouldn¡¯t dare to object to their decisions, hence the lack of consideration for the Lin Family. Chapter 749 749 406 Another Call to Arms_2 ?Chapter 749: Chapter 406: Another Call to Arms_2 Chapter 749: Chapter 406: Another Call to Arms_2 However, even though Lin Tianming and the others understood this, they felt constrained by the prestige of Zhenyang Sect and the necessity for the Lin Family not to reveal all their strength prematurely. Although they were angry, they didn¡¯t outright refuse the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Order. At this time, as the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua communicated privately with Lin Tianming and the others to decide on a strategy. Shortly after discussing it among the three of them, they felt the Lin Family was currently at a critical juncture and could not afford to reveal their full strength. At the very least, they could not afford to directly confront Zhenyang Sect until either Lin Tianming or Lin Shilu had reached Core Formation. Although it was unlikely that Zhenyang Sect, due to the immense pressure from Golden Sword Sect, would dispatch a Golden Core Cultivator to deal with the Lin Family, being marked by a powerful Golden Elixir Force was still undesirable. If they pushed the Lin Family into a pit of fire, made things difficult specifically for them, or used an external force to target them, the Lin Family could respond, but they would certainly be plagued by endless troubles. More importantly, if Zhenyang Sect intentionally directed disaster elsewhere, the Lin Family would face even greater troubles, possibly having to confront Golden Sword Sect directly. ... If that happened, it could completely disrupt the Lin Family¡¯s rhythm and plans. In such a situation, despite their deep reluctance, the group had no choice but to agree to respond to the Recruitment Order and send qualified clan members to the battle as required. At this time, Lin Shihua forced a smile and then said helplessly, ¡°Li, rest assured, our Lin Family will certainly arrange for our clan members to set off as soon as possible!¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s personal promise, Li Huafeng nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Hm¡­ If that¡¯s the case, please remember, Chief Lin, to have your esteemed clan members gather at Qianchuan Market within a month¡¯s time! ¡°Time is of the essence, and I must hurry to convey the Recruitment Order to other Foundation Establishing Families. I will take my leave now!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan expressed his intention to depart, not bringing up the matter of the Jiuli Star Fruit at all. Such behavior took Lin Tianming by surprise. However, it was better that they did not mention it, otherwise he would have had a hard time finding an excuse to deflect. ¡°Li, then allow us to escort you out!¡± Following the agreement on the conditions of the Recruitment Order and confirmation of the gathering time, Lin Tianming and the others personally saw Li Huafeng off. Afterwards, they returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s residence, drinking tea and chatting casually while also discussing who would be sent to battle. After all, Lin Shikang, the Lin Family¡¯s strongest member, had only achieved Core Formation a little over two years ago. With his strength, he definitely couldn¡¯t appear in the public eye. Otherwise, what would be the point of the family deliberately keeping a low profile? As for Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation, he had also reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, getting ready for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. Lin Shilu was busy with Artifact Refining, needing to improve his own cultivation as well as prepare for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. The duration of the war between the three Sects was also unpredictable, short as one or two years or as long as several years if the stalemate lasted too long. If it indeed dragged on for too long, they simply wouldn¡¯t have the time or energy to partake in this Sect war. In addition, the requirements of the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Draft Order indicated that a Medium Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation was sufficient. If they were to send one of the two at the peak of the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment into battle, that would be an excessive use of resources. Moreover, the Lin Family controlled several Spirit Lands which were quite dispersed. If the strongest clan members were to leave the clan grounds for too long and Golden Sword Sect attacked, even though there were many Foundation Establishment Cultivators among the clan, without the top combat power, they simply wouldn¡¯t cope. After all, there were at least dozens of Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators within Golden Sword Sect, and just a few of them would be enough to wreak havoc on the Lin Family. If the Golden Sword Sect played it safe and sent a Golden Core Cultivator to attack the clan, the Protective Clan Formation could withstand Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators for perhaps ten days or half a month. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But a Second Order Superior Defense Array might not last even a few hours under the attack of a Golden Core Cultivator. Once the formation was broken, the clan¡¯s last semblance of defense would be gone. And the several hundred clan members living on the Lin Family Clan Grounds would be like lambs to the slaughter, utterly powerless to fight back. With this being the case, if two or three of them were to leave, the clan¡¯s protective strength would be greatly discounted. In such circumstances, even if he was apprehensive about Zhenyang Sect¡¯s reckoning after the autumn, Lin Shihua would not place the choice of those who would take part in the great battle on Lin Tianming and the others. Deeply understanding this, Lin Shihua kept silent for a long time before he finally spoke, ¡°Zhenyang Sect¡¯s draft requires at least three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among which there must be at least one at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment!¡± ¡°Our family does have quite a few people who meet this condition, but a portion of them has not revealed themselves publicly.¡± ¡°In addition, Golden Core Cultivators are bound to be the absolute main force in a sect battle. If there really is a fight, Foundation Establishment Cultivators also face no small danger. If tribe members who go to the battlefield have too low cultivation, the probability of returning safely is very low.¡± ¡°Thus, sending family members with insufficient cultivation to the frontline to participate in the war is undoubtedly a situation of near-certain death.¡± Hearing this, both Lin Shigong and Lin Tianming nodded their heads, inwardly very much in agreement. Especially Lin Tianming, who, during the great battle in Yuyao City, discovered that Cultivators in the middle and late stages of Foundation Establishment still had some power of self-preservation. But early Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the battlefield were not much stronger than those of the Qi Refining clanspeople. Just take the battle between Yuyao City and the Demon Beast Army; there weren¡¯t many middle and late stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators who perished, but there were quite a few at the initial stage. And the slaughtering among cultivators, compared to the Demonic Beasts, was undoubtedly much more dangerous. After all, Cultivators have higher Spirit Wisdom, and the threat they pose, with their scheming and intrigue, is much greater than that of Demonic Beasts. Thus, considering that, the strength and cultivation of clan members heading for the battlefield cannot be too low; otherwise, it¡¯s not much different from sending them to their deaths. As the saying goes, ¡®both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh¡¯; arranging for anyone to go is not quite right. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming also felt somewhat troubled, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t decide. Not just him, Lin Shihua and the grandfather felt the same. Just when everyone was at a loss, Qin Xi emerged from her retreat and came to pay her respects to the elders immediately. ¡°Greetings to grandfather, greetings to Twelfth Grandpa!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Xi¡¯er, no need for such formalities, come over here and sit!¡± Seeing Qin Xi, Lin Shihua smiled happily and hurriedly waved her over to sit down. Lin Tianming, seeing Qin Xi, was also extremely excited and quickly pulled her to sit down next to him. Following that, Lin Tianming took a brief look at her and immediately noticed the change in Qin Xi. Then, with a hearty laugh, he excitedly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, after two years of seclusion, you have actually advanced to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm, your rate of improvement is truly fast.¡± Lin Tianming said these words quite sincerely. You must know, Qin Xi is a few years younger than him, and if it hadn¡¯t been for his rapid advancement during the past few years with the aid of treasures like the Hun Tian Pill, at the same age, his cultivation would have been about the same as Qin Xi¡¯s now. And he had been cultivating a Heavenly Grade Technique, always cared for by family elders from an early stage, and supported by numerous resources for cultivation, only then could he achieve the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm at Qin Xi¡¯s age. But before reaching the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation resources were all obtained by herself. Although in the past few years, Lin Tianming and some elders did support her cultivation, to attain her current Realm and rate of progress, she did indeed advance quickly, hardly any less than Lin Tianming during the same period. ¡°Ming¡­ all this is largely thanks to those Second Order Spiritual Fruits you gave me, and also due to the experience I had over two years ago, I was able to break through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level smoothly,¡± said Qin Xi. Hearing this, both Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were also overjoyed. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Tianming¡¯s words, with their realms, they naturally couldn¡¯t discern Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation. Now knowing that Qin Xi had cultivated so rapidly, coming to the Lin Family for just six or seven years, she had already made several consecutive breakthroughs. Such a rate of cultivation was indeed worthy of the prodigious Lin Tianming. ¡°This child is indeed a prodigy!¡± Lin Shihua looked at Qin Xi and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration. Chapter 750 750 407 Qin Xis Request_1 ?Chapter 750: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_1 Chapter 750: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_1 Just as Lin Shihua was speaking, Qin Xi seemed to recall something and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Grandpa, I heard you just mentioning something about selecting candidates. Has something big happened in the Cultivation World?¡± ¡°This? This?¡± Lin Shigong looked helpless, his speech breaking off repeatedly as if he was hesitating. Seeing this, Lin Shihua also spoke up, ¡°Xi¡¯er, it¡¯s just some arrangements within the family, nothing significant has happened. You and Tian Ming are the future of the Lin Family, and all you need to do is stay on the family grounds and cultivate in peace!¡± ¡°As for matters of the outside world, let us old folks handle them!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shigong also chimed in with agreement. ... ¡°Indeed, Shihua¡¯s right. You youngsters just focus on your cultivation and strive for breakthroughs. We old folks are aging, and our potential is almost exhausted. We can only do our best to support you for a hundred some years.¡± Before the words were finished, Qin Xi¡¯s expression grew solemn, and then she spoke, ¡°Both grandpas, I¡¯ve heard the matter you were discussing just now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua both felt a little embarrassed and somewhat apologetic. In their eyes, it was better not to tell Qin Xi about the Recruitment Order, to prevent the younger generation from unnecessary worries. But Qin Xi had by chance heard their conversation and even exposed their lies, which made them feel a bit embarrassed. While the two men were smiling bitterly, Qin Xi continued to speak. ¡°The front lines are very dangerous, and clan members with too low cultivation might not come back alive!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er has already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level and has successfully cultivated a Spirit Art. Even an average Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator might not be a match for me.¡± ¡°Now that the family is in trouble, as a member of the Lin Family, let me go!¡± As soon as she finished, Lin Shihua sternly refused Qin Xi¡¯s request. ¡°How could you go? The battlefield is too dangerous, and besides, our relationship with Zhenyang Sect is very delicate. There¡¯s no guarantee they won¡¯t make things difficult for us!¡± ¡°I do not agree to you going!¡± Seeing that Lin Shihua¡¯s tone and attitude were resolute, seemingly leaving no room for negotiation. Yet in Qin Xi¡¯s view, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were simply concerned for her safety, which is why they were so stern. Because of this, she felt the care of her elders and was reminded of her grandfather¡¯s kind face, his strictness, and his tone, which were quite similar to these two men. Such a scene reminded her of her grandfather, and she felt the warmth he had given her. At this moment, Qin Xi was deeply moved and couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge in her nose. Having calmed herself down, Qin Xi looked at the two serious elders and sincerely began to persuade them. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, Xi¡¯er and Ming have fought together on the Demon-Subduing City Battlefield and are familiar with the Inner Sect Disciples of Zhenyang Sect. We can surely handle them!¡± ¡°Besides, Ming knows well what my strength is. I may not win easily against those of a higher realm, but I have a great chance of winning against cultivators of the same level!¡± ¡°Ever since stepping onto the cultivation path, I¡¯ve also encountered many life-and-death crises and have slain no small number of cultivators, which at least makes me someone with considerable combat experience.¡± ¡°Moreover, currently, the family doesn¡¯t have too many suitable candidates.¡± ¡°And even if I were to stay within the family, it¡¯s unlikely that I could break through in my cultivation in a year or two, so it would be better to go to the battlefield to gain experience.¡± ¡°Both grandpas, Xi¡¯er is confident in dealing with it, so let me fulfill the duty of a clan member for the family!¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi¡¯s words did not convince Lin Shihua or Lin Shigong, but they did convince Lin Tianming. In his heart, Qin Xi was truly outstanding, not at all inferior to himself. Putting aside the issue of cultivation level, speaking purely of strength among cultivators of the same stage, she truly was among the very best. She had achieved such strength and cultivation after enduring a lot over the years and had managed well in such a harsh environment, even turning her enemies around at her whim. In dire situations, she became even stronger in battle, a feat not just anyone could achieve. Knowing her past, he genuinely admired her. Now on the matter of choosing a candidate, considering Qin Xi had stated her case so convincingly, she truly was one of the best choices for the battlefield. Beyond this, he himself believed in a truth: that crisis and opportunity coexist, and only with sufficient effort can one reap greater rewards. If they, as husband and wife, wished to stay together for the long-term and advance further on their cultivation journey, they must face challenges head-on. Understanding this, Lin Tianming joined Qin Xi¡¯s camp. Under the relentless bombardment of their words, Qin Xi pulled out all the stops, using various sweet words to please the two, and even feigning anger to threaten the elders. Sure enough, these tactics were quite overwhelming for Lin Shihua and the other. ¡°Grandpa¡­ Twelfth Grandpa, please, let Xi¡¯er go¡­ Pretty please¡­¡± ¡°Just let me go¡­ If it comes to that, I will follow Uncle Tongxing¡¯s plan completely!¡± ¡°This¡­ This¡­?¡± Lin Shihua was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to rebut, nothing like his sharp-tongued self when facing others. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, realizing that even the Clan Leader could have his awkward moments. Then, under Qin Xi¡¯s relentless persuasion, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong had a private discussion. It seemed they were no match for their persistent granddaughter-in-law, and at last, helplessly relented and agreed to Qin Xi¡¯s request. ¡°Alright¡­ Since Xi¡¯er is so determined, we old folks will let you go.¡± Chapter 751 751 407 Qin Xis Request_2 ?Chapter 751: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_2 Chapter 751: Chapter 407: Qin Xi¡¯s Request_2 ¡°` ¡°However, I must state clearly in advance, safety must always come first. As long as you younger generations are alive, even if we offend the Zhenyang Sect, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± ¡°You must understand, our Lin Family is no longer what it used to be, not yet equals but at least we are not powerless to resist!¡± ¡°When pushed into a corner, we old folks are willing to stake our lives to make them pay a heavy price!¡± Lin Shihua spoke with sharp words and an imposing manner that could not be concealed. These words also made Qin Xi, who was already somewhat puzzled, even more certain of her suspicions. Although the other members of the Lin Family, including Lin Tianming, had not mentioned the Golden Core Stage Clansmen, now listening to Lin Shihua, it was clear that the family¡¯s hidden strength was definitely not weak. Combined with the long absence of Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang, it further confirmed her conjecture. ... S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There must already be two Golden Core Cultivators within the family! The clever Qin Xi quickly thought of something and felt the family growing stronger and stronger. However, she was tactful. It was enough to guess the result in her heart; since the family had not mentioned it openly, there must be significant reasons behind it. If she were to ask the elders, although she would get an accurate answer, it would undoubtedly be a bit awkward. Thus, Qin Xi, seeing the situation was favorable, subtly changed the subject. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, besides Xi¡¯er participating, who are the other two candidates you plan to send from our kin?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong frowned and mentioned a few names. ¡°Xing Rong?¡± ¡°Xing Ping, Xing Zhi, Xing Yuan¡­¡± In just a short while, Lin Shihua and his companion quietly settled on the candidates. Following that, Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Tianming, then said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, after discussing with your Ninth Uncle, we have decided to have your Uncle Xing Ping and Uncle Xing Yuan join you!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi thought carefully and instantly understood the extent of the elders¡¯ concern for her. It was known that both Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan were at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level Realm and were among the first in the Lin Family to break through to Foundation Establishment. Among them, Lin Xingyuan was also a Second Order Junior Alchemist. Their cultivation strength could definitely be considered the backbone of the family, playing a significant role in its rapid development over the years. The requirements for the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Recruitment Order allowed for the dispatch of only one Medium Stage and two Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Clansmen. Choosing members based on the minimum requirements would undoubtedly be the most ideal arrangement for the family. Yet for Qin Xi¡¯s safety, Lin Shihua spared no effort in rallying strength and sent the absolute backbone of the family to accompany her to the battlefield. Such an action clearly prioritized her safety above all. Therefore, she did her utmost to enhance the overall strength of their team, to ensure their survival in the frontline battles. Understanding this, Qin Xi¡¯s just-calmed nose turned sour again, and a mist of tears began swirling in her eyes. ¡°This is the warmth of the family!¡± ¡°There will always be people who care about your safety and do everything possible to pave the way for you!¡± ¡°Clan Leader, Grandpa¡­ Xi¡¯er will certainly not let you down!¡± At this moment, Qin Xi turned her head away and murmured to herself, her expression filled with immense self-confidence. After clearing her thoughts, she adjusted her state of mind. Then, she didn¡¯t say much more, for the elders had already considered her safety and confirmed the candidates. They had finally agreed to her going, and if they were to make them change their minds now, they would surely not yield. In this case, if she were to fail to appreciate their kindness, it would be somewhat ungracious. With the departure roster established, Lin Shihua pondered for a moment, then spoke. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you and the other clansmen participating in the great battle prepare yourselves. Remember to visit the Family Merits Hall these next few days to each collect a Dragon Heart Fruit and ten Second Order Talisman papers.¡± ¡°` ¡°If conditions allow, it would be best to assimilate the Dragon Heart Fruit before setting out, that way it could be a bit safer.¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi did not refuse the Clan Leader¡¯s kindness. She also knew the battlefield was bound to be perilous, and since the Clan Leader had made arrangements for their safety, she decided to comply with his instructions for their peace of mind. Understanding this, Qin Xi quickly began to express her gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Twelfth Grandpa!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Now that the matter of the selection of persons is settled, I shall not delay you and your husband any longer!¡± ¡°Ninth Brother, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shihua nodded and said a word, then looked over at Lin Shigong, constantly making meaningful glances at him. Seeing this, how could Lin Shigong not understand what it meant. At that moment, he nodded with a smile and then took out several Second Order Talismans from his storage bag and handed them to Qin Xi. Immediately afterward, Lin Shigong gave a piece of heartfelt advice. ¡°Xi¡¯er, I don¡¯t have much to offer, but keep these talisman papers for self-defense. Remember to be careful on the battlefield and consult with your Uncle Xing Ping before making decisions.¡± No sooner had his words fallen, Lin Shihua also echoed in agreement. ¡°Yes¡­ Don¡¯t underestimate Xing Ping and the others, although their strength is not as great as yours, they are rich in worldly experience. So always discuss matters with them!¡± ¡°Rest assured, grandfathers, Xi¡¯er will surely bear it in mind!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shigong nodded in satisfaction, then followed Lin Shihua as they left his cave abode. With Lin Shihua and the other¡¯s departure, only Lin Tianming and his wife remained in the small courtyard. At that time, Lin Tianming also pulled Qin Xi into his embrace, his hand gently stroking her hair. ¡°Xi¡¯er, with the outbreak of the Sect war involving the Blood Red Alliance, it¡¯s bound to be no small skirmish.¡± ¡°Barring any surprises, the battle will be fierce. If it¡¯s truly hopeless, there¡¯s no need for you to take risks for the sake of Zhenyang Sect!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words of caution, Qin Xi nodded, burying her head deeply in his chest. ¡°Ming, as a member of the family, I must contribute my strength. Even if I know the dangers, I must confront them head-on, as that is the only way to go farther on the Path of Immortality.¡± ¡°After all, Ming¡¯s talent is excellent, and in these years your cultivation has improved rapidly, and you¡¯re nearly ready to impact the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Though Xi¡¯er¡¯s strength is not as great as yours, I don¡¯t want to let you shoulder the responsibility of advancing the family alone. To catch up with you, I must take on risks, so that when the family faces crisis in the future, I can fight alongside you.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s determined words, Lin Tianming nodded, quite approving of her viewpoint. In his heart, for a family to develop and grow strong, it was definitely difficult to succeed with just a few people making an effort. However, if there were more people in the family like Qin Xi, each with the heart of a strong person, there would undoubtedly be a much broader prospect. With such family members striving together, how could the family not develop well. Realizing this, and affected by Qin Xi¡¯s spirit, Lin Tianming also felt very comforted in his heart. Snapping back to reality, Lin Tianming then smiled and encouraged her, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent is equally strong, no matter what goal you set, I believe you can achieve it.¡± ¡°But remember one thing, Xi¡¯er, be careful and prudent when you¡¯re out there. Where there¡¯s life, there¡¯s hope!¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken, a resolute expression on her face. Then, she responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ming, I will be careful and I will definitely return safely.¡± ¡°As for the family, it will be up to you and the Third Grandfather. When Xi¡¯er returns, I hope that Ming will have advanced further, and if you smoothly enter the Golden Core Stage, that would be even better!¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming internally disagreed. After all, the progression of the war among the three Sects was something no one could predict in advance. Currently, he was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, not yet having reached the Great Perfection Realm. If things went smoothly, perhaps he could retreat and attempt reaching the Golden Core Stage after a year or two. Chapter 752 752 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_1 ?Chapter 752: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_1 Chapter 752: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_1 However, if there is only a year or two before the Sect conflict, it¡¯s almost impossible to advance to the Golden Core Stage in such a short time. Even with his confidence, he wouldn¡¯t dare to boldly claim he could do it. Unless, of course, he had the aid of fourth or fifth order Heaven-Defying Treasures, otherwise, there would be no chance. But treasures of the fourth or fifth order are exceedingly rare, difficult for even a Nascent Soul Cultivator to possess, let alone a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him. However, one thing was certain, if the Sect conflict lasted several years, given his current cultivation realm, the probability of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was not small. In short, no matter what, in order to advance to the Golden Core Stage, he would make every effort and not waste any time. And for many years, this was what he had always done, and he would continue to do so in the future. ... Understanding this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Mm¡­ Let¡¯s work hard together, my wife and I!¡± Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming also took out many treasures from his storage bag and handed them to Qin Xi. Among these treasures, there were quite a few good items, including more than ten second-order, high-quality talisman papers, several of which were Defense Talismans. In addition, there were two one-time-use powerful treasures such as Spirit Detonation Beads, but the most valuable was one Fake Golden Core Talisman. He had kept this treasure for quite some time! Originally, he thought he might need the Fake Golden Core Talisman during his time in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. But before entering the Secret Realm, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and in the Secret Realm, he obtained the Blue Heart True Flame, significantly enhancing his strength. This meant there was never an opportunity to use either the Fake Golden Core Talisman or his Spirit Arts. Still, this was good, for the Spirit Arts should not be revealed lightly unless it was a matter of life and death. As for the power of the Fake Golden Core Talisman, it was comparable to a casual strike from a Golden Core Cultivator, and one might even say that apart from Golden Core Cultivators, not even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator would dare to say they could resist the power of a Fake Golden Core Talisman¡¯s attack. Therefore, the Fake Golden Core Talisman was incredibly valuable and could be considered any Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s trump card. Now, with Qin Xi leading the team to the frontlines of the battle, they would undoubtedly face many crises. With her strength comparable to a seventh level Foundation Establishment practitioner, plus this Fake Golden Core Talisman, they believed that as long as no Golden Core Cultivator took action, the three of them together could withstand a fatal crisis. Therefore, for their safety, Lin Tianming was not stingy and passed the long-held Fake Golden Core Talisman to Qin Xi. At that moment, seeing the treasures given by Lin Tianming, many of which were extremely precious, Qin Xi also began to decline. ¡°Ming, this Fake Golden Core Talisman is too precious. I already have quite a few treasures for self-defense; you should keep it for yourself!¡± she said. ¡°Xi¡¯er, as a husband who has reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, my strength should be unmatched below the Golden Core. The Fake Golden Core Talisman is entirely dispensable.¡± ¡°Moreover, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be leaving the clan territory for these few years. With Grandpa Sea and Third Grandfather at home, even if a Golden Core Cultivator attacks, the Lin Family will be unharmed, so there¡¯s no use for me to keep the Fake Golden Core Talisman.¡± ¡°As for your journey, the length is undetermined, and the crises you might face are unpredictable. Having this Fake Golden Core Talisman should ensure some safety!¡± he said. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming spoke several sentences in a row, then forcefully passed all the prepared treasures to Qin Xi. Hearing this, Qin Xi was deeply moved and thought about it carefully, finding some reason in his words, and no longer declined. Then, she happily collected all the treasures. Having done all this, the couple embraced tightly, exchanging words of affection. During this time, Lin Tianming also kept passing on information he had learned to Qin Xi, focusing on intelligence about the top cultivators from the three Sects, and passed to her the book that Li Xiuyuan had given him before entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. By doing so, he enabled her to better understand the potential opponents from the three major Sects, so that when it came time to face them, she would not be at a loss. Qin Xi carefully memorized the intelligence and began preparing for the upcoming battle. ¡­ Half a month later. In the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, on the plaza in front of the mountain gate. Lin Tianming and his wife stood side by side, with Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan ready to head to the battlefield as well. Besides them, several others were huddled together, with Clan Leader Lin Shihua among them, constantly advising Lin Xingping. And Ren Yuxuan, the mother, was there as well¡ªhaving been worried about Qin Xi¡¯s mission when she first heard it. Today, the day they were leaving the family, Ren Yuxuan insisted on coming to see them off, and now she stepped forward to take Qin Xi¡¯s hand, urging her with concern. ¡°Xi¡¯er, the battlefield is fraught with dangers, please be careful¡­¡± she said. ¡°If there is any news, pass it back to the family immediately, inform us that you are safe¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, Lin Tianming, hearing these words of advice repeated several times by his mother¡ªfar more than when he first left the clan during the Qi Refinement Realm¡ªrealized how much more she was fussing now. Clearly, the mother¡¯s concern for Qin Xi had surpassed that for her own son. Lin Tianming was not surprised by this, as the relationship between mother and daughter-in-law had been excellent over the past few years, as close as sisters with no secrets to hide. Beyond that, Qin Xi was now weaker in cultivation strength than him, and what she was about to face was both complicated and quite dangerous. In such circumstances, Ren Yuxuan, as Qin Xi¡¯s mother-in-law, was naturally very worried. Chapter 753 753 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_2 ?Chapter 753: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_2 Chapter 753: Chapter 408 Farewell to Qin Xi_2 And Qin Xi, upon hearing her mother¡¯s words, didn¡¯t find them long-winded at all; on the contrary, she felt a warmth in her heart. ¡°Mother, rest assured, Xi¡¯er is very confident, and I will certainly return safely!¡± Qin Xi clasped her mother¡¯s hand, speaking with a serious face, her tone suggesting utter determination and confidence. ¡°Dear mother, Xi¡¯er is blessed by the heavens, I believe she will definitely come back unharmed!¡± Lin Tianming also grasped their hands, providing them with a big encouragement. After a short while, Qin Xi turned her head and nodded to Lin Xingping and his companion beside her, then spoke, ¡°Uncle Lin, it¡¯s getting late; we should set out!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s set out!¡± ... Lin Xingping looked up at the sun overhead, then nodded in agreement. Hearing this, Lin Tianming cupped his hands in gesture to Lin Xingping and his companion, then earnestly said, ¡°Uncle Lin, I entrust Xi¡¯er to your care!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, Lin Xingping and his companion looked startled, then couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Tianming, with the level of Xi¡¯er¡¯s cultivation, who would be taking care of whom?¡± Hearing this from Lin Xingping, Lin Xingyuan also chimed in on the side. ¡°Indeed¡­ Xi¡¯er is extraordinarily talented; together, the two of us couldn¡¯t match her. We would probably just slow her down instead!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Their words lightened the mood, and soon, all those present began to laugh, greatly alleviating the solemn air that had marked their farewells. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°All right, it¡¯s time to set off!¡± Qin Xi bowed to her clan members behind her, then slapped the Spirit Beast Bag on her waist. Suddenly, a sharp screech rang out, and an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle materialized out of thin air, circling excitedly overhead. This Purple Gold Eagle was part of the group that Lin Tianming had brought back to the clan. As one of the few female cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage in the clan and Lin Tianming¡¯s partner, Qin Xi was highly favored and naturally eligible to tame an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as her own Spirit Beast. Not only Qin Xi, but Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan also had considerable cultivation and were among the clan¡¯s elite. They too each possessed an Early Second Order Purple Gold Eagle as their Spirit Beast. Now, they were preparing to head to Qianchuan Market for assembly. Since there weren¡¯t many of them, they could all ride the same Purple Gold Eagle. Otherwise, if three Purple Gold Eagles flew together, the large formation would be overly conspicuous. In case they encountered someone coveting the Purple Gold Eagles, trouble would be inevitable. Thus, sharing one Purple Gold Eagle was not only more discreet but also advantageous for handling crises. As for the long-distance travel, naturally, the Purple Gold Eagle would do the heavy lifting, conserving a great deal of Spiritual Power and preventing fatigue from Sword Flight. As the three of them hopped onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, they waved to the clan members below, and the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, piercing through the light screen of the Protective Clan Formation and finally vanishing into the horizon. Watching the Purple Gold Eagle disappear without a trace, Lin Tianming took his mother¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Mother, rest assured, Xi¡¯er will surely return safely!¡± Upon hearing this, Ren Yuxuan also understood that worry was futile, especially for those in the Cultivation World. Once someone embarked on this path, they could never escape the struggle and killings for opportunity. This path was destined to be one of competing with the heavens for one¡¯s life and with immortals for chances! It¡¯s a dangerous journey, and neither she herself nor Lin Tianming could avoid or change it. Realizing this, Ren Yuxuan nodded her head in resignation and responded, ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s go back.¡± After finishing their talk, the two greeted the other clan members seeing them off, then returned to their respective caves. After seeing off Qin Xi and the others, Lin Tianming returned to his cave dwelling and did not intend to rest but immediately headed for the cultivation room. In his eyes, the Cultivation World was aflame with war, and a great battle between the three sects was inevitable. And he had yet to break through to the Golden Core Stage; the Lin Family had no power to stay out of it. In such times, he had to seize every moment to advance his cultivation to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and then strive for the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible. Fortunately, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection is not a realm, but a psychological barrier. Once one¡¯s state of mind is sublimated, the conditions for impacting the Golden Core Stage are met. Understanding this, Lin Tianming promptly began to operate his power and adjust his breathing, bringing himself to an optimal state, and then started his cultivation practice. ¡­ Ten days passed quickly. As evening approached this day, the sky gradually darkened, a sign that night was about to fall. Outside Qianchuan Market, atop a mountain hundreds of feet tall, the silhouette of a Purple Gold Eagle appeared. After traveling for ten days, Qin Xi and her two companions took a short rest at Golden Horn Mountain for a night and then successfully arrived outside Qianchuan Market. At this moment, Qin Xi and her companions jumped down from the back of the Purple Gold Eagle and faced the distant, faintly visible city walls with thoughtful expressions. Throughout their journey, they had passed through numerous regions and encountered various cultivators. The majority of them were Qi Refining Cultivators, with some Foundation Establishment Cultivators as well. After making inquiries, they discovered that many cultivators shared their objective and were preparing to assemble at Qianchuan Market. Clearly, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s call to arms was significant, encompassing both Foundation Establishing Families and Qi Refining Families within its scope. Furthermore, some Loose Cultivators were also drawn by the rewards offered by the Zhenyang Sect, ready to wade into these troubled waters. However, the majority of cultivators, due to the pressure from the three major sects, were compelled to send their clan members to the assembly, even though they were reluctant. Beyond that, after exchanges among themselves, some intelligence suggested that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s situation seemed not so favorable. But these messages were of unclear origin and had appeared quite some time ago. Therefore, the exact circumstances of the Zhenyang Sect remained difficult to ascertain. It was feared that only by heading to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate or to the two major markets controlled by the Zhenyang Sect could they get accurate information. At the moment, they had arrived at the assembly point designated by the Zhenyang Sect five days before the deadline. There was still ample time, and they could also meet with the clan members stationed at Luoyun Pavilion and take the opportunity to gather news. With these considerations in mind, Qin Xi looked in the direction of Qianchuan Market and said, ¡°Uncles, since the Zhenyang Sect has named the place of assembly, they naturally have dispatched heavy guards. Moreover, it seems that Qianchuan Market has not been attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, so let¡¯s go in and have a look first!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s go!¡± Seeing that Lin Xingping and the other had no objections, Qin Xi immediately put the Purple Gold Eagle into a storage bag and then took the lead to fly toward the market entrance. Seeing this, Lin Xingping and the other hastened to follow Qin Xi and flew over. In a short while, the three arrived at the entrance to the market. At this time, numerous cultivators were already queuing at the entrance, waiting for the market guards to inspect them. Once their identities were confirmed, they would be allowed to enter the market smoothly. On top of the city walls, many Zhenyang Sect cultivators guarded in all four directions. There were perhaps several hundred of them, including dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, all with serious expressions and appearing very cautious. It seemed that during times of war, the defenses of Qianchuan Market were much more rigorous than usual. It was not surprising when one considered that Qianchuan Market was one of the two major markets under the Zhenyang Sect, independently established by the sect itself. A market of this scale, unlike those built with the collaboration of powers in various mountain ranges, was different not just in size but also in control, being entirely under the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s dominion. Such a medium-sized market¡ªof which there were fewer than ten in the entire Wei Kingdom¡ªbrought substantial profits to the Zhenyang Sect each year. Consequently, such a money tree would naturally become a target for the Golden Sword Sect and might likely face attack. But at present, although the expressions of the Zhenyang Sect disciples were serious, the periphery of the market seemed safe and intact, with no signs of injury or casualties among the stationed cultivators, unlike what would be expected had there been an attack. Recognizing this, Qin Xi led Lin Xingping and the other past the queue of cultivators directly to the guards and disclosed their identities. Given the influence of the Lin Family around Qianchuan Market, the inspecting cultivator naturally recognized them clearly. After chatting briefly and confirming the identities of the three, they were quickly allowed to pass through. Chapter 754 754 409 Three Pieces of News_1 ?Chapter 754: Chapter 409: Three Pieces of News_1 Chapter 754: Chapter 409: Three Pieces of News_1 Once inside the market city, Qin Xi and her two companions walked along the bustling streets, their eyes sweeping everywhere. The streets were filled with people coming and going, with cultivators in all manner of strange and flamboyant attire flitting through every corner of the market. A glance revealed furrowed brows and complex expressions on each of their faces, seemingly affected by the impending war. It seemed that as the news of the war spread throughout the Cultivation World, family cultivators who responded to the call to arms, as well as rogue elements among the loose cultivators, had all gathered here, causing the influx of people in the market to further increase. They, too, were eager to grasp some intelligence regarding the war, to at least have an idea of what to expect and to prepare, allowing them to make accurate judgments. With this in mind, they kept a close watch on the surrounding cultivators and even the changes in the various shops, engaging in conversations with some familiar faces they encountered. Indeed, as revealed by those who had arrived at the market ahead of them, the war between the three sects had escalated further. ... The rumors said that the Zhenyang Sect had already lost control of more than a dozen mountain ranges, with large areas occupied by the Golden Sword Sect. The main forces of the Golden Sword Sect were pushing southward, almost reaching the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, but were temporarily halted at the Qingshui Mountain Range to the north. As for them, the cultivators who responded to the Recruitment Order, they would likely head to Qingshui Mountain Range and set up a line of defense there to fend off the attack from the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Not long after. The three of them made their way through and entered the Lin Family stronghold, also known as the Cave Mansion Courtyard where numerous family members were engaged in closed-door cultivation. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By then, Xing Rong and the others in charge of guarding the Luoyun Pavilion had already received their messages and were waiting for their arrival. Upon seeing his daughter-in-law, Xing Rong was initially happy, but soon became worried. After all, he had been stationed in the Qianchuan Market for many years and had a fairly good understanding of the current situation in the Cultivation World; he was naturally aware of the purpose of the trio¡¯s visit and the crisis they would face in the years to come. However, he was also a member of the Lin Family, one of the high-ranking ones, and he certainly understood the family¡¯s situation. Currently, the strongest among the family had important tasks to handle. Many family members were not suitable to show themselves, and quite a few had only reached the Foundation Establishment Stage a few years ago. These newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivators were of limited strength and would likely fall easily in a war dominated by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Therefore, the number of family members the Lin Family could actually mobilize was very limited. However, the cultivation strength of Qin Xi and her two companions was quite good, with rich experience in combat and survival, which made them the most likely to survive in the war between the three sects. Thus, the family¡¯s decision to send the three of them to fight was quite normal. Now, even though Xing Rong was worried for Qin Xi¡¯s safety, upon careful consideration of the family¡¯s arrangements and the situation they were facing, there seemed to be no chance of changing the fact that the three of them had already arrived at the gathering point. Realizing this, Xing Rong resolutely accepted the reality and was willing to provide as much assistance as he could to Qin Xi and her companions. After exchanging greetings, the six Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were there started chatting casually. During the conversation, both sides exchanged a wealth of information about the family as well as the wider Cultivation World. Especially Qin Xi and her two companions, they were very focused on the situation of the war between the three sects. Since Xing Rong had been staying in the Qianchuan Market, the tension between the three sects had already been exposed, coupled with the sudden attack by the Golden Sword Sect, the news quickly reached them. As the Lin Family¡¯s representative in charge of the Luoyun Pavilion, he naturally gathered the most accurate intelligence and would send them back to the family at the first opportunity when the conditions allowed. Hence, he had visited Tang Xiuyuan at the Sky Dragon Pavilion and Wang Zhi, one of the supervisors for the Zhenyang Sect Market, several times during this period. Through his inquiries and even spending spirit stones to purchase information, he managed to obtain some relatively reliable intelligence from these major forces. According to the information he found, the northern territories under the control of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate had already descended into chaos. The Golden Sword Sect, led by Song Hanchun and gathering unknown cultivators from the Blood Red Alliance, deployed four Golden Core Cultivators and over a thousand disciples in the Mid Qi Refining Stage and above. This massive army, starting from their adjacent territory at the Bluewater Mountain Range, launched a sudden offensive. In just under two months¡¯ time, the Zhenyang Sect had lost control of more than a dozen mountain ranges, with hundreds of family forces being plundered, countless cultivators killed or injured, and over a dozen small market cities and their territories completely occupied by the Golden Sword Sect. Since enmity had already been established among the three sides in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, It was expected that the Golden Sword Sect would launch an attack. Therefore, the Zhenyang Sect didn¡¯t rush into battle but strategically abandoned over a dozen northern mountain ranges, purely to buy some time. This was a reluctant move. After all, the Golden Sword Sect came prepared, with several Golden Core Cultivators deployed and an overwhelmingly strong overall force. However, over the past two months, the Zhenyang Sect had not been idle. At least, they had issued a Recruitment Order in their controlled area and had been the first to gather forces from over twenty mountain ranges surrounding the Dragon Spring Market. This region around the Dragon Spring Market falls under the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s core area of control, and the overall standard of cultivation is far beyond comparison to the impoverished lands of the Bluewater Mountain Range. Chapter 755 755 409 News from Three Sects_2 ?Chapter 755: Chapter 409: News from Three Sects_2 Chapter 755: Chapter 409: News from Three Sects_2 Therefore, Zhenyang Sect quickly formed a vanguard team led by Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun, who rapidly headed to Qingshui Mountain Range to set up a defensive formation to resist the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ invasion. Besides this, Zhenyang Sect promptly dispatched disciples to Myriad Medicine Valley, urging them to gather some of the valley¡¯s forces to confront the Golden Sword Sect according to the previous agreement between the two sects. However, the sect gate of Myriad Medicine Valley was far from Qingshui Mountain Range, and gathering forces took time, so there were no news about any moves from Myriad Medicine Valley as of yet. Nevertheless, in the face of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s unjust acts, it was believed that Myriad Medicine Valley would take some action; it was just not clear to what extent or in what form they would support Zhenyang Sect. At that moment, Qin Xi and the others, upon hearing the news gathered by Lin Xingrong, showed shocked expressions. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, the information Lin Xingrong had obtained was far beyond what they had heard from others. The information they had inquired about everywhere was either long-circulated or unconfirmed rumors, with no specifics about the Zhenyang Sect or the vanguard of the Golden Sword Sect. ... Now that they had heard Lin Xingrong¡¯s account, they were shocked but also somewhat psychologically prepared. At this time, Qin Xi, also with a serious expression, asked Lin Xingrong, ¡°Father, is the information you have reliable? How accurate is it?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong nodded and replied, ¡°It should be fairly reliable since this is information passed on by inner disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, as well as from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. It¡¯s quite trustworthy.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± ¡°Father, is there any information that can predict what Zhenyang Sect¡¯s next move will be?¡± After Qin Xi finished speaking, she showed an anxious expression. ¡°We still can¡¯t be certain!¡± ¡°However, the cultivators gathered here at Qianchuan Market are likely to be deployed to Qingshui Mountain Range to join the main force in resisting the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s elite troops, or else stay in Qianchuan Market on guard!¡± ¡°After all, this is also a vital defense area for Zhenyang Sect; if it were attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, the previous defensive forces of Zhenyang Sect would undoubtedly be insufficient.¡± Upon hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi nodded, thinking that both Dragon Spring Market and Qianchuan Market, as two of Zhenyang Sect¡¯s largest businesses, brought in substantial profits each year and their gains or losses would certainly be of great concern. However, Qianchuan Market was south of the Zhenyang Sect mountain gate, and it was a long distance from both the main force of the Golden Sword Sect and the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s core region. If the Golden Sword Sect planned to attack Qianchuan Market, they would either have to skirt around to the southernmost part of Wei Kingdom and create a breakthrough near one of the areas adjacent to Luoyun Mountain Range, or cross through the heartland of Zhenyang Sect. Otherwise, it would be difficult for the Golden Sword Sect to strike at Qianchuan Market. Confronted with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s state of readiness, a significant number of cultivators would be too conspicuous a target to pass through its territory without being detected. Thus, the pressure facing Qianchuan Market, compared to Zhenyang Sect¡¯s mountain gate or even Dragon Spring Market, would obviously be much less. And Luoyun Pavilion, as one of the main properties of the Lin Family, was certainly fearful of being affected by the war. Fortunately, large-scale wars between forces in the cultivation world seldom targeted the marketplaces as primary assault objectives. After all, there were numerous residents in the marketplaces, not only the controlling powers behind them but also many family cultivators and loose cultivators living within. More importantly, there were many external forces conducting business there, including quite a few well-known forces in Qingzhou, like the Qingzhou Tang Family behind Sky Dragon Pavilion, which was the most evident example. Beyond the Tang Family, Qingzhou hosted several other notable powers doing business, all undoubtedly backed by Golden Core cultivators. The strength of these entities was also formidable, and when combined, they formed a massive force. Without the backing of the Blood Red Alliance, the Golden Sword Sect alone certainly wouldn¡¯t dare offend so many people. Therefore, the likelihood of Qianchuan Market being attacked was not very high. Realizing this, Qin Xi could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Subsequently, the clan members exchanged a great deal of information and made many specific arrangements. It wasn¡¯t until the night was deep and quiet that everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Several days later. As a bell sound echoed throughout every corner of the marketplace, Qin Xi and a few others greeted their fellow clansmen and then headed to the square to gather. In no time at all, they arrived at the square. At this moment, over a thousand cultivators had gathered here, creating a lively and bustling scene. Qin Xi led the two of them to the area where Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gathered, then she surveyed the cultivator legion before her. From her observation, she found that among the people here, the vast majority were Qi Refining Cultivators, and there were about three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among which a portion appeared to be loose cultivators. It was evident that the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s call to arms was substantial; over a dozen mountain ranges surrounding Qianchuan Market, regardless of the strength of their forces, had sent a varying number of cultivators to participate in the great battle. Within this multitude of cultivators, Lin Xingping and his companions also spotted many familiar faces, including members of some family powers from the Luoyun Mountain Range. As with the beast tide attack, the Foundation Establishing Families like the Luo Family, which were not within the range of enlistment, as well as more than a dozen somewhat powerful Qi Refining Families, were called upon this time. However, the powers of the Luoyun Mountain participating in this great battle were rather limited; families like the Sun and Luo Families had been living in the shadow of the Lin Family for many years. Even after decades of development, the vitality of the two clans had not recovered, and the disparity in strength between them and the Lin Family had grown even wider, forming an insurmountable gap. Yet, for them, this was not the most lethal issue. If they learned that Lin Shikang had stepped into the Golden Core Stage, they wouldn¡¯t have many options left. They either had to move their entire clan away from the Luoyun Mountain or they could only stay in their original place, acting as a vassal power for the Lin Family. If they couldn¡¯t abandon their properties and remained in their original place, they would likely not be able to escape the control of the Lin Family for hundreds of years, or perhaps even longer. And this was the special status of Golden Core Forces, and why they could enjoy such basic treatment. Now, the Sun and Luo Families were unaware and still toiling to revive their lineages. As for this recruitment, their powers were limited and as per the minimum requirements of the Zhenyang Sect, both only dispatched one Foundation Establishment Second Layer cultivator to come. Both of these individuals were newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Sun and Luo Families, and they hadn¡¯t had many dealings with the higher echelons of the Lin Family. However, even so, the early-rising Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family were well-known to them, and they had even deliberately collected intelligence on key members of the Lin Family. At this moment, seeing the three from the Lin Family appear here, they were incredibly surprised at heart. In their minds, they couldn¡¯t imagine that the Lin Family could be so generous, dispatching three mid-stage Foundation Establishment family members at once. However, these were just ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family. Lin Tianming¡¯s renown and deeds over recent years had already spread throughout the southern part of the Wei Kingdom, making him a genius cultivator who all Foundation Establishment Cultivators felt inferior to. Beyond that, Lin Shilu and Lin Shikang, two high-ranking members of the Lin Family, had not shown up in the cultivation world for a long time. Given the strength and cultivation of these two when they were last seen publicly, it¡¯s natural they wouldn¡¯t have fallen easily. If they hadn¡¯t appeared for such a long time, it was almost certain that they were in closed-door cultivation, facing life and death. With such a deduction, it was very likely that they had reached the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm, and there was even the possibility they were attempting the impact of the Golden Core Stage. Once one of them succeeded in stepping into the Golden Core Stage, the entire Lin Family would rise completely. And the Foundation Establishing Families of the Luoyun Mountain Range would then have only two options from which to choose. Thinking of these, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Sun and Luo Families could not help but feel solemn, their hearts involuntarily lamenting. ¡°It was with great difficulty that the Jin Family was brought down, but as a result, a more powerful clan has been created, even a clan whose overall strength far exceeds that of the Jin Family at its peak.¡± ¡°Perhaps this is fate!¡± While Qin Xi and her companions were observing others, many forces were also closely watching their every move. After all, the vast majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators present were at the initial stage of cultivation strength. Like them, all being in the medium stage of Foundation Establishment and hailing from the thriving Lin Family, it was hard for them not to attract attention. Therefore, many cultivators familiar with the Lin Family came forward to greet Lin Xingping and his companions, even flattering the Lin Family in hopes of receiving some care on the battlefield. In response, Lin Xingping jovially chatted with them, promising to lend a hand where feasible. Hearing these words, the cultivators became excited, their hearts filled with renewed confidence for the upcoming grand battle. Then, after chatting for a short while, as several Zhenyang Sect cultivators emerged from the auction hall, the noisy square finally quieted down considerably. ¡­ Chapter 756 756 410 Seeking Help_1 ?Chapter 756: Chapter 410: Seeking Help_1 Chapter 756: Chapter 410: Seeking Help_1 At this time, all eyes turned to look at the Zhenyang Sect disciples. As far as the eye could see, leading the Zhenyang Sect disciples who had arrived was Lan Yu, the Golden Core Cultivator who had participated in the great battle at Yuyao City. Qin Xi, who had also taken part in the Yuyao City battle, naturally recognized Lan Yu¡¯s identity. However, it was the first time for Lin Xingping and his companion to see Lan Yu. After sizing him up, they turned their attention to the other Zhenyang Sect disciples, pondering the identities of these individuals in their minds. Soon, based on the information provided by Lin Tianming, they confirmed the identities and strengths of these cultivators, but there were also several unfamiliar faces who had clearly never interacted with the Lin Family Members before. Besides them, the numerous cultivators attending the gathering were stirred by the appearance of a Golden Core Cultivator, and many began to pay their respects to Lan Yu. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lan Yu waved his hand to quiet the somewhat noisy crowd. ... Then Lan Yu glanced over the thousands of cultivators present, and then with his resounding voice, he reached every corner of the marketplace. ¡°Fellow Taoists, the Golden Sword Sect has initiated unwarranted aggression, brazenly attacking over a dozen mountain ranges under their command, and has already occupied a significant amount of territory,¡± he announced. ¡°In consideration of the safety of the major forces and all Loose Cultivators, our Sect has specially called for your assistance in resisting the invasion!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Within half a quarter of an hour, Lan Yu spoke at length about the crimes of the Golden Sword Sect, implying that they were heartless and unjust, rallying external forces to start a major Sect war, bringing unprecedented harm to the peaceful Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Such actions were undoubtedly ambitious, putting them at odds with all cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. In fact, as Lan Yu had said, the Golden Sword Sect had indeed broken the rules by initiating an unjust war. But in the Cultivation World, where the strong prey on the weak, is there really any sense of right or wrong? As long as the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were annihilated, how history would be recorded or what other cultivators would say was entirely up to the victors to write. After all, nobody was going to offend the Golden Sword Sect just to concern themselves with a power that had already been destroyed. Although cultivators were aware of this, the current situation between the two sides was not yet clear. Before the fall of the Zhenyang Sect, no power dared to offend them. Therefore, the assembly of cultivators remained silent, waiting for Lan Yu¡¯s next instructions. Another period of time passed. During this time, Lan Yu also divulged some information about the Zhenyang Sect. However, perhaps out of concern that revealing too much about the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s precarious situation might cause unnecessary panic among the cultivators, Lan Yu did not disclose much about their predicament or the high-level plans. But Qin Xi, who had obtained more detailed information from other sources first, did not take what Lan Yu revealed too seriously. Apart from few like them, there were also others who remained calm, clearly having prepared themselves mentally in advance; hence, they were not overly shocked or surprised. After a while, through a speech by Lan Yu, he indeed managed to stir the emotions of many cultivators. Many cultivators, who were clueless about the situation, hastily expressed their stance, willing to obey the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s dispatch and not cease until the Golden Sword Sect was repelled. Seeing this, Lan Yu nodded with satisfaction. In his eyes, there were not many fools among cultivators, and it was already commendable to have aroused some initial enmity among a portion of them. Regaining focus, Lan Yu looked at the many angry cultivators below and then said, ¡°Those who are responding to the summons, leave the marketplace first, then follow me onto the flying boat, and head to Qingshui Mountain Range to gather and jointly resist the attack of the Golden Sword Sect disciples!¡± After finishing his speech, Lan Yu turned and disappeared from the square first. Seeing Lan Yu¡¯s action, the Zhenyang Sect disciples behind him quickly followed, leading the thousands of cultivators present towards the marketplace entrance. In a short while, everyone had left the marketplace as instructed and gathered in an open area. At that time, Lan Yu waved his sleeve, and a Second Order Superior Inkwind Spirit Boat appeared above everyone¡¯s heads. The appearance of this artifact caught the attention of many Qi Refining Cultivators, each of them staring at the Flying Artifact with envious expressions. Lan Yu paid no mind to this, and with a leap, he was the first to board the Spirit Boat. Following that, the cultivators below began to orderly board the Inkwind Spirit Boat under the guidance of the Zhenyang Sect disciples. Qin Xi and his two companions walked together and quickly arrived on the deck. As they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators with the rare Medium Stage among the summoned cultivators, they were naturally given some attention by the Zhenyang Sect and arranged to rest in a favorable spot. As for the Qi Refining Cultivators, they were placed at the very back of the deck, sitting on the ground, tightly packed together. Such an arrangement was inevitable. After all, the Inkwind Spirit Boat, when activated, could only cover so much area; to transport thousands of people on it and fly the journey of several thousand li was already a challenging task. Therefore, without the option of leaving some cultivators behind, they had to make full use of the available space to strive to take every responding cultivator with them. Thankfully, there weren¡¯t too many people gathered, and by squeezing a bit, the Inkwind Spirit Boat could take everyone. As for whether the cultivators were crowded or if the flying speed was affected, those were not particularly important concerns. Speed being slower was still much faster than having some cultivators fly individually. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, Lan Yu did not delay, and after assembling everyone, he immediately piloted the Inkwind Spirit Boat towards the north. Chapter 757 757 410 Asking for Help_2 ?Chapter 757: Chapter 410 Asking for Help_2 Chapter 757: Chapter 410 Asking for Help_2 ¡°` In the blink of an eye, the gigantic flying vessel had turned into a speck and finally vanished into the horizon. ¡­ Myriad Medicine Valley. In a gorge of the Yuxu Mountain Range lay the sect gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. At this time, within one of the pavilions in the gorge, two figures from the Zhenyang Sect appeared. One of them, clothed in a golden Daoist robe with an embroidered pattern of a blazing sun on the chest, was undoubtedly Long Qingshui himself. Sitting in a higher position across from him was a blue-robed cultivator, none other than Zhou Yunxiao, the Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley. ... At that moment, as Zhou Yunxiao observed Long Qingshui¡¯s pale complexion, his heart stirred, especially when he recalled a meeting between him and Zhu Yun that had occurred more than a month ago. It was through Zhu Yun¡¯s personal account that they had learned of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s sudden action, swiftly seizing the territories of several mountain ranges. At that time, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had also reached an agreement: should either party be attacked by the Golden Sword Sect, the other would dispatch part of its forces to help resist the assault. And while their combined forces had yet to be deployed, not much time had passed, and the Zhenyang Sect had already sent another person, this time a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator. All signs indicated that the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s offensive was fierce and that Zhenyang Sect was facing immense pressure. Just thinking about this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s expression quickly darkened. Nevertheless, he was a Golden Core cultivator and had the backing of Myriad Medicine Valley, a sect with a legacy of ten thousand years. Having taken on the role of Sect Leader, he had long since developed an unflappable demeanor and soon regained his composure. Soon after, Zhou Yunxiao gestured with his hand and then asked, ¡°Young friend Long, since the war broke out, what is the current situation of your Zhenyang Sect?¡± Hearing this, Long Qingshui also became serious and respectfully responded. ¡°Answering Senior Zhou, since one month ago, the Golden Sword Sect has intensified their offensive. More than ten mountain ranges under our sect have fallen, and over a hundred large and small clans have been wiped out, resulting in a heavy loss!¡± ¡°And now, the Sect Leader has summoned a large number of cultivators, along with fellow disciples, to head to Qingshui Mountain Range to resist the main force of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s attack. Under their desperate resistance, we have temporarily held back the offensive.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao nodded and continued to inquire, ¡°Who is leading your sect¡¯s defense against the Golden Sword Sect, and how strong is their main force? How many Golden Core cultivators are there?¡± As soon as the words fell, Long Qingshui did not dare delay and quickly reported the accurate intelligence he had gathered. ¡°Responding to Senior Zhou, Uncle Chen is leading our sect¡¯s efforts to resist the Golden Sword Sect, accompanied by Luo and Uncle Lan. ¡± ¡°Regarding the Golden Sword Sect, we have confirmed that there are at least four Golden Core cultivators on their side. Besides Song Hanchun from the Golden Sword Sect, there is also an unidentified Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, as well as a Medium Stage and an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator working together.¡± ¡°And those two unidentified Medium Stage cultivators were the ones who ambushed Luo and Zhu Yun after Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm had closed!¡± Even someone of Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s status couldn¡¯t help being somewhat shocked upon hearing this. He was very aware that the Golden Sword Sect deploying four Golden Core cultivators, including one Late Stage, two Medium Stage, and one Early Stage cultivator, was an immense force, almost equal to the entirety of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s strength. And those three unidentified cultivators could almost certainly be identified as cultivators under the command of the Blood Red Alliance. Now, the Blood Red Alliance was no longer hiding in the shadows but instead blatantly appearing in public view and participating in the power struggles within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Such a high-profile move showed a great deal of confidence and also revealed their determination: they were set on obtaining something at all costs. The more this was the case, the more difficult the situation would likely become for both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect. Considering this, even someone as strong and well-connected as Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help feeling a flutter of trepidation. As he sighed deeply, his complexion then gradually recovered somewhat. ¡°` Following that, he began, ¡°Young Dragon, have you come to Myriad Medicine Valley today because Daoist Lu has entrusted you with some matter?¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao proactively mention his purpose, Long Qingshui reflected on the instructions given to him by the Sect Leader Lu Xingfeng as he left the gates of Zhenyang Sect, who had repeatedly urged him to ensure that Myriad Medicine Valley sent reinforcements to the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s battlefront as swiftly as possible. With this in mind, he dared not delay or hide anything. ¡°Senior Zhou, our two sects had an agreement to advance and retreat together. At present, our sect is under immense pressure and simply cannot match the Golden Sword Sect disciples with the strength of our sect alone!¡± ¡°If this situation continues to develop, Zhenyang Sect will likely suffer heavy casualties.¡± ¡°If our Zhenyang Sect cannot withstand the attack and our sect¡¯s strength significantly weakens, or we suffer heavy losses, or even if we are directly annihilated, it will not be an easy task for Myriad Medicine Valley, with its strength, to block the attacks of the Golden Sword Sect by itself.¡± ¡°The principle of a linked fence falling with the loss of a single post is all too clear to someone with the cultivation of the Golden Core Stage, like Senior Zhou!¡± ¡°Therefore, we cannot afford any delay. If we want to withstand or even destroy the Golden Sword Sect, our two sects must accelerate our progress and further increase the strength of our counterattacks.¡± ¡°Otherwise, by the time they defeat us one by one, it will all be too late!¡± Hearing Long Qingshui¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao, who had originally intended to delay and let the Zhenyang Sect and the Golden Sword Sect wear each other down, planned to have Myriad Medicine Valley reap the benefits from the sidelines and thus once again dominate the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. But now, having heard what Long Qingshui said and considering the predicament of the Zhenyang Sect, he had no choice but to accelerate the support as Zhenyang Sect had stated and also increase their resistance. With these thoughts, Zhou Yunxiao set aside his own schemes, planning to fully support the Zhenyang Sect as Long Qingshui had suggested. Having made up his mind, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then voiced his stance. ¡°Rest assured, Young Dragon, our sect will surely gather forces immediately and reach the Qingshui Mountain Range within a month to support your Sect¡¯s Daoist Chen and the others.¡± Relieved by this statement, Long Qingshui heaved a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate that his luck was not bad after all, meeting Zhou Yunxiao, a righteous man who understood the seriousness of the situation and agreed to the Sect Leader¡¯s request at once. Now, he only needed to wait for Myriad Medicine Valley to gather their forces and set out with them to reinforce his fellow sect disciples. As long as he completed this task according to the Sect Leader¡¯s instructions, he would earn enough merit points to obtain a Jiuli Star Fruit. For this item, he had completed many sect missions over the years and had faced numerous crises. Among them, he had already earned sufficient merit during the great battle at Yuyao City and had performed exceptionally well in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Now, conveying the Sect Leader¡¯s request was yet another dangerous and challenging mission. Fortunately, so far everything had gone quite smoothly, a silver lining in unfortunate circumstances. Regaining his composure, Long Qingshui looked at Zhou Yunxiao, whose serious expression showed he was not joking. Having received an affirmative answer, Long Qingshui then spoke with admiration, ¡°Senior Zhou truly understands the greater good, I have the utmost respect for you!¡± ¡°Now that this matter is settled, my colleague and I will rest at your sect for a while. Once the forces are assembled, we will depart with the many cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao knew that Long Qingshui wanted to ensure that Myriad Medicine Valley would not intentionally delay. But that didn¡¯t matter; he had no intentions of delaying, so he didn¡¯t care whether Long Qingshui stayed or not. With that in mind, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and said, ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s do as you say, Young Dragon!¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Zhou!¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Long Qingshui bowed in thanks and chatted briefly with Zhou Yunxiao to confirm the arrangements. Afterward, he and his fellow sect member bid Zhou Yunxiao farewell and, under the guidance of Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, took up temporary residence at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate to cultivate. ¡­ Chapter 758 758 411 Qingshui Market ?Chapter 758: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market Chapter 758: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market ¡°` Qingshui Mountain Range. Outside Qingshui Market, the Inkwind Spirit Boat sliced through the sky, silently landing on the flat ground outside the market. After more than half a month of traveling, with Golden Core Cultivators piloting the flying boat, their speed increased significantly. Finally, today, they reached the Qingshui Mountain Range and arrived at their destination. At this time, on the city walls of the entire Qingshui Market, a large number of cultivators gathered. Each of them watched as the Inkwind Spirit Boat landed, revealing the faces of thousands of cultivators on the deck. Everyone knew that the support from the Zhenyang Sect had finally arrived. In the past two months, Qingshui Market had often been attacked by people from the Golden Sword Sect, with many cultivators falling on the battlefield. ... Having barely held on until now, the cultivators were exhausted, worn out by the hardships. Next, with the support of this group, the weary cultivators could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Understanding this, the cultivators present were excited, with many unable to hold back their cheers. On the deck, Qin Xi and the others sat among the crowd of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, observing the Qingshui Market before them. Looking around, Qingshui Market was backed by a mountain on one side, surrounded by city walls over thirty feet high on the other three sides. This layout was somewhat similar to the Luoyun Market controlled by the Lin Family, only occupying a slightly larger area. In fact, in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the location of markets was almost the same: as long as the spiritual energy met the basic requirements and was favorable for defense, it could be complemented with protective formations and spirit-gathering arrays to establish a small market. The most apparent difference between Qingshui Market and Luoyun Market was that the defensive formation here was a Third Order Great Array. It seemed that the Zhenyang Sect had reconfigured a new formation here as a base. Otherwise, with the original Second Order Defensive Great Formation, it would have no effect in the eyes of a Golden Core Cultivator, fearing that after just a few rounds, it would be completely broken. But a Third Order Great Array was different. Even if several Golden Core Cultivators joined forces, breaking the defense of a Third Order Great Array would not be achievable in a short period. Therefore, since the Zhenyang Sect arranged it this way, they must have prepared in advance, planning for a protracted battle. The places they had visited were very limited; the farthest was around the Qianchuan Market. The reason for this was because Qingshui Market was far from Qianchuan Market, further than another large and medium-sized market under the Zhenyang Sect, Dragon Spring Market. This place was entirely north of the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate and had little connection with the southernmost Luoyun Market. For them, it was their first time coming to the Qingshui Mountain Range, and the first time visiting the Qingshui Market. If not for the battlefield of the three-sect war, they might not have come here in the short term. Just then, during their distraction, Lan Yu took the lead, jumping off the flying boat and landing at the market¡¯s entrance. Immediately, he exchanged a few words with several disciples in front of him, then instructed all the cultivators on the flying boat to gather. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing the order, a large number of cultivators, led by the Zhenyang Sect disciples, orderly jumped off the flying boat and entered the Qingshui Market. Qin Xi and the others followed the main group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, led by a Zhenyang Sect cultivator, into the Qingshui Market. Upon entering the market, they discovered many cultivators bustling through the streets. If it weren¡¯t for the shadow of war looming over them, the scene wouldn¡¯t be much different from usual. At this time, the group of cultivators, while looking around, headed towards the auction venue at the center of the market. Soon, the over a thousand cultivators supporting this site arrived at the square in front of the auction. Looking around, Chen Jingtian from the Zhenyang Sect was already waiting in advance. Seeing Lan Yu at the forefront, Chen Jingtian cupped his hands and asked, ¡°Junior Brother Lan, are all the summoned cultivators assembled?¡± ¡°To Brother¡¯s question, one thousand three hundred and fifty-two family cultivators from the south were summoned, and one thousand three hundred and ten responded in practice, along with three hundred and eighty loose cultivators. All have gathered here!¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian nodded in satisfaction. With this batch of cultivators¡¯ support, he could breathe easier when facing the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ onslaught. Regaining his composure, Chen Jingtian looked at the thousands of people in the field and then instructed a dozen disciples behind him. Subsequently, more than ten Zhenyang Sect disciples stepped forward to select members of various teams. Qin Xi and the others had solid cultivation, and the Lin Family had gained some reputation over the years. Li Xiuyuan was the first to come forward and greet them. ¡°Fairy Lin, it¡¯s been a few years since we last met, and your cultivation has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level. Truly, as expected of a Lin Family Cultivator, your advancement speed is truly admirable!¡± Hearing these somewhat complimentary words, Qin Xi chuckled softly, ¡°You flatter me, Li. I just happened to be fortunate!¡± Having said this, Qin Xi shifted the topic and introduced Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan. ¡°Friend Li, these are my uncle Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan. Please take care of them in the future!¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you, Friend Li!¡± Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyuan, standing aside, cupped their hands warmly as they greeted Li Xiuyuan. Seeing this, Li Xiuyuan quickly returned the salute, displaying considerable politeness. ¡°` Chapter 759 759 411 Qingshui Market_2 ?Chapter 759: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market_2 Chapter 759: Chapter 411 Qingshui Market_2 Following this, he finally spoke, ¡°Three fellow Daoists, this battle against the Golden Sword Sect, like the great battle in Yuyao City, will divide cultivators into nearly a hundred teams, each team consisting exactly of fifty people!¡± ¡°And I am still short ten members; how about the three of you join my team?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi did not immediately reply but exchanged a few private messages with Lin Xingping, who was by her side. In her eyes, there was no aversion to joining Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team. After all, they were somewhat acquainted, and she also had a good impression of Li Xiuyuan¡¯s character. Besides, they had fought side by side in Yuyao City before, which meant they had a considerable tacit understanding. In addition, Li Xiuyuan was now at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, and although his strength was not comparable to top disciples like Yang Chen, he was still considered top-notch. If they accepted Li Xiuyuan¡¯s invitation, unless it was an extremely dangerous mission, their chances of survival in the upcoming battle would be much higher than others. ... Understanding this, Qin Xi only exchanged a few words with Lin Xingping, and they quickly reached a consensus. Soon, Qin Xi spoke, ¡°Daoist Li, we are well-acquainted and have fought side by side before. Naturally, we would like to join your team!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ That¡¯s really great!¡± Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily, showing a satisfied smile on his face, his mood seeming very good. After some polite exchanges between them, they waited on the side while Li Xiuyuan continued to move among the crowd of Foundation Establishment cultivators to recruit the last few team members. Before long, Li Xiuyuan returned to where Qin Xi and her two companions were, with seven people in tow. Looking over, among these seven, four were at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, and the other three were at the Second or Third Level. He then introduced the origins of these Foundation Establishment cultivators, allowing each to become acquainted with one another to better coordinate in the future battles. After the introductions, Qin Xi and her companions also learned the origins of these seven cultivators. Six of them came from three Foundation Establishing Families, and although they had no interactions with the Lin Family, they were all from renowned Foundation Establishing families around Qianchuan Market. The other cultivator, at the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment, was a Loose Cultivator who often roamed near the Hengyang Mountain Range. Having exchanged information, they were now somewhat familiar with one another. Then, Li Xiuyuan looked at everyone before speaking, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that the recruitment is complete, follow me to choose a cave dwelling for seclusion and cultivation!¡± ¡°Um¡­ Thank you!¡± Qin Xi and the others replied in unison. Afterward, under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s lead, they arrived at the residential area of the Eastern District of the Market City. A few teammates had already arranged their cave dwellings in advance, leaving only Qin Xi and her two companions behind. As members of the Lin Family summoned for the call to arms, their cultivation and strength were considered top-notch among the entire army of cultivators. Therefore, Li Xiuyuan was very polite, treating them with the best hospitality. Under Li Xiuyuan¡¯s arrangement, Qin Xi and her party entered a cave dwelling in the Eastern District of the Market City, and like before in Yuyao City, the three of them from the same family occupied one dwelling all to themselves. This cave dwelling was well-located, not far from the area where Zhenyang Sect disciples secluded for cultivation, and it was also in a place where the spiritual energy was relatively dense. After arranging the cave dwelling, Li Xiuyuan chatted with Qin Xi and the others for a bit, leaving them with many cautions, and then took his leave. After seeing off Li Xiuyuan, Qin Xi and the others began to chat in the hall. ¡°Xi¡¯er, Daoist Li is a pretty good person, and he seems to hold the Lin family in high regard!¡± After Lin Xingping finished speaking, Lin Xingyuan also took over the conversation. ¡°Yes, Tian Ming and Xi¡¯er were also part of Daoist Li¡¯s team during the great battle in Yuyao City, and after several years of fighting side by side, they are quite familiar with each other.¡± ¡°Besides, Tian Ming also had interactions with them during the training in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, and even saved their lives. It¡¯s only natural to give special treatment!¡± Hearing the two of them, Qin Xi didn¡¯t think much of it. In her eyes, the reasons mentioned by the two of them were certainly valid, but more importantly, it was due to the overall strength of the Lin Family. Especially the potential shown by Lin Tianming and the potential of the entire Lin Family, which made these Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect not dare to underestimate them. Besides, all three of them were at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, with Qin Xi at the Sixth Level, Lin Xingping at the Fifth Level, and Lin Xingyuan at the Peak of the Fourth Level. Apart from a few Loose Cultivators at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, their group was already strong among the family cultivators. Such overall strength was considered top-tier among the cultivators summoned this time. Under so many conditions, Li Xiuyuan naturally did not dare to slack off. Understanding this, Qin Xi faintly smiled and began to share her thoughts. Soon, after hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingping and his companion also felt it made sense, and their confidence in the upcoming battle greatly increased. Half a quarter of an hour later, the three had exchanged numerous speculations about the battle and had arranged many matters. Subsequently, the three ended their casual conversation and returned to their respective rooms to rest, waiting for the Zhenyang Sect to assign tasks through Li Xiuyuan. ¡­ Qingyu Mountain Range, Qingyu Market. In the central auction hall of the market, several Golden Core cultivators, including Song Hanchun, sat together. Seated at the highest position was Zhao Hongsheng of the Blood Red Alliance, flanked by the brothers Jin Weishan and Jin Weihe. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng stared at Song Hanchun across from him with an expressionless face, his thoughts inscrutable. His impassive demeanor made Song Hanchun feel as though he was sitting on pins and needles. Though they were both Golden Core cultivators and he was at the Mid Stage Golden Core, he hardly dared to breathe in front of Zhao Hongsheng, who was at the Late Stage Golden Core. Moreover, when recalling a certain day decades ago, Zhao Hongsheng had exchanged pointers with Han Hu, the Great Elder of the Golden Sword Sect. Back then, Song Hanchun was at the Early Stage Golden Core cultivation and witnessed that earth-shattering battle. The result was Han Hu, also at the Late Stage Golden Core, falling short by one move and regretfully losing. However, even so, they could see that Zhao Hongsheng did not seem to exert his full strength and even intentionally showed mercy. Otherwise, if it had been a battle to the death, Han Hu would definitely not have been Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s match and might even have faced the peril of losing his life. Thus, even after decades had passed and even though his own cultivation had stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core, Song Hanchun did not dare be negligent or offend Zhao Hongsheng. Not just him, even the Jin brothers of the Blood Red Alliance did not dare to be too presumptuous in front of Zhao Hongsheng. Clearly, Zhao Hongsheng was not easy to get along with and was even quite brutal. In fact, not just Zhao Hongsheng, but the people of the entire Blood Red Alliance were desperados, committing all manner of atrocities¡ªmurder, arson, looting¡ªyou name it, having offended countless forces and cultivators. Such a high-profile and uncaring force comprised few individuals of good and upright character. If it were not for the high-level cultivators of the Blood Red Alliance being powerful enough, they would have long been annihilated by their enemies. Cooperating with such a force was akin to seeking the skin of a tiger. Aware of this, Song Hanchun could not help but worry, but he had no choice; after all, all significant decisions at the Golden Sword Sect were made by Han Hu. Even if he had any objections, he was unable to change anything. Additionally, given the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s ruthless and brutal style of conduct, even if they wanted to refuse cooperation, they would have to carefully weigh the consequences. ¡­ While Song Hanchun was silent, the previously quiet Zhao Hongsheng broke the stillness. ¡°Daoist Song, in a few days we will proceed with the original plan to attack Qingshui Market to further pressure Myriad Medicine Valley. As long as Daoist Han handles his part, Myriad Medicine Valley will eventually be destroyed by us.¡± Hearing this, Song Hanchun promptly nodded and replied: ¡°Daoist Zhao, rest assured!¡± ¡°I will immediately send orders to gather our forces with the greatest speed and launch a powerful attack!¡± ¡°One thing, though, since we¡¯re aiming to pressure them, it will require Daoist Zhao¡¯s intervention to achieve the best effect!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ the sooner, the better!¡± Zhao Hongsheng nodded in response, then waved his hand, signaling Song Hanchun to leave. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Song Hanchun dared not linger. He quickly stood up with a cupped fist salute and then left the secret chamber. Chapter 760 760 412 First Battle_1 ?Chapter 760: Chapter 412 First Battle_1 Chapter 760: Chapter 412 First Battle_1 ¡°` Several days later. Outside Qingshui Market, several golden flying boats streaked across the sky above the vast plains. On the city walls of the market, a cultivator was the first to notice something amiss, promptly pointing out the anomaly and shouting. Soon, guided by the first cultivator, dozens of cultivators responsible for keeping watch widened their eyes and stared at the black shadow that appeared in the distant sky, which gradually revealed the golden flying boats from tiny specks. ¡°Enemy attack¡­ Quick¡­ Sound the alarm¡­¡± ¡°Quickly report to Elder Chen!¡± A Foundation Establishment Cultivator dressed in Zhenyang Sect attire immediately began to shout loudly. ... In response, he waved his magic artifact, and the Golden Light Greatsword flashed and tore through the sky inside the market, swiftly slashing through the air. The Golden Light Greatsword, as splendid as fireworks, emitted a sharp and piercing sound as it cut through the air, quickly capturing the attention of numerous cultivators. At this moment, many cultivators still navigating within the market began to grow restless, and some headed toward the city walls, shooting up rapidly. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Inside the market, the sound of bells rang out, quickly spreading to every corner. ¡°Everyone, hasten to the city walls to assemble, no mercy to those who delay!¡± Chen Jingtian took a great leap and flew into the high sky above the market, his booming voice carrying far and wide. Seeing a Golden Core Cultivator appear on the scene, along with the alarm bells and Chen Jingtian¡¯s personal supervision, a vast number of cultivators poured out from their caves and hurried towards the city walls. At this time, Qin Xi and her two companions became immediately aware of the commotion and swiftly left their cave to reach the city walls. Li Xiuyuan had arrived early and was waiting there, with more than twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered around him. Seeing Qin Xi and her companions approach, Li Xiuyuan walked over to greet them immediately. Qin Xi, along with Lin Xingping and company, reciprocated the greeting and then asked, ¡°Li, has it been only a few days and Golden Sword Sect is already launching another attack?¡± ¡°This is not surprising. Before you arrived at the market, Golden Sword Sect would attack every ten to fifteen days.¡± ¡°If not for Elder Chen¡¯s unparalleled combat strength, and the assistance of the Third Order Great Array, we might not have been able to hold out until now!¡± Hearing this, everyone present wore serious expressions, and some couldn¡¯t help feeling worried inside. After all, none of them had experienced such a large-scale battle among cultivators, nor had many seen a confrontation between Golden Core Cultivators. But now, the alarm for battle had sounded, and several Golden Core Cultivators were leading thousands of cultivators in an attack. It was foreseeable that this was going to be a monumental battle, and some would fall here. Yet, despite understanding this, they had no way to retreat. While others were fraught with worry, Qin Xi and her companions remained relatively calm. Especially Qin Xi, having participated in the great battle at Yuyao City, had seen enough bloodshed and experienced the baptism of combat amongst Golden Core Cultivators. Aware that the upcoming scene would be gruesome, she was mentally prepared in advance. Therefore, facing the impending great battle of cultivators, she was composed and ready to encounter the enemy at any moment. A short while later, after the time to drink a cup of tea had passed. The golden flying boats outside the market drew nearer, and quickly came to hover in the sky just outside the city walls. Then, Song Hanchun, Zhao Hongsheng, and several other Golden Core Cultivators stepped forward, standing in mid-air, immediately attracting everyone¡¯s gaze upon their arrival. Beyond these few, over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators jumped down from the flying boats and lined up neatly on the plains. Furthermore, a considerable number of Qi Refining Cultivators followed suit, with over three thousand gathering in one corner, waiting for the commands of the Golden Core Cultivators. As this group made their appearance, the intense pressure from thousands of cultivators stirred up powerful Gang Winds that rushed towards Qingshui Market. If not for the protection of the Third Order Great Array, even the invisible force that was generated could have gravely injured a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator. By this time, thousands of cultivators had assembled inside the market, with over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators standing atop the city walls. Beneath the walls, similarly, thousands of Qi Refining Cultivators, led by Zhenyang Sect Disciples, were fully armed and waiting on one side. It seemed that Zhenyang Sect had completed its assembly and was ready to mobilize at a moment¡¯s notice. Elder Chen, Zhu Yun, and Lan Yu stood on the highest point, their eyes fixated on Song Hanchun and his companions outside, all wearing grave expressions. Separated by the Defensive Great Formation, Song Hanchun, while taunting, shouted loudly. ¡°Chen Jingtian, do you dare come out and fight?¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ It¡¯s barely been ten days since the ceasefire, and you can¡¯t hold back any longer?¡± ¡°Song Hanchun, are you so eager to seek death?¡± Chen Jingtian sneered, his Magical Treasure shining with a faint light, seemingly ready to engage in battle. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s words, Song Hanchun¡¯s face darkened, and he couldn¡¯t help but curse loudly. ¡°Chen Jingtian, you old coward, you can¡¯t hold out much longer, so might as well surrender now, and I might spare your life! ¡°Once the formation is broken, all of you will die!¡± As soon as these words fell, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression shifted, and despite the rage burning inside him, he was not provoked by Song Hanchun¡¯s taunts. ¡°Li, don¡¯t waste words with them, let¡¯s get started!¡± Amidst this, Zhao Hongsheng spoke coldly, and was the first to launch an attack. ¡°Thunderous booms¡­¡± Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hands radiated Spiritual Light, and a blood-red Sword Qi shot out from his hands, slicing through the air at high speed, and slamming directly into the Defensive Great Formation of Qingshui Market. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 761 761 412 First Battle_2 ?Chapter 761: Chapter 412 First Battle_2 Chapter 761: Chapter 412 First Battle_2 Seeing Zhao Hongsheng take the lead, Song Hanchun glanced at the many disciples of the Golden Sword Sect and the cultivators who had been called upon, and then shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone, attack immediately, we must break through the defense array!¡± Having said this, Song Hanchun and the two Jin brothers didn¡¯t delay and were the first to unleash numerous attacks, coordinating with Zhao Hongsheng, to furiously assault the defensive great formation. Below them, thousands of cultivators acted together, and a large number of attacks converged into beams of light. Looking over, these beams, thick and thin, filled the sky in a dense pattern, occupying almost the entire heavens. Not only that, because the beams were so numerous, they formed an endless powerful force, as if they were going to swallow up the entire Qingshui Market. In an instant, the collective onslaught of the numerous cultivators relentlessly bombarded the defensive great formation one after another. Among them, the attacks from Zhao Hongsheng and the other Golden Core cultivators were as dazzling as the sun, with each strike containing immense might. ... ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A series of violent explosions sounded, as multicolored lights flashed across the defensive formation, and even the ground beneath the market trembled. Immediately afterward, the defensive great formation¡¯s lights flared, as enormous power whirled madly. At this moment, Chen Jingtian did not go outside, but instead, he immediately channeled all of his mana, pouring it frantically into the array¡¯s light screen in front of him. Not just him, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu did the same, as did all the present cultivators, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment Stage or the Qi Refining Realm. They all mobilized a great deal of spiritual power into the light screen of the defensive array. With the power of thousands of cultivators poured in, the defensive array shone brightly, overshadowing even the daylight. ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­¡± The defensive great formation shook violently but quickly stabilized. Clearly, the spiritual power injected by Chen Jingtian and the thousands of cultivators had an effect. Even with the join forces of Song Hanchun, including four Golden Core cultivators, one at the Late Stage Golden Core, and the strength of thousands of other cultivators, they could not break the Third Order Defense Array. Seeing that Song Hanchun and the others¡¯ first strike had been in vain, Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. However, he knew that the Golden Sword Sect still held the absolute advantage. After all, they had more Golden Core combat strength, including three Mid Stage Golden Core and above combatants, along with over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators and several thousand Qi Refining cultivators; the power they could unleash was truly formidable. Especially the presence of that Late Stage Golden Core, at first glance, it was clear they had entered this realm quite some time ago. Moreover, aside from being a level higher in cultivation than him, the oppressive force that person brought was extremely strong. He vaguely felt that this person¡¯s strength was very formidable. Not even when facing Sect Leader Lu Xingfeng did he feel such a palpitation. With such a huge force, if it came to a head-on clash, their side, the Zhenyang Sect, had absolutely no chance of winning. And he understood that what he could do now was to act like a nail ¨C to staunchly block the main attacks of the Golden Sword Sect and prevent them from advancing further into the hinterlands of the Zhenyang Sect. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as Myriad Medicine Valley sent reinforcements in time and combined the powers of the other two Great Golden Core Families of the Wei Kingdom, perhaps they could turn the situation around. At that time, if the Golden Sword Sect had to face the combined strength of two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Two Great Golden Core Families, even with the assistance of Blood Red Alliance cultivators, the Golden Sword Sect would likely not be a match for them. However, to achieve this, his side at Qingshui Market must give it their all and firmly hold back the main forces of the Golden Sword Sect, delaying them as long as possible. When the reinforcements arrived, they could switch from defense to offense and mount a comprehensive attack to crush the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s army in one fell swoop. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian had already made plans in his heart. Little did he know, the Golden Sword Sect already had a countermeasure in place and was planning something. However, at the moment, their attack on Qingshui Market was also a very crucial step. It was precisely for this reason that Song Hanchun and others were bombarding the defensive great formation of Qingshui Market with all their might. In their eyes, although the Third Order Great Array was not easy to break, it was also not absolutely unbreakable. After all, the consumption of a Third Order Great Array is enormous, and the stored energy is very limited. Their side¡¯s top combat strength, noticeably stronger and more numerous, meant that a persistent and unrelenting assault for months, or even longer, was not without the possibility of breaking the Third Order Great Array. Once the protection of the formation was gone, the vast majority of cultivators within the market would not be able to survive, and even Chen Jingtian himself would likely be unable to escape their encirclement. It was because of this understanding that Song Hanchun and the others had no intention of stopping; after an ineffective strike, they continued to bombard the Defensive Array without cessation. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The sounds of explosions continued incessantly as the cultivators inside Qingshui Market kept channeling Spiritual Power, maintaining the energy flow of the Defensive Great Formation. At the same time, a significant number of Zhenyang Sect disciples placed a large amount of Mid-To-High Grade Spirit Stones into the central system of the Formation, sustaining the massive consumption of the Defensive Array. This was also a measure born out of necessity. After all, the number of cultivators in the Zhenyang Sect camp was limited, and High Order Cultivators were noticeably fewer than those of the Golden Sword Sect; they could not rely solely on the strength of cultivators as there would come a time when their power was depleted. Therefore, facing an absolute disadvantage, they could only hold their position and wait for reinforcements, endeavoring to hold out for as long as possible. Even if it meant consuming a vast amount of Spirit Stones, they spared no expense. This mutual exhaustion continued for the better part of half an hour. By now, the Third Order Defense Array had been attacked dozens of rounds, each of which was enough to break through a Second Order Defense Array. Yet, the Defense Array of Qingshui Market remained as stable as before, showing no signs of collapse despite the substantial depletion of energy. During this time, the cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect camp had expended no small amount of mana, with almost every one of them having less than thirty percent of their peak Spiritual Power remaining. Perhaps knowing that this attempt to conquer Qingshui Market would be futile, Song Hanchun, during a lull in the attack, made a gesture of salute toward Zhao Hongsheng. Then, he tentatively said, ¡°Daoist Zhao, I¡¯m afraid there is little hope of breaking the formation this time. Let us sound the retreat and come back after a few days!¡± ¡°I believe the Zhenyang Sect cannot bear such a colossal consumption. Perhaps after a few more attempts, we could completely break the Defensive Array and obliterate them here!¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hongsheng contemplated briefly, understanding that Song Hanchun¡¯s words were true. Besides, with the mana of all his subordinates significantly drained, continuing to attack the formation and depleting their Spiritual Power to nothing would not be a good situation. If Chen Jingtian took a risk and attacked, they might suffer a setback that would squander their advantageous position. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng nodded and said to Song Hanchun, ¡°Let¡¯s retreat for now!¡± Zhao Hongsheng spoke with a grave tone, his emotions inscrutable. Upon receiving his command, Song Hanchun wasted no time, immediately issuing the order for all disciples of the Golden Sword Sect to prepare for retreat. With Song Hanchun¡¯s resounding voice echoing outside the market, a large number of cultivators began to withdraw in an orderly manner, quickly creating a distance. Atop the city wall of the market, Chen Jingtian watched the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples recede like a tide and briefly fell into contemplation. After a few breaths, he made a decision: to take advantage of the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ greater exhaustion and launch a counter-attack, hoping to deplete some of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s strength. If it went well, he could also regain some ground, ensuring greater endurance in the coming war of attrition. Having made up his mind, he immediately shouted, ¡°All Foundation Establishment cultivators obey the command, follow your leaders and join me in confronting the Golden Sword Sect disciples!¡± ¡°As for Qi Refining cultivators, stand by. If the Golden Sword Sect attacks the Formation, you must quickly unite your strength to maintain the operation of the Formation!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Chen Jingtian, unconcerned with the reaction of the cultivators below, opened a gap in the Defensive Array and was the first to shoot out. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s orders, Lan Yu and Zhu Yun, along with over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators, crossed the light barrier of the Formation and appeared behind the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Chapter 762 762 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_1 ?Chapter 762: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_1 Chapter 762: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_1 Their actions clearly aimed to take advantage as the Golden Sword Sect disciples were consuming more energy. After all, the cultivators of the Zhenyang Sect, with the help of the Third Order Defensive Array, were inevitably using less spiritual power than those of the Golden Sword Sect. Although overall, they still did not have the upper hand. But if they did not take this opportunity to weaken the enemy¡¯s combat power, it would naturally be much harder to gain an advantage once they recovered. And Chen Jingtian naturally understood this point, and specifically brought only Foundation Establishment cultivators into battle, making it more flexible to either retreat or attack. On the contrary, if he brought Qi Refining cultivators into the fray, their lower cultivation and limited power meant the damage they could do to Golden Core cultivators was extremely limited. Moreover, the movement of an army composed of thousands of cultivators would inevitably be too cumbersome. ... Bringing Qi Refining cultivators against a stronger opponent would just be sending them to their deaths without serving much of a role, and they would only hold back the retreat. Therefore, he only led Foundation Establishment cultivators into battle to harass and then retreat in time after gaining an advantage. Although this was somewhat risky, those at a disadvantage like them could only rely on such opportunities to narrow the gap between them. He firmly believed that after a few such occasions, the power of the Golden Sword Sect would inevitably decline. With this ebbing and flowing, he would be able to regain some of the disparity between them, and come the decisive battle, he would also have a slight initiative. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian acted with extreme caution, maintaining a safe distance and ferociously attacking the lower-ranking cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect. Apart from him, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu both targeted the lower-ranking cultivators as well. The Foundation Establishment cultivators who followed them did the same, all hiding under the protection of the trio while launching attacks from a distance, coordinating with some Second Order Attack Talismans, and fiercely bombarding the Golden Sword Sect cultivators in front of them. At this time, among the slowly retreating Golden Sword Sect disciples, many Qi Refining cultivators moved too slowly and had not withdrawn very far when they were crazily attacked by Chen Jingtian who had come out in haste. Perhaps not expecting Chen Jingtian to take the initiative to strike, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s formation was disorganized, and many lower-ranking cultivators lagged behind, directly exposing themselves to the gaze of Chen Jingtian and the others. As Chen Jingtian and the others took their turns attacking, powerful surges swept through the area. At this moment, a commotion spread through the ranks of the Golden Sword Sect cultivators, as a large number of lower-ranking cultivators were thrown into disarray, disrupting the originally orderly formation. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± A series of explosive sounds erupted, and the sky was filled with massive orbs of light pouring down. Looking over, several powerful sword qi streaked through the void, clearly the attacks of Golden Core cultivators. These attacks were incredibly fast and carried awe-inspiring power; the Qi Refining cultivators couldn¡¯t withstand such pressure, and appeared to lack even the strength to flee. In an instant, a series of screams echoed continuously. From a distance, Chen Jingtian eradicated close to a hundred cultivators with a single strike, including over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators. This action immediately incited the fury of Song Hanchun. ¡°Chen Jingtian, you old fool are courting death!¡± No sooner had the words fallen did Song Hanchun twist his body, hastily crossing over the heads of the Golden Sword Sect disciples and shooting towards Chen Jingtian. While still in midair, his Magical Treasure flashed brightly, and a barrage of attacks bore down on him. Seeing this, Chen Jingtian did not dare to be careless, and immediately leaped up, evading Song Hanchun¡¯s assault. Before he could take a breath, Zhao Hongsheng also appeared silently on his left, forming a pincer attack with Song Hanchun and unleashing a torrent of attacks on him. At that moment, Chen Jingtian¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, his expression extremely grave. Although both were at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, he found Song Hanchun¡¯s attacks manageable, even with some ease to spare. But Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attacks were fast and fierce, the powerful waves threatening to cut him down on the spot. Well aware of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s formidable strength, Chen Jingtian fought while retreating, not intending to clash head-on. Realizing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s Magical Treasure frequently flashed light as he applied pressure on Zhao Hongsheng, while deftly moving and narrowly dodging through the barrage of attacks. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the blink of an eye, the three were locked in combat; Chen Jingtian, relying on his nimble maneuvers and the aid of Third Order Talismans, managed to face two opponents at once. Although he had not yet fallen into a disadvantage, that was also because Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, having expended much of their mana attacking the Defensive Array earlier, dared not fight too recklessly for fear that running out of mana might even lead to their potential downfall. It was precisely because Chen Jingtian understood this that he dared to risky a confrontation with Zhao Hongsheng, whose cultivation and strength were higher. However, such fighting could not be prolonged, as under the combined efforts of Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, his mana depletion rate was faster than theirs. If this continued, perhaps in less than half an incense stick of time, his mana would be completely exhausted. Therefore, he dared not drag it out too long and was fully bent on taking advantage and then leaving. In such a situation, Chen Jingtian, while dodging attacks from Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, took advantage of the intermissions to frantically unleash a barrage of ordinary spells towards the lower-ranked Golden Sword Sect camp. This move by him surprised and angered Song Hanchun, who also had to split his focus to fend off some of the ordinary attacks to prevent serious casualties among the lower-ranking disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. Chapter 763 763 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_2 ?Chapter 763: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_2 Chapter 763: Chapter 413 Frustrated Song Hanchun_2 Even so, considering Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength at the Mid Stage Golden Core, an ordinary attack in his outburst might not mean much to a Golden Core Cultivator, yet it possessed tremendous lethality against Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Moreover, these ordinary attacks were extremely dense. Song Hanchun found it somewhat difficult to intercept them all. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Occasionally, a few fireballs streaked across the sky, breaking through Song Hanchun¡¯s interception, and exploding directly above the heads of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s low-level cultivators. Dozens of Qi Refining Cultivators had no time to dodge, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn¡¯t withstand the shockwaves of the explosions. Only a small number of Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators barely managed to save their lives with their speed but still suffered significant injuries. In the blink of an eye, Chen Jingtian had already gained quite the advantage, having killed hundreds of cultivators with his attacks, ninety percent of whom were Qi Refining Cultivators, with a considerable number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators as well. Apart from him, on the other side, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu harvested many lives in the same manner. ... As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who followed Chen Jingtian and the others out, they slaughtered the Qi Refining Cultivators before the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s cultivators could react. Qin Xi and two others, with their cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, followed Li Xiuyuan and charged into the ranks of the Qi Refining Cultivators, killing several with each strike. In less than half an hour, Qin Xi and the two had killed dozens of Qi Refining Cultivators. Qin Xi was especially decisive in action, even killing several Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, as the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators intervened and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators reacted, it became not so easy for them to maintain the advantages they had at the start of the battle. By now, the battle grew intensely fierce, especially among several Golden Core Cultivators in the highest altitude, where major shifts had taken place. Looking around, Chen Jingtian, facing the encirclement and suppression of Zhao Hongsheng and another, was in imminent danger, clearly at a complete disadvantage. On the other side, Zhu Yun clashed with Jin Weishan from the Blood Red Alliance. Both were at the Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and in their fight, neither gained the upper hand. Meanwhile, Lan Yu, who was at the Early Stage Golden Core, used his more abundant mana to face off against Jin Weihe, barely gaining a slight advantage. Among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the situation was just as tense, but with the cultivators from the Zhenyang Sect relying on their more abundant mana, they still managed to gain some advantage. Nevertheless, the outcome of the battles among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators wasn¡¯t decisive for the overall battlefield. Once the strongest among them, Chen Jingtian, was seriously injured or even fell on the spot, their vast legion would probably meet its doom. As the leader of the legion, Chen Jingtian was constantly paying attention to the battle situation of his own side. At this moment, he was hard-pressed to deal with Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun, retreating step by step under the onslaught of their attacks. What¡¯s more concerning was his rapidly depleting mana, almost running out, perhaps less than one-tenth of his peak. In such a situation, although he wouldn¡¯t immediately fear for his life in the short term, if he continued to fight to the death, he would definitely be no match for Zhao Hongsheng and the other. Knowing that his situation was extremely unfavorable, Chen Jingtian, believing he had already taken enough advantage and reached his goal before the battle, decided it was time to prepare for the retreat. Making up his mind, Chen Jingtian unleashed a full-force strike, temporarily forcing Zhao Hongsheng, who was relentlessly pursuing him, to retreat. Immediately after, taking advantage of this brief interval, he sent a message to Zhu Yun and Lan Yu who were not far away engaging in their own battles. ¡°Brother Zhu, Junior Brother Lan, let¡¯s converge, hold them off together for a moment, and buy time for the Foundation Establishment Disciples to retreat!¡± ¡°As long as the majority of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators enter the Defensive Great Formation in Qingshui Market, we can retreat!¡± Hearing his message, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu exchanged glances. In their eyes, such cooperation was not unfamiliar. Back in the battle at Yuyao City, facing the overwhelmingly strong Monster Beast Legion, they joined hands in a similar fashion to buy time for the retreat of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. One could say that the current situation was somewhat similar to the past¡ªcapitalizing on the initial advantage and retreating without intending to confront the enemy head-on. The only difference was the opponents: the Demonic Beasts versus the Human Cultivators. After all, a beast is a beast; even the Spirit Wisdom of a Third Order Demon Beast could not compare with that of a Golden Core Cultivator. Human Cultivators possess even greater spirit wisdom and are naturally very cunning, making it much more difficult for cultivators of the same stage to deal with them compared to Demonic Beasts. It is precisely because of this understanding that Chen Jingtian and his two comrades were extremely cautious and dared not hold anything back. In the blink of an eye, Zhu Yun and another person, upon receiving the message, immediately unleashed powerful attacks, repelling their respective opponents. At the same time, the two of them immediately converged towards Chen Jingtian¡¯s position. Soon, the two had regrouped with Chen Jingtian, and the three of them stood side by side, supporting each other and firmly blocking the front of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator army. By this time, the leaders of the various Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already received the order to retreat. Before Zhu Yun and the other person could arrive, they immediately began to reduce their camp and reversed direction, forming a long line flying towards the entrance of the Defensive Great Formation. The movements of these thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators were swift, without the encumbrance of Qi Refining Cultivators, fully achieving immediate obedience to orders. Within a few breaths, the last Foundation Establishment Cultivator had already surged into the Defensive Great Formation. At this moment, Song Hanchun finally realized Chen Jingtian¡¯s intention and in his haste, released a multitude of sword lights, attempting to stop their retreat. Aside from him, Zhao Hongsheng and the two brothers from the Jin Family were also filled with shock and rage, hastily unleashing a barrage of attacks towards the three of them. In their eyes, this battle had been too stifling to this point. Despite their overall strength having a decisive advantage, Chen Jingtian was full of tricks and his thoughts were extremely meticulous, never giving them a chance for a straight fight, and would retreat having gained a little benefit each time, without any greedy thoughts. Such a strategy indeed had its effect, rendering their powerful punches like hitting cotton, hardly causing any significant damage. Now, as Chen Jingtian looked about to be mired in the war quagmire, he thought of retreating, causing them to suffer the loss of nearly two thousand lower-rank cultivators in vain. Although the lives of these lower-rank cultivators were practically worthless to them at the Golden Core Realm, even if their entire forces were wiped out, it would hardly affect the overall progress of the war. But if Chen Jingtian managed to get his way, wouldn¡¯t it be a joke? If this were to spread, how could they, who were all influential figures, hold their heads high among their peers? Understanding this, Zhao Hongsheng and the others unleashed a flurry of attacks, intending to eliminate Chen Jingtian and his two comrades on the spot. Only by doing so could they release the anger in their hearts. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Numerous orbs of light streaked across the sky, descending upon the space above Chen Jingtian and his two comrades with an unbelievable speed. All of these attacks were from Golden Core Cultivators; especially Zhao Hongsheng, who, at the Late Stage Golden Core, stood head and shoulders above the rest here, with no one daring to clash head-on with him. But now, Chen Jingtian also faced a dilemma: either extricate himself to retreat into the Defensive Array, or take the hit head-on to buy time for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators to retreat. At this moment, Chen Jingtian had already anticipated the outcome before the retreat and even made some plans in advance. This instant, he did not hesitate at all, resolutely deciding to take the hit. In his eyes, if those below were Qi Refining Cultivators, he would not hesitate to abandon them. But those below were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among whom many were Zhenyang Sect Disciples. These people were the backbone of the entire Sect¡¯s major battles, and to defeat the Golden Sword Sect, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators must play a crucial role. Besides, if he abandoned them, such an act would undoubtedly dishearten all the Cultivators who had heeded the call. Even if they dared not express their anger, it would certainly shake the morale, leading to them not putting their full effort into the subsequent battles. If that were to happen, losing a few hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be insignificant, but if they lost their faith, their chances of defeating the Golden Sword Sect would become even more difficult. ¡­ sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 764 764 414 Temporary Retreat_1 ?Chapter 764: Chapter 414 Temporary Retreat_1 Chapter 764: Chapter 414 Temporary Retreat_1 Realizing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression grew grave as he hastily slapped his storage bag, seizing several spiritually luminescent talismans in his hand. Upon closer inspection, these talismans were all Third Order Defense Talismans, among them two bore the vast and forceful aura of Earth-attribute defense talismans. Such Third Order talismans were exceedingly rare even within the Zhenyang Sect. If Sect Leader Lu Xingfeng hadn¡¯t acknowledged the pressure Chen had to face, he probably wouldn¡¯t have been willing to take out these valuable wartime resources for such extravagant use. Yet even with an understanding of the talismans¡¯ rarity, Chen Jingtian had no regrets. In his view, as a leader and decision-maker of the army of cultivators, one must not lose sight of the bigger picture for fear of smaller losses. Aware of the significance, Chen Jingtian didn¡¯t hesitate; before Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attack could descend, he activated all the defense talismans he held. ... In an instant, five screens of light rose before him, enveloping a large area. At that moment, the long snake-like formation of the army of cultivators had its last hundred or so members also shrouded within the protective light of the array. As the saying goes, no sooner said than done; Zhao Hongsheng and his compatriots¡¯ attacks arrived as expected. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosions sounded, echoing between heaven and earth. The attacks unleashed by Zhao Hongsheng and others precisely bombarded the light screens formed by the defense talismans. In an instant, flames filled the sky as Chen Jingtian and the two others were engulfed by a sea of fire. The assault from Zhao Hongsheng and the others was ferocious, creating a massive explosion upon collision with the barrier produced by the defense talismans. Within this sea of fire, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face was pale, and the powerful shock waves left him with a churning qi and blood, and his body was riddled with injuries. However, his condition was still relatively better; even though he had suffered some internal injuries, he could at least bear it. But the situation for Zhu Yun and Lan Yu was far more tragic, especially for Lan Yu, who was only at the Early Stage Golden Core level. Despite the protection of five defense talismans, the sheer force of the impact left him with severe injuries. Fortunately, the three had braced themselves in advance and promptly whisked away a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators towards the direction of the Defensive Great Formation, completely avoiding the most intense scope of the explosion. Otherwise, if they had squarely borne the brunt of Zhao Hongsheng and his allies¡¯ combined strike, even Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength wouldn¡¯t have spared him from grave injury, if not death. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, keenly aware of the abilities of Zhao Hongsheng and his party, Chen Jingtian and his companions did not dare to linger. They had already moved away the moment their attack hit the first defense talisman. At the same time, they took advantage of the impact¡¯s force to retreat explosively into the Defensive Great Formation and also, in the process, swept with them the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were initially retreating at the rear. But Chen Jingtian and his compatriots faced limits to their capabilities; although they had rescued most of the remaining cultivators, still, hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not be saved and had to be reluctantly abandoned. These abandoned Foundation Establishment Cultivators, mainly those at the early stages of their cultivation, were too slow to retreat and couldn¡¯t evade or withstand the mighty shock wave. In an instant, these cultivators were swallowed by the sea of flames, not even a scream could be uttered before they perished right there. Once the dust settled and the flames had completely dissipated into the sky, the ground bore a huge crater, charred black, with sporadic flames still flickering within, carried by the gentle breeze. The crater stretched over a hundred zhang, with not a single cultivator¡¯s corpse in sight; only further away lay a multitude of bodies, strewn across the ground as fresh blood thoroughly stained the earth red. This tragic vista was enough to turn one¡¯s stomach. Meanwhile, Chen Jingtian and his party had already surged into the Defensive Great Formation, and all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators had managed to retreat successfully. Witnessing the precarious retreat, Chen Jingtian promptly reactivated the formation, and swiftly the protective light enveloped the entire Qingshui Market. Outside the market, Song Hanchun¡¯s face darkened as he watched the retreating cultivators of Zhenyang Sect. Unable to restrain himself, he launched an attack that slammed into the formation light screen. However, the Defensive Array was already activated, and its energy was steadily circulating. Even after expending a substantial amount of energy in prior exchanges, the remaining energy was still not something a Golden Core Cultivator could penetrate in a short amount of time. Thus, that furious strike was doomed to return fruitless. When everything finally calmed down, only then did Song Hanchun come to terms with reality, which was that their operation had ended in total failure. At that moment, he gave Zhao Hongsheng, who stood not far off, a sidelong glance, his face betraying a mix of anxiety and uncertainty. In his heart, he couldn¡¯t be certain of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attitude; if the blame was shifted onto him, even if he had objections, acknowledging the power of Blood Red Alliance and Zhao Hongsheng, he wouldn¡¯t dare to voice them. Fortunately, Zhao Hongsheng, though looking serious, hadn¡¯t fallen into rage, and Song Hanchun¡¯s worries proved somewhat superfluous. ¡°Brother Song, let the juniors clean up the battlefield and proceed with the plan!¡± After uttering these words, Zhao Hongsheng didn¡¯t wait to see Song Hanchun¡¯s reaction, simply turned, and left the battlefield. Hearing the command, Song Hanchun did not delay. He immediately instructed the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect to quickly scour the battlefield, collecting the storage bags of the fallen cultivators. While Qi Refining Cultivators, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators, might not possess much wealth, the Golden Sword Sect had lost over a thousand Qi Refining Cultivators and several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the battle. Chapter 765 765 414 Temporary Withdrawal_2 ?Chapter 765: Chapter 414 Temporary Withdrawal_2 Chapter 765: Chapter 414 Temporary Withdrawal_2 Plus, nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also perished. Such a number of cultivators, even if only half of their storage bags could be collected, would accumulate to a considerable fortune. A little while passed. The entire battlefield began to bustle, as numerous cultivators moved about, searching for the belongings of the less fortunate. To behave so brazenly, scouring so openly beneath the watchful eyes of Zhenyang Sect disciples, was a naked provocation for the cultivators from Qingshui Market. But at this moment, Chen Jingtian and his group, along with those Foundation Establishment Cultivators, had all overexerted themselves, many bearing wounds. Now, the freshly retreated disciples of Zhenyang Sect had all gathered atop the city walls, each one forcibly invigorating their spirit to watch the actions of the Golden Sword Sect Cultivators. ... Seeing a large number of Golden Sword Sect Cultivators joyously scavenging the battlefield without any visible impact from the failed assault, many Golden Sword Sect Cultivators, instead of feeling defeated for having narrowly escaped death, felt an overwhelming excitement. This scene was witnessed by all of the present Zhenyang Sect disciples. Even though they were itching with hatred inwardly, since they were still not at an advantage in strength, they could do nothing but watch the others boldly clean up the battlefield and take away what should have belonged to them as spoils of war. An hour later. The Golden Sword Sect Cultivators finished cleaning up the battlefield, and the site, which was originally riddled with scars, finally looked a bit better. What was once a vast army of cultivators had now dwindled by nearly forty percent, leaving a little over three thousand cultivators, who under Song Hanchun¡¯s leading, slowly retreated. As they disappeared from sight, including Chen Jingtian himself, all the cultivators couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Subsequently, many cultivators who had overexerted themselves or were seriously injured collapsed on the ground, and many others quickly took out elixirs to consume, their complexions thus gradually regaining some color. In the group where Li Xiuyuan was, Qin Xi and her two companions, together with their teammates, sat in a circle. Looking around, many people in their team were somewhat pale, obviously having exhausted too much Spiritual Power. Yet Qin Xi and her two companions were alright, all just overexerted, but uninjured, and each had killed a varying number of Zhenyang Sect disciples. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This battle though extremely perilous, had to admit, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strategy was very effective. After this battle, the Zhenyang Sect only lost a little over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, most of whom were at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. With such a small price, they had taken the lives of more than four hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect. In addition, over a thousand Qi Refining Cultivators at the middle and later stages also fell here. With just over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they achieved such a result, significantly closing the gap in strength between them. Continuing like this, if it happens a few more times, both sides might eventually reach the same starting line. This outcome was also within Chen Jingtian and his group¡¯s expectations. At that moment, seeing that none of the cultivators had left, Zhu Yun gave Chen Jingtian a respectful hand-clasp to remind him, ¡°Chen Junior Brother, the Golden Sword Sect has temporarily retreated, and they likely won¡¯t attack again anytime soon.¡± ¡°Considering that many of the younger disciples and quite a few cultivators are not lightly injured, shouldn¡¯t we let them disperse quickly to recuperate in seclusion?¡± Hearing this, Chen Jingtian glanced at everyone and then nodded, instructing a Zhenyang Sect Cultivator not far from him. ¡°Quickly assess the casualties of this battle!¡± At the order, several Zhenyang Sect Cultivators immediately got busy, recording the basic details of the fight. A short while later, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples who had left earlier returned to Chen Jingtian. One of them took out a booklet and respectfully said to Chen Jingtian, ¡°Reporting to Uncle-Master, the tally of battle losses is complete!¡± ¡°Oh? What are the results?¡± Zhu Yun, standing to the side, glanced at the speaking cultivator and subsequently inquired. ¡°This offensive resulted in the fall of two hundred and sixty-seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators, of which eighty-eight were our own sect¡¯s disciples and one hundred and seventy-nine were conscripted cultivators.¡± ¡°As for the Golden Sword Sect, the exact tally is hard to calculate accurately, but based on estimates, it is projected that approximately one thousand seven hundred Qi Refining Cultivators and nearly four hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were eliminated!¡± Hearing the report, Chen Jingtian and the others nodded their heads in satisfaction, a relieved smile appearing on their faces. This battle had yielded results that not only met but even exceeded expectations. Though each of the three Golden Core Cultivators had sustained injuries, with Lan Yu¡¯s wounds being quite severe, and they had used up several extremely valuable Third Order Defense Talismans. To be honest, the cost was not small, yet Chen Jingtian still felt it was well worth it. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had suffered significant losses in this battle, with their most important momentum of attack being halted. Given the reduction in strength and the significant consumption of energy by all cultivators, it could be foreseen that in the next half month, or even longer, the Golden Sword Sect was unlikely to launch an attack. And this time was of utmost importance to Zhenyang Sect, which was awaiting reinforcements. As long as the reinforcements arrived, in a war of attrition, Zhenyang Sect, in alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley, both being local forces, would not fear the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate about his decisions. Once things had calmed down, Chen Jingtian nodded to the Zhenyang Sect Disciples in front of him and then issued an instruction. ¡°Make sure all the Disciples who participated in the battle and the Cultivators who were conscripted are well settled, and record everyone¡¯s contributions in the register, without exception. Once this battle to defend our homeland is over, rewards will be given according to merit!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t soft; it seemed as though he meant for the thousands present to hear it. As expected, the cultivators in attendance, upon hearing this, held genuine admiration for such a leader. Suddenly, a multitude of Cultivators started speaking up, with numerous words of flattery spreading around. ¡°Chen truly is a model for us all. With such a powerful leader at our helm, we will undoubtedly overcome the unrighteous rogues of the Golden Sword Sect!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ Chen showed his divine might in this battle, standing against two without losing ground, truly a top powerhouse of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Apart from these words of praise, there were also some lower-ranked Cultivators who prostrated themselves on the ground, their attitude extremely respectful, much like the people of the common world. Chen Jingtian cared little for this behavior and merely uttered a few words of encouragement before the three Golden Core Cultivators left the city walls. As the Golden Core Cultivators departed, the previously calm scene became lively again with a multitude of Cultivators discussing the recent battle. Besides that, there were quite a few people who appeared downcast, evidently having relatives or fellow Sect Brothers who had fallen in the battle. Qin Xi and her companions had all returned successfully. With their combined strength and excellent coordination, they had also achieved considerable success in this battle. Based on their accomplishments, without a doubt, they topped the ranks in Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team and were even among the leaders in the overall team. However, some rejoiced while others lamented! There were also Cultivators excited about their achievements in the recent battle, chatting it up with familiar peers. The polarized scene seemed quite discordant. Perhaps, this is the brutality of war! Meanwhile, Qin Xi and her two companions were with Li Xiuyuan and others, sharing a few words with their teammates. After exchanging greetings, the Cultivators slowly dispersed. Once most of the Cultivators had left, Qin Xi and her team nodded to each other, ending the idle chat. Then, after greeting Li Xiuyuan, they cupped their hands in a salute and left the city walls. As the three walked along the street, quite a few Cultivators continued talking animatedly, clearly excited by the victory. Yet Qin Xi did not believe that this victory would easily change their disadvantage. After all, the might of the Blood Red Alliance was so vast that not even an average Nascent Soul force could compare. If they were truly determined to obtain something, merely the combined might of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley wouldn¡¯t be enough to block them. But to worry about this now would be premature. Understanding this, Qin Xi kept these thoughts to herself and led Lin Xingping and the others back to their cave dwelling. ¡­ Chapter 766 766 415 Ambush_1 ?Chapter 766: Chapter 415 Ambush_1 Chapter 766: Chapter 415 Ambush_1 Half a month later. In the Shuojin Mountain Range, located to the south of the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, it is separated from the main base of the Yuxu Mountain Range by the Shuohe Mountain Range. This large expanse of land was home to numerous Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, abundant in various cultivation resources, and among the many mountain ranges in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it was also one of the places with a comparatively rich concentration of Spiritual Energy. It was such a fertile land that belonged to the jurisdiction of the Myriad Medicine Valley and was even one of its most core areas. At this time, within a huge valley under the control of the Myriad Medicine Valley, six men in black robes were seated on the ground. Looking around, each person had their eyes closed tightly as if they were meditating and cultivating. A closer look would reveal that Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan, two members of the Blood Red Alliance who had appeared in the great battle at Qingshui Market half a month ago, were also among these individuals. ... S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half a month earlier, the two Golden Core Cultivators were still under the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s command in the Qingshui Mountain Range. In such a short span of time, they had unexpectedly appeared in the Shuojin Mountain Range, thousands of miles away. If they were not Golden Core Cultivators and from a top force like the Blood Red Alliance, such an occurrence would be somewhat inconceivable in the sparse Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng was the first to open his eyes, then looked towards the direction outside the valley, as if he had discovered something. Soon after, a strange smile inexplicably flashed across his face. Less than the time it takes for a single breath to pass. One of the crowd, Han Hu, also opened his eyes. Like Zhao Hongsheng, he stared fixedly outside the valley. That he sensed something a step behind indicated that in terms of Divine Sense, he was indeed slightly inferior to Zhao Hongsheng. Han Hu seemed to understand this, but he didn¡¯t pay it any mind. Instead, while snickering, he murmured something under his breath. ¡°They¡¯ve finally come!¡± Upon hearing this commotion, the rest of the group all opened their eyes and assumed an expression of readiness for battle. ¡°You have waited for so long, and the wait is finally over. It¡¯s time for us to make a move!¡± After saying this, Zhao Hongsheng took the lead and flew out of the valley, soon disappearing from sight. Following him, Han Hu and the remaining individuals stepped forward and left, vanishing from their original positions following in Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s footsteps. On a mountain outside the valley, at this moment, a Blue Flying Boat streaked by, continuing to fly towards the front. Aboard the Blue Flying Boat. Luo Anzhong and Ding Yongjin stood shoulder to shoulder, their gaze fixed on the valley that was faintly visible ahead, idly chatting with each other now and then. Behind them, more than three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat neatly on the deck. Upon closer inspection, Dragon Clearwater and his companion from the Zhenyang Sect were also among them. With the company of two Golden Core Cultivators, their safety was greatly assured, and there was no need for these Foundation Establishment Cultivators to worry. At this time, every Foundation Establishment Cultivator had their eyes tightly closed, as if they too were meditating and cultivating. Including Dragon Clearwater and his companion, at this moment, they also had their eyes tightly shut, looking very relaxed. Speaking of which, since their arrival at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, a good half a month had already passed. During this period, following the agreement between the two sects, the Myriad Medicine Valley had been gathering forces all along, preparing to provide support to the Zhenyang Sect. Over this time, the Myriad Medicine Valley hastily recruited some Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the lands near the Sect Gate. Under the leadership of Luo Anzhong, a Mid Stage Golden Core, and Ding Yongjin, an Early Stage Golden Core, they finally set off two days ago, embarking on their journey to the Qingshui Mountain Range. At their speed, barring any incidents, they should arrive in about half a month. As Luo Anzhong and the other cultivators from the Myriad Medicine Valley began their journey, Dragon Clearwater, who received the task from the Sect Leader, couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Before departing, he had made quite a few guesses and once thought that this task would not be so easily accomplished. Unexpectedly, this trip to the Zhenyang Sect, counting from the moment they left the Sect Gate, took just over a month, and everything was surprisingly smooth. As long as Luo Anzhong and the others safely reached the Qingshui Mountain Range, it would mean the completion of this task. And he would be able to report back to the Sect Leader and obtain the long-awaited Jiuli Star Fruit, then seclude himself for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. That day was finally approaching! Dragon Clearwater pondered silently, his heart inevitably stirring with excitement. Little did he know, a crisis was about to descend! Not only was he completely unaware, but even Luo Anzhong, a Mid Stage Golden Core, and Ding Yongjin had failed to notice. Furthermore, the flying boat continued to maintain a steady flight, with the mountains and rivers below moving continuously backward, eventually disappearing from sight. None of them could imagine that in the valley ahead, Golden Core Cultivators from both the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance had long been waiting. Even more unimaginable was that, among the cultivators in the valley ahead, there was an enormous lineup composed of six Golden Core Cultivators. Among them, there were renowned Late Stage Golden Core Experts like Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu. With such a formidable lineup, even if all the Golden Core Cultivators of the Golden Sword Sect were to emerge, they couldn¡¯t compare. At this critical juncture, for the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance to deploy such a massive force was evidently a long time in the making. In reality, it was indeed so. The Golden Sword Sect¡¯s primary target was not the Zhenyang Sect but the Myriad Medicine Valley with its longer legacy and overall greater strength. However, both the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were unaware, assuming that the Golden Sword Sect intended to eliminate the weaker sect first and then gather forces to overthrow the stronger Myriad Medicine Valley. But the Golden Sword Sect did the exact opposite to catch both sects off guard. Chapter 767 767 415 Ambush_2 ?Chapter 767: Chapter 415 Ambush_2 Chapter 767: Chapter 415 Ambush_2 Myriad Medicine Valley and the two high-level Sect members were completely oblivious to this strategy, and everything proceeded in an orderly fashion. As the flying boat continued to move forward, in the blink of an eye, it was almost upon the valley where Zhao Hongsheng and the others were hiding. At this moment, the distance between the two sides was closing in. Just then, Luo Anzhong on the flying boat seemed to sense something, and his face suddenly changed. ¡°We have a situation!¡± He suddenly shouted, breaking the silence. Right after that, just as he wanted to maneuver the flying boat to change direction, he saw the spiritual energy in the valley ahead erupt into chaos, and then two balls of light shot up into the sky, hurtling towards the flying boat. ... As the two balls of light grew closer, he finally saw what they were. They turned out to be two streams of Sword Qi, one gold and one red, filled with terrifying flames and an extremely fearsome Spiritual Light. At that time, everyone on the flying boat, whether they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Luo Anzhong and another Golden Core Cultivator, was drawn to the two streams of Sword Qi. In an instant, facing the incoming Sword Qi, which stirred up the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth, everyone¡¯s faces turned incredibly grim. Before the thought even finished, the two streams of Sword Qi were already shooting over. The speed of Luo Anzhong¡¯s flying boat clearly couldn¡¯t compare with the Sword Qi, and the difference was vast. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t dodge in time, Luo Anzhong and Ding Yongjin leaped off the flying boat and, in haste, brought out their Magical Treasures, unleashing two attacks to collide directly with the Sword Qi. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two enormous explosions sounded, the sky instantly turned red, and a sea of fire spread across the area. At the same time, the clashing attacks created a huge shockwave that spread in all directions. Not only that, Luo Anzhong and his companion¡¯s attacks only managed to hold off the Sword Qi for a moment before being completely shattered by Zhao Hongsheng and his partner¡¯s strike. The two streams of Sword Qi, greatly diminished in strength, still relentlessly pursued them. At that moment, Luo Anzhong and his companion were at the center of the explosion, directly covered by the powerful shockwaves. For a time, they were knocked around wildly by the blast, with their qi and blood chaotically surging within. Luo Anzhong, pale as a ghost, forcefully suppressed the boiling within him. But Ding Yongjin, who was of lower cultivation, immediately spit out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion deathly pale, and his breath rapidly weakened. They hadn¡¯t stabilized their forms nor had they caught their breath when they saw the Sword Qi still incoming, too late now for another counterattack. In their dire urgency, they hurriedly unveiled a Defense Treasure, barely covering their bodies just before the Sword Qi struck. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Another two explosions rang out as the Sword Qi hammered against their Defense Treasure. In that instant, Luo Anzhong and his companion felt as if they¡¯d been struck by a massive mountain, the powerful force slamming into them. Though the Defense Treasure blocked the attack, the rebounding force was still strong, further injuring the already damaged pair. When the dust settled and the firelight dissipated, they saw the Blue Flying Boat had been forced back several hundred feet by the shockwave, swaying unsteadily for a moment before finally stabilizing midair. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators inside, reeling from the powerful backlash, were all spitting out blood from their mouths, obviously injured. In fact, had it not been for some defensive mechanisms built into the flying boat and Luo Anzhong and his companion shielding them upfront, the two formidable attacks would have been enough to annihilate all on board right then and there. Now, the surviving Foundation Establishment Cultivators turned deathly pale. Seeing Luo Anzhong and his companion tumbling through the air, spitting out large amounts of fresh blood while still in mid-flight, their energies rapidly fading, fear escalated among them. Once Luo Anzhong and his companion stabilized themselves, they immediately fixed their gaze on the valley, their expressions extremely grave. Before they could even catch their breath, six Cultivators suddenly flew out of the valley, directly blocking them. Seeing the newcomers, Luo Anzhong¡¯s complexion turned extremely grim, and he couldn¡¯t help but cry out in alarm. ¡°Han Hu, you actually ambushed us here specifically for the two of us?¡± As soon as his words fell, Ding Yongjin also furrowed his brows tightly, then said with a sneer, ¡°Just for the two of us, you actually mobilized six Golden Core Cultivators, including two at the Late Stage Golden Core!¡± ¡°Such a lineup, you hold us in such high regard?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ You think too highly of yourselves. Waiting for you here is not just to eliminate you, we have a bigger target!¡± Hearing this, Luo Anzhong and his companion¡¯s expressions faltered, as they quickly thought of something. ¡°You¡­ could it be¡­ could it be that you also want to attack our Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate?¡± Ding Yongjin¡¯s face paled, his voice faltering as he spoke, seemingly in disbelief. On the other side, Han Hu and his group gave a faint smile without answering their question, as if everything was under control and they did not care whether the two could guess their objective. Seeing Han Hu¡¯s confident expression, Ding Yongjin wore a stunned look, his heart unable to settle for a long time. But Luo Anzhong remained relatively calm about Han Hu and company¡¯s intentions. The reason for this was that Han Hu¡¯s group had an overwhelmingly strong lineup. After all, in their ranks, there were two powerful beings at Late Stage Golden Core, along with two at Mid Stage Golden Core, and two more powerhouse at Early Stage Golden Core. Such a lineup, even at its peak, Myriad Medicine Valley could not compare, let alone the now somewhat declined Myriad Medicine Valley. He knew in his heart that such a formidable squad, combined with some powerful Magical Treasures, might truly have a chance to breach Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation before the Zhenyang Sect reinforcements arrive. If they were fast enough, they could indeed achieve their goal. Understanding this, Luo Anzhong¡¯s face turned pale, and his heart filled with urgent anxiety. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the more critical the situation, the more he could not afford to panic, especially since their immediate challenge was how to save their lives from the hands of Han Hu and his group. Fully aware of this, Luo Anzhong forced himself to calm down and promptly devised a strategy for response. He quickly glanced in the direction of the Blue Flying Boat and immediately transmitted a message instructing his disciples to escape with the flying boat. In his eyes, although their life and death were uncertain at the moment, no matter what, it was of utmost importance to relay the situation here back to the sect as soon as possible. If the sect could make deployments in advance, it might delay a significant amount of time and when reinforcements arrive, there was still hope of resisting the Golden Sword Sect. And the numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Myriad Medicine Valley clearly understood this as well, knowing all too well how terrifying the combined strength of six Golden Core Cultivators could be. If they stayed here, it would be akin to sending themselves to their deaths for nothing; they would be of no use and would only distract Luo Anzhong and others. In an instant, the Blue Flying Boat¡¯s speed increased dramatically, shooting back towards the direction from which they had come. At this moment, seeing the flying boat flee without regard for Luo Anzhong and his companion, Han Hu glanced at Dong Wenchang beside him, then gave an order. ¡°Junior Brother Dong, you and Daoist Yang go after those juniors, make sure to eliminate them all before they return to Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ Rest assured, Senior Brother Han, with our strength, killing those juniors is not difficult!¡± After Dong Wenchang responded, he and Yang Jun of the Blood Red Alliance flew towards the direction where the flying boat vanished. Seeing their actions, Luo Anzhong and Ding Yongjin did not delay either, immediately unleashing a barrage of attacks, trying to block their path and buy time for the escape of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± As Luo Anzhong and his companion took the lead in making a move, Zhao Hongsheng and the other Late Stage Golden Core beings, also showing disdain, quickly made their move towards Luo Anzhong and his partner. In a matter of moments, held back by Luo Anzhong¡¯s interference, Dong Wenchang was still delayed somewhat. However, with Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu lending their strength, Dong Wenchang and the others circled past Luo Anzhong and company and flew towards the flying boat. Seeing their obstruction fail, Luo Anzhong and his companion were powerless. Now, they had bigger troubles to worry about, needing to figure out how to save their own lives facing Han Hu and the four other cultivators at Mid Stage Golden Core and above. Chapter 768 768 416 Self-Detonation_1 ?Chapter 768: Chapter 416 Self-Detonation_1 Chapter 768: Chapter 416 Self-Detonation_1 Grasping this, Luo Anzhong and his companion didn¡¯t dare to hold back. At the first opportunity, they activated a vast amount of short-range attacks, be it Third Order Talisman or other consumable treasures; they used them all in one fell swoop toward Han Hu and the others. Moreover, the magical treasures in their hands shone brightly, and streaks of Sword Qi flew overhead. In such a frantic assault, the attacks poured down on Han Hu and his companion with a posture of desperation. Unfortunately, the two¡¯s cultivation clearly fell short by a notch. Especially Ding Yongjin, who was only at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm, was simply not enough of a challenge for Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng. As expected, their attacks hardly stirred any trouble and were easily parried by Han Hu and the others. When the dust settled, Luo Anzhong and his companion took the brief opportunity while Han Hu and his group were busy with the incoming attacks to flee toward the west. ... Seeing the two escape together, heading in a different direction from the flying boat, Han Hu sneered disdainfully and said, ¡°For the likes of you, I have been waiting with great difficulty for half a month. Now that I¡¯ve finally caught you, how could I possibly let you get away?¡± ¡°Daoist Zhao, delay will breed complications. Let¡¯s chase them down and kill them!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± After a lukewarm response from Zhao Hongsheng, he flew out in the direction where Luo Anzhong and his companion had fled. Seeing this, Han Hu and the others didn¡¯t delay any further; they quickly followed and soon disappeared into the valley. Under the pursuit of Zhao Hongsheng and three other Golden Core Mid-Late Stage Cultivators, Luo Anzhong and his companion hadn¡¯t fled far before they were caught up with on a plain by Zhao Hongsheng and the others. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng stood in front of the two, blocking their path. Behind and to each side of them, Han Hu and three others surrounded them from different directions. Now, with no path to escape, Luo Anzhong and his companion had no other choice but to attempt to break through in one direction. But with all four pursuers being Golden Core Cultivators, and at least at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, even choosing a path to break through would be more difficult than ascending to the heavens under the watchful eyes of the other three. Even so, they were left with no other options. At this moment, Luo Anzhong looked grave, keenly aware their situation had reached a point of desperation. Ding Yongjin¡¯s face was even paler; he had been injured while fending off Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s attacks, significantly weakening his strength. Now trapped within the encirclement, given the stark difference in strength, if Luo Anzhong still had a sliver of hope to escape, his Early Stage Golden Core cultivation had left him with no way to ascend to heaven or enter earth. In such a situation, there seemed to be no hope of escape. Thinking of this, Ding Yongjin was filled with rage, cursing at Han Hu and the other Golden Sword Sect Disciples without any of the poise expected of a Golden Core Expert. As a Late Stage Golden Core Expert, Han Hu held a prominent reputation throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Faced with Ding Yongjin¡¯s insulting words, not only did he not feel embarrassed, but he also took direct action, aiming for Ding Yongjin¡¯s vital areas as if to kill him on the spot. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Han Hu¡¯s attack was very sharp; in less than a blink of an eye, a powerful golden Sword Qi tore through the void and arrived instantaneously above Ding Yongjin¡¯s head. ¡°Junior brother Ding, be careful!¡± Luo Anzhong called out anxiously, then hurriedly made his move in an attempt to block Han Hu¡¯s strike. On the other side, Ding Yongjin, having already sensed Han Hu¡¯s attack, immediately changed his position to dodge. In an instant, Luo Anzhong¡¯s attack collided with Han Hu¡¯s Sword Qi one step ahead. After a loud noise, the sky lit up again with fiery sparks, and a powerful blast swept through, causing their clothes to flutter loudly. And the two at the center of the explosion, Luo Anzhong, were flung through the air by the blast, eventually plummeting from the sky onto the ground. Once the dust and smoke had cleared, all was calm in the sky for a moment. At that time, everyone¡¯s figures reappeared in sight. Looking around, Luo Anzhong and his companion were spotted with traces of blood on the corners of their mouths, their breath even weaker than before. On the other hand, Han Hu and the three others looked at them coldly, seemingly viewing them as dead men, clearly not taking them seriously. Their nonchalant demeanor infuriated Luo Anzhong and his companion even more, but given the discrepancy in strength, they were powerless. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During this brief calm, Zhao Hongsheng, leading the group, spoke up impatiently. ¡°Stop wasting time. Let¡¯s do it!¡± Hearing this, Han Hu and the others nodded, and at the same time shot toward Luo Anzhong and his companion from different directions, launching their attacks. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A barrage of attacks followed, centering around Luo Anzhong and his companion from all directions, it was Zhao Hongsheng and the others¡¯ onslaught. At a glance, the attacks were dense, each one powerful enough to give an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator a run for their money. A slight misstep could even lead to instant death. At that moment, Luo Anzhong and his companion had grim expressions, and after exchanging glances, they couldn¡¯t help but reveal a determined look. ¡°Brother Luo, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t escape. After a while, you make a break towards Yang Jun¡¯s side, and I¡¯ll help you!¡± Upon hearing Ding Yongjin¡¯s telepathic message, Luo Anzhong was taken aback, wanting to say something to dissuade him, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. He knew clearly that in such a situation, an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator was simply not enough, and there was no possibility of escape. Chapter 769 769 416 Self-Destruct_2 ?Chapter 769: Chapter 416: Self-Destruct_2 Chapter 769: Chapter 416: Self-Destruct_2 And he was at the Mid Stage Golden Core himself, with an aptitude for escaping that was still quite remarkable. Recall the time after the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm ended; he had faced the pursuit of Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator Song Hanchun and the two brothers of the Jin Family. Under such circumstances, he had also managed to escape. Although the current situation was even worse, with opponents that were clearly a notch stronger, if Ding Yongjin desperately blocked them for a moment, once he broke out of the encirclement, there was still a chance to evade the pursuit of Han Hu and the others. It could be said that he was still at the peak of his strength, and he still harbored a sliver of hope for escape. Besides, anyone who managed to cultivate to his realm at the age of over four hundred years could not possibly claim to be unafraid of death. Given even a slight hope of survival, he would not give up the opportunity. Thus, Luo Anzhong didn¡¯t speak to persuade; he merely responded with a message assuring Ding Yongjin that if he was lucky enough to survive, he would certainly take care of his descendants and disciples and would not let him die in vain. ... Hearing Luo Anzhong¡¯s reply, Ding Yongjin¡¯s resolve to fight back grew even firmer without any worries left behind. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The rampant sound of Sword Qi pulled Luo Anzhong and company back to reality. At that moment, after exchanging a glance, Luo Anzhong leaped into the air and shot towards the direction of Jin Weishan at an unbelievably fast speed. At the same time, the Magical Treasure in his hand flashed with light, and the Dalian Attack soared over from above his head. Not feeling assured after doing all this, he spontaneously activated several Third Order Defense Talismans, transforming them into a skyful of sword rain pouring down toward Jin Weishan. Clearly, Luo Anzhong was giving his all at this moment, sparing no expense in using every treasure he could to consume a major part of them. He knew very well that Jin Weishan had once joined forces with Song Hanchun to pursue him, so he was quite familiar with Jin Weishan¡¯s strength. Although they both were at the Mid Stage Golden Core realm, as a cultivator from the Wei Kingdom who had reached the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm over a hundred years ago, his strength was considerable. If he fought with all his might, breaking through Jin Weishan¡¯s interception was not an impossibility. Therefore, he chose his target at the first opportunity and immediately put his plan into action. Such an action caught Jin Weishan completely off guard. But Jin Weishan was also aware that it wasn¡¯t just him here; Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu had cultivation at the Late Stage Golden Core realm, and Yang Jun from the Golden Sword Sect, though at the Mid Stage Golden Core realm, was not weak either. He didn¡¯t need to risk his life; he just needed to delay slightly for a moment. As soon as any one of them caught up, Luo Anzhong, no matter how strong, would definitely be unable to escape. Realizing this, Jin Weishan wore an expression of indifference and also erupted with a large amount of attacks, colliding head-on with Luo Anzhong¡¯s attacks. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky bellowed with explosions, lighting up the whole area with bright flashes, and the fire engulfed the entire landscape. In that brief moment, for some unknown reason, Luo Anzhong¡¯s speed suddenly increased dramatically, unexpectedly appearing right above Jin Weishan¡¯s head. By the time Jin Weishan reacted, Luo Anzhong¡¯s Magical Treasure had already descended upon his head, the distance between them no more than a few zhang. For a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, such a distance could be covered in the span of a breath. But now, he was too late to defend and could only brace himself for the impact. If he was lucky, he might survive. But if he was unlucky, it was highly likely he would meet his end here. In a state of panic, Jin Weishan rushed to punch out, the powerful force of his physical strength bursting from his fist, clashing directly with Luo Anzhong¡¯s Magical Treasure. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Following the explosion, a scream was heard soon after. Looking towards the source of the scream, Jin Weishan was seen falling from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground. Even while still in midair, it was evident that his entire arm had been torn off, a gaping hole at his shoulder where white bones were faintly visible, and blood had already spilled on the ground, staining a large area red. In the surprise attack by Luo Anzhong, Jin Weishan could only hastily defend. This passive counterattack also cost him dearly, causing one of his arms to be completely shattered by the Magical Treasure and severing his meridians. With one arm completely disabled, his meridians cut off, and being severely injured by the blow, his strength was greatly diminished. With such a severe injury, even as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, there was no chance of recovery without the aid of heaven-defying treasures. The elixirs capable of regenerating an amputated arm were all at least of the Fourth Order, and naturally occurring treasures that could heal upon consumption were equally valuable, ranking as Fourth Tier items. Even with the resources of the Blood Red Alliance, obtaining Fourth Order Elixirs or Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines and Fruits was not an easy task. Even if obtained, such treasures would inevitably be in the hands of Nascent Soul Cultivators, reserved for extremely severe injuries before one would be willing to use them. And even though Jin Weishan came from the Blood Red Alliance and they happened to possess such treasures, with his cultivation and status, it would be difficult to obtain such sacred medicine for healing without some extraordinary merit. Under these circumstances, Jin Weishan¡¯s arm was likely irrecoverable. Without this arm, even if he managed to save his life and heal his other wounds, his strength would probably be hard-pressed to reach 80% of its peak. One could say that Luo Anzhong¡¯s strike had directly knocked him down a level in both realm and strength, leaving him not much stronger than an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. However, at the moment, Jin Weishan was heavily injured and unconscious, far from considering these matters. Once Luo Anzhong achieved his goal, he shot out towards the exterior the moment Jin Weishan screamed, his speed fast like lightning. In fact, he had the chance to strike again, to seize the opportunity to take Jin Weishan¡¯s life. But he didn¡¯t do that; instead, he flew forward without hesitation, seeking a sliver of chance for himself. In his eyes, even if he killed Jin Weishan, he would inevitably be delayed. By the time Zhao Hongsheng and the others reacted, the hope of escaping would be utterly gone. His own life was far more valuable than Jin Weishan¡¯s, so why would he trade life for life? Recognizing this, Luo Anzhong had no intention of lingering and was solely focused on escaping the pursuit. Luo Anzhong¡¯s action of fleeing thoroughly infuriated Zhao Hongsheng. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng was some distance away from Luo Anzhong and was also attacking Ding Yongjin. Along with him, Han Hu and Yang Jun of the Golden Sword Sect were likewise positioned, being only dozens of feet away from Ding Yongjin. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At such a close distance, Ding Yongjin had no chance of escape and no possibility of survival. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng ceased his attack on Ding Yongjin and instead turned to chase in the direction of Luo Anzhong. In his eyes, Luo Anzhong had severely injured a member of the Blood Red Alliance right under his nose, dealing a heavy blow to Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s face. As a result, Zhao Hongsheng was completely enraged and disregarded the weaker Ding Yongjin. This action of his was entirely within Ding Yongjin¡¯s expectations. At this time, Ding Yongjin suddenly burst into laughter, appearing quite eerie. His demeanor caused Zhao Hongsheng and the others to frown deeply, as if they had thought of something terrifying. ¡°This bastard is going to self-detonate his Golden Core, retreat quickly!¡± In an instant, Zhao Hongsheng exclaimed in shock and immediately retreated. The other two, Han Hu included, being even closer to Ding Yongjin, at less than a hundred feet away, could have taken his life at any moment. But they as well halted their advancement and quickly retreated. They were well aware that a Golden Core self-detonation was a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s ultimate card, with extremely formidable killing power. Even the self-detonation of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator was stronger than the attacks of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and even Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators would have to be cautious in dealing with it. Yet, such a terrifying move was a one-time opportunity for every Golden Core Cultivator. Under normal circumstances, a Golden Core Cultivator would never resort to such a retaliatory measure unless it was absolutely necessary. Han Hu and the other person dared not take the situation lightly, nor take risks, but could only retreat as fast as possible to save their lives. Ding Yongjin obviously understood his predicament and was very decisive, knowing resistance was unlikely to be effective. It was better to aid Luo Anzhong, delay the three of them for a while, and allow Luo Anzhong to get as far away as possible. With this goal in mind, Ding Yongjin did not hesitate. At this moment, his face was extremely red, and spiritual energy surged madly into his Sky Spirit Cover. After one breath, the energy inside his Golden Core seemed to reach a limit, unable to accumulate any more energy. At this point, Ding Yongjin, with a face full of madness, detonated his Golden Core without any hesitation. Chapter 770 770 417 Splitting Up to Pursue and ?Chapter 770: Chapter 417: Splitting Up to Pursue and Kill_1 Chapter 770: Chapter 417: Splitting Up to Pursue and Kill_1 ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion resonated, and the world was suddenly filled with dazzling golden light, blinding everyone who felt its glare. With Ding Yongjin self-detonating his Golden Core, a massive shockwave produced swept out in all directions. At that moment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became chaotic, and the ground nearby trembled slightly. At this instant, Zhao Hongsheng and the others had solemn expressions, knowing full well the power of a Golden Core¡¯s self-destruction. Even if it was an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator who self-detonated, no Golden Core Cultivator wished to be affected by the blast, as they might be injured or even seriously harmed. Understanding this, the three of them moved swiftly as if the wind was under their feet, retreating at the fastest speed the moment the explosion happened. ... However, Ding Yongjin had timed his self-detonation perfectly, and the distance between them wasn¡¯t great, making it unrealistic to escape unscathed from the blast. Nevertheless, each of them was powerful, and when Golden Core Cultivators dueled, they were always on guard for this final, desperate act. Thus, even though they were completely swept up by the blast of the self-detonating Golden Core, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, strong as they were, were merely knocked back over a hundred zhang. After regaining their balance, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu turned pale, their qi and blood roiling within them, and a trace of fresh blood spilled from the corners of their mouths. On the other hand, Yang Jun was only at the Medium Stage of Golden Core cultivation and didn¡¯t have the speed of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s group. Moreover, his power was only slightly above that of Ding Yongjin, who had self-detonated, by one minor realm. The gap wasn¡¯t significant. Therefore, the explosive force of the self-detonating Golden Core was still quite damaging to him. As expected, he hadn¡¯t escaped far when the powerful shockwave caught up and sent him tumbling through the air. Barely stabilizing himself, Yang Jun¡¯s face was pale as he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, and his aura rapidly withered. As the shockwave from the self-detonation gradually subsided, calm temporarily returned to the world. Looking around, a huge crater had mysteriously formed on the ground, with bits of trees scattered around, some lying askew on the ground, and the closest ones were even blasted to ash. Ding Yongjin¡¯s figure had long since vanished, neither his body nor his storage bag left any trace, with only a faint scent lingering in the air serving as proof of his presence. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng and his two companions gathered together and approached Jin Weishan. Fortunately, Jin Weishan had been far away from Ding Yongjin; otherwise, with his already severely injured body, he would have likely perished there if he¡¯d been at the epicenter of the explosion. As for Zhao Hongsheng and the other, they suffered only minor injuries and their strength was hardly affected. Yang Jun, however, was not so lucky, having sustained a serious injury; without at least half a month of quiet recuperation, he would find it difficult to return to his peak condition. But at least they had succeeded in killing a Golden Core Cultivator and injuring Luo Anzhong, thus achieving their basic objective by laying this ambush. Next, if they could catch up with the fleeing Luo Anzhong and kill him, their mission would be completely accomplished. However, Luo Anzhong was somewhat capable, or else he wouldn¡¯t have evaded them after the last Secret Realm event. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu exchanged a look before Han Hu said to Yang Jun, ¡°Yang Shidi, you and Jin Daoyou find a place to seclude and recuperate for a while, I and Daoist Zhao will pursue Luo Anzhong. We will convene at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate in a month¡¯s time!¡± Upon hearing this, Yang Jun nodded and responded, ¡°Daoist Luo has lived for over four hundred years and is an old Golden Core Cultivator, his methods are quite insidious, be cautious, senior brothers!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ rest assured!¡± After replying, Han Hu immediately set off with Zhao Hongsheng toward the direction Luo Anzhong had fled. As the two departed, Yang Jun and Jin Weishan wasted no time, quickly checking over the battlefield before choosing a direction to leave the area. ¡­ Half a day later, at the boundary between the Shuojin Mountain Range and the Shuohe Mountain Range. In a hilly area, Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang appeared. Opposite them was the escape vessel from the battlefield, carrying several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each with a frowned brow and an extremely ugly expression. Having fled first, they had been on the move non-stop for half a day. In that time, they crossed several hundred li, yet they still couldn¡¯t shake the pursuit of the Golden Core Cultivators. The Myriad Medicine Disciple leading the group had a tightly furrowed brow, staring intently at Jin Weihe and his companion, ready for action. Besides them, many of the conscripted cultivators looked despondent, clearly aware of the dire situation ahead. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, the disparity was too great, with two Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators chasing them, a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Even with several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators joining forces, they would hardly be a match for a Golden Core Cultivator. After all, once someone reached the Golden Core Stage Realm, their strength was far greater than those in the Foundation Establishment Stage; such a gap in realms couldn¡¯t be easily bridged by numbers alone. Therefore, even with several dozen Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators joining forces, they would struggle to kill a Golden Core Cultivator. More crucially, there were two Golden Core Cultivators present in Jin Weihe¡¯s group. And here, although there were several hundred individuals, they didn¡¯t have nearly as many Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, not even reaching a hundred Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators. Chapter 771 771 417 Split Up to Chase and Kill_2 ?Chapter 771: Chapter 417 Split Up to Chase and Kill_2 Chapter 771: Chapter 417 Split Up to Chase and Kill_2 This gap in strength, there was no hope of victory. Clearly, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciple understood this, as did Long Qingshui, both keenly aware of the vast disparity. As they pondered their next move, Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang on the other side seemed unwilling to waste time. ¡°Dong Daoist friend, to avoid any unforeseen complications, let¡¯s make our move quickly!¡± After saying this, Jin Weihe immediately launched an attack. Seeing this, Dong Wenchang also didn¡¯t delay; he too summoned his Magical Treasure and unleashed a barrage of Sword Qi towards the Golden Flying Boat opposite them. ¡°Boom¡­¡± ... In an instant, the two Golden Core Cultivators acted, and even a casual strike from them contained tremendous might, enough to annihilate a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator. In that moment, Long Qingshui and the many Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples turned pale, as they immediately began to maneuver the flying boat in an attempt to dodge. However, the attack from the Golden Core Cultivators was too swift; with both Jin Weihe¡¯s and Dong Wenchang¡¯s attacks forming a pincer maneuver, there was no way to dodge their assault. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Two loud noises followed, and the Golden Flying Boat was hit directly by the attacks from Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang. Instantly, the assaulted flying boat plummeted from the sky at high speed, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. Looking over, the Golden Flying Boat had holes in its surface, and the protective light shield around it had disappeared. Clearly, the highly valuable flying boat was now on the verge of scrap, and if a Third Order Artifact Refining Master didn¡¯t re-refine it, it would likely be unusable. Inside the flying boat at that moment, dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators with relatively lower strength spat out copious amounts of blood and their vitality rapidly dwindled. Seeing this, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples turned even paler, gaining a new understanding of the attacks from Golden Core Cultivators. However, this was only because the flying boat was made of exquisite materials, and plenty of Third Order Spiritual Ore was used, rendering the Flying Artifact exceptionally defensive. If it weren¡¯t for the flying boat absorbing most of the force, the two strikes from Dong Wenchang alone would have been enough to kill the dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Given the circumstances, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivator didn¡¯t have the luxury of fretting over the flying boat, instead having to quickly think of a plan. Otherwise, once Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang made another move, their chances of survival would be slim. Realizing this, the Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivators¡¯ minds raced with thoughts. But in the current situation, they had no viable solutions; after all, they neither had the assistance of a Golden Core Cultivator nor any powerful magical treasure that could threaten the lives of Golden Core Cultivators. Under such an overpowering disparity in strength, they had no chance to fight back. Even so, these middle-to-late stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators hadn¡¯t sustained serious injuries, and facing a life-and-death crisis, they couldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death! Whether or not there was hope to drive back the Golden Core Cultivators, they had to try. If all else failed, they could only scatter and flee for their lives, saving whoever they could. Thinking this, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciple spoke up first, his resonant voice ringing out. ¡°Everyone, abandon the flying boat, come out and surround the Golden Core Cultivators to attack in unison; if we don¡¯t beat them back, we have no chance to escape!¡± ¡°So if you want to live, don¡¯t hold back, or it will be a dead end for you!¡± Hearing these words, the Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples responded one after another. And the other summoned Cultivators also seemed to find a backbone, snapping out of their panic. Following this, the leading Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivator was the first to leap out of the flying boat, with other Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples quickly following suit. The other summoned Foundation Establishment Cultivators, not willing to be left behind, also emerged, each unleashing their strongest attacks or operating numerous Attack Talismans, bombarding Dong Wenchang across from them. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with a dense barrage of attacks, a multitude of Sword Qi, flames, light beams, and Spirit Groups raining down on Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang from above. Although the individual strength of one or even a few Cultivators was marginal against a Golden Core Cultivator, this place had over three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with nearly a hundred of them being at the late stage. With so many Cultivators attacking together, even Jin Weihe and Dong Wenchang couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, lest they capsized in the proverbial gutter. Realizing this, the two shifted positions, weaving through the numerous attacks. For those attacks they couldn¡¯t dodge, they simply struck out, scattering them, before continuing on towards the direction of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions thundered through the sky as Dong Wenchang and his companion fired off attacks to the left and right, shattering a barrage of incoming assaults before hurtling forward. However, the density of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ attacks was simply too great. Even though Dong Wenchang and his partner relied on their speed to dodge and directly counter the attacks, some still managed to hit them. One or two hits weren¡¯t a big deal, but when there were too many, relying on their protective light shields to block them still meant enduring some recoil. For a moment, the two couldn¡¯t help but grunt, forcibly bearing the damage from these strikes. Finally, they broke through the dense array of attacks and arrived right in front of the flying boat. At this moment, the distance between the two parties was no more than a few hundred zhang. For a Golden Core Cultivator, such a distance was merely a breath¡¯s time away and they were well within the optimal range for an attack. As the first wave of attacks ended, aside from the flashes of pain across their faces and some charred wounds on their bodies, Dong Wenchang and his fellow showed no signs of serious injury. At this moment, everyone¡¯s faces turned ashen, knowing all too well that the idea of repelling Golden Core Cultivators was far too naive. But there was no time to think or any other choice as the attacks from Dong Wenchang and his companion had already descended upon them. In this desperate situation, the more than three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators displayed a determined look and forcefully unleashed their strongest attacks. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± The sky was once again filled with all sorts of attacks, clashing fiercely with those of Dong Wenchang and his companion. A series of explosions rang out, as the attacks from Dong Wenchang and his partner obliterated many assaults with ease, relentlessly advancing towards the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. In the blink of an eye, dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators were too slow to dodge and were enveloped by the two attacks; they were annihilated before they even had the chance to scream. Not only that, but the blast from the explosions created a massive shockwave that seriously injured many of the weaker Foundation Establishment Cultivators, causing a large number of Cultivators to spew blood incessantly as their vital energy quickly waned. Once the firelight dissipated, a brief calm returned to the sky. At this point, everyone was deathly pale, completely devoid of the will to fight. The leading Myriad Medicine Valley Disciple was also sporting an incredulous expression. Inwardly heaving a sigh of frustration, he then shouted loudly, ¡°We cannot defeat them even if we join forces, run for your lives!¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before his words even finished echoing, he had already taken the lead and flown off in one direction. Seeing his actions and hearing these words, everyone started frantically scattering in all directions. Long Qingshui was no less determined, leading his fellow disciples to shoot off in various directions different from the Myriad Medicine Valley Cultivators. In an instant, the remaining two hundred plus Foundation Establishment Cultivators, injured and uninjured alike, all dispersed and fled. In the blink of an eye, Cultivator figures appeared in all directions of the sky, and some, in their panic, ended up directly in front of Dong Wenchang and his partner. Seeing this, Dong Wenchang and his partner frowned deeply and casually struck, killing off the closest dozens of Cultivators one after another. After a dozen breaths, Dong Wenchang and his fellow regrouped. By then, as they had been dealing with the closest Cultivators, many had already escaped far away. When they were ready to pursue the scattering Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who were disappearing into the distance, they didn¡¯t know whom to chase after. It wasn¡¯t their fault; rather, there was simply too much for the two of them to handle. Even though they were fast and much stronger, there were more than two hundred fleeing Cultivators, with nearly a hundred being Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators. These were not mere Qi Refining Cultivators ¨C facing the threat of death, their speed of escape was not slow. If they had only a few dozen people to chase, perhaps they could have caught and killed them all in no time. But there were too many fleeing Cultivators going in all different directions; they couldn¡¯t possibly keep up. Watching the Foundation Establishment Cultivators get farther and farther away, the two wore reluctant expressions and each chose a direction to give chase, resolved to kill as many as possible. Those they couldn¡¯t catch, they simply had to let go, until at last they disappeared from the range of their Divine Sense. ¡­ Chapter 772 772 418 Attacking Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 772: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_1 Chapter 772: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_1 Yuxu Mountain Range, inside the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. That evening, a number of disciples who had escaped the pursuit of Dong Wenchang and his companion had already returned to the Sect ahead of the others. With the first Foundation Establishment Cultivator returning, he was fully aware that the news of their ambush and encirclement by Zhao Hongsheng was critical. This cultivator, not daring to delay and regardless of his exhaustion, went to report to the Sect Leader, Zhou Yunxiao, immediately. A short while passed. Zhou Yunxiao received the first returning cultivator and learned of the ambush from him. At that moment, even someone as experienced as Sect Leader Zhou Yunxiao, was immensely shocked by the explosive news. ... Initially, he had assumed that Golden Sword Sect would aim to first annihilate the weaker Zhenyang Sect, before turning their attention to attack Myriad Medicine Valley. However, Golden Sword Sect had not acted as he had anticipated at all. Not only that, they did the exact opposite by deploying people like Han Hu, who were in the Late Stage of Golden Core, while attacking Zhenyang Sect at the same time. Moreover, in the midst of the great battle against Zhenyang Sect, they secretly gathered both Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan from the Blood Red Alliance. Their arrangement was merely a feint. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And such a formidable force, laying in ambush on the path of Luo Anzhong¡¯s reinforcements was indeed far beyond his expectation. Now, with Luo Anzhong and his companion yet to return, he even speculated in the dark that under the siege of six Golden Core Cultivators, their chances of survival were slim. But what he now had to worry about was not only the safety of Luo Anzhong and his companion, but also the potential attack from Golden Sword Sect against Myriad Medicine Valley. After all, Golden Sword Sect had deployed quite a number of Golden Core Cultivators, with the most significant threats naturally being Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, both in the Late Stage of Golden Core. With such a force present in the Shuojin Mountain Range, their purpose was already very clear. Therefore, these six posed a great threat to Myriad Medicine Valley at this time. Now, he had to make timely arrangements to avoid being caught off guard when Golden Sword Sect launched their attack. Realizing this, Zhou Yunxiao immediately began to take action. Soon, under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements, Myriad Medicine Valley sprang into action, the vast Sect operating like a colossal machine. A month passed in the blink of an eye. During this month, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators who supported Zhenyang Sect returned one after another. However, of the original three hundred-plus dispatched Foundation Establishment Cultivators, only just over a hundred returned safely, nearly half of whom were conscripted cultivators. As for the others, they either died at the hands of Golden Core Cultivators or returned to their respective tribal lands. Luo Anzhong himself, with the help of Ding Yongjin¡¯s Self-Detonating Golden Core, managed to escape back to the Sect safely. Although he preserved his life, he sustained serious injuries; his strength greatly diminished, barely having survived the relentless pursuit of Zhao Hongsheng and another. Fortunately, as long as he lived, he could still return to his peak condition after recuperating in peace for a month or two. Zhou Yunxiao felt both secretly relieved and extremely unfortunate about this outcome. The reason was simple, because Luo Anzhong had returned alive. But Ding Yongjin had Self-Detonated his Golden Core, becoming the first Golden Core Cultivator to perish since the onset of the war between the three sects. The significance of a Golden Core Cultivator for any of the three sects was top-tier, bearing tremendous importance. Myriad Medicine Valley had been plagued with many disasters over the past decade. Initially, when the beast tide attacked, a Golden Core Cultivator had perished, and a Third-Order Spiritual Beast had died in battle. Barely having a chance to recover, Golden Sword Sect, in alliance with the Blood Red Alliance, caused trouble again, severely injuring Luo Anzhong twice and forcing Ding Yongjin to the point of Self-Detonating his Golden Core. These losses over a decade had dragged down Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s overall strength by more than twenty percent. Now facing the assault from Golden Sword Sect, it was likely that their situation would become even more dire. Thinking of all this, Zhou Yunxiao was extremely irritated. He was also very puzzled and couldn¡¯t help but ponder why the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, peaceful for hundreds of years, had suddenly become so tumultuous? Not just them, but all forces, big and small throughout Wei Kingdom had been dragged into war. And all signs pointed towards Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance. Especially the Blood Red Alliance, which had disrupted the peace of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World as soon as they emerged. But now that things had come to this, and considering that the strength of the Blood Red Alliance far exceeded Myriad Medicine Valley and was even a towering force in the vast Qingzhou, he was angry but helpless, able only to do his best to survive this crisis. Indeed, as Zhou Yunxiao feared it, it came to pass. At dawn, outside the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley, two Golden Flying Boats suddenly appeared, shattering Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s strained nerves. Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance, already mobilizing nearly ten thousand members of the Sect, and boosting the Mountain Protection Array¡¯s defensive power to the extreme. To speak of the Mountain Protection Array, the Defensive Great Formation of Myriad Medicine Valley was not a simple matter. This Defensive Formation originated from the prime days of Myriad Medicine Valley, when the Sect¡¯s overall strength was at its peak with over ten Golden Core Cultivators and even the strongest among the Sect nearly reaching the Nascent Soul Stage. If not for failing the final Heavenly Tribulation, Myriad Medicine Valley might have ascended a level, meeting the basic requirements of the Nascent Soul Forces. Since that failed attempt to reach the Nascent Soul Stage, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s strength had steadily declined, shrinking nearly by half up to the present. Chapter 773 773 418 Attacking Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 773: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Chapter 773: Chapter 418: Attacking Myriad Medicine Valley_2 And this Mountain Protection Array has already been in operation for nearly ten thousand years, maintained and enhanced by numerous predecessors, and has helped Myriad Medicine Valley survive many crises. It could be said that such a Defensive Array is also the greatest reliance for Myriad Medicine Valley to stand for ten thousand years without falling. In such a situation, even with the presence of six Golden Core Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect, it would not be easy to breach the Mountain Protection Array quickly. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao and other high-level members of Myriad Medicine Valley did not panic but instead began to rely on the Mountain Protection Array to buy time, according to their prior plan. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even when conditions permitted, they could also make appropriate counterattacks. The reason for such tactics was clear in their minds; the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance had deployed so much power and even mobilized people like Zhao Hongsheng from Zhenyang Sect. In the short term, the news could not reach Zhenyang Sect, and Zhao Hongsheng, relying on more Golden Core Combat Strength, might be able to take some advantage. ... But over time, Zhenyang Sect would inevitably learn of the situation and make a series of adjustments. Once Zhenyang Sect came to their aid, Myriad Medicine Valley could also respond promptly, ready to engage in a decisive battle with the Golden Sword Sect. Understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao immediately organized a large number of disciples, drawing on the Mountain Protection Array¡¯s attack and defense energy, to do battle with Zhao Hongsheng and others. Outside the mountain gate. Zhao Hongsheng and the other six Golden Cores led the team, assembling hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to launch a frenzied attack on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky exploded with a barrage of attacks, colorful lights cutting through the void while the ground trembled slightly. Opposite them, Zhou Yunxiao also assembled numerous disciples, channeling all their Spiritual Power into the Defensive Array. In an instant, the light curtain of the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s great formation flickered, with cyan-blue energy swirling about, blocking the attacks from Zhao Hongsheng and his team. Not only that, during the intervals between attacks, the Myriad Medicine Valley Defensive Great Formation would also condense into numerous pillars of light, launching attacks on the Golden Sword Sect disciples. For a time, Zhao Hongsheng and his team also had to ward off Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s counterattacks, disrupting the Golden Sword Sect disciples¡¯ attacking rhythm. In response, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu were prepared and quickly began to counterattack. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Disciples from both opposing camps attacked each other, and the sky erupted with fiery sparks as the earth shook violently. In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed. Since both sides were attacking each other without holding back¡ªsince everyone was intent on annihilating the other¡ªnaturally, no one would be concerned about holding back. And faced with an existential crisis, Myriad Medicine Valley also fought with all their might, leveraging their millenniums of accumulated wealth, without any intention of suffering losses. Seeing that Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation was so formidable and unable to be destroyed in a short time, Zhao Hongsheng and others had no choice but to retreat first and wait for two days of rest before continuing their assault. After all, they had six Golden Core Cultivators present, including two in the Late Stage Golden Core. And with Luo Anzhong from Myriad Medicine Valley severely injured and needing two months to recover to his peak, plus the fact that Ding Yongjin was already dead, it stands to reason that there couldn¡¯t be many Golden Core Cultivators inside Myriad Medicine Valley, and the only top combat strength possessed a threat was Zhou Yunxiao. Thus, their overall strength was certainly greater than that on Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side. Even if the Defensive Great Formation was strong, they only needed to attack a bit longer, eventually depleting its energy completely. By that time, without the protection of the formation, they could still take the opportunity to annihilate Myriad Medicine Valley and then advance south to attack Zhenyang Sect. With such a goal, Zhao Hongsheng and others launched attacks every few days, their frequency and the intensity of their attacks far exceeding their initial assault on Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Qingshui Market. ¡­ Inside a certain pavilion in Qingshui Market, Chen Jingtian sat in a high seat, with Zhu Yun and Lan Yu sitting beside him. Below them stood Long Qingshui and another, standing in the center and reporting on the various incidents he had experienced over the past few months. Quickly learning the full details, faces of Chen Jingtian and others showed utter shock. At that moment, Chen Jingtian looked at Zhu Yun beside him, showing an expression of helplessness. ¡°No wonder in this past month and more, only Song Hanchun accompanied by some disciples ever appeared outside Qingshui Market from Golden Sword Sect!¡± ¡°And they, just made a few feints attacking the Defensive Great Formation before leading the disciples back.¡± No sooner had the voice fallen than Zhu Yun by his side nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed¡­ All they did was to lull us into a false sense of security!¡± ¡°In my view, Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan must have quietly left after the first round of the attack was over, to join Han Hu. Otherwise, the timing wouldn¡¯t add up.¡± After he finished speaking, Lan Yu also nodded, and then the three of them exchanged their views. Now, having heard Long Qingshui¡¯s report, they finally understood the actions of Song Hanchun and his group during this period, as well as the purposes hidden behind Golden Sword Sect¡¯s moves. Just the thought of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s sinister intentions and realizing they¡¯d been played made Chen Jingtian so angry he almost couldn¡¯t breathe. However, it wasn¡¯t the time to delve into these matters at present. After all, with Zhao Hongsheng and Jin Weishan gone from here to join forces with Han Hu at Myriad Medicine Valley, Myriad Medicine Valley would inevitably face greater pressure. If Myriad Medicine Valley could not withstand their frenzied offensive and was prematurely destroyed, Zhenyang Sect would have to face the victorious Golden Sword Sect alone, likely following the same fate as Myriad Medicine Valley. Considering these possibilities made Chen Jingtian frown tightly as he silently pondered countermeasures. Seeing Chen Jingtian silent, Zhu Yun waved Long Qingshui over and then started to give instructions. ¡°Nephew Long, you have rendered great service this time. Go rest for now, and in a couple of days, immediately return to the Sect and report to your elder brother so he can take timely countermeasures!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Junior takes his leave!¡± Long Qingshui bowed respectfully and then, along with another companion, left the hall, leaving only Chen Jingtian and the two others behind. After Long Qingshui and the other junior had left, Zhu Yun broke the silence, snapping Chen Jingtian back to reality. ¡°Brother Chen, with Zhao Hongsheng and the main forces having left from Golden Sword Sect¡¯s side, can we launch a counterattack?¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Jingtian pondered long and hard and didn¡¯t immediately reply to Zhu Yun. In his heart, he knew that Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s departure couldn¡¯t be kept secret for long. Hence, Song Hanchun surely would have prepared countermeasures. At worst, they could rely on the Defensive Arrays of Bluewater Market to hold their ground and wait for reinforcements. As long as they held out long enough for Myriad Medicine Valley to achieve its goal, all disadvantageous situations would be completely turned around. However, it was also important to realize that Song Hanchun frequently showed himself to deceive them, which clearly indicated a lack of confidence. Therefore, the strength on Song Hanchun¡¯s side must be inferior to theirs, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have kept such a low profile. Understanding this, Chen Jingtian replied, ¡°Regardless of the remaining forces of Golden Sword Sect, let us first test the waters. Afterwards, we can discuss the next step of the plan once the elder brother makes a final decision, how about that?¡± Hearing this, Zhu Yun also nodded, acknowledging that Chen Jingtian¡¯s arrangement was quite prudent. ¡°Hmm¡­ very well, it¡¯s sufficiently cautious!¡± Seeing no objections from Zhu Yun, Chen Jingtian immediately gave an order. ¡°Since that is the case, immediately gather some Foundation Establishment Disciples, and bring along the majority of the conscripted Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Tomorrow morning, you and I, along with Junior Brother Lan, will lead an assault on Bluewater Market to test Song Hanchun and his people¡¯s reaction!¡± ¡°As for Brother Zhu, you stay and guard Qingshui Market, ready to support and assist us at any moment!¡± Upon receiving the order, Zhu Yun and Lan Yu immediately replied, ¡°We will prepare right away and depart on time tomorrow morning!¡± After they had spoken, Zhu Yun and the other stood up, bowed to Chen Jingtian, and then directly vanished from the hall. The next morning. Outside Qingshui Market, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, leading several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators on two Inkwind Spirit Boats, set off from the market in an impressive array. Qin Xi and the two others from Li Xiuyuan¡¯s team were also part of this mission. For this reason, the three of them dared not entertain any opposing thoughts but instead followed Li Xiuyuan to participate in the operation. Chapter 774 774 419 Victory of the First Stage_1 ?Chapter 774: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_1 Chapter 774: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_1 After Chen Jingtian¡¯s probing attempt, the result was indeed as expected. Song Hanchun, with the disciples of Golden Sword Sect, and those cultivators who had been conscripted, relied on the newly reestablished Third Order Great Array and put on a defensive posture. After attacking for half a day, the Defensive Great Formation of Bluewater Market still stood as firm as before, and Song Hanchun and others stayed huddled within, showing no intention of coming out to respond to the challenge. It seemed like Song Hanchun was planning to act just like before, staying entrenched like a nail, awaiting reinforcements and not planning to engage in battle easily. Seeing that neither provocation nor psychological tactics were effective, Chen Jingtian felt rather helpless. After pondering for a long time, Chen Jingtian made up his mind to lead his followers in an attack on the territory controlled by Golden Sword Sect. He did so also with a mind for revenge, considering that Golden Sword Sect had entered the territories controlled by Zhenyang Sect a few months before, destroying many forces and plundering plenty of resources. ... Beyond that, this action also carried with it an element of coercion. If Song Hanchun couldn¡¯t bear it and came out to fight, they would take the opportunity to heavily damage them. If he still holed up in the market and didn¡¯t come out, Chen would aggressively lead his cultivators in raids, seeking every possible way to plunder resources. After all, for the purpose of waging a large-scale war, Golden Sword Sect had already conscripted quite a number of cultivators, and now the overall strength of the forces on their territory had significantly weakened. And for them, such innate conditions also presented a rare opportunity. If everything went smoothly, it was entirely possible to take control of more than a dozen mountain ranges within a month, thereby surpassing the achievements made by Golden Sword Sect earlier. However, they could not afford to be careless, nor could they delve too deeply into Golden Sword Sect¡¯s heartland. Once Zhao Hongsheng returned, he could easily trap Chen along with Song Hanchun. Besides, inside Golden Sword Mountain Gate, there would surely be Golden Core Cultivators in residence. If they ended up being pinched by Song Hanchun from both the front and the back, or if Zhao Hongsheng returned, their large forces wouldn¡¯t be able to move as easily, and they would most certainly face a dire situation. It could be said that this move was somewhat risky. But Chen Jingtian¡¯s style of doing things was precisely to take risks, and he was decisively fond of it. In his heart, he had always been holding back a breath, and now that he finally had an opportunity to gain an advantage, he naturally wouldn¡¯t let it slip by easily. Moreover, the current situation for both sects meant taking risks was the only way to close the gap in power between them. Upon weighing the pros and cons, he immediately made up his mind and put his plans into action. Soon, Chen Jingtian led a group of cultivators across the Bluewater Mountain Range and directly entered Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory. While still en route on the flying boat, Chen gathered together several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators under him. At that moment, he glanced over everyone and then spoke, ¡°Fellow cultivators¡­ as you all can see, Song Hanchun is entrenched awaiting reinforcements and does not come out. There¡¯s really no way to handle him in the short term!¡± ¡°And between Golden Sword Sect and our two sects, the situation has become one of irreconcilable hostility. Thus, I have decided to lead you in an attack on Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory!¡± ¡°What? Attack Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s words immediately caused shock among all cultivators. The deck of the flying ship erupted into commotion, as a large number of cultivators voiced their opinions, with all those who opposed being conscripted cultivators. ¡°Even though we have Senior Chen leading, Golden Sword Sect also has no shortage of Golden Core Cultivators. What if we get trapped?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Where there were dissenters, naturally, there were also supporters. The disciples of Zhenyang Sect would certainly not oppose, and many conscripted cultivators, including Loose Cultivators, also expressed support for Chen Jingtian¡¯s plan. These people were clearly eyeing the rich rewards; otherwise, they would not take such a risk if there were no benefits to be gained. After all, once this plan was put into action, if Golden Sword Sect reacted in time, it could lead to heavy losses for them. As a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength was at the forefront among all Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom. In a worst-case scenario, he could always escape. But they were merely at Foundation Establishment Cultivation; if they got trapped, they could very likely be abandoned. If that happened, their lives would certainly not be spared. Qin Xi and her two fellow disciples were also conflicted about this, but Chen Jingtian had already made up his mind. Communicating this matter was merely to inform them, and he did not allow any room for opposition. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, his Golden Core Stage cultivation was a fact, and even if someone didn¡¯t want to get involved in this mess, they had no choice but to accept the mission. Fortunately, to gain the support of everyone, Chen Jingtian still offered extremely generous terms. The treasures obtained by the cultivators only had to contribute twenty percent to Zhenyang Sect, and the rest of the spoils would be kept by the cultivators themselves. As a result, many cultivators with discontent in their hearts also let go of their reservations in light of such an arrangement of benefits. Following that, Chen Jingtian immediately made arrangements, dispatching Li Xiuyuan and other Inner Sect Disciples of Zhenyang Sect to lead the recruited teams to each launch an attack on a mountain range. Soon, more than ten squads set out, each consisting of dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such an aggregate force, sweeping across a mountain range when combined, should not be too difficult, as long as their luck wasn¡¯t too poor. As the team leader, Li Xiuyuan, including Qin Xi and her three disciples, had over forty Foundation Establishment Cultivators under him. The overall strength of their team was exceptionally formidable among all troops, only surpassed by the few led by Jun Buhui. Chapter 775 775 419 Victory of the First Stage_2 ?Chapter 775: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_2 Chapter 775: Chapter 419: Victory of the First Stage_2 ¡°` With greater strength, came greater goals and assurances. After discussing with Qin Xi and a few other strong cultivators, they decided to set off towards the Pingyang Mountain Range under the control of the Golden Sword Sect. The reason for this was that the Pingyang Mountain Range was not considered the heartland of the Golden Sword Sect, and it was only separated by two mountain ranges from the territory controlled by the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Bluewater Mountain Range. If there was any movement from the Golden Sword Sect, they could quickly retreat, avoiding the greater risk associated with being too far away. Besides, the overall strength of the Pingyang Mountain Range was quite impressive, with relatively abundant cultivation resources, and the Foundation Establishing Families residing there were also very strong. It could be said that among the surrounding mountain ranges, the Pingyang Mountain Range was quite a good place. Therefore, adhering to the principle of safety, they sought to gain the maximum benefit possible. ... With this goal in mind, Li Xiuyuan and others took less than ten days to traverse two mountain ranges and arrive in the territory of the Pingyang Mountain Range. As soon as they reached their destination, they immediately launched an attack on the nearest Foundation Establishing Family. This family was not weak, and even though the Golden Sword Sect had conscripted two Foundation Establishment Clan Members to leave, there were still several Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed within the family, and their Defensive Great Formation was also a Second Order Superior. Theoretically, such a Foundation Establishing Family was strong enough. However, facing the attack of more than forty cultivators, with five or six of them being at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, not to mention that Li Xiuyuan himself was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection level of cultivation. Under such a crushing disparity in strength, the family¡¯s Defensive Great Formation held for less than two days before they breached it directly. What followed was a one-sided massacre, as well as a thorough looting of the family¡¯s various treasures and properties. In just two days, a Foundation Establishing Family composed of several hundred cultivators was easily wiped out by them. Such scenes were simultaneously occurring in over ten mountain ranges under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control, each one a one-sided massacre, just like a few months ago at the Bluewater Mountain Range. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. With Chen Jingtian¡¯s actions, the forces in the more than ten mountain ranges under the Golden Sword Sect encountered a massacre by the Zhenyang Sect. And this news, as time passed, completely spread throughout the territory under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control. Suddenly, the dozens of mountain ranges under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control were in a state of panic, fearing Chen Jingtian would continue to penetrate deeper into their heartland. At the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, as well as Song Hanchun, who was defending the Bluewater Market, they also received this shocking news. Because of this, Song Hanchun was extremely annoyed and even couldn¡¯t help cursing Chen Jingtian¡¯s actions. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only him, but the Golden Core Cultivator responsible for defending the Golden Sword Mountain Gate was also furious, even secretly worried that Chen Jingtian would continue to advance into their heartland, thus threatening the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Little did they know, Chen Jingtian had not been rash, but instead continued to instruct his cultivators to attack the peripheral areas, with no intention of penetrating deeper. Such prudent actions were like boiling a frog in warm water, leaving Song Hanchun very hesitant. In his heart, he wanted to retreat and block Chen Jingtian¡¯s advance, but also wanted to stay and defend the Bluewater Market, waiting for Zhao Hongsheng to return and cut off Chen Jingtian¡¯s retreat path. However, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strategy was a double-edged one, whether Song Hanchun chose to retreat or to stronghold the market, he had plans for both scenarios. Thus, Song Hanchun hesitated repeatedly, bearing immense pressure, and for this, he waited another half a month. During his indecision, Chen Jingtian¡¯s cultivators continued to attack and took over several more mountain ranges, already seizing control of all the mountain ranges bordering both the Golden Sword Sect and the Zhenyang Sect. Over the course of a month, the Golden Sword Sect suffered heavy losses, with nearly a dozen mountain ranges falling, and hundreds of families, both large and small, being destroyed, with at least tens of thousands of cultivators killed or injured. By now, the losses of the Golden Sword Sect had far exceeded those of the original Zhenyang Sect, even more than doubled. And at this point, Song Hanchun was gnashing his teeth in anger, even though he still planned to fortify and not venture out, he could not ignore the cultivators under his command who opposed this. These people came from mountain ranges that were in imminent danger, or families that had already been obliterated by the Zhenyang Sect. Seeing the indifferent Song Hanchun, at first, they feared the might of the Golden Core Cultivators and the Golden Sword Sect. ¡°` But as the clan faced annihilation, and the clan members were almost completely killed or injured, Song Hanchun and the Golden Sword Sect made no move whatsoever. Such inaction undoubtedly caused these people to completely lose their patience and confidence. After all, with the clan gone, whether to fear the Golden Sword Sect and Golden Core Cultivators had lost all meaning. Besides, a minority of dissenting opinions could not stir up trouble, but as the number of cultivators causing disturbances grew, these people gained the capital and confidence to rebel. Consequently, faced with the will of more than half of his subordinates, under such pressure, Song Hanchun, even if unwilling to pay attention, had no choice but to make changes. After all, without change, or if he ignored the situation, his cultivators might very well mutiny, and even if he forced them to fight, they likely would not display much combat power. Therefore, he could only retreat to the territory of the Golden Sword Sect according to the will of the recruited cultivators. And Song Hanchun¡¯s action played right into Chen Jingtian¡¯s hands. As Song Hanchun led his forces in retreat, entering the Tiansuo Mountain Range under the control of the Golden Sword Sect, Chen Jingtian, who had been watching their every move, had followed them here. Then, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu joined forces, making their move at the first opportunity. Facing the attack from Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, Song Hanchun and Jin Weihe hastily prepared for battle. Seemingly having anticipated this, their primary targets were the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The pair, free from concerns of their own, struck with ruthless efficiency. For a while, even though Song Hanchun tried desperately to block them, he still couldn¡¯t prevent the much stronger Chen Jingtian from inflicting heavy losses on his ranks, resulting in the death of more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators and even more injured. With the few hundred remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators scattering in a panicked flight, they were already frightened out of their wits. However, these people were like dogs that had lost their homes, and in the vast surrounding area, many Zhenyang Sect cultivators formed groups to pursue and intercept them. If they encountered them while fleeing, they would likely face a situation of certain death. Therefore, these fleeing Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators no longer required the attention of Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu. Consequently, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu immediately switched their focus, putting their efforts on Song Hanchun and Jin Weihe. They understood that no matter how many Foundation Establishment Cultivators they killed, it wouldn¡¯t significantly impact the outcome of the battle; the decisive factor was the Golden Core Cultivators. However, killing a Golden Core Cultivator of the same rank was extremely difficult, and even with Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength, it was hard to accomplish alone. Having understood this, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu joined forces, hoping to seize this rare opportunity to target Jin Weihe for elimination. With such intent, Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu fought with wild abandon, using all of the treasures in their possession without reservation. After a hard fight, Song Hanchun and his companion were indeed no match and had no choice but to flee the area. But Chen Jingtian had planned for so long, expended so much effort for this, so how could he let them escape easily? In the ensuing chase, Jin Weihe, unable to shake off or defeat his pursuers, was forced to self-destruct his Golden Core. Because of this, both Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu were injured, with Lan Yu¡¯s wounds particularly severe, almost resulting in his death at the frenzied hands of Jin Weihe. After Song Hanchun escaped the pursuit, he returned with a few remaining cultivators to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. As for Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, at that time both had sustained injuries, and although Chen Jingtian¡¯s injuries were not considered severe, his strength had been somewhat affected. If Zhao Hongsheng and others were to return to this area, their strength would not be advantageous, and with injuries, they¡¯d certainly have to face the risk of being surrounded and attacked. Furthermore, since their current targets had been achieved, and more than ten mountain ranges of the Golden Sword Sect had been captured, yielding a huge amount of resources, overall, in these months of conflict, the Zhenyang Sect had undoubtedly taken the absolute upper hand and gained a significant reward, achieving a temporary victory in the first phase of the battle. Under these circumstances, they could not stay in the territory of the Golden Sword Sect for too long; they needed to return quickly to Qingshui Market to heal and recuperate. Being well aware of this, Chen Jingtian did not dare to delay and immediately gathered his cultivators, successfully retreating back to Qingshui Market. Chapter 776 776 420 Everything is Ready_1 ?Chapter 776: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_1 Chapter 776: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_1 Following Chen Jingtian¡¯s lead, as he took his cultivators and retreated back to the Qingshui Market to stand guard, Song Hanchun also gathered some cultivators and fell back to guard the Shaoyang Market under the Golden Sword Sect. Between the two sides, there were several mountain ranges, with each side acting as a nail, stationing themselves on territories that had never experienced the scourge of war. During this time, a vast area spanning over twenty mountain ranges, which had witnessed the mutual assaults of the two sects of cultivators, had become a wasteland. Moreover, the various larger and smaller family powers within had suffered devastating losses, with almost no intact familes existing outside of the markets. Apart from the tremendous loss of cultivators, the primary issue was that all sorts of cultivation resources had been plundered by the enemy, leaving the place picked clean. Such a vast expanse of battered land would, without question, require one to two hundred years to recover, and even then, it might be difficult to return to its heyday. Perhaps it was for these reasons that the decision-makers of both sects seemed to tacitly agree not to deploy too much force to guard these ravaged territories. ... As a result, both sects possessed large swaths of land that no one inquired after, which gradually became a buffer zone between them. Now, with both sects stationed across this buffer zone, there seemed to be no immediate plans to take the offensive within a short period. In this manner, the months-long siege and battle between the two sides finally came to a stop. However, it was obvious that the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s main focus of attack was not on the Zhenyang Sect, otherwise, with the combined strength of the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, if they had concentrated their forces on a first strike against the Zhenyang Sect, they would not have ended up in such a difficult situation of advance and retreat. At this time, Chen Jingtian took a momentary breath of relief, but he also understood that they could not afford to be careless yet. After all, the main force strength of the Golden Sword Sect remained formidable, and for any side to repeatedly engage with them, there was no chance of success. If the Golden Sword Sect were to make a significant advance at Myriad Medicine Valley, causing heavy losses or even annihilation of Myriad Medicine Valley, their Zhenyang Sect would face even greater troubles. Therefore, at this moment, he was also considering his strategies, whether to continue to pressure the Golden Sword Sect, or to take some people to support Myriad Medicine Valley. Upon considering this idea, he hesitated for a long while, and then came to his own conclusion. He was more inclined to support Myriad Medicine Valley, as the pressure there was too immense, with two Late Stage Golden Core cultivators leading the charge; such overwhelming collective strength meant that even if Zhou Yunxiao relied on the Defensive Great Formation to hunker down, it was likely that they couldn¡¯t hold out for long. As for continuing to attack deep into the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory, relying solely on their few Golden Core cultivators, it would be very difficult to gain much advantage from Song Hanchun. More crucially, should Zhao Hongsheng return, if he were to venture deep into the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory alone, he might end up trapped and in a situation with no return. If Myriad Medicine Valley were to fall, the Zhenyang Sect would likely follow in their footsteps; it was just a matter of time. It could be said that the safety of Myriad Medicine Valley was equally vital and time could not be delayed any further. Thus, weighing the various pros and cons, Chen Jingtian also felt that supporting Myriad Medicine Valley had become imperative. However, it was only a few days later that Lu Xingfeng, the Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect, assessed the current situation and devised a counter strategy. Immediately afterwards, Lu Xingfeng sent word, instructing Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu to visit the two Great Golden Core Families¡ªthe West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family. The purpose of this was also to invite the Golden Core cultivators of the two large families to join forces at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, to assist Zhou Yunxiao in dealing with Zhao Hongsheng and others. Lu Xingfeng¡¯s idea coincided with Chen Jingtian¡¯s. With the matter settled, Chen Jingtian was not inclined to delay and immediately began arranging to support Myriad Medicine Valley. As for Qin Xi and the other summoned cultivators, they were left in Qingshui Market under Zhu Yun¡¯s command, and as long as the Golden Sword Sect did not take the offensive, they were unlikely to leave this place easily. This arrangement was favorable as with the protection of the defensive formation of the market, the place was relatively safe for the moment. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was especially timely as the three of them, following their team, had gone all out in attacking the Pingyang Mountain Range, destroying several Foundation Establishing Families and even more Qi Refining Families in total. As such, their team acquired a good amount of treasures, and the three divided no small portion among themselves; since this was a comparatively peaceful period, it was a good opportunity to cultivate during this interval. In this way, with Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu¡¯s departure, Qingshui Market became calm, with neither of the two opposing sects showing any intention to stir trouble. In the tense atmosphere of a major war, these peaceful days quietly passed by. In the blink of an eye, a year had gone by. To this day, the great war involving the three sects had been ongoing for over a year. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this duration is neither particularly long nor short. In the meantime, Qingshui Market remained relatively calm; both Zhu Yun and Song Hanchun adopted a conservative approach, symbolically raiding each other a few times, and after deaths and injuries of several dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they each withdrew. Subsequently, there were several months of quiet, and as time went on, an unspoken understanding almost formed. The main battlefield of the entire war was at Myriad Medicine Valley; as Golden Core Cultivators converged there, it also attracted the attention of all the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. As for the past year, Myriad Medicine Valley, with the support of Chen Jingtian and others, as well as the two Great Golden Core Families of the Chen and Li, had fought fiercely with Zhao Hongsheng and others numerous times. Chapter 777 777 420 Everything is Ready_2 ?Chapter 777: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_2 Chapter 777: Chapter 420 Everything is Ready_2 Although Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s alliance possessed more Golden Core combat strength, with the Golden Core Cultivators from the four major Golden Elixir Forces combined, they outnumbered the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s alliance by four people. However, the top combat power of the Golden Sword Sect side was stronger, and the addition of Zhao Hongsheng at the Late Stage Golden Core was enough to offset the numerical disadvantage. Under such circumstances, both sides had fiercely battled for a year, with Golden Core combatants getting injured every time, yet not even one had perished. As a result, both parties had depleted various war resources, and a considerable number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had fallen, yet no one had gained much of an advantage, and the great war had fallen into a stalemate. Continuing like this, if no changes were made or without the intervention of external forces, it was feared that there would be no outcome in the short term. Now that the two sides had battled to this point, they had clearly understood each other¡¯s strengths and were well aware of the eventual outcome. Even Han Hu from Golden Sword Sect had started to regret in his heart, regretting his initial covetousness for the conditions offered by the Blood Red Alliance, which led him to bring Golden Sword Sect into the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s camp. ... To date, the Zhenyang Sect had not only depleted a large amount of war resources but had also lost many disciples and recruited cultivators. Having paid such a high price, they had neither annihilated the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley, nor could they extricate themselves from the situation. They had also thoroughly offended both sects, with their betrayal, placing Golden Sword Sect on the opposite side of Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivators. It could be said that Golden Sword Sect had not achieved its goal, and now it was left with no way out, forced to follow Blood Red Alliance to the end. Such an outcome was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it! Not only Golden Sword Sect, but Zhao Hongsheng was also somewhat disappointed with Han Hu. It should be noted that he had come to the impoverished cultivation world of Wei Kingdom with a mission in tow. Over the past few years, the matter he had been investigating had made no progress, and he had no specific clues about the treasure he wanted, even losing Jin Weihe, a cultivator at the Early Stage Golden Core. Such an outcome had completely exceeded his expectations. Seeing that the plan to annihilate Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had stalled in the short term, even Zhao Hongsheng couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit anxious. Facing this heavy pressure, Zhao Hongsheng silently made up his mind that if there was no significant progress within the next year, he would have to make significant adjustments. By then, to achieve his goals, he would stop at nothing and would not consider the attitude of Golden Sword Sect. After all, the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s actions were inherently domineering, and they had no shortage of enemies in Qingzhou; one more was one more, and ten more were ten more. What could these Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom count for to the Blood Red Alliance? And the matters Zhao Hongsheng pondered, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian knew nothing of. In their minds, the Blood Red Alliance still could not annihilate them at present, which was not particularly terrifying. As such, they only needed to maintain this form. Golden Sword Sect, unable to prevail after a long siege, would be more anxious than they, and if they failed to achieve their goal, they would surely retreat voluntarily. Even, it was possible that Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance would develop rifts leading to a complete breakdown of their cooperation. At that time, it would be their moment to launch an offensive. Understanding this, all three parties made their own calculations, none daring to be careless. The situation persisted in this manner, with the great war still ongoing, but with an increasing intensity. And this tense battle was only taking place near Myriad Medicine Valley; other major areas had gradually returned to normal. ¡­ At Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. On this day, within a certain cave dwelling at the summit of the main peak, Lin Tianming was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, he was looking in a certain direction, his face showing an expression of longing. Speaking of which, it had been a year and a half since Qin Xi left the clan. During this period, Qin Xi and the three Lin Family members sent back news to Qianchuan Market through others every once in a while, which eventually reached the family. Given that the Lin Family itself was paying particular attention to the situation in the tri-sect war, even though they were far away from Qin Xi, with the help of Sky Dragon Pavilion¡¯s power, they were still timely in learning of major events in the cultivation world. Due to the distance, the news here was somewhat blocked, and relative to Qianchuan Market, there were some delays. However, overall, in comparison to other Foundation Establishing Families, the Lin Family managed to keep relatively up-to-date with the affairs of the Cultivation World. Upon knowing that Qin Xi and the other two were in a reasonably safe situation, Lin Tianming could finally breathe a sigh of relief. In this past year, he had also been busy, spending almost all of his time in closed-door cultivation. Through his efforts, he had successfully advanced his cultivation to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. As of today, his cultivation had reached the limit of the Foundation Establishment Stage, with no further possibility of advancement. In addition, Lin Shilu had crafted several defensive artifacts for him over the years, and alongside the family¡¯s relentless collection efforts, they had prepared many defensive treasures for him. Under these circumstances, he had all the conditions necessary to attempt breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. He was also fully prepared and planned to begin closed-door cultivation starting today to prepare for his advancement to the Golden Core Stage. For this day, he had never dared to slack off in the slightest throughout his decades of cultivation. Now that he had finally reached this step, it could be said that everything was ready except for the right opportunity. However, as the timing ripened, he became somewhat impatient. It was not surprising, since the Lin Family was currently facing many crises and urgently needed more family members to enter the Golden Core Stage to relieve Lin Shikang¡¯s pressure. Furthermore, once a cultivator stepped into the Golden Core Stage, they were considered a power to be reckoned with in Wei Kingdom. And he was about to take this step, his foot virtually already on the threshold of the Golden Core Stage. After all, he was an ordinary cultivator, and under such circumstances, how could he not look forward to the day of his breakthrough? Eventually regaining his composure, his mood gradually stabilized, and he became calm once again. At this moment, Lin Tianming kept his longing for Qin Xi and his eagerness for the Golden Core Stage in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted himself to his peak condition, then with a slap on his storage bag, more than ten defensive artifacts appeared in front of him, neatly arranged in a row. These items were all the defensive artifacts prepared for him by Lin Shilu and the family for his tribulation. At a glance, all these defensive artifacts were of at least a Second Order Medium Quality, and there were several of Second Order Superior quality among them. So many defensive artifacts, each of high value, would be the showstopper items at an auction in Qianchuan Market. Such top-notch defensive artifacts, rare in the cultivation world, would no doubt cause a frenzy among Foundation Establishment Cultivators if they appeared on the market. Now, having these precious defensive artifacts in his hands, he feared they might become useless in just a few years. After all, he had witnessed the power of the Golden Core Tribulation. Back when Lin Shikang underwent his tribulation, the family meticulously prepared more than ten defensive artifacts, all of which were exhausted under the thunderous assault. Those defensive artifacts were also of high grade and were rare treasures; none survived the hits of the deadly tribulation, leaving not a trace behind. Because of this, Lin Shikang was gravely injured, managing only to survive the ordeal of the tribulation. This just shows the full extent of the tribulation¡¯s power. Otherwise, the cultivation world would not consider the tribulation to be the biggest obstacle to entering the Golden Core Stage, with many genius cultivators falling at this hurdle. It was foreseeable that when his time to face the tribulation came, its power would certainly be strong, perhaps even far surpassing that of Lin Shikang¡¯s time. In such a situation, even though he cherished these rare defensive treasures, he would be willing to sacrifice them all if it meant successfully transcending the tribulation. After all, as long as one enters the Golden Core Stage, no price is too great to pay. What he needed to do now was to refine and claim ownership of these defensive artifacts. Then, he would adjust his state to its best, and with the help of the breakthrough insights left by his ancestors and the Fruit of Fortuity, he would attempt to breach the Golden Core Stage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasted no time, immediately taking a Second Order Medium Quality shield-type artifact into his hands. Following that, he cast spell incantations one after another, hitting the artifact precisely. At the same time, he projected all his Divine Sense outward, beginning to concentrate on refining the artifact. ¡­ Chapter 778 778 421 Closed-door Cultivation_1 ?Chapter 778: Chapter 421 Closed-door Cultivation_1 Chapter 778: Chapter 421 Closed-door Cultivation_1 Half a year had passed. After this period of solitary cultivation, Lin Tianming had refined over ten Second Order Defense Artifacts. As of now, all the defenses required for weathering the tribulation were ready; he just awaited his Impact on the Golden Core Stage. However, Lin Tianming did not continue his seclusion but decided to take a brief day out. During this time, he planned to clear his mind, pay a visit to his mother and various elders, and then return to his seclusion to initiate the Impact on the Golden Core Stage. In doing so, he first visited his mother upon leaving seclusion and then went straight to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. By this time, a few people were already sitting in the courtyard chatting leisurely. ... All of these individuals were elders with the surname ¡®Shi,¡¯ and except for Lin Shilu, who was also in closed-door cultivation, the others were present. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment they saw Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang and the others became excited, appearing even more thrilled than Lin Tianming himself. Yet, Lin Tianming was still at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm; if he truly stepped into the Golden Core Stage, who knew what the elders would feel! At this moment, Lin Tianming smiled and greeted the elders with a bow, then exchanged pleasantries. ¡°Tianming¡­ Come over and sit!¡± Lin Shihua, excited, quickly waved for Lin Tianming to come over. Seeing this, Lin Tianming obliged without hesitation, swiftly going to sit next to his grandfather. Shortly after exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Shikang was the first to ask, ¡°Tianming, how are your preparations?¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shihua, too, eagerly added, ¡°Yes¡­ You have been in solitary cultivation for these past few years; the family and Shilu have almost finished preparing the Defense Artifacts for you, it¡¯s time to hasten your Impact on the Golden Core Stage!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, well aware of the elders¡¯ expectations of him and the turbulent situation in the Cultivation World which urgently required him to advance significantly for the family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming remained calm, adjusting his mindset and not succumbing to undue haste that could lead to unnecessary troubles. In his eyes, everything needed to reach the best state; he would wait until he was thoroughly prepared before entering seclusion to Impact the Golden Core Stage. Once he began his seclusion, he would endeavour to push into the Golden Core Stage in one fell swoop to alleviate some of the family¡¯s pressures. And this had always been his approach, which he intended to maintain moving forward. Realizing this, Lin Tianming smiled serenely, looking quite relaxed, seemingly free from any psychological pressure. The elders, seeing his demeanor, although silent, felt utterly content and their confidence in his successful entry into the Golden Core Stage grew even more. Watching the elders¡¯ spirits lifted by his presence, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly, then said solemnly, ¡°Rest assured, elders, Tianming has made all the necessary preparations for the seclusion!¡± ¡°As for today¡¯s departure from seclusion, it was merely to pay a visit to the elders. From tomorrow, I will begin the life-and-death seclusion to either succeed in one move or perish under the Heavenly Tribulation!¡± Hearing these resolute and full-of-confidence words, Lin Shikang nodded with a smile. ¡°Hmm¡­ You lad possess extraordinary talent, your strength far surpasses your peers, and your foundation is extremely solid. Having prepared so thoroughly, you will inevitably cross into the Golden Core Stage with ease!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s words were very much agreed upon by Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, as they had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and growth firsthand. With Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and strength, he had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm at just over forty years of age. Such a rate of cultivation, throughout the hundreds of thousands of years of history in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, was no doubt an exceedingly rare phenomenon. ¡°Third brother is right; we old fellows have quite a bit of confidence in you!¡± Lin Shihua said excitedly, appearing to be in a very good mood. And Lin Tianming, hearing these words from the elders, felt their ease and confidence in him. This filled Lin Tianming with a warm current in his heart, making his own mindset even more tranquil and his determination to break through all the firmer. With the progression of his impending seclusion confirmed, Lin Tianming then shifted the conversation to inquire about the recent happenings in the Cultivation World. Particularly, the direction of the great war between the three sects weighed heavily on the minds of most people in the Wei Kingdom. Beyond that, the progress of both Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan in their Impact on the Golden Core Stage was also vital to the Lin Family and himself. Lin Shihua informed him that the war between the three sects was still at a stalemate. The prolonged conflict had led to many battles, often resulting in numerous casualties among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, as long as no Golden Core Cultivators perished, the scales of victory would not tilt in any direction. If this continues, it seems that neither sect can gain the upper hand, potentially prolonging the deadlock. As for Lin Shilu, he had already crafted most of the Defense Artifacts required for his tribulation a year ago. Barring any unforeseen incidents, Lin Shilu should currently be in seclusion, refining these Defense Artifacts and then attempting to impact the Golden Core Stage with the aid of another Fruit of Fortuity. As for Hu Yuan, he had been in closed-door cultivation for over a year, arranged by Lin Shihua. Before his seclusion, Lin Shihua had personally handed him the legacy knowledge for breaking through and arranged a safe and secluded cultivation spot for him, even assigning a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to guard outside the cave dwelling to prevent unsuspecting clan members from disturbing him. This legacy knowledge for breaking through, previously studied many times by both Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu, had all its recorded contents firmly memorized. Chapter 779 779 421 Retreat_2 ?Chapter 779: Chapter 421 Retreat_2 Chapter 779: Chapter 421 Retreat_2 Otherwise, after being led by Hu Yuan into the seclusion chamber, the critical item needed for the breakthrough was in high demand among the three of them, yet it couldn¡¯t be allocated sufficiently. Fortunately, that was not a problem; even without the original insights on breakthroughs, Lin Tianming and another person weren¡¯t affected in their pursuit of the Golden Core Stage. As such, over the course of a year of closed-door cultivation, the concentration of spiritual energy in Hu Yuan¡¯s place of seclusion seemed to be gradually increasing. It seemed that everything with Hu Yuan¡¯s cultivation process was normal. However, the richness of the spiritual energy was far from sufficient; it was unlikely to induce the Heavenly Tribulation anytime soon. And all they could do now was continue to wait. At this moment, having learned about these matters of concern and knowing that everything was progressing well, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. In his eyes, the greatest worry was the direction of the great war among the three sects, as Qin Xi and several of his clan members were participating in the war. ... As long as their safety was not an issue, the family could develop peacefully on the clan grounds, with those in seclusion continuing their cultivation, and those practicing their skills, seizing this increasingly rare period of peace to improve their strength. This too would enable the Lin Family to safely get through any crisis that might arise in the future. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming decided not to delay any longer, preparing to begin his retreat tomorrow to impact the Golden Core Stage. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with several elders to confirm some details, then returned to his own cave dwelling. That night, he did not cultivate but instead went to bed early, an unusual occurrence, to conserve his energy for the impending realm advancement. The next morning, he went alone to the back mountain of the peak, entering the valley where Lin Shikang had once secluded himself for cultivation. Standing at the entrance of the valley, Lin Tianming carefully surveyed the seclusion spot before him. As far as the eye could see, the gorge was filled with birdsong and floral fragrances. Not only was it exceptionally tranquil, but even the spiritual energy was much more concentrated than he remembered. It appeared that after Ye Pinghai and then Lin Shikang had successively reached the Golden Core Stage here, the family had utilized a Spirit Gathering Array to transform it, making it into an ideal place for seclusion. Looking at the location and feeling the dense spiritual energy, Lin Tianming nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. Then, he entered the interior of the gorge, finding a natural cave and walking inside. He sat down cross-legged and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, performing a Grand Circulation. Once his state peaked, he slapped his storage bag, and a Fruit of Fortuity appeared in his hand. This Fruit of Fortuity had been in his possession for years. The other Fruit of Fortuity and three Jiuli Star Fruits had all been given to Lin Shikang to distribute. Without any surprise, Lin Shilu must have one Fruit of Fortuity now and would be using it for his imminent impact on the Golden Core Stage. As for the three Jiuli Star Fruits, they were rightfully obtained from the Golden Sword Sect; strictly speaking, these fruits should be given to the two powers of Myriad Medicine Valley. However, the Lin Family had no intention of handing them over, yet did not dare to use them lightly. In case of any major crisis within the Lin Family, it might be necessary to offer these fruits in exchange for the support of the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. Besides, there were currently no other members of the family ready to impact the Golden Core Stage, and the most recent to reach the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm was only Qin Xi. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take over a decade to meet the necessary requirements to attempt the Golden Core Stage. In this sense, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t lack Nascent Soul Spiritual Items for a while, and Lin Tianming along with the other person could completely consume their own Fruits of Fortuity, keeping the Jiuli Star Fruits for emergencies. Coming back to himself, Lin Tianming stared at the Fruit of Fortuity in his hand and zoned out for a moment before swallowing it in one gulp. As the Fruit of Fortuity dissolved, a surge of powerful energy was instantly released. In a flash, this energy caused his complexion to turn red, and he felt all the blood in his body boiling. As expected, the energy of the Fruit of Fortuity was immense, deserving of its reputation as a spiritual object capable of aiding Core Formation; even at his full potential, he could sustain the assimilation for a long time. However, among all the spiritual objects that assist Core Formation, the Fruit of Fortuity is one of the few with a gentler medicinal nature. Even so, the massive outpouring of energy instantly left Lin Tianming invigorated, feeling as though he was about to soar into the air. In this moment, he steadied his mind and returned to calmness, then pushed his Cultivation Technique to its limit, vigorously refining this powerful energy. Following that, he diligently refined according to the ancestral teachings on breakthroughs that continuously circulated in his mind. Time slipped away silently, and in a blink of an eye, another year and a half had passed. It was high noon on this day, with the sun beating down from the sky. Behind the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Shikang sat cross-legged on a rock, his eyes fixated on the direction of the valley within. Gazing over, the sky above the secluded valley where Lin Tianming was in meditation was filled with spiritual energy to the extreme, far surpassing any other place on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Even Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu, who were also preparing for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage, could not compare with the degree of spiritual energy here. Watching this dense spiritual energy slowly circulating around the valley, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression was one of excitement as he muttered under his breath. ¡°Tian Ming is indeed refining the Fruit of Fortuity at a great pace. Judging by the level of spiritual energy here, it shouldn¡¯t be long before he shatters his dantian to reconstruct the Golden Core!¡± After saying this, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression gradually grew solemn and he sent out several messages to let Lin Shihua make preparations according to the plan. Once the Heavenly Tribulation descended, they should reduce any unnecessary loss to the minimum. Apart from that, they also had to take into account Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu¡¯s situations to prevent the strength of the tribulation from extending too far and disturbing their meditation. If the scope of the tribulation¡¯s influence became too vast due to its great strength and led to the failure in Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu¡¯s Impact on the Golden Core Stage, it would be a tremendous pity. After all, for a cultivator to reach this stage is no easy feat, not to mention the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items they consumed and the considerable resources already spent. Just consider how the Lin family had once acquired the Star Moon Fruit, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming had taken a significant risk. It was also because of this hard-won Nascent Soul Spiritual Item that Lin Shikang was able to successfully form his Core. If they were indeed to fail, even the current Lin Family would feel the pain, that¡¯s for sure. Fortunately, they had detailed plans several years in advance, with the locations for their three members¡¯ secluded meditations arranged in different directions of the Lin Family Clan Grounds and quite distant from one another. Otherwise, the force of the Golden Core Tribulation is immense; if both happened to attract their tribulations at the same time, they would inevitably affect each other. If the tribulations of the two collided, the power would likely double. Under those circumstances, even if Lin Tianming had exceptional talent and was far stronger than other cultivators at his level, he would hardly have a ten percent chance of successfully transcending the tribulation. However, the chances of both attracting the Heavenly Tribulation at the same time were so minuscule as to be almost non-existent. The process of Impacting the Golden Core Stage itself takes a long time, ranging from a couple of years to as much as three to five years. The probability of undergoing tribulation on the same day under such conditions is indeed too small. Besides, the three had not started their retreats at the same time, and with Lin Tianming¡¯s high talent, his speed in refining the Fruit of Fortuity was sure to surpass Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu. Under these combined factors, the probability was even smaller. Therefore, as long as they did not face the Heavenly Tribulation on the same day, it would not affect Hu Yuan and Lin Shilu. Putting it this way, the impact of the tribulation should not be a problem. Realizing this, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Then, as he watched the changes in the valley, a look of anticipation appeared on his face. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One month later, At dawn on this day, the sun rose as usual, painting a pale light across the sky, and its rays spread across the ground. At this time, many clan members were shuttling through the clan grounds, presenting a scene of tranquility and peace. At the busiest moment for the Lin Family, everything within the clan grounds was as normal as usual. Whoever needed to cultivate, cultivated. Apart from some prohibitions that the family had announced in advance, which puzzled some uninformed clan members, there seemed to be no change within the family. ¡­ Chapter 780 780 422 The Arrival of the Heavenly ?Chapter 780: Chapter 422: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Chapter 780: Chapter 422: The Arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation_1 Behind the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, in a cave within the valley. At this moment, Lin Tianming sat motionless on his meditation cushion, as if he were an old monk in deep meditation. His face was extremely pale, his expression appeared somewhat painful, and large beads of sweat fell from his forehead to the ground, where they quickly disappeared. The reason for his current state was because he was at a critical moment of impacting the Golden Core Stage. At this moment, drastic changes were occurring within him; his entire dantian had shattered. The spiritual power he had cultivated up until now was chaotically surging throughout his body. Previously, these surges of spiritual power were restrained by the dantian, at least preventing such a violent disturbance, let alone a chaotic flow. Now, without any restraint, all his meridians served as pathways for the surging spiritual power. ... If the Golden Core could not be successfully created, they would have nowhere to go and could only wander aimlessly. Lin Tianming had anticipated this situation, after all, the ancient teachings passed down by his ancestors had detailed records of such breakthroughs. In addition to this, both Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang had taught him through words and actions, introducing the entire process of forming the Golden Core many times, including possible problems, in great detail. Such valuable experiences were firmly etched in his mind. Basing his actions on these experiences, the past year had seen a very smooth process in impacting the Golden Core Stage, with a speed far surpassing Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang¡¯s initial attempts. Ye Pinghai had taken nearly four years from the start of his seclusion to successfully reconstruct his Golden Core and subsequently attract the Heavenly Tribulation. Lin Shikang took nearly three years as well ¨C both of them had spent no small amount of time. Yet, in just a year and a half, Lin Tianming had already reached the stage of forming the Golden Core, almost doubling the speed of their initial attempts. This pace was truly astonishing! However, Lin Tianming did not concern himself with these matters, nor did he have the mood or spare time to pay attention to them. He was, at this time, following the contents of his ancestors¡¯ teachings, beginning to form the most crucial Golden Core. Once the Golden Core was formed, he would be halfway into the Golden Core Stage, only awaiting the Threefold Lightning Tribulation to become a genuine Golden Core Cultivator. Deeply aware of the importance of forming the Golden Core, Lin Tianming dared not let his mind wander, nor be the slightest bit careless. In such a state, Lin Tianming focused his mind, constantly recalling the teachings of Lin Shikang and others, and according to the method described in the breakthrough teachings, he began to gather the rampaging spiritual power scattered throughout his body. Under his vast Divine Sense, the violent spiritual power gradually became gentle and slowly gathered in his chest, eventually forming a Spirit Group that remained stationary. Time passed by, not too long after. As more and more spiritual power was gathered, along with his powerful Divine Sense compressing the spiritual power, a chicken egg-sized Spirit Group formed within him. Upon closer examination, this Spirit Group seems to already have the rudimentary shape of a Golden Core, even changing in color from initially transparent to a faint gold. Although the color was very faint, it was undeniably real! Seeing this change, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, knowing that he had not deviated from the process. Feeling the transformation of the Spirit Group, he couldn¡¯t help but speculate that if things continued at this pace, it might not be long before he could completely solidify it, thus successfully forming the Golden Core. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming continued to gather spiritual power without interruption, funneling it into the nascent Golden Core. On this foundation, he maintained a good pace, without rushing, to avoid any accidents. In such a cautious situation, the insubstantial Spirit Group in his body began to solidify at a visible speed. At the same time, outside the valley where Lin Tianming was in seclusion, S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shikang sat on a stone, looking in the direction of the valley. He then felt the changes in the Spiritual Energy above him, noticeably thicker than when he was forming his Golden Core and even stronger by many degrees. Witnessing the continuous gathering of Spiritual Energy, his face couldn¡¯t help but show a satisfied smile, with excitement surging within him. He was extremely thrilled at the moment, a feeling coming from deep within, not unlike when he himself had hit the Golden Core Stage. Although it might not be apparent to others, he was well aware and couldn¡¯t calm down. ¡°If all goes well, the Heavenly Tribulation should be in the next few days, huh!¡± He muttered to himself, then continued to sit in place, waiting for Lin Tianming¡¯s further progress. His wait did not last long; just three days later, a series of muffled sounds emanated from the valley. Although the noise was not loud, in the quiet atmosphere, with Lin Shikang¡¯s Golden Core Stage cultivation, he perceived it clearly. Inside the valley, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was pale and his state seemed not too good. Yet in reality, he was still excited, as the changes within him were even more evident; the originally ethereal Spirit Group had boldly transformed into a chicken egg-sized Golden Core. Moreover, the overall color of the Golden Core was more vivid, having mostly turned to gold, with only a few areas still showing some faint silver-white color. It seemed that the Golden Core was just shy of reaching perfection. At this moment, Lin Tianming, surveying his inner state, saw the nascent Golden Core and clearly understood this point. Chapter 781 781 422 The Arrival of Heavenly ?Chapter 781: Chapter 422: The Arrival of Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 781: Chapter 422: The Arrival of Heavenly Tribulation_2 And with a bit of thought, he understood the reason behind it. The lack of immense spiritual energy he had been drawing for over a year was the cause. These spiritual energies, all converging in the valley¡¯s midair, had been partially extracted by him during this period, and in combination with the spiritual power refined from the Fruit of Fortuity, had shaped this Golden Core. The remaining part was still substantial, and it was the final piece that was needed. If all went as expected, he just needed to draw in these spiritual energies and inject them into the Golden Core to fully shape it successfully. Understanding this, Lin Tianming knew the time had come and thus did not delay any further. Following this, with a thought, the Golden Core within his body began to slowly rotate. ... Very soon, the spiritual energy inside the valley rushed towards him as if summoned, converging on his location in a frenzy. In a moment, he felt an enormous amount of spiritual energy gathering above his head, pouring into his body along his Sky Spirit Cover, and finally converging within the Golden Core. And since the Golden Core began to absorb this spiritual energy, the color change did indeed accelerate as the hint of silver-white color gradually faded, transforming into a golden light. Seeing that his expectations were not misguided, Lin Tianming became even more excited and hastily sped up the absorption of the spiritual energy. This absorption process was very quick, and the spiritual energy congregated in the valley was being rapidly depleted. At the same time, the originally clear sky suddenly became turbulent with strong winds, and dark clouds also began to gather, indicating that a storm was on the verge of breaking out. This drastic change immediately alerted Lin Shikang, who soon adopted a stance as if facing a formidable enemy. Despite his worries, was this not the day that he had been longing for over the past few years? Now that it had finally arrived, it actually brought him a sigh of relief. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the dark clouds in the sky had gathered considerably, entirely enveloping a large area over the clan grounds, with occasional flashes of silver-white light piercing through the clouds, appearing exceptionally dazzling. At this time, Lin Shigong was flying over, his expression looking complex, as if he was equally nervous and excited. Upon his arrival, Lin Shigong first glanced towards the valley, then said, ¡°Third Brother, Tian Ming has finally reached this step!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang remained calm, and then nodded, saying, ¡°Yes¡­ We old men have been waiting for this day for so long, haven¡¯t we?¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the worry in Lin Shigong¡¯s heart immediately dissipated by a good measure. He was of course well aware that, although the power of the Heavenly Tribulation was terrifying, it was an ordeal that every High Order Cultivator on the path of advancement could not avoid. This ordeal was akin to rebirth, those who overcame it were like phoenixes soaring to the sky or dragons leaping into the sea, thereafter stepping into the ranks of High Order Cultivators and thus experiencing a different landscape of the Cultivation World. Conversely, it meant death, perishing on the spot. And to have reached this step, whether successful or not, was something to be envied. Now that the most talented member of the Lin Family had come to this point, who was also his own grandson, it was indeed a great joy for all of the Lin Family¡­ Moreover, Lin Tianming¡¯s talents and strength were so dazzling, and his preparations were sufficiently thorough, that the probability of overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation should be not small. Therefore, there was really no need for him to be so tense. Understanding this, Lin Shigong¡¯s expression significantly relaxed, and his excited smile couldn¡¯t be concealed any longer. Seeing his demeanor, Lin Shikang nodded, then broached the serious topic. ¡°Ninth Brother, how is the arrangement with the clansmen progressing?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong earnestly replied, ¡°Third Brother, rest assured, Shihua has already moved the clansmen in advance, and Xing Zhi is also guarding where Shi Lu is in seclusion, everything is proceeding according to the prearranged plan!¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Tian Ming should be facing the tribulation soon, let¡¯s retreat further away so as not to suffer from the force of the Heavenly Tribulation unnecessarily!¡± After Lin Shikang said this, he promptly took Lin Shigong with him and left the valley, quickly appearing on a mountain peak twenty miles away. Not long after the two of them left, the dark clouds in the sky roiled frantically, with silver-white lightning flickering frequently. At this time, the Golden Core inside Lin Tianming was still absorbing the spiritual energy from the valley at a frenzied pace. Not long after, time had passed. The spiritual energy within the canyon had become much more sparse, not much different from the normal concentration in other areas of the Lin Family¡¯s territory. At this moment, the Golden Core within Lin Tianming¡¯s body seemed to have absorbed energy to its limit, and he didn¡¯t know when, but it had stopped spinning and the external spiritual energy was no longer flowing. Upon close inspection of his inner body, he could see that the Golden Core had become fully solid, the color completely a golden yellow, and the intricate and mysterious patterns on it were fully revealed. ¡°This is undoubtedly a complete Golden Core!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself as he observed the Golden Core inside him. However, he also felt some doubts, although he hadn¡¯t yet passed the Threefold Lightning Tribulation and wasn¡¯t considered a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, he had seen numerous records about Golden Core Cultivators. For some unknown reason, his Golden Core seemed larger, almost the size of a chicken egg. Lin Shikang had once mentioned that a normal Golden Core should be the size of a peach pit, and it might be slightly larger for a small portion of people, which wasn¡¯t considered a particularly rare occurrence. After all, every cultivator is different, and those with a solid foundation may have a slightly larger Golden Core¡ªthere were actually quite a few such cases. Yet his Golden Core was clearly a size larger, almost twice as large as a normal one. He had never seen such an unusual Golden Core mentioned in any book, nor had he heard about it. But at this time, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t concerned with delving into this, as everything felt normal, and he had no adverse reactions. More importantly, the skies above the canyon were already filled with howling winds and booming thunder, with silver-white lightning surging among the dark clouds. It appeared that the first round of the Heavenly Tribulation was brewing and could descend at any moment. In such circumstances, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to think about other matters and immediately walked out of the cave to prepare for the Heavenly Tribulation. Less than half an hour later, the lightning that had gathered in the dark clouds was already plentiful. Looking around, each bolt of lightning was as thick as a water bucket, and their numbers were vast; intertwined, they formed roaring thunder dragons. Although the thunder dragons hadn¡¯t yet descended, Lin Tianming could already feel the oppressive force of the lightning, as if it intended to destroy heaven and earth. It was this force of the lightning that felt extremely powerful to him, even compared to the thunder dragon that appeared when Lin Shikang faced his tribulation. Clearly, the thunder dragons that appeared when Lin Shikang underwent his tribulation were also very powerful, but the aura, momentum, and oppressive force they emitted were not in the same league. The difference seemed to have a lot to do with the strength of the person undergoing the tribulation. The stronger the individual facing the tribulation, the stronger the power of the Heavenly Tribulation, and vice versa. However, once the Heavenly Tribulation was passed, the strength at the Golden Core Stage would be even more formidable. And sometimes, fate was quite fair; the greater the difficulties faced by the strong, the more they had to give, and consequently, the more they would receive. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was not at all afraid. Instead, his heart was filled with soaring spirits, and he seemed somewhat impatient to experience the legendary power of the Heavenly Tribulation for himself. No sooner had this thought crossed his mind, his wish was immediately granted! ¡°Rumble¡­¡± At this time, in the canyon, gale-force winds were on the rise, and the dark clouds above his head had already occupied the entire sky, darkening the space between heaven and earth. At the same time, the lightning amidst the dark clouds had reached its peak. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a thunderous roar, three massive thunder dragons burst forth from the dark clouds, flying towards him with bared fangs and claws, their speed as fast as lightning. The thunder dragons possessed an awe-inspiring momentum, seemingly poised to engulf him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became stern; he had not expected the first layer of the Thunder Tribulation to be so intense, presenting three whole thunder dragons as soon as it started. And this strength of the Thunder Tribulation was slightly more powerful than the force of Lin Shikang¡¯s second layer of the Thunder Tribulation. However, he was not flustered, but rather extremely composed. ¡­ Chapter 782 782 423 Passing the Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 782: Chapter 423 Passing the Heavenly Tribulation ¨C 1 Chapter 782: Chapter 423 Passing the Heavenly Tribulation ¨C 1 Watching the Thunder Dragon draw closer and closer, Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and three Second Order Defense Artifacts appeared in his hand. Immediately, he cast spell incantations rapidly, accurately striking the artifacts. ¡°Hum hum hum¡­¡± Strange buzzing sounds emanated as these defense artifacts flickered with light and quickly expanded, forming various barriers that tightly shielded him. He was fast because he was well-prepared and keenly aware of the terrifying power of the Heavenly Tribulation. Even though he was always confident, he knew he must be careful. Otherwise, if he died under the Heavenly Tribulation, it wouldn¡¯t matter how talented or brilliant he was¡ªwithout life, it was all empty talk. In this situation, Lin Tianming pushed his cultivation technique to the limit, pouring spiritual power like mad into the defense artifacts. ... Under his control, dazzling light surged on the surface of these artifacts as their defensive power was pushed to the extreme. Just as he finished these defenses, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation had already arrived, instantly reaching right above his head. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sound of thunder roared in Lin Tianming¡¯s ears, the closeness of the noise making them painfully ring. He looked up at the sky, only to see three Thunder Dragons roaring, their huge bodies piercing through the dense clouds, their gaping maws already wide open, with an authoritative dragon¡¯s roar echoing between heaven and earth. The Thunder Dragons were fast, moving through the clouds like fish in water, seemingly alive in appearance. Under his gaze, the Thunder Dragons descended in an instant, directly hitting the defense artifact above his head. A series of explosions resounded, light scattered throughout the sky, and the shockwave from the blast swept over. In that brilliant light, the three defense artifacts appeared as fragile as paper, easily shattered by the Thunder Dragon. Immediately after, the Thunder Dragon continued to charge at him, seemingly undeterred by the momentary blockage or its slightly spent force. At this moment, the aura created by the charging Thunder Dragon was astonishing, with shockwaves from the blast sweeping in and causing Lin Tianming¡¯s robes to flap noisily. Lin Tianming felt the will of the Thunder Dragon and had personally witnessed the entire process of Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. He knew all too well that if he didn¡¯t completely disperse it or exhaust its power, the Thunder Dragon would not stop. And this was only the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation; the power of the subsequent two tribulations would surely double in strength. He had only used three defense artifacts just now to conserve resources, not wanting to consume too many treasures too soon and be left in a passive state for the latter two tribulations. In his eyes, although the power of the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation was tremendous, he was a cultivator who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, his physical strength alone comparable to a Second Order Medium Quality Defense Artifact. Moreover, the Thunder Dragon had already been significantly weakened, and the remaining power was probably quite limited. If he could utilize his full physical strength, he could save some defense artifacts and avoid excessive consumption on external objects. This strategy would allow him to endure a bit longer under the subsequent two layers of the tribulation. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming remained calm, clenched his fist in haste, and launched a punch at the Thunder Dragon coming head-on above him. His movement was clean and decisive, and although his fist seemed trivial and lacking in destructive force, invisibly, a burst of energy shot from his fist, blasting the air in front of it. In a blink, this energy collided with the Thunder Dragon. A loud bang erupted, the Thunder Dragon¡¯s form staggered midair, then let out a pained roar, seeming to be in agony. They were locked in a stalemate for a moment, and as the energy from the punch dissipated, the body of the Thunder Dragon collapsed a fair amount. Then, the Thunder Dragon fell again, striking directly against Lin Tianming¡¯s fist. In an instant, Lin Tianming felt a strong force assaulting through his fist, a tingling sensation accompanied by a sharp pain that quickly spread throughout every part of his body. At the same time, his blood qi surged wildly within him as a few strands of lightning took the opportunity to invade his body and began to rampage. This lightning, though only a few strands and out of his control, wreaked havoc inside him. A series of crackling sounds emerged, alarmingly the result of the thunder and bones colliding. Under this destructive force, Lin Tianming¡¯s face paled, a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his breath weakened momentarily. He swiftly mobilized a large amount of spiritual power to suppress the invading lightning. With his relentless pursuit, the power of the lightning was slowly consumed, and he finally forced it out of his body. Afterward, he looked up at the sky again, only to find the Thunder Dragon had vanished without a trace, with only the dark clouds above still brewing with lightning. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief, his respect for the power of the Heavenly Tribulation growing. But he also felt a secret joy that his physical strength was strong enough, coupled with the Blue Star Armor he always wore. This Defense Artifact, originally a Second Order Medium Quality inner armor, had been promoted to Second Order Superior by Lin Shilu, who spent many treasures on it. After a period of refinement, the new Blue Star Armor¡¯s defensive power was exceptionally outstanding, helping him resist much of the power of the Heavenly Tribulation. Chapter 783 783 423 Surviving the Heavenly ?Chapter 783: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 783: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_2 Otherwise, even if he could withstand the first layer of Thunder Tribulation, he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid injury. Now, he was only experiencing some disturbance in his qi and blood; such minor injuries had a negligible impact on his strength and could be entirely disregarded. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face regained some color, and he then took out an elixir and swallowed it, making the most of this precious interlude to recover some spiritual power. A moment as brief as a cup of tea passed. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the sky, thunder roared tumultuously, and the lightning brewing within the dark clouds surged violently, looking ready to fulfill the requirements of the Heavenly Tribulation and descend at any moment. At this moment, Lin Tianming gazed at the thunderclouds and noticed that the lightning within them had grown even more massive and their numbers had significantly increased. Not only that but the aura of the lightning had become much stronger as well. Compared to the first layer, it had clearly ascended several levels. ... It appeared that the second layer of Thunder Tribulation would far surpass the first. Seeing this, his expression became even more solemn and he hastily began to prepare for the impending Thunder Tribulation. ¡°Rumble, rumble¡­¡± Just a few breaths later, the clouds churned violently and from within emerged a massive Thunder Dragon. At a glance, this Thunder Dragon appeared majestic. Although there was only one, and its number was less than during the first layer of Thunder Tribulation, the Dragon¡¯s form was unbelievably huge, and its aura was far more terrifying. At the moment the Thunder Dragon appeared, the entire sky flashed with silver light, and the temperature between heaven and earth dropped sharply. Although Lin Tianming had anticipated that the second layer of the Thunder Tribulation would be terrifying, upon witnessing it firsthand, he realized that he had underestimated its power. As Lin Tianming was momentarily stunned, the second layer of the Thunder Tribulation leaped forth from the dark clouds and struck directly towards him. Then, with a slap to his storage bag, several defensive artifacts appeared, which he swiftly sacrificed, forming barriers that he firmly placed above his head. Having learned from the ordeal of the first layer of the Thunder Tribulation, Lin Tianming was extra cautious. This time, he directly sacrificed five defensive artifacts, among which three were of Second Order Superior quality. This lavish approach was something most cultivators could hardly afford. After all, the value of each Second Order Superior Defense Artifact was not low; for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator to own one or two Second Order Medium to Superior Quality Defense Artifacts was already considered quite wealthy. Take Ye Pinghai as an example; when he faced his tribulation, he used only seven or eight Second Order Defense Artifacts. Keep in mind that he was a well-known alchemist among loose cultivators, having refined elixirs for many. Over a hundred years of cultivation, he had accumulated a large wealth, his fortune being rather substantial among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Even so, the defense artifacts he used during his tribulation numbered only seven or eight, hardly comparable to Lin Tianming¡¯s resources. Luckily, Lin Tianming¡¯s fortune was even more formidable; he had obtained a large number of Defense Artifacts and numerous Spirit Ore and Materials in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. These spoils of war came from Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, most of which were at least Second Order Medium Quality. With the full support of Lin Shilu, the Artifact Refiner, and the Lin Family¡¯s collective efforts to help acquire them, he could afford to utilize these Defense Artifacts so lavishly against the Thunder Tribulation. Such an expansive outlay was something even Inner Sect Disciples of the Zhenyang Sect rarely possessed the resources to employ. Yet now, Lin Tianming was using them without a second thought as if these Defense Artifacts were worthless. But upon closer reflection, others did not act this way simply due to constrained means. After all, if one were to perish in the Heavenly Tribulation, no matter how abundant the fortune or how many treasures one held, what significance would they have? Once a cultivator falls, everything dissipates like clouds, all possessions become irrelevant to them. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to deploy so many Defense Artifacts without a trace of reluctance or pain. And his grand gestures truly played a crucial role. The moment the Thunder Dragon descended, it struck directly upon the first barrier. The first Defense Artifact, being only of Second Order Medium Grade, briefly stalled the Thunder Dragon before it was pierced through. Subsequently, the next two artifacts also failed to stop the Thunder Dragon and were easily penetrated. However, as the grade and quality of the subsequent Defense Artifacts increased, so did their defensive power. As the force of the Thunder Dragon dwindled, the power balance shifted; the further back, the less force the Thunder Dragon possessed. Soon, the fifth Defense Artifact also broke under the impact of the Thunder Dragon, the diminished form still relentlessly striking forth, no possibility of halting. By this time, the Thunder Dragon had significantly reduced in size, its presence and momentum nowhere near that at its peak. Clearly, the power of the Thunder Dragon was now greatly reduced, its threat much diminished. Lin Tianming, aware of this, launched a punch before the Thunder Dragon¡¯s descent, striking it head-on. He had fully prepared for this attack, not only successfully dissipating the Thunder Dragon but also bracing for the destructive force of the lightning. As the Thunder Dragon finally vanished into the skies, the second layer of Thunder Tribulation passed, and the heavens temporarily returned to a brief calm. This second layer had come ferociously yet had not stirred up too great a turmoil, merely causing Lin Tianming to expend a great deal without suffering much injury. Now that the second layer of Thunder Tribulation was behind him, only the last layer remained. As long as he managed to pass through that successfully, he would be able to formally step into the Golden Core Stage. Chapter 784 784 423 Surviving the Heavenly ?Chapter 784: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_3 Chapter 784: Chapter 423: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation_3 ¡°` Thinking of these, Lin Tianming felt extremely excited, and a long-missed smile appeared on his face. However, before he could enjoy his happiness for long, the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation seemed to be ready to descend. At this moment, he looked towards the sky and saw that the dark clouds had already gathered a formidable amount of lightning, from which several powerful Thunder Dragons has condensed, each no weaker than the one before. Seeing such a terrifying Heavenly Tribulation, its momentum far surpassed that of Lin Shikang¡¯s tribulation. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knitted, and he finally showed a look of fear. He knew in his heart that the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation was just a warm-up, the Second Layer had some lethal threats, but with some sacrifices, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to overcome. But this Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation was the true barrier for all Foundation Establishment Cultivators attempting to break through, and countless who tried to ascend to the Golden Core Stage had perished at this hurdle. ... What he was about to endure was indeed a true ordeal. Sure enough, the Thunder Dragons within the clouds roared frantically, and their powerful presence was astounding. They let out an angry roar and flew out from the dark clouds, carrying an endless momentum, seemingly ready to destroy everything below. This force was vast and seemed bent on subjugating him, even carrying the intention of annihilating the heavens and earth. Under such oppressive momentum, Lin Tianming felt very insignificant, experiencing for the first time the oppressive force of the will of heaven and earth. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The Thunder Dragons roared as they approached, swiftly arriving right above him. At that time, he took a deep breath, a resolute expression flashing across his face. He was acutely aware of the effort he had made for this day, and understood the expectations his family elders had of him. Moreover, there was no turning back now: either he would successfully weather the tribulation and become the third Golden Core Cultivator in the history of his family, or he would perish under the Heavenly Tribulation. ¡°Hmph¡­ a mere Threefold Lightning Tribulation can¡¯t stop me!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was resolute, and after a cold snort, he immediately brought out all the Defense Artifacts he had. In an instant, five High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts flew from his hands, rapidly forming several barriers, firmly protecting him in the center. Upon closer inspection, each of these Defense Artifacts was a treasure among treasures, and they represented his final external reliance. In that moment, he held nothing back, ready to make his final gambit. With such conviction, the Defense Artifacts collided with the Thunder Dragons. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the two forces collided head-on, a burst of fire soaring into the sky, and suddenly a mushroom cloud rose, sweeping powerful waves over the area, causing the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory to tremble slightly. And in the center of the explosion, Lin Tianming¡¯s Defense Artifacts were shattered one by one, eventually dissolving completely in the burst of flames. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s body flashed brightly as he pushed his Physical Strength to its limit, his fists slamming into the heads of the Thunder Dragons. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Several more explosions echoed, and the sky, yet to settle, was once again lit with blinding light, covering a vast area. In the light, the Thunder Dragons still had great destructive power, blasting him from mid-air and smashing him heavily onto the ground. But his strength was also formidable; the energy he unleashed in his resolution far exceeded any other time. Under his assault, the Thunder Dragons struggled for a few breaths before he forcefully dispersed them. As the Thunder Dragons dissipated, the dark clouds swiftly retreated, and the raging winds ceased, bringing some clarity back to the somber skies for a time. ¡°` Chapter 785 785 424 Yuxu Pill_1 ?Chapter 785: Chapter 424: Yuxu Pill_1 Chapter 785: Chapter 424: Yuxu Pill_1 In the blink of an eye, the roiling dark clouds completely dissipated, and the dim sky returned to tranquility. And the moment the third layer of the Thunder Tribulation vanished, Lin Tianming immediately felt a tremble in the Golden Core within his body, as if his soul had acquired some mysterious substance. That substance was formless and multicolored, invisible and untouchable, yet it truly existed. Furthermore, that feeling was very mystical, something he had never experienced before, as if his soul was aimlessly drifting through the sky. This addictive sensation made him feel incredibly comfortable in body and mind, so much so that he indulged in it and even forgot the pain from his extensive injuries. Just as he was in this floating state, a powerful pressure swept out, quickly spreading in all directions. This pressure was strong, and its range was broad; from him as the center, many areas within the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory could clearly feel this pressure. ... At the same time, on a mountain peak outside the valley, Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong stood side by side. Their eyes were tightly fixed on the valley where Lin Tianming was facing his tribulation, their expressions filled with shock. When they saw the first layer of Thunder Tribulation descend, Lin Shikang had already understood that Lin Tianming¡¯s tribulation was extremely terrifying, far more powerful than his own had been. However, Lin Tianming was extremely strong, even more so than Lin Shikang had been at that stage, and he had prepared more fully. Even so, as to whether he could smoothly pass the Heavenly Tribulation, Lin Shikang had no absolute confidence in his heart. But he also understood that every person attempting to break through to the Golden Core Stage had to face the test of the Thunder Tribulation. Even if he was worried, he could provide no help; everything depended on Lin Tianming himself. Fortunately, Lin Tianming did not disappoint them. Even faced with a Thunder Tribulation far surpassing what he had faced, he bore almost no significant cost under his full effort and easily passed two layers of the Thunder Tribulation. When confronted with the third layer, Lin Tianming also showed his composure. Although he was injured, he managed to pass the third layer of the Thunder Tribulation and thus became a Golden Core Cultivator. As the thunderclouds receded and the Thunder Dragon vanished from sight, Lin Shigong¡¯s breathing became rapid, unable to hold back his tears. Seeing Lin Shigong¡¯s state, Lin Shikang¡¯s nose felt sore too, and before long, his eyes were brimming with tears. They couldn¡¯t be blamed, as Lin Tianming¡¯s success in the Thunder Tribulation and becoming a Golden Core Cultivator had milestone significance for them personally and for the Lin Family as a whole. Although Lin Shikang was the first to break through to the Golden Core Stage, becoming the family¡¯s first old ancestor and Golden Core Stage clansman, his potential was extremely limited, and without some incredible fortune, he probably wouldn¡¯t advance much further in this lifetime. But Lin Tianming was different; given his talent and cultivation, his potential was immense. The Golden Core Stage was not his limit, and even becoming a Nascent Soul Expert, those who dominated the lands of the heart, was not impossible. Moreover, with the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in turmoil and crises everywhere, the Lin Family desperately needed Lin Tianming to step into the Golden Core Stage. In such circumstances, Lin Tianming was key to the Lin Family overcoming crises and rising to prominence. Now that this wish had finally been fulfilled, Lin Shikang and the rest could finally let their worries rest. At that moment, Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure, his face beaming with excitement. Then, looking at the peaceful sky, he turned to Lin Shigong and instructed, ¡°Ninth brother, go find Shihua quickly and make sure our clansmen are settled properly. Remember to keep the news of Tianming¡¯s successful breakthrough confidential!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Shigong calmed down, nodded in response, and was the first to leave the place. Inside the valley, Lin Tianming stood on top of a small hill. Looking around, the valley was in a state of disarray; towering trees lay scattered around, trenches were visible everywhere, and some mountaintops had been partly flattened by the lightning, now standing as small platforms. At this moment, Lin Tianming was covered in blood, his robes torn to shreds, revealing the wounds underneath. However, his breathing was still steady, his face pale, but his spirit remained surprisingly good. Not knowing how much time had passed, when he emerged from that mysterious state, Lin Tianming felt his body filled with strength, and his soul had grown much more powerful. When he looked inside his body, he saw the golden color of the Golden Core shining brightly, with the mystical patterns around it clearly visible. Beyond that, the Golden Core retained some remnants of mana that felt exceptionally powerful, even a tiny trace of which was much more formidable than the spiritual power of the Foundation Establishment Stage. It appeared that, now that the Thunder Tribulation had passed, he had indeed become a genuine Golden Core Cultivator. Feeling the mana within his body and his more powerful Divine Sense and physique, Lin Tianming firmly believed that he had successfully entered the Golden Core Stage, and he began to revel in joy. After about half a quarter of an hour, Lin Tianming calmed down from his excitement, and his demeanor returned to its usual composure. Then, looking at the ruined valley, he headed toward the cave where he had been in seclusion. He had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage and had sustained serious injuries after the tribulation, with his realm still not completely stable. Time was pressing, and there was no lack of things that needed to be done; he had to go into deep seclusion and cultivate properly to prevent any mishaps. Thus, Lin Tianming immediately entered the cave for seclusion and soon delved into deep cultivation. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 786 786 424 Yuxu Pill_2 ?Chapter 786: Chapter 424 Yuxu Pill_2 Chapter 786: Chapter 424 Yuxu Pill_2 ¡°` As he secluded himself to consolidate his cultivation, everything in the Lin Family returned to normal, with the clan members resuming their cultivation routines as if nothing was amiss. Despite the commotion emanating from the clan¡¯s territory that puzzled them, Lin Shihua had already instructed that no discussions or inquiries about the matter were permitted. Having already experienced such events twice before, the sudden recurrence only made the clan members more accustomed to it, and there was little left to arouse their curiosity. Under these circumstances, the ruckus caused by Lin Tianming¡¯s tribulations soon settled down within the clan. ¡­ Half a year passed by swiftly. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s secluded cave, he sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his breathing stable, his complexion rosy and radiant, seeming to be in excellent condition. ... At that moment, his eyes opened, and a flash of brilliance passed through the corners, faintly illuminating the dim cave. After half a year of dedicated cultivation in seclusion, his cultivation realm had been thoroughly consolidated. In that instant, he felt the abundant mana within him and the explosive power throughout his body, far surpassing his power during the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. The disparity in strength was not even comparable! By his estimates, he could now effortlessly defeat ten Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators simultaneously without exerting much effort. That was the formidable might of a Golden Core Cultivator, for if it had been so easy to achieve a breakthrough, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not be limited to only twenty Golden Core Cultivators. Now that he had successfully broken through to the Golden Core Realm, the Lin Family¡¯s overall combat power included three Golden Core Stage practitioners, counting Ye Pinghai. Such collective strength put the Lin Family in a position to move unhindered throughout the Wei Kingdom, save for the three Great Sects. Even if they were to face any single Sect alone, the Lin Family might not be a match, but they were not without the power to resist. Even more so, the Lin Family possessed the capability to inflict heavy damage on any of them, should they be willing to pay the price. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming felt boundless pride in his heart and could not help but let out a hearty laugh. Nearly forty years into his cultivation path, he had finally stepped into the Golden Core Realm, and the Lin Family rapidly rose to prominence. Moreover, Lin Shilu was next in line to attempt a breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm. Should he succeed, the Lin Family¡¯s strength would continue to rise, improving their ability to handle crises. However, Lin Shilu had only been in seclusion for two years, and even if his breakthrough process was smooth, it was unlikely that there would be any results just yet. Realizing this, Lin Tianming took note of the situation before contemplating his next course of action. After a short while, he had made up his mind, deciding to first leave his seclusion and pay a visit to the family elders. Once they had gathered and caught up, he planned to return to his cave mansion and continue his secluded cultivation. He chose to do so because he currently had no specific duties, as there was nothing in particular for a Golden Core Cultivator of the Lin Family to attend to. Since he would be idle either way, he might as well continue his seclusion for a while, especially since there was an important matter at hand¡ªcultivating the Divine Skills that came with the Tiangang Body Art. During the Qi Refinement Realm and the Foundation Establishment Stages, he had acquired the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword, respectively. These two Divine Skills, one offensive and the other trapping, complemented each other and had served as his primary means of defense against enemies over the years, earning him great merit. Now, having broken through to the Golden Core Stage, he had entered a whole new level and could cultivate another Divine Skill. He considered the Divine Skills from the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment Stages to be quite powerful already, and he could only imagine that a Golden Core Stage skill would be even more formidable. With this thought in mind, he was extremely eager to discover this new Divine Skill. Nevertheless, there was no need to rush this task; it could wait for a few days, and he could delve into the study of Divine Skills later with focused attention. Having made his decision, Lin Tianming wasted no more time and immediately left the cave, heading towards his own cave mansion. Shortly thereafter, Within Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, he met with Lin Shigong and the other two ¡°Shi¡± generation members of the clan. ¡°` The four greeted each other and then sat down in the courtyard to drink tea and chat leisurely. Looking around, at this moment, each of them had a beaming smile, all in an excellent mood. It seemed that with Lin Tianming¡¯s breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, all the informed members of the clan were ecstatic, each feeling a sense of pride and arrogance from the bottom of their hearts, and even a touch of honor. It wasn¡¯t surprising, after all, the person breaking through was at the Golden Core Realm, and it was Lin Tianming, the prodigy of the Lin Family, which made it all the more extraordinary. Years ago, the strongest member of the Lin Family was Lin Shikang, who was only at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Now, with both individuals stepping into the Golden Core Stage one after the other, the overall strength of the Lin Family had doubled, jumping several notches. Although other powers were not aware of it, the surge in strength of the Lin Family was solid and real, like making a fortune in silence. However, the Lin Family had no intention of publicizing this matter, so as not to be prematurely drawn into the struggles between the three sects. At this time, Lin Shikang was the first to regain his composure. He looked at Lin Tianming next to him and couldn¡¯t help but show a gratified smile. After a while, he finally spoke, ¡°Tianming, what are your plans next?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not reveal his own plans, but instead asked tentatively, ¡°Third Grandfather, do you have any orders?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ I do not, I was just thinking about sitting down with you one day, my grandson, to exchange some insights on cultivation!¡± ¡°After all, we are now Golden Core Cultivators, and there are still many aspects of our cultivation that need to be explored!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that this was indeed the case. One must know that after a Foundation Establishment Cultivator breaks through to the Golden Core Realm, there is much to be done in a timely manner, including stabilizing one¡¯s cultivation and grasping some techniques of cultivation. Although the process of cultivation is almost no different from that during the Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Cultivators have much greater strength, which slows down their cultivation process, and they possess a richer set of techniques. Mastering various skills can improve some of the speed of cultivation, thus saving a lot of time. While these may seem insignificant, they are skills that must be mastered. Having broken through a few years earlier than Lin Tianming, and having exchanged insights with Ye Pinghai, who had broken through even earlier, Lin Shikang inevitably knew more about cultivation than this newly promoted Golden Core Cultivator. Understanding this, Lin Tianming promptly nodded and responded with a smile, ¡°If Third Grandfather invites me, I couldn¡¯t ask for more!¡± ¡°Besides, even if you didn¡¯t say so, I would still seek Third Grandfather¡¯s guidance!¡± ¡°Hm¡­ If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s call Grandpa Sea tomorrow, and we can properly exchange our experiences. With our collective effort, we should be able to avoid some detours!¡± After saying this with a laugh, Lin Shikang then took out a Jade Bottle and handed it to Lin Tianming. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s action, Lin Tianming looked puzzled and did not reach out to take the Jade Bottle. Seeing this, Lin Shikang chuckled and said, ¡°You, young fellow, have broken through to the Golden Core Stage. I don¡¯t have much to give, so take this bottle of Yuxu Pills as a congratulatory gift!¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yuxu Pills!¡± Lin Tianming looked confused, thought carefully for a moment, and then realized the function of Yuxu Pills. Soon, he showed a look of surprise, finding it hard to believe that Lin Shikang, having only stepped into the Golden Core Stage a few years ago, had managed to secure elixirs used for the cultivation of Golden Core Cultivators. It is known that at the Golden Core level, the elixirs that assist in cultivation are extremely rare. The Yuxu Pill is one of the most common elixirs! Its function was similar to the Lingshen Pill and Fusion Spirit Pill used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, containing a vast amount of energy that could accelerate the cultivation of mana and improve a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s realm. The value of such elixirs in a barren place like the Wei Kingdom was quite precious. Even the Golden Core Cultivators of the three great sects could not always rely on elixirs for cultivation. In fact, for the vast majority of the time, they depended on meditation and breath control to improve their realm. In such circumstances, once they encountered Third or Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine suitable for alchemy or came across ready-made Third Order Pills that could enhance their realm, they would do everything possible to obtain them. Since Lin Shikang was not an Alchemist, and the Lin Family did not have a stockpile of such elixirs, the difficulty in obtaining some Yuxu Pills at this critical juncture was imaginable. ¡­ Chapter 787 787 425 Agreement_1 ?Chapter 787: Chapter 425 Agreement_1 Chapter 787: Chapter 425 Agreement_1 At that moment, Lin Shikang clearly noticed Lin Tianming¡¯s surprise and confusion. He smiled, nodded his head, and then began to explain. ¡°This bottle of Yuxu Pills did not come from me, it was rather a congratulatory gift from Brother Ye after I had made my breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised; even without Lin Shikang¡¯s explanation, he could have guessed the origin of the Yuxu Pills. But understanding the reason behind the gift made Lin Tianming feel even more reluctant to accept it. After all, Lin Shikang was also at the Golden Core Stage Cultivation, and likewise had a great need for elixirs that aided in cultivation. He himself wouldn¡¯t have enough use of just one bottle of Yuxu Pills, yet he was offering it as a congratulatory gift. Realizing this, Lin Tianming hurriedly began to refuse Lin Shikang¡¯s generous offer. ... Seeing his reaction, Lin Shikang pretended to be upset and said, ¡°This bottle only contains three Yuxu Pills, and even if I used them all, I would still be a long way from the Medium Stage of Condensing Golden Core. So to me, it¡¯s rather insignificant.¡± ¡°But you, Tianming, with your talent, will surely surpass us old folks in cultivation speed. As they say, good steel is used for the blade¡¯s edge. Any treasures that come our way in the future should naturally be prioritized for your cultivation.¡± ¡°Only with your cultivation and strength becoming greater can you give back to the family, allowing all our family members to benefit!¡± Lin Shikang taught him earnestly, while he stuffed the Yuxu Pills into Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. On the other side, Lin Shihua also began to persuade him, insisting that Lin Tianming accept them. Lin Tianming was very clear about the good intentions of Lin Shikang and the others; they genuinely wished him well, hoping he could go further on the Immortal Path, even at the cost of grinding their bones to dust. Such acts of keeping valuable treasures for his use were not new to him. He recalled how during the Qi Refinement Realm and Foundation Establishment Stage, his grandfather had devoted his own cultivation resources to him. Now that Lin Shikang had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, at the same stage of cultivation as himself, he also thought of him whenever he came across something good. This kind of thought was the embodiment of familial affection. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianming felt deeply moved and silently made up his mind that once he became a Third Order Alchemy Master, he would definitely repay these elders doubly. Regathering his composure, Lin Tianming stopped being ceremonious and bowed to Lin Shikang, accepting the Yuxu Pills. Seeing this, Lin Shikang nodded in satisfaction. Lin Shihua laughed and teased, ¡°What Third Brother brought out, we can¡¯t match. Whatever we could offer, Tianming would probably not care for. We just hope that Tianming won¡¯t blame us!¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words, Lin Tianming hurriedly waved his hands and said, ¡°What are you saying, Twelfth Grandpa?¡± ¡°Tianming has been taught by you all since childhood, and has received support from all the elders. Now, it¡¯s not just that the younger generation has reached the Golden Core Stage, even if I become a Nascent Soul Cultivator, I will not forget the elders¡¯ contributions. How could I possibly be concerned with such things?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was sincere, and his words moved Lin Shikang and the others deeply, bringing relieved smiles to their faces. After a few polite exchanges, they started inquiring about the secluded cultivation of Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan. According to Lin Shihua, Hu Yuan had started his seclusion earlier, and the Spiritual Energy drawn to his location was quite dense. It was expected that within a year or so, he would attract the Heavenly Tribulation. As for Lin Shilu, everything was normal. Although he started his seclusion more than two years later than Hu Yuan, his progress seemed to be much faster. If all went smoothly, it was possible that the days when they each faced the Heavenly Tribulation might be quite close, at the very least not as far apart as the over two years difference from the start of their seclusions. Learning of these developments, Lin Tianming was very pleased, as he had interacted a lot with Lin Shilu, who had often been involved in major family missions alongside him. Like the great family battle at Luoyun Mountain, the establishment of Luoyun Pavilion, the journey to Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm¡­ Over the years, they had experienced much together and witnessed the growth and development of the family. In these years, Lin Shilu had given a lot for him, and whether as a family member or personally, Lin Tianming hoped that Lin Shilu would step into the Golden Core Stage. Now that Lin Shilu was at this critical juncture, Lin Tianming sincerely hoped for his success, so they could face any major family events together in the future. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, that day was approaching, and with Lin Shilu¡¯s progress being smooth, it would likely take less than two years to witness him entering the Golden Core Stage. With this thought, Lin Tianming kept the matter in mind. Subsequently, the four chatted casually for half an hour, during which they shared many specific details about the Cultivation World. After summarizing their information, they also learned some important details and made some speculations. The ongoing war between the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom was undoubtedly an event of deep concern for everyone. And according to the information they had, although the situation was currently at a stalemate, this had been the case for three to four years already. After such a long period of probing, the basic strengths of the three sects were very clear to each other. The initial schemes had been resolved by the other two sects, and it was unrealistic to think of using conspiracies to take advantage or even to annihilate the other two sects any longer. Going on like this, either the Xue Gong Sect would voluntarily withdraw, or they would need to muster more forces to come to Wei Kingdom. Otherwise, based on their current overall strength, it would be very difficult to force Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect to capitulate by military power. Chapter 788 788 425 The Agreement_2 ?Chapter 788: Chapter 425: The Agreement_2 Chapter 788: Chapter 425: The Agreement_2 ¡°` However, given the actions of the Blood Cult Alliance over the years, the probability of them withdrawing voluntarily is not high. As a consequence, it¡¯s highly likely that they will call in more forces to Wei Kingdom or come up with other methods. If that¡¯s the case, the situation within the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World will become even more complicated, and the position of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect will grow increasingly difficult. Moreover, the Lin Family, having acquired the Qilin Seal and joined the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s alliance, would inevitably come to light should both Myriad Medicine Valley and the sect be wiped out. At that time, without external support, facing the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance head on, the survival pressure on the Lin Family would be evident. Thinking of these matters, Lin Tianming instantly felt a sense of urgency. This feeling was not exclusive to him; Lin Shikang and several others felt the same way. ... In their hearts, they lamented how the Lin Family had barely caught their breath after several of their members had entered the Golden Core Stage over the years, only to face even more formidable challenges. Such pressing times seemed always on the verge of arriving. Consequently, their only option was to hasten the pace of increasing their clansmen¡¯s strength, so that when faced with future crises, they might find a way out. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and others discussed at length and reached several important decisions, all aimed at encouraging their people to undergo trials, thereby using the family¡¯s rewards to quickly improve their strength. Such resolutions had been continuously made by the Lin Family over the years, with their efforts steadily increasing. But now, given the situation, it was imperative for the Lin Family to do so. Furthermore, with the vast amount of cultivation resources that Lin Tianming acquired from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, and after several years of development, the incentive policies had achieved tremendous success. In just these past three to four years, the cultivation levels of the family members had been continually rising, with several individuals breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage every year. By now, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family had further increased, reaching as many as forty-five, with the majority being at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, and only a dozen or so above the fourth level. It seemed that as Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu made their assaults on the Golden Core Stage, leaving a temporary gap in the Lin Family¡¯s intermediate strength structure vacated by those at the late Foundation Establishment level. Such a situation was not surprising. The Lin Family¡¯s rise had been too swift, almost entirely due to a massive influx of resources creating a certain number of elite forces within the family. Afterward, without further substantial resource support, the Lin Family¡¯s development would experience a brief stagnation. This trend clearly pointed to a lack of depth within the family¡¯s foundations, or else such strata would not have occurred. However, over the past few years, the Lin Family had once again received a significant amount of resources, incredibly vast resources. With these resources, the family had established many policies. That was merely the work of a few years, not enough time for the results to manifest. It¡¯s foreseeable that in a few more years, the outcome will naturally show a leap-like improvement. Additionally, if all goes as expected, Qin Xi, who¡¯s far away at Qingshui Market, Lin Xingrong, who¡¯s stationed at Luoyun Pavilion, and the missing Lin Tianfeng, who haven¡¯t shown their faces for a long time, are all expected to have members who¡¯ve reached the late stages of Foundation Establishment based on their cultivation upon leaving the family and their talents. Especially Qin Xi, who was already at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment when she left. Having been away for more than three years and with talent comparable to Lin Tianming, it¡¯s almost certain that she has entered the late stages of Foundation Establishment, with no doubt whatsoever. Under such circumstances, the family¡¯s development still holds great potential, merely requiring time and resource support. Fortunately, over the years, the Lin Family, whenever able, has implemented policies to motivate its people, with plans to further increase these efforts in the future. Given time, the Lin Family will inevitably develop rapidly and eventually possess a strength and foundation to match that of the three great sects. Towards this end, Lin Tianming and the high-level members of the Lin Family are all striving towards this goal. ¡­ The next day. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai arrived together. Seeing Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming promptly went forward to greet him and then invited the two to sit in the courtyard. As soon as they sat down, Ye Pinghai began to offer his congratulations, his tone filled with relief and envy. ¡°` ¡°Tianming, truly, the younger generation is to be feared. I must first congratulate you on stepping into the Golden Core Stage!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming also humbly replied, ¡°Grandpa Sea, you are too kind. It was pure luck, and only with the dedicated help of the elders was I able to break through successfully.¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai furrowed his brows, thinking that this young man was overly modest. His talent was extremely formidable, and to be so humble seemed a bit too much. However, he didn¡¯t say much and instead casually took out a bottle of Yuxu Pills and handed it to Lin Tianming. Following that, he said with a smile, ¡°You lad, don¡¯t be too modest. Take this bottle of Yuxu Pills as my congratulatory gift to you!¡± ¡°This¡­ Grandpa Sea, you are too generous!¡± ¡°Grandpa Sea is a Golden Core Cultivator himself, and Yuxu Pills are useful to you as well. I imagine that the quantity of these pills is quite limited, so please, there¡¯s no need for such politeness!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hands, quickly starting to refuse. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai also smiled and then said, ¡°Hehe¡­ For many years, I have rarely shown my face and have almost always been in seclusion, thereby consolidating my cultivation while improving my alchemy.¡± ¡°After years of diligent research, my alchemy skill has made considerable progress, and these Yuxu Pills were made by my own hands.¡± ¡°Back when your Third Grandfather broke through to the Golden Core Stage, I also presented him with a bottle of Yuxu Pills as a gift. Although I don¡¯t have many Yuxu Pills in my possession, it is still possible for me to give you one, so don¡¯t refuse, lad!¡± ¡°These Yuxu Pills were made by Grandpa Sea?¡± Lin Tianming was quite surprised, not expecting that Ye Pinghai, who had succeeded in Core Formation less than ten years ago, had already elevated his alchemy to the Third Order and had concocted Yuxu Pills, which were not easy to make. ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯ve been immersed in alchemy for years, and if not for the limited supply of Third Order Spiritual Medicines and pill formulas in my hands, perhaps I could have concocted other elixirs!¡± Ye Pinghai said with a hint of regret. Hearing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t insist any longer and accepted the Yuxu Pills, then proceeded to express his thanks. ¡°In that case, I thank you, Grandpa Sea!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Your talent for alchemy is not low. When you have some free time in the future, you should have a discussion about alchemy with me. Judging by your talent, I believe it won¡¯t take long for you to be able to concoct Yuxu Pills too!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shikang also chimed in. ¡°Tianming, your Grandpa Sea is a bona fide Third Order Alchemy Master. You should take the opportunity to learn from him.¡± ¡°It just so happens that the family has quite a few Third Order Spiritual Medicines and pill formulas collected by our ancestors. When you have some free time, take these items with you and discuss them with your Grandpa Sea.¡± Lin Shikang seized this opportunity to bring up the matter. While he spoke of seeking guidance, he actually hoped Ye Pinghai would give Lin Tianming some direction and help with concocting elixirs. After all, until Lin Tianming became a Third Order Alchemy Master, the Lin Family didn¡¯t have their own alchemist and was short on Third Order Pills. Ye Pinghai, of course, understood the implications of Lin Shikang¡¯s words. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t mind. He had already formed a sworn kinship with the Lin Family, who had provided significant help when he was impacting the Golden Core Stage. Now that he had the ability to repay the Lin Family, and since he also needed more pill formulas and additional Spiritual Medicines to practice with, there was naturally no need to decline. Considering these points, Ye Pinghai then offered, ¡°Yes, I do have some alchemy experience and time to concoct elixirs. We grandfather and grandson might as well find the time to discuss the art of alchemy together!¡± With Ye Pinghai¡¯s invitation and Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangements, whether for the family or for himself, Lin Tianming indeed needed to improve his alchemy. With the miraculous effects of his Eye of Five Colors, he would surely be able to grasp it quickly, thus producing a greater quantity and more effective elixirs. Once he had elixirs of his own making, both he and Lin Shikang could rapidly advance their cultivation. If Lin Shilu managed to reach Core Formation as well, then the Lin Family would have three Golden Core Stage clansmen, increasing their demand for Third Order Pills even further. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It could be said that exchanging alchemy experiences with Ye Pinghai and jointly concocting elixirs would be a win-win situation for both parties. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse Ye Pinghai¡¯s kindness. Thus, Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai set a time, and once they were both free, they would concoct elixirs together. With this matter settled, the three exchanged pleasantries and then began to share their cultivation insights. ¡­ Chapter 789 789 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_1 ?Chapter 789: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_1 Chapter 789: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_1 At dusk, having concluded a full day of interactions, and under the guidance of Ye Pinghai, both Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had gained quite a lot¡ªat the very least, in terms of cultivation at the Golden Core Realm, they were no longer at a loss. After a round of polite exchanges, Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Shikang and the others, heading to his mother¡¯s cave abode. Since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, more than half a year had passed. He had been busy solidifying his cultivation, and upon leaving seclusion yesterday, he rushed to meet with the elders of the Shi generation, and today he had to visit Ye Pinghai, also exchanging cultivation insights in the process! Up until now, he hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to visit his mother, which could only mean he had been incredibly busy. However, now that he had the time and energy, naturally, he wanted to pay his respects to his mother, fulfilling his duty as a son. With that intent, Lin Tianming came to Ren Yuxuan¡¯s cave abode. ... Lin Shigong, having received word, also rushed over, and three generations of the family gathered together. Regrettably, Lin Xingrong had not returned to the clan for half a year, and Lin Tianyue had been away for many years and hence was absent from this reunion. However, the last time Lin Xingrong had returned was just about half a year ago, when Lin Tianming had already successfully transcended the Heavenly Tribulation; afterward, he went into seclusion to consolidate his cultivation. Therefore, as Lin Tianming¡¯s father and one of the core clan members, Lin Xingrong was naturally aware of his entrance into the Golden Core Stage. When Lin Xingrong learned of Lin Tianming reaching the Golden Core Stage, like the other informed clan members, he was thrilled for quite a while. However, the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s Core Formation was kept highly confidential within the clan, and there were no immediate plans to inform even his sister Lin Tianyue and his mother. As for this gathering, it was just an ordinary meetup. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming had dinner with his mother and grandfather, chatted casually for half an hour, and then returned to his own cave abode. Entering the training room, Lin Tianming did not start cultivating immediately, but instead adjusted his state of being. Once he was at his peak condition, Lin Tianming took out the Technique Jade Slip and extended his Divine Sense to examine its contents. Having refined Divine Skills twice before, this time was no different, and he was well-practiced. After only two months of study, Lin Tianming had mastered the third Divine Skill inherent to the cultivation technique. According to the description in the technique, the Divine Skill he learned during the Golden Core Stage was named Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus. This Divine Skill differed from the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Tiangang Ninth Sword. The Earth Fiend Sword Formation primarily trapped enemies, and its offensive power was ordinary in comparison. Yet, that was only relative to other Divine Skills. If one was to compare it solely to the inherent Divine Skills of other Earth Grade techniques, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s offensive power was already formidable. As for the Tiangang Ninth Sword, it was an offense-oriented technique, and the combined power of the nine swords was extremely formidable. He estimated that even the Profound Grade Spirit Art, Great Sun Sword Qi Art, might not surpass the Tiangang Ninth Sword in lethality if he was to unleash his full strength. The Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus had both offensive and defensive qualities. When invoked, it could take on two forms: one being Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus and the other Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. The offensive power of Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus was equally formidable and was capable of widespread damage. When deployed, the Magical Treasure Spirit Sword could draw upon the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth, conjuring countless Sword Qi to form an instantly expanding Sword Qi Lotus. And the power of each lotus sword shadow was no less than that of the Tiangang Ninth Sword, even stronger by a considerable margin. After all, this was a Divine Skill cultivable only at the Golden Core Stage. If it weren¡¯t more powerful than a Divine Skill of the Foundation Establishment Stage, it would seem somewhat unreasonable. As for the other form, Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, it used sword shadows to create a bundle of Sword Qi Lotus, firmly protecting the user within. Each sword shadow carried the force of the earth, offering incredibly powerful defense. Grasping this Divine Skill was not difficult, but mastering it to a level suitable for combat, achieving a beginner¡¯s understanding, required diligent study and practice. To reach the Great Achievement Realm would be even more challenging, possibly unattainable without the right opportunity. However, these were not immediate concerns for Lin Tianming. Currently, he had mastered the basic Law Decree and essentials to invoke this Divine Skill. The next step was to cultivate it to a certain level, otherwise, it would be unusable in battle. Understanding the importance of this, Lin Tianming left seclusion. After notifying the Clan Leader, he went to the inner areas of the Luoyun Mountain Range for training. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He chose not to train in the clan¡¯s territory because the number of clansmen had increased, and a large portion of the land had been converted into cave abodes and clan facilities. The area available for Golden Core Cultivators to move around was just a few dozen miles in radius. Such space was sufficient for Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but it was inadequate for a Golden Core Cultivator, drastically restricting their movements. Now that he had reached the Golden Core Stage, his every action possessed the potential to cause a stir. Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan, both in seclusion striving for the Golden Core Stage, undoubtedly preferred to avoid any significant disturbances if possible. Moreover, considering the family had no intention of publicly revealing his and Lin Shikang¡¯s cultivation levels, it was naturally not suitable to cultivate unreservedly within the clan¡¯s territory as he did during the Foundation Establishment Stage. Thus, Lin Tianming decisively decided to leave the clan lands and headed to the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range to cultivate the Divine Skill. This place, located deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range, was riddled with First and Second Order Demonic Beasts; but in the several hundred years since his clan had made their home in Luoyun Mountain, there had never been reports of Third Order Demonic Beasts. Chapter 790 790 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_2 ?Chapter 790: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_2 Chapter 790: Chapter 426 Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus_2 Without high order demonic beasts, it¡¯s naturally unlikely there would be high-grade spiritual medicine and ores, making it difficult to attract the attention of high order cultivators. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While cultivating here, there are no cultivators or demonic beasts that could pose a threat to him, ensuring his safety. Furthermore, this place is not far from the clan¡¯s territory; with his current strength, it would take less than two to four hours for him to swiftly return to his clan. Should any accident occur, he could return to the clan¡¯s territory in time, not giving enemies a chance to take advantage. Under such circumstances, the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range act as a natural training ground for Golden Core Cultivators, whether for seclusion or for practicing cultivation methods and divine skills. Upon entering the interior of Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianming encountered quite a few Second Order demonic beasts, among which were powerful species, and the number of tribes was also considerable. Lin Tianming turned a blind eye to this, as long as the demonic beasts didn¡¯t trouble him, he was too lazy to intervene. ... In his view, sparing the lives of these creatures made a suitable training ground for his clan¡¯s Foundation Establishment members. Thus, Lin Tianming silently arrived at the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range, finding a relatively quiet canyon. The spiritual energy here was quite decent for the wilderness, with a Second Order demon beast tribe inhabiting the area. Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival inevitably provoked the attack of this demon beast tribe. However, under his Golden Core stage cultivation, even if the tribe consisted of over a dozen Second Order demonic beasts, they could not cause much upheaval and were easily slain by him. This, in turn, benefited the Purple Gold Eagle, which took the opportunity to devour the bodies and demon beast inner pills, thus utilizing these energies to quicken its advance to the Second Order Late Phase. After arranging for the Purple Gold Eagle to stand guard, Lin Tianming immediately found a concealed spot and began practicing the divine skill, Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus. Lin Tianming slapped his storage bag, and the Tiangang Sword was gripped in his hand, then released and began rotating around him rapidly. Following that, he launched spell incantations one after another, striking the Tiangang Sword with precision. ¡°Humming¡­¡± A pleasant sword humming sound echoed, forming a unique melody in the tranquil canyon. Practicing this divine skill didn¡¯t restrict the choice of weapon; whether using the Tiangang Sword or the Earth Evil Sword, either could be used as a vessel. Since he did not possess a Magical Treasure at the moment, he had to use the Tiangang Sword instead. Once he enhanced the Tiangang Sword to the level of a Magical Treasure or obtained a new one, he would be able to unleash the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus¡¯s greatest power. Regaining his focus and seeing that the Tiangang Sword was activated, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any further. He immediately made odd hand signs and murmured as if chanting a special incantation. As his hand signs and incantation were completed, the sword in front of him sped up even more. After a few breaths, beams of sword light formed shadows resembling lotus flowers. Seeing that the density of the sword shadow lotuses was about to reach the requirements for Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, Lin Tianming waved his hand and shouted aloud. ¡°Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, go!¡± No sooner had he spoken than the original Sword Lotus scattered in all directions, with astonishing speed. Sword shadows shot towards him as well, as if they would hit him too. Caught off guard, Lin Tianming broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, the sword shadows had no effect on him, piercing his body and continuing to shoot toward the back, only stopping after hitting a mountain thousands of feet away. When the sword shadows disappeared into the sky, Lin Tianming finally regained his composure, his face showing thrilling joy. Quickly opening his eyes, he looked at the canyon, now damaged by the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel. ¡°The power of Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus is indeed terrifying; it¡¯s no wonder it¡¯s a divine skill only Golden Core cultivators can practice!¡± Lin Tianming was extremely satisfied with the power and the scene caused by the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus. Although casting spells was still relatively slow and not fatal to Golden Core Cultivators, their power was indeed considerable. Moreover, the attack pattern of the Sword Shadow Lotus in all directions had no weaknesses. As long as he practiced this Divine Skill to the introductory level, it would certainly become one of his strongest offensive methods. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately called back the Tiangang Sword and began practicing over and over again. In the blink of an eye, two months had passed. On this day in the canyon, with a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, a Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus appeared above his head. As he cast the spell incantations and completed the chant, the Sword Lotus formed by the Tiangang Sword burst forth in all directions. At a glance, each petal of the lotus was like a sharp blade, shooting out towards all directions. Not only that, these terrifying blades moved with incredible speed, even the Spiritual Energy in the air was stirred by the Sword Qi, creating a distinct sound that was somewhat sharp and made one¡¯s heart tremble involuntarily. In less than a breath¡¯s time, the distant valley was struck by the petals of the Sword Lotus and was instantly left riddled with holes. Even some of the peaks were directly cut off by the Sword Qi, becoming bald mountaintops. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at the devastated scene and recalled the essence of the Sword Lotus he had just witnessed, seemingly having reached the introductory level. Besides, the attack speed of the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus was incredibly fast, more than ten times faster than the first time he deployed this Divine Skill. Judging by the speed of casting and the destructive power, this was definitely at the introductory level of the Divine Skill. After practicing hard for two months, he had finally succeeded in practicing the attack Divine Heaven Sword Lotus of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus, smoothly reaching the introductory level and ready to be used against enemies. With this attack Divine Skill, before obtaining a Magical Treasure, facing a Golden Core Cultivator, he finally had the power to fight. Understanding this, a satisfied smile couldn¡¯t help but appear on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Next, he planned to practice the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Only by reaching the introductory level of this defensive Divine Skill would he possess a certain level of offensive and defensive capabilities. Carrying this expectation, Lin Tianming did not intend to waste time and immediately called back the Tiangang Sword. Then, using the method he had previously understood, he activated the Tiangang Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword also rapidly revolved around him, quickly forming a Sword Shadow Lotus. As the number of sword shadows increased, it soon became impenetrable, forming an invisible barrier around him. At this moment, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors within the sword shadows to carefully observe the movements of the Sword Shadow Lotus. The speed of the sword shadows was incredibly fast and dense, almost one ring locking into another, and even under the watchful gaze of the Eye of Five Colors, it was hard to trace. If used for defense, the light shadow formed by the lotus was like a wall in all directions, capable of firmly protecting him from any angle. In his eyes, others did not have special means like the Eye of Five Colors, so breaking through this layer of defense would not be easy. However, this was just his conjecture; without a Golden Core Cultivator attacking, he couldn¡¯t confirm it, and thus, he couldn¡¯t know how effective the defense of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus was. But even without a Golden Core Cultivator to test it out, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t without means to check the defensive effectiveness of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Because he could summon the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox, using their attacks to test whether the defensive power met the requirements. Without hesitation, Lin Tianming summoned the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox and commanded them to fiercely attack the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. With his Golden Core Stage cultivation, coupled with the terrifying physical strength from the Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, there was no need to hold back at all. Soon, both the Silver-eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao received his instruction and launched their full strength at him. For a moment, the sky was filled with numerous fireballs and silver light clusters, bombarding the Sword Shadow Lotus one after another. Chapter 791 791 427 Entry into Divine Skills Hu Yuan ?Chapter 791: Chapter 427: Entry into Divine Skills, Hu Yuan Golden Core_1 Chapter 791: Chapter 427: Entry into Divine Skills, Hu Yuan Golden Core_1 ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions echoed, as the sky sparkled with light, and flames soared into the heavens. However, the two Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts¡¯ attacks did not lessen in intensity. Their continuous barrage was as relentless as flowing water against the defense of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, but they could not inflict any harm at all. All their attacks were shattered by the intangible sword lights and eventually dissipated between heaven and earth. After this trial, Lin Tianming also roughly understood the defensive power of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill. According to his estimate, although the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus could not block the attacks of a Golden Core Cultivator for the time being, Second Order Demonic Beasts would be unable to break it, even in large numbers, they could not easily penetrate the defensive barrier of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. And this was still only his first time using this defensive Divine Skill. The proficiency and defensive strength naturally could not reach the normal standard. Even so, the two Second Order Late-Stage Spirit Beasts were simply incapable of affecting the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus in the slightest. ... You should know that although the attacking power of these two Spirit Beasts could not be compared with Golden Core Cultivators, they were both at the peak of the Second Order, infinitely close to Third Order Demon Beasts. Although their strength was fundamentally different from that of a real Golden Core Cultivator, their combined full-strength attacks could still achieve one-tenth or two of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s power. Despite this, the two Demonic Beasts¡¯ attacks were still unable to disturb the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, even the first time it was invoked, in the slightest. It could even be said that their collision was akin to a mayfly shaking a mountain, hopeless in breaking through. In such a situation, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with the defensive power of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Moreover, he felt some anticipation in his heart. Once he fully mastered this Divine Skill, to what level of defense could he attain? Could he withstand the full assault of a Mid Stage or Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator? However, the answer to that question was not yet known. Fearful that he would not see a satisfactory result before his next life-and-death fight. No matter what, his current top priority was not to pursue these answers. The first thing he had to do was to completely master both the offensive and defensive aspects of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus Divine Skills, at least reaching the beginner¡¯s realm for both, before considering his initial goal achieved. And the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus had already reached the beginner¡¯s realm, more than enough to handle skirmishes amongst Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next, as long as he cultivated the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus to the beginner¡¯s realm, he could leave. Realizing this, Lin Tianming continued to practice. Every time, he would deplete about eighty to ninety percent of his mana before meditating to recover. Once he was back to his peak condition, he would then fully immerse himself in practice once more. Under such tireless practice, two months quickly passed by. On this day, within the gorge, Lin Tianming retracted the Tiangang Sword and placed it back into his storage bag. Having done all this, he looked at the completely transformed gorge with a trace of satisfaction on his face. After four strenuous months of ceaseless and tiring practice, he had wholeheartedly immersed himself in the process of mastering this Divine Skill. Thanks to his relentless efforts, he finally mastered both the offensive and defensive aspects of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus, reaching the beginner¡¯s level for both. Now, with the mastery of the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus Divine Skills, he also had the means to contend with Golden Core Cultivators. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was very pleased, and immediately set to work tidying the gorge before taking the Purple Gold Eagle on the journey back to the clan grounds. Half a day later. In the dwelling of Lin Shikang in the Lin Family Territory of the Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Tianming and several family members of the Shi generation were sitting together and chatting leisurely. The moment Lin Shikang saw Lin Tianming, he too sensed a special change in him, that particularly sharp aura made him feel very uneasy. But this sensation was elusive and he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what was different. Due to this, Lin Shikang, with a puzzled face, tentatively asked. ¡°Tianming, my boy, have you obtained some powerful Magical Treasure in these past days?¡± ¡°Or have you cultivated some formidable Technique Divine Power?¡± ¡°Why do I feel you¡¯re carrying an invisible oppressive force, a sensation that makes my heart skip a beat!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled calmly. After much thought, he believed that the Lin Family already had some means of self-protection, and it was not necessary to keep things too hidden from the core senior members of the family. Therefore, he revealed a bit about the Cultivation Technique and Divine Skills he had been practicing. However, he did not disclose the rank of the technique; after all, it was a Heavenly Grade Technique. Even within the entire Wei Kingdom, it might be hard to find one Heavenly Grade Technique. The news was indeed too shocking, enough to astound Lin Shikang, who had reached the Golden Core Stage, as well. In this situation, Lin Tianming simply hinted at the terrifying nature of the technique without going into too much detail. Yet, even so, with the insight of Lin Shikang and others, they could somewhat guess that the technique Lin Tianming was practicing was extraordinary, at least starting from Earth Grade, otherwise, he would not possess such fearsome power to leap ranks. Nevertheless, even after surmising this, including Lin Shigong, they all tacitly skated over the issue, not inquiring further into Lin Tianming¡¯s techniques. In their view, as long as it was beneficial to the family, it was better to remain unaware. After all, there are no impervious walls in the world, and Lin Tianming had already attained Golden Core Stage Cultivation, acting with a mature style, handling every matter with a sense of measure. Chapter 792 792 427 Introduction to Divine Skills Hu ?Chapter 792: Chapter 427: Introduction to Divine Skills, Hu Yuan¡¯s Golden Core_2 Chapter 792: Chapter 427: Introduction to Divine Skills, Hu Yuan¡¯s Golden Core_2 Since he himself did not elaborate further, it naturally indicated that the time had not yet come. Thus, pressing him excessively on this matter was meaningless and would only increase the risk of exposure. And so, several centuries-old foxes, cognizant of the situation, wisely chose to keep their lips sealed and promptly shifted the topic of conversation. Lin Tianming, for his part, was quite pleased with this outcome and subsequently inquired about the seclusion of Lin Shilu and Hu Yuan. According to Lin Shihua, Hu Yuan had actually passed the Threefold Heavenly Tribulation half a month ago, smoothly entering the Golden Core Stage. For Lin Tianming, this news was nothing short of shocking, and he found it difficult to calm his heart for a long time afterward. In his eyes, breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was indeed challenging, especially with the existence of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation as the biggest impediment. ... Yet Hu Yuan, a Loose Cultivator with no remarkable Four Arts of Cultivation, could not possibly compare in wealth and value to the rest of them. Although he possessed a Fruit of Fortuity, his age at the time of breakthrough was not considered young. Under such conditions, Hu Yuan had still managed to successfully traverse the Heavenly Tribulation. The result was indeed a surprise for quite some time. However, as Lin Shihua explained, although Hu Yuan survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, he had almost lost his life in the process and suffered severe injuries as a result. If it weren¡¯t for Ye Pinghai¡¯s timely rescue and the assistance of Third Order Pills he had concocted, otherwise, even if Hu Yuan were to recover, it would certainly take a very long time, possibly leaving lasting impairments, drastically reducing his strength. Nevertheless, overall, as long as Hu Yuan had a breath left in him, he could return to his peak condition. This outcome, whether for him personally or for the Lin Family, was an immense joy. At this moment, Hu Yuan was also in seclusion, consolidating his cultivation, which could take as short as half a year or as long as a year or even more, so it was likely he would not emerge anytime soon. Therefore, Lin Shihua had arranged for clan members to guard outside his cave dwelling, treating him with the highest courtesy. After all, now that Hu Yuan had reached the Golden Core Stage, a cultivator of such a realm, even within the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, would not be slighted easily but would instead be eagerly courted. The Lin Family having gained an early advantage and having reached an agreement with Hu Yuan naturally wanted to maintain this relationship well, so that if the family faced a crisis in the future, there would be someone to lend a hand. With this in mind, Lin Shihua certainly took extra care in making the arrangements for Hu Yuan. This planning of his also received the approval from Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming, and they felt increasingly reassured about Lin Shihua¡¯s role as the Clan Leader. With Hu Yuan¡¯s matter drawing to a close, the conversation among them shifted towards Lin Shilu. According to Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu¡¯s seclusion seemed to have made significant progress, with the Spiritual Energy at his place of seclusion extremely rich, all going smoothly. It seemed likely that he wouldn¡¯t take long to attract the Golden Core Tribulation. Hearing this news, Lin Tianming was also extremely excited. In his view, the Lin Family had continued to receive good news over the last decade. From Ye Pinghai at the start, to Lin Shikang and himself, along with the deeply connected Hu Yuan, all managed to successfully break through to the Golden Core Stage within a short span of ten years. Speaking of which, ten years for a cultivator is not a long time; even for regular Qi Refining Cultivators, ten years are merely enough for advancing two or three minor stages. Yet, for the Lin Family, this brief decade marked tremendous change. It could even be said to exceed everyone¡¯s imagination. Indeed, thinking about the present, both the overall strength of the Lin Family and their external support were growing at an explosive rate. Next, Lin Shilu was also about to reach this stage, and considering his potential and strength, his chances of overcoming the Tribulation were not small. Once Lin Shilu successfully entered the Golden Core Stage, the strength of the Lin Family would further increase, bringing them ever closer to the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. The thought of these filled Lin Tianming with an indescribable excitement, and his heart swelled with pride and relief in turn. And it wasn¡¯t just him, Lin Shikang and the others felt similarly. As for who in the Lin Family was most surprised by such an outcome, it had to be the few surviving members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation. If time were to revert to forty years ago, in their wildest dreams, they wouldn¡¯t have imagined that the Lin Family could return to the pinnacle of a Golden Core Family in such a short span of time. What was even more unimaginable was that there would be two or three Golden Core Cultivators within the Lin Family, and with the assistance of some deeply connected external forces, the Lin Family could even come close to matching the overall strength of the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. And this outcome was about to be realized. When they thought back on it, they couldn¡¯t help but feel it was a bit incredible. As the excitement of the group gradually subsided, Lin Tianming shifted the topic, inquiring about the movements between the Three Great Sects. At present, the eyes of the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, including that of the Lin Family, were fixed on the great battle between the three sects. In response to Lin Tianming¡¯s questions, Lin Shihua also spoke up, sharing the news he had gathered over the past six months. According to him, the battle between the three sects seemed to have escalated further, though initially, the Golden Core Cultivators had held back, sparing only some Qi Refining Cultivators or Foundation Establishment Cultivators. But now, fierce battles between Golden Core Cultivators occurred frequently, and what was once a standstill defense by the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators, seemingly unable to sustain the consumption, had unexpectedly led to a preemptive strike. After a fierce battle, the originally evenly matched situation started to experience significant casualties. According to the latest news from Qianchuan Market, the intensity of that battle far exceeded any previous one. The outcome was that Dong Wenchang from the Golden Sword Sect camp perished, while Chen Jingtian, who supported Myriad Medicine Valley, was gravely injured. Fortunately, they had retreated in time, merely seizing the advantage and leaving, and with the existence of the Mountain Protection Array, even though the Golden Sword Sect was enraged, there was no immediate solution. As for the injuries suffered by Chen Jingtian, there were conditions for recovery, and given a few months, he would certainly be able to return to his peak. At this point, Lin Tianming, upon hearing these pieces of news, pondered with a sense of helplessness about the current situation. However, in his heart, he knew that the current chaotic situation would not stop, and judging by the modus operandi of the Blood Cult Alliance, they would not easily give up. Thinking of these, he began to feel a subtle sense of crisis looming over him, causing him to feel suffocated at all times. This feeling was peculiar, inexplicable, yet it genuinely affected him. At this moment, after much consideration, Lin Tianming believed that the Lin Family could not afford to sit and wait for doom. Even if they did not actively reveal their strength, at the very least, they needed to stay informed with the latest news to give the family some reaction time. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming then made a suggestion, ¡°Elders, Tianming would like to take a trip to Qianchuan Market to see the current external situation for myself, and then to find out the latest news!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua was taken aback, seemingly realizing something, and hurriedly interrupted him. ¡°Tianming, the Cultivation World is too chaotic now. Even though you have broken through to the Golden Core Stage, without a handy Magical Treasure, your strength is probably still less than those of the veteran Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators. ¡°If you¡¯re unlucky and run into an old monster at the Golden Core Mid-Late Stage, it would be too dangerous!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Tianming also began to express his thoughts, comprehensively analyzing the current situation of the three sects and explaining the Lin Family¡¯s stance. Following that, he continued, ¡°Although it¡¯s chaotic and dangerous outside, there isn¡¯t a main force of the Golden Sword Sect nearby Zhenyang Sect.¡± ¡°And I will only be roaming around Qianchuan Market, not venturing near the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, let alone the front-line Qingshui Market.¡± ¡°With my strength, even without the augmentation of Magical Treasures, if not defeating a Golden Core Mid Stage Cultivator, I am at least confident of escaping for my life!¡± ¡°Furthermore, the Lin Family is not the weak family it used to be, and with Fifteenth Grandfather on the verge of the Heavenly Tribulation, the Lin Family must also take initiative, to try and seize any possible advantage. This way, when a crisis does come, we won¡¯t be caught off guard!¡± Lin Tianming spoke earnestly, his expression full of determination. Lin Shikang and the others fell silent upon hearing his words, not immediately rejecting his idea, evidently making their own judgments. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 793 793 428 Leaving the Clan_1 ?Chapter 793: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_1 Chapter 793: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_1 ¡°` After some time, Lin Shikang was the first to express his position, agreeing to Lin Tianming¡¯s decision. In his eyes, Lin Tianming was indeed a reliable person, and the oppressive feeling during their meeting only convinced him more of Lin Tianming¡¯s extraordinary strength. Besides, the Lin Family had been in silence for so long that it indeed needed to change and required accurate information to ensure they wouldn¡¯t be helpless when facing a crisis. Lin Shikang¡¯s prompt agreement to his plan took Lin Tianming by surprise. However, since Lin Shikang had agreed, the two other members of the Lin Family, Lin Shihua and another, despite their concerns, found it inappropriate to say anything against it. Soon, they reached a unanimous decision, deciding to let Lin Tianming go to Qianchuan Market to gather information about the Cultivation World. They were clear about their demands, however, he must not go to the dangerous front lines nor approach the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, to avoid exposing the Lin Family¡¯s strength and inadvertently dragging the family into an unnecessary war too early. ... In addition, he must not be gone for too long, he must return to the Clan Territory within three months. To these conditions, Lin Tianming simply smiled indifferently, showing no sign of objection. In his eyes, since he was to gather intelligence, he certainly had to hide his cultivation, and three months was enough time for such a mission, so there was no need to say more. With the matter settled, Lin Tianming decided to set off the next day. He and several elders set the date for his departure, chatted for a bit, and then dispersed. ¡­ The next morning. At dawn, the sunlight spread over the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory just like any other day, and the cultivators within the Lin Family began their bustling day. At this moment, large numbers of clan members were busily moving about every corner of the Clan Territory, presenting a sight of prosperity. And at that time, high above the Protective Clan Formation, Lin Tianming sat quietly on the back of a Purple Gold Eagle, silently gliding over the land. The busy clan members below were none the wiser, preoccupied with their tasks, while Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle headed north toward Qianchuan Market. With his cultivation having advanced to the Golden Core Stage, Lin Tianming had moved beyond the level of Sword Flight. His own mana was more than adequate to handle long-distance travel. Yet, despite this, he chose not to fly on his own and exert himself, instead using the Purple Gold Eagle to make the journey. Although the Purple Gold Eagle was somewhat slower than flying using his own mana, it had greater stamina, capable of continuous flight without the need to stop and recover due to depleted beast energy. Since he had a Purple Gold Eagle innate with the ability to fly, and its speed was not much slower than his own, he saw no need to unnecessarily expend mana and draw attention to himself. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t he just be unnecessarily revealing that he was at the Golden Core Stage Cultivation? Thus, Lin Tianming concealed his true cultivation, revealing only the aura of a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and rode the Purple Gold Eagle towards Qianchuan Market. The next day, around noon, Lin Tianming arrived at Golden Horn Mountain smoothly. Though he and the Purple Gold Eagle were both still in peak condition after only a day¡¯s journey, he decided to rest here for a short night. The reason was that he had plenty of time and didn¡¯t need to rush the journey of a day and a half. Additionally, having not visited Golden Horn Mountain for several years, he also wanted to see how Lin Tianqin was doing after so long. Beyond that, he also had to hand over a portion of the cultivation resources brought from his family to Lin Tianqin, who was stationed there, so she could distribute them to the clan members living there. With these intentions, he greeted the patrol members of the clan and entered the inner part of the Clan Territory, then navigated through several key institutions. As he looked at the unfamiliar scenes before him and compared them with his memories, he noticed a significant difference in the layout. Several years before, when he participated in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm experience, he had passed by this place and even stayed for a night. At that time, however, he was just passing through to rest and had not paid close attention to any changes in Golden Horn Mountain. Nowadays, taking advantage of the early times, he deliberately took a big tour inside Golden Horn Mountain. After his inspection, he didn¡¯t expect that Golden Horn Mountain, which he hadn¡¯t looked at closely for over a decade, had changed so much. Not only was the spiritual energy denser, but the houses and buildings that were damaged in the great wars had all been newly rebuilt. Beyond that, the entire layout of Golden Horn Mountain had undergone many changes, with a large amount of Spirit Land being converted into Spirit Fields, where the lush Spiritual Medicines emitted fragrances that drifted with the breeze. Just sniffing it made one feel refreshed and invigorated. Clearly, with the passage of time, the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory had changed quite a bit. New courtyards were planned and constructed, and some of the vacant lands had been turned into Spirit Fields planted with various Spiritual Medicines and Fruits. In addition, over the years, the family had massively expanded the Spirit Land outside and even relocated many clan members to settle in these family-controlled Spirit Lands. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Golden Horn Mountain was one of the Spirit Lands that the family valued the most. They invested a large amount of resources and sent many clan members to live there. After more than ten years of development, they had achieved such results, thanks to the clan members who came to live there. Now, the thriving scene before him, compared to the time when he took charge, was much more vibrant and full of life, and it had an additional touch of agility. Seeing these changes, Lin Tianming had a satisfied smile on his face. ¡°` Chapter 794 794 428 Leaving the Clan_2 ?Chapter 794: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_2 Chapter 794: Chapter 428 Leaving the Clan_2 ¡°` As the inspection came to an end, the sky also gradually darkened. At this time, noticing that evening was approaching, Lin Tianming promptly sent a message to Lin Tianqin. Shortly after, he met this cousin of his, as well as two other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, in the cultivation chamber where Lin Tianqin was in seclusion. Having not seen her for several years, Lin Tianqin¡¯s cultivation had improved rapidly and she had reached the peak of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment. Her aura was incredibly robust, indicating that her foundation was exceptionally solid. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If this trend continued, perhaps within a year, Lin Tianqin would surely step into the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment Realm. Beyond that, her skills in alchemy had also greatly improved, and she had become a Second Order Alchemist quite some time ago. It was likely that after so many years, reaching Second Order Medium Quality would not be difficult. Apart from her, the other two Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also from the Tian generation of the clan, having caught the most prosperous time of the family. Only a few years younger than Lin Tianming, they reaped the benefits during the family¡¯s period of rapid development. ... Now in their forties, they have reached the realm of the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, clearly also among the talented in the clan. It seemed that as the Tian generation entered their prime, a new generation of Chang generation clan members had already emerged three years ago. And this Tian generation was gradually becoming the backbone of the clan, guarding the family¡¯s main industries. Just like Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Tianhong, even at the lowest, they had reached the Fourth Level of Foundation Establishment. At such an age, they were already in charge of the Qianchuan Market, even extending to the Golden Horn Mountain. Now it seemed that the Tian generation had slowly taken over the elders¡¯ tasks, bearing the weighty responsibility of the family¡¯s rise. At this time, seeing that Lin Tianqin and the others had not fallen behind in their cultivation, and considering the changes they had brought to this place over the years, Lin Tianming felt genuinely relieved at their contributions. After exchanging greetings, they shared some information, especially on the details of the internal affairs of the family and the external forces. Hearing of the great wars among the three sects, Lin Tianqin remained quite calm. In her view, the Lin Family was a minor outlier in such a resource-scarce area with no chance of attracting the attention or ire of other Golden Core forces. Little did she know the changes that had occurred in the Lin Family over the past ten years, or could she have imagined that the family had already gained two members who had entered the Golden Core Stage, with the steadfast support of two other Golden Core Cultivators. If one day she were to find out the inside story, she probably would be utterly astonished. In this regard, Lin Tianming was keen to share the good news with her, but considering the sensitive situation of the Lin Family at present, he continued to keep his lips sealed and did not reveal a hint of information to her. Lin Tianqin, kept in the dark, continued to caution him to be careful when outside, as if it were still the same decades ago when they were in the Qi Refinement Realm. This kind of admonishment was exactly like that of an elder sister. Facing the nagging Lin Tianqin, Lin Tianming quickly promised to be cautious, which finally reassured his caring cousin. To Lin Tianming, Lin Tianqin¡¯s concerns did not feel bothersome at all; instead, his heart warmed up, filled with comfort. Recalling his early days on the path of immortality, Lin Tianqin had given him a lot of help. Her straightforward personality, combined with her role as the elder sister of the Tian generation, meant she was exceptionally warm-hearted toward her younger clan brothers and sisters, providing them with help to the best of her ability. From her perspective, she certainly did what she ought to do. Even now, as Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation far surpassed her own, Lin Tianqin did not forget to offer her advice. This caring gesture was exactly what an elder sister should do. And such a scene also reflected the charm of familial affection. Lin Tianming deeply appreciated this, and without stinginess, he took out some elixirs and Second Order talisman paper that he no longer needed and shared them with his fellow clan members. Initially resistant to Lin Tianming¡¯s gifts, Lin Tianqin even promptly refused them. Only after Lin Tianming mentioned he had reached the Great Perfection realm of Foundation Establishment and no longer needed the spiritual objects for that stage, did she reluctantly accept them. In her heart, she couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how terrifying Lin Tianming¡¯s talent truly was! Her thinking was not strange at all: after all, Lin Tianming was only in his forties and had been cultivating for just over thirty years, yet he had reached such a realm of Great Perfection in Foundation Establishment. Such a speed of cultivation was indeed frightening. ¡°` One must know that after reaching the late stages of Foundation Establishment, progressing to each new level is not an easy feat; even at the Foundation Establishment fifth level realm, she had already experienced the hardships. Yet, Lin Tianming seemed to have no bottlenecks, his cultivation soared through the ranks. Speeding through cultivation was one thing, but surpassing cultivators of the same order in strength was another. His battle achievements were simply too dazzling, dominating the beast tide wars with the strength of the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. Beyond that, in the Tianfeng Secret Realm, he similarly outshone a group of genius cultivators from the three sects, achieving unprecedented battle results. Being able to do this at his age and level of cultivation already proved his potential and talent. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianqin grew increasingly admiring of Lin Tianming. Beyond admiration, there was a greater sense of relief and pride for the Lin Family to have such a clansman. With these emotions, Lin Tianming and the others engaged in deep conversation until late into the night. In the meantime, he also offered several pointers on cultivation, including Alchemy, and was equally generous with his guidance to Lin Tianqin. With his true cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, coupled with the experience of a Second Order High-Grade Alchemy Master, guiding them was a breeze. That night, Lin Tianqin and the other two benefited greatly until Lin Tianming suggested they rest, and only then did they reluctantly bid farewell and leave. Lin Tianming, too, did not linger long; after leaving Lin Tianqin¡¯s cave dwelling, he headed for rest as arranged by his clansmen. The next morning. He left the Golden Horn Mountain Clan Territory and once again mounted the Purple Gold Eagle, flying towards Qianchuan Market. Another six days passed. With the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s full-speed flight, he successfully arrived at the outskirts of Qianchuan Market. Along the way, he had passed through the Hengyang and Luoyang mountain ranges, paying close attention to the changes in these areas. After his reconnaissance, he obtained scant information, which was hardly useful at all. It seemed that, despite their closer proximity to Qianchuan Market than the Luoyun Mountain Range, their overall strength was too weak, and their intelligence was not as informed as that of the Lin Family. Besides that, these two mountain ranges were relatively calm internally, with all the major family forces focused on closed-door cultivation, and there was little interaction between cultivators¡ªhardly anyone engaged in long-distance activities unless necessary. Such changes, however, were within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the current state of the Cultivation World was unstable, and with the pretext of the great war among the three sects, the Zhenyang Sect had drafted many Foundation Establishment Cultivators for the war, not sparing even the stronger Qi Refining Families. Under such circumstances, these family forces were weakened and all striving for their own protection; who would seek trouble at such a critical juncture? This response from the major family forces was naturally within reason. On this trip to Qianchuan, the journey took less time than before, arriving three days earlier than usual. It seems that as the realm and strength of the Purple Gold Eagle improved, and with his Golden Core Stage cultivation to reinforce it, even flying has become unimpeded. With such conditions, they were able to travel from the clan territory to Qianchuan Market in just seven days. Should the realm of the Purple Gold Eagle step further, it¡¯s conceivable that the flight speed could be improved again. By then, reaching Qianchuan Market within five days might not be impossible. Considering this, Lin Tianming planned to help the Purple Gold Eagle advance to the late Second Order phase once he returned home, especially since he had plenty of Second Order Demonic Beast corpses on hand. With such a vast resource support, the advancement of the Purple Gold Eagle into the late Second Order phase was merely a matter of time. Refocusing his thoughts, Lin Tianming looked at the familiar market wall in front of him, then carefully scrutinized it, hoping to discern something from its exterior. Chapter 795 795 429 Intelligence_1 ?Chapter 795: Chapter 429 Intelligence_1 Chapter 795: Chapter 429 Intelligence_1 Gazing out, the Qianchuan Market at this moment exuded an air of solemnity. Although the entrance to the market was not closed, the number of people coming and going had drastically decreased, not even one third of the normal traffic. It seemed that as the war between the three sects entered an intense phase, even this medium-sized market at the southernmost part of the Wei Kingdom had become more vigilant. Lin Tianming looked for a long while and, finding nothing unusual, noted only that the Zhenyang Sect disciples responsible for checking were quite strict. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering the current circumstances, such actions were not at all surprising. Realizing this, Lin Tianming quickly scouted around and, assured that there was nothing amiss, he also flew towards the entrance. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming arrived at the entrance. ... With hardly anyone queuing to enter or exit, Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival quickly caught the attention of several Zhenyang Sect disciples responsible for the inspection. Among this group was Wang Zhi, one of the Market City Supervisors. Seeing Lin Tianming, Wang Zhi hurried over, seemingly recognizing Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, long time no see, are you well?¡± Wang Zhi¡¯s tone was familiar; it seemed he had not noticed that Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation had reached the Golden Core Stage, otherwise his attitude wouldn¡¯t be one of peers. But that was to be expected, after all, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was very strong, at least far surpassing that of cultivators of the same level. If he didn¡¯t want to reveal his true cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, even a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator present would find it hard to detect his true level without him taking action. Therefore, Wang Zhi, being at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, naturally could not detect anything unusual. At this time, faced with Wang Zhi¡¯s courteous words, Lin Tianming responded with a faint smile. ¡°Daoist Wang, I didn¡¯t expect you to personally guard the market entrance. It seems your sect is really on high alert!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ there¡¯s no helping it!¡± Wang Zhi gave a resigned smile and then continued, ¡°Golden Sword Sect is coming on strong. Things have been calm here for a few years, but we can¡¯t be too careless!¡± ¡°The sect arranged for several Market City Supervisors to take turns guarding. I must carry out my duties!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that the higher-ups of Zhenyang Sect were indeed wise and had made the right decision. Otherwise, they might have suffered significant losses during Golden Sword Sect¡¯s first wave of attacks a few years ago. Fortunately, Golden Sword Sect¡¯s first target was not the Zhenyang Sect, otherwise the outcome might have been unpredictable. However, even understanding this, Lin Tianming did not say much, to avoid unnecessary trouble. ¡°Daoist Yang, the decisions made by your sect¡¯s elders are wise. Now that Golden Sword Sect is mired and unable to extricate itself, I believe it won¡¯t be long before they are thoroughly defeated!¡± ¡°By that time, after years of heavy losses, Myriad Medicine Valley will weaken, and Zhenyang Sect will surely seize the opportunity to rise!¡± Lin Tianming complimented him, using his words to probe Wang Zhi, to see if he might reveal any specific details about the war. As expected, upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Wang Zhi helplessly said, ¡°Lin, your thinking is too simplistic!¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Lin Tianming looked curiously, casually pulling Wang Zhi aside, while also handing him a storage bag without being noticed. Seeing this gesture, Wang Zhi smiled and then continued, ¡°According to our sect¡¯s reports, the battlefield at Myriad Medicine Valley has gained some advantages for a while, but it seems Golden Sword Sect has no intention of retreating.¡± ¡°This way, it appears Blood Red Alliance will probably have to intensify their efforts!¡± ¡°And Myriad Medicine Valley does not have an absolute advantage. At this rate, the situation still remains unclear and the battlefield might even expand.¡± Hearing Wang Zhi¡¯s series of remarks indeed matched Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ speculations. At this time, Lin Tianming, with a solemn expression, exchanged a few words with Wang Zhi, subtly inquiring about the news of the war. A short while later. Unable to glean more information, Lin Tianming, with a cupped-fist salute, bade farewell to Wang Zhi and then entered the Qianchuan Market itself. Inside the market, Lin Tianming wandered through the streets, scrutinizing the changes within. Upon exploring, he realized that the buzz of the Qianchuan Market had significantly diminished, with the once bustling streets now quiet. It looked like with the outbreak of the three sects¡¯ war, many cultivators had answered the Recruitment Order and plenty of Loose Cultivators, fearing the market might be attacked by Golden Sword Sect, had temporarily left the area. Furthermore, prices for various resources during the time of war had begun to soar. As a result, Qianchuan Market lost its original commercial value. With this, a large number of cultivators ceased to move about, creating a shortage of materials and leading to a steep drop in foot traffic at the entire Qianchuan Market. In contrast, smaller markets situated in various mountain ranges saw a slight increase in traffic since they were less likely to be targeted by Golden Sword Sect due to their insignificance. Luoyun Market, controlled by the Lin Family, was a prime example. This situation fell within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Before he knew it, Lin Tianming had toured the entire market. Whenever he encountered familiar cultivators, he would approach them to exchange a few words and inquire about the news within the cultivation world. These people were not of high status, and their cultivations were mediocre at best, knowing very limited information. Indeed, for him, they were hardly of any use at all. Consequently, Lin Tianming lost interest in continuing and subsequently returned to the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Chapter 796 796 429 Intelligence_2 ?Chapter 796: Chapter 429 Intelligence_2 Chapter 796: Chapter 429 Intelligence_2 Having received his message, Lin Xingrong immediately came out of seclusion with Lin Tianyue and a few others. Several Foundation Establishment Cultivators from their clan greeted each other and then sat down in the small courtyard for a casual chat. It had been a long time since they last met, and Lin Xingrong had now reached the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong were not far behind, both also possessing the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer. It seemed that their progress had slowed down a bit over the years. However, this was quite normal since it naturally becomes more difficult to break through the last few layers of the Foundation Establishment stage compared to the earlier ones. Nevertheless, managing to improve by two layers of cultivation over these years was already quite commendable. While Lin Tianming was sizing them up, Lin Xingrong glanced at Lin Tianming and a look of satisfaction flashed across his face. ... After all, this was the first reunion between father and son since Lin Tianming¡¯s successful Core Formation. Up until now, their excitement surged once again with Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival. And among those present, only Lin Xingrong was privy to the truth. Even Lin Tianyue was kept in the dark. As a result, Lin Tianyue and the others seemed rather normal, bombarding Lin Tianming with numerous questions without showing any signs of peculiarity. After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Xingrong also began to inquire about Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions for visiting. Seeing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and briefly explained his purpose. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingrong remained very calm. Unaware of Lin Tianming¡¯s true cultivation level, upon hearing that he intended to travel around, Lin Tianyue and the others immediately became nervous, even going as far as to repeatedly attempt to persuade him otherwise. Seeing their concern, Lin Tianming could only smile helplessly, claiming that he had reached the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and even if he confronted an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he wouldn¡¯t be completely powerless. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, he mentioned that he wouldn¡¯t be going to the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate, nor would he visit Qingshui Market. With Lin Xingrong¡¯s few words of persuasion, they were finally reassured. After chatting idly for a while, Lin Tianming handed over a batch of treasured resources brought by the family into Lin Xingrong¡¯s hands. The quantity of these resources was substantial. Apart from a portion allocated for their own cultivation, most of the items, of average value, were meant for sale at Luoyun Pavilion. Owing to the constraints of the Three Sects¡¯ great battle over the past few years, Lin Xingrong¡¯s visits to the clan¡¯s territory had also become scarce. Consequently, the inventory at Luoyun Pavilion faced some shortages. Now, with the addition of this batch of treasures, there was no need to worry about the lack of items to sell for the coming year or two. Lin Xingrong also inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s plans going forward, so he could make timely preparations for the spirit stones and resources to be brought back to the clan¡¯s territory. Upon hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming contemplated for a moment and decided to stay at Qianchuan Market for ten days to half a month. During this time, he planned to visit Tang Xiuyuan of Sky Dragon Pavilion, as well as some other familiar cultivators. By doing this, he was also aiming to gather some intelligence by any means possible. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming then announced his plans. After a bit more idle talk, everyone went back to their respective cave abodes. Lin Tianming entered his room and lay directly on the stone bed, soon falling into a deep sleep. The next morning, Lin Tianming arrived early at Sky Dragon Pavilion. Guided by a Qi Refinement attendant on the first floor, Lin Tianming quickly met with Tang Xiuyuan, the person he came to visit, in a private room on the second floor. On seeing Lin Tianming, Tang Xiuyuan was extremely excited. In his eyes, Lin Tianming and the Lin Family were major patrons, especially since the family had purchased a large number of treasured resources through him over the years. With these benefits, he was able to earn a substantial income, nearly accumulating enough contribution points to exchange for a Golden Core Pill. The Golden Core Pill, a pill that aids in Core Formation, is as effective, if not more so, than ordinary Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Thus, the value of the Golden Core Pill is high, and even within the extensive Tang Family, it is a limited and precious resource. Given his rather average talent, and being only middling within the Tang Family, it was only with the more effective Golden Core Pill that he would have a fairly strong chance of successfully entering the Golden Core Stage. With this goal in mind, he had persevered for decades in Qianchuan Market, rising from a common executive officer to a branch decision-maker. Next, as long as he persisted for another ten-plus years in Qianchuan Market, he would accumulate enough contribution points to apply for a transfer to a much larger market and assume the role of an executive officer for Sky Dragon Pavilion. Once he left Qianchuan Market, he planned to prepare for the impact of the Golden Core Stage. If all went well, he would then enter the higher echelons of the Tang Family. Otherwise, even if he was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, he would merely be an ordinary member of the Tang Family. Being fully aware of this, Tang Xiuyuan was extremely courteous towards Lin Tianming, showing none of the typical arrogance of Tang family members. The reason for this wasn¡¯t solely because the Lin Family had brought him benefits, but more importantly because Lin Tianming possessed high talent and even stronger abilities. The current Lin Tianming gave him a subtle sense of pressure, a mysterious feeling that truly existed. Realizing this, he knew Lin Tianming¡¯s power had become even more unfathomable. After exchanging some pleasantries, Tang Xiuyuan cut straight to the point and inquired about the purpose of Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Seeing his direct approach, Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush either and openly inquired about the war situation between the three Great Sects. Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression turned grave, seemingly in possession of some significant intelligence. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also looked puzzled and quickly pressed for answers. After much thought, Tang Xiuyuan slowly said, ¡°Daoist Lin, it seems that the Blood Red Alliance is on the move!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming, full of curiosity, earnestly said, ¡°Daoist Tang, please relay any information you know promptly, I shall be most grateful!¡± ¡°Heh¡­ No need to mention rewards, Daoist Lin, our Tang Family¡¯s business spans all the major countries of Qingzhou, and we did indeed notice some activities recently.¡± ¡°What kind of activities?¡± Lin Tianming immediately perked up with interest and hastily urged for details. ¡°It appears that among the four Great Sects of Huangyang Kingdom, three Golden Elixir Forces seem to be secretly amassing strength.¡± ¡°At such a juncture, with the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in disarray, and the early beast tide already having caused significant losses, the emergence of such developments in neighboring Huangyang Kingdom is enough to put Wei Kingdom on high alert.¡± Having said this, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression relaxed somewhat, and then he added another comment. ¡°Of course, this is just a guess from our Sky Dragon Pavilion; after all, who the three Golden Elixir Forces are aiming at is still up for debate!¡± ¡°It may just be that we¡¯re worrying unnecessarily!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming looked somber, weighing the possibility of this matter in his heart. In his view, the Wei Kingdom was indeed weak, and even without a rift between the three Great Sects, their remaining power was far less formidable compared to before the beast tide. Not to mention the fact that Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance had now joined forces, placing themselves in opposition to Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect. Furthermore, during peacetime, the collective power of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom was said to be inferior to that of the Huangyang Country Cultivation World next door. In the past, when facing the invasion of foreign enemies, the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom, despite their differences, would unite and confront the threat together. Now, however, Wei Kingdom was nearly falling apart internally; if it were to draw the attention of Huangyang Kingdom as well, there might well be a probability of complete annihilation. If that were to happen, the Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom would undoubtedly become even more chaotic. What¡¯s more, Wei Kingdom shared a substantial border with Huangyang Kingdom, with at least a few mountain ranges that partly straddled Huangyang territory. The Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family was located, was one of these border areas. If Huangyang Kingdom were to invade through the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family¡¯s situation would become perilous. One could imagine that once Huangyang Kingdom invaded, there would certainly be Golden Core Cultivators leading the charge; if each of the three sects dispatched two Golden Core Cultivators, there would be six in action. With such an imposing force and without the protection of a Third Order Great Array, the Lin Family would likely be trampled flat within a few days if they faced an offensive from six Golden Core Cultivators. Upon this realization, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, and his heart was greatly shaken. Chapter 797 797 430 Lin Tianmings Anxiety_1 ?Chapter 797: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_1 Chapter 797: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_1 At this moment, Tang Xiuyuan also thought of the location of Luoyun Mountain, and upon seeing the rapidly changing expression on Lin Tianming¡¯s face, he seemed to have realized something. Immediately after, Tang Xiuyuan, knowing he had misspoken, gave a helpless and embarrassed smile, then spoke up to console Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, don¡¯t overthink it. The movements of Huangyang Kingdom don¡¯t necessarily mean anything. After all, they have their own hostile forces, and their relations with the cultivation worlds of the neighboring countries aren¡¯t that great either. Maybe they have other intentions towards other countries!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was unconvinced, always feeling a sense of urgency in his heart. This feeling was peculiar; an instinctive sense made him certain that the movements of Huangyang Kingdom were not unfounded. The thought alone made Lin Tianming somewhat anxious. But realistically, the situation was still uncertain. The news had not yet been confirmed, and indeed, Huangyang Kingdom was beset on all sides. Despite being somewhat stronger overall than Wei Kingdom, in the grand scheme of Jingzhou, they were still at the bottom. ... If the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom were to invade, they surely wouldn¡¯t commit all their forces. As long as it wasn¡¯t three or four Golden Core Cultivators making a move, the Lin Family still had the strength to fight. Realizing this, Lin Tianming finally felt a weight lift from his heart. However, no matter the circumstances, he couldn¡¯t stay in Qianchuan Market too long; he had to return to his clan¡¯s territory as soon as possible. Only by sitting in charge personally could he truly feel at ease. Understanding this importance, Lin Tianming continued to inquire with Tang Xiuyuan about everything from the great war between the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom to the various changes occurring within the entire Cultivation World, asking for clear details. After half an hour, Lin Tianming finally bid farewell to Tang Xiuyuan. Before leaving Sky Dragon Pavilion, Lin Tianming spent over a hundred thousand spirit stones, purchasing a large number of treasures from Tang Xiuyuan, all of which were cultivation resources for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. In addition, he also reached a preliminary intention for cooperation with Tang Xiuyuan. Once the great war among the Three Sects ended and the Cultivation World returned to tranquility, the Lin Family needed to step up cooperation with Sky Dragon Pavilion on a foundational level, mutually trading various resources to establish a long-term partnership. This move was mutually beneficial for both Tang Xiuyuan and the Lin Family. After all, the Lin Family was gradually rising, and the number of clan members had broken through a thousand, with the foreseeable future only seeing an increase. Perhaps in less than a hundred years, the Lin Family might even develop into a clan with a scale of ten thousand people. But while this goal was still distant, a scale of three to five thousand was not difficult to achieve in a short time. Such a large clan would require a vast amount of resources to sustain. If new ways to earn spirit stones were not found, once the resources accumulated over the years ran out, it¡¯s feared the development momentum of the Lin Family would decline. And it would be too much of a pity if the Lin Family, after decades of arduous efforts, were to fall short due to inadequate sustainability. Therefore, they had to plan ahead, expand the Lin Family¡¯s business, and allow the Lin Family¡¯s stores to initially branch out into the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If possible, when the conditions were right, they would even consider penetrating into the neighboring countries. This grand plan was also the result of discussions with several senior members of the clan. As for this trip to Qianchuan Market, besides seeking information, cooperating with Sky Dragon Pavilion was one of the goals. However, with the current instability in the Cultivation World, a deep partnership with Sky Dragon Pavilion seemed unrealistic. But laying a solid foundation first would make it faster and more effective to achieve the intended outcomes in future collaborations. With this in mind, Lin Tianming naturally put all his effort into ensuring this significant matter was well arranged. With the visit to Tang Xiuyuan complete and an agreement reached, Lin Tianming had fulfilled his purpose. Following that, he had to visit several other major stores to strive for more partnership opportunities. This would also bring more profits and secure more valuable treasures in the future. With this objective, Lin Tianming then visited several major stores, whose owners were all at least as influential as the Golden Elixir Forces of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom. Beyond that, nearly all of them came from countries surrounding Wei Kingdom, each with its own customs and rare treasures. Establishing multiple cooperative channels would ensure that any future incidents wouldn¡¯t unduly affect the family¡¯s business. After all, one shouldn¡¯t put all the eggs in one basket, as everyone knows. Furthermore, if the Lin Family wanted to establish a solid footing in Wei Kingdom or branch out into neighboring countries, they would need some degree of support from other powers. Even if it were just verbal support, it could still become a form of influence and have an effect at certain times. Therefore, Lin Tianming naturally sought to build relationships with these powers surrounding the several countries. It is always right to be prepared before it rains. With such goals in mind, Lin Tianming kept busy all day long, visiting the leaders of these stores, doing business with them, and casually gathering news from the Cultivation World. After a full day¡¯s work, only at dusk did Lin Tianming return to the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard. He had been quite productive throughout the day, spending nearly three hundred thousand spirit stones and purchasing a massive amount of cultivation resources, primarily consisting of Spiritual Medicines, elixirs, and talisman papers. As for ordinary First and Second Order items, the Lin Family could completely sustain itself and had no need to purchase them. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The only shortfall was in the valuable Second Order items, especially the high-quality ones. Chapter 798 798 430 Lin Tianmings Anxiety_2 ?Chapter 798: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_2 Chapter 798: Chapter 430 Lin Tianming¡¯s Anxiety_2 Even though the Lin Family had Second Order Refiners and Alchemists, it was still nearly impossible to sustain the consumption of dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family. After all, Lin Shilu and Lin Tianming¡¯s time was limited, and they needed to cultivate themselves, so naturally they couldn¡¯t spend every day performing alchemy and artifact refining. And the Four Arts of Cultivation skills of family members like Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin were, for the time being, still not at the High Quality level. Therefore, Second Order Superior items of high value were still quite scarce for the Lin Family. However, although these items were still of high value to the Lin Family, they weren¡¯t considered too precious for those Golden Elixir Forces with legacies spanning thousands of years. In particular, Sky Dragon Pavilion, originating from the heart of Qingzhou and a Nascent Soul Force with business spread across countries large and small in Qingzhou, also had no lack of exquisite items for sale. As long as the Lin Family was willing to pay the price, they could still acquire high-value items. ... And the gains from today¡¯s extensive buying left him quite satisfied. Beyond that, through interactions with these leaders from across the lands, Lin Tianming opened his eyes to new horizons and met quite a few talented and distinguished leaders. More importantly, he could also obtain some useful information through the messages provided by these leaders. This information included the results of battles from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, as well as the specific details about the Golden Elixir Forces in Huangyang Kingdom. And this information was precisely what he needed to grasp at the moment. With the day¡¯s activities, he also gained a deeper understanding of both the internal workings of Wei Kingdom and the countries surrounding it. Only at this moment did he realize that the Lin Family¡¯s foundation truly couldn¡¯t compare to those major forces. After all, their business spread across several neighboring countries, and with hundreds or thousands of family members walking among them, they could collect more treasures and earn more profits daily. Unlike the Lin Family, which hadn¡¯t even firmly established itself in Wei Kingdom and had a very limited influence. The key point was that the Luoyun Mountain Range, and even the entirety of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, were considered barren lands. Just by managing Luoyun Pavilion and Luoyun Market, two of the Lin Family¡¯s significant industries, the income of Spirit Stones was extremely limited in a year. However, the Lin Family had already advanced two levels compared to several decades ago; such a rate of progress was already quite rapid. But to achieve a certain level of foundation, especially that of others, there was still a long road ahead. What the Lin Family needed to do first was to enhance the strength of top clan members, then expand the Lin Family¡¯s influence, develop more industries, and cultivate more powerful clan members. As for this step, it would require the concerted effort of the entire family for decades, or even longer. Lin Tianming was rather calm about this, knowing that being anxious was useless, as a foundation was not something that could be achieved with just a few decades of rapid development. Just like those forces that had been passed down for tens of thousands of years, each one had experienced the joint efforts of dozens of generations before reaching their current level. In comparison, the Lin Family achieving such results in such a short time was already miraculous. Because he understood this, Lin Tianming was not discouraged at all but instead felt a kind of expectation inside him, to surely lead his family to rise and stand alongside the great powers of Qingzhou. In his firm belief, with the Lin Family¡¯s thousands of members united as one, they would one day reach that step. And he would be the leader in the family¡¯s rise. The path to rising might be difficult and even fraught with dangers. But what of it? He was not afraid of facing dangers, nor of the long time it might take, as after all, he was young and full of talent, with the belief that one day he could cut through all barriers to reach the goal in his heart and earn sufficient rewards for his efforts. That day would surely come, and the Lin Family would also stand as one of the top powers in Qingzhou. As evening approached. After finishing a busy day¡¯s schedule, Lin Tianming and a few family members such as Lin Xingrong sat together chatting leisurely. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming and the others briefly shared some information. Lin Xingrong was also busy today; he and a few others went out to visit old friends to both network and gather information. However, the only people they could connect with were ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators or, at most, disciples of the Zhenyang Sect, as well as some disciples from the local Golden Core forces. As a result, the information they could obtain was quite limited; however, just like Lin Tianming, gathering intelligence was only one of their goals, seeking partnerships was another. Given that they were out and about, and the Lin Family¡¯s reputation had greatly increased over the years, it was natural that they would draw some attention from various forces. In such circumstances, when the Lin Family actively sought collaborations, the vast majority of forces would naturally not refuse. This way, each of them gained something, more or less. After summarizing with Lin Tianming, he too had a list of potential collaborators, which he planned to hand over to the Clan Leader for a decision once he returned to the family lands. When conditions were ripe, they would also proceed according to the plans laid out by the family. But these matters did not require him to panic; what he could do was build relationships in advance. As for the actual implementation, it would certainly be the Foundation Establishment members of the family. It was foreseeable that these family members would become the backbone of the family, whether it was in dealing with foreign enemies or expanding family business, they would undoubtedly become the most crucial element. Understanding this, Lin Tianming provided full support to Lin Xingrong and the others. Only when their cultivation was high could they avoid being oppressed by the disciples of other forces. After all, in the Cultivation World, strength was the greatest reliance, something everyone was well aware of. As the group casually chatted for a while, Lin Xingrong glanced at Lin Tianming and noticed that his expression always carried a hint of worry, seemingly understanding that he must have something on his mind. However, since Lin Tianming was silent on the matter for such a long time, it must be of great importance. With this in mind, Lin Xingrong said to Lin Tianyue and the others beside him, ¡°Tian Yue, Tianhong, you all go and cultivate for now!¡± Upon hearing this, although Lin Tianyue and the others were puzzled, they did not ask any further questions and tactfully left. Right after they greeted Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong and left the small courtyard. Watching them leave, Lin Xingrong then asked, ¡°Tianming, has something happened?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and proceeded to relay all the information he had gathered from Tang Xiuyuan. After listening to Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Xingrong¡¯s face turned ashen, and he became somewhat flustered. However, his view was similar to Lin Tianming¡¯s; regardless of whether Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s actions were genuine and whether they had intentions toward the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family had to take precautions. After all, the matter was of great significance, and it was better to err on the side of caution! Therefore, after contemplating for a long time, Lin Xingrong also suggested that Lin Tianming set off as soon as possible, complete what needed to be done, and return to the family at the earliest opportunity, perhaps staying there for a year or two longer. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once this storm passed and everything returned to normal, that would naturally be the best outcome! But, he feared that Huangyang Kingdom might have a genuine intention to invade. If that were the case, the Lin Family¡¯s plan to remain detached from worldly affairs would be disrupted. At this moment, Lin Tianming also weighed the pros and cons and felt that Lin Xingrong made good points. In such a situation, Lin Tianming decided to shorten his stay in Qianchuan Market and, after another two or three days, once Luoyun Pavilion had prepared all the things to be taken back to the family, he would set off without delay. Once he left Qianchuan Market, he planned to patrol the nearby mountain ranges and spend ten days to half a month investigating the situation, then directly embark on the journey back to the clan. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming conferred with Lin Xingrong to determine the specific timing and then went to make their respective preparations. Three days later. Lin Tianming, carrying a large amount of wealth prepared by Lin Xingrong, quietly left the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard. Once outside of Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming did not stop for a break, picked a direction, and immediately summoned the Purple Gold Eagle, then mounted Xiao Diao¡¯s back. The instructed Xiao Diao did not delay, promptly soaring into the sky, rapidly ascending a thousand feet high, and then flew off in a certain direction. ¡­ Chapter 799 799 431 Movement in the Huangyang ?Chapter 799: Chapter 431 Movement in the Huangyang Kingdom_1 Chapter 799: Chapter 431 Movement in the Huangyang Kingdom_1 Half a month quickly passed by. On this day, in the plains of the Tongcheng Mountain Range, the figure of a Purple Gold Eagle emerged. The Purple Gold Eagle was still flying at high speed, while Lin Tianming sat motionless on the back of Xiao Diao, like a boulder. On the surface, Lin Tianming seemed to be cultivating, but in actuality, his Divine Sense was fully activated, searching for several Foundation Establishment Cultivators flying below on swords. However, these cultivators were chatting casually as they flew, completely unaware that above them, Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle were present. According to his observation, these cultivators were wearing different clothes and their cultivation levels varied by a couple of minor realms. Judging by the topics of their casual conversations, they didn¡¯t seem to be from the same force. Lin Tianming secretly observed them for a while, but since he didn¡¯t acquire any useful information, he soon stopped paying attention. ... Not just now, but over the past half month, he had tirelessly traveled through several mountain ranges surrounding the Qianchuan Market. Through his reconnaissance, he discovered that the situation in these mountain ranges was similar to that of the Luoyun Mountain Range; almost all the major forces were in closed-door cultivation, greatly reducing the movement of cultivators. Along the way, he didn¡¯t encounter many cultivators. Other than occasionally seeing some Foundation Establishment Cultivators venturing out, there were hardly any Qi Refining Cultivators to be seen. This seemed to suggest that the forces within the present Cultivation World were like startled birds, all being extremely cautious. For this reason, his journey had been relatively peaceful, and the information he gathered was scarce at best. As of today, he didn¡¯t plan to continue this fruitless endeavor. Moreover, the movements of the Huangyang Kingdom constantly weighed on his mind. After much deliberation, he decided to immediately begin his journey back to his clan¡¯s territory. Only by being in his homeland could he truly be at ease. With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming hurriedly had the Purple Gold Eagle change direction, heading south toward the Lin Family. ¡­ S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the Huangyang Kingdom, at the Whirlwind Mountain Range. Atop a mountain peak, two flying boats sliced through the void, speeding northward. On the deck of one of the flying boats stood two Blue-Robed Cultivators, with more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind them. Looking over, this group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators wore uniform attire with a cloud embroidered on their chests, likely a symbol of a certain force. Among these people, there seemed to be thirty to forty cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, while the rest were all below the Sixth Level. All of them were sitting cross-legged, not daring to breathe too loudly nor to whisper in front of the two Blue-Robed Cultivators, showing that they held them in great fear. At this moment, the one in the front, Xu Zhi, looked ahead and said to Meng Qingfeng beside him. ¡°Meng, do you think our mission to the Wei Kingdom will manage to annihilate Yangzong and Myriad Medicine Valley?¡± Meng Qingfeng replied with a light smile and said, ¡°Senior Xu, aren¡¯t you being a bit too pessimistic?¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Xu Zhi asked somewhat awkwardly. ¡°Heh heh¡­ You know, if it hadn¡¯t been for the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance getting bogged down, failing in their attempts to destroy Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they wouldn¡¯t have promised benefits to involve us three sects into the mix!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the Blood Red Alliance if not a difficult opponent?¡± ¡°This time, the people from the Golden Sword Sect under-estimated Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, thinking that just with Zhao Hongsheng and a few others, they could easily accomplish their objective.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t realize that forces that have stood for thousands of years and remained prosperous are not so easily wiped out.¡± ¡°Not to mention, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s heritage is almost a thousand years older than our Qingyun Sect.¡± ¡°In my opinion, unless Nascent Soul Cultivators intervene, it¡¯s very difficult to eradicate an ancient Golden Elixir Force without amassing double the number of Golden Core Cultivators.¡± Hearing this, Xu Zhi nodded thoughtfully, but he also had different views. This time, their Qingyun Sect, along with two other Golden Elixir Forces, accepted the benefits offered by Zhao Hongsheng to join the great conflict in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In his opinion, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was suffering from internal strife and external threats. Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were firmly entangled, making the entire Wei Kingdom like a pot of loose sand. Under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s assault, although Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had not lost much ground, repelling the Blood Red Alliance and the Golden Sword Sect was naturally not so easy. According to the benefits Zhao Hongsheng promised, their invasion of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory was just an opportunity to plunder, and the best outcome would be to annihilate the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. Even if they couldn¡¯t achieve the goal of destruction, they could still sweep through some territories and loot resources. No matter the outcome, it was a no-lose situation for them. Why not take advantage of such a gift from heaven? After all, with the main forces of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect being distracted, no one would care about their reckless actions. If they conquered enough territory, it would put tremendous pressure on the two sects. If Zhenyang Sect turned a blind eye, they would take as much advantage as they could. In the end, they could converge with Zhao Hongsheng and others to jointly wipe out the two sects. If everything went smoothly, they could even divide up the Wei Kingdom among their several forces. After all, it was easy pickings, and there was no reason not to take advantage. With these thoughts in mind, Xu Zhi was somewhat excited, his face brimming with a smile as if everything was within his grasp. After calming down, Xu Zhi asked Meng Qingfeng, ¡°At this speed, it should only be a matter of days before we enter the Luoyun Mountain Range of the Wei Kingdom.¡± ¡°Once we enter Wei Kingdom territory, you and I will divide our forces and quickly seize Luoyun Mountain!¡± Chapter 800 800 431 Huangyang Kingdom Stirs_2 ?Chapter 800: Chapter 431 Huangyang Kingdom Stirs_2 Chapter 800: Chapter 431 Huangyang Kingdom Stirs_2 Upon hearing this, Meng Qingfeng nodded, a look of excitement on his face. ¡°Senior Xu can rest assured, the Wei Kingdom is too preoccupied to concern itself with us. Unless Lu Xingfeng from the Zhenyang Sect comes personally, no one can stop us.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, the Luoyun Mountain Range has changed quite a bit in the past few decades. I¡¯ve heard that the Lin Family has risen swiftly, nearly uniting the entire mountain range in just twenty years!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Zhi perked up upon hearing what Meng Qingfeng had said. Seeing this, Meng Qingfeng quickly explained, ¡°This Lin Family had a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator hundreds of years ago.¡± ¡°It just declined mid-way, and for several centuries, they were quite inconspicuous until twenty years ago when the Lin Family suddenly developed rapidly. It is said that now, they have more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators openly.¡± ... ¡°Such a Foundation Establishing Family, even in the Huangyang Country Cultivation World, is considered a very powerful family!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Zhi nodded, then continued, ¡°That being said, since the Lin Family once had a Golden Core Cultivator, they must have some resources, perhaps even items left by Golden Core Cultivators.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°If we find one or two Magical Treasures, and get some Third and Fourth Order Spirit Medicine and Spirit Ore, it won¡¯t be a waste for us to disturb them a bit!¡± With that, Xu Zhi gave a sinister smile, his expression grotesque, just like a bandit chief eyeing a peerless beauty. Meng Qingfeng, seeing this, also began to flatter along with Xu Zhi¡¯s words. ¡°Ha ha¡­ With Senior Xu¡¯s Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation leading personally, this little Lin Family, despite its rapid rise, is nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot!¡± ¡°Since Senior Xu has set the first target, I¡¯ll take care of the other Foundation Establishing small clans at Luoyun Mountain!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s split our forces and act quickly, resolving them in the shortest time and then gathering together to advance into the heartland of the Zhenyang Sect!¡± ¡°Good¡­ let¡¯s make it a swift and decisive battle!¡± Xu Zhi replied excitedly, always smiling in satisfaction as he appreciated Meng Qingfeng¡¯s cleverness. On the other side, Meng Qingfeng, seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s expression, also displayed a somewhat proud look. Shortly after, the two chatted briefly, then Meng Qingfeng jumped down to his own Flying Boat. After this episode, the speed of the two Flying Boats did not decrease, continuing their rapid flight northward. The Flying Boats were very fast and, in the blink of an eye, a mountain peak was surpassed. Their destination was the Lin Family located in the Luoyun Mountain Range. However, at this moment, other than Lin Tianming and Lin Xingrong, who had some guesses, everyone else was oblivious. ¡­ Before you knew it, ten days had passed. Today at Green Bamboo Mountain, on the outskirts of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, several Lin Family Members were patrolling the mountain gate as usual. Leading them was Lin Tianxing, a member of the Enforcement Hall whose Great Perfection of Qi Refining Stage had also made him the captain of the Law Enforcement Team. Over the years, his growth rate had been quite good. At barely over thirty years old, he had reached this realm, a fairly commendable cultivation rate among his family members of the Tian generation. And now, he was one of the Lin Family members being focused on nurturing, with plans made for him to impact the Foundation Establishment Stage in a year. To this end, Lin Tianxing had entered the Great Perfection realm early and used his spare time to voluntarily partake in the patrolling missions. Today, like any other day, was simply a routine patrol. At that moment, he was leading his family members around the edge of the Protective Clan Formation, encountering any cultivators visiting to promptly notify the Clan Leader. If they encountered anyone troublesome, they could also send out immediate alerts, and even eradicate them on the spot. However, with the Lin Family¡¯s rising reputation over the years, even Inner Sect Disciples from the Zhenyang Sect visiting would respectfully announce their affiliations, then be verified by them before being personally escorted to meet the Clan Leader. Gaining the respect of disciples from Golden Elixir Forces was a transformation that every member of the Lin Family felt a genuine sense of pride about. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And this was the deterrence power of the family, with every member enjoying the respect they deserved when dealing with outsiders. As they say, a large tree provides good shade, and these young members of the clan were experiencing good times. Not only had their treatment improved significantly, but their overall vitality had increased as well. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianxing was inspired and saw Lin Tianming, the one leading the family¡¯s rise, as an example to follow. He knew his talents were not as great as Lin Tianming¡¯s and chasing his footsteps was unrealistic. Despite this, he wanted to contribute his strength to the family¡¯s path to ascension. With this resolve, Lin Tianxing made all the necessary preparations for reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and was eager to participate in clan tasks during his spare time. At this moment, Lin Tianxing and a few others, who had been patrolling, were flying on their swords, passing through the entrance of the Protective Clan Formation. Just then, Lin Tianxing habitually looked into the distance and noticed a black shadow appearing on the horizon, speeding towards them. In the blink of an eye, the shadow grew larger, expanding from a dot to the size of a fist. Seeing this, Lin Tianxing immediately perked up and warned his companions. ¡°There¡¯s someone approaching, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a clan member or a visitor!¡± Upon hearing this, the accompanying clan members quickly looked in the direction Lin Tianxing was pointing. Soon, the distant shadow grew larger and revealed the true form of a flying boat. At that moment, Lin Tianxing was the first to clearly see the flying boat and discovered it was a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact. He understood that whoever possessed such a treasure must be wealthy or noble, and their cultivation level wouldn¡¯t be low. Regardless, whether it was a guest or an enemy, it was essential to report immediately to the Clan Leader. Knowing this, Lin Tianxing didn¡¯t delay and sent a message to Lin Shihua right away. After doing this, he continued to watch the approaching flying boat, preparing himself for any necessary action. As the flying boat drew nearer, Lin Tianxing also saw Xu Zhi aboard, along with a distinctive mark on the craft. Xu Zhi made no attempt to hide his cultivation realm; instead, he openly displayed his aura as if deliberately flaunting his cultivation level. Such bold and unrestrained behavior would be seen as a provocation if he were visiting a significant power. At this moment, Lin Tianxing naturally noticed Xu Zhi¡¯s realm and, with his overwhelming aura, was visibly shocked! ¡°It¡¯s a Golden Core Cultivator coming!¡± None of those present had ever seen a Golden Core Cultivator in person before. Now, seeing such a renowned figure, they were indeed enlightened, staring with widened eyes and breathing unevenly. It was not surprising that several Qi Refining Cultivators reacted this way. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Before Lin Tianxing and his group could recover, they heard a loud noise. Immediately, Lin Tianxing and the others, regaining their composure from the shock, noticed the Protective Clan Formation shaking violently, with colors flashing across the formation¡¯s light screen. ¡°This is bad, this Golden Core old monster is an enemy, and they have attacked the Protective Clan Formation!¡± Seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s actions, Lin Tianxing¡¯s face turned pale, and in his panic, he quickly shouted, ¡°Quickly send a message to the Clan Leader!¡± As he spoke, the Spiritual Artifact in Lin Tianxing¡¯s hand emitted a burst of light, and he swung his sword towards the sky as a warning signal. At the same time, the others also sent messages, alerting Clan Leader Lin Shihua and Enforcement Hall Master Lin Xingzhi. They acted swiftly, though it would take some time for the elders to arrive. Meanwhile, Xu Zhi and his companions, who had arrived outside the formation aboard the flying boat, had all disembarked and were neatly assembled beside it. At this time, Xu Zhi glanced at the formation¡¯s light screen and displayed a mocking expression. ¡°This formation is somewhat interesting. Even if I personally deal with it, it might take two or three days to break through!¡± Xu Zhi muttered to himself and then wasted no more time, immediately launching an attack on the light screen of the formation. Chapter 801 801 432 Shocked Xu Zhi ?Chapter 801: Chapter 432: Shocked Xu Zhi Chapter 801: Chapter 432: Shocked Xu Zhi ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Xu Zhi¡¯s magical treasure flashed in his hand, and a shocking rainbow stabbed towards the formation¡¯s light screen. From afar, he held a flaming red longsword in his hand, shrouding it with terrifying flames of power, each strike carrying immense might. When the shocking rainbow hit the formation¡¯s light screen, a series of explosive sounds ensued, and the vast land at the entrance of the formation began to tremble slightly. At this moment, Lin Tianxing and the others were already dumbfounded, each wearing a look of anger as they watched Xu Zhi attacking the formation, yet feeling helpless. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As they found themselves at a loss, two figures tore through the void and appeared in front of Lin Tianxing in the blink of an eye. At that time, Lin Tianxing hadn¡¯t reacted yet, and only when Lin Shikang and the other person stood with their hands behind their backs did he realize that one of the men was Lin Shikang. ... As for the other white-robed cultivator, he looked very unfamiliar, obviously not having met this person before. However, the fact that this stranger appeared alongside Lin Shikang without any guard suggested that he must be some elder or guest of the Lin Family whom they had not yet met. Seeing Lin Shikang appear, Lin Tianxing seemed to find his pillar of support, and his expression relaxed somewhat. At that time, both Lin Shikang wore looks of anger, staring intensely at Xu Zhi and the others outside with solemn expressions. ¡°Tianxing, what exactly is happening here?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s question, Lin Tianxing did not hesitate and immediately replied, ¡°Third Grandfather, today was just our routine patrol of the sect gates!¡± ¡°Just moments ago, a flying boat suddenly appeared outside our clan¡¯s territory. As soon as the flying boat reached the Protective Clan Formation, the cultivators on it attacked immediately, giving us no time to react!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then looked at Xu Zhi across from him, his face completely unrecognizable. Even after pondering for a while, he could not recall any feud between this man and the Lin Family. Yet, since these people had come to the outskirts of the clan land and had not held back at all in their attack, their actions were clearly deliberate, even suggesting they were well-prepared. Knowing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s brow furrowed, and he thought hard about the embroidered symbols on the robes worn by Xu Zhi and his companions, trying to ascertain which Golden Elixir Force they represented. But after careful thought, he still had no clue. However, considering the direction from which they came, it was highly likely that these people were from Huangyang Kingdom. Otherwise, while he might not have met all the high ranks of the Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom, he had dealt with their disciples or heard detailed reports about them. And the faces of this group were utterly unfamiliar, including Xu Zhi in the Medium Stage of Golden Core, whose level of cultivation was rare even in the entire Wei Kingdom. As long as it wasn¡¯t the Golden Sword Sect, and the other two sects and families were unlikely to attack the Lin Family at this time, these people could only be cultivators from another country. And given that the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family resided, neighbored the Whirlwind Mountain Range of Huangyang Kingdom, taking into account the strength and direction of these people, they were most likely from Huangyang Kingdom. Yet, understanding this caused Lin Shikang¡¯s expression to turn even graver. He knew that the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was in chaos, with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect facing the threat of annihilation, and other smaller forces shutting themselves in, each thinking of preserving themselves in the impending war. Even Myriad Medicine and Zhenyang Sect were struggling to cope, let alone the Foundation Establishing Families. But precisely at this dire moment, the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom had interfered. Such news was disastrous for Wei Kingdom cultivators, whether they were loose cultivators or families like the Lin Family. Realizing this, faced with the formidable lineup opposite him, Lin Shikang felt rather helpless. However, without understanding the specifics of the situation, there might still be some misunderstanding. If that were the case, it would naturally be good news for the Lin Family. With that hope, Lin Shikang looked at Xu Zhi outside the formation and then, folding his hands into a salute, said, ¡°This fellow cultivator seems quite unfamiliar. May I know what brings you to the Lin Family?¡± Hearing this, Xu Zhi sneered playfully, somewhat surprised by the scene before him. Before entering the Wei Kingdom, they had specifically collected information about the more famous forces near the Luoyun Mountain Range, planning to target these families to gather some benefits. And the Lin Family, as the first famous force along their route, was their primary target on this trip. Initially, they thought that the Lin Family, with just over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, would not even require his intervention and could easily be eliminated. But now, it appeared that the Lin Family had hidden their capabilities deeply, deploying two Golden Core Cultivators right off the bat. In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there were only five Golden Elixir Forces, and the power to field two Golden Core Cultivators was limited to the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom. Given that the Lin Family could muster such forces was truly unexpected and astonishing. Yet, despite the surprise, Xu Zhi had no intention of retreating but felt even more determined to eradicate the Lin Family. In his eyes, although destroying the Lin Family would require considerable effort, they had managed to cultivate two Golden Core Cultivators in secret over the decades. The rapid growth of the Lin Family implied that they possessed significant treasures behind the scenes. Chapter 802 802 432 The Shocked Xu Zhi_2 ?Chapter 802: Chapter 432 The Shocked Xu Zhi_2 Chapter 802: Chapter 432 The Shocked Xu Zhi_2 The more it was so, the more it demonstrated the Lin Family¡¯s value. Therefore, rather than being frightened by Lin Shikang and his companion, Xu Zhi was now even more interested in the Lin Family! And at this point, Xu Zhi had secretly made up his mind to annihilate the Lin Family, so there was no need to be courteous when facing Lin Shikang. In this vein, Xu Zhi, having refocused, said with an indifferent smile, ¡°This old man¡¯s reputation is no longer important. If you two have any sense, hand over your family¡¯s treasure swiftly! ¡°If the item you present satisfies this old man, perhaps I might even spare your Lin Family!¡± ¡°Otherwise, prepare to leave your lives behind!¡± As he spoke, Xu Zhi¡¯s demeanor was cold, as if Lin Shikang and the other man, along with the entire Lin Family, were of no significance in his eyes, as though he could annihilate them with a snap of his fingers. ... Upon hearing Xu Zhi¡¯s words, Lin Shikang, who initially thought to maneuver a bit to unravel the misunderstanding to prevent any unnecessary battle, realized the massive gap that stood between him and Ye Pinghai, who were newly advanced Golden Core Cultivators, and Xu Zhi, who was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, was glaringly obvious. Moreover, without magical treasures to counter the enemy, the likelihood of two Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators teaming up to fight against a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, with the aid of over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, was slim. To put it bluntly, they stood no chance at all! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, Lin Shikang naturally wanted to avoid battle if possible, to not waste treasures and resources in vain, and more importantly, to prevent the needless sacrifice of his clansmen. But it seemed that the oppressively forceful stance of the opponent left no opportunity for the Lin Family. It looked as though the opponent, wielding overwhelming power, was determined to bring about the Lin Family¡¯s downfall. At that moment, despite his anger, Lin Shikang still attempted to suppress the rage within him. ¡°This fellow Daoist, could it be that there is some misunderstanding?¡± ¡°After all, our Lin Family is known for its hospitality. Since you have come all this way to Luoyun Mountain, our Lin Family would like to offer you 100,000 spirit stones and five stems of Third Order Spiritual Medicine as a gesture of goodwill.¡± ¡°In doing so, we simply ask that you leave and will not hinder your departure, nor will we involve ourselves with any of your subsequent actions!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist, what do you think of my proposal?¡± Lin Shikang was actively showing weakness, still trying to figure out how to avoid a needless clash without engaging in combat. Xu Zhi, upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s proposal, burst into hearty laughter, his reaction ambiguous to his true thoughts. In reality, his heart was not at all moved by Lin Shikang¡¯s terms. After a momentary silence, Xu Zhi then sneered coldly. ¡°The two of you merely have the cultivation of Early Stage Golden Core. While your Protective Clan Formation is not bad among Second Order Formations, it¡¯s still insignificant in front of this old man!¡± ¡°Once I annihilate you, I can obtain much more. You simply do not have the standing to negotiate terms!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang also realized that it was impossible to end this amicably. Since that was the case, he also needed to consider his response, because Xu Zhi was right¡ªwhile the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation was indeed one of the top among Second Order Formations, it would probably not last more than a few days against the attack of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, aided by over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If the formation were broken, the Lin Family would lose the capacity to stall, inevitably leading to a bitter fight. By then, the Lin Family would find itself in a dire situation, caught in a predicament where defeat was certain and escape impossible. After all, there were at least seven or eight hundred people within the Lin Family¡¯s clan grounds, with ninety percent being Qi Refining Cultivators. To escape under such conditions, with an uneven distribution of cultivation levels and limited top-tier fighters, was virtually impossible against such an opponent. Even if he and Ye Pinghai broke through to the Ninth Golden Core Stage, they would hardly stand much chance against a seasoned Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Fully aware of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned somewhat pale as he inwardly regretted the situation. After all, he was well aware of the sacrifices the Lin Family had made to reach this stage, and having just returned as a Golden Core Family, its future seemed promising. Just as they were about to rise, this incident occurred¡ªtruly, fate was not on their side. However, there was a stroke of luck¡ªHidden Dragon Lin Tianming, the family¡¯s most relied-upon, happened to be away from the clan grounds at the moment. Additionally, many clan members were out on missions, among them those of the Tian generation, who were some of the Lin Family¡¯s most talented individuals. With Lin Tianming here, along with those clan members out on missions, the Lin Family still had some embers remaining, not to the point of being annihilated all at once. Otherwise, had all the clan members been at the family grounds, facing such a desperate situation, that truly would have been terrifying. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s hope reignited. Coming back to his senses, Lin Shikang revitalized his spirit and began considering countermeasures. What he could do now was naturally to think about how to delay time and then preserve as many of the family¡¯s embers as possible. Especially Lin Tianyun, as well as a group of young clansmen with exceptional talents. After all, Lin Tianyun had a Wind Attribute Spirit Root, a talent that was said to be much stronger than Lin Tianming¡¯s. As long as he and Lin Tianming were alive, perhaps in less than a century, the Lin Family could return to today¡¯s glory. By that time, Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyun would surely have reached higher realms and would have the strength to take revenge for the Lin Family. Understanding this, Lin Shikang had a plan in mind. Then, he looked at Lin Tianxing beside him and began to give orders. ¡°Tianxing, you all retreat. Leave this place to us!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianxing and the others didn¡¯t move, their minds already churning with tumultuous waves, still immersed in what Xu Zhi had said, completely shocked. These were Golden Core Cultivators! Not one, but two at the Golden Core Stage! It wasn¡¯t until just now that they learned of Lin Shikang and the other¡¯s cultivation at the Golden Core Stage. They couldn¡¯t be blamed for their reaction; the news was simply too explosive! No wonder Lin Shikang had scarcely appeared in public places over the past decade, secretly working on impacting the Golden Core Stage. Thinking back over the years, the times when they, as clan members, were inexplicably asked to leave the family grounds for a few Shi Chens, it seemed that was likely when Lin Shikang and the others were dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation. Putting together all these clues, Lin Tianxing and the others finally believed that the Lin Family had Golden Core Stage clansmen. ¡°Tianxing?¡± Seeing that they still hadn¡¯t moved, Lin Shikang prompted them again. Only when Lin Tianming called out his name did Lin Tianxing come back to his senses. His expression was complex, a mix of excitement and concern. Clearly, Lin Tianxing and the others were just as thrilled as Lin Shikang; excited about the Lin Family reaching an unprecedented height. And their worry, naturally, came from the likes of Xu Zhi and others outside. Lin Tianxing also understood that the current situation was not something he could control. Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s command, he did not dare delay, bowed to Lin Shikang and the other, and then quickly led several clan members away from there. As Lin Tianxing and the others left, not long after, noticing the attack on the clan lands, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong also rushed over. From afar, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression was grave, his anxiety written all over his face. ¡°Third brother, what on earth happened?¡± ¡°Yes, third brother, what¡¯s all this commotion about? Could it be that the Golden Sword Sect has made a move?¡± Both Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong looked distressed. As soon as they saw Lin Shikang, they hurriedly asked about the cause of the recent loud noises. Hearing these questions, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression also darkened, and he sighed helplessly, then recounted what had just transpired. Soon, after learning the specific reason, the expressions of Lin Shihua and the other paled, and they were visibly shocked. Their reactions were anticipated by Lin Shikang. After all, the opposing forces were indeed strong, and their intent was clear. They had already tried to reason with them and appeal to their sense of decency but couldn¡¯t persuade them to leave. In such a situation, the outcome Lin Shikang had in mind was something that Lin Shihua and the other, having lived over a hundred years and experienced many things, could certainly predict. Thus, Lin Shihua and the other realized just how difficult the Lin Family¡¯s predicament was. Chapter 803 803 433 Hu Yuan Joins the Battle (Please ?Chapter 803: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Joins the Battle (Please Vote and Subscribe) Chapter 803: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Joins the Battle (Please Vote and Subscribe) After barely managing to calm down, Lin Shihua and another person turned their heads to look at Xu Zhi and others outside the formation¡¯s light screen. While sizing up Xu Zhi, they were also silently contemplating countermeasures. Outside the formation, Xu Zhi didn¡¯t seem to take the Lin family members seriously at all and was organizing a large number of Foundation Establishment Disciples to launch an attack against the Lin Family¡¯s protective formation. Soon, a series of loud bangs could be heard, and the light screen of the formation flickered with bursts of light as large amounts of energy flowed within it. It appeared that the Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ attack power was mediocre; the energy inside the light screen was not being depleted too quickly. Besides this, thankfully, since Xu Zhi had already made two moves earlier and did not continue. Otherwise, if he attacked without holding back, with his Mid Stage Golden Core strength, the speed at which the stored energy in the formation would have been consumed would certainly have increased dramatically. ... In that scenario, the Lin Family would not have much time to react. And according to the current rate of energy consumption, whether the Lin Family fought back or not, they at least had a few days of buffer time. They could also use these last few days to arrange for the clan members¡¯ relocation. Understanding this point, Lin Shihua also let out a long sigh of relief. Following that, he looked at Lin Shikang and said, ¡°Third Brother, what should we do next?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shigong was also anxious to look at Lin Shikang, eager to hear Lin Shikang¡¯s thoughts. Not only were these two concerned, but even Ye Pinghai felt the same. With several pairs of eyes staring at him, Lin Shikang forced himself to appear calm and then slowly said, ¡°From the looks of it, a peaceful resolution is impossible now!¡± ¡°With so many family members in our clan, and with Shi Lu attempting to reach the Golden Core Stage, a full retreat is simply unrealistic!¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we must prepare for both scenarios!¡± ¡°First, we need to delay for as long as possible. If Daoist Hu can consolidate his cultivation and emerge, or if Tian Ming returns in time, our combined strength might not be without the power to fight back!¡± ¡°Apart from this, Shi Gong, you immediately begin preparations for evacuation. If possible, take a small number of the younger generation with exceptional talent with you.¡± With these words, Lin Shigong understood that the ¡®exceptionally talented younger generation¡¯ Lin Shikang was referring to was undoubtedly Lin Tianyun. After all, the only ones in the Lin Family who could be considered top-tier geniuses were Lin Tianming and Lin Tianyun. And since Lin Shigong was Lin Tianming¡¯s grandfather and the guide on Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation path, even being referred to as a mentor would not be an exaggeration. He was the most suitable person to take charge of this matter. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Shikang made several arrangements in succession, he then looked at Lin Shihua as if to seek his opinion. Seeing this, Lin Shihua nodded his head, knowing full well how difficult the Lin Family¡¯s current situation was. Under such circumstances, the arrangements made by Lin Shikang were undoubtedly for a desperate fight if the formation was breached, as well as plans for a retreat to preserve their lineage. Such actions were a reluctant measure, but they were as watertight as possible under the circumstances. Seeing that Lin Shihua had no objections, Lin Shikang then looked towards Ye Pinghai. He was equally aware that whether the Lin Family could overcome this calamity depended a lot on Ye Pinghai¡¯s attitude and resolve. Otherwise, relying solely on himself, he would not have the slightest chance. Understanding the importance of this, Lin Shikang looked at Ye Pinghai before bowing with folded hands in a very sincere manner, and he asked, ¡°Brother Ye, you¡¯ve seen the situation now. I humbly beg on behalf of the more than a thousand Lin Family members, please lend our Lin Family a helping hand!¡± Hearing these words, the silent Ye Pinghai responded with an indifferent smile, looking quite open-minded as if he didn¡¯t take the current crisis to heart. He then bowed to Lin Shikang and Lin Shigong, saying with a resolute gaze, ¡°Brothers, the Lin Family has been kind to me, and having formed a bond of kinship, I naturally consider myself half a Lin Family member!¡± ¡°Now that the Lin Family faces this catastrophe, how could I leave alone without being seen as ungrateful and disloyal?¡± ¡°Though I, Ye Pinghai, am no great paragon of virtue, I am not one to fear death out of greed for life, nor will I betray my cultivation path just to save myself!¡± With these words, Ye Pinghai¡¯s expression was somber and solemn, his tone revealing a firm conviction. ¡°As long as Brother Lin stands, I will not take a step back either!¡± ¡°Good¡­ good¡­ good!¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, Lin Shikang¡¯s face lit up with joy, saying ¡®good¡¯ three times in succession. He then bowed to Ye Pinghai and said, ¡°With Brother Ye¡¯s commitment, on behalf of the Lin Family¡¯s thousand members, I thank Brother Ye!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shigong and another person also did the same, thanking Ye Pinghai excitedly, uttering, ¡°With Brother Ye¡¯s strong support, we are not entirely without a chance of victory!¡± ¡°Yes, aside from Brother Ye, if Daoist Hu emerges in time, even with the enemy¡¯s formidable strength, the Lin Family still has some hope!¡± These words from Lin Shihua and the other family member finally eased the worries on the faces of the few people present. Then, Lin Shikang discussed the tactics and details with the others present before sitting down on the ground with Ye Pinghai. When Lin Shihua and the other family member left, Lin Shikang repeatedly emphasized a few points. After that, under Lin Shihua¡¯s orders, the Lin Family quickly mobilized. Facing the clan members¡¯ confusion, Lin Shihua did not withhold information and revealed the Lin Family¡¯s predicament to the multitude of family members. At first, when they learned that a Golden Core Cultivator along with more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were attacking the Lin Family Clan Grounds, all family members turned pale, and they were incredibly shocked. Chapter 804 804 433 Hu Yuan Aids in Battle (Votes ?Chapter 804: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Aids in Battle (Votes and Subscriptions Appreciated)_2 Chapter 804: Chapter 433 Hu Yuan Aids in Battle (Votes and Subscriptions Appreciated)_2 Even some young clan members who had never experienced a life-or-death crisis couldn¡¯t help but collapse to the ground. However, faced with such a situation, although many were also very frightened, their hearts soon filled with rage. These people had all experienced beast tide attacks, and some of the older ones had been through the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain. They had faced life and death challenges multiple times, had witnessed the cruelty and bloodshed of the Cultivation World, and understood what the Lin Family would face once the Protective Clan Formation was broken. But even if the Protective Clan Formation were breached, they were not afraid of death, nor of fighting tooth and nail against those invading the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Influenced by this group of clan members, the morale of all the clan members surged, at the very least, filled with unity. Next, Lin Shihua held nothing back and made the true cultivation levels of Lin Shikang, Ye Pinghai, and Hu Yuan known to all the clan members. ... Upon learning that Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were at the Golden Core Stage, and that Hu Yuan, a Guest Elder of the Lin Family, was also a Golden Core Cultivator, the morale of all the clan members soared, and their hearts filled with joy. The impact of this shocking news also lessened the gloom of the impending war. Following this, under Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangement, the clan members began to mobilize. In no time, the entire Lin Family operated like a well-oiled machine, everyone busy, with all ages and cultivation realms working in well-defined roles. Lin Xingzhi, as the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, upon receiving orders from Lin Shihua, started filling the core of the Formation with Spirit Stones, which the Protective Clan Formation needed in large quantities. To delay for as much time as possible, the Lin Family had nothing left to reserve, everything was for survival. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, meanwhile, remained at the entrance of the Protective Clan Formation, ready to block any intrusion at the forefront of their clan. As for Xu Zhi and others outside the Formation, they showed no sign of easing their attack, and were, in fact, continuously intensifying it. As such, the energy of the entire Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation could be seen depleting at a visible rate. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Outside the Protective Formation, Xu Zhi, looking at the pale golden barrier, was furrowing his brow. After three days of continuous attacks, with his Foundation Establishment Disciples taking turns assaulting the Formation and his occasional interventions, The Formation had still held up for so long, completely beyond his expectations. Nevertheless, having sustained until now, the Formation¡¯s defensive power had clearly weakened a great deal. Judging by this pace, within a maximum of one or two days, they should be able to break through it. Grasping this, Xu Zhi¡¯s expression finally looked a bit better. Then, he immediately shouted, ¡°Increase the intensity of your attacks! In at most one or two days, we will break through it!¡± Hearing his words, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Qingyun Sect were all excited, each one¡¯s attack strength increased a notch. In truth, not only Xu Zhi was anxious, but these Foundation Establishment Disciples were just as eager, each one thinking about looting the Lin Family Clan Grounds as soon as possible. After all, the Lin Family was a clan with two Golden Core Cultivators, surely possessing astonishing wealth. If they were lucky enough to find a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they could make a turnaround. With such prospects, the disciples of Qingyun Sect unleashed their full power, relentlessly attacking the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Formation with no reservations. At this time, seeing everyone exerting themselves, Xu Zhi finally showed a satisfied smile. The next day, at noon. Under the bright sunshine, Lin Shikang, within the Protective Formation, watched the barrier in front of him become increasingly dim, his face looking very ugly. At that moment, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi, along with over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, stood waiting at the side, their faces grim, seething with anger clear on their expressions. ¡°Shihua, how are the arrangements?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s question, Lin Shihua replied truthfully, ¡°Everything is proceeding according to plan!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang thoughtfully nodded and then made a suggestion. ¡°Continuing like this, this Formation can probably only hold up for at most two hours before being breached. Instead of passively waiting for that, why don¡¯t we take the initiative to strike and catch them off guard?¡± ¡°Since a major battle is unavoidable, if we can¡¯t all escape unscathed, why not go all out and fight?¡± After Lin Shikang had spoken, his sharp gaze swept across the many clanspeople behind him. Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shihua also looked agitated and immediately agreed, ¡°Third brother is wise!¡± ¡°I say we fight them and try to hold out longer, to give some of our lower-level clanspeople a chance to escape!¡± As soon as these words were out, Lin Xingzhi beside him also spoke up, ¡°We have no retreat, let¡¯s fight them!¡± Immediately after, the masses of clanspeople behind him were all roused, unanimously shouting in fervor. ¡°For the sake of our clanspeople, let¡¯s fight them!¡± Hearing these words and seeing the clanspeople¡¯s resolute expressions, Lin Shikang nodded, then looked towards Ye Pinghai beside him. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai also nodded, his intention very clear. Seeing Ye Pinghai in agreement, Lin Shikang felt more confident and made up his mind to strike first while the enemy was unprepared. Having decided, Lin Shikang looked back at the clanspeople and said, ¡°Those opposite us are Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, with hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators; you should not sacrifice yourselves for nothing. Brother Ye and I will first go to test their mettle!¡± Then, without further delay, he gestured for Lin Shihua to open up the Protective Clan Formation. At that moment, light laughter came from the plaza behind them. ¡°Lin, I am late!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shikang and the others turned around and saw Hu Yuan flying towards them. Hu Yuan¡¯s voice was loud and clear, his aura completely unrestrained, with the cultivation of the Golden Core Stage plainly evident. At that time, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Lin Family, seeing Hu Yuan, had their worried expressions visibly eased. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Previously, they had heard about Hu Yuan from Lin Shihua but had never seen him in person; now the clanspeople witnessed his true appearance. Evidently, with the arrival of Hu Yuan, a Golden Core Cultivator, the clanspeople were greatly heartened. This was true not only for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators but also for both Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. Then, Lin Shikang looked at Hu Yuan, who had hurried over, originally uncertain if he could make it out of seclusion in time, and now, seeing him appear just in time, Lin Shikang was quite surprised. Following that, he laughed and then asked with concern, ¡°Daoist Hu, how are your injuries? Are they serious?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Hu Yuan solemnly replied, ¡°Lin, rest assured, after surviving the Heavenly Tribulation, I¡¯ve been in seclusion for several months. Although it was a hasty exit, and I¡¯m not at my peak, I¡¯m not far off!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that is indeed good news!¡± Lin Shikang was overjoyed and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Truly, Daoist Hu¡¯s timing couldn¡¯t have been better!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the quiet Ye Pinghai also chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­ Initially, we thought Daoist Hu wouldn¡¯t be able to make it, but who could have imagined Brother Hu would exit seclusion at the critical moment, adding much hope for a full retreat in this great battle!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Hearing the words of Lin and Ye, Hu Yuan laughed and then sincerely said, ¡°In the face of a formidable enemy, if the two Daoist friends fall, Hu would not be spared either. Besides, Hu has made a commitment to the Lin Family and naturally must do his utmost to honor it!¡± ¡°And now, we are all in the same boat, sharing both honor and loss; how could I remain behind and avoid battle?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Brother Hu truly understands the greater good, on behalf of the more than a thousand members of the Lin Family, I thank you, Daoist friend!¡± Lin Shikang bowed his hands in a salute, his demeanor very sincere. Seeing this, Hu Yuan waved his hand and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s prepare to make our move!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded and then looked back at Lin Shihua, signaling him to get ready to activate the Protective Formation. Chapter 805 805 434 Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi ?Chapter 805: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi Chapter 805: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi Less than half an hour had passed when they seized an opportunity. At this time, the Qingyun Sect cultivators outside the formation were in the midst of an attack hiatus, seemingly considering a retreat. Seeing this, Lin Shikang suddenly shouted, ¡°Shihua, now is the time!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua quickly followed Lin Shikang¡¯s instructions and opened a gap in the Protective Clan Formation. As Lin Shihua opened the formation, a gap quietly appeared on the light screen of the Protective Clan Formation in an instant. In a fraction of a second, Lin Shikang took the lead, rushing through the entrance to appear outside the mountain gate. Following closely, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan also followed in Lin Shikang¡¯s footsteps, appearing together outside the mountain gate. ... The moment they appeared, the three did not hold back at all, directly unleashing their weapons and launching an attack on the retreating Qingyun Sect cultivators. Looking over, Lin Shikang was holding a golden yellow jade ruler. This Spirit Ruler, named the Golden Star Ruler, was golden in color, with tiny runes swirling around it, densely covering the body of the ruler. This ruler had once been used by the Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch during his Golden Core Stage and had been sealed in the Lin Family Ancestral Hall for hundreds of years, untouched even once. This item was highly valuable and was one of the most important treasures of the Lin Family, existing as a top-secret item. Within the clan, only successive Clan Leaders and the highest-level cultivators were aware of this object. A few years ago, after Lin Shikang reached the Golden Core Stage, he was the first to refine the Golden Star Ruler and use it as his Magical Treasure. As Lin Tianming reached the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shikang had originally planned to hand over this treasure to Lin Tianming to maximize its potential. However, as the Wei Kingdom grew increasingly chaotic, Lin Tianming had just left seclusion and departed from the family to gather intelligence, and the handover of the item had not yet taken place. Now, with a formidable enemy before them, and the Lin Family capable of preserving the Magical Treasure, he no longer needed to concern himself with reservations. In this situation, Lin Shikang fully deployed the Golden Star Ruler, insanely pouring his Mana into it, and furiously attacked the Qingyun Sect disciples before him. After Lin Shikang took action, the other two, Hu Yuan and Ye Pinghai, were not outdone, their Attack Talismans erupting in bursts of Spiritual Light. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Their speed in launching attacks was extremely fast, and the hundred or so Foundation Establishment cultivators apparently did not expect the Lin Family to take the initiative to strike, nor did they anticipate that there would be more than two Golden Core Cultivators in the Lin Family. At that moment, the hundred or so Foundation Establishment cultivators stood dumbfounded on the spot, overwhelmed by the might of the three Golden Core Stage cultivators and too surprised to resist. In an instant, the trio struck down more than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators, who didn¡¯t even have time to scream. Following that strike, the remaining cultivators recovered from their shock. Among those who had fallen just now, the majority were cultivators in the initial to middle stages of Foundation Establishment, with only two from the later stages. Clearly, these later stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, with their higher cultivation levels, had faster reaction times and more means of escape amid sudden crises, thus managing to save their lives. Every survivor, knowing they had just made a narrow escape from death, had ghostly pale faces, even filled with lingering fear. At this time, the surviving Qingyun Sect cultivators quickly gathered around Xu Zhi, who had furiously rushed over, hundreds of meters away. With a Golden Core Cultivator present, they finally regained some confidence, and the fearful expressions on their faces recovered some color. At this moment, Xu Zhi, with a ghastly pale face, looked at Lin Shikang and the others, his expression both surprised and angry. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that Lin Shikang would take the initiative to attack, nor did he expect the Lin Family to have hidden so deeply; the appearance of two Golden Core Cultivators had already greatly exceeded his expectations. Now, to make matters worse, a third Golden Core Cultivator had appeared. At this moment, even he began to doubt whether the Lin Family had even more Golden Core Cultivators. If that were the case, his original plan to easily annihilate the Lin Family might not be so easy to achieve, and he might even suffer a setback. However, upon further thought, if the Lin Family truly possessed such strength, they wouldn¡¯t have holed up within their clan territory for days; they would likely have shown themselves earlier. Moreover, the weapons used by Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan during their recent attack were only Second Order Superior Attack Talismans, and they hadn¡¯t even employed Magical Treasures. Such a mode of attack clearly indicated that they had only recently broken through to the Golden Core Stage and had not yet refined their own Magical Treasures, or their Magical Treasures had been destroyed; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been like this. Additionally, although Hu Yuan¡¯s aura was undeniably at the Golden Core Stage, his energy was not very stable, seeming like he had suffered severe injuries that had not yet healed. Based on these circumstances, Xu Zhi could easily conclude that the Lin Family was necessarily unsure of victory. In such a situation, they were also intentionally delaying time, aiming to achieve their best state before launching a counterattack. As a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator with experience in various situations over hundreds of years, Xu Zhi quickly deduced most of the Lin Family¡¯s intentions. Understanding this, though Xu Zhi had originally considered retreating, he still remained confident. He was very clear that, although the Lin Family outwardly had three Golden Core Cultivators, all three were only at the Early Stage Golden Core, and except for Lin Shikang, who possessed a Spirit Ruler Magical Treasure, the other two lacked Magical Treasures, making it difficult for them to exert their full strength. As for himself, he was a seasoned Golden Core Cultivator, not only holding an absolute advantage in cultivation level but also possessing a handy Magical Treasure. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 806 806 434 Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi_2 ?Chapter 806: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi_2 Chapter 806: Chapter 434: Fierce Battle with Xu Zhi_2 With more than two hundred disciples from the Qingyun Sect, they could also provide some help, thus they would inevitably hold an absolute advantage. Although he had expended some of his mana before, the overall impact was negligible, as long as they could resolve the battle quickly, there wouldn¡¯t be much risk. Knowing this, Xu Zhi¡¯s confidence was fully restored. At this moment, he looked at the three people in front of him, Lin Shikang, with a slightly mocking expression on his face. ¡°Lin, do you really think that the three of you together can defeat me?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ thinking you can confront me without even a magical treasure, isn¡¯t that too na?ve?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang coldly snorted, ¡°Either retreat now and we, the Lin Family, will not pursue further.¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... ¡°If you continue to aggressively press us, the few of us will fight even at the risk of self-destructing our Golden Cores to bring you down!¡± In the face of Lin Shikang¡¯s threatening words, Xu Zhi was unconcerned, having already assessed the current situation. Even if Lin Shikang and the others self-destructed their Golden Cores, given the gap in their strengths, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to kill him. ¡°Enough of this nonsense! Either submit to our Qingyun Sect, or die!¡± Xu Zhi said coldly, and then he made his move. He flicked his sleeve, and a blue longsword flew out of his hand, quickly grasped in his grip. As soon as the longsword appeared, the wood spiritual energy of the world seemed to converge towards it, clearly a wood-attribute magical treasure. From the aura of the blue longsword alone, it was not inferior to the Golden Star Ruler in Lin Shikang¡¯s hand, and was perhaps even stronger. At this moment, Xu Zhi, holding the blue longsword, wore a satisfied expression on his face. This blue longsword had been extremely difficult to refine initially, using materials that were incredibly rare and consuming a great deal of his energy and financial resources. Though the cost was substantial, its attack power was outstanding. Having followed him through numerous battles over hundreds of years, it had earned its merits. And this blue longsword was a treasure he¡¯d always been proud of; deploying it always allowed him to defeat his opponents quickly. Now facing the three Lin Shikang, he was brimming with confidence, even eager to defeat them and then plunder the Lin Family¡¯s clan ground. With such confidence, Xu Zhi pinched a Law Decree, projecting streams of spiritual light onto the blue longsword. In an instant, the blue longsword rapidly enlarged, transforming into numerous fine strands of sword qi that flew towards Lin Shikang and the others. Apart from Xu Zhi, the hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind him also launched various attacks from a distance, targeting Lin Shikang and his group. Seeing Xu Zhi strike directly, Lin Shikang and the others had grave expressions, hurriedly grouped together, each unleashing their strongest attacks, striking towards the sword qi sent out by Xu Zhi. Lin Shikang thrust forward the Golden Star Ruler in his hand, sending out a beam of golden light. Apart from him, Hu Yuan and Ye Pinghai also exploded with full power, pushing the capabilities of their magical treasures to the limit. Under their manipulation, the magical treasures in their hands seemed to reach their limits, emitting a buzzing sound. In a flicker of movements, perfectly coordinated, their combined attacks led by Lin Shikang¡¯s golden light beam, collided with the blue longsword wielded by Xu Zhi. ¡°RUMBLE¡­¡± The world resounded with explosive sounds, radiant lights piercing through the void, the collision sparking flames that soared into the sky. In this moment, the area became utterly chaotic. The attack power of the four Golden Core Cultivators was immense, with powerful shockwaves spreading in all directions, causing the ground itself to tremble faintly. This single strike left the attacks of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators mostly spent before they could penetrate the wall of fire, leaving a pitiful few that posed no threat. However, Xu Zhi¡¯s unleashed attack was fierce, entirely unaffected by these factors. Their exchanges locked in a momentary stalemate, but soon the assault from Lin Shikang and his group was dismantled by the blue sword qi, dissipating into the flames. The blue sword qi paused momentarily, its attack power greatly weakened, the remaining sword qi drastically reduced, but about thirty percent of it still thrust toward Lin Shikang and his group. Seeing this situation, Lin Shikang and his companions wore grave expressions, hurriedly dodging the assault. Their speed was fast, and in the blink of an eye as the blue Sword Qi struck, they narrowly dodged the attack. After stabilizing themselves, the faces of the three turned pale as they saw a mass of fine, blue Sword Qi directly bombarding the ground behind them. The land seemed as fragile as tofu, easily pierced by the fine Sword Qi, forming a vast expanse of holes, appearing bottomless. Seeing this scene, the three inhaled sharply, thinking that if they were directly hit, they would likely become as riddled with holes as the ground beneath their feet. With this strike, Lin Shikang and his companions realized the gap in strength between themselves and Xu Zhi. Had it not been for their combined efforts, any single one of them facing Xu Zhi alone would hardly withstand three rounds of attack before being slain. Such was the strength of a veteran Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, far beyond what they, as newly advanced Golden Core Cultivators, could compare. Realizing this, their hearts were heavy, but it also made them more cautious. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Before they could catch their breath, Xu Zhi initiated another attack, launching a massive amount of blue Sword Qi directly at Lin Shikang. He knew clearly that Lin Shikang possessed a Longsword Treasure as powerful as his own, posing the greatest threat to him. By eliminating Lin Shikang first, the other two, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, without any Magical Treasures, would pose negligible threats. Thus, Xu Zhi immediately targeted the significant threat, Lin Shikang, for elimination. At this moment, seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s actions, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan also understood his intentions. As Xu Zhi made his move, the two quickly converged by Lin Shikang¡¯s side. Then, as if telepathically coordinated, they swiftly moved to dodge, each unleashing Divine Skills intrinsic to their own Cultivation Techniques, together with the Golden Star Ruler in Lin Shikang¡¯s hands, to counter Xu Zhi¡¯s attack. Knowing they could hold nothing back, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan knew that merely relying on Magic Artifacts was insufficient. They had to give their all to have a chance to survive. Recognizing this, just after one round of attacks, the three began to fight desperately. At this moment, their weapons burst with radiant light, each unleashing their strongest attacks toward Xu Zhi. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Three successive explosions sounded, and the sky filled with blue Sword Qi was repelled by their counterattack, forming a storm heading towards Xu Zhi. Their desperate strike had indeed repelled Xu Zhi¡¯s attack head-on, its powerful surge unstoppable as it continued toward Xu Zhi. Seeing this, Xu Zhi was unexpectedly surprised. However, he did not panic; as the attack from Lin Shikang and the others neared, he casually summoned a defensive Magical Treasure to shield himself. ¡°Bang, bang¡­¡± After several explosions, a powerful wave of air expanded around Xu Zhi. The nearest dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators spewed blood, their complexions rapidly paling. Many lower-cultivation individuals couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were directly affected by the shockwave. In an instant, these individuals fell like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily onto the ground. As the shockwave dissipated, the battlefield was filled with wails, with over thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators directly killed by the blast and dozens more injured. Seeing this, Xu Zhi¡¯s face turned ashen. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Shikang and the others to have some ability; combined with his negligence for not taking immediate care of his disciples, unnecessary casualties ensued. Realizing this, Xu Zhi was furious, his expression extremely grim. And he put away any underestimation, becoming more cautious. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to have some strength, but if that¡¯s all you have, you¡¯re still no match for this old man!¡± Xu Zhi sneered, then with a leap, he charged towards Lin Shikang. ¡­ Chapter 807 807 435 Desperate Situation ?Chapter 807: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation Chapter 807: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation Seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s move, the disciples of Qingyun Sect seemed to finally understand the terror of Golden Core Cultivators, daring not to stay too close to Xu Zhi anymore, lest they be affected without reason. Lin Shikang and his two companions also dared not take it lightly and joined forces to cope with Xu Zhi¡¯s attack. In an instant, the four of them fought fiercely, generating powerful fluctuations that enshrouded a vast piece of land, and the sky was filled with Sword Qi and the power of flames. At this point, the disciples of Qingyun Sect and some of the Lin Family members took on the role of spectators. Even if they wanted to lend a hand, the attack power of Golden Core Cultivators was too terrifying; a casual strike carried immense might, and even a slight touch could result in death. Under such circumstances, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present could only pray silently from the bottom of their hearts. Soon, some time passed. ... Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the high-altitude battlefield, Xu Zhi¡¯s fierce strike caused Lin Shikang and his two companions to be shaken back hundreds of feet. While still in mid-air, Lin Shikang and his companions had extremely pale complexions as their Qi-Blood roiled violently within. Xu Zhi¡¯s strike had caused all three to suffer some injuries. Especially Hu Yuan, who had the shortest time since breaking through to the Golden Core Stage and had rushed to battle without reaching his peak state, naturally his strength was not comparable to Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. After dozens of rounds of attacks, the three had originally been able to resist, at least not showing signs of retreat. But now, as the battle reached an intense stage, they began to steadily lose ground, their Mana being rapidly depleted and also sustaining injuries. And this brief moment, for Lin Shikang and his companions, felt as long as decades. Their struggling appearances said it all. Lin Shikang and his companions understood their predicament was difficult, but the fate of nearly a thousand clan members lay in their hands, right behind them on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. If they were defeated, the Lin Family Clan Grounds would naturally cease to exist. Acutely aware of this, Lin Shikang was very anxious, yet Xu Zhi, worthy of being an experienced Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, possessed extremely solid cultivation strength, strong even among cultivators of the same stage. Thus, even though they joined forces, they still did not gain the upper hand and were constantly at a disadvantage. In the previous battles, Lin Shikang had always been the one to lead the charge, attacking with all his might and repeatedly disregarding life and death. But even so, they still couldn¡¯t any advantages. He knew that their combined strength was still no match for Xu Zhi, a clear gap that left him feeling helpless. At that moment, he glanced at Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan next to him, their faces pale, and his expression filled with gratitude. Throughout this great battle, both of them had also exerted their full strength, but as their time as Golden Core Cultivators was not long, and without the enhancement of Magical Treasures, their Golden Core Stage Mana couldn¡¯t be fully utilized. Up to this point, it was no exaggeration to say that Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan had truly tried their best. After all, strictly speaking, they were not members of the Lin Family, and being able to go this far in such a situation could be considered doing their utmost duty. Knowing this, Lin Shikang felt very relieved and accepted them from the bottom of his heart when he looked at them again. ¡°Two esteemed brothers, please help me hold off the enemy for a moment; I need to use a powerful killing move!¡± Lin Shikang secretly messaged Ye Pinghai and the other, planning to use the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, hoping to heavily injure Xu Zhi in one strike. At worst, to injure him enough to alleviate some of their pressure. His decision was made out of helplessness, given the current dire situation. Although revealing the Great Sun Sword Qi Art could be risky, their lives were hanging by a thread, and if they were to die at Xu Zhi¡¯s hands, the technique would be exposed sooner or later. With that in mind, what was there to hesitate about? For these reasons, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t hesitate at all, his resolve very firm. Upon hearing this message, Ye Pinghai and the other were somewhat puzzled¡ªcould it be that the Lin Family had some powerful secret move? Or could it be that the Lin Family Ancestral Patriarch had left a trump card? The two pondered for a moment, unable to think of any Divine Skills or powerful treasures known in the Cultivation World that the Lin Family might have. But under such circumstances, since Lin Shikang said so, he must have had some assurance. Understanding this, even if Ye Pinghai and the other were doubtful, they had no choice but to reply assuringly to Lin Shikang, allowing him to fight freely. Quickly, after receiving their affirmative responses, Lin Shikang no longer hesitated. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks flowed like water toward him, with powerful cyan Sword Qi tearing through the void, heading straight for Lin Shikang¡¯s vitals. At this moment, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan exchanged a look, then leaped forward to position themselves in front of Lin Shikang. Then, they threw their Second Order Magical Artifacts forward, continuously pounding Law Decrees onto them. At the same time, the two incessantly infused their Mana into the artifacts, with their potent Mana being so immense that the Second Order Magical Artifacts could barely withstand it, trembling uncontrollably. But Ye Pinghai and the other were heedless, forcibly pouring Mana into them, willing to risk even if the artifacts shattered completely. They took this action because they had to, needing to block Xu Zhi¡¯s strike and buy time for Lin Shikang. With a clear goal in mind, the two had a determined look as they watched Xu Zhi¡¯s unleashed attacks approach; at the same time, the two activated their artifacts, producing their strongest attacks. Chapter 808 808 435 Desperate Situation_2 ?Chapter 808: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation_2 Chapter 808: Chapter 435: Desperate Situation_2 ¡°` ¡°Boom¡­¡± Their attacks clashed head-on, and in less than two breaths¡¯ time, Ye Pinghai and his companion¡¯s assault was shattered by the green sword qi, finally dissipating between heaven and earth. Meanwhile, Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks did not stop, continuing to surge towards the two men. Faced with the diminished power of the green sword qi, Ye Pinghai and his companion did not retreat, because behind them stood Lin Shikang, erect in mid-air, with a silver-white sword qi suddenly forming above his head. This sword qi emerged, causing even the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to become chaotic, with some yuan qi crazily rushing in, further stirring the world into greater disorder. At this moment, all three men noticed this terrifying sword qi, their expressions complicated as if overly surprised. Especially Xu Zhi, who never expected the Lin Family to have hidden depths, possessing not only a Golden Core cultivator but also a priceless Spirit Art. ... Ye Pinghai and his companion, feeling the dreadful power of this sword qi, showed elated expressions, as if they had grasped a lifeline. Even Xu Zhi¡¯s complexion turned extremely ugly, filled with wariness. ¡°Could this possibly be a Spirit Art?¡± He was well aware of the formidable power of this sword qi, that even a touch would pose a risk of death. Moreover, the grade of the Spirit Art Lin Shikang was channeling was not low, certainly not comparable to the lowest Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. Such a Spirit Art, despite a lineage nearly ten thousand years old like Qingyun Sect, they only possessed one Mysterious Grade Spirit Art, which only successive Sect Leaders and Supreme Elders had the privilege of cultivating. As for other Golden Core Sects, at most, they would have one or two Mysterious Grade Spirit Arts, yet seemingly not as powerful as this one. Thus, the destructive power of this Mysterious Grade Spirit Art of the Lin Family was self-evident. Realizing this, Xu Zhi¡¯s face underwent a drastic change as he hurriedly attempted to interrupt Lin Shikang. However, Ye Pinghai and his companion would not step back an inch, even as Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks sent them flying and caused serious injuries; they still did not afford Xu Zhi any chance to interrupt Lin Shikang. Under these circumstances, Xu Zhi, enraged and fearful, violently unleashed a blow aiming for their vital parts. The two narrowly avoided it, sustaining only a pierced arm, suffering grave injuries and falling from the sky. At that time, Xu Zhi was getting closer and closer to Lin Shikang, his treasure sword aimed straight for Lin Shikang¡¯s head. Should it connect, even the body of a Golden Core cultivator would undoubtedly burst. At this critical juncture, Lin Shikang¡¯s Great Sun Sword Qi Art had reached its pivotal moment. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art!¡± Lin Shikang let out a great shout, and his Law Decree struck the sword qi. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Instantly, the silver-white sword qi atop his head shot out, slashing towards Xu Zhi with an inconceivable speed. As the silver-white sword qi drew near, with its forceful waves churning up Gang Wind, an overpowering momentum incredibly fierce unfurled. At this juncture, Xu Zhi became terrified, hastily retreating in a flash, managing to create a small distance. However, having planned this for so long and already paid a significant price, Lin Shikang surely wouldn¡¯t let him get away so easily. Not just Lin Shikang, but also Ye Pinghai and his companion on the ground, severely injured, disregarded their wounds to forcefully release several attacks, blocking Xu Zhi¡¯s retreat. Just as the saying goes, faster than words can tell, Lin Shikang¡¯s sword qi traversed the chaos and instantly arrived above Xu Zhi¡¯s head. Seeing that evading was impossible, Xu Zhi¡¯s face darkened to the extreme, his last resort being to forcibly bring out a Defense Treasure to shield himself, hoping to bear this lethal strike with this hastily assembled defense. But the sword qi Lin Shikang had nurtured within his body for ten years, last released during an outbreak of monstrous beasts, had reached its peak power after a decade of nurturing. Faced with this sword qi, likely not even a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator could confidently escape unharmed. Although Xu Zhi was also a seasoned Golden Core Cultivator, the situation was not looking good, since his effort to stop Lin Shikang brought them perilously closer instead. At such close proximity, and with the incredible speed of the sword qi, evading in time was simply not an option. ¡°` ¡°Bang¡­¡± With a loud explosion, a mushroom cloud suddenly formed in the sky, and the immense collision force generated a huge blast wave, spilling out in all directions. In the midst of the central inferno, only the silver-white Sword Qi could be seen, directly hitting Xu Zhi¡¯s Defense Treasure. In an instant, Xu Zhi was sent flying by the powerful Sword Qi, the terrifying rebound force causing the Qi-Blood in his body to surge violently. He spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face turned pale instantly, and his breath grew much weaker. After he stabilized his posture, the silver-white Sword Qi dissipated between heaven and earth. At that moment, Xu Zhi saw many cracks appearing on his Defense Treasure as he spat out several more mouthfuls of fresh blood. Lin Shikang¡¯s strike had indeed been withstood, but his Defense Treasure was thoroughly damaged, and his spirit was affected, exacerbating the injuries already plaguing his body. After this round of attack, Xu Zhi himself had also sustained heavy wounds, his full strength barely reaching sixty percent of its peak. Even so, Lin Shikang¡¯s most reliable method had not killed Xu Zhi. Moreover, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan were also severely injured, and their crisis was far from being resolved. At present, it seemed that neither Hu Yuan nor Ye Pinghai would be of any help; everything would depend on Lin Shikang alone. Facing a greatly weakened Xu Zhi all by himself, Lin Shikang¡¯s situation remained difficult, hardly improved from when the battle began. However, Lin Shikang had no time to think about these things right now. For the severely injured Xu Zhi had become even more ferocious, lashing out in a rage, as if determined to annihilate Lin Shikang on the spot. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s face was set with determination; in his haste, he summoned the Golden Star Ruler, attempting to block Xu Zhi¡¯s attack. After the blow, Lin Shikang was sent flying, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood, and his complexion became even paler. Before he could catch his breath, Xu Zhi¡¯s flowing attacks descended once more, leaving him no time to react. It was clear that Xu Zhi had plunged into complete madness. He knew in his heart that Lin Shikang still posed a significant threat, and that the Lin Family must be hiding some considerable secrets, as suggested by the hidden strength they had displayed and the Spirit Art that Lin Shikang had just invoked. The more this was the case, the stronger Xu Zhi¡¯s determination to eradicate the Lin Family became. And indeed, Xu Zhi was attacking with the intention to deliver a killing blow to Lin Shikang, a strike meant to be fatal. Faced with such an offensive, Lin Shikang was steadily driven back. In just a few exchanges, under Xu Zhi¡¯s relentless attacks, Lin Shikang was covered in wounds, his Daoist robe already dyed red with blood, and his breath becoming increasingly feeble. Then, Lin Shikang rose from the ground, facing the fatal strike that was about to come from Xu Zhi; a sharp ferocity glinted in his eyes. ¡°Alas¡­ the Lin Family is just a bit unlucky.¡± Lin Shikang sighed helplessly in his heart, his eyes revealing a resolute look. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If only they had five to ten more years, the Lin Family¡¯s strength would surely grow further, especially Lin Tianming¡ªif he had been here, Xu Zhi would certainly not be a match for the Lin Family! But fate is so peculiar, and Xu Zhi happened to arrive at the Lin Family Clan Grounds at this moment. In fact, even Xu Zhi did not expect this trip to be so laborious, not breaking through the Lin Family¡¯s Protective Clan Formation after several days, and even drawing out the Lin Family¡¯s concealed formidable strength. He even thought that, if not for his arrival, the Lin Family would have continued to remain hidden. Perhaps in a few years, the Lin Family could grow into a major force like the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom or even surpass them, Yet destiny makes its own plans, and no one could have anticipated such a result. Now, with the arrow on the string, it must be shot! To acquire a greater opportunity, not to mention the Lin Family, even the old rival Zhenyang Sect could not change his purpose in coming here. Under such circumstances, Xu Zhi had no heart for mercy. Chapter 809 809 436 Qinglong Sword Qi ?Chapter 809: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi Chapter 809: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi In an instant. Xu Zhi¡¯s attack descended, a mere two hundred zhang away from Lin Shikang. If this had been before his injury, evading it might not have been difficult. But now severely wounded, his attack power and speed were all greatly diminished. At such a range, the attack was a fatal blow to him. ¡°Enough¡­ To wipe out the Lin Family, this old man will not let you have your way easily!¡± Lin Shikang stood on the ground, smiling wryly to himself as Xu Zhi¡¯s attack approached, his pale face unexpectedly flashing a strange brilliance. ... Then, he folded his hands into a seal, preparing to invoke the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth to rush into his body, and forcibly self-detonate his Golden Core to deliver a final blow to Xu Zhi. ¡°Brother Lin!¡± Noticing his movements, Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, who lay wounded nearby, couldn¡¯t help but call out. Yet they were too severely injured and powerless to stop Lin Shikang, nor did they have time. Xu Zhi, too, realized Lin Shikang¡¯s intentions at this moment. His face paled, and he hastily retreated. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He knew all too well the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation. If he were still at his peak and his Defense Treasure intact, surviving a self-detonation might not be too difficult. But he was too close this time, and his Defense Treasure had been damaged by Lin Shikang¡¯s Spirit Art during the earlier battle. Its spirituality greatly diminished, its defensive power severely weakened. Under such circumstances, he did not have much confidence in escaping unscathed. Thus, Xu Zhi fled in panic, not daring to linger there any longer. Seeing Xu Zhi¡¯s reaction, Lin Shikang laughed madly. Mana within him began to surge wildly, ready to draw in Spiritual Energy to commence the self-detonation. However, once he took that step, there would be no turning back. After a brief moment of hesitation, Lin Shikang steeled his resolve and prepared for this final action. Just then, a black dot suddenly appeared on the distant horizon, speeding towards them. In an instant, the black dot transformed into a figure, revealing the form of Lin Tianming. ¡°Third Grandfather, please stop!¡± Lin Tianming, still in mid-flight, called out urgently from afar, his expression extremely anxious. Lin Shikang, upon seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s timely arrival, flashed a complex look. He was torn between wanting Lin Tianming to return to the family and worrying he was no match for Xu Zhi, potentially putting the Lin Family¡¯s Hidden Dragon in jeopardy. With mixed emotions, Lin Shikang let out a bitter smile and froze for a moment. During this time, Lin Tianming had covered the distance and arrived before Lin Shikang. Next, he placed his hand on Lin Shikang¡¯s shoulder, forcefully interrupting the self-destruction. In the blink of an eye, the Yuan Qi between heaven and earth calmed down, and normalcy returned. At this point, Xu Zhi retreated hundreds of zhang and remained suspended mid-air, his gaze fixed on Lin Tianming, who had arrived moments ago, revealing a look of surprise. It had never occurred to him that at this critical moment, another Golden Core Cultivator from the Lin Family would appear. Considering everything, this was now the fourth Golden Core Cultivator from the Lin Family Clan Grounds, whose collective Golden Core Combat Strength quietly matched that of the other three great sects of the Wei Kingdom. This outcome further disrupted his understanding, causing him to doubt and his face to turn extremely unsightly. Facing Lin Tianming, expressions were equally grim. When he looked towards Xu Zhi, a furious look crossed his face. He had guessed that the Huangyang Kingdom had indeed launched an attack. From Xu Zhi and the others¡¯ attire and those embroidered insignias, there was no doubt these were Cultivators from the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Qingyun Sect. He had only speculated before, without much certainty, and even harbored some slight hope. Yet, actions confirmed it all. Fortunately, during these past ten-plus days, he had been rushing back nonstop. The Purple Gold Eagle and he took turns flying, maintaining speed throughout. Such haste allowed him to arrive just in time. And now, the next consideration was how to counterattack the Cultivators from the Qingyun Sect. Realizing this, Lin Tianming hesitated against acting rashly and scrutinized Xu Zhi and his party closely. Beside him, Lin Shikang gathered his strength and slowly recounted the entire sequence of the great battle. Hearing his explanation and learning of the severe injuries Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan suffered while buying time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened further, and his expression turned all the more solemn. It had to be acknowledged that Xu Zhi, as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, possessed formidable strength. Even if Lin Tianming had rushed back to the family in time, the difficulty of killing Xu Zhi with their joint efforts remained significant. But at this point, both sides had forged a vendetta, a life-or-death feud, and there was no need to ponder over that. What he needed to do was to kill Xu Zhi and his party or at least severely wound them, driving them away from the Lin Family grounds. As for the consequences and the strategies to deal with them, those were to be considered only after this matter was resolved. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face bore a murderous intent, showing not a trace of fear. Xu Zhi, at this moment, also faced a dilemma; despite their current situation still being advantageous, thoroughly annihilating the Lin Family to achieve his preplanned objective was not an easy feat. Chapter 810 810 436 Qinglong Sword Qi_2 ?Chapter 810: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi_2 Chapter 810: Chapter 436 Qinglong Sword Qi_2 Even with this understanding, Xu Zhi¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he cautiously fixed his gaze on Lin Tianming. Opposite him, Lin Tianming wasted no time, immediately leaping into the air as his Tiangang Sword flashed with spiritual light. ¡°Tiangang Sword Qi Ninth Sword!¡± With his move, Lin Tianming directly unleashed the Tiangang Sword Qi, where nine swords overlaid into a dragon of sword aura, charging straight at Xu Zhi. Seeing this, Xu Zhi, unperturbed, erupted in Qing Hong Sword Aura from his hand, clashing with Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Series of loud explosions resounded, filling the sky with multicolored lights. ... Watching Lin Tianming make his move, Lin Shikang, despite the intense pain, also produced the Golden Star Ruler, coordinating his attack with Lin Tianming against Xu Zhi. In an instant, the three were embroiled in battle, with powerful fluctuations sweeping the surroundings as the colliding sword auras created fierce ripples. At this moment, Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the scene widened their eyes, their hearts almost leaping to their throats as they watched the grand battle, completely because of the immense fluctuations, which were far stronger than the earlier clash between Lin Shikang and his two adversaries. In just a moment, the three had exchanged several rounds of attacks. Leveraging the Eye of Five Colors and his formidable body, Lin Tianming managed to hold his ground against the severely wounded Xu Zhi and did not concede any advantage. After this probing exchange, the fact that Lin Tianming was able to stand toe-to-toe with him without falling behind, Xu Zhi was inwardly shocked, unable to believe that Lin Tianming, in the Early Stage Golden Core, could exhibit such strong power with just his magic artifact attack. However, this was just an ordinary technique of Lin Tianming, and he hadn¡¯t even used his Magical Treasure to enhance his combat prowess. If he had a suitable Magical Treasure and unleashed the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, his attack power would undoubtedly rise by several levels. Unfortunately, he did not have his own Magical Treasure and could only launch attacks with the help of the Tiangang Sword. Such an awkward situation greatly hindered his overall strength. Nevertheless, even in this case, Lin Tianming had not suffered any disadvantage, which Xu Zhi found unbelievable. At this rate, the outcome of the battle between the two in the short term was likely to remain unknown. But Xu Zhi was already thinking of retreat, knowing that his condition was not good, having already been injured before and with his mana not at its peak before the great battle. After this intense fighting, his mana was rapidly depleting, while Lin Tianming remained as lively as a dragon, seemingly still at his peak. If the battle were to continue like this, his ability to kill Lin Tianming would diminish as his mana and condition deteriorated. By that point, it would be entirely possible for Lin Tianming to gain the upper hand and even keep him here. If he truly perished here, his lifetime of glory would be destroyed in an instant. With this thought in mind, Xu Zhi¡¯s expression turned grave, no longer exhibiting the calmness he had initially. However, Lin Tianming did not give him any time to react, launching relentless attacking waves one after another like flowing water. At this moment, Lin Tianming was filled with raging anger, not only because Ye Pinghai and the other person were severely injured for this cause but also because Xu Zhi nearly forced Lin Shikang to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. Had he arrived a moment too late and Lin Shikang failed to kill Xu Zhi with his Golden Core detonation, the Lin Family would have been wiped clean, and few among the thousands of clan members would likely survive. And the family was the place he vowed to protect in his heart, with clan members being a crucial part he deeply valued. For years, he had dedicated himself to the path for the rise of his family. For this aim, he never paused in his steps, even facing life-and-death crises multiple times, without ever abandoning his ideals. If his arduously pursued goals and the family he protected in the depths of his heart were to be destroyed, he would not spare the Qingyun Sect behind Xu Zhi, or even more powerful Nascent Soul Forces. For his kin, he would disregard his own life and death, not hesitating to suffer utter destruction. Now, Xu Zhi had touched his Reverse Scale, and Lin Tianming was determined not to let him go. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming had exploded with fury, his entire being like a God of Slaughter, with his powerful attacks unceasing. At this time, Xu Zhi¡¯s face darkened. While resisting the onslaught from Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang, he began to slowly edge towards the Qingyun Sect Disciples behind him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, he could no longer concern himself with the consequences. Even if it would affect his own sect¡¯s disciples, he had to leverage them to exert as much pressure as possible on Lin Tianming. From some distance away, Xu Zhi ordered his disciples to launch an attack on Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Suddenly, the sky was filled with dense attacks, various kinds of sword qi and flames, as well as attack talisman papers shot out, instantly engulfing Lin Tianming. Facing such an onslaught, Lin Tianming¡¯s feet generated wind, and his Eye of Five Colors had already opened, seeking a sliver of safe space within the interstices. Fortunately, although there were many Qingyun Sect cultivators present, their attacks posed a very limited threat to his body. Even if he was hit, it was merely superficial; the attacks were hardly capable of inflicting any substantial damage. Moreover, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he was always able to make moves Xu Zhi would not anticipate, bypassing defenses that seemed impenetrable. As soon as he found the slightest gap, he struck from both sides, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had long been activated by him, slicing through the Qingyun Sect disciples like a meat grinder gone wild. Not only that, the Tiangang Sword in his hands swung frequently, with powerful sword qi incessantly darting across the sky. He was suppressing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators while simultaneously attacking Xu Zhi. In just the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Screams of agony followed one another, creating a scene of utter desolation. Dozens of Qingyun Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators were hit by his attacks, either trapped within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with no escape or passively awaiting death. At this moment, Xu Zhi also witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength and his ferocity. He had to admit that Lin Tianming was incredibly tough to deal with, not only was his body frighteningly strong, but even his movement speeds were incredibly fast. No matter how formidable the attack Xu Zhi unleashed, Lin Tianming always managed to discern his intention first and dodged preemptively, rendering Xu Zhi¡¯s attacks fruitless. And Lin Tianming, who had freed his hands, was like a merciless God of Slaughter, slaughtering the Qingyun Sect disciples without pity. As Xu Zhi¡¯s strike forced Lin Tianming back, he realized he had to fight for his life, or else he might really fall here. At this point, with an indifferent look on his face, Xu Zhi could no longer care about his own state. He tossed his blue longsword high into the sky, then hit it repeatedly with several law decrees. In an instant, the blue longsword in front of him spun wildly, drawing a vast amount of energy from heaven and earth, finally forming a dragon-like sword qi. ¡°Qinglong Sword Qi!¡± With his shout, the Qinglong Sword Qi surged forth, shooting towards Lin Tianming. Seeing the immense power of this sword qi, it seemed no less formidable than Chen Jingtian¡¯s full assault. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave as he suddenly felt a sense of crisis. He quickly opened his Eye of Five Colors wide and peered through the void at the Qinglong longsword, quickly discerning the subtlety of this sword qi. Upon inspection, judging by the fluctuations of the sword qi, it was undoubtedly either a divine skill or a Yellow Grade Mystical Art. Moreover, the Qinglong Sword Qi activated by Xu Zhi seemed to share some mysterious similarities with his Great Sun Sword Qi Art, only it was obviously a notch lower in grade. But Xu Zhi¡¯s cultivation was high, and even though the power of this attack, spurred by his Medium Stage Golden Core cultivation, might be a tad weaker than the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, the difference was not vast. And Xu Zhi had not used this attack before, clearly he was reluctant to use it, or he felt there was no need to waste his trump card. After all, the combined strength of Lin Shikang and the other two was extremely limited, at least not enough to make him feel a life-or-death crisis. And after reaching the Golden Core Stage, the trump cards one could use were few, with each use requiring a long period of recovery. Now, facing the frenzied Lin Tianming, he, too, began to fear capsizing in a ditch. Thus, Xu Zhi cast aside all concerns, aiming to quickly eliminate Lin Tianming and his companions and possibly uncover the secret of the Lin Family¡¯s rapid ascent. ¡­ Chapter 811 811 437 Spirit Art Achievements ?Chapter 811: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achievements Chapter 811: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achievements Lin Tianming understood Xu Zhi¡¯s psychology and did not dare to be careless in the face of the terrifying Qinglong Sword Qi. As the Sword Qi drew closer, he tossed the Tiangang Sword in front of him while several Law Decrees bombarded the blade. ¡°Humming¡­¡± A series of special sounds resonated. Immediately afterward, the Tiangang Sword rapidly spun, forming the image of a lotus flower from countless sword shadows in a very short time. ¡°Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± Lin Tianming bellowed, and the originally ethereal lotus flower of sword shadows solidified into a barrier as impervious as steel above his head, securely protecting his entire figure beneath it. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Xu Zhi¡¯s Qinglong Sword Qi tore through the sky, and in an instant, it arrived above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, and the Qinglong Sword Qi directly slammed into the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. ... The moment the two collided, a sudden burst of light shot through the heavens and earth, and a myriad of sparks showered down from the sky, creating a dazzling waterfall. With the Sword Lotus spinning rapidly, the initial attack of the Qinglong Sword Qi was hindered. For quite some time, the two forces remained in a standoff, each continuously consuming the other¡¯s energy, neither able to gain the upper hand. However, this standoff lasted only for an instant before a crisp cracking sound was heard. Subsequently, the Sword Lotus started to dissipate, turning into numerous silver lotuses that slowly fell. Additionally, the Tiangang Sword above Lin Tianming¡¯s head also fell from the sky, which he promptly caught in his hand. At that moment, seeing the cracks that had appeared on the surface of the Tiangang Sword, he also felt that the spirituality of the Tiangang Sword had notably diminished. Before Lin Tianming could catch his breath, he saw the Qinglong Sword Qi still striking towards him, and while it was still in mid-air, a series of roars could be heard. Looking up, the Qinglong Sword Qi, although not completely dissipated, was almost indistinct in its shape; only a rough outline remained to indicate its existence. Clearly, the deafening roar was emitted by Xu Zhi¡¯s handiwork, the Qinglong Sword Qi. And after breaking through the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, the remaining power of the Qinglong Sword Qi was still formidable, enough to obliterate Lin Tianming on the spot. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, and he was immensely shocked. He could tell that Xu Zhi¡¯s frantic attack was indeed strong enough to breach his most robust defense and even damage the spirituality of the Tiangang Sword. He had been somewhat prepared for such an outcome. After all, the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, a Divine Skill meant for the Golden Core Stage, was something he had executed. Without a Magical Treasure and relying solely on a Second Order Superior Tiangang Sword to activate the defensive Divine Skill, he was able to significantly weaken the power of the Qinglong Sword Qi and almost completely disperse it. Considering this, achieving such an effect was more than surprising. Understanding this, Lin Tianming watched as the Qinglong Sword Qi approached without any panic since he was prepared. He formed a strange gesture with his hands and muttered incantations. Suddenly, a ball of flame that started burning appeared in his hands, with the mere flicker of flames drawing the Fire Attribute Element from the surroundings. At first glance, this fireball appeared ordinary, but a strand of blue flame within it seemed somewhat unusual. Xu Zhi, watching Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, took note and his face instantly darkened, as though quite wary. Under his watchful eye, Lin Tianming boldly threw the fireball, and it landed squarely on the ethereal body of the Qinglong Sword Qi. After a tremendous noise, the Qinglong was completely transformed into a Fire Dragon, writhing crazily in the air, almost lifelike in its realism. A few breaths later, the Fire Dragon that had evolved from the Qinglong dissipated in the sky, and the battlefield once again became briefly calm. At this moment, Xu Zhi looked at Lin Tianming, showing no further action, and inwardly sighed with relief. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming, still with a grave expression and a hint of wariness, watched Xu Zhi. As far as the battle had gone, both sides had gained a whole new understanding of the other¡¯s power. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had to be said that Xu Zhi, at his peak strength, was incredibly fearsome. But Lin Tianming was equally strong; even without a Magical Treasure, he could use his techniques to fight an injured Xu Zhi to a standstill. Moreover, he had his ultimate cards at play, which included the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. At that moment, Lin Tianming assessed the situation and resolved to spare no expense in taking Xu Zhi¡¯s life. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Shikang beside him and then transmitted, ¡°Third Grandfather, if you can hold him off for a moment, Tianming is about to use a Spirit Art!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded, knowing full well the power of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Given Xu Zhi¡¯s severe injuries and depleted techniques, it was the optimal moment to strike. Understanding this, Lin Shikang transmitted back, ¡°Tianming, I will do everything I can to hold him off; seize the opportunity to annihilate him!¡± Acknowledging Lin Shikang¡¯s response, Lin Tianming nodded and, once more wielding the Tiangang Sword, charged toward Xu Zhi. Chapter 812 812 437 Spirit Art Achieves Success_2 ?Chapter 812: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achieves Success_2 Chapter 812: Chapter 437 Spirit Art Achieves Success_2 Seeing that he had already made a move, Lin Shikang was not willing to fall behind. His Golden Star Ruler in hand flashed with spiritual light, and streaks of golden-yellow brilliance flickered before rapidly converging into a giant golden ruler. Lin Shikang launched an attack, sending the gigantic ruler that had formed above his head smashing down towards Xu Zhi with fury. By now, Lin Shikang no longer held anything back, pouring all of the remaining mana in his body into the Golden Star Ruler. In doing so, even though he was injured, the power he unleashed was nearly as strong as it had been at his peak. Furthermore, with Lin Tianming on his side, the two of them were able to exert unprecedented pressure on Xu Zhi. As expected, Xu Zhi, faced with their attacks, was forced to fight while retreating, even needing to rely on the aid of numerous disciples. ... His method of coping clearly showed signs of weariness. To this, Lin Tianming and his colleague paid no heed, having resolved to ensure that Xu Zhi would not leave this place alive. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming and his associate unleashed their attacks with insane intensity, not diminishing in the slightest, and if anything, surpassing their previous efforts. Beneath such overwhelming pressure, Xu Zhi gradually started to lose ground. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As Lin Tianming struck a blow that sent Xu Zhi reeling back, Lin Shikang spotted an opportunity and released a heaven-shaking strike, working in tandem with Lin Tianming to fiercely suppress Xu Zhi. At that moment, Lin Shikang¡¯s use of the Golden Star Ruler reached its peak in power, showcasing outstanding strength that was clearly even stronger than before. At this critical juncture, Lin Tianming seized this once-in-a-lifetime chance, hurriedly activating the Great Sun Sword Qi Art. Instantly, a silver-white sword qi appeared above his head. As soon as the sword qi emerged, the powerful sword qi devoured the spiritual energy in the air, causing sand and stones to fly and fierce winds to rise. Xu Zhi, on the other side, was hurriedly dealing with Lin Shikang, but all his attention was focused on Lin Tianming. He was well aware that besides self-detonating his Golden Core, Lin Shikang¡¯s threat was nearly negligible. Lin Tianming, however, was different. In the battle thus far, Lin Tianming had demonstrated such strength that even at Xu Zhi¡¯s prime, he would have had to deal with him cautiously. Moreover, Xu Zhi was now injured and his strength significantly reduced. Witnessing the sword qi, which was almost identical to the one Lin Shikang had previously used that had nearly destroyed his defense treasure, In his eyes, the fluctuations and momentum produced by the sword qi Lin Tianming activated were even greater than Lin Shikang¡¯s. This was because Lin Tianming had nurtured the sword qi for several years longer than Lin Shikang. After all, Lin Shikang had used the Great Sun Sword Qi Art during a beast tide assault, and the newly nurtured sword qi had not even been for a decade. Whilst the sword qi Lin Tianming had nurtured spanned many more years than Lin Shikang¡¯s, its unleashed power was bound to be even more formidable. At that moment, although Xu Zhi was unaware of these reasons, feeling the formidable silver-white sword qi made him immediately tense up. However, there was no time to worry about that now; he had to consider how to survive the onslaught of this sword qi attack. If he could withstand this strike, then even if Lin Tianming and his associate joined forces, it was unlikely they could keep him there. With this realization, Xu Zhi retreated recklessly. At the same time, he activated several Third Order Defense Talismans, forming a few barriers in front of himself. It was only after his defensive measures were gradually put in place that Xu Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, his complexion had barely shifted when it swiftly turned to one of horror. At this moment, his eyes widened as he watched Lin Tianming propel the silver-white sword qi with an incredible speed. ¡°Bang¡­¡± In an instant, one explosive sound after another rang out. Following the source of these explosive noises, one could see the powerful silver-white sword qi easily piercing through the first barrier. Immediately following, several more barriers were effortlessly shattered, dissipating completely between heaven and earth. And after breaking through these barriers, the silver-white sword qi maintained its speed and continued to hurtle toward Xu Zhi. At that moment, Xu Zhi¡¯s face was a picture of horror, as if he had seen something inconceivable. In fact, the sight of the silver-white sword qi breaking through the barriers was far beyond his expectations. He had thought that a few Third Order talismans would surely hold for a moment, allowing him to use his defense treasure to survive this crisis. However, the terrifying might of the silver-white sword qi far exceeded his imagination. Now, the silver-white sword qi had already descended upon his head, and dodging had become unrealistic. Nevertheless, he had preemptively activated his defense treasure, which firmly protected him within. Still, whether it could withstand the silver-white sword qi, he had no confidence whatsoever, and everything depended on his luck. Deeply aware of this, Xu Zhi¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale, his aura plummeting to a low, no longer bearing the spirited appearance he had at the start. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The silver-white sword qi tore through the void, striking Xu Zhi¡¯s defense treasure with unerring accuracy. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A violent collision echoed. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, a mushroom cloud rose again in the heavens and earth, a blinding brilliance dominating the entire sky, even obscuring the sunlight. In this moment, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors and dared not even breathe, scrutinizing every detail within the sea of fire. This attack was immensely crucial, and it could be said to be related to the life and death of the Lin Family and himself. From his line of sight, one could see that the silver-white sword qi was halted only for an instant before it thoroughly penetrated Xu Zhi¡¯s defense treasure. Immediately after that, there came a scene of bloodshed; the silver-white sword qi had directly pierced through Xu Zhi¡¯s chest, utterly shattering most of his body, organs, and blood exploded all around. At the same time, the mutilated remains of Xu Zhi fell from the sky, finally scattering across the ground. Seeing such a scene, Lin Tianming felt an unexpected joy, and he sighed in relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He had truly been worried that this strike would not kill Xu Zhi, for if that were the case, he would have been in for a tough battle. Even if Xu Zhi were gravely wounded, as long as he was still alive, he would have the capability to fight to the death. After all, in a desperate situation, Xu Zhi would undoubtedly self-detonate his Golden Core, aiming to take them down with him. The might of a seasoned Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator self-detonating his core was imaginable. And they were merely at the Early Stage Golden Core cultivation level, with injuries upon injuries; even if he survived, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai would certainly not live through the explosion. If it came to that, even if the Lin Family emerged victorious in the end, it would still be a Pyrrhic victory. Such an outcome was not what he desired. In his heart, even the life of a Nascent Soul Cultivator was far less important than that of Lin Shikang and the others. Fortunately, it was all over now; Xu Zhi had been completely slain, without even a chance to self-detonate his Golden Core. Otherwise, the outcome would still be hard to predict. However, as Xu Zhi¡¯s broken body fell, the flames in the sky subsided, and peace was restored to the world. At this time, all the cultivators who had witnessed this great battle, whether they were disciples of the Qingyun Sect or members of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, were struck dumb! After a long while, from not far away, there came stirring noises as the Qingyun Sect disciples calmed down from their shock, and a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators began to flee in all directions. In the blink of an eye, over a dozen keen-eyed cultivators had vanished without a trace. However, aside from those slain by them, there were still nearly two hundred others still alive, many of whom carried varying degrees of injury. Seeing their fellow disciples flee, this large group was scared witless, each beginning to scatter and run, not daring to stay even for a breath longer. At this time, Lin Tianming also leaped forward, his Tiangang Sword frantically slaughtering these Qingyun Sect disciples. Simultaneously, the Purple Gold Eagle, Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and the Bloodthirsty Jiao were set loose by him, chasing down those escaping cultivators from different angles. Chapter 813 813 438 Outstanding Battle Achievements ?Chapter 813: Chapter 438: Outstanding Battle Achievements Chapter 813: Chapter 438: Outstanding Battle Achievements Inside the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Lin Shihua and over a dozen clan members stood in the plaza before the mountain gate, all of them with wide eyes fixed on the area outside the formation, witnessing every single movement on the entire battlefield. Seeing Lin Tianming kill Xu Zhi in one stroke, his mutilated body fell from midair, not even giving him a chance to self-detonate his Golden Core. In an instant, the previously arrogant and aggressive Xu Zhi was dead and couldn¡¯t be deader. At this moment, every clan member on the scene shifted from shock to a state of wild joy. Especially Lin Shihua, his entire face went through dramatic changes, switching from anger to joy as Xu Zhi was killed. Meanwhile, outside the clan grounds. ... With Lin Tianming taking action, the Spirit Beasts like the Purple Gold Eagles also pursued the Qingyun Sect cultivators according to his instructions. However, the strength of these beasts under his command was limited; the Purple Gold Eagles were only at the Second Order Middle Stage grade, whereas the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao were among the top within Second Order Demonic Beasts. But their numbers were too few, especially in the face of over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Qingyun Sect; they appeared quite thin. After all, among the disciples of Qingyun Sect, there were quite a few in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, including some who were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. While these individuals wouldn¡¯t amount to much in front of Golden Core Cultivators, they were still considerably threatening against Second Order Demonic Beasts. However, these few Spirit Beasts, following Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, merely kept harassing their opponents and didn¡¯t engage in direct confrontation. This strategy was also to delay the Qingyun Sect cultivators, to buy more time for Lin Tianming. Otherwise, if the Purple Gold Eagles and other Spirit Beasts dove in alone like Lin Tianming, it would be no different from seeking death. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming was responsible for the pursuit, while the three Spirit Beasts, Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shihua, and the others, were responsible for delaying, cooperating quite tacitly. But even so, there were too many Qingyun Sect escapees, with over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators still alive. Being all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they scattered and fled at great speed, and even with Lin Tianming¡¯s impressive strength and speed, it was difficult to cover every escapee. Just then, Lin Shihua inside the clan grounds regained his composure, immediately leading his clan members out of the Protective Clan Formation. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Accompanying them was the Soul-eating Spider left by the Patriarch of the Lin Family. This Spirit Beast hadn¡¯t made a public appearance for a long time, but now when it did come out, its body was a whole size larger, and its aura was incredibly powerful. Over the years of the Lin Family¡¯s rapid development, a large number of treasures had been collected, which finally provided a decent foundation of resources to support the growth of the Soul-eating Spider. Now, it seemed that after these years of abundant offerings of Spiritual Objects, the Soul-eating Spider had advanced further, reaching the limits of a Second Order Demon Beast. It even seemed not too far from a true Third Order Demon Beast. With the Soul-eating Spider as well as Lin Shihua, Lin Xingzhi, and others joining, they immediately cooperated to pick a direction to pursue the fleeing Qingyun Sect cultivators. Lin Tianming chose another direction, coordinating with the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Shihua, and these clan members to chase down the enemy. Under his unrelenting attacks, the sky was continuously filled with screams. Behind each scream, lay the fall of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Such slaughtering continued, the scene extremely brutal and bloody, each person acting out of hatred and showing no mercy with their attacks. After half an hour. Lin Tianming and the clan members regrouped, all gathering around Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at the panting crowd, each one looking significantly drained. It wasn¡¯t surprising to think about it; over a dozen Qi Stage Clan Members chasing after hundreds of Qingyun Sect Cultivators, the pressure must not have been small, and such large consumption was not strange. But all had fortunately returned safely without casualties, which was already a stroke of great luck. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face finally showed a thick smile. Seeing this, the other clan members also revealed a joyous expression; everyone¡¯s mood was very good. Immediately after, Lin Tianming looked over at Lin Shikang¡¯s side and noticed that both Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan were seriously injured, but both were quite conscious and sitting cross-legged on the ground, cultivating to heal. Lin Shikang also suffered significant injuries, but not too severe; with only a month or so of proper rest and cultivation, he could easily recover to his peak. Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, however, were gravely injured, especially Hu Yuan who had hastily exited seclusion to respond to the battle, not at his peak state, and now severely wounded by Xu Zhi, even facing the risk of falling in realm. Fortunately, Lin Tianming arrived in time afterward, significantly reducing the pressure on them. Otherwise, if Hu Yuan continued to fight forcefully, even if he managed to save his life, he would inevitably fall to the Foundation Establishment Stage. As for Ye Pinghai, having broken through to the Golden Core Stage earlier, his cultivation strength was somewhat stronger than Hu Yuan¡¯s. Although he was also gravely injured, with some time spent calmly cultivating, he could recover to his peak state. And now, with Xu Zhi killed by Lin Tianming, the crisis had temporarily lifted, and this great battle had finally passed. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Following that, he looked at Lin Shikang and the others, and then asked with concern, ¡°Third Grandfather, how are your injuries? Is it serious?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang opened his eyes, ending his brief cultivation period. Then, he nodded and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, with a bit of cultivation, I¡¯ll be back to peak condition soon!¡± Chapter 814 814 438 Remarkable Achievements_2 ?Chapter 814: Chapter 438: Remarkable Achievements_2 Chapter 814: Chapter 438: Remarkable Achievements_2 ¡°` ¡°Yes¡­ although I¡¯ve been injured, it¡¯s still within controllable limits!¡± ¡°However, Daoist Hu, your injuries this time are quite serious. To recover to your peak condition, I¡¯m afraid it will take quite some effort!¡± Ye Pinghai glanced at Hu Yuan, then said with a smile, his expression also exhibiting excitement. Upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s explanation, all the clan members present were also extremely excited, and likewise breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts. At that time, Lin Shikang shifted the topic and asked about the entire process of their pursuit of the Qingyun Sect cultivators. Upon hearing the query, Lin Tianming began to speak, ¡°Third Grandfather, I¡¯ve made a rough estimate, and we¡¯ve killed about one hundred and ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators!¡± As soon as his voice fell, Lin Shihua took over and said, ¡°I led family members mainly to delay the cultivators from the Qingyun Sect, but we also killed twenty-six people!¡± ... Hearing such battle results, Lin Shikang was exceptionally excited, and even a hint of a healthy color flashed across his pale face. Apart from him, all the clan members present felt the same. At this point, Lin Tianming also asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, how many did you and Grandpa Sea kill?¡± ¡°At that time, the pressure was immense, joining forces to deal with Xu Zhi was already difficult enough!¡± ¡°Nevertheless, we¡¯ve probably killed dozens as well!¡± Lin Shikang chuckled in response. No sooner had his voice fallen than Lin Shihua expressed regret, muttering under his breath. ¡°Hmph¡­ had they not run so fast, and had we not been limited by manpower, we would have made all of those more than two hundred people stay here!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and said, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, the people they sent here were nearly three hundred, and all of them were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, not comparable to those Qi Refining Cultivators.¡± ¡°Facing such a vast line-up, being able to kill most of them is a result that is already satisfying enough!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ this time the Lin Family faced an unprecedented crisis. Thankfully, Tianming returned in time, otherwise the Lin Family would have been in danger!¡± Lin Shikang agreed, feeling internally satisfied with such a result. Lin Tianming felt the same about this outcome as well. In his heart, this battle had indeed been dangerous. If the cultivated Sword Qi had not been strong enough, the final outcome would have been uncertain. And during the subsequent pursuit, he, his family members, and Spirit Beasts all exerted their utmost efforts, killing as many of Qingyun Sect¡¯s disciples as possible. However, the number of Qingyun Sect members was too great, with even the weakest at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment, and they scattered widely when fleeing. If not for his amazing speed of escape, and a strong body that could virtually ignore attacks from Foundation Establishment Cultivators, With such innate conditions, he had no concerns. Otherwise, such terrifying results would not have been possible. This time, the Qingyun Sect suffered heavy losses. Apart from Xu Zhi, who was a top-tier combatant at the Mid Stage of Golden Core, nearly two hundred of the nearly three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators fell in this battle. That was nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators! Considering the growth of the entire Lin Family over the years, it¡¯s been rapid enough. Yet even so, the number of the Lin family members above Foundation Establishment Cultivation was barely forty or fifty. Yet in this battle, they had killed nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and although the majority of them were at the Initial or Medium Stages, there were only about twenty or thirty at the Late Stage. Such losses would only be seen in the history of the Wei Kingdom during a Beast Tide assault and during the battles among the Three Great Sects. It was hard to imagine what kind of commotion it would cause if this news spread throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Surely everyone would be shocked! Lin Tianming thought to himself, his heart unable to settle down for a long time. At that moment, Lin Shihua made a remark that brought Lin Tianming back to reality. ¡°Tian Ming, did you capture any cultivators earlier to ask about their plans and motives?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming replied with a light smile, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, during the pursuit, I did not kill the last few directly!¡± ¡°After threatening them, I got quite a bit of useful information!¡± ¡°Oh? What information?¡± ¡°` Lin Shikang wore a puzzled expression as he pressed for answers, seemingly very concerned about the issue. Besides him, the remaining clan members also wore faces full of anticipation, clearly eager to discover which power had attacked the Lin Family. And for what reason had they mobilized such an overwhelming force to come to the Lin Family Clan Grounds? At that moment, Lin Tianming decided not to beat around the bush and began explaining. ¡°You must have your speculations about the power that attacked our family, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the Golden Elixir Forces of Qingyun Sect from Huangyang Kingdom!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang nodded his head. ¡°Hmm¡­ Although Xu Zhi did not reveal his affiliation, the emblem on their Daoist robes, combined with the geographical location of the Luoyun Mountain Range, has already disclosed its backing power.¡± After Lin Shikang finished speaking, Lin Shihua also posed a pointed question. ¡°Then speaking of which, the Lin Family has not exposed its strength, so how did it catch the attention of Qingyun Sect?¡± ¡°And to dispatch a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, along with nearly three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators in such a massive formation?¡± ¡°This seems almost unbelievable!¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded. Had he not gathered some information at the Qianchuan Market, forming some conjectures in his mind, he probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to understand either. However, after thinking it over, the Wei Kingdom was already in utter chaos, with the overall strength of the Three Great Sects declining over the years. Moreover, the top powers of Huangyang Kingdom and Wei Kingdom were at odds, even harboring a longstanding grudge. Under such various conditions, it was not at all surprising for the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom to make a move to loot amidst the chaos. But while he understood this clearly, Lin Shikang and the others were lacking precise intelligence, and naturally, they were somewhat puzzled about this unwarranted disaster. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming then shared the intelligence he had obtained from Tang Xiuyuan. Soon, based on the information provided, and combined with the geographical position of the Lin Family, the clansmen realized that the Lin Family had been wrongfully targeted. ¡°No wonder!¡± ¡°I knew the Lin Family has kept a low profile over the years, exerting no small effort to conceal its strength, so how could it have sparked such a major incident.¡± ¡°It turns out that the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom intended to take advantage of the chaos, and the Luoyun Mountain Range where the Lin Family is located happens to be Qingyun Sect¡¯s best route to attack the Wei Kingdom!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Shihua now understood the motive behind Qingyun Sect¡¯s attack. And at that moment, Lin Tianming nodded, then spoke of the issue that concerned Lin Shikang the most, which was the attack plans of Qingyun Sect and the other two sects. After all, this news was too important! It could even be said that the survival of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was greatly linked to the attack plans of the three major sects of Huangyang Kingdom. With that, Lin Tianming divulged all the information he had gleaned from capturing a few cultivators of Qingyun Sect in one breath. According to him, the few Qingyun Sect cultivators he had captured were all core disciples, and Xu Zhi had not expected to encounter such adversity, failing to consider their attack plans thoroughly. At the very least, quite a few core disciples of Qingyun Sect were somewhat privy to some aspects of the plan. In these plans, Xu Zhi initiating the attack from the Luoyun Mountain Range was the first step, with the Lin Family¡¯s location as the initial target. Only, Xu Zhi¡¯s luck was terribly poor, having kicked an iron board right from the outset. They could never have imagined that the Lin Family would possess four Golden Core Stage Combat Powers, and even more unexpectedly, that the Lin Family had a Profound Grade Spirit Art, a powerful trump card that could turn the tide. Because of Xu Zhi¡¯s arrogance and overconfidence, he paid a heavy price, losing his own life along with nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for the other team of Qingyun Sect, they also attacked other forces in the Luoyun Mountain Range at the same time, with even the Luoyun Market included in Qingyun Sect¡¯s plan of attack. However, the current state of the battle or the outcome, including themselves, remained unknown. But one could anticipate that the Luoyun Market along with other family powers surely did not have Golden Core Cultivators stationed there. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Faced with the Early Stage Golden Core Meng Qingfeng, and an impressive force of more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it was likely that even another Foundation Establishing Family, the Luo Family, couldn¡¯t hold out for two days. With that being the case, the current Luoyun Mountain Range was probably experiencing a bloody storm with many family forces being trampled. ¡­ Chapter 815 815 439 Interception Plan ?Chapter 815: Chapter 439: Interception Plan Chapter 815: Chapter 439: Interception Plan At that moment, upon hearing the news Lin Tianming had relayed, as well as his speculations about the internal situation of the Luoyun Mountain Range, all clan members present showed varying expressions. The news was indeed too shocking; even the Golden Core Stage cultivators among them could not calm their hearts for a long time. As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua always considered matters more comprehensively, especially now that the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family was located, was in chaos, with major family powers and even Loose Cultivators all suffering immensely. Seeing that every clan member was silent, Lin Shihua took the lead in breaking the quiet. ¡°Third Brother, Tianming, what should our Lin Family do next?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang pondered for a moment before he slowly spoke, ¡°Right now, some of us are injured and some are crippled; our condition is very poor, and we can mobilize very limited forces!¡± ¡°The overall strength of another team from the Qingyun Sect is not low, and the Lin Family has just survived a catastrophe; I¡¯m afraid we will not be able to stop their chaos in a short time.¡± ... Having said this, Lin Shikang heaved a sigh, showing a helpless expression. Seeing this, Lin Shihua continued, ¡°Third Brother, we can ignore other families in the Luoyun Mountain Range, but what about the Luoyun Market? That is a major source of income for our family. Are we really going to neglect it?¡± This statement from Lin Shihua echoed the worries everyone had. But considering the current situation of the Lin Family, they were indeed distracted and incapable of caring for other matters. Lin Tianming, after a moment of contemplation, had his own idea. In his view, the greatest threat among the Qingyun Sect¡¯s other team was Meng Qingfeng, who was at the Early Stage Golden Core; the Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be of little use against a Golden Core Cultivator. Furthermore, Meng Qingfeng must not have received the news of Xu Zhi¡¯s death yet. Judging by the flying speed of those fleeing Qingyun Sect disciples, it would take at least a day or two for them to regroup with Meng Qingfeng¡¯s main force. And in that day or two, he could completely head to the Luoyun Market ahead of time to station himself for a few days before Meng Qingfeng received the news. With his powerful body and the assistance of the Market¡¯s formations, he should have no problems dealing with an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, even without using his cultivation. As long as his own condition could recover a bit, he could certainly hold off Meng Qingfeng¡¯s offensive. It was even possible, under the right conditions, to face and kill Meng Qingfeng head-on. This plan seemed to be the most stable approach under the current circumstances. If Meng Qingfeng could not destroy the Luoyun Market in a short time, and Lin Shikang recovered from his injuries, together they could strike and ensure Meng Qingfeng¡¯s demise remained within the Luoyun Mountain Range. By then, with their combined efforts, Meng Qingfeng would have neither the sky as his path nor the earth as his door; he would definitely be no match for them. However, this was an ideal scenario, and another possibility could not be excluded. That was, upon learning of Xu Zhi¡¯s fall at the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Meng Qingfeng would undoubtedly be shocked to learn that the Lin Family had four Golden Core Cultivators. As long as Meng Qingfeng was not foolish, he would surely realize that he was no match for the four Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family. Therefore, he would not dare linger long in the Luoyun Mountain Range, lest the Lin Family regain their strength and seek revenge from the Qingyun Sect afterwards. After all, the Lin Family might hesitate to venture into Huangyang Kingdom, but the Qingyun Sect members left in the Luoyun Mountain Range would certainly face retaliation from the Lin Family. Thus, he might completely retreat with the Qingyun Sect disciples, returning to Huangyang Kingdom to reconsider their plans. If this were to happen, the Lin Family¡¯s intention to keep Meng Qingfeng and others in the Luoyun Mountain Range would be entirely foiled. Thinking of all these possibilities, Lin Tianming was somewhat torn; he hoped Meng Qingfeng would continue to attack the Luoyun Mountain Range so he could have more time to eliminate him. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, he worried about the Luoyun Market being attacked first; after all, that was a major asset for the Lin Family, with dozens of clan members stationed there year-round. If he didn¡¯t arrive at the Luoyun Market in time, should the formations be breached, it would be ominous for those Lin Family members stationed there. Realizing this, Lin Tianming weighed the pros and cons in his heart, feeling it was best to rush to the Luoyun Market first. As long as he was in position at the Luoyun Market, the offensive plans of Meng Qingfeng and others would fail. If they chose to retreat, he would take the initiative to strike and delay them. And if possible, under the right conditions, he could take Meng Qingfeng¡¯s life. He was making this decision because the Lin Family was after all vulnerable, and he also worried that if Meng Qingfeng returned to his Sect, he could gather more Golden Core Cultivators to attack the Wei Kingdom. After all, the overall strength of the Qingyun Sect was very strong, at least as formidable as, if not stronger than, the Zhenyang Sect. By letting Meng Qingfeng return, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountain. Since the Lin Family had already completely offended the Qingyun Sect, it was better to actively weaken the Sect¡¯s strength rather than wait passively for retaliation. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind to rush to the Luoyun Market. Having settled on this plan, Lin Tianming looked over at Lin Shikang and the others, then began to explain his strategy. Soon after learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s entire plan, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua also thought it made sense but still harbored concerns in their hearts, worried that Lin Tianming might not be a match for Meng Qingfeng. After all, Lin Tianming had expended a great deal in the recent major battle, and his trump card had been used up. As a result, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength had obviously declined from before his battle against Xu Zhi. Chapter 816 816 439 Interception Plan_2 ?Chapter 816: Chapter 439: Interception Plan_2 Chapter 816: Chapter 439: Interception Plan_2 However, Luoyun Market couldn¡¯t wait any longer, and the Lin Family did not have the time and energy to ponder over this. Knowing this, Lin Shikang, despite his worries, had no choice but to agree with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. At that moment, Lin Shikang glanced at Lin Shihua and Lin Tianming, then with a single hand, grabbed a blue longsword not far away. He then handed the blue longsword to Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tian Ming, now that Xu Zhi is dead, you should keep his treasure sword on you.¡± ¡°If possible, refine it as soon as you can; I¡¯m sure it will greatly enhance your strength!¡± ¡°Your Grandpa Sea and I will promptly recover, so we can support you in time!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming did not refuse Lin Shikang¡¯s kindness and immediately put away Xu Zhi¡¯s treasure sword. ... Indeed, this was an item he urgently needed; as long as he managed to refine it, his strength would surely increase significantly. However, it was unfortunate that he needed to rush to Luoyun Market at this time and did not have the opportunity to refine this treasure. Even upon reaching Luoyun Market, if Meng Qingfeng happened to attack the market, he still would not have time to refine the treasure sword. Otherwise, it would have been best to refine the sword before setting out, as it would have significantly enhanced his strength, thereby greatly increasing his odds against Meng Qingfeng. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t make a fuss; after all, the Lin Family¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t good, and having the treasure sword would allow him to maximize its utility. When Lin Shikang saw that Lin Tianming had accepted the longsword treasure, he then said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Brother Ye, Brother Hu, both of you played a crucial role in defeating Xu Zhi. Rightfully, this treasure should partly belong to you as well.¡± ¡°However, you both know the current predicament of our Lin Family. For now, let Tian Ming keep the treasure sword, and after we repel the cultivators of Qingyun Sect, we can discuss the possession of the treasure. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Brother Lin, you¡¯re too courteous. My relationship with the Lin Family is akin to a life and death friendship, and being Tian Ming¡¯s sworn grandfather, it¡¯s only right for him to have this sword. There¡¯s no need for such formalities,¡± said Ye Pinghai. ¡°I, too, am injured and urgently need a quiet place to heal and close myself off. Hence, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to fight for a while!¡± Hu Yuan said this sincerely, displaying a lot of tact. He knew well that the Lin Family had shown him kindness and that he had previously committed to serving as a Guest Elder for fifty years; assisting the Lin Family was his duty. The spoils of war were for the Lin Family to decide their ownership. If the Lin Family voluntarily offered some benefits, that would naturally be the best outcome, but even without any rewards, it was still a part of his responsibilities. Furthermore, the Lin Family¡¯s strength had changed significantly. Little did one realize that, including Ye Pinghai, the Lin Family now had three Golden Core Stage combatants, and Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was something he had witnessed firsthand. Should Lin Shilu also successfully reach the Golden Core Stage after his retreat, the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength would not be much weaker than the Zhenyang Sect. As the saying goes, one must bow one¡¯s head under another¡¯s eaves; he was alone and helpless, how could he possibly rival the Lin Family? Based on his understanding of the Lin Family, rather than haggling and causing displeasure, he would do better to be more generous. Perhaps the Lin Family would remember his contributions and spontaneously offer him some rewards. As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang responded, ¡°Brother Hu, you can rest assured that the Lin Family will surely repay you for your assistance in this battle!¡± Having said that, Lin Shikang looked back at Lin Xingzhi and instructed him. ¡°XingZhi, prepare a quiet cave dwelling immediately for Daoist Hu to peacefully retreat into!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, uncle, I will make the arrangements right away!¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded and replied, then gestured to Hu Yuan before leading him inside the Protective Clan Formation. After the two departed, Lin Shikang began to give orders to Lin Shihua. ¡°Shihua, the task of cleaning up the battlefield will be in your hands; stabilize the family¡¯s internal situation as quickly as possible!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded and with a wave of his hand, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind him moved toward the battlefield, beginning to collect the spoils of war and deal with the corpses of the Qingyun Sect cultivators. Very soon, over a dozen clan members started to bustle about, leaving only Lin Tianming and a few others, along with Ye Pinghai¡¯s four men at the scene. At this point, Lin Tianming also asked Lin Shikang about the next steps. Lin Shikang replied with a serene smile, indicating the need to enter retreat for cultivation, and that the Lin Family must also be very vigilant to prevent any unexpected incidents. Ye Pinghai also felt the same; after all, their injuries were not light and they had depleted a lot of energy. They needed to heal in seclusion for a while. The current state of the Cultivation World was bound to become even more chaotic, and the Lin Family did not have much time left. They had to ensure the strongest combat power to possibly survive this disaster. After discussing their plans, Lin Tianming proposed to set off immediately for Luoyun Market. Lin Shikang gave some final instructions, suggesting that Lin Tianming should take a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators with him to relieve some pressure from defending Luoyun Market. Lin Tianming directly rejected this suggestion. In his view, he was more flexible and adaptable when acting alone. Bringing Foundation Establishment Cultivators might restrict him, and it would be better to be free to move by himself. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute attitude, Lin Shikang did not say anything more. At this time, Ye Pinghai also perked up and took out several bottles of elixirs from his storage bag, handing them to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tian Ming, these elixirs were refined by me over the past few years. I didn¡¯t expect they¡¯d be needed so soon!¡± Ye Pinghai said with a helpless bitter smile. Hearing this, Lin Tianming thought for a moment and had a rough idea of what kind of elixirs they were. Thus, he did not hesitate, directly taking three Jade Bottles and looking inside. Indeed, they were all Third Order Pills, and besides one Yuxu Pill for enhancing cultivation, the other two were a Solidifying Pill and a Spirit Dragon Pill. A Solidifying Pill was for Golden Core Cultivators to heal injuries, while the Spirit Dragon Pill helped Golden Core Cultivators to quickly recover mana. These types of elixirs were some of the most commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators. However, even so, Third Order Pills of this grade were extremely difficult to refine, especially since Third Order Spiritual Medicine was starting to be a scarce resource in the Wei Kingdom. And now, Ye Pinghai had brought out so many Third Order Pills at once, likely having exhausted his entire collection. It was possible that he had not left much for himself. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt embarrassed to accept. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Ye Pinghai feigned anger and scolded, ¡°Just take them, boy. Besides these, I¡¯ve also left a few pills for the three of us.¡± ¡°Besides, your Third Uncle and I are guarding the clan¡¯s territory. As long as we don¡¯t separate, we shouldn¡¯t face much danger and won¡¯t need too many elixirs!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who will be going alone to Luoyun Market, where there¡¯s a good chance of confronting Meng Qingfeng. I suppose these elixirs will come in handy.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Shikang also chimed in. ¡°Since Grandpa Sea has said so, and you indeed need them, just accept them quickly!¡± Seeing both of them insist, Lin Tianming said no more. He bowed to Ye Pinghai and took the three bottles of elixirs. Immediately after, Lin Tianming did not delay further. He released the Purple Gold Eagle and leapt onto its back. In a blink of an eye, the Purple Gold Eagle soared into the sky, rapidly ascending into the thousand-yard-high air, flying in the direction of Luoyun Mountain. Seated on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming casually took out a Spirit Dragon Pill and swallowed it. He was in a hurry to make his way, and had to rely on the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s flight to take the opportunity to recover the mana expended in the previous great battle. After that fight, his mana was nearly depleted, but fortunately, he had not sustained many injuries. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been a lot more troublesome. Yet heading to Luoyun Market, he was bound to encounter Meng Qingfeng of the Qingyun Sect. If he had no mana to support him, relying solely on physical strength would definitely not be easy. Thus, this Spirit Dragon Pill, which aided in recovering mana, solved his urgent need. As the elixir dissolved, a fragrant medicinal scent emerged, and energy immediately overflowed. Lin Tianming began to cultivate, refining the elixir. Soon, he could feel the mana within his Golden Core gradually recovering. At this rate, by the time he arrived at Luoyun Market, he might regain about seventy to eighty percent of his peak mana. Having seventy to eighty percent of his mana when facing Meng Qingfeng would give him a much greater chance of winning. Understanding this, Lin Tianming pushed his cultivation technique to the limit, further accelerating the speed of refining the Spirit Dragon Pill. Chapter 817 817 440 Attack on Luoyun Market ?Chapter 817: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market Chapter 817: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market The next morning. Outside the Luoyun Market, a blue flying boat descended just outside. At the entrance of the market, scattered cultivators queued up, being inspected in an orderly fashion by the market city supervisors. With the arrival of the flying boat, it immediately drew the attention of everyone there. Among the queued cultivators, those with keen eyesight noticed the blue flying boat at first glance, recognizing it as a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact. ¡°Look quickly, that¡¯s a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact!¡± At those words, a wave of surprise spread rapidly, causing everyone to stop and stare at the flying boat ahead. ... After all, the value of a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact was exceedingly high, and even among the hundreds of Foundation Establishment families in the Wei Kingdom, it was rare to possess such a grade of flying artifact. Therefore, in the eyes of these Qi Refining Cultivators, the flying boat was a top-tier treasure, a sight they scarcely encountered. Under the gaze of many cultivators, a flash of light swept over the blue flying boat, and more than a hundred cultivators stepped out, led by Meng Qingfeng of the Qingyun Sect. As soon as these individuals appeared, some cultivators immediately recognized their identities, especially with the appearance of a Golden Core Cultivator, which sparked exclamations from the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s actually the Qingyun Sect from Huangyang Kingdom!¡± ¡°The elder leading them, seems to be Elder Meng, right?¡± Hearing this, many cultivators with puzzled looks asked, ¡°Qingyun Sect?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a Golden Elixir force from Huangyang Kingdom? Why would they appear in Luoyun Market at this time?¡± ¡°What cultivation level is Elder Meng? Why would so many Foundation Establishment elders come to Luoyun Market? Could it be that something big is happening in Luoyun Market?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Question after question continued, leading to a flurry of discussions among the cultivators, with few thinking about the underlying motives behind Meng Qingfeng and his group¡¯s grand entrance. However, a very few people seemed to sense something unusual. After all, Qingyun Sect was a Golden Elixir force within Huangyang Kingdom, and for a Golden Core Cultivator to appear in such a small place was novel, let alone bringing along so many Foundation Establishment cultivators. Such a large formation moving together could easily indicate that something momentous was bound to occur in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. With chaos currently in the Wei Kingdom and the fierce battles among the three great sects, the actions of the Qingyun Sect meant either they were coming to aid a certain sect, or they were undoubtedly looking to loot amidst the turmoil. Otherwise, there would be no need to mobilize to such an extent. As expected, a few Qi Refining clanspeople from the Lin Family, after a brief exchange at the entrance of the market, sensed an impending crisis. They immediately sent a message to Lin Xingcheng, the Lin Family¡¯s supervisor stationed at Luoyun Market. Soon after, Lin Xingcheng received the message and quickly gathered another three Foundation Establishment clan members to rush to the market entrance. At that time, Meng Qingfeng stood on the open ground outside the market, eyeing Luoyun Market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation with an impatient look. In the past three days, without expending much effort, he had flattened the Sun Family of Flying Eagle Mountain and the Luo Family of Baiyun Mountain one after another. In addition, several Qi Refining Families with decent strength had also been unable to escape their fate. Over the course of three days, as Protective Clan Formations were broken one by one, nearly two hundred disciples under Meng Qingfeng¡¯s command, like tigers unleashed from their cages, slaughtered the cultivators of these families in a frenzy. Their methods were extremely brutal, sparing even neither the Qi Refining cultivators who discovered their trail nor those who posed no threat to them whatsoever. Within just a few shichen, a family that had made a name for itself in the Luoyun Mountain Range would be struck from the land of Luoyun Mountain. Over the days, these targeted families suffered heavy losses. Apart from those scattered members who were outside, the rest suffered injuries and deaths to nearly all. The Sun Family and the Luo Family, two Foundation Establishing Families with centuries of heritage, also could not withstand for long before they were decimated. With the annihilation of these families, Meng Qingfeng, having plundered limited resources, lost interest and turned his gaze toward Luoyun Market. Given the large flow of people and prosperous commerce in the market, the accumulated wealth would necessarily be much stronger than a few Foundation Establishing families. Thus, Meng Qingfeng hurried to Luoyun Market without stopping, thinking that with Xu Zhi¡¯s cultivation, coupled with an even larger formation attacking the Lin Family of Green Bamboo Mountain, the Luoyun Market would surely have already fallen and he¡¯d be the first to reach it. Unexpectedly, he arrived at Luoyun Market ahead of others, greatly surpassing his expectations. At that time, Meng Qingfeng glanced at the cultivators at the market entrance and did not intend to delay. He launched an attack immediately. With a wave of his sleeve, a black axe appeared in his hand. He swung it forward, and a golden blade of light shot out. In an instant, the blade of light struck the market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. After a loud boom, a pale golden barrier suddenly appeared in the originally invisible sky¡ªthe Defensive Great Formation of the market. And after Meng Qingfeng¡¯s strike, energy surged across the entire light screen, and the ground trembled slightly. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following Meng Qingfeng¡¯s attack, more than a dozen Qi Refining cultivators, who had not yet entered the market and were still in line, were killed by the powerful shock before they could even let out a scream. Chapter 818 818 440 Attack on Luoyun Market_2 ?Chapter 818: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market_2 Chapter 818: Chapter 440 Attack on Luoyun Market_2 This scene, witnessed by nearly a hundred cultivators present, filled everyone with a mix of shock and anger, leaving them completely stunned for a moment. In the midst of their astonishment, Meng Qingfeng continued his assault, his disciples from the Qingyun Sect also unleashed a barrage of attacks, brutally bombarding the formation¡¯s light screen. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The numerous attacks collided, filling the sky with flames, and powerful waves scattered in all directions. At this time, many cultivators regained their senses and exclaimed, ¡°Quick¡­ send a message to the Lin Family¡¯s seniors!¡± Just then, Lin Xingcheng and a few Lin Family Members arrived at the entrance of Luoyun Market. Seeing Lin Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators arrive, the commotion at the scene subsided somewhat. ... Lin Xingcheng, after looking over the Qi Refining Clansperson of the Lin Family present, then asked, ¡°Tianbo, what exactly happened?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianbo recounted the whole sequence of events, exactly as they had occurred. Lin Xingcheng, having learned the full story, had a dark expression on his face and was filled with puzzlement. In his view, the Lin Family had neither grudges nor any involvement with the powers of Huangyang Kingdom, so why would they suddenly be attacked? Even in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the vast majority of the powers should know that Luoyun Market was almost entirely the Lin Family¡¯s enterprise and were also aware of the Lin Family¡¯s strength. It could be said that aside from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom and two other Great Golden Core Families, nobody would actively provoke the Lin Family. For the Qingyun Sect to attack so openly, without even uttering a word of threat, their purpose must be very clear, and they did not regard the Lin Family highly. If that was the case, the Qingyun Sect was an enemy of the Lin Family. In the face of an enemy, the Lin Family had nothing to consider. But what he needed to consider was just one thing, that was how to withstand the Qingyun Sect¡¯s attack before the Lin Family¡¯s reinforcements could arrive. However, he was fully aware that this would be extremely difficult. After all, the attacking Qingyun Sect had a formidable lineup; just the two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators alone were enough to break through the market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation, not to mention the Golden Core Cultivator Meng Qingfeng. The market¡¯s Defensive Great Formation, while not bad among Second Order Formations, would have a hard time enduring such powerful attacks, likely unable to hold out for one or two days. To get the message of the attack to the family in such a short time and to have Golden Core Clan Members sent for support was something he had no confidence in. Understanding this, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s face was filled with worry, and for a moment he felt somewhat helpless. However, he quickly composed himself and began to issue orders to his relatives through voice transmission. ¡°Xingpu, you need to monitor the energy consumption of the Defensive Great Formation at all times and ensure the replenishment of Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Xing Yu, immediately gather the clan members within the market, so that in case the formation is broken, they can withdraw in time!¡± ¡°Tianbo, immediately organize the clan members of all the major powers, and offer a handsome reward to attract Loose Cultivators to join our camp to withstand the potential slaughter!¡± Lin Xingcheng made several arrangements, preparing both escape routes and necessary defenses in advance, although they might not be able to wait for their clan¡¯s support. But at the moment, that was all they could do. Upon hearing his orders, Lin Xingpu and others nodded and then left to get busy according to Lin Xingcheng¡¯s instructions. With their departure, Lin Xingcheng also stood guard at the entrance of Luoyun Market, constantly paying attention to the energy fluctuations on the Defensive Great Formation. Outside the market, Meng Qingfeng and others did not cease their attacks¡ªit was a rotation of over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators including Meng Qingfeng, who also occasionally struck the Defensive Formation. Soon, Lin Xingcheng estimated the duration the Defensive Formation could hold based on the speed of energy consumption. He estimated that, at this rate of consumption, the formation would inevitably be broken within at most two days. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having come to this realization, Lin Xingcheng sighed helplessly and could only pray that the family would send support in time. Otherwise, once the formation broke, the lives of thousands of cultivators inside the market, including himself, would be left to chance. Thinking about these things, and looking at Meng Qingfeng and the others outside the formation, he felt a sense of powerlessness washing over him. And this was because the strength of Qingyun Sect¡¯s forces was simply too overwhelming. At least, without a Golden Core Cultivator present, they were virtually at the mercy of others, completely lacking any capital to resist. ¡°Let it be¡­ under the sheer force of absolute power, let¡¯s do our human best and leave the rest up to fate!¡± Lin Xingcheng muttered to himself, then stopped letting his thoughts run wild. He sat cross-legged on the wall of Luoyun Market, watching every move taking place outside. The next morning, outside the market, Meng Qingfeng glanced at the formation¡¯s light screen surrounding Luoyun Market and a flash of excited smile crossed his face. After a day of uninterrupted attacks, the formation¡¯s defensive power had significantly weakened, showing extremely obvious changes compared to when they first began. At this rate of consumption, perhaps half a day¡¯s time would suffice to break through the formation successfully. By then, he would be able to loot Luoyun Market bare. With Luoyun Market¡¯s development over the past decades, plus the Lin Family having spent no small amount of resources to manage the market in an orderly manner, it had attracted many powers to set up shops here, and thus assembled a sizeable number of cultivators to stay here long-term. As long as he eliminated this large group of people, he was sure that the gains from this time would far exceed those of previous families. Thinking of this, Meng Qingfeng became somewhat impatient. While he was lost in thought, a few cultivators flew towards him from the direction behind him. Looking over, each of them were pale with injury marks on their bodies and a weak aura, suggesting they had sustained serious injuries. Moreover, each one of them had a panicked expression, evidently having witnessed something terrifying. Quickly, the cultivators made their way through the crowd and arrived behind Meng Qingfeng. Seeing them, Meng Qingfeng asked with a puzzled look, ¡°Song, why hasn¡¯t Senior Xu arrived yet?¡± ¡°What happened to you looking like this?¡± Hearing this, one of the cultivators was visibly tense and out of breath as he offered Meng Qingfeng a bow. Then, he finally spoke, ¡°Uncle Meng, something terrible has happened!¡± ¡°Uncle Xu has perished!¡± ¡°What?¡± Meng Qingfeng cried out in shock, obviously finding it hard to believe the news the cultivator had delivered. His reaction was not odd¡ªafter all, in their eyes, the Lin Family was nothing more than a declining Foundation Establishing Family, how could it possibly withstand the attack of Xu Zhi and the others. Not to mention, the prospect of Xu Zhi, at the Mid Stage Golden Core, actually falling on the Lin Family¡¯s grounds was unthinkable. ¡°What exactly happened? Tell me quickly!¡± Meng Qingfeng, still in disbelief, hurriedly pressed the cultivator behind him for the details. Upon being urged, the Song surname cultivator didn¡¯t dare to delay, and quickly recounted their experience on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Soon after learning that the Lin Family actually possessed four Golden Core Stage Cultivators and had slain Xu Zhi in one fell swoop, Meng Qingfeng felt as if a huge mountain had crushed down upon him; he was utterly shocked. ¡°This can¡¯t be true! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!¡± Meng Qingfeng couldn¡¯t accept it, muttering to himself in a disjointed manner, looking completely lost. The Song surname cultivator, seeing Meng Qingfeng in such a daze, turned pale and said, ¡°Uncle Meng, it¡¯s true!¡± ¡°We few with decent cultivation, coupled with our timely escape, were the only reasons we didn¡¯t end up like the other brothers, slain by that powerful Lin Family Golden Core Cultivator!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a few other Qingyun Sect cultivators chimed in. ¡°Uncle Meng, everything Brother Song said is true!¡± Hearing several people confirm it, Meng Qingfeng finally believed the news was real. Then, he became frantic, momentarily at a loss. After a long while, he managed to calm down somewhat and then started to think. He knew that after this shocking news, his current situation was also filled with crisis. He guessed secretly in his heart that if the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivator who had killed Xu Zhi rushed to Luoyun Market immediately, he would surely face a tough battle. If more than one Golden Core arrived, then his situation would be perilous, and he might well follow in Xu Zhi¡¯s footsteps. Chapter 819 819 441 Crazy Massacre ?Chapter 819: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre Chapter 819: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre Realizing this, Meng Qingfeng looked at the Defensive Great Formation that was about to break, and he no longer felt the excitement he had before, but instead became restless. After a long while, he finally calmed down a bit and then instructed the Qingyun Sect disciples behind him. ¡°Everyone listen to my command, stop attacking immediately, and let¡¯s retreat back to the Sect!¡± Upon hearing this, the Qingyun Sect disciples stopped their attacking actions, each showing a face full of bewilderment. Then, several cultivators with apparently high status looked at Meng Qingfeng and asked, ¡°Uncle Meng, what happened? Why are we retreating when everything was going fine?¡± ¡°Yes, Uncle Meng, this formation obviously won¡¯t last much longer, if we keep attacking for a few more Shi Chen, we will definitely be able to break it and plunder everything inside the market!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ There are quite a few people in the market, we¡¯re bound to not be disappointed with the loot!¡± ... After this was said, other disciples, although they did not dare say much, also wore expressions of confusion, clearly puzzled by the reason for this sudden retreat. These people obviously did not know the specific news about Xu Zhi¡¯s demise, nor did they see Meng Qingfeng¡¯s grim expression. Otherwise, even if they were high in status, they would not dare to be so presumptuous in front of Meng Qingfeng. As was to be expected, Meng Qingfeng was a mix of shock and rage at this point. Seeing that several Foundation Establishment disciples had objections, he would not usually order anything, but now it was just adding fuel to the fire, making him even more furious. ¡°Act quickly following orders, or I will not show any mercy!¡± Meng Qingfeng said with a grim face, his tone carrying a hint of anger, displaying the authority of a Golden Core Cultivator in this moment. At this time, the Qingyun Sect cultivators who were originally speaking turned pale and dared not say another word, lest they further provoke the furious Meng Qingfeng. Immediately after, a large group of Qingyun Sect disciples gathered together and orderly boarded the Blue Flying Boat. A little while passed. As numerous disciples entered the Flying Boat, Meng Qingfeng did not delay any further, jumping onto the Flying Boat first and then swiftly maneuvering it to soar into the sky, shooting toward the south. All their actions were clearly seen by Lin Xingcheng and other observant cultivators inside the market. By this moment, including Lin Xingcheng, all the cultivators showed puzzled expressions. They truly couldn¡¯t understand why Meng Qingfeng and the others, after attacking for an entire day and seeing that the Formation was on the verge of collapse, would give up this opportunity and back off. Moreover, seeing their hastened manners, it must be that something significant had occurred that forced their retreat. Otherwise, with the vision and resolve of a Golden Core Cultivator, it really wouldn¡¯t make sense to act this way. Realizing this, Lin Xingcheng also started to speculate secretly. ¡°Could it be that something major has happened at the family site? Or have they changed targets and are planning to attack the Lin Family Clan Grounds?¡± Regrettably, he had no idea about the Qingyun Sect¡¯s plans, nor why Meng Qingfeng was so frantic at the moment. However, no matter the reason, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s retreat was undoubtedly great news for Luoyun Market. The only concern was whether Meng Qingfeng and his group might change their target and attack the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Thinking about this, Lin Xingcheng felt a mix of emotions, both relieved for having dodged a disaster and anxious for his family¡¯s safety. While he was lost in his thoughts, the observing cultivators below the city walls also began to discuss fervently. For a time, various speculations emerged, and the once-suppressed stirrings flared up in hot debate again. Seeing this situation, Lin Xingcheng also quickly took charge to maintain control, managing to suppress the cultivators after some efforts. At the same time, Meng Qingfeng and the others had not yet traveled far when a figure blocked their path. After traveling on the Purple Gold Eagle for half a day, Lin Tianming took the chance to recover the mana he had expended in the great battle with Xu Zhi and managed to arrive at Luoyun Market just in time. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianming hovered in mid-air, looked at the faintly visible city walls ahead, and took a deep breath in relief. Fortunately, he had arrived in time. The firelight and the loud collisions he had heard from afar proved that the Defensive Great Formation of Luoyun Market was still intact. Otherwise, if he had arrived too late and Luoyun Market had been destroyed by Meng Qingfeng, even killing Meng Qingfeng would not have been a perfect outcome for the Lin Family. Realizing this, Lin Tianming looked at the slowly decelerating Flying Boat ahead and his face gradually took on a solemn expression. Simultaneously, he gripped the Tiangang Sword in his hand, ready to strike. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng also spotted Lin Tianming immediately. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s fierce expression, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and then he took on a posture as if facing a great enemy. On the deck behind him, a cultivator surnamed Song turned pale and tremblingly pointed at Lin Tianming, muttering intermittently. ¡°Meng¡­ Uncle Meng, it was he who killed Uncle Xu!¡± Hearing this and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s ferocious demeanor, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s face also turned pale, thinking to himself that trouble had come. This fierce figure had actually caught up with them and blocked their escape route. He knew clearly that although Lin Tianming¡¯s aura was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, his ability to outright destroy Xu Zhi, who was at the Mid Stage Golden Core, should not be underestimated. Chapter 820 820 441 Crazy Massacre_2 ?Chapter 820: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre_2 Chapter 820: Chapter 441: Crazy Massacre_2 And he was merely at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation, naturally unable to compare his strength with Xu Zhi, and Lin Tianming had managed to kill Xu Zhi, so naturally, there was a possibility he could kill him too. Realizing this, Meng Qingfeng felt somewhat frightened, but he still forced himself to appear calm. Next, he cupped his fists towards Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Fellow Daoist, is there perhaps some misunderstanding between us? Why are you blocking my path?¡± Meng Qingfeng said this merely as an attempt to stall for time, hoping to devise the best strategy to respond. Or perhaps he could bluff his way through, thereby avoiding an unnecessary fight. In his heart, he always believed that as long as he returned within the borders of Huangyang Kingdom, even if the Lin Family did indeed have four Golden Core Cultivators, they wouldn¡¯t dare to actively provoke the Qingyun Sect. As for the grievance arising from Xu Zhi¡¯s death, it could entirely wait until he returned to his sect, where he could gather more Golden Core comrades to retaliate against the Lin Family Clan Grounds. ... Once the top combat forces of the Qingyun Sect took action, given the current strength of the Lin Family, they definitely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. As they say, a gentleman¡¯s revenge is not too late, even if it takes ten years! At this moment, he didn¡¯t have the certainty of winning and saw no need to engage in a fight. Thus, Meng Qingfeng forced himself to appear calm and tried to act as if the matter was of little concern, hoping to muddle through. However, when Lin Tianming had arrived here, he had personally witnessed the tremors coming from Luoyun Market. Those occasional massive disturbances were undoubtedly caused by Golden Core Cultivators. And looking around, the flying boat before him and the one parked on the Lin Family Clan Grounds were essentially identical, clearly belonging to the Qingyun Sect. Moreover, right after the powerful fluctuations had abruptly stopped, he immediately saw the flying boat preparing to leave. Clearly, the Qingyun Sect cultivators were about to flee. Suddenly seeing this action, it was likely that Meng Qingfeng had also received the news of Xu Zhi¡¯s death, which was why he was hastily trying to escape from Luoyun Market, clearly also afraid of the Lin Family catching up to besiege him. Taking all these factors into consideration, Meng Qingfeng must be on the flying boat. And before he came here, he had already considered many possibilities and had a strategy in mind. Given this, there was no need for him to be polite, planning to make the first move to test Meng Qingfeng¡¯s strength. If he could kill him, that would undoubtedly be the best outcome. If he wasn¡¯t a match, then he could only let him go first and think of a long-term plan later. Realizing this and facing Meng Qingfeng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming snorted coldly and was too lazy to waste words with him. So, he immediately slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Fiend Swords immediately flew out, swiftly forming the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, enveloping a large area around him. Following this, a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand revealed the Tiangang Ninth Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword left his hand, transforming into a long dragon, shooting towards the Blue Flying Boat. His target was clear, and his movements were quick, all these offensive maneuvers completed in a moment. On the other side in the flying boat, seeing Lin Tianming take action, Meng Qingfeng was also prepared. After all, he was aware of Xu Zhi¡¯s death, and the cultivator surnamed Song had just pointed out Lin Tianming, revealing his identity. Seeing Lin Tianming make his move, he immediately leapt from the flying boat, and the Giant Axe Magical Treasure in his hand also erupted with a blade of light, blasting towards Lin Tianming. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang!¡± a loud explosion sounded. The light blade and the Tiangang Sword directly collided, a powerful flash of light sweeping across the void, a massive shockwave spreading out. The two stalemated for a brief moment, but ultimately, the Tiangang Sword couldn¡¯t compare to the Magical Treasure, and was struck flying, eventually caught by Lin Tianming. Then, the light blade continued its assault, seemingly determined to blast him away. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was prepared, and with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, he dodged the blade¡¯s attack in time. But the ground below him took a solid hit from the light blade, blasting out a gigantic crater. Following this attack, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay, and he continued to unleash a massive amount of Tiangang Sword Qi, furiously attacking the flying boat behind Meng Qingfeng. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Once the Tiangang Sword Qi was released, its speed was incredibly fast and it carried with it a mighty aura that terrified the cultivators from Qingyun Sect on the flying boat. Seeing Lin Tianming change his target, Meng Qingfeng was both shocked and furious. He hurriedly rushed over to block Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Seeing that Meng Qingfeng indeed cared about the lives of his disciples, Lin Tianming sighed with relief in his heart. He was alone, and after half a day of sitting in meditation and consuming a Spirit Dragon Pill, he had only recovered about seventy to eighty percent of his mana. Facing such a massive force like that of Meng Qingfeng and without Lin Shikang¡¯s assistance or the greatest trump card, the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, he knew that he had to exploit Meng Qingfeng¡¯s weaknesses if he wanted to kill him or stall his retreat. These Qingyun Sect disciples were quite the vulnerable points. And although Lin Tianming was not a villain, he was no gentleman either. In his eyes, to achieve his goals, he didn¡¯t need to have any scruples. After all, the Lin Family had already torn their faces with Qingyun Sect and their actions had touched his reverse scale; there was no need to hold back anymore. Thus, Lin Tianming showed no mercy in his attack, each stream of Sword Qi aiming directly at the flying boat. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Meng Qingfeng blocked this round of attacks, but the powerful impact from the explosions still shook the flying boat, almost causing it to tumble from the sky. Now, Meng Qingfeng also understood Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose. At this moment, he was both shocked and furious. Unnecessarily being so passive, yet as the highest battle force of Qingyun Sect here, he couldn¡¯t disregard the lives of these nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment disciples. In this way, Meng Qingfeng was completely led by the nose by Lin Tianming, continuously on the defensive. After blocking another strike, Meng Qingfeng hastily ordered his disciples to retreat first so that he wouldn¡¯t always be passive. Hearing the order, the Qingyun Sect disciples didn¡¯t dare to delay. Under Meng Qingfeng¡¯s cover, they immediately began to flee the area. However, their plan was completely within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. Just as the flying boat started to move, Lin Tianming had already changed his position and instantly unleashed a barrage of attacks, blocking the escape route of the flying boat. Seeing this, Meng Qingfeng was both shocked and angry, yet still had to block in front of the flying boat. As a few more rounds of attacks ended, Meng Qingfeng had been passively defending, and the flying boat was unable to break through. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng became more and more anxious, inadvertently giving Lin Tianming an opportunity. Just then, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand flashed with light. The stacked attacks from nine swords struck the blue flying boat directly. After a loud noise, the blue flying boat fell from the sky and crashed heavily to the ground, creating a deep crater. The flying boat suffered a hit, and a huge hole appeared in the middle of its body, losing its ability to fly. Not only that, this strike directly killed dozens of Qingyun Sect cultivators at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, and other cultivators with slightly higher cultivation suffered various degrees of injuries. Only the disciples in the late stage of Foundation Establishment reacted quickly enough, abandoning the boat in the first instance and using their faster speed and defensive abilities to avoid catastrophe. However, after losing the flying boat, these cultivators had no way to escape and gathered together after coming out of the flying boat. Then, their nightmare truly began. Lin Tianming seized the opportunity, not bothering to switch to Meng Qingfeng, using his agile body to move around among the crowd. Striking left and right, he was like the Grim Reaper. Every ordinary attack, if not intercepted by Meng Qingfeng, would claim the life of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even the few who were lucky to escape were severely wounded, and with just one more strike from Lin Tianming, they were bound to be killed right there. For a moment, the Qingyun Sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators were terrified, each one scared out of their wits. However, the more scared they were, the fiercer Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks became. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators were slain before Meng Qingfeng¡¯s eyes. This massacre, like slaughtering chickens and butchering dogs, showed no signs of stopping and continued unabated. Chapter 821 821 442 Slaying the Golden Core Again ?Chapter 821: Chapter 442: Slaying the Golden Core Again Chapter 821: Chapter 442: Slaying the Golden Core Again With Lin Tianming¡¯s strike that wiped out several cultivators, Meng Qingfeng was already completely enraged, becoming extremely irritable. Then, he no longer planned to care about the life and death of the Foundation Establishment Disciples. He knew clearly that Lin Tianming attacked the Foundation Establishment Disciples to make him hesitate and wastefully deplete his mana. Despite his best efforts to protect them, he could not manage enough attention for all. Since that was the case, and since he could not manage it anyway, it was better to go all out in the attack. As for the Foundation Establishment Disciples, he let them be attacked by Lin Tianming¡ªif they were lucky they could escape with their lives, if not, letting Lin Tianming kill them was fine. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng, having figured this out, changed his strategy and attacked with all his might. ... He pinched his Law Decree, and streaks of Spiritual Light bombarded the Giant Axe in his hands. ¡°Boom!¡± A flash of light sparkled on the Black Giant Axe, and swiftly above his head in the air a giant axe phantom condensed. He lifted his head and, seeing the giant axe phantom, a confident expression surfaced on his face. He knew that this Giant Axe Magical Treasure, which he had spent a huge cost to refine at the beginning, had very formidable attack power. Lin Tianming, up until now, had not used any Magical Treasure, most likely because he did not have any. Since that was the case, now by switching his approach to primarily attacking, he could inevitably leverage the advantage of the Magical Treasure to turn around the unfavorable situation. With this expectation, Meng Qingfeng shouted loudly, and the giant axe above his head suddenly swung down. In an instant, a powerful wave swept through; the sky turned dark with a flash, and the giant axe phantom, like Mount Tai bearing down, pressed downward toward Lin Tianming. At this very moment, Lin Tianming felt the Gang Wind coming head-on, clearly formed by the influence of the giant axe phantom and the forces of heaven and earth. Such an attack, he knew without even trying, was absolutely extremely powerful. Clearly, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s attack was still a strong one, and with the advantage of the Magical Treasure, he had to be careful in dealing with it. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, his whole being highly alert. Seeing the imminent arrival of the giant axe phantom, Lin Tianming moved swiftly as a swallow, using the special abilities of the Eye of Five Colors to quickly find the best moment and angle to dodge. At the same time, from his hand came a fireball, thrown at the oncoming giant axe phantom. This Blue Heart True Flame he had previously used against Xu Zhi, and it proved to be quite effective. With the years of improvement in his cultivation and control over the Blue Heart True Flame becoming more refined, its power had also grown stronger. But Meng Qingfeng¡¯s strike was indeed not weak. However, he also only planned to deplete some of his opponent¡¯s mana first, then wait for the optimal moment to deliver a fatal blow to Meng Qingfeng. With this intent, Lin Tianming fully activated this fireball, releasing its utmost power. ¡°Boom¡­¡± After a loud explosion. The sky instantly erupted in a towering inferno; the fireball burst apart by the giant axe, eventually turning into a sky full of scattered drifting fire rain. At the same time, a powerful force swept across all directions; Lin Tianming was also overturned by this powerful impact. On the other side, Meng Qingfeng, not too far from the center of the explosion, was also no better off. Finally stabilizing himself, Lin Tianming and Meng Qingfeng, both their faces turned a shade paler, their Qi-Blood churning inside. After this strike, the two had a better understanding of each other¡¯s strength. It had to be said, Meng Qingfeng, going all out, truly lived up to being someone who had been in the Golden Core Stage for many years, and handling the Giant Axe Magical Treasure was indeed not easy. However, Lin Tianming was not discouraged; instead, his fighting spirit surged. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, since his breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage, other than a lopsided fight against Xu Zhi, he had not encountered an evenly matched opponent. Now facing Meng Qingfeng, with both being at the Early Stage Golden Core and fighting one-on-one, it was a true test of his combat ability. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming was neither reckless nor overly underestimate Meng Qingfeng. As for Meng Qingfeng at this moment, having seen Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, held the same high regard for his opponent. At this time, as if by mutual understanding, the two simultaneously unleashed their attacks. In an instant, the two once again unleashed strong attacks, clashing fiercely together. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Streaks of rainbows flickered, the sky, which had briefly calmed, resounded once again with crackling sounds. After this strike, both men were pushed back dozens of feet, their Qi-Blood surging once more, their faces turning simultaneously paler. Immediately afterward, the two didn¡¯t pause, each thrusting their weapons forward, and bombarding their own weapons with successive Law Decrees. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword shone brightly, and the Tiangang Ninth Sword was launched again towards Meng Qingfeng. On the other side, Meng Qingfeng, not to be outdone, swung his giant axe again, with a giant axe phantom appearing above him in the air. Meng Qingfeng shouted loudly, urging the giant axe phantom downward toward Lin Tianming. A peculiar sound came, somewhat bizarre, like the sound of firecrackers, a closer listen revealed its cause: the giant axe phantom had burst the air itself. With this strike unleashed, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s face wore a confident look, as if he had everything under control. Chapter 822 822 442 ?Chapter 822: 442 Chapter 822: 442 He knew well that this all-out attack was even stronger than before, and it was his most prized attack method. With this strike alone, he had few rivals among his peers in a magic duel. Facing Lin Tianming, he also gave it his all, for only by killing Lin Tianming could he smoothly return to Qingyun Sect. With this confidence and goal in mind, Meng Qingfeng exhibited even greater strength. Across from him, Lin Tianming was also serious, pushing the Tiangang Sword in front of him to its limits. This attack was also the most powerful of all his techniques, aside from the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus and the Blue Heart True Flame. Facing Meng Qingfeng¡¯s supernatural attack, he too went all out, showing no sign of holding back. ... Under their watchful eyes, their attacks collided with a resounding impact. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud noise came as the Tiangang Sword was once again sent flying by the phantom image of the Giant Axe. At that moment, Lin Tianming leaped up, nimbly dodging the off-course phantom axe, then grabbed the flung Tiangang Sword in his hand. Immediately after, he surged forward, increasing his speed unexpectedly, and thrust the Tiangang Sword toward Meng Qingfeng¡¯s head. Seeing this change, Meng Qingfeng didn¡¯t dodge but instead smirked mockingly, showing a sinister expression on his face. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword was upon him, only thirty feet away. For a Golden Core Cultivator, that distance was undeniably close, leaving hardly any time to dodge. However, Meng Qingfeng had no intention of dodging. He had already swung his Giant Axe ahead of time, slashing down at the Tiangang Sword. In a flash, the two weapons clashed forcefully together, and an explosion rang out. At that moment, Meng Qingfeng threw a punch, hitting Lin Tianming squarely on the shoulder. Instantly, Lin Tianming felt a powerful force, like being hit by a small mountain. Immediately afterward, he saw Lin Tianming being sent flying backward, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood while still in midair, his complexion turning even paler. When he had regained control of his movements, his Qi-Blood was still tumultuously surging inside him. Suppressing the boiling blood in his body, his sharp eyes locked onto Meng Qingfeng, feigning shock. ¡°To think he¡¯s a body cultivator!¡± Before he could catch his breath, Meng Qingfeng shot out, reaching Lin Tianming in an instant, with his Giant Axe furiously slashing down. At this moment, Lin Tianming seemed stunned, standing motionless in his place. Seeing his reaction, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s spirits lifted, his movement technique not slowing down, but becoming even faster. In his heart, he was already rejoicing, thinking that Lin Tianming had no way to avoid and could only bear his strike head-on. He was also a practitioner of Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and although his Body Refinement was not as advanced as his spell mastery, a head-on hit like this would at least cause serious injury to an Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivator. If luck was poor, it was highly possible to be killed in one blow. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having fought Lin Tianming for several dozen rounds, Meng Qingfeng could tell Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks favored spells and, while decent in physical prowess, certainly lacked the ability for close-quarters combat with him. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng seemed to have everything under control, regarding Lin Tianming as someone on the brink of defeat. However, he was completely unaware that Lin Tianming was also skilled in Dual Cultivation of Body and Law and was even more proficient in body cultivation than he was. Moreover, Lin Tianming had not revealed his Body Refinement abilities to wait for an opportunity. To achieve this, he risked being struck by Meng Qingfeng¡¯s punch on purpose. This risky move was to feign vulnerability to prod Meng Qingfeng into being more aggressive, hopefully having him let down his guard completely. Sure enough, seeing Lin Tianming hit, Meng Qingfeng thought it was due to his own superior strength that allowed him to injure Lin Tianming in one blow. As for Lin Tianming¡¯s sequence of actions, from shock to freezing in place, it persuaded Meng Qingfeng to lower all his guards. However, Meng Qingfeng had forgotten just how terrifying Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was. To know, during the numerous rounds of the previous skirmishes, Lin Tianming exhibited astonishing speeds, evading every kind of attack, no matter how dense, always finding the slightest gap to dodge through. But at this very last moment, he curiously chose not to dodge or evade, which was indeed a bit too strange. At this point, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s mind was clouded, constantly envisioning Lin Tianming being split open by the Giant Axe. This image repeatedly surfaced, occupying his nerves and making him forget these details. And this oversight was the fatal factor leading Meng Qingfeng toward his demise. Little did protagonist Meng Qingfeng know! As time slipped by, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s attack had arrived, and the airflow created by the swing of the Giant Axe struck Lin Tianming¡¯s face. At this moment, his robes fluttered, his hair danced in the wind, and he could feel pain upon his face. Seeing the Giant Axe already descending upon him like a mountain about to crash down, Lin Tianming was not the least bit panicked and couldn¡¯t help but reveal a smile, as if a cunning plan had succeeded. Seeing this expression, Meng Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, sensing something unusual, a flicker of alarm flashing through his heart. This feeling was peculiar, constantly influencing his thoughts. But at this time, his mind was in chaos, utterly unable to pinpoint where the error had occurred. When he finally calmed down, he saw a flash of silver, countless dazzling reflections ensnaring his soul and slightly blurring his vision. Through the hazy view, he noticed the silver reflections seemed to be sword lights, endless sword lights. In his bewilderment, those silver flashes spun rapidly, eventually forming a lotus made of sword light. The Sword Lotus shone brilliantly, appearing as dazzling and as real as a blooming white lotus. Yet from the sword lights, he felt tremendous Sword Qi emanating. As the spinning speed continued to accelerate, the sword energy grew stronger, and the accompanying Gang Wind sliced through the air like razor-sharp blades. Now, he finally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose and realized the plan hidden behind Lin Tianming¡¯s smirk. But by now, he was only thirty feet away from Lin Tianming, with no avenue to retreat. At this moment, Meng Qingfeng¡¯s complexion dramatically changed, from being composed and proud to one of terror. Yet he knew, if he gave up the attack to flee, he couldn¡¯t escape the fatal blow Lin Tianming had long plotted. Given that, it was better to fight with the resolve of a cornered beast; there might still be a sliver of chance. At that time, Meng Qingfeng calmed down, his face taking on a resolute look. As Lin Tianming let out a mighty shout, ¡°Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± In an instant, the lotus blossomed, and countless sword energies shot out, dispersing in all directions. At this very moment, Meng Qingfeng faced the terrifying and dense barrage of Sword Qi and had no chance of evading; he was directly engulfed by the sword energies. Following several pained cries, the Sword Lotus disappeared from the sky, revealing Meng Qingfeng¡¯s mutilated body. Looking over, his body was drenched in blood, wounds of varying depths covering him completely. A hole the size of a head pierced his chest, with bones and organs clearly visible through it; nearly no part of his body remained intact. By the time Meng Qingfeng crashed to the ground, his breath had ceased, and only the warm blood flowing out proved that all of this had indeed happened. Then, Lin Tianming also fell from the sky, hitting the ground heavily. As the dust settled, only then did Lin Tianming¡¯s figure become visible. Upon closer inspection, on one of his shoulders was a bloody wound, his arm almost severed by Meng Qingfeng¡¯s Giant Axe. Had he not dodged in time, avoiding the vital area, he might have followed Meng Qingfeng into the afterlife. Chapter 823 823 443 The Shocked Lin Xingcheng ?Chapter 823: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng Chapter 823: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng Lin Tianming¡¯s face was pale, and his body wracked with intense pain, causing him to grit his teeth and grimace involuntarily. After getting somewhat accustomed to the pain, he used the Tiangang Sword to help himself stand up, casting a long shadow under the slanting rays of the setting sun as his straight figure rose. At the same time, a light breeze rustled his billowing robe as his sharp eyes swept the entire area. Looking around, the battlefield was also a complete mess. The flat earth was pitted and uneven, and the bodies of numerous cultivators littered the ground, with blood staining large patches of land red. Especially since many of the cultivators¡¯ bodies were incomplete, with various unrecognizable parts and limbs blurred with flesh and blood, creating a striking sight at a glance. Just this bloody and pitiful scene was enough to make one feel nauseous on sight. Meanwhile, the Qingyun Sect cultivators had all been stunned, seemingly unable to believe the result of Meng Qingfeng being killed by him. ... It was only after several screams that a group of Qingyun Sect cultivators snapped out of it. Following the direction of the screams, it turned out that Lin Tianming had casually swung his sword a few times, eliminating a few Qingyun Sect cultivators who were relatively close to him. After the killing of a few people, Lin Tianming turned his head. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite not making another move, his face was filled with intense killing intent, and his piercing gaze made the hearts of these Qingyun Sect cultivators tremble. For a moment, each person¡¯s face was pale, all displaying expressions of shock and fear. ¡°Run!¡± Someone shouted loudly, their piercing voice shattering the brief silence. And in that instant, nearly a hundred Qingyun Sect cultivators at the scene reacted, each one turning and scattering to flee for their lives. Seeing this, Lin Tianming waved his sword to cut down a few Qingyun Sect cultivators and then let them go without pursuing any further. He did so because his injuries were severe, his mana thoroughly exhausted, leaving him with barely any combat strength. Even though his physical strength was enough to be unafraid of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, in order not to further aggravate his injuries, he had to grant them a way out. After all, after these two rounds of Golden Core battles, these people were all terrified. At least for a short while, there likely wouldn¡¯t be any Qingyun Sect cultivator daring to stay in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Otherwise, if discovered by the Lin Family, they would certainly be surrounded and eliminated. As such, Lin Tianming merely put up a symbolic resistance before letting them escape the area. As for their destination, it would surely be the Whirlwind Mountain Range adjacent to the Luoyun Mountain Range. Once they entered the territory of Huangyang Kingdom, these people would be out of danger. And now, with the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core combatants injured and the Foundation Establishment Clan Members having low cultivation, they temporarily had no ability to pursue and eliminate them. Therefore, they could only let it go and make the most of this brief period of peace to rest and recover as quickly as possible, in preparation for possible retaliation from Qingyun Sect. However, the timing of such retaliation was uncertain; it could be very soon, or Qingyun Sect might opt out of invading Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World due to the Lin Family¡¯s strength. Nevertheless, he guessed that Qingyun Sect had suffered a big loss this time and would not act rashly for a short period. If they indeed sought revenge against the Lin Family, they would surely mobilize the majority of their Golden Core combat strength; otherwise, even if they came seeking revenge, they might return without achieving anything. After all, with the four Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family, plus Tian Ming¡¯s terrifying combat power far surpassing peers, Qingyun Sect wouldn¡¯t have the ability to annihilate the Lin Family without bringing in Late Stage Golden Core cultivators. And Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, being a very limited presence in the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, were unlikely to come to Wei Kingdom. In summary, after surviving this crisis, the strength of the Lin Family would rise to another level. Yet even so, they could not be complacent right now; a stronger storm might be lurking ahead. When that time came, the Lin Family would face an even greater crisis. Aware of this, Lin Tianming dared not pause or take the situation lightly. What he needed to do now was to recover from his injuries as quickly as possible and then eliminate the disadvantage of their Magical Treasures. Fortunately, after these two rounds of battles, the Magical Treasure Blue Longsword of Xu Zhi, and Meng Qingfeng¡¯s Black Giant Axe had been acquired by the Lin Family. Together with the Golden Star Ruler, a Magical Treasure left by the forebears, the Lin Family had three Magical Treasures in their possession. As long as they refined these treasures, their strength would significantly increase, and the next time they clashed with other Golden Core Cultivators, they would not suffer as much. Returning his focus, Lin Tianming tucked these thoughts away in his heart, and immediately took out a Solidifying Pill to swallow. As the elixir melted, the immense energy contained within began to circulate, and he finally felt the intense pain in his body subside. Then, he walked towards the corpse of Meng Qingfeng. Soon, he arrived beside Meng Qingfeng¡¯s body and took two storage bags from him. Having done this, he also found Meng Qingfeng¡¯s Giant Axe Magical Treasure and carefully weighed it. Upon his investigation, he found that this Black Giant Axe used by Meng Qingfeng was extremely heavy, presumably weighing at least ten thousand catties. He wondered whether the Giant Axe Magical Treasure was something Meng Qingfeng had obtained from somewhere or had commissioned to be refined. If it was the former, then the previous owner of the Giant Axe must have had significant strength, at least having been used by a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. If it was the latter, then refining this Magical Treasure must have cost him all his wealth, using rare and precious materials, to forge such a weapon. Chapter 824 824 443 The Shocked Lin Xingcheng_2 ?Chapter 824: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng_2 Chapter 824: Chapter 443: The Shocked Lin Xingcheng_2 The giant axe gave him the impression that its quality was not the slightest bit inferior to Xu Zhi¡¯s blue longsword, in fact, it seemed even stronger. Upon further reflection, Meng Qingfeng was also a practitioner of dual cultivation of body and law, and the strength of his physical body was not much weaker than his own. With this giant axe, his combative power as a dual cultivator of body and law could be maximized, unleashing an indeed formidable combat strength. During the battle just now, he had gained some insights. If it weren¡¯t for the aid of his Eye of Five Colors and a bit of craftiness, plus the fact that Meng Qingfeng was too eager to achieve success and fell right into his scheme, otherwise, he might not have been a match for Meng Qingfeng. Understanding this, Lin Tianming also felt fortunate. Thankfully, he had only injured his shoulder; otherwise, the outcome might have been difficult to predict. Now that the giant axe treasure had fallen into his hands, and since he was also a practitioner of dual cultivation of body and law, he should be able to unleash the full power of this magical treasure. Although he was accustomed to using swords and the divine skills he practiced would be most effective with swords, the great weight of this axe treasure made it most suitable for those who practiced dual cultivation of body and law. ... Currently, within the Lin Family, the only real cultivator of dual cultivation of body and law was himself, and only he could bring out the full power of this giant axe. As for Xu Zhi¡¯s blue longsword treasure, he planned to hand it over to Ye Pinghai to refine and further enhance his combat power. After all, the Lin Family was currently in dire need of magical treasures and did not have their own Third Order Artifact Refiner; all the Golden Core clan members could rely only on conquest or exploring Cave Mansion Ruins to find magical treasures passed down by predecessors. But magical treasures used by others often did not fully align with the cultivator, and the strength exhibited would not be optimal. Therefore, Golden Core cultivators with the means would usually have someone help to refine artifacts that suited their own needs. However, the Lin Family did not currently have a Third Order Artifact Refiner. The closest, Lin Shilu, was still making an impact on the Golden Core Stage. If he could successfully step into the Golden Core Stage, with his talent in artifact refining, becoming a Third Order Artifact Refiner would just be a matter of time. But before that, Lin Family members who wanted to refine treasures suited to themselves still didn¡¯t have the conditions for it. With this in mind, for the time being, to take other clan members into account, he would have to entrust the blue longsword treasure to Ye Pinghai for use. As for himself, he would make do with this black giant axe for the moment, and when he obtained another longsword treasure, he could consider keeping it for himself. Even wait until Lin Shilu entered the Third Order Artifact Refiner, and then have him help to refine a longsword treasure that suited himself to further deploy his full strength. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming looked in the direction of his family, muttering softly to himself, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, I suppose you¡¯re about to attract the Heavenly Tribulation soon!¡± Returning to his senses, Lin Tianming then collected the black giant axe and Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag. Afterward, he surveyed the chaotic battlefield and began to gather the spoils of war. In Luoyun Market. Lin Xingcheng and a group of Lin Family members were gathered together, with a multitude of cultivators assembled not far from them. At this moment, everyone¡¯s gaze was firmly fixed on the distant horizon, not diverting for a second, as if afraid of missing something. Just a moment ago, colorful lights had been emitted from the edge of the sky, with occasional faint sounds reaching them. Clearly, in places beyond their divine sense, High Order Cultivators were engaged in a magic duel. At such a great distance, to receive such commotion that also lasted for quite some time, it seemed that the combatants engaged in the magic duel must undoubtedly be Golden Core Cultivators. And thinking carefully, Meng Qingfeng, who had left in haste just before, was definitely among them; but who was the other Golden Core Cultivator? At that moment, the onlooking cultivators all showed puzzled expressions. It was really too strange! Ordinarily, even seeing one Golden Core Cultivator was rare, and now Meng Qingfeng and other Qingyun Sect cultivators suddenly appeared in the Luoyun Mountain Range, which was strange enough. But now, another Golden Core Cultivator had appeared in the Luoyun Mountain Range and engaged Meng Qingfeng who had attacked Luoyun Market in a fierce battle. One must know that the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was currently in chaos, with the three sects at war for years. Most Golden Core Cultivators were at the northern frontlines engaged in battle and would not lightly come to this remote place. At this critical moment, two Golden Core strongmen had appeared one after the other, sparking a significant battle. Could it be that the person who came later was a member of the Lin Family? Or was it a Golden Core Cultivator from the Zhenyang Sect? However, in recent years, there were no reports of any Lin Family clan member entering the Golden Core Stage. Zhenyang Sect was too preoccupied with its own concerns, so how could they have arrived so promptly? At this time, apart from Lin Xingcheng and a few others, everyone else began to let their imaginations run wild. In fact, their speculations were not strange at all since today¡¯s events were too unusual for them. Not until the noise from the big battle had ceased did the crowd of over a thousand spectators become silent, and everyone began to gossip among themselves. At this moment, Lin Xingcheng stared ahead, pondering in his mind. ¡°Could it be that Third Uncle or Tian Ming has come to our support?¡± He couldn¡¯t be sure and was even less certain about the outcome of the battle. At that moment, he felt a bit worried, especially considering that the Lin Family members had not been at the Golden Core Stage for long. Even the exceptionally talented Lin Tianming, who had broken through just over a year ago, might not be a match for the seasoned Golden Core expert, Meng Qingfeng. Thinking about this, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s face showed concern, and he felt as antsy as ants crawling over his heart. While he was lost in thought, another streak of blue light passed across the horizon. ¡°Look, something¡¯s happening over there!¡± The cultivator who first noticed the disturbance pointed towards the direction of the high sky and exclaimed in surprise. Hearing this, Lin Xingcheng also regained his composure and looked forward, only to see a blue light appearing at the edge of the sky before swiftly flying into the clouds. Soon after, the blue light dispersed to vaguely form the pattern of a bamboo, hanging in the sky for a few breaths before disappearing without a trace. Recognizing the blurred shape as the Lin Family¡¯s special signal for transmitting messages, almost every Foundation Establishment Clan Member knew it. At this time, Lin Xingcheng¡¯s expression immediately changed, his originally pale complexion now flushing with color. He knew that the battle ahead had stopped for a while. Since the signal was sent at this moment, it meant that the clan members had been victorious in the Golden Core battle. Understanding this, Lin Xingcheng suppressed the excitement in his heart and instructed Lin Xingpu, who was beside him. ¡°Xingpu, you¡¯re in charge of guarding the workshop, the rest of the clan members will follow me out to take a look!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingpu seemed to realize something and nodded immediately. Quickly, Lin Xingcheng led more than thirty family members out of Luoyun Market, flying towards the location where the signal had appeared. Many cultivators on the city wall watched as the Lin Family members left, feeling very perplexed, but due to the Lin Family¡¯s strength, they didn¡¯t dare say much, let alone follow them out. In under the time it would take to drink a pot of tea, Lin Xingcheng and the others arrived at the battlefield. From afar, Lin Xingcheng could see Lin Tianming sitting cross-legged on the ground, his aura in complete disarray and his injuries shockingly severe. Not far from him, he also discovered Meng Qingfeng¡¯s corpse, which, although mutilated, still emitted the distinct aura exclusive to a Golden Core Cultivator, allowing for easy identification. At this time, Lin Tianming also opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile upon seeing the approaching Lin Xingcheng. ¡°Tian Ming, you actually killed Meng Qingfeng?¡± Lin Xingcheng was initially overjoyed, then his face showed a stunned expression, clearly astonished by Lin Tianming¡¯s strength¡ªdefeating the veteran Golden Core Meng Qingfeng after advancing to the Golden Core Stage for just over a year. Lin Tianming nodded, not saying much, but instructed Lin Xingcheng to immediately arrange for clan members to carefully clean up the battlefield. Upon receiving the order, Lin Xingcheng quickly directed the clan members to dispose of the Qingyun Sect cultivators¡¯ bodies and collect all of Lin Tianming¡¯s unrecuperated storage bags. Watching the bustling family members, Lin Tianming gathered his strength and then recounted to Lin Xingcheng the complete sequence of the family¡¯s engagement as well as the battle that had just taken place. ¡°The family was attacked by Jin Xuzhi from Qingyun Sect? A Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman? You and Third Uncle joined forces and killed him?¡± ¡°And you alone killed this Meng Qingfeng as well?¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Receiving this explosive news, Lin Xingcheng was completely stunned, his heart uneasy for a long time. The news was indeed too shocking, and he was truly overwhelmed. ¡­ Chapter 825 825 444 Thieves Never Die ?Chapter 825: Chapter 444 Thieves Never Die Chapter 825: Chapter 444 Thieves Never Die At that time, Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction to Lin Xingcheng¡¯s news wasn¡¯t a surprise. After all, such news was truly shocking! It should be noted that after two battles, two famous Golden Core Experts had fallen, including one at the Mid Stage Golden Core. Truthfully, these characters were normally elusive powerhouses. Now, they had not only appeared in Wei Kingdom but had fallen under the eyes of the Lin Family Members. Even if the cultivators at Luoyun Market didn¡¯t witness the great battle between Lin Tianming and Meng Qingfeng, the nearby distance allowed them to sense the disturbances of the battle. Such explosive events were performed continuously in just a few short days across the territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range. After a long while, Lin Xingcheng regained his composure from the shock. ... He looked at Lin Tianming, then asked, ¡°What should we do next?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming thought for a moment before responding, ¡°These times are far from peaceful. The other two sects of Huangyang Kingdom are also attacking other mountain ranges of Wei Kingdom. With the recent chaos in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and now Huangyang Kingdom interjecting into this great battle among the three sects, I fear the situation will deteriorate further.¡± ¡°Moreover, with the Lin Family¡¯s consecutive battles these past few days, it won¡¯t be long before the outcome of this great war spreads throughout Wei and Huangyang Countries!¡± ¡°At that time, the Lin Family will inevitably be at the forefront, and maybe even targeted by Qingyun Sect!¡± ¡°I have been injured in this battle. Given the current harsh conditions, I plan to retreat and meditate in Luoyun Market for a while, to both recover from my injuries and to stay here for some time.¡± ¡°After this period, we will see how the situation unfolds and decide on the next steps for the Lin Family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Xingcheng nodded, his heart also sighing in relief. He knew the current situation of the Lin Family. What could be anticipated was that the news of the Lin Family battling two Golden Core cultivators from Qingyun Sect would definitely shock the Cultivation Worlds of both countries. In the current situation, although the Lin Family was in the limelight, as the saying goes, ¡®a tall tree catches the wind.¡¯ Now, the Lin Family was seen as a threatening presence by other forces. Therefore, the Lin Family had already exposed all its strength, and trying to develop and hide in secret was now unrealistic. Thus, the Lin Family had moved from the shadows to the forefront, which would also attract the attention of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was predictable that Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley would do their utmost to coax the Lin Family into their camp, to jointly oppose the attacks from Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance. After all, their situation was already tricky, worsened by the sudden invasion by the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. Now, the overall strength of the Lin Family was almost no weaker than any of those sects; whoever could align with the Lin Family could secure the initiative. It¡¯s even possible that once the Lin Family entered the fray, it could become the key factor that would sway their victory or defeat. Given this situation, the next few years, or even a decade, would inevitably be far from easy for the Lin Family. Knowing this, Lin Xingcheng, as the current head of Luoyun Market, felt no relief, but rather a heightened sense of urgency. Fortunately, with Lin Tianming staying here for a while and a Golden Core Clan Member present, he felt somewhat more confident. At this time, Lin Xingcheng sighed in relief as he watched his clan members clean up the battlefield and then gather around him. In the forefront, Lin Xingyu, holding many storage bags, approached Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tian Ming, all these storage bags are here, including all the Magic Artifacts that have been collected. Please check if anything is missing?¡± After speaking, Lin Xingyu handed all the storage bags to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming accepted them without refusal, taking all the storage bags. These Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ storage bags were numerous; he had destroyed nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each possessing at least one storage bag, amounting to several hundreds in total. These items were essentially the life savings of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Although there would be very few items of use to him as a Golden Core Cultivator, the sheer quantity was overwhelming. These spoils of war were supposed to be his personal property. He planned, when he had spare time, to explore them one by one. He would collect anything useful to him, and the rest of the treasures used by Foundation Establishment Cultivars would be collectively handed over to the family for handling. After Lin Tianming collected the storage bags, Lin Xingcheng reminded him. ¡°Tian Ming, as the battlefield has been cleared, let¡¯s return to the market first!¡± ¡°Um, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then flew toward Luoyun Market first, with Lin Xingcheng and the others not lagging behind, following him to the entrance of the market. At that moment, numerous cultivators still gathered on the city walls, all staring curiously at them, their faces filled with anticipation. Then, seeing the leading Lin Tianming with a somewhat chaotic aura and bearing significant injuries, some observant cultivators immediately recognized his identity. One of the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement cultivators pointed at the Lin Family Members, exclaiming excitedly, ¡°That¡¯s Senior Lin Tianming!¡± Hearing this, many cultivators who had never seen Lin Tianming also turned to look at the Lin Family Members, searching for Lin Tianming among them. Indeed, Lin Tianming¡¯s reputation resonated throughout the entire Luoyun Mountain Range, eclipsing even Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had entered the Foundation Establishment Stage earlier, and couldn¡¯t be compared with him. Chapter 826 826 444 ?Chapter 826: 444 Chapter 826: 444 After all, Lin Tianming had spent the recent years fighting battles in all directions, from beast tides to the end of the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Among the young generation of cultivators in the Wei Kingdom, he had garnered a significant reputation. There were even rumors in the Cultivation World that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was among the top five of the tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. Moreover, rumors spoke of his terrifying talent ¨C he had touched the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment Cultivators by the age of fifty. Such potential and talent were ranked at the very forefront of all Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. Such a legendary figure was a topic that every cultivator from the Luoyun Mountain Range eagerly discussed. However, in recent years, he had rarely made an appearance, and many cultivators knew of his legend but had never seen him in person. Now, as these cultivators who had seen him pointed out, the thousand cultivators present immediately started a heated discussion. ... Among them, some cultivators noticed the most significant feature. ¡°Elder Lin has been out of sight for a long time. Could it be that he was also part of that great battle just now?¡± As soon as this question was raised, many cultivators then noticed Lin Tianming¡¯s aura, which was unmistakably that of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. ¡°Elder Lin has stepped into the Golden Core Stage!¡± This revelation caused an intense stir, and the cultivators present, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment Stage or at the Qi Refinement third or fourth level, turned flushed with excitement, and their breathing quickened. It was no surprise that these cultivators reacted this way. After all, the Luoyun Mountain Range had not seen a Golden Core Cultivator for hundreds of years. And the last Golden Core Cultivator who resided in the Luoyun Mountain was the ancient ancestor of the Lin Family, Lin Renfeng. If one were to exclude him, a Golden Core Cultivator who found his place on the mountain from outside, it would be necessary to trace back more than a thousand years to find an indigenous Golden Core Cultivator from Luoyun Mountain. That it took so long for a local Golden Core Cultivator to emerge speaks volumes about how difficult it is for the remote and secluded Luoyun Mountain Range to produce a native Golden Core Cultivator. And yet, Lin Tianming had achieved at a young age what the cultivators of Luoyun Mountain had not done in a thousand years. Considering his talent and potential, this was far from the final peak of his cultivation. Given time, with some great opportunities, he could even attempt the Nascent Soul Stage¡ªa hurdle that the Wei Kingdom had not successfully overcome in thousands of years. Should he succeed, it¡¯s likely all the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom would benefit from his achievement. Not only would the Wei Kingdom become a well-known nation in Qingzhou, attracting a large number of cultivators, but it would also deter many neighboring countries from harboring any aggressive intentions toward the Wei Kingdom. Moreover, a stable cultivation environment is crucial for low-level cultivators. It can be said that Lin Tianming¡¯s advancement into the Golden Core Stage gave these people a tremendous shock and greatly boosted their confidence in cultivation. However, what they didn¡¯t know was that the Lin Family had more than one Golden Core Cultivator, and the outcome of the battle at the Lin Family Clan Grounds had not yet been relayed here. When they learned of this explosive news and found out that Lin Tianming had slain two Golden Core Cultivators, they would be utterly astonished. At this moment, Lin Tianming, facing the bustling discussions of the cultivators, did not say much. He simply smiled and clasped his hands in greeting before, with the support of Lin Xingcheng and others, he proceeded directly to the auction in the center of the workshop market. Soon after, Lin Xingcheng arranged a private chamber for Lin Tianming so he could seclude himself and cultivate in peace. Before closing off, Lin Tianming also instructed Lin Xingcheng to send someone back to the family to relay the news of the battle, informing the Clan Leader to make all necessary preparations to prevent the Qingyun Sect from seeking revenge. With these tasks complete, Lin Tianming then began his seclusion with peace of mind. After entering the chamber, Lin Tianming adjusted his state and then started to heal his injuries with the aid of Solidifying Pills. While he was in seclusion, the news of the two Golden Core battles that had taken place in the Luoyun Mountain Range began to spread throughout the Wei Kingdom and the Huangyang Kingdom. At the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate in the Huangyang Kingdom. In a finely crafted pavilion, several Blue-Robed Cultivators sat together, three of them with incredulous expressions on their faces, arguing incessantly with the Sect Leader Yang Xiao seated at the highest position. ¡°Sect Leader, Senior Xu and Junior Brother Meng cannot die in vain. We must make the Lin Family pay the price!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ This Lin Family has just risen and is not that strong yet. They must repay blood for blood!¡± Two Golden Core Cultivators, faces flushed and impassioned, dismissed the Lin Family as if they were nothing. No sooner had their voices fallen than an elderly man with white hair laughed self-deprecatingly, ¡°Heh¡­ make that Lin Family pay the price?¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°From the start, I was against meddling in the affairs of the Wei Kingdom, after all, what kind of reputation does the Blood Cult Alliance have? Cooperating with such a force is akin to seeking skin from a tiger!¡± ¡°Just look, before we even gained the slightest advantage, we hit an iron wall and in the process lost two of our Golden Core Elders, weakening the overall strength of our sect and disgracing us.¡± ¡°If you ask me, all of this trouble was brought on by greed!¡± As someone who seemed to have considerable seniority, the white-haired elder¡¯s taunting drew flushed faces from the others who were arguing. But out of respect for the elder¡¯s strength and status, they dared not speak out in anger, instead, they looked up towards Yang Xiao at the top, hoping to see what the strongest member of the Qingyun Sect had in mind. And indeed, Yang Xiao at the top opened his previously shut eyes. As a well-known Golden Core Cultivator of Huangyang Kingdom, he had reached the Late Stage Golden Core, and he wasn¡¯t too far from Golden Core Grand Perfection. Having traversed Huangyang Kingdom for so many years, he too had misjudged this situation. Who would have thought the Lin Family was hiding so deep? Initially, he thought they were but a Foundation Establishing Family easily snuffed out. Yet, when they struck, it was with a whopping four Golden Core Cultivators, taking down two of their own, truly catching him off guard. Quickly, Yang Xiao calmed down. After looking at the others present, he slowly said, ¡°The death of Senior Xu and the others must not be in vain, and with the conditions the Blood Cult Alliance has given us, which we cannot refuse, it¡¯s two Tribulation Evasion Pills!¡± ¡°Two Tribulation Evasion Pills!¡± Hearing Yang Xiao¡¯s words, everyone present was shocked, including the elder who had been mocking earlier, who also wore a surprised expression. Their reaction was because the Tribulation Evasion Pill was incredibly precious. Even though the pills were Third Order, they were considered the most valuable among their rank, for consuming one could let an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator bypass cultivation bottlenecks to directly advance a minor realm within a short period. Such pills could only be second in preciousness to the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. It was a dream elixir for cultivators in the Early and Medium Stages of the Golden Core. Now, understanding Yang Xiao¡¯s explanation, the people present grasped why the Sect Leader had so resolutely accepted the invitation from the Blood Red Alliance. At that moment, the white-haired elder settled down, pondered for a moment, and seemed still uneasy. ¡°Yang Shidi, the Blood Red Alliance has always had a bad reputation; even if they promise benefits, I fear they won¡¯t be so easily fulfilled!¡± Hearing this, Yang Xiao replied with an indifferent smile, ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°In my opinion, they¡¯ve likely offered the same conditions to the two other sects; whoever helps them annihilate Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect will get the promised rewards.¡± ¡°Though our initial venture was unsuccessful, leading to losses, the opportunity of two Tribulation Evasion Pills is indeed worth taking such a risk for us!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than the white-haired elder continued to inquire, ¡°Oh? So, are you still planning on continuing the offensive into the Wei Kingdom, Yang Shidi?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yang Xiao nodded and said, ¡°However, the current Lin Family is probably not worth our all-out effort; after all, the Blood Red Alliance only talked about annihilating Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect.¡± ¡°Once that goal is achieved, we can turn back to dealing with the Lin Family, and even if we don¡¯t obliterate them, we must make them pay a certain price.¡± Hearing this, the white-haired elder let out a resigned laugh and asked, ¡°Then how do you plan to proceed?¡± ¡°Junior Brother Yun and Junior Brother Li, you will lead three hundred Foundation Establishment Disciples to set out on a chosen day. Remember to bypass the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family is located, and enter the Wei Kingdom from other directions.¡± After speaking, Yang Xiao, still not entirely at ease, left them with one more instruction. ¡°Remember one thing, if the Lin Family doesn¡¯t trouble us, then we pay them no mind. We¡¯ll consider their case only after fulfilling the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s mission!¡± Upon hearing these words, Yun Jinchuan and Li Wei both nodded, which somewhat relieved Yang Xiao. Then, Yang Xiao and the others discussed some more details before each went their own way, beginning preparations for their further assault on the Wei Kingdom. ¡­ Chapter 827 827 445 Various Parties Shaken ?Chapter 827: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken Chapter 827: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken Qianchuan Market. The square outside the auction was teeming with people as it served as the hub of the entire market. Here cultivators mingled, bartered at stalls, or exchanged information¡ªan excellent spot for such activities. At that moment, a large gathering of cultivators buzzed with only one topic: the two major battles recently at the Lin Family. In these past few days, the news of the Lin Family¡¯s battles against two Golden Core cultivators from the Qingyun Sect had spread like a storm through the inner circles. At the same time, the news of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s bold invasion into the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World began to circulate through all major markets. Even in other mountain ranges within the Wei Kingdom, word was spreading far and wide. Initially, upon learning of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three sects unexpectedly attacking Wei territory, forces large and small inside Wei, including loose cultivators, were all panic-stricken. ... After some time had passed, these people, be they Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Qi Refining Cultivators, were almost unanimously furious, vehemently condemning the three sects of Huangyang for their opportunism. But with events already in motion, out of the three major forces invaded by Huangyang Kingdom, two had stormed through like a breaking wave. In just over half a month, they had conquered several mountain ranges, slaying a great number of loose cultivators in the process. What followed was more precarious mountain ranges on the brink of annihilation at any moment. Fortunately, amid such dire news, the Lin Family emerged out of nowhere¡ªfour Golden Core Stage Cultivators lent their hands and not only repelled the Qingyun Sect but also consecutively slaughtered two Golden Core Cultivators. Among these, there was Xu Zhi of the Mid Stage Golden Core and over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Such a staggering number of casualties left everyone dumbstruck. When this uplifting news arrived, it managed to dispel much of the gloom hanging over the cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. At this time, every tavern, shop, and trading venue within Qianchuan Market began to talk about the Lin Family. No one had imagined the Lin Family could hide their strength so profoundly, quietly amassing four Golden Core Cultivators. To think that just decades ago, among the many Foundation Establishing Families within the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family was nothing out of the ordinary, certainly not lacking in stronger clans. Yet now, with four Golden Core Cultivators, their strength rivaled that of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Three Great Sects. In truth, it was inconceivable how in such a short span of time the Lin Family had acquired such formidable power. As for the Qingyun Sect¡¯s attack on Wei, their luck was exceptionally bad. What they thought would be an easy victory over the Luoyun Mountain Range turned into a costly encounter against the unanticipated force of the Lin Family, resulting in the fall of two Golden Core Cultivators and the loss of more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. It was a classic case of a failed attempt to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it¡ª an outcome beyond everyone¡¯s expectation. With the emergence of the Lin Family, while the current situation had worsened, the morale of Wei¡¯s cultivators in repelling Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s assault had indeed been bolstered. At the very least, the multitude of once disheartened cultivators caught a glimmer of hope. Under such circumstances, the Luoyun Pavilion was now bustling with activity as numerous cultivators came to purchase treasures and take the opportunity to pay a visit to the Lin Family Members, hoping to become acquainted and extend their own networks. After all, the Lin Family had now transcended its former status to become the sixth Golden Elixir Force of the Wei Kingdom. And in terms of overall family strength, they had far surpassed the other two Golden Core Families, the Li Family and the Chen Clan. It could be predicted that if the Lin Family were to survive this calamity sweeping over the Wei Kingdom, they were destined to become a force all cultivators looked up to for hundreds of years to come. In such a scenario, the current Lin Family had become the center of attention, not just a hot topic among cultivators but also a target for many seeking favor. Inside the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Xingrong and a few Foundation Establishment Clan Members were seated together. At this moment, every Lin Family member was buzzing with excitement. Apart from Lin Xingrong, who was aware of the Family¡¯s strength, the rest were utterly shocked. Even Lin Tianyue, sister to Lin Tianming, had no idea her brother had reached the Golden Core Stage, let alone the others who knew nothing at all. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that the Lin Family had completely surfaced, revealing four Golden Core Stage Combat Powers and annihilating nearly ninety percent of the invading force from the Qingyun Sect, the news was astonishing. At that moment, Lin Tianyue pouted her lips, glancing at Lin Xingrong¡¯s relatively calm demeanor before speaking resentfully, ¡°Father, you must have known about Uncle Three and brother entering the Golden Core Stage long ago, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong nodded helplessly and said, ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°I knew very early on, and before this, less than ten people in the entire Lin Family were privy to the truth.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t harbor any ill thoughts about this; after all, the Cultivation World is in chaos, and the Lin Family didn¡¯t want to get involved prematurely in the big battle amongst Wei Kingdom¡¯s Three Great Sects!¡± ¡°As for the invasion by several Great Sects from Huangyang Kingdom, nobody anticipated that, and the Lin Family¡¯s strength was inadvertently revealed, a truly capricious fate!¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianyue and the others who were left in the dark understood that under the previous circumstances, the Lin Family indeed had their reasons. Had it not been for the Qingyun Sect¡¯s meddling and sudden attack on the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family would not have revealed their strength so hastily. Chapter 828 828 445 Various Parties Shaken_2 ?Chapter 828: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken_2 Chapter 828: Chapter 445 Various Parties Shaken_2 And now, the events had already unfolded, fortunately, the Lin Family had repelled Qingyun Sect, and even achieved unprecedented victories, allowing the Lin Family¡¯s reputation to resound throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. In the days that followed, the Lin Family completely emerged from the shadows and moved into the light. This transformation was also set to usher in a new chapter for the Lin Family. And for these clanspeople, it would be the start of a new beginning. It was foreseeable that in the future, when dealing with disciples from other forces, even the Qi Refining Stage clan members of the Lin Family would be respected by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. This was the influence of the Lin Family¡¯s name, and it played a decisive role. After all, in the Cultivation World, power was supreme. Aside from the Three Great Sects of Wei Kingdom, no one dared to provoke the Lin Family anymore. ... Even the Two Great Golden Core Families of the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family wouldn¡¯t dare to offend the Lin Family lightly without significant interests at stake. Being aware of this, Lin Tianyue and the others each felt a sense of pride. This feeling greatly enhanced their confidence and their sense of security, subtly changing their state of mind. As everyone gradually calmed down, Lin Tianyue took the opportunity to speak, ¡°Father, these last few days Qianchuan Market has been bustling, nearly everyone is discussing our Lin Family, and there are even many cultivators who want to visit us!¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than Lin Tianhong opened his to concur. ¡°Indeed¡­ I¡¯ve received numerous invitations from cultivators these past two days, inviting me to attend meetings at the guest pavilions, which I turned down in the name of alchemy affairs!¡± Hearing what the two of them said, Lin Xingrong nodded, for he too had received many overtures from cultivators. The cultivators of ordinary Foundation Establishing Families and those Loose Cultivators were one thing. But even Tang Xiuyuan from Sky Dragon Pavilion and several executive officers from the market had also made overtures to visit. This left him quite troubled, not knowing what the Lin Family¡¯s next steps should be or with what demeanor to face those major powers. After all, these people represented Golden Elixir forces in the market, and there were also disciples of great forces from Qingzhou, with Tang Xiuyuan being the prime example. In dealing with those smaller forces, the Lin Family could afford to offend them, and cool them without fear of dissatisfaction. However, there were some whom even the current Lin Family had to handle with care, and naturally, they were far from comparable to the Foundation Establishing Families¡¯ cultivators. In such circumstances, Lin Xingrong was extremely busy these past few days, neither daring to slight anyone nor to easily reveal the Lin Family¡¯s stance, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble for the family. Luckily, he had been managing Luoyun Market and Qianchuan Market for some years now, and had interacted with various forces, knowing well how to maneuver among these people. When faced with the probing of those great forces, he didn¡¯t express any stance hastily, but rather brushed it aside with some convincing reasons. Thus, he managed to entertain the guests well, not letting them gain any useful information, but also without causing any grudges towards the Lin Family. After two days of hustle and bustle, Lin Xingrong also managed to obtain plenty of valuable intelligence from the lines of the major forces. According to what Tang Xiuyuan voluntarily revealed, the other two Golden Elixir forces of Huangyang Kingdom, after conquering several of Wei Kingdom¡¯s mountain ranges, showed no signs of stopping, but rather intensified their offensive. It seemed they were also aiming to exert pressure on Zhenyang Sect, thus sharing the burden with Golden Sword Sect. As for Qingyun Sect, which suffered a setback, they also had no intention of backing down. Instead, they continued to dispatch troops, apparently ready for a major comeback. However, Qingyun Sect needed time, and even the intelligence network of Sky Dragon Pavilion couldn¡¯t see through the next step of their attack plans. Regardless, the Lin Family had to be fully alert and always on guard against Qingyun Sect¡¯s retaliation. Beyond that, at the main battleground of Myriad Medicine Valley, the intensity of the great war continued to escalate, with clashes between Golden Core Cultivators becoming commonplace. It was clear that the aggressive move of Huangyang Kingdom into Wei Kingdom was surely influenced by the Blood Red Alliance. Watching as the attack dragged on without success, the Blood Red Alliance grew anxious and resorted to pushing Huangyang Kingdom to take advantage of the chaos. This move indeed imposed tremendous pressure on both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. And now, with the sudden exposure of the Lin Family, it would surely attract the attention of both sects of Myriad Medicine Valley. Faced with the aggressively advancing three great sects of Huangyang Kingdom, Myriad Medicine Valley had no energy to spare, and Zhenyang Sect also found it difficult to alleviate much pressure. With this development, Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect would certainly go to great lengths to win over the Lin Family, bringing them into their camp to jointly resist the Blood Red Alliance and Golden Sword Sect. As long as the Lin Family made a move, they could at least halt the aggressive plans of the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom. And those two great sects could then dedicate their efforts to dealing with the Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance. Lin Xingrong could see this, which was why he didn¡¯t dare to make a stance lightly, especially since he really wasn¡¯t in a position to make a decision. Having received this intelligence, Lin Xingrong planned to return to the Lin Family Clan Grounds to seek the Clan Leader¡¯s opinion. Having made up his mind, Lin Xingrong then spoke up about his thoughts. Lin Tianyue and others obviously understood the gravity of the situation and naturally had no objections. Following that, Lin Xingrong also instructed, ¡°When facing cultivators from any power, remember not to disclose the Lin Family¡¯s position and not to offend anyone!¡± ¡°Father, rest assured, we will certainly keep that in mind!¡± Lin Tianyue said resolutely. As soon as the words were spoken, Lin Tianhong and the others also quickly echoed the sentiment, reassuring Lin Xingrong. Soon after, Lin Xingrong, without delay, made the necessary arrangements and bid farewell to his clanspeople at the first opportunity, quietly leaving Qianchuan Market. Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate. Within a certain pavilion, Lu Xingfeng was seated in the seat of honor, with Shao Changyi of Myriad Medicine Valley occupying the guest seat below him. At that moment, Lu Xingfeng looked at Shao Changyi and then asked, ¡°Daoist Shao, with your visit to Zhenyang Sect this time, does Daoist Zhou have any crucial directives?¡± Hearing this, Shao Changyi smiled helplessly. ¡°Daoist Lu, with the recent uproar about the Lin Family, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°Thoughts?¡± Lu Xingfeng had a look of bewilderment; as the Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect, his thoughts were complex. In his heart, the sudden rise of the Lin Family, still under Zhenyang Sect¡¯s banner, inevitably seemed somewhat unbelievable. With successive members of the Lin Family reaching the Golden Core Stage, a small family that was once obscure had become a renowned power in Wei Kingdom. In the future, the Lin Family would inevitably break away from Zhenyang Sect¡¯s control, and could even become their rival. Still, their sudden rise was not necessarily a bad thing for the two sects. After all, the present situation for both sects was precarious, dealing with Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance was already strenuous enough, and now with Huangyang Kingdom taking advantage of the situation, it only added insult to injury. Fortunately for them, the emergence of the Lin Family¡ªgiven the grudge between the Lin Family and Golden Sword Sect¡ªmade it unlikely for the two to align. On the contrary, the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, at the very least, had no enmity with the Lin Family; securing the Lin Family¡¯s assistance was not an impossibility. Understanding this, Lu Xingfeng realized the purpose of Shao Changyi¡¯s sudden visit. ¡°Daoist Shao, please, speak directly of your valley¡¯s plans!¡± Hearing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s straightforward speech, Shao Changyi did not beat around the bush and began to disclose Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s plans. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. According to him, Myriad Medicine Valley wanted to join forces with Zhenyang Sect and seek the Lin Family¡¯s full commitment to hinder the attack of the several major sects of Huangyang Kingdom. For this reason, their two great sects urgently needed to discuss some benefits. If they could reach a consensus now, they could immediately send someone to the Lin Family Clan Grounds, visit the Lin Family, and at the same time, talk about the details of the cooperation. After a short moment of consideration and practically without hesitation, Lu Xingfeng agreed to Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s request. He knew well the difficult situation of Zhenyang Sect; the Lin Family¡¯s current strength was an entity they had to vie for. Securing the Lin Family¡¯s support would greatly increase their chances of overcoming this crisis. And so, Lu Xingfeng directly agreed to Shao Changyi¡¯s request, and the two of them began to discuss the benefits of asking the Lin Family to intervene. Chapter 829 829 446 The Conditions of the Lin Family ?Chapter 829: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family Chapter 829: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. At noon on this day, the sun was as ardent as ever. Inside the family, there was a continuous flow of people coming and going, as if peace had been restored. Inside the Family Reception Hall, Lin Shikang was seated in a high position, while Shao Changyi himself occupied the guest seats below. Faced with Shao Changyi¡¯s sudden visit, Lin Shikang had not fully recovered from his injuries, about seventy to eighty percent at best, yet he hastily ended his seclusion to receive the guest. The visitor in question was a Golden Core Cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. If the visitor had been merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Clan Leader Lin Shihua¡¯s reception would have sufficed. But the visitor¡¯s identity and cultivation were not to be taken lightly. If Lin Shikang did not make an appearance, it would have seemed too inattentive. Furthermore, with just a bit of contemplation, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua could guess the main purpose of Shao Changyi¡¯s visit. ... After all, Myriad Medicine Valley was currently facing fierce attacks from the Golden Sword Sect, with the majority of their forces committed to the main battlefield. At such a critical juncture, Shao Changyi¡¯s proactive visit from such a distance was undoubtedly to invite the Lin Family to take action together against the Golden Sword Sect. Such a matter was also of utmost importance to the Lin Family at this point, as it related to the direction of the family¡¯s future development. After all, they would be participating in a war between Golden Core Sects, amidst which top forces like the Blood Red Alliance were stirring the waters. If the Lin Family were to become deeply mired in the conflict, or if Myriad Medicine Valley could not withstand the attack from the Golden Sword Sect, and the Lin Family took a stance too early, or even acted against the Golden Sword Sect, they would inevitably face retribution from the Golden Sword Sect later. Under these circumstances, without seeing significant benefits, the Lin Family definitely could not disclose their stance prematurely or participate in the struggle between the Golden Sword Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley too soon. Such immense family strategies relied not only on Lin Shihua; it was necessary to consult with other clan members of the same generation. At that moment, Shao Changyi also took a measured look at Lin Shikang, observing him covertly. Before his arrival, the news of the Lin Family¡¯s battle against the Qingyun Sect had already spread throughout the major regions of Wei Kingdom, especially the siege and killing of Xu Zhi by four of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators, which confirmed their elimination. When this news came out, he, like most people, was somewhat skeptical. Thinking of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s mighty momentum just days ago, their attack on the Luoyun Mountain Range had been fruitless in just a few days, and the escape of the Qingyun Sect cultivators had been witnessed by many Wei Kingdom cultivators. Also, there was the great battle at Luoyun Market, where though thousands of Cultivators did not see it at close range, they could not mistake the uproar. And Lin Tianming was undoubtedly at the Golden Core Stage at the time, barely combining his serious injuries with the actual situation back then, which finally confirmed the Lin Family¡¯s terrifying strength. Now, after his appraisal, he found that Lin Shikang¡¯s aura was somewhat wilted, clearly showing signs of unhealed injuries. However, his cultivation at the Golden Core Stage was undeniably accurate. By now, he firmly believed that the Lin Family had the strength to kill both Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng. With this in mind, he had to follow the sect¡¯s plan and invite the Lin Family to join the ranks of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Convinced, Shao Changyi took the initiative to speak, breaking the temporary silence. ¡°Lin friend, congratulations! Your Lin Family really made a splash this time, surprising everyone in Wei Kingdom and making it all seem incredible!¡± Shao Changyi¡¯s initial remarks were filled with congratulations and flattery, without any mention of the Lin Family¡¯s deep concealment. It seemed he didn¡¯t want to touch upon the Lin Family¡¯s sensitive nerve and provoke their hostility. Hearing this, Lin Shikang responded with a light smile, ¡°Friend Shao flatters us! Our Lin Family just had some luck, far from being comparable to a Great Sect with a thousand years of inheritance!¡± Having said that, Lin Shikang changed the subject, asking directly, ¡°Friend Shao, what brings you to the Lin Family at such a critical moment?¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s straightforward query took Shao Changyi by surprise. Nevertheless, since Lin Shikang was direct, it saved Shao Changyi the trouble of dancing around the issue. ¡°Therefore,¡± Shao Changyi slowly began, ¡°since you are so forthright, Lin friend, I won¡¯t beat around the bush either. ¡°You must be well aware of the current situation. I won¡¯t hide it from you, Lin friend; both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect are in an extremely precarious position, having exhausted ninety percent of our forces against the Blood Red Alliance and Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°And now, with Huangyang Kingdom exploiting the situation, had the Lin Family not emerged to block Qingyun Sect, our situation would have been even worse.¡± ¡°As such, after discussions among our two Sect¡¯s higher-ups, we sincerely invite the Lin Family to lend a hand and support our two Sects!¡± Upon saying this, Shao Changyi stood up and faced Lin Shikang with clasped fists and a bow, his attitude and tone exceedingly earnest, showing no slight to the Lin Family. Seeing this, Lin Shikang also clasped his fists in return and smiled lightly, ¡°Friend Shao, while our Lin Family is indeed willing, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re unable to assist! ¡°After all, the combined effort of me and our family members to eliminate Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng has already left us heavily wounded.¡± ¡°Moreover, most of our Lin Family Members who have broken through to the Golden Core Stage haven¡¯t done so for long, and we lack even a few decent Magical Treasures. It took us the strength of nine bulls and two tigers just to kill those two.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°With that being the case, our Lin Family certainly won¡¯t have the capacity for another battle in the short term!¡± Chapter 830 830 446 The Conditions of the Lin ?Chapter 830: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family_2 Chapter 830: Chapter 446: The Conditions of the Lin Family_2 Lin Shikang was quite straightforward and did not take the opportunity to extort them. Shao Changyi was also very tactful. He knew that words alone would not easily prompt a statement from the Lin Family. After all, with the Lin Family¡¯s strength greatly improved, they had no obligation to help the two sects in such a situation. However, he also knew that no matter what Lin Shikang¡¯s reasons were, he came prepared and had the authorization of the sect leaders of Myriad Medicine Valley. As long as the requests were not too excessive, he had the authority to decide. Understanding this, Shao Changyi said, ¡°Lin, our appeal to the Lin Family for help naturally would not leave you to toil for nothing!¡± ¡°Before I came to the Lin Family Clan Grounds, I obtained the authorization from our sect¡¯s Zhou, and Tian Ming from the Zhenyang Sect also visited. He entrusted me to come to the Lin Family and convey their goodwill!¡± ... ¡°As long as the Lin Family helps our two sects get through this crisis, once the Golden Sword Sect is destroyed, their territory will be divided among our two sects as well as the Lin Family, the West River Li Family, and the Yingchuan Chen Family!¡± ¡°In addition, I have brought a few gifts this time, which I hope Lin will accept with a smile!¡± Saying this, Shao Changyi waved his robe, and two storage bags appeared in front of Lin Shikang. Seeing this, Lin Shikang frowned and then quickly extended his Divine Sense to inspect the ownerless storage bags. Soon, he learned exactly what Shao Changyi¡¯s gifts were. After his inspection, the two storage bags contained two Offensive Magical Treasures and more than ten bottles of various elixirs, including Spirit Dragon Pills, Solidifying Pills, and Yuxu Pills used by Golden Core Cultivators. Additionally, there were several bottles of Foundation Establishment Pills, as well as Second Order Pills like Hun Tian Pills, which help strengthen a family¡¯s foundation. It seemed that Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect really went all out this time. At this juncture, Lin Shikang could not help but feel impressed. To win over the Lin Family, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect indeed offered what the Lin Family needed most. Especially now, with the Lin Family having revealed their strength, they had come into the sight of all the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom. In the days ahead, if the Lin Family wanted to develop, they would have to expand their territory and significantly enhance the family¡¯s foundation. These items were indeed in short supply for the Lin Family and not something that could be gathered in a short period. The two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley had clearly targeted the Lin Family¡¯s needs, offering precisely what the Lin Family most desired. Thus, even though Lin Shikang was very reluctant to get involved in the major conflict among the Three Sects of the Wei Kingdom, he also didn¡¯t want to miss out on these treasures. Nevertheless, even so, Lin Shikang did not rush to express his stance, nor would he make an early decision. Lin Shikang knew this was only the base offer from Myriad Medicine Valley. To bring greater benefits to the Lin Family, he had to negotiate further to maximize the Lin Family¡¯s interests. Knowing this, Lin Shikang feigned a puzzled look and said, ¡°Shao, I cannot decide this matter alone!¡± ¡°Seeing as you have come all this way to the Lin Family, why not stay with us for a while? After I discuss with the other family members, we can then make a decision. How does that sound?¡± Hearing this, Shao Changyi showed a troubled expression. In reality, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were currently busy dealing with the Golden Sword Sect, and as a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, he had no leisure time to wait at the Lin Family. If it would take only three to five days to get a clear answer, that would still be fine, but if it got delayed for a month or two, the entire situation might undergo a huge change. It must be known that the two great sects of the Huangyang Kingdom were throwing their weight around on the lands of the Wei Kingdom. Many cultivators were displaced, and some had even lost their lives. He had come to the Lin Family on a mission from the Two Sects. Before leaving, Zhou Yunxiao had emphasized again and again to recruit the Lin Family at all costs. Including Tian Ming from the Zhenyang Sect, although not as unyielding as Zhou, had also agreed that as long as it did not shake the foundation of the Zhenyang Sect, Zhao could promise some benefits to the Lin Family. It appears that, including Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, in the face of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s ferocious attack, had to make significant concessions. Such measures were taken to persuade the Lin Family, a formidable force, to join their camp. After all, the strength of the Lin Family was now quite formidable. With four Golden Core Stage cultivators, they were almost equivalent to a Great Sect of the same level. Now, it is clear that the Lin Family¡¯s priority surpassed that of the other Two Great Golden Core Families, and the support they could offer was far greater than the other two families. Shao Changyi had lived for several hundreds of years and obviously understood this important factor. Understanding this, Shao Changyi, when thinking about the words entrusted to him by Zhou Yunxiao, immediately gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Lin, our two sects are currently in dire straits, I¡¯m afraid we cannot afford to wait!¡± ¡°And the Lin Family, as a native family clan of the Wei Kingdom, and also a member of the orthodox cultivators, should bear the corresponding responsibility to resist the invasion of Huangyang Kingdom!¡± ¡°After all, the saying ¡®When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold¡¯ is something I believe you understand, Lin. If the Golden Sword Sect were to annihilate our two sects, then the Lin Family, despite its great strength, would inevitably become their next target!¡± ¡°I say this standing on behalf of the countless cultivators of the Wei Kingdom, hoping the Lin Family, considering our cooperation over the recent years, will make a decision quickly!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Lin, in addition to what I¡¯ve pledged, if you have any demands, feel free to mention them. As long as I am the decision-maker here, we can sign a life-and-death contract with the Lin Family right now!¡± Hearing these words conveyed an attitude that was both soft and forceful. Lin Shikang also knew that Shao Changyi¡¯s purpose was clear; if he didn¡¯t provide a definite answer in a short time, Shao wouldn¡¯t easily let this go. Though the Lin Family¡¯s strength had greatly improved, the words Shao Changyi had said did indeed make some sense. Especially since, after the Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance had annihilated the two sects of Myriad Medicine Valley, even if they didn¡¯t know about the grudge with the Lin Family, they would certainly eliminate the Lin Family as well. Plus, the effort the Blood Red Alliance had put into searching for something indicated their determination. Once Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had been destroyed, they would inevitably turn their attention toward the Lin Family. By that time, no matter how strong the Lin Family was, they probably could not compare to the current strength of the two sects from Myriad Medicine Valley! As long as Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect stood firm, the Lin Family would not be the prime target of their urgency; instead, this would attract most of their attention, giving the Lin Family an opportunity to develop. Given these circumstances, facing the fierce and unyielding Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance, the Lin Family would sooner or later stand against them. If, as Shao Changyi said, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s two sects were annihilated, the Lin Family alone would probably not be a match for the Golden Sword Sect. In order to eliminate future troubles in the long term, the Lin Family must help Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect resist the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s offensive. As long as the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s plan failed, there might still be a chance for a turnaround. Realizing this, Lin Shikang actually had a plan along with Lin Tianming and others; the reason they hadn¡¯t made a stance too early was also to negotiate for greater benefits. Since Shao Changyi had gone to such lengths, if Lin Shikang intentionally delayed any longer, it would seem somewhat unkind. In such circumstances, Lin Shikang simply smiled faintly and said, ¡°Shao, since your sect has given you some authority, then I won¡¯t beat around the bush!¡± ¡°If you want the Lin Family to take action quickly, you must agree to several conditions of mine!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang obviously relaxed his stance, and Shao Changyi became somewhat excited. He immediately followed up by asking urgently, ¡°What conditions? You may speak freely, Lin!¡± Finished speaking, Shao Changyi looked at Lin Shikang seriously, showing an expectant expression. Seeing this, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t delay further and began to slowly state his terms. ¡°First, the three Jiuli Star Fruits obtained from the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm have already been used by the Lin Family. I hope your sect and Zhenyang Sect will not pursue this matter further and never seek to reclaim these fruits from the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Second, should we truly achieve victory in the great war, the Lin Family shall have priority in choosing the territories. If your sect disagrees, the Lin Family can exchange territories of the same level for the right to choose, and your sect as well as friends from Zhenyang Sect must accept this unconditionally.¡± ¡°Third, the quotas for entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm given to the Golden Sword Sect must be handed over to the Lin Family, and your sect along with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s cultivators must permanently recognize the full ownership of the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Fourth, no matter when the Lin Family faces retribution from any force of Huangyang Kingdom in the future, your sect along with Zhenyang Sect must come to support promptly, resisting the invasion of other national powers together!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fifth, several Golden Core Cultivators in our clan are injured; it will probably take half a year for them to recover before we can dispatch three Golden Core Cultivators to respond to your call!¡± Chapter 831 831 447 Alliance ?Chapter 831: Chapter 447: Alliance Chapter 831: Chapter 447: Alliance ¡°As soon as I finished speaking, Lin Shikang was also looking at Shao Changyi with a serious face, in his heart he was also somewhat uncertain. After all, the conditions put forth by the Lin Family did seem a bit harsh. As expected, upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s five conditions, Shao Changyi had no objections to three of them, but there were two conditions that even he dared not decide on behalf of Zhenyang Sect. At this time, Shao Changyi¡¯s face showed difficulty, and then he said, ¡®Lin, could we possibly reduce the number of places in the third condition?¡¯ ¡®After all, the places are extremely limited, and the West River Li Family and Chen Clan were willing to make a move. Our two sects also promised to allocate some of the places to them!¡¯ ¡®Besides, the Lin Family needs to take action sooner; half a year is too long. By the time the Lin Family moves out, most of the Wei Kingdom may have fallen.¡¯ Having said this, Shao Changyi stood up and gave Lin Shikang a bow, his attitude and tone extremely cautious. Lin Shikang considered it for a moment, then replied to Shao Changyi, ¡®Shao, give us three days to discuss it. We will definitely give you a definite answer within three days, how does that sound?¡¯ Hearing this, Shao Changyi also let out a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Lin Shikang would not budge and was even more afraid that the Lin Family intended to delay. If that were the case, he would truly find himself in a dilemma. Fortunately, Lin Shikang was a wise man. His meaning was evidently agreeable to their conditions, although the details were yet to be discussed. It was estimated that it wouldn¡¯t be far off. ... Since this was the case, his trip to the Lin Family to seek cooperation had roughly achieved its purpose. Understanding this, Shao Changyi also smiled lightly and said, ¡®That would be excellent!¡¯ ¡®Lin, please rest assured, the many conditions promised this time are not set in stone. As long as the Golden Sword Sect is annihilated, I personally guarantee that the benefits obtained by the Lin Family will absolutely exceed the promises!¡¯ ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ Lin Shikang nodded and continued, ¡®Then, Shao, stay in our clan for two days. Once the discussion is concluded, I will contact you.¡¯ After saying this, Lin Shikang also instructed Lin Shihua at his side. ¡®Shihua, take good care of Shao.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t worry, third brother!¡¯ After Lin Shihua replied, he gestured to Shao Changyi to bow and invited him to leave the Guest-Receiving Palace. Two days later. Inside the Guest-Receiving Palace, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua met again with the awaiting Shao Changyi. As the three sat down and exchanged a few courtesies, Shao Changyi didn¡¯t beat around the bush and directly asked Lin Shikang for his decision. Seeing his eager look, Lin Shikang also laughed and said, ¡®Shao, after discussion with my clan members, we all agree to accept the request of your sect.¡¯ ¡®Oh? That¡¯s wonderful!¡¯ Shao Changyi¡¯s face lit up with excitement; the expression was far from the heaviness he had at the start. Lin Shikang continued, ¡®As for the detailed conditions of the Lin Family, we can make some concessions. Regarding the places in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, we can reduce the number, but the lowest line is twenty spots!¡¯ ¡®Besides, it is true that the Lin Family¡¯s top combatants are all injured and cannot go into battle in a short time.¡¯ ¡®However, the Lin Family can deploy at least one clan member to your sect within three months, and then send two more Golden Core Combat Strength to the battlefield within a year, how about that?¡¯ Upon hearing this, Shao Changyi fell silent for a short while, thinking about how much truth lay in Lin Shikang¡¯s words. Taking into account the recent battle news from the Cultivation World, given Qingyun Sect Xu Zhi¡¯s cultivation strength, it¡¯s likely that the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators did indeed sustain serious injuries. And Lin Shikang¡¯s willingness to make concessions was overall a good start; at least the Lin Family was willing to wade into these troubled waters. Otherwise, the situation for both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would be even more perilous. If they couldn¡¯t resist the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect might be destroyed. If that happened, no matter how favorable the conditions offered, what would they matter? With these thoughts, Shao Changyi immediately made up his mind to agree to the many conditions of the Lin Family. Having made the decision, Shao Changyi bowed and laughed, ¡®The Lin Family truly understands the bigger picture, I greatly admire this.¡¯ ¡®Since time is of the essence for both of us, let¡¯s quickly establish a Heavenly Dao oath. I need to return to my sect to report back.¡¯ After saying this, Shao Changyi took out a page of golden-yellow beast skin from his storage bag as if he feared that Lin Shikang would renege on the agreement. Immediately after, he flicked his fingers, and streaks of Spiritual Light bombarded the beast skin. Soon, a series of blood-red characters appeared on the beast skin. Upon closer inspection, they were the various conditions mentioned by Lin Shikang. In a short while, Shao Changyi had all the conditions displayed on the beast skin and then handed it over to Lin Shikang. Next, Shao Changyi pointed to the beast skin and said, ¡®Lin, please check this contract to see if there are any issues?¡¯ ¡®If there are none, leave a trace of your divine soul¡¯s power on it. I¡¯ll activate the contract, and that will complete this agreement.¡¯ Hearing this, Lin Shikang also took the beast skin and meticulously began to check it. After his inspection, the many clauses recorded on the beast skin were exactly as stated, not missing a single detail, and it also stipulated that the Lin Family has the right to retreat on its own if Myriad Medicine Valley is beaten back and the situation becomes untenable. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, deploying three Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family would fulfill the terms of this contract. Chapter 832 832 447 Forming an Alliance_2 ?Chapter 832: Chapter 447: Forming an Alliance_2 Chapter 832: Chapter 447: Forming an Alliance_2 He had been on the cultivation path for over a hundred years and had seen many Heart Demon Contracts, but this was his first encounter with a Heavenly Dao Contract. While he had never signed such a Heavenly Dao Contract before, he had come across detailed records of them in numerous classic texts. It was said that these contracts were even more ingenious, and if either party breached it, the retribution they faced would be even more terrifying. Even Nascent Soul Stage Powerhouses, those formidable beings capable of grasping Dao Principles, would not dare to violate a Heavenly Dao Contract. As such, this type of contract was fairly secure for those who abided by the rules. Since Shao Changyi had put forth this contract and was unafraid of Myriad Medicine Valley, the Lin Family naturally wouldn¡¯t fear any scheming trickery. After all, the Lin Family had always valued trustworthiness, and having promised both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they would do their utmost to support both sects. ... Under such circumstances, there wasn¡¯t much to criticize about this contract. Lin Shikang didn¡¯t delay, instantly flicking his finger to inscribe his name on the beast skin and leaving a wisp of his soul within it. Immediately after, Shao Changyi performed the same actions, and both their essences quickly appeared on the beast skin, clearly completing all preparations. After finishing these steps, Shao Changyi tossed the beast skin skyward, emitting a rapid barrage of spiritual light from his hands. At the same time, he began to mutter an incantation. After an indeterminate amount of time, the beast skin suspended in mid-air suddenly ignited, then quickly turned into a peculiar pattern, and finally dissipated slowly into the sky. As the last trace of light settled, Lin Shikang distinctly felt a unique sensation perpetually enveloping his heart. This feeling was indescribable and vanished quickly, with everything returning to normal soon after. However, Lin Shikang knew that this was undoubtedly the effect of the Heavenly Dao Contract taking hold. If he violated the contract, he feared his path of Dao might come to an end and he couldn¡¯t even guarantee his life. What was more serious was the possibility that the Lin Family¡¯s fortunes could also suffer a tremendous impact. This invisible connection, if it caused the Lin Family to suffer retribution as well, would be truly terrifying. The Lin Family had been relentless in its rise over the years. Now that they were on the cusp of challenging the Three Sects of the Wei Kingdom, it would be a pity if they were stopped in their tracks or even began to decline because of this Heavenly Dao Contract. If that happened, he would become the eternal sinner of the Lin Family. He absolutely would not allow anything to affect the rise of the Lin Family. Realizing this, Lin Shikang¡¯s mood grew somber, and he began to take the life and death survival of Myriad Medicine Valley even more seriously. At this moment, Shao Changyi finally revealed a long-awaited smile, clearly having completed his predetermined task and feeling much better. ¡°Lin, I hope the Lin Family will take good care of us in the coming years!¡± Shao Changyi said with a smile and a cupped-fist salute, looking well and warming considerably in his demeanor towards Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang chuckled in response and chatted idly with Shao Changyi for a few sentences. After a short while, Shao Changyi suggested his intention to leave. Out of politeness, Lin Shikang made a token effort to ask him to stay longer before having Lin Shihua escort him out of the Lin Family Clan Grounds. In a short while, Lin Shihua returned to the Guest-Receiving Palace, and Lin Shigong, having received the message, also rushed over. Aside from Lin Shilu, still in seclusion striving for the Golden Core Stage, and Lin Tianming recovering from his injuries in Luoyun Market, several key members of the Lin Family had all gathered. After exchanging a few casual words, Lin Shihua broached the main topic. ¡°Third brother, now that we have formed an alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley and signed the Heavenly Dao Contract, what actions should we take next?¡± Upon hearing the question, Lin Shikang didn¡¯t immediately respond but instead fell into deep thought. In his view, now that the Lin Family had signed the Heavenly Dao Contract, they had to act in accordance with the promised terms, lest they incur the consequences of the contract. At present, all the Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family were injured, with Hu Yuan¡¯s injuries being the most severe, requiring at least six months, or even a year, to fully recover. He and Ye Pinghai were slightly better off, after sequestering themselves for another three to five months, they would almost be able to recover more than ninety percent of their strength. Apart from them, in the short term, probably only Lin Tianming would be able to recover his peak strength. For now, the best course of action seemed to be to dispatch Lin Tianming as soon as possible to help support the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. As for the two who would follow up later, they would wait a while and see their condition before making any plans. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang immediately shared his thoughts. Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong knew the Lin Family¡¯s current situation and agreed that this was the only option. Seeing no objections from the two, Lin Shikang immediately confirmed the decision and arranged for Lin Shihua to send a message to Lin Tianming, asking him to return to the clan grounds as soon as he left seclusion. With this matter concluded, Lin Shihua then asked about the progress of Lin Shilu¡¯s seclusion, aiming to break through to the Golden Core Stage. According to Lin Shikang¡¯s investigation from the day before, the spiritual energy at the place of Lin Shilu¡¯s seclusion had become terrifyingly dense, indicating that he was nearing the final stage. Barring any accidents, in at most half a year, he would certainly face the Golden Core Tribulation. This news was a tremendous joy for the Lin Family at the moment. As long as Lin Shilu entered the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family would have five members at the Golden Core combat level, and the clan¡¯s overall strength would rise yet another notch. Even if they had to send out three people to participate in the great war between the three sects, according to the contract, the Lin Family would be able to keep two members with Golden Core combat power to guard the clan grounds. In that case, even if the Lin Family came under attack from other Golden Core forces, they would have sufficient defensive capability. When Lin Shihua and the others heard this news, their hearts surged with excitement. Immediately after, Lin Shikang chuckled and took out a large number of storage bags, placing them in front of everyone. A glance revealed there were hundreds of storage bags, their colorful patterns and designs quite dazzling. And these storage bags were all treasures gained from the battle after defeating Xu Zhi. After the previous battle concluded, the Golden Core combatants were either injured or crippled, and they immediately focused on secluding themselves to heal, having no time to tally the spoils. Unexpectedly, after only two months had passed, they were forced to leave seclusion early due to Shao Changyi¡¯s visit. However, this departure from seclusion also resulted in the significant achievement of forming an alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Next, he could take this opportunity to review the contents of these storage bags to see what their final gains really were. For this day, both Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong had been waiting for a while, and they were quite impatient to get started. ¡°Shihua, Shigong, both of you put in your effort to tally these!¡± Lin Shikang said, then immediately grabbed several storage bags and easily erased all the residual divine sense on them with his own. After a few breaths, he set down the bags he had finished with and continued to inspect a new set of bags. Meanwhile, upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, the other two chuckled and also began to get busy. Soon, they investigated each storage bag in turn, and quickly recorded the specific types and quantities of treasures in the ledger they held. At this time, the three of them were engrossed in their work, finishing the inspection of several dozen storage bags every few breaths. Simultaneously, a broad smile hung on each of their faces, and sometimes their breathing became rapid with excitement. Whenever they came across particularly valuable treasures, or ones they didn¡¯t recognize, they would spend a bit more time examining them. In this way, time slowly passed, and before they knew it, a traditional Chinese hour had slipped by. By then, the atmosphere in the Guest-Receiving Palace was warm, and each person¡¯s heart was tumultuously excited, an unprecedented feeling of elation overwhelming them. This feeling made them somewhat giddy, as if it was all somewhat unreal. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t calm enough, but rather that the haul this time, excluding the personal spoils of Xu Zhi, had already far exceeded any of their previous gains. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, these were storage bags from Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Qingyun Sect, totaling several hundreds. Even if each storage bag contained treasures worth only ten thousand spirit stones, the combined worth of these more than five hundred bags easily exceeded five million. Chapter 833 833 448 Huge Harvest ?Chapter 833: Chapter 448: Huge Harvest Chapter 833: Chapter 448: Huge Harvest Aside from that, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators hailed from a power like Qingyun Sect, and although their cultivation levels were uneven, most had reached the initial-middle stage of Foundation Establishment. But even the poorest disciple of a great power would not be without a family fortune of thirty to fifty thousand spirit stones. According to their tally, just the spirit stones in these hundreds of storage bags added up to more than nine million two hundred thousand. Nine million two hundred thousand, this number is extraordinarily terrifying! Lin Shihua, as Clan Leader, managed all family expenses and knew full well what this number meant. Think about the Lin Family several decades ago when, including the basic welfare provided to clan members, the whole family consumed about a hundred thousand spirit stones a year. That is, in the last three or four decades, the overall strength of the Lin Family had soared rapidly, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators popping up like bamboo shoots after a rain, and the total number of family members increasing rapidly, leading to an annual spirit stone expenditure reaching several hundred thousand. ... Even so, this near ten million spirit stones could support the Lin Family at this level of consumption for twenty years or so, without any income. However, this did not include the weapons of the fallen cultivators, as well as various collected treasures, such as spiritual and elixir pills, talisman paper, spirit ore, and various materials¡ªcommon cultivation resources. Aside from these commonly used treasures, there were also various insights related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. All of these were of First and Second Order grade and, while they weren¡¯t of much use to Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming at present, they were a great boost to enhancing the family¡¯s foundations. Such an enhancement to the foundations was an incredibly important link for every rapidly developing family. Lin Shikang and the others were also people of broad knowledge, recognizing ninety-nine percent of the treasures in the storage bags and the approximate value of these items. After some rough calculations, the total value of the items in these hundreds of storage bags was at least over twenty-five million. Moreover, there were dozens of strange items that even they had never seen or heard of before. The value of these items was hard to estimate; they could be worthless or possibly precious treasures. Regarding this, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t bother himself and dumped all these objects to Lin Shihua to be uniformly placed in the family treasure vault anyway, since for them, Golden Core Stage Clansmen, cultivation was difficult, and their use for many things was limited. If they particularly needed any of these unknown items, they could search the family treasure vault themselves and use what was useful to them. With the examination of these storage bags finished, the next highlight was Xu Zhi¡¯s personal storage bag. After all, Xu Zhi was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and such a realm, in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and even in the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, was considered top-notch. Although the combined value of those few hundred storage bags was very high, the items collected by Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not particularly valuable, and thus did not appeal much to Lin Shikang. But Xu Zhi¡¯s storage bag was different; after all, only the fortune and treasures of cultivators of the same Golden Core Stage Realm could excite them. As a result, Lin Shikang became somewhat impatient. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s excited demeanor, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong on the other side were similarly thrilled. After all, they were already satisfied with breaking through the Foundation Establishment Stage; now they had the chance to witness the fortune of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Such an experience had never crossed their minds before. And now, everything lay before their eyes; with a mere movement of Lin Shikang¡¯s Divine Sense, the contents of the storage bag would also come into their view. Thus at this moment, Lin Shihua and the other person were visibly excited, their breathing even became somewhat rapid. Seeing this, Lin Shikang did not delay and easily erased the remaining Divine Sense of Xu Zhi from the storage bag. Immediately after, Lin Shikang and the others extended their Divine Sense, carefully checking the contents of the storage bag. In a short while, Lin Shikang and the others had ruddy complexions and appeared immensely satisfied. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon their investigation, Xu Zhi indeed proved to be a formidable Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman who had accumulated an extreme fortune over hundreds of years. After a round of inventory, there were more than two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones in the storage bag alone. This was just the tip of the iceberg of his spirit stones; there were far more Medium-grade Spirit Stones, totaling over thirteen thousand. In the Cultivation World, the value of Medium-grade Spirit Stones far surpassed that of low-grade ones; one Medium-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, and likewise, one hundred Medium-grade Spirit Stones could be exchanged for one High Quality Spirit Stone. In some places, one Medium-grade Spirit Stone could even be exchanged for one hundred and five low-grade Spirit Stones. As for the even higher grade High Quality Spirit Stones, these were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; even Nascent Soul Stage Powerhouses might not have many. However, even with this one hundred to one exchange rate, no cultivator would foolishly use their Medium-grade Spirit Stones to exchange for a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, which are common in the Cultivation World. The higher the grade of spirit stones, the scarcer they are in the Cultivation World, and the more uses they have. Whether for cultivation, formation setup, or even refining some special elixirs, the effect varies greatly. Therefore, the higher the grade of the spirit stone, the greater the value and the wider the application. Like a High Quality Spirit Stone, that is the heart¡¯s blood of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and nobody would trade it. Chapter 834 834 448 Huge Harvest_2 ?Chapter 834: Chapter 448 Huge Harvest_2 Chapter 834: Chapter 448 Huge Harvest_2 As for Golden Core Cultivators, medium-grade spirit stones had become the hard currency for transactions. After all, a bottle of elixirs or a magical treasure used by a Golden Core Cultivator would cost tens or even hundreds of thousands, making it impractical to trade with low-grade spirit stones. Adding up the value of the mid-low grade spirit stones possessed by Xu Zhi, the total amounted to as much as 1.5 million, a fortune comparable to that of a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides these spirit stones, Xu Zhi¡¯s wealth was varied and plentiful, encompassing numerous third order spiritual medicines and spirit ores, with over a dozen of high-value items. Regrettably, there were no cultivation techniques or the spirit arts related to his Qing Hong Sword Aura in Xu Zhi¡¯s storage bag. But upon deeper reflection, it made sense, given that Xu Zhi was a Sect Cultivator. In the Cultivation World, it was almost a uniform rule among Sect Cultivators not to carry their cultivation techniques or mystical skills on their person. ... Moreover, sects offered higher compensations for various hereditary treasures submitted by cultivators. Unless a Sect Cultivator came across such treasures by chance and was unwilling to trade them within the sect for contribution points, it was difficult to take away anything stored by the sect. In this context, it was no surprise that there were few cultivation techniques or secret skills found in the storage bags of other Qingyun Sect disciples. Thus, it was understandable why there were seldom inheritable items. However, despite this, the treasures in Xu Zhi¡¯s two storage bags were terrifyingly immense. Estimating roughly, excluding the blue longsword treasure still in the hands of Lin Tianming, the accumulated value of the treasures on hand was at least worth over four million spirit stones, and some were priceless. Indeed, for a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, it was difficult to acquire such treasures with low-grade spirit stones. In this way, the combined wealth of Xu Zhi and those Qingyun Sect disciples nearly reached thirty million spirit stones. According to their estimates, this enormous wealth was more than double that of all the Lin Family¡¯s immovable properties. Despite having faced unprecedented risks in the battle against Xu Zhi outside the family territory and almost losing many lives, the gains were indeed tremendous. It took many years for the entire Lin Family to accumulate such a fortune. Yet, from this single battle, the Lin Family¡¯s financial strength had tripled. And this did not even count the treasures obtained by Lin Tianming in Luoyun Market during his fight with Meng Qingfeng. If those were included, the gain would be even greater. It might even reach five times the initial amount! At this thought, Lin Shikang and others couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Indeed, risk and opportunity coexist.¡± In fact, it was true; every rise of the Lin Family faced tremendous crises. With each calamity they survived, the Lin Family ascended a step further. Because of this battle, even if the Lin Family did nothing further, they had enough to live without financial worry for the next hundred years. Finally calming down, Lin Shikang and the others were all smiles, feeling extremely pleased. After a while, Lin Shikang instructed Lin Shihua to securely store the treasures above third order. At the same time, he continued to increase basic welfare support for clan members, from monthly spirit stone stipends to elixir rewards for breakthroughs, boosting their motivation immensely. These measures were implemented to quicken the Lin Family¡¯s strides forward, given the crises they still needed to face. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the Lin Family could not overcome these crises, hoarding such vast wealth would be pointless, potentially benefiting the enemy instead. Understanding this, Lin Shikang was determined that within the next five to ten years, he would drastically enhance the clan members¡¯ strength, striving to elevate the Lin Family¡¯s overall power once more. Bearing this resolve and bolstered by the sudden surge in the family¡¯s wealth, Lin Shihua readily accepted these responsibilities. The next morning. At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, a large gathering of clan members convened on the plateau. At that moment, Lin Shihua sat aloft with several Xing generation clan members by his side, all heads of various family halls. Below them were nearly a hundred Lin Family members, men and women included, ranging from the centenarian Xing generation to the twenty-somethings of the Tian generation. Apart from these two main generations of the Lin Family, there were also over a dozen members of the next Chang generation present. As the Tian generation of clan members passed their fiftieth year, even Lin Tianming, who ranked sixth, had turned fifty, and Lin Tianfeng, who ranked first in the Tian generation, was nearly sixty. With that came, several years ago, the advent of a new generation in the Lin Family, known as the Chang generation. By now, the oldest members of the Chang generation were already in their teens, approaching adulthood. Among these members of the Chang generation, a few had reached the Fourth Level of Qi Refinement or higher. Such a pace of cultivation was not inferior to that of Lin Tianming in his early days. Clearly, as the family¡¯s foundational conditions continued to improve, the new generation of the Lin Family started higher, reaching the Fourth or Fifth Level of Qi Refinement within five years, which had almost become the norm. Yet, such a pace of cultivation still fell short compared to the veteran Golden Core Families of Wei Kingdom. Take the Yingchuan Chen Family of Wei Kingdom, for example, which had a history spanning over three thousand years. It was said that many of the Chen family members entered the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement before the age of twenty, and many more reached the Foundation Establishment Stage before turning thirty. Such proportions epitomized the heritage a long-standing family should have. Clearly, the Lin Family still had a significant gap to bridge to reach the likes of the Yingchuan Chen Family. Lin Shihua was also aware of this, and his public appearance today was to communicate important policies handed down by the higher-ups. At this moment, seeing clan members gradually making their way here, Lin Shihua did not delay and began to loudly announce the specifics of the agreed measures. Soon, waves of cheers emerged from the square, and the lively atmosphere quickly became exceedingly noisy. Following Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement, the family had amended several major policies. Firstly, there was a substantial increase in the basic benefits for clan members, unconditionally raising the original annual stipend by thirty percent. This was a significant increase, considering that even those in the First Level of Qi Refining within the Lin Family had an annual salary of over one hundred and fifty spirit stones. Now with a thirty percent increase, there were almost twenty additional spirit stones available. These twenty extra spirit stones could fully procure another bottle of Lingshen Pill; if used wisely, advancing a minor realm within a year was not difficult. Apart from increasing the basic annual salary, the second policy still followed the previous experiential policy. Over the years, as long as the area surrounding the Luoyun Mountain Range remained relatively tranquil, the Lin Family had never halted the plan for clan members to gain experience in the ranges. Otherwise, merely providing resources for their cultivation would not be very effective and might even lead to adverse effects of forcing growth. Therefore, the Lin Family never ceased its experiential training, sending multiple batches of teams each year to the Luoyun Mountain Range to eliminate demonic beasts to hone their combat experience and, incidentally, treasure hunting. Now, the second policy further increased the rewards of training, by fifty percent more than before. This was done to keep clan members constantly aware of the importance of real combat while leveraging resources. Thirdly, the original selection of the Family Elite Ten was to further expand in number. After all, the population of the Lin Family had multiplied several times over, with over forty individuals at the Foundation Establishment Stage among the young and middle-aged clan members, many of whom were deemed worth nurturing. If they still competed for the same ten places, the competition would be too fierce. Fortunately, the family had recently come into a great fortune and had sufficient resources to enhance the strength of clan members. Therefore, Lin Shihua announced that the Family Elite Ten would be changed to the Elite Thirty, including twenty from the Qi Refining Stage and ten from the Foundation Establishment Stage. Moreover, clan members over eighty years old in the Foundation Establishment Stage would no longer have the opportunity to compete for these slots. These various restrictions were also thoughtfully considered to avoid overly fierce competition among clan members, and not to leave those less fortunate too far behind. Even if their talent was weaker, as long as they were willing to work hard, they could still make significant strides through the family¡¯s policies. In summary, these three policy changes represented a substantial improvement on their existing basis. As clan members queried Lin Shihua with their doubts, he patiently explained the various rules, eventually helping them understand the specifics of these changes. ¡­ Chapter 835 835 449 Black Dragon Axe Dye Stone ?Chapter 835: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone Chapter 835: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone Soon, news of the three policy changes spread throughout the Lin Family, and many clan members who had been in seclusion were shocked by the news when they emerged. In the days that followed, every member of the Lin Family was diligently practicing cultivation. With the addition of a large amount of treasures to the Family Merits Hall, many rare Spiritual Objects appeared frequently. And these things were all spoils from the battle with Xu Zhi. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, they were the collected treasures of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and even the least of these items was a precious treasure for Qi Refining Cultivators. In addition, the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Lin Family was not very high, and numerous Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been killed in that battle, leaving behind many fine items that were quite suitable for the current Foundation Establishment Clan Members. In such circumstances, whether they were at the Foundation Establishment Stage or Qi Refinement Realm, Lin Family Members seized this opportunity and exchanged their merits for these treasures. ... They then began to cultivate with the aid of these once in a lifetime Spiritual Objects. This bustling scene was exactly what Lin Shihua wanted to see. In his eyes, since the clan had provided such good foundational conditions, clan members should give it their all. It was only when their cultivation levels increased that the overall strength of the Lin Family would be stronger. Only with a comprehensive enhancement of their foundation could they have some initiative in the face of potential calamities that might arise. The clan members also knew well that the Cultivation World of the Wei Kingdom was not peaceful, and everyone was exerting themselves to cultivate. Each day, the Lin Family advanced on the road to becoming stronger. ¡­ Luoyun Market. In a secret chamber of the auction house, Lin Tianming swung a black Giant Axe a few times before revealing a pleased expression. Four months had passed since the big battle with Meng Qingfeng. More than a month ago, Lin Tianming¡¯s injuries had mostly healed. In the subsequent month, he did not idle away his time and reforged the Black Giant Axe, a Magical Treasure originally belonging to Meng Qingfeng. After his efforts, the Giant Axe had now become his weapon. Having this item meant that in his next magic duel with a Golden Core Cultivator, he would not be unarmed. Although the Grade of the Tiangang Sword was not low and its quality was quite good, playing a significant role in the great battle against Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng, it just fell short against the Mana of Golden Core Cultivators as a Second Order Magical Artifact and could not fully unleash a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s entire strength. During the fierce battle with Meng Qingfeng, ordinary attacks posed only some threat, but it was very difficult to kill or even severely injure a Golden Core Cultivator. If it weren¡¯t for the high Grade of the Cultivation Technique he practiced, the powerful Divine Skills, and the terrifying might of Spirit Arts, the outcomes of those two battles would have been difficult to predict. Looking at Meng Qingfeng on the other side, with a Magical Treasure, he could unleash greater strength and at one point even gained the upper hand. And this was the immense utility of a Magical Treasure. A Golden Core Cultivator without a Magical Treasure in hand was like two ordinary people fighting; one armed and the other barehanded, the latter would inevitably struggle to defeat an armed enemy. Now, Meng Qingfeng was dead, and all his spoils of battle belonged to him. Having witnessed the power of this Giant Axe Magical Treasure, he coveted it greatly. With the Giant Axe now in his possession and his strong physical strength, he would surely be able to unleash even stronger attacks. When facing off against cultivators of the same rank once more, he would have the ability to counterattack even without relying on Spirit Arts. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt excited and could hardly wait to go out and test the power of the Black Giant Axe. However, it was not yet the time. Because he had more important things to do, the first of which was to give this Black Giant Axe a name. After all, as the Treasure was seized, having changed masters, it naturally needed a new name. Another important matter was to inspect Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag to see if there were any good items. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming began to ponder. Considering the various characteristics of the Black Giant Axe, he thought of several names. In the end, he felt that ¡°Black Dragon Axe¡± was a rather imposing and fitting name, in line with the color of the axe and the patterns on its surface. ¡°It shall be called the Black Dragon Axe!¡± Lin Tianming smiled contentedly, then swung the axe a few times before finally putting it away with satisfaction. He then casually took out Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag, swiftly erased the remnants of Divine Sense, and began to examine the contents with his own Divine Sense. Upon his inspection, he saw a large pile of Low-Grade Spirit Stones, totaling over two hundred thousand, and even Medium-Grade Spirit Stones amounting to over seven thousand. Seeing this batch of Spirit Stones worth nearly a million, Lin Tianming was all smiles. Meng Qingfeng¡¯s wealth was considerable, just the Spirit Stones alone amounted to so much, indicating that his total assets were definitely not low. With this in mind, Lin Tianming did not delay and continued to inventory the storage bag. In a short while, he completed the inventory of Meng Qingfeng¡¯s storage bag. After a careful tally, the gains from this time were substantial; the accumulated Spirit Stones alone exceeded a million, not to mention the various cultivation resources. There was a significant quantity and variety of these items, including Second Order Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Ores, and various Demonic Beast Materials. Among them, the items of Third Order were especially valuable. These included elixirs used in the Golden Core Stage, Third Order Spiritual Ore and Materials, and a few Third Order Talismans, almost a Treasure Vault containing the majority of items needed by cultivators. Chapter 836 836 449 Black Dragon Axe Dye Stone_2 ?Chapter 836: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone_2 Chapter 836: Chapter 449: Black Dragon Axe, Dye Stone_2 After his estimation, the accumulation of these known resources definitely exceeded several million low-grade Spirit Stones. Apart from these items, there were two other things he was unable to identify. At this moment, he had two items laid out in front of him: one was a black stone the size of a fist. The other item was a jade slip the size of a palm. At this time, Lin Tianming picked up the black stone and examined it, a satisfied smile spreading quickly across his face. Through his observation, he discovered that this black stone was actually a piece of Fourth Order Spirit Ore Dye Stone. It was hard to imagine that Meng Qingfeng, who was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, possessed such a treasure. ... This item was quite rare; in the Cultivation World, it was extremely scarce. Every time it appeared, even Nascent Soul Cultivators might be alarmed. Because the Dye Stone had significant uses, even the Spiritual Treasures used by Nascent Soul Cultivators had need of it, and even such powerful beings would scheme to obtain it when they came across the stone. Therefore, this Dye Stone was an invaluable treasure for Golden Core Cultivators, to say the least. After all, it was an excellent Artifact Refining Material. No matter what weapon was being refined, the addition of a fingertip-sized piece of Dye Stone could greatly increase the toughness of the weapon. This piece of Dye Stone was not of a small quantity and could be used multiple times in refining ordinary Magical Treasures. He didn¡¯t know where Meng Qingfeng had acquired it from, but his luck was not good, having such a fine treasure in his hands and now it had fallen into his, Lin Tianming¡¯s, own lap. With this piece of Dye Stone, when he came to refine his Life-bound Magical Treasure in the future, the addition of a little bit would greatly enhance the toughness of the Magical Treasure, and consequently, its combat power would also be enhanced. The thought of this left Lin Tianming brimming with excitement, his face nearly splitting with a grin. After calming himself down with some effort, he put the Dye Stone away and then picked up the other piece, the jade slip. Upon closer inspection, this jade slip was a light yellow color, with a smooth, delicate surface that was somewhat transparent; it looked no different from ordinary worldly jade. However, being carried by a Golden Core Cultivator, it was bound to be no ordinary stone. Realizing this, Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, his sharp gaze piercing through the internal structure of the jade slip. But even so, he still found nothing special. ¡°Could it really just be a common worldly jade stone?¡± Lin Tianming was utterly puzzled and contemplated nonstop. His thoughts turned this way; it wasn¡¯t impossible, as Meng Qingfeng might have originated from the mortal realm, having kept a family heirloom from childhood. Even after stepping onto the Path of Immortality, it was possible that he kept this item out of sentimentality. But after careful thought, Lin Tianming felt that this idea was farfetched. Hence, the persistent Lin Tianming began to use various methods, attacking the jade piece and even using the Blue Heart True Flame to burn and refine it, unable to damage it. Considering that it withstood his current Cultivation Realm, plus the Blue Heart True Flame which was stronger than any pill fire, it was definitely no ordinary jade. Thus, it appeared that even though the jade¡¯s purpose was not yet discernible, it was certainly not ordinary. Knowing this, Lin Tianming felt rather helpless but decided to collect the jade slip; perhaps if the opportunity arose in the future, he might unravel the secrets it concealed. Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts returned and he gradually regained his composure. At this moment, he tidied up the secret room and then rose to leave. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming summoned Lin Xingcheng to join him, and the two sat in a large hall chatting. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingcheng was also very excited. Just one month ago, he had received a message from Lin Shihua, instructing him to signal Lin Tianming to exit seclusion and hurry back to the family after a little over a month. Seeing that there was no sign of Lin Tianming exiting seclusion, he hesitated, fearing that forcing him out would prevent his injuries from healing. After all, the injuries Lin Tianming had received were not light, and a common cultivator would need at least half a year to recover. And now, looking at Lin Tianming whose aura was robust, he clearly had recovered to his peak. Otherwise, if another half month passed without him leaving seclusion, he would have to follow Lin Shihua¡¯s orders and forcefully summon him out. Fortunately, Lin Tianming emerged in time, which alleviated his worries. Following a brief chat between the two, Lin Tianming first inquired about Lin Xingcheng regarding the current news in the Cultivation World. Especially concerning the Huangyang Kingdom, any significant movements by the Qingyun Sect were extremely important to him. After all, the Lin Family had just ended a major battle with Xu Zhi and others, having annihilated most of their forces. Since they had made enemies, with the strength of the Qingyun Sect in mind, they certainly would not take this lying down. Hence, the movements of the Qingyun Sect were Lin Family¡¯s and his biggest concern. Lin Xingcheng clearly understood this, and he did not dare to delay, promptly giving an overview of the situation in the Cultivation World. Learning that the Qingyun Sect had not amassed forces to invade, and not even a Qingyun Sect cultivator had been detected in the vicinity of the Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. Given the strength of the Qingyun Sect, even if the Lin Family now had four Golden Core combatants, in a full-out clan-annihilating war, the Lin Family would certainly be no match for them. Yet, the Qingyun Sect had oddly made no move against the Lin Family and had instead shifted their direction of attack, launching a new offensive from other areas bordering the Wei Kingdom. As for the other two major sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, they continued their assaults deep into the Wei Kingdom, with both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect suffering significant losses. Currently, both Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect were contracting their lines to avoid a direct confrontation with the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom. This seemed to be a deliberate stalling tactic. Learning this news, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also became solemn. However, those tricky matters were not his to worry about right now. After all, having endured for so many years, Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, with the support of the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family, would not fall to the Golden Sword Sect in a short time. And since the Qingyun Sect had not immediately bothered the Lin Family but had changed their direction of attack, it was clear they planned to temporarily avoid the Lin Family¡¯s edge. In this case, the Lin Family likely wouldn¡¯t face any danger in the short term. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Lin Tianming gave a series of instructions, telling Lin Xingcheng to prepare for defense and various emergency situations to avoid unnecessary losses during this turbulent time. In response, Lin Xingcheng nodded, affirming that he had made all the emergency preparations. Soon after, Lin Xingcheng also brought up the message from Lin Shihua, asking him to return to the clan territory as soon as possible. Knowing this, Lin Tianming felt puzzled. Could it be that some unexpected event had happened on the family side? Or had Fifteenth Grandfather achieved a breakthrough in reaching the Golden Core Stage? Unfortunately, Lin Xingcheng did not know the specifics, clearly Lin Shihua had not elaborated. But after some contemplation, Lin Tianming realized that Lin Shilu had been in closed-door cultivation for around two to three years. Judging by the timeline, it was about time for some results. Lin Tianming thought to himself, assuming that there had been significant progress with Lin Shilu. Finally calming down a bit, he planned to immediately set off to return to the family. After Lin Tianming mentioned leaving Luoyun Market, Lin Xingcheng casually took out more than a hundred storage bags and handed them over to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tian Ming, these are the spoils from annihilating those Qingyun Sect disciples. Your uncle collected them and hasn¡¯t touched them; now they are yours!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming did not refuse, taking the storage bags into his possession. These storage bags, mostly from Foundation Establishment Cultivators, also included some from the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, must have accumulated considerable value. However, having killed Meng Qingfeng and acquired a vast amount of wealth and treasures, Lin Tianming found himself quite well-off. The possessions of those Foundation Establishment Cultivators could no longer pique his interest. Thus, he decided to hand over all these storage bags to the family to enrich the family¡¯s treasure vault. After taking the storage bags, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with Lin Xingcheng and then stood up to bid farewell and leave. Silently, he left Luoyun Market and then rode the Purple Gold Eagle towards the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Chapter 837 837 450 ?Chapter 837: 450 Chapter 837: 450 Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. In a valley behind the main peak, deafening roars were echoing at the moment. On a clearing in the valley, Lin Shikang and several other members of the Lin Family of the same generation stood shoulder to shoulder. All of their gazes were fixed ahead, their faces showing worry. Following their line of sight, the sky within the valley was dim, and several huge Thunder Dragons flew out from the dark clouds, roaring towards Lin Shilu in the valley. Seeing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were also solemn, incessantly muttering something under their breath. At this moment, Lin Shilu was already covered in blood, with many wounds revealing his bones, and his aura was extremely chaotic, his complexion utterly bloodless. He straightened his slightly bent body, looking at the Thunder Dragon materializing from the Third Level Heavenly Tribulation above him, his deep eyes revealing a sharp glare. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Facing the deadly tribulation, Lin Shilu was not scared at all; instead, his morale was high. He knew how difficult the journey to this point had been, and that if he could survive this Third Level Heavenly Tribulation, he would become a genuine Golden Core Cultivator, and the Lin Family would also grow stronger. With this understanding, Lin Shilu¡¯s gaze was resolute. A flash of light in the defense artifact in his hand quickly formed a barrier above his head. At the same time, he patted his storage bag, and several Second Order talismans were activated, transforming into several walls in front of him. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In an instant, the Thunder Dragon struck the walls precisely. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Bursts of explosions followed one after another. The walls at the forefront were breached by the Thunder Dragon one after another, finally dissipating into specks of light in the dim sky. In the blink of an eye, all five walls had been breached, and the Thunder Dragon continued roaring towards him, showing no sign of retreating. However, Lin Shilu still felt a change; the speed of the Thunder Dragon had reduced, and its ferocity was significantly weaker than when it first appeared. Clearly, his several Second Order talismans had played a significant role, greatly weakening the Thunder Dragon¡¯s power. It was no wonder; he had witnessed several Golden Core Tribulations and had made ample preparations for this. Most of the Second Order Defense Talismans he used were of superior quality. Such generous defensive measures, even if they couldn¡¯t stop the tribulation completely, certainly helped in reducing its power. As expected, after being weakened by the defense talismans, the remaining power of the Thunder Dragon, though still strong, was clearly less terrifying than initially. Seeing the Thunder Dragon still approaching, he was confident he could block this lethal strike. As the Thunder Dragon drew nearer, Lin Shilu pinched a Law Decree, then spat a mouthful of blood onto the defense artifact he wore. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± After the odd noise, The defense artifact emitted light, clearly enhancing its defensive power. Just after he completed these actions, the Thunder Dragon had descended, striking the defense artifact accurately. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud noise resonated, and immediately, a silver light tore through the sky, with powerful Gang Wind sweeping forth and dispersing to all directions. At that moment, the defense artifact in front of him resisted momentarily, then burst apart completely. The power of the Thunder Dragon seemed greatly depleted too, its entire body becoming much less coherent. However, despite this, the Thunder Dragon still bit down towards him. Lin Shilu¡¯s expression turned severe. With no defense artifact to block, he had to rely on his physical strength to withstand this strike. In a critical moment, Lin Shilu, calm and composed, instantly threw a punch, clashing forcefully with the Thunder Dragon. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another loud bang was heard. The Thunder Dragon was shattered into pieces by the punch, with much of its body directly vanishing. However, some of the power of lightning continued to assault, striking Lin Shilu¡¯s chest. In an instant, his Daoist robe tore apart, revealing a cyan-colored inner armor. At this critical moment, the inner armor played its part, blocking most of the lightning power from reaching him. Yet, the power of this lightning was terrifyingly fierce, the slightest bit still possessing immense destructive force. Under this horrific strike, Lin Shilu was blasted away by the overwhelming power, his body smashing heavily onto the ground. Even while still in mid-air, he felt an immense force smashing down like a small mountain. At the same time, streaks of lightning power surged into his body, frantically coursing through him. The sensation was excruciating, causing his complexion to turn deathly pale, and his entire body trembled. As he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, Lin Shilu¡¯s energy drastically weakened. However, his consciousness was clear, and he did not lose consciousness. At that moment, he distinctly felt the Golden Core within his body tremble, the scant mana inside seemingly undergoing a transformation. Sensing this change, he hurriedly looked up at the sky to find that the Thunder Dragon had vanished, the dark clouds in the sky slowly dispersing, and the originally dim sky beginning to clear up. Seeing this, it was clear that he had survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation and had successfully advanced to the Golden Core Stage. At this moment, Lin Shilu was overwhelmed with excitement, a flush of color covering his originally pale face. Finally calming down a bit, Lin Shilu looked at his chest where the second Order Superior Defensive Inner Armor that had almost been completely destroyed, leaving him feeling a sense of alarm. Chapter 838 838 450 Another Golden Core_2 ?Chapter 838: Chapter 450: Another Golden Core_2 Chapter 838: Chapter 450: Another Golden Core_2 He knew in his heart just how powerful the lightning had been, although it had already scattered, even one-tenth of its strength still posed a potentially fatal threat. Without any other defensive measures left, all he had was this inner armor as his last line of defense. If not for the function of this inner armor, it was very doubtful whether he could have survived this ordeal. However, fortunately, all that was now in the past, and he had become a true Golden Core Cultivator, stepping into the ranks of High Order Cultivators. While he rejoiced, Lin Shikang and a few others, seeing the dispersing thunderclouds, had hurried over. From a distance, upon seeing Lin Shilu, Lin Shikang and the others were overjoyed, their faces brimming with excitement. ¡°Shi Lu, you¡¯ve entered the Golden Core Stage!¡± ... Lin Shikang called out from afar, his excitement obvious in his voice. The other Lin Family Members, Lin Shihua among them, likewise started to offer their excited congratulations, showing genuine emotion. Lin Shilu too showed a smile, his eyes glistening with tears as he emotionally responded, ¡°Third brother, I¡¯ve succeeded!¡± Hearing these words and seeing the deep emotion in Lin Shilu¡¯s eyes, Lin Shikang let out a hearty laugh. ¡°The Lin Family has welcomed its third Golden Core Stage Clansman, it seems we old folks are quite lucky!¡± Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. In reality, he had not expected the Lin Family to undergo such a drastic change. In his eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s progress over the years was truly incredible, and his own entry into the Golden Core Stage was extremely fortuitous. This included Lin Shilu¡¯s breakthrough, the tremendous growth of the Lin Family, and those who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage; all of these achievements were thanks to Lin Tianming. After all, the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items were obtained by Lin Tianming, and he was the one who could resolve every crisis faced by the family. It could be said that without Lin Tianming, it was doubtful whether the Lin Family could have survived the first crisis from the Golden Horn Mountain Jin Family. Considering Lin Tianming had accomplished so much in just over forty years of following the cultivation path, it wasn¡¯t an overstatement to regard him as the Lin Family¡¯s true Hidden Dragon. Now that Lin Shilu had also stepped into the Golden Core Stage and the Lin Family boasted three Golden Core Stage members, such significant changes filled him with genuine joy. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang¡¯s mood surged with excitement, unable to conceal his emotions. Once he had calmed down a bit, Lin Shikang began to offer some advice to Lin Shilu. ¡°Shi Lu, you¡¯ve also suffered considerable injuries, go into seclusion and cultivate to consolidate your cultivation, and only come out when it¡¯s proper to do so!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shilu nodded, then bowed with cupped fists to the three men and quickly vanished from their sight. Watching Lin Shilu depart, Lin Shikang and the other two exchanged smiles, chatted for a bit, and then each left the place. That day, inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling, Having just returned from Luoyun Market, Lin Tianming made a point to visit Lin Shikang right away. Receiving the message, Lin Shihua and a few others also came to Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling, where the four of them sat in the courtyard and chatted. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang and the others were thrilled. Not only because Lin Shilu had overcome the Threefold Lightning Tribulation a few days earlier and entered the Golden Core Stage Realm, but also because Lin Tianming had managed to kill Meng Qingfeng one-on-one and annihilated over a hundred Foundation Establishment Disciples of the Qingyun Sect, virtually wiping out the attacking force of the Qingyun Sect on the Luoyun Mountain Range. Such an impressive record of battle not only resolved the Lin Family¡¯s immediate predicament but also turned the tide of the situation. As for Lin Tianming, he remained quite calm, not at all complacent about his achievements. What he was more concerned about was the message from Lin Shihua, which he found rather puzzling. Immediately, he asked for the specific reason for it. Lin Shihua didn¡¯t delay and recounted the visit from Shao Changyi to the Lin Family in its entirety. Learning that the Lin Family had formed alliances with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect did not surprise Lin Tianming. In fact, he had anticipated this development. After all, with the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom attacking Wei Kingdom, he had figured Myriad Medicine Valley would find itself in a tough situation and would surely seek help from the Lin Family, knowing its strength. So it was only a matter of time before Myriad Medicine Valley sent someone to visit. Yet he hadn¡¯t expected Myriad Medicine Valley to value Lin Family so highly. Given their shortage of personnel, he thought that they would send only one or two Foundation Establishment Cultivators to the Lin Family, but to his surprise, it was Shao Changyi, a Golden Core Cultivator, who came knocking. What was even more unexpected was that Lin Shikang had negotiated the terms of the alliance successfully, securing the greatest benefits for the Lin Family. Knowing those terms, he realized they were indeed very important and advantageous to the Lin Family. And these were the things he hadn¡¯t anticipated. However, on the whole, every term served the Lin Family, after all, the family wasn¡¯t offering support for nothing; they naturally didn¡¯t have to be shy about securing the benefits they deserved from the stronger Myriad Medicine Valley. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt at peace, and saw nothing inappropriate in the Lin Family¡¯s demands. With the matter of the alliance communicated to Lin Tianming, he also learned of the family¡¯s arrangements for him. They wanted him to depart within half a month to render aid to the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate within the set deadline. To this, Lin Tianming had no objections and decided to set off after a few days of rest. Right after this, Lin Shikang and the others¡¯ faces lit up with joy as they brought up the story of Lin Shilu¡¯s successful transcendence of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Upon hearing this news, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He had been back to the family for only an hour and hadn¡¯t had the chance to inquire about Lin Shilu¡¯s progress in seclusion, yet unexpectedly, Lin Shilu had already entered the Golden Core Stage. For him, such good news was a tremendous cause for celebration. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He knew that his bond with Lin Shilu was not merely because they were both Lin Family members. Throughout the decades he had embarked on the cultivation path, Lin Shilu had been both a teacher and friend, not only imparting much guidance in cultivation but also often forging artifacts for him. Furthermore, the two had fought side by side countless times over the years, facing numerous perilous situations together. For him, Lin Shilu was both a senior family member and a guide on the Path of Immortality, a person of distinguished service. Now that Lin Shilu had also reached the Golden Core Stage, his heart, which had been in a state of suspense, was finally put to rest. After chatting idly for a while and sharing their joy, Lin Shikang also mentioned the spoils from the slaying of Xu Zhi. To this, Lin Tianming straightforwardly expressed that he had no need for those and that everything should be distributed by Lin Shikang. Besides this, Lin Tianming also took out numerous storage bags and handed them over to Lin Shihua. These items were the spoils from the Qingyun Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators, as well as a good portion of Meng Qingfeng¡¯s assets, all turned over to the family. He only kept those treasures that were useful to him. Items of the Second Order, unless they were extremely rare, he no longer needed them. But what he did not need could still be of great use to those Foundation Establishment Clansmen of the family. Regarding the spoils that Lin Tianming turned in, Lin Shihua and the others tried to convince him otherwise. But given Lin Tianming¡¯s significant wealth and his insistent attitude, Lin Shihua gave up. However, when it came to the matter of turning in Xu Zhi¡¯s Longsword Treasure, Lin Shikang immediately refused without any room for negotiation. In his eyes, Lin Tianming¡¯s combat power and potential were beyond comparison with any other member of the Lin Family. Furthermore, Lin Tianming was to be the first to head to Myriad Medicine Valley to join a battle of the ages. In the midst of a fray filled with Golden Core Cultivators, how could he exhibit his fighting prowess without his most handy Magical Treasure? If anything were to happen to him, wouldn¡¯t the Lin Family¡¯s painstaking efforts over the years crumble? Aware of this significance, Lin Shikang gave no opportunity to Lin Tianming for any objections, declaring that if he insisted, he would never accept anything from Lin Tianming again. Faced with Lin Shikang¡¯s resolute stance, and after some persuasion from Lin Shihua, Lin Tianming felt helpless and had to let the matter go. This attitude from the elders made him feel sincerely happy. ¡­ Chapter 839 839 451 Dry Jade Pill Beast Heart Pill ?Chapter 839: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill Chapter 839: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill Lin Tianming shifted the topic, discussing his plans for departure. Regarding his plans, Lin Shikang and the others took turns giving advice, as they were now involving in a major battle involving Golden Core Cultivators, including a few at the Late Stage Golden Core. Figures like Zhou Yunxiao, Han Hu, and Zhao Hongsheng were renowned, possessing immense strength. Participating in such an epic battle, even if Lin Tianming was unparalleled in combat, it still posed a great risk. Lin Tianming was aware of this, but the Lin Family had already been involved, leaving no room for retreat. Moreover, he had always been fearless in the face of challenges, especially since it was for his family, no matter how dangerous, he had to face the difficulties. Despite the dangers, he was confident in his strength. ... In response to the concerns of Lin Shikang and others, he solemnly promised to be cautious. Seeing his calm and confident eyes, Lin Shikang and the others were somewhat reassured. Afterward, the four of them chatted leisurely for a long time, sharing various news from the Cultivation World and speculating about many potential major events. Besides that, various new changes were made regarding the family¡¯s policies. It was deep into the night when the four of them dispersed, returning to their respective caves. After leaving Lin Shikang¡¯s cave, Lin Tianming and his grandfather Lin Shigong went together to his mother¡¯s cave. That night, Lin Tianming dined with Ren Yuxuan, and the three generations chatted for a long time. By now, with the resolution of the major battle outside their territory with Xu Zhi and Lin Shilu¡¯s successful Impact of Golden Core Stage, the family no longer concealed their cultivation levels. Nearly every clan member, including Lin Tianming, knew the real situation of the Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the Lin Family. During this period, the entire Lin Family was very lively, still in shock, for they had unexpectedly gained three Golden Core Stage Clansmen quietly. Such a significant change excited everyone. As for Ren Yuxuan, being Lin Tianming¡¯s mother, she had been kept in the dark earlier. Now knowing that Lin Tianming had entered the Golden Core Stage several years ago, she was truly happy and became increasingly reassured about him. As the night deepened, Lin Tianming and his grandson finally left and returned to their respective caves. Early the next morning, after a night¡¯s rest, Lin Tianming left his cave and went to the family¡¯s Treasure Vault. Seeing his appearance, the clan member guarding the vault was thrilled, eyes filled with admiration. Lin Tianming was quite courteous, greeting each other before directly entering the vault. Today, he came here following Lin Shikang¡¯s instruction, allowing him to pick some useful treasures. After all, most of Xu Zhi¡¯s wealth was collected here, and since Lin Tianming was the main hero in defeating him and was about to depart for the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate for the war, Lin Shikang worried about him going alone and let him choose some treasures to carry, boosting his combat power. Lin Tianming did not refuse Lin Shikang¡¯s kindness. He planned to see what useful treasures were available and hold on to them for now. With this purpose, after the protective wards were disabled, Lin Tianming directly entered the vault. Although he had always been a core member of the family and now had the strongest strength among all the clan members, This was his first time visiting the family vault, nonetheless. As he entered, he discovered that the Lin Family¡¯s Treasure Vault was a vast stone hall, quite broad and stretching over a hundred yards long. He saw shelves segregated into four areas, each filled with treasures of the same grade. After a quick scan, he saw countless treasures ranging from rare herbs to various Spiritual Ores and Demonic Beast Materials, with items from the First to the Fourth Tier present. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing these items was like discovering a complete resource treasury; there were many valuable treasures from the Third and Fourth Rank, and altogether, they were worth at least tens of millions. Unexpectedly, the family had accumulated such rich and quality assets. At that moment, Lin Tianming felt deeply gratified. He sighed deeply and then started walking deeper into the vault. Regarding the First Tier items, Lin Tianming naturally had no interest; he began browsing from the area with the Second Order Treasures. A period of time enough for one cup of tea passed. Lin Tianming had walked through the entire area with Second Order Treasures. With his high standards, although the number and variety of Second Order items were vast, he only picked a few rare Spiritual Medicines and then left that area. He directly went to the zone containing Third Order Treasures. The quantity here was much less, and the grades were extremely limited, but their value was second only to the Fourth Tier area in the entire vault. Lin Tianming casually picked up a piece of Dark Star Grass, a Third Order Spiritual Medicine that was a main ingredient for the Spirit Dragon Pill, which could be of some use to him. But given his current responsibilities, he had no spare time to engage in Alchemy in the short term. Otherwise, he would have liked to stay in the clan territory, cultivate for a few years, and advance his Alchemy to the Third Tier first. Given that he had the Eye of Five Colors, which would facilitate his advancement, elevating his Alchemy to the Third Tier should take no more than one or two years. Chapter 840 840 451 Dry Jade Pill Beast Heart Pill_2 ?Chapter 840: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill_2 Chapter 840: Chapter 451: Dry Jade Pill, Beast Heart Pill_2 Even knowing he had a plan, he had to abandon the thought. Moreover, it was foreseeable that once he reached the main battlefield of Myriad Medicine Valley, there would be little free time for alchemy. This thought could only be implemented after the war ended and the Wei Kingdom had restored peace. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming put down the Dark Star Grass and continued to select treasures. He soon left the area, taking only a jade slip and a few Third Order talismans. The jade slip contained experiences of a Third Order Alchemy Master, and he had no idea where it had come from. Of the five Third Order talismans, three were Attack Talismans and two were Defense Talismans, all of them were low-grade. ... These items were useful to him; he planned to review the Alchemy Master¡¯s experiences in the next few days and then return them to the treasure vault before leaving the Lin Family. As for the Third Order talismans, there were more than ten in the treasure vault, he took five with him, which should be of some use in the big battle at Myriad Medicine Valley. The rest of the Third Order talismans were left for Lin Shikang and others. He had not heard of any family possessing these items before; they seemed to have come from Xu Zhi. Regardless, as they were now treasures of the Lin Family, he, as a Golden Core Stage family member, naturally had the right to use them. After leaving this area, Lin Tianming went to the place where the Fourth Order items were kept. There were very few treasures there, only three in total: a Fourth Order Brahman Star Grass and two Fourth Order Spirit Ores, namely Gengjin Metal and Jade Emperor Stone. The value of these three items was considerable; the small mound of Gengjin Metal was left by the ancestors, and the latter two were likely acquired after defeating Xu Zhi. For now, he had no use for these items, but they could be used later in refining Magical Treasures, particularly some Gengjin Metal and Jade Emperor Stone. With these two Fourth Order Spirit Ores, along with the large chunk of Dye Stone he had acquired, he would definitely be able to refine a true divine weapon. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming grew somewhat impatient. Finally managing to suppress the sense of anticipation inside him, he gradually regained his calm. Without further delay, Lin Tianming placed the Jade Emperor Stone back in its original position and then directly exited the treasure vault. Upon seeing Lin Tianming emerge, the guarding clan members reactivated the protective formation. After chatting briefly and recording the treasures he had taken, Lin Tianming left the place and returned to his own cave dwelling. Back in the secret chamber of his dwelling, Lin Tianming sat down on the floor. There were still a few days before he planned to leave the clan, and he needed to make use of the time to understand the alchemy experiences he had acquired from the treasure vault. With time pressing, he no longer delayed and immediately began to review the jade slip. In the blink of an eye, four days had passed. During these days, through his contemplation, the content inside the jade slip had been firmly embedded in his memory, and he had simulated it multiple times. Now, he had mastered the content recorded in the jade slip and had obtained a large number of pill formulas. Although most of them overlapped with the formulas he knew, there were still two formulas that were quite interesting. One of the formulas was for Dry Jade Pill, which seemed to be an ancient elixir with a Third Order grade and had significant benefits for Body Cultivators. This formula was new to him, and its main ingredient, Dry Jade Grass, had also not been heard of in the Wei Kingdom. Regarding this elixir, he was somewhat skeptical. Nevertheless, he was very interested in it. His cultivation technique had a heavy drawback; any consumption of elixirs to enhance cultivation was bound to bring immense pain. He had experienced this feeling countless times during the Qi Refinement Realm. Later, he found several elixirs for body cultivation which helped suppress the pain, allowing him to successfully cultivate up to the present. Now that he had progressed to the Golden Core Stage, the pills he used during the Foundation Establishment Stage would no longer suffice. In such a situation, if he wanted to enhance his cultivation through elixirs during the Golden Core Stage, he would need to find an elixir that could suppress the pain. Therefore, although he had obtained quite a few Spirit Dragon Pills in recent days, without any elixirs to suppress the pain, he dared not commence cultivation. At this rate, finding a Third Order Pill had become imperative. However, as fate would have it, although the authenticity of the Dry Jade Pill was uncertain, he had to try it to resolve his cultivation difficulties. Understanding this, Lin Tianming firmly kept this matter in mind, intending to use the power of the family to collect Spiritual Medicine and various auxiliary materials. He himself would also continue to pay attention and try every possible method. Regarding another pill formula, it recorded a pill named the Beast Heart Pill. He had never heard of this pill formula before, but it was equally useful to them. The pill had a certain probability of helping Second Order Demonic Beasts break through to the Third Order, serving a similar purpose to the Golden Core Pill used by cultivators, only targeted at different beings. This elixir was also a Third Order Pill, and he had never heard of this elixir existing. According to his conjecture, it was probably an Ancient Pill Recipe, perhaps forgotten by cultivators because the main ingredients were too rare. The effect of this pill was also exceptionally miraculous, being equivalent to the existence of a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, and naturally, its value was not low. If he could acquire this pill, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, and the Soul-eating Spider inherited from his ancestors under his command all had a chance to reach the Third Order. If such a day came, the overall strength of the Lin Family could be elevated to a higher level. It could be said that if the Beast Heart Pill really existed, he must try it for the sake of those Spirit Beasts under his command. Understanding this, Lin Tianming held these two types of elixirs deep in his heart, planning to attempt it at any cost. As the day of departure drew nearer, Lin Tianming had to end his brief seclusion. That morning, he left his cave dwelling and returned the Jade Slip to the family¡¯s treasure vault. Following that, before leaving the family, he specifically visited Clan Leader Lin Shihua. Upon meeting, he brought up the matter of the Dry Jade Pill and the Beast Heart Pill immediately, listing the required Spiritual Medicine on a checklist, asking Lin Shihua to secretly collect the necessary Spiritual Medicine and auxiliary materials. Lin Shihua was excited and promised to mobilize the entire clan to secretly collect all required materials. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming no longer delayed, soon expressing his intention to depart. With little time to spare, Lin Shihua did not hold him back, and after giving a few instructions, personally escorted Lin Tianming to the mountain gate. At that moment, Lin Tianming and another stood waiting at the square in front of the mountain gate. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, a shadow swiftly tore through the sky and landed behind Lin Tianming. Seeing the arriving Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming was instantly delighted, as Little Diao had, during these days, advanced to the Second Order Late Stage. Now, Little Diao had already reached the Second Order Late Stage of flying beasts, and with the upgrade in grade, its feathers had become more vibrant, with some of its previous gray feathers turning golden. Over these years, Little Diao had also consumed quite a few Demon Beast Inner Pills and various parts of Demonic Beasts. Moreover, Lin Tianming occasionally took out corpses of Purple Gold Eagles and Demon Cores for it to consume. For Little Diao, these corpses and Demon Cores of its kind were truly precious treasures. Having consumed so much, this creature finally advanced, not only upgrading its grade but also purifying its Gold-winged Roc bloodline substantially. Now that he was about to set out on a journey, Little Diao timely upgraded its tier. With its current flying speed, it could undoubtedly increase significantly, making his travel both safer and quicker. With this in mind, Lin Tianming satisfiedly stroked Little Diao¡¯s head, praising it unintentionally. Excited by Lin Tianming¡¯s affirmation, Little Diao was quite elated. After frolicking for a while, Lin Tianming stopped delaying and, with Little Diao, exited the Protective Clan Formation. Following that, he mounted the back of Little Diao. Shortly afterward, the Purple Gold Eagle shot up into the sky, rapidly heading northward and swiftly disappearing into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 841 841 452 First Entry into Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 841: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley Chapter 841: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley More than two weeks later. At the Yuxu Mountain Range, atop a mountain, the figures of Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Throughout this period, Lin Tianming had been continuously on the road, stopping only briefly for one night at Golden Horn Mountain and Qianchuan Market. After delivering a substantial amount of cultivation resources to his clan members, he set out once again the next day. After more than half a month of relentless traveling, he too was quite exhausted. Fortunately, despite the distance being vast, the journey had been smooth, and he was nearly arriving at the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked haggard. He took out a map and checked it before continuing to fly forward. The map he had just used was left by Shao Changyi during his visit to the Lin Family. It depicted a hidden entrance to the Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. ... For this reason, he had also made a copy to carry with him, specifically to avoid entering through the main gate of Myriad Medicine Valley, which could easily attract the attention of the Golden Sword Sect. In less than an hour, he arrived in front of a canyon. Looking around, the area of this canyon was not small; one couldn¡¯t see its end at a glance, and the level of Spiritual Energy was extremely rich. He took out the map again, confirmed that this was indeed the location of the hidden Sect Gate of Myriad Medicine Valley. Next, he looked up and surveyed the depths of the valley for a long time. At this moment, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators flew out from the valley and swiftly came before Lin Tianming. These two were dressed in uniform, with the emblem of Myriad Medicine Valley embroidered on their chests, undoubtedly disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley. These two also approached Lin Tianming and respectfully performed a salute. ¡°Is the visitor Elder Lin?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then continued, ¡°I was invited by Shao to lend a helping hand to your esteemed sect!¡± Hearing this, the two did not doubt his words, obviously having been instructed by their superiors and having seen his portrait. ¡°Elder Lin, please wait a moment, I will inform the Sect Leader!¡± One of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators nodded respectfully, uttered a comment, and then quickly sent out a message. Soon, Shao Changyi flew out from the valley and came before the three. From a distance, Shao Changyi greeted with a smile, his voice loud and clear. ¡°Ha ha¡­ The Lin Family is a long distance from here, you arrived quite fast, Lin!¡± ¡°The situation of your esteemed sect is dire, time waits for no one!¡± ¡°And I have not yet fully recovered from my injuries, alas, since Elder promised a time, I had no choice but to hastily leave seclusion and embark on the journey to your esteemed sect.¡± Lin Tianming politely replied, his face showing a pale look, as if he hadn¡¯t yet recovered from a serious injury. Seeing his expression, then noting Lin Tianming¡¯s weary appearance, Shao Changyi¡¯s face brightened, not wanting to dwell on the subject. Then, he instructed the disciples beside him briefly before inviting Lin Tianming into the valley. The two companions walked together, passing through the valley to arrive in front of a secret door. Obviously, Myriad Medicine Valley, like the Lin Family, had a Mountain Protection Array with a main entrance and also a secret door, and perhaps even more doors as well. Such arrangements were not unusual among the myriad forces of the Cultivation World. As the saying goes, a wise rabbit has three burrows, let alone cultivators capable of devastating destruction. Thus, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t say much, waiting for Shao Changyi to open the formation, and the two entered one after the other. After entering the Sect Gate, the entire scene instantly changed. Looking around, the view showcased mountains of uneven heights, lush jungles interspersed with rocks, and gaps filled with various exotic flowers and plants, creating a picturesque scene of birds singing and flowers giving off fragrance. Moreover, many mountains were populated with various courtyards, with numerous uniformly-dressed cultivators flying on swords over those mountain peaks. This bustling scene exhibited vibrancy. The number of cultivators in front was not small, most in the Qi Refinement Realm, but the ratio of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was also not low. It was evident that the cultivation of Myriad Medicine Valley Disciples was substantial, their overall strength formidable, truly worthy of a sect with thousands of years of heritage. Seeing such a scene and feeling the rich Spiritual Energy here compared to the Lin Family Clan Grounds was indeed on an entirely different level. At that moment, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Such millennia of heritage truly should not be underestimated. The Lin Family has a long journey ahead to reach this level!¡± It wasn¡¯t about dampening others¡¯ aspirations; feeling this way was actually quite natural. After all, the rise of the Lin Family had been too short, amounting to only forty or fifty years. In such a short period, the Lin Family had only a few dozen people at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with the majority still at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, and those at the late stage of Foundation Establishment could be counted on one hand. And now, the scene before him included many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with some even at the late stage. And this was just a tip of the iceberg for the Myriad Medicine Valley disciples; if they assembled their tens of thousands of disciples, likely the Foundation Establishment Disciples alone would number in the thousands, with a considerable number in the late stage. Such profound heritage could only be possessed after a millennia of legacy. Therefore, such a foundation could not be matched by the Lin Family, a nouveau riche, in a short period. The Lin Family would need collective effort to reach this step, eventually achieving such a foundation one day. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming also understood the significant responsibility he bore, and his resolve strengthened even more. Recollecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming appeared composed, and under Shao Changyi¡¯s company, the two flew in a certain direction. Chapter 842 842 452 First Entry into Myriad Medicine ?Chapter 842: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Chapter 842: Chapter 452: First Entry into Myriad Medicine Valley_2 Along the way, Shao Changyi patiently introduced Myriad Medicine Valley, showing much courtesy. Lin Tianming listened intently, occasionally expressing his admiration. Soon, the two traversed several deep mountains and arrived at a grand hall. There, he also met Zhou Yunxiao, the Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley. Regarding this renowned person who had been a prominent figure in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for many years, Lin Tianming was also quite polite. After exchanging a few courteous remarks, Zhou Yunxiao warmly entertained him, thanking him for rushing to support Myriad Medicine Valley in a critical battle. Facing Zhou Yunxiao, who was at the Late Stage Golden Core, Lin Tianming did not dare to put on airs and was extraordinarily polite throughout. ... Subsequently, Lin Tianming also inquired about the current situation. According to Zhou Yunxiao, Myriad Medicine Valley was currently under close surveillance by the Golden Sword Sect, and the battles continued incessantly, erupting once every month or so into a major Golden Core battle. Over the years, the offensive intensity of the Golden Sword Sect had continuously increased, and the frequency of Golden Core battles had grown higher, resulting in many cultivators of the same level getting injured, and there had even been deaths. Just last month, a major battle broke out, resulting in hundreds of Foundation Establishment Disciples killed or injured; Luo Anzhong had been heavily injured and narrowly escaped with his life. If this continued, another major battle would erupt before long. They were exhausted from coping yet had no choice but to face combat since the Mountain Protection Array of Myriad Medicine Valley had been significantly weakened over the years. Without confronting the enemy, the Mountain Protection Array wouldn¡¯t last much longer, and a fight to the death was still inevitable. If it came to that, the low-level disciples of the sect would inevitably become a hindrance, and their situation would only worsen. Thus, Myriad Medicine Valley had no choice but to hastily engage in battle, even if it meant sacrificing some disciples, as it was still better than complete annihilation. Fortunately, although the situation wasn¡¯t optimistic, the Lin Family had joined their alliance, and perhaps this could turn the tide in the future. At this moment, Lin Tianming heard Zhou Yunxiao say this in person, his expression became very grave. He hadn¡¯t expected Myriad Medicine Valley to be in such a dire situation, yet even so, he didn¡¯t feel any fear. In his view, even if Myriad Medicine Valley was defeated, although this would greatly affect the Lin Family, it would not be fatal. At worst, the Lin Family could abandon their ancestral land and leave the Wei Kingdom; as long as they didn¡¯t live in Qingzhou, even if the Blood Red Alliance was powerful, it would be difficult to reach them in other provinces. Moreover, the Lin Family was no longer as helpless as before. After all, they had three Golden Core Stage Clansmen, and unless faced with Late Stage Golden Core or Nascent Soul Cultivators, the Lin Family still had substantial resistance. Given a hundred years, Lin Tianming could even advance to the Mid Stage Golden Core and possibly even to the Late Stage and Great Perfection Realm. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By that time, the Lin Family would be fully capable of self-defense and could return to their ancestral land. However, unless absolutely necessary, the Lin Family didn¡¯t want to take that step. For now, the main goal was still to repel the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance. Knowing this, Lin Tianming inquired to Zhou Yunxiao. ¡°Daoist Zhou, what arrangements do you have for me next?¡± Upon hearing the inquiry, Zhou Yunxiao pondered for a moment and then replied, ¡°Lin, you¡¯ve just arrived at our sect and have traveled a long way, you must be tired.¡± ¡°Moreover, I noticed your aura is unsteady, and it seems your injuries haven¡¯t fully healed. Why not rest for a while? When we¡¯re short of people, I¡¯ll send a message to you. How does that sound?¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao say this, Lin Tianming was quite surprised. He had thought Zhou Yunxiao would hastily arrange for him to enter battle, but instead, Zhou Yunxiao intended to let him recuperate for a while before joining the fight. This action aligned perfectly with his wishes. He planned to briefly seclude himself to refine the Qinghong Longsword treasure gifted by Xu Zhi so he could exhibit greater strength in the upcoming battles. Since Zhou Yunxiao had already offered, he saw no reason to refuse the kindness. With that, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly and said, ¡°That¡¯s excellent!¡± ¡°I¡¯m indeed not in condition and do need to close myself off for cultivation!¡± ¡°But do not worry, Daoist Zhou, within no more than half a year, I will definitely be able to join the battle. By that time, you can fully give the signal to me!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, then turned to Shao Changyi next to him and instructed, ¡°Shao, take Daoist Lin to find a cave dwelling. Make sure to instruct disciples to treat him well; remember not to neglect him!¡± ¡°Sect Leader Brother, rest assured all is well!¡± Shao Changyi gave Zhou Yunxiao a bow before Lin Tianming also bowed and, together with Shao, they left the grand hall. Under the guidance of Zhou Yunxiao, the two made their way to a secluded valley. Through Shao Changyi¡¯s introduction, they learned that this secluded valley was specially prepared by Myriad Medicine Valley as a retreat for Golden Core Cultivators from various forces. There, they discovered the cave dwellings of Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, as well as a Golden Core Cultivator each from the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family, all of whom were currently in retreat. As soon as the two arrived, several Myriad Medicine Disciples immediately came forward to greet them, seemingly specially assigned to serve the Golden Core Cultivators. Shao Changyi also introduced Lin Tianming¡¯s identity, which surprised the Myriad Medicine Disciples a good deal. They hadn¡¯t expected the Lin Family to rise quietly and to have been invited to join this great battle. And they had also heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s achievements over the years. Seeing him in person now, so young, was a great surprise. Nonetheless, Lin Tianming paid it no mind and followed Shao Changyi deeper into the valley. Once inside, they felt the area was rich with Spiritual Energy, evidently the work of a High Order Spirit Gathering Array. Scattered through the valley were more than ten exquisitely arranged courtyards. At several of these courtyards¡¯ gates sat Cultivators, apparently guarding them. These individuals were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage, clearly not there to oversee the Golden Core Cultivators but to serve them. Lin Tianming, with Shao Changyi¡¯s introduction, soon chose a courtyard in a corner. After the transfer of the courtyard¡¯s Restriction Order Token, Shao Changyi and Lin Tianming chatted a bit more before Shao commanded a disciple and then took his leave first. Once Shao had left, the Myriad Medicine Disciple assigned to serve Lin Tianming bowed respectfully. Then, the disciple said, ¡°Elder Lin, I am at your disposal here. Please command me directly if there is anything you need!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ You may go now; I will send a message if I need anything.¡± Lin Tianming dismissed him with those words and entered the dwelling, leaving the disciple at the courtyard gate. Inside the courtyard, Lin Tianming went straight into the room and lay down on the stone bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep. Indeed, he had been very tired from traveling recently, and this sleep lasted a full day and night. The next day, he entered the practice room and immediately began to circulate his energy, adjusting his condition to its peak. Then, he finally took out the Qinghong Longsword in his hand. This magical treasure, crafted by Xu Zhi, had its power witnessed by him, and its quality was indeed very good. Originally intended for Lin Shikang, it ended up still in his possession. Now, having the time, it was necessary to refine it properly to maximize an increase in his strength. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasted no time, and forming a Law Decree with his hand, he bombarded the surface of the sword with trails of Spiritual Light. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The Qinghong Longsword hummed and, freed from his grasp, flew about crashing in every direction within the chamber. Seeing this, it seemed the Qinghong Longsword wanted to escape his control, but the Formation Barriers in the chamber prevented its escape. ¡°Hmph¡­ Even your previous master has perished; do you still seek to resist me?¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly and then with a single-hand grab, forcibly caught the Qinghong Longsword in his hand. The sword trembled continuously in his grasp. Lin Tianming paid no heed, continued to cast Law Decrees into the blade, and also summoned his Divine Sense to erase the residual Divine Sense in the Qinghong Longsword. At the same time, he was inscribing his own Divine Sense into the control matrix, intent on forcibly dominating the sword. Soon, the resistance from the Qinghong Longsword grew weaker, and finally, it hovered quietly above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Lin Tianming¡¯s movements did not cease, his focus entirely devoted to refining the sword. ¡­ Chapter 843 843 453 Golden Core Gathering ?Chapter 843: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering Chapter 843: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering A month and a half had passed. That day, inside the practice room, Lin Tianming was holding the Qinghong Longsword in his hand, his slender fingers touching the blade, then a satisfied smile appeared on his face. After spending more than a month, he had finally successfully refined the Qinghong Longsword, and now, this longsword had become his magical treasure. With this longsword in hand, he now had two magical treasures at his disposal. The Qinghong Longsword could be combined with his cultivation technique to unleash various sword move divine skills. The other, the Black Dragon Axe, could be used in conjunction with his powerful physical strength. Both had their characteristics, and he believed they could bring out his full strength. Unfortunately, Xu Zhi¡¯s defense treasure was almost destroyed, and Meng Qingfeng had no defense treasure at all. ... Even though he had killed both of them, he didn¡¯t obtain any defensive treasures, resulting in him still lacking a defensive magical treasure. In the upcoming great battles, he would only be able to rely on his own Green Scale Shield and the Blue Star Armor he always wore to withstand damage. Fortunately, his physical body was already formidable. With these two defense artifacts, combined with his inherent physical defense, it wasn¡¯t impossible to fend off attacks from Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators. However, if he were facing Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, relying solely on Second Order Defense Artifacts would probably be far from sufficient. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a result, he would have to be extra careful when facing Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators in the future, or he might suffer a great loss. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt helpless and could only think of ways to quickly supplement his defensive capabilities. However, Lin Shilu had yet to emerge from seclusion, and he had not yet reached the level of a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Relying on him to refine a treasure in a short span of time was not too realistic. That was the unfortunate reality. For now, he could only make do with Second Order artifacts for a while, and during the subsequent time, take the opportunity to collect materials or maybe even kill another Golden Core Cultivator with a defense treasure to obtain their spoils. The difficulty of this task was not small, however, as Golden Core Cultivators weren¡¯t so easy to kill off, let alone those equipped with defensive magical treasures. ¡°Let it be. Take one step at a time, and let nature take its course,¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, trying to console himself. Bringing his mind back to the present, Lin Tianming looked at the Qinghong Longsword in his hand and decided to rename the sword. After all, it was now his magical treasure, and it was only natural to give it a new name. After some thought, Lin Tianming came up with several names and eventually decided to call it the ¡°Qinghong Sword.¡± In his eyes, the Lin Family Clan Grounds were located on Green Bamboo Mountain, and the longsword¡¯s body had streaks of green and rainbow colors, so the name seemed quite fitting. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming stored the Qinghong Sword in his storage bag. Then, he closed his eyes and began to meditate. Time swiftly passed, and another two months went by. He had been at Myriad Medicine Valley for over three months. During this period, Lin Tianming had been cultivating in his cave dwelling without ever leaving, not even the Myriad Medicine Disciples who served him had received a single summoning from him. After such a long period of seclusion, the Qinghong Sword had been re-refined, his injuries had completely healed, and he was in peak condition. Until today, a summoning message flew into his practice room. At that moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes. After reading the contents of the message, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. ¡°Daoist Zhou is summoning me to discuss military affairs at this time. Could it be that the Golden Sword Sect is planning something big?¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, his eyes reflecting a puzzled look. Soon, he put his doubts aside and ultimately got up and left his cave dwelling. Before long, he arrived at a grand hall. At this moment, several cultivators were already seated inside, including Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, whom Lin Tianming had met several times. As for the others, they were Shao Changyi from Myriad Medicine Valley, and two cultivators whom Lin Tianming found somewhat unfamiliar. However, after some thought, he recognized their identities as Li Yinghe from the West River Li Family and Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family. At that time, Shao Changyi was entertaining Chen Jingtian and others, engaging in intermittent casual conversation. Upon seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Shao Changyi quickly stood up and greeted him politely. ¡°Lin Daoist, come over here and have a seat!¡± After speaking, Shao Changyi led Lin Tianming over to Chen Jingtian and others, introducing Lin Tianming¡¯s identity to them. At the same time, he also introduced Chen Jingtian and Li Wenhe to Lin Tianming. In the face of these distinguished and powerful figures in Wei Kingdom, Lin Tianming was very polite, saluting Chen Jingtian and the others as a greeting. In turn, they courteously returned the gesture, showing no hint of underestimating Lin Tianming. Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu looked at Lin Tianming with surprise. They obviously did not expect that Lin Tianming would have entered the Golden Core Stage so swiftly. After all, just ten years ago, Lin Tianming also participated in repelling a beast horde, with Chen Jingtian leading the team from Zhenyang Sect and Lan Yu also in attendance. Back then, Lin Tianming was only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, and he performed outstandingly in the battle, having had several encounters with Chen Jingtian. In such a short time, not only had Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation broken through to the Golden Core Stage, but even the aura faintly emanating from him left Chen Jingtian somewhat shocked. Not only that, Chen Jingtian also took the initiative to compliment Lin Tianming: ¡°Lin Daoist truly lives up to being one of Wei Kingdom¡¯s geniuses. I, Chen, have great admiration for you!¡± Chapter 844 844 453 Golden Core Gathering_2 ?Chapter 844: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering_2 Chapter 844: Chapter 453 Golden Core Gathering_2 As soon as he finished speaking, Lan Yu on the other side chimed in. ¡°Daoist Zhou is right, Lin¡¯s cultivation speed is simply unimaginable; he must be one of the top-ranked existences in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World over the past thousand years!¡± Hearing Lan Yu and the others say this, Li Wenhe and Chen Maohua on the other side looked slightly taken aback, their originally calm faces now flushing with excitement, seemingly very interested in Lin Tianming. In their eyes, Chen Jingtian had reached Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, and his strength was there for all to see; even Xiang Changqing, who was at the same stage, was suppressed by him. Chen Jingtian, such a character, was a top existence among his peers in the Cultivation World. Even towards them, Chen Jingtian¡¯s attitude was lukewarm, as if he didn¡¯t value them very much. But such a person, who was aloof and proud, unexpectedly had such a high evaluation of Lin Tianming, who had just entered the Golden Core Stage; it made people take a fresh look. ... However, they were also aware that the reason Chen Jingtian had such an attitude might also be due to the stronger overall strength of the Lin Family. After all, they had received reliable information that the Lin Family now had four Golden Core Stage combat powers, and during the great battle of the Qingyun Sect invading the Luoyun Mountain Range, they had annihilated Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng in one fell swoop. It should be known that Xu Zhi was an established Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and his fame among all the High Order Cultivators in the entire Wei Kingdom was also remarkable. Although the Lin Family did not have as many family members as their two great families, the Lin Family had more Golden Core Cultivators and wholly possessed greater potential. Compared to their two great families, despite their longer heritage, they were indeed somewhat inferior to the Lin Family of today. Thus, it was not strange that Chen Jingtian attached more importance to the Lin Family. Understanding this, Li Wenhe and Chen Maohua also started to agree with the sentiments, clearly intending to make an alliance with the Lin Family and seek a powerful ally. After all, the strength of their Two Great Golden Core Families was much inferior compared to the Three Sects of Myriad Medicine Valley, and their say in the entire Wei Kingdom was also very limited. Now with the rise of the Lin Family, although their strength was also very formidable, compared to Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, the threat was naturally not on the same level. Moreover, the Lin Family was also a Golden Core Family and fundamentally different from the Sects. Under such circumstances, as family-based power structures, the two great families naturally prioritized forming an alliance with forces like the Lin Family. The benefits of allying with the Lin Family were much greater than those with a Sect, and they could gain more say and even more interests. Knowing this, Li Wenhe and Chen Maohua also spoke up frequently, actively echoing Lin Tianming¡¯s goodwill. Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse their kindness and soon started chatting with the few people. Half an hour passed. Lin Tianming quickly integrated into this group of Golden Core Cultivators. Their conversation was wide-ranging, covering various news within the Cultivation World, to each other¡¯s cultivation insights, and even the Four Arts of Cultivation. At the same time, through this exchange, their friendship deepened. Only when Zhou Yunxiao and a few other Golden Core Cultivators entered did the group cease their casual talks. At this moment, with the arrival of Zhou Yunxiao, Luo Anzhong, and Duan Liangyu, there were already nine Golden Core Cultivators gathered here. Among these people, Zhou Yunxiao was at Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation, Chen Jingtian, Luo Anzhong, Duan Liangyu, and Chen Maohua were all at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation. As for the others, including Lin Tianming, they were all at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. It was hard to imagine such a formidable force gathered together. This massive force, if facing any of the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom alone, probably wouldn¡¯t take much effort to overthrow. However, even so, their situation was not very optimistic, because the forces on Golden Sword Sect¡¯s side were not inferior to theirs, even slightly stronger. And now that Zhou Yunxiao had summoned everyone, there must be some major move planned. Sure enough, after some pleasantries, Zhou Yunxiao went straight to the point, revealing the news of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s impending attack. Upon hearing this, the people present looked solemn, clearly aware of the formidable strength of Golden Sword Sect. Although they were also strong, they dared not be careless. After a moment of silence, Chen Jingtian finally spoke, ¡°Daoist Zhou, do you have any plans now that you have gathered us here?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then replied, ¡°We have tried to avoid these few rounds of major battles as much as possible, looking for ways to delay!¡± ¡°Now the offensive from the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom is getting fiercer and fiercer, and our territories have suffered heavy losses; we cannot delay any longer.¡± ¡°As Lin¡¯s Daoist friends have joined us, it is time for us to take the initiative and strike, to see if we can break the stalemate!¡± ¡°In my view, over the next half-year, two more Daoist friends from the Lin Family will support us. I hope that before their arrival, we can eliminate a fraction of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s forces.¡± ¡°By that time, we will be able to join forces with all the Daoists and launch a counterattack to thoroughly drive back the Golden Sword Sect!¡± Upon hearing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words, Chen Jingtian was the first to nod in agreement. His view was quite similar to Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s. After all, the territory under the Zhenyang Sect was also under attack by the Qingyun Sect; Zhu Yun, who had been defending Qingshui Market for years, had to constantly fend off the assaults of Song Hanchun. Now, with the Qingyun Sect joining in, the pressure on Zhu Yun¡¯s defenses had significantly increased. If they didn¡¯t counterattack, the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom would continue to escalate their onslaught, and within a year, perhaps most of their territory would be devoured. Once their territories were nearly devoured, the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom would surely join forces with the Golden Sword Sect and then attack the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. If that happened, the Golden Sword Sect, already having the upper hand, coupled with several Golden Core Cultivators from the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom, would become even more fearsome. By then, even if the Lin Family were to support them with two more Golden Core Cultivators, they would still be unable to gain the upper hand. Such a situation could lead to substantial losses for both Great Sects, even to the point of potential annihilation. Instead of being boiled like a frog in warm water and annihilated, it would be better to take the initiative and strike first, trying to break the deadlock before the Golden Core Cultivators from the Three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom could join forces. This would also prevent them from falling into even greater trouble. Chen Jingtian clearly understood Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s intentions and, considering the interests of their Sects, couldn¡¯t possibly refuse Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s plan. He was well aware that Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were now in the same boat, sharing both prosperity and loss. Knowing this, Chen Jingtian also spoke up to express support for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s plan. Following Chen Jingtian¡¯s lead, Zhou Yunxiao turned his gaze to Lin Tianming and the few Golden Core Cultivators from his Family. ¡°What do you few Daoist friends think of the plan to take the initiative to strike?¡± At that moment, facing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s inquiry, the usually silent Lin Tianming and others exchanged a glance, seemingly united in their stance. ¡°Daoist Lin, have you formed an opinion?¡± Zhou Yunxiao urged, clearly valuing Lin Tianming¡¯s viewpoint. Seeing that Zhou Yunxiao had singled him out, Lin Tianming, although reluctant to make a statement, felt he had to say something. After all, as the leader of this group, Zhou Yunxiao, with his Late Stage Golden Core cultivation, was formidable enough, and Chen Jingtian was also advocating for a proactive strike. Being the weaker party, they couldn¡¯t likely change their plan with any differing opinions. Instead of causing friction over some disagreements, it would be better to go with the flow and actively speak up to leave a good impression. They had come with the purpose of driving back the Golden Sword Sect, even to the extent of annihilating them. With that in mind, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°I have no objections,, everything may follow Daoist Zhou¡¯s arrangements!¡± As soon as he spoke, Chen Maohua and Li Wenhe hurriedly interjected, saying they had no objections either. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded with satisfaction and then spoke. ¡°Very well¡­ Golden Sword Sect is expected to launch an attack within the next couple of days. Let each Daoist make ready for battle!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Understood¡­ You can count on us, Daoist Zhou!¡± Chen Jingtian said earnestly, his eyes filled with a strong desire to fight. Lin Tianming and the others also nodded, their expressions turning solemn. They then discussed some details before each returning to their dwellings to prepare for the battle. ¡­ Chapter 845 845 454 First Battle ?Chapter 845: Chapter 454: First Battle Chapter 845: Chapter 454: First Battle The next morning at dawn. Outside the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, several flying boats appeared in the calm sky. Soon, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu stood side by side as they descended from the flying boat to the ground. Behind them were Xiang Changqing from the Golden Sword Sect and Yang Jun and Jin Weishan, two Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators from the Blood Red Alliance. In addition to these renowned powerful figures, there were also two Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators within, namely Yu Hongyan from the Golden Sword Sect and He Liqiu from the Blood Red Alliance. A total of seven Golden Core Cultivators, along with over a thousand Foundation Establishment Disciples, appeared outside the Mountain Protection Array. This significant force, upon appearing, immediately alerted the vigilant cultivators of the Myriad Medicine Valley. ... In an instant, three bell tolls rang out from Myriad Medicine Valley, rapidly spreading to every corner. Quickly, with sensations of the disturbance, Lin Tianming and the other eight Golden Core Cultivators all emerged, gathering in the plaza where the sect gate was located. At that moment, Lin Tianming stood behind Zhou Yunxiao, his sharp eyes peering through the formation, scrutinizing the formidable assembly outside. Aside from him, the others also stared at Zhao Hongsheng and his group outside the formation, their expressions grave. Opposite them, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were also sizing up the defensive great formation before them. After a few moments of silence, Zhao Hongsheng seemed to have no intention of wasting time and promptly unleashed a barrage of attacks, bombarding the Defensive Great Formation. The others, familiar with the defense of Myriad Medicine Valley from their previous assaults over the years, did not delay. They too erupted with various divine skills, fiercely bombarding the formation before them. Seven Golden Core Cultivators attacked together, including two at the Late Stage Golden Core. Such a formidable lineup delivered blows with immense power. In an instant, the sky was filled with various attacks, a myriad of colorful lights enveloping the heavens. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During this time, Lin Tianming watched as Zhao Hongsheng and the others¡¯ attacks direct hit the formation, creating powerful fluctuations that swept across the surrounding area. Simultaneously, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation operated at full capacity, a pale cyan light screen enveloping the front. Zhao Hongsheng and his group¡¯s attack was blocked by this light screen, eventually dissipating completely into the heavens and earth. Merely some ripples spread across the formation¡¯s light screen, and a halo of spiritual light flowed around it, indicating that the formation had been attacked. Lin Tianming also took note of this formation¡¯s defensive power. He had also witnessed the defensive power of the Third Order Great Array a few times before, especially during the beast tide¡¯s assault at Yuyao City when Zhenyang Sect had laid down a Third Order Great Array. That formation had endured the brunt of numerous demonic beasts¡¯ attacks until the beast tide ended without being breached. Although that formation was also exceptional, it was temporarily used to resist a beast tide, falling somewhat short in comparison to the formation before him. However, this formation was Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Mountain Protection Array, crucial to the fate of tens of thousands of cultivators in Myriad Medicine Valley and had been optimized and perfected by generations of cultivators, ensuring its defensive power would reach a terrifying level. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but inwardly exclaim; Myriad Medicine Valley truly deserved its reputation as a sect with a millennium of heritage. This Defensive Great Formation only trembled slightly under the barrage from Zhao Hongsheng and his group, showing that it was unlikely to be breached in a short time. This level of defensive power was indeed very impressive. Even within a Third Order Great Array, such defensive capability was an exceedingly rare existence. It even gave him the feeling that this formation was nearing a Fourth Order Great Array; with a Fourth Order Array Master to refine it further, it might not take much effort to elevate it to the Fourth Order. Such was the profound heritage of a millennium-old sect, incomparable to the rapidly rising Lin Family. Regathering his focus, Lin Tianming watched Zhao Hongsheng and others outside the formation, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s command to attack. Aside from him, the others were also prepared. Less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, after observing for a long while, Zhou Yunxiao made up his mind. He glanced at the people behind him and then spoke, ¡°Shortly, Zhao Hongsheng will be handled by me, while the two Daoist Chen and Brother Luo will take care of Han Hu.¡± ¡°Xiang Changqing will be hindered by Brother Duan, Jin Weishan will be opposed by Brother Shao and Li.¡± ¡°As for Lin, he will take care of Yu Hongyan. The remaining from the Golden Sword Sect, Dong Wenchang, and He Liqiu from the Blood Red Alliance will be held off by three of our sect¡¯s Third Order Spiritual Beasts.¡± Zhou Yunxiao made several arrangements in a row, allocating their nine Golden Core combat strengths, along with three Third Order Spiritual Beasts, to counter the eight Golden Core Stage combat strengths from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s side. ¡°Fellow Daoists, do you have any doubts regarding this?¡± After saying this, Zhou Yunxiao also looked behind him. Lin Tianming and the others all nodded their heads, then chorused, ¡°We have no doubts!¡± ¡°Good, get ready!¡± As soon as the words fell, Lin Tianming and the others all took out their respective Magical Treasures, gripping them tightly in their hands. A few breaths later, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were in a lull in their attack. Seeing this, Zhao Hongsheng slapped his Spirit Beast Bag, and three massive demonic beasts suddenly appeared behind the group. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Several roaring cries sounded as three Third Order Demonic Beasts opened their massive jaws and bellowed. Chapter 846 846 454 First Battle_2 ?Chapter 846: Chapter 454 First Battle_2 Chapter 846: Chapter 454 First Battle_2 Lin Tianming turned his head and found that the three Spirit Beasts were the Tianxing Jiao, the Huolin Hu, and the Giant-Tooth Red Monkey. Each of the beasts was massive in size, all at the Third Order Early Stage, and bore ferocious and fearsome appearances that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine at a mere glance. Yet, despite their fierce appearances, they were quite submissive in the presence of Zhou Yunxiao. It was evident that the Myriad Medicine Valley possessed strong foundations not only in terms of overall cultivation level of Golden Core Cultivators but also in their possession of Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Including Zhou Yunxiao and the other three Golden Core Cultivators, Myriad Medicine Valley had at least seven individuals with Golden Core Stage combat power. And this strength remained even after losing a Golden Core Cultivator in the previous great battle and a Spirit Beast during an attack by a horde of beasts. Without these losses, Myriad Medicine Valley alone would have nine Golden Core Combat powers. ... With such formidable power, it came as no surprise that Myriad Medicine Valley had been able to suppress the Zhenyang Sect and the Golden Sword Sect for thousands of years. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Lin Tianming was distracted, Zhou Yunxiao boldly issued the command to attack. ¡°Follow me and strike together, my fellow Daoists!¡± With a great shout from Zhou Yunxiao, the protective array of Myriad Medicine Valley opened, and he took the lead in rushing out. Soon, Chen Jingtian and several other Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators were quick to follow Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s steps and swept towards the outside of the formation. Lin Tianming flew out last, leaving the area covered by the array. Their appearance immediately drew the attention of Zhao Hongsheng and others. Zhou Yunxiao did not give them any time to react and launched an attack during this interval. Zhou Yunxiao made the first move, with a powerful attack targeting Zhao Hongsheng himself. Seeing this, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he leaped into the air with a cross, and the two quickly engaged in combat. Following this, Chen Jingtian and Chen Maohua set their sights on Han Hu of the Golden Sword Sect, with three Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators targeting the Late Stage Golden Core Han Hu. The rest also engaged with their pre-assigned opponents as per the plan, all clashing fiercely. In an instant, a large part of the sky was divided into several sections, each person fighting their predetermined opponent. Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent was Yu Hongyan, a woman in the Early Stage Golden Core from the Golden Sword Sect. He was somewhat surprised by this matchup. After all, in the impoverished Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, Golden Core Cultivators were rare, with female Golden Core Cultivators known to be singular. His opponent, dressed in a flowing red robe that made her slender figure appear somewhat fragile. But facing Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks, Yu Hongyan responded quickly, her counterattacks exceedingly tricky and ruthless, not at all what her appearance suggested. Lin Tianming also did not dare to underestimate her, continuously launching Tiangang Ninth Sword strikes aimed at her vital points. With the Qinghong Sword¡¯s attacks, its power indeed far surpassed the Tiangang Sword, a Second Order Magical Artifact. Under his barrage of attacks, Yu Hongyan was somewhat struggling, and after just a few exchanges, she seemed to be getting the short end of the stick. At this point, with a serious expression, Yu Hongyan launched her Hongling Magical Treasure, forcing the fiercely attacking Lin Tianming to retreat. After they both retreated a hundred zhang (a unit of length), they finally stabilized their positions. Yu Hongyan looked at Lin Tianming with an incredulous expression on her beautiful face. As a local cultivator in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, she had well known the details of the battle at the Lin Family. Initially, she thought that Lin Family¡¯s ability to kill Xu Zhi was entirely due to several people teaming up and Xu Zhi¡¯s underestimation, which led to their chance victory. She had also made prior guesses about Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. In her view, even if she couldn¡¯t kill Lin Tianming, gaining the upper hand was supposed to be not difficult. After all, Lin Tianming just entered the Golden Core Stage, with at most five years to his name, perhaps even without a Magical Treasure. Under these circumstances, his strength, however strong, was surely limited. ¡°Having finally crossed swords, she had come to understand that the Lin Family¡¯s defeat of Xu Zhi was no fluke. Especially Lin Tianming, who, in Luoyun Market, had single-handedly killed Meng Qingfeng of his own cultivation level. A newly advanced Golden Core being able to kill alone a cultivator who had been in the Golden Core stage for many years, it certainly wasn¡¯t accidental. At this moment, Yu Hongyan no longer had the initial contempt; her demeanor grew increasingly cautious. As Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks continued unabated, Yu Hongyan¡¯s expression turned serious, her hand¡¯s Hongling Magical Treasure bursting forth with a surge of red light. Instantly, the Hongling rapidly expanded and shot towards Lin Tianming. The Hongling traveled at great speed, and Lin Tianming had just managed to dodge, when the Hongling, without decreasing its speed, followed an incredible trajectory chasing after him. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also turned grave; his Eye of Five Colors flashed with spiritual light, capturing the trajectory of the Hongling in advance and dodging it at the last possible distance. With a crisp sound, a rock behind Lin Tianming suffered, instantly bound by the Hongling and turned into debris. Seeing this, Lin Tianming grew serious; he had not expected Yu Hongyan to be so powerful. The role played by the Hongling Magical Treasure was significant, its attacks strange and its speed incredibly fast. If not for the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, a normal cultivator would likely have been bound by the Hongling and ultimately crushed to death, without even a chance to struggle. As for Yu Hongyan, though she appeared as a frail woman, her methods were simple and violent, exceedingly cunning and ruthless. If one were not careful and fell for her tricks, it wouldn¡¯t just be injury, but crippling. Knowing this, Lin Tianming suddenly was fully alert, his attacks even more fierce. Soon, Lin Tianming and Yu Hongyan were once again locked in battle. After a few rounds of exchanges, neither had gained much advantage. But clearly, as time passed, relying on the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors and his richer combat experience, Lin Tianming again broke the deadlock, gradually gaining the upper hand and completely suppressing Yu Hongyan. At this moment, Yu Hongyan fully recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, her originally calm state of mind beginning to shift. Though the change was minute, such a fluctuation of mindset could be fatal at a critical moment. Indeed, as a burst of light emanated from the Qinghong Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, it suddenly shot out with incredible speed, piercing the sky, and ultimately striking Yu Hongyan¡¯s arm. Just before, Yu Hongyan had just blocked an attack from Lin Tianming, only to be blasted away by the powerful force. Before she could stabilize, she saw a Blue Longsword shooting towards her, mere tens of yards from her head. For a Golden Core cultivator, this distance was dangerously close. Facing this terrifying Flying Sword, she wanted to dodge, but the closeness and the formidable speed of the Blue Longsword made complete evasion unrealistic. In desperation, Yu Hongyan did everything possible to dodge away from the lethal blow. She was very clear that if she could successfully dodge the critical hit, even if injured, there was still a slim chance to turn defeat into victory. But if she couldn¡¯t evade the critical hit, she feared this strike would see her demise. Fully aware of its importance, Yu Hongyan fought with all her might. But Lin Tianming, having long harbored such plans and even deliberately exposing some flaws, how could he easily waste this rare opportunity? Thus, taking action at the best moment, Lin Tianming grievously wounded Yu Hongyan. Although this strike only severed one of her hands and did not end her life as he had imagined, Golden Core cultivators weren¡¯t so easily killed. At the very least, when facing an irreversible situation, they could always make the most advantageous decision in the shortest time and opt for the least loss. Obviously, Yu Hongyan did just that, sacrificing an arm to save her life temporarily.¡± Chapter 847 847 455 Ruthless Flower Crushing ?Chapter 847: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing Chapter 847: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing At that moment, Yu Hongyan, having escaped a disaster, was pale and ignored the pain in her body as she started to retreat rapidly. In the blink of an eye, she had created a distance of several hundred yards. When she stabilized her stance and then turned her head to look at Lin Tianming, she made a special gesture with her hands. Instantly, her entire facial features changed dramatically, and she transformed into Qin Xi, then spoke in a seductive tone, ¡°Husband¡­ come here quickly!¡± At this moment, when Lin Tianming saw Yu Hongyan transformed into Qin Xi before his eyes, he immediately became dazed and fell into a stupor. It was too realistic, so realistic that he couldn¡¯t help but immerse himself in it, walking towards Qin Xi without any guard. Soon, the distance between the two was less than a hundred yards. ... At such a distance, for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, it was merely a moment. Seeing this, a hint of joyous smile flashed across Yu Hongyan¡¯s pale face. Watching Lin Tianming getting closer, completely engrossed and unguarded, she now firmly believed that Lin Tianming had fallen for her Illusion Technique. Just a bit further, and she could end Lin Tianming¡¯s life without him being able to defend. At this time, it seemed that Yu Hongyan had already foreseen Lin Tianming¡¯s end and couldn¡¯t help feeling smug about it. Finally, Yu Hongyan made her move again, and the Hongling Magical Treasure shot out instantly, heading straight for Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Just then, Lin Tianming suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing across. Following that, his Qinghong Sword flew from his hands, stabbing toward Yu Hongyan with even greater speed. To deceive Yu Hongyan, he had realized early on with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors that she was using an Illusion Technique. Under the Eye of Five Colors, such illusion techniques were child¡¯s play, seemingly too simple. However, to deceive Yu Hongyan, he had still cooperatively played along, just to close the distance between them. After all, closing the gap was an opportunity for both parties. And he also seized this rare opportunity to annihilate Yu Hongyan. Yu Hongyan clearly did not expect that Lin Tianming had already seen through her, nor that he played along so convincingly. Now seeing that Lin Tianming was one step ahead, his attack and the timing of her activating the Hongling were almost the same, and his speed was even faster, leaving her almost unable to react. Watching the Qinghong Sword coming at her, Yu Hongyan¡¯s face turned a mix of shock and anger, too late to dodge. Continuing this way, either she had to withdraw Hongling and give up the attack, which might still not allow her to evade and instead could pose a great risk. In his view, the situation was the same for Lin Tianming. But she also understood that the situation was unfavorable to her, and without taking advantage of this moment to gain some upper hand, there was almost no possibility of defeating Lin Tianming, Realizing this, she could only gamble once, hoping that Hongling could threaten Lin Tianming and make him retract the Qinghong Sword to save his own life. However, having experienced various battles and extremely ruthless toward himself, Lin Tianming would not hesitate at such a moment. Moreover, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, even at such close distance, it was easier for him to find a chance than for Yu Hongyan. Since Yu Hongyan was fearless, with such conditions, he was even less afraid. In an instant, Lin Tianming made up his mind, not to retract his attack to save himself from danger. Not only that, but he also further controlled the Qinghong Sword, stabbing it toward Yu Hongyan. Seeing Lin Tianming not hesitating, his attack continued uninterrupted, and the speed even increased. At that moment, Yu Hongyan¡¯s face turned deathly pale, with an expression of shock and anger. Time continued to pass, and their attacks arrived as expected. In a flash, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword arrived first, chopping off Yu Hongyan¡¯s head directly. And Yu Hongyan died instantly, without even having time to let out a scream. But even though she was dead, her Hongling still came at him. At that moment, they were only a few dozen yards apart, and at such close distance, Lin Tianming could already feel a bit of warmth from Hongling. If he could not dodge, his fate might not be much better than Yu Hongyan¡¯s. In a desperate situation, Lin Tianming twisted his body, evading in a bizarre pose, barely brushing past Hongling. In that critical moment, the Eye of Five Colors once again played its role, finding the best possible escape path. And he seized this moment to save his life. Once he stabilized himself, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, also feeling extremely fortunate that if not for the beneficial Eye of Five Colors, even if he could kill Yu Hongyan, he would definitely have been hit by Hongling. If that were to happen, with his robust body, he would have been severely injured if not dead. However, Yu Hongyan certainly did not anticipate this; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have taken such a risk. Sadly, her luck was too bad, not only did her plans not work, but she also fell into Lin Tianming¡¯s trap, ending up perishing here. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But she couldn¡¯t see this outcome; perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, or else she could have died of rage. At this moment, Lin Tianming also recovered from his euphoria, not allowing his emotions to be disturbed in the slightest despite having harshly eliminated a threat. He casually collected Yu Hongyan¡¯s storage bag, as well as the Hongling Magical Treasure. These items were his spoils of war. The storage bag needs no mention, as the possessions of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator are naturally not trivial, definitely impossible to forsake. Chapter 848 848 455 Ruthless Flower Crushing_2 ?Chapter 848: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing_2 Chapter 848: Chapter 455: Ruthless Flower Crushing_2 As for the Hongling Magical Treasure, it was a bit of a pity, after all, it was an item used by female cultivators, and for him, a male cultivator, to use this thing would seem rather out of place. However, this item was also a fine Magical Treasure, and although he couldn¡¯t make use of it himself, once Qin Xi advanced to the Golden Core Stage, she could directly utilize this item. At worst, selling this item for other treasures was also an option, given that female cultivators in the Golden Core Stage were rare, and the Magical Treasures they used were even rarer. Therefore, if he were to sell this Hongling Magical Treasure, it might fetch a good price. After Lin Tianming collected his spoils of war, he turned his gaze to observe the situation on other battlefields. Looking around, the fierce battle between Zhou Yunxiao and Zhao Hongsheng, who were in the highest skies, was in full swing. Zhao Hongsheng and his opponent were both at the cultivation level of Late Stage Golden Core, the top echelon present here. ... Both their strengths were formidable, and the attack power they released was so great that even Han Hu, who was of the same realm, clearly felt somewhat inferior. The two fought back and forth, seemingly difficult to determine the better combatant. However, Zhao Hongsheng, coming from the Nascent Soul Forces, wielded exceptional quality Magical Treasures, and as the rounds of combat increased and their consumption grew, Zhao Hongsheng gradually seemed to gain the upper hand. But Zhou Yunxiao was similarly strong, with very little difference between the two, and it seemed unlikely that they would be able to determine a victor anytime soon. Yet, once the victor between them was decided, it was inevitable that a significant turning point in this great battle would occur. Lin Tianming wanted to help Zhou Yunxiao, but Zhao Hongsheng was indeed too strong; even if he went, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to intervene effectively. If luck was not on his side and he was severely injured by Zhao Hongsheng, or worse, lost his life, it would be such a waste. And he was only a clan cultivator, not worth taking that risk. Knowing this, Lin Tianming briefly scanned the overall situation and noticed that Chen Jingtian and his two allies were evenly matched against the Late Stage Golden Core Han Hu. However, Han Hu, being one of the three strongest individuals present, was not likely to be defeated easily, even faced with the joint effort of Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio. Understanding the power of Late Stage Golden Core experts, Lin Tianming knew they were formidable; despite his impressive strength, he was simply not a fatal threat to Golden Core Late Stage cultivators. Therefore, he would be better off focusing his energy elsewhere. Because he knew the current situation was close on both sides, with Late Stage Golden Core cultivators being key players unlikely to fall easily. In such a case, it would be better for his side to lower their targets, aiming to gain advantages where possible. Just now, by taking the initiative to eliminate Yu Hongyan, he had secured some advantage for Myriad Medicine Valley. If they continued to nibble away like this, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s camp would weaken more and more. When the time came, they could strike back in one fell swoop, inflicting heavy damage on the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s camp. Knowing that haste wouldn¡¯t bring success, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind and flew towards the battlefield where Xiang Changqing was. The reason for choosing Xiang Changqing was because his location was closest to Lin, and if he were to aid another battlefield, he would still need to pass by Xiang Changqing, inevitably becoming entangled in that fight. Besides, Xiang Changqing was currently being pressed hard by Duan Liangyu and had sustained some injuries, making him the prime target. There was no point in wasting time taking a detour; it was better to strike nearby and seize the opportunity to expand their victory. Having made his decision, Lin Tianming leaped forward and quickly arrived at Duan Liangyu¡¯s location. At that moment, the two had just clashed fiercely, each being knocked back hundreds of yards by the rebounding force. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Duan Liangyu¡¯s expression was one of excitement, and he was somewhat eager at heart. Meanwhile, Xiang Changqing, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, realized that Yu Hongyan had been killed, and his face suddenly turned even paler. ¡°Lin, quickly join me in taking down old ghost Xiang!¡± Duan Liangyu called out loudly, immediately initiating an attack. Seeing this situation, Xiang Changqing became furious and couldn¡¯t help but curse out loud. ¡°You brat, you dared to kill Junior Sister Yu and now you dare to attack me? You¡¯re simply courting death!¡± After Xiang Changqing spoke these harsh words, he felt a streak of fear inside. He was already at a disadvantage; with Lin Tianming joining Duan Liangyu, the combined force was sure to be even stronger, making it hard for him to hold on. His teammates were all locked in fierce combat, with only Dong Wenchang, at the Early Stage Golden Core, managing to hold a slight upper hand against a Third Order Spirit Beast. The rest could not spare any effort to aid him. Knowing his dire situation, Xiang Changqing was a mix of anger and shock, resorting to harsh threats in an attempt to intimidate Lin Tianming. However, Lin Tianming was battle-hardened with strength that was among the top of his peers at the Golden Core Stage. Moreover, he was already at a disadvantage and teaming up with Duan Liangyu would surely expand their accomplishments in battle. Thus, Lin Tianming did not hesitate and immediately coordinated an attack with Duan Liangyu. Lin Tianming, wielding the Qinghong Sword, unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword and furiously slashed at Xiang Changqing. His attack was swift, its angle tricky, creating a pincer situation with Duan Liangyu. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Their attacks descended, forcing Xiang Changqing to hastily respond. He waved a single hand, and two Third Order Defense Talismans transformed into barriers on his flanks to bluntly block the blow from Lin Tianming. Then seizing the opportunity, he swiftly retreated, dodging Duan Liangyu¡¯s attacks and activating his magical treasure to counterattack. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± After several explosive sounds, the two barriers shattered, and the Qinghong Sword pierced through, continuing its assault towards Duan Liangyu. However, the Qinghong Sword had lost much of its power due to the defense talisman, considerably slowing down. For Xiang Changqing, a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, avoiding such a weakened attack was not difficult. As the Qinghong Sword returned fruitlessly, Xiang Changqing also evaded Duan Liangyu¡¯s attack, only to be further injured by the powerful recoil. His mana depletion was significantly increased. But at the moment, his only option was to defend passively and try to buy time, hoping his teammates could free themselves to assist him. However, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were each handling their adversaries, and even Han Hu, who cared about him the most, was firmly pinned down by Chen Jingtian and his two companions, leaving no opportunity for help. Isolated and without support, Xiang Changqing continued to be at a disadvantage. Under the combined assault from Lin Tianming and his ally, Xiang Changqing¡¯s situation grew increasingly arduous, and his injuries worsened. Hit by a full-force strike from Duan Liangyu, Xiang Changqing was hurled away by the powerful impact. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While still in mid-air, he couldn¡¯t help but spew several mouthfuls of blood as his Qi-Blood roiled violently, his complexion turning deathly pale. Having barely stabilized himself and before he could catch a breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword was already descending above his head. Already wounded and having just withstood a hit from Duan Liangyu, Xiang Changqing was completely unable to organize an effective defense. In desperation, and as the Qinghong Sword closed in mere hundred zhang from his head, Xiang Changqing reluctantly forced his magical treasure into action, hoping to repel Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. But in his rush, he couldn¡¯t muster his full strength and could only retaliate as best he could. ¡°Bang!¡± The Qinghong Sword collided hard with Xiang Changqing¡¯s magical treasure, immediately igniting a massive fire in the sky and unleashing an enormous energy explosion that spread Gang Wind in all directions. Xiang Changqing was tossed by this force, spitting more blood while still airborne, his face now ghostly white. The Qinghong Sword was also sent flying far away, eventually caught by Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. As the firelight flickered and the dust gradually dispersed, Though further injured, Xiang Changqing was relieved to have survived the blow. As long as he wasn¡¯t dead or severely wounded, there was still a chance he could fend off Lin Tianming and his ally. Just as Xiang Changqing was preparing to counterattack, Lin Tianming burst from the remaining dust, holding a Black Giant Axe and swinging it down towards his head. Seeing this attack, Xiang Changqing frowned, puzzled at how Lin Tianming could be so fast, barely recovering from one strike before the next attack was already upon him. However, Lin Tianming showed no fluctuations of mana, indicating the attack shouldn¡¯t be too threatening. Thinking this, Xiang Changqing casually waved his magical treasure, thinking he wouldn¡¯t need much effort to repel Lin Tianming. Chapter 849 849 456 Consecutive Self-Destructs ?Chapter 849: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Destructs Chapter 849: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Destructs ¡°Boom¡­¡± Xiang Changqing¡¯s Magical Treasure flashed brightly in his hand, clashing directly with Lin Tianming¡¯s Black Dragon Axe. At that moment, he suddenly felt a powerful Gang Wind assault him, whipping his robes into the air. Immediately following was an immense force, like the crushing weight of Mount Tai, unleashing a tearing agony throughout his body. Then, enduring the pain, he couldn¡¯t help but grunt in discomfort. At this point, time seemed endlessly long for Xiang Changqing, yet also incredibly brief. He had no idea how much time had passed when he lost consciousness, feeling only the intensifying pain and as if he was plummeting into an endless abyss, or endlessly being blown backward. ... Across from him, Lin Tianming merely staggered, his Black Dragon Axe chopping down without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, Xiang Changqing was sent flying backward, crossing hundreds of yards before finally plummeting from the sky and crashing to the ground. It wasn¡¯t until the loud impact resounded that Xiang Changqing regained consciousness, his face deathly pale. He lifted his head to examine his body and discovered a huge gash in his chest, oozing blood and exposing his organs. In addition, one of his arms had vanished, clearly severed by Lin Tianming. At that moment, Xiang Changqing felt another wave of excruciating pain, nearly numbing him. Biting the tip of his tongue to maintain clarity through the intense pain, he underestimated Lin Tianming; he never imagined that Lin Tianming¡¯s mere physical strength could be so formidable! Even a casual strike packed the weight of tens of thousands of pounds, similar to the impact of a small mountain crashing down. Due to his carelessness, he suffered a heavy blow and significant injuries, resulting in a considerable decline in his strength. Now, he bore the consequences of his own mistakes. At present, with pale face and bloodshot eyes, Xiang Changqing stared at the approaching Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu. He knew that previously there might have been a chance to retreat entirely, but now with Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu¡¯s increased attack speed and precise angles, survival was even less likely with his diminished strength. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, even with this understanding, he was without any allies or any way to retreat. As the attack from the two men drew closer, Xiang Changqing¡¯s face turned ashen, his heart filled with despair. In that moment, a clear and focused look crossed his eyes, and a self-mocking smile appeared on his face. Suddenly, a strong wind blew in the sky, and Spiritual Energy invisibly converged towards Xiang Changqing. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu¡¯s expressions changed drastically, as if witnessing something unimaginable. ¡°No good, Xiang Laogui is about to self-detonate his Golden Core!¡± Duan Liangyu shouted in horror, hastily retreating. Nearby, Lin Tianming was also rapidly pulling back, his speed lightning-fast. He knew all too well the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation; with his current level of cultivation, being caught in the blast could result in severe injury or even death. Duan Liangyu understood this all the more clearly. In his eyes, the destructive power of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation was so immense that not even a Late Stage Golden Core existence would dare to withstand it. And with his own Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, and being the closest to Xiang Changqing, he needed to create a safe distance before the self-detonation, at least not to be at the center of the explosion. Otherwise, he might very well perish. As such, Duan Liangyu now cared for nothing else but to flee as fast as possible from the area. In an instant, both men backpedaled desperately, their speed of escape surpassing any before. However, by this time, Xiang Changqing had already gone mad, his Sky Spirit Cover rapidly gathering a mass of Spiritual Energy, surging into his body. This moment turned Xiang Changqing¡¯s ashen face eerily flushed, his expression somewhat terrifying. This change was clearly due to the frenzied influx of Spiritual Energy. Then, watching Duan Liangyu and his companion frantically fleeing for their lives, he burst into maniacal laughter. ¡°Duan Laogui, you forced me into this!¡± Xiang Changqing bellowed threateningly, then began to close in on Xiang Changqing. Clearly, he understood that whether he self-detonated or not, there was no hope for his survival. Of course, he was also driven to this point. Anyone who could cultivate to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm knew the difficulty involved; who would willingly resort to a tactic of mutual destruction if there was any chance to live? Under these circumstances, he had fully initiated the sequence for a Self-Detonating Golden Core, hoping to take someone down with him in his last moments. Duan Liangyu was the closest, and as a vital member of the Myriad Medicine Valley faction, his loss would deal a significant blow to them. Xiang Changqing¡¯s target was clear: it was Duan Liangyu. With determined intent, Xiang Changqing moved slowly, each step pressing on the nerves of Lin Tianming and his companion. Although he moved slowly, further distancing him from Duan Liangyu, this action only heightened Duan Liangyu¡¯s fear. Chapter 850 850 456 Consecutive Self-Detonations_2 ?Chapter 850: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Detonations_2 Chapter 850: Chapter 456 Consecutive Self-Detonations_2 In an instant, Duan Liangyu¡¯s entire face turned ghostly pale, never expecting Xiang Changqing to be so crazed. He only thought of escaping, and while retreating at full speed, he didn¡¯t forget to launch several attacks, hoping to interrupt Xiang Changqing¡¯s self-destructive behavior. However, Xiang Changqing was decisive in his objectives, seemingly well-prepared for self-detonating his Golden Core. And Duan Liangyu¡¯s attacks now seemed to be too late. Time slowly passed, and after a few breaths, a thunderous boom resonated. As if at the center where Xiang Changqing stood, a massive mushroom cloud suddenly rose into the sky. At the same time, a vast blaze enveloped a great expanse of sky, and a tremendous wave swept outwards, quickly spreading in all directions. ... By now, Duan Liangyu and Lin Tianming had managed to create a considerable distance between them and the blast. But, although they were fleeing rapidly, the wave¡¯s speed was faster still. Duan Liangyu bore the brunt of the shockwave, being swept up and flung away by the blast. While still mid-air, Duan Liangyu spat out mouthfuls of blood, his qi-blood boiling tumultuously, almost shaking his internal organs loose. And Lin Tianming, at this moment, also endured the impact of the shockwave; thankfully, he was farther from Xiang Changqing, and bolstered by his strong physique, though injured by the explosion¡¯s force, he ultimately withstood the destructive blast. As the sky gradually settled down, the figures of the two men became visible. Looking over, Duan Liangyu staggered to his feet, his face already ashen, his breath extremely erratic. At the same time, fresh blood continuously trickled from the corner of his mouth; his clothes were tattered, numerous wounds charred black, with threads of blood oozing out, he became a bloodied figure. Not far from him, Lin Tianming steadied himself; aside from a pale face and a mouth flecked with blood, his qi had also diminished significantly. Looking towards where Xiang Changqing had been, all that was left was a huge crater in the otherwise flat land. At the bottom and around the edges of the crater, everything was scorched black, only the remnants of Xiang Changqing¡¯s faint breath still lingered in the sky. The two men then exchanged glances, each revealing a bitter smile of having survived a catastrophe. It had to be said that Xiang Changqing¡¯s self-detonated Golden Core was indeed terrifying. Although both men were still alive, Duan Liangyu had been severely wounded, his strength not even reaching half of its peak. Lin Tianming¡¯s situation was much better; although also injured, at least his strength remained at seventy to eighty percent. As for Xiang Changqing, he was already dead, and the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s forces had lost two Golden Core Combat Strengths. Considering the ongoing war that had been raging for years, this was their greatest loss so far, with two Golden Core Cultivators perishing, including a Medium Stage one. Such a loss had been unforeseen by the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s camp. At this moment, at the highest battlefield in the sky, including other battle areas, everyone felt the huge fluctuation that had just occurred. Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s face was extremely grim, as he dealt with the relentless attack from Zhou Yunxiao. Not far from them, Han Hu managed to repel Chen Jingtian and his companions with a single strike. Taking advantage of this brief lull, he turned his gaze towards Duan Liangyu¡¯s direction, his face brimming with rage. Since the outbreak of the war with the three sects, this had been the greatest loss for the Golden Sword Sect, with two Golden Core Cultivators falling in just one day. Including Xiang Changqing, a Medium Stage presence, and Yu Hongyan, in the Early Stage; both hailing from Golden Sword Sect. Now, the Golden Sword Sect, having only a few Golden Core Cultivators in existence, had already lost nearly half its Golden Core Combat Strength in the conflict, without even obliterating Myriad Medicine Valley. How could the Golden Sword Sect afford such continued losses? Even if they ultimately destroyed Myriad Medicine Valley, could it make up for the losses incurred over these years? In contrast, for the Blood Red Alliance, the loss of merely Jin Weihe, an Early Stage cultivator, barely made a dent in their strength. But for the Golden Sword Sect with its limited resources, this was a loss they couldn¡¯t sustain. At this moment, even Han Hu began to question whether his decision to side with the Blood Red Alliance had been the right one. Just as he became slightly distracted, Chen Jingtian¡¯s longsword glinted, unleashing a powerful Sword Qi that shot towards him, descending in an instant above his head. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, Chen Maohua and Luo Anzhong did their utmost to coordinate with Chen Jingtian, unleashing a barrage of attacks from various angles at Han Hu. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky resounded with the sounds of sword qi and flames roaring, as a barrage of attacks descended. At this moment, Han Hu¡¯s expression turned solemn, and amidst his haste, he erupted with several attacks for defense, and he also brought out his Defense Treasure, barricading himself behind a blue Jade Pendant. A series of crackling noises spread out, as the multitude of attacks were dispersed. However, the colossal Sword Qi unleashed by Chen Jingtian slammed into the Jade Pendant, the powerful shockwave pushing Han Hu dozens of feet back. After regaining his stance slightly, Han Hu¡¯s face paled, and his breath weakened significantly. He had caught this strike, but he also sustained some injuries. Had it not been for his Late Stage Golden Core strength, facing the closely coordinated attacks of the three, he truly might not have been an equal opponent. While he had held some advantage earlier, after this blow, the situation seemed to have turned. At this time, the Golden Core Cultivators of the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s camp surged forward with imposing momentum, crazily launching counter-attacks, as if determined to settle the outcome once and for all. At this very moment, having killed Xiang Changqing, Lin Tianming and Duan Liangyu also lent a hand. Although Duan Liangyu was gravely injured, with less than half his strength remaining, his alliance with Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Giant-Tooth Red Monkey, and Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Dong Wenchang turned into a fierce battle. Initially, the Giant-Tooth Red Monkey was at a great disadvantage, continuously oppressed by Dong Wenchang, and had already suffered serious injuries to last until now. Now, with Duan Liangyu joining in, they finally turned the situation around, starting to gain some advantage. And Lin Tianming also joined the battlefield against another Spirit Beast, allying with Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Tianxing Jiao, as well as the Third Order Spirit Beasts Fire Phosphorus Tiger, to assault Golden Sword Sect¡¯s He Liqiu. He Liqiu had been at a disadvantage previously, almost being suppressed by the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Now, with Lin Tianming joining in, it added insult to injury, and he began to completely fall apart. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Lin Tianming struck He Liqiu, causing him heavy injuries, and He Liqiu fell from the sky, crashing heavily on the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. He trembled as he rose, a pained expression flashing across his face. By now, he had finally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. It was incredibly formidable! No wonder Yu Hongyan and Xiang Changqing, one after another, had died at his hands. And this was still the result of Lin Tianming¡¯s diminished strength; if he had been at his peak, even without the exhaustion of the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts beforehand and their subsequent cooperation, he could still have defeated him, or even killed him alone. Now, he was in continuous retreat, his injuries becoming more severe, his strength greatly diminished. Lin Tianming gained an absolute advantage, giving him no chance to catch his breath. At this time, before He Liqiu could even take a breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword came attacking again, erupting with Tiangang Ninth Sword, aiming straight for He Liqiu¡¯s head. Simultaneously, behind Lin Tianming, the Tianxing Jiao and Fire Phosphorus Tiger also opened their gaping maws, ready to swallow him whole. As the Qinghong Sword drew closer, he was the first to feel a sharp stream of air, faintly hitting his body and bringing with it intense pain. Already injured, his strength had decreased considerably. Facing the frenzied attacks of Lin Tianming and the two Third Order Demon Beasts, without his companions¡¯ help and left to face them alone, he was certainly in a situation with slim chances of survival. He knew his predicament and that he was driven into a corner. But right now, each of his comrades was busy dealing with their own opponents, with no one able to lend him a helping hand. Even Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, currently under the assault of Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio, couldn¡¯t gain much of an upper hand. Even the mightiest Late Stage Golden Core Experts had no spare energy to tend to him; others, even if they could come, would likely not be able to reverse his passive situation. In this desperate situation, knowing this, He Liqiu had no way out. And it was at this moment that he had already made up his mind to self-detonate his Golden Core. ¡­ Chapter 851 851 457 Earths Sword Lotus Achieves ?Chapter 851: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Success Chapter 851: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Success In an instant, He Liqiu made a bizarre gesture, and soon a fierce wind picked up, with massive amounts of Spiritual Energy crazily rushing into his Sky Spirit Cover. His movements were swift, from deciding to self-detonate to having Spiritual Energy crazily flood his body, it only took a few breaths of time. By now, he no longer had any way out, nor could he forcibly interrupt the process. Unless he was destroyed by an external force before the Self-Detonating Golden Core could activate, there was absolutely no way to reverse his fate. At this moment, Lin Tianming, seeing He Liqiu¡¯s actions and feeling the changes in the surrounding Spiritual Energy, also immediately understood He Liqiu¡¯s intentions. ¡°This guy is also going to self-detonate!¡± In a flash, Lin Tianming¡¯s face darkened as he pondered his response strategy. ... However, he only thought briefly before he pressed forward without any hesitation, his figure not stopping as he continued to unleash Divine Skills towards He Liqiu. At this critical moment, Lin Tianming not only didn¡¯t retreat but instead accelerated towards He Liqiu. He was taking a huge risk by doing so. In his eyes, he was too close to He Liqiu; even if he were to try and hastily retreat, he feared he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid the explosive force of the Self-Detonating Golden Core. He was very clear about the power of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s self-detonation; the complete process of Xiang Changqing¡¯s self-detonation still flashed through his mind. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once He Liqiu¡¯s self-detonation succeeded, he would undoubtedly be affected. And since he was already injured and at such close proximity, even if his body was strong enough, there was a high chance he would perish, or at the very least sustain severe injuries. Rather than take a passive risk by retreating, he decided to take a chance! As long as he could kill He Liqiu before the self-detonation, he could forcefully interrupt the process. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was determined, his speed reaching an extreme. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming approaching, He Liqiu couldn¡¯t help but reveal a scornful smile. In his eyes, even though Lin Tianming was fast, he had already reached the critical moment for self-detonation, with massive amounts of Spiritual Energy already flooding his body, potentially allowing the self-detonation to succeed at any time. It seemed, Lin Tianming surely wouldn¡¯t make it in time. At this moment, He Liqiu had completely let go, showing absolutely no sign of fear. However, as Lin Tianming drew closer and closer to He Liqiu, his speed suddenly surged. In an instant, Lin Tianming was already above He Liqiu¡¯s head. Seeing Lin Tianming so close, He Liqiu wore an expression of disbelief. He never thought that Lin Tianming, who was already fast, would burst forward even further. Now, the two were less than several dozen feet apart, a distance for Golden Core Cultivators which was almost like being right next to each other. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± A miserable scream sounded, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. Following the scream, the Qinghong Sword directly pierced through He Liqiu¡¯s chest. He Liqiu¡¯s body instantly exploded into pieces, his limbs and various organs scattering apart. At the same time, the explosion produced a shockwave that spread in all directions. As for such a miserable scene, it was obviously because the Spiritual Energy was too violent, and He Liqiu had already absorbed enough of it. With Lin Tianming¡¯s strike hitting He Liqiu¡¯s chest directly, it induced his body to explode completely like a vessel under tremendous pressure. However, the shockwave from He Liqiu¡¯s body explosion was far less powerful than that of a Golden Core Cultivator, not even reaching a tenth of its potential. Such a shockwave was merely like a tickle for Lin Tianming¡¯s robust physique. A few breaths later, the shockwave calmed down, and the sky temporarily returned to tranquility. Two Third Order Spiritual Beasts also steadied their forms, and when they looked at the spot where He Liqiu had been, their faces showed relief from escaping a disaster. Though they were Demonic Beasts, and their Spirit Wisdom was not comparable to that of Human Cultivators, at the Third Order level and having survived for hundreds to thousands of years, their Spirit Wisdom was not low, at least comparable to that of human children over ten years old. Initially, when they saw He Liqiu about to self-detonate his Golden Core, they too were terrified and began to hastily retreat. Unexpectedly, Lin Tianming did not retreat and managed to eliminate He Liqiu before the self-detonation. This action also averted a crisis for the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Now that He Liqiu was dead, this result was perfect for Lin Tianming, as well as for the two Third Order Demonic Beasts. Yet, while some rejoice, others mourn! Feeling the tumult just now and discovering that He Liqiu was killed, Zhao Hongsheng of the Red Alliance¡¯s face darkened to an extreme. He Liqiu was a member of the Red Alliance, and whereas Zhao Hongsheng might not care about Xiang Changqing¡¯s demise, even taking it lightly, the fall of He Liqiu was a real loss to him. After all, this was the second Golden Core Cultivator from the Red Alliance to fall in recent years. Losing so much power without having annihilated Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, not to mention failing to find the item that the higher-ups had ordered him to look for. If he couldn¡¯t complete this task, his influence within the Red Alliance would diminish even further. More crucially, the chance to earn enough merit to exchange for a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item would completely vanish. That outcome would undoubtedly be Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s greatest failure. Chapter 852 852 457 Earths Sword Lotus Achieves ?Chapter 852: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Merit_2 Chapter 852: Chapter 457 Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Achieves Merit_2 He would not allow anyone to spoil his plans, nor would he permit anyone to obstruct his progress. And as soon as Lin Tianming appeared, he triggered a chain reaction that further hindered their plans. Thinking of this, Zhao Hongsheng became extremely angry. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He struck Zhou Yunxiao, sending him reeling backward, then shot towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face changed drastically, and in his haste, he bellowed, ¡°You won¡¯t get rid of me that easily!¡± After speaking, Zhou Yunxiao hurriedly chased after Zhao Hongsheng, and the two of them flew toward Lin Tianming, one after the other. At this moment, Lin Tianming also noticed Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s actions, his face turning significantly paler. ... He had already run out of mana, and having been injured previously, he really didn¡¯t have much fight left in him. Zhao Hongsheng, recklessly attacking him, obviously intended to kill him. Knowing this, Lin Tianming had no choice but to hastily retreat. However, Zhao Hongsheng was a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator who had been at this level for over a hundred years, a veteran among Golden Core cultivators. Furthermore, coming from the strength of the Nascent Soul level, his power was naturally incomparable to ordinary people. Although Lin Tianming was fast, catching up to him was not difficult for Zhao Hongsheng. In just a few breaths, Zhao Hongsheng had already taken the lead and was less than a hundred yards away from Lin Tianming. Then, a bright flash of light radiated from the magical treasure in Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hand, unleashing a powerful Sword Qi towards Lin Tianming. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Sword Qi was incredibly formidable, its speed extraordinarily fast; as it traveled, it even whipped up a mighty Gang Wind. Feeling the immense Sword Qi coming from the other side, Lin Tianming¡¯s face looked horribly severe. But he didn¡¯t panic; instead, he instantly released several Sword Qis to collide head-on with Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s Sword Qi. Then, he tossed his Qinghong Sword into the sky and swiftly summoned the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill, hoping to block Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s terrifying strike. Soon, a luminous Sword Lotus appeared in the sky, faithfully shielding Lin Tianming¡¯s entire being, as well as the patch of ground beneath his feet. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosions sounded as Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were shattered in an instant, disappearing into the sky. At the same time, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s formidable Sword Qi continued its assault, eventually colliding fiercely with the luminous Sword Lotus. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another earth-shattering explosion echoed, and the sky was instantly filled with shining light, a powerful shockwave sweeping outward in all directions. Fortunately, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s Sword Qi ultimately dissipated, and the Earth¡¯s Lotus scattered and vanished without a trace. Although he blocked the strike, Lin Tianming was flung into the air by the tremendous force and crashed heavily to the ground, creating a deep crater. Lin Tianming staggered to his feet from the crater, fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, as Qi-Blood wildly surged within him. He forcefully suppressed the turbulent Qi-Blood inside him, his eyes fixated on Zhao Hongsheng with a furious expression. That strike had indeed been perilous, and had his body not been incredibly resilient, that single hit could have severely wounded him. Thankfully, the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill, powered by his Qinghong Sword, was robust enough to catch Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full-powered strike head-on. And he only sustained further injuries, rather than a devastating blow. Otherwise, although he had achieved dazzling success in battle, the cost of serious injury would have hardly been worth it. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng also wore an expression of disbelief, evidently extremely shocked. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Tianming¡¯s strength to be so formidable, managing to withstand his full-powered strike despite being at the Early Stage Golden Core. Knowing his attack power was strong, even Zhou Yunxiao of the same realm had to deal with it with all his might. Yet Lin Tianming not only took the full-force hit head-on but also emerged with only minor injuries. It was an outcome he had not anticipated. While he was still in shock, Zhou Yunxiao had already arrived, and as soon as Zhao Hongsheng broke away from the fight, Zhou immediately launched a powerful attack, locking onto him. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng had just finished his lethal attack on Lin Tianming without achieving much success and was now faced with Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s formidable attack. He was also in a hurry, simply not having enough time to organize his strongest defense to respond. Despite facing significant challenges, Zhao Hongsheng forcibly calmed himself and did not fall into panic. With a single wave of his hand, a black shield appeared in his grasp. The small shield was pitch black, covered in complex patterns, with the fine golden runes particularly striking. Upon closer inspection, the small shield was also a high-quality Defense Treasure. Zhao Hongsheng pinched a Law Decree, and beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the black shield. In an instant, the black shield rapidly expanded, eventually growing to a size of several meters, firmly protecting Zhao Hongsheng within. As Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s attack arrived, it struck the shield with precise force. A loud noise erupted, followed by flares of dazzling light. For a moment, the sky burst forth with powerful airwaves, surrounding the area within a hundred meters with Zhao Hongsheng at the center. A whirlwind picked up in that region, and Zhao Hongsheng was seen nearly toppling within it. When things calmed down, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s complexion was pale, with fresh blood continuously spilling from the corners of his mouth. Clearly, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s full-power assault had caused certain injuries to Zhao Hongsheng. Considering Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s all-out effort and his Cultivation Realm, the attack undoubtedly possessed devastating power. Although Zhao Hongsheng was formidable, he took a significant risk by hastily intercepting the blow. Fortunately, his Defense Treasure was good enough to absorb more than ninety percent of the force. The remaining ten percent, along with the backlash from the head-on collision, only inflicted injury on him without causing serious harm. He was quite satisfied with this outcome. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng glared at Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao with a dark expression, his eyes ablaze with flames, as if his gaze alone could kill them both. Zhou Yunxiao was also angrily staring at Zhao Hongsheng, clearly upset. In his eyes, Lin Tianming had just been in grave danger. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength far surpassed his expectations; not only had he withstood an attack, but he had also not suffered severe injuries. And yet, Zhao Hongsheng had managed to disengage from his battle and evade his pursuit, nearly causing serious harm to Lin Tianming, an important ally. If Lin Tianming had died there, it would have been a significant loss for them. More importantly, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s actions, withdrawing from the battle and striking Lin Tianming right under his nose, were tantamount to a resounding slap in his face. As the Sect Leader of Myriad Medicine Valley and a well-known power in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, being outmaneuvered by Zhao Hongsheng was a severe blow to his dignity. Now that he and Lin Tianming had regrouped, and Lin Tianming was out of immediate danger. Next, they should join forces against Zhao Hongsheng, seizing this opportunity to maximize their victory. Aware of this, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lin Tianming and then shouted out loud. ¡°Lin, let¡¯s join forces to detain Zhao Hongsheng!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, ¡°I was thinking the same!¡± With that, Lin Tianming took the initiative to strike first, his Qinghong Sword shooting out and pressing down on Zhao Hongsheng. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao was not to be outdone. His Magical Treasure also burst into waves of light. In a split second, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao joined forces, counterattacking from different angles. Zhao Hongsheng let out a cold snort and began to deal with their attacks. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± As the three engaged in combat, the once serene sky erupted with bursts of fire, and the earth trembled slightly. In the blink of an eye, the three had already exchanged several rounds of blows. Under the joint effort of Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao, Zhao Hongsheng, already injured, gradually began to falter. Chapter 853 853 458 Temporary Retreat ?Chapter 853: Chapter 458 Temporary Retreat Chapter 853: Chapter 458 Temporary Retreat As Zhao Hongsheng was sent flying with a strike, he also spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion instantly becoming much paler. At this moment, looking at Lin Tianming and his companion advancing towards him, his expression was also quite solemn. After combat for so long, his current condition was not good. Not only had he sustained some injuries, but his mana was also left with only about ten to twenty percent remaining, a significant decrease in strength. And across him, Lin Tianming and his allies were not much better off; they, too, had almost drained their mana and had suffered some injuries as well. By now, including the three of them, more than ten Golden Core Cultivators on the field were all struggling to hold on. At this time, as Zhao Hongsheng saw the fluid offensive of Lin Tianming and his companion, he hurriedly unleashed an onslaught of attacks to fend them off. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± ... The attacks of the three met head-on, and dazzling light, accompanied by flames, shot into the sky. After several explosions, the three of them were each repelled by the shockwave for some distance. At this point, as Zhao Hongsheng was forced to retreat, he forcibly suppressed the surging Qi-Blood within his body. After stabilizing his stance, he looked at the fierce appearance of Lin Tianming and his companion and couldn¡¯t help but nurture the idea of withdrawing. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was very aware that up to now, their camp had suffered greatly; not only had Yu Hongyan and Xiang Changqing fallen in succession, but they had just lost another Golden Core Cultivator, He Liqiu, from the Blood Red Alliance. Furthermore, those of them still alive were all injured, and their mana was nearly depleted. They had no strength left to fight again in the short term. In contrast, on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side, only a Third Order Spiritual Beast had been killed, and Chen Maohua was severely injured. The loss of three Golden Core Cultivators, including a Mid Stage Golden Core such as Xiang Changqing, compared to the loss of a Third Order Spiritual Beast and the severe injury of a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. Such a gap made the outcome very clear. And now, their side was completely at a disadvantage. Continuing the fight would not only yield no further victories but would also increase their losses. Zhao Hongsheng, fully aware of this, had made up his mind to retreat first. In his eyes, although this battle had resulted in a great loss, and had closed the power gap between Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, their battle power was still strong, especially in numbers of the strongest¡ªholding a clear, absolute advantage. After all, they had two Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators on the field, and one of such level was equivalent to three Mid Stage Golden Cores. Besides, they had the support from the Great Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. Each of the three Great Sects had two Golden Core Cultivators, including a Mid Stage Golden Core existence. Their combined strength was by no means weak. If they could rally with this force, they could regroup and, after sufficient preparation, launch another attack on the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. By then, with the addition of the power of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three Sects, they could still maintain a definite upper hand. In such circumstances, a temporary retreat was no big deal. Having made up his mind, Zhao Hongsheng unleashed a strike, repelling the approaching Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao. He then used the rebound force to retreat quickly, creating a distance of several hundred feet in an instant. While still in mid-air, Zhao Hongsheng shouted aloud. ¡°All fellow daoists, follow me and retreat immediately!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s loud voice spread to every corner of the battlefield. At this moment, hearing the news of retreat, Han Hu, Yang Jun, and others also unleashed powerful attacks, pushing back their opponents. Then, without exception, the others all gravitated towards Zhao Hongsheng. After a few breaths, Zhao Hongsheng was joined by four others, including Han Hu and Dong Wenchang from the Golden Sword Sect. The other two were Jin Weishan and Yang Jun from the Blood Red Alliance. At this time, the remaining five members of the Golden Sword Sect gathered together, all clustering around Zhao Hongsheng, with angry eyes fixed on the approaching Zhou Yunxiao and his group. Zhou Yunxiao and his group also gathered together, unleashing a barrage of attacks at Zhao Hongsheng and his party. For a moment, the sky was filled with various Sword Qi and flames, with powerful tremors sweeping across, appearing incredibly terrifying. Seeing this, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s face darkened, and he couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly. ¡°Hmph¡­ We took a fall this time, but you won¡¯t be so fortunate next time!¡± After spitting out a fierce remark with an angry expression, Zhao Hongsheng then activated several Defense Talismans to protect himself. He then combined the power of everyone to unleash a great number of attacks, clashing with the assault from Zhou Yunxiao and others. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± As the sky was filled with attacking forces that collided head-on, flames soared into the sky, and a spectrum of lights illuminated entire sections of the sky, even covering the harsh midday sunlight. At the same time, the attacks generated powerful shockwaves that spread out without any dead angles. Zhao Hongsheng and others used the force of the rebound to retreat and then hastily boarded the Flying Boat, fleeing back in the direction they came from. When the smoke and flames had dissipated, and the deafening roars stopped. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao and his group all stared at the quickly disappearing Flying Boat as it faded into the distant horizon, showing expressions of helplessness on their faces. Zhou Yunxiao was well aware that with Zhao Hongsheng and the others intent on retreating, they really had no way to stop them. Chapter 854 854 458 Temporary Retreat_2 854 Chapter 458: Temporary Retreat_2 After all, their overall strength was still formidable. Just Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu alone possessed enough killing power, not to mention the presence of Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators like Yang Jun and Jin Weishan. More importantly, the cultivators on their side had all expended a great deal, each bearing varying degrees of injury, which greatly limited the strength they could exert. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, relying solely on the power they had at the moment, it was simply impossible to detain Zhao Hongsheng and the others. Deeply aware of this, Zhou Yunxiao merely sighed softly before cupping his hands towards the people beside him and then spoke very courteously. "Daoist friends, everyone has worked hard in this battle!" Upon hearing this, Chen Jingtian also smiled faintly in response, "Heh, Daoist Zhou is too polite!" As soon as his voice fell, several others also cupped their hands with smiles, "Yes, after this battle, we have indeed gained the absolute upper hand and achieved a stunning victory!" Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, feeling very satisfied with the outcome of this battle, even far beyond his previous expectations. Regaining his composure, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lin Tianming and couldn''t help but exclaim, "The reason we were able to achieve such results this time is thanks to everyone''s efforts!" "Especially Daoist Lin. His performance in this battle was truly eye-opening for us!" At these words, Li Wenhe also had a smile full of gratification and couldn''t help but echo, "Yes¡­ Daoist Lin alone annihilated Yu Hongyan, and joined forces with Daoist Duan and the spirit beast of your sect to successively kill Xiang Laogui and He Liqiu!" "You must know that the strength of that poisoned woman Yu Hongyan was not low, and her methods were especially sinister. Yet she also fell at Daoist Lin''s hands." "Frankly speaking, Daoist Lin''s strength is quite humbling for us!" Li Wenhe flattered with a few words, and the others joined in with laughter, even Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian couldn''t refrain from heaping praises. Clearly, both of them recognized Lin Tianming''s strength. Since both of them had high standards, and even Late Stage Golden Core Zhou Yunxiao recognized Lin Tianming, the others also understood the current influence of the Lin Family. Especially the scene where Lin Tianming took Zhao Hongsheng''s attack head-on, which constantly replayed in their minds, also gave them a tremendous shock. They even contemplated in their hearts whether they could have withstood Zhao Hongsheng''s blow as effortlessly as Lin Tianming if they had been in his place. Unfortunately, they had not personally experienced it, so obviously they couldn''t understand the peril. But they weren''t foolish either; Lin Tianming was able to kill Yu Hongyan by himself and also fought alone against Changqing for several rounds without falling into a disadvantage. Looking at it this way, Lin Tianming''s strength should be stronger than an average Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and even if he were to face a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator alone, he should have the power to fight. After this battle, Lin Tianming had also established a formidable image in the eyes of everyone, and the entire Lin Family had gained the recognition of these high order cultivators from the Wei Kingdom. As Lin Tianming and the others exchanged a few words leisurely, the joy from the post-battle slowly began to subside. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao looked at the gathered people, and then shifted his gaze to the ravaged battlefield. He then spoke, "Daoist friends, after this battle, it is unlikely that Zhao Hongsheng and his group would invade again in the short term!" "However, we cannot let our guard down, as aside from those people, the three sects from Huangyang Kingdom are eagerly eyeing us!" "Now that they have suddenly suffered an unprecedented defeat, they will likely regroup and launch another attack." "And given our current condition, we must take the time to recover quickly, so we can be in a better state to respond when they attack!" Hearing Zhou Yunxiao''s words, everyone nodded, evidently agreeing with his statement. Zhou Yunxiao continued, "Daoist Chen has been severely injured this time, and all of us more or less are wounded, so we better go into seclusion to cultivate!" "If there''s any movement, I will inform you all at the first opportunity, and we can gather here again then!" As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Maohua was already showing signs of impatience. He cupped his hands towards the people and said, "Good¡­ Daoist friends, I will take my leave first!" After saying this, Chen Maohua''s figure turned and he immediately disappeared from everyone''s line of sight. Following that, Chen Jingtian and a few others also greeted each other and then left one after another. With Chen Jingtian and the others gone, the only Golden Core Cultivators left on the scene were Lin Tianming and a few from the Myriad Medicine Valley. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao glanced at Lin Tianming and then said, "Daoist Lin, I will temporarily take charge of the war trophies from Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu." "You have exerted great effort in this battle and sustained injuries. It''s best that you go into closed-door cultivation to heal. Once you come out, we shall tally his spoils together and then discuss the allocation, what do you think?" Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, indicating he had no objections. In fact, he wasn''t in a hurry to distribute the spoils; after all, healing his wounds was the priority. Although the personal fortunes of Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu were surely substantial, the victory over these two wasn''t solely his achievement. At the very least, during the battle against Xiang Changqing, Duan Liangyu was the key to their success. Therefore, as an accessory, the benefits he could obtain on Myriad Medicine Valley''s home ground were probably quite limited. Given the circumstances, there was no need for him to rush; after all, the spoils were in their hands, and there was nothing wrong with distributing them after coming out of seclusion. Thus, Tian Ming appeared quite indifferent today. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao was very satisfied, and his opinion of Lin Tianming and the Lin Family rose even higher. After, Zhou Yunxiao and Lin Tianming made small talk for a while and then left the place separately. Once back in his cave dwelling, Lin Tianming did not delay and entered the Practice Room immediately. Sitting on a meditation cushion with his eyes tightly closed, he began to circulate his cultivation technique and soon completed a Grand Circulation. While he was in seclusion, the entirety of Myriad Medicine Valley was completely stirred up among its tens of thousands of disciples. After all, many elite disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley had witnessed that great battle. The power unleashed in that battle far surpassed any previous encounter. As for the outcome, it surprised many, dropping jaws. Indeed, the conclusion of this great battle was too unexpected. A total of three Golden Core Cultivators had fallen, among them the veteran Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman Xiang Changqing, who died before their very eyes. In addition, one Third Order Spiritual Beast of Myriad Medicine Valley perished, and Chen Maohua was seriously injured. Such heavy losses had never been seen in the years since the outbreak of the war. Before, at most, only one Golden Core Cultivator would fall; how could there be such immense losses on both sides? No one had anticipated such an outcome before the battle began. In fact, at that time, the vast majority were pessimistic, believing that Myriad Medicine Valley was at a definite disadvantage. If they could repel Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, it would have been considered an achievement. Yet, not only did they win that battle, but they also eliminated three Golden Core Stage combatants. Such a blow undoubtedly struck a severe blow to both the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, greatly weakening them. And following that, Myriad Medicine Valley merely needed to consolidate their position and survive this crisis cautiously; the possibility had substantially increased. Aside from the increasingly clear situation for Myriad Medicine Valley, Lin Tianming''s performance in this great battle was also witnessed by many, including some of his old acquaintances. Most of these people were cultivators who had collaborated with him in the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. Back then, Lin Tianming''s cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, and his strength was equally formidable. How much time has passed since then? Less than ten years! In such a short period, Lin Tianming had not only successfully broken through to the Golden Core Stage but had also been able to consecutively slay several Golden Core Cultivators in this battle. It should be noted that many of the cultivators who fought alongside Lin Tianming back in the day were still stuck at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, without even a trace of a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. For them, this practically eliminated any hope of advancing to the Golden Core Stage within a short period. In contrast, Lin Tianming''s cultivation speed and his terrifying strength had once again reshaped their recognition. Suddenly, tens of thousands of disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley were talking about Lin Tianming, with many idolizing him, and even taking him as a goal to strive for. Lin Tianming, however, was completely unaware of this as he wholeheartedly continued his closed-door cultivation, focusing on healing his wounds. ... Chapter 855 855 459 Distributing the Spoils of War ?Chapter 855: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 855: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Time flew by quickly; half a year had passed. In the practice room that day, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes, a glimmer of sharpness flashing through. At this moment, he felt his body brimming with power, and when he looked down at the mana within his Golden Core, a slight smile also appeared on his face. After being in seclusion for so long, the injuries from the great battle before had fully healed. Now, he had returned to his peak state, and even his cultivation had subtly increased. Thinking about it, it was not surprising. It had been about two to three years since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. During this period, he had undergone several Golden Core Stage battles, even successively killing a few Golden Core cultivators. ... Through such intense battles, although he was often injured, his combat experience was now extremely rich, which also enhanced his cultivation and mana somewhat. He felt that his strength had increased by quite a bit compared to when he first started. In addition to the boost from his magical treasure, the enhanced depth of his mana was also a reason. However, no matter what, this was a joyous occasion for him. At this time, Lin Tianming suppressed the joy in his heart and then sent out a few messages. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon after, he left the practice room and appeared outside the cave. Not long afterward, Lin Tianming arrived in a grand hall. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu were already waiting there. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu quickly got up and greeted him proactively, maintaining politeness throughout. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless, and he exchanged formal greetings with Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu. After chatting for a few moments, Zhou Yunxiao took the initiative to bring up Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu¡¯s storage bags. They were well aware that since Lin Tianming had ended his seclusion, and had taken the initiative to message them, claiming it was just a visit was superficial; the deeper meaning was obvious to anyone. Since the matter was unavoidable, it was better to handle the distribution early, which would also reassure Lin Tianming and the entire Lin Family. After all, the crisis in Myriad Medicine Valley was not yet resolved, and it could even worsen later. Lin Tianming, and the entire Lin Family, were the last lifeline for both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. They were all centuries-old people who had witnessed various complex situations and clearly understood the current importance of the Lin Family. Under such circumstances, they wouldn¡¯t do something for a slight profit that could offend the Lin Family, a matter of life and death for them. Thus, since Lin Tianming had shown this signal, they naturally would not refuse. After all, Lin Tianming had indeed made great contributions in this battle and deserved his share of the spoils of war. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao quickly took out the storage bags of Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu, including the magical treasures they had used, and neatly placed them in front of everyone. Seeing this arrangement, Lin Tianming also examined it a bit, noticing that the divine sense of Xiang Changqing and the other was still lingering on the storage bags. It seemed Zhou Yunxiao was quite considerate, as he hadn¡¯t secretly opened the storage bags or done anything unsavory. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with this internally and came to appreciate Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s way of handling things. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming kept his expression unchanged, not revealing any oddity. Following that, he bowed his hands towards Zhou Yunxiao and then insincerely commented. ¡°Daoist Zhou, why this formality?¡± ¡°I¡¯m merely here today to catch up with the two Daoist brothers, not for these spoils of war¡­¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao smiled lightly and didn¡¯t mind his insincere remark. They were all centuries-old cunning foxes, naturally taking Lin Tianming¡¯s words with a grain of salt, simply choosing not to mention it further. Following that, Zhou Yunxiao continued, ¡°Killing Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu definitely involved considerable effort from Daoist Lin, which neither Duan nor I would deny.¡± ¡°However, in this battle, Duan and the Sect¡¯s two Third Order Spiritual Beasts also exerted great effort. I wonder how Daoist Lin plans to distribute these spoils?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming began to ponder silently inside. In his eyes, being able to kill Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu was something he hadn¡¯t foreseen. Now that it had become reality, he was quite desirous of these spoils of war. Especially since Xiang Changqing had been in the Golden Core Stage for over a hundred years, given his Medium Stage Golden Core Realm, his wealth must be considerable. And since He Liqiu was from the Blood Red Alliance, having cultivated to the Golden Core Stage within the Nascent Soul Forces, his wealth was surely not insignificant. He had just entered the Golden Core Stage Realm, and had not seen many treasures used by Golden Core cultivators. Now having the chance to share in the spoils, he naturally wouldn¡¯t easily give up this opportunity. Yet, as Zhou Yunxiao said, he had indeed contributed a lot in this battle, but Duan Liangyu and the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts were the main contributors to the kills. Having considered this for quite some time and bearing in mind that Myriad Medicine Valley was the main force in the battle, he felt it wasn¡¯t appropriate to demand too much. Knowing this, Lin Tianming stated frankly, ¡°Your Sect indeed exerted more effort than I did, how about your Sect taking seventy percent, and I take thirty percent?¡± Chapter 856 856 459 Distributing the Spoils of War ?Chapter 856: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 856: Chapter 459: Distributing the Spoils of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 ¡°¡±¡±However, there is one condition: I have the priority to select three treasures from their collection and exchange them at an equivalent value, how about that?¡±¡±¡± Hearing these words, Zhou Yunxiao nodded in satisfaction, inwardly quite approving of Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Alright¡­ since Lin is being so straightforward, I naturally won¡¯t nitpick!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said with a smile, then took the lead in picking up Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag, quickly erasing the remaining Divine Sense on it. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao also investigated the storage bag and then tossed it to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately sending his Divine Sense into the bag to carefully search through the treasures inside. What met his eyes was a large amount of Spirit Stones¡ªover a hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and even more impressive was the fifteen thousand plus Medium-Grade Spirit Stones. Just these Spirit Stones alone amounted to a total over one million six hundred thousand. Among the other treasures, there were a dazzling array of Second and Third Order Treasures in various quantities. ... Although these items were not of low value, most of them did not hold much attraction for Lin Tianming. What he was really interested in were the rarer treasures among the Third Order, especially those that could assist in enhancing one¡¯s cultivation or were Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Besides these, if there were any Fourth Tier Items, that would be best. However, after a thorough search, he only found a few bottles of elixirs used by Golden Core Cultivators, and not even a single Nascent Soul Spiritual Item was discovered. Thinking about it, this wasn¡¯t strange. After all, Xiang Changqing was a Sect Cultivator, and even the Golden Sword Sect had a great demand for Core Formation Spiritual Items. Moreover, during the excursion to the Tianfeng Secret Realm, not only had their disciples been annihilated, but the three Jiuli Star Fruits that should have belonged to them were also obtained by the Lin Family. Under such circumstances, it was not surprising that Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t find any Core Formation Spiritual Items in Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag. Although there were no exceptionally valuable items, he did find two Fourth Order Items, one of which was a Spirit Material called Qianjin Ratan. The other was a Fourth Order Poison Heart Orchid, a type of Spiritual Medicine Material biased towards toxins; very few elixirs could make use of it, hence its value was not too high. But the Qianjin Ratan was excellent for refining various Magical Treasures. Being a Metal Attribute Heaven and Earth Spirit Material, it could significantly enhance the penetrating power of a Magical Treasure and was one of the rarer Spirit Materials. These two items were the most valuable finds among the spoils of war explored so far. Other than these, he didn¡¯t see any hereditary or legacy-related items. For this, Lin Tianming was already mentally prepared, having already seen the storage bags of many Sect Cultivators, which rarely contained any hereditary items. Xiang Changqing was also from a Sect, and coming from the barren Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it was normal for him to lack any hereditary treasures. Based on his estimation, Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag, along with his two Magical Treasures, one for attack and one for defense, was roughly worth over ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Overall, such assets were perhaps not considered abundant for a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. At least in comparison with the similarly ranked Xu Zhi that he had encountered before, it was evidently a notch lower. But being able to eliminate him and acquire these spoils of war was already quite fortunate. After the exploration of Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag was complete, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s gaze fell on He Liqiu¡¯s storage bag. In their eyes, although He Liqiu was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, he came from a Nascent Soul-Level Power. With the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s tendency to cause trouble everywhere, these people surely committed many nefarious deeds. Therefore, the treasures he might have accumulated could perhaps rival those of the righteous Sect Cultivator Xiang Changqing. With this expectation, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao took turns investigating He Liqiu¡¯s storage bag. Soon, He Liqiu¡¯s wealth was mastered by them. As expected, He Liqiu¡¯s possessions were indeed extremely substantial, with over twenty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. The vast number of these Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, when compared to Xu Zhi of the Qingyun Sect and Xiang Changqing of the Zhenyang Sect, exceeded theirs by several thousand. Apart from these, other various Second and Third Order Treasures dazzled the eyes, their quantity and quality were in no way inferior to those in Xiang Changqing¡¯s storage bag. In addition to these items, there were plenty of desirable things in He Liqiu¡¯s storage bag, like over ten bottles of commonly used elixirs such as Spirit Dragon Pill, as well as a multitude of excellent Third Order Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Mines. These items were invaluable treasures to Golden Core Cultivators. But the most valuable were three Fourth Order Treasures and a tome of insights from a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Fourth Order Treasures need not even be mentioned; even those of a less commonly useful variety still represent existences of incomparable value. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights, they too hold considerable value. After all, since the founding of the Lin Family, there had not yet been a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Though numerous Artifact Refining legacies had been collected over the years, most of them were Second Order items, which offered extremely limited assistance to Lin Shilu in improving his Artifact Refining Technique. Yet, despite its value not comparing to a Fourth Order Treasure, Lin Tianming still wished to acquire it, intending it as a congratulatory gift for Lin Shilu¡¯s successful Core Formation. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming turned to Zhou Yunxiao and said with a cupped-hand salute, ¡°Daoist Zhou, may I claim the Fourth Order Qianjin Ratan, the Bone Cleansing Flower, and the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao did not respond immediately but rather contemplated in silence. In his view, the wealth of tangibles belonging to Xiang Changqing and He Liqiu was considerable, comprising as many as five Fourth Tier items, not to mention the Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights, which could be considered half a Fourth Tier Item. Out of so many high-value treasures, Lin Tianming had chosen two fine items in one breath. There was practically no other treasure remaining that could compare with the Qianjin Ratan and the Bone Cleansing Flower among the Fourth Tier items. To speak candidly, he was quite reluctant to part with them. Despite Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s millennia-long heritage, the accumulated Third and Fourth Rank Treasures were still limited in number, and immediate useable items were even rarer. Now that Lin Tianming had put forth his request, and given that he had indeed previously promised to let him choose three treasures first, Under these circumstances, if he were to forcefully refuse Lin Tianming¡¯s request, it would inevitably result in Lin Tianming¡¯s displeasure. Should that create a rift, it would probably not be the outcome they desired. Understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao, though reluctant, had no choice but to acquiesce to Lin Tianming¡¯s request. With his mind settled, Zhou Yunxiao feigned difficulty before finally speaking. ¡°Since Lin has requested it, I shall not compete for what one desires!¡± ¡°However, Lin also understands the value of those treasures. Since you have chosen first, the remaining three Fourth Order items shall belong to Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± ¡°Furthermore, for the rest of the treasures, Lin must concede, and they will be assessed at twenty percent of their value, what do you think?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming, knowing full well he couldn¡¯t only reap benefits, did not hesitate and directly expressed his agreement. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then began dividing the remaining treasures with Lin Tianming. A quarter of an hour later, they had completed the allocation of all the treasures. Aside from the Fourth Tier Qianjin Ratan, Bone Cleansing Flower, and the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights selected earlier, Lin Tianming also acquired several bottles of Third Order Pills and thirty Third Grade Treasures. This included various Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ores, and Spirit Materials. In addition, there were five thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, the Offensive Magical Treasure used by He Liqiu, and the Defense Treasure used by Xiang Changqing. Of the remaining treasures, whether they were Spirit Stones, Spiritual Medicine of any grade, or Magical Treasures and elixirs, all went to Myriad Medicine Valley. Lin Tianming was quite satisfied with such an allocation. After all, except for the very top treasures, which were split evenly, he had chosen the higher-order items among the other treasures, not selecting any Second Order Treasures at all. Though those Second Order Treasures were numerous, varied, and the amount of Spirit Stones reached over three million, It must be acknowledged that the value of Third Order Treasures was higher, with one equivalent to dozens or even hundreds of Second Order Treasures. If any Golden Core Cultivator were to make a choice, they would undoubtedly, without hesitation, select the higher-value items. Zhou Yunxiao was quite magnanimous and tactful and did not quibble over the distribution. Such an arrangement also served as a proactive gesture of good will towards the Lin Family. For this, Lin Tianming genuinely felt relief and gratitude; his participation in this perilous Golden Core battle had not been in vain. In his eyes, although the battle was fraught with danger, the gains he had made were indeed satisfying. ¡­ Chapter 857 857 460 Gathering Together (Requesting ?Chapter 857: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Requesting Monthly Votes) Chapter 857: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Requesting Monthly Votes) As Xiang Changqing and his companion finished dividing the spoils of war, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao were both quite satisfied. They each accepted their respective war trophies and then casually struck up a conversation. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianming changed the topic and inquired about any major movements from the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance in recent times. Especially concerning the progress of the attacks by the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom, that was news of extreme concern for the many powers at present. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao frowned slightly and then slowly began to relay the intelligence held by Myriad Medicine Valley. As he revealed, ever since the Golden Sword Sect had retreated from that battle, the past several months had been unusually calm, and they had even pulled back to the border area with Myriad Medicine Valley. There, they had stationed themselves, showing neither intention to retreat nor any plans to mount another attack in the near future. ... The forces of the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom had similarly quieted down, not only slowing the intensity of their attacks but also moving closer to the location where the Golden Sword Sect and others were. It was clear that the Golden Sword Sect had encountered a setback in their attack and had suffered significant losses. Their calm was also due to the fact that Zhao Hongsheng and the others had expended much energy, and with many wounded, their overall strength had notably weakened, at least not possessing the clear advantage they had before. Such a move by the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom was likely intended to join forces with the Golden Sword Sect and others before launching a further attack. Thus, this period was one of the rarest sustained calms in recent years. Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao had anticipated the response from the Golden Sword Sect and the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, these were matters in the open, and if they were in their position, they probably would have done the same. However, the more they did so, the more it revealed the determination of Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu. If the Golden Sword Sect attacked again without waiting for support from the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom, it would have given them some opportunities. But now, individuals like Han Hu were not taking risks, nor were they overly confident. Their cautious posture left no opening for breakthrough. It was foreseeable that once these major forces gathered together and adjusted themselves, they would inevitably launch another attack. Even Zhou Yunxiao frowned at this thought, a shadow seemingly casting over his heart. Lin Tianming felt similarly complex, knowing that although his Lin Family was not on the front lines, the survival of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were closely tied to the Lin Family. If Myriad Medicine Valley could not withstand the next, more ferocious attack, the Lin Family would inevitably be affected. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew grave as he asked Zhou Yunxiao about his contingency plans. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Zhou Yunxiao gave a wry, helpless smile. ¡°Lin, at present both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect don¡¯t really have any good solutions left. If we had any trump cards, they¡¯d probably have been played long ago, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt helpless and wondered internally whether Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words were true. Yet, on second thought, being able to inherit a legacy for ten thousand years and still standing strong, Myriad Medicine Valley must have some trump cards. It was simply that they wouldn¡¯t use them until they faced a life or death situation. Though the current predicament of Myriad Medicine Valley was difficult, it was not yet dire. In his eyes, Myriad Medicine Valley must have some cards left to play, but whether they would be seen was uncertain. Regardless, now was not the time to consider these things. They would have to play by ear, meeting force with force and countering water with earth. Lin Tianming sighed, then changed the topic, asking about the arrival of the other Lin Family members who were coming to support Myriad Medicine Valley. After all, it should be about time by their agreement. Prompted by this reminder, Zhou Yunxiao seemed a bit more relieved. After all, apart from Lin Tianming, two more members of the Lin Family were to come to support Myriad Medicine Valley. Though the help brought by two cultivators at the Early Stage Golden Core was extremely limited, under the current circumstances, they could still bring a slight increase to their overall strength. Zhou Yunxiao informed him that the Lin Family members had not yet arrived and should probably reach Myriad Medicine Valley within the next month or so. Lin Tianming was quite anticipatory about this, also secretly guessing which two it might be. Going by his speculations and the current state of the Lin Family, Lin Shilu had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and perhaps he had just finished his seclusion. And since the Cultivation World had not yet heard of his advancement to the Golden Core Stage, in order to further hide the Lin Family¡¯s strength, Lin Shilu was most likely to stay with the family in case of any crises that might arise. Eliminating Lin Shilu from consideration, it would then be a choice between Lin Shikang, Ye Pinghai, and Hu Yuan. Considering Hu Yuan¡¯s status as a Guest Elder of the Lin Family and his original agreement, which was only to take action in times of crisis, not to be summoned at will by the Lin Family, it wouldn¡¯t be right to ask him for help unless they provided appropriate rewards and he was willing to come voluntarily. Lin Shikang, being born and raised as part of the Lin Family, was naturally the first choice. As for the other, it would undoubtedly be Ye Pinghai. Although Ye Pinghai did not carry the Lin surname, he had been sworn in as a family by the Lin Family and they had repeatedly been gracious to him. Their relationship was naturally incomparable to that with Hu Yuan. Thus, the ones likely to arrive at Myriad Medicine Valley were Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. Chapter 858 858 460 Gathering Together (Request for ?Chapter 858: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Request for Monthly Tickets) _2 Chapter 858: Chapter 460: Gathering Together (Request for Monthly Tickets) _2 Thinking of these matters, Lin Tianming had also prepared to fight side by side with the two of them. Returning his focus, Lin Tianming instructed Zhou Yunxiao to send him a message as soon as the Lin Family members arrived. After chatting for a while with the two, Lin Tianming bid them farewell and returned to his cave abode. Upon entering the practice room, Lin Tianming counted out his latest gains, eventually putting everything securely away. Then, he took out a storage bag and began observing it closely in his hands. This storage bag was still from the spoils of Yu Hongyan. Previously, he had been healing from a retreat and had not managed to itemize the contents of this storage bag until now after visiting Zhou Yunxiao and the other. With no major battle looming in the near future and unable to utilize elixirs for cultivation, he found he had plenty of time. ... As such, he naturally took this opportunity to meticulously inventory his gains. With this expectation, Lin Tianming skillfully erased the residual divine sense from the storage bag. Then, he extended his divine sense and began to inspect the contents of the storage bag. Not long afterward, After some investigation, Lin Tianming grasped the details of Yu Hongyan¡¯s wealth. It must be said, as a long-standing Early Stage Golden Core cultivator, Yu Hongyan¡¯s assets were not abundant¡ªher total spirit stones barely amounted to a million. Compared to He Liqiu of the Blood Red Alliance, who was also at the Early Stage Golden Core, he possessed far more spirit stones. These were only the basic spirit stones; there weren¡¯t many items of second and third order, and she didn¡¯t even have a single fourth-order treasure. Among the items in this storage bag, the ones with higher value were just some third-grade treasures and her Hongling Magical Treasure. According to his estimation, excluding the Hongling Magical Treasure, the total value of Yu Hongyan¡¯s treasures amassed to about four to five million. Honestly, the quantity of her wealth didn¡¯t quite match her cultivation realm. However, on further thought, all these items were his personal battle spoils, which compared not too unfavorably with the value of the treasures he received from Zhou Yunxiao. Overall, the resource gain from this major battle had been quite substantial. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt relieved, and his state of mind calmed down. Following that, Lin Tianming sorted all the treasures into different storage bags, setting aside those of lower value. He planned, after returning to the family, to hand over the unnecessary treasures to Lin Shihua. With this large batch of resources, the foundation of the Lin Family was even richer, surely alleviating concerns over low-level resources for the next hundred years. After completing these tasks, he took out some books and jade slips, diligently perusing the recorded content. Most of these items were recently acquired, containing few valuable pieces; most were second-order alchemist experiences and various records of strange tales. While the quality of these items was average, they could broaden his horizons and allow him to absorb some alchemy experience. Thus, Lin Tianming was not idle but made use of this rare period of calm to ponder those legacies. ¡­ Time passed, and half a month flew by. After this brief period of seclusion, many contents of the jade slips were firmly memorized by him. Until this day, a communication talisman flew into the practice room where Lin Tianming was in seclusion. At that moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and swiftly read the content within the communication talisman. Soon, a deep smile spread across his face. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It turned out to be a message from Zhou Yunxiao, informing him that Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai had safely arrived at Myriad Medicine Valley and were currently in the Sect¡¯s Reception Hall. Receiving this message indeed matched his expectations. The Lin Family members dispatched were exactly the two he had guessed, Lin Shikang and his companion. Now having received this message, Lin Tianming quickly left his abode and rushed to the Reception Hall. After a short tea break, Lin Tianming arrived at the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Reception Hall, where Zhou Yunxiao was personally receiving Lin Shikang and another. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Zhou Yunxiao hurriedly greeted him. After returning the greeting, Lin Tianming turned his head towards Lin Shikang and the other, noticing their excitement as well. From Lin Shikang¡¯s surprised expression, it was clear he had learned about Lin Tianming¡¯s exploits in the battle that took place a few months earlier. It wasn¡¯t surprising, considering the earth-shattering battle a few months ago, with nearly twenty Golden Core Cultivators taking the field, and both sides deploying massive formations. The course of that grand battle was witnessed by quite a few, including disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley and people from other powers. In addition to them, many cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect had also seen everything. Thus, with so many witnesses to the entire process and Myriad Medicine Valley having no intention of blocking the news, even the Golden Sword Sect Disciples, despite their crushing defeat, could not stop the spread of the news. As time passed, the details of the great battle spread to every corner of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Once more, it caused a great uproar. You see, the news of the Lin Family¡¯s previous battle against two Golden Cores from Qingyun Sect was already sensational enough. So soon after, another unprecedented battle took place, and even the lofty Golden Core Experts began to fall consecutively. Although the war among the three sects had been ongoing for several years with many battles, where both sides suffered losses, the fall of Golden Cores was quite limited. However, in this battle, three Golden Core Cultivators fell in one day, including one at the Mid Stage, and they were all from the Golden Sword Sect. Such explosive news was hard for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, let alone Qi Refining Cultivators, to accept in a short time. As time went on, however, this news was confirmed, and those incredulous cultivators finally accepted the truth. Lin Shikang and the others were all Golden Core Cultivators. Given the current overall strength of the Lin Family, it wasn¡¯t difficult at all to obtain this news. Time rewound to a few months ago, when they learned the specifics, they were also shocked beyond measure. Although they knew of Lin Tianming¡¯s astonishing strength and had seen his methods, even they hadn¡¯t expected Lin Tianming to wreak havoc on the Golden Core battlefield filled with powerful cultivators, managing to slay Yu Hongyan and, together with Duan Liangyu and the Myriad Medicine Valley Spirit Beast, eliminate Xiang Changqing at Mid Stage Golden Core. This news, reaching the Luoyun Mountain Range, plunged the entire Lin Family into a frenzy. During that period, all the clan members spent their free time discussing Lin Tianming, clearly feeling proud and elated. Including Lin Shikang and the others who were still unable to calm down. Later, as the scheduled time with the Myriad Medicine Valley approached, Lin Shilu had consolidated his cultivation and emerged from seclusion, and Lin Shikang also invited Ye Pinghai to join them on their journey to Myriad Medicine Valley. After more than a month of travel, they arrived smoothly at the gates of Myriad Medicine Valley and were personally received by Zhou Yunxiao. After a few pleasantries, they then waited for Lin Tianming to arrive. Now seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang and the other were also excited and, under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement, sat together for tea and leisurely chatted. As the few exchanged some intelligence, both sides came to understand the current specific situation in the Cultivation World. Following this, Zhou Yunxiao also arranged cave abodes for Lin Shikang and the other. However, Lin Tianming directly spoke up to refuse, asking Zhou Yunxiao not to bother and suggested that the two share a cave abode with him. After all, they were all Lin Family members, and that cave abode was large enough; not only would it not affect the others, it would also make it more convenient for them to gather and liven things up a bit. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai also heeded Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion and immediately refused Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement. Seeing the three so insistent, Zhou Yunxiao found it inappropriate to insist further, to avoid displeasure. Subsequently, the group casually chatted for a while longer and finally exchanged their communication methods. Then, Lin Tianming, accompanied by Lin Shikang and the other, bid farewell to Zhou Yunxiao and returned to their cave abode. Chapter 859 859 461 Making a Comeback (Request for ?Chapter 859: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 859: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes) Within the courtyard of the cave mansion, Lin Tianming and two others sat together. At that time, the joy in the hearts of Lin Shikang and his companion had already overshadowed the fatigue brought by the journey. However, since Zhou Yunxiao had been present earlier, there were many topics they hesitated to discuss. Now that the place was very safe and no outsiders were around, the three had no reservations, and quickly became engaged in lively conversation. Particularly, Lin Shikang and his companion were visibly excited, knowing only the outcome of him striking down Yu Hongyan, but not the details. After Lin Tianming explained, they both felt tense for him and were even more relieved inside. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was sufficient; although the process was perilous, the result was remarkably rewarding. ... With the arrival of Lin Shikang and his companion, even if challenges still existed, Lin Tianming was no longer fighting alone, inevitably feeling more confident. Aware of this, Lin Tianming was in a good mood and promptly changed the topic to inquire about the family¡¯s situation. According to Lin Shikang, all was well with the Lin Family, which had been relatively peaceful over the past year. Their main concern, the Qingyun Sect, seemed to have forgotten their feud with the Lin Family and showed no intentions of seeking revenge. However, they understood that the current Qingyun Sect had more important matters to attend to, and revenge against the Lin Family was just not their top priority. Therefore, this short and rare period of peace might just be the calm before the storm. Besides this, another important matter was naturally the status of Lin Shilu. According to Lin Shikang, Lin Shilu had been in seclusion for half a year and successfully consolidated his cultivation. Now, with his cultivation stable, he had taken over Lin Shikang¡¯s position to oversee the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and in his spare time, he was also refining a Magical Treasure provided by the Myriad Medicine Valley. Besides that, he was examining the Lin Family¡¯s artifact refining insights, trying to improve his skills to prepare for advancing to a Third Order Artifact Refiner. Thus, although Lin Shilu wasn¡¯t participating in the Golden Core battle, time was equally pressing for him with even heavier responsibilities. Including them, no one would have it easy. After all, the major battle among the three sects involved the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, from the small Qi Refinement families to some prominent Foundation Establishment Families, all were sucked into it. And this was inevitable for the cultivators of the Wei Kingdom! From the current situation, it looked like the battles might not come to an end within the next year or two. As for the Lin Family Members who participated in the battle, they would not have an easy task either. Regarding this, Lin Tianming and the others had anticipated it and were fully prepared. With the familial affairs being stable and no major crisis emerging, Lin Tianming was reassured. Subsequently, Lin Tianming also mentioned the spoils from the recent battle. Upon hearing of Lin Tianming¡¯s gains, Lin Shikang and the others were genuinely happy. And, having earned a treasure trove, Lin Tianming was naturally generous, promptly producing some commonly used Spirit Dragon Pills, and distributed them among Lin Shikang and his companion. Additionally, Lin Tianming also organized some alchemy insights and handed them to Ye Pinghai to review, and even gifted him some abundant Spiritual Medicine Materials. He did this as a token of respect from a junior. Moreover, Ye Pinghai had used all his resources to assist him, helping in refining elixirs many times and never stinting on sharing good items with him. Thus, now that Lin Tianming was capable, he naturally wanted to reciprocate the kindness from these elders who had treated him sincerely. Initially, Ye Pinghai was embarrassed to decline. But after Lin Tianming spoke persuasively along with some urging from Lin Shikang, and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s adamant expression, he finally accepted the gifts. Such an act of respect from Lin Tianming brought much comfort to Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. Afterward, they exchanged information for a long time, mutually updating each other about the major and minor news of the Cultivation World, including specifics about the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, which they discussed in detail. With the comprehensive information from Lin Tianming, they learned a lot about potential enemies. With this intelligence, they would not be caught off guard in the upcoming battles. As the night deepened, the three finally ended their casual talk, each returning to their practice rooms to close up, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s message. And the next time they received a message, it was highly likely to be the Golden Sword Sect attacking again. Being aware of this, Lin Tianming and the others seized their time to enhance their strength as much as possible. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming, not containing the side effects of cultivation, temporarily lacked the conditions they had, so he continued to ponder over the art of alchemy. Time slowly passed, and two months went by. Until one day, several Flying Boats appeared outside the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate again, shattering the tranquility of the past half-year. Immediately following, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu leaped off the boats, followed by a group of familiar faces. Besides these Golden Core Cultivators who had appeared before, six Golden Core Cultivators from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom also made their first appearance at the Myriad Medicine Valley. Among these people were Gu Changqing and Huang Jinghua of the Qingyun Sect. As for people from the other two major sects, they were Cao Jinping and Li Sheng from Forging Sword Valley, as well as Ren Feihong and Zhang Qifeng from Qingmu Sect. Chapter 860 860 461 Making a Comeback (Request for ?Chapter 860: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 860: Chapter 461: Making a Comeback (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Among them, Gu Changqing, Cao Jinping, and Zhang Qifeng, all three were at the Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, while the remaining three were at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. And these six people came from three different Golden Elixir Forces, each composed of one Mid Stage Golden Core paired with an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator. Their appearance was clearly the result of some agreement reached with Zhao Hongsheng and others; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have forsaken attacking the smaller forces of the Wei Kingdom to instead gather with the main army. With the addition of the cultivators from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, the strength of Zhao Hongsheng and his group had significantly increased, certainly much stronger than it had been during the last major battle. And today, Zhao Hongsheng arriving here with a vast assembly clearly had the purpose of annihilating Myriad Medicine Valley in one fell swoop. At that moment, the arrival of Zhao Hongsheng and others immediately caught the attention of the Myriad Medicine Valley cultivators. Soon, Zhou Yunxiao, who sensed the commotion, was the first to appear at the sect gate. ... Following that, Lin Tianming and a group of others, who received the message, also rushed to the scene. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, twelve Golden Core experts had gathered at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. Among these people, Lin Tianming and nine others were the same members from the last major battle. Apart from them, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai made their first public appearance. Together with Zhu Yun, who had arrived at some unknown time to provide support, a total of twelve Golden Core cultivators formed an unprecedented, vast battle group. At this very moment, Zhou Yunxiao stood within the formation, his gaze heavy as he looked at Zhao Hongsheng and his group, who were glaring fiercely from outside. Behind him, the crowd was also wide-eyed, silently sizing up the enemy outside, their faces equally grim. For a while, the atmosphere on the field seemed somewhat depressed. It was apparent, with Zhao Hongsheng and his people returning in force with an even more formidable assembly, a shadow of gloom hung over their hearts. Seeing everyone in low spirits, Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but give a bitter smile. Afterward, he turned to look at everyone and said to Chen Maohua and other severely wounded individuals from before, ¡°Fellow brothers and daoists, how well has your recovery been?¡± Hearing this, Chen Maohua was the first to reply, ¡°Daoist Zhou, rest assured, after nearly half a year of closed-door cultivation, my injuries have almost fully recovered, and my strength has nearly returned to its peak.¡± And with this lengthy period of calm, even the severely injured Chen Maohua had recovered, while the others, though also injured, were nowhere as severe as Chen Maohua had been. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since Chen Maohua had returned to his peak, the others naturally had no issues. Thus, the other cultivators also spoke up one after another, all indicating that they were ready for another major battle. Seeing that everyone felt this way, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s grave expression finally eased a lot. In his eyes, although the lineup of Zhao Hongsheng and others was formidable¡ªwith two Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, plus the support from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, amounting to five Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen, and Dong Wenchang from the Golden Sword Sect, along with three Early Stage Golden Core experts from the Three Great Powers of the Qingyun Sect, totaling eleven Golden Core combat strengths¡ª such a force was indeed very powerful! But on their side, there were twelve Golden Core cultivators, one of whom was at Late Stage combat power, five at Mid Stage combat power, and the rest at Early Stage Golden Core Realm. If they added two Third Order Spirit Beasts, there would be a total of fourteen Golden Core combat strengths. In this regard, they had the advantage in numbers. However, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side held a clear upper hand in High Order combat power. It could be said that both assemblies were very powerful. However, they had the advantage of terrain and could rely on the Defensive Great Formation to wear down the other side. If truly outmatched, they could also retreat in time back through the sect gate and strategize over the long term. On the other hand, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s group had traipsed a long distance to attack Myriad Medicine Valley, which could be said to be exhausting. Moreover, and more importantly, the three sects from the Huangyang Kingdom were external forces that had chosen to participate in the war because of their interests. Therefore, it was uncertain whether they would risk falling and put forth their full effort. Under such circumstances, in a battle of life and death, it was hard to say who would win or lose. Considering this, Zhou Yunxiao regained his confidence, and his fighting spirit visibly surged. At this time, while Zhou Yunxiao and the others were deep in thought, a deafening explosion was heard from outside. Zhao Hongsheng, who had rushed over, had no intention of delaying and immediately began to join forces with Han Hu and others, launching a frenzied attack on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. Aside from these Golden Core Cultivators, there were also over a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. So many Foundation Establishment Cultivators split into two waves, coordinating with the Golden Core Cultivators to barrage the Defensive Great Formation of Myriad Medicine Valley with relentless bombardment. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky was filled with multicolored Sword Qi, roaring flames tore through the heavens, and the precise attacks landed on the Formation¡¯s light curtain. For a while, a series of explosion sounds resounded between heaven and earth. As Zhao Hongsheng and others made their move, the Defensive Great Formation of Myriad Medicine Valley also began to operate at full capacity. When those attacks arrived, they were all blocked by the Formation and ultimately dissipated completely between heaven and earth. At the same time, under the control of Zhou Yunxiao, this Defensive Great Formation also burst forth with numerous pillars of light, bombarding towards Zhao Hongsheng and the outsiders. Seeing this situation, Zhao Hongsheng let out a cold snort and immediately swung the Magical Treasure in his hand to clash fiercely with these light pillars. And Han Hu and the others were equally unwilling to be outdone; while dealing with the light pillars, they unleashed a great number of attacks on the Formation. Inside the Defensive Array, Zhou Yunxiao stood in place watching the battle outside and had no immediate intention of joining the battle group. In his view, now was not the best time. At the very least, he wanted to use the energy stored by the Formation over the past year to first deplete the mana of Zhao Hongsheng and others. After all, this energy was meant to be used at this time, and with these conditions, it was only natural to make use of it. Although relying on this Defensive Formation to repel Zhao Hongsheng and others was completely unrealistic, let alone to annihilate them¡ªthat was even more impossible. But if it could cause them some trouble, even an extremely small amount, at a critical moment, it might lead to a different outcome. Therefore, Zhou Yunxiao did everything he could to reduce their pressure as much as possible, so that in the upcoming battle, they could achieve even more glorious results. At this time, seeing Zhou Yunxiao indifferent and relying on the Formation to consume the opponent¡¯s mana, Lin Tianming and the others, who were all Golden Core Cultivators, naturally understood his intention. They were quite satisfied with his plan and did not force the issue too impatiently. Hence, everyone waited on the side, watching the ongoing offensive and defensive battle and preparing to join the fight. They waited like this for most of the day. During this period, Zhao Hongsheng and the others also split into three groups, attacking the Defensive Great Formation without interruption. After most of the day¡¯s attacks, the Defensive Great Formation¡¯s energy had been greatly depleted, and the colors of the light curtain shrouding the Formation had visibly dimmed. It was clear to see that Zhao Hongsheng was also not foolish and would not rush things in a moment. Therefore, they did not rush in all at once but attacked the Formation in groups, always maintaining some people¡¯s mana at peak condition. This was understandable to avoid too much depletion of everyone¡¯s mana, which would lower their combat strength. If so, they would be very passive. In case Zhou Yunxiao seized the opportunity to come out and meet the battle, and all their mana was greatly consumed, even if they had some advantage, they would not be able to achieve their initial goal. Instead, they would fall into crisis and waste their advantage. However, after such methods of attack from Zhao Hongsheng, they indeed had not consumed too much mana, only a few people¡¯s mana was depleted by some, but no one was injured, which had a very small impact on their strength. In this way, Zhou Yunxiao did not gain many benefits by using the Defensive Formation. And at this time, seeing that Zhao Hongsheng and the others seemed to have little depletion, but the energy of the Defensive Great Formation stored was almost depleted. At this rate, the Defensive Great Formation probably wouldn¡¯t last long. Seeing this situation, Zhou Yunxiao turned to look at Lin Tianming and the others, then said lightly, ¡°My fellow Daoists, this Defensive Formation is not much use anymore!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just sit here and wait for death. I propose we counterattack; does anyone have objections?¡± Chapter 861 861 462 Reignition of War (Requesting ?Chapter 861: Chapter 462: Reignition of War (Requesting Monthly Ticket) Chapter 861: Chapter 462: Reignition of War (Requesting Monthly Ticket) Upon hearing these words, Chen Jingtian and Zhu Yun both gave a faint smile, being the first to express their agreement without objections. Similarly, Chen Maohua, who was also at the Medium Stage Golden Core, nodded in agreement, indicating that he would follow Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s orders. Seeing the cultivators at the Medium Stage Golden Core consecutively taking their stance, Lin Tianming knew that even if he had objections, he could not change the outcome. Moreover, his thoughts were the same as Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s. Since the formation could not provide significant help, delaying time was meaningless. Rather than responding passively, it was better to take quick action, attempt to strike first, and gauge the depth of the opponent. Hence, Lin Tianming would not oppose, and he too, soon chimed in agreement. ... Seeing that everyone was on the same page, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s fighting spirit surged, and he immediately assigned their respective opponents. Under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements, Lin Tianming demonstrated strong power, single-handedly taking on Gu Changqing from Qingyun Sect. This individual was at the Medium Stage Golden Core realm and had once, many years ago when Lin Tianming had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, fought fiercely against Chen Jingtian over a Mysterious Moon Order. In the end, with Chen Jingtian being more formidable, Gu Changqing had no choice but to hand over the Mysterious Moon Order and subsequently retreated, defeated from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. However, it had been many years since that incident, and it was uncertain whether Gu Changqing had discovered him lurking in the shadows. But at this moment, that no longer seemed important. Now, Zhou Yunxiao appointing Gu Changqing as Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent was somewhat unexpected. But he also understood that with Zhao Hongsheng and others possessing more High Order Combat Power, someone had to face greater challenges. Having no choice but to be the one selected, he saw it as unavoidable. In his view, taking on more himself would presumably make it easier for the two Lins. Thus, Lin Tianming said no more and immediately accepted the task arranged by Zhou Yunxiao. Among the remaining few, Chen Jingtian and his group would still be facing Han Hu, while Duan Liangyu and Zhu Yun, both at the Medium Stage Golden Core, would confront two Medium Stage Golden Core powerhouses from Qingmu Sect and Forging Sword Valley. Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were up against Jin Weishan from Zhenyang Sect and Lan Yu, while Li Wenhe teamed up to confront another Medium Stage Golden Core cultivator, Yang Jun. With such arrangements, all seven cultivators with Medium Stage Golden Core and greater combat power from Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side were matched with opponents. Beyond them, only Dong Wenchang at the Early Stage Golden Core and three Early Stage Golden Core cultivators from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect remained unchallenged. On their side, only two Third Order Spiritual Beasts and Shao Changyi were left without assigned tasks. At this point, they were clearly short-handed, relying on Shao Changyi and the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts to handle four Early Stage Golden Core cultivators was somewhat strained. After all, the three golden core cultivators from Qingmu Sect hailed from the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, and their personal strengths were certainly not weak. Moreover, the combat power of a Third Order Demon Beast was obviously weaker compared to cultivators of the same level. Under such circumstances, they were likely to be at a disadvantage. Just as Zhou Yunxiao was at a loss, a person appeared behind the crowd. Seeing the newcomer, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s complexion brightened, and the look of worry on his face lessened significantly. Seeing this, everyone¡¯s attention was immediately drawn. At that moment, Lin Tianming also turned to look, finding the newcomer¡¯s face very unfamiliar. However, after thinking carefully, he remembered the intelligence briefing on genius cultivators in the Cultivation World that he had seen before entering the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. The one who had left a deep impression on him was Zhao Mingli, the genius cultivator from Myriad Medicine Valley. Though he had never met him in person, the portraits in the book resembled this man, likely the very Zhao Mingli rumored to be the only Sky Spirit Root cultivator in Wei Kingdom and the top genius of Myriad Medicine Valley. Previously, Zhao Mingli was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and now his aura was no weaker than his, definitely a bona fide Golden Core Cultivator. At this moment, seeing Zhao Mingli, Zhou Yunxiao was visibly excited, his expression overflowing with excitement. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Mingli, your timing couldn¡¯t have been better!¡± Zhou Yunxiao gestured for Zhao Mingli to come forward. Seeing this, Zhao Mingli approached and then bowed. ¡°Disciple Mingli, greets Master.¡± Zhou Yunxiao laughed heartily, ¡°No need for formalities, Mingli!¡± Then, Zhou Yunxiao introduced everyone to Zhao Mingli, allowing them to greet each other. When introducing Lin Tianming, Zhou Yunxiao also mentioned his achievements over the recent years. Hearing this news, Zhao Mingli, who had been in seclusion for several years, was greatly shocked. Lin Tianming, too, was very interested in this legendary genius cultivator. Seeing Zhao Mingli¡¯s talents as profound, bearing the identity of a direct disciple of Zhou Yunxiao, as well as the title of Wei Kingdom¡¯s top genius, his strength must indeed be terrifying. Similarly carrying the title of a genius, Lin Tianming had emerged in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World over the years, later burgeoning like the midday sun, naturally wishing to measure his worth against another genius. Thus, Lin Tianming was very courteous, his words also carrying a hint of eagerness to make connections. Zhao Mingli did not dare to be careless, always remaining humble, showing no signs of underestimating Lin Tianming, the genius cultivator with formidable achievements. After the mutual courtesies were exchanged, Zhou Yunxiao returned to the main topic. At this moment, he addressed Zhao Mingli, ¡°Mingli, your arrival is timely, now with your involvement, we¡¯ve finally resolved the trouble for Shao. Otherwise, he would have had to face two alone.¡± Chapter 862 862 462 The Resurgence of War (Seeking ?Chapter 862: Chapter 462: The Resurgence of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 862: Chapter 462: The Resurgence of War (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Hearing this, Zhao Mingli had a rough guess that their side must be short on manpower. So, Zhao Mingli quickly spoke up, ¡°Disciple has finally ended the seclusion just in time, please, Master, assign me a task!¡± Seeing Zhao Mingli say this, Zhou Yunxiao also began to arrange, directing Zhao Mingli to confront Qingmu Sect¡¯s Zhang Qifeng, while Shao Changyi was to deal with Forging Sword Valley¡¯s Li Sheng. As for the remaining two Third Order Spiritual Beasts from Myriad Medicine Valley, they were to battle Huang Jinghua of the Qingyun Sect and Dong Wenchang of the Golden Sword Sect. With the distribution of tasks complete, the Golden Core Stage combat power of both sides had found their opponents. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao said to everyone, ¡°Fellow cultivators, prepare for battle, and act according to the situation after half a quarter of an hour!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others all had solemn expressions, and they also prepared for the upcoming combat. ... A quarter of an hour passed. Seeing that the attack from the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect was in an intermittent phase, an expectant Zhou Yunxiao shouted loudly. ¡°Fellow cultivators, follow me and strike together!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than a crack appeared in the light screen before Zhou Yunxiao, exposing a large number of cultivators outside the formation to everyone¡¯s sight. Then, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead and crossed through the crack, appearing outside the scope of the formation¡¯s coverage. Following him, Chen Jingtian, Lin Tianming, and a group of others swiftly followed his steps, entering the field of vision of Zhao Hongsheng and others. Their speed was very fast, and the timing of their emergence was well grasped. It seemed that many cultivators had not expected them to come out to meet the battle at this time. At that moment, hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, under the leadership of Yang Jun and the three Golden Core Stage Cultivators including Gu Changqing, were initiating the next wave of attacks on the Defensive Array. Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, along with several other Golden Core Stage combat powers, were behind the multitude of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, watching the battle. With Zhou Yunxiao leading the cultivators out, they immediately launched an attack. At this instant, the expressions of Yang Jun and the other Golden Core Cultivators like Gu Changqing changed drastically as they hastily retreated in panic. They were not foolish¡ªopposite them, Zhou Yunxiao and his companions numbered over ten Golden Core Cultivators, with Zhou Yunxiao himself at the Late Stage Golden Core realm. With such a massive formation suddenly unleashing an attack, the ferocity was terrifying. Even if only one person attacked, it could bring about considerable threat, let alone so many. Being Golden Core Cultivators themselves, they knew well that if they did not retreat promptly and were struck by Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s attack, they could be injured or even killed on the spot. Therefore, Yang Jun and the few Golden Core Cultivators retreated a thousand feet away, passing directly over the majority of the attacking Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As they retreated, the hundred or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the very front suffered, instantly engulfed by the attacks of Lin Tianming and others. Immediately, cries of agony and screams followed, as a large number of cultivators were killed outright. In just a few breaths, the battlefield was filled with blood, with corpses and severed limbs scattered everywhere. This round of surprise attack ended, and although Lin Tianming and the others had not struck the leading Yang Jun and others, they had still killed nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As the scene settled into a brief calm, many looked upon this tragic scene, inhaling that pungent smell of blood in the air. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had escaped felt somewhat sickened, their faces filled with fear. Once they had settled down, the group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators knew they were lucky to have retreated in time. Otherwise, had they been at the forefront of the army, it was likely that they would have been the ones to die. Realizing this, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had survived the ordeal finally showed expressions of relief. At this time, the few hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators led by Yang Jun had already retreated a thousand feet, regrouping with Zhao Hongsheng and others at the rear. Leading them, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu wore grim expressions, never anticipating Zhou Yunxiao to repeat his old tactics at this time. In their eyes, during the last major battle, Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Defensive Array was expected to hold for a while longer, but Zhou Yunxiao had voluntarily given up the protection of the formation, taking Chen Jingtian and his group to meet the battle head-on, catching them off guard. The outcome of the battle was far beyond their expectations. And the key factor of victory in that battle was greatly related to the sudden appearance of Lin Tianming. Furious about Lin Tianming¡¯s unexpected presence, Zhao Hongsheng wished he could tear him limb from limb. This time, in order to achieve his goal, he also gathered six Golden Core Cultivators from the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom, planning to annihilate the Myriad Medicine Valley in one fell swoop. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the strength of the Myriad Medicine Valley camp had once again increased; a formidable lineup of thirteen Golden Core Cultivators had emerged, shattering his cognizance once more. And before this, he thought that with their own forces significantly strengthened, destroying the Myriad Medicine Valley wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. But now, seeing the multitude of Golden Core Cultivators behind Zhou Yunxiao, even Zhou Yunxiao knew that things would not be so easy. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his face bearing a trace of fury. Besides him, Han Hu at his side also had a complex expression on his face. It must be said that now, seeing the group of cultivators behind Zhou Yunxiao, he couldn¡¯t help but hesitate. During the last defeat, their Golden Sword Sect had already suffered heavy losses. Since the outbreak of the great battle, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators had fallen in succession, causing their overall strength to decline significantly. Yet even so, they had still failed to gain much advantage; the strength of the Myriad Medicine Valley camp was growing stronger. And at that moment, he had some regrets about joining the ranks of the Blood Red Alliance. Now, seeing these newly joined cultivators, he seemed to see the light of victory drifting further and further away from them. This subtle shift in mentality, although he masked it well, was crystal clear to himself, completely incapable of deceiving his own heart. At this moment, Han Hu¡¯s inner self was also torn with hesitation, confusion, and fear, darkening his expression to the extreme. However, he also understood that the Golden Sword Sect had now boarded the thieves¡¯ ship of the Blood Red Alliance, completely offending all the forces, big and small, of the Wei Kingdom. Expecting them to let them off was simply unrealistic. Since that was the case, they had no choice but to follow through the path of darkness; there was no retreat. Fully aware of this, Han Hu took a deep breath, his eyes once again filled with vitality. Just then, Zhao Hongsheng also looked at Han Hu and then said indifferently, ¡°Brother Han, since they¡¯ve come out to battle, there¡¯s no need for us to be courteous. Let¡¯s strike directly!¡± Upon hearing this, Han Hu nodded in response, ¡°Let¡¯s make a move!¡± After Han Hu finished speaking, Zhao Hongsheng then nodded to Gu Changqing and the other Golden Core Cultivators of the Huangyang Kingdom and began to transmit his voice secretly. Soon, Gu Changqing and the others had expressions of excitement as if they had received some kind of promise. It was apparent; Zhao Hongsheng must have promised them additional benefits privately to make these bone-gnawing folks so excited. However, they had never experienced the strength of Zhou Yunxiao and his comrades. They had only heard about the battles indirectly and believed that the Myriad Medicine Valley only succeeded by opportunistic tricks. Some even believed that they were the key factors in deciding the outcome of the great war, looking down on their opponents. Little did they know, this overconfidence would doom them to a fate from which they could not return. At this moment, the expressions of people like Gu Changqing were all witnessed by Lin Tianming and others. Even though they did not know what Zhao Hongsheng had communicated, it surely wasn¡¯t anything good, perhaps they were discussing some wicked strategy. But even knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao could do nothing but remain vigilant at all times. In this way, both sides stood in a stalemate for a short while, neither willing to make the first move. After such a tense and peculiar atmosphere persisted for a while, it was Zhao Hongsheng who eventually broke the silence. ¡°Fellow Daoists, join me in attacking now!¡± Zhao Hongsheng was the first to shout, and with that, he leaped into the air, heading straight for Zhou Yunxiao. While still in mid-air, the Magical Treasure in Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hand erupted with a burst of Spiritual Light, releasing a powerful attack that seared out, its dazzling light splitting the skies. ¡­ Chapter 863 863 463 Equally Matched Opponents ?Chapter 863: Chapter 463: Equally Matched Opponents Chapter 863: Chapter 463: Equally Matched Opponents At this moment, the Gang Wind ravaged between heaven and earth, spiritual energy and air churned wildly, and bursts of roaring sounds continuously emanated. Following that, Han Hu and a group of cultivators refused to be outdone, each beginning to launch their attacks. Seeing Zhao Hongsheng make a move, Zhou Yunxiao snorted coldly, and also charged toward his opponent. Quickly, the two strongest cultivators in each camp flew to the highest point in the sky and fiercely battled into a blur. Not far from them, others fought with the opponents assigned to them beforehand, engaging in life-and-death struggles. Lin Tianming¡¯s opponent was an old foe of the Lin Family, Gu Changqing from the Qingyun Sect. This man had encountered Lin Tianming many years ago. ... At that time, he was merely at the Qi Refinement Realm, and the gap between them was as vast as the difference between clouds and mud. However, in just a few short decades, the two had become opponents, which was indeed hard to believe. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was solemn, and his Qinghong Sword erupted with a massive amount of Sword Qi, engulfing Gu Changqing in an instant. Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, Gu Changqing¡¯s face remained unchanged, even carrying a sense of contempt. In his eyes, he seemed to hardly believe that Xu Zhi, his fellow sect brother, could be jointly killed by a few newly advanced Golden Core cultivators at that insignificant place known as Green Bamboo Mountain. He found it even more unbelievable that Meng Qingfeng, who was also at the Early Stage Golden Core, had been slain single-handedly by Lin Tianming, who had just advanced to Golden Core a few years ago. Yet in just a few years, the two sides, already bound by enmity, clashed once again directly. And now, Lin Tianming had taken the initiative to strike, with a very clear target and no hesitation. Besides that, there was no one around to assist him; it was unclear whether he had chosen his own opponent or if Zhou Yunxiao had forcefully assigned the task. But regardless, was such an arrangement underestimating him a bit? After all, he was at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and his situation was not the same as Xu Zhi¡¯s. Xu Zhi had been excessively arrogant and was ultimately killed by the united efforts of four, even though the Lin Family¡¯s several Golden Core cultivators had achieved victory, each had suffered significant injuries. Today¡¯s situation was different, Lin Tianming was on his own, and the others had their own opponents; no one would be able to come to his aid in a short time. Given this, where did he, whose cultivation was seemingly at a disadvantage, get his confidence? ¡°Forget it, forget it!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to trouble you so soon, but since people from the Lin Family have come to die by their own volition, there is no need for me to hold back; might as well take this opportunity to collect some interest,¡± ¡°As for the others, they will sooner or later pay the price they owe!¡± Gu Changqing thought to himself with undisguised contempt on his face. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The attacks of the two clashed hard against each other, sending powerful waves sweeping out. In an instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was effortlessly neutralized by Gu Changqing, who sent the former flying back more than ten zhang with a blast of air. Before he could catch his breath, Gu Changqing leaped forward, and a golden light mirror in his hand erupted into a colossal beam of light, aiming directly for Lin Tianming¡¯s head. The beam was incredibly thick, and under the gaze of Lin Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors, the energy flowing within held certain intricacies. And this light mirror Magical Treasure, Lin Tianming found somewhat familiar. Years ago, during the battle over the Mysterious Moon Order between Gu Changqing and Chen Jingtian, a great fight had erupted. At that time, Lin Tianming had witnessed the entire battle, with the former losing to the stronger Chen Jingtian and ultimately relinquishing the Mysterious Moon Order. After observing that fight, Lin Tianming had a general understanding of Gu Changqing¡¯s capabilities and was also clear about the divine attributes of this light mirror. In his eyes, even if Gu Changqing was at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, his strength was clearly not on par with Chen Jingtian, and his Magical Treasure was also a notch below Chen Jingtian¡¯s. Otherwise, he would not have been pressured to give up the Mysterious Moon Order initially. Over the years, Chen Jingtian had been through many battles, with more than a few Golden Core Cultivators and even Third Order Demon Beasts slain by his hand. With such an impressive record, Chen Jingtian was well-regarded, and naturally, there was a certain gap between him and an ordinary cultivator of the same level like Gu Changqing. Knowing this, Lin Tianming had readily accepted the opponent assigned to him. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, facing the attack of Gu Changqing¡¯s light mirror, Lin Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors flickered with Spiritual Light, and his body moved nimbly, with extreme speed. In a split second, Lin Tianming had sidestepped dozens of zhang, evading the descending beam of light. With a loud noise, a massive pit emerged in the ground where Lin Tianming had just been. Seeing his strike miss, Gu Changqing¡¯s brow furrowed, and when he looked at Lin Tianming again, his expression became much more serious. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming kept his composure, assessing Gu Changqing¡¯s strength while observing him. After these two rounds of probing attacks, they had both gained a basic understanding of each other¡¯s capabilities. But this was just the surface, as everyone would keep some trump cards in hand. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless and remained highly alert. A few breaths later, Gu Changqing struck again, and the two reengaged in battle. At that moment, Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands, and a red fireball appeared. This fireball grew gradually in his hand, the flickering flames inside a pale blue color, causing a change in the surrounding spiritual energy as soon as it appeared. Chapter 864 864 463 Equally Matched_2 ?Chapter 864: Chapter 463 Equally Matched_2 Chapter 864: Chapter 463 Equally Matched_2 ¡°Blue Heart True Flame!¡± Upon seeing the appearance of the Blue Heart True Flame, Gu Changqing also recognized the origin of the flames and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in alarm. Immediately treating Gu Changqing like a formidable enemy, he retreated explosively, his speed surpassing any of his previous attempts, clearly understanding the terrifying power of the Blue Heart True Flame. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming was not idle either. As he retreated, he hurled a fireball from his hand towards Gu Changqing. In an instant, the fireball shot out, appearing right above Gu Changqing¡¯s head. Despite his speed being fast, the fireball¡¯s speed was equally swift, only a few dozen yards away from Gu Changqing. Feeling the temperature from the approaching fireball, Gu Changqing¡¯s expression became anxious, and his speed in dodging increased. ... Following a loud explosion, the fireball grazed past Gu Changqing and finally hit the ground, exploding on impact. For a moment, firelight filled the sky and a larger fire cloud surged upward. As the firelight and smoke dissipated, Gu Changqing¡¯s figure reappeared. His Daoist robe was tattered, and many of his hairs had been burnt off by the sparks, leaving him looking disheveled. Fortunately, he had dodged the hit and was only affected by the terrifying high temperature of the fireball. When he recalled the perilous situation just now, his heart couldn¡¯t help but pound wildly. By now, he had truly witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. It was no wonder that he was able to collaborate with other Golden Core Cultivators of the Lin Family and kill Xu Zhi, a Medium Stage Golden Core cultivator, and even single-handedly eliminate Meng Qingfeng of the same rank, achieving astonishing results in the subsequent battle in Myriad Medicine Valley. These were genuine achievements, not merely rumors. Indeed, they were incredibly formidable. Knowing this, Gu Changqing no longer dared to be careless, constantly monitoring Lin Tianming¡¯s every move, fearing that Lin Tianming would seize an opportunity and lead him to the same fate as Xu Zhi. At this time, Lin Tianming remained calm despite his attack missing its mark, showing no surprise. He was very aware of the strength of a Golden Core Cultivator, especially a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman. In his eyes, although Gu Changqing might not be as powerful as Chen Jingtian, he was, after all, a legitimate Mid Stage Golden Core Realm cultivator. Who among those who had cultivated to this level was ordinary? Moreover, Gu Changqing was a veteran Golden Core Cultivator who had entered the Golden Core Stage over two hundred years ago, having experienced many battles and his hands stained with blood. It could be said that both his strength and battle experience were not comparable to those of ordinary newly advanced Golden Core cultivators. Thus, such a figure was naturally not someone who could be heavily injured or killed by ordinary means. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was not at all discouraged; instead, his spirit brimmed with combativeness. Previously, although he had killed many Golden Core Cultivators, including Medium Stage Golden Core Xu Zhi and Changqing of Golden Sword Sect, he had needed others¡¯ help to kill them. Moreover, he had used his utmost Spirit Art when killing Xu Zhi. Strictly speaking, he had never faced a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman alone. Now, fighting against Gu Changqing, empowered by his Magical Treasure, he had reached the peak of his strength. In this situation, he, too, wanted to see what his limits were and whether he possessed the capability to kill or defeat Gu Changqing. With this anticipation, Lin Tianming repeatedly swung his Qinghong Sword, unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi targeting Gu Changqing. Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s relentless assault, Gu Changqing was both shocked and angry, hastily unleashing numerous attacks to clash directly with Lin Tianming. Both men fully exerted themselves in a frenzy of strikes. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Continuous explosive sounds resonated from the sky, the vast expanse of ground beneath their feet trembling slightly under their strikes. A short period later, after more than a dozen rounds of exchanges, both men were blown a hundred yards away by the blast of air, finally stabilizing their forms. Lin Tianming¡¯s face alternated between red and white, his Qi-Blood churning wildly within him, and his Daoist robe was torn and ragged, revealing the Blue Star Armor he wore underneath. Across from him, Gu Changqing was in a similar state, his clothes tattered and his face alternating between pale and green, clearly showing considerable exhaustion. At that moment, the two of them hovered in midair, their pupils fixed solely on each other, not blinking even once. After more than ten rounds of attacks, both had gone all out, expending a substantial amount of mana and sustaining several injuries. Among them, Lin Tianming had suffered more injuries and had expended nearly half of his mana. Fortunately, he practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, possessing an exceptionally powerful physique. Whether it was recovery from injuries or mana regeneration, both were visibly superior to Gu Changqing¡¯s. However, Gu Changqing was slightly better off for the time being. Though there were victories and losses between them, he seemed to have a slight upper hand, but the advantage was almost negligible; neither had gained much ground over the other. Yet Gu Changqing lived up to his strength as a Mid Stage Golden Core Realm cultivator. Despite Lin Tianming¡¯s relentless attacks, although sometimes perilous, he managed to turn danger into safety every time. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for Lin Tianming, most of the time he had to rely on the Eye of Five Colors to narrowly dodge Gu Changqing¡¯s attacks. There were several extremely close calls, almost hit by a beam emitted by the Ancient Mirror Treasure wielded by Gu Changqing. Had it not been for the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors, combined with his exceptional speed and his powerful physical strength, he always managed to find the quickest and most effective escape route. Otherwise, by now, he might have fallen into life-threatening crises several times. Whether he could survive those memorable crises was left to Heaven¡¯s Will. Now, as they continued their fierce combat, both understood how formidable their opponent was. In particular, Gu Changqing had not expected Lin Tianming¡¯s strength to be so formidable, with tactics both abundant and incredibly bizarre. Primarily, it was his extraordinary speed and agile moves. Under his powerful offense, revealing many of his trump cards, several times Gu Changqing almost predicted Lin Tianming¡¯s doom, yet each time Lin Tianming miraculously found an escape path. To Gu Changqing, Lin Tianming now seemed like an invincible warrior, capable of both enduring and attacking, defending and striking, with a speed unmatchable and seemingly without any flaws. At this point, he finally understood the ordeal faced by Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng. Recalling what the disciples had recounted initially, passed on as if it were miraculous, it was clear they had been terrified out of their wits. Initially, he had some doubts about the truth of those stories, but now, after witnessing Lin Tianming¡¯s capabilities firsthand, nothing seemed strange anymore. This moment marked a tremendous shift inside Gu Changqing. Facing Lin Tianming again, his inner state was completely overturned, like a calm lake stirring into a massive wave. As for Lin Tianming, he remained vigilant at all times. The two briefly fell into a quiet standstill, until Lin Tianming made the first move, prompting Gu Changqing to hastily engage. In an instant, they fiercely bombarded each other, the massive fluctuations of their strikes whipping up gusts of air. For a moment, the whole area was a whirl of flying sand and stone, the ground riddled from the impacts. As they alternated between attack and defense, their mana was rapidly depleted and their array of tactics dwindled. Driven to this point, a prolonged battle left Lin Tianming somewhat helpless about the outcome. One could say he had exerted himself to the fullest, having called upon all conventional tactics except for the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus and Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skills. Even so, he hadn¡¯t gained a definitive upper hand. This feeling of impotence was a first in these recent years. However, he wasn¡¯t disheartened; he knew as their mana rapidly drained, his advantage would gradually begin to show. After all, he possessed a physical strength and recovery ability unmatched by Gu Changqing. Although this advantage wasn¡¯t obvious normally, at certain times, it might be the final straw that breaks the camel¡¯s back. Just a few more rounds of attacks and Gu Changqing would grow increasingly weaker, while he would barely be affected. At that time, he would be able to seize the gap between them, further solidify his advantage, and find an opportunity to annihilate Gu Changqing in one fell swoop. ¡­ Chapter 865 865 464 Another Person Slain ?Chapter 865: Chapter 464: Another Person Slain Chapter 865: Chapter 464: Another Person Slain As time passed, the two had gone through dozens of rounds of intense combat. Up until now, they were almost evenly matched, with mana significantly depleted. The enduring battle continued, with both parties fueled by public and private grievances flaring up. In order to achieve victory, they both persevered, waiting for an opportune moment to severely injure the other. Each bore this intention, and despite facing numerous challenges, neither dared to let their guard down. In this deadlock, after Lin Tianming launched an attack, both were sent recoiling some distance. Barely steadying his form, Lin Tianming saw Gu Changqing not far away, his breathing increasingly rapid, and a trace of fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. ... Clearly, Gu Changqing¡¯s exhaustion had intensified, and his injuries grew more severe. Although Lin Tianming himself bore many wounds, his aura and momentum showed no signs of decreasing. Looking at his opponent, Gu Changqing¡¯s expression was grave. Although his breath was still steady, his aura was like that of a defeated rooster, lacking its usual brilliance. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was apparent that Gu Changqing was on a downward slope, his strength significantly weaker than at his peak. Lin Tianming noted these changes in his opponent, silently calculating in his heart. Previously, he had no advantage and could only pressure Gu Changqing enough to prevent him from being careless. But now, he distinctly felt that Gu Changqing¡¯s attack power was weakening, clearly struggling. Though this momentum was faint, Lin Tianming detected it. It must be said, this was good news for him. And though he had been at a disadvantage earlier, as the fight wore on, he gradually gained the upper hand. Now, all he needed to do was strike while the iron was hot, give no breathing room to Gu Changqing, and continue to intensify his suppression to surely find a flaw. For such an opportunity, he had previously been calm and steady, and now he finally saw some hope. With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and then charged toward Gu Changqing. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Their attacks clashed head-on, igniting the sky once again, and the sound of explosions continued unabated. A wave of energy repelled them, and neither had yet regained their composure. At that moment, Lin Tianming conjured another fireball in his hand and hurled it at Gu Changqing. The fireball moved swiftly, appearing over the head of Gu Changqing in an instant. Seeing the familiar fireball with that flickering blue flame inside, he knew well the power of the Blue Heart True Flame. At that time, Gu Changqing¡¯s expression turned solemn, and in a rush, he retreated. This time, like the first facing the fireball, he moved his nimble body to the side. His speed was fast, although the move was perilous, with the potential to be hit at any moment. But he was decisive, and having witnessed it once before, he had already cleared a space. Thus, evading this attack was not difficult for him, but the ground below him was about to be bombarded once again. However, just as the fireball was on the verge of passing by him, it suddenly split apart and burst into numerous droplets of fire raining down, instantly engulfing the sky above Gu Changqing. These countless droplets of fire, resembling rain, turned the drops into a brilliant display of fiery rain. However, Lin Tianming was well aware that, although diluted, the fire rain was still Blue Heart True Flame; even a slight touch meant bearing the scorching of the flames. He had even personally experienced it; with his great physical strength, even ten percent of the contact with the flame brought immense pain. It was unimaginable that if even he could not endure the terrifying power of Blue Heart True Flame, ordinary Golden Core Cultivators would hardly be able to suppress it, let alone shake off the flames. At that moment, seeing the transformation from fireball to fiery rain, Gu Changqing¡¯s face instantly changed. Then, as he sped up his escape, he heard a thunderclap explode next to his ear, followed immediately by enveloping flames. In that instant, he felt the terrifying heat, roasting his body. For a moment, he felt dizzy and racked with intense pain. The sensation was excruciating, almost causing him to faint. At that moment, he clenched his teeth, striving to maintain a shred of clarity, to avoid becoming a sitting duck. However, he faced an even more difficult situation ahead, as the quantity of fiery rain was quite substantial, each droplet posing a fatal threat. Under such circumstances, though he burst forth at his fastest speed to evade, he still couldn¡¯t avoid some contact. In desperation, with a pale face, Gu Changqing hurriedly activated the Ancient Mirror Treasure, turning it into a barrier above his head. Quickly, the Ancient Mirror grew to several meters in size, eventually enveloping his body securely. In his eyes, although this Magical Treasure had mediocre attacking power, its ability to attack and defend, and its unpredictable nature were significant. Under such severe pressure, he felt uncertain whether the Ancient Mirror could withstand the erosion of the fiery rain. But at the moment, there wasn¡¯t time to ponder these issues; all he could hope for was this Magical Treasure to block the terrifying Blue Heart True Flame. Otherwise, if he couldn¡¯t even overcome this challenge, what followed would be meaningless. Chapter 866 866 464 Another One Slain_2 ?Chapter 866: Chapter 464 Another One Slain_2 Chapter 866: Chapter 464 Another One Slain_2 ¡°` Things happened in the blink of an eye; part of the fire rain descended, showering directly onto the surface of the Ancient Mirror. ¡°Sizzling¡­¡± A strange noise came forth, as towering flames ignited on the hovering Ancient Mirror, accompanied by rising black smoke that swiftly covered a large expanse of sky. At this moment, Gu Changqing continuously cast Law Decrees at the Ancient Mirror, pouring his dwindling Mana into it with abandon. Simultaneously, he spat out several mouthfuls of essence blood, splattering it onto an inscription beneath the Ancient Mirror. Following his actions, the Ancient Mirror flashed brightly, and a light barrier enveloped the flames. As this faint barrier appeared, the flames atop the Ancient Mirror began to extinguish, and the temperature started to drop. ... However, even so, numerous blue flames continued clinging to the Ancient Mirror, constantly corroding it. A breath later, Gu Changqing¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale as he spat out several more mouthfuls of blood and his aura quickly weakened significantly. This time, the blood he spat bore a significant difference to that of before; previously, it was to enhance the Ancient Mirror¡¯s defensive power by using his heart¡¯s blood to elevate its strength. But now, it was completely different, for it was due to the Magical Treasure taking damage that had consequently impacted him, making this act a necessary last resort. Both were coughing up blood, yet the fundamental difference was vast. Fortunately, at this moment, all the flames on the Ancient Mirror were extinguished, and it rapidly shrank, eventually caught in the hands of Gu Changqing. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who was quickly rushing over, also wore an expression of regret. After all, this sudden change in the Blue Heart True Flame was an attack method he had long premeditated. Previously, he could not freely control the Blue Heart True Flame. Now, with the continuous growth of the Blue Heart True Flame, its quantity had increased dozens of times compared to when he first acquired it. Moreover, in using the Blue Heart True Flame, he had made considerable progress, able to precisely manipulate its shape and disperse its energy, among other things. And this new attack technique was something he had mastered through exploration and relentless attempts over recent years. This time, it was even the first time he used it in actual combat; although he did not manage to kill Gu Changqing, he did wound him, achieving his initial goal to some extent. But at this moment, Gu Changqing, upon seeing Lin Tianming, was already panic-stricken, evidently terrified by Lin Tianming¡¯s unexpected and bizarre tactics. For this, he had paid a price, suffering serious injuries that significantly reduced his own strength. Previously, he had already been gradually losing ground. Now with this strike, not only had his Magical Treasure suffered significant damage, but he himself had sustained no light injuries. In addition, the Mana left in his body was scarce, not even amounting to two-tenths of his peak state. Under such circumstances, he simply could not hold out against Lin Tianming for long. At the thought, Gu Changqing was a mix of shock and rage, filled with regret in his heart. However, Lin Tianming was not about to give him a chance to breathe. He was clear in mind that the current situation had been difficult to turn around. Be it new grudges or old, or for the sake of the Lin Family and the entire cultivation world of Wei Kingdom, it was necessary to capture Gu Changqing alive. He was no gentle soul; now that he had the upper hand, he intended to further expand his advantage. With this goal, Lin Tianming unleashed the Qinghong Sword from his hand, once again activating the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword shot forth, rapidly closing the distance to less than a hundred zhang from Gu Changqing. At this time, Gu Changqing, pale as a sheet, hurriedly backed away in retreat, darting toward the nearest battlefield. Clearly, Gu Changqing had no intention to continue entangled with Lin Tianming any longer. He knew well that his strength had diminished considerably, while Lin Tianming remained at his peak; be it in momentum or personal strength, Lin Tianming clearly held an absolute advantage. Since he was no longer a match for Lin Tianming, it was better to head toward Cao Jinping, seeking to leverage Cao Jinping¡¯s strength and join forces to resist Lin Tianming¡¯s assault. With this in mind, Gu Changqing, setting aside his pride, vanished in an instant, reappearing hundreds of zhang away. ¡°` At that moment, the sudden change in Gu Changqing was seen by Lin Tianming, yet he was helpless to do anything about it. Although Gu Changqing was injured, he was, after all, a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Even if he was not a match for Tianming, if he was determined to flee, it would take a great deal of effort to stop him. Nevertheless, his speed did not decrease in the slightest, and he continued to chase after Gu Changqing. For a time, the two of them, one chasing and the other fleeing, were headed towards Zhu Yun and Cao Jinping of the Sword Forging Sect, who were in the midst of a magic duel. At that time, Cao Jinping and Zhu Yun were engaged in a fierce battle. Cao Jinping¡¯s strength was notably stronger, constantly keeping Zhu Yun on the defensive. Faced with Cao Jinping¡¯s relentless onslaught, Zhu Yun was also covered in wounds, his breath growing weaker and weaker, finding himself in a retreating position. With Cao Jinping¡¯s full-force strike, a massive wave of Sword Qi shot forth, severing Zhu Yun¡¯s arm. At that point, Zhu Yun let out a pained growl, and his body was sent flying dozens of feet away. Before he could stabilize himself, Cao Jinping attacked again, another wave of Sword Qi tearing through the void. Watching the same Sword Qi that had just inflicted heavy damage on him approach, Zhu Yun¡¯s face paled. Forcing out an attack, he fled in the direction of Lin Tianming. He had no other choice. After all, his injuries were not minor, and Cao Jinping was getting increasingly stronger. The gap between them was widening, and continuing the futile fight would not make him the victor. He had also occasionally paid attention to the battle situation on Lin Tianming¡¯s side. When he saw that Lin Tianming had severely injured Gu Changqing and was pursuing him in his direction, he was quite astonished. Now, Gu Changqing, too, being overpowered by Lin Tianming, was rushing in his direction, hoping to rely on Cao Jinping¡¯s power to resist Lin Tianming. And his own situation was identical to the approaching Gu Changqing. Since Gu Changqing had made such a plan, if he wished to survive, he too had no choice but to rely on the power of cultivators from the same faction. The battlefield where Lin Tianming was located was the closest person to his position and his best choice for seeking help. Soon, he made up his mind and also fled in Lin Tianming¡¯s direction. From afar, Zhu Yun, still fleeing for his life, began to cry out for help. On the other side, Gu Changqing did the same; the two injured cultivators rushed towards each other, their distance closing steadily. Behind them, Lin Tianming and Cao Jinping were unwilling to fall behind, each pursuing their respective targets. Time continued to pass slowly, and within a few breaths, it had gone by. As the distance between the chasers and the chased continued to close, both Gu Changqing and Zhu Yun became increasingly frantic. Especially Zhu Yun, his injuries were more serious than Gu Changqing¡¯s, and his speed was also far less than Cao Jinping¡¯s. Looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s side, the gap with Gu Changqing was also closing, and it was becoming very difficult to converge with allies. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this rate, it was doubtful either of them could achieve their objectives. In desperation, Zhu Yun suddenly turned around and charged at the pursuing Cao Jinping. His eyes were resolute, and his Magical Treasure suddenly shone brightly as he rushed forward in a decisive gambit. Clearly, Zhu Yun knew his life was near its end and didn¡¯t even have the time to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. Instead of being killed without resistance, he preferred to fight back fiercely. Even if he could not find a sliver of a chance to survive, he intended to cause some trouble for Cao Jinping. With that goal in mind, Zhu Yun had cast aside his fear of death. Seeing this action took both the pursuing Cao Jinping and Gu Changqing by surprise, causing them to hesitate for a moment. At that moment, a scream came from behind Zhu Yun. Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword sliced through the void, piercing directly through Gu Changqing¡¯s chest. In an instant, Gu Changqing¡¯s body was torn apart, his remains dropping to the ground, kicking up a bit of dust. The whole event was brief, happening in the blink of an eye. And Gu Changqing, lacking Zhu Yun¡¯s courage, was killed by the onrushing Lin Tianming in that moment of hesitation, ultimately dying in regret. ¡­ Chapter 867 867 465 Consecutive Downfalls ?Chapter 867: Chapter 465: Consecutive Downfalls Chapter 867: Chapter 465: Consecutive Downfalls At that very moment, Cao Jinping saw with his own eyes the entire process of Gu Changqing¡¯s death. He hadn¡¯t expected that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength would be so fearsome that he had managed to kill Gu Changqing, a cultivator of fame equal to his own, without much effort. It was well known that Gu Changqing was also a seasoned Golden Core of the Huangyang Country Cultivation World, and his power was on par with Cao Jinping¡¯s. Now that Lin Tianming had killed Gu Changqing, it was certainly possible for him to also kill Cao Jinping. The thought alone filled Cao Jinping with a mixture of shock and fury. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t until Gu Changqing¡¯s screams had ceased that he recovered from his astonishment and became furiously enraged. And at this time, Zhu Yun, who had been rushing towards him, was drawing ever closer, a magical treasure shooting from his hand, aimed straight for Cao Jinping¡¯s vital points. ... Seeing this, Cao Jinping¡¯s expression became grave as he hastily unleashed an attack. In an instant, a Black Longsword cut through the sky, colliding precisely with Zhu Yun¡¯s magical treasure. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud crash reverberated, and the sky suddenly dimmed. Immediately after, Zhu Yun was seen retreating dozens of feet away, spewing mouthfuls of blood in midair before crashing heavily to the ground. He struggled to stand, but the injuries on his body were too severe; blood flowed incessantly from a wound in his chest, and nearly all his meridians were severed. Now, with all his mana depleted and his injuries extremely serious, even a Qi Refining Cultivator would not have much trouble killing him. In such a state, he could be said to have no fighting power at all. At the same time, Cao Jinping was also not in a good shape, his Qi-Blood churning wildly inside him, fresh blood once again spilling from the corner of his mouth, his complexion rapidly paling. In that attack, even though Zhu Yun had already been severely wounded, which caused one of his arms to be lost and greatly impacted his power, he was still a Golden Core Cultivator at the Mid Stage Golden Core level, and his desperate counterattack still possessed immense strength. It should be known that cultivators can often explode with energy beyond their own capabilities when fighting for their lives, thereby turning the tide against unfavorable circumstances. Thus, even cultivators of the same rank would not dare say they could easily block such an attack. And sure enough, Cao Jinping was also seriously injured by Zhu Yun¡¯s desperate strike, significantly affecting his power. Still, compared to the severely injured Zhu Yun who was now virtually powerless, Cao Jinping¡¯s condition was relatively better, maintaining a certain fighting capacity. However, being injured was a face-losing affair. At this time, looking at the agonizingly wailing Zhu Yun, Cao Jinping¡¯s face darkened to the extreme. He had thought that Zhu Yun¡¯s strike was nothing more than the futile struggle of an insect blocking a carriage. With the power difference between them at that moment, killing Zhu Yun would not have taken much effort. Yet, Zhu Yun, risking his life, had managed to carve out a sliver of survival. Despite his critical injuries, he temporarily saved his life and achieved his initial goal. But before he could catch his breath, an enraged Cao Jinping attacked again, his Black Longsword descending with formidable presence. At this moment, Zhu Yun was too severely injured to even stand properly, making it impossible for him to dodge this attack. In this moment, Zhu Yun¡¯s face was as pale as snow, and he could only watch helplessly as Cao Jinping struck. Just then, Lin Tianming, who had rushed over, launched an attack, attempting to block the fatal blow for the critically wounded Zhu Yun. His speed was swift, his agile body almost reaching, with the Qinghong Sword intercepting the blow for Zhu Yun even quicker. Seeing this, Cao Jinping, his face filled with anger, could only hope that his own strength was stronger, so as to repel Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. On the other hand, if Lin Tianming managed to block this attack for Zhu Yun, given Lin Tianming¡¯s demonstrated strength, he would face significant resistance in attempting to kill Zhu Yun afterwards. Knowing this, Cao Jinping also took a deep breath, inwardly anticipating the outcome of this clash. Under the gaze of both, their attacks collided directly. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A tremendous explosion resounded, like thunder exploding violently. A red and a black longsword clashed fiercely, the powerful collision creating a massive shockwave that rapidly spread in all directions. In that instant, the sky erupted with fierce winds, and vast clouds of dust danced in the air. The entire sky, even the earth below, completely changed its appearance. At that moment, Lin Tianming felt as if hit by a great mountain, his Qi-Blood inside madly surging, boiling with the impact. Simultaneously, an intense pain spread through his entire nervous system. Even with his strong physique, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver a few times under this excruciating torment. It was only when he fell to the ground that Lin Tianming spat out a few mouthfuls of blood, his face turning pale immediately after. Then, he looked up to where he had just been and found that the severely injured Zhu Yun had vanished. After scanning the field quickly, he found Zhu Yun¡¯s figure in a corner. Glancing over, Zhu Yun lay motionless in a deep pit, his surroundings already soaked in blood. His body, already covered with many wounds, was now a blood-soaked figure riddled with holes. This pitiful sight was not even the most infuriating part. Most importantly, Zhu Yun¡¯s breath was extremely faint, with only a sliver of life remaining, and it was growing weaker and weaker. At this rate, the unconscious Zhu Yun would not be able to recover from his injuries and would only be waiting for death. Chapter 868 868 465 Continuous Demise_2 ?Chapter 868: Chapter 465 Continuous Demise_2 Chapter 868: Chapter 465 Continuous Demise_2 Clearly, in that recent head-on confrontation, Lin Tianming had exerted all his strength to help fend off the attack, but he still could not prevent the powerful shockwave from spreading. Zhu Yun, already severely injured and unable to move, was also incapable of organizing an effective defense, and as a result, was swept away by that strong shockwave, simply unable to resist. One could even say that the fact he still retained some vitality was already quite miraculous. Yet, despite Zhu Yun not yet having completely lost his life force, with such severe injuries, unless it was a Fifth Order miracle Holy Medicine, nothing else could save his life. Otherwise, Zhu Yun could only wait for his vitality to fully dissipate, but there was nothing he could do. And a Fifth Order life-saving treasure, those were phenomenally rare even within the Cultivation World, to the extent that even the mysterious Nascent Soul Stage Powerhouses might not possess such a thing. Even if one step back, if there were such treasures available, keeping them for oneself would barely be enough, let alone using them to save a Golden Core Stage Cultivator? ... In such circumstance, Zhu Yun was essentially waiting for death at this point. Knowing this, Lin Tianming also had an expression of regret on his face, feeling pity for Zhu Yun in his heart. They could be considered old acquaintances; during the battle against the Demonic Beasts at Yuyao City, it was under his leadership that the numerous Cultivators from around Qianchuan Market were conscripted for the battle. At that time, Lin Tianming had also been dispatched by him multiple times. Although he had not provided him with much help, Zhu Yun was quite upright as a person and was respected by many Cultivators. Furthermore, during their expedition into the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm, Zhu Yun and Luo Anzhong were both besieged by members of the Blood Red Alliance. In an absolute disadvantage, Zhu Yun also fought for time for the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including Lin Tianming, who thus owed him a favor. Moreover, just a while ago, despite Zhu Yun being in a desperate situation, he still did not give up hope, and with his grievously injured body, he bought some time for Lin Tianming. It could be said that without Zhu Yun¡¯s resolute counterattack, Lin Tianming¡¯s successful killing of Gu Changqing would not have been so easy. It was precisely because of Zhu Yun¡¯s decisiveness that Lin Tianming was able to kill the fleeing Gu Changqing without much effort. Therefore, for him and the others, Zhu Yun had indeed fulfilled his duty. However, now Zhu Yun had been gravely wounded and was technically on the verge of death. The imminent demise of such a gallant Golden Core Cultivator was unavoidably a cause for sighs and lamentations. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming also looked ahead, paying attention to Cao Jinping¡¯s current condition. Just moments ago, Cao Jinping, who had been opposite to him, had been flung out like a kite with its string cut, flying out in a parabola. While still in mid-air, he spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his breath growing even more feeble. By the time his body hit the ground, Cao Jinping staggered to his feet, and when he looked toward Lin Tianming, his eyes became bloodshot, his rage reaching its peak. The strike was almost evenly matched, both parties sustaining grievous injuries, causing both of their strengths to greatly diminish. As the fighting fell briefly into a lull, when they looked at each other, their expressions were filled with murderous intent. Especially Lin Tianming, who was extremely angry at this moment. This rage was not only because Zhu Yun was nearly lost, but also because he had failed to protect him, leading to the loss of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator who deserved respect within their ranks. With such anger, Lin Tianming swiftly turned his body and, in his haste, shot towards Cao Jinping. Seeing this, Cao Jinping was both shocked and enraged, immediately retreating backward. At this moment, Cao Jinping was truly frightened, only thinking of escaping the battle. The reason for this was also because he had suffered heavy blows one after another, with extremely severe injuries. Besides that, he had also witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength. Looking at Lin Tianming again, although he too had considerable injuries, he was evidently faring much better than himself. With only a bit more than ten percent of his Mana remaining, his strength had decreased considerably, and he absolutely could not sustain a protracted fight. Under these circumstances, he had to break away from the battle to avoid being bogged down by Lin Tianming once again and falling into a quagmire. If it really came to that, given the current state of the two of them, he feared that he too might follow in the footsteps of Gu Changqing and Zhu Yun. Knowing this, Cao Jinping was terrified at this moment and had no more courage to continue the fight. Looking back at Lin Tianming, at this time, his momentum was overwhelming, with a fierce and menacing appearance that seemed as if he was about to tear Cao Jinping apart. In fact, it was indeed so; Lin Tianming was also aware of their differing states, and he clearly had the absolute advantage. Given such conditions, whether standing from an individual¡¯s perspective or the perspective of the entire Myriad Medicine Valley camp, with his character, he would naturally not give up such a rare opportunity. Moreover, Cao Jinping was also a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, his strength ranked among the top powerhouses within the Blood Red Alliance camp. If Cao Jinping were also to be slain, this battle would have seen the fall of several Golden Core Stage Cultivators, inflicting heavy losses on the Blood Red Alliance camp. By the time the great battle ended, he would also receive ample rewards, bringing them closer to victory. It could be said that killing Cao Jinping was imperative for himself and for the final victory. With such belief, Lin Tianming greatly increased his speed of escape. Reliant on his speed advantage, he rapidly closed the distance between himself and Cao Jinping. At this moment, when Cao Jinping saw Lin Tianming¡¯s speed, he felt a great sense of foreboding. At that time, the entire battlefield was in utter chaos, everyone fiercely fighting. Following Cao Jinping¡¯s fall, except for Zhao Hongsheng, who occupied some advantage at the highest point, almost everyone else was at a disadvantage on the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s side. In less than half a quarter of an hour, including Gu Changqing, their side had already suffered the successive losses of three cultivators. Among these fallen, from the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s side were Gu Changqing, Dong Wenchang of the Golden Sword Sect, and Zhang Qifeng of the Qingmu Sect. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And from the Myriad Medicine Valley side, including Zhu Yun, two with Golden Core Stage combat power had fallen, with another being Li Wenhe from the West River Li Family. As several people fell in succession, their overall strength ebbed and flowed, and the gap slowly widened. In this manner, the gap would only increase further, ultimately leading to even greater losses of power for them. Now, he found himself in an absolute disadvantage; in such a chaotic and complex situation, no one could take care of him. Thus, his hopes of seeking help had become extravagant. As Cao Jinping surveyed the situation, he also understood the difficulty of his circumstance. But even with this understanding, he was powerless to change the situation, as Lin Tianming had already caught up with him, only dozens of feet away. Such a distance was already within the best attack range for a Golden Core Cultivator, perfectly able to be instantly fatal. At that time, Lin Tianming, seeing the opportune moment had arrived, decisively made his move. ¡°The Tiangang Ninth Sword¡­ Kill!¡± In an instant, his hands formed the Law Decree, unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Skill. In a flash, nine sword shadows overlapped, and the Qinghong Sword shot out, heading straight for the back of Cao Jinping¡¯s head. Now, the Qinghong Sword appeared above Cao Jinping¡¯s head, ready to descend at any moment. At this moment, Cao Jinping could also seem to sense the terrifying aura from the Qinghong Sword. That special piercing power made even his body shudder. In his desperation, Cao Jinping knew he could not escape and could only turn around to launch a desperate counterattack. If he could withstand this deadly strike, he still held hope of saving his life. Otherwise, perhaps just a few breaths later, would be the time of his demise. The embattled Cao Jinping was also decisive, immediately activating his Black Longsword, pouring almost all of his remaining mana into the Longsword Treasure. ¡°Humming¡­¡± A buzzing of the sword rang out, as the Black Longsword shot out, clashing head-on with the incoming Qinghong Sword. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise erupted, as the sky once again burst forth with dazzling light, and the ground trembled slightly. Under this earth-shattering momentum, the Qinghong Sword repelled the Black Longsword and with a thunderous momentum, thrust towards Cao Jinping. ¡­ Chapter 869 869 466 Initial Signs of Victory ?Chapter 869: Chapter 466 Initial Signs of Victory Chapter 869: Chapter 466 Initial Signs of Victory Seeing his own longsword sent flying, Cao Jinping¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and he immediately sidestepped. Just as he had moved his foot, the Qinghong Sword descended, severing one of Cao Jinping¡¯s arms. In desperate straits, Cao Jinping was resolute, knowing he could neither escape nor block the blow, his only option was to dodge to avoid a fatal strike and buy himself some time. With Lin Tianming¡¯s strike dissipating, the Qinghong Sword also appeared behind Cao Jinping. Momentarily having saved his life, Cao Jinping, not caring about his injuries or the severe pain, could only hasten to flee the area. However, he had barely flown a few meters when he saw a fist appearing above his head. The fist was small, yet it brought a whirlwind, causing his tattered Daoist robe to flutter. ... In that instant, he knew there was no way to dodge or block it. Desperate, Cao Jinping stood frozen in place, his eyes shut tightly, his heart filled with regret. Though it was too late to react, he quickly felt his head shatter, and he completely lost consciousness. With Lin Tianming¡¯s punch, the slaying of Cao Jinping finally brought an end to this battle, and the sky fell into a brief calm. Then, as Lin Tianming steadied his stance, he turned and looked at Cao Jinping¡¯s body lying on the ground, almost entirely smashed to pieces, with red and white matter mixed, turning the corpse into a bloodied figure, utterly devoid of life. This grisly scene caused even someone as experienced as Lin Tianming to reel, almost collapsing on the ground. Clamping his teeth, he forced himself to stay conscious and soon returned to normal. Afterward, looking at the dead Cao Jinping, exultation took over Lin Tianming¡¯s heart. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The battle had demanded almost all of his techniques, draining nearly all his mana and greatly reducing his strength. Yet, he considered himself fortunate for not having sustained fatal injuries. Zhu Yun, however, had fallen in the great battle, a renowned powerhouse who had shaken the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for years, now dead. With such a costly price, they had finally succeeded in killing Cao Jinping, achieving their initial goal and avenging Zhu Yun. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming breathed a long sigh of relief. Immediately, he shifted his gaze to assess the situation on the other battlefields. Looking around, the battlefield was in utter chaos. Apart from Zhao Hongsheng high above, the opponents originally assigned had changed as cultivators, including Gu Changqing and Zhu Yun, had fallen, freeing others to support their comrades, resulting in complete turmoil. At this point, the fight lost all sense of order; cultivators practically formed several groups, collaborating to fend off enemies in a melee. For a moment, the battlefield turned extremely chaotic, with the danger escalating significantly; nearly every round of attacks left some Golden Core Cultivators injured due to the disorder. Even at intervals, some Golden Core Cultivators would be worn down, eventually caught and killed in a fatal strike. In such circumstances, the Myriad Medicine Valley camp, with Lin Tianming taking the initiative to break the deadlock and Zhao Mingli slaying Dong Wenchang, triggered a chain reaction. Immediately after, the pair freed themselves to support other comrades, gradually evening the odds. Following that, Lin Tianming killed Cao Jinping, shifting the balance to their advantage. Fueled by the chain reaction, the cultivators in the Myriad Medicine Valley camp surged with momentum, each brimming with fearlessness and unleashing their full strength. In contrast, the Golden Sword Sect camp, consisting of factions from different cultivation realms along with the Blood Red Alliance, suffered from misaligned interests, making them mistrustful of each other, wary of being exploited. Under such circumstances, despite their overall greater strength, the limited output from the self-interested factions was palpable. Thus, aside from Zhao Hongsheng, the other groups began to gradually fall back. Seeing this, it was possible, if things continued, for them to achieve even greater victories. Excited by this, Lin Tianming leaped into action, flying towards the battle group of Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai. At that moment, the battlefield where Lin Shikang was located was fiercely contested. Here, the two of them, along with Zhao Mingli and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, teamed up, four Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators besieging the Blood Red Alliance¡¯s Jin Weishan and Yang Jun, both Medium Stage cultivators. Due to Yang Jun and Jin Weishan¡¯s prowess and affiliation with the formidable Blood Red Alliance, their individual strengths were extremely formidable. Previously, Yang Jun, leveraging his cultivation and might, had also succeeded in killing Shao Changyi. Thereafter, Lan Yu found himself in a difficult position, subsequently sustaining heavy injuries and nearly getting killed by Yang Jun. Fortunately, in an urgent situation, Zhao Mingli¡¯s timely support momentarily stabilized their position. Otherwise, he feared he might have followed in Shao Changyi¡¯s footsteps. As for Lin Shikang and his companion, having just broken through to the Golden Core Stage, they too faced extreme danger when dealing with Jin Weishan. Luckily, their cooperative and well-coordinated actions allowed them to hold on until now. Later, as the situation grew more chaotic, they joined forces with Lan Yu and others to handle Yang Jun and his comrade. Despite their disadvantages, the combined effort of the four prevented any immediate collapse. Chapter 870 870 466 Initial Show of Superiority_2 ?Chapter 870: Chapter 466: Initial Show of Superiority_2 Chapter 870: Chapter 466: Initial Show of Superiority_2 However, as the battle dragged on, the four of them, including Lin Tianming, saw their mana consumption significantly increase, and their situation became increasingly difficult. At this moment, the four of them felt a sense of urgency in their hearts, but given the defensive strength of Jin Weishan and his companion, they could only assume a passive defense, thereby delaying time. Because they were very clear in their minds that, overall, they held the upper hand at this juncture. As long as they could hold out until reinforcements arrived, even if Yang Jun and his companion gained an advantage, they would definitely not be a match for them. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this goal in mind, all four of them persevered through the struggle. Upon Lin Tianming¡¯s appearance behind them, Lin Shikang and the others¡¯ expressions brightened, and they each heaved a sigh of relief in their hearts. In their eyes, Lin Tianming was powerful enough, having already slain two Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen today. ... Adding to the fearsome reputation he had earned in the previous battles, Lin Tianming was undoubtedly a God of Slaughter. With such a formidable person joining them, it would surely change their dire situation dramatically. Especially for Lin Shikang and his companion, being able to fight alongside Lin Tianming, regardless of the final outcome, brought them a great deal of comfort. Thus, even from a distance, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. Upon seeing Lin Shikang and his companion who also had some injuries, but which did not greatly affect their own strength, now with his addition, at least ensuring the fundamental safety of the three should not be too difficult. Therefore, Lin Tianming was equally excited and immediately came to stand behind Lin Shikang and his companion. Following that, Lin Tianming was not idle; before Jin Weishan¡¯s attack could arrive, he took the initiative and fended off the assault. With the strike thwarted, Jin Weishan¡¯s expression grew grave, and he had a foreboding feeling that something exceedingly bad was about to happen. Sure enough, before he could prepare himself, Lin Tianming had already made his move. Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword flashed with light, and then the longsword flew from his hand, heading straight for Jin Weishan. Close behind followed the attacks of Lin Shikang and the others, slicing across the sky, all coordinating with Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword to strike. Having seen Lin Tianming¡¯s tactics before, and witnessing several peers of the same cultivation realm perish at his hands, Jin Weishan knew that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength could not be measured by his Cultivation Realm alone. With the addition of the other four, such an offensive was extremely formidable, and probably no Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator would dare claim they could definitely withstand it. Watching the approaching Qinghong Sword and the Divine Skills attack intensified by ninefold sword qi, sweeping along with a powerful momentum akin to killing him on the spot, at that moment, Jin Weishan¡¯s face turned grave, and he hurriedly unleashed a strike, clashing directly with the Qinghong Sword. By his side, Yang Jun also took action immediately, sharing the burden with Jin Weishan. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A series of crackling explosions sounded, and the sky suddenly became a sea of fire, with intense shockwaves spreading out. When the blaze and the dust had dispersed, Yang Jun and Jin Weishan were seen being blown back, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths while still midair, their complexions significantly paled. After this exchange, Lin Tianming and his four companions managed to repel Jin Weishan and his companion, causing them to sustain some injuries, Finally stabilizing themselves, Yang Jun and his companion exchanged a look, as if reaching a consensus. Immediately after, they leaped up, their Magical Treasures glowing intensely, and two terrifying sword qi assaulted Lin Tianming. Clearly, they were aware of how strong Lin Tianming was, and facing any one of them alone would perhaps not put them at a significant disadvantage. Now with several others assisting, if they let them continue to work together, the situation for the two of them would only become more precarious. In such a situation, they also planned to join forces, to first eliminate Lin Tianming, the strongest among them, or at the very least severely wound him. Once the major threat was removed, dealing with the remaining four would naturally be much easier. With this intention, Jin Weishan and his companion gave it their all, unleashing their strongest techniques. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Two colossal sword qi tore through the void in the sky, the powerful force generating Gang Winds that whipped Lin Tianming¡¯s robes into a flapping frenzy. The speed of the sword qi was incredibly fast, reaching the group in the blink of an eye. Upon seeing this fearsome attack, Lin Shikang and his companion, with faces fraught with angst, urgently cried out, ¡°Tian Ming, be careful!¡± At the same time, they both moved quickly towards Lin Tianming. Even as they were midway through their journey, the Magical Treasures in their hands flashed with Spiritual Light, unleashing attacks to support Lin Tianming as he dealt with the Sword Qi strikes from Jin Weishan and his companion. Aside from the two of them, Lan Yu and Zhao Mingli on the other side were also unwilling to fall behind and launched their attacks at the first opportunity. Lin Tianming had long been aware of their intentions and hastily activated Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. Instantaneously, a Sword Shadow Lotus appeared in front of the five of them, firmly shielding the space above their heads. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two streaks of Sword Qi struck the Sword Lotus, and for a moment, a burst of red light shot up to the heavens, causing the ground beneath them to tremble slightly. Following the two loud explosions, the sky gradually returned to calm. Under this assault, Lin Tianming and his companions were merely forced to retreat several dozen feet, causing their Qi-Blood to surge and their complexions to pale a shade. Although the two Sword Qi attacks were powerful, having five people defend together greatly reduced his pressure, and he did not sustain many injuries. On the other hand, Yang Jun and Jin Weishan were also shaken, their Qi-Blood in turmoil as they were repelled and sent flying by the powerful impact. After they stabilized their forms, the two men¡¯s complexions were extremely grim, and thoughts of retreat sprouted in their hearts. They knew that they had consumed more than half of their Mana and, facing Lin Tianming and his companions, who were as aggressive as a rainbow, they hardly had any chance of winning. Even if they continued to fight to the death, their situation would not improve, and it was not impossible that they could be wiped out in one fell swoop. Knowing this, Jin Weishan and his companion abandoned their plans to attack and immediately began to retreat, preparing to regroup with the others. Lin Tianming observed their movements. ¡°Hmph¡­ thinking of running now?¡± ¡°Too late!¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly, his heart actually well guarded. Thereupon, he nodded at Lin Shikang and the others and then took off after Jin Weishan and his companion, who were retreating. Behind him, Lin Shikang and his companions followed his footsteps, chasing after Jin Weishan and his companion. A few breaths later, Jin Weishan and his companion, slower than Lin Tianming, were caught by him. As for the others, they also quickly caught up and swiftly surrounded Jin Weishan and his companion. By now, they were encircled by enemies on all sides, with all their escape routes guarded. Jin Weishan and Yang Jun¡¯s faces were ugly as they hastily responded. However, the two of them had exhausted a great deal of Mana at this point, and their ability to exert power was extremely limited. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to hope their attacks would force a retreat. Time continued to pass, and the attacks came as expected from both sides. Under the fierce collision, the Qinghong Sword repelled the Sword Qi of Yang Jun and Jin Weishan. The Qinghong Sword, temporarily out of trajectory, paused for a moment before continuing its barrage towards Jin Weishan. By this time, they had consumed over ninety percent of their Mana, and their strength was extremely limited, unable to sustain a prolonged battle. Thinking of this, the faces of Yang Jun and his companion turned pale, and they hastily activated their Defense Treasures in front of them. In an instant, two different light shields enveloped an area, firmly protecting Jin Weishan and his companion. A few breaths later, after a series of crackling sounds, the sky regained tranquility. When the dust settled, Jin Weishan and Yang Jun were seen struggling on the ground, with numerous injuries, deathly pale faces, and even more wilted breaths. Subsequently, they tried several times in succession but failed to get up. Finally, after several attempts, the two men supported each other shoulder to shoulder and managed to stand up, staggering, their expressions turning to one of sheer panic. After this strike, both of them were severely wounded and had almost lost their ability to fight. In contrast, Lin Tianming was still bursting with vigor as if he could unleash even more power. What¡¯s more, their situation had now become dire. Under the watchful eyes of Lin Tianming and his companions, they probably couldn¡¯t even manage a Self-Detonating Golden Core. ¡­ Chapter 871 871 467 Han Hus Anger ?Chapter 871: Chapter 467: Han Hu¡¯s Anger Chapter 871: Chapter 467: Han Hu¡¯s Anger At this time, Lin Tianming and his associates saw Jin Weishan and Yang Jun supporting each other as they stood together. Their breath was extremely weak, their pale faces void of any color, almost resembling the ancient elders of the mundane world in their twilight years. Having confirmed that the danger was temporarily lifted, everyone present was overjoyed, and couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief in their hearts. After all, to severely injure Jin Weishan and his companion, they had paid a heavy price and faced many risks. Fortunately, Jin Weishan and his companion were so badly injured that they retained only a tenth of their strength, posing almost no threat. In the current situation, the few of them joining forces to besiege the severely injured duo spelled certain death for them. Thinking of this, Lin Shikang and the others could hardly calm their emotions for a long time. ... Even Lan Yu, who had seen much of the world and had already experienced many battles, felt somewhat disbelieving at heart, same as the others. After all, this battle was indeed perilous, and Shao Changyi had already fallen before, dragging them into a critical moment of life and death. Seeing that they could be killed at any moment, Lan Yu was also burning with anxiety. But at the moment of crisis, Lin Tianming and Zhao Mingli arrived on horseback, turning the tide from a defensive position. Immediately, the five joined forces in battle, eventually inflicting heavy injuries on Jin Weishan and Yang Jun. Now, finishing them off was within arm¡¯s reach. Finally regaining their composure, Lan Yu and the others all looked towards Lin Tianming, adopting a stance that hinged on his leadership. At this moment, Lin Tianming had no intention of delaying any longer. After all, the skirmishes of other battle groups had not ceased, and each moment of delay bore its own risks. They had not worked so hard to seize this opportunity only to let it slip away at the last hurdle. Aware of this, Lin Tianming said to his companions, ¡°Gentlemen, let us quickly slay these two, and then lend support to the other Daoist friends!¡± As he finished speaking, Lin Tianming took the lead, launching an attack that shot toward Jin Weishan with explosive force. Seeing this, Lan Yu and Zhao Mingli did not waste time, striking the moment they were able. In an instant, attacks from the others followed suit, unleashing a barrage of assaults that submerged Jin Weishan and his companion. At this moment, Jin Weishan and his companion were pale-faced, their expressions filled with terror. They wanted to flee, but their injuries were too severe, and with Lin Tianming¡¯s group closing in from every direction, escape was impossible. As for waiting for rescue from their sect mates, there was no hope of that either. At this time, Zhao Hongsheng was too far away to be of any help, and Zhou Yunxiao desperately thwarted him, leaving him unable to intervene. The other teammates were too preoccupied with their own struggles; each could hardly protect himself, let alone provide support. Under such circumstances, the two of them could only rely on themselves. But even knowing this, they also knew that they were no match for Lin Tianming and the others. At this time, Jin Weishan and his companion felt helpless; they could not fight, nor could they escape, and they were forced to accept the reality of their impending demise. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, as Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen, they retained their pride and, despite their severe injuries, were not prepared to simply wait for death. Thus, with a look of madness, they immediately gathered the little mana they had left and launched several attacks to block Lin Tianming¡¯s assault, seeking to buy themselves time. They then clasped their hands in incantation, causing a disturbance in nature¡¯s spiritual energy, trying to attempt a Self-Detonating Golden Core. Making such a desperate choice, they were well aware that they were in a dire situation, and it would be better to offer their last bit of strength for the sake of their sect. With this intent, Jin Weishan and his companion¡¯s expressions turned resolute, quickly drawing in a large amount of spiritual energy, which frantically entered their bodies from the Sky Spirit Cover. At this time, Lin Tianming and the others had realized that Jin Weishan and his companion might attempt to self-detonate their Golden Cores in a last-ditch effort. If they were in a similar hopeless situation, they would have made the same decision. Therefore, they were well-prepared in advance and had to act quickly to prevent Jin Weishan and his companion from carrying out their plan. Under these circumstances, the relentless attacks of everyone present aimed straight for vital points, trying to disrupt the impending self-detonation. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was the first to arrive, with the Qinghong Sword instantly scattering Jin Weishan¡¯s assault. Without slowing down, the Qinghong Sword continued to fly toward Jin Weishan. In the blink of an eye, the Qinghong Sword pierced through Jin Weishan¡¯s body. Suddenly, a scream echoed. Jin Weishan¡¯s self-detonation was interrupted, and the gathered spiritual energy churned before completely dissipating into the environment. Soon after, attacks from Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai also descended, killing the barely breathing Jin Weishan. Simultaneously, Yang Jun was decapitated by Zhao Mingli, immediately losing his vital signs. In an instant, the self-detonation of Jin Weishan and his companion was disrupted, and they were slain without resistance. Lin Tianming and his companions came together, their expressions still exuberant even after the two were dead beyond doubt. At this time, Lin Tianming glanced over the group and then suggested, ¡°Daoist Zhao, let us split into two groups and go assist Daoist Chen and the others!¡± ¡°Good¡­ Let¡¯s move immediately!¡± After Zhao Mingli responded, he flew directly toward the battle group of Duan Liangyu. Lan Yu paused for a moment and then followed Zhao Mingli¡¯s lead, evidently intending to join Duan Liangyu¡¯s group. Chapter 872 872 467 Han Hus Anger_2 ?Chapter 872: Chapter 467 Han Hu¡¯s Anger_2 Chapter 872: Chapter 467 Han Hu¡¯s Anger_2 Seeing Zhao Mingli leave with another, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Shikang next to him before saying, ¡°Third Grandfather, you and Grandpa Sea go and support the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Spirit Beast, I will go and help Daoist Chen!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang and his companion nodded, then cautioned, ¡°Everyone, be careful!¡± Immediately afterward, Lin Shikang and the other leaped into another battle group. As everyone left one after another, Lin Tianming did not delay either and dashed toward the location of Chen Jingtian. Soon, he arrived at a battlefield, and from a distance, he observed the battle group of Chen Jingtian and others. Following his gaze, at this moment, Chen Jingtian, Luo Anzhong, and Chen Maohua were joining forces to contend against Han Hu. These individuals in the battle group were old adversaries who had fought several major battles before and understood each other¡¯s combat strength quite well. ... The outcomes of those past few encounters had been roughly equal, with each side having its share of both advantages and losses. It could be said that these three men, along with Zhou Yunxiao, were key to tipping the scales of the entire scene. Therefore, this battle group was essentially evenly matched; as before, it wasn¡¯t easy to determine a winner. Meanwhile, as what had transpired resulted in the deaths of He Liqiu, Gu Changqing, Cao Jinping, Jin Weishan, and Yang Jun, five Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, the Blood Red Alliance along with the Huangyang Kingdom suffered heavy casualties. Moreover, with the prior deaths of Xiang Changqing, Yu Hongyan, and Dong Wenchang, most of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators had also perished in this grand battle. As the stabilizing figure of the Golden Sword Sect, Han Hu was significantly impacted. He now deeply regretted following Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s plan initially, which significantly weakened the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s strength. At this point, he had no way out. His situation was extremely dire, and the longer things dragged on, the worse it became. In this situation, Han Hu¡¯s morale also weakened, even if he didn¡¯t retreat from the battle, the strength he could muster was obviously not as overpowering as at the beginning. And this battle was particularly fierce, even continually claiming the lives of Golden Core Cultivators, which struck him with dread. Due to this shift in mindset, Han Hu was now being dominated in the fight by the vigorously imposing Chen Jingtian and his companions, and he was barely holding on. Seeing Lin Tianming free to help and seemingly about to join the battle group, right then and there, Han Hu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, knowing his situation was becoming even more perilous. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, before he could ponder any further, Lin Tianming had already joined the battle group, aiding Chen Jingtian and the others in attacking him. At this time, Lin Tianming wasted no time¡ªhis Qinghong Sword erupted with bursts of Spiritual Light, activating a massive amount of Sword Qi, and launched the attack from various angles. Having joined the battle group, Lin Tianming went all out, using merely ten to twenty percent of his total mana to create opportunities for Chen Jingtian and the others. Therefore, he didn¡¯t entertain thoughts of killing Han Hu and just hoped to achieve some effect. After all, Han Hu was a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator whose strength had been tested in several major battles. Although Lin Tianming had the ability to exterminate Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, against a Late Stage Golden Core Expert like Han Hu, his methods probably didn¡¯t pose a lethal threat. Even though the Sword Qi wasn¡¯t Divine Skills, they still possessed considerably potent force, enough to trouble Han Hu a bit. Seeing Lin Tianming join the battle group and aggressively make moves against Han Hu, Chen Jingtian was overwhelmed with excitement, and his morale surged significantly. ¡°Fellow daoists, let¡¯s not hold back!¡± After Chen Jingtian shouted, his Magical Treasure flashed with light, and a Golden Sword Qi shot out, aiming straight for Han Hu¡¯s vital areas. Influenced by Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, Chen Maohua and Luo Anzhong also grew more confident, increasing the intensity of their attacks. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The sky filled with various Sword Qis, each attack enough to make any Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s scalp tingle. In that moment, feeling the disturbances from all around, Han Hu looked exceedingly grave and scrambled to respond. He too activated a Golden Greatsword, unleashing vast Sword Qi, clashing head-on with the attacks from Lin Tianming and others. Simultaneously, he utilized his Defense Treasure to block those non-lethal attacks. In an instant, the sky was ravaged by Sword Qi, the powerful fluctuations from their collision stirring up a fierce wind, sweeping across all directions. As the strong gust approached, Lin Tianming pivoted his body to dodge the Sword Qi attacks while adjusting his own attacking stance. After stabilizing his stance, Lin Tianming struggled to control the surging Qi-blood within him, his face alternating between red and pale. On the other side, Chen Jingtian and his two companions likewise retreated dozens of feet, their expressions equally grave. Following that round of attack, seeing that Han Hu had blocked their combined strike with little effort, Lin Tianming was deeply shocked. Initially, he thought his own strength was enough to match a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, and combined with Chen Jingtian¡¯s team, they should have quickly gained the upper hand. However, Han Hu indeed proved himself a powerful existence in the Late Stage Golden Core. Facing the four together, he merely retreated about a hundred feet and did not seem significantly affected. Clearly, Han Hu was not easy to deal with. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been stuck in a stalemate for so long, still able to fight against three without falling into much disadvantage. Nevertheless, despite this, Lin Tianming and his group did not get discouraged and instead grew more spirited. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming frequently initiated attacks, continuing to increase the frequency and intensity. Seeing Lin Tianming taking the lead, Chen Jingtian and the other two exchanged a look, then also leapt up, launching attacks from different angles. For a time, the four resumed their combined offensive, giving Han Hu no chance to catch his breath. At this moment, Han Hu¡¯s face darkened, and despite his reluctance, he could only hastily cope. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The sky was ablaze with light, and the earth trembled slightly. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s battle group had fought through over ten rounds. As the ferocity of the battle continued to escalate, the five rapidly drained their mana, and their injuries became increasingly severe. Especially Han Hu. Facing a continuous stream of attacks from the four, even with a cultivation advantage, he was overwhelmed. In the short term, it was fine, but as time went on, he too felt somewhat powerless. Chen Jingtian and the others were also greatly exhausted. Lin Tianming¡¯s mana was drained, leaving him to exert pressure on Han Hu using his physical strength alone. It could be said that everyone present was struggling to hold on. Relying on his superior cultivation, Han Hu was able to persist until now without showing any obvious signs of defeat. At this point, the fierce battle gradually turned into a contest of stamina, waiting to see which side would falter first and give the other an opportunity. As Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio¡¯s attacks were dissolved by Han Hu, before he could catch his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s Black Dragon Axe was already chopping down. When his magical treasure made contact with the Black Dragon Axe, he immediately felt a tremendous force that made his wrists go numb. At the same time, a force took the opportunity to enter his body, crazily surging inside him. For a moment, Han Hu¡¯s Qi-blood roiled, and the corners of his mouth leaked a trace of fresh blood. It took him considerable effort to suppress this rampaging force. After stabilizing with great difficulty, Han Hu was a mix of shock and anger, harboring intense hatred towards Lin Tianming. In his view, although Lin Tianming¡¯s strike did not pose a fatal threat, such gradual depletion of his mana and strength through repeated attacks could also exhaust him mentally and physically, worsening his injuries. At this time, he was furious, harboring great animosity towards Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, however, had a clear objective; he avoided direct engagement in battle, seizing every opportunity when Han Hu was preoccupied with Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio to create trouble. Once he had a moment free, leveraging his speed, he distanced himself from the main battlefield, not giving Han Hu any chance for retaliation. With such a tactic, Han Hu felt helpless and could only try to buy time, waiting for an excellent opportunity to break the deadlock. However, before he found such a chance, his situation became even more difficult. Just as a vulnerability was seized by Chen Jingtian¡¯s trio, he immediately paid a heavy price. As the attacks by Chen Maohua and another dissolved, Chen Jingtian activated a golden flashing Sword Qi, transforming into a Golden Dragon which directly hit his shoulder. In an instant, Han Hu was thrown by the powerful force. Still in mid-air, Han Hu spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion turned significantly paler, and his breath greatly weakened. ¡­ Chapter 873 873 468 Thoughts of Retreating ?Chapter 873: Chapter 468: Thoughts of Retreating Chapter 873: Chapter 468: Thoughts of Retreating Struggling to stabilize his form, Han Hu glared furiously at the few across him, including Lin Tianming, his expression extremely hideous. At the same time, during this lull in the assault, he pondered a counter-strategy. Quickly, he glanced at the other battle groups and saw that, aside from Zhao Hongsheng, everyone else had fallen into a disadvantage. Even as Li Sheng of Forging Sword Valley was slain, their gathered group of Golden Core Cultivators was reduced to just him, Zhao Hongsheng, and Ren Feihong of Qingmu Sect. These remaining three were all at Mid Stage Golden Core or above, representing the entirety of their side¡¯s current Golden Core Stage Combat Power. It was hard to imagine that their group had started with a formidable lineup of eleven Golden Core Stage Cultivators, led by two Late Stage Golden Core experts. Such a force capable of sweeping across the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had been decimated by Myriad Medicine Valley, causing their collective strength to plummet severely. ... In contrast, although Myriad Medicine Valley also lost several Golden Core Stage fighters and many were gravely injured, their overall strength hadn¡¯t declined by much. Facing such a vast disparity, Han Hu saw the reality clearly and couldn¡¯t help but consider retreating. After all, the battle had reached a point where, with his serious injuries, the balance of equal strength was broken, placing him at a definite disadvantage. Continuing to fight like this, he saw no hope for victory. In such a situation, he might as well retreat now and return to Golden Sword Mountain Gate. It was expected that after the great battle concluded, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would certainly seek revenge on them. But with his presence, combined with Song Hanchun, who had always been defending Golden Sword territory, along with the Third Order Spiritual Beasts of Golden Sword Sect, they could rely on Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation to contend with Myriad Medicine Valley for a time. If they couldn¡¯t withstand the assault, he could also take Song Hanchun and a few others to leave the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, which was still preferable to leaving their lives in Wei Kingdom. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With his Late Stage Golden Core cultivation and Golden Sword Sect¡¯s wealth accumulated over thousands of years, the vast Cultivation World was his to explore. Moreover, it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to find another treasure land and make a comeback. When that time came, if the conditions were right, he could completely return to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Thinking of this, Han Hu pondered for a moment and made up his mind. As he was lost in thought, a pleasant voice sounded. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity following Chen Jingtian¡¯s strike that injured Han Hu, Lin Tianming and the others planned to end Han Hu¡¯s life right there. With this goal in mind, their attacks, like flowing water, came at him incessantly, giving him no chance to catch his breath. Under the four-man siege, Han Hu fought while retreating, forced to focus solely on defense, and struggled to organize effective offensives to threaten Lin Tianming and the others. For a moment, the overall situation of the great battle took a dramatic turn for the worse. Following the attack of Chen Jingtian and the others, Han Hu was sent flying by the tremendous force with his Qi-Blood, barely suppressed within him, surging wildly once again. At that moment, Han Hu saw Chen Jingtian continuing to strike, Lin Tianming, and the others fully cooperating in their well-coordinated attack, one following the other. Clearly, the opponents had no intention of giving him any chance to survive. Realizing this, Han Hu no longer had the courage to continue the battle. So, with his mind made up, he quickly slapped his storage bag and took out a blood-red talisman paper, clutching it in his hand. Looking at the talisman paper, Han Hu wore a reluctant expression. After all, this object was one of the most powerful treasures remaining in Golden Sword Sect. Once activated, it could unleash an incredibly powerful plume of light, and that level of attack, even Zhou Yunxiao, who was also a Late Stage Golden Core, would have to handle it with care. If luck was on his side, perhaps it could even annihilate him. Such a precious treasure, now forced to be used against Chen Jingtian and the others, was truly regrettable. However, at this point, Han Hu had no choice but to rely on it to escape this bloodbath, no matter how reluctant he was. Therefore, wasting no time, he swiftly flicked his fingers and activated the talisman paper. ¡°BOOM¡­¡± In an instant, the blood-colored talisman light flowed, then suddenly shot into the sky, turning into a red beam. Seeing this earth-shaking development, Chen Jingtian was the first to recognize that the talisman was a Fourth Tier Item and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°A Fourth Order Attack Talisman, this is actually a Fourth Order Attack Talisman!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ complexions changed drastically, each retreating rapidly, clearly afraid of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman¡¯s strike. Instantly, Chen Jingtian and his group scattered in all directions, each fleeing as fast as possible. Especially Lin Tianming, who was situated relatively at the back and reacted quickly, managed to distance himself by over a hundred yards in no time. He was well aware of the power of a Fourth Order Attack Talisman. Although it was just an ordinary strike for a Nascent Soul Cultivator, for all Golden Core Cultivators, it was a deadly threat. Even Zhou Yunxiao wouldn¡¯t dare to claim he could survive unscathed in such an attack, to say nothing of his own Early Stage Golden Core cultivation. If even slightly affected, he would likely be grievously injured. And with bad luck, he could very well die on the spot. Given the circumstances, he dared not stay a moment longer and focused only on getting as far away as possible. Only when he had flown a great distance, at least far from the center, and his personal safety was somewhat secured, Lin Tianming finally let out a sigh of relief. Chapter 874 874 468 The Emergence of the Idea to ?Chapter 874: Chapter 468: The Emergence of the Idea to Retreat_2 Chapter 874: Chapter 468: The Emergence of the Idea to Retreat_2 Immediately after, he turned his head to look back, constantly watching Han Hu¡¯s every move. ¡°Boom¡­¡± From the Blood-colored Talisman, a column of light soared into the sky, quickly turning into a multitude of blood spikes, hurtling toward the direction where Lin Tianming and the others were. At this time, Chen Jingtian, who had been at the very front, was the quickest and had already left the central area. Lin Tianming followed, with Chen Maohua closely behind, the three of them one in front of the other, just escaping the densest area of blood spikes. Luo Anzhong, however, did not react in time and, due to multiple injuries sustained earlier and not being at his peak strength, ended up being left behind. In an instant, the sky was filled with blood light, and with each pulse of light, dense blood spikes formed. ... Under the relentless attack of the dense blood spikes, Lin Tianming and the others increased their escape speed drastically, desperate to flee the area. As they retreated explosively, a scream was heard from behind them. At the same time, with the incessant and dense blood spikes continuing to assault them, the originally clear area was once again overrun by blood spikes. Now, the few people at the front were in constant trouble, having to find a way to block the impact of the blood spikes, or else they risked following in Luo Anzhong¡¯s footsteps. In a moment of urgency, Chen Jingtian stopped and with a slap to his storage pouch, a small umbrella-like Magical Treasure above his head flashed brightly, quickly enlarging to cover his entire body. ¡°Clang clang clang¡­¡± The blood spikes pummelled the small umbrella, producing a number of red sparks upon impact. Almost after a breathing time had passed, the Magical Treasure umbrella was riddled with holes and its spirituality greatly diminished; only then did the blood spikes slowly dissipate. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, was able to navigate through the dense sea of blood spikes like a fish, thanks to the incredible power of the Eye of Five Colors. Having passed through the densest area, Lin Tianming now emerged hundreds of yards away. Here, the blood spikes were sparse and their velocity significantly decreased, so much so that even without the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming could easily dodge them. After steadying himself, Lin Tianming gasped for air, filled with immense relief. Although he was temporarily safe, the preceding ordeal had been extremely dangerous, with several blood spikes piercing through his body, going straight through and leaving behind several bloody holes despite his formidable physique. Had the density of the spikes not been so great, and their power not overly strong, and had he not been aided by the Eye of Five Colors enabling him to choose the best escape route based on different situations, he most certainly would have met his end. After all, with the lowest level of cultivation and without a Defense Treasure like Chen Jingtian had for protection, relying solely on his own methods to block the dense and terrifying attack of the blood spikes was indeed too challenging. Fortunately, the dreadful Fourth Order Attack Talisman was about to dissipate, and the blood spikes were going to vanish as well. Apart from the unlucky Luo Anzhong who perished by a single strike, the remaining three of them were still alive, albeit Chen Maohua was seriously injured. And at this moment, the three survivors gathered together. After this round of attacks, the group of four that included Lin Tianming saw death and injury, substantially reducing their overall strength. Han Hu¡¯s side was not doing well either, having been injured beforehand and the subsequent activation of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman also depleting much of his mana. Moreover, the recent attacks from Lin Tianming and his companions had complicated matters for him, worsening the already heavy wounds he bore. At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others watched every move of Han Hu, not daring to be rash, fearing that Han Hu might still have some powerful cards up his sleeve. In case they pushed too hard and Han Hu chose to fight to the death, they would have no means to fend off another attack from the Fourth Order Attack Talisman. The same was true for Han Hu, now bereft of his trump card, he too was very wary of Lin Tianming and his two companions. Thus, both sides fell into a moment of silence, with neither willing to make the first move. Seeing that Lin Tianming and his companions dared not attack, Han Hu began to back away, inching closer to Zhao Hongsheng high in the sky. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companions exchanged glances, neither daring to strike nor willing to let Han Hu escape the fray. However, although they dared not get too close, they could follow, in case Han Hu were to join forces with Zhao Hongsheng against Zhou Yunxiao. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Zhou Yunxiao will be in danger.¡± Aware of this, Lin Tianming and his two companions could not care about anything else and immediately shifted their forms, chasing after Han Hu. Soon, with the arrival of Han Hu, the fierce battle between Zhao Hongsheng and Zhou Yunxiao came to a standstill. Before that, neither Zhao Hongsheng nor Zhou Yunxiao had been able to determine a victor, though Zhou Yunxiao had fallen slightly behind, consuming a bit more energy than Zhao Hongsheng, who was at the same cultivation level. This great battle had claimed many Golden Core Cultivators by now, and with everyone¡¯s mana approaching depletion, it was gradually drawing to a close. Since Han Hu still had strength for one more fight, Zhou Yunxiao dared not be careless, and could only temporarily withdraw from the battle group, converging with Lin Tianming and the others. On the other hand, Ren Feihong, who was being besieged by many cultivators, was also seriously injured. In order to save his life, he had used his trump card and wiped out the last Third Order Spiritual Beast from Myriad Medicine Valley in one fell swoop. With that strike, he temporarily deterred those besieging him and then managed to break away from the conflict, joining Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side was down to just three people, with Han Hu injured and Ren Feihong severely wounded. From Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side, only eleven remained alive, and only seven Golden Core Cultivators still maintained about eighty to ninety percent of their combat strength, most being in the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm. As for the others, almost all were severely injured, their strength greatly diminished. Although Zhao Hongsheng was left with only three people, with Han Hu there were two in the later stages, still possessing certain strength. Therefore, both parties were wary of each other, standing off at a certain distance. After a moment of silence and seeing that no one made a move, Zhou Yunxiao, who glared at Zhao Hongsheng furiously, looked at his companions, thinking that they still held an absolute advantage. Having paid such a heavy price, with many perishing in this great battle, they have finally fought for this situation; naturally, he had no intention of letting Zhao Hongsheng and the others go. After all, Zhao Hongsheng had significant backing, and if he managed to gather forces to attack again, they might not be able to hold them off. Moreover, although he dared not provoke the Blood Red Alliance, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s persistent ambitions and creating such calamity out of nowhere meant they had to pay the price. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fully understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead in acting to break the stalemate. Following suit, Chen Jingtian also understood Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s intentions, his heart similarly unwilling for Zhao Hongsheng and his group to leave. Lin Tianming, knowing the purpose behind Zhao Hongsheng initiating the war, was even less willing to let him go. With such intentions, the cultivators launched their attacks, unleashing a barrage, directly covering the airspace above Zhao Hongsheng and his group. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Watching the sky filled with attacks, each one brought a tremendous force. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s and Han Hu¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, their expressions extremely grave. Zhao Hongsheng sighed helplessly, then slapped his storage bag, and a light blue talisman paper appeared in his hand. Looking at it, the talisman paper was indigo, the luminescence swirling within was remarkably stunning. This talisman paper was a Fourth Order Attack Talisman, one of Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s greatest trump cards. He could obtain such an item without much cost only because it was part of the mission given to him by his sect. Now, even though he was reluctant, in order to retreat in one piece, he had to use the talisman paper. At this very moment, as the sky filled with attacks approached, Zhao Hongsheng did not hesitate to activate the Fourth Order Attack Talisman. Instantly, with a flash of light on the talisman paper, huge water-blue dragons appeared out of thin air, churning in the clouds above their heads. Then, guided by Zhao Hongsheng, a multitude of blue dragons roared forth, shooting towards the many cultivators opposite. Having done this, Zhao Hongsheng shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Hongsheng soared on the wind from his feet, leading the way in one direction. Trailing behind him, Han Hu and Ren Feihong dared not delay, following Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s lead, they quickly vanished into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 875 875 469 The Great Battle Concludes ?Chapter 875: Chapter 469: The Great Battle Concludes Chapter 875: Chapter 469: The Great Battle Concludes Just as Zhao Hongsheng and his two companions vanished from sight, the dragons that emerged from the talisman paper he had activated before leaving descended upon them. In an instant, a thunderous roar erupted, as a multitude of dragons charged forward. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao, despite being extremely anxious, desperately did not want to let the enemy get away. Yet faced with the terrifying dragon assault, even his cultivation at the Medium Stage Golden Core was seriously challenged, and he risked falling if he wasn¡¯t careful. Therefore, facing the trump card left behind by Zhao Hongsheng to block their path, Zhou Yunxiao had no choice but to deal with it cautiously. Apart from Zhao Hongsheng, everyone else was also a mixture of shock and rage, their expressions growing gravely solemn. Meanwhile, a group of Golden Core Cultivators retreated explosively, with the magical treasures in their hands shining brightly. ... For a moment, more than a dozen Golden Core Cultivators joined forces, unleashing a powerful blow towards the dragons that were coming straight at them. In that instance, the sky was filled with various attacks, every person, regardless of how much Mana they had left or what techniques they possessed, dared not hold anything back. Under these circumstances, the combined strike of more than ten Golden Core Cultivators also possessed tremendous destructive power. As time slowly passed by, the two forces violently collided. ¡°Boom¡­¡± From within the vast blaze, a crackling explosion could be heard, the whole ground blazing with fire as large swathes of land shook violently. Despite the incredible Attack Power of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman, the number of people including Lin Tianming was significant enough that their combined assault was comparably fearsome. However, the terror of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman had been previously proven by Han Hu; even Luo Anzhong, a seasoned Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, had not been able to withstand its attack and thus met his demise here. Under this attack, many Cultivators were affected, among which Zhou Yunxiao, as the primary target, naturally bore the brunt of the assault. And the outcome was that he suffered serious injuries at a significant cost. Aside from Zhou Yunxiao, Shao Changyi failed to dodge in time and perished under this strike. As for the others, including Lin Tianming, they too suffered greatly from the aftermath, each sustaining various degrees of injury. Only when the dust had settled did the sky and the ground return to calm. At this time, Lin Tianming and the others all gathered beside Zhou Yunxiao, with everyone staring in the direction Zhao Hongsheng had disappeared to, only to find that they were gone without a trace, leaving behind a battlefield riddled with holes and enveloped in the lingering smoke of gunpowder. Furthermore, at a distance, several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were gathered upon a few Flying Boats. Scanning the horizon, these people, filled with panic, immediately steered the Flying Boats in the direction Zhao Hongsheng had escaped. Regrettably, Zhao Hongsheng and the others were too fast, leaving no chance to take these people with them. By the time these Foundation Establishment Cultivators realized what was happening, the battle was nearly over, and the whereabouts of Zhao Hongsheng and his companions were unknown, with only Lin Tianming and his allies¡¯ figures emerging in the aftermath. Seeing so many Golden Core Cultavators staring at them, the Cultivators on the Flying Boats were scared out of their wits, not daring to linger in this place any longer. Thus, the people aboard these Flying Boats cared for nothing else but their desire to flee the area. However, escaping under the watchful eyes of so many Golden Core Cultivators was obviously not realistic. And as expected, seeing Zhao Hongsheng and others flee, the expressions on Lin Tianming and his companions became extremely complex. Upon closer inspection, their expressions varied, some filled with the joy of having survived a calamity, others with the excitement of having won the battle. After all, this battle had led to absolute victory in a strict sense; the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core processors had suffered heavy losses, which significantly weakened their strength. The Blood Red Alliance had also suffered heavy losses and no longer had the capacity to annihilate any sects in the short term. Beside those who were excited and thrilled, there were also some who were filled with unending fury. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially Zhou Yunxiao, whose eyes burned with rage at the sight before him, his face flashing with a ferocious expression. In his eyes, this battle had failed to eliminate future threats, leaving many uncertainties ahead. Especially for the Blood Red Alliance, if they rallied their troops again and incited other powers from the Cultivation World to attack the Wei Kingdom, Myriad Medicine Valley would inevitably be hit first. Considering this, Myriad Medicine Valley had not achieved its most ideal goal, and naturally, Zhou Yunxiao was filled with angry emotions. Eventually calming down a bit, Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but bitterly say, ¡°Zhao Hongsheng and those old thieves really fled quickly. If they had delayed for just a moment, I would have made sure all of them stayed behind to commemorate the fallen Daoist friends with their heads!¡± Zhou Yunxiao made a ruthless statement, but he did not make any movements thereafter, clearly aware of their current predicament. Although only three Golden Core Cultivators remained on Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side, they too had no strength left to fight again in a short time. After all, the group that took part in the battle was nearly decimated, with either the dead or the wounded left, and even those unscathed had nearly exhausted their Mana. Under these circumstances, even if they pursued, it would be difficult to detain Zhao Hongsheng and his companions. Thus, despite feeling regretful, they had no choice but to accept the situation. At this time, Chen Jingtian also looked at the fleeing Flying Boats and then asked, ¡°Daoist Zhou, what do we do now?¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao suppressed the anger in his heart and said with a bitter smile, ¡°Let¡¯s forget it¡­ our current conditions are too poor, and even if we caught up, we wouldn¡¯t be able to keep Zhao Hongsheng and those thieves!¡± Chapter 876 876 469 Great War Ends_2 ?Chapter 876: Chapter 469 Great War Ends_2 Chapter 876: Chapter 469 Great War Ends_2 ¡°Rather than taking risks blindly, it¡¯s better to rest for two days before we return. Once we have recovered some strength, we can make a trip to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate and uproot the Golden Sword Sect entirely!¡± ¡°At present, these abandoned Foundation Establishment juniors can serve as a little interest.¡± ¡°Therefore, we must mobilize several of our comrades to ensure that all of them are eliminated!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Zhou Yunxiao glanced at the people present, then continued to speak to Lin Tianming, ¡°Daoist Tianming, Daoist Jingtian, how about the three of us each pursue one flying boat?¡± Hearing this, both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian nodded, agreeing to the matter. The two of them responded so readily, with no intention of opposition. The reason for this was clear to them. Given their cultivation strength, pursuing these three flying boats would be effortless, and they would easily gain the cultivators¡¯ spoils of war. ... Such a task was akin to reaping benefits effortlessly, naturally leaving no room for objection. Moreover, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s deliberate arrangement for Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming showed a certain profound intention. After all, given the current situation, both the Zhenyang Sect and the Lin Family were strong enough with many surviving Golden Core cultivators. It could be foreseen that for hundreds or even thousands of years to come, both the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect would undoubtedly remain among the top powers in the Wei Kingdom. Especially the Lin Family, which could completely replace the Golden Sword Sect as the third greatest Golden Core power in the Wei Kingdom. Thus, distributing the interests of these Foundation Establishment cultivators to the three strongest factions was only to be expected. The only consideration was whether the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family would have any objections. However, at present, the only Golden Core cultivator of the West River Li Family, Li Wenhe, had fallen, and the prestige of the Li Family as a Golden Core family was virtually extinct. Even though Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family was severely injured, even in his peak state, he likely couldn¡¯t compare with the current Lin Family. Under such circumstances, even if Chen Maohua had any objections, he would probably not risk offending the other three major powers over such trivial benefits. Knowing this well, Zhou Yunxiao had no reservations and needed to prioritize the Zhenyang Sect and the Lin Family first, leaving others for later consideration. Indeed, Chen Maohua¡¯s response was within Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s expectations; he didn¡¯t raise any objections, clearly recognizing the reality. With that, seeing Chen Maohua having no objections, Zhou Yunxiao decided not to delay any further. He looked at the people behind him, then gave an order to Duan Liangyu. ¡°Duan, you and the cultivators of the same rank are responsible for cleaning up the battlefield. Collect those spoils of war and distribute them at an appropriate time!¡± Upon hearing this, Duan Liangyu nodded and acknowledged the task. Zhou Yunxiao then continued, ¡°Besides this, we shall rest for three days next, trying our best to recuperate some injuries and mana.¡± ¡°After three days, regardless of how much our injuries and mana have recovered, we must rally together and head to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate to completely uproot the Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°After all, it¡¯s very likely that Zhao Hongsheng and others are in seclusion cultivating within the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, and time is just as pressing for them.¡± ¡°And if we want to eradicate them thoroughly, we must act swiftly to kill them all.¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words, the few people present pondered briefly and then responded in unison, ¡°We will follow Daoist Zhou¡¯s instructions!¡± Seeing no one opposed, Zhou Yunxiao wasted no further time, leaping forward, and quickly chased after the direction in which the flying boat was escaping. Soon, Zhou Yunxiao disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. With Zhou Yunxiao taking the lead in leaving, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian also exchanged a few words with their sect members. After giving some instructions, both of them also flew towards one of the fleeing flying boats. A quarter of an hour later. On a vast plain, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure appeared. At that moment, Lin Tianming stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from a flying boat, his towering figure bringing the flying boat to a halt. It took merely a quarter-hour, and Lin Tianming had not expended much effort at all to catch up to the fleeing flying boat, blocking its path ahead. On the flying boat, the 200-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators saw Lin Tianming blocking their path and were immediately filled with panic, all of them staring at his silhouette, stirring into confusion. Clearly, Lin Tianming¡¯s appearance brought a tremendous shock and deep fear to these people. It was no surprise, considering that in the previous battle, Lin Tianming had consecutively slain several Golden Core cultivators, including some at the Mid Stage Golden Core. The most obvious case was that of Gu Changqing from the Qingyun Sect, a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. He fought alone against Lin Tianming and was actually killed by Lin Tianming. Those Foundation Establishment Cultivators were watching the battle from a corner at that time and were very aware of their fellow Sect Elder Gu Changqing¡¯s strength. And they had also witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s methods. In their hearts, Lin Tianming was a cold-blooded God of Slaughter whose strength and tactics were extremely formidable, and his way of handling things was utterly ruthless. Such a strong and exceedingly vicious Golden Core Stage Expert was undoubtedly the nightmare of all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Thus, when they saw Lin Tianming blocking their way, all of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were scared witless, many of them already collapsing on the deck, their faces completely drained of color. At that moment, Lin Tianming turned around, his sharp eyes scanning the many cultivators on the flying boat. Merely with that look, he had intimidated most of them, causing them to freeze on the spot. Lin Tianming had no intention of holding back against these people and planned to annihilate them all. After all, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators essentially came from the Golden Elixir Forces of Huangyang Kingdom, and judging by their attire, they were undoubtedly disciples of the Qingyun Sect. And the Lin Family had already established deep-seated enmities with the Qingyun Sect. After this great battle, he had once again killed Qingyun Sect¡¯s Gu Changqing. In just two years, he had already killed three Qingyun Sect Golden Core Cultivators, among them Xu Zhi and Gu Changqing, both having been Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators. Since it was a fight to the death, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t show mercy. Thus, Lin Tianming leaped forward, his physical body charging towards the flying boat. While still in mid-air, Lin Tianming swung the Black Dragon Axe in his hand forcefully, a massive black light shooting out, slashing towards the flying boat. Seeing this, the faces of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the flying boat turned deathly pale, and the already chaotic scene turned even more disorderly. Amidst the chaos, some sharp-eyed cultivators knelt directly on the deck, then started begging for mercy. ¡°Elder Lin, this junior was forced into entering Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Although I have attacked and killed some fellows, I have never harmed any Lin Family Members!¡± ¡°I hope Elder Lin can be magnanimous and spare us juniors a way of survival!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator echoed. ¡°Yes, Elder Lin, to you, we juniors are just like ants!¡± ¡°Yet as a renowned strong figure, although killing us is as easy as lifting your hand, these juniors are willing to forsake darkness for light and serve you, prepared to be at your disposal as long as we live!¡± Upon hearing this, many began to speak up in agreement, seemingly having forgotten their own status. However, some cultivators were visibly outraged and couldn¡¯t help yelling. ¡°Have you forgotten your own identity? Don¡¯t forget that each of us has a sliver of soul left in the Sect. Even if you betray to the Lin Family, the Sect will eventually eliminate you traitors!¡± ¡°Exactly¡­ we cultivators should not stoop to live in disgrace as traitors to our own Sect!¡± ¡­ Amidst the disagreeing voices of the cultivators creating disarray, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack had already descended. To these people, even those Qingyun Sect cultivators trying to change allegiance to the Lin Family, Lin Tianming held no mercy. Since these people could betray so easily, they must be malicious by nature, and keeping them would be of little use. With that in mind, he didn¡¯t plan on giving them a way out. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, failing to remove the roots when cutting weeds may lead to future troubles. With such thoughts, Lin Tianming continued to attack, repeatedly wielding the Black Dragon Axe. With just a few strikes, he broke the flying boat¡¯s defensive restrictions. Among those Qingyun Sect cultivators, those with lower cultivation levels were directly killed by the powerful force. As for the others who survived, they were all wounded, and the moment the flying boat¡¯s restrictions broke, they began to scatter and flee. ¡­ Chapter 877 877 470 Rest and Reorganization ?Chapter 877: Chapter 470: Rest and Reorganization Chapter 877: Chapter 470: Rest and Reorganization At this moment, over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators were fleeing in all directions, each looking as panic-stricken as the defeated soldiers of the Secular World. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming snorted coldly, with no intention of letting them off the hook. But with so many people escaping, even though his realm and cultivation placed him at an overwhelming advantage, and his speed was much greater, in the face of so many fleeing, even his formidable power couldn¡¯t be everywhere at once. So he pondered briefly and released several Spirit Beasts such as the Purple Gold Eagle. Soon, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s left and right sides, launching attacks on the escaping Cultivators without a moment¡¯s delay. At the Second Order Late Phase grade, both beasts were almost at the pinnacle of Second Order Demonic Beasts, with strengths that the majority of these fleeing individuals could not hope to match. Under the assault of such powerful beasts, common Cultivators stood no chance at all, only those at the eighth and ninth level of Foundation Establishment were barely able to resist for a moment or slip away from their attacks. ... ¡°Hiss hiss hiss¡­¡± A series of peculiar hissing sounds echoed. Relying on its bizarre abilities, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox immediately bewitched some Cultivators. In that moment, the fox burst forth with Spiritual Light, effortlessly dispatching those Cultivators below the late stages of Foundation Establishment. On the other side, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was also unwilling to be outdone. With its massive body and agile speed, it blocked the escaping Cultivators¡¯ path even more easily than the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Just as the two Demonic Beasts launched their attack, Lin Tianming, as their master, naturally did not stand idly by. He swung the Black Dragon Axe in his hand repeatedly, streaks of black light tearing through the sky. Assisted by three Second Order Late Phase Spirit Beasts, Lin Tianming was a whirlwind of activity, effortlessly delivering lethal strikes to these Foundation Establishment Cultivators. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, over ten screams of agony were heard. Soon after, the bodies of more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators fell from the sky, stirring up clouds of dust as they hit the ground. Clearly, with the addition of the Spirit Beasts, the pressure on Lin Tianming had substantially decreased. However, the number of escaping Cultivators was still too high, and under the threat of death, their speed far exceeded their norm, and they did not cluster together to escape. As a result, there were always some Cultivators with a mix of good luck and strength who slipped through the net. Lin Tianming, however, was quite indifferent to this. In his view, he knew it was not possible to keep all those Cultivators there. Fortunately, the Lin Family had grown stronger than before, strong enough not to have to worry too much about the Qingyun Sect. With this in mind, Lin Tianming could only let those few who escaped go. Half a Shi Chen passed. All of the over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been wiped out, with only a few dozen managing to flee from his grasp. At this point, Lin Tianming collected all the spoils of war brought back by the three Spirit Beasts. Having done all this, Lin Tianming then stored the Spirit Beasts in the Spirit Beast Bag and reached out to grab the Flying Boat, which was suspended in mid-air, pulling it toward him. Looking at the Flying Boat that belonged to the Qingyun Sect, Lin Tianming examined it carefully. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From his observation, this Flying Boat was indeed a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact with the mark of the Qingyun Sect and excellent quality and spirituality. Having experienced its flight speed just now, he even felt it was quicker than the Inkwind Spirit Boat of the Zhenyang Sect. Such a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact was rare in the Wei Kingdom and would surely be contested by major powers upon its emergence. At best, the Lin Family had only come into possession of one Flying Artifact to date, which was merely a low-grade Second Order artifact. Even so, this low-grade Second Order Flying Artifact was one of the Lin Family¡¯s precious treasures, and they never dared use it openly for fear of attracting the attention of the Blood Red Alliance. Now that the Lin Family had risen to prominence and had already become enemies with the Blood Red Alliance, using that Flying Artifact within their own territory was no longer a concern. With the acquisition of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s Flying Artifact, the Lin Family now had a method of transportation for large-scale movements. Besides this Flying Boat, the gains acquired by the Lin Family from this great battle had reached a shockingly high level. And this did not even include the spoils from the death of Gu Changqing and the few Golden Core Cultivators today. Once those treasures were added, the gains would likely multiply several times over the original amount. One could say that this great battle, although perilous, indeed resulted in a haul far beyond expectations. With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming felt a surge of excitement, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel internally, ¡°Indeed, crises and opportunities coexist. If the Lin Family hadn¡¯t seen the rise of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator in time, it probably would have ceased to exist by now, and there would be no spoils of war!¡± Gathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s excited heart gradually calmed down. Then, he tidied up the chaotic battlefield with a wave of his hand, before shooting towards the gate of the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect. Before long, Lin Tianming returned to the previous battlefield. By then, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian, who had been pursuing the other two Flying Boats, had already returned. Seeing Lin Tianming arrive, both Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian appeared excited, evidently very satisfied with the results of this battle. Actually, even Lin Tianming himself had not expected such an outcome. Chapter 878 878 470 Regrouping_2 ?Chapter 878: Chapter 470: Regrouping_2 Chapter 878: Chapter 470: Regrouping_2 At the beginning of the great war, Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance came aggressively, deploying a large number of Golden Core Cultivators who evidently held an absolute advantage in cultivation. At that time, Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley could only hold their ground and wait for reinforcements, trying to delay time as much as possible. It can be said, at that time, Myriad Medicine Valley had hardly any ability to strike back, nor much hope of victory. But who could have predicted that several years later, the war continued, and both Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance subsequently suffered defeats, each time allowing Zhou Yunxiao to gain some advantage, thus turning a passive situation around. Just as the forces were evenly matched, Zhao Hongsheng then rallied the forces of three Sects from Huangyang Kingdom to join the battle, which once again disrupted the balance. During that period, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were also exhausted dealing with Golden Sword Sect and Blood Red Alliance, having no energy to deal with those bandit-like Huangyang Country Cultivators. Under such conditions, a large amount of territory under Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect was plundered. ... Seeing the situation once again falling into a predicament, where even the millennium foundation might be overturned, the Lin Family rose rapidly at this time, thereby changing the course of the situation. And Qingyun Sect was extremely unlucky, their two dispatched Golden Core Cultivators directly fell into the hands of the Lin Family, resulting in the direct loss of two Golden Core Stage Combat Powers. Later on, Qingyun Sect, in order to obtain sufficient benefits, sent out two more Golden Core Cultivators, who again were defeated at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. In just a few years, Qingyun Sect lost four Golden Core Cultivators one after another, not only failing to gain any profit but also losing such a significant force. Such an outcome, among the three Sect forces deployed by Huangyang Kingdom, could be described as the biggest and most tragic loser. After all, they had lost Golden Core Cultivators, who even in the stronger Huangyang Country Cultivation World, were strong enough to dominate a region and were the pillars of all Golden Core Forces. No exaggeration, Golden Core Cultivators are the fundamental measure of a force¡¯s strength. But now, after this defeat, the overall power of Qingyun Sect decreased substantially, at least by several measures. As a result, their overall strength also became the lowest among Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Golden Core Sects. And this was the consequence of their own actions. If Qingyun Sect had withdrawn in time, the situation would not have reached this point. However, what had happened had happened, and the result had become a fact; discussing it further was meaningless. Moreover, since Qingyun Sect and Lin Family had direct conflicts, he even hoped for Qingyun Sect to suffer greater losses, to prevent any threat to the Lin Family. If possible, it would be even better to completely eliminate Qingyun Sect, so that the Lin Family could rest easy. However, achieving this, given the current strength of the Lin Family, was clearly unrealistic. Unless they obtained the support of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, with the combined strength of the two Sects, there was quite hope of defeating Qingyun Sect in one fell swoop. But he couldn¡¯t decide this matter alone; everything depended on the opinions of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. If they did not want to trouble Qingyun Sect, even if the Lin Family had ideas, they could only keep them to themselves. Moreover, for now, both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had no intention or energy to think about the matters of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, the most important thing at the moment was to eliminate Golden Sword Sect; as for other grievances, everything would have to wait until the matter of Golden Sword Sect was settled. Thinking this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart was undisturbed, his expression also calm, with a faint smile on his face. Then, Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao exchanged a few courtesies, before moving on to the main matters. According to Zhou Yunxiao, they planned to gather most of the Golden Core Stage Combat Power and head to Golden Sword Mountain Gate in three days. During these few days, everyone would calmly recover some injuries and Mana. On the way, using Flying Artifacts for transportation, they would also be able to recover some Mana. By the time they reached Golden Sword Mountain Gate, it would probably be about half a month later. This considered, despite only half a month¡¯s recovery, although most people might not fully return to their peak condition, they should still recover some combat strength, reaching seventy to eighty percent of their strength should not be a problem. And for those people, as long as they promptly reached Golden Sword Mountain Gate, even if not at their peak condition, there would still be time to cope with Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, given that Golden Sword Sect was protected by a Defensive Great Formation, and with people like Han Hu stationed there, it probably would not be so easy to break the formation. Given this, whether or not they recovered to their peak condition was not so important. Regarding this arrangement, Lin Tianming had no objections, and after discussing some details, he changed the topic to the issue of distributing the spoils of war. In the previous battle, Lin Tianming had successively slain his opponents, including Gu Changqing alone, as well as Cao Jinping together with Zhu Yun and others. As a result, Zhu Yun also fell in the great battle, which was a significant loss for the Zhenyang Sect. Thus, the storage bag of Gu Changqing was easy to distribute, going directly to Lin Tianming himself. However, Cao Jinping¡¯s storage bag and spoils of war, as before, mostly went to the Zhenyang Sect. After all, the Zhenyang Sect had paid a greater price and contributed more, so it was only reasonable that they gained more benefits. Understanding this, Lin Tianming had no significant objections and then discussed and determined the shares with Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian. As for the results, they were similar to before, where the cultivator who killed alone kept the spoils for himself, and the support peers¡¯ benefits varied from ten to forty percent. This was because, during the later stages of the battle, there were more than one supporting their peers, and the extent of their efforts varied. Hence, it was not possible to distribute the spoils equally. If that were the case, it would be too unfair for some. However, this was just an initial discussion among the three of them to get a clear understanding. As for the specific distribution matters, they would have to wait until the battle was completely over and do it in front of all the cultivators of the same rank. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take this matter to heart and expressed his lack of objection. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s decisive attitude, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian were overjoyed and greatly admired his way of handling things. Then, the three chatted briefly, determined the specific time to depart for the Golden Sword Sect. Afterward, the three entered the Myriad Medicine Valley together, each returning to their cave dwellings to begin closed-door cultivation. After all, time was pressing for them all. Three days was not a long time, but with the help of elixirs, they could still recover a good amount of mana, and some minor injuries would heal significantly. Knowing the urgency, Lin Tianming did not delay and entered the practice room as soon as he returned to his dwelling. After some adjustments, he began cultivating directly with the aid of elixirs. At this time, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were also in closed-door cultivation, expecting to meet again in three days. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After three days of closed-door cultivation, Lin Tianming relied on his robust body and the aid of elixirs, and his external injuries had fully recovered, only the internal injuries had not yet completely healed. In terms of cultivation and mana, he had also recovered about fifty percent. However, it had only been three days, and to recover to this extent in such a short period of time made him very satisfied. Little did he know, such aberrant recovery ability, if known to others, would probably shock them tremendously. It should be noted that the injuries of Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were not severe, and although their mana was exhausted, they had only recovered less than forty percent in three days. For Chen Maohua, who had been severely injured, only about twenty to thirty percent of his mana was restored, and his injuries had not improved much. With such a basis, the difference in recovery ability compared to his own was starkly obvious. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was still somewhat pale, and his breath was far from peak condition, giving everyone an illusion. And this action was intentional on his part. Given his habits, he always liked to reserve some strength, which could prove crucial in special moments. Even sometimes, it could directly change the course of events. Chapter 879 879 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect ?Chapter 879: Chapter 471: Heading to Golden Sword Sect Chapter 879: Chapter 471: Heading to Golden Sword Sect Therefore, Lin Tianming feigned an appearance of having expended a great deal, with significant injuries, merely to decrease the attention of others. Though they had fought side by side twice, and these cultivators had gotten to know each other better, he always remembered the adage: it¡¯s necessary to guard against others! Moreover, the strength he had displayed in the previous great battle had been enough to make all mid-stage Golden Core cultivators feel apprehensive. Adding to this, the Golden Sword Sect had recently been severely damaged, and the chances of being removed from the cultivation world weren¡¯t small. In such a situation, in the face of huge benefits, it was unlikely anyone could maintain the basis of mutual trust from before; they all just tacitly understood this. Thus, taking great care ensures safety forever, and Lin Tianming also constantly maintained vigilance, at least bearing some caution in his heart. With such a mindset, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang left their hideout together and hurried towards the agreed meeting place. ... ¡­ At dawn that day, in the plaza of the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. As per the agreed time and place with Zhou Yunxiao, Chen Jingtian and several cultivators from Zhenyang Sect also arrived first. In less than half a quarter of an hour, several cultivators had gathered in the plaza, with others arriving intermittently. At this time, three members of the Lin Family came together, landing on the plaza. Seeing their arrival, Chen Jingtian also took the initiative to come forward and cordially greet Lin Tianming and his companions. Seeing Chen Jingtian¡¯s courtesy, Lin Tianming quickly responded with a bow. Following this, he greeted a few other Golden Core cultivators before turning back to chat idly with Chen Jingtian while they waited for Zhou Yunxiao to arrive. Soon after, Zhou Yunxiao, along with Duan Liangyu and Zhao Mingli, flew over and landed in front of Lin Tianming and the others. With the appearance of Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s trio, the place also gathered three members of the Lin Family, two from Zhenyang Sect, and Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family. At this point, nine surviving Golden Core cultivators from the battlefield greeted each other. During friendly conversations, Lin Tianming also sized up the general condition of the other six Golden Core cultivators. From his observations, Chen Maohua, who had been seriously injured before, only seemed to have stabilized his injuries, with very little mana recovery, indicating that his combat strength might be around the same as before. Overall, three days was still too short, so Chen Maohua¡¯s recovery was not ideal. Aside from him, Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Lan Yu and Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s Duan Liangyu had recovered slightly better than Chen Maohua, though the outlook wasn¡¯t too optimistic either. As for the others, especially the most powerful Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian, their recovery state was as expected. These two were also the strongest in the group; as long as they remained at their peak, the group¡¯s combat power would not weaken. Even now, after a major battle, they still possessed considerable combat strength. With this, Lin Tianming internally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat more confident about the upcoming battle. In fact, aside from him, Chen Maohua and Lan Yu were also reassured seeing that the strongest among them were recovering well. Under such circumstances, the initially grim atmosphere gradually became much more relaxed. After chatting briefly with the cultivators, Zhou Yunxiao looked at everyone and then said, ¡°Time is pressing, we should proceed to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate as planned before Han Hu the old thief recovers!¡± As soon as his words fell, Zhou Yunxiao scanned everyone, and seeing no objections, he began to arrange the specific plan. As per Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements, the three Golden Core cultivators from the Lin Family, along with Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu, and Chen Maohua¡ªsix Golden Core Stage cultivators¡ªcooperated with Zhou Yunxiao for the battle. Additionally, with Zhou Yunxiao and Zhao Mingli from Myriad Medicine Valley, a total of eight Golden Core cultivators set off, leading over three hundred elite disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley towards the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Among all Golden Core Stage combat powers, except for Duan Liangyu who was to stay and guard the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate, all surviving Golden Core Stage combat powers were mobilized. Moreover, almost all elite disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley had poured out, each at least at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. This massive force, though not large in number, still possessed extremely formidable strength. Clearly, Zhou Yunxiao was planning to end this years-long war once and for all. With such an objective, the morale of the cultivators surged. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao took out the only flying boat treasure from Myriad Medicine Valley and led everyone towards the direction of the Golden Sword Sect. Standing on the deck of the flying boat, feeling the speed of this flight, which was much faster than any flying boat they had ridden before, the speed even several times faster than a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact. And such a flying magical treasure was worth considerably more than offensive or defensive magical treasures. It was said that within the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, only Myriad Medicine Valley, with its millennia of heritage, possessed this, and even Zhenyang Sect, with similarly long traditions, did not own even a single flying magical treasure. Thus, the value of this flying boat was naturally self-evident, making Lin Tianming quite envious. However, the Lin Family likely wouldn¡¯t be venturing out of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for the time being. If they were just traveling within the boundaries of the Wei Kingdom, either for commerce or participating in major battles, it would suffice for now. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unless in the future they were in a position to extend their business to other nations, owning a few flying magical treasures would allow their family members to travel much faster and more safely. Chapter 880 880 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect_2 ?Chapter 880: Chapter 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect_2 Chapter 880: Chapter 471 Heading to Golden Sword Sect_2 ¡°¡±¡± And from that day, there would still be decades to come. Considering the current development speed of the Lin Family, it wasn¡¯t impossible to acquire one or two Flying Magical Treasures of their own. Knowing this, Lin Tianming secretly kept an eye out, determined to seize control of such treasures when they appeared in the future. Snapping out of his reverie, Lin Tianming also sat cross-legged on the deck, made small talk with Zhou Yunxiao and others, and then each began to recover from their injuries and restore their mana. Half a month later. Atop a mountain outside the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, in the Ancient Sword Mountains. This place was just over ten miles from the entrance of Golden Sword Sect¡¯s mountain gate, already entering the core area of the sect. At that moment, a Blue Flying Boat tore through the sky and finally descended slowly onto the mountain top. ... Zhou Yunxiao was the first to step out of the Flying Boat, followed by Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming. Soon, eight Golden Core Cultivators stepped out in line, standing atop the mountain, all eyes focused on a distant peak visible through the haze, expressions varying. Looking towards the distant peak along Lin Tianming¡¯s line of sight, it soared into the clouds, like a gigantic sword, standing immovable upon the earth. Observing the scene before him and feeling the dense spiritual energy of this place, it truly lived up to being a Golden Core Sect with many years of heritage, possessing the demeanor and style it should have. As for the location of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s mountain gate, this was Lin Tianming¡¯s first visit, and he immediately showed a curious expression. And this place was indeed the location of the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Just like the name Ancient Sword Mountains suggested, the Golden Sword Mountain Gate was situated around that highest peak, its main peak being the most central area of the sect. It was said that at the highest point resided the caves of Sect Leader Han Hu and other Golden Core Stage Elders. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. ¡°The Golden Sword Sect truly lives up to being a sect with many years of heritage, such a sacred place is indeed comparable to the sect gates of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley!¡± ¡°Moreover, to think that on my first visit, I am to participate in a grand battle! ¡°A battle with the aim of annihilating Golden Sword Sect!¡± ¡°This indeed seems like fate playing tricks, I never thought it would come this quickly!¡± Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming looked forward, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangements. And just as they appeared, they spotted several figures of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the distance. Clearly, these people were Golden Sword Sect Disciples responsible for patrolling the mountain gate. Zhou Yunxiao didn¡¯t bother with these individuals, knowing in his heart that after Han Hu had fled from Yuxu Mountain Range, he would certainly return to the interior of Golden Sword Sect. Given Han Hu¡¯s ways of handling things over hundreds of years and considering the current situation, he would definitely have his disciples closely monitor every movement around the mountain gate. The reason for doing so was obvious; Han Hu knew Zhou Yunxiao and the others would not relent. After all, with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect currently holding the initiative and possessing an absolute advantage in overall strength. With such conditions, coupled with the grudges over the years, they naturally wouldn¡¯t easily let go of a weakened Golden Sword Sect. Furthermore, even if it weren¡¯t a period of grand battles, the persons in charge of daily patrols at Golden Sword Sect would not relax their vigilance. Once any disturbance was noticed, they would report it to Han Hu immediately. At this moment, in a cave at the highest point of the main peak of Golden Sword Sect, news of Zhou Yunxiao and the eight arriving quickly reached them. Faced with the formidable approach of Zhou Yunxiao and the others, Han Hu also was in a state of panic. In fact, it was only yesterday that he and Zhao Hongsheng had escaped back to the Golden Sword Sect, arriving merely a day earlier than Zhou Yunxiao. Before this, Han Hu had already been seriously injured in the massive battle attacking the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate and hadn¡¯t had time to recover. He had only briefly cultivated for about half a month after fleeing back to the sect. However, such a short duration allowed for an extremely limited recovery, his strength difficult to reach even forty percent of its peak. ¡°¡±¡± Apart from him, Zhao Hongsheng had not suffered severe injuries, but the exhaustion from the previous major battle was significant, and his current abilities were similarly limited. At this moment, faced with Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s overwhelming forces, Han Hu was both shocked and enraged, hurriedly summoning Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun to discuss countermeasures. Soon, Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun received the message and immediately arrived at Han Hu¡¯s cave dwelling. As the three met, each of their faces wore a grim expression, clearly intimidated by Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s resolve. Even Zhao Hongsheng, who typically held himself in high regard, had a particularly gloomy expression, with rage burning in his heart. However, the current situation was such that Zhou Yunxiao and his men were relentlessly aggressive, giving them no time to react. Knowing this, Han Hu¡¯s face was pale as he sighed helplessly. ¡°Daoist Zhao, what should we do next?¡± Hearing the question, Zhao Hongsheng forced himself to calm down and then asked in return, ¡°Daoist Han, how powerful is your sect¡¯s defensive great formation?¡± ¡°How long can it hold under continuous attacks from Zhou Yunxiao and his men?¡± As soon as Zhao Hongsheng finished speaking, Han Hu also fell into deep thought. After a long while, he helplessly said, ¡°Our sect¡¯s defensive great formation is average at best, certainly not as powerful as the one at Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°Given the current situation where Zhou Yunxiao has brought eight people here, I assume you¡¯ve also seen their strength,¡± ¡°Based on my estimation, if they continuously attack the defensive great formation, it could hold at most for a month.¡± ¡°But their condition is also not good; at best, they can exert about fifty percent of their power. By this estimate, holding for two months shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hongsheng nodded reluctantly, even though they knew they had about two months to recover from their injuries and replenish their mana. But he still felt very pessimistic about the forthcoming situation. Despite this, Zhao Hongsheng suppressed the unease in his heart and continued to ask, ¡°Besides us three, does your sect have any other Golden Core Stage Cultivators, or Third Order Spirit Beasts to assist?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Hongsheng looked at Han Hu with anticipation, pinning the hope of repelling the enemy on the inherent strength of the Golden Sword Sect. He was aware that his own condition was not good, and several Golden Core Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect had already perished consecutively, significantly weakening the overall strength of the sect. Now facing a group led by Zhou Yunxiao, although their cultivation was not weaker than the opponents, they were indeed no match for so many. In this situation, their only hope rested on the inherent resources of the Golden Sword Sect. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had a legacy that lasted a few thousand years, though not as long as the ten-thousand-year heritage of Myriad Medicine Valley, it was still longer than the history of Zhenyang Sect. As it had flourished for thousands of years, the Golden Sword Sect should have some deep resources, or some trump cards left behind. If the Golden Sword Sect still had other hidden Golden Core Stage Cultivators, or several more Third Order Spirit Beasts, their chances of getting through this crisis would greatly increase. As long as Zhou Yunxiao could not conquer Myriad Medicine Valley after a prolonged attack, despite his reluctance, he would eventually retreat if he lacked the strength. And once he had recovered to his peak condition, he could seek help from other strongholds of the Blood Red Alliance and plan another attack on Myriad Medicine Valley. If he could muster sufficient support by offering a considerable price, he might even fulfill the mission assigned by the alliance. In that case, as long as he completed the mission within the specified time, no matter how great the losses or how many Golden Core Cultivators perished, he would still be credited with an accomplishment. Considering the effort and frequent dangers he faced, the higher-ups were likely not to blame him for the weak results this time. And this thought was his last hope for a turnaround. However, reaching that stage meant the current crisis was the first major challenge. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng looked at Han Hu tentatively, no longer maintaining his initial composure, nor his previous arrogance. ¡­ Chapter 881 881 472 Lu Xingfeng Arrives ?Chapter 881: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng Arrives Chapter 881: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng Arrives However, according to Han Hu¡¯s account, the Golden Sword Sect only had the assistance of two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, and one of them was injured, which greatly reduced its strength. With the cultivation realm of the three of them and the help of the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts, they might be able to hold on for a while during the current crisis. However, it wasn¡¯t only these people attacking the Golden Sword Mountain Gate from Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s side. After all, Lu Xingfeng of the Zhenyang Sect had a cultivation at the Late Stage Golden Core, just like them. Once Lu Xingfeng made a move, with two Late Stage Golden Core experts present, and with the help of capable fighters like Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming, they likely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance to turn the tables. Previously, in order to guard against Song Hanchun, Lu Xingfeng had stayed within the Zhenyang Sect. Now, with the Golden Sword Sect severely damaged and its strength greatly weakened, not to mention all their Golden Core Stage combat power gathered here and caught in Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s encirclement, they had no chance of threatening their main camp. ... Thus, with no concerns left, it was very likely that Lu Xingfeng would make a move. If that really happened, the Golden Sword Sect and Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s hopes of repelling the enemy were extremely low; preserving the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s foundation was almost impossible. At this moment, upon hearing Han Hu¡¯s explanation, Zhao Hongsheng knew that Han Hu¡¯s analysis was quite accurate. Knowing this, Zhao Hongsheng was also feeling immensely anxious at this time but had no strategy to repel the enemy in such a situation. At this moment, seeing Zhao Hongsheng helplessly, Han Hu also continuously sighed with regret in his heart. Originally, he too had been blinded by benefits, thinking that with the help of the Blood Red Alliance, they could fulfill their longstanding wish to unify the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. At the very least, they could have toppled Myriad Medicine Valley from the strongest sect position in the Wei Kingdom and replaced it with the Golden Sword Sect as the foremost sect. However, the Blood Red Alliance underestimated the strength of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Especially Zhao Hongsheng, who had been extremely arrogant before, believing that since they were from the Nascent Soul Forces of the Blood Red Alliance and had seen various powerful sect families, he never took these obscure forces of the Wei Kingdom seriously. And the result was that both the Blood Red Alliance and the Golden Sword Sect suffered heavy losses, as did the three sects from Huangyang Kingdom that later entered into the battle, all paying a heavy price. Such an outcome was probably unexpected by all forces involved in the battle, even the Loose Cultivators. Of course, the involvement and joining of the Lin Family also played a crucial role in the failure of their plans. However, in his eyes, these were all objective factors. After all, considering their peak overall strength, even with the three Golden Cores from the Lin Family present, his side still had the advantage. Under such conditions, they did not seize opportunities time after time, letting Myriad Medicine Valley take advantage repeatedly and finally putting both sides on the same starting line. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the end, most of their elite force was annihilated in a single stroke, creating such a critical situation. Thinking of this, Han Hu was immensely frustrated. However, as the Golden Sword Sect was currently facing an existential crisis, no matter how angry he felt inside, he could only rely on Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s strength. Otherwise, if Zhao Hongsheng were to leave the Golden Sword Sect on its own, the sect would be completely obliterated and erased from the grand layout of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World over thousands of years. Knowing the importance of this, Han Hu forcibly suppressed his anger and then discussed countermeasures with Zhao Hongsheng. Some time passed. After much discussion among the three of them and considering various strategies, they still could not come up with a full-proof plan. Nevertheless, given the current circumstances, they could only rely on the Defensive Great Formation to buy time and try to recover some injuries and mana. They knew that if the few could maintain eighty to ninety percent of their peak strength, there was still some chance for turning things around. If all else failed, they could only take a desperate last stand to carve out a sliver of hope for survival. Thinking of these circumstances, Zhao Hongsheng and Song Hanchun felt extremely helpless and eventually could only leave Han Hu¡¯s cave dwelling resentfully. Meanwhile, while Zhao Hongsheng and the others were discussing strategies, the scene outside the Golden Sword Mountain Gate was anything but calm. At that moment, Lin Tianming and his group inspected the Formation for a moment, then still sent a few Second Order Array Masters from Myriad Medicine Valley to study and evaluate the defensive array before them. Such actions are typically arranged by any force when attacking the mountain gate of another force. Unless the attacking side had no Array Masters at all. Otherwise, they generally sent people to explore the Formation, searching for the quickest and most effective way to break it. After all, breaking a defensive array through brute force required a lot of manpower and resources, and time was difficult to control. Therefore, relying on brute force to attack a Golden Elixir Forces¡¯ defensive array was the last resort. If they could utilize the power of Array Masters, they might be able to significantly accelerate the breaking of the array while saving most cultivators¡¯ mana to cope with the grand battle that would follow. However, advancing as an Array Master was much more difficult compared to other cultivation methods, so it had been a long time since a Third Order Array Master had appeared in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. If one were to trace back to the last Third Order Array Master from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, that was over a thousand years ago. In fact, that Array Master was exceptionally talented, having broken through the Golden Core stage as a Loose Cultivator and achieved Third Order status, becoming a coveted ally among all the major forces in the Wei Kingdom. Chapter 882 882 472 Lu Xingfengs Arrival_2 ?Chapter 882: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng¡¯s Arrival_2 Chapter 882: Chapter 472: Lu Xingfeng¡¯s Arrival_2 ¡°` And now in the Wei Kingdom, there was not a single Third Order Formation Master, and even Second Order Array Masters were exceedingly scarce. At present, relying only on the two Second Order Array Masters brought by Myriad Medicine Valley was simply not enough to find a way to break the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect. Zhou Yunxiao had anticipated such an outcome, to some extent. Seeing that there was no hope of breaking the formation with an array master, Zhou Yunxiao had no intention of wasting time. Although Lin Tianming possessed the Eye of Five Colors, which could see through illusions and greatly assist in breaking restrictive formations, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s ancestral defensive formation was certainly not weak. Even with the Eye of Five Colors, it would probably be very difficult to find a way to break it in a short period of time. Besides, if he actively used the Eye of Five Colors to break the formation, there was a high probability that such a treasure would be exposed. Once Zhou Yunxiao became aware that Lin Tianming had the Eye of Five Colors, it would undoubtedly arouse his greed. ... After all, one can never see into another¡¯s heart! In the face of such a treasure, no one can guarantee whether Zhou Yunxiao or anyone else might not harbor certain thoughts. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If Zhou Yunxiao attempted to seize the treasure, then the situation for the Three Members of the Lin Family would become perilous. Thus, for the safety of the three of them, Lin Tianming naturally would not act rashly, let alone reveal the secret of the Eye of Five Colors. At this time, seeing that the array master could not play a significant role, Zhou Yunxiao made up his mind. Then, under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement, the eight Golden Core Cultivators present split into three groups, with each group taking a hundred elite disciples from Myriad Medicine Valley and launching attacks on the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect in turns. While one group attacked the formation, the other two groups would cultivate nearby, especially the Golden Core Cultivators who were all seizing the moment to recover. When the group attacking the formation had consumed over half of their mana, another group would rotate in, giving the great formation no chance to catch its breath. With such relentless assaults, more than a month had passed in the blink of an eye. That day, a Flying Boat appeared in the sky above everyone. Looking up, the emblem of the blazing sun on the Flying Boat was extremely conspicuous, obviously the symbol of the Zhenyang Sect. Then, a cultivator descended from above, none other than the Great Elder Lu Xingfeng of the Zhenyang Sect, who had received the message. Seeing the newcomer, Zhou Yunxiao and Chen Jingtian were overjoyed and hurriedly led Lin Tianming and the others to greet him. From a distance, Zhou Yunxiao laughed heartily, ¡°Daoist Lu, you¡¯ve finally arrived!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Zhou, have you been well?¡± Lu Xingfeng greeted Zhou Yunxiao with a smile, looking equally excited, obviously very satisfied with the outcome of the battle at Myriad Medicine Valley. ¡°Hehe¡­ With Daoist Lu taking the field, Han Hu that bastard won¡¯t be able to escape this time!¡± Zhou Yunxiao returned the comment with a slight smile, seemingly confident about completely defeating the Golden Sword Sect. In fact, everyone present, seeing that Lu Xingfeng had arrived in time, were also filled with renewed confidence, now having at least a seventy to eighty percent assurance of utterly destroying the Golden Sword Sect. After all, Lu Xingfeng was also a Late Stage Golden Core Expert, who had forged a prominent reputation over hundreds of years in the Wei Kingdom, with strength already acknowledged by all his peers. Such a powerful character was indeed illustrious. Now, with the addition of Lu Xingfeng, their collective strength was further enhanced, both in terms of the number of Golden Core Cultivators and high-order combat power, they clearly held a tremendous advantage. As long as the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect could be broken, Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng would surely not be a match for their group. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua also politely echoed the sentiment. ¡°Daoist Zhou is right. With Daoist Lu¡¯s formidable strength, Han Hu and the others have suffered heavy casualties and can¡¯t recover to their peak state in time. They¡¯re certainly no match for the two Daoists!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ the nine of us united, Han Hu this time is probably unable to escape his fate!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ You flatter me, fellow Daoists!¡± Lu Xingfeng laughed and waved his hand in a modest manner. ¡°` Zhou Yunxiao then introduced Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai along with a few others. At this moment, Lu Xingfeng also learned about the events that had unfolded in the Lin Family in the recent years. He was even more astonished to hear that Lin Tianming, in the midst of the great war, had managed to consecutively kill many Cultivators of the same rank. Even experts at the Mid Stage Golden Core had fallen to his hands in large numbers. Now, Lu Xingfeng felt a profound sense of wariness towards the Lin Family and Lin Tianming, and he regarded them with new esteem. However, as the current Lin Family was an ally of both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, the absolute main force in the recent rounds of battle, Lu Xingfeng had no choice but to take the Lin Family seriously, especially Lin Tianming, who was not only strong but also possessed a frightening potential. In light of this situation, Lu Xingfeng was exceedingly courteous in his words and demeanor, which also conveyed a desire to befriend. In response to this, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. In his perspective, the Myriad Medicine Valley had suffered great losses as well, and the overall strength might even have fallen behind that of the Zhenyang Sect. After all, Lu Xingfeng had also reached the Late Stage Golden Core cultivation, and Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength was plain for all to see, as he had consecutively slain several peers in the battles over these few years. Such power from Chen Jingtian would definitely be placed at the very forefront among all those of Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation. At the very least, Lin Tianming felt that if he fought alone, without the aid of Spirit Arts, the chances were high that he would not be a match for Chen Jingtian. Thus, with the addition of Lu Xingfeng and Chen Jingtian, such top-tier combatants clearly made them stronger than Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu on the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s side. Comparatively, Myriad Medicine Valley was clearly at a disadvantage. From this point of view, if this great war were to come to an end at this moment, it¡¯s probable that Zhenyang Sect would truly replace Myriad Medicine Valley, temporarily becoming the strongest Sect in Wei Kingdom. However, it was too early to concern oneself with this matter since the battle was not yet over, and the final outcome still had many uncertainties. Whether Zhenyang Sect would have the chance or not would depend on whether Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu had any trump cards that could change the result. Very aware of this, Lin Tianming remained calm and composed, his heart not the least bit turbulent, even as he chatted casually with Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, without revealing any signs of peculiarity. Even when faced with Lu Xingfeng¡¯s words that suggested an alliance, he simply smiled it off without showing any interest in participating. His response was water-tight, leaving no room for criticism. As the several of them chatted for a while, they also shared a good deal of specific intelligence. Lu Xingfeng became quite clear on the current state of the Golden Sword Sect. Following that, they continued to intensify their attacks on the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect as planned. Another half month passed. With the addition of Lu Xingfeng, Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ overall strength became even more formidable. During this time, they increased the intensity of their attacks on the formation, and the speed was significantly faster than at the beginning. Under the relentless attacks, the energy stored in the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation was quickly depleted. Despite multiple attempts by Han Hu to use the formation¡¯s features to launch frenzied attacks on them, Zhou Yunxiao and the others had already made thorough preparations, and their determination to obliterate the Golden Sword Sect was unwavering, coupled with their formidable strength. The mere power of the formation¡¯s attacks, in the face of absolute strength, was unable to affect much, and the delay caused was almost negligible. In light of this, Han Hu was burning with anxiety, but as the Golden Sword Sect was trapped, he had no viable options. Thus, amid this torment, more than half a month painfully dragged on. At this moment, within the Golden Sword Sect, panic had already begun to set in. Every disciple was drawn to the immense commotion outside and learned of the specific outcomes of the few battles involving Myriad Medicine Valley. Now, seeing that as many as eight Golden Core Cultivators were attacking the Defensive Great Formation, and Han Hu had not even come out to reassure the Sect Members, such behavior only further confirmed the veracity of the rumors that had been spreading. Consequently, the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were scared out of their wits, and many with lower cultivation levels had already prepared to flee should the formation be breached. ¡­ Chapter 883 883 473 ?Chapter 883: 473 Chapter 883: 473 On that day, outside the Golden Sword Sect mountain gate. As a pale golden light curtain rippled, an acute and strange sound erupted. In an instant, the light curtain slowly became visible, shifting from an ethereal form to something extremely solid, akin to a layer of thin ice, covering a vast expanse of space. At the same time, the energy swirling within the light curtain significantly weakened, clearly not as smooth as before. Witnessing this sudden change, everyone couldn¡¯t help but reveal smiles of overwhelming joy. Evidently, with Lin Tianming and nine other Golden Core Cultivators attacking relentlessly in turns, the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect was no longer able to hold. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng also burst into wild laughter, their faces flashing with excitement. ... Following closely, the two leaped forward, and the Magical Treasures in their hands suddenly shone brightly. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A huge Sword Qi appeared in the sky out of nowhere, along with a massive orb of light. While these two attacks hovered above everyone¡¯s heads, the Spiritual Energy in the surrounding area began to rush toward this location frantically. In a blink, the two attacks caused an intense fluctuation, their formidable momentum whipping up Gang Winds that lifted the robes of all the Cultivators below. Seeing this, the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the forefront changed color, barely stabilizing their forms under the Gang Winds, and then a hundred or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators retreated explosively backwards. Soon, they withdrew a distance of over ten miles and stopped at the peak of a high mountain. Immediately afterward, everyone stared at the massive fluctuations coming from the front, dumbfounded and waiting on the side, not daring to even breathe heavily for fear of missing something. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao and another, who had launched their joint attack, suddenly let out a loud shout. No sooner said than done, the two suspended attacks shot forth, striking precisely on a certain spot on the light curtain. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two loud noises rang out, and two beams of light streaked across the sky, bringing a more powerful wave that even made the ground below tremble slightly. In a flash, the light curtain shattered thunderously, and in just a single breath, it completely dissipated between heaven and earth. Then, a richer Spiritual Energy hit them in the face, and the scenery within the Golden Sword Sect mountain gate was revealed in its entirety. Obviously, as the Defensive Great Formation broke, the Spiritual Energy within the Golden Sword Sect became even more concentrated, and without the restriction of the Defensive Great Formation, the internal Spiritual Energy clashed with the external Spiritual Energy. As several breaths of time passed, the heavens and earth gradually returned to tranquility. At this point, Lin Tianming and the other Cultivators were staring at the scenery within the Golden Sword Sect, each looking excited beyond measure. In their eyes, it was no easy feat to break through the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect, after all, it took over two months of relentless efforts by nine Golden Core Cultivators to finally breach it. Fortunately, with their relentless efforts, they successfully broke the Defensive Great Formation, erasing the last key refuge of Han Hu. Now, without the protection of the Defensive Great Formation, Han Hu would have to repel them head-on to preserve the foundation of the Golden Sword Sect. Otherwise, the Golden Sword Sect, which had been passed down for thousands of years, would be stricken from history in the coming days. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were all extremely excited. And at this time, as the Defensive Great Formation was breached, Han Hu and the thousands of Cultivators he had summoned appeared in everyone¡¯s line of sight. Looking around, Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng were extremely grim-faced at this moment. Though they had mentally prepared themselves for the breaking of the formation, at this moment, their hearts were still full of shock and fear, clearly understanding the difficulty of their situation. However, while Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu¡¯s expressions were unsightly, they were not too pronounced, at least they still maintained the composure of Golden Core Cultivators. But for the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, the fear was palpable, even the Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators had faces that turned extremely pale. Moreover, with the formation broken, some Cultivators responsible for infusing Spiritual Power into the formation were implicated and injured by the backlash. As both factions confronted each other, the Golden Sword Sect disciples became restless. Some Qi Refining Cultivators even began to retreat slowly, seemingly preparing to flee the place. However, out of respect for the remaining prestige of Han Hu and the others, they didn¡¯t dare to flee outright and could only stand quietly in place. Unfortunately, this calm lasted only for a brief period. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng leaped into the air, the Magical Treasures in their hands flashed with light, and two attacks directly targeted Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng. At the same moment, Zhou Yunxiao laughed wildly in excitement, his booming voice spreading throughout the entire Golden Sword Sect mountain gate. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s join forces to eliminate them!¡± Seeing Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng¡¯s impending attack, Han Hu¡¯s face paled, his heart sensing great peril. In the previous battles, he had already sustained serious injuries, and with only a little over two months of recovery¡ªwhich had been interrupted several times¡ªhis condition was far from ideal. Currently, his strength was hardly seventy percent of what it was at his peak, and facing either Zhou Yunxiao or Lu Xingfeng alone, the odds were not in his favor. Keenly aware of this, Han Hu became very anxious, his face exhibiting an unprecedented level of solemnity. Watching Zhou Yunxiao setting his sights on him, Han Hu had no time for further thought and had to hastily face the battle. On the other side, Zhao Hongsheng was in the same position, taking Lu Xingfeng, his opponent, very seriously. Chapter 884 884 473 Variegated Crystal Beast_2 ?Chapter 884: Chapter 473 Variegated Crystal Beast_2 Chapter 884: Chapter 473 Variegated Crystal Beast_2 Although he hadn¡¯t sustained many injuries previously and had recovered somewhat over this period, his strength wasn¡¯t far from its peak. However, facing Lu Xingfeng, whose strength and reputation were no less than Han Hu and Zhou Yunxiao, he had to be cautious. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± As the four Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators clashed fiercely high above. At this very moment, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian also refused to fall behind and immediately lunged towards Song Hanchun opposite them. While still mid-air, Chen Jingtian burst into a crazed laughter. ¡°Lin, leave Song Hanchun to me,¡± he shouted, ¡°you and Daoist Zhao, quickly eliminate those two beasts, and then go help Daoist Zhou!¡± ... Before Lin Tianming could respond, Chen Jingtian had already surpassed him, directly targeting Song Hanchun. Upon hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s words, Song Hanchun was both shocked and furious, incensed beyond comparison. Though aware of Chen Jingtian¡¯s formidable strength, scarce rivals among cultivators of the same stage, Chen Jingtian¡¯s words clearly showed he didn¡¯t consider him a threat, as if he could be disposed of easily. As a veteran Golden Core from the Wei Kingdom, a respected man, being insulted like this was a new low. Confronting Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack, Song Hanchun¡¯s rage further fueled a massive outburst, clashing fiercely with Chen Jingtian. At this time, Lin Tianming, hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s declaration, saw him fight with Song Hanchun, and found it inappropriate to say anything. Thus, he immediately shifted his focus and charged at a Third Order Spirit Beast from Golden Sword Sect. In a flash, his Qinghong Sword shone brightly, grappling with the Third Order Variegated Crystal Beast. It was Lin Tianming¡¯s first encounter with the Variegated Crystal Beast, not to mention his first battle against one. This Variegated Crystal Beast, a Third Order Early Stage creature, had a massive body with defensive power as its most outstanding feature. But Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were swift and strong., almost without any weaknesses. With his strength, facing such a Demonic Beast exerted almost no pressure on him. As expected, under his exploratory strike, the Variegated Crystal Beast couldn¡¯t evade his attack and had to rely solely on its defenses to withstand Lin Tianming¡¯s blow. Following a loud explosion, the Sword Qi from the Qinghong Sword struck the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s tail. A flash of fire appeared when the Sword Qi, repelled by the beast¡¯s armor, eventually dissipated into the atmosphere. The Variegated Crystal Beast then shrieked in pain and was sent flying by the tremendous force, crashing heavily into the ground, creating a large crater. Afterward, as the Variegated Crystal Beast rose, it lifted its head and roared at Lin Tianming, its expression exceedingly fierce. At that time, Lin Tianming, seemingly surprised, now viewed the Variegated Crystal Beast with more esteem. The defensive power was truly formidable under that strike; it took a standard hit from him, leaving only marks on its armor without a scratch. Such defensive prowess was indeed worthy of a beast renowned for its defenses. However, even so, Lin Tianming was not discouraged but rather, his fighting spirit surged. In his eyes, that strike was merely a probing attack; he hadn¡¯t even used the innate supernatural abilities of his cultivation technique, and the lack of substantial progress was not surprising. Moving forward, he wouldn¡¯t hold back, planning to eliminate the Variegated Crystal Beast as swiftly as possible to assist others. After all, Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng, both Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators, were top-notch fighters among them, who knew if they held any trump cards or lethal weapons. Should they escape and squander this golden opportunity to obliterate Golden Sword Sect, it would be a pity. Moreover, if these two managed to flee, the threat to other forces would be tremendous. Whatever the reason, Lin Tianming had to exert his utmost effort to nip this threat in the bud. In fact, including him, Zhou Yunxiao, Lu Xingfeng, and others, also understood the importance of this matter. Therefore, as the great battle was about to begin, the intensity of the fighting escalated immediately, and no one held back. In just a few exchanges, the fighting intensified, and the powerful wave of attacks riddled the Golden Sword Mountain Gate with holes. At this moment, Lin Tianming launched a series of attacks, giving the Variegated Crystal Beast no chance to catch its breath. Nearby, Zhao Mingli and Chen Maohua also joined forces, attacking another Third Order Spiritual Beast belonging to the Golden Sword Sect. As for Lan Yu and Lin Shikang, both were at the Early Stage Golden Core; their strength was the weakest among the cultivators present. Seeing the powerful fluctuations around them, they couldn¡¯t even get involved, and the others didn¡¯t need their help. With such a significant disparity between the two sides and the abundance of combat power, they had nothing to do but to massacre the numerous Golden Sword Sect Disciples insanely. In an instant, the attacks from the three split the sky, raining down upon the heads of many Golden Sword Sect Disciples. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the attack of the three Golden Core Stage Cultivators, those Golden Sword Sect Disciples who tried to form battle formations were instantly scattered. With the vast disparity in strength, nearly every moment, a varying number of people died under the attacks of Lan Yu and the others. For a time, the lowest parts of the battlefield became a veritable hell on earth. Under such one-sided circumstances, Lan Yu and the others held no thoughts of mercy. After all, between the Golden Sword Sect and their side, it was a fight to the death; to nip any threats in the bud, they disregarded any semblance of Golden Core Cultivator demeanor, slaughtering the lower-ranked cultivators with astonishing speed. In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, hundreds of Golden Sword Sect Cultivators fell at their hands, including not a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. At this rate, even if there were nearly ten thousand Golden Sword Sect Disciples, they could not withstand such a massacre. At this moment, with swathes of cultivators falling, the tragic scene was heart-wrenching. Seeing this, the lower-ranked cultivators were terrified out of their wits, disregarding the lives and safety of their Sect elders and fleeing in all directions. Facing such a situation, Lan Yu and the others blocked from different angles, trying to kill as many cultivators as possible. However, even though the three held an overwhelming advantage in strength, the fleeing numbers were too great, and even with all their efforts, it was difficult to capture everyone. Thus, some lower-ranked cultivators became fish that slipped the net, finding a thread of life. Yet, even then, the fate of these lower-ranked cultivators was not yet certain, as over three hundred Myriad Medicine Valley elite disciples awaited in the large area surrounding the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. In addition to these Myriad Medicine Valley disciples, when Lu Xingfeng arrived, he also brought hundreds of elite Zhenyang Sect Disciples. These individuals were at least at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and their vast numbers, close to a thousand, were enough to encircle the area around the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. With the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation broken and under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s command, they were there to intercept any escaping Golden Sword Sect Disciples. Now, with a large number of cultivators fleeing in all directions, even if they escaped the Golden Core Cultivators¡¯ blockades, facing the encirclement of these Foundation Establishment Cultivators, their chances of escaping alive were also bleak. However, these minor matters were of no concern to Lin Tianming. At this moment, he had been fighting the Variegated Crystal Beast for quite a long time. With his strength nearly comparable to a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, augmented by the Eye of Five Colors, the Variegated Crystal Beast was taking hits continuously, hardly getting any chance to retaliate. Even when the Variegated Crystal Beast used its Innate Divine Abilities to attack, with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, he always found the optimal route to dodge the attacks of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Even after several Supernatural attacks from this demonic beast, it could hardly threaten his life. Thus, Lin Tianming hardly needed to worry about his own safety and could focus on unleashing his full power, maintaining a constant offense to achieve his goal. Under such circumstances, with more than a dozen rounds of intense attacks from Lin Tianming, the Variegated Crystal Beast was covered in wounds, its strength significantly diminished. Were it not for the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s formidable defensive power, it would likely have already perished at the hands of Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 885 885 474 Notorious Reputation ?Chapter 885: Chapter 474: Notorious Reputation Chapter 885: Chapter 474: Notorious Reputation As Lin Tianming unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword, the Qinghong Sword burst forth in a flash. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword struck the Variegated Crystal Beast with incredible speed and precision. In an instant, a scream echoed, accompanied by a burst of fire illuminating the scene. Immediately, the Variegated Crystal Beast fell from midair to the ground, howling in pain. Lin Tianming¡¯s strike was swift and eerily precise. The body of the Variegated Crystal Beast was huge and made an easy target, making it very inconvenient to move. ... Under such accurate and rapid attacks from Lin Tianming, the Variegated Crystal Beast couldn¡¯t avoid it and was forced to defend passively. As the strike concluded, a wound appeared on the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s back, and many parts of its shell shattered, noticeably weakening its presence. In just over a dozen rounds of attack, the Variegated Crystal Beast was severely injured, becoming incredibly agitated. Yet, Lin Tianming was devoid of mercy. His relentless assault bore the confidence of strategy, determined to eliminate the Variegated Crystal Beast within a few exchanges. With that resolve, Lin Tianming leaped forward as the Qinghong Sword shot out again, aiming for the vital parts of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Seeing the fearsome longsword approaching, the Variegated Crystal Beast was filled with panic and fear. Despite being a Third Order Demon Beast with less Spirit Wisdom than a human adult, it recognized the dire situation it was in due to the vast discrepancy in strength. In its moment of haste and fury, the Variegated Crystal Beast activated its Innate Divine Ability, hoping to repel Lin Tianming¡¯s lethal strike. Suddenly, the Variegated Crystal Beast roared and spat out a huge stone orb, colliding with the incoming Qinghong Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted as the Qinghong Sword shattered the stone orb into countless fragments that fell to the ground, kicking up billows of dust. However, the stone orb, being the Variegated Crystal Beast¡¯s Innate Divine Ability, possessed undeniable power, even if the beast wasn¡¯t adept at attacking. Consequently, the stone orb¡¯s impact was significant, forcefully repelling the Qinghong Sword. In an instant, the Qinghong Sword was sent flying backward and caught by Lin Tianming. Holding the Qinghong Sword, he felt a numbness in his palm, obviously caused by the powerful impact of the stone orb. However, Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. His tremendous Physical Strength wasn¡¯t far behind the ferocious Variegated Crystal Beast. Any lingering effects from the shock quickly subsided, returning to normal. Although this strike didn¡¯t achieve its target, Lin Tianming remained calm and continued moving forward. At the same time, without notice, the Black Dragon Axe had already appeared in his hand, flashing with a burst of black light. In an instant, the black light shot forth, striking the back of the Variegated Crystal Beast before it could react. Another agonized scream rang out as a burst of fire and dust enveloped a large area. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within the cloud of dust, the Variegated Crystal Beast howled in pain, its massive body slamming back into the deep pit, enlarging it significantly. When the dust finally settled somewhat, the Variegated Crystal Beast attempted to rise, only to see a fist flying towards it. The speed of the fist was lightning fast and oddly eerie, slapping against its head with a powerful breeze. At that moment, the Variegated Crystal Beast desperately tried to move, but it had not anticipated Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden change in attack pattern. By the time it thought to dodge, it was already too late. Feeling the powerful punch coming, the Variegated Crystal Beast sensed the presence of death. In its dire situation, the Variegated Crystal Beast could only avoid the vital areas, hoping to survive the punch. However, when it felt the immense force of the punch, it nearly caused its internal organs to burst out. With a cry of agony, the Variegated Crystal Beast rolled frantically within the deep pit, its back already torn and bleeding, worsening the injury. Despite this full-powered strike, Lin Tianming was surprised that it didn¡¯t end the Variegated Crystal Beast. Considering his substantial Physical Strength, a single punch from him equated to an attack from a typical Golden Core Cultivator. Even so, this head-on strike, bombarding the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast, hadn¡¯t reached its goal. Clearly, the defensive power and Vitality of the Variegated Crystal Beast were extremely formidable. Having withstood the blow without dying, it still had some mobility in its struggling body. At this moment, Lin Tianming stabilized himself from the rebounding force and, looking at the struggling Variegated Crystal Beast, couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°This Variegated Crystal Beast lives up to its reputation for its defensive power. Its Life Force and defense are indeed extremely formidable!¡± Collecting his thoughts, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t pause; the Black Dragon Axe in his hand swung frequently, launching black lights aimed at the critical points of the Variegated Crystal Beast. At the same time, he punched out, aiming another shot at the Variegated Crystal Beast. During this time, the Variegated Crystal Beast continued to struggle and roar, panicking at Lin Tianming¡¯s relentless assault. As the black light came at it, the Variegated Crystal Beast desperately tried to escape, laboriously dragging its massive body to the side. But now it was severely wounded, its strength significantly reduced,¡ªa futile attempt to dodge Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, implausible even at its peak, let alone now. Chapter 886 886 474 Infamous_2 ?Chapter 886: Chapter 474 Infamous_2 Chapter 886: Chapter 474 Infamous_2 Under the dire circumstances, the Variegated Crystal Beast had no escape and could only hope that its armor would withstand the relentless attacks. However, the next moment, a series of wails were heard continuously. Lin Tianming wielded the Black Dragon Axe, and the dark light it radiated directly cleaved into the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Unable to withstand the tremendous force, the Variegated Crystal Beast was immediately repelled a great distance. Before it could catch its breath, Lin Tianming, with fists like iron, struck continuously, landing punch after punch on the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast. Initially, the Variegated Crystal Beast could resist with its thick armor and its robust body. However, facing Lin Tianming¡¯s unceasing attacks, even if the Variegated Crystal Beast had strong defensive power and robust vitality, it couldn¡¯t endure such a frenzied assault. ... Following a scream, no other sounds were heard, and Lin Tianming finally stopped his assault. At that moment, the Variegated Crystal Beast lay motionless on the ground, covered in bloodstains, a large number of bloody holes still oozing fresh blood, quickly staining the ground red. The Variegated Crystal Beast showed no signs of life, only the warmth on its body indicating that it had been alive just moments ago. As for Lin Tianming, his Qi-Blood was surging, and his face alternated between pale and flushed. He stood panting heavily, his fists bloody and indistinct, the bright red fragments unclear whether they were his own or the beast¡¯s. Through his relentless attacking, the Variegated Crystal Beast couldn¡¯t defend itself, and was brutally killed by Lin Tianming¡¯s physical strength. Watching the Variegated Crystal Beast lying on the ground, dead beyond doubt, Lin Tianming felt a thrill of excitement and a deep relief in his heart. Up to now, he hadn¡¯t even used his full strength, as initially, he had suppressed the Variegated Crystal Beast using spells and supernatural attacks. Later on, he mostly relied on his physical strength, brutally killing the Variegated Crystal Beast. Had he truly exerted all his efforts, with his current strength, he might have been able to kill this slow-moving meat shield in just a few exchanges. However, such plain and primal attacking techniques were also maximized by him. Though it took a bit longer, the process had indeed been very enjoyable, and it got his blood boiling. At the same time, he could save some mana for the upcoming major battle. By then, as Lin Tianming calmed down, he shifted his focus to observe the situations on the other battlefields. Glancing up, Zhao Hongsheng and Lu Xingfeng were fiercely battling in the high skies. Both were Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, and both were in good condition before the major battle. Especially Lu Xingfeng, the strongest from Zhenyang Sect, who hadn¡¯t participated in the major battle before and was completely at his peak. At the moment, their long fight was evenly matched, and it seemed that neither could gain an advantage. Under such circumstances, without resorting to their trump cards, it was unlikely that they could decide the victor in a short time. However, the current situation was unfavorable for Zhao Hongsheng, as Lu Xingfeng¡¯s side had more Golden Core Cultivators, presenting an overwhelming force. As long as the others could get involved, then team up with Lu Xingfeng. No matter how strong Zhao Hongsheng was, it was difficult for him to face multiple adversaries and he was bound to fall into a predicament. Therefore, Zhao Hongsheng, stuck in a prolonged battle, was anxious and acted hastily. But Lu Xingfeng¡¯s strength was equally matched, and he maintained a good state without any exposed weaknesses. In this way, though they seemed evenly matched on the surface, it wouldn¡¯t take long for Zhao Hongsheng to fall into even greater trouble. Lin Tianming, having assessed the situation, no longer paid attention to Lu Xingfeng¡¯s side and turned his gaze towards the battlefield of Zhou Yunxiao and Han Hu. Following his gaze, the intense fight between these two had also reached a heated stage. Due to previous injuries and having hurriedly returned to Golden Sword Sect, Han Hu hadn¡¯t recovered much, his strength about seventy percent of his peak. Facing the better-conditioned Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s aggressive attacks, Han Hu was on the losing side, with several injuries already evident on his body. If this continued, Zhou Yunxiao might achieve final victory without needing help from others. However, as a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, whether Han Hu had any powerful weapons or trump cards was unclear. Including him, if he wholeheartedly wanted to escape, relying solely on Zhou Yunxiao, it would likely be very difficult to detain him. As for the other two battlefields, Chen Jingtian¡¯s strength was indeed quite formidable, and he was overwhelming Song Hanchun throughout the fight. Facing such a strong enemy, Song Hanchun, one-on-one, was not a match at all and could only passively defend, rarely having a chance to gain the upper hand. Not far from them, Zhao Mingli had also wounded another Third Order Demon Beast from the Golden Sword Sect. At the time, Zhao Mingli was also expanding his advantage, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be long before this Third Order Demon Beast would fall here as well. Seeing the state of the battle, they too held a clear upper hand. At this moment, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, with high hopes for the upcoming situation. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Simultaneously, he thought it over briefly, fully aware of what variables could arise with more delay, and decided to join the other battlefields immediately to swiftly end this great battle. Soon, he had a new target, that was the battlefield of Chen Jingtian and Song Hanchun. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming leaped up and flew towards Chen Jingtian¡¯s location. Within a few breaths, Lin Tianming had reached Chen Jingtian¡¯s side. At that moment, as Song Hanchun was sent reeling back by a strike from Chen Jingtian, just as he was about to create a safe distance, Lin Tianming blocked his path. ¡°Daoist Chen, let me lend you a hand!¡± After shouting loudly, Lin Tianming¡¯s Green-Red Rainbow Sword shot out, instantly unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword divine skill. In a flash, the Qinghong Sword pierced through the heavens, its speed extraordinarily fast, headed straight for Song Hanchun¡¯s head. Seeing Lin Tianming make his move, Chen Jingtian also laughed wildly. ¡°Ha-ha¡­ Song Hanchun, you are doomed!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Jingtian also launched an attack towards Song Hanchun, planning to collaborate with Lin Tianming to completely annihilate him on the spot. At this moment, having just steadied himself, Song Hanchun, seeing Lin Tianming launching an attack, was as pale as snow. He was well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, although he had never personally seen Lin Tianming move before. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s infamous reputation over the years, as well as his rumored strength, were well-known to him. Without exaggeration, Lin Tianming¡¯s battle achievements in the past two years were definitely unmatched throughout the entire Wei Kingdom. At least, the number of Golden Core Cultivators who had perished at his hand was no longer countable on one hand, including quite a few Mid Stage Golden Core Strongmen. Such a powerfully strong and notorious fighter even made Chen Jingtian, who had gained much attention in the previous battle, seem somewhat less significant. Moreover, Song Hanchun had witnessed the entire process of Lin Tianming killing the Variegated Crystal Beast. Even at this moment, his mind echoed with Lin Tianming¡¯s exciting method of attack. It must be said, that kind of blood-boiling manner of attack was indeed eye-catching, involuntarily elevating one¡¯s spirit. Yet, being an opponent, such a bloodily violent scene would shake someone to the core, not giving rise to the thought of resisting. Thus, towards Lin Tianming¡¯s domineering and clever attacks, Song Hanchun was deeply wary. However, at this time, there wasn¡¯t time for him to think further, because Lin Tianming acted decisively and was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, the Qinghong Sword was already descending on his head, bringing with it a strong aura and the howling wind it stirred up. In an instant, Song Hanchun felt the sharp Sword Qi attacking, piercing his protective True Qi. Seeing the terrifying longsword approaching, already within reach, Song Hanchun¡¯s expression grew solemn. Despite this, he did not panic; while retreating rapidly, he launched an attack of his own through the heavens, attempting to intercept Lin Tianming¡¯s. Just a moment later, the Qinghong Sword and Song Hanchun¡¯s attack collided head-on. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud sound rang out, and immediately, sparks flew in the sky, followed by a mushroom cloud. At the same time, the blast wave produced by the explosion, carrying the force of the attack, spread in all directions. Chapter 887 887 475 Risky Military Moves ?Chapter 887: Chapter 475 Risky Military Moves Chapter 887: Chapter 475 Risky Military Moves At that moment, Lin Tianming was sent flying by the blast. On the other hand, Song Hanchun also retreated dozens of feet, barely managing to stabilize his figure. Before he could catch his breath, Chen Jingtian also charged over. Simultaneously, the longsword in Chen Jingtian¡¯s hand erupted with astonishing Sword Qi, which directly targeted Song Hanchun¡¯s head. Seeing the Sword Qi coming closer and closer, Song Hanchun had just defended against Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, which had already delayed his chance to escape. At this time, his escape route had been mostly anticipated by Chen Jingtian, even if he temporarily dodged this strike, other attacks would block his path soon after. Thus, escaping unscathed from Chen Jingtian¡¯s assault would not be easy. ... In an instant, Song Hanchun had realized the gravity of his situation and knew it was exceedingly unfavorable. Even so, he had no time to ponder further. At that moment, Song Hanchun¡¯s face turned pale, and in haste, he could only continue moving and shielded himself with his Defense Treasure in front. Just a moment later, Song Hanchun had just activated his Defense Treasure when Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack arrived as expected, striking precisely upon the Defense Treasure. Instantly, a loud explosion echoed. Followed by that, flames dominated the area, and the powerful impact swept all around. As the light dissipated, Song Hanchun was seen flying backward. While still in midair, Song Hanchun spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood. After barely stabilizing himself, Song Hanchun felt his Qi-Blood churning wildly, his face inevitably turning paler. Under the assault of both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, although Song Hanchun blocked it, the duo¡¯s attacks were powerful, and the recoil from each strike was vast. Even as a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator and possessing a Defense Treasure that blocked most of the force, Continuously taking these two attacks head-on had been tremendously strenuous, costing him greatly, especially the recoil forces that put a significant burden on his body. Now, with his Qi-Blood surging and grimacing, Song Hanchun was visibly in discomfort. At this time, with a pained expression on his face, Song Hanchun felt greatly uneasy about the current situation. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian clearly had the upper hand and would not give him a chance to breathe. Sure enough, right after the last round of attacks had ended, Lin Tianming already took the lead in pursuing, activating his Qinghong Sword in advance as if swearing to eliminate Song Hanchun. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Song Hanchun¡¯s face showed a ferocious expression. Immediately after, he pinched his Law Decree, and a giant golden Longsword appeared above his head. Looking at it, the Sword Qi was translucent, faintly glowing with golden light, its powerful aura far surpassing any previous attacks. And as it appeared, it instantly stirred the nearby Spiritual Energy flowing towards the Sword Qi. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed drastically, knowing well that Song Hanchun was fighting with desperation, even resorting to Spirit Arts. Lin Tianming was deeply wary of Spirit Arts. His practice of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art had been terrifyingly powerful, helping him through life and death situations multiple times. Just this alone was enough to say it all. And such Divine Skills generally surpassed the innate Divine Skills of Cultivation Techniques. Even the most common Yellow Grade Spirit Technique was considerably stronger than the innate Divine Skills of typical Mysterious Grade Techniques. Song Hanchun, coming from the Golden Sword Sect and being a high-ranked cultivator, held one of the topmost positions and powers in the sect. Given the inheritance of the Golden Sword Sect, he at least mastered one Spirit Technique. Now, his activation of the Spirit Technique was also a forced move. After all, facing just Chen Jingtian had been strenuous enough, constantly at a disadvantage. With Lin Tianming joining the battlefield, his situation became even more difficult. Under the lethal threat, even if Song Hanchun was reluctant to reveal his trump card, he had no choice but to fight. Knowing this, Lin Tianming, on high alert, quickly turned and prepared to create a safe distance. Besides him, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression also greatly changed, hesitating to strike and decided not to confront Song Hanchun head-on. In an instant, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian retreated dozens of feet as if they were ghostly figures. Just then, a pleasant voice rang out. The Sword Qi above Song Hanchun¡¯s head shot out, slicing through the air at an unbelievable speed, heading directly towards Chen Jingtian. The speed of the Sword Qi was extremely fast, appearing behind Chen Jingtian in the blink of an eye. With such attack speed, it was several times faster than any cultivator¡¯s escape speed. At that moment, Chen Jingtian also felt the Sword Qi coming from behind, its speed was extremely fast. Continuing like this, even if he retreated fast enough, it would likely be difficult to escape the pursuit of the Sword Qi. Realizing this, Chen Jingtian¡¯s face instantly showed a mixture of fear and anger. In haste, he also stopped his motion, then unleashed a powerful strike, aiming at the oncoming Sword Qi. At the same time, the Defense Treasure in Chen Jingtian¡¯s hand flashed with Spiritual Light, barely protecting his body. Just after Chen Jingtian completed a series of preparations, the golden Sword Qi had already arrived, scattering his attack head-on. As the obstruction broke, the golden Sword Qi paused slightly then continued forward, directly striking Chen Jingtian¡¯s Defense Treasure. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Fireworks exploded in the sky, accompanied by a loud noise reverberating through heaven and earth. Following that, smoke billowed and spread out, a powerful blast sending Chen Jingtian flying far away before he heavily smashed into the ground. As everything settled, Chen Jingtian climbed out of the deep pit, spitting out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face rapidly turning much paler. Chapter 888 888 475 Risky Military Maneuver_2 ?Chapter 888: Chapter 475 Risky Military Maneuver_2 Chapter 888: Chapter 475 Risky Military Maneuver_2 Under that strike, Chen Jingtian truly lived up to his reputation as a first-rate powerhouse. He not only weathered the Spirit Art attack but also seemed to sustain no serious injuries. But in reality, only Chen Jingtian himself knew his true condition. On the surface, his aura had slightly diminished, and he did bear some wounds. However, internally, his body had been turned upside down, and many of his meridians were broken. His strength had fallen by at least half. Yet Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he forcefully rallied his spirits, preparing to join Lin Tianming in eliminating Song Hanchun. At that moment, Lin Tianming also steadied himself and regained his composure from the initial shock. Seeing Chen Jingtian standing on the void, not appearing grievously hurt, he felt a sigh of relief in his heart, and he was even more grateful. ... In his eyes, Song Hanchun¡¯s Spirit Art attack was indeed terrifyingly powerful, undoubtedly a Spirit Art. If Song Hanchun had targeted him, he would have had a difficult time dealing with it, and the entire process would have been extremely perilous. As for his chances of escaping unharmed from that attack, he had no great confidence. Fortunately, there was only one Sword Qi from that Spirit Art, and Song Hanchun still perceived Chen Jingtian as the greater threat, making him the primary target. Otherwise, Lin Tianming might have been severely injured by now or even directly perished. Aware of this, Lin Tianming was immensely relieved. At this time, seeing that Chen Jingtian did not appear to be badly injured, Song Hanchun¡¯s heart skipped a beat, feeling even more that his situation was dire. For he knew that both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian were powerful, and either one had the capacity to defeat him alone. As things stood, bereft of any trump cards, facing the combined efforts of Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, Song Hanchun was bound to be forced into a retreat eventually. At that point, he would probably fall, becoming the first Golden Core Cultivator to perish in this battle. The thought instantly drained Song Hanchun of his fighting spirit, and he was already preparing to flee. As for Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu, he could not afford to care about them at the moment. Facing the prospect of losing his life, he had no leisure to concern himself with fellow Sect members. Moreover, Zhao Hongsheng and Han Hu were holding their own against the attacks of Lu Xingfeng and others for the time being. But as soon as the other Golden Core Cultivators were free to join the fight, the situation for Han Hu and his comrade wouldn¡¯t be any better. Continuing like this, their retreat was likewise only a matter of time. With this in mind, his premature escape could not be considered a betrayal or an act of abandonment. After all, he had employed his Spirit Art and still failed to kill any of Chen Jingtian¡¯s party. Having put in so much effort and sustained considerable injuries, he had already done his duty for the Sect. As for what happened afterwards, he didn¡¯t want to care. And couldn¡¯t manage to care about that much anyway! In his eyes, as long as he escaped Wei Kingdom, he would basically be temporarily out of danger. After all, at his level, even without the support of a Sect, he could be considered a formidable figure in any nation in Qingzhou. As long as he lay low and stayed clear of major powers, he could live comfortably. Aware of this, Song Hanchun made up his mind in an instant. Thus, before Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian could make a move, Song Hanchun hastily launched two attacks as a means to prevent them from pursuing. Immediately after, Song Hanchun¡¯s feet produced wind, shooting towards one direction at lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, he had escaped a hundred zhang away. At that instant, seeing Song Hanchun¡¯s actions, Chen Jingtian also gave chase without delay. Simultaneously, he called out in the direction of Lin Tianming. ¡°Lin, that scoundrel is trying to flee, stop him!¡± Before the words fell, Lin Tianming had already taken the lead in pursuit, moving even faster than Chen Jingtian had and much quicker in his pursuit. In fact, Lin Tianming had long been on guard, closely watching Song Hanchun¡¯s every move. He was clear that it was only a matter of time before Song Hanchun retreated after failing to hit his target. Without any trump cards to aid him, Song Hanchun would not be able to stand against their following attacks. Thus, he was bound to not linger here, and lay down his life for the Golden Sword Sect. Now that it had come to this, Song Hanchun would either flee the battlefield or join Han Hu and withdraw from the fight¡ªit was bound to happen. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, Lin Tianming needed to be prepared for any outcome. And now, as anticipated, Song Hanchun fled the scene in an attempt to seek a sliver of survival for himself. Confronting Song Hanchun¡¯s escape, Lin Tianming reacted immediately, keen on stopping him. With such intent, Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, pushing his movement technique to its limits. With the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming moved with the agility of a fish through water, easily sidestepping the attacks unleashed by Song Hanchun. In an instant, Lin Tianming had shot out several dozen zhang, closely following Song Hanchun¡¯s trail. On the other side, although Chen Jingtian was slightly slower to react, he too intuitively headed in a different direction to prepare to intercept and block Song Hanchun¡¯s path. In the chase by the two of them, the distance between them closed rapidly. At this point, Song Hanchun was not as fast as Lin Tianming and had entered the latter¡¯s striking range. Seeing his power near its end, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay, immediately activating the Qinghong Sword and unleashing the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Qinghong Sword shot out, appearing above Song Hanchun¡¯s head with lightning speed. Chapter 889 889 475 A Dangerous Military Move_3 ?Chapter 889: Chapter 475: A Dangerous Military Move_3 Chapter 889: Chapter 475: A Dangerous Military Move_3 At this time, Song Hanchun had also felt the fluctuations and dreaded the worst in his heart. Yet at the moment, caught between Lin Tianming and another, he could not afford to stop; he had to escape as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once the two caught up, the chance to escape would be lost forever. Well aware of this, Song Hanchun sped up, hastily moving to one side. A moment passed. Qinghong Sword and Song Hanchun brushed past each other, not until it struck the ground did it rebound and return into Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. Song Hanchun narrowly evaded the attack and momentarily paused before continuing his desperate flight. ... However, due to Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, Song Hanchun¡¯s speed had slowed down compared to before. On the other hand, Lin Tianming¡¯s speed had not decreased in the slightest, rather, it became even faster. With the variation between them, the distance had once again narrowed significantly. After a few breaths, Lin Tianming struck repeatedly, releasing copious amounts of Sword Qi to obstruct Song Hanchun¡¯s escape route. Chen Jingtian was also fast, nearly blocking the exit before Song Hanchun could flee. At this time, Song Hanchun saw enemies both ahead and behind, his face turning deathly pale. He knew very well that there was no way he could escape from Lin Tianming and his companion. In a flash, Song Hanchun turned deathly pale, halting midair. Behind him, Lin Tianming and the Qinghong Sword came assaulting again, aiming straight for his head. A hit was certain death, no chance of survival. Fully aware of this, Song Hanchun felt hopeless, seemingly aging a great deal. Still, as a Golden Core Cultivator who had roamed the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for a century, he had his own pride. Facing the encirclement of Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, Song Hanchun let out a wry smile. And with that, he formed a complex hand seal with a single hand. In an instant, the surrounding Spiritual Energy became chaotic, as considerable amounts of Spiritual Energy slowly converged toward him. In a blink, whirlwinds sprang up between heaven and earth, strands of Spiritual Energy coalescing and ultimately pouring into Song Hanchun¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. Song Hanchun¡¯s ashen face turned crimson, sand and rocks flew about, and the sky gradually darkened. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian knew that Song Hanchun intended to self-detonate his Golden Core, preferring mutually assured destruction. ¡°Quick¡­ stop that scoundrel!¡± Chen Jingtian¡¯s face changed drastically, his urgency was palpable as he launched an attack while shouting loudly. Lin Tianming was equally terrified, his face extremely grim. Despite this, he hastened forward, his Qinghong Sword shooting out, aiming directly at Song Hanchun¡¯s head. Both men attacked simultaneously, with no intention of retreating. Their decisive actions were because they were not far from Song Hanchun. If acted upon promptly, there was a significant chance to interrupt him before he could self-detonate. It was a risky tactic, but under the current circumstances, they had no other choice. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such determination, both men attacked from different angles, their speed as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye. Accompanied by two dull thuds and a piercing scream that shook heaven and earth. Song Hanchun was torn asunder, the Gang Wind abruptly ceased, and the once darkened sky brightened anew. When all returned to calm, Song Hanchun was nowhere to be seen in the world, his remaining essence merely drifting in the air. Chapter 890 890 476 The Fall of Han Hu ?Chapter 890: Chapter 476: The Fall of Han Hu Chapter 890: Chapter 476: The Fall of Han Hu Watching Song Hanchun vanish from sight, it was evident that he had thoroughly perished. At this point, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian both relaxed their brows, heaving a long sigh of relief in their hearts. The situation had been dire, and with Song Hanchun¡¯s strength at the Mid Stage Golden Core, had his self-destruction been successful, the power unleashed would certainly have been terrifying. Given their close proximity to each other, even if they were individually stronger, escaping unscathed would have been no easy task. However, the close distance between them at the time also provided the ideal condition to prevent Song Hanchun¡¯s self-destruction. Many cultivators fear the self-destruction of a Golden Core and their first instinct is to retreat. Little do they know, such an action at times can be the most fatal. ... Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, being seasoned in numerous battles and having seen many large-scale confrontations among Golden Core cultivators, needless to say, had considerable experience. In that critical situation, the risky choice to stop Song Hanchun was undoubtedly the most likely decision to see them through the crisis. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, it turned out to be so! And now, with just a false alarm, Song Hanchun was dead, bringing this battle to a close. At this time, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian exchanged glances, involuntarily revealing satisfied smiles. Following this, Chen Jingtian wasted no time and turned to Lin Tianming, saying, ¡°Lin, let¡¯s go and assist Daoist Zhou and the others!¡± ¡°Good¡­ The others must also be nearing the end of their battles and will likely support us soon.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re idle anyway, I¡¯ll go help Daoist Zhou, and you can take care of your sectmates, Daoist Chen!¡± After replying, Lin Tianming leapt into the air and flew in the direction of Zhou Yunxiao. Seeing him leave, Chen Jingtian also turned his body and rapidly joined the fray where Lu Xingfeng was fighting. Above in the sky, Han Hu and Zhou Yunxiao were fiercely engaged in battle. With Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, upon catching sight of Lin Tianming, Han Hu¡¯s face turned extremely sour. The reason was twofold, the first being that with Lin Tianming joining the fight, he was already at a disadvantage, and the situation would become much tougher going forward. Secondly, naturally, it was because Song Hanchun had fallen, leaving him as the only Golden Core Cultivator in the Golden Sword Sect. If the last Third Order Spiritual Beast were also killed, he would truly become a solitary figure, and the Golden Sword Sect would exist in name only. At this moment, Han Hu, filled with a mix of shock and rage, hastily created some distance from the battle. And just then, a succession of agonizing screams came from not far away. He turned his head to see Zhao Mingli¡¯s attack obliterate the last Third Order Demon Beast, his final concern slain right there. Upon witnessing this scene, Han Hu, filled with fury, fell completely into despair. Now he knew well that continuing the fight would be fruitless and potentially lethal. He no longer wanted to drag it out! He ceased considering preserving the legacy of the Golden Sword Sect and wanted to avoid any further trouble with the Myriad Medicine Valley. At this moment, the most important thing was to retreat fully from Wei Kingdom. With that in mind, Han Hu took advantage of the moment before Lin Tianming could act, unleashing two attacks in rapid succession, aiming to stall Zhou Yunxiao. Right after, Han Hu slapped his storage bag and several Third Order talisman papers flew out, instantly transforming into a sky of Sword Qi and fireballs, crashing down upon Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao. His speed was swift, his actions decisive, executing all attacks almost in an instant. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± In just a moment, the tranquil sky lit up, powerful vibrations spread, and the ground trembled slightly. Taking advantage of this barrage, Han Hu shot off in one direction without looking back. At this very moment, as the commotion broke out, Zhou Yunxiao, closest to Han Hu, sensed his intention. As the attacks approached, Zhou Yunxiao, in his urgency, shot out several attacks in quick succession, momentarily blocking Han Hu¡¯s barrage. Then, he quickly readied himself and chased after Han Hu. While still midair, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s voice reached Lin Tianming¡¯s ears. ¡°Lin, that fellow is trying to escape, quickly help me catch him!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face also shifted dramatically, taken aback by the surprise. He had thought that with Han Hu¡¯s cultivation and strength, he would at least fight a few more rounds, even at a disadvantage. After all, the great legacy of the Golden Sword Sect lay before him, and it was certainly unrealistic for him to be indifferent. Moreover, even Zhao Hongsheng, an outsider, had no plans to retreat; yet Han Hu was the first to attempt fleeing. Such behavior was truly beyond his expectation. But as the situation had unfolded, there was no use in pondering, and he could only hastily act to try to stop Han Hu. With such determination, Lin Tianming leapt forward, his hands moving continuously. He slapped his storage bag, and the Qinghong Sword shot out, once again unleashing the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Skills. Simultaneously, he turned his body and with rapid footsteps, he moved swiftly, weaving through the sky of Sword Qi and firestorm. Aided by the Eye of Five Colors, and despite the dense attacks from the Third Order talisman papers, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were swift as a swallow, and with his robust physique, he managed to find an optimal path each time. By the time he went through the obstacles, Han Hu had only flown a hundred yards or so. For cultivators of their level, this distance was not considered far. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s phantom-like silhouette, Han Hu¡¯s face was extremely grim. But before he could think further, Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword was already upon him, hovering right above his head, poised to strike at any moment. Faced with this attack, if he recklessly continued to flee, he would inevitably be caught by the Qinghong Sword. Chapter 891 891 476 Han Hu Falls_2 ?Chapter 891: Chapter 476 Han Hu Falls_2 Chapter 891: Chapter 476 Han Hu Falls_2 If he turned to defend, he would inevitably lose time. In such a situation, even if it was just for an instant, Zhou Yunxiao could break through the obstacle and form an attack angle with Lin Tianming, dragging him down. If that happened, escaping the place would probably not be easy. But the current situation was such that not only did his cultivation strength not have the advantage, but it was also inferior to Zhou Yunxiao across from him. Faced with a dilemma, Han Hu had no choice but to grit his teeth, turn around first, and fend off Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Once Han Hu made his decision, he immediately put it into action. His magical treasure in hand, he unleashed a series of attacks that rapidly tore through the void, clashing with the Qinghong Sword. ... ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Loud sounds of explosion echoed between heaven and earth, flames shot into the sky, and the resulting shock waves swept across the area. Zhou Yunxiao took advantage of this force to retreat backward, quickly establishing a safe distance. As the dust and flames dissipated, the silhouettes of the two men were revealed. After that strike, both were affected by the massive impact, causing upheaval in Han Hu¡¯s qi-blood, making his face even paler. However, Lin Tianming was not greatly affected; with his strong physical strength and terrifying qi-blood power, regular shockwaves could hardly hurt him. And that strike had merely shaken his spirit for a moment before he quickly returned to normal. Once he had steadied himself, Lin Tianming looked at Han Hu, who was not inclined to fight and continued to flee; the expression on his face was very calm, as if he was not worried at all. Opposite him, after flying out for dozens of yards, Han Hu involuntarily halted. As it turned out, following Lin Tianming¡¯s recent obstruction, Zhou Yunxiao had already reached the position, blocking Han Hu¡¯s path in advance. Facing the formidable Zhou Yunxiao, Han Hu¡¯s face turned pale and bloodless, and he completely lost all hope in his heart. Helplessly catching his breath, he thought to himself how terribly unlucky and obviously insufficient his strength was. He had thought that if everything went smoothly, there was still a chance of escape, thereby finding a thread of survival. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was too uncanny; for an ordinary cultivator to emerge unscathed under such high-density talisman paper attacks was already very difficult. Yet Lin Tianming was not just at ease breaking through the barrier; his speed was also so fast, and he managed a timely strike that delayed Han Hu for a moment. This brief moment completely changed the entire situation, preventing him from breaking through the encirclement in time. As of now, with another Third Order Demonic Beast of the Golden Sword Sect dead, other Golden Core Cultivators freed their hands and would surely come to assist Zhou Yunxiao. And at this moment, Zhao Mingli and some others were already heading this way, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before they took action against him. Faced with such a situation, he no longer had any hope of breaking out of the encirclement. Knowing this, Han Hu felt helpless and could only deal with Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao first. As long as he could hold on long enough, perhaps Zhao Hongsheng on the other side had some tricks up his sleeve. After all, that guy had been calm throughout, and coming from a Nascent Soul-Level Power, he might actually be able to turn the tide. At this moment, all Han Hu could do was pin his hopes on Zhao Hongsheng. However, Zhao Hongsheng was also in dire straits, retreating step by step under the joint assault of Lu Xingfeng and Chen Jingtian. In addition, a few Golden Core Cultivators who had freed their hands were also converging in his direction. In no more than ten breaths of time, Zhao Hongsheng would face the joint assault of three Golden Core Cultivators. It could be foreseen that Zhao Hongsheng, already retreating step by step, would have a hard time turning around the situation. But at this time, like Han Hu, he still hoped to find a way out in such a situation. Little did he know that Han Hu was already at a dead end, struggling even to not hold him back, let alone provide any assistance. Under such circumstances, Han Hu was now facing an attack from Lin Tianming and his ally. Watching the Qinghong Sword approach, Han Hu fended it off while edging closer to Zhao Hongsheng. Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao, clearly understanding Han Hu¡¯s intention, naturally would not let him have his way. After, the two of them continued to increase the frequency of their attacks and moved in advance towards the direction Han Hu was converging, planning to separate the two and then defeat each individually. With such intentions in mind, the two of them fought fiercely, each attack delivered with their full power. ¡°Boom¡­¡± An attack from Zhou Yunxiao came, clashing head-on with Han Hu¡¯s Sword Qi. In an instant, the tremendous impact force staggered Han Hu backward. Once he stabilized his posture, Han Hu spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion turning much paler. At this point, the injuries on his body were worsening nonstop, his mana nearly depleted, his strength significantly reduced. Although Lin Tianming and Zhou Yunxiao were also at the end of their tether, compared to Han Hu¡¯s situation, they were evidently in much better condition. Not only that, Zhao Mingli, who had freed up his hands, had also rushed over by now, forming a triangular formation with the other two, trapping Han Hu firmly in the middle. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, seeing himself surrounded, Han Hu was filled with a mix of shock and rage, his face ghastly pale. Before he could think further, the attacks from Zhao Mingli and Lin Tianming had already arrived. Han Hu looked up, only able to unleash a few desperate counterattacks, putting up the stance of a beast trapped in a corner. In the blink of an eye, with the several rounds of joint attacks by the three men coming to an end, Han Hu, overwhelmed and unable to cope, was struck in the back by Zhou Yunxiao. With a scream of agony, Han Hu¡¯s body flew like a kite with its string cut, eventually crashing heavily to the ground. Han Hu struggled a couple of times, then shakily managed to get up. Looking at him, his Daoist robe was tattered, the leather armor he wore riddled with thousands of holes, and a fist-sized blood hole was in his back, from which blood kept gushing. This blow had nearly pierced through his body, the huge impact forcing his internal organs to nearly shift positions, and many of his meridians were broken. Now, with severe injuries all over his body, including his internal organs, and with his mana completely depleted, his strength was similar to that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Facing Lin Tianming and the other two, any one of them could end his life with a casual blow. At this moment, Han Hu no longer thought about escaping and just stayed where he was. Taking advantage of the lull between attacks, Han Hu formed a seal with his hands, making a special gesture. Seeing this action, Lin Tianming and the others understood that Han Hu was attempting to Self-Detonate his Golden Core. Realizing this, the three of them shot out immediately, the Magical Treasures in their hands glowing in an instant, aiming to end Han Hu¡¯s life with one strike. Under the assault of the three men, Han Hu simply had no time to react, after all, Self-Detonating the Golden Core required time. And having been severely injured before, his condition was far too critical, his mana completely exhausted. Under such conditions, the time he needed to achieve Self-Detonating the Golden Core was several times longer than before he was injured. Moreover, Lin Tianming and the others were constantly on guard against this move, naturally not giving him any chance. In this situation, Han Hu had just begun the motion to Self-Detonate his Golden Core, not even able to mobilize much Yuan Qi, when he was struck down by Zhou Yunxiao. Only when Han Hu¡¯s head hit the ground, his body beheaded, did they finally heave a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. With Han Hu¡¯s death, all of the Golden Core Cultivators from Golden Sword Sect had fallen, including the two Third Order Spiritual Beasts being killed. Previously, the Golden Sword Sect boasted five Golden Core Cultivators, as well as two Third Order Spiritual Beasts. Such a massive force was now completely annihilated. None of the top-tier combatants from the Golden Sword Sect had survived. It could be said that the Golden Sword Sect was now practically obliterated, relying on the scattering Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had fled or were elsewhere was insufficient to stir any trouble. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming and the others were exceedingly excited, their faces revealing smiles that had been missing for a long time. Especially Lin Tianming, he felt incredibly moved in his heart. After all, the Golden Sword Sect was a major power that had a heritage of thousands of years, with profound foundations, having dominated the Wei Kingdom for thousands of years. Even Myriad Medicine Valley, with a legacy of ten thousand years, had been suppressed by the Golden Sword Sect for some time. Yet such a colossus was now nearly wiped out, unbelievable news to spread. ¡­ Chapter 892 892 477 Complete Annihilation (Please ?Chapter 892: Chapter 477 Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe) Chapter 892: Chapter 477 Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe) With excitement subsiding, Lin Tianming and the others turned their attention to the battlefield where Zhao Hongsheng was located. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had been annihilated, leaving only Zhao Hongsheng of the Blood Red Alliance. The great battle was nearing its end. At this moment, they were just a step away from final victory. No matter what stage they were in, they could not relax; only when everything settled could they completely let down their guard. Fully aware of this importance, Lin Tianming watched Zhao Hongsheng retreating steadily, ready to intervene at any moment. Besides him, Zhou Yunxiao and Zhao Mingli were poised to act in the same manner. Soon, the three simultaneously vanished and reappeared at Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s side. ... At that time, amidst his counterattacks, Zhao Hongsheng immediately sensed the movement. Currently surrounded and relentlessly attacked by Lu Xingfeng and his men, Zhao was increasingly at a disadvantage. Not only that, but his injuries were serious, and his mana was nearly depleted¡ªsuch a state could not drastically reduce his strength in the short term, but he certainly could not endure a prolonged battle. Once entangled, he feared his end would be just like Han Hu¡¯s. Initially, he had pinned his hopes on Han Hu to trouble Zhou Yunxiao and the others, or at least attract their attention to stall them. If utterly overpowered, he planned to escape promptly. However, he underestimated the strength of Zhou Yunxiao and his team; he did not expect Han Hu, a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, to barely trouble the enemies. Moreover, before he had even prepared to flee, Han Hu was killed outright. This turn of events happened much sooner than he had anticipated. Now that Han Hu was dead and no longer drawing their attention, Zhou Yunxiao and others had come to support. From his perspective, facing Zhou Yunxiao and six or seven other Golden Core Cultivators, even with his exceptional abilities, it would be impossible to win. Realizing this, Zhao Hongsheng no longer intended to continue fighting. Seizing the moment before the other Golden Core Cultivators arrived, Zhao Hongsheng firmly and without hesitation took out the last Fourth Order Attack Talisman from his storage bag. This talisman was rare; he had already used one earlier to play a crucial role in retreating from the Myriad Medicine Valley battlefield. Now, this last Fourth Order Attack Talisman was his final ace¡ªif he used it, it would be gone for good. More importantly, if the talisman failed to change the tide, no matter how desperate he became, he would probably not be able to slip away under Zhou Yunxiao and the others¡¯ watch. But at that point, he couldn¡¯t afford to think more, as Lin Tianming and his companions had already launched a flurry of attacks as soon as they arrived. Faced with the dense barrage from above, each strike fearsomely powerful and seemingly enough to engulf him. At that moment, Zhao Hongsheng no longer hesitated and immediately threw the talisman into the sky; it was instantly hit by a barrage of Law Decrees. In an instant, the Fourth Order Talisman flashed brightly, then turned into a vast rain of fire engulfing a broad area. Under this fiery deluge, almost everyone present was caught within. Only Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s escape direction was spared¡ªone person was not within the range of the attack. That person was Lin Tianming, keen-eyed and prepared. When he had reached the battlefield, he was ready to deal with Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s escape. In his view, with Han Hu dead, Zhao Hongsheng, having lost his strongest ally, would not linger or waste time, letting himself be surrounded. Therefore, for Zhao Hongsheng, escaping was only a matter of time. Sure enough, Zhao was even more decisive than Lin had anticipated. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even just as they had arrived, he was prepared for a final struggle. Now, this guy was sacrificing his last card, clearly planning to block Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng¡ªhis two strongest opponents. As for Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, Zhao was quite helpless. In fact, if he could help it, he would not have left Lin Tianming out, even if it meant facing Chen Jingtian whom he could have blocked. Nevertheless, that decision was not his to make; Lin Tianming seemed to have foreseen his intentions and was prepared. Coupled with Zhou Yunxiao and the others being too spread out, even a Fourth Order Talisman could not block so many people at once. Thus, Zhao had to play his cards according to the situation, blocking only those he feared most. Unable to block everyone, he had to concentrate on escaping in one direction. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming, with keen eyesight, firmly stood in front of him, as if anticipating his thoughts. At this, Zhao Hongsheng was both shocked and furious, becoming increasingly frantic. At this time, the entire battlefield was in chaos. Among them, Zhou Yunxiao and several other Golden Core Cultivators were all enshrouded in the fiery rain. Facing this terrifying firestorm, which they had witnessed once before, they knew too well the lethality of a Fourth Order Talisman. At that time, under its assault, Luo Anzhong, a Medium Stage Golden Core, fell directly, and the others were also heavily injured. This showed just how destructive such a powerful treasure was to Golden Core Cultivators; even late-stage cultivators like Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng dared not be careless. Under these circumstances, everyone engulfed by the firestorm exerted all methods and used every treasure available, solely focused on surviving out of the firestorm. Chapter 893 893 477 Total Annihilation (Seeking ?Chapter 893: Chapter 477: Total Annihilation (Seeking Subscriptions)_2 Chapter 893: Chapter 477: Total Annihilation (Seeking Subscriptions)_2 As for hindering Zhao Hongsheng, everyone was currently under the test of life and death, and simply could not afford to be distracted. However, the pressure Lin Tianming faced was immense. Zhao Hongsheng too leaped up, the magical treasure in his hand suddenly shining brightly. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In an instant, a terrifying Sword Qi burst forth, rushing straight towards Lin Tianming, who stood in its path. Feeling that terrifying fluctuation, Lin Tianming knew Zhao Hongsheng was fighting desperately. The more he understood this, the more somber Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became. ... After all, Zhao Hongsheng was an immensely powerful existence in the Late Stage Golden Core, his strength was definitely one of the strongest among everyone there, even Zhou Yunxiao at the same stage dared not claim to dominate him. Although Lin Tianming had also resisted an attack from a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator before, the circumstances then were quite different. With Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s strength now even greater and fighting desperately for survival, the attack he unleashed naturally differed vastly. This attack was naturally terrifying, and Lin Tianming had to give his all to retreat unscathed. Knowing this, Lin Tianming watched the approaching attack, his eyebrows tightly furrowed. Subsequently, he sighed deeply and then started to move. He pinched a Law Decree in his hand, and instantly, the Qinghong Sword shot out, swiftly hovering above his head. At the same time, Lin Tianming flicked his fingers, a series of Spiritual Light bombarded the Qinghong Sword. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword spun frantically, its speed continuously increasing, and in an extremely short time, it formed a Sword Shadow Lotus. At the first glance, the lotus shone with shimmering silver light and was engulfed in strong Sword Qi fluctuations. Anyone with keen eyes could see that this lotus formed of Sword Qi was a formidable Divine Skill, its power undoubtedly immense. And Zhao Hongsheng, being a Late Stage Golden Core Expert from a formidable force like the Blood Red Alliance, naturally had exceptional insight. When he saw this lotus appear and felt the strong fluctuation, his complexion also turned rather unsightly. He was acutely aware of the Sword Shadow Lotus since Lin Tianming had used this very Divine Skill to block his attack face-on before. Even though Zhao Hongsheng had not given his all that time, using about seventy to eighty percent of his strength, Yet, even so, Lin Tianming had remained unharmed and greatly exceeded his expectations. Therefore, it was evident how formidable the defensive power of Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Shadow Lotus was. With a nervous mindset, Zhao Hongsheng stared intensely at his own attack, colliding fiercely against the Sword Shadow Lotus. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise resonated, the whole sky shimmering with silver light, and the dazzling brightness pained his eyes. Under this strike, the powerful wave swept over, and even Zhao Hongsheng was knocked back more than ten zhang. The impact threw Lin Tianming backward like a kite with its string cut. While still in midair, Lin Tianming vomited several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face extremely pale, and his aura rapidly weakened significantly. Only when he heavily crashed into the ground did the startling noises finally cease. Struggling a few times, Lin Tianming then propped himself up using the Qinghong Sword, his complexion extremely unsightly. Under this strike, he was also severely injured, Qi-Blood surging throughout his body, numerous injuries appearing on his skin, several meridians inside his body were broken, and his Blue Star Armor was also shattered significantly. Additionally, with his Mana nearly depleted, his strength had drastically reduced by a great margin. Fortunately, the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, this Divine Skill of immense defensive power, once again blocked Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full-powered strike, not disappointing him a bit. Although he was severely injured, Zhao Hongsheng was indeed held back, stopped from breaking through his defense. Lin Tianming was rather satisfied with this result. After all, the previous time was because Zhao Hongsheng had not exerted his full strength, and this time was significantly different. Not only standing firm but also leaving Zhao Hongsheng no opportunity. Meanwhile, Zhao Hongsheng, seeing that Lin Tianming was still able to stand up, and himself being retreated by the blast, wore an extremely ugly expression. However, failing to kill Lin Tianming was not the most critical part. What was more important was that near him, the sea of fire had dissipated, revealing the figures of Zhou Yunxiao and others. Looking around, they were all charred black, their robes tattered beyond repair, with Zhao Mingli and Lan Yu among them looking exceptionally pale, numerous injuries visible on their bodies, and their aura extremely weak. Clearly, the Fourth Order Attack Talisman had caused significant trouble for them; Lan Yu and Zhao Mingli, both Early Stage Golden Core cultivators, managed to survive the attack but were severely injured. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the others, all being Medium Stage Golden Core and above, they too were hurt, but the impact on their strength was visibly lesser. As the sea of fire dissipated, Zhou Yunxiao and the others, furious and alarmed, immediately stood their ground and surrounded Zhao Hongsheng tightly in the middle. At this moment, Zhao Hongsheng was surrounded again, without any gap to exploit. Moreover, his Mana was nearly completely depleted, only a few rounds of attacks left before he would be utterly exhausted. Once that moment arrived, if he hadn¡¯t broke through the encirclement, he would become utterly powerless. One could say, the current situation was even worse than at the start. Seeing Zhou Yunxiao and the others¡¯ fierce and threatening demeanor, Zhao Hongsheng panicked thoroughly. Before he could even catch his breath, Zhou Yunxiao shouted loudly. Chapter 894 894 477 Complete Annihilation (Please ?Chapter 894: Chapter 477: Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe)_3 Chapter 894: Chapter 477: Complete Annihilation (Please Subscribe)_3 ¡°Fellow Daoists, just to be safe, quickly kill this scoundrel!¡± Having said this, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead, launching an attack that tore through the sky, heading straight for Zhao Hongsheng. Immediately following, Lu Xingfeng and several others were unwilling to fall behind. Each of them hastily made their move, with a flurry of attacks shooting out, instantly submerging Zhao Hongsheng. At this moment, seeing the multitude of attacks coming his way, the intense aura whipping up gusts of Gang Wind that billowed his robes, Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s complexion underwent a drastic change. In the current situation, he was truly cornered. Facing such terrifying and dense attacks, he couldn¡¯t possibly hold out for two rounds. However, Zhao Hongsheng, despite feeling helpless inside, did not resign himself to fate. ... His Magical Treasure flashed a bright light in his hand as he forcibly launched several rounds of attacks at Zhou Yunxiao and the others. At the same time, the Defense Treasure in his hand was infused with a massive amount of mana, quickly transforming into a barrier in front of him. In less than an instant, a cacophony of loud crashing noises erupted. The powerful attacks from both sides collided in the sky, producing dazzling light and the force of the impact spread out in all directions. Amidst the bombardment from the sky, a few attacks breached the defenses and struck Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s Defense Treasure head-on. Another explosion sounded. In that moment, Zhao Hongsheng felt as if he had been smashed by a mountain, shaking his entire body, even his internal organs shifted slightly. Simultaneously, he was sent flying by the blast wave before crashing down to the ground. When he struggled to get up from the ground, spewing several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face was utterly devoid of color, with his breathing exceedingly weak. Looking over his body, he knew too well that his condition was dire and he could not withstand a second wave of attacks. In his eyes, this was a dead end, having not a trace of vitality. And now, he deeply regretted, regretted his overconfidence and pride, which had ultimately led to this plight. But it was useless to lament at this point; Zhou Yunxiao and the others were out for his blood, giving him no chance whatsoever. Even so, Zhao Hongsheng hadn¡¯t given up hope, harboring a sliver of wishful thinking that, coming from a formidable force like the Blood Red Alliance, perhaps Zhou Yunxiao and the others would hold some reservations. Thus, he glared at Zhou Yunxiao and the others, not forgetting to issue a threat. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I am here on a mission. If you kill me, the high echelons of our Blood Red Alliance will not let you off easily!¡± ¡°In my view, if you spare me, I can report to the Elders and clarify the misunderstanding between us!¡± ¡°And I can promise, even swear by the Heavenly Dao, that I will not trouble you afterward!¡± ¡°What do you say?¡± After uttering these words, Zhao Hongsheng looked earnestly at Zhou Yunxiao and the others, yet his heart was fraught with anxiety. After all, up to this point in this great battle, significant harm had been caused to Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect by them, with many a Golden Core Stage Cultivators and Third Order Demon Beasts meeting their end. It was no exaggeration to say that after this battle, the overall strength of these two major sects of the Wei Kingdom had significantly diminished. Hence, he was unsure whether Zhou Yunxiao would be wary of the Blood Red Alliance, let alone whether they would spare him. At this juncture, upon hearing Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s mix of tough and soft stance, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did indeed pause, appearing somewhat hesitant. However, it took less than a moment for them to exchange glances and then attack simultaneously. It was evident that they had no intention of wasting words with Zhao Hongsheng, nor would they believe his nonsense. After all, they knew all too well who Zhao Hongsheng was and what the Blood Red Alliance was like. Moreover, several Blood Red Alliance Golden Cores had already been eradicated by their side, making it a fight to the death. Given the circumstances, there was no room for buffering, and it was better to be decisive, to prevent any unexpected occurrences. Therefore, unaffected, Zhou Yunxiao and his companion wasted no time in launching their attacks to end Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s life. With such intent, the remaining few made their moves, with a barrage of attacks engulfing Zhao Hongsheng. Faced with such an onslaught, Zhao Hongsheng fell into despair. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had just thought about Self-Detonating his Golden Core, but he was too heavily wounded and there simply wasn¡¯t enough time. Reluctantly, several assaults hit him. In an instant, Zhao Hongsheng was severed limb from limb, his body parts scattering, and his blood soaking the earth. It wasn¡¯t until calm returned to the world that only remnants and a battlefield riddled with countless holes were left behind. At this moment, with the death of all Golden Core Cultivators from the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, only those disciples of the Golden Sword Sect remained, and they too would eventually be eradicated. Thus, this great war that lasted for several years officially came to an end. ¡­ Chapter 895 895 478 Cleaning the Battlefield ?Chapter 895: Chapter 478: Cleaning the Battlefield Chapter 895: Chapter 478: Cleaning the Battlefield With Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s downfall, the battlefield returned to tranquility. At this moment, every person was brimming with excitement, their faces overflowing with broad smiles. Clearly, now that Zhao Hongsheng was dead and all the chief instigators of the great war had been executed, it signified the official end of this battle. Prior to this, everyone had struggled for years, never daring to relax for a moment, as each person¡¯s spirit was tightly wound, and the process of the great war was indeed fraught with danger. Thankfully, the ending was perfect, and now, at last, they could breathe a temporary sigh of relief. With such a relaxed mentality, Zhou Yunxiao and other Sect Golden Core Cultivators gathered together, sharing their joy with one another. At this time, Lin Tianming was also excited, having forgotten even the serious injuries on his body. ... After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming felt a wave of lingering fear in his heart. It was important to know that Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s previous attack was extremely terrifying, being a desperate full-strength strike, and its lethality need not be overemphasized. Under that strike, he too had fought back against the wall, relying on Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus to get through the crisis. However, Zhao Hongsheng was indeed a powerful presence in the Late Stage Golden Core, and an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator would likely face a nine-deaths-one-life situation if they had to block such a strike in those circumstances. Even a strong Medium Stage Cultivator like Chen Jingtian wouldn¡¯t dare to directly receive a full-fledged strike from Zhao Hongsheng, let alone say they could easily block it. Yet Lin Tianming not only blocked the attack, but the whole process seemed relatively effortless, and he only sustained some injuries. Such strength, along with the peerlessly elegant Sword Shadow Lotus, once again gave those who had witnessed the entire battle process a considerable shock in their hearts. Seeing Lin Tianming approaching, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng quickly left their fellow Sect brothers and immediately went to greet him. ¡°Lin, how are your injuries?¡± ¡°Lin, your strength is truly formidable. That Sword Shadow Lotus just now was so powerful, easily blocking Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full strike. It was truly beyond our expectations!¡± Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng spoke one after the other, their attitude and tone extremely enthusiastic. Hearing their complimentary words, Lin Tianming waved his hand and gave a bitter smile. ¡°You all overestimate me. If Zhao Hongsheng hadn¡¯t already been injured and his strength not at its peak, perhaps I would have died under that strike!¡± Lin Tianming responded with a smile and then swiftly changed the subject. ¡°Daoist Zhou, Daoist Lu, what should we do next?¡± Hearing his inquiry, Zhou Yunxiao and the others exchanged looks. As the strongest individuals from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they were not only the backbone of everyone present but also the absolute main force against the Blood Red Alliance and Golden Sword Sect. Therefore, their decision-making was something that other people could not ignore. After some discussion in front of everyone, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng began to arrange the next steps. As for the others, they all waited on the side. Soon, based on their suggestions, the next step was naturally to capture all the remaining Golden Sword Sect Disciples as quickly as possible, then promptly clean up the battlefield and explore the extensive wealth of the entire Golden Sword Sect. As for later, the various powers would have to distribute the spoils of war, and there might also be accountability sought for the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three Sects that had taken advantage of the chaos. No doubt, the Golden Core Cultivators from the two major powers had no objections to such arrangements, only the Lin Family and Yingchuan Chen Family needed to be taken into consideration. However, the Yingchuan Chen Family openly only had one Golden Core Cultivator, namely Chen Maohua. Given the overall strength of the Chen Family, they obviously could not command much attention from Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. On the other hand, the Lin Family had changed dramatically and considering Lin Tianming¡¯s monstrous strength along with his impressive military achievements, the overall strength of the Lin Family was in no way inferior to that of any other Sect now. Therefore, out of respect for the Lin Family, Zhou Yunxiao also inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s opinion. To this, Lin Tianming was quite perceptive, stating that the Lin Family would follow the arrangements. Moreover, in his view, what needed to be done at the moment was exactly these things. Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng¡¯s arrangements were very appropriate and comprehensive, and he had no reason to voice any objections. With that, everyone quickly confirmed the specifics of the plan. Therefore, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng started giving orders, directing the Foundation Establishment Disciples under their command to mobilize, both to eliminate the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect and occupy the various workshops, Spirit Lands, and mines owned by the Golden Sword Sect. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Including the Lin Family, which would send some clan members along with the disciples of the two Sects to take possession of those treasures. Regarding this aspect of the plan, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng had not initially brought it up actively. Evidently, when it came to the treasure lands and property under the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s control, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not wish for the Lin Family and the Chen Clan to be too involved. The reason for this was straightforward: the properties of the Golden Sword Sect were numerous and widely distributed, and the accumulated wealth was immeasurable. If the Lin Family and Chen Clan were involved, it would not be so easy for the two Sects to gain more benefits in the shadows. After all, with such high values, even a ten or twenty percent share of the profits would be an enormous fortune. But neither Lin Tianming nor Chen Maohua was foolish. With their insight and cultivation, they naturally understood the little schemes in the hearts of Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. And so, after strong arguments from Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua based on reason, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were well aware that they had promised in advance. Chapter 896 896 478 Cleaning Up the Battlefield_2 ?Chapter 896: Chapter 478: Cleaning Up the Battlefield_2 Chapter 896: Chapter 478: Cleaning Up the Battlefield_2 To avoid causing conflict, they had agreed to the Lin Family and Chen Clan members¡¯ request to jointly take over the property and the treasured land. However, the clan members dispatched by both the Lin Family and the Chen Clan had to do their part and confront the resisting Golden Sword Sect disciples. Regarding this issue, Lin Tianming did not object, because he was very clear in his mind that if the Lin Family wanted to gain sufficient benefits, they should also bear certain risks. Thus, Lin Tianming also agreed to this, and made arrangements for after Lin Shikang¡¯s return to the family, to immediately send clan members to the Golden Sword Mountain territory. It was foreseeable that in the next one to two years, the Lin Family members would join forces with disciples from two other sects and clans, responsible for wiping out the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, as well as capturing the spirit lands guarded by Golden Sword Sect disciples. As this matter was settled, Lin Tianming and the rest of the Golden Core cultivators began to get busy, starting with a cleanup of the battlefield here. Lin Tianming also collected his own spoils of war, namely the carcass of the Variegated Crystal Beast he had killed alone. ... As for the storage bags and magical treasures, these treasures obtained from those cultivators they had killed together, were temporarily managed by Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. Once everything had settled down, they would be uniformly distributed. Soon, the battlefield was cleaned up, and everyone gathered together once again. Immediately after that, following a few polite words, the group began to disperse. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, only Zhou Yunxiao, Lu Xingfeng, and Chen Maohua were left, and they began to advance into the inner part of the Golden Sword Sect. As for the other participating Golden Core cultivators from the great battle, they each left the area, looking for places to close up and heal their wounds. Once they had recovered, they would proceed to the various treasured lands of the Golden Sword Sect, to eliminate the fleeing Golden Sword Sect disciples and take over those properties. However, even if they hurried, this task would need at least a few months¡¯ time before it could be carried out in practice. And during the initial stage of exterminating the remnants, the main forces would be the disciples from the two major powers, the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. ¡­ Within the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Following the conclusion of the outer perimeter¡¯s Golden Core battle, the interior was still not peaceful. At this moment, bursts of explosions were heard from within, accompanied by screams echoing out. Lin Shikang, Ye Pinghai, and a few others, leading a small group of disciples from the two major forces of the Zhenyang Sect, were swiftly eliminating the Golden Sword Sect cultivators. Under the leadership of the Golden Core cultivators, those who were merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, or even the Qi Refinement stage, stood no chance against their attacks. Even with the help of some forbidden defenses, they could not resist for long before they were forcefully broken through and wiped out. In just half an hour, they had already advanced several dozen miles inward. Along the way, a great number of corpses lay scattered all over the ground, the earth was already soaked red with blood, and many pavilions and great halls had collapsed. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a sight, riddled with holes and in complete ruin, was shocking to behold. At that moment, Lin Tianming and his group continued to push forward, seeing the tragic scene of bodies everywhere, they could not help but frown. During this time, occasionally encountering some fleeing Golden Sword Sect disciples, they were quickly eradicated as well. Before long, the group followed this path and arrived in front of a dojo. Here, they encountered quite a few people engaged in a one-sided slaughter. Following their gaze, Lin Shikang and his group were making their moves, eradicating dozens of Golden Sword Sect disciples at this location. With the cessation of sounds, they stopped for the moment and came before Lin Tianming and the others. Upon seeing Lin Shikang and the others, Zhou Yunxiao, who was beside them, greeted them first, and then took the initiative to ask a question. ¡°Lin, how is the cleanup of the remnants and rebels within the Golden Sword Sect going?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Shikang clasped his hands together and promptly replied, ¡°The Golden Sword Sect¡¯s interior housed at least several thousand people, of which nearly half have been eliminated by us, and a great majority of those Foundation Establishment cultivators have been almost completely eradicated.¡± ¡°As for those cultivators who escaped, most of them were Qi cultivators, and there are still many disciples exterminating them at the outer perimeter, so there shouldn¡¯t be many who have completely escaped!¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s report, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng nodded their heads, feeling quite satisfied with this statement. For upon entering the interior, they had observed carefully and found that they had breached into the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s innermost core areas. Behind this plaza lay a cluster of buildings, where still remained hundreds of cultivators, the vast majority of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level¡ªlikely to be core disciples of great importance. Moreover, the last expanse of grand palaces and lofty towers appeared exceptionally majestic, pulsating with strong prohibition fluctuations. They estimated that these towers should be some of the most important places of the Golden Sword Sect, like the Scripture Pavilion that stored cultivation techniques, or the institutions for exchanging meritorious deeds. Along the way, they had witnessed a landscape littered with corpses. Judging by the residual aura of these bodies, many of them were at the Foundation Establishment Stage before they perished. They used these observable pieces of information to make a judgment, which mostly aligned with what Lin Shikang had described. Realizing this, Zhou Yunxiao exchanged a few cordial words and then glanced at Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also understood their intentions. He then discreetly communicated with Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, sharing the details of the discussion he had with Zhou Yunxiao and the others. At the same time, Lin Tianming also emphasized the Lin Family¡¯s arrangements, instructing Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai to return to their clan first and to promptly dispatch Foundation Establishment Clan Members to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory to cooperate with exterminating the remnants. In addition to this, another critical point was ensuring that their clan members supervised the process to guarantee that the benefits the Lin Family was entitled to were not overly compromised. Upon receiving the news from Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission, Lin Shikang was brimming with excitement, very satisfied with how Lin Tianming handled matters. Lin Shikang gave out a few instructions and, after greeting Zhou Yunxiao and others, expressed his intention to take his leave. Subsequently, under Lin Tianming¡¯s watchful gaze, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai departed from the plaza together. Carrying feelings of excitement, Lin Shikang and his companion hastened out of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s domain onto the road back to their clan. As for Lin Tianming, he now stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhou Yunxiao and others. At this moment, they gazed at the vast array of towers and palaces before them, their eyes ablaze with fervor. Without any surprises, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s vast wealth was likely gathered in this area. They understood very well that the treasures within these towers were the foundation of the Golden Sword Sect. The Golden Sword Sect was among the top-ranking Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom and had a nearly ten-thousand-year lineage, even longer than that of the Zhenyang Sect. Throughout such a lengthy period, the Golden Sword Sect had always retained a certain overall strength, never declining due to fluctuations. Any sensible person could see that the Golden Sword Sect must have an incredibly profound foundation. And after their great efforts, they had finally eradicated the Golden Sword Sect. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that this thrilling victory had been hard-won. Now, the time had come to seek out the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s wealth; by scouring the treasure vault and the various large-scale institutions, as well as the Spiritual Medicine Gardens, they were bound to acquire an immense fortune. Under such temptation, the few present were eager to begin, clearly growing impatient. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao laughed heartily and then proposed, ¡°Hehe¡­ Fellow Daoists, shouldn¡¯t we make our move now?¡± Hearing these words, Lu Xingfeng also calmed down from his excitement. He then responded, ¡°The treasure is right before our eyes; indeed, it¡¯s time to take action!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we should first break the prohibitions around these palaces and eliminate any remaining disciples; then we can start plundering this area.¡± ¡°As for the other Spiritual Medicine Gardens and that important Treasure Vault, we can search for them later!¡± ¡°Do Lin and Chen Daoists have any objections?¡± Lu Xingfeng looked at Lin Tianming and the others, symbolically asking for their opinions. ¡°No objections, we¡¯ll leave it to the two of you to decide!¡± Lin Tianming and his companion responded, their faces also illuminated with excitement. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded and then said, ¡°Good¡­ Let¡¯s strike together!¡± Having said that, Zhou Yunxiao was the first to act, launching an attack on a palace¡¯s external prohibition. Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng, Lin Tianming, and others were not to be outdone, releasing a barrage of attacks in coordination with Zhou Yunxiao, bombarding the grand hall. ¡­ Chapter 897 897 479 Searching for Treasure (Part 1) ?Chapter 897: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1) Chapter 897: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1) At that moment, Lin Tianming and three others, unable to wait any longer, attacked, striking a massive assault on the restrictive light barrier right in front of them. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A series of explosive sounds erupted, accompanied by flames shooting into the sky, and the ground began to shake slightly. Inside these restrictions, within the major mechanisms, quite a few Golden Sword Sect disciples were still putting up a stubborn resistance. At the beginning of the battle, as Golden Sword Sect disciples, they were fighting back with all their might, striving to protect the sect¡¯s legacy. However, as Lin Shikang and several other Golden Core Cultivators took action, it was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. Under absolute power, no matter how many Foundation Establishment Cultivators there were, they couldn¡¯t reverse the situation of continuous defeat. ... Now, these people were already in a state of panic, gathering together like ants on a hot pot, discussing countermeasures. Alas, outside the restrictions were such renowned individuals as Zhou Yunxiao and others, including the God of Slaughter, Lin Tianming. Faced with such top experts attacking the restrictions, no matter how strong the defenses of the restrictions were, they would eventually be broken. Moreover, the defensive power of these restrictions was far from comparable to the sect¡¯s Defensive Great Formation. One could say that with such a huge disparity in strength, they had no capital to resist. Perhaps because they understood this great disparity, many of these cultivators were already thinking about surrendering. Soon, a disagreement arose between the two conflicting groups, even leading to a clash, further complicating the situation. But these minor incidents couldn¡¯t change the outcome. As the restrictions were broken, dozens of people appeared in front of Lin Tianming and the others in the attic. Seeing Lin Tianming and the three others, these people looked terrified and scattered in all directions. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng scoffed, and with a wave of their hands, they easily killed most of the people. At the last moment, the two did not forget to capture two Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators. These two Golden Sword Sect cultivators had considerable cultivation and were not old, probably elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. Once Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng released them, their faces were ashen, clearly terrified. Having calmed down a bit, the two were sensible enough to understand that Zhou Yunxiao had captured them surely for some instructions or to inquire about some secrets of the sect. Consequently, as soon as the two cultivators were set free, they bowed to the group. Then, gathering their spirits, one of them immediately said, ¡°Greetings to the four seniors!¡± ¡°My name is Luo Xing, and this is my junior brother, Xu Chengxiu. May I ask what instructions you have for us? We will definitely tell you everything we know!¡± Hearing Luo Xing¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, thinking that Luo Xing was a sensible man, knowing that they had captured them but spared their lives must have some purpose. Since that was the case, there was no need for him to beat around the bush. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao asked directly, ¡°Do you have a control token for the attic¡¯s restrictions here?¡± ¡°Besides, introduce us to some basic information about your Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Scripture Pavilion, Hall of Merit, Sect Treasury, and the Spiritual Medicine Garden.¡± ¡°If the information you provide is useful, I personally guarantee that we can spare your lives or even grant you the status to join our Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Xing and Xu initially looked hesitant. As elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, they clearly understood the sect¡¯s rules and were deeply loyal. But with the drastic changes in the Golden Sword Sect, especially with the fall of top leadership, it virtually ceased to exist. In their view, it might not take long before this sect, which once made a name for itself in several surrounding countries, would vanish from the cultivation world completely. Their cultivation path had not been easy, striving over a hundred years to reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. They thought that with few more decades of cultivation, if they found some opportunities, they might catch a glimpse of the Golden Core Path. However, in recent years, the sect, instigated by the Blood Red Alliance, had initiated a large-scale war among the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom. The outcome was the sect¡¯s destruction, leaving them helpless. Now that the sect was in such a state, they had no means to resist. Faced with the threat of death, probably anyone would make the wise choice. Realizing this, they felt somewhat relieved that their cultivation realms had played a role, as they were personally captured by Zhou Yunxiao. If they had been killed instantly, they might not have had even a slight chance of survival. With this, Luo Xing and Xu Chengxiu exchanged glances, seemingly resolved. Then Luo Xing gave a wry smile and began to speak nervously. ¡°To the seniors, the sect¡¯s organizational restrictions are all independent; none of the disciples have their own tokens.¡± ¡°However, I know that the control token should be in the hands of one of the high-ranking members!¡± ¡°If the seniors are not in a rush, you might consider looking for it. If you can obtain the token directly, it would avoid unnecessary forced attacks and save much more time.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao nodded, convinced by what Luo Xing said based on their Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s situation. With that, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng took up the storage bags of Han Hu and Song Hanchun, and in front of Lin Tianming and the others, they searched through several storage bags. Chapter 898 898 479 Searching for Treasure (Part ?Chapter 898: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1)_2 Chapter 898: Chapter 479: Searching for Treasure (Part 1)_2 Soon, Lu Xingfeng found a token in Song Hanchun¡¯s storage bag. After studying the token, he determined that it should be the Control Token for some of the core institutions of the Golden Sword Sect. With this item, their subsequent treasure hunt would be much faster, and it would save them a lot of unnecessary trouble. As the Control Token was found, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Luo Xing and his companion, and his expression softened considerably. Seeing this, Luo Xing and his companion also secretly sighed in relief, feeling somewhat reassured. Then, Luo Xing continued, ¡°To return to the seniors, I can lead the way to the Sect¡¯s main institutions, such as the Scripture Pavilion, Hall of Merit, Spiritual Medicine Garden, Spirit Beast Garden, and other important places!¡± ¡°However, the location of the Sect Treasury is a top secret of the Sect!¡± ... ¡°Us two are merely Inner Sect Disciples, not even personal disciples of the high-ranking Golden Core Cultivators, so naturally, we do not have knowledge of the exact location of the Treasury.¡± ¡°Therefore, I fear that the seniors will have to find the most important Treasury themselves.¡± Having said this, Luo Xing and his companion were nervously bowing their heads, afraid that Zhou Yunxiao might get angry with them over this matter. Fortunately, upon hearing their explanation, Zhou Yunxiao simply nodded indifferently, waving them to stand by and showing no sign of anger. At this sight, the two men breathed another sigh of relief. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lu Xingfeng and the others and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, why not let these two lead the way and first loot those institutions they¡¯re aware of?¡± ¡°As for the most important Sect Treasury, shall we leave it as the last to explore?¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Xingfeng nodded, and Lin Tianming had no objection, so the matter was scheduled. Then, lead by Luo Xing and his companion, they began to explore the inner areas along the main path. During this time, with the help of the Control Token, the formations on numerous pavilions were easily unlocked and the disciples inside were killed off. Several formations were unlocked in succession, including those of the Sect¡¯s dojo and the Enforcement Hall among other institutions. Although these places were also core institutions of the Sect, they didn¡¯t leave anything valuable behind. The group only conducted a brief investigation before directly moving on. Half a quarter of an hour passed. As Zhou Yunxiao unlocked a barrier, revealing a grand palace with the prominent characters ¡°Hall of Merit¡± on the signboard. At this, Lin Tianming and the others were excited, thinking they had finally found an important target, and perhaps a main institution where treasures might be stored. After all, the Hall of Merit was a Sect¡¯s trading institution, with large numbers of Cultivators coming and going daily to exchange merits or treasures. Therefore, the Hall of Merit saw a significant amount of traffic of Cultivators, and likewise a large quantity of treasures. According to the customs of major forces, the Hall of Merit would usually have a Treasure Vault for temporary storage of these circulating items. Now that they had found the Hall of Merit, they could expect to obtain a considerable amount of resources, should all go as expected. With such anticipation, the four entered the Hall of Merit in search. They soon found the existence of the Treasure Vault and discovered many treasures within it. However, since the Hall of Merit mainly catered to the Sect¡¯s disciples, Golden Core Cultivators rarely came to exchange items. Normally, if they needed any treasure, they would directly take it from the Treasure Vault. As such, it was unlikely that this Treasure Vault would contain any extremely valuable treasures. Indeed, after checking and exploring, they found that 99% of the items were First and Second Order, and even Third Order items were quite limited. According to their rough estimates, this Treasure Vault contained only a few million worth of low-grade resources. These items were attractive to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but of minimal use to them as Golden Core Cultivators. With waning interest, the group recorded the treasures, then left the Hall of Merit and continued exploring. Time quickly passed, and two days went by. After two days of searching, they had explored many pavilions and important institutions of the Golden Sword Sect. By now, ninety percent of the core area¡¯s institutions had been investigated. As for the gains, they left several people somewhat dissatisfied. After all, the Golden Sword Sect had been inheriting for so long and was on par with the renowned Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect in terms of being a great sect, yet they acquired only resources worth slightly over twenty million spirit stones. In addition, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Spirit Beast Garden also housed quite a few First and Second Order Demonic Beasts. These Demonic Beasts were all tamed spirit beasts, which usually made it extremely difficult to tame them again. Even if they were forcefully tamed successfully, the probability of the spirit beasts dying was over ninety percent. Moreover, with no Third Order Demon Beasts present, the value of the Spirit Beast Garden wasn¡¯t high either. Rather, it was those yet to hatch mystical beast eggs, some of which contained bloodlines of not low talents, rare mystical eggs, whose value was not far behind the spirit beasts themselves. Yet these things still failed to pique their interest. It wasn¡¯t until today when they arrived in front of a loft that they discovered it was the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Scripture Pavilion. The value of this place goes without saying. It forms, quite frankly, the very foundation of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s existence in the cultivation world. Seeing the Scripture Pavilion, several people also caught the guardians, then immediately entered inside to start exploring. On the first floor, what first caught their eye was a large number of jade shelves, and looking along them, they were neatly filled with a vast array of jade slips and booklets. These items were numerous, most likely containing cultivation techniques and various manuals, as well as diverse perspectives and insights, even including autobiographies of cultivators. They casually picked up a few, looked over them, then placed them back where they found them. In their eyes, while the quantity of jade slips and booklets was plentiful and comprehensive, encompassing all the heritages commonly seen in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, it included cultivation techniques of various properties and understandings of the Four Arts of Cultivation that were quite complete. Many were familiar-looking manuals, with quite a few also overlapping with those of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Besides, these items were of too low a grade. Things like Yellow Grade Techniques and First Order insights of the Four Arts of Cultivation were not lacking in the major powers. Therefore, even if they had gotten these lower-grade items, they wouldn¡¯t have made much of a difference for them. Only for families like the Lin Family and Chen Clan would these items be of no small importance. Having completed a preliminary exploration, Zhou Yunxiao then asked the cultivator in charge of guarding the Scripture Pavilion to provide a detailed list. Following that, he led the group to continue towards the higher floors. On the second floor, not only was the space significantly smaller, but the variety of jade slips and booklets had also diminished considerably. After their investigation, along with the details provided by Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples, they discovered that most of these treasures were Mysterious Grade Techniques or Second Order inheritances of the Four Arts of Cultivation. According to the recorded details, there were nearly a hundred Mysterious Grade Techniques, encompassing a full array of techniques for various attributes, truly a complete collection. Besides, there were also plenty of cultivation manuals and traditions of the Four Arts, totaling in the hundreds. Even traditions such as formations, which were less common, had more than thirty manuals. Such an abundance of inheritance materials finally showcased the depth and foundation that a Great Sect like the Golden Sword Sect, with its ancient lineage, should possess. With these treasures, ignoring the overlapping manuals, even sects like Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley could enhance their foundations a bit. Not to mention the Lin Family and Chen Clan, who were Golden Core families. Should they obtain these items, the overall foundation of these two great families could be significantly elevated. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under normal circumstances, these inheritance items would mostly be within the rights of the Lin Family and even the Chen Clan to imprint and acquire, at least a majority of the inheritances should not be difficult to obtain. Lin Tianming was also beyond excited about these items. In his opinion, what the Lin Family was currently lacking were foundational depth and time. Now that their foundation was largely addressed, given a hundred years for development, the Lin Family could undoubtedly present a completely new visage. By then, the Lin Family would have the capital to contend comprehensively with the other Golden Core forces. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was thrilled for quite a long time, taking quite some effort to calm down eventually. And speaking of which, the value of these inheritances was incalculable; it even amounted to the most significant gain from their days of exploration so far. So much so that now, the looks on their faces were much improved. ¡­ Chapter 899 899 480 Searching for Treasure (Part 2) ?Chapter 899: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2) Chapter 899: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2) As the exploration of the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion came to an end, several people, led by a disciple of the Golden Sword Sect, turned and headed towards the third floor. In the eyes of the top cultivators from the Wei Kingdom, the legacies of the First and Second Order were not very significant; it was only the Third Order legacies and the Spirit Techniques used by the high-level members of the Golden Sword Sect that were key factors in enhancing the standing of the Great Sect. In light of this, even Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng could hardly wait to proceed. Soon, the several of them were exploring the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion. However, this place contained important secrets of the Golden Sword Sect, and even the disciples in charge of guarding it had no detailed knowledge of the legacies and lacked direct access rights. Fortunately, they had a Control Token which allowed them to enter easily and they began their search firsthand. After half a day, they had figured out the specifics of these treasures. ... It had to be said, the legacy of the Golden Sword Sect was indeed extraordinary, which greatly impressed everyone present. Even Zhou Yunxiao, compared to the Scripture Pavilion of Myriad Medicine Valley, was quite satisfied with the legacies stored on this third floor. According to their investigation, there were no less than seven Earth-grade Techniques here, covering the common five attributes. Regrettably, there were no Earth-grade techniques with heterogeneous attributes, nor any Heavenly Grade Techniques. Clearly, techniques with heterogeneous attributes were too rare, and even the Golden Sword Sect, despite its nearly ten thousand years of legacy, had not acquired any Earth-grade heterogeneous Techniques. Heavenly Grade Techniques were invaluable ¨C even one such technique, if utilized properly, could elevate a minor power several levels in just over a hundred years. Such treasures were absent not just in the Golden Sword Sect, but also in the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Even across the vast lands of Qingzhou, Heavenly Grade Techniques were rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, with each appearance sparking a fierce and bloody battle. Thus, finding no Heavenly Grade Techniques here was somewhat within their expectations. However, although they did not find high-grade techniques such as the Heavenly Grade and heterogeneous Earth Grade, they did find several Mysterious Grade heterogeneous techniques, generally one or two for each attribute. Apart from these Techniques, they found numerous legacies related to the Four Arts of Cultivation on the third floor, mostly common ones like Pill Concoction, Weapon Forging, and Talisman Making. For rarer categories like Formations, they found only two pieces of Third Order Formation insights, which were considered quite valuable. Overall, these legacies were quite comprehensive, and their cumulative value was immeasurable. Yet, what was most noteworthy were two invaluable treasures, both of which were Spirit Techniques. According to their investigation, these two Spirit Techniques were the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± and an unnamed Spirit Technique. This ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± was a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, likely the same one used by Han Hu in the past, including other senior Golden Sword Sect members; it was generally known for its adequacy in power, fitting the characteristics and attributes of a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. Having at least one such Spirit Technique in both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they naturally understood the function and value of such techniques. As for the other Spirit Technique, it appeared somewhat peculiar as it bore no name nor any grade information. However, after examining it in turns, they came to a unanimous conclusion based on the characteristics of the technique! It was undoubtedly a Spirit Technique, absolutely true! But, it was a fragment of a Spirit Technique with neither name nor properties known, recognized only as a defensive Spirit Technique. Defensive Spirit Techniques were even rarer than offensive ones, and their value was several magnitudes higher. However, without locating the other fragments, this Spirit Technique couldn¡¯t be cultivated or even utilized meaningfully. To say the least, in its current state, this fragment of a Spirit Technique had almost no usable function. Thus, it was quite regrettable! Otherwise, acquiring both an offensive and a defensive Spirit Technique would have significantly elevated the gains from subduing the Golden Sword Sect. After all, the importance of Spirit Techniques was crystal clear to everyone present. Even in a certain sense, a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique held much more value than an Earth-grade Technique. While Earth-grade Techniques had high value, they weren¡¯t that rare among Sects like Myriad Medicine Valley, which had been inherited for thousands of years. At least in terms of the common five attributes of Earth-grade Techniques, both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect had many options, barely affecting the growth of their disciples. Thus, having one more would of course be better, although missing out on new techniques wouldn¡¯t greatly impact the foundation or overall strength of the Sect. But having an additional Spirit Technique made a big difference! After all, Spirit Techniques could directly enhance a cultivator¡¯s combat effectiveness; an extra Spirit Technique meant an additional trump card. At many times, a single Spirit Technique could completely turn the tide. This was particularly clear to Lin Tianming! In his eyes, the rise of the Lin Family in such a short time was significantly aided by the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± playing a crucial role in turning the tide for Lin Family members on multiple occasions. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, any force would never find too many such treasures undesirable. Not just him, Zhou Yunxiao, and Lu Xingfeng also understood this all too well. It was just unfortunate that the unnamed defensive Spirit Technique was incomplete, making it temporarily impossible to cultivate based on this fragment alone. Even the prospects of finding the remaining fragments of this Spirit Technique left no one, including Lin Tianming, confident. Chapter 900 900 480 Searching for Treasure (Part ?Chapter 900: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2)_2 Chapter 900: Chapter 480: Searching for Treasure (Part 2)_2 The Cultivation World was vast, with the Nine Provinces resembling the boundless starry sky! Even within Qingzhou, the Wei Kingdom was but a speck in comparison. Under such clueless circumstances, whether one could find the remnants of this defensive Spirit Art depended on fate and luck. With good luck, success might come in ten or even a hundred years. With bad luck, there might be no hope of finding it even if Myriad Medicine Valley declined or the Wei Kingdom was erased from the Cultivation World. In such a situation, this incomplete Spirit Art was somewhat of limited utility! Still, everyone maintained some hope. ... What if it was found? Wouldn¡¯t that be a huge windfall? Thus, the group was excited, having thoroughly searched the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion. Following that, they made their final assessment. Based on the information they had, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Cultivation Techniques were very comprehensive and of high grade, fitting the Sect¡¯s expected heritage. Overall, the sheer quantity of these techniques, coupled with treasures like Spirit Arts, made their total value incalculable. If all went as expected, once the dust settled, if print copies could be made, the major powers would find ways to acquire them. For those that couldn¡¯t be replicated, they would still vie for them. This matter was not urgent for now; they would consider it at least a year and a half later. As for the present, they had more pressing matters, namely exploring the Spiritual Medicine Garden and locating the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault. Only once these tasks were concluded could they hope to rest for a while. Understanding this, they didn¡¯t waste any time. Under Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s arrangement, both Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley stationed over a dozen Disciples each to guard the place. As for the detailed list of techniques, everyone present had copied them down, so there was no fear of any party tampering. When all important matters were settled, they would distribute them face to face. Thus, led by Luo Xing, the group arrived at a valley within the Golden Sword Sect. Looking out, the valley was vast, with lofty peaks on either side and a huge plain in the middle, almost beyond the limit of sight. Upon arrival, even before opening the prohibited entrance, they could already smell an intense fragrance of herbs. According to Luo Xing, this was the location of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s only Spiritual Medicine Garden, spanning an extremely wide area and representing countless years of Sect inheritance. Upon learning this, Lin Tianming and his companions became eager. After all, every power¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden was one of their most important assets. Typically, a Spiritual Medicine Garden contained a vast amount of Spiritual Medicine. With nearly ten thousand years of inheritance, the variety and scale of the Spiritual Medicine that the Golden Sword Sect had accumulated would surely be astonishing. First and Second Order items aside, Third Order and above Spiritual Medicines were something they as Cultivators could utilize. At their level, each step forward in cultivation was extremely challenging. The primary reason for this difficulty lay in the scarcity of treasures that could aid in advancing one¡¯s cultivation. In the beginning, there were far fewer Cultivators than now, and treasures between heaven and earth were relatively abundant. As the number of Cultivators grew, High Order Cultivators became more numerous. Overharvesting led to many Spiritual Medicines nearly facing extinction. Over time, Third and Fourth Rank treasures became increasingly rare. Nowadays, treasures that could enhance one¡¯s cultivation were among the most needed items for numerous Golden Core Cultivators. Therefore, they placed great hopes on the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden, hoping to find a bounty of precious herbs to refine elixirs and enhance their cultivation and strength. With such expectations, they promptly opened the prohibited entrance and entered into the Spiritual Medicine Garden. Once inside, they were immediately enveloped by an incredibly dense aroma of spiritual energy, far richer than even the region outside the restriction. Inside, a large number of neatly arranged Spirit Fields were distributed, with First and Second Order Spirit Fields clearly laid out and all planted with commonly seen Spiritual Medicines, which were growing lushly and vigorously. It was obvious that the scale of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Spiritual Medicine Garden was vast, with comprehensive cultivation and an extremely rich variety of collected Spiritual Medicines¡ªalmost every low-grade Spiritual Medicine within their knowledge had been gathered. Besides, the Spiritual Energy here was extraordinarily rich, seemingly due to the effective functioning of a rather good Spirit Gathering Array. At this moment, Lin Tianming, feeling such rich Spiritual Energy and observing the neatly arranged First and Second Order Spirit Fields around the periphery of the Spiritual Medicine Garden, also felt a sincere sense of amazement from the bottom of his heart. ¡°The Golden Sword Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a Sect with a lineage of nearly ten thousand years; such a scale of Spirit Fields truly reflects the stature a Great Sect should possess!¡± Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming was also extremely excited. After all, there were many Spiritual Medicines here, and even if they were distributed among the four major Golden Elixir Forces, the Lin Family had made significant contributions in this war and should be able to obtain a large batch of Spiritual Medicines. As an Alchemist, with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, becoming a Third Order Alchemy Master was just a matter of time. Once he reached the status of a Third Order Alchemy Master, he could make use of these Spiritual Medicines. With his terrifying success rate in concocting elixirs, along with the refined premium elixirs, he would be able to help the Golden Core Clan Members of the Lin Family rapidly improve their cultivation levels. It was foreseeable that within perhaps less than ten years, the cultivation levels of the clan members of the Lin Family could take another step upwards. By then, the overall strength of the Lin Family would advance further, and the gap with the other two Great Sects would narrow significantly. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming, who had only just managed to calm down, became restless once more. It wasn¡¯t until Zhou Yunxiao returned with a few Golden Sword Sect Disciples in tow that Lin Tianming regained his focus. Following that, Luo Xing, who had been following them, spoke up and persuaded these fellow Sect Cultivators to submit to them. Influenced by Luo Xing¡¯s persuasive speech, these Disciples responsible for the Spiritual Medicine Garden showed understanding, especially considering that the Golden Sword Sect had been annihilated and their High Order Cultivators had nearly all perished. Given the difficulty of their cultivation journey and how hard-won their current realms were, facing a choice between life and death, they were likely to make a decision easily. Moreover, as Disciples tasked with guarding the Spiritual Medicine Garden of a Sect, they also possessed a special ability not found in ordinary people¡ªthat was to become qualified Spiritual Plant Masters. Though this skill was different from Pill Concoction and Artifact Refining, and did not require the stringent innate talent necessary for the Four Arts of Cultivation, a Spiritual Plant Master was still considered a special talent, an indispensable existence for any major power. Additionally, given their current usefulness to Zhou Yunxiao, if they could perform the tasks assigned to them well, they could at least preserve their lives. Under these conditions, several Spiritual Plant Masters swiftly made their decisions. Hence, they hurriedly promised to lead the inventory of all Spiritual Medicines in the Spiritual Medicine Garden and to properly keep records for them. Seeing that these people were so sensible and still useful to him, Zhou Yunxiao did not bother to increase the killing. After all, while the innate talent for Spiritual Plant cultivation in these people wasn¡¯t bad, they were not young, and their cultivation talent was not extraordinarily strong. Such Disciples were very different from those brilliant and exceptional Genius Disciples. As for these Genius Disciples, no major power would let them slip through their fingers easily, The reason for this was to prevent them from reaching the Golden Core Stage, or even higher realms in the future, with thoughts of avenging the Golden Sword Sect. After all, the threat posed by Genius Cultivators was not insignificant. Even if they could not create upheaval at present, no one could predict what fortunes they might encounter in the future. If there were truly a few enemy Genius Cultivators who advanced to the Nascent Soul and still harbored thoughts of revenge, it would spell disaster for these powers. However, it was clear that the Cultivators now submitting to them lacked such potential. Despite the fact that the innate talent of these Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators like Luo Xing was not too shabby, and they had personally promised not to kill them, even with such a promise made, they would still keep a tight grip on them afterward, granting them no freedom at all. Under such circumstances, it was very fortunate for Luo Xing and his peers that they remained alive¡ªhow could they possibly have a chance for a Golden Core opportunity? With this in mind, these people posed no real threat, and there was no need to worry overly about them. Aware of this, Zhou Yunxiao did not trouble them, but simply instructed them to follow the orders carefully. Once the task was successfully completed, he could guarantee them their lives. With this promise in mind, these people indeed performed efficiently, much faster than if they had to fumble through the process on their own. ¡­ Chapter 901 901 481 Location of the Treasure Vault ?Chapter 901: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault Chapter 901: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault Half a day had passed just like that. Under the lead of the Spiritual Plant Master who was guarding the place, they explored every First and Second Order Spirit Field in the Spiritual Medicine Garden. It must be said that the Spiritual Medicine Garden of the Golden Sword Sect was indeed very extensive, and the collection of spiritual medicines was also very comprehensive. They estimated that the value of these low-level First and Second Order Spiritual Medicines alone easily exceeded ten million spirit stones. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, these were just the low-level items. Deeper into the Spiritual Medicine Garden, there were even more valuable Third and Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Fruits. Such high-level treasures could be exchanged for dozens, if not hundreds, of plants of Second Order Spiritual Medicine. Thus, it was the higher value and greater effect of the high-level Spiritual Medicines that these people were most concerned about. ... After all, ordinary items were of no use, and only Spiritual Objects of Third Order and above could truly excite them. And for these, they had previously taken great risks, and now having annihilated the Golden Sword Sect, they finally had the opportunity to pillage extensively. Faced with the temptation of these high-level Spiritual Medicine treasures, everyone naturally became impatient. As expected, after half a day of exploration, everyone was beaming with joy, clearly very satisfied with these high-level treasures. Lin Tianming too was astounded, almost dazzled by the vast number, and diverse types of Third Order Spiritual Medicines. After this day, he had gained insight into the depths of the Golden Sword Sect and was even more thrilled. Their exploration revealed that ordinary First and Second Order Treasures were not worth mentioning, they already had a measure of these in their minds. But the Third Order and above Spiritual Medicines were far beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. After all, there were over a thousand plants of just Third Order Spiritual Medicines, in a very diverse and complete array, among them many rare and uncommon types. And these were just the mature plants; if the semi-mature Third Order Spiritual Medicines were included, the number could double or more. In addition, there were more than a dozen mature Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines, enough to be used for refining pills. However, ordinary Third Order Pills would not require Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines. Apart from a few main ingredients of some Third Order Elixirs possibly requiring Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines, the majority of the pills used by Golden Core Cultivators were not made with Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines. But if used for refining Fourth Order Elixirs, the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World didn¡¯t even have a Nascent Soul Cultivator, let alone very few Third Order Alchemy Masters; they simply didn¡¯t have the conditions required for refining. Unless one went to the central Ten Nations of Qingzhou, those regions generally had Nascent Soul Cultivators, and although Fourth Order Alchemists were extremely rare, they were not entirely absent. With some price to pay, there still might be a chance to refine Fourth Order Elixirs. However, the Wei Kingdom was remotely located, too far from the central region of Qingzhou. Even for Golden Core Cultivators to make a trip there was not easy, and the journey was fraught with dangers. This factor was the main reason for the backwardness and impoverishment of the Wei Kingdom. Nevertheless, these high-level resources were not few, their total value difficult to estimate. Even if ultimately divided among the four Golden Elixir Forces, each group could possibly obtain a huge share of treasures. Presumably, with these real treasures, the foundation of the major forces could be greatly enhanced. Though the Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines were momentarily of no immediate use, gathering them for future use could eventually be beneficial. Thus, even Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, upon seeing these large amounts of Third and Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines, were all smiles and suddenly in very good spirits. Lin Tianming felt the same and, seeing those cultivation-enhancing Spirit Fruits, he also drooled over them. If it hadn¡¯t been for the decision to not yet distribute these treasures, he would have wanted to consume a few and cultivate for a while. After finally suppressing his restless heart, Lin Tianming and the others gathered together. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao and the others chatted idly for a few moments and then gave a few instructions to the cultivator in charge of guarding the Spiritual Medicine Garden, and arranged for two disciples from their Sects to watch over the place. Then, Zhou Yunxiao changed the topic to the most crucial matter¡ªthe last target of the treasure hunt, the Sect Treasury of the Golden Sword Sect. This place¡¯s significance was basically at the top of all institutions. This was clear to everyone present. However, the importance of a Sect Treasury went without saying, especially for an entity like the Golden Sword Sect which had been around for nearly ten thousand years. It was foreseeable that since the Golden Sword Sect had lasted so long and remained atop the Wei Kingdom, having scarcely declined over the last few millennia, its foundation was absolutely profound. This foundation had already been confirmed in the previous Scripture Pavilion as well as the Spiritual Medicine Garden. And inside the Sect Treasury, there undoubtedly were tremendously valuable and numerous treasures. This city¡¯s worth of treasury was what they most wanted to obtain! However, the Sect Treasury was too important; following successive falls of the high-level members of the Golden Sword Sect, it was estimated that now, no one in the Golden Sword Sect knew the exact location. To find the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasury, they had asked many disciples of the Golden Sword Sect, and just as they speculated, the most important secrets were unknown to any Foundation Establishment Disciples. Thus, with no one to provide information, finding the Sect Treasury was still going to take some effort. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao also showed a hint of helplessness, and then said to Lin Tianming and the others, ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s split up and take action. Once you find any suspicious places, immediately inform the others!¡± Hearing this, Lu Xingfeng nodded; he seemed rather impatient. Chapter 902 902 481 Location of the Treasure Vault_2 ?Chapter 902: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault_2 Chapter 902: Chapter 481: Location of the Treasure Vault_2 Lin Tianming also paused and said, ¡°Indeed, very good!¡± ¡°Though the Golden Sword Mountain Gate covers a large area, all of us are Golden Core Cultivators with a considerable range of Divine Sense. If we search carefully, I believe we will eventually find some clues.¡± ¡°Lin is right. With our strength, we could just turn the entire Golden Sword Mountain Gate upside down if necessary. We are bound to find it!¡± Chen Maohua echoed with an excited look on his face, clearly impatient to start. Hearing these words, Zhou Yunxiao smiled faintly and then assigned positions to the other three. Lin Tianming was responsible for searching the west side, covering about a hundred miles, which was mostly dense forest. As for the others, they each chose a direction with varying search areas, but the differences were not significant. ... However, the terrain varied greatly, with plains and lakes alike, presenting a diverse natural landscape. Nevertheless, they were all determined to meticulously search until they found the treasure in order to obtain this substantial property. With this confidence, the four, including Lin Tianming, began their search. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Over the past few days, Lin Tianming had thoroughly combed through the entire western hundred-mile area as if sweeping a carpet. Despite the strength of his Divine Sense, assisted by the Eye of Five Colors, and despite such a careful search, he still hadn¡¯t found the Golden Sword Sect Treasury¨Dhe had only encountered three questionable locations. At this moment, Lin Tianming was standing at the entrance of a gorge. He stood still, staring at the lush interior and the very dense fog, pondering deeply. At first glance, there was nothing unusual about this place since such environments were not rare in the hundred-mile forest. But on closer inspection, especially under the scrutiny of the Eye of Five Colors, he could sense a faint trace of color within the fog. This color resembled that which sunlight might cast. Most cultivators, upon seeing such a scene, might believe it was merely the play of light refracted by the sun. Besides, the area was a primeval forest with the occasional appearance of First Order Spirit Beasts, presenting nothing more than the typical scenery of wild forests. Such an environment was not special at all and certainly not where one would expect to find a Sect Treasury. However, as Lin Tianming was about to leave after standing there for a long time, he sensed a subtle change and the faint fluctuations of a spatial restriction formation. Though the fluctuations were weak, he had indeed sensed them! ¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Tianming turned back in doubt, and with a flash of light from the Eye of Five Colors, the scene before him changed once again. He saw streams of grey-white light flowing through the fog. In just the span of a breath, the grey-white vanished, and the fog returned to normal. Seeing this, Lin Tianming furrowed his brow and then revealed a faint smile. He was almost certain that there was a cave dwelling or a formation here. The grey-white color he had seen was probably due to the energy flow of the restriction. Although it was brief and not easily noticed, Most people would likely overlook it and leave the area. But he had been searching for a long time, and with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, all illusions and fluctuation of formations in this world could hardly escape his careful observation. It had to be said that the terrain here was very ordinary, so ordinary that anyone who saw it would not suspect anything. Besides, the formation behind it was also very ingeniously designed. It is worth noting that the long-term operation of a formation also requires energy. Even the most advanced formations need energy flow to maintain them over time. The clever part of this formation was that its energy flow was not only in perfect harmony with the local fog, concealing the fluctuations and color of the energy within the fog. Besides, the speed of the energy flow was extremely fast, completing in just an instant. Subsequently, everything returned to normal, as if nothing had changed. Although Lin Tianming was not an Array Master and knew little about formations, he was aware that such rapidly fluctuating energy formations were rare in the Cultivation World. Regardless, no matter how clever the formation was, under the search by his Eye of Five Colors, it could not remain hidden. Based on these circumstances, he was nearly certain that this place was the location of the Golden Sword Sect Treasury. This conjecture had almost ninety percent confidence. Now that the Treasure Vault had been found, Lin Tianming had no intention of concealing it, especially since Zhou Yunxiao and the others were no fools. With their cultivation realm, they were constantly watching every single movement inside the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Even if he tried to hide it, given their determination to achieve their goals at all costs, it would only be a matter of time before they discovered the truth. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, even if he tried to break the enchantments and explore alone, he would not be able to evade the scrutiny of Zhou Yunxiao and his companions. Their cultivation was powerful, and their Divine Sense was not the slightest bit weaker than his own. Although they were spread out from one another, any attempt to break a Formation would naturally cause some disturbance. Within a hundred miles, even the slightest disturbance would be detected by them. In light of this, why should Lin Tianming bother with such petty tricks, only to cause unnecessary misunderstandings and disrupt the delicate balance? Knowing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay and immediately sent several messages to inform them of the situation he had at hand. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Zhou Yunxiao and others arrived together at the entrance of the canyon. From a distance, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s voice could be heard carrying a tone of excitement. ¡°Lin, are you confident that this is the Golden Sword Sect Treasury?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Maohua also chimed in. ¡°Yeah¡­ This place seems sparse and ordinary with no outstanding features!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao also looked thoughtfully into the mist, not saying much. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan on beating around the bush and right away recounted the changes within the mist in front of everyone. Soon, after learning of these specific changes, Zhou Yunxiao nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Heh¡­ If it¡¯s really as Lin says, the Treasure Vault is most likely here!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said with a smile, his eyes filled with excitement. ¡°Hmm¡­ Whether it is or not, we¡¯ll know once we explore!¡± Lu Xingfeng nodded and, with that, a Sword Qi appeared in his hand and he fired it towards the interior of the canyon. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud sound echoed as the Sword Qi collided with an invisible barrier, generating a wave of air that spread in all directions. In an instant, the fog that was originally there began to dissipate under the impact of the massive wave, revealing a greyish-white screen of light. Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng and the others were overjoyed, confirming that this indeed was the Golden Sword Sect Treasury. ¡°Haha¡­ We¡¯ve finally found it!¡± Lu Xingfeng laughed excitedly and then added with a wry smile, ¡°That Han Hu really is a cunning fox, hiding the Treasure Vault in such a seemingly ordinary place.¡± Hearing these words, Zhou Yunxiao replied with a laugh, ¡°Heh¡­ It¡¯s not surprising!¡± ¡°How important the Treasury is, everyone present surely knows.¡± ¡°It¡¯s common knowledge in the Cultivation World!¡± ¡°The terrain here is indeed ordinary, but as long as the enchantment and Formation are sufficiently mysterious, it truly is a good place to hide a Treasure Vault.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Maohua couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration. ¡°The more unexpected, perhaps the better the effect!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ But even so, it still got discovered by Lin!¡± Chen Maohua said flatteringly, obviously wishing to remain on good terms with the Lin Family. Seeing this, Lin Tianming politely replied, pleasing Chen Maohua. At that moment, Lu Xingfeng took over the conversation, thereby bringing up the matter at hand. ¡°Fellow cultivators, now that we have found the Treasury, we should not delay. Shall we proceed to break the Formation as soon as possible?¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao nodded, and Chen Maohua, also quite excited, agreed, their emotions reaching a peak. Chapter 903 903 482 Departure to the Hui Ethnicity ?Chapter 903: Chapter 482 Departure to the Hui Ethnicity Chapter 903: Chapter 482 Departure to the Hui Ethnicity Immediately following, Zhou Yunxiao once again took out the Control Token and attempted to use it. However, no matter how he stimulated the token, the Forbidden Formation in front of them remained unchanged, without a single sign of alteration. Clearly, this token was utterly incapable of controlling the Forbidden Formation before them. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao could not help but reveal a helpless wry smile. ¡°This formation doesn¡¯t seem to be controlled by that token. If we try to force our way through, I¡¯m afraid it will result in the loss of the treasures inside!¡± ¡°After all, some formations are quite unique. Once they are attacked, they might collapse instantly, causing the treasures to fall into a Spatial Fissure.¡± ¡°Even if some are lucky enough to remain, I fear that a great many treasures will be lost!¡± ... Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words hit the nail on the head, calming the restless hearts of those present. Consequently, the group had no choice but to consider more careful approaches to minimize any potential losses. At this moment, Lin Tianming spoke up, ¡°This Treasure Vault is so important, there might be other tokens in existence. Daoist Zhou, why not search Han Hu¡¯s storage bag?¡± ¡°If we can find one, it would save us a lot of trouble, and also ensure the safety of the treasures inside the vault!¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao found the suggestion reasonable and immediately his expression brightened with joy. Before this, no one had thought of this, but now that Lin Tianming mentioned it, of course they had to be more cautious. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng wasted no time and meticulously searched through the storage bags of Han Hu and several other high-ranking members of the Golden Sword Sect. Persistence pays off! Though it took some time, sure enough, Lin Tianming¡¯s prediction was accurate. They found numerous tokens inside Han Hu¡¯s storage bag. Once they tried them, they smoothly found the token that controlled the Forbidden Formation before them. As the formation in front gradually dissipated, a passageway several zhang wide appeared before their eyes. Looking down the passageway, it was impossible to see its end or to know its depth. However, it was certain that this entrance led into the depths of the gorge. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others were thrilled beyond measure, their faces beaming with excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s go in, fellow daoists!¡± Zhou Yunxiao was the first to speak and stepped directly into the passageway entrance. Lin Tianming and the others did not delay, following Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s steps, and soon disappeared at the entrance of the gorge. The group continued deeper and quickly traversed the passageway, arriving at an enormous cave. Looking around, the cave was immense, and its walls were adorned with a multitude of gems that illuminated the entire space. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within the cave were several distinct areas, each varying in size. And within each area, there were countertops made of green stone, upon which various Spiritual Objects were placed, dazzling to behold. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming and his companions were brimming with excitement and breathed a sigh of relief. Subsequently, they began to explore the areas one by one. First, they reached the area with First Order Treasures, which was the largest in size and also had the greatest variety. To these items, the group was fairly indifferent, as their value was too low to pique their interest. Nonetheless, they still conducted a general inspection and instructed the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley to catalogue these items. Next, they proceeded in the same manner to the area with Second Order Treasures. Upon reaching the area with Third Order Treasures, the excitement in Lin Tianming and his comrades¡¯ eyes was starkly different; each one¡¯s gaze burned with fervor. Even with their experience and insight, many treasures here still caused them to salivate. Metal Tempering Stone, High-Quality Spirit Stone, Primary Magnet Stone, Dragon Blood Crystal, Peach Heart Wood¡­ One after another, Third Order Treasures were held in their hands, they couldn¡¯t bear to part with them as they closely inspected each one. ¡°Haha¡­ the treasures in the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s vault are indeed excellent. There are quite a few items that even I, an old man, am eager for!¡± Zhou Yunxiao picked up a blood-colored stone, his face flashing with a triumphant smile. Lin Tianming also picked up a piece of Peach Heart Wood and caressed the arm-thick wood with his pale palm. Truth be told, Peach Heart Wood was Third Order Spiritual Wood, rather cherished as a wood-attributed Spirit Material, with extraordinary value. It was crucial for both Artifact Refining and Talisman Making. It was said that even adding just a little Peach Heart Wood could significantly enhance the toughness of a Magical Treasure. Such a rare Third Order Spiritual Material, its worth was no less than ordinary Fourth Order Spirit Ore, hence its significant utility. In terms of value, it was far more than just a bit superior to ordinary Third Order Spiritual Materials. For this item, Lin Tianming was particularly covetous, as he still lacked a suitable Magical Treasure. Should he obtain this piece of Peach Heart Wood, he would indeed be able to refine a high-quality Magical Treasure. With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming looked at it for a long time before finally placing the Peach Heart Wood back in its original place. Then, he continued to search the area with the Third Order Treasures. On the other hand, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were equally ecstatic, with satisfied laughter occasionally breaking out. Half an hour passed. After this period of searching and witnessing many precious Third Order Treasures, Lin Tianming¡¯s horizons were greatly expanded. In his view, the foundation of the Golden Sword Sect was genuinely impressive; the Third Order Treasures here were numerous and many were of extreme rarity. The Lin Family, over eight hundred years, could not find many Third Order Treasures within the entire clan, top to bottom. Were it not for the multiple opportunities in the past decades, granting them several Fourth Tier Items, their family vault might not have held many Third Order Treasures at all. Chapter 904 904 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_2 ?Chapter 904: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_2 Chapter 904: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_2 ¡°` Upon closer inspection of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s treasure vault, the number of First and Second-Order treasures was immense, and the variety was even more astonishing. Even the Third Order treasures numbered over three hundred types, and as for the total quantity, it was well into the thousands. Such a vault, no doubt, was the result of nearly ten thousand years of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s long legacy, slowly accumulated, of incalculable value. And this foundation was not something that a nouveau riche family like the Lin Family could compare to in a short time. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not feel self-satisfied. He was always clear in his heart that for the Lin Family to develop in the long run and reach the peak level of the Golden Sword Sect, there was still a long way to go. This road required the sedimentation of time and the efforts of the entire family. ... Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming and the others had also thoroughly inspected this area, categorized all the treasures, and recorded them in the registry. As everyone regrouped, they then continued towards the fourth area. They traversed a passageway for a day and re-entered another cave. As expected, this place contained Fourth Tier items. Looking around, the limited number of bluestone pedestals held all sorts of treasures. Despite these treasures being far fewer than those in the previous cave, these were genuine Fourth Order treasures, each of their values not inferior to those Third Order items. At this time, Zhou Yunxiao was the first to act, casually picking up a piece of ore and then lovingly caressing it. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t as meticulous as Zhou Yunxiao because he had become numb. There were simply too many treasures here, so much that his eyes had started to blur. Even now, upon seeing these Fourth Tier items, he lacked the initial shock and excitement. On the other hand, Lu Xingfeng and others still had fiery looks in their eyes as they picked up and examined each treasure. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t idle either, committing to memory dozens of treasures in this place, then quietly waited to one side. A little while passed. Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng had also recorded all the treasures, and the exploration of the four caves was complete. At this point, Zhou Yunxiao and the others gathered together, still with excited expressions on their faces, seemingly not calmed down yet. Seeing this, Lin Tianming took the initiative to speak, pulling everyone back from their excitement to reality. ¡°Fellow Daoists, there is only one cave left, presumably there might be some Heaven-Defying treasures, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and the others immediately changed their expressions, and their breathing hastened. It was said there were five caves in this treasure vault, each holding treasures from First to Fourth Order. Since there was a fifth cave, could it be that it contained Fifth Order treasures? Or perhaps, were there Nascent Soul Spiritual Items? The thought alone made Zhou Yunxiao and the others unable to wait, their eyes burning with desire. One must know, Fifth Order items were the rarest of gems in the Cultivation World, even Nascent Soul Stage powerhouses would fight over a Fifth Order item upon sighting it. Such treasures were priceless. If there truly was a Fifth Order treasure, the benefits of annihilating the Golden Sword Sect would be tremendous, enough to elevate any Golden Core Sect to a higher level. However, if there truly were Fifth Order treasures, at times, it could be a disaster for the faction obtaining them. After all, the value of a Fifth Order treasure was enormous, and once word got out, it could attract Nascent Soul Stage old monsters to act. If that happened, a Golden Core Sect could be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Yet even so, if there were a chance to obtain it, no force would give up on the opportunity to soar to the heavens. As for Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, they were the most sought-after treasures for all Golden Core Cultivators, utterly irresistible. Thinking of this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng became unsettled. Both were in the Late Stage of Golden Core and had been stuck in this phase for many years without progress. Moreover, both were not young, with not much of their lifespans remaining. Under such conditions, their yearning for those Heaven-Defying treasures was no less than anyone else present. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were quick to head towards another passageway. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming smiled faintly and followed. In his heart, he doubted such Fifth Order treasures would be so readily obtainable. Besides, if the Golden Sword Sect had such an item, Han Hu would have used it for himself, so why would he cooperate with the Blood Red Alliance? After all, the reputation of the Blood Red Alliance in Qingzhou was universally known. Working with such an unprincipled faction was akin to asking a tiger for its skin. As such, the last cave was most likely built by the Golden Sword Sect as a contingency. He was almost certain that the final cave would be empty. Sure enough, after the four had searched, this last cave was found to be utterly barren, not even a Spirit Stone to be found. Seeing this, Lin Tianming remained calm, as he had anticipated this outcome. Meanwhile, Zhou Yunxiao and the others had looks of disappointment, sighing in resignation. Perhaps it was because of their great desire to advance that their hopes had always been maintained. As the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Facing the empty cave, they lamented for a moment, before gradually regaining their composure. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao casually took out a thick book and distributed it to Lu Xingfeng and the others, including Lin Tianming. ¡°` Chapter 905 905 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_3 ?Chapter 905: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_3 Chapter 905: Chapter 482 Departure to Hui Ethnicity_3 At the same time, Zhou Yunxiao said, ¡°The treasure vault of the Golden Sword Sect has been fully explored, and the treasures we have acquired are all registered!¡± ¡°Keep this detailed list safely; once we have completely annihilated the Remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, we will then distribute the shares according to the previously agreed-upon ratio!¡± ¡°As for the numerous treasures here, for the time being, they will be guarded by disciples of our two sects. If Daoist Chen and Lin are interested, you may also arrange for some clan members to come and watch over them.¡± ¡°Um¡­ Daoist Zhou, you flatter us!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and clasped his fists, returning with a bitter smile, ¡°With your esteemed sect guarding this place, we naturally feel at ease!¡± ¡°Yes¡­ if the two Daoist friends speak so, are you implying that we are not trustworthy?¡± Chen Maohua agreed, his expression looking quite sincere. ... However, Zhou Yunxiao was not of the same opinion, believing in his heart that the Lin Family and Chen Clan would surely care about such a hefty amount of treasures. Nevertheless, he did not dwell further on the topic. Following that, he changed the subject and then slowly said, ¡°Now that we have reached this point, this treasure hunt can be considered to have come to an end.¡± ¡°Next, I hope that the three Daoist friends will follow the plan and send people to scour the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, and once encountered, you must exterminate them completely, without mercy!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng among others quickly nodded and voiced their agreement to this matter. After all, this had been discussed in advance, and none of the major powers had any objections. Now to mention it again, was simply to urge the major powers to make haste. Seeing several people agree, Zhou Yunxiao then continued, ¡°As for the specific time of distribution and the place of meeting, how about we gather at Qingshui Market in a year¡¯s time?¡± ¡°By then, I believe most matters will be settled, and the states and strengths of the Daoist friends will have returned to normal. We will then distribute the final interests and also discuss plans to pursue the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom.¡± ¡°I propose this, do any of you have any objections?¡± ¡°Good¡­ this is very good!¡± Lu Xingfeng was the first to express his stance, appearing quite satisfied. Lin Tianming, though he did not reply immediately, also found it quite agreeable in his heart. Thus, he also spoke, ¡°I have no objections, everything is entrusted to Daoist Zhou.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming speak so, Chen Maohua also didn¡¯t delay and quickly expressed no issues. Soon, all matters were settled, and the various arrangements after this great battle had concrete plans. As the matters were agreed upon, the four of them left the Treasure Vault together, reappearing at the entrance. Zhou Yunxiao reactivated the prohibition, and after exchanging pleasantries, Lin Tianming also suggested his intent to take his leave. Seeing this, Chen Maohua and Lu Xingfeng also planned to leave, both expressing their desire to depart. Hence, Zhou Yunxiao also exchanged greetings with everyone and left some instructions for the disciples waiting outside, and then they all left the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. As Lin Tianming left the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, he immediately released the Purple Gold Eagle, then jumped onto Xiao Diao¡¯s back and sat down. Now that the great battle was over, and all matters had come to a close, Lin Shikang and the others had returned to the clan land early. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Speaking of which, it had been over a year since he left his family. Although this year wasn¡¯t long, the frequency of great battles was high, and the degree of danger goes without saying. Re-thinking about it again, Lin Tianming also felt a thrill of fear and was endlessly relieved. After all, over the past year, he had slain many strong enemies; Golden Core Cultivators who had died by his hand numbered not less than a handful. Such terrifying battle achievements once amazed everyone. Fortunately, with everything settled now, the gains for the Lin Family and himself were unimaginable. With an excited heart and a longing mind, it was time for Lin Tianming to start his journey back to his clan. Perhaps sensing its master¡¯s mood, the Purple Gold Eagle wasted no time and immediately flew thousands of feet high into the sky, shooting towards the direction of the south. The Purple Gold Eagle was fast, and in an instant, it turned into a black shadow, disappearing into the horizon. ¡­ Chapter 906 906 483 Sensation ?Chapter 906: Chapter 483: Sensation Chapter 906: Chapter 483: Sensation Qianchuan Market. On a certain mountaintop outside the city, a dark shadow descended, landing stably on the summit. The person was none other than Lin Tianming, who had been flying southward, attempting to return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked ahead at the faintly visible Qianchuan Market and a slight smile flashed across his face. After more than half a month of traveling and crossing over a dozen vast mountain ranges, he had finally reached the intermediary stop of his destination. During this period, with the Purple Gold Eagle taking on the travel, he hadn¡¯t needed to exert too much effort, conveniently taking the time to enjoy the scenery and recover from the injuries he had sustained during the great battle at the Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, it was a good opportunity to gather some information in the various regions. ... After all, three months had passed since the end of the great battle at Myriad Medicine Valley, and more than two months had since the battle with Golden Sword Sect. In such a long time, the specifics of the great battle should have spread throughout the entire Wei Kingdom. Additionally, with the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, two top forces, beginning to round up the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, even the most isolated places probably would have heard of the recent major events. Lin Tianming was on his way and had to cross many territories formerly under the Golden Sword Sect, including several mountain ranges in the northern part of Zhenyang Sect, all a part of his route. Taking advantage of this time, Lin Tianming also paid attention to news from all sides to see the impact of the annihilation of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s higher echelons. Now, with his cultivation strength, aside from Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, there were hardly any in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World who could claim to defeat him in a single combat. With such formidable strength, he could go anywhere without concern. As he traveled boldly, he indeed encountered many groups of cultivators heading toward the territories of the Golden Sword Sect. At the same time, small-scale skirmishes were also frequent. Based on the situation at the time, it was the disciples of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley who were rounding up and pursuing the Golden Sword Sect disciples. Such events appeared in many places throughout the Wei Kingdom. By now, with the fall of people like Han Hu, the entire Golden Sword Sect had completely disintegrated. Within the entire sect, from disciples in the late stages of Foundation Establishment to cultivators in the initial stages of Qi Refining, everyone was anxious and fearful, lest their whereabouts be exposed and their lives be lost. Nevertheless, at this time, several Golden Elixir Forces from Myriad Medicine Valley almost emptied their nests, including several Golden Core Families like the Lin Family, also participating in this roundup. With so many forces encircling and intercepting, various spirit lands and workshops scattered outside by the Golden Sword Sect were being attacked, and many territories had already completely fallen. In just over two months, a large number of Golden Sword Sect disciples had died, leading to some smaller family descendants and even some loose cultivators getting involved and even losing their lives in this roundup campaign. But a few years ago, the Golden Sword Sect, in alliance with the external forces of the Blood Red Alliance, initiated a major battle among several top forces of the Wei Kingdom, and they were spurned by everyone. Now, with all the high-ranking members of the Golden Sword Sect having perished, and their disciples being hunted down like water-stricken dogs by everyone. Even a great number of loose cultivators, or families once controlled by the Golden Sword Sect, also joined this chaotic battle. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was said that in some places, loose cultivators grouped up to rush into the spirit lands controlled by the Golden Sword Sect, wildly seizing Cultivation Resources. The current territories of the Golden Sword Sect were almost in complete chaos, always embroiled in combat and magic duels. In this situation, even if disciples of the Golden Sword Sect hid well, they likely wouldn¡¯t last long before being entirely wiped out. Even if a very few of the disciples managed to survive by luck, under the absolute disparity of strength, they simply could not stir any trouble. Knowing this, Lin Tianming, while on his journey, had seen some skirmishes but didn¡¯t involve himself, merely inquired some information before continuing on his way. Until today, he had smoothly reached Qianchuan Market. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was somewhat pale, evidently feeling somewhat tired. This month of traveling had largely healed the injuries he had from the great battle, but the extended travel had left him slightly weary. Now that the great battle was nearing its end, and since he had arrived at Qianchuan Market which was only a few days¡¯ journey from the clan territory, he planned to rest briefly in Qianchuan Market for a few days before heading back to the clan territory. Thinking of this, gazing at the distant, faintly visible Qianchuan Market, Lin Tianming slightly smiled and transformed into a stream of light, shooting forth. In no time, Lin Tianming appeared at the entrance of the market. Currently, at the entrance there were quite a few people queuing to enter, and there were also many cultivators emerging in groups. From their slightly excited expressions and the conversations they were having, it seemed they were preparing to head north together to the territories under the Golden Sword Sect. Clearly, even now, numerous cultivators were looking to scavenge in the territories of the Golden Sword Sect. After all, nowadays disciples of the Golden Sword Sect were targets everyone clamored to strike, and without any backing, cultivators of any status could attack without restraint. Simply by eliminating a few Golden Sword Sect disciples, they could obtain a vast amount of resources. Such blatant hunting down of the disciples of a Golden Elixir Force was unheard of in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for a thousand years. Before this, even if cultivators had any grievances, they would seek revenge stealthily; openly hunting down disciples of a Golden Elixir Force like this was very rare. For these people, the cultivators had long since ceased to find it unusual. Lin Tianming was no exception; he merely glanced once and then walked directly toward the market entrance. Chapter 907 907 483 Sensational_2 ?Chapter 907: Chapter 483: Sensational_2 Chapter 907: Chapter 483: Sensational_2 Seeing the newcomer, the cultivator in charge of the inspection didn¡¯t lift his head and asked routinely, ¡°Name of the comer? From which power do you hail?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he stood silently in place. Seeing that there was no response, the inspecting cultivator then realized what was happening. The Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator lifted his head, his face showing a trace of anger. It was known that now that the crisis of the Zhenyang Sect was resolved and the victorious troops were surrounding and suppressing the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, their momentum was at its peak. Even years ago, disciples under the Zhenyang Sect were very proud, especially those on external missions for the sect. And this Qi Refining cultivator was just like that, having always been complimented and admired by fellow cultivators of the same rank, and even when encountering some Foundation Establishment cultivators, they would also have to give some face. ... Now, with the fall of the Golden Sword Sect, the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s reputation was greater than before, and its disciples had become even more arrogant. Under these circumstances, the cultivator was just about to lash out and curse when the words he was about to blurt out were abruptly swallowed back. At the same time, his complexion alternated between green and white, as if he had seen something unimaginable. Having barely calmed down, the cultivator hurriedly paid his respects, stuttering, ¡°Greetings¡­ Greetings to Elder Lin!¡± Hearing what the Zhenyang Sect disciple in charge of the inspection said and seeing his panicked expression, many cultivators were puzzled. After all, in the past six months, disciples of the Zhenyang Sect had been both high-profile and proud, and even Qi Refining disciples were not overly enthusiastic when they encountered Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators. But now, they were extremely deferential to a single cultivator, and their tone and demeanor seemed anxious and fearful. Such an occurrence had been very rare recently. Consequently, many cultivators turned their gaze curiously towards Lin Tianming, wanting to see who had arrived that made the Zhenyang Sect disciple so frightened. Soon enough, many cultivators recognized Lin Tianming and identified his status. ¡°It¡¯s Elder Lin!¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually Elder Lin! He has actually come to Qianchuan Market!¡± At that moment, a large number of cultivators became excited, as if they were seeing some incredible figure. Following, a large number of cultivators bowed their hands in respect, with an extremely reverent tone and attitude. Not only that, his appearance immediately caused quite a stir. In just a short time, many cultivators who had left the city rapidly returned upon hearing the commotion from behind. Remembering the name, they began, just like the cultivator at the entrance, to pay respects to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged in the face of the inspecting cultivator¡¯s words, showing no signs of pleasure or anger. As a large number of cultivators paid their respects, Lin Tianming did not pay too much attention, simply gesturing with his hand for them not to be overly courteous. Afterward, he directly passed by the inspecting cultivator and disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. It was only after Lin Tianming had been gone a while that the cultivator in charge of the inspection¡¯s complexion eased, and he let out a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart. Thinking back on his actions just now, he couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was approachable and did not take offense to his arrogance. Otherwise, if it had been some other hot-tempered Golden Core cultivator, it could well have made him suffer. If really unlucky, being killed on the spot was not an impossibility. Understanding this, the Zhenyang Sect cultivator quickly sent a message to the Market City Supervisor, reporting Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival in Qianchuan Market. After all, the Lin Family was now incomparable to its former self, the powerful lineup of four Golden Core cultivators nearly being on par with a force like the Zhenyang Sect. In addition, Lin Tianming had been as resplendent as the midday sun in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World these past few years. Combined with his terrifying battle record on the battlefield, many cultivators held him in very high esteem. With such a fearsome presence now in Qianchuan Market, it was necessary to report to the higher-ups promptly, to send someone to pay their respects to avoid neglecting such a power. Such occurrences were actually not uncommon in the Cultivation World. After all, the identity of Golden Core cultivators was such that wherever they went, they were always treated as honored guests. ¡°` Although Lin Tianming had often appeared in Qianchuan Market even before his Golden Core had formed, the status between a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Golden Core Cultivator was worlds apart. Furthermore, considering the Lin Family¡¯s formidable strength and Lin Tianming¡¯s fearsome reputation, even the Zhenyang Sect had to handle matters cautiously to avoid offending them. Thus, the Zhenyang Sect Disciples stationed in Qianchuan Market felt both anxious and excited at the prospect. Anxious for fear of being less than perfect hosts, yet excited at the possibility of witnessing Lin Tianming¡¯s elegance in person. At this moment, Lin Tianming was unaware of these sentiments. As he entered the interior of the market, he did not dally and headed straight for the Lin Family¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had entered the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Upon receiving news of his return, Lin Xingli, accompanied by a few Lin Family Members, waited for his arrival. Seeing Lin Xingli without the presence of Lin Tianyue and Lin Tianhong, Lin Tianming was somewhat puzzled. However, he first greeted the members of his clan and then asked, ¡°Uncle, isn¡¯t my father at the market?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Xingli chuckled and began to explain. ¡°Following the instructions of your Third Grandfather, your father is leading a team to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s domain to coordinate with them in eliminating the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect.¡± ¡°Tianhong and Tianyue are also in the team, and they set out more than a month ago!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, thinking that Third Grandfather had moved quickly; he must have arranged this immediately upon returning to the family. With more than a month¡¯s time and their speed of travel, they must have already reached the Golden Sword Mountain¡¯s domain and joined the siege. But this was all within the plan, so it didn¡¯t surprise him. Given Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation power, he stood among the top within the Foundation Establishment Cultivator ranks of the clan, and with his rich experience in handling affairs, it wasn¡¯t strange for him to lead the team. It was fortunate that the disciples of the now-fallen Golden Sword Sect found themselves in a desperate situation, like a wall collapsing and being pushed by all. In such a difficult situation, with Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect¡¯s disciples as the main force, the Lin Family members participating in the siege were unlikely to face significant danger. Such an opportunity was also a chance for the clan members to broaden their horizons, meet disciples of other forces, and gain experience¡ªa multitude of benefits. Thinking this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, feeling less worried. Then, he chatted casually with Lin Xingli and others, inquiring about the family and the situation in Qianchuan Market. According to Lin Xingli, Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Mountain had been quite peaceful over the past two years, experiencing almost no disturbances. The Lin Family continued as usual, and the Huangyang Kingdom had made no moves, apparently choosing not to interfere in the affairs of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. However, in the last half a year, Qianchuan Market had become very lively. The reason for this was twofold: firstly, cultivators who had originally left for fear of the great war were returning to the market upon seeing the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s fall. Secondly, it was because of the explosive news from the battle at Myriad Medicine Valley. When the news of Han Hu and others fleeing in disarray reached the market, detailing severe losses for the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance, the entire Qianchuan Market was abuzz. Before things quieted down, news of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s great battle reached them, with even powerhouses like Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng falling. This even more sensational news made the already lively Qianchuan Market buzz with activity in a very short time. Furthermore, Lin Tianming¡¯s consecutive slaying of Golden Core Cultivators, including several Mid Stage Golden Core strongmen, gave him a fierce reputation that shocked many cultivators. Even the Lin Family Members were ecstatic upon receiving this news. Following this, the Lin Family Members kept busy receiving guests for half a year, with an endless stream of visiting cultivators, including Zhenyang Sect Executive Officers and figures from various major forces, all eager to make connections with the Lin Family. As a result, both Lin Xingli and Lin Xingrong dared not offend anyone, keeping them frantically occupied. With Lin Xingrong away, Lin Xingli found himself even busier, with no time to manage even the Luoyun Pavilion. Fortunately, after some time, the fervor slowly subsided, and everything returned to calm. Knowing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly again. After half an hour¡¯s casual chat with Lin Xingli and others, and giving some instructions, he then headed back to the practice room. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 908 908 484 Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan ?Chapter 908: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan Chapter 908: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan Blue Field Mountain Range. The Blue Field Mountain Range is located in the northeastern part of the Wei Kingdom, and among the various large mountain ranges in the kingdom, it is considered quite vast. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This place had always been under the control of the Golden Sword Sect, and it wasn¡¯t too far from the Qingshui Mountain Range in the northeastern part of the Zhenyang Sect, separated only by several mountain ranges. However, it was still in the central area of the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory. At this moment, in one of the valleys of the Blue Field Mountain Range, a series of explosive sounds could be heard. At the same time, a large number of flames shot into the sky, accompanied by powerful, violent fluctuations spreading out. Following these commotions, one could see a group of people bombarding the formation in front of them. Inside the defense of the formation, a group of cultivators with pale faces stood ready for combat. ... Looking closely, the clothing and attire of one group were quite different and even somewhat disorganized. However, from the emblem on the chests of the largest group, it was easy to identify that these were disciples of the Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley. Apart from these noticeable cultivators, Lin Xingrong, Lin Tianyue, along with Qin Xi and other Lin Family members were also present among them. This was only the more distinguishable part of the crowd because their numbers were quite large, forming groups of at least a dozen people each. The others were groups of three or five cultivators, or some even alone, seeming to be members of other Foundation Establishing Families. In addition to these, there were also numerous Loose Cultivators acting independently, all mixed into the crowd. Opposite them were disciples clothed in the attire of the Golden Sword Sect, numbering close to a hundred, among them both Foundation Establishment Cultivators and a fair number of Qi Refining Cultivators. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The sound of explosions continued incessantly, as firelight ceaselessly streaked across the sky. Suddenly, the Defensive Great Formation at the entrance of the canyon began to shake and quickly collapsed completely. Before this, the Second Order Superior Defensive Great Formation had held up for half a month. However, it simply could not withstand the onslaught of an attacking force several times the size of its defenders and collapsed. As the formation crumbled, the larger group of attackers became exceedingly excited. ¡°Ha ha¡­ the formation has finally broken!¡± ¡°Fellow Daoists¡­ follow me in striking together, quickly annihilate these remnants of the Golden Sword Sect!¡± The leading Myriad Medicine Disciple shouted triumphantly, and the Magic Artifact in his hand flashed with light before immediately launching an attack. Seeing this, the nearby Zhenyang Sect Disciples also acted immediately, as many unleashed a barrage of attacks toward the Golden Sword Sect Disciples. At this time, Lin Xingrong saw the other cultivators make their move, his gaze growing intent. Immediately thereafter, he exchanged a look with Qin Xi, then turned to look at Lin Tianyue and the rest of his clan members behind him. ¡°Tianyue, Tianhong, Xi¡¯er, later on, take care of the other clan members as well, and ensure the safety of our own people to the greatest extent!¡± Lin Xingrong said to Qin Xi and the others, getting ready for action. ¡°Father, rest assured, those Golden Sword Sect Disciples only number over a hundred, with less than ten at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Such overall strength cannot possibly match us with so many on our side!¡± Qin Xi replied confidently, her demeanor calm, seemingly not considering the opposing cultivators a threat at all. Indeed, as she said, the overall strength of the Golden Sword Sect Disciples at that moment was significantly inferior compared to their side. Not to mention the disciples of the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, just the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators on their side was close to a hundred. Adding in the other affiliated members, their numbers in Foundation Establishment Cultivators alone exceeded the total number of the opposition. Such a disparity in strength was an overwhelming advantage. The Lin Family members present were also numerous, totaling several dozens. This was a group of elite forces dispatched by Lin Shikang in accordance with Lin Tianming¡¯s plans to support the joint efforts of the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect in their purge of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect. Among this group of clan members, the majority were Late Stage Qi Refinement Clan Members. However, there were also more than a dozen at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with Qin Xi at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, her strength comparable to that of Great Completion Cultivators. Apart from Qin Xi, Lin Xingrong was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer Peak, and Lin Xingping, Lin Xingyuan, Lin Tianyue, and Lin Tianhong were key members of the Lin Family, all above the Foundation Building Fourth Level in Cultivation Realm. With these more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators leading, the safety of the clan members was somewhat assured. Additionally, with the main forces of the Zhenyang Sect engaged in the fight, the risk for them amidst such a massive disparity in power seemed small. Knowing this, Qin Xi was quite unbothered and did not take her opponents seriously. As expected, once the protective cover of the formation was lost, the Golden Sword Sect Disciples became panic-stricken, many looking to flee without the courage to fight. However, the number of cultivators present was too large, having already surrounded them. Facing the attacks from a force several times their size, this group of disciples was gradually pushed back. In just one round of fighting, more than thirty cultivators fell, including a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators. At this point, seeing the desperate looks in their opponents¡¯ eyes and the chaotic scene, the disciples of the Myriad Medicine Valley were increasingly excited. Immediately afterward, they attacked again, not giving the opposition any chance to catch their breath. Witnessing this, Lin Xingrong and the other Lin Family Members, led by Qin Xi, also began to attack fervently. Another round passed, and Qin Xi consecutively took down two Golden Sword Sect Foundation Establishment Disciples, with other clan members achieving their own victories. As the fighting continued, such a one-sided slaughter did not cease. Chapter 909 909 484 Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan_2 ?Chapter 909: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan_2 Chapter 909: Chapter 484: Reunion with Tang Xiuyuan_2 ¡°` A cup of tea¡¯s time passed, and the tumult in the canyon came to an abrupt halt. Looking over the entire canyon, it was now riddled with holes, with over a hundred bodies lying askew on the ground, their blood staining a large swath of land, presenting a sight of utter desolation. At this time, a crowd of cultivators ceased their attacks, each person¡¯s expression filled with wild euphoria. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi and the others also gathered together, and Lin Xingrong turned to check on his fellow Lin Family Members, relieved to see none had fallen, with only three sustaining minor injuries. Pleased with this situation, Lin Xingrong nodded satisfactorily and took a long breath of relief in his heart. Not far from them, the leading disciples of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley laughed heartily, their excitement irrepressible. The other cultivators each wore smiles, turning their gazes eagerly toward the deeper parts of the canyon. ... This time, following the plans of the higher echelons of the Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, they began a full-scale attack on the Spirit Land controlled by the Golden Sword Sect. This location was a minor Spirit Stone Mine Vein under the control of the Golden Sword Sect. Rumor had it that this single mine vein contributed millions of Low-Grade Spirit Stones to the Golden Sword Sect every year, with a portion of them being Medium-Grade Spirit Stones. Without exaggeration, the annual benefits from this small mine vein amounted to at least a million Spirit Stones. Moreover, if the extraction rate continued at this pace, the mine could be mined for at least another decade. Under such circumstances, the long-term profits from this small Spirit Stone Mine Vein would amount to at least ten million Spirit Stones. Consequently, this mine vein was one of the most important assets under the banner of the Golden Sword Sect, incredibly crucial to them, hence they long stationed over a hundred disciples to guard it. And the Myriad Medicine Valley as well as the Zhenyang Sect, coveting the substantial benefits, dispatched elite forces to attack as soon as they got wind of it. The Lin Family Members happened to be passing through the Qingshui Mountain Range and joined forces with Qin Xi and the three others who participated in the battle. Upon arriving at the Golden Sword Sect territory, they encountered this troop. With their keen senses, Qin Xi and Lin Xingrong¡¯s opinions coincided, deciding to lead their clan members in joining this team to secure a share of the profits. Now, with the Golden Sword Sect disciples all eliminated, everyone involved in the clash could secure some gains, big or small. Besides these, after the affair, the Lin Family could contend for a portion of the mining rights of this minor Spirit Stone Mine Vein. By then, the benefits for the Lin Family could be even greater. So it went, Qin Xi, Lin Xingrong, and the rest of the Lin Family Members unleashed their full power, all for the sake of larger gains. Similar-minded individuals were many, including Loose Cultivators as well as family cultivators who joined voluntarily, all for the sake of these benefits. At this moment, with the fall of the Golden Sword Sect disciples, these people grew somewhat impatient. Seeing this, the leaders of the two sects exchanged smiles and the team leader from Myriad Medicine Valley spoke up, ¡°Everyone, quickly clean up the battlefield, then follow me inside the mine to take a look.¡± ¡°After the matters here are settled, we will continue deeper and take the opportunity to attack the next target!¡± After saying this, the leading disciple from the Myriad Medicine Valley gestured a salute to everyone and then added one more line. ¡°Rest assured, after the event, we will discuss reward and recognition, and you will definitely get the benefits due to you.¡± Hearing these words, the other cultivators on the site cheered and were clearly encouraged by these words. So, each cultivator set about cleaning up the battlefield. Then, led by the team leader from Myriad Medicine Valley, the cultivators headed toward the inner part of the canyon and soon disappeared without a trace. ¡­ Qianchuan Market. Two days later, at the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard, Lin Tianming emerged from the Practice Room and appeared in the courtyard. After two days of rest, the fatigue on Lin Tianming¡¯s body had diminished considerably, and his complexion appeared much healthier. Although his injuries were not yet completely healed, compared to two days ago, his color was obviously much improved. At this time, Xing Li also appeared in the courtyard, and upon seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s emergence, hurried to greet him. ¡°Tian Ming, have you finished your training?¡± Xing Li asked with concern. ¡°Hmm¡­ After resting for two days, my condition has improved noticeably!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and replied with a faint smile on his face. Hearing this, Xing Li also chuckled happily, his mood lifting greatly. Then, he spoke, ¡°There have been quite a few cultivators coming to visit you these past few days. I¡¯ve turned away the ones with average backgrounds.¡± ¡°However, some of them have profound connections. Among them, the Market City Supervisor Wang Zhi and Tang Xiuyuan from the Sky Dragon Pavilion have sent messages and visiting cards. These people have extraordinary backgrounds. If you have time, you might want to meet them!¡± Lin Tianming nodded upon hearing this, having anticipated as much. He then saluted Xing Li and added, ¡°Uncle¡¯s words are most sound. After I have met with them, I will start my journey back to the clan!¡± Having said this, Lin Tianming chatted briefly with Xing Li and then left the Lin Family Courtyard. In no time at all, he appeared in a guest room on the third floor of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s personal visit, Tang Xiuyuan hastened to greet him, and met with Lin Tianming in the guest room. From a distance, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s laughter could be heard. ¡°Elder Lin, if you wished to see me, you could have simply sent a message or dispatched someone ¨C your personal visit truly flatters and overwhelms me!¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled, his words seemingly flattering, but his expression and tone were not overly formal. ¡°` Chapter 910 910 484 Meeting Tang Xiuyuan Again_3 ?Chapter 910: Chapter 484: Meeting Tang Xiuyuan Again_3 Chapter 910: Chapter 484: Meeting Tang Xiuyuan Again_3 Certainly, even though Lin Tianming had already broken through to the Golden Core Stage, surpassing him in cultivation realm. But he didn¡¯t need to be overly wary of Lin Tianming, let alone the entire Lin Family, treating them just as equals. After all, he hailed from the Nascent Soul Forces and was the chief representative of the Sky Dragon Pavilion here, his status equally esteemed. Although the gap in cultivation was evident, in a small place like Wei Kingdom, even Golden Core Cultivators had to show him some respect. This way, Tang Xiuyuan also remained quite composed. And naturally, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about these superficial honors, especially since the Lin Family couldn¡¯t afford to provoke the Tang Family of Qingzhou, obviously, he wouldn¡¯t fuss over such matters. Thus, he just smiled and then courteously said, ¡°Tang, don¡¯t make too much of it!¡± ... ¡°Even though I have broken through to the Golden Core Stage, Tang, you and I are close friends, no matter our cultivation, I think it¡¯s best we treat each other as equals.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Lin, last time we met, you had already broken through to the Golden Core Stage, hadn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Back then I sensed something off about you, if it weren¡¯t for the great battle erupting on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, I fear no one would have known about your family¡¯s terrifying power!¡± ¡°All in all, Lin, you really kept me in the dark!¡± Tang Xiuyuan said with a hint of resentment, his expression between a smile and a non-smile, quite comical. Hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand, thinking that after his breakthrough to the Golden Core, the first time he came to the Sky Dragon Pavilion to gather information, he had also sought to conceal the Lin Family¡¯s strength, thus not revealing his own cultivation. Later, when he went to the Myriad Medicine Valley to participate in the great battle, he had stopped for a night in the Qianchuan Market. However, he was in a rush at the time and didn¡¯t meet with Tang Xiuyuan. It was during that time that the Lin Family and Xu Zhi of the Qingyun Sect erupted in a great battle. After the battle concluded, the Lin Family¡¯s strength was fully exposed, and that explosive news quickly spread throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, almost to the point where everyone knew about it. Tang Xiuyuan surely became fully aware of the Lin Family¡¯s strength at that time. And this meeting was the first after the Lin Family¡¯s power was revealed. In such circumstances, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s teasing was only natural. Thus, Lin Tianming also clasped his hands together, smiling very sincerely as he said, ¡°At that time, it was inconvenient for the Lin Family to reveal itself, thereby keeping it from you, Tang. I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart!¡± ¡°Furthermore, I must thank you for the information you provided then. Without it, facing Qingyun Sect¡¯s menacing approach, unprepared, the Lin Family could have faced a very different outcome.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Tang Xiuyuan naturally understood Lin Tianming¡¯s concerns and would probably have done the same. Moreover, this matter was just a joke to him, and even Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take it seriously, so he took it even less seriously. Thus, Tang Xiuyuan said with a smile, ¡°Understood, understood!¡± ¡°As for the matter of the information, we weren¡¯t very sure at that time. At the end of the day, it was just a guess.¡± ¡°In my opinion, the Lin Family¡¯s survival of this ordeal was also a display of its overall strength.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Xiuyuan changed the subject, Then, he grew serious and tentatively asked, ¡°Lin, forgive my frankness, now that Wei Kingdom¡¯s great war is over, Wei Kingdom will inevitably return to its former calm.¡± ¡°With your family¡¯s current strength, you are bound to gain much territory and benefits.¡± ¡°I wonder what your family plans for the future?¡± ¡°Are you thinking of expanding the business further, thereby replacing Golden Sword Sect¡¯s position and influence in all aspects?¡± ¡­ Chapter 911 911 485 Return Home ?Chapter 911: Chapter 485: Return Home Chapter 911: Chapter 485: Return Home Upon hearing what Tang Xiuyuan had said, Lin Tianming did not immediately respond, but began to ponder inwardly. However, after giving it some thought, he felt that Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s points were not without merit. After all, the overall strength of the Lin Family was growing stronger and almost comparable to that of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. Therefore, with the fall of the Golden Sword Sect, it was only a matter of time before the Lin Family would take its place. Even so, the Lin Family¡¯s current influence and say within the Wei Kingdom were obviously far behind the other two sects. If the Lin Family wanted long-term development and to maintain sufficient competitiveness, they indeed needed to take a significant step forward. Tang Xiuyuan bringing this up now must also be because he wanted to further deepen cooperation with the Lin Family. ... Moreover, the Lin Family had already been in close contact with the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and they had intensified their cooperation, which had brought good benefits to both parties afterward. With such foundational conditions, the Lin Family could indeed consider increasing the cooperation further. After all, as the number of clan members in the Lin Family was increasing and they were gaining more territories, they required even stronger capabilities. Although resources were not lacking at the moment, what about in a few decades? By that time, the scale of the Lin Family¡¯s clan members would likely multiply several times, or even more than ten times. One could imagine that by then, the core strength of the Lin Family, including those above the Foundation Establishment Stage, would also increase explosively. In such a situation, to support such a large family of thousands of clan members, the needed resources would be immense. If they wanted to expand beyond Qingzhou and challenge the Nascent Soul Level powers, the required resources would be multiplied tenfold. Although it was too early to think about this, the Lin Family still had to plan for the long term, at least considering the situation decades later. Therefore, Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s proposition was indeed worth considering thoroughly. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming already had some ideas in his mind. However, discussing this now was slightly premature. In his view, they should at least wait until the situation in the entire Wei Kingdom had calmed down, and the Lin Family had finished distributing interests with the other two sects, before implementing it. Realizing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and replied to Tang Xiuyuan, ¡°Brother Tang, I, Lin Mou, am indeed very interested!¡± ¡°But the situation in the Wei Kingdom has not yet stabilized, and since this matter is of great importance, it is not something I can decide alone. I need to discuss it with the senior members of my family first.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Tang, I highly agree with this matter, and I believe the upper echelons of the Lin Family will also be interested. How about we discuss the details of the cooperation later?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s response, Tang Xiuyuan nodded with satisfaction. In reality, he also knew that it was impossible to get an answer so quickly. Although he was keen to further cooperate with the Lin Family and expand the benefits for the Sky Dragon Pavilion¡ªenabling himself to gain enough merit to help in his impact towards the Golden Core Stage¡ª He probably would consider the situation thoroughly before making a decision, just like Lin Tianming. Furthermore, the Wei Kingdom had just ended a great war and the situation was still unstable, not to mention the cultivation world. Given all these factors, it was only reasonable for Lin Tianming to respond as he did. And he hadn¡¯t expected to achieve his goals with just a few words; as long as he laid the groundwork early, implementation later would naturally follow its course. Knowing this, Tang Xiuyuan smiled and then sincerely said, ¡°Brother Lin, don¡¯t rush. I only hope you can convey my goodwill, and that we can establish a mutually beneficial, long-term cooperation that satisfies both parties.¡± Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression and tone were sincere, appearing genuinely heartfelt. Upon hearing this and seeing Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming also nodded. ¡°Rest assured, Brother Tang, I¡¯m very interested in this matter, and the Lin Family indeed needs to further expand its business.¡± ¡°Just let me discuss it with the elders of the Lin Family, and there is a high probability we will make a decision.¡± ¡°Great¡­ that would be most excellent!¡± Tang Xiuyuan smiled knowingly, feeling even more pleased and caring towards Lin Tianming and the Lin Family. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Subsequently, Lin Tianming changed the topic and chatted with Tang Xiuyuan for a while. Meanwhile, he took out more than one hundred thousand Spirit Stones and purchased a large batch of resources from Tang Xiuyuan. Most of these resources were consumables like Attack Talisman. Although his current cultivation was such that Second Order items were no longer useful to him, and even Third Order items had little effect, His clan still had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and their demand for offensive consumables was not small. Especially items like Attack Talisman, which even the few Second Order Inscription Masters in the Lin Family could not fully supply themselves. In the past decade, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world had seen wild upheavals, from beast tides to the great wars between the three sects, so the consumption of such treasures had increased tremendously. Thus, every year, the Lin Family had to supplement their treasures from other places to make up for the heavy consumption. Now, his wealth was terrifyingly vast; his storage bag alone contained millions of Spirit Stones, mostly spoils from the past few years. Besides these known assets, there were also several storage bags he hadn¡¯t explored, acquired from the battle at the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. It was foreseeable that once he took stock of everything, the wealth in treasures he held would increase considerably. With such vast property at hand, since he could not use it all at the moment, it was better to seize the opportunity to buy some valuable treasures to bring back to his close friends and family. Chapter 912 912 485 Return Home_2 ?Chapter 912: Chapter 485 Return Home_2 Chapter 912: Chapter 485 Return Home_2 Upon doing so, Lin Tianming also made extensive purchases, both as a token of gratitude to Tang Xiuyuan for promptly relaying the Huangyang Kingdom news and as a means to further deepen their friendship. When the time came for the Lin Family to fully expand their business and take control of other territories, they could also draw upon the strength of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Under these circumstances, paying a price now seemed worthwhile. With such intentions, Lin Tianming had a very pleasant conversation with Tang Xiuyuan. It was only after spending well over half an hour that Lin Tianming took his leave of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Following that, Lin Tianming did not head straight back to the Cave Mansion Courtyard but instead made his way to the workshop auction to meet with the Market City Supervisor Wang Zhi. It must be said that over the years, Wang Zhi had been quite helpful to the Lin Family. ... Although the Cultivation World had been quite turbulent in recent years, the impact on Luoyun Pavilion had been relatively minimal. Business was lackluster only during critical periods, with profits substantial most of the time. Wang Zhi indeed had put forth much effort in this regard. Therefore, even though Lin Tianming had already broken through to the Golden Core Stage and had a fierce reputation outside, ranking amongst the few top experts in the Wei Kingdom, he still personally paid a visit out of gratitude, giving Wang Zhi ample respect. His proactive visit caused quite a stir and left Wang Zhi with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. Thus, Wang Zhi hurriedly welcomed Lin Tianming with a high level of hospitality and introduced him to a few fellow disciples. These newly appointed Market City Supervisors were also members of the Zhenyang Sect who would reside here long term, thus considered individuals of some status. By doing this, Wang Zhi aimed to foster a good relationship with the Lin Family and to earn Lin Tianming¡¯s recognition. After all, he was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and although his status in the Zhenyang Sect was not low, breaking through to the Golden Core Stage would require a great deal of resources and the support of other cultivators. Lin Tianming had been in the limelight these past few years, with extraordinary strength that even Chen Jingtian dreaded. Though not a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect, his influence in the Wei Kingdom was nonetheless significant. Even brief pointers from Lin Tianming or a few words to a Sect Elder could prove very effective. Therefore, Wang Zhi hosted Lin Tianming earnestly and repeatedly mentioned he would further assist in ensuring Luoyun Pavilion could access more resources within the workshop. Lin Tianming naturally did not reject Wang Zhi¡¯s kindness. In fact, his personal visit also carried its own significant meaning. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s long-term development in recent years had relied on the help of many cultivators. From the very beginning of Luoyun Pavilion, with Li Xiuyuan and Ye Pinghai bustling about, they managed to quickly establish a foothold in Qianchuan Market. Subsequently, with the aid of many cultivators, Luoyun Pavilion had risen to the top of the shops, earning Spirit Stones for the Lin Family while also extending their influence. Otherwise, a Foundation Establishing Family with no reputation to speak of, what standing or strength could it possibly have to survive here? This success was the result of the Lin Family¡¯s extensive networking and meticulous relationships. Though it cost them some, the path they took was steady, achieving the family¡¯s strategic goals ahead of time. For these reasons, Lin Tianming always held the belief that friendliness brings wealth, and he was not opposed to lowering his stance when necessary. Otherwise, with his current cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, there was no need for him to lower his status and take the initiative to visit in person. His way of handling things indeed yielded different results. Wang Zhi was no exception, both terrified and immensely grateful at the same time. With Lin Tianming¡¯s interactions, Luoyun Pavilion could become even more stable, and its future prospects could be brighter. Following his visit with Wang Zhi, Lin Tianming also visited several cultivators, including the shopkeepers under Myriad Medicine Valley and heads of other large and long-standing Foundation Establishing Families. During this time, representing the Lin Family, he extended goodwill and sought preliminary collaboration. With him, a Golden Core Stage Expert and one known for his fearsome reputation in the Wei Kingdom taking the lead, the cultivators he visited were all intimidated yet extremely gratified. Under his combined hard and soft strategy, they all expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Lin Family, seeking mutual benefit in business. By noon, after a busy half-day, Lin Tianming finally returned to the Lin Family Cave Mansion Courtyard. After saying goodbye to Lin Xingli, Lin Tianming set off from Qianchuan Market and headed towards the territory of his clan. Several days later. Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle landed in front of the Mountain Protection Array at the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. After a few days of travel, Lin Tianming had passed through Golden Horn Mountain, pausing there for only half an hour. After briefly meeting Lin Tianqin and a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, leaving behind some cultivation resources, he continued his journey until he returned to the clan territory. The journey was rather smooth, and now, seeing the clan lands again, Lin Tianming wore a smile, his heart filled with a multitude of emotions. Since leaving the clan territory, almost two years had gone by. Though two years was not very long, the experiences he had endured were not few; nearly constant battles and magical duels had kept him on edge, wearing him down over time. Now back in the clan territory, his heart relaxed. Even though his injuries were not fully healed and the fatigue had not lifted, his heart felt like a small boat returning to harbor, indescribably warm and comforting. ¡°This is what family is; no matter how great the obligations or worries, it is ultimately the resting place of the heart!¡± Lin Tianming mused in his heart, his face still wearing a smile, his mood utterly buoyant. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming greeted the clan members patrolling the clan gate and then vanished from the sight of the crowd, leaving the excited clan members stunned in place. Most of these people were from the Tian generation, generally younger than Lin Tianming. With the clan repeatedly enhancing basic welfare and various incentive policies, these individuals had nearly all reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining and had become a central force of the family. Although they were all from the same generation with little age difference, many had not yet seen Lin Tianming in person. Now, having seen Lin Tianming with their own eyes, even if it was just a fleeting encounter, was enough to excite those who admired him. Nowadays, with the news of Lin Tianming¡¯s victorious battles at Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect spreading, the reverence within these clan members¡¯ hearts had grown even more fervent. At this time, Lin Tianming had already left and soon appeared in Lin Shilu¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard. Upon learning of his return to the clan territory, Lin Shihua and several other Shi generation clan members dropped everything to come and meet him. This included Ye Pinghai, who also hurried over for a gathering. However, Lin Shikang was not in the clan territory; he had left two months earlier with a party of clan members to carry out a series of plundering missions under the banner of Golden Sword Sect. At the same time, his purpose was also to look after the Lin Family¡¯s interests, to prevent any trouble. Lin Tianming returned a bit later and just missed Lin Shikang; otherwise, they might have encountered each other halfway. At this moment, Lin Shilu¡¯s Cave Mansion Courtyard was bustling with activity. Then, seeing Ye Pinghai looking stable, Lin Tianming addressed him, ¡°Grandpa Sea, how is your recovery from your injuries?¡± ¡°Tian Ming¡­ thank you for your concern, my boy!¡± ¡°My injuries weren¡¯t serious, and after meditating in seclusion for more than two months, I¡¯ve mostly recovered!¡± Ye Pinghai chuckled, his face revealing a satisfied smile. He had personally witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s growth. Now, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength had far surpassed his own. Especially after those two battles at Myriad Medicine Valley and Golden Sword Sect, Lin Tianming¡¯s elegance and formidable power shone through, even overpowering famous experts like Chen Jingtian in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Such formidable battle records were exhilarating to think about. In recent decades, he too had experienced several life-and-death battles, helping the Lin Family through several crises. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, he had fully integrated into the Lin Family and received their respect. Including Lin Tianming himself, everyone held great respect for him, justifying the support and care he had provided. Reflecting on this, Ye Pinghai was filled with emotion. ¡­ Chapter 913 913 486 Inventorying the Treasure ?Chapter 913: Chapter 486: Inventorying the Treasure Chapter 913: Chapter 486: Inventorying the Treasure At that moment, Lin Tianming saw that Ye Pinghai¡¯s complexion was rosy and he was indeed in good condition, and he also felt a sigh of relief in his heart. In his heart, although Ye Pinghai was not born into the Lin Family, his assistance and care for the entire clan were in no way inferior to the other Qi Stage Clan Members. Now, Ye Pinghai was also crucial to the Lin Family. As Ye Pinghai¡¯s adopted grandson, he naturally respected his elder, treating him as his own kin, always making him feel the warmth of the family. Knowing this, Lin Tianming complimented him with a respectful remark. ¡°Grandpa Sea, you have worked hard and meritoriously, now that the great war is over and Wei Kingdom is about to restore peace, you can finally concentrate on your cultivation!¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± ... Hearing this, Ye Pinghai stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his expression extremely satisfied. ¡°Hehe¡­ Still, it¡¯s your sweet words that please me, not in vain did I teach and care for you!¡± Ye Pinghai patted Lin Tianming¡¯s arm, expressing his satisfaction. ¡°Alright¡­ You both have worked hard!¡± Lin Shigong joked, and his melancholic expression caused the others to burst into hearty laughter. Then, Lin Shigong continued, ¡°This great war has ended, although the process was perilous, thankfully, we have all returned safely¡ªa true fortune for the Lin Family.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Shihua, who was nearby, nodded and then added, ¡°Ninth Brother speaks truly, this war was extremely perilous; thankfully, our ancestors blessed us, and it was also the fortune of the Lin Family disciples.¡± Lin Shihua felt profoundly emotional, his eyes revealing a deep sense of relief. And as the Lin Family Patriarch, entrusted with the safety and spiritual path of thousands of clansmen, his greatest concern was the existential threat to his family. Moreover, in recent years, there had indeed been many tumultuous events; the Lin Family had just survived an onslaught of beasts, and before the clansmen could take a breather, they were faced with civil unrest in Wei Kingdom. During the fierce Tri-Sect war, the entire Wei Kingdom was anxious, the clansmen even more so worried. During such critical moments, Huangyang Kingdom also made its move, adding uncertainties to the outcome of the war. The situation was indeed complicated and fraught with extreme danger, leaving the righteous Sect Families of Wei Kingdom under unprecedented pressure. Every member of the Lin Family felt like they were treading on thin ice, every decision a deep abyss. Now everything had passed, and the Lin Family, like a phoenix reborn from fire, had not only survived the crisis but also gained unimaginable benefits. Apart from these visible gains, many clansmen had advanced significantly in their cultivation, further enhancing the overall strength of the entire family. All these achievements were chiefly attributed to several Golden Core Stage Clansmen, and the Guest Elder, Hu Yuan. Especially Lin Tianming, who was the greatest hero in guiding the Lin Family through the calamity and was the hope for the Lin Family¡¯s metamorphosis. Thinking of this, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but become moist. As the head of the family, he truly empathized with the hardships Lin Tianming had endured over the years and the numerous crises he had faced. ¡°Tianming, my child, you have worked hard!¡± Lin Shihua said solemnly, patting Lin Tianming on the shoulder, his true emotions profoundly evident. Seeing the Patriarch¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming also felt a warm surge in his heart. Then, he bowed to Lin Shihua and said respectfully, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, you have tirelessly toiled for the family your entire life, and you are also indispensable to our Lin Family!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shihua smiled knowingly. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Then, Lin Shihua also waved his hand and said, ¡°I may not have great talents or strength, but fortunate to receive the trust of many fellow clansmen, I can only do my best and contribute my strength.¡± ¡°Over the years, I have dared not disappoint the hopes of our ancestors and my fellow clansmen!¡± ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, you really have achieved it!¡± ¡°Now, our Lin Family is full of talented individuals, with numerous Golden Core Cultivators and gifted younger generations. Our overall strength is now on par with Wei Kingdom¡¯s two Great Sects. Even the Yingchuan Chen Family, which has a longer history than our Lin Family, can¡¯t match us!¡± Lin Tianming excitedly spoke, narrating the glorious prospects of the Lin Family. Hearing his words, the faces of those present turned even rosier, their voices seemingly choked. Occasionally, sighs could be heard: ¡°May our ancestors bless us¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± In such a profoundly emotional scene, Lin Tianming watched, yet his heart was filled with myriad thoughts. The Lin Family had placed their hopes on him, compelling him to be cautious, thinking thrice before taking each step. As the saying goes, with great responsibility comes great pressure. Over these years, he indeed faced numerous life-threatening dangers and withstood substantial tests. Fortunately, though the risks were many and the dangers immense, everything had passed! It was foreseeable that, as Wei Kingdom gradually returned to peace, the Lin Family would embrace an unprecedented new era. Considering the current strength of the Lin Family, even if not surpassing Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, the difference wasn¡¯t too significant. After all, these two sects had lost many Golden Core Cultivators in recent years, their strength substantially diminished from their prime. With the end of the war, and once the distribution of benefits was settled, as long as no major disagreements arose, all the major forces would likely focus on recuperation, unlikely to cause any conflicts of interest. And he could use this opportunity to concentrate on his cultivation for a while. Once his own cultivation advanced further, he planned to explore the customs of other parts of the Cultivation World and to witness the elegance of Nascent Soul Experts. Chapter 914 914 486 Inventory of Treasures_2 ?Chapter 914: Chapter 486 Inventory of Treasures_2 Chapter 914: Chapter 486 Inventory of Treasures_2 Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt a stir of restlessness in his heart. After finally calming down, Lin Tianming called a halt to the conversation, and they all regained their composure. At this moment, with normal expressions, they all gathered to sit together, drinking spiritual tea and chatting leisurely; the atmosphere was harmonious. Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu sat together, and in their conversation, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t forget to congratulate him on his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Due to the urgency of participating in the war, Lin Tianming had hastily set off to Myriad Medicine Valley. At that time, Lin Shilu had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage and was also consolidating his cultivation in seclusion; they missed the opportunity to meet. Now, after each had come out of seclusion, with their cultivations at their peaks, and with relative calm on all sides, it was natural for Lin Tianming to engage him in a chat, renewing their concerns for each other. ... For Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu naturally needed no introduction; he had watched him grow up. In the subsequent periods of cultivation, Lin Shilu was wholeheartedly dedicated; he had indeed put in immense effort. Moreover, as Lin Tianming grew, Lin Shilu had also experienced much with him, facing numerous life-and-death crises. The bond between the two was both that of teacher and friend. When news of the great battle at Myriad Medicine Valley reached him, learning that Lin Tianming had continuously slain powerful enemies, even taking down several Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators, overshadowing Chen Jingtian for a time, Lin Shilu was incredibly excited; it seemed he was happier than if he himself had possessed such power. Looking back on the times two or three decades earlier, they had fought side by side numerous times through various trials and tribulations, as if it were just yesterday. Now, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation had broken through to the Golden Core Stage first, with his strength increasingly formidable. It was no exaggeration to say that Lin Tianming had surpassed him in every aspect. Thinking of this, Lin Shilu felt heartfelt gratification and satisfaction, filled with hope for Lin Tianming, his junior. And this joyous atmosphere continued, as they sat together and chatted for a long while, seldom having such a relaxed and refined moment to bond. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags and placed them in front of him. Upon seeing this, Ye Pinghai grabbed a storage bag with a puzzled look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Grandpa Sea, this is from Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core cultivator Yu Hongyan!¡± Lin Tianming pointed at the storage bag in Ye Pinghai¡¯s hand and explained with a smile. ¡°At that time, you hadn¡¯t joined the battle yet. This Golden Core female cultivator was the first Golden Core fighter slain by Sun Er!¡± ¡°And these others, there are also possessions of Gu Changqing from Qingyun Sect¡­¡± ¡°This storage bag contains the corpse of a Third Order Variegated Crystal Beast!¡± Saying this, Lin Tianming also took out a storage bag, which contained Third Order Refining Mastery Insights, obtained during the first distribution of the spoils of war from Zhou Yunxiao and others. Lin Tianming passed the storage bag to Lin Shilu, saying with a smile, ¡°Take a look, Fifteenth Grandfather!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shilu hurriedly received the storage bag and employed his divine sense to inspect it. Soon, seeing the contents inside, Lin Shilu¡¯s face flushed with excitement, ¡°Is this the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s insights?¡± ¡°Wonderful! With these materials, my chances of stepping into the Third Order are much greater!¡± Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t take his hands off the refining insights, immediately immersing himself and unable to extricate himself. His demeanor obviously showed great joy and satisfaction; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so eager. Hearing Lin Shilu¡¯s words and seeing his anxious demeanor, Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong were also smiling broadly, their hearts equally thrilled. This was because the Lin Family¡¯s Third Order Artifact Refining heritage was scarce, only a small part had been collected over hundreds of years, and the refining skills of the patriarch were not very high, offering very limited help to Lin Shilu. Now, with this added heritage of artifact refining knowledge, and with Lin Shilu¡¯s high talent for refining artifacts, entering the Third Order was only a matter of time. It could be anticipated that once Lin Shilu advanced to a Third Order Artifact Refining Master and personally guided those juniors with decent talent in artifact refining, the Lin Family¡¯s standard in artifact crafting would rise yet another level. Thinking of this, Lin Shihua and the others were even more excited. At that moment, Lin Tianming also spoke up to remind them, which pulled Lin Shilu and the others back to reality. Following that, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Elders, we have been preoccupied with the great battle and with recovering from our injuries. Time has really been too tight.¡± ¡°These storage bags, I haven¡¯t had the chance to check thoroughly. Since we now have nothing pressing to do, why not take a good look at our spoils of war.¡± Having said this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and tossed several storage bags to Lin Shilu and the others. Lin Tianming himself picked up Gu Changqing¡¯s storage bag and easily wiped away the residual divine sense on it, then began to carefully examine its contents. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, Lin Tianming revealed a satisfied smile, clearly very pleased with the treasures in the storage bag. Indeed, that was the case. Because Gu Changqing¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t low and he hailed from the Qingyun Sect of the Huangyang Kingdom, a Mid Stage Golden Core realm was considered among the top at the time. Hence, the belongings of such a powerful individual were indeed quite considerable. Upon his investigation, there were over ten thousand medium-grade spirit stones in the storage bag alone, and more than two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. That was not to mention the various elixirs used by Golden Core cultivators, a variety of Third Order spirit ores, spiritual medicines, demonic beast materials, and some consumable treasures. These Third Order items, which were generally used by Golden Core cultivators, might not be worth cities of gold, but they were indeed very fine treasures. Aside from these items, the more valuable were two magical treasures, one for offense and one for defense, and two pieces of Fourth Order spirit ore. The value of these items was not low, far surpassing average Third Order treasures and were essentially the most important treasures of a Golden Core cultivator. Now that Gu Changqing was dead, all of these items belonged to Lin Tianming. What was regrettable was that no heritage treasures had been found in the storage bag, not even a Second Order legacy related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. Lin Tianming was prepared for this result; after all, Gu Changqing was from a sect power. Such cultivators, like most others, were not in the habit of carrying lineages on their person. Therefore, Lin Tianming¡¯s lack of such discoveries was not difficult to understand. As Lin Tianming finished inspecting the storage bag, except for the Fourth Order spirit mine and the two magical treasures, the cumulative value of the various other treasures almost reached several million low-grade spirit stones. All in all, Gu Changqing¡¯s wealth matched his status and cultivation level, and it was the return Lin Tianming ought to have received for daring to participate in the battle. However, this was only the storage bag of the first Golden Core cultivator; the spoils of war from Yu Hongyan and several other Golden Core Stage cultivators had yet to be tallied. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Should he finish inspecting all of it, considering their status and cultivation level, the value of the treasures obtained might reach an astronomical figure. Aware of this, Lin Tianming was quite excited. Next, he casually took out a vast amount of treasure, mainly items he didn¡¯t need, and those two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. The cumulative value of this batch also exceeded several hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. Lin Tianming separated them out with the intention of giving them to Clan Leader Lin Shihua, as part of his contribution of resources to the family. In his eyes, his own personal wealth was terrifyingly ample. Just the profit from participating in this battle would definitely yield treasures worth tens of millions in spiritual energy. With so many treasures, he had no use for the ordinary items. Apart from a personal portion given away to relatives, the rest could well serve as a contribution of strength to the family. Furthermore, he had also acquired quite a number of magical treasures. The value of these items was indeed the greatest. Although the spirituality and quality of some magical treasures had significantly diminished, with minor expenses to repair them, they could be restored to their peak condition. Even if the materials used were superior, surpassing the original might was also possible. ¡­ Chapter 915 915 487 Treasure Refining Plan (End of ?Chapter 915: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (End of Month Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 915: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (End of Month Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets) And he didn¡¯t plan to monopolize these tremendous treasures, especially since there were quite a few Golden Core Cultivators in the Lin Family at present. Although he had obtained several magical treasures from Myriad Medicine Valley previously, the quality of those treasures was mediocre, some even inferior to those he had acquired. Considering carefully, it wasn¡¯t surprising, for what Myriad Medicine Valley was willing to give away was hardly the best, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have made the decision so resolutely. Now, with this large batch of magical treasures supplemented and having acquired numerous precious Artifact Refining Materials, all that was left was to wait for Lin Shilu to advance to a Third Order Artifact Refiner so he could refine them anew. By then, equipping each of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators with one or two Offensive Magical Treasures, in addition to a Defense Treasure, wouldn¡¯t be a problem. With sufficiently good weapons, the clansmen would be able to manifest greater strength. All Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the Lin Family could use two or three treasures, both offensive and defensive; compared to the initial striving when they first broke through to the Golden Core Stage, they no longer needed to worry about lacking weapons. ... Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this way, even if any individual faced veteran Golden Core Cultivators, they¡¯d have confidence. Lin Tianming thought to himself, filled with anticipation. At this moment, when Lin Shihua saw Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, he pondered for a moment and knew what was contained inside. Eventually, he didn¡¯t utter any pretentious words but simply took the storage bag. Even though nothing was said, everyone present clearly understood how much Lin Tianming had contributed to the family. At this stage, uttering those insincere, pretentious words wouldn¡¯t have much significance. Thus, Lin Shihua stored away the storage bag, which relieved Lin Tianming. Immediately afterwards, Lin Shilu and a few others also opened the other storage bags to briefly inspect the treasures inside. Quickly, their breathing became hurried again, clearly astounded by the copious treasures inside the storage bags. Lin Tianming had anticipated their reactions. After all, the bags they got contained the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast, while another one contained spoils obtained from Zhou Yunxiao. He had been well aware of these items beforehand and understood the value of those treasures. In his view, although the allocated treasures were limited in quantity, they were high-value treasures, amongst which Qianjin Ratan and Bone Cleansing Flower were Fourth Tier Items and extremely valuable, also being some of the most useful treasures among others. To acquire these items, he had also given up quite a bit. Now, placing these treasures before them naturally shocked them. As expected, Lin Shilu, being an Artifact Refiner, his eyes sparkled upon seeing the Qianjin Ratan, evidently aware of its uses and understanding its value. After all, he was an Artifact Refining enthusiast and having encountered such a rare Artifact Refining Material was naturally ecstatic. If he had not yet reached the status of a Third Order Artifact Refiner, he would have desired to retreat immediately and add the Qianjin Ratan to a magical treasure, greatly enhancing its quality and spirituality. Because he understood that his Artifact Refining skills were not yet up to the basic requirements, he managed to contain the restlessness in his heart, gradually calming down. On the other side, Lin Shihua and the others were equally excited. Although not as fervent as Lin Shilu, their faces also flushed and breathing grew rapid upon seeing the Qianjin Ratan and Marrow Cleansing Flower. These were Fourth Order Treasures! Over the years, the Lin Family had never acquired a Fourth Tier Item; even Third Grade Treasures were very limited. Yet, over these recent years, Lin Tianming had obtained hundreds of Third Grade Treasures and even several Fourth Order Treasures. Although he had taken substantial risks, such great gains truly made others envious. However, as elders of the Lin Family, they pondered and soon changed their perspective. After all, although treasures were tempting and the rewards behind them substantial, compared to Lin Tianming¡¯s safety, they were utterly incomparable. They knew that Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was already exceptional, his Dual Spiritual Roots not to mention heaven-defying, but at least a rare gift. His cultivation pace was swift, his strength exaggerated, and despite such talent and strength, Lin Tianming remained diligent, his Dao heart incredibly resolute. In their eyes, Lin Tianming was such an outstanding seedling with unimaginable potential. Even the genius Lin Tianyun of the Wind Spirit Root in the family, based on the displayed potential at the moment, seemed to not match Lin Tianming¡¯s extent. Under such circumstances, as long as the Lin Family could develop steadily, even mobilizing the entire clan¡¯s resources or waiting an additional two hundred years would be wholly worthwhile. But reality was harsh, with crisis after crisis approaching; even if the Lin Family didn¡¯t wish to get involved or stay away from turmoil, it was impossible. Thus, it could be said that the Lin Family was forced to endure one crisis after another. Ultimately, unless it was absolutely necessary, even facing the temptation of Fifth Order Treasures, they wouldn¡¯t want to see Lin Tianming willingly take such risks. Knowing this well, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression turned solemn, his tone serious as he advised, ¡°Tianming, we won¡¯t talk about being forced into this battle, the Lin Family has these treasures now, plus the Cultivation World has returned to tranquility, and the workshop along with Luoyun Pavilion will also contribute some revenue, enough for the clan to operate for decades!¡± ¡°From now on, you should not act rashly, nor should you risk your safety!¡± Right after he finished speaking, Lin Shilu also sternly said to Lin Tianming, ¡°Brother Twelve is right!¡± Chapter 916 916 487 Treasure Refining Plan (Seeking ?Chapter 916: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes at Month End)_2 Chapter 916: Chapter 487: Treasure Refining Plan (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Votes at Month End)_2 ¡°You should know, you are the Lin Family¡¯s greatest hope. It doesn¡¯t matter if we old folks die, but if anything were to happen to you, the Lin Family¡¯s hopes of progressing further would diminish greatly.¡± ¡°How could we face our ancestors if it were so?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then smiled wryly, feeling helpless. Right after that, Lin Tianming spoke up to reassure everyone. ¡°Senior family members, rest assured, after this great battle ends, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is very likely to settle down completely.¡± ¡°In the next several decades, Tianming doesn¡¯t plan to go out.¡± ¡°After all, in my view, our current cultivation resources are sufficient, and it would be good to take this opportunity to stay at the family estate and focus on cultivation, hopefully breaking through to Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± ... ¡°Otherwise, Tianming won¡¯t easily venture out, thus naturally avoiding any risks.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shilu and a few others finally breathed a sigh of relief. In their hearts, they really feared that Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t sit still. If Lin Tianming were to become restless and venture out, with his bold way of doing things, he might well face some risks. Thankfully, Lin Tianming was aware of what was important and had already made plans, otherwise, they would indeed have a lot to worry about. ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ that¡¯s very good!¡± ¡°You, young man, should take a break for a while. I, too, plan to enter seclusion to contemplate those insights into Artifact Refining, attempting to reach Third Order Artifact Refining Master.¡± ¡°Once successful, I will immediately craft a Magical Treasure for you!¡± Lin Shilu said this with a suddenly excited expression. He laughed heartily and continued, ¡°With the treasures you¡¯ve brought back, I¡¯m sure a few powerful weapons can be crafted, and you, young man, can further strengthen your powers!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± ¡°Tianming indeed has this idea and wanted to ask Fifteenth Grandfather for help in crafting a suitable Life-bound Magical Treasure.¡± ¡°Now that Fifteenth Grandfather has taken the initiative to mention this, it is really more than wonderful, precisely avoiding having to ask your elderly self!¡± Lin Tianming replied excitedly, his face brimming with a broad smile. In fact, he had this plan in mind for quite some time. He had obtained Qianjin Ratan from Zhou Yunxiao and had given up some benefits, all in preparation for his Magical Treasure. In his heart, he knew that to comprehensively enhance his strength, the role of a Magical Treasure was crucial. If possible, he needed a large number of longswords, at the very least two sets of Offensive Magical Treasures. The first being a single sword, perfectly complementing the Technique Divine Power of the Divine Firmament Nine Swords and the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next would be the Earth Fiend Sword Array, which required seventy-two longswords. Regarding the Earth Fiend Sword Array, he highly regarded it too, for its effects of trapping enemies and its wide-ranging Attack Power had once brought him tremendous aid. During this battle, he had not used it much in the magic duel because the original Earth Evil Swords were not of high enough quality. However, this does not mean he had given up on this Divine Power. After all, the Tiangang Body Art is a Heavenly Grade Technique, and every Supernatural Attack it carries has immense power and different effects. But the Earth Fiend Sword Array requires so many longswords that an ordinary Qi cultivator, even with the desire to refine, cannot afford such a vast consumption. You must know, a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s Magical Treasures in any state of Qingzhou¡¯s Cultivation World, are of high value. For an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator to possess one or two Magical Treasures is already considered extremely rare. For him to plan on crafting seventy-two Treasure Swords, and to refine them as a set, just the needed Artifact Refining Materials is probably astronomical. Besides, this is also a great challenge and burden for an Artifact Refiner. Looking ahead, it is foreseeable that Lin Shilu will probably not be able to find the time to do other things for the next twenty or thirty years, focusing only on maintaining the most basic cultivation. Fortunately, the Refining of the Earth Evil Swords doesn¡¯t require the high-quality standards of Tiangang teachings. As long as they are of normal Magical Treasure quality, with the feature of being a complete set and with such a large quantity, they can still exert tremendous power. Thus, the Artifact Refining Materials required for the Earth Fiend Sword Array need not be too precious, which would save a lot of costs. Otherwise, all the precious Artifact Refining Materials acquired by the Lin Family over the years would probably have been used up by these Magical Treasures. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat helpless. Fortunately, after the great battle had concluded, he had accumulated a vast trove of treasures, with the majority of them being artifact refining materials. With these resources, he could barely afford the expenditure. Not having to worry about materials was only one aspect¡ªLin Shilu wouldn¡¯t need to overexert himself during the artifact refining process due to the lack of exceedingly high requirements. As for the upcoming allocation battle between the two sects and two clans, he, both personally and on behalf of the Lin Family, aimed to obtain as much as possible. With the support of that batch of resources and treasures, he believed the refining of several magical treasures could proceed more smoothly and could meet his expectations. He had even secretly speculated how strong he would be if he possessed sufficiently powerful magical treasures. If he were to face Zhou Yunxiao or Lu Xingfeng in a duel, what were his odds of winning? He continuously reflected and speculated, having previous encounters to reference. After all, he had twice withstood the attacks of Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators by relying on the Divine Power of the Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus. However, in terms of defense, even if his offensive magical treasure improved, enduring a life-or-death magic duel with a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator might still not last very long. But if he obtained a potent offensive magical treasure as he envisioned, with his prowess in supernatural attacks, he might not necessarily be much weaker than them. Indeed, if he could seize the right moment, perhaps he could match a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming resolved that he must enhance his magical treasures in every aspect. He was well aware that only with greater strength could he approach anything with more confidence. He always believed in this principle and would never change. Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming stored these thoughts in his mind, prioritizing the matters at hand and deciding to take later issues one step at a time. Meanwhile, the few people who had been exuberant earlier had now regained their composure. They proceeded to discuss the current situation and the Lin Family¡¯s general development direction for the future. Having returned from the battlefield last, Lin Tianming had a better understanding of the situation regarding the Golden Sword Sect. Additionally, during his return journey, he had a long conversation with Tang Xiuyuan, inquiring about the general state of affairs in the Wei Kingdom and the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Worlds. According to the information he had gathered, the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three sects had suffered a significant setback and remarkably, hadn¡¯t reacted too vehemently, which surprised Lin Tianming. Regard the situation in the Wei Kingdom itself, it was a one-sided affair. Considering the resolve of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, as well as the current plight of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t take half a year to capture them all. Even if some managed to slip through the net, they would likely hide their identity or flee to other countries to survive, posing no significant threat to the Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom. In light of this, Lin Tianming shared all the information he had with others and mentioned the specific arrangements for a high-level gathering set by Zhou Yunxiao. Upon learning this, Lin Shihua and others nodded in agreement, none objecting to the plans. However, Lin Shikang had already gone to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory to oversee the Lin Family Members¡¯ hunting operations and to monitor the control of benefits for the Lin Family. Therefore, which members of the Lin Family would be sent to Qingshui Market and the specific scheme for the distribution of benefits remained unknown. Given that the matter was crucial to the Lin Family¡¯s century-long development plan, it would definitely need to be discussed with Lin Shikang. Thus, the concrete action plan would have to wait until Lin Shikang¡¯s return, or when the Lin Family Members went to Golden Sword Mountain to convene with him. However, there was no rush for this matter, as there was still almost a year¡¯s time. After discussing, Lin Tianming and the others decided to set this aside for a while. Following the settlement of these issues, Lin Tianming and the others made small talk for a while before bidding each other farewell. Lin Tianming left the cave dwelling together with Lin Shigong and headed towards their mother¡¯s cave dwelling to enjoy a good reunion. Just Lin Xingrong, Lin Tianyue, and Qin Xi were still executing family missions on the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s turf, so the family gathering was not entirely complete. However, even so, three generations of the family still dined together that evening and chatted for a long time before returning to their own cave dwellings. Back in his long-missed cave dwelling, Lin Tianming had settled all matters at hand. Exhausted, he had no intention of delaying any further and directly entered the resting room, quickly falling into a deep sleep. ¡­ Chapter 917 917 488 Body Refinement Progress ?Chapter 917: Chapter 488: Body Refinement Progress (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 917: Chapter 488: Body Refinement Progress (Seeking Monthly Pass) ¡°` He had slept for a full three days. After several days of deep sleep, the feeling of fatigue on his body had completely faded away. Apart from his injuries that had not yet fully healed, his mental state had basically reached its peak. It wasn¡¯t until the third day that Lin Tianming, feeling rejuvenated, walked out of the rest room and headed straight for the Practice Room. Soon, he was sitting cross-legged on the cushion, and following that, he brought his hands together and began to channel his energy, adjusting his condition. Half a Shi Chen later, Lin Tianming took out a Solidifying Pill and swallowed it. As the pill entered his mouth, a gentle stream of energy immediately overflowed, traveling along the intricate pathways of his Qi-Blood channels. At the same time, this mild energy began to heal the damage along his meridians. ... In an instant, Lin Tianming experienced a tingling sensation, accompanied by twinges of pain spreading throughout his body. This feeling was incredibly unique. Clutching his heart, he gritted his teeth and began to control the energy within his body to repair the various injuries. Meanwhile, inside him, the damage upon his channels started to heal at a faint pace. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. In the Practice Room, Lin Tianming opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air, a flash of brilliance crossing the corners of his eyes. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming inspected his inner condition and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. ¡°After three months, my injuries have finally healed!¡± Lin Tianming muttered softly to himself, feeling quite overjoyed. After taking a moment to stabilize, he began to ponder. There was still over half a year before the appointed meeting with Zhou Yunxiao. This period of time was neither long nor short, quite awkward indeed. If he were to enter seclusion for cultivation, without any pills to suppress the pain, even though he had many Yuxu Pills for cultivation, he could only watch helplessly. He dared not risk his life by forcing his cultivation with the aid of Yuxu Pills under the torment of such pain. That kind of pain was still fresh in his memory; even thinking about it made him shudder. If this were during his Qi Refinement Realm days, even without pills to suppress the pain, he could still bear it. But now, having reached the Golden Core Stage, the gap between the two Cultivation Realms was as immense as heaven and earth. Under these conditions, he dared not take that risk. Yet, if he did not cultivate, what could he do during this awkward period of time? Thinking of this, Lin Tianming had an expression of worry. Tormented by the side effects of his Cultivation Technique, he could only wait, hoping to get a suitable elixir that would quickly help him elevate his cultivation. Luckily, he had already obtained the Pill Formula for the Dry Jade Pill, a pill that was quite suitable for a Body Cultivator like him. Though the main ingredient, Dry Jade Grass, was hard to find, the secondary ingredients were not too rare, and gathering them wasn¡¯t too difficult. As long as he could find the Dry Jade Grass, Ye Pinghai would be able to help him refine it. But then, he would no longer face barriers in cultivation and could swiftly enhance his cultivation. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat impatient. Having calmed down, Lin Tianming set this matter aside for the moment. He was clear in his mind that now was not the time to look for Dry Jade Grass. At least, he would have to wait until the convening of the various forces¡¯ Golden Core cultivators was over, to have the time and energy to search for the herb. For the time being, he could focus on Alchemy. After all, with the aid of his Eye of Five Colors and the family¡¯s abundant Spiritual Medicine resources, Alchemy was important both for him personally and for the Lin Family. In addition, he could consume the Fourth Order Marrow Cleansing Flower he had obtained, using it to improve the strength of his body. The function and value of the Marrow Cleansing Flower went without saying; he had given up some benefits in the past just for this flower. Surely, by consuming this Treasure, his physical body would advance another level, and perhaps it would become even more formidable than his Mana techniques. Now with such an opportunity available, he naturally wanted to consume it as soon as possible. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming was all action, not intending to waste any time. With a single slap on his storage bag, a Jade Box instantly appeared in his hand. Lin Tianming opened the Jade Box, revealing a palm-sized white flower. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon close inspection, the white flower was crystal clear, with complex patterns faintly visible on its surface, making it a stunning sight to behold. At the same time, a unique fragrance filled the air. Just by breathing it in, the Qi-Blood within his body couldn¡¯t help but stir restlessly. In that moment, Lin Tianming eyed the Marrow Cleansing Flower before him with a fiery gaze. ¡°This Marrow Cleansing Flower really lives up to the reputation of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine, containing an extremely rich energy and abundant vital essence!¡± ¡°It is likely that upon consuming this, the strength of my flesh will surge greatly, truly reaching the state of Copper Skin Iron Bones,¡± Lin Tianming pondered eagerly. Without delay, he swallowed the Marrow Cleansing Flower whole. Before he could taste the Marrow Cleansing Flower, it had already reached his belly, and immediately radiated waves of energy and medicinal power. Instantly, Lin Tianming felt unbearably hot all over, as if he were roasting in fire. Simultaneously, an excruciating pain spread throughout his entire body and even his divine soul suffered immensely. This pain was terrifying, no less than the pain he experienced during his Qi Refinement days when he forcibly cultivated using elixirs. Facing such pain, he nearly passed out on the spot. At that moment, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but emit a pained groan. Drops of sweat the size of soybeans continuously fell from his head, quickly evaporating upon contact with the heat emanating from his body. ¡°` Chapter 918 918 488 Advanced Body Refinement ?Chapter 918: Chapter 488: Advanced Body Refinement (Requesting Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 918: Chapter 488: Advanced Body Refinement (Requesting Monthly Pass)_2 While Lin Tianming clenched his teeth tightly, a trickle of fresh blood slowly spilled from the corners of his mouth, forcing himself to stay conscious. At the same time, he began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, and after completing a Grand Circulation, he started refining the immense energy within his body. As some of this energy was refined, the once restless Qi-Blood gradually calmed significantly. It was at this moment that he began to feel the pain in his body and divine soul lessen. Soon, as more and more energy was refined, the excruciating pain had completely vanished, replaced by a marvelous feeling. That feeling was exceptionally comforting, like a cold body being plunged into hot water, making him feel an utmost sense of happiness throughout. Lin Tianming glanced slightly downward at his body and saw that his meridians seemed to have expanded, and the colors of his internal organs had changed, becoming brighter and more vivid than their original pale golden color. ... Upon closer inspection, he saw that his originally white jade-like bones also had a hint of golden sheen. In addition to this, the fresh blood in his body had a slight color change, and his Qi-Blood became even more vigorous, circulating more quickly, filling his whole body with inexhaustible strength. And all these changes were just from refining a very small part of the energy. If all the energy were completely refined, the transformation would undoubtedly be more significant, vastly different from before. At this time, feeling these changes, Lin Tianming secretly murmured to himself, ¡°The Marrow Cleansing Flower is truly wondrous, its effects indeed very powerful, and it¡¯s no wonder it¡¯s a highly valued fourth-stage spiritual object. Just this bit of energy has benefited me immensely!¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine what level I could reach if I were to refine all the energy of the Marrow Cleansing Flower?¡± ¡°I fear it could significantly enhance my physical strength, perhaps even stronger than the attacks of spells and divine skills!¡± An excited Lin Tianming, with a face full of enjoyment, was extremely thrilled internally, not regretting at all the price he paid for obtaining the Marrow Cleansing Flower. Instead, he felt very fortunate, glad that he had been resolute and wise. After calming down a bit, he immediately closed his eyes, speeding up the energy refining process within his body. Time flew by, and three months quickly passed. On this day, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, and a burst of sharp light shot out from his eyes, striking directly at the stone wall in front of him. After a dull thud, calm returned to the secret chamber. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s complexion was rosy, his face wearing a thick smile. Then, as he looked downward at his body, he indeed found, just as he had guessed, that his internal organs and even his bones and meridians were covered with a significant amount of golden-yellow color. On closer inspection, although this golden color had not yet reached its ultimate state, the difference compared to the original was extremely apparent. Without exaggeration, it was distinctly pale golden bones and meridians, and pale golden internal organs. Furthermore, all the blood in his body also carried a pale golden hue, circulating incredibly smoothly and much faster. This tremendous change filled him with power, and his Qi-Blood was exceptionally vigorous. Lin Tianming casually clenched his fist, and immediately, a crisp cracking sound emanated. This sound was clear and pleasing, accompanied by a wave of air spreading out, stirring up gusts of breeze. Feeling the robust power inside, Lin Tianming¡¯s face wore an ecstatic expression, and his complexion was also extremely rosy. He casually took out a first-grade diamond, and with a slight effort, crushed it into powder, which was then slowly blown away by the breeze. It should be known that although the grade of this diamond was not high, the hardness of this Artifact Refining Material was extremely high. Yet even so, he merely used 10% of his strength to easily crush it. From this, it was evident how formidable the strength within his body was. And this tremendous improvement was entirely due to the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Flower. Before this, he had also consumed spirit fruits that enhanced physical strength multiple times and persisted in taking elixirs while cultivating to enhance the robustness of his body. However, none of these enhancements were as significant, not even coming close. In his eyes, the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Flower were indeed terribly powerful, truly worthy of a fourth-order item. After a brief examination, Lin Tianming felt very satisfied with the result. Nevertheless, he did not plan to stop there but instead continued by taking out the Qinghong Sword and slicing it across his forearm. Quickly, a finger-long wound appeared on his forearm, and pale golden blood flowed out. This blood seemed quite striking, seemingly full of vitality. Just a mere moment, equal to the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, had passed. The blood actually congealed directly, and the wound closed up, leaving only a scar on the forearm. Looking at the quickly healing wound, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. He thought to himself that at this rate, it might take only a day or two for the wound to heal completely, looking no different from normal. In his view, his formidable physical strength, along with the powerful Qi-Blood and terrifying recovery ability, had significantly improved a level compared to before. He even speculated in his heart that if he now fought Song Hanchun relying solely on his Physical Strength, even if he couldn¡¯t kill Song Hanchun, there would be no risk of falling. At most, he would just fear the might of the Spirit Art, which could inflict great damage on him. Thus, he almost concluded that solely with Physical Strength, he could handle an ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. However, this wasn¡¯t absolute! After all, a cultivator¡¯s methods are unpredictable, and their trump cards are endless, so merely relying on the cultivation realm is not the main factor in judging a cultivator¡¯s strength. If he were to encounter a powerful Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator like Chen Jingtian, or faced an extremely powerful attack from a Spirit Art, even an Early Stage Golden Core strong practitioner would be incredibly formidable. Facing such opponents, relying solely on Physical Strength to fight, the outcome remained uncertain. Thus, without absolute confidence, he should still be cautious. If he capsized in the ditch, it would be too much of a loss! Knowing this, Lin Tianming kept it firmly in mind and never took risks lightly. After regaining his focus, Lin Tianming tidied up the Cultivation Room. Following that, he continued to sit cross-legged on the mat, then took out some Spiritual Medicine Materials along with various equipment needed for Alchemy. There were close to five months left before the day he and Zhou Yunxiao agreed to meet. Subtracting the half month needed for travel, he should still have four months to go into seclusion. Now that the Marrow Cleansing Flower had been consumed and refined, the results far exceeded his expectations. With still ample time ahead, he planned to take the opportunity to refine some Second Order Pills to practice. And upon careful calculation, he also hadn¡¯t seriously refined elixirs for a long time. In the nearly ten years before, he had been initially pushing towards the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, almost continuously in seclusion for a long time. Later, after stepping into the Golden Core Stage, he was more occupied with consolidating his own cultivation. Scarcely out of seclusion, he had hurried to Myriad Medicine Valley to participate in the tripartite clan war. Up to now, he hadn¡¯t had much time or energy to properly refine elixirs. Even when occasionally producing a few batches of pills, it was only to prevent his Alchemy from becoming rusty. Since improving his Alchemy skills was urgently needed, he naturally had to make all the necessary preparations. Besides, he needed to revisit the experiences left by the Third Order Alchemy Masters once again. If time was sufficient, he could also study various Third Order Pill Formulas, preparing himself well for the attempt to reach Third Order Alchemy Master. With such a goal, Lin Tianming had a clear objective and naturally had no intention of delaying. Thus, he immediately began to work, following the Alchemy process to start refining. With familiar ease, in just a few days, a batch of elixirs was successfully produced. This batch was a rather precious type among Second Order Pills, the Hun Tian Pill, which could disregard the boundaries of realms and enhance a Foundation Establishment Cultivator by one level. He was quite familiar with this elixir. He himself had once consumed one, directly advancing from the eighth level of Foundation Establishment by one level. Such pills, considered precious among Second Order Pills, had a very strong effect and produced clear results. For the Lin Family, as more members reached the later stages of Foundation Establishment, the demand for Hun Tian Pills exceeded the supply. Now, with him taking the initiative and with his terrifying success rate and quantity of pills produced, the Lin Family likely wouldn¡¯t need to refine this pill for decades. Under these circumstances, the first batch of pills was perfectly successful. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The quantity and quality of the pills produced were both satisfying. Clearly, even though he hadn¡¯t practiced Alchemy for a long time, his skills hadn¡¯t regressed at all. ¡­ Chapter 919 919 489 Husband and Wife Reunited ?Chapter 919: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 919: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Request for Monthly Votes) That day, Lin Tianming finally left his retreat and appeared in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. After two months of seclusion, Lin Tianming had refined over twenty Hun Tian Pills, nearly exhausting all the various materials needed for this type of elixir. Only when he could no longer gather a complete batch of elixirs did Lin Tianming, compelled by necessity, stop his work. In the subsequent two months, Lin Tianming was not idle as he immediately began to delve into the various pill formulas and all the alchemy inheritances he possessed. By now, he first tested his skills and found that his alchemy had not faltered at all, comparing favorably to his peak and was even slightly better. Later, by pondering the various inheritances, he gained a deeper understanding of the foundational knowledge and insights. Today, his experience in alchemy truly could be considered rich, with a broad perspective, nearly reaching the peak of a Second Order Alchemist. Even refining high-difficulty Second Order Pills like the Hun Tian Pill was almost effortless for him. ... With the purpose of this seclusion perfectly fulfilled, Lin Tianming no longer stayed in the secret chamber. And today, more than a month still remained before the day he was supposed to meet with Zhou Yunxiao. At present, time was ample, so the idle Lin Tianming left the Cave Mansion, appearing in the courtyard. It was then Lin Tianming paused when he looked at a neighboring secret chamber, and saw Qin Xi, whom he hadn¡¯t seen in years, slowly walking out. Seeing his beloved, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he quickly dashed over, pulling Qin Xi into his arms. Feeling the softness against his chest and Qin Xi¡¯s warm body temperature, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but hold her even tighter. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s actions, Qin Xi blushed and struggled slightly. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was immense, and the reserved Qin Xi couldn¡¯t move. In the end, she gave up, reluctantly burying her cheek in Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. It wasn¡¯t until a moment that felt as long as it took to brew a cup of tea had passed that Lin Tianming slightly loosened his grip, and the two of them pulled apart a little. Then, with concern, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, when did you all return to the family?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi earnestly replied, ¡°We came back two months ago.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, then continued to inquire, ¡°Has Third Grandfather returned? What¡¯s the situation with the Golden Sword Sect? How did the drive to exterminate the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect turn out? What actions have the other major forces taken?¡± Knowing Lin Tianming would be concerned about this, Qin Xi had anticipated these questions. Thus, she nodded and began to explain, ¡°The task of besieging the Golden Sword Sect has been completely accomplished, and the major Spirit Lands and workshops are now under the control of several Golden Elixir Forces.¡± ¡°Third Grandfather and my father each stationed at multiple Spirit Lands, and there are family members in some workshops as well.¡± ¡°A few months ago, Third Grandfather, empathizing with Xi¡¯er having been away from family for long, had sent me and a few others from Tian Yue back to our family lands first.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming nodded, not at all surprised by such an outcome. After all, the fate of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect seemed almost destined at that time. It¡¯s known that the major Golden Elixir Forces, having expended such great costs, naturally wouldn¡¯t let those people go nor would they relinquish the various resources and treasures managed by the Golden Sword Sect. The encirclement that lasted nearly half a year involved almost all powers big and small in Wei Kingdom, including some Loose Cultivators muddling through. The movements of these smaller forces were crystal clear to the larger ones. Instead of stopping them, they even helped things along. By doing this, they hoped to use the strength of the entire Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom to capture all the deeply hidden remnants of the Golden Sword Sect in one fell swoop. While such actions would lead to some loss of resources and treasures, the greatest benefits were largely secured in the hands of the major forces. Some minor profits, left for the lower-ranking cultivators, were not unusual to be distributed. After all, Wei Kingdom as a whole, having previously faced the onslaught of the beast tide and the great war erupted among the three sects, had conscripted most of the forces. Since all had contributed to the victory, it was only fair to give them some benefits. For the sake of lasting peace, the major forces turned a blind eye, as far as possible, to avoiding certain conflicts. For the lower-ranking cultivators, too much exploitation could also cause some damage to the foundation of the major forces. Although a small portion of the people might have grievances, it would hardly become a significant issue. But offending all the cultivators, even Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, would feel great pressure. Even mishandling it could likely hinder their development and eventually shake their foundation. However, up to now, with the major Golden Elixir Forces willing to distribute some benefits, it resulted in a happy conclusion for everyone. And these lower-rung families and Loose Cultivators, in order to compensate for previous losses, naturally exerted their best efforts. In such circumstances, facing so many people involved in the encirclement, even if the disciples of the Golden Sword Sect hid very well, few escaped the net. After half a year of encirclement, the entire Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom also began to officially return to tranquility. Yet, even so, the gaze of all forces large and small were gathered on those top few Golden Elixir Forces. Because among them remained the big issue of how the final gains were to be distributed. While these big gains seemed unrelated to the smaller powers, they were equally crucial for those people. Chapter 920 920 489 Husband and Wife Reunited ?Chapter 920: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 920: Chapter 489: Husband and Wife Reunited (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 After all, the Golden Sword Sect controlled many resources and its territory was vast; even any Golden Elixir Force had to take these seriously. Therefore, if the top few forces failed to agree and ended up with some divergence or conflict, it might likely reignite the great war that had just subsided. If the situation indeed developed in such a way, the smaller forces as well as the Loose Cultivators would find it difficult to stay uninvolved. This was the influence of the top forces; ordinary forces simply could not avoid it. So, while everything seemed calm on the surface for now, it was still difficult to predict the final situation. This gathering, which involved all the forces big and small, was also the focus of everyone¡¯s ongoing attention. With the appointed time fast approaching, Lin Tianming would not need too long before he had to set out on his journey to Qingshui Market for the gathering and negotiations. ... Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming wore a look of solemnity, and inside, he was somewhat worried about the upcoming negotiations. Seeing his expression, Qin Xi also took his arm and leaned into his embrace, resting her head against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. Feeling Qin Xi¡¯s gesture, Lin Tianming gradually calmed down and held her tight in his arms. Neither of them spoke. After a moment of tenderness, Lin Tianming changed the topic and asked Qin Xi and the others about their experiences participating in the great war at Qingshui Market over the past few years. Thus, Qin Xi began to slowly recount their experiences since they had left the family. According to her, she and Lin Xingping had left the family and managed a smooth journey to Qingshui Market. Although they had been stationed at Qingshui Market for quite some time, the actual conflicts that erupted were few. Since Song Hanchun¡¯s side was not particularly strong, he did not lead the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s disciples in continuous assaults on the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s territory. Over these years, the Golden Core Stage combat power rarely intervened, and intense battles were few and far between, with mostly just some Foundation Establishment Disciples being sent out to fight. Qin Xi and the others had participated in several major battles, and with their combined strength, along with the assistance of some acquainted cultivators, their safety in the battles was not a concern. At the same time, the three of them had each slain a fair number of fellow cultivators at their level, accumulating significant military exploits and ranking near the top of many lists of recruited cultivators. Overall, the Zhenyang Sect and the Golden Sword Sect both suffered losses, with the situation roughly in a stalemate. In the high-stakes conflicts between the High Order Cultivators, both sides exercised restraint, with neither fully committing. Clearly, Song Hanchun also understood their lack of strength and realized that they were unlikely to cause significant trouble for the Zhenyang Sect. Therefore, he merely garrisoned his troops, occasionally launching small harrying attacks to exert pressure on the Zhenyang Sect, to prevent Lu Xingfeng from leaving the Zhenyang Sect Mountain Gate to support the great war at Myriad Medicine Valley. In the beginning, Song Hanchun¡¯s goal was indeed achieved. Bound by Song Hanchun¡¯s pressure, Lu Xingfeng did not show up to join in the great war until a phased victory was achieved at Myriad Medicine Valley. By then, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Golden Core Cultivators were in retreat, with their High Order combat power suffering enormous losses. Out of necessity, Song Hanchun had no choice but to lead some of his disciples back to the Golden Sword Sect, joining forces with Han Hu and others to fight a desperate struggle. Thus, without any concerns from behind, Lu Xingfeng was finally able to leave the Zhenyang Sect and appear in the great war against the Golden Sword Sect. With Song Hanchun¡¯s departure, the pressure on Qingshui Market side also lifted, and the great war came to a halt. It was only when Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng sent orders for the Zhenyang Sect disciples stationed at Qingshui Market, along with the recruited cultivators under their command, to join in the extermination of the remnants of the Golden Sword Sect that Qin Xi and the others followed the main army into action. During this time, they encountered Lin Shikang, who had come with his clan members. Afterward, the three of them were led by Lin Shikang, with Lin Family Members grouping together in pairs and threes, joining in the task of seizing various resources. After more than half a year of extermination efforts, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s spirit lands were completely overrun, and more than ninety percent of the disciples perished. Soon after, the great war came to an end, and the Wei Kingdom finally returned to peace. Qin Xi and the others then returned to their family lands, each starting a brief period of secluded cultivation. Qin Xi also learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s return but did not send any message to disturb him, knowing he was in seclusion, until the couple emerged today and met. As for the subsequent plans, Lin Shikang had also asked Qin Xi to relay a message for Lin Tianming to meet up in Qingshui Market on the appointed day. At the same time, it was crucial to ask Ye Pinghai to accompany him on the journey. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming was not surprised by Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangement. ¡°` After all, this Golden Core gathering was to allocate the vast estate of the Golden Sword Sect as well as their many territories. The Lin Family sent three members to attend, boosting their negotiating confidence somewhat; should any accidents occur, the three could take care of one another. In that light, even if a major disagreement arose and they were forced to take action, the three members of the Lin Family could at least ensure some safety for each other. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was also mentally prepared. Soon after, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi in his arms, a trace of a smile crossing his face. After all, the couple had been separated for years and were now reunited; the joy of having the beloved one had longed for day and night in his arms was irresistible, no matter what. After a long while, Lin Tianming broke the silence. ¡°Xi¡¯er, has your cultivation reached the peak of the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded slightly, a blush crossing her face. Seeing Qin Xi looking like that, Lin Tianming laughed heartily. He was extremely impressed and satisfied with her speed of cultivation. It must be noted that when Qin Xi had left the family, she was only at the Great Perfection Realm of the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment. Yet, in just a few years, she had advanced two minor realms, reaching the peak of the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, not far from the Ninth Level. Considering her talent and strength, along with her substantial accumulation during these past years of warfare. Just with the help of a Hun Tian Pill, breaking through to the Ninth Level was almost a sure thing. It was even possible, if circumstances allowed, to reach the peak of the Ninth Level directly. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was quite excited and then took out a Hun Tian Pill, handing it to Qin Xi. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this Hun Tian Pill was just refined by your husband, it is of excellent quality and potency.¡± ¡°If you take this pill, it will definitely help your cultivation progress further, and if used correctly, reaching the peak of the Ninth Level directly is not an impossibility.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi was overjoyed, her eyes alight with fervor. She had long heard about the Hun Tian Pill and was well aware of its enormous benefits and value. Now that the great war had ended, she had already planned to enter seclusion to cultivate. With this pill, her certainty of entering the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment was almost complete. Once she successfully stepped into the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, she could reach the Great Perfection within three to five years and then impact the Golden Core Stage. With this thought, Qin Xi was thrilled, and her heart could hardly wait. After finally calming down, Qin Xi didn¡¯t play coy and promptly took the pill. Afterward, she smiled and asked, ¡°Ming, what are your plans next?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, his mind also considering his options. With time to spare, he planned to first visit Ye Pinghai to pass on the arrangements made by Lin Shikang. Once this was confirmed, and the time of departure agreed upon, they would set out directly for Qingshui Market. For the remaining ten or so days, he decided to stay at home for a few days, to accompany Qin Xi, and to fulfill his filial duties. At the same time, he needed to discuss contingency plans with the Clan Leader. After all, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were now catching their breath, and with huge interests at stake, no one could guarantee that nothing untoward would occur. If some irreconcilable conflict did arise, sparking another Golden Core conflict, the Lin Family would not be caught unawares. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming then shared his thoughts with Qin Xi. Since Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements seemed very prudent, Qin Xi naturally had no objections. With the matter settled, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t want to waste any time. After saying goodbye to Qin Xi, he left his cave dwelling and hurried towards Ye Pinghai¡¯s abode. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 921 921 490 Qingshui Market (Request for ?Chapter 921: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 921: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes) ¡°` Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, inside a certain cave dwelling. Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai were sitting in a courtyard, having rushed over after receiving Lin Tianming¡¯s message, Lin Shigong also arrived. The three exchanged greetings and subsequently sat down for a tea and idle chat. Ye Pinghai picked up the teacup and took a light sip, then looked at Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Tian Ming, the great battle with the Golden Sword Sect has ended, has Xi¡¯er returned?¡± Hearing the question, Lin Tianming replied, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Sea, for your concern!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er returned to our territory two months ago and will come to pay her respects to you in a couple of days!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ... Ye Pinghai nodded in satisfaction, his expression extremely kind. He was clearly very concerned about Qin Xi. Following this, Ye Pinghai continued to inquire: ¡°According to the schedule, in a little over a month, the Golden Core Gathering will take place to allocate the interests of the major powers, right?¡± ¡°Grandpa Sea¡¯s foresight is like divination!¡± Lin Tianming complimented with a smile, then continued, ¡°One reason for my visit today is to pay respect to you, Elder!¡± ¡°The other is to convey Third Grandfather¡¯s request, pleading for you to depart with me to meet at the Qingshui Market.¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Ye Pinghai smiled, having somewhat anticipated this. After all, if Lin Tianming could fathom the reasons, Ye Pinghai, with a hundred years of cultivation experience, was also a person of deep insight and strategy. With careful thought, he could understand the depth of Lin Shikang¡¯s intentions. In fact, he had been prepared in his heart, merely waiting for the senior members of the Lin Family to come forward and speak of it. Now that Lin Tianming and his grandson had come together, he was already prepared to set out. Thus, naturally, he would not decline. Therefore, Ye Pinghai nodded and replied, ¡°Your Third Grandfather requests, and you and your grandson visit me in person; even if I were busier, how could I have the reason to refuse?¡± ¡°Tell me¡­ when do you plan to depart?¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s decisive response, both Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong showed joy. ¡°Grandpa Sea, we still have plenty of time; how about we agree to set out in ten days?¡± Lin Tianming pondered for a moment and replied. ¡°Good¡­ that¡¯s settled then!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s prepare these few days and gather at the Sect Entrance Plaza early morning in ten days!¡± Ye Pinghai responded with a smile, and the two set a specific time for departure. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and the two others sat together, chatting leisurely for quite a while. Half an hour later, the grandfather and grandson bid farewell to Ye Pinghai and headed to the Clan Elders¡¯ Assembly. There, they met with Lin Shihua, who was busy handling family affairs. The three exchanged information, confirming Lin Shikang¡¯s arrangements and mentioning the departure date for Lin Tianming and his grandson. At the same time, Lin Tianming also brought up an emergency plan, wanting to make comprehensive preparations to deal with any potential crises. After a discussion, the three tentatively decided on several important actions. First, the family would immediately mobilize to strengthen patrols around the territory and all major Spirit Lands, readying for any potential battles that might arise. From Foundation Establishment Cultivators to Qi Refinement Initial Stage Clan Members, unless necessary, everyone was to be on standby. Second, the family Treasure Vault would allocate a portion of war resources, mainly involving elixirs, consumable Attack Treasures, and some Spirit Instruments to bolster the core strength of the family. Doing so was also meant to strengthen their overall power in the face of any potential battles that might occur. Third, was the retraction of some external forces to form several teams to respond to crises. With these decisions set, Lin Shihua also busied himself, committing all his energy to strategizing. Lin Tianming and his grandson did not stay long at the Elders¡¯ Council and soon left, hurrying to Ren Yuxuan¡¯s cave dwelling. Qin Xi had also arrived earlier, specially to visit her mother, Ren Yuxuan. With Lin Tianming and his grandson gathering, only Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianyue, father and daughter, were outside executing clan tasks. Although the family was not completely together, Ren Yuxuan had always been quite worried about her daughter-in-law, Qin Xi, having not seen her for many years. Now that Qin Xi had returned safely, not only gaining astonishing battle achievements but also seeing her cultivation soar, her Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Peak Stage placed her as the first among the Lin Family clansmen beneath the Golden Core Stage. Such talent and strength, combined with her nation-upsetting beauty, as well as her gentle, virtuous, and courteous demeanor, naturally left Ren Yuxuan extremely pleased. Now that her daughter-in-law had come to visit, Ren Yuxuan was overjoyed, her face always adorned with a smile. Afterward, she kept holding Qin Xi¡¯s hand, inquiring warmly, leaving no time to concern herself with Lin Tianming, the elder or the younger. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his grandson could only smile wryly, finally sitting in the yard to chat. After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law talked for a while, Ren Yuxuan then busied herself with Qin Xi to prepare an abundant meal for everyone. After finishing the noon meal, Lin Tianming and the others sat together, chatting for half an hour, during which they talked about many of Qin Xi¡¯s experiences abroad. However, due to the elders¡¯ concerns, Qin Xi only spoke of those simple and safe missions, and never mentioned any dangerous or bloody scenes. This warm and harmonious atmosphere, along with some vivid and interesting experiences, surprised and delighted the two elders, Ren Yuxuan and Lin Shigong. As time slowly passed, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a long while. This gathering finally drew to a close, and after exchanging farewells, they left to attend to their own affairs. Lin Tianming and his wife said goodbye to Lin Shigong and then headed straight back to their own cave dwelling. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the next few days, the couple did not retreat for cultivation. ¡°` Chapter 922 922 490 Qingshui Market (Request for ?Chapter 922: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 922: Chapter 490: Qingshui Market (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 In those rare moments of leisure, under Lin Tianming¡¯s lead, the two of them spent their days frolicking through mountain ranges around the clan territory, living a life akin to that of immortals and their spouses. ¡­ Ten days later. At the square in front of the Lin Family¡¯s mountain gate in the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, Lin Tianming waited on the side, while the Purple Gold Eagle circled overhead, seemingly having the time of its life like a playful child. After a short while, Ye Pinghai and Lin Shigong, along with a few other clan members of the Shi generation, arrived together and landed steadily beside Lin Tianming. Seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming greeted them with a smile and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, his demeanor humble and polite. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shihua and the others also returned the greeting, not showing any disdain for Lin Tianming just because he was a junior. ... At that moment, Lin Shihua glanced at Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai, a trace of melancholy flashing across his face, clearly worried about the negotiations not proceeding smoothly. After all, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect were the two biggest forces in Wei Kingdom, each with a history spanning thousands of years and profound depth. Even though the combat power of the Golden Core Stage cultivators in both forces had suffered severe losses after the recent war, they still held the absolute initiative when dealing with the Lin Family. If irreconcilable conflicts arose, the Lin Family would once again fall into dire straits. Thinking of these things, Lin Shihua let out a helpless sigh. Then, folding his hands in salute, he said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Brother Ye, Tianming is young and impetuous. After you arrive at Qingshui Market, please remind my Third Brother to stay calm.¡± ¡°Unless it¡¯s a matter of principle, let¡¯s try to give way as much as possible. Let¡¯s avoid conflict with them unless absolutely necessary.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Shihua!¡± Ye Pinghai folded his hands in response and then followed up with a smile. ¡°Brother Shi Kang is even older than I am, and he¡¯s also meticulous in thought. We¡¯ll discuss matters together; I¡¯m sure we can reach a mutual understanding and return safely in the end.¡± Upon hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s words, Lin Shihua¡¯s stern expression eased considerably, clearly he agreed with Ye Pinghai¡¯s sentiment of discussing matters together. Lin Shihua then turned to look at Lin Tianming and continued to offer advice. ¡°Tianming, always prioritize the overall situation!¡± ¡°The Lin Family¡¯s history is short, and we cannot yet compare with the deep roots of Myriad Medicine Valley and the other major forces; we need time for development. Though we now have some strength for self-preservation, it is still best to keep a low profile.¡± ¡°The trees that stand out in the forest are often destroyed by the wind; you should understand this principle.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded his head. Even without Lin Shihua¡¯s reminder, he was well aware of it himself. He knew that the Lin Family¡¯s rise had been too abrupt. Despite their rapid growth, in reality, they were not yet a match for either Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect. Currently, the Lin Family had become incredibly prominent, having shone brightly in the recent war, like a dazzling new star. And he himself had slain many foes in the war, achieving astonishing feats. Reflecting on it, he indeed had been too conspicuous and high-profile. In his view, powerful strength was a double-edged sword; it could deter others but also inspire fear and hidden opposition against the Lin Family. For now, the Lin Family had risen like a comet, with their current achievements sufficiently dazzling, drawing the attention of cultivators throughout Wei Kingdom. This was both a time to expand the family¡¯s influence and a period when the Lin Family could become a thorn in the side for some. Of course, the rise of a great power always entails these issues. Because the rapid growth of a great power inevitably encroaches upon the interests of others. Fortunately, the great entity that was Golden Sword Sect had collapsed, freeing up tremendous benefits. This provided the Lin Family with a chance for development and drew the attention of others. Under the weight of such benefits, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect needed time to assimilate and had no spare energy to limit the Lin Family¡¯s growth. Thus, the hostility and targeting towards the Lin Family could not compare to those powers that had grown up in crevices. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt fortunate. He knew this was an excellent opportunity for the Lin Family! However, the Lin Family couldn¡¯t afford to be too careless or too high-profile any longer. As long as the Lin Family maintained a low profile for a while longer, just another thirty to fifty years, and once their strength had become sufficiently formidable, even if the other two major sects recovered their senses and harbored malicious intentions against the Lin Family, they would no longer be able to shake its foundation. Aware of the importance of this, Lin Tianming also let out a slight sigh of relief. Then, he turned to Lin Shihua and replied, ¡°Rest assured, Twelfth Grandpa, Tian Ming will follow the arrangements of Third Grandfather and Grandpa Sea!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, feeling much more at ease in his heart. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at the few people present and then slowly said, ¡°Grandpa Sea, it¡¯s about time, we should depart now!¡± ¡°Mm¡­ Prepare to set out on the journey!¡± Ye Pinghai nodded and said with a smile. No sooner had he spoken than Ye Pinghai gestured with a cupped fist towards a few people behind him, then took the lead in crossing the Protective Clan Formation, emerging outside the formation. Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle did not delay, quickly following in his steps. Outside the formation, the two of them consecutively leapt onto the back of the Purple Gold Eagle and sat down cross-legged. Afterward, with a piercing cry from the Purple Gold Eagle, it shot straight into the sky, quickly ascending thousands of feet high and soon vanished without a trace. ¡­ Qingshui Market. At the entrance, a large number of cultivators were queuing to enter. As news of the meeting between the senior cultivators of the various Golden Elixir Forces spread, cultivators from all over the Wei Kingdom gathered at Qingshui Market. It was obvious that these people were also there with the mentality of enjoying the excitement, arriving at the marketplace before the negotiation conference began. In just half a month, thousands of cultivators had rushed over, and the number of cultivators continuing to come each day kept increasing. Before this, due to being situated on the front lines of a great battle and serving as a stronghold for a prolonged period, Qingshui Market already hosted a considerable number of loose cultivators. Now, the human traffic in Qingshui Market had surged even more. Seizing this moment, the Zhenyang Sect also organised a grand and highly prestigious auction in conjunction with several major Commerce Alliances. It was said that even the rarely opened Golden Core Auction Venue had been revived after many years, with a vast array of treasures prepared. Once the news was released, coupled with the date of the high-level cultivator negotiation meeting drawing closer, it attracted even more cultivators to come. This time, they could participate in the auction while also witnessing the top powerhouses from the great sect families. Consequently, the Qingshui Market was now bustling with popularity, with the human traffic up to this point already surpassing that of the time of the great war. It was foreseeable that in the following half a month, even more cultivators would continue to arrive, and the human traffic would keep growing. On that day, around noon, the sun was shining brightly. On a mountaintop outside the entrance to Qingshui Market, the figure of the Purple Gold Eagle appeared. Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, gazing into the distance at the faint outline of the city ahead, a trace of weariness flickering across their faces. The two had spent the better part of a month traveling across the territory controlled by the Zhenyang Sect, from the furthest south of the Luoyun Mountain Range to the northernmost part of the Qingshui Mountain Range. With both of them traveling together and with their cultivation strength, the journey had naturally been smooth, and they had now arrived at their destination. At this time, Lin Tianming turned his head and said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Grandpa Sea, let¡¯s go straight over, shall we?¡± ¡°Mm!¡± Ye Pinghai nodded, his expression calm. Seeing this, Lin Tianming instructed the Purple Gold Eagle, directing it to head straight for the entrance of the market. In no time at all, the Purple Gold Eagle brought the two to the entrance of the market. While still in mid-air, the Purple Gold Eagle circled overhead the entrance, its massive body drawing the gaze of everyone below. Instantly, the cultivators gathered at the entrance all looked up, some of them seeming to recognize Lin Tianming and his companion. ¡°Look quickly, that¡¯s a second-order late-phase Purple Gold Eagle!¡± The first to spot the huge shadow overhead stammered, his expression somewhat panicky. Chapter 923 923 491 Relieved (Request for Monthly ?Chapter 923: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes) Chapter 923: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes) Just then¡­ The Purple Gold Eagle slowly descended; some cultivators who recognized Lin Tianming and his companion began speaking excitedly as if they had witnessed something incredible. ¡°Everyone, look, sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle is Elder Lin of the Lin Family!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Elder Ye Pinghai?¡± ¡°The lineup the Lin Family has brought out is truly impressive, even Elder Lin Tianming is here!¡± Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion sitting on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, hovering in midair, numerous cultivators wore expressions of shock and awe, while many others looked excited, their eyes filled with admiration. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his companion simply smiled indifferently, paying no mind to the cultivators below. ... After all, most of these people were in the Qi Refinement Realm, and there weren¡¯t many Foundation Establishment Cultivators; the disparity in identity and strength was simply too vast for any interaction. Therefore, Lin Tianming and his companion merely waved toward the crowd below as a greeting, then leaped off the Purple Gold Eagle and walked toward the entrance. The two walked slowly, and the crowd naturally parted to create a path, allowing them to easily reach the entrance of the workshop. There, a disciple of the Zhenyang Sect at the Foundation Establishment Stage quickly stepped forward and bowed. ¡°Greetings to the two elders; this junior was assigned by the sect to wait here and receive the elders.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming waved his hand and asked, ¡°Is my Third Grandfather in the workshop? And where is he resting?¡± ¡°The noble Elder Lin Shikang from your family is already waiting inside, and the Daoist brothers of the Lin Family have also settled in a cave dwelling.¡± ¡°Apart from a few elders, our Zhenyang sect has also arranged cave dwellings as resting places for other elders attending the gathering.¡± The disciple from the Zhenyang Sect who was in charge of reception replied respectfully, maintaining a neither servile nor haughty attitude, appearing quite composed. Hearing this, Ye Pinghai nodded in satisfaction and then instructed, ¡°Lead the way ahead!¡± ¡°The two elders, please follow this junior!¡± The receiving cultivator made a gesture of invitation and then stepped forward, leading the way into the interior of the workshop. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside as well, Tianming,¡± Ye Pinghai reminded, then followed the steps of the receiving cultivator into the workshop. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay, quickly catching up with the two, and soon disappeared from the sight of the many cultivators. It was only a long time after Lin Tianming and the others had completely vanished that the cultivators at the entrance of the workshop came back to their senses. Immediately after, a great number of cultivators started bustling discussions, the scene lively and animated. In the crowd, a Qi Refining Cultivator at the Fifth Level wore a confused expression and then turned to his companion to ask, ¡°Daoist Yang, could it be that the Elder Lin you mentioned is the peerless powerhouse who consecutively slew several opponents in the great battle recently?¡± ¡°And the one that just appeared is the terrifying being you spoke of?¡± Hearing the junior cultivator¡¯s words, several nearby cultivators sneered, and one of them proudly remarked, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Keep in mind, Elder Lin, in the previous great battle, consecutively slew many formidable enemies, even a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman was killed by him!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He consecutively slew several Golden Core experts? Even the super-strongman from the Mid Stage Golden Core, who dominated the region, fell by his hand?¡± A few Qi Refining Cultivators who were still unaware seemed very isolated from the shocking news. Hearing the cultivator talk boastfully, those of lower cultivation levels were incredibly shocked, their eyes also filled with longing for the strength of the powerful. The previously boastful cultivator wore a proud expression, clearly enjoying the sensation of being the center of attention. Seeing this, other cultivators continued to ask questions, from the background of Lin Tianming to his experiences in the great battles, inquiring in great detail. Thus, the cultivator extensively promoted the background of the Lin Family and the many deeds of Lin Tianming over the years. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Elder Lin, it turns out, is the fastest cultivating genius in the Wei Kingdom in a thousand years!¡± ¡°In barely a chest of years, he has already broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and his strength is terrifying to the extreme, despite being at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm, even ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core experts are no match for him!¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, some more cultivators were shocked, their faces filled with horror and their mouths gaping wide. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Such achievements and terrifying combat achievements in so few years?¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± The cultivator exaggerating Lin Tianming¡¯s achievements seemed somewhat angered by the slightly skeptical tone. ¡°These tidings are well known in the Southern Wei Kingdom, you need only ask around a little to know whether my words are true or false!¡± ¡°Moreover, would I dare to fabricate or distort facts about such a powerful Elder Lin?¡± The cultivator said earnestly, his face full of respect, and his demeanor was incredibly fervent, evidently an admirer of Lin Tianming. Hearing his words, many people also felt it made sense. Subsequently, many cultivators also insisted on that outspoken individual elaborating further, to broaden their knowledge. Seeing the crowd¡¯s eager anticipation, the outspoken individual did not delay and soon started narrating the experiences of Lin Tianming over the past dozen years. ¡°Elder Lin hails from the Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family, this clan also had Golden Core Cultivators around six or seven hundred years ago¡­¡± ¡°Elder Lin slew countless Demonic Beasts in the great beast tide battle, and during the time he was at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer cultivation, he suppressed a group of Foundation Establishment Ninth Level disciples from various sects¡­¡± ¡­ The cultivator continuously portrayed the recent decade¡¯s deeds of Lin Tianming. Chapter 924 924 491 Relieved (Request for Monthly ?Chapter 924: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 924: Chapter 491: Relieved (Request for Monthly Votes)_2 ¡°From the Beast Tide War to the secrets that emerged from the Tianfeng Secret Realm, and then to the terrifying achievements in the Three Sects Battle, the tales were a mix of truth and fiction, described so vividly it¡¯s as if the storyteller witnessed them firsthand.¡± Some of the information, although not entirely accurate, was generally not far off and did not intend to tarnish the reputation of the Lin Family or Lin Tianming. Other cultivators who hadn¡¯t heard these rumors also enjoyed listening to the tales of various deeds told by the storyteller. After all, most of these people were at the Qi Refinement Realm, had been to very few places, and had limited knowledge; they usually only came into contact with Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for Golden Core Stage superpowers who dominated the Wei Kingdom, they knew very little. Generally speaking, they only knew of their names, had never heard of a Golden Core Cultivator taking action, much less witnessed the true face of a powerful expert. To observe a Golden Core Expert from such a close distance, as they were able to today, was also one of their reasons for coming to Qingshui Market. ... Now that Lin Tianming and his companion had left, they could only learn more about Golden Core Cultivators through the rumors spread by these cultivators. With this in mind, as Lin Tianming and his companion disappeared from sight, the entrance of the market became a hubbub of noise, with many cultivators gathering to chat. At the same time, some cultivators who had entered the market began to spread the news that Lin Tianming had arrived in Qingshui Market. In no time, the entire Qingshui Market was bustling, with many low-level cultivators discussing the many deeds of the Lin Family. Lin Tianming was, for the time being, unaware of these discussions. At this moment, under the guidance of the receiving cultivator, he arrived at the cave dwelling where Lin Shikang was resting. Then, Ye Pinghai looked at the Zhenyang Sect disciple beside him and gave an instruction, ¡°Young friend, the two elders here will share a cave dwelling with Lin, and the rest of our clan members will need only one separate dwelling each.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you can go back and report.¡± Hearing the order, the receiving disciple bowed with hands clasped and said, ¡°Your elder¡¯s command shall be honored.¡± ¡°As for the cave dwelling¡¯s restrictions, the elder can directly communicate with Lin Shikang; the arrangements for the other friends are already in place, so the two elders can rest assured.¡± ¡°I will now return to report, and if there are any instructions, you can communicate with me at any time!¡± After speaking, the cultivator left his communication method and then departed from the place. Watching him leave, Lin Tianming and his companion turned their heads to start observing their surroundings. For both of them, it was their first visit to Qingshui Market. They had observed it briefly on the way here and noticed the booming popularity of Qingshui Market. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though Qingshui Market was a small-scale market, because it was situated at the junction of three great sects, its geographical position was relatively unique, making it of significant strategic importance to the Zhenyang Sect. Consequently, even though Qingshui Market was not on the same scale as Qianchuan Market, in terms of area and popularity, it was much stronger than the Luoyun Mountain Range. Moreover, even before the outbreak of the great battle, this market was already quite popular. With the outbreak of the war, many cultivators who were summoned to the area gathered here, and the flow of people increased rather than diminished. Now that the Golden Core gathering and a sizable auction were set to be held here, it attracted a large number of cultivators to converge on this place. Upon reaching the central area of the market and seeing the dozen or so lavish cave dwellings, it was obvious that Zhenyang Sect had specially prepared them to host the many Golden Core Cultivators attending the gathering. As for the cave dwelling they were in front of now, it was not far from the market auction, situated in a highly noticeable location, making it quite convenient for getting to any direction or area. After surveying for a moment, Lin Tianming sent a message. Quickly receiving the news of their arrival, Lin Shikang hurriedly walked out of his dwelling and, after exchanging greetings, welcomed them inside. The three of them sat down in the small courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At this time, with a joyful expression, Lin Shikang, while serving tea to Lin Tianming and his companion, asked, ¡°Brother Ye, did you have a smooth journey here?¡± ¡°With the war over and the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World returning to peace, plus with Tian Ming accompanying us, who would dare to trouble us?¡± Ye Pinghai spoke with a smile, sipping the spiritual tea. Hearing these words, Lin Shikang also he he laughed. Then he too began to inquire about the situation back home with the family clan. Lin Tianming did not dare to delay and immediately reported on the various situations of the family over the past year, truthfully relaying everything. That included the large amount of treasures he himself obtained on the battlefield and the emergency plans made by the family, all of which he fully reported to Lin Shikang. Knowing that Lin Tianming had acquired quite a lot and even contributed some treasures to the family, Lin Shikang was very excited. He felt sincerely satisfied with Lin Tianming and was quite comforted. Afterward, hearing that the family had made emergency plans, he felt equally satisfied with Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements. With the family¡¯s situation clear, Lin Shikang also felt a long sigh of relief inside. Following that, he praised, ¡°Tianming, you all have done well. I¡¯ve been quite worried while being away!¡± ¡°Now it seems that even without me, you all can make the right decisions. I am very comforted!¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming smiled and waved his hand, saying, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the strategies and joint efforts of the senior elders!¡± These words were also heartfelt, as the Lin Family had always discussed important matters collectively. The results of these collective discussions were also weighed by everyone, ensuring at least that there were no major oversights. Such a style of handling affairs, more careful than dictatorial rule, was also the guarantee for the Lin Family to avoid detours. Knowing the importance of this, Lin Tian Ming, regardless of how advanced his cultivation might become in the future, would still abide by the Elders¡¯ Council¡¯s decisions and take their advice. At least for major decisions, it was essential to consult with the senior-level members. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming then changed the topic and asked Lin Shikang about his situation in Qingshui Market. Lin Shikang responded with a light smile and then shared his experiences over the past six months. According to him, aside from a few family members who returned to the clan, about dozens of people spread out across various Spirit Lands. In the Qingshui Market, there were only a few family members present, and at that moment, they were in the neighboring cave dwelling, in seclusion healing their wounds. As for himself, he had spent the year mostly leading some family members in attacking the Spirit Lands left behind by the Golden Sword Sect. With him leading the troops, even without much intervention, the Lin Family managed to take control of several Spirit Lands. The main ones were some Spirit Fields rich in Spiritual Energy, planted with a large number of First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs. In addition, there were some low-grade Spirit Mines, generally of the more common First and Second Order types used in Artifact Refining Materials. Overall, while the treasures produced from these Spirit Lands were ordinary, their value was not high when considered individually. But when the not-yet-fully-mined Spirit Ores and those unripe Spiritual Herbs were accumulated together, their value was not considered low. Based on his rough estimates, these gains, if completely acquired, were worth at least several million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. This did not include the treasures in the storage bags obtained from exterminating Golden Sword Sect disciples. If those were taken into account, the gains would be even greater. And these were the rewards they, a few dozen people, had worked hard to obtain over half a year. For these, all the clan members, including himself, were very satisfied. After all, not many family members were mobilized, and actual combat was very limited, lasting just over half a year. To be able to obtain such a profit in such short a time, which was several times more than the Lin Family¡¯s normal annual income. After all, to put it nicely, this mobilization of family members was to take over the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s assets; to put it unkindly, it was to plunder the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s properties. However, under the current situation, the Golden Sword Sect had been completely annihilated. Not just the Lin Family, but the other Golden Core Forces moved just as quickly, and their methods were even more bloody and ruthless. Apart from them, forces big and small in the Cultivation World, including some Loose Cultivators, had also joined in, muddying the waters to take some benefits. When comparing the actions of the Lin Family with those of the other forces, what they did was not excessive at all. Chapter 925 925 492 Intention to Form an Alliance ?Chapter 925: Chapter 492: Intention to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 925: Chapter 492: Intention to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes) Lin Tianming was well aware of this and felt very satisfied with the gains the Lin Family had made in the past six months. After all, the hard work of the clan members for half a year had been exchanged for the normal income of the family for ten years. Such a harvest was indeed delightful. By now, the Lin Family had also obtained enough vast resources, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about resources for many years to come. Such a change was important for every clan member. As long as they developed peacefully for a few decades, the Lin Family could quickly grow and truly become a colossal power in the Wei Kingdom¡ªthere was great hope for that. And currently, every clan member was working hard towards this goal, drawing closer to the achievement with each passing day. With such a purpose in mind, the upcoming high-level negotiations and distribution of benefits among the major powers were the last pieces to the puzzle of the Lin Family¡¯s rise. ... As long as they secured a certain territory and the portion of resources that belonged to the Lin Family, every aspect of the family would see a huge boost. With these conditions in place, they had the foundation for the family¡¯s rise. Knowing this, Lin Tianming also had a solemn expression and then asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, what are your opinions on the upcoming negotiations?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang also frowned, uncertain about the plans of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Zhenyang Sect, the two major powers. He sighed deeply and then slowly said, ¡°The situation of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect is different from before. After all, their overall strength has also declined quite a lot, and although they still hold an absolute advantage over us, they wouldn¡¯t dare to be too aggressive.¡± ¡°Our demand from the Lin Family is to execute the allocation plan as previously promised, as long as there isn¡¯t too much of a gap, let¡¯s not stir up more trouble!¡± Right after these words were spoken, Ye Pinghai added a sentence. ¡°Brother Shi Kang¡¯s words are absolutely true!¡± ¡°In my view, the Wei Kingdom has just begun to restore peace, but the contradictions with the several Sects on the side of Huangyang Kingdom have intensified. Whether or not a great war will break out, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would not dare to target the Lin Family too much.¡± ¡°After all, if the Lin Family falls, the overall strength of the Wei Kingdom would decline even more, so if Huangyang Kingdom makes any moves, with only their two Sects, they would definitely not be an opponent.¡± Ye Pinghai stated the crux of the matter, directly expanding the scope to the threats brought by the neighboring countries. And these words also made both Lin Tianming and the other approve. In Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, he had also thought of this critical point. He was clear that before the great war, the overall strength of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was already less than that of the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom. Subsequently, after the beast tide and the great war among the three Sects, the strength of the major Sects of the Wei Kingdom was greatly weakened after the two crises. It was for this reason that the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom were instigated and made moves by the Blood Red Alliance to take advantage in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. As for the result, the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom suffered a loss this time, especially Qingyun Sect, with four Golden Core Cultivators falling in the Wei Kingdom. Such an outcome, probably no one had expected before. But now that it had happened, the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom did not invade the Wei Kingdom again, they must also plan to keep the peace. As for the dark loss they suffered, it was self-inflicted by the three Sects. However, the major Sects of the Wei Kingdom have just overcome the crisis and seemed not ready to let go so easily. Especially Zhou Yunxiao, who seemed intent on finding trouble with the three Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom. If that was really the case, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would bind the Lin Family tightly to their warship. Only with the full cooperation of the Lin Family would they be able to trouble the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. Otherwise, with the strength of just Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, it would be impossible to pose any threat to the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. Even possibly, the two Sects would follow in the footsteps of Golden Sword Sect, or suffer a heavy blow. No matter the scenario, it was not the outcome the two Sects wanted to see. And including Lin Tianming and the other powers in the Cultivation World, they also did not want to see this happen. Because, no matter how you put it, both Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had been inherited for thousands of years, and their rule over the Wei Kingdom was deeply ingrained. In the past few years, all the major powers had also become accustomed to the atmosphere of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and had a clear understanding of the top powers. If both Sects were destroyed and the major powers were suppressed by the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom, it would probably be harder to live in such a new environment than under the rule of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. With that said, from any perspective, the lower-tier powers were all unhappy to see this happen. Based on these speculations, Lin Tianming was not optimistic about the plan to trouble the three Sects of Huangyang Kingdom. He had pondered and made many speculations in his mind. Given the current situation, it was likely that both sides would just be empty threats. Even Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, as well as all the cultivators of the Wei Kingdom, had just barely recovered. Deep down, they surely did not want war to break out again, disrupting the hard-won peace. Once a full-scale war erupts between nations, the slaughter of such magnitude would be even more frightening than before. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But by then, it would not be just a matter of a few top powers, but pertains to all cultivators of the Wei Kingdom. If a war of national destruction were to break out, stopping it would not be so easy. Therefore, the two countries wouldn¡¯t easily proceed to that step, unless one had an overwhelming commanding strength. Otherwise, such a large-scale situation was unlikely to occur in the current Qingzhou Cultivation World. Chapter 926 926 492 The Intent to Form an Alliance ?Chapter 926: Chapter 492: The Intent to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 926: Chapter 492: The Intent to Form an Alliance (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was not optimistic about Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s plan, nor did he believe that things would develop to that extent. Given the circumstances, the specific outcome of the distribution of interests and the possible contradictions that might arise were likely beyond anyone¡¯s control. However, no matter what, as long as the Lin Family maintained their bottom line and did not initiate trouble, the situation could not become too disastrous, he thought to himself. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming¡¯s serious expression gradually relaxed. ¡°Forget it¡­ we¡¯ll cross the bridge when we get to it and take things one step at a time!¡± Lin Tianming mumbled to himself, significantly easing the somewhat tense atmosphere. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shikang also felt much calmer. Soon after, the three of them chatted casually. Seeing their fatigued expressions, Lin Shikang then said, ¡°Brother Ye, you and Tianming have both had a long journey and are tired, why not rest for a few days?¡± ... ¡°After you¡¯ve rejuvenated, we can have a good talk!¡± ¡°Um¡­ let¡¯s do as Brother Shikang suggests!¡± Ye Pinghai clasped his hands in response, then, after greeting Lin Tianming, he headed towards a resting room. Lin Tianming also did not delay; after exchanging greetings, he too disappeared into the courtyard. ¡­ Today. Inside Qingshui Market, the crowds surged in every tavern and even in the public squares of the stall areas. With the influx of cultivators gathering in Qingshui Market over the past few days, the traffic in the entire market had reached a terrifying level. Taverns, shops, stall areas, auction events¡­ There were significant numbers of cultivators in every area, and their conversations invariably revolved around the situation of Wei Kingdom¡¯s major Golden Core forces. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Lin Family is not what it once was; this time the high-level gathering for negotiations will surely be an interesting spectacle¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity for the West River Li Family, with Elder Li fallen in the great battle, the whole Li Family lacks a Golden Core Cultivator to lead them; they are likely to decline¡­¡± ¡°That might not necessarily be the case!¡± ¡°After all, the West River Li Family has a legacy of over a thousand years. Even though they¡¯ve lost the old ancestor this time, their established merits are not small.¡± ¡°With that, Myriad Medicine Valley and the other major forces might compensate them somewhat; it might even be possible to produce another Golden Core Cultivator. Isn¡¯t that possible?¡± ¡­ Almost every cultivator¡¯s conversation entailed the basic situation of Wei Kingdom¡¯s several major Golden Elixir forces. Some cultivators even openly analyzed sensitive topics, unsettling many of their peers. Meanwhile, Lin Family Members quietly observed all of this unfold. The disciples of the other forces were also well-informed, constantly keeping up with what these grassroots cultivators focused on. However, the various public opinions were too complex, and the cultivators involved were too numerous; the major forces, even if they were aware of this, did not prevent the discussions among cultivators. Inside a cave dwelling at the center of the market. Lin Tianming sat together with two others, with Lin Shikang frowning thoughtfully, his expression indecipherable. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, have you summoned us here because something has happened?¡± Hearing this question, Lin Shikang finally came back from his contemplation. With a calm smile, he said, ¡°Nothing much, it¡¯s just that Daoist Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family will come to visit us shortly!¡± ¡°Daoist Chen Maohua?¡± Lin Tianming was taken aback for a moment but quickly surmised the likely purpose of Chen Maohua¡¯s visit. He knew that the current cultivator community of Wei Kingdom, speaking strictly, consisted of only four major Golden Elixir forces, two of which were Great Sects and two were Golden Core Families. The former need not be mentioned; their inheritance was extremely ancient, and their overall power immensely strong, deeply influencing Wei Kingdom. The Lin Family and the Chen Clan, however, had only a few hundred years of heritage, and both in overall power and influence in Wei Kingdom, could not compare to Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect. Even if the two families joined forces, the gap between them and the two great Sects was not small. ¡°If we delve into the finer details, even if the two great families join forces, I¡¯m afraid they would still not be the match for either Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect¡¯s power. This is the current situation! Even Lin Tianming, no matter how arrogant and confident he may be, had to accept this reality. Under such circumstances, with Chen Maohua¡¯s visit at this time, it¡¯s highly likely his purpose is to form an alliance with the Lin Family, even if it¡¯s just superficial, it could give both parties some peace of mind. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming slowly said, ¡°Daoist Chen has taken the initiative to visit, so I assume you also wish to befriend the Lin Family, or perhaps form an alliance with us.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I think that¡¯s very likely the case!¡± Lin Shikang smiled satisfactorily, seemingly unsurprised that Lin Tianming had guessed the deeper meaning behind it. At this moment, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°If that is the case, then how does our Lin Family plan to respond?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Shikang thought for a moment and then said without hesitation. ¡°Daoist Chen¡¯s initiative to visit, or to seek an alliance, is also a good thing for our Lin Family.¡± ¡°After all, the current situation is still unclear, having another ally is much better than having another enemy, right?¡± ¡°Third Grandfather makes a good point!¡± After complimenting, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°The overall strength of the Chen Clan does not match our Lin Family, and in the future, they cannot compete with us in terms of influence within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World.¡± ¡°However, overall, when comparing our two great families with the two great sects, we are at a definite disadvantage, so forming an alliance would be more beneficial than harmful for both sides.¡± ¡°As long as we understand this, and there are no restrictions or additional conditions, we should agree to this.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shikang nodded his head and said, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I mean!¡± ¡°Good¡­ then let¡¯s proceed with that plan!¡± Lin Tianming chuckled, his expression calm, his heart undisturbed by any change. Before long, after the three had waited for a moment, Chen Maohua sent a message saying he was already waiting outside the cave residence. Lin Shikang quickly took Lin Tianming and another with him to welcome their guest, exhibiting quite an enthusiastic attitude. After all, Chen Maohua was also an old cultivator in the Mid Stage Golden Core, and the Chen Clan had a legacy of over a thousand years. Even before a Golden Core Stage cultivator had emerged from the Chen Clan, they were among the best of the Foundation Establishing Families in Wei Kingdom, with very deep foundations. With this, although the Lin Family was now more powerful, they still had to show the most basic respect. Moreover, as the other party had also come with good intentions, no matter what their state of mind might be, the Lin Family members had to maintain the grace fitting of a Golden Core Family. The significant attention given by the Lin Family was also a clear signal of goodwill, which greatly relieved Chen Maohua. Although Lin Tianming had crossed paths with Chen Maohua several times during the previous battle at Myriad Medicine Valley and there had been private intentions to ally, the situation was unclear at that time, and due to the pressure from Golden Sword Sect, it was merely mutual aid in the heat of battle and did not involve such a wide scope for the entire family. Now, Chen Maohua had also come with purpose and goodwill, his heart was still unsettled, uncertain of the Lin Family¡¯s attitude. Now, after being entertained by Lin Tianming and the others, Chen Maohua felt reassured. After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Maohua changed the subject and brought up the main purpose of his visit. ¡°Three friends, do you know the purpose behind my visit?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang smiled lightly, then shook his head and feigned ignorance. Although he was aware of the probable purpose, he still did not take up Chen Maohua¡¯s topic, but instead played the fool. By doing so, he hoped that Chen Maohua would make the proposal himself, so that the Lin Family could secure some initiative. Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s reaction, Chen Maohua smiled helplessly, seeming not to mind. He sighed softly and then said, ¡°The three of you are all wise and have witnessed various situations!¡± ¡°Since I¡¯ve come of my own accord, I won¡¯t beat around the bush!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be frank with you, I wish to represent the Chen Clan and form a comprehensive alliance with your noble family, not just a business alliance but an all-round cooperation.¡± As Chen Maohua said this, his tone grew heavier, obviously having thought it through in advance, without any hesitation in his heart. ¡­ Chapter 927 927 493 The Meeting Begins ?Chapter 927: Chapter 493: The Meeting Begins Chapter 927: Chapter 493: The Meeting Begins Lin Tianming and his two companions fell silent upon hearing this and did not immediately respond to Chen Maohua. However, Chen Maohua, seeing that the three had not expressed their stance, thought that the Lin Family might have some concerns or were not interested in forming an alliance. Thus, with a sincere expression, Chen Maohua hurriedly began to persuade them. ¡°Fellow daoists, now that Wei Kingdom is about to return to calm, our two great families are at a disadvantage. Should Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect have any schemes, we won¡¯t be their match if we fight alone!¡± ¡°Besides, a meeting will be held in a few days to distribute the fundamental interests of the various forces. Judging by the conduct of Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, it¡¯s very likely they will join forces to suppress our two families¡­¡± ¡­ Chen Maohua spoke continuously about many things, from the situation in Wei Kingdom to the distribution of benefits left by Golden Sword Sect, analyzing all aspects of the challenges Chen Clan and Lin Family would soon face. ... In reality, even if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Lin Tianming and his companions had already anticipated this and had some mental preparations. After a long time, Lin Shikang slowly said, ¡°Daoist Chen, what are your plans for cooperating with our Lin Family?¡± Seeing Lin Shikang show some interest, Chen Maohua heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. Following that, he continued, ¡°In terms of family business, the Lin Family excels at Artifact Refining, and our Chen Clan excels at Talisman Making. We could each purchase a certain number of treasures, with prices as low as possible!¡± ¡°In addition, we can directly trade other various materials for Artifact Refining and Talisman Making, allowing valuable resources to be exchanged, and also open shops in the workshops under our control.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Our Chen Clan controls two large workshops with considerable foot traffic. I can make arrangements to generously offer two shops to your noble family to help you quickly establish a strong footing.¡± ¡°With our Chen Clan¡¯s assistance, your noble family¡¯s business could rapidly expand to other areas of Wei Kingdom, and it¡¯s not impossible that every workshop would have the presence of the Lin Family.¡± ¡­ Chen Maohua talked endlessly, seemingly very confident in the influence of the Chen Clan. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming and his two companions listened for a long time and were contemplating in private. One must admit, the conditions offered by Chen Maohua were indeed generous and showed sincerity. After all, the Lin Family indeed needed to expand their business, at the very least thoroughly covering every major workshop in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. To sustain a large family that would have thousands of people in the future and to maintain the Lin Family¡¯s competitiveness, it was essential to plan ahead and accumulate treasures and resources. To achieve this goal, without the occurrence of a major battle like the one that brought down Golden Sword Sect, they could only slowly accumulate through legitimate business. Otherwise, they would have to resort to exploring ancient ruins for treasures or engage in unsavory activities like banditry. While such methods of collecting treasure resources were fast and profitable, they also came with great risks and were not reputable practices. Moreover, the Lin Family was a righteous family, always valuing family culture and reputation. With such innate advantages, how could they resort to improper practices under such promising circumstances? Well aware of these factors, Lin Tianming and his companions communicated privately through transmitted voices, asking for each other¡¯s opinions. It didn¡¯t take long for the three to reach a consensus, which was to form an alliance and cooperate with the Chen Clan. Having decided on this matter, Lin Shikang looked at Chen Maohua and then asked with a cupped-fist smile, ¡°Daoist Chen, I won¡¯t hide it from you; our Lin Family indeed needs an ally, who could help us face threats from the other two sects when necessary.¡± Hearing these words, Chen Maohua breathed a sigh of relief as though a burden had been lifted. ¡°That is excellent news. After all, Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley have long traditions and, while they are polite to our two clans on the surface, it¡¯s hard to guarantee they won¡¯t target us when faced with huge benefits!¡± ¡°Moreover, Wei Kingdom is currently in a weakened state, and it¡¯s only because of the looming threat from Huang Yang Empire that they are willing to form an alliance with us!¡± ¡°In times of peace, it would be extremely difficult for us to get a share of the benefits.¡± Chen Maohua said with a grave expression. In fact, his words were heartfelt and resonated with Lin Tianming and the others. The reality was indeed as Chen Maohua had described. One must know, in times of peace, Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect would exploit the Foundation Establishing Families they sheltered quite severely. Whenever a crisis arose, they would forcibly conscript family cultivators to serve them, and any dangerous tasks would be assigned to these family cultivators as a priority. In the end, these family cultivators contributed the most but received pitifully little. At the very least, the major advantages were held by these top forces, and they kept a tight grip on various resources. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The disparity between what the two sides contributed and received was as vast as the difference between clouds and mud. But out of respect for power, the majority of family cultivators did not dare to openly express their anger or disobey orders. It was precisely due to these conditions that, despite being the youngest, even a sect like Zhenyang Sect was able to stand in Wei Kingdom for seven to eight thousand years without falling. All this underscored the importance of strength. However, considering that the Cultivation World had been in existence for hundreds of thousands of years, and Qingzhou had been developed for over a hundred thousand years. Over such long periods, the top powers in each major region had always behaved this way, thus forming a sense of order over the lengthy years. Only with such order could the Cultivation World remain stable. Therefore, if one were to look at it from the perspective of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, such actions were somewhat justifiable. Chapter 928 928 493 Meeting Begins_2 ?Chapter 928: Chapter 493: Meeting Begins_2 Chapter 928: Chapter 493: Meeting Begins_2 However, no matter what one says, an emerging power cannot avoid colliding with top forces. Even if you have no intention of creating conflict, reality is such! If you do not actively provoke others, you still cannot stop the ultimate outbreak of conflict, ultimately becoming competitors. After all, resources are limited, yet competition does not decrease. It is just that the current situation in Wei Kingdom has greatly changed, and the situation is very delicate. As a large force falls, it causes a great earthquake. It was in such chaos that the Lin Family found the opportunity to establish a foothold. ... And in the days that followed, the Cultivation World gradually returned to calm, and both Great Sects would eventually catch their breath. But what changes might occur by then was hard to say. Given this, having one more friend is much better than having one more enemy. Fully aware of this importance, Lin Tianming and the other two were so decisive, willing to ally and cooperate with Chen Maohua, who had the same purpose. At this moment, Lin Shikang spoke up. ¡°Daoist Chen, since our two clans have formed allies and embarked on deep cooperation, any crisis that arises later on, we must advance and retreat together.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for certain!¡± Chen Maohua replied resolutely, and then continued, ¡°The deep cooperation I mentioned means if Myriad Medicine Valley or Zhenyang Sect makes a move against any of our clans, the other must provide full support, at the very least dispatching at least one Golden Core Stage Cultivator to aid the other.¡± ¡°Do any of you have any objections to this?¡± ¡°Our Lin Family has no objections!¡± Lin Shikang was the first to express his position, his tone free of any hesitation. ¡°Good¡­ excellent!¡± Seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s decisive stance, Chen Maohua was excited. He then immediately took out a special piece of beast skin and rapidly wrote a large amount of text with his Divine Sense. In no time, he handed the beast skin to Lin Shikang, then spoke, ¡°Lin, please have a look!¡± Lin Shikang quickly read the content on the beast skin. Soon after finishing, he handed the beast skin to Lin Tianming, signaling him to look at the conditions written on it. Without delay, Lin Tianming picked up the beast skin and examined it. After his examination, the content written on the beast skin was indeed the details of the cooperation foundation they had just discussed; there were no issues. Thus, Lin Tianming nodded to Lin Shikang and said, ¡°Third Grandfather, your grandson has no objections!¡± Hearing this, Lin Shikang did not delay. He immediately spat out a mouthful of essence blood, spreading it evenly on the beast skin. Subsequently, Chen Maohua took over the beast skin and replicated the process. In an instant, a red light flashed on the beast skin, and the tiny text sunk into the skin and disappeared. Within a breath, Lin Shikang felt his divine soul stir slightly, and then it quickly returned to normal. Obviously, the Heart Demon Oath had been completed, and the Lin Family and the Chen Family had officially transitioned from a verbal alliance to a real one. And since the Heart Demon Oath took effect, if the two families thought to renege, both individuals who signed the contract would suffer backlash. If they were fortunate, they might survive, but their cultivation could no longer advance. However, the greater likelihood was that they might die under the backlash of the Heart Demon Oath. At this time, Chen Maohua was also extremely excited, as this meeting had perfectly achieved his goals. Given the current strength of the Lin Family, even though his Chen Family also harbored a hidden Golden Core Cultivator, their family was clearly stronger. Thus, being able to ally with the Lin Family, which held limitless potential, they would not have to be overly frightened in the face of oppression from both Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect. With this excited mood, Chen Maohua¡¯s complexion was rosy, and he could not help but say, ¡°The three of you are truly men of character; our Chen Family will certainly spare no effort to assist your noble family.¡± ¡°Um¡­ then I represent the Lin Family and thank you all in advance!¡± Lin Shikang responded with a smile, his tone also conveying excitement. ¡°Hehe¡­ it¡¯s just mutual benefit and mutual assistance, after all!¡± Chen Maohua waved his hand with a smile, his entire being still caught in excitement, unable to calm down for quite a while. Then, the group sat down together for a long chat, during which they shared many insights on cultivation. Having fought side by side before and having engaged in deep conversations today, both parties formed an alliance. Their relationship warmed rapidly, making them seem like old friends. It wasn¡¯t until evening that Chen Maohua took his leave. Lin Tianming and his two companions chatted for a while, then they each returned to their closed-door cultivation, awaiting the day of the Golden Core gathering. In the blink of an eye, several days had passed. As the final days approached, numerous cultivators flooded into Qingshui Market, making it incredibly lively on this particular day. Today was also the day when the top leaders of Wei Kingdom¡¯s various Golden Elixir Forces gathered. Early in the morning, cultivators started emerging from their cave dwellings, grouping together to head to the bustling areas to meet. Cultivators¡¯ cave dwellings, the streets, inside the shops, the squares where stalls were set up¡­ During their leisure time, a large number of cultivators were discussing the current situation. Such lively scenes reached their zenith today. At the central auction of the market, the outer perimeter was even more crowded, with thousands of cultivators gathered, many of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level and quite a few at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Apart from these front-row Foundation Establishment Cultivators, even those in the back were at least at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Typical Initial Stage Qi Refining cultivators couldn¡¯t even access such an overcrowded place. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This bustling scene continued unceasingly. By noon, a figure shot into the air, flying above the heads of many cultivators. The appearance of this person immediately caught everyone¡¯s attention. In an instant, a cultivator with excitement on his face pointed at the figure and burst out shouting, ¡°Look, it¡¯s Daoist Chen from the Yingchuan Chen Family!¡± Hearing this, many cultivators reacted, and even some Qi Refining Stage cultivators, seeing the legendary Golden Core expert, immediately showed respectful expressions, their breathing becoming somewhat rapid. And that flying figure was none other than Chen Maohua, the first to arrive. Even as these cultivators paid their respects, Chen Maohua didn¡¯t pay much attention, merely waving his hand before disappearing from sight. After he left, the atmosphere at the scene didn¡¯t diminish. Some cultivators continued waiting and discussing in their conversations which Golden Core cultivator from which clan would arrive next. Soon, three more figures shot through the air, landing in the plaza before the auction. Seeing these three appear once again grabbed everyone¡¯s attention, and the atmosphere became even livelier. ¡°Look, the seniors from the Lin Family have arrived!¡± ¡°The Lin Family has mobilized such a large force, these are three Golden Core Stage experts!¡± ¡°Lin Tianming has also come. His strength is formidable; he has previously slain Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators, one of whom could match several Golden Core cultivators.¡± ¡­ The cultivators below buzzed with excitement, not bothering with formalities, whispering and even transmitting messages to cultivators they knew. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his two companions also paused briefly, waving to a cultivator below as a greeting. Then, the three of them wasted no time and headed directly into the interior of the Qingshui Market auction. Upon entering the auction, a disciple from Zhenyang Sect immediately came forward to greet them respectfully and led the three to a massive chamber where they were served excellent Spiritual Tea. In the chamber, having arrived early, Chen Maohua quickly greeted Lin Tianming and his companions. ¡°Three fellow daoists, you¡¯ve come quite early indeed!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist Chen beat us here by a step, that¡¯s what I call early.¡± Lin Shikang replied with a smile, then surveyed the chamber where the meeting was being held. Looking around, the chamber was quite spacious with a huge jade stone table set in the middle, surrounded by over a dozen chairs, clearly designated for Golden Core cultivators. Seeing this setup, Lin Shikang, along with the other two, chose a section to sit down, not far from Chen Maohua, who had arrived earlier. The four of them sipped on their Spiritual Tea while casually chatting, waiting for representatives from the other two Great Sects to arrive. ¡­ Chapter 929 929 494 Earth Core Stone Moon Soul Fruit ?Chapter 929: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit Chapter 929: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit A period of time, approximately long enough to drink a cup of tea, passed. The secret chamber welcomed more visitors; several cultivators walked in, with Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao leading the forefront, followed closely by Chen Jingtian and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect. As for the Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s representatives, Duan Liangyu accompanied Zhou Yunxiao to the meeting. With the arrival of these five cultivators from both groups, Lin Tianming and his companions also quickly stood up and proactively greeted them. After all, they were still allies for the time being, and their relationship was relatively close; before any formal falling out, the most basic respect still had to be maintained. Understanding this, Lin Shikang and the others dared not be careless nor lose their manners. And on the other side, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng were also quite polite, hastily exchanging greetings with Lin Tianming and his companions with smiles. ... As the pleasantries drew to a close, Lu Xingfeng, acting as the host, stood up and then called for a halt to the casual conversation. Lu Xingfeng then gave a respectful bow to those seated and said with a smile, ¡°Fellow Daoists, we have rested for a year, and now that we have finally gathered again, it is indeed quite difficult.¡± ¡°Reflecting on a year ago, the scenes of us fighting side by side are still vivid in my mind, and when I think of that time, I feel my blood boil and am even filled with immense gratitude.¡± Lu Xingfeng started with some polite remarks before moving on to matters of the past. Although these seemed like trivial words, they indeed resonated with the few people present, and the anger and discontent that had originally been prevalent noticeably subsided. Lu Xingfeng then continued, ¡°Since we are all here, let¡¯s not beat around the bush with meaningless words.¡± ¡°I presume everyone has a clear idea of the treasures we¡¯ve obtained, apart from those claimed over the past year, including those from the Golden Sword Mountain Gate.¡± ¡°Let us first review the list we left behind and itemize the Third Order Treasures that each of us desires.¡± ¡°As for Fourth Tier Items, we all know the value of such existences very well; we shall wait until we have investigated Han Hu¡¯s and the others¡¯ storage bags, then we will distribute them according to interests.¡± Having said this, Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao each took out several storage bags and placed them on the round table in front of them. The storage bags looked intact, just as they were originally found, clearly not tampered with. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not delay and unsealed the storage bags, then began to explore them with their Divine Sense. Soon, their complexions turned rosy and their breathing became somewhat rapid. Clearly, the wealth inside these storage bags was significant; otherwise, neither of them, with their cultivation and experience, would have been so excited. Once they had calmed down, they put the storage bags back on the table, indicating that Lin Tianming and his companions should inspect them as well. Then, they each picked up another storage bag and resumed their investigation. Lin Tianming and his partner were naturally curious and did not delay, immediately probing the treasures inside with their Divine Sense. In just a few breaths, Lin Tianming and the others also had rosy cheeks, and their breathing quickened significantly as well. Actually, their reaction was not surprising given that the two storage bags indeed contained a lot of treasures, with nearly a hundred thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones combined. Translated into Lower-grade Spirit Stones, that would be nearly ten million. Beyond these common items, the ones of higher value were eight Fourth Order Treasures and more than seven hundred Third Order Treasures. Each Fourth Tier Item was a truly good thing, mainly Spiritual Medicine Materials, Artifact Refining materials, and half the carcass of a Fourth Order Demonic Beast. Although there were no Nascent Soul Spiritual Items or treasures to advance cultivation, each one was an invaluable existence with a wide range of uses. And this was just a part of the wealth of Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng; another part consisted of elixirs commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators and a small number of Third Order Legacies, generally involving the Four Arts of Cultivation like Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging. These items may not have been valued as much as the Third and Fourth Rank treasures, but their cumulative value was also worth several million Low-grade Spirit Stones. These two storage bags clearly formed the bulk of Han Hu¡¯s and Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s wealth. The other storage bags had not been examined yet; some contained items plundered from the bodies of Han Hu and others, as well as the wealth of cultivators like Song Hanchun. And just from the main storage bags of Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng, treasures worth more than ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones had been harvested; after all the remaining storage bags were fully explored, it seemed the value of the treasures would likely rise considerably. Thinking of this, Zhou Yunxiao and the others were also extremely excited, and their actions hastened. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, all of the storage bags present had been investigated. Lin Tianming and the others were not idle either, continuing to examine the treasures in the storage bags, overwhelmed by the staggering amount of wealth. It turned out that in addition to the two wealthiest storage bags, the others also contained items and resources of varying value. The contents ranged from First Order Treasures to Third Order Treasures, with each storage bag valued between one million to several million Spirit Stones. Among them were the wealth of Golden Core Cultivators like Song Hanchun, resources valued at several million Spirit Stones. Several storage bags also contained large amounts of First and Second-Order Treasures, clearly plundered by the Golden Sword Sect and the Blood Red Alliance over the years from the fallen territories of the two great Great Sects. In addition, there were treasures that the three major Sects of the Huangyang Kingdom had looted all the way from the Wei Kingdom, now concentrated in the possession of people like Cao Jinping. Chapter 930 930 494 Earth Core Stone Moon Soul ?Chapter 930: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit_2 Chapter 930: Chapter 494 Earth Core Stone, Moon Soul Fruit_2 With the demise of those five Golden Core Cultivators, the vast amount of property and resources all lay within these storage bags. Although the grade and value of these items couldn¡¯t be compared with the possessions of people like Han Hu and the others, the accumulated wealth of over a hundred large and small families was also a substantial resource, its value exceeding millions of Spirit Stones. Now, with these assets unearthed by them, they found yet another batch of resources that elicited astonishment. After a simple estimation, just the treasures within these dozen or so storage bags were easily worth over thirty million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Among these, the more valuable items were naturally the eight Fourth Order Treasures and the offensive and defensive Magical Treasures belonging to Han Hu and Zhao Hongsheng. If one included the five Fourth Order Treasures found in the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault, this time they acquired more than a dozen Fourth Order Treasures, and there were also several hundred high-value Third Order Treasures. In addition to these, there were countless other treasures of various kinds that nearly covered all the commonly used items in the Cultivation World, and the total value of all the Spiritual Objects put together also exceeded tens of millions of Spirit Stones. ... Whenever they thought of this, the excitement on the faces of the Cultivators present was palpable, their complexions glowing with vitality. Even Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional about this. In their eyes, the Golden Sword Sect, with its heritage of nearly ten thousand years, was indeed worthy of its reputation. Leaving aside the items of heritage, the value of these common treasures alone had reached such a level, something even they hadn¡¯t anticipated. And such a foundation of wealth truly reflected the profound heritage of the Golden Sword Sect accumulated over nearly ten thousand years. As time slowly passed, the group finally managed to calm down. Then, Zhou Yunxiao scanned the crowd before speaking, ¡°These storage bags have all been investigated. Does anyone have a treasured item they particularly desire?¡± At these words, the scene fell into a brief silence. After several breaths passed and seeing that no one spoke up, Zhou Yunxiao gave a few bitter laughs. Then, he looked at Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Lin, why don¡¯t you and Daoist Chen speak first? As long as the value is equivalent to the promised benefits, I believe Daoist Lu wouldn¡¯t be too nitpicky.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°During the great battle, Daoist Zhou and I have already made promises, and now that the crisis is over, it¡¯s time to put those promises into action.¡± Lu Xingfeng also gave a faint smile and echoed the sentiment, clearly showing no intention to make things difficult for the Lin Family. Hearing this, Lin Tianming secretly communicated with Lin Shikang, and soon the two reached an agreement. Following that, Lin Tianming chuckled and pulled out a beast skin, onto which he quickly wrote down a list of treasure names before handing it over to Zhou Yunxiao. After Zhou Yunxiao glanced at it, he passed it to Lu Xingfeng for review. Shortly after, Lu Xingfeng shook his head with a bitter smile and said, ¡°Lin, isn¡¯t the list of treasures you¡¯ve written down a bit too extensive?¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Lin Tianming replied helplessly. ¡°Speaking of which, the value is indeed close to what was promised initially, but Lin, you¡¯re asking for four Fourth Tier Items all at once, which nearly amounts to a third of all the Fourth Order Treasures. Such greed for the good stuff is indeed a bit excessive!¡± ¡°After all, at our level of cultivation, we also covet these high-value treasures.¡± ¡°If the Lin Family takes away four items in one go, there wouldn¡¯t be many left for our two sects.¡± Lu Xingfeng explained in detail, his expression sincere and truly moved by the matter. As soon as he finished, Zhou Yunxiao also chimed in. ¡°Daoist Lu is correct; such a list greatly exceeds our bottom line.¡± Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised by what Lu Xingfeng and the others had said. In fact, he was well aware of the value of the Fourth Order Treasures, and that even a single Fourth Order Treasure could easily be traded for dozens of Third Order Treasures, with no one actually willing to make the exchange. He had done this as a test, and seeing their reaction as expected, Lin Tianming pondered for a moment before giving an embarrassed smile. Then, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°What Daoist Lu and Daoist Zhou said is indeed reasonable; we of the Lin Family have indeed been somewhat presumptuous.¡± ¡°` ¡°Since that is the case, we can take a step back.¡± ¡°After discussing with the two elders, our Lin Family only wants two Fourth Order Treasures.¡± ¡°However, in the list of Third Order Treasures, we would like to include a few more, you two Daoist friends have no objections, right?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately thereafter, Zhou Yunxiao took the lead and said, ¡°Our Myriad Medicine Valley has no objections!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xingfeng added, ¡°I have no objections either!¡± Seeing that both parties did not object, Lin Tianming immediately communicated with Lin Shikang telepathically, confirming the selection of a few suitable and highly valuable Treasures. After their exchange, the two had carefully considered and essentially settled on their targets. Following that, Lin Tianming did not beat around the bush and immediately revised the list of Treasures on the Beast Skin, handing it over to Zhou Yunxiao. And Zhou Yunxiao, with just a glance, noticed the altered list of Treasures on the Beast Skin. The Third Order Treasures at the beginning were fine, although some had higher values, the total number was still acceptable, and there were also some Third Order Spiritual Objects of average value. However, as he looked at the last few items, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit troubled. Seeing his expression, Lu Xingfeng also took a look at the detailed list and subsequently displayed a distressed look. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also began to wonder, uncertain of their thoughts. The reason for this was because the few high-value Treasures he had requested were no ordinary existences. Among them, the two Fourth Order Treasures were the Moon Soul Fruit and the Earth Core Stone. The Moon Soul Fruit was a Fourth Order Spirit Fruit, maturing only once every thousand years, yielding only one fruit, but fortunately, each fruit contained five sections of flesh, each capable of enhancing a certain strength of the divine soul, thereby allowing Divine Sense to grow to some extent. Therefore, although this Treasure might not directly help increase cultivation levels, the benefits it could bring to Cultivators were incomparable to some Treasures that could directly enhance cultivation. After all, a Cultivator¡¯s Divine Soul and Divine Sense are limited, and Heaven and Earth Treasures suitable for their use are rare, making such enhancements extremely difficult. But once the Divine Soul and Divine Sense were enhanced, it would bring about an all-around improvement, greatly benefiting the practice of the Four Arts of Cultivation and also helping to detect enemies ahead of time in special circumstances. Moreover, in a magic duel, it could even provide an advantage. So, for Lin Tianming, the Moon Soul Fruit was simply too perfect. Since his own Divine Sense and Divine Soul were already strong, and he was an Alchemist who had to practice the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his reliance on Divine Sense was intense. If he could obtain this Moon Soul Fruit, his Divine Sense would become even stronger, making the manipulation of seventy-two Treasure Swords in the future even more effortless. And in Alchemy, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors, his efficiency would likely improve as well. With these reasons, upon first seeing the Moon Soul Fruit, it became his primary target. As for the other Fourth Order Treasure, its background was equally significant, and its value no less considerable. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This Fourth Order Treasure was known as the Earth Core Stone, a very durable earth-attribute Spirit Ore, extremely rare in the current Cultivation World. Thus, the value of the Earth Core Stone was extraordinarily high, serving as excellent material for Refining Defense Treasures. Should he obtain this Earth Core Stone, coupled with the body of the Variegated Crystal Beast he had once slain, he would be able to Refine several Defense Treasures with notable defensive power. Although the Lin Family now had a less scarce supply of offensive Magical Treasures, they did not possess many defensive ones. What¡¯s more, the Defense Treasures left behind by fallen Golden Core Cultivators, especially those whose spiritual quality was greatly diminished or in the hands of Zhou Yunxiao and others, would be difficult for the Lin Family to utilize shortly and would require a considerable amount of materials to repair. All things considered, it would be better to obtain high-quality materials and Refine the most optimal Defense Treasures. With such a goal in mind, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had chosen these two items. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 931 931 495 Exchange Request ?Chapter 931: Chapter 495: Exchange Request Chapter 931: Chapter 495: Exchange Request However, when Zhou Yunxiao and his companion saw the two Fourth Order Treasures on the list, although they were very reluctant, they were not completely unable to accept it. After all, the Lin Family already owned twenty percent of the spoils, so obtaining two Fourth Order Treasures was not unreasonable. But besides these two Fourth Order Treasures, there were several Third Order Treasures listed later, all of which were not ordinary items. Among these was the Peach Heart Wood that Lin Tianming had long coveted, along with a Third Order Alchemy Furnace, and the Mountain Protection Array of the Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, the incomplete Spirit Art they found in the Scripture Pavilion was also on Lin Tianming¡¯s list. And the value of these items was extremely high. It goes without saying how valuable the Peach Heart Wood and the Third Order Alchemy Furnace were, though they weren¡¯t greatly prized by them. ... However, the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect was something that could enhance the fundamental strength of a power; there were just over twenty sets in the entire Wei Kingdom, either as Mountain Protection Arrays of the Great Sects or as Defensive Great Formations of the medium-sized workshops. Thus, the Third Order Great Array was invaluable, and it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say so at all. Besides that, the incomplete Spirit Art could not be duplicated. Although it was incomplete, should the other part be discovered, its value would considerably exceed that of a Fourth Order Treasure. Therefore, after seeing these subsequent treasures, Zhou Yunxiao and his companion¡¯s expressions turned quite unpleasant. After a long time, Zhou Yunxiao and his companion exchanged glances, then Zhou Yunxiao bitterly smiled and said, ¡°Lin, the treasures on this list are still too valuable, our Myriad Medicine Valley might not be able to accept it.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lu Xingfeng also chimed in. ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ In my opinion, shouldn¡¯t some of these treasures be reduced to make it reasonable?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was silent for a moment, also pondering in his heart. In his eyes, the treasures that the Lin Family wanted to obtain were fairly close to the twenty percent of the profits that the Lin Family were entitled to. It was just that there were more high-value treasures, and the overall quality was indeed considerable, especially the two Fourth Tier Items, as well as the Defensive Great Formation and the incomplete Spirit Art, which he did not want to give up no matter what. But thinking carefully from Zhou Yunxiao and the other¡¯s standpoint, the treasures that the Lin Family wanted to obtain did indeed seem a bit harsh. After regaining his composure, Lin Tianming exchanged glances with Lin Shikang, then they began to communicate through transmitted sound. Soon, a few breaths passed. At that moment, Lin Tianming finally opened his mouth and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, besides those few precious treasures, we can reduce dozens of ordinary Third Order Treasures, and Lin Family can also reduce by half the area of territory to be divided in the future, as compensation to your sect, how about that?¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming say this, Zhou Yunxiao was also somewhat hesitant. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao looked at Lu Xingfeng not far away, clearly also intending to see his opinion. And Lu Xingfeng¡¯s expression remained normal, but he was quietly thinking. In his eyes, what the Lin Family was doing was making a concession, exchanging some ordinary Third Order Treasures and some territory for those valuable items. After such compensation, it indeed fell below the twenty percent of profits that the Lin Family was entitled to. If they still refused to make a concession, it would seem somewhat intentionally targeted. Although with the strength of the Zhenyang Sect, there was no need to fear the Lin Family excessively, under the current situation, it was not suitable for the Wei Kingdom to experience any more conflicts. Especially the Zhenyang Sect, whose territory bordered the Lin Family, they could not afford to provoke this potential great family. Knowing this, Lu Xingfeng made his decision. ¡°Since Lin has spoken to this extent, I have no objections!¡± Lu Xingfeng was the first to state his position, agreeing with the Lin Family¡¯s interests, which excited Lin Tianming greatly. Hearing Lu Xingfeng say this, although Zhou Yunxiao was very reluctant, and given that the Lin Family indeed possessed strong power, he could not insist on anything further. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao also spoke up, ¡°I have no objections!¡± Following that, he looked at Chen Maohua and then asked, ¡°Daoist Chen, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°I, too, have no objections!¡± Chen Maohua quickly took a stand without any hesitation. ¡°Well then, that settles it!¡± Zhou Yunxiao stated, then together with Lu Xingfeng, began extracting the designated treasures of the Lin Family from various storage bags. As for the other part of the treasures, they were still stored in the Treasure Vault of the Golden Sword Sect and could only be retrieved later. Soon, Lin Tianming had two storage bags in his hand, with most of the treasures listed in the inventory already in his possession. And Zhou Yunxiao also stated that the remaining treasures would be taken from the Golden Sword Sect Treasure Vault after the conference, and each family would collect their share of the profits. The Lin Family naturally had no objections to this arrangement. With that, the distribution of these treasures to the Lin Family came to an end. Then it was Chen Maohua¡¯s turn to select treasures. A short while later, Chen Maohua¡¯s share of the benefits was allocated. This process was swift because the treasures he needed were quite ordinary. Besides one Fourth Order Treasure that was relatively valuable, the other treasures were moderately valued, and Zhou Yunxiao and the other were not too concerned about them. With the distribution of benefits to the Chen Clan completed, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng had a private discussion for a moment. Soon, they reached a consensus, deciding to wait until the other profit distributions for the Lin Family and Chen Clan were complete. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, the high-levels of their two sects would meet to continue distributing the remaining massive benefits belonging to their two sects. Chapter 932 932 495 Exchange Request_2 ?Chapter 932: Chapter 495: Exchange Request_2 Chapter 932: Chapter 495: Exchange Request_2 Lin Tianming, as well as Chen Maohua and a few others, were also quite satisfied at this time, generally recognizing the fairness of this resource distribution. Especially Lin Tianming; he was actually somewhat surprised. He had initially thought that, given Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s stronger foundations, they would likely suppress and trouble the two major families, thus skimping on their deserved benefits. However, the distribution process went smoother than expected. Although the Lin Family had lost some benefits for those few precious treasures, in his view, those losses were entirely worthwhile. Now that this matter had concluded, the next step was to distribute the territories under the Golden Sword Sect. The Lin Family also placed considerable importance on this portion of the benefits. ... This was because the Lin Family currently had a great demand for territory. It¡¯s worth noting that the Lin Family was now a family that boasted several Golden Core Cultivators, with a clan size of over a thousand members, among which there were dozens in the Foundation Establishment Stage. It could be said that in terms of overall strength, they were not far behind the other two great sects. However, even with such strength, the territory controlled by the Lin Family was only a small part of the Luoyun Mountain Range, an area relatively barren, and yet to be recognized by the Zhenyang Sect due to the influence of consecutive great battles. In comparison, a territory as large as the Luoyun Mountain Range was starkly different from that of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Even compared to the Chen Clan and the greatly weakened West River Li Family, both also Golden Core Families, it fell significantly short. Before the great battle among the three sects erupted, even the Zhenyang Sect, which had the shortest heritage, had territories spanning over seventy mountain ranges. Looking at the Myriad Medicine Valley with the oldest heritage, they controlled hundreds of mountains, many of which were significantly older than the Luoyun Mountain Range. Certainly, compared to these ancient Golden Core Sects, perhaps there was no comparison. Yet, compared to the other two great Golden Core Families, the Chen Clan controlled over ten mountain ranges, and the West River Li Family also reached eight mountains. Seeing this, the single mountain range controlled by the Lin Family did not match its current status at all. Fortunately, there had been an agreement with the other two sects that after the destruction of the Golden Sword Sect, the Lin Family would acquire twenty percent of their territories. Although the Lin Family had given up half of the benefits to obtain those precious treasures, with the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s previously vast territory of nearly a hundred mountain ranges, the Lin Family could still gain control over nearly ten mountain ranges based on the existing agreement. Once the Lin Family fully controlled these territories, the spirit lands previously belonging to the Golden Sword Sect would naturally become theirs. Beyond these obvious benefits, the families that previously inhabited the area had to offer part of their spirit stones to the Lin Family every century as a residence fee. Previously, nearly a hundred years ago, the Lin Family had also offered tens of thousands of spirit stones to the Zhenyang Sect at once, allowing them to remain unharmed for nearly a century. Although several decades ago, the major families of the Luoyun Mountain Range fell into strife, the Zhenyang Sect, as the backing Sect Overlord, never intervened. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, such occurrences were not uncommon in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, or even in other nations. In the eyes of Golden Core Cultivators, the infighting among local powers is a normal competitive phenomenon that doesn¡¯t substantially impact Sect Overlords. Unless there¡¯s external interference or direct attacks against the powers under them, Sect Overlords generally do not intervene. Thus, during the infighting within the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Zhenyang Sect had not stepped in. Otherwise, the Lin Family could have reported to the Zhenyang Sect long ago and would not have been long oppressed by the Jin Family. These were the basic rights of a Sect Overlord. Besides, in times of crisis, the Lin Family could also exercise the Golden Elixir force¡¯s right to conscript, calling cultivators from under its control to fight for the Lin Family. With these foundations, by relying on the loyalty of the major families towards the Lin Family, the Lin Family¡¯s heritage would further enhance. Under such circumstances, territory was not merely a nominal enhancement for the current Lin Family, but more so an enhancement of their foundation. It had reached the moment to distribute territories, and Lin Tianming felt quite uneasy yet somewhat excited. Before this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had already discussed and had a rough idea of a distribution scheme that would benefit the Lin Family. Based on the current Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory, nearly a hundred mountain ranges were to be divided among the four Golden Core Forces. The Lin Family conservatively estimated that they could obtain control over more than seven or eight territories. The trouble was, the territories of the major powers in Wei Kingdom were interlocked like the teeth of a comb; no matter how they were divided, it was tough to consolidate those territories together. Especially for the Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family was located, lying at the southernmost tip of Wei Kingdom and sharing only a small border with the territories governed by the Golden Sword Sect. It was nearly impossible for the Lin Family to connect the Luoyun Mountain Range with those newly controlled territories. Thus, the Lin Family could only think of exchanging some territories with the Zhenyang Sect to achieve their initial aim. As Zhou Yunxiao spoke about the distribution of territories, he also took out several maps of Wei Kingdom, clearly marked with all the major mountain ranges. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao exchanged pleasantries with a few people before asking Lin Tianming and the others which territories the Lin Family was interested in. Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and then turned to Lu Xingfeng, saying, ¡°Lu Daoyou, according to our prior agreement, our Lin Family can at least obtain control over eight mountain ranges.¡± ¡°However, the location of the Luoyun Mountain Range of the Lin Family is secluded. If we choose a region at the southernmost part of the Golden Sword Sect, it would still not connect with the Lin Family, making control difficult in the future.¡± ¡°Therefore, we wish to exchange territories with your Sect, namely Qianchuan Market and the surrounding eight mountain ranges to all be under the Lin Family¡¯s command.¡± ¡°As for the territories originally due to the Lin Family, including the control over those markets, how about we cede them all to your Sect?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lu Xingfeng began to ponder. Indeed, he understood the situation of the Lin Family, and had previously guessed that the Lin Family would make such a request. Otherwise, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have requested the right to exchange territories before the alliance was formed. Now that the great battle was over, the Lin Family indeed exercised this power, which was not surprising at all. However, they from the Zhenyang Sect had previously discussed this at the high levels, so they had a plan in mind. Thus, after briefly falling silent, Lu Xingfeng then spoke, ¡°Lin Daoyou, it¡¯s not impossible for us to agree!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression brightened, and he immediately offered a compliment. ¡°Thank you, Lu Daoyou, for your generosity!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lu Xingfeng gave a wry smile and then changed the direction of the conversation. ¡°Lin Daoyou, please don¡¯t be too excited. I agree to this matter, but it also comes with conditions. Please listen to them before deciding!¡± ¡°Oh? What conditions?¡± Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng quickly explained, ¡°Lin Daoyou, Qianchuan Market is a medium-sized workshop, and it¡¯s also one of the only two medium-sized workshops owned by our Sect. Though it was only built a thousand years ago, it also involved significant manpower and financial resources.¡± ¡°The market now sees a very considerable flow of people, housing thousands of shops, earning substantial profits each year.¡± ¡°If things continue as they are, Qianchuan Market can still expand during future peaceful periods, and the flow of people will also increase, which is a long-term source of income.¡± ¡°Compared to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s several medium-sized workshops, affected by our clean-up actions, their flow of people has at least halved, and it will take quite a lot of manpower and financial resources to return to normal.¡± ¡°As a result, Qianchuan Market is extremely important for our Zhenyang Sect.¡± ¡°If we hand over the market to your noble family, it would not be cost-effective for our Sect.¡± ¡°If it were you, you probably wouldn¡¯t want to trade a market that you painstakingly developed either, right?¡± ¡­ Chapter 933 933 496 Attitudes from All Parties ?Chapter 933: Chapter 496 Attitudes from All Parties Chapter 933: Chapter 496 Attitudes from All Parties Hearing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s detailed explanation, Lin Tianming understood that he was being asked to do something quite difficult. However, if the Lin Family wanted to gain control over those territories, they had to strike a deal with the Zhenyang Sect. Fully aware of this, he quickly cupped his fists in salute, hoping to still make an effort. ¡°Lu Daoyou, are you aware that the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory has three medium-sized workshops?¡± ¡°Although our Lin Family doesn¡¯t have the means to independently take over a medium-sized workshop, we should be able to have a share of the cake, right?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Nevertheless, I do not wish to use our painstakingly managed Qianchuan Market as a bargaining chip with the Lin Family!¡± ... Lu Xingfeng¡¯s reply was emphatic and resolute, as if there was no room for negotiation in his tone. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also felt somewhat helpless. At that moment, Lin Shikang also secretly sent a voice transmission, informing Lin Tianming that the Lin Family could make further concessions, using one or two mountain ranges to sweeten the deal in exchange for control of the Qianchuan Market. Receiving Lin Shikang¡¯s suggestion, Lin Tianming had no choice but to try. ¡°Lu Daoyou, what if our Lin Family gives up two mountain ranges and adds two million low-grade Spirit Stones in exchange for the Qianchuan Market?¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Xingfeng also glanced at Chen Jingtian beside him, seemingly seeking his opinion. After a short time, Lu Xingfeng then replied, ¡°Two mountain ranges plus five million Spirit Stones, and we in the Zhenyang Sect will make the exchange!¡± ¡°If Lin Daoyou is unwilling, then let¡¯s drop the matter here!¡± Lu Xingfeng¡¯s attitude was firm, seemingly leaving no room for the Lin Family to haggle. Hearing these terms, Lin Tianming communicated with Lin Shikang to get his opinion on the matter. Soon, after a discussion, facing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s uncompromising stance, they still decided to accept Lu Xingfeng¡¯s terms. In their view, the Lin Family needed stable and easy to control territories right now. If they didn¡¯t agree to Lu Xingfeng, even if the Lin Family got eight mountain ranges, they would still be effectively enclaves. Thus, whether it was for development or management, the Lin Family would expend more manpower and resources. However, if they managed to acquire territories near the Luoyun Mountain Range, the control would be relatively stable in the long run, making the clan¡¯s lands much safer. Even though achieving this goal meant losing two mountain ranges and spending millions of Spirit Stones, The Lin Family had recently acquired a considerable amount of resources, including various Spiritual Objects, not to mention the Spirit Stones from this allocation, totaling over three million. With such vast resources, plus the family¡¯s stored Spirit Stones, they now had between seven and eight million in liquid assets. After all, the Lin Family was not short of Spirit Stones at the moment, so even spending a million at once would not significantly impact the family. Therefore, for the sake of the family¡¯s long-term considerations, Lin Tianming and the others were so decisive. So, without hesitation, Lin Tianming spoke on behalf of the Lin Family, agreeing to Lu Xingfeng¡¯s terms. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement, Lu Xingfeng too admired the Lin Family¡¯s decisiveness. Next came the choice of which mountain ranges. After deliberating, Lin Tianming decided that the Lin Family would take the six mountain ranges surrounding the Qianchuan Market, which were close to the Luoyun Mountain Range. These six mountain ranges were Qianchuan Mountain Range, Hengyang Mountain Range, Luoyang Mountain Range, Yunyang Mountain Range, Xijing Mountain Range, and Changshui Mountain Range. Among these, the two northernmost mountain ranges were Xijing Mountain Range and Changshui Mountain Range, which bordered the Zhenyang Sect-controlled Shuojin Mountain Range and Songshi Mountain Range on the periphery of the Lin Family¡¯s new territories. To the west of the Qianchuan Mountain Range lay the vast habitat of Demonic Beasts. Including the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Lin Family controlled a total of seven mountain ranges, with Luoyang and Hengyang Mountain Ranges as well as the Qianchuan Mountain Range being central. The Luoyun Mountain Range sat at the southernmost end, and the southeastern corner was under the control of Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Qingyun Sect. Though these seven mountain ranges were part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World¡¯s southern region, with large areas close to the Demonic Beast Forest and far from the kingdom¡¯s central regions. Although remote, with fewer people and less territory size compared to the areas around Dragon Mountain Market, and more vulnerable to Demonic Beast attacks, Lin Tianming still saw certain advantages to this location. Firstly, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about the powers to the east. After all, the Demonic Beasts to the west didn¡¯t usually rampage, and they were far less complex than human hearts; thus, defense only needed to be focused on a few other directions. Secondly, it was convenient for the Lin Family to encroach upon the Demonic Beast Mountain Ranges for territory, which would also be useful for treasure hunting and cultivation. With some time and effort, the Lin Family could develop large tracts of safe land and several decent Spirit Lands for planting Spiritual Medicine and other treasures. If they were lucky, they might find Spirit Ore deposits in these unexplored territories, and uncovering just one or two could make up for the Lin Family¡¯s losses. Compared to the developed central regions, such barren lands were not without their benefits. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Overall, the territory had its pros and cons, depending on the perspective. Recognizing that the Lin Family had already made significant sacrifices, and also that the Zhenyang Sect truly didn¡¯t value those barren lands, Lu Xingfeng, who had gotten the better end of the deal, no longer made things difficult for the Lin Family, and promptly agreed to their request. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companions heaved a sigh of relief. Next, it was Chen Maohua¡¯s turn to choose territories. And the Chen Clan¡¯s selection was simple; they chose eight mountain ranges that could be directly connected to their existing lands. Chapter 934 934 496 Attitudes from Various Parties_2 ?Chapter 934: Chapter 496 Attitudes from Various Parties_2 Chapter 934: Chapter 496 Attitudes from Various Parties_2 After this, the territories of the two great Golden Core Families of Wei Kingdom were essentially determined, with the Lin Family controlling seven mountain ranges and the Chen Clan reaching nearly twenty. As the territorial distribution between the two major families came to an end, Lin Tianming and some others made small talk for a while. During this period, Lin Tianming also discussed the specific details of the exchange with Lu Xingfeng. From the timing of the territorial handover, the specific circumstances of those subordinate families, to the additional millions of spirit stones needed for the exchange, many details had to be finalized. As time moved forward, half an hour had passed. Following thorough discussions, Lin Tianming and the others reached an agreement with Lu Xingfeng that he would soon make a public announcement, revealing the details of the territory exchange between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect. This was also to personally affirm the authenticity of the exchange and recognize the Lin Family¡¯s control over those few mountain ranges. ... Additionally, the specifics of the handover were to be gradually completed within the next year. Including Qianchuan Market¡ªaside from a small number of lofts and caves that continued to belong to the Zhenyang Sect¡ªall other business control went to the Lin Family. And significantly, the third-order defense array in Qianchuan Market was also exchanged by the Lin Family for hundreds of thousands of spirit stones, a rather low price. On this matter, it must be said that Lu Xingfeng was quite generous, aware of what the Lin Family currently lacked the most. Thus, he was not stingy in this regard, which made Lin Tianming very grateful and excited. With these agreements in place, the Lin Family¡¯s profit distribution was largely complete, with only the issue of quotas for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm remaining. As for this matter, the Lin Family already had prior agreements to obtain twenty slots in the Tianfeng Adverse Realm. Although Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not mention it now, it would ultimately have to be finalized. Therefore, Lin Tianming did not bring up this matter, planning to wait until all profit distributions were concluded to discuss the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm quotas. Thus, Lin Tianming and the others did not leave immediately but continued to stay as observers. During this period, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng also distributed the remaining benefits, from third and fourth order treasures to the vast territories left by the Golden Sword Sect, all in front of members of the two great families. This also served as a witness to prevent any party from reneging later, thereby avoiding unnecessary conflicts. Under the witness of Lin Tianming and his cohort, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng fiercely debated, each fighting for greater benefits on behalf of their respective sects. After an hour, the two great sects finally reached an agreement. Following this, of the remaining ten-plus fourth order treasures, the Zhenyang Sect obtained four, and Myriad Medicine Valley obtained six, with the total value being roughly equal. Regarding the territory left by the Golden Sword Sect, beyond the sixteen mountain ranges divided between the Chen Clan and the Lin Family, the remaining mountain ranges were taken by the Zhenyang Sect, thirty-six, and Myriad Medicine Valley, thirty-one. Additionally, following discussions between Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, eight mountain ranges near the West River Li Family were handed over to control by the Li Family, which suffered heavy losses in the great battle. This action was also seen as both major forces compensating the Li Family to avoid antagonizing cultivators paying attention to these events. After all, at this time, almost all major families and loose cultivators of Wei Kingdom were monitoring this issue. Both great sects had promises with the Li Family, who indeed had contributed significantly in the great battle, with Li Wenhe even perishing. It can be said that the Li Family¡¯s contributions to both sects were substantial. Although the Li Family was not given any third or fourth order treasures, providing them with more territory and supporting the Li Family cultivators was seen as beneficial. Otherwise, if no benefits were actually provided, even if the Li Family didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble due to the great difference in power, it would surely incite the anger of the Li Family Cultivators. Moreover, once all major families and loose cultivators became aware of this matter and saw the two great sects burning their bridges after crossing, it would definitely anger the cultivators and the sects would lose their credibility. If that were the case, recruiting them in the future would be impossible; no one would trust them anymore. Given this, the benefits that the Li Family received were something the two great sects dared not be too excessive with. As all these immediate benefits were finalized, Lin Tianming finally spoke up, bringing up the quotas for the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm. And Zhou Yunxiao, without wasting words, immediately produced the token from the Golden Sword Sect that controlled the secret realm and handed it to Lin Tianming. Following that, according to prior agreements, the Lin Family obtained twenty quotas for the secret realm, and the Chen Clan obtained five quotas. Additionally, thanks to the efforts of Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua, the Li Family also obtained three secret realm quotas. Although there was a discrepancy from the agreed number, it was still better than nothing. Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua did this also intending to support the Li Family as much as possible, fulfilling their duty as fellow clan cultivators. Besides this, they had a deeper motive for their actions. Considering that Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley were overly powerful, both the Lin Family and Chen Clan needed to form alliances with other forces to collectively deal with threats that could possibly arise from the two major sects. Although everything was calm at present, the future was unpredictable, so precautions were still necessary. In Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, families with too little strength were of no use, but the West River Li Family was a good choice. Although the Li Family currently lacked Golden Core Stage combat power, it was ultimately a Golden Core Family and had been around for two thousand years. As the saying goes, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse! The Li Family also possessed dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, not to mention their considerable territory and properties, making their overall strength the unchallenged first among the Foundation Establishing Families of today. One could say that the Li Family still possessed significant potential. If a Golden Core Cultivator were to emerge in the future, the Li Family would once again be able to join the ranks of top forces. By that time, recalling the help offered today by the Lin Family and Chen Clan, and with subsequent support, they would likely side with the Lin Family and Chen Clan¡¯s alliance. These were the reasons Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua strenuously argued. Fortunately, after their efforts, they had reached their goals and the matter had come to a successful conclusion. With the distribution of interests concluded, the major powers were quite satisfied; at least there were no obvious conflicts. Soon after, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng brought up the matter of the three major sects of Huangyang Kingdom and asked for opinions from the Lin Family and Chen Clan. Regarding this matter, Lin Tianming and his people along with Chen Maohua had already made some predictions and speculations. Judging by the attitudes of Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, they too seemed hesitant, not wanting the state to pursue accountability from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect to avoid provoking more intense contradictions. However, during this crisis, to have the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom exploiting the situation had resulted in the loss of more than twenty mountain ranges¡¯ influence, a severe blow. In their view, this undoubtedly added insult to injury. If it were not for the unexpected emergence of the Lin Family, the outcome could have been dire. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking back at the situation then, had they been destroyed by the Golden Sword Sect, it would have been too late for anything. Fortunately, luck was on their side and the timing of the Lin Family¡¯s appearance was crucial; they managed to smoothly get through the crisis. Given the foundation of Myriad Medicine Valley and the Golden Core Sect¡¯s might, naturally, their anger had not subsided. Thus, they were not inclined to let this matter pass easily. Although Lin Tianming and his group did not show much reaction, they felt the same way internally. After all, the process of this great battle was indeed fraught with immense danger. The Lin Family had also nearly been annihilated by Xu Zhi of the Qingyun Sect, with Lin Shikang and others sustaining serious injuries. Now that the Lin Family had finally recovered, if they didn¡¯t even let out a peep, it would appear far too humble. Thus, Lin Tianming opened his mouth and said, ¡°Esteemed daoists, this time the three sects of Huangyang Kingdom exploited our troubles, bringing no small loss to Wei Kingdom¡¯s various forces.¡± ¡°We have now recovered some Yuan Qi, and if we do not inquire, they will certainly think that our forces in Wei Kingdom are too cowardly.¡± ¡°As such, their bullishness will only increase in the future, they might even oppress us, or perform a full-scale invasion of Wei Kingdom.¡± ¡°By that time, Wei Kingdom might not have any peaceful days!¡± ¡°Moreover, in my view, we should still send some top combatants to pursue accountability from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect.¡± ¡°Of course, overly provoking these major powers is not our intention.¡± ¡°What we need to do is merely show our stance to make them restrain themselves, but try our best to avoid radical actions to prevent an escalation into a larger war.¡± ¡°Especially since Wei Kingdom has just regained stability, our major forces have also suffered significant losses, and it really isn¡¯t easy to start a major conflict which could lead to a comprehensive escalation of the situation.¡± With these words, Lin Tianming analyzed the current situation from multiple angles. ¡­ Chapter 935 935 497 Meeting Conclusion ?Chapter 935: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion Chapter 935: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion While Lin Tianming had just finished speaking, Chen Maohua, standing beside him, quickly chimed in. ¡°Lin Daoyou is right!¡± ¡°Now, our losses are not small, and we urgently need time to recuperate and by leveraging the benefits left by the Golden Sword Sect, quickly restore our strength.¡± ¡°Therefore, it¡¯s not wise for the Wei Kingdom to excessively escalate the conflict at this time!¡± ¡°And in my view, as long as our strength is sufficient, they wouldn¡¯t dare to be too arrogant!¡± After hearing Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng pondered briefly and understood the rationale behind them. In fact, they felt the same way, just with a bit more resentment. ... However, they also realized that the overall strength of Huangyang Kingdom was stronger, much stronger than the current Wei Kingdom. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the Huangyang Kingdom had internal divisions and conflicts among its major forces, leading them to guard against each other, otherwise, if they could mobilize all their sect forces, or even just half their strength, the Wei Kingdom might already have been wiped out at this time, let alone maintaining the current status. In the end, the Wei Kingdom is currently the weaker party and cannot possibly compete with the Huangyang Kingdom. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng exchanged opinions and soon came to a decision. Following this, Zhou Yunxiao spoke, ¡°What the two Daoist friends said makes sense!¡± ¡°And our intention,¡± said Zhou Yunxiao, ¡°is to organize a group and make a trip to Huangyang Kingdom to get an explanation, and observe their reaction.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s just to gain some benefits without fueling a bigger conflict, it¡¯s worth it.¡± ¡°If it truly is not feasible, then we must give up and wait until we are stronger in the future to settle scores with them.¡± As he said this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s tone became slightly sharper, clearly reluctant. But as the strongest cultivator of Myriad Medicine Valley and even of the Wei Kingdom, a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, he naturally wasn¡¯t a fool to have cultivated to this point. Since he could bend and stretch, deciding to let go now was precisely the outcome Lin Tianming and others hoped to see. Thus, Lin Tianming gestured with a cupped hand salute towards Zhou Yunxiao, then offered a compliment. ¡°Daoist Zhou¡¯s decision is for the tens of thousands of cultivators of the entire Wei Kingdom, Lin Mou admires you greatly.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why not set a time to travel together to Huangyang Kingdom.¡± ¡°I can assure you that the Lin Family, including myself, can still contribute one more Golden Core Stage Combat Power to join you.¡± ¡°I am also willing to accompany everyone on this journey!¡± Chen Maohua quickly expressed his stance without any hesitation. Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng nodded in approval. Subsequently, the group discussed and decided to dispatch eight Golden Core cultivators, with Myriad Medicine Valley contributing Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu. Zhenyang Sect would send three people: Lu Xingfeng, Chen Jingtian, and Lan Yu, each representing Golden Core Stage Combat Power. Along with Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang, as well as Chen Maohua from the Chen Clan, that totaled eight Golden Core Stage Combat Powers. This lineup was formidable: it included two Late Stage Golden Cores leading, combined with three Medium Stage and three Early Stage Golden Cores. Lin Tianming¡¯s power alone was nearly comparable to a Late Stage Golden Core, at the very least no less than the powerful Chen Jingtian. Such a lineup, even if traveling to the powerful Huangyang Kingdom, would at least have some security. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the departure time, it was set for six months later, gathering at Lin Family Clan Grounds before heading out to Huangyang Kingdom. Everyone present agreed with these arrangements. With this confirmation, this high-level meeting officially came to an end. Subsequently, after a round of polite small talk, the group walked out of the auction and reappeared in the outside plaza. At that moment, the thousands of cultivators outside were still gathered, discussing the high-level cultivators¡¯ meeting and even debating significant issues. Now, seeing these top powerhouses of the Wei Kingdom, everyone¡¯s expression was calm, unlike the presence of any irreconcilable conflict. The cultivators on the plaza were all incredibly excited, visibly relieved. Most of these individuals were common folk, and they were very concerned and attentive to the relationships among the top forces of the Wei Kingdom. Considering the current state of the Wei Kingdom, where many things needed rebuilding, the last thing needed was a new crisis. Fortunately, given the current conditions, the major forces seemed harmonious, indicating that the Wei Kingdom was unlikely to face major disturbances. This outcome was precisely what these lower-level cultivators wanted to see. Thus, with Lin Tianming and other cultivators making a grand appearance, the plaza instantly buzzed with excitement. For a moment, many cultivators bowed in respect, their loud and orderly voices resonating in every corner. Seeing this scene, Lu Xingfeng, the host, smiled and waved his hand, breaking up the perfect moment. Once calm was restored, Lu Xingfeng looked at Lin Tianming and the others beside him, then announced Zhenyang Sect¡¯s agreement with the Lin Family, promising that within a year, Qianchuan Market and the Luoyang Mountain Range, along with six other mountain ranges, would be governed by the Lin Family. Furthermore, after these mountain ranges were under the Lin Family¡¯s control, the remaining Golden Core forces would recognize the Lin Family¡¯s rule. This news immediately caused a stir. Despite some cultivators with strength and foresight having speculated privately about the specific distribution of the benefits from the Golden Sword Sect. Chapter 936 936 497 Meeting Conclusion _2 ?Chapter 936: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion _2 Chapter 936: Chapter 497 Meeting Conclusion _2 However, they didn¡¯t expect the news to come this quickly, let alone that the top figure of Zhenyang Sect would announce it publicly in front of the many High Order Cultivators and the thousands of people present. Now that Lu Xingfeng had spoken, the matter was officially public and would soon spread throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Lin Tianming originally thought that the Zhenyang Sect would take some time to announce the news of the territory exchange, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be declared openly on the spot. But this was good, settling the matter sooner allowed the Lin Family to have some peace of mind. And from this day forward, the Lin Family was officially counted among the top forces of the Wei Kingdom, with their industries and territories recognized by several other powers. For the Lin Family, this symbolized a big step forward, moving from behind the scenes to the forefront. The Lin Family had worked hard for this day, and now they had finally achieved their long-standing ambition. ... Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt excited, his heart unable to calm down for a long time. Aside from him, Lin Shikang was also surging with emotion, his face always wearing a thick smile. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming looked at the sea of Cultivators before him and felt quite satisfied with Lu Xingfeng¡¯s efficiency in handling matters. At this moment, Lin Tianming watched the noisy atmosphere of the entire assembly of Cultivators, some whispering among themselves, talking about the Lin Family¡¯s news. Even more people came forward to bow and pay their respects to several members of the Lin Family, their words full of compliments. To this, Lin Tianming waved his hands politely in return, his approachable way of conducting himself earning a lot of applause. ¡°Lin Daoyou, the news has been officially announced, we just need to post notices in some workshops under the sect¡¯s command, and soon all the Cultivators of the Wei Kingdom will be aware of this matter!¡± ¡°Are you satisfied with this arrangement I¡¯ve made?¡± Lu Xingfeng¡¯s sudden statement took Lin Tianming by surprise, but he was indeed very content. Therefore, Lin Tianming replied with a smile, ¡°With Lu Daoyou taking such personal care and being so thoughtful, naturally I am satisfied!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ then let¡¯s rest for a few days!¡± ¡°After the auction concludes, let¡¯s set out together for the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault to collect our respective benefits.¡± ¡°Half a year from now, we¡¯ll meet again at the Lin Family Clan Grounds!¡± Lu Xingfeng said to the Cultivators behind him. ¡°So it¡¯s settled!¡± ¡°I take my leave!¡± Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, along with a few others, greeted each other and then took Duan Liangyu and left first. Lin Tianming and the others also did not linger, waving their goodbyes before disappearing from the plaza. Back at the cave residence, Lin Tianming and the other two sat around in the small courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. The three were all beaming, their faces flushed with excitement. Due to the presence of others earlier, even in their excitement, they had refrained from showing too much emotion. Now back in the residence, they no longer suppressed the thrill in their hearts. Each person was brimming with smiles, their words filled with excitement. ¡°Tianming, this High Level meeting was unexpectedly smooth, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Shikang remarked, having originally thought it would take much effort and even prepared for a potential conflict. Unexpectedly, this time the major powers seemed restrained, not overly contentious about certain benefits. Under such circumstances, the meeting ended smoothly without much conflict. Lin Tianming was also surprised by this outcome. Regardless, the Lin Family had already received what they should have, with only the benefits from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault remaining. Once this part of the benefits was in hand, and they had fully taken control of the territories they exchanged with Zhenyang Sect, this distribution issue would be completely settled. As this goal was nearly achieved, perhaps within a year, the Lin Family would be able to rest and recuperate. Every time Tianming thought of this, his heart, which had just calmed down, started to stir once again. Regathering his thoughts, Lin Tianming joked, ¡°It¡¯s best that the meeting went smoothly. These past few years, the major powers have suffered heavy losses and are exhausted.¡± ¡°At this critical juncture, unless it involves Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, they would not go as far as to completely break off relations.¡± Hearing this, Ye Pinghai, sitting beside him, nodded and agreed. ¡°Tianming¡¯s words are quite true!¡± ¡°The benefits left by the Golden Sword Sect are indeed significant, but Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect have now obtained the vast majority of them. For them, it¡¯s just the icing on the cake, hardly enough to push them to the Nascent Soul Stage.¡± ¡°Furthermore, with Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s need for defense, there is no reason for Wei Kingdom to continue its internal conflict.¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely why Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao agreed so readily.¡± ¡°Otherwise, if there were Nascent Soul Spiritual Items, no matter how dire the situation in Wei Kingdom, a deadly battle between the major forces would be inevitable.¡± Hearing Ye Pinghai¡¯s analysis, Lin Tianming and the others also agreed. Fortunately, the situation did not develop in that direction, which could be considered a blessing for the major Golden Core Forces, and indeed, all of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivators. Otherwise, if they were to endure another war that swept through the entire Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t have time to consolidate nor the means to continue building their strength. Now that the conference has concluded, the auction is in just two days. It is said that Zhenyang Sect has made elaborate preparations for this auction, even opening an auction ground for Golden Core Cultivators, which is a very high-profile event. For this, they have also brought out quite a few fine items and have heavily promoted the event. Lin Tianming had not attended an auction in a long time; the last time was before the beast tide war, more than ten years ago. At that time, he was at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level. However, due to the abundance of Treasure he possessed, as well as his strength and discerning eye, the ordinary items up for auction hardly drew his attention. Besides, he was too busy afterward. The continual crises in Wei Kingdom kept him either in secluded cultivation or involved in magic duels, leaving him no time to attend auctions. Now faced with a high-profile auction, Lin Tianming was quite curious and looking forward to seeing what good items Zhenyang Sect would put forward. But upon reflection, he did not hold much hope. After all, in the Golden Core Stage, ordinary items were no longer effective, and Lu Xingfeng would not easily part with any valuable Treasure for his own use, let alone others. Moreover, in the current Wei Kingdom, only the four major Golden Core Forces had Golden Core Stage Cultivators, totaling just over a dozen people. Now, all things considered, only a few people from Wei Kingdom would be participating in the auction at Qingshui Market. In the end, it might as well be called a swap meet rather than an auction. But since he was already here, there was no harm in staying a few more days. It would be a good opportunity to broaden his horizons and give Zhenyang Sect some face. After this was done, they would need to pay a visit to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Then, they would only have a few months of rest before setting out for Huangyang Kingdom once again. Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t too concerned about this. In his view, this matter was highly likely to come to nothing; a visit was just a formality to show their stance. But since the decision was made, further thought was pointless. Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming chatted with Lin Shikang and the others for a while. Afterward, Lin Shikang began arrangements for the clan members to leave Qingshui Market, contacting those scattered outside in various Spirit Lands, taking the opportunity to reap benefits. After all, the territories had been allocated, and some of the Spirit Lands in the mountains belonged to the new Golden Core Forces. The Lin Family had already gained a lot of benefits in the past year; to continue to occupy those places for small gains would seem petty and lose the dignity befitting a Golden Core Family. A more significant reason was that a month or two of extra mining time was trivial compared to the Lin Family¡¯s current wealth. Therefore, it was unnecessary to lose dignity over such scant profits or cause unnecessary conflict. Thus, calling back the scattered clan members was a matter that could not be delayed. With these arrangements in place, the next step was to wait until tomorrow to set out together for the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This trip was merely for collecting Treasure and could possibly be completed within a day or two. Once this task was accomplished, they would be ready to begin their return journey to the Lin Family Clan Grounds. For this day, Lin Shikang had been working hard outside for a year, and now it was time to return with a full load. Thinking of the vast resources they had acquired, including Fourth Order Treasures and several hundred Third Order Treasures, Lin Shikang felt a surge of excitement at the thought of Lin Shihua and the others seeing it all. As he eagerly anticipated their reaction, Lin Shikang¡¯s excitement grew. After calming down, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a while before each returned to their Practice Room. ¡­ Chapter 937 937 498 Return Fully Loaded ?Chapter 937: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded Chapter 937: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded On this clear morning, The Qingshui Market was bustling with people. A large number of cultivators walked in pairs, all heading toward the central auction house of the market. Today was the day of the auction, and Lin Tianming had left his retreat early in the morning to wait for Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai to set off together. At this time, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai came out together, appearing in the courtyard. Upon seeing the newcomers, Lin Tianming quickly went up to greet them. ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, you two elders seem to be in good spirits!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Shikang smiled and then explained, ¡°Everything has been going smoothly so far. Once the auction is over, we just need to take a detour to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, and then we can head home.¡± ¡°Having been away from the Lin Family for a year, I am now about to embark on the return journey, so of course, my mood is good.¡± ... Hearing this, Lin Tianming also smiled and joked for a bit. After exchanging a few courtesies, the three left the dwelling together, heading toward the auction. Before long, They arrived at the auction venue. Under the guidance of a Zhenyang Sect disciple, they were taken to a reception hall on the highest level. There, Chen Maohua had already arrived and was comfortably sitting on a jade chair, sipping Spiritual Tea. The four greeted each other and then gathered to chat leisurely, waiting for Zhou Yunxiao and a few other companions to arrive. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhou Yunxiao and the others arrived. As soon as they entered, Lin Tianming and the others quickly got up to greet them, very courteously. With the arrival of Zhou Yunxiao and his group, there were now nine Golden Core Stage cultivators in the reception room, accounting for a significant part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s top cultivators. Then, those present greeted each other and chatted for a while. Meanwhile, the two floors below them in the venue were already noisy with people. A large number of cultivators had come from afar just to attend this grand auction. Moreover, with the Zhenyang Sect releasing some information about the treasures beforehand and the gathering of numerous Golden Core experts, the auction became even more majestic. Now, as the lower-level cultivator¡¯s auction proceeded as scheduled, some Lin Family Members also participated in it. With the harvest of the past year, the Lin Family Members had been busy, participating in the bidding multiple times and successfully acquiring numerous precious treasures. On the third floor of the auction house, however, where Lin Tianming and his group were because there were not many of them and they all knew each other the nominal auction had turned into an exchange of equals. Under the leadership of Lu Xingfeng, everyone brought out impressive treasures, with the lowest items being of the Third Order. Clearly, with the recent overthrow of the Golden Sword Sect, all the major powers and individuals had obtained a substantial amount of spoils of war. Thus, the treasures brought out at this so-called auction were all of considerable value, and everyone seemed well-prepared. Otherwise, in normal times, if someone had a valuable treasure, they would cherish it and keep it to themselves, and they wouldn¡¯t want to part with it unless they were in dire need of something else. Lin Tianming, among others, had many treasures on him, the vast majority of which were spoils from killing those few people. With the backing of several Golden Core cultivator households, his wealth was profound, certainly enough to overwhelmingly dominate most of his peers. Perhaps even an established powerful cultivator like Chen Jingtian couldn¡¯t compare with him. In fact, it was possible that even the leaders of factions like Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng wouldn¡¯t dare claim to surpass him in terms of personal wealth. In this case, Lin Tianming was not stingy and brought out several high-value Third Grade Treasures that were rare. As the hosts and strongest of the Wei Kingdom, especially Lu Xingfeng, brought out several good items for this occasion. The others brought at least two and at most four treasures for the exchange. As for the exchange items, they were essentially treasures of equivalent value. Even if some items differed slightly in value, the difference would be made up with Medium-grade Spirit Stones or other treasures. Among the many treasures, one Blood Jade Ginseng and one piece of Fire Essence Gold particularly aroused Lin Tianming¡¯s interest. The reason for this was that Blood Jade Ginseng could slightly enhance one¡¯s cultivation, and although it wasn¡¯t very effective for Golden Core Mid-Late Stage cultivators, it was perfect for an early-stage cultivator like Lin Tianming. As it is known, in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World at this time, the main reliance for Golden Core Stage cultivators to enhance their cultivation were elixirs. A natural Spirit Fruit like Blood Jade Ginseng was definitely much stronger than a Yuxu Pill. Therefore, such treasures that could directly enhance cultivation were very rare and extremely precious. Lu Xingfeng was willing to offer this Blood Jade Ginseng, showing his intention to make this exchange a success. As for the piece of Fire Essence Gold, it came from Zhou Yunxiao. Because Fire Essence Gold is an excellent Artifact Refining material that is seldom seen, its value amongst Third Order Spiritual Ore is also quite solid. Seeing these two items, Lin Tianming was highly covetous. In his eyes, the Blood Jade Ginseng could be consumed to enhance cultivation, and the Fire Essence Gold could be used in Artifact Refining, both categories of treasures he urgently needed. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, with his arrangements, he also brought out several high-value treasures that he did not need. Added with several thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, he finally managed to exchange for these two treasures with Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao. Following that, Lin Shikang and the others also found their gains, trying to exchange the treasures they temporarily didn¡¯t need for those suitable for themselves. As time slowly passed, after spending nearly half a day, the exchange finally came to a successful conclusion. Chapter 938 938 498 Return Fully Loaded_2 ?Chapter 938: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded_2 Chapter 938: Chapter 498: Return Fully Loaded_2 The group, having each reaped some benefits, was in high spirits and soon began exchanging cultivation experiences. With Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, two powerful Late Stage Golden Core cultivators present, their experiences were of great help to Lin Tianming and the other Early Stage Golden Core cultivators. Lin Tianming and the others earnestly sought advice, and Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng were generous with their knowledge. After a round of exchanges, everyone benefited greatly, gaining a deeper understanding of cultivation. It was foreseeable that in their future cultivation journey, they would be able to avoid some detours. It wasn¡¯t until midday that this exchange meeting finally concluded. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming and his two companions bid farewell and then left the auction together. ... Shortly after, all the Golden Core cultivators dispersed. Meanwhile, the auction for the lower-order cultivators was still going on intensely, with various treasures continually appearing and the atmosphere extremely lively. The auction continued until the evening and finally officially ended, with some cultivators beginning to slowly leave. The Lin Family members returned to their cave dwelling and immediately went to report to Lin Shikang. Learning that the clan members had spent a lot of spirit stones and acquired many rare treasures, Lin Shikang was also quite excited. In his eyes, not only had the Golden Core clan members, including himself, gained much, but the lower clan members had also obtained significant resources over the past couple of years. Moreover, this time the Lin Family had acquired a vast amount of treasures, six huge mountain ranges as territory, and a complete medium-sized workshop. With such substantial gains, just a few years of management would allow the Lin Family¡¯s foundation to rapidly improve, and their influence in Wei Kingdom could reach a new height. In the next decade or more, it would be a time of rapid development for the Lin Family. With enough resources in hand, the Lin Family was sure to undergo a major transformation, from top to bottom. For this day, the Lin Family members had worked hard, and now they had finally received a rich reward. Whenever he thought of this, he was brimming with excitement. At the same time, remembering the words entrusted to him by his ancestors as they passed away, he felt even more fortunate and gratified. He was fortunate that the Lin Family had produced a true Hidden Dragon. He was gratified that this generation of Lin Family members had lived up to their responsibilities, now completely surpassing the family¡¯s peak period. After calming himself a bit, Lin Shikang¡¯s eyes were moist with tears, deeply moved by the pressures they had faced over the years. Now, as the Lin Family rose to become a significant force in Wei Kingdom, And with Lin Tianming and his wife, as well as the Wind Spirit Root genius Lin Tianyun, the Lin Family¡¯s potential was tremendous, with even grander goals ahead. For this day, he would fully support them to go further, a responsibility laden with great duty. Realizing this, Lin Shikang took a deep breath, then made many arrangements for the clan members. After everything was properly arranged, Lin Tianming and his companions each returned to their rooms to rest. The next morning, Outside the Qingshui Market, Lin Tianming and other Lin Family members waited on the side. As people from Zhou Yunxiao and several other powers arrived one after another, those heading to the Golden Sword Mountain Gate gathered. After exchanging greetings, Lu Xingfeng took out a Flying Boat. Soon, everyone boarded the Flying Boat, flying towards the location of the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. After half a month of non-stop flying, the Flying Boat smoothly arrived at the location of the Golden Sword Mountain Gate. On the deck of the Flying Boat, Lin Tianming and his companions stood side by side, their eyes looking down at the square below, their expressions filled with excitement. A year had passed since they last visited this place, and Lin Tianming was filled with many emotions. The place had originally suffered a devastating battle and was riddled with scars. However, after a year of restoration and recovery, the Golden Sword Mountain Gate had been completely revitalized, almost fully regaining its former majestic appearance. However, there weren¡¯t many people stationed here now, mostly disciples and clan members from various powers, obviously far fewer than when the Golden Sword Sect controlled it. Moreover, in a short while, all the powers stationed here would completely withdraw, and the site would be fully handed over to Zhenyang Sect. Lin Tianming and his companions had come here to retrieve the dividends belonging to the Lin Family. Among these, the treasures of the Third and Fourth Rank were crucial, and the Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect was also a treasure that the Lin Family had long desired. With the establishment of this Third Order Defense Array, the Lin Family Clan Grounds¡¯ security had substantially heightened. Should they encounter attacks from two or three Golden Core Stage Cultivators again, they could at least hold out for an extended period. At the same time, this defensive array had also enhanced the gathering of spiritual energy on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Although the previous defensive array of the Lin Family was quite impressive and had a decent effect in gathering spiritual energy, that formation was ultimately a Second Order Great Array, which evidently had a huge gap compared to the Third Order Great Array of the Golden Sword Sect. Moreover, as the Lin Family began to have more High Order Cultivators and the size of the clan¡¯s population grew, the Second Order Formation could not possibly sustain the vast consumption of the Clan Members. Therefore, the original array of the Lin Family was no longer sufficient for their use. However, acquiring this formation had cost the Lin Family a considerable price, but they had managed to acquire it successfully. It could be said that with this Defensive Great Formation, the weaknesses of the Lin Family could be remedied once again. At least until they faced a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, the Lin Family would not need to worry about the formation again. It was with this purpose in mind that Lin Tianming and several others rushed over with the main force. How could one not feel excited about the moment to reap the benefits from various families? Meanwhile, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng did not delay, taking a few people off the Flying Boat. Following that, under the guidance of several reception cultivators, Lin Tianming and the others went to the Treasure Vault of the Golden Sword Sect, and then each took away the treasures allocated to them according to the previously arranged details. The Lin Family had obtained their share of treasures, all that was left was this Defensive Great Formation from the Golden Sword Sect. However, dismantling the Defensive Great Formation would take some time, and the Zhenyang Sect also needed to temporarily establish a new formation to replace the dismantled Third Order Great Array. With this, the cultivators from Myriad Medicine Valley and the Chen Clan saw no need to stay any longer and left Golden Sword Mountain Gate first. After these people left, only the Zhenyang Sect and Lin Family Members remained to evacuate. Although Lin Tianming and his companions were eager to return home, they did not mind waiting a few more days. Thus, they planned to wait a few days, and once the Zhenyang Sect had arranged everything and they could acquire the long-awaited Third Order Great Array, they would then depart with the clan members stationed there, embarking on the journey back to the Clan Grounds. This waiting spanned three days. On this day, within a certain cave dwelling, Lin Tianming and two others gathered for a casual chat. At that moment, the ground beneath their feet began to shake. At the same time, while the spiritual energy in the sky had been calm and gentle, it suddenly surged violently. However, this change lasted only a few breaths before quickly returning to tranquility. Feeling this change, Lin Shikang¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Tianming, could it be that the previous Defensive Great Formation of the Golden Sword Sect has been dismantled by the Zhenyang Sect disciples?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°It should be so!¡± ¡°The vibration just now, and the changes in the spiritual energy, were obviously due to the disruptions caused by a clash of spiritual energies.¡± ¡°As it calms down, a new formation must have taken effect!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded his head, largely agreeing with Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation. Sure enough, merely a tea time later, Lu Xingfeng sent a message, summoning the three to gather at the cave dwelling. Receiving this message, Lin Tianming and his companions were even more certain that the recent disturbances were caused by the dismantling of the formation. Given this, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s message to them was probably about handing over the defensive formation. With this in mind, the three did not delay and hurriedly went together. In Lu Xingfeng¡¯s cave dwelling, they indeed saw all the core components of the Defensive Great Formation, including the Array Plate and Array Flags, all well-prepared. With this set of formations, all the Lin Family needed was an Array Master to install it on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. The requirements for activating and installing the formation were not high for an Array Master; even someone who wasn¡¯t an Array Master could complete it. Now that these items were right in front of them, Lin Tianming and the others were incredibly excited. After transferring the formation from Lu Xingfeng, the Lin Family had basically obtained all their benefits. Subsequently, after bidding farewell to Lu Xingfeng, the three immediately gathered the Lin Family troops, left the Golden Sword Mountain Gate, and flew toward the southern location of the Lin Family Clan Grounds. ¡­ Chapter 939 939 499 Shocking the Clan Leader ?Chapter 939: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader Chapter 939: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds. At noon that day, a huge shadow swept across the outskirts of Green Bamboo Mountain at an incredible speed. On the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming and two others stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the familiar scenery below, their faces flushed with color. Behind them sat more than twenty clansmen, cross-legged. It seemed some clansmen were meditating, while others chatted in pairs, their faces filled with broad smiles, clearly in high spirits. These people had all been stationed near the Golden Sword Mountain Gate and the Qingshui Market. As Lin Tianming and his group started their journey back to the clan, these people also needed to return, so they followed them and retreated first. ... As for other clansmen stationed in more remote areas, they would group together and return on their own after the messengers had reached them. With Lin Tianming¡¯s group leading, this return journey was rather smooth, taking up only about half a month and they did not stop at Qianchuan Market. They did not even pause near the nearby Golden Horn Mountain. Like this, they traveled continuously and finally returned from the distant Golden Sword Sect back to Green Bamboo Mountain. At this point, Lin Tianming and the others were watching the familiar landscape below and a smile flashed across their faces. ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, we have finally returned victorious!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s exclamation, Lin Shikang and the other nodded, their hearts also filled with surprise and joy. ¡°Let¡¯s go down!¡± Lin Shikang said, and he was the first to jump down from the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, then disappeared into thin air. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. The Purple Gold Eagle he was on tore through the void like a streak of light and entered the Mountain Protection Array. As everyone disappeared, the clansmen guarding the gate watched intently at the disappearing Purple Gold Eagle, their hearts throbbing with excitement. Obviously, they recognized the Purple Gold Eagle and clearly saw who was on its back. Even though those clansmen did not stop to greet them, they felt nothing improper. After all, the Lin Family was developing comprehensively now, and practically all Golden Core Stage Clansmen were elders. For these clansmen, Golden Core Stage Clansmen were like dragons ¨C see the head but not the tail. Thus, the interactions between the senior clan members and these people naturally grew less and less. Such occurrences are not rare in the Cultivation World. The Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family were all very busy. Not just in the Lin Family but in any other faction, it was almost impossible for Golden Core Cultivators and Qi Refiners to meet unless they were close kin. Therefore, these clansmen guarding the gate felt no surprise, let alone dissatisfaction. Instead, they felt incredibly thrilled and proud to have seen these legendary family members. This lasted until the Purple Gold Eagle had long disappeared, and only then did these clansmen recover from their astonishment. Upon returning to the clan grounds, Lin Tianming and the others did not know what was being quietly discussed by the clansmen at the mountain gate. Once they reached the clan grounds, the clansmen greeted each other and then began to disperse. Lin Tianming and Ye Pinghai also did not linger and flew straight towards Lin Shikang¡¯s cave dwelling. In a short while, When the arrival of Lin Tianming and others was known, several senior clansmen of the Shi generation put aside their work and gathered together. In the courtyard, Lin Shihua and others were all extremely excited, smiles constantly on their faces. Apparently, Lin Tianming¡¯s recent trip to Qingshui Market was also directed by the Lin Family¡¯s objectives. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this matter, Lin Shihua had been quite worried, fearing that the negotiations would not go smoothly leading to conflicts and stirring up turbulence in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Now that Lin Tianming and his group had returned safely, the negotiations must have gone smoothly, achieving the Lin Family¡¯s aims. However, Lin Shihua was not entirely sure, so he promptly began to inquire. Following this, Lin Shikang smiled faintly and recounted his recent experience in Qingshui Market to the curious group. Lin Shikang provided a thorough account, from the clan stripping the Golden Sword Sect of its assets to all the resources the Lin Family had secured. Learning that the Lin Family had acquired a vast amount of treasures, including several third and fourth rank items, Lin Shihua was thrilled yet managed to remain composed. But hearing that the Lin Family had acquired six territories of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, including the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Third Order Defense Array, Lin Shihua and the others briefly lost their composure. At that moment, their faces grew incredibly red, their breathing quickened. Before they had a chance to catch their breath, Lin Shikang continued about the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm¡¯s entry spots. Learning that the Lin Family had obtained twenty spots to the Secret Realm, had acquired the Control Token from the Golden Sword Sect, and that Yangzong had officially announced all the results, Lin Shihua and the others were once again unable to remain calm. The scene became quiet for a time; only Lin Shihua¡¯s voice could be heard intermittently muttering, ¡°Good¡­ good!¡± ¡°May the ancestors bless us¡­¡± Seeing their expressions and hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words, they were obviously stunned by the immense benefits, leading to overwhelming excitement. After some time, Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes were red as he couldn¡¯t help but express, ¡°With these vast resources, the Lin Family won¡¯t have to worry about resources for the next decades, even a hundred years!¡± Chapter 940 940 499 Shocking the Clan Leader_2 ?Chapter 940: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader_2 Chapter 940: Chapter 499 Shocking the Clan Leader_2 No sooner had the voice faded than Lin Shigong couldn¡¯t help but take over the conversation. ¡°Furthermore, with the Third Order Great Array from the Golden Sword Sect, the basic safety of our clan land is guaranteed. Even if a Golden Core Cultivator attacks, the Lin Family can hold out for some time.¡± ¡°In addition to that, the territory and the Qianchuan Market that the Lin Family acquired is a significant enhancement to our family¡¯s foundation.¡± ¡°With this foundation, our Lin Family can develop rapidly. In the future, catching up with the other two Great Sects, and perhaps even surpassing them, is not impossible.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, thoroughly agreeing in his heart. However, in his eyes, there was another important matter that couldn¡¯t be omitted: the Lin Family had stepped out from the shadows into the light. As Lu Xingfeng publicly announced the Lin Family¡¯s interests and the territory they exchanged, it signaled the recognition of the Lin Family by several other major powers and their emergence as one of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s top three forces. ... With recognition from these powers, other forces in the Wei Kingdom, both large and small, had no choice but to accept the Lin Family. Such a transformation, though merely a title, was a step that every major power had to take to establish a long-standing presence in the region. Now, the Lin Family has achieved the stature both in terms of real strength and nominally that befits a major power. Recognized by the three Golden Elixir Forces, those smaller families dared not harbor any dissatisfaction. From now on, it can be foreseen that the Lin Family will further advance from an obscure Foundation Establishing Family to become one of the three leading powers of the Wei Kingdom. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such a title, wherever Lin Family Members went, they carried an invisible clan might, forcing those with sinister intentions to think twice. Such is the influence of Golden Elixir Forces! Although unseen and intangible, it was a genuine presence. Now that the Lin Family had achieved its goal, sooner and faster than planned, it was a pleasant surprise. Knowing this, including Lin Tianming, couldn¡¯t help but feel excited for a while. Now that Lin Shihua and the others were aware of these developments, they felt genuinely delighted. As everyone gradually calmed down, Lin Shikang also shifted the topic, bringing up the matter of their trip to Huangyang Kingdom. Regarding this matter, they had already made arrangements with Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. According to the prior plan, it would still be the three of them from the Lin Family going on the trip, as for whether they could achieve their goal, they would take it one step at a time. If they could take advantage of the situation, great; if not, they would simply let it go. They couldn¡¯t afford to fight over some uncertain benefits and thus disrupt the hard-won peace of the Wei Kingdom. Once Lin Tianming knew this, he was less worried. As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua was naturally a clever person. With a little thought, he could also grasp the general situation. With this in mind, there was no need to worry too much about Huangyang Kingdom. What he was more concerned about was the handover between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect, as well as the development plans for the family. Thinking of this, Lin Shihua immediately asked, ¡°Third brother, how are we going to handle the handover with the Zhenyang Sect, and how should we manage and develop that territory?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shikang thought for a moment and then replied, ¡°According to the agreement, the handover with the Zhenyang Sect will be completed within a year.¡± ¡°What we need to do is to send someone to Qianchuan Market to meet with the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s representatives and to obtain the control over the market¡¯s various prohibitive formations and arrays.¡± ¡°We need to have the various shop and cave dwelling contracts within the market.¡± ¡°In addition, we need to be clear about the lease contracts for the various shops and cave dwellings and sign new lease agreements, making sure there are no oversights.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Shihua nodded, realizing that this task was indeed a major project and quite tricky at that. The Qianchuan Market was a medium-sized marketplace with hundreds of shops and thousands of cultivator dwellings. Such a vast enterprise would inevitably have numerous prohibitions and lease contracts to transfer, requiring many hands and a complex procedure. Therefore, the person leading the handover to the market needed not only sufficient cultivation strength but also a certain standing and sound decision-making abilities. After all, the person representing the Lin Family in Qianchuan Market needed adequate standing and cultivation; otherwise, the task would naturally be challenging. But once the handover was complete, just the revenue from the Qianchuan Market could earn the Lin Family hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones each year. Such income, compared to the profits from all of the Lin Family¡¯s current enterprises combined, would be considerably more. And that doesn¡¯t even include the tribute that should be offered by the major families inhabiting those other mountain ranges. You should know, the area of the Luoyang Mountain Range and a few other mountain ranges is not small; each is much larger than the Luoyun Mountain Range. The largest of them, the Qianchuan Mountain Range, is home to ten Foundation Establishment Families, and there are nearly a hundred Qi Refining Families. Just from the Qianchuan Mountain Range territory alone, every few decades, a tribute of several hundred thousand Spirit Stones could be collected. If we include the other mountain ranges, the Lin Family can secure enough Spirit Stones for the next century. And these foundations are the benefits brought by being a Golden Core Family. Thinking about this point, Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. The Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley had inherited their power for so long; before the fall of the Golden Sword Sect, they controlled a vast territory of nearly a hundred mountain ranges. It was precisely because of such foundational conditions that they were able to gain enough benefits to ensure the consumption of tens of thousands of disciples of the two Great Sects. At the same time, it was only with such a foundation that they could support the inheritance of their two Great Sects for thousands of years. Now, the Lin Family has also taken a big step forward and can gradually accumulate resources and a foundation, reaching a new height is also not impossible. Regaining his focus, Lin Shihua pondered for a moment, then said. ¡°The mountain ranges that we have acquired as territory, together for a few years, are home to nearly a hundred Foundation Establishing Families, and there are even a few hundred more Qi Refining Families that are slightly stronger.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, this is also no small force!¡± ¡°In my opinion, we should pick a day to hold a meeting, to summon the major families to formally form an alliance.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming and a few others nodded, firmly approving of Lin Shihua¡¯s plan. Therefore, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°This matter can be set for one year from now. At that time, we can invite those families to come over and seize the opportunity to settle the specific details of the tribute.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded in agreement, taking the lead in showing support. Following that, Lin Shilu and Lin Shigong also spoke up, agreeing with the plan. ¡°Since everyone has no objections, let¡¯s settle this matter!¡± After saying this, Lin Shihua continued to inquire, ¡°So, for the family members heading to the Qianchuan Market and the Zhenyang Sect transition, which clan members do you plan to arrange to lead the team?¡± This question by Lin Shihua was key. Lin Shikang and the others were also deep in thought, beginning to consider the candidates internally. Soon after, Lin Shikang was the first to speak up, ¡°Xingrong has long resided over the family¡¯s various Spirit Lands, deals with people smoothly, and is not known for a fiery temperament, making him extremely experienced.¡± ¡°With his cultivation strength being not too low, and knowing quite a few cultivators, I see him as a very good choice!¡± The moment these words were spoken, delight appeared on Lin Shihua¡¯s face, clearly extremely satisfied. ¡°Third Brother speaks true!¡± ¡°Since you all will be heading to the Huangyang Kingdom and Shi Lu, being a hidden member of the family, is not suitable to appear, Xingrong is the most suitable of the current Foundation Establishment Cultivators to lead the team.¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu also nodded, feeling satisfied with the arrangement. Thus, a decision was promptly made on who would lead the team. Once Lin Xingrong returned to the family lands and had rested for some time, he would set out again, assisted by Lin Xingyi and several other key clan members, to undertake the handover at Qianchuan Market. Having arranged for this matter, with the urgent issues now mostly taken care of, all that was left was the urgent need to replace the Mountain Protection Array. Fully aware of this, Lin Shihua immediately arranged for the family¡¯s Array Masters to start the process of replacing the formations as soon as possible. As these major issues were settled, Lin Tianming and the others let out a sigh of relief, and their slightly exhausted hearts also relaxed. Following this, Lin Shikang, in front of everyone, handled the handover of the large amount of resources they had acquired. Afterward, the group chatted idly for a while before they took their leave and departed. ¡­ Chapter 941 941 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation ?Chapter 941: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation Chapter 941: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation The following morning at dawn. The institutions across the Lin Family Clan Grounds bustled significantly, as a large number of clanspeople gathered together, discussing the news of Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ return. ¡°Have you heard?¡± ¡°Third Grandfather and the rest returned yesterday, and quite a number of clanspeople came back with him.¡± At that moment, a young Qi Refining Stage Clan Member said to several companions nearby. No sooner had his voice fallen than another Qi Refining Stage Clan Member also spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s said that the family¡¯s gains this time were enormous, not to mention the number of treasures obtained. Plus, Qianchuan Market and several surrounding mountain ranges now all belong to our Lin Family!¡± ... His statement immediately caused a sensation, with some clanspeople, who were unaware of this news, immediately becoming sceptical yet hopeful. ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°If it is true, the foundation of our Lin Family would have doubled, and from now on, we could go to Qianchuan Market to train for extended periods.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just Qianchuan Market!¡± ¡°The several mountain ranges around Qianchuan Market are all our Lin Family¡¯s territory. If we want to train, there are so many options to choose from.¡± Hearing these words from his fellow clansmen, the clan member who shared the news smiled excitedly. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°These words come from Uncle Xing Jin; he accompanied Third Grandfather on an expedition to the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory and stayed for a full year, reportedly amassing many treasures.¡± ¡°Moreover, the terms that Third Grandfather negotiated in Qingshui Market have already been spread locally.¡± ¡°The key point is, Elder Lu of Zhenyang Sect personally acknowledged the Lin Family¡¯s benefits in front of thousands of cultivators in Qingshui Market.¡± ¡°Although the family¡¯s upper echelons have not touted this matter yet, coming from Uncle Xing Jin, the authenticity should be quite high.¡± With this explanation, the skeptical clanspeople were suddenly filled with joy, their faces flushed with excitement, and their hearts thrilled. Subsequently, the clanspeople vigorously discussed this news. At this time, several passing clanspeople joined in, making the gathering even larger. Meanwhile, some clanspeople who left the conversational groups went about spreading the news they had heard. Soon, nearly all of the Lin Family¡¯s thousands of clanspeople, from the Foundation Establishment Stage middle forces to the Qi Refining Stage youths in their teens, had received this astonishing news. For a while, the entire Lin Family Clan Grounds were as noisy as a boiling pot, the lively scene unable to settle down for a long time. And such scenes were not only playing out on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. In Qianchuan Market, Dragon Spring Market¡­ Several mediums-sized workshop territories under Zhenyang Sect, including affiliated mountain ranges, were also abuzz. Meanwhile, within the vast domain of Myriad Medicine Valley. With Myriad Medicine Valley¡¯s disciples returning from participating in the extermination of the Remnants of the Golden Sword Sect, and the subsequent looting, the general details of the negotiations among the major powers also began to circulate locally. And with these reports, countless cultivators were discussing. For a moment, these cultivators were filled with curiosity about the Lin Family, a clan rising like a comet. Not only that, they were also filled with great respect, knowing about the Lin Family¡¯s achievements. Such fervor showed no sign of calming down anytime soon. Even with some cultivators fanning the flames, the Lin Family became the go-to topic amongst cultivators during leisurely chats. As a result, almost every cultivator, and even some common folk, were aware that the Lin Family had become one of Wei Kingdom¡¯s three major powers. This influence directly surpassed that of the West River Li Family and the Yingchuan Chen Family, which were longer-established Golden Core Families. The Lin Family remained unaware of this for the time being. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Currently, inside the Lin Family, regardless of one¡¯s cultivation or status, the clanspeople were abuzz like the other cultivators elsewhere. As they were members of the clan, and the Lin Family was the main protagonist behind this sensational news, the fervor within the Lin Family exceeded all other places. And while the Lin Family was bustling, Lin Shihua, the Clan Leader, was quite busy. In the Elders¡¯ Council Hall, Lin Shihua sent out messages, summoning a few clan members. At that time, Lin Shihua sat in a high seat, with several key institutional heads of the Lin Family standing beside him. In front of them were three people, looking extremely respectful and somewhat puzzled. Among these three, one was a Second Order Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator named Lin Tianluo, one of only three Array Masters of the Lin Family. Lin Tianluo was talented; at just over thirty years of age, he had already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Such a talent in cultivation was noteworthy among the Tian generation clan members. Additionally, his talent in array formations was nothing short of exceptional. Although for now, he was still at the Late Stage of First Order as an Array Master. But with his talents, coupled with the family¡¯s strong support in recent years, advancing to Second Order was only a matter of time. The other two were in the Late Stage of Qi Refining and were also some of the few Array Masters in the Lin Family so far. However, these two clan members were clearly not as gifted in array formations as Lin Tianluo was. Even so, these three Array Masters were treasured by the Lin Family, who provided them with plentiful resources and valued their development above other clan members skilled in Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging. Such was the case because Array Masters were too rare and advancement was fraught with difficulties. Consequently, the art of Array Masters was highly sought after, demanding immense talent and greater resources, beyond the means of an average power to cultivate. Chapter 942 942 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars ?Chapter 942: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation_2 Chapter 942: Chapter 500 Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation_2 Even Myriad Medicine Valley, with its legacy spanning ten thousand years, only had a few dozen disciples under its Array Masters. Among them, those who could reach the Second Order level were few, let alone a Third Order Formation Master. This showed how challenging it was to train Array Masters. Had it not been for the Lin Family¡¯s explosive growth in power over the years and the acquisition of certain formation inheritances, coupled with the family¡¯s deliberate efforts to cultivate talent in this area, they would not have been able to produce three First Order Array Masters. Otherwise, with the Lin Family¡¯s clan power from decades ago, even if they had exhausted all their resources, it would have been difficult to train even a single Array Master in the Late Stage of the First Order. Now, the Lin Family not only had its own Array Masters, but three of them. Among these three, Lin Tianluo was the youngest and clearly had much more talent. ... Given some time, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult for him to advance further in the Formation Dao and break through to the Second Order. At this time, Lin Tianluo looked up at the Clan Leader and asked with confusion, ¡°Clan Leader, why have you and the elders summoned us? What is the matter?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua burst into laughter and then swung his sleeve, sending a golden Array Plate and seven small flags flying towards Lin Tianluo. Lin Tianluo looked puzzled, but he still caught the Array Plate and Array Flags and immediately examined them. Soon, his expression changed, and he began to breathe rapidly. ¡°This¡­this¡­this is a Third Order Great Array¡¯s Array Plate and Array Flags?¡± Lin Tianluo, evidently shocked, spoke in a stammer. The other two Array Masters heard this and quickly gathered around, staring at the Array Plate in Lin Tianluo¡¯s hands in astonishment. ¡°Tian Luo, do you recognize this formation?¡± Lin Shihua asked, bringing Lin Tianluo and the others back to reality. After calming down, Lin Tianluo thought for a moment and then replied, ¡°Reporting to the Clan Leader, this Array Plate and Flags, when set up, should form the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianluo¡¯s statement, the other two Array Masters seemed to realize something and exclaimed in surprise. ¡°The Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation?¡± ¡°Could it be the legendary Big Dipper Seven Stars Great Formation from Golden Sword Mountain Gate?¡± It was clear that the Mountain Protection Array of Golden Sword Sect was well known within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Especially to Array Masters, who meticulously studied the defensive formations of top powers in Wei Kingdom on regular days. The Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation, a formation of great repute and one of the classic Third Order Formations, was no exception. According to various classic texts and experiences, this formation, based on the Big Dipper constellation and laid out using special terrain, possessed formidable offensive and defensive power. Thus, this legendary powerful formation was naturally known to them. They just hadn¡¯t imagined that this famous and invaluable Defensive Great Formation would appear in the hands of the Lin Family. However, upon careful consideration, they roughly understood the reason. After all, Golden Sword Sect had fallen, and all the treasures and properties left behind were to be divided among the four major Golden Elixir Forces. And with the Lin Family contributing significantly in that great battle, if they were determined to acquire this defensive formation, obtaining it with a certain cost was not impossible. Understanding this, Lin Tianluo was less surprised. As his state of mind gradually stabilized, Lin Tianluo guessed the reason Lin Shihua summoned them. Thus, without delay, Lin Tianluo asked, ¡°Clan Leader, did you call us here to have us set up the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation and replace the original Mountain Protection Array?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded with satisfaction, thinking that Lin Tianluo, this junior, was indeed exceptional, not only ranking high among his peers in cultivation but also possessing tremendous talent in the Formation Dao. Additionally, Lin Tianluo was keen-witted and broad-minded. He recognized the legendary formation just by looking at the Array Plate and Flags. At the same time, he could guess the purpose of their summoning, and seeing Lin Tianluo¡¯s composed demeanor, it seemed certain he could set up the formation. At this thought, Lin Shihua was very pleased and somewhat impatient inside. Then, Lin Shihua paused before saying, ¡°Tian Luo, are you confident in setting up the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianluo nodded and replied, ¡°Clan Leader, although the grade of this formation is high, it is known to every Array Master.¡± ¡°With the complete tools at our disposal and the combined efforts of several clansmen, it should take some time and energy but should be sufficient to set it up completely.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the other two clansmen also echoed. ¡°Tian Luo is right, his expertise in Formation Dao is stronger than ours, with the two of us assisting, setting it up should not be a problem.¡± Seeing the confidence of Lin Tianluo and the three, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression brightened, and he repeatedly expressed his admiration. ¡°Ha ha¡­ That¡¯s really great!¡± ¡°You three must not delay, immediately set aside what you are currently doing and arrange the formation as soon as possible to replace the old Mountain Protection Array.¡± After this statement, Lin Shihua also instructed Lin Xingzhi who was beside him, ¡°Xing Zhi, as the Enforcement Hall Master, increase the patrols around the Sect Entrance Plaza.¡± ¡°At the same time, personally monitor the progress of the formation setup, cooperate fully with Tian Luo and his group, and report any difficulties to me immediately.¡± ¡°Remember, this Defensive Great Formation is crucial for the safety of our clan grounds and must be implemented as soon as possible.¡± Hearing this and observing Lin Shihua¡¯s serious expression, Lin Xingzhi dared not take it lightly. ¡°Clan Leader, rest assured, I will supervise this matter with all my efforts.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingzhi¡¯s expression was grave and his attitude resolute, fully understanding the importance of this Defensive Great Formation to the family. Lin Shihua nodded, gave a few more instructions, then had Lin Xingzhi take Lin Tianluo and the others away from the Elders¡¯ Council to set up the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation. At the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Xingzhi and others gathered together. At this moment, Lin Xingzhi looked at Lin Tianluo and then asked, ¡°Tian Luo, ready to start?¡± ¡°Uncle, my cousins and I will start right away.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianluo exchanged a few words with the people beside him, and then they each took out an Array Plate, working together to dismantle the family¡¯s original Defensive Great Formation. Days like these slowly passed, gradually stabilizing within the entire clan grounds, and the previous bustle returned to normal. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. That day, the Lin Family Clan Grounds shook, and the Spiritual Energy in the sky surged violently. This commotion immediately attracted a large number of clansmen to come out. For a while, many people gathered together, each showing a look of horror, and some even began muttering to themselves. ¡°Could this commotion be an attack on our family¡¯s Defensive Great Formation?¡± ¡°How is that possible? All of our Lin Family Golden Core Stage Clansmen are within the clan, and with the Lin Family¡¯s current overall strength, along with the lingering awe from the previous big battle, who would dare to trouble our family?¡± ¡°Heh¡­ That¡¯s true!¡± At the Sect Entrance Plaza, some clansmen gathered here as well, seemingly wanting to see what was happening. At this time, seeing Lin Xingzhi, everyone quickly surrounded him. ¡°Uncle, what has happened?¡± ¡°Right¡­ That noise was loud, could it be an attack on the Defensive Great Formation?¡± The two clansmen, looking frightened, saw the Law Enforcement Hall Master Lin Xingzhi and quickly began to ask for reasons. ¡°Do not panic, everyone. Our clan grounds are replacing the Defensive Great Formation; the commotion just now was caused by the fluctuations from the removal of the formation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the three uncles are all on the clan grounds. The formation might be restored in just a few days.¡± Hearing Lin Xingzhi¡¯s words and seeing Lin Tianluo and the three busily at work, it was apparent that this was indeed the case. Therefore, these clansmen breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s a relief¡­ that¡¯s a relief!¡± ¡°Go quickly and spread the word, let the clansmen continue with their tasks, it will be back to normal in a few days.¡± Lin Xingzhi instructed, and the clansmen did not delay further and quickly dispersed. Chapter 943 943 501 Blood Jade Ginseng ?Chapter 943: Chapter 501: Blood Jade Ginseng Chapter 943: Chapter 501: Blood Jade Ginseng Several days later. Inside the Lin Family Clan Grounds, there was a disturbance once again. The spiritual energy in the sky boiled like restless waters, suddenly churning violently. After a few breaths had passed, a pleasing sound echoed, quickly reaching every corner of the clan grounds. At that moment, numerous family members who were outside looked up upon feeling this disturbance. A faint golden light barrier seemed to envelop the entire Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Not only that, at some point, seven trails of starlight had appeared in the highest reaches of the sky. The starlight varied in intensity and distance, flickering with a brilliance that inspired awe. ... At this moment, when the clan members saw the faint golden light barrier and the flickering Big Dipper Seven Stars above them, their faces instantly lit up with excitement. ¡°Ha ha¡­ the new Defensive Great Formation is complete!¡± One of the clan members shouted excitedly, his face alight with a broad smile. He wasn¡¯t alone; many other family members began sharing their happiness with each other. ¡°Feel it! Just in this short while, the spiritual energy within the clan grounds seems to have grown richer!¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯re right, it is denser. It¡¯s not overly obvious, but if you pay close attention, you can surely feel the difference.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, numerous members of the family were eagerly discussing, each person showing great excitement. Clearly, almost every member was informed by Lin Xing Zhi of the family¡¯s intention to replace the Mountain Protection Array. Simultaneously, the clan members also learned that the current Defensive Great Formation being set up was the former Mountain Protection Array of the Golden Sword Sect. Although many ordinary members of the Lin Family, with their limited experience, did not know the precise power of the Formation, They were aware that it was a Third Order Great Array, renowned throughout the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Thus, this Formation, though they had only heard of it or saw it described in various texts, was very prestigious. Now that this legendary Great Array was successfully set up in the Lin Family Clan Grounds, it could assure that when facing attacks from Golden Core Cultivators in the future, they could withstand much longer and not be easily breached. Furthermore, this Formation also had some offensive capabilities; it could counter-attack when enemies assaulted the clan grounds, disrupting their offensive efficiency. With such a transformation, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that this Third Order Great Array elevated the family¡¯s defensive capability, providing them a certain resilience against crises. Previously, the Lin Family had always used a Second Order Superior Defense Array, which only provided protection and partial spirit gathering effects. When enemies attacked the clan grounds, they could only watch helplessly, unable to even cause minor disturbances. The most evident instance was a few years ago when Meng Qingfeng from the Qingyun Sect came aggressively. In just a few days, he nearly broke through the family¡¯s defensive barrier. At that time, the Lin Family¡¯s higher-ups could only watch from a distance, praying that the Formation would hold out longer. However, in just a few days, the original Mountain Protection Array was nearly on the verge of collapse. In such a critical moment, if it wasn¡¯t for Lin Shi Kang¡¯s decisive intervention that caught Meng Qingfeng off guard, The original Defensive Great Formation would have been directly broken through by the frontal attack. At that time, it was already considered the best Formation the Lin Family had. However, it still couldn¡¯t withstand a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman¡¯s relentless assault over several days. The family¡¯s Defensive Great Formation had always been a significant vulnerability for the Lin Family. Now that the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation was fully operational, it also filled the weakest link in the clan ground¡¯s defenses. It was foreseeable that even if Golden Core Cultivators attacked the clan grounds in the future, without the cooperation of three to five people, they would not be able to shake the clan grounds in the slightest. Even if several Golden Core cultivators attacked together, the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation could hold out for a long time, giving the family more time to react. With just this change, the family¡¯s defensive capability was significantly enhanced. Moreover, this Formation, capable of both offense and defense, clearly had a much stronger spirit gathering effect than the family¡¯s original Formation. Such an effect was just the initial result of the Formation starting to operate. Even so, the current richness of spiritual energy had already greatly surpassed what it was before. When the Formation stabilizes, and the family invests some Spirit Stones to further enhance the spiritual energy density, the effects could more than double. Knowing this, the members of the clan are all cheering and shouting with excitement, their happiness unmistakable. On the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Tian Luo and a few others gazed at the Formation¡¯s light barrier before them, their expressions filled with excitement. After spending almost half a month, during which they barely rested, The Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation was finally up and running, allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief. Hardly catching their breath, their initially flushed faces gradually paled, an undeniable weariness manifesting in their demeanor. ¡°Tian Luo, you all have worked hard!¡± Lin Xing Zhi looked at these few weary individuals with a concerned expression and said. ¡°Cousin Uncle is too polite. The three of us are Lin Family members; it¡¯s only right for us to do this.¡± ¡°Although it has indeed been hard, we have finally lived up to the expectations.¡± Chapter 944 944 501 Blood Jade Ginseng_2 ?Chapter 944: Chapter 501 Blood Jade Ginseng_2 Chapter 944: Chapter 501 Blood Jade Ginseng_2 Lin Tianluo took the lead in replying and then said solemnly, ¡°The formation is now running smoothly, we¡¯ve managed the basic defense and attack capabilities. However, the gathering of spiritual energy has not yet reached its best.¡± ¡°But rest assured, given some more days, the effect of this gathering of energy will definitely surpass what it was before, and you will be able to report back.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi nodded satisfactorily, unable to suppress the joy he felt inside. Just then, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua arrived together and landed steadily next to the group. Seeing them, Lin Xingzhi hurriedly led Lin Tianluo and others in a respectful greeting. ¡°Xingzhi, Tianluo, you have worked hard these days!¡± Lin Shikang waved his hand, and then nodded toward the group. ... ¡°Third Uncle exaggerates, we are all part of the Lin Family, sharing the clan¡¯s concerns is only natural.¡± ¡°As for Tianluo and the others, they have been working tirelessly day and night to set up the formation; they truly have endured extreme hardship.¡± Lin Xingzhi responded with admiration, feeling truly satisfied with Lin Tianluo and the others. After all, he had been stationed here during this period and had witnessed the process of setting up the formation by Lin Tianluo and his team. Although he was not skilled in the Formation Dao, his heart understood that setting up a third-order great array was not an easy task. Especially considering that Lin Tianluo and his companions were only first-order array masters, including two who were merely beginners, and they lacked advanced supporting tools. Yet, even so, their ability to set up the formation successfully in such a short time was exceptionally fast. Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua were also aware that this time, Lin Tianluo and his companions had made a significant contribution. Moreover, Lin Tianluo and his team were neither arrogant nor complacent, and they did not seek any credit, which was indeed very rare in young people. Thus, after Lin Shihua expressed his admiration, he instructed, ¡°Tianluo, you have worked hard recently; you should go back and rest first.¡± ¡°After a while, go find your Uncle Xingcheng and receive your reward.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianluo and the others nodded and then respectfully bowed to the group. Immediately after, Lin Tianluo handed over the central token controlling the formation to Lin Shihua and then disappeared from the plaza with the other two. As the younger generation left, Lin Shikang looked at the formation¡¯s light screen with a smile on his face. ¡°Shihua, Xingzhi, let¡¯s take a walk around the edge of the formation¡¯s coverage and see how well this formation defends.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua laughed heartily, unable to hide his joyful expression. Following that, Lin Shihua replied, ¡°Indeed, that sounds great; we should thoroughly inspect it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Shikang said and took the lead in flying out. Seeing this, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi no longer delayed and quickly followed Lin Shikang¡¯s steps, soon disappearing above the plaza. The three of them traveled together, circumnavigating the edge covered by the formation¡¯s light screen and inspecting the clan grounds. They discovered the area covered by this formation was vast, three times the size of the clan¡¯s original formation. Previously, the Lin Family Clan Grounds covered an area of just a few dozen square miles. Now, with the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation operating, it covered at least a hundred square miles. Such a large area allowed the clan to create a much larger living space, ensuring that even if the population exceeded ten thousand, it wouldn¡¯t feel too crowded. Furthermore, after Lin Shikang conducted a trial attack, the formation¡¯s light screen didn¡¯t budge at all, only consuming a bit of energy. Although he hadn¡¯t used his full strength, he was indeed a genuine Golden Core cultivator assisted by two offensive magical treasures, his strength was not to be underestimated. Yet, even so, after several rounds of attacks, only some energy was consumed, and the impact on the formation was negligible. Continuing this way, Lin Shikang and the others estimated that if the formation operated at full strength, it would be able to withstand continuous attacks from three to five mid-stage Golden Core cultivators for over a month. Such defensive power essentially met the standard previously set by the Golden Sword Sect. Lin Shikang and the others were very satisfied with this result and felt a deep sense of relief. In their eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s weak points had diminished further, and their ability to manage crisis had strengthened by several times. Every time they considered this point, the excitement of several individuals surged once again, and their emotional excitement could not be hidden. It took some time for them to calm down, Lin Shikang also gave some instructions to Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi, before he returned alone to the summit of the main peak. Next, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingzhi, one as the Clan Leader and the other as the Enforcement Hall Master, were both core members of the family. After exploring and studying together, they took the uses of this Formation to heart and successfully activated some special prohibitions, grasping control of the entire Formation to its greatest extent. As the Formation operated smoothly, discussions within the family gradually subsided, and the excitement of all the clan members also faded. As time slowly passed, the clan members returned to their normal lives, as if nothing had happened. With such days, and with the news of the successful operation of the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation, Lin Tianming, although he had not left seclusion, was already well aware. And at the moment the Formation succeeded, he had felt a distinct change. Because of this, his emotions were excited for a long time, and afterwards, he also regained his calm. During this month after returning to the clan grounds, Lin Tianming had a rather relaxed time and did not idle. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the first few days, he relaxed his tight nerves and thoroughly rested, rejuvenating his mental state. Following that, he visited various family elders with Qin Xi before returning to his cave to continue his secluded cultivation. At this moment, inside a cave on the summit of the main peak. Lin Tianming sat inside the practice room, holding a jade box in his hand. Inside the jade box was the Blood Jade Ginseng he had acquired from Lu Xingfeng at the exchange meeting in Qingshui Market. Initially, in order to obtain this Third Order Spiritual Fruit, Lin Tianming had made a painful sacrifice but eventually obtained the item. After all, the Blood Jade Ginseng was one of the rare heaven and earth spirit fruits at the level of a Golden Core Cultivator, with effects clearly stronger than those of ordinary Yuxu Pills. Moreover, currently, he could not use Yuxu Pills for cultivation, at least not until he found suitable elixirs to suppress the pain, he could not cultivate normally. Now that he had returned to the clan grounds and everything was appropriately arranged, his mental state was also at its peak. Under such conditions, he naturally wanted to engage in dedicated cultivation. Taking advantage of this brief period of peace, he planned to consume the Blood Jade Ginseng to possibly enhance his cultivation and add a layer of safety for his upcoming travels in the Huangyang Kingdom. Aside from this, among the many benefits allocated by the Lin Family, he had also received a Moon Soul Fruit. And now, this treasure was also in his hands. He was extremely eager for this item. If it hadn¡¯t been for the busy task of allocating benefits and needing to return to the family in time, he would have liked to seclude himself on the spot and consume this fruit. However, considering safety, he eventually suppressed the excitement in his heart. Now that everything was ready, he planned to seize this opportunity to consume it and see how much he could enhance the power of his Divine Sense and Soul. With this anticipation, Lin Tianming no longer hesitated and quickly took out the Blood Jade Ginseng from the jade box. At that moment, he looked at the arm-thick, blood-red ginseng in his hand. The crystal-clear Blood Jade Ginseng emitted bursts of red light, accompanied by a unique fragrance that wafted towards him. Merely smelling it revitalized his spirit and subtly agitated the Qi-Blood within him. Then, Lin Tianming, with an excited face, took a big bite. As the flesh of the Blood Jade Ginseng entered his mouth, a wave of energy began to spread. In an instant, the energy flowed along Lin Tianming¡¯s meridians, causing his internal Qi-Blood to surge. At the same time, the True Yuan within his Golden Core also began to circulate. Feeling this transformation, Lin Tianming did not dare to take it lightly. He took a deep breath and then hastily operated his cultivation technique at full strength, refining the energy released by the Blood Jade Ginseng. ¡­ Chapter 945 945 502 Substantial Wealth ?Chapter 945: Chapter 502: Substantial Wealth Chapter 945: Chapter 502: Substantial Wealth Green Bamboo Mountain, atop the main peak. Inside a certain cave dwelling, Lin Shikang sat in the seat of honor, with Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong sitting beside him. Below them sat Lin Xingrong, Lin Xingping, and Lin Xingyi together. At this moment, Lin Shikang glanced at these key members of the Lin Family and found that all three had cultivation levels above the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. Among them, Lin Xingping was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level, Lin Xingyi was also at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and Lin Xingrong was even at the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, not far from the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Seeing Lin Xingrong and the others, who were among the earliest in the family to establish their foundations, and considering their growth over the years, it was apparent they had reached such cultivation realms without any slack. Consequently, he felt a deep satisfaction towards these familiar juniors in his heart. ... In his view, these individuals had spent years away on family duties, rarely staying within the family¡¯s domain. Especially Lin Xingrong, who had been stationed at Luoyun Market during his youth, toiling for the family business for decades. Later, as the Lin Family quickly expanded and acquired more Spirit Lands, the number of people needed to travel regularly increased. Under such circumstances, Lin Xingrong continued to be stationed at important locations such as Golden Horn Mountain and Luoyun Pavilion in Qianchuan Market, spending over ninety percent of his time working hard for the family. Even so, Lin Xingrong¡¯s cultivation had not fallen behind; among the contemporary members of Xing and Tian generations, only Qin Xi surpassed him. Such a rate of cultivation was extremely rare for someone with Lin Xingrong¡¯s Four Spirit Roots aptitude. The other two, Lin Xingping and Lin Xingyi, also performed well, with their speed of cultivation not slow and their current cultivations levels within expectations. It was this generation of family members that had experienced the Lin Family¡¯s most dangerous periods over the years. They took part in everything from the early battle at Luoyun Mountain, to subsequent beast tides, and the wars between the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom, serving as the family¡¯s most relied-upon core strength. Without exaggeration, these family members grew from continuous crisis, tempered by blood and fire. Now, after years of growth and extended periods outside completing family tasks, they were very familiar with the major forces of the outside world and handled matters with considerable steadiness. Such age and insight meant they could stand on their own. Their summoning this time was for the handover matters between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect. With the interests of the major forces settled and agreements reached, all forces had returned home, making it time to implement the handover. Because of this, the elders had called these three to arrange this crucially important matter. Understanding the situation, Lin Shikang gave the three a look and then began to discuss the specifics of the agreement between the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s higher echelons. Although Lin Xingrong and the others had already heard some rumors, they were not fully informed of the specifics. Now, hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s thorough explanation, the three of them understood the details and couldn¡¯t help feeling an unprecedented excitement. Having calmed down a bit, Lin Xingrong responded with a question. ¡°Third Uncle, you and the others summoned us brothers because you plan to send us to Qianchuan Market, correct?¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded and continued, ¡°The elders have discussed this matter, and it is of great importance to the Lin Family. It must immediately be put on the agenda.¡± ¡°With the upcoming trip to Huangyang Kingdom approaching, I and Tian Ming are unable to be absent, and your Fifteenth Uncle cannot be exposed too soon. Currently, among the family, only you few have the experience in handling matters!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong did not say much more and immediately stated, ¡°Third Uncle, just give your orders. We juniors will definitely do our utmost to complete this task successfully.¡± ¡°Yes, Third Uncle!¡± Lin Xingping echoed and then excitedly said, ¡°This thrilling matter, no matter how busy we juniors might be, we must make the time to handle it well.¡± ¡°After all, this handover is crucial to the Lin Family¡¯s development for the next hundred years. It must be settled quickly so our family can breathe a sigh of relief.¡± Hearing Lin Xingrong and the other speak in such a manner, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± ¡°We old folks have spent a long time deliberating this and decided to have the three of you lead the team to meet up with Xingli and the others at Qianchuan Market.¡± ¡°Once the forces are assembled, you can hand over to the Zhenyang Sect disciple in charge of this matter.¡± Saying this, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression became serious as he gave them earnest instructions. ¡°Remember one thing, you must obtain all the controls for the institutions, shops, various formations, tokens, and all contracts within the market. ¡°Besides that, all accounts must be clear and concise, there can be no oversights, and you must avoid creating unnecessary conflicts.¡± Hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s words and seeing his extremely cautious expression, Lin Xingrong and the others realized the importance of their mission and the significance of this trip to Qianchuan. With this understanding, the faces of Lin Xingrong and the others grew solemn as they unanimously replied, ¡°Rest assured, elders. We, the younger generation, will definitely accomplish the task.¡± ¡°Good¡­ very good¡­¡± Lin Shihua repeated several good words, his originally grave expression easing considerably. In his eyes, Lin Xingrong and the others were reliable, proven in their deeds. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the three of them working together, along with the people like Xingli stationed at Qianchuan Market, they would not find it difficult to handle the task as long as they avoided major conflicts with the other great forces. Chapter 946 946 502 Abundant Wealth_2 ?Chapter 946: Chapter 502 Abundant Wealth_2 Chapter 946: Chapter 502 Abundant Wealth_2 Regaining his composure, Lin Shihua looked at Lin Shikang and the others beside him, nodded to each other, and then began giving instructions to Lin Xingrong and his group. ¡°You three, each choose three family members to follow and be ready to set out as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Twelfth Uncle, we brothers will take our leave now!¡± Lin Xingrong and the other two bowed respectfully, then left the cave dwelling together. Watching them disappear, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression grew solemn, and he then sighed deeply. Seeing this, Lin Shikang said, ¡°Shihua, Xingrong and the others handle things very stably.¡± ... ¡°With our Lin Family¡¯s current standing which is no longer as before, the Zhenyang Sect should not trouble us either, or else they wouldn¡¯t have announced the results publicly so readily.¡± ¡°As for the other powers, aside from the larger Commerce Alliances, there aren¡¯t many that pose a real challenge to our Lin Family.¡± ¡°So, this matter, while taxing, is not fraught with great difficulty; you all need not worry too much.¡± Hearing Lin Shikang speak this way, Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but nod, thinking that it indeed made sense. After all, the Lin Family had an agreement with the Zhenyang Sect. The handover was not dangerous, but rather complicated with various accounts likely numerous. Thus, Lin Xingrong and the others probably wouldn¡¯t have much free time in the coming year. However, this was also good, as long as there was no danger, a year of hard work was nothing too severe. Thinking this, Lin Shihua¡¯s worries faded quite a bit. Then, the clan members of Lin¡¯s generation chatted leisurely for half an hour, discussed some family affairs, and then each went their way. ¡­ Time rushed by, and several months passed. Inside a cave dwelling at the main peak, Lin Tianming opened his tightly shut eyes, a trace of sharpness flashing across them. He then took a deep breath and a satisfied smile crossed his face. ¡°Ha ha¡­ After nearly half a year of seclusion, I have finally refined the Blood Jade Ginseng and the Moon Soul Fruit.¡± Lin Tianming chuckled contentedly, muttering to himself. Over the months, he had been in seclusion, cultivating continuously, and had consumed the Blood Jade Ginseng and the Moon Soul Fruit. Having refined these two treasures, his cultivation had not increased much, and he felt that the Mid Stage Golden Core was still a long way off. Since reaching the Golden Core Stage, he had not made any significant improvements. But now with the aid of this Blood Jade Ginseng, his Golden Core True Essence felt more than thirty percent greater than before. Do not underestimate this thirty percent of True Yuan; in a battle of the same intensity, it could extend his magic duel capacity by nearly a third. In some critical moments, it could even reverse the battlefield, allowing him to secure the final victory. Thus, this minor improvement was thus quite significant for him. If he had about ten or eight similar treasures, he felt confident in advancing to the Mid Stage Golden Core. However, that was just wishful thinking, as even this single Blood Jade Ginseng had cost him quite a bit. If treasures were so easily obtained, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not have just over a dozen Golden Core Cultivators. Understanding this, Lin Tianming still felt rather satisfied with this improvement in his cultivation. Apart from that, the enhancement in Divine Sense and Soul made possible by the Moon Soul Fruit was even more thrilling for him. So far, with the aid of the Moon Soul Fruit, he discovered that his Divine Sense had grown by more than ten percent, and his Soul had become even more robust and stable. That may seem less than the thirty percent increase in cultivation. But the growth of Divine Sense is extremely slow and exceptionally difficult unless one advances a whole realm. Otherwise, without secret techniques or the aid of Heaven and Earth Treasures, ordinary cultivators simply cannot enhance it naturally. And this time, using this Moon Soul Fruit, he managed to directly increase his Divine Sense by over ten percent, and even strengthened his Soul. It could be said that the enhancement the Moon Soul Fruit brought him was comprehensive. Now, he felt in excellent condition and supposed it would be much easier to wield the Heaven and Earth Sword Lotus, a Divine Skill of great potency, once again. Moreover, if he were to concoct elixirs later on, he could significantly increase both efficiency and the slight chance of success. Such improvements, in his eyes, were of greater benefit than those brought about by the increase in his Golden Core True Essence, and certainly justified the great cost he had incurred to acquire this item. Looking back, the decision to secure the Moon Soul Fruit had indeed been a wise one. Having calmed his excited emotions, Lin Tianming did not immediately leave his retreat. There was still a full half-month before the six-month agreement was due. This time was not long, and without any Heaven and Earth Treasures at hand, he could no longer enhance his cultivation strength. However, being completely idle was not his style. Therefore, he planned to spend these ten and a half days thoroughly inventorying the various treasures he had accumulated previously. And, if possible, he intended to try and refine the Third Order Dan Furnace he had obtained from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault. If he could successfully refine it, it would save him time when concocting pills in the future. At the same time, he could also make thorough preparations to enhance his competitiveness on his trip to the Huangyang Kingdom and at the very least, ensure some measure of safety. Resolved, Lin Tianming set to work. He casually took out several storage bags and then extended his Divine Sense to inspect the numerous treasures within. Although he had a rough idea of how vast his assets were, reviewing them again still made him breathe rapidly. Finally calmed a bit, Lin Tianming began classifying each item, starting from the Second Order Treasures, and storing elixirs and weapon forging Spiritual Objects separately. Heavenly Yin Herb, Su Ling Flower, Solid Heart Stone¡­ Each item was categorized and stored, spanning an extremely wide range of types and grades, almost equivalent to a Foundation Establishing Family¡¯s Treasure Vault. After half an hour of inventorying, Lin Tianming had a renewed understanding of his wealth. According to his count, up to now, the volume of treasures he possessed was simply too substantial, the majority of which had come from Xu Zhi, along with spoils from the great battle between the three sects. Among these spoils, he had kept some of the more useful treasures, such as various grades and types of Spiritual Medicine, as well as several Third and Fourth Order Treasures he intended to use for weapon forging. Aside from these, the largest share of his wealth was in Spirit Stones, totaling over seventy thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones and several hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. The total value of these Spirit Stones, converted into Low-Grade Spirit Stones, amounted to over seven million pieces, not counting various Magical Treasures, Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ore, and inherited knowledge. Should he count those treasures, it could easily surpass ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and reaching twenty million Low-Grade Spirit Stones was not out of the question. Despite being aware of such vast assets, he still found it unbelievable as he reassessed them. As for the Third and Fourth Order items allotted by the family, apart from the few pieces he kept for his own use, the rest were all stored within the family¡¯s Treasure Vault. And he, too, had the right to use these items. However, it seemed unlikely that he would have many opportunities to pick items from the vault. Because the family¡¯s treasures hardly contained any items that could enhance cultivation. Even if they did, there were many Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the family, and it wouldn¡¯t be fair for him to monopolize them all. Besides, the only treasures within the family that could potentially aid in cultivation enhancement were just a few Spirit Dragon Pills. Even though he had quite a few of these elixirs on hand, he could not use them at the moment without pills to suppress the pain. Unless he could quickly overcome this obstacle, his cultivation could not benefit from these elixirs for the time being. Conversely, once he solved this issue, his cultivation could enter a phase of rapid improvement. At present, the only hope was to try using the Dry Jade Pill Recipe he had initially acquired from the family¡¯s Treasure Vault. ¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 947 947 503 Qingyun Furnace ?Chapter 947: Chapter 503 Qingyun Furnace Chapter 947: Chapter 503 Qingyun Furnace Thinking of this, Lin Tianming made a resolute decision in his heart. And for this trip to Huangyang Kingdom, if possible, he definitely wanted to try finding the main herb for the Dry Jade Pill, the Dry Jade Grass. In his view, the Pill Formula was found in Wei Kingdom, yet for such a long time, he hadn¡¯t heard of Dry Jade Grass, which likely meant it had become extinct in Wei Kingdom. Or perhaps, the Dry Jade Pill formula wasn¡¯t from Wei Kingdom at all. However, since the formula existed and had appeared within the territory of Wei Kingdom, there was a high probability that it had also appeared in the Cultivation World of the neighboring countries. Since Huangyang Kingdom bordered Wei Kingdom and although it was part of Jingzhou, its heritage was far longer than Wei Kingdom¡¯s, and its cultivation level was much stronger than that of Wei Kingdom. As such, the likelihood of finding Dry Jade Grass was naturally much higher. ... If he really couldn¡¯t find the Dry Jade Grass, or find some other substitute for the elixirs, that wasn¡¯t definite either. If he could find it in Huangyang Kingdom, then that would resolve his urgent need. However, he didn¡¯t dare to harbor too much hope for this matter; everything would depend on luck and fate. But regardless of the outcome, he would give it his all. If he really did find a solution, then there would be no more obstacles in his cultivation for the next several decades. Knowing this, Lin Tianming firmly committed the matter to memory, ready to take action once he arrived in Huangyang Kingdom. Having refocused his mind, Lin Tianming categorized various treasures and stored them in different storage bags. Then, he also picked out quite a few Second Order Treasures that he didn¡¯t need, planning to give some to friends and relatives and submit the rest to his family. As the storage bags were inventoried and the treasures were properly sorted, Lin Tianming then took out a cyan Pill Furnace and placed it in front of him. At a glance, the cyan Pill Furnace stood about three feet tall, with a color pattern of intermingling cyan and red, and it was covered with dense runes that conveyed an impressive aura. This Third Order Dan Furnace was also a spoils of war from the battle with Golden Sword Sect. For this item, the Lin Family had given up other treasures and had gone to great lengths to acquire it. They did so because the Lin Family had never owned a High Order Alchemy Furnace; the best one in the family had been left by an ancient patriarch. And that furnace was only a Second Order Superior Grade and had always been in Lin Shigong¡¯s possession. With the Lin Family Members¡¯ living conditions improving and the increase in the size of the family, more clansmen were learning alchemy than before. As a result, the furnace in Lin Shigong¡¯s hands was sometimes lent to the newly initiated alchemists in the family. Over the years, the clansmen who performed alchemy using that furnace had made no small contribution. Besides that, the Blueflame Furnace Lin Tianming carried had been acquired from the Qianchuan Market auction, and he had been using it for years; the benefits generated had long since far exceeded the initial gains from the auction. Apart from these two furnaces, probably only the one in Ye Pinghai¡¯s possession had some connection to the Lin Family. However, even so, Ye Pinghai, being a Third Order Alchemy Master, was still using his original furnace. And these furnaces were the highest grade existing in the Lin Family. As Lin Tianming entered the Golden Core Stage, his alchemy would sooner or later reach the Third Order. By then, along with Ye Pinghai also being a Third Order Alchemist, the Lin Family would have two Third Order Alchemists. Under these conditions, the Lin Family urgently needed a Third Order Dan Furnace to refine various elixirs for Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the future. Therefore, when allocating profits previously, the Lin Family had resolved to secure this Dan Furnace. Fortunately, the other two Great Sects did not compete with the Lin Family for this item, nor did they make things difficult for the family. Thus, although losing some treasures for it, they managed to smoothly acquire the Dan Furnace. Now that they had this Dan Furnace, the success rate of refining Third Order Pills in the future for the Lin Family could increase a bit. Since acquiring it, the furnace had always been in his hands. Only today did he plan to attempt refining it, and after the journey to Huangyang Kingdom, he could try to refine Third Order Pills. With this purpose in mind, Lin Tianming looked at the cyan Pill Furnace before him, his face revealing a hint of satisfaction. To him, the spirituality and quality of this Alchemy Furnace were quite good, and its value went without saying. After all, Third Order Dan Furnaces were extremely rare in Wei Kingdom, with only a few Golden Elixir Forces possessing one; ordinary Foundation Establishing Families wouldn¡¯t dare reveal ownership of such a furnace even if they had one. Because the value of a Third Order Dan Furnace was too high, normally it was even more valuable than an Offensive Magical Treasure, and not even a defensive Magical Treasure could compare to a Third Order Alchemy Furnace. Under such circumstances, if a Foundation Establishing Family possessed such a treasure and it became known to the outside world, what awaited them would be the destruction of their family. From this, we can see the value of a Third Order Dan Furnace; even for a Sect as ancient and alchemy-prevalent as Myriad Medicine Valley, it¡¯s not certain they would have many such furnaces. So, it remains unknown whether the West River Li Family, a Golden Core Family, owns a Third Order Dan Furnace. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The furnace before him filled a great void for the Lin Family in the field of alchemy, bolstering a former weakness. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at the Dan Furnace before him with growing excitement. Having calmed himself down a bit, Lin Tianming no longer delayed, as the time agreed upon with the other major forces was drawing near. Chapter 948 948 503 Qingyun Furnace_2 ?Chapter 948: Chapter 503: Qingyun Furnace_2 Chapter 948: Chapter 503: Qingyun Furnace_2 Waiting for the assembly of many Mid Stage Golden Core peers to be completed, it might not even take half a month before they would set out together for the Huangyang Kingdom. This meant that he had, at most, a little over half a month to sacrifice and refine this furnace. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Given the urgency of time, Lin Tianming chanted a Law Decree and sent beams of Spiritual Light bombarding the Pill Furnace. At the same time, his powerful Divine Sense reached out, forcibly erasing the residual Divine Sense from the Pill Furnace. At this moment, as the Divine Sense on the Pill Furnace was wiped away, the Pill Furnace completely became an ownerless object. In an instant, the Pill Furnace madly jerked about, seeking to break free from Lin Tianming¡¯s control of Divine Sense and flee this secret chamber. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ... ¡°To think of escaping from the control of my being when it has become an ownerless object is utterly wishful thinking!¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly, with a look of disdain written across his face. However, in his eyes, the stronger the reaction of the Pill Furnace, the higher its spirituality. As such, he actually hoped the Pill Furnace would struggle fiercely¨Cthe more vehement, the better. However, his own Divine Sense was too strong; not to mention his Divine Sense after consuming the Moon Soul Fruit. Even before that, it was absolutely impossible for the Pill Furnace to escape the palm of his hand. What¡¯s more, now his Divine Sense had increased even further. With his current Divine Sense and that soul power, he was definitely no weaker than a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and perhaps even stronger. Under such circumstances, the Pill Furnace struggled violently, but no matter what, it could not break free of its restraints and could only leap up and down in place, seemingly expressing its unwillingness. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled indifferently, and his even more powerful Divine Sense directly invaded the central system of the Pill Furnace. Soon, the response of the Pill Furnace grew smaller, and eventually, it quietly hung motionless in midair. Following that, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and relentlessly struck the Pill Furnace with his Law Decrees. At the same time, he manipulated his Divine Sense to imprint his own Consciousness Imprint on the central system of the Pill Furnace. Time passed day by day. Half a month later, a muffled sound came from Lin Tianming¡¯s Practice Room. The original Pill Furnace had swelled to several times its size, emitting alternating blue and red glows as it hung in midair. Looking closely, the densely packed tiny inscriptions on the Pill Furnace were also twinkling with light, and they continued to flow around the surface of the Pill Furnace. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled heartily, an excited smile flickering across his face. Upon a closer inspection, he found that the Pill Furnace was now spiritually connected to him, and in the central system of the Pill Furnace, his Consciousness Imprint had been engraved. Now, the Pill Furnace moved as he desired, even altering its outward appearance and shape. Such a reaction was proof enough that he had completed the sacrifice and the recognition of the master was a success. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Done!¡± Lin Tianming laughed contentedly, then with a wave of his hand, the Pill Furnace rapidly shrunk in size, eventually becoming motionless in the palm of his hand. He looked at the Pill Furnace attentively, examining it for a long time. ¡°Now that the sacrifice is complete, it¡¯s time to name this Pill Furnace!¡± Lin Tianming thought in silence; after all, he would use this Pill Furnace for a long time, and even if he had the opportunity to replace it with a better one in the future, it still needed a name. Understanding this, Lin Tianming began to ponder a suitable name for the Pill Furnace in his mind. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Lin Tianming thought for a while and came up with several decent names that fit this Pill Furnace very well. However, in the end, he settled on the name Qingyun Furnace. With the Pill Furnace¡¯s name confirmed, Lin Tianming did not idle, immediately taking out all the materials needed for several Second Order Pills, intending to try out the effects of refining with a Third Order Dan Furnace. Experienced and adept, the process of Alchemy was swiftly completed. Through his trial, although he had not engaged in serious pill refining for a long time, this attempt at Alchemy was much better in efficiency and effect than before. Not only was the process faster, but the success rate of forming pills also improved. Lin Tianming was very satisfied with such results and attributed some of the success to this Pill Furnace. However, after some thought, he realized the improvement was not solely because of the increased grade of the Pill Furnace used but also because his own Divine Sense had grown stronger. After all, the strength of Divine Sense has a significant impact on Alchemy. His Divine Sense, strengthened by the power of the Moon Soul Fruit, had improved, and aided by the Eye of Five Colors, could take further strides in Alchemy efficiency, success rate, and even the number of pills formed. However, this was only about refining Second Order Pills. The difficulty of refining Third Order Pills increased exponentially, and maintaining such a high success rate obviously wasn¡¯t realistic. Yet even so, Lin Tianming was still very satisfied. As for refining Third Order Pills, now was not the time, not only because his Alchemy had not reached the necessary grade but also because he didn¡¯t have the time to continue secluded cultivation. After his journey to the Huangyang Kingdom was over, he would need to stay in his clan¡¯s territory to cultivate in seclusion for a while. By that time, if the elixirs needed for his cultivation were secured, he would be at ease to cultivate in seclusion for a period, using it to improve his Alchemy and push his cultivation towards the Mid Stage Golden Core. If the conditions were right, advancing to Mid Stage Golden Core wouldn¡¯t be impossible. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming calculated the time; in the next couple of days, the fellow daoists from several other Golden Elixir Forces would arrive at the Lin Family to gather. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to continue his seclusion and immediately got up to leave the Practice Room. In the courtyard. Lin Tianming sat next to a stone table, waiting for Qin Xi to finish her cultivation session. Soon, Qin Xi walked out from the corridor, appearing behind Lin Tianming. From a distance, her face lit up with joy, and she couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Ming, have you finished your seclusion?¡± Hearing the noise, Lin Tianming turned his head, looked at Qin Xi¡¯s stunning face, and with a smile, he nodded, pulling her to sit down in front of him. ¡°Xi¡¯er, I¡¯ve been in seclusion for several months, and now, it¡¯s the day when many fellow daoists will gather. It¡¯s about time to come out and get ready.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± As he spoke, Lin Tianming laughed, seemingly noticing that Qin Xi had made significant progress in her cultivation. So, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°But you, my dear, your cultivation has actually reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi smiled knowingly and replied, ¡°Ming, thanks to the many treasures you¡¯ve provided over the past two years, and that exquisite Hun Tian Pill, I was able to break through to my current realm smoothly.¡± ¡°Otherwise, if I relied solely on slow cultivation, it would have taken me at least several years of arduous training to reach this level.¡± Qin Xi spoke earnestly, and indeed, it was the truth. Over the years, she had consumed many Spirit Fruits, all rare varieties, which brought her significant improvements. Moreover, with that fine Hun Tian Pill that Lin Tianming had given her, her cultivation level was completely elevated by a whole level. It was thanks to these treasures that her cultivation speed had been so rapid over the years, nearly on par with Lin Tianming at the same stage. Hearing Qin Xi explain this, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t particularly surprised. Aside from the assistance of the Spirit Fruits and elixirs, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation speed was indeed fast. At the least, at the same age and under similar cultivation conditions, Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation realm was not much weaker than his at the same period. In that sense, Qin Xi, gifted with Dual Spirit Roots and diligent in cultivation, truly deserved her rapid progress. Otherwise, merely relying on a large number of treasures would make it hard to advance past the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Even if one forcibly advanced using treasures, the inadequate foundation would lead to instability, resulting in significant bottlenecks later on. If this happened, it wouldn¡¯t bode well for advancing to higher realms. Lin Tianming, who had a deep understanding of this matter, had always valued his own foundation, enabling him to progress smoothly every step of the way. It was also because of this approach that he faced few bottlenecks in improving his cultivation. Understanding this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but praise her. ¡°Xi¡¯er, over these years, you¡¯ve been through a lot of magic duels, building a solid foundation.¡± ¡°With the aid of those treasures, reaching this realm is just a natural progression.¡± Qin Xi clearly felt validated by Lin Tianming¡¯s recognition of her efforts. Over the years, the crises and hard work she had endured were well known to herself. Now that Lin Tianming acknowledged her efforts, it was more helpful than any aid. Touched by these thoughts, Qin Xi replied with a smile and a determined tone, ¡°What you say is true, Ming. I will continue to work hard in the future, until I catch up to your pace.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled back confidently. ¡°Haha¡­ I believe that Xi¡¯er will definitely surpass me!¡± Afterward, he embraced Qin Xi tightly, and the couple fell into a tender moment. ¡­ Chapter 949 949 504 Gathering of Golden Cores ?Chapter 949: Chapter 504: Gathering of Golden Cores Chapter 949: Chapter 504: Gathering of Golden Cores Green Bamboo Mountain, Lin Family Clan Grounds, Sect Entrance Plaza. At dawn, Lin Xingzhi led several members of the Enforcement Hall on a patrol around the clan grounds. After returning to the sect entrance, Lin Xingzhi looked at the several clan members behind him with a faint smile on his face. ¡°Tiansong, these past few days we¡¯ve had an uninterrupted stream of cultivators visiting our family. Make sure you all receive them well and remember not to neglect our guests.¡± Upon hearing this, the clan members nodded in agreement. Then Lin Tiansong replied with a serious face, ¡°Rest assured, uncle, we will definitely take turns on duty here and will not neglect any guests.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded in acknowledgment. He understood these clan members quite well. Having entrusted them with the task of receiving guests was a well-considered decision, so he felt fairly reassured. ... However, he could not afford to be careless, as in the last half a month, representatives from dozens of large and small families had visited the Lin Family. Most of these cultivators were from powers surrounding Qianchuan Market, with some traveling from afar. They visited the Lin Family with various purposes. Firstly, they aimed to forge connections with the Lin Family and get to know the principal figures in charge, in order to facilitate their business endeavors on the Lin Family¡¯s territory. After all, the Lin Family now had a robust overall strength with seven mountain ranges under their control, including the mid-sized Qianchuan Market. Besides, there were Luoyun Market and many spirit land industries, offering abundant opportunities to earn Spirit Stones. Secondly, the top experts of the Wei Kingdom were to converge on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and these people wanted to seize this chance to witness the grandeur of the kingdom¡¯s top experts. For these reasons, the Lin Family Clan Grounds had been quite lively over the past two months. There were visitors arriving at intervals to pay their respects. And these individuals were still manageable, as they came from Foundation Establishing Families or Qi Refining Families, or were Independent Cultivators. Owing to the Lin Family¡¯s current status and power, even if there was some slight negligence on the part of the Lin Family, they dared not voice any complaints. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But in these recent days, the high-ranking members of the various Golden Elixir Forces headed to the Lin Family for a gathering. These Golden Core Stage Cultivators were the absolute pillars of their respective powers, with personages such as Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng making an appearance. This put the Wei Kingdom¡¯s top experts and those cultivators seeking the Lin Family¡¯s favor in stark contrast. Moreover, this was the first time in many years that the Lin Family was to host so many Golden Core Stage Experts. For whatever reason, they must treat these events with utmost care to truly reflect the Lin Family¡¯s image. Therefore, Lin Xinghua repeatedly reminded Lin Xingzhi to remain stationed at the sect entrance during this period specifically to welcome these Golden Core Stage Experts. Bearing such a duty, Lin Xingzhi dared not be negligent. He had stayed here for the last few days, constantly keeping an eye on every move outside the Formation. Should a Golden Core Cultivator show up, he would be ready to welcome them without delay. In light of this, Lin Xingzhi was also focused on the direction outside the sect entrance, sending out clan members to take turns patrolling the clan grounds every hour. He remained on the spot, awaiting the arrival of Golden Core Cultivators. As the sun rose high, the Lin Family Clan Grounds successively welcomed several groups of cultivators, the vast majority led by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Lin Xingzhi did not personally intervene for these cultivators but arranged for Enforcement Hall members to receive them and settle them within the clan. As the time approached noon, the first Golden Core Stage Cultivator finally arrived at the Lin Family Clan Grounds¡ªnone other than Chen Maohua from the Yingchuan Chen Family, accompanied by more than twenty Foundation Establishment Stage clan members. Upon seeing the visitors, Lin Xingzhi hurriedly went to meet them, not daring to delay. ¡°Young Lin Xingzhi greets Elder Chen!¡± Lin Xingzhi greeted Chen Maohua with respect, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. ¡°Haha¡­ Young friend Lin doesn¡¯t need to be so formal!¡± Chen Maohua waved his hand and glanced at Lin Xingzhi, who had reached the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level. This level of cultivation, specially retained to receive guests, clearly showed the high regard the Lin Family had for them. At the same time, it reflected the strength of the Lin Family¡¯s core members, hardly inferior to that of the Chen Family. Aware of this, Chen Maohua regarded the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength even more highly. Regaining his composure, he couldn¡¯t help but admire the sight before him. ¡°Your clan¡¯s location is truly excellent; the surrounding mortal towns are bustling, and the presence of cultivators is frequently seen. There is sure to be even greater developmental potential in the future.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Xingzhi humbly replied, ¡°Elder Chen overpraises us; our Lin Family lineage spans merely a thousand years and naturally cannot compare with a clan of such long heritage as the Chen Family.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Chen Maohua chuckled softly, not picking up the topic, but instead inquired, ¡°Young friend Lin, are Daoist Shi Kang and Daoist Ye at the clan grounds?¡± ¡°Replying to Elder Chen, the Elder has been waiting for some time now.¡± ¡°As for Elder Chen, having traveled so far and wide, please allow me to guide Elder Chen and the fellow Daoists to rest within the clan grounds for a moment.¡± ¡°Once you¡¯ve had ample rest, our Clan Leader shall then host you all.¡± ¡°Um¡­ lead the way!¡± After Chen Maohua responded, he turned to instruct the clan members beside him, ¡°During our visit to the Lin Family, you must all seek advice humbly and aim to make further progress.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Maohua¡¯s clan members responded in unison. Chapter 950 950 504 Golden Cores Gather_2 ?Chapter 950: Chapter 504: Golden Cores Gather_2 Chapter 950: Chapter 504: Golden Cores Gather_2 ¡°Ancestor, rest assured, we the younger generation will definitely consult with the members of the Lin Family, striving to enhance our own cultivation and gain insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation.¡± After speaking, the Chen Clan members also followed Lin Xingzhi¡¯s steps into the Lin Family¡¯s Sect Entrance. Upon entering the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Lin Xingzhi gave them a guide through some of the basics about the Lin Family, quickly becoming familiar with the numerous Chen Clan members. Then, Lin Xingzhi settled them into the caves prepared by the family and returned once again to the Sect Entrance Plaza. As some days passed, people from the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, including Lu Xingfeng, also arrived one after another. Lin Xingzhi separately received the cultivators from several forces and arranged for their accommodation based on the family¡¯s plans. With the arrival of cultivators from the other three major Golden Elixir Forces, the main characters of this assembly were all in place. ... Until this day, inside the Lin Family¡¯s Guest-Receiving Hall, at this very moment, more than a dozen cultivators had gathered around the round table, chatting idly. Among these people, there were Lu Xingfeng, Chen Jingtian, and Lan Yu from the Zhenyang Sect, Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu from Myriad Medicine Valley, besides these two major Golden Core powers, the Chen Family was still represented by Chen Maohua, and the Lin Family¡¯s Lin Tianming, Lin Shikang, and Ye Pinghai were three Golden Core Stage cultivators. Nine Golden Core Stage cultivators gathering together in such a majestic scene, the last time this occurred was during the distribution of interests in the Qingshui Market for the Golden Sword Sect. And at that time, the presence of these people was essentially unchanged overall. Now, with the nine Golden Cores reunited, everyone was in peak condition. In addition, each of the three major Golden Elixir Forces brought some Sect Disciples along with them, the Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect each brought along a hundred elite disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Yingchuan Chen Family also took more than twenty clan members along, totaling over two hundred cultivators above the fifth floor of Foundation Establishment, the majority of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Such a force composed of Foundation Establishment Cultivators could handle simple tasks for the Golden Core experts. After all, the number of Golden Core cultivators was limited, and the journey was far. Plus, with the sizable area of Huangyang Kingdom, they couldn¡¯t possibly handle every small task themselves. Hence, bringing over two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators could help them gather intelligence or seal important locations. However, you can¡¯t bring too many of such cultivators because in the event of a great battle at the Golden Core Stage, despite the large number of these individuals, their threat to Golden Core cultivators is not significant. They could instead become a burden. With too many people, far from being helpful, they might even impede their actions. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, for the trip to Huangyang Kingdom, the major forces planned to travel light. In case any significant trouble arose, they could also withdraw in a timely manner. And now, over two hundred elite disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage were in the Lin Family Clan Grounds, or gathering nearby, waiting. Only after the high-level Golden Core Stage discussed and decided on a specific action plan would this massive group formally set off on their journey to Huangyang Kingdom. The day for this had come, and today was the day for the high-level members of all major forces to gather. Early in the morning, Zhou Yunxiao and the others, led by the Lin Family members, all arrived at the Guest-Receiving Hall. Here, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang and others had already been waiting. As the polite small talk among the cultivators came to an end, Zhou Yunxiao shifted gears and directly brought up the matter at hand. ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that we are all gathered, let¡¯s get straight to the point.¡± ¡°When do we plan to depart, and which Sect¡¯s territory in Huangyang Kingdom are we going to visit first?¡± Zhou Yunxiao went straight to the crucial issue as they had already discussed the specifics of their approach in advance. Now that they had come to the Lin Family, it was merely to assemble everyone. Now that everyone had arrived and the designated day had come, it was time to prepare for the next step of the plan. Aware of this, Lu Xingfeng eagerly took up the topic. ¡°My fellow Daoists, the Luoyun Mountain Range where the Lin Family is located is at the very southern end of Wei Kingdom. This place is closest to the Qingyun Sect, one of the three major Sects in Huangyang Kingdom. I suggest we start by visiting the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory to explore and gather information.¡± ¡°Not bad!¡± Lin Tianming was the first to agree, ¡°Besides the basic conditions mentioned by Lu Daoyou, the Qingyun Sect has lost four Golden Core Cultivators in the great battle with Wei Kingdom.¡± ¡°Among them, two were at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, two at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm.¡± ¡°With such a heavy loss, the current Qingyun Sect must have suffered tremendously, and their entire sect¡¯s strength is simply no match for us.¡± ¡°Therefore, if we first target the Qingyun Sect, it should be relatively easy to create a breakthrough.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, several people present nodded one after another, obviously in agreement. After all, the attack of the Qingyun Sect on the Lin Family Clan Grounds, where Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng perished, was an incident known to almost everyone in Wei Kingdom. It was precisely because of this sudden event that the Lin Family emerged from obscurity. Later on, the Qingyun Sect dispatched two more Golden Core Stage Cultivators to Wei Kingdom to join forces with two other great sects, which ultimately also perished on the battlefield that erupted at the Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate. In just two years, the Qingyun Sect had lost four cultivators with Golden Core Stage combat power. Such a tremendous loss, even for the peak powers of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, would be a devastating blow. Therefore, even though the strength of Qingyun Sect should not be underestimated, it cannot withstand such a significant loss. And so, nowadays, Qingyun Sect is indeed in a weakened state, making it an optimal target. Understanding the importance of these points, Chen Jingtian and others also expressed their stance, agreeing with Lu Xingfeng¡¯s suggestion. Zhou Yunxiao and Duan Liangyu thought for a moment and also realized the reality before them. Thus, to ensure greater safety for the entire group in their subsequent journey to Huangyang Kingdom, both of them naturally had no objections. With the people from Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect reaching a consensus, the matter was as good as settled. Out of consideration for Chen Maohua¡¯s importance, Lu Xingfeng still asked him if he had any different thoughts. For this matter, Chen Maohua naturally had no other opinions, especially since he was not against such a plan to begin with. Since everyone felt this way, Chen Maohua simply analyzed for a few moments, repeatedly emphasizing caution, and then directly confirmed the plan. With this decision set in stone, the remaining preparations were easy to manage. Next, they discussed the specifics of their departure time and the rough route to take. Soon, Zhou Yunxiao took out a map and spread it out on the round table in front of everyone. At first glance, the map was not small, marking many familiar sects, as well as the locations of some clans. And this map was a detailed one of Huangyang Kingdom, with such minute detail that it even marked Qi Refining Families. Seeing this map, even though Lin Tianming had previously paid attention to the basic situation of some major powers, he still examined it closely. Following his gaze, the most evident were the four great Golden Core Sects, as well as the three major Golden Core Families. Their main focus, however, was on the situations of the Qingyun Sect, Qingmu Sect, and Forging Sword Valley¡ªthese three forces. After all, it was these three powers that had attacked Wei Kingdom. Now that they were heading for Huangyang Kingdom, it was mainly to enter the territories of these three forces. After his examination, according to Zhou Yunxiao and others¡¯ opinions, they were certain to visit Qingyun Sect first. The Qingyun Sect was located in the northern part of Huangyang Kingdom, adjacent to Whirlwind Mountain Range, which he had visited before. Crossing over more than twenty mountain ranges southward would take them to the Qingyun Sect¡¯s Sect Entrance plaza, which was in the Qingyun Mountain Range. Speaking of which, Qingyun Mountain Range was far from Luoyun Mountain Range, with numerous mountain ranges in between, each of which was almost larger than Luoyun Mountain Range. Therefore, just the journey to Qingyun Sect this time would probably take them nearly a month. This was an unavoidable predicament, as the remote states of Qingzhou and Jingzhou lacked Teleportation Formations. Otherwise, they could have used Teleportation Formations to save a significant amount of time. Chapter 951 951 505 Qingyun Mountain Range ?Chapter 951: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range Chapter 951: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range While Lin Tianming was sizing up the map of Huangyang Kingdom, Zhou Yunxiao and his companions were also discussing their route. At that moment, Zhou Yunxiao glanced at Lin Tianming and the Lin Family members before opening his mouth to ask a question. ¡°Lin Family friends, do you have any suggestions for the journey to Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate?¡± Hearing the inquiry, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. In truth, he had no particular opinion on the matter. In his eyes, there was no danger, regardless of the path they took, since the nine Golden Core Cultivators were traveling together. However, under the command of several major powers, there were more than two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators passing by. Such a large group of people traveling together, even if all of them were to ride a Flying Artifact, would still be a big target. Moreover, Qingyun Sect must have been on alert since the consecutive fall of their Golden Core Cultivators in the last few years. ... It was foreseeable that there would be many cultivators patrolling the outskirts of Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory. Even more likely, Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory had many disciples acting as informants, paying close attention to the movements of the major powers in Wei Kingdom at all times. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And this was just the Sects trying to grasp the situation in Wei Kingdom as quickly as possible. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t going to be easy for so many people to head to the heartland of Qingyun Sect without making any noise. Fortunately, the objective of their journey was relatively simple; at the very least, they were not aiming to obliterate Qingyun Sect. Otherwise, reaching the mountain gate of Qingyun Sect without alarming them was practically impossible. Understanding this, Lin Tianming said with a smile, ¡°Friends, there¡¯s no need to be so cautious. Qingyun Sect has been able to pass down its legacy for nearly ten thousand years and remain standing; this is certainly not by chance.¡± ¡°Although our trip is covert, the higher-ups in Qingyun Sect are undoubtedly prepared, especially since they suffered a major loss before; they must have considered that we wouldn¡¯t lightly let this matter slide.¡± ¡°Therefore, let¡¯s travel in a straight line. As long as we don¡¯t reveal ourselves too easily, there should be no problem with safety.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Zhou Yunxiao and the others nodded in agreement, carefully considering and finding truth in his statement. Lu Xingfeng was the first to agree, ¡°What Lin friend says is very true.¡± ¡°On our journey to Qingyun Sect, there¡¯s no need to be overly anxious, but we also can¡¯t be too careless. We just need to maintain a certain level of vigilance and speak about safety once we arrive at Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate.¡± ¡°As for the route, let¡¯s just go in a straight line!¡± No sooner had these words fallen than Zhou Yunxiao took up the conversation and immediately asked, ¡°In that case, how about we set off tomorrow?¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± ¡°We have no objections!¡± Lin Tianming and the others all expressed their stance, setting the specific time for leaving the Lin Family grounds. As the day of departure was determined, Lin Tianming and the other cultivators also started to chat amongst themselves. During this time, Lin Tianming casually inquired about the progress of the handover of several mountain ranges and Qianchuan Market with Lu Xingfeng. Through Lu Xingfeng¡¯s disclosure, and with Lin Shikang¡¯s constant attention to the matter, Lin Tianming learned quite a bit of news. Overall, the progress of the matter was going quite smoothly, with nearly half already completed. If this pace continued, completing the handover within a year would not be difficult. Given this, Lin Tianming, who placed great importance on the matter, felt relieved. The next morning. On the Sect Entrance Plaza, Lin Tianming and his fellow Golden Core Cultivators gathered together again. Behind them, more than two hundred neatly arranged Foundation Establishment Cultivators stood by, all disciples from the various major powers. At that moment, after the Golden Core Cultivators exchanged a few words with each other, they all left the Lin Family Clan Grounds together. Soon afterward, Zhou Yunxiao brought out a Third Order Flying Boat Treasure, which hovered steadily above everyone¡¯s heads. Upon closer inspection, this Flying Magical Treasure was quite large, the same one that Lin Tianming and the others had traveled on before. They had used this Flying Magical Treasure to chase after Han Hu and others, departing from Myriad Medicine Valley Sect Gate and heading for the Golden Sword Sect. It was this very treasure that helped them to reach the Golden Sword Sect in the shortest amount of time, giving Han Hu and his companions no time to catch their breath. By the end of the battle, it was clear that the Flying Boat had played a key role. Now, as they traveled together to the distant Qingyun Sect, the Flying Boat would not only ensure their safety but also save a significant amount of time. After all, this Flying Boat was a Third Order Magical Treasure, with extremely strong capabilities in speed, defensive power, and stealth. Therefore, Lu Xingfeng and Lin Tianming, along with the other Golden Core Stage Cultivators, were quite satisfied as they boarded the Flying Boat together. Following behind them, the horde of Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators also flew up. Even with more than two hundred people boarding the Flying Boat, it did not seem crowded at all. Once everyone had gathered, the Flying Boat, controlled by Zhou Yunxiao, rose into the air and swiftly flew into the clouds thousands of feet high, disappearing outside the Lin Family Clan Grounds. ¡­ A month later. The Qingyun Mountain Range, the location of the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate, was vast in area. In this expansive region, a large number of cultivators moved about every day. On this day, in one of the valleys of the Qingyun Mountain Range, the figures of Lin Tianming and his companions appeared. Having left the Lin Family Clan Grounds, they had traveled for a month and arrived successfully at their destination. At this time, the nine people stood atop a mountain peak, their eyes all gazing in the same direction. After a long while, Zhou Yunxiao turned his head to look at everyone and took the lead in breaking the silence. ¡°Friends, just a few hundred more li ahead, and we¡¯ll reach the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate.¡± Chapter 952 952 505 Qingyun Mountain Range_2 ?Chapter 952: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range_2 Chapter 952: Chapter 505 Qingyun Mountain Range_2 Hearing this, everyone refocused their minds, and their gazes pivoted back. Thereafter, Lu Xingfeng also sighed, ¡°I never expected our journey to be so smooth, and now we¡¯re about to reach our destination.¡± As soon as he had spoken, Chen Jingtian agreed, ¡°Exactly¡­ I thought we might encounter some trouble, but it¡¯s been surprisingly easy.¡± Having said this, Chen Jingtian also asked, ¡°What do we do next?¡± Hearing his fellow disciple inquire, Lu Xingfeng smiled faintly, his expression quite calm. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, we might as well take a look at Qingyun Sect first!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ... Zhou Yunxiao nodded, then suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s have a few of us scout the situation first, and the rest can stay here and wait for news.¡± ¡°Mm¡­ That does seem safer!¡± Lu Xingfeng quickly agreed and then turned to Lin Tianming, ¡°Daoist Lin, you come with the two of us to take a look around Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate, then return here. How does that sound?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming thought it over for a bit, feeling that this was indeed a safer approach. After all, they were in foreign territory, the heartland of Qingyun Sect, which certainly couldn¡¯t be compared with the native lands of Wei Kingdom. Fortunately, both Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng were Late Stage Golden Core experts, extremely formidable beings in their own right. With the three of them scouting for news together, they likely weren¡¯t in much danger. Thus, they decided to investigate the situation first, get a hold of some basic intelligence, and then make a detailed plan. Conversely, if there was anything amiss, they wouldn¡¯t be putting themselves into a crisis where they might all be wiped out. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse, and he soon replied, ¡°We should all suppress our cultivations, go out to gather some information, and then regroup here.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Zhou Yunxiao nodded, then took the lead in altering his appearance, transforming into a middle-aged brawny man carrying a longsword, with his cultivation also suppressed to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm. Seeing this, Lu Xingfeng also transformed, taking on the appearance of a frail scholar, with his cultivation similarly suppressed to the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dawdle either, changing his appearance to that of a young man dressed in a green shirt, his realm suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level. The three of them altered their appearances, now vastly different from before, with their realms also suppressed. Following these changes, even if they encountered cultivators of the same realm, it would be difficult to discern their true identities. In this way, they set out on their walk around, and it was unlikely that anyone would recognize them. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± After Zhou Yunxiao said this, he casually took out a Second Order longsword magical artifact, jumped on it, and swiftly disappeared into the valley. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao did this also to mask his identity; not only did he change his appearance and cultivation level, but he also changed the weapons used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Otherwise, a Foundation Establishment cultivator using a magical treasure for travel would be far too conspicuous, nearly a self-accusation. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng followed suit, each taking out a Second Order magical artifact to ride, and hastened after Zhou Yunxiao. Half a day later, the trio appeared together on a mountaintop outside the Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate. Here, one could already glimpse at a towering peak entering the clouds in the distance, which was the main peak within Qingyun Sect. At the same time, quite a few cultivators passed by this place. Some were heading toward Qingyun Sect, while others had passed by here after coming out of Qingyun Sect. Lin Tianming and his companions stopped for a moment, soon encountering two male cultivators coming together. Both of them were at the Medium Stage of Foundation Establishment, one at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, the other at the Fifth Layer, both dressed in ordinary garb, flying in the direction of Qingyun Sect. Judging by their attire, they were probably not disciples of Qingyun Sect, possibly part of a family clan, or perhaps Independent Cultivators. At this moment, seeing the new arrivals, Lin Tianming and his companions promptly approached, blocking the two men¡¯s path. Seeing this, the expressions of the two cultivators changed, their faces bearing a wary look. ¡°Several Daoist friends, I am Meng Tiannan from the Meng Family of the Wenxiu Mountain Range, and this is my good friend Song Chengfeng,¡± ¡°Do you three block our way for some particular reason?¡± Meng Tiannan began by stating his own background, seemingly intending to announce his household, to make Lin Tianming and the other two wary. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, he gestured towards the person beside him, introducing his companion¡¯s name. Hearing Meng Tiannan¡¯s words, Lin Tianming also responded with a smile and a cupped fist gesture, saying apologetically, ¡°Please don¡¯t be alarmed, fellow Daoists. We three are all independent cultivators with no fixed abode, recently traveling together in the Qingyun Mountain Range to gain experience. We haven¡¯t emerged in a long time and are somewhat unclear about the recent events in the cultivation world over the past two years.¡± ¡°We stopped you just to inquire and catch up on news, that¡¯s all!¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, indeed, the depths of the Qingyun Mountain Range were a fine spot for training, with many independent cultivators and disciples of Qingyun Sect favoring entering the mountain range to seek treasures and gain experience. The dusty and travel-worn appearance of these three people before them seemed to suggest they had been on the move for a long time or had been in battle. With this in mind, and combining what Lin Tianming had said, Meng Tiannan and his companion heaved a sigh of relief. They had truly feared that Lin Tianming and his two companions were some old enemies or desperate bandits. After all, in the cultivation world, it was not unusual for those who have cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage to have some enemies. And it wouldn¡¯t be surprising for some independent cultivators to rob others, engaging in life-threatening crimes. Such incidents were all too common in today¡¯s cultivation world, and they were always on guard. Luckily, they were near the mountain gate of the Qingyun Sect, only about a hundred miles apart, almost within reach of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory. With Golden Core forces stationed in the area and Qingyun Sect cultivators regularly patrolling the vicinity, the security in the nearby area was reasonably well-controlled; at least assaults or ambushes were rare. After all, if anyone happened to witness an attack or if the Qingyun Sect caught the perpetrators, the consequences would be dire. In this way, with the Qingyun Sect in place, the chances of encountering desperate criminals were quite small. Aside from these factors, the cultivation levels of Lin Tianming and his companions were not excessively high; at least they did not possess the overwhelming strength to casually intercept them. Knowing this, Meng Tiannan and his companion relaxed considerably, easing up altogether. Subsequently, Meng Tiannan returned the gesture with cupped fists and said with a smile, ¡°I see!¡± ¡°Then, what would you like to inquire about, fellow Daoists?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°Daoist Meng, before our training journey, it just so happened that the three great sects of the Qingyun Sect were attacking the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World.¡± ¡°Given the situation in the Wei Kingdom at that time, with the major Golden Elixir Forces suffering from severe internal strife, several Golden Core Stage experts had fallen, and the country was completely preoccupied with its own troubles. Under such circumstances, Wei Kingdom¡¯s two major Golden Core sects were unlikely to withstand the combined assault of the Qingyun Sect, Qingmu Sect, and Forging Sword Valley.¡± ¡°Now that so much time has passed, there should be some concrete outcomes, right?¡± Hearing these words, Meng Tiannan had a look of surprise, as it seemed he did not expect Lin Tianming and his companions to be so out of touch. After all, that invasion battle had taken place almost two years ago, and it was widely known throughout the Huangyang Kingdom. At that time, the deaths of Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng on the outskirts of the Wei Kingdom in the Luoyun Mountain Range had already caused a huge stir. Who could have imagined that in the following year, the three sects of the Huangyang Kingdom would suffer heavy losses? Especially the Qingyun Sect, which had allocated two more Golden Core experts to the war, only to have them die within the Wei Kingdom as well. In just a couple of years, eight Golden Core Stage experts had entered the Wei Kingdom, with only Ren Feihong of the Qingmu Sect escaping back. Such a massive loss was unforeseen by all the cultivators in the Huangyang Kingdom. Yet, that was the reality, catching everyone by surprise. Since then, the three major sects of the Qingyun Sect had suffered a significant loss without any retribution, as if frightened, or perhaps due to other reasons, the upper echelon of the three sects remained silent, eventually calming down amidst heated discussions. ¡­ Chapter 953 953 506 Qingyun Sect ?Chapter 953: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect Chapter 953: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect However, cultivators of the Huangyang Kingdom had various speculations about this matter. But since the three Great Sects did not mention it, ordinary cultivators also remained clueless. Meng Tiannan and his group had also speculated, and even people from Huangyang Country¡¯s Cultivation World had various theories. But that was all they were, speculations and enthusiastic discussions among cultivators, with no channels to confirm anything. Now, faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s inquiry, Meng Tiannan simply smiled and revealed no suspicion in his heart. Then, he unreservedly recounted all the significant events that had occurred in the Huangyang Country¡¯s Cultivation World over the past two years. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianming and his companions bid farewell to Meng Tiannan. ... From Meng Tiannan¡¯s explanation, the Huangyang Kingdom had been relatively peaceful for the past two years, with even the several Golden Elixir Forces, which had friction and gaps between them, behaving calmly as if they were all exercising restraint. If there were any significant events in Huangyang Kingdom during the past two years, it was that the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect had retreated from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. According to Meng Tiannan¡¯s detailed introduction, ever since Ren Feihong had escaped back to them, the Three Great Powers had been in a state of alert. Following that, there were many disciples from the Great Sects wandering around the border with the Wei Kingdom, with rumors suggesting the Great Sects had called for disciples to participate in training exercises. Upon reflection, Lin Tianming easily understood the purpose of the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect. In his eyes, it was clearly to preemptively guard against retaliation and a large-scale invasion from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s forces. Thus, under the guise of training, they dispatched a large number of disciples to surveil the movements of the Wei Kingdom. And this state of alert continued without any signs of relaxation up to now. Fortunately, they had no intention of engaging in large-scale warfare when they came to Huangyang Kingdom, nor did they wish to escalate the conflict. As a result, they traveled lightly. With over two hundred people utilizing the speed of the Third Order Flying Boat, they easily crossed the border and arrived in the hinterlands of Qingyun Sect without much trouble. Otherwise, if they had organized tens of thousands of cultivators to attack Qingyun Sect, such a large target could not possibly escape the notice of those cultivators. And such an act would have completely inflamed the Three Great Golden Elixir Forces of Qingyun Sect, leading to the dissolution of mutual restraint and provoking a large-scale battle. Now that they had reached their destination, everything within the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory seemed normal according to their observations along the way. Cultivators were cultivating as they should, and there was normal movement, everything appearing as any ordinary day. To be honest, this calm and collected response of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s several powers had taken Lin Tianming and his group by surprise. Originally, they had thought the response from the Great Powers of Qingyun Sect would be intense. Although not to the extent of mobilizing large armies, at the very least they would have recalled their disciples to the Sect. At the same time, Golden Core Stage Experts would likely close themselves off, purely to guard against retaliation from Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivators. But now, it seemed Qingyun Sect did not take their defeat or the several Golden Elixir Forces of the Huangyang Kingdom seriously. Yet such a confident attitude made it clear that even after losing four Golden Core Stage experts, Qingyun Sect¡¯s overall strength remained formidable. Even if the several great Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom were to retaliate, they were confident in their ability to cope. Otherwise, it would not make sense for them to be so calm. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and his companions immediately returned to the valley they had departed from and reconvened with Chen Jingtian and the others. Upon seeing the return of Lin Tianming and his two companions, Chen Jingtian asked hurriedly, ¡°Lu, did you manage to gather any intelligence?¡± Hearing this, Lu Xingfeng spoke up and shared the information they had gathered with everyone present. Upon learning this, Chen Jingtian and the others were also taken aback and quickly began to ponder. At that moment, Lu Xingfeng glanced at Zhou Yunxiao and Lin Tianming before asking, ¡°Daoist Zhou, Lin, what are your thoughts on this?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ Seems we all underestimated Qingyun Sect.¡± Zhou Yunxiao chuckled and then continued, ¡°In my opinion, Qingyun Sect¡¯s calmness clearly suggests they believe we dare not attack them on a large scale.¡± ¡°After all, our several forces have consecutively dealt with beast tides and the attack from the Golden Sword Sect, and our overall strength has indeed declined significantly.¡± ¡°Therefore, they have merely heightened their alertness and don¡¯t take us seriously.¡± ¡°Their attitude may indeed indicate that Qingyun Sect is powerful and has remained fearless.¡± Hearing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s assessment, Lin Tianming shared the same point of view, Hence, Lin Tianming also added, ¡°Daoist Zhou is right.¡± ¡°You must understand that the inheritance of the powers within Qingyun Sect is quite ancient, especially Forging Sword Valley, which has a longer history than even Daoist Zhou¡¯s Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°Before the great war in the Wei Kingdom, the strength they had demonstrated was clearly much stronger than any of ours.¡± ¡°Even after that battle, where each power suffered losses, their overall strength remains formidable.¡± ¡°In their eyes, they probably are well aware that unless we deploy all our forces to attack any one of their Sects, they face no danger of being annihilated.¡± ¡°In light of this, Qingyun Sect¡¯s composure is indeed within reason.¡± After Lin Tianming finished speaking, Zhou Yunxiao and the others all nodded in agreement, finding this explanation quite acceptable. For a time, everyone fell silent, each absorbed in their strategic contemplations. After a long while, Lu Xingfeng sighed in resignation and finally broke the silence. Chapter 954 954 506 Qingyun Sect_2 ?Chapter 954: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect_2 Chapter 954: Chapter 506 Qingyun Sect_2 ¡°Everyone, given how poised Qingyun Sect is, should we still make an appearance?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face showed traces of anger, and then he spoke seriously, ¡°We¡¯ve already come this far; if we return silently, where would we put the face of our great forces?¡± ¡°How would the cultivation world of the Wei Kingdom perceive us if we were to retreat?¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, if we leave without a whisper, wouldn¡¯t that be letting them look down on us?¡± ¡°Once we initiate a retreat, if they take advantage of us again in the future, we might not always be lucky enough to turn danger into safety.¡± Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s words once again plunged everyone into silence. ... Lin Tianming actually agreed quite a bit with what Zhou Yunxiao had said. Given his personality and attitude, keeping silent was not a lasting solution. However, the current situation in the Wei Kingdom was indeed not advantageous. After all, the facts right in front of them¡ªthe Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had both lost several Golden Core Stage Cultivators over the past few years. Up until now, the collective strength of these two sects had decreased by more than twenty percent. Therefore, even if the four major powers dispatched the majority of their strength, it would be very difficult to deal a heavy blow and eliminate Qingyun Sect suddenly and silently. It was apparent that the Qingyun Sect forces understood this as well, thus their calm demeanor. Otherwise, any ordinary power facing the combined pressure of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s major forces would probably have closed off their gates or sought the help of allies. Understanding this, Lin Tianming gave a wry smile, then slowly said, ¡°My thoughts are similar to Daoist Zhou¡¯s, keeping silent is not a lasting solution.¡± ¡°That would make them think our Wei Kingdom is helpless and easy to bully; if they find another opportunity, they will certainly take the chance to invade.¡± ¡°At that time, we would fall into crisis once again.¡± ¡°Since we are already here, we might as well boldly visit the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate and see what their attitude is.¡± ¡°If we can gain some benefits without conflict, then retreating wouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± ¡°Um¡­ I agree with Daoist Lin¡¯s statement!¡± Zhou Yunxiao was the first to express his stance, his tone exceptionally firm. Seeing Zhou Yunxiao speak thus, Lu Xingfeng also felt very angry about Qingyun Sect¡¯s actions back then. In his eyes, if it weren¡¯t for Lin Family¡¯s unexpected influence, the outcomes for Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley back then would indeed have been grim. Whenever he thought about this, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s anger flared, and he wished he could destroy Qingyun Sect outright. Had the Wei Kingdom not been weak, and had it been suitable to take large-scale actions, he would have likely lost patience already. However, after careful consideration, escalating conflicts was not the best solution; as long as they showed some of their fangs to make their stance clear, that would be as far as he could go. Understanding this, Lu Xingfeng then said, ¡°If Daoist Zhou has no objections, let¡¯s proceed as Daoist Lin has planned.¡± Hearing this, seeing that the three major forces had reached a consensus, Chen Maohua naturally would not oppose. Thus, Chen Maohua also approved the plan, offering some suggestions to make it more foolproof. With this matter settled, the group didn¡¯t delay, quickly boarding the Flying Boat again, boldly heading towards the direction of the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate. The next morning, At the Qingyun Sect, everything was as usual, and the disciple responsible for guarding the gate was already waiting early at the gate. At that time, a Flying Boat gradually approached from a distance, turning from a small black spot into being fully visible, appearing before everyone¡¯s eyes. Seeing this movement, one Foundation Establishment Disciple became alert immediately. ¡°Luo, this is a Third Order Magical Flying Boat!¡± ¡°Could it be that the visitors are Golden Core Stage seniors?¡± ¡°Which power might this be?¡± A Foundation Establishment Cultivator looked puzzled as he slowly spoke to Luo Yun in front of him. Hearing this, Luo Yun also widened his eyes, staring intently at the Flying Boat that was approaching further, inwardly pondering which power the visitors belonged to. According to the make of this Magical Flying Boat, the visitors were undoubtedly Golden Core Cultivators. After all, a Third Order Flying Boat was not common in the Huangyang Country Cultivation World; even their Qingyun Sect, reportedly, had only one. Outside of that, anyone who could flaunt their way using a Third Order Flying Boat must surely be from the Golden Core Stage forces or possess a power formidable enough that they weren¡¯t afraid of envy from others. Otherwise, a Loose Cultivator at the Early Stage Golden Core wouldn¡¯t dare to travel without care; upon encountering a cultivator with malevolent intentions, they would likely be killed for their possessions. However, the Flying Boat before them, though unfamiliar, had clearly come prepared by making such a conspicuous approach. It was unknown which force it hailed from, but it was possible they had come specifically to visit the Qingyun Sect. Regardless of their purpose, it was necessary first to send a message to the Sect Leader to report this matter. As for the visitor¡¯s intentions and how the sect should receive them, that would be decided by the sect¡¯s upper echelons. Having made up his mind, Luo Yun did not dare delay and quickly sent out his report. Outside, on the Flying Boat, Lin Tianming and the others stood side by side, their gazes all fixed in the direction ahead. This was Lin Tianming¡¯s first visit here; he was quite concerned about this sect which was no less powerful than the Myriad Medicine Valley. After all, aside from the native Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom, the Qingyun Sect was the closest Golden Core Sect to the Luoyun Mountain Range. It could be said that the Lin Family and the Qingyun Sect were neighbors. Hence, the Lin Family naturally took the threats nearby seriously. Moreover, the Lin Family was considered a longtime foe of the Qingyun Sect and was the primary cause behind the significant decline in the sect¡¯s strength. Because the Qingyun Sect had initially dispatched Xu Zhi and Meng Qingfeng from the Luoyun Mountain Range deep into Wei Kingdom, only for both to die on the Lin Family Territory. Without exaggeration, the Qingyun Sect and the Lin Family had already formed deep enmity; given the chance, Qingyun Sect would undoubtedly seek to retaliate against the Lin Family to settle their past losses. Therefore, for such a significant threat, the Lin Family naturally paid extra attention. Even Lin Tianming¡¯s visit to this place was with the intent to further weaken the Qingyun Sect. In his view, if he could weaken the Qingyun Sect further this time, and after another thirty to fifty years, when the Lin Family grew stronger, even facing the Qingyun Sect alone would be manageable using their own strength. At the very least, there would be no threat of defeat, no risk of collapse; just achieving that would suffice. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but brace himself, carefully observing the Qingyun Sect before him. From his observations, the location of the Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain gate was somewhat similar to the Lin Family Clan Grounds: both featured a towering peak surrounded by over a hundred valleys, with rivers intersecting in between, presenting the appearance of a Cave Heavens and Blessed Land. If there was a difference, it was only the size of the Spirit Land. Besides the similar overall landscape, even through the formations shielding it outside the mountain gate, the Spiritual Energy was still exceedingly dense, truly a prime feng shui treasure land. Through the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, the Defensive Great Formation in front of him was also extraordinary; the flow of energy in the formation was ceaseless, exuding a sense of majesty. At the very least, it felt no less formidable than the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation currently used by the Lin Family. From this perspective, the Qingyun Sect was indeed worthy of a sect that had lasted for thousands of years. Such a foundational heritage also demonstrated what a Golden Core Sect should be like. However, the more it was so, the more pressure Lin Tianming felt. After all, the Lin Family had formed enmity with the Qingyun Sect! Speaking of which, although it wasn¡¯t the Lin Family who initiated the conflict, the fact was that the Qingyun Sect had suffered heavy losses. Even though the Lin Family had the moral high ground, such a thing had almost no significance in the Cultivation World. As the saying goes, power rules supreme; under absolute power, moral responsibility is just a joke. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming had been very clear about this ever since he first entered the Path of Immortality. Moreover, having cultivated for decades now, he had long since witnessed various brutal acts. Even Golden Core Stage experts would engage in life-and-death magic duels for profit, leading to one party eventually perishing on the spot. Once you die, even your name would eventually be forgotten in the Cultivation World, only occasionally mentioned by fellow cultivators and soon fading away. Such cases were not uncommon in the Cultivation World, the most obvious example being those who died in the great battle in Wei Kingdom. For the likes of Luo Anzhong, a winner, at least his name would be remembered in history, and people would acknowledge or even spread his deeds for a certain length of time. But for top powerhouses like Han Hu, who failed, they were already despised by thousands, and no one would remember his once glorious achievements. In this way, in the end, everything would turn to nothing; it was just a matter of time. This was unavoidable for anyone! Realizing this, Lin Tianming sighed and then came back to his senses. Chapter 955 955 507 Confrontation ?Chapter 955: Chapter 507: Confrontation Chapter 955: Chapter 507: Confrontation At that time, Lu Xingfeng and the others exchanged glances, their expressions solemn. Following this, Zhou Yunxiao opened his mouth to suggest, ¡°Lu Daoyou, why don¡¯t the three of us go down and see how the Qingyun Sect reacts?¡± ¡°As for the others, everyone stays put inside the Flying Boat.¡± ¡°With the protection of the Flying Boat¡¯s restrictions, unless Elder He himself arrives in person, no one will be able to detect anything.¡± ¡°Even if something unexpected happens, they can still appear in time and catch the Qingyun Sect off guard!¡± On hearing these words, Lu Xingfeng and Lin Tianming both nodded. Then, the three each looked at their fellow sect members. Lin Tianming also left a few words with Lin Shikang before directly leaping down from the Flying Boat, appearing together on an open space. ... As the three appeared, their Golden Core Stage cultivation auras were unmistakably revealed. Lin Tianming and his companions stood there, each of their auras extremely powerful, almost rivaling He Lanjun, the strongest cultivator of the Qingyun Sect. Clearly, they were all Golden Core Cultivators, among them two seemed to be formidable beings of the Late Stage Golden Core. Looking at the three unfamiliar faces before him and feeling their profound auras, Luo Yun from inside the Qingyun Sect looked grave, pondering where these three could have come from? After a moment of recollection, among the Golden Core Stage Cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom, none resembled any of these three. Besides, as a disciple of the Enforcement Hall who routinely inspected the sect¡¯s gates, it was normal for him to receive advance news about any important cultivators coming to visit. However, try as he might, he could not recall any recent news about a Golden Core Stage Expert planning to visit the Qingyun Sect. ¡°Could they be cultivators from another country?¡± Luo Yun thought privately, his heart quite shocked. After all, it had been a long time since the Qingyun Sect had heard or seen any Late Stage Golden Core Experts, let alone two arriving at once. Slightly regaining his composure, Luo Yun forced himself to calm down. Then, through the Formation, he called out, ¡°This junior is a patrolling disciple of our sect, I have the honor to meet the three seniors.¡± ¡°May I know which Elder of our sect the three seniors are looking for?¡± ¡°And was there an appointment made with any Elder of our sect?¡± Luo Yun tentatively asked, hoping to gain some information. Such inquiries also aided him in his hospitality and prevented the offense of any Golden Core Experts present due to his own negligence. Moreover, should they be looking to cause trouble, he could report to the sect¡¯s higher-ups in a timely manner for appropriate response. In such situations, regardless of the outcome, he as a mere Foundation Establishment Disciple, could not afford any mistakes and must handle the situation carefully. Otherwise, a crisis would be inevitable. As for Lin Tianming and the others upon hearing these probing words, they decided not to beat around the bush. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao replied seriously, ¡°I am Zhou Yunxiao. Summon Elder He to come out and meet me!¡± Hearing these resentful words and seeing Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s serious face, audaciously addressing Qingyun Sect¡¯s Great Elder He Lanjun by name. It was evident that the person before them was a powerful cultivator, seemingly bearing ill intentions. ¡°Could it be that these people have grievances with the Qingyun Sect?¡± Thinking of this, Luo Yun¡¯s expression momentarily changed. Following this, he pondered for a moment and immediately remembered the large-scale attack the Qingyun Sect launched on the Wei Kingdom a year ago, which ended in heavy losses. Then, associating the name Zhou Yunxiao, indeed a famous Golden Core Expert from the Wei Kingdom and the Great Elder of the Myriad Medicine Valley, which is the number one sect of the Wei Kingdom. Thus, the two people beside Zhou Yunxiao must be Lu Xingfeng from the Zhenyang Sect and Lin Tianming from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. Though Luo Yun had never met these three, he had read about Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng in some records over the years. After all, as Late Stage Golden Core Experts, whether for the Wei Kingdom or within their Huangyang Kingdom, they were figures of great attention. As a result, he also remembered the information about these experts that he read in his early years. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And Lin Tianming, from the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family, was the primary reason for thwarting Qingyun Sect¡¯s invasion, and he had also heard some news about him. Now, seeing the three in person, Luo Yun recalled the rumor that had circulated within the sect. Thus, the arrival of Zhou Yunxiao and his companions at the Qingyun Sect was likely to hold the sect accountable for their attack on the Wei Kingdom. Realizing this, Luo Yun¡¯s expression became even more solemn. However, since the visitors were Late Stage Golden Core Experts, regardless of their intentions, Luo Yun dared not offend or neglect them. Thus, Luo Yun planned to stabilize Zhou Yunxiao first and wait for the arrival of the Sect Elders, thereby completing his duty. With a nervous heart, Luo Yun fervently responded, ¡°Seniors, please wait a moment, this junior has already informed the Elders.¡± Outside the formation, Zhou Yunxiao heard this response and snorted coldly, but he did not react excessively. Subsequently, the three stood side by side, waiting for the Golden Core Cultivators of the Qingyun Sect to come out. Seeing this, Luo Yun breathed a sigh of relief. After a short while, Suddenly a gap opened in the formation before them, and five Golden Core Stage Cultivators walked out, four men and one woman, led by He Lanjun, whom Zhou Yunxiao had called out by name. As for the other four, Lin Tianming thought back to some records he had seen before and quickly understood their identities. Among these four, one was Wang Huashan, the Great Elder of the Qingmu Sect, and Feng Changgong, the Great Elder of the Forging Sword Valley. The other two, the male cultivator was Ren Feihong, who had previously fought with them, and the female cultivator was Fang Yuqing from the Qingmu Sect. Chapter 956 956 507 Confrontation_2 ?Chapter 956: Chapter 507: Confrontation_2 Chapter 956: Chapter 507: Confrontation_2 These few people were all renowned strongmen of the Huangyang Kingdom, and Lin Tianming had also specifically collected information about them. Today, seeing them for the first time at the Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate was greatly beyond his expectations. Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, upon seeing these individuals, also had quite unsightly expressions on their faces. The reason was evident upon a moment¡¯s thought. Because these top experts from Huangyang Kingdom were each sect¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle, and they rarely left their sects. Yet Feng Changgong and his cohorts had actually gathered at the Qingyun Sect, surely anticipating their plan, which is why they had come here awaiting their arrival. Otherwise, they certainly wouldn¡¯t have encountered these people here. ... Now that Feng Changgong and the others were waiting here, it was clear they had come prepared. Under these circumstances, the plans Lin Tianming and his companions had made earlier naturally wouldn¡¯t be easily realized. Understanding this, the faces of Lin Tianming and the two others looked quite unpleasant, but they also felt somewhat helpless. However, before they could regain their composure, He Lanjun on the opposite side, with a harsh expression, was the first to break the silence. ¡°The three Daoist friends visit our sect today, may I know what brings you here?¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng also showed displeasure. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°We have come here, naturally, to pursue the accountability of your three sects for looting amidst chaos; did you really think there was any friendship to speak of between us?¡± Zhou Yunxiao replied coldly, his face equally displeased. No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu Xingfeng echoed, ¡°Your three sects took advantage of the situation, causing our forces¡¯ territories to fall one after the other; cultivators have died or been wounded in countless numbers, and the tragedy of families being ruined and people dying is all too common.¡± ¡°Although the culprits are now executed, the unjust actions you took this time also demand an explanation to us, do they not?¡± Hearing these words, He Lanjun and his companions let out a faint smile, their expressions becoming much more relaxed. However, this reaction seemed to disregard Lin Tianming and the others completely. The more they did so, the uglier Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s expression became. Seeing this, the people opposite finally regained their composure, after which Feng Changgong spoke up. ¡°Daoist Zhou, please be patient; we too were tempted by the deceit of Zhao Hongsheng, which led us to harbor greed and inadvertently offend fellow Daoists.¡± ¡°However, as you have seen, our three sects have also lost several comrades.¡± ¡°Daoist He has even lost four sect members directly; Daoist Wang suffered grievous losses as well, paying a heavy price and gaining nothing.¡± ¡°After that, our great sects have not taken any further action, leaving room for a solution, so that you could catch your breath.¡± ¡°Given the circumstances, why not we put down our weapons and achieve a peaceful coexistence from now on?¡± The words of Feng Changgong were quite reasonable, and his attitude was very sincere. It was clear he had no wish for the conflicts to escalate further, which might lead to another great battle. Lin Tianming and his companions, hearing these words, also calmed down. In their plans, they didn¡¯t intend to provoke conflicts in the first place; it was just for the sake of face and the long-term stability in the future that they had intended to give Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s three sects a warning. If they could gain some benefits, that would naturally be ideal. If the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect were to show a tough stance without any sign of compromise, they would not trigger another great war just for a little benefit. Thus, seeing Feng Changgong taking a stand now also helped to dissipate some of their anger. But since they had come all this way and had a plan in mind, they wouldn¡¯t retreat easily just because of those few seemingly pleasant words. Therefore, Zhou Yunxiao spoke seriously, ¡°It is heartening to see such an attitude from Daoist Feng.¡± ¡°However, the incident has already occurred, and the losses suffered by our forces are by no means less than yours, they are even more severe.¡± ¡°Back then, our great forces were driven to the brink, nearly facing annihilation.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for good fortune in overcoming a calamity, had Han Hu succeeded, we would be dead with no face left to meet the expectations of our ancestors.¡± As he said this, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face turned serious, and his tone involuntarily grew heavier. ¡°Therefore, if we were to retreat so easily just on Daoist Feng¡¯s few words, where would the face of our great forces be?¡± ¡°How should the thousands of cultivators from Wei Kingdom view us now?¡± Just as his words fell, Lu Xingfeng also spoke angrily, ¡°Daoist Zhou is right!¡± ¡°If it were you, with your disciples suffering heavy casualties and the foundation established over ten thousand years nearly collapsing, would you easily let this matter go?¡± ¡°Today, since several Daoists are present, if we do not receive a fair explanation, our great powers, and even the entire Wei Kingdom will not rest!¡± Lu Xingfeng¡¯s tone was heavy, and the threat was clear. Hearing this, the faces of He Lanjun and the others turned very unsightly. Especially He Lanjun, whose Qingyun Sect suffered the greatest loss, with four Golden Core Stage Cultivators perishing, including two Mid Stage Golden Core Strongmen in Wei Kingdom. Had it not been for the incessant internal strife within Huangyang Kingdom and the superficial cordiality but secret scheming among the great powers, At that time, the three great sects would not have sent only two Golden Core Stage combatants. Now that Wei Kingdom was peaceful, not advancing any further was already giving Myriad Medicine Valley a chance to catch their breath. Yet now, Zhou Yunxiao and the others have come to the gates of Qingyun Sect Mountain to demand accountability and even issued threats. Keep in mind, they are all long-standing sects with strength not inferior to the opposition, how could they stay calm? Therefore, He Lanjun¡¯s anger was also on the verge of erupting. Under such circumstances, unable to contain himself, He Lanjun angrily said, ¡°If our three sects do not provide an explanation, what can you few do about it?¡± After speaking, He Lanjun waved his sleeve, and a gourd-shaped Magical Treasure appeared in his hand, seemingly ready to take action. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the other two¡¯s expressions became particularly grave. In their minds, they did not expect He Lanjun to be fearless, showing no intention to back down. For a moment, the three of them hesitated, unsure if they should continue to provoke the opposition. Seeing that Lin Tianming and the others did not reply or make any movement, He Lanjun grew even more arrogant. ¡°Daoist Zhou, if you retreat now, we can let bygones be bygones; otherwise, you will leave your lives here!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this threat, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s face turned red, and the Magical Treasure appeared in his hand. However, considering the opponent¡¯s strength, with a total of three Late Stage Golden Core Experts and two Mid Stage Golden Core presences. Moreover, inside Qingyun Sect there were certainly several more Golden Core Cultivators, who although not currently present, would naturally come to assist should a fight break out. In addition, with the assistance of the Third Order Great Array, Qingyun Sect had both offensive and defensive capabilities. By contrast, their side had ventured deep into the heartland of Huangyang Kingdom, and apart from Chen Jingtian and a few others behind them, they had no backup. Comparing the two sides, He Lanjun¡¯s party clearly had overall strength superior to theirs and also held the advantage of the terrain. Thus, should a fight truly break out, they would likely have no advantage and might even risk their lives. Understanding this, Zhou Yunxiao was furious yet injured internally, but he dared not act rashly. Just as Zhou Yunxiao and the others were at a loss, several figures suddenly flew out from the Flying Boat behind them¡ªit was Chen Jingtian and the others who had been watching. Quickly, Chen Jingtian and his party arrived behind Lin Tianming and the others, and immediately the atmosphere became extremely tense. As they appeared, He Lanjun¡¯s expression changed as well. But he had his concerns and also dared not make the first move. Thus, the two parties stood in a stalemate for a long time, neither daring to initiate conflict to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. At this moment, inside Qingyun Sect, As soon as Lin Tianming and his party appeared, a huge uproar began within Qingyun Sect. In an instant, a large number of Qingyun Sect Cultivators and some who were staying at Qingyun Sect gathered at a hilltop. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, more than a hundred people had assembled here. At this point, one could see them looking out from the Formation at a distance, watching every move here, their expressions filled with shock and horror. Simultaneously, some Foundation Establishment Disciples recognized Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ identities and began to discuss among themselves. ¡­ Chapter 957 957 508 The Contest ?Chapter 957: Chapter 508: The Contest Chapter 957: Chapter 508: The Contest At that time, the mountaintop was bustling, regardless of one¡¯s status or level of cultivation, all were sizing up Lin Tianming and the others outside. Some had arrived early and gathered together, discussing the identities of Lin Tianming and his group, as well as the purpose of their sudden visit to Qingyun Sect. ¡°According to what the Golden Core Expert said, those three are actually from some of the major Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Two years ago, Uncle Xu led many disciples to attack the Wei Kingdom, and it seems like he has not shown himself since, including those brothers who followed him to the battle.¡± ¡°Could it be that Uncle Xu has really fallen?¡± The crowd couldn¡¯t help but voice their doubts, immediately stirring up everyone¡¯s attention. ... ¡°Just now, according to what Senior Zhou said, it¡¯s likely true!¡± ¡°That person clearly came to cause trouble, to pursue the responsibility of Uncle Xu and others attacking the Wei Kingdom.¡± Upon hearing this speculation, many lower-ranking disciples of Qingyun Sect were shocked. ¡°What? Are the rumors of Uncle Xu and his party all falling true?¡± ¡°You¡¯re late, kid, you didn¡¯t hear what Senior Zhou said.¡± ¡°And the matters that Senior Zhou spoke of in public weren¡¯t even refuted by the Great Elder, so it must be true.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually true¡­¡± ¡°Uncle Xu was a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, and he set out with several of the same rank, how could they have fallen so easily?¡± A cultivator with an incredulous expression on his face, stood there completely stunned. And there were not a few like him here, with the majority within the Sect sharing this view. After all, these low-ranking disciples had very limited cultivation and vision, and their information was not well-informed. Although there had been many rumors within the Sect before, the upper echelons never came forward, nor did they publicly acknowledge, nor did they stop the spread of the rumors. As a result, even though it had caused a significant impact within Qingyun Sect at the beginning, because it could not be confirmed, the disciples of Qingyun Sect all thought it was just a rumor and eventually it died down. Now, judging from the reaction of the Great Elder, it is probably true that the force sent to attack the Wei Kingdom was basically annihilated. At this time, the disciples of Qingyun Sect who almost had confirmation, one by one wore expressions of fright, most of them in disbelief. However, there were also quite a few Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators with fairly informed news, who had actually had an idea in their minds for some time. For a while, these people were also guessing, what exactly happened on the territory of the Wei Kingdom? Otherwise, how could such an outcome have come about? Thus, the originally shocked cultivators began discussing among themselves, making the entire scene much noisier. Such a bustling scene did not cease. As more and more cultivators gathered on the mountaintop, the whole scene became even more intense. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his group, with the appearance of Chen Jingtian and others, were all looking solemn. At the same time, their Magical Treasures appeared in their hands at some unknown point. Across from them, seeing the menacing looks on the faces of the group of nine people, Feng Changgong and his group had somber expressions. Especially He Lanjun, who had been raging before, seemed like a wild beast, ready to explode at any moment. Just then, two more people appeared within Qingyun Sect. Looking over, both were Golden Core Cultivators, one of Mid Stage Golden Core and one of Early Stage Golden Core. As these two arrived behind He Lanjun, his expression eased somewhat. Lin Tianming and the others also saw the newcomers, who were Golden Core Cultivators from Qingyun Sect, and their expressions turned even more solemn. After all, within the ranks of Qingyun Sect, there were seven Golden Core Cultivators, three of them at Late Stage Golden Core, three at Mid Stage Golden Core, and one at Early Stage Golden Core. Putting aside Feng Changgong and Ren Feihong of Forging Sword Valley, and Wang Huashan and Tian Yuqing of Qingmu Sect, Qingyun Sect now actually had three Golden Core Stage cultivators. It should be noted that before this, Qingyun Sect had already lost four Golden Core stage elders, including two at the Medium Stage. Even so, there were still several Golden Core Elders left in Qingyun Sect, and they might not necessarily represent all the strength of their Sect. In their eyes, no matter which Sect it was, would probably not expose all their Golden Core Stage Combat Power. Take the Lin Family, for instance; they too had not disclosed that Lin Shilu had stepped into the Golden Core Stage. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such a situation, Qingyun Sect did indeed have a substantial probability of having hidden members. As a result, the foundation of Qingyun Sect was quite unexpected to Lin Tianming and the others. Even with the arrival of two with Golden Core Combat Strength, the standoff on the scene still had not been broken. After another small half moment of confrontation, both sides were staring each other down through the air, as if neither were willing to back down. Seeing this situation, Feng Changgong let out a wry smile and then cupped his hands toward Zhou Yunxiao, speaking first to break the silence. ¡°Daoist Zhou, you¡¯ve seen the situation for yourself, you don¡¯t hold any advantage at all.¡± ¡°In my opinion, it¡¯s better for us to call it quits, how about we avoid each other¡¯s waters from now on?¡± Feng Changgong¡¯s words were sincere, with a tone of pleading for peace. In fact, that was exactly the case. And indeed, including Wang Huashan on the other side, they also didn¡¯t want to escalate the conflict any further. After all, the initial instigator Zhao Hongsheng, as well as the Golden Sword Sect which started the trouble, had both been annihilated. Chapter 958 958 508 Duel_2 ?Chapter 958: Chapter 508 Duel_2 Chapter 958: Chapter 508 Duel_2 At the same time, the entire Wei Kingdom had also regained peace, and the major forces of Myriad Medicine Valley found a chance to catch their breath. In such a situation, if a great war were to erupt once again, it would undoubtedly result in damaging the enemy a thousand and self-harming eight hundred. Moreover, there were constant struggles among the major forces within the Huangyang Kingdom, and the other two Medium Stage Golden Core forces were also watching and waiting, hoping to see the three Great Sects plunge into a relentless war. By then, the other Golden Core forces could just sit back and reap the benefits. Therefore, both Qingmu Sect and Forging Sword Valley did not wish for matters to deteriorate further and thereby spark an even greater crisis. Now, Zhou Yunxiao and several others aggressively demanding an explanation was actually within their expectations. They originally thought the two sides would just argue verbally and eventually give up due to insufficient power. ... However, they had not expected Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s attitude to be so resolute, refusing to give up. They were also constrained by face, neither wanting to escalate the conflict nor to back down. Thus, they had fallen into this difficult predicament. When Zhou Yunxiao heard what Feng Changgong said, he also coldly snorted, ¡°Hmph¡­ since Daoist Feng does not wish for a conflict to arise either, I too do not wish to stir up trouble.¡± ¡°But the fact is that several of our forces have suffered a major loss, and if you want us to withdraw easily, you must compensate us.¡± ¡°Otherwise, we cannot justify ourselves to the disciples of our Sect and the thousands of cultivators in the Wei Kingdom!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xingfeng also echoed, ¡°Exactly, I share the same sentiment!¡± Hearing this discussion, Feng Changgong glanced at He Lanjun and others beside him, then secretly exchanged messages through voice transmission. After a while, they seemed to have reached a consensus. Then, Feng Changgong respectfully smiled and said, ¡°Daoist fellows, for the sake of long-term stability between us, after discussions, we agree to make concessions.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yunxiao was somewhat surprised, but he felt relieved inwardly. After all, if the two sides could reach a consensus, there would be no need for a large-scale confrontation, which would be beneficial for everyone. Knowing this, Zhou Yunxiao also complimented them. ¡°The Daoist friends are truly wise, and we all admire this greatly.¡± ¡°Just as Daoist Feng thought, if we can reach a consensus, taking a step back is indeed the best strategy. But I wonder how Daoist intends to compensate our several major forces?¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Changgong laughed, ¡°After discussions, each of our three Sects will put forth two million low-grade Spirit Stones as an apology to you Daoist fellows.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Two million low-grade Spirit Stones? Are the Daoist friends belittling us?¡± Lu Xingfeng sneered in response, displaying a disdainful expression on his face. He Lanjun¡¯s expression darkened, and he angrily said, ¡°Daoist Lu, we are willing to make concessions and have already given you face.¡± ¡°Do you really think that our three Sects are without people? Do you think Huangyang Kingdom is without people?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If you really push us to the brink, I would not mind raising the full power of our Sect to ignite another great war!¡± With those words, He Lanjun¡¯s momentum rose, adopting a stance as if facing a great enemy. Behind him, two other Golden Core cultivators of the Qingyun Sect also held Magical Treasures in their hands, seemingly ready to act at He Lanjun¡¯s command. At this sudden change, Zhou Yunxiao and the others also changed their expressions. However, He Lanjun and another merely put on angry expressions without further action. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and the others also let out a sigh of relief. Following this, Zhou also secretly transmitted his voice to ask Lin Tianming and another for their opinions regarding the compensation offered by Feng Changgong. Regarding this matter, Lin Tianming was also conflicted because he was clear in his mind that a war was not possible. Thus, the final result still required them to step back to completely calm the situation. However, the compensation offered by Feng Changgong and the others was rather meager for their level of power. After all, each Sect was only offering two million low-grade Spirit Stones, and even divided among the forces such as Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect, they would at most receive a little over two million Spirit Stones. Considering the foundational resources of Myriad Medicine Valley, this small amount of Spirit Stones was essentially negligible. Thus, this amount of Spirit Stone compensation was just giving a veneer for the Wei Kingdom forces to step down. Understanding this point, Lin Tianming believed there was still room to push for more, at least doubling the Spirit Stones to barely meet their bottom line. Thus, Lin Tianming also communicated back to Zhou Yunxiao and his companion, sharing his own views. Zhou Yunxiao and his companion pondered for a moment and found themselves in agreement with his thoughts. In such a situation, as representatives of several major forces, Zhou Yunxiao showed a hint of difficulty and said, ¡°Fellow Daoists, are two million low-grade Spirit Stones not a bit too meager?¡± ¡°With the foundation and strength of your great sects, saying two million low-grade Spirit Stones is like a drop in the bucket isn¡¯t an exaggeration.¡± ¡°Moreover, under our great forces, more than ten mountains have fallen, and over a hundred families have been pillaged. The losses in resources alone amount to no less than ten million?¡± ¡°Putting it this way, you are all renowned figures in the Huangyang Kingdom. Wouldn¡¯t it seem petty and laughable to be so stingy?¡± ¡°This makes sense!¡± ¡°You are all sect leaders and strong figures in your own right, yet to be so miserly really lacks grace.¡± Lu Xingfeng said with a smile, his face mocking. Their provocative method also made He Lanjun and others feel quite embarrassed. In reality, they were well aware that two million low-grade Spirit Stones as compensation indeed were not high. The bargaining by Zhou Yunxiao and others was anticipated. Following that, Feng Changgong still with a calm demeanor, privately communicated with Wang Huashan and others, quickly reaching a consensus. Then, Feng Changgong spoke, ¡°Fellow Daoists, just now I also consulted with Daoist Wang and others.¡± ¡°How about this, let us each take a step back, our three great sects will each offer four million low-grade Spirit Stones as compensation. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Six million Spirit Stones, and we will retreat immediately!¡± Zhou Yunxiao immediately responded, bargaining with Feng Changgong. And He Lanjun, who had not spoken up until now, also immediately broke into the conversation. ¡°Five million Spirit Stones, and not a single one more!¡± ¡°And there¡¯s a condition, if you agree, the deal is done immediately.¡± ¡°Oh? What condition?¡± Zhou Yunxiao asked with a smile, clearly intrigued. Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng also smiled, quite interested in He Lanjun¡¯s condition. At this moment, He Lanjun did not beat around the bush, and slowly said, ¡°I have no big condition, only that if you want the compensation of five million Spirit Stones, why not have a duel?¡± ¡°If you win, my party will not delay and immediately deliver the Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Conversely, if you lose, you¡¯ll accept two million low-grade Spirit Stones as compensation, without further bargaining, and we¡¯ll owe each other nothing.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his companions wore expressions of surprise. Immediately after, Zhou Yunxiao also asked, ¡°How shall we duel?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s said that Tian Ming of Luoyun Mountain Lin Family possesses formidable strength, why not have a match with me?¡± He Lanjun said nonchalantly. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao mocked and jeered. ¡°He, you¡¯re challenging Tian Ming whose realm is much lower than yours, isn¡¯t this bullying the weak?¡± ¡°If you have the guts, why not let me or Lu Daoyou have a match with you?¡± As soon as these words fell, He Lanjun smiled indifferently, seemingly unperturbed by Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s mocking words. Following that, he also continued, ¡°Daoist Zhou¡¯s words are fair.¡± ¡°However, since Tian Ming previously demonstrated tremendous strength, slaying two of my fellow disciples, I must challenge him.¡± ¡°If you feel I¡¯m bullying the weak, then let him team up with a Medium Stage Golden Core cultivator. If they can last the duration of half an incense stick without defeat, I, He Lanjun, will concede defeat.¡± ¡°Are you daring enough?¡± He Lanjun pointed across the void at Lin Tianming, his gaze resolute and filled with confidence. Chapter 959 959 509 Joining Forces to Battle ?Chapter 959: Chapter 509: Joining Forces to Battle Chapter 959: Chapter 509: Joining Forces to Battle ¡°This¡­ this?¡± When Zhou Yunxiao heard He Lanjun¡¯s conditions, he turned his gaze to Lin Tianming, obviously seeking his opinion as well. At that moment, Lin Tianming did not immediately respond; instead, he began to think internally. In his view, each of the three parties contributing merely five million Spirit Stones barely met their bottom line. If he agreed to fight, he was quite confident in his own strength, especially since he had previously directly confronted individuals like Zhao Hongsheng. And at that time, he had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage not long ago. Now, his cultivation had improved somewhat and his progress in Body Refinement was not insignificant. ... Moreover, if he could ally with Chen Jingtian, whose power was equally formidable, they might not necessarily guarantee victory against He Lanjun, but at least they would not suffer too great a loss. Furthermore, He Lanjun had not specified that they needed to defeat him¡ªmerely holding out for a sufficiently long time without being defeated would count as their victory. With this in mind, agreeing to the fight didn¡¯t seem objectionable. Soon, Lin Tianming made up his mind and decided to give it a try. Even so, he still planned to bargain further, striving to secure greater benefits. With this intention, Lin Tianming surreptitiously communicated with both Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s thoughts, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng, without much hesitation, agreed to his plan. Following this, Zhou Yunxiao also called out across the distance to He Lanjun, ¡°He, we could accept the terms of the duel.¡± ¡°But such a paltry benefit, our might powers are not satisfied!¡± Hearing this, He Lanjun seriously asked, ¡°Then what do you propose?¡± ¡°If you want us to accept the duel, each of your three sects must offer up three additional mountains as bonuses. If we win, aside from the territory, the five million Spirit Stones are to be given as usual.¡± ¡°If we lose, each of your three sects pays two million Spirit Stones, and we shall consider the matter settled. How about it?¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Yunxiao looked at He Lanjun confidently as he spoke, his expression calm as still water, evidently full of confidence. The main character of the duel, He Lanjun, hesitated for a moment, then discussed it with Feng Changgong and a few others. Ultimately, all three parties reached an agreement, adding three mountains each as bonuses to finalize the terms of the duel. Following that, He Lanjun confidently replied, ¡°As Daoist Zhou has said, we three parties will not go back on our word.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao turned his head to look at Lin Tianming. Although he didn¡¯t say much else, Lin Tianming understood his meaning. Thus, Lin Tianming nodded confidently. He then swept his gaze over those behind him, finally resting on Chen Jingtian and Chen Maohua. At that moment, Chen Jingtian and Chen Maohua stepped forward simultaneously and said in unison, ¡°Lin, we are willing to lend you our strength.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, feeling quite moved. After all, the two Chens hadn¡¯t hesitated at all, obviously trusting in his strength. He Lanjun had entered the Late Stage Golden Core years earlier and was Qingyun Sect¡¯s strongest practitioner, having dominated Huangyang Country¡¯s Cultivation World for many years with his formidable power. He was a genuine late-stage power, no weaker than Zhou Yunxiao or Lu Xingfeng. Even so, facing such a true powerhouse, Chen Jingtian and his companion did not hesitate to agree to fight, which was telling of their stance. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt fortunate and very reassured. As he hesitated, Chen Jingtian turned to Chen Maohua and said, ¡°Daoist Chen, there¡¯s no doubt that He¡¯s power is formidable. Although you and I are at the same stage, I must bluntly say, your power might not compare to mine.¡± ¡°In that case, for the benefit of our great powers, it might be safer if I compete.¡± ¡°What do you think, Daoist Chen?¡± Chen Jingtian bowed and spoke with genuine sincerity. Seeing him speak so, Chen Maohua also deeply recognized that his own power was indeed inferior to Chen Jingtian¡¯s. Thus, Chen Maohua no longer insisted and verbally agreed to Chen Jingtian¡¯s suggestion. Following that, Chen Jingtian also spoke to Lin Tianming, ¡°Lin, since He has proposed the terms, why don¡¯t we join forces and test his Divine Skills?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming laughed heartily, his expression very calm. ¡°Good, let us join forces and test just how formidable He¡¯s reputed strength really is!¡± After Lin Tianming finished speaking, his Qinghong Sword lit up with a flash, readying himself to commence the duel. Then, when He Lanjun heard the dialogue between Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian, he noticed their confident expressions and a slight smile of pride appeared on his face, seemingly undaunted by their challenge. Shortly after, he glanced at the vast open area ahead and said to Lin Tianming, ¡°The place for our spar, why not at the mountain peak ten miles ahead? I¡¯ll head there first!¡± After speaking, He Lanjun leaped up, flying towards the distant, faintly visible mountain peak. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian exchanged glances with those around them as a form of greeting, reassuring them. Then, both men stepped out and chased after He Lanjun. Soon, the three of them appeared on two mountain tops, facing each other across a distance. Zhou Yunxiao and the others, along with Feng Changgong¡¯s group, all waited at the original location, their gazes fixed in the direction of the ongoing magic duel, attentively keeping track of the progress. Chapter 960 960 509 Join Forces to Meet the Battle_2 ?Chapter 960: Chapter 509: Join Forces to Meet the Battle_2 Chapter 960: Chapter 509: Join Forces to Meet the Battle_2 As Lin Tianming and his companion, as well as He Lanjun and his two companions, arrived at their destination, both parties only paused for a moment. Then, He Lanjun looked at his opponents and suddenly shouted, ¡°I have a higher cultivation than both of you. Let me remind you again, swords have no eyes¡ªbe careful, you two Daoist fellows!¡± As soon as his words fell, He Lanjun hesitated no longer and the gourd in his hands suddenly flashed with light. In an instant, the gourd began to crazily expand, quickly growing from the size of a palm to that of a human. Simultaneously, the gourd flew into the air and the mouth of the gourd instantly spewed out a large amount of green smoke, quickly covering a vast expanse of the sky. Seeing such changes, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn, knowing He Lanjun¡¯s cultivation at the Late Stage Golden Core could make him the top person of the Qingyun Sect, surely his strength was extremely formidable. And that gourd of his was somewhat eerie, it had to be an extraordinary magical treasure to be possessed by a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator. ... Realizing this, Lin Tianming leaped forward, his agile body darting through the area covered by the smoke like lightning. At the same time, he did not forget to warn Chen Jingtian, ¡°Daoist Chen, that smoke is somewhat eerie, don¡¯t let it catch you off guard!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Chen Jingtian had already swiftly moved dozens of yards away, temporarily avoiding the range of the smoke. At that time, the two positioned themselves to the left and right of He Lanjun, forming a pincer attack. Following that, the two wasted no time, their magical treasures in their hands shone brilliantly and strands of sword Qi shot out, immediately charging into the smoke. Seeing Lin Tianming and his companion take action, the strong fluctuations swept towards them, He Lanjun appeared calm and composed, his face bearing a mysterious smile. But in just a moment, turbulence erupted within the smoke. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian both felt something was amiss. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that their attacks had entered the smoke, and the only reaction was a few surges within the smoke, then it returned to calm. As for the abundant sword Qi, it vanished silently, like a stone sinking into the sea, with no response at all. Considering their considerable strength, even a casual attack from them would not be easily handled by a cultivator of the same rank. Although He Lanjun was powerful, handling both of their attacks should not have been without effect. However, the smoke spewed out by He Lanjun¡¯s gourd was eerily unsettling, silently neutralizing the sword Qi without even touching his robe. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming and his companion had not expected it. But reality was just that. Hence, an undeterred Lin Tianming launched several more attacks, which instantly charged into the smoke. Unfortunately, these attacks were just like the previous ones, without making any noise. Seeing such an eerie smoke that could devour attacks, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian¡¯s expressions became extremely grave. At this time, seeing the grave expressions on Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces seemed somewhat unbelievable to He Lanjun. He Lanjun laughed heartily, not surprised at all by this outcome. In his eyes, the strength of Lin Tianming and his companion was indeed commendable; he had heard complete accounts of it from practitioners from the Qingyun Sect who had returned from attacking the Wei Kingdom. Furthermore, Ren Feihong had witnessed it firsthand, even having sparred with them, and was shocked by their strength. But even so, what could be done? Their attacks couldn¡¯t penetrate the smoke, and if it continued this way, he would simply remain undefeated. With no worries, he only needed to attack relentlessly. Once he defeated one of them, no matter how strong the other was, he would not be a concern at all. Knowing this, He Lanjun wore a look of smugness, as if he had completely secured victory over the two. Settling himself slightly, He Lanjun suddenly made a Law Decree, and bursts of spiritual light struck the gourd in front of him. ¡°Zoom¡­¡± A sharp, strange sound rang out. In an instant, the gourd again spewed out a large amount of smoke, quickly morphing into several water dragons, each flying towards both Lin Tianming and his companion. Looking out, the water dragon appeared lifelike and imposing, as if it were a real creature. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In midair, the raging water dragon opened its massive maw, roaring thunderously. Just as He Lanjun made his move, Lin Tianming and his companion had already quickly shifted positions. In an instant, their nimble bodies moved like phantoms, weaving through uncovered areas with an incredible speed. They knew staying still would only make them more passive. After all, the eerie smoke could devour even Sword Qi and enveloped a vast area. If their physical bodies were covered, who knew what terrifying situation would arise. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t afford to stop moving, constantly changing positions to avoid being trapped by the smoke. Sure enough, the moment they dashed away, the roaring water dragon descended. Fortunately for them, having left early, the water dragon¡¯s massive size couldn¡¯t quickly change direction and ultimately crashed into the ground below. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Loud noises resonated, accompanied by bursts of blue light cutting through the void. Simultaneously, the giant waves created by the collision of the water dragon with the earth spread in all directions, blowing them over several times before they finally regained their footing. Once Lin Tianming and his companion stabilized themselves, they immediately looked back at their previous location. They saw numerous deep pits on the ground, inexplicably filled with water sources emitting steam, forming a new dense fog merging with the smoke in midair. In no time at all, the already massive smoke grew even larger. Seeing this change, both Lin Tianming and his companion showed shocked expressions. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t calm, but rather, He Lanjun¡¯s offensive and defensive treasure was genuinely bizarre and extremely powerful. Offensively, the water dragon could strike targets with formidable power. Even if it failed to hit the target, the water dragon could transform into a mist, augmenting the original vast cloud. Defensively, the smoke was equally bizarre, effortlessly devouring spiritual entities such as Sword Qi formed by True Essence Mana. It was clear that ordinary attacks could hardly penetrate this fog cloud, posing little threat to He Lanjun. Under such circumstances, without a specific treasure to counteract the oppressing force of the smoke, He Lanjun was almost unbeatable. On their part, their attacks posed no threat to He Lanjun, and they had to passively dodge his attacks. If this situation continued, even with abundant True Essence Mana, they would likely not last long. It could be said that if they couldn¡¯t break the stalemate in a short time, even dragging out the battle would be difficult to achieve. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was quite anxious, his expression more solemn than it had ever been. Chen Jingtian looked equally troubled at that moment. However, they had no time to catch their breath. He Lanjun¡¯s next wave of attacks arrived as promised, with numerous water dragons coming from various directions, blocking their paths. Simultaneously, He Lanjun drew out his aqua-blue longsword treasure, unleashing a multitude of Sword Qi aimed directly at their heads. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, a deluge of attacks descended, the powerful turbulence stirring their robes. At this moment, seeing the onslaught looming above them, Lin Tianming and his companion¡¯s faces turned pale. Fortunately, both were experienced in magic duels and had considerable personal strength. In haste, they attempted to move their bodies to avoid being caught by the attacks, fearing they would be hit directly by this terrifying assault. In their eyes, these attacks were, after all, executed by late-stage Golden Core experts, and their power had already been proven. Facing such a tactic, attempting to meet the attacks head-on would undoubtedly be the most foolish idea. Chapter 961 961 510 Flaw ?Chapter 961: Chapter 510 Flaw Chapter 961: Chapter 510 Flaw As Sword Qi tore through the void in the sky, the Water Dragon had also burst forth, drawing ever closer to Lin Tianming and his companion. At this moment, Lin Tianming moved like a swift swallow, swiftly shifting a hundred yards away. And with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he had finally managed to pass through the converging mist without too much danger, avoiding being encircled. Once he steadied his stance, he turned to direct his gaze towards Chen Jingtian. In his eyes, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, the probability of getting ensnared by the mist wasn¡¯t high. But that wasn¡¯t necessarily the case for Chen Jingtian! Although Chen¡¯s personal strength was indeed strong, making him a standout among his peers, The mist was too strange, coupled with a blitz of attacks from Late Stage Golden Core expert He Lanjun aiming to encircle and block. ... Under such conditions, it wasn¡¯t easy for Chen Jingtian to cope. Sure enough, following a muffled sound, Lin Tianming¡¯s prediction came true. He saw nothing but Sword Qi descend, along with several Water Dragons that instantly engulfed Chen Jingtian. At that moment, the space around Chen was enveloped in mist, and only occasional glints of sword light could be seen flashing. Following several muffled sounds, there came Chen Jingtian¡¯s pained voice. Meanwhile, Lu Xingfeng, who was watching the battle from the periphery, saw Chen Jingtian shrouded in smoke and abruptly his expression changed. He leaned out, the Magical Treasure in his hand ready, as if preparing to intervene to stop it. Seeing this, Feng Changgong and Wang Huashan also stepped forward, their Magical Treasures flashing with light. However, they dared not act rashly for fear of provoking a greater dispute. Thus, Feng Changgong called out from across the space, ¡°He and the others are merely exchanging pointers. I advise fellow Daoists not to interfere; otherwise, Wang Daoist friend and I won¡¯t sit idly by.¡± Hearing these threatening words, Lu Xingfeng¡¯s face darkened, but considering the current situation, they had no advantage and initiating conflict would only put them at a loss. Having no choice, Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao stopped advancing. This included both Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, who at this time were also very concerned for Lin Tianming¡¯s safety. In their eyes, the stakes of the competition paled in comparison to Lin Tianming¡¯s well-being. Up till now, He Lanjun had demonstrated his strength, along with his mysterious Magical Treasure and his methods, proving to be a formidable opponent. Facing such an expert, Lin Tianming, who had just entered the Golden Core Stage and was only at Early Stage Golden Core, was at a significant disadvantage compared to the long-renowned He Lanjun, who had been a dominant force in Huangyang Kingdom for over two hundred years. Despite his formidable personal strength, which not even Medium Stage Golden Core Chen Jingtian could confidently claim to outmatch, The gap with He Lanjun, who had both time and location in his favor, was starkly evident. Realizing this, Lin Shikang and the others were very helpless, their faces unable to hide the urgency. As muffled sounds emanated from Chen Jingtian¡¯s direction, Lin Shikang and the others became even more anxious. They strained to extend their Divine Sense, trying to discern Chen Jingtian¡¯s situation. Unfortunately, the peculiar smoke blocked even their Golden Core stage Divine Sense. Unable to perceive any response, their frustration and anger further intensified. At this time, Lin Tianming was also in a state of panic. Lin Shikang and the others, including Late Stage Golden Core cultivators Lu Xingfeng and Zhou Yunxiao, were unable to see what Chen Jingtian had gone through. With the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, though his Divine Sense was likewise affected, he had witnessed Chen Jingtian¡¯s recent ordeal. In his vision, Chen Jingtian had been moving his body quickly as well, trying to avoid being enveloped by the thick mist and not seeking to confront He Lanjun¡¯s attacks head-on. However, the density of the attacks at that time was too high, and their speed incredibly fast, leaving hardly any time to react. Faced with such a level of onslaught, Chen Jingtian managed to pass through a gap, hurling himself to a temporarily safe position. But before he could even catch his breath, the layers of mist surged again, attempting to trap him within. In desperation, Chen Jingtian contorted his body into an odd posture, forcing his way out through another spot to avoid being covered by the mist. If that were to happen, his situation would only worsen further, not to mention winning the duel; he might even lose his life there. Realizing this, Chen made another swift turn, shaping his body into an unwieldy posture to flee forcibly. Unfortunately, he was still half a step too slow. Just as he was about to break through an opening, the mist had already fully closed in. Instantly, he was enshrouded by the smoke, with no escape routes whatsoever. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, it wasn¡¯t the mist itself that was the deadliest. At this moment, he felt as if submerged in water, with immense pressure surrounding him, severely slowing down his movements, making each step incredibly difficult. Furthermore, abundant Sword Qi continued to emerge from the midst of the smoke, heading straight for his head. Seeing the Sword Qi encroaching, his movement drastically slowed, and his True Essence Mana consumption increased several-fold compared to normal times. At this point, he finally understood the terror of the mist¡ªnot only could it entrap an enemy, but it also slowed them down while greatly increasing their Mana consumption. It was such an ability that one would expect from a Late Stage Golden Core expert like He Lanjun. Right then, Chen had no time for further thought or contemplation. For him, the priority was figuring out how to survive in this dire situation. Chapter 962 962 511 Flaw_2 ?Chapter 962: Chapter 511 Flaw_2 Chapter 962: Chapter 511 Flaw_2 ¡°` ¡°Boom¡­¡± The smoke surged downwards, and the Sword Qi had already descended. At that time, Chen Jingtian didn¡¯t dare to delay. He immediately ran his mana to its utmost limit and moved his body to dodge the Sword Qi¡¯s attacks as much as possible. Simultaneously, a flash of light from the Defense Treasure in his hand quickly expanded, forming a barrier in front of him. In a split second, as several crackling explosions sounded, accompanied by streaks of light cutting through the void. Suddenly, numerous Sword Qi struck the Defense Treasure before him, bringing with them a powerful wave of force. Fortunately, the power of the Defense Treasure was extraordinary, and it had successfully blocked the onslaught of Sword Qi, leaving only some cracks on it, which caused a decrease in its spirituality. ... However, Chen Jingtian himself was not faring well. He had absorbed the formidable rebound force by directly blocking He Lanjun¡¯s attack. After this strike, blood spilled from the corners of his mouth, his Qi-Blood roiled crazily within him, and some of his meridians were violently shattered. In addition, nearly half of the True Essence Mana in his body had been depleted, and the Defense Treasure had also suffered varying degrees of damage. It was hard to imagine that this was just two rounds of combat. And up to now, neither of them had even touched He Lanjun¡¯s body, let alone defeat him. Besides the current situation, he was still in danger. Now, he had to find a way to escape from the smoke to have a sliver of hope for resistance. With this in mind, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression was extremely grave as he took advantage of the lull in the attack to ponder his next move. And during this time, the whole process of Chen Jingtian handling the strike was within Lin Tianming¡¯s sight. At the moment, Lin Tianming also had a gloomy face and was contemplating a strategy to break the situation. In his mind, He Lanjun¡¯s smoke was truly cunning. Although it didn¡¯t have much attack power or pose any fatal threat, if someone got trapped within it, the suppressing force it could bring was extremely terrifying. Chen Jingtian had just tried and it was visibly clear how much it affected his speed. Such suppressive force was deadly for a cultivator. Once one could not break free, the True Essence Mana would be rapidly depleted. Attacking targets with the strength of a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator would basically mean just taking hits. Even if you could withstand one hit, more would follow. With this ebb and flow, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the trapped person to be thoroughly drained to death. This was somewhat similar to his own Divine Earth Evil Sword Formation. Only that the Earth Evil Sword Formation posed a greater attack threat, yet it depended greatly on the Divine Sense of the cultivator, as well as the timing and stamina involved in the formation. The smoke, however, was just very effective at trapping enemies and covered a much larger area but didn¡¯t have fearsome attack power. In this way, these two methods had their own unique features and advantages and disadvantages. But regardless, He Lanjun¡¯s Gourd Treasure was indeed cunning and formidable. Knowing this, Lin Tianming realized that the most urgent matter was to assist Chen Jingtian in breaking free as soon as possible. Otherwise, should anything go awry on Chen Jingtian¡¯s end, not to mention his own safety, it would be impossible to explain to the Zhenyang Sect. On top of that, facing He Lanjun alone would be like a slow death. Thus, Lin Tianming wracked his brains for a loophole in the smoke before him. While he was pondering, He Lanjun would not afford them much opportunity to catch their breath. All of a sudden, the smoke churned, and numerous Water Dragons emerged again, roaring towards the two of them. At that moment, Lin Tianming momentarily regained his composure and a flame appeared in his hand. This flame was none other than the Blue Heart True Flame, which instantly raised the surrounding temperature markedly. As the Water Dragons closed in, Lin Tianming resolutely threw the Blue Heart True Flame. Instantly, the Blue Heart True Flame collided head-on with the Water Dragons. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sky lit up with fire, and the powerful impact spread in all directions. And in the moment of collision, the Water Dragons were directly blasted apart, eventually evaporating like mist. ¡°` At the same time, after the Blue Heart True Flame exploded, numerous fireballs formed and eventually disappeared into the smoke. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In those short moments, all one could hear were bursts of boiling sounds. Then, one could see swathes of the fog beginning to dissipate, and sunlight from the sky shone back onto the ground. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled beyond expectation. Originally, He Lanjun¡¯s Spiritual Root was primarily of the Water Attribute, and his Attack Power also revolved around the Water Attribute¡ªeven his Gourd Treasure was an item of the Water Attribute. Lin Tianming had used the help of the Eye of Five Colors at the outset and discerned the attribute behind the smoke; countering with the Blue Heart True Flame was merely an attempt made with a try-it-and-see attitude. If there were apparent effects, then nothing could be better. If there were no effects, then he would have to look for another strategy. However, the effect of the Blue Heart True Flame was surprisingly good; it had easily shattered the Water Dragon, and after exploding, those small fireballs continued to evaporate what remained. This result was far too good, completely beyond Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. But on closer reflection, the Blue Heart True Flame was, after all, one of the Third Order Exotic Flames, and an extremely special Third Order fire at that. Such a Treasure wielded immense suppression over Water Attribute attacks. With such a Treasure on hand, it was only natural for Lin Tianming to give it a try¡ªthe result might be miraculous. It was precisely this exploratory move that had truly dissolved Lin Tianming¡¯s significant trouble. At this time, Lin Tianming was bursting with excitement, and he let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. On the other hand, He Lanjun¡¯s expression was exceptionally grim. In his eyes, he had almost considered Lin Tianming and his companion nothing short of certain failures. Under the circumstances just before, not to mention unleashing an Attack to counterattack, even self-preservation was extremely difficult; at most, they could have held out for a few rounds before defeat. Given that, the prospect of defeating him head-on was even less likely. Yet, Lin Tianming had managed to recognize the attribute of the smoke and also had the Blue Heart True Flame. The result was that he found the flaw in the smoke and saw his biggest reliance crumble. Now, the overwhelming advantage he had would disappear, and the outcome of the fight became hard to predict. Even so, He Lanjun remained relatively composed. After all, with his Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm, he felt he had a fair chance of winning even if he faced Lin Tianming and his friend head-on. Under such circumstances, he needed to seriously injure one of them quickly, to defeat Chen Jingtian in the shortest possible time. As long as Chen Jingtian lacked the strength to resist, relying solely on Lin Tianming would not be enough to pose any threat to him. With that step, he would have achieved his primary goal. Knowing this, He Lanjun made consecutive moves, unleashing vast amounts of Sword Qi, directing Attacks toward Lin Tianming and his companion. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± Sounds of sword whistling rose. At this very moment, Lin Tianming knew he could not delay any longer; he had to quickly rescue Chen Jingtian. Driven by a strong sense of purpose, Lin Tianming conjured fireballs in his hands once more, flinging them in Chen Jingtian¡¯s direction. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Blue Heart True Flame cut through the void, directly evaporating the smoke around it, eventually forming a pathway. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming pivoted, rushing through the path cleared by the True Flame toward Chen Jingtian¡¯s location. His movements were swift, and with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he managed to narrowly dodge the barrage of Sword Qi Attacks from He Lanjun. With the way paved by the Blue Heart True Flame, Lin Tianming finally joined Chen Jingtian just before He Lanjun¡¯s Attacks could descend. It wasn¡¯t until they stood shoulder to shoulder that both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian breathed a sigh of relief. Free from the constraints of the smoke, they no longer had any reservations. Without further delay, the two of them unleashed a barrage of Attacks, targeting the Sword Qi summoned by He Lanjun. In an instant, the Attacks of the three clashed head-on. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± In a moment, the sky was aglow with fire once more, and the battlefield, which had been calm for a brief time, was once again filled with thunderous explosions. ¡­ Chapter 963 963 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash ?Chapter 963: Chapter 511: Frost Sword Spirit Slash Chapter 963: Chapter 511: Frost Sword Spirit Slash On the battlefield. Lin Tianming¡¯s Qinghong Sword flashed brightly and instantly unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword. In the blink of an eye, the Qinghong Sword shot out at an unbelievable speed, heading straight for He Lanjun. At the same time, the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand pulsed and he formed it into a massive fireball. Although the fireball looked ordinary, the blue flame within held a terrifying destructive power. Lin Tianming knew very well that facing the powerful He Lanjun, the Blue Heart True Flame was one of his most reliable techniques. With this tool that could counter He Lanjun¡¯s Divine Skills Magical Treasure, he naturally wanted to make good use of it to increase his odds of winning. ... Sure enough, upon seeing the Blue Heart True Flame again, He Lanjun¡¯s expression turned dark, a look of dread painted on his face. However, before he could catch his breath, Chen Jingtian, who had escaped his binds, was now free of any restrictions and made no reservations. Chen leaped into the air, a massive amount of Sword Qi whirling madly beside him until it formed a huge Sword Qi. As the Sword Qi appeared, sand and stones flew through the air, and Gang Wind arose, the mighty momentum bearing down like Mount Tai. ¡°Zhenyang Sword Qi, go!¡± Chen Jingtian shouted to the heavens, fully releasing the frustrations he had felt until now. In a split second, Lin Tianming and his attack, from both left and right, bombarded He Lanjun. At this moment, seeing the attacks from Lin Tianming and another approaching, He Lanjun refused to show weakness. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He pinched a Law Decree and the gourd in front of him once again spewed out smoke, which merged with the smoke already wavering in mid-air, forming a barrier in front of him. At the same time, his Longsword Treasure swung repeatedly, dispatching waves of Sword Qi. In his eyes, the flaws in the smokescreen had already been exploited by Lin Tianming. With a method to decode it, it could no longer trap the two. Still, the smokescreen was quite effective for defense. With that in mind, He Lanjun activated both of his Magical Treasures, one for attack and one for defense, coordinating quite seamlessly. ¡°Booming¡­¡± Bright lights twinkled in the sky, and deafening explosions echoed across the battlefield. Within that sea of fire, the Blue Heart True Flame blasted open a pathway, evaporating a large amount of smoke. And within this pathway, the Sword Qi from both sides clashed head-on. For a moment, the powerful impact was uncontrollable, spreading out in all directions. Under this powerful shock, the three of them were each knocked back some distance. As the three steadied themselves, their expressions grew much graver. Especially He Lanjun, whose dark expression could not hide the fear in his face. Now, after this strike, he truly realized the formidable strength of Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian. No wonder Ren Feihong of Forging Sword Valley, after fleeing back to Huangyang Kingdom, had continuously praised their strength. Now, seeing them firsthand, their reputations were indeed well-deserved; even he found them quite troublesome to deal with. However, even so, He Lanjun was not panicked as his level of cultivation gave him a definitive advantage, and being on the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory was a great benefit. Inside Qingyun Sect, more and more Cultivators gathered at the entrance. In just a quarter of an hour, there were already over a thousand Cultivators, and their numbers were still increasing. During the intense battle of the three, all these Cultivators stared at the somewhat discernible figures ahead, utterly astonished. Because they had all seen and truly felt the deafening explosions and powerful fluctuations that had just occurred. In their eyes, a clash of such high-level fighters was rare in the Cultivation World. Not to mention that one of Qingyun Sect¡¯s strongest was one of the main duelists. Watching their every move from such close quarters was a rare opportunity that might not come again in a hundred years. Now, these people all widened their eyes, intently watching the front, fearing they would miss any round of attacks. On the battlefield. After a brief calm, the three launched their attacks again. For a while, the three were entangled once more, the continuous Sword Qi crossing the skies, and the fierce collisions sending strong vibrations continuously. Soon several rounds of attacks ended, and both sides had their share of advances and retreats without clearly gaining the upper hand. However, overall, He Lanjun¡¯s individual strength and cultivation level gave him an advantage. After this series of attacks and defenses, he too had exchanges, seeming quite at ease. While Lin Tianming and another joined forces, they also used every technique at their disposal. Although they didn¡¯t have a decisive advantage, they were at least not much at a disadvantage. But this situation was not what He Lanjun wanted to see. Because their duel had a time limit. If he didn¡¯t defeat Lin Tianming and another within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he would be judged to have lost the duel. Even though the stakes of the duel, consisting of a few mountain territories and several million Spirit Stones, were not a big deal for cultivators of their level, it concerned the face and reputation of Qingyun Sect and the other two Great Sects. Just imagine, if he, a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, couldn¡¯t win the duel, he would likely become a laughing stock among many cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. Now, as the time of one incense stick gradually approached, he still hadn¡¯t gained a decisive advantage. Chapter 964 964 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash_2 ?Chapter 964: Chapter 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash_2 Chapter 964: Chapter 511 Frost Sword Spirit Slash_2 ¡°` If this continues, he might truly lose the duel. Thinking of his situation, He Lanjun became somewhat agitated. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was actually becoming anxious inside. At this point, Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian also understood the current situation, and they were well aware that facing a strong opponent like He Lanjun, they couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. As He Lanjun took the lead in attacking, he also launched his attack without any reservations. In an instant, He Lanjun spat out a mouthful of essence blood accurately onto the Gourd Treasure in front of him. In a moment, the surface of the gourd shone brightly, and a large cloud of smoke billowed out of the mouth of the gourd, quickly surrounding Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian. ... Watching the thicker smoke, He Lanjun also revealed a reluctant expression. Others might not be aware of his Treasure or understand the origin and value of this smoke. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But he knew very well that the smoke was extremely difficult to condense, formed by refining with the precious Third Order Spiritual Crystal and expending a great deal of energy. To accumulate the smoke in the gourd, he hadn¡¯t cultivated much in almost a hundred years, nor had he used this Treasure extensively. One could say, for this dual-purpose Gourd Treasure, he had paid a great price and had only with difficulty accumulated such a quantity and purity of smoke. Now, in order to win the duel, no matter how reluctant he was, he had to exert his full power. At this time, seeing the dense smoke converging and doubling in volume compared to the beginning, Lin Tianming was still okay, after all, possessing the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s destructive power, self-preservation wasn¡¯t too difficult. But Chen Jingtian was very aware of the terrifying nature of the smoke, his face changed instantly, showing a look of facing a great enemy. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to delay. He leaped, rushing towards Chen Jingtian, planning to first use the power of the Blue Heart True Flame to alleviate Chen Jingtian¡¯s pressure. As for counterattacking, they would take it one step at a time. If they couldn¡¯t organize an effective attack, they at least needed to delay enough. Now clear in his purpose, Lin Tianming also frantically circulated his True Essence Mana, while activating the Tiangang Ninth Sword, a large number of fireballs made of Blue Heart True Flame frequently exploded in the airspace above them. Instantly, the high temperature produced by the explosions of the Blue Heart True Flame evaporated a large amount of smoke, carving out a safe area for them both. At the same time, Chen Jingtian and Lin Tianming joined forces, launching numerous attacks toward He Lanjun. With the path cleared by the Blue Heart True Flame, their attacks successfully passed through the smoke, causing great pressure on He Lanjun. At this time, seeing that the explosions of the Blue Heart True Flame had significantly consumed the smoke, He Lanjun was both shocked and furious, and he was extremely distressed. In his eyes, if this continued, even if he won the duel in the end, the smoke he had painstakingly condensed would suffer heavy losses. Truly, if that happened, he would still be a loser in the end. After all, condensing the smoke was not easy; the cost was great, and replenishing it would not be an easy task. On the other hand, the situation was completely different for Lin Tianming. Because although the Blue Heart True Flame also consumed a lot, the flame had been refined by him and possessed a complete Fire Seed. Given some time, the Blue Heart True Flame could naturally recover to its peak condition. Additionally, with time, the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s fire would increase and its power grow as well. The Blue Heart True Flame Seed, which Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t used for a quite long period, had an extremely abundant storage of flame. Under such conditions, he could use it without any reservations, undergoing a large-scale expenditure battle with He Lanjun. Precisely because of understanding this, Lin Tianming had no intention of holding back. With his extensive use of the Blue Heart True Flame, a significant portion, more than 20%, of He Lanjun¡¯s batch of smoke quickly evaporated. Seeing the prolonged attack failing and the smoke loss so significant, He Lanjun¡¯s heart bled. However, he had no time to feel the pain, as the time of one incense stick was almost up. If he couldn¡¯t break the deadlock within this period, it would mean the duel ended and the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom had completely failed. At this time, He Lanjun was furious and couldn¡¯t afford to cherish his Treasure. He controlled the gourd to spew out smoke, surrounding Lin Tianming and the others. ¡°` At the same time, He Lanjun leaped forward, heading towards Lin Tianming and his companion. While still in midair, he frequently swung his longsword, unleashing a barrage of Sword Qi toward Lin Tianming and his companion. At this moment, seeing He Lanjun change his attack pattern, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became solemn. He knew that He Lanjun was going all out, attempting to defeat them within a limited amount of time. However, in his heart, He Lanjun¡¯s change was also a potential opportunity to break the situation. His ambition was not small, not only to delay until the end of a stick of incense to win the battle. If conditions allowed, he even wanted to defeat He Lanjun head-on. Though doing so seemed overly ostentatious. After all, ¡°A tall tree catches the wind!¡± Being too ostentatious in the Cultivation World wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. But Lin Tianming wanted to defeat He Lanjun head-on, and he had his profound reasons. The reason for this was that the Qingyun Sect was considered a neighbor of the Lin Family and had formidable strength, at least stronger than the current Lin Family. In his view, too many formidable enemies surrounded the Lin Family, posing potential threats. Especially since the two forces had accumulated some enmity during the Three Sects¡¯ battle in the Wei Kingdom. Although on the surface, the major forces had made clear statements that the countries would not interfere with each other after this duel. But in the Cultivation World, verbal promises held little binding power, and oftentimes even the Golden Elixir Forces would go back on their word for profit. Therefore, for the long-term peace of the Lin Family, it was necessary to demonstrate some strength to deter the Qingyun Sect and even the allied forces of the Wei Kingdom. When he traveled to other countries in the future, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t become a target for other forces. With this in mind, his goal was very clear and firm; he was fully determined to defeat He Lanjun. Knowing this, Lin Tianming communicated telepathically with Chen Jingtian, asking him to coordinate and resist He Lanjun¡¯s attacks together. Chen Jingtian, experienced in magical duels and well aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, had fought alongside him multiple times, making them quite familiar with each other¡¯s tactics and attack patterns. Under these circumstances, their cooperation was quite tacit. Lin Tianming used the Blue Heart True Flame to create enough space for Chen Jingtian to move and opened a pathway for attack. Chen Jingtian seized the moment and unleashed a barrage of powerful attacks to share the pressure with Lin Tianming. At this critical moment, Lin Tianming also went all out; the Qinghong Sword continuously thrust forward, colliding head-on with He Lanjun¡¯s Sword Qi. ¡°Boom¡­ ¡± Clearly, the Qinghong Sword was deflected and caught again by Lin Tianming. While most of He Lanjun¡¯s Sword Qi attack was also dispersed, the remaining traces of Sword Qi were jointly resisted by Lin Tianming and his companion, which they managed to handle. Seeing his attacks fail again, He Lanjun¡¯s face darkened, and his heart grew anxious. As the brief interlude ended, He Lanjun continued his fierce attacks. Meanwhile, he had advanced multiple times, closing the distance between him and Lin Tianming and his companion. Now, as the distance between them had decreased, the frequency of the attacks increased, giving Lin Tianming even less time to react. By this time, He Lanjun had taken out all his tricks; the tremendous power of his Late Stage Golden Core was unquestionably evident. With one strike, He Lanjun took the opportunity to advance a certain distance. Seeing that they were only a hundred zhang apart, He Lanjun concentrated intensely, suddenly forming a Law Decree with his hands, and several beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the longsword in front of him. Instantaneously, his Treasure Sword flickered with light, transforming into a Frost Dragon. As soon as the Frost Dragon appeared, the temperature between heaven and earth plummeted rapidly, and the water vapor in the air recondensed, forming ice spires that fell to the ground, making crisp noises. ¡°Frost Sword Spirit Slash!¡± As He Lanjun shouted, the Frost Dragon roared skyward and then charged directly at Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 965 965 512 Victory in the Contest ?Chapter 965: Chapter 512: Victory in the Contest Chapter 965: Chapter 512: Victory in the Contest At this moment, Lin Tianming saw He Lanjun¡¯s explosive attack and couldn¡¯t help but his face change. It was clear to anyone with eyes that the power of He Lanjun¡¯s Frost Sword Spirit Slash was terrifying. Such an attack, if nothing unexpected happened, should certainly be a Technique Divine Power, nowhere near comparable to ordinary Sword Qi. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became extremely grave. On the other side, Chen Jingtian at this moment also had an expression as if facing a formidable enemy. Seeing the terrifying Sword Qi assault, Chen Jingtian did not dare waste time. He moved closer to Lin Tianming while unleashing a barrage of attacks towards the Frost Dragon. ... His idea was simple ¨C facing He Lanjun¡¯s relentless attack, Lin Tianming, as the primary target, was sure to be under tremendous pressure. So he had to make every effort to help alleviate some of Lin Tianming¡¯s burden. Otherwise, if Lin Tianming were to be critically injured or directly killed on the spot, relying solely on him to cope with He Lanjun would lead to an obvious outcome. Aware of Lin Tianming¡¯s importance, Chen Jingtian did not dare to hold back and directly unleashed his mightiest Divine Skills. All at once, he slapped his longsword, sending out a Sword Qi that collided head-on with the Frost Dragon. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A thunderous roar spread, setting the entire sky ablaze, with a potent shockwave sweeping through. In that instant, Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack managed to block the Frost Sword Spirit Slash for a brief moment, before it completely collapsed. But the Frost Dragon paused only slightly before continuing its assault on Lin Tianming. By then, Lin Tianming had already thrown his Qinghong Sword, meeting the Frost Dragon head-on. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another massive explosion echoed. Amidst the blinding light, the Qinghong Sword failed to shatter the Frost Dragon, instead being repelled by the immense force, eventually caught by Lin Tianming. As Lin Tianming grasped the Qinghong Sword, he felt his entire arm and palm go numb, clearly shaken by the tremendous power. However, he had no time to ponder and dared not delay. For the Frost Dragon was still roaring towards him, its momentum like Mount Tai bearing down. Although the Frost Dragon had been intercepted by Chen Jingtian¡¯s attack and had expended some of its strength, and even though he had just released the Tiangang Ninth Sword, draining considerable power, Even so, the Frost Dragon¡¯s might remained terrifying. After all, it was a Supernatural attack from a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, its power comparable to a Spirit Art, if not quite the same. Under such an attack, he had to try his utmost to block it to possibly come out unscathed. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately launched a huge fireball from his hand, colliding with the incoming Frost Dragon. At that moment, the entire sky turned into a sea of flames, with a tremendous explosion resonating across the battlefield. In that sea of flames, the Blue Heart True Flame ignited the Frost Dragon, transforming it into a fire dragon. At that time, the fire dragon roared madly, as if in great agony. But the Blue Heart True Flame would not give the fire dragon any respite, continuing to burn and fiercely consume its power as it continued to fly towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming finally breathed a sigh of relief. It had to be said, Blue Heart True Flame, one of the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames, was exceptionally effective against He Lanjun¡¯s Divine Skills. As the fire dragon continued its onslaught and was about to reach a hundred zhang above his head, it exploded. For a time, the entire sky was showered with falling flames. At the same time, the smoke from the area bombarded by the rain of fire largely evaporated, forming vapor that rose into the air and quickly turned into new mist. However, this new mist was fundamentally different from the smoke produced by He Lanjun¡¯s gourd Magical Treasure. Because the former was merely ordinary mist! While the latter was a formidable weapon that could even instill fear in a Golden Core Stage Expert like Chen Jingtian. But even though the smoke was fearsome, and the fire dragon¡¯s power extremely horrific, they still couldn¡¯t withstand the erosion of the Blue Heart True Flame, ultimately collapsing. For such an outcome, Lin Tianming was somewhat uncertain. Now, seeing such an effect was beyond his expectations. Regardless, temporarily halting this terrifying attack and resolving this crisis for them both was exciting. Moreover, the agreed upon time for the duel was drawing nearer. One could say victory was in sight! Such a rare situation, how could one not be excited. At this time, the expressions of both Lin Tianming and Chen Jingtian eased, and they couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief in their hearts. As the sea of flames dissipated and the smoky sky cleared, daylight returned. In that instant, a ghostly figure appeared above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. This figure was extremely fast, coming straight for Lin Tianming. Chen Jingtian was the closest to the figure and as he tried to dodge, he realized the figure simply passed over his head and attacked Lin Tianming instead. At this moment, Chen Jingtian was both shocked and angry ¨C shocked that the figure had appeared above him, aware that had it been aiming for his life, escaping would not have been easy. Even if he miraculously avoided it, serious injury would¡¯ve been near certain. As for anger, it was because even though the figure was closest to him, the target was not him. He felt as though he was being disrespected. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 966 966 512 Victory Competition_2 ?Chapter 966: Chapter 512 Victory Competition_2 Chapter 966: Chapter 512 Victory Competition_2 With that, Chen Jingtian¡¯s complexion was incredibly ugly at this time. But he was not a dull-witted person; right now, he might have escaped danger, but Lin Tianming was in peril. So, an anxious Chen Jingtian quickly yelled out, ¡°Lin, watch your head!¡± Chen Jingtian loudly called out to Lin Tianming, urging him to flee quickly. At this time, the speed of the dark shadow was extremely fast, descending upon Lin Tianming¡¯s head in the blink of an eye. Hearing Chen Jingtian¡¯s warning, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was extremely grave. In fact, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors and a Divine Sense beyond that of ordinary people, he had already sensed something almost as soon as the sea of fire had not completely dissipated. ... But the speed of the dark shadow was too fast, and he also could not grasp He Lanjun¡¯s intention. By the time the dark shadow arrived, He Lanjun was close to Chen Jingtian, but the attack had not yet taken form. At that point, he knew that He Lanjun¡¯s target was not Chen Jingtian, but himself who possessed the Blue Heart True Flame. Because of the existence of the Blue Heart True Flame, He Lanjun¡¯s Divine Skills and Magical Treasures were greatly limited, and thus, he had already labeled him as a major adversary in his heart. Moreover, He Lanjun was not a dim-witted individual; he also understood the relationship between the Lin Family and the Qingyun Sect and that after the battle at Green Bamboo Mountain, the two were almost dead enemies. Should the opportunity arise to eradicate him in one fell swoop, it could also completely eliminate the threat of the Lin Family. With that in mind, He Lanjun was moved to kill, planning to seize this last strike as an opportunity to settle their grudges once and for all. With such a purpose, He Lanjun took advantage of the cover of the sea of fire to launch his full-force for a final strike, all to take Lin Tianming¡¯s life. It was only at this time that Lin Tianming was able to accurately determine He Lanjun¡¯s intention, and reminding Chen Jingtian was already pointless. It was himself who really did not have much time to react; he had to find a way to block this fatal blow. Thus, without giving it another thought, Lin Tianming immediately threw the Qinghong Sword he held toward the top of his head. Simultaneously, he operated his Cultivation Technique at full strength, his Law Decree hitting the sword¡¯s body relentlessly. ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­¡± In an instant, a humming from the Qinghong Sword arose, and then it began to spin frenetically around Lin Tianming. In the space of an instant, the Qinghong Sword had formed strands of light and shadow that converged into a silvery-white lotus, enveloping him within. At this time, Lin Tianming concentrated his mind and spirit, rotating his True Essence Mana to the extreme. Under his control, the Divine Heaven Sword Lotus had been launched. As time passed by, He Lanjun got closer and closer to Lin Tianming, merely a few tens of feet apart. For a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, such a distance was tantamount to being directly next to each other. And at this moment, He Lanjun saw the brilliant Sword Shadow Lotus beneath him, seemingly like a beautiful lotus, but its aura was extremely terrifying. Because the moment the lotus appeared, the entire sky was filled with flying sand and rolling stones, the Gang Wind forming countless whirlwinds, stirring up the battlefield into utter chaos. Seeing this scene and feeling the terrifying Sword Qi of the lotus, He Lanjun¡¯s face underwent a change. He knew that Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was extremely powerful, absolutely incomparable to the previous one. Facing such an attack, it was not going to be easy for him to achieve his goal. In addition, even though his Cultivation Realm was that of a Late Stage Golden Core, it was by no means an easy task to retreat unscathed under such an attack. At this moment, he already regretted his overconfidence and even more so that he had harbored killing intent towards Lin Tianming. Under such circumstances, He Lanjun was quite conflicted within, thinking that if he stopped now, it was not without a possibility of recovery. But now that the distance between them was too close, it was very difficult to carry on with the attack or to give up and retreat. As the saying goes, once work starts there is no turning back. Since the situation was beyond salvageable, why not take a risk? Fully aware of this, He Lanjun hesitated only for a moment before his face assumed a crazed expression. So He Lanjun did not delay any further, seeing the Sword Shadow Lotus about to unfold, his longsword flashed with light, and a dragon-like Sword Qi shot forth fiercely. Beneath the Sword Lotus, Lin Tianming was just as somber at this moment. At this moment, he had launched the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, and a vast number of Sword Qi were already in place. He only needed to activate it, and this formidable Divine Skill would completely unfold. And this Divine Skill, it was also his first time using it in an actual battle. Before this, he had only used the Earth Sword Lotus, which had blocked Zhao Hongsheng¡¯s full-powered attack. Now using the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, facing a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator just the same, whether he could achieve a satisfactory result was something he had no confidence in. But things had already come to this point, he had no time for further thought, nor could he stop. Thus, Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, spat out a mouthful of essence blood, spraying it on the Sword Lotus above his head. Immediately after, his hands formed a Law Decree and he shouted out loud, ¡°Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± Speak of the devil, and he shall appear, the dragon-like Sword Qi crashed into the Sword Shadow Lotus. At that moment, the lotus blossomed with an explosive sound. In that instant, a flash of silver light filled the space between heaven and earth, even overshadowing the brilliance of the sun. Within that dazzling light, myriad Sword Qi dispersed in all directions, instantly filling every corner of the battlefield. At the same time, the Sword Qi and the Sword Qi dragon unleashed by He Lanjun clashed fiercely, setting off a thunderous rumble. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Both forces met head-on, generating a shockwave that swept through the area. Feeling such fluctuations, Chen Jingtian¡¯s expression turned to one of terror, and he quickly retreated, instantly putting several hundred feet between himself and the origin of the blast. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the center, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, and like being hit by a small mountain, he fell from midair, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Even while still in midair, blood spilled from the corners of his mouth as his Qi-Blood roiled chaotically inside him. After he struggled to his feet, he felt numerous weak Sword Qis rampaging within his body. In no time at all, his complexion turned several shades paler, and his breath became tremendously feeble. Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation technique circulated, barely managing to suppress the errant threads of Sword Qi in his body. Promptly, he lifted his head to look above him, only to see that He Lanjun and Chen Jingtian had also been sent flying backward, eventually crashing to the ground as well. At that moment, He Lanjun got to his feet, his Daoist robe in tatters, blood trickling from his mouth, and numerous wounds on his body, clearly scorched by the Sword Qi. Besides that, his internal condition was also far from good. Because of the Divine Skill that Lin Tianming had unleashed, the terrifying Sword Qi penetrated everywhere, rampaging non-stop within him. After this single strike, He Lanjun had sustained serious injuries. While the external wounds were recoverable, the internal ones would require at least several months of rest to return to his peak state. On the other hand, Chen Jingtian, who had dodged in time and was not the primary target of Lin Tianming and He Lanjun¡¯s attacks, suffered only limited collateral damage. Even so, the powerful fluctuations still caused a disturbance within him, resulting in some injuries. As the tumult gradually subsided, the battlefield finally returned to calm. At that time, with a somber expression, He Lanjun gazed at Lin Tianming with even greater wariness in his heart. He was just about to make another move when he saw Zhou Yunxiao and others stand in front of Lin Tianming, all of them wearing furious expressions. Especially the members of the Lin Family, who glared at him with bloodshot eyes as if they wouldn¡¯t sit idly by should he strike. Leading the group, Zhou Yunxiao spoke angrily, ¡°Brother He, a stick of incense¡¯s time has passed, and your three sects have lost the contest.¡± ¡°If you still wish to fight, we will not back down!¡± As his words fell, Feng Changgong and others from his side hurried over, standing beside He Lanjun. Feng Changgong also wore a helpless expression and then said with a sigh, folding his hands, ¡°Brother He, we have lost the contest, let¡¯s not create further troubles.¡± Hearing this, He Lanjun¡¯s imposing manner finally subdued. Seeing this, Feng Changgong also breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he called out to Zhou Yunxiao from a distance, ¡°Fellow Daoists, please calm your anger. We admit defeat in this contest. The stakes we bet will be prepared by our respective forces, and we shall hand them over to you.¡± ¡°From this day forth, shall we turn our swords into ploughshares and make peace?¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming and the others finally let down their guard, and the tense atmosphere on the scene also calmed down. ¡­ Chapter 967 967 513 Unexpected Joy ?Chapter 967: Chapter 513: Unexpected Joy Chapter 967: Chapter 513: Unexpected Joy Inside Qingyun Sect, several thousand cultivators gathered together. At that moment, everyone stared at the intense fluctuation that had just emanated from the edge of the sky, their faces turning pale instantly. ¡°That kind of attack just now was absolutely terrifying!¡± A Qi Refining Stage cultivator, stunned, muttered, having already forgotten the camps they each belonged to. Besides those cultivators with limited vision and cultivation, some Foundation Establishment cultivators also looked serious and were inwardly sweating for He Lanjun. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t calm enough, nor was it a lack of confidence in He Lanjun. It was just that the strike from Lin Tianming a moment ago was too terrifying! ... That elegant figure, along with the momentum that scorned heaven and earth, was truly a peerless strike. Under that strike, even He Lanjun was blasted away and suffered injuries. Seeing this, if not for the matter of camps, they too couldn¡¯t help but feel their blood surge. Fortunately, after that strike, it seemed both parties were evenly matched. Such a silent scene continued for a while before it finally recovered. Following that, various discussions ensued, each discussing the peerless strike of Lin Tianming. Outside the Qingyun Sect. As the duel concluded, it ended with Lin Tianming and another emerging victorious. Moreover, that earth-shattering battle had completely refreshed the understanding of many Golden Core cultivators present about Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Especially He Lanjun and other strong individuals from Huangyang Kingdom, who were now even more wary of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. In their eyes, what Ren Feihong initially said was thought to be exaggerated. However, after this battle, He Lanjun didn¡¯t gain any advantage; instead, he caused his Gourd Treasure to lose a large amount of smoke, reducing the spirituality of his most relied upon magical treasure. Apart from that, Lin Tianming¡¯s final strike was like a heavenly maiden scattering flowers, appearing peerlessly graceful, yet terrifying in power and momentum. Such a strike had actually repelled He Lanjun head-on, even causing him to sustain some injuries. Looking at Lin Tianming, although his complexion was somewhat pale and his aura slightly wilted, his injuries weren¡¯t severe. Comparing the results of this final strike, it could be said to be even on both sides. Such an outcome was completely unexpected by everyone. Particularly He Lanjun himself, who was initially fully confident at the start of the battle, believing defeating Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Even in that last strike, he carried the determination to assassinate, wanting to heavily damage the entire Lin Family. However, the result was not as wonderful as he had imagined. Under that strike, he didn¡¯t gain any advantage, instead, he was injured, lost the duel, and lost face. And Lin Tianming, despite being at the Early Golden Core Stage, had actually forcefully contested his deadly strike. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only did he retreat unscathed, but he also caused him to sustain some injuries, which was utterly inconceivable. It is known that he had been in the Late Golden Core Stage, having entered this realm for over a hundred years. While Lin Tianming was just at the Early Golden Core Stage, and had only been cultivating for a few decades, to possess such cultivation strength in such a short time. Such talent and strength was terrifying to the extreme! Unimaginable, if Lin Tianming were given a few more decades to grow, how terrifying his strength would become. At that time, Lin Tian Ming would likely have at least reached the Mid Stage Golden Core, and even if fighting alone against anyone in Late Stage Golden Core, he would have a great chance of winning. Thinking of this, He Lanjun was extremely wary, viewing Lin Tianming as a major potential threat inside. For such a threat, if not nipped in the bud, it might become even more formidable later on. But the attempt to assassinate had already failed just now. Now the duel had concluded, the result was already determined. Moreover, with Zhou Yunxiao and others gathering together, it became impossible for him to make another move. What¡¯s more crucial was that even without the involvement of Zhou Yunxiao and others, facing Lin Tianming alone, he probably didn¡¯t have an absolute certainty of victory. Understanding this, He Lanjun felt very helpless and was immensely fearful inside. Now in his heart, he also feared the growth of the Lin Family, fearing they would seek revenge from Qingyun Sect later on. Should that happen, the nearly ten thousand years of Qingyun Sect¡¯s legacy could be destroyed in one fell swoop. Thinking about this, He Lanjun regretted even more the intent to kill during the duel a moment ago. But now that things had concluded, thinking more was pointless. What he needed to consider now was how to clean up the mess, minimize losses and threats, and ensure the legacy of Qingyun Sect as much as possible. After all, Qingyun Sect had suffered huge losses now, and the Huangyang Country Cultivation World was also plagued with internal and external troubles; the crisis was always present. In such an awkward situation, further antagonizing a family with huge potential and current strength no less than Qingyun Sect was not a wise thing. ¡°Let it be¡­¡± ¡°We in Qingyun Sect, although have not a small gap with the Lin Family, but in that battle, the Lin Family ultimately did not suffer too much loss.¡± ¡°If we apologize individually and sincerely aim to mend the relationship, it¡¯s not impossible to reconcile.¡± He Lanjun pondered internally and soon made up his mind. Thus, He Lanjun gave a bow towards Lin Tianming and then sincerely said, ¡°Lin, controlling the intensity in a magic duel is not easy, so I might have gone a bit too far, I hope you and other cultivators won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°As for the previous bet, my sects admit defeat, and we will not be lacking a bit in giving the promised benefits.¡± He Lanjun said with a forced smile, his expression immediately shifting. Chapter 968 968 513 Unexpected Joy_2 ?Chapter 968: Chapter 513 Unexpected Joy_2 Chapter 968: Chapter 513 Unexpected Joy_2 And when Lin Tianming heard these words, although he did not agree with them in his heart, since He Lanjun had set aside his grievances, whether sincerely or insincerely, it was indeed not suitable to create further trouble in the current situation. Moreover, the overall strength of the Wei Kingdom cultivators was simply not advantageous, and a full-blown conflict would only put them at a disadvantage. Under such circumstances, even if he had objections, he could only endure them for now. Thus, Lin Tianming put on a nonchalant smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s all right, it¡¯s all right!¡± ¡°Since all the Daoist friends have reached a consensus, that is the good fortune of the cultivators from both countries. We of the Lin Family are also willing to set aside past grievances and turn weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk, to coexist peacefully from now on.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Lin is right in what he says!¡± Zhou Yunxiao was the first to laugh and chime in, his expression very excited. ... With Lin Tianming¡¯s words, along with Zhou Yunxiao taking a stance, the originally tense situation began to relax, and the atmosphere of tension and potential conflict had dissipated. Following that, Lin Tianming and others began conversing with Feng Changgong and his party, discussing the delivery of the bet. After some negotiation, the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect, according to the terms of the duel, each produced five million low-grade Spirit Stones, as well as three mountain ranges to be given to the four major powers of the Wei Kingdom. As for the delivery time, the Spirit Stones could be realized immediately. The three mountain ranges to be yielded by the various powers would be the closest to the Wei Kingdom and were to be transferred to the Three Sects of Wei Kingdom within a year. With such an arrangement, the interests of the Wei Kingdom were mostly secured, and people like Zhou Yunxiao had no objections. So, the matter was quickly settled. In addition, during the negotiation, He Lanjun unexpectedly displayed a generous attitude and, in front of everyone, personally promised to give up two additional mountain ranges solely to the Lin Family as an apology for his excessive actions during the duel. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing He Lanjun¡¯s understanding manner, the last bit of dissatisfaction in Lin Tianming and his party¡¯s hearts also dissolved. After all, He Lanjun was sincere in his attitude and had indeed shown real generosity, which was an unexpected pleasure. Although there were indeed some past grievances, the Lin Family members were not belligerent by nature. The Lin Family had risen to prominence in a very short time, and they currently needed time to recover and grow, to assimilate the resources and territories they had acquired before. In a few decades, the overall strength of the Lin Family was set to increase significantly. By that time, the Lin Family would have the power to defend itself. Therefore, as long as Qingyun Sect did not cause trouble, the Lin Family naturally would not interfere unnecessarily, nor would it provoke a major power with a nearly ten-thousand-year heritage. Consequently, Lin Tianming did not refuse He Lanjun¡¯s kind offer and, on behalf of the Lin Family, made a promise not to bring up the conflicts that had occurred in recent years. Seeing this, He Lanjun also heaved a sigh of relief. After that, the two sides reached a consensus, and their relationship completely eased. Next, at He Lanjun¡¯s suggestion, he invited Lin Tianming and his party to stay at Qingyun Sect for a few days, until the three sects unified the delivery of five million low-grade Spirit Stones, after which they could return home. As for this suggestion, Zhou Yunxiao awkwardly declined. Clearly, although a consensus had been reached, Zhou Yunxiao and his people were still not entirely at ease, worrying that there could be dangers inside Qingyun Sect. Thus, Zhou Yunxiao always kept his guard up, preferring to endure the hardships of eating and sleeping in the open air outside of the sect¡¯s mountain gate rather than accepting the invitation to be a guest inside Qingyun Sect. He Lanjun understood their mindset and was quite discerning, not voicing this particular concern. The awkward Zhou Yunxiao and his party did not stay long, set a specific time for the delivery, and then left Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate together. A hundred miles away, in a mountain valley, Lin Tianming and his company gathered to chat casually. Despite some twists and turns, the trip to Huangyang Kingdom had generally been smooth. After all, the major powers of the Wei Kingdom had secured enough benefits and had achieved their expected aims. Such an outcome, achieved in such a short time, was indeed beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. At this moment, everyone was in high spirits, very relaxed, and the atmosphere of the casual conversation was quite harmonious. After three rounds of tea, Zhou Yunxiao brought up the matter at hand, snapping everyone back to reality. ¡°Daoist friends, now that the benefits have been secured, how shall we distribute them?¡± Hearing this, the previously warm atmosphere calmed down, and soon everyone fell silent, with no one eager to speak first. ¡°Lu Daoyou, what do you think?¡± Zhou Yunxiao asked Lu Xingfeng, clearly valuing the attitude of the Zhenyang Sect. Lu Xingfeng saw Zhou Yunxiao ask him and showed a look of difficulty. After all, from the perspective of the Sect¡¯s interest, it was always better to get more in the allocation. But these were all Golden Core powers, and asking for too much might inevitably offend others. Besides, it was easy to share adversity, but difficult to share wealth. Given the hard-won situation, asking for too much might just end up offending people. Knowing this, Lu Xingfeng awkwardly smiled and then said, ¡°Lin, Daoist Chen, what are your thoughts?¡± Lu Xingfeng was indeed cunning, directly passing the topic to Lin Tianming and Chen Maohua. At this moment, upon hearing Lu Xingfeng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming and the others also showed helpless expressions. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao did not insist. So, Zhou Yunxiao said with a smile, ¡°Since you all don¡¯t wish to speak, then I¡¯ll suggest a proposal, please feel free to raise any objections.¡± ¡°Very good!¡± Lu Xingfeng was the first to speak, indicating he had no objections. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao did not delay further and slowly said, ¡°According to the agreement of the contest, besides two mountain ranges that Qingyun Sect additionally gives to the Lin Family, our Wei Kingdom has obtained fifteen million Low-Grade Spirit Stones as well as nine mountain ranges as territory.¡± ¡°Looking at the forces deployed by our four powers, Zhenyang Sect had the most people and also the strongest overall strength.¡± ¡°Moreover, Daoist Chen Jingtian also participated in the contest, so it is only fair to allocate more to him.¡± ¡°Although several members of the Lin Family also went to war, their strength obviously does not match Zhenyang Sect¡¯s. However, Tianming was the absolute main force in the battle that won the wager.¡± ¡°Therefore, the Lin Family will get three mountain ranges provided by the Qingyun Sect, and Zhenyang Sect will obtain three mountain ranges from the Qingmu Sect.¡± ¡°The remaining three mountain ranges are provided by Forging Sword Valley. Since they are too far from the Chen Clan¡¯s territory and are inconvenient to allocate, it might as well be given to us at Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°As for those fifteen million Spirit Stones, the Chen Clan and Zhenyang Sect each will get five million Spirit Stones, and the remaining five million will be split evenly between the Lin Family and our Myriad Medicine Valley.¡± ¡°What do you think of this allocation?¡± As soon as the words fell, Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s gaze swept across everyone, clearly waiting for a reply. At this moment, Lu Xingfeng found the allocation plan quite acceptable and thus was the first to express no objections. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang exchanged glances and communicated secretly for a few words. In Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, obtaining three mountain ranges, in addition to the two extra ones, and several more mountain ranges as territory, was indeed a very generous reward. As for those over two million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, they were just a small addition. In general, the allocation plan, considering the territorial factors of the four forces, seemed quite reasonable. Under these circumstances, the Lin Family had no objections to this plan. So, Lin Tianming also nodded and expressed the Lin Family¡¯s stance. At this time, Chen Maohua showed no intention of bargaining either. After all, the territory of the Chen Clan did not border the other three Sects, owning such a territory was an enclave, not easy to control. In that case, it was better to have the tangible Spirit Stones. Understanding this, Chen Maohua did not delay and directly agreed to Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s distribution plan. Seeing that everyone had no objections, Zhou Yunxiao nodded in satisfaction and then laughed heartily. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Now that this is settled, in a few days we can all make our way home.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hearing this, Lu Xingfeng also nodded and then expressed a sentiment. ¡°We¡¯ve only been out for a little over a month, yet we¡¯ve managed to complete our plans ahead of schedule, which is quite unexpected.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but this is a good thing for all of our parties, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile. Following that, as the distribution of benefits was agreed upon, everyone chatted for a while, and the atmosphere warmed up again. ¡­ Chapter 969 969 514 Yuquan Market ?Chapter 969: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market Chapter 969: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market Three days quietly passed by. At the break of dawn this day, as the morning glows were just beginning to rise, Atop a mountain head more than ten miles away from Qingyun Sect Mountain Gate, Lin Tianming and the others came back into view. And today was the day when the few major powers of the Qingyun Sect, according to prior agreement, were to hand over the Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming and his group waited for a moment until He Lanjun and people from several major powers emerged from the Qingyun Sect and approached everyone. They exchanged smiles and greetings, then immediately dove into the main topic. He Lanjun, Feng Changgong, and Wang Huashan each waved their sleeves, and three storage bags flew towards Lin Tianming and his party. Seeing this, Zhou Yunxiao grabbed the storage bags in his hand, and then sent his Divine Sense inside to check. ... Immediately after, he nodded in satisfaction and handed the bags over to Lin Tianming and Lu Xingfeng to inspect one by one. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, after the investigation of the four of them, each of the three storage bags contained five million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, clearly the stakes that the three sects had lost in a bet previously. Just then, after Chen Maohua finished his inspection, Zhou Yunxiao bowed to He Lanjun and the others across from him with a smile, ¡°The three Daoist friends are indeed trustworthy. We will accept these Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ it should be so!¡± ¡°It¡¯s our promised territory that will be handed over within the next year. At that time, just arrange for Sect Disciples to take care of this matter.¡± Feng Changgong returned with a smile, seemingly not taking these things to heart. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao couldn¡¯t help but nod in satisfaction. Then he also replied, ¡°We will arrange our Disciples to handle this matter immediately upon our return!¡± ¡°Since everything is in order, we will take our leave now!¡± With those words spoken, Lin Tianming and the others bowed their hands from afar. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again in the future!¡± ¡°Safe travels, friends. We¡¯ll meet again in the future!¡± Feng Changgong and his people also bowed in return and then watched as Lin Tianming and the others disappeared from sight. Having left the outskirts of Qingyun Sect, Lin Tianming and his party were in very good spirits. After all, the journey had been extremely smooth, and all parties had received a wealth of rewards. When they returned to the valley where they had stayed for a few days, a group of Golden Core Cultivators gathered. At this moment, Zhou Yunxiao looked at the excited few and then spoke up with a suggestion, ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that everything is settled, let¡¯s immediately set off and return to Wei Kingdom, shall we?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lu Xingfeng nodded and then continued, ¡°After all, this place is the territory of Huangyang Kingdom. Apart from the Three Great Powers of Qingyun Sect, the other two families are not easy to handle. I think it¡¯s best that we leave early!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s set off immediately!¡± Zhou Yunxiao said excitedly. It was at this time that Lin Tianming took over the conversation. ¡°Fellow Daoists, I plan to travel alone in Huangyang Kingdom for a while. My two elders from the Lin Family can accompany you on the journey back to Hui Ethnicity.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxiao and Lu Xingfeng looked puzzled, obviously not understanding why Lin Tianming intended to stay and travel alone in Huangyang Kingdom given the situation. However, seeing Lin Tianming full of confidence, as though he had great faith in his own strength, They were just outsiders, after all, and didn¡¯t feel it was their place to ask too much. As for Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, they had already been informed of Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Even though they were worried, they had tried persuading him for quite a while. But seeing that Lin Tianming was adamant and that his display of strength during the major battle was on par with any Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, And even against a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he was not without the power to fight; even if he were not a match for a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, there was still a good chance of retreating in one piece. Under such circumstances, Lin Shikang and the other just gave some instructions and let Lin Tianming go. At this juncture, seeing that Lin Shikang had no objections, Zhou Yunxiao also didn¡¯t say much else. Right after, Zhou Yunxiao took out a detailed map of Huangyang Kingdom and handed it to Lin Tianming. ¡°Tianming, this map is quite detailed; I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ thank you, Daoist Zhou!¡± Lin Tianming laughed as he took the map, and then politely refused. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s set off!¡± After saying that, Zhou Yunxiao bowed to Lin Tianming and took the lead flying towards a nearby Flying Boat. Following Zhou Yunxiao¡¯s move, Lu Xingfeng and the others all bid farewell to Lin Tianming and then boarded the Flying Boat one after another. ¡°Tianming, remember, Huangyang Kingdom is overall stronger than Wei Kingdom, so be extremely cautious in everything!¡± After Ye Pinghai gave his advice, Lin Shikang also chimed in. ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°What Grandpa Sea is saying is right. Don¡¯t expose your cultivation strength lightly in this place and try not to find trouble.¡± ¡°If anything goes wrong, don¡¯t act recklessly and return to the family first.¡± ¡°Third Grandfather, Grandpa Sea, rest assured, Tianming has a measure of it all!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a promise. Hearing this, both Lin Shikang and the other nodded, then without saying more, turned and flew towards the Flying Boat. Soon, the Flying Boat soared into the air, quickly entering the layers of clouds thousands of feet high, and then disappeared in the direction of the north. Watching the Flying Boat vanish, Lin Tianming also did not delay and leaped away, disappearing into the valley. ¡­ One month later. The Flying Boat appeared atop a mountain within the Luoyun Mountain Range, and Lin Shikang and the other jumped down from it. Then, Zhou Yunxiao and the others didn¡¯t stay either and continued piloting the Flying Boat to fly north. Watching the Flying Boat grow farther and disappearing in the sky, Lin Shikang, with a smile on his face, said to Ye Pinghai, ¡°Brother Ye, let¡¯s go too!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ time to head home!¡± Ye Pinghai laughed heartily, his mood genuinely pleasant, covering up the traces of fatigue on his face. Chapter 970 970 514 Yuquan Market_2 ?Chapter 970: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market_2 Chapter 970: Chapter 514: Yuquan Market_2 Less than an hour had passed since Lin Shikang and another had returned to the clan land. Upon hearing the news of their return, all the Lin Family members of Shi generation, except Lin Shilu who was deep in closed-door cultivation, set aside their tasks to gather at Lin Shikang¡¯s residence. In the courtyard, everyone sat together, chatting over tea in a spirited atmosphere. At that moment, Lin Shihua was the first to ask, ¡°Third Brother, your trip to Huangyang Kingdom was so brief, coming and going in less than three months. How did it turn out?¡± ¡°And Tian Ming, why didn¡¯t he come back with you?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Lin Shikang laughed heartily, then slowly recounted their experiences over the recent months. ... Soon, Lin Shihua and a few others, who had been briefed on the entire sequence of events, felt complicated emotions. They were quite worried about Lin Tianming¡¯s plan to stay in Huangyang Kingdom. Seeing this, Lin Shikang felt rather helpless and could only offer a few words of consolation. After a long while, when Lin Shikang repeatedly mentioned the matter of the contest and spoke of Lin Tianming¡¯s steady nature, Lin Shihua and the others finally felt reassured. As the discussion shifted to the gains of the journey, the mood among the family members lightened, no longer as tense as before. In Lin Shihua¡¯s eyes, he had originally thought that this mission, at the very least, would have taken more than six months. There was even the possibility that negotiations might not proceed smoothly, possibly sparking a major conflict. They had worried about this for a while. However, they had truly not expected the trip to Huangyang Kingdom to go so smoothly and even bring unexpected joy. Although the contest had been heart-stopping, Lin Tianming had emerged mightily victorious, not only winning the contest but also demonstrating his formidable personal strength. Even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert like He Lanjun was injured by his Divine Skills. Through this battle, Lin Tianming had intimidated the entire assembly, enhancing the prestige of the Wei Kingdom Lin Family. He Lanjun, too, had witnessed the strength of the Lin Family. To completely eradicate any resentment between the two major powers, he offered to sacrifice two mountain ranges as compensation. According to He Lanjun¡¯s promise, Qingyun Sect offered up the Whirlwind Mountain Range, Changfeng Mountain Range, Lanling Mountain Range, Henggang Mountain Range, and Songyuan Mountain Range to the Lin Family. With these five mountain ranges borders forming a contiguous territory, especially since Whirlwind Mountain Range and Changfeng Mountain Range bordered the Luoyun Mountain Range directly. Thus, once the Lin Family controlled these areas, they would have a vast domain consisting of twelve interconnected mountain ranges. Seeing the advantageous position of the Lin Family and noticing He Lanjun¡¯s sincere attitude, Lin Tianming did not dwell on the matter. He represented the Lin Family and reached a consensus with Qingyun Sect, thereby resolving any past misunderstandings. With no more potential threats from the Qingyun Sect, the Lin Family could now freely develop. Realizing this, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader of the Lin Family, was extremely excited and somewhat eager to lead the Lin Family members to fully harness these territories and take control as soon as possible. Meanwhile, this would also facilitate swift development of the Lin Family¡¯s industries and enhance the strength of its members. Unfortunately, the territories acquired from the Golden Sword Sect battle had not yet been fully assimilated and controlled. And with the new territories yet to be handed over, no matter how impatient he was, there was nothing he could do. Realizing this, Lin Shihua finally managed to control his excitement and regained his composure. At this moment, with everyone in high spirits from their successful return, the topics of conversation became relaxed. As this lively atmosphere continued for a while, Lin Shikang then asked Lin Shihua about the progress of handing over territories between the family and the Zhenyang Sect. Lin Shihua explained that Lin Xingrong had recently arranged for clan members to report back on the general progress, and the Lin Family had already successfully transferred most of the land with the Zhenyang Sect. The entire process was relatively smooth. If things continued this way, perhaps it would take no more than two months to complete the handover. As a result, the selection process for those heading to Huangyang Kingdom for the territory handover once again fell on Lin Xingrong and a few others. After all, Lin Xingrong and his associates had similar experiences over the past year and were quite adept at handling such matters. Even if they encountered difficulties, they wouldn¡¯t be thrown into disarray. Thus, the matter of transferring five mountain ranges to Huangyang Kingdom was settled. Afterward, Lin Tianming and the others chatted leisurely for a while, discussed some clan affairs, then busied themselves with their respective tasks. ¡­ Yuquan Market. Located in the central region of Huangyang Kingdom, within the Yuquan Mountain Range, Yuquan Market was a medium-sized market under the jurisdiction of the Golden Elixir Forces of the Yuquan Sect. The reputation of the Yuquan Sect in Huangyang Kingdom was not small because of its long-standing heritage, which spanned thousands of years longer than that of the neighboring Forging Sword Valley. Most importantly, the Yuquan Sect had always been known as the top power in Huangyang Kingdom. According to rumors, the Yuquan Sect boasted nearly ten Golden Core Cultivators, even including multiple Late Stage Golden Core Experts. However, this information remained a rumor as the Yuquan Sect had never responded to such claims, and no two Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators of different identities had ever appeared in public. Even so, the known Golden Core Cultivators within the Yuquan Sect already numbered eight. Such collective power made it extremely formidable in places like Huangyang Kingdom, making even Forging Sword Valley, with an equally long heritage, quite wary of the Yuquan Sect. Yuquan Market was one of the four major medium-sized markets under the Yuquan Sect, and it was also the earliest developed. Over ten thousand years, Yuquan Market had contributed significantly to the income of the Yuquan Sect, making it very important to them. Managed by the Yuquan Sect, the market was bustling, attracting many cultivators who had heard of its fame, including local cultivators keen to witness its prestige, as well as some from neighboring countries. For a long time, the commercial and trading activities in Yuquan Market thrived, with numerous cultivators attending auctions or trading treasures. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators, rarely seen in smaller places, were commonplace here. Such a lively place had almost become the hottest market in Huangyang Kingdom. And such a renowned market had also earned much praise from the cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. On this day in Yuquan Market, a bustling street saw the arrival of a man in a green robe. This man, appearing to be a middle-aged scholar, possessed a quite restrained aura and was walking along the broad street towards the deeper part of the market. This person was Lin Tianming, who had disguised his cultivation and appearance. Since bidding farewell to Lin Shikang and the others, more than three months had passed. During this time, he traveled from the northern part to the southern part of Huangyang Kingdom. Having heard of the renowned Yuquan Market, he wanted to experience it for himself and possibly find a trace of Dry Jade Grass or a substitute. In any case, as long as it could solve the troubles in his cultivation, he was determined to obtain it. With such a purpose, Lin Tianming changed his appearance and successfully entered Yuquan Market. Currently, his cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level, which was considered quite impressive in this market. As for his presence, he was not worried at all. After all, with the strength of his Divine Sense, even Late Stage Golden Core Experts would likely find it hard to detect him if they were not in close proximity. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In Yuquan Market, it was said that there were several Golden Core Cultivators, including some from the Nascent Soul-Level Power of the Commerce Alliance, who often appeared here along with the Golden Core Experts permanently stationed by the Yuquan Sect. Although there were Golden Core Cultivators in the market, most of them were at the Early Stage of Golden Core, and even Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators rarely appeared. Therefore, the Golden Core Cultivators here were unlikely to identify him. As for those Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators, they were the pillars of major Golden Elixir Forces. Even within the Nascent Soul-Level Powers, the number of Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators was extremely limited and only appeared for major tasks. Under these circumstances, unless a precious treasure emerged or a major battle between Golden Cores erupted, those Late Stage Golden Core Experts of Huangyang Kingdom would not easily leave their sects. Thus, as long as he avoided close contact with Late Stage Golden Core Experts, Lin Tianming had nothing to worry about. ¡­ Chapter 971 971 515 Five Poison Mountain ?Chapter 971: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain Chapter 971: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain Yuquan Market. At this moment, walking on the bustling streets, Lin Tianming looked around. After observing for a while, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Yuquan Market truly lived up to its famous reputation. Not to mention the crowd, just the proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was noticeably higher than some of the medium-sized markets he had visited. After all, with his cultivation at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment, if he were in Qianchuan Market, he would definitely be among the ones with the highest cultivation. Generally speaking, except for those from the Golden Core Forces, it was rare to see many Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators in Qianchuan Market. Yet in Yuquan Market, he easily spotted seven or eight Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators, including one at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. ... In this vein, the cultivation he revealed now didn¡¯t attract much attention here, as if those Qi Refining Stage Cultivators were used to seeing cultivators like him. To this, Lin Tianming felt rather pleased, considering how, back when he was in the Foundation Establishment Stage, revealing himself in Qianchuan Market always drew considerable attention. Among those people were admirers, acquaintances, and some with ulterior motives. Wandering the world as a Loose Cultivator now, neither too high nor too low in cultivation, nobody knew of his origins. Such an identity allowed him to act without much concern, giving him a sense of freshness. Perhaps this was what it felt like to be free and unattached! Lin Tianming thought to himself, his mood involuntarily improving quite a bit. After strolling around for a while, Lin Tianming followed the crowd to a large-scale shop district. Looking around, there were fewer shops here than in the outskirts, but each shop was reasonably sized and elegantly decorated, with a continuous stream of cultivators coming and going. Obviously, the shops here were established brands, with a long history, and the forces behind them were undoubtedly strong. Amidst these, Lin Tianming spotted some familiar shop names, such as the Sky Dragon Pavilion run by the Tang Family of Qingzhou, which also had a branch here. With curiosity, Lin Tianming started to wander from the nearest shop. After half a day, Lin Tianming had visited more than ten shops, seeing sorts of treasures that were almost enough for any cultivator below the Golden Core Stage. He wasn¡¯t particularly interested in these items. However, when he encountered some novel items, he would buy them, including some First and Second Order pill formulas, and some specialties from Huangyang Kingdom. Yet, he still found no news about high-order formulas or the Dry Jade Grass. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was prepared; after all, the Dry Jade Pill was a Third Order formula and an ancient pill formula that had not been heard of in Wei Kingdom for a long time. The Dry Jade Grass, as its main component, being a Third Order treasure, was an extremely rare item, and it might even have completely disappeared, which wouldn¡¯t be surprising. And during the past few months, his experience searching through various markets of different sizes had already hinted at this, with no news found anywhere. He knew very well that just searching for a while, if it were to be found so easily, that would be strange. Thus, Lin Tianming was not discouraged, as his stay in Huangyang Kingdom was, after all, an exploratory endeavour. If he could find the Dry Jade Grass or an alternative, that would be best. If not, he would have to think of another way. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt quite detached as he looked up at Sky Dragon Pavilion and then walked inside. As he entered, a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator came up to greet him. This cultivator was quite alert and respectful, quickly approaching to serve him. ¡°Junior Sun Hao, welcome, senior, to our shop!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand and then directly asked, ¡°Is the manager of this shop available?¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Sun Hao assumed Lin Tianming was an old acquaintance of the manager, so he didn¡¯t dare delay, lest he not serve well and lose this decent job. ¡°Since senior is visiting the manager, please follow me to the guest room to wait for a moment, I¡¯ll go and inform immediately.¡± Sun Hao respectfully responded and led Lin Tianming up to the second floor to a guest room. After serving Spiritual Tea, Sun Hao excused himself and left. Soon, a middle-aged Cultivator walked into the guest room. Seeing the yellow Daoist robe and the embroidery on the chest, which was the emblem of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, identical to Tang Xiuyuan from Qianchuan Market¡¯s Sky Dragon Pavilion. Obviously, this person was also a member of the Tang Family, with a cultivation and status similar to Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s, also at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. However, this person¡¯s ability to be stationed in the popular Yuquan Market suggested that his status within the vast Tang Family might be just a little higher than Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s. Considering the Tang Family¡¯s hierarchy, where family members run into tens of thousands. In such a large clan, the internal rules were definitely strict, and competition among ordinary family members was fierce. In the Qi Refining Stage, it was manageable, and reaching Foundation Establishment with a bit of talent and effort wasn¡¯t too hard. But at the level of Foundation Establishment Late Stage, advancing a major step into the Golden Core Stage, even for members of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, wasn¡¯t as easy as one might imagine. Chapter 972 972 515 Five Poison Mountain_2 ?Chapter 972: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain_2 Chapter 972: Chapter 515 Five Poison Mountain_2 To understand that the Golden Core Stage acts as a watershed in all of Qingzhou, one could say it is significant. Even in the entire Wei Kingdom, and even in the stronger Huangyang Kingdom, the number of Golden Core Cultivators is extremely limited. In such circumstances, once one enters the Golden Core Stage, one can be considered to have stepped into the ranks of High Order Cultivators. At this level, not to mention dominating the whole of Qingzhou, at least within the bounds of an ordinary country, one can already move unhindered. Tang Xiuyuan and the person in front of him joined the Commerce Alliance under the Tang Family to secure the limited Core Formation resources from within the family; managing a shop was a stable path for them. Because managing a shop is relatively easy, and certainly safer than treasure hunting, it¡¯s just more time-consuming. However, for those whose talent is not outstanding but still above average, being able to secure opportunities more securely is definitely preferable to living on the edge. ... That being said, the identity and status of the person in front of him should also fall within the range he had speculated. Yet even so, the Tang Family¡¯s reputation is not small, so much so that even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn¡¯t want to provoke a Golden Core Cultivator. Although Lin Tianming had already reached the Golden Core Stage, and his strength far surpassed those of the same rank, he currently intended to conceal his movements, showing only the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level Realm. In this case, Lin Tianming was quite polite, standing up immediately to greet the Tang Family cultivator. ¡°I am Chen Tian, greetings to Daoist Tang!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Daoist Chen.¡± ¡°I am Tang Changxin, in charge here at the Sky Dragon Pavilion. May I know what treasure you are seeking?¡± Tang Changxin politely returned the greeting and then inquired about Lin Tianming¡¯s purpose. Lin Tianming responded with a light smile, not immediately revealing his intentions, but instead struck up casual conversation with Tang Changxin. ¡°Daoist Tang, I once had an acquaintance with Daoist Tang Xiuyuan. I don¡¯t know if you are familiar with him?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°So it¡¯s an old friend of the family uncle, then we truly are fated!¡± Tang Changxin spoke with a smile, his tone and attitude became much more relaxed, at least not as stern as at the beginning. From Tang Changxin¡¯s words, Lin Tianming could hear some information, indicating that Tang Xiuyuan was indeed well-acquainted with him and was of a higher generation. Speaking of which, such a difference in generations, in families like the Tang Family with a millennia-long heritage, is also quite normal. After all, those large families have numerous clan members, and their generational hierarchy varies, with many clan members of the same age but varying significantly in seniority. Take the Lin Family, for instance, the youngest of the Xing Generation clan members isn¡¯t much older than Lin Tianming of the Tian Generation. Such situations are all too common in the Cultivation World. Seeing Tang Changxin speak like this, Lin Tianming was not surprised at all. Thus, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°I had some exchanges with Daoist Xiuyuan in the early years, but I haven¡¯t seen him in over twenty years.¡± ¡°Alas¡­ I wonder how Daoist Xiuyuan has been lately? Has he stepped onto the Golden Core Path?¡± Lin Tianming spoke earnestly, his words filled with concern. Tang Changxin also politely replied, ¡°The family uncle has been at the Qianchuan Market in Wei Kingdom for the past few years. If Daoist Chen considers the world his home, you might as well go and explore.¡± ¡°Um¡­ those two places aren¡¯t too far apart. I¡¯ll definitely visit if I get the chance!¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming changed the topic and then asked, ¡°Daoist Tang, does your pavilion have any elixirs suitable for Body Cultivators? Or perhaps a Pill Formula?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Changxin pondered for a moment and then responded. ¡°Not to hide it from Daoist Chen, we do not have Second Order elixirs or Pill Formulas, only First Order ones. I fear they may be of little use to you at your current cultivation realm.¡± Hearing Tang Changxin say this, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated it. After all, he knew high-grade integrative elixirs and Pill Formulas were not commonly available, and many forces would not easily give them out, even if they possessed them. Although the Sky Dragon Pavilion had many treasures and a strong background, such items were not readily sold. Helplessly, Lin Tianming had to give up, but due to difficulties in his cultivation, he couldn¡¯t help but ask another question. ¡°In that case, Daoist Tang, have you heard where I might find some Dry Jade Grass?¡± ¡°Dry Jade Grass?¡± Daoist Tang was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. Following that, Daoist Tang continued, ¡°Lin, this Dry Jade Grass is not of low grade, it has disappeared from the cultivation world for a long time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it indeed, but over these many years, I¡¯ve never heard of anyone who has obtained it.¡± ¡°However, many years ago, I did hear a rumor, though I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s true or not.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was initially startled and then realized there was some progress, and he was overjoyed. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming clasped hands and said, ¡°Daoist Tang, please speak freely, I will not let Brother Tang labor in vain.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Daoist Tang laughed, then slowly said, ¡°It is said that hundreds of years ago, traces of Dry Jade Grass were found in Five Poison Mountain, and many cultivators had also gone in search of it.¡± ¡°Yet in the end, they found nothing, and the cultivators who entered in groups suffered heavy losses.¡± ¡°Given this, it¡¯s hard to say if the news is true or false, and whether there are still traces of Dry Jade Grass in Five Poison Mountain now is even more uncertain.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then took out a thousand low-grade spirit stones and handed them to Daoist Tang. ¡°Thank you, Daoist Tang, for the information. Consider these spirit stones a token of my appreciation, please accept them!¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite, Daoist Chen,¡± Daoist Tang waved his hand, refusing, ¡°This rumor is too old and has never been verified. Just treat it as a thought.¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not insist, but he still purchased some quite decent treasures as a way to thank Daoist Tang for the information provided. After bidding farewell to Daoist Tang, Lin Tianming left the Sky Dragon Pavilion and wandered aimlessly on the streets. At that moment, he was pondering the rumor mentioned by Daoist Tang, contemplating its possibility. After a long while, Lin Tianming decided to stay in Yuquan Market for a few days before continuing to search for Dry Jade Grass or information on other pill formulas. If he really couldn¡¯t find anything, he would consider making a trip to Five Poison Mountain to try and find traces of the Dry Jade Grass. But before he went, he needed to be well-prepared. Since Five Poison Mountain was known as the most dangerous place in Huangyang Kingdom, its existence was said to trace back hundreds of thousands of years. Only over a hundred thousand years ago, when Human Cultivators in Jingzhou started to expand their territory, was Five Poison Mountain discovered on the fringe. Initially, Demonic Beasts roamed rampant inside, and venomous insects were everywhere. The power of these parasitic beasts was so immense that even Nascent Soul Cultivators dared not enter lightly. But despite the dangers, there were various rare and exotic treasures inside. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially spiritual medicines; many scarce kinds could be found in Five Poison Mountain. Faced with the allure of treasures, despite the dangers, there were always people willing to risk it and enter Five Poison Mountain to seek treasures and experience. As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered around the Huangyang Kingdom, and high-order cultivators gradually emerged. With such a treasure ground, people willing to take risks gradually went into Five Poison Mountain, and the demonic beasts inside were slowly eradicated, and the treasures were nearly plundered. By now, most of the poisonous insects and beasts in Five Poison Mountain were dead or injured. Although there were no Fourth Order Great Demons comparable to a Nascent Soul Cultivator, there definitely were Third Order Demon Beasts. As the lucky cultivators who came out spread the word, this information was almost known to everyone in Huangyang Country today. Therefore, for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Five Poison Mountain was not easily entered. Even for a powerful Golden Core Cultivator entering Five Poison Mountain, there was also the risk of falling. Furthermore, it was said that more than a hundred years ago, a Golden Core Cultivator had perished in Five Poison Mountain. When this news spread, it caused a huge sensation in the Huangyang Country cultivation world, and even now, it was occasionally brought up by someone. In such a case, even if Lin Tianming was very confident in his own strength, he had to prepare thoroughly. At least gathering more information and understanding more about the dangerous land of Five Poison Mountain before taking action would make it safer. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming continued to wander around the market in Yuquan. ¡­ Chapter 973 973 516 ?Chapter 973: 516 Chapter 973: 516 Yuquan Market. At the auction, within a certain secret chamber, Lin Tianming leaned back in a chair crafted from precious peach wood, his gaze fixed upon the intense bidding below, revealing a helpless and wry smile on his face. Over the past several days, he had been roaming around Yuquan Market continuously, his presence appearing in almost every large and small tavern, stall area, and even some shops. With his mighty Divine Sense, no one in the market was able to detect him. As a result, he freely changed his identity, secretly gathering all kinds of useful information. At the same time, he had also spent a considerable amount of money to issue tasks, all for the purpose of finding any clues about the Dry Jade Grass. Nevertheless, the outcome was still not optimistic. ... Fortunately, in these past few days the annual market auction had begun, causing a significant surge in the flow of people throughout the entire Yuquan Market. It was a pity, though, that this auction was just a small gathering and did not include auctions for Golden Core Stage cultivators. However, holding onto a try-and-see attitude, Lin Tianming still participated in the Foundation Establishment Area¡¯s auction. By this time, the auction had already been underway for half a quarter hour. Thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered together; for these cultivators, the auctioned objects were rare treasures, hence the atmosphere was extremely heated. However, Lin Tianming was quite apathetic, and after more than ten rounds of bidding, not a single treasure had managed to catch his attention. As such, he simply paid attention to the proceedings, but had yet to bid. Until this moment, the auction host below held a scroll in hand, his booming voice spreading throughout the entire venue. ¡°A simple map of the Five Poison Mountain from the Perilous Lands, which seems to contain a record of a Golden Core Relic Site. Bidding starts at 30,000 Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than 300 Spirit Stones.¡± As soon as these words fell, the entire Foundation Establishment bidding floor was instantly abuzz. Nearly a thousand cultivators from the public area were now discussing fervently, with some merely spectating and many others considering entering the bidding. Despite this, nobody spoke up, seemingly half-skeptical about the authenticity of the map. Impatient, someone took the lead and asked, ¡°Daoist Zhang, I fear it¡¯s hard to discern the authenticity of this map.¡± ¡°Especially the Cave Mansion Ruins within it, which cannot be verified. Just a map starts the bid at 30,000 Spirit Stones¡ªaren¡¯t you trying to make fools out of us?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± A Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivator also stood up and chimed in. ¡°Could it be just any map with some locations marked on it, claiming them to be Golden Core Cave Mansion Ruins? If so, earning those tens of thousands of Spirit Stones would be all too easy!¡± These few statements immediately set all the cultivators abuzz, and the atmosphere suddenly became sensational. It was clear that these Foundation Establishment Cultivators were no fools. Such incidences were not rare in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators had spent tens of thousands of Spirit Stones on false maps, venturing on treasure hunts only to find no treasure, and even more tragically, losing their lives. With such occurrences increasing over time, cultivators had become exceedingly cautious about semi-truthful maps. At this moment, the cultivator hosting the auction, seeing the scene below, appeared displeased. However, given the large number of hecklers, and although he had reached Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and had accumulated no small reputation in the auctioneer profession, he did not dare to offend so many cultivators simultaneously. Therefore, the auctioneer surnamed Zhang spoke seriously, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I truly understand your doubts.¡± ¡°I have carefully examined this map, and according to my many years of judgment, there is indeed a high probability that it is genuine.¡± ¡°In addition, the Daoist who provided this map has indeed entered the Cave Mansion Ruins and obtained some Third Grade Treasures on the periphery.¡± ¡°However, due to his own strength, he was not able to delve deeper, which is why he has put the map up for auction.¡± ¡°The consigner also mentioned that he cannot guarantee that there will be more treasures inside; if there were, then the starting bid wouldn¡¯t be just 30,000 Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°As to whether or not you all believe it, the consigner does not force anyone. In short, if you wish to bid, bid; if not, we¡¯ll simply end the auction there.¡± Daoist Zhang¡¯s explanation was quite indifferent, seemingly unconcerned about the cultivators¡¯ thoughts. Upon hearing this, the crowd below quickly fell into a silence. After a long while, finally, a cultivator began to bid, instantly breaking the calm of the entire venue. Evidently, even though Daoist Zhang was not completely certain of the map¡¯s authenticity, Golden Core Relics still held a fatal allure for these Foundation Establishment cultivators. After all, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, they were neither at the bottom nor could they be considered High Order Cultivators¡ªthey were stuck somewhat in between. They all understood that if they failed to enter the Golden Core Stage, within a hundred and eighty years, they could end up as a heap of yellow dirt. Although the authenticity of such maps was questionable, there were always some willing to take the risk. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thirty or forty thousand Spirit Stones were not a small number, but if a Golden Core Relic Site truly existed, then obtaining just one or two Third Grade Treasures would be enough to compensate for the investment in the map. What was more important, if luck was on their side, acquiring a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item would be striking it rich. And there were quite a few with this mindset. As the first person to bid led the way, more and more joined the bidding. Soon, the map¡¯s bidding price continued to rise, and after just over a dozen rounds of bidding, it had reached 43,000 Spirit Stones. And with the fervent atmosphere of the venue, the price continued to climb. Chapter 974 974 516 Map_2 ?Chapter 974: Chapter 516: Map_2 Chapter 974: Chapter 516: Map_2 ¡°At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long before the auction price for the map would break through the fifty thousand Spirit Stones barrier; it was just a matter of time.¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming was watching the bidding below, contemplating in his mind. In his eyes, the map was quite a coincidence, as it was precisely the destination he intended to visit shortly ¨C Wudu Mountain. Lin Tianming hardly gave it a second thought before deciding to bid for it. To him, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators might fear a fake, even more so the dangers within Wudu Mountain. But he had already made up his mind: regardless of its authenticity or the peril within, he was determined to explore Wudu Mountain. For this, he had made many preparations, spending thousands of Spirit Stones to purchase various simple maps drawn by Cultivators. ... Among these maps, there might be real ones and fake ones. But he didn¡¯t care anymore! After all, he was now quite wealthy; a few thousand, or even tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, didn¡¯t matter to him. As long as the map was partially accurate and effective, it would be worth it to him. And now, the map being auctioned was very comprehensive and even likely contained the ruins of a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s Cave Mansion, which made him all the more determined to obtain it. Therefore, a determined Lin Tianming finally perked up. As the intense bidding continued below, the auction price for the map had reached fifty-one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. At this point, the number of bidders began dwindling, with only a few persisting. It was clear that the price of the map had become too high for many. Some, who were trying their luck, also felt it was not worth continuing to bid and hence gave up. While others had become obsessed, adamant about sticking it out to the end. After a few more rounds of bidding, the price for the map reached fifty-four thousand Spirit Stones. At that moment, Lin Tianming, watching the deadlock below, called out a bid without hesitation. ¡°Seventy thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Right after he spoke, silence fell over the entire Foundation Establishment auction hall as many Cultivators lifted their heads to look in the direction of the luxurious private rooms, curious to see who would be so lavish with their money. This type of bidding was clearly intimidating. It¡¯s not surprising, given the starting bid for the map was only thirty thousand Spirit Stones, an amount within reach for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present, even those at the second or third level. But at a price of seventy thousand Spirit Stones, even those in the late stages of Foundation Establishment would find it difficult to afford without stretching their resources. And Lin Tianming raising the bid by nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones at once certainly showed his overwhelming desire to win. As expected, after Lin Tianming announced his bid, the scene fell silent for a while. The few Cultivators, who had previously been fiercely bidding, now showed hesitation on their faces, clearly struggling internally. Other onlookers were equally surprised, and there was much private discussion among acquaintances. At this time, the Zhang-surnamed Cultivator hosting the auction, seeing the lively scene below but the bids dying down, couldn¡¯t help feeling some disappointment. After a few breaths of time passed and still no one else bid, he had no choice but to announce the sale of the map for seventy thousand Spirit Stones. Not long afterward, a female Cultivator with a graceful figure and alluring eyes entered Lin Tianming¡¯s private room, holding the scroll that had been auctioned. Lin Tianming turned and saw the woman holding the map. Without paying her much attention, he took out seventy thousand Spirit Stones and handed them to the woman, promptly sending her on her way. He then wasted no time in unrolling the map while pulling out the other maps he had collected recently, comparing them carefully. After a thorough comparison, this map with the ruins recorded many geographical environments similar to that on the maps he had gathered these days. However, there were also many discrepancies, which clearly indicated that some of the maps were fake. For such an error, Lin Tianming had already anticipated it in his heart and did not care about this minor difference. According to his judgment, acquiring this valuable map indeed had a fair degree of credibility. However, without having explored it first, he could not say for sure whether it was genuine or fake. Nevertheless, regardless, Lin Tianming was still quite satisfied; at least his understanding of the map and Five Poison Mountain had deepened considerably. This way, it was a good opportunity to go to Five Poison Mountain to look for traces of Dry Jade Grass and, incidentally, to explore the possible existence of a Golden Core relic site. Suppressing his slightly excited emotions, Lin Tianming continued to follow the progress of the auction. The auction proceeded as normal, with a large quantity of Second Order Treasures appearing, bringing the lively atmosphere to a new high. Followed by that, a dozen finale items arrived, and the atmosphere on-site instantly peaked. Among these finale items, astonishingly, there were Third Grade Treasures and some artifacts related to the Four Arts of Cultivation up for auction. Seeing these items, Lin Tianming did not miss the opportunity. He spent quite a few Spirit Stones and casually acquired some decent treasures, including a Second Order Medium Quality Pill Furnace as well as two relatively rare Spiritual Medicines. After all, as an Alchemist, he habitually collected some Spiritual Medicine Materials, so that even if he didn¡¯t need them now, he wouldn¡¯t have to search everywhere when the time came. In addition, rare items were always easy to sell at any time and could be exchanged for other needed treasures. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the Second Order Pill Furnace, they were rather scarce in the Lin Family currently. With the family¡¯s strong support over the years, talent in the Four Arts of Cultivation had been growing, with the number of Alchemists doubling. Therefore, Pill Furnaces were quite scarce, especially Second Order ones. An opportunity to buy a Second Order Pill Furnace at auction was considered to be a rare find. If this were in Qianchuan Market, such an opportunity might only arise during the once-a-decade grand gathering. Only when Lin Shilu advanced to a Third Order Artifact Refining Master and found time to spare could this situation be thoroughly resolved. And for now, up to the next twenty years, the Lin Family was still in great need of Pill Furnaces. For this reason, Lin Tianming¡¯s acquisition of the Second Order Pill Furnace meant he could bring it back to his family, contributing his part. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming also had some decent gains from this Foundation Establishment Area auction. With the auction concluding, Lin Tianming did not linger and directly returned to his temporarily rented Cave Mansion. In the secret chamber, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with several maps he had organized laid out in front of him. Studying the maps again and analyzing all the clues carefully, Lin Tianming soon became lost in thought. Based on these maps, he had basically grasped part of the internal situation of Wudu Mountain. However, Wudu Mountain was vast, the circumstances complex, and changes could occur. And these maps could only serve as references; once he actually entered, he would have to be extra careful. In summary, there was one principle and two objectives. The principle was to cover as much area as possible while ensuring his safety, aiming to find the trace of Dry Jade Grass, the first objective. If conditions allowed, he would then search for the second objective, the Golden Core Cave Mansion Ruins. For this purpose, he planned to stay and rest in Yuquan Market for two days, adjust his condition, and make thorough preparations before setting off secretly. Determined, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately began meditating and cultivating. Two days later. At dawn, Yuquan Market gradually became lively. At this time, Lin Tianming, having disguised himself, left Yuquan Market without a sound. It was not until he had flown over two hundred li using Sword Flight, leaving the outskirts of Yuquan Market far behind. Taking advantage of the absence of onlookers, he then released the Purple Gold Eagle and immediately hopped onto Xiao Diao¡¯s back. Upon receiving Lin Tianming¡¯s instructions, Xiao Diao did not dawdle, quickly flying thousands of zhang high into the air and then speeding off in the southwest direction. ¡­ Chapter 975 975 517 Exploring Five Poison Mountain ?Chapter 975: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain Chapter 975: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain Half a month later. In the central-southern region of the Huangyang Kingdom, a clear figure of Lin Tianming appeared atop a barren mountain. At that time, Lin Tianming was standing on the mountaintop, his sharp gaze cutting through the thick clouds and mist, overlooking the vast mountains and rivers that were faintly visible in the distance. Following his line of sight, there was an endless range of mountains crisscrossed with many peaks and valleys, rivers cutting through the mountains, and marshlands scattered at the foothills. In such a rarely trodden place, there were also many gloomy and dark valleys whose depths couldn¡¯t be discerned at a glance. Turning his gaze back, Lin Tianming once again took out the map given to him by Zhou Yunxiao and began to compare it with the scene before his eyes. Soon enough, he made a judgment. The boundless forest-covered mountains in front of him were precisely his destination¡ªthe Five Poison Mountain. ... At this time, a light smile overshadowed the fatigue of traveling non-stop for the past half-month, reflecting Lin Tianming¡¯s delight. During this half-month journey, he had been on the move incessantly and had finally arrived here smoothly. Along the way, he had indeed encountered quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators who, like him, were also heading in this direction, presumably also aiming to train at Five Poison Mountain. However, with Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful Divine Sense, if he didn¡¯t wish to reveal his whereabouts, even an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator would likely find it difficult to detect him. At this point, instead of continuing towards Five Poison Mountain, Lin Tianming gazed at the scenery before him without making a move. He planned to find a place to rest and recuperate for a couple of days, adjusting his state before venturing into Wudu Mountain. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure turned and vanished on the spot. In a short while, he appeared in a small valley. After spending just under half an hour, he had dug out a simple cave abode and quickly went inside. Two days later, a revitalized Lin Tianming emerged from the valley and concealed the entrance to the Temporary Cave Abode. After erasing his own traces, Lin Tianming set off towards Five Poison Mountain. Traveling westward for over two hundred li, he arrived at a range of mountains. According to the records on the map, this place was already the outer region of Five Poison Mountain. He stood still and looked inside to see the lush and verdant vegetation of the forest, while the terrain was also rugged and uneven. At first glance, such a scene seemed rather ordinary. However, this particular scene was quite different from other places, especially in terms of the richness of Spiritual Energy, which was significantly denser than elsewhere. Such characteristics were normal because, in the Cultivation World, the places where Demonic Beasts resided often had denser Spiritual Energy, which in turn could birth more treasures. In fact, many of the territories and sects of various powers had once been the domains, even the main lairs, of Demonic Beasts a very long time ago. After those Demonic Beasts were eradicated by Human Cultivators, they would utilize the power of Formations to gather the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Through long-term gathering of Spiritual Energy, combined with some Spirit Stones or special treasures for improvement, these sect territories gradually became Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. However, this process was generally very lengthy and required no small amount of resources. Especially those powers with millennia of heritage, their sect territories, after the efforts of dozens or even hundreds of generations, managed to form a substantial scale and a high-quality Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. Given the vast expanse of Five Poison Mountain and the number of Demonic Beasts that once dwelled here, the richness of the Spiritual Energy was unsurprisingly high. It was even possible that tens of thousands of years ago, the Spiritual Energy density here was several times higher than it is now. Nowadays, after wave after wave of cultivators came to explore, the number of Demonic Beasts in Five Poison Mountain continued to decrease, and many treasures were plundered by Human Cultivators. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such sustained plundering led to the gradual shrinking of Five Poison Mountain¡¯s size, and the density of its Spiritual Energy also substantially decreased. Even so, the Spiritual Energy in this outer area was still not inferior, enough to match a small Foundation Establishment family¡¯s sect. Aside from the difference in Spiritual Energy density, the main feature of Five Poison Mountain was the perpetual layer of poisonous mist shrouding the entire vast area. It wasn¡¯t too severe in this outer region, to the point where ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators might not even notice the difference if they weren¡¯t paying close attention. But Lin Tianming, with his Golden Core Stage Cultivation and powerful Divine Sense, along with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, perceived a faint green mist in the air as soon as he entered this region. The basic characteristics of Five Poison Mountain were well-known throughout Huangyang Kingdom. Before coming here, Lin Tianming specially gathered a lot of information and understood much more about Five Poison Mountain. According to the collected information, there were numerous dangers deep within Five Poison Mountain; the threat of Demonic Beasts and poisonous insects was only one of them. The vast poisonous mists in the deeper regions were also a significant hazard. This kind of toxic mist was very troublesome. If inhaled in small amounts, a cultivator could rely on their own resistance to fend it off or expel it by circulating their energy. But once inhaled excessively, it was easy to lose one¡¯s mind, becoming a mindless husk. In such a scenario, wandering through the perilous Five Poison Mountain, death would just be a matter of time. For the time being, the concentration of poison mist in the outer regions was too low, essentially negligible. However, once one reached the deeper parts, the concentration of the poisonous mist would increase drastically, and it was said that there would even be massive clouds of roaming poison mist. These roaming poison clouds were not small in size, and the toxic mist within them was extremely potent, moving unpredictably and leaving no trace. Chapter 976 976 517 Exploring Five Poison Mountain_2 ?Chapter 976: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain_2 Chapter 976: Chapter 517: Exploring Five Poison Mountain_2 If unlucky enough to encounter it and unable to avoid it in time, even a Golden Core Cultivator would find it difficult to resist. As for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators who encounter it, their fate hardly needs to be stated; it¡¯s undoubtedly a situation of nine deaths and one life. Even before arriving here, Lin Tianming had heard rumors. It¡¯s said that over two thousand years ago, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator was surrounded by poisonous fog and ultimately perished miserably within it. Despite the passage of time and the questionable veracity of the specifics, Lin Tianming still dared not take the matter lightly. For this reason, he had also made ample preparations. If things were to become untenable, he would rather abandon this exploration journey. As for the Dry Jade Grass and the Golden Core Relic Site, he could slowly search for them later. ... Above all, safety first; this he always kept firmly in mind. Knowing this, Lin Tianming wore a serious expression as he promptly slapped his storage bag and a green pill appeared in his hand. This pill was known as a Detoxifying Pill, a common type of Third Order Pill. Compared to other Third Order Pills its value might be average, but its efficacy was quite impressive as it could resist the erosion of various poisons. The origin of this pill was from Ye Pinghai¡¯s hands. When he was at the Lin Family, he had specifically requested a few of these pills for unexpected needs. And now, exploring the Five Poison Mountain, these pills could come in handy. With the help of this pill, coupled with his powerful Qi-Blood, dealing with ordinary poisonous fog should not be a problem. Moreover, if he were to fight against demonic beasts or poisonous insects with potent venom, this pill could also resist the invasion of poison and play a significant role should he get injured. Under such circumstances, the role of these Detoxifying Pills was not minor. Taking them now was most fitting. Thus, Lin Tianming did not delay and swallowed the Detoxifying Pill. Then, he leaped forth eagerly, venturing into the depths of Wudu Mountain. As he delved deeper, the concentration of the poisonous fog indeed heighten as anticipated. Lin Tianming advanced cautiously for several days, covering at least a few hundred miles by his estimation. During this period, he had seen numerous terrains and landscapes, ranging from marshlands to high peaks and low valleys, as well as various deep abysses and gorges; the geographical features were incredibly diverse. At the same time, he had also occasionally encountered pairs of Foundation Establishment Cultivators traveling together in search of treasure. However, he never revealed himself, simply observing for a moment before stealthily departing without alerting anyone. Following that, he continued his lone search within the Five Poison Mountain, discovering some First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials and spotting a few low-order demonic beast figures along the way. Considering his current frame of mind, he naturally had little interest in these low-order Spiritual Medicine and demonic beasts and did not want to waste time on them. Hence, unbeknownst to others, he continued on his journey, probing deeper into the heart of Five Poison Mountain. Another half month of travel had passed. At that time, Lin Tianming approached a canyon deep within Five Poison Mountain with the utmost caution. Standing atop a large tree, his entire body was concealed within the dense foliage. When he looked towards the canyon before him, his face wore an expression of puzzlement. Considering it, he had unknowingly entered the bounds of Five Poison Mountain for nearly half a month. Judging by his pace, his search along the way had been quite efficient, and he had visited many places. Now he had gained a lot more understanding of Five Poison Mountain and had also become accustomed to its environment. After searching meticulously for half a month, Lin Tianming had yet to see any trace of the Dry Jade Grass. And here, deep within Five Poison Mountain, the content of poison in the surrounding air was clearly several times higher than that outside. Meanwhile, as he ventured deeper, the grades of demonic beasts he encountered had generally been higher; in the last few days, although he had met fewer beasts, they were at least of the Second Order Middle Stage. In such circumstances, he took out the map and compared it, feeling extremely certain in his heart that this place was indeed within the deep regions of Five Poison Mountain. ¡°` And in his aimless search, he audaciously came to the vicinity of the Golden Core Relic Site noted on the map. It was quite unexpected because he had no intention of seeking the Cave Mansion Ruins first. His original goal was to find the Dry Jade Grass and only consider the Golden Core Relic Site last. Who would have thought that his aimless searching would bring him right to that large area recorded on the map? In his eyes, this might just be Heaven¡¯s Will! However, the location of the Golden Core Relic Site was relatively vague, and the area that needed to be searched was not small. Finding it would still require some effort. Nevertheless, since he had already arrived, he decided to try searching the area. With this purpose in mind, Lin Tianming temporarily stayed here. After using his Divine Sense to explore, he quickly felt the interference of the poisonous fog, and the range he could cover now was about seventy to eighty percent less than normal. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s own Divine Sense was strong, and with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, the area he could see was still considerable. Yet even so, Lin Tianming was especially cautious recently, slowing down his pace, and he had no intention of dealing with Second Order Demonic Beasts or gathering Second Order Spiritual Medicine Materials when he encountered them. He did this to avoid alerting enemies too early and entangling himself in unnecessary trouble. It was precisely this cautious approach that allowed him to arrive here relatively smoothly. At this moment, he frowned at the abyss-like valley in front of him, as if he had noticed something different. Following his gaze, the valley seemed exceptionally quiet, with three towering peaks and a wide dark river extending from the valley floor. If looked at superficially, there was nothing particularly unusual. But after observing with the Eye of Five Colors, he discovered that the valley was especially deep, the poisonous fog above the valley was exceptionally dense, and the river water was completely pitch black in color. It was these features, present deep within the perilous Five Poison Mountain, that would be noticed by any detail-oriented person as slightly out of the ordinary. And Lin Tianming was always meticulous, careful with every step, and always prepared to make a swift getaway. Now, faced with this scene, he hesitated, deliberating whether to go in and search. The reason for this was that he understood in his heart, the more dangerous a place was, the more likely it held extraordinary opportunities. Looking at the geological environment of the valley, it truly seemed like a place untouched by man, likely to harbor treasures at a much higher probability than other areas. To find the Dry Jade Grass and the Golden Core Relic Site, it was clear that taking some risks was necessary and simply unrealistic to expect otherwise. He had visited many places during this time and had spent a lot of time, yet had gained nothing substantial. If this continued, he might not even find a trace of the Dry Jade Grass. Given these circumstances, he naturally needed to change his strategy, at the very least move deeper, and try to find unique locations. Moreover, this place was not far from the Golden Core Relic Site recorded on the map; both were his targets, so he had to give it a try, no matter what. Although such a change increased the danger, he was willing to take risks to avoid anything untried. With this thought, Lin Tianming no longer hesitated and prepared to venture inside. Making up his mind, Lin Tianming did not delay. With a flash of light from the Qinghong Sword in his hand, he casually launched an attack that flew toward the interior of the valley. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The silvery Sword Qi entered the valley, followed by echoes reverberating back. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming waited a while, his gaze fixed intently on the interior of the valley, hoping to discern any sign of activity. However, the Sword Qi only elicited echoes, with no sign of Demonic Beasts or poisonous insects. After about a quarter of an hour had passed without any sign of danger, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief, then leaped forward and flew towards the entrance of the valley. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 977 977 518 Ethereal Centipede ?Chapter 977: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede Chapter 977: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede Following the eerie, sinister entrance of the canyon, Lin Tianming continued walking inward, the area around still very quiet. At this moment, Lin Tianming was extremely cautious, gripping the Qinghong Sword in his hand, ready to strike at any moment. Simultaneously, his Divine Sense was fully extended, and his Eye of Five Colors was constantly vigilant of every little movement around, fearing that a demon beast or a poisonous insect might suddenly appear. In such a heightened state of alertness, he quickly covered several miles, unknowingly entering deeper into the canyon. Once there, the quietness was such that one could hear a pin drop. Besides, the pitch-black river water flowed, and the dense vegetation made this environment a paradise for poisonous insects. If an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator were to come here, merely the sight of this bizarre scene would likely deter them. ... However, Lin Tianming found it unremarkable, his nerves tense as ever, his steps unceasing. Moving neither too fast nor too slow, he soon advanced several more miles. As the scenery before him changed, he successfully passed through the canyon and emerged into a vibrant, colorful valley. At this moment, Lin Tianming, still on edge, hadn¡¯t expected this place to be a realm of its own. He looked around and saw birds chirping and flowers fragrant, various plants and flowers growing wildly everywhere, even the river water was no longer pitch-black but appeared crystal clear. Apart from these common plants, in certain special areas of this valley, dozens of spiritual medicines had already emerged. These spiritual medicines were of various types, some quite rare, and their grades varied high and low, ranging from First Order to Second Order. Among them were two Second Order Superior Wooden Heart Flowers, which, even in Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, were of considerable value. Regarding the other species, though more common and less valuable, compared to the few spiritual medicines occasionally found outside, those here were already impressive. A valley such as this, compared to the sinister, eerie canyon he had passed before, indeed formed a significant contrast. Under such circumstances, it was very easy for ordinary people to relax. But Lin Tianming didn¡¯t lower his guard at all, as he wouldn¡¯t let these visual scenes affect him. In his eyes, one should never be careless at any time outside, including this seemingly safe valley, which could also harbor different dangers. Thus, he was even more cautious. However, as expected, his vigilance was proven justified. While he was surveying the valley, a sparse rustling sound emerged. Hearing the noise, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned grave, and he immediately prepared to act. A few breaths later, a centipede tens of meters long crawled out from a crevice in the rocks. The centipede was not small; its body sported red and green spots, covering the shell on its back, and it moved incredibly fast. Upon seeing this centipede, Lin Tianming immediately recognized its origin, a Third Order Early Stage Ethereal Centipede. And the rustling sound just now was indeed created by this Ethereal Centipede gliding close to the ground. With the appearance of this terrifying Ethereal Centipede, Lin Tianming instantly braced as if facing a formidable enemy. After all, this was the depths of the Five Poison Mountain, not a territory completely controlled by the Human Race. Moreover, the presence of a Third Order Demon Beast here verified various recorded intel, confirming indeed the existence of numerous High Order Monster Beasts in this area. Under such circumstances, with even the Ethereal Centipede, known for its tremendous toxicity and extremely powerful attack, making an appearance, who knows if there were other monster beasts within the valley, or what other dangers could be lurking. Realizing this, Lin Tianming took a step back, maintaining a safe distance to observe the situation first. Just as he steadied his stance, the Ethereal Centipede charged toward him, launching the first attack. The Ethereal Centipede was incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, it had already covered a hundred meters. Simultaneously, its sinister and dreadful mouth opened, immediately spitting out a green, oily liquid. The liquid smelled foul and was immensely toxic. The moment it appeared, it corroded even the faint spiritual energy in the air. Instantly, a strange noise sounded, accompanied by billowing dense smoke. At this very moment, seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned serious, and he swiftly dodged. He knew well the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s attack power was strong, its speed rapid, and its overall strength immensely formidable. This Ethereal Centipede, among thousands of demon beasts and insects, was notably one of the notorious assassins, both its movement speed and its extremely toxic venom were indeed unique. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although the reputation of the Ethereal Centipede had not yet entered the list of the strongest hundred insects, its overall strength was barely any less than those few insects listed at the bottom of the list. That such an insect appeared here, and that he had encountered it, was quite unexpected for him. However, considering carefully in conjunction with the geographical environment of the Five Poison Mountain, it indeed suited various demon insects to reside. The Ethereal Centipede, favoring dense forests, had specific demands for its habitat, which the Five Poison Mountain completely met. Therefore, the appearance of such an insect here was quite normal. Returning to his senses, Lin Tianming no longer pondered but devoted himself entirely to dealing with the Ethereal Centipede. Chapter 978 978 518 Ethereal Centipede_2 ?Chapter 978: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede_2 Chapter 978: Chapter 518 Ethereal Centipede_2 At that moment, Lin Tianming moved as swiftly as a swallow, simultaneously unleashing copious amounts of Sword Qi that blanketed the skies above the Ethereal Centipede in an instant. However, the Demon Insect was very fast and agile. Despite the vast number of Sword Qi, it easily dodged most of them, with only a few hitting the carapace on its back. ¡°Clank, clank, clank¡­¡± A pleasant sound followed, and the Sword Qi released by Lin Tianming was deflected and dissipated into the sky. Looking at the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s untouched back, only faint traces were left on the carapace, which faded quickly. Witnessing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression stiffened, and his estimation of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s strength increased by a notch. However, even so, he was not overly pessimistic. ... Given his strength, a Third Order Early Stage Demon Insect, despite being very powerful, posed no fatal threat to him. This was the confidence he had in his own abilities. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming, composed and precise, easily avoided the venom sprayed by the Ethereal Centipede. While he dodged the attack, the flowers, plants, trees, and even some of the earth he passed by were not so fortunate, corroded into ash by the venom in an instant, not even a speck of dust remained. As Lin Tianming landed on another outcrop, he turned to face the Ethereal Centipede, which was baring its fangs and appearing quite furious. Before he could catch his breath, the Ethereal Centipede attacked again. Still in the air, it sprayed a vast amount of venom, engulfing a large area above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Seeing this, Lin Tianming had to keep moving. He didn¡¯t want to use his Magical Treasures to block the venom, lest they be corroded and their Spirituality degraded. In this situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s escape speed increased dramatically, even faster than before. With the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he consistently found the best route through the tight spaces. Although the situation was perilous, he skillfully avoided the venom every time. After regaining his balance, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a trace of anger. With a cold snort, his Qinghong Sword flashed with light, and he unleashed the Divine Skill, Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword shot out at an unbelievable speed towards the Ethereal Centipede. In that moment, the Ethereal Centipede also sensed the crisis and hurriedly maneuvered its body in an attempt to dodge. The speed of the Ethereal Centipede was likewise impressive, its hundred legs in motion, virtually gliding across the ground. However, even so, as a Demon Insect, its Spirit Wisdom simply could not match the Human Race, let alone know the formidable strength that Lin Tianming possessed. Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, it tried its best to evade, but the Qinghong Sword was too fast, and it was a long-prepared attack by Lin Tianming; how could it possibly escape easily? Accompanied by a painful shriek, the Qinghong Sword struck the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s back. Instantaneously, sparks flew in all directions. Then the Qinghong Sword rebounded, and Lin Tianming caught it in his hand again. Looking at the Ethereal Centipede itself, a small piece of its carapace was shattered, and streaks of green blood oozed from the crack. Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, although it had not severely wounded the Ethereal Centipede, the powerful force still caused it considerable suffering. After all, Lin Tianming was no weakling; the attack was powered by a Heavenly Grade Technique and the strength of Dual Cultivation of Body and Law. Such a full-force attack, even a typical Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator would likely hesitate to block directly, let alone a Third Order Early Stage Demon Insect. Indeed, it was under this very attack, the substantial force absorbed by the Ethereal Centipede caused it great agony. Had the Ethereal Centipede not been encased in a carapace with formidable defensive power, that strike alone might have severely injured it, or even killing it outright was not impossible. As the assault concluded, both combatants, human and insect, fell into a brief period of calm. At that moment, the Ethereal Centipede finally realized the strength of the human cultivator before it, its aura no longer as fierce as when it first appeared. In contrast, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, his heart neither underestimating the Ethereal Centipede nor relaxing his vigilance too much. After waiting for a few breaths and seeing that the Ethereal Centipede remained unmoved, neither retreating nor attacking, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. Then, without wasting time, he shifted from defense to offense and launched an attack on the Ethereal Centipede. In an instant, Lin Tianming leaped up, his Qinghong Sword swinging swiftly as ordinary Sword Qi shot out, blocking the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s retreat from various angles. At the same time, he formed a Law Decree, and beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the Qinghong Sword. ¡°Humming¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword glowed with Spiritual Light, then it swooped toward the Ethereal Centipede. This strike, utilizing the Tiangang Ninth Sword divine skill with the added power of the nine-fold swords, turned the Qinghong Sword into a dragon pouncing on the Ethereal Centipede. At this moment, the Ethereal Centipede sensed a fatal threat and was filled with both shock and fury. Facing the attack of the Qinghong Sword, it was well aware of the sword¡¯s formidable power and knew that its current situation was highly unfavorable. In desperation, the Ethereal Centipede writhed its body, its numerous legs moving in unison, skimming across the ground to flee the spot. Its speed was very fast, even faster than before. However, Lin Tianming had already unleashed numerous Sword Qi to block the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s path. At this moment, the Ethereal Centipede was left with no choice but to react; even though the ordinary Sword Qi didn¡¯t present a fatal threat, enduring most of the sword attacks would still result in injury. Furthermore, its speed would be hindered, giving Lin Tianming a chance to catch up. If it were to come to that, the terrifying Qinghong Sword would certainly close the distance and strike its body. Under such circumstances, the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s situation was dire, akin to being between the wolf in front and the tiger behind, with no countermeasure available to avoid injury from this round of attacks. However, although the intelligence of the Ethereal Centipede was not on par with the human race, at this level it certainly was not as naive as a three-year-old child. Even though its thoughts were slower by a split second, the Ethereal Centipede made a decision. In that instant, the Ethereal Centipede suddenly turned and once again spouted a large amount of poisonous venom to shield itself. At the same time, its body retreated explosively, creating a safe distance for itself. At this point, Lin Tianming saw this and felt somewhat helpless. Because the Tiangang Ninth Sword was a physical attack relying on the Qinghong Sword as the medium, he did not want it to be contaminated with a trace of venom, which might erode its spirituality afterwards. After all, at present he mainly relied on the Qinghong Sword for his magical treasure. At least until Lin Shilu refined a life-bound magical treasure for him, he did not have a good replacement for offense. Therefore, if the Qinghong Sword were to be tainted with the venom, causing a loss of some of its spirituality, his attack power would also be significantly affected, and his overall strength would similarly decline. In such a situation, for the sake of long-term consideration, he could only reluctantly give up the attack with the Qinghong Sword. However, even so, Lin Tianming would not give the Ethereal Centipede any chance to catch its breath. In his eyes, he had a variety of attack methods; even without the Qinghong Sword, he could rely on other means to deal with the fierce Ethereal Centipede. Thus, just as he had withdrawn the Qinghong Sword, a ball of flame had already appeared in his hand, which was undoubtedly the Blue Heart True Flame feared by He Lanjun. As he looked at the barrier formed by the venom, the Blue Heart True Flame in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand immediately flew out. In the blink of an eye, the fireball plunged into the venom and subsequently exploded. At that moment, the sky became a sea of fire, with the stench and smell of burning spreading out, making one feel sick with just a whiff. And within that inferno, the Ethereal Centipede frantically attempted to flee. Unfortunately, the range of the fire sea was vast, and the scattering flames that exploded were like a rain of flowers filling the sky. ¡­ Chapter 979 979 519 Poison Master ?Chapter 979: Chapter 519 Poison Master Chapter 979: Chapter 519 Poison Master At this moment, in that dense sea of sparks. Lin Tianming saw some scattered flames carrying some venom stick to the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell. The flames did not extinguish but firmly stuck to the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell, no matter how it tried to shake them off. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± A series of crackling noises came, accompanied by the agonizing screams of the Ethereal Centipede. The Ethereal Centipede screamed in pain as its several zhang-long body writhed madly, clearly in immense agony. It turned out that the flames stuck to the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell were furiously scorching it. ... In just a few breaths¡¯ time, some small holes appeared on the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell. The flames had also vanished without a trace, and it was unclear whether they had extinguished or continued to penetrate into the body of the Ethereal Centipede. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming smiled satisfactorily, having anticipated such an outcome. After all, the destructive power of the Blue Heart True Flame needs no mention. Once it attached even slightly, it clung to the target like a maggot, furiously unleashing its destructive power. Despite the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell having astonishing defensive power, it stood little chance against the Exotic Flames of the Blue Heart True Flame. Realizing this, Lin Tianming calmed down slightly. Then, conjuring the Law Decree with his hands, the Qinghong Sword in front of him flashed. Seizing the moment when the Ethereal Centipede was weakened, the Qinghong Sword shot forth. Such a rare opportunity, he planned to take this chance to try and slay the Ethereal Centipede. With a lethal intent, Lin Tianming struck with all his might. Watching as the Qinghong Sword attacked again, its distance closing ever nearer. At that moment, feeling the fluctuations, the Ethereal Centipede ignored the excruciating pain on its body and began to desperately flee. However, the Qinghong Sword was faster, giving the Ethereal Centipede no chance whatsoever. In desperation, the Ethereal Centipede decisively sprayed a stream of venom again, seemingly hoping to repeat its earlier trick relying on the venom¡¯s corrosive nature to force Lin Tianming to give up this fatal strike. But unfortunately for it, the Qinghong Sword was too fast. Before it could spray enough venom, the Qinghong Sword had already arrived above its head. At that instant, the Ethereal Centipede knew it was too late to escape or dodge. Helpless, the Ethereal Centipede could only dodge away from its vital areas, trying to grasp a sliver of a chance at life. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise erupted. Followed immediately by a miserable scream. At that moment, the Qinghong Sword struck a piece of the shell on the back of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head, instantly sending sparks in every direction. And that piece of shell was the most robust on the Ethereal Centipede, possessing the strongest defensive power. Indeed, the Ethereal Centipede wasn¡¯t foolish, knowing it couldn¡¯t escape or dodge, it could only withstand the blow, relying on its strongest defense to try and seize a chance at survival. And indeed, the Ethereal Centipede achieved its goal. Under this strike, the Qinghong Sword was deflected, recaptured by Lin Tianming who was pursuing it. Nevertheless, the Qinghong Sword had left a large crack in that piece of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s shell, along with a deep wound. As the strike concluded, the Ethereal Centipede writhed in pain, and a good amount of green blood also oozed from the shattered shell. When the blood flowed onto the ground, it also corroded the soil, forming a not so small pit. Looking at the Ethereal Centipede itself, its ferocious grimace was horrifying, and its energy had visibly weakened a lot. At this point, Lin Tianming approached swiftly with the Qinghong Sword in hand, once again aiming for the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head. Lin Tianming was fast, seizing the moment of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s weakness, with the sword tip directly targeting the creature¡¯s vital area. With a clear target, the confident and decisive Lin Tianming transformed the Qinghong Sword into a dazzling long dragon. At that moment, the Ethereal Centipede struggled frantically trying to escape, but its injuries were severe. Besides, even at its peak, it likely wasn¡¯t a match for Lin Tianming. Moreover, now that the Ethereal Centipede was injured, and the distance between them so close, it stood no chance or strength to resist. In this hopeless situation, the Ethereal Centipede was terrified, struggling for a long time without escaping far. As the Qinghong Sword drew closer, the Ethereal Centipede despaired. Just when the Qinghong Sword was about to strike, suddenly a loud shout echoed throughout the valley. ¡°Boy, you¡¯re courting death!¡± This voice had just passed when a skinny and ugly man rushed out. This man was full of fury and immediately took action to stop Lin Tianming¡¯s attack, hoping to save the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s life. However, Lin Tianming was very fast and had no intention to hold back. Just as the man¡¯s attack was about to land, the Qinghong Sword had already struck the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head. In an instant, a piercing screech was heard. Looking closely, the Qinghong Sword shattered the shell on the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head, and a mixture of red, green, and white liquid sprayed out. Immediately afterward, the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s head was almost split in half, and its several zhang-long body rolled on the ground a few times before becoming motionless, thereafter ceasing to show any signs of life. And all this happened in the blink of an eye, the man unable to stop it, could only watch as the Ethereal Centipede perished. Only then, when peace had returned to the world, did the two individuals confront each other. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, showing no regret for decisively striking and killing the Ethereal Centipede. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 980 980 519 Poison Master_2 ?Chapter 980: Chapter 519 Poison Master_2 Chapter 980: Chapter 519 Poison Master_2 The man opposite, however, had not expected Lin Tianming to be so disrespectful and was simultaneously shocked and furious, his already grotesquely ugly face becoming even more hideous. Then, with an angry expression on his face, he pointed at Lin Tianming and said, ¡°Brat, do you know this Ethereal Centipede is a Spirit Beast belonging to yours truly?¡± ¡°Moreover, you saw my appearance and still did not hold back?¡± Faced with the man¡¯s questioning, Lin Tianming chuckled coldly, and a surge of rage erupted within him. In his eyes, this man¡¯s actions were clearly intentional. In fact, he had already sensed the man¡¯s presence earlier, but since the man was also a capable cultivator with strong Divine Sense, he had stayed hidden within the valley and had not shown himself. At that time, Lin Tianming had detected something odd but wasn¡¯t certain. ... Now that he had seen the man, whose cultivation at the Mid Stage of the Golden Core was indeed formidable, and possessing an Ethereal Centipede at the Third Order Early Stage as a Spirit Beast, his strength would obviously not be weak. But even so, it was not enough to make Lin Tianming back down. The man had released the Ethereal Centipede, likely as a test of Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. However, he hadn¡¯t expected the Ethereal Centipede to be incapable of holding on for long before Lin Tianming blasted it to death on the spot, not giving the man a chance to save its life. Now that the Ethereal Centipede was dead, the man emerged, seeking to hold Lin Tianming accountable, his tone and attitude excessively arrogant, as if he didn¡¯t take Lin Tianming seriously at all. Although Lin Tianming was not a man of great wickedness, he was not one to suffer in silence. Faced with the man¡¯s extreme arrogance, he showed no good temper. Thus, Lin Tianming snorted coldly and then spoke, ¡°If Daoist Friend is the owner of that beast, what were you doing just now?¡± ¡°When that beast attacked me, why didn¡¯t I see Daoist Friend intervene?¡± ¡°Had I been defeated by that beast, I suspect Daoist Friend wouldn¡¯t have shown up, right?¡± ¡°Now that the beast is dead, Daoist Friend emerges to accuse me of not sparing its life; isn¡¯t that rather ridiculous?¡± With just a few counter-questions, Lin Tianming had rendered the man speechless. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, perhaps knowing he was in the wrong, the man¡¯s face eased somewhat. However, the man was still arrogant and failed to recognize his mistake, even threatening Lin Tianming as he spoke. ¡°Even if what Daoist Friend says is logical, my Spirit Beast was not easy to raise and is now dead by your hand. Are we to just let this go?¡± The man said viciously, apparently not inclined to let the matter rest easily. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh? Then what does Daoist Friend intend to do?¡± As Lin Tianming replied with a calm smile, his tone was indifferent. No sooner had the words left his mouth than the man laughed haughtily, his expression instantly becoming fierce. Then, the man said with self-mockery, ¡°I, Yang Chengfeng, have lived for over four hundred years. Who in the environs of Yue Xiu Country does not know the name of the Gu Poison Master?¡± ¡°To say that everyone knows would not be an exaggeration at all.¡± ¡°You, young man, have disregarded our relationship and killed my Spirit Beast, yet you ask what I plan to do.¡± ¡°Ha, it¡¯s a joke among jokes.¡± The man laughed heartily, not taking Lin Tianming seriously at all. At this moment, upon hearing these sentences, Lin Tianming pondered the information under his control and recalled this person¡¯s identity. However, after a long recollection, he couldn¡¯t find any records concerning this man. The reason for this was not surprising. After all, Yue Xiu Country was not small, several times larger than Huangyang Kingdom and Wei Kingdom, separated from Huangyang Kingdom by another country, and even more distant from Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. Typically, the cultivators of Wei Kingdom would interact mainly with the neighboring countries. Even Golden Core Stage Cultivators, with about two hundred years of experience after Core Formation, would find it difficult to travel to more distant countries. Since each country is vast and generally located in the central regions of their respective continents, they typically lack long-range Teleportation Formations for travel. Therefore, even for Golden Core Stage Cultivators, crossing the territories of several countries is not an easy task. As a result, the Cultivation Worlds of both Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Kingdom rarely had much interaction with other countries. ¡°Based on that, it¡¯s likely that not even all the Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World have ever been to Yue Xiu Country¡¯s Cultivation World, let alone have any interactions with this person,¡± Lin Tianming reflected with a heavy heart. Therefore, although Yang Chengfeng boasted a considerable reputation in the regions around Yue Xiu Country, Tianming had never heard of him, nor had he heard any other cultivators mention any information concerning him. Regardless, for Yang Chengfeng to be so confidently arrogant, he must have a significant reliance backing him. After all, he had admitted that he was a well-established Golden Core Cultivator who had been in the Golden Core Stage Realm for at least two hundred years, and he was currently at the cultivation realm of the Mid Stage Golden Core. Moreover, being able to possess an Ethereal Centipede, a Third Order Demon Insect, as a Spirit Beast, certainly meant that Yang Chengfeng¡¯s own strength was not to be underestimated. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to raise an Ethereal Centipede at the Third Order Early Stage. It¡¯s well-known that the advancement of demonic beasts is not easy; Third Order Demonic Beasts require an enormous amount of resources that ordinary cultivators simply couldn¡¯t afford. Yang Chengfeng succeeded, which meant a lot. Upon recalling the moment the Ethereal Centipede appeared, Tianming hadn¡¯t been able to detect Yang Chengfeng¡¯s trace at the very first instant. Considering all these factors, this guy indeed possessed no small amount of strength; he was certainly not a mere ¡®flower pillow.¡¯ Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression gradually grew solemn. Simultaneously, his gaze remained fixed on Yang Chengfeng, closely observing his every move, ready to take action at any moment. Because Tianming understood the implication in Yang Chengfeng¡¯s words¡ªhe had no intention of letting this matter slide lightly. Now that the Ethereal Centipede had been killed and the incident had already occurred, submitting weakly was not in Tianming¡¯s nature. Furthermore, even if he was willing to apologize, there was no guarantee that Yang Chengfeng would accept it. Since that was the case, there was no need to be polite; he might as well take a shot and test the depths of his opponent. After all, his own strength was not insignificant now; even if he could not defeat Yang Chengfeng, if he was dedicated to retreating, Yang Chengfeng might not be able to stop him. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming replied with a somber look on his face. ¡°Daoist Yang, if you intend to strike, do it soon. If not, I can no longer be bothered to waste time with you.¡± Hearing this, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s smile grew even more sinister. ¡°Good¡­ Good¡­¡± ¡°Impudent lad, since you¡¯re courting death, I shall grant you your wish!¡± True to his word, Yang Chengfeng didn¡¯t plan to let the matter go and, cursing under his breath, he charged toward Lin Tianming. At the same time, Yang Chengfeng flung his sleeve, and a longsword with a mix of green and brown appeared in his hand. Then, he executed a Law Decree, sending rays of Spiritual Light bombarding the sword. In that instant, an abundance of Green-Brown Sword Qi shot out, covering the sky above Lin Tianming¡¯s head in the blink of an eye. Yang Chengfeng moved quickly and decisively, not intending to waste any time. At his command, the Sword Qi was grand and powerful, a truly terrifying presence from its first appearance, as the Yuan Qi between heaven and earth began to stir chaotically. Suddenly, the entire valley was filled with flying sand and stones, with Gang Wind blowing through Lin Tianming¡¯s Daoist robe. Witnessing this, Lin Tianming dared not take it lightly. As he rapidly withdrew, his Qinghong Sword shone brightly, soon unleashing the divine power of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± In an instant, the Qinghong Sword transformed into a long dragon, slashing head-on towards Yang Chengfeng. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A massive amount of Sword Qi collided with the dragon, creating deafening explosions that echoed throughout the valley. Simultaneously, the valley was awash with light, and the impact created powerful shockwaves sweeping across the landscape. At this moment, Lin Tianming moved like a swallow, easily dodging some stray Sword Qi with the aid of the impact¡¯s force, reappearing a hundred yards away. After stabilizing his stance, he turned to see that Yang Chengfeng had also been pushed back some distance by the force of the impact. Now, the two looked at each other across the distance, both displaying wary expressions on their faces. ¡­ Chapter 981 981 520 Blue Heart True Flames ?Chapter 981: Chapter 520: Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s Accomplishment Chapter 981: Chapter 520: Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s Accomplishment At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was grave, and his heart was somewhat astonished. Clearly, after this round of attacks, he had acquired a basic understanding of Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength. He had to admit that Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength was as formidable as he had speculated, at the very least, somewhat stronger than Chen Jingtian¡¯s at the same cultivation realm. And this was only the first exchange of blows, neither side had yet to use their trump card moves, so the outcome was still uncertain. However, Lin Tianming, though surprised by Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength, was not too pessimistic about the upcoming situation. As for Yang Chengfeng himself, he was equally shocked at this time. In his eyes, Lin Tianming seemed unfamiliar, and his cultivation was only at the Early Stage Golden Core. ... Such cultivation strength was hardly outstanding, not around Yue Xiu Country, nor even on the fringes in Huangyang Kingdom. He had heard of almost all the cultivators at the Golden Core Stage in Huangyang Kingdom. Originally, he thought that with his cultivation at the Mid Stage Golden Core, defeating Lin Tianming, who was at the Early Stage Golden Core, would be easy. However, after this round of attacks, he realized that Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength was far from being reflected by his cultivation alone. Now, Yang Chengfeng no longer had the arrogance he¡¯d started with, and was completely uncertain about the final outcome. But having already attacked and offended Lin Tianming, it was not easy to end things amicably. More importantly, his whereabouts had been revealed, which was extremely critical. Given that he was a Loose Cultivator, attaining his realm had not been easy, and over the past two hundred years, he had survived countless crises. Now, although his reputation was well known around Yue Xiu Country, it was the result of many years of wrongdoing; the renown he had gained was not enviable. Especially in the past hundred years, after scheming against several Golden Elixir Forces, many disciples had died at his hands. Because of this, he had made a great number of enemies, each of whom would love nothing more than to carve him up. That¡¯s why he had fled to the remote Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom, far from Yue Xiu Country. Fortunately, although Huangyang Kingdom was remote, being far from his enemies¡¯ territory made it easier to conceal his movements; in fact, it was much safer. Moreover, the environment of Five Poison Mountain was unique, and the degree of Spiritual Energy was exceptionally rich. While others saw Five Poison Mountain as extremely dangerous, with the risk of losing one¡¯s life at any moment, his cultivation technique was the way of poison, which made cultivating in Five Poison Mountain far more effective. Furthermore, over the past hundred years, he had lured many Foundation Establishment Cultivators seeking treasure using a map that marked a Golden Core Relic Site. Little did they know that all of it was a trap he had set. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By using the lives of those Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators, over these many years, he had successfully helped the Ethereal Centipede reach the Third Order. His plan was meticulous, scattering the map periodically without any greed or impatience. Thus, those who came seeking treasure and died were believed to have perished at the hands of Demonic Beasts or poisonous insects. Even dozens of years ago, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator had come to find the Golden Core Relic Site, and he had killed them at some cost. Their demise remained an unsolved mystery. After all, with Five Poison Mountain blocking access, it was impossible to connect him to the deaths. Unless a cultivator at the Late Stage Golden Core stage personally came, he would not reveal his whereabouts nor have to worry about his life. He had lived at ease in this place for over a hundred years, cultivating faster thanks to the special environment, with Spirit Beasts benefiting as well. Under such favorable conditions, he had managed to stay in Five Poison Mountain for over a hundred years. Now, with Lin Tianming¡¯s arrival, the long-standing tranquility was completely shattered. If he couldn¡¯t take Lin Tianming¡¯s life, once his enemies found his trail, he feared he would fall into endless pursuit once again. Thinking of the many storms he had weathered and the days of being hunted and blocked, Yang Chengfeng immediately resolved that no matter the cost, he must keep Lin Tianming, this unwelcome visitor, here. With this thought, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s demeanor and aura suddenly became much more fierce. Now that things had come to this point, he had no way out and could only set out to eliminate Lin Tianming once and for all. Having made up his mind, Yang Chengfeng glanced at the solemn Lin Tianming, then decided not to delay any longer. Following that, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s Blue Longsword swung once again, and powerful currents of Sword Qi whistled overhead. Yang Chengfeng¡¯s speed was very fast, the Sword Qi extremely sharp, each blow an entire level more formidable than the previous strike. It was with such attacks that he intended to obliterate Lin Tianming on the spot. At this moment, when Lin Tianming saw Yang Chengfeng¡¯s movement, he too refused to be outdone. For he understood that after the previous exchange of attacks, Yang Chengfeng had already witnessed his strength. Faced with such a formidable opponent, if Yang Chengfeng didn¡¯t plan to attack or to pursue the matter of the Ethereal Centipede¡¯s death any further, there was still a chance for reconciliation. But Yang Chengfeng still resolutely attacked, with a fluid and robust manner, showing no intention of holding back. It was obvious, given Yang Chengfeng¡¯s decisive choice to eliminate him, that there must be some unspeakable secret he had to keep, including hiding his tracks. Under such circumstances, only then would Yang Chengfeng act so madly and decisively. Chapter 982 982 520 Blue Heart True Flame Achieves ?Chapter 982: Chapter 520 Blue Heart True Flame Achieves Success_2 Chapter 982: Chapter 520 Blue Heart True Flame Achieves Success_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming was able to make a guess based on just this information, and in truth, he also felt rather helpless inside. In his eyes, everyone had secrets, and he was no exception. Regarding the secrets of others, he had no intention of prying, nor any interest in such matters, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t initiate such vile acts as murder and robbery for treasure. Therefore, if Yang Chengfeng would let him go, with no mention of today¡¯s events, he would not engage in any extreme actions. After all, it was better to avoid trouble than to seek it out. He had no desire to put himself in danger, nor did he wish to create enemies for his family. But Yang Chengfeng was aggressively confrontational, with no intention of reconciliation, otherwise he would not have completely torn off the facade of civility. By now, further thought was pointless. ... Facing Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacking assault, he saw no need to hold back. Today, someone must pay a price; otherwise, this unwarranted disaster could not be avoided. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming was invigorating the Qinghong Sword in his hand to its limit, and as he unleashed the divine skill of the Tiangang Ninth Sword, streams of Sword Qi coalesced above his head. With a loud shout, the Qinghong Sword shot out, transforming once more into a long dragon, roaring towards Yang Chengfeng. Immediately after, the sky full of Sword Qi poured down like rain towards Yang Chengfeng¡¯s position. And at that moment, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attack arrived as expected, and the terrifying assaults launched by both parties collided violently in the space between them. ¡°Boom¡­ ¡± In an instant, the sky filled with green Sword Qi collided with the silver-white Sword Qi. Flames shot up into the sky, the valley glowed brightly, and the powerful shockwaves spread in all directions. A single shockwave had turned the once tranquil and scenic valley into utter chaos. When the shockwave dissipated, the landscape was a sight of devastation: massive rocks had crumbled, thick trees were snapped in half, and lay scattered across the ground. Within that shockwave, both Lin Tianming and Yang Chengfeng were sent flying backward. While still midair, Lin Tianming¡¯s mouth was already brimming with blood, his Daoist robe torn to shreds, with various wounds appearing across his body. In contrast, Yang Chengfeng was also in tatters, his complexion had turned significantly paler, and his breathing was extremely erratic. Yang Chengfeng¡¯s reaction indicated he was no better off than Lin Tianming. At that moment, the two of them exchanged glances and then simultaneously launched attacks without wasting a moment. In the blink of an eye, the valley, which had just quieted down for a brief period, was again ablaze with light and filled with relentless, deafening explosions. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Their attacks were bold and all-encompassing, and their techniques varied greatly. After several exchanges, they still appeared evenly matched. Following another strike, Lin Tianming was once again sent reeling backwards. Once he had steadied himself, Lin Tianming was panting heavily, his expression extremely solemn. After a few rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming¡¯s energy was greatly depleted, and his injuries were slowly accumulating. Fortunately, his physical body was strong, his Qi-Blood and life force robust, allowing him to recover rapidly; ordinary injuries had a very limited impact on him. Looking at Yang Chengfeng, he was drenched in blood, his complexion extremely pale, and his energy significantly depleted. Luckily, his cultivation was a whole realm higher, his combat experience was vast, and the Defense Treasures he employed were also of exceptional quality. Most crucially, his Treasure Sword was incredibly cunning. When it released its Sword Qi containing severe poison, just a touch could critically harm a cultivator of the same rank. Yet even with these advantages, Yang Chengfeng was also barely holding on. Both parties were waiting for the other to show an opening. At this point, a truly enraged Lin Tianming, despite some reduction in his energy, had an even more ferocious aura. Without further adjustments, he launched an immediate attack. His Qinghong Sword cleaved through the sky, and after an ineffective strike, it returned to his hand. On the other side, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s Longsword Treasure was equally relentless. With a loud cry, every strike was at full force, with powerful attacks wave after wave. By now, the battle had entered a feverishly intense phase. Both were going all out in their attacks, with True Essence Mana operating at its extreme, and powerful assaults clashing with each other time and again. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The valley was constantly lit up with flashes of light, and the sounds of explosions, akin to firecrackers, echoed incessantly. Among the overwhelming Sword Qi attacks, Lin Tianming moved as agile as a swallow. With the miraculous effects of the Eye of Five Colors, he weaved through the numerous Sword Qis. The reason for this was a desperate risk he had no choice but to take. For he did not have the powerful Defense Treasures like Yang Chengfeng, which could be used to resist the attacks head-on. And Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength was indeed formidable; his attacks were relentless, wave upon wave, leaving no breathing room. This was, after all, a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, an old powerhouse who had entered this stage long ago. Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength gave him a feeling that was scarcely weaker than the late-stage powerhouses he had fought previously. In such a case, if he were to withstand these Sword Qi attacks head-on, his defense treasures would not last very long. Moreover, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks were extremely peculiar; most of the Sword Qi carried intense poisons and terrifying destructive power, making them nearly impossible to guard against. With such strength, and those bizarre poisoned treasures, no wonder Yang Chengfeng proclaimed himself the Poison Master and had a renowned reputation around Yue Xiu Country. One could say that a formidable opponent like Yang Chengfeng was an existence that nobody wished to encounter. If he were to frequently rely on Defense Treasures to deal with Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks, the consumption of his True Essence Mana would continue to increase. Having no choice, Lin Tianming could only try his best to evade and would resort to a head-on collision only when avoidance was impossible. Although this process was extremely perilous, he still managed to get past the myriad Sword Qi attacks several times. Finally stabilizing his stance, Lin Tianming clenched a Law Decree with his hand, and the Blue Heart True Flame appeared in his palm. The Blue Heart True Flame was very useful, especially against those strange and unusual attacks, often yielding unexpected results. This had been supremely demonstrated during his previous encounter with He Lanjun. And with Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks all carrying potent poison, even if he had a strong physique and had taken a Detoxifying Pill, it was doubtful he could resist the destructive power of the intense poisons. Now, after so many rounds of combat, he had come to understand the characteristics of Yang Chengfeng¡¯s attacks. At present, he was ready to utilize the Blue Heart True Flame to attempt removing the immense threat posed by the intense poison. As long as the threat of the intense poison was gone, he could act without much concern. Even more, if possible, he could engage in close combat, fully leveraging his physical superiority, no longer constrained at every turn. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s fireball tore through the void, exploding amidst the skyful of Sword Qi. In that moment, a gigantic fire cloud appeared in the middle of the gorge. Within that inferno, the Blue Heart True Flame burned intensely, its blue flames dancing like sprites. In just a few breaths, the temperature within the sea of fire soared rapidly, soon reaching a terrifying level. Feeling the dreadful temperature spreading, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face paled further, his already ashen complexion becoming significantly ghastlier. At this time, Lin Tianming was closely observing every movement within the sea of fire. The burn of the blue flames was frightfully hot, incredibly managing to evaporate large amounts of colorful gases and elevating the intensity of the fire to another level. After those gases in the Sword Qi were evaporated, they were like souls stripped away. Although the Sword Qi had not completely dissipated, both its ferocity and strength had dropped by more than half. Such Sword Qi attacks, even if they passed through the range of the sea of fire and surged towards Lin Tianming, he could easily crush them without much effort. Sure enough, Lin Tianming reached out into the void and grabbed a strand of Sword Qi in his palm. A flash of firelight passed, and the Sword Qi in his palm turned into ash, finally dispersing into the air. Seeing this scene, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s momentum immediately collapsed, his expression revealing a look of sheer terror. ¡­ Chapter 983 983 521 Trump Card ?Chapter 983: Chapter 521: Trump Card Chapter 983: Chapter 521: Trump Card Yang Chengfeng had always been confident in his own tactics. Relentlessly relying on deadly poisons and a relentless barrage of Sword Qi, his enemies had nowhere to hide and could not last long. In the end, however despondent they might feel, they could only be killed by him. Over the past two hundred years, numerous Golden Core Stage Cultivators had perished under these methods. With these achievements, he had been able to make a big name for himself in the Cultivation World of Yue Xiu Country and even in the vast surrounding regions. It could be said that these inscrutable and unstoppable techniques were his greatest reliance for staying beyond the reach of the law for many years. But now, Lin Tianming, whom he fought in a deadly duel, possessed the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame known as Blue Heart True Flame, specifically countering his poison-laden Sword Qi. ... Such suppression was like seizing him by the lifeblood. At this moment, fully aware of this, Yang Chengfeng, like a defeated rooster, had no plans to fight any longer. At this time, when Lin Tianming saw the effect brought by the Blue Heart True Flame, he was overjoyed. In fact, before this, he had just been testing his luck. Unexpectedly, the Blue Heart True Flame indeed evaporated the crippling poison. It must be said, the effect was immediate and completely resolved his major problem. Now without the significant threat, Lin Tianming was also able to launch his attack unreservedly. As the saying goes, strike at the sickness to take the life! Now he could unleash his full strength without any reservations and take the opportunity to finish off Yang Chengfeng. At this moment, Lin Tianming, aware of the situation, did not delay. With a loud shout, his Qinghong Sword flew from his hand again, releasing the Divine Skills of Tiangang Ninth Sword. Not completely reassured by this, he further initiated a massive onslaught of Sword Qi, blocking Yang Chengfeng¡¯s paths from different angles. Simultaneously, numerous fireballs flew from his hands, instantly covering a large expanse of the sky. In just a breath or two, the sky was filled with various attacks. Under his furious shout, this torrential storm of fire and abundant Sword Qi pummeled down towards Yang Chengfeng. Just as Yang Chengfeng was about to turn and retreat, Lin Tianming, anticipating his intentions, launched all attacks instantly, giving him no chance to breathe. Feeling that overwhelming barrage, like mountains collapsing and rivers flowing, there was absolutely no interval for respite. Under such brutal and terrifying attacks, his hope of breaking out was mere wishful thinking. In an instant, Yang Chengfeng seemed to foresee the outcome and his complexion became instantly pale with fright. Though his expression was grave, he was not yet ready to give up without a fight. He knew he had no time to ponder. All he could do now was to exert all his strength to survive this calamity. Knowing this, Yang Chengfeng dared not delay, nor could he afford to hold back. As the massive onslaught was about to hit, Yang Chengfeng, while retreating explosively, blasted out a torrent of cyan Sword Qi, directly clashing with the numerous fireballs in the sky. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± Yang Chengfeng did this also to minimize the damage as much as possible. With his interception, it indeed had some restraining effect. However, with the overwhelming Sword Qi and fiery rain, his rushed attacks could not simultaneously block so many. Under such circumstances, Yang Chengfeng had to consider his own safety. Knowing this, Yang Chengfeng was helpless but had no better plan. He sighed deeply and immediately activated a Shield Defensive Treasure in his hand, transforming it into a barrier in front of him. Next, still apprehensive, he swiftly formed several Third Order Defensive Talismans in his hands and quickly activated them, forming a barrier from different directions to tightly protect himself within its center. His actions were quick, finishing all maneuvers in an instant. This speed and efficiency reflected Yang Chengfeng¡¯s vast experience in magical duels. Just as Yang Chengfeng finished deploying these tactics, the sky filled with Sword Qi and torrents of fire fiercely poured down. ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Series of loud booms followed, turning the whole valley into a sea of fire. And in that fiery inferno, the Qinghong Sword burst out, striking directly onto the shield. Apart from that, numerous fireballs and silver-white Sword Qi also broke through the barriers of the Third Order Talismans. In that instant, blinding light broke through the sky, followed by a powerful blast spreading outward. Positioned right at the center, Yang Chengfeng could not withstand such force and was directly blown away by the massive impact. While still in mid-air, he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion quickly paling. It wasn¡¯t until his body slammed against a rock that he felt his movement stop. At that moment, he felt the Qi-Blood in his body madly surging, and some of his meridians were shattered by the impact. Once his consciousness returned, Yang Chengfeng staggered to his feet, spewing several more mouthfuls of blood, and his breath weakened significantly. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the Qi-Blood within his body, his complexion finally regaining a bit of color. Next, he examined his body which was entirely charred and covered in numerous areas of mangled flesh. The internal state of his body was also not promising. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s ferocious assault was extremely powerful and relentlessly targeted, leaving no room for escape. Chapter 984 984 521 Hidden Cards_2 ?Chapter 984: Chapter 521 Hidden Cards_2 Chapter 984: Chapter 521 Hidden Cards_2 In the early stages, Lin Tianming had not chosen to clash head-on, constantly finding himself in a passive position, feeling restricted and constrained. But now, this round of attacks was an unleashing of restraint, an all-out offensive from every angle. Such an attack not only had considerable power but came wave after wave, like a fierce storm venting its fury. Under this terrifying assault, though Yang Chengfeng had withstood it, he had also sustained no minor injuries. His current state was such that injuries blanketed his entire body, and his internal meridians were in disarray, his strength struggling to reach even seventy percent of its peak. Furthermore, he had expended a great deal of True Essence Mana during his frenzied attack earlier. After this round of combat, he had consumed a significant amount of mana, with only less than thirty percent of his peak condition remaining. ... These were the changes in his own condition, and even his Shield Defensive Treasure had been cracked slightly by one of Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skills, resulting in reduced spirituality. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Taking all these factors into account, his current state was indeed quite poor. At this time, Yang Chengfeng pondered over these issues in his mind, his expression growing even more unsightly. Across from him, Lin Tianming, too, had felt some repercussions from the shockwave and was pushed back a distance. However, thanks to Yang Chengfeng not attacking with full force and his own resilient physique, the force he sustained was still within his means to handle. After a round of frenzied attacks had ended, seeing Yang Chengfeng¡¯s significant injuries, Lin Tianming was also overjoyed, thinking that his all-out assault had finally paid off, obtaining a significant advantage. Such a stormy assault also served to vent the frustration he¡¯d felt from being previously restrained. Now, holding the absolute initiative, his next step was to strike while the iron was hot. Realizing this, Lin Tianming leaped forward, intent on launching another attack. At this point, Yang Chengfeng, noticing Lin Tianming¡¯s intention, couldn¡¯t help his complexion changing. He hurriedly called out from afar, ¡°Esteemed Daoist, please calm your anger!¡± ¡°It was my fault just now. I apologize to you; I truly shouldn¡¯t have acted.¡± ¡°Please, let¡¯s put aside our grievances and cease hostilities. How about we make peace from this point on, transforming swords into jade silks?¡± Yang Chengfeng spoke with a grave face, his expression extremely serious. Yet, when Lin Tianming heard these words, he couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°Daoist Yang was extremely arrogant just now, striking ruthlessly and decisively, with no intention of sparing me.¡± ¡°Now, knowing he¡¯s in the wrong and not my match, he hopes a few words will make me stop.¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ where in this world are there such good things?¡± Lin Tianming sneered, while responding with disdain. And while saying this, Lin Tianming¡¯s hands didn¡¯t stop moving at all, making it clear he had no intention of sparing Yang Chengfeng. He knew well that Yang Chengfeng, who cultivated through poison, was a devious and merciless person, and as a Loose Cultivator, operated unrestrained. It was for this reason that Yang Chengfeng had made enemies everywhere, leading him to be pursued by those seeking revenge. His choice to hide and cultivate on Five Poison Mountain was to increase his cultivation for one, and secondly, to lie low while waiting for an opportunity. Once his cultivation and strength advanced further, he would likely leave Five Poison Mountain to trouble those who had offended him. Such a malicious character was, in fact, even more dangerous than those from the Golden Elixir Forces. For the sake of the Lin Family and himself, such a threat had to be nipped in the bud. After all, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strength was indeed extraordinary, seemingly even stronger than Chen Jingtian. If such a cultivator were to escape, and later traced back to his identity, he might very well seek vengeance against the Lin Family. The Lin Family had just begun to rise, and it was not suitable for them to engage in major wars for the next few decades; he would never allow anyone to ruin this favorable situation for the Lin Family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, determined to annihilate this threat here, regardless of the cost. With that goal in mind, Lin Tianming made his move, giving Yang Chengfeng no chance to catch his breath. At this very moment, seeing Lin Tianming with no intention of showing mercy, Yang Chengfeng grew terrified. As Lin Tianming closed in on him, Yang Chengfeng retreated, threatening, ¡°Do you really think you can defeat me? Do you insist on pushing me to death?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t force me into a corner, or even if it costs me my life, I will drag you down with me.¡± Hearing this threat, Lin Tianming, in hot pursuit, didn¡¯t stop, and his Qinghong Sword in hand swung out without any hesitation. In the blink of an eye, a flash of silver light twinkled, and he once again exhibited the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Power. At the same time, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand was once again enveloped in a ball of flame, which danced within his grasp. ¡°Boom¡­rumble¡­¡± The Qinghong Sword transformed into a long dragon, and the fireball formed by the Blue Heart True Flame ignited, subsequently shooting out straight toward Yang Chengfeng¡¯s vitals. Seeing this scene, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face darkened to the extreme. He knew his situation was grim, and if he didn¡¯t go all out now, he would have no hope of survival. In an instant, Yang Chengfeng swung his robe sleeve, releasing three Third Order Attack Talismans, which quickly transformed into three streaks of silver-white Sword Qi, attacking Lin Tianming. And this bit of damage, he of course understood, could not possibly stop the powerful Lin Tianming. The reason he did this was actually to buy himself time, so as to use one of his trump cards. As the Third Order Talismans were activated, Lin Tianming was indeed delayed for an instant. Taking advantage of this moment, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s hands never stopped moving. He pinched a Law Decree, followed by making a complex hand gesture. At the same time, Yang Chengfeng murmured words, as if reciting some kind of incantation. The process was swift, and as he completed his movements, a sphere of light appeared above Yang Chengfeng¡¯s head, seemingly out of nowhere. This sphere of light looked ordinary, without any shadow or shape. But as soon as it appeared, Lin Tianming felt a large amount of energy converging toward the sphere from the surrounding valley. In a flash, the sphere enlarged several times over. As the energy in the sphere stopped gathering, it seemed to have reached a certain limit. At this time, Yang Chengfeng showed an expression of madness, and then made another complex hand gesture. In an instant, the huge sphere of light was propelled and smashed toward Lin Tianming. The sphere of light moved swiftly, arriving in front of Lin Tianming in the blink of an eye. At this moment, Lin Tianming had already sensed that this sphere of light was no trivial matter. It was very likely a Spirit Art. But the sphere had not yet exploded, so it was impossible to witness its power and thus impossible to judge the level of this Spirit Art. However, he was certain that this sphere of light was undoubtedly a Spirit Art. He was well aware of the might of Spirit Arts, knowing even the lowest Yellow Grade Spirit Technique had tremendous power, at least much stronger than the average Technique Divine Power. Therefore, the threat of this sphere of light was significant; he had to give it his all. Realizing this, Lin Tianming reached into the void and grabbed the Qinghong Sword in his hand. He swiftly flicked his fingers, and beams of light precisely bombarded the Qinghong Sword. In an instant, the Qinghong Sword let out a sword cry, and then hovered above his head, spinning wildly. His body¡¯s True Yuan Mana was running at its peak, as he poured a great amount of mana into the Qinghong Sword. With a pleasing sound, the sword shadow above his head spun rapidly, forming a beautiful lotus. In such a short time, he directly activated Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus, firmly protecting himself underneath. Just as he completed this Divine Power, the incoming sphere of light descended, striking the lotus with a loud crash. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise echoed, resounding throughout the entire valley. At the same time, a dazzling light streaked across the sky, and the immense impact generated a sweeping Gang Wind in all directions. Underneath the lotus, Lin Tianming was struck by a powerful rebound force, causing him to fall from the sky and crash heavily onto the ground. Even while still in the air, his Qi-Blood surged violently, and he continuously spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood. Just then, the light in the sky dissipated, and both the sphere of light and the shadow of the Sword Lotus vanished without a trace. Simultaneously, calm momentarily returned to the battlefield. ¡­ Chapter 985 985 522 Killing Yang Chengfeng ?Chapter 985: Chapter 522: Killing Yang Chengfeng Chapter 985: Chapter 522: Killing Yang Chengfeng At that moment, Lin Tianming endured the severe pain and climbed up from the ground! Subsequently, he wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth, his face growing even paler. With the battlefield briefly returning to calm, Lin Tianming was overjoyed to have blocked the Spirit Art attack. However, recalling the recent ordeal still made him shudder in fear. In his eyes, it was undeniable that Yang Chengfeng¡¯s Spirit Art was potent and rather eerie. Fortunately, he was decisive enough and had timely perceived the terror of the energy sphere, devising a strategy to counter it. Otherwise, had he been too careless, ordinary methods wouldn¡¯t have sufficed to block the attack, and he might have suffered a significant loss. Under Yang Chengfeng¡¯s strike, although he sustained some injuries, he had managed to handle it smoothly, with little impact on his own strength. ... He was quite satisfied with this outcome. Now that Yang Chengfeng had no tricks left up his sleeve, his threat was greatly reduced. Seeing this, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face revealed an expression of disbelief. He had not anticipated that Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Shadow Lotus would be so formidable, actually withstanding the Spirit Art attack. It was well known in the Cultivation World that the might of Spirit Art was formidable; even the lowest Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques could be a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s ace. The power of his Spirit Art was immense, having claimed the lives of several Golden Core Cultivators and aided him numerous times out of crises. Such a trump card still failing to inflict heavy damage on Lin Tianming was simply inconceivable for him. Now, with one strike not achieving its aim, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s last hope of defeating Lin Tianming head-on was shattered. At this moment, Yang Chengfeng looked utterly bewildered, with turmoil raging in his heart. At this time, Lin Tianming was not wasting any time. He hurriedly adjusted his condition, and then the Qinghong Sword in his hand flashed, once again unleashing the divine skill, Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Whiz¡­¡± A pleasing sword chant arose, snapping Yang Chengfeng back to reality. Shocked, Yang Chengfeng immediately turned around and flew towards the exterior of the valley. Seeing this, Lin Tianming appeared to have anticipated it. Next, the Blue Heart True Flame was already prepared in his hand, and it was smashed towards the direction Yang Chengfeng was attempting to flee as he turned around. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Blue Heart True Flame flew out quickly, its fireball expanded with the wind, eventually forming a long fire cloud that completely sealed off much of the valley¡¯s entrance. Yang Chengfeng had barely escaped a hundred yards when he saw the fire cloud blocking his path and felt an unprecedented heat assaulting him. At that instant, the expression on Yang Chengfeng¡¯s face turned extremely ugly, and the rhythm of his movement was disrupted by the fire cloud. Just as he was about to change direction to continue his escape, at that moment, Lin Tianming had already caught up, the distance between them merely over a hundred yards. Simultaneously, the Qinghong Sword transformed into a giant dragon, making it impossible to avoid completely. Feeling the intense power barreling down from above, Yang Chengfeng was terrified. In haste, Yang Chengfeng placed his Defense Treasure in front of him as a last resort. Following a loud explosion, Yang Chengfeng was sent flying. Still in mid-air, he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion becoming even more sallow. After barely stabilizing his posture, Yang Chengfeng¡¯s expression darkened to the extreme, filled with immense regret. Had he conceded from the start, such a chain of events wouldn¡¯t have occurred, nor would he have faced such peril. Now, after enduring consecutive attacks, he had sustained wounds of varying degrees, and his True Yuan mana was greatly depleted. It could be said that his current condition was pitiful, his strength not even half of what it was at his peak. Under such circumstances, thinking about escaping unscathed seemed unrealistic. At this point, Yang Chengfeng had numerous thoughts, pondering various strategies without any certainty, and Lin Tianming did not intend to spare him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Exaggeration aside, he was truly at a life-and-death moment. Yang Chengfeng understood this well but was helpless. Before he could catch his breath, Lin Tianming¡¯s tidal wave of attacks was forthcoming, giving him no chance to breathe. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Within the valley, Sword Qi wreaked havoc, and a sea of fire roared into existence, with a mighty momentum sweeping over. This terrifying attack covered the sky, with all attacks directed at a specific location in the valley. There, undoubtedly, was Yang Chengfeng. At that moment, Yang Chengfeng felt the dreadful aura overhead and didn¡¯t even move an inch. Time passed, and suddenly, Yang Chengfeng regained his senses, then showed a resolute look. Following that, he made a peculiar hand gesture. The Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth became violent and gathered towards his location. In that instant, Lin Tianming saw this change and instantly sensed his intention. In fact, Lin Tianming had anticipated this situation because no matter what, Yang Chengfeng was never his equal. Under his relentless attacks, defeat and death were merely a matter of time. Now, pushed to a dead end, the self-detonation of the Golden Core was a desperate act of desperation. After all, he was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, having lived over four hundred years; his combat experience was extremely vast, and he was fully aware of his impending predicament. Chapter 986 986 522 ?Chapter 986: 522 Chapter 986: 522 Since there was no hope of escape, he could only go all out, attempting to self-destruct his Golden Core to deliver a crushing blow to Lin Tianming. Only such a desperate move could possibly drag Lin Tianming down with him. Under these circumstances, Yang Chengfeng had made his final attempt, staking his very life on it. Fortunately, Lin Tianming was always on guard against this, and would not easily give Yang Chengfeng the chance to trade his life for his. Just as Yang Chengfeng was drawing in nature¡¯s spiritual energy to fortify himself, the many fiery clouds that had been behind him unexpectedly moved again at this moment, reconverging into a ball of flames. Subsequently, in an unguarded moment for Yang Chengfeng, the ball of flames descended, striking precisely upon his head. In that instant, a loud explosion rang out. ... Within that sea of fire, Yang Chengfeng instantly became a Fire Man, and soon after, he exploded into numerous fragments, scattering and burning on the ground, leaving not even a trace of ash behind. As the explosion occurred, Lin Tianming¡¯s body had already retreated a step ahead, ultimately creating a safe distance. With the valley returning to tranquility, Lin Tianming¡¯s solemn expression relaxed, and a thick smile crossed his face again. He sighed with relief and immediately rushed towards the spot where Yang Chengfeng had perished. When he arrived at the spot where Yang Chengfeng had just stood, he saw a charred crater with flickering embers around it. In his view, Yang Chengfeng could never have dreamed that the fiery clouds blocking his path would be a mere smokescreen. Had he known this, he would have been either killed by Lin Tianming or died of sheer frustration. Looking back, Lin Tianming realized he had taken some risks, betting that Yang Chengfeng wouldn¡¯t dare to force his way through the fiery clouds while being pursued. If Yang Chengfeng had recklessly charged through, with his cultivation strength, he would not have been left defenseless. Without the fiery clouds to impede him, Yang Chengfeng could have fled the valley, emerging into the vast mountains beyond. Under those circumstances, even if Lin Tianming had the absolute upper hand, catching up to and eliminating Yang Chengfeng would have taken no small effort. If it had come to that, the final outcome might have been fraught with many more uncertainties. Fortunately, he had succeeded. Yang Chengfeng was indeed too wary of the power of the Blue Heart True Flame, wasting much time and reluctantly enduring Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks. And this risky venture resulted in a momentous shift, as he seized the subsequent opportunity, launching a fluid assault that didn¡¯t allow Yang Chengfeng any respite. In the end, driven to a dead end and wishing to self-detonate his Golden Core to take Lin Tianming down with him, under his carefully laid trap, Yang Chengfeng had no chance to do so. Now that the great battle was over and with Yang Chengfeng¡¯s demise, a chapter had come to a complete close. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked over the scarred battlefield and changed valley, unable to contain the excitement in his heart any longer. He joyfully paused for a moment, then quickly began to collect Yang Chengfeng¡¯s bounty, including the body of the Ethereal Centipede in the distance, which he stowed away in his storage bag. Speaking of which, the corpse of this Demon Insect was an excellent material for Artifact Refining; its carapace possessed astonishing defensive power and, combined with other precious materials, could be sufficient to forge one or two Defense Treasures. As for the other parts, although they were somewhat less suitable for creating Magical Treasures, they were good enough to make Second Order Superior Magic Artifacts. Having done all this, Lin Tianming surveyed the surroundings and then headed deeper into the valley. Not long after, following a thorough exploration, Lin Tianming confirmed the safety of the area and stopped at a concealed location in the valley. In his eyes, this valley, the site of the great battle, was extremely hidden; its exterior was so strange that it could block the probing of many cultivators. Now, with most of his True Essence Mana depleted and some injuries sustained, his strength was somewhat affected, making it inadvisable to travel about outside. More importantly, the valley was vast; he had only briefly explored it but had not been able to determine its full size. Even in his quick survey of a small area, he had come across numerous First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs, and had even found one plant of Third Order Spiritual Medicine. If nothing unexpected occurred, the valley had existed for a long time, nurturing plenty of Spiritual Medicine, with possibly more treasures deeper within. Such a treasure trove, aside from Yang Chengfeng, probably remained undiscovered by anyone else. Even the freely growing Spiritual Herbs, which Yang Chengfeng had not casually picked, were probably left to grow further in anticipation of taking them with him upon departure. ¡°` However, Lin Tianming had not anticipated that a relic of a Golden Core Cave Mansion marked on a map would attract such a formidable adversary. In hindsight, it seemed like fate was playing tricks on him. And it also proved the saying, ¡°One¡¯s own actions can bring about one¡¯s downfall.¡± Now that Yang Chengfeng was dead, it was natural for him to explore and collect these Heaven and Earth Treasures. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming could not help but feel somewhat helpless. At present, he decided to cultivate here for some time to recover his depleted mana and heal his injuries. After all, within the Five Poison Mountain, a crisis could arise at any moment. Only when his condition was at its peak would he feel a sufficient sense of security. Once he had somewhat recovered, he would thoroughly explore the valley and then continue on his quest to find the Dry Jade Grass. Determined, Lin Tianming found a secluded spot and released the Purple Gold Eagle to keep watch around him. Having done this, he took out an elixir and swallowed it, then sat down to start cultivating. More than ten days later. Lin Tianming opened his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed through the corners of his eyes. At this moment, Lin Tianming smiled and looked within his body, noting that his True Essence Mana had recovered more than eighty percent. As for his injuries, they were also mostly healed; the remaining ones were not severe and could almost be ignored. Now, his strength had essentially returned to its peak. Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction and glanced at the valley that looked as it did initially, his anticipation no longer containable. Having barely calmed himself, he decided to postpone inspecting Yang Chengfeng¡¯s spoils of war and resolved to first search the valley thoroughly. After he had finished scouring the spiritual herbs in the area, he would then check Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming immediately set out, groping his way towards the interior of the valley. As he walked along one side of the valley, his Divine Sense expanded and contracted, covering a not insignificant area. Additionally, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, even the most hidden spots could be discovered by him. Soon, under his meticulous search, he found some First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs. These herbs were common, and although not high-grade and not plentiful, the accumulated value was trivial to him. But he did not disdain these lower-grade items. In his heart, he always remembered the dire straits his family had been in decades ago, including the time when he had just embarked on the Path of Immortality and even cultivated using Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Back then, even a bottle of Lingshen Pill was precious to his clan members. Despite his exceptional talents, the resources available to him were limited; any additional cultivation elixirs had been saved and given to him by his grandfather, who was an Alchemist, and his parents. To speak of it, those days, though decades in the past, felt as recent as yesterday whenever he thought about it. Now, while his family¡¯s circumstances had improved, and he himself had reached the Golden Core Stage Cultivation, qualifying him as one of the top powerhouses in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, that arduous period was something none of the family members who experienced it could afford to forget. This was a point Lin Tianming kept close to his heart; so when he saw these lower-grade items, although they were not highly valuable, they did not require much effort or pose any danger, so naturally, he could not let them go to waste. Thus, he casually collected the mature Spiritual Medicine, planning to bring them back to the family to add even a slight bit to their heritage. Under his collection efforts, he soon gathered over a hundred herbs. Among these herbs, the most valuable was the Third Order Spiritual Medicine he had first discovered. As he finished scouring this familiar place, Lin Tianming also entered the deeper part of the valley. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 987 987 523 Five Elements Spiritual ?Chapter 987: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique Chapter 987: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique In the depths of the valley, Lin Tianming groped his way deeper, and after half a day, he had largely explored most of the valley. During this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s gains were considerable. He had sequentially discovered several Third Order Spiritual Medicines and hundreds of First and Second Order Spiritual Herbs, accumulating quite a substantial value. By then, he had reached the deepest part of the valley. As he stood at the base of a peak, he halted his advance. He looked up and saw that he had reached the end of the valley, facing a peak that fully blocked his path. The peak soared into the clouds, steep and rugged, composed almost entirely of rock with very little vegetation, except for colorful flowers and plants growing in some of the cracked crevices. Observing the mid-section of the peak before him, Lin Tianming carefully noticed that some Spiritual Medicine was sparsely growing in the crevices, mostly Second Order with few First Order. It was apparent that although this peak looked barren and not like the typical favorable growing site for common Spiritual Medicine, it was often under these unique geographic conditions or special factors that special Spiritual Medicines could grow. ... The varieties of Spiritual Medicine here were not many, but the quantity was still good, which was a perfect example. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t delay any longer and leaped up, rising slowly from the base of the peak, and began his careful search along the mountain. When he encountered some Spiritual Medicine, he naturally chose to collect them. Soon, Lin Tianming climbed upwards and quickly reached the summit. At this moment, he looked at the ragged peak, carefully searching within this range of hundreds of meters. When his gaze fell on a crevice, he saw two small plants growing within. The grass was about a foot tall, with leaves of various colors, fluttering in the breeze, and looked quite enchanting. ¡°Dry Jade Grass!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ There really is Dry Jade Grass!¡± At that moment, Lin Tianming exclaimed, his face suddenly flushing with excitement. After calming himself down a bit, Lin Tianming, with a smile, shot towards the two plants. In less than a breath, he reached the side of the two Dry Jade Grasses. Following that, he lay down on the ground, closely examining the Dry Jade Grass before him, seemingly still in disbelief. After a long time, following his careful examination, he was absolutely certain that these were indeed the Dry Jade Grasses he had been searching for. Additionally, both plants were mature specimens, several hundred years in age, and as soon as he collected the necessary auxiliary herbs, he could start refining pills immediately. In that moment, having confirmed the authenticity of the Dry Jade Grass and its suitability for his alchemy needs, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. In his mind, he had always been in search of Dry Jade Grass over the years, while also collecting other suitable pill formulas and elixirs. Unfortunately, contrary to his wishes, his family had also helped to search for many years but had never found a suitable substitute. Even this trip to Huangyang Kingdom, he stayed here alone to resolve the cultivation obstacles. During these past six months, though his exhaustive travels were strenuous, he finally caught wind of some information on Dry Jade Grass. Despite not having high hopes initially, he was very much looking forward to potentially finding some traces of Dry Jade Grass in Five Poison Mountain. If possible, obtaining Dry Jade Grass directly would be optimal. Unexpectedly, he encountered Yang Chengfeng here and went through a life-and-death battle, ultimately achieving final victory. All these experiences taken together had indeed been full of twists and turns. Now, he actually found Dry Jade Grass, which somewhat surprised him. Having these two Dry Jade Grasses meant he could refine two batches of Dry Jade Pills, and if the success rate of pill formation was high, and both batches succeeded, he would get at least a few elixirs. Over the years, aside from consuming a Spirit Fruit that increased his cultivation somewhat, he had never formally practiced cultivation. Now, with the Dry Jade Grass, he could finally refine a few elixirs, which would allow him to gradually cultivate for a while. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement was hard to contain. He took a deep breath, somewhat calming down afterward, and carefully began to dig up the Dry Jade Grass, root, and stem with great caution, very carefully to prevent any damage to the plants. Once he dug up one of the Dry Jade Grasses, he quickly stored it in a prepared Jade Box. Following that, he collected the second Dry Jade Grass. Then, he continued to search the surrounding area, hoping to find more Dry Jade Grass. In his view, since there were two Dry Jade Grasses here, indicating that the environment was suitable for its growth, it was possible that more could be found. Currently, with only two plants, even a hundred percent success rate in pill production would likely not support his cultivation for long. Thus, if he wanted to extend his cultivation period, he would need more Dry Jade Grass. With this expectation, Lin Tianming meticulously collected any suspect locations. Four hours later, Lin Tianming returned to the base of the mountain. After his careful examination and scavenging, the result was truly not disappointing. Chapter 988 988 523 Five Elements Spiritual ?Chapter 988: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique_2 Chapter 988: Chapter 523 Five Elements Spiritual Technique_2 ¡°` In just half a day, he had acquired twenty-four mature Dry Jade Grasses and also gathered more than a hundred young ones that had yet to reach full maturity. With such a harvest, Lin Tianming should not have to worry about Dry Jade Pills for the next two to three decades. He was very satisfied with this harvest. Moreover, this trip to Five Poison Mountain not only provided him with a considerable amount of Dry Jade Grass to temporarily alleviate his cultivation troubles but also allowed him to kill Yang Chengfeng and the Ethereal Centipede, which could be described as a full harvest in every sense. Later on, when he examined Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag, he would likely find even more treasures. After all, Yang Chengfeng was at the mid-stage Golden Core Realm and had been cultivating for over four hundred years, so he definitely possessed a significant amount of wealth. Moreover, over the past two hundred years, he had plundered many forces and even used Golden Core relics as bait to harm many Foundation Establishment cultivators seeking treasures. ... Having made so many enemies and done so many outrageous deeds, he certainly accumulated a vast amount of treasures. Now, all these treasures were cheap for him. Every time he thought about this, Lin Tianming¡¯s originally calm mood became excited again. Half an hour later. After exploring the valley, Lin Tianming returned to the place where he had been cultivating the previous days. He sat on a rock, unable to hide the smile on his face. After calming himself slightly, Lin Tianming also fell into deep thought. Since it was getting late, he planned to stay in this area to rest for a couple of days, recuperating his state while sorting through Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag. Once all that was settled, he had no plans to continue staying in Five Poison Mountain for further treasure hunting. Currently, in his view, both the Wei Kingdom and Huangyang Country Cultivation World were relatively peaceful, with the significant powers all digesting territories and recovering from the losses of consecutive battles in recent years. The Lin Family was doing the same! If nothing unexpected happened, the Lin Family should be focusing on handing over territories, appeasing family forces, and securing control of the territories. Although dealing with these matters wasn¡¯t risky, the top members of the Lin Family were very busy, and their strength hadn¡¯t reached its peak. Under such circumstances, it was not suitable for him to be away from the family for too long. In his view, his primary task was to return to his family as soon as possible, then oversee the family matters while also taking the opportunity to undergo a prolonged seclusion. During this period of seclusion, he had many tasks to complete, starting with advancing his Alchemy to the Third Order and then refining the Dry Jade Pills. Immediately after, he planned to use the Dry Jade Pills and the large amount of elixirs he had acquired previously to earnestly enhance his cultivation. Once his cultivation improved, the Lin Family would genuinely possess the strength to confront the other two Great Sects head-on. Understanding this, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t waste time in the perilous Five Poison Mountain. Thus, Lin Tianming immediately made plans to first check the contents of Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag and then quickly start his journey back to his family. Once he made up his mind, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately took out Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag and placed it in front of him. Then, he extended his Divine Sense, easily erased the remaining Divine Sense on the storage bag, and began checking the items inside. Soon, Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed with excitement again, and his breathing quickened. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t calm enough, but the amount of treasures in Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag was simply too vast. From his examination, he found that there were over one million three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones alone, presumably all collected from harming those Foundation Establishment cultivators over the years. After reaching the Golden Core Stage, especially for a Medium Stage cultivator like Yang Chengfeng who had lived for over four hundred years, the use of Medium-Grade Spirit Stones became more common, and Low-Grade Spirit Stones comprised only a small percentage. Yet, that was only the count of Low-Grade Spirit Stones; the storage bag also contained higher-level Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, totaling over eighty thousand pieces, equivalent to more than eight million Low-Grade Spirit Stones when converted. And that was just the Spirit Stones, totaling nearly ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Such an amount made Lin Tianming, who had been a cultivator for many years, the only Golden Core Stage cultivator he knew who carried so many Spirit Stones. ¡°` And before this, the person who had obtained the most spirit stones from a cultivator was Xu Zhi from the Qingyun Sect. At that time, he had acquired only several million spirit stones, which had already greatly shocked him. Unexpectedly, this time in Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag, he found such a huge quantity of spirit stones, which indeed broadened his horizons. Even in his heart, he wondered what Yang Chengfeng had done to accumulate such vast wealth. Could it be that in the past few centuries, he had killed many cultivators of the same rank? Or perhaps, he had destroyed many Foundation Establishing Families, or even robbed Golden Elixir Forces? If that were indeed the case, it¡¯s no wonder Yang Chengfeng was cultivating in the depths of Five Poison Mountain, probably as a refuge. Lin Tianming thought to himself, seemingly understanding something. He calmed down a bit, and Lin Tianming then inventoried the multitude of treasures, getting a basic grasp of the many items in this storage bag. The quantity of spirit stones in this storage bag was already immense. However, what interested Lin Tianming more were the cultivation methods and the spirit art used by Yang Chengfeng. After all, although there were many low-grade spirit stones, the value of inheritance-type technique secret arts, especially to a family cultivator, was obviously much higher. Particularly spirit arts, which could provide an unprecedented enhancement of a cultivator¡¯s strength, capable of utterly turning the tide in critical moments. Therefore, even the lowest Yellow Grade spirit arts could not be compared with several million, or even ten million spirit stones. One must understand that in the current Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, or even the more powerful Huangyang Country Cultivation World, a Yellow Grade spirit art was considered a priceless treasure for any Golden Elixir Forces. Under such circumstances, even if a Golden Elixir Force had many spirit stones, they couldn¡¯t easily trade for a complete spirit art. In other words, if a spirit art were openly available in a country, those Golden Elixir Forces wouldn¡¯t easily back down; they would likely fight fiercely over it. From this, one can understand the value of a spirit art. Lin Tianming had also experienced the power of the spirit art used by Yang Chengfeng, which was indeed extraordinary and not inferior to the spirit arts used by Han Hu and other disciples of the Golden Sword Sect. If he were to acquire this divine art, the Lin Family would possess three spirit arts, among which the Great Sun Sword Qi Art was of the highest grade, a Mysterious Grade spirit art which the core members of the Lin Family had almost all practiced. This Mysterious Grade spirit art had indeed made significant contributions over the years, often reversing situations. Besides, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s spirit art had also been found, and all four of Wei Kingdom¡¯s major Golden Elixir Forces had made imprints of it. However, as the time was still short and the major forces hadn¡¯t yet settled from the great battles, even though the Lin Family had acquired that spirit art, their members hadn¡¯t practiced it yet. Now, after Lin Tianming¡¯s exploration, he had indeed found the spirit art used by Yang Chengfeng. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a brief review, he also learned the basic information about the spirit art, and it was just as he had guessed¡ªa Yellow Grade spirit art. As for the name of the spirit art, it was called ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique.¡± The characteristic of this spirit art was that it forcefully extracted the Five Elements from the universe, gathering them into a fierce ball of energy. When the energy in the spirit group reached a certain scale limit, it could be detonated to damage enemies. Speaking of which, its principle was similar to a Golden Core Cultivator self-detonating their golden core, though there was some difference in power. Moreover, when performing this spirit art, there were considerable restrictions on the terrain. If performed in a place with sparse spiritual energy or uneven distribution of the Five Elements, the forcefully gathered spirit group would be extremely limited in power. Sometimes, this spirit art might even be weaker than a cultivator¡¯s ordinary attacks. On the other hand, if it was in a place rich in spiritual energy and the Five Elements were relatively balanced, such as in some secret realms or inside a force¡¯s sect, where spiritual energy was often much richer than ordinary places. In such environments, the power behind a spirit group gathered through this spirit art could be very significant. All in all, the upper limit of this spirit art was very high, and the lower limit was very low. Chapter 989 989 524 Return Journey ?Chapter 989: Chapter 524 Return Journey Chapter 989: Chapter 524 Return Journey Where Lin Tianming and Yang Chengfeng had fought, the valley where he now stood, was filled with thick spiritual energy and a balanced distribution of the Five Elements, making it a decent place for execution of powers. Therefore, when Yang Chengfeng had unleashed his Spirit Art, the power and aura were astonishingly impressive. Such power from the Spirit Art must have been influenced to some extent by the environment of this place. When Lin Tianming first sensed the terrifying aura of the Spirit Group, he realized that this attack was no ordinary one, and was not something that could be matched by an ordinary attack or a common Technique Divine Power. Fortunately, he was prepared, and managed to block the strike with his Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skill. Thinking back now, if not for his cultivation of a high-grade Technique and the fact that this valley wasn¡¯t the best place to unleash that Spirit Art, he might well have perished under that light sphere. Considering this, Lin Tianming, though always confident, felt grateful for his good luck back then. ... Thankfully, it was all in the past, and pondering the dangers of that fierce battle held no significance anymore. After all, to the victor belong the spoils! Now that Yang Chengfeng was dead, all his treasures were Lin Tianming¡¯s to claim, signaling the end of this crisis. Reflecting on this, Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement settled somewhat, and he set aside the Jade Slip containing the Five Elements Spiritual Technique, thinking that it would surely astonish the elders when he returned to the Lin Family. He then organized the other treasures, gaining a clear picture of his substantial gains from this encounter. Among these treasures, naturally, the most valuable was that Spirit Art; next was an Earth-grade Technique ¡°Creation Poison Scripture¡± practiced by Yang Chengfeng. This Technique was of no low-grade and was an insidious Poison Path Technique. If cultivated properly, it could undoubtedly become a formidable asset. Take Yang Chengfeng for example; as an Independent Cultivator, he was able to cultivate up to the Mid Stage Golden Core and was fiercely powerful among cultivators of the same rank. His cultivation and strength could be attributed to his notable talent, but this Poison Path Technique also played a significant role. Thus, the value of this Earth Grade Technique was self-evident. However, such a Poison Path Technique was also a double-edged sword, fraught with extreme peril during cultivation. A slight misstep could lead to deviation and death. Yet if someone with a resolute Dao heart were to cultivate it, it could be perfected, turning them into an incredibly powerful cultivator. No matter how it was viewed, this Technique was of high value, after all, besides the Heavenly Grade Technique he practiced and the Earth-grade Technique he obtained from the Golden Sword Sect, it was the second solitary Earth-grade Technique obtained by the Lin Family thus far. Even if the family members did not cultivate this Poison Path Technique, they could sell it and easily gain a large amount of Spirit Stones. Aside from the Earth-grade Poison Path Technique, the other treasures varied in type and were in considerable quantity. Among the highest valued were three Fourth Tier Items, consisting of two Artifact Refining Materials and one Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine Material. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the remaining items, they were mostly legacy treasures, along with various materials, and some elixirs and Spirit Stones, and so forth. The legacy treasures included seven Cultivation Methods and some insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation. Among them, two Mysterious Grade Techniques and five Yellow Grade Techniques were slightly more valuable, while the ranks of other Four Arts inheritances were not high, and thus provided limited enhancement to the foundation of the Lin Family. Nevertheless, when Lin Tianming saw so many Techniques and inheritances of the Four Arts of Cultivation, he was inwardly shaken. After all, Yang Chengfeng, as an Independent Cultivator, managed to accumulate so many treasures over a few hundred years of solitary cultivation, almost encompassing everything a cultivator might need. Contemplating the origins of these Techniques and inheritances, he could easily guess that Yang Chengfeng had lured Foundation Establishment Cultivators seeking treasure and experience with the false pretense of a Golden Core Relic Site, and gained these by killing them over the years. Over a century, a large number of cultivators died at his hands, and the low-level treasures he disdained simply accumulated. Yet now, such a ruthless demon like Yang Chengfeng had fallen into his hands, effectively removing a scourge from the people. Moving on, among the remaining treasures that caught Lin Tianming¡¯s eye were over a dozen high-value Third Grade Materials and four Magical Treasures. Of these Magical Treasures, aside from the two that Yang Chengfeng had used in battle, one for offense and one for defense, there were two he had not seen before: a golden Circular Ring and a Long Spear Magical Treasure. He examined them carefully, and both treasures were for attack, though their quality was clearly not as good as the Blue Longsword used by Yang Chengfeng. However, compared to ordinary Magical Treasures, the quality of this Circular Ring and Long Spear Magical Treasure was significantly better. Considering their value, it was no wonder Yang Chengfeng had kept them, probably for emergencies. Yet who knew, they would eventually benefit him. Apart from these, there were numerous other relatively ordinary Third Order Treasures, and First and Second-Order Treasures were innumerable. Along with a small amount of Third Order Pills and the two Magical Treasures used by Yang Chengfeng, there were only a few dozen treasures that piqued his interest in total. Thus, Lin Tianming stored all the treasures he could use, along with more than eighty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, in his storage bag. Chapter 990 990 524 Return Journey_2 ?Chapter 990: Chapter 524: Return Journey_2 Chapter 990: Chapter 524: Return Journey_2 As for the remaining inherited items, as well as various spiritual medicines, spirit ores, and low-grade pills, talismans, and magic artifacts related to the Four Arts of Cultivation that he considered unremarkable, he stowed them all away in several storage bags. Additionally, he pooled these with the low-grade spiritual medicine materials collected from within this valley and stored them separately. Although their value wasn¡¯t particularly high, their abundance made them excellent treasures for those below the Golden Core Stage in the Clan. Once he finished assessing this storage bag, Lin Tianming roughly estimated the total value of these treasures. Setting aside the accumulated tens of millions of low-grade spirit stones, the most valuable items were a Five Elements Spiritual Technique, an Earth-grade Poison Path Technique, three fourth-order treasures, and four magical treasures. The other third-order treasures, together with all the other low-grade treasures, were estimated to also be worth nearly ten million spirit stones. Such a collection of treasures was Lin Tianming¡¯s richest harvest acquired from a cultivator to date. ... Before this, the most substantial personal treasury belonged only to Han Hu of the Golden Sword Sect. Though Han Hu¡¯s collection and its value, including the quality of high-level treasures, were significantly greater than those of Yang Chengfeng, it was because Han Hu was the top expert of the Golden Sword Sect, with a cultivation realm in the late stage of Golden Core. Additionally, with the near ten-thousand-year heritage of the Golden Sword Sect, coupled with the help of disciples in gathering treasures, a loose cultivator could hardly compare. And indeed, the treasures belonging to Han Hu were immense; divided among several major forces of the Wei Kingdom, Lin Tianming only claimed a small portion but still acquired treasures worth millions of spirit stones. Yet even so, the treasures on Yang Chengfeng were plentiful and terrifyingly valuable. Even for someone as rich as Lin Tianming, the first sight of such an array of treasures left him stunned for a long time. However, after completing the subsequent inventory check, Lin Tianming¡¯s excited and shocked emotions gradually calmed down. After inventorying the numerous treasures, Lin Tianming kept some of the high-value items and certain cherished varieties. Those ordinary treasures too, he gathered separately and planned to take them back and present them to the Clan Leader. After spending over a ¡°shi chen¡±, he finally finished, and the task of checking the storage bags reached a formal conclusion. At this moment, it was deep into the night, and the bright moonlight spilled onto the ground like a layer of frost. Lin Tianming smiled, sighed, and then began to meditate and soon entered into cultivation. Three days later, in the early morning. A beam of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. At this moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his resolute face again showing a satisfied smile. After several days of peaceful cultivation, his condition reached its peak again, and his strength subtly grew stronger. With everything going smoothly, his goal this time was perfectly achieved, plus, there was an additional, shocking gain. It was time to leave this place and return to the Clan! Lin Tianming thought to himself. In his eyes, despite the myriad dangers within Five Poison Mountain and the near-negligible threat from other cultivators, there were rumors that deep in this region prowled terrifying poison mists and various third-order venomous beasts and insects, posing a threat far greater than that of any cultivator. In such circumstances, even with confidence in his own strength, he couldn¡¯t help but be cautious. After all, he had achieved his objective and gained an astonishing surplus. Now, carrying so many treasures on him, it wasn¡¯t wise to linger in the dangerous Five Poison Mountain. With this in mind, Lin Tianming decided not to waste more time. Thus, after covering his tracks, he took the same path as he had arrived through a sinister and eerie gorge, arriving back at the original entrance. Immediately after, Lin Tianming set out lightly equipped, flying eastward following the route he had taken. Time hurried along, and three months passed in this way. Luoyun Mountain Range, Lin Family Territory of Green Bamboo Mountain. At noon this day, outside the Lin Family Mountain Gate, a dark shadow gradually approached from afar. As the distance closed, the shadow grew larger and eventually revealed itself to be Lin Tianming and the Purple Gold Eagle. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked slightly fatigued, but an excited smile was unmistakable on his face. Over the past three months, he had carefully and successfully exited the range of Five Poison Mountain and had been making his way northward. Along the way, Lin Tianming traveled at an unhurried pace while keeping an eye on the internal news of Huangyang Kingdom. Before he had set off for Five Poison Mountain, the news of that bout at the Qingyun Sect had not yet fully spread in Huangyang Kingdom, so he couldn¡¯t know the reactions of the other major forces. Nearly a year had passed since the bout on this return journey to his clan. During this period, although the major forces of Qingyun Sect were reluctant to bring up this embarrassing event, it would inevitably be widely known throughout the Cultivation World of Huangyang Kingdom. Under such circumstances, it was quite fitting for him now to probe the major forces regarding this matter to see the reaction of the cultivators in Huangyang Kingdom. Sure enough, over the year, the incident had spread among all the major forces of Huangyang Kingdom, including the smaller Qi Refinement families and even loose cultivators. In the past six months, this event had been a common topic of discussion among the various forces and loose cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom whenever they had leisure. Suddenly, the event of Qingyun Sect caused a major uproar once again. Meanwhile, the four Golden Elixir Forces of Wei Kingdom once again attracted the attention of all the cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. Especially the Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain Range, including Lin Tianming himself, once again became a topic of discussion among all the cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom. After all, many family cultivators who were staying at Qingyun Sect, as well as some loose cultivators, had witnessed the entire process of the battle with their own eyes. In that battle, Lin Tianming, at the Early Stage Golden Core, actually confronted head-on with He Lanjun, a veteran Late Stage Golden Core expert. What was thought to be a one-sided spar turned out to be a huge surprise to everyone. Wei Kingdom not only won the bout, but Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t fall into much disadvantage and even directly repelled He Lanjun, causing him considerable loss. Such a shocking and unexpected outcome, aside from the cultivators of Wei Kingdom, was surely unforeseen by everyone else. And as the people who watched the battle left, they spread the details of that bout everywhere. Furthermore, in the half-year that followed, the Whirlwind Mountain Range controlled by Qingyun Sect, as well as several other surrounding mountain ranges, began to see a large amount of family migration. Such huge movements naturally couldn¡¯t escape the notice of the cultivators who traveled everywhere. Once this news spread, combined with the details of the bout, it shocked those cultivators of Huangyang Kingdom who were unaware. Under these circumstances, Huangyang Kingdom, for nearly the past half-year, had been discussing the Cultivation World of Wei Kingdom, focusing on the name of Luoyun Mountain Range Lin Family. Lin Tianming traveled stop by stop along the way, occasionally entering some workshops to probe the internal news of Huangyang Kingdom. From his own observations, mingling in some of the busier places, he also managed to learn quite a bit of information. In his view, those ordinary families, as well as some low-strength and status loose cultivators, naturally had no significant opinion on the matter and at most would just discuss it verbally, slowly fading away. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And top forces like Yuquan Sect, as well as other Golden Elixir Forces, seemed to adopt an attitude of watching the excitement. After all, internal undercurrents had always been strong within Huangyang Kingdom, and the major Golden Elixir Forces weren¡¯t united, with minor frictions constantly occurring. In some years, several Golden Elixir Forces of Qingyun Sect even united to resist Yuquan Sect and other Golden Elixir Forces just to prevent their overall strength from becoming stronger. This was done out of fear that Yuquan Sect would become too powerful and thus encroach on their own underlying interests. ¡­ Chapter 991 991 525 Elder Shocked ?Chapter 991: Chapter 525 Elder Shocked Chapter 991: Chapter 525 Elder Shocked Now the Yuquan Sect, upon seeing their rival forces falter, not only had a few of their Golden Core Stage combat power fallen, but they had also lost some benefits. As a result, although they remained outwardly calm, inwardly they were clapping their hands with glee. They even secretly hoped that the several Qingyun Sect forces would suffer even more losses. Ideally, if possible, a life-and-death battle between them and the several Golden Elixir Forces of the Wei Kingdom would be most welcome. And they would also take the opportunity to gain more benefits. However, the several Qingyun Sect forces were also clear-headed, not only steadied their minds but also promptly offered a small part of their benefits to appease the several Wei Kingdom forces, avoiding the awkward situation of being attacked from both sides. In such a situation, the Golden Elixir Forces of the Yuquan Sect could do nothing but watch the joke from behind. ... Eventually, the Qingyun Sect¡¯s competition gradually calmed down, and everything returned to normal. After Lin Tianming learned of this news, he didn¡¯t delay any further and returned to the Wei Kingdom as quickly as possible. Along the way, he passed through the Changfeng Mountain Range, which were formerly Qingyun Sect territories. Within those five mountain ranges, Lin Tianming really saw some families moving their entire clans, seemingly unwilling to accept the Lin Family¡¯s management. In Lin Tianming¡¯s view, this could be Qingyun Sect¡¯s meddling in the background, or it could be that those forces themselves didn¡¯t wish to fall under the Lin Family¡¯s flag. After all, for hundreds of years, these forces were accustomed to the Qingyun Sect as the Sect Overlord and familiar with each other¡¯s management. Now they had to change their allegiance, and naturally, some were afraid of the strange Lin Family exploiting them too much. Thus, relocating their entire clan, even at some cost, was also a viable long-term strategy. And such relocation actions were indirectly mentioned by He Lanjun at the beginning; his meaning was simple, for those families who voluntarily left, the Lin Family shouldn¡¯t interfere with their choice. Thus, when Lin Tianming saw those migrating cultivators, he didn¡¯t stop anything. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, when he passed through the Changfeng Mountain Range, he also encountered members of the Lin Family, all responsible for overseeing and executing the handover of territory tasks. Since his father was not on site, he simply greeted them and continued on his journey home to the family. Until today, he finally managed to return to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory smoothly. At this time, looking at the familiar scenery before him, Lin Tianming had a smile on his face. Meanwhile, the fatigue from days of traveling also dissipated a fair amount. In front of him, a few clansmen patrolling the gate also noticed his presence and gathered around to greet him immediately. Among those responsible for patrolling the gate were some elders of the Xing Generation, accompanied by fellow clansmen. Facing them, despite the vast difference in cultivation, Lin Tianming was still very courteous. After greeting the clansmen, he didn¡¯t linger and directly entered the clan territory. Upon entering the clan, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t first return to his Cave Mansion to reunite with the longingly remembered Qin Xi, nor did he go to greet his grandparents and mother. In his view, since he didn¡¯t plan to go out recently and had plenty of time, it wasn¡¯t urgent to reunite with his nearest and dearest just yet. Besides, they might not have time right now, so there was no need to rush. Thus, he maintained his usual practice of first sending a message to each elder of the Shi Generation, informing them of his return. Following that, he prepared to visit Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion, and have a good reunion with them. With this intention in mind, Lin Tianming flew straight towards a Cave Mansion at the top of the main peak. A little time passed. Green Bamboo Mountain. Inside a Cave Mansion at the top of the main peak, several people were seated together. At this moment, the scene was lively, as everyone¡¯s face was full of broad smiles. As the chatter continued among the group, Lin Shikang was the first to speak up, bringing the excited group back to reality. He earnestly asked, ¡°Tian Ming, how have you been in this past year? Did your search for Pill Formulas and elixirs go smoothly?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled again, as the excitement in his heart could no longer be concealed on his face. Seeing his demeanor, although Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t speaking, everyone had a rough idea, guessing that his trip to Huangyang Kingdom must have been extraordinarily fruitful. Otherwise, with Lin Tianming¡¯s typically composed character, he wouldn¡¯t show such an expression. At that time, Lin Tianming calmed down a bit, then he stopped beating around the bush and directly recounted all of his experiences over the year. Soon, when Lin Shikang and others learned that he had gone to Five Poison Mountain alone to search for treasures and gain experience, everyone was initially taken aback, clearly worried for his safety. After all, Five Poison Mountain had a notorious reputation that was well known even in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, with stories and information about it present in various texts and rumors. Such a dangerous place, even a Golden Core Stage Cultivator entering posed great risks. And Lin Tianming had gone alone, unfamiliar with the terrain and people. Within the notoriously dangerous Five Poison Mountain, all sorts of Demonic Beasts roamed unchecked, and mysterious, incredibly poisonous mists drifted everywhere. Under such conditions, even though Lin Tianming was strong, he needed to be extra cautious. Otherwise, a moment¡¯s inattention could cost him, even leading to his death within that perilous environment. Chapter 992 992 525 The Elders Are Shocked _2 ?Chapter 992: Chapter 525: The Elders Are Shocked _2 Chapter 992: Chapter 525: The Elders Are Shocked _2 Sure enough, as Lin Tianming talked about that eerie valley and the chance encounter with the Ethereal Centipede¡ªa Third Order Demon Insect, everyone couldn¡¯t help but tense up, as if they were there in person. Fortunately, they also knew of Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable strength and were always very confident in his combat capabilities and magic duel experience. As such, a mere Third Order Early Stage Demon Insect, despite its formidable power, was clearly not enough to pose much of a threat to him alone. At the very least, even if Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t a match for that demon insect, if he was intent on leaving, the Ethereal Centipede surely wouldn¡¯t be able to keep him there, thus there was no fatal threat. Realizing this, Lin Shikang and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, when Lin Tianming mentioned the appearance of Yang Chengfeng and the fierce battle that ensued between them, the hearts of Lin Shikang and the rest, which had just settled, hung high once again. With some alterations to his account, Lin Tianming omitted many of the dangerous moments, at least covering up much of the crisis he faced at that time. ... Yet even so, his recounting still caused Lin Shikang and the others to sweat profusely. But thankfully, Lin Tianming returned safely, and although he looked tired, he didn¡¯t seem injured, which gradually calmed everyone down. Afterward, Lin Tianming talked about the outcome of the battle, how he found his target, the Dry Jade Grass, and successfully obtained a good number of mature spiritual medicines, temporarily resolving his cultivation troubles. For this, everyone present couldn¡¯t help but feel genuinely happy. Then, Lin Tianming brought up Yang Chengfeng¡¯s storage bag, which contained a vast number of extremely valuable treasures. Upon hearing this news, the faces of everyone present turned red with excitement, their breathing suddenly becoming rapid. In that instant, Lin Shihua¡¯s face flushed, and he stammered with a trembling tone of doubt, ¡°Tianming, are¡­ are you serious?¡± As soon as the words were out, even Lin Shikang beside him couldn¡¯t remain calm. He looked at Lin Shihua with a look of disbelief; although he himself was excited inside, after all, he was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Moreover, over the years, he had seen many treasures and had also represented the Lin Family in the distribution of treasures, so his vision was naturally broad. Suddenly hearing the news from Lin Tianming stirred up excitement in Lin Shikang as well, but at least not as shocked as Lin Shihua. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s nonchalant expression, he couldn¡¯t help but press him for answers. ¡°Tianming, you brat better not keep us in suspense!¡± Lin Shikang pretended to be serious, but the excited smile on his face and the full interest in his eyes couldn¡¯t be hidden. Faced with Lin Shikang¡¯s demeanor, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to delay. He slapped his storage bag and directly took out the most valuable treasures, placing them one by one on the stone table in front of everyone. Soon, more than twenty treasures were laid out on the stone table. At a glance, among these treasures were Jade Slips, spiritual medicines, and spirit ores, as well as magical treasures used by Yang Chengfeng. At this time, upon seeing the items before them, Lin Shikang and the others lost their composure. Instantly, Lin Shikang grabbed the Jade Slip of the Spiritual Art of the Five Elements with a single hand and began to examine it. Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong didn¡¯t idle either, eagerly picking up various spiritual medicines and spirit ores to check them over lovingly. As they inspected, they couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly to themselves, ¡°Qiushuang Grass, Magical Flower, Black Pine Stone¡­¡± Quickly, every treasure on the stone table had been examined by them, and some were even checked over several times before finally being put down. At this time, everyone was still excited, their faces unable to return to calm. Seeing his clan members¡¯ reactions, Lin Tianming had anticipated it. In fact, on his return journey, he had already considered how much of a shock the appearance of these treasures would bring them. After all, this included a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, an Earth-grade Technique, quite a few Third and Fourth Rank spiritual objects, and four good-quality magical treasures. ¡°Just with these dozens of treasures, the Lin Family¡¯s foundation can be enhanced by more than ten percent.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for his contribution, he himself would probably be as shocked as Lin Shikang and the others at the sight of these items, and his reaction would likely be no calmer.¡± ¡°This means that the gains from this trip to the Five Poison Mountain are truly astonishing.¡± Realizing this, Lin Tianming wore a smile and felt a surge of excitement again in his heart. After everyone had somewhat calmed down, Lin Tianming took out several storage bags, which contained numerous treasures he had prepared in advance¡ªa large batch of resources. He handed these items over to Lin Shihua himself in front of everyone. At that moment, Lin Shihua opened the storage bags and was once again shocked by their contents. The reason for his shock was the sheer quantity of treasures inside; there were over one million low-grade Spirit Stones alone. In addition, there were nearly a thousand First and Second Order Spiritual Objects, including Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Ore, and the Four Arts of Cultivation. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All the Cultivation Techniques and various inheritances were contained within these storage bags. Such a massive hoard of resources was almost comparable to the treasure vault of a long-established Foundation Establishing Family. In his view, the cumulative value of just these items might well exceed ten million low-grade Spirit Stones. Knowing this, Lin Shihua found it difficult to remain composed. Upon seeing this expression, Lin Shikang extended his Divine Sense to take a look. After a few breaths, Lin Shikang, just like Lin Shihua, managed to regain his normal complexion, which became flushed once again. It took a while longer for Lin Shikang and the others to regain their composure. Following this, Lin Shikang said with a smile, ¡°Shihua, please accept them.¡± ¡°In my view, at Tianming¡¯s level, ordinary items are no longer of any use.¡± ¡°Moreover, with his profound cultivation and formidable strength, he lacks nothing, and even if the family wanted to compensate him, there would be nothing that could catch his eye.¡± ¡°In short, it is now the family that is holding him back!¡± Lin Shikang¡¯s heartfelt words made the expressions of the senior family members present become somber. They were keenly aware of how much Lin Tianming had contributed to the family over the years. Going back over forty years, Lin Tianming first brought back the main ingredient and the pill formula for the Minor Foundation Building Pill, helping several family members break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Then, during the family battle in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the family relied on the strengths gained over those years to overcome the crisis from Golden Horn Mountain¡¯s Jin Family. Following the establishment of the Luoyun Pavilion and the subsequent adventure in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, he and Lin Shilu brought back a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, planting the seeds for the Lin Family¡¯s rise. Later, when the beast tides erupted and finally during the great conflict between the Three Great Golden Core Sects, Lin Tianming was always at the forefront. In just a few decades, the Lin Family had continuously strengthened its power. At the most critical moments, it was Lin Tianming who stepped forward to help the family escape crisis time and again. At the same time, with each significant gain he made, he fervently supported the family, adding the strongest safeguard to the family¡¯s rise. It can be said without exaggeration that Lin Tianming played a crucial role in the rapid rise of the Lin Family and in surviving several existential crises. Now, with several individuals in the family possessing Golden Core Stage Combat Power, their overall strength was scarcely less than the other two great Golden Core Sects, establishing a firm footing within Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. And for the family to have ascended to this level in such a short period, Lin Tianming deserved the greatest credit. Even though the family¡¯s overall strength is now strong and the younger generation is full of talent¡ªtruly a force to be reckoned with¡ª Still, even so, these old timers, even someone like Lin Shikang who had reached the Golden Core Stage, could offer very limited assistance to Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 993 993 526 Meeting Policy ?Chapter 993: Chapter 526 Meeting, Policy Chapter 993: Chapter 526 Meeting, Policy Lianlin Shikang, the eldest and most powerful in terms of cultivation strength among the clan members, was like this. Others who were less skilled in the clan, their help to Lin Tianming was even less worth mentioning! The reason for this was Lin Tianming¡¯s exceptional talent and power. Before these pioneers could even protect this young man during times of crisis, they had already been surpassed by him and left far behind. Now it seemed that the family had gradually become a burden to Lin Tianming. They were acutely aware that if the family were to disconnect from Lin Tianming, the momentum for rapid development would cease. It was even very likely that they would start to decline. ... On the other hand, even without the family¡¯s support, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength wouldn¡¯t be affected in the slightest; on the contrary, without restraints and entanglements, he could advance even faster on his path. Over the years, the family hadn¡¯t been able to provide much help to him. Instead, it was him supporting them that allowed them to rise quickly to their current status. And for a long time to come, such a situation was unlikely to improve. Every time they thought about this, Lin Shikang and others felt very helpless and were filled with guilt. At this moment, Lin Tianming, seeing their suddenly serious expressions, clearly recognized what they were thinking. In his heart, he didn¡¯t at all feel that the family was a burden. Although most of the time, the family and clan members provided extremely limited help in his cultivation and life-and-death battles, He indeed had to be more cautious before making various decisions because of the existence of his family. There were also times when facing potential threats when, for his clan members and family, he had to suppress his impulsive desires. But the family had always held significant weight in his heart. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his heart, the family was a spiritual solace, a guiding light that illuminated his path when he was lost. Clan members were the softest part of his heart; their existence wasn¡¯t about how much help they could provide. Even if they were a hindrance that made him feel somewhat bound as he moved through the Cultivation World, that was nothing compared to the spiritual solace the family provided. And he would strive for his family and the people he cared about. No matter how dangerous or difficult the path was, it could not shake his determination. Understanding this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a genuine smile mingled with true feelings, a pure smile that couldn¡¯t help but warm the hearts of onlookers. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s spring-like smile and hearing those words from Lin Shikang, Lin Shihua stopped putting on airs and ceased saying meaningless words. So, Lin Shihua collected the several storage bags and then cheerfully chatted with everyone. As the crowd calmed down from their excitement, they also discussed the recent situation of the family. What Lin Tianming was interested in were the territories exchanged with the Golden Sword Sect and the general situation of the Qianchuan Market. According to Lin Shihua, the family had completed the territorial exchange with the Zhenyang Sect as early as half a year ago. Including Qianchuan Market, which was already firmly under the control of the Lin Family. At present, Lin Xingping, as a representative of the Lin Family, had been staying in Qianchuan Market to oversee its stable operation. Over the past six months of adjustment, Qianchuan Market had basically returned to normal, except the foot traffic was noticeably less than before the exchange, but other commercial transactions were quite normal. Such changes were also expected. After all, Qianchuan Market had previously belonged to Zhenyang Sect, and suddenly there was a change in control, most disciples under Zhenyang Sect would leave. Along with the loyal families under Zhenyang Sect and some Loose Cultivators, they had followed Zhenyang Sect to Dragon Mountain Market to expand. Under such circumstances, some traffic and business transactions were expected to be lost from Qianchuan Market, which the Lin Family had anticipated. In fact, looking at the current level of foot traffic loss in Qianchuan Market, it was still within the expectations of the Lin Family, and even better than expected. And in the case of the six mountain ranges, the handover was completed even before Qianchuan Market. After all, many of the families in these six mountain ranges had also thrived on this land for hundreds of years. Besides, in terms of overall strength, those families couldn¡¯t be compared to the current Lin Family at all. Under the absolute power, coupled with the clear stance from Zhenyang Sect¡ªthose willing to stay could stay, those not willing were not forced¡ªdespite having private grievances, they dared not voice much. Yet, even so, a small portion of families had relocated en masse to the territory controlled by Zhenyang Sect. And the Lin Family did not obstruct these families¡¯ relocation actions. After all, the Lin Family was now unlike before; even if some revenue from the offerings was missing, it wasn¡¯t much harm to them. More importantly, what the Lin Family needed now were families genuinely loyal to the Lin Family, as that would bring some cohesion and influence. As for those hypocritical families, it was better not to keep them. Under such circumstances, the six mountain ranges belonging to the Lin Family were the first to complete the handover procedures and had already acquired the registries of all families that remained. With these procedures completed, the Lin Family just needed to select an auspicious day to hold a union ceremony. They would invite representatives from families affiliated with the Lin Family to come to Lin Family Clan Grounds to meet the Clan Leader and Elders. Chapter 994 994 526 Alliance Meeting Policies_2 ?Chapter 994: Chapter 526: Alliance Meeting, Policies_2 Chapter 994: Chapter 526: Alliance Meeting, Policies_2 ¡°` This event, once concluded, would signify the completion of all procedures. And as for the timing of the alliance meeting, it would be finalized after Lin Tianming¡¯s return to discuss the specific date. At Lin Tianming¡¯s suggestion, coupled with the advice of the clan members, the date of the alliance meeting was smoothly set for two years later. This was because the great war had only recently subsided, and all the major and minor powers within Wei Kingdom were busy consolidating after the war. Moreover, the Lin Family¡¯s clan affairs were extremely busy, on top of taking over the five mountain ranges obtained from Qingyun Sect, the handover process was still ongoing. Those mountain ranges were soon to be under Lin Family¡¯s control, and although some powers had migrated out, a portion would remain. As such, these powers would become subsidiaries of the Lin Family. ... Under such circumstances, it was simply more practical to postpone the meeting slightly, wait for the Lin Family to stabilize fully, and for the subordinate powers to calm down before holding the alliance ceremony uniformly. By then, if nothing unexpected happened, at least hundreds of big and small powers were anticipated to attend the alliance meeting at Lin Family Clan Grounds. At such a bustling and significant event, the Lin Family, as their future overlord, would also need to exhibit the demeanor of a ruler and make the meeting lively and grand. As for the powers participating, they would also bring considerable gifts to present. With the timing of the alliance set, everyone discussed many plans, mainly concerning the processes of the meeting. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s plans, the Lin Family would hold a grand martial competition, inviting those powers to voluntarily send members to participate. Specific competition events would mainly include magic duels and contests in the Four Arts of Cultivation. Doing this allowed the Lin Family to gauge the potential of those families and cultivators, in order to manage them better in the future. Moreover, the Lin Family could use minimal resources to support some powers worth cultivating, balancing the strength disparity among major forces. In the end, all this was to better control their territories and compel the families to serve the Lin Family wholeheartedly. And what the Lin Family offered was simply abundant rewards, but what they gained was much more. To put it broadly, what the Lin Family invested and what they gained were certainly worthwhile. Lin Shihua was also exceedingly enthusiastic about such a plan, and couldn¡¯t help but clap and cheer. Because Lin Tianming¡¯s plan was an overt scheme. Even if some of those family powers could see through it, under absolute strength, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stir any waves and would have no choice but to leap into it. Additionally, the Lin Family showed sincerity and generosity with real silver and gold; those who jumped into the Lin Family¡¯s ploy would not only do so begrudgingly but also express gratitude for the Lin Family¡¯s grand activities. Such a clever tactic, even Lin Shihua, known for his strategical cunning, couldn¡¯t help but praise after hearing the specifics. And as the alliance ceremony took place, the Lin Family would also host a grand auction at the nearby Luoyun Market. By then, the Lin Family would bring out a plethora of treasures as final auction items to attract cultivators. It was foreseeable that besides the families of these powers attending, the Lin Family would also heavily publicize the auction for the next two years to attract cultivators from other regions. In the eyes of Lin Tianming and others, after this alliance, the Lin Family would formally emerge in the public eye, and both their own strength and overall influence would reach an unprecedented height. All these plans were formulated with this goal in mind. This plan also received the affirmation of the other senior clan members, and under Lin Shihua¡¯s arrangements, preparations for the affair began immediately. If nothing unexpected happened, it would only be a matter of days before the Lin Family dispatched representatives to the surrounding mountain ranges of Qianchuan Mountain Range to convey the specific timing of the alliance. In addition, news of the auction would also spread, allowing numerous families and loose cultivators to prepare in time. As many important plans were arranged one by one, the external policies also reached a conclusion. Following this, Lin Shihua also took the opportunity to shift the topic and bring up the issue of the family¡¯s policies. ¡°` According to Lin Shihua¡¯s intention, the Lin Family had risen rapidly over the years, and their overall strength had already become strong enough. More importantly, the resources the Lin Family had acquired over the past decade had reached a terrifying level. Based on his preliminary statistics, during the years of war in the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family had profited over fifteen million low-grade spirit stones. The number of these spirit stones was enormous, with the majority coming from the distribution of war spoils, compensation from Qingyun Sect, and a portion plundered from Golden Sword Sect¡¯s territory. This vast amount of spirit stones did not even include those individually obtained by clan members who participated in extermination missions and those kept personally by Lin Tianming. Even so, these fifteen million low-grade spirit stones were already a substantial amount, Compared to before the war, the liquidity of spirit stones in the family¡¯s treasure vault had increased by several times over. Now, this massive number of spirit stones was all stored in the Lin Family¡¯s treasure vault. Besides, the Fourth Order treasures and passed-down cultivation techniques, as well as insights into the Four Arts of Cultivation, go without saying. On top of various magical treasures, high-order elixirs, talismans, demonic beast materials, and so on, the cumulative value of spiritual medicines from the First to Third Order alone was worth over twenty million spirit stones. The quantity of these spiritual objects was vast, essentially encompassing nearly all the treasures a golden core cultivator or below in the clan could utilize. And the value of this batch of resource-based property far surpassed that of the spirit stones. It could be said that the Lin Family¡¯s resource base had seen a tremendous improvement compared to before. Others may not be specifically aware of this improvement, but if rumors were to spread, it would likely shock many. But in reality, this substantial improvement had indeed happened, and the Lin Family had already taken complete control. With so many treasures in hand, the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t need to worry about spirit stone resources for a hundred years, even if there were no income. Since that was the case, the Lin Family might as well change its policy, generously supporting its members to quickly improve their cultivation, to further enhance the overall strength of the Lin Family. They were all very aware that only when the family was strong enough would it endure for a long time. And this long-term goal required the collective effort of all the clan members. Consequently, after some discussion, they decided to raise the level of the family¡¯s welfare yet again. Following the preliminary plan, the allowance for any member of the family had increased by as much as thirty percent compared to before the changes. Previously, a third-level Qi refining member of the family received an annual allowance of one hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones and three Lingshen Pills as basic welfare. Now, after the changes, a third-level Qi refining member could receive up to two hundred low-grade spirit stones in a year. And this was only the most basic improvement for the lowest level of cultivators in the family. If the member had good talent and remarkable cultivation, just the basic welfare increase could be more than fifty percent. In addition, the family also provided varying degrees of increases to the Merit Points awarded for mountain training expeditions and for completing family missions. At the same time, the family¡¯s rewards for key cultivation breakthroughs were significantly increased in terms of basic reward amounts. After these changes, the family used high-value rewards as incentives, encouraging peer competition among members of the same rank to greatly enhance their motivation to breakthrough in cultivation. And these were just the changes to the basic welfare benefits. In the area of the Four Arts of Cultivation, the family also stepped up its efforts to cultivate its members. It could be said that the current family policy was all about finding ways to incentivize the clan members. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this motivation, those members who possessed talent and were very diligent could, as long as they maintained their efforts, receive more and more resource support from the family every step of the way. ¡­ Chapter 995 995 527 Heated Discussion Preparation ?Chapter 995: Chapter 527: Heated Discussion, Preparation Chapter 995: Chapter 527: Heated Discussion, Preparation These generous policy incentives will surely excite the clan members once they are made aware! Moreover, their future cultivation efforts will undoubtedly be more vigorous. Behind this significant policy change is the family¡¯s sufficient resources, allowing thousands of clan members to sustain their cultivation for an extended period. Under the planning of Lin Tianming and others, the specific plan for the policy change was thoroughly decided. In the next few years, Lin Shihua will progressively implement them to let the clan members enjoy these policies quickly. Once these measures are fully implemented, the basic welfare level of the Lin Family members should exceed that of the Golden Core Families like the Li Family and the Chen Clan. Even the lowest disciples of Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect have welfare benefits that are far inferior to those of ordinary Lin Family members. ... sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, in the welfare aspects of the talented clan disciples, there might still be some gaps between Lin Family and them. But overall, this significant increase in welfare has narrowed the gap between them. And in the future, it is possible for Lin Family to continue to enhance their welfare. By then, surpassing the other two Great Golden Core Sects might not be impossible. With this major policy decision finalized, this gathering gradually drew to a close. Then, Lin Tianming and a few others had a casual chat, during which they repeatedly deliberated on specific family affairs solutions, fixing many loopholes before finally dispersing. Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong said goodbye to Lin Shikang and then left together to visit Ren Yuxuan¡¯s Cave Mansion. Having heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s return, his mother and Qin Xi promptly emerged from seclusion to reunite with them. Seeing Lin Tianming returning safely after more than a year, both his mother and Qin Xi were delighted. In their excitement, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law together prepared a lavish dinner. That evening, Lin Tianming and four generations dined together, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere despite the long absence. Regrettably, Lin Xingrong and his daughter were not at the clan grounds, making this small family gathering somewhat incomplete. But that was inevitable. After all, the situation in Wei Kingdom had been turbulent for over a decade, first with a beast tide sweeping through Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, followed by a massive war among the Three Great Golden Core Sects. Due to the high cultivation levels of Lin Xingrong and Lin Tianyue, they were ranked among the top Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Especially Lin Xingrong, aside from the prodigy Qin Xi, he currently had the highest cultivation level among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Additionally, he had been responsible for the family business for many years, long stationed in Luoyun Market, and had also overseen various Spirit Lands within the family. With years of refining, his character was incredibly stable, and he had a wealth of experience in handling affairs. With the end of the tri-Sect war and a thorough reshuffling among Wei Kingdom¡¯s major powers, the country had finally calmed down, family foreign affairs had surged, and many significant decisions affecting the Lin Family¡¯s future prospects needed handling. During this crucial period, Lin Xingrong was heavily relied upon by the senior members and was mostly away, carrying out important family tasks. Currently, Lin Xingrong was still in Changfeng Mountain Range, handling tasks, while Lin Tianyue stayed in Qianchuan Market, assisting Lin Xingping in stabilizing the market¡¯s operations. These incidents were merely snapshots of the past decades and even earlier. Over many years, his parents too had spent much time apart. His mother, deeply aware of the importance of family matters, had always been very supportive of all Lin Xingrong¡¯s decisions. Furthermore, with the rapid growth of Lin Tianming and others in recent years, with their strength and combat experience far surpassing hers, she no longer insisted on keeping her daughter by her side, but wholeheartedly supported them in contributing more to the family. Though not everyone was present, the atmosphere of the gathering remained extremely warm. After dinner, while sitting in the courtyard sipping tea and enjoying the night sky, they engaged in light conversation. During this time, Lin Tianming also shared his adventures from the past year and more. As usual, he only shared the good news, omitting any perilous incidents to avoid worrying his mother. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming spoke of the various cultures and fascinating anecdotes he encountered on his journeys, enriching her rather monotonous cultivation life with some excitement. After all, his mother had spent most of her years within the family. Except for occasionally joining the Monster Hunting Squad to train deep in Luoyun Mountain Range or visiting Luoyun Market with other clan members. Sometimes, simple family tasks were also undertaken alongside these visits. Generally speaking, she had mostly stayed within Luoyun Mountain Range and hadn¡¯t traveled beyond it. Now, hearing about Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences in Huangyang Kingdom and the diverse cultures and exotic treasures he encountered, she was greatly enlightened and even couldn¡¯t help but aspire for more. Seeing his mother¡¯s longing, Lin Tianming encouraged her to consider, in a few years when the Cultivation World settled, inviting some female elders from the family to explore together. Chapter 996 996 527 Hot Discussion Preparation_2 ?Chapter 996: Chapter 527 Hot Discussion, Preparation_2 Chapter 996: Chapter 527 Hot Discussion, Preparation_2 At the very least, within the more than ten mountain ranges controlled by the Lin Family, the total area was not small. With their cultivation strengths, safety had a certain guarantee. In this way, it was not a bad thing for those women of the family to go out and walk around, witness the current strength of the Lin Family, and gain some experience. Ren Yuxuan, hearing of Lin Tianming¡¯s experiences, felt elated and became even more yearning for the outside world. Such a lively and warm atmosphere continued until late into the night. At that time, the moon was high in the starry sky, and this gathering had reached its end. Lin Tianming and his wife, along with Lin Shigong, bid their farewell and returned to their respective cave mansions. Back in his own cave mansion, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi cosily spent some time together, sharing their experiences of the past year and expressing their mutual longing. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t hold back much with Qin Xi, informing her of all the dangers he had encountered. ... After all, Qin Xi¡¯s talent was also very good. Over the years, she had faced many crises and had seen grand scenes. Therefore, she was quite familiar with the specific situation of the Cultivation World and was very aware of its ruthlessness. It was nearly impossible to deceive Qin Xi, who had a wealth of experience in dealing with affairs. Understanding this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t want to convey the wrong perceptions and mislead Qin Xi. In his eyes, his mother and Qin Xi were not the same. His mother was older and her talent wasn¡¯t too outstanding. Having missed the best time for cultivation, her potential was extremely limited. Under such conditions, it was unlikely that she could progress much further on the Path of Immortality. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In light of this, it was better to play it safe and avoid confronting the harshness of the Cultivation World as much as possible. But Qin Xi¡¯s talent was excellent, her current Cultivation Realm was outstanding, her goals were far-reaching, and her potential was unimaginable. Given Qin Xi¡¯s conditions, if she were trained properly, her future was unpredictable. At the very least for now, the Lin Family still possessed a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, and with Qin Xi at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, the chances of successfully stepping into the Golden Core Stage were at least over fifty percent. With such favorable conditions, it was natural to train Qin Xi well, so that she could go even further on the Path of Immortality. With that, Lin Tianming told Qin Xi all about the trip to Huangyang Kingdom, including the battles he had experienced, sharing every detail with her. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi also became quite worried. However, she didn¡¯t say much, because she knew well in her heart that her husband, just like her, was someone who pursued the great Dao of longevity. They both had grand goals, and no matter how difficult the Path of Immortality was or how dangerous the Cultivation World could be, there was no possibility of them shrinking back. Given this, there was no point in trying to persuade each other; it was better to wholeheartedly support each other. At the very least, they could provide mutual support and not feel as lonely in the long years of cultivation ahead. Thus, although the two of them with similar ideals said nothing, they both knew what the other was thinking. Under these circumstances, Qin Xi genuinely rejoiced in Lin Tianming¡¯s rich gains from his journey. ¡­ More than ten days later. Over these days, Lin Tianming led a very comfortable life, resting well in the first two days to return to his peak condition. Then, the couple quietly spent two days alone together, followed by visits to some long-unseen elders and peers in the clan. Especially Ye Pinghai, Lin Tianming spent ten days in his cave mansion, during which they discussed the Art of Alchemy extensively. In addition, Ye Pinghai refined Third Order Pills in front of him, giving Lin Tianming much more insight. During these few days, the family was bustling with excitement. As soon as Lin Shihua officially announced the reform policies finalized by the higher-ups a few days earlier, it immediately caused a great stir within the clan. Learning of the family reforms, a significant increase in basic treatment, and even more superior rewards, every clansman was thrilled. After all, these were about their basic welfare and closely related to every clan member. Understanding this, the family was suddenly abuzz with discussions, and clan members talked about it during their leisure time. Once this matter was settled, clan members sincerely felt the strength of the family and were even more grateful to the core members of the clan. At the same time, over these few days, the family issued a mission to send out more than ten clan members divided into seven groups. Each group, led by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, set out to visit the various families residing in the seven mountain ranges already under the Lin Family¡¯s control. Besides making visits, these clan members were also tasked with conveying the intentions behind the alliance to each family. Knowing the general reasons for the alliance and the deeper implications behind it, the clan members were excited. And with this event, the already lively atmosphere of the family soared to new heights. Lin Tianming and his wife Ren Yuxuan had been aware of the matter for some time, with Lin Tianming being the decision-maker who merely observed the clan members¡¯ reactions. Now that everything was going smoothly and the family¡¯s major affairs were being handled by the Clan Leader and various Hall Masters, even if any troubles arose, Lin Shikang would step in to handle them. With this arrangement, the couple found themselves incredibly relaxed. Neither Lin Tianming nor Qin Xi were interested in meddling with these trivial matters, as they both had important tasks to attend to. As their journey of several days came to an end, the couple returned to their cave mansion. Sitting in the courtyard of the cave mansion, Lin Tianming and his wife faced each other, chatting leisurely while sipping on their drinks. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at the stunning beauty before him and couldn¡¯t help but smile and say, ¡°Xi¡¯er, we just came back from Grandpa Sea yesterday, and after his advice and personal demonstration of alchemy, I have learned a great deal.¡± ¡°Going forward, I plan to enter seclusion for a while to attempt refining Third Order Pills, and elevate my alchemy skills before anything else!¡± ¡°If all goes well, I should be able to come out of seclusion by the day of the alliance meeting!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face lit up, and she couldn¡¯t help but respond. ¡°Ming, your alchemy skills are superb and your alchemy talent is exceptional. With such thorough preparation, you¡¯ll surely advance with ease.¡± ¡°When that time comes, Ming, you¡¯ll be a Third Order Alchemy Master!¡± Qin Xi said these words excitedly, her tone full of confidence, clearly having great faith in Lin Tianming. Hearing her, Lin Tianming also felt her expectations and his own confidence swelled within. In his heart, ascending to Third Order Alchemy Master was imminent. For this, he had prepared for a long time, and in the previous years, due to the lack of elixirs to suppress the pain, he had been unable to cultivate normally, often having to take breaks. During that time, he had already begun to ponder various alchemy experiences and pill formulas ahead of time, drawing on those experiences and refining his own ideas. Besides, he would occasionally refine Second Order Pills to maintain his proficiency in alchemy. He made all these preparations for this very day. Now, everything was proceeding smoothly, both within the family and the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World were at peace, a rare tranquil period in which to officially strive for Third Order Alchemy Master. More importantly, he had already obtained a considerable amount of the main ingredients for the Dry Jade Pill, and had gathered most of the auxiliary ingredients. Now, with the power of the family to collect auxiliary herbs, it should not take long to gather all the materials needed. Since the main problem had been resolved, it was time to put advancing alchemy skills on the agenda. Once his alchemy skills reached Third Order and met a certain standard, he would be able to refine the Dry Jade Pill. Once successful in refining it, he could use the pill to increase his cultivation more quickly. In light of this situation, Lin Tianming made extremely thorough preparations. One could say that now everything was in place except for the east wind! It was time for him to take a big step forward and get onto the right track of normal cultivation as soon as possible. Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming smiled and replied, ¡°Borrowing Xi¡¯er¡¯s auspicious words, I shall indeed come out of seclusion as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded and then added, ¡°Ming, while you cultivate, Xi¡¯er also plans to enter seclusion for a while, to break through to the Great Perfection Realm!¡± When Lin Tianming heard this, he was overjoyed and his smile deepened greatly. ¡°Good¡­ That¡¯s fantastic!¡± ¡°In my eyes, Xi¡¯er, after years of accumulation, breaking through to the Great Perfection Realm should be something that naturally follows,¡± replied Lin Tianming, completely confident in Qin Xi. ¡°Hmm¡­ There¡¯s no time to delay, let¡¯s both take action immediately!¡± Qin Xi said with a blushing face, seemingly somewhat shy. Lin Tianming did not dawdle either, after instructing Qin Xi with a few words, they both headed to the practice room. ¡­ Chapter 997 997 528 Closed-Door Alchemy ?Chapter 997: Chapter 528: Closed-Door Alchemy Chapter 997: Chapter 528: Closed-Door Alchemy Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion, Pill Refining Room. He sat cross-legged, with a large number of jade slips in front of him. The insights and pill formulas before his eyes were all items he had collected over the years, including some accumulated by the Lin Family in earlier years. Moreover, most of the jade slips originated from the Scripture Pavilion of the Golden Sword Sect. To make a breakthrough attempt at becoming a Third Order Alchemy Master during this closed-door cultivation, he specially took all the imprints of the alchemy heritage from the family¡¯s Scripture Pavilion and planned to review them again, ensuring he was fully prepared. Although he had studied them thoroughly before and committed their contents to memory, he felt extremely confident about the breakthrough to the Third Order Alchemy Master. Yet, despite this, he did not allow himself to become too relaxed. ... By now, the content recorded inside those jade slips was so familiar that he knew them like the back of his hand. He had even demonstrated them many times over in his mind. At this point, his preparations seemed even more thorough, perhaps the most comprehensive and cautious he had ever been. At that moment, Lin Tianming smiled and casually collected all the jade slips before him. Then, Lin Tianming closed his eyes and cycled his cultivation technique through a Grand Circulation. Soon, he adjusted his condition to the optimal state, his breathing steady, as if he had entered a mystical state. A few breaths later, Lin Tianming opened his eyes. Next, with a pat on his storage bag, a large number of Spiritual Medicine Materials flew out, accurately placed on a stone platform beside him. At the same time, a Pill Furnace flew out, and with a flash of light, the Pill Furnace rapidly expanded, ultimately becoming a three-foot-tall Furnace Cauldron that stood quietly in front of him. Lin Tianming looked at the Qingyun Furnace before him and couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his palm to caress the surface of the Pill Furnace, a satisfied look appearing on his face. Originally, to obtain this Pill Furnace from the hands of the other Golden Elixir Forces, the Lin Family had to give up some benefits. However, for the long-term considerations, the Lin Family could not lack a Third Order Dan Furnace, and even if it meant paying some price, it was worth it. Now, with this Pill Furnace, the success rate and pill yield rate in future alchemy would see some improvement. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming became eager to start. After calming himself for a moment, Lin Tianming was ready and began to attempt refining Third Order Pills. The Third Order Pills he was preparing to refine were Yuxu Pills, commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators during cultivation. This type of pill had significant marketability, was quite common among Third Order Pills, and was greatly needed by virtually every Golden Core Stage Cultivator. After all, following the Golden Core Stage Realm, increasing one¡¯s True Essence Mana, even by a little, was not an easy feat. Thus, the value of Yuxu Pills was not low, and the Spiritual Medicine needed for their refinement was not easy to gather; in a barren place like Wei Kingdom, Yuxu Pills had always been a scarce resource. At times, even Late Stage Golden Core experts like Zhou Yunxiao, with the backing of Sects that had inherited for tens of thousands of years, had only a limited supply of Yuxu Pills to use. Currently, Lin Tianming still had over twenty Yuxu Pills, most of which came from his enemies. After all, in these past few years, no few Golden Core Stage Cultivators had perished by his hand, including some robust Mid Stage Golden Core existences. And among these individuals, the number of Yuxu Pills they carried varied, some as few as one or two, others as many as seven or eight. However, the Yuxu Pills they used for everyday cultivation ultimately became his spoils of war. The remaining Yuxu Pills came from when he first broke through to the Golden Core Stage; Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang had also gifted him some Yuxu Pills as greeting presents. With the end of the Three Sects War, the Lin Family also obtained several dozen Yuxu Pills from the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s Treasure Vault and the cultivators they had jointly annihilated. Lin Tianming kept some for his personal use, and part was stored in the family¡¯s Treasure Vault, while Lin Shikang and other Golden Core Stage Clansmen each received their share among various other pill types. Despite having a substantial amount of pills at his disposal, Lin Tianming was quite helpless in being unable to utilize them properly. Now, to rapidly improve his Alchemy, he planned to start with refining Yuxu Pills, which were the most common and relatively easy. Once the Yuxu Pills were successfully refined, he would then try refining the more challenging Dry Jade Pills. In his eyes, although the Spiritual Medicine Materials for Yuxu Pills were extremely limited and equally challenging to obtain, they were at least easier to find than Dry Jade Grass. Because at present, the other Golden Elixir Forces in Wei Kingdom all had stable sources of Spiritual Medicine and could at least gather the materials required for a Yuxu Pill. However, gathering the medicinal herb like Dry Jade Grass was truly difficult; there was nowhere to find it in Wei Kingdom. If it ran out and he could not find a new source of Spiritual Medicine, he would find himself in the awkward position of having pills but being unable to cultivate. Therefore, it was more prudent to first refine Yuxu Pills and, later on, when refining Dry Jade Pills, he would have greater confidence. More importantly, he wouldn¡¯t suffer more losses due to practice. Next, as long as he could refine Dry Jade Pills, he would also be able to maintain normal cultivation with Yuxu Pills. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this hopeful mindset, Lin Tianming no longer delayed. He looked solemn as his hand formed a Law Decree, spiritual light bombarding the Qingyun Furnace. Then, unexpectedly, a ball of flame appeared in his hand and flew towards the Qingyun Furnace. Chapter 998 998 528 Closed-door Alchemy_2 ?Chapter 998: Chapter 528 Closed-door Alchemy_2 Chapter 998: Chapter 528 Closed-door Alchemy_2 Fire remained stationary beneath the Qingyun Furnace, rapidly igniting. In that instant, a blue flame leaped from the bottom of the furnace, and the temperature in the Pill Refining Room immediately rose considerably. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Lin Tianming carefully controlled the temperature of the Blue Heart True Flame, beginning the entire process of warming the furnace. After a short while had passed, it seemed that the temperature had reached the anticipated level, the Spiritual Medicine Materials on the stone platform began to fly one by one into the Qingyun Furnace under Lin Tianming¡¯s control. At this time, Tianming¡¯s Eye of Five Colors opened, and his powerful Divine Sense was also paying attention to any change inside the pill furnace. With all the preparations in place, the process was familiar territory. He then followed the normal Alchemy sequence, skilfully starting the decomposition and purification of various Spiritual Medicine Materials. ... Soon, each piece of Spiritual Medicine under his decomposition turned into multicolored liquids. Half a day later, the dozens of Spiritual Medicine Materials required for the Yuxu Pill had all completed the first step. During this fundamental process, he remained extremely cautious, fearing any waste of Spiritual Medicine. Thankfully, the difficulty of decomposing foundational Spiritual Medicine was not great, roughly similar to that of First and Second Order pills¡ªonly as the grade of the Spiritual Medicine increased, so too did the demand on Divine Sense and experience. But these were almost all his strengths. As a result, not a single piece of Spiritual Medicine Material failed; all reached the optimal requirements for decomposition. The reason for such success was, after all, that he had a solid foundation. After all, his Divine Sense was strong, coupled with the help of tools like the Eye of Five Colors, which allowed him to see the state of each piece of Spiritual Medicine inside the pill furnace¡ªissues that even Divine Sense might fail to detect were visible to the Eye of Five Colors. Besides, he also possessed the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame known as the Blue Heart True Flame, The aid of this flame was equally substantial, whether in the decomposition of the Spiritual Medicine or in purification and especially in the final Solidifying Pill stage, its effect was much more useful than ordinary Earth Fire or the Golden Core Truefire of Golden Core Cultivators. With such foundational conditions, this first step was easily completed. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the uniquely colored liquid at the bottom of the furnace with a very pleased expression. Then, he moved on to the next step in the refining process. With his methodical operation, several more days were spent completing the purification process. The subsequent steps were also smooth sailing. Several days later. A dull thud resonated in the Pill Refining Room, its long echo vibrating within the room. At this point, Lin Tianming looked at the dregs in the pill furnace and couldn¡¯t help but wryly smile. Sure enough, just as he predicted, this first batch of Yuxu Pills ended in failure. As for the reason behind the failure, after pondering for a moment, he thought it probably lay in the Infusion of Spirit step. Up until that point, all processes had gone smoothly, and although it took a total of ten days, it proceeded uneventfully to this critical juncture. However, during the Infusion of Spirit, the intensity of his infusion seemed too strong, and the elixir embryo couldn¡¯t withstand the immense Spiritual Power, ultimately exploding under the high temperature. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not get discouraged, In fact, he had been prepared for this outcome. He knew very well that Third Order pills were not like Second Order pills; the difficulty in refining them also increased exponentially, and it was certainly not going to be easy. In the process of refining Third Order pills, the demands for every detail were high, leaving no room for negligence or any mistake. The slightest error would result in failure. Moreover, this was his first attempt. Being able to smoothly reach the Infusion of Spirit step had already exceeded his expectations. However, even that was due to the aid of the Eye of Five Colors and the assistance of the Blue Heart True Flame. If any other Second Order Alchemist were to try without such foundational conditions, they would likely fail right from the first step. Now that he had reached the Infusion of Spirit step and identified the reason for the failure, the remaining task would be manageable. After all, he just needed to accumulate experiences, try a few more times, and he believed it wouldn¡¯t take too long to succeed. And for the purpose of refining Yuxu Pills, Lin Tianming had collected several portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials in advance, and there was also a small stock of spiritual medicines in the Clan Spiritual Herb Garden and the Treasure Vault, so he certainly wasn¡¯t lacking the conditions to practice hands-on. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming regained his confidence, and then carefully collected the residue from the Pill Furnace separately. Although these residues were useless, they were the essence of Third Order Spiritual Medicine and contained immense energy, naturally, they should not go to waste. At the very least, for the current moment, these residues had some use for the Purple Gold Eagle, and could somewhat promote its growth. Thus, Lin Tianming set the residues aside to be delivered to the Purple Gold Eagle after coming out of seclusion. Having done this, he began to regulate his breathing and restore the state he had exhausted earlier. Once his own condition returned to its peak, he would attempt a new round of refinement. ¡­ Qianchuan Mountain Range. A certain canyon here lay in the heart of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, a peak at the back known as Flying Peak overlooked the canyon, while the bottom of the gorge and the mountainside were littered with numerous buildings. And on this Flying Peak resided the ancestral home of the He Family. As for the He Family, they were one of the seven great Foundation Establishing Families of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, with a heritage of over a thousand years. The He Family¡¯s ancient history was the most extensive among the Foundation Establishing Families in the area, and their overall strength was the most prominent among the seven great families of the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Moreover, within all the Foundation Establishing Families in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, the He Family¡¯s strength was well within the top ranks. As such, the He Family¡¯s reputation was not small within the Wei Kingdom; aside from the Golden Elixir Forces, their name was quite illustrious. Even before the rise of the Lin Family, the name of the He Family was more prominent than the declining Golden Core Family of the Luoyun Mountain Lin Family. Today, the He Family had two uninvited guests. At this time, within an imposing pavilion on the mountainside of the main peak of Flying Peak, He Xiongfei, the Clan Leader of the He Family, was seated in the seat of honor, with two young-looking cultivators seated in the guest seats below him. Upon closer inspection, one of the young men was handsome with delicate brows and dressed in a white Daoist robe with a green bamboo pattern embroidered on the chest. The bamboo design was so lifelike it appeared almost real. If any native cultivator of the Wei Kingdom saw this emblem, they would almost certainly recognize the origins of these two young men¡ª they hailed from the rising Lin Family of Luoyun Mountain. Being a Clan Leader and a native of the Qianchuan Mountain Range, He Xiongfei naturally understood the identity of the two men before him. Moreover, given the recent drastic changes in the Qianchuan Mountain Range¡¯s situation, the entire Qianchuan Mountain Range and Qianchuan Market had been transferred from the original Sect Overlord, the Zhenyang Sect, to the prospering Lin Family for governance. And over the past year, these local families too had to switch allegiances to the new Sect Overlord and accept the Lin Family¡¯s rule while enjoying their protection. During this period, three of the seven great Foundation Establishing Families of the Qianchuan Mountain Range had already relocated their clan grounds. At the same time, dozens of the lesser Qi Refining Families had also left the Qianchuan Mountain Range to settle in territories under the control of the Zhenyang Sect. The He Family¡¯s inheritance was not short, and over a thousand years, they had accumulated considerable family assets, many of which were too important to be abandoned. Hence, after weighing the pros and cons, the He Family¡¯s leadership decided to stay in place and accept the Lin Family¡¯s future rule. Under such circumstances, He Xiongfei could naturally identify the origins of this cultivator from the new Sect Overlord forces. It was because of this that He Xiongfei, upon seeing the young cultivator before him, couldn¡¯t help but size up the representative of this Sect Overlord¡¯s power. Following his gaze, the young man in white sat upright in his chair, his appearance distinguished and his face somewhat youthful. But his demeanor was extraordinarily remarkable and his aura immensely robust, indicating that his cultivation was by no means weak. At the very least, the aura that the young man slightly exuded was putting great pressure on He Xiongfei, who was at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Level Realm. He knew that this young man in white was very strong! Such cultivation strength at his age, truly fitting for someone from the prospering Lin Family. ¡­ Chapter 999 999 529 Lin Tianyun ?Chapter 999: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun Chapter 999: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun The young cultivator, with an extraordinary demeanor and a slight external release of his aura, was none other than the Wind Spirit Root genius of the Lin Family, Lin Tianyun. Sitting beside Lin Tianyun was another cultivator of the Tian generation from the clan, Lin Tianqu. Ever since the clan announced the matter of the alliance meeting and the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall issued the task of conveying the meeting, a large number of clan members were attracted to undertake this lucrative mission. Upon learning of this news, Lin Tianfeng was also extremely excited. He was one of the first to head to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, intending to take on one of the mountain ranges¡¯ messenger tasks. At the outset, the clan member in charge learned of Lin Tianyun¡¯s intention and immediately declared that Lin Tianyun did not have the permission to leave the clan territory alone, adamantly refusing to give him the task. Because of this, Lin Tianyun felt quite helpless. ... In fact, he had long been aware of this special regulation imposed on him, and over the years, he had already grown accustomed to it. Throughout his years of cultivation, he had not had many opportunities to leave the clan territory, and most of the time he would accompany his elders on their outings. The purpose of these outings was mainly to roam within the Luoyun Mountain Range and to hunt demonic beasts for experience. Back then, his cultivation strength was not high; he was never the strongest member on the team. Moreover, the furthest he had ever gone was to Luoyun Market and deep within the Luoyun Mountain Range. The most important aspect was always the accompaniment of elders, who would provide timely assistance at critical moments. Such experiential outings were always under the condition that there were certain guarantees of safety; only then would the family allow him to go out. Now, his cultivation realm had also stepped into the Medium Foundation Establishment Realm. His strength among the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment clan members could be considered above average. In this way, he also wished to break free from the family¡¯s continual protection, to go out alone and witness the real scenery of the Cultivation World. Fortunately, the situation in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World went through massive changes and had now returned to normal. With the clan issuing the task of conveying the alliance meeting, Lin Tianyun wanted to seize this opportunity to see if he could be let out. However, the people of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had not forgotten the Clan Leader¡¯s admonitions and, citing the rules, directly refused his plan. So, a helpless Lin Tianyun had no choice but to find the Clan Leader, requesting him to lift this bothersome protective condition. After his relentless persuasion, Lin Shihua sought the opinions of Lin Shikang and himself, and finally agreed to Lin Tianyun¡¯s request. In their eyes, Lin Tianyun¡¯s current cultivation strength was indeed not low; he could at least be ranked in the forefront among the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Previously, their protection of Lin Tianyun was indeed a bit excessive, which resulted in Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation becoming evidently stagnant in the past two years. This was an inevitable situation. After all, the Wei Kingdom had not been very peaceful for nearly a decade, first swept by a tide of beasts, followed by a great battle between the three sects. During that period, there was no safe place throughout the entire Wei Kingdom. And Lin Tianyun¡¯s talent was too outstanding; his heterogeneous attribute Wind Spirit Root was a rarity even in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation speed was indeed fast. Relying on the Earth Grade Wind Attribute Technique, he had reached the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level in his early twenties. Such a pace of cultivation was even slightly faster than Lin Tianming at the same stage. Under these circumstances, the higher-ups of the clan were extremely cautious with this uniquely talented clan member. Over the years, they not only supported him with the best resources but also had Lin Shigong personally teach him cultivation, and they sternly forbade him from leaving the clan territory on his own. Such measures effectively cocooned Lin Tianyun as if he were a treasure, tightly hidden away for fear of any mishaps. Although every couple of years, he would be allowed to join the Monster Hunting Squad to gain experience in the Luoyun Mountain Range, on each outing, they would always be led by Foundation Establishment Cultivators of higher cultivation, never allowing him to take much risk. With such strict protective measures in place, outside forces had no knowledge of Lin Tianyun¡¯s existence. Even within the Lin Family, there were not many clan members who knew the specifics about Lin Tianyun. But always staying within the family, severely lacking in training, also made Lin Tianyun¡¯s cultivation realm somewhat inflated, and his cultivation foundation was not as solid as Lin Tianming¡¯s at the same period. After all, during Lin Tianming¡¯s growth period, the Lin Family had experienced many crises. Even though the higher-ups of the clan wanted to protect him, they could not due to the overall lack of strength within the clan. Most times, they had to rely on Lin Tianming to lead the charge for the clan to survive continuous crises. And Lin Tianming truly lived up to expectations, his cultivation soaring all the while, leading the family through thorns and thistles to rise rapidly amidst the crisis. In comparison with Lin Tianyun, the various cultivation environments he experienced were worlds apart. Precisely because of this, Lin Shihua saw that Lin Tianyun¡¯s foundational cultivation had risen, granting him a fair degree of self-preservation ability. Furthermore, another crucial reason was that the Lin Family of today was no longer what it used to be; their overall strength was not that far off from the other three Great Sects. Now that the Wei Kingdom had returned to a state of peace, and the locations for the alliance meeting missions were all within the Lin Family¡¯s sphere of influence, with such foundational conditions, forcibly keeping Lin Tianyun within the clan territory was indeed somewhat inappropriate. Thus, coinciding with Lin Tianyun¡¯s strong request to take on a mission to contribute to the family, faced with such a request, Lin Shihua was no longer insistent on maintaining the original protective measures. And so, seizing this opportunity, he allowed Lin Tianyun to go out and experience the world, to also consolidate his cultivation realm. Chapter 1000 1000 529 Lin Tianyun_2 ?Chapter 1000: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun_2 Chapter 1000: Chapter 529 Lin Tianyun_2 Lin Tianyun was excited for several days when he saw that the Clan Leader supported his request. Once he was ready, he set out with two other clan members and eventually arrived at the Qianchuan Mountain Range. As for the first family to be approached for the alliance, it was naturally placed on the longest-standing and strongest overall, the He Family. As they revealed their identities, the He Family members dared not delay, and immediately took Lin Tianyun and another person to the inner part of their clan territory and urgently summoned the He Family Clan Leader. Until now, Lin Tianyun was sitting in the reception room, sizing up He Xiongfei while being assessed in return. At this moment, He Xiongfei felt somewhat uneasy upon seeing Lin Tianyun¡¯s slightly youthful face. After all, the Lin Family was now the Sect Overlord of the He Family, and it was no exaggeration to say that the life or death and even the developments for the next hundred years of the He Family depended entirely on the Lin Family¡¯s whims. ... The sudden visit by the Lin Family was perplexing as they did not know the underlying purpose. Fortunately, the Lin Family had always kept a low profile, had a good reputation in the past, and was relatively fair in their dealings; they were not the type of family to simply oppress others. Up to now, the Lin Family had only interacted with the Zhenyang Sect in terms of territory handover, visiting only once because of the handover process along with the Zhenyang Sect¡¯s Executive Officer. After explaining the situation to the He Family and mentioning that the Sect Master would leave in a hurry after four months, they had left. Since then, the Lin Family had not sent anyone over nor had any news come out. Today, with the Lin Family dispatching people for the first time, the He Family had to proceed cautiously. Thinking of this, He Xiongfei feigned composure, maintained his usual expression, and then took the lead in breaking the silence. ¡°I am He Xiongfei, the current Clan Leader of the He Family!¡± ¡°On behalf of the hundreds of our clan members, I welcome the two esteemed cultivators.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Lin Tianyun smiled lightly; then he regained his composure. He politely replied, ¡°Clan Leader He is too kind!¡± ¡°I am Lin Tianyun, have long heard of the He Family¡¯s long heritage, and seeing it today, it indeed stands out!¡± After the polite exchange, Lin Tianqu, who stood beside, also rose and bowed to He Xiongfei. After all, Lin Tianqu was still in the Qi Refinement Realm, and according to the unspoken rules of the Cultivation World, even though he was from a Golden Core Family, he should show respect to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Seeing this, He Xiongfei did not dare to presume and quickly waved his hand to indicate that Lin Tianqu need not be overly courteous. Then, He Xiongfei politely invited Lin Tianyun and the other to drink tea and casually chatted about trivial family matters to familiarize themselves with one another. After the tea circulated three times, they gradually became more familiar, and the atmosphere was no longer tense. At that moment, He Xiongfei shifted the conversation and earnestly asked, ¡°Lin, may I know if there are any directives from the elders of your esteemed clan for visiting today?¡± ¡°Whatever the matter, feel free to speak!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, now that our He Family remains in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, we will look up to your noble clan for guidance. Should there be any requests, the He Family will spare no effort and will not hesitate to die a thousand times!¡± He Xiongfei spoke with a determined expression, not beating around the bush, and explicitly expressed his loyalty. Lin Tianyun felt very satisfied hearing these words. Subsequently, he waved his sleeve, and a jade slip flew out, steadily stopping in front of He Xiongfei. Seeing this, He Xiongfei showed a puzzled expression. Nevertheless, he still collected the jade slip and immediately opened it to check the text inside. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pretty soon, He Xiongfei politely smiled, and his expression quickly relaxed a great deal. In his heart, he sighed a huge sigh of relief. In fact, He Xiongfei had also secretly speculated about the intentions behind Lin Tianyun and others¡¯ visit, but he was not sure. The content recorded in the jade slip was about the specific time for the Lin Family¡¯s alliance gathering, inviting many families controlled by the Lin Family within the Seven Great Mountain Ranges to come together at Green Bamboo Mountain. Such events were not uncommon in the Cultivation World. According to some records, many Golden Elixir Forces born in the Wei Kingdom over thousands of years had organized an alliance ceremony after obtaining a substantial new territory. The purpose of this was simple and meaningful. First, it was to collect congratulatory gifts from affiliated forces; after all, when those affiliated arrived, they couldn¡¯t come empty-handed. Second, it was to meet the people from these affiliated forces and use this opportunity to solidify their allegiance. By now, almost a year had passed since the Lin Family and the Zhenyang Sect had finalized the transfer of several mountain ranges. During this time, the Lin Family had yet to hold an alliance meeting or spread any news, leading many families to speculate. Now, although the timing of the alliance meeting was somewhat delayed, it had finally arrived. Meanwhile, the Lin Family seemed to attach great importance to this meeting. While hosting the meeting, they also planned to hold a grand auction at the nearby Luoyun Market. In addition, the Lin Family organized sparring events, offering generous rewards to attract many families to send participants voluntarily. Such an unconventional alliance meeting was indeed a novelty. Understanding this, He Xiongfei¡¯s anxiety eased, followed by a knowing smile. ¡°Ha ha¡­ so it¡¯s about the alliance meeting!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, the Wei Kingdom has suffered many disasters over the past decade. Now that peace has finally been restored, it¡¯s indeed a grand occasion for the nobility to invite cultivators from various families to gather in the Southern Wei Kingdom and celebrate.¡± ¡°Tian Yun, rest assured, with such a grand event being held, our He Family will definitely send representatives and will arrive at the nobility before the alliance meeting starts.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianyun nodded in satisfaction. Soon after conveying the message about the alliance meeting, Lin Tianyun did not plan to delay further. After a brief chat with He Xiongfei, he expressed his intention to leave. Seeing this, He Xiongfei hurriedly made some polite offers to retain him, inviting Lin Tianyun to stay at the He Family grounds for a few days to fully extend their hospitality. While He Xiongfei was sincere, Lin Tianyun had no intention of staying long. Thus, Lin Tianyun declined He Xiongfei¡¯s invitation, citing the need to continue delivering messages to other families. Seeing Lin Tianyun¡¯s resolute attitude, He Xiongfei did not insist further. He personally saw them off, and during Lin Tianyun¡¯s departure from the He Family grounds, he discreetly pulled out two storage bags and forcefully handed them to Lin Tianyun and his companion. Unable to refuse further, Lin Tianyun accepted He Xiongfei¡¯s meeting gifts on the spot. He did this not because he coveted the bribes. After all, with his talent and strength, the family had always prioritized his cultivation, providing him with all the resources a cultivator below the Golden Core Stage could desire. He Xiongfei, recognizing this and seeing Lin Tianyun¡¯s youthful appearance yet advanced cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Stage, knew his talent must be extraordinary. For such a genius cultivator, especially from a Sect Overlord like the He Family, He Xiongfei naturally wanted to establish a good relationship early on. Thus, He Xiongfei decisively offered many Spirit Stones and resources to Lin Tianyun, considering it a long-term investment. In his view, establishing a good relationship with a talented member of the Lin Family might bear fruit in the future. After all, such practices were commonplace in the Cultivation World, especially among prodigious disciples from major forces. Lin Tianyun was aware of this unspoken rule and thus did not refuse He Xiongfei¡¯s gesture. With He Xiongfei¡¯s personal farewell, Lin Tianyun and his companion left the He Family grounds. Then, they mounted a Purple Gold Eagle and flew westward, continuing their journey to the next Foundation Establishing Family to convey the message of the alliance meeting. A similar scene was unfolding simultaneously in other mountain ranges controlled by the Lin Family. For this alliance meeting, the family had dispatched seven groups of family members, each heading to the territories under the Lin Family¡¯s control. These family members were to visit some relatively powerful family forces and convey the specific details of the alliance meeting. The group containing Lin Tianyun was just one of these groups. ¡­ Chapter 1001 1001 530 Advancing to Third Order ?Chapter 1001: Chapter 530: Advancing to Third Order Alchemist Chapter 1001: Chapter 530: Advancing to Third Order Alchemist Green Bamboo Mountain, inside Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming was at that moment refining elixirs. It was nearly the critical moment of the alchemy process. He was completely focused, his sharp eyes and powerful Divine Sense constantly monitoring the inside and outside of the Qingyun Furnace before him. Such actions and concentration continued, and the fragrance in the Pill Refining Room grew increasingly rich. After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, Lin Tianming suddenly issued a light shout. ¡°Condense!¡± ... That instant, his voice echoed within the Pill Refining Room. Below the Qingyun Furnace, the Blue Heart True Flame suddenly leaped, and a special sound emanated from within the furnace. Following that, a unique medicinal fragrance overflowed, quickly filling the entire Pill Refining Room. At this moment, feeling the scent in the air and seeing the two greenish elixirs lying within the furnace, Lin Tianming¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯ve finally succeeded!¡± In his excitement, Lin Tianming immediately took out the two elixirs from the furnace and carefully observed them in the palm of his hand. At the same time, he took out a Yuxu Pill he had acquired from his storage bag to make a thorough comparison. At a glance, the three Yuxu Pills appeared almost identical in color and size; even the patterns on the pills were not much different. Feeling the medicinal fragrance wafting towards him, and that same mild taste, the three elixirs were practically indistinguishable. However, the two elixirs he had refined had a better surface luster, giving off a feeling of being somewhat more full-bodied. This was to be expected. Because the single pill he had taken out for comparison, it was unknown who had made it and when it had been refined. Key to this, like elixirs and Spiritual Medicines, such Spiritual Objects will gradually lose their potency over time if stored beyond a certain duration. While the potency of elixirs diminishes slowly, over a long period, the luster and fullness of the pills can be affected to varying degrees. What¡¯s more, each Alchemist has different skills; some minor differences in the same type of elixir were not so strange. In contrast, the two elixirs he had refined were freshly out of the furnace, obviously having better luster and fullness. Thus, it was not surprising that there were such minute differences between the three elixirs. Since this was the case, after comparing, Lin Tianming was highly certain that the two elixirs he refined were indeed genuine Yuxu Pills. Under these circumstances, since he had independently refined a batch of Yuxu Pills, it was enough to prove that he had become a Third Order Alchemy Master. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, unable to conceal the smile on his face. Over the past four months or so, he had always been in the Pill Refining Room, successively refining five batches of Yuxu Pills. The first four batches all ended in failure due to various reasons. However, Lin Tianming was not discouraged; after each failure, he would readjust his state and meticulously study the specific reasons for the failures. Otherwise, he would not easily proceed to refine the next batch of pills. With such a cautious attitude, at last, he succeeded in refining two Yuxu Pills in the fifth batch. The Yuxu Pills he refined this time also had very decent medicinal quality, not at all inferior to those he had obtained. Furthermore, the number of pills produced was considerable, at least reaching the expectations Lin Tianming had in mind. Although the quantity of two pills seemed much less compared to when refining Second Order Pills, this was because the higher the grade of the pill, the more difficult it was to refine. As the difficulty escalated, the success rate for Third Order Pills significantly decreased, and the number of pills produced per batch could not be compared with the production of First and Second Order Pills. According to various records and word of mouth among Alchemists, the difficulty of refining Third Order and above pills multiplied, and the maximum number of pills produced was often no more than five. Beyond that, reaching a 30% success rate and producing three pills were considered passing, and one could be counted as stepping into the grade of a Third Order Alchemy Master. Therefore, usually, even for refining the simplest Yuxu Pills, being able to produce three pills in one go was considered a high yield. Very few people in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World could reach such a standard. When he initially refined Second Order Pills, even for Foundation Establishment Pills which were difficult, producing six or seven pills in one go was not unusual at all. In fact, even for the most difficult Second Order Hun Tian Pills, he had never produced fewer than five pills per batch. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Comparing this, one could see the difficulty of refining Third Order Pills. Also, precisely because of this, Third Order resources and treasures were becoming increasingly scarce, and Third Order Alchemy Masters even rarer, causing the value of Third Order Pills to skyrocket. Such a scenario led to a chain reaction. The most common result was that there were so few Golden Core Cultivators in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and even fewer Late Stage Golden Core Experts due to a severe lack of High Order resources. On the other hand, any Golden Core Sect within Wei Kingdom would have at least a thousand Foundation Establishment Disciples. Looking at the Golden Core Cultivator level, there would only be a scarce twenty or so people in any given period. Through such a comparison, one could see the reason for the scarcity of High Order Cultivators. And now, Lin Tianming who had successfully refined the Yuxu Pill, had formally entered the ranks of Third Order Alchemy Masters. Chapter 1002 1002 530 Promotion to Third Order ?Chapter 1002: Chapter 530: Promotion to Third Order Alchemist_2 Chapter 1002: Chapter 530: Promotion to Third Order Alchemist_2 ¡°` At this moment, Lin Tianming was looking at the two Yuxu Pills in front of him, revealing a look of satisfaction. In his heart, he was very pleased with this batch of elixirs he had refined. After all, it had only been a little over four months since he began this retreat, and he had only refined five portions of Spiritual Medicine Materials to produce two Yuxu Pills. Such a rate of progress could not be described as anything but rapid. If another Second Order Alchemist were to do it, it would take at least a year or two, and consume at least a dozen or more portions of materials to possibly advance to a Third Order Alchemy Master. Comparatively, if word of his speed made it out, it would certainly shock many. But he also understood that his smooth advancement to a Third Order Alchemy Master was largely due to the Eye of Five Colors and the Blue Heart True Flame. ... Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides those, his powerful Divine Sense, as well as the use of a Third Order Alchemy Furnace, he had all the best conditions one could have. With such excellent conditions, it was not so surprising to have succeeded in such a short time. Realizing this, Lin Tianming gradually calmed down. Next, he still had several portions of Yuxu Pill Spiritual Medicine Materials, as well as some for Spirit Dragon Pills and the like. This large batch of Spiritual Medicine resources was mostly accumulated over the years, with some obtained from the Family¡¯s Treasure Vault. Now that he had plenty of materials, he could sustain a long period of continuous refining. With such resources at his disposal, Lin Tianming planned to recover his state before continuing to strike while the iron was hot and refine all the Spiritual Medicine Materials. Since he had plenty of time at the moment, he could continue with Alchemy to improve his pill formation rate and quantity before attempting the more challenging Dry Jade Pill. Once the Dry Jade Pill was refined, he would be back on the proper track with his cultivation. With that thought in mind, Lin Tianming did not delay any further. Soon after, he began to practice breathing exercises, adjusting the state he had depleted during the refining process. When his state returned to its peak, he resumed the fervent and bustling process of Alchemy. ¡­ Green Bamboo Mountain, in the hall of the Elders¡¯ Council at the mountainside. At this very moment, many people were coming in and out of the hall, and in the deepest part of the hall, Lin Shihua was instructing a few clan members on something. Just then, someone entered the room, immediately catching Lin Shihua¡¯s attention. He looked excited and hurriedly waved his hand and called out, ¡°Xingrong, you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°Greetings to the Clan Leader, greetings to my fellow clan members!¡± Lin Xingrong quickly saluted with a cupped fist, then nodded and greeted the other clan members with a broad smile on his face. ¡°Haha¡­ Xingrong, come sit!¡± Lin Shihua waved his hand and then gave a command to the few clan members in front of him. ¡°Carry out the plan as discussed, you may leave now!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Upon receiving the command, the clan members unanimously replied. They then respectfully bowed to Lin Shihua and nodded to Lin Xingrong, before slowly making their exit. Seeing the clan members leave, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction, then gestured for Lin Xingrong to sit down. Afterward, with a smile in his eyes, Lin Shihua asked, ¡°Xingrong, how did the handover procedures go in the Changfeng Mountain Range territories?¡± ¡°Reporting to the Clan Leader, I have lived up to your expectations; the trip to Huangyang Kingdom was very smooth.¡± ¡°Up to now, all the families that remained in place have been visited by our clan members, and all procedures have been completed in handover with the disciples of the Qingyun Sect.¡± ¡°Now that we have the contract procedures and have gotten a clear picture of those families¡¯ general affairs, those territories have officially come under the control of our Lin Family.¡± Lin Xingrong replied with a laugh, his face showing a hint of excitement that concealed the traces of fatigue. Speaking of it, over the past few years, he had been running back and forth non-stop, first to the Qianchuan Mountain Range to handle territory handovers with the people of Zhenyang Sect. As soon as he finished his task there, he hurriedly changed direction and headed to Huangyang Kingdom. ¡°` For over two years, he had been incessantly busy. At the same time, as the person in charge of the Lin Family¡¯s transition of territory, he also had to deal with those complex interpersonal relations and many unpredictable issues; he had truly been mentally and physically exhausted over the past two years. Now, he had finally fulfilled the task the Clan Leader had entrusted to him without letting down the expectations of his elders. Adding to that, he had successfully returned to the clan; how could this not excite him? At this moment, Lin Xingrong, feeling light-hearted, had a rosy complexion and internally heaved a sigh of relief as if a burden had been lifted. Lin Shihua, hearing Lin Xingrong¡¯s report, was even more thrilled and felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart. He understood how truly thorny the handover process had been and that Lin Xingrong had dealt with it in the shortest possible time with considerable effort and thought. ¡°Good¡­ that¡¯s really great!¡± Lin Shihua exclaimed excitedly, then reassuringly said, ¡°Xingrong, you did very well!¡± ¡°These past two years have been tough on you; with no other significant issues in the clan, you should just stay and rest well on the clan grounds.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Twelfth Uncle, you are too kind!¡± Lin Xingrong graciously replied before continuing, ¡°As a member of the Lin Family, this was my duty, after all!¡± ¡°However, upon my return to the clan, I heard about the matter of convening; now that those few mountain ranges also belong to the Lin Family Territory, I wonder if we should also inform those other families?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Shihua nodded, and he was genuinely pleased that Lin Xingrong had thought of this. In fact, the clan had already made a decision to send messengers to those five mountain ranges in the near future, issuing invites to the other families that remained there for the convocation. It was just that Lin Xingrong had not been back, so the clan was unclear on the specific progress of the transition and had not yet assigned the task. Now that Lin Xingrong was back, it was naturally time to move this matter up the agenda. With this thought, Lin Shihua smiled and said, ¡°Your guess is correct, Xingrong. I was just planning on instructing the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to issue a task so that the clan members who accept the task can go and deliver the message about the meeting.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Now that many families have left those mountains, there¡¯s no immediate danger; if Foundation Establishment Cultivators go, they should be able to complete the messenger mission rather quickly.¡± Lin Xingrong responded earnestly, his expression tranquil. He felt extremely satisfied with the safety of the new territories. Lin Shihua, hearing this and seeing Lin Xingrong¡¯s assured demeanor, had no further concerns. Thus, he immediately sent out a communication asking the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to prepare for a new round of messenger missions. Before long, the Family Affairs Hall began issuing the messenger tasks, which quickly caused a stir among some of the clan¡¯s cultivators. After all, the messenger tasks were incredibly easy and came with benefits; those clanspeople eligible for the task had been eyeing it eagerly. As expected by the clan, those individuals now hurried towards the Family Affairs Hall. While they clamored over the tasks, Lin Shihua and Lin Xingrong casually chatted for a while and discussed some family affairs. Not much later, Lin Xingrong took his leave and headed toward his Cave Mansion. Several days later, in the early morning, several groups from the Lin Family Clan Grounds joined together and left the territory, flying southward towards the Changfeng Mountain Range. After more than ten days of travel, these teams eventually reached their destinations. Subsequently, the messengers, following the list provided by the family, visited each local family big and small to pass on the Lin Family¡¯s convening news. As word spread, the mountain ranges suddenly buzzed with activity. At once, all the family powers, as well as some Loose Cultivators, began discussing the event. Concerning the meeting, some family powers had anticipated it and made some preparations in advance. Now that the Lin Family had indeed sent envoys, they were careful to welcome them and promised to attend the gathering on time. Once the Lin Family¡¯s envoys had accomplished their mission and received their rewards, they left the various mountain ranges, satisfied and set off on their journey back to the clan. ¡­ Chapter 1003 1003 531 Dry Jade Pill ?Chapter 1003: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill Chapter 1003: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill Time hastened, and a year and a half had swiftly passed. At this moment, the date of Lin Family¡¯s alliance meeting was drawing ever closer. Right now, outside the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, More than ten clanspeople, under the leadership of Lin Xingzhi, were seated on a high platform at the Sect Entrance Plaza. Looking around, these ten plus clanspeople were uniformly dressed in blue Taoist robes, embroidered with the Lin Family¡¯s clan insignia on the chest. Seated on the high platform, each held their backs straight, their expressions and bearing lofty, looking exceptionally spirited. As the day of the meeting approached, the clan had also started to get busy, and the atmosphere within the clan was extraordinarily lively. As for the ten plus clanspeople here, they were primarily from the Enforcement Hall and Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. ... They were present under the assignment of Lin Shihua, with Lin Xingzhi, at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Level, responsible for leading the team to guard the Sect Entrance and specifically receiving the cultivators coming for the meeting. At the same time, if anyone failed to maintain order or openly caused trouble, Lin Xingzhi, as the Law Enforcement Hall Master, and others, would naturally not stand idly by. And looking at the current conditions, such incidents seemed unlikely to occur! After all, as the host and one of the three major Golden Core Forces in Wei Kingdom, their overall strength was by no means inferior to the other two ancient Golden Core Sects. Facing such a behemoth, how could the clan cultivators reliant on the Lin Family dare to cause trouble under their watch? Moreover, holding their lifelines, regardless of the size or the powers of these families, they must adhere to the Lin Family¡¯s rules if they wished to develop smoothly in the future. In fact, over the last few days, numerous cultivators had been continuously arriving. Even the Foundation Establishment Cultivators would stop their Sword Flight tens of miles away and walk to the Sect Entrance. For these Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Lin Xingzhi personally received them, and then they were led by the clanspeople into the clan to rest. The Qi Refining Clanspeople received those in the Qi Refinement Stage, responsible for arranging the dwellings in the cave mansions. For this alliance meeting, the Lin Family had prepared well in advance. Several months earlier, they had temporarily constructed more than a thousand courtyards at the foot of Green Bamboo Mountain, specially to accommodate the cultivators coming for the meeting. Now, as the day of the meeting drew near, out of the more than ten mountains controlled by the Lin Family, dozens of powers had sent representatives to participate. As more and more cultivators arrived, the newly built area of cave mansions also began to bustle. At this moment, at the Sect Entrance, Lin Xingzhi and others remained seated in their places. Outside the Sect, several cultivators walked towards them in groups. Seeing the people approaching from outside, Lin Xingzhi glanced and then issued an instruction to a clansperson beside him. Then, a Qi Stage Clan Member stood up from the Mountain Protection Array and appeared in front of those few incoming cultivators. From a distance, those cultivators greeted and introduced themselves to the clansperson. Soon, according to the list provided by the family, the clansperson confirmed that the several cultivators indeed came from the forces currently under the Lin Family¡¯s twelve controlled mountains. Then, the clansperson led them into the family¡¯s territory to arrange their cave mansions. Watching these cultivators leave the Sect Entrance, the remaining clanspeople were extremely excited, their expressions filled with pride. Over the past ten days, they had already seen numerous cultivators arrive. Among these early arriving cultivators, most were from Qi Refining Families, and the representatives sent were all in the Qi Refinement Realm, with cultivations ranging from the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement to Great Perfection. These people¡¯s cultivations were not high, and the overall strength of their families paled in comparison to the Lin Family. For the Lin Family, which had recently risen to prominence, all these cultivators were deeply respectful. Seeing these clanspeople, they all behaved with deep respect, making everyone profoundly feel the power of their family. As those few cultivators left and finally disappeared from sight, the crowd of clanspeople present were excited beyond measure. Then, a clansperson began to speak, ¡°Those fellow cultivators are from Changfeng Mountain Range, coming rather early!¡± ¡°Exactly¡­ the early arrivals these past few days are mostly from farther places, totaling several dozen clan powers by now, right?¡± ¡°Heh, our family hasn¡¯t been this lively in a long time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing!¡± ¡°In my opinion, when all the forces have arrived, there will be at least several hundred, and possibly even over a thousand!¡± ¡­ The clanspeople discussed with excitement etching their features. At that moment, Lin Xingzhi looked at the clanspeople, his expression stern, but his heart was extremely excited and exhilarated. In his heart, he had witnessed the significant transformations of the family, from the precariousness of decades ago to the current fame and recognition from all directions. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now the Lin Family controlled more than a dozen mountain ranges as their territory, with several Golden Core Stage combat powers, the Lin Family¡¯s prestige echoed throughout Wei Kingdom. Even in the neighboring Huangyang Country Cultivation World, the Lin Family was a well-known entity. This immense transformation, the Xing generation and Tian generation clanspeople, had all been personally involved. Now with the family firmly established in Wei Kingdom, other powers¡¯ cultivators, and even some Loose Cultivators, spoke of the Lin Family with deep awe. These changes and influences they had witnessed, feeling deeply proud and honored from the bottom of their hearts. After calming themselves slightly, Lin Xingzhi cleared his throat with a light cough, breaking up the idle conversation of the clanspeople. ¡°In recent days, many cultivators have come to our clan grounds to participate in the meeting. Let¡¯s all stay alert and not become the laughingstock of others!¡± Chapter 1004 1004 531 Dry Jade Pill_2 ?Chapter 1004: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_2 Chapter 1004: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_2 Lin Xingzhi chided loudly, causing everyone present to stop their discussions immediately. They then paid full attention, focusing on every movement outside. Seeing this, Lin Xingzhi nodded satisfactorily and then closed his eyes to rest. In a Pill Refining Room on the top of the main peak, Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze was fixed on the two elixirs lying inside the Qingyun Furnace, his expression filled with joy. After calming himself a bit, he picked up one elixir and placed it on his palm, then carefully examined it. The elixir was fiery red, with a glossy, plump surface, and it constantly emitted a strong medicinal fragrance. Just smelling it made one¡¯s Qi-Blood boil slightly. After confirming repeatedly, he was sure that this was undoubtedly a Dry Jade Pill. ... At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face flushed with excitement. For more than a year, he had spent his time inside the Pill Refining Room, either engaging in Alchemy or cultivating to recover his condition. After over a year of continuous attempts, he had refined more than ten furnaces of Third Order Pills, including using up most of the Spiritual Medicine Materials needed for the Yuxu Pill. Now, his success rate in refining Yuxu Pills had stabilized above thirty percent. As for the number of successful pills, it generally remained above three. Sometimes, with good luck, a single batch could yield up to four pills. More crucially, after only four attempts at refining Dry Jade Pills, he managed to produce them successfully. Although the success rate and the number of pills were slightly inferior to the Yuxu Pill, this was because the Dry Jade Pill was considerably more difficult to make. Even so, having reached this level of proficiency in such a short time had already met his expectations. Under such circumstances, having now obtained the long-awaited Dry Jade Pill and having stabilized his proficiency as a Third Order Alchemy Master, he planned to refine some more pills during subsequent closed-door cultivation sessions to stabilize the success rate and yield of the Dry Jade Pill completely. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. However, as the day of the clan gathering approached, he wanted to continue striking while the iron was hot and refine more Dry Jade Pills. As of now, he had more than ten sets of Spiritual Medicine Materials. If all were refined, at least one-third could succeed. With some luck, acquiring another ten to twenty Dry Jade Pills was not altogether impossible. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming suppressed his impulsive desire and then tidied up the Pill Refining Room, before beginning to practice and recover his condition. Several days later, Lin Tianming, having fully recovered, walked out of the Pill Refining Room and appeared in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. Soon after, he was in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. Upon seeing him, Lin Shikang greeted him, then invited Lin Tianming to sit down. ¡°Tianming, was your closed-door cultivation this time smooth?¡± Hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s inquiry, Lin Tianming chuckled. ¡°Third Grandfather, this session went quite smoothly. I have successfully refined the Yuxu Pill, and both the success rate and the number of pills are considerable.¡± After responding with a smile, Lin Tianming casually took out several Yuxu Pills and tossed them to Lin Shikang. Lin Shikang examined the Yuxu Pills; they were indeed glossy, plump, and even contained a trace of Lin Tianming¡¯s essence. Such characteristics clearly indicated that these pills had been refined not long ago. Sure of this, Lin Shikang became even more joyful. ¡°You lad, whether in cultivation or Alchemy, your growth rate is simply terrifying!¡± Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but exclaim with admiration, feeling inwardly reassured. After speaking, Lin Shikang handed back the Yuxu Pills to Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly waved his hand, ¡°Third Grandfather, please keep these Yuxu Pills for yourself. I still have some pills on me, enough to last for more than ten years.¡± Hearing these words and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s calm expression, which did not seem deceitful, and considering that Lin Tianming himself was an Alchemist who could continue to refine such pills, it seemed unlikely he would lack them. Thus, Lin Shikang did not push back any further and kept the Yuxu Pills. Then, the two of them drank tea and chatted for a while. During this time, Lin Tianming also inquired about the progress of the clan gathering and whether the family was ready. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since the day of the clan gathering was drawing near, only a few more days remained. The family had been preparing for this event for a long time. Now that the day had finally arrived, naturally, they wanted to make the event lively and achieve their initial goals to avoid being ridiculed by external forces and other cultivators. According to Lin Shikang, the preparations for the gathering were ready. Meanwhile, of the twelve mountains under the Lin Family¡¯s command, representatives from over six hundred families had already arrived at the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Among these representatives, tens came from Foundation Establishing Families, while the rest were from Qi Refining Families. These were just the people who had arrived in the last month. In the past few days, although the number of arriving cultivators was not as high as during the peak period, most were from Foundation Establishing Families with cultivation mostly at the Foundation Establishment Stage. If everything went as planned, by the day before the gathering, nearly a thousand families would have accumulated at the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Among these many family forces, nearly a hundred would be Foundation Establishing Families, successively sending representatives to the Lin Family. As for the rest, they were all Qi Refining Families. Chapter 1005 1005 531 Dry Jade Pill_3 ?Chapter 1005: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_3 Chapter 1005: Chapter 531 Dry Jade Pill_3 Lin Tianming nodded at the statement, his mind having made rough estimates quite early. After all, the seven mountain ranges of the Wei Kingdom were not far from the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and the interactions between them were rather frequent. Therefore, the Lin Family had captured rough numbers and detailed intelligence on how many family powers within these mountain ranges¡ªwhich had long been part of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s territory¡ªexisted. Setting aside a portion of families that had migrated away, the Lin Family could calculate about how many remained in their original places, willing to accept the Lin Family¡¯s protection. As for the five mountain ranges handed over by the Qingyun Sect, although there were quite a few families that had moved away¡ªa much higher proportion than in the Qianchuan Mountain Range¡ªit was not as easy to calculate. However, when Lin Tianming returned from Five Poison Mountain, he had also passed through several mountain ranges, gaining some basic information about the local situation. Based on the judgments of the families that had left, he could make a pretty accurate guess. ... Under such circumstances, when Lin Tianming heard the number of families mentioned by Lin Shikang, he already had an expectation in his mind. Generally speaking, the families that came here were those who recognized the protection of the Lin Family. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the days to come, while enjoying the protection of the Lin Family, they would also have to be at the Lin Family¡¯s call. Currently, these powers had all arrived at the Lin Family Clan Grounds and were uniformly arranged to wait in the courtyard area at the foot of the main peak. In a few more days, it would be the official time of the alliance meeting. At that time, the representatives of these powers would come out of their Cave Mansions to attend a grand meeting. During this period, the Lin Family Patriarch would publicly announce the Lin Family¡¯s many policies, along with various rules. At the same time, representatives of these powers would also present their family¡¯s congratulatory gifts for the successful hosting of the alliance meeting. Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang, always as the strongest of the Lin Family, would also appear at the council meeting. Doing so was also to showcase some of the Lin Family¡¯s strength, to intimidate these family representatives, so that in the days to come, they wouldn¡¯t dare harbor any second thoughts. Speaking of which, such matters were actually not uncommon in the Cultivation World. Even long ago, the downfall of some long-standing Golden Elixir Forces was due not only to their overall decline in strength but also to the certain roles played by their affiliated powers. The weakening of the Sect Overlord¡¯s power diminished their influence. As well as the excessive oppression and severe exploitation of affiliated powers, some of them began to harbor other thoughts. Thus, some of the stronger powers secretly united, hoping to seize the opportunity to overthrow the Sect Overlord and take their place. Under these factors, coupled with schemes from external enemies, Golden Elixir Forces in the Cultivation World met their demise. Such events, across the hundreds of thousands of years of history in the Cultivation World, were actually not rare. Now that the Lin Family had also become a Sect Overlord, to avoid repeating the mistakes of predecessors, it was natural to be constantly on guard against this. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s public appearance with another, besides showing some strength, was good for intimidating the attendees. Even towards the attitudes of those powers, it was necessary to reprimand those that needed it and support those that deserved it, trying to firmly control these family powers in hand. Lin Tianming was a smart man; with a bit of thought, he understood the deep intentions behind this and readily agreed. Afterward, Lin Tianming also chatted with Lin Shikang for a while. During this, they confirmed some details of the alliance meeting, and Lin Tianming bid farewell to Lin Shikang, returning to his own Cave Mansion. ¡­ Chapter 1006 1006 532 The Great Assembly of Hundreds ?Chapter 1006: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of Hundreds of Clans Chapter 1006: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of Hundreds of Clans Several days later. Green Bamboo Mountain, at the plaza in front of the mountain gate. At the break of dawn, the Lin Family Clan Grounds bustled with activity, not only due to the normal movement of the Lin Family Members but also because many people were busy at the plaza. Simultaneously, a large number of cultivators emerged from the Temporary Cave Abode, gathering together to chat at leisure while waiting for the Cultivation Meeting assembly to be held. Meanwhile, at the plaza, some Lin Family Members had started to get busy; among them, some were placing meditation cushions while others were arranging the conference area. It seemed that there were more than a thousand meditation cushions in number, all neatly laid out, spaced at intervals from one another. In just a short while, this vast plaza was filled with meditation cushions, stretching out of sight. ... At the highest platform of the plaza, there were also three seats side by side in the middle position. These spots were the highest and most conspicuous, with an excellent view, clearly reserved for the highest ranking members of the Lin Family. After a short time, the area was mostly set up. At this moment, the busy crowd gathered together, with Xing Zhi, at the forefront, looked over the scene and nodded in satisfaction. Following that, he instructed more than ten clan members beside him. Promptly, these members dispersed, following Xingzhi¡¯s instructions to summon the cultivating participants to come. Besides that, some clan members also gathered others to come here not only to observe the assembly but also to maintain order at the scene. With Xing Zhi¡¯s arrangement, soon some cultivators entered the arena. This group was sizable; after greeting Xing Zhi, they sat down in designated spots arranged by the Lin Family Members. These cultivators were all from the Qi Refinement Realm, all hailing from Qi Refining Families within certain mountain ranges. Under the arrangement of the Lin Family, they were grouped together based on their mountain range, allowing the cultivators to be fairly acquainted with each other. After these people sat down, some acquaintances began to engage in private conversations, waiting for the meeting to begin. Subsequently, cultivators continued to arrive in succession and took their seats in various designated areas. After a while had passed, the area of the plaza closest to the mountain gate, filled up with cultivators. Looking around, all these thousands of meditation cushions were occupied by cultivators, discussing among themselves, with many comments flattering the Lin Family. At the rearward section of the plaza, the frontmost two hundred or so meditation cushions remained empty. These spots were closer to the platform and relatively better situated than those of the Qi Refining Cultivators. Clearly, these seats were reserved for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Indeed, the gap between Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators, including Qi Refining Families and Foundation Establishing Families, was significant. As the saying goes, with differences in cultivation come differences in rank and thus in the quality of seating. For those from Foundation Establishing Families and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lin Family naturally paid much more attention. Consequently, these front row seats were all prepared for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As time gradually passed, subsequently, nearly two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered. Among these individuals, some came alone, while others arrived in groups of three to five. Led by members of the Lin Family, they were also seated in the assigned places. Once all the participating cultivators had arrived, the entire plaza had no empty seats. By this time, the atmosphere had grown lively with fervent discussions among the cultivators; even before the meeting started, the mood had reached a crescendo. Shortly afterward, Lin Shihua flew out from within the clan, slowly descending onto the platform. His appearance immediately captured the attention of all cultivators, and the noisy atmosphere calmed down. Following that, the cultivators on-site stood up and bowed towards the platform. At the same time, some Foundation Establishment Cultivators also started greeting Lin Shihua with smiles. Seeing this reaction, Lin Shihua chuckled, his face glowing as he bowed back to the thousand or so cultivators below. His demeanor was rather calm, and his tone was extremely courteous, without putting on much airs. Among the cultivators below, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were relatively composed. However, the Qi Refining Cultivators were excited, with their comments filled with compliments, seemingly trying to catch Lin Shihua¡¯s attention. After all, the overall strength of the Lin Family was formidable, particularly compared to that of the Qi Refining Families. And with Lin Shihua serving as the Lin Family Patriarch, although his cultivation was only at the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, his status was sufficiently high. Moreover, as the Sect Overlord of these families, the Lin Family played a crucial role in their continued development. Concerning Golden Core Stage Experts of the Lin Family, their status was even more esteemed, making them hardly accessible. In this context, Clan Leader Lin Shihua was the highest-ranking individual from the Lin Family that they could connect with. As such, many people were eager to be noticed by Lin Shihua, to strengthen their ties with the Lin Family. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even more, obtaining the support of the Lin Family could give their own families a head start in future developments. With this purpose in mind, many of the cultivators present, mostly from Qi Refining Families but also some from Foundation Establishing Families, shared this sentiment. Chapter 1007 1007 532 The Great Assembly of a ?Chapter 1007: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of a Hundred Tribes_2 Chapter 1007: Chapter 532: The Great Assembly of a Hundred Tribes_2 Lin Shihua had anticipated the thoughts of these people. After all, he had been serving as the Lin Family Patriarch for nearly a hundred years. With so many years of experience, he had become a person of meticulous thought. With just a little contemplation, he could understand the cultivators¡¯ thoughts. Thus, Lin Shihua was quite calm, and without neglecting anyone, he did not readily express his stance. In his view, the Lin Family¡¯s strength was formidable anyway. The Lin Family clan stood as a Sect Overlord, always controlling the lifeline of these people. With such conditions, the Lin Family need not compromise with these minor forces. Understanding this point, Lin Shihua casually greeted some cultivators in the front row, then chatted for a bit. When the sunlight crossed the peaks and shone on the square, Lin Shihua felt it was about time. ... He stood up, looked down at the many cultivators below, and then slowly said, ¡°The auspicious time has come; the assembly begins!¡± ¡°Fellow daoists, I am Lin Shihua, Clan Leader of the Lin Family, and on behalf of the Lin Family, I welcome everyone to the assembly.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, immediately some began to offer compliments. ¡°Haha¡­ Chief Lin is too kind. It is an honor for all of us, cultivators from various great families, to attend such an assembly!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± ¡°To be affiliated with the Lin Family, and henceforth under the protection of the Lin Family, our families will surely flourish, and our strength will greatly increase¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hearing the praises of the cultivators below, one after another, Lin Shihua, though always composed, felt quite gratified. For a moment, he felt a surge of excitement within him. And to speak of such a scene, it would be unrealistic to say he was not stirred. After all, such a bustling scene was something he had not even dared to dream of before, yet now it had become a reality. Thus, facing these minor forces aligned with the Lin Family, Lin Shihua¡¯s heart was filled with ripples. The reason being that he was the leader of a clan; from now on, he would have to manage the family forces present before him. It was foreseeable that he would be even busier in the future. After all, the thousand-plus cultivators present all hailed from twelve mountain ranges under the control of the Lin Family. After a meticulous tally by Lin Family members, over seven hundred families within the Lin Family¡¯s domain sent representatives to the assembly. Among them, seventy-seven were Foundation Establishing Families, and all the rest were Qi Refining Families. In these Foundation Establishing Families, about forty percent were originally affiliated with Qingyun Sect, all residing within the five mountain ranges acquired later. The rest of the Foundation Establishing Families came from territories under the Zhenyang Sect. The reason why families originally from Huangyang Kingdom accounted for only forty percent of the total number was that most families on that domain moved their clan grounds before the transfer deadline. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regarding these relocating families, the Lin Family did not obstruct their departure. Now, only so many remained in the area, and all sent representatives to the assembly today. In actuality, following the departure of these relocating families, those mountain ranges were left quite vacant. At the very least, the five mountain ranges later acquired by the Lin Family covered a vast area, not at all smaller¡ªin fact, even larger¡ªthan the combined area of the seven mountain ranges obtained from Zhenyang Sect. These twelve mountain ranges varied in size, but even the smallest, Hengyang Mountain Range, was somewhat larger than Luoyun Mountain Range, where the Lin Family resided. Even the Songyuan Mountain Range and Lanling Mountain Range, originally belonging to Qingyun Sect, as well as the Qianchuan Mountain Range under Zhenyang Sect control¡ªbeing closer to the heartland of the country¡ªeach had an area equal to two of the Luoyun Mountain Ranges. With the transfer period approaching, nearly half the families had departed. Those once crowded mountain ranges also saw many treasured lands become vacant. Now, the families settled on these domains controlled by the Lin Family were relatively sparsely distributed. And for this matter, the Lin Family also made some long-term plans. Today¡¯s assembly was also to establish some rules and to reveal the family¡¯s layout for maximizing benefits. Thinking of these matters, Lin Shihua didn¡¯t intend to delay any longer. He waved his hand, breaking the noisy atmosphere. As the crowd quieted down, Lin Shihua spoke loudly, ¡°Fellow daoists, your presence at this assembly fills Lin Mou with immense satisfaction!¡± ¡°` ¡°Next, Lin Mou will read out the rules established by the Lin Family, and I hope that the clansmen behind each one of you fellow Daoists will abide by the rules!¡± ¡°Lin Mou is putting it plainly now, any family that knowingly violates these rules will be held accountable by our Lin Family!¡± As he spoke, Lin Shihua¡¯s tone became stern, his expression noticeably more serious, and supported by his Foundation Establishment Seventh Level cultivation aura, he immediately intimidated the crowd. Seeing that every cultivator below had a solemn expression, Lin Shihua shifted his tone. ¡°Hehe¡­My fellow Daoists need not be overly tense!¡± ¡°After all, our Lin Family¡¯s legacy is not long, and the territories we currently hold are quite vacant, with plenty of spirit land industries to go around.¡± ¡°Now that Wei Kingdom has just restored peace, it can be said to be in need of rebuilding.¡± ¡°In the future, as long as the major families comply with the rules, our Lin Family will naturally not be stingy; on the contrary, we will offer some resources and special policies to support certain powers.¡± ¡°You can certainly rest assured about this!¡± Hearing these words that combined both a soft and hard approach, the cultivators below reacted, and the atmosphere eased a great deal. In fact, some cultivators even quickly stood up, complementing the Lin Family while also not forgetting to show their loyalty. With someone taking the lead, immediately more cultivators began to speak up, and the scene momentarily became enthusiastic. Seeing this, Lin Shihua nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved his hand to the crowd below, suppressing the noisy atmosphere. Following that, Lin Shihua began to read out the various rules that the Lin Family had set. And these simple rules were in fact similar to those set by the Zhenyang Sect, which were also a basic order in the Cultivation World. It could even be said that if the Lin Family had not gone through this formality, those cultivators would still have been able to continue according to normal order, without creating a chaotic situation over minor disagreements or grudges. After all, strength has always been paramount in the Cultivation World. With absolute strength, even annihilating a sworn enemy would not lead the Sect Overlords to pursue the matter too aggressively. At any rate, as long as the interests of the Sect Overlords were not harmed, they would often turn a blind eye to certain issues. Such as the internal strife that occurred in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Zhenyang Sect could have stopped it in time had they wished. But since the battle did not last long and the Luoyun Mountain Range was remote and relatively barren, practically a place for free range, the Zhenyang Sect couldn¡¯t be bothered to manage such a minor location. It was for these reasons that the Lin Family was able to overthrow the Jin Family in a very short time without the Zhenyang Sect pursuing the matter. Now that the Lin Family had taken control of twelve mountain ranges and resolved the territorial limitations, it was natural to manage them properly. For this, the Lin Family had complemented the existing rules by filling in some common loopholes, aiming to firmly control all the several hundred families under their banner. Sure enough, after Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement, it quickly sparked heated discussion among the many cultivators. Generally speaking, the rules set by the Lin Family were not much different from those of the Zhenyang Sect and the Qingyun Sect. But the rules of the Lin Family were more comprehensive, with stricter control over disputes between different forces. At the same time, the Lin Family¡¯s control over the various spirit lands and workshops was also much stricter. In fact, the Lin Family took such measures mainly to prevent those powers from losing too much due to disagreements or interests. After all, with the twelve mountain ranges currently quite empty, should any crisis arise in the future, the cultivators summoned by the Lin Family would likely be of lower strength. Such a situation was not favorable for the Lin Family. Thus, the Lin Family commanded those families with disputes to put aside their prejudices and restrain themselves, to recuperate for a while before anything else. And those family cultivators below, after pondering for a moment, also had mixed views on the matter. In their eyes, although they would be subject to certain restrictions in the future, upon reflection, the Lin Family was also doing it for a long-term peaceful territory. And these were what most cultivators wanted to see. After all, no one wants to live in constant fear, nor do they wish for their families to be constantly embroiled in major wars, thus affecting the normal development of their families. Consequently, although there were intense conflicts between some families, even almost reaching an irreconcilable point, But due to the current formidable influence of the Lin Family, and the fact that the Lin Family was indeed willing to offer a portion of benefits as compensation, those cultivators with differing views could only let the matter go unresolved in the end. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1008 1008 533 Reorganizing the Territory ?Chapter 1008: Chapter 533: Reorganizing the Territory Chapter 1008: Chapter 533: Reorganizing the Territory As Lin Shihua finished reading the rules established by the Lin Family, the expressions of the cultivators present were varied, with some looking as usual, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. Others were half-doubtful and even started discussing with the cultivators beside them. For a time, the scene was extremely lively, causing the previously subsided heated atmosphere to reach a new mini-climax. Among those cultivators, in fact, each had their own stand. However, overall, the vast majority supported the rules set by the Lin Family. From the discussions of the cultivators, Lin Shihua heard various opinions, most of which were in favor of the Lin Family. Despite some dissenting views and discussions being true or false, or even opposition, under the absolute trend, no matter which power, the situation would be one where compromise was inevitable in the future. ... Lin Shihua understood this point, and the cultivators below understood it even more. Thus, after only a brief moment of discussion, a large number of cultivators began to express their loyalty. As for these people, Lin Shihua did not pay too much attention and was not much affected. In his eyes, as a Sect Overlord, the Lin Family now had enough capital to control them, and as long as there was no excessive oppression and exploitation, these people could not stir up trouble. Therefore, under his control, the alliance meeting continued. Next, Lin Shihua, in accordance with the preplanned agenda, announced several important decisions one after another. These decisions covered various aspects, the most noteworthy of which was the Lin Family¡¯s re-delineation of the twelve mountain ranges under its command. According to Lyn Shihua¡¯s announcement, in the coming years, the Lin Family would consolidate and reorganize the twelve mountain ranges under its command. The specific plan was to merge the Luoyun Mountain Range with the Hengyang Mountain Range, the Luoyang Mountain Range, and the Whirlwind Mountain Range, still under the name of the Luoyun Mountain Range. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Additionally, the Changfeng Mountain Range and the Henggang Mountain Range would be combined into a new Changfeng Mountain Range, and the Songyuan Mountain Range and the Lanling Mountain Range would merge and be renamed the Songyuan Mountain Range. In the Huangyang Kingdom, the Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Yunyang Mountain Range would merge, as well as the Xijing Mountain Range and the Changshui Mountain Range, forming the new Qianchuan Mountain Range and Xijing Mountain Range. Thus, the Lin Family¡¯s twelve mountain ranges would ultimately be consolidated into five major mountain ranges. And this was just the territorial consolidation and reorganization, what drew even more attention was the Lin Family¡¯s plans to subsequently move the clans settled in the newly formed Luoyun Mountain Range and Xijing Mountain Range elsewhere, unifying them into the sparsely populated Qianchuan Mountain Range and the region of the Changfeng Mountain Range. If this matter were fully accomplished, the Lin Family would have complete control over the Luoyun Mountain Range and the Xijing Mountain Range, making them their own private garden. As for the original mountain ranges, with the new clan powers filling them up, they should be able to return to their peak population flow. However, this was just the Lin Family¡¯s preliminary plan; it was merely put forward to see the reaction of those clans. And indeed, as this matter was announced, it immediately caused a huge uproar. In a flash, the intensity of the cultivators¡¯ discussions far exceeded that of when the Lin Family had announced the rules. At this moment, the crowd was buzzing with whispers, and a considerable number of cultivators were voicing their opinions. ¡°Moving our clans? What about the spirit land industries we have painstakingly developed?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just abandon them!¡± ¡°That¡¯s something we¡¯ve developed with hardship over the span of hundreds of years¡­¡± said a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, looking helpless. No sooner had he finished than a clansman beside him took over the conversation. ¡°Exactly¡­ The clan land can be relocated, but workshops and the spirit land industries are inanimate; it¡¯s just not possible to take them away¡­¡± Just as this was said, even more cultivators began to speak their minds. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± ¡°Besides not being able to take the spirit land industries, what about the common folk?¡± ¡°Even though some of these mortals are not our clan¡¯s direct bloodline, they have integrated with our descendants over the years.¡± ¡°Such a large population base is not easy to move all at once.¡± With that, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator spoke solemnly: ¡°Daoist Chen is right!¡± ¡°You know, mortals are indeed the foundation for the reproduction of many families; not just our Foundation Establishing Families, but even the stronger Golden Core Forces can¡¯t just abandon their mortal roots.¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly, we all agree with this!¡± ¡°Right¡­ we all agree!¡± At that moment, a great number of cultivators echoed in unison, creating an extremely noisy scene. At this time, Lin Shihua, from the highest place, looked down at the scene below, his expression turning somewhat solemn. In fact, he had anticipated such a reaction in his heart. After all, some families were indigenous, having lived and multiplied on their original lands for hundreds or even thousands of years. Beyond that, their reluctance to leave before this handover was because they did not want to leave behind the industries they had developed with great effort, along with the vast basis of common folk. Now that the Lin Family had taken over the land and commanded them to leave, it was truly beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. Sure enough, any normal person would find it difficult to accept such a thing. And those with more intense reactions were all from the mountain ranges that had been replaced by the Lin Family. Besides them, the natives residing in the Qianchuan and Changfeng mountain ranges also had significant reactions to this matter. After all, those families stayed put for another reason: when some families moved away, some of the spirit lands and common folk would be left behind. Chapter 1009 1009 533 Regrouping Territory_2 ?Chapter 1009: Chapter 533 Regrouping Territory_2 Chapter 1009: Chapter 533 Regrouping Territory_2 ¡°` They had assumed that, with the Lin Family becoming a Sect Overlord, while the majority of benefits might be taken by them, as original inhabitants, they would surely also get a share. However, as things stand now, these calculations had strayed from their expectations. Facing such a disparity, those families who had hoped to gain a small advantage could no longer remain calm. Thus, their reactions were significant, though slightly better than those of the families¡¯ cultivators who were being relocated. Amid the fervent discussions of these cultivators, someone could not sit still any longer and took the lead in voicing their opinion. ¡°Lin, your noble clan¡¯s plan, if truly implemented, wouldn¡¯t be somewhat unfair to our families?¡± No sooner had these words fallen than someone immediately echoed in agreement. ... ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°We had thought that staying put would allow us some developmental advantages, but now not only have we gained no benefits, but we have also lost a lot. Indeed, this is unfair to us.¡± ¡°Right, right, right¡­¡± Cultivator after cultivator spoke passionately; the scene suddenly started to get out of control. At this time, Lin Shihua looked at this scene with a face starting to turn unpleasant. In fact, the Lin Family had a compensation plan when they devised this plan. Yet before he could speak, his words were forcibly interrupted by the loud discussions of these cultivators. Despite being the Lin Family Patriarch, with his cultivation merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he was somewhat overwhelmed by the continuous barrage of questions from these cultivators. He hadn¡¯t even had the chance to mention the promised compensation plan. While he was troubled, a pair of cold snorts suddenly came from the back of the square. The sounds appeared unremarkable, but upon their emergence, they exploded like a clap of thunder. The people who heard the noise were instantly shocked to their core, and some cultivators at the Qi Refinement Realm felt so dizzy, they nearly fainted. Immediately after, the once noisy scene fell silent. At that moment, two figures shot from the back at an inconceivable speed. Before the crowd could even react, the two figures landed firmly at the center of the dais. Before this, the cultivators had merely seen a shadow flash by. By the time they gathered their wits, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang had appeared out of nowhere, now sitting stably on the platform cushions. The two of them sat there, their sharp gazes fastened upon those below. Upon recognizing the newcomers, the cultivators¡¯ faces changed drastically; they dared not even breathe loudly. The scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one knew how much time had passed when the cultivators down below finally collected themselves. Then, they stood up one after another, bowed respectfully to Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming on the higher platform, and simultaneously exclaimed, ¡°We have seen the two true masters!¡± At this moment, the faces of Lin Tianming and company appeared stern, exuding an intimidating aura without showing any anger. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Everyone, please sit down,¡± Lin Shikang said with a wave of his hand. The cultivators below him sat on their cushions, silent and waiting obediently. Upon the arrival of these two, Lin Shihua¡¯s expression eased significantly, and he inwardly sighed with relief. Facing over a thousand cultivators, including nearly a hundred at the Foundation Establishment Stage, Lin Shihua felt considerable pressure. Under such pressure, even if one had the backing of a Golden Core Family, it would be difficult not to be overwhelmed. Yet Lin Shihua maintained his composure; even though the scene was noisy and chaotic, the family¡¯s dignity hadn¡¯t been compromised, nor had anyone outright rejected the Lin Family¡¯s plan. Now that Lin Tianming and his companion had arrived, with a Golden Core Stage Expert present, no matter how agitated or unbalanced the others felt, they dared not act rashly. Therefore, after looking at Lin Shikang and getting a nod from him, Lin Shihua boldly proclaimed, his voice filling the entire square. ¡°Fellow Daoists, since our family has devised a plan, no matter your opinions, it must be executed according to plan.¡± ¡°` ¡°And our Lin Family has also considered your difficulties, so we are offering compensation to the clansmen who are relocating,¡± Lin Shihua announced. Upon hearing this, the cultivators below all breathed a sigh of relief. Initially, many had speculated that, although the Lin Family was as powerful as a Sect Overlord, they would not be overly domineering. But since the Lin Family had just taken over, no one was sure of their exact stance. Now, even though Lin Shihua hadn¡¯t detailed the compensation plan, he had conveyed a positive message, preventing them from suffering too much. With this assurance, the cultivators who had previously had reservations immediately changed their attitudes and were very much looking forward to the compensation plan Lin Shihua had mentioned. After all, the cultivators were only interested in benefits, and Lin Shihua¡¯s mention of the matter immediately piqued everyone¡¯s interest. In such a circumstance, some of the cultivators also spoke up, ¡°Chief Lin, please speak frankly, as long as you can properly settle our families, we of the Li Family are willing to follow your orders!¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ As long as we are properly settled, our Qin Family is also willing to follow the arrangements¡­¡± ¡°Our Su Family agrees too!¡± ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, the attitude of the cultivators below changed instantly; the presence of Golden Core Cultivators had clearly intimidated everyone. Lin Shihua, seeing this, was quite satisfied in his heart. He did not beat around the bush and began to explain the Lin Family¡¯s compensation plan. A quarter of an hour passed. The cultivators below, after hearing Lin Shihua¡¯s explanation, were not as agitated. According to Lin Shihua, the Lin Family¡¯s plan was well thought out and comprehensive for all the relocating families. As long as they followed the plan, under the supervision of the Lin Family, they could relocate to a suitable Cave Heaven or Blessed Land within five years. These Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands were left by the families who had moved away before. With such foundations, as long as they set up formations and made some minor renovations, they could directly use the new family lands. The territories vacated by the relocating families were numerous, leaving behind many Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, which could support the choice of these families. Even some families that were previously strong and had longstanding inheritances had managed to cultivate and upgrade their Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands into very desirable places. Under such circumstances, if any forces were willing to pay a price, they could also occupy a better Cave Heaven or Blessed Land for their new family land. Even if unwilling to pay the price, the Lin Family would provide them with a new family land of the same grade as their original one. At the same time, the spirit land industries left by the families who had moved away would also be distributed to the local families. In short, the Lin Family promised that they would compensate the relocating families for any lost industries with equivalent spirit land industries. Besides, the Lin Family¡¯s Array Masters would also be dispatched; as long as the families were willing, the Lin Family would help them improve their Protective Clan Formations. In this way, the Lin Family could be said to have completely resolved any issues with their family lands and spirit land industries. As for the mortal relocation of these families, the Lin Family provided them with a five-year deadline. During this period, the families could fully manage the relocation of the controlled millions of mortals. And as these people moved to new mountain ranges, they would join mortals left behind by other relocating families. In addition to those brought by the Lin Family, they would also inherit varying numbers of mortals to supplement their staff. Under these conditions, the benefits for the families willing to relocate according to the Lin Family¡¯s arrangements would be abundant. Therefore, upon hearing such a plan, the vast majority of the cultivators were quite satisfied. The Lin Family would also give them some time to consider and promised them that the earlier they decided to follow the Lin Family¡¯s arrangements, the more advantages they would secure. Faced with such an enticing offer, some families immediately expressed their stance, stating that there was no need to discuss with their family members; they could make a decision right then and there. Thus, representatives of more than ten Foundation Establishing Families agreed to the Lin Family¡¯s plan on the spot. Chapter 1010 1010 534 Preaching ?Chapter 1010: Chapter 534 Preaching Chapter 1010: Chapter 534 Preaching As a small number of people expressed their stances, the atmosphere suddenly became lively. This was because the cultivators who made these stances all came from small Foundation Establishing Families, with typically only one or two Foundation Establishment Stage members within each family. Those who came to the Lin Family were essentially the strongest members of their families, capable of making decisions on their own. Their decisiveness was exactly what the Lin Family wanted to see. The Lin Family¡¯s original plan, besides expanding their clan¡¯s territory, was also to completely control those mountain ranges. Thus, these small Foundation Establishing Families were also key targets of support from the Lin Family. Only by improving their overall strength could they contain the development of other major, large families, preventing any single family from becoming a significant threat to the Lin Family. ... In this way, the support the Lin Family provided to the smaller Foundation Establishing Families was more substantial than what it provided to the larger ones. Those families with stronger abilities were more considerate, and thus less decisive. With some careful thought, they could understand the motives behind the Lin Family¡¯s plans. Despite their reluctance, the Lin Family offered equivalent compensation. Even if they had severe reservations, with the absolute suppression of power, a compromise would eventually be necessary. Realizing this, representatives of some more powerful Foundation Establishing Families felt helpless and could only think of buying time to at least go back and discuss with their family members while observing the situation. Under these circumstances, those stronger family cultivators did not directly oppose the land relocation and compensation plans, thus temporarily concluding the matter. After people discussed it for a while, the atmosphere gradually calmed down. Perhaps because everyone understood that ¡°an arm cannot twist a thigh,¡± and with two Lin Family Golden Core Stage Experts present, no one dared to make trouble. Moreover, with some families already expressing their stance and facing the general trend, none dared to take the lead for fear of being targeted by the Lin Family. If they really did so, their losses would only be greater. These people were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, having pursued the cultivation path for decades, and naturally understood this principle. Thus, the atmosphere quickly calmed. Each cultivator occupied different stances, with countless thoughts in their minds, yet unable to explicitly express them. Observing this scene, Lin Shihua was quite satisfied, thinking that the Lin Family¡¯s foundational goals had been achieved. Next, Lin Shihua continued to preside over the grand alliance meeting. A shi chen passed. As the grand alliance meeting drew close to an end, Lin Shihua, in an orderly manner, announced one major arrangement of the Lin Family after another. Compared to the prior relocation of clan lands, these subsequent plans of the Lin Family barely counted as significant. Thus, the opposition during the entire alliance became smaller and towards the end, there virtually was none. This scene was exactly what the higher-ups of the Lin Family wanted to see. As major events were successively announced, the cultivators attending the grand alliance meeting gained a basic understanding of the various plans of the Lin Family. Next was for them to take this information back to their families, and then the Lin Family would begin implementing their plans. By that time, those families would have to cooperate as best they could, striving for more benefits. Most people had this idea, with only a very few representatives from the stronger families still hesitating. However, it was foreseeable that it would not be too long before they too would have to cooperate with the Lin Family, lest they offend the Sect Overlord power of the Lin Family and lose even their last bit of benefits. Thus, the grand alliance meeting smoothly progressed towards its conclusion. With Lin Shihua¡¯s announcement in the middle, Lin Family would deploy a large number of clan members in half a year to go to various mountain ranges to supervise the relocation of clan lands until the matter was completely settled. Amid the complex emotions of the cultivators, the grand alliance meeting temporarily came to a pause. Next, Lin Shihua gradually left the stage, leaving the floor to Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang. At this moment, Lin Shikang glanced at Lin Tianming, then they nodded to each other. Following this, Lin Shikang looked at the numerous cultivators below and slowly said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, next is the time for our sermon. If any of you have any doubts about cultivation, feel free to raise them publicly, and we will do our best to resolve them for you.¡± ¡°As for how much you can comprehend, that depends on you yourself!¡± Upon hearing this, the cultivators present were excited, many of them looking forward to it. Sermons were actually not uncommon in the Cultivation World. For long-established Golden Elixir Forces like the Zhenyang Sect, during many significant events, they would send a Golden Core Cultivator out of seclusion to preach to their own sect disciples or other external forces¡¯ young cultivators. Some Golden Elixir Forces even regularly held sermon meetings to attract many external forces to come and learn. During such events, whether it was the Golden Elixir Forces themselves, other family cultivators, or even Loose Cultivators could participate. Thus, cultivators who had been stuck in a bottleneck for a long time were often willing to attend these sermon meetings. After all, High Order Cultivators had higher cultivation and more profound insight and deeper understanding of the Immortal Path. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes, just a few words from a High Order Cultivator, even just some guidance, could enlighten those stuck in a bottleneck, leading to a breakthrough. For this reason, sermon meetings held significant influence in the Cultivation World and were praised by all cultivators. And the forces that held sermons could also use these gatherings to spread their own influence. Chapter 1011 1011 534 Sermon_2 ?Chapter 1011: Chapter 534 Sermon_2 Chapter 1011: Chapter 534 Sermon_2 At the same time, the Cultivation Conference also attracted other cultivators to come and listen to the teachings, while the forces behind it could reap some benefits, such as marketplace transactions, trades between cultivators, and so on. In summary, the Cultivation Conference was a win-win situation for everyone involved. Under such circumstances, each Cultivation Conference, whenever the news was released in advance, would attract many people to participate. However, Lin Family¡¯s union meeting this time made no mention of the Cultivation Conference. Therefore, the majority of the cultivators who came to participate were from affiliated forces; only a small portion comprised loose cultivators and people from other forces. And this was exactly what the Lin Family intended. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s current focus was not on the Cultivation Conference, nor did they need to use it to enhance the family¡¯s influence, let alone generate much profit. ... As a result, the loose cultivators within the Lin Family Clan Grounds, as well as some external forces, were all gathered in Luoyun Market at this moment, waiting for the auction to start. If those people knew about the Cultivation Conference happening on Lin Family¡¯s grounds, they would probably have some regrets. After all, it was not often that two Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family gave teachings. Not being able to attend this Cultivation Conference meant missing out on a great opportunity. But the people here didn¡¯t see it that way. There weren¡¯t many attendees at this Cultivation Conference, so the two Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family could spend more time solving their puzzles and even giving pointers. Looking at it this way, wasn¡¯t this Cultivation Conference an opportunity for the Lin Family to support the local forces? Those who understood this were secretly delighted in their hearts, listening intently to Lin Shikang as he taught from the high platform, afraid of missing any content. At the same time, a large number of cultivators began to speak up, discussing various problems they encountered. Facing these queries, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming were not stingy, patiently explaining throughout the entire process. At times, their guidance was so detailed that many cultivators had sudden insights, deepening their understanding of the cultivation path significantly. If it were not inappropriate to enter secluded cultivation for a breakthrough on the spot, some people were so eager they entertained the idea of immediate cultivation. However, despite their excitement, they did not lose their reason. Next, Lin Tianming and another took turns giving teachings, driving the union conference¡¯s excitement to its peak. For this, Lin Tianming went into great detail in his teachings, genuinely offering guidance to the cultivators from the bottom of his heart. Given his reputation as a powerful cultivator¡ªeven though he was much younger than Lin Shikang who was at the same Early Stage Golden Core¡ªhis cultivation strength and past renown excited everyone. In their enthusiasm, the cultivators one by one spoke up, hoping to use this opportunity to seek guidance from a strong cultivator like Lin Tianming. And Lin Tianming, without putting on airs, provided detailed guidance that won the favor of all cultivators. For a moment, the entire teaching process was incredibly lively, and the atmosphere gradually reached its zenith. Such fervent excitement continued throughout the whole day. It wasn¡¯t until sunset that the union conference and Cultivation Conference finally came to a complete end. Under the arrangement of the Lin Family Members, the cultivators who attended the conference returned to their Temporary Cave Abodes that accommodated them. When the night was deep and quiet, several Qi Stage Clan Members of the Shi generation were sitting and chatting leisurely in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion, with Lin Tianming amongst them. At this time, Lin Shihua¡¯s face showed delight, seemingly quite excited in his heart. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was apparent that he was very satisfied with the overall hosting of this union conference and its results. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t exhibit such an expression, which clearly indicated excessive excitement. Seeing his demeanor, Lin Shikang joked with a smile, ¡°Shihua, you are so excited right now, it doesn¡¯t seem like your style!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shihua slightly composed himself. Then he also smiled and said, ¡°Third Brother, the union conference this time went surprisingly smoothly; the reactions of those people were not as intense as we had anticipated.¡± ¡°If it continues like this, our Lin Family can just stick to the plan, and probably in a few years, we will be able to fully complete it.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, the representatives who participated in the union did indeed know their place and didn¡¯t show much resistance.¡± ¡°This is better, it saves us a lot of effort!¡± Lin Shikang also smiled as he spoke, his expression equally content and satisfied. At that moment, Lin Tianming took over the conversation and then said, ¡°Our family has offered a compensation scheme, those people, as long as they¡¯re not fools, will accept it sooner or later.¡± ¡°Besides, everything the family has done is a win-win situation for both parties. Anyone with a bit of foresight can understand that.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°Those families are no easy targets either, each only focusing on their own interests.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our absolute strength, reaching an agreement on this matter wouldn¡¯t have been so easy.¡± Lin Shigong chimed in from the side, which met with everyone¡¯s agreement. After a bit of casual chat, Lin Shihua brought up the matter of gifts from the various influential families. According to him, there were more than four hundred large and small families attending the alliance. And these people, to a greater or lesser extent, had all brought generous gifts to the Lin Family, ranging from a few hundred to over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, or equivalent valuables of second and third order treasures. The gifts were varied and plentiful, and quite a sight to behold. According to the family¡¯s preliminary estimates, just the gifts from the cultivators who participated in the alliance were worth over a million low-grade spirit stones. In addition, forces like the Zhenyang Sect, Myriad Medicine Valley, and the Yingchuan Chen Family, who were Golden Elixir Forces, had also sent no small gifts ahead of time to congratulate the Lin Family on the occasion of the alliance meeting. Aside from these Golden Elixir Forces, including prior engagement from the West River Li Family, as well as some Foundation Establishing families around the Lin Family Territory, some had also sent gifts in advance, in hopes of ingratiating themselves with the Lin Family. Lin Shihua did not turn down the gifts from the several Golden Elixir Forces. After all, what they offered was certainly not something that the smaller families could match. And indeed, that was exactly the case. Among the gifts from the Zhenyang Sect alone, there were over a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, as well as various spiritual medicines, spirit ores, elixirs, and talismans. Accumulated, these items reached the value of three to four hundred thousand spirit stones. This was just from the Zhenyang Sect; Myriad Medicine Valley, with its long heritage and formidable strength, had given even more lavish gifts. Among their treasures were also over a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, as well as a good number of second order pills, including rare items like Foundation Establishment Pills. In fact, the role of Foundation Establishment Pills was significant and considered a strategic resource by major Golden Elixir Forces, rarely given out lightly. Over the years, the Lin Family had consumed a significant amount of Foundation Establishment Pills, with nearly dozens of Qi Stage Clan Members in their ranks. Before that, the Foundation Establishment Pills refined by Lin Tianming, along with the main ingredients, had almost run out. If not for the stockpile of the primary ingredient, White Jade Grass, obtained from the Treasure Vault and the Spiritual Medicine Garden of the Golden Sword Sect, as well as some finished Foundation Establishment Pills, the Lin Family would have had to worry about procuring more. Now that Myriad Medicine Valley had sent some Foundation Establishment Pills, it had further bolstered the Lin Family¡¯s reserves of this elixir. Such a gift was indeed a thoughtful gesture. After some deliberation, just the gifts from these three Golden Elixir Forces were estimated to be worth nearly a million low-grade spirit stones. And if one were to include those Foundation Establishing families that came for the reputation, the gifts received from this alliance meeting would easily surpass two million low-grade spirit stones. It was even possible to reach three million spirit stones. That such bountiful gifts could be acquired from a single grand alliance was truly beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. Because of this, Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, personally received these gifts, his eyes nearly blurred by the array of presents. In the days that followed, he had been exceptionally excited. Moreover, the proceedings of the alliance seemed to go very smoothly. Seeing this situation made Lin Shihua even more excited, his demeanor kindly throughout the day, leaving many clan members puzzled. Now, upon learning about the gifts, Lin Tianming and the others understood Lin Shihua¡¯s recent change in behavior was due to these gifts. Therefore, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, not forgetting to tease Lin Shihua a few times, and both men burst into hearty laughter. In such a warm and amusing atmosphere, the clan members discussed some matters. It wasn¡¯t until the dead of night that they said their farewells and returned to their respective cave mansions. ¡­ Chapter 1012 1012 535 The Tournament ?Chapter 1012: Chapter 535: The Tournament Chapter 1012: Chapter 535: The Tournament Three days later. On a plain several miles from Lin Family Mountain Gate at Green Bamboo Mountain. In just a few days, this boundless plain had been transformed by the Lin Family Members. Now, it boasted a high and large grandstand, with many neatly arranged seats atop it. This was the temporary venue set up by the Lin Family for a friendly martial exchange. Early in the morning, a large number of Cultivators arrived at the site, led by the Lin Family Members. The martial competition held by the Lin Family drew many Cultivators, some of whom came not to compete but to join in the excitement and watch. ... After all, in addition to lectures, the Lin Family assembly had arranged a sparring contest between Cultivators. For this purpose, the Lin Family had announced the event early, along with generous rewards. According to the earliest announcements, there would be two categories of competition this time, one for Qi Refining Cultivators and the other for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The rules for both categories allowed all Cultivators to sign up and compete in a king-of-the-hill style to decide the final champions. As long as a Cultivator could defend their position as the king of the hill against challengers and end up in the top ten, they would get to draw lots to select an opponent. Regardless of win or lose, the top ten would receive substantial rewards. For the first place winner, the Lin Family had put forth a highly valued Foundation Establishment Pill as the prize. Such treasures were exceedingly rare in the Cultivation World and keenly sought after by all Qi Refining Families. Take the Lin Family, for instance, which had been thrilled for a long time after procuring the slightly inferior Minor Foundation Building Pill years ago. By this token, even just one Foundation Establishment Pill was a coveted treasure for all Qi Refining Families, and, used properly, could even create a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, thus elevating a Qi Refining Family to the stronger status of a Foundation Establishing Family. As for the Foundation Establishment Area competition, the rules were similar to the Qi Refining Area, but due to the number of participants, there were destined to be fewer matches. Even so, the commotion in the Foundation Establishment Area was sure to far exceed the Qi Refining Area. Moreover, the rewards for the Foundation Establishment Area were significantly greater than those for the Qi Refining Area. According to the Lin Family, the top prize in the Foundation Establishment Area was a Hun Tian Pill and a varying number of Spirit Stones. The effects of the Hun Tian Pill could directly boost a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s realm. Once in the Foundation Establishment Stage, cultivation becomes much more challenging, and many Cultivators spend their entire lives stuck at the initial stage. With a Hun Tian Pill, those at the late stage of Foundation Establishment could move up a minor realm. Even for Cultivators at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, the effects of this pill were more pronounced, and it wasn¡¯t impossible for them to leap two minor realms in one go. Thus, the value of the Hun Tian Pill was on par with, if not exceeding, the Foundation Establishment Pill. Under these circumstances, the rewards for the Foundation Establishment Area indeed outvalued those of the Qi Refining Area. Although there were fewer participants, the competition was bound to be fierce, perhaps even more so than in the Qi Refining Area. Well aware of this fact, this sparring contest caught the attention of numerous Cultivators. Some were raring to go, eager to participate. Others, recognizing their own limitations, promptly dismissed the idea of competing. However, even if they did not compete, watching the clashes of many Cultivators and gaining some experience was enlightening. Thus, by early this morning, already a thousand Cultivators had gathered here. They congregated at the designated spot, chatting idly and waiting for the competition to begin. As Lin Shihua and other Lin Family Members arrived, the Cultivators on-site immediately fell silent, greeting Lin Shihua. In a short while, Lin Shikang and Lin Tianming also arrived together, seemingly appearing out of nowhere on the high platform. Their presence immediately captured everyone¡¯s attention. At that moment, while the Cultivators wore looks of astonishment, they all bowed respectfully, their demeanor reverent and filled with respect for the Golden Core Cultivators. Seeing this, Lin Shikang and the others gestured for the Cultivators not to stand on ceremony. Lin Shikang then glanced at the thousand Cultivators below and gave Lin Shihua a nod. Understanding his signal, Lin Shihua stepped forward and his booming voice filled the air. ¡°Fellow Daoists, today is the day the Lin Family holds the competition.¡± ¡°As for the rules of this competition, I presume you¡¯re all acquainted with them, but allow me to announce them once more for memory¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Shortly, if you¡¯re inclined to participate, Qi Refining Cultivators may register over there, while Foundation Establishment Cultivators can sign up with me.¡± Having said that, Lin Shihua continued, meticulously reading out the specific rules of the competition. Soon after Lin Shihua finished enumerating the rules, Cultivators could not wait any longer. ¡°Daoist Lin, I wish to register for participation!¡± A confident Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivator declared with a smile on his face. ¡°Very well, Daoist Chen, you¡¯re on the list!¡± Lin Shihua responded, then handed a token to the registering Chen Cultivator. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Chen Cultivator gratefully accepted the token and immediately inspected the number inscribed upon it. Chapter 1013 1013 535 The Dueling Tournament_2 ?Chapter 1013: Chapter 535: The Dueling Tournament_2 Chapter 1013: Chapter 535: The Dueling Tournament_2 ¡°` Immediately after, he leaped forth onto an empty space, quietly waiting for his opponent to challenge him. With the Chen named cultivator¡¯s successful registration, many Foundation Establishment cultivators were eager to try. At the same time, some cultivators who were there for the excitement began to discuss among themselves. Among them, a Fifth Level Qi Refinement cultivator muttered softly, ¡°Elder Chen comes from the Xijing Mountain Range, and his personal cultivation strength is also very strong. Unless there¡¯s an accident, he should be able to secure a spot in the top eleven.¡± No sooner had these words been spoken than other Qi Refining Cultivators looking on took up the conversation, ¡°That¡¯s no understatement¡­¡± ¡°To think that there are over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators here, and among them, there are quite a few in the Mid Foundation Establishment Realm. It won¡¯t be easy for someone at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment to squeeze in.¡± While they were discussing animatedly, quite a number of cultivators from both the Qi Refining Area and the Foundation Establishment Area registered to participate. ... After all, the rewards for this event, being treasures that could enhance one¡¯s cultivation, seemed overly generous in their eyes. Even though there was only one high-value treasure as a reward in each event, such a competitive environment was bound to be extremely fierce. But merely sparring and entering a magic duel with the possibility of obtaining a treasure, such a risk-free competition, compared to those who risked their lives for opportunities, was obviously much safer. Therefore, even though some well-known cultivators signed up to participate, other cultivators didn¡¯t want to miss such an opportunity. Thus, the number of registered cultivators continued to grow, with hundreds of Qi Refining Cultivators quickly signing up for the Qi Refining Area. As for the Foundation Establishment Area, dozens also registered to compete, with most families among the Lin Family¡¯s affiliated Foundation Establishment Powers sending representatives. It was obvious, they all wanted to give it their best shot, and if it didn¡¯t work out, they were prepared to concede. After all, if the gap in strength between the combatants was too large, one could simply surrender. As long as a cultivator was decisive, at the very least, there was no threat to life in the competition. Because everyone understood this, many cultivators registered for the competition. Under the arrangement of the Lin Family Members, they each received their number tags and quickly picked their opponents at random. Immediately after, the faces of the determined opponents varied; some were familiar with each other, or the difference in strength was so great, that even before the start of the competition, the weaker party admitted defeat. Then, there were those whose cultivation and realm were not far apart. Out of greed for the reward treasures, these evenly matched contestants had serious expressions and did not easily plan to give up. Thus, under the watchful eyes of many spectators, they collectively advanced to the designated empty space. This was the venue for the duel, an area that was extremely large, a boundless plain that was suitable for cultivator battles. Meanwhile, there were two Golden Core Cultivators from the Lin Family present, so no matter how intense the competition became, it would have no impact on the Lin Family Clan Grounds. As the onlookers watched, many cultivators did not intend to delay and hastily launched their attacks. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Amidst numerous battlefields, the clash between two Foundation Establishment Fourth Level cultivators was not insignificant and caught the attention of Lin Tianming. Watching them, he noticed that both competitors had the same level of cultivation and plentiful combat experience, clearly they were warriors through and through. It was evident that neither of the two was weak, and among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, apart from the few Foundation Establishment Fifth Level Cultivators, these two were formidable contenders for the final reward. Sadly, fate had other plans, and this was merely the first round where such opponents directly faced each other. It was an outcome many did not expect. But that was the reality, that many formidable opponents met early on in just the first round of competition. No matter what, if one wished to win the ultimate reward, those powerful opponents had to be confronted sooner or later. If one were to hesitate or look back in fear, it would be difficult to go further. Understanding this, these two Foundation Establishment Fourth Level Cultivators went all out, their powerful fluctuations sweeping across the area, completely overshadowing the other dueling fields. Lin Tianming watched with a calm face, occasionally waving his hand to directly crush those powerful fluctuations to prevent them from affecting the other dueling fields. At this time, Lin Shihua was also quite content, overseeing the Qi Refining Area where the cultivators had very limited strength, making their fluctuations almost negligible. ¡°` Thus, Lin Shikang was also distracted, paying attention to the fierce battle on this side, and he asked a question. ¡°Tian Ming, the battle between these two seems evenly matched, who do you favor a bit more?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and replied without hesitation, ¡°Third Grandfather, Tian Ming is betting on the White Robed Cultivator!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Shikang was somewhat surprised. After all, although the White Robed Cultivator seemed to be evenly matched at the moment, a careful observation revealed that the cultivator had been defensive from start to finish and had chances to attack. Moreover, each of his opponent¡¯s attacks was easily deflected, as if he¡¯d been led by the nose the entire time. If things continued this way, as soon as his opponent found an excellent opportunity, he might achieve a surprising effect. In this case, to decisively defeat him was not an impossible task. Lin Shikang clearly saw this point and, after a brief analysis, came to his own conclusion. ¡°Tian Ming, my boy, why do you think the White Robed Cultivator will win?¡± Lin Shikang asked with a smile. And Lin Tianming also smiled faintly and then began to explain. ¡°Third Grandfather, despite the White Robed Cultivator seeming to be at a slight disadvantage, if you sense carefully, his attacks are stronger with each strike.¡± ¡°Obviously, he is accumulating power!¡± ¡°And every defense, is for the sake of gathering strength. Once it reaches a certain level, and he seizes an opportunity, defeating his opponent is a sure thing.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Lin Shikang slightly sensed it and indeed noticed something different. And thus, he began to agree with Lin Tianming¡¯s view. And in truth, it indeed turned out as Lin Tianming had predicted. At a certain moment, the White Robed Cultivator intentionally revealed a flaw to catch his opponent¡¯s attention. His opponent, having attacked for a long time without success, saw what he believed to be a chance for a fatal blow and didn¡¯t hesitate in his heart. Unfortunately, his attack also gave his opponent an opportunity. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s watchful gaze, the Longsword in the White Robed Cultivator¡¯s hand flashed as it sped toward his opponent¡¯s head. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Longsword was incredibly fast, the angle tricky, and the timing of the attack was perfect. Facing such an abrupt change, his opponent hadn¡¯t reacted before seeing that the Longsword had already arrived, mere feet away from his vital spot. At such a close distance, dodging was nearly impossible. But now that the attack had arrived, and there was no evading or countering it, he could only resign himself to fate. At that moment, the cultivator somewhat regretted easily falling for the trick; now it was too late for anything. Just as the cultivator was painted in despair, a blur appeared before his eyes, and he saw an invisible force emerge. It was at that time that Lin Tianming reached out into the void, and the Longsword that had been in the middle of its attack was suddenly grasped in his hand. The Longsword trembled slightly, seemingly trying to escape its constraints. Lin Tianming chuckled and tossed the Longsword in his hand, which then returned to the White Robed Cultivator. And it was then that the despairing cultivator finally realized what had happened; his face was filled with the joy of surviving a catastrophe. He knew that if it hadn¡¯t been for Lin Tianming¡¯s casual grasp, removing the Longsword, he would likely have lost his life this time. Now, Lin Tianming had easily resolved the lethal attack, practically saving his life. Deeply aware of this, the man immediately bowed to Lin Tianming and then said, ¡°Junior thanks Elder Lin for the rescue!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ admit defeat!¡± Lin Tianming waved his hand and laughed, not minding it in the least. Chapter 1014 1014 536 Grand Auction ?Chapter 1014: Chapter 536 Grand Auction Chapter 1014: Chapter 536 Grand Auction And in fact, his and Lin Shikang¡¯s purpose in staying here was to dissolve those fatal attacks and thus save the lives of the competing cultivators. Otherwise, with blades and swords being indifferent, and cultivators unleashing their powers, no matter how restrained they might be, unless there was a significant disparity in strength, it was impossible to avoid casualties altogether. But with the two of them presiding over the proceedings, the competing cultivators could go all out without any reservations. Such duels would also reveal the true differences in strength, allowing the more capable cultivators to progress further. Therefore, at the appropriate moment, Lin Tianming and his companion acted decisively. Tian Ming effortlessly neutralized the White Robed Cultivator¡¯s attack. All this happened in the blink of an eye, with the onlookers initially believing that, if not fatal, the other cultivator would certainly sustain severe injuries. ... However, Tian Ming¡¯s casual dissolution of such a formidable attack drew continuous cheers from the audience. Amidst the rounds of applause, the cultivator who had been saved openly conceded defeat, thus bringing an end to this thrilling duel. Subsequently, the man bowed respectfully to Tian Ming and then slowly retreated back into the crowd. At this point, Lin Shikang glanced at Lin Tianming and then spoke with a smile, ¡°Tian Ming, you sure have a sharp eye. The elder here didn¡¯t even notice.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ The nephew just thought that cultivator¡¯s method of attack was sharp and well-organized, not a bit of rushed or impetuous essence manipulation. That¡¯s why I made that judgment.¡± ¡°As for the outcome, it was indeed as I had anticipated, and my high regard for him wasn¡¯t misplaced.¡± Tian Ming replied with a casual smile, then continued his idle chat with Shi Kang while watching the intense duels taking place below. Under their watchful eyes, ensuring safety, the cultivators could fight without any scruples. In such a situation, various decisive actions and powerful attacks roused a great deal of cheering from the crowd. The subsequent duels turned out to be indeed quite spectacular. This was precisely the scene the Lin Family wanted to witness. After all, the Lin Family had gone to great lengths to organize this martial tournament and offered substantial rewards, with multiple objectives in mind. Firstly, to discover some potential talents among the family cultivators, to identify which families under the Lin banner were noteworthy and deserving of development. Secondly, to spread the Lin Family¡¯s influence, elevating their credibility and sway to the same level as other Golden Elixir Forces. Now, these cultivators, in pursuit of the substantial and tangible rewards, were fighting with all their might, holding nothing back and practically laying bare much of their strength. This situation was exactly what the Lin Family hoped to see. During this period, the family also took note of some cultivators with considerable abilities and assessed their potential based on their strength, age, and various other factors. Through such a selection process, they were able to accurately identify potential cultivators, which would allow for better control over the families in the future. With these goals in mind, the entire tournament proceeded fervently. By evening, after hundreds of exchanges, the martial tournament was drawing to a close. At the same time, the final victors were determined. In the Qi Refining Area, the top ten rankings were decided, with the first place going to a cultivator from a Qi Refining Family at the Changfeng Mountain Range. This cultivator had considerable potential; barely past twenty years old and already at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, he managed to outperform several Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivators, surprisingly winning first place. The following nine placed cultivators all possessed a cultivation at or above the Ninth Layer. Though these top ten ranked individuals generally represented the pinnacle among Qi Refining Cultivators, nearly half of them were quite young. Considering their age, and their lower levels of cultivation, their ability to surpass several long-standing Great Perfection Realm cultivators to make it into the top ten demonstrated their immense potential. Such individuals, emerging merely from a Qi Refining Family and achieving such results, was truly remarkable. Even compared to some members of the Lin Family of the same age, these cultivators¡¯ pace of cultivation and prowess could overwhelm a large number of their peers. Under these circumstances, it was clear that the Cultivation World indeed contained hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Even a minor power like a Qi Refining Family could produce individuals of exceptional talent. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The outcome of this tournament said it all. Meanwhile, in the Foundation Establishment Area, after a series of fierce duels, the top three contenders were also decided. The first place cultivator hailed from a Foundation Establishing Family of the Yang Clan from the Songyuan Mountain Range, the second place from a family in the Changfeng Mountain Range, with only the third place belonging to a cultivator from the Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s Qianchuan Mountain Range. In fact, within the top ten of the Qi Refining Area, most of the qualifying cultivators originated from the Changfeng Mountain Range region. Clearly, the family cultivators originally from Huangyang Kingdom¡¯s territory were generally stronger. This outcome sufficiently demonstrated this point. Now, after a series of duels, by slightly deliberating on the performance of these cultivators, the Lin Family had essentially grasped the general situation of the several hundred forces under their command. Chapter 1015 1015 536 Grand Auction_2 ?Chapter 1015: Chapter 536: Grand Auction_2 Chapter 1015: Chapter 536: Grand Auction_2 ¡°` S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These results might not be entirely accurate, but for the Lin Family at present, they still counted as a considerable harvest. With the end of the competition, whether it was the cultivators who participated or those who watched, all had witnessed a series of breathtaking contests, which could truly be considered an eye-opener. Amidst cheers and applause, the atmosphere at the scene reached its peak. At the same time, a large number of cultivators congratulated those who had made it into the rankings with clasped fists, while others engaged in discussions. Under such an atmosphere, the Lin Family kept their promise and, in front of many cultivators, awarded the prizes to those who ranked near the top. Such forthrightness further incited the applause of the numerous cultivators. At that moment, everyone was discussing the matter, and even those who had come just to watch were full of excitement. ... This bustling atmosphere lasted well into the evening. With the end of the competition, all the major arrangements for this alliance meeting of the Lin Family were also duly completed. Next up was the grand auction to be held at the Luoyun Market in a few days. For this, the Lin Family had long spread the word, and now the news of the auction was almost universally known throughout the southern region of the Wei Kingdom. By now, many loose cultivators and powers from other territories had sent people to participate, all converging within the Luoyun Market, waiting for the scheduled auction. Now that the competition was thoroughly over, after today, those cultivators participating in the alliance would gradually leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds, either heading back to their families or proceeding to the Luoyun Mountain Range to attend the grand auction. In this regard, the Lin Family did not insist, stating plainly that the cultivators from the various families were free to leave the Lin Family Clan Grounds early the next morning. However, the upcoming auction was no small affair, rumored to feature many rare treasures, attracting the attention of a multitude of cultivators. In fact, the Lin Family placed great importance on this auction, offering as many as five Foundation Establishment Pills at once. Additionally, items such as the Hun Tian Pill and other high-quality magic artifacts would make their appearance at the auction. Moreover, it was rumored that the Lin Family would also offer a Third Order Attack Talisman as the finale of the auction. Such a treasure could serve as the prized heirloom of a Foundation Establishing Family and could turn the tide at a critical moment, altering the course of events. Thus, a Third Order Attack Talisman was exceedingly rare at auctions within the Cultivation World. Even auctions held by the Zhenyang Sect or the markets under Myriad Medicine Valley had seldom seen such an item. This was because Third Order Talismans were strategic consumables, and even longstanding Golden Core Forces had very limited reserves. And since these consumables were depleted upon use and replenishing them required considerable effort and a variety of precious materials¡­ ¡­each appearance of a Third Order Talisman could spark fierce bidding wars among Foundation Establishing Families. And now, such a precious item was to be featured at an auction held by the Lin Family. While this news might not be entirely true, even as a rumor, it was enough to draw throngs of cultivators. By now, the Luoyun Market had already gathered a large number of cultivators, coming from various mountain ranges throughout the central and southern Wei Kingdom, with some from the neighboring Huangyang Kingdom also hurrying to join the excitement. As the day of the auction drew near, Luoyun Market saw its footfall begin to surge. Then, on the next day, the thousands of cultivators who had come for the alliance bid their farewells and departed from the Lin Family Clan Grounds. By the end of the first day after the event, more than ninety percent of the cultivators had left. Meanwhile, at the Luoyun Market, those cultivators who had participated in the alliance were seen entering the market in succession. In the days that followed, the number of people visiting Luoyun Market continued to skyrocket. By the day before the auction was to take place, the number of attendees in Luoyun Market had more than tripled compared to two years prior. Such a scene was unprecedented since the establishment of Luoyun Market. In the past, especially in recent years, the Lin Family¡¯s rise as a Golden Core Family had already significantly boosted the market¡¯s popularity. Now, after the Lin Family spread the news early and promised the appearance of rare treasures, even the eyes of the Foundation Establishing Families were caught. These people were readying their Spirit Stones, all eager to take the grand prize back to their territories. The Lin Family seized the opportunity, smoothly carrying out the alliance meeting and a series of significant activities, fully demonstrating their foundation and strength. Now, by leveraging a grand auction, they further aimed to expand the Lin Family¡¯s influence. With this in mind, the Lin Family dispatched several family members to the Luoyun Market to oversee that the auction proceeded as scheduled. ¡°` Until this day, inside the Luoyun Market. At this moment, the crowd was surging, and a large number of cultivators had come out early to stroll around while waiting for the auction to begin. Among these cultivators, their levels of cultivation varied, with Qi Refining Cultivators making up the majority. However, there were also a considerable number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with roughly one appearing for every ten people. Such a situation was not seen on normal days. It should be noted that, decades ago, the simultaneous appearance of several Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Luoyun Market could cause quite a stir. Even just a few years ago, despite an increase in the number of people in the Luoyun Market, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators within was quite limited. At least not like now, where you could encounter them everywhere you went. But now, at a glance, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the number of cultivators in the entire market had reached a peak. As such, the various shops, restaurants, and the squares for setting up stalls were also overcrowded with people. Such a bustling scene meant that many shops in the Luoyun Market were doing much better business than usual. At noon, when the sun was at its zenith. In the city center, the Luoyun Market auction. As the auction was about to begin, a large number of cultivators started to queue up for entry, and in just a short while, they formed a long line. Under the scrutiny of the Lin Family Members, cultivators entered the auction one by one. In less than half a Shi Chen, the two main venues of the auction were already packed. Even the Foundation Establishment Area, whether it was the public area or the VIP rooms, was completely full. Under everyone¡¯s eager gaze, the auction began on time. Subsequently, one treasure after another was brought out, sparking a bidding war among all the cultivators. For such a high-profile auction, the quality of the treasures was not low; each one was a rarity among rarities. Fortunately, the Lin Family had gained a good number of treasures from conquests to the north and south over recent years, with a comprehensive variety that covered most of the items commonly used by cultivators. Moreover, the family also owned many rare and precious treasures. Otherwise, it would have been rather difficult to hold such a high-profile auction and bring out so many rare treasures at once under normal circumstances. Now, the Lin Family was a far cry from its former self, and not to mention holding one auction of the same scale, even ten or eight more would not overburden the family. This time, the Lin Family had spent such a significant cost and mobilized so many resources for the auction, so naturally, there were high expectations. After a whole day of auctions, the results did not disappoint the Lin Family. Following the conclusion of the auction, the family members quickly tallied up the results. The auction had reaped considerable profits, with each treasure fetching a price 15 to 20 percent higher than usual. In particular, those few marquee items, like the Foundation Establishment Pills which each sold for an astronomical price, and the Hun Tian Pills which also sparked fierce bidding among the cultivators. In the end, just one Hun Tian Pill alone sold for 51,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. And most eye-catching of all was a Third Order Attack Talisman. After a tense bidding process, the Third Order Attack Talisman concluded its auction, finally selling for 140,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. Such auction results also pushed the atmosphere to the pinnacle of excitement. As the auction ended, the lively atmosphere did not immediately settle down. In the following days, the flow of people in the Luoyun Market remained large, with many staying behind, some waiting for a safer time to leave while others had ulterior motives. In any case, the popularity of the Luoyun Market was still booming. During this period, the reputation of the Lin Family, as well as the entire process of the alliance conference, began to spread among the cultivators. This turn of events was precisely what the Lin Family wished to see. Under the supervision of the Lin Family Members, everything in the Luoyun Market continued as usual. In the following time, the number of cultivators gradually decreased, and the entire Cultivation World slowly returned to its usual calm. ¡­ Chapter 1016 1016 537 Development Strategy ?Chapter 1016: Chapter 537: Development Strategy Chapter 1016: Chapter 537: Development Strategy As the auction ended, the cultivators who had attended the alliance conference gradually left the Luoyun Market. During this period, the results of the Lin Family¡¯s alliance conference had begun to spread among the cultivators of the Luoyun Market. For a time, other territories¡¯ cultivators who had attended the auction, upon learning some of the Lin Family¡¯s plans, started to talk and debate. As some people left, these discussions spread quickly in the Cultivation World. Thus, the relatively calm Cultivation World began to bustle with activity once more. Among these discussing cultivators, some believed that the Lin Family¡¯s actions were not very friendly toward the original inhabitants. However, others, looking further into the future, thought that the Lin Family¡¯s actions were mutually beneficial for both parties! Moreover, the Lin Family had offered a certain degree of compensation, which was quite commendable for a Sect Overlord. ... Under such circumstances, the Cultivation World¡¯s interest in the spectacle was divided. Most people felt that the Lin Family handled the matter successfully and righteously, proving themselves to be an unusually gentle force. Therefore, the recently subsided attention on the Lin Family, after being discussed and spread by some cultivators, rose once again in the Cultivation World. Yet of these changes, Lin Tianming was completely unaware and the Lin Family also had no knowledge of them for the time being. With the completion of the alliance conference¡¯s affairs, the busy Lin Family finally began to return to normal. On this day, inside Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion, in the small courtyard, many members of the Lin Family¡¯s generation of ¡®Shi¡¯ were gathered, chatting leisurely, with Lin Tianming among them. In the past few days, Lin Tianming had not rushed to enter seclusion for cultivation but had instead taken some time to rest, adjusting his own condition and paying attention to the operation of the family. Recently, Lin Shikang had also convened several core family members for a meeting, presumably to discuss the Lin Family¡¯s future development direction. Just as expected, after a few casual exchanges, Lin Shikang went straight to the main topic. According to Lin Shikang, the next ten years were crucial for the Lin Family, affecting its development for a century. After all, the Wei Kingdom had just returned to peace, and the Lin Family had acquired some territories and made many deployments. At present, the Lin Family needed to follow the pre-arranged plan to gain full control of each major territory, including those families, spirit land industries, and so on, ensuring they were firmly in their grip. Now that the families¡¯ representatives attending the alliance had left, what the Lin Family had to do next was to dispatch their own people to oversee the completion of the Lin Family¡¯s plan in those families¡¯ locations. This was an urgent and critical matter. Once the advance plans were completed, the Lin Family would be able to develop peacefully in the future, enhancing the size and strength of its members, including the development of spirit land industries to earn the Lin Family more resources. Knowing this well, the Lin Family members discussed who should be tasked with carrying out this mission. Soon, they agreed on two leaders for this task: Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping. After all, both had been key individuals in the handover of territories. Having gone through the processes of exchanging territories, they were very familiar with the families residing in the various mountain ranges and even knew the leaders of those families better than Lin Shihua, the Lin Family Patriarch. In such circumstances, as the Lin Family set plans in motion, having them as team leaders would ensure quick and proper implementation of the tasks, making them the most suitable choices. For this selection, Lin Tianming had no objections. In his eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s members at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage were extremely limited; indeed, no one was more suited than these two. So, it was decided that Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping would lead teams of varying member sizes and head in separate directions, north and south, in half a month¡¯s time to oversee the families¡¯ relocation process. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Xingrong was tasked with overseeing the southern Luoyun Mountain Range, Changfeng Mountain Range, and Songyuan Mountain Range. Lin Xingping, on the other hand, was responsible for the northern Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Xijing Mountain Range. Before their departure, Lin Shihua would convene the heads of various Lin Family institutions to discuss the relocation destinations for those families, to thoroughly assess the industries they controlled, and to determine the compensation standards provided by the Lin Family. Once these details were confirmed, the two would set out to rigorously implement the family¡¯s schemes. With this matter resolved, the following discussion revolved around the Lin Family¡¯s development strategies for the next few decades. After all, the relocation of those family territories would take at most five years. Given the absolute strength, coupled with the compensation provided by the Lin Family, completion was merely a matter of time. After five years, the Lin Family¡¯s Luoyun Mountain Range underfoot would include the combined territories of the original Luoyang Mountain Range, Hengyang Mountain Range, and the Whirlwind Mountain Range. Such a large mountain range, with many spirit lands left behind by relocating families and some mortal cities forcibly retained by the Lin Family, meant that the Lin Family acquired a whole new territory to manage. Besides, the families that had relocated to new mountain ranges refilled the once-empty mountains, restoring their vigor to its peak. Importantly, the Lin Family made a promise to redistribute their interests, uniformly reallocating everything from the workshop to the spirit land industry. Under such circumstances, the Lin Family has plenty of business to attend to over the next five to ten years, developing their own Luoyun Mountain Range on one hand, while supporting the affiliated families of other mountain ranges on the other. Chapter 1017 1017 537 Development Strategy_2 ?Chapter 1017: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_2 Chapter 1017: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_2 ¡°` So, this decade was critical for the Lin Family. Even for the many clans under the Lin Family¡¯s command, it was also an immensely critical decade. After lengthy discussions, Lin Tianming and the others offered their carefree strategies and essentially set the main direction for the Lin Family¡¯s development. In the coming time, the Lin Family would first complete the migration of the subordinate forces from all major mountain ranges and allocate the spirit land industries belonging to them. And within a few years, expand the size of the workshops in each mountain range, thereby redistributing their benefits. For the family itself, all the spirit lands vacated in the Luoyun Mountain Range had to be maintained anew. Thereafter, the family would dispatch clan members whose potential was exhausted to guard the various spirit land industries while vigorously cultivating spiritual medicines and spirit materials, these basic resources, to ensure the family¡¯s economic sources. ... At the same time, they planned to further increase the scale and duration of the clan members¡¯ trials. In addition, some of the mortals left behind by those clans were also to be mixed with the mortals from the Lin Family. In time, the Lin Family would migrate some mortals to other mortal cities, transmitting the Lin Family¡¯s bloodline, conveying their ideology, and ultimately assimilating them. So far, the Lin Family had acquired a foundation of several million mortals, nearly half of whom were originally from other clans. Through many years of assimilation, those mortals had already been completely integrated. Now, even if they acquired several million more mortals, they would be able to assimilate them gradually and eventually make them part of the Lin Family. And this point, for a clan, was still very important. After all, everyone is well aware that mortals are the foundation of a power¡¯s development; as long as there is a sufficiently large number of mortals, more individuals with spiritual roots will be born every year. This point had been realized by the Lin Family over the years. Take the Lin Family, from the end of the Luoyun Mountain¡¯s great battle, the clan members grew from just over a hundred to more than a thousand, and they were close to breaking the two-thousand mark. More crucially, a genius with absolute talent like Lin Tianyun had emerged. Such an explosive growth occurred within just a few decades. And such a vast change was not only a quantitative transformation but also a qualitative one. This, then, was the change brought about by the mortal base, and it also laid an extremely solid foundation for the Lin Family. Because of this, the Lin Family highly valued mortals. Now, with sufficient territory, the Lin Family intended to further expand the scale of mortals. Secondly, it was to expand the spirit land industry, allowing the clan to have a long-term economic source. In addition to the Luoyun Market and Qianchuan Market, as well as the large workshops in other mountain ranges, the Lin Family had certain revenue rights. Looking ahead, it was foreseeable that the Lin Family¡¯s basic resources would be secure, and their development would be much faster. Under such circumstances, the major decisions discussed by the Lin Family¡¯s senior members were significantly important for the development of the Lin Family. Toward the end, Lin Tianming and the others essentially agreed on a broad direction of development. As long as there were no unexpected circumstances, the family would develop according to the direction set by the family. In summary, there were a few points, first, to fully control the subsidiary forces under their command, second, to solidify the development of the family¡¯s large spirit land industries, third, to develop the scale and quality of the clan members, nurturing more talented clan members. To achieve this, the Lin Family needed ten, or even a hundred years to gradually progress. During this period, the Lin Family would keep a low profile in their development, not easily getting involved in conflicts, and prioritize stability above all. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having established the basic direction of development, this high-level gathering came to a close. The mood was light, and everyone was in good spirits, chatting leisurely with a sense of gratification in their words. At this moment, Lin Shikang shifted the topic and asked Lin Tianming about his subsequent plans. Lin Tianming thought about it; he had no other matters to attend to. Currently, he planned to further consolidate his alchemy skills and then devote some time to cultivation. During this time, he also intended to practice the Spirit Technique obtained from the Lin Jian Sect and the one from Yang Chengfeng. Although these two Spirit Techniques were only Yellow Grade, their power was somewhat stronger than ordinary Divine Skills. Thus, having one more skill could strengthen his own power, and facing stronger opponents in the future, he would be more confident. This meant that he had plenty to do next, and even if everything went smoothly, he might not be able to leave seclusion within five years. However, even so, Lin Tianming did not mind. After all, he now had plenty of time, the Cultivation World was peaceful, and there were no significant events occurring in the family that required his presence. Since that was the case, his seclusion for cultivation would not affect the family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming then spoke of his plans. Lin Shikang and the others, upon hearing this, nodded in satisfaction. In their eyes, Lin Tianming was like the family¡¯s Stabilizing Sea Needle; as long as his strength increased further, the overall strength of the family would also rise. Conversely, no other clan member could, like him, significantly drive the family¡¯s advancement. And Lin Tianming¡¯s talent was already well known to everyone, no further elaboration was required. Now, the family was gradually on the right track, and the prospects for development were excellent; naturally, a powerhouse like Lin Tianming needed to focus on his cultivation. ¡°` Chapter 1018 1018 537 Development Strategy_3 ?Chapter 1018: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_3 Chapter 1018: Chapter 537: Development Strategy_3 As for the general clan affairs or unexpected events, the Clan Leader and other clan members can easily handle them. If they encounter more thorny issues, Lin Shikang can step in. At the very least, they can still gather Ye Pinghai and the Guest Elder Hu Yuan, who has been cultivating in the Lin Family Clan Grounds. With these individuals, coupled with the Lin Family¡¯s reputation in Wei Kingdom and the surrounding Cultivation World, there¡¯s no one so foolish as to provoke trouble with the Lin Family. With this setup, Lin Tianming no longer had to be distracted; everything revolved around his cultivation. Other matters were the responsibility of the rest of the family; there was no need for him to worry. Aware of this, Lin Shikang imparted several earnest pieces of advice before also instructing Lin Shihua at his side, asking Lin Shihua to do everything possible to assist Lin Tianming, providing him with any resources or treasures he needed at all costs. ... As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua naturally understood this and would have done the same even if Lin Shikang had not mentioned it. Especially now, given the family had a certain base of resources, all resources would primarily cater to Lin Tianming¡¯s needs. And as for the others, their priority would naturally be lower. This was the bedrock of the Lin Family at present, as well as its current basic status. This fact was indisputable to all senior clan members. With these matters settled, Lin Shikang was very satisfied and then asked about Qin Xi¡¯s condition in her cultivation. After all, Lin Tianming was not the only genius in the Lin Family; there were also Qin Xi and Lin Tianyun. Speaking of Qin Xi, her cultivation was already considerable, and her cultivation speed was not far behind Lin Tianming¡¯s. The family elders had all witnessed Qin Xi¡¯s growth over the years. For such a talented member of the clan, even if she wasn¡¯t Lin Tianming¡¯s partner, the family would still focus on nurturing her. And thus, Lin Shikang naturally took a great interest in Qin Xi¡¯s development. Upon hearing his question, Lin Tianming then spoke about Qin Xi¡¯s specific condition. Up until now, Qin Xi was still in seclusion, having not emerged from it. Before she began her seclusion, she had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, and after more than a year¡¯s retreat, she should be close to a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Without any accidents, she would likely come out of seclusion within a year or two. By then, Qin Xi would definitely be at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. After consolidating for a few years, she could attempt the Impact of Golden Core Stage. And currently, the Lin Family had a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item in hand, providing her with all the necessary conditions to attempt breaking into the Golden Core Stage. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Learning of this, Lin Shikang and the others were all extremely thrilled. Given Qin Xi¡¯s talent, the probability of success in reaching the Golden Core Stage at such a young age was quite substantial. Should she succeed, the Lin Family would gain an additional Golden Core Stage Cultivator with extraordinary talent and formidable strength. If that were to happen, the overall strength of the Lin Family could further increase, and surpassing the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley wouldn¡¯t be out of the question. Thinking of this possibility, the hearts of Lin Shikang and the others were so excited that they could not calm down for a long while. After finally regaining composure, Lin Shikang instructed Lin Shihua to ensure the family would be fully prepared. As soon as the time was ripe, they should immediately facilitate Qin Xi¡¯s retreat to attempt breaking into the Golden Core Stage. Lin Shihua also knew the seriousness of the matter and promptly agreed to it. Afterwards, the group chatted idly for a while before taking their leave from Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. ¡­ Chapter 1019 1019 538 The Effect of the Dry Jade ?Chapter 1019: Chapter 538 The Effect of the Dry Jade Pill Chapter 1019: Chapter 538 The Effect of the Dry Jade Pill Inside the Cave Mansion. In the Pill Refining Room, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the cushion with his eyes tightly closed. As the family¡¯s many affairs had been arranged properly, Lin Tianming no longer delayed and immediately returned to the Cave Mansion to continue his cultivation. According to his prior plan, he intended to spend a year practicing alchemy to solidify his skills before trying to use elixirs to enhance his cultivation, while also contemplating the two newly acquired Spirit Arts. Alternating in this manner, the upcoming years of seclusion wouldn¡¯t be too monotonous. Once he made up his mind, Lin Tianming immediately began preparing for alchemy. Soon, the temperature inside the Pill Refining Room gradually increased, and both the Qingyun Furnace and the Blue Heart True Flame were ready. ... At this time, he was in excellent shape and began to refine Yuxu Pills with ease; once he found the optimal rhythm, he would proceed to the more challenging Dry Jade Pills. Scenes like this fiery spectacle were repeated in the Pill Refining Room. While Lin Tianming was in seclusion, the Lin Family also started to mobilize. Following the prearranged plan, Lin Shihua had Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping take charge as team leaders, each leading a portion of the clan members to set off simultaneously, heading in both southern and northern directions to their respective territories. Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, two years had gone by. During this period, the two Lin Xingping remained in locations such as the Qianchuan Mountain Range and the Changfeng Mountain Range, personally overseeing the relocation process of the local family branches. After mobilizing for over a year, many Qi Refining Families from other mountain ranges had already taken the lead in relocating. After arriving at the Changfeng Mountain Range, following the Lin Family¡¯s arrangement, they were reassigned a plot of Spirit Land as their new clan territory. And more clans, especially the larger Foundation Establishing Families, were largely in the process of mobilizing and were about to enter the relocation phase. In any case, the Lin Family¡¯s plan was to complete the relocation within five years. The larger scale of the Foundation Establishing Families and the greater numbers of their clan members and common people meant they required more time to relocate. Consequently, the faster movers in the relocation process were generally the smaller families. This was within the expectations of the Lin Family, and Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping stayed in the area for this reason¡ªto supervise the matter. They were quite satisfied with the progress achieved to date. Next, the two would continue to maintain this pace until the relocation task was successfully completed. Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. Inside Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion, he sat cross-legged in the Pill Refining Room, with his eyes tightly closed and even breaths sounding out. After a while, he opened his tightly shut eyes. Subsequently, Lin Tianming let out a long sigh and a hint of a smile crossed his face. These nearly two years had brought him significant gains; he had refined over a dozen batches of elixirs, including the simplest Yuxu Pills, as well as other commonly used Third Order Pills like the Spirit Dragon Pill. Additionally, he was now capable of maintaining an impressive success rate and a considerable number of pills while refining the tricky Dry Jade Pills. After such an extended period of alchemy, his skills had significantly improved; both the pill success rate and the number of pills had reached a very notable level. Over these years, he had used up most of the Spiritual Medicine Materials he had, including some from both the family¡¯s Treasure Vault and the Spiritual Medicine Garden. More importantly, he had nearly used up the Dry Jade Grass he obtained from Five Poison Mountain, with only five mature stalks remaining, which he planned to keep for emergencies. Now, after his laborious refining, he had a considerable stockpile of elixirs, including dozens of Yuxu Pills. A very small portion of these came from the hands of others, but the majority were refined solely by him. Apart from that, he also had many other common Third Order Pills, enough for personal use for quite some time. He even planned to leave some of the pills for the family¡¯s Treasure Vault as a way of repaying the use of the family¡¯s Spiritual Medicine. Despite his current status and the family¡¯s early assurance that he, as the prime individual of the entire clan, could freely use any family treasure, Lin Tianming hardly pondered it and still didn¡¯t intend to take undue advantage of the family. After all, his ability to repay had grown, and there was no need to frequently tap into the family¡¯s reserved resources. Unless absolutely necessary, it was preferable to avoid doing so. As for these commonly seen Third Order Pills, he currently didn¡¯t place too much importance on them; although the Spiritual Medicine required for these pills was precious, the family could still manage to find more. What he was most concerned about were the Dry Jade Pills. Up to now, he had accumulated as many as twenty-six pills, all refined in the recent years. For this, he had labored intensely for years, at times taking considerable risks, but now he had successfully refined them and obtained so many Dry Jade Pills. During these years, his cultivation had nearly stagnated, all due to the drawbacks brought about by the Cultivation Technique. Now with these Dry Jade Pills in his possession, he could finally set aside his concerns and earnestly practice cultivation. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming became somewhat impatient. After calming himself down a bit, Lin Tianming began performing energy circulation exercises, moving his Cultivation Technique through a Grand Circulation. A short while passed. Lin Tianming then took out a Yuxu Pill and, without hesitation, swallowed it in one gulp. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1020 1020 538 The Effects of Dry Jade Pill_2 ?Chapter 1020: Chapter 538 The Effects of Dry Jade Pill_2 Chapter 1020: Chapter 538 The Effects of Dry Jade Pill_2 As the elixir entered his mouth, Lin Tianming began to circulate his cultivation technique while slowly refining the energy contained within the pill. Soon, the anticipated pain arrived as expected. In just a few breaths, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned pale, and his expression showed signs of pain as beads of sweat the size of soybeans continuously dripped down his forehead. When these beads of sweat hit the ground, they disappeared without a trace almost instantly. At this point, Lin Tianming clenched his teeth tightly, his handsome face serious and focused. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the pain intensified, pushing him to his limits of endurance, Lin Tianming could no longer withstand it. With no other choice, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and a Dry Jade Pill appeared in his hand. ... Looking at the pill in his hand, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t afford to delay and hurriedly swallowed it. Soon after, the pill dissolved, and its energy burst forth, coursing through his meridians. The energy of the Dry Jade Pill was volatile, filled with an abundance of Qi-Blood that moved about fiercely without causing any side effects to his body. Instead, with the infusion of this energy, the intense pain rapidly subsided and quickly disappeared without a trace. At the same time, the efficiency of his refinement of the Yuxu Pill was significantly faster than before. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked within his Golden Core and saw strands of True Essence Mana beginning to gather. In just this short span of time, the amount of True Essence Mana he had accumulated was quite considerable. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. In his heart, he hadn¡¯t expected his first attempt at cultivating with the Yuxu Pill to be so effective. His True Essence Mana, which hadn¡¯t increased in a long time, was now visibly growing, albeit weakly. Moreover, the effects of the Dry Jade Pill were equally excellent, not only suppressing the pain but also speeding up the refinement of the Yuxu Pill. What was more crucial was that the Dry Jade Pill was also a Body Refinement elixir, containing powerful energy from Qi-Blood. As the refinement of the Dry Jade Pill continued, he could clearly feel his sinews, organs, and even his outer skin receiving various degrees of enhancement. These minute improvements, though extremely faint. However, upon careful sensing, the changes were still noticeably discernible. Precisely because of this, Lin Tianming, aware of these changes, was exceptionally satisfied with the results of this attempt. Going at this rate, after refining this Dry Jade Pill completely, his Physical Strength would likely see a slight increase. Although expecting a single pill to propel him to a new level was unrealistic. But he still had quite a few Dry Jade Pills, and he planned to continue refining them in the future. With long-term consumption, they could indeed accelerate the growth of his physical body. Upon thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s already excited heart surged with even more emotion. Beyond the excitement, Lin Tianming gradually regained his calm. Next, he went all out, refining the two elixirs within his body at the fastest possible speed. ¡­ Time flew by swiftly, and a year passed in the blink of an eye. On this day in the practice room, Lin Tianming was sitting cross-legged, his breathing steady and even. He slowly completed his practice and then opened his eyes. In that instant, a gleam of sharp light flashed through the corners of Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes. He clenched his fists, making a series of crackling noises that echoed throughout the practice room. Afterward, Lin Tianming assessed his physical state and felt an abundance of True Essence Mana and explosive power ready to burst forth from within him. Upon sensing it, he could clearly tell that his True Essence Mana had increased significantly. Now, compared to before, an increase of more than half was certain, not just a mere ten percent. Continuing at this pace, perhaps with over ten more years of secluded cultivation aided by elixirs, he might have the chance to attempt breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. However, upon deeper thought, even with such conditions, he knew that even with all his exceptional talent and confidence, he didn¡¯t have much assurance of achieving his goal within that timeframe. This wasn¡¯t due to a lack of self-confidence, but rather because he was well aware that after reaching the Golden Core Stage, every step of advancement was extremely difficult. Throughout this year, he had successfully refined two Yuxu Pills using a single Dry Jade Pill. After a year of diligent cultivation and the aid of two Yuxu Pills, only then did his mana increase so much and his cultivation level climb a little. The speed of his progress, it must be said, is also thanks to his solid foundation. After all, in the years since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, he had hardly ever cultivated seriously. Before this, his biggest improvement was utilising the Spirit Fruit he obtained from the Golden Sword Sect, which had slightly raised his cultivation level. Aside from that, he never truly cultivated in earnest. Further, his foundation has always been exceptionally solid, and in the last few years, he has experienced numerous great wars, repeatedly facing life-and-death crises. It can be said that now, his foundation has become extremely stable. Today, after such a long time without improvement, and finally encountering the boost of elixirs, his Golden Core within was like a desperately hungry infant. As the saying goes, a long drought meets sweet rain! To describe his previous state with this phrase is not an exaggeration at all. It was precisely these conditions that allowed him to accumulate strength over time and, relying on just two Yuxu Pills, achieve such remarkable cultivation results. In addition, the medicinal power of the Dry Jade Pill was extremely strong, and its Qi-Blood force was incredibly rich. Just one moment of taking the Dry Jade Pill had slightly increased the strength of his flesh, making the Qi-Blood force throughout it even more vigorous, and accordingly his own strength grew to varying extents. At this rate, both his cultivation and physical strength could be simultaneously enhanced going forward. This was the transformation brought about by the Dry Jade Pill, a perfect complement to each other. Lin Tianming felt a mix of excitement and surprise at this revelation. But whatever the case, this was still something he could not ask for more. Acknowledging this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he couldn¡¯t help but burst into hearty laughter. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming immediately fell into contemplation. So far, he had been in seclusion for two years, and his Alchemy had already reached and even far exceeded the intended target. The effects of the Dry Jade Pill, which he had already experienced, were surprisingly good. As a result, both his cultivation and his physical body had been enhanced to different extents. He was very pleased with such an outcome. From here on, he could either continue his seclusion, striking while the iron was hot to increase his cultivation, or he could leave seclusion to take a brief break before continuing. Qin Xi had also been in seclusion, close to three years now, Before she went into seclusion, she was already at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and explicitly stated that she was about to impact the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Nearly three years had passed; given her talent and potential, she should have succeeded by now. Thus, based on this timing, Qin Xi should also be near the end of her seclusion. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer hesitated and decided to put aside the idea of continuing his seclusion, opting to first check on Qin Xi¡¯s situation. After all, once Qin Xi reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, she might not be far from going into seclusion again to impact the Golden Core Stage Realm. And as Qin Xi¡¯s partner, he naturally needed to pay attention during such a critical moment. Moreover, even if they were not partners, if any member of the Lin Family was about to impact the Golden Core Stage, he would still need to go and check on them. Besides, preparing for the impact of the Golden Core Stage requires a lot of preparation, and experience is just as crucial. As a Golden Core Stage Cultivator with Dual Spiritual Roots Talent and at an age closely approaching his impact of the Golden Core Stage, Under such conditions, the experience Lin Tianming could impart was also very important and critical for Qin Xi. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming wasted no more time. Next, he tidied up the Practice Room briefly before heading out directly. Once he left the Practice Room, Lin Tianming took a long turn around, and there was no trace of Qin Xi inside the Cave Mansion; it was unknown if she was still in seclusion or had already left and was simply not in the Cave Mansion at the moment. So, Lin Tianming did not think much of it and stepped out of the Cave Mansion and went straight to his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion. ¡­ Chapter 1021 1021 539 A Small Gathering ?Chapter 1021: Chapter 539: A Small Gathering Chapter 1021: Chapter 539: A Small Gathering After a short while. Lin Tianming arrived in front of his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion, gazed at the familiar surroundings, and first sent a message before quickly stepping inside. Upon entering the Cave Mansion, the figures of his mother and Qin Xi appeared. Lin Tianming first paid his respects to his mother before his gaze fell upon Qin Xi, his expression instantly filled with joy. It was unexpected for Qin Xi to have finished her seclusion, and for them to meet here just so happened to be a coincidence. At that moment, Lin Tianming joyfully asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve actually come out of seclusion?¡± ¡°And has your cultivation successfully reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm?¡± ... Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat surprised look, Qin Xi smiled knowingly and explained, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er left seclusion over half a year ago.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Ming has been in closed-door cultivation all this time, and Xi¡¯er didn¡¯t want to disturb you, so I didn¡¯t send you a message.¡± ¡°As for cultivation, with Xi¡¯er in seclusion for so long, it would have been strange not to break through smoothly.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming nodded and then pulled Qin Xi into a tight embrace. At the same time, he chuckled and praised her with a smile. ¡°Haha¡­ Xi¡¯er really has exceptional talent; I believe it won¡¯t be long before you can attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage and become another Golden Core Stage Cultivator in our family.¡± ¡°You flatter me!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s words, filled with compliments, caused Qin Xi¡¯s face to blush, and she couldn¡¯t help but punch his chest lightly with her small fists. Seeing this, their mother rolled her eyes in slight embarrassment and tactfully left the room, giving the young couple some time and space. As Ren Yuxuan left, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks flushed against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. After the couple chatted for a while, they reluctantly parted. That night, Lin Shigong also rushed over for the reunion, and Lin Tianyue, who had been in seclusion, coincidentally emerged as well. Consequently, apart from Lin Xingrong, who was out performing a family mission, the members of their small family were nearly all present. After dinner, the five of them sat in the courtyard and started chatting leisurely. It had been a long time since seeing Lin Tianyue, and upon their reunion, she had already reached the peak of the Sixth Level of Foundation Establishment. In recent years, Lin Tianyue had grown significantly. While her rate of cultivation progress seemed not particularly fast, her cultivation level now ranked near the top among the Lin Family¡¯s Tian-generation. Moreover, as a Second Order Inscription Master, her skills in talisman making were equally remarkable. Now, she had become the most proficient talisman maker among the thousands of clan members, capable of easily creating commonly used Second Order Medium Quality Attack and Defense Talismans. Furthermore, the talismans she made were of high quality and had an extremely commendable success rate. It wouldn¡¯t take long, and once her cultivation improved further, becoming a Second Order Superior Talisman Maker was merely a matter of time. One could say that Lin Tianyue¡¯s trajectory of growth was already quite impressive compared to other family members. More importantly, she had grown even more in terms of handling experiences. After all, she had spent most of these years bustling outside, managing the Luoyun Pavilion and later helping run the Qianchuan Market. Besides, when the family was negotiating territories with other forces, Lin Tianyue had taken the lead in such matters as a core family member. Through years of experience, this once shadow of his had acquired the ability to stand on her own. As an elder brother, Lin Tianming had been paying attention to Lin Tianyue over the years and supported her. In earlier days, he would personally guide her in cultivation, just to instruct her. However, as their cultivations advanced and the duration of their seclusions extended, it became difficult to meet. Moreover, facing the turbulent Cultivation World, Lin Tianming was often on the move and seldom had time to stay with the family or in the market where Lin Tianyue was stationed. Under such circumstances, it was difficult for the siblings to meet, and an occasion like this, where the whole family gathered together, was extremely rare. Now, seeing Lin Tianyue¡¯s growth over the years, Lin Tianming found it quite gratifying. Afterward, the family of five sat together, sipping tea and engaging in conversation. During this time, Lin Tianming also gave guidance to everyone and took time to meticulously explain to Qin Xi his experience with the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Then, Lin Tianming inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s plans for the future. The others were equally concerned and asked about her intentions. Facing the caring inquiries, Qin Xi smiled and said, ¡°I plan to settle for a year or two, study the insights left by our seniors, and prepare thoroughly.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his expectations aligning well with Qin Xi¡¯s plans. Thus, he promptly suggested, ¡°Xi¡¯er, over the next two years, you could undergo further training.¡± ¡°At present, the Luoyun Mountain Range has been reorganized, formed by combining three mountain ranges, tripling its area.¡± ¡°The family has been organizing a significant number of clan members to develop Spirit Lands and clear out the deep mountains within the new Luoyun Mountain Range.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This is also intended to familiarize ourselves with the new territory and clear any significant threats, so that our mortal family members can live more safely.¡± ¡°In this way, Xi¡¯er, you can participate in leading the team. While consolidating your cultivation during the training, you can also contribute to the family.¡± Chapter 1022 1022 539 Small Gathering_2 ?Chapter 1022: Chapter 539 Small Gathering_2 Chapter 1022: Chapter 539 Small Gathering_2 As the words ended, Lin Shigong also nodded in agreement. As a high-ranking member of the clan, he was quite familiar with the family¡¯s plans and fully aware of the tasks Lin Tianming mentioned that the Lin Family was about to focus on. Thus, Lin Shigong quickly spoke up in support. ¡°Tianming is right!¡± ¡°According to Shihua, some mountain ranges within the Luoyun Mountain Range have been almost entirely cleared of demonic beasts over the years.¡± ¡°However, the original Hengyang Mountain Range and the Luoyang Mountain Range still have many rarely traversed mountains with plenty of demonic beasts.¡± ¡°While Third Order Demon Beasts are unlikely to appear, there should still be quite a few Second Order Late-Stage Demon Beasts in the deeper areas.¡± ... ¡°With Xi¡¯er¡¯s current cultivation strength, leading a team there would be an excellent choice.¡± ¡°Moreover, with Xi¡¯er¡¯s participation, the safety of the clan members will be greatly enhanced, and the efficiency will be much higher.¡± Hearing Lin Shigong speak this way, Qin Xi nodded thoughtfully. In fact, in her heart, she had always been keen on contributing to the family. Now, since she was without tasks at hand and needed to gain experience and consolidate what she had learned, she was naturally willing to participate in the clan¡¯s plan. In doing so, she could put in effort for the family, in addition to pursuing her own goals. Knowing this, Qin Xi sincerely said, ¡°Grandfather, even if you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Xi¡¯er would be willing to lend a hand.¡± ¡°In the next two years, Xi¡¯er will once again join the Monster Hunting Squad to clear the demonic beasts from the mountain ranges for the clan, and after two years, I will return to the family.¡± ¡°By that time, Xi¡¯er can seek advice from our various elders about breaking through to the next level and make all the necessary preparations.¡± Hearing Qin Xi say this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shigong nodded in unison. Then, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the family still has three Jiuli Star Fruits. Once you have completed your experience, you can go to the family treasury to claim one and then enter seclusion to impact the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er will definitely complete the training as quickly as possible to break through to the Golden Core Stage at the earliest.¡± Qin Xi nodded with a confident look in her eyes. Seeing this, everyone present was happy, and the atmosphere of the subsequent casual conversation was very warm. It wasn¡¯t until late at night that Lin Tianming and his spouse left and returned to their own Cave Mansion. Several days later. Early in the morning, Qin Xi led a group of clan members away from the family territory in a grand procession, carried by the Purple Gold Eagle in a certain direction. And these people were the members of this Monster Hunting Squad, among them were individuals who had just broken through to Foundation Establishment a few years ago, as well as Late Stage of Qi Refining Chang Generation clan members. Qin Xi, as team leader, would guide them to the former Whirlwind Mountain Range, focusing on the deep mountains to clear demonic beasts and seek treasures while training. This kind of training was very common in the Lin Family over the past decades, happening almost every six months or at most every two years, with the family organizing one or even multiple training sessions. As for Qin Xi, she was even more familiar with training. After all, she had participated several times previously, more than even Lin Tianming had. Now, as a team leader again, with her current cultivation strength, there was little danger as long as no Third Order Demon Beast appeared. While Qin Xi was out gaining experience, Lin Tianming was also busy. After a short period of seclusion and reuniting with family, followed by visiting some elders, he once again entered the Practice Room. After all, he had no long-term plans at the moment. Moreover, the Cultivation World was very peaceful, with no significant events happening. In terms of the family, all plans were progressing smoothly, and the elders were also busy with their respective tasks. Someone like Lin Shilu, who had rarely made an appearance since breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, had not come out of seclusion, focusing almost entirely on the path of Artifact Refining. And he did this in order to quickly forge a suitable Life-bound Magical Treasure, to fully unleash Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. Lin Tianming understood this and felt very moved in his heart. At the same time, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that Lin Shilu was truly obsessed with Artifact Refining. It wasn¡¯t just his opinion; other clan members of the Shi Generation shared this view of him. Lin Tianming felt helpless about this but also deeply admired Lin Shilu. Now that everyone was working hard, he naturally couldn¡¯t remain idle. Given his rigorous level of experience, all he had to do now was enter seclusion to cultivate and aim to raise his cultivation level as much as possible. Knowing this, Lin Tianming once again began his seclusion for cultivation. He planned to first cultivate for a while with the help of Yuxu Pills and Dry Jade Pills. Once his cultivation improved somewhat, he would then delve into Spirit Arts. Thus, Lin Tianming once again began an ardent period of cultivation, alone in the Practice Room. Two years passed by quickly. At noon that day, Qin Xi led the clan members back home safely. After dismissing the excited clan members, Qin Xi also proceeded to the Elders¡¯ Council, ready to report back to the Clan Leader. At this time, Lin Shihua was also busy with clan members. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s return, he was not only excited, but also hurriedly waved and greeted her, his attitude very approachable. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen Twelfth Grandpa, Xi¡¯er is back.¡± Qin Xi quickly returned the greeting and then said with a smile, ¡°The two-year period has ended, and those deep mountains of the former Whirlwind Mountain Range have been almost completely cleared by us.¡± ¡°By now, the number of Demonic Beasts in those mountains has greatly reduced.¡± ¡°Although there might still be some that slipped through the net, it¡¯s already very difficult for them to cause much trouble to the family.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s report, Lin Shihua nodded with satisfaction. In fact, his heart was already quite fond of Qin Xi, even exceeding his own direct descendants with mediocre talents. Actually, it was not just him; all the high-ranking members of the Lin Family, as well as the various Hall Masters, cared for and protected Qin Xi to the utmost. After all, her talent was extremely high, and she was Lin Tianming¡¯s partner. Both her status and strength were not low. From any angle, she was undoubtedly the Lin Family¡¯s most cherished treasure. And Qin Xi was also very clever and sensible. Over the years, she had contributed a lot to the family, handled matters with vigor and thoroughness, and was very considerate. What clan member would not love such a young person? Now, Qin Xi was always striving for the family, successfully completing every task, which was indeed very rare. Understanding this, Lin Shihua¡¯s mood was extremely good, and he quickly smiled and praised her, saying, ¡°With Xi¡¯er personally taking action, fulfilling the tasks naturally isn¡¯t difficult.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ According to this old man, just with Xi¡¯er taking a walk through those mountains, those Demonic Beasts wouldn¡¯t even have time to escape.¡± Lin Shihua, who had always been serious and traditional with other clan members, did not forget to joke with Qin Xi, prompting her to laugh heartily. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, you always speak so kindly, Xi¡¯er is embarrassed.¡± Qin Xi said shyly, seemingly a little embarrassed. Seeing this, Lin Shihua laughed heartily and then changed the subject. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They chatted briefly and exchanged some specific details. After that, Qin Xi also asked about some recent developments of the family. Seeing Qin Xi inquire, apparently very concerned about the family¡¯s progress, Lin Shihua also began informing her. According to Lin Shihua, nearly four years had passed since the alliance conference came to an end. During this period, the five mountain ranges planned by the entire Lin Family were bustling with activity. After three years, the five-year deadline was drawing near. By now, the plan for relocating those clan lands was almost fully executed, with only a minority of clans still in the process of migration. Besides that, the distribution of the spirit land industries and the expansion of the workshop previously established within those mountain ranges were the absolute core undertakings currently managed by the Lin Family Members. Once these matters conclude, the initial plan laid out by the previous Lin Family alliance would be wholly completed. And the Lin Family had already completed the bulk of these plans. It was foreseeable that in another year or two, these would be thoroughly completed. These were the foundational external circumstances of the family. Internally, the various elders were busy with their secluded cultivation, and everything was very peaceful, no different from usual. Knowing this, Qin Xi nodded, feeling very relieved and quite proud inside. After all, as a member of the Lin Family, she now saw the family prospering, with everything proceeding in an orderly fashion according to the family¡¯s prior plans. Such a family, that cared so much for her, naturally remained etched in her heart, and her mood was excited. After a brief recovery of her composure, Qin Xi chatted for a while with Lin Shihua, then took her leave, and stepped out of the Elders¡¯ Council. ¡­ Chapter 1023 1023 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art ?Chapter 1023: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art Chapter 1023: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art Several days passed. Lin Tianming briefly emerged from seclusion, and the moment he stepped out of the practice room, he immediately saw Qin Xi. Upon seeing her return, Lin Tianming was so excited that he quickly asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, has everything been going well in these two years?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and responded, ¡°Thank you, Ming, for your concern!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er has had quite a smooth time these two years. Thanks to our efforts, we¡¯ve almost completely cleared out those deep mountains in the Whirlwind Mountain Range.¡± ¡°Throughout this period, we¡¯ve eliminated quite a number of Second Order Demonic Beasts, not the least of which are some in the Second Order Late Phase.¡± Qin Xi recounted her overall experiences over the past two years, from the first battle to the eventual return to the Lin Family. ... By the end, her rich battle spoils and the way she casually described slaying the Demonic Beasts made Lin Tianming nod in satisfaction, his heart brimming with relief. Such a result was actually within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, Qin Xi was at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Lin Tianming was very clear about her strength even before this. In addition, their Monster Hunting Squad also had several Foundation Establishment Clan Members going along. With the experienced Qin Xi leading and the clan members assisting her, dealing with two or three Second Order Late-Stage Demonic Beasts should have been a breeze. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite being the domain of the Human Race, even though there were some deep forests rarely treaded by humans, some Second Order Demonic Beasts still hid within. But without the presence of Third Order Demon Beasts, just these Second Order ones could hardly change the weather. Under such circumstances, with Qin Xi¡¯s strength leading the expedition for their trials, there was naturally a guarantee of safety. However, he had not expected that in just two years, they would have made a complete round of the Whirlwind Mountain Range and most of the Second Order Demonic Beasts had been wiped out. This speed was so fast that even the historically confident Lin Tianming was taken aback. He even wondered if he were leading the team himself, whether he could have outpaced Qin Xi. Thinking this, Lin Tianming did not hesitate to lavish her with praise, which made Qin Xi laugh heartily. Afterward, the couple chatted intimately for a while before returning to their respective practice rooms. Several days later. Early in the morning, Lin Tianming and his wife left their cave mansion together, heading towards Lin Shikang¡¯s dwelling. With Qin Xi¡¯s return from her training expedition and two years of consolidation, her cultivation had now reached the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment, and her foundation was very solid. Consequently, Lin Tianming planned to take Qin Xi to visit several elders, to seek their advice and fully prepare her for her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. With this intention, Lin Tianming visited several clan members with the generational title ¡®Shi.¡¯ Including Ye Pinghai, several Golden Core Stage elders were overjoyed to see Qin Xi¡¯s visit and warmly welcomed them. At the same time, the elders patiently shared their experiences. Especially the challenges they faced during their secluded breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage and how they resolved those issues. Their efforts were aimed at ensuring that Qin Xi¡¯s breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage would be smooth and without taking too many detours. After all, despite Qin Xi¡¯s great talent, advancing to the Golden Core Stage level is something even cultivators with a Sky Spirit Root dare not be entirely sure of. And now, it was Qin Xi¡¯s turn to face this moment. Once successful, she would become the Lin Family¡¯s fifth Golden Core Stage Cultivator, not counting the guest elder Hu Yuan. At that point, the Lin Family truly would possess the strength to stand alone against any sect such as the Zhenyang Sect or Myriad Medicine Valley. It can be said that Qin Xi¡¯s attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage is equally important for the Lin Family. The elders were well aware of this and had similarly high hopes for Qin Xi. As a result, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai were not stingy. In addition to sharing their breakthrough experiences, they also gifted Third Order Pills and various Defense Artifacts. Preparing all these items for Qin Xi left her feeling a bit embarrassed. She herself had prepared some methods to confront the Heavenly Tribulation and also had the numerous treasures that Lin Tianming had given her beforehand, each a precious item among treasures. These were things Lin Tianming had been preparing for her over the years. After all, Lin Tianming had experienced many great battles, with hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators perishing under his hands. The wealth and treasures of these people, anything he deemed worthy, he kept. As time accumulated, he had saved quite a collection of treasures, all of premium quality, specifically for Qin Xi¡¯s future use. Thinking of it now, the Defense Artifacts Qin Xi received, along with all the other measures prepared for the Heavenly Tribulation, paled in comparison to his own tribulation at the time. Back then, he relied on defense artifacts hastily refined by Lin Shilu, and they were extremely limited. Looking at Qin Xi now, just the two pieces each from Ye Pinghai and Lin Shikang amounted to quite a bit. This was because Lin Shilu was in secluded cultivation and unaware of Qin Xi¡¯s upcoming challenge to reach the Golden Core Stage. Otherwise, with Lin Shilu¡¯s character and the care he lavished on Qin Xi, he would certainly have gifted her several treasures. At the very least, he would have immediately refined a few Defense Artifacts for her protection. But Lin Shilu was always in secluded cultivation, never emerging for years, and he would miss this time. Now, with the combined efforts of the elders along with their personal guidance and the bestowal of treasures, Qin Xi was extremely moved and somewhat embarrassed. Chapter 1024 1024 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art_2 ?Chapter 1024: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art_2 Chapter 1024: Chapter 540 Cultivation of Spirit Art_2 Lin Tianming repeatedly advised her not to let down the expectations of their elders, and so Qin Xi joyfully accepted the advice. With the end of this visit, Qin Xi had gained a lot, including defensive strategies for dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation and a comprehensive understanding of the entire process of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage and the potential issues that might arise. Such advantages indeed stemmed from having Golden Core Stage elders and the legacy of a major power. Otherwise, if one had to explore on their own like a Loose Cultivator, the difficulty of advancing to the Golden Core Stage would significantly increase. As it happened, members of the Lin Family who were preparing to advance into the Golden Core Stage had chosen a favorable time. Thinking back to the times of Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai, they solely depended on the breakthrough insights left by their ancestors, which provided very limited experience. Looking at Qin Xi now, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators personally guided her, thoroughly explaining their experiences in advancing stages. ... Furthermore, Qin Xi had witnessed the Golden Core Tribulation more than once. After some guidance and what she had seen with her own eyes, her understanding of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage had significantly deepened. Due to such favorable conditions, the clan had high expectations for Qin Xi. Including Lin Tianming, and even Qin Xi herself felt a doubled confidence in her breakthrough. Following this series of consultations and visits, Lin Tianming wasted no time. He then led Qin Xi to meet with the Elders¡¯ Council and Clan Leader Lin Shihua to notify them of her imminent retreat to break through to the Golden Core Stage. Upon hearing this news, Lin Shihua was extremely excited and eagerly declared he was ready. Lin Shihua promised to provide Qin Xi with a quiet Cave Mansion for her retreat and to mobilize the power of the Formation to safeguard her advancement to the Golden Core Stage. At the same time, Jiuli Star Fruits that were stored in the family¡¯s Treasure Vault were waiting for clan members to use them, hoping to add a Golden Core Stage Cultivator to the family as soon as possible. Seeing Lin Shihua¡¯s enthusiastic and passionate assurances to provide Qin Xi with the best possible breakthrough environment also made Lin Tianming feel a touch of jealous rivalry. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that times had changed and that the Clan Leader and other elders truly liked Qin Xi very much, He might even suspect that Qin Xi was their biological daughter. But upon further reflection, he knew this was impossible. Moreover, when he attempted to reach the Golden Core Stage, the family did not have such resources. At that time, the Clan Leader and other elders also did their utmost to assist, but their capacity and financial resources were very limited. Now that the family¡¯s conditions had improved, and considering Qin Xi was a woman, the situation naturally couldn¡¯t be compared to his past. Lin Tianming understood this and genuinely appreciated the elders¡¯ support. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Qin Xi¡¯s retreat confirmed, Lin Tianming and his wife also left the Elders¡¯ Council and made a trip to the family¡¯s Treasure Vault, obtaining a Jiuli Star Fruit. At this point, all preparations were in place, they just needed the right moment. Qin Xi recognized this and thus planned to formally begin her retreat in five days. Initially, she planned to refine numerous Defense Artifacts, and once these protective measures were in place, she would directly start her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Learning of her plan, Lin Tianming fully supported her. He had been waiting for a long time for this moment, which was now finally near. In the subsequent days, Lin Tianming constantly stayed with Qin Xi. During this time, besides tirelessly sharing his own experiences, he constantly encouraged Qin Xi to focus on her retreat and breakthrough. As the days passed, Qin Xi entered a gorge in the back mountains. Here, the family had built a Cave Mansion specifically designed for high-level clan members to break through their cultivation. This place, which had been the breakthrough site for several of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Stage clan members, had undergone specialized enhancements by the family over the years. The spiritual energy was extremely rich, and the location was secluded and very safe, indeed an excellent spot for a retreat. Watching Qin Xi enter the valley, Lin Tianming lingered for a while but realized that the breakthrough would not be a quick matter. The safety of the place was maintained by clan members, so he didn¡¯t need to worry. Thus, Lin Tianming promptly returned to his own Cave Mansion. Entering the Practice Room, Lin Tianming sat down on a mat and started the Grand Circulation of his cultivation technique, promptly beginning his own cultivation. Time slowly moved backward. A year later, Lin Tianming, with the suppressive power of the Dry Jade Pill, once again took two Yuxu Pills for cultivation. So far, he had consumed several Yuxu Pills over the years. Although his cultivation hadn¡¯t broken through, the gains were not insignificant. Until now, he hadn¡¯t continued with his cultivation but instead took out a Jade Slip and began observing it in his hand. This particular Jade Slip, acquired from the Golden Sword Sect, contained a Spirit Art, which was also a replica Spirit Art. Although it was a replica, its content was identical to the original. As for this Spirit Art, he had also seen Han Hu use it before and had a good idea of its specific power. Now, with some free time on his hands, he decided to comprehend the art beforehand to see if he could master it quickly. With this intention, Lin Tianming extended his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip and firmly memorized its recorded contents. At the same time, whenever he encountered any guesses or doubts, he would often deduce them in his mind. Days of secluded cultivation like this continued. After half a year of deducing and comprehending, finally, on this day, Lin Tianming made a significant breakthrough. At that moment, his face showed joy, and he couldn¡¯t hide his excitement. Above his head, unbeknownst to him, a golden Sword Qi had formed, hanging motionless in mid-air. Looking at it, the small golden sword was crystal clear and imposing. When it first appeared, the entire Practice Room filled with the clear sound of a sword¡¯s cry, accompanied by an invisible aura that whipped up whirlwinds within the room. At this moment, feeling this Sword Qi, Lin Tianming pondered for a while and then confirmed that he had successfully mastered the Spirit Art and had invoked a streak of Sword Qi. Confident in his thoughts, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly manipulated the Sword Qi in his hand. ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike!¡± Lin Tianming softly exclaimed. In an instant, the small sword above his head shot out, immediately striking the wall of the Practice Room. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud explosion sounded, followed by a burst of flames. In just a moment, the entire Practice Room trembled slightly. With such a disturbance, Lin Tianming easily felt and witnessed everything happening inside the Practice Room. As everything returned to normal, the small sword disappeared without a trace. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at the hard wall, now covered in dense cracks, and felt very satisfied within. That strike was the Spirit Art once used by Han Hu, the Golden Sword Sect¡¯s unique Spirit Art ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike.¡± After half a year, he had managed to comprehend this Spirit Art successfully and had smoothly activated it. However, the mastery he possessed wasn¡¯t enough; not only was the attack slow and the target not very accurate, but the power was also extremely limited. Yet, to have comprehended the Spirit Art in such a short time was already quite remarkable. As for the power, precision, and speed of casting, he would need long-term practice to reach a certain level and then it could be used in combat. After all, any Spirit Art, even a Yellow Grade Spirit Art, is not easy to comprehend. Furthermore, to fully master it to the point where it can be used in combat requires long-term experimentation and research. This is true for any Spirit Art and any person. The fact that he had reached this level in just half a year was already quite extraordinary. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was not at all discouraged; on the contrary, his spirits were lifted. Therefore, Lin Tianming quickly focused his mind, and as soon as he felt a bit better, he started to comprehend this Spirit Art anew. ¡­ Chapter 1025 1025 541 Heavenly Tribulation Descends ?Chapter 1025: Chapter 541: Heavenly Tribulation Descends Chapter 1025: Chapter 541: Heavenly Tribulation Descends Time slowly passed by. In the blink of an eye, another three years had gone by. Within his cave mansion, Lin Tianming had not taken a single step outside. Until now, at this very moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his face flashing an excited smile. Following that, he formed a Law Decree with his hands, mumbling words under his breath. In the next instant, a green Sword Qi appeared out of nowhere in his hand, finally dancing at his fingertips. As soon as this green Sword Qi appeared, the Practice Room immediately emitted a vibrant aura. ... At the same time, sword shadows flashed across the entire Practice Room, and an aura slowly gathered. Feeling this change, Lin Tianming could not help but reveal a satisfied smile on his face. Over these three years, he had been cultivating in the Practice Room and had not taken a single step outside. During this period, he either used elixirs to enhance his cultivation or comprehended two Spirit Arts from the Jade Slips. After these three years, his cultivation level had increased significantly and was getting closer to the Mid Stage Golden Core. In terms of Spirit Arts, his gains were even greater. After his diligent research, he had now completely comprehended the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± and the Spirit Art ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± which he got from Yang Chengfeng, mastering every key point. However, to cultivate them to a certain degree, he still needed more practice and in-depth research. Only when he could use them against enemies could he consider them fully mastered. As of now, he could fully invoke them, though their power was extremely limited and far from enough to confront enemies. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming was very satisfied with this progress. Next, he had plenty of time to refine his skills. As long as he remained confident and diligent in his practice, he believed that one day he would reach the Minor Achievement Realm and be well-prepared to face enemies. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became calm, and his thoughts shifted. ¡°Xi¡¯er has been in closed-door cultivation for three years already, given his talent, the results should be near, right?¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, his expression filled with a tinge of worry. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll leave the cultivation and check on Xi¡¯er first!¡± Lin Tianming made up his mind and then stood up to leave the Practice Room. A little while later. At the back of the main peak, in a valley, Lin Tianming now stood outside the entrance. At this time, his gaze surveyed the interior of the valley, his expression much more relaxed. From his observations, he found the valley to be eerily quiet, and the level of Spiritual Energy inside was extremely dense, reaching a terrifying level. The density of this Spiritual Energy had almost reached the standard that Lin Shilu had when he was condensing his Golden Core. Based on these factors, Lin Tianming guessed that Qin Xi¡¯s progress was fast and likely about to take a big step forward. If nothing unexpected happened, there would definitely be some movement within a year. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face wore an expectant look, and his heart silently prayed for Qin Xi. After calming himself a bit, Lin Tianming leaped up silently and left the valley without alerting any of the clan members stationed there. Soon after, he arrived at Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion. Having not seen Lin Tianming for three years, Lin Shikang too was overjoyed and hurriedly invited Lin Tianming to take a seat. After greeting each other, they sat down for tea and chatted leisurely. At that moment, Lin Tianming took a sip of his Spiritual Tea and then spoke, ¡°Third Grandfather, I just went to check the back mountain, and Xi¡¯er¡¯s cultivation progress seems rather quick.¡± ¡°If nothing unexpected occurs, perhaps within a year, he could start condensing the Golden Core and thereby attract the Threefold Lightning Tribulation!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Lin Shikang nodded. In fact, he had also been very concerned about this matter and had often visited the back mountain over these three years to check the progress. Now, the situation described by Lin Tianming was obviously very clear to him. At the same time, he had reached the same conclusion as Lin Tianming. In this situation, Lin Shikang looked at Lin Tianming¡¯s slightly anxious face and comforted him. ¡°Tian Ming, there¡¯s no need to say much about Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent. She¡¯s capable of impacting the Golden Core Stage at such a young age, and her chances of success are not small.¡± ¡°Though the Heavenly Tribulation is terrifying, Xi¡¯er has no shortage of Treasures on her, which are far superior compared to the Defense Artifacts we used during our breakthrough.¡± ¡°Moreover, your Twelfth Grandpa has long ordered the back mountain to be marked as a forbidden area and has used the Defensive Great Formation¡¯s gathering effect to provide escort and protection for Xi¡¯er.¡± ¡°It can be said that our entire clan is supporting Xi¡¯er¡¯s impact on the Golden Core Stage, and her chances of success are definitely higher than when you were at that stage.¡± Lin Shikang patiently persuaded Lin Tianming, his tone and gaze filled with confidence in Qin Xi. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing these words and seeing Lin Shikang¡¯s confident expression, Lin Tianming¡¯s worries faded significantly. Because he knew in his heart that what Lin Shikang said made sense. After all, Qin Xi was only in her fifties, also possessed Dual Spiritual Roots, and had a very stable foundation in her path. Such advantageous personal conditions, coupled with numerous Defense Artifacts prepared by the family members and the gathering effect of the clan¡¯s grand formation, With so many factors assisting her, Qin Xi¡¯s chances of successfully breaking through were indeed considerable. Realizing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s worries faded somewhat, and his heart was once again filled with confidence. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming changed the subject and then brought up the matter of his cultivation of the two Spirit Arts. Upon hearing that Lin Tianming had mastered those two Spirit Arts, Lin Shikang was amazed and extremely excited. Chapter 1026 1026 541 Heavenly Tribulation ?Chapter 1026: Chapter 541 Heavenly Tribulation Descends_2 Chapter 1026: Chapter 541 Heavenly Tribulation Descends_2 After all, these two Spirit Arts were also crucial to the Lin Family aside from the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art.¡± Although they were only of the lowest Yellow Grade, they were still extremely important to the Lin Family. Because despite the formidable power of the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± it had significant limitations. The most apparent was that once used, a cultivator needed a long time to recuperate before they could wield its full destructive power again. Thus, if a family member had already used the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡± in combat and failed to kill the opponent, they could easily find themselves in a perilous situation. Therefore, if the two subsequent Spirit Arts acquired by the Lin Family could be successfully cultivated, they would have two more trumps to play. In critical moments, these two Spirit Arts might allow them to turn the tide of battle. ... In such cases, the importance of these two Spirit Arts to the Lin Family became evident. Lin Shikang was clearly aware of the importance of these Spirit Arts, and seeing Lin Tianming successfully cultivate them with ease naturally filled him with immense excitement. After calming himself slightly, Lin Shikang suppressed his excitement and witnessed Lin Tianming deploying the two Spirit Arts. The result was exactly as Lin Tianming had described, further piquing Lin Shikang¡¯s interest. Among these two Spirit Arts, the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± was the only one for which the family had an imprint copy; only Lin Tianming possessed the original for the other. Including Lin Shikang, the family¡¯s senior members had been pondering the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± Spirit Art for years. However, their comprehension was average and they were entangled in family affairs, hardly having the time to delve deeply into it. Now that Lin Tianming had managed to cultivate it first, it made them all the more envious. At that moment, Lin Tianming understood what Lin Shikang was thinking. He immediately began to share his insights on the two Spirit Arts, hoping to help Lin Shikang avoid taking some detours. As he explained, Lin Shikang listened with keen interest, firmly remembering everything. Following this, Lin Tianming handed over the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± to Lin Shikang to ponder over when he had the chance. After doing this, Lin Tianming and Lin Shikang chatted for a long time, finalizing the arrangements for Qin Xi¡¯s protection during her seclusion. Afterward, Lin Tianming took his leave and returned to the outskirts of the valley where Qin Xi was secluded. Sitting on a huge rock, Lin Tianming gazed ahead, lost in thought. At the moment, it seemed Qin Xi might soon make that breakthrough. Now having nothing particular to do, he decided not to return to his own seclusion but to stay here and protect her. At the same time, he could continue to study the Spirit Arts and practice his cultivation. With this plan in mind, Lin Tianming promptly began to implement it. Days turned into months. One day, several months later, the spiritual energy around and within the canyon slowly began to flow and seemed to converge towards a certain place. At that moment, Lin Tianming sensed this change and immediately opened his eyes. His sharp gaze pierced into the valley as if trying to see through everything. Under his watch, the spiritual energy flowed into the valley, gradually accelerating. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew that Qin Xi was about to condense her Golden Core. This converging spiritual energy was precisely what she needed to form the vast spiritual energy of her Core. Realizing this, Lin Tianming could hardly contain his excitement, his smiling face undisguisable. Amidst his excitement, he immediately sent a message to the Clan Leader to inform him of the situation here, so that the Clan Leader could prepare accordingly. Soon, Lin Shihua set aside his work and rushed over to the location. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Shihua eagerly asked, ¡°Tian Ming, is Xi¡¯er about to form her Golden Core?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Lin Tianming replied decisively, still visibly excited. Hearing such a firm statement from Lin Tianming and feeling the changes in the spiritual energy around them, Lin Shihua also knew that the situation was indeed as Lin Tianming had described. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this knowledge, Lin Shihua was equally thrilled. After calming himself a bit, he sent out several messages and made numerous arrangements. He did these to avoid the family suffering losses due to sudden Heavenly Tribulation and even affecting other clan members. After making many arrangements, the two of them stayed in this place, waiting for more apparent signs. Another Shi Chen passed. At this moment, the spiritual energy in the entire gorge had become even denser, almost reaching a tangible state. This was because the area had been covered by a Spirit Gathering Array. Lin Shihua had activated the strongest effect of the array while Qin Xi was in seclusion, forcefully increasing the density of the spiritual energy to the highest level within the clan. Now, Qin Xi was at a critical moment, molding the Golden Core with new spiritual energy which further increased the already dense spiritual energy in the area. Understanding this, Lin Tianming and his companion were satisfied with the scene before them, not surprised. As the two were excited, Lin Shigong and Lin Shikang arrived one after another, both wearing excited smiles. From afar, Lin Shigong excitedly shouted, ¡°How is Xi¡¯er? How is she?¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companion also said a few words of reassurance to help Lin Shigong calm down a bit. Then, the four of them waited in the area for even stronger signs to come. Under their watchful eyes, changes in the gorge grew increasingly significant. Soon, the spiritual energy above the gorge churned, and at a certain threshold, it suddenly rushed wildly downward. In that instant, a series of unique sounds came. Following that, the spiritual energy in the air above the gorge disappeared and was replaced by slowly gathering dark clouds. Seeing this, Lin Tianming, who had experienced this before, knew that Qin Xi had finished molding the Golden Core and was about to attract the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. True to his expectations, as Lin Tianming and the others rapidly retreated, the Gang Wind kicked off within and outside the gorge, blowing sand and rocks while the clouds in the sky surged, already showing traces of lightning. Time ticked away. After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the dark clouds above the gorge became even more terrifying, and the strong Gang Wind made everything dark. At the same time, what was initially tiny streaks of lightning had turned into the thickness of a water bucket. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Rumbles of thunder resounded, and streaks of lightning sliced through the sky. At the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain, atop one of the peaks¡­ Lin Tianming and his people stood shoulder to shoulder, everyone with eyes wide open, staring at the cloud-filled sky, their eyebrows tightly furrowed. ¡°It should be descending the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation soon!¡± Lin Tianming whispered softly, his expression very grave. Sure enough, as soon as his words ended, the dark clouds in the distant sky erupted. Following that, a Thunder Dragon formed from the power of lightning roared out of the clouds, shooting towards the interior of the gorge. Just at that moment, a cold snort echoed from within the gorge. At the same time, a graceful figure burst out from the interior of the gorge, unmistakably Qin Xi. In sight, her elegant figure and the momentum that seemed unstoppable, like a brilliant meteor shower, dazzled across the night sky. The Thunder Dragon above her head, seemingly spotting its target, became even more agitated. In an instant, the Thunder Dragon roared furiously, its descending speed significantly faster. At this time, Qin Xi displayed a calm and composed demeanor. She saw her slender hand slap, and three Defense Artifacts shot out, quickly appearing in front of her. Following that, Qin Xi¡¯s fingers danced, sending a series of Law Decrees bombarding the Defense Artifacts in front of her. A series of dazzling lights flashed, and the Defense Artifacts swiftly moved into position, soon firmly blocking above Qin Xi¡¯s head. After making these preparatory moves, Qin Xi still seemed not reassured. She then threw a blood-red Jade Pendant, which formed a barrier behind the Defense Artifacts. After doing these, Qin Xi¡¯s expression finally relaxed a bit, seemingly confident in her defensive measures. ¡­ Chapter 1027 1027 542 Watching the Heavenly ?Chapter 1027: Chapter 542: Watching the Heavenly Tribulation Chapter 1027: Chapter 542: Watching the Heavenly Tribulation ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± The Thunder Dragon roared from the sky, and under everyone¡¯s gaze, it crashed hard onto a Defense Artifact. In that instant, a loud boom sounded, followed by a streak of light suddenly slicing through the void. In that dazzling light, the High Grade Second Order Defense Artifact resisted only for an instant before it shattered into pieces and fell to the ground. At that moment, the Thunder Dragon descended with undiminished speed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his companions furrowed their brows, their expressions serious. Just then, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡¯s Heavenly Tribulation seems quite powerful, much stronger than when we underwent ours.¡± ... ¡°I¡¯m afraid only Tian Ming could surpass this power in his tribulation!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shihua nodded in agreement. ¡°Elder brother is right!¡± ¡°The tribulation Xi¡¯er is facing is indeed very formidable. However, considering Xi¡¯er¡¯s strong individual strength and thorough preparation, there is a great hope she will overcome this tribulation.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, fully agreeing with Lin Shikang and the others. In his heart, he acknowledged Qin Xi¡¯s strength and her thorough preparations. Given the circumstances, it should not be difficult to overcome this Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Understanding this, Lin Tianming kept his eyes fixed on the tribulation scene ahead, managing to maintain a calm demeanor. Right then, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation had already passed. As they had anticipated, the Thunder Dragon from the first round of tribulation was easily blocked by Qin Xi¡¯s methods. It all happened in the blink of an eye; many of them hadn¡¯t even realized it, and the first level of tribulation was over. At that time, within the vast expanse of dark clouds, constant turbulence suggested the brewing of a new wave of attacks. It seemed like less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Amid a deafening roar, the Second Level of Thunder Tribulation arrived as expected. At that moment, in the empty sky, the dark clouds churned wildly, with three Thunder Dragons twisting their huge bodies. Simultaneously, these Thunder Dragons bared their teeth and claws, appearing extremely fierce. As the lightning gathered, the Thunder Dragons seemed to reach the peak of their fury. With a roar, the three Thunder Dragons burst forth from the clouds, bearing down on Qin Xi below. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± In that instant, the sky erupted with strong winds, and dense Thunder Snakes writhed in the sky. Seeing the three Thunder Dragons approaching, Qin Xi¡¯s expression became much more solemn than when she faced the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Clearly, she was well aware that there was no comparison between the First and the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation. After all, although the First Level was terrifying, the power of the Second Level was many times greater. Facing such a formidable force of thunder, countless cultivators in the Cultivation World had perished under the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation over thousands of years. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In contrast, those facing the first level could generally manage it with a bit of caution. The tribulation she was facing was clearly extraordinary, being the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, and naturally unmatched by ordinary tribulations. Knowing this, Qin Xi¡¯s expression was intensely solemn. Yet, despite this, she was not at all afraid; instead, her internal pride and determination forged a relentless confidence. In that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s gaze was fiercely determined as if a long-suppressed belief was being released. Instantly, she leaped forward and released several Second Order Defense Artifacts from her hand. Following this, Qin Xi¡¯s fingers moved non-stop, striking a series of Spiritual Lights onto the Defense Artifacts. A breath passed. The Defense Artifacts were activated, forming several barriers above her head. Having done this, Qin Xi didn¡¯t stop her movements, reinforcing the area above her head by adding two more High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Just as she completed these actions, the three Thunder Dragons crashed down. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± Simultaneously with the burst of white light, the entire world was engulfed by howling winds and thunder splitting the sky, as deafening explosions like firecrackers burst next to one¡¯s ears. At the same time, the ground below Qin Xi was trembling slightly. In that flash of light, the Defense Artifacts above her head trembled violently, eventually breaking apart one by one. With the last Defense Artifact shattering, there was nothing left above Qin Xi¡¯s head, revealing a severely damaged Thunder Dragon. At a glance, this Thunder Dragon¡¯s body was incomplete, appearing to be only a third of its peak size. Moreover, it was clear that the Thunder Dragon¡¯s momentum was significantly weaker than at the beginning. Yet, even so, the Thunder Dragon continued its charge towards Qin Xi, seemingly intent on obliterating her there. At this moment, seeing the Thunder Dragon approaching, Qin Xi was both shocked and angry. She snorted coldly, and then, with a flick of her hand, a Longsword shot out, colliding head-on with the oncoming Thunder Dragon. In an instant, the Longsword was deflected by the Thunder Dragon¡­ Yet the speed of the Thunder Dragon was only slightly reduced, showing no signs of stopping. At this point, seeing the explosive Thunder Dragon coming at her again, Qin Xi wore a helpless expression. Now, with all her previously activated Defense Artifacts destroyed, she was left without any protection. Chapter 1028 1028 542 Watching Heavenly ?Chapter 1028: Chapter 542 Watching Heavenly Tribulation_2 Chapter 1028: Chapter 542 Watching Heavenly Tribulation_2 Moreover, the Thunder Dragon descended rapidly; in her rush, she had no time to prepare new defenses. Luckily, although the Thunder Dragon¡¯s power was terrifying, it had already been diminished by ninety percent after several waves of attacks. Under such circumstances, she wasn¡¯t completely helpless against the attack. Realizing this, Qin Xi hastily struck out with a palm, clashing head-on with the battered Thunder Dragon. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± The sounds of two explosions reverberated. In an instant, Qin Xi was sent flying backward, plummeting from the sky and crashing heavily onto the ground. ... Meanwhile, the battered Thunder Dragon was completely dispersed by Qin Xi¡¯s seemingly feeble palm strike. Not until the Thunder Dragon had completely vanished did the violently churning dark clouds in the sky continue to roll, seemingly brewing another round of attacks. At that moment, Qin Xi flipped back onto her feet from the ground. She stood on a huge rock, her body erect, radiating a sense of unyielding will. Looking at her, her Daoist robe was somewhat tattered, fresh blood oozed from the corner of her mouth, and her long black hair freely scattered, presenting a tragically beautiful sight. Then, she raised her head to look at the sky, her beautiful eyes full of anger. As soon as she looked up, after a brief brewing period, the dark clouds churned. Soon after, over a dozen massive bolts of lightning flashed, eventually forming three huge thunderballs. Upon the appearance of the thunderballs, the sky instantly became a storm of fierce winds and booming thunder. In less than a breath, countless Thunder Snakes surged into the thunderballs, further enlarging their volume. In a flash, these thunderballs grew immensely large; each one made onlookers¡¯ scalps tingle. Just when everyone was in shock, the thunderballs in the sky thunderously fell, instantly covering a large part of the sky. At that moment, Qin Xi, watching the sky-engulfing thunderballs approach, turned visibly pale. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± The thunderballs descended rapidly, leaving Qin Xi very little time to think or react. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, seeing the terrifying attack of the thunderballs, Qin Xi dared not hold anything back. Instantly, she tapped her storage bag and six Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts flew out, neatly suspended above her head. Looking at these six defensive artifacts, each was of High Grade Second Order. Moreover, each artifact was of excellent quality, making them rare treasures among Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Were these to be auctioned, any single one might fetch a high price and cause Foundation Establishment Cultivators to fight over them. These rare defensive artifacts were carefully prepared by her family elders and Lin Tianming for her tribulation; they were far superior to any previous defensive artifact she had used. Qin Xi knew clearly that the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation was terrifying enough. But this final layer would be even more dreadful. If she got through it, she would become a genuine Golden Core Stage Expert. If she failed, she would be obliterated under the Thunder Tribulation, with virtually no chance of survival. In such a situation, saying it was a matter of life and death wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. At such a critical moment, there was no need for any hesitation. To be able to live and guard the ones she loved, for her family and relatives, she needed to give it her all to overcome this inevitable tribulation. Aware of this, Qin Xi spared no effort, activating all remaining High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Instantly, the six Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts formed numerous barriers above her head. Besides these, Qin Xi also threw out other Defensive Magical Artifacts of various grades that she had on her. At this moment, she had no reason to hesitate or hold anything back. Soon, the space above Qin Xi¡¯s head was securely protected by the barriers formed by numerous defensive artifacts. Such a sight, if witnessed by ordinary people, would surely elicit amazement. After all, the defensive magical artifacts Qin Xi used to weather the tribulation were truly luxurious. And these defensive magical artifacts, both in terms of grade and quality, were top-notch among defensive equipment. Such a lavish mode of transcendence was likely only comparable to the true disciples of the Great Sects. It was even possible that not even the true disciples of Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had such a wasteful method of transcending tribulations. Yet, despite such a lavish approach, it was currently on display before Lin Tianming and the others, and most of these means had come from their own hands. Seeing this scene now, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, as he had anticipated this long ago. However, Lin Shikang and others looked much more relaxed, their faces a mix of laughter and tears, evidently surprised that Qin Xi had so many treasures. But upon closer thought, they should be able to understand that these defensive artifacts must have come from Lin Tianming. After all, Lin Tianming had spent years waging battles all over, amassing countless treasures, including several Third Grade Treasures, and likely even more Second Order Treasures. Additionally, Lin Tianming had handed over quite a few treasures to the family, naturally keeping some that he fancied for himself. Thus, Qin Xi¡¯s way of transcending the tribulation was reasonable. Just as everyone was astonished, the Thunder Ball had already descended from the sky. In that instant, the originally dark sky turned as bright as day. At the same time, deafening explosions frequently erupted between heaven and earth, sounding like firecrackers. At this time, Lin Shikang and others¡¯ eyes were already blinded by the dazzling light, unable to see any movements beneath the Thunder Ball. However, Lin Tianming at this moment, aided by the Eye of Five Colors, saw everything clearly. Under his gaze, he saw the Thunder Ball easily pierce through the first three High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts. Following that, the power of the Thunder Ball seemed to weaken, no longer possessing its initial unstoppable momentum. Soon after, the remaining three defensive artifacts managed to resist for a brief period, but eventually shattered into pieces. By this time, the Thunder Ball had greatly reduced in size, to about a tenth or so of its original. By now, the power of the Thunder Ball was considerably diminished, its penetration and lethality far less than at the beginning. Even so, these six High Grade Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts had all been destroyed. In front, there was only a barrier formed by several more Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts supplemented by Qin Xi. In an instant, those last few Second Order Defensive Magical Artifacts also could not endure for long and finally collapsed. After all, these additional defensive magical artifacts were mostly of Second Order Medium Quality and of rather ordinary quality. If these additional means were placed at the forefront, they would likely disintegrate instantly, unable to diminish even a bit of the Thunder Ball¡¯s sharpness. Therefore, Qin Xi held little hope. Indeed, by this time, Qin Xi had no defensive measures left. But at this moment, Qin Xi would not just wait for the Thunder Ball to blast her without making any defensive moves. Seeing the Thunder Ball still approaching, with small arcs of electricity already flashing over her head, she could feel a hint of a scorched smell. At this moment, Qin Xi leaped up, her whole body soaring straight into the sky like a sharp sword. In that instant, she struck out with a palm, an Ice Pillar shooting out from her palm, eventually colliding hard with the Thunder Ball. In less than a blink of an eye, the Ice Pillar and the Thunder Ball collided. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise followed, the Ice Pillar shattered, and the Thunder Ball made contact with Qin Xi¡¯s palm. In that moment, Qin Xi was sent flying like a cut kite, eventually hitting the ground hard. At this moment, the Thunder Ball also violently exploded, finally fading into specks of starlight. Immediately after, the dark clouds in the sky churned and slowly dissipated. At the same time, the fierce storm abruptly ceased, and the sky regained its usual clarity. ¡­ Chapter 1029 1029 543 Practice Spirit Art ?Chapter 1029: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art Chapter 1029: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art ¡°¡±¡± All this took place in the blink of an eye; the fierce storm came quickly and left just as swiftly. In just a few breaths, the dark clouds had already scattered, and the heavens and earth had returned to normal. It was at this moment that a surge of Golden Core Stage pressure suddenly burst forth, sweeping in all directions. This pressure arrived so suddenly, like a deluge pouring out, seemingly unstoppable. Right at this moment, Qin Xi staggered to her feet from the ground. She appeared somewhat wilted, her face deathly pale, her Daoist robe torn in many places, revealing the close-fitting inner armor beneath it, and her contoured figure was fully exposed. Although her condition seemed not too good, Qin Xi was smiling at this time, clearly knowing she had survived the Heavenly Tribulation. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Meanwhile, she could feel new True Essence Mana within the Golden Core in her body. All these changes were clear signs that she had undoubtedly entered the Golden Core Stage. Knowing this, Qin Xi¡¯s heart was filled with immense excitement, her joyful smile impossible to hide. At this time, Lin Tianming and the others, who had been watching the tribulation process, saw the dark clouds recede, and the sky returning to its usual hues. Moreover, the familiar pressure of the Golden Core Stage sweeping toward them made them ecstatic. At this moment, Lin Tianming and the others were all overwhelmed with excitement, their faces beaming with satisfaction, and they heaved a sigh of relief in their hearts. They knew that Qin Xi¡¯s Impact of Golden Core Stage was now formally a success and had concluded. With Qin Xi breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, the Lin Family would gain another member with Golden Core Stage combat power, and not just any, but one with exceptional talent and potential, possessing extremely formidable strength. Thus, the overall strength of the Lin Family rose a few notches once more, and they even had a fair chance of holding their own against any other Golden Core Sect. This was of unspeakable significance for the entire Lin Family. Well aware of this, Lin Shikang and Lin Shihua couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, their usually serious expressions tossed to the winds in this moment. Lin Tianming too was beside himself with excitement, his smile never leaving his face. After calming down somewhat, Lin Shikang said with a smile, ¡°Xi¡¯er has successfully broken through. She now urgently needs to go into seclusion to consolidate her gains, so let¡¯s all take our leave.¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Lin Shihua nodded, then sent out several messages, probably to inform the clan members who knew of this event that things could go back to normal. After taking care of this, Lin Shihua too smiled and chatted casually with Lin Shikang and the others. Then, they took their leave from Lin Tianming, each departing from the main peak¡¯s summit. At this time, Lin Tianming also had no intention of lingering. He knew very well that Qin Xi certainly needed to cultivate in seclusion now, and perhaps in a year or half a year, she would be able to emerge normally. As husband and wife, it wouldn¡¯t be too late for them to reunite then. With this understanding, Lin Tianming took one more look at the gorge where Qin Xi was undergoing seclusion and then stepped away from the place. Returning to his own Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming¡¯s mood was still excited. After composing himself slightly, he entered the practice room and began a short period of secluded cultivation. Time flew by, and a year had passed. That day, as Lin Tianming sat in meditation, he was interrupted by a message. It turned out that Qin Xi had finished consolidating her cultivation and had now smoothly emerged from seclusion. Upon receiving this news, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and immediately cut short his cultivation rhythm, hastily ending his retreat. Exiting the practice room, he saw Qin Xi already waiting in the small courtyard. From a distance, Lin Tianming¡¯s excited voice was already heard. ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you left your retreat?¡± Hearing the voice, Qin Xi turned her head and saw Lin Tianming rush over to her, his emotion evident in his eagerness. Qin Xi nodded, her face also flashing a smile of excitement, making her stunningly beautiful appearance even more enchanting. ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er has finally stepped successfully into the Golden Core Stage, not letting down the hopes and support of many elders and Ming himself,¡± Qin Xi solemnly said. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded in response. Then, he casually took out three Magical Treasures, two Offensive Magical Treasures, and one Defense Treasure. The two Offensive Magical Treasures were the Hongling and a Blue Longsword. The Hongling was a Magical Treasure that Lin Tianming had obtained early on after slaying Yu Hongyan from the Golden Sword Sect, a Golden Core Cultivator. As this Magical Treasure was originally meant for female cultivators, it would be unseemly for him, a First Order male cultivator, to use it. Now that Qin Xi had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, it was fitting for her to use it. Besides, the Blue Longsword was acquired over the past few years when he was searching for Dry Jade Grass and had slain Yang Chengfeng. This Offensive Magical Treasure was of excellent quality and was considered one of the finest among all treasures obtained by Lin Tianming and even the Lin Family. The Defense Treasure, however, was relatively ordinary, gained from the hands of Xiang Changqing of the Golden Sword Sect. Although this Defense Treasure had some flaws, it was still a respectable Defense Treasure. When Lin Shilu left his retreat, he could also reforge it, and it was believed that it could return to its peak condition. These three Treasures had been acquired by him at a very early stage and were specifically kept by his side, just waiting to be gifted to Qin Xi upon her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. Now that Qin Xi had broken through, he naturally presented them to her, hoping she could quickly claim and refine them, thereby enhancing her own strength. ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 1030 1030 543 Practice Spirit Art_2 ?Chapter 1030: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art_2 Chapter 1030: Chapter 543 Practice Spirit Art_2 Thus, Lin Tianming, who had long been prepared, handed over the three Magical Treasures to Qin Xi. Seeing this, Qin Xi also showed a puzzled expression. It was then that Lin Tianming explained, ¡°Xi¡¯er, these treasures are the spoils of war your husband has collected over the years, and I¡¯ve set them aside especially for you, consider them a gift to celebrate your breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage.¡± Hearing these words, Qin Xi felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also spoke up to persuade, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you currently lack a Magical Treasure, so these treasures can serve as a temporary substitute.¡± ¡°Once Fifteenth Grandfather concludes his retreat, we can trouble the elderly to help you refine a new Life-bound Magical Treasure. I believe Xi¡¯er¡¯s strength can grow even stronger.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming say this, Qin Xi thoughtfully nodded and then accepted the three Magical Treasures. ... Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming heaved a sigh of relief and then promptly changed the topic. ¡°Xi¡¯er, now that you have left seclusion, let us go pay respects to the many elders.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded in response, ¡°Now that Xi¡¯er has left seclusion, it is indeed time to pay a visit to the elders.¡± Lin Tianming was very pleased to see Qin Xi thinking the same. Soon after, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi by the hand out of the Cave Mansion and hurried toward Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. Before long, Lin Tianming, accompanying Qin Xi, paid respects to numerous elders one by one, including those who managed the family¡¯s institutions, who also received their visits. After all, elders are elders, and Xing Clan Members like Lin Xingyuan, Lin Xingzhi, Lin Xingli had also contributed much to Lin Tianming¡¯s growth, and their relationship was very good. Though now both husband and wife were of the Golden Core Stage Realm, they would not transgress clan rules and decorum, lest others think them ungrateful. Thus, those relatives with whom they had a good and close relationship all received personal visits from Lin Tianming and his wife. During this time, Golden Core Stage elders like Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai even brought out sincere and valuable gifts to congratulate Qin Xi on her breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage. It took several days before the couple finally concluded their visits, and then they returned to their own Cave Mansion. Following that, Lin Tianming also took out some Third Order Pills and handed them to Qin Xi, for her to continue her cultivation. At the same time, he mentioned two new Spirit Arts, suggesting that Qin Xi find time to comprehend them. Thus, Qin Xi had quite a few things to do next. And Lin Tianming would not be idle. Next, he planned to find a quiet place outside the clan territory to practice the two new Spirit Arts he had just mastered. Once he had practiced to a certain extent and could use them against enemies, he would return to the clan. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Qin Xi and then mentioned his plan. If all went well, it could take as little as a year and a half or as long as three years to proficiently master the Spirit Arts. With the matter settled, Lin Tianming did not delay and quietly left the family alone. He then traveled westward at a swift pace, passing through the Luoyun Mountain Range and entering the Endless Forest. In his view, practicing the Spirit Arts would surely cause a significant disturbance, so to avoid too much commotion within the family, it was better to find a quiet place. The Endless Forest was a vast region, and although cultivators frequented the outer areas, the inner parts were rarely trodden by humans. True, there were many Demonic Beasts inside, and Third Order Demonic Beasts were not uncommon, with even the possibility of encountering Fourth Order Demonic Beasts. However, with his Golden Core Stage cultivation level, as long as he did not venture too deep, safety should not be an issue. Even if he did encounter a Demon Beast, as long as it was not a Fourth Order Great Demon, he could manage to some extent, and if he genuinely wished to escape, probably not even a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast could stop him. Thus, without the threat of death, he need not be overly cautious. Bolstered by such confidence, Lin Tianming crossed the outer region and made his way into the interior of the Endless Forest. After half a month¡¯s journey, he arrived at a valley of exceptional beauty. Here he encountered a Giant-Tooth Beast Pack, comprising several dozens of Second Order Demonic Beasts, including a number of Second Order Late Phase Giant-Tooth Beasts. Despite this, Lin Tianming effortlessly wiped them out and took over the Demon Beast Tribe¡¯s lair. This place was quite serene and considered an inner area of the Endless Forest; he saw no traces of cultivators on his way here. So, Lin Tianming decided to practice here for a while; if he remained undisturbed, all the better, but if the situation changed, he would adapt accordingly. In this situation, Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, three spirit beasts. After his instructions, he tasked these spirit beasts with guarding the area. If there was any danger or if any cultivators approached, he would be promptly informed and could make a counterplan. Having done this, Lin Tianming began his practice. In an instant, one could see Lin Tianming sitting on a huge rock, continuously flicking his fingers, murmuring words under his breath. Soon, a golden longsword slowly coalesced above his head. The sword shimmered with golden light, its surface surrounded by powerful Sword Qi, giving it a remarkably majestic aura. As Lin Tianming let out a gentle cry, in a split second, the golden Sword Qi shot forth, rapidly appearing a hundred yards away. A dull thud sounded as the golden longsword struck a towering tree in the distance. ¡°Bang!¡± In an instant, the towering tree fell at the sound. Before that, the golden Sword Qi had pierced right through the trunk of the tree, even blasting part of it into fine dust. When everything had settled, Lin Tianming pondered the effects of that strike, drawing experience from it to make improvements. Soon, it seemed he realized where it lacked and quickly began preparing for another strike. Fortunately, the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡± spirit art did not have the same casting restrictions as the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art.¡± And although this lower-grade spirit art was not as powerful as the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± nor was it as stronger than the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique,¡± once mastered, its activation relied mainly on the Power of Spiritual Sense and was still moderately stronger than other Technique Divine Powers. With his current Divine Sense, he estimated that he could probably activate it three times in a row without much issue. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming once again began to activate the ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike.¡± Quickly, he formed an even larger golden longsword and slashed it towards a huge rock in the distance. With a loud boom, the strike came to an end. During this time, Lin Tianming intently watched the trajectory of the longsword and observed every move of the golden longsword, including all reactions following the collision, with crystal-clear clarity. Following this, he began to contemplate, accumulating experience from it. After repeated practice, his understanding of this spirit art deepened. Thus, Lin Tianming, drenched in sweat, tirelessly continued his practice. Each time his Divine Sense was nearly depleted, he would immediately sit and meditate to recover his condition. When his condition returned to its peak, he would begin a new round of practice. With such persevering cultivation, he continued for half a year. Until this day, the golden Sword Qi activated by Lin Tianming condensed into a fierce and impressive Golden Dragon. With a roar, the Golden Dragon darted toward a massive rock hundreds of yards away. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Following an explosion, the canyon filled with flying sand and rolling stones, and the force of the impact created a Gang Wind that spread in all directions. The massive rock shattered into pieces, and the ground of the entire canyon seemed to be trembling slightly. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile with excitement. It now seemed that the ability to form a dragon shape with the golden Sword Qi denoted a certain level of mastery. As for its power, he had seen it and it was no less than that of the few Golden Sword Sect Disciples who had used this spirit art before. Therefore, he had reached a certain degree of proficiency with this spirit art, enough to face off against enemies. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, his face revealing a satisfied expression. ¡­ Chapter 1031 1031 544 The Current Situation of the ?Chapter 1031: Chapter 544: The Current Situation of the Family Chapter 1031: Chapter 544: The Current Situation of the Family With the successful cultivation of ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike,¡± Lin Tianming had reached his expectations. At this moment, Lin Tianming was quite excited and immediately continued to strike while the iron was hot, starting to practice another Spirit Art. After all, with plenty of time at his disposal and no disturbances, it was natural to seize the opportunity to thoroughly master these two Spirit Arts. Once they reached a certain level of proficiency, enough to use them against enemies, that would be the time for him to return to the Lin Family. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not wish to delay any further and immediately began practicing the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique.¡± Soon, the valley rang with bursts of explosive sounds again before returning to calmness. Then, after a while, familiar sounds started up once more. ... Such activities were indeed coming from Lin Tianming. And so, the days slowly passed by. A year had silently slipped away just like that. On this day, Lin Tianming looked at the shattered boulder in front of him and the crisscrossed giant trees lying on the ground, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face. Over the past year, he had primarily practiced the Spirit Art ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique.¡± After his relentless efforts, practicing it dozens or even hundreds of times over, he had finally reached a satisfactory level of proficiency. It had to be said that the power of ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± was indeed somewhat stronger than that of ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike.¡± However, the implementation of ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± had higher demands and more limitations, not least the requirement of the Five Elements, which restricted the opportunities to use this Spirit Art. Even so, the power of this Spirit Art was truly exceptional, which still pleased Lin Tianming. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After numerous trials and extensive practice, he had now understood the power of this Spirit Art and had fully mastered it, enough to use it against enemies. With this development, Lin Tianming now had mastery over three Spirit Arts. Armed with such a diverse arsenal for combat, his strength had once again improved. By now, nearly two years had elapsed since he entered the Endless Forest. If calculated from his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, it had already been a decade. During such a long period, the pace of his cultivation progress had been average, still a considerable distance away from the Mid Stage Golden Core. Because of this, Lin Tianming was somewhat helpless, but he also knew that after reaching the Golden Core Stage, each step forward in cultivation was not easy. Moreover, during the first few years after his breakthrough, he had always been troubled with cultivation issues, making it impossible to engage in serious cultivation. Consequently, he had only truly started to cultivate earnestly in the past five years, since the refining of the Dry Jade Pill. And now, with his Spirit Arts mastered, it was time to return to the family and concentrate on cultivation. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately summoned the Purple Gold Eagles and other Spirit Beasts back. Soon, three Spirit Beasts returned to Lin Tianming¡¯s side. At this time, looking at the three Spirit Beasts in front of him, Lin Tianming zoned out for a moment. In fact, these Spirit Beasts had been with him for quite some time, and now each one emanated the aura of the peak of Second Order Late Phase. Especially the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, which, when they first submitted to him, were already in the Second Order Late Phase, with the latter even at the peak stage, not far from the Third Order. Decades had passed, and these three Spirit Beasts had ingested a vast number of Demon Beast Corpses and even consumed several earthly treasures, yet they still had not broken through to the Third Order. Lin Tianming felt helpless about this result. However, upon further reflection, the advancement of demonic beasts wasn¡¯t easy and was even more difficult than it was for Cultivators of the same level. Such was the nature of things! After all, demonic beasts had much longer lifespans and were naturally gifted with superior physical talents. If they could easily advance, high-order demonic beasts would be everywhere. In that case, the Human Race would have long been enslaved by demonic beasts, and the current balance of power between the two races would never have formed. Thinking of all this, Lin Tianming was not surprised to see the three Spirit Beasts still hovering at the peak of the Second Order Late Phase. However, upon returning to the Lin Family, Lin Tianming planned to allocate a portion of resources to try to push their realms to the Third Order. Not just for these three Spirit Beasts but also for the Soul-Eating Spider that had been guarding the family for hundreds of years. He had plans for them all. For this Spirit Beast that had made considerable contributions to the family, Lin Tianming felt a deep respect. Now that the Lin Family had a number of high-level members and unprecedented strength, with such favorable conditions, it was time to give those meritorious Spirit Beasts focused cultivation. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming tidied up the valley and then left, heading back in the direction from which he had come. After half a month¡¯s journey, Lin Tianming returned to the Lin Family. Qin Xi was still in seclusion, and Lin Tianming, out of habit, paid his respects to several elders. In no time, the elders gathered in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. After having not seen Lin Tianming for a long while, Lin Shihua asked, ¡°Tian Ming, how was the practice of the Spirit Arts?¡± ¡°Haha¡­ I¡¯ve achieved some success, enough to use them against my enemies!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh, excitement still evident on his face. Hearing his reply and seeing his expression, Lin Shikang and the others also felt thrilled. In fact, these two Spirit Arts were being cultivated by almost every core member of the Lin Family. However, the cultivation of these Spirit Arts was not easy; some family members were able to comprehend and unleash the power of the Spirit Arts. Chapter 1032 1032 544 Recent Developments in the ?Chapter 1032: Chapter 544: Recent Developments in the Family_2 Chapter 1032: Chapter 544: Recent Developments in the Family_2 Some clansmen really had average comprehension, and even if they figured it out, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily be able to wield the greatest power. Even some clansmen had poor comprehension; despite spending a lot of time, they still could not master the spiritual arts. This, it seems, was unavoidable. Just like the ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡± a Mysterious Grade spirit art, which had spread among the core members of the Lin Family for several decades. Among all the clan members above the Foundation Establishment Stage, only half had fully mastered it. The others were either still in cultivation or had just broken through the Foundation Establishment Stage not long ago and did not qualify to practice this technique. Now, the Lin Family had mastered two more spirit arts, and the subsequent ones they obtained were much easier to train in. The clan believed that if members studied and practiced more, ensuring every clansman mastered at least one spirit art shouldn¡¯t be difficult. ... Reaching this point would also require a long period of accumulation. Now that the Lin Family had gotten on the right track and the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was peaceful, they believed that they would eventually achieve this goal. Realizing this, people like Lin Shikang were also filled with confidence. At this moment, Lin Tianming also shifted the topic and asked about several plans the Lin Family had been implementing in the past few years, inquiring about their progress. After all, more than five years had passed since the day the Lin Family clan met to discuss these plans. According to the original plans, the Lin Family¡¯s territory should have been completely transformed by now, and the initial relocation and various support plans should have been concluded. Thus, having been away from the clan for two years, Lin Tianming naturally thought of this when he returned. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming inquire about this matter, Lin Shihua also began to explain. According to him, the Lin Family¡¯s initial plans had been completed a year ago. Now, the five major mountain ranges under the Lin Family had been changed according to the planned scheme. Currently, the Luoyun Mountain Range, having merged with several other mountain ranges, hosted only the Lin Family. As for the outright new Qianchuan Mountain Range, Xijing Mountain Range, Songyuan Mountain Range, and Changfeng Mountain Range, these mountain ranges all had new families settling in, making them more populated than at their peak. As of now, with the support of the Lin Family, these mountain ranges had started to expand their workshops, achieving certain effectiveness. If this continues, the future size of these workshops could be substantial, and the flow of people would likely double. Despite being unable to reach the scale of a medium-sized workshop, this was still a significant transformation compared to the past. The Lin Family, as well as some local Foundation Establishing Families, would also gain more benefits from this change. This transformation also met the objectives of the Lin Family. Besides that, the Luoyun Mountain Range controlled by the Lin Family had also undergone considerable changes. Now, three million mortals had migrated to the Luoyun Mountain Range, blending with the original inhabitants. They were placed in batches, allowing the Lin Family¡¯s laymen to create new towns, improving unified management. For this reason, the Lin Family often dispatched clan members to guard these people against natural disasters and demonic beast attacks. With this, the number of mortals under the Lin Family had reached as many as eight million. If this continues, surpassing ten million in another decade is almost within reach. Meanwhile, the spirit lands left behind by other families were also uniformly transformed by the Lin Family into new spirit lands, which were planted with various spiritual medicines and materials. However, the growth period of these spiritual objects was quite long; even First Order Spiritual Medicine required decades or even centuries to grow. For higher-ranked Third Order Spiritual Medicine, the growth period usually spanned hundreds or even thousands of years. Therefore, the Lin Family gaining short-term profits from these was rather unrealistic. But such long-term development cannot be rushed. Moreover, for the sake of a lasting foundation for growth, the Lin Family had to plan early. Otherwise, how could they achieve a millennium or even longer legacy? In this aspect, long-standing forces like the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley had also experienced this when they were first established. Now, the Lin Family was going down the same path as these forces. It could be said, for long-term development, even if the initial phase required more manpower and effort, it was necessary. Fortunately, the Lin Family currently controlled ample resources. With a solid foundation in place, implementing these plans faced minimal resistance. Thus, everything was progressing smoothly according to the Lin Family¡¯s plans. And all of these were the basic conditions of the family. More importantly, the key was the over a thousand family members in the family. According to the latest statistics by Lin Shihua, the number of family members in the Lin Family had grown rapidly over the years. By now, the Lin Family had nearly two thousand members. Among them, not to mention those in the Golden Core Stage, there were as many as eighty-two members in the Foundation Establishment Stage alone. Moreover, the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the family were not as monotonous as they were twenty years ago. After all, back then, although there were dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Lin Family, most had only just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their cultivation was generally in the initial stage, with very limited numbers of members in the middle stage. Even at that time, the whole Lin Family could hardly find several members in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. But now, the structure of the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Lin Family was very reasonable, although those in the initial stage still made up the majority. However, the proportion of members in the middle stage and above was actually quite significant. Even members from the Xing generation like Lin Xingrong and Lin Xingping, and middle-aged and young members like Lin Tianyue, Lin Tianqin, and Lin Tianhong had stepped into the late stage of Foundation Establishment. It could be said that the current Lin Family had the foundation befitting a Golden Core Family, whether it was the Golden Core Stage members or the backbone forces like the Foundation Establishment cultivators. This great change had also occurred in the past dozen years. At this moment, when Lin Tianming learned of these overt changes in the family, he felt genuinely relieved and even excited for a long time. It was not just him who felt this way; the few family members present were similarly thrilled when Lin Shihua mentioned these changes. It was they who had experienced the most difficult times of the family. Seeing such changes in the family now, they felt excited, proud, and arrogant from the bottom of their hearts. Even Lin Shihua, as the Clan Leader, couldn¡¯t help but have tears flicker in his eyes whenever he spoke of these changes. Unconsciously, his tone also started to choke up a bit. Lin Tianming deeply understood the emotions of these older generation family members and, as a witness and even a key initiator of the family¡¯s rise, he too was greatly moved. Thus, Lin Tianming was also filled with numerous thoughts and emotions. Fortunately, this was all developing in a favorable direction, which was exactly what all Lin Family members wanted to see. Now that they had reached this level, the core family members knew that they could not be too relaxed next. For the Lin Family to advance further, it would still require the collective effort of thousands of family members. It could be said that their responsibility was great and the road ahead was long. With this in mind, Lin Tianming and the others felt their blood boil, making the gathering process livelier. As the gathering continued, Lin Tianming gained a deeper understanding of the family¡¯s changes in recent years. After over half a Shichen, this gathering gradually drew to a close. After some casual conversation, they discussed some family affairs. Afterward, Lin Tianming spoke again, suggesting further assistance for a few Spirit Beasts to advance. This was quickly approved by everyone. Thus, Lin Tianming mentioned a Pill Formula he had obtained called ¡®Beast Heart Pill¡¯ and wanted to try refining it to help the advancement process of the Bloodthirsty Jiao and the Soul-eating Spider. This Pill Formula was also an Ancient Pill Recipe, its main Spiritual Medicine Materials very rare, and currently in the Wei Kingdom, there were very few mentions of such medicines. Therefore, refining it was not an easy task. However, everyone supported this idea. Lin Shihua also planned to mobilize the entire family¡¯s resources, even at great cost, to search for the necessary Spiritual Medicines for this Pill. Seeing Lin Shihua say this, Lin Tianming naturally would not object, and he had always intended to do so, though he did not dare to hope too much. Still, regardless of the outcome, they had to try their best. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they succeeded, the breakthrough chances for these Spirit Beasts would be greater, and the overall strength of the Lin Family would further improve. Under these circumstances, this matter was finalized with everyone¡¯s support. With this matter concluded, Lin Tianming did not stay much longer, and after greeting everyone, he got up and took his leave. Chapter 1033 1033 545 Special Cultivation Method ?Chapter 1033: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method Chapter 1033: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method On this day, it seemed that, sensing Lin Tianming¡¯s return, Qin Xi, who was still in seclusion, ended her retreat. Immediately, the couple reunited. At that time, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi before him and asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve been in seclusion for two years, how was your progress?¡± ¡°Ming, I have refined those several magical treasures and now have full control over them,¡± ¡°As for my cultivation, I¡¯ve also made some progress with the help of two Yuxu Pills, but there¡¯s still a long way to go before reaching the Mid Stage Golden Core. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be possible to advance further in the short term.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded, knowing that breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core was certainly not easy. Not to mention others, he himself had been at the Early Stage Golden Core for nearly ten years now. Of course, there were certain other reasons why his cultivation had not progressed further. ... But setting aside those objective factors, after reaching the Golden Core Stage, each step forward was incredibly difficult. Otherwise, in the history of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World that spanned tens of thousands of years, there would not be only a dozen or so Golden Core Cultivators still existing. Among them, those who had reached the Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation were even fewer and could be counted on one hand. Seeing this situation was enough to show how difficult it was to advance one¡¯s cultivation during the Golden Core Stage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming merely smiled calmly and then joked with Qin Xi, as they shared their experiences over the past two years. After a while, following some casual conversation, the two of them had a basic understanding of each other¡¯s experiences. In general, during these two years, both of them had led relatively peaceful lives. Lin Tianming mainly practiced Spirit Art, while Qin Xi refined magical treasures and worked on increasing her cultivation. It could be said that both their family and they themselves, individually, had passed those years in tranquility. Soon after, having learned all this, the couple left their Cave Mansion together, planning to visit their mother. On that day, the family of six had a rare gathering, including Lin Xing Rong, who was always busy, and Lin Tian Yue, who was gradually becoming a pillar of strength in the family. Since most of the family¡¯s series of plans were essentially complete, the two of them also enjoyed a rare period of leisure. As a result, the family reunion was quite fulfilling, and the entire gathering proceeded in a relaxed manner. During this time, Ren Yuxuan also broached the topic of offspring with Lin Tianming and his wife in a very serious tone. After all, both members of the couple had now reached the Golden Core Stage, and at over sixty years of age, they were in the prime years for having children. This matter caused Lin Tianming and his wife some embarrassment. Especially Qin Xi, who blushed deeply when her mother-in-law mentioned it and hardly dared to say much. And it was the first time the mother pressed the matter so emphatically, repeatedly claiming that family members of their age had already taken wives and concubines. Some even had descendants forming a crowd, with younger members about to undergo the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Once a Spiritual Root was discovered, those youngsters would embark on the path of cultivation and become a part of the family¡¯s Cultivator cohort. When Lin Tianming and his wife heard this, they felt somewhat helpless. Indeed, the situation described by the mother was true. However, those who had taken wives and concubines and already had offspring were generally the ones with poorer talent and potential. Like their contemporary, Lin Tian Hong, who was a few years older than him, hadn¡¯t he also not married yet? And among the female family members, Lin Tian Qin, who was several years older, and Lin Tian Yue, who was a few years younger, had also not engaged in marriage. Thus, when it came to the better-gifted members of the family, both men and women generally married late or were just beginning to consider marriage. Such situations used to be quite rare in the family. But in the Lin Family nowadays, it had almost become commonplace. Upon hearing his explanations, the mother¡¯s expression grew solemn. Following that, Ren Yuxuan dropped a comment that left Lin Tianming at a loss for words. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because in earlier years, Ren Yuxuan had urged them about the matter of offspring several times. Later on, an impatient Lin Tianming, using cultivation as an excuse and arguing that having children too early might affect their path, delayed the matter many times. In addition, he had also repeatedly promised that they would consider having children after both he and his wife had entered the Golden Core Stage. Now that Qin Xi had entered the Golden Core Stage, it was obviously not going to be so easy to evade the issue anymore. Under these circumstances, seeing his mother¡¯s determined attitude and her mix of soft and hard tactics, and not only her but also his grandfather, who usually favored him but this time did not side with him and kept urging just like the mother, a very helpless Lin Tianming, seeing that he could not decline or delay any longer, had no choice but to agree to the matter. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s agreement, Ren Yuxuan finally felt overjoyed, her heart relieved. For the matter of offspring, she had been looking forward to it for a long time. After all, at her age, she had been practicing cultivation for just over a hundred years, and her current cultivation was still lingering at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, and cultivation had become increasingly difficult. It was almost certain that most of her potential had already been exhausted, and reaching the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm smoothly in her lifetime was an exceedingly difficult task. Unless there was an enormous opportunity, if nothing unexpected happened, her cultivation journey was likely to stop at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Chapter 1034 1034 545 Special Cultivation Method_2 ?Chapter 1034: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method_2 Chapter 1034: Chapter 545: Special Cultivation Method_2 Because she understood this point, Ren Yuxuan began to focus her attention on the younger generation. As a result, in the past few years, she had shifted her focus, and with other female family members also making moves, she had seen enough to become restless herself. Consequently, Lin Tianming and his wife felt their mother¡¯s urging for the first time. Under such an atmosphere, this gathering ended prematurely. Soon after, Ren Yuxuan, for the first time, took the initiative to see her guests out, her intentions clearly understood. With the situation as it was, Lin Tianming and his wife had no choice but to return to their own Cave Mansion. In their small courtyard, Lin Tianming and his wife snuggled together. ... At this moment, Qin Xi pressed her head tightly against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest, her face already blushing red, giving her a certain charm. Feeling the stunning beauty in his arms, Lin Tianming¡¯s face also showed a hint of awkwardness. Then, Lin Tianming stutteringly asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, about the matter Mother is urging us to do¡­¡± ¡°You¡­ Do you think it¡¯s time¡­?¡± Hearing this, even though Lin Tianming didn¡¯t finish his sentence, the meaning was clear enough. For a moment, the bashful Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder, and she stuttered just as long, neither agreeing to the dual cultivation technique nor outright refusing. Seeing that Qin Xi wasn¡¯t speaking, Lin Tianming asked embarrassedly, ¡°Xi¡¯er, we said in our early years that we would wait until the Golden Core Stage for dual cultivation.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve broken through to the Golden Core Stage, do you think we can proceed?¡± Hearing this and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s persistent questioning, Qin Xi became even shyer, her whole body pressed against Lin Tianming¡¯s chest. Simultaneously, Qin Xi nodded her head lightly, like a pecking chick, the implication clear without words. Seeing this, Lin Tianming let out a mischievous laugh and said, ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we shouldn¡¯t delay. Let¡¯s give it a try right now¡­¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming began to get restless. At that moment, feeling the abnormality in her embrace, Qin Xi¡¯s face flushed with shyness, and her body couldn¡¯t help but soften. At the critical moment, Qin Xi forced herself to remain conscious while stuttering a shy rebuttal. ¡°Ming, we¡¯re still in the courtyard, let¡¯s go inside¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming chuckled, then promptly pulled Qin Xi, and in an instant, they vanished. In no time, the two of them appeared in a room. At this moment, an impassioned Lin Tianming seemed somewhat impatient. Watching Lin Tianming across from her, charging like a hungry wolf, Qin Xi let out a light cough, interrupting him. Immediately after, Qin Xi took out a Jade Slip and held it in front of herself. Seeing this, Lin Tianming stopped and asked with confusion, ¡°Xi¡¯er, what¡¯s this?¡± Qin Xi smiled shyly and handed the Jade Slip to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming, still puzzled, took the Jade Slip and saw that it detailed a technique for dual cultivation. This kind of dual cultivation technique was actually quite common in the Cultivation World. Many cultivators would practice the dual cultivation technique once they find a partner. After all, there is a distinction between Yin and Yang in males and females, and the dual cultivation technique has special effects for both parties. Especially the first time dual cultivation is practiced, the Yin and Yang forces inside the partner are exactly what the other needs the most. In most cases, both parties gain considerable benefits from their first dual cultivation. If the first-time cultivators are not at a high Cultivation Realm, they can use the opportunity of the first dual cultivation to break through their realm. Or, in cases where one has a special physique, both male and female cultivators can gain even greater benefits. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a result, some special Sects were born in the Cultivation World, and particularly sophisticated dual cultivation techniques have produced some exceptional powerhouses. There are even rumors that in other flourishing lands of the Path of Immortality, there are many forces that use dual cultivation as their foundation to establish Sects. Moreover, these forces have a very strong overall strength, with some even having Nascent Soul Forces. Therefore, the dual cultivation technique is quite a normal affair in the Cultivation World. It¡¯s just that there are many different types of dual cultivation techniques, each with its own effects. Like the dual cultivation technique he currently held, Lin Tianming was uncertain about its effectiveness. However, no matter what, Lin Tianming had not placed his hopes for a breakthrough on this. In his eyes, while dual cultivation had some effects, it was mainly the first time that yielded the better results. Subsequent dual cultivations brought extremely limited benefits. Rather than focusing on this, it would be better to cultivate diligently, which might even yield faster results than continued dual cultivation. And yet, Qin Xi had brought out a dual cultivation technique at this moment, which quite surprised Lin Tianming. Thus, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xi¡¯er, where did you get this dual cultivation technique from?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s question, Qin Xi bashfully replied, ¡°My mother gave it to me early on, and during our secret talks, she would often explain it to me¡­¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but curl his lip. At the same time, he thought that Xi¡¯er¡¯s mother must have been instilling these ideas in her for the sake of future generations. Now that the day had come, it seemed that his elder¡¯s wishes had been fulfilled. However, looking at the current situation, even though he did not intend to focus his cultivation on dual cultivation, it didn¡¯t conflict with his regular cultivation. Under such circumstances, he was very calm, hoping for the best. After all, this technique was well known in the Cultivation World, and if properly utilized, it could still enhance some cultivation and thus speed up their cultivation progress. Conversely, if it turned out not so effective, it wouldn¡¯t matter, as he hadn¡¯t held much hope in the first place. With this in mind, Lin Tianming maintained a calm attitude, not favoring nor rejecting the technique. His thoughts collected, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi before him; her exquisitely beautiful figure, a waist slender enough to be encircled with one hand, and her skin pale and tender like snow, gleaming entrancingly like white jade. At the same time, the unique fragrance in the air made him breathe faster, nearly causing him to faint on the spot. Lin Tianming clenched his teeth, struggling to stay conscious. He then managed to suppress the restless sensation within him, along with the strangeness in his body. When he saw Qin Xi¡¯s shy and adorable look once again, he could no longer restrain his inner impulses. With this in mind, Lin Tianming wasted no more time. Soon, Lin Tianming¡¯s robes flew off, revealing his bronze skin. Upon seeing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder, her heart thumping wildly like a little deer. ¡­ (Dare not write more, hence the omission here¡­ Please imagine the rest for yourselves!) ¡­ A shi chen passed just like that. Inside the room, the couple, Lin Tianming and his wife, nestled close to each other. At that moment, Qin Xi¡¯s face was flushed red as she curled up in Lin Tianming¡¯s embrace. Breathing in his distinctive scent, Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks grew ever redder. Not only that, the special aroma still lingering in the air, combined with the memories of everything they¡¯d just experienced, made Qin Xi feel even more bashful. As they recalled that unique sensation they had just shared, both Lin Tianming and Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion. After their first dual cultivation, both had considerable gains. Lin Tianming, in particular, had leveraged the special power of the Yuan Yin to forcefully advance his cultivation to the very peak of the Early Stage Golden Core. At this rate, perhaps with a few less than three to five years of cultivation, or even shorter, he would be able to challenge the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Feeling the True Essence Mana brimming within him and the explosive power in his body, Lin Tianming marveled in amazement. It should be noted that although he had utilized several Yuxu Pills to cultivate for a few years before, even then, he was quite a distance from the Mid Stage Golden Core. He even thought, if he had continued cultivating at that speed, reaching the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core would require at least a decade or more of arduous cultivation. ¡­ Chapter 1035 1035 546 Birth of a Child ?Chapter 1035: Chapter 546 Birth of a Child Chapter 1035: Chapter 546 Birth of a Child However, now, he had actually skipped more than a decade of arduous cultivation thanks to the power of Qin Xi¡¯s Yuan Yin. To be honest, he had never expected such an effect. But it wasn¡¯t just him, Qin Xi¡¯s gains were likewise substantial. Although she was still some distance away from the Early Stage Golden Core peak, this dual cultivation session had similarly saved her over a decade of strenuous cultivation. Such an effect also surprised Qin Xi quite a bit. Now, feeling such a change, the couple, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, were both extremely excited. After their emotions had settled somewhat, they looked at each other again, and Qin Xi¡¯s cheeks reddened once more. ... Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s shy expression, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart stir again. At that moment, Qin Xi also felt his fiery gaze, and like the experience they had just shared, she suddenly could not remain calm. ¡°Ming, spare Xi¡¯er!¡± Qin Xi muttered softly, her expression carrying a hint of panic. At this time, Lin Tianming, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s frail demeanor and pitiful appearance, felt a pang of heartache. Thus, while embracing Qin Xi, he tenderly comforted her with a few words, soothing her with a stream of sweet nothings. Hearing this reassurance, Qin Xi felt quite delighted and her demeanor became even more radiant. Then, the two of them, feeling a bit of fatigue, smiled at each other, their gazes filled with endless affection. After chatting idly for a while, they snuggled up and fell asleep together. In the following six months, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, who had always been diligently cultivating, surprisingly did not continue their cultivation routine but instead spent every day together, inseparable. Not only that, they made use of this leisure time to tour the entire Lin Family Clan Grounds and even the surrounding mountain ranges controlled by the Lin Family, practically exploring them completely. During this period, as the two wandered through the various deep forests and mountains, upon encountering any beautifully scenic spot, they would pause their journey and stay for a few days. Moreover, in some mortal towns or secluded and quiet villages, they would forgo their cultivation status, blend in incognito, and help local residents with farming and sowing, living the life of ordinary mortals. In these half a year, they completely forgot about cultivation, about the life of cultivators, living the days of immortal companions, with every day spent traveling and enjoying the various facets of the world. Such tranquil days allowed their spirits to settle and their mental state to elevate. This special experience, compared to their previous cultivation life of racing against time, was indeed joyous. However, these days lasted only half a year before returning to normal. Because deep down they knew that they were, after all, cultivators, fundamentally different from the mortals. Furthermore, they were from the Lin Family, with a significant clan behind them, and everything concerning the thousands of Lin Family members was closely related to them. Thus, such carefree days could only be enjoyed occasionally, naturally, they couldn¡¯t truly immerse themselves in it, forgetting their goal of pursuing the Great Dao of Longevity. Therefore, the couple returned to Green Bamboo Mountain, and their routine days of normal cultivation re-entered the right track. Just like that, another year silently passed by. At noon on this day, which was usually quite tranquil, the interior of Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion, rarely frequented by visitors, was now bustling with noise. Amid the lively crowd, Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua were sitting in the courtyard chatting leisurely. Lin Xingrong was attending to them on the side, pouring cups of Spiritual Tea from time to time with an attitude of utmost respect. On the other side, Lin Tianyue stood nearby, her eyes occasionally glancing in a certain direction, as if curious about something that was happening. Apart from these people, the owner of the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming, was not sitting with the elders nor frolicking with the playful Lin Tianyue. At this moment, he was pacing outside a room, walking back and forth countless times. Looking over, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was anxious, his face showing a mix of nervousness and anticipation, appearing quite complex. Just then, the sound of a baby¡¯s cry suddenly emerged from the room, instantly shattering the calm. ¡°It¡¯s born¡­ It¡¯s born¡­ Sister-in-law has given birth!¡± Upon hearing the commotion, Lin Tianyue was the first to shout excitedly. On the other side, Lin Shigong and the others also gathered around immediately, each with an excited smile on their faces. At that moment, Lin Tianming too looked ecstatic, eager to rush into the room. Just then, the door of the room opened, revealing the figure of Ren Yuxuan. Seeing her, Lin Tianming quickly inquired, ¡°Mother, how is Xi¡¯er?¡± ¡°How is the baby?¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was anxious, and his expression was eager, clearly very concerned about the outcome. Ren Yuxuan looked at Lin Tianming in front of her, seeing his nervous appearance at this time. Not only that, but when she glanced at Lin Shihua and the others nearby, they were all wearing expressions full of anticipation. Seeing their looks, Ren Yuxuan found it quite amusing. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But with the Clan Leader there and taking the matter very seriously, Ren Yuxuan didn¡¯t dare delay. So, with a knowing smile, she said, ¡°Father, Twelfth Uncle, Xi¡¯er has given birth to a big, healthy boy.¡± ¡°The whole process went very smoothly, and both mother and child are safe!¡± Upon hearing Ren Yuxuan¡¯s words, everyone present was immediately thrilled, and Lin Tianyue couldn¡¯t help but jump for joy. Chapter 1036 1036 546 Birth of Offspring_2 ?Chapter 1036: Chapter 546: Birth of Offspring_2 Chapter 1036: Chapter 546: Birth of Offspring_2 ¡°Great¡­ great¡­ Tian Ming has a descendant now!¡± Lin Shigong laughed excitedly, his face with slight wrinkles was filled with a satisfied smile. ¡°Haha¡­ Tian Ming and Xi¡¯er both have exceptional talents. The offspring born from their union will definitely have great talent¡­¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ who knows, our Lin Family might gain a once-in-a-millennium genius clan member¡­¡± Lin Shihua said excitedly, his emotions brimming in his words. When Lin Tianming heard what his mother said, and learned that Qin Xi and her son were safe and that he had gained a son, his heart suddenly relaxed. At the same time, the worried look on his face faded, replaced by a wildly joyful smile. ... Immediately after, Lin Tianming flashed past his mother and strode energetically into the room. Seeing his actions, Lin Tianyue, not wanting to be left behind, quickly followed his steps into the room. Behind her, Lin Xingrong and others also wore expressions of curiosity. Among them, Lin Xingrong also wanted to enter and see but was stopped by Ren Yuxuan as he started to step forward. Ren Yuxuan looked slightly angry and then reminded, ¡°Xi¡¯er has just given birth. All of you are men, it¡¯s better not to go in.¡± ¡°Later, I will bring the little grandson out for the two elders to greet and also to discuss a suitable name for him.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingrong paused midstep and then stepped back. Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua, hearing these words, nodded in satisfaction. They exchanged smiles and then returned to their earlier seats. Inside the room at this time. As soon as Lin Tianming entered, he saw Qin Xi lying on the bed. Next to Qin Xi¡¯s head was an infant closely nestled beside her. On closer look, the infant had tender and fair skin, and his chubby body looked incredibly adorable. His eyes, half-open, seemed to be scanning everything in the room. Not only that, but the infant seemed to sense his presence. As Lin Tianming moved closer, the baby¡¯s tender little hands and feet moved slightly, and he even made cooing sounds as if greeting him. Seeing such a small child, just born a short while ago, not only stop crying, but now so quiet and all his actions and reactions, hardly seemed like a newborn at all. Seeing this, Lin Tianming marveled in his heart, feeling that this child seemed to possess innate spirituality. Once he calmed down a bit, Lin Tianming eagerly approached, holding Qin Xi¡¯s hand with one hand and the infant¡¯s small hand with the other. Meanwhile, on the bed, Qin Xi¡¯s complexion was slightly pale, and she appeared a bit worn out. Obviously, even though Qin Xi was now a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, capable of great power when she moved her hands and feet, if she really wanted to make a small mountain disappear, it would not be too difficult for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Yet even so, Qin Xi¡¯s experience in giving birth was almost no different from that of ordinary people. Because of this, Qin Xi appeared somewhat weakened, her qi-blood also seeming to deplete, her body feeling a bit frail. However, seeing Lin Tianming enter and then looking at the baby¡¯s reactions, a flush of blood returned to Qin Xi¡¯s pale face, filled with a happy glow. It was at this moment that she truly felt what it was like to be a mother for the first time. The tall man in front of her was the love of her life. Beside her, their bloodline legacy, now the two most important people to her holding hands, an indescribable sense of happiness arose spontaneously. At that moment, Lin Tianming, caressing Qin Xi¡¯s forehead, tenderly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve worked hard!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was sincere, and the expression he revealed was from the heart. As for Qin Xi, feeling the warmth from Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, her heart warmed instantly. At this moment, her heart was filled with joy, her sense of happiness overflowing. ¡°Ming¡­ we have a child now!¡± Qin Xi¡¯s voice was slightly choked as she spoke, the pallor on her face replaced by a knowing smile. At this time, Lin Tianming also nodded and then began to comfort Qin Xi, making her feel fully cared for. As the couple exchanged words, the atmosphere gradually calmed down. Lin Tianyue, who had been quietly sitting to one side, finally spoke up, breaking into Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s world. ¡°Sister-in-law¡­ congratulations on the birth of your child!¡± Lin Tianyue congratulated her, then reached out to play with the cooing baby on the bed, her expression full of joy. ¡°Hehe¡­ my little nephew is indeed spirited¡­¡± ¡°Yue¡¯er, you are too kind, thank you for your concern!¡± Hearing Lin Tianyue¡¯s words, Qin Xi politely responded. The scene then gradually became lively, filled with laughter and cheerful voices throughout the room. Soon, Ren Yuxuan reentered and, from a distance, called out to stop Lin Tianyue, who was still playing with the baby. Then, Ren Yuxuan spoke again, telling Qin Xi to rest well and giving a few words to the others present. After saying this, she picked up the baby from the bed and constantly soothed him, her eyes filled with an adoring expression. It was evident that with the birth of Qin Xi¡¯s child, Ren Yuxuan¡¯s wish had been fulfilled. Now, with Qin Xi having become a mother, she herself had officially been promoted to grandmother. Ren Yuxuan had long hoped for this result and had done many things to achieve it. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that her long-awaited goal had been realized, how could she not feel excited? Because of this, Ren Yuxuan was in an exceptionally good mood, holding the baby in her arms, her face always wearing a satisfied smile. After a while, Ren Yuxuan finally said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, mother will now take him out to meet your grandfather and others, so we can name this child, how about it?¡± Ren Yuxuan spoke to Qin Xi with a suggestively inquiring tone. Upon hearing this, Qin Xi also nodded, evidently not objecting to Ren Yuxuan¡¯s proposal. With that, Ren Yuxuan joyfully carried the child out of the room, pulling Lin Tianming along with her. After a short time. In the courtyard, Lin Shigong and others, seeing Ren Yuxuan coming out with the child, immediately gathered around. Upon seeing that the child was handsome, with delicate white skin and features resembling Lin Tianming, and was exceedingly spirited. In an instant, despite the age and generational differences, they were all playing joyfully. Including Lin Xingrong, who also carefully played with the child, fearing that he might be too rough and make the baby cry. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming, the child¡¯s father, could neither get a word in nor squeeze into the group. Such a harmonious scene continued for quite a while. Later, the bustling scene finally began to quiet down. At this point, Lin Shihua finally spoke, ¡°Tianming, this child belongs to the Chang Generation Clan Members, have you thought of a name yet?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and responded, ¡°Twelfth Grandpa, as the Clan Leader, why don¡¯t you suggest a few for us to consider, and then we can pick a suitable name together.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming say this, Lin Shihua nodded. Then, Lin Shihua began to ponder, while Lin Shigong and Lin Xingrong also silently thought about names. Soon, they each proposed several names. In just the time of a short tea break, the group came up with more than ten names, each thinking their suggestions were quite good and each had a significant background or reason. In the end, there were too many choices, and no one could decide on the final one. Left with no choice, Lin Shigong had to ask Lin Tianming, the biological father, for his opinion. After considering the dozen or so options, Lin Tianming finally settled on the name ¡°Lin Changqing.¡± Chapter 1037 1037 547 The Late Breakthrough ?Chapter 1037: Chapter 547: The Late Breakthrough Chapter 1037: Chapter 547: The Late Breakthrough ¡°Lin Changqing!¡± Lin Shigong and the others, upon hearing this name, also nodded their heads in satisfaction, fully approving of Lin Tianming¡¯s choice. Thus, the name of Lin Tianming¡¯s first son was set. Immediately after, a group of elders each pulled out treasures, such as valuable jade pendants that could ward off poison and dispel evil, and others that could gather spiritual energy; there were also trinkets made of spirit stones that could double as ornaments, each with its unique use. Although these items were not expensive, they represented the elders¡¯ affection and care for the younger generation. With that, Lin Tianming was also very happy at this time. A few complimentary words made the whole atmosphere even livelier. For a time, everyone was immersed in the joy of Lin Tianming having an heir. ... Such a lively atmosphere continued for half a Shi Chen. In the end, it was Lin Shihua who got busy with clan affairs, and those present gradually dispersed. Next, Lin Tianming also put aside all matters, accompanying Qin Xi as she recuperated for a while. In the following days, as Qin Xi recovered, the couple took Lin Changqing to visit many family elders and well-connected clan members of their generation. During this time, although the little guy was very young and knew nothing of etiquette, he did not receive fewer gifts, all tokens of love and attention from his elders. Evidently, from birth, Lin Changqing carried the halo of being the first direct descendant of the number one person in the Lin Family, garnering the attention of many core Lin Family Members, and he was the recipient of immense affection. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s personal strength was unmatched among Lin Family Members, and his talent and potential were truly frightening. At just over sixty years of age, he had already achieved his current level of cultivation strength. His combat prowess had been demonstrated brilliantly in several major battles over the years, playing a decisive role in the development of the Lin Family over these years. It can be said without exaggeration that for such a fearsome existence with both strength and talent, the Golden Core Stage was not his ultimate limit. However, it was not just Lin Tianming alone; Qin Xi¡¯s talent and potential were almost on par with him. As a result, even though Lin Changqing had not yet been tested for his Spiritual Root, regardless of the eventual outcome, at least for the first ten years of his life, he would be the focus of attention among all Lin Family Members. To this, Lin Tianming and his wife were quite indifferent. In their eyes, whether Lin Changqing had a Spiritual Root or whether his talent was extraordinary or incredibly lacking, this child was their descendant. As Lin Changqing¡¯s parents, they only wished for him to live a safe and healthy life without worries, which was already enough for them. Even if he turned out to be an ordinary mortal, disconnected from the deceitful and perilous Cultivation World, it would not be a bad choice at all. Hence, they were quite relaxed about the outcome of the Spiritual Root testing, taking a let-nature-take-its-course attitude. Under such circumstances, the couple, who had just become parents, set aside most of the days they should have been cultivating and spent a peaceful year accompanying Lin Changqing. During this time, they lived as ordinary mortals do, with everything ordinary yet not lacking in laughter and happiness. Afterward, they then returned to the proper track of cultivation. Ren Yuxuan took Lin Changqing away to care for him, and whenever Lin Tianming and his wife emerged briefly from seclusion, they would spend time with their son, fulfilling their parental duties. They then re-entered the rhythm of seclusion and intensive cultivation. Days like these passed quietly. In the blink of an eye, several years had passed. One day, inside a Practice Room within Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. At this moment, Lin Tianming was seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion. He sat with his eyes tightly closed and his brow furrowed. At the same time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face alternated between red and white, seeming to be in pain. Inside his body, his Qi-Blood roiled, his Spiritual Power surged through his meridians, and finally gathered in his Golden Core before coming to a stop. Clearly, Lin Tianming was at a critical moment of advancing to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Before this, he had already attempted the breakthrough twice, both ending in failure. Despite this, Lin Tianming was not discouraged. He adjusted his condition and prepared for the third attempt. As a result, Lin Tianming¡¯s concentration tightened, and the Heavenly Grade Technique operated to its limit. He still had a significant amount of power stored from previously refining several Yuxu Pills, ready for this final breakthrough attempt. At this key moment, Lin Tianming made his preparations. When he felt the time was almost right, he began to gather a large group of energy for one critical attack. In that instant, Lin Tianming directed the massive Spirit Group within him to surge frantically into the Golden Core. His body underwent significant changes, a vast Spirit Group driven by his meridians, rushing into the Golden Core. Instantly, Lin Tianming¡¯s face contorted with pain, clearly enduring tremendous suffering. Meanwhile, large beads of sweat began to drop from his forehead, quickly disappearing into the ground. Faced with such agonizing moments, Lin Tianming clenched his teeth, a mad glint flickering across his face. Inside him, he controlled the vast Spirit Group, hammering fiercely against the barrier to the Medium Stage of Golden Core. Chapter 1038 1038 547 The Belated Breakthrough_2 ?Chapter 1038: Chapter 547: The Belated Breakthrough_2 Chapter 1038: Chapter 547: The Belated Breakthrough_2 Every time he attempted the breakthrough, he had to endure extreme pain. Yet, even so, Lin Tianming was very decisive, not relaxing in the slightest. This state continued for the duration of an incense stick. Finally, at a certain moment, Lin Tianming suddenly felt his Golden Core tremble and it seemed to have expanded slightly for no apparent reason. Immediately, he looked down upon his Seven Sea Dantian and indeed, the Golden Core had grown a bit. To the naked eye, though it was hard to discern, his Divine Sense easily spotted the difference. What was more, he felt an immense sense of comfort throughout his body. Especially the Golden Core, which had seemed to be stuck previously, now felt as though it had been freed from its constraints. ... Not only this, the True Yuan within the Golden Core had also sublimated. Both its volume and quality had obviously increased a lot. With his careful perception, the strength from a wisp of True Yuan had now doubled compared to before. Such a transformation allowed him to immediately come to a conclusion. He had finally broken through that barrier and officially stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. There was no doubt about the veracity of this point. At this instant, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. In fact, deep down, he was rather surprised by this outcome. After the first dual cultivation, with the help of that special energy, his cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Initial Peak, very close to the Mid Stage Golden Core. Originally, he thought that with three more years of cultivation, he might be able to successfully step into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. However, the birth of Lin Changqing unexpectedly disrupted his plans. As for the current outcome, it had been delayed by almost four years more than he had anticipated. Nevertheless, Lin Changqing¡¯s birth was also a happy surprise they had not expected, and for both him and his wife, as well as some family elders, it was an event worth celebrating. Under these circumstances, even though the breakthrough was several years later than expected, Lin Tianming did not feel any bit of disappointment in his heart, but was rather very satisfied. After all, he had still smoothly broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, and with the birth of his child, it was like a double blessing. Knowing this, Lin Tianming became even more excited, his face consistently wearing a satisfied smile. Once he had calmed down, Lin Tianming took a moment to think. Soon, despite not having seen Lin Changqing for two years and inevitably feeling a bit nostalgic, he knew he had just made a breakthrough and needed to properly consolidate his Cultivation Realm to prevent any instability in his foundation. Falling in cultivation rank due to negligence would be too much of a loss. Aware of this, Lin Tianming planned to continue his closed-door cultivation for a while longer to completely solidify his cultivation before emerging. With his mind made up, Lin Tianming no longer delayed. Soon, Lin Tianming took a fresh approach and quickly entered back into the state of cultivation. Half a year later. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming ended his seclusion and stepped out of the Practice Room. After half a year of cultivation, his realm had been consolidated, and his foundation was extremely stable. Thus, Lin Tianming, eager to see his son, immediately ended his seclusion. After he emerged, Qin Xi was still in closed-door cultivation. Lin Tianming did not send her a message to disturb her and instead rushed to his mother¡¯s Cave Mansion. There, he also saw his son, Lin Changqing. Lin Changqing was now almost seven years old. Just two years apart, the child had grown quite a bit, becoming even more handsome and robust in stature. Besides that, Lin Changqing¡¯s eyes were full of spirituality, clearly indicating a thoughtful and intelligent child. By this age, Lin Changqing had formally entered the Lin Family¡¯s academy, starting to learn to read and write, as well as study the family¡¯s history and culture, and even some basic knowledge ahead of time. After a series of knowledge tests by Lin Tianming, Lin Changqing answered smoothly and correctly, much to Lin Tianming¡¯s delight. At the same time, he was quite satisfied with Lin Changqing¡¯s growth in his heart. Clearly, Lin Changqing had been exceedingly diligent and earnest in his studies at the palace these past few years, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have performed so well. Seeing Lin Changqing doing well brought Lin Tianming not only happiness but also a great sense of pride, and he was certainly not stingy with his words of praise. He then set aside his own cultivation to take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with Lin Changqing, fulfilling his responsibilities as a father. Such peaceful days passed amid laughter and cheer. Then, one day, Lin Shilu, who had been in closed-door cultivation for many years, finally emerged. Upon learning of Lin Tianming¡¯s offspring and Qin Xi¡¯s successful entry into the Golden Core Stage, Lin Shilu was overjoyed. He was so eager that he didn¡¯t even take the time to visit Lin Shikang and his peers, choosing instead to go straight to Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. Seeing Lin Tianming and his son, Lin Shilu wore a benevolent smile, his spirit radiating a different kind of splendor. ¡°Tianming, I didn¡¯t expect that after just over a decade, you¡¯ve become a father yourself.¡± Lin Shilu commented with a sense of wonder, jokingly. Hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and then responded, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is teasing, I am indeed of that age, and I¡¯m not getting any younger.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Changqing by his side. Quick as a whip, Lin Changqing understood what was expected of him and promptly bowed deeply to Lin Shilu. ¡°The younger generation, Changqing, pays respects to the esteemed ancestor!¡± Hearing this respectful greeting and seeing Lin Changqing¡¯s courteous demeanor, Lin Shilu burst into hearty laughter. ¡°Ha ha¡­well done¡­well done¡­¡± Lin Shilu repeated a few words of praise and then patted Lin Changqing¡¯s forehead, casually producing a long whip and handing it to him. He smiled and said, ¡°Changqing, this is the first time I¡¯ve met you. Take this little trinket as a gift!¡± At that moment, Lin Changqing¡¯s eyes lit up upon seeing the fiery red whip, clearly enamored with it. However, Lin Changqing did not immediately take it but turned to look at Lin Tianming as if to seek his approval. At this time, seeing that Lin Shilu¡¯s casually given greeting gift was a Second Order Medium Quality Whip Artifact, it was obvious that he had put considerable thought into it. Moreover, such a gift reflected a high regard for Lin Tianming and a genuine fondness for Lin Changqing, the junior. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looked at Lin Changqing and then reminded him with a smile, ¡°An elder has given you such a generous gift; you should thank him immediately!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Changqing did not delay and bowed deeply once again, responding promptly. ¡°The younger generation thanks you, esteemed ancestor!¡± Finishing his thanks, Lin Changqing joyfully accepted the whip, swinging it around with delight. For a moment, the courtyard was filled with bursts of cracking sounds, rhythmic and full of life. It was evident that although the whip was a Magic Artifact, it had been refined with exquisite craftsmanship. After all, Lin Changqing had not embarked on the Path of Immortality; being able to wield a Second Order Medium Quality Whip Artifact and to crack it with the body of a mortal child spoke volumes about the uniqueness of the whip. But considering who Lin Shilu was¡ªa Refinement Manic Beast and the most skilled Artifact Refiner in the Lin Family, obsessed with the Way of Artifact Refining¡ªit wasn¡¯t surprising. Especially since he had not been seen for over a decade, it would not be surprising if he had become a Third Order Artifact Refining Master by now. Given this, the Magic Artifacts in his possession were sure to be numerous, and some particularly special ones would not be so strange. And Lin Changqing, at this time, was clearly having the time of his life. He genuinely loved the meeting gift from Lin Shilu. At this point, Lin Tianming, seeing how excited Lin Changqing was, let him continue to play on his own. Watching Lin Changqing hop and jump away joyfully, Lin Shilu smiled contentedly and could not help but praise him repeatedly. ¡°The boy, Changqing, is impressive¡­impressive!¡± ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather is too kind; Changqing is still young and a bit mischievous, please forgive his antics,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile. Immediately after, he entertained Lin Shilu, and the two of them chatted leisurely over tea. ¡­ Chapter 1039 1039 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure ?Chapter 1039: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure Chapter 1039: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure As the two bantered with each other, Lin Tianming, who had not seen each other for a long time, was in a very good mood. Sitting nearby, Lin Tianming picked up the Spiritual Tea and took a sip before asking with concern, ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you¡¯ve been in seclusion for so long, how was your harvest?¡± Hearing this, Lin Shilu burst into hearty laughter, then teased, ¡°You kid, I know exactly what¡¯s on your mind.¡± ¡°You probably couldn¡¯t wait any longer, could you?¡± After saying this, Lin Shilu waved his sleeve and a Flaming Red Longsword appeared in his hand. The sword was about three feet long and about three fingers in width, its fiery red blade covered with tiny golden runes, looking quite striking and eye-catching. Moreover, as soon as this longsword appeared, it caused some changes. ... In that instant, the temperature in the entire courtyard noticeably increased slightly, and a large amount of Fire Attribute Elements began to slowly converge towards this place, eventually being swallowed by the longsword. Clearly, this longsword was a terrifying weapon, its aura overpowering all the Offensive Magical Treasures Lin Tianming had ever seen. At that moment, upon seeing this longsword, Lin Tianming knew it was a divine weapon of extraordinary quality and spirituality. For a time, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was filled with irrepressible joy. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, have you successfully become a Third Order Artifact Refiner and managed to forge such a magical treasure?¡± Lin Tianming asked excitedly, yet seeming somewhat incredulous. Although he had speculated about it in the previous years, Given Lin Shilu¡¯s talent for Artifact Refining and his obsessive nature, plus his decade-long seclusion without showing his face, stepping into the Third Order Artifact Refiner¡¯s level did not seem so unexpected. However, Lin Shilu¡¯s achievement in progressing to the rank of Third Order Artifact Refiner and forging such a divine weapon somewhat exceeded his expectations. At this time, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s expression and hearing his recent words, Lin Shilu was obviously a bit shocked. So Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle with a somewhat triumphant look on his face. Then, with another pat on his storage bag, seventy-two short blades shot out, eventually hovering in front of the two. Looking over, these blades were pitch-black, adorned with a gold line on their surface, giving them a somewhat eerie feel. Not only that, each of the blades shone with a cold light, fine Sword Qi swirling around the blades, clearly possessing formidable piercing power. Obviously, these seventy-two blades were also a set of extraordinary Magical Treasures, endowed with high quality and spirituality. Even the aura of any single blade was formidable enough. One could hardly imagine the terror of such a quality set of seventy-two blades once Divine Skills were deployed. Sure enough, as Lin Tianming witnessed this scene and felt the chilling aura emanating from the blades, his breathing suddenly quickened. ¡°What a set of peerless divine weapons!¡± Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, his expression once again brimming with excitement. After speaking, Lin Tianming waved his hand, grasping the Flaming Red Longsword, examining it closely as if he could not part with it. In his hand, the longsword seemed to possess high spirituality, gently vibrating as if responding to him. Then, Lin Tianming also grabbed one of the blades, and as his pale palm caressed the blade, his face quickly flushed with warmth. At that moment, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s overwhelming joy, Lin Shilu began to explain. ¡°Tianming, during this decade or so of seclusion, I first spent several years successfully advancing to the level of Third Order Artifact Refiner.¡± ¡°Then afterwards, I put in enormous effort and energy, taking eleven years to craft these two sets of divine weapons for you¡ªthe very ones before your eyes.¡± ¡°One can say, these two sets of divine weapons were painstakingly tailored for you, I hope they won¡¯t disappoint you!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming came back to his senses. Following that, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction and responded. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, these two sets of divine weapons are truly a product of your hard work, the quality and spirituality are exceptional, indeed the finest Magical Treasures I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ of course!¡± ¡°You should know, to craft these two sets of divine weapons, I¡¯ve used up almost all the Artifact Refining Materials from the family, as well as those you have acquired in recent years from the Third and Fourth Rank.¡± ¡°It would be such a waste of my efforts if they didn¡¯t satisfy you, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Shilu replied with a laugh, a proud look on his face. And Lin Tianming, hearing this explanation, nodded in agreement, thinking that it was indeed the case. After all, before this, the family and he himself had accumulated seven or eight types of precious Fourth-Order Material. Besides that, they had also collected a considerable number of rare Third-Order Materials. With so many treasures, combined with Lin Shilu¡¯s ten-plus years of dedicated crafting, the resulting divine weapons were naturally extraordinary. As for the outcome, it was indeed very satisfying for both of them. At this time, Lin Shilu also reminded, ¡°You should find some time to refine them and see for yourself how powerful they really are.¡± ¡°However, in my opinion, with your current Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation realm, coupled with your terrifying battle prowess, the strength you can unleash with these two sets of Magical Treasures will certainly be extremely fearsome.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Only after trying them will we know for sure!¡± Chapter 1040 1040 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure_2 ?Chapter 1040: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure_2 Chapter 1040: Chapter 548 Life-bound Magical Treasure_2 ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, you have labored hard these past years. Please do take some well-deserved rest now.¡± Lin Tianming spoke earnestly, his face awash with concern. Lin Shilu felt greatly comforted upon hearing these words. He then shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for rest!¡± ¡°To date, the family, as well as I, still have a considerable amount of precious materials, all of an exceedingly high quality.¡± ¡°Now that Xi¡¯er has broken through to the Golden Core Stage, it¡¯s my duty to craft one or two Magical Treasures to suit her, as my gift to celebrate her achievement.¡± ¡°Besides, there are many defective Magical Treasures you¡¯ve given me, some of which are still in decent condition.¡± ... ¡°I plan to make use of them to forge a Defense Treasure for you with formidable defensive power, to fully enhance your combat capabilities to their utmost limit.¡± Lin Shilu explained seriously, his emotion never waning from his face. It was clear that he always kept both Qin Xi and Lin Tianming at the forefront of his mind. After all, he had dedicated himself to a seclusion of over a dozen years, during which he had not left his chamber even once, pouring his heart and soul into Refining two sets of unparalleled Divine Weapons. Now that he had finally emerged from his seclusion, he didn¡¯t plan to take a break, but instead, wished to plunge back into Artifact Refining for Lin Tianming and his spouse, to create even more powerful Magical Treasures. Such fervent actions deeply moved Lin Tianming. Before now, Lin Shilu had shown nothing but wholehearted dedication and tireless effort toward him. It could be said that Lin Shilu cared for him even more than he cared for himself. At this point in time, he continued to hold Lin Tianming¡¯s well-being close to his heart. Such devotion was akin to that of a true grandfather. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel a sourness in his nose, and his eyes reddened, as tears began to streak down his cheeks. Finally managing to regain some composure, Lin Tianming earnestly persuaded him again. ¡°Fifteenth Grandfather, we have obtained quite a number of spoils from previous battles, and we have plenty of Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures.¡± ¡°Thus, my spouse and I both have Magical Treasures to use, and we also have Defense Treasures. You really don¡¯t have to push yourself so hard!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shilu was very gratified, but he still nonchalantly said, ¡°That¡¯s not important!¡± ¡°I know in my heart that you, my boy, have always been firm in your Dao, relentlessly pursuing the Immortal Path.¡± ¡°Now that your cultivation has advanced further, peace has returned to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, and the family has garnered sufficient self-defense capabilities.¡± ¡°In such circumstances, given your nature, sooner or later you will venture out to witness the cruelty and beauty of the Cultivation World, and to undergo trials of blood and fire.¡± ¡°Which is precisely why I want to make thorough preparations for you, using all my abilities.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming was even more moved. After failing to convince him to rest, Lin Tianming had no choice but to accompany Lin Shilu. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He then took out several Defense Treasures he had on his person and handed them all over to Lin Shilu. Since Lin Shilu was resolved to make a Defense Treasure, rather than exhausting efforts to forge a new one, it made more sense to re-Refine the existing treasures, potentially saving time and effort. And so, the task of Refining the Defense Treasure was set in motion. Afterwards, the two of them chatted casually for a while, recounting the events of the past decade and the internal changes within the Lin Family. Once these matters had been addressed, Lin Shilu left Lin Tianming¡¯s Cave Mansion. Lin Tianming did not plan to delay any longer and was prepared to immediately attune himself to the two sets of Magical Treasures to test their might. The quality and Spirituality of these two sets of Magical Treasures were some of the best he had seen. With such tailor-made Divine Weapons at his side, it was foreseeable that his power would reach its peak. Well aware of this, Lin Tianming was somewhat impatient to begin. The next day, after making sure Lin Changqing was settled, Lin Tianming immediately entered a reclusive state to begin the process of attuning to the Magical Treasures. Half a year quietly passed by. ¡°` On that day, in the practice room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged, with seventy-two short blades spinning rapidly around him, swiftly raising a series of whirlwinds. At a glance, the speed at which these seventy-two short blades spun was very fast, and their pitch-black bodies were extremely difficult to detect. Coupled with the rapid rotation, they were invisible to the naked eye. If not for the occasional flashes of golden light indicating the formation of a barrier, ordinary cultivators would find it hard to notice any signs. And such an effect was something that Lin Tianming felt truly satisfied with. After all, these seventy-two short blades were tailor-made for him by Lin Shilu, specifically for the use of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation divine skill. With the quality and spirituality of this complete set of magical treasures, plus such concealment, once the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was deployed, it would be even harder for enemies to detect. And the feeling Lin Tianming got from just one short blade alone was already formidable; if all seventy-two blades were connected, he estimated that their power would be terrifyingly greater. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was one of utter excitement, and the smile on his face was impossible to conceal. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming started to ponder. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve obtained a new magical treasure, it¡¯s time to name it!¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself. Quickly, he came up with a new name for the seventy-two short blades, still naming them after the Earth Evil Sword. As for the original set of Earth Evil Swords, they could no longer keep up with his level of power and couldn¡¯t exert their maximum prowess. Since that was the case, he could now officially discard the old set of Earth Evil Swords. In the future, when someone in the Lin Family was suitable to cultivate the ¡®Tiangang Body Art,¡¯ they could inherit the old Earth Evil Swords. Once the Earth Evil Sword recognized its master and the refining was complete, Lin Tianming resisted the urge to test its power and decided to strike while the iron was hot, proceeding to bond with another longsword. After completing this task, he thought it wouldn¡¯t be too late to test both their powers together. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming set to work. So, he stored away all the Earth Evil Swords and then took out the flaming red longsword, placing it in front of him. Next, he immediately extended his Divine Sense and began a new round of the bonding process. This time, the bonding process was much quicker, and he managed to complete it in just a little over three months. Altogether, after more than a year of closed-door cultivation, Lin Tianming successfully bonded with both sets of magical treasures. Now, a longsword hovered in front of Lin Tianming, bobbing up and down as if it was quite joyous. Seeing this, he knew that the longsword¡¯s spirituality was extremely high, far surpassing any magical treasure he had before. And Tian Ming was also confident in his feeling after sensing it attentively. In fact, this longsword, diligently forged by Lin Shilu, deserved praise, having used the Lin Family¡¯s most precious and finest artifact refining materials. Without exaggeration, for these magical treasures, this longsword represented the essence of all their collection, creating a truly divine and powerful weapon. Now, after his experience and the aura revealed by the longsword, it truly deserved Tian Ming¡¯s high praise. After playing with the longsword for a while, Tian Ming then stored it away. Following that, he adhered to the original method and named this longsword the ¡®Tiangang Sword.¡¯ With this naming, the two magical treasures he had bonded with officially replaced the original offensive magical treasures, becoming his future weapons of reliance, and unequivocally his longed-for life-bound magical treasures. Having settled these details, the bonding process was now officially drawing to an end. As for what followed, he no longer had to wait, and he could exit isolation to try out the difference in strength brought by the new magical treasures. Every time he thought of this, Tian Ming¡¯s heart was filled with excitement, and he looked forward even more to seeing if the final effects would be as he anticipated. With such curiosity, Tian Ming immediately concluded this period of closed-door cultivation. Once he exited isolation, Tian Ming didn¡¯t even have time to see his parents and relatives, nor did he have the desire to see Lin Changqing. Thus, he left the Lin Family first thing and headed swiftly towards the western Endless Forest. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1041 1041 549 Great Increase in Strength ?Chapter 1041: Chapter 549: Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 1041: Chapter 549: Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Ticket) After more than ten days of travel, Lin Tianming arrived at the outer region of the Endless Forest. He found a secluded canyon, which was located quite deeply and was also very quiet. Lin Tianming released the Purple Gold Eagle to act as a sentinel, and as soon as he was sure that there was no one around, he directly took out seventy-two Earth Evil Swords. In an instant, the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords hovered in the sky above his head. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming did not delay any longer and began to operate the Cultivation Technique. Soon, he was muttering words, and his hands formed Law Decrees, causing beams of Spiritual Light to suddenly shoot out and accurately strike the Earth Evil Swords. In that moment, he saw the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords soar into the sky, and with him as the center, they quickly appeared hundreds of feet away. ... The flying speed of these Earth Evil Swords was extremely fast, and the color of their bodies, pitch black, blended closely with the color of the sky. Therefore, the concealment of each Earth Evil Sword was extremely high, and their flying trajectories were visually untraceable. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, even though he had not yet witnessed the destructive power of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, he was already very satisfied with the speed of deployment. ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡­ quickly¡­¡± Lin Tianming shouted loudly, his hands continuing to move without stopping. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation started rotating crazily, quickly forming a barrier several hundred feet in diameter. ¡°Humming¡­¡± The rotation speed of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was extremely fast. The countless sword shadows that formed the barrier were untraceable but were indeed present. If an enemy was unable to notice this, once they blindly touched any part of the barrier, they would easily lose their life, or at the very least, suffer great damage. Within the Sword Formation Barrier, at this moment, there were swarms of light from blades and swords flickering unpredictably. On closer observation, each of the endless, invisible Sword Qi¡¯s had terrifying power. Simultaneously, the pressure inside the Sword Array was immense, enveloping a large area in all directions. Under these circumstances, once a cultivator entered the Sword Array, they would quickly feel a huge constraining force, causing their movement, speed, and reaction abilities to be significantly weakened. Moreover, as the range of the Sword Array continued to shrink, the strength of the Sword Array Barricade became ever greater, and the sword qi moving within became denser, increasing its power continuously. This Earth Fiend Sword Formation was identical to the one activated previously. However, today¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation, with Magical Treasures making up its constituent parts, each with greatly increased quality and spirituality, exhibited suppressive powers far surpassing any previous instance. Not only this, as Lin Tianming loudly commanded, ¡°Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡­ Strangle!¡± In an instant, the Sword Formation rapidly decreased the area it covered. At the same time, a Sword Qi storm kicked up inside the formation. The originally roaming Sword Qi joined the motion; both its speed and attack power were significantly enhanced. Within a dozen breaths, the range of the Sword Array had shrunk to less than a hundred feet. At this point, the roaming Sword Qi within the Sword Array was incredibly dense, leaving hardly any safe space. At this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had reached its endpoint and revealed its terrifying lethality. As the Sword Array continued to shrink until finally withdrawn completely by Lin Tianming, all motion stopped, and normalcy returned to the heavens and earth. Looking around now, one could see a small hillock had vanished into thin air, leaving behind a pit more than ten feet deep revealing the hard subsoil. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed pleasure, his heart simultaneously thrilled and astonished. Now, he had to admit, the new Earth Fiend Sword Formation was indeed very powerful, clearly making him feel its power had increased several times over. With such power and suppressive force, Lin Tianming¡¯s own strength was now much more formidable. It was foreseeable that in the upcoming great battles, he could re-employ the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, gaining a significant advantage in some special situations. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt extremely satisfied in his heart, and he highly regarded the Magical Treasures refined by Lin Shilu. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming collected the Earth Evil Swords once again. Following this, he took out the Tiangang Sword, ready to test the Tiangang Ninth Sword or Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus Divine Skills to see how much his strongest attacks had improved. With this purpose in mind, Lin Tianming immediately began his trial. Quickly, the Tiangang Sword shot out, transforming into a fire dragon, flying toward a mountain hundreds of feet away. Looking at it, the fire dragon form of the Tiangang Sword flew at an incredibly quick speed, appearing hundreds of feet away in an instant. Simultaneously, the land beneath the fire dragon was forcefully torn with Sword Qi, creating a ravine, and the flowers and trees along its path were instantly burned to ash. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming showed an excited expression. Even though he hadn¡¯t seen the final impact yet, this activity alone had already surprised him greatly. While he was astonished, the fire dragon had already reached its intended target. With a loud boom, a sea of fire suddenly appeared in the distance, with deafening explosions reverberating through the heavens and earth. Within this vast fiery sea, the fire dragon burrowed into the mountain. Immediately afterward, the whole mountain exploded violently, disintegrating into countless rocks scattering around. At the same time, all around, Gang Wind rose, and dust blew up, the massive fireball from the explosion completely burned the surrounding trees to ashes. Chapter 1042 1042 549 Great Increase in Strength ?Chapter 1042: Chapter 549 Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 1042: Chapter 549 Great Increase in Strength (Request for Monthly Pass)_2 As the flames died out, Lin Tianming inhaled deeply as he looked at the scorched, unbearable sight of the land before him. At this moment, he truly realized how terrifying the power of the divine skills had become today. It had to be said, with the magical treasure upgraded again, the Tiangang Ninth Sword he deployed was incomparably powerful. Based on the destruction at the scene and the recent upheaval, he made his judgment that the power had increased at least several times compared to the last great battle. Such an enhancement was not merely due to a breakthrough in cultivation; the magical treasure had also played a significant role. Continuing this way, if he were to use the even more powerful Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, the growth in power would likely be just as substantial. With increases in both cultivation and the magical treasure, his personal strength had vastly increased compared to before. ... At this moment, Lin Tianming felt an uncontrollable excitement, his smile immensely radiant. After calming his excited emotions, Lin Tianming decided not to continue experimenting. After all, having attempted two different types of divine skills, he had come to understand his current strength. With that, this round of trials could also come to an end. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming did not waste any more time; he slightly concealed the traces of destruction and then embarked on his journey back to the family. Upon returning to the family, Lin Tianming visited his mother and son Lin Changqing, and then entered the practice room. Qin Xi was still in seclusion cultivating, and Lin Shilu was busy with artifact refining to create magical treasures for the couple. If all went well, it might not take three to five years for Lin Shilu to emerge from seclusion. By then, he would also have better options in terms of defense treasures. Currently with nothing particular to do, even though he desired to travel, there was no rush for this three to five-year period. With this in mind, Lin Tianming immediately entered the state of cultivation. Three years later, Lin Shilu appeared in Lin Tianming¡¯s cave mansion. Qin Xi had also emerged from seclusion, and the couple was entertaining Lin Shilu. Lin Changqing was at the side, quietly reading a volume of books, occasionally muttering to himself, causing Lin Shilu and the others to burst into laughter. At that time, Lin Shilu couldn¡¯t help but nod approvingly at Lin Tianming and his wife. This was also the first time Qin Xi had seen Lin Shilu since she broke through to the Golden Core Stage ten years ago. If traced back to the last time the two had met, it was over twenty years ago. While Lin Shilu spent over ten years in seclusion for artifact refining, both had also been in separate seclusions, missing the chance to meet. Now that both had emerged, they had finally met again, which was indeed no small feat. Though not surprising, as the cultivation realms of senior clan members of the family progressively rose, leading to years-long seclusions. Sometimes, it was common for seclusions to last for ten years at a time. Especially for Lin Tianming and his wife, with their terrifying talent and immense potential, and generally not needing to worry about family affairs, they could focus solely on cultivation. Thus, their extended periods in seclusion, was, in fact, not odd at all. Therefore, for such core family members to meet frequently as before was not an easy feat. However, fortunately, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had been very peaceful in the last twenty-plus years. After nearly twenty years of recovery, the basic order had been restored, and from major forces like Myriad Medicine Valley and Zhenyang Sect to small Qi Refining families consisting of just a dozen people, most had regained much of their former strength. In the regions under the Lin Family¡¯s control, it had been especially tranquil lately. With the support of the Lin Family, both subordinate families and the Lin Family itself had recovered, and everything was developing prosperously. Thus, after completing its internal plans, the Lin Family too had experienced a tranquil decade without any significant occurrences. During this time, the Lin Family had thoroughly caught their breath, and their overall strength and foundations were also growing rapidly. Under such circumstances, the couple, Lin Tianming and his wife, were able to cultivate with peace of mind, and the results were indeed satisfying. Over the decade of secluded cultivation, Lin Tianming, with the aid of their first dual cultivation, had smoothly broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, and his power was incomparably formidable. In terms of alchemy, his skill in refining most Third Order Pills was nothing short of masterful. Qin Xi had also made significant progress, although she had yet to break through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, she was close to reaching the peak of the early stage. If in the coming days, some opportune help appeared or she endured another ten or eight years of arduous cultivation, there was a great hope she could break through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. It could be said that the couple had spent the calmest decade, and what they had gained during this period was indeed very satisfying. At this time, Lin Shilu once again saw Qin Xi, and he was genuinely satisfied with her growth over the years. Overjoyed, Lin Shilu could not help but exclaim, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you girl are really remarkable!¡± ¡°Tianming, this young man, is already outstanding on his own. To have you as his Dao companion, it¡¯s like the matching of dragon and phoenix, truly a match made by heaven.¡± ¡°And to speak of it, it¡¯s not just this young man¡¯s fortune, it is also a blessing for our entire Lin Family.¡± Lin Shilu said these words with a look of gratification on his face. At this time, upon hearing these words of praise, Qin Xi¡¯s face flashed a touching smile, and she felt warmth in her heart. In her heart, these years at the Lin Family had brought her the affection of all the Lin Family elders, like Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, who had given her guidance and provided ample resources to help enhance her cultivation. Moreover, including the family members of her age and generation, they all treated her with utmost respect, never seeing her as an outsider. More importantly, her husband, Lin Tianming, cared for her deeply, always keeping her in his heart. One could say that in the Lin Family, she had not suffered any grievances but instead experienced extremely rare kinship. And these were always what she needed most in her heart. Now, she profoundly felt the warmth of the family. As time passed, it allowed her to feel a sense of belonging and fully integrate into this large family. At this moment, Qin Xi, emotionally stirred by Lin Shilu¡¯s praises, felt somewhat embarrassed. Thus, Qin Xi calmly smiled and said, ¡°Elder Fifteen flatters me!¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er has been able to cultivate peacefully up to now, relying on the support and guidance of many elders, which has allowed me to come this far.¡± ¡°For this, Xi¡¯er always remembers your kindness and in the future, whatever the need may be, Xi¡¯er will spare no effort, even at the cost of my life, to repay the affection.¡± Qin Xi spoke these words with utmost sincerity, genuinely moved by her feelings. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Shilu nodded with gratification. Then he continued, ¡°Xi¡¯er, as part of the Lin Family, it is only natural for us elders to help you to the best of our abilities.¡± ¡°In our old folks¡¯ eyes, as long as you juniors can grow quickly and eventually take over the banner of leading the family¡¯s development, we old folks are already very satisfied.¡± ¡°Therefore, you need not be distracted or worry about these matters.¡± Lin Shilu finished these words and changed the subject without further ado. ¡°Tianming, I have been refining artifacts during these three years of seclusion, and this time the process went quite smoothly, and the efficiency has also increased significantly.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not sure if the artifacts hastily crafted will meet your and your wife¡¯s satisfaction?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu waved his sleeve and three magical treasures appeared in front of them. Looking over, these three magical treasures were an aqua blue longsword, a blood-red jade pendant, and a green turtle shell shield. ¡­ Chapter 1043 1043 550 Lin Changqings Talent (Seeking ?Chapter 1043: Chapter 550: Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 1043: Chapter 550: Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Seeking Monthly Votes) With the appearance of these three Magical Treasures, a unique aura began to spread in all directions. Clearly, among these three Magical Treasures, one was an Offensive Magical Treasure, while the other two were Defense Treasures. Furthermore, judging by the aura emanating from the Magical Treasures, their quality was exceptionally good, and their Spirituality was also very impressive, indicative of outstanding defensive power. At this point, Lin Tianming reached out with one hand and grabbed the Turtle Shell Shield. He then carefully felt it and immediately showed an expression of joy. As he had expected, after his exploration, he found that the materials used for this Defense Treasure were of excellent quality, and even his formidable fist couldn¡¯t leave a single mark on it. Such a Treasure, its defensive power was certainly extraordinary. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Next, he picked up the Jade Pendant to examine it and, feeling the aura exuding from it, was genuinely satisfied with the two Defense Treasures. At that moment, Qin Xi also picked up the Aqua Blue Longsword to take a look and immediately showed a look of reluctance to let it go. Seeing this, Lin Shilu chuckled and said, ¡°Well, are you two satisfied?¡± ¡°Satisfied, very satisfied!¡± Lin Tianming replied excitedly, his face beaming with joy. As for Qin Xi, she too giggled and then complimented, ¡°With Fifteenth Grandfather personally taking action and using so many precious materials, the Treasures you¡¯ve refined would naturally not be commonplace.¡± ¡°With such treasures, how could Ming and I be picky? We¡¯re overjoyed!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ that¡¯s good to hear!¡± Lin Shilu was quite pleased by Qin Xi¡¯s flattering words, and a kind smile crossed his face. Afterwards, Lin Tianming handed the Flaming Red Jade Pendant to Qin Xi and kept the Turtle Shell Shield for himself. Qin Xi took the Flaming Red Jade Pendant without any pretense. With this, both husband and wife now had more than one Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasure, all of which were of very high quality and Spirituality. Lin Tianming had a complete set of Earth Evil Swords, along with a Tiangang Sword, and already possessed a Treasure with decent defensive power, adding now the Turtle Shell Shield, which gave him a range of options for offense and defense. Prior to this, Qin Xi already possessed several Magical Treasures given to her by Lin Tianming, and now with the Aqua Blue Longsword and the Flaming Red Jade Pendant, her arsenal of Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures was also incredibly rich. With such an array of choices and the high quality and Spirituality of these Treasures, they would undoubtedly be able to exert even greater power in the future, barring any accidents. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming and his wife were thrilled with excitement. Seeing that Lin Tianming and his wife were very satisfied, Lin Shilu was also very happy, and he sighed with relief. Following that, everyone was in a good mood, and the atmosphere of the gathering was very harmonious. After the three Magical Treasures were distributed, they chatted casually for a while, discussing some recent events in both the Lin Family and the broader Cultivation World. Later, Lin Shilu took his leave to return to his normal state of cultivation. Half a month later. Within the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory, on the square outside a certain pavilion on the mountainside, over three hundred people had already gathered. Most of those gathered here were youths just over the age of ten, the majority of whom were whispering to each other; the scene was quite lively. Among the crowd was Lin Changqing. Today was the Lin Family¡¯s annual Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. This square was the designated site for the Spirit Root Test, primarily for the second and third-generation blood relatives living in the Lin Family Clan Grounds. Moreover, within the controlled territory of the Luoyun Mountain Range, there were dozens of testing sites. It should be noted that every year¡¯s Spirit Root Testing Ceremony could provide the Lin Family with many potential seeds, among which were not a few youths with considerable Spiritual Roots. Over the years, the number of Lin Family Members grew rapidly, and the vast Luoyun Mountain Range, with nearly eight million mortals as its foundation, was the core of the Lin Family¡¯s influence. The youths living on Green Bamboo Mountain were the current direct and close relatives of the Lin Family Members, generally first or second generation. Those beyond the third generation without a Spiritual Root were expected, according to family rules, to leave Green Bamboo Mountain and head to a town within the Lin Family¡¯s territory to live out a prosperous life. Such rules had been in place in the Lin Family for nearly nine hundred years and were deeply ingrained, and no ordinary family member without significant contributions could defy this regulation. At present, Lin Changqing had just turned ten years old, making this year the most opportune time for the test. As such, Lin Changqing arrived early at the family¡¯s testing site to wait for the elders to preside over the test. At this moment, he stood aside, his tall figure already bearing the shadow of an adult. Simultaneously, his youthful cheeks carried a hint of tenacity, his gaze fixed in a certain direction, disregarding the noise around him. His reaction seemed to suggest that he was accustomed to such scenes. Indeed, this was the case! He had grown up in the Lin Family Clan Grounds and lived at the main peak for a long time. More importantly, several generations above him were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage or higher in cultivation and held the status of core family members. Together with his grandmother Ren Yuxuan¡¯s long-term care, plus the occasional stories from his great-grandfather Lin Shigong and the many books he had explored, he had a far deeper understanding of the Lin Family¡¯s structure than those beyond three generations. Chapter 1044 1044 550 Lin Changqings Talent (Request ?Chapter 1044: Chapter 550 Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Request for Monthly Tickets)_2 Chapter 1044: Chapter 550 Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent (Request for Monthly Tickets)_2 Such was the case, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony this time was extremely important to Lin Changqing, as it concerned his future. If he did not have a Spiritual Root, it meant that he had no fate with immortality. Even though he was the descendant of the strongest member of the Lin Family, in the face of the requirements set by the Heavenly Dao for immortal fate, he could not avoid becoming a handful of yellow soil a hundred years later. Precisely because of this, Lin Changqing appeared calm on the surface, but he was somewhat anxious inside. And such feelings were actually quite normal. After all, he well knew what this Spirit Root Testing Ceremony meant for him. If he truly could not reveal a Spiritual Root, if he truly did not possess a fate with immortality, he could only live out the rest of his life in peace. ... Hence, it was only natural for Lin Changqing to feel anxious at this moment. And here, among the hundreds of young men and women, there were also many who felt like Lin Changqing; on the surface, they seemed calm, but their hearts had already turned upside down. If they could manage to stay as calm as Lin Changqing, it was actually quite an achievement. As for those chattering young men and women still causing a commotion, most did not understand the importance of this day and did not realize the huge impact that the spirit testing would have on their future. Therefore, the scene was divided, with each individual having a different state of mind. As time passed, there finally was some movement inside the attic. Clan Leader Lin Shihua, leading several clan members, slowly walked out from the attic and appeared before the crowd of young men and women. And as Lin Shihua and the others appeared, the noisy scene immediately quieted down, with everyone standing respectfully in place, curiously watching the Clan Leader. At that moment, Lin Shihua glanced over the young men and women gathered, focused briefly on Lin Changqing, and then quickly shifted his gaze. Following that, he finally spoke to the clan members beside him, ¡°Shi Chen is almost upon us; let¡¯s begin!¡± Hearing this, the clan members behind Lin Shihua respectfully replied and then stepped forward, taking out a Spirit Testing Bead from a storage bag and placing it on a stone pillar. After completing these preparations, this clan member then pointed to a row and shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone line up in order and come forward one by one, placing your hands on the Spirit Testing Bead.¡± As soon as his voice fell, someone from the direction he pointed walked forward and placed their hand on the Spirit Testing Bead. A few breaths passed, and the Spirit Testing Bead showed no reaction. Clearly, the lack of any response or color fluctuation from the Spirit Testing Bead indicated that this child did not have a Spiritual Root or a fate with immortality. Seeing this, the first youth to test turned pale, standing dazed and at a loss. Seeing this, the clan member pointed at the first youth to undergo the testing, indicating that he should move to the side and wait. As for the youth who had completed the testing, his face was filled with disappointment, and he could only unwillingly leave the testing area to wait quietly on an empty patch of ground. Considering his pale face and visibly distraught demeanor, the profound impact on him was obvious. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking about it, it was not strange that this young man reacted this way. After all, today had shown that he had no fate with immortality, and he could only live out the rest of his life as a mortal. Before the ceremony had started, he had not known the specific situation of his Spiritual Root. Thus, he had always harbored some hope. But now, with the completion of the testing, it was also the announcement of his result, which, for a descendant of cultivators, was akin to a death sentence. At this moment, seeing this scene, many youths turned considerably paler, and even those previously composed young men and women were now filled with anxiety, inwardly fearing this Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Including Lin Changqing, the situation for him was not any better either. However, worry was futile; under the personal supervision of Lin Shihua, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony proceeded as usual. Soon, one by one, the young men and women completed their testing, some of whom successfully triggered a response from the Spirit Testing Bead, proving that they had a Spiritual Root and a fate with the Immortal Path. In such a situation, there were those who were joyful and those who were worried. Those young men and women who triggered a response from the testing bead were all excited, as if they had survived a life-and-death ordeal. In contrast, the failed boys and girls had pale faces and hung their heads in defeat. Some even couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears, their heart-wrenching cries adding immense pressure on those who had yet to be tested. Yet, the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony was not affected in the slightest. Soon, it was Lin Changqing¡¯s turn to undergo the test. At that time, Lin Changqing stepped forward unhurriedly, looking somewhat pale but generally composed. Clan Leader Lin Shihua, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and watched every move Lin Changqing made, afraid of missing any details. The ceremony was ordinarily quite routine, as it took place every year and had become a habit. More importantly, Lin Shihua, the leader of a Golden Core Family, usually had too many affairs to manage to pay attention to such trivial ceremonies. But this time, the ceremony was unlike any other year. Because of Lin Changqing¡¯s presence, Lin Shihua took time out of his busy schedule to personally attend and witness Lin Changqing¡¯s test results. In his heart, Lin Changqing was the offspring of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi, a lineage far from ordinary. Besides that, both of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi possessed Dual Spiritual Roots and it was only after reaching the Golden Core Stage that they had their first offspring. Given their conditions, the likelihood of their offspring possessing Spiritual Roots and exhibiting even greater talents was much higher compared to ordinary family members. Therefore, the odds of Lin Changqing having Spiritual Roots were also significantly higher than those of ordinary family offspring. It was even possible that his Spiritual Root Talent was not inferior either. Of course, although the talents of Lin Tianming and his wife were excellent, the timing of having offspring was also critical. Nevertheless, there was no absolute assurance that their lineage would definitely possess Spiritual Roots. Therefore, it was hard to predict the outcome of Lin Changqing¡¯s test. That¡¯s why Lin Shihua paid such close attention to this ceremony. At that moment, as Lin Changqing nervously placed his palm on the Spirit Testing Bead. In just a few breaths, a faint golden light flashed across the bead. Seeing this, Lin Shihua¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he let out a long sigh of relief. At the same time, he secretly hoped that no other colors would flicker on the bead. This was because each different color of light that passed over the bead represented another Spirit Root Attribute. Thus, the appearance of a golden light indicated that Lin Changqing possessed a Metal Attribute Spiritual Root. If no other color appeared, it would mean he had the talent of a Single Spiritual Root. If indeed that were the case, the Lin Family would gain another member with a Single Spiritual Root Talent, foreseeing a broader future relying on such talented individuals. At least for the next several hundred or thousand years, the Lin Family would be unprecedentedly strong. Deeply aware of this, Lin Shihua¡¯s breathing quickened, his eyes fixated on the Spirit Testing Bead, his palms sweating. However, the bead shattered his expectations by continuing to release different colors of light. In an instant, gray and blue lights also flickered, eventually weaving together with the gold into a tri-color mix that kept flashing. Fortunately, after these three colors appeared, there was no further activity from the bead. By this moment, the testing was complete. Such a result indicated that Lin Changqing¡¯s Spirit Root Attributes were undoubtedly Metal, Wood, and Earth. And this caliber of talent was quite standard, given Lin Changqing¡¯s status and innate conditions. ¡­ Chapter 1045 1045 551 Another Golden Core (Seeking ?Chapter 1045: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 1045: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass) At this time, Lin Changqing saw the response from the Spirit Testing Bead and couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief deep within. Although the bead showed two more colors afterward, proving that his Spiritual Root Talent was merely that of Three Spiritual Roots and clearly not equal to his forebears, no matter what, he at least possessed Spiritual Roots and was destined for the Immortal Path. He wouldn¡¯t be like those utterly disheartened young men and women who, from then on, shattered all the illusions in their hearts. Such a result also met the expectations he held in his heart. In this situation, Lin Changqing also revealed a trace of a smile before walking to another empty area to wait for the conclusion of the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. It was also at this time, atop the Peak of Green Bamboo Mountain. Lin Tianming and his wife, Ren Yuxuan, stood shoulder to shoulder, their sharp gazes penetrating through buildings, witnessing the entire process of the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Seeing Lin Changqing¡¯s Spirit Root testing process and the final result, both of them also heaved long sighs of relief. ... In their hearts, although they had already mentally prepared themselves, it was obviously not possible to claim they didn¡¯t care at all about the outcome of the testing ceremony. Exactly because of this, they had come out of seclusion for a short while and arrived here to discreetly observe the course of the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony. Now that the results had surfaced, Lin Tianming and his wife were quite satisfied with the outcome, and the weight in their hearts loosened. Immediately after, the couple exchanged a smile and vanished from the peak of the mountain. As for Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s secret observation, everyone present at the Spirit Root Testing Ceremony, including Lin Shihua, was completely unaware. As for Lin Shihua, given Lin Changqing¡¯s Spirit Root testing results, he didn¡¯t continue to stay there either. Thus, Lin Shihua instructed a few Lin Family Members who were overseeing the testing, then left the plaza alone. In the following half-year, Lin Tianming and his wife paused their cultivation and primarily spent time with Lin Changqing. During this period, Lin Tianming personally taught Lin Changqing, helping him to smoothly step onto the Immortal Path and become a First Level Qi Refining Cultivator. Unfortunately, Lin Changqing wasn¡¯t suitable for practicing the Tiangang Body Art, and even up to now, there wasn¡¯t a fitting candidate within the entire Lin Family. The primary reason for this was that the Tiangang Body Art placed extremely high demands on the cultivator¡¯s talent and required countless resources, as well as not being without drawbacks in practice. Conversely, although the technique was challenging to cultivate, the formidable combat strength it conferred was indeed satisfying. Lin Tianming had a profound understanding of this. After all, throughout the years, he had numerous examples of defeating enemies of a higher level, and most of these achievements could be attributed to the Heavenly Grade Technique. However, he himself had Dual Spiritual Roots of Fire and Wood, with the Fire Attribute having the greatest affinity. Leveraging the formidable Attack Power of the Fire Attribute matched well with the Tiangang Body Art. As for Lin Changqing¡¯s Talent with Three Spiritual Roots, his greatest affinity was with the Earth Attribute. If he were to forcefully practice this technique, it would be challenging to unleash the high-level combat strength inherent in the technique. More importantly, the huge demand for resources and various drawbacks of cultivating the Tiangang Body Art meant that individuals with less impressive talents might be hindered by these drawbacks and consequently delay their cultivation progress. A cultivator¡¯s potential generally lies in the early to middle stages; the younger the age, the higher the potential, which progressively diminishes over time, and one might even be stuck at a certain realm indefinitely. Without fortune, breaking through on one¡¯s own cultivation is incredibly difficult. Judging by Lin Changqing¡¯s basic talent, if he were to forcefully cultivate this technique, his speed of cultivation in the Medium Stage would inevitably not be quick. In such circumstances, the result of forcefully practicing this technique might not even be as good as that of an ordinary Earth-grade Technique. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, nowadays, the Lin Family has ample Earth-grade Techniques for all the Five Elements Attributes, and even multiple choices for each. If there were a suitable technique, Lin Changqing¡¯s pace of cultivation wouldn¡¯t necessarily be poor, and his future achievements might even be higher. Understanding this, Lin Tianming no longer insisted on the Tiangang Body Art. In his eyes, what suited oneself was most important. Whether it was Lin Changqing or other family members, one must choose a proper Cultivation Technique based on one¡¯s talents and not be hasty and reckless so as to avoid unnecessary detours. As for the Tiangang Body Art, this Heaven Rank Treasure was only suitable for those with Dual Spiritual Roots and whose Spirit Root Attributes mainly possessed the affinity for Metal and Fire ¨C only then could one cultivate this top-tier technique. Without such fundamental conditions, it would be best not to forcibly cultivate this technique. Thus, under their arrangements, Lin Changqing officially stepped onto the Immortal Path and easily entered the First Level of Qi Refining to become a qualified Qi Refining Cultivator. As for Lin Changqing¡¯s subsequent cultivation, like ordinary Lin Family Members, it mainly involved receiving guidance from the Skill Transmission Hall and was occasionally advised by the likes of Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan. Moreover, with his standing, Lin Tianming and his wife could also offer advice. Even when Lin Changqing paid his respects to Lin Shikang and Lin Shilu, these two venerable ancestors would personally guide him and casually provide some resources to assist in his speedy cultivation. One could foresee that with such foundation conditions, Lin Changqing, before reaching the Golden Core Stage, would have a meteoric rise completely untroubled by any scarcity of resources or treasures. And for all this, Lin Tianming and his wife had made early preparations. Although they were somewhat helpless, this was the affection of elders for the younger generation. Therefore, they could only repeatedly admonish Lin Changqing, urging him to focus on the foundation of the Immortal Path, warning him not to be hasty and impetuous, so that he wouldn¡¯t weaken his foundation and, in the end, face too many bottlenecks or even bring his cultivation to a standstill. Chapter 1046 1046 551 Another Golden Core (Seeking ?Chapter 1046: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Chapter 1046: Chapter 551: Another Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Pass)_2 Under the deliberate interference of Lin Tianming and another person, Lin Changqing methodically cultivated. Two years later, one day, Lin Tianming, who was in seclusion, suddenly received a message. According to Lin Shihua¡¯s message, Lin Tianyun had successfully reached the Golden Core Stage, becoming the fifth Golden Core Stage Cultivator in the Lin Family in the strictest sense. With Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough, another Golden Core Stage Clansman emerged among the Tian generation of the Lin Family. On the other hand, due to generally mediocre abilities and extremely limited numbers, most of the Xing Clan Members missed the optimal time for cultivation. To date, the highest cultivation level among the Xing generation is still held by Lin Xingrong, Lin Xingping, and several others. Moreover, they are currently at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level and Great Perfection; whether they can smoothly transition to the Golden Core Stage is still uncertain. ... Even so, excluding Ye Pinghai, the related in-law, and Hu Yuan, the guest elder, the Lin Family had subsequently produced five Golden Core Stage family members. From the time Lin Shikang broke through to the Golden Core Stage, it had been over forty years. This period was crucial for the Lin Family. During this time, the growth rate of the Lin Family was unprecedentedly high, unimaginably so¡ªLin Shikang, Lin Tianming, Lin Shilu, Qin Xi, and Lin Tianyun successively advanced into the Golden Core Stage. Especially Lin Tianyun, whose cultivation speed was exceptionally fast; barely in his forties, he had already entered the Golden Core Stage. His cultivation speed was no less impressive than Lin Tianming¡¯s during the same period. However, upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t so strange because after all, Lin Tianyun was the only clan member of the Lin Family with a Single Hetero-attribute Spiritual Root of the Wind type. Additionally, he cultivated an Earth-grade Technique and had the Family¡¯s sustained resource support, which explained his cultivation speed. Regarding family members of each generation, their cultivation levels had also significantly improved, with each age group and generation having some backbone figures. To this day, there were five Golden Core Stage members in the Lin Family, plus two intimately related in-law guest elders, making seven individuals with the combat power of the Golden Core Stage. This overall strength had nearly doubled compared to over twenty years ago. Currently, compared to the other two major Golden Core Sects of the Wei Kingdom, the Lin Family was in no way inferior. When Lin Tianming received this news, he was excited for a long while. In his eyes, as the Lin Family grew stronger, so did his peace of mind, and he felt more confident in his endeavors. With Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough, among the four generations of the Lin Family thus far, two generations now had more than one Golden Core Stage Cultivator. This distribution structure further proved that the Lin Family¡¯s potential had been continuously increasing and improving. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming also waited until Lin Tianyun ended his seclusion to briefly emerge from seclusion with Qin Xi. In Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, five Lin Family Golden Core Stage members gathered, and Lin Shigong and Lin Shihua also set aside their duties to be there. Inclusive of Ye Pinghai, it was also rare for him to leave seclusion, specifically to attend this gathering. At that moment, Lin Tianming and the others sat together. A gathering of six Golden Core Stage Cultivators¡ªsuch a grand assembly was unimaginable to all Lin Family Members before. However, it had now truly realized. Even Lin Tianming, who always firmly believed that this day would come for the Lin Family, didn¡¯t expect it to arrive so soon. Now that the day had come, everyone was smiling and clearly in a very good mood. For a while, the atmosphere at the event was extremely warm and harmonious. It was then that Lin Tianyun took up the Spiritual Tea and respectfully offered a cup to each of the elders. Starting with Lin Shikang, several Shi generation family members took out gifts, all to celebrate Lin Tianyun¡¯s recent breakthrough. Among them, Lin Shikang and Ye Pinghai gave some Third Order Pills, and Lin Shilu provided an Offensive Magical Treasure. As for Lin Shihua and Lin Shigong, both being of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, their wealth was extremely limited. Yet, they were overjoyed for Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage; even though the treasures they brought out were not of much use to Lin Tianyun, they were the best they could offer. When it came to Lin Tianming¡¯s turn, Lin Tianyun gave a respectful bow, his demeanor extremely sincere. Following that, Lin Tianyun addressed Lin Tianming and his wife, saying, ¡°Junior brother pays respects to elder brother and sister-in-law!¡± Seeing this, Lin Tianming also returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute, his demeanor incredibly polite. Then, with a chuckle, he said, ¡°Tianyun, our Tian generation adds another Golden Core¡ªI congratulate you here!¡± After these words, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and a Defensive Treasure appeared in his hand, which he then handed to Lin Tianyun. ¡°Tianyun, I don¡¯t have much to offer, but this defensive treasure, although somewhat damaged, is still quite a valuable protection item.¡± ¡°Take it for now, and when Fifteenth Grandfather is free, you can ask him to help you reforge it anew.¡± ¡°With his skills in artifact refining, he can surely restore it to its peak, or perhaps even surpass its former glory.¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile, not forgetting to compliment Lin Shilu in passing. Lin Tianyun, upon hearing this and seeing the defensive treasure, coveted it greatly, but felt embarrassed to accept it directly due to its high value. Especially since Lin Shilu had also presented an offensive magical treasure as a congratulatory gift just moments before. But Lin Shilu was an elder, and moreover, a defensive treasure was far more valuable than an offensive one. Thus, when Lin Tianming presented the treasure, Lin Tianyun was quite shocked. At that moment, Lin Shilu, noticing Lin Tianyun¡¯s hesitation, chuckled and said, ¡°Tianyun, just accept it!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal with Tianming, that fellow¡¯s wealth is not small, and even the likes of us old men envy him!¡± ¡°Indeed, this youngster has a multitude of treasures, one of us old folks could hardly compare.¡± Lin Shikang also joked. Lin Shilu¡¯s playful words made everyone burst into laughter. At this point, Lin Tianyun, hearing Lin Shilu encourage him so, stopped being pretentious and casually accepted the defensive treasure. Soon after, Lin Tianyun bowed to Lin Tianming and sincerely said, ¡°Cousin, thanks for your generous gift. Should you ever need me for anything, I will not hesitate.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded satisfactorily. He saw great potential and talent in Lin Tianyun, even surpassing his own. Therefore, he hadn¡¯t supported Lin Tianyun too much over the year. Although their interactions were not frequent, it was not indicative of his lack of care for Lin Tianyun. On the contrary, he had great expectations for him. After all, Lin Tianyun had the Wind Spirit Root talent and had always been under the protection of the Lin Family, with few even aware of his existence. Yet, the more it was so, the more comfortable Lin Tianyun had been, never lacking in cultivation resources, and everything had been smooth sailing. Under such conditions, the trials and crises Lin Tianyun faced were few, and couldn¡¯t really compare to his own. As the saying goes, uncarved jade never becomes a tool. The same was true for Lin Tianyun! Merely having astonishing talent was not enough; if he did not strive hard on his own, his future achievements would be limited. Even with a Single Spirit Root, this point was inevitable. Thus, Lin Tianming did not want Lin Tianyun to have it too easy and had not supported his growth. Now, Lin Tianyun had smoothly entered the Golden Core Stage at just over forty years old. His cultivation speed and current strength also proved his talent, not letting his clan members down. Now, both being in the Golden Core Stage Realm and of the same cultivation stage, it was possible to support Lin Tianyun a bit, helping him quickly secure his footing at this level. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Should there be any sudden incidents in the future, this would prevent him from being caught off guard. Thus, Lin Tianming was no longer stingy. In a generous gesture, he gifted a defense treasure, compensating for Lin Tianyun¡¯s lack in the defensive aspect. Meanwhile, Qin Xi also did not delay, casually taking out some Yuxu Pills as a gift for Lin Tianyun¡¯s breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. Subsequently, Lin Tianyun respectfully accepted them, showing sincere gratitude. Afterward, everyone chatted leisurely for a long while, discussing some clan affairs and also bringing up some major events in the cultivation world. At the same time, they also discussed many cultivation-related issues, giving advice to Lin Tianyun. Such a lively gathering continued for half a day. Finally, after finalizing matters and with Lin Tianyun having benefited greatly, everyone dispersed. Lin Tianming and his wife did not stay long either, returning together to their own cave mansion¡­ Chapter 1047 1047 552 Soul-eating Spider ?Chapter 1047: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Pass) Chapter 1047: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Pass) Two years later, one day. Lin Tianming once again hastily emerged from seclusion and appeared in a canyon behind the Lin Family lands. By that time, several members of the Lin Family of the Shi generation, including Lin Shihua, had already been waiting there in advance. Upon seeing Lin Tianming appear, the expressions on the faces of Lin Shihua and the others were filled with excitement, their emotions seemingly uncontrollable. At that moment, Lin Tianming, equally thrilled, asked, ¡°Third Grandfather, is the Soul-eating Spider about to break through?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Shikang, laughing, explained, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not just the Soul-eating Spider that is about to break through. From what I can see, your two Spirit Beasts seem to be getting close as well!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was greatly surprised. ... In fact, several years prior, the Lin Family had already been gradually pushing for the advancement of a few Spirit Beasts, among which the Soul-eating Spider had remained at the Second Order Late Phase for over two hundred years. And Lin Tianming¡¯s two Spirit Beasts, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, had also reached the Second Order Late Phase grade quite early on and had stayed at this level for many years. Over these years, Lin Tianming had also expended considerable resources to help them grow as quickly as possible. It was only a few years ago that the family went all out, committing the entire clan¡¯s resources to the effort. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After several years of unrelenting support, they had managed to push the grade of the Soul-eating Spider up significantly. Given that the Soul-eating Spider had been at the peak of the Second Order Late Phase for many years, it was only one step away from reaching the Third Order. Now several years had passed, and the Soul-eating Spider was finally about to take a major step forward. Such news exhilarated all the clan members. Moreover, from what Lin Shikang implied, it seemed that the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao were close to achieving a breakthrough as well. Upon thinking about this, an excited smile spread across Lin Tianming¡¯s face, and his heart surged with emotion. After all, these two Demonic Beasts, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao, were the Spirit Beasts he had subdued in his earlier years. They had followed him for several decades and had achieved some merits during that time. In the past few years, he had even provided some treasures to the Clan Leader, asking him to collect items from the family to assist them in advancing further. However, for this clan plan, he had originally thought it would take at least a decade or even longer to see some results. Yet, to his surprise, just five years had elapsed, and the Soul-eating Spider was already near its next phase of advancement, and his own two Spirit Beasts were also close to that step. Consequently, Lin Tianming was in excellent spirits, his face always bearing a contented smile. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming then spoke, ¡°Third Grandfather, it looks like the Soul-eating Spider is about to attract the Heavenly Tribulation!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Shikang nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I notified you, to witness the breakthrough experience of this meritous member of our family. In the future, we will also have some experience with the breakthroughs of Spirit Beasts.¡± Upon hearing Lin Shikang¡¯s words, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement, finding the arrangement quite acceptable in his heart. After all, the Soul-eating Spider was on the verge of a breakthrough, and if successful, it would become the Lin Family¡¯s first-ever Third Order Spiritual Beast. As for the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s breakthrough process, it was also something the Lin Family had not yet experienced. With regard to this gap in experience, the imminent breakthrough of the Soul-eating Spider could provide some valuable knowledge on advancing Spirit Beasts. Should they encounter a similar situation in the future, they wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard. Therefore, this breakthrough process for the Soul-eating Spider was of great importance to the Lin Family¡¯s senior clan members. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was also eagerly looking forward to the process arriving sooner. With such anticipation, the group waited for a short while. Soon, a massive amount of Spiritual Energy began to converge in the sky above the canyon, eventually flowing gently into its interior. In less than half an hour, a series of unique hissing sounds emanated from the valley. Shortly after, the sky above the canyon started to fill up with menacing clouds, while fierce winds began to howl, accompanied by some lightning that cleaved through the heavens. After a while of such commotion, the sky was covered with a vast expanse of dark clouds. As far as the eye could see, this entire layer of clouds was low, almost setting the stage for an imminent violent storm. Simultaneously, thunder rumbled and lightning whipped within the dark clouds, sporadically emitting thick bolts that briefly illuminated the gloomy sky. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Thunder and lightning continued unabated, brewing ever stronger, with the range of the dark clouds enveloping even more of the sky. Witnessing this, the ordeal seemed fundamentally similar to the Threefold Lightning Tribulation faced by Human Cultivators. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming and the others were well aware that the Soul-eating Spider had taken a significant step forward, thereby attracting the most critical Heavenly Tribulation. Like the Human Race, for the Demon Beast Race, the Third Order is a major threshold. As long as one survives the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, they can formally step into the Third Order Level. Moreover, just like Human Cultivators, Demonic Beasts also rely on their own strength to weather the Heavenly Tribulation, with others unable to intervene; it all rests on the individual undergoing the tribulation or the beasts themselves. Once successful, not only would the Demonic Beast¡¯s strength receive a significant boost, but its Spirit Wisdom would also grow considerably. Much like when Human Cultivators reach the Golden Core Stage, they are considered part of the elite with substantial changes in their strength. Demonic Beasts follow the same principle! ¡°Roar¡­¡± At that moment, the sky thundered and flashed with lighting, and the storm intensified, with massive bolts of lightning striking down relentlessly. With the storm clouds brewing, it seemed they had reached a certain intensity. It was just then that the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation thunderously descended. Chapter 1048 1048 552 Soul-eating Spider ?Chapter 1048: Chapter 552 Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_2 Chapter 1048: Chapter 552 Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_2 That instant, a massive thunderball surged from the dark clouds, plummeting directly down toward the valley below. At that moment, a distinct scream echoed from within the valley. Following that, the Soul-eating Spider suddenly rushed out, neither dodging nor hiding, instead charging towards the thunderball. The speed of the Soul-eating Spider was fast, and the speed of the thunderball was equally quick. Both seemed to regard each other as targets; it was a must to clash head-on to resolve the fight. And indeed, it was so. After all, the Heavenly Tribulation could not be escaped, whether by cultivators or Demonic Beasts; all had to confront it head-on. ... The only difference was, Human Cultivators could use external objects, such as defensive weapons, to lessen the damage of the Heavenly Tribulation and thereby survive the crisis. But Demonic Beasts like the Soul-eating Spider, with limited Spirit Wisdom and without other means, could only rely on their own defensive power to withstand the assault of the Heavenly Tribulation. However, once reaching the level of Fourth Order Demonic Beasts, they could shrink their bodies at will, speak human language, and also utilize some treasures to lessen the damage of the Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, the Soul-eating Spider did not dodge, but directly faced the thunderball. And this action of the Soul-eating Spider was actually not without preparation. That instant, a special glow suddenly flashed across the pitch-black shell on its back. Following that, the shell seemed to change color, presumably possessing even stronger defensive power. According to the legends in the Cultivation World, Demonic Beasts would generally accumulate some energy inside their bodies many years before they faced a tribulation. This was done to release it during the Heavenly Tribulation, providing them with outstanding defensive power. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, as the thunderball descended, it struck right on the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s shell. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud bang resounded, accompanied by a dazzling light slashing across the sky, causing the entire heavens and earth to tremble slightly. As the thunderball disappeared, the Soul-eating Spider was seen falling from mid-air, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. At that time, it screamed in pain but quickly climbed back up. Looking at it, a piece of its shell on its back showed some cracks, and fresh blood seeped out from them. Despite some injuries at this time, the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s eyes showed no fear, instead filled with intense fighting spirit. Because it was well aware, the Heavenly Tribulation was unavoidable, a calamity on the advancement path of all Demonic Beasts that could not be evaded. Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation would grant it a rebirth. Otherwise, today would be the day it perished. And at the Second Order Late Phase, it had remained for over two hundred years, which was long enough. If it could not break through this time, even if it continued to barely survive, death would inevitably come one day. Therefore, living out the rest of its days in safety held little meaning for the Soul-eating Spider. Fortunately, the Lin Family acknowledged its contributions, tirelessly searching for many treasures over the years to forcibly help it reach this current state. Now that the time and conditions were right, failing to breakthrough might disappoint the Lin Family Members. After all, the Lin Family had indeed made significant investments in recent years. Carrying such expectations, the Soul-eating Spider was thus decisive. And since the arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation, it had been filled with fighting spirit. And now, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation had passed, entering a brief period of respite. As for the entire dark cloud, it was still brewing, seemingly wanting to use even more formidable lightning power to obliterate the Soul-eating Spider. Indeed, just after a dozen breaths, the thundercloud was ready. That¡¯s when multiple thunderballs descended, furiously rushing towards the Soul-eating Spider with an intent to obliterate it on the spot. Facing this scene, the Soul-eating Spider didn¡¯t delay, reacting again in the same manner. In an instant, its shell on the back lit up with a unique glow, bravely facing the thunderballs¡¯ baptism. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Multiple explosions echoed through heaven and earth, the powerful shockwaves uprooting several towering trees. As for the Soul-eating Spider, it was once again blown away by the thunderballs, finally landing in the ravine. Fortunately, the Soul-eating Spider had made sufficient preparations, seemingly due to the deep energy accumulated over the long years. Facing the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, it had resisted. Yet now, its back was riddled with holes, and several of its limbs were broken, greatly affecting its movement speed. Fortunately, it now faced an unavoidable Heavenly Tribulation, where reduced speed had no impact on the process of transcending the tribulation. Otherwise, if fighting against same-level Demonic Beasts or facing the attacks of Human Cultivators, the effect of broken limbs would be fatally injurious. But now, as long as it survived the final layer of Thunder Tribulation, no matter how severe the injuries, as long as it preserved its life, the lost limbs and wounds would all recover. More crucially, it would officially ascend to the Third Grade. The Soul-eating Spider¡¯s Spirit Wisdom might not be high, but it understood this importance clearly and also knew that the severity of injuries wasn¡¯t the most critical. With such determination, the Soul-eating Spider held nothing back. Under the watchful eyes of Lin Tianming and others, it directly confronted the final layer of Thunder Tribulation. That instant, an even larger thunderball followed one after another. For a moment, the overwhelming power of lightning illuminated the entire valley like daylight. Chapter 1049 1049 552 Soul-eating Spider ?Chapter 1049: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_3 Chapter 1049: Chapter 552: Soul-eating Spider Breakthrough (Request for Monthly Ticket)_3 Under the massive strike of Thunder, flames shot up towards the sky, and the land of the valley trembled slightly. In that sea of fire, the Soul-eating Spider let out a series of miserable cries. By the time the thunderclouds had gradually dispersed, and the dark clouds had vanished, the originally gloomy sky had returned to its usual colors. At the same time, the violent storm stopped, and everything below returned to normal. Looking down, one could see the Soul-eating Spider lying in a deep pit. At that moment, the Soul-eating Spider lay motionless, its body covered in fresh blood, its carapace on its back broken and revealing some charred flesh, with hardly a single intact spot on its massive body. Fortunately, although the Soul-eating Spider was severely injured, its breath was still present. ... It was just that because of its severe injuries, the Soul-eating Spider couldn¡¯t even move its body. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his fellow tribespeople saw that the thunderclouds had dispersed and found that the Soul-eating Spider had not died in the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation. For a moment, everyone¡¯s faces were filled with ecstatic joy. ¡°Haha¡­ The Soul-eating Spider made it!¡± Lin Shikang laughed heartily, his face flashing with excitement. Immediately after, Lin Shikang also proposed, ¡°Everyone, the Soul-eating Spider seems to be badly injured, let¡¯s go and check on it.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shikang had already rushed out and soon appeared not far from the Soul-eating Spider. Lin Tianming and the others were also quick, following in Lin Shikang¡¯s footsteps to the side of the Soul-eating Spider. At that time, the group examined the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s injuries, their faces showing some distress. In their eyes, the Heavenly Tribulation faced by the Soul-eating Spider seemed even more terrifying than the power faced by ordinary Human Cultivators undergoing tribulation. At least compared to when Lin Shikang underwent his tribulation, the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s tribulation was even more powerful. Perhaps only Lin Tianming and the other extremely talented younger generations had a Heavenly Tribulation power stronger than the Soul-eating Spider had just experienced when undergoing their own tribulations. And such a scenario also seems to indicate that the challenges faced by the Demon Beast Race undergoing tribulation are stronger than those faced by ordinary Human Cultivators. After all, they possess better innate advantages, their long lifespans, and their natural abilities, which have already made Human Cultivators enviously admired. On the other hand, this may also be why Heavenly Dao, in order to maintain balance, sends down even more terrifying Heavenly Tribulations to hinder the development of the Demon Beast Race. However, even so, the Soul-eating Spider, having risked half of its life, had successfully navigated through a crisis and smoothly advanced to the Third Order. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And this result was also one of the great pieces of good news for the Lin Family. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and others were extremely excited. Following this, Lin Tianming quickly checked the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s injuries and made an accurate judgment. The Soul-eating Spider¡¯s current injuries were too severe, and it could not be moved for the time being. So, Lin Tianming swiftly took out several Solidifying Pills, administered them at three times the cultivator¡¯s medicinal strength, and had the Soul-eating Spider swallow them. After finishing these tasks, Lin Tianming and the others chatted for a bit, arranging some tribal affairs in the meantime, among them Lin Shihua instructed the tribespeople to return to normal. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong was tasked with keeping watch here to prevent uninformed tribespeople from disturbing the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s recovery. Once the Soul-eating Spider regained its mobility, it could then be moved back to its nest to heal. With all arrangements well in place, Lin Tianming and the others finally dispersed happily, leaving only Lin Shigong and the Soul-eating Spider to continue staying here. ¡­ Chapter 1050 1050 553 Mixed Feelings ?Chapter 1050: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings Chapter 1050: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings Just a month had passed. Lin Shihua once again sent good news; both the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and the Bloodthirsty Jiao had successively assaulted the Third Order, soon to attract the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Having mentally prepared, Lin Tianming emerged from seclusion again and appeared atop a mountain in the back hills. Not far from there, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox successfully overcame the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. And this tribulation process, just like the Soul-eating Spider¡¯s originally, was essentially no different. Only in terms of injuries, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was slightly better off than the Soul-eating Spider, seemingly due to its more exceptional innate potential. Thus, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox managed to overcome the Threefold Lightning Tribulation without mishap. ... At this point, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox officially entered the Third Order, becoming the second Spirit Beast of the Lin Family to reach this level. However, this good news only pleased the clan members momentarily. Just half a month later, another Spirit Beast of Lin Tianming, the Bloodthirsty Jiao, also faced the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. This time, the tribulation process was unfortunately tragic, as the Bloodthirsty Jiao died under the relentless bombardment of the final wave of the tribulation. Faced with this outcome, Lin Tianming and other clan members who witnessed it were all somewhat surprised and felt quite helpless. After all, the Bloodthirsty Jiao had followed Lin Tianming for several decades and had been through many major battles. It could be said that the Bloodthirsty Jiao had established commendable merits for the Lin Family and for Lin Tianming. Under such circumstances, the Bloodthirsty Jiao was included in this family plan to advance the growth of their Spirit Beasts. For this, the Lin Family had invested almost several hundred thousand Spirit Stones worth of treasures on the Bloodthirsty Jiao alone. Even in the last two years, they had utilized the Mountain Protection Array to condense rich Spiritual Energy, all for the sake of their several Spirit Beasts to charge at the Third Order. Yet despite such thorough preparation and such a high cost, the Bloodthirsty Jiao still did not survive this tribulation. This result seemed to be due to the inferior bloodline potential of the Bloodthirsty Jiao compared to the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. In comparison to the Soul-eating Spider, the Bloodthirsty Jiao lacked its lengthy period of accumulation and this led to its failure in facing the tribulation. Besides, the tribulation process for Demonic Beasts is equally arduous, and like Human Cultivators, even those with decent talent and bloodline cannot guarantee success against the tribulation. This was also the case for the Bloodthirsty Jiao; the entire process unfolded before the eyes of Lin Tianming and others. It could be said that the Bloodthirsty Jiao was just a whisker away from luck. Faced with such an outcome, Lin Tianming felt it was a great pity. After all, the Bloodthirsty Jiao¡¯s strength was considerable; although its innate potential was not as strong as the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, it was still much stronger than the average Demonic Beast. Had the Bloodthirsty Jiao successfully overcome the tribulation, the Lin Family would have gained another Golden Core Stage combatant, increasing the overall strength of the clan significantly. By then, with the support of five Golden Core Cultivators and three Third-Order Spirit Beasts from the Lin Family, plus Ye Pinghai and Hu Yuan, two special-identity Golden Cores, the Lin Family would have gained ten Golden Core combat forces. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such strength, even the Millennium-legacy Myriad Medicine Valley could unlikely suppress them. And should this news spread, it would probably astound all cultivators in Wei Kingdom. Unfortunately, overcoming the Threefold Lightning Tribulation for Demonic Beasts is no less demanding than for humans, with the entire process being more direct and much more perilous. The Bloodthirsty Jiao had given its all, yet ultimately it could not endure and perished under the tribulation. Faced with this conclusion, although Lin Tianming felt remorse, he ultimately had to accept reality. Fortunately, before this, both the Soul-eating Spider and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox had advanced to the Third Order; out of the three targets, the family successfully achieved two. Thus, attaining a success rate of three to two was already quite commendable. Knowing this, Lin Tianming and the other clan members were also quite satisfied. Now, as the outcomes of these Spirit Beasts¡¯ tribulations settled, the Lin Family regained peace, with little of note demanding Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. As for Lin Tianming, he embarked on dedicated seclusion for cultivation. Three years quietly passed. During this period, Lin Tianming lived a rather relaxed and pleasant life, either enhancing his cultivation with the aid of elixirs or engaging in Alchemy. Since his cultivation had already reached the Mid Stage Golden Core and it had been just a few years since his breakthrough, the progress over these three years was not significant. Therefore, Lin Tianming practiced at a leisurely pace and also devoted some of his energy to Alchemy. Over these years, he refined a large quantity of elixirs for the family, mainly involving some precious elixir varieties, such as those used by Golden Core Clan Members and some precious varieties within Second Order Pills. With Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and skill in Alchemy, the success rate of making elixirs, including the quantity and quality, were better than those of ordinary people. By practicing with these elixirs, his Alchemy skills also improved. Combined with the slight progress in his cultivation, this training period passed quite sufficiently. Until this day, Lin Tianming and his wife both emerged from seclusion. In the courtyard, the couple sat opposite each other, Lin Changqing learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s calling and came to the Cave Mansion to meet his parents. By this time, Lin Changqing had reached sixteen years of age, and after six years of cultivation, his level had also reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement. This rate of cultivation, compared to Lin Tianming¡¯s at the same stage, although slightly inferior, was still impressive. Chapter 1051 1051 553 Mixed Feelings_2 ?Chapter 1051: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings_2 Chapter 1051: Chapter 553 Mixed Feelings_2 But overall, it was actually very good. After all, Lin Changqing only possessed a talent of Three Spiritual Roots, and since Lin Tianming purposefully tempered his foundation, he had basically not provided much help in these past few years, wanting him to rely on his own talent and potential for cultivation. In his eyes, the period of the Qi Refinement Realm was extremely crucial for a cultivator. Because a solid foundation needed to be laid in the early stages, after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, the difficulty of making progress would double. But with a good foundation, one could rely on various Spiritual Objects to burst forth. In contrast, during the Qi Refinement Realm, it wasn¡¯t a big deal to progress slowly. After all, cultivation at the Qi Refinement Stage wasn¡¯t difficult, and as long as one¡¯s talent was decent, there really weren¡¯t many bottlenecks, and one could completely use this period to lay the most solid foundation. ... S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the Foundation Establishment Stage, bursting forth wouldn¡¯t lead to any hidden dangers, but would instead provide abundant sustained strength. In this way, Lin Tianming placed great importance on Lin Changqing¡¯s Immortal Path foundation. And Lin Changqing, inheriting Lin Tianming¡¯s hardworking spirit, had reached the Fifth Level of Qi Refinement in six years, with a very firm foundation, which was in line with Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. More importantly, Lin Changqing not only pleased Lin Tianming on the path of cultivation. In terms of the Four Arts of Cultivation, he was even more gratifying. After just six years of cultivation, Lin Changqing had shown an exceptional talent in the Way of Formation Setting. So far, his cultivation level hadn¡¯t fallen behind at all, but his proficiency in Formation Dao was quite outstanding. Now, he was already a qualified Array Master, and he himself had revealed that he might be able to advance to a First Order Medium Grade Formation Master before long. Knowing these developments, Lin Tianming was quite satisfied and couldn¡¯t help but feel joyful inside. But for fear that Lin Changqing would become complacent, Lin Tianming merely smiled indifferently and then instructed him to continue to work hard. However, in his heart, he was indeed very happy, thinking that this child had been bright and inquisitive since childhood, especially fond of delving into the Four Arts of Cultivation, especially the Path of Formation Setting. He remembered when Lin Changqing was seven or eight years old, he had already begun his palace studies and had access to many texts in this area. Back in his own Cave Mansion, he had also requested Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan to find him some knowledge he hadn¡¯t learned yet, primarily focusing on the Way of Formation Setting. At that time, Lin Changqing was still young but was already obsessed with the Formation Path beyond extrication. Even now, Lin Changqing¡¯s natural talent for cultivation seemed rather ordinary, neither particularly remarkable nor poor. However, in the Path of Formation Setting, he displayed an exceptionally good talent. Such an outcome was also like finding a suitable path. Even perhaps, if he were to achieve something in the future, it would make up for the Lin Family¡¯s weakest link. Every time he thought of this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but get excited. And at this moment, Lin Tianming and his wife looked at Lin Changqing, who was studying the texts next to them, and exchanged smiles. Then, Lin Tianming opened his mouth and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, how has your retreat these past few years paid off?¡± ¡°Is there hope for a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core?¡± Hearing the question, Qin Xi let out a wry smile, her face flashing with helplessness. ¡°Ming, it¡¯s been almost twenty years since Xi¡¯er entered the Early Stage Golden Core.¡± ¡°Recently, I don¡¯t know what happened, but my cultivation has been stuck at the initial peak. Even though I feel like I¡¯m only one step away from the Mid Stage Golden Core, I can¡¯t seem to advance any further no matter what.¡± Qin Xi said solemnly. And upon hearing her words, Lin Tianming knew that Qin Xi must have entered a bottleneck period. After all, it hadn¡¯t been long since Qin Xi¡¯s breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, just barely less than twenty years. If it hadn¡¯t been for their first instance of double cultivation, which saved them both over a decade of arduous cultivation, Lin Tianming directly took the opportunity to step into the Mid Stage Golden Core, and Qin Xi also pushed her cultivation to the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core. Otherwise, if they relied on normal cultivation, they would undoubtedly be further from their current realm. It was also because of the swift enhancement brought by double cultivation that Qin Xi¡¯s realm had become somewhat unstable. Now that Qin Xi had reached the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core and felt herself to be only one step away from the Medium Stage, she just couldn¡¯t break through that barrier. Such a reaction was undoubtedly a bottleneck. In contrast, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t encounter a bottleneck when he was impacting the Mid Stage Golden Core. The reason for this, perhaps, is that he spent over thirty years since entering the Golden Core Stage. Moreover, during those years, due to the drawbacks of his cultivation technique, he made virtually no progress. And during that time, he had experienced several major Golden Core battles, facing incredibly powerful opponents. It was during those years that he laid a solid foundation, accumulating enough depth of experience. Only after the benefits from his first dual cultivation, along with the subsequent resolution of the flaws in his cultivation technique, was he able to enhance his cultivation with the aid of elixirs. With such a foundation, when breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, he basically encountered no major difficulties, and the whole process was almost as smooth as water flowing along its course. Looking at Qin Xi, since the time of the Three Sects Great War and in preparation for the impact of the Golden Core Stage, she spent two years of cultivation practice at the Great Perfection Realm. However, that period of practice was quite easy, with absolute strength suppressing any difficulties. Therefore, she didn¡¯t face any challenging battles. As a result, Qin Xi hadn¡¯t faced a serious life-or-death crisis for many years. Realizing this Lin Tianming understood the root of the problem. Faced with such a bottleneck, Qin Xi needed an experience! If she went through a crisis, perhaps she could overcome this bottleneck and smoothly enter the Mid Stage Golden Core. Otherwise, if she continued secluded cultivation without the aid of treasures, it would be unrealistic to expect to progress on her own strength. Even if she were to cultivate in seclusion for another fifty years, it was uncertain if she would succeed. Knowing this, Lin Tianming also fell into deep thought. In fact, in his heart, he had long been prepared for an excursion of cultivation. Before, due to the birth of Lin Changqing, he and his wife relaxed for a few years to accompany him through his childhood. Later, with the improvement in his cultivation and the benefits of dual cultivation, he pushed himself to the peak of the Golden Core Initial Stage, which was only a step away from the Medium Stage. At that time, he thought that since he had reached that level, he might as well make a push to impact the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Now, having successfully entered the Mid Stage Golden Core, Qin Xi had just encountered a bottleneck. Under such circumstances, they could go on a cultivation journey together. This plan was not only to help Qin Xi resolve her bottleneck, but also because he himself needed a change of environment, to face new crises to maintain a healthy state of cultivation. As for the family, with the emergence of Lin Shilu and Lin Tianyun successfully impacting the Golden Core Stage, along with two Spirit Beasts also reaching the Third Order level, it could be said that the overall strength of the Lin Family had greatly improved compared to the past. Therefore, looking at the current situation, even if both he and his wife were to leave the family, there would still be several Golden Core Stage combatants at the family site. With such strength in place, even if forces like the Zhenyang Sect or Myriad Medicine Valley were to attack, the Lin Family would have the power to resist. At the very least, even if the Lin Family couldn¡¯t secure a clear victory, at least it was unlikely to face the danger of annihilation. With this in mind, there were no concerns about him and his wife going out for a journey. Understanding this, Lin Tianming made up his mind. Thus, Lin Tianming saw the helpless expression on Qin Xi¡¯s face and then asked. ¡°Xi¡¯er, we¡¯ve stayed in the family for many years!¡± ¡°Now that the family is safe and Changqing has gotten on the right track, I think we might as well leave the Wei Kingdom to practice elsewhere and see how other countries thrive, don¡¯t you think?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, a spiritual light flashed in Qin Xi¡¯s eyes, clearly agreeing with the idea. And indeed, that was the case. In the instant after Lin Tianming finished speaking, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er has been thinking just the same!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1052 1052 554 ?Chapter 1052: 554 Chapter 1052: 554 At that moment, upon hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. After all, Qin Xi was a clever and intelligent woman, combining her current actual situation, she indeed needed a high-intensity trial to resolve the bottleneck she faced this time. And when Lin Tianming proposed the idea of undergoing trials, Qin Xi also knew it was for her own good. It could be said, from any angle, she naturally had no reason to refuse. Thus, the couple quickly reached an agreement. However, until now, they hadn¡¯t thought of a destination for their trial. Therefore, Lin Tianming directly asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, do you have a plan for the trial, or a destination in mind?¡± ... Upon hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head and said, ¡°As a mere woman, I¡¯d rather listen to Brother Ming. Wherever Brother Ming goes, Xi¡¯er will follow!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then contemplated the destination for this trial in his heart. After a long time, Lin Tianming, based on their current actual situation, had some ideas in his mind. Summing it up, there were actually two major directions. One was the land of Qingzhou, where the Wei Kingdom was located. As for the second, it was naturally the Jingzhou Land adjacent to the Wei Kingdom. If they went to a state in the center of Qingzhou, since the distance was close, the timing of the trial could be better managed. In this way, if there was any trouble with the family, the couple could rush back quickly. Additionally, since the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World belonged to Qingzhou, there was more interaction between the two, whether it was specific news from the Cultivation World, or trade and cultivator exchanges, which were naturally more frequent than with the neighboring Jingzhou. However, choosing Jingzhou as their trial destination was also a good choice. Because Jingzhou had a long heritage, it was a land where the Immortal Path flourished, and trade was extremely prosperous. In terms of the number of cultivators, as well as the overall strength of the various families and sects, it was clearly stronger than Qingzhou. Simultaneously, Jingzhou was abundant with secret realms and many ancient relics, and the chance of top-tier treasures appearing was even greater. With such rich resources in Jingzhou, coupled with the development and management of these great powers over thousands of years, Golden Core Stage experts were as common as blades of grass ¨C truly a land blessed with exceptional people and spiritual essence. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming was conflicted about which direction was the right one to choose. After a long time, Lin Tianming made up his mind and decided to check out the central states in Qingzhou. The main reason was that Qingzhou was closer, making it more convenient to return to their family. In addition, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had been missing for several decades now. Based on what Lin Tianhong had described at the time, they most likely fell into a Spatial Fissure. In such an environment, a cultivator¡¯s chance of survival was slim. Fortunately, the Life-bound Soul Lamps they left with the family had not yet extinguished, indicating that their lives, at least for the short term, were not in danger. Moreover, since they had not returned up to now, it was very likely that they were swept into a very distant place by the spatial fissure. At that time, they were only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivation, with extremely limited strength. Even if the two joined hands, they could probably only barely protect themselves. Under such conditions, if they had gone to a completely unfamiliar place, it would not be easy to cross the great distance back to their family. However, overall, Qingzhou and the neighboring Jingzhou were the most likely places to find their traces. Because when the two were out in the world, even if they concealed their identities as Loose Cultivators, they would leave behind the unique markings of their family. Such markings were made in the hope that if they encountered people of their own clan in the future, they could recognize each other. As the years passed, given the talent and strength Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had at the time, they should have reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivation. Even, if possible, advancing into the Golden Core Stage Realm was not beyond the realm of possibility. Since that was the case, the two Tianfeng brothers would have certainly gained some fame, and with the ability to protect themselves, they would naturally find a way to return to the family. Therefore, the central zones of Qingzhou and Jingzhou were very likely the transit points for their return to the family. If that were true, they would surely leave some clues along the way. Although the Cultivation World is vast and finding a person is as difficult as finding a needle in the ocean. But so far, Wei Kingdom had now regained peace, Lin Tianming had gained some strength, and the family now had the ability to protect itself. With such foundational conditions, he no longer had any concerns about the future, and it was time to actively go out and search for their traces. Under these circumstances, he planned to go to the Qingzhou Center, trial along the way, and simultaneously search for the whereabouts of Lin Tianfeng and the others. If he couldn¡¯t find them in Qingzhou, he would go search the land of Jingzhou during the next trial. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He always held onto one belief: as long as Lin Tianfeng and the others were alive, they would sooner or later return to the family. By that time, the brothers could be reunited once again. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming then shared his thoughts with Qin Xi. Soon, Qin Xi learned of Lin Tianming¡¯s plans, not only did she have no objections, but she also particularly supported Lin Tianming¡¯s plan for the trial. She was very clear in her heart about the relationship between Lin Tianming and his peers like Lin Tianfeng, which had always been good. Now that Lin Tianfeng and the others were missing without a trace for so many years, Lin Tianming was naturally very anxious. Chapter 1053 1053 554 Secret Plan_2 ?Chapter 1053: Chapter 554 Secret Plan_2 Chapter 1053: Chapter 554 Secret Plan_2 While currently, since the cultivation world of the Wei Kingdom had regained its peace, and the Lin Family also possessed the power to protect itself, given Lin Tianming¡¯s character, who heavily valued loyalty and righteousness, he was bound to try to find them. Under such circumstances, Qin Xi certainly wouldn¡¯t oppose Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. After all, it didn¡¯t matter where she trained, the outcome would be largely the same. She might as well take this opportunity to search for Lin Tianfeng with Lin Tianming, contributing her modest efforts. With this thought in mind, Qin Xi agreed to Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, which made him recall something. Immediately after, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you seem troubled. Could it be that you¡¯re thinking about your grandfather¡¯s enemy, the Chen Clan of the Hengyang Mountain Range?¡± ... Upon hearing these words, Qin Xi¡¯s expression did indeed become more serious, and a surge of vengeful spirit erupted within her. At that moment, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Ming, the matter of avenging my grandfather has always been etched in my heart¡ªI dare not forget it for a single moment!¡± ¡°Now that Xi¡¯er has achieved the Golden Core Great Achievement, it¡¯s time to avenge Grandpa and wash away our grievances!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded solemnly and then reached out to soothe Qin Xi. The matter of Qin Xi¡¯s revenge was something he had never forgotten either. However, at the time when the Lin Family had yet to have any Golden Core Stage clansmen, they were faced with the onslaught of a beast tide. At that time, the entire clan was in a life-or-death crisis, with no opportunity to make a move and without the absolute strength to obliterate the Chen Clan in a short time. As for what followed, once there were Golden Core Stage clansmen, and after the war among the three sects, there still wasn¡¯t the chance to act. Until later, when peace gradually returned to the Wei Kingdom¡¯s cultivation world, and the Lin Family had other significant plans in motion, it was still not appropriate to make a move against a Foundation Establishing Family that had a thousand-year heritage. Now, the Lin Family¡¯s territory was firmly in their grasp, and even if the Foundation Establishing Families banded together, they couldn¡¯t stir up any trouble at all. Under such circumstances, making a move against the Chen Clan now would be a swift and decisive strike that hardly required any effort. As for the reason to act, the Lin Family could fabricate one with ease. In the cultivation world where power is everything, as long as the Lin Family struck down with overwhelming force and eradicated the Chen Clan in one fell swoop, they would hold the ultimate power of interpretation. In light of that, the Lin Family, being distinctly different from its past self, could now obliterate a Foundation Establishing Family without the other families or loose cultivators in the cultivation world daring to say much. Understanding this, Lin Tianming quickly formulated a plan. Thus, Lin Tianming said to Qin Xi, ¡°Xi¡¯er, I have long promised you that I would uproot the Chen Clan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that over these past few years, the clan has been continuously troubled, and my own cultivation has also been greatly delayed.¡± ¡°Now, with our family stable and with our absolute strength, it¡¯s indeed time to settle the score with the Chen Clan!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi nodded vigorously, her heart swelling with excitement. In her heart, the grievance for her grandfather had always weighed heavily, often leaving her feeling suffocated. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For this day, she had always cultivated diligently, just so she could personally eradicate the Chen Clan and exact revenge for her deceased grandfather. Now, she was finally about to see this day arrive. At this point, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°However, obliterating the Chen Clan will necessitate careful planning to ensure there are no fish that slip through the net.¡± ¡°I will speak with the Clan Leader about this matter later and have him dispatch some clansmen to take up positions at key locations in the Qianchuan Mountain Range in advance, in case any from the Chen Clan try to escape.¡± ¡°At the same time, we can also gain a clear understanding of the movements of the Chen Clan members, so when we do make our move, we can capture them all in one go.¡± ¡°With the power our family wields now, eradicating the Chen Clan is nothing but a mere effort.¡± ¡°Once we ascertain the whereabouts of key members of the Chen Clan, I believe that in at most a year or two, we can take direct action!¡± At Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi nodded. ¡°Ming, as for this matter, I¡¯ll go along with your arrangement, Xi¡¯er has no objections. After all these years of waiting, another one or two years don¡¯t make much difference.¡± Qin Xi said earnestly, her expression, once filled with killing intent, now became much more relaxed. At this time, seeing that Qin Xi didn¡¯t oppose such an arrangement, Lin Tianming confirmed the decision. Then, the couple chatted idly for a few sentences, during which Lin Tianming sent out several messages. Having done this, Lin Tianming left his own cave mansion and went to Lin Shikang¡¯s. There, the clan members of the Shi generation who received the messages all hurried over for a gathering. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming cut to the chase and spoke of Qin Xi¡¯s vendetta, recounting all that had transpired exactly as it happened. Swiftly upon learning of these past grievences, Lin Shikang¡¯s face turned cold, and murderous intent surged to the heavens. As for the others, their faces darkened too, clearly angered. In their eyes, they had always treated Qin Xi like the precious pearl in their palm, taking even greater care of Lin Tianming. They had been clueless about these grievances as Lin Tianming hadn¡¯t mentioned them before. Now hearing him out, they realized what Qin Xi had endured, and it made them feel incredibly distraught. At that moment, Lin Shikang spoke angrily, ¡°The Chen Clan must be uprooted, every clan member annihilated, we will not tolerate a single one!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Shilu added his voice. ¡°Third brother is right; the Chen Clan has provoked Xi¡¯er and incurred a deep blood feud. They deserve their fate. We needn¡¯t show any mercy.¡± ¡°In my opinion, we should strike them with the force of thunderous bolts, erasing the Chen Clan from the cultivation world. After all, our Lin Family now possesses the power to do so.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Shihua by their side took up the conversation. ¡°Third brother, annihilating the Chen Clan is indeed as easy as lifting a hand for us. We needn¡¯t exert much effort.¡± ¡°However, considering the aftermath, we should still proceed carefully.¡± ¡°In my view, we should send clan members to the Qianchuan Mountain Range to first ascertain the whereabouts of their core family members. This will help us eliminate them swiftly and silently in the shortest possible time.¡± ¡°After all, the Chen Clan is still unaware that Qin Xi is one of our Lin Family Members. If we send out members to gather intelligence now, we¡¯ll hardly startle the snake.¡± As the Clan Leader, Lin Shihua¡¯s considerations were indeed comprehensive and coincided with Lin Tianming¡¯s thinking. Thus, Lin Tianming also expressed his agreement. ¡°Twelfth Grandpa speaks wisely!¡± ¡°Although we have the absolute strength to annihilate them on their home ground and other forces in the Cultivation World wouldn¡¯t dare say much, if we can resolve this in the most secure way, minimizing negative impact on the Lin Family, we don¡¯t mind another year or two.¡± At this moment, Lin Shikang and the others nodded at Lin Tianming¡¯s words. Soon after, Lin Shikang took the lead in expressing his agreement with Lin Shihua¡¯s plan. Seeing this, Lin Shilu and the others also agreed that Lin Shihua¡¯s plan was indeed more prudent and refrained from objections. With that, the plan to move against the Chen Clan was formally decided. The group then discussed specific details and set a date two years later for the Lin Family to take comprehensive action and begin the extermination of the Chen Clan. With the matter settled, Lin Shihua immediately began making arrangements. Soon, Lin Xingzhi received a message from Lin Shihua, instructing him to lead twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over a hundred Late Stage Qi Refining Clan Members to the Chen Clan¡¯s current location in the Qianchuan Mountain Range, to secretly station there for several years. Additionally, Lin Shihua tasked him with secretly investigating the whereabouts of the Chen Clan¡¯s core family members and to keep a constant watch on their every move. Once certain conditions were met, Lin Tianming and his wife would personally take action, breaking the Chen Clan¡¯s Mountain Protection Array, and annihilating everyone within the Chen Clan¡¯s grounds. With these plans set in motion under Lin Shihua¡¯s personal supervision, they were carried out in an orderly and methodical manner. ¡­ Chapter 1054 1054 555 Husband and Wife Seek Revenge ?Chapter 1054: Chapter 555: Husband and Wife Seek Revenge Chapter 1054: Chapter 555: Husband and Wife Seek Revenge Qianchuan Mountain Range, somewhere in the western mountains and rivers. Hongsong Ridge, with an area spanning a hundred li in radius, was abundant in First Order Spiritual Material, the Hongsong trees, making it an exceptionally good haven of Spiritual Energy. And this Hongsong Ridge was initially the territory of a Foundation Establishment Family. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Until several decades ago, following the conclusion of Qingyun Sect¡¯s mission from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Golden Elixir Forces, with some cost, the Lin Family acquired control over several territories within the Qianchuan Mountain Range from the Zhenyang Sect. Thus, the original Foundation Establishing Family occupying Hongsong Ridge weighed the pros and cons and eventually decided to relocate their entire clan, accepting Zhenyang Sect¡¯s protection once more. As the original inhabitants vacated the place, Hongsong Ridge was temporarily left unoccupied. However, the Lin Family reorganized the territory afterward, incorporating the entire Hengyang and Luoyang Mountain Ranges into the Luoyun Mountain Range. ... As a result, the other large and small families originally residing in the area were forcibly relocated to within the Qianchuan Mountain Range. The Chen Clan was among those families that moved, relocating from their former location in the Hengyang Mountain Range to settle down in Hongsong Ridge. On this day, around noon, at the outer periphery of Hongsong Ridge. Two shadows descended from the sky, and two Lin Family Members appeared atop a mountain peak. At this moment, as the two men gazed at the distant peaks, one of them spoke up. ¡°Uncle, by rights, the cultivation world of the Wei Kingdom has been calm and uneventful for a long time, without any significant incidents.¡± ¡°In this peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, why did the Clan Leader send us here so deliberately, and deploy more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators at once? For what purpose?¡± ¡°Moreover, given our family¡¯s current strength and influence, do we really need to go to such great lengths?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xingyou¡¯s expression immediately turned serious, and he couldn¡¯t help but reprimand. ¡°Tian Hao, remember this: the family has its arrangements, and you¡¯ll know what you need to know sooner or later.¡± ¡°Follow the Clan Leader¡¯s instructions; we¡¯ll go directly to the Chen Clan for a visit and casually inquire about their specifics without revealing any flaws.¡± ¡°As for the underlying reasons, you¡¯re better off not asking for now.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I have learned my lesson, Junior!¡± Lin Tianhao replied respectfully, his expression quite serious, clearly aware that he had been somewhat presumptuous. Seeing his reaction, Lin Xingyou then nodded in satisfaction. After exchanging a glance, the two made their way inward towards Hongsong Ridge. At the same time, in Qianchuan Market. Lin Xingzhi led a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, following the Clan Leader¡¯s orders to this place. Qianchuan Market, by now, was completely under the control of the Lin Family, with several Foundation Establishment Cultivators almost always present to oversee the area. Sometimes, the Lin Family would even send a large number of clan members to Qianchuan Market for training, and the arrival of several dozen Lin Family Members didn¡¯t attract much attention. But the family members stationed there were very puzzled by Lin Xingzhi¡¯s sudden visit. Driven by curiosity, clan members began to ask the reason. Yet Lin Xingzhi kept tight-lipped, even berating those who inquired, which discouraged anyone from daring to continue their questioning. Immediately after, Lin Xingzhi swiftly deployed his men, dispersing them to surround a vast area around the Chen Clan¡¯s location in Hongsong Ridge. By that time, more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators led their respective teams in every direction, with two Foundation Establishment Members and ten Late Stage of Qi Refining cultivators stationed in each. They lay hidden, awaiting specific instructions from Lin Xingzhi. Soon enough, within a hundred li radius centered on Hongsong Ridge, the Lin Family Members had nearly formed two concentric circles of enclosure. Moreover, during this period, the Lin Family Members remaining in Qianchuan Market also kept a secretive watch over every move of the Chen Clan Members. Even the Spirit Lands under the Chen Clan¡¯s control were surveilled by Lin Family Members. It was almost unimaginable that through such grand maneuvers by the Lin Family, the entire Chen Clan from top to bottom remained completely oblivious. However, upon closer consideration, it wasn¡¯t too surprising. After all, the Chen Clan was just an ordinary Foundation Establishing Family composed of a few hundred cultivators, and among them, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were but a handful. Not only that, the majority of those Foundation Establishment Cultivators were at the Initial-Middle Stage of cultivation, and it was unlikely they would venture out without a significant reason. Even if they did leave their territory, the Lin Family¡¯s watchers were led by Medium Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, relying on treasures prepared by their family; the Chen Clan Members simply couldn¡¯t detect any anomalies. Under these circumstances, the several hundred members of the Chen Clan went about their normal routines. Little did they know, a crisis that could lead to their clan¡¯s extinction was upon them. Half a year passed. Through Lin Xingzhi¡¯s maneuvering, the whereabouts of the Chen Clan Members who ventured out were all controlled by the Lin Family. Until this day, Lin Tianming and his wife arrived at Hongsong Ridge unnoticed. At that time, Lin Xingzhi had also arrived in advance. Upon seeing Lin Tianming, Lin Xingzhi took the initiative to greet him, and then reported on various situations he controlled. Soon, after Lin Xingzhi¡¯s briefing, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. In his eyes, Lin Xingzhi¡¯s arrangements this time were truly impeccable. Now that he and his wife had come to this place, it was time to take action directly. Deciding their next move, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi next to him and saw her eyes were bloodshot, with her killing intent growing incredibly intense. Qin Xi¡¯s expression seemed to show she was anxious to proceed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming said indifferently, ¡°Uncle Xing Zhi, stay here to command our clan members. If any Chen Clan Member appears, regardless of their cultivation level or status, kill them without hesitation!¡± Chapter 1055 1055 555 The Couple Seeks Revenge_2 ?Chapter 1055: Chapter 555: The Couple Seeks Revenge_2 Chapter 1055: Chapter 555: The Couple Seeks Revenge_2 ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi nodded and said, ¡°Tian Ming, rest assured, I have already made numerous deployments, and I have also tracked down the whereabouts of the Chen Clan members who are outside.¡± ¡°Including Qianchuan Market and many Spirit Lands under the control of the Chen Clan, the clan members staying there will also take action at the same time, not sparing a single person!¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. Then, addressing Qin Xi, he said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s get started!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er has been waiting for this day for decades, today I must eradicate the Chen Clan, to avenge Grandfather¡¯s death and wash away the hatred!¡± ... After saying this, Qin Xi took the lead, leaping forth and flying towards the inner part of Hongsong Ridge. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly followed, his speed even faster than Qin Xi¡¯s by a fraction. In just a moment, the two of them had already arrived at an open space outside the Chen Clan¡¯s Mountain Protection Array. At this time, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate saw people flying towards them with such bravado and immediately became alert. Because in the Cultivation World, especially when visiting other clan forces, whether they were forces of equal level or weaker, one would usually start walking from ten miles outside a clan¡¯s territory. Only if one¡¯s strength far surpassed theirs, having the power to suppress them by one or several levels, would they come so boldly and without any regard. Currently, with Lin Tianming and another¡¯s sudden appearance, where Qin Xi¡¯s expression was stern and the intense aura of killing intent was palpable even through the barrier of the Formation, the stationed members of the Chen Clan were horrified. Under such circumstances, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate were shocked and frightened, and without daring to delay, they quickly sent a message to the Clan Leader to report their observations. However, before they could breathe a sigh of relief, they saw Lin Tianming wave his sleeve, and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared just outside the Formation. As the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox appeared, it stood guard nearby, its powerful aura of a Third Order Demon Beast blatantly unveiled. At that moment, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate were shocked and terrified the instant they saw the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s a Third Order Demon Beast!¡± ¡°Heavens¡­ That¡¯s actually a Third Order Demon Beast!¡± ¡°With a Third Order Demon Beast as a Spirit Beast, those two must undoubtedly be Golden Core Stage Cultivators.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the members of the Chen Clan guarding the gate stuttered while pointing at the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox outside the formation, not knowing whether it was due to excitement or overwhelming fear. For a moment, they failed to recognize Lin Tianming, a Golden Core Stage Expert well-known throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World. And right now, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t be bothered with them. After all, with the combined strength of him and his wife, plus the assistance of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, making up three Golden Core Stage combatants, breaking through the Chen Clan¡¯s Defensive Formation wasn¡¯t much of a difficult task. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t want to waste any time. With a wave of his robe, the Tiangang Sword disappeared into his hand. Next, he pinched a Law Decree, started chanting words, and then promptly unleashed the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. In that instant, the Tiangang Sword turned into a flaming dragon that roared as it charged towards an invisible light screen in front. The Fire Dragon moved swiftly, striking the invisible light screen in the blink of an eye. ¡°Bang¡­¡± In that instant, a loud bang was heard. Then, a deafening roar followed, accompanied by a dazzling light that split the sky, like a shower of stars. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze, one could see the light screen in front begin to shake violently. At this time, Qin Xi also made his move. With a single gesture, a wave of Sword Qi turned into a massive Ice Phoenix, crashing into the violently shaking light screen. The light screen shook even more intensely. Soon, in less than two breaths of time, the Formation¡¯s light screen shattered with a loud crash, revealing the entire layout of the Chen Clan¡¯s territory to their eyes. After Lin Tianming and his wife each delivered a strike, the Chen Clan¡¯s Second Order Medium Quality Defense Array, which was quite powerful, actually shattered with a loud boom, not even withstanding their second round of attacks. At this moment, the Chen Clan members guarding the gate saw this scene and were completely dumbstruck on the spot. It must be known that the defensive power of this Chen Clan array was extraordinary; even among all arrays of the same grade, it was one of the few with the best defense. In the past, this array had also protected the Chen Clan from numerous crises, contributing significant service. Yet even so, such a powerful array crumbled in an instant. For the Qi Refining Cultivators, this situation was simply too shocking. At that moment, their pairs of eyes were all fixed on Lin Tianming and his wife, their legs losing all feeling, having even forgotten to flee. However, they were not entirely frozen by fright. The reason for this was Lin Tianming¡¯s immense pressure from being at the Mid Stage Golden Core, which suppressed these Qi Refining Cultivators, who were only at the sixth or seventh level, completely. With this, even if they wanted to run, they couldn¡¯t possibly move their legs. But even if they could move, it wouldn¡¯t change the outcome. Lin Tianming¡¯s current cultivation level was simply too formidable for these Qi Refining Cultivators, the difference was like heaven and earth. Under absolute strength, all they could do was keep a clear mind and take a final look at the world with their own eyes. Otherwise, they would die without any awareness. As expected, one of the Qi Refining Cultivators, dazed and confused, was instantly beheaded without even seeing how Lin Tianming acted. As for the other two Qi Refining Cultivators, they watched helplessly as a streak of spiritual light flew toward them. Immediately after, they felt a chill on their necks and then lost all consciousness. This scene happened too quickly; the three Chen Clan members guarding the place had all died. It was at this time that several Foundation Establishment Cultivators from inside the Chen Clan hurried over in panic. From a distance, they just saw the three clan members who had been guarding the gate fall at the sound, their blood quickly spreading across the ground. Such a scene completely stunned them. However, these individuals were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including two at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage; the leading figure, the Great Elder of Chen Family, Chen Yongsheng, was at the Foundation Establishment Great Completion. These individuals, after all, were at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level, their strength far surpassing those of the Qi Refining Cultivators. Therefore, despite trembling with fear under Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable pressure, their consciousness remained sharp and their limbs retained their vigor. But the more so, the more terrified they felt inside. Especially Chen Yongsheng, who was deeply perplexed at this moment. Looking at the familiar face before him, he recognized the Golden Core Stage Expert Lin Tianming, who had been famous in the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World for the past several decades. For such a genius cultivator with extraordinary talent and strikingly brilliant rise, like a comet ascending the heavens. It could be said that among the cultivators of Wei Kingdom, from the well-known Golden Core Stage Experts to the Qi Refining Cultivators just beginning their enlightenment stage, there was hardly anyone who did not know the legend of Lin Tianming. Moreover, the Lin Family was now the Sect Overlord of the Chen Clan. Of course, Chen Changsheng paid extra attention to the clan that controlled their fate. For that reason, the Chen Family had records of all Lin Family members who had publicly appeared and were above the Foundation Establishment level, for fear that they might inadvertently offend the Lin Family and bring about the demise of their own clan. Thus, at this moment, Chen Changsheng thought hard and deep, pondering whether there had been any misunderstandings between the Chen Clan and the Lin Family over the past few centuries that could have brought forth a top expert like Lin Tianming. Besides, Lin Tianming had attacked the Chen Clan without any reservations, breaking their Defensive Great Formation with just a couple of rounds of attacks. Such a sudden turn of events was genuinely incomprehensible to Chen Changsheng. However, even as Chen Changsheng racked his brains, he could not figure out the reason why. ¡­ Chapter 1056 1056 556 Revenge Achieved ?Chapter 1056: Chapter 556: Revenge Achieved Chapter 1056: Chapter 556: Revenge Achieved Not only that, but the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World had been calm and peaceful recently. The Lin Family had, half a year ago, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators who took the initiative to visit. At that time, for such distinguished guests of the Lin Family disciples, Chen Changsheng did not dare to neglect. Due to the importance he placed on the Lin Family, he hurriedly left his seclusion to personally receive them. And at that time, when Chen Changsheng asked about Lin Xingyou¡¯s intentions, Lin Xingyou claimed they were just paying a routine visit. Moreover, he clearly stated the purpose of this visit, saying that the Lin Family valued the strength of the Chen Clan and intended to particularly support them. Because of this, Chen Changsheng and a group of high-level Chen Clan members privately were excited for quite some time. ... They even thought at one point that, by clinging to the Lin Family, this great ship, with the support of the Lin Family, the overall strength of the Chen Clan might be able to soar rapidly. And he himself could also take advantage of the Lin Family¡¯s support to make an attempt at reaching the Golden Core Stage, which he had long yearned for. However, now a super-strong cultivator like Lin Tianming had inexplicably appeared, attacking the Chen Clan territory without any distinction between friend and foe, easily breaking through the Defensive Great Formation. This sudden turn of events truly left them utterly confused. But it was at this moment that Chen Tongxing, among the group of five, seemed to recognize Qin Xi¡¯s face, and suddenly became even more terrified. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that instant, Chen Tongxing pointed shakily at Qin Xi and stammered, ¡°It¡¯s her, it¡¯s actually her!¡± ¡°It¡¯s that female cultivator who wiped out Tongde and several of our Qi stage clan members!¡± It was then that, hearing Chen Tongxing¡¯s terrified words, Chen Changsheng finally came to his senses. Following this, he recalled an incident from many years ago that the clan members had mentioned, and a sense of dread instantly welled up within him. At this moment, Chen Changsheng¡¯s heart was in turmoil, his face turned ashen. After all, this woman in front of them was also a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Given this woman¡¯s past grievances with the Chen Clan, the thought of having provoked such a gifted and extraordinary woman sent chills up his spine. It was not only him; at this point, the other Chen Clan Foundation Establishment Cultivators, upon hearing Chen Tongxing¡¯s words and recalling the incident from years ago, were also petrified with fear, their faces drained of all color, clearly frightened out of their wits. And in their hearts, they truly couldn¡¯t understand how the female cultivator who had been pursued by the Lin Family Disciple all those years ago, could now be connected to the Lin Family and the top-tier cultivator Lin Tianming. Even more baffling was that just a few decades had passed, and the female cultivator who was in the Late Stage of Qi Refining back then had already advanced to the Golden Core Stage Realm. Although the woman they were pursuing at that time was indeed the person before their eyes, possessing extraordinary strength and undoubtedly gifted. But reaching the Golden Core Stage Realm was not so easily achieved. Otherwise, the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World would not have had only a dozen or so Golden Core Stage Cultivators by now. Aware of this, Chen Changsheng was completely shaken and wore an incredulous expression. Such a scene, paired with his excessively frightened expression, made his face look incredibly complex. At this time, Chen Changsheng still couldn¡¯t quite believe it, always holding onto a sliver of hope. ¡°What if Lin Tianming is just a helper that the female cultivator asked for assistance?¡± ¡°Besides, even if that female cultivator has a deep relationship with Lin Tianming, they only killed a minor Qi Refining Cultivator back then; perhaps he wasn¡¯t someone very important.¡± If that was the case, the Chen Clan, as a subsidiary of the Lin Family, might as well pay a price to have Lin Tianming protect the Chen Clan once, thereby avoiding this catastrophe of clan annihilation. As long as the price was high enough to satisfy Lin Tianming, it was not without a chance. Thinking this, Chen Changsheng forced himself to calm down. Immediately after, Chen Changsheng bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Elder Lin, is there perhaps some misunderstanding between our two clans?¡± ¡°If there really is a misunderstanding, my family is willing to pay any price to ask for Elder Lin¡¯s help to mediate.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianming let out a cold laugh, not wishing to waste words with Chen Changsheng. In his eyes, Qin Xi had borne a grudge as deep as the sea for many years, cultivating extremely hard and experiencing numerous life-and-death crises, with rapid progress in her cultivation. And the reason she made so much effort was to wait for this very day. Besides, when they became Dao companions, Lin Tianming had already promised Qin Xi that he would one day uproot the entire Chen Clan to avenge her grandfather. Under such circumstances, let alone the entire Chen Clan, even a Golden Elixir Force would not have any possibility of bargaining over this matter. The deep enmity of Qin Xi¡¯s grandfather, there was nothing at present that could change his decision. This, he was absolutely clear in his heart, so he did not want to waste more words with Chen Changsheng. Then, Lin Tianming snorted coldly, and the Tiangang Sword in his hand suddenly flashed with light. In an instant, everyone present vividly felt a strong surge of Sword Qi appear, which quickly vanished without a trace. Chen Changsheng had yet to react when his entire body fell to the ground, and he soon felt his consciousness fading away. Only when Chen Tongxing and several other Chen Clan members saw Chen Changsheng collapsing into a pool of blood did they snap out of their shock. Immediately after, Chen Tongxing rushed over to Chen Changsheng¡¯s side. He supported Chen Changsheng¡¯s body and called out anxiously, ¡°Seventh Uncle¡­ Seventh Uncle¡­¡± At this time, several other Chen Clan Foundation Establishment Cultivators approached Chen Changsheng¡¯s side to examine his injuries. Chapter 1057 1057 556 ?Chapter 1057: 556 Chapter 1057: 556 Soon, they realized Chen Changsheng had no breath left in him, he was obviously dead beyond doubt. At this moment, everyone looked at Lin Tianming with a face full of panic, their expressions filled with immense anger. Chen Tongxing, unlike other clan members, was the first to accept this outcome and was internally considering how the Chen Clan could survive this crisis. As for the others, they were all overwhelmed with grief and hadn¡¯t the time to think about the Chen Clan¡¯s next steps. The more this was the case, the more terrified Chen Tongxing felt. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason was simple, Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were decisive, clearly indicating he had no intention of sparing the Chen Clan. Just moments ago, Chen Changsheng, who had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, hadn¡¯t even had time to react before he was instantly killed by Lin Tianming, a Mid Stage Golden Core. ... Such a vast disparity in strength could be likened to the difference between the light of fireflies and that of the sun and moon. Moreover, there was Qin Xi, a Golden Core Stage Expert, and a Third Order Demon Beast present, giving the enemy three Golden Core Stage combatants. And Lin Tianming had come to the Chen residence so brazenly, surely having made thorough preparations. Looking over at their side, the Chen Clan, they lacked protective formations and had only four Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The gap between the sides was unimaginable. Under such circumstances, the Chen Clan nearly had no chance of preservation. Thinking this, Chen Tongxing¡¯s face turned deathly pale, his heart filled with despair. At that moment, Chen Tongxing let out a long sigh internally and forcibly calmed himself. Then, he looked around and saw that many Chen Clan members, having heard the noises, had come to the mountain gate. Looking around, all Chen Clan members were watching, every face filled with fright, clearly shocked by Lin Tianming¡¯s recent series of attacks. However, within the current situation, Chen Tongxing could hardly afford to care for those Qi Refining clanspeople. He knew in his heart that the Chen Clan could not be saved. His current task was figuring out how to preserve a part of their lineage, to prevent complete annihilation. Fully aware of this, Chen Tongxing turned to Chen Tongde and said, ¡°Old Six, escape quickly, we¡¯ll buy you time!¡± After speaking, Chen Tongxing looked at the other two Foundation Establishment clanspeople as if seeking their opinions. The other two exchanged nods, clearly agreeing with Chen Tongxing¡¯s decision at the moment. After all, they were well aware that the current Chen Clan was doomed. Chen Tongde, with the best talent among them and the cultivation of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment, second only to Chen Tongxing, had a chance. If Chen Tongde could escape, gather those clanspeople scattered abroad, and settle down outside the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, there might be a chance to rise again. If luck was on their side, someone from the Chen Clan might advance to the Golden Core Stage Realm, and they could then return to seek revenge against the Lin Family. Thus, at this moment, someone needed to sacrifice to buy time for Chen Tongde¡¯s escape. They underestimated the strength of Lin Tianming and his companions and their determination to destroy the Chen Clan; they were also unaware of all the preparations the Lin Family had made for this revenge attack. Had they known that the entire Chen residence was now surrounded by more than twenty Lin Family Foundation Establishment clan members and nearly a hundred Qi Refining clanspeople, they probably would have given up struggling. After all, under absolute prowess, any strategy was pointless and could not alter the ultimate outcome. However, that was a later realization, as the Chen Clan was completely unaware at the time. Still, the Chen Clan members were making a desperate last stand. So, Chen Tongxing leaped forward, leading the charge towards Lin Tianming. Following him, the other two Chen Clan members also wouldn¡¯t be outdone and immediately launched attacks towards Lin Tianming. Meanwhile, Chen Tongde didn¡¯t hesitate to get up and flee towards the interior of the Chen residence without looking back. While still in midair, Chen Tongde didn¡¯t forget to shout, ¡°All clanspeople, run for your lives!¡± Hearing this, those clanspeople still in shock finally reacted. Thus, these Chen Clan members, horrified, began to scatter and flee. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming smirked coldly, utterly unperturbed. Behind him, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and two Purple Gold Eagles had already flown out, their large bodies moving with incredible speed and agility. At that moment, just as Xiao Diao flapped its wings, a fierce gust of wind roared, blowing some Qi Refining cultivators off their feet. Before these people could get up, a Purple Gold Eagle suddenly appeared above them, its massive beak striking down. Soon after, several Qi Refining cultivators were swallowed whole by Xiao Diao before they could even scream. Having swallowed a few Qi Refining cultivators, Xiao Diao remained unsatisfied and continued to chase after the scattered cultivators. With the grade of the Purple Gold Eagle at the Second Order Late Phase Peak, it was just a step away from Third Order. As for the other two spirit beasts, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was indeed a Third Order entity, and the other Purple Gold Eagle, Qin Xi¡¯s mount, was also at the Second Order Late Phase. In contrast, among those fleeing, aside from Chen Tongde who was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, the rest were all Qi Refining cultivators. Under the vast disparity in strength, the three spirit beasts conducted a one-sided slaughter. On Lin Tianming¡¯s end, when faced with the attacks of the three Chen Clan members, Lin Tianming casually smiled. Then, with a simple grasp, the attacks coming towards him dispersed, and the attack talismans were instantly held immobilized in his hand. Chapter 1058 1058 556 Revenge Accomplished_3 ?Chapter 1058: Chapter 556: Revenge Accomplished_3 Chapter 1058: Chapter 556: Revenge Accomplished_3 As for Qin Xi, she had no intention of holding back. At that moment, a flash of blue light from her longsword was seen, and a streak of Cold Ice Sword Qi shot out. In less than a blink of an eye, a scream was heard, and one of the men was decapitated. Seeing this, Chen Tongxing was filled with indescribable rage. But with such a vast gap in power, he was helpless to do anything. Qin Xi, however, possessed not a shred of pity in her heart; she had waited for this day for several decades. Weren¡¯t all those years of effort for this very moment? ... Following that, Qin Xi swung out another sword, effortlessly slaying another person. The remaining Chen Tongxing, witnessing this scene, gave up struggling entirely. He stood rooted to the spot, eyes glaring furiously at Qin Xi, motionless¡ªclearly understanding that any struggle would be in vain. In his heart, though, he harbored some regrets for allowing his clan members, tempted by petty gains, to engage in unscrupulous deeds. Now that the Chen Clan was devastated for this reason, it could be considered just retribution. Regrettably, it was too late for regrets, everything was over. While such a one-sided massacre went on, Lin Tianming watched, and it came to a thorough end. With Chen Tongxing¡¯s death, Xiao Diao flew back, clutching the previously escaped Lin Tongde without a doubt. Seeing this, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. With the main culprits of the Chen Clan dead, those Foundation Establishment Stage Clan Members in the clan territory had all been executed. As for the other Foundation Establishment members of the Chen Clan outside the territory, they were also under the secret surveillance of the Lin Family Members. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For those external members of the Chen Clan, whether Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Qi Refining Cultivators, Lin Xingzhi was responsible for arranging linemen to secretly kill them, without the need for the married couple to strike. Knowing this, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi and saw that her previously angry expression had eased a great deal. Evidently, with the death of these culprits, Qin Xi¡¯s much-anticipated vengeance was accomplished. Next, those scattered Qi Refining Cultivators, with a few Spirit Beasts pursuing them and nearly a hundred clan members surrounding and blocking them, stood no chance of escaping. With that, Qin Xi was overcome with relief, and tears inevitably streamed down her face. ¡°Grandfather¡­ the main perpetrators of the Chen Clan have been executed, and the other clan members will soon be eradicated.¡± ¡°Your granddaughter has avenged you; now you can rest in peace!¡± Qin Xi murmured tearfully, tears swirling in her eyes. Seeing her in this state, Lin Tianming came over and took Qin Xi into his arms, stroking her hair with his large hands as he offered comforting words. Soon, Qin Xi regained her calm, her entire being shining with a different radiance. It was clear that having her revenge had a significant impact on Qin Xi. Now that the burden on her heart was lifted, she seemed to revert to the cheerful and vivacious girl she once was. Tianming was very pleased and comforted by this transformation. Within half a quarter of an hour, Lin Xingzhi arrived with several Foundation Establishment Stage Clan Members. After greetings, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Uncle Xingzhi, what happened to those fleeing Chen Clan members?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lin Xingzhi chuckled, ¡°Those of low cultivation were completely caught in the tight encirclement and publicly executed without exception!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded with satisfaction. He then gave a few instructions, ordering Lin Xingzhi and the clan members to pillage the Chen Clan territory, wiping out all Chen Clan cultivators. Afterward, they could stealthily retreat. As for the Cultivation World¡¯s reaction to the extermination of the Chen Clan, the Lin Family needn¡¯t pay it much heed. After all, the Lin Family acted with absolute secrecy, and it would not be easy for ordinary forces to uncover the cause. Even if news of the Lin Family¡¯s involvement spread, with the Lin Family¡¯s influence, it was unlikely anyone would dare to speak out of turn, much less stand up for the Chen Clan. Aware of this, Lin Tianming decided not to stay any longer. So, after a few more instructions, he took Qin Xi and left Hongsong Ridge, returning to the Green Bamboo Mountain Clan Territory. ¡­ Chapter 1059 1059 557 Preparation ?Chapter 1059: Chapter 557 Preparation Chapter 1059: Chapter 557 Preparation A year later. In a cave mansion at the summit of the main peak of the Lin Family Clan Grounds, Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, sipping tea and chatting leisurely. Ever since their expedition to Hongsong Ridge ended, Lin Tianming and his wife had hardly secluded themselves for cultivation practice, spending most of their time preparing for their upcoming journey. Meanwhile, news of the Chen Clan¡¯s annihilation at Hongsong Ridge began to spread throughout the Wei Kingdom. Suddenly, the once calm Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World was abuzz with discussion. Initially, the various powers and Loose Cultivators thought the Chen Clan had offended someone, hence being uprooted. But upon further reflection, the possibility seemed unlikely as the Chen Clan was obliterated under the Lin Family¡¯s protection, practically right under their nose. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... After all, the Qianchuan Mountain Range was not far from the Lin Family Clan Grounds, and the Lin Family¡¯s strength was formidable. In earlier years, they boasted several cultivators with Golden Core Stage Combat Power, which had shocked every cultivator in the Wei Kingdom. As the Lin Family coolly observed the extermination of a clan with hundreds of members and didn¡¯t take any action or publicly acknowledge the incident, it was as if they were unaware of it completely. This kind of reaction was quite unusual. Thus, some cultivators privately speculated that the Chen Clan must have offended the Lin Family, leading to their silent erasure. As a result, the cultivators in the Wei Kingdom had various opinions. Some of the families under the Lin Family¡¯s protection were utterly terrorized, fearing that an inadvertent offense against the Lin Family might bring disaster. Fortunately, the Lin Family carried on as usual, not directing anger at anyone else, nor did they display a menacing stance. With time passing, the fervor around the Chen Clan¡¯s destruction gradually subsided, and the Cultivation World returned to calm. Lin Tianming, after returning to the family, did not pay much attention to this neither big nor small matter. As it stood, the Lin Family no longer needed to concern themselves with the views of other powers or any one person¡¯s opinions. In his eyes, the Chen Clan was but an ordinary Foundation Establishing Family, silently eradicated with the Lin Family leaving no trace behind. Even if someone guessed the truth, there was no evidence. With the Lin Family¡¯s current reputation and their terrifying power, no one would foolishly offend such a mighty clan for the sake of the Chen Clan. Under these circumstances, naturally no one would advocate for the Chen Clan. Even major forces like Myriad Medicine Valley or the Zhenyang Sect would not dare offend the Lin Family lightly. Therefore, after merely inquiring with Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianming put the matter out of his mind. His focus for the year was entirely on preparing for the upcoming journey. Apart from that, spending time with family members was also a key priority for both of them. After all, their destination for this journey was at the heart of Qingzhou. While the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is also a part of Qingzhou¡¯s territory, even the smallest area within the Nine Provinces Continent, Qingzhou, covers an enormous area. Within Qingzhou, there are at least dozens of states like the Wei Kingdom, most of them much larger in size. And as Wei Kingdom is situated at the outskirts, the distance from this peripheral state to the Qingzhou Center is also substantial. The neighboring states around the Wei Kingdom generally do not possess long-distance Teleportation Formations that can directly reach the Qingzhou Center. To reach the central states of Qingzhou, they could only rely on flying over the northern countries, then use Teleportation Formations to arrive at their final destination more swiftly. Thus, the timing of their trip to the central states of Qingzhou for cultivation practice was inevitably hard to control. If all went well, they might return in twenty or thirty years. But if not, it was also possible that it could take decades or even a century to return. Because of this, Lin Tianming and his wife made thorough preparations, sorting through all their resources, leaving behind less useful Treasures with the family. Beyond that, they prepared consumable elixirs, talismans, and various materials, fearing a prolonged absence from the family. After nearly a year of preparing, they were now almost ready; they could leave at any time if they wished. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt an urgency building up. After all, he had not left the Wei Kingdom for nearly thirty years, having not even set foot in the expansive northern regions of Wei. Over the years, most of his time had been spent in seclusion within the family, the farthest he had been being the Qianchuan Mountain Range. Now, they were about to embark on a journey to the distant and flourishing heartland of the Immortal Path in Qingzhou. Such an expedition had stirred the peace in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, making it restless. He was not content with mediocrity, his pursuit of the Immortal Path was pure and unyielding. Remaining in the Wei Kingdom, or merely traveling to a few neighboring states, would limit his experiences, chance encounters, and by no means compare to the opportunities in the Qingzhou Center. Under such an environment, his growth would hardly be catalyzed. After all, the collective strength of the few states surrounding Wei Kingdom, while slightly stronger than Wei¡¯s, was limited. In those lands, Late Stage Golden Core cultivators were already considered top-tier, with not a single Nascent Soul Force in sight. And with his current power, bolstered by his Magical Treasure and Spirit Art, he was on par with any Late Stage Golden Core cultivator. In such circumstances, he felt little pressure, which was not conducive to his growth. Therefore, Lin Tianming was filled with anticipation and curiosity for their upcoming journey to the Qingzhou Center. And he wasn¡¯t the only one; Qin Xi felt the same. Chapter 1060 1060 557 Preparation_2 ?Chapter 1060: Chapter 557 Preparation_2 Chapter 1060: Chapter 557 Preparation_2 Just like Lin Tianming, Qin Xi¡¯s pursuit of the Immortal Path was equally pure. And over the years, her cultivation had progressed smoothly, with her cultivation level rising steadily. After their experience at Hongsong Ridge, it seemed that the great vengeance had profoundly changed her mindset. As a result, a bottleneck she had faced a few years ago had begun to loosen, but breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core still required much more. With this in mind, Qin Xi was also looking forward to this experiential journey. At that moment, the couple exchanged a smile, and their mood couldn¡¯t help but improve. Following closely, Qin Xi then asked, ¡°Ming, when do we plan to set off? And what exactly will be the itinerary?¡± ... Hearing the question, Lin Tianming smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s set off in half a month!¡± ¡°In a few days, it will be the sixteenth anniversary of Changqing¡¯s birth. Let¡¯s spend time with Changqing and mother, and I will also visit Third Grandfather and a few other elders. Afterward, we can embark on our journey.¡± ¡°As for our itinerary, naturally, we¡¯ll fly northward, passing through Helan Country and Golden Crow Country, reaching the Cultivation World of Xitang Country.¡± ¡°Xitang Country is the closest of the countries around Wei Kingdom that possesses a long-distance Teleportation Formation, which can directly take us to one of the central kingdoms of Qingzhou, Yuanzhen Kingdom.¡± ¡°With the long-distance Teleportation Formation, we can save a lot of time and avoid many troubles.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Hmm¡­that sounds excellent!¡± ¡°Ming has planned thoroughly. If all goes well, in less than a year, we should be able to arrive in one of the central kingdoms of Qingzhou, the Yuanzhen Kingdom.¡± ¡°The central kingdoms there are all very strong, and it is said that there are many Nascent Soul Experts.¡± ¡°In my view, a land that can produce so many Nascent Soul Experts must have endless opportunities and treasures, enough for us to explore.¡± Qin Xi giggled, very pleased with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Lin Tianming, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words, also deeply agreed. In his eyes, a country like Yuanzhen, capable of producing numerous Nascent Soul Experts, surely had its unique aspects. Therefore, their upcoming experiential journey was bound to be replete with both dangers and opportunities, promising to be a truly exciting trip. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming and his wife chatted leisurely for a while. Late at night, inside the practice room. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged with a token in his hand, which was the Qiankun Jade that Lin Tianfeng and others had originally acquired through great risks. Staring at the jade in front of him, Lin Tianming fell into deep thought. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This Qiankun Jade had been in his possession for several decades now. During this period, he had pondered the function of the Qiankun Jade and had arrived at a general conclusion. Unless there was a surprise, this Qiankun Jade was undoubtedly a Fourth Order Treasure. And it was a spatial treasure! After decades of exploratory testing, he discovered that the space inside the Qiankun Jade was vast, and the Spiritual Energy inside was very dense, like a small world. Most importantly, the land inside the Qiankun Jade could be used to cultivate Spiritual Medicine, and even Demonic Beasts could survive inside it. Currently, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox and Xiao Diao were inside the Qiankun Jade. The only downside was that the time inside the Qiankun Jade progressed at the same rate as the outside world, and living humans couldn¡¯t enter. Otherwise, the grade of the Qiankun Jade would be even higher. But even so, the functionality of the Qiankun Jade was still significant, and its value was remarkable. After all, it had unique uses that far surpassed ordinary storage bags and Spirit Beast Bags. As such, he had long since cultivated some Spirit Fields inside it, planted a large amount of Spiritual Medicine Materials, and transplanted many nearly matured Spiritual Medicines as well. It was just that it was still too soon; the higher-value Spiritual Medicines still needed a hundred eighty years or so to be utilizable. As for those Spiritual Medicine seeds planted only decades ago, they would take even longer to mature. However, overall, to say that such a spatial treasure as the Qiankun Jade could contain all things was not an exaggeration. At that time, Lin Tianming fiddled with the Qiankun Jade for a while before putting it away. Immediately after, Lin Tianming took out another item ¡ª a small seal, precisely the Qilin Seal he had acquired in his earlier years. This item had also been in Lin Tianming¡¯s possession for many years, originally from the hands of Xu Haiqiao of the Blood Red Alliance. Lin Tianming had pondered over this treasure for a long time and had consulted numerous texts, yet he never learned the exact application of the item. However, he was aware that the Blood Red Alliance had expended considerable effort, not hesitating to dispatch several Golden Core Stage Cultivators and even instigating the Golden Sword Sect to stir up a triple dispute in Wei Kingdom, proving that the object they were plotting for was not to be underestimated. Given the strength and modus operandi of the Blood Red Alliance, the Qilin Seal was at least not a Third Order object. Otherwise, they would not have gone through such great lengths. This time, as they headed to the center of Qingzhou, it was feasible to visit Yuxu Country where the Blood Red Alliance was based. At the same time, he could secretly inquire about the Qilin Seal, perhaps learning of its function. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming secretly noted this matter in his heart, resolving to visit Yuxu Country once he met certain conditions. Returning his focus, Lin Tianming stored the Qilin Seal and then took stock of all the treasures and resources he possessed. After a thorough inventory, he had a fairly accurate grasp of his own wealth and assets. Over the years, during his campaigns in the north and south, he had slain many Golden Core Cultivators, including several at the Mid Stage Golden Core, and the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators he killed was in the hundreds. These individuals had considerable wealth, most of which eventually fell into his hands, though some were given to his family. As per his calculations, he currently possessed over seventy thousand Medium-Grade Spirit Stones and more than two hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If converted, these amounted to over seven million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Besides, there was a varied quantity of offensive and defensive treasures. For offense, the main ones were the Tiangang Sword, Earth Evil Sword, and Black Dragon Axe, while for defense, there were two Turtle Shell Shields of slightly varying quality. As for other spiritual medicine materials and commonly used elixirs, he also had quite comprehensive and ample quantities. Among these, the most valuable were several precious Fourth Order Spiritual Medicines and some high-value Third Order Items. Then, there was the Dry Jade Grass, of which six mature stalks were with him, along with dozens of seedlings of varying ages. Setting aside these treasures that he cared about, there were many various consumable talismans and other miscellaneous items, most of which had very limited use to him. All in all, with these items on hand, he did not lack resources for cultivation in the short term and did not need to expend effort on this. However, as his cultivation level increased, he needed more substantial resources. If he relied only on these items, they would not suffice for him to enter the Late Stage Golden Core or approach the Golden Core Grand Perfection Realm. Let alone making a push towards the Nascent Soul Stage! Thus, the journey to Qingzhou was also no small task for Lin Tianming. At least in his mind, this excursion had to yield some gains, at minimum addressing the resources required for the Golden Core Stage Realm. As for items necessary to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, those were exceedingly precious and incredibly expensive. Such treasures were top-tier resources in the Cultivation World, and even in the flourishing Immortal Realm of central Qingzhou, they were definitely exceedingly rare and precious. Once truly encountered, they would inevitably spark a bloody and brutal struggle. Although his own strength was considered exceptionally strong in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World and even among a few neighboring countries, within the over ten countries at the center of Qingzhou, Golden Core Stage Cultivators were not as abundant as hair on a cow, but they were certainly not a rarity. Even Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators frequently appeared in the center of Qingzhou. It could be said that in such a prosperous place for the Immortal Path, his level of cultivation was nothing remarkable. The more this was the case, the more cautious Lin Tianming became, thus he made thorough preparations. Having completed the inventory of his treasure resources, Lin Tianming took a deep breath and began to cultivate. ¡­ Chapter 1061 1061 558 Leaving the Clan ?Chapter 1061: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan Chapter 1061: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan Several days later, it was to be Lin Changqing¡¯s sixteenth birthday. Inside Lin Xingrong¡¯s cave mansion, Lin Tianming and his whole family rarely gathered together. At this moment, Ren Yuxuan and Qin Xi, along with Lin Tianyue, were busy preparing a lavish dinner to celebrate the family reunion. Meanwhile, Lin Shigong and his descendants from four generations sat in the courtyard, enjoying tea and casual conversation. At that time, Lin Tianming glanced at Lin Changqing beside him and nodded in satisfaction. The years had passed quickly, and, before he knew it, Lin Changqing had turned sixteen. Presently, Lin Changqing had reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement in his Cultivation Realm. ... In terms of cultivation strength, this level was definitely inferior to Lin Tianming at the same age. However, Lin Changqing only had Three Spiritual Roots, which could be considered mediocre¡ªnot particularly outstanding, but not too poor either. For him to have reached this level of cultivation at his age was within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the Lin Family now had a good foundation and welfare, and Lin Changqing, being a descendant of a Golden Core, was surrounded by a host of elders who were pillars and decision-makers of the family; he naturally enjoyed conditions incomparable to ordinary clan members. Lin Tianming was very pleased primarily because Lin Changqing¡¯s foundation in the Immortal Path was incredibly solid. Moreover, in the Way of Formation Setting, Lin Changqing had demonstrated accomplishments superior to his cultivation talent. After questioning him, Lin Changqing personally reported that he was now a First Order Medium Grade Formation Master. His expertise in Formation Dao was exceptional, and he was also very close to breaking through to First Order High Grade Formation Master. It was precisely this talent in Formation Dao that pleased and reassured Lin Tianming. Among the other dear family members, Lin Xingrong had reached the Great Perfection Realm of Foundation Establishment and had become a central pillar of the family! Speaking of cultivation speed, it was his constant travels and rich experiences, coupled with the support from the family and Lin Tianming, that enabled him to achieve such results. However, both Lin Shigong and Ren Yuxuan were at different levels; one had the Seventh Layer Cultivation of Foundation Establishment, and the other, the Sixth. This speed of cultivation wasn¡¯t very fast. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, they had achieved Foundation Establishment at a relatively young age, and after many years of cultivation, they had reached this level. However, as they were older, their focus had shifted to the younger generations of the family, their potential gradually depleting, which made further advancement even more difficult. Lin Tianyue¡¯s talent was still decent, and she had been very diligent in her cultivation over the years; she had also received substantial support from the family and Lin Tianming. Now, she was at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and had reached the level of a Second Order High Grade Talisman Maker in the Way of Talisman Making. It could be said that Lin Tianyue¡¯s talent justified her efforts and the cultivation invested in her by her family and Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked around at his dear family and momentarily forgot all his worries. With his dear ones gathered so fully, the scene filled with joy allowed him to relax completely, and his mood was exceptionally good. The growth of the Lin Family far exceeded his expectations. Speaking of his dear ones present, their cultivation was all above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment, each becoming a pillar of the family. The progress among other clan members was also significant, with several exhibiting exceptional cultivation talent. Currently, several clan members of the Lin Family had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, with more than a hundred at the Foundation Establishment Stage and a core strength of twenty in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Such a family, with a structure composed of ages and cultivation levels, possessed visible potential and considerable vitality. If this continued, the future development prospects for the Lin Family were vast, with much space for improvement. Now that the internal affairs of the Wei Kingdom had calmed down, the strength of the Lin Family had advanced dramatically; even without considering him and his wife, the Lin Family could now stand fearless against any Golden Core Sect. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied inside and felt very reassured about the upcoming journey of trials. After settling down a bit, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Lin Xingrong and Lin Shigong, occasionally giving pointers to Lin Changqing. In the evening, the family gathered around the dinner table, cheerful and hearty in their celebrations. During this time, they set aside all worries and various trivial matters of clan affairs, sharing their plans in recent years while also reminiscing about past experiences. Lin Changqing had long heard about the growth process of Lin Tianming and others. But the clan members only knew it roughly, many areas being not exactly true. Now, hearing Lin Tianming speak himself, the details became much more vivid and real. Knowing now about Lin Tianming¡¯s rich and thrilling experiences, various intriguing Cultivators, cultures, and some funny incidents of the Cultivation World, Lin Changqing couldn¡¯t help but aspire to such adventures. Perhaps noticing this, Lin Tianming encouraged Lin Changqing to cultivate steadily, assuring him that once he succeeded in establishing his Foundation, he could leave the territories controlled by the Lin Family and experience other forces. Hearing these admonitions, Lin Changqing made a silent resolution. Meanwhile, the teachings of Lin Tianming and others, along with those perilous experiences, were also firmly etched in his heart. The ensuing conversation was congenial, with playful teasing drawing hearty laughter from everyone. This harmonious scene continued until late into the night when finally, it came to an end. The next day. Inside Lin Shikang¡¯s cave mansion, clan members of the ¡®Shi¡¯ generation gathered, including Lin Tianyun among them. Before leaving the family, Lin Tianming still met with the elders to discuss the situation in the Cultivation World and the specific future development directions of the family. Chapter 1062 1062 558 Leaving the Clan_2 ?Chapter 1062: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_2 Chapter 1062: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_2 After all, the duration of this journey of experience could be long or short; no one could tell when the precise return schedule would be. And while he was away from the clan, he naturally needed to arrange some affairs. So, Lin Tianming summoned several of the older generations with the surname Shi and met in Lin Shikang¡¯s Cave Mansion. Once all the elders, including Lin Tianyun, had gathered, Lin Tianming also struck up casual conversation with them. The fact that Lin Tianming would soon be leaving on an experience journey was something Lin Shikang and the others had known for some time and fully supported his plans. They were very clear in their minds that Lin Tianming was an restless person, with a pure and resolute pursuit of the path to immortality, so much so that it could even be considered an obsession. Over these years, his cultivation realm had improved at a terrifying speed and he had brought immense resources to the family, all as a result of campaigning and experience-gathering far and wide. ... Moreover, for the past twenty or so years, Lin Tianming had rarely left the clan¡¯s territory, hardly venturing far from home. For Lin Tianming, such a change had been very difficult to achieve. Now, his cultivation had reached Mid Stage Golden Core, and his personal strength was no lesser than that of a regular Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator. In addition, Qin Xi had also smoothly entered the Golden Core Stage. What was more critical was that the couple had given birth to a son, Lin Changqing, and he was already sixteen years of age. It could be said that all of Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s personal plans had been completely realized. Given Lin Tianming¡¯s temperament, it was only a matter of time before he would leave the clan to travel around. Understanding this, Lin Shikang and the other elders were very much in favor and supportive of Lin Tianming¡¯s decision. However, out of concern, they did not forget to offer some earnest advice, reminding him to be careful when abroad and to try to return to the family in case of any difficulties or crises. Lin Tianming nodded at the elders¡¯ instructions, verbally acknowledging that he would be careful and prudent. Hearing Lin Tianming say this, along with his characteristically steady nature, Lin Shikang and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Following this, Lin Tianming changed the topic and brought up Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu. Hearing this, Lin Shikang couldn¡¯t help but show a distressed expression. After a long while, Lin Shikang then said, ¡°Tian Ming, Tianhu and the other one have been missing for over forty years.¡± ¡°In all these years, the family has been making inquiries everywhere to no avail; no one knows where they might be.¡± ¡°This time you¡¯re heading to Qingzhou Center, be sure to ask around extensively, and do whatever it takes to find clues about them.¡± ¡°Even the slightest trace is immensely important.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and said, ¡°Third Grandfather, rest assured, Tian Ming has long planned to do so!¡± ¡°Tian Ming believes that if they haven¡¯t returned after so many decades, they must have been swept to some far-off place by a Spatial Fissure.¡± ¡°At the time, they had only reached the Third Level of Foundation Establishment, so it was already difficult enough for them to survive in an unfamiliar land.¡± ¡°If all goes well, they should at least have reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage by now, or if fortune favored them, they might have even broken through to the Golden Core Stage.¡± ¡°With the guarantee of cultivation strength, they should be heading towards Qingzhou by now, and perhaps they are already there.¡± ¡°This time, as I go to Qingzhou Center, I will definitely search for them in secret, and once they are found, I will most certainly bring them back to the family.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s resolute words, Lin Shikang and the others nodded in satisfaction, their worries alleviated somewhat. Then, Lin Tianming asked about how the family had cooperated with Sky Dragon Pavilion and other larger Commerce Alliances and shops in recent years. According to Lin Shihua, the family¡¯s several markets were now basically home to branches of these big shops, consistently contributing a sizable revenue to the family every year. At the same time, the elixirs, talismans, and various offensive and defensive weapons refined by the family were in long-term cooperation with these shops, so they could be sold directly to them in exchange for Spirit Stone compensation. Not only that, but the family cooperated with them in all aspects, covering practically all common First and Second-Order Treasures. Through such stable and long-term channels, the family¡¯s annual income had increased more than tenfold compared to thirty years ago. With this kind of treasure circulation, the clan members had made very obvious progress in the skills of alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman making, with over a dozen individuals excelling in Second Order Superior skills. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Apart from the increase in business income, the family¡¯s markets and a large number of Spirit Lands also yielded a considerable annual income. After all, the Lin Family directly or indirectly controlled several large markets, with Qianchuan Market being of a medium-sized market scale. Although the other four markets had not reached the scale of medium-sized ones, they were still larger than ordinary tiny markets and had more foot traffic. Aside from Qianchuan Market and Luoyun Market, which were entirely under Lin Family¡¯s control, the other markets were all dominated by the Lin Family, holding more than half of the profit shares. As for the Spirit Lands within the Luoyun Mountain Range, after more than twenty years of development by the family, they had begun to show their scale, with some Spirit Lands existing for a long time and generating a huge amount of income each year. It could be said that the Lin Family was now completely stable, with income and expenditure balancing out, even managing to save some Spirit Stones each year as a strategic reserve. As time went on, the Lin Family¡¯s income was sure to increase further. Even without unexpected wealth like during the war with the three sects, with its current foundation, the Lin Family could continue its steady and orderly development. Chapter 1063 1063 558 Leaving the Clan_3 ?Chapter 1063: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_3 Chapter 1063: Chapter 558: Leaving the Clan_3 In addition to the couple, the Lin Family had five other Golden Core Stage Cultivators at its heart, along with a Third Order Spiritual Beast, the Soul-eating Spider, making a total of six Golden Core combatants. With such power, they were a match for either the Zhenyang Sect or the Myriad Medicine Valley. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was completely reassured. In the next half hour, the crowd discussed clan affairs and made many arrangements, effectively setting the direction for the Lin Family¡¯s development for the next thirty years. According to everyone¡¯s opinion, the Lin Family would continue to focus on recuperation and increasing its members for the next thirty years. At the same time, the Lin Family intended to devote most of its energy to commerce and the cultivation of its people. Especially among the Foundation Establishment Clan Members, the Lin Family still had great potential. ... Under their plan, the Lin Family could potentially increase the number of Foundation Establishment Clan Members by dozens, perhaps even more, over the next few decades. However, there was less of an opportunity for advancement among the Golden Core Stage Clansmen. This was because the Nascent Soul Spiritual Items obtained in earlier years had mostly been used up. With Lin Tianming and Lin Shilu using two Creation Fruits, followed by Qin Xi and Lin Tianyun using two Jiuli Star Fruits for their Impact of Golden Core Stage, only one of the Jiuli Star Fruits initially snatched from the Golden Sword Sect remained. Currently, the Lin Family had quite a few potential clansmen for the Impact of Golden Core Stage, but the shortage of Nascent Soul Spiritual Items was severe, and the Creation Fruit Tree would take many more years to mature. In such a circumstance, using this last Jiuli Star Fruit, the Lin Family could, at most, expect to have one new Golden Core Stage clansman. Moreover, even this last chance at Core Formation wasn¡¯t guaranteed to succeed. This meant that, without new Nascent Soul Spiritual Items in the coming decades, the Lin Family¡¯s upgrade in Golden Core Stage clansmen would certainly be severely limited. Faced with these foundational conditions, Lin Tianming felt rather helpless. After all, the Lin Family¡¯s rise had been too rapid, and it couldn¡¯t compare with long-standing powers like the Zhenyang Sect and the Myriad Medicine Valley. At the very least, in terms of cultivating Golden Core Stage combat power, the Lin Family¡¯s heritage was still far from sufficient. And on his journey to the Qingzhou Center, it was essential for him to secure a significant number of Nascent Soul Spiritual Items to overcome the developmental bottleneck the family was approaching. Knowing this, Lin Tianming recognized the weight of his responsibility. But the greater the challenge, the more resolute and impatient he became. Therefore, once matters were properly delegated, Lin Tianming then looked towards Lin Tianyun, who had spoken little. Immediately following, Lin Tianming solemnly entrusted Lin Tianyun, passing on the heavy responsibility of watching over the family to him. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s exhortation, Lin Tianyun¡¯s expression turned serious, and he gravely promised, ¡°Ming, rest assured, as long as I still draw breath, I will never let our family come to harm.¡± ¡°However, Ming and sister-in-law, your journey to the central region of Qingzhou, where powerful cultivators and numerous Sect Families converge, promises many opportunities but equally great dangers.¡± ¡°Accordingly, you must also be cautious and strive to bring back Brother Wind!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded. ¡°Hmm¡­ Tianyun, you just take it easy!¡± Then, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°On the day I return, I hope to see that you can stand on your own and become the pillar of our family, so that I can be completely at ease.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ sure¡­¡± Lin Tianyun laughed. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was completely reassured. He then publicly set the day of departure for five days later in the early morning. Shortly thereafter, Lin Tianming bade farewell to the crowd and returned to his own Cave Mansion. Days quickly passed. On the morning of the designated day, under the sentimental watch of their dear relatives, Lin Tianming and his wife crossed the Protective Clan Formation. Following that, Lin Tianming released Xiao Diao, and the couple promptly jumped onto its back, swiftly shooting off towards the north. ¡­ S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1064 1064 559 Longqing Market ?Chapter 1064: Chapter 559 Longqing Market Chapter 1064: Chapter 559 Longqing Market Golden Crow Country, Longqing Market. In the middle of the city streets, Lin Tianming and his wife walked side by side. Ever since they left the Lin Family land, the couple had flown northward, briefly stopping over at several small and medium-sized markets along the way. Afterward, they rested for a few days to recover, and then they continued on their journey. In just over two months, they had crossed the northern part of Wei Kingdom through Helan Country and arrived within the borders of Golden Crow Country. The Longqing Market where they were now located was situated in the central region of Golden Crow Country and fell under the sphere of influence of the Longqing Sect. Having a long heritage, Longqing Market under the Longqing Sect was widely known within the Golden Crow Cultivation World, said to be one of the three largest markets in the country. ... With years of development, the current scale of Longqing Market was even larger than that of Dragon Spring Market controlled by Myriad Medicine Valley, and its vitality was extremely robust. Perhaps because Golden Crow Country was relatively peaceful, its three largest Golden Elixir Forces had a longer heritage than Myriad Medicine Valley. And throughout the last two thousand years or more, the entire Golden Crow Cultivation World experienced almost no large-scale conflicts. This stability made the order in Golden Crow Country quite stable, markedly better than that of the southern Wei Kingdom and Helan Country. Because of such baseline conditions, Golden Crow Country had a larger population influx, with relatively more prosperous commerce, and overall, its strength was even more formidable compared to Wei Kingdom. Besides this point, another significant factor contributed to the power and popularity of Golden Crow Country. Since the Golden Crow Mountain Range was the largest in the country, covering an immense area, with dense mountains, rivers, and deep canyons scattered in every corner, the terrain was incredibly complex. It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, a Fifth Order Golden Crow perished on the lands of the Golden Crow Mountain Range. A mighty beast like a Fifth Order Golden Crow was comparable to a member of the Human Race¡¯s Deification Stage. With the demise of the beast, its Fifth Order demonic blood nourished the land, turning what was once a vast desert into a huge primordial forest. Under such conditions, Demonic Beasts roamed the Golden Crow Mountain Range, and in some dangerous areas, there existed Third Order Demon Beasts. Although the Golden Crow Mountain Range was perilous, it was also filled with treasures and opportunities. Thus, the Golden Crow Mountain Range attracted a great number of Cultivators to come and seek treasures, and the everlasting discovery of treasures made it famous throughout Golden Crow Country, impacting even the surrounding countries significantly. As for the Longqing Market, located near a corner of the mountain range, it developed into its current scale by leveraging such favorable conditions. Lin Tianming and his wife had heard of the reputation of the Golden Crow Mountain Range on their way here. Out of curiosity, and because they were somewhat tired from traveling, they planned to stay in Longqing Market for a while to adjust their condition and inquire about news. At the same time, they would see if there were any opportunities to find some treasures. With this in mind, the couple smoothly entered Longqing Market. At this moment, they walked on the central street of the market, constantly observing the dazzling array of shops and the ceaseless flow of people. Looking around, Longqing Market was bustling with people; each shop saw numerous customers coming and going, many of whom were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and not a few were at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. The proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the crowd was indeed much higher than in those medium-sized markets of Wei Kingdom. It should be noted that even though the Qianchuan Market controlled by the Lin Family was also considered a medium-sized market, the proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators there wasn¡¯t high; those at the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment were already considered the pinnacle of strength. In contrast, there were many Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivators in Longqing Market. In just this brief moment, Lin Tianming spotted no fewer than three Cultivators above the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Such a scene was quite astonishing to Lin Tianming, who couldn¡¯t help but inwardly exclaim, ¡°Indeed worthy of being the largest market in Golden Crow Country!¡± Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming and his wife continued deeper into the street. Soon, they saw a familiar shop, precisely the Sky Dragon Pavilion under the Tang Family of Qingzhou. At that time, Lin Tianming looked at the shop¡¯s signboard and couldn¡¯t help but say to Qin Xi, ¡°Xi¡¯er, how about we take a look inside?¡± ¡°Mm¡­ whatever you decide, Ming, Xi¡¯er has no objections!¡± Qin Xi nodded in response. Hearing her words, Lin Tianming chuckled and then strode towards Sky Dragon Pavilion, with Qin Xi simply following by his side. Upon entering Sky Dragon Pavilion, they were immediately greeted by a Cultivator who was in the Late Stage of Qi Refining. ¡°Welcome to our store, esteemed seniors. May I know what you need, so I may introduce you to our offerings?¡± The Qi Refining Cultivator greeted Lin Tianming and his wife with respect, bowing as he spoke. Right then, Lin Tianming waved his hand and inquired, ¡°May I know which Daoist Tang is in charge of managing this shop?¡± ¡°Oh? The seniors wish to meet Daoist Tang?¡± The receiving Qi Refining Cultivator seemed a bit surprised, but he still kept a usual demeanor. ¡°Mm¡­ I would like to pay a visit to Daoist Tang, so I would trouble you to pass on the message.¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming nodded and took out a Jade Token, waving it in front of the receiving Cultivator. The receiving Cultivator initially thought that Lin Tianming and his wife were not old acquaintances of the shopkeeper, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have asked who was in charge. Therefore, he was somewhat reluctant to disturb the Executive Officer of the shop. However, as soon as he saw the Jade Token Lin Tianming presented, his attitude immediately shifted, becoming much more respectful. Chapter 1065 1065 559 Longqing Market_2 ?Chapter 1065: Chapter 559 Longqing Market_2 Chapter 1065: Chapter 559 Longqing Market_2 He was well aware of what the jade token in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand represented. And such a token signified an identity, which he rarely encountered among the many guests he had served. But every time one was presented, an Executive Officer of the shop would personally attend to the guest. The reason for this was that such tokens were only possessed by prestigious guests of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, typically granted to long-term cooperative partners who had a certain foundation and scale of influence, with only a few distributed. In other words, if the strength of the cooperating power was not substantial or if the scale of transactions between both parties was not large enough, it would have been impossible to possess such a token. As such, the fact that Lin Tianming owned this token naturally implied his extraordinary background and that he was a prestigious guest of the Sky Dragon Pavilion. In fact, that was indeed the case. ... As for the origin of this token, it was during Lin Tianming¡¯s visit to the Qianchuan Market that he had once called on Tang Xiuyuan. At that time, Tang Xiuyuan had taken the initiative to present a jade token to him, and subsequently, a few more to connect with the Lin Family¡¯s members¡ªrecognizing the strong cooperation between the Lin Family and the Sky Dragon Pavilion over the years. When Tang Xiuyuan did so, he had explained the function of the token; it not only represented the holder¡¯s identity but could also be used to request assistance from any branch of the Sky Dragon Pavilion when necessary. Therefore, Lin Tianming¡¯s visit to the Longqing Market also intended to call upon the Executive Officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion¡¯s local shop and to casually inquire about some information. With such an intent, Lin Tianming had arrived here. At this time, the cultivator who had been receiving them had regained his composure from his initial surprise, his expression immensely respectful. Subsequently, with a respectful expression, the cultivator quickly sent a message. After completing these actions, the cultivator respectfully said, ¡°Please, esteemed elders, rest upstairs for a moment, Shopkeeper Tang will attend to you promptly.¡± ¡°Um¡­ Lead the way then!¡± Once he finished speaking, the cultivator led the way, with Lin Tianming and his wife following behind the receiving cultivator. Soon, Lin Tianming and his wife were arranged in a reception room, where they were served with Spiritual Tea. After a short while, a middle-aged cultivator entered the reception room. Looking over, the middle-aged cultivator was dressed like a scholar, his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, and his demeanor carried a hint of arrogance. Thinking about it wasn¡¯t surprising; this person was undoubtedly a direct lineage member of the Tang Family, to be able to serve as an Executive Officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion in the Golden Crow Country¡¯s largest market. With the identity of Tang Family members and his own cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Completion, even ordinary Golden Core Cultivators had to show him some deference. Thus, it was normal for this cultivator to show some arrogance. At this time, seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianming and his companion stood up out of respect for the Tang Family and proactively greeted the middle-aged cultivator. ¡°My name is Lin Tianming, and this is my wife, Qin Xi. We have taken the liberty to visit Daoist Tang today and hope for your understanding.¡± Lin Tianming, with a smiling face, pointed to Qin Xi beside him as he spoke. On the other side, when Tang Xiuping heard Lin Tianming¡¯s words, he seemed to be pondering something in his mind. Quickly, it appeared he had realized something, and his face instantly became much more respectful. ¡°Oh? It turns out to be Elder Lin Tianming!¡± ¡°Elder Lin is too modest, my name is Tang Xiuping, I have seen Elder Lin and Fairy Qin.¡± Tang Xiuping respectfully saluted, then continued, ¡°Elder Lin, it is an honor for our Sky Dragon Pavilion Longqing branch that you have taken the initiative to visit.¡± Clearly, after hearing Lin Tianming introduce himself, Tang Xiuping must have been aware of the general status of the Lin Family and also of Lin Tianming¡¯s personal achievements. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have shown such an evident reaction. And in fact, it was exactly as Lin Tianming had guessed. After all, only Helan Country is between the Golden Crow Country and Wei Kingdom, and the distance between the Golden Crow and Wei in the vast expanse of Qingzhou is not considered far. Moreover, the Lin Family is a cooperative partner of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, and with their rising reputation over the years, they have become somewhat known in the neighboring countries around Wei Kingdom. ¡°` Besides, both Tang Xiuyuan and Tang Xiuping belonged to the Tang Family and were of the same generation, so the exchange of information between them must have been frequent. Therefore, once Lin Tianming revealed his clan lineage, all Tang Xiuping had to do was think carefully to understand Lin Tianming¡¯s specific identity. As a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, Lin Tianming¡¯s feats during the great battle in the Wei Kingdom had astonished many cultivators, and his fame had spread far and wide over time. Tang Xiuping had paid attention to those events but had never imagined that Lin Tianming himself would come to Longqing Market, let alone take the initiative to visit the Sky Dragon Pavilion. That took him quite a while to come to terms with. However, Lin Tianming appeared quite indifferent and had no intention of hiding his identity. In his view, the Lin Family had already developed a certain ability to defend itself, and there was no need for him to be overly secretive about his whereabouts in the neighboring countries of the Wei Kingdom. Moreover, considering he was dealing with a power like the Sky Dragon Pavilion, there was even less of a need to hide anything. As a result, Lin Tianming volunteered his name, hoping to glean some news from the Sky Dragon Pavilion to adjust his plans in a timely manner. After all, gaining experience was the same anywhere they went, and they were not in a rush on this trip. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Daoist Tang, there¡¯s no need for such courtesy. Your noble family¡¯s Tang Xiuyuan has been on equal terms with me to this day; there¡¯s really no need for such formality.¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping repeatedly expressed his modesty, clearly very tactful. At the same time, Tang Xiuping¡¯s demeanor showed excitement as if he was thrilled by Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. Subsequently, the two exchanged pleasantries, sharing some information about the Wei Kingdom and mentioning Tang Xiuyuan in the conversation. Afterward, Tang Xiuping shifted the topic and took the initiative to ask about the purpose of Lin Tianming¡¯s visit. To this, Lin Tianming smiled lightly and merely claimed that he and his wife had just arrived and wished to inquire about the situation in Golden Crow Country and the Golden Crow Mountain Range from the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Hearing this request, Tang Xiuping breathed a sigh of relief. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, Tang Xiuping spoke of Golden Crow Country¡¯s situation, providing a detailed introduction that included everything from the three top-leading sects to the situation of the four Golden Core Families. In addition, he shared his knowledge of the Golden Crow Mountain Range, which Lin Tianming had an interest in. He also mentioned that the great auction held once every ten years in Longqing Market was scheduled to take place in three months. It was said that the Longqing Sect, the controller of the market, placed great importance on this grand auction. In addition to the conventional Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment auction venues, the Golden Core Auction Venue that only opened once every fifty years would also commence. At that time, every major Golden Elixir Force in Golden Crow Country would send at least one Golden Core Cultivator to participate. Such an event would undoubtedly be grand in scale and destined to become a grand occasion in Golden Crow Country. With Tang Xiuping¡¯s introduction, Lin Tianming gained a fair understanding of Golden Crow Country and the Golden Crow Mountain Range. Though it was not as detailed as the knowledge held by local cultivators, it was certainly more than the average cultivator knew. He was also quite interested in the Golden Core auction. Having been in Wei Kingdom for so many years, due to the limited number of Golden Core Stage Cultivators, it was quite hard to organize an auction at the Golden Core level. Even though there were occasionally some exchange events, they were relatively small. Familiar acquaintances wouldn¡¯t bring out any real treasures. In contrast, Golden Crow Country¡¯s overall strength was clearly stronger than Wei Kingdom¡¯s. Moreover, with more Golden Elixir Forces and Golden Core Cultivators, some treasures that Golden Core Cultivators from Wei Kingdom deemed exceptional were just average in Golden Crow Country. Therefore, there was a possibility that some fine treasures would appear at this Golden Core auction. Understanding this, Lin Tianming planned to stay in Longqing Market for a while to see if there were any treasures worth bidding for at the Golden Core auction. Once the auction was over, he would then continue his journey towards Xitang Country. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming had a casual chat with Tang Xiuping. Afterwards, Lin Tianming expressed his intention to take leave. It was then that Tang Xiuping hesitated, as if he had something to say but found it difficult to speak. ¡°` Chapter 1066 1066 560 He Yuan Guo Tree ?Chapter 1066: Chapter 560 He Yuan Guo Tree Chapter 1066: Chapter 560 He Yuan Guo Tree At this time, Lin Tianming also noticed something odd about Tang Xiuping. So, Lin Tianming spoke directly, ¡°Daoist Tang, you look quite strange. Is there something difficult for you to disclose?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, Daoist Tang, feel free to speak your mind!¡± ¡°My family, including myself, have cooperated with your noble family¡¯s Sky Dragon Pavilion numerous times, and during those times, we have also received favors from the pavilion.¡± ¡°As long as I can lend a hand, I will not hold back as long as it is within my power.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuping¡¯s expression returned to normal, and he pondered internally whether to share the thought that was on his mind. After a long while and a struggle in his thoughts, he made a decision. ... Then, with a wave of his hand, Tang Xiuping released a soundproof barrier with a single-handed seal. After completing this, Tang Xiuping¡¯s complexion improved greatly, and his demeanor relaxed considerably. Seeing this, Lin Tianming thought that whatever Tang Xiuping was about to reveal must be of significant importance. Otherwise, given Tang Xiuping¡¯s status, he would most certainly not be so cautious. With an anticipative look, Lin Tianming watched Tang Xiuping, waiting for his explanation. At this time, Tang Xiuping also looked back at Lin Tianming, seeing his composed expression and not seeming to feign anything. So, Tang Xiuping spoke seriously, ¡°Elder Lin, I take the liberty of asking how your cultivation strength is. Have you reached the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm?¡± Tang Xiuping asked two such questions consecutively, both sensitive topics for a cultivator. Nevertheless, such questions showed that he trusted Lin Tianming and was not afraid of Lin Tianming blaming him for his presumptuous behavior. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t take it to heart either and had no intention of hiding anything from Tang Xiuping. With that in mind, Lin Tianming answered with a smile, ¡°Daoist Tang, let¡¯s not mention cultivation levels!¡± ¡°In a nutshell, if I encounter one or two ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, I am fairly confident that I can prevail.¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping immediately became excited. In his heart, he had long heard of the extraordinary talent of Lin Tianming, who had matched Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators while at the Early Stage Golden Core. Such formidable personal combat strength was something he greatly admired and he had continuously paid attention to all information regarding Lin Tianming. Now, hearing Lin Tianming say this, though not explicitly stating his level of cultivation, S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming¡¯s nonchalant words, said with such confidence, also suggested that he had probably stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Otherwise, Lin Tianming would not boast such a claim. Upon this realization, Tang Xiuping was overjoyed, releasing a sigh of relief inside. Having calmed down slightly, Tang Xiuping held nothing back. With a long sigh, he went straight to the point, ¡°Elder Lin, I stumbled upon a piece of news not long ago. It¡¯s rumored that deep in the Golden Crow Mountain Range, a He Yuan Guo Tree may have appeared.¡± ¡°He Yuan Fruit?¡± Lin Tianming wore a puzzled look, finding the name somewhat unfamiliar. However, he also contemplated the specific news regarding the Heyuan Fruit. Quickly, after carefully recalling the literature he had read, he remembered the origin of the Heyuan Fruit. As it turned out, the Heyuan Fruit was also one of the Third Order Spiritual Fruits aiding in Core Formation, its effects similar to the Fruit of Fortuity he had consumed before and the three Jiuli Star Fruits he had intercepted from the Golden Sword Sect, all capable of increasing the odds of successful Core Formation by several percentages. Moreover, like the Fruit of Fortuity, when the Heyuan Tree ripens, it usually bears three fruits at once. With Tang Xiuping revealing this news, if true, he obviously coveted both the Heyuan Fruit and the tree itself. In fact, giving it some thought, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, at present, Tang Xiuping was at the Foundation Establishing Great Perfection Realm. With his current level of power, he certainly aspired to obtain a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item to impact the Golden Core Stage Realm. Hence, his actions were nothing short of normal. Reflecting on his own background, despite Tang Xiuping coming from Qingzhou Jiaoqin Power¡ªone of the prominent forces in Qingzhou¡ªand being a member of the Tang Family, the Tang Family had a large number of members and many talented youths. Still, the resources of the Tang Family were limited, especially treasures like Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. Thus, the Tang Family would undoubtedly prioritize those with higher potential or those who made significant contributions to the family. Individuals like Tang Xiuping and his old acquaintance, Tang Xiuyuan, were only considered ordinary family members. Perhaps their talents were decent, but not sufficient for the Tang Family to unconditionally support them with Core Formation resources. Therefore, if Tang Xiuping had his own means, he wouldn¡¯t place his hope solely on the highly competitive Tang Family. Now that Tang Xiuping had discovered the news of the Heyuan Fruit tree, he naturally wanted to take the risk. However, Lin Tianming thought it over and felt some doubt. After all, the strength of the Tang Family went without saying, and as a member, he could simply report the news of the Heyuan Fruit tree to his family and ask for help from the Golden Core Stage Cultivators within the Tang Family. If the situation were true, a Heyuan Fruit tree along with the three Heyuan Fruits¡¯ merit would certainly allow him to acquire one of the fruits and other generous rewards as well. And his intention appeared to be not to report it; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have brought it up. Aware of this, Lin Tianming asked gravely, ¡°Daoist Tang, is the news about this Heyuan Fruit tree true?¡± ¡°If it is, you could very well ask your family for help. I believe the rewards you¡¯d receive would be even greater.¡± Chapter 1067 1067 560 Heyuan Guo Tree_2 ?Chapter 1067: Chapter 560 Heyuan Guo Tree_2 Chapter 1067: Chapter 560 Heyuan Guo Tree_2 Lin Tianming¡¯s words came out with a stern look on his face as he gazed sharply at Tang Xiuping, as if he could see through the thoughts in Tang Xiuping¡¯s heart. At that moment, Tang Xiuping, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s expression, couldn¡¯t help but force a bitter smile. Immediately afterward, Tang Xiuping let out a slight sigh and then began to explain. ¡°Elder Lin, I have personally investigated the location of the Heyuan Fruit Tree.¡± ¡°At that time, there was a Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast guarding it. I used some methods to temporarily paralyze the beast and then sneaked in. I only got a fleeting glimpse, but the tree should indeed exist and be about to ripen.¡± ¡°As for why I did not request help from my family, as Elder Lin questioned, it¡¯s not that I hadn¡¯t considered it.¡± ¡°In fact, that was my initial plan!¡± ... ¡°However, with the Heyuan Fruit about to ripen and the risk of its exposure at any time, there¡¯s no way I can wait for the support of the family elders.¡± ¡°Therefore, I would like to request Elder Lin¡¯s assistance in obtaining the Heyuan Fruit Tree.¡± After finishing his explanation, Tang Xiuping fixed his gaze on Lin Tianming with an expression full of anticipation for his response. At this moment, Lin Tianming was also weighing the credibility of Tang Xiuping¡¯s words in his heart. In his mind, the ripening of the Heyuan Fruit indeed could not afford any delay. Under these circumstances, it seemed reasonable that Tang Xiuping couldn¡¯t wait for family reinforcements and had to seek help elsewhere. Yet he and Lin Tianming had never met before and had no personal relationship to speak of. Although the Lin Family had indeed worked closely with the Sky Dragon Pavilion over the years. Tang Xiuping could still seek the assistance of other Golden Core Cultivators within the Golden Crow Country. Given Tang Xiuping¡¯s background and status, it surely wouldn¡¯t be difficult as long as he was willing to pay a certain price. Thinking this, Lin Tianming found Tang Xiuping¡¯s sudden request to be somewhat far-fetched. Thus, Lin Tianming voiced his opinion, raising his doubts without any hesitation. At that point, Tang Xiuping seemed to have been prepared for this, and he began to explain: ¡°To be frank with Elder Lin, I indeed sought help from Elder Su of the Golden Crow Country before this.¡± ¡°However, Elder Su made some exorbitant demands, insisting he must obtain a Heyuan Fruit and the Heyuan Fruit Tree to offer his assistance.¡± ¡°And a Heyuan Fruit Tree is a treasure that can enhance a family¡¯s foundation; no matter who assists, we, the Tang Family, will not readily relinquish it.¡± Tang Xiuping spoke with a serious tone, clearly displaying a firm stance against compromise. Hearing this explanation and seeing Tang Xiuping¡¯s expression, Lin Tianming no longer doubted his motives. Then, Lin Tianming straightforwardly said, ¡°I¡¯m not opposed to lending a hand.¡± ¡°However, that Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast is no easy opponent, what kind of compensation can Daoist Tang offer?¡± Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, which suggested he might be persuaded, Tang Xiuping immediately appeared excited. Then, Tang Xiuping said, ¡°Elder Lin also knows that our Tang Family cannot afford to lose the Heyuan Fruit Tree.¡± ¡°But I only want one Heyuan Fruit myself; the remaining two can go to Elder Lin, is this compensation satisfactory?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi, who had been silent beside him, seeming to seek her opinion. Soon, Qin Xi nodded slightly. Though she didn¡¯t say much, it was clear she was deferring to Lin Tianming¡¯s decision. And in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, he had already made up his mind. In his view, even if he could only obtain one Heyuan Fruit, it was well worth his involvement. He was very aware that the Lin Family was currently in great need of Core Formation Spiritual Objects. Therefore, currently, the family had only one Jiuli Star Fruit left, while there were already over ten Late Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family. Among them, his father and Lin Tianyue had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm and the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment when he left the family. Apart from these close relatives, others like Lin Xingping, Lin Xingzhi, Lin Tianhong, and Lin Tianqin, who had good relations with him, had also reached above the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment in their cultivation. It could be said that over the next fifty years, many talented members of the Lin Family would reach the conditions for the Impact of the Golden Core Stage. However, having numerous Core Formation stage seeds with only one Jiuli Star Fruit left in the family was merely a drop in the bucket. Moreover, the Creation Fruit Tree he had obtained in his early years would still take many more years to ripen once again. During this period, the family couldn¡¯t possibly wait around for so many years. However, his journey out for training this time, in search of Nascent Soul Spiritual Items for the family, was also one of his primary objectives. Since the opportunity was at hand, he naturally wouldn¡¯t give it up easily. Moreover, Tang Xiuping was quite honest; he offered two Heyuan Fruits as compensation right from the start. Such terms, in his view, were well worth considering. Understanding this, Lin Tianming feigned a look of difficulty. Then, Lin Tianming finally said, ¡°Daoist Tang, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t make a move.¡± ¡°However, I must make it clear, once the matter is accomplished, one Heyuan Fruit and the Heyuan Fruit Tree are yours, the other two Heyuan Fruits are mine.¡± ¡°In addition, the carcass of the Third Order Demon Beast, including all the treasures from its lair, are also mine.¡± ¡°If Daoist Tang agrees, shall we settle on this arrangement?¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After stating this, Lin Tianming stared intently at Tang Xiuping, waiting for his reply. And Tang Xiuping was quite forthcoming; he nodded in agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s proposition the moment the words were out. ¡°Haha¡­ Let¡¯s settle it as Elder Lin suggests!¡± In this moment, Tang Xiuping was brimming with excitement, his face full of satisfied smiles. At this point, Lin Tianming continued to ask, ¡°Now that we have reached a consensus, when shall we set off?¡± Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping replied directly: ¡°Elder Lin, the Heyuan Fruits should take another half a year to fully mature.¡± ¡°Therefore, right after the auction two months from now, we will set off together. How about waiting for my message at that time, Elder Lin?¡± Obviously, Tang Xiuping wasn¡¯t planning to reveal more but merely mentioned a time for the two to meet. As for the specific destination and final route, that would still require Tang Xiuping to lead the way. Such arrangements, however, fell within Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. After all, the human heart is unfathomable, and one must always guard against others. Tang Xiuping was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡ªif Lin Tianming had any ill-intentions, Tang Xiuping would have no chance of resisting against him, a Golden Core Stage Expert. Fortunately, Tang Xiuyuan was backed by the Tang Family of Qingzhou, possessing a strong enough background to negotiate terms with a Golden Core Stage Cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, any ordinary cultivator without such strong backing would be courting death just by letting slip the faintest hint of news about something as valuable as the Heyuan Fruit Tree. Realizing this, Lin Tianming nodded indifferently. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯ll wait for Daoist Tang¡¯s message then, and we can meet up at a place then.¡± ¡°Good¡­ good¡­ it¡¯s settled!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ With Elder Lin personally taking action, we¡¯re bound to succeed in obtaining the treasures on this trip!¡± Tang Xiuping complimented enthusiastically, his joy impossible to hide, clearly very excited. Lin Tianming didn¡¯t mind these pleasantries but simply waved his hand nonchalantly. Then, after chatting idly for a while with Tang Xiuping, Lin Tianming expressed his intention to leave. With the agreement about the Heyuan Fruit settled, Tang Xiuping¡¯s goal was achieved, and he could finally relax his anxious heart. Given this, there was no need to detain Lin Tianming any further. Thus, Tang Xiuping personally escorted Lin Tianming and his wife out of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, waiting until they disappeared into the crowd before returning contentedly to the interior of the pavilion. After the couple left the Sky Dragon Pavilion, they strolled around the workshop for a while. In no time, they rented a small courtyard to serve as their temporary cave abode, planning to spend the two months waiting for the auction here. Once this period had passed, they were to fulfill their agreement and set out on the journey to collect the Heyuan Fruits. ¡­ Chapter 1068 1068 561 The Auction Begins ?Chapter 1068: Chapter 561: The Auction Begins Chapter 1068: Chapter 561: The Auction Begins Two months had passed. In a cave mansion within Longqing Market. Lin Tianming and his wife sat facing each other, their gazes locked and smiles flickering across their faces. At that moment, Lin Tianming chuckled and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the auction is about to start, let¡¯s go out and see!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Qin Xi nodded and continued, ¡°The Golden Core Venue auction of this caliber is something I¡¯m looking forward to, though I¡¯m not sure if there will be any worthwhile opportunities.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly and then spoke, ¡°This Golden Core Auction is held only once every fifty years!¡± ... ¡°You must know, Golden Crow Country has three of the Three Great Golden Core Sects and four Golden Core families, making up seven major Golden Elixir Forces, and just the known Golden Core Cultivators among them add up to more than forty.¡± ¡°Moreover, within the Golden Crow Cultivation World, it¡¯s not just these forces that have Golden Core Cultivators. It¡¯s said that there are a few Independent Cultivators at the Golden Core Stage as well.¡± ¡°With such overall strength, this Golden Core Auction is bound to be substantial. Although the chance of finding good items is small, it is definitely much higher compared to the auctions in Wei Kingdom.¡± Lin Tianming pondered greatly, his expression exceedingly solemn. In truth, within his heart, he initially thought that although Golden Crow Country was stronger than Wei Kingdom, it was marginally so. However, after listening to the detailed information from Tang Xiuping, he had learned quite a lot about the situation in Golden Crow Country. Especially the overall strength of Golden Crow Country, which had greatly surprised him. After all, Golden Crow Country was indeed strong, with more than forty Golden Core Stage Cultivators, almost twice as many as Wei Kingdom currently had. Even during Wei Kingdom¡¯s peak period, it was far less than Golden Crow Country now. It seemed that Golden Crow Country indeed was one of the few strong nations among the dozen surrounding countries. Precisely because of this understanding, Lin Tianming was somewhat anticipatory about this Golden Core Auction. Thus, after chatting casually for a few moments, the couple walked out of the cave mansion together, heading towards the auction venue in the center of the market. Walking along the wide streets, the road was bustling with pedestrians, most of whom were heading towards the center of the market. Among these people, the proportion of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was not low, and there were equally many Cultivators who were past the Foundation Establishment. Such a scene also reflected the booming popularity of Longqing Market. Lin Tianming and his wife followed the crowd at an unhurried pace, looking around at the surroundings along the way. Soon, they arrived at the central auction venue of the market. Looking around, here the queue of Qi Refining Cultivators had already formed a long line, and even the queue for the Foundation Establishment Area was also significantly long. Such a scene made Lin Tianming inwardly exclaim in admiration. ¡°This Longqing Market really is bustling with people, and there are many participants in the auction, including quite a few capable Foundation Establishment Cultivators.¡± ¡°No wonder the rumors say that Longqing Market is the largest market in Golden Crow Country; it seems absolutely true.¡± Lin Tianming inwardly sighed with emotion, his steps not slowing down at all. When they crossed the queue for the Foundation Establishment Area and directly appeared in front of an entrance. Here too, there were cultivators waiting, and these people all wore yellow Daoist robes with a special pattern on their chests, signifying that they were disciples of the Longqing Sect. At this moment, their faces were normal, their demeanor neither humble nor arrogant, seemingly Longqing Sect¡¯s dedicated receptionists for Golden Core Cultivators. As soon as they saw Lin Tianming and his wife approach, one of them blocked their way. That person said arrogantly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, this is the entrance for Golden Elixir Experts¡¯s auction venue, the entrance for the Foundation Establishment Area is over there.¡± After saying this, the cultivator pointed to the queue for the Foundation Establishment Area, implicitly clear in his meaning. At this moment, Lin Tianming stared directly at the speaker, revealing just a hint of pressure that made the speaker¡¯s back go cold and his legs numb, almost causing him to sit down on the ground. It was at this moment that the cultivator truly felt Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, indeed a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator. That sharp gaze and slight pressure had also hurt him. If Lin Tianming had any malicious intent, the speaker would have had almost no ability to resist and would have been instantly eliminated by the formidable person in front of him. Nevertheless, after this episode, the receptionist finally realized his mistake. Thus, the cultivator bowed respectfully to Lin Tianming and then said, ¡°Welcome, senior, to the Golden Core Auction Venue. I failed to recognize an immortal earlier, please forgive my previous rudeness.¡± ¡°Senior, please follow me, I will arrange a VIP room for you, and if there are any other orders, feel free to summon me anytime!¡± After this cultivator finished speaking, the other two finally reacted. Originally, Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s presence had appeared to be at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their previous actions had turned their peer¡¯s face pale with cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. At that moment, they thought someone was recklessly causing trouble. Unexpectedly, the person in front of them was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and with such an unfamiliar appearance and aura, he must be from another country¡¯s Cultivation World. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luckily, just as they were about to act, their colleague¡¯s timely words had interrupted their motions. Otherwise, they would likely have offended a Golden Core Cultivator inadvertently just like their colleague. If that had been the case, even if they hadn¡¯t died, it would have definitely brought a lot of trouble. Chapter 1069 1069 561 Auction Begins_2 ?Chapter 1069: Chapter 561 Auction Begins_2 Chapter 1069: Chapter 561 Auction Begins_2 Fully aware of this, the other two were now exhibiting a respectful demeanor, their previously arrogant expressions having greatly changed. At this time, however, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t concerned with these things. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, he had indeed not revealed any sign of his true strength before, always presenting himself with the power of someone at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level. Although the demeanor of the cultivators who received him was arrogant, they were from Longqing Sect, which had a powerful backing. Coupled with their timely response, Lin Tianming naturally would not quibble over such trifles, nor would he easily offend a Golden Core Sect like Longqing Sect. Thus, Lin Tianming waved his hand, signaling the cultivator before him to lead the way. Seeing this, the cultivator¡¯s face finally relaxed a lot, and he internally sighed a breath of relief. The entire exchange had been witnessed by many cultivators queuing at a distance. ... As Lin Tianming disappeared from sight, these cultivators then started to discuss amongst themselves. Instantly, the already noisy scene became even livelier. One cultivator in the crowd voiced their confusion, ¡°That senior just now looks unfamiliar, I wonder which Golden Core expert they are, to also attend this auction.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ The senior¡¯s aura and appearance are both unfamiliar, they¡¯re likely not a Golden Core expert from the Golden Crow Country, probably attracted by the auction¡¯s reputation, or just passing through.¡± ¡°Heh, the senior¡¯s background isn¡¯t what¡¯s important¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s more about how that Longqing Sect fellow suddenly turned pale, looks like he got a lesson from that senior.¡± ¡°Careful, fellow daoist¡­ we are in the Longqing Market¡­¡± A Foundation Establishment Cultivator spoke up to remind, briefly interrupting the heated discussion. Lin Tianming was unaware of all this, and even if he did know, he wouldn¡¯t care about the discussions of these cultivators. As for him at this moment, he was drinking tea and having a casual chat with Qin Xi in a magnificent VIP room, while they waited for the auction to officially start. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming surveyed the Golden Core Auction Venue. Following his gaze, the venue wasn¡¯t too large, with a square stage in the center surrounded by nearly a hundred VIP rooms. Like the auctions he had attended before, each VIP room was strictly isolated by protective enchantments. Inside his VIP room, he could see the stage from all angles without any blind spots, but he couldn¡¯t see anything from any of the other VIP rooms. Such protective isolation also effectively safeguarded the privacy of the attendees. Even if he won a treasure in the auction, it wouldn¡¯t be easily revealed, nor would it attract the prying eyes of hostile cultivators, thus avoiding unnecessary trouble. Because of this, Lin Tianming felt reassured and was even looking forward to the start of the auction. Half a moment later. As an elder in a yellow robe slowly walked onto the stage, he attracted Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. Looking over, the man had snowy white hair and a face full of wrinkles, his clothing marked with the emblem of the Longqing Sect, and his cultivation was at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. His old face and the faint hint of death in his aura suggested he was approaching the age for ¡°sitting meditation.¡± Based on these features, Lin Tianming recalled the information provided by Tang Xiuping and deduced the identity of the man. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, this elder was undoubtedly Xie Yingshan, an established Golden Core Cultivator of the Longqing Sect. Sure enough, with Xie Yingshan appearing on stage, he cupped his fists and made a respectful gesture to everyone around. Then, Xie Yingshan said, ¡°I am Xie Yingshan, and I welcome all fellow daoists present to attend this auction.¡± As soon as his voice fell, a voice came from a VIP room. ¡°Old Ghost Xie, most of the daoists here are acquaintances, many of whom have attended several auctions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone is clear on the rules; there¡¯s no need for suspense. Let¡¯s start sooner rather than later, I still need to return to my alchemy.¡± This was immediately followed by laughter from other directions. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re all friends here; no need for pleasantries, let¡¯s get started!¡± Hearing these two comments, Xie Yingshan laughed awkwardly, showing no anger, seemingly very wary of the two cultivators teasing him. Thus, Xie Yingshan chuckled, ¡°Since He daoist is so eager, and the other daoists make a fair point, I won¡¯t delay everyone¡¯s time any longer.¡± Having said this, Xie Yingshan slapped his storage bag and two Spiritual Medicine Materials appeared in his hand. Following that, Xie Yingshan introduced, ¡°Two Three-Leaf Purple Orchid plants will be auctioned together, with a starting bid of four thousand medium-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be no less than fifty spirit stones.¡± As soon as his voice fell, the person who had first joked with Xie Yingshan immediately placed a bid. ¡°Four thousand three hundred spirit stones!¡± Clearly, the first person to place a bid was none other than the He cultivator mentioned by Xie Yingshan, and he was also a Third Order Alchemy Master. Lin Tianming, although not acquainted with or having had contact with him, was certain that Xie Yingshan must have known the identity of this person. Otherwise, that person would not have bluntly claimed that he was in a rush to return to alchemy. And this He surnamed Golden Core Cultivator should be from another Golden Core Sect, undoubtedly He Zhengsong of the Three Poisons Sect. Lin Tianming came to such a conclusion because he had ample basis for it. Among the seven major Golden Elixir Forces in the Golden Crow Country, He Zhengsong of the Three Poisons Sect was the only one who both was a Golden Core cultivator and a Third Order Alchemy Master. With this, Lin Tianming immediately understood the specific identity of the bidder. And now, He Zhengsong, upon encountering two extremely fine spiritual medicines, was so proactive in bidding, clearly a man obsessed with alchemy. However, Lin Tianming himself, upon seeing these two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids, had no interest. Although the medicine was indeed precious and very rare among Third Order spiritual medicines, and not commonly seen, coincidentally, he happened to have this type of spiritual medicine in his possession. As a result, Lin Tianming, even as a Third Order Alchemy Master, had no interest in bidding for these two spiritual medicine materials. But he wasn¡¯t the only one without interest; there were others among the present Golden Core cultivators who were interested, and not just one. Obviously, not all of these bidding cultivators necessarily needed the medicine themselves. While the Golden Crow Country was generally harmonious overall, internal competition always existed in secret. In certain situations, even if they did not need it, they would secretly place bids to trip up rival forces, making them pay a higher price to acquire the treasures. Under such circumstances, the first round of bidding climbed steadily and soon reached four thousand eight hundred spirit stones. At this point, He Zhengsong, seeming determined to have the two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids, directly raised the auction price to five thousand spirit stones in one go. As expected, such aggressive bidding deterred some of the competing cultivators. Furthermore, the general value of two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids was around four thousand five hundred spirit stones. Even during times of scarce resources, four thousand eight hundred spirit stones would be the very limit. But now, the price reached five thousand medium-grade spirit stones, which was already much overpriced. Consequently, upon hearing He Zhengsong¡¯s price, those who had initially planned to bid fell silent. As for those who were placing bids just to create obstacles, they were not really willing to spend such a high price on spiritual medicines they were not particularly concerned about. In this situation, the final bidding price was set at five thousand medium-grade spirit stones and, in the end, He Zhengsong got his wish and secured the auction. Following this, He Zhengsong completed the transaction with Xie Yingshan across the barrier, and the auction for the first treasure subsequently concluded. During the intermission, Lin Tianming was inwardly taken aback, shaken by such a price. In his heart, the Golden Crow Country was truly a nation where the Immortal Path flourished. The value of these two Three-Leaf Purple Orchids was indeed not low; in the realm of Third Order spiritual medicines, they definitely counted as superior spiritual medicines, usually hardly seen. And such an item, in Wei Kingdom, would be quite precious indeed. But here, the Longqing Sect was even willing to auction it off. If it were him, even if he did not need it momentarily, he would be somewhat reluctant to let it go. Because of this, it demonstrated just how much more advanced the cultivation standards and the abundance of treasures were in the Golden Crow Country compared to Wei Kingdom. The more it was so, the more Lin Tianming anticipated the ensuing treasures, including the final grand treasure of the auction. ¡­ Chapter 1070 1070 562 Threat ?Chapter 1070: Chapter 562 Threat Chapter 1070: Chapter 562 Threat With anticipation in his heart, Lin Tianming continued to pay attention to the upcoming auctions. The second auction item appeared shortly thereafter, also a Third Order Spiritual Medicine that was not bad at all. However, this piece of Spiritual Medicine was just as coincidentally one Lin Tianming already had, so he was equally disinterested in bidding. In the end, it was again taken by He Zhengsong at some expense. It wasn¡¯t until the seventh treasure appeared was a treasure named the Yuan Essence Fruit revealed. As soon as the Spirit Fruit appeared, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators began bidding immediately, and the price soared, quickly reaching 5,200 medium-grade Spirit Stones. With the emergence of this treasure, the fierce bidding by numerous cultivators pushed the auction to a minor climax. It was so because, the Yuan Essence Fruit, being rather precious and rare, always held significant value. ... As for its effects, since it contained an exceptionally rich and gentle energy, for cultivators at the Early and Mid Stage Golden Core, refining this fruit could enhance their cultivation strength quickly, faster than relying on self-cultivation or taking elixirs like the Yuxu Pill. Upon seeing the Yuan Essence Fruit, Lin Tianming, who was originally uninterested, became instantly enthused. In his eyes, elixirs and various Spirit Fruits capable of enhancing cultivation were all extremely valuable treasures. Once they appeared, even if the price was high, they had to be obtained at any cost. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. More importantly, Qin Xi was currently stuck at the Golden Core Initial Peak. Should she acquire this Yuan Essence Fruit, once her bottleneck eased a bit, she could totally rely on this fruit to make a breakthrough towards the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Given the rich energy contained within the Yuan Essence Fruit, the prospects of success were quite good. Therefore, Lin Tianming naturally wanted to figure out how to win this Yuan Essence Fruit. Thus, Lin Tianming joined the intense bidding. At this moment, after He Zhengsong bid 5,500 medium-grade Spirit Stones, Lin Tianming immediately raised the offer to 5,800 Spirit Stones. Lin Tianming suddenly joining the bidding drew the attention of the cultivators present. Especially He Zhengsong, a Third Order Alchemy Master whose wealth was naturally considerable, had no intention to concede in the face of Lin Tianming¡¯s competition. ¡°6,000 Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°6,500 Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming increased the bid by 500 medium-grade Spirit Stones in one breath, equivalent to 50,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. Such a price increase was basically the equivalent of a Foundation Establishment Pill being offered up right from the moment he spoke. However, Foundation Establishment Pills, although desperately sought after by Qi Refining Cultivators, meant nothing to the Golden Core Cultivators present. Lin Tianming had always been wealthy and a mere Foundation Establishment Pill was certainly not worth his attention. Because he was well aware that this Yuan Essence Fruit had the potential to assist Qin Xi¡¯s breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Even if he took it himself, it could save years of arduous cultivation. Such an enhancement could not possibly be equaled even by fifty Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, the gap between realms during the Golden Core Stage brings benefits that cannot be matched by dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not waver in the face of the escalating auction prices. Soon, several rounds of bidding hikes began. Now the price of the Yuan Essence Fruit had reached 7,600 medium-grade Spirit Stones, which is 760,000 low-grade Spirit Stones if converted. For an ordinary Golden Core Stage Cultivator to produce such a price would be quite straining. Predictably, at this price, the only ones still bidding were Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong. At this point, Lin Tianming directly called out a high price of 7,800 Spirit Stones. As soon as this price was announced, the room suddenly fell into silence. He Zhengsong also seemed to hesitate, after all, the current price had far exceeded the Yuan Essence Fruit¡¯s intrinsic value. Additionally, he was also a cultivator at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, which meant that the fruit¡¯s benefits for him would be limited. Given the circumstances and facing such a price, He Zhengsong decided to give up on further bidding. At this point, Xie Yingshan saw no one continued the bidding after a long pause. After several breaths passed, he finally spoke: ¡°Congratulations to the friend in No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room, for successfully bidding with 7,800 Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming, hearing Xie Yingshan publicly announcing the result, had a pleased smile flash across his face, and he also let out a long sigh of relief internally. Immediately following, Lin Tianming slapped his waist and a storage bag flew from his hand, passing through the light screen in front of him, and eventually landing firmly in Xie Yingshan¡¯s hand. After Xie Yingshan¡¯s Divine Sense confirmed the sufficient number of Spirit Stones inside, he threw the Yuan Essence Fruit towards Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP room. Seeing this, Lin Tianming caught the Jade Box containing the Yuan Essence Fruit in his hand, and then immediately opened it to inspect. It wasn¡¯t until he saw the translucent green fruit lying in the middle of the Jade Box, its unique fragrance wafting towards him. At this moment, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, unable to suppress the joy in his heart any longer. Qin Xi, witnessing this scene, also became somewhat excited. After calming down a bit, Qin Xi chuckled and said: ¡°Ming, we¡¯ve been mere spectators up till now, it looks like we¡¯ve finally gained something, making this trip worthwhile, right?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then laughed: ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°The few treasures before were good, but they never piqued my interest, hence we¡¯ve been empty-handed until now.¡± Chapter 1071 1071 562 Threat_2 ?Chapter 1071: Chapter 562 Threat_2 Chapter 1071: Chapter 562 Threat_2 ¡°` ¡°Luckily, we managed to win the bid for this Yuan Essence Fruit, which counts as a gain, and this is just the beginning. There may be even better treasures to come.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming handed the jade box to Qin Xi. Seeing this, Qin Xi quickly waved her hand and said: ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er is still stuck in a bottleneck; even if I were to consume this Yuan Essence Fruit, I¡¯m afraid it wouldn¡¯t be enough for me to reach the Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, it seems wasteful for Xi¡¯er to consume the fruit. It would probably be better if Ming were to take it, as the benefits are likely to be greater for you.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Lin Tianming interrupted her. Following that, Lin Tianming explained, ¡°Xi¡¯er, for your husband to consume this fruit, the benefits are not significant, and it would be somewhat wasteful.¡± ¡°The reason I bid for this fruit was actually for Xi¡¯er.¡± ... ¡°Even if you are not suitable to consume it now, you can wait for the bottleneck to ease and then use this treasure to make a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core in one fell swoop.¡± ¡°With Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent and potential, I¡¯m sure you can successfully step into the Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi was quite convinced, but she still hesitated. Seeing this, Lin Tianming chuckled and forcibly put the jade box into Qin Xi¡¯s hand. Qin Xi, seeing how resolute Lin Tianming was, helplessly accepted it. And in her heart, she felt incredibly happy because of Lin Tianming¡¯s selfless act. Subsequently, the couple exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with affection. Then, they turned their attention back to the ongoing auction, hosted by Xie Yingshan below. At that moment, Xie Yingshan continued to smoothly preside over the auction. The eighth treasure was a Third Order Ore. Lin Tianming was not much interested in this treasure, and in the end, it was auctioned off by a cultivator whose background was unknown. Soon after, several treasures were successively auctioned, involving Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Ore, and Spirit Material¡ªthese fairly good Third Order Treasures. Lin Tianming only made a few tentative bids, but ultimately, because the final prices were too high and didn¡¯t seem worth it, he stopped planning to continue bidding. Despite not gaining much afterward, Lin Tianming was still very satisfied with this Golden Core auction. After all, the dozen or so auction items so far were mostly exquisite items among Third Grade Treasures, with each one reaching high final bid prices. Such a scene, even without much gain, was also an eye-opener. However, the sixteenth auction item piqued Lin Tianming¡¯s interest. It turned out to be an inner pill from a Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast with a Fire Attribute. For this treasure, Lin Tianming did want to try and win it, to see if it could help the Purple Gold Eagle break through to the Third Order in the future. The reason he had this idea was that his cultivation level had increased, and the gap between him and Xiao Diao was growing wider. And Xiao Diao had accumulated numerous merits over the years and was one of the first Spirit Beasts to submit to him. Besides, Xiao Diao hadn¡¯t received much resources support from the family in the past years, so it had always been at the peak of Second Order, just a step away from the Third Order. Now that he had finally encountered an inner pill from a Fire Attribute Demon Beast¡ªand one from a Third Order Medium Stage, no less¡ª With this Demon Core, he believed that it could lend a helping hand to Xiao Diao to attempt breaking through to a higher level. In such a situation, faced with this rare Demon Beast inner pill, Lin Tianming began to bid. ¡°Seven thousand four hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Seven thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming shouted out a price, which was instantly surpassed by other cultivators¡¯ bids. However, even faced with such prices, Lin Tianming did not intend to give up easily. ¡°Eight thousand Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Eight thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°Eight thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The price continued to rise, with several cultivators still bidding, including He Zhengsong who had been bidding all along. Lin Tianming was somewhat helpless at this point, but he was wealthy, not lacking in Spirit Stones. Moreover, once Xiao Diao succeeded in using this Demon Beast inner pill to break through to the Third Order, it would allow them to travel faster and more safely on their journey. ¡°` ¡°` In addition, if Xiao Diao successfully breaks through to the Third Order, its combat power is bound to increase significantly. With the assistance of Xiao Diao and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, plus the strength of the couple, even if they encounter a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, they might not necessarily be their match. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It can be said that, from any perspective, this Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast Inner Pill is absolutely worth bidding all out for. Realizing this, Lin Tianming did not back down, and in one breath increased the bid by a thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, raising the auction price to 9,700 Medium-grade Spirit Stones. Such a price, coupled with such a bold bidding style, instantly stunned many Golden Core Cultivators. Including He Zhengsong, who had previously been very active in the bidding, who was now somewhat surprised. After all, Lin Tianming had already spent over 8,000 Spirit Stones on the Yuan Essence Fruit just now, and now he was about to bid nearly 10,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones for this Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill. Two rounds of bidding like this would consume 20,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones, which equates to two million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Such wealth is not to be underestimated. However, the total value of one¡¯s treasures and the actual Spirit Stones they can produce are two different things. You should know that in the current Golden Crow Cultivation World, the total value of the wealth and treasures of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator is definitely more than three million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, not to mention Mid and Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators. For some Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators, their total treasures easily exceed several million Spirit Stones, and the actual Spirit Stones they can utilize are typically around two or three million. Even some Third Order Alchemist or Artifact Refiners have higher values, but the Spirit Stones they can produce are also limited. Take He Zhengsong himself, his accumulation over the years has a value of over ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, but without using his own treasures, the amount of Spirit Stones he can produce at once is only about four million. It is for this reason that he has already made several bids previously, having spent nearly two million Spirit Stones. Now, without reaching the final highlight item, he has already spent nearly half of his Spirit Stones. If he encounters more desirable treasures later on, he would inevitably miss out due to insufficient Spirit Stones. Therefore, when Lin Tianming bid this price, it not only surprised him but also made him hesitant. But soon, He Zhengsong decided to tentatively call out a price, making a last-ditch effort. If Lin Tianming continued to bid, he would give up. But if Lin Tianming did not increase the bid, he would get the Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill. With his mind made up, He Zhengsong shouted loudly: ¡°10,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Tianming did not pause at all, and without any hesitation, shouted a new price. ¡°10,500 Medium-grade Spirit Stones!¡± This price came out, and He Zhengsong felt somewhat helpless and even more angered. You have to know, he comes from the Three Poisons Sect, possesses Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, and he had reached the standard of a Third Order Alchemist early on in his years. Exaggeration aside, his reputation is extremely resounding throughout Golden Crow Country, with almost every local cultivator having heard of him more or less. It is for this reason that the Golden Core Cultivators in the Golden Crow Cultivation World almost all show him some respect. But now, the person in the No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room across from him didn¡¯t give him any face at all. They would raise the bidding price soon after each of his bids. Moreover, from the tone of Lin Tianming¡¯s bids, it was clear he was determined to win, hence there was no hesitation. Such actions truly made him, an arrogant and venerable Golden Core Expert, feel disrespected. So, He Zhengsong snorted coldly and then communicated through the air: ¡°I am He Zhengsong, I have a great use for this Demon Pill, how about the fellow Daoist across give me some face?¡± ¡°Should you give up the bidding, I will make friends with you, what do you say?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming replied indifferently with a smile: ¡°He has worried too much!¡± ¡°You should know that the rule of the auction has always been that the highest bidder wins, has He not known this rule after roaming Golden Crow Country for more than two hundred years?¡± ¡°If He truly intends to bid, feel free to raise the price, I am fully prepared to accompany you to the end.¡± Lin Tianming flatly refused, giving no face to He Zhengsong and his indirectly threatening words. ¡°Ha ha¡­ good¡­ very well!¡± He Zhengsong, suppressing his anger, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. However, he did not continue to bid, obviously giving up on the chance to obtain the Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1072 1072 563 Qingmu Cauldron ?Chapter 1072: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron Chapter 1072: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron At this moment, the auction venue fell into a brief silence, where one could nearly hear a pin drop. Lin Tianming did not take He Zhengsong¡¯s threats seriously, not only did he not give face, but he also openly mocked him. Such a scene also sparked discussions among some VIP rooms. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t care about these opinions and was not overly cautious. In his eyes, although the Three Poisons Sect, where He Zhengsong belonged, was a force comparable to the Longqing Sect, with considerable overall strength. Including He Zhengsong himself, who was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator and had been in the Golden Core Stage for over two hundred years, his strength was definitely formidable. Furthermore, being a Third Order Alchemy Master, his network was undoubtedly vast, calling him a veteran Golden Core Cultivator with both strength and connections was not an exaggeration at all. ... But even so, Lin Tianming was not too wary of him. After all, the strength of him and his wife compared to He Zhengsong was not weak, plus the overall strength of the Lin Family was not much less than that of the Three Poisons Sect. With such a solid backing, why would Lin Tianming be easily intimidated by He Zhengsong¡¯s few threatening words? Besides, with Lin Tianming¡¯s personality, if He Zhengsong had been more polite and negotiable, it might have been possible for him to give up continuing the bidding. But He Zhengsong was so arrogant and aggressive, not only was his tone and attitude terrible, but he also directly threatened. In his view, this action was a total disregard for him. Towards such a person, Lin Tianming naturally would not be polite. Thus, Lin Tianming also did not show a good face, nor was he likely to easily submit. In this tense atmosphere, the auction venue fell into silence, eerily quiet. At this point, the auctioneer Xie Yingshan, seeing that no higher bids were forthcoming, especially from He Zhengsong, who did not seem interested in bidding further. As such, Xie Yingshan had no choice but to publicly announce, ¡°This Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill will be sold for 10,500 Medium-grade Spirit Stones to the friend in room number 20.¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Lin Tianming had a smile on his face, his mood unaffected. He then prepared the exact amount of Spirit Stones and successfully completed the transaction with Xie Yingshan on the spot. It wasn¡¯t until he held the head-sized Monster Beast Inner Pill in his hands and carefully examined it, that he showed a satisfied expression. And at that moment, this high-priced auction item was officially declared closed. The auction continued. Under the management of Xie Yingshan, several more lots were auctioned off, each being Third Grade Treasures of high quality. As for the final prices of these auction items, they were all around 10,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones, roughly the same as what Lin Tianming had previously bid for the Third Order Monster Beast Inner Pill, obviously all being quite exquisite treasures. However, for the subsequent few items, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t very interested, so he did not bid again to avoid drawing unnecessary trouble by being too high-profile. By now, after auctioning about twenty treasures, the entire auction was gradually coming to an end. When a Third Order Spiritual Ore was sold for 13,000 Spirit Stones, a high price surpassing any other item previously sold, The atmosphere in the entire auction venue had reached its climax. Seeing such a scene, Xie Yingshan, the host, and the manager of the auction process, felt very satisfied at this moment. After quieting down for a moment, Xie Yingshan chuckled, then his loud voice resonated throughout the venue. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, all regular auction items have now been successfully sold!¡± ¡°Next, we will proceed to the last three key items, please be ready!¡± After saying this, Xie Yingshan ignored some joking comments, immediately patting his storage bag. Quickly, a green cauldron appeared in his hand. Looking at it, the cauldron was only palm-sized, the entire green body was covered with fine runes, and the pattern was quite unique, giving it a rather exquisite appearance. As this scene unfolded, many from the VIP rooms engaged in discussions. ¡°It¡¯s the Qingmu Cauldron!¡± ¡°Ha¡­ The Longqing Sect is truly generous this time, even willing to auction off this cauldron.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost two hundred years since Old Ghost Luo passed away, even his cherished cauldron has now been put up for auction as the final item, truly poignant.¡± ¡­ Hearing this, Lin Tianming roughly understood the origin of this cauldron. It seemed that the Qingmu Cauldron was a Dan Furnace left behind by a Golden Core Stage predecessor of the Longqing Sect, and only a few hundred years old. Now for some reason, the Longqing Sect had placed this cauldron as the final auction item, clearly giving great importance to this Golden Core Auction Venue. Such a scene also surprised Lin Tianming, stirring some emotions in his heart. After all, a Treasure Cauldron is extremely difficult to refine, and its value is quite high, much more expensive than ordinary offensive and defensive Magical Treasures, and the difficulty in refining it is significantly greater. Even sometimes, some common Fourth Order Treasures might not be as valuable as a Third Order Elixir Furnace Treasure. Therefore, Treasure level Dan Furnaces in the Cultivation World have always been a rarity, and each appearance inevitably causes a scramble. Just like the Qingyun Furnace that Lin Tianming obtained, which was the only Elixir Furnace Treasure left behind by the Golden Sword Sect. For this Furnace, the Lin Family also reluctantly gave up a lot of resources to obtain the ownership from Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley. Chapter 1073 1073 563 Qingmu Cauldron_2 ?Chapter 1073: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron_2 Chapter 1073: Chapter 563 Qingmu Cauldron_2 Seeing this, one understands just how valuable a magical treasure grade pill furnace can be. Now, the Longqing Sect is actually willing to auction off a magical treasure pill furnace as the finale item, clearly sparing no expense. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, such an action also reflects the profound depth of the Longqing Sect¡¯s foundation. After all, a magical treasure pill furnace is hard to come by; selling one means one less in possession, and getting another back or refining a new one afterwards would be immensely difficult and cost a great deal in terms of financial and material resources. As such, typical Golden Core forces would not sell a treasure like a magical treasure pill furnace. But now, the Longqing Sect has opted to auction the Qingmu Cauldron, which reflects that the Longqing Sect certainly possesses more than one magical treasure grade pill furnace internally. Otherwise, even if the Longqing Sect does not have many Third Order Alchemy Masters, they would not easily offer such a foundational treasure as the Qingmu Cauldron. ... Therefore, this shows how truly profound the Longqing Sect¡¯s resources are, worthy of being one of the three great sects of the Golden Crow Country and subtly the strongest force. After calming himself a bit, Lin Tianming plans to bid for this pill furnace. In his view, although the Lin Family¡¯s overall strength in the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World is on par with that of the Zhenyang Sect and Myriad Medicine Valley, they clearly lack behind the other two great sects in terms of high-level treasures and the number of core competent family members. Like this magical treasure pill furnace, if he were to win it, Ye Pinghai who is already a Third Order Alchemist would be able to use it immediately. Additionally, Lin Tianhong and Lin Tianqin are both in the late stage of Foundation Establishment and are Second Order Superior Alchemists. Given their talent and potential, it¡¯s very likely they could advance to the Golden Core Stage. At that time, they will sooner or later reach the level of Third Order Alchemists. Truly, if that becomes the case, even if the Lin Family obtained two more magical treasure pill furnaces, they wouldn¡¯t worry about them being unused. Realizing this, Lin Tianming is determined to win this magical treasure. After all, he currently isn¡¯t lacking in spirit stones; even though he already spent twenty thousand medium-grade spirit stones previously to purchase the Yuan Essence Fruit and the inner core of a Third Order Demon Beast, he still has tens of thousands of spirit stones on hand. Furthermore, considering the spirit stone reserves also held by Qin Xi, his spouse and him don¡¯t need to worry about spirit stones in the short term. Knowing this, Lin Tianming watched for a while, then immediately joined the bidding process. In an instant, bidding sounds continuously echoed throughout the venue. ¡°Sixteen thousand two hundred spirit stones!¡± ¡°Sixteen thousand five hundred spirit stones¡­¡± ¡°Seventeen thousand five hundred spirit stones!¡± Lin Tianming raised the bid by a thousand medium-grade spirit stones in one go, equivalent to one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. This degree of bidding increment would consume almost half the wealth of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Yet still, there were several cultivators continuing to bid, including He Zhengsong who had been active earlier. As Lin Tianming¡¯s bid came in, He Zhengsong also spoke without hesitation, ¡°Eighteen thousand spirit stones!¡± Hearing this price, Lin Tianming chuckled and then shouted again: ¡°Twenty thousand medium-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°What? Twenty thousand medium-grade spirit stones?¡± ¡°This fellow daoist is generous indeed, raising directly by two thousand medium-grade spirit stones!¡± At this time, hearing the price from Lin Tianming¡¯s VIP heavenly room initiated some mutterings among the crowd. Lin Tianming, hearing this, was unconcerned and chose to ignore them. At this moment, he only wanted to secure this pill furnace at all costs, to further deepen the Lin Family¡¯s foundation. After all, good treasures are hard to come by, especially a magical treasure grade pill furnace, which is rarely seen even normally. And spirit stones, once reaching the Golden Core stage, aren¡¯t as useful as they were during the Foundation Establishment period. Because even common Third Grade Treasures can be purchased with medium-grade spirit stones. Upon encountering some rare and valuable Third Grade Treasures, even possessing Medium-grade Spirit Stones does not guarantee an easy purchase. Thus, there¡¯s no point in talking about Fourth Order treasures, as there is simply no possibility of trading with Mid-Low Grade Spirit Stones alone. Given these circumstances, having an abundance of Spirit Stones is meaningless, and it would be better to use them to enhance the family¡¯s foundation. For this reason, Lin Tianming raised the bid by two thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones in one go, hoping to deter other competitors and to secure the Qingmu Cauldron with less cost. Sure enough, as his price was quoted, the five bidders for this treasure dwindled down to only He Zhengsong, a man known for his great wealth, who now hesitated. After a long while, He Zhengsong too, on the basis of Lin Tianming¡¯s price, increased the bid by a thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones in one breath. With his actions, it seemed he was also trying to deter Lin Tianming, prompting him to back off early. However, Lin Tianming, without any hesitation, shouted: ¡°Twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones!¡± Lin Tianming¡¯s additional bid of two thousand Spirit Stones once again brought more excitement to the entire venue. At this time, many cultivators in the VIP rooms were privately speculating about the identity of the power or which individual Loose Cultivator represented by No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room. However, these VIP rooms were secured with restrictions, and no one but the host, the Longqing Sect, could know the origins of these two individuals. In fact, it is even possible that Longqing Sect didn¡¯t know their identities, assuming privately that they were just traveling Loose Cultivators, or perhaps disciples of some Great Sect or powerful families. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s generous spending, knowing full well of He Zhengsong¡¯s identity, power, and connections, and still confidently rejecting any threat. Such backbone is not something typical Loose Cultivators or individuals from Sect Families with shallow backgrounds could possess. Following such a bid increase by Lin Tianming, He Zhengsong was left furious and somewhat powerless. At this moment, inside He Zhengsong¡¯s VIP room. He was seen sitting on a luxurious armchair made of precious materials, his gaze fixed on the opposite No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room, his expression ominously grim. Not only that, He Zhengsong slightly moved his arm, and the armrest of his chair directly became powdered. Clearly, He Zhengsong was very angry, and his heart was full of murderous intent. Seeing such a scene, the two direct disciples behind He Zhengsong were equally terrified, fearing that they might get caught in the crossfire. Fortunately, He Zhengsong still retained a bit of rationale and did not vent his anger on them. ¡°Forget it, forget it¡­¡± ¡°To the fellow daoist in the No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room, you have repeatedly opposed me, I have taken note of you!¡± ¡°Once I find out your origins and track down your whereabouts, I will surely flay and debone you, letting you know the consequences of offending me.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± He Zhengsong cursed resentfully, killing intent uncontrollably seeping out. But soon, he forcibly maintained his silence, not making any further moves. At this time, silence lingered in the auction hall, and no one continued to bid higher than Lin Tianming¡¯s high price. Seeing this situation, Xie Yingshan from the venue was also excited and nodded. Then, he loudly announced, ¡°Congratulations to the fellow daoist in the No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room for successfully bidding the Qingmu Cauldron for twenty-three thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as his words fell, Lin Tianming threw out a storage bag that passed through the restrictions and landed securely in Xie Yingshan¡¯s hands. Then, after Xie Yingshan inspected it, he threw out the Qingmu Cauldron, which Lin Tianming remotely grabbed into his possession. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the pill furnace in front of him, unable to let go of his fond feelings. Upon his initial examination, the quality and spirituality of the Qingmu Cauldron were quite good, hardly inferior to his current Qingyun Furnace, and perhaps even better. ¡°Indeed, worthy of an old pill furnace, the previous owner seems to have been quite reputable. Such a pill furnace, quality and spirituality are also extremely good!¡± Lin Tianming muttered softly, not at all heartbroken over the price of over twenty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, but instead feeling it was very much worth it. ¡­ Chapter 1074 1074 564 Luoyin Bug ?Chapter 1074: Chapter 564 Luoyin Bug Chapter 1074: Chapter 564 Luoyin Bug Auction venue, No. 20 VIP Heavenly Room. Lin Tianming toyed with the Qingmu Cauldron for a while, and when his palm touched the delicate Pill Furnace, his eyes revealed an affectionate gaze that he couldn¡¯t let go. Having finally suppressed the joy in his heart, Lin Tianming shifted his gaze and continued to pay attention to the progress of the auction. As the bidding for the Qingmu Cauldron came to an end, only the last two out of the three finale items remained to be auctioned, S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. but the value of the first finale item was already very high, after all, the final transaction price was a whopping twenty-three thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. It was foreseeable that if the first finale item could fetch such a price, the value of the subsequent two finale items would definitely be even higher. It was even possible that items suitable for Core Formation or even Fourth Tier Items might appear. With such expectations, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi perked up and continued to focus on every move in the center of the venue. ... At this time, Xie Yingshan was in a good mood, because the Qingmu Cauldron, as one of the finale items, fetched an unexpectedly high price. Not only that, but the prices for the previous twenty-plus treasures were all not low, and the bidding atmosphere on site was extremely lively. Such a scene was exactly what the Longqing Sect wanted to see. Now that only the last two finale items were left to be auctioned, the final transaction price would certainly not be low. Knowing this, as Xie Yingshan calmed his emotions, already several Cultivators in the VIP rooms couldn¡¯t wait and promptly urged the bidding to continue. Seeing this, Xie Yingshan dared not delay. At this moment, with a wave of his sleeve, a Jade Box appeared in his hand. Then, Xie Yingshan opened the Jade Box, revealing a completely transparent fruit that looked quite lovely. As this item appeared, many in the audience gasped in surprise, their voices passing through the restrictions of the VIP rooms, allowing every Cultivator present to hear clearly. ¡°Wuyi Fruit!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ It really is the Wuyi Fruit!¡± Hearing these voices, and looking at the fruit in the Jade Box, Lin Tianming was also extremely surprised. The reason for this was that Lin Tianming remembered the origin of this fruit. It turned out that the Wuyi Fruit was an extremely precious Third Order Spiritual Fruit in the Cultivation World, hardly seen on a regular basis, and its effects were particularly peculiar and unique. According to the rumors, the Wuyi Fruit had a certain probability of helping Cultivators quickly improve their attainments in the Four Arts of Cultivation. For example, a Second Order Superior Alchemist, after consuming this fruit, would have a significantly reduced difficulty when attempting to advance to a Third Order Alchemy Master. This held true for the other arts as well, all benefiting similarly. Even a Third Order Alchemy Master consuming the Wuyi Fruit could to some extent increase their own insight, with overall effects somewhat similar to a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. However, in terms of value, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items were slightly more valuable. Nevertheless, the value of the Wuyi Fruit was still very high, and in the current Cultivation World, it was extremely rare. At the very least, if it appeared normally, it would be snatched up by major powers. And now, at the Golden Core Auction Venue, the emergence of such a treasure was far beyond Lin Tianming¡¯s expectations. While Lin Tianming was surprised, Xie Yingshan¡¯s voice had already spread from below. ¡°One Wuyi Fruit, with a starting bid of eighteen thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, each bid increment must not be less than one hundred Spirit Stones!¡± As soon as the words fell, vehement bidding began to resonate throughout the venue. ¡°Eighteen thousand five hundred Spirit Stones¡­¡± ¡°Eighteen thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± After just over ten rounds of bidding, the price of the Wuyi Fruit had already exceeded twenty-three thousand Spirit Stones, nearly matching the price Lin Tianming had initially paid for the Qingmu Cauldron. And this wasn¡¯t all; the price was still climbing, with the bidding process remaining intense. At this time, there were still as many as seven Cultivators participating in the bidding, clearly all from Golden Crow Country¡¯s Golden Core Sects or Golden Core Family Cultivators. The reason for this was the high value of the Wuyi Fruit. Ordinary Loose Cultivators or small families would have to spend nearly half of their wealth to possibly win this treasure from those long-established powers. Including Lin Tianming, seeing that these people¡¯s bids all started with a minimum increase of five hundred Medium-grade Spirit Stones, for a moment, Lin Tianming too was stunned by their crazy bidding. Not long after, another ten or so rounds of bidding ended, and the price of the Wuyi Fruit had reached twenty-eight thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, nearly approaching the thirty thousand Spirit Stone threshold. At this moment, Lin Tianming, originally still interested in competing, began to hesitate upon seeing such a fervent bidding scene. In his opinion, it was highly probable that the final price of this Wuyi Fruit would break through thirty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. For such a high price, he personally could afford it. But if he were to get involved, it would likely attract the attention of all Cultivators. After all, he had been conspicuous enough so far by participating in several auctions, already drawing enough attention. If he were to forcefully compete with those major powers for this treasure, it would likely arouse suspicion and could even become a direct target. And although the Wuyi Fruit was rare and valuable, for him personally, with the help of the Eye of Five Colors and his own Alchemy Talent, even if he consumed the fruit, the improvement would be limited. Considering this, Lin Tianming pondered over and over again and decided not to participate in the competition. It wasn¡¯t that he was reluctant to spend Spirit Stones, nor did he not desire the treasure, but to take such a risk for such a small gain seemed not worthwhile. Chapter 1075 1075 564 Luoyin Bug_2 ?Chapter 1075: Chapter 564: Luoyin Bug_2 Chapter 1075: Chapter 564: Luoyin Bug_2 Fully aware of the importance, Lin Tianming remained an observer, discussing the fierce bidding below with his spouse. Soon, after several more rounds of price increases, the number of participants in the auction dwindled. In the end, the Wuyi Fruit was sold for thirty-one thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. The person who obtained this treasure was none other than He Zhengsong from the VIP room. With the auction of this treasure concluded, Xie Yingshan adjusted the pacing and then brought out the final showpiece item. At this moment, Xie Yingshan was holding a wooden stick as thick as one¡¯s arm in his hand. Looking over, the stick was greenish-brown, less than two feet in length, adorned with fiery red spots, and carried an indescribable fragrance. ... Upon seeing this item, the cultivators in the various VIP rooms immediately inquired, ¡°Xie Daoyou, is that object in your hands the Fourth Order Spiritual Material, Chunlin Wood?¡± Hearing this, Xie Yingshan chuckled. ¡°Hehe¡­ Dear cultivators, you truly have insightful eyes. As for this treasure, it is indeed the Fourth Order Spiritual Material, Chunlin Wood.¡± ¡°It really is that item!¡± ¡°What a pity, what a pity¡­ This piece of Chunlin Wood seems somewhat insufficient, as if it¡¯s somehow lacking in value.¡± ¡°If we had about ten or eight of these sticks, plus some other Fourth Order Treasures, perhaps it would be possible to refine a Spiritual Treasure.¡± ¡°Listening to Lu Daoyou, it does seem to be the case!¡± Some cultivators began to discuss, and the atmosphere, compared to when Chunlin Wood first appeared, was clearly much more subdued. Evidently, the reputation of Chunlin Wood was not small, and its value was extremely high. However, a certain amount of Chunlin Wood was needed to maximize its utility. Therefore, the modest amount of Chunlin Wood available seemed unable to pique many cultivators¡¯ interest. Including Lin Tianming himself, who had also read about Chunlin Wood in various books. In his view, the quantity did seem insufficient at this moment, making it seem somewhat underwhelming, so he had no intention of bidding. Yet even so, because Chunlin Wood was very hard to come by, its value was still evident. Even if it couldn¡¯t serve its purpose now, accumulating it slowly, there would eventually be a day when enough is gathered to display its massive potential. Under these circumstances, as Xie Yingshan announced the starting bid of thirty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, four people from VIP rooms still began to bid. Lin Tianming watched the whole bidding process with interest, finding it quite entertaining. After more than ten rounds of bidding, the Chunlin Wood was finally won by the cultivator in VIP Room No. 12, with the final price being thirty-nine thousand Spirit Stones. Such a price once again set a new record for all auctioned items and was worthy of being the finale treasure. With the conclusion of the Chunlin Wood auction, the entire auction also drew to a close. At this time, after some closing words from Xie Yingshan, the cultivators in the VIP rooms gradually left the auction house. Lin Tianming and his spouse waited for a short while before leaving the auction house together. As they walked along the streets of the market, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully expanded, paying close attention to every movement around them. He did this to see if anyone was following them. After all, during this auction, he had been an active participant and had publicly rejected He Zhengsong¡¯s threats, attracting the attention of many cultivators. Especially He Zhengsong, who relied on his cultivation power and the reputation of being a Third Order Alchemy Master, was always arrogant and vindictive, resulting in a rather negative reputation. Therefore, Lin Tianming had to be careful. Fortunately, his worries were unfounded, as his investigation seemed to show no one was tailing them along the way. After that, Lin Tianming and his companion did not delay and left Longqing Market as soon as they could, quickly vanishing into the horizon. After a short while, Lin Tianming met with Tang Xiuping of Sky Dragon Pavilion in a valley a hundred miles from the market. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As instructed by Tang Xiuping, Lin Tianming came here to meet up with him to go deep into the Golden Crow Mountain Range and collect the He Yuan Guo Tree and the Heyuan Fruits. After exchanging greetings and chatting briefly, Lin Tianming brought up the main matter at hand. Seeing how serious and expectant Lin Tianming was, Tang Xiuping also didn¡¯t want to delay, for fear of unexpected changes. With that, Tang Xiuping led the way, and the three of them flew together in a certain direction. ¡­ At the same time, half an hour after Lin Tianming and the others left, two Blue-Robed Cultivators also left the workshop together and flew towards the direction where Lin Tianming had disappeared. Half a moment later, the two Blue-Robed Cultivators appeared on a mountaintop, and one of them, looking in a certain direction, slowly spoke. ¡°He Zhengsong, are you sure it¡¯s this way?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Yu Lihong, when have I ever made a mistake in these two hundred odd years?¡± He Zhengsong replied with a faint smile, but then showed a displeased expression, clearly not liking his judgment being questioned. Yu Lihong, hearing this, nodded awkwardly and then flattering said, ¡°Haha¡­ Indeed!¡± ¡°With Brother He¡¯s Demon Insect¡¯s Innate Divine Ability to assist, even if that lad tries to hide, no matter how fast he is, he ultimately won¡¯t be able to escape brother¡¯s tracking.¡± Upon hearing these words, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression softened somewhat, apparently quite pleased with Yu Lihong¡¯s flattery. Subsequently, He Zhengsong patted the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist, and a palm-sized bug appeared in his hand as if from nowhere. On closer inspection, this insect was dark brown all over, with thin, transparent wings. On its back was a smooth carapace with distinctive spots, and its appearance looked somewhat fierce. More importantly, despite the Demon Insect¡¯s small size, it had an incredibly powerful aura; it was an early-stage Third Order Demon Insect. If anyone present could recognize this insect, they would realize that it was the notorious Luoyin Bug. The Luoyin Bug¡¯s reputation was not modest; among the myriad Demon Insects of the Cultivation World, it was considered an exceedingly rare and special existence. The reason for this was because of the unique and peculiar Innate Divine Abilities of the Luoyin Bug. According to rumors, the Luoyin Bug could remember various sounds and scents to track its host from a distance. Moreover, it could also use sound waves to attack its target, making its Divine Skills particularly elusive and unpredictable. If the target was unprepared or too careless, they might be silently killed without any warning. For this reason, the Luoyin Bug¡¯s reputation stood out among the myriad of Demon Insects and was one of the most feared among its peers. Using this Luoyin Bug, He Zhengsong had managed to surprise and severely wound or even kill several cultivators of the same rank over the years. It can be said that He Zhengsong¡¯s achievements today could not have been possible without this Luoyin Bug. At this moment, He Zhengsong paid little attention to Yu Lihong. Looking at the bug in front of him, he bit his fingertip, and a drop of fresh blood fell onto the back of the Demon Insect, quickly disappearing. The Demon Insect seemed to relish his blood, chirping excitedly. Then, He Zhengsong made a strange hand gesture and released his Divine Sense, seemingly performing some arcane act. However, soon after, he showed a satisfied smile. ¡°Hehe¡­ That guy went deep into the Golden Crow Mountain Range!¡± ¡°It¡¯s good this way, killing that guy there; no matter what his identity or background might be, presumably, no one will find out, nor will it reveal our whereabouts.¡± He Zhengsong said with a smile, then looked at the Demon Insect in front of him with a pleased expression. On hearing He Zhengsong¡¯s words, Yu Lihong was similarly animated. ¡°Brother He, most of the cultivators attending the Golden Core auction, we recognize them and have dealt with them to an extent.¡± ¡°Just now, those youngsters said that fellow has a very unfamiliar face, and has always kept a low profile. If he hadn¡¯t entered the auction house, no one would have even noticed his level of cultivation.¡± ¡°Such caution and secretive behavior suggest he¡¯s not from our Golden Crow Country.¡± ¡°However, he has bid for many treasures, so he likely has the goods on him, and his own wealth must be substantial.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ If we quickly catch up and kill him, we will definitely gain a handsome reward.¡± Yu Lihong excitedly said, his face showing impatient eagerness. At this time, He Zhengsong, looking ahead, couldn¡¯t help but smirk sinisterly upon hearing Yu Lihong¡¯s analysis, seemingly confident in the upcoming pursuit. ¡°Cackle cackle cackle¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­ Let¡¯s catch up and reclaim what should belong to us, and maybe make a tidy profit!¡± He Zhengsong said excitedly. Subsequently, the Luoyin Bug took off in a certain direction at an inconceivable speed. Seeing this, He Zhengsong did not delay any longer. He immediately led Yu Lihong to follow the direction in which the Luoyin Bug had flown. In a short while, two men and a bug turned into several shadows that disappeared into the gloomy sky. ¡­ Chapter 1076 1076 565 Black Demon Ape ?Chapter 1076: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape Chapter 1076: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape ¡°` Golden Crow Mountain Range. Atop a certain peak deep within the mountain range, three dark shadows descended from the sky, finally revealing their figures. It was not until these three dark shadows stood firm that their facial features became clear, and they were none other than Lin Tianming and his wife, along with Tang Xiuping. After more than half a month of traveling, Tang Xiuping, leading Lin Tianming and his partner, took several turns in direction, finally arriving here. Obviously, Tang Xiuping was also very cautious about this treasure-hunting process; otherwise, he would not have changed directions several times midway. However, as for this behavior, Lin Tianming did not pay much attention to Tang Xiuping¡¯s cautiousness. In his eyes, as long as Tang Xiuping kept his promise and led him to the Heyuan Guo Tree, that would suffice. ... The rest would be up to him to handle. And he himself was not particularly interested in the treasure that did not belong to him. With this in mind, Lin Tianming naturally did not say much, just followed Tang Xiuping with peace of mind until they arrived here. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the dense jungle below the mountain peak and did not know the exact location of this place. Therefore, Lin Tianming still asked. ¡°Daoist Tang, how far are we from our destination on this trip?¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuping took out a map and examined it carefully. Then, Tang Xiuping spoke: ¡°Replying to Elder Lin, we have now entered deep into the Golden Crow Mountain Range. It should take us a few more days¡¯ journey to reach our destination.¡± Hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s response, Lin Tianming nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, during this time, they had certainly crossed a vast distance and encountered many diverse and dangerous terrains. In addition, on their journey, they encountered quite a few Second Order Demonic Beasts with not small packs, and their overall strength was truly formidable. Moreover, several days ago, Lin Tianming, using his powerful Divine Sense, detected several strong presences nearby their route, clearly identified as Third Order Demonic Beasts. However, the trio led by Lin Tianming did not waste time, nor did they intend to engage in battles. Thus, unbeknownst to those Demonic Beasts, they eventually reached this place. Having gone through these processes, it also indicated that they had arrived at the deepest part of the Golden Crow Mountain Range. Here, the Demonic Beasts were at least Second Order Late Phase or above, and Third Order Demonic Beasts were not in the minority. It could be said that this place was rarely trodden by humans and exceedingly dangerous, indeed suitable for the growth of Heaven and Earth Treasures. Knowing this, Lin Tianming became somewhat impatient. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming casually chatted with Tang Xiuping for a few moments before continuing on their journey. Several days later. Lin Tianming and the trio came upon the outskirts of a valley. At this time, Lin Tianming and his companions stood on top of a small hill. Tang Xiuping looked at the valley in front of them, then pointed in the direction of the valley and said: ¡°Elder Lin, this valley is the hidden location of the He Yuan Guo Tree.¡± Hearing this, a sharp gaze pierced through the layers of dense fog, scrutinizing the valley before him. Looking over, the valley did not seem to be very large, but inside, many huge boulders were scattered all over the land, and a dense jungle covered a part of the valley. Moreover, a thick layer of fog perpetually shrouded the valley¡¯s airspace, which somewhat affected Divine Sense when it traveled inside. Such a landscape seemed somewhat sinister and most certainly was not a stable place. Especially Lin Tianming himself, having been exposed to many dangerous places, had a keen sense of danger. Seeing such a scene now, he immediately became fully alert. At this moment, Tang Xiuping continued: ¡°Elder Lin, unless something unexpected happens, inside this valley should be the lair of a Third Grade Medium Stage Black Demon Ape.¡± ¡°Black Demon Ape?¡± Hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, Lin Tianming was a bit surprised. He had heard of the Black Demon Ape and had seen descriptions of it in some classics. The Black Demon Ape was also considered a well-known entity among Third Order Demonic Beasts. What Lin Tianming was more concerned about were the key characteristics of the Black Demon Ape. According to Lin Tianming¡¯s recollection, the classics recorded it as such: It is said that inside the Black Demon Ape resided a trace of the bloodline of an Ancient Demon Ape, therefore its Qi-Blood was extremely strong, with both formidable Attack Power and defensive power. Moreover, the Black Demon Ape combined that with terrifying mobility. Combining these circumstances, it can be said without exaggeration that the Black Demon Ape hardly had any significant weaknesses. Because of this, the overall strength of the Black Demon Ape was very strong, indeed a formidable opponent. However, even so, Lin Tianming was not too nervous. In his eyes, as long as it was not a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, considering his current strength, there was no need to be overly cautious. And according to what Tang Xiuping had told him, the Black Demon Ape was only at the grade of Third Grade Medium Stage, and even if it was strong, it was not very likely to pose a fatal threat to him. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming remained calm and withdrew his probing gaze. Then, Lin Tianming looked at Tang Xiuping and slowly said: ¡°Daoist Tang, let¡¯s go in and take a look first. If there is only one Black Demon Ape inside, there¡¯s no need to be overly cautious.¡± Hearing this, and seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confident expression, Tang Xiuping nodded. At this time, Lin Tianming, seeing that Tang Xiuping had no objections, then turned to Qin Xi beside him and said: ¡°Xi¡¯er, keep an eye on Daoist Tang for a moment, don¡¯t let anything happen to him.¡± ¡°` Chapter 1077 1077 565 Black Demon Ape_2 ?Chapter 1077: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape_2 Chapter 1077: Chapter 565: Black Demon Ape_2 ¡°As for the Black Demon Ape, leave it to me!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Qin Xi nodded and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ming, with me here, nothing unexpected will happen to Daoist Tang!¡± At this moment, upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping also heaved a sigh of relief, his expression significantly changing. Initially, he was a bit nervous, fearing that Lin Tianming might not be a match for the Black Demon Ape. Now it seems that Lin Tianming is so confident, and the woman before him is also a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. With two Golden Core Stage Experts joining forces, the success rate of this trip has greatly increased, and his own safety has also greatly soared. With this in mind, Tang Xiuping finally relaxed. ... After calming down a bit, Tang Xiuping then said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, the junior would like to thank the senior for your care.¡± ¡°But Elder Lin should still be careful, after all, that creature has an extraordinary innate bloodline, and its strength is indeed formidable.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded, then continued, ¡°Follow closely behind me, we are going to enter the canyon now!¡± Having said this, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve, and the Tiangang Sword instantly appeared in his hand. Behind him, Qin Xi also pulled out her Aqua Blue Longsword, fully prepared. Including Tang Xiuping, who also took out his Magic Artifact, clutching it tightly in his hand, and another hand holding two Third Order Talismans, ready to act at any moment. Only after doing all this did Tang Xiuping¡¯s expression soften a lot, and he seemed less tense than before. Seeing that everyone was ready, Lin Tianming did not delay. He leaped forward, leading the way into the interior of the gorge. Behind him, Tang Xiuping followed closely, with Qin Xi not willing to fall behind, sandwiching Tang Xiuping in the middle, ready to look after him at any time. Soon, Lin Tianming and the others rushed into the thick fog. At this point, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense was fully activated, leading the two through a rugged path towards the inner part of the canyon. Along the way, Lin Tianming was constantly paying attention to every movement around them, leading the two and groping forward bit by bit. More than an hour later, the three of them had extended several dozen miles deep into the gorge. At this point, they reached an area densely covered with jungle. Lin Tianming paused briefly, hiding in a crevice in the rocks, scanning the surroundings. Just then, a loud roar came from deeper within the gorge. The noise was loud, accompanied by a crashing sound as if rocks were collapsing and giant trees were falling. Clearly, from the time Lin Tianming and his party entered the gorge, the occupying demonic beast had discovered them. Now, with such a big commotion suddenly in the originally quiet gorge, it immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. Especially Lin Tianming, who at this moment frowned tightly, ready for battle. ¡°Xi¡¯er, the Third Order Demon Beast is coming!¡± Lin Tianming gave a warning, then voluntarily moved forward, shielding the two behind him. Soon, a giant ape emerged from the dark gorge, stopping not far in front of Lin Tianming. Looking over, the giant ape was jet-black, at least over thirty feet tall, its body covered in distinct, greenish fur. At this moment, the giant ape stood before Lin Tianming, its pitch-black eyes staring at them, its facial expression somewhat ferocious. However, the ape¡¯s Spirit Wisdom seemed rather high; upon seeing Lin Tianming, it didn¡¯t act rashly. Its behavior seemed to indicate that it felt the terrifying aura of Lin Tianming. And it also understood that even if it fought desperately, it would likely not gain much advantage against this Human Cultivator before it. At this moment, Lin Tianming also didn¡¯t immediately act. As he stared at the giant ape before him, his expression serious, he couldn¡¯t help but mutter. ¡°Goodness, it really is a Third Grade Medium Stage Black Demon Ape!¡± Having come back to his senses, Lin Tianming and the Black Demon Ape¡¯s eyes met, each assessing the other. Several breaths later, the Black Demon Ape saw that Lin Tianming and the others had made no move and did not seem to be retreating. So, the Black Demon Ape suddenly let out a long howl to the sky, followed by pounding its chest and stomping its feet. In that instant, the aura of the Black Demon Ape was seen to be slowly increasing, and its momentum was climbing step by step. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming knew in his heart that the Black Demon Ape was still prepared to make a move. As for the actions of the Black Demon Ape, it should be boosting its momentum, adjusting to the best state for battle. Knowing this, Lin Tianming did not plan to give the Black Demon Ape too many opportunities. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming shouted loudly: ¡°Xi¡¯er, take good care of Daoist Tang, I¡¯m going to make my move!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After saying this, Lin Tianming slapped his waist, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords appeared out of thin air. Immediately afterward, Lin Tianming pinched a Law Decree, and spiritual lights bombarded the Earth Evil Swords. In that moment, the Earth Evil Swords spun wildly for a few turns, then quickly swept away, vanishing into the thick fog. At this time, Tang Xiuping saw the appearance of these Earth Evil Swords, his face changed and he exclaimed in alarm. ¡°Those¡­ those, are actually¡­ actually all treasure-level Spirit Swords!¡± ¡°My God¡­ what level of magical treasure is Elder Lin using, to deploy a total of seventy-two Treasure Swords, that¡¯s too extravagant and lavish.¡± Tang Xiuping¡¯s voice trembled, his face flushed extremely red. Clearly, although the quality of each Earth Evil Sword was rather ordinary, these were nevertheless seventy-two swords combined. Just forging these Earth Evil Swords, who knows how many Heaven and Earth Treasures would be consumed. Such magical treasures, for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, are simply unimaginable. Even Tang Xiuping, who came from the Tang Family of Qingzhou and was an executive officer of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, who had seen quite a few treasures and encountered many Golden Core Cultivators. Even within the Tang family itself, there are dozens of Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Yet even so, he had never seen anyone so lavish, deploying seventy-two treasure-grade longswords all at once. Such magical treasures, calling them priceless would not be an overstatement. And at this moment, under Tang Xiuping¡¯s shocked gaze, Lin Tianming had already dispersed all the Earth Evil Swords. His movements were fast, utilizing the fog¡¯s vapors, the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords were all distributed around the Black Demon Ape. The key point was, although the Black Demon Ape¡¯s Spirit Wisdom was not low, it still did not reach the level of an adult Human Race. Although the Black Demon Ape was initially confused, it quickly realized what was happening. Thus, in a rush, the Black Demon Ape moved its body, charging towards Lin Tianming. From a distance, the Black Demon Ape swung its fist, huge as boulders, flying straight towards Lin Tianming¡¯s head. Unfortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s formation setup was too fast, and the Black Demon Ape was a step too late. As it had yet to reach Lin Tianming, it felt a tremendous oppressive force, which greatly affected its movement speed. In that instant, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s speed weakened, feeling as if carrying a mountain on its back, each step requiring much greater strength. Following that, streaks of Sword Qi passed in front of the Black Demon Ape, the accompanying Sword Qi causing its skin to feel a sharp stinging pain. By now, the Black Demon Ape had already felt Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, and more clearly understood that this situation was very disadvantageous for it. Thus, the Black Demon Ape roared furiously, its expression extremely fierce and terrifying. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± In an instant, the deafening roar spread throughout the entire valley, causing the surrounding mountains and stones to tremble as well. At this moment, outside of the Sword Array, in a crevice between rocks. The gap between Tang Xiuping¡¯s strength and that of the Black Demon Ape was simply too vast. When he heard this roar, he had no time to react, directly feeling dizzy and involuntarily spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. Seeing this, Qin Xi waved her jade hand, and an ice-cold Light Shield appeared, protecting Tang Xiuping within. With this Light Shield, Tang Xiuping felt much better, and gradually calmed down. ¡­ Chapter 1078 1078 566 Battle with the Giant Ape ?Chapter 1078: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape Chapter 1078: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape At this moment, Tang Xiuping, who had gradually calmed down, wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth as he observed Lin Tianming taking action. Then, Tang Xiuping cupped his hands toward Qin Xi and said, ¡°Many thanks for your assistance, Senior Qin!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Qin Xi replied somewhat indifferently, subsequently shifting her gaze to Lin Tianming, who was currently executing his move. Following her gaze, Lin Tianming had deployed the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡°Humming sounds¡­¡± In that instant, the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords formed the Sword Array, creating a robust barrier that enveloped the terrain for a thousand zhang all around. ... The Black Demon Ape, caught off guard, found itself right at the heart of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Witnessing this scene, Tang Xiuping was profoundly shaken. It was not that he was lacking in composure, but rather the number of Treasure Swords in Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Array was immense, their momentum when operated was truly terrifying. Such an attack, in Tang Xiuping¡¯s view, would obliterate a regular Third Order Demon Beast in just a few exchanges. At this time, Lin Tianming was not paying attention to this. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was operating at full force, exerting a strong oppressive power that continuously restricted every move of the Black Demon Ape. Simultaneously, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array roamed everywhere, each stream carrying an intimidating force. As for the Black Demon Ape inside the Sword Array, it was now under immense pressure and had become thoroughly enraged. In that very moment, one could see the Black Demon Ape beating its chest and stamping its feet, with its massive fists pounding on the chest, as its momentum climbed higher and higher. Soon, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body was emitting waves of light, and an enormous roar echoed throughout the entire canyon. When its momentum reached a certain level, the Black Demon Ape suddenly leaped up. It then threw a punch, and the stream of Sword Qi flying within the Sword Array was actually thrown off course by the force of that punch. In an instant, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s fist smashed into the barrier of the Sword Array. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise ensued, accompanied by a surge of dark light that swept across the sky. In that moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shook violently a few times, then quickly returned to normal. Before this, Lin Tianming had already noticed the actions of the Black Demon Ape and immediately stabilized the Sword Array, ensuring its normal operation. Although the sudden attack launched by the Black Demon Ape was already very fast, Lin Tianming¡¯s Sword Array was simply too strong. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though it had just begun operating, it covered too vast an area, which made the barrier not as firm as when it was smaller in size. But his speed was equally fast, and almost all of his focus and energy were placed upon the Sword Array. Under his full control, the barrier of Earth Fiend Sword Formation firmly withstood the first round of attacks from the Black Demon Ape. Following that, the coverage of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to gradually shrink, and the solidity of the entire barrier also increased slowly. Until everything returned to normal, Lin Tianming looked at the enraged Black Demon Ape with surprise due to that strike. From this round of attacks, it was evident that the Black Demon Ape possessed substantial strength. After all, the Black Demon Ape itself was an entity of the Third Grade Medium Stage, and such a level of Demonic Beasts usually had formidable physical strength. Moreover, the Black Demon Ape possessed a trace of the Ancient Demon Ape¡¯s bloodline, with excellent inherent potential. Especially such Demonic Beasts, once they activate the Ancient Demon Ape bloodline, even just a hint, they could unleash astounding combat power. And the Black Demon Ape before them, although seemingly far from awakening its bloodline, With the grade of the Black Demon Ape itself, even a regular Demon Beast, when it fights desperately, has strength not to be underestimated, let alone a Demonic Beast like the Black Demon Ape. Thus, it can be said that the strength of the Black Demon Ape was indeed very formidable, probably a rare presence even within the entire Golden Crow Mountain Range. Knowing this, Lin Tianming remained vigilant against the enraged Black Demon Ape before him. So, Lin Tianming firmly stabilized the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At the same time, with a pinch of the Law Decree in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand, the Tiangang Sword burst forth with a brilliance of Spiritual Light. Immediately afterward, the Tiangang Sword soared to the sky, hovering above Lin Tianming¡¯s head. ¡°Tiangang Ninth Sword!¡± With a loud shout from Lin Tianming, in an instant, the Tiangang Sword transformed into a mighty dragon, piercing through the barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and heading straight for the Black Demon Ape. The Tiangang Sword was exceedingly fast, and the powerful momentum it generated turned into a Gang Wind that slapped directly onto the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body. The Black Demon Ape, upon seeing this commotion, became instantly panic-stricken. It was evident that the Spirit Wisdom of the Black Demon Ape was not low, recognizing the fierce attack incoming, it immediately felt a lethal threat. However, the Black Demon Ape was only momentarily alarmed before quickly calming down. Regaining its composure, the Black Demon Ape let out a furious roar and swung its massive fist once more, smashing it against the dragon-shaped Tiangang Sword. In the blink of an eye, they collided fiercely, and a dazzling light shone throughout the dark canyon. ¡°Bang¡­¡± An earth-shattering noise emitted, and the dragon shape burst apart, with the Tiangang Sword being flung away. At that moment, within the bright-as-daylight Earth Fiend Sword Formation, a painful roar was heard. Subsequently, the voluminous body of the Black Demon Ape hovered in mid-air, eventually crashing heavily to the ground, stirring up a whirlwind of dust. As all the light faded and the figure of the Black Demon Ape was revealed. Chapter 1079 1079 566 Battle with the Giant Ape_2 ?Chapter 1079: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape_2 Chapter 1079: Chapter 566: Battle with the Giant Ape_2 The Black Demon Ape lay half on the ground, a striking wound on its fist, from which blood was dripping ceaselessly. Moreover, there were scattered wounds on its body, though not very deep, evidently inflicted by the stray Sword Qi within the Sword Array. Besides this, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s energy seemed slightly languid, apparently suffering some damage from taking Lin Tianming¡¯s direct hit. In contrast, under the immense impact, Lin Tianming was merely knocked back a distance, his body otherwise unharmed. From this exchange, the gap between Lin Tianming and the Black Demon Ape was evident. However, in general, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s strength was still formidable, and even with Lin Tianming¡¯s advantage, anything could happen in a fierce battle. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aware of this, Lin Tianming dared not be careless. ... At this moment, not far away in a crevice, Tang Xiuping¡¯s face turned red with surprise, utterly shocked by Lin Tianming¡¯s consecutive tactics. He had assumed the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords were Lin Tianming¡¯s most valued Magical Treasure. But seeing the Tiangang Sword, along with the terrifying Divine Skill activated by Lin Tianming, shattered Tang Xiuping¡¯s notions once again. He had not expected Lin Tianming¡¯s Magical Treasures to be so formidable, each more terrifying than the last. Moreover, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skills were too dazzling, their mere presence terrifying just by their aura. Such Magical Treasures, combined with that kind of Supernatural attack, were horrifyingly powerful. And no wonder the former Lin Tianming, upon hearing about a Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast, remained composed and confident. Thinking of this, and seeing the continually composed Lin Tianming, Tang Xiuping was greatly shaken inside. ¡°Elder Lin¡¯s strength must be way beyond just this!¡± ¡°No wonder Elder Lin could become famous throughout Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World in just a few decades and also wield great influence in the neighboring nations.¡± Tang Xiuping thought to himself, his eyes glued to the ongoing battle, afraid of missing anything. At this time, the Black Demon Ape recovered, looking even more furious, presumably completely enraged by the previous hit. With a roar from the Black Demon Ape, it continued to charge towards the Sword Array Barricade. Seeing this, Lin Tianming braced himself, immediately unleashing multiple Sword Qi¡¯s, striking towards the Black Demon Ape. The Black Demon Ape was fast, its figure even quicker than at the start. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack speed was even faster, as ordinary attacks certainly cast spells faster compared to Divine Skills like the Tiangang Ninth Sword. Still, ordinary Sword Qi were limited in power, against a Demonic Beast like the Black Demon Ape with its thick skin and strong defensive power, their effectiveness was greatly reduced. The Black Demon Ape seemed to be aware of this, its target clear and undeterred by the Sword Qi. In such a situation, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s speed increased further, dark light swirling on its fist as an immense momentum swept forward. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang¡­¡± Instantly, Sword Qi collided head-on with the Black Demon Ape¡¯s fist. Then, one by one, the Sword Qi were repelled, dissipating between heaven and earth. Undiminished, the Black Demon Ape pressed on, its powerful fist, like a small mountain, viciously smashing down towards the Sword Array¡¯s barrier. During this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were continuous, barrages of Sword Qi depleting the Black Demon Ape¡¯s offensive edge. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming fully controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, shrinking its range as quickly as possible. In his eyes, the current range of the Sword Array was too large, and with a few more attacks from the Black Demon Ape, it risked collapse. Thus, Lin Tianming first used a large number of ordinary Sword Qi to erode the sharpness of the Black Demon Ape¡¯s assault. When the range of the Sword Array was reduced enough, its stability would be exceedingly solid, with no worries of the Black Demon Ape breaking free or posing much threat. At that time, he would be free to unleash his full power. With such anticipation, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were relentless. For a while, a multitude of Sword Qi surged into the Sword Array, converging with those roaming within, raining down upon the Black Demon Ape. At that instant, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array were incredibly dense and still increasing. Faced with such an attack, no matter how the Black Demon Ape dodged, even with its speed intact, it could not evade them all. And the Black Demon Ape was somewhat helpless, only able to quicken its movements to dodge as much as possible. If unavoidable, it would rely on its own defensive power to staunchly resist the Sword Qi. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± Sounds of crackling came from within the Sword Array, and at intervals, some Sword Qi would slice past the skin of the Black Demon Ape, only to be repelled away. But even so, each strike of Sword Qi would leave a mark on the Black Demon Ape, with wounds occasionally appearing, and blood seeping out from these spots. Most of these wounds were shallow, but there were a multitude of them. Although it was not fatal in the short term, it certainly hindered the offensive momentum of the demon ape. Especially the devastating power of that fist, now it seemed significantly less than at the beginning. With a loud boom, the fist of the Black Demon Ape bombarded the Sword Array Barricade. The Sword Array Barricade shook a few times, but quickly regained stability. At the same time, the Sword Array continued to shrink, rapidly reaching an area of about five hundred feet. At this moment, the Sword Qi within the Sword Array had become extremely dense, and the power of the Sword Qi was also increasing. More crucially, the Sword Array Barricade had already become quite formidable; even if it bore the Black Demon Ape¡¯s attacks unobstructed, it could likely withstand several. Knowing this, Lin Tianming revealed a long missing faint smile. Now it seemed that the Sword Array was stable, completely trapping the Black Demon Ape inside. Since the Black Demon Ape couldn¡¯t easily escape nor launch fatal strikes, Lin Tianming already held the absolute initiative. In such a case, Lin Tianming had no more reservations and should strike mercilessly to quickly eliminate the Black Demon Ape. What followed then, would be to venture deeper into the canyon to search for the Heyuan Guo Tree. Thinking of this, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand burst forth again, turning into a long dragon charging straight towards the Black Demon Ape. ¡°Roar¡­¡± In the moment the Tiangang Sword appeared, the Black Demon Ape showed a look of dread. By now, after several rounds of assault, the Black Demon Ape had officially recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s strength. It was clear that if this continued without a desperate fight, it would definitely be killed by the cultivator before it. So at this moment, the Black Demon Ape beat its chest and stomped its feet, its momentum steadily climbing. As its momentum surged again, the body of the Black Demon Ape grew thicker. When it reached a certain point, the Black Demon Ape suddenly opened its giant mouth and spat out a black light sphere. As the black light sphere appeared, the Sword Array was instantly caught in a fierce whirlwind with flying sand and rolling stones, and the sky which was previously sparkling brightly, suddenly became much darker. At the same time, the Sword Qi still roaming seemed to be trapped in a quagmire, its speed significantly reduced. Such Sword Qi, not only had its speed slowed down, but its power also weakened correspondingly. This sudden change seemed to be due to the black light sphere spat out by the Black Demon Ape, possessing the ability to affect all attacks in its vicinity. And this was not even what most apprehended Lin Tianming. Because the sheer presence of the black light sphere already possessed such power, it appeared rather eerie. Moreover, if it were to smash towards him, it would likely have a devastating result. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming finally assumed a serious expression. Immediately after, Lin Tianming formed a Law Decree with his hands and chanted under his breath. Soon, a golden Sword Qi rapidly condensed above his head, steadily hovering in the air. The moment this golden Sword Qi appeared, the sky suddenly blazed with light, and its strong momentum whirled up the surrounding sand and stones, the Gang Wind beginning to howl. As Lin Tianming roared out loudly: ¡°Golden Dragon Sword Strike!¡± In an instant, the golden Sword Qi turned into an extraordinary dragon, rushing swiftly into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. ¡­ Chapter 1080 1080 567 Appearance ?Chapter 1080: Chapter 567: Appearance Chapter 1080: Chapter 567: Appearance At this moment, the Black Demon Ape had already sensed the fatal danger when Lin Tianming made his move. Following that, the roaring dragon flew towards it, closing the distance bit by bit, eventually colliding hard with the black sphere of light head-on. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Suddenly, flames burst into the sky, the two powerful attacks collided directly, creating a huge wave that spread in all directions. The barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation blocked a considerable amount of energy impact, yet Lin Tianming was still pushed back several dozen meters by the tremendous rebound force before he could stabilize his stance. Then, the Qi-Blood within Lin Tianming surged up, and he couldn¡¯t help but spill a trace of blood from the corners of his mouth. At this time, Lin Tianming looked towards the Black Demon Ape within the Sword Array and saw that its condition was even more miserable. ... It turned out that Lin Tianming¡¯s round of attack was extremely powerful, and although the black sphere of light discharged by the Black Demon Ape was also powerful, it was heavily weakened by the numerous Sword Qi along its path. By the time the black sphere collided with the golden Sword Qi, its power had already drastically reduced. More crucially, the Sword Qi deployed by Lin Tianming was the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ from the Golden Sword Sect. Although ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ was merely a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, a Spirit Technique is still a Spirit Technique with formidable power not to be underestimated. Under such circumstances, even the Black Demon Ape¡¯s full-force attack had been weakened a bit, let alone stand up to Lin Tianming¡¯s powerful attack, it could only fall into a disadvantage. And the final outcome was the Black Demon Ape being blasted away by the strong energy fluctuations and heavily smashing into the ground. After the dust and flames dissipated, one could see the Black Demon Ape painfully wailing while lying on the ground. At that moment, just hearing that kind of piercing scream was enough to make one¡¯s scalp tingle. At the same time, the enormous body of the Black Demon Ape had already sustained numerous wounds, continuously bleeding profusely, resembling a bloodied giant ape. Besides, one of the Black Demon Ape¡¯s arms showed a bloody deep wound so deep that even the white bones inside could be clearly seen. After this strike, the Black Demon Ape was severely injured, and its overall aura had rapidly weakened significantly. And at this time, when the Black Demon Ape looked at Lin Tianming again, there was a hint of fear in its expression. Clearly, after several rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming had thoroughly demonstrated his formidable strength. The Black Demon Ape was strong as well, but fighting against a formidable opponent like Lin Tianming, it was clearly at a disadvantage. More importantly, Lin Tianming had maintained an absolute advantage from start to finish, whether in attack or defense, clearly handling it with ease. The Black Demon Ape seemed to realize the disadvantageous situation, thus its whole state turned extremely irritable. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation had it trapped tightly; every time it attacked the Sword Array Barricade, it was inevitably met with Lin Tianming¡¯s layers of obstacles. Besides this, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was truly formidable, even a casual strike carrying terrifying destructive power. Faced with such attacks, the Black Demon Ape had no choice but to respond with all its might. Yet even so, the Black Demon Ape still could not gain the slightest advantage, instead, each attack resulted in some injuries. Continuing this way, the wounds of the Black Demon Ape would only grow heavier, not to mention breaking free from the Sword Array¡¯s binding, even its life could not be guaranteed. In this situation, the Black Demon Ape was very agitated, desperately wanting to break out of the Sword Array¡¯s range. Whereas Lin Tianming, at this moment, maintained a normal demeanor. Even though using the Spirit Technique ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ did not achieve tremendous progress, being able to injure a tough-skinned and powerful Demonic Beast like the Black Demon Ape had already satisfied him greatly. In contrast, on the side of the Black Demon Ape, only that black sphere posed some threat. After all, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s Innate Divine Ability was at the Third Grade Medium Stage; the power of an Innate Divine Ability was naturally not comparable to an Ordinary Attack. However, like Black Demon Ape¡¯s ordinary attacks, the attack power was extremely limited, completely unable to break the binding of the Sword Array. Under such circumstances, to say he was already invincible would not be an exaggeration. Deeply aware of this, Lin Tianming maintained a calm expression, his gaze closely watching the Black Demon Ape¡¯s every move. And opposite him, the Black Demon Ape continued to beat its chest and stamp its feet, quickly boosting its momentum to its peak once more. Following that, the Black Demon Ape once again spat out a large black sphere of light, heading straight for the Sword Array Barricade. The black sphere¡¯s speed was very fast, darting out dozens of meters in the blink of an eye. However, Lin Tianming, with his rich magic duel experience, had already preemptively noticed the Black Demon Ape¡¯s movement. In that instant, Lin Tianming suddenly shouted loudly. ¡°Wild beast, think again!¡± Before his words fell, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands flashed with light, and a ferocious dragon soared across the void heading straight towards the Black Demon Ape¡¯s head to bite down. And the Black Demon Ape sensing the movement as well, the black sphere originally spit out towards the Sword Array Barricade now suddenly shifted its course of attack, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword. Clearly, the Black Demon Ape also knew what was more crucial. After all, it had long experienced the might of Lin Tianming¡¯s Technique Divine Power, not only was its speed incredibly fast, but its power was also extremely formidable. Facing such a level of attack, if the Black Demon Ape chose to ignore it and attacked the Sword Array Barricade forcefully, it would allow the transformed giant dragon to progress unabated. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1081 1081 567 Appearance_2 ?Chapter 1081: Chapter 567: Appearance_2 Chapter 1081: Chapter 567: Appearance_2 By then, the Black Demon Ape would have to face the attack of the giant dragon directly. Indeed, if that were to happen, even with its strong defensive power, it might be severely injured in an instant, or even directly slain here, it¡¯s not impossible. Thus, the Black Demon Ape would have no choice but to abandon the opportunity to attack the Sword Array Barricade and use the black light clusters to block Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks. With a loud boom, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was once again filled with sparks, as the massive collision generated shockwaves that howled past. Lin Tianming, shielded by the Sword Array Barricade, suffered limited impact. But the Black Demon Ape did not have such conditions like Lin Tianming and had to withstand those shockwaves head-on. Luckily, the Black Demon Ape, being a Demonic Beast and a powerful being at the Third Grade Medium Stage, had strong Qi-Blood and its fur possessed extremely terrifying defensive power. ... Under such shockwaves, the Black Demon Ape was merely wounded, worsening its injuries. However, relying on its own Vitality and that strong Recovery, the Black Demon Ape still retained much of its strength, enough to prevent a major injury from Lin Tianming¡¯s strike. But such tremendous exhaustion still spelled a slow death for the Black Demon Ape. Nevertheless, even if the Black Demon Ape realized this, it couldn¡¯t change its current dire situation. After several rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming had almost discerned the gap between them. Besides, he also understood his own current situation and the general direction to follow to different extents. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming now controlled the initiative. As the Black Demon Ape had yet to stabilize its form, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements in his hands didn¡¯t stop. In that instant, Lin Tianming continued to activate the Tiangang Ninth Sword, planning to further extend his advantage before the Black Demon Ape could recover. Thus, within the momentarily tranquil Sword Array, another giant dragon emerged, roaring and rushing towards the Black Demon Ape. At that moment, just as the Black Demon Ape climbed up from the chaotic ground, it saw the attack incoming, hastily spitting out a black light cluster, hoping to repel the dragon. With such intention, the two collided forcefully. However, with Lin Tianming initiating the attack first, the speed of his actions and the flight of the dragon was incredibly fast. By the time the Black Demon Ape spit out the black light cluster just forming and soaring into the air, the dragon had already descended above its head. At that moment, a thunderous boom resounded. Instantly, a mushroom cloud rose over the Black Demon Ape¡¯s head, and intense flames soared into the sky. It turned out that the collision point of the two powerful attacks was very close to the Black Demon Ape¡¯s proximity. And before this, the Black Demon Ape had already sustained serious injuries, and its strength had been somewhat diminished. Now, the Black Demon Ape had to withstand an even greater impact. In comparison, Lin Tianming¡¯s side experienced further weakened impact, merely being pushed back a few yards before stabilizing his form. Subsequently, under Lin Tianming¡¯s watch, after a miserable scream from the Black Demon Ape, its massive body was directly thrown out, flattening a small hill entirely. Only when the Black Demon Ape became embedded in a crevice did it stop. Following that, the Black Demon Ape painfully struggled a few times before climbing up from the ground. Looking around, the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body was dotted with numerous wounds, some deep, the fresh blood drenching much of its fur, presenting a chilling sight. And within the Black Demon Ape¡¯s body, the Qi-Blood chaotically surged, with both the divine soul and Demon Core being shaken by that immense impact. Once the Black Demon Ape slightly adjusted, it had become a bloody ape, with not a single place on its body intact. In such a miserable state, the Black Demon Ape bared its teeth and then let out an angry roar. At that moment, Lin Tianming once again unleashed a massive amount of Sword Qi, attacking the Black Demon Ape from all angles. Simultaneously, under his control, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation further narrowed its range, squeezing the last bits of survival space for the Black Demon Ape. At this moment, the area covered by the Sword Array was only over two hundred yards, the entire barricade was like an impenetrable wall. Under such circumstances, whether Lin Tianming intercepted its attacks or not, the Black Demon Ape could no longer break through the heavy encirclement of the Sword Array. It can be said that the Black Demon Ape had no retreat, and to say it was hard to escape even if it sprouted wings would not be an exaggeration. Watching Lin Tianming¡¯s attack getting closer, Black Demon Ape swings its massive fists and spits out black light orbs, trying to make a final stand. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± A series of explosions sound, countless Sword Qi colliding with the fists of Black Demon Ape, sparking many flames. With each contact, Black Demon Ape suffers some damage. At that time, although Black Demon Ape was in great pain, it had to fashion a counter-strategy. Thus, the passive Black Demon Ape ferociously attacked, and its momentum also gradually declined. When the moment came, Lin Tianming felt it was almost time. In that instant, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand transformed into a long dragon, darting into the midst of Sword Array. Following a loud explosion, the anguished screams of Black Demon Ape echo. Adjacent to this, Lin Tianming forms a Law Decree, and a cluster of reddish-blue flames coalesce in his pale palm. As soon as this flame appeared, the originally chilly canyon¡¯s temperature couldn¡¯t help but rise slightly. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only that, the damp canyon air carried a dry scent. And this flame was Lin Tianming¡¯s early acquired Blue Heart True Flame. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the temperature of the flame, immediately leapt, and with the swiftness of lightning, charged into the area of the Sword Array. Currently, Black Demon Ape was coping with the long dragon formed by the divine skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword. Until a miserable scream issued forth, Black Demon Ape was once again thrown. Before Black Demon Ape could stabilize its posture, one of its arms was severed by the long dragon. In an instant, blood sprayed like a fountain, swiftly staining the surrounding earth red. Following that, Lin Tianming leapt down from midair within the Sword Array. Lin Tianming¡¯s speed was fast; as he fell from the sky, his momentum was like the sky collapsing. Amidst panic, Black Demon Ape looked up only to see Lin Tianming¡¯s palm striking down furiously. Next, a burst of flames erupted, forming a sea of fire that poured down. Seeing this all-encompassing attack, Black Demon Ape had no escape; in its hurried attempt to defend, it was too late. After all, it was already gravely injured, its strength nowhere near its peak. In contrast, Lin Tianming had only used a significant amount of Mana, virtually unharmed, his overall strength largely unaffected. Under such conditions, time seemed to freeze at this moment. Just then, the entire sky was occupied by a blazing light, its dazzling brilliance forcing the Black Demon Ape to squint. Unknowingly, Black Demon Ape only felt an intense pain dominating its divine soul. However, very quickly, Black Demon Ape could no longer feel any pain. In Lin Tianming¡¯s view, the cluster of flame directly enveloped Black Demon Ape as a whole. Within those flames, Black Demon Ape¡¯s body was covered in fire, burning intensely. This strike became the final blow that overwhelmed Black Demon Ape. When the flames had mostly died down, Black Demon Ape lay motionless on the ground, its blood already evaporated by the firepower, devoid of any breath. Looking at Black Demon Ape¡¯s body, its originally black fur was now scorched, no part of its body remained intact. Seeing Black Demon Ape motionless, Lin Tianming smiled excitedly and breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression suddenly changed, seemingly perceiving some anomaly. In that instant, Lin Tianming turned his head towards a certain direction outside the canyon, suddenly snorted coldly. ¡°Humph¡­ Since the fellow Daoist has come, why not show yourself!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1082 1082 568 Threat ?Chapter 1082: Chapter 568 Threat Chapter 1082: Chapter 568 Threat As soon as the voice fell, two figures slowly appeared at the entrance of the canyon. These two individuals were dressed in blue Daoist robes, with a snow-white centipede emblem embroidered on their chests, the insignia of the Five Poison Sect. The newcomers were none other than He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong. At this moment, He Zhengsong looked towards Lin Tianming and the others inside the canyon, walking with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Zhengsong seemed to be in a good mood, not taking Lin Tianming, a fellow Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, seriously in the slightest. Not just him, even Yu Lihong, a cultivator at the Early Stage Golden Core, also had a calm demeanor. While smiling, he didn¡¯t forget to flatter his companion. ... ¡°Brother He, this youngster seems somewhat capable, managing to kill that Third Order Medium Grade Black Demon Ape!¡± ¡°However, if Brother He were to take action, I fear it would take only a few rounds to easily cut down the beast, far quicker than what that youngster could manage.¡± Hearing his fellow sect brother¡¯s words, He Zhengsong felt quite pleased, and the smile on his face deepened considerably. At this very moment, as He Zhengsong sized up Lin Tianming and his companions, he wondered about the person who had dared to bid against him at the auction house, who this figure might turn out to be. Even as they trailed behind, he had speculated many times whether Lin Tianming was from one of the Golden Elixir Forces of the Golden Crow Country, a cultivator from nearby countries, or a powerful Loose Cultivator wandering the lands. With such thoughts, He Zhengsong steeled his spirit, maintaining his guard while observing Lin Tianming. Following He Zhengsong¡¯s gaze, Lin Tianming appeared somewhat pale, looking calm on the surface, but the breath and frequency of the aura he exhaled seemed a bit disordered. Sensing Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction, as if due to a heavy consumption of Mana in the recent fight with the Black Demon Ape. Seeing this, He Zhengsong internally heaved a sigh of relief, his previously cautious mind now totally at ease. In his view, although Lin Tianming was at the same Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm as himself, They had followed him all the way here just in time to witness Lin Tianming¡¯s battle with the Black Demon Ape. At that time, both of them hid in the shadows to observe. Judging from the fluctuations of the battle at that time, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was fairly average among Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivators ¨C nothing too extraordinary. Lin Tianming¡¯s ability to kill the powerful Black Demon Ape was probably due to some treasure or the support of other companions, allowing him to defeat this Third Order Demon Beast. As a result, although Lin Tianming had succeeded in killing the Black Demon Ape, he must have exhausted a great deal, and perhaps even sustained severe internal injuries. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm now, he was likely feigning composure. It was even highly plausible that he was at the end of his rope. However, He Zhengsong was unaware of the full process of Lin Tianming¡¯s fight against the Black Demon Ape. When they arrived at the scene of the battle, judging solely from the last two rounds of attack fluctuations, they didn¡¯t consider Lin Tianming¡¯s power to be all that formidable. What they didn¡¯t know was that Lin Tianming¡¯s fight against the Black Demon Ape wasn¡¯t carried out with all his strength. At the very least, Lin Tianming had only employed the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and Tiangang Ninth Sword among his Technique Divine Powers, along with the Blue Heart True Flame, while his powerful Divine Skills and Spirit Arts had not been used at all. Moreover, during the battle with the Black Demon Ape, Lin Tianming always maintained an overwhelming advantage, having absolute superiority was no overstatement. Until the end of the battle, Lin Tianming was virtually unharmed, and his body¡¯s Mana was only consumed by half, hardly diminishing his strength at all. In such a condition, Lin Tianming¡¯s prowess remained formidable. It was just that He Zhengsong was overconfident, mistakenly believing that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength had declined significantly. And he, being at his peak condition, along with the assistance of Early Stage Golden Core Yu Lihong, almost had Lin Tianming at his mercy. Thinking of this, He Zhengsong¡¯s face showed delight, and he seemed quite at ease. At this moment, Lin Tianming, looking as usual, cupped his fists towards He Zhengsong and then spoke. ¡°Daoist He, may I know the purpose of your trailing us here?¡± Lin Tianming spoke in a calm tone, without directly mentioning the auction bidding incident, not wishing to start unnecessary trouble. In his view, if He Zhengsong chose to leave, he would not stop him. After all, the Lin Family had always been low-profile, and in this unfamiliar place, they didn¡¯t wish to provoke unnecessary trouble. Under such circumstances, it was best to avoid conflicts, if possible. Yet, at this moment, He Zhengsong spoke arrogantly, ¡°Could Daoist friend have forgotten something?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming feigned ignorance, his face expressing puzzlement. Seeing this, He Zhengsong sneered suddenly, then slowly said. ¡°At the auction, Daoist friend openly went against me, is that not too disrespectful?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold, and he couldn¡¯t help but retort sarcastically, ¡°Isn¡¯t Daoist friend¡¯s statement rather ridiculous?¡± ¡°In the Cultivation World, since ancient times, the rule of the auction is that the highest bid wins. In my view, your statement is the real joke.¡± Lin Tianming directly mocked, giving no face to He Zhengsong. Upon hearing these words, He Zhengsong¡¯s face showed anger, including Yu Lihong beside him, their expressions also turned gloomy. Chapter 1083 1083 568 Threat_2 ?Chapter 1083: Chapter 568 Threat_2 Chapter 1083: Chapter 568 Threat_2 Under such circumstances, if He Zhengsong hadn¡¯t made a move yet, Yu Lihong was planning to be the first to strike. However, since He Zhengsong hadn¡¯t acted, Yu Lihong naturally wouldn¡¯t try to upstage him. So the moment after Lin Tianming had finished speaking, Yu Lihong directly threatened, ¡°Kid, if you know what¡¯s good for you, hand over the storage bag obediently, and we, as two fellow cultivator brothers, might let you off the hook.¡± ¡°Otherwise, don¡¯t blame us for not being polite!¡± As soon as these words fell, He Zhengsong took over the conversation, chuckling as he spoke, ¡°Heh heh¡­ the storage bag alone won¡¯t do, that Heyuan Fruit Tree inside the canyon, as well as the corpse of this Black Demon Ape, have to be ours too.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I might as well let bygones be bygones.¡± He Zhengsong said these words with a wicked smile on his face, seemingly not taking Lin Tianming seriously at all. ... Yu Lihong, hearing this, became even more excited. For a moment, Yu Lihong scrutinized the depths of the canyon and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°Heyuan Fruit Tree?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡­ there are even ripe Heyuan Fruits, no wonder you guys made a beeline for this place.¡± It turned out he was unaware of Lin Tianming and his group¡¯s specific plan, let alone what treasure was inside the canyon. Now, hearing He Zhengsong mention the Heyuan Fruit Tree and Heyuan Fruits, he naturally felt this was an unexpected delight. But when Lin Tianming heard these words, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, and as he looked at He Zhengsong and his companion again, he couldn¡¯t help revealing a look of disdain. Obviously, Lin Tianming felt these two were overly confident. After all, so far, they didn¡¯t even know his true strength and thought that the treasures of this place were already in their pocket. Moreover, they were so confident that they didn¡¯t take Lin Tianming into account, thinking they could handle them with ease. Such behavior and actions, in his view, were simply laughable. For this reason, Lin Tianming looked at He Zhengsong and his companion in front of him and could not help but sneer repeatedly. Just as he was about to speak, Tang Xiuping stepped forward, and while giving a respectful bow towards He Zhengsong and his companion. ¡°The junior here is Tang Xiuping, Chief Steward of the Sky Dragon Pavilion from Longqing City, a member of the Xiuzi Generation Clan Member of the Tang Family, I pay my respects to the two seniors in advance.¡± After saying these words, Tang Xiuping saluted He Zhengsong and his companion with a bow, then continued, ¡°The coincidence of the seniors¡¯ presence here is surely unintentional.¡± ¡°And us juniors have come specifically to harvest the Heyuan Fruit Tree and the Heyuan Fruits.¡± ¡°Since seniors happened to be here, as the initiator of this action, I¡¯ll take the liberty of offering one Heyuan Fruit from the many treasures to senior He, and provide a million Low-Grade Spirit Stones as a meeting gift to resolve any misunderstandings between us seniors and juniors.¡± ¡°How about using this opportunity to set aside hostilities and become friends instead?¡± Tang Xiuping said this directly, staring intently at He Zhengsong, watching them with a serious face, fearing they would suddenly make a move and make the situation even more complicated. And by revealing his background, it was clear he was trying to persuade He Zhengsong not to get involved at this time. He Zhengsong, hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. ¡°Tang Xiuping?¡± ¡°From the Tang Family of Qingzhou?¡± Upon hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, the smile on He Zhengsong¡¯s face quickly faded, and a look of difficulty flashed across his face. Not just him, Yu Lihong next to him also suddenly changed his expression upon hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, clearly intimidated by Tang Xiuping¡¯s identity. After all, Tang Xiuping comes from a Nascent Soul-Level Power, and is also a major force local to Qingzhou. Furthermore, the influence of the Tang Family in Qingzhou essentially extends to most of Qingzhou¡¯s countries, with Tang Family Members seen in nearly every medium to large workshop. It could be said that the Tang Family is a colossal power in Qingzhou, with both their territorial influence and reputation exerting a tremendous impact throughout the region. With such a profound background, even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator could interact with some ordinary Golden Core Stage Experts of the Golden Elixir Forces as peers. Therefore, although He Zhengsong himself was powerful and his sect, the Five Poison Sect, was one of the top three forces in the Golden Crow Country, he had to be cautious when facing the special identity of Tang Xiuping. In light of this, He Zhengsong fell silent for a moment, struggling with indecision in his heart. On the other side, Yu Lihong also had a complex expression, hesitating inwardly as well. Just then, He Zhengsong secretly sent a voice transmission to Yu Lihong, discussing their tactics. Soon, it seemed that the two of them had made up their minds. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, He Zhengsong gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Daoist Tang¡¯s proposal is overly courteous!¡± ¡°In my view, Daoist Tang might as well remain uninvolved. The treasure that this fellow Daoist has promised to you, I could also hand it over to you, how about that?¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s one condition; Daoist Tang must not inquire into the grudge between us, and this person¡¯s life or death should be of no concern to you.¡± After saying this, He Zhengsong looked at Tang Xiuping, waiting for his decision. ¡°Ah, this? ¡­this? ¡­is this really?¡± Tang Xiuping¡¯s face turned somewhat unsightly upon hearing this, and he began to speak incoherently. In his heart, He Zhengsong¡¯s action was clearly not daring to offend the Tang Family directly, hence promising to let him off the hook and assuring that the benefits due to Tang Xiuping would not be reduced in the slightest. But the grievances between He Zhengsong and Lin Tianming clearly weren¡¯t going to be dissolved by his offered Heyuan Fruit and a million low-grade Spirit Stones. Understanding this, Tang Xiuping became even more conflicted. After all, looking at the current situation, a major battle between Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong seemed inevitable. What¡¯s more, Tang Xiuping had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength; the entire process of killing the Black Demon Ape seemed effortless, with hardly any need to go all out. Moreover, he had a premonition that Lin Tianming was extremely powerful, with formidable strength still at his disposal. Although He Zhengsong¡¯s power and reputation in the Golden Crow Cultivation World were so well known that it would not be an exaggeration to say that no one was unaware of him. But if a major battle were to erupt between them, it was truly uncertain who would ultimately triumph. Consequently, if he agreed to He Zhengsong¡¯s opinion, it would mean breaking his word, a breach of faith. Such an act would significantly affect his Daoist heart, and success would certainly be harder to come by afterwards, even with the help of a Heyuan Fruit to advance to the Golden Core Stage. Thus, from the standpoint of his Daoist heart, he still hoped to take a stand with Lin Tianming, advancing or retreating together with them. However, if he openly took Lin Tianming¡¯s side, should He Zhengsong ultimately be victorious, whether he would seek retribution in autumn was also something he had no confidence in. In other words, if he agreed now to He Zhengsong¡¯s suggestion to withdraw, and Lin Tianming ended up victorious, the scorn for someone seen as duplicitous and untrustworthy could be greater. If it truly came to that, even with his special background and identity, his situation could be very difficult indeed. Considering these points, Tang Xiuping became even more entangled in his thoughts. After a long while, Tang Xiuping wrestled with his decision and finally made up his mind. At that moment, Tang Xiuping shifted his position towards where Lin Tianming was, then turned towards He Zhengsong with a cupped-fist salute and spoke. ¡°Predecessor He, I had an agreement with this senior earlier; now, with the Black Demon Ape slain, the Heyuan Fruit is already as good as mine.¡± ¡°Furthermore, being born into the Tang Family, ancestral teachings have always instructed the descendants of our clan to walk the path of cultivation as men of their word.¡± ¡°After much thought, I still cannot bring myself to breach our agreement, lest I tarnish the Tang Family¡¯s reputation and bring shame upon my clan.¡± ¡°In light of this, please forgive me, Predecessor.¡± Tang Xiuping¡¯s tone was sincere, his demeanor calm and unflustered, speaking logically as though he had resolved his mind long ago. And at the moment those words ended, the expressions on He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong¡¯s faces changed. In that instant, their expressions transitioned swiftly from smiles to grim and furious looks. ¡­ Chapter 1084 1084 569 Husband and Wife Join Forces ?Chapter 1084: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Join Forces Chapter 1084: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Join Forces At this moment, it was Lin Tianming who was closely watching Tang Xiuping, curious about what final decision Tang Xiuping would make. However, one thing, Lin Tianming did not care about the outcome of the great battle between him and He Zhengsong. Driven by curiosity, he wanted to see if Tang Xiuping would abandon him, his nominal ally, when the interests were equal. But upon hearing Tang Xiuping¡¯s words, Lin Tianming was very satisfied, and his expression gradually improved a lot. Next, Lin Tianming turned his gaze towards He Zhengsong, anticipating what decision He Zhengsong would make. Would he disregard the influence of the Tang Family and insist on attacking him? Or would he accept the benefits promised by Tang Xiuping, thus transforming their confrontation into reconciliation? Lin Tianming was very much looking forward to this decision. ... Under such anticipation, Lin Tianming was always ready for battle. At this moment, He Zhengsong glanced at Lin Tianming and then at Yu Lihong, also silently exchanging opinions. Soon, He Zhengsong laughed heartily and said, ¡°I do not agree with Daoist Tang¡¯s suggestion.¡± ¡°However, given Daoist Tang¡¯s special identity, I and the Five Poison Sect do not wish to offend him.¡± ¡°I request that Daoist Tang leave first. The dispute between this junior and me requires a grand battle to resolve.¡± After saying this, He Zhengsong looked at Tang Xiuping with a serious face, his eyes revealing a determined demeanor. Seeing He Zhengsong¡¯s firm attitude, Tang Xiuping felt helpless, even though he wanted to persuade otherwise under these circumstances. Lin Tianming, standing aside, also noticed Tang Xiuping¡¯s difficulty at this moment. Hence, Lin Tianming waved towards Tang Xiuping and said with a smile, ¡°Daoist Tang is truly worthy of the Tang Family, such credibility is indeed highly admirable.¡± ¡°Since He is so stubborn, I won¡¯t say much, we shall see who will be the last to laugh!¡± ¡°However, Daoist Tang, to avoid harming the bystanders, please leave now.¡± ¡°If I manage to achieve victory in this grand battle, I will naturally reconvene with Daoist Tang.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming seriously watched Tang Xiuping. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this time, seeing that Lin Tianming had spoken thus, Tang Xiuping could not say much more. But due to the involvement of their alliance, he still advised, ¡°Senior be careful, junior will be waiting for you deep in the gorge.¡± After finishing his words, Tang Xiuping nodded and then stepped back, quickly disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. As Tang Xiuping¡¯s figure vanished, Lin Tianming then turned to look at Qin Xi nearby. Following his gaze, Qin Xi was currently holding a blue longsword, emitting a chilling sword intent. ¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression became much more solemn. It was clear that he felt Qin Xi¡¯s aura was formidable, definitely stronger than that of his Junior Brother Yu Lihong. Although he had sensed before that Qin Xi was at the Golden Core Stage, now it seemed Qin Xi¡¯s strength was not to be underestimated among cultivators of the same stage. In such a situation, if the four of them split into two pairs for combat, Yu Lihong would likely not be her match. Yet out of confidence, He Zhengsong was merely looking grave; his fighting spirit not only remained undiminished but grew even stronger. It was during this time that Mr. and Mrs. Lin Tianming exchanged a smile and nodded to each other. Immediately following this, Lin Tianming performed a Law Decree with his hands, taking the lead to strike. In that instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s aura changed, and the seventy-two Earth Evil Swords previously hidden underground suddenly soared into the sky, moving an incredible distance of several hundred meters horizontally in a flash. At that very moment, He Zhengsong was already on guard. Facing the rapidly approaching multitude of Earth Evil Swords, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression turned fierce, and in a rush, he unleashed several intense Sword Qi blasts in multiple directions. He Zhengsong knew clearly that the appearance of this multitude of Earth Evil Swords was bound to form some kind of powerful Sword Array, typically used to trap and kill enemies. Such Sword Arrays were not uncommon in the Cultivation World, but most consisted only of a few or a dozen Spirit Swords. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s action, deploying as many as seventy-two swords, was extremely rare in the Cultivation World. Moreover, the significant number of Spirit Swords was formidable since all were of Magical Treasure level. Such a luxurious Sword Array was overly extravagant. Even though he was a Third Order Alchemy Master, with wealth ranking at the top among cultivators of the same stage, he had never seen such a grand display of Magical Treasures in many years. The more he understood this, the more he was aware of the terrifying nature of the Sword Array. Under these circumstances, He Zhengsong urgently unleashed massive Sword Qi, hoping to disrupt the normal operation of the Sword Array. He believed that without the assistance of the Sword Array, he would face much less pressure in the upcoming grand battle. Knowing this, He Zhengsong spared no effort, each blast of Sword Qi being exceptionally powerful, determined to thwart Lin Tianming¡¯s plans. At the moment He Zhengsong took action, Lin Tianming also refused to fall behind. He was well aware that He Zhengsong, as a veteran Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, must have a basis for his confidence. Faced with such an opponent, he also dared not hold back. Thus, the moment He Zhengsong made his move, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword also flashed a light, instantly unleashing the Divine Skill, Tiangang Ninth Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword transformed into a gigantic dragon, flying towards the direction of He Zhengsong¡¯s Sword Qi. Chapter 1085 1085 569 Husband and Wife Take Action ?Chapter 1085: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Take Action Together_2 Chapter 1085: Chapter 569: Husband and Wife Take Action Together_2 Tiangang Sword¡¯s speed was incredibly fast. As a dragon roared past, Gang Wind enveloped the ground, and intense fluctuations swept out in all directions. At that moment, Qin Xi, who was beside Lin Tianming, leapt forward, charging towards the terrified Yu Lihong. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi¡¯s speed was rapid, and with a flash of cold light from the pale blue longsword in her hand, waves coalesced into a dragon that pounced towards Yu Lihong with bared teeth and claws. Seeing this scene and feeling the chilling breath bearing down on him, Yu Lihong was shocked to the core. He Zhengsong was currently occupied with dealing with Lin Tianming. The moment Qin Xi made her move, Yu Lihong realized the extent of the woman¡¯s formidable strength. Under such circumstances, there seemed no hope of relying on He Zhengsong. For this reason, Yu Lihong knew he had to steel himself to join the battle, but he truly lacked confidence in securing victory. ... However, the current situation left him no time for further contemplation. He understood that the key to this battle lay with He Zhengsong, who was also at the Mid Stage Golden Core. After all, Lin Tianming had previously been engaged in an intense battle, likely having expended a large portion of his mana. If only He Zhengsong could defeat Lin Tianming, a mere Qin Xi certainly could not be their match. His task, then, was to fend off Qin Xi¡¯s attacks until He Zhengsong could defeat Lin Tianming, making sure she could not join the other battle. Knowing this, even though Yu Lihong was somewhat fearful of Qin Xi¡¯s strength, he began to counterattack the moment she made her move. In an instant, Yu Lihong slapped his storage bag at his waist, and a three-foot long stick appeared out of thin air in his hand. Following that, he gripped the three-foot long stick, tapped a particular spot on it with three fingers, and then swung it towards Qin Xi¡¯s position. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± A flash of black light shone from the long stick, and immediately, numerous black rays burst forth, shooting directly at Qin Xi. Upon witnessing this, Qin Xi sneered continuously, her movements never ceasing. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± As the black rays and the Water Dragon summoned by Qin Xi collided, a large number of them were directly swallowed by the dragon, or frozen into icicles, before crashing from the sky onto the ground. ¡°What?¡± After this event, Yu Lihong, seeing his attack easily neutralized by Qin Xi, found himself staring in stunned disbelief. However, that astonished expression was quickly replaced by a grave one. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Following the collision, some of the ice dragons continued heading towards Yu Lihong. The temperature along their path plummeted rapidly, and every mountain rock and tree on the ground was soon coated with a layer of frost in an instant. At this moment, seeing the ice dragon rapidly approaching, Yu Lihong dared not delay any longer. He hastily backed away, simultaneously mustering several attacks to try and stop the ice dragon from advancing further. Having done this, Yu Lihong still wasn¡¯t reassured, taking out a black shield to place in front of him. Only after these defensive measures were in place did Yu Lihong finally breathe a sigh of relief. Yet hardly a few moments passed before he felt an immense fluctuation wash over him. His eyes widened as he watched ahead; the ice dragon had collided with his black lights, unleashing powerful waves that swept in all directions. This rebound force was incredibly potent, forcibly pushing him back dozens of yards before he managed to stabilize. Following this, Yu Lihong¡¯s face turned pale as his Qi-Blood inside him churned violently, and he couldn¡¯t help but spit out a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. After suppressing the turmoil in his Qi-Blood a bit, Yu Lihong¡¯s expression turned dark, and his heart was filled with terror. It was only then that he truly realized Qin Xi¡¯s strength was even more fearsome than he had anticipated. The more aware he became of this, the greater his fear. Yet there was no time for further thought, as Qin Xi¡¯s next wave of attacks was already bearing down on him. At this point, Yu Lihong had no time to think, hastily unleashing numerous techniques to counter Qin Xi¡¯s attacks. Soon, the two of them were locked in an intense back-and-forth magic duel. Overall, Qin Xi demonstrated superior strength, dominating the field and pressing the initiative with every attack, forcing Yu Lihong to go all-out in his response, regardless of the intensity. In contrast, Qin Xi handled the magic duel with ease, and Yu Lihong¡¯s attacks seldom posed a threat to her life. Under such circumstances, it¡¯s uncertain whether Yu Lihong could hold on until He Zhengsong finishes his great battle. However, even though Yu Lihong understood this, he felt helpless. Because the magic duel between Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong had also fully commenced, leaving no time or energy to concern himself with Yu Lihong¡¯s situation. As the first round of attacks ended, the Tiangang Ninth Sword unleashed by Lin Tianming repelled He Zhengsong¡¯s Sword Qi. Under that strike, He Zhengsong never anticipated that Lin Tianming¡¯s attack would be so formidable. In haste, as his attack just dissipated, he had to face the continuous assault of the Tiangang Ninth Sword. Feeling the mighty roar of the dragon approaching, the overwhelming aura was immense, almost as if it could devour heaven and earth. With no other choice, He Zhengsong could not care for the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in time, and had to deal with the immediate trouble first. And this was precisely what Lin Tianming wanted to see. At that moment, Lin Tianming immediately started operating the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, quickly creating a barrier that enveloped He Zhengsong within. Simultaneously, under his control, the Sword Qi within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation began to move around, and the range of the barrier gradually shrank as per Lin Tianming¡¯s manipulation. By this time, He Zhengsong had just freed his hands. Shortly after, he felt the oppressive force of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, his entire body as if burdened by a small mountain, requiring greater strength with every step. Yet, this was merely the physical constraint; the greater pressure came from the erratic Sword Qi all around. After all, the power of these Sword Qi was substantial, and their speed rapid. Any hit by the Sword Qi, even if not fatal, would still cause him injuries. As a result, he needed to constantly guard against these shadowless and traceless Sword Qi, and also keep an eye on Lin Tianming¡¯s every move. But He Zhengsong was indeed someone with a wealth of combat experience, able to respond normally even as the Earth Fiend Sword Formation operated, so as to not rapidly decline. However, as the battle continued, and with the shrinking of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the pressure he faced only grew more immense. For a while, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression was serious, and he fought without any reservations. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The battlefield between Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong was filled with fireworks and huge explosive sounds one after the other. At the same time, strong waves of force spread out in succession, causing the ground to occasionally tremor. In an instant, Lin Tianming and He Zhengsong had already exchanged several rounds of blows. With the end of a round of attacks, He Zhengsong was blasted away by the immense shockwave, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. He rolled over and quickly stood up with his green Daoist robe torn to shreds, a wound on his arm neither deep nor shallow, and the corners of his mouth oozed a few strands of fresh blood. Within his body, his Qi-Blood churned, even several meridians were broken, and his whole presence waned somewhat. At this moment, he glared venomously at Lin Tianming, his eyes incredibly sharp, as if he wanted to devour him alive. Lin Tianming, on the other hand, had stabilized his stance, his Daoist robe also bearing many small holes, revealing his bronze skin beneath. His condition remained excellent, though, and his aura was still rising tremendously. After these few rounds of attacks, Lin Tianming had gained an approximate understanding of He Zhengsong¡¯s strength. It must be said, He Zhengsong¡¯s strength was truly formidable, in no way inferior to Yang Chengfeng who he encountered at Five Poison Mountain. At that time, Yang Chengfeng also had Medium Stage Golden Core cultivation and was an old Golden Core Stage Cultivator with abundant combat experience. And the impression He Zhengsong gave him was definitely stronger than Yang Chengfeng, perhaps by quite a margin. However, during that great battle, Lin Tianming was merely at the Early Stage Golden Core. Although he emerged victorious in that battle, he did so at a significant cost and by means of many strategies. It was by relying on his endless array of tactics, that he managed to kill the equally crafty Yang Chengfeng. ¡­ Chapter 1086 1086 570 Escape ?Chapter 1086: Chapter 570 Escape Chapter 1086: Chapter 570 Escape ¡°` But now, he is a bona fide Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Not only that, in addition to a certain improvement in his cultivation, Lin Tianming also has a complete set of Earth Fiend Sword, as well as the Heavenly Gang Sword, which was refined by Lin Shilu over many years with great effort and care. It can be said that in terms of both offensive and defensive magical treasures, the current Lin Tianming has undergone a huge enhancement. Looking at the present situation, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength is obviously several times greater than when he initially encountered Yang Chengfeng. However, even so, after several rounds of attacks, He Zhengsong, although at an absolute disadvantage, has yet to show any signs of collapse. Thus, He Zhengsong¡¯s strength can be seen to be extremely formidable. But even though Lin Tianming is aware of this, he doesn¡¯t hold He Zhengsong in high regard. ... Because his combat power is not only reflected in his cultivation and magical treasures, but more so in his Spirit Arts and Divine Skills. After all, up to this point, he has not utilized any Spirit Art, nor has he used the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art,¡¯ his trump-card technique. Once he deploys this Mysterious Grade Spirit Art, he is confident that he can slay even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming naturally regards He Zhengsong as a rival with utter disdain. In contrast, He Zhengsong is experiencing a storm in his heart at this moment. The reason being Lin Tianming¡¯s methods, as well as the strength he showcased, have continuously shattered He Zhengsong¡¯s perceptions time and again. At this moment, he felt some regret, regretting that he was too rash and overbearing initially, resulting in him becoming embroiled in this unnecessary conflict. Now, with his own strength and ace up his sleeve, even if he exerted all his might, it would probably be difficult to kill Lin Tianming alone. But if he were to actively seek peace, given his prior attitude and considering Lin Tianming¡¯s capability, reconciling their grudges would seem very difficult. After all, Lin Tianming holds absolute initiative and advantage; he really has no reason to easily let He Zhengsong off the hook. Realizing this, He Zhengsong felt even more fear and was filled with helplessness. At this time, He Zhengsong let out a long sigh and then spoke. ¡°Daoist fellow, please hold back. It is not too late for you to say a few words before taking action!¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ What more is there to say between us!¡± Lin Tianming snorted coldly, not giving He Zhengsong any face. Following that, Lin Tianming continued to mock: ¡°Daoist fellow was extremely aggressive and arrogant just now, did you ever consider me a threat?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Now that you see you are not my opponent, you wish to easily gloss over our grudges, is there such a good thing?¡± Upon hearing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s complexion turned dark, and he stammered without being able to utter a complete sentence for a long time. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a while, seeing that Lin Tianming was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, He Zhengsong changed his tune and began to issue threats. ¡°Hmph¡­ Do you really think that as your senior brothers, we are not your match?¡± ¡°Do you truly want to reach a point of complete enmity?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me too far, if I fully commit to a battle with you without reservations, even if not your match, I will surely make you pay a price!¡± He Zhengsong spoke in a forceful tone, his face filled with anger, directly threatening Lin Tianming. And in his heart, since having witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s capabilities, knowing that he would most likely not be a match, he hoped they would both stop here and avoid plunging himself into a crisis. But who is Lin Tianming? Let alone when he is at a disadvantage, he would not easily compromise; now that he was in an absolute advantage, naturally, he wouldn¡¯t fall for this ploy. As such, Lin Tianming ridiculed without any hesitation: ¡°If He wishes to fight, then fight, stop with the pointless words.¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, He Zhengsong grew even more furious, pointing at Lin Tianming with both hands, his face becoming exceptionally dark. However, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t interested in wasting words with him, promptly initiating the attack and continuing to press down on He Zhengsong. Lin Tianming moved swiftly, the Heavenly Gang Sword Divine Skills coming into effect with a twist of his fingers. In the blink of an eye, the once briefly calm sky reappeared with an elongated dragon, roaring as it clawed and bit towards He Zhengsong. ¡°Roar¡­¡± A loud roar shattered the brief silence, drawing He Zhengsong¡¯s full attention. That moment, without the leisure to think further, He Zhengsong executed his Law Decree, shooting out sword qi to collide head-on with the dragon. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± The instant the sword qi made contact with the dragon, most of it was directly devoured, but still, some managed to bombard the dragon¡¯s body. Facing these sword qi attacks, the dragon roared fiercely as if alive and appeared to be in pain. However, the dragon¡¯s power was immense, and even after sustaining multiple sword qi attacks, it did not disperse, but continued to surge towards He Zhengsong, propelled by the remnants of its energy. Seeing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s face turned solemn, and he dared not to be careless. Watching the dragon continue to approach, He Zhengsong made a decisive expression. Immediately after, He Zhengsong executed his Law Decree, tapping lightly on the sword in his hand several times. At that instant, the longsword in his hand suddenly shone brightly, a powerful sword qi suddenly bursting forth. Seeing this scene, He Zhengsong also spurted a mouthful of essence blood onto the sword¡¯s body. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± With a few muffled sounds, He Zhengsong¡¯s longsword suddenly soared into the sky, and the already intense sword qi, now blazed like fire, reaching a terrifying level in an instant. ¡°` Chapter 1087 1087 570 Escape_2 ?Chapter 1087: Chapter 570: Escape_2 Chapter 1087: Chapter 570: Escape_2 ¡°` Not only that, the dragon that was originally attacking He Zhengsong was directly repelled a great distance by this sword qi and eventually completely dissipated between heaven and earth. And the whole process of this scene was completed in just a short one to two breaths. At this moment, seeing this happen, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression also became significantly more solemn. The reason for this was that He Zhengsong was desperate. With his keen vision, Lin Tianming could tell as soon as he felt the suddenly changing sword qi that it was undoubtedly a Spirit Art. As for the specific grade of this Spirit Art, he could not yet make an accurate conclusion. However, he speculated that the power of this Spirit Art was immense, and it was very likely a very powerful Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, or possibly even an ordinary Profound Grade Spirit Art. ... Nevertheless, no matter what, He Zhengsong¡¯s round of attack was quite formidable, and even he had to be careful in dealing with it. Aware of this, Lin Tianming dared not be careless. Therefore, Lin Tianming swung his hand, and the Tiangang Sword was grabbed from afar into his hand. Immediately after, Lin Tianming bombarded the Tiangang Sword with streams of Spiritual Light. At the same time, Lin Tianming made a strange hand gesture with his immaculate palm and started mumbling an incantation. ¡°Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus!¡± As soon as he spoke, the Tiangang Sword also flew out of his hand, directly into the air. Under the further control of Lin Tianming, the Tiangang Sword began to spin rapidly, reaching an extreme speed. In less than a few breaths, the afterimages of the spinning Tiangang Sword gradually formed into a pure white lotus, steadily hovering above Lin Tianming¡¯s head, securely protecting him beneath. At a glance, this lotus was dazzling to behold, and it looked incredibly delicate and exquisite. And this cold and dazzling lotus, seemingly ordinary, was at once cool and detached, and yet seemed as fervent as fire. But upon seeing the formation of this lotus, and feeling the invisible thousands of sword qi petals, He Zhengsong¡¯s face paled even more. He was very clear on how formidable the man before him was, as he had already experienced it beforehand. With his veteran Mid-Stage Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s strength, facing Lin Tianming who had gone through a great battle, he was still at an absolute disadvantage; this indicated how strong Lin Tianming was. And now, with Lin Tianming deploying this unfamiliar technique, the terrifying aura it emitted made it even more evident that the power of this technique would be earth-shattering. Knowing this, He Zhengsong, amidst his panic, could no longer care about much else. Under his gaze, the terrifying sword qi above his head shot out, bombarding precisely at the center of that pure white lotus. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A staggering loud noise came, and a silver flash instantly illuminated the sky, the intense light momentarily blinding He Zhengsong¡¯s eyes as well as his Divine Sense. At that moment, he, a Mid-Stage Golden Core Cultivator, was like a blind man. Only when his vision returned to normal did he immediately feel a tremendous impact, violently throwing him backward through the air. While still midair, the floating sensation felt very surreal to him. Soon enough, he felt all his internal organs trembling, several meridians in his body broken, and his Qi-Blood churning nonstop. Following that, he spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face turning instantly pale, and his breath rapidly weakening. As a muffled noise came, He Zhengsong¡¯s body slammed into the Sword Array Barricade, before heavily crashing into the ground, creating a human-shaped pit. When he shakily stood up, his entire face looked terrified, with fresh blood staining his chest red. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming, at the moment of the head-on collision of the two attacks, also endured a massive recoil force. At that time, Lin Tianming too felt a tremendous energy, as if a small mountain fell from the sky, crashing down upon him. In that instant, the Sword Lotus blocked the sword qi driven by He Zhengsong, until the power of the sword qi was completely worn down, and only then did the Sword Lotus dissipate along with the sword qi, and the Tiangang Sword fell back to the ground. As for Lin Tianming, he was hit by the impact of the collision of two massive forces. Under that force, Lin Tianming also suffered, being sent flying a great distance before he could stop his retreating figure. By the time he got up from the ground, his cheeks were alternately flushing red and white. ¡°` Inside his body, Qi-Blood was chaotically surging, and the intense pain made him shiver uncontrollably. Fortunately, as a Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, the defensive power of his physical body alone was enough to withstand an attack from an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. And indeed, the power of He Zhengsong¡¯s attack was very strong, worthy of the high lethality that Spirit Arts possess. Under this attack, Lin Tianming finally managed to hold on, and even the injuries on his body were not severe. In terms of his overall strength, the impact was not significant. On the other hand, as the attacker, He Zhengsong, being farther from the explosion¡¯s center, actually received a visibly smaller amount of rebound force compared to Lin Tianming. Despite that, He Zhengsong did not possess such a formidable body, including both Qi-Blood and recovery strength, which were far inferior to Lin Tianming¡¯s own. As for the final outcome, He Zhengsong sustained even more severe injuries, compounded by his already serious wounds, amounting to catastrophe piled upon an already bad situation. Now, when He Zhengsong looked at Lin Tianming again, his previously arrogant demeanor was gone, and even his fighting spirit had substantially weakened. Looking at Lin Tianming himself, his slowly advancing figure was like a hanging sword above He Zhengsong¡¯s head, constantly reminding him that he could not continue to drag things out. Perhaps realizing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression became solemn. Then, he was seen enduring the intense pain and quickly making a peculiar hand gesture. In less than an instant, He Zhengsong¡¯s face began to twist, turning extremely flushed. At the same time, a very inconspicuous fine beam of light shot toward a certain direction at high speed. As these changes occurred, He Zhengsong¡¯s face aged a bit, and his aura rapidly wilted, giving him a somewhat ferocious and terrifying appearance. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming became highly alert, constantly guarding against any move He Zhengsong might make. Despite his attention, he still noticed that hidden beam of light. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Obviously, if not for the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t have been able to detect this subtle change with the strength of his Divine Sense alone. ¡°Not good, this bastard is trying to flee!¡± Lin Tianming realized something, and suddenly his movement speed increased several-fold. At the same time, Lin Tianming, who had somehow regained hold of the Tiangang Sword, once again activated the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword and aimed straight for He Zhengsong¡¯s vital parts. At this moment, He Zhengsong¡¯s complexion reached an extreme flush, followed by a large mouthful of essence blood being spat out. ¡°Kid, wait for me!¡± ¡°Once I have recovered, I will surely investigate your background, and then you will face the consequences!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± After speaking these words, He Zhengsong let out an angry laugh. Quickly, He Zhengsong¡¯s body gradually became illusory, like a fading afterimage. At this moment, witnessing this scene and hearing He Zhengsong¡¯s threatening words, Lin Tianming momentarily paused. However, although Lin Tianming¡¯s body stopped, the movements of his hands did not cease. In that instant, the Tiangang Sword in his hand shot out, stabbing toward a direction. And the direction that his Tiangang Sword stabbed seemed to be empty. But under the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, one could clearly see an afterimage moving at an incredibly fast speed. This speed was very fast, but still traceable. Combined with previously discovered hidden beam of light, Lin Tianming seemed to have perceived something. He guessed in his heart that He Zhengsong was now using a secret technique meant for escaping. As for his complexion, which had suddenly changed from pale to flushed and then aged a bit. Coupled with the outburst of essence blood and the quickly waning Qi, these were the side effects of using the secret technique. ¡­ Chapter 1088 1088 571 Every Last One Perishes ?Chapter 1088: Chapter 571: Every Last One Perishes Chapter 1088: Chapter 571: Every Last One Perishes Thus, based on these judgments, Lin Tianming acted immediately, attempting to cut off He Zhengsong¡¯s escape route and try to take his life. After all, He Zhengsong¡¯s identity was not insignificant. Coming from the Golden Elixir Forces such as the Five Poison Sect and being a Third Order Alchemy Master, his influence in Golden Crow Country and the surrounding regions was far from ordinary. If he were allowed to escape and return to his sect now, even if Lin Tianming did not fear the Five Poison Sect or their possible retaliation against him, the fact remained that it wasn¡¯t just him and his wife present at the location; Tang Xiuping was also there. Therefore, if He Zhengsong managed to escape, it was entirely possible that he could trace some leads, hence potentially causing trouble for the Lin Family. Knowing this, Lin Tianming took action quickly and ruthlessly, determined to execute justice where He Zhengsong stood. With this intent, his movements were swift, and the area covered by the Earth Fiend Sword Formation continued to shrink. Currently, the range of the Sword Array¡¯s Barrier was only around a hundred feet in diameter. ... Within such a Sword Array, the defensive power of the barriers was incredibly rigorous, easily withstanding an attack from a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator without much effort. Furthermore, the roaming Sword Qi within the Sword Array would also create obstacles for He Zhengsong¡¯s escape attempt. Thus, when the Tiangang Sword appeared in one corner, a scream was heard shortly thereafter. Following that, He Zhengsong¡¯s body reappeared and eventually crashed to the ground. As far as the eye could see, He Zhengsong was covered in blood, with one arm missing and a bloody hole in the arm¡¯s place, blood still flowing out ceaselessly. His complexion was pale as paper, and his breath was faint to the extreme. Facing such injuries, He Zhengsong propped himself up with one hand, trying shakily to crawl to his feet. However, his injuries were too severe; after several attempts, he still couldn¡¯t manage to rise. After multiple tries, He Zhengsong finally used his longsword as a support to stagger to his feet. Next, He Zhengsong glared at Lin Tianming, rage filling his face, his heart filled with horror. Because he had never expected that his last resort, the secret technique for escaping, would be so easily seen through by Lin Tianming, who also acted in time to stop him. He had thought that by paying some price and using his secret technique, he could entirely escape unscathed. After all, the secret technique he employed was very effective and had helped him escape from crises several times. Yet Lin Tianming had some means to predict his escape route and take accurate measures in time. This was altogether too strange and beyond expectation. Now that he had used his evasion secret technique, escaping became nearly impossible. Thinking of this, He Zhengsong felt a mix of shock and rage, his expression dark and terrifying. But Lin Tianming did not care about that; after all, He Zhengsong had already been gravely injured, and even if He Zhengsong were at his peak, he would still be no match for Lin Tianming. As such, He Zhengsong¡¯s fate was now entirely in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Lin Tianming could easily kill him if he wished to. As for He Zhengsong, it seemed he hadn¡¯t realized this fact. Seeing Lin Tianming impassively walking towards him, He Zhengsong still wanted to struggle. ¡°My fellow Daoist, listen to me, if you spare my life, I am willing to offer up most of my wealth and treasures for your compensation.¡± ¡°And rest assured, even if I return to my Sect, I will not speak of this matter, nor will I seek revenge later!¡± He Zhengsong spoke with clenched teeth, his face seemingly sincere. But Lin Tianming was unmoved by these pleas. He knew all too well that the survival rule of the Cultivation World has always been that the strong are revered, and it¡¯s a situation of life and death. Take He Zhengsong, for example, his previous arrogant and despotic demeanor, threatening him repeatedly, even declaring his intentions to kill him and seize all the treasures. Now, seeing his fate controlled by Lin Tianming, he could only beg for mercy. To Lin Tianming, such a person was crafty and cunning, ungrateful as a wolf even. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was naturally not confused by a few pleas for mercy. Therefore, Lin Tianming smiled lightly and then shook his head. ¡°Hehe¡­ My fellow Daoist He, there¡¯s no need to say more; today is the day you die. No one can save you!¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming¡¯s tone was harsh, with his murderous intent clearly showing. Upon hearing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression changed drastically, his anger overtaking the previous ingratiating demeanor. Then He Zhengsong continued grimly, ¡°Are you truly so heartless?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me too far, or I¡¯ll Self-Detonate my Golden Core just to make sure you pay a heavy price!¡± ¡°Self-Detonate the Golden Core?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist He, you¡¯re in this state and still think you can self-detonate your Golden Core?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m bragging, but you don¡¯t have enough time to do so now.¡± Lin Tianming said with a smile, his face showing contempt. Hearing this, He Zhengsong¡¯s expression darkened, and the little fantasy he had held, hoping that Lin Tianming would listen to his persuasion and spare him, vanished. Now that Lin Tianming didn¡¯t give face to his words, nor was he swayed by them, He Zhengsong also understood that he had reached a dead end. Realizing this, He Zhengsong no longer harbored any thoughts of yielding. Since that was the case, he had no hopes left and only wished to make Lin Tianming pay some price before death. Chapter 1089 1089 571 A Complete Fall_2 ?Chapter 1089: Chapter 571: A Complete Fall_2 Chapter 1089: Chapter 571: A Complete Fall_2 As for whether the Five Poison Sect could avenge his death after he was gone, that was no longer something he needed to worry about. With his mind made up, He Zhengsong¡¯s face was full of determination. Watching Lin Tianming getting closer and closer, He Zhengsong no longer wasted time. Thus, He Zhengsong quickly made a hand gesture, followed by his face suddenly turning crimson. At the same time, the primordial qi between heaven and earth became violent, starting to converge above He Zhengsong¡¯s head, some of which had even entered through his Sky Spirit Cover. For a moment, He Zhengsong¡¯s face looked even more terrifyingly fierce. It was at that time Lin Tianming noticed these changes. ... Fortunately, he was well aware that He Zhengsong was cornered and bound to make a desperate move like self-detonating his Golden Core. Hence, he was always prepared to interrupt He Zhengsong¡¯s self-destruction at the first opportunity. In this way, Lin Tianming made his move very quickly, already preempting He Zhengsong just as he began to attract the heaven and earth primordial qi. That instant, within the Sword Array, the figure of the Tiangang Sword appeared, shooting towards He Zhengsong. The speed of the Tiangang Sword was incredibly fast, like a flash of light passing by. And at that moment, He Zhengsong had reached the critical juncture of self-detonation. Looking over, one could see He Zhengsong with a fierce expression, with blood seeping out of his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The primordial qi at his Sky Spirit Cover was invading crazily. Within him, his Golden Core was on the brink of shattering. If it went on like this, in just a few breaths of time, the Golden Core would completely explode. Should it explode, given his strength at the Mid Stage Golden Core level, it would inevitably lead to a tremendous impact. And Lin Tianming was not far from He Zhengsong; within such range to face such impact, even with his great strength and immense physical power, he couldn¡¯t be sure to remain unharmed. Even more so, it was possible that he could be directly killed on the spot. Lin Tianming had extensive combat experience and had faced the scene of Golden Core self-detonation many times, evidently understanding the threat of a Golden Core explosion. Moreover, He Zhengsong¡¯s strength was indeed remarkable, so the power of his self-detonation was naturally not to be underestimated. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack was extremely fast, aiming directly at He Zhengsong¡¯s vital parts and shooting forth. ¡°Swish¡­¡± With a sharp sound, Then came a loud explosion. For a while, the primordial qi between heaven and earth became violent, the ground began to shake violently, the wind howled and sent sand and stones flying, the already dark canyon became even darker. Beneath this veil of darkness, Lin Tianming used his Eye of Five Colors to see the entire attack process that had just occurred. At that time, at the critical moment of He Zhengsong¡¯s self-detonating Golden Core, the Tiangang Sword directly penetrated his chest. Immediately afterward, He Zhengsong¡¯s body fell with a thud, eventually lying motionless on the ground. Looking over at that time, there was a large hole in He Zhengsong¡¯s chest, his body was bloodied. Right before the Golden Core was about to self-detonate, Lin Tianming forcefully interrupted it. At that moment, He Zhengsong¡¯s face showed pain, but soon he lost all consciousness. As the sky returned to normal, the battlefield also calmed down. Then, Lin Tianming slowly walked towards the body of He Zhengsong, seeing him lying motionless on the ground, without any breath ¨C obviously dead beyond doubt. Seeing this, Lin Tianming smiled faintly, feeling quite satisfied with the outcome of this battle. But in fact, Lin Tianming had engaged in two major battles in succession, and when he had previously slain the Black Demon Ape, he had already used up nearly half of his mana. As for He Zhengsong, his strength was obviously stronger than that of the Black Demon Ape, not only because Human Cultivators are more treacherous and crafty, but also because He Zhengsong had the aid of Spirit Arts and methods of escape. If Lin Tianming did not have the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, it might indeed have been difficult to prevent He Zhengsong from escaping. However, fortunately, Lin Tianming himself was very powerful. Even though his mana was nearly exhausted, Lin Tianming¡¯s diverse divine skills and any single Technique Divine Power were almost equivalent to a Spirit Art. Take for instance the final Earth¡¯s Sword Lotus; it directly blocked the attack of He Zhengsong¡¯s Spirit Art. Now that He Zhengsong had fallen, everything had settled. In this situation, Lin Tianming then turned his gaze towards the battlefield where Qin Xi was. Following his gaze, the skirmish on Qin Xi¡¯s side was also coming to an end. Looking over, Qin Xi¡¯s attacks flowed like water, her continuous assaults leaving Yu Lihong gasping for breath. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s strength had reached the Golden Core Initial Peak, not far from the Mid Stage Golden Core, coupled with her innate talent and the support of endless Magical Treasures, her strength surpassed most cultivators of the same stage. ¡°` Had it not been for that invisible bottleneck, perhaps she would have already stepped into the Mid Stage Golden Core by now. In such a case, Qin Xi¡¯s strength would clearly surpass Yu Lihong, and even if she encountered a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, she should still have a glimmer of hope. However, the outcome was still hard to say. And now, Qin Xi relentlessly pressed her attack, each strike leaving Yu Lihong struggling to cope. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud bang, Yu Lihong was sent flying backwards, spitting out large amounts of blood while still in midair. It wasn¡¯t until he heavily crashed to the ground that his figure finally stopped. At this point, Yu Lihong¡¯s complexion quickly turned pale, and his breath had become much weaker. When he lifted his head to look at Qin Xi, he was already filled with immense fear. And this fear stemmed not only from Qin Xi, but seeing that He Zhengsong had already stopped breathing, his face turned even paler, and a sense of dread involuntarily gripped his heart. He was well aware that even He Zhengsong, who was at the Mid Stage Golden Core, had been killed by Lin Tianming, who seemed unwounded, only having expended a considerable amount of energy. And now, Lin Tianming surely still had the strength to fight. Faced with such an opponent, he, being merely at the Early Stage Golden Core cultivation, could not even withstand Qin Xi, let alone survive the joint attack of the two. Realizing this, Yu Lihong was overwhelmed by fear, thinking that he certainly had no hope of surviving. Thinking about this, a look of utter despair filled Yu Lihong¡¯s face. But at this moment, despair was useless. He was acutely aware that Lin Tianming would not let a threat return to the wild, nor would he leave any loose ends. After all, the current situation was completely under their control. Even if it were him in their position, he would execute a thorough sweep, leaving no trace whatsoever. And indeed, it was as such. In the midst of Yu Lihong¡¯s terror, Qin Xi¡¯s blue longsword in her hand once again shimmered with light, and the silver-white Sword Qi slashed through the sky. This action snapped the terrified Yu Lihong back into reality. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s renewed assault, already severely injured, his strength was now less than half of his peak. He knew he could not hold on for much longer, nor could he escape in front of Lin Tianming and Qin Xi. Realizing this, Yu Lihong desperately rallied his spirits and shouted through the air, ¡°Fairy, please spare my life¡­ Fairy, please spare me!¡± Upon hearing these words, Qin Xi let out a cold laugh. ¡°Spare your life? What were you doing earlier?¡± ¡°You had your chance to settle our grievances, but you didn¡¯t take it. Now it¡¯s too late for regrets!¡± Qin Xi said mockingly with a laugh, her actions not stopping for a moment. Seeing this, and hearing Qin Xi¡¯s decisive words, Yu Lihong¡¯s face darkened, his fear turning into raging anger. He knew Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t let him go, and that he had no chance left. With that in mind, he likewise intended to self-detonate his Golden Core, hoping to at least cause some trouble for Lin Tianming and Qin Xi. Thus, Yu Lihong, like He Zhengsong before him, made a complex hand gesture. Soon, the sky where they were at turned violent, and vast amounts of Yuan Qi crazily surged towards Yu Lihong. Witnessing this scene, Qin Xi sneered coldly, her longsword slicing through the sky like lightning, looking incredibly dazzling. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± As a piercing sound echoed, the skies darkened once again. Simultaneously, the Primordial Qi between heaven and earth spread wildly, Gang Wind forming a massive shockwave that swept up the surrounding flowers and trees into the air. And Lin Tianming, using the Eye of Five Colors, saw this scene clearly. As it turned out, Qin Xi¡¯s longsword, like lightning, had pierced through Yu Lihong¡¯s chest in a blink of an eye, before being recaptured in her hand. As for Yu Lihong himself, his towering body lay motionless on the ground, devoid of any breath. A few breaths later, the world between heaven and earth returned to normal. At this point, the entire battlefield became extremely quiet, as if nothing had happened. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If not for the battlefield, which appeared utterly tragic and riddled with many holes, one would never think that several battles at the Golden Core Stage had just erupted here. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1090 1090 572 Heyuan Fruit ?Chapter 1090: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit Chapter 1090: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit At this moment, seeing Yu Lihong had already been killed, Lin Tianming¡¯s face revealed a satisfied smile. He then waved his hand, snatched He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag from his waist, and threw a fireball to burn He Zhengsong¡¯s body to ashes. After doing all this, Lin Tianming then slowly walked towards Qin Xi. While still on his way, Lin Tianming asked with concern: ¡°Xi¡¯er, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°Have you been injured?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head with a smile, her heart filled with joy from Lin Tianming¡¯s concern. Thus, Qin Xi giggled and said, ¡°Brother Ming, don¡¯t worry, although that fellow had some strength, he was no match for Xi¡¯er at all. I only used about seventy to eighty percent of my strength to defeat him.¡± ... ¡°And now that the great battle is over, Xi¡¯er is fine and has not been injured.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Xi¡¯er is truly formidable, such strength even astonishes your husband.¡± Lin Tianming laughed heartily, his expression very relaxed. After all, He Zhengsong and his companion had been arrogant and overbearing before, but they barely caused any trouble at all before being thoroughly defeated. Now, all obstacles have been removed, and all plans are back on track. As for what¡¯s next, it¡¯s time to collect the Heyuan Fruits and the Heyuan Fruit Tree along with a multitude of other treasures. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt quite excited. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi gathered together to quickly tidy up the battlefield. At this moment, seeing that the battlefield suddenly went quiet and stayed that way for a long time, Tang Xiuping, with a nervous heart, slowly emerged from inside the canyon. From afar, he carefully searched for He Zhengsong and even the figures of Lin Tianming and his wife. In his heart, he was full of expectation for the outcome of this great battle. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it was a battle at the Golden Core Stage, involving powerful existences at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Such a level of magic duel is not commonly seen in the Golden Crow Cultivation World. When he saw Lin Tianming and his wife standing there, looking calm and composed with bright smiles on their faces. Such an expression seemed very calm. Observing them further, their aura was very stable, as if they were not injured at all. Following that, He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong were nowhere to be seen, only a few faint traces left on the battlefield, along with weak spiritual energy, proving that they had been there. Such a scene instantly struck him with immense astonishment. After all, both He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong were not easy opponents. Especially He Zhengsong, who was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator and a Third Order Alchemist, who had dominated the Golden Crow Country for over two hundred years, having defeated cultivators of the same stage multiple times. Even at the Early Stage Golden Core, rumors had circulated that he had fought with a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivator, and the battle ended in a stalemate. When the news of the duel spread, it shocked the entire Golden Crow Cultivation World. Even in the surrounding countries, various rumors about He Zhengsong circulated. Therefore, such a veteran Golden Core Expert as He Zhengsong not getting any advantage against Lin Tianming was incredible. You must know, Lin Tianming had just fought a fierce battle against the Black Demon Ape, and he had everything under control. Not only that, looking at Lin Tianming now, it apparently did not take much effort; to say he easily killed He Zhengsong seems fitting. The more Tang Xiuping thought about it, the more astounded he became. Because he had heard rumors about Lin Tianming before and thought they were somewhat exaggerated. But now, seeing Lin Tianming effortlessly killing He Zhengsong at the Mid Stage Golden Core also verified those initial rumors. It could even be said that the strength Lin Tianming displayed in this battle was even more formidable than the rumors had suggested. Knowing this, Tang Xiuping, although from the Tang Family of Qingzhou, now faced Lin Tianming again with even more respect. And this, was respect for the powerful. This kind of respect was completely genuine and fully recognized Lin Tianming¡¯s capabilities. Thus, when Tang Xiuping saw Lin Tianming and his wife, his expression was extremely respectful. ¡°Elder Lin, where are Elder He and the others?¡± Tang Xiuping still seemed somewhat in disbelief, and amidst his shock, he couldn¡¯t help but ask. Hearing this, Lin Tianming simply smiled lightly. ¡°Daoist Tang need not overthink, we now have no obstacles, so let¡¯s hurry and collect the Heyuan Fruit Tree!¡± Lin Tianming casually moved past this topic by bringing up the Heyuan Fruit, thus shifting the topic. Indeed, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s somewhat smiling expression, Tang Xiuping realized he had been too abrupt, so he dared not ask further. Immediately after, Tang Xiuping nodded and then said, ¡°Please follow me, seniors.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Xiuping made a gesture of invitation and then led the way into the depths of the canyon. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and his wife did not delay further and followed in Tang Xiuping¡¯s footsteps into the depths of the canyon. ¡­ Golden Crow Country, Scorpio Horn Mountain Range. The Scorpio Horn Mountain Range covers a large area and has a high concentration of spiritual energy, and because the whole shape of Scorpio Horn Mountain resembles a scorpion¡¯s horn, it is thus named. Scorpio Horn Mountain is the territory of the Five Poison Sect and also where the sect¡¯s headquarters is located. At this moment, inside a pavilion on top of one of the peaks in Scorpio Horn Mountain, two disciples of the Five Poison Sect were sitting cross-legged on meditation mats, eyes closed in concentration. In front of them were numerous Soul Lamps arranged in circles, all the Soul Lamps neatly placed on a sacrificial altar. Inside the grand hall, the overall scent of sandalwood filled the air, complementing the decor of the place, making the entire hall look solemn and dignified. Chapter 1091 1091 572 Heyuan Fruit_2 ?Chapter 1091: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit_2 Chapter 1091: Chapter 572 Heyuan Fruit_2 At the highest point, there were twelve Soul Lamps currently shining brightly, noticeably brighter than the multitude of Soul Lamps below. The twelve Soul Lamps at this highest point belonged to the Golden Core Stage Cultivators of the Five Poison Sect up to now. Normally, there were disciples specifically guarding the grand hall where these Soul Lamps were stored. It was at this moment that among the twelve Soul Lamps at the highest point, two suddenly started to tremble, immediately catching the attention of two guarding disciples. One of them pointed at the two Soul Lamps, saying incredulously, ¡°Li, look quickly!¡± Hearing this, the other named Li, a Foundation Establishment Disciple, hurriedly raised his head to look up. Seeing those trembling Soul Lamps, his expression became as horrified as the first speaker. ... ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± The Li surname disciple of the Five Poison Sect saw the Soul Lamp tremble for a moment, then flicker on and off, his face filled with extreme fear. The sudden change in the Soul Lamp definitely indicated a formidable and earth-shaking battle had erupted. Thinking back over the past hundred years in the Golden Crow Cultivation World, battles among Golden Core Stage were indeed rare; moreover, the Soul Lamp¡¯s owner wouldn¡¯t cause the lamp¡¯s change unless it was a desperate moment. With that said, these two trembling Soul Lamps indicated that the two Sect powerhouses were experiencing an unprecedented great battle at this moment. Thinking this, the cultivator surnamed Li stared fixedly at those two Soul Lamps, not even daring to breathe loudly. Under their watch, the Soul Lamps continued to tremble for a while. Soon, the Soul Lamps began to shake violently; in a few breaths¡¯ time, one of the lamps extinguished directly. Seeing this scene, the cultivator surnamed Li was dumbstruck, stammering while pointing at that Soul Lamp. ¡°That¡­ that is Elder He¡¯s Soul Lamp¡­¡± ¡°It actually¡­ actually went out, what happened?¡± The cultivator beside him was the first to react, hurriedly saying: ¡°Brother, quickly send a message to inform the Sect Leader!¡± Hearing this, the cultivator surnamed Li finally came to his senses, hastily sending out a message in a panic. Just as he did this, another Soul Lamp trembled a few times and soon followed Elder He¡¯s fate, extinguishing right in front of them. ¡°Elder Yu¡¯s Soul Lamp also went out!¡± ¡°Heaven¡¯s sake¡­ what exactly happened?¡± ¡°To think Elder He was a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation realm, wielding considerable strength throughout the Golden Crow Cultivation World.¡± ¡°Did they encounter a Late Stage Golden Core existence?¡± ¡°Otherwise, with Elder He¡¯s strength, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger!¡± While the cultivator surnamed Li was waiting for the Sect Leader, he couldn¡¯t help discussing with his fellow disciples, their words filled with terror. In a short while, a man in a blue robe appeared directly behind the cultivator surnamed Li without alarming them. Only when the blue-robed elder spoke did he interrupt the two. ¡°Nephew Li, what exactly happened just now? Quickly explain everything to me in detail!¡± The elder looked at the highest Soul Lamps, his expression very stern, even carrying a strong killing intent. Because he was the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, himself a Senior Early Stage Golden Core powerhouse. Seeing the extinguishing of Elder He¡¯s Soul Lamp, Sect Leader Duan Changhe was shaking with fury and disbelief. And his current expression was formidable without anger. Especially that phrase put the cultivator surnamed Li extremely on edge. Finally calming down a bit, the cultivator surnamed Li bowed respectfully to the elder before recounting the entire incident. Soon, Duan Changhe learned the whole process, and he determined that both Elder He Zhengsong and Elder Yu Lihong had completely fallen. Confirming this, Duan Changhe paid no mind to the two disciples surnamed Li. With a flash of his body, he disappeared in front of them, leaving the two Li surname disciples standing there bewildered. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. At the highest point of Scorpion Horn Mountain, a grand hall gathered several Golden Core Stage Cultivators, including Duan Changhe. At that moment, the highest-placed Zhao Zhiqing looked at Duan Changhe with a heavy expression and asked, ¡°Brother Duan, what exactly happened?¡± ¡°Where were the two disciples before this incident? Have the other two sects made any major moves recently?¡± At this moment, Zhao Zhiqing, the Great Elder of the Five Poison Sect, asked several questions, clearly attaching great importance to this matter. Upon reflection, such a response from Zhao Zhiqing was quite normal. After all, He Zhengsong was a Mid Stage Golden Core Strongman, whose personal strength was extremely formidable. Moreover, with his status as a Third Order Alchemy Master, his position in the entire Five Poison Sect was second only to that of the Great Elder Zhao Zhiqing. Nowadays, with the extinguishing of He Zhengsong¡¯s Soul Lamp, and the same happening to Yu Lihong, in such a short span of time, the fall of two Golden Core Stage Experts in the Five Poison Sect had never occurred in nearly two thousand years. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under such circumstances, as the Great Elder of the Five Poison Sect, he naturally became a mix of shock and anger. During this incident, Duan Changhe, seeing Zhao Zhiqing¡¯s expression, quickly narrated the recent events. Including the news of an auction being held at Longqing Market, Duan Changhe reported this as well. Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiqing¡¯s expression darkened, and he then indignantly said: ¡°Longqing Market auction?¡± ¡°So it seems, could it be the doing of the Longqing Sect?¡± As soon as the words fell, someone in the crowd spoke up: ¡°The killer of Brother He might not necessarily be from the Longqing Sect.¡± ¡°After all, Brother He¡¯s whereabouts were almost known to everyone.¡± ¡°If Brother He fell, they from Longqing Sect would be the first suspects.¡± ¡°And although our frictions with Longqing Sect are not few, they lack the motive for murder.¡± ¡°Moreover, although Brother He has always been high-profile, he never formed deadly enmities with people from Longqing Sect.¡± Sure enough, as soon as this cultivator spoke, it immediately garnered agreement from several fellow sect members. ¡°Brother Zhu is right!¡± ¡°The fall of Brother He might also be a frame-up; we must not be blinded by others.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ Considering the current situation, only two powers in the entire Golden Crow Country could kill Brother He and his companion together.¡± ¡°However, there is also the possibility that it was someone from another country.¡± ¡°In any case, we must thoroughly investigate Brother He¡¯s death, and we must avenge his profound hatred.¡± Duan Changhe said fiercely, his expression full of intense killing intent. Hearing this, Zhao Zhiqing also nodded his head, shortly after gave a few orders, instructing Mid Stage Golden Core, Zhu Xin to secretly investigate this matter. Soon, the gathering among the higher-ups of the Five Poison Sect concluded. Meanwhile, Zhu Xin immediately left the headquarters of the Five Poison Sect and headed towards Longqing Market. ¡­ Golden Crow Mountain Range, in a certain valley. As Lin Tianming and his two companions continued to move forward, they soon entered the deepest part of the gorge. Under the leadership of Tang Xiuping, Lin Tianming and his wife reached the front of the Heyuan Guo Tree. Looking ahead, the Heyuan Guo Tree stood about thirty feet tall, its body full of dense branches and leaves, appearing lush and vibrant. Among its lush branches, the largest three held three bright green fruits. These fruits were only the size of a fist, their surfaces glossy and translucent, and carried a unique fragrance. And these three fruits were undoubtedly Heyuan Fruits. At this moment, seeing these three fruits, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed excitement. After all, this trip had sparked two major battles, and they, the couple, had expended so much effort just for these few fruits. Now that they had finally seen the Heyuan Guo Tree and these three fruits, Naturally, Lin Tianming felt thrilled and somewhat impatient. Feeling a hard-pressed need to suppress the excitement in his heart, Lin Tianming looked at Tang Xiuping and slowly said. ¡°Daoist Tang, it looks like these Heyuan Fruits still need a few more days to fully mature.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s rest here for a few days, and then harvest them when they¡¯re ripe!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1092 1092 573 Parting Ways ?Chapter 1092: Chapter 573: Parting Ways Chapter 1092: Chapter 573: Parting Ways Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping¡¯s face lit up with excitement, and he too became somewhat impatient. After all, he was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, his own strength extremely limited, and the family elders were unable to provide support in time, causing him to worry about gains and losses for a while. Later, for the sake of the Heyuan Fruit and the tree, he reluctantly took a risk and asked for help. Now, all obstacles had been cleared, and the Heyuan Fruit Tree and its fruits were within arm¡¯s reach¡ªan excitement impossible for any Foundation Establishment Cultivator to restrain. However, picking the Heyuan Fruits before they matured would only waste this Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. Therefore, no matter how eager Tang Xiuping was for his Golden Core Path, he had to patiently wait. Thus, Lin Tianming and the other two sat down in front of the Heyuan Fruit Tree. ... During this waiting period, Lin Tianming and He Qinxu took the opportunity to use elixirs to restore the depleted mana. Tang Xiuping, on the other hand, kept watch. Just a few days¡¯ time, once the Heyuan Fruit Tree fully matured, they could collect this treasure. Afterwards, they would be able to return home and end this treasure-hunting adventure. And this wait only lasted for seven days. On this day, as a unique fragrance filled the air, the fruits on the Heyuan Fruit Tree swiftly changed from green to bright red. As the color turned completely red, the aroma of the Heyuan Fruits became richer, soon permeating the entire valley. Upon closer inspection, the fruits appeared even more appealing, with translucent and delicate flesh that contained an incredibly rich energy. Even Lin Tianming, with his current cultivation strength, could not help but feel a surge of excitement when smelling this fragrance. From this, it was evident that the supportive effect of Heyuan Fruits for Core Formation stood out among the many treasures of its tier. And of these three Heyuan Fruits, Lin Tianming was entitled to two, marking a significant gain from this journey. Moreover, with these two fruits, the Lin Family was unlikely to lack Nascent Soul Spiritual Items for the coming decades. If fortunate, they might even cultivate one or two additional Golden Core Stage clansmen. Every time Lin Tianming thought of this, he was filled with anticipation. Not only that, but Tang Xiuping, seeing the fruits fully mature, was even more thrilled. After all, he was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm and had long coveted Nascent Soul Spiritual Items. This Heyuan Fruit was essential to his cultivation journey. Now that the fruits were within reach, any Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator would struggle to remain calm in such a situation. Seeing Tang Xiuping¡¯s eagerness, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Daoist Tang, you may take all the Heyuan Fruits, and we can leave this place and head back home.¡± Hearing this, Tang Xiuping could no longer contain his excitement and immediately rushed towards the Heyuan Fruit Tree. Soon, Tang Xiuping leaped up and used his longsword to gently knock down one of the fruits, catching it securely in a Jade Box. The second fruit was swiftly picked in the same fashion. Within a short period, all three Heyuan Fruits had been gathered by Tang Xiuping. After finishing, Tang Xiuping had no intention of delaying; he promptly used his longsword to begin excavating around the Heyuan Fruit Tree. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Heyuan Fruit Tree was also packed away by Tang Xiuping. In less than fifteen minutes, both of the valley¡¯s treasures had been completely gathered. At that moment, with his heart brimming with joy, Tang Xiuping came in front of Lin Tianming and the other, then respectfully gave a bow. ¡°Elder Lin, these two Heyuan Fruits are our agreed share from earlier.¡± ¡°And this one million Spirit Stones are a sign of respect I personally wish to offer, as a gesture of goodwill from myself and the Tang Family.¡± After completing these statements respectfully, Tang Xiuping took out two Jade Boxes, which undoubtedly contained the freshly picked Heyuan Fruits. In addition, a separate storage bag contained one million Spirit Stones prepared by Tang Xiuping alone. His extra arrangements were likely due to Lin Tianming¡¯s strength, which entirely surpassed his expectations. Previously, Lin Tianming had fought the Black Demon Ape and He Zhengsong single-handedly, managing two consecutive battles with strong foes. The entire battle was not long, and he showcased a remarkably overwhelming personal power. For such a powerhouse, Tang Xiuping, being a manager at a branch of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, was significantly inferior in cultivation level. Moreover, Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and potential were extremely high, his personal strength formidable, and he had a vast prospect on the cultivation path. Such a person, in his eyes, possessed great potential. As a member of the Tang Family, even with a profound background, the competition among the ordinary family members and direct descendants high up in the hierarchy was probably no less fierce than that among ordinary family Cultivators. Put that way, he too needed the assistance of outside forces to go further. Thus, he naturally understood that someone as powerful as Lin Tianming was worth forging a deep relationship with. Under such circumstances, he would naturally value Lin Tianming and respect him sincerely. As for the one million Spirit Stones, though a significant amount for him. If he could gain Lin Tianming¡¯s guidance and even a bit of help, the chances of successfully reaching the Golden Core Stage on his next attempt would greatly increase. With that in mind, this expense was utterly worthwhile. Holding such calculations, Tang Xiuping respectfully handed over the Heyuan Fruits and the storage bag filled with Spirit Stones to Lin Tianming. Chapter 1093: 573: Parting_2 At this time, Lin Tianming saw that Tang Xiuping was sincere and respectful in his manner, although he did not mention anything else, Lin Tianming understood what Tang Xiuping had in mind. In his view, Tang Xiuping¡¯s initiative to show goodwill was a good signal for him and the Lin Family. Moreover, before the big battle with He Zhengsong, Tang Xiuping firmly stood by his side and did not change his mind at the last minute. This alone made him very satisfied and comforted. Now, Tang Xiuping not only brought out the two previously agreed Heyuan Fruits but also willingly offered some Spirit Stones to show goodwill, which was quite rare. Considering the idea of forming ties with the Tang Family, Lin Tianming found it hard to refuse Tang Xiuping¡¯s kindness. Thus, Lin Tianming merely took the two Heyuan Fruits to inspect, and did not immediately store them in his storage bag. As for the storage bag containing Spirit Stones, Lin Tianming waved his hand to decline Tang Xiuping¡¯s kindness. Moreover, Lin Tianming casually took out some breakthrough insights he had copied and handed them to Tang Xiuping. By doing so, he also conveyed his goodwill, making it easier for the Lin Family to have deeper cooperation with the Sky Dragon Pavilion in the future. Just as expected, seeing Lin Tianming being so courteous, Tang Xiuping naturally understood the profound meaning of Lin Tianming. Thereupon, Tang Xiuping, without reservation, accepted the gifts from Lin Tianming. Immediately afterward, Tang Xiuping sincerely said, ¡°One does not thank for great kindness, but please rest assured, Elder Lin.¡± ¡°I will surely convey Elder Lin¡¯s goodwill to my family elders when I see them, and I will quickly facilitate deep cooperation between the Sky Dragon Pavilion and the Lin Family.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded his head, then continued, ¡°Since that is the case, Lin Mou would like to thank you in advance.¡± ¡°Moreover, these two Heyuan Fruits, I would trouble Daoist Tang to use the channels of the Sky Dragon Commerce Association to help deliver them to the Lin Family¡¯s manager in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Luoyun Market.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming handed the Jade Box containing the Heyuan Fruits back to Tang Xiuping. Upon hearing this, Tang Xiuping also nodded and then verbally agreed to this small matter. After all, the Sky Dragon Commerce Association, affiliated with the Sky Dragon Pavilion, was very active throughout Qingzhou, with branches in almost every mid-to-large workshop and traces of Tang Family Members. Additionally, every so often, the commerce caravan of the Sky Dragon Commerce Association would travel across the countries in Qingzhou to replenish various items for sale in the Sky Dragon Pavilion. Besides, the profits from various branches of the Sky Dragon Pavilion were also gradually brought back to the Tang Family¡¯s territory by the caravan. Thus, helping Lin Tianming deliver the two Heyuan Fruits was merely a trivial matter. Therefore, Tang Xiuping promised to do this and collected the two Heyuan Fruits. After accomplishing these tasks, Tang Xiuping continued, ¡°Elder Lin, now that all treasures have been collected, may I ask what plans do you have next?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming fell silent for a moment, pondering over the next arrangements in his mind. In his heart, with the successful acquisition of the Heyuan Fruits and the conclusion of the Golden Core auction, they, as a couple, had bid on several treasures, plus the storage bags of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong, making their gains quite substantial. Currently, it appeared that they had only planned to stay in Longqing Market for a while to see if there were any opportunities to compete for. Who would have thought that they would get some treasures at the auction and, with the news revealed by Tang Xiuping, easily obtain two Heyuan Fruits, which was a complete delightful surprise. It can be said that their purpose of staying had been fully realized, the matters in Golden Crow Country had formally come to an end, and there was nothing much to be nostalgic about. Furthermore, with He Zhengsong just having died, it is expected that the cultivation world in Golden Crow Country would be very chaotic for some time. Although he believed that he had left no trace and Tang Xiuping would not reveal this matter. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But he and Qin Xi were too unfamiliar in face, and even if they did not reveal their cultivation by fighting, staying long would risk exposing some clues. At that time, combining their unfamiliar faces and both of them being in the Golden Core Stage, the target was indeed too large. Once the Five Poison Sect got hold of this information and attempted some probing, it might indeed find something. Thus, staying on in Golden Crow Country didn¡¯t seem like a good choice. Although he wasn¡¯t afraid of the Five Poison Sect, he also didn¡¯t want to clash with them prematurely. Currently, he still had plans to continue traveling and to find the whereabouts of Lin Tianfeng and another, with many matters awaiting and his energy being quite limited. Rather than exposing himself prematurely, it might be wiser to leave the territory of Golden Crow Country first. When they return, if the Five Poison Sect discovers some clues, he needn¡¯t be overly cautious. If the Five Poison Sect doesn¡¯t trouble the Lin Family, that would be better. But if they do, the family is not completely powerless to resist. And when he and Qin Xi return, their cultivation levels are likely to advance further. Especially Qin Xi, who is just one step away from the Mid Stage Golden Core. By then, just the two of them could hold off half of the Five Poison Sect¡¯s strength. In this regard, even if the Five Poison Sect is strong and has a deep foundation, the Lin Family needn¡¯t fear them excessively. Since that¡¯s the case, they won¡¯t have to worry about anything for a short period. Thinking of these points, Lin Tianming had a plan in mind. Thus, Lin Tianming said with a light smile: ¡°Daoist Tang, I do not plan to stay long in the Golden Crow Country.¡± ¡°As for the next steps, I plan to head directly to Xitang Country after leaving the Golden Crow Mountain Range, and then travel around other countries in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°As for Daoist Tang, after leaving the Golden Crow Mountain Range, we will part ways.¡± Tang Xiuping nodded upon hearing this. In his heart, he also worried that Lin Tianming staying too long in Golden Crow Country could expose some traces. Although he also comes from a profound background, he is after all not at the Golden Core Stage Realm. If the Five Poison Sect really discovers some clues, it could cause trouble for him. In this way, it is good for both Lin Tianming and himself that Lin Tianming leaves the territory of Golden Crow Country as soon as possible. Considering this, Tang Xiuping had no intention of urging Lin Tianming to stay. Consequently, Tang Xiuping also politely chatted for a few moments, then set off with Lin Tianming and his wife along the route they came. Familiar with the road, they only encountered a few teams of cultivators in Foundation Establishment Cultivation. With their cultivation strength and intentional concealment, naturally, they wouldn¡¯t expose their tracks. After half a month of travel, the trio smoothly exited the Golden Crow Mountain Range. That evening, the three appeared on a mountaintop. Lin Tianming looked into the distance, then turned towards Tang Xiuping and bowed: ¡°Daoist Tang, shall we part ways here?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Tang Xiuping also smiled and bowed respectfully, replying: ¡°Everything has been settled, though reluctant, a parting is necessary.¡± ¡°Elder Lin, if you encounter any difficulties or need help during your journey around Qingzhou, you can use the Dragon Pavilion Token to seek help from the Sky Dragon Pavilion.¡± ¡°While I cannot provide much assistance, anything you entrust, I will certainly help to accomplish.¡± ¡°Besides, I will definitely do my best to facilitate deep cooperation between the Sky Dragon Pavilion and the Lin Family. Please rest assured, Elder Lin.¡± Tang Xiuping reiterated this point with an extremely resolute expression, greatly reassuring Lin Tianming. At that moment, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction, then laughingly said: ¡°Daoist Tang¡¯s assistance to the Lin Family, I will also keep in my heart.¡± ¡°I hope the next time we meet, Daoist Tang will have embarked on the Golden Core Path, and we can then discuss and exchange ideas.¡± ¡°Haha¡­Certainly, must I also borrow some luck from you?¡± Tang Xiuping said with a laugh, looking quite thrilled. Afterward, Lin Tianming and his wife bowed to Tang Xiuping, then took the lead to leap up and dart towards a certain direction. Watching Lin Tianming and his wife leave the place, transitioning from a dot to finally completely vanishing. Tang Xiuping observed for a moment, then without further delay. Next, he also rose into the sky, flying towards the direction of Longqing Market. ¡­ Chapter 1094: 574 Xitang City, Hundred Miles Escape Xitang Country, Xitang City. Xitang City is located at the heart of Xitang Country, a city with an extremely vast area. The heritage of Xitang City has been remarkably ancient, exerting enormous influence within the Cultivation World of Xitang Country at all times. There are several main reasons for this. Firstly, Xitang City is completely structured around Cultivators, even during the most ordinary and uneventful periods, there are always tens of thousands of Cultivators gathered in the city. If it coincides with the grand assembly that occurs once every several decades, the number of Cultivators who flock to the city can double. Furthermore, High Order Cultivators frequently appear within Xitang City, such as those in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment who would be considered formidable experts in other medium and small markets. But in Xitang City, they can be seen almost everywhere, to say they are common would not be an overstatement. Over time, the commerce inside Xitang City has become extremely prosperous, with frequent transactions between Cultivators. Therefore, the popularity of the entire city is incredibly hot, almost on par with a large workshop. Secondly, Xitang City does not belong to any single force, but is instead supervised jointly by the Four Great Golden Core Sects and the Two Great Golden Core Families of Xitang Country. Looking at it this way, six major Golden Core forces back Xitang City, each with thousands of years of lineage, or even longer, the peak forces that control Xitang City. Combined with the resources support of the Six Major Golden Core Forces, this has further fueled the development of Xitang City like adding wings to a tiger. With time, the scale of Xitang City has grown larger, commerce has flourished even more, and in addition, Xitang City has the only long-distance Teleportation Formation that leads directly to the center of Qingzhou among the Seven Southern Countries of Qingzhou. Having such a money-attracting facility, it has attracted more Cultivators to come, making Xitang City the center of the Southern Seven Kingdoms. Although this title is not directly conferred by any super strong individuals or any Nascent Soul Forces. However, among the High Order Cultivators within the Southern Seven Kingdoms of Qingzhou, this claim is widely accepted. Over time, this title has nearly settled down, becoming a sacred place all Cultivators from the Southern Seven Kingdoms aspire to. This day, around noon, two Cultivators, a man and a woman, appeared on the streets within Xitang City. At first glance, both were clad in Blue Taoist Robes, one of whom had the appearance of a middle-aged scholar, handsome with a wise and elegant demeanor. The other dressed like a lady of nobility, with relatively ordinary features but matched well with the adjacent middle-aged scholar. And these two were none other than Lin Tianming and his wife, who had changed their appearances and dressed in disguise. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s usual style, they always hid their identities when traveling, thus they presented themselves with these faces. At this moment, Lin Tianming and his wife were walking on the streets of Xitang City, their eyes scanning the busy Cultivators coming and going, as well as various shops on both sides of the streets. Lin Tianming had long heard of the legendary Xitang City and was deeply interested in it. Therefore, when they initially left the Golden Crow Mountain Range, the couple did not have time to recover the mana depleted from the great battle, nor to check the storage bags of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong, and even less time to allow the Purple Gold Eagle to attempt breaking through to the Third Order Realm. Moreover, they were worried about exposing their tracks prematurely and having unnecessary troubles by contacting the Five Poison Sect Cultivators. To avoid these, they had to hastily embark on their journey. Luckily, with the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s swift flight aiding in travel, relying on Xiao Diao¡¯s speed, their journey was significantly more relaxed. The couple sat on the back of the Purple Gold Eagle, meditating to restore their mana, and eventually returned to their peak condition. After more than a month of journeying with little rest, the couple finally left the Golden Crow Cultivation World smoothly. Afterwards, they entered Xitang Country from the south and eventually arrived at their first destination, the very Xitang City beneath their feet. Now, they were away from the territory of Golden Crow Country, temporarily escaping one threat. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The death of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong would surely stir up the Golden Crow Cultivation World that had been tranquil for quite a while. However, the matter was covertly handled, and with the involvement of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, they had others to face any consequences. Thus, that issue was not presently within Lin Tianming¡¯s scope of concern. Now, he was to proceed with the original plan to travel and explore Qingzhou. And the first planned destination was undoubtedly Xitang City. According to his plan, he would briefly stay in Xitang City, appreciate the splendor of the city, and make use of the long-distance Teleportation Formation to directly reach the Central Qingzhou Kingdom. In such a manner, Lin Tianming and his wife looked around Xitang City, getting a feel for the local customs and quietly exchanging thoughts through secret transmission. ¡°Ming, this Xitang City truly deserves to be the center of the Southern Seven Kingdoms of Qingzhou, a glance reveals Foundation Establishment Cultivators everywhere, with low-order Qi Refinement Cultivators being a rare sight.¡± Qin Xi said through secret transmission, her beautiful eyes surveying the surroundings with a face full of curiosity. To Qin Xi¡¯s words, Lin Tianming contemplatively nodded. From their entrance to the city up to half an hour later, they had walked several streets and had witnessed the elegance of Xitang City. Indisputably, Xitang City lives up to its name with its grand and impressive construction. What¡¯s more, commerce is extremely bustling, with numerous Cultivators entering and leaving various shops, and significant pedestrian traffic in every area. More importantly, the Cultivators who can come to Xitang City are mainly at the Late Stage of Qi Refining or above in their cultivation realm, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators being incredibly common. Chapter 1095: 574 Xitang City, Hundred Miles Escape_2 Based on this, it¡¯s clear that the overall cultivation standard here is very high, with both opportunities and dangers coexisting. Facing such an environment, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to live long-term in Xitang City. Right now, they are all at the Golden Core Stage, with strong abilities of their own, making them relatively safe in this Xitang City. Given this, they don¡¯t have too many worries to look back on, and can rest here for a few days to see if there are any unexpected gains. Besides, it¡¯s time to take a good inventory of the spoils of war they had acquired earlier. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming secretly transmitted his plan. Soon, the couple agreed and decided to rent a Temporary Cave Abode to stay in. With this in mind, the couple set off in a certain direction. In less than half an hour, Lin Tianming and his partner had rented a Temporary Cave Abode and moved in immediately. Two days later, after two days of rest, the couple¡¯s condition returned to its peak. Sitting in the small yard of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi in front of him with a smile flashing across his face. Next, Lin Tianming took out He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag and placed it on the stone table between the two. Seeing this, Qin Xi also took out Yu Lihong¡¯s storage bag and put it in front of them. At this moment, Lin Tianming laughed and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ He Zhengsong was very strong, a Third Order Alchemy Master, and came from the Five Poison Sect with a ten-thousand-year legacy; his family wealth must be considerable.¡± ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s take a look at what we¡¯ve gained!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming picked up He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag and easily erased the remaining Divine Sense on it. Then, Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense invaded and carefully examined the contents of the storage bag. In just a few breaths, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression immediately became excited. Seeing this, Qin Xi was also very curious and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Ming, did you find something good? Or are there a great number of treasures?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled and nodded, then calmed his excited emotions. ¡°Hehe¡­ The wealth of He Zhengsong is truly terrifying.¡± ¡°Although there are less than ten thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones, plus the Low-grade Spirit Stones, they are worth a little over a million Low-grade Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°But this guy¡¯s storage bag contains various cultivation resources, not only in large quantities but also complete in variety, mostly Second and Third Order Treasures, the overall value is truly astonishing.¡± Lin Tianming said this from the bottom of his heart. From his brief inspection, He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag indeed contained a large number of treasures. The value of the Spirit Stones was only a little over a million, likely because He Zhengsong had been lavishly bidding at the auction, leaving him with limited remaining Spirit Stones. Besides Spirit Stones, there were mostly Second and Third Order Treasures. Most of these treasures were Spiritual Medicines and Elixir Pills. This was obviously because He Zhengsong was a genuine Third Order Alchemist and had immersed himself in alchemy for many years, being a senior in the field. Thus, it was not surprising that the treasures he carried were mainly alchemical materials. After all, Lin Tianming himself was an Alchemist, and the number of Spiritual Medicines and Elixir Pills he carried was no less than that carried by He Zhengsong. Thinking about it this way made it understandable. As for the quantity of various Spirit Ores, Spirit Materials, and talismans, it was not small, but it couldn¡¯t compare with the Spiritual Medicines and Elixir Pills. Apart from Magical Treasures and various legacy-class treasures, the cumulative value of just these Second and Third Order Treasures easily exceeded ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones. Such wealth genuinely surprised Lin Tianming. After all, he had inventoried many storage bags, and he had also inventoried the belongings of Mid Stage Golden Core Realm cultivators several times. Seeing a fat sheep like He Zhengsong, not to mention other high-value treasures, just the value of those Second and Third Order Treasures was something Lin Tianming was seeing for the first time. However, these treasures are not what Lin Tianming values most. What he cares about naturally involves the legacy of Alchemy and Spirit Arts, which can enhance a cultivator¡¯s strength as well as the foundation of a family. Besides that, there were also treasures that He Zhengsong had aggressively bid for at the auction. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially the secret technique He Zhengsong used to escape, which Lin Tianming coveted immensely. If he could master this secret technique, Lin Tianming would have a fair chance of getting away unscathed in times of crisis. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming meticulously searched the storage bag, hoping to find this secret technique. After his exploration, he actually found a Yellow grade Jade Slip. According to the information on the Jade Slip, it was an escape technique called ¡®Hundred Miles Escape.¡¯ This escape secret technique seemed to be a Yellow Grade secret technique, or rather, calling it a Yellow Grade Spirit Art would be more appropriate. As for the specific effect of this secret technique, it allows the host to ignore some common Barriers in times of crisis and achieve short-range spatial rupture, instantly moving a certain distance at the cost of some of their lifespan. To use this technique, a cultivator must first cultivate it successfully, reaching different levels to achieve different effects. Take the initial success level as an example, where one can only move ten miles at a time at the cost of ten years of lifespan. At the Great Achievement Realm, one can move a hundred miles at a time at the cost of fifty years of lifespan. For the highest level of Perfection, it enables one to move five hundred miles at once, but it requires a hundred years of lifespan as the cost to successfully cast it. Moreover, after casting the technique, the cultivator¡¯s lifespan is reduced, and their Qi-Blood is depleted, resulting in an absolutely weakened state. Depending on the condition under which the cultivator casts the technique, those with more vigorous Qi-Blood and ample lifespan will suffer less from the side effects. Looking at these conditions, a Golden Core Stage Qi cultivator with only sixty years of lifespan, if they cast the technique to move a hundred miles, might very well drop a major cultivation level after the movement ends. Furthermore, due to the high stress operated by the cultivator¡¯s body, they could suffer severe damage. Even the possibility of immediately losing their life also seems highly likely. However, after initially learning about this secret technique, Lin Tianming was immediately excited. He had been a bit nervous earlier, worried that He Zhengsong might not carry the cultivation method for this secret technique on him. But somehow, He Zhengsong did indeed carry the Jade Slip that recorded the cultivation method. Thinking about it, Lin Tianming guessed that it was probably because the secret technique was too valuable and involved significant implications, plus He Zhengsong was very selfish, eventually making it solely his. By doing so, He Zhengsong did not hand it over to the Sect, to prevent exposing some secrets that should not see the light. Such things are not uncommon in the Cultivation World. Moreover, since He Zhengsong was not a family cultivator, without the bonds of kinship and with the competition between factions within the Sect always present, other brothers and sisters competed with him, which is why he did not submit the technique to the Sect. But He Zhengsong¡¯s actions, though very safe and secure, ended up benefiting Lin Tianming. This fact truly surprised him and also relieved him. However, as exciting as it was, to successfully cultivate this ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique surely wouldn¡¯t be easy. After all, escape-type secret techniques are more complex and much more difficult to cultivate compared to ordinary Attack secret techniques. In addition, the price of this secret technique is not small, and the side effects are significant. After all, even casting it once requires a minimum of ten years of lifespan as the cost. You should know, even a Golden Core Stage Qi cultivator with sufficient talent, to smoothly reach this level, even in the best scenario, would probably take nearly a hundred years. Once entering the Golden Core Stage, if you only move ten miles in a crisis, the effect is almost negligible. Only when moving a hundred miles is it somewhat useful for a Golden Core Stage Qi cultivator. So to say, a Golden Core Cultivator would need to cultivate this technique to the Great Achievement Realm in any case. ¡­ Chapter 1096: 575: Huge Harvest Depending on these conditions, the use of ¡°Hundred Miles Escape¡± can be considered extensive or limited. Take He Zhengsong himself for example, now over three hundred years old, he can barely execute a few long-distance escapes spanning a hundred miles. Based on such a situation, it is speculated that if He Zhengsong were to surpass five hundred years of age, even if he forcefully executed this technique successfully, he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain his Mid Stage Golden Core realm. Even the possibility that he could die immediately after successfully teleporting is not out of the question. Under such circumstances, many cultivators, even if they obtained this technique, might not be able to cultivate it successfully. Even with successful cultivation, there would be few opportunities to use this technique to save one¡¯s life. Overall, this secret technique of escape still holds considerable value. Although for ordinary cultivators, this technique indeed has significant drawbacks, Lin Tianming¡¯s comprehension is high, and his Qi-Blood is incredibly strong. With such foundational conditions, as long as he cultivates this technique to the Great Achievement Realm, he would certainly be able to save his life in critical moments. The thought of this made Lin Tianming even more excited. Having calmed himself somewhat, Lin Tianming carefully put away the Jade Slip of the ¡°Hundred Miles Escape¡± on its own. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he continued his inventory, the treasures in He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag were thoroughly inspected by Lin Tianming. Overall, the value of various Second and Third Order cultivation resources was about over ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Moreover, among the other more important treasures, there were three Fourth Order Treasures, including two plants of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine and a piece of Fourth Order Spirit Ore, which are excellent materials for Artifact Refining. As for the Spiritual Medicine Materials, they were fairly common varieties within the Fourth Order, yet their overall value was still very high. Other than those, the main items of interest were He Zhengsong¡¯s three Magical Treasures, two offensive and one defensive, all of excellent quality. After all, having been in the Golden Core Stage for many years and being a Third Order Alchemy Master, the offensive and defensive Magical Treasures he used, given his discernment and wealth, were still remarkable. The other items Lin Tianming cared about were the escape secret technique ¡°Hundred Miles Escape,¡± several Pill Formulas on alchemy inheritance, in addition to the treasures he had acquired at the auction, all stored in his storage bag. And with He Zhengsong¡¯s demise, all these things fell into Lin Tianming¡¯s hands. Besides these, there were various Pill Formulas, quite a number, though most of them overlapped with the ones Lin Tianming had collected. However, having been immersed in alchemy for many years and hailing from the long-standing Five Poison Sect, along with Golden Crow Country being a place where remarkable individuals and spiritual lands were prevalent, the standard of cultivation was evidently stronger compared to the barren Wei Kingdom. Thus, He Zhengsong had a substantial number of Pill Formulas, some of which Lin Tianming had never seen before. Additionally, a few of the Pill Formulas held special use for Lin Tianming. In this sense, He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag added a significant foundation to Lin Tianming¡¯s wealth. The only pity was the absence of any Cultivation Techniques or Spirit Art inheritances in He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag. For such an outcome, Lin Tianming had already anticipated. After all, He Zhengsong was a Sect Cultivator, and one of the core high-ranking members at that. Generally, any Sect, or even a family, valued their inheritances highly. Even though He Zhengsong had reached the Golden Core Stage and had the identity of a Third Order Alchemist, he still didn¡¯t have the right to bring out any of the Sect¡¯s collected inheritances from the Sect. Only inheritances like ¡°Hundred Miles Escape¡± that he obtained himself could be carried with him. Therefore, not finding any Cultivation Techniques or Spirit Arts was not surprising to Lin Tianming at all. Overall, the outcome of inventorying He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag is worth at least twenty million Spirit Stones. Such a harvest still left Lin Tianming in utter amazement. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement, Qin Xi always had a broad smile on her face, unable to help but ask. But when she learned about the contents of the storage bag, her face flushed and her breathing quickened. It wasn¡¯t that Qin Xi lacked composure, but rather, the wealth of someone like He Zhengsong was too abundant and too valuable. Such wealth would fluster anyone, let alone Qin Xi. After calming himself, Lin Tianming asked Qin Xi about the specific circumstances of Yu Lihong¡¯s wealth and treasures. With a casual smile, Qin Xi handed over Yu Lihong¡¯s storage bag to Lin Tianming, signaling to him to check it himself. Lin Tianming did not hesitate to take the storage bag in hand, his Divine Sense swiftly probing inside. Before long, Lin Tianming also came to know the state of Yu Lihong¡¯s wealth and treasures. In his storage bag, there were over twenty thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones and more than two hundred Second and Third Order Treasures, most of which were of the Second Order and almost covered all commonly seen cultivation items. Besides these, like He Zhengsong, there were no inheritances of any kind. As for the more valuable items, there were one offensive and one defensive Magical Treasure, as well as a few rather precious and rare Third Order Treasures. After a preliminary estimate by Lin Tianming, the wealth and treasures of Yu Lihong amounted to nearly ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Such wealth was on par with an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, just slightly more affluent. This could also be because the overall standard of cultivation in Golden Crow Country was higher than that of Wei Kingdom, and because he too was from the long-standing Five Poison Sect, hence his wealth being slightly better than average Golden Core Cultivators. Chapter 1097: 575: Immense Gain_2 Overall, Yu Lihong¡¯s assets were up to standard, which accounted for a significant gain for Lin Tianming and his wife. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt quite satisfied, and his mood was extremely buoyant. Thereafter, Lin Tianming handed Yu Lihong¡¯s storage bag to Qin Xi, allowing her to dispose of it freely. As for He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming gathered items like inherited secrets into the Qiankun Jade. At the same time, he collected the Second and Third Order Treasures useful to him, planning to keep them for personal use. As for items of little use to him, Lin Tianming stored them separately in a storage bag, ready to be handed over to the Clan Leader to boost the family¡¯s treasure vault when he returned to the clan land in the future. After allocating these spoils of war, both Lin Tianming and his wife were in good spirits, speaking with an excited tone. Next, Lin Tianming suggested, ¡°Xi¡¯er, why don¡¯t we stay in Xitang City for a little longer and take the opportunity to rigorously cultivate the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique?¡± ¡°Given our talents and comprehension, it might not be possible to reach the Great Achievement Realm in a short time, but spending a year or two to attain the Minor Achievement Realm should not be too difficult.¡± ¡°Once we¡¯ve grasped it, it could provide some help. If we encounter any crises in the future, it may even save our lives.¡± ¡°Moreover, mastering this technique earlier will allow us to reach the Great Achievement Realm sooner, making it one of our lifesaving trump cards.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded and said, ¡°Ming, your reasoning is sound. Xi¡¯er has no objections.¡± With this, the specific timeframe for the couple¡¯s extended stay in Xitang City was settled. Therefore, Lin Tianming did not intend to waste time. After chatting with Qin Xi for a bit, he decided that during his closed-door cultivation, Qin Xi would inquire about Lin Tianfeng and others. Lin Tianming would first enter closed-door cultivation to comprehend the secret technique, and once he had grasped it, Qin Xi would continue to comprehend it afterward. Thus, the couple took turns engaging in closed-door cultivation. With their plan firmly in place, Lin Tianming immediately entered the Practice Room of the Temporary Cave Abode. At this moment, Lin Tianming was seated on a meditation cushion with his eyes tightly closed. Meanwhile, his breath was steady, circulating the cultivation technique within his body to adjust his state. Soon, Lin Tianming felt that his condition was about optimal, nearly reaching the peak state. Then, he directly took out the Jade Slip and let his Divine Sense invade it. Instantly, a multitude of characters slowly entered his mind. These characters were disordered, some of the meanings were profound, or were simply useless. Seeing these things, Lin Tianming confirmed that they were the specific methods for cultivating the secret technique, as well as the special spell incantations needed to activate it. With these, a cultivation technique, or Secret Spiritual Art could normally be operated. The reason why these characters were so chaotic, with many obscure combinations that seemed to make no sense, was clear to him. He was aware that in the current Cultivation World, all Spirit Arts and secret techniques were recorded in this manner. This was because the creators or pioneers of a Technique Secret Art usually intentionally scrambled the original text, creating greater difficulty to test the cultivator¡¯s comprehension. Additionally, as the inheritance continued to be passed down, many experts who received the secret technique scrambled the character order even more to prevent outsiders from learning it, further increasing the difficulty of cultivation. This approach had its pros and cons. The advantage was that vital inheritances were not easily leaked and could be controlled by the original holders or their factions. However, this also screened out many cultivators with inadequate comprehension and was not conducive to the internal dissemination of the secret art. That was the downside. Nevertheless, as time passed, this became an implicit rule in the Cultivation World. And with more inheritances and explosive growth in the number of cultivators, the Cultivation World also developed some order. Similar to inherited items, which are already very complex, there was no further need to continue altering them. Otherwise, an excellent inheritance, if made increasingly difficult, would eventually become extinct in the Cultivation World due to the scarcity of people with sufficient comprehension. Given this situation, Lin Tianming was not surprised by the text within his mind. The only thing was, the words of this secret technique were indeed very disordered and quite profound. Even for him, comprehending them all would take some time. Nevertheless, Lin Tianming was not discouraged; instead, it piqued his intense interest. With his state adjusted, Lin Tianming began to reorganize the text and ultimately formed a complete spell incantation. This way of enlightenment had also gradually yielded some results over the tens of thousands of trials Lin Tianming conducted. Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had elapsed. On this day, in the Practice Room, Lin Tianming sat with his eyes tightly shut, performing the process of deploying a secret technique in his mind. As he opened his eyes, he pinched a Law Decree and made a bizarre hand gesture. At the same time, his mouth moved slightly, and he chanted some odd incantations. When the incantation was complete, a line of invisible light gradually condensed and extended in a certain direction. As time moved on, the invisible light stretched faster and grew brighter. The light was visible only to Lin Tianming himself. Had it been a cultivator of the same rank, without any heaven-defying treasures, they likely couldn¡¯t have detected the existence of the invisible light. In a few moments, the line of light had extended out of the Practice Room and appeared in the corridor. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was thrilled. The Practice Room was indeed protected by a Prohibition Barrier. Although the barrier wasn¡¯t strong against an expert like him, it did exist. Now that the light had crossed the barrier of the Practice Room and appeared directly in the corridor, it indicated that he could escape along this invisible light line by activating the spatial movement spell incantation. Such a transformation also meant he had successfully mastered the secret technique of ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯. Furthermore, achieving this step showed that he had smoothly reached the Minor Achievement Realm. Once he waited for the invisible light line to extend further, and the speed of extension to quicken, he could form the final distance of ten miles and thus move away smoothly. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed. After calming his excitement slightly, Lin Tianming did not continue to activate the technique. Since he had already mastered the essentials, just a bit more consolidation or rehearsing in his mind for a while should enable him to fully grasp the technique and thus reach the true Minor Achievement Realm. Moreover, his location was Xitang City¡ªa place that was not suitable for trying out this technique. If he were to forcefully deploy the technique now, not only would he waste ten years of his lifespan, but he might also trigger higher-order prohibitions in Xitang City, thus drawing the attention of some Golden Core Stage Experts. And these were the things he did not want to see or touch. Upon reflection, Lin Tianming timely ceased cultivation and re-entered the state of rehearsing the secret technique. Just like that, another half year passed by. Until this day, Lin Tianming opened his eyes again and his face immediately lit up with a broad smile. After another half year of practice, he had now completely mastered the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique, achieving the planned Minor Achievement Realm. With absolute confidence, he could now deploy this secret technique to shatter space and move a complete ten miles at once. Mastering this technique also meant that Lin Tianming had acquired a critical method for life preservation in dire moments. Although currently, this technique seemed of limited help to him. But as long as he continued to contemplate and practice countless times, one day he could reach the Great Achievement Realm and move a hundred miles in one go. By that time, he would possess a pivotal method for self-preservation. Furthermore, even though the cost was significant and the after-effects for cultivators were severe, in life-threatening moments, preserving life was worth it¡ªlet alone fifty years of lifespan, even a hundred years were worthwhile. After all, having life is better than anything else. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Conversely, if life is lost, what¡¯s the use of having more lifespan or more treasures? Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was filled with joy and was exhilarated for a good while. Eventually calming down completely, Lin Tianming tidied up the Cultivation Room. Then, he walked out of the Cultivation Room and appeared in the Cave Mansion Courtyard. ¡­ Chapter 1098: 576: Both Achieved Cultivation Xitang City, Temporary Cave Abode Courtyard. At this moment, Lin Tianming is leisurely strolling in the courtyard, seemingly in a good mood. And indeed, that is the case. After all, this session of secluded cultivation took nearly two years, a period that is neither too long nor too short. During this time, he had put in no small effort and finally managed to comprehend the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique. Plus, the two years of secluded cultivation involved exploring thousands of rules every day, making the whole process extremely tedious. Now, being able to come out of seclusion and see his wife, Qin Xi, Lin Tianming is in high spirits and very relaxed. However, recalling the process of comprehending the secret technique made Lin Tianming frown unconsciously. In his heart, comprehending the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ was indeed not easy, and the whole process was quite challenging. But upon further thought, escape techniques usually involve spatial rules, naturally making their comprehension difficult, certainly much more than average techniques. In his case, always possessing exceptional comprehension, he usually cultivates any spell or secret technique at a swift pace. Yet, cultivating the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ took a significant amount of time. What he didn¡¯t know was that if it were an ordinary person, whether they could comprehend it at all is another matter, and even if they could, it would undoubtedly take even more time. Nonetheless, even so, Lin Tianming is very satisfied with his speed and the gains of these two years. Realizing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face breaks into a smile and his mood gradually stabilizes. Not long afterward, Qin Xi¡¯s voice emerges from the courtyard. ¡°Ming, you¡¯ve come out of seclusion!¡± Hearing the sound from afar, Lin Tianming hastily turns his head and sees Qin Xi jogging towards him, her breathtakingly beautiful face displaying a hint of excitement. Upon seeing Qin Xi, an excited smile instantly crosses Lin Tianming¡¯s face. ¡°Xi¡¯er, your husband has been in seclusion for two years, and now I have finally come out smoothly!¡± After Lin Tianming replies, he immediately grabs Qin Xi¡¯s hand, and the couple stands in the courtyard¡¯s pavilion, gazing affectionately at each other. After a few warm greetings, Qin Xi asks Lin Tianming about the results of his recent seclusion. Lin Tianming, with a smile, then talks about the specific processes of these two years. At this moment, learning that Lin Tianming has truly mastered the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique, Qin Xi immediately becomes excited. Although she had already speculated in her heart the moment she saw Lin Tianming. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In her view, given Lin Tianming¡¯s talent and comprehension, mastering this technique was merely a matter of time. Yet, when Lin Tianming openly acknowledges this, Qin Xi feels genuinely pleased and somewhat amazed. After calming herself a bit, Lin Tianming then suggests that Qin Xi start her secluded cultivation as soon as possible to comprehend the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique in the shortest time. The couple had planned this earlier. Now that Lin Tianming has come out of seclusion smoothly and brought up the matter, Qin Xi, who always follows Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements, naturally wouldn¡¯t object. Thus, Qin Xi decides to start her secluded cultivation in a few days and focus entirely on comprehending the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ technique. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming becomes serious and then shifts the conversation. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve been in Xitang City for the past two years, have you heard any news about Tianhu and the others?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi also puts on a grave face and responds helplessly, ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er has been lurking in various corners of Xitang City under various identities, secretly gathering information.¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­ I¡¯ve still found nothing!¡± Upon saying this, Qin Xi sighs softly, her expression filled with worry. Hearing her words, Lin Tianming also sighs deeply. In fact, he had anticipated it to be so. He knew deep down that Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu, taken away by a spatial fissure, likely landed far from the Wei Kingdom¡¯s borders. Otherwise, given so many years have passed, even if they retained their original cultivation, they should¡¯ve returned to their clan by now. Under such circumstances, not having any news about them in the recent years in the Golden Crow Cultivation World and now in Xitang City is not surprising at all. Yet, despite this, he would not give up any chance. And it¡¯s not just him; the clan members traveling outside will do the same, not giving up any chance to find Lin Tianfeng and the other. Knowing this, Lin Tianming looks at the sky overhead, his expression restoring to calm. Shortly after, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chat casually, during which Qin Xi mentions what she has seen and heard in Xitang City over the past two years. Besides, Qin Xi has been keeping a covert eye on the movements of several Golden Core Forces in neighboring Golden Crow Country during these two years. Especially the Five Poison Sect, where He Zhengsong was, is their most significant concern. According to the information Qin Xi gathered, the Golden Crow Cultivation World has been relatively peaceful over these two years, without any major conflicts. Moreover, the news of He Zhengsong¡¯s demise doesn¡¯t seem to have spread throughout Golden Crow Country. Considering these circumstances, Lin Tianming also has some speculations in his mind. Clearly, the Five Poison Sect also doesn¡¯t want the demise of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong to be widely known among the people of Golden Crow Country. Especially the rivals of the Five Poison Sect, which are the other two Golden Core Sects, certainly don¡¯t want them to know. Chapter 1099: 576: Both Successfully Refined_2 Chapter 1099: Chapter 576: Both Successfully Refined_2 After all, these Three Great Golden Core Sects are forces that have been passed down for many years, and although there have been no major conflicts between them within the last one or two thousand years, incidents of covert competition have occurred from time to time. Now, the demise of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong has weakened the overall strength of the Five Poison Sect somewhat. If this news were to be known to the other two great sects, it is very likely that those two sects would see an opportunity and further target the Five Poison Sect. Once such a situation truly arises, the circumstances of the Five Poison Sect would become even more difficult. For this reason, the Five Poison Sect dared not publicize their situation and could only secretly investigate the cause of this event and the murderer who killed the two men. Thus, the response of the Five Poison Sect was not as great as imagined. However, over these years, many rumors have spread, saying that several small families and some Loose Cultivators within the Golden Crow Country were inexplicably wiped out. As the matter spread, some people, based on the commonalities among those who were wiped out, drew some conclusions. It turns out that these wiped out individuals had all once offended the Five Poison Sect. Affected by this incident, for a time, many cultivators in Golden Crow Country were in a state of alarm, turning the usually tranquil Golden Crow Country somewhat turbulent. Upon hearing these rumors, Lin Tianming could only smile helplessly. In his view, those wiped out families and Loose Cultivators were likely victims of the Five Poison Sect¡¯s secret investigation into this event. That is to say, these people were innocently implicated because of these matters. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming also felt helpless and could only silently mourn in his heart. And judging from these incoming messages, the Five Poison Sect has probably not yet discovered any useful leads. This relieved him quite a bit. Being able to delay exposure for a little longer would make Lin Family¡¯s situation more secure, and it would be somewhat easier for him to handle alone. However, upon closer thought, there are no secrets in the world, especially since the battlefield is within the territory of Golden Crow Country. Moreover, he had bid at the auction in Longqing Market and had openly opposed He Zhengsong twice. At that time, many Golden Core Cultivators witnessed the entire process. With their strange faces, combined with their Golden Core Stage strength, it is entirely reasonable for the Five Poison Sect to be suspicious. Although he believed that no one had discovered their traces and had erased all traces from the battlefield itself, in the current Cultivation World, there are still many bizarre methods or some special treasures that could potentially uncover some clues. Given the strength of the Five Poison Sect, if they decide to investigate this matter regardless of the cost or possess any means, there is a good chance they could uncover the truth. Hence, Lin Tianming could not be too careless. If the Five Poison Sect continues to find no clues, that would naturally be the best outcome. But if they do find something, he would have to respond accordingly. With the strength of the Five Poison Sect being formidable indeed, all he could do was to strive to enhance his cultivation as quickly as possible. Once he reaches the Late Stage Golden Core, all threats would naturally cease to exist, and Lin Family would not need to worry about retaliation from the Five Poison Sect. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming suddenly felt a pressure. However, he also knew that regardless of whether there was the matter of the Five Poison Sect, his cultivation plans would not change. Realizing this, Lin Tianming began to relax. Following that, Lin Tianming also changed the topic and started discussing with Qin Xi about the cultivation method of the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique. After all, he had already mastered this technique and was officially initiated. If he could personally provide some guidance, it could somewhat help Qin Xi comprehend the secret technique faster and fully master it sooner. Once this matter was settled, both of them as a couple would possess a means to save their lives. With this matter past, they were also ready to set off again, planning to directly head to the Central Qingzhou Kingdom using a long-distance Teleportation Formation. With this goal in mind, the couple talked for half the day. Subsequently, after spending two more days together, Qin Xi directly entered the Practice Room to start cultivating the secret technique. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming continued to stay within Xitang City, using elixirs for cultivation and further consolidating his mastery of the ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯ secret technique. During this period, he would also come out to adjust his state and wander within Xitang City. At the same time, he was constantly monitoring every move of Golden Crow Country, including news from various countries across Qingzhou and the Wei Kingdom, where Lin Family was located. Time quietly passed, and two years elapsed. Until this day, Qin Xi suddenly came out of retreat. Upon hearing the news, Lin Tianming also emerged from his seclusion, and the couple reunited in the courtyard. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi in front of him, seeing her smiling, it was clear she had gained a lot. Thus, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Xi¡¯er, how were the results of your two-year retreat?¡± ¡°Ming, this secret technique is indeed complex, and it¡¯s quite difficult to comprehend and practice.¡± ¡°Fortunately, Xi¡¯er is not dull; after spending two years, I¡¯ve finally mastered it smoothly, and I¡¯ve reached the Minor Achievement Realm.¡± Qin Xi giggled in response, her excited expression impossible to mask. As for Lin Tianming, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s demeanor, he felt quite moved and his heart surged. ¡°Ha-ha¡­ That¡¯s excellent!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Xi¡¯er¡¯s talent and comprehension that¡¯s commendable, to be able to grasp it in such a short time.¡± Lin Tianming complimented her, which made Qin Xi shy all of a sudden. After calming down a bit, Qin Xi waved her hands and laughed, ¡°Ming, stop joking!¡± ¡°In Xi¡¯er¡¯s view, Ming could have comprehended it by himself within two years, only someone with good talent and comprehension could do so.¡± ¡°In comparison, Xi¡¯er, despite your guidance, still took about the same time as you, which clearly shows who¡¯s superior.¡± ¡°Ha-ha¡­¡± Lin Tianming laughed excitedly, then pulled Qin Xi into his embrace, and the husband and wife held each other together. Afterward, the couple exchanged some sweet nothings, and also shared numerous news from the Cultivation World. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder! That night, Lin Tianming and his wife embraced each other into sleep and engaged in a dual cultivation. After not seeing each other for two years, the couple¡¯s reunion was quite fervent. Not until the third day did the couple emerge from their room and appeared in the courtyard. At this time, Qin Xi¡¯s face was flushed with shyness. In contrast, every time Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi, his face showed a longing expression! Seeing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even redder. Then, Qin Xi¡¯s slender, fair fingers pinched hard at Lin Tianming¡¯s waist, and she then pretended to be angry and said, ¡°Ming, you must stop thinking about that!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face turned red, and he pulled Qin Xi into his embrace. At this time, feeling the warmth of each other¡¯s bodies, Qin Xi couldn¡¯t help but lean in closer. Seeing this change, Lin Tianming also burst out laughing. ¡°Madam, how about it? Will you let your husband think about this more?¡± Hearing this, and feeling the unusual sensations on her body, Qin Xi¡¯s face turned even more crimson. Struggling to muster her energy, Qin Xi quickly pleaded, ¡°Husband, you are truly formidable, Xi¡¯er admits defeat!¡± ¡°And Xi¡¯er is quite exhausted now, please spare me for the time being, husband!¡± Hearing this plea, and seeing Qin Xi¡¯s fragile expression, Lin Tianming immediately felt a surge of compassion. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, Lin Tianming stopped his teasing, and the couple finally separated. Not long after, the couple, now back to normal, sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. At this point, Lin Tianming brought up the important matter. ¡°Xi¡¯er, now that we have both comprehended the secret technique, and there¡¯s nothing left for us in Xitang City, shouldn¡¯t we start our journey towards the center of Qingzhou?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, having prepared herself early on. Thus, Qin Xi quickly responded, ¡°Ming, we have delayed over four years for the cultivation of the secret technique, indeed it¡¯s about time we set off!¡± Hearing this, seeing Qin Xi felt the same, Lin Tianming also made up his mind. ¡­ Chapter 1100: 577: Teleportation Formation Chapter 1100: Chapter 577: Teleportation Formation In Lin Tianming¡¯s opinion, the journey in Xitang City should indeed come to an end. Before this, they had not planned to stay for such a long time. Had it not been for the not insignificant effect of the secret technique ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯, which was indeed not easy to comprehend, perhaps they would have already appeared in Qingzhou Center by now. As for Xitang City at present, no significant events have occurred, nor have any opportunities for fortune arisen. There were merely some auctions about to take place, but those were fundamentally feasts for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Qi cultivators. At their level, ordinary auctions could hardly arouse any interest. Moreover, even if a Golden Core auction was held, the good items that could appear were very limited. Even for some Golden Core Cultivators with not so abundant wealth, attending a Golden Core auction meant there was a high chance of leaving empty-handed. In such a case, it became even more unnecessary for the couple to stay. Knowing this, Lin Tianming made up his mind and decided to embark on the journey to Qingzhou Center in a few days. Two days later. In the center of Xitang City, in front of a massive hall, the figures of Lin Tianming and his wife appeared. At this moment, as Lin Tianming looked at the entrance of the hall, he found that a large number of cultivators had already formed a long queue. This scene immediately surprised Lin Tianming. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The hall before him housed a long-distance Teleportation Formation. And those cultivators queuing up in front of the hall were obviously people who wished to travel quickly via the Teleportation Formation. However, it was still early in the morning, not yet the busiest time in Xitang City. Nevertheless, the fact that so many people had already gathered in front of this hall demonstrated the popularity of the Teleportation Formation. After all, traveling through a long-distance Teleportation Formation was dozens, even hundreds of times faster than a cultivator¡¯s flight. For comparison, Lin Tianming, a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, could fly very fast, effortlessly covering a thousand li in a day. Yet if he were to fly alone across the territories of thirty countries to Qingzhou Center, even if he traveled day and night without rest, it would probably take at least one to two years to reach his destination. From this perspective, if it were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with even lower cultivation, the time required would at least be several times more. As for Qi Refining Cultivators traveling alone by flight from this place to Qingzhou Center, they might not be able to arrive within their lifetime. Furthermore, it was simply too dangerous for a Qi Refining Cultivator to travel alone by flight. But with the aid of the Teleportation Formation, they only needed half a Shi Chen to reach Qingzhou Center. Such speed was much faster than traveling by flight and provided a guarantee of safety. Thus, as Xitang City in the Southern Seven Kingdoms of Qingzhou was the only place with a long-distance Teleportation Formation, it was often used as a transit point by many cultivators. Just like at this moment, the people coming here to queue said it all. At the same time, one could see the usefulness of the Teleportation Formation and just how popular it was. And thanks to the Teleportation Formation here, the major Golden Elixir Forces of Xitang City were like having a money tree, practically making a killing. At this moment, Lin Tianming snapped out of his astonishment. As he looked at the hall before him, Lin Tianming felt a sense of anticipation. Before this, even though he was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, he hadn¡¯t experienced even a Short-Distance Teleportation Array, let alone a long-distance one. Now that he and his wife had arrived here, they would soon have the chance to experience it personally, which was quite exciting for them. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Tianming silently sent a message to Qin Xi, then took the lead and headed to the end of the long line. Seeing this, Qin Xi nodded in agreement and quickly followed Lin Tianming¡¯s steps. In no time, Lin Tianming and his wife gradually reached the entrance of the hall. In front of them were several Foundation Establishment Cultivators waiting. Looking around, these cultivators were all dressed in different Daoist robes, and the patterns on their chests were also different, but each one was a familiar symbol. According to the symbols on these people¡¯s chests, they all belonged to different Golden Elixir Forces and currently controlled the major Golden Elixir Forces of Xitang City. It was evident that the Teleportation Formation in Xitang City was given great importance by these controlling forces. That is why they dispatched disciples to guard this place every day, presumably to supervise the revenue generated by the Teleportation Formation and prevent other forces from exploiting loopholes. Right now, every cultivator entering the hall was questioned by these people. From their conversations, as well as the announcements nearby, Lin Tianming gathered a lot of information about the Teleportation Formation. According to this information, this Teleportation Formation directly connected to Yuanzhen Kingdom, one of the central kingdoms of Qingzhou. At the same time, several northern countries of Wei Kingdom also had short-distance teleportation paths. However, teleporting to Yuanzhen Kingdom, due to the longer distance between the two places, each cultivator was charged a fee of two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. But to the northern countries of Xitang Country, where the distances were relatively closer, the fee ranged from several dozen to several hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. It seemed that Golden Core Stage Cultivators could have their fees reduced by half in the Teleportation Formation. This rule was clearly a way to show regard for Golden Core Stage Cultivators, thus granting them this privilege. However, Lin Tianming did not care about this. After all, his current wealth was such that few in the entire Southern Qingzhou could compare. Chapter 1101: 577: Teleportation Formation_2 Chapter 1101: Chapter 577: Teleportation Formation_2 In his eyes, these mere two thousand low-grade spirit stones were not an issue at all. More importantly, he wouldn¡¯t expose his true identity and cultivation for such a small benefit. Thus, Lin Tianming and his wife mingled among the group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, waiting to hand over the fee for using the teleportation formation. As the cultivators in front moved into the hall one by one, each person handed over varying amounts of spirit stones. In just this short time, the cultivators guarding the entrance of the hall had already collected twenty to thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones. This scene filled Lin Tianming with even more envy. It wasn¡¯t that he was not calm enough, but rather that the teleportation formation was simply too lucrative in the current world of cultivation. Take this place for example; there were dozens of people queuing up right now, and a day still had much time left with more people continuously arriving. In just less than half an hour, the major forces in Xitang City had collected tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones in fees through the teleportation formation. At this rate, one could say that they would earn several hundred thousand spirit stones in a day. Even if these major forces were to divide the profit, the earnings for each faction could approach a hundred thousand spirit stones in one day. And at certain times, the earnings might even exceed that. If calculated annually, the revenue generated by the teleportation formation alone could easily reach several tens of millions of spirit stones. And keep in mind, the teleportation formation is just one of Xitang City¡¯s industries capable of generating such substantial revenue. If you include all the other industries in Xitang City, like shop rents, the entrance fees charged from every cultivator, and various auction houses, the total annual revenue would be even more astronomical. And in the end, the forces behind Xitang City would each receive a substantial share of the profit. Moreover, the forces behind Xitang City each controlled their own territories and numerous workshops of varying sizes, as well as some spirit lands as part of their industries. These were the ultimate foundations of the major forces. This made Lin Tianming extremely envious and spurred some plans in his mind. In his eyes, the Lin Family¡¯s background was too shallow and its influence too limited, extending, at most, to the neighboring countries around Wei Kingdom. Once beyond two countries¡¯ distance, the reputation of the Lin Family was virtually unknown. However, this was also because the rise of the Lin Family was too recent and couldn¡¯t compare with those forces that had been passed down for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. Fortunately, the Lin Family had grown rapidly in recent decades, changing drastically from year to year. Moreover, the Lin Family currently had great potential, with the entire clan and especially some talented disciples having much room for improvement. Once the Lin Family became stronger with greater influence, they could consider establishing some teleportation formations. At the very least, within a few neighboring countries of Wei Kingdom and within the Southern Seven Kingdoms including Xitang City, teleportation formation connections could be established. With these teleportation formations, the Lin Family and even the entire Wei Kingdom could have more frequent and closer connections with the rest of the cultivation world. Even better, if possible, they could directly connect to a few central countries in Qingzhou or even directly to the other major continents. If that were the case, it would be like the Lin Family owning a money tree, making a satisfying income every year without needing to do anything else. By then, the Lin Family would truly have a certain level of heritage. But to achieve this, the Lin Family had a long, long way to go. Take the most immediate requirement: the enormously huge amount of funds needed to establish a teleportation formation. For instance, the teleportation formation in Xitang City was built by joint efforts of the six longstanding Golden Core forces. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One could imagine that just establishing the teleportation line to Yuanzhen Kingdom must have cost them a fortune in spirit stones, as well as a massive amount of manpower and resources. Furthermore, such long-distance teleportation formations fundamentally require an Array Master. For example, without the expertise of a Fourth Order Array Master, it is virtually impossible to set up a long-distance teleportation array. Although for a short-distance teleportation array, like one spanning two or three countries, a highly skilled Third Order Array Master could manage to arrange it. However, the Lin Family currently has the highest proficiency in formations at only an initial Second Order level. If they were to ask another Third Order Array Master to make a move, the Lin Family would inevitably have to pay a hefty price. Moreover, the Lin Family did not feel comfortable leaving such a gold-digging tool in the hands of others. In this regard, if the Lin Family wanted to hold the Teleportation Formation for the long term, they would indeed have to rely on their own talents. Even to meet the minimum standard, that is, a Short-Distance Teleportation Array, the entire Lin Family would still need the concerted efforts of all its members over a long period of time. Understanding this, Lin Tianming kept this matter in mind and silently swore in his heart that he would one day ensure the Lin Family achieved this step. Regaining his composure, he noticed the long queue had advanced several steps. At the same time, it was also the moment for Lin Tianming and his wife to pay the Spirit Stones. At this moment, someone overseeing the entrance into the hall asked in an indifferent tone: ¡°How many Cultivators? And the destination for the transmission?¡± ¡°Two people¡­ Destination Yuanzhen Kingdom!¡± Lin Tianming replied directly and did not say much afterward. Right after his words fell, the previously speaking Cultivator immediately shouted: ¡°Transportation for two people to Yuanzhen Kingdom, total cost four thousand Spirit Stones.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming casually took out a storage bag and passed it to the speaking Cultivator. The Cultivator received the storage bag to examine it. Quickly thereafter, he took out two palm-sized Tokens and tossed them to Lin Tianming. Lin Tianming received the Tokens and saw that they were smooth and round, with six different colors on their surface, and inside there was an energy slowly circulating, which indeed bore some resemblance to high-quality Spirit Stones. As for the colors on the surface, they clearly represented the Six Major Golden Core Forces behind Xitang City. While Lin Tianming was examining the Tokens, the Cultivator who had spoken earlier continued to speak, bringing Lin Tianming back to reality. ¡°Cultivator, keep the Tokens safe. They are the proof of your transmission and will also serve as amulets to protect you during it.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded and then gave a cupped-hand salute to the people in front of him. After finishing these actions, Lin Tianming did not say anything more and led Qin Xi past them and into the interior of the hall. Inside the hall, Lin Tianming and his wife stood waiting. Besides the two of them, there were also dozens of other Cultivators waiting nearby, either gathered in small groups or standing alone. Their gazes were fixed on several circular platforms. Looking over, each platform was over ten zhang in size and was also enveloped by an invisible light screen. This energy on the surface of the light screen was flowing, and there existed an invisible pressure that influenced the divine souls of every Cultivator. Seeing this, Lin Tianming understood that this must be the Teleportation Formation¡¯s platform. As for that invisible light screen, it was also a type of Barrier. After several more Cultivators entered the hall, a voice rang out. ¡°The number of people transporting to Yuanzhen Kingdom is complete. All of you hold your Teleportation Tokens firmly and quickly enter the platform.¡± ¡°Once you arrive at your destination, hand over the Teleportation Tokens to the guardians of the Teleportation Formation, and then you may leave.¡± No sooner had the voice fallen than one of the five platforms suddenly flashed with light, and then the light screen opened up an opening. At that moment, several Cultivators, holding the same Teleportation Tokens, rushed into the platform. Seeing this, Lin Tianming did not delay and immediately pulled Qin Xi by the hand and rushed into the platform as well. As Lin Tianming entered, the platform gathered ten Cultivators, all of them at the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Cultivator guarding this place, seeing the platform was filled to capacity, took out a pitch-black Array Plate. He waved his hand and dozens of Medium-grade Spirit Stones flew out, accurately embedding themselves in a groove beneath the platform. After completing these actions, the same Cultivator continued to manipulate the Array Plate in his hand, bombarding it with streams of Spiritual Light. ¡°Humming sounds¡­¡± In an instant, a series of special noises followed. ¡­ Chapter 1102: 578 Yuanzhen City Chapter 1102: Chapter 578 Yuanzhen City A moment after a breath had passed. With the sound lingering on, the barrier of the teleportation platform was restored to its original state and began to flicker with an extremely dazzling brilliance. Soon, this brilliance intensified continuously and instantly illuminated the entire hall. It was then that Lin Tianming felt unable to open his eyes, and his whole body seemed to be oppressed by an invisible force. At the same time, his divine soul also trembled slightly, quickly giving him a sense of dizziness. What he did not know was that his reaction was relatively mild, merely feeling dizzy for an instant. As the mana inside his body circulated slightly, the discomfort on his body also disappeared. However, a Foundation Establishment Sixth Level cultivator beside him actually collapsed to the ground at that moment, almost fainting away. But soon, the other cultivators nearby seemed to have recovered as well. At this time, except for the couple, everyone here, though a bit pale-faced, was all clear-headed, obviously able to withstand the pressure brought by that invisible energy. And this oppressive force did not cease but continued on. At this moment, Lin Tianming was very clear in his heart, they must still be in the midst of teleportation. When the discomfort of his body completely vanished, it would mean that they had successfully arrived at Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s teleportation platform. Understanding this, Lin Tianming continued to suppress the discomfort in his body and patiently waited. Time slowly slipped away, and after about half a quarter of an hour had passed. With the dazzling light flashing before his eyes once again, Lin Tianming and the others¡¯ vision quickly returned to normal. At the same time, he felt the slight discomfort in his body disappear as well, and his whole being gradually returned to its original state. At this time, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the state of his own body. Shortly after calming down somewhat, Lin Tianming looked around and found that they were still on a teleportation platform, only the scene before their eyes had changed quite a bit. Back in Xitang City, there were only five teleportation platforms in the great hall. However, here, there were a total of over twenty large and small platforms, and the hall was filled with people, numbering at least in the several hundreds. In just this short while, the flow of people in the hall was constant, with many coming in and out. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among them, some reentered other teleportation platforms. With each burst of blinding light, it briefly illuminated the interior of the hall. Then, the barrier of the teleportation platform would disappear, along with the figures of those people. At the same time, there were teleportation platforms from where the lights flashed, and quickly some cultivators appeared out of thin air in this hall, just like them. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming had already come to a conclusion. Obviously, this was the other end of the teleportation formation, undoubtedly Yuanzhen Kingdom. Realizing this, Lin Tianming smiled and took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, stepping off the teleportation platform first. As they left the teleportation platform, cultivators immediately approached. Judging by the dress of these people, they came from Xitang Country¡¯s Golden Elixir Forces, clearly stationed here in Yuanzhen Kingdom for the long term. Lin Tianming did not forget the exhortation of the people at the teleportation formation before they left, and he promptly returned the Teleportation Token in the couple¡¯s hands. Having done all this, the couple did not intend to stay here for long, and they soon walked out of the Transmission Hall, emerging onto a wide street. At this time, Lin Tianming and his wife looked at the bustling street before them, contemplating some intelligence about Yuanzhen City. According to the information Lin Tianming had specifically collected, Yuanzhen City where their teleportation formation was located, was one of the central states of Qingzhou, Yuanzhen Kingdom. Like Xitang City, Yuanzhen City was the largest city in Yuanzhen Kingdom, almost the size of a huge workshop. However, the difference was that Yuanzhen City was not like Xitang City, built and controlled by multiple forces. Speaking of which, it is necessary to mention Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm, because the territory of Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm is vast, at least seven or eight times the area of Wei Kingdom. And such a large Yuanzhen Kingdom could almost be compared to several small countries in Southern Qingzhou. More importantly, it was the colossal force behind Yuanzhen Kingdom¡ªthe Yuanzhen Sect. Yuanzhen Sect was not simple, as one of the Qingzhou Five Major Nascent Soul Powers, like the Tang Family, well-known to Lin Tianming, with a heritage spanning tens of thousands of years. Whether it was many years ago or now, the strength of Yuanzhen Sect was extremely formidable. Aside from the widely known Yuanzhen Sect¡¯s Supreme Elder, Thousand Spirits True Monarch, who has been at the Nascent Soul Stage for a thousand years, Additionally, inside Yuanzhen Sect, there were not a few Golden Core Stage cultivators, just to mention the people who had appeared publicly in the past few hundred years, there were dozens in total. With the super powerful Thousand Spirits True Monarch and the assistance of dozens of Golden Core Stage cultivators, the overall strength and influence of the Yuanzhen Sect were among the very top across vast Qingzhou. And the Yuanzhen City under his feet was the top-ranked large industry among many industries under Yuanzhen Sect. Due to the city¡¯s large scale and with Yuanzhen Sect¡¯s strong control, along with great support for development, the reputation of Yuanzhen City ranked among the top across the Qingzhou Land. Chapter 1103: 578 Yuanzhen City_2 Chapter 1103: Chapter 578 Yuanzhen City_2 Therefore, Yuanzhen City has a high flow of people and extremely prosperous trade, earning a large number of Spirit Stones for Yuanzhen Sect every year. However, when you think about it, it¡¯s not surprising that Yuanzhen City, with such excellent conditions, has such a great reputation. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming glanced at the endless stream of people in front of him and found that most of them were at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with only about thirty to forty percent being Qi Refining Stage Cultivators. Even within his sight, he had already noticed the presence of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. However, this person was only at the Early Stage Golden Core and didn¡¯t possess Divine Sense as powerful as Lin Tianming¡¯s, so they hadn¡¯t noticed Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Sense observing them. Otherwise, for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to use Divine Sense so presumptuously to probe an open Golden Core Stage Cultivator would be asking for trouble. If that really happened, even if the Golden Core Cultivator was mindful of Yuanzhen City¡¯s rule against arbitrary fighting, they would surely make the person who probed them pay a price once they were outside the city¡¯s limits. But this is also good, every city and market, no matter how big or small, has rules against engaging in magical duels, which protects those with lower cultivation. As such, even though Lin Tianming has considerable personal strength, if he wants to stay in Yuanzhen Kingdom for a while, he must also abide by these rules. Fortunately, Lin Tianming doesn¡¯t have that many affairs to deal with, and he would not actively cause trouble for himself. After all, he and his wife are out on an adventure, not to create enemies everywhere. Moreover, given the terrifying strength of Yuanzhen Sect, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that they could crush the Lin Family. In such a situation, Lin Tianming continues to keep a low profile as always, not only altering his appearance to hide his true face, but even the cultivation exposed by the couple is only that of the Eighth and Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. This is to conceal their tracks so as not to bring any trouble to the Lin Family in case of unexpected situations. Knowing this, Lin Tianming must act with low profile going forward. While Lin Tianming was lost in thought, a transmission from Qin Xi came from beside him. ¡°Ming, what¡¯s our next plan?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s mind returned to normal, and he started to ponder in his heart. Right now, they had successfully arrived at their destination for adventuring, which is none other than Yuanzhen Kingdom, one of the central states of Qingzhou. Moreover, each of the central states of Qingzhou is large, backed by Nascent Soul Strength. Including Yuxu Country controlled by the Blood Red Alliance, which actually borders an area of Yuanzhen Kingdom. Moreover, Tang Country controlled by the Tang Family is not too far from Yuanzhen Kingdom either. Therefore, the several countries surrounding Yuanzhen Kingdom form the center of Qingzhou. The origin of these countries dates back many years. At that time, each country was snatched from the Demon Race by the top Cultivators of the Human Race and was among the earliest territories developed by the Human Race. Because it¡¯s been a long time, the land has witnessed many battles of the powerful, with many Third or Fourth Order Demonic Beasts and Nascent Soul Stage Experts of the Human Race falling. After that, those of ancient strengths competed for dominance, creating various inheritances, and ultimately led to the birth of Nascent Soul Forces like Tang Family and Yuanzhen Sect that have been passed down for tens of thousands of years. Nowadays, after traveling thousands of miles, he and his wife have finally arrived at such a glorious place. Moreover, the standard of cultivation here is extremely high, with Foundation Establishment Cultivators as common as hairs on an ox, and even Golden Core Stage Cultivators being commonplace, truly a land where strong people are everywhere. In this way, Yuanzhen Kingdom and the surrounding countries are among the top existences in the entire Qingzhou Land. Since this is the case, he and his wife naturally want to make a mark here, seeking opportunities for breakthroughs. And their starting point of this journey is this renowned Yuanzhen City. According to his plan, since they don¡¯t have a better destination right now, it¡¯s best to stay in Yuanzhen City for a while. It¡¯s the perfect time for the couple to adjust themselves and assimilate the treasures they acquired at the Longqing Market auction. At the very least, the Yuan Essence Fruit they obtained previously could now be used by Qin Xi to try. After all, following the intense fight against Yu Lihong, Qin Xi felt that her bottleneck seemed to have loosened somewhat. Since they don¡¯t have anything else to do and no opportunities have appeared, it¡¯s a good idea to go into seclusion and cultivate in Yuanzhen City for a period. During this time, Qin Xi can use the Yuan Essence Fruit gained from the auction to attempt breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. If they¡¯re lucky and Qin Xi advances to the Mid Stage Golden Core, with the combined strength of the couple, they should be safer during their adventure. As for himself, he could use this time to continue cultivating the secret technique ¡®Hundred Miles Escape.¡¯ At the same time, he won¡¯t neglect his own cultivation and can continue to cultivate normally with the aid of elixirs. If time permits, he plans to comprehend the alchemy experience and various inheritances left in the storage bag by He Zhengsong. Including the Luoyin Bug eggs that He Zhengsong once used to track him and his wife, those could also be taken out for research. If he can cultivate the bug eggs, it would indeed be a good method for tracking enemies. That being said, Lin Tianming now had plenty to do, and none of them were trivial matters. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately had an idea. ¡°Xi¡¯er, we currently have nowhere else to go, nor do we have any fortuitous encounters presenting themselves.¡± ¡°I think we might as well take this opportunity to go into closed-door cultivation. You can also make use of the Yuan Essence Fruit to attempt to break through to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianming seriously looked at Qin Xi, waiting for her opinion. And Qin Xi didn¡¯t think too much about it, nor did she have any objections, as she had always followed Lin Tianming¡¯s arrangements. Therefore, Qin Xi quickly nodded to express her agreement with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and decided to take a stroll in Yuanzhen City first, to witness the bustling atmosphere of the city. At the same time, he planned to rent a temporary cave abode and prepare to stay there for a few years. Having made up his mind, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t waste any time and immediately took Qin Xi to merge into the crowd. Half a day later. Lin Tianming successfully rented a temporary cave mansion in Yuanzhen City at the expense of quite a few spirit stones. In the courtyard of the cave mansion, the couple sat opposite each other, both appearing very relaxed. At this time, Qin Xi looked around and suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Ming, indeed, Yuanzhen City deserves to be the center of Qingzhou, and rightfully so as the top enterprise under the Yuanzhen Sect.¡± ¡°In my view, the spiritual energy here is much denser than what we have back at the family.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but nod. He agreed completely with Qin Xi¡¯s sigh. Through their meanderings of half a day, they had gained a deeper understanding of Yuanzhen City. It has to be said that Yuanzhen City indeed deserves to be a city of immense popularity. Here, not only is the concentration of spiritual energy extremely high, but the key is the huge flow of people and the extremely prosperous trade. In this half-day, the couple had indeed broadened their horizons. Just the bustling flow of people in Yuanzhen City and the sight of Foundation Establishment Cultivators everywhere made them feel the trip was worthwhile. Moreover, they had come across all sorts of cultivators along the way. Their appearances and clothing were all different, obviously coming from different distant countries in Qingzhou. Some of them might even be from other states. Beyond the people, the various big and small shops in Yuanzhen City dazzled the eye; the treasures sold inside were odd and diverse, each with different functions. Even through Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, some of the treasures were quite tempting. Fortunately, he possessed considerable wealth, and while he dared not claim a Fourth Tier Item, he could easily buy any Second and Third Order Treasures he came across. As a result, in just this half-day, they as a couple had spent hundreds of thousands of low-grade spirit stones and purchased many novel treasures, involving various aspects of the cultivation path and the Four Arts of Cultivation. These were already significant gains. Now, they had finally ended their day of wandering and had settled down here. As for the temporary cave mansion, it was rented by Lin Tianming with thousands of low-grade spirit stones and could accommodate them for as long as ten years. According to their plan, they will now proceed to cultivate in peace. Just thinking of those alchemy experiences in the Qiankun Jade, all originated from He Zhengsong, a veteran Third Order Alchemist, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but get excited. After calming his elated heart, Lin Tianming and his wife started to chat leisurely. Half an hour later, Lin Tianming and his wife had discussed many specific plans for their seclusion. Following that, after greeting each other, they both stood up and headed towards a cultivation room. ¡­ Chapter 1104: 579: Mark Chapter 1104: Chapter 579: Mark Jingzhou, Cultivation World of Xi Country. Xi Country is located in the north-central part of Jingzhou and is one of the hundred nations of the Jingzhou Land. Owing to the massive population of Xi Country, the high standards of the Immortal Path, and its considerable area within the Jingzhou Land, its presence is notably prominent. Xi Country¡¯s overall strength is not to be underestimated, boasting several Golden Core Forces, each with a long history of inheritance. Thus, in the entire lands of Jingzhou, Xi Country¡¯s overall strength is second only to the central ten-plus nations. After all, each nation occupying a central position is backed by a Nascent Soul Level force. A country like Xi Country, jointly controlled by the Five Great Golden Core Forces and able to claim its place in the vast Jingzhou, is a testament to its formidable nature. Burial Dragon Abyss. Located in the central region of Xi Country, the Burial Dragon Abyss appears from the distant sky as a seemingly bottomless and extremely long ravine. Legend has it that the abyss has existed for an extremely long time, seemingly even longer than the Jingzhou Land itself. And according to rumors among cultivators, the formation of the Burial Dragon Abyss is quite interesting. It is said that tens of thousands of years ago, a supreme powerhouse of the Human Race emerged on this very site. At that time, the Human Race powerhouse slew a Fifth Order Demon Dragon here, their mighty attacks cutting out a deep ravine. Under such force, even the Fifth Order Demon Dragon couldn¡¯t resist, ultimately spilling its demonic blood across the land. And so this ravine became the final resting place of the Demon Dragon. As time passed, the land, nourished and eroded by the blood of the Demon Dragon, gave rise to a multitude of Heaven and Earth Treasures. At the same time, numerous Demonic Beasts flocked here to grow and thrive, their development hastened by the Heaven and Earth Treasures found in this place. After tens of thousands of years of breeding and thriving, a large number of Third and Fourth Order Demonic Beasts have grown here. When humans came to occupy this land, due to the complex terrain and the strength of the indigenous Demonic Beasts still being formidable, they chose not to eradicate them completely but instead preserved the area, avoiding the loss of those Heaven and Earth Treasures that a great war would cause. At the same time, leaving some Demonic Beasts to continue inhabiting the area meant that, provided their strength wasn¡¯t too overwhelming, the benefits reaped by the Human Race would outweigh a complete annihilation. Therefore, this place ultimately became an outstanding training ground. Nowadays, the Burial Dragon Abyss has become the number one perilous site in Xi Country, its fame soon spread far and wide throughout the land. Even among the neighboring countries, Burial Dragon Abyss holds significant influence. Under such circumstances, many cultivators come to Xi Country for training each year, with the majority of them undoubtedly heading toward the Burial Dragon Abyss. At this very moment, above a certain valley outside the Burial Dragon Abyss. One could see two figures, a man and a woman, rapidly streaking across the sky, darting towards a certain direction. Upon closer inspection, the duo appeared somewhat panicked, their faces as pale as paper, and their Daoist robes stained with fresh blood. Yet, even in the midst of flight, the man did not forget to release a Sword Qi with a flick of his fingers, leaving a pattern of a bamboo with cloud motifs on a small tree below. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having done so, the man then quickly pulled the woman beside him and continued their escape without looking back. Shortly after the man and woman disappeared, in less than half a Shi Chen, a bald elder appeared at the location. Now, the bald elder stood atop a mountain peak, casting a cold, mocking gaze in a certain direction. ¡°Hmph¡­ You won¡¯t get away!¡± ¡°Dare to kill the disciples of the Xu Family, this old man will surely see you dead, to avenge our junior and restore the Xu Family¡¯s dignity.¡± The elder¡¯s face bore no expression as he spoke coldly. After that, the elder leapt forward, pursuing the direction the man and the woman had fled. In less than half a Shi Chen, a man dressed in a green Daoist robe arrived at the same mountain peak. This man had a delicate appearance, seemingly gentle and scholar-like, as if a slightly stronger breeze could knock him over. However, the man intentionally concealed his traces, hence revealing such an appearance. In reality, this seemingly delicate scholar was a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator. And beneath that hidden fa?ade was none other than Lin Tianhu, who was swept into Jingzhou through a Spatial Fissure and found himself within the boundaries of Yu¡¯an Country. At this time, Lin Tianhu ceased his pursuit, his Divine Sense opening and closing mightily as he searched for something. Soon enough, Lin Tianhu spotted a faint mark left on the trunk of the tree below. The mark resembled three green bamboos embracing each other, with a cloud floating atop the highest point of the bamboo. Although the mark was extremely concealed, it would be undetectable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator without the use of Divine Sense. Even for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator like him, it was easy to overlook if one were passing by. But he arrived prepared this time, and with a bit more careful attention, the mark could still be found. At that moment, upon seeing the extremely hidden and faint mark, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face brightened with joy. At the same time, Lin Tianhu quickly descended and came to a steady halt before the small tree. Next, Lin Tianhu reached out his palm and gently touched the mark in front of him, unable to hide the excitement on his face. ¡°Big brother, little brother has been chasing you all the way here for the past two years; it seems I¡¯m finally about to find you!¡± Chapter 1105: 579 Mark_2 Chapter 1105: Chapter 579 Mark_2 Lin Tianhu spoke with a choked voice, tears flickering in his eyes. Reflecting on the decades before, Lin Tianhu had emerged from a Spatial Fissure and found himself within the borders of Yu¡¯an Country. Throughout these many years, Lin Tianhu had been travelling extensively, cultivating all the while, never ceasing his search for Lin Tianfeng. During that period, whenever he arrived at a new place, he would occasionally leave behind the kind of marks seen before him. This mark was the Lin Family crest, familiar to any member of the Lin Family. In his eyes, since he had survived the Spatial Fissure, he always believed that Lin Tianfeng, like him, had not perished within its depths. Therefore, he had been relentless over the years, leaving behind numerous marks, hoping that when Lin Tianfeng saw them, it would hasten their reunion as brothers lost abroad. He also believed that, if Lin Tianfeng were still alive, he would surely leave behind secretive marks in every place, just as he did. However, inexplicably, over the past several decades as he traveled through numerous countries and explored many dangerous lands, Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. he had never once encountered any such marks. Until two years ago, when he arrived in the Xi Country Cultivation World and accidentally stumbled upon this mark in a desolate wilderness. At that time, he was immensely thrilled, and his anxious heart finally relaxed. Since then, he had remained in the Xi Country Cultivation World, running to and fro. Over those two-plus years, from north to south, east to west, he frequented nearly every large and medium workshop in Xi Country. He did so in order to thoroughly search Xi Country, vowing to find traces of Lin Tianfeng. It was only recently that he discovered this mark again. And from the remaining aura on the mark, he deduced that it had been left by Lin Tianfeng not long ago. Thus, following the latest mark, he traced his way here. The mark before him held the most distinct and strongest remnant aura of any he had encountered. Based on this information, he deduced that the time since this mark was left was no more than a day. Considering this, even if Lin Tianfeng was rapidly traveling, he couldn¡¯t have gone too far away. From this estimation, the actual distance between them was likely within a range of thousands of li. For him, being an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, such a distance was as good as right before his eyes. Thinking this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s emotions surged once more. After calming slightly, Lin Tianhu looked towards a certain direction and casually left a new mark beside this one. Having done all this, Lin Tianhu did not delay any longer and immediately leaped into the air. Toward evening time. At the far end of Burial Dragon Abyss, within a small valley. Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er suddenly landed on a mountain peak. Looking around, both of their complexions were even paler than half a day ago, their auras noticeably frailer. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression was grave as he hurriedly took out an elixir and swallowed it. Almost instantly, his complexion regained some color, though his overall condition remained poor. Nevertheless, even in such a state, Lin Tianfeng could not afford any distractions and quickly scanned his surroundings with his eyes, fearful of any looming threats. By his side, Sun Ling¡¯er looked equally pale, resembling a frightened bird. ¡°Tianfeng, our condition is very weak right now, our Spiritual Power nearly depleted.¡± ¡°In the continuation: if we keep forcibly fleeing, even if the Xu Family doesn¡¯t catch up with us, we might still endanger our lives.¡± ¡°Even if we¡¯re lucky to survive, a decline in cultivation realm is inevitable.¡± ¡°In my opinion, it might be better for us to stop here for the night and continue once our condition has slightly improved.¡± ¡°Once we escape from the territory of Xi Country Cultivation World, even though the Xu Family is powerful, finding us in the vast multitude of faces in another country won¡¯t be so easy.¡± Mindful of these points, Sun Ling¡¯er then looked seriously at Lin Tianfeng. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng could only nod in reluctant agreement. In his heart, he truly acknowledged what Sun Ling¡¯er had proposed. Indeed, it was exactly as Sun Ling¡¯er had described. Right now, their condition is indeed extremely poor; the two of them, both at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, have nearly exhausted all their spiritual power. From their current state, it is estimated that even a cultivator at the Fifth or Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment could defeat the two of them in a fight. However, if they continue to flee and their spiritual power is completely depleted, they would still face certain death in the Burial Dragon Abyss where Second Order Demonic Beasts roam freely. Thinking of this, Lin Tianfeng, despite his fear of the Xu Family¡¯s formidable power, had no choice but to consider stopping to rest here for the night. If they are lucky to get through tonight, there is still hope for them to continue escaping. As long as they cross the Burial Dragon Abyss at their feet, they will soon enter the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect, the arch-enemy of the Xu Family. By that time, with the powerful influence of the Hundred Spirits Sect as a deterrent, there might be a real chance for the two of them to escape from the territory of Xi Country. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng immediately made up his mind to follow Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s suggestion to rest here briefly for the night. Thus, Lin Tianfeng nodded at that moment and then said, ¡°Ling¡¯er, although the Burial Dragon Abyss is full of dangers, it also greatly affects the Xu Family cultivators who are trying to trace our steps.¡± ¡°But the more so, we must not be careless!¡± ¡°Right now we really can¡¯t push ourselves any further; we need to quickly find a place to hide, then conceal some of our aura and quickly recover our spiritual power with the help of elixirs.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng no longer delayed, and was just about to pull Sun Ling¡¯er towards the interior of the small valley in front of them. Just then, a cold, angry laugh sounded. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°You two juniors, why aren¡¯t you running anymore?¡± As soon as these words fell, a bald elder appeared out of thin air in front of Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, completely blocking their way into the valley. At this moment, upon seeing the person in front of him, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face suddenly flushed a mixture of red and white. Not only him, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression at this time was no better than Lin Tianfeng¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s Xu Qingzong, a Golden Core Cultivator from the Xu Family!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ He came really quickly!¡± Lin Tianfeng looked at Xu Qingzong in front of him, forcibly calming himself down, then helplessly sighed. ¡°Ling¡¯er, I¡¯ll hold off that old man for a moment, you hurry and escape!¡± Lin Tianfeng looked at Sun Ling¡¯er next to him, speaking earnestly. Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face immediately showed some anger. Then, almost without any pause, she directly said, ¡°In such a desperate situation, you want me to live on by cowering?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, you leave if you want!¡± Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression was resolute, her tone filled with an undeniable force. At this time, Xu Qingzong on the opposite side, upon hearing these words, couldn¡¯t help but laugh coldly again. ¡°You two little kids, even at this time, still putting on such a touching scene in front of this old man.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Seeing as you two can stay together at such a critical moment, just surrender obediently, maybe this old man will let you keep your whole bodies!¡± ¡°And that girl, if you willingly serve this old man for a few years, maybe your life can be spared.¡± After saying this, Xu Qingzong looked at Sun Ling¡¯er in front of him, his eyes alight with a burning gaze as he licked his lips. Hearing this and seeing Xu Qingzong¡¯s lecherous and evil appearance, Lin Tianfeng was immediately enraged. However, Xu Qingzong¡¯s power was immense, setting aside their current weakened state, just the difference of a whole major level was not something any external force could easily bridge. Given this, although Lin Tianfeng was angry, he dared not act recklessly for the moment. However, Sun Ling¡¯er on the side couldn¡¯t help but show a disgusted expression, and she directly cursed. ¡°You old thing, you might as well give up on that idea!¡± As her words fell, Sun Ling¡¯er tightly gripped the longsword in her hand, ready to fight at any moment. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng also unwillingly lagged behind, similarly gripping a flame-encircled longsword, ready to fight to the death. ¡­ Chapter 1106: 580: The Affection of Tianfeng Chapter 1106: Chapter 580: The Affection of Tianfeng At this moment, the Xu Qingzong opposite to Lin Tianfeng and his companion, seeing their stubborn resistance, displayed not the slightest intention of begging for mercy. Especially Sun Ling¡¯er, merely a woman, dared to refuse a Golden Core Stage Cultivator with just her Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. Moreover, the woman even cursed him outright, truly catching him off guard. But the more defiant the woman was, the more intrigued Xu Qingzong became; her resistance only intensified his desire to conquer. In his eyes, as a dignified Golden Core Stage Cultivator, what sort of woman could he not have at any time? Indeed, if he simply wished it, the mere mention of his name would bring droves of beautiful women from Xi Country hoping to seize the opportunity to cling to a high branch. And over the years, he had indeed taken many wives and concubines. From women at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage to mere mortal bodies, all came willingly into his embrace and allowed him to take what he wanted. However, at this life-and-death moment, the woman before him showed absolutely no fear of death, nor did she bow to him for the sake of survival. Amid such stark contrast, Xu Qingzong felt unusually unangered, and instead burst into raucous laughter. ¡°The sharper the young lady¡¯s tongue, the more I like it!¡± ¡°Besides, your current defiance is meaningless.¡± ¡°After I kill your young man, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have the chance to resist me.¡± Saying this, Xu Qingzong looked at Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s enchanting figure with lustful eyes and smirked. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°When that time comes¡­ I¡¯ll show you what it means to be in agony of both wanting to die and yet unable to cease.¡± Hearing these words, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s complexion turned even paler, and a resolute look flashed in her eyes. She was very clear that with their combined strength as it was, they stood no chance against Xu Qingzong. If Xu Qingzong really spared her life and forcefully detained her, she truly wouldn¡¯t have a chance to resist. At that point, dying would not even be an easy option. She was not afraid of dying, but she feared her virginity, preserved for a full century, would be tarnished by this sinister old man. This treasured thing was something she had always reserved for Lin Tianfeng. Now, without having disclosed their affections for one another, they were facing life and death, as well as the matter of chastity. That was what truly terrified her the most. Apart from this, she most cared about the safety and life of Lin Tianfeng at her side. Over the years, the two of them had wandered the lands of Jingzhou, enduring countless crises and tortures. Although decades had passed and they had yet to breach the barrier between them, in their hearts, the seeds of love were already sown, and each was well aware of the other¡¯s affection. The reason they had not made it clear was to wait until they returned to Wei Kingdom to decide on the matrimonial matters of a lifetime. At that time, returning to the Lin Family Clan Grounds and marrying with the witness of their clan elders, would mark the completion of virtues. But plans cannot keep up with changes, and faced with Xu Qingzong¡¯s pursuit, everything fell apart. At that thought, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s expression darkened, and she considered taking her own life. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And next to her, Lin Tianfeng, upon hearing Xu Qingzong¡¯s vulgar speech, his expression suddenly turned more furious, his palm gripping the longsword Magic Artifact which gleamed with a cold light. At the same time, his eyes were fixed on Xu Qingzong, shifting from bright to blood-red, seemingly wishing to tear Xu Qingzong into a thousand pieces. ¡°Old scoundrel¡­ even if it costs me my life today, I will not let you have your way!¡± Lin Tianfeng roared, and then forced his Mana to circulate, releasing a mass of Sword Qi which charged towards Xu Qingzong. ¡°Swoosh swoosh swoosh¡­¡± A sword howl resounded, as a silver light flickered in the sky, and sword qi tore through the horizon, instantly descending above Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. In less than a breath¡¯s time, the attack that Sun Ling¡¯er forcibly unleashed had also arrived as promised. At that moment, Xu Qingzong¡¯s face displayed utter disdain, and he did not take Lin Tianfeng and his partner¡¯s attack seriously. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± As the sky filled with sword qi descended, a powerful Gang Wind fluttered his Daoist robe. In that moment, Xu Qingzong let out a cold snicker and finally made his move. Instantly, with a wave of his hand, a formless hand composed of Metal Attribute Spiritual Energy twisted the sword qi in the air. With a strange noise echoing, all the sword qi in the sky suddenly halted in midair motionless. It¡¯s impossible to tell how long had passed, but after the sword qi vibrated slightly, it dissolved into gas and eventually vanished. All this happened in the blink of an eye. When the sky had returned to its normal state, it was as if nothing had happened. Just then, Lin Tianfeng and his partner, upon witnessing this scene, suddenly turned extremely pale. Because they both well understood that Xu Qingzong had merely deflected their combined assault with a casual strike. Moreover, Xu Qingzong had not yet made a direct move against them. Otherwise, with Xu Qingzong¡¯s power and state, if he had casually launched an attack at them, they simply wouldn¡¯t have been able to resist, let alone see the spectacle before them. Given such a vast disparity, both fell into even deeper despair. And opposite them, Xu Qingzong looked at Lin Tianfeng and his companion, and then mockingly smiled. Chapter 1107: 580 Tianfengs Affection_2 Chapter 1107: Chapter 580 Tianfeng¡¯s Affection_2 ¡°Kid¡­ it¡¯s useless¡­ stop struggling!¡± Hearing these words that completely disregarded him, Lin Tianfeng felt anger in his heart, but he also forced himself to calm down. When he glanced at Sun Ling¡¯er beside him, her pale complexion regained some color, and her eyes were filled with tenderness and reluctance. ¡°Ling¡¯er, for years, there has always been something I¡¯ve wanted to tell you!¡± ¡°Now we have reached a dead end, if I don¡¯t say it now, I¡¯m afraid there will never be another chance.¡± Lin Tianfeng sincerely looked at Sun Ling¡¯er, and the way he addressed her in his words suddenly changed. Upon hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er also turned her head to look at Lin Tianfeng, then smiled faintly, her previously pale and bloodless face seeming much more relaxed. In her heart, although Lin Tianfeng hadn¡¯t spoken yet, she understood perfectly well what he wanted to say. Nevertheless, Sun Ling¡¯er softly replied: ¡°Tianfeng, whatever you want to say, just say it.¡± ¡°After you finish, I also have something to tell you.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Ling¡¯er shyly looked at Lin Tianfeng, awaiting his words. Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t intend to delay, with a wry smile, he then began: ¡°Ling¡¯er, these years you have suffered.¡± Lin Tianfeng¡¯s tone was earnest, his face full of love and tenderness, as if he had forgotten the desperate situation in which they found themselves. Then, Lin Tianfeng suddenly smiled lightly, followed by a tone of regret: ¡°If we survive this catastrophe, I will definitely marry you and become Daoist companions.¡± As soon as the words were said, Lin Tianfeng stared intently at Sun Ling¡¯er, seemingly waiting for her response. Sun Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t plan to waste time either, looking straight into Lin Tianfeng¡¯s eyes without moving. ¡°Tianfeng, I am aware of your feelings, and I am grateful for your care and protection over these years, which has brought me unparalleled happiness.¡± ¡°I feel the same as you, my heart has belonged to you for many years, and now facing this crisis, I don¡¯t want to live with regrets.¡± ¡°Tianfeng, I am willing to become Daoist companions with you, from now on, in life or death, never to part.¡± Sun Ling¡¯er sincerely expressed these words, and although the tears in her eyes were glistening, she smiled happily. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng also wore a smile, and promptly pulled Sun Ling¡¯er into his embrace. At this instant, the two whose hearts belonged to each other completely forgot their predicament, finally uttering those words in their hearts. However, witnessing this scene, Xu Qingzong couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡­¡± ¡°At such a time, you are still showering affection on each other, even wishing to be a pair of mandarin ducks sharing the same fate?¡± ¡°How ridiculous¡­ how ridiculous¡­¡± After scolding them, Xu Qingzong slowly approached Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er. At this time, Lin Tianfeng also released Sun Ling¡¯er and proceeded to shield her tightly behind him. Then, with a somber face, Lin Tianfeng responded: ¡°Old man, if you want to kill us, just do it, stop spouting nonsense!¡± ¡°Fine¡­ fine¡­¡± ¡°Since you, lad, are in such a hurry to die, this old man will oblige you!¡± With these words, Xu Qingzong¡¯s longsword flashed with light, and a golden Sword Qi shot out, instantly appearing in the sky. At this very moment, feeling the intense Sword Qi coming his way, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face revealed an extremely solemn expression. Suddenly, he turned sideways, and with a palm strike hit Sun Ling¡¯er on the shoulder. In that moment, unprepared, Sun Ling¡¯er was shocked by the tremendous force and flung away, quickly ending up a hundred yards distant, thus creating a gap between herself and Xu Qingzong. But even while mid-air, she heard Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words by her ear. ¡°Ling¡¯er¡­ I cannot let you die, you must escape at all costs.¡± ¡°If you can return to Wei Kingdom, I hope you will visit my family on my behalf and deliver a Fruit of Fortuity to the Clan Leader. Even wandering outside for many years, in death, at least I can make a final contribution to the family and find a spiritual resting place.¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er wore a look of utter despair, and her heart was immediately filled with shock and anger. The shock was because Lin Tianfeng, even at this moment, still thought of finding a slim chance for her to escape. Anger surged within her because Lin Tianfeng had actually left her to flee alone while he faced a certain death situation by himself. Yet in reality, she had long ceased to care about her own life or death. In her heart, even now, in this dire situation, she remained willing to stay and share life or death with Lin Tianfeng. But now, Lin Tianfeng wanted her to abandon him, to live on as a craven survivor. Such an action, in her eyes, was far from the outcome she desired. However, at this moment, the actual circumstances allowed no room for her to think further, let alone to take any action. Under her gaze, Xu Qingzong¡¯s attack was about to descend. It was at this moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face took on a look of resolute determination, his expression revealing a mad smile. Immediately after, he executed a Law Decree with a strange hand gesture. His movements were swift, all actions were cohesive, with no signs of hesitance, executing them in one fell swoop. In an instant. Accompanying a peculiar sound, it was unknown when exactly a silver-white Sword Qi had formed above Lin Tianfeng¡¯s head. As this silver-white Sword Qi appeared, the entire sky flickered with silver radiance, an immense amount of Yuan Qi gathered towards it. At the same time, a formidable presence arose spontaneously, eventually dispersing as a Gang Wind in all directions. And at this moment, Lin Tianfeng stood at the very center of the spreading presence, the powerful aura billowing his Daoist robe with rustling sounds. Seeing this, Xu Qingzong was momentarily startled, the Sword Qi he controlled inadvertently hesitated, and its descending speed consequently slowed. ¡°Could that Sword Qi be a Spirit Art?¡± ¡°Moreover, judging by this piercing aura, the Grade of this Spirit Art is definitely not low, it must undoubtedly be a Profound Grade Spirit Art!¡± Xu Qingzong thought to himself at this time. Soon, his face displayed a satisfied smile, his heart throbbing with excitement. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t calm enough, but rather the value of a Profound Grade Spirit Art was self-evident. In his view, the Xu Family had inherited through so many generations, and after centuries of collective accumulation, the entire family possessed only a few Spirit Arts. Among them, Profound Grade Spirit Arts were limited to just one, and the quantity was extremely sparse. Moreover, that Profound Grade Spirit Art of the Xu Family was very difficult to cultivate and its power was relatively mediocre. It was only slightly stronger than the Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques, with an extremely limited advantage. Yet even so, the fact that the Xu Family had been able to persist for so long without decline, the few Spirit Arts collected by the family played an essential role. Furthermore, within the entire Xi Country Cultivation World, not to mention a Golden Core Family with an ancient lineage like the Xu Family, even other forces at the same level had limited access to Spirit Arts. From this, one could see the importance of a Profound Grade Spirit Art and the benefits it could bring to a Golden Core Family if it possessed a powerful one. And now, he had actually discovered traces of a Spirit Art from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator right before him. If he could obtain this Spirit Art, the Xu Family would be able to add another Profound Grade Spirit Art. The strength and foundation of the entire family would leap upwards significantly. The very thought made Xu Qingzong unbearably excited, his heart set on a determination to obtain the Spirit Art at all costs. Knowing this, Xu Qingzong suddenly burst into mad laughter. Following that, he swiftly controlled the Sword Qi in the sky, directing it towards the vital points of Lin Tianfeng without mercy. At this time, Lin Tianfeng showed no signs of pausing, his movements in his hands persisted. Simultaneously, he was seen to slightly move his lips, chanting a series of complex spell incantations. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art!¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a loud call from Lin Tianfeng, the Sword Qi above his head soared towards the heavens, charging directly at Xu Qingzong on the opposing side. The speed of this Sword Qi was extremely fast, its momentum majestic and expansive, as if it could swallow Xu Qingzong whole. Chapter 1108: 581: Tianhu Saves the Day Chapter 1108: Chapter 581: Tianhu Saves the Day At this very moment, Xu Qingzong saw the mighty Sword Qi approaching, its momentum growing stronger and stronger, so much so that even the heavens and earth seemed to change color. This instant saw Xu Qingzong¡¯s face, rarely so serious, his heart finally beginning to take Lin Tianfeng seriously. He was very clear in his mind that the Spirit Art Lin Tianfeng was using in this desperate situation was indeed formidable. And indeed, it was so. That¡¯s because the cultivation technique of this Spirit Art was not of a low grade, its power was overwhelmingly mighty, and it had always served as a trump card among the core members of the Lin Family. Moreover, the most significant feature of this Spirit Art was that the longer the Sword Qi was condensed, the more powerful the burst of energy when released. Take Lin Tianfeng himself; despite having been through numerous battles over the decades and facing life-threatening peril multiple times, He had always remembered the Clan Leader¡¯s earnest and significant injunction when he practiced this technique for the first time. At that time, the Clan Leader had repeatedly told him not to use this Spirit Art unless it was absolutely necessary or he was sure of victory. He knew the reason for this was to prevent the exposure of the Lin Family¡¯s greatest strength and invite prying eyes. And such caution was also to spare himself and the entire Lin Family from attracting life-threatening disasters. Hence, this sword Qi had been condensed within him for decades, and he had never used it. Even Sun Ling¡¯er, who had been with him through thick and thin over these years, was unaware of this hidden trump card of his. But now, faced with Xu Qingzong¡¯s pursuit, Lin Tianfeng had no choice but to use this tactic. Fortunately, they were currently in the central part of Jingzhou, far away from the Wei Kingdom, and over the years he had constantly changed his name, never carrying anything that could link him to the Lin Family. Thus, even if he were to stake it all on this Spirit Art now, the likelihood of the Lin Family being exposed was very low. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianfeng was so resolute. And his desperate counter-attack truly possessed terrifying power. If another Golden Core Cultivator were to sense this momentum at this moment, they would probably think it was an attack from a veteran Golden Core Stage master. It was precisely because of this trump card tactic that the proud Xu Qingzong was caught a bit off guard. Don¡¯t look at him being at the Golden Core Stage realm, with cultivation strength far surpassing that of Lin Tianfeng. But under this terrifying Spirit Art attack, even he had to be more cautious to avoid capsizing in the gutter. Knowing this, Xu Qingzong dared not to be negligent. So, at this moment, Xu Qingzong suddenly pinched a Law Decree, causing his cultivation technique to run at full strength. At the same time, he was desperately controlling the Sword Qi, clashing head-on with Lin Tianfeng¡¯s attack. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A thunderous roar erupted. In that instant, a flash of silver light illuminated the space between the two, followed by a torrent of flames shooting skyward. Among those flames, the Sword Qi unleashed by Lin Tianfeng was extremely sharp, managing to deflect Xu Qingzong¡¯s Sword Qi. Not only that, the trajectory of the silver-white Sword Qi was straight, and its speed hardly seemed affected, continuing to shoot towards Xu Qingzong. At this moment, seeing such a turn of events, Xu Qingzong¡¯s heart shook greatly. Seeing the Sword Qi approaching, Xu Qingzong, amidst shock and rage, hastily swung his sword. In that instant, Xu Qingzong¡¯s front erupted with a multitude of Sword Qi, firing forward to block Lin Tianfeng¡¯s Sword Qi. However, the speed of the opposing Sword Qi was simply too fast, crossing a distance of over a hundred zhang in an instant. Furthermore, Xu Qingzong was caught entirely unprepared; the Sword Qi attack he hastily launched was not yet at its peak in terms of power and speed. Thus, at the moment of imminent contact, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s Sword Qi managed to evade. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s Sword Qi, cleaving through the skies, seemed poised to reach Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. ¡°What?¡± At this time, Xu Qingzong felt a sharp aura slapping against his face, enveloped by the momentum of the Sword Qi. In light of this situation, Xu Qingzong was once again greatly startled, his eyes uncontrollably widening with intense shock. It was only when the chills began to crawl across his head that the astonished Xu Qingzong was pulled back to reality. And now, the silver-white Sword Qi had arrived, leaving virtually no distance between it and Xu Qingzong. Faced with this situation, Xu Qingzong could not have imagined that the Sword Qi would be so forceful and unbelievably fast. Currently, the distance between him and the terrifying silver-white Sword Qi was too close, and given the swift speed of the Sword Qi, even with his Golden Core Stage Cultivation, there was no time to mount any significant defensive strategy. Fortunately, Xu Qingzong¡¯s own strength was far superior to his opponent¡¯s, and having cultivated for hundreds of years, finely tempered over the centuries, he was now considered a veteran with abundant combat experience. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the Sword Qi assault, Xu Qingzong did not hesitate and immediately executed a Sword Qi attack at the fastest speed, hoping to temporarily hold off the silver-white Sword Qi. He believed, once this exchange was over, there would be no resisting force left in his opponents. After all, both of them were already injured, and their Spiritual Power was nearly depleted. In his view, such a state could aptly be described as the last gasp. Facing such an adversary not on the same level, even without the intent to kill, just a casual couple of rounds of attacks would prove to be the last straw to crush their lives. Chapter 1109: 581 Tianhu Saves the Day_2 Chapter 1109: Chapter 581 Tianhu Saves the Day_2 Therefore, as long as he stayed vigilant and only needed to exert seventy to eighty percent of his strength, taking care of those two would be as easy as reaching out to grasp. Fully aware of this, Xu Qingzong pinned his hopes on this hastily made strike to resolve this minor crisis. Under his watchful eye, the two clashing attacks met head-on with a direct clash. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, and the momentarily calm sky burst into flames once more, the dazzling light blinding his eyes. Within the blaze, his attack persisted for but an instant before it ultimately shattered into pieces. Meanwhile, the silver-white Sword Qi trembled violently a few times, but it still shot towards him. However, the Sword Qi, after a round of consumption, had drastically reduced in might to less than half of its original power when it had been first unleashed. Yet even so, the Sword Qi still existed and continued to assail Xu Qingzong. At this moment, Xu Qingzong, being too close to the Sword Qi, had neither the time nor any means to counter the attack. Left with no other choice, Xu Qingzong, while filled with fear, immediately moved to protect his vital areas to avoid being killed by this strike. Otherwise, he, a dignified Golden Core Stage Cultivator who had entered the realm hundreds of years ago, would actually be slain by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If news of this spread, even if he perished, it would shock the cultivators of Xi Country for quite some time. It would truly be an enormous joke. Under his watchful gaze, the Sword Qi descended with a thunderous crash. Soon, he felt himself being blasted backwards, and while mid-air, a wave of intense pain surged from his arm, and the scent of fresh blood permeated the air. For a moment, Xu Qingzong let out a painful scream, and his face turned several shades paler. As the firelight dissipated, the sky returned to calm. By the time Xu Qingzong steadied himself, he discovered that one of his arms had flown off, leaving only the bloody stump as a testament to the recent event. Under this one strike, Lin Tianfeng, at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, had desperately severed his arm, causing him significant injury and reducing his strength considerably. Thinking of this, Xu Qingzong immediately became furiously enraged. When he turned his head to look at Lin Tianfeng, his bloodshot eyes were filled with intense murderous intent. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, too, spit out several mouthfuls of blood, then plummeted from the sky. Seeing this, Sun Ling¡¯er, who was behind him, suddenly turned pale, her heart filled with anxiety. She dashed over frantically, catching the falling Lin Tianfeng and held him tightly in her arms. At this moment, Lin Tianming had somewhat recovered. When he saw Sun Ling¡¯er so close and smelled the fragrance coming from her, his face grew even paler. Then, Lin Tianfeng sighed helplessly. ¡°Ling¡¯er, why didn¡¯t you flee?¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s face was solemn, yet her tone resolute as she replied: ¡°Tianfeng¡­ I will never leave you behind to live on by myself.¡± ¡°I am not afraid of death, if we are to die, we¡¯ll die together, and I will have no regrets.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Tianfeng, though somewhat regretful that Sun Ling¡¯er had not taken the opportunity created by his last desperate effort to escape, knew there was no point in blaming her for her choice. Moreover, that Sun Ling¡¯er could be so resolute in standing with him, who else but a beloved would act in such a way. Realizing this, his heart was touched, and a surge of warmth filled him. In his heart, as Sun Ling¡¯er had said, in the face of a life-and-death situation, if they were to die together, it would not be in vain. Perhaps this was the steadfast conviction that came from deep affection. In such a predicament, Lin Tianfeng accepted all outcomes and prepared to meet death with dignity. Not just him, Sun Ling¡¯er too was ready to face her demise. Thus, Lin Tianfeng and she held hands, their eyes calmly fixed on the enraged Xu Qingzong, no longer intending to make another move. ¡°Young man, you actually injured me?¡± ¡°Humph¡­ I will cut you to pieces and torture that girl to death.¡± Xu Qingzong snorted coldly and cursed angrily at the same time, then no longer intended to waste time, to avoid unnecessary complications. Under such circumstances, he raised his hand and unleashed several strokes of his sword, rapidly emitting multiple streams of Sword Qi, shooting them towards Lin Tianfeng and his companion. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, having seen this, astonishingly remained unmoved, not even blinking an eye, instead holding Sun Ling¡¯er tightly in his embrace. The two of them nestled together like this, each feeling the other¡¯s warmth, having already forgotten all external factors. As the Sword Qi approached closer and closer, Lin Tianfeng and his companion exchanged a smile, then slowly closed their eyes. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Several explosive sounds rang out, as the blast waves from the collisions furiously spread out in all directions. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng and his companion still remained suspended motionless in mid-air. It was unclear how much time had passed when Lin Tianfeng and his companion did not feel the slightest pain, and the entire sky had become incredibly quiet. ¡°Could this be¡­ what it feels like to die?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ how nice¡­ not even a slight sensation of pain!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng thought to himself, with an involuntary smile creeping across his lips. Apart from him, Sun Ling¡¯er was also overwhelmed with a thousand thoughts. However, she hadn¡¯t realized what was happening, thinking this was the sensation of death, so she didn¡¯t open her eyes and didn¡¯t detect anything unusual. On the other hand, a sentence from Xu Qingzong immediately brought Lin Tianfeng and his companion back to reality. ¡°Fellow Daoist, I urge you not to meddle in others¡¯ affairs!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng finally opened his eyes, only to discover that a frail scholar-like figure had appeared in front of them at some unknown time. Looking over, the scholar stood with his back to them, his tall and upright stature somewhat imposing. Simultaneously, newly arrived Lin Tianhu hurriedly turned his head. When he saw Lin Tianfeng, a broad smile was on his face, his excitement beyond words. ¡°Big brother, it has been so hard searching for you all these years!¡± As Lin Tianhu spoke, he moved toward Lin Tianfeng, utterly disregarding the threatening words of Xu Qingzong. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing those words, Lin Tianfeng immediately understood everything. Quickly, Lin Tianfeng became equally exhilarated, his pale face instantly filled with color. ¡°Tian¡­ Tianhu¡­ you¡­ you¡¯re also alive?¡± Lin Tianfeng, overly excited, spoke in fits and starts, clearly at the peak of elation. In his heart, he was truly surprised and delighted. After all, just like him, Lin Tianhu used to be only a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivator, yet was swept away by that terrifying Spatial Fissure, ultimately ending up in the distant lands of Jingzhou. Here, they knew no one and lacked even the most basic understanding. Under such conditions, living a stable life was not easy. Therefore, Lin Tianfeng once thought that being able to survive with Sun Ling¡¯er was an incredibly fortunate event. Over the years, he, too, had never given up searching for Lin Tianhu. However, as time passed with no word or even a hint of news, he gradually harbored a notion. Could it be that Tianhu didn¡¯t survive the Spatial Fissure? But now, at this moment of dire crisis, Lin Tianhu had come like a god descending from the heavens, blocking Xu Qingzong¡¯s lethal strike. Such a surprise was not only the joy of a reunion between brothers but also the ecstatic relief of escaping death. Moreover, that Lin Tianhu was able to parry Xu Qingzong¡¯s blow on such short notice, and come out unscathed. Such an easy and casual handling of the situation clearly indicated that Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation realm must undoubtedly be at the Golden Core Stage. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s originally calm heart at once stirred with towering waves. The reason for such emotions was not only the joy of avoiding disaster for himself and his loved one, but also the heartfelt happiness for Lin Tianhu¡¯s rapid growth. ¡­ Chapter 1110: 582: Each Displays Their Divine Skills Chapter 1110: Chapter 582: Each Displays Their Divine Skills At this moment, Lin Tianhu looked at the tearful face of Lin Tianfeng, overwhelmed with joy, and couldn¡¯t help but nod. Then, Lin Tianhu solemnly said, ¡°Big brother, you and sister-in-law step aside and rest, younger brother will go and avenge you!¡± Having said that, Lin Tianhu resolutely turned around and shot off in the direction of Xu Qingzong. While still mid-air, Lin Tianhu bellowed angrily. ¡°Old fool, daring to strike my big brother, you will surely die today!¡± Before his words even subsided, Lin Tianhu slapped his storage bag at his waist, and a fist-sized silver white bead appeared in his hand. Then, Lin Tianhu tossed the bead in his hand forward, and it hovered motionless in mid-air. Immediately after, Lin Tianhu formed a single-handed seal, sending beams of spiritual light precisely bombarding the silver white bead. In that instant, the silver white bead continuously flickered with light, and swiftly brought down clusters of clouds, instantly enveloping the sky above Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. It was at this moment when Xu Qingzong heard Lin Tianhu¡¯s furious words, his face turned pale instantly, and a sense of impending doom rose in his heart. He was well aware that Lin Tianhu and Lin Tianfeng were not the same. The former was a genuine Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and the aura of the magical treasure, the silver white bead, seemed extraordinary and was certainly not a mundane item. With this in mind, Lin Tianhu¡¯s fighting power must not be underestimated. And he himself, due to previous negligence, was injured by a powerful Spirit Art from Lin Tianfeng, causing an arm to be severed. Now, Xu Qingzong¡¯s overall combat power was greatly diminished. Under such circumstances, facing a peak phase Cultivator of the same rank on his own, the odds of victory were almost straightforward. Understanding this, Xu Qingzong was now filled with shock and rage, and an urge to flee sprang up in his heart. As for the pursuit of Lin Tianfeng and the others, his own life and death, by comparison, seemed far less important. After all, Xu Qingzong was at the Golden Core Stage Realm, and his personal strength was not to be underestimated. For the entire Xu Family, his role was far more significant than those of deceased Foundation Establishment Qi Stage Clan Members. If he were to lose his life, the loss to the Xu family would be even greater, and they would have neither the leisure nor the energy to concern themselves with those matters. Having figured out these pros and cons, Xu Qingzong had already made up his mind. Thus, Xu Qingzong did not hesitate to turn around and escape in the opposite direction, just as Lin Tianhu completed his move. Xu Qingzong moved quickly, darting dozens of feet away in a flash. However, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attack speed was also fast, and as Xu Qingzong gradually put distance between them, the clusters of clouds that fell from the silver white bead had already surrounded Xu Qingzong from different angles. At the same time, more clouds spread out, completely centering around Xu Qingzong and enveloping a large swath of sky. Affected by the encompassing clouds, the originally bright sky began to darken, looking as if a mountain rain was on the horizon. And to Xu Qingzong¡¯s eyes, the cloud overhead seemed invisible and colorless, but it was indeed real. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Xu Qingzong did not know what kind of lethal power these seemingly unremarkable clouds possessed. It wasn¡¯t until he rushed into a small cluster of clouds that he instantly felt as if his whole body was trapped in quicksand, needing several times more strength to move even slightly. This sense of restraint significantly slowed his speed. And as more clouds continued to converge, the feeling of restraint on his body grew increasingly heavy. It was only at this moment that Xu Qingzong realized the formidable nature of these clouds. What he didn¡¯t know was that this silver white bead was Lin Tianhu¡¯s Life-bound Magical Treasure, known as the Gravity Bead, which was extremely effective at trapping enemies. In the past decade or so, Lin Tianhu had safely traveled to many countries, experiencing many battles, and each time he emerged unscathed, it was with the help of this Gravity Bead. Now, with such a lethal weapon in play, Lin Tianhu was fully intent on a killing blow. Driven by this expectation, Lin Tianhu fully controlled the Gravity Bead, quickly using the vast number of clouds to completely surround Xu Qingzong. At this time, Xu Qingzong, who was in the center of the clouds, clearly felt an increasingly strong sense of restraint which he couldn¡¯t shake off or break free from. Even the attacks he launched felt like they were stuck in a quagmire, their power greatly reduced compared to his peak. Witnessing this turn of events, Xu Qingzong¡¯s face changed drastically. As Lin Tianhu¡¯s figure drew closer, it made Xu Qingzong¡¯s heart palpitate even more. ¡°This fellow Daoist¡­ your brothers were not seriously injured, and I, for my part, have already lost an arm, which could be considered retribution. How about we stop here?¡± ¡°Be assured, fellow Daoist. Once I return to my family, I will not pursue the matter of those Fruits of Fortuity, nor will I look into the cause of death of those incompetent clan members of our Xu Family.¡± ¡°From now on, let us erase our grudges, and the Xu Family will no longer provoke you.¡± Xu Qingzong spoke earnestly, his demeanor having shifted drastically, no longer displaying the arrogance he had before. Having said that, Xu Qingzong looked at Lin Tianhu while retreating further back. However, upon hearing these words, Lin Tianhu couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Fellow Daoist, you are truly laughable!¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t arrived in time just now, I¡¯m afraid my brother would have already perished by your hand.¡± Chapter 1111: 582 Each Displays Divine Skills_2 Chapter 1111: Chapter 582 Each Displays Divine Skills_2 ¡°Now that you see weakness, you think to step back and settle grudges; is it really that easy?¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianhu pinched the Law Decree, grabbing the Silver White Bead floating in midair in his hand. Then, Lin Tianhu threw the bead again, aiming straight for Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. Seeing this scene and hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s direct mocking words, Xu Qingzong was both shocked and furious, his face instantly becoming extremely gloomy. However, the situation at that time made it impossible for him to be distracted, let alone spare time to deal with Lin Tianhu. Realizing this, Xu Qingzong suddenly pinched a Law Decree, muttering words. Soon, the gloomy sky flashed with lightning and thunder, with fierce winds howling in. Then, a dragon¡¯s shadow poked its head out of the clouds, and then began roaring ferociously with its teeth and claws. As the dragon¡¯s shadow appeared, the clouds began to churn, and even some clouds at the outer edge started dissipating. Seeing this, Xu Qingzong¡¯s expression finally improved a bit. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± The dragon¡¯s shadow roared and then burst out of the clouds, appearing above Xu Qingzong¡¯s head. ¡°Dragon Calling Technique!¡± Xu Qingzong shouted loudly as the dragon¡¯s shadow shot out fiercely, rushing towards Lin Tianhu with bared teeth. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s expression suddenly became very solemn. Clearly, seeing that he couldn¡¯t escape, Xu Qingzong began to fight desperately. Otherwise, if he continued to be bound by the clouds, coupled with the attacks driven by Lin Tianhu¡¯s Gravity Bead, Xu Qingzong, who was only defending, could not hold on for long. Moreover, Xu Qingzong was already injured, significantly weakening his strength. Rather than being slowly depleted to death, it was better to fight desperately; there might still be a chance to win. Indeed, Xu Qingzong¡¯s mindset at this time was exactly as Lin Tianhu had guessed. However, even though Lin Tianhu understood all these, he dared not be the slightest bit careless now. After all, Xu Qingzong was a veteran Golden Core Cultivator, who had entered the Golden Core Stage for hundreds of years and came from a long-standing Golden Elixir Force like the Xu Family. Relying on the heritage of the Xu Family, Xu Qingzong undoubtedly had many tricks up his sleeve. Take Spirit Arts, a powerful weapon; the Xu Family definitely had more than one. And this magnificent and mighty dragon shadow, merely from the aura it displayed, it could be determined that it was undoubtedly a Spirit Art. Knowing this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s expression was solemn, channeling his mana to the extreme, constantly controlling the Gravity Bead, bombarding toward Xu Qingzong. In a moment of delay, as a loud explosion sounded, the Gravity Bead and the dragon¡¯s shadow collided head-on. ¡°Boom¡­¡± At that moment, the sky was lit by flames, and the intense light illuminated the entire gorge. Within that blaze, the Gravity Bead was engulfed by the dragon shadow, and a large amount of clouds were also sucked away by the dragon shadow. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face changed drastically, and he began to worry inwardly. On the other hand, seeing the dragon shadow devour the Gravity Bead and a large amount of clouds, Xu Qingzong felt significantly less bound. For a moment, Xu Qingzong was overjoyed, his face filled with a very satisfied smile. However, soon, the dragon shadow exploded with a huge impact, sweeping across all directions. Faced with such an unexpected turn, Xu Qingzong¡¯s expression darkened instantly, showing disbelief. With the explosion of the dragon shadow, the Gravity Bead was also flung away. And due to the impact of the blast, Lin Tianhu was also knocked back hundreds of feet. While still in midair, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face paled, and a few traces of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. On the other side, Xu Qingzong also endured a tremendous impact. With the help of this force, Xu Qingzong managed to break free from the densest part of the clouds, reappearing on the outer edge of the clouds. But the explosion¡¯s impact was extremely powerful, hitting Xu Qingzong squarely, immediately sending him flying hundreds of feet. Once Xu Qingzong stabilized his posture, he continuously spat out several mouthfuls of dark blood, his face growing even paler. Under this strike, Xu Qingzong¡¯s injuries worsened significantly, his breath much weaker than at his peak. And after stabilizing himself, Lin Tianhu similarly showed a pained expression. Compared to Xu Qingzong, Lin Tianhu¡¯s situation was slightly better, though it was a fact that he was injured. However, Lin Tianhu could not afford to care too much. At the moment he stabilized his posture, he immediately grabbed the Gravity Bead back and clenched it tightly in his hand, ready to make further moves. Meanwhile, Xu Qingzong was both shocked and pleased at that moment. The shock came from his powerful Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, which did not gain the upper hand after clashing directly with Lin Tianhu¡¯s magical treasure, truly making him find it inconceivable. As for the joy, it was because the impact had freed him from most of the clouds¡¯ constraints. Now, having escaped the center of the clouds, if he were to flee for his life, the chances of success were not slim. Thinking of this, Xu Qingzong immediately made up his mind. Thus, with a casual wave, Xu Qingzong released a surge of Sword Qi attacking Lin Tianhu. Following that, he immediately turned around and fled without a backward glance. At this very moment, down in the depths of the gorge, Lin Tianfeng saw this situation and his expression became extremely anxious. ¡°Tianhu¡­ that old man is escaping, stop him quickly!¡± Amid his anxiety, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but shout out. Even without Lin Tianfeng¡¯s shout, Lin Tianhu knew what he had to do. He was very clear in his heart, once Xu Qingzong escaped and returned to the Xu family¡¯s stronghold, with the strength of the Xu family, their trouble would not be minor. Although Lin Tianhu was very confident in his own strength. Facing a family that had inherited over ten thousand years and had at least seven or eight Golden Core Cultivators, he had no certainty that he could retreat unscathed. Moreover, he had to carry two people at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection realm, Lin Tianfeng, and Sun Ling¡¯er. Trying to escape from the Xu Family¡¯s relentless pursuit would almost certainly be a desperate situation. Knowing this well, Lin Tianhu was also determined at this moment to spare no expense to keep Xu Qingzong¡¯s life here. Once he killed Xu Qingzong, he would immediately flee with Lin Tianfeng and the others. As long as they left the territory of Xi Country, they would temporarily escape the crisis. Realizing this, Lin Tianhu formed a Law Decree with his hands and simultaneously chanted. Very soon, a Silver-White Sword Qi appeared above Lin Tianhu¡¯s head, steadily hovering in mid-air. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, sensing the terrifying aura behind him, Xu Qingzong freakishly turned his head to look. Instantly, his face turned ashen. ¡°What? It¡¯s that terrifying Silver-White Sword Qi again!¡± Xu Qingzong shivered inwardly, his body trembling involuntarily. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t calm enough, but he had witnessed the power of this Silver-White Sword Qi before. It was because of this Spirit Technique that one of his arms was severed by Lin Tianfeng, who was at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and he nearly died under this Sword Qi. Even Lin Tianfeng could achieve this extent. Now with Lin Tianhu, at the Golden Core Stage, driving this Spirit Technique, its power was self-evident. Realizing this, Xu Qingzong felt a great sense of foreboding. Just as Xu Qingzong was in shock, Lin Tianhu had already activated the Silver-White Sword Qi. ¡°Great Sun Sword Qi Art!¡± As Lin Tianhu shouted loudly, the Silver-White Sword Qi above shot out in a flash, traveling over a hundred yards in an instant. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± Under Xu Qingzong¡¯s gaze, the Silver-White Sword Qi approached closer and was about to descend over his head. At this moment, Xu Qingzong wanted to flee desperately, but he was already seriously injured, and his speed was much slower compared to his peak condition. More crucially, even at his peak condition, his speed would not exceed the attack speed of the Spirit Technique. At such a close distance, there was simply no time to perform the most effective defense. In such a situation, Xu Qingzong¡¯s hope of surviving rested nearly entirely on whether his defense measures could withstand this strike. If he survived this, there was still a glimmer of a turning point. Otherwise, it would mean the same as reckless fleeing, directly dying under the Silver-White Sword Qi. Chapter 1112: 583 Tiansong City Chapter 1112: Chapter 583 Tiansong City At this very moment, realizing the pros and cons, Xu Qingzong could only proceed despite feeling helpless. Thus, in his hurry, Xu Qingzong conjured up a magical treasure shield. Immediately after, he operated his cultivation technique to its limit and injected a massive amount of mana into the shield in his hand. In an instant, the shield in Xu Qingzong¡¯s hand crazily expanded and eventually transformed into a massive barrier that firmly protected him within. After all these preparations, Xu Qingzong¡¯s eyes were wide open, awaiting the decisive attack that would determine his fate. ¡°Whoosh¡­¡± Above the gorge, as the silver-white sword qi tore through the sky, the distance between them narrowed rapidly. ¡°Boom¡­¡± After a loud noise, a sea of fire engulfed a vast area of land, and the sky shone with a brilliant light once more. In the midst of that fiery inferno, the silver-white sword qi unexpectedly pierced through Xu Qingzong¡¯s defensive treasure and then through his chest. At that very moment, a piercing scream echoed through the canyon, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. Several moments passed. By the time the dust and smoke had mostly cleared and much of the fire had extinguished, peace finally returned to the land and sky. Looking around then, it was seen that Xu Qingzong was already lying motionless on the ground, still tightly grasping the penetrated shield. And on his body, there was a gaping hole in the chest area, with blood already pooled around him. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianhu revealed a thrilled smile, his heart feeling a big relief. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, who had been watching the battle, also quickly approached, his face also wearing an extremely excited smile. ¡°Tianhu, did you just kill this old guy?¡± Lin Tianfeng, looking at the motionless body of Xu Qingzong, spoke in a tone that somewhat disbelieved the outcome. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianhu simply smiled faintly. ¡°Big brother, this old guy wasn¡¯t very strong, plus you had already injured him earlier. Facing me, this old fellow¡¯s strength was greatly reduced.¡± ¡°I also used every technique I had, even used the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art.¡¯ It was only by luck that I managed to eliminate this old guy.¡± Lin Tianhu said earnestly, not taking all the credit for himself. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng also slightly nodded, then complimented. ¡°Tianhu, don¡¯t be too modest!¡± ¡°After all, that man was a veteran Golden Core Cultivator, from a major power like the Xu Family, his strength should not be underestimated.¡± ¡°Moreover, he also used a Spirit Art, and yet, wasn¡¯t he still killed by you?¡± Lin Tianfeng looked at Lin Tianhu with a smile, his heart truly filled with admiration for him. After all, Lin Tianhu was almost twenty years younger than him. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even so, Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Stage, indeed a big step ahead of him. It¡¯s known that both of them possessed the Three Spiritual Roots Aptitude, only with slight differences in the affinity of their Spirit Root Attributes. Furthermore, Lin Tianhu, like him, was swept into an unfamiliar land by a spatial fissure. Over the past few decades, their as independent cultivators, relying solely on themselves for all resources and cultivation. Yet under such basic conditions, Lin Tianhu was still able to step into the Golden Core Stage Realm on his own. As for himself, he had been stuck in the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm for eight years already. If it weren¡¯t for the risky move of snatching three Fruits of Fortuity from Xu Family disciples, entering the Golden Core Stage Realm seemed even more unattainable. Thus, to Lin Tianfeng, such a gap was rather shameful. Yet the more it was so, the more curious Lin Tianfeng was about Lin Tianhu¡¯s experiences over the years. He was eager to know what Lin Tianhu had gone through these years that led to such rapid advancement in his cultivation and a formidable strength. Thinking about this, Lin Tianfeng looked at Lin Tianhu with a curious expression. Although he didn¡¯t directly ask about it, his interest was quite evident. At this time, Lin Tianhu, seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s curious gaze, just smiled faintly and waved his hand, saying, ¡°Big brother, now is not the time to reminisce!¡± ¡°That old man¡¯s status is not low, plus he comes from a major power, since we have killed him, it probably won¡¯t be long before his family learns of this.¡± ¡°Moreover, as this is within Xi Country¡¯s territory, once intercepted by them, our situation might become much more difficult.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression turned solemn, and he instantly became serious. He knew very well that what Lin Tianhu said was entirely true and could even be more brutal. After all, this place was also considered Xu Family¡¯s territory, and the Xu Family¡¯s strength and influence were immensely significant in Xi Country. Before killing Xu Qingzong, they had only killed a few Xu Family Foundation Establishment Clansmen and taken three Fruits of Fortuity. Such a grievance, if there was a power equivalent to the Xu Family to guarantee protection, and if they distribute some Fruits of Fortuity, considering the deterrence of other powers, the Xu Family would most likely not press the issue further. But now, even Golden Core Stage Xu Qingzong had been killed by them, raising the level of enmity by several notches. Now, with the Xu Family losing a Golden Core Stage Clansman, killed by an unknown cultivator at that. If word of this got out, the Xu Family would become a laughingstock throughout Xi Country. Facing the dual pressure of an actual loss and the loss of face, their relationship with the Xu Family, it could be said, was irreconcilable. Chapter 1113: 583 Tiansong City_2 Chapter 1113: Chapter 583 Tiansong City_2 Because he understood this point, Lin Tianfeng quickly realized how unfavorable the current situation was for them. Thus, when Lin Tianhu mentioned this matter, he immediately became vigilant. At the same time, Lin Tianhu was also contemplating countermeasures in his heart. Soon, Lin Tianhu spoke: ¡°Tianhu, heading straight north past the Burial Dragon Abyss, we will enter the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect.¡± ¡°Hundred Spirits Sect and Xu Family have always been at odds, with constant minor frictions; this, for us, is good news.¡± ¡°Then, we will use the deterrence of the Hundred Spirits Sect to leave the Xi Country Cultivation World as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Afterward, we will skirt around the territories of Xi Country and enter Tiansong Country, from where we can use the long-distance Teleportation Formation to return directly to Qingzhou.¡± ¡°As long as our group leaves the Jingzhou Land, we would temporarily escape the crisis.¡± ¡°And although the Xu Family is the local snake in Xi Country, their power finds it hard to reach beyond Xi Country.¡± ¡°Moreover, since we are not in Xi Country, let alone Jingzhou, even if they intend to search for us, it would be difficult to detect our tracks, let alone go to Qingzhou to seek revenge.¡± Hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s words and the detailed plan mentioned, Lin Tianhu nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Big Brother has planned thoroughly; I very much agree.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s clean up the battlefield immediately, erase our traces as quickly as possible, and then swiftly flee north!¡± After Lin Tianhu replied, he cast a fireball, starting to destroy the corpse and eliminate traces of Xu Qingzong. At the same time, Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag was also taken by Lin Tianhu. Although Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were in not-so-great condition, they were also busy erasing the traces of the intense battle at this time. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. After the efforts of the three, the entire battlefield was transformed, and all traces left by the fight were removed. Having done this, Lin Tianhu looked at the scene before him and couldn¡¯t help but nod. Following that, he glanced at Lin Tianhu and Sun Ling¡¯er, then said. ¡°Big Brother, it¡¯s about time; let¡¯s go!¡± Before the words finished, Lin Tianhu waved his hand, and an invisible force swept up Lin Tianfeng and the others. Then, Lin Tianhu leaped high, carrying Lin Tianfeng and the others as they shot northward at high speed. At the same time, on the summit of a high peak in the south-central part of Xi Country. Inside a majestic hall, a white-robed elder was seated on the floor, his eyes closed and seemingly in the midst of deep cultivation. Just then, the elder suddenly opened his eyes, his expression turning furious. ¡°Qingzong has actually fallen?¡± ¡°Who could it be? Who is it?¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ daring to kill a high-ranking member of my Xu Family, what audacity!¡± Amidst his rage, the Xu Family Great Elder spoke with a murderous look, staring in a certain direction and muttering to himself. Soon, after venting through a few sentences, the elder seemed to temporarily calm down. Then, he sent out several messages in succession, and then resumed his normal meditative practice. A while passed by. Inside the Xu Family, several Golden Core Stage Cultivators, along with more than ten Foundation Establishment Stage Clan Members, left the family grounds. This group split into two different directions as soon as they left the Xu Family lands, one team heading towards the northeast and another shooting towards the northwestern direction. ¡­ Time passed, and over seven months had elapsed. This day, as evening approached, three figures appeared on a small hilltop. These three people stayed on the hilltop, uniformly gazing into the distance at the hazy outlines of a city, the look of fatigue on their faces noticeably lessened. These three were none other than Lin Tianhu and his group, who had been fleeing in a panic from the Burial Dragon Abyss in Xi Country. During this time, they first left the Burial Dragon Abyss, then entered the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect. Indeed, just as Lin Tianfeng had guessed, while within the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect, they heard some rumors that the Xu Family was offering a large bounty, searching for the whereabouts of one male and one female Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators. Even on the reward poster, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s appearances were roughly sketched out. Fortunately, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er have always used the Disguise Technique to change their appearances and never reveal their true faces. At the same time, every time they entered a new area, they would adopt a new appearance. Such cautious manners truly played a key role at this time. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although the Xu Family promised a hefty reward, unfortunately, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s true identity and physical features were never exposed. Aside from that, Lin Tianhu¡¯s existence and his own cultivation strength were unknown to anyone. Therefore, under Lin Tianhu¡¯s leadership, they smoothly traversed the territory of the Hundred Spirits Sect and afterwards, entered a neighboring country. Then, they traveled non-stop, which took quite a bit of time to circle around the Xi Country Cultivation World. It took them over seven months before they finally arrived here. This place was a key point in their escape plan, one of the central countries in Jingzhou, Tiansong Country. As for the city that is faintly visible in front, it is Tiansong City, the largest city in Tiansong Country. Now, looking at the cityscape before him, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face briefly flashed a smile. ¡°Big brother, we¡¯ve finally arrived!¡± Lin Tianhu whispered with an excited smile that he couldn¡¯t hide on his face. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, looking again at the scene in the distance, were also happy, a smile instantly covering the fatigue brought by the journey. ¡°Tianhu, it¡¯s been too exhausting this past half a year, let¡¯s hurry into the city!¡± ¡°Once we¡¯re in Tiansong City, let¡¯s first rest well for a while, and then take the opportunity to wander around the city, replenish some treasures.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ This city is one of the top cities in Jingzhou Land, there must be many good things worth buying.¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a smile, his face filled with anticipation. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianfeng so impatient, Lin Tianhu also nodded approvingly. Right now, they have temporarily escaped the crisis, and it¡¯s indeed a good plan to rest in such a large city as Tiansong City. After they have rested well, they will directly use a long-distance Teleportation Formation to leave Jingzhou, and then they can truly relax. Thinking of this, Lin Tianhu felt relieved and his vigilance decreased significantly. Immediately after that, Lin Tianhu no longer delayed, taking the lead towards the faintly visible city, hastening his pace. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng didn¡¯t want to fall behind, quickly grabbed Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s hand, and followed Lin Tianhu¡¯s steps. In less than half an hour, Lin Tianfeng and the others successfully entered Tiansong City, renting a Temporary Cave Abode in the city. As soon as they entered the Cave Mansion, without even having time to stroll around Tiansong City, they each went into their rooms and started their first serious rest in over half a year. Three days later, the three of them gathered in the courtyard of the Cave Mansion. After three days and nights of deep sleep, Lin Tianfeng and the others had mostly recovered their vitality. Including Lin Tianfeng¡¯s injuries over the past half year, they were also basically healed. Now, their fatigue from traveling had disappeared, injuries had mostly recovered, and they all looked in very good condition. At this time, Lin Tianfeng and the others sat together, sipping tea and chatting casually. Not long after, Lin Tianfeng could no longer contain his curiosity and began to inquire about Lin Tianhu¡¯s various experiences over the years. Seeing Lin Tianfeng so curious and even showing an impatient demeanor, Lin Tianhu couldn¡¯t help but smile softly. Previously, due to the need to flee, there was no time or peace of mind, and Lin Tianfeng had managed to suppress his curiosity, so he never brought up these topics. Now that they had temporarily escaped danger, he could no longer restrain himself. However, facing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s questioning, Lin Tianhu himself had no intention of hiding anything. Moreover, they were brothers of the Tian generation, their relationship has always been very good, and they had both been stranded in Jingzhou Land for many decades. Such shared experiences of misery, he was equally curious about what different things and outcomes Lin Tianfeng had experienced over the years. ¡­ Chapter 1114: 584: Brothers Past Chapter 1114: Chapter 584: Brothers¡¯ Past So, Lin Tianhu slowly began speaking, starting from when he first emerged from the spatial fissure into Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm, tracing the entire process of tracking their whereabouts. Among the important details, Lin Tianhu traveled through Yu¡¯an Country and several neighboring countries as an independent cultivator, undergoing various trials. During this period, he was deeply passionate about treasure hunting, having faced numerous life-and-death crises. Each time, he managed to turn danger into safety and acquired considerable opportunities. With these opportunities, Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation progressed rapidly, smoothly advancing to the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. About twenty years ago, Lin Tianhu chanced upon a clue to a Cave Mansion Ruin. After his exploration and searching, he successfully entered it. It turned out that the original owner of the Cave Mansion Ruins was a Late Stage Golden Core independent cultivator, who had made quite a name for himself in the country where the ruins were located. The Cave Mansion hadn¡¯t existed for a very long time; based on the reputation and rumors of its owner, Lin Tianhu made his estimation, approximating its existence to about seven to eight hundred years. However, these weren¡¯t that important, the most crucial aspect was that Lin Tianhu found a lot of good things inside the Cave Mansion. Among them, most of the original owner¡¯s lifetime of wealth and treasures were inside. Although ordinary treasures had lost their spirituality over time, some high-grade treasures were mostly well-preserved. What excited Lin Tianhu the most was acquiring a well-preserved Golden Core Pill from the Cave Mansion, as well as the original owner¡¯s offensive and defensive Magical Treasures, and twenty to thirty Third Order or higher treasures. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was this unprecedented haul that allowed Lin Tianhu to advance into the Golden Core Stage, and in a very short period of time, he gained tremendous personal strength. Subsequently, now with significant self-protection power, Lin Tianhu began traveling widely. During this period, while he explored for opportunities, he also searched for clues about Lin Tianfeng. It was not until more than ten years ago that he first discovered signs left by Lin Tianfeng, confirming that Lin Tianfeng was still alive. Thus, for the past ten years, Lin Tianhu devoted almost all his time and energy to the plan to find Lin Tianfeng. After more than ten years of relentless searching, he finally managed to find some traces left by Lin Tianfeng, following them all the way to Xi Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Eventually, he managed to rescue them precisely when the brothers reunited. To Lin Tianhu, such a coincidental experience perhaps represented the invisible guidance of Heaven¡¯s Will. It was also during this encounter at the Burial Dragon Abyss that the situation of the brothers each fighting alone came to an end. Now they have reached Tiansong City, and if they choose to leave Jingzhou Land, they can do so at any time. With the help of a long-distance teleportation formation, their safety is greatly secured, and the travel time is considerably shortened. In this way, the return of the brothers to Qingzhou Land is merely a matter of time. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, hearing about Lin Tianhu¡¯s experiences and reflecting on their current situation, felt both excited and thrilled, unable to hide the smile on his face. In his heart, although Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t mention those incredibly dangerous situations, Lin Tianfeng was very aware of how difficult the past years must have been for Lin Tianhu. After all, Lin Tianhu was but a loose cultivator with no backing or support at the time. And in Jingzhou Land, where over 90% of the countries have a cultivation standard noticeably higher than that of Wei Kingdom. In such an environment, a Foundation Establishment cultivation was quite common. Lin Tianhu, initially at the Foundation Establishment Third Level, had essentially no advantages in a place teeming with powerful individuals. Nevertheless, Lin Tianhu¡¯s cultivation progress didn¡¯t slow down and eventually, he smoothly advanced to the Golden Core Stage Realm. Behind this brilliant progression, Lin Tianfeng could fully imagine the trials and tests Lin Tianhu must have endured. Fortunately, now that the brothers have reunited and they¡¯re just a step away from returning to Qingzhou Land. The experiences in Jingzhou Land will also conclude as they leave, marking an end to this chapter. And these experiences will be the most precious memories in their cultivation path, leaving behind unforgettable recollections. Thinking of this, when Lin Tianfeng looked at Lin Tianhu, his heart was filled with immense admiration and sentiment. Finally settling some emotions, Lin Tianfeng patted Lin Tianhu on the shoulder, not saying much, but his eyes clearly expressed deep concern. At that moment, Lin Tianhu also smiled slightly, appearing quite serene, seemingly unconcerned about his past. Then, Lin Tianhu changed the conversation and asked about Lin Tianfeng¡¯s general experiences over these years. Soon, reflecting his words, Lin Tianfeng started to recount his experiences. He mentioned that when he initially emerged from the spatial fissure, it was into Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm, and Sun Ling¡¯er had also fallen there with him. At that time, both of them had injuries, and their strength wasn¡¯t even comparable to a Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator. Fortunately, their luck was good; despite taking numerous risks, they managed to survive the first crisis from the Demonic Beasts, and subsequently, their cultivation gradually returned to its peak state. From then on, the two of them trained together, staying in Huafeng Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm for over twenty years, both successfully entering the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Simultaneously, they were also searching for traces and news of Lin Tianhu. Chapter 1115: 584: The Brothers Past_2 Chapter 1115: Chapter 584: The Brothers¡¯ Past_2 Yet, more than twenty years had passed, and they had almost traveled throughout the entire Cultivation World of Huafeng Country, but still there was no news. Afterward, the two of them left Huafeng Country and experienced cultivating in a few neighboring nations. During that time, they never gave up searching for Lin Tianhu, so whenever they came across dangerous areas, they would leave extremely subtle family marks. In his heart, Lin Tianfeng always believed that Lin Tianhu was also alive, and like them, wandering on the lands of Jingzhou, even believing that Lin Tianhu¡¯s whereabouts were not too far from their location. Thus, everywhere Lin Tianfeng went, he would leave behind some marks, just waiting for Lin Tianhu to stumble upon them and surely realize his intention. And indeed, it was precisely through these marks that Lin Tianhu managed to successfully find out the specific situation and position of the other party. As for the subsequent decades, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er continued to cultivate through trials, once going to numerous dangerous places in four countries, during which they encountered many diverse people and things. In terms of gains, although they did not obtain many high-quality treasures, their overall harvest was still considerable. Yet even with such hard work, the progress of their cultivation was still slow. However, with the extended time of diligent cultivation, their cultivation levels slowly improved, and finally, more than a decade ago, both of them stepped into the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm. Thinking back on those decades, overall it was quite ordinary; they hadn¡¯t encountered too much trouble, nor had they obtained any heaven-defying opportunities. Until a little over a year ago, Lin Tianfeng and another came to Burial Dragon Abyss within Xi Country Territory for their cultivator trials, a place spoken of in hushed tones among cultivators. There, they stumbled upon an untouched treasure trove and discovered a Creation Fruit Tree within, with its three fruits nearing maturity. Faced with such a heaven-defying opportunity, especially one that concerned their Impact of Golden Core Stage, Lin Tianfeng was extremely excited. In his eyes, the Fruit of Fortuity was extremely important to them. If they could obtain the Fruit of Fortuity, they could attempt the Golden Core Stage within a few years. After all, both of their cultivation levels were at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and they had stayed in this realm for more than a decade. With this time accumulated and solidified, their foundations were very stable, and as long as they had a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, they could go into seclusion and attempt the Golden Core Stage at any time. Once they stepped into the Golden Core Stage, they could find news of Lin Tianhu even faster, and if they really couldn¡¯t find him, they could officially start their journey back to Wei Kingdom. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, when they discovered the Creation Fruit Tree and the three Creation Fruits about to mature, both of them were extremely thrilled, at one point believing their heaven-defying opportunity had come. However, as they waited for the Fruit of Fortuity to mature, four uninvited guests quietly arrived. These four were Foundation Establishment Clan Members of the Xu Family, among them two at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, and the other two at the Eighth and Ninth Levels of Foundation Establishment respectively. At that time, faced with the opportunity brought by the Fruit of Fortuity, Lin Tianfeng and the other couldn¡¯t possibly let go. As a result, for this crucial opportunity, Lin Tianfeng and another erupted into a life-and-death battle with the four members of the Xu Family. The process of that battle was extremely perilous; Lin Tianfeng and the other brought forth all of their abilities, sustaining serious injuries, but ultimately managed to secure the three Fruits of Fortuity. But in the chaotic scene, one of the Xu Family members took advantage of the situation to obtain the Creation Fruit Tree, later discovering all of their companions had fallen. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and the other were both injured, in an exceptionally dire state. However, even so, Lin Tianfeng and the other fought desperately to stop that one person, in order to prevent exposing their tracks and thus falling into the Xu Family¡¯s frenzied pursuit. But things did not go as hoped, that Qi cultivator of the Xu Family was scared out of his wits, with no intention of fighting them to the death. Thus, that cultivator fled for his life, and taking advantage of the terrain of Burial Dragon Abyss, he managed to make a successful escape. With this person¡¯s escape, Lin Tianfeng and the other¡¯s situation became extremely precarious. After all, this person came from a force like the Xu Family, and the incident took place within Xi Country¡¯s territory, close to the Xu Family¡¯s domain in Burial Dragon Abyss. It¡¯s conceivable that after this escape, the person would immediately report to the family, requesting swift support from the family higher-ups, in order to eliminate Lin Tianfeng and his companion and retrieve the three Fruits of Fortuity they had acquired. Aware of this, Lin Tianfeng and his companion were extremely anxious, only able to hastily flee for their lives. But facing such an awkward situation, Lin Tianfeng and his companion also felt helpless and powerless. And the subsequent result was indeed as they had anticipated. After fleeing for more than one Shi Chen, Xu Qingzong, the closest to Burial Dragon Abyss, received the report from that escaped cultivator. At that moment, Xu Qingzong was furious, immediately rushing to Burial Dragon Abyss, searching everywhere for traces of Lin Tianfeng and his companion. At this time, Lin Tianfeng and his companion were in bad shape, having fled in panic for several Shi Chen. However, due to their injuries, their speed of escape was greatly reduced. As a result, they hadn¡¯t yet escaped the boundaries of Burial Dragon Abyss when they were caught up by Xu Qingzong. As for what followed, it was Lin Tianhu who arrived in the nick of time, temporarily resolving this crisis. With Lin Tianfeng¡¯s narrative, he basically recounted his experiences over the past decades in detail. At this point, Lin Tianhu also let out a sigh, his heart filled with complex emotions. In his heart, he could also understand the difficulties Lin Tianfeng had faced over the years, and the various crises he had experienced. Fortunately, with the brothers reunited and having evaded the Xu Family¡¯s search, they ultimately arrived at Tiansong City. Now, their crisis was temporarily resolved, and the past would pass. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianhu changed the topic with a turn of his words. ¡°Big brother, now that you have obtained the Fruit of Fortuity, what are your plans next?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng immediately understood Lin Tianhu¡¯s meaning. After all, with these Fruit of Fortuity, he and Sun Ling¡¯er had all the conditions met for advancing to the Golden Core Stage. However, Lin Tianfeng thought it over carefully and decided not to attempt the Golden Core Stage immediately. Because they were in Jingzhou, not in Wei Kingdom where the Lin Family resided. Although the spiritual energy in Tiansong City was rich, the number of cultivators who gathered here was too many, making it easy to expose their whereabouts. Additionally, making an attempt for Golden Core Stage was no small feat, and passing the Threefold Lightning Tribulation required a good number of defensive treasures. Moreover, they had deep enmity with the Xu Family, which made it unsuitable for them to attempt the Golden Core Stage near Tiansong City. Even though Lin Tianfeng was already a hundred years old, and Sun Ling¡¯er was even older, the longer they delayed, the smaller the chance of success in reaching the Golden Core Stage. Therefore, Lin Tianfeng was somewhat impatient in his heart, wanting to advance to the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible. But looking at the current situation, it really wasn¡¯t a good time. Yet, it¡¯s true that attempting the Golden Core Stage shouldn¡¯t be delayed for too long. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng pondered repeatedly and decided to put off the Core Formation process for the time being. At least, they would wait until they left Tiansong City and returned to Qingzhou before finding a safe place. By then, they could have Lin Tianhu act as a protector for them while he and Sun Ling¡¯er wholeheartedly secluded themselves to advance to the Golden Core Stage. After all, they now had all the conditions ready for the Golden Core Stage, and with Lin Tianhu, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, to protect them as well as provide his experience, they were well prepared for Core Formation. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng made his preparations and set his resolve. Not just him, Sun Ling¡¯er also shared the same view regarding the plan for advancing to the Golden Core Stage. Under such circumstances, the specific plan was also finalized by Lin Tianfeng. So, Lin Tianfeng started to discuss his rough plan and sought Lin Tianhu¡¯s assistance. And Lin Tianhu, upon hearing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s plan and his sincere request, naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse. Moreover, in his eyes, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s caution was perfectly justifiable. In fact, were he in the same situation, he probably would make the same arrangements as Lin Tianfeng. With that, Lin Tianhu heartily agreed to the request and even encouraged Lin Tianfeng to take his time touring Tiansong City. Using this time, Lin Tianfeng could collect a number of defensive treasures to ensure he was fully prepared for advancing to the Golden Core Stage. ¡­ Chapter 1116: 585: Distribution of Spoils, Setting Out Chapter 1116: Chapter 585: Distribution of Spoils, Setting Out At this moment, Lin Tianfeng nodded excitedly upon hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s suggestions, feeling quite thrilled inside. Thus, the three of them agreed on a specific plan for advancing to the Golden Core Stage, as well as the itinerary that followed. According to the plan, Lin Tianfeng would stay in Tiansong City for a while, trying to gather more defensive treasures in the shortest time possible. Once the preparations were nearly complete, it would be the day they set out on their journey. Meanwhile, Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu had a casual conversation, which deepened their relationship even further. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that point, seeing that everything was settled, Lin Tianhu took out a storage bag and placed it in front of everyone. Then, Lin Tianhu looked at Lin Tianfeng and smiled, saying: ¡°Big brother, we¡¯ve been so busy fleeing for our lives that we hadn¡¯t even had time to check that old man¡¯s storage bag.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Now that we have temporarily escaped the crisis and have some free time, it¡¯s time to tally up our gains.¡± After saying this, Lin Tianhu looked sincerely at Lin Tianfeng, his eyebrows brimming with excitement. And in his heart, he was even more eager. After all, this storage bag belonged to Xu Qingzong, a fellow from the age-old Xu Family and who had been in the Golden Core Stage for several centuries. Although Xu Qingzong was only at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation when he was killed, he must have accumulated a vast fortune over such a long period. Every time Lin Tianhu thought about this, his heart would beat faster. Not just him, Lin Tianfeng also became somewhat impatient when he heard Lin Tianhu¡¯s words and looked at the storage bag in front of him. His impatience was not merely for a share of the treasures, but more out of curiosity about the wealth of a Golden Core Cultivator. Thus, Lin Tianfeng smiled and nodded, signaling Lin Tianhu to begin. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu did not waste time and picked up the storage bag, erasing the residual Divine Sense on it. Soon, the treasures inside the storage bag appeared in Lin Tianhu¡¯s mind. As Lin Tianhu began his preliminary inspection, his complexion suddenly became rosy, and his breathing hastened. Seeing his reaction, Lin Tianfeng grew even more curious. ¡°Tianhu, how are the gains?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily, his expression very excited. ¡°Big brother, this guy really lives up to being a veteran Golden Core Cultivator; the treasures in this storage bag are truly astonishing.¡± Lin Tianhu said, his tone filled with amazement. Lin Tianfeng, hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s words, was genuinely delighted. Thus, Lin Tianfeng smiled: ¡°Tianhu, take your time to tally it up and see what valuable treasures are inside.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianfeng nodded, and Lin Tianhu continued to evaluate the contents. After a short while, Lin Tianhu had thoroughly checked Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag. According to Lin Tianhu¡¯s rough calculation, Xu Qingzong¡¯s bag contained over 30,000 Medium-grade Spirit Stones and more than 300,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. These Spirit Stones were not few in number, nearly amounting to four million Low-Grade Spirit Stones when converted. Besides these, more importantly, were Xu Qingzong¡¯s cherished possessions. These items were also numerous, mainly involving various Spiritual Objects related to the Four Arts of Cultivation, such as Third Order Spirit Medicine Materials, Third Order Artifact Refining Materials, and so on, totaling dozens of items, each significant in number and value. Moreover, there were some inheritances related to the Four Arts of Cultivation, like insights on Pill Concoction and Artifact Forging, and Pill Formulas, and so on. However, these inheritance items were not of high grade and were almost useless for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator or a Third Order Alchemist. Nevertheless, these inheritances could still enhance the foundational strength of a family. The only pity was that Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag did not contain Spirit Arts or Cultivation Techniques. Lin Tianhu was not surprised by this. Because Xu Qingzong was also a clan cultivator, and an old cultivator with not much life left. With his status, it wasn¡¯t strange that his storage bag lacked Spirit Arts. Not just him, cultivators from Sects and families generally do not carry inheritance items. Including the Lin Family Members, it was usually the same situation. Understanding this, Lin Tianhu felt relatively normal, with no feelings of gains and losses. Thus, Lin Tianhu thoroughly tallied the specific treasures in the storage bag and made an overall valuation. According to his rough estimates, the most valuable items in the storage bag were Xu Qingzong¡¯s three Magical Treasures, two of which were Offensive Magical Treasures and one Defensive Treasure. Besides these, there were some slightly less valuable Third Grade Treasures. Among these treasures, what Lin Tianhu cared about the most were Xu Qingzong¡¯s Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures. After all, Xu Qingzong had stayed in the Early Stage Golden Core for over three hundred years, and as his potential gradually depleted, he could only endeavor to enhance his strength through Magical Treasures and techniques. In this way, Xu Qingzong had spent considerable wealth and effort to craft these weapons, which naturally were not ordinary items. Although Xu Qingzong¡¯s Defensive Treasure was penetrated by a hole with Lin Tianhu¡¯s final strike. Chapter 1117: 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_2 Chapter 1117: Chapter 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_2 But the quality and spirituality of this treasure are quite good, and it hasn¡¯t damaged the key parts. Therefore, as long as some precious artifact refining materials are added and it¡¯s re-cultivated, it can still return to its peak defensive properties. In this regard, the value of the treasures in Xu Qingzong¡¯s storage bag is indeed very high, at least much higher than that of an average Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Take Lin Tianhu for example, who only broke through to the Golden Core Stage more than twenty years ago. Although both are in the Early Stage Golden Core Realm, his wealth is hardly comparable to that of Xu Qingzong. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And this Xu Qingzong fellow, he has three Magical Treasures alone, each with quite impressive quality and spirituality. Moreover, the other treasures are also plentiful and cover a wide variety. These items, if obtained by any cultivator of the same order, would likely be extremely satisfying. Therefore, Lin Tianhu did a rough estimate and figured that the contents of the storage bag were worth nearly ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. For such an amount of treasures, Lin Tianhu is quite recognized, and his heart is extremely satisfied. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianhu then handed the storage bag to Lin Tianfeng, indicating for him to also take a look at the loot. At this point, Lin Tianfeng, who had been waiting on the side, was already impatient. Now, seeing Lin Tianhu handing over the storage bag to him, Lin Tianfeng hurriedly took it and looked inside. Soon, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s breathing became rapid too, and his face turned red. Although Lin Tianhu had already said that the value of the treasures in the storage bag was considerable, when he saw it with his own eyes, he was still dazzled by the sheer number and overall value of the treasures. ¡°This old guy really was enormously wealthy!¡± Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but comment with uncontrollable joy on his face. With his excitement so evident, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily. ¡°Ha ha ¡­ That old man had accumulated wealth for hundreds of years, and in the end, it all came cheap to us!¡± ¡°Big brother, let¡¯s not idle any longer, let¡¯s divide the treasures in the storage bag now!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression paused, clearly not expecting Lin Tianhu to say this. With a look of surprise, Lin Tianfeng waved his hand and refused, ¡°Tianhu, that old man was killed by you, and all the treasures in the storage bag should rightfully be yours alone, I don¡¯t have any undue thoughts about it.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianhu directly continued the conversation. ¡°Big brother, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°You should know, by the time I arrived, that old man had already been cut down to one arm by you, with serious injuries on his body and his strength greatly reduced.¡± ¡°So, in the killing of Xu Qingzong, that old rogue, you also have a share of the credit.¡± ¡°Therefore, it¡¯s only proper that we each take half of the treasures in this storage bag.¡± Lin Tianhu¡¯s expression was sincere, with not a trace of deceit in his words. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng could only give a wry smile. Then, Lin Tianfeng still waved his hand and refused, ¡°Tianhu, it may be so, but my strike at that time was not a critical factor in killing Xu Qingzong.¡± ¡°Moreover, your timely arrival saved our lives, for which both Ling Er and I are as grateful as if we had been given a new lease on life.¡± ¡°The fact that Ling Er and I survived is already fortunate amidst misfortune.¡± ¡°With that in mind, we are content in our hearts, how can we covet war spoils without merit?¡± ¡°Besides, Tianhu, you have now entered the Golden Core Stage, and your future cultivation will become increasingly difficult, requiring a lot of resources.¡± ¡°In view of this, don¡¯t concern yourself with Ling Er and me.¡± Hearing this stream of words and seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s sincere expression, Lin Tianhu nodded, deeply moved. Then, Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t say much, but directly took out several hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and dozens of treasures and placed them in front of everyone. Among these treasures, the majority were Second Order Treasures, and there were also more than a dozen Third Order Treasures. ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s meaningless to say more!¡± ¡°You and sister-in-law are about to impact the Golden Core Stage and need many treasures to help you through the Threefold Lightning Tribulation.¡± ¡°I have already made up my mind, take these items first, to exchange for some other treasures and increase your chances of overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation.¡± ¡°When you both enter the Golden Core Stage, don¡¯t forget to share any good treasures you find with your little brother.¡± ¡°This¡­ this?¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s complexion was rosy, he stuttered, and tears could not help but well up in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s settled then, big brother, no more words!¡± Lin Tianhu¡¯s tone was firm, and his expression serious, obviously intending to forcefully make Lin Tianfeng accept these items. Faced with Lin Tianhu¡¯s incontestable demeanor, Lin Tianfeng finally nodded. ¡°Tianhu, I will keep in mind your contributions, brother, and repay you when the opportunity arises.¡± ¡°Following this, I won¡¯t say much, but together with Ling Er, I would like to say thank you.¡± As soon as these words were finished, Lin Tianfeng, pulling Sun Ling¡¯er with him, stood up, bowed their hands to Lin Tianhu, their attitudes and tones extremely earnest. Seeing this gesture, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily, then swiftly waved a single hand, an invisible force gently lifting the two of them up. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Didn¡¯t Sixth Brother also treat us, and other clansmen like this in the past?¡± ¡°Besides, we are brothers, aren¡¯t we? Big brother, no need for such formalities from now on!¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Indeed¡­¡± Lin Tianfeng also laughed heartily, and the atmosphere of the scene became much more relaxed. Chapter 1118: 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_3 Chapter 1118: Chapter 585: Dividing the Spoils, Setting Out_3 As the three of them chatted casually, the distribution of the spoils was also brought to a close. Half a quarter of an hour later, Lin Tianfeng and the other two finally left the Cave Mansion together and appeared in the streets of Tiansong City. Walking on the streets of Tiansong City, Lin Tianfeng and the others glanced around. The city covered a vast area, with a bustling populace and thriving commerce. Everywhere they turned, they saw cultivators bustling in and out. Among them, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were quite common, with a large proportion being in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and occasionally even a Golden Core Stage Expert would appear, instantly drawing the attention of many cultivators. Such a scene was indeed fitting for Tiansong, one of the leading cities amid thousands of markets and communities in the land of Jingzhou. For all three, it was their first time here, and now as they walked in this renowned city, their hearts filled with excitement. Especially for Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, now that their plan for the Impact of Golden Core Stage was set in stone, their stay in Tiansong City was also for the purpose of spending a significant amount of money to collect treasures. Once everything was prepared, that would be the day they set off. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianfeng and the others began strolling through Tiansong City, entering any large shops they encountered to search for treasures, and whenever they found decent defensive treasures, they did their best to purchase them. After all, they had a good number of Spirit Stones, and they had previously wiped out Xu Qingzong and several Xu Family Disciples, obtaining several storage bags. The wealth of Xu Family Disciples was substantial, not to mention Xu Qingzong, a Golden Core old monster who had lived for hundreds of years. Now, the wealth of both Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er had soared. With such a substantial family wealth, they naturally did not hesitate to spend. Under these circumstances, their purchases were very decisive, buying some High Quality Magic Artifacts for defense, for the future purpose when they attempt the Golden Core Stage. This grandeur of purchasing treasures continued for over half a month before coming to a halt. And Tiansong City indeed lived up to its reputation, a renowned place throughout the land of Jingzhou. With its strong flow of people, Second Order High Quality Defense Artifacts, rarely seen in Wei Kingdom, were not too scarce in Tiansong City. During this period, Lin Tianfeng spent a considerable number of Spirit Stones, purchasing more than ten Defense Artifacts, preparing various defensive treasures for himself and Sun Ling¡¯er. With this, the treasures needed for their attempt to reach Golden Core Stage were almost ready. Once they subsequently return to the land of Qingzhou, they will inevitably be in a large city. By then, collecting a few more Defensive Treasures, all necessary preparations would be complete. With most of this task completed, their recent spree of treasure purchases could easily draw the attention of the vigilant. In such a case, they had no plans of staying long in Tiansong City. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, on the morning of the next day, the three companions came to a large hall located in the center of the city. This hall contained the Teleportation Formation capable of long-distance travel between states. Subsequently, Lin Tianhu paid the fee for the three of them to use the Teleportation Formation, and led the two onto the platform. And then, after a spell of dizziness, the figures of the three vanished from the Transmission Hall. ¡­ Chapter 1119: 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Cultivation Chapter 1119: Chapter 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Cultivation Qingzhou, Jinfeng Nation. Jinfeng City, on a certain street within the city, the figures of Lin Tianfeng and two others appeared. Since the three left Tiansong City in Tiansong Country, Jingzhou, through the long-distance Teleportation Formation, they had smoothly arrived in Jinfeng City. Jinfeng City was also one of the top cities in Qingzhou, under the jurisdiction of Jinfeng Valley and its number one city. Located in the central area of Qingzhou, Jinfeng Nation was one of the five major countries in the middle of Qingzhou and controlled by Jinfeng Valley, one of the Five Great Nascent Soul Powers. As for the fame of Jinfeng Valley, it was incredibly renowned; almost every Qingzhou Cultivator had heard of this power, more or less. Even in several neighboring continents of Qingzhou, Jinfeng Valley had a certain degree of influence. According to the gossip among Cultivators, the heritage age of Jinfeng Valley was extremely ancient, having spanned more than a hundred thousand years to date. Moreover, according to some records, Jinfeng Valley had existed since the time when Qingzhou Land was first forged, just that its overall strength at that time was not as formidable as it is now. However, later on, Jinfeng Valley saw the rise of an amazingly talented Disciple, whose cultivation reached the Nascent Soul Realm in just shy of two hundred years. Afterward, the power of this prodigious Disciple climbed continuously, at one point even touching the peak realm of the mortal world, the Divinity Transformation Stage. At that time, the name of Jinfeng Valley resonated throughout Qingzhou Land. It was also under his leadership that the strength of Jinfeng Valley rapidly soared, once becoming the most formidable power in Qingzhou. As time passed, more than a hundred thousand years went by, but Jinfeng Valley¡¯s heritage has never been interrupted, and it has rarely faced periods of decline. Nowadays, Qingzhou Land has quite a long history, with various forces rising and falling, but more often than not, they have faded from the Cultivation World, or have sunk into years of silence and obscurity. As one of the ancient powers of Qingzhou, Jinfeng Valley could still thrive in such difficult times of scarcity. Therefore, one could see just how formidable the power of Jinfeng Valley actually was. Although Jinfeng Valley¡¯s current overall strength is far from its peak, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. That Jinfeng Valley could last so long, constantly continuing the Immortal Path without long periods of decline, naturally had its strong foundations and secrets. And today¡¯s Jinfeng Valley remains the most formidable existence among the Qingzhou Five Major Nascent Soul Powers. This is something that most Cultivators hailing from Qingzhou would probably agree with. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason why Lin Tianfeng and his companions appeared in Jinfeng City was because the long-distance Teleportation Formation connecting to Tiansong City was located within Jinfeng City. Moreover, throughout the entire Qingzhou Land, only Jinfeng City and Yulan City under Yulan Mountain had inter-state ultra-long-distance Teleportation Formations. Such high-level Teleportation Formations were extremely complex to build, requiring countless treasures, and even the level of expertise required from an Array Master was extremely high. Therefore, such ultra-long-distance Teleportation Formations were not at all comparable to the likes of Yuanzhen City, which connected various nations within Qingzhou. Because of this, Lin Tianfeng and his companions¡¯ first stop upon returning to Qingzhou was Jinfeng City. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng was walking on the streets of Jinfeng City, still looking around at this unfamiliar city. Looking around, Jinfeng City was somewhat similar to Tiansong City in terms of its immense scale and the density of people, barely any less bustling. Not only that, the shops lining the streets were densely packed, with many people coming in and out, presenting a lively scene. Observing such a scene, their eyes landed on some familiar shops, and the three of them sighed with relief, their moods quite brightened. But before that, they had still been within the borders of Jingzhou. Although they were basically out of danger while in Tiansong City, they still couldn¡¯t feel completely at ease. It was only now, upon returning to Qingzhou, that they felt a different sensation. This feeling was like returning home, which was indeed quite mystical to articulate. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianhu glanced at an upbeat Lin Tianfeng and began to communicate with him telepathically. Soon, they followed the previously agreed-upon plan, settling down in Jinfeng City first, swiftly securing a Cave Mansion to reside in. After that, just as in Tiansong City, they started to gather various Defensive Treasures in preparation for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Once everything was prepared, they intended to leave Jinfeng City to find a safe location for secluded cultivation. With that goal in mind, the three acted swiftly. Time flew by quickly and half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to Jinfeng City¡¯s booming trade, the circulation of all sorts of genius natural treasures was quite frequent. As a result, after half a year¡¯s collection, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er each spent a considerable number of Spirit Stones to gather many defensive Magic Artifacts, each one of high quality and Spirituality. Now, all conditions for impacting the Golden Core Stage were met. Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were fully prepared, with Lin Tianhu personally guiding them on defensive treasures for the Heavenly Tribulation and experience needed for the Impact of Golden Core Stage. All was set, save for an east wind. Eagerly anticipating Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were now fully determined to impact the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible. Thus, Lin Tianhu silently led Lin Tianfeng and the others out of Jinfeng City, flying northward for several months before they finally stopped. Chapter 1120: 586 Tianfeng in Seclusion_2 Chapter 1120: Chapter 586 Tianfeng in Seclusion_2 Until the dawn of this day, in a certain valley in the northern part of Jinfeng Nation, the figures of Lin Tianhu and two others appeared. At this moment, the three of them landed on a mountaintop, their gazes fixating on the depths of the gorge in front, their expressions looking very calm. Subsequently, Lin Tianhu withdrew his gaze and slowly said to Lin Tianfeng: ¡°Big brother, according to the records on the map, this place should be the inner area of the Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave.¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng also took out the map to check it, and soon nodded excitedly. ¡°Indeed, the Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave is quite extensive, and the number of Demonic Beasts inhabiting it is not small.¡± ¡°The spot beneath our feet is highly concealed, with no High Order Demonic Beasts in sight, and we have not encountered any cultivators for a long time, such a place is indeed not easy to find.¡± Lin Tianfeng spoke with a smile, his excitement evident. It turns out that they had stayed in Jinfeng City for half a year, not only collecting Defensive Treasures for passing through the Heavenly Tribulation but also looking for a suitable location for seclusion. After half a year of inquiring and consulting many ancient texts and documents. According to records from some documents, they assessed many factors, and finally settled on three places that were quite suitable for weathering the tribulation. And this ¡®Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave¡¯ was one of them. During this half-year, they had first explored several other locations before eventually coming here. After their explorations in the vicinity, they discovered that the spiritual energy here was very dense, the inner area was rarely stepped by anyone, and there were no powerful demonic beasts within a few hundred miles. In such a place, the threat of demonic beasts was almost negligible. The only concern was the Human Cultivators. But even if someone accidentally stumbled upon this place, as long as they were not Golden Core Stage Cultivators, with Lin Tianhu guarding this place, they wouldn¡¯t be easily exposed. Therefore, the ¡®Myriad Demonic Beasts Cave¡¯ was also the most satisfying place they had found for seclusion so far. Understanding this, Lin Tianhu chuckled and said: ¡°Big brother, how about we use this place for seclusion?¡± ¡°Um¡­ this place is indeed very suitable, I had the same thought!¡± Lin Tianfeng nodded in response. Immediately afterward, he also glanced at Sun Ling¡¯er, who had been silent by his side, and hastily asked. ¡°Ling¡¯er¡­ what do you think?¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded slightly, feeling similarly satisfied with this place. Hence, Sun Ling¡¯er replied directly: ¡°I have no objections, it¡¯s just that during the seclusion, we will need to trouble brother Tianhu to act as our protector!¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianhu laughed heartily nearby. ¡°Haha¡­ sister-in-law is being too polite!¡± ¡°As fellow kinsmen, it is only my duty to do what I can, sister-in-law should not treat me as an outsider in the future.¡± Hearing this, Sun Ling¡¯er nodded, feeling quite moved in her heart. Before this, she had also interacted with Lin Tianming and his wife. At that time, they were resisting the attack of the Demon Beast Tide in Yuyao City under the leadership of Zhenyang Sect. During that period, Lin Tianming was also very courteous to her and helped her numerous times in the midst of the battles. In the end, it was with enough merit points that she stood out among numerous cultivators and ultimately received substantial rewards. It was precisely because of those rewards, her cultivation was able to steadily improve, laying a solid foundation. One could say, throughout her hundred years of cultivation, in mysterious ways, she had always had a myriad of connections with the Lin Family. And now, having inexplicably landed in Jingzhou Land with Lin Tianfeng, they had, after spending decades together in life and death, forged an unbreakable bond. Looking back, first there was Lin Tianming, and then Lin Tianfeng. After experiencing battle side by side, enduring life and death together, never leaving each other¡¯s side, her heart had always been filled with gratitude and admiration towards the Lin Family Members. Now, Lin Tianhu had first saved her and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s life, and then he would act as the protector for their secluded cultivation. Such a series of selfless contributions made her clearly see the kind of emotions shared between Lin Family Members. And this emotion was precisely what her heart longed for the most. Considering her own past, she was merely a Loose Cultivator, and being a woman, she struggled immensely in her solitary cultivation, not once experiencing the care and help of others. But with the Lin Family, she deeply felt kinship and care. Based on these feelings alone, Sun Ling¡¯er, moved by gratitude, felt a strong sense of belonging towards the Lin Family. Even though she and Lin Tianfeng weren¡¯t married yet, this in no way affected her longing. Understanding this, Sun Ling¡¯er showed a grateful expression, and her intent was to follow Lin Tianfeng¡¯s arrangements. At this moment, seeing that Sun Ling¡¯er had no objections, Lin Tianfeng began discussing the matter of seclusion with Lin Tianhu. Soon, the three of them reached a unanimous decision on the matter of secluding themselves here for cultivation. In such a situation, the three immediately divided the work to carve out a Temporary Cave Abode. Afterward, Lin Tianhu took on the duty of vigilant watch, ensuring that no Demonic Beasts or other cultivators approached, to avoid interrupting Lin Tianfeng¡¯s seclusion. As for Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, they wasted no time and went directly into the Cave Mansion to start their seclusion and cultivation. Outside the gorge, Lin Tianhu sat cross-legged on a concealed rock, closing his eyes and starting his cultivation. Every so often, he would stand up to patrol around the gorge, and then return to his original spot to continue cultivating. In this manner, the days slowly progressed. According to the usual customs of the Cultivation World, it wasn¡¯t a short amount of time needed to impact the Golden Core Stage; some people were quick, while others failed before they could even attract the Heavenly Tribulation. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1121: 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Training_3 Chapter 1121: Chapter 586 Tianfeng in Closed-door Training_3 However, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er had acceptable talents, and being young, their potential was still promising. Moreover, with the Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, Fruit of Fortuity, and Lin Tianhu personally guiding them, their impact on the Golden Core Stage could be twice as effective with half the effort. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this rate, results were bound to appear in as short as two to three years, and at most in three to five years. Knowing this, Lin Tianhu was prepared to stay as a protector in this place for a long time. In two different locations deep in the canyon, in two separate cave mansions, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were intensively cultivating. In this way, the three of them each performed their own tasks, and everything proceeded as planned. ¡­ Yuanzhen City. In a certain cave mansion courtyard, Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, drinking tea and chatting casually, creating a very warm atmosphere. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi in front of him and asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, it¡¯s been over a year since your retreat; have you managed to resolve the bottleneck?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head and responded regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, Ming. Despite using the Yuan Essence Fruit, I still have not broken through the Mid Stage Golden Core.¡± ¡°However, I can feel the bottleneck weakening a bit.¡± ¡°If things continue like this, perhaps after experiencing a major battle, I might be able to break through.¡± Hearing Qin Xi say this, Lin Tianming nodded approvingly, seemingly having anticipated this. Because he knew very well that once a bottleneck at the Golden Core Stage appeared, it wasn¡¯t easy to break through. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be so many talented cultivators in the Cultivation World stuck at a certain level for hundreds of years. Indeed, some people would reach the end of their lifespan without ever overcoming the bottleneck. Qin Xi¡¯s use of the Yuan Essence Fruit to alleviate some of the bottleneck was actually quite commendable. Understanding this, Lin Tianming nodded and praised her. ¡°Xi¡¯er, having alleviated part of the bottleneck is already satisfying enough; it won¡¯t be long before you surely step into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°At that time, with the combined strength of us as a couple, even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert might not necessarily be our opponent.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi also smiled lightly, then changed the subject. ¡°What about you, Ming? How have your gains been this past year?¡± ¡°Not bad, but the time was quite short. I mainly gained a lot of Alchemy Experience!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile, his excitement enduring. And in his heart, he was very satisfied with this brief retreat. Because before this, he had obtained quite a bit of alchemy insights and pill formulas from He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag. Now, after this retreat where he studied the legacy of the Alchemy Dao, his Alchemy skills had improved significantly. Though there was no substantial advancement, it was greatly helpful for his personal insights and experience. Continuing this way, his efficiency, success rate, and the varieties of pills he could refine were all set to improve to some extent. Thus, these discreet enhancements significantly boosted his alchemy foundation. Thinking this, Lin Tianming inwardly marveled. ¡°He Zhengsong, as a cultivator immersed in the Alchemy Dao for many years, possesses such an enormous alchemy foundation, truly worth learning from.¡± However, it was unfortunate that He Zhengsong¡¯s lifelong hard work ultimately fell into his hands. Such outcomes were truly unpredictable. ¡­ Chapter 1122: 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Incubating Luoyin Bug Chapter 1122: Chapter 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Incubating Luoyin Bug Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi beside him, recalling something in his mind. Following that, Lin Tianming spoke indifferently, ¡°Xi¡¯er, among the items in He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag was a pill formula called the Tribulation Evasion Pill.¡± ¡°This elixir is an ancient pill recipe, said to assist Golden Core Cultivators in surpassing their bottlenecks, with extremely remarkable effects.¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°However, its main ingredient, Tianxin Grass, has long been lost to the Cultivation World of today, making it extremely difficult to find.¡± ¡°During his travels through various countries, this Spiritual Medicine has never been heard of, neither in the Wei Kingdom nor in any other country.¡± ¡°Even in Yuanzhen City, among the top cities of Qingzhou Land, there¡¯ve been no recent sightings or news of Tianxin Grass.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi first showed a flash of joy, thinking that finding Tianxin Grass wouldn¡¯t be too difficult, but upon hearing the rest of Lin Tianming¡¯s words, she too felt a sense of disappointment. Despite this, Qin Xi did not take the matter to heart. After all, her talent was not weak either, and the bottleneck she had encountered this time had already been somewhat alleviated by the Yuan Essence Fruit. As long as she could settle down for contemplation and peacefully cultivate for a few more years, there was still a high chance she could step into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Understanding this, Qin Xi smiled serenely and consoled him, ¡°Ming, it would be best to find the main ingredient for the Tribulation Evasion Pill, but don¡¯t force it if it truly cannot be found.¡± ¡°Although a bottleneck has appeared, I¡¯m confident that I can smoothly enter the Mid Stage Golden Core within ten years.¡± Hearing her words, Lin Tianming nodded, and although he didn¡¯t say much, he decided in his heart to make a thorough inquiry in Yuanzhen City. After all, the efficacy of the Tribulation Evasion Pill is excellent, and whether it¡¯s him or other Lin Family Members, most Golden Core Qi Cultivators are likely to encounter bottlenecks. Therefore, if they could refine the Tribulation Evasion Pill, its effect would undoubtedly be substantial. Being a Third Order Alchemy Master, he was deeply obsessed with alchemy and had a very high level of mastery. Since he already possessed the most fundamental conditions, he naturally couldn¡¯t let go of such an opportunity lightly. In this case, it would be ideal to find information on Tianxin Grass, but if it proved impossible, they would have to put it on hold for the time being. However, they would still be staying in the Qingzhou Center for a while, and the places he would visit were bound to be numerous. At that time, he would continue to keep the issue of Tribulation Evasion Pill in mind, seizing any slight opportunity to try his utmost. This was not just for Qin Xi¡¯s sake, but also for other Lin Family Members when they encountered bottlenecks, so they wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard and waste optimal cultivation time. Keeping this in mind, Lin Tianming made sure to remember this matter. In the time that followed, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chatted idly for a while, discussing the couple¡¯s future plans. Soon, they still decided to stay on in Yuanzhen City, as Lin Tianming wanted to continue comprehending the various alchemy inheritances left by He Zhengsong and practice alchemy. In addition, since the Luoyin Bug that He Zhengsong used to own had died along with his downfall, the bug eggs were left behind, numbering as many as eight. Lin Tianming planned to hatch some of them, which might prove useful someday in the future. Qin Xi, whose bottleneck had not been completely eliminated and couldn¡¯t make a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, would stay in Yuanzhen City to seek news of Tianxin Grass. Thus, the pair quickly sprang into action separately. Lin Tianming then exited his secluded cultivation to rest for a few days, and after wandering around Yuanzhen City collecting some intelligence, he soon returned to the Practice Room. Sitting on a meditation cushion in the Practice Room, Lin Tianming held the Jade Slips in his hand, inspecting the content with his Divine Sense. In a short time, he took out the Qingyun Furnace and many Alchemy Materials and began attempting to refine elixirs. Accustomed to the process, Lin Tianming, aided by the vast alchemy inheritance left by He Zhengsong, delved into study and improved his own Alchemy. After more than a year of repeated attempts, Lin Tianming¡¯s level in the Alchemy Dao had significantly advanced. Three years had passed since their arrival in Yuanzhen City, during which Lin Tianming and his wife each cultivated in seclusion, Qin Xi focusing on collecting and inquiring about Tianxin Grass. However, despite more than a year passing, no concrete news on Tianxin Grass was found. Lin Tianming had no choice but to remain patient and continued his secluded cultivation. On this day, in Lin Tianming¡¯s Practice Room, he was seen sitting cross-legged, with two insect eggs the size of fingertips in front of him. At a glance, the eggs were clear and translucent, with smooth and rounded surfaces, resembling Spirit Stones, only slightly different in size. These eggs were none other than those of the Luoyin Bug obtained from He Zhengsong. At the time, with He Zhengsong¡¯s demise, the adult Luoyin Bug had also died. However, inside He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag were collected eggs of the Luoyin Bug, and the methods for hatching and raising them were also left behind. When he first saw these items, Lin Tianming understood why He Zhengsong was able to track them down; the biggest reason lay with the Luoyin Bug. Lin Tianming was also very interested in this item. He was well aware that although the adult Luoyin Bug was only a Second Order Spirit Insect with poor offensive and defensive abilities, providing almost no substantial hold against Cultivators. Chapter 1123: 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Hatching the Luoyin Bug_2 Chapter 1123: Chapter 587: Tribulation Evasion Pill Formula, Hatching the Luoyin Bug_2 The effect of this insect is indeed peculiar; at some special moments, it can often play an unexpected role. Unfortunately, it is not easy to hatch and rear this insect, and it tends to die easily. Furthermore, once the master perishes, the insect will also die alongside the master. Such a parasitic method is different from most spirit beasts and spirit insects in the Cultivation World. For most spirit beasts and spirit insects in the Cultivation World, once they successfully bond with their master, even if the master falls, spirit insects and spirit beasts will only be injured due to the correlation. However, it would not be fatal, meaning they would not perish with their master¡¯s death. Therefore, Luoyin Bugs are not commonly seen in the Cultivation World, but due to their special role, their value is extremely high. Understanding this, Lin Tianming looks at the insect egg in front of him with a look of expectation on his face. Then, he also takes out a Jade Slip and, following the recorded content, strips away a thread of his divine soul, eventually letting it infiltrate the Luoyin Bug egg. In doing so, he is actually trying to establish a connection with the Luoyin Bug egg as quickly as possible. Because if the Luoyin Bug hatches and forcibly recognizes a master later, it is very likely to die, and the difficulty is more than double that of ordinary spirit beasts and spirit insects. In contrast, relying on the egg and establishing contact with the host before hatching is the most successful method. Precisely because of this, Lin Tianming also follows the easiest method to attempt to successfully hatch the Luoyin Bug egg. With such expectations, Lin Tianming applied his essence blood around the egg every day and added more than ten Medium-grade Spirit Stones. At the same time, he does not forget to follow some of the methods recorded by He Zhengsong, building a connection with the Luoyin Bug egg every day. After doing all this, Lin Tianming stays by the egg, waiting for any movement from it. Half a year quietly passes. One day, a peculiar sound suddenly echoes in the Cultivation Room. ¡°Crack¡­ Crack¡­¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming opens his tightly shut eyes and looks toward the Luoyin Bug egg immediately. He sees that among the two eggs in front of him, one hatches first, popping out a head the size of a fingernail. Right after, the little fellow crawls out of the shell and completely detaches from the eggshell. Seeing the newly hatched Luoyin Bug larva, Lin Tianming smiles excitedly, recognizing that it matches what was recorded in the classic texts left by He Zhengsong, and his heart is filled with joy. Under his gaze, the Luoyin Bug larva turns around and begins to eat the shell that had enveloped it for a long time. Soon, as the shell is consumed, the larva grows significantly in size, almost reaching the size of an infant¡¯s fist. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming is amazed. Next, the Luoyin Bug seems to sense Lin Tianming¡¯s presence, hurrying to fly towards him and circling around him many times before finally resting in the palm of his hand, affectionately nuzzling it as if to actively please him. At this very moment, Lin Tianming also feels the connection between himself and the Luoyin Bug. This connection, just like the one with the Purple Gold Eagle, feels even closer. Clearly, the Luoyin Bug has been hatched by him and has successfully established a contract. This means that he and the Luoyin Bug are soul bound, allowing him to control the life and death of the insect at any time. Realizing this, Lin Tianming is very satisfied in his heart. He then takes out some First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials from his storage bag and places them in front of the Luoyin Bug. Seeing this, the Luoyin Bug excitedly screeches and rushes towards them, voraciously gnawing on the Spiritual Medicine Materials. At this moment, it is seen that the Luoyin Bug, despite its small size, can chew on First Order Spiritual Medicine Materials, and even the speed of eating is very fast. Keep in mind that the Luoyin Bug hatchling is currently at the First Order Initial Phase. But the Spiritual Medicine Material is a First Order Superior Grade, and it is also a very rare and precious variety among First Order medicines. Otherwise, with Lin Tianming¡¯s current level of Alchemy and his level of cultivation, it would not be possible to collect First Order Spiritual Medicines of this caliber. Even so, this Luoyin Bug has good taste, unaffectedly munching on the Spiritual Medicine and at a very rapid pace. Within less than the time it takes to steep a pot of tea, the Luoyin Bug had completely devoured the First Order Spiritual Medicine. Not only that, after finishing the Spiritual Medicine, the Luoyin Bug started squeaking loudly, as if it was still unsatisfied with that amount of food. Witnessing this, it was hard to imagine that the small-sized Luoyin Bug could actually consume the Spiritual Medicine, which was several times larger than its own volume. Moreover, the reaction of the Luoyin Bug was very calm, unlike having any kind of excessive reaction or discomfort. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Lin Tianming also found the reaction of the Luoyin Bug quite surprising. However, upon careful thought, there are countless types of Spirit Insects in the Cultivation World, and it is not short of bizarre Spirit Insects. Given the uniqueness of this Luoyin Bug, it wasn¡¯t so strange that it had some peculiar properties. Understanding this, Lin Tianming gradually regained his composure. Following that, Lin Tianming reached out his palm to soothe the Luoyin Bug. Simultaneously, he took out two more First Order Spiritual Medicines and placed them in front of the Luoyin Bug, gesturing for it to devour them. With his instruction, coupled with the allure of the Spiritual Medicines themselves, the Luoyin Bug did not hesitate to quickly swallow them up. After these two Spiritual Medicines were consumed, the Luoyin Bug then lay motionless on the ground, all of its previous vitality gone as if it was about to fall into a deep sleep. Seeing this situation, Lin Tianming let out a sigh of relief. Despite his lucrative fortune and his high cultivation, which were not comparable to that of an ordinary Golden Core Stage Cultivator, the food capacity of a Spirit Insect like the Luoyin Bug, which could eat so much right after hatching, was truly astounding. Moreover, as the Luoyin Bug grows, its appetite would probably increase significantly. By the time the Luoyin Bug reaches the adult Second Order, the amount of food it would need would be even more substantial, and an average cultivator with many Spirit Beasts and Spirit Insects might not be able to afford them. Fortunately, after devouring three Spiritual Medicines, the Luoyin Bug no longer had the desire to eat, which was a relief for Lin Tianming. Subsequently, Lin Tianming placed the Luoyin Bug directly into the Qiankun Jade, allowing it to peacefully sleep and refine the Spiritual Medicine¡¯s energy for quicker growth. Having done all this, Lin Tianming continued to monitor the remaining insect egg, guarding its hatching process. Another half a month passed, and the egg remained inert. Not only that, but the vitality within the egg also began to weaken as time went on. In the end, the egg lost even that last bit of vitality. Sensing such a change, Lin Tianming understood that this egg had thoroughly become lifeless and there was no chance of it hatching. For this reason, Lin Tianming felt heartache for a while. After all, the Luoyin Bug was relatively precious, and its eggs were also rare, with even fewer suitable for hatching. Yet, he had obtained eight eggs all at once from He Zhengsong¡¯s storage bag, which was an extremely rich harvest. Moreover, he had only used two eggs for the attempt this time, not having held much hope for success. However, under his careful care, he was able to successfully hatch a Luoyin Bug on the first try. And this fifty percent hatching success rate was truly beyond his expectations. Therefore, such an outcome was already sufficient to satisfy him. Realizing this, Lin Tianming no longer dwelled on the matter. Instead, he felt quite relieved, maintaining an excited smile on his face. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°This hatching of the Luoyin Bug eggs, which took only a year, was truly very successful and rapid.¡± ¡°As for the future, once this insect grows to the Second Order standard, I believe it will be able to offer some help.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, with some anticipation for the arrival of that day. After calming his emotions, Lin Tianming immediately stood up and tidied up the Practice Room. Having completed these tasks, only then did he leave the Practice Room, satisfied, and emerged in the courtyard of the Temporary Cave Mansion. ¡­ Chapter 1124: 588 Clue of Tianxin Grass Chapter 1124: Chapter 588 Clue of Tianxin Grass It wasn¡¯t long before Qin Xi received a message from Lin Tianming and hurried over for a meeting. In the small courtyard of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming and his wife sat opposite each other, having exchanged their greetings. At this time, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm, and he slowly began to speak, ¡°Xi¡¯er, in this past year, have you managed to find any news about the Tianxin Grass?¡± ¡°Ming, I have been covertly inquiring in Yuanzhen City for a long time, and indeed, I have not obtained much information about the Tianxin Grass, so much so that many cultivators seem to have never even heard of it.¡± ¡°However, even so, I have not come back empty-handed!¡± Qin Xi said indifferently, her face also showing a faint smile. ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, having thought there would be no news at all, but from what Qin Xi suggested, it seemed like there might be some uncertain leads. Thus, Lin Tianming hurriedly asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, do you perhaps have some news? Feel free to share what you¡¯ve learned.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi slowly began to recount her experiences over the past year. According to her statement, she had been active in and around Yuanzhen City, openly and covertly seeking information about Tianxin Grass. Initially, she had not obtained any useful information for quite some time. It was only half a month ago that she accidentally came into contact with a Golden Core Stage Independent Cultivator, and from him, she learned that he seemed to know something about the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass. Although the veracity of this matter remained to be discussed, finally someone was aware of Tianxin Grass, and there might even be some substantive news, which was ultimately a rare piece of good news for them. In addition, Qin Xi had agreed to meet with that Golden Core Stage Independent Cultivator to further investigate the intelligence regarding Tianxin Grass. Afterwards, Qin Xi had intended to return to their Cave Mansion and discuss this matter with Lin Tianming during this recent period. However, it just so happened that Lin Tianming had recently come out of seclusion and asked about this matter first, so the two of them exchanged the information they had gathered. Now, upon hearing this news, Lin Tianming was also pondering in his heart. In his eyes, the truthfulness of what the independent cultivator had said certainly could not be taken lightly. After all, Tianxin Grass, a Third Order Spiritual Medicine Material, was exceedingly rare, and in most places, not even a whisper of it was heard. Furthermore, this individual was merely at the Golden Core Stage Realm, a loose cultivator, with an unknown background. Such a person claiming to have information about Tianxin Grass indeed made one suspicious. However, upon further reflection, Lin Tianming was not overly concerned. You see, he himself was at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, and his personal strength was no weaker than any Late Stage Golden Core Expert. In addition, Qin Xi was also not weak in strength; although she had not yet broken through to the Mid Stage, she was not far from this realm. With Qin Xi¡¯s current strength, the average Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator would hardly have an advantage over her. With them as a couple working together, as long as they¡¯re not facing a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, there isn¡¯t much danger. And the strength of the loose cultivator mentioned by Qin Xi was average at best, and would likely not be a match for either one of them. In such a case, it was necessary to make contact with this individual. If they could truly obtain news about Tianxin Grass, then naturally it would be a good thing for them, even if it required some cost. And if they couldn¡¯t obtain concrete information, they wouldn¡¯t suffer much loss, merely wasting some time and effort. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind and decided to first make contact with the cultivator. And so, Lin Tianming shared his view with Qin Xi. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon after, Qin Xi also agreed with Lin Tianming¡¯s opinion, and quickly sent a message to the Golden Core Stage Independent Cultivator, arranging the specific time for their meeting. A few days later, early in the morning, Lin Tianming and his wife left the Cave Mansion early and arrived at a restaurant in the center of the city. Under the guidance of the receiving cultivator, they were brought to a VIP room on the third floor. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, a middle-aged man entered the VIP room. The man was dressed in a white robe, with an ordinary appearance. As Lin Tianming secretly observed, he was undoubtedly at the Early Stage Golden Core. As the man entered the VIP room, Lin Tianming and his wife stood up and greeted him. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Daoist Sun is punctual to the meeting, and I am very pleased, please take a seat.¡± Lin Tianming laughed heartily, warmly welcoming Sun Liancheng, his attitude very friendly. Sun Liancheng saw this scene and also chuckled. ¡°Hehe¡­ Daoist, you are too kind!¡± After saying this, Sun Liancheng glanced at Qin Xi nearby and then asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°Fairy Luo, was it not you alone who was to meet with this old man?¡± ¡°Who is this Daoist friend?¡± Obviously, Qin Xi had not mentioned Lin Tianming, let alone said that Lin Tianming would also be participating in this meeting. Sun Liancheng was equally surprised to see Lin Tianming. At the same time, Sun Liancheng was also discreetly assessing Lin Tianming, with the faint aura he exuded also placing him at the Early Stage Golden Core Realm. With regards to this, Sun Liancheng was also skeptical. After all, in the Cultivation World, it is a common practice for cultivators to conceal their appearance and aura, as well as their true cultivation realm. Doing so makes things more convenient and safer for a cultivator. And the aura revealed by Lin Tianming was also elusive, if not for Sun Liancheng knowing a secret technique, he might not be able to sense it at all. It¡¯s because of this that Sun Liancheng hesitated for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. Chapter 1125: 588: Clue of Tianxin Grass_2 Chapter 1125: Chapter 588: Clue of Tianxin Grass_2 In his heart, he had basically acknowledged this realm to be Lin Tianming¡¯s true cultivation. Coming back to his senses, Sun Liancheng stared intently at Qin Xi, seemingly waiting for her explanation. It was at this moment that Qin Xi chuckled and said, ¡°Daoist Sun, do not be alarmed, this is my husband, Chen Tian.¡± ¡°The reason I previously did not mention my husband is because he has been preoccupied with his closed-door cultivation, and whether he could join this meeting was unknown.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, my husband has just recently ended his seclusion, and upon hearing of Daoist Sun¡¯s esteemed reputation, he holds you in high regard and wishes to make your acquaintance.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Daoist Sun, both my husband and I have long admired you and harbor no ill intent.¡± Qin Xi spoke in succession, her expression carrying a hint of apology, and her attitude was exceedingly sincere. Upon hearing this explanation, Sun Liancheng also showed a faint smile on his face, and the caution in his heart lessened considerably. Then, Sun Liancheng bowed with his hands clenched in front of him towards Lin Tianming, as if making an acquaintance, before sitting down opposite Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also chuckled and hastened to greet Sun Liancheng. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the trio exchanged a few casual words, the atmosphere finally relaxed. At this point, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi next to him, and then spoke up. ¡°Daoist Sun, my wife and I have invited you here, and I presume you are aware of the specific purpose.¡± ¡°With that said, I shall not beat around the bush and will get straight to the point.¡± ¡°Do you truly have knowledge of the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass, or perhaps you possess it yourself?¡± As he asked, Lin Tianming looked seriously at Sun Liancheng, his heart filled with anticipation for Sun Liancheng¡¯s reply. When Sun Liancheng heard this, he hesitated for a moment upon seeing the expression on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. But soon, Sun Liancheng responded, ¡°Daoist Chen is so forthright, you must hold Tianxin Grass in high regard.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t conceal it from Daoist Chen, I do not have the Tianxin Grass on me, but I am indeed aware of its whereabouts.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Lin Tianming feigned surprise, his face showing excitement. Seeing this, Sun Liancheng gave a light smile, his expression calm as he replied, ¡°Hehe¡­ surely Daoist Chen is also aware of the value of Tianxin Grass.¡± ¡°In order to acquire this information, I have previously paid a great price, and even risked my life.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately understood Sun Liancheng¡¯s intention. Thus, Lin Tianming asked straightforwardly, ¡°What are your conditions, Daoist Sun? Do speak freely.¡± ¡°As long as the information is true, the reward from my wife and myself will certainly satisfy you, Daoist Sun.¡± When Sun Liancheng heard Lin Tianming¡¯s words, he nodded and then said. ¡°Since Daoist Chen is so straightforward, I won¡¯t beat about the bush either!¡± ¡°If Daoist Chen wishes to learn of the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass, you must agree to one condition of mine. If you can fulfill this request, I will provide the information on Tianxin Grass immediately.¡± ¡°What do you think of this, Daoist Chen?¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Tianming also seemed puzzled. In his heart, he understood that Sun Liancheng must have certain conditions for revealing the whereabouts of Tianxin Grass. Otherwise, they were merely strangers who met by chance; there was no reason for him to provide the information for free. Understanding this, Lin Tianming asked directly, ¡°What conditions do you have, Daoist Sun? Please speak frankly. As long as my wife and I can accomplish it, or if the price paid is equivalent, we will not refuse.¡± Seeing Lin Tianming speak thusly, Sun Liancheng hesitated for a moment before slowly starting to speak. ¡°Daoist Chen, my condition is to ask both of you fellow Daoists to assist in the pursuit and assassination of a fellow Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator.¡± ¡°That cultivator has a feud with me, and with both of you joining forces with me, I believe it will not take much effort to eliminate my enemy.¡± ¡°When that time comes, I will naturally hand over the exact whereabouts of Tianxin Grass with both hands, how about that?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised; he had thought that Sun Liancheng would demand a barter, but he had not expected such a condition. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming, out of curiosity, still posed a question. ¡°May I inquire who your adversary is? And what is their background and identity?¡± ¡°Surely I cannot agree to this lightly without knowing anything; end up offending an untouchable person, or provoke some major power, right?¡± ¡°Moreover, in my view, Tianxin Grass is merely a Third Order Spiritual Medicine, its significant value hardly compares to encircling and killing a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, should I create a new enemy just for the trail of Tianxin Grass?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t such an outcome be considered losing the bigger picture for something minor?¡± Lin Tianming fired these questions in succession, his expression filled with a look of difficulty. On the contrary, Sun Liancheng had anticipated these words and seemed prepared. Under such circumstances, Sun Liancheng spoke frankly: ¡°What Daoist has mentioned, I am not opposed to.¡± ¡°As for my adversary, they hail from the Cultivation World of Lingyu Country, known as Tan Zhiyao.¡± ¡°Daoist Chen can rest assured, Tan Zhiyao, just like myself, is an Independent Cultivator, not part of any power, nor does he have connections or entanglements with those major powers.¡± ¡°Such a person, I¡¯m afraid even if they die, no one will trouble you about it.¡± ¡°Moreover, the news of this encirclement and killing, including the passage, is known only to the few of us, hence it will definitely not leak out, naturally, it will not involve you two in unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also clear on what Daoist Chen means.¡± ¡°It must be said, though the value of Tianxin Grass is not low, merely relying on information alone indeed does not compare with asking for the two esteemed Daoists¡¯ intervention.¡± ¡°Thus, I¡¯m willing to offer up five thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones as compensation, also considered fair remuneration for the efforts of both esteemed Daoists.¡± ¡°Besides, after Tan Zhiyao dies, the treasures on his person and in his storage bag, I only need to select two pieces first, the rest will belong entirely to the two esteemed Daoists.¡± ¡°I wonder what you think of these terms?¡± Having said these words, Sun Liancheng looked at Lin Tianming and his wife with an earnest face, his eyes brimming with anticipation. While internally, he felt somewhat anxious and tense. These emotions, however, were excellently concealed by Sun Liancheng; even with Lin Tianming¡¯s strong Divine Sense and higher Cultivation Realm, he was incapable of seeing through people¡¯s hearts. At this moment, upon hearing Sun Liancheng¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming was also dubious. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming was also pondering in secret whether to agree to such terms. In his heart, if things were as described, Sun Liancheng¡¯s offer did indeed seem worth intervening once for him and his wife. After all, his and his wife¡¯s strength was formidable, and killing a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, while not guaranteed an easy task, wouldn¡¯t be too arduous, naturally implying minimal risk. However, he still had to inquire a bit more about Tan Zhiyao¡¯s exact origins and other important information before deciding. After all, he was currently in the heartlands of Qingzhou. Here, Golden Core Stage Cultivators were common, and there were many lineages that had been passed down for ten thousand years; even Nascent Soul Cultivators could be found. Although he coveted the Tianxin Grass, it was not essential for cultivation. If necessary, he could also consider other means to replace the Tianxin Grass to help Qin Xi break through a bottleneck. More crucially, he did not wish to expose his movements and identity for the sake of Tianxin Grass, lest it drag him into bigger trouble or even establish a powerful enemy for the Lin Family. Therefore, Lin Tianming had to consider more thoroughly. However, if it was truly as Sun Liancheng had said, that Tan Zhiyao had no involvement with any major power, taking action might be acceptable. Recognizing this, Lin Tianming did not outright reject Sun Liancheng¡¯s proposition. But wary of potential trouble afterward, Lin Tianming mentioned he would think about it and give a specific reply later. Sun Liancheng, having expected Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, thus did not press for specific reasons. Subsequently, Lin Tianming and Sun Liancheng agreed to respond in three days. Sun Liancheng had no objections to this. Following some final advice to Lin Tianming, Sun Liancheng then took his leave first and quickly departed the tavern. ¡­ Chapter 1126: 589: Picking Up a Bargain Chapter 1126: Chapter 589: Picking Up a Bargain Back in the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming and his wife idly chatted. Lin Tianming also asked Qin Xi for her opinion regarding what Sun Liancheng had said. Qin Xi¡¯s opinion was straightforward. Regardless of whether Sun Liancheng was telling the truth or not, it was essential for the couple to check things out for themselves. If it was true, there was no harm for them to make a move. But if it was false, they could simply leave. After all, there would be no loss or danger involved. Thus, the couple quickly reached a consensus. Later, Lin Tianming sent a message to Sun Liancheng, agreeing to meet at the top of a hill outside Yuanzhen City at dawn in half a month. With this matter settled, Lin Tianming and his wife began their preparations. The next morning, Lin Tianming left the Cave Mansion alone and started to wander around Yuanzhen City. It had been over three years since they came to Yuanzhen City. Previously, he had mostly been in closed-door cultivation and hadn¡¯t really taken the time to explore Yuanzhen City, one of the major cities in the Qingzhou Land. So, Lin Tianming started walking on the streets of Yuanzhen City, looking around attentively. Before long, he found himself in a plaza in the North District. This place, like every other workshop or city, had a designated area for setting up stalls. The difference lay in the size of these areas and the volume of people frequenting them. As one of the top cities in Qingzhou, Yuanzhen City had an extremely bustling crowd in almost every area. This was especially true for the stall area where both Qi Refining Cultivators and Golden Core Stage Experts could be found. This stall area was massive and divided into several sections, far beyond the scale of ordinary markets. The most noticeable was the separation of spaces designated for Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The Qi Refining area was bigger and had more foot traffic. In contrast, the flow of people in the Foundation Establishment area was noticeably lower. Such differences were normal, as the Cultivation World mainly consisted of low-level cultivators, with Qi Refining Cultivators making up the majority. As the cultivation level of cultivators increased, the overall number declined accordingly. Thus, cultivators naturally divided into different circles, with a Qi Refining Cultivator not mingling with Golden Core Stage Cultivators. However, the stall area was frequented by many looking for treasures without any restrictions on cultivation levels. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In such cases, even in the Qi Refining area, one might come across Golden Core Cultivators. Because treasures could be overlooked, some might mistake or even fail to recognize valuable items. Therefore, in the stall area dominated by low-level cultivators, treasures could still be found, albeit with minuscule probability. Lin Tianming had not had the time to visit these stall areas before, but now that he had some free time, he naturally wanted to explore and gather information about major events happening in Qingzhou Land. Furthermore, if he could learn something about Wei Kingdom, that would be perfect. With this intention, Lin Tianming strolled through the stall area. Walking along a pathway deeper into the area, he observed a continuous stream of cultivators and vendors discreetly interacting. Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze swept over the stalls, with images of various treasures flashing through his mind. For ordinary low-level treasures, he naturally had no interest. However, with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he could identify some unique treasures that others might not notice. Over the years, whenever he visited a market or city, he would stroll through the stall areas. In this way, he had previously purchased some quite decent treasures at very low prices. Although he couldn¡¯t always be incredibly lucky nor find treasures of the highest grade, over time, he had come to enjoy hunting for these overlooked treasures. Today, upon arriving at the site, Lin Tianming looked around and then followed the crowd into the Foundation Establishment stall area, beginning his search. Shortly after, he spotted a somewhat peculiar token at a Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s stall. He took a closer look and observed that the surface of the token was just a rusty piece of iron¡ªunremarkable and emitting no aura, impenetrable even to the Divine Sense. But under the scrutiny of the Eye of Five Colors, he could see the faint contour of a token inside it. Seeing this object, Lin Tianming recalled the time during his Qi Refinement period when he had acquired the Mysterious Moon Order at Luoyun Market. At that time, he had also found it in a stall area and subsequently gained an entry into a Secret Realm. Later, because of the Mysterious Moon Order, he had made substantial gains in the Xuan Yue Mysterious Realm, acquiring Lin Family¡¯s first Nascent Soul Spiritual Item which ultimately facilitated Lin Shikang¡¯s breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. It could be said that if not for that Mysterious Moon Order, it would be hard to say whether the Lin Family would have its current status. Perhaps during the attack by the Demonic Beasts, the Lin Family Clan Grounds would have been razed to the ground, there wouldn¡¯t have been the subsequent battle between the three sects, nor the current situation in Wei Kingdom. Thinking about it, the Lin Family¡¯s rise had hinged crucially on that Mysterious Moon Order he initially found. Now, this iron piece seemed to bear some similarities to the Mysterious Moon Order. ¡°Could this be another key to a Secret Realm or the key to a High Order Cultivator¡¯s Cave Mansion?¡± Chapter 1127: 589: Picking Up the Leftovers_2 Chapter 1127: Chapter 589: Picking Up the Leftovers_2 Lin Tianming thought to himself with a hint of imperceptible danger flashing across his face. After calming himself slightly, Lin Tianming immediately walked towards the cultivator who had an iron tile displayed in front of him. Soon, Lin Tianming reached the front of the iron tile. Opposite him was a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, who was meditating with his eyes closed. It was only when Lin Tianming arrived that the cultivator opened his eyes. ¡°Fellow Daoist, what has caught your eye?¡± The cultivator said indifferently, his expression neither cold nor warm, seemingly indifferent to Lin Tianming¡¯s reaction. However, Lin Tianming, seeing this scene, didn¡¯t take it to heart. Thus, Lin Tianming picked up the iron tile for a look, then decided not to hide his interest. After all, he currently had no need to worry about others guessing his thoughts, let alone worry about price gouging or outright refusal to sell. Knowing this, Lin Tianming straightforwardly inquired, ¡°Fellow Daoist, at what price are you selling this item?¡± Seeing Lin Tianming being so direct, the stall owner was somewhat surprised. ¡°30,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± The stall owner stated bluntly, without beating around the bush. However, Lin Tianming frowned upon hearing this. In his eyes, the stall owner was not being honest, quoting 30,000 low-grade spirit stones right off the bat. Although, from his initial observation, the item within the iron tile could likely be a treasure, But this was something even he couldn¡¯t confidently confirm, so the stall owner quoting such a price was indeed treating him like a fool. Thus, Lin Tianming responded with a wry smile, ¡°Fellow Daoist, do you really think I am a fool with this price?¡± ¡°How about 3,000 low-grade spirit stones?¡± Hearing this offer, the stall owner¡¯s expression turned slightly angry, but considering Lin Tianming¡¯s aura of a Foundation Establishment Ninth Level, he managed to stabilize his attitude. ¡°3,000 spirit stones is too low!¡± ¡°I have had this iron tile for a while now. Although it appears ordinary, I¡¯ve tried various methods on it. Whether it be direct attacks or using earth fire for refining, nothing could leave a mark.¡± ¡°In my opinion, this item must be a treasure!¡± ¡°It could even be a third-order ore, or perhaps even a fourth-order treasure.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, even if it¡¯s just a third-order ore, for a mere 30,000 low-grade spirit stones, wouldn¡¯t you be making a huge profit, fellow Daoist?¡± The stall owner looked troubled, obviously putting on such an expression intentionally. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming responded with a calm smile and sighed, ¡°Fellow Daoist, if this iron tile is indeed a treasure, why would you put it up for sale?¡± ¡°Since you put it up for sale, obviously you too lack confidence and aren¡¯t willing to gamble on luck.¡± ¡°While I do have some interest in this item, I am also not eager to take such a risk.¡± ¡°In that case, is your high valuation really reasonable?¡± Lin Tianming asked several rhetorical questions, causing the stall owner to be at a loss for words. After regaining his composure, the stall owner quickly replied with a smile, ¡°Hehe¡­ what Fellow Daoist said is not unreasonable!¡± ¡°Given that, let me offer a sincere price!¡± ¡°How about 15,000 low-grade spirit stones?¡± The stall owner shouted a price, cutting the original quote of 30,000 low-grade spirit stones in half. However, as soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming immediately countered: ¡°5,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°12,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± The stall owner continued to lower the price, but was reluctant to give in easily. Seeing this, Lin Tianming also continued to raise his offer, but not too much, in order to prevent the stall owner from sensing his eagerness. ¡°6,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°10,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°8,000 low-grade spirit stones!¡± ¡°Deal!¡± When Lin Tianming called out the price of 8,000 low-grade spirit stones, the stall owner seemed unwilling to argue further and agreed to the price openly. At this time, Lin Tianming chuckled and then took out eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, handing them to the stall owner. Afterward, the iron tile in front of him was also collected by Lin Tianming. With this transaction complete, Lin Tianming did not rush to leave, but continued to stroll around the stall area. Half a Shi Chen silently passed. Through Lin Tianming¡¯s wandering, he had almost covered the entire Foundation Establishment Cultivators¡¯ stall area, as well as the Qi Refinement area. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, his luck did not continue, and his gains were not much, with only a handful of decent Spiritual Medicine Materials. Regarding this, Lin Tianming remained calm in his heart, knowing that the chances of finding bargains in the stall area were always slim, and returning empty-handed most of the time was nothing unusual. As he had frequented the stall area many times before, often without any finds. Today, having obtained what might be a valuable iron tile, along with a few rather precious Spiritual Medicine Materials, was quite an accomplishment. With that, Lin Tianming felt very good. Seeing that he had almost finished his round, Lin Tianming then left the stall area directly and came to the tavern area in the city. Standing on a street, Lin Tianming looked around. Looking around, both sides of the street were filled with large and small pavilions, or some halls built of blue stone. Many cultivators entered and exited these pavilions, traveling in twos and threes, discussing news from the Cultivation World. Lin Tianming came here intending to listen to what these cultivators were discussing privately, to see if there would be any significant news from Wei Kingdom, or Golden Crow Country. With that purpose, Lin Tianming entered a tavern that was the largest in area and had the most traffic. Under the arrangement of the receptionist for cultivators, Lin Tianming blended into a hall full of Qi Refining Cultivators. There were quite a few cultivators here, over a hundred at a glance. They sat in groups of two or three, eating meals made of Spirit Beast meat while drinking Spiritual Tea infused with Spiritual Energy. At the same time, news from the Cultivation World was being discussed amongst these people, causing a wave of discussion. It was then that a Qi Refining Cultivator laughed and said, ¡°Rumor has it, a while ago a Third Order Demon Beast appeared on Red Plum Mountain for some unknown reason.¡± ¡°At that time, several dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators coincidentally encountered it, and all ultimately fell to the beast, including those of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.¡± ¡°Until this news reached Yuanzhen Sect, a Golden Elixir Expert from Yuanzhen Sect quickly dispatched, and in just a few exchanges, exterminated that Third Order Medium Stage Demonic Beast!¡± Hearing this, some of the Qi Refining Cultivators exclaimed in surprise. ¡°What? A Third Order Medium Stage Demon Beast?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± ¡°I heard there were witnesses to that battle.¡± ¡°Reportedly, just the earth-shattering noise made the Qi Refining Cultivators watching from a distance almost faint¡­¡± Several Qi Refining Cultivators discussed openly, their faces excited, immediately drawing the attention of many cultivators. Some cultivators apparently also heard of this news and quickly joined the discussing crowd. Soon, you say one thing and I say another, these Qi Refining Cultivators turned this matter into an incredible tale. At this time, Lin Tianming heard these discussions, his face casually smiled, and he silently focused inside. A little while passed. On the other side of the tavern hall, some cultivators discussed affairs happening in Golden Crow Country, instantly catching Lin Tianming¡¯s attention. According to these Qi Refining Cultivators, Golden Crow Country has seemed rather unstable in recent years, with the relations among the Three Great Golden Core Sects apparently even worse than before. Twenty years ago, Golden Crow Country was still quite peaceful. Back then, the major Golden Elixir Forces restrained themselves, and there was hardly an atmosphere of drawn swords. However, somehow in recent years, the friction between these major forces continued, and it wasn¡¯t uncommon to see their disciples clashing. Even casualties occurred among the True Disciples of those sects, causing some Golden Core Stage Cultivators to intervene personally, thus temporarily settling the disputes. According to some cultivators from Golden Crow Country, the changes in these past few years may be due to a mysterious fall of a Golden Core Stage Expert from Five Poison Sect a few years ago, a formidable presence in the Medium Stage Golden Core. Before this, those major sects could still restrain each other somehow, at least not this chaotic. But with the fall of that Golden Core Cultivator, internal forces within Golden Crow Country began to act abnormally. ¡­ Chapter 1128: 590 Vermilion Bird Order Chapter 1128: Chapter 590 Vermilion Bird Order In the end, the high-ranking members of the three Sects had no choice but to intervene and mediate, thus calming the fiery tempers of each side. As for the changes in the Golden Crow Country, Lin Tianming believed that it was likely due to He Zhengsong¡¯s death. Overall, despite the minor frictions escalations among the major Golden Elixir Forces in the Golden Crow Country, the situation remained essentially stable. There wouldn¡¯t likely be any turmoil in the short term, let alone the outbreak of a major Sect war. Moreover, friction also indicated that the Five Poison Sect had probably not yet found any clues about He Zhengsong¡¯s death. Additionally, the demise of He Zhengsong and Yu Lihong had impacted the strength of the Five Poison Sect to some extent. In such a situation, without substantial confidence, the Five Poison Sect was unlikely to take any excessive actions. One could say that the other two major Sects in the Golden Crow Country had attracted the majority of the attention from the Five Poison Sect, indirectly becoming Lin Tianming¡¯s protective umbrella. As long as no clues emerged, Five Poison Sect would dare not act recklessly. This was extremely beneficial for Lin Tianming. Realizing this, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. In his view, as long as nothing went wrong in the Golden Crow Country, he could feel at ease while cultivating in the Yuanzhen Kingdom. Otherwise, if the Five Poison Sect traced things back to him, they would surely target the Lin Family, perhaps even making a direct move against them. Being far from his clan, Lin Tianming would be helpless in the short term if the Five Poison Sect chose to retaliate against the Lin Family. Fortunately, as it stood now, the Five Poison Sect had not found any clues, so the threat to the Lin Family was still not significant. Thus, once he had no worries, Lin Tianming could act without any hesitation, and any endeavor would be twice as effective. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming put the matters of the Golden Crow Country aside. Then, he continued staying in this inn, listening to the animated discussions among Qi Refining Cultivators. Whenever the conversation turned to the Seven Kingdoms in the southern part of Qingzhou, Lin Tianming became particularly alert. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes, he even interjected a few remarks, effortlessly blending into the circle of Qi Refining Cultivators. At the same time, he occasionally brought up subtleties about the situation in Wei Kingdom, igniting a discussion and casually chatting with them to gather useful information. But the vision of these cultivators was limited and their strength was not high, which slowed down the speed of information flow. For instance, many significant events in Wei Kingdom still revolved around the time of the three Sects¡¯ great war. According to these Qi Refining Cultivators, the Lin Family had begun to rise from an initially unknown small family, becoming known among some cultivators in the central Qingzhou as a Golden Core Family. This also indicated that the influence of the Lin Family was gradually expanding, at least moving from the interactions within the Southern Seven Kingdoms to the central Qingzhou Kingdom. Although the influence of the Lin Family in central Qingzhou was still far from reaching the level of Longqing Sect or Five Poison Sect, at least in the eyes of high-order cultivators in Qingzhou, the Lin Family was officially stepping into a new tier. In other words, although the Lin Family does not yet dare to claim dominance over a whole country, they are at least considered a top power within a nation, having certain authority and significant influence in a regional space. Such changes, along with the passage of time, were likely to further increase the influence of the Lin Family. Someday, the overall strength and influence of the Lin Family might even reach or surpass that of Longqing Sect. Understanding this, Lin Tianming managed to acquire some information from the Qi Refining Cultivators, though it wasn¡¯t very timely. However, overall, some intelligence was somewhat useful. According to those snippets of information, the situation in Wei Kingdom was quite peaceful, without any significant events. This scenario was exactly what Lin Tianming wanted to see. Moreover, the current Lin Family was not what it used to be. Now, even though he and Qin Xi were not on the clan grounds, just relying on the family¡¯s Golden Core Stage Clan Members, the Lin Family had enough capability to stand on equal footing with any forces such as the Zhenyang Sect or Myriad Medicine Valley. In this regard, there was not much to worry about for Wei Kingdom. Thus, seeing no useful intelligence, Lin Tianming quietly left the inn and returned to his Temporary Cave Abode. Upon returning to his Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming entered his Practice Room. He sat cross-legged, then took out the Iron Tile he had purchased from the market area, carefully observing it in the palm of his hand. The Iron Tile felt cold to the touch, and its surface was a bit rough, but overall it was still quite smooth and rounded. At first glance, it indeed seemed quite ordinary. However, under the scrutiny of the Eye of Five Colors, there was indeed something akin to a Token inside. But the material of the Iron Tile seemed to be of extremely fine quality, even the Eye of Five Colors couldn¡¯t directly see the specific details inside. Thus, Lin Tianming casually formed Hand Seals, and a Sword Qi Attack bombarded the Iron Tile. ¡°Clang clang¡­¡± Two crisp sounds ensued, and the Iron Tile was instantly shot away by the Sword Qi, consequently falling to the ground. Lin Tianming picked it up again and found, as the stall owner had said, that it was indeed left without a single mark after being struck. Initially, he was somewhat skeptical since he possessed Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and his strength was not weaker than that of a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. In his view, just because a Foundation Establishment Cultivator couldn¡¯t leave a mark didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t either. Chapter 1129: 590 Vermilion Bird Order_2 Chapter 1129: Chapter 590 Vermilion Bird Order_2 But now, after this strike, he finally believed. Still, Lin Tianming remained skeptical and hastily summoned the Blue Heart True Flame, directly roasting the iron tile. Soon, the iron tile began to sizzle and emit flames under the heat of the Blue Heart True Flame. However, after the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the iron tile still showed no substantial reaction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯ve really misjudged this time?¡± Lin Tianming muttered to himself, while fidgeting with the iron tile. Feeling the unique sensation in his hand, Lin Tianming still refused to believe that the item was mundane. He was very clear that even someone with his level of cultivation couldn¡¯t leave the slightest mark on the iron tile, which was quite unusual. Moreover, even the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame, the Blue Heart True Flame, couldn¡¯t leave any trace on the iron tile, which further deepened his judgment. After all, if it were Third Order Ore, given his attack power and the terrifying heat of the Blue Heart True Flame, he would have melted it or at least left some traces over time. Even if it were a Fourth Order Treasure, under such methods, there should have been some reactions. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was even more certain that this iron tile was no ordinary item. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯m not using the correct method to open it?¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, and his mind rummaged through various common methods used in the Cultivation World, planning to try each one. He believed that as long as he used the right method, he would definitely be able to open it. With such determination, Lin Tianming continuously switched methods and tried them. A while passed, yet the iron tile still showed no reaction. At that moment, Lin Tianming, touching the iron tile, channeled his mana into the token. ¡°Crack¡­¡± Soon, a crisp sound was heard. Following that, the iron tile cracked instantly, breaking into several pieces that fell to the ground. At the same time, a jade token appeared inside the iron tile. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was overjoyed and quickly grabbed the jade token to examine it. Feeling the smooth and slightly warm jade token in his hand felt extraordinarily pleasant. Moreover, compared to ordinary jade pendants, he didn¡¯t know what type of material this was, yet it had such a tactile sensation. Such a treasure, not to mention ordinary people, is also rare even in the Cultivation World. Especially for Lin Tianming, who was keen-eyed, having seen various types of jade pendants and tokens over a hundred years, he had never come across this unique material. Just by this alone, Lin Tianming was utterly convinced that the jade token was a treasure. ¡°Haha¡­ I knew I wasn¡¯t mistaken!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming was very excited, and the smile on his face never ceased. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming then started to carefully examine the jade pendant with his Eye of Five Colors. Under the observation of the Eye of Five Colors, indeed some clues were discovered. It turned out that the jade token had a line of golden characters, which appeared very hidden. Nevertheless, with the special effect of the Eye of Five Colors, upon close inspection, he still detected something extraordinary. Otherwise, if it were an ordinary cultivator, even if they obtained the jade token, they probably would not be able to discern the special features of the token. And Lin Tianming, being meticulous and aided by the tool of the Eye of Five Colors, discovered the line of golden characters. As for the content of the characters, Lin Tianming carefully read them several times and eventually concluded. ¡°Vermilion Bird Order!¡± The golden characters on the jade token represented the Vermilion Bird Order. At this moment, Lin Tianming was puzzled, pondering clues related to the Vermilion Bird Order. After a long while, Lin Tianming could not recall any clues related to the Vermilion Bird Order. But it is said that the Vermilion Bird on this token is a type of Ancient Exotic Beast, with extremely powerful and special bloodline. Moreover, there was a saying in the Cultivation World that long, long ago, the Demon Beast Race possessed various powerful bloodline tribes, among which the Vermilion Bird tribe was included. However, the existence of such demonic beasts is too ancient, and even now, the inheritance of the Demon Beast Race has been longer than that of the Human Race. As time passed, the Human Race¡¯s inheritance has lasted for hundreds of thousands of years, while the history of the Demon Beast Race traces back to a million years ago. In such a long river of history, despite the natural talents and extremely powerful bloodlines of those Ancient Exotic Beasts, they could not withstand the passage of time and eventually vanished without a trace, leaving only legends in the Cultivation World. Now, whether such a glorious history is true has long been unverifiable. However, this saying is widely circulated within the Cultivation World. Thinking of these legends, Lin Tianming also pondered deeply, unable to ascertain the true use of this item in the end. ¡°Could this also be a key to a Cave Mansion Secret Realm?¡± ¡°Or perhaps, it¡¯s a token of a treasure vault belonging to an extremely powerful force?¡± Lin Tianming contemplated various speculations, ultimately leaning towards the former. Because from this jade token, he sensed a familiar aura. This aura was very covert and faint; without careful observation or a reference, it was almost impossible to detect. And he was able to perceive it because the aura of this jade token was very close to that of the Qilin Seal he had obtained earlier. Considering further, the Qilin, named on the seal, was also one of the Ancient Exotic Beasts from the Demon Beast Race. Like the Vermilion Bird, the Qilin tribe was gifted with extraordinary natural talents and tremendously powerful bloodline strength, and their strength was quite terrifying upon maturity. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. According to rumors, such Ancient Exotic Beasts would have a minimum starting level of Fourth Order upon reaching adulthood. For some tribes, they would be at the Fifth Order upon maturity. Such powerful demonic beasts can be compared to the Deification Stage powerhouse of the Human Race. Both Vermilion Bird and Qilin belong to the latter level, and to this day, only legends remain, with no one having witnessed their elegance. Even some books have almost lost this information. However, Lin Tianming, fond of various books of the Cultivation World, had read quite a bit and memorized these firmly in his mind. It was also because of this that Lin Tianming made such an association based on these similarities. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately took out the Qilin Seal for comparison. Sure enough, after his careful comparison, it indeed confirmed his guess. The Qilin Seal and the Vermilion Bird Order were extremely similar, just differing in appearance. If so, did that mean this Vermilion Bird Order, like the Qilin Seal, was also one of the tokens of a Cave Mansion Ruin? Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but fall into deep thought. Recalling the past, he had obtained the Qilin Seal from a cultivator of the Xu Family, a Foundation Establishing Family from the Wei Kingdom. At that time, the Xu Family was annihilated by the Blood Red Alliance, and the Xu Family cultivator Xu Haiqiao fled, eventually encountering the pursuit of the Blood Red Alliance members. Coincidentally, Lin Tianming happened to encounter this and inadvertently got involved in this turmoil. At that time, Lin Tianming also spent a lot of effort and finally managed to eliminate the Blood Red Alliance cultivator with difficulty. Unfortunately, Xu Haiqiao still perished, and ultimately, all the schemes of the Blood Red Alliance ended up in his hands. After obtaining the Qilin Seal, he had contemplated for a long time and consulted many books, eventually making a series of judgments. As for his current visit to Qingzhou, apart from training and searching for Lin Tianfeng and another, he was also keen to probe information about the Qilin Seal covertly. If possible, he even planned to make a trip to Yuxu Country controlled by the Blood Red Alliance, just to investigate the origins and use of the Qilin Seal. Who would have thought, before he even began to implement this plan, he obtained another token in Yuanzhen City. Such an outcome was truly beyond Lin Tianming¡¯s expectation. But thinking about it, since he had obtained the Vermilion Bird Order, it further proved that the plots behind the Blood Red Alliance were significant. Besides, since obtaining the Qilin Seal, dozens of years had passed. With such a long interval, his acquiring a new token now also indicated that the schemes of the Blood Red Alliance were definitely not progressing smoothly. ¡­ Chapter 1130: 591: Sudden Change Chapter 1130: Chapter 591: Sudden Change At least one thing is certain, there are more than just these two tokens. It¡¯s very likely that there are a number of such tokens, or even more probably. The fact that he has obtained two in succession also indicates that these tokens are fated to him, and the opportunities behind them are even more so. As such, on this visit to the central region of Qingzhou, the role of the Qilin Seal and Vermilion Bird Order behind them must be thoroughly investigated. If it truly is an opportunity, judging by the importance placed by the Blood Red Alliance, it¡¯s bound to be a shocking opportunity. Perhaps, this opportunity behind it all is critical for his breakthrough into the Nascent Soul Stage. Realizing this, Lin Tianming made up his mind that he must grasp some clues about the function of these tokens and what the Blood Red Alliance is plotting during his travels in the central region of Qingzhou. At the very least, he must understand the role of these two tokens, as well as the opportunities linked behind them. With this in mind, Lin Tianming etched this matter deeply into his memory. Coming back to his senses, Lin Tianming then put away the Qilin Seal and Vermilion Bird Order into the Qiankun Jade. Immediately after, Lin Tianming closed his eyes tightly and began to cultivate. This morning, Lin Tianming and his wife left the Cave Mansion together and, after disguising themselves, they headed straight for the city gate. Soon, the couple left Yuanzhen City and quietly departed. Today was the day they had agreed to meet with Sun Liancheng. Therefore, following their arrangements, Lin Tianming and his wife went to wait in a mountain range just outside Yuanzhen City. Half a quarter of an hour after their arrival at the destination, Sun Liancheng hurriedly arrived as well. After exchanging greetings, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Daoist Sun, do you know where your nemesis Xu Zhiyao currently is?¡± Hearing the question, Sun Liancheng laughed and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ Rest assured, my fellow Daoists!¡± ¡°I have long been in control of that nemesis of mine¡¯s whereabouts, you only need to follow me, and once I lure him out, you can take the opportunity to strike unexpectedly.¡± ¡°As long as we eliminate this person, the rewards you are to receive will naturally be fully offered by me, with no delays to you, my fellow Daoists.¡± Hearing these words, Lin Tianming exchanged a glance with Qin Xi, and then nodded his head. Seeing this, Sun Liancheng did not delay further and immediately took out a Flying Magical Treasure, opening it and jumping onto it first. This Flying Magical Treasure was a small boat, with an appearance of pitch-black and adorned with fine golden inscriptions, looking quite extraordinary. It¡¯s apparent that Sun Liancheng possesses some wealth to have a Flying Artifact, indicating that he certainly has formidable personal strength. Otherwise, a Flying Artifact is highly valuable, even more expensive than regular Defense Treasures. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That Sun Liancheng could possess such a treasure at the Early Stage Golden Core, and bring it out so openly, clearly shows he¡¯s very confident in his own strength. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming and his wife remained composed and stepped forward to keep pace with Sun Liancheng, swiftly entering his Flying Artifact. Afterward, Sun Liancheng activated the Flying Magical Treasure and turned swiftly into a black shadow that soared into the clouds, darting in a certain direction. Half a month passed. This day, the Flying Magical Treasure was perched atop a mountain peak. At this time, Sun Liancheng spoke to Lin Tianming and his wife, who were resting with their eyes closed. ¡°My fellow Daoists, we have arrived!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming and his wife opened their tightly shut eyes and surveyed their surroundings. Looking around, this was just an ordinary wilderness, extremely peaceful, with only the occasional bird flying over a ridge. Lin Tianming pondered about their journey for half a month, guessing they were still within the borders of Yuanzhen Kingdom, though unsure of the exact location. Consequently, Lin Tianming asked, ¡°Daoist Sun, where is this place? Is your nemesis in this wilderness?¡± As the words fell, Sun Liancheng took over the conversation. ¡°Daoist Chen, this place is within one of the three great perilous areas of Yuanzhen Kingdom, the Ice Wind Valley. We are only in the outermost areas,¡± ¡°As for my nemesis Xu Zhiyao, he should presently be cultivating in seclusion within the Ice Wind Valley. If we join forces and search together, we should be able to find his place of seclusion.¡± ¡°Ice Wind Valley?¡± Hearing Sun Liancheng¡¯s words, Lin Tianming slipped into contemplation. He had heard of Ice Wind Valley before and had also looked through some relevant texts. This Ice Wind Valley covered a large area and was filled with rich Spiritual Energy. It¡¯s said that long ago, this place was a battlefield, where many High Order Demonic Beasts and High Order Cultivators of the Human Race fell. Inside the Ice Wind Valley, Gang Wind rages year-round, and Demonic Beasts roam everywhere. While Fourth Order Demonic Beasts are unlikely to exist, there are still many Third Order Demon Beasts. Though the area is perilous, there are also many opportunities to be found. After all, there was once a world-shattering battle here, where High Order Demonic Beasts and powerful human cultivators fell. Hence, the blood of these High Order Monster Beasts and strong humans spilled here, nurturing the growth of many Heaven and Earth Treasures. At the same time, many legacies of these powerful figures have also been lost here. Under these circumstances, the inner parts of Ice Wind Valley hold many legacies and opportunities, known as a land of perilous fortune and even a graveyard for the strong. Over time, it has become one of the three great perilous lands of Yuanzhen Kingdom, attracting many Cultivators to come here for cultivation or to hunt Demonic Beasts for trial. Chapter 1131: 591: Sudden Change_2 Chapter 1131: Chapter 591: Sudden Change_2 Furthermore, in Yuanzhen Kingdom, and even in the surrounding regions, there have been numerous rumors that many cultivators have found considerable opportunities in Ice Wind Valley, eventually becoming formidable figures of their generation. These precedents further boosted the popularity and renown of Ice Wind Valley throughout Yuanzhen Kingdom and several neighboring nations. And now, Sun Liancheng has actually brought them here, searching for his nemesis Xu Zhiyao, and considering the many fundamental factors of this place, it indeed seemed logical and reasonable. Realizing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Daoist Sun, since Xu Zhiyao is within Ice Wind Valley, let¡¯s go directly inside to search for him.¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Liancheng nodded, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s confidence. ¡°Daoist Chen, there are also some spatial fissures inside Ice Wind Valley, and Third Order Demon Beasts occasionally appear. Although we are all at the Golden Core Stage Cultivation, we can¡¯t be too careless to avoid losing our lives in vain.¡± ¡°Therefore, we can only travel by flying. This way, we can be a bit safer and avoid alerting Xu Zhiyao.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Daoist Sun, please lead the way!¡± Lin Tianming answered, then he leaped from the Flying Boat first, alighting atop a mountain peak. Sun Liancheng wasted no time; after storing his Magical Treasure, he directly shot towards the interior of Ice Wind Valley. Afterward, Lin Tianming and his wife closely followed Sun Liancheng, gradually making their way deeper into Ice Wind Valley. As the three of them continued to venture deeper, they distinctly felt the surrounding Spiritual Energy growing more concentrated. At the same time, some small spatial fissures swiftly flashed by them. Although these spatial fissures were small and not very fast, dodging them wasn¡¯t too difficult for these Golden Core Stage Cultivators. However, for Foundation Establishment Cultivators facing these unpredictable and irregular spatial fissures, it would certainly be quite perilous. If unlucky, inadvertently getting swallowed by a spatial fissure could lead to their demise. Even if they had good fortune, Foundation Establishment Cultivators who survived a spatial fissure would surely find themselves in an unfamiliar place. Moreover, spatial fissures are fraught with peril, barely surviving would mean likely sustaining some injuries. In such circumstances, the dangers of spatial fissures should not be underestimated. Lin Tianming himself was very fast and quite agile. With the special effect of the Eye of Five Colors, he found it easy to dodge. Aside from him, Qin Xi was also fast, and with Lin Tianming watching over her, they had an easy time along the way. Thus, for three full days, the three traversed through Ice Wind Valley, eventually reaching the most central area. Here in the deep area, the Gang Wind was very strong, and the density of spatial fissures notably increased. Despite the danger, the area¡¯s rich Spiritual Energy gave Lin Tianming the impression that it was even better than inside Yuanzhen City. Sensing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but think inwardly, if a cultivator were to practice here year-round without any treasures, their speed of cultivation would surely not be slow. And compared to most City Markets, building speed here might even be faster. This showed that although dangerous, this place was indeed an excellent spot for cultivation. However, thinking about such an apparent difference did baffle him. To his knowledge, Yuanzhen City was the premier enterprise under Yuanzhen Sect, always protected by a Fourth Order Great Array, and the efficiency of the Spirit Gathering Array was excellent. Yet even so, Yuanzhen City, which Yuanzhen Sect had managed for so long, had less concentrated Spiritual Energy than such a perilous place. Upon closer consideration, such occurrences were actually quite normal in the current Cultivation World. After all, a perilous location that had been preserved through history was bound to have its specialties. Just thinking about the dangers of this perilous place would deter most cultivators from wanting to stay here long-term. Only Golden Core Stage Cultivators confident in their power would dare to reside long-term in such a perilous place and simultaneously cultivate while seeking opportunities. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for typical Foundation Establishment Cultivators, those who come to perilous places for training usually do so in pursuit of opportunities. This is also why, places like Ice Wind Valley, with rich Spiritual Energy and the possibility of sudden opportunities, attract cultivators from Golden Core high orders down to Qi Refinement lower levels, all wishing to treasure hunt and undergo trials in such dangerous lands, or even to settle down and cultivate long-term. Understanding this, Lin Tianming became very curious about Ice Wind Valley. With these thoughts in mind, the trio continued to delve deeper. It was on the fourth day when they stopped before a canyon lush with vegetation. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked ahead, seeing the canyon shrouded in mist with sunshine unable to penetrate, casting the place in utter darkness. And yet, the interior of this canyon is narrow, and the passage is very long; no one knows exactly how deep it is. Besides that, even his powerful Divine Sense was somewhat suppressed here. At present, the range his Divine Sense could cover had weakened by thirty to forty percent compared to the outside. Such a peculiar canyon, in his view, was actually a hidden place. If there were no traces of Demonic Beasts inside, relying on the terrain and the rich concentration of Spiritual Energy, it would indeed be a good choice to use it as a Temporary Cave Abode for cultivation. And he wasn¡¯t the only one with this idea; Qin Xi thought the same. At this point, just as Lin Tianming was assessing the scene before him, Sun Liancheng spoke up. ¡°Daoist Chen, if nothing unexpected happens, Xu Zhiyao should be inside this canyon.¡± This statement suddenly pulled Lin Tianming back to reality. Following that, Lin Tianming continued, ¡°Daoist Sun, let¡¯s stick to the plan.¡± As soon as these words fell, Lin Tianming held the Tiangang Sword, ready for battle. Seeing this, Qin Xi quickly made the same preparations to act. Witnessing this series of actions from the couple, Sun Liancheng felt a jolt inside and wore a barely perceptible hint of wariness on his composed face. However, Sun Liancheng¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he nodded. ¡°Daoist Chen, this canyon seems very deep. We might as well move forward a bit.¡± ¡°Then, the two of you find a place to hide. I will explore further down, to see if Xu Zhiyao is really here.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming felt somewhat puzzled but did not ask any further questions. ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s make it quick!¡± Lin Tianming said indifferently and then secretly transmitted a message to Qin Xi. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this place is a bit strange, and Sun Liancheng¡¯s behavior is somewhat abnormal. Let¡¯s both be a little more cautious.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s transmission, Qin Xi¡¯s heart trembled. While maintaining a calm demeanor, she also prepared herself for any sudden incidents. At this moment, the couple followed behind Sun Liancheng, cautiously exploring further into the canyon. Unconsciously, they advanced several miles forward. With the deeper they went, an eerie quiet surrounded them, and the air was filled with a strange atmosphere. Lin Tianming was also aware of the abnormality here, his nerves taut, constantly watching every move in the surroundings. ¡°Daoist Chen, you two hide. I¡¯ll go deeper to have a look!¡± After saying that, Sun Liancheng continued to venture deeper. Watching Sun Liancheng disappear from view, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi hid in the canopy of a tree, their gazes fixed on every movement inside the canyon. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± A breeze blew past their ears, and the thick fog of the canyon shifted slowly. It was uncertain how much time had passed when a faint snapping sound was followed by a slight tremor throughout the canyon passage. Under these sudden changes, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression shifted, and he immediately pulled Qin Xi to retreat rapidly. Their speed was very fast, faster than ever before. Just as the couple was about to exit at the entrance of the canyon, the tremors of the ground intensified. Following that, an invisible light screen formed in front of Lin Tianming. In an instant, a Barrier was established, enveloping the entire canyon passage within it. And all of this happened too quickly; Lin Tianming and his wife were just inches away from breaking through the barrier. However, they still fell just a little bit short and ended up being trapped inside the Barrier. ¡­ Chapter 1132: 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters Chapter 1132: Chapter 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters At this moment, the barrier before Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes stirred up whirlwinds, filling the air with flying sand and a dense haze of dust, instantly obscuring his vision. Simultaneously, a substantial oppressive force relentlessly affected Lin Tianming¡¯s body, noticeably restraining the agility of his movements. Moreover, even his divine soul was affected to varying degrees, making him feel an unprecedented pressure from head to toe. Not only him, but Qin Xi beside him also wore a face of shock and anger, her complexion suddenly flushing red. It was apparent that Qin Xi was also impacted by the oppressive force of the barrier, and she struggled more significantly than Lin Tianming. After all, Lin Tianming was at the Mid-Stage Golden Core Realm and a Dual Cultivator of Body and Law, with his divine sense far surpassing that of cultivators of the same level. With such foundational advantages, although Lin Tianming was affected to varying extents, he was still generally able to cope. In contrast, Qin Xi was a minor level lower in cultivation and lacked the foundational strengths that Lin Tianming had. Now facing this sudden calamity, the pressure Qin Xi had to endure was naturally immense. Fortunately, Qin Xi was talented and had experienced many crises over the years, hence possessing considerable combat experience and an extremely calm adaptive ability. Therefore, Qin Xi only looked stunned for a moment, quickly regained her composure, and adapted to the oppressive force of the barrier. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the gravity of their situation and his expression turned solemn. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this seems to be a trapping formation; we must break free from its shackles as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Otherwise, our situation will only become more difficult!¡± Lin Tianming silently transmitted his thoughts to Qin Xi, his whole being highly focused and ready to act at any moment. Just then, the myriad changes within the barrier seemed to calm down a bit, though the oppressive force still existed, but the disruptions were not as intense as before. This stability allowed Lin Tianming and his wife to steady themselves momentarily, their gazes scanning around, attempting to figure out who was lying in ambush. Shortly after, several bursts of mocking laughter echoed from deep within the canyon. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Brother, these two are really easy to deceive; they fell for it so easily.¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Moreover, they¡¯ve entered our formation directly; now, they probably can¡¯t escape.¡± As the voice faded, a woman giggled and continued the conversation. ¡°Gee gee gee¡­These two either have too much confidence or are truly foolish, trusting the few words from our second brother and delivering themselves right into our hands for the slaughter.¡± ¡°Ts ts ts¡­These two must have a considerable fortune. I can hardly wait.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As the voices grew closer, three cultivators slowly appeared in Lin Tianming¡¯s line of sight. Looking forward, in addition to Sun Liancheng, whom they had previously met, the other two were a man and a woman. The male cultivator was dressed in white robes, appearing middle-aged, and his cultivation level was directly exposed, clearly a Mid-Stage Golden Core Strongman. As for the other individual, she was a seductively postured female cultivator, with the same cultivation level as Sun Liancheng, at Early Stage Golden Core. As these three people approached, their words were full of confidence, and their faces bore a hint of wild laughter, seemingly regarding Lin Tianming as though he were already a dead man. At this moment, while on alert, Lin Tianming glared angrily at Sun Liancheng. ¡°Daoist Sun, what is the meaning of this?¡± Hearing this, Sun Liancheng laughed heartily: ¡°Heh¡­ What could it mean at this point?¡± As his words fell, the leading male cultivator, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s wary stance, was slightly stunned, then took over the conversation. ¡°My fellow Daoist, seeing your not insubstantial cultivation and strength,¡± ¡°In my opinion, you might as well willingly hand over your storage bags and submit to us, the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters; this could still spare your lives.¡± ¡°Otherwise, don¡¯t blame us three siblings for not showing mercy!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed, seemingly understanding something. Clearly, Sun Liancheng¡¯s name was just an alias, and the supposed traces of Tianxin Grass might well be false. As for the origin of the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, Lin Tianming had heard some rumors about them in Yuanzhen City; their names were quite renowned in several neighboring countries of Yuanzhen Kingdom. Rumors had it that all three, the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, were loose cultivators who had become sworn siblings in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Leading them was Liu Nantian, with a Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation, and the youngest was the sole female cultivator among them, Shen Rong. The person previously using the name of Sun Liancheng was the second, Yan Mingshan. Their notoriety stemmed from their formidable strength. After all, all three were Golden Core cultivators, including one at the Mid Stage Golden Core. Additionally, the leader Liu Nantian was also a Third Order Formation Master. With him as the leader, relying on their collective strength and his expertise in formation Dao, the three had been traveling around, frequently active in several countries in the center of Qingzhou. During this period, they often engaged in looting and plundering, with countless loose cultivators perishing at their hands. Although the three committed countless heinous acts, they were extremely cautious in their actions, always making thorough preparations. Chapter 1133: 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters_2 Chapter 1133: Chapter 592 Yuan Zhen Three Monsters_2 Moreover, these three individuals never dared to provoke Yuanzhen Sect or any other Nascent Soul Forces¡¯ cultivators. Even at times, they would not dare to overly provoke the disciples of Yuanzhen Sect from Foundation Establishment stage. It was precisely because of such a cowardly and cautious style of conduct that many independent cultivators in the Cultivation World hated them to the core, yet were immensely wary of them. Moreover, it is said that over a hundred years ago, there was a team organized by several Golden Core stage independent cultivators in the Cultivation World that hunted them down for a period. Among them, there were also Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators leading the team. However, Liu Nantian and his two companions were all at the Golden Core stage, each possessing formidable strength, and they were almost always together. Additionally, with the leisurely preparedness of Liu Nantian and his group, coupled with the assistance of a Third Order Great Array, they completely occupied the advantages of the situation. As a result, the team that was hunting them suffered a great defeat. Among them, three individuals were killed on the spot, another three were severely injured, and ultimately, they escaped with great difficulty and heavy costs. Since this incident spread throughout the Cultivation World, the reputation of Yuan Zhen Three Monsters greatly surged, completely resonating through the surrounding countries of Yuanzhen Kingdom. Also, since this incident, although the Golden Core stage independent cultivators in the Cultivation World were terrified and wary, most of them adopted an indifferent attitude. And such a result meant that even if one or two individual Golden Core cultivators joined forces, they were no match for Liu Nantian and his group. Over time, the local and surrounding independent cultivators gave up the idea of encircling and suppressing the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters. Besides this, Liu Nantian and his two companions also restrained themselves, significantly reducing the frequency of attacking other cultivators. Moreover, every time they took action, they were fully prepared, and the targets of their attacks were mostly unfamiliar faces. Thus, Liu Nantian and his companions continued their nefarious deeds for over a hundred years and were still very much alive. At this moment, Lin Tianming remembered this information about the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, and his expression immediately became serious. However, Lin Tianming remained composed, watching Liu Nantian and his two companions slowly approach him, and then coldly said: ¡°Turns out to be the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, the three fellow Daoists. My wife and I bear no hard feelings or grudges against you three brothers and sisters. Why target us?¡± Hearing this, Sun Liancheng smiled indifferently and said, ¡°Hehe¡­ There isn¡¯t any enmity.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s quite coincidental that the two fellow Daoists, being unfamiliar faces, appeared in Yuanzhen City and just happened to meet me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to encounter such a thing at ordinary times.¡± ¡°Moreover, when we three siblings act, why should we care about others? As long as the target fits the criteria, they become our prey.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As for blaming anyone, you should blame your ill luck!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed a slight anger, and his heart immediately became very annoyed. You see, throughout the years, he and his wife had been careful in their conduct, rarely offending anyone, let alone bullying others. Yet, they still inevitably encountered some unexpected and unwanted troubles. But reality is so fascinating, in their quest to find clues to Tianxin Grass, they coincidentally encountered the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, truly feeling a bit unlucky. Moreover, the strength of the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters was not weak, and they had the aid of a Third Order Formation. And with only Qin Xi and himself, having no advantage in cultivation, they were also trapped within this formation. With such a situation, Lin Tianming felt both shocked and angry, and also helpless. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming suppressed the anger in his heart and then pondered over a strategy to deal with the situation. As he saw it, the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters were not easy to deal with. Moreover, now that these three people occupied the advantage of time and place, it was obviously not likely they would just retreat. Rather than waste words with them, it was better to take initiative, using the quickest and most effective method to break the bonds of the formation. After all, the formation had just started operating and its stability was far from that of a long-operated formation. What he needed to do was to break through this enclosure when the formation was at its weakest. Otherwise, once the formation truly began to operate fully, it would inevitably become very stable. If that were the case, even if he wanted to break it, even with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, it would nearly be impossible to do within three to five days. So it appears, the current time is extremely critical for him. As long as they escape from this formation, with the combined strength of him and his wife, they might not be able to guarantee a victory over the three opposite, but at least their lives would no longer be at risk. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind. Therefore, Lin Tianming feigned calm and then said: ¡°Fellow Daoists, by acting this way, don¡¯t you still want to provoke a siege against you?¡± After finishing speaking, Lin Tianming activated his Eye of Five Colors, looking for weak spots on the barrier of the formation. Meanwhile, Lin Tianming continued speaking, intentionally delaying Liu Nantian¡¯s attack. Upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s provocative words, Liu Nantian indeed responded with a series of cold laughs. ¡°A siege against us three siblings?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ What a joke!¡± As soon as these words were out, Yan Mingshan on the other side also sneered, then chuckled and said: ¡°It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t been besieged before. In the end, were not all those who besieged us either dead or fled?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not even mention, it¡¯s been a long time since us three siblings have tasted being besieged, right?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ indeed¡­¡± While Liu Nantian and the others were laughing and chatting, they did not notice Lin Tianming¡¯s actions at all, let alone the fact that Lin Tianming possessed such a powerful tool as the Eye of Five Colors. At this moment, Lin Tianming was both delaying time and intently staring at the invisible and colorless screen in front of him. Following his line of sight, within that screen, energy was circulating, connected to a central system through numerous minuscule channels. These channels were truly tiny; ordinary cultivators, if they used their Divine Sense to search, wouldn¡¯t know how much time and energy it would cost, and the consumption of Divine Sense would also be enormous. Besides, the person who set up the formation to trap the target wouldn¡¯t allow the trapped person much time to break the formation. In such a case, a typical person trapped would most likely resort to using brute force to break the formation. However, Lin Tianming, possessing the Eye of Five Colors, a supplementary tool, and at the moment when the formation was just activated, definitely had an opportunity to quickly dismantle the formation. Sure enough, as Lin Tianming focused on the channels in the screen where energy was flowing swiftly, he quickly located a weak point. This weak point was located in a corner, farthest from the central system, and it was at a crisscrossed position, clearly a very crucial hub. More importantly, the energy flowing to this hub was minimal, hardly comparable to those at the center. Therefore, in Lin Tianming¡¯s view, this weak spot was the optimal place to attack. Realizing this, Lin Tianming secretly sent a message to Qin Xi, indicating the specific spot she should strike. After doing all this, while Liu Nantian and the others were distracted, Lin Tianming suddenly threw the Tiangang Sword in front of him. Next, Lin Tianming pinched out a Law Decree, sending bursts of Spiritual Light bombarding onto the Tiangang Sword. Everything happened very fast, in the blink of an eye. At this moment, Liu Nantian and the others had no idea of Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions, let alone that Lin Tianming had the capability to break the formation. Thus, before they could react, Lin Tianming activated the Divine Skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± In an instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword transformed into a long dragon and swiftly darted toward a corner of the sky. At the same time, Qin Xi also made her move at the fastest speed. With a flick of her sleeve, a brilliant light was activated in the blink of an eye, turning into a Frost Dragon rushing towards the sky. ¡°Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­¡± In that moment, two streaks of light, one red and one blue, streaked across the sky, their speed incredibly fast, like shooting stars, disappearing in the blink of an eye. It was only then that Liu Nantian realized what was happening. When they saw the actions of Lin Tianming and his wife, they first mockingly smiled at themselves, then showed a confident look of having everything under control. ¡­ Chapter 1134: 593: Terrible Opponent Chapter 1134: Chapter 593: Terrible Opponent In Liu Nantian¡¯s heart, he simply didn¡¯t believe that the Formation he had set up could be broken through by Lin Tianming. Even more inconceivable to him was that this Formation, which they took pride in and had used to successfully trap enemies multiple times, could be easily broken in a short period of time. However, when the attack from Lin Tianming and his companion appeared in the sky and targeted a certain corner, Liu Nantian¡¯s complexion immediately changed slightly. It was obvious that as a Third Order Array Master and the one who had set up the Formation, Liu Nantian was very aware of its weak spot. And Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden strike was aimed directly at that weak spot of the Formation. Such a trajectory of the attack made it unclear whether it was a fluke or if they had truly discovered some weakness in the Formation. After thinking it over briefly, Liu Nantian was more inclined to the latter perspective. In his view, the sudden attack from Lin Tianming and his wife was smooth and powerful, possessing all the elements of precision and ferocity. Such a fierce attack, accurately targeting the weak spot of the Formation¡¯s Barrier, was obviously premeditated. And before this, Lin Tianming¡¯s intentional stalling, was clearly meant to find the Formation¡¯s weak spot in the shortest time possible. Realizing this point, Liu Nantian suddenly felt like he had been played. What was more critical was that Lin Tianming indeed managed to find the Formation¡¯s weak spot in such a short period of time, which made him somewhat baffled inside. ¡°Could it be, this guy is also a Third Order Array Master?¡± ¡°Or possibly, he has broken through this Formation before?¡± ¡°Otherwise, how could he pinpoint the Formation¡¯s weak spot so easily?¡± At this very moment, as Liu Nantian pondered in his heart, his whole being wanted to stop Lin Tianming and his wife from attacking, but Lin Tianming¡¯s action was decisive, and the speed of the attack was extraordinarily fast. Now, even if he wanted to stop Lin Tianming, it was too late. Thus, under Liu Nantian¡¯s gaze, the attack from Lin Tianming and his wife hit directly on a corner of the Formation¡¯s barrier of light. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± In an instant, two loud explosions rang out. At the same time, the sky suddenly burst into flames, dazzling streaks of light crossed the heavens, and massive fluctuations swept in all directions. Within that burst of flames, the two attacks were seen hitting the barrier in succession. After the two explosions subsided a bit, a crisp sound was heard, instantly spreading throughout the entire valley. The sound was shrill and extremely resonant. And from Lin Tianming¡¯s point of view, the two attacks accurately struck the previously identified weak spot. At that moment, the Formation¡¯s barrier of light trembled violently, and the energy within multiplied wildly. Meanwhile, the once stable flow of energy started moving erratically as if it had lost control. This bizarre scene lasted only a moment, before the barrier began to ripple after a series of tremors. A breath¡¯s time passed, and the Formation¡¯s barrier of light shattered like a bubble, vanishing into nothingness. At this time, the barrier of light that enveloped Lin Tianming¡¯s view also dissipated, and the unique gloominess of the sky returned to his sight. At this moment, seeing this unfold, Liu Nantian and the other two were dumbfounded. Not only him, but Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong beside him also showed varying expressions, all filled with disbelief. And Liu Nantian, still clinging to a sliver of hope, wouldn¡¯t truly believe that this Formation which he took pride in could be broken by Lin Tianming and his companion with a joint strike. But the reality before him shattered his belief. With this one hit, the Formation set by Liu Nantian was broken, and without the barrier of light, both parties faced each other across the air. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the moment of Liu Nantian and the others¡¯ astonishment, Lin Tianming glanced at Qin Xi beside him, and the couple nodded at each other. Then, Lin Tianming shouted, ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s take action immediately!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming leapt forward, his Tiangang Sword shooting out from his hand. In an instant, Lin Tianming made his full effort, the powerful Mana within him operating to its limit, unleashing the Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword with extreme speed. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Under his control, the Tiangang Sword transformed into a dragon, cutting through the void with its terrifying Sword Qi, locking onto Liu Nantian himself with incredible speed. At the moment Lin Tianming made his move, Qin Xi was not to be outdone. At that instant, Qin Xi¡¯s face remained calm as she threw her aqua blue Longsword forward. Following that, Qin Xi¡¯s fingers performed Hand Seals continuously, with a series of Law Decrees bombarding the sword. In a blink, the aqua blue Longsword flashed with light, and then a roaring aqua blue Frost Dragon emerged, charging directly at the position where Shen Rong was located. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The deafening roar of the Frost Dragon echoed, and the valley, once quiet for a short while, once again erupted with noise. At this time, hearing these sounds, Liu Nantian and his group recovered from their astonishment. Upon seeing Lin Tianming and his companion launch their attacks, with those two strikes drawing nearer to their position and the fierce momentum stirring up the Gang Wind, their clothes fluttered wildly. Then, Liu Nantian, the leader, wore a solemn expression and let out a cold huff. ¡°Second brother, third sister, you two join forces to kill that female cultivator, while I go and confront that male cultivator.¡± As soon as his words fell, Liu Nantian leaped forward, charging straight towards the Tiangang Sword. Chapter 1135: 593: Formidable Opponent_2 Chapter 1135: Chapter 593: Formidable Opponent_2 While still in mid-air, Liu Nantian waved his sleeve, and a disc appeared in his hand. Immediately afterward, he slapped the disc forcefully, and a flurry of golden blades burst from the disc, colliding head-on with the incoming Tiangang Swords. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± A succession of explosive sounds crackled through the air, with flashes of light intermittently illuminating the gloomy sky. In that collision, numerous flying blades were deflected away or shattered on impact, dissipating into the ether. Despite being slightly diverted, the assault by the Tiangang Swords was merely slowed, continuing its lethal trajectory towards Liu Nantian. Seeing this, Liu Nantian¡¯s face turned ugly, his heart had not anticipated Lin Tianming¡¯s attack to be so formidable. After all, he too was at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm and had launched an attack with all his might, pushing his Offensive Magical Treasure to its limits. Yet, even with such effort, this round of attacks had been crushed head-on by Lin Tianming, while his own attacks had been repelled. This turn of events once again took Liu Nantian by surprise. However, he had no time to ponder, as Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were relentless. He was aware that, although Lin Tianming¡¯s strike had been partially weakened, its power remained terrifyingly potent. Should he fail to evade this strike, their battle could conclude at the end of this initial exchange. With this realization, Liu Nantian hastily retreated, attempting to dodge the Tiangang Sword¡¯s assault. Simultaneously, Liu Nantian called forth his Defense Treasure to firmly protect himself. In the blink of an eye, despite Liu Nantian¡¯s decisive and swift evasion, regrettably, Lin Tianming¡¯s long-prepared attack was exceedingly fast. In an instant, Liu Nantian found escape impossible. Accompanied by a loud explosion, the Tiangang Sword struck a Black Shield. At that moment, Liu Nantian was sent hurtling by the immense force. While still airborne, his Qi-Blood churned violently, and he spewed mouthfuls of blood, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. Once the blaze dissipated, Liu Nantian¡¯s figure was revealed. At a glance, Liu Nantian appeared pale, with significantly weakened vitality. At that moment, Liu Nantian forcefully calmed the violent Qi-Blood within his body, and upon looking at Lin Tianming again, his face was filled with hatred. And in his heart, fear surged. Before this strike, he hadn¡¯t considered Lin Tianming to be stronger than himself. Now Liu Nantian was acutely aware that, though both at the Mid Stage Golden Core, Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was overwhelmingly formidable, far beyond his expectation. The gap between them was not small; regardless of being at full strength or now, he stood no chance against Lin Tianming. Furthermore, having been injured by the strike, his own power was now diminished. Given the current situation, continuing the one-on-one fight, he feared he wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Thinking this, Liu Nantian¡¯s heart oscillated between shock and anger, also regretting his previous recklessness, which led to provoking such a formidable and ruthless opponent. Now, with all pretenses discarded, they found themselves in a dilemma. At this time, Lin Tianming, oblivious to Liu Nantian¡¯s mental turmoil, charged towards Liu Nantian following the first attack. While still in mid-air, Lin Tianming waved his sleeve and once again cast the Tiangang Ninth Sword, aiming to keep Liu Nantian firmly engaged. Simultaneously, he slapped his storage bag, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, swiftly dispersing into the ground. Then, Lin Tianming quickly activated the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. His movements were quick and subtle; before Liu Nantian could react, the Sword Array was already running smoothly. By the time Liu Nantian came to his senses, he saw the Tiangang Swords assaulting him once again. Moreover, a Barrier had materialized around him, enveloping him at the center. At this moment, he felt a considerable oppressive force that hindered his movements, significantly slowing down his speed. Sensing such a sudden change, Liu Nantian¡¯s face became even paler, and his fear intensified. However, having lived for so many years and experienced numerous life-and-death battles, Liu Nantian, who was rich in combat experience, overcame his brief moment of panic and quickly returned to normal. Following that, he made up his mind to break free from the barrier¡¯s confines in the shortest possible time. Otherwise, as a Third Order Array Master, he would experience the taste of being trapped. Under such circumstances, Liu Nantian was now extremely frantic. In an instant, he slapped his disc-shaped Magical Treasure, pouring a vast amount of mana into it before propelling it to clash head-on with the incoming Tiangang Sword. After doing all this, Liu Nantian did not forget to unleash a barrage of attacks, bombing the gradually shrinking Sword Array Barricade with indiscriminate fury. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Explosions resounded continuously, and flames continued to illuminate both inside and outside of the gorge. Amidst the flames, Liu Nantian pushed his power to the limit, sparing no effort. Under his relentless assault, the golden disc repelled Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword. Furthermore, his numerous attacks struck against the lifeless Sword Array Barricade. In an instant, the Sword Array Barricade trembled violently with signs of breaking. Regrettably, Lin Tianming had anticipated that Liu Nantian would fight to the death. Therefore, the moment the attack with the Tiangang Sword ended, he controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all his might, focusing all his mind and energy on it. Liu Nantian¡¯s attacks made the Sword Array Barricade shake every time, but it quickly stabilized again. With Lin Tianming¡¯s cautious approach, he did not grant Liu Nantian the slightest opportunity. As another round of attacks concluded, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation remained intact, with its enveloping range continuing to shrink, soon leaving only a hundred zhang of space. At this moment, Liu Nantian, positioned at the center of the Sword Array, felt an increasing oppressive force, and the Sword Array, which ran smoothly no matter how he attacked, left him unable to remain calm, filled with panic deep inside. At this moment, he finally understood how formidable Lin Tianming was. It could be said that Lin Tianming had been in absolute control from the get-go, every move within his grasp. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, looking at it, Lin Tianming had not even utilized any Spirit Art, nor had he exerted his full strength. Such an opponent was truly terrifying to the extreme. However, at this point in time, it was utterly meaningless for Liu Nantian to ponder on these thoughts. Right now, he was in dire straits, with the possibility of falling at any moment. Faced with Lin Tianming¡¯s incessant oppression, Liu Nantian burned with rage yet felt utterly helpless. Just then, as the Tiangang Sword made its way once again, Liu Nantian¡¯s face took on a resolute expression. Subsequently, he formed a Law Decree with his hands, starting to chant under his breath. Soon after, amidst a surge of Yuan Qi, a Golden Seal unexpectedly condensed above Liu Nantian¡¯s head. This seal, with its golden light shimmering, exuded an extraordinary aura. Moreover, the moment the seal appeared, it immediately drew the surrounding Yuan Qi towards the top of Liu Nantian¡¯s head. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew Liu Nantian was trying to use a Spirit Art, attempting a final struggle. Not only that, this Spirit Art exuded a formidable atmosphere, and the disturbance it caused was no small matter. Judging by the fluctuations, although this seal seemed to be a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, its power was likely among the very best at this level. Should it be successfully activated, Liu Nantian might actually turn the tables. The more Lin Tianming understood this, the more he needed to thwart Liu Nantian¡¯s intentions. Thus, he fully controlled the Tiangang Sword, attempting to interrupt Liu Nantian¡¯s spellcasting before he could activate the Spirit Art. ¡­ Chapter 1136: 594: Killing Liu Nantian Chapter 1136: Chapter 594: Killing Liu Nantian With such determination, Lin Tianming was fully focused, manipulating the Tiangang Sword to its utmost limit. At this moment, the speed of the Tiangang Sword suddenly increased, and in the blink of an eye, it was hovering over Liu Nantian¡¯s head. At this time, Liu Nantian was also at a critical moment in activating his Spirit Art. Seeing the Golden Seal forming its momentum above his head, Liu Nantian couldn¡¯t help feeling secretly pleased, thinking that this attack might reverse his currently disadvantaged situation. However, just as he was about to activate the Golden Seal, he saw the oncoming Tiangang Sword suddenly increase in speed. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword had descended above his head. At this time, Liu Nantian could feel the sharp aura rushing towards his face, causing him a pang of pain. In a moment, Liu Nantian was utterly shocked. Because he knew very well that Lin Tianming¡¯s strength was indeed too strong, and this strike was decisive and swift, its speed almost unbelievably fast. If this continued, this strike might hit him before he could activate his Spirit Art. By then, he would not have the time to defend, nor would he be able to dodge. In this case, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack would inevitably be the final straw that overwhelms his life. Perhaps realizing this, Liu Nantian, seeing the Tiangang Sword getting closer, already felt the breath of death inside. Despite exerting all his strength, the current situation was completely out of his control, and he had no leverage to negotiate. Now, the moment of desperation had arrived. In this situation, Liu Nantian had to either give up activating his Spirit Art and use the Defense Treasure immediately to defend, possibly escaping the disaster. Or he had to take a risk and see if his Spirit Art could break the predicament before the arrival of the Tiangang Sword. With only these two choices, Liu Nantian paused for just a brief moment and immediately decided to take the risk. Because he knew clearly, even if he gave up activating the Spirit Art to defend against Lin Tianming¡¯s attack. Even if he could fend it off, he would inevitably suffer severe damage. After all, he had witnessed Lin Tianming¡¯s strength before, undeniably formidable. And Lin Tianming, a decisive person with extremely formidable strength, his attacks flowed like water, leaving no chance for Liu Nantian to catch his breath. Under such circumstances, even if he temporarily escaped this calamity, it was merely delaying some time. It could even be said that such an outcome would be a slow death for him, Rather than lingering on, Liu Nantian felt it was better to take the risk, either to perish under Lin Tianming¡¯s sword or to break the tough situation with the power of his Spirit Art. With his mind made up, Liu Nantian did not hesitate. Thus, Liu Nantian¡¯s face was filled with madness, and his aura soared immediately. Saying this is slower than acting, Liu Nantian suddenly let out a loud shout. In an instant, the Golden Seal above his head suddenly swelled up, growing from the size of a bucket to that of a small mountain. Moreover, as the Golden Seal appeared, the whole sky was filled with strong winds, and flying sand covered the entire battlefield. At this moment, Liu Nantian pinched a Law Decree in his hand and chanted a special spell incantation. Once this series of ritual actions was completed, the Spirit Art would be fully activated. Understanding this, Liu Nantian dared not delay, completing all actions in the shortest time. Seeing the Golden Seal about to soar up, Liu Nantian had complex feelings, both anticipation and terror. And what he anticipated was the Golden Seal breaking his passive stance, and what he feared was all hopes shattered, resulting in him perishing under Lin Tianming¡¯s sword. With such complex emotions, Liu Nantian¡¯s eyes were firmly fixed on the space above his head. At the moment the Golden Seal soared up, the trajectory of the Tiangang Sword was slightly diverted by the aura of the Golden Seal. Fortunately, Lin Tianming, with his rich combat experience, was aware of the impressive power of Liu Nantian¡¯s Spirit Art. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, he had already anticipated the trajectory of the Tiangang Sword and adjusted it in time, preventing the strong aura of the Golden Seal from affecting the final attack target and trajectory. ¡°Shoo¡­¡± With the speed of the Tiangang Sword greatly increased, its flying trajectory returned to its course. Moreover, the Tiangang Sword was already close to Liu Nantian, and due to Liu Nantian¡¯s activation of the Spirit Art which caused a momentary delay, the Tiangang Sword was now almost hovering just ten meters above Liu Nantian¡¯s head. At the same moment, the Golden Seal above Liu Nantian¡¯s head ascended, about to strike toward Lin Tianming. However, with a scream, tranquility was abruptly shattered. Simultaneously, the originally formidable Golden Seal suddenly stopped moving and began to crumble, ultimately dissolving into nothingness between heaven and earth. This whole scene was witnessed by Lin Tianming from start to finish. Originally, the attack speed of the Tiangang Sword was too fast, striking down Liu Nantian before he could fully activate the Golden Seal to attack Lin Tianming. Once Liu Nantian was dead, the recently activated Golden Seal, having lost its master¡¯s control and energy support, became unable to maintain any trajectory, eventually disintegrating on the spot. As the sky gradually returned to normal, Lin Tianming saw Liu Nantian¡¯s body decapitated, with only residual breath still wandering in the sky. Looking at the bloody battlefield below, and the chaotic, devastated ground, it was immensely tragic. Chapter 1137: 594 Annihilation of Liu Nantian_2 Chapter 1137: Chapter 594 Annihilation of Liu Nantian_2 At this moment, seeing Liu Nantian so dead that he couldn¡¯t be dead anymore, Lin Tianming wore a smile and heaved a sigh of relief inside. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his heart, he felt quite satisfied with the outcome of this great battle. After all, Liu Nantian was also at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm and a Third Order Array Master, his strength was tremendous. Additionally, Liu Nantian had been in the Golden Core for more than two hundred years, during which time he had committed numerous instances of robbery and had also experienced many life-and-death battles. With such experiences, his combat experience was extremely rich. Moreover, with the extraordinary Spirit Art deployed by Liu Nantian, his strength among the cultivators in the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm was absolutely top-notch. And if it hadn¡¯t been for him, any other cultivator of the same order battling Liu Nantian might have ended up with a different outcome. Realizing this, Lin Tianming was satisfied with his own strength and the progression of this great battle. Especially the last strike; if he hadn¡¯t been careful and decisive enough, and had not continued with the attack of the Tiangang Sword. Otherwise, Liu Nantian might have seized the opportunity to turn the tide. Although he was confident that even if Liu Nantian had temporarily escaped disaster, he couldn¡¯t escape from his grasp. But in the Cultivation World, when the universe is undecided, anything is possible. To prevent any threats or emergencies, one must nip even the slightest chance in the bud to firmly control the situation. It was precisely because he always remembered this and acted accordingly that he was able to achieve a series of victories. Knowing the importance of this, Lin Tianming always kept it in mind. As Lin Tianming returned to his thoughts, the ground beneath his feet also returned to normal. At this moment, Lin Tianming calmed down and turned his glance toward the battlefield where Qin Xi was fighting. Looking over, Qin Xi was currently battling two against one, against Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze to Qin Xi¡¯s battlefield, it seemed to be in a deadlock. Crucially, in the short term, neither side seemed to gain an absolute advantage, nor showed signs of defeat. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was not anxious and did not immediately rush to Qin Xi¡¯s side to help. The reason he acted this way was intentional from the beginning. Simply put, Qin Xi had been stuck in a bottleneck, although previously she had mitigated some of it through the effect of the Yuan Essence Fruit. However, before this great battle, Qin Xi was still a long way from breaking through to the Mid Stage Golden Core. What¡¯s more important, Qin Xi urgently needed to face several life-and-death battles to temper her cultivation and mitigate the side effects of her rapid advancement. Since Qin Xi had already reached the peak of the Early Stage Golden Core, she was effectively only a step away from the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. If she experienced evenly matched battles and life-and-death crises at this time, she might truly resolve most of her bottleneck. Afterward, she could peacefully enter seclusion for two years, and it¡¯s quite possible she would smoothly step into the Mid Stage Golden Core. However, encountering an evenly matched opponent is not an easy task. After all, Qin Xi¡¯s strength was already very formidable, comparable to an ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. In this place, aside from Liu Nantian who was at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, only Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were at Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation. If she were to battle either one of them alone, Qin Xi could likely capture them with ease. In that case, it wouldn¡¯t serve the purpose of tempering Qin Xi. However, after giving it some thought, Lin Tianming realized that both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were seasoned Golden Core Cultivators and were ruthless characters. Moreover, over these past hundred years, Shen Rong and Yan Mingshan had also experienced many life-and-death battles and had been exposed to various crises. People with such experiences are usually not too weak. Under these circumstances, considering the combined strength of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, they indeed had the opportunity to compete with Qin Xi. And indeed, it was exactly so. While Lin Tianming and Liu Nantian were engaged in fierce combat, the battlefield where Qin Xi and her group were located had also undergone more than a dozen exchanges. During this period, both sides had their moments of advantage, giving and taking hits in turn. Overall, both sides seemed to be evenly matched, the situation almost deadlocked in a stalemate. Such a scenario was exactly what Lin Tianming wanted to see. In his view, Qin Xi needed to be tempered and to experience more life-and-death crises. As for safety, he had complete confidence in Qin Xi. Moreover, as he was also overseeing Qin Xi on this battlefield, there was really no need for concern. And even if Qin Xi were not a match for her opponent, with her cultivation strength, she should at least be safe if she was unable to win. Thus, Lin Tianming intentionally acted only as a spectator. However, at this moment, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, who were engaged in a fierce battle, saw Lin Tianming appear in a corner and their expressions drastically changed. For they knew what it meant for Lin Tianming to appear here. Moreover, during the intense battle, Yan Mingshan and another had briefly taken their focus off to check on Liu Nantian¡¯s battlefield. At that time, Liu Nantian was already at a disadvantage, with Lin Tianming completely controlling the overall situation of the battle. Initially, they had been confident in Liu Nantian, thinking that even if he was at a disadvantage, his life wouldn¡¯t be threatened. But now, seeing Lin Tianming here, calm and unhurt, with his demeanor still composed and showing no signs of injury, This situation was enough to indicate that the battle there had ended, and Liu Nantian had likely perished. Realizing this, both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were mentally shaken, and their rhythm of combat immediately became impacted. At this moment, Qin Xi seized this gap, unleashing a full-force attack that sent Yan Mingshan reeling. Still mid-air, Yan Mingshan coughed out several mouthfuls of blood, his face instantly paling. Qin Xi¡¯s attack had inflicted serious injuries on Yan Mingshan, impairing his strength to some extent. As for Shen Rong, although not injured, she was similarly distressed. Furthermore, Qin Xi took advantage of their momentary lapse, quickly gaining the upper hand and firmly suppressed both. Under such pressure, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were both shocked and furious, internally regretting their mental lapse. At the Golden Core Stage, even a moment¡¯s hesitation could affect the entire battle situation, and could even directly determine the outcome. Moreover, Qin Xi, being an experienced fighter, had been steady and cautious, not overreaching but waiting for a chance for a lethal blow. This lapse by Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong was undoubtedly the best opportunity Qin Xi had been waiting for. Thus, seizing the moment, Qin Xi unleashed a powerful attack that injured Yan Mingshan and also suppressed Shen Rong head-on. Subsequently, Qin Xi, now in control, continued her seamless attacks, giving no chance for Yan Mingshan and his companion to retaliate. Facing Qin Xi¡¯s fluid and ongoing attacks, Yan Mingshan and his companion were forced into a continuous retreat. Soon, after three rounds of attacks, it was over. At this point, Yan Mingshan and his companion had been forced back hundreds of feet. Barely stabilizing themselves, they were both pale, their Qi-Blood roiling and somewhat injured, with blood staining their already tattered Daoist robes. Besides, their overall energy was visibly depleted, looking every bit the defeated foe. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming nodded slightly, very satisfied with Qin Xi¡¯s performance in the combat. Given Qin Xi¡¯s current state and control over the situation, as long as Yan Mingshan and his companion had no miraculous methods, defeating them should just be a matter of time. ¡­ Chapter 1138: 595: Three People Fall Chapter 1138: Chapter 595: Three People Fall Understanding this, Lin Tianming stood by and watched the battle closely. Under his scrutiny, Qin Xi, who had already taken the initiative, showed a satisfied smile on her face after her recent successful strike. Shortly thereafter, Qin Xi performed a Law Decree, and the Treasure Sword in her hand flashed with a brilliance, as fierce attacks burst forth. Not only that, Qin Xi¡¯s frequency of attacks sped up even more, evidently aiming to finish the battle in the shortest possible time. At this moment, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s relentless attacks coming one after another, both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s faces turned pale with fright, their hearts filled with regret. They were well aware how unfavorable the situation was for them. After all, among the three of them, Liu Nantian, the strongest, had already fallen, and Lin Tianming, an even stronger adversary than Liu Nantian, was still observing from the side, possibly ready to join in at any moment. Moreover, Qin Xi¡¯s strength alone was enough to suppress the two of them. Even if Lin Tianming did not make a move, Qin Xi, with her steady and firm approach, would most likely achieve the final victory. Thus, the outcome of this great battle was virtually predetermined. Understanding this, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong first thought about how to save their own lives. So, seeing Qin Xi¡¯s attack approaching, Yan Mingshan secretly sent a message to Shen Rong. ¡°Third sister, we must repel this woman as soon as possible and then seize the chance to flee from here!¡± Hearing this, Shen Rong naturally did not disagree. Moreover, in her view, their current condition was unlikely to hold out for long, especially with Lin Tianming observing from the side. If they continued to delay, they really wouldn¡¯t have even the slightest chance to escape. Understanding this, Shen Rong decisively responded with a secret message. Quickly, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong reached an agreement and immediately started to act. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Seeing the Frost Dragon approaching in the sky, Yan Mingshan¡¯s expression turned solemn, his eyes revealing anger. However, Yan Mingshan quickly calmed down, and immediately focused all his Mana into the Defense Treasure, instantly activating it to form a barrier, protecting him and Shen Rong within. At that moment, Shen Rong, not daring to delay, continuously flicked her fingers, and a series of attacks were immediately launched, charging towards the Frost Dragon in the sky. In this manner, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong split their tasks clearly, one responsible for blocking Qin Xi¡¯s attacks, the other for launching attacks to pressure Qin Xi. Such exquisite cooperation indeed temporarily blocked Qin Xi¡¯s round of attacks. However, Yan Mingshan, who was responsible for defense, bore the brunt of Qin Xi¡¯s relentless attacks, enduring a tremendous impact force. As this round of attacks concluded, Yan Mingshan¡¯s injuries worsened slightly, and his strength significantly decreased compared to before the battle. Fortunately, their well-coordinated efforts, although at a cost, temporarily stabilized the situation. At this moment, seeing that her attack had not achieved its intended effect, Qin Xi immediately regrouped, clearly not intending to give Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong any chance to breathe. Thus, Qin Xi attacked again, unleashing a barrage of attacks at Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong in an instant. Qin Xi¡¯s attack speed was very fast and extremely fierce; each strike required Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s full attention to handle. And at that moment, having just recovered, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s expressions changed, hastily retreating. And while retreating, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong exchanged glances. Then, they saw Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong nod at each other, and at the same time performed a Law Decree, making the same gesture. Shortly thereafter, both of them chanted as though reciting a spell incantation. As their actions continued, soon above their heads, seemingly out of nowhere, a silhouette of a Golden Seal started to form. And merely in a breath or two, the silhouette of the Golden Seal became much more substantial, almost forming a complete seal. Upon seeing this scene, Qin Xi¡¯s expression immediately turned grave. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In her heart, she was very wary of this Golden Seal. After all, while Lin Tianming was battling Liu Nantian earlier, she had witnessed the formidable presence of the Golden Seal during a break. At that time, although Liu Nantian ultimately failed to fully activate the Golden Seal, hence never revealing its full power. But when the seal appeared, its momentum was earth-shattering, stirring up the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. Such a powerful technique was undoubtedly a type of Spirit Technique, and moreover, among the Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques of the same level, its power was among the very top. Besides, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong being so decisive and activating the Spirit Technique simultaneously clearly indicated they were ready to fight to the death. Faced with such an attack, although Qin Xi still held the advantage against the two, she had to be extremely vigilant to survive this Spirit Technique attack unscathed. Knowing this, Qin Xi was extremely cautious at this moment, her whole being intensely focused on every move on the battlefield. At the same time, she was contemplating countermeasures in her mind. Very soon, Qin Xi performed a Law Decree, and a Spiritual Light bombarded the Treasure Sword in front of her. In an instant, her Treasure Sword flashed with light, transforming into a large Frost Dragon composed of ice, which then swiftly roared towards Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Chapter 1139: 595: The Fall of Three People (2) Chapter 1139: Chapter 595: The Fall of Three People (2) Gazing upon it, the Ice Giant Dragon was colossal, several times larger than the one Qin Xi had previously summoned, and its aura dominated the heavens and earth. Just the chill emanating from the dragon was enough to encase the mountains, rocks, and trees it passed over directly into ice. Such a terrifying strike was also the result of Qin Xi going all out. Moreover, this attack was her strongest Technique Divine Power, aside from her Spirit Art. With such force, Qin Xi¡¯s attack was equally formidable, carrying a conviction to kill, swearing to end this great battle right there and then. ¡°Booming¡­¡± At this time, Qin Xi¡¯s unleashed attack tore through the sky with a powerful momentum that overwhelmed the senses. At the same moment, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s Golden Seal also soared into the heavens. In an instant, the Golden Seal expanded countless times in size, its color even more bright and vivid, causing one side of the sky to be bathed in a golden hue. On the opposite side, Qin Xi¡¯s attacking force shimmered with silver light, turning that part of the sky into a sea of silver radiance, a truly spectacular sight. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was also intently watching, his heart filled with complex emotions. In his heart, he had always wanted to use Yan Mingshan and the other to hone Qin Xi, thereby breaking her bottleneck. But now, facing their current desperate situation, Yan Mingshan and the other showed enough decisiveness to join forces in using Spirit Art to break the stalemate. If one were to look at it from their perspective, such actions were indeed a forced last-ditch effort. Otherwise, they would have eventually perished there. Faced with such a situation, Lin Tianming could completely make a move to extricate Qin Xi from the predicament. Even it could be said, if he wanted to intervene, he could easily block Yan Mingshan and the other¡¯s attacks with minimal effort, allowing Qin Xi to avoid taking risks. After all, it was two people simultaneously using a Spirit Art to attack a single target; the destructive power was far beyond comparison to a solitary attacker. Although Qin Xi had previously held the upper hand, dealing with both of their Spirit Art attacks at the same time would undoubtedly be even more challenging. Thus, under this round of attacks, Qin Xi would certainly face some risks. If handled properly, Qin Xi could use this opportunity to completely annihilate Yan Mingshan and the other, thereby ending this great battle. But if mishandled, or with a stroke of bad luck, it would not be impossible for her to sustain severe injuries. Or even, fall right under this strike. In such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s decision to stand by and watch was also fraught with great risk. Not only for him, but Qin Xi also faced enormous risks confronting Yan Mingshan and the other¡¯s joint deadly Attack alone. But without these life-and-death ordeals, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for Qin Xi to break through her bottleneck. Moreover, from his perspective now, whether there was a bottleneck or not, experiencing more life-and-death crises was always right. Precisely because of this, Lin Tianming pondered briefly and ultimately suppressed his urge to intervene, choosing to let Qin Xi face this threat alone. Thus, Lin Tianming kept his eyes on the battlefield, constantly attentive to every move of both parties. Under his watch, the sky was divided into two extremes, with the attacks of both sides carrying endless momentum, colliding against each other. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± With the roar, Qin Xi¡¯s Frost Dragon had already descended above Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong¡¯s heads. And on the opposite side, the Golden Seal was nearing Qin Xi¡¯s body. At this point, whether it was Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong or Qin Xi, they all desperately retreated, seeking to dodge the deadly strike from the opposition. Especially Qin Xi, whose movements were extremely agile and fast, almost instantly shifting dozens of feet away. As for Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, their speed was also at its utmost, evidently also pushing themselves to dodge with all their might. However, just as Yan Mingshan and the other were fleeing, the Frost Dragon above their heads suddenly split apart, forming several slightly smaller Frost Dragons. Under such a sudden turn of events, these five Frost Dragons altered their trajectories and surrounded Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong in the center, leaving them no space to escape. Seeing this sudden development, Yan Mingshan¡¯s face instantly turned ashen. Not just him, Shen Rong at this moment was also in a state of terror, her eyes filled with fear. However, their current predicament left no room for further thought. Besides, with this sudden change, a total of five Frost Dragons emerged from various angles, directly cutting off their escape routes. Thus, Shen Rong and Yan Mingshan, after a brief moment of stunned hesitation, immediately devised a countermeasure. In that instant, both drew their Defense Treasures at the same time; Yan Mingshan brandished the same shield, while Shen Rong produced a bright red Jade Token. Their movements were swift; just as their treasures were about to be fully activated and envelop them, a Frost Dragon had already made its promised descent from the sky. And at this moment, their defenses had not yet fully materialized. If this continued, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were inevitably going to bear the brunt of the Frost Dragon¡¯s Attack from one or two directions. Realizing this, despair painted the faces of Yan Mingshan and the others. They knew very well that without the protection of their Defense Treasures, they could only rely on their bodily True Qi and flesh to withstand the onslaught. Put simply, it was like an ordinary person attempting to block swords and blades with their body. Hence, their chances of survival under such Attacks were almost entirely dependent on luck. If they were lucky, perhaps they could cling to life for just a little while longer. But if their luck failed, they might not even be left with a whole corpse. Knowing this, Yan Mingshan and his companion stood frozen in place, unconsciously closing their eyes as if resigning themselves to fate¡¯s judgment. On the other side, Qin Xi¡¯s expression was exceedingly grave. For she was currently caught between the pincers of two gigantic Golden Seals. Moreover, these two Golden Seals moved incredibly fast, and their colossal size was like that of small hills, occupying a vast expanse of the sky as they descended. As for Qin Xi, compared to the overwhelming Golden Seals, she seemed so insignificant. Faced with such an Attack, and in a pincer situation no less, Qin Xi desperately tried to dodge. She only had to escape the area covered by the Golden Seals before they came crashing down. Otherwise, given her current predicament, she had no time to mount a defense. Even if she did have the time to activate a Defense Treasure, she most likely couldn¡¯t withstand the combined pincer assault of the Golden Seals. If such were the case, she too was likely to be crushed to death, leaving no intact corpse behind. Fully aware of the dire situation, Qin Xi¡¯s speed suddenly surged, transforming almost into a blur, an inconceivable velocity. As the Golden Seals were about to land, Qin Xi, light as a swallow, traversed an area at breakneck speed. Within her sight, not far ahead, was the edge of the area covered by the Golden Seals. If she could just cross this boundary, she would overcome this crisis. Otherwise, she faced immediate death and the extinguishing of her path. In this situation, Qin Xi steeled her resolve, pushing her Mana to its limit. For a moment, she managed to force an additional burst of speed. It was this minuscule increase that allowed Qin Xi to cross that range just as the Golden Seals closed in, emerging tens of meters away in an open area. Before she could catch her breath, a massive force struck her, sending her flying. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While still in mid-air, Qin Xi spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, her complexion instantaneously turning pale. At that moment, she heard two agonized screams. It turned out, the Frost Dragons Qin Xi had conjured had penetrated the weak points in Yan Mingshan¡¯s defense, devouring the two of them completely. And those two screams were the last sounds uttered by Yan Mingshan and his ally. By the time Qin Xi crashed to the ground, calm had returned to the skies opposite her. Looking over, she saw Yan Mingshan and his companion lying motionless on the ground, devoid of any signs of life. ¡­ Chapter 1140: 596 Thousand Array Codex Chapter 1140: Chapter 596 Thousand Array Codex As the battlefield returned to tranquility, Qin Xi steadied herself. At this time, she glanced at the deceased Yan Mingshan and his companion, and a slight smile finally emerged on her solemn face, her heart releasing a long sigh of relief. In her heart, recalling the breathtaking moments just past, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a trace of fortune. Because she was very clear that although that dangerous process was only a momentary instance, seemingly brief and effortlessly passed, the situation at that time was extremely perilous, and had she hesitated for an instant, the outcome might have been entirely different. Moreover, at that moment when the two Golden Seals struck, she distinctly felt the breath of death. In that instant, her entire body had felt a fatal chill, and even her Divine Soul trembled. That feeling, every time she recalled it, would send a chill down her spine. And these are the rules of survival in the Cultivation World, always a scene of life and death struggle¡ªEven cultivators at the Golden Core Stage cannot escape such life-threatening crises. Fortunately, this crisis has officially come to an end with the deaths of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Now, having vanquished Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong in a two-to-one fight, the fierce battle had completely ceased, and the crisis was thereby lifted. Realizing this, Qin Xi finally gathered her spirits and turned her gaze to Lin Tianming. At that moment, Lin Tianming had also recovered from his shock, his face immediately wearing a broad smile, his heart likewise feeling a burden lift. And just now, he had been closely following Qin Xi¡¯s entire battle. When he saw that final scene, as the two Golden Seals were about to strike Qin Xi¡¯s body, he tensed up inside, his heart leaping into his throat. Just as he had anticipated, he hoped that Qin Xi would face some life and death trials and tribulations. However, Yan Mingshan and his partner were decisive, and the Golden Seals they activated were earth-shatteringly powerful. At that time, seeing such a scene, he too wasn¡¯t sure whether Qin Xi could safely make it through the crisis. After all, Qin Xi was at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation level, and though her strength was top-notch among her peers, Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were no simple foes, and they also activated their Spirit Arts at the same time, aiming to change the dire situation. Faced with such circumstances, even if he were to confront it, he would have to go all out, with utmost vigilance. A single misstep could lead to serious injury, or even the possibility of a direct fall was not impossible. Fortunately, his concerns were somewhat superfluous. Not until he saw Qin Xi suddenly accelerate and ultimately dodge the attack of the two seals, did his hanging heart finally settle down. And now that the battle has ended, they could finally take a breather. Having calmed his excited emotions with some effort, Lin Tianming hurriedly walked towards Qin Xi. From a distance, Lin Tianming, with a smile on his face, then asked with concern, ¡°Xi¡¯er, are you all right?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words and seeing his anxious manner, a warm current surged in Qin Xi¡¯s heart. ¡°Ming, I¡¯m fine, Xi¡¯er is doing well, no need to worry too much!¡± Qin Xi replied with a smile, excitement flashing across her face. Hearing her response and seeing Qin Xi¡¯s composed demeanor, Lin Tianming nodded in satisfaction. Then, Lin Tianming glanced at the chaotic battlefield and slowly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s quickly clean up the battlefield, then find a place to rest and recuperate for a couple of days!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded, naturally not opposing the idea. Thus, the couple acted swiftly, busy themselves with disposing of Liu Nantian and the others¡¯ corpses, and collecting their Magical Treasures and storage bags. After finishing these tasks, they cleared the battlefield until no trace was left. Half a moment later, Lin Tianming and his wife gathered again. By then, the entire battlefield had changed completely, no longer looking as broken and dilapidated, and even regaining some of the natural elegance that a canyon should possess. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming nodded and then started to chat with Qin Xi. ¡°Xi¡¯er, this canyon is secluded and hidden, with hardly any trace of people or Demonic Beasts.¡± ¡°Such a place is indeed a good spot for an ambush, as well as a fine place for a retreat.¡± ¡°And these three have committed countless heinous deeds over the years, surely they must have a lot of treasures. It¡¯s just unknown if inside this canyon lies their Temporary Cave Abode.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In my view, let¡¯s explore inside the canyon to see if we can find their Temporary Cave Abode, and then quickly leave this place, how about it?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi agreed strongly, eagerly looking forward to Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Thus, without any delay, Lin Tianming took Qin Xi¡¯s hand and headed deeper into the canyon. Not long after, Lin Tianming and his wife returned to the original spot. During their previous exploration, the couple indeed found several Temporary Cave Abodes within the canyon. However, these Cave Mansions were rather empty, besides some low-level Spiritual Medicines and some insignificant household items, there was almost no Treasure left behind. To this, Lin Tianming had already anticipated and didn¡¯t feel too disappointed in his heart. After all, Liu Nantian and his two companions were dead, and their storage bags had been obtained by the couple. Chapter 1141: 596 Thousand Array Codex_2 Chapter 1141: 596 Chapter Thousand Array Codex_2 Since there were no treasures within the Temporary Cave Abode, they must have been kept in their storage bags. Furthermore, Liu Nantian and his two companions had advanced into the Golden Core Stage many years ago and had committed numerous acts of looting and plundering. Not a few Golden Core Cultivators had fallen at their hands. Thus, the treasures accumulated on them were bound to be considerable. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt quite excited, and inside, he was even more impatient about the contents of Liu Nantian and his companions¡¯ storage bags. Not only him, but Qin Xi was equally looking forward to the process of itemizing their gains and the ultimate result. With such expectations, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi tidied up a bit and then left the gorge together. Immediately after, they did not head straight out of the Ice Wind Valley, instead, they rushed further into the inner parts. After several days of searching, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi found themselves in the deepest part of Ice Wind Valley, finally coming to a halt in a dense valley. This place, in terms of terrain and landscape, bore some resemblance to the gorge where they had fought a fierce battle, only this location was deeper within Ice Wind Valley, with greater threats from demonic beasts. During the recent days of travel, Lin Tianming had already crossed territories of two Third Order Demon Beasts and had also discovered some fresh traces along the way. According to these traces, there must be two Third Order Demon Beasts in this area, and the marks left by the demonic beasts were quite fresh, seemingly not long ago. This suggested that the inner depths of Ice Wind Valley truly were as dangerous as the rumors in the wide Cultivation World had claimed. At the very least, Lin Tianming had already encountered the presence of Third Order Demonic Beasts. As for the deeper parts, whether there would be higher-level demonic beasts, the possibility was not great. But what could be affirmed was the definite presence of Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts in Ice Wind Valley. With this in mind, the power of such level demonic beasts was not to be underestimated; even Lin Tianming had to be careful in dealing with them. Therefore, Lin Tianming searched the surroundings cautiously, only settling down with his wife on the peak of a small hill within the gorge after ensuring there was no danger. At this moment, Lin Tianming, looking down at the valley with his eyes, immediately chose a concealed location, ready to start creating a Cave Mansion. As for why he chose this place, Lin Tianming pondered for a split second, concluding that although there were Third Order Demonic Beast traces here, maybe these demonic beasts weren¡¯t that powerful. Moreover, even if they were discovered by demonic beasts, with the combined strength of him and his wife, one or two Third Order Demonic Beasts were not something to be overly fearful of. Apart from that, although this place was perilous, it could prevent disturbances from others and stop some low-order monster beasts from accidentally wandering in. In such a situation, Lin Tianming and his wife decided to stay here to rest and recuperate for a while, using this opportunity for a brief period of cultivation in seclusion, thereby adjusting their condition and recovering the mana expended during the great battle. Once their condition was restored, they would begin itemizing their gains and then train in Ice Wind Valley. After all, as one of the three dangerous places in Yuanzhen Kingdom, Ice Wind Valley had earned its formidable reputation for a reason. Lin Tianming always enjoyed training and adventuring, and encountering such dangerous places naturally interested him. Thus, according to the plan, Lin Tianming and his wife began their secluded cultivation within the Temporary Cave Abode. Half a month later. Lin Tianming and his wife temporarily concluded their secluded cultivation and gathered together once again. By this time, after half a month of meditative cultivation, both had recovered to their peak states. Noticing that Qin Xi¡¯s aura seemed to have strengthened slightly, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, but he couldn¡¯t help asking with a hint of doubt, ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you made a breakthrough in your cultivation?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi shook her head and said, ¡°Ming, it¡¯s not so easy to make a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core!¡± ¡°Besides, my bottleneck has not been eliminated; wanting to make a breakthrough is even harder.¡± Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s response, Lin Tianming simply smiled, not at all disappointed. Qin Xi giggled and said, ¡°Although my cultivation hasn¡¯t broken through, after this perilous battle, I¡¯ve clearly felt a significant weakening of my bottleneck.¡± ¡°Going on like this, even without relying on any treasures, there is a good chance I can smoothly make a breakthrough within five years.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming nodded. In his heart, he clearly understood that the risk they took this time was completely worth it. After all, before the fierce battle between Qin Xi and Yan Mingshan, Qin Xi still faced a significant bottleneck. Now, after surviving a life-and-death ordeal, the fact that Qin Xi could confidently state that she would successfully break through within five years clearly showed she was brimming with confidence. And this was precisely the situation he wanted to see. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unexpectedly, this great battle had indeed met his expectations, genuinely exciting him for a while. Once he had somewhat calmed down, Lin Tianming then took out Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag and placed it in front of the two of them. Seeing this, Qin Xi also took out the storage bags of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong. Soon, the stone table in front of them was covered with items, including the storage bags of Liu Nantian and the others, as well as their used offensive and defensive magical treasures. At this time, looking at the spoils of war before him, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t hide his excited smile. With a bit more composure, Lin Tianming then said: ¡°Xi¡¯er, let¡¯s see what the spoils of this battle are!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming grabbed Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag and easily wiped away the remaining divine sense on it. He then immediately sent his divine sense into the bag. Very soon, a vast number of spirit stones came into view¡ªthere were more than eighty thousand medium-grade spirit stones alone, and nearly a million low-grade spirit stones. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but suck in a breath of cold air. But it wasn¡¯t that he lacked composure; it was just that the amount of spirit stones on Liu Nantian was really not small. You see, compared to Liu Nantian, the spirit stones he possessed weren¡¯t much more. His own stock of spirit stones, besides what he had accumulated himself, were mainly from the previous years when he killed He Zhengsong in Golden Crow Country, along with the numerous Golden Core cultivators he initially vanquished, until he finally accumulated these quantities of spirit stones. Looking at Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, he really was a scoundrel who had done nothing but evil. Just these medium-grade spirit stones along with the low-grade ones¡ªthe combined total value, converted into low-grade spirit stones, amounted to more than nine million. Such a reserve of spirit stones was also the most significant amount among all his spoils of war. And these were just the spirit stones. Besides that, there were a vast number of other treasures in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag. After his investigation, there were many types of elixirs, talismans, and a wide variety of treasures from the Four Arts of Cultivation in the bag¡ªtruly comprehensive. Especially the materials related to formations, with ordinary Array Plates from first to third order adding up to more than a dozen. These items were all quite a fortune. Moreover, there were quite a few volumes related to formations in the storage bag, including a text named ¡®Thousand Array Codex,¡¯ seemingly a legacy left by a Fourth Order Array Master. When Lin Tianming saw this item, his face flushed with excitement. The reason was none other than the fact that the Way of Formation Setting had always been a blank spot for the Lin Family, even to the point of having no heritage or foundation at all. Even though, over the years, they had supplemented with numerous Formation Dao texts and the necessary tools for setting formations. But the Lin Family had always lacked a clansman with a high aptitude for formations and did not have the inheritance of a high-level Array Master. And now, with the ¡®Thousand Array Codex¡¯ being of such high grade, it perfectly filled the family¡¯s gap in the area of formations. Given time, if the Lin Family spent a significant amount of resources on focused training, it was entirely possible to cultivate their own Third Order Formation Master. And if possible, even advancing to the level of a Fourth Order Array Master was not out of question. At this thought, even the usually composed Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but get excited once again. ¡­ Chapter 1142: 597: Huge Harvest Chapter 1142: Chapter 597: Huge Harvest Having finally suppressed the excitement in his heart, Lin Tianming separately collected the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± and other legacy treasures related to the Way of Formation Setting into the Qiankun Jade. Following that, Lin Tianming continued to attentively inventory the storage bag. Half a Shi Chen (about two hours) later, Lin Tianming finally completed inventorying Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, memorizing the quantity and variety of all its high-value treasures in his mind. Faced with these rich spoils of war, Lin Tianming was genuinely shaken at heart, and even more so, he couldn¡¯t suppress his excitement. Based on his initial classification and tally, just the cumulative value of the Mid-Low Grade Spirit Stones was roughly equivalent to tens of millions of Low-Grade Spirit Stones. As for treasures related to the Four Arts of Cultivation, and some legacy treasures, their value was also immeasurable. Especially the legacy of formation setting, merely the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± alone, which reflects the insights of a Fourth Order Array Master, included not only the original author¡¯s experiences and perspectives but also the basic Formation foundation commonly seen in the Cultivation World, encompassing techniques of Formation layout, the Refining process of array instruments, and even the perfection and maintenance of the Formation. It could be said that the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± is a complete inheritance of the Formation Dao. And it must have been this very item that was key for Liu Nantian to step into the realm of a Third Order Formation Master in just over three hundred years. Thus, the value of only the ¡°Thousand Array Codex¡± is indeed incalculable. In addition, the vast amount of Array Plates and Array Flags left by Liu Nantian, as well as some instruments needed for setting up Arrays, were also quite valuable. After all, encountering a complete Second-Order Formation is very rare in the Cultivation World. Under normal circumstances, only at some medium to large auction events might they appear, and after intense bidding, a standard Second-Order Formation could sell for anywhere from a few tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and often there is demand but no supply. Furthermore, in most cases, even if a Foundation Establishing Family wanted to purchase a Second-Order Formation, it would be difficult to acquire. Even if acquired, without their own Array Master to set it up, they would have to seek external help. If lucky, the hired Array Master is reliable, which is a good case. But if unlucky, it¡¯s easy to leave some loopholes in the Array Master¡¯s hands, creating a long-term hidden risk for the family. Speaking of which, the Lin Family used the Defensive Great Formation left by an ancestor for several decades in the past. At that time, the Lin Family¡¯s Mountain Protection Array was quite renowned among the five major Foundation Establishing Families in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Moreover, it was precisely by relying on this ancestral Defensive Great Formation that the Lin Family managed to survive a crisis that could have wiped out the family during internal strife among the clans in the Luoyun Mountain Range. Considering this, we can see how important and valuable an Array can be for a power; to say it is the foundation of an inheritance is not an overstatement. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among the treasures of Formation Dao left by Liu Nantian, there were two complete sets of Third-Order Array Plates and Array Flags, one of which was the entrapment Formation used to ambush him and Qin Xi. In addition, another set of Third-Order Formation tools was an ordinary Defensive Great Formation, which had the basic capability for Attack and Defense, including the additional effect of spirit gathering, extremely comprehensive, enough to serve as the Mountain Protection Array for Golden Elixir Forces. This set of Formation tools, as with the Defensive Great Formation acquired from the downfall of the Golden Sword Sect by the Lin Family, would not achieve optimal defensive effects without a personal setup by their own Third Order Array Master. But upon further thought, this circumstance was inevitable. After all, cultivating a Third Order Array Master is difficult, and their numbers are even less than Third Order Alchemy Masters. Take, for instance, the current state of Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World; only Myriad Medicine Valley boasts a Third Order Array Master, and he hasn¡¯t appeared publicly for many years, so it¡¯s unknown what his current cultivation and achievements in Formation Dao are. From these circumstances, it¡¯s clear that the Formation Dao legacy left by Liu Nantian is indeed an enormous wealth. And these were merely one part of the many treasures left by Liu Nantian. In addition to these, Liu Nantian¡¯s Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures were all intact, among which the disk-like Magic Artifact he used was of very good quality and spirituality, at least much stronger than those commonly used by Golden Core Cultivators. Just these few Magical Treasures amounted to a considerable fortune. But what excited Lin Tianming even more was the Yellow Grade Spirit Technique used by the three of Liu Nantian¡¯s men, the Golden Seal. Upon his careful search, Lin Tianming indeed found the Jade Slip of this Spirit Art in the storage bag. Thus, Lin Tianming briefly reviewed it and, just as he had guessed, this Spirit Art was a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique called the ¡°Golden Mountain Seal,¡± which has outstanding attacking power among the myriad Yellow Grade Spirit Techniques. The power of this Spirit Art was indeed witnessed by Lin Tianming with his own eyes. At that time, Liu Nantian activated it, causing the Yuan Qi on the entire battlefield to surge wildly, creating earth-shattering might. With this Spirit Art, if it were a typical Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator, resisting it would not be easy. Even if successfully resisted, the consequences would be severe injury at the least and, in serious cases, a high chance of dying on the spot. Regarding this Spirit Art, even Lin Tianming had to admit its power was truly strong, ranking near the top among the many Spirit Techniques he had seen. If one must compare it to another Spirit Art, perhaps only the ¡°Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡± obtained from Yang Chengfeng could compete. Chapter 1143: 597: Huge Harvest_2 Chapter 1143: Chapter 597: Huge Harvest_2 As for the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ Spirit Technique obtained from the Golden Sword Sect, its attack power is clearly inferior to those two Spirit Techniques by a notch. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, the value of this Spirit Technique named ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ is extraordinarily high, and perhaps only the entire Formation Dao heritage left by Liu Nantian could be comparable to it. By such an account, Lin Tianming¡¯s gains this time are unprecedented. On this point, Lin Tianming is very certain, and he has been excited for a long time. Under these circumstances, other treasures found in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, such as several Mysterious Grade Cultivation Techniques, or some Third Order Demon Beast Inner Pills, were no longer enough to surprise Lin Tianming. The only thing that caught Lin Tianming¡¯s attention were a few high-value items among the Third Order Treasures, which were all quite precious. Although their value could not rival the Formation Dao heritage and Spirit Techniques, they were very valuable on their own. Besides, only Fourth Order Treasures, such as these, are worth Lin Tianming¡¯s special attention. And as an experienced Golden Core Cultivator, Liu Nantian did indeed possess numerous treasures; for instance, there were three Fourth Order Treasures, including a piece of Fourth Order Spiritual Medicine Materials and two pieces of Fourth Order Spirit Ore, which were relatively common among Fourth Order Treasures. Regarding these Fourth Order Treasures, Lin Tianming could not make immediate use of them; he could only keep them as a reserve for his foundation, to be used when needed in the future. Overall, these several Fourth Order Treasures, along with that Formation Dao heritage and the Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, constituted the most valuable items in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag. The rest were Liu Nantian¡¯s offensive and defensive Magical Treasures, as well as some rather good Third Order Treasures. Such a plethora of treasures was extremely comprehensive and abundant, basically covering all facets of the Four Arts of Cultivation. Regarding the total value of Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming had roughly estimated it to be easily over fifty million low-grade Spirit Stones. Such gains were also the most significant that Lin Tianming had ever acquired on his cultivation path. And prior to this, even the gains from obliterating the Golden Sword Sect, or from slaying members of the Blood Red Alliance, or even the formidable Yang Chengfeng and He Zhengsong, could not compare. Moreover, this was only the storage bag of Liu Nantian alone. If the storage bags of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were tallied up, the gains would likely increase substantially on this basis. After all, both Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong were experienced Golden Core Cultivators, with remarkable personal power and having followed Liu Nantian in many raids. Although Liu Nantian, as the leader and the strongest among them, would naturally take the lion¡¯s share of the resources according to tradition, But Yan Mingshan and the others, having been able to coexist with Liu Nantian for so many years without incident, would naturally have gained a fair share of benefits. Otherwise, if a group¡¯s internal division of loot were unequal, it would have long since fallen apart or even turned into sworn enemies, which would be all too common. Thus, without any surprises, the wealth of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong would also be considerable. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was somewhat eager. Hence, after inspecting Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming promptly inquired about Qin Xi¡¯s gains. At this time, Qin Xi also came back to her senses from her shock. Following, Qin Xi slowly spoke of her results from the inventory of the storage bags. According to her, the storage bags of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong indeed contained many treasures; although there were no Fourth Order Treasures, there were many Third Order Treasures, including some of high value. Apart from that, those two had some inheritance-class treasures in their storage bags, but their overall value was not too high due to their relatively low Grade. Moreover, high-value Cultivation Techniques and Spirit Techniques were virtually absent from their storage bags. However, they did possess a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, with more than seventy thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones alone, which converted into low-grade Spirit Stones would amount to over seven million. Adding those to the low-grade Spirit Stones, their overall value reached about eight million. And these Spirit Stones were approximately equal in number to those in the storage bag of Liu Nantian alone. It could be seen from this that among the treasures obtained by the three of them, Liu Nantian had acquired the more precious ones. As for Spirit Stones, given Liu Nantian¡¯s current realm and power, he naturally would not be overly concerned. After all, for Liu Nantian, a powerful cultivator and also a Third Order Formation Master, Spirit Stones had become exceedingly limited in utility. And oftentimes, even with Spirit Stones, it would be difficult to purchase treasures to one¡¯s satisfaction. Thus, Liu Nantian obtained the high-value treasures among the gains, while Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong received the more limited-use spirit stones. Such an arrangement also ensured that Yan Mingshan and his companion would not break apart due to uneven distribution of loot. Understanding this, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t disappointed either. After having seen Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag, he had pre-emptively braced himself and speculated, roughly able to foresee that it would be so. Now, it indeed turned out as he had guessed; he accepted the outcome with equanimity. Following this, a sentence from Qin Xi excited Lin Tianming for a moment. It turned out that Qin Xi found a map in Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag, as well as a mature spiritual medicine material. And this spiritual medicine material was precisely the Tianxin Grass that Lin Tianming had been seeking. Learning of this news, Lin Tianming was thrilled for a good while. In his heart, he originally thought Yan Mingshan was merely using Tianxin Grass as a pretext to lure them to Ice Wind Valley in order to opportunely murder and seize treasures. But he truly never expected that Yan Mingshan would actually possess the rare Tianxin Grass in the Cultivation World. Moreover, the location marked on the map was exactly a place within Ice Wind Valley. With these clues, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but speculate if the Tianxin Grass could be found at the place marked on the map. If so, could there be other Tianxin Grasses at the location indicated by the map? Thinking of this, Lin Tianming immediately resolved to explore the spot marked on the map. After all, they had already arrived at Ice Wind Valley and indeed intended to venture deeper for adventure and experience. Since that is the case, wherever they trained, it would still be considered training, and moreover, visiting the location marked on the map would not conflict with the training itself. More crucially, if they really could find a few more Tianxin Grasses, his chances of refining Tribulation Evasion Pills would increase, and he could gain more elixirs. By then, the Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family would no longer fear the constraints of bottlenecks, greatly increasing the probability of advancing their cultivation. Knowing this, the heart of Lin Tianming was excited for quite some time. After gradually calming down a bit, Lin Tianming then chatted and laughed with Qin Xi. Following a general tally by the two of them, the wealth of Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong was not meager, accumulating to as much as forty million low-grade spirit stones. Although this harvest was still slightly less than that of Liu Nantian alone. For an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator like Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, their wealth was already quite impressive. At least among all the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators Lin Tianming had seen, none could compare to their assets. And this substantial wealth just goes to show the experiences of Liu Nantian and the others over the years; many cultivators must have unjustly perished at their hands. Considering this, Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s elimination of Liu Nantian and the others could also be regarded as righting wrongs and eliminating harm for the people. The very thought dispelled the resentment in Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, and he even felt a strong sense of justice. Coming back to his senses later, Lin Tianming was in a good mood, with a content smile always on his face. In his eyes, the gains this time were simply too great. With the death of Liu Nantian and the others, all their wealth and possessions were now owned by him and his wife. These items were numerous, almost approaching half the total worth of Golden Sword Sect. Now, the couple¡¯s harvest was abundant, not only obtaining a vast amount of spirit stones, but also various cultivation resources, and many treasures related to the Four Arts of Cultivation. In addition to that, there was the inheritance of the Formation Dao, as well as high-value Third and Fourth Grade Treasures, plus Spirit Techniques and Offensive and Defensive Magical Treasures, nearly doubling their net worth. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s mood took a long time to calm down. ¡­ Chapter 1144: 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation Chapter 1144: Chapter 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation Half a quarter of an hour later. Lin Tianming and his wife had calmed their emotions, and began to discuss their specific plans going forward. Before that, they planned to recover to their best state, and continue to experience trials in the Ice Wind Valley, attempting to find opportunities. Now, the discovery of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art in Liu Nantian¡¯s storage bag once again made Lin Tianming covet it intensely. Not only that, Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag revealed the Tianxin Grass they had been desperately seeking, as well as a map that seemed to indicate the origin of the Tianxin Grass. Faced with such changes, Lin Tianming and his wife naturally needed to adjust their original plan. Thus, the two started to chat casually, exchanging their own opinions. Soon, Lin Tianming and his wife each laid out their plans, and after repeated discussions, they reached a unified decision. Following the new plan, Lin Tianming and his wife decided to continue their closed-door cultivation in this area. During this period of seclusion, Lin Tianming prepared to try cultivating the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art, hoping to completely grasp it in the shortest time to have an additional attack method in the future. Although Lin Tianming currently did not lack attack methods, with several Spirit Arts he had successfully cultivated, among which the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯ was undoubtedly the trump card. In addition, there was the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ obtained from Golden Sword Sect, and later from Yang Chengfeng, he acquired the ¡®Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡¯. Plus, in previous years, after killing He Zhengsong, he obtained the emergency secret technique ¡®Hundred Miles Escape¡¯. Now, having killed Liu Nantian, he added another Spirit Art to his repertoire, possessing three Spirit Arts and one emergency secret technique. If the Blue Heart True Flame is also counted, then just the attack Spirit Arts and secret techniques alone number four types. Setting aside the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯, a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique, the power of the other three methods feels stronger than the innate Divine Skills of the Tiangang Ninth Sword Cultivation Technique. However, despite having so many attack methods, in reality, it is very difficult to use them all in a single battle. After all, the Mana of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator is very limited, and big-hitting trump cards like Spirit Arts consume an enormous amount of Mana. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if some Spirit Arts do not have high demands on Mana and Divine Sense when activated, like the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯, a Mysterious Grade Spirit Art, which barely depletes Mana when activated. But most Spirit Arts usually require an extremely large amount of Mana support. Such Spirit Arts, as long as one has profound enough Mana, might be able to be used two or three times consecutively. Conversely, once the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯ is activated, it requires the recultivation of the original Sword Qi, and must also be nurtured constantly within the Seven Sea Dantian. Under such circumstances, the newly recultivated Sword Qi will not provide any effective killing power for Lin Tianming for at least ten years. And this is the drawback of powerful Spirit Arts. But with drawbacks, there are also advantages. Take the power of the Great Sun Sword Qi Art for example, it is truly formidable, and the time for cultivating the Sword Qi almost has no upper limit. If Lin Tianming nurtures the Sword Qi for a hundred years, with his current cultivation strength, it¡¯s possible that he could injure a Nascent Soul Early Stage power. Even, under the carelessness of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, it could potentially be a one-strike kill, which is not impossible. Looking at it this way, the help that the Great Sun Sword Qi Art brings Lin Tianming is far beyond comparison with ordinary Spirit Arts. This belief, Lin Tianming has always firmly held, and has always been cautious in using this trump card. As for the other few newly obtained Spirit Arts, Lin Tianming would not dare to use them lightly either. Because among these Spirit Arts, except for the ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ whose origin is open and noble, the origins of the other Spirit Arts are quite special. Although Yang Chengfeng and Liu Nantian were Independent Cultivators and have done many despicable acts like robbery and theft, which led them to make numerous enemies, But now having killed them and obtained their Spirit Arts, all of which he succeeded in cultivating, Lin Tianming dared not use them rashly. After all, who knows the origins of those Spirit Arts, and whether there are links to the Nascent Soul Level forces of Qingzhou. If there really are connections with those forces, wouldn¡¯t Lin Tianming be implicated by the Spirit Arts? If this were the case, and if Lin Tianming¡¯s use of Spirit Arts were discovered, he¡¯d have to take the blame for those lawless villains. Thus, only when absolutely necessary or when he is extremely confident, will Lin Tianming use the ¡®Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡¯ and the Spirit Art used by Liu Nantian. Normally, Lin Tianming¡¯s attack methods are mainly the Tiangang Ninth Sword and Earth Fiend Sword Formation. If he encounters a powerful adversary, he can use the Blue Heart True Flame and the Heaven¡¯s Sword Lotus, two tremendously powerful methods. With Lin Tianming¡¯s current strength and these regular techniques, he can cope with the majority of Golden Core Stage opponents. In desperate situations, he still has ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike¡¯ and ¡®Five Elements Spiritual Technique¡¯ as his last-ditch cards. Aside from these, the ¡®Great Sun Sword Qi Art¡¯ has been Lin Tianming¡¯s most relied upon life-saving measure from the very beginning. This Mysterious Grade Spirit Art has assisted Lin Tianming through many crises over the years, earning its great merits. And now, the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art obtained from killing Liu Nantian is also very strong, although it cannot be used casually, it enriches Lin Tianming¡¯s array of attack methods a bit more. Chapter 1145: 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation_2 Chapter 1145: Chapter 598: Three Years of Hard Cultivation_2 However, it can be foreseen that the use of Spirit Arts like ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ and ¡®Golden Dragon Sword Strike,¡¯ which rely on Mana, may not be frequently deployed in a major battle. Even with Lin Tianming¡¯s profound Mana and strong Divine Sense, he can at most use them two or three times after a big battle. From this perspective, while Spirit Arts are certainly important and play a significant role, one¡¯s own cultivation strength is ultimately what is most crucial. Otherwise, relying solely on Spirit Arts to engage in a magic duel with fellow cultivators of the same tier cannot sustain combat effectiveness in the long term. Knowing this, Lin Tianming is very excited about the upcoming plan to cultivate the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal.¡¯ Then, Lin Tianming and his wife exchanged a few words casually, and then each began to get up and enter the Practice Room, immediately starting to cultivate in seclusion. At this moment, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion and began to circulate his cultivation and regulate his breath. Soon, Lin Tianming reached his peak state and quickly opened his tightly shut eyes. Next, Lin Tianming took out the Spirit Art Jade Slip of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ from the Qiankun Jade and immediately extended his Divine Sense to explore it. Over several days, Lin Tianming memorized the contents of the Jade Slip. Afterward, Lin Tianming began to make Single-handed Seals, attempting to converge Mana according to the secret techniques recorded in the Jade Slip. This process requires tens of thousands of attempts to possibly succeed. Furthermore, the activation method also required multiple attempts, and after countless explorations and corrections, he could finally master this Spirit Art. Deeply understanding this, Lin Tianming began to ponder methodically. Moreover, every half-day, he would attempt to condense the seal. As expected, the first attempt ended in failure. However, Lin Tianming was not discouraged but kept trying repeatedly. The second attempt¡­ ended in failure! The third attempt¡­ ended in failure! ¡­ The one thousand two-hundredth attempt¡­ still ended in failure. Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had gone by. During this period, Lin Tianming persisted tirelessly in condensing the seal, barely taking even half a day¡¯s break. Until this day, Lin Tianming was still seated on the meditation cushion, his hands forming complex hand signs, and he was muttering to himself. At that moment, just as he finished his movements, a faint shadow of a seal gradually appeared overhead. Looking at it, the shadow was transparent and seemed rather faint and shaky, as if it was about to dissipate at any moment. And indeed, the shadow lasted only a few breaths before it completely vanished into the air. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming was not disappointed but instead excited. After all, he had been in seclusion for a year and a half, constantly pondering and refining the seal. Before this, he had attempted more than a thousand times, never succeeding, not even a faint shadow of a seal had ever appeared. Now, although the shadow was faint and unstable, dissipating after a few breaths, such a scene, compared to his previous thousand failures, was actually a significant improvement. Continuing this way, trying a few more times using the skills and judgments he had mastered before, he was certain he could successfully condense a complete seal. By then, the Spiritual Arts of this ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ would be considered entering the door, and it wouldn¡¯t be too much to say it reached the Minor Achievement Realm. As for the final activation techniques, mastering them would not be difficult. He was very aware that as long as he practiced repeatedly, he would definitely be able to fully master this Spirit Art and could form a certain combat capability. By that time, his attack methods would be more diverse and varied, and he also could slightly enhance his strength. Understanding this, Lin Tianming was somewhat excited, and the cumulative fatigue from the previous days was pushed to the back of his mind. Thus, Lin Tianming got back on track and began to attempt condensing the seal once again. Unconsciously, another half a year went by. In the practice room today, Lin Tianming continued to comprehend Spirit Art and repeatedly attempted it a few times. This time, after a series of movements by Lin Tianming, a seal slowly formed above his head, hanging motionless in the air. At this moment, feeling the Golden Seal above his head, its outer features were identical to the seal initially used by Liu Nantian. Not only that, but what was more critical was that the seal was incredibly solid, with a majestic and spectacular aura, just like the real thing. And at the moment it appeared, the Yuan Qi in the entire practice room began to stir, eventually slowly gathering towards the Golden Seal. This scene was strikingly similar to when Liu Nantian performed this technique. Feeling this aura and the oppressive force emitted by the Golden Seal, Lin Tianming¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. After two consecutive years of uninterrupted cultivation, he had finally successfully mastered the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art. As for the seal above his head, that was the fundamental form of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal.¡¯ In this way, Lin Tianming had essentially mastered this Spirit Art and achieved his goal. Knowing this, Lin Tianming smiled excitedly, and his heart took a long, relieved breath. Then, Lin Tianming gradually ended his practice, and the seal above his head also dissipated. After calming down, Lin Tianming adjusted his state and planned to review it again. Once he was more proficient with all the methods of this Spirit Art, he would be able to go out and test the actual power of this Spirit Art. Besides, it required multiple practices to fully unleash the attack power of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art. Only by mastering it completely and reaching the Minor Achievement Realm could it provide some help in his magic duels. Otherwise, merely mastering the Spirit Art without being able to exert the appropriate combat power would be entirely useless for him. Knowing this, Lin Tianming adjusted his mindset and continued his practice. Half a year later, one day, Lin Tianming appeared in the hall of his Temporary Cave Abode. Over the last six months, in the first two months, Lin Tianming reviewed the activation techniques of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art multiple times, including perfecting the creation of the best seal illusion. In the subsequent three months, Lin Tianming began real combat practice in a valley not far from the cave mansion. Sweating profusely with intense practice day and night, over these three months, he practiced the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ dozens of times. As the saying goes, hard work pays off! With relentless effort, Lin Tianming successfully advanced the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art to the Minor Achievement Realm. It must be said, the power of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art is truly strong; in Lin Tianming¡¯s trials, the power was earth-shattering, and the attacks were swift, whether it was precision strikes or large scale attacks, showing tremendous lethality and destructive power. This result indeed confirmed his previous guesses. This way, with the entry into this Spirit Art, Lin Tianming gained another offensive technique. Relying on three years of cultivating Spirit Art, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation also slowly improved. While he is still far from the Late Stage Golden Core, he could deeply feel the gradual progress of his cultivation. This kind of progress was not dependent on elixirs or assistance from Heaven and Earth Treasures. Strictly speaking, this was a progress that had settled over the three years. Although the improvement in cultivation strength was limited, it felt, to him, that these few years of progress surpassed that of the previous ten years. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nowadays, after numerous battle duels and three years of uninterrupted cultivation of Spirit Art without any external help, his cultivation foundation was incredibly solid. Moreover, it seemed that because of his focused and tranquil cultivation, his spiritual heart also became purer, as if sublimating invisibly. This feeling was wonderful but genuinely existed. With these experiences and achievements over the three years, Lin Tianming felt incredibly satisfied. With the successful cultivation of the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t stay in the practice room any longer but returned to his Temporary Cave Abode. ¡­ Chapter 1146: 599: Primordial Lion Beast Chapter 1146: Chapter 599: Primordial Lion Beast In the hall of the Temporary Cave Abode, Lin Tianming sat leisurely in a corner, his gaze sweeping around. As he looked towards a Practice Room in the depths, Qin Xi immediately walked out from it. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianming was quite excited, standing up to greet her immediately. ¡°Xi¡¯er, you¡¯ve come out of seclusion!¡± From a distance, Lin Tianming¡¯s concerned greeting could be heard. Qin Xi also had a smile in her eyes, her face carrying a sweet smile, seemingly in a very good mood. Especially upon seeing Lin Tianming, Qin Xi missed him immensely. Now, with the beautiful lady right before his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her in a big hug. Feeling Lin Tianming¡¯s concern, warmth spread through Qin Xi¡¯s heart. At this moment, Lin Tianming seemed to realize something and immediately asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, have you broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded slightly, a smile of sheer joy flitting across her face. Seeing that Qin Xi had indeed entered the Mid Stage Golden Core, Lin Tianming was instantly joyful, his excitement no less than Qin Xi herself. Prior to this, Qin Xi had been bottlenecked at the Golden Core Initial Peak for over ten years and had been unable to break through. Fortunately, over these ten years, as a couple, they had left their family to travel through the cultivation realms of the Golden Crow Country and Xitang Country. During this period, they roamed across various places together, broadening their views and experiences and undergoing several magic duels. Additionally, with the aid of Yuan Essence Fruit and the life-and-death duel between Qin Xi and Yan Mingshan, she finally succeeded in breaking through the bottleneck, thus smoothly entering the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Now, with Qin Xi officially stepping into the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, her strength had significantly increased. Alongside Lin Tianming mastering a powerful Spirit Art and his cultivation rising slightly over several years of arduous practice. With their current cultivation strength, teamed up, they could essentially stand unbeaten against a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. It appeared that over the past decade since leaving their family, both husband and wife had reaped substantial gains. Just talking about Lin Tianming alone, his cultivation strength had also slowly increased, and his collection of treasures had more than doubled. Additionally, mastering the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art and the ¡®Thousand Array Codex¡¯ Formation Dao inheritance, he had achieved significant enhancements in both familial foundation and personal strength. Qin Xi¡¯s gains were also substantial, her cultivation having successfully broken through. Additionally, after killing Yan Mingshan and Shen Rong, she obtained their fortunes, which more than doubled her own wealth. Such gains, in Lin Tianming¡¯s view, were absolutely lucrative. Thinking carefully, these are the benefits and results of traveling. Just imagine, if they had stayed within their family, reaching this stage would have required several more decades. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was very satisfied and looked forward to their coming journeys. After calming a bit, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi started casually chatting. During this, Lin Tianming also mentioned his experience and results from practicing the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi was also very excited and spoke up, indicating she too wanted to successfully practice this Spirit Art. Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t object to Qin Xi¡¯s plan. To him, if Qin Xi could master the ¡®Golden Mountain Seal¡¯ Spirit Art, her strength would also increase. However, Qin Xi¡¯s plan to practice this Spirit Art would occur after their cultivation stint in Ice Wind Valley. At that time, they would also leave Yuanzhen Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation Realm to travel through other central nations. Then, Qin Xi would choose an opportunity to practice this art until she fully mastered it. Currently, they were not lacking in offensive Spirit Arts, especially Qin Xi, who had always been protected by Lin Tianming and was in no rush to learn the art urgently. Thus, these plans were firmly decided by Lin Tianming and her. Afterward, Lin Tianming took out a map from Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag and laid it before them to examine. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the map and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Xi¡¯er, this map shows the location deep within Ice Wind Valley, what are your thoughts on this?¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi paused and said, ¡°This map only shows the location, there¡¯s no description of that place; based on this alone, we can¡¯t infer any information.¡± ¡°However, Ice Wind Valley was known as one of Qingzhou¡¯s famous ancient battlefields long ago, with many fallen Human Race experts and High Order Monster Beasts.¡± ¡°Such a Secret Realm, not only filled with danger, also possesses inexplicable opportunities, it¡¯s not surprising that there are traces of Tianxin Grass.¡± ¡°Regardless, overthinking is pointless, it¡¯s better to go and investigate.¡± ¡°With our combined strength as a couple, as long as we each are careful not to encounter Fourth Order Demonic Beasts or Nascent Soul Stage old monsters, there¡¯s hardly any danger.¡± ¡°The only thing to be wary of are those spatial fissures that come and go without a trace.¡± Hearing this string of explanations, Lin Tianming nodded his head in satisfaction, the last bit of his concerns evaporating. In his view, with Qin Xi being so decisive, he, a man, had even less reason to hesitate. Thus, Lin Tianming made up his mind immediately, planning to leave after a short two-day rest and embark on a journey to locate the position marked on the map. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1147: 599 Primordial Lion Beast_2 Chapter 1147: Chapter 599 Primordial Lion Beast_2 And then, Lin Tianming and his wife took a rest here for two days, entangled with each other day and night. Two days later, early in the morning, the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Lin Tianming, stepped out of the temporary cave abode and immediately covered up the entrance. After doing all this, Lin Tianming looked in a certain direction, then left with Qin Xi, and quickly disappeared into the canyon. Walking in a corner of the inner region of Ice Wind Valley, they were surrounded by dense jungles, with plenty of lakes large and small, and occasionally encountered some crisscrossing rivers or strange deep ravines appearing. Faced with such a dangerous place, the two of them were fully alert along the way, with every step taken with extra caution. Half a month later, after traveling thousands of miles and through various terrains, they finally appeared outside a valley. During this time, they encountered two Third Order Demon Beasts, but both were at the early stage of the Third Order. Lin Tianming, without the chance of a good opportunity, was also too lazy to make a move against these demonic beasts. Although killing these beasts would be effortless for the couple, this Ice Wind Valley was fraught with crises, including the pervasive spatial fissures and the presence of other Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Under such circumstances, unless encountering some highly valuable treasure, Lin Tianming would not bother to act against a Third Order Demon Beast lightly, lest they reveal their tracks. Thus, the couple proceeded with light equipment and finally arrived at this place. At this time, Lin Tianming and his wife stopped at the top of a towering tree, gazing straight ahead. Looking forward, there was a vast canyon in front, with an unfathomably deep chasm at the bottom, and tall peaks on both sides. From a bird¡¯s-eye view, the entire interior of the canyon was densely forested, and the mist in the air covered most of the light, giving its dark color a somewhat eerie appearance. Lin Tianming opened his Eye of Five Colors, his sharp gaze piercing through the thick fog, noticing that there were many spatial fissures in this place, with a density and frequency far surpassing any place they had passed on their way here. Moreover, the spatial fissures in this thick fog were very long, the shortest being half a zhang, and the longest being several zhangs or more. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help frowning, and his expression became much more solemn. Obviously, Lin Tianming was also wary of the spatial fissures here. While outside, on their way here they had also seen quite a few spatial fissures. But those fissures were infrequent, and they did not move very quickly in mid-air, and their length was also limited. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Facing the outer spatial fissures, although a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would certainly face a fate worse than death upon encountering one, as long as it was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator who was fully alert and relying on their faster speed and stronger Divine Sense, they could likely dodge most spatial fissures. But looking at this place, the frequency of spatial fissures had significantly increased, and their movement speed was several times faster, and even the length of the fissures had multiplied several times over. Facing such severe spatial fissures, once swallowed into them, whether one could withstand the intense pressure inside and the potent destructive force, even Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t confident. However, Lin Tianming was experienced and knowledgeable, seeing the scene in front of him, he remained calm. Regaining his composure, he then took out a map to check, and afterward said leisurely, ¡°Xi¡¯er, the location marked on the map is right here. The entire perimeter is very calm and the location is quite hidden, not easy to find.¡± ¡°Fortunately, we have the map, although it took some effort, we finally managed to find the place smoothly, and there are no traces of demonic beasts to be seen.¡± ¡°It is just unknown what is inside, whether there will be any High Order Monster Beasts.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi smiled faintly and said, ¡°This place looks very dangerous, even with our level of cultivation strength, we have to be a bit careful.¡± ¡°However, such a place has a low probability of encountering Human Cultivators, but the possibility of encountering demonic beasts is not small.¡± ¡°Ming, no matter what, let¡¯s first go in and investigate!¡± After saying this, Qin Xi looked seriously at Lin Tianming. At this moment, Lin Tianming heard these few words and smiled, nodding his head in agreement, naturally having no objections. Following that, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi chatted casually for a few moments. Afterward, the two of them began to make their way into the depths of the canyon according to their prearranged plan. Before long, Lin Tianming, leading Qin Xi, carefully probed their way deeper into the canyon, their Divine Senses fully extended at all times to guard against every movement around them. With such caution, they advanced more than twenty li inward. As they continued to delve deeper, the frequency, size, and speed of the spatial fissures flashing by them increased. Faced with such changes, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi dared not be careless. Half a quarter of an hour later, the duo advanced a few more li and came upon a relatively open plain. Looking around, the terrain here appeared somewhat flatter, at least much smoother than the other gorges and ridges. Just then, as Lin Tianming surveyed his surroundings, a roaring sound echoed from within the canyon. Hearing this commotion, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi¡¯s expressions changed subtly, and they immediately prepared for action. The roars soon grew closer, and the spatial fissures appearing around Lin Tianming became noticeably denser. Seeing this, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi maintained their vigilance and hastily retreated a hundred zhang before stopping. The moment they steadied themselves, they looked up and saw a spatial fissure appearing far ahead, hovering in mid-air for several breaths. Immediately afterward, they saw a Demonic Beast burst out from the fissure. The beast had the head of a horse and the body of a lion, covered in red fur all over its body. Its overall size was not large, only a few zhang in length, and less than three zhang tall. The moment the beast appeared, numerous spatial fissures swiftly formed around it, and some were so tiny that they seemed to be spewed directly from the mouth of the beast itself. Seeing this spectacle, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but have his expression change slightly, followed by a look of disbelief. ¡°This¡­ This is a Primordial Lion Beast!¡± No sooner had Lin Tianming spoken than Qin Xi also couldn¡¯t help but smack her lips, equally shocked in her heart. ¡°Ming, this is undoubtedly a Primordial Lion Beast, and a powerful one at that, at the Third Grade Medium Stage,¡± Qin Xi stammered in amazement. In fact, their lack of composure wasn¡¯t because they weren¡¯t calm enough, but because the innate talents of the Primordial Lion Beast were special and truly uncommon across the Qingzhou Land. Rumors have it that adult Primordial Lion Beasts are Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beasts, characterized by their spatial talents capable of releasing spatial fissures, even directly swallowing them to harness the wild energy within, thereby enhancing themselves. With such unique talents, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s attacking capabilities were also very devious, and hence its power was formidable. After all, the destructive power of spatial fissures was too vast, and they were unpredictable. Moreover, given that the Primordial Lion Beast could generate spatial fissures, it could also briefly traverse them. With such a special ability, whether attacking or escaping, the Primordial Lion Beast was extremely formidable. It was precisely because of these unique innate Divine Skills and talents that the Primordial Lion Beast and its abilities were highly coveted by all Human Cultivators. Including Lin Tianming, who had previously heard of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s unique abilities, was also shocked and envious. For this reason, he had also always wanted to witness the true form of the Primordial Lion Beast and even its innate Divine Ability. However, these Primordial Lion Beasts were typically very strong, rare in the Cultivation World, and not easy to capture. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming had never been able to fulfill his wish to see the true form of the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡­ Chapter 1148: 600: Husband and Wife Face Battle Chapter 1148: Chapter 600: Husband and Wife Face Battle Recalling various rumors about the Primordial Lion Beast, and looking at the demonic beast before him, Lin Tianming was shocked and his expression became grave. At this moment, while Lin Tianming and his companion were assessing the Primordial Lion Beast, it too was staring at the couple. Simultaneously, the Primordial Lion Beast bared its teeth and growled lowly, but it did not attack immediately, clearly sensing the aura emitted by Lin Tianming and his wife, and thus, also wary of their strength. However, this calm situation quickly became tense as a roar echoed from deeper within the canyon. Feeling the roar getting closer, Lin Tianming instantly realized something and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Is there another Primordial Lion Beast?¡± As soon as he spoke, the noise from deep within the canyon drew closer, and eventually, a larger Primordial Lion Beast silently appeared beside the first one. With the arrival of this Primordial Lion Beast, the first one became agitated. Clearly, seeing the support of its companion, the first Primordial Lion Beast changed its demeanor, believing that killing Lin Tianming and his wife who had trespassed into their territory wouldn¡¯t be difficult. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast became frenzied, its eyes flashing fiercely with a readiness to pounce. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s eyebrows furrowed even more, and a clear apprehension emerged on his face. This was because the newly arrived Primordial Lion Beast turned out to be a formidable Late Stage of the Third Grade. Originally, he thought there was only one Primordial Lion Beast, the one that appeared first being a Third Grade Medium Stage. But now, it seemed that these two Primordial Lion Beasts, one male and one female, were likely the rulers of this territory and also a pair of mated demonic beasts. However, upon further reflection, he found it not so strange. After all, demonic beasts and Human Cultivators are somewhat similar in many aspects, especially a species like the Primordial Lion Beast, which has a peculiar talent and a very unique lineage. Understanding this, Lin Tianming now found himself in a dilemma. However, after a moment of hesitation, he made a decision. This was also because upon scanning with his Divine Sense, he had indeed detected a Tianxin Grass sapling within a hidden corner of the canyon. Seeing the Tianxin Grass he had been earnestly searching for, even just a sapling, confirmed that the mature Tianxin Grass in Yan Mingshan¡¯s possession came from this canyon. As for why Yan Mingshan only had one, it must have been because this place was the lair of the Primordial Lion Beasts, guarded by two of them, including one in the Late Stage of the Third Order. Facing one Third Order Late Stage and one Third Order Medium Stage powerful demonic beasts, even if Liu Nantian and two others joined forces, they definitely wouldn¡¯t gain any advantages. From this perspective, it seemed likely that Yan Mingshan and others had also been here before, and had managed to obtain a Tianxin Grass only to encounter the Primordial Lion Beasts. Thus, realizing they were no match for the two Primordial Lion Beasts, they could only retreat hastily and postpone their plans until they were stronger. Thinking of these, Lin Tianming could understand why Yan Mingshan only had one mature Tianxin Grass. And Yan Mingshan¡¯s plans never came to fruition, ultimately falling prey to Lin Tianming and his wife, who then took up the quest for the Tianxin Grass. Now, although Qin Xi had broken through her bottleneck, and the plan to find Tianxin Grass wasn¡¯t as crucial, But the properties of the Tribulation Evasion Pill were significant, and its value was also high. Even if Lin Tianming and his wife had no immediate use for it, there were many members of the Lin Family, and a good number among them were at the Golden Core Stage. It was foreseeable that those Golden Core Stage Clansmen in the family didn¡¯t have great talent, and the probability of encountering bottlenecks during the Golden Core Stage was extremely high. In this case, the role of Tianxin Grass becomes particularly evident. Moreover, Lin Tianming himself is a Third Order Alchemist. With more Tianxin Grass obtained, he could refine them anytime. By then, even if the Golden Core Stage Clan Members in the family encountered bottlenecks, they wouldn¡¯t be stuck in their current realm without any progress. Knowing this, Lin Tianming made up his mind, determined to acquire the Tianxin Grass no matter what. To accomplish this, the two Primordial Lion Beasts present had to be killed, or an attempt made to subdue them. If one could be subdued, with the special talents and bloodline of the Primordial Lion Beast, as well as its incredibly peculiar Divine Skills, it would definitely be a great help to Lin Tianming in the future. However, the Spirit Wisdom of the Primordial Lion Beast was not low, far surpassing ordinary demonic beasts, or those that had not reached adulthood. Just like Lin Tianming¡¯s Spiritual Pet, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, if it were of the Third Grade, it would be extremely difficult to subdue. And the reason Lin Tianming had succeeded previously was because the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox was of a lower grade and its Spirit Wisdom had not yet reached its peak, allowing him to succeed. Comparing this to the current stage of the Primordial Lion Beast, the chances of successfully subduing it were very slim. But regardless, Lin Tianming was still willing to try. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it really came down to it, he would have to kill them. With this decided, Lin Tianming immediately made up his mind. Without further delay, he secretly transmitted a message to Qin Xi, explaining his plan. Soon, the couple reached a unified decision. Chapter 1149: 600: The Couple Faces the Battle_2 Chapter 1149: Chapter 600: The Couple Faces the Battle_2 So, after a brief moment of calm, Lin Tianming slapped his sleeve, and the Tiangang Sword appeared in his hand. At the same time, on the other side, Qin Xi was not to be outdone, and likewise summoned her own Treasure Sword, readying herself to make a move. In the time it takes to speak, Lin Tianming glanced at the Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast and swung his sword at the first opportunity, unleashing a terrifying Sword Qi that shot towards the target. Immediately afterwards, Lin Tianming leapt into the air, his body incredibly agile as he charged towards the Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast. Seeing this, Qin Xi also refused to show weakness, and unleashed a barrage of attacks, pouring them down on the Third Grade Medium Stage Primordial Lion Beast. ¡°Boom-boom-boom¡­¡± In that instant, the long-calm sky was suddenly rife with raging Sword Qi, and powerful fluctuations swept through in succession, the terrifying momentum pouring toward the canyon like a steel torrent. At that moment, the two Primordial Lion Beasts seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s sudden strike, became utterly furious. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± As the two Primordial Lion Beasts roared, they twisted their bodies and charged towards Lin Tianming and Qin Xi with bared teeth and brandished claws. In the blink of an eye, the two figures and the two beasts became entangled in battle, each of their powerful attacks clashing head-on. ¡°Boom-boom-boom¡­¡± For a moment, the sky was ablaze with fireworks, and the sounds of explosions echoed continuously between heaven and earth. As the fireworks gradually faded, Lin Tianming and the Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast were both sent flying dozens of yards by the immense rebounding force. After stabilizing himself, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was grave as the Qi-Blood in his body surged, his palms tingling with numbness. On its side, the Primordial Lion Beast was also growling low with bared teeth, seemingly in pain. After this exchange, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but feel the situation was tricky. In his eyes, the strength of this Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast was indeed formidable. Keep in mind that since entering the Golden Core Stage, he had also fought numerous times with Golden Core Stage Qi cultivators and even some Third Order Demonic Beasts. Among them, there were certainly some Late Stage Golden Core experts. But at that time, Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength was not as strong as it is now, and he had never felt such pressure. However, now, after a round of probing attacks, Lin Tianming was shocked by the massive rebounding force. This also truly showed how formidable the strength of this Late Stage Third Order Primordial Lion Beast was. Even so, Lin Tianming had not lost confidence. In his view, this was only the first round of probing, and he himself had not yet gone all out, most notably, his Divine Skills and some powerful Spirit Arts had not been used. Knowing this, Lin Tianming maintained a good mindset, regrouped, and prepared to launch a new round of attacks. Watching the Primordial Lion Beast in front of him with its eager and bared teeth, Lin Tianming quickly performed a Law Decree and blasts of Spiritual Light bombarded the blade of Tiangang Sword. In an instant, Lin Tianming summoned the Tiangang Ninth Sword, a Divine Skill, spearheading the next round of offensive. Suddenly, the Tiangang Sword flashed with light and, accompanied by a resounding sword hum, it shot towards the heavens, and finally, turned into a dragon that rushed towards the Primordial Lion Beast. At that moment, sensing the aura of the dragon-shaped sword coming from the sky, the Primordial Lion Beast also roared. Following that, the Primordial Lion Beast struck with its paw, and a red light shot out immediately, heading straight for Tiangang Sword. This red light was incredibly fast; the moment it appeared, even the surrounding air showed traces of Spatial Fissures. Clearly, this Primordial Lion Beast was extraordinarily talented, able to tear open the fabric of space with a casual swipe of its claw. Lin Tianming, seeing this scene, became even more focused, his face showing an intensified gravity. Under his watchful eye, he saw the Tiangang Sword collide head-on with the incoming red light. In an instant, a loud boom was heard, followed by the sight of the Tiangang Sword being deflected away. The red light also exploded at this moment, finally dissipating into specks of red that fell from the sky. Quickly, the first red specks to reach the ground exploded, easily blasting a deep pit in the surface. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming was startled, feeling the red light about to fall from above, he hastily flashed his figure, barely passing through the rain of red light. Waiting for him to stabilize his stance, he then saw the ground riddled with holes, a blur of deep pits shocking to the eye. And this scene truly gave Lin Tianming a great shock. Up to now, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s formidable strength once again shattered Lin Tianming¡¯s perception. However, the more so, the more it ignited Lin Tianming¡¯s fighting spirit. In such a situation, Lin Tianming showed no fear, instead leaping up and randomly blasting out several streams of Sword Qi, pressing down toward the Primordial Lion Beast from all directions. Simultaneously, he exploded with the divine skill Tiangang Ninth Sword, directly targeting the vital points of the Primordial Lion Beast with thundering strikes. Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were quick, and he was extremely decisive. In the blink of an eye, the entire sky was ravaged by Sword Qi, with the powerful Gang Wind from the attack hitting one¡¯s face. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the moment when Lin Tianming made his move, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s originally wary eyes also turned increasingly angry. Soon, the Primordial Lion Beast moved! That moment, one could only see the Primordial Lion Beast open its mouth in a roar, its immense bellow echoing through the entire canyon. At the same time, a sound wave, small at first then expanding, formed a rippling pattern in front of the Primordial Lion Beast. Following that, one could see the Primordial Lion Beast leap into the ripples, quickly disappearing from sight. After this scene occurred, Lin Tianming immediately sensed an invisible presence appearing in front of him. Although the presence was faint, it could not escape Lin Tianming¡¯s formidable divine sense. In addition, with the Eye of Five Colors open, his sharp gaze swept over everything before him, with even the slightest movement of wind and grass unable to escape his detection. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming could still accurately perceive the unusual fluctuation. As a result, Lin Tianming instantly retreated dozens of yards. After steadying his stance, he found that the Primordial Lion Beast, using those wave-patterned spatial fissures, easily passed through Lin Tianming¡¯s barrage of attacks and almost effortlessly appeared right in front of Lin Tianming. Moreover, the spot where the Primordial Lion Beast now stood was exactly where Lin Tianming had been standing moments ago. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew clearly that the Primordial Lion Beast was indeed powerful, its methods exceedingly strange. In just that brief moment, the Primordial Lion Beast had easily crossed his layers of attack and precisely appeared at his just-vacated spot. Had he not detected it in advance and instantly retreated¡­ This sudden strike, for any Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator or even a Late Stage Golden Core Expert, would have likely resulted in severe injury. Even, to suddenly fall to the claws of the Primordial Lion Beast was not an impossibility. After all, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s strength was immense, even a casual strike carried immense power. Take, for example, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s claw; if it struck an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, it would surely shatter their body, not even leaving a corpse intact. This point alone could show how formidable this Primordial Lion Beast was. The more he understood this, the more Lin Tianming felt fortunate for his earlier cautious and decisive action. Now, seeing its strike miss, the Primordial Lion Beast became even more furiously enraged. However, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s strength was extraordinary, and its Spirit Wisdom was not low. Seeing that it was not far from Lin Tianming, the Primordial Lion Beast did not intend to give Lin Tianming too much time to react. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast immediately changed direction, in its haste unleashing a furious swipe of its claw, heading straight for Lin Tianming¡¯s head. The claw¡¯s speed was swift, forming a powerful momentum when it descended, directly slapping Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Seeing this claw, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed slightly, thinking that if it hit the head, it would likely burst apart instantly. However, his Physical Strength was formidable, and his power was not inferior to any Third Order Demonic Beast. Even, against a Late Stage of the Third Order Demonic Beast, he wasn¡¯t devoid of the strength for a direct confrontation. ¡­ Chapter 1150: 601: Formidable Opponent Chapter 1150: Chapter 601: Formidable Opponent Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming immediately sprang into action from both sides. At that moment, only to see a flash of light from the Tiangang Sword in his hand, after swinging a sword, he hastily threw a punch. In a flash, the Tiangang Sword blasted forth, followed closely by Lin Tianming¡¯s fist, as hard as steel. Lin Tianming¡¯s dual attacks were swift, reaching in front of the Primordial Lion Beast in the blink of an eye. This action of Lin Tianming also took the Primordial Lion Beast by surprise, apparently thinking that Lin Tianming, a human cultivator, could not possibly possess a body comparable to its own, nor would he take the initiative to clash with it head-on. However, in fact, that was exactly what Lin Tianming intended. In his view, his body, cultivated through Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, was no less robust than the Primordial Lion Beast, and even faster in speed. The Primordial Lion Beast had a unique talent to use the bizarre Spatial Fissures for instant mobility, making it hard for ordinary attacks to connect. Under such conditions, it was better to engage in close combat to restrain the body of the Primordial Lion Beast and then seize the opportunity. As long as he could restrain the Primordial Lion Beast, and then deploy the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to trap it, the Divine Skills of the Primordial Lion Beast would be greatly diminished. By then, even if the Primordial Lion Beast had all sorts of abilities, it could only be slaughtered at will inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. With such a purpose, Lin Tianming took seemingly crazy actions, but in fact, he was playing to his strengths and avoiding weaknesses. At this moment, as the attack from the Tiangang Sword was dodged by the Primordial Lion Beast. Then, Lin Tianming¡¯s fist collided directly with the sharp claws of the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise reverberated, Lin Tianming and the Primordial Lion Beast both were forced back significantly by the immense rebound force, with Lin Tianming retreating a greater distance. Meanwhile, as the Primordial Lion Beast retreated, it roared upwards painfully, baring its teeth. Looking at Lin Tianming¡¯s expression, it wasn¡¯t much better. Moreover, inside his body, the Qi-Blood surged wildly, his complexion alternating between pale and flush, a trace of crimson blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, even his internal organs couldn¡¯t help but tremble slightly at that moment of collision. From this, it can be seen that Lin Tianming also endured tremendous pain from the strike. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had anticipated this and had an incredibly high tolerance for pain. Although the physical strength of the Primordial Lion Beast was not weaker than his, overall, it was still within Lin Tianming¡¯s tolerance. Moreover, Lin Tianming himself had other motives, and facing such a situation now, his fighting spirit remained high. As for the Primordial Lion Beast, with its exceptional Spirit Wisdom, seeing Lin Tianming still unharmed after taking its strike also seemed quite surprised. After all, it was incredible for a human cultivator to match a Demonic Beast with innate talent purely based on physical strength. Thus, the wariness in the eyes of the Primordial Lion Beast intensified, hesitating momentarily. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew this was an excellent opportunity. Then, he suddenly slapped his waist, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords instantly shot out, scattering in all directions with a speed that was unstoppable. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immediately after, the numerous Earth Evil Swords rapidly descended, finally disappearing into the ground. Lin Tianming moved swiftly, completing everything in the blink of an eye. Seeing that all Earth Evil Swords were in place, Lin Tianming was exceedingly overjoyed, hurriedly pinching a Law Decree, and several beams of Spiritual Light bombarded a certain corner. ¡°Buzzing¡­¡± In an instant, a light screen surged from the ground, quickly forming a complete Barrier centered around the Primordial Lion Beast. This scene also signaled that the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation was fully operational at that moment. Just before the Barrier was formed, the Primordial Lion Beast also discerned Lin Tianming¡¯s intention. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast hastily launched a claw strike, hoping to interrupt Lin Tianming¡¯s further actions. But by then, Lin Tianming had already completed most of the movements, and he also anticipated what reaction the Primordial Lion Beast might have. Seeing that the Sword Formation Barrier was about to form and the Primordial Lion Beast would be trapped within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, Lin Tianming naturally would not let it succeed easily. Under such conditions, the moment the Primordial Lion Beast moved, Lin Tianming immediately unleashed the Divine Skills, Tiangang Ninth Sword. In an instant, the Tiangang Sword shot out, slashing towards the head of the Primordial Lion Beast. At that moment, the Primordial Lion Beast felt the Sword Qi fluctuation descending from above, its intense and sharp presence making its skin tingle with pain. Despite its urgent desire to leave the area, the formidable Tiangang Sword Qi above could not ignore this strike¡¯s threat. After all, the distance between the Primordial Lion Beast and Lin Tianming was already close, and the power of the Tiangang Sword was formidable. Even with the strong body of the Primordial Lion Beast, it could not casually withstand Lin Tianming¡¯s Divine Skill strike. Thus, while retreating explosively, the Primordial Lion Beast turned its claws around to meet the coming Tiangang Sword. ¡°Puff¡­¡± In that instant, a pleasant series of metallic collision sounds burst forth, quickly echoing across the entire canyon. At this moment, looking around, one could see the Tiangang Sword and the metallic-hard claws of the Primordial Lion Beast entangled together, creating countless sparks flying in all directions. A few breaths later, the firelight dissipated, and the view of the entire battlefield became clear. At this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast was once again forced back a distance, managing to stabilize its posture after a struggle, it then started baring its teeth and roaring painfully, appearing to be in agony. Chapter 1151: 601 Formidable Opponent_2 Chapter 1151: Chapter 601 Formidable Opponent_2 As for the Tiangang Sword, it was knocked away by the swipe of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s claw and finally caught by Lin Tianming again. At that moment, Lin Tianming blocked the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s attack, and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation became fully operative. In just an instant, Sword Qi roamed all around within the Sword Array, and the Primordial Lion Beast felt the oppressive force from the barrier, noticeably slowing its speed. Faced with this scene, the Primordial Lion Beast was both shocked and enraged, becoming much more aggressive. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was immediately overjoyed. After all, the strategy he had previously plotted was effective, and the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was successfully operational. Now, with the Primordial Lion Beast trapped within the Sword Array, as long as he firmly controlled the formation to reduce its size, further compressing the living space of the Primordial Lion Beast. By then, the innate divine ability of the Primordial Lion Beast would be constrained by the Sword Array, making it easier for him to defeat the beast. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately began to implement his plan. In that moment, Lin Tianming frequently swung the Tiangang Sword in his hand, unleashing a barrage of attacks towards the Primordial Lion Beast. Subsequently, Lin Tianming continued to manipulate the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, rapidly narrowing the encompassed area. He was well aware that the smaller the area of the Sword Array, the easier it would be to suppress the Primordial Lion Beast. Otherwise, with the strong attack power of the Primordial Lion Beast, if it found a weak period of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and broke out, his plan for this expedition would be in vain. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks were like a tidal wave, combined with the Sword Qi that roamed within the Sword Array, becoming incredibly dense. By doing so, he also aimed to leave no breathing space for the Primordial Lion Beast. However, even so, the Spirit Intelligence of the Primordial Lion Beast truly was not low. When it felt the pressure from the Sword Formation Barrier, coupled with the dense Sword Qi attacks from above, although the power of these attacks wasn¡¯t very strong and hardly posed a lethal threat, the attacks were very dense and, despite the impressive defensive power of the Primordial Lion Beast, it was impossible to completely ignore them. Moreover, these continuous attacks kept restraining every move of the Primordial Lion Beast. Under such circumstances, the Primordial Lion Beast had to perform some dodging and even counterattacks, thus continuously weakening its offensive edge. However, the Primordial Lion Beast was very smart and decisive. It seemed to understand that many attacks in the barrage were not threatening, and even its defensive hide could hardly be penetrated. Thus, it could completely ignore some parts of the attack, purely relying on its own defensive power to withstand some attacks. Meanwhile, it sought to seize this opportunity to attack the Sword Formation Barrier, trying every possible method to escape the area. Only by escaping could it reverse the situation. Otherwise, continuing like this would be like boiling a frog in warm water, and it would eventually be dragged to death by Lin Tianming. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast chose a direction and suddenly extended its claws, its two huge and sharp claws continuously hit the light screen of the barrier. As for the massive Sword Qi attacks from behind, the Primordial Lion Beast ignored them at this moment. With a series of crackling sounds, numerous Sword Qi pounded on the back of the Primordial Lion Beast. In that moment, sparks flew everywhere, accompanied by roaring sounds. And the mass of Sword Qi that contacted the hide of the Primordial Lion Beast were quickly repelled, eventually dissipating completely in the surroundings. As for the Primordial Lion Beast, it grunted a few times, showing some deep and shallow scratches on its back. Fortunately, the Qi-Blood of the Primordial Lion Beast was strong, and its hide was thick; just that layer of thick skin alone could withstand an ordinary attack from an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Although Lin Tianming¡¯s cultivation strength was notable, ordinary attacks couldn¡¯t cause substantial injury to the Primordial Lion Beast. In these circumstances, Lin Tianming¡¯s blocking attacks were not very effective. At this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast, using the rebound force, made its way towards the Sword Array Barricade directly ahead. Simultaneously, the two claws of the Primordial Lion Beast, one in front and one behind, struck precisely at the same spot on the barrier of the barricade. ¡°Pang pang¡­¡± Two explosive sounds rang out, and ripples stirred up on the Sword Array Barricade, which then began to shake violently. At this moment, Lin Tianming concentrated deeply and controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all his might. As for the split second earlier, he had already perceived the intent of the Primordial Lion Beast and wanted to take various measures to stop it. Regrettably, he had just ended a round of attacks, and it was clearly too late to launch a new attack to block the Primordial Lion Beast. Moreover, Lin Tianming never expected the Primordial Lion Beast to be so decisive, abandoning the substantial Sword Qi attacks from behind and preferring to face those damages to charge at the Sword Array Barricade. Such a change indeed caught Lin Tianming somewhat off guard. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had always maintained high vigilance against this Primordial Lion Beast, and he himself was a cultivator with rich combat experience. Just as the Primordial Lion Beast struck with its claws, Lin Tianming maximized the Earth Fiend Sword Formation¡¯s potential in the shortest time possible. It was precisely because of this that, after the Earth Fiend Sword Formation trembled a few times, it eventually stabilized. At the same time, Lin Tianming quickly unleashed a flurry of attacks, again diverting the attention of the Primordial Lion Beast and thereby taking the opportunity to reduce the coverage of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming acted quickly, organizing a new round of attacks in an instant. At this point, seeing its attack miss, the Primordial Lion Beast became even more furious, with a richer sense of wariness in its eyes. However, at this moment, the situation gave the Primordial Lion Beast no time or chance to catch its breath. In the blink of an eye, Lin Tianming¡¯s new round of attacks arrived as scheduled, each Sword Qi more powerful than before. Not only that, Lin Tianming unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword Divine Power again, hoping to exert greater pressure on the Primordial Lion Beast. And indeed, it did. Facing such a torrential attack, the Primordial Lion Beast couldn¡¯t ignore it even if it wanted to, because while Lin Tianming¡¯s ordinary attacks could be barely overlooked, the attacks from the Technique Divine Power were no less powerful than a typical Spirit Art. Under such an onslaught, even a talented Late Stage of the Third Order Demonic Beast didn¡¯t dare to face it head-on. In such circumstances, the Primordial Lion Beast had to find a way to attack the Sword Array Barricade on one hand, and on the other hand, it also had to keep an eye on Lin Tianming. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast had no choice but to fight on two fronts. In an instant, a new round of attacks from both sides collided. For a moment, the interior of the canyon resonated with crackling explosive noises, accompanied by painful growls. Within the Sword Formation, sparks flew everywhere, and powerful fluctuations dispersed. Within those sparks, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks came like waves, one round swiftly following another. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming took the opportunity to shrink the range of the Sword Formation. After several rounds of bombardment, the Primordial Lion Beast was thoroughly on the losing end, with injuries covering its body, many places split open, its aura palpably weaker than at its peak. By this time, under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation rapidly shrank, soon reaching a range of over a hundred meters. At this point, the intensity of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had become very stable, even if Lin Tianming no longer pressured the Primordial Lion Beast, allowing it to attack at will, it could still hold on for a while. Seeing this, the situation was completely under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, heralding that the life of the Primordial Lion Beast was hanging by a thread. At this moment, seeing the scene before him, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help feeling immensely delighted. In his heart, he was genuinely shocked by the strength of the Primordial Lion Beast. To think that in this process of over ten rounds of attacks, he had gone all out, having spent over half of his Mana. Even for him, sustaining such high-intensity attacks felt strenuous. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a moment, his complexion turned somewhat pale, and his aura also became weaker. However, seeing the Primordial Lion Beast firmly trapped inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, Lin Tianming forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart, and immediately geared up fully focused, vowing to defeat this powerful Demonic Beast as soon as possible. ¡­ Chapter 1152: 602: Beating Up Chapter 1152: Chapter 602: Beating Up At this moment, Lin Tianming watched the Primordial Lion Beast trapped in the Earth Fiend Sword Formation panic-stricken and desperately charging at the Sword Array Barricade. Under the repeated onslaught of the Primordial Lion Beast, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation merely shook for a while before quickly stabilizing. This scene greatly shook Lin Tianming. After all, the Primordial Lion Beast had a demonic body, and although its Spirit Wisdom was almost close to that of normal Human Race, this slight difference also led it to make many irrational actions. Upon reflection, this was also because it was utterly unaware of the origin of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. It should be known that the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was a Divine Skill accompanied by a Heavenly Grade Technique. Moreover, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation was supported by seventy-two swords, all of which were treasures at the level of Third Order Magical Treasures. Any one of these seventy-two swords could match a life-bound magical treasure of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator. Furthermore, the formation was composed entirely of seventy-two treasure swords, just the sheer number of these treasure swords was enough to shock any Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Now, the number of Earth Evil Swords had reached its peak, and under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, had been condensed into a hundred meters in range. Such a Sword Array, in Lin Tianming¡¯s view, was already as solid as a golden soup. However, the Primordial Lion Beast did not understand any of these facts, and what¡¯s more, it had been trapped in the formation for quite some time, constantly enduring the high-intensity pressure of the formation itself. Moreover, with the wandering Sword Qi inside the formation, along with Lin Tianming¡¯s tide-like attacks, it was hard for the Primordial Lion Beast to even catch a breath. Under such circumstances, the frantically suppressed Primordial Lion Beast was terror-stricken, hence each of its attacks was with full force, filling the entire resistance process with a flavor of rage. Following a loud boom, the attack of the Primordial Lion Beast forcefully clashed against the Sword Array Barricade. Quickly, the Sword Array Barricade was restored to its original state, and the attack of the Primordial Lion Beast once again was in vain. At this time, the Primordial Lion Beast had just stabilized its body, its gaze fixed on the Sword Array Barricade and refrained from attacking again like before. By now, the Primordial Lion Beast seemed to understand that all its previous attacks were futile and had no effect on the Sword Array. Even more crucially, the situation could no longer be dragged on. Otherwise, being gradually worn to death was just a matter of time. Thus, faced with a desperate situation, the Primordial Lion Beast made a desperate move, filled with terror. In a flash, the Primordial Lion Beast suddenly roared and a ripple rapidly appeared in front of it. This ripple swiftly expanded, quickly forming a massive Circular Ring several meters wide. Following that, the Primordial Lion Beast leaped forward, its massive body agilely diving through the ripple. In an instant, the figure of the Primordial Lion Beast vanished. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and he made no motion to stop. Because with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he could vaguely see the movement trajectory of the Primordial Lion Beast, still contained within the Sword Array. More crucially, the Barrier of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had already formed and was very stable. Even though the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s innate ability was special, allowing it to switch positions using Spatial Fissures, that required certain prerequisites. While the wandering Sword Qi inside the Sword Array might not be as powerful as the Tiangang Ninth Sword, when it came to an area of a hundred meters, the power of those Sword Qi underwent a qualitative transformation. What was more crucial was that the Sword Array Barricade was now incredibly stable, and there was no need to worry about the Primordial Lion Beast breaking through the Barrier using its Divine Ability Talent. And indeed, that was the case. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a muffled sound, the previously vanished Primordial Lion Beast then reappeared. This time, the Primordial Lion Beast appeared at the edge of a barricade, less than ten meters from the Barrier. As for the muffled sound just now, it was produced when the Primordial Lion Beast was moving through the channel within the Spatial Fissure and then collided with the Sword Array Barricade. With the Barrier blocking, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s Divine Ability was rendered ineffective, and after the collision, it was propelled away. After stabilizing its body, the Primordial Lion Beast looked at the still-existing Barrier in front of it, filled with some confusion, but more so with horror. Since its Divine Ability had always been infallible, it was also the key means of survival for their species in the Cultivation World for thousands of years. However, now facing Lin Tianming¡¯s arsenal of measures, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s most relied upon Divine Ability unexpectedly lost its effect, truly catching the Primordial Lion Beast off guard. What the Primordial Lion Beast was unaware of, was that Lin Tianming possessed the blessing of a treasure such as the Eye of Five Colors, resulting in its innate Divine Ability losing its greatest effectiveness, and it just so happened to be restrained by Lin Tianming¡¯s Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Otherwise, had it been any other method, the Primordial Lion Beast certainly would have easily evaded the attack and quickly counterattacked. Besides this, Lin Tianming¡¯s inherent power was formidable; even an ordinary Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, let alone a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast, was easily not Lin Tianming¡¯s match. Under these various conditional factors, the battle between the Primordial Lion Beast and Lin Tianming was so tough. Now, as the Primordial Lion Beast faced such a dilemma, even though its power was quite extraordinary, it was helpless. Especially since Lin Tianming¡¯s expression was calm at the moment, and he didn¡¯t plan to continue delaying, to avoid complications from arising. Thus, observing the flustered Primordial Lion Beast, Lin Tianming seized the moment before it could react and launched an attack first. Chapter 1153: 602: A Brutal Beating_2 Chapter 1153: Chapter 602: A Brutal Beating_2 At that instant, Lin Tianming swiftly made a single-handed seal, launching a series of precise spiritual light strikes onto the Tiangang Sword. In the blink of an eye, a flash of light shimmered on the Tiangang Sword, which then transformed into a roaring dragon and shot forth. Having done this, Lin Tianming did not let down his guard and immediately continued to shrink the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, coordinating with the divine skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword to squeeze the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s last bit of living space. Under his attack, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was filled with an intense barrage of assaults, not only from the vast numbers of Sword Qi but also from Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword. ¡°Buzz buzz buzz¡­¡± Within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, the Sword Qi ran rampant, howling as it swept through. It was at this moment that the Primordial Lion Beast recovered from its initial panic. Next, as the Primordial Lion Beast raised its head, it saw an overwhelming onslaught of Sword Qi, among which was the Tiangang Sword it dreadfully feared. Moreover, led by the Tiangang Sword, an immense momentum built up like a steel torrent, rushing head-on toward it. In that instant, the Primordial Lion Beast sensed the breath of death. As the vast waves of Sword Qi drew closer, the Primordial Lion Beast hastily struck out with its paws, knocking the leading Tiangang Sword away. However, there were too many attacks. Even with all its strength, the Primordial Lion Beast couldn¡¯t deflect them all or dodge every hit. Under such circumstances, many Sword Qi attacks still came through, eventually bombarding various parts of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s body. For a time, the wailing cries of the Primordial Lion Beast were incessant. Amongst its roars, some Sword Qi left numerous wounds of various sizes and depths on its body. Some of the more severe injuries stripped away chunks of its hide and even some crimson flesh. When the round of attacks ended, the dust and flashes of fire dispersed. At this point, looking over, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s aura was significantly waner, its body scorched black, riddled with wounds that were oozing fresh blood. After that barrage, the Primordial Lion Beast, despite defending itself, accumulated an increasing number of injuries, which clearly impacted its strength. In contrast, Lin Tianming, though having consumed some mana, saw his overall momentum steadily soar. Such a comparison made the outcome between the two sides evidently clear. At this point, Lin Tianming, hearing the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s unwilling growls, showed no mercy and attacked once more. Soon, another three rounds of attacks were over. After several consecutive rounds of assault, Lin Tianming¡¯s attacks became more and more fierce, each targeting the vital areas of the Primordial Lion Beast. At first, the Primordial Lion Beast could still resist a bit, at least keeping its injuries within a controllable limit. But as time went on, the reach of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation continued to shrink, further limiting the living space of the Primordial Lion Beast. Under these conditions, the Primordial Lion Beast was severely wounded, with its overall strength declining by at least forty percent compared to its peak. By now, the Primordial Lion Beast was incapable of mounting an effective counterattack, let alone threatening Lin Tianming¡¯s safety. Moreover, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had become as impregnable as a fortress, impervious to the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s attacks¡ªit couldn¡¯t even cause it to shake slightly. Seeing this, a trace of a smile finally surfaced on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. He was well aware that, though the Primordial Lion Beast wasn¡¯t dead, its life was completely in his hands, and with determination, he could completely annihilate it in just a few rounds. However, Lin Tianming did not intend to end the life of the Primordial Lion Beast so quickly, for he wanted to attempt subduing this talented and powerful Demonic Beast. If he could subdue the Primordial Lion Beast, not to mention its Divine Ability Talent, just its powerful strength at the Late Stage of the Third Order, would be comparable to a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. This being said, the Primordial Lion Beast would indeed be an excellent aide. Yet, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t sure if he could succeed as he wished. After all, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s realm was higher than his. Although Lin Tianming was stronger, the Primordial Lion Beast had great innate talent and significant Spirit Wisdom. Such a Demonic Beast also had a certain pride and definitely would not submit easily to him. Regardless, Lin Tianming was determined to give it a try. If successful, he would gain an incredibly powerful Demonic Beast with an exceptionally strange Innate Divine Ability as a Spiritual Pet. At that time, with the couple united, plus the aid of a herd of Third Order Spiritual Pets, even if faced with the entirety of the Golden Core Cultivators from the Five Poison Sect hunting them down, they would most likely be able to escape unscathed. In this sense, the assistance that this Primordial Lion Beast could offer them was indeed significant. Understanding this, Lin Tianming decided that he had to try his best no matter what, at the very least not to have regrets afterward. Besides, if the taming was unsuccessful, he could simply kill it¡ªthis would not take much effort. Therefore, Lin Tianming now turned his body around and changed his offensive strategy. He slowly walked towards the Primordial Lion Beast while continuously controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to narrow its bounds. Soon, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shrunk to a few dozen zhang. At this point, the area had become quite small. For a Primordial Lion Beast with a body size of several zhang, that was only enough space for about ten body lengths. Under these circumstances, the Sword Qi inside the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was incredibly dense. Beyond the space occupied by the Primordial Lion Beast, there was nearly no room left to survive. However, after reaching this degree, Lin Tianming did not continue to shrink the formation but instead controlled the Sword Qi within the Sword Array to slice at the beast in a heavy, relentless manner. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, miserable screams echoed from within the Sword Array, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine upon hearing them. Afterward, Lin Tianming halted his attack and entered the Sword Array with big strides. And at this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast, lying prone on the ground, twisted its body and roared in pain. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming wore an expressionless face, simply watching the Primordial Lion Beast with a cold gaze. He then extended his Divine Sense towards the Primordial Lion Beast, conveying his desire to subjugate it. Quickly, the Primordial Lion Beast lifted its head with a fierce glint in its eyes and, with a roar, lunged a claw straight towards Lin Tianming¡¯s Sky Spirit Cover. Seeing this, Lin Tianming gave a mocking smile, casually slapped away the oncoming sharp claw, sending the body of the Primordial Lion Beast flying as well. When the Primordial Lion Beast heavily crashed into the ground, another series of agonizing howls followed. At this time, seeing the reaction of the Primordial Lion Beast, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Hmph¡­ so ungrateful!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianming charged forward, his iron-like fists raining down punch after punch on the back of the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡°Bang Bang Bang¡­¡± Loud booming noises followed one after another, echoing throughout the entire ravine along with the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s cries of agony. These booming noises were the dull thuds of Lin Tianming¡¯s fists smashing into the back of the Primordial Lion Beast. As for those cries of agony, naturally, they were because the Primordial Lion Beast was enduring tremendous pain, unable to hold back its screams. After all, Lin Tianming¡¯s physical body was powerful, his strength was extremely astonishing, and not a bit inferior to the body of a Third Grade Medium Stage Demonic Beast. Even a casual punch from him carried immense power. A single punch, if landed on an unguarded Third Order Early Stage Demonic Beast, would likely need only one blow to end the creature¡¯s life. However, the Primordial Lion Beast had robust Qi-Blood and astonishing defensive power, and it had not suffered any particularly serious fatal injuries earlier on. Thus, after enduring several punches from Lin Tianming in a row, the Primordial Lion Beast did not collapse but retained its complete body, and its breathing was relatively unobstructed, showing at least no signs of death. Lin Tianming had actually done this intentionally. In his view, to achieve his goal and wear down the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s fighting spirit, there was no avoiding a fierce beating and torment. Much like how he subdued the Purple Gold Eagle before, it was through a combination of a severe beating and enticement that he finally managed to have it under his command. The only difference was the vast difference in grade and strength between the two. Nevertheless, no matter what, these carrot-and-stick methods were an essential part of his strategy. Knowing this, Lin Tianming intended to keep the Primordial Lion Beast alive but would not hold back excessively, nor would he be polite with the Primordial Lion Beast. ¡­ Chapter 1154: 603: Another Spirit Beast Acquired Chapter 1154: Chapter 603: Another Spirit Beast Acquired As the beating ended, Lin Tianming continued to extend his Divine Sense to communicate with the Primordial Lion Beast. However, even so, the Primordial Lion Beast still displayed a fierce light in its eyes, showing no signs of compromise. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste more time with it and once again started to pummel it with his fists. After three continuous rounds of beating, the Primordial Lion Beast was now at death¡¯s door, barely clinging to life. At this rate, even if Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to take its life, it would take the Primordial Lion Beast at least a decade to recover to its peak. And at this time, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s energy was weak, and the hostility in its eyes had dissipated a lot, whether out of utter despair or actual submission was unknown. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming finally showed a trace of satisfaction on his face. Following that, Lin Tianming waved his somewhat numb fists and then arrived in front of the Primordial Lion Beast. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the nearly lifeless Primordial Lion Beast and once again sent out his Divine Sense to try and communicate. During this time, Lin Tianming first threatened, then began to comfort the Primordial Lion Beast in his words. At the same time, Lin Tianming did not forget to promise various benefits, coaxing and deceiving the Primordial Lion Beast with conditions for it to choose. In Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, to be able to subjugate such a powerful beast with extraordinary talent, as long as he had the ability and conditions, he was indeed not too stingy. After all, the Purple Gold Eagle had followed him for many years, growing from the Middle Stage of the First Order to the present, having reached the very limit of the Late Phase of the Second Order. Not only that, but after Lin Tianming had bid on a Third Order Demon Pill in the Longqing Market of the Golden Crow Country, he had the Purple Gold Eagle swallow it before leaving the Golden Crow Country a few years ago. Now, the Purple Gold Eagle was sleeping inside the Qiankun Jade, busy attempting to reach the Third Order. With these years of sleep, logically the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s breakthrough process should soon yield results. If it weren¡¯t for the long process of demonic beasts breaking through, usually taking five to eight years at the least and twenty years at the most being quite normal. Otherwise, perhaps the Purple Gold Eagle would have already entered the Third Order. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, apart from the Purple Gold Eagle, Lin Tianming¡¯s other Spirit Beast, the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, had successfully made its breakthrough to the Third Order over ten years ago. The only regret is that the Bloodthirsty Jiao could not get through the Heavenly Tribulation. Otherwise, Lin Tianming would have helped his two Spirit Beasts to reach the Third Order by now. From this, one can see how much Lin Tianming cares for his Spirit Beasts and is willing to spend a certain amount of treasure resources to support them in their rapid growth. Now, in order to successfully subjugate the Primordial Lion Beast, Lin Tianming used a mixture of soft and hard tactics, employing various deceitful methods. Not long after, the Primordial Lion Beast understood Lin Tianming¡¯s intentions, and then it sprawled on the ground, opening its mouth and letting out a few low roars. At this moment, seeing the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s actions, Lin Tianming thought that it seemed to have agreed to acknowledge its master. Thus, Lin Tianming was overjoyed, with a radiant expression on his face. After calming himself down a bit, Lin Tianming quickly reached out with his Divine Sense to communicate with the Primordial Lion Beast. Soon, he confirmed the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s willingness to accept him as its master once more. With that settled, Lin Tianming was ecstatic, and he quickly began the process of becoming its master. In less than the time it took for a cup of tea to brew, Lin Tianming had signed a contract with the Primordial Lion Beast, completing all the procedures for mastery. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the connection between himself and the Primordial Lion Beast, exactly like his bond with the Purple Gold Eagle and the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. And this also meant that he had gained another powerful demonic beast, and a strong entity at the Late Stage of the Third Order, no less. Just then, the successfully subdued Primordial Lion Beast forced itself to cheer up and affectionately nuzzled against Lin Tianming¡¯s Daoist robe. Seeing that the Primordial Lion Beast was seriously injured and its energy somewhat unstable, Lin Tianming quickly took out several elixirs meant for healing and fed them to the Primordial Lion Beast. Having done all this, Lin Tianming then put the Primordial Lion Beast into the Qiankun Jade to let it rest and recover from its injuries. Without any accidents, the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s injuries would not heal quickly, and in the coming years, it probably would not easily emerge. However, the Primordial Lion Beast had high talent and powerful Bloodline Power, even with such injuries, with the aid of Lin Tianming¡¯s elixirs, recovery was just a matter of time. And after the Primordial Lion Beast fully recovered, with its current Grade strength, it would certainly be comparable to a Late Stage Golden Core Expert. In fact, the feeling that the Primordial Lion Beast gave Lin Tianming was that it was even stronger than He Lanjun, whom he had fought before. This also meant that the Primordial Lion Beast could deal with Lu Xingfeng of Zhenyang Sect and Zhou Yunxiao of Myriad Medicine Valley by itself, and they would probably not be a match for the Primordial Lion Beast. With this in mind, the Primordial Lion Beast would surely become a great support for Lin Tianming for a long time to come. Knowing this, Lin Tianming felt very excited, with an anticipatory smile on his face. After regaining some composure, Lin Tianming then turned his attention to the battlefield where Qin Xi was. Following his gaze, Qin Xi was currently engaged in an intense battle with another Primordial Lion Beast. Looking at the overall situation, Qin Xi still had the upper hand, dominating the Primordial Lion Beast throughout the fight. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming nodded with satisfaction. In his heart, this Primordial Lion Beast was indeed extraordinary, with its Divine Skills being incredibly tricky and unpredictable. Chapter 1155: 603: Another Spirit Beast_2 Chapter 1155: Chapter 603: Another Spirit Beast_2 Fortunately, since Qin Xi had broken through to the Mid Stage Golden Core, her overall prowess had also leaped to a new level. Before this breakthrough, she was already capable of fighting on equal terms with Mid Stage Golden Core cultivators. Now with the breakthrough in her cultivation, her strength had become even more formidable. If not for the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s significant strength, given Qin Xi¡¯s current combat power, she would have likely achieved victory in the fight already. At the moment, since Qin Xi had the upper hand, Lin Tianming, in order to better train Qin Xi, couldn¡¯t be bothered to intervene and potentially ruin such a good opportunity for her to practice. In such a situation, Lin Tianming stood by as a spectator. On the battlefield, Qin Xi fought more fiercely as the battle went on, her robust attacks repeatedly forcing the Primordial Lion Beast to retreat. Every hit inflicted great pain on the Primordial Lion Beast, whose wounds increased in number, and overall injuries worsened. After several rounds of attacks, the Primordial Lion Beast was repeatedly repelled and finally cornered by Qin Xi. At this time, seeing no way out, the Primordial Lion Beast seemed to contemplate fleeing. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast roared upwards, and immediately in front of it, a ripple of water appeared. Following that, the Primordial Lion Beast leaped into the ripple and quickly vanished from Qin Xi¡¯s sight. The Primordial Lion Beast was very fast; all its actions completed in the blink of an eye. At this moment, witnessing this scene, Qin Xi also showed a surprised expression. Clearly, although she had heard about the innate divine abilities of the Primordial Lion Beast being bizarre, she had never seen them before, nor experienced them firsthand. Seeing such a scene now, she naturally became somewhat surprised. However, soon, Qin Xi calmed down and promptly devised a strategy to respond. In that instant, Qin Xi formed a Law Decree with her hands, performing a strange gesture quickly. Shortly after, mist swirled in front of her, eventually condensing into thick clumps of crystals that rapidly filled a large portion of the battlefield. With such changes, the entire battlefield shimmered with silver light. Underneath this silver crystal, a fine long thread appeared before Qin Xi. Clearly, Qin Xi knew the Primordial Lion Beast was attempting to flee, and its divine skills involved manipulating spatial forces. Facing such peculiar divine skills, Qin Xi understood the pressing task was to swiftly locate the trajectory of the Primordial Lion Beast¡¯s movement. Otherwise, once the Primordial Lion Beast truly got far, catching up to it would not be easy. Therefore, Qin Xi immediately used her Spirit Root Attribute to condense a large swath of crystals, enveloping a vast area of the battlefield. Simultaneously, these crystals helped in tracking the movement trajectory of the Primordial Lion Beast. Indeed, she succeeded. Now, seeing the fine light thread before her eyes was surely the movement path of the Primordial Lion Beast. Thus, Qin Xi faintly smiled, her hands¡¯ movements unceasing. In an instant, Qin Xi unleashed another strike, heading straight for the end of the fine light thread. Following a painful roar, the body of the Primordial Lion Beast reappeared. At this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast crashed onto the ground creating a large crater, a bloody wound visible on its body as blood dyed the ground red, pooling into a puddle at the bottom of the pit. The Primordial Lion Beast was howling in agony, its eyes filled with a rage-fueled glare. Just then, Qin Xi slowly approached the Primordial Lion Beast. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Given that the beast had already been heavily injured, reducing its strength considerably. Moreover, even at its peak, the Primordial Lion Beast was never a match for Qin Xi, who had always dominated the fight, seldom allowing the beast a chance to pose any direct threat to her. Now, with the Primordial Lion Beast heavily wounded, it was even less likely to be her opponent. Seeing Qin Xi slowly advancing, her sword shimmering with silver light, it seemed ready to strike at any moment, potentially ending the life of the Primordial Lion Beast. Witnessing this scene, the Primordial Lion Beast was both frightened and infuriated, its eyes flashing red, clearly enraged to the utmost. However, even so, Qin Xi was not intimidated by the Primordial Lion Beast. She saw her moving slowly, her hands forming Law Decrees again, and streams of Spiritual Light struck the Primordial Lion Beast with the speed of thunder, bombarding its body. Soon, a series of crackling sounds echoed, accompanied by the agonizing roars of the Primordial Lion Beast. Qin Xi¡¯s strikes were perfectly timed, each one inflicted pain on the Primordial Lion Beast but was not lethal. After this round of attacks, the Primordial Lion Beast grew even more enraged. Consequently, the Primordial Lion Beast, enduring the intense pain in its body, swung its claw directly at Qin Xi¡¯s head. Regrettably, at this moment, the Primordial Lion Beast, having suffered heavy injuries, possessed only sixty percent of its peak strength. Therefore, facing such an attack, Qin Xi easily crushed it. Following that, Qin Xi launched several more rounds of attacks, beating the injured Primordial Lion Beast ruthlessly. Soon, after several continuous rounds of attacks, the Primordial Lion Beast was covered in wounds and much of its blood stained the earth, presenting a pitiful sight. As for the Primordial Lion Beast itself, it was also barely clinging to life, maintaining just a sliver of vitality. At this moment, Qin Xi approached the Primordial Lion Beast, her sharp sword hanging over its head. In such a situation, she could easily slay the Primordial Lion Beast with a simple gesture, ending this battle. However, like Lin Tianming, Qin Xi was also keen to attempt taming the Primordial Lion Beast as a master, thereby gaining a Demonic Beast nearly as powerful as themselves for assistance. Thus, Qin Xi was measured in her attacks. Otherwise, the Primordial Lion Beast would have already been dead by this time. Consequently, Qin Xi quickly extended her Divine Sense, attempting to communicate with the Primordial Lion Beast. At this time, the Primordial Lion Beast also sensed the presence above its head and felt the scent of death. However, upon understanding Qin Xi¡¯s intentions, the Primordial Lion Beast initially resisted fiercely, but seeing its companion had completely disappeared and still reluctant to submit, it finally saw no opportunity to waste time nor any possible chance for survival. Thus, the Primordial Lion Beast hesitated but eventually made the right choice. Soon, Qin Xi felt the response from the Primordial Lion Beast, indicating its agreement to acknowledge her as its master. At that moment, Qin Xi was overjoyed, and a thrilled smile appeared on her face. Following that, since the Primordial Lion Beast agreed to acknowledge Qin Xi as its master, the subsequent taming process was smooth. Therefore, Qin Xi did not intend to waste time and quickly began the taming process. Regarding the Primordial Lion Beast, it was very cooperative at this point. In less than the time it takes to boil a cup of tea, the ceremony of acknowledging Qin Xi as its master was completed. When Qin Xi sensed the connection between herself and the Primordial Lion Beast, she was immensely thrilled. After calming herself a bit, Qin Xi also did not skimp and quickly took out some healing elixirs for the Primordial Lion Beast to swallow. After completing these tasks, Qin Xi then put away the Primordial Lion Beast. Afterward, Qin Xi turned her gaze and saw Lin Tianming, who had been watching the battle, and she stepped towards him. At that moment, as the battlefield returned to tranquility, Lin Tianming also walked towards Qin Xi. From a distance, Lin Tianming¡¯s voice carried over. ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ Congratulations on successfully taming the Primordial Lion Beast!¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi giggled and said: ¡°Ming, don¡¯t tease Xi¡¯er!¡± ¡°You know, Ming tamed a Primordial Lion Beast ahead of me, a powerful Late Stage of the Third Order beast.¡± ¡°And the strength of Xi¡¯er¡¯s Primordial Lion Beast is far less than the one subdued by Ming, so there¡¯s really nothing worth praising.¡± Hearing Qin Xi¡¯s explanation, Lin Tianming waved his hand and smiled. ¡°Alright, Xi¡¯er, since the trouble with this Primordial Lion Beast is resolved, we should move further inside and see if there are any treasures in the lairs of these fellows.¡± After Lin Tianming spoke, he stared intently at the depths of the canyon, showing a look of anticipation. Hearing this, Qin Xi naturally did not object. Moreover, she herself was also quite curious about what treasures might exist inside the canyon. Thus, Qin Xi nodded in agreement with Lin Tianming, then they briefly chatted and confirmed the specifics of their next plan. ¡­ Chapter 1156: 604 Xiao Diao Transcends Tribulation Chapter 1156: Chapter 604 Xiao Diao Transcends Tribulation Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, the couple began tidying up the battlefield to at least make it look less like a scene of fierce fighting, so as not to be too ghastly to bear. Having done this, Lin Tianming and his wife then departed from this place, heading towards the interior of the gorge. In a short while, the two had already reached the deepest part of the gorge. Here, silence pervaded, and Spatial Fissures appeared even more frequently. As for these, Lin Tianming and his wife were well prepared, skillfully dodging them with relative ease. Therefore, once sure there were no other dangers inside the gorge, Lin Tianming and his wife began to search separately. At this time, Lin Tianming surveyed the dense forest in front of him, his sharp gaze probing through it. Soon, Lin Tianming discovered a three-hundred-year-old Tianxin Grass. Upon seeing this, Lin Tianming was very pleased. Although this Tianxin Grass was only three hundred years old and temporarily not suitable for refining elixirs, The Tianxin Grass was quite precious and rare, almost extinct in the entire Cultivation World, and thus, extremely valuable. This young Tianxin Grass could be transplanted into the Qiankun Jade for cultivation, inevitably reaching the required age for Alchemy one day. With that thought, Lin Tianming quickly set to work and soon successfully transplanted the Tianxin Grass. As for what was to come, a thorough search was still needed. He was well aware that if a Tianxin Grass sapling grew here, there must be mature Tianxin Grass as well. If he wanted to refine the Tribulation Evasion Pill in the shortest time, he needed to find more mature Tianxin Grass. As for the mature Tianxin Grass, only those reaching a thousand-year age could meet the basic conditions for refining the Tribulation Evasion Pill. With that said, Lin Tianming knew he still needed to work hard. With these thoughts in mind, Lin Tianming continued his search in the vicinity. Less than the time it takes for a pot of tea to brew, Lin Tianming arrived at a rugged hollow between hills. Looking around, a dense mist enveloped the area, and from afar, the fragrance of medicine wafted over. At this moment, smelling the scent of medicine, Lin Tianming knew there was a high possibility of finding top-quality Spiritual Medicine here. Thus, Lin Tianming searched excitedly with his keen gaze. ¡°Ha ha¡­ It¡¯s Tianxin Grass!¡± ¡°And a thousand-year-old Tianxin Grass at that!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming was quite elated, a subtle smile flashing across his face. Following his gaze, within the dense forest, a Tianxin Grass was flourishing. The Tianxin Grass was vibrant with life, its rich medicinal scent proof of its thousand-year maturity. Then, Lin Tianming excitedly rushed over and carefully collected this Tianxin Grass. With this mature Tianxin Grass, plus the one obtained from Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag, Lin Tianming now had two. Even if no other mature Tianxin Grass was found, just with these two, he was confident in successfully refining a batch of Tribulation Evasion Pill. In that case, Lin Tianming could at least obtain one Tribulation Evasion Pill, sufficient for temporary use. However, as more members of the Lin Family reached the Golden Core Stage, the probability of encountering bottlenecks increased, and elixirs like the Tribulation Evasion Pill were always better in larger quantities. Moreover, even if the Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family didn¡¯t need them, they could be taken to the Golden Core Auction Venue, serving as a finale treasure for auction and easily fetching an astronomical price. After all, in the Cultivation World, any elixirs that could help improve cultivation were the most sought-after Treasures. Just like a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item, once it appeared, it would cause many Cultivators to fight desperately, even causing fellow sect disciples or clan members to turn against each other. From this, one could understand the value of the Tribulation Evasion Pill. Therefore, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t find too much Tianxin Grass to be a bad thing. Knowing this, Lin Tianming adjusted his own mindset and continued searching carefully in the gorge. Half a day passed. In some corner of the gorge, Lin Tianming and his wife reconvened. At this time, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi, who wore a smile, and asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, how was your harvest?¡± Hearing the question, Qin Xi giggled before replying. ¡°Ming, Xi¡¯er found four mature Tianxin Grass plants, and together with the saplings, there are twelve, their ages ranging between three hundred to nine hundred years.¡± After saying this, Qin Xi continued to ask, ¡°Ming, what about your harvest?¡± Lin Tianming, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s response, felt very satisfied with her achievements, feeling a sudden surge of joy in his heart. After all, Tianxin Grass was highly valuable, and this specific trip had already reaped two powerful Primordial Lion Beasts as Spirit Beasts, and now Qin Xi had again secured several mature Tianxin Grass plants, amounting to a tremendous gain. Not only that, Lin Tianming¡¯s own findings had not yet been counted. If his own harvest were to be added, the total value of the Treasures they had acquired from this trip was astonishing. Understanding this, Lin Tianming felt very pleased and slowly said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, I have found seven mature Tianxin Grass plants, and another eighteen saplings, with ages also ranging from three hundred to nine hundred years.¡± ¡°With these Tianxin Grass plants, plus the few that Xi¡¯er obtained, and the mature one from Yan Mingshan¡¯s storage bag, that¡¯s twelve mature Spiritual Medicines, enough for our family to not lack this medicine for the next hundred or two hundred years.¡± Chapter 1157: 604 Xiao Diaos Tribulation_2 Chapter 1157: Chapter 604 Xiao Diao¡¯s Tribulation_2 ¡°Moreover, there are more than thirty saplings left, which I believe will survive to some extent after transplantation.¡± ¡°Once these saplings mature, the family can continue to use them for elixir refinement and have supplies for a while longer.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded in satisfaction, equally overjoyed in her heart. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was brimming with an excited smile, his mood extremely elated. After all, the harvest from this trip to Ice Wind Valley was truly significant, having obtained two cultivators with Golden Core Stage combat power and a considerable amount of Tianxin Grass. Such a harvest was enough to satisfy Lin Tianming. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming chatted casually with Qin Xi. In a short while, while chatting with Qin Xi, Lin Tianming¡¯s face suddenly turned red. Seeing this, Qin Xi immediately became puzzled, and then asked with concern, ¡°Ming, has something unexpected happened?¡± Upon hearing this and seeing the serious look on Qin Xi¡¯s face, Lin Tianming knew she must have misunderstood. Therefore, Lin Tianming quickly waved his hand and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er, no need to be alarmed!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Xiao Diao stirring within its seclusion, it looks like it¡¯s about to attract Heavenly Tribulation!¡± ¡°That fellow, ever since it swallowed that Third Order Demon Pill we obtained at the auction, has been silent for such a long time, it¡¯s about time for some activity.¡± Lin Tianming joked with a complaining tone, but in reality, he was quite excited. In his heart, the Purple Gold Eagle was the first Spirit Beast he had tamed and had been with him for many years, earning great merit for both him and the Lin Family during that time. For this reason, Lin Tianming has never been stingy, investing countless treasures in the Purple Gold Eagle. Now that the Purple Gold Eagle was finally ready to take that step, Lin Tianming was filled with mixed emotions, but more so with concern and relief. Because he knew very well that the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s talent was far inferior to the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, and even the recently subdued Primordial Lion Beast. Even less so than the Bloodthirsty Jiao that had perished in the Heavenly Tribulation before. Thus, the chances of the Purple Gold Eagle successfully transcending the tribulation were not great. Knowing this, Lin Tianming was naturally worried. However, with no time to think about these concerns, since the Purple Gold Eagle had reached this point, it had to face the Heavenly Tribulation, whether it could safely transit or not. If lucky, it would be great to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation. If unlucky and it really died in the Heavenly Tribulation, he would be helpless and unable to provide much aid to the Purple Gold Eagle. What he could do now was to protect it during the Tribulation, ensuring the Purple Gold Eagle could concentrate and offering all the help it needed for a quick recovery during the vulnerable period following. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t dare to waste any time. Then, Lin Tianming instructed Qin Xi to construct a Temporary Cave Abode at the entrance of the valley. Meanwhile, he released the Purple Gold Eagle from the Qiankun Jade and stood guard at the valley entrance, ensuring it could face the Heavenly Tribulation with peace of mind. Soon, the Purple Gold Eagle emerged from the Qiankun Jade and immediately darted towards the depths of the valley. At that moment, as Lin Tianming watched the Purple Gold Eagle disappear from sight, an expectant smile flashed across his face. And indeed, this place was a fine location for transcending tribulations. You see, this is the perilous Ice Wind Valley, and especially its deepest region. Due to its secluded and deep location, it is rarely visited by anyone. Not only that, this place was the lair of the Primordial Lion Beast, and within a hundred-mile radius, it¡¯s all its territory with no other Third Order Demon Beasts around. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In that respect, this valley is not only very hidden but also quite safe, truly an excellent place for transcending tribulations. Deeply aware of these facts, Lin Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. Afterward, Lin Tianming sat down to meditate, not only to recover the mana spent in the previous battle but also to protect the Purple Gold Eagle during its tribulation. This was to prevent any unwary cultivators or Demonic Beasts from intruding and disturbing the Purple Gold Eagle¡¯s process. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming and his wife took turns keeping watch. Until one day, half a month later, a burst of wild wind came rushing through, accompanied by the sound of thunder, which startled Lin Tianming from his meditation. At this moment, Lin Tianming opened his eyes, his sharp gaze piercing through the dense fog, focusing on the direction of the depths of the gorge. Looking ahead, the depths were already experiencing violent winds and dense clouds, accompanied by flying sand and rolling stones, a clear sign that a storm was coming. Not only that, but the dark clouds were very low, with some silver-white lightning tearing through the void, clearly a precursor to a cultivator or demonic beast enduring the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming immediately sharpened his spirit, his gaze firmly attached to the direction of the depths of the gorge. It was then that Qin Xi also heard the commotion and promptly arrived next to Lin Tianming. ¡°Ming, is Xiao Diao about to undergo its tribulation?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded, his face showing a hint of anticipation. At that time, Qin Xi also spoke up to comfort him: ¡°Ming, Xiao Diao is very spirited and strong. It certainly can safely pass the tribulation and become a Third Order Spiritual Bird.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ certainly¡­¡± Lin Tianming replied with a laugh, and then together with Qin Xi, they watched every move in the distance closely. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± As successive peals of thunder sounded, a streak of silver light suddenly sliced through the clouds. Following that, a massive thunderball plummeted down, with the speed of lightning, smashing towards the earth deep within the gorge. At this very moment, a sharp and piercing cry emanated from the depths of the gorge, quickly spreading throughout the entire valley. This piercing cry was indeed emitted by the Purple Gold Eagle. As the screech rose, the Purple Gold Eagle also surged into the sky. Facing the imposing thunderball, not only did the Purple Gold Eagle not dodge, it charged towards the location of the thunderball instead. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise came, a red light cut through the void. In that red light, the thunderball was seen striking directly on the massive wings of the Purple Gold Eagle. At this time, the Purple Gold Eagle was apparently prepared, facing the attack of the thunderball, it folded its wings at some point, firmly protecting the space above its head. On closer inspection, the wings of the Purple Gold Eagle were covered in purple-gold feathers, the color strikingly conspicuous. Moreover, the purple-gold feathers were densely packed, each one like scale armor, forming what seemed to be an indestructible shield. When the thunderball hit the wings, a flash of red spark appeared immediately. Then, the Purple Gold Eagle was seen plummeting from the air at high speed, eventually crashing heavily onto the ground. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but worry. And at this time, the thunderclouds in the sky continued to surge, showing no sign of dissipating. Moreover, the Purple Gold Eagle again let out a hoarse cry, clearly alive and not dead from a direct hit by the thunderball. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s hanging heart finally relaxed. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± In less than ten breaths of time, the second wave of the heavenly tribulation had already arrived. Facing the onslaught of the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, the Purple Gold Eagle showed no sign of fear. The Purple Gold Eagle valiantly took flight, repeating the same actions as before. Soon, amid a huge explosion, a familiar scene played out once again. Under this strike, the Purple Gold Eagle once again fell from mid-air, eventually creating a deep pit in the ground. At this moment, the Purple Gold Eagle was struggling in the pit, and it also let out a few painful cries. On closer inspection, one could see that the feathers on the wings of the Purple Gold Eagle were scattered all over the ground, revealing numerous bloody wounds, many of which were charred. Not only that, the breath of the Purple Gold Eagle was much weaker now; it had clearly sustained serious injuries. ¡­ Chapter 1158: 605. The Nameless Abyss Chapter 1158: 605. The Nameless Abyss At this moment, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were still standing at the entrance of the canyon, their eyes fixed intently ahead, watching the entire process of the Heavenly Tribulation. Regarding the power of these two rounds of Thunder Tribulation, Lin Tianming felt that it was not as formidable as he had anticipated. For comparison, the power of the Thunder Tribulation that Xiao Diao was undergoing was visibly weaker than that of the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking further, perhaps only the Thunder Tribulation faced by the Soul-eating Spider and the Bloodthirsty Jiao was about the same as that of Xiao Diao. As for the final outcome, the Soul-eating Spider successfully transcended the tribulation, while the Bloodthirsty Jiao perished under the Thunder Tribulation. However, upon further contemplation, this might have something to do with the Demonic Beasts¡¯ accumulation. In addition, the intensity of the Thunder Tribulation was also somewhat related to the Demonic Beasts¡¯ innate bloodline and talents. Just like the Silver-Eyed Spirit Fox, a demonly talented beast with unique bloodline and divine skills, which naturally incurs a stronger Thunder Tribulation. Hence, the better the demonic beast¡¯s bloodline talent, the tougher the tribulation. However, this also has its advantages; a demonic beast with a superior bloodline, once it transcends the Thunder Tribulation, is stronger than ordinary demonic beasts. Looking at it this way, there are benefits to a powerful Thunder Tribulation, but there are also certain drawbacks. In this aspect, it is somewhat similar to the Human Cultivators. Take Lin Tianming himself, because of his strong personal strength, the power of the Golden Core Tribulation he faced was very formidable. Not only him, but the Thunder Tribulation that Qin Xi once faced was also not small. Comparing it with other Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family, the difference in the power of Thunder Tribulation was obvious. And these, perhaps, are special aspects of the Heavenly Dao. As for the Thunder Tribulation faced by Xiao Diao this time, the power was not considered very strong. From the situation after the completion of the current two rounds of Thunder Tribulation, the possibility of Xiao Diao transcending the tribulation was not small. After all, among the many demonic beast races, Xiao Diao¡¯s innate bloodline talent is relatively ordinary. Additionally, Xiao Diao stayed at the Second Order level for a long time, and during this period, it followed Lin Tianming and consumed many treasures, so its overall accumulation is quite profound. Under these circumstances, the possibility of Xiao Diao transcending the tribulation this time is clearly higher than that of the initial Bloodthirsty Jiao. Realizing this, Lin Tianming felt even more anticipation in his heart. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Just as Lin Tianming was lost in his myriad thoughts, a thunderous noise erupted, bringing his thoughts back to reality. At this time, just a few breaths of time had passed, and the Third Layer of Thunder Tribulation had already formed. At this moment, Xiao Diao was also attracted by this scene, forcibly crawling out from the deep pit and immediately preparing itself. Despite being a demonic beast, Xiao Diao¡¯s current spirit wisdom was similar to a seven or eight-year-old child of the Human Race. But Xiao Diao was very aware of what this Thunder Tribulation meant for it. Once this last layer of Thunder Tribulation was passed, it would officially ascend to the Third Order Level. At that time, its overall strength, lifespan, and even spirit wisdom would all grow to varying degrees. Therefore, facing this last layer of Thunder Tribulation, Xiao Diao was not only unafraid but filled with fighting spirit. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a tremendous thunderous noise, a massive thunderball suddenly surged out from the dark clouds. Looking at it, this thunderball was incredibly huge, just judging from its size, it was many times larger than the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Not only that, the thunder on the thunderball continuously flickered, occasionally arcs of lightning pierced through the void. Seeing such a scene, merely the strong aura was more fierce than before, like it could destroy heavens and earth, looking extremely terrifying. At this moment, the thunderball had already descended, getting closer and closer to the Purple Gold Eagle. Seeing this scene, Xiao Diao was fearless, not only did it not retreat, it even charged towards the thunderball. While still midair, Xiao Diao suddenly let out a sharp cry, then firmly covered its head with its wings. Soon, the feathers on Xiao Diao¡¯s body burst into a dazzling brilliance, especially the feathers on the wings, which completely turned from pale red to golden color. Clearly, this sudden change in Xiao Diao was due to it utilizing the rarely used bloodline inheritance inside its body. Such methods are quite common among the Demon Beast Race. Take Xiao Diao itself, which possesses a trace of the Gold-winged Roc¡¯s bloodline. However, this bloodline is extremely thin and not likely to awaken easily. But once awakened, for a beast like the Purple Gold Eagle, it is a transformative leap from fish leaping over the dragon gate. As for now, the Purple Gold Eagle needed to survive this crisis, so it utilized this very thin Bloodline Power, hoping to leverage this power to turn danger into safety. Fortunately, the Purple Gold Eagle had previously devoured quite a few bodies of its kin, including quite a few demon cores of its kind. Thus, Xiao Diao refined some of the bloodline power from its fellows, accumulating a much larger amount of Gold-winged Roc¡¯s bloodline than before. Under these circumstances, the more Bloodline Power it could utilize this time during the tribulation, the greater the chances of success. Therefore, at this moment, Xiao Diao was giving its all, vowing to withstand this last layer of Thunder Tribulation. With this goal in mind, Xiao Diao fearlessly met the thunderball. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Amidst the thunderous noise, the thunderball violently struck Xiao Diao¡¯s wings. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud explosion sounded, and the sky inside the canyon suddenly flashed with a dazzling light. Within that light, Xiao Diao let out a painful shriek, then directly plummeted from the sky. Chapter 1159: 605 Nameless Abyss_2 Chapter 1159: Chapter 605 Nameless Abyss_2 Still in mid-air, they noticed one of Xiao Diao¡¯s wings was almost broken off, with a bloody and charred wound. At the same time, a large amount of fresh blood poured down towards the ground like raindrops. Then, a dull thud followed. It turned out that this sound was Xiao Diao crashing onto the ground, making a solid impact. At that very moment Xiao Diao landed, a strong aura erupted within the canyon, spreading in all directions. Simultaneously, the dense cloud in the sky churned a few times before retreating, swiftly restoring the sky to its normal color. At this point, Lin Tianming sensed the spreading aura and, looking at the receding clouds, a flash of excitement crossed his face. Because he clearly understood that the sweeping aura fluctuation was Xiao Diao passing the Heavenly Tribulation and officially stepping into the Third Order Level. Besides, the slowly dispersing cloud also indicated the final outcome of Xiao Diao¡¯s tribulation. If nothing went wrong, Xiao Diao must still be alive at this moment. Moreover, Xiao Diao¡¯s Demon Core had been baptized by the tribulation, and its body had undergone a complete transformation. Under such circumstances, Xiao Diao was undoubtedly a genuine Third Order Demon Bird now. Knowing this, Lin Tianming finally let out a sigh of relief. Not just him, Qin Xi standing beside him also wore an excited expression, her worried heart now relaxed. ¡°Ming, Xiao Diao succeeded!¡± Qin Xi exclaimed excitedly, a bright smile flashing across her face. ¡°Um¡­ Let¡¯s hurry and check on Xiao Diao!¡± Lin Tianming nodded in response and then immediately rushed with Qin Xi towards Xiao Diao¡¯s location. Soon, the couple reached Xiao Diao¡¯s side. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Xiao Diao was still in a deep pit, struggling in pain and whimpering weakly. It seemed that Xiao Diao¡¯s injuries were significant, with one entire wing nearly completely severed and numerous other injuries on its body. Furthermore, Xiao Diao¡¯s aura was extremely weak, with blood all over the floor, presenting a pitiful sight. However, despite this, Xiao Diao¡¯s aura was still present and strong, only severely injured but ultimately not life-threatening. At this moment, when Xiao Diao saw Lin Tianming and his wife, it forgot the intense pain, tried to twist its body a few times to get up. Unfortunately, with one wing almost broken and severe injuries all around, it struggled several times without success. Seeing this, Lin Tianming quickly spoke a few comforting words. Immediately after, Lin Tianming took out several elixirs and hurriedly fed them all to Xiao Diao. After doing this, Lin Tianming collected Xiao Diao into the Qiankun Jade to let it recover in peace. With Xiao Diao¡¯s matter settled, Lin Tianming looked at the damaged canyon and secretly pondered their next plan. Not long after, Lin Tianming turned to Qin Xi and said, ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ the two Primordial Lion Beasts have been subdued, and the Tianxin Grass has been obtained, our gains are already substantial.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Now, along with Xiao Diao¡¯s smooth breakthrough to Third Order, our trip to Ice Wind Valley has been incredibly fruitful.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes¡­ the gains this time are truly unexpected!¡± ¡°But that¡¯s good too, so what should we do next?¡± ¡°Shall we continue to train and hunt for treasures in Ice Wind Valley, or leave this place and travel elsewhere?¡± Qin Xi asked earnestly, an expectant expression on her face. Hearing this, Lin Tianming pondered for a while, thinking that although Ice Wind Valley was dangerous, it indeed housed some fine treasures. Take the Tianxin Grass, for example, they hadn¡¯t been very confident about finding it. Yet, it actually existed in Ice Wind Valley, which was indeed a pleasant surprise for Lin Tianming. That being said, Ice Wind Valley was not small, and the couple had only explored about 20-30 percent of its core area. As for the rest of the vast area, perhaps there were still some treasures and opportunities out there. Thinking this, Lin Tianming felt it was better to continue training in Ice Wind Valley for a while longer. After all, coming to this place is not easy, and since the couple currently has nothing else to do, nor do they have a more long-term training plan. Therefore, it might be better to continue training here. Once they leave the Cultivation Realm of Yuanzhen Kingdom, who knows when they will be able to train in Ice Wind Valley again. With this in mind, it might be worthwhile to thoroughly search this place while they have the chance, and then leave directly, as it¡¯s unlikely they will return here in the future. Understanding this, Lin Tianming made up his mind. Thus, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi started chatting idly, during which they discussed some of the specific plans for the next steps. In a short while, the couple reached a consensus on their plans. According to the plan, they would continue training in Ice Wind Valley, hoping to find some treasure, but if not, they would let it be. Once they felt they had trained enough, they would return to Yuanzhen City first. As for the subsequent specific plans, that is, to train in some neighboring countries of Yuanzhen Kingdom, any place with a Secret Realm was worth exploring. In this way, Lin Tianming and his wife immediately sprang into action. Soon, the couple erased the traces of their presence in the canyon and then chose a direction to burst forth. Time flew by, and three months passed in a blink. On this day, Lin Tianming and his wife appeared in a deep abyss. In the three months prior, Lin Tianming and his wife wandered aimlessly through Ice Wind Valley. Along the way, they cautiously searched for treasures and encountered Third Order Demonic Beasts twice. However, those Third Order Demonic Beasts were only at the initial stage, and their lairs did not contain any particularly valuable treasures. Therefore, Lin Tianming was too lazy to make a move to avoid unnecessary trouble. Consequently, the couple easily bypassed those Third Order Demonic Beasts and continued searching in Ice Wind Valley. Until today, Lin Tianming and his wife came to this deep abyss. At this moment, the couple stood on the edge of a cliff. Lin Tianming gazed deeply into the bottom of the abyss, his Divine Sense fully extended, beginning to search the entire abyss. After a brief exploration, he found the abyss to be very long and bottomless, with hot air constantly erupting from below. It seemed that there must be numerous Fire Attribute treasures below, or perhaps some powerful Fire Attribute Demonic Beasts. Feeling this, a solemn expression appeared on Lin Tianming¡¯s face. Seeing this, Qin Xi, standing beside him, asked with curiosity. ¡°Ming, did you discover something?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming immediately came back to his senses. ¡°Xi¡¯er, if I¡¯m not mistaken, there should be a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast beneath this abyss!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Another Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast!¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi was somewhat surprised. It wasn¡¯t that Qin Xi lacked calmness, but since entering Ice Wind Valley, they had already encountered quite a few Third Order Demonic Beasts. Not to mention the earlier two Primordial Lion Beasts, now they had encountered another Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast. The proportion of such high-grade beasts was somewhat terrifying. After all, Third Order Demonic Beasts were considered strong figures in the Cultivation World, similar to Golden Core Cultivators. And the Third Order Demonic Beasts they had encountered along the way were only a few in total. Yet among these few encounters, this was already the second time they encountered a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast. This shows that Ice Wind Valley, one of the three most dangerous places in Yuanzhen Kingdom, indeed conceals numerous Third Order Demonic Beasts. And even strong ones at the Late Stage of Third Order are not rare. This point, through their experiences over the years, was quite apparent. Thus, Qin Xi was somewhat surprised upon hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation. ¡­ Chapter 1160: 606: Salt Crystals Chapter 1160: Chapter 606: Salt Crystals At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi¡¯s face and nodded, then smiled indifferently. ¡°Hmm¡­there is indeed a Third Order Late Stage Earth Flame Dragon!¡± ¡°Earth Flame Dragon?¡± ¡°Ming, this kind of Demonic Beast is also very strong and has a high grade. I wonder what are your plans, Ming?¡± Qin Xi looked at Lin Tianming with a serious expression and asked. Hearing this, Lin Tianming paused slightly, then began to speak. ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ this Earth Flame Dragon is indeed not weak. If there aren¡¯t any good treasures, there is no need for us to provoke it and cause unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°However, my Blue Heart True Flame suddenly became a bit restless when I arrived here just now, as if there is something below that it is wary of, or very attracted to!¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi nodded her head and a hint of excitement flashed across her face. Because she was very clear that since Lin Tianming mentioned the presence of a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast here and they were still staying in this abyss, it obviously indicated that Lin Tianming was very interested in the treasures here. If nothing goes wrong, they are definitely going to descend to the bottom of the abyss to search and see what kind of treasure lies beneath. As for the Earth Flame Dragon here, if it knows what¡¯s good for it, it would be best for it to retreat on its own. If it does not, they will have no choice but to kill it. Understanding this, Qin Xi looked down into the unfathomable abyss and then reminded Lin Tianming. ¡°Ming¡­ that Earth Flame Dragon is also not weak, let¡¯s be careful!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Xi¡¯er, just be at ease!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a Third Order Late Stage Earth Flame Dragon. If it is sensible enough to retreat on its own, I might spare its life.¡± ¡°Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless and merciless!¡± Lin Tianming said with a cold laugh, apparently not taking that Earth Flame Dragon seriously at all. In reality, it wasn¡¯t that Lin Tianming was exceedingly arrogant, but given his current strength, even a Primordial Lion Beast with its freakishly strange Innate Divine Ability was easily subdued by him, not to mention an average Earth Flame Dragon. After all, although the Earth Flame Dragon was also at the Late Stage of the Third Order, its strength was not negligible. But compared to the Primordial Lion Beast, it clearly was not as significant. Thus, at this moment, Lin Tianming was calm in both appearance and heart. Afterward, Lin Tianming glanced at the abyss and then grabbed Qin Xi as they leaped down, plunging directly into the abyss. At this time, Lin Tianming and his wife were descending vertically along the abyss, having flown continuously for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Now, they had reached the deeper regions of the abyss. According to Lin Tianming¡¯s estimation, they were now located at a depth of more than two thousand zhang within the abyss. Here, darkness surrounded them; everywhere they looked were bald rocks. Besides, the temperature inside the abyss was frighteningly high, and as they went deeper, the hot air surging upward became ever more intense. In the end, as they continued to descend, Lin Tianming and his wife had reached a depth of several thousand zhang. At this place, the temperature around them was terrifyingly hot. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator were here, just the temperature alone could cause severe damage, or even directly lead to their demise, which would not be an impossibility. Although Lin Tianming practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, and his defensive power and stamina were extremely shocking, even he was almost unable to withstand the temperature here. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Xi, who specialized in practicing spells, didn¡¯t have the same formidable resistance as Lin Tianming. Fortunately, she possessed a Water Attribute Spiritual Root with extremely strong affinity. She also relied on some special techniques and was barely able to follow Lin Tianming to this place. However, as they descended continuously, the terrifying temperature became increasingly unbearable, even for Qin Xi. Thus, Lin Tianming had to use the Blue Heart True Flame to condense a Fire Shield to firmly protect both himself and Qin Xi within it. Due to the special properties of the Blue Heart True Flame, if its temperature were fully released, it would far surpass that of the deep heat found in the abyss. In this way, the two of them were finally able to continue descending. After another quarter of an hour passed, Lin Tianming and his wife, through constant descent, had arrived at a depth of eight thousand zhang. At this place, Lin Tianming found that the brightness was getting stronger until it was almost no different from the outside world. Moreover, with the last hundred zhang of descent, Lin Tianming and his wife appeared on a flat plain. At this time, Lin Tianming immediately became alert and searched around for the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s figure while assessing everything before them. Looking around, they stood on a vast expanse of ice plain, surrounded by a panorama of frosty scenery, with no signs of Demonic Beasts, let alone living creatures. This scene seemed quite peculiar. Earlier, at the top of the abyss, Lin Tianming had detected the presence of the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s aura. But now, there was neither sight nor sign of the Earth Flame Dragon here, leaving Lin Tianming somewhat confused. In his heart, he was also surprised by the scene in this place. After all, during the descent, they had felt extremely high temperatures, to the point that Qin Xi¡¯s cultivation strength was unable to resist, which showed how terrifying the temperature was. However, after reaching the bottom, that intense heat had disappeared, and everything was almost the same as the outside world. In addition, the land here was covered in ice, a sheer contrast to their experiences just a while ago, the contrast was simply too stark. Even upon slight reflection, it felt somewhat illogical. Chapter 1161: 606 Salt Crystal_2 Chapter 1161: Chapter 606 Salt Crystal_2 But even so, Lin Tianming will not be fooled by the scene before him. He is well aware that places that seem peaceful on the surface often hide unexpected dangers. Moreover, he had just sensed the presence of the Earth Flame Dragon, and there was definitely no mistake in his perception. Keep in mind, the strength of his Divine Sense is no less than that of a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator, and may even be stronger. In addition, with his extensive experience, he can judge many dangers simply through a touch of Mind Sensing. Therefore, Lin Tianming is far from letting his guard down; on the contrary, he became exceedingly cautious and vigilant. At this moment, Qin Xi, looking at the scene before her, couldn¡¯t help but sigh in admiration. ¡°Ming, this place is really strange!¡± ¡°We clearly felt unbearably hot just a moment ago, yet now this place is covered in frost, and the scenery is chilling to the bone. It¡¯s truly too eerie.¡± ¡°Furthermore, this abyss is so deep, my Divine Sense can¡¯t probe into it at all.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Ming¡¯s powerful Divine Sense, exceptional Perception, and the protection of the Exotic Flames like the Blue Heart True Flame, I¡¯m afraid no one could have reached this place.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming, however, remained uninspired. In his eyes, in the current Cultivation World, various terrains and other landscapes are not strange at all. Just to know, the sheer size of the Cultivation World, with just one province of Qingzhou, is unimaginably large. And that¡¯s the smallest Qingzhou in the Nine Provinces Continent. If you consider the territories in Central Province, just Yunzhou alone could match several Qingzhou territories. With this in mind, you can appreciate the vastness of the Cultivation World. In such a splendid Cultivation World, whether it¡¯s the Human Race or the Demon Beast Race, both have extremely rich and diverse historical heritages. Moreover, over tens of thousands of years or even longer, this continent has seen the birth of countless different geographical environments. Not to mention some bizarre creatures, which are not uncommon at all. Places as special as this one, although not abundant, still exist in the Cultivation World. So now, when Lin Tianming sees such scenes, he is not so surprised in his heart. The more he understands this, the calmer Lin Tianming¡¯s mind becomes, and his yearning for the Cultivation World deepens even further. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regaining his composure, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression steadied, and he withdrew his gaze from the distance. Then, Lin Tianming smiled and said: ¡°Xi¡¯er, don¡¯t be too surprised; such scenes are not rare in the Cultivation World, and you will encounter many more in the future.¡± ¡°In fact, the stranger the place is, the higher the probability of treasures appearing.¡± ¡°With that said, let¡¯s quickly explore and see what kind of treasures there actually are.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded like a pecking hen, naturally having no objections to what Lin Tianming said, on the contrary, she was filled with great anticipation for the experiences to come. So, Lin Tianming surveyed the surroundings and then, taking Qin Xi¡¯s hand, they shot off in a chosen direction. Soon, the couple vanished from the spot. An hour later, Lin Tianming and his wife arrived in front of a pool. Looking as far as the eye could see, the pool was a hundred zhang in size, with clear water surface, undisturbed, smooth as a mirror, and shimmering with a faint blue light. At this time, the couple stood still by the pool, their gazes riveted on the clear waters before them, deep in thought. After a short while, Qin Xi broke the silence. ¡°Ming, this pool is so calm that there is not even a ripple, which is really strange.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming nodded. However, he quickly understood the reason behind this. Because the water in this pool was not ordinary water, but was called ¡®Salt Crystal Water.¡¯ This type of water is special, not only because it is a First Order Water Attribute Refining Material but also because it can somewhat weaken the ability of Divine Sense to probe. Usually, this water can be added to Array Plates and Array Flags to give the Formation some ability to block Divine Sense. Therefore, the value of this type of water is quite high among First Order Refining Materials. However, this ¡®Salt Crystal Water¡¯ is a First Order refining material, and given its not-so-high grade, it hardly piques the interest of a cultivator at Lin Tianming¡¯s level of strength in terms of collection. Nevertheless, the pool here is quite sizable, with a considerable overall reserve of Salt Crystal Water. If Lin Tianming is willing to spend the time to collect it, he could still take away a fair amount of Salt Crystal Water. When he returns to his family clan in the future, he could also hand it over to the clan¡¯s Treasure Vault, thus completely resolving the demand for Salt Crystal Water for hundreds of years to come. However, Lin Tianming is actually not interested in this low-grade Salt Crystal Water. What he is more concerned about are the Salt Crystals in the Salt Crystal Pool. Because in the Salt Crystal Pool, there is usually a certain chance that a small number of crystals will form. And these crystals are not to be compared with ordinary Salt Crystal Water. It is said that the Salt Crystal is the essence of the Salt Crystal Pool, typically considered to be a Third Order refining material. Adding just a hint of it to an Array Plate or Array Flags can bring about tremendously obvious effects. Just like formations above the Third Order in the Cultivation World often require treasures like Salt Crystals. Therefore, the function and effect of Salt Crystal, compared to ordinary Salt Crystal Water, are unimaginably more powerful by many magnitudes. Thus, Salt Crystal still counts as an extremely precious material among Third Order refining materials. Consequently, with its extraordinary value, Salt Crystal is one of the treasures ardently coveted by all Array Masters and is also one of the strategic reserves of refining materials for the major Golden Elixir Forces, not easily traded away. In light of this, Lin Tianming naturally coveted the treasure that is the Salt Crystal even more upon encountering the Salt Crystal Pool. As for the Salt Crystal Water, it would suffice to take some opportunistically, the quantity being very flexible. Understanding this, Lin Tianming planned to venture into the pool to explore and see if there were any Salt Crystals present. However, before he prepared to act, Lin Tianming patiently explained it all to Qin Xi. Soon enough, after hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s explanation, Qin Xi understood the reasoning, as well as the hidden opportunity within the Salt Crystal Pool. Consequently, at this moment, Qin Xi was also somewhat impatient to go in and take a look. Seeing Qin Xi so excited at this time, Lin Tianming smiled faintly. Subsequently, Lin Tianming instructed Qin Xi a few words, asking her to stick closely behind him. Afterwards, without further delay, Lin Tianming led Qin Xi and jumped right into the pool. Just as the two entered the pool, Lin Tianming casually released a Light Shield to protect them within it. They then began to descend slowly. In no time, the pair had descended several dozen zhang deep. While still continuing their descent, Lin Tianming used the Eye of Five Colors¡¯ extraordinary penetrating power and saw a dozen or so fist-sized pale blue crystals lying motionless at the bottom of the pool. Upon closer inspection, these crystals were crystal clear, and the faint blue light that flickered on their surface was especially conspicuous. ¡°Salt Crystals!¡± Lin Tianming was absolutely certain, these were undoubtedly Salt Crystals. What¡¯s more critical is that the quantity of these Salt Crystals was more than a dozen pieces. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming became somewhat excited, thinking that the harvest from this trip to Ice Wind Valley was indeed substantial. After all, they had first subdued two Primordial Lion Beasts with exceptional talent and strength, followed by obtaining a good amount of Tianxin Grass. Moreover, Xiao Diao also broke through to the Third Order, and now the presence of Salt Crystals was discovered, with such a plentiful quantity, truly a series of happy surprises. However, just as Lin Tianming¡¯s excitement flashed by, he noticed a more than ten-zhang-long flame dragon at the bottom of the pool, sitting cross-legged and staring at the couple. ¡°Earth Flame Dragon?¡± ¡°It really is this kind of Demonic Beast¡­¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianming suddenly realized why, when they were still above the abyss, he distinctly felt the presence of the Earth Flame Dragon. Then later on, as the couple descended, the aura of the Earth Flame Dragon mysteriously vanished without a trace. ¡­ Chapter 1162: 607: The Peculiar Flame Chapter 1162: Chapter 607: The Peculiar Flame Lin Tianming pondered carefully and realized it was because the Salt Crystal Water had the effect of blocking Divine Sense, and the pond was very deep, at least a hundred zhang from top to bottom. With such a large reserve of Salt Crystal Water acting as a barrier, it was no wonder that the Earth Flame Dragon could hide inside without him detecting any traces or presence. It wasn¡¯t until he and his wife entered the pond and dived a certain distance that Lin Tianming, with the aid of the miraculous effect of the Eye of Five Colors, temporarily discovered the traces of the Earth Flame Dragon. At this moment, the Earth Flame Dragon was staring at them, seemingly ready to attack at any moment. In such a situation, if they continued to stay in the water, relying on the environmental factors here, it was clearly disadvantageous for them to fight. Realizing this, Lin Tianming immediately rushed towards the surface of the water with Qin Xi. Just then, upon seeing them trying to escape, the Earth Flame Dragon also swiftly gave chase. The Earth Flame Dragon was fast, its massive body incredibly agile; as it swam through the water, its crimson Scales directly stirred up waves after waves, surging to the surface. Although the Earth Flame Dragon was fast, Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s speed was not the slightest bit weaker. Moreover, the pond wasn¡¯t as deep as ordinary ponds, and they were in the middle depth, only dozens of zhang away from the surface, which was just a blink of an eye to cross. Thus, Lin Tianming and his wife quickly burst out of the pond and appeared at the edge of the pool. At the moment when they stabilized their forms, the Earth Flame Dragon also burst out from the pond and paused in the center of the pool. Immediately after, the Earth Flame Dragon fixed its gaze tightly on Lin Tianming and his wife, adopting a ready and waiting posture. Despite the Earth Flame Dragon following them out, its Spirit Wisdom was no lower and it could feel the strong aura emanating from Lin Tianming¡¯s pair. Not to mention Lin Tianming, even the aura Qin Xi radiated was scarcely weaker than that of the Earth Flame Dragon, not to mention the even stronger Lin Tianming by her side. Because of this, the Earth Flame Dragon stared at them furiously, but dared not to attack rashly. At this moment, Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t in a hurry to attack either, but was sizing up the Earth Flame Dragon before him. Following his gaze, this Earth Flame Dragon was over ten zhang long, with a very stout body, covered in crimson Scales that appeared quite imposing. On its head grew a single horn, and its blue eyes were particularly striking. Although this creature was called a dragon, in fact, it could only be considered a lesser dragon. It is known that true dragons possess extremely powerful Ancient divine spirit bloodlines. In the current Cultivation World, the Demonic Beasts that barely qualify as dragons are without exception possessing strength of Grade Fourth Order or above. As for lesser dragons, they are merely affiliates of the dragon clan, barely carrying a trace of true dragon heritage bloodline; if they cannot reverse their ancestry, they will find it difficult to overcome such bloodline disparities for their entire lives. Although this Earth Flame Dragon had reached the Late Stage of the Third Order, it was obviously still far from the category of true dragons. However, even so, the fact that this Earth Flame Dragon could cultivate to this level and continuously occupy this place without being eradicated by the Nascent Soul Forces is enough to prove that the beast¡¯s strength should not be underestimated. Thinking of these points, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression grew solemn. Though he had no intention of retreating, he would certainly not underestimate the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s strength. Besides, at this very moment, Lin Tianming was also deep in thought. In his heart, he thought that although the Salt Crystal Pool was admittedly a treasure ground, the place clearly favored the Water Attribute. And yet, the Earth Flame Dragon, a Fire Attribute Demonic Beast, appeared in such a place and made it its lair, which was not conducive to the beast¡¯s cultivation and advancement. Upon such reflection, the situation seemed somewhat illogical. After racking his brains, Lin Tianming had a rough guess. He surmised that there must be some Treasure here that attracted the Earth Flame Dragon, which could also negate the effects of the Water Attribute terrain on it. Otherwise, the Earth Flame Dragon would not possibly be found here. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With these possibilities in mind, Lin Tianming had already made up his mind that he must slay the beast. Only by killing the beast could he successfully obtain the Salt Crystal and continue to explore further. Otherwise, he would have to give up the Salt Crystal within reach and any potential opportunities hidden behind this place. Understanding this, Lin Tianming secretly transmitted a message to Qin Xi, sharing his views and plans. Soon, Qin Xi nodded in response, fully supporting Lin Tianming¡¯s plan. Therefore, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to waste more time. Following Qin Xi¡¯s response, Lin Tianming leaped into the air and flew into midair. Immediately after, he patted the Tiangang Sword at his waist, and it appeared in his hand. Then, Lin Tianming pinched a Law Decree, and a series of Spiritual Light bombarded the Heavenly Gang Sword Body. His actions were swift, completing everything in an extremely short amount of time. At this instant, a flash of light shone from the Tiangang Sword, and then it turned into a long dragon that shot out aggressively, heading straight for the Earth Flame Dragon in the center of the pond. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± Light scattered across the sky, and powerful fluctuations spread out in all directions. At the moment when Lin Tianming sprung into action, the Earth Flame Dragon, which had been observing all along, also grew angry. After all, a Demonic Beast is still a Demonic Beast, and even a late Third Order Earth Flame Dragon had Spirit Wisdom far below that of a normal Human Race. Seeing that Lin Tianming took the initiative to attack, even though the Earth Flame Dragon had been quite wary before, it could not bear it any longer at this moment. So, just as Lin Tianming made his move, the Earth Flame Dragon also roared to the sky in response. Chapter 1163: 607: The Peculiar Flame_2 Chapter 1163: Chapter 607: The Peculiar Flame_2 Following that, the Earth Flame Dragon opened its massive mouth and spat out a great amount of crimson flames, which roared towards Lin Tianming who was opposite. Seeing this, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but snicker repeatedly. In his view, the Earth Flame Dragon was a fire attribute demonic beast, so its attacks were bound to be the power of flames. But as he also primarily possessed a fire attribute spiritual root and had extraordinarily terrifying affinity with fire, coupled with the presence of Blue Heart True Flame¡ªan exotic flame¡ªordinary fire power was utterly ineffective against him. Thus, this act by the Earth Flame Dragon was akin to humiliating itself. With such confidence, the dragon transformed by the Tiangang Sword collided head-on with the oncoming flames. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A series of intense shockwaves rang out, as the two kinds of attacks collided, creating even larger flames. For a moment, the whole sky was filled with the light beams of burning flames, and a large fireball ascended towards the sky. As the flames exploded, a huge force spread out in all directions. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt a strong impact, which forced him back several meters before he stabilized his stance. When everything returned to calm, the Earth Flame Dragon still stayed at the center of the pool, its entire body not having moved an inch. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s brow furrowed, and his heart immediately filled with disbelief. After all, he had been full of confidence before, believing that with his strength, killing this Earth Flame Dragon would probably not take much effort. However, judging from the effects of the first round of attack, this Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack seemed somewhat special, even a bit strange. After all, the attack power of the Tiangang Ninth Sword was beyond doubt. Under normal circumstances, a Third Order Late Stage Demonic Beast aiming for a head-on collision without using supernatural attacks, would mostly be at a disadvantage. Yet this Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s mere strike, clearly not its Innate Divine Ability attack, seemed to hold a slight advantage. This outcome was indeed surprising to him. However, it didn¡¯t take long for Lin Tianming to discover something special. It turned out that based on the oncoming fluctuations and what the Eye of Five Colors saw at the center of the flames, the flames spat out by the Earth Flame Dragon actually contained faint traces of blue and red flames. Although these flames were weak and well hidden, the Eye of Five Colors still detected them. Moreover, while this fire power seemed ordinary, after the attack ended, the flames did not dissipate at once; instead, they slowly converged together and eventually re-entered the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body. This sort of change would be totally undetectable by ordinary cultivators if Lin Tianming wasn¡¯t careful enough and without the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was precisely because of these intermingled blue and red flames that the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack was greatly enhanced. Therefore, during this probing strike, Lin Tianming found himself at a slight disadvantage. Having discovered the reasons, Lin Tianming naturally stayed more alert, to avoid being at a disadvantage in the upcoming fights. Thus, Lin Tianming now looked far more solemn. But soon, before Lin Tianming could make another move, the Earth Flame Dragon across from him became impatient and initiated a new round of attack. ¡°Roar¡­¡± With a fierce roar, the Earth Flame Dragon swung its massive tail, sweeping towards Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure flashed, and his agile body easily dodged the strike. Before he had time to catch his breath, the Earth Flame Dragon spat out another flame from its giant mouth. At that moment, Lin Tianming looked closely and saw the flame formed into a fireball. Within the center of that fireball, there were still blue and red flames circulating inside. Moreover, wherever the intermingled blue and red flames passed, the nearby flames immediately rose vigorously as if the power of the blue and red flames had a significant nurturing effect. Seeing this, Lin Tianming became even more certain that inside the Earth Flame Dragon, there must exist some form of fire power. Not only that, this kind of fire power is likely one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, and its power is probably not inferior to his Blue Heart True Flame. It is precisely because of the enhancement of this kind of fire that the flames spewed by the Earth Flame Dragon possess such destructive force. Otherwise, judging by the natural instincts of the Earth Flame Dragon, such an anomaly would not occur. However, there is one thing; Lin Tianming has neither experienced this kind of flame before nor seen its seed, and for the time being, he is unable to determine what kind of flame it is. But he is certain that the origin of this kind of flame is not trivial. Therefore, no matter what kind of fire power it is, Lin Tianming must be extra careful to avoid capsizing in the gutter. Moreover, this kind of fire might also have a huge utility for him. Realizing this, Lin Tianming became even more determined to execute his plan to slay the Earth Flame Dragon. Hence, Lin Tianming did not intend to hold back, but instead planned to slay the Demonic Beast as quickly as possible to prevent any mishap. With such confidence, Lin Tianming made his move explosively. In that instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s sleeves swept around, and seventy-two Earth Evil Swords shot out, plunging into the pond below with the speed of lightning that could not be covered by one¡¯s ears. At the same time, Lin Tianming performed a Single-handed Seal, making a special hand gesture. In a blink of an eye, a ball of fire appeared in his hand, and after his kneading manipulation, it finally formed a fireball the size of a bucket, suspended steadily in front of him. At this moment, upon Lin Tianming¡¯s mental command, the fireball suddenly burst forth. In less than a blink of an eye, the fireball driven by Lin Tianming had already appeared in mid-air. And at this precise moment, the fireball belched by the Earth Flame Dragon also descended. Amid a deafening explosion, a mushroom cloud rose directly over the pond. In the midst of that sky-high blaze, the two fireballs collided head-on, continuing for several breaths without dissipating completely. It wasn¡¯t until Lin Tianming¡¯s fireball trembled violently that the flames on its surface suddenly burst forth at that moment. Suddenly, the volume of Lin Tianming¡¯s fireball doubled in size, and the color of the flames on its surface turned even more azure. At that very moment, facing this sudden change, the fireball emitted by the Earth Flame Dragon finally burst open. Quickly, the sky full of flames spread with a roar, with most of the fiery rain pouring down onto the location of the Earth Flame Dragon. On Lin Tianming¡¯s side, only a small amount of fiery rain fell. At this moment, facing these fiery rains, Lin Tianming¡¯s figure was nimble like a swallow; with the aid of the Eye of Five Colors, he easily dodged the baptism of fire rain. In contrast, the Earth Flame Dragon, with its colossal body, was not as agile as Lin Tianming¡¯s delicate frame when moving. Moreover, the vast majority of the fiery rain fell above the Earth Flame Dragon. As a result, the Earth Flame Dragon, lacking the assistance of treasures like the Eye of Five Colors, even though it tried its best to dodge, still suffered many fiery rains directly pouring onto its body. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡± For a time, a large amount of fiery rain ignited upon the Earth Flame Dragon. Although the Earth Flame Dragon itself is a fire attribute Demonic Beast and its thick Scales offered an incredibly terrifying defensive power, ordinary flames could hardly cause much damage. However, the flames driven by Lin Tianming are one of the Heaven and Earth Exotic Flames. Faced with such flames, even if the Earth Flame Dragon has amazing defensive power and its own resistance to flames is very good, it still had to endure tremendous destructive force at this time. Therefore, the Earth Flame Dragon was in extreme agony, shrieking miserably all the while, its massive mouth wide open, looking very pitiful. After a long wait for the fiery rain to cease, the scales on the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body were seen to have fallen off in many places, and many spots were scorched black. Not only that, some of the more severe wounds directly exposed the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s flesh, with blood spilling from the wounds, quickly staining a small part of the pond red. Even with the boost of that scarlet-blue flame, the Earth Flame Dragon could not gain any advantage from this strike, instead falling into an absolute disadvantage. By the time the Earth Flame Dragon calmed down, when it looked at Lin Tianming again, its eyes were filled with fear. ¡­ Chapter 1164: 608: The Might of Rockets Chapter 1164: Chapter 608: The Might of Rockets And at this very moment, Lin Tianming seemed to have anticipated everything and was not at all surprised by the scene unfolding before him. Not only that, but Lin Tianming had already secretly set the Earth Fiend Sword Formation in motion while the Earth Flame Dragon was still unresponsive. Consequently, at this instant, along with a distinct sound, an invisible Barrier materialized out of thin air above the pond, enveloping the Earth Flame Dragon within it. When the Earth Flame Dragon finally reacted, it felt an oppressive force binding its body, significantly affecting its speed. Moreover, within the Barrier, fierce winds whipped up sand and stones, and copious amounts of Sword Qi frequently whizzed past. Even some Sword Qi grazed the Scales of the Earth Flame Dragon, kicking up numerous sparks. The Earth Flame Dragon also felt the sharpness of the Sword Qi and the pain that came in waves from its body, which intensified its fear. So it was, the Earth Flame Dragon, now both frightened and enraged, became uncontrollably irate. However, the Earth Flame Dragon was no fool; it was well aware that the situation was highly unfavorable for it. After all, the Terrifying Fireball unleashed by Lin Tianming just earlier had already gained a huge advantage. Now, with the support of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, whether it was for Attack purposes or to trap the enemy, everything could be perfectly coordinated. With these tactics at hand, Lin Tianming now seemed even more formidable, as if he had grown wings. The Earth Flame Dragon was clearly aware of all this, and immediately began to devise a counter-attack strategy. At that moment, the Earth Flame Dragon twisted its body, and its massive tail swept across, eventually crashing into the Sword Array Barricade. The Earth Flame Dragon was fast, and the swing of its huge tail was incredibly swift. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud boom sounded as the Sword Array Barricade shook. Luckily, Lin Tianming had been well-prepared, and he immediately took full control over the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. He just managed to withstand the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack as the Sword Formation had just started operating. After the Sword Array Barricade shook a few times, it soon returned to normal. The Earth Flame Dragon, seeing its attack did not succeed, became more furious and agitated. Therefore, not daring to delay any longer, the Earth Flame Dragon promptly charged at the Sword Array Barricade in the shortest time possible. The Earth Flame Dragon was very clear about the Earth Evil Sword¡¯s impact on it; if it didn¡¯t break out quickly, the longer it was delayed, the more disadvantageous it would be. As a result, the Earth Flame Dragon had a clear objective at this moment, striking fiercely with its massive body, almost as if it were making a desperate gamble. Witnessing this scene, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed, and he immediately unleashed the Tiangang Ninth Sword, attacking the Earth Flame Dragon. Lin Tianming¡¯s goal was equally clear: he must prevent the Earth Flame Dragon from escaping the range of the Sword Array. And he just needed to hold on for a little longer until the Earth Fiend Sword Formation shrank to a radius of a hundred zhang and became completely stabilized. By then, given the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s strength, even if he did not interfere further, the Earth Flame Dragon would likely not be able to escape the Sword Formation Barrier. In this way, killing the Earth Flame Dragon would become very simple. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming¡¯s actions were swift, accurate, and ruthless. Just as the Earth Flame Dragon was about to crash into the Sword Array Barricade, the Tiangang Sword urged by Lin Tianming arrived, precisely blocking the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s path. However, the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s huge body and its proximity to the Tiangang Sword made evasion unrealistic. Therefore, the Earth Flame Dragon could only swing its massive tail to face the blow from the Tiangang Sword head-on. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another loud explosion ensued as the Tiangang Sword struck the tail of the Earth Flame Dragon. In that moment, a burst of sparks erupted, accompanied by a wail from the Earth Flame Dragon that resounded through the entire pond. Simultaneously, a massive shockwave swept in all directions. When the aftershocks eventually subsided, and the firelight also faded away, By then, the Earth Flame Dragon was seen opening its mouth to scream; its massive head flailed wildly, appearing to be in great pain. And on its tail, many Scales were missing, revealing a baby arm-length wound oozing fresh blood. Facing Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, the Earth Flame Dragon had not utilized its strange flames but instead relied solely on its physical body to endure the collision. As for the outcome after the strike, it was undoubtedly a huge loss for the Earth Flame Dragon. Now, with the initiative in Lin Tianming¡¯s hands, he had no intention of giving the Earth Flame Dragon any respite. So, the moment the dust and flames dissipated, the Tiangang Sword in Lin Tianming¡¯s hand shone once more, and the Divine Skill of Tiangang Ninth Sword was unleashed again. ¡°Rumbling¡­¡± Suddenly, the sound of swords rang out, and another powerful attack descended. At that moment, just as the Earth Flame Dragon had barely recovered, it saw the very Tiangang Sword that had injured it striking again. This time, the Earth Flame Dragon dared not rely on its body to take the hit. So, in the same fashion, the Earth Flame Dragon opened its mouth to spew out a burst of flames, colliding head-on with the Tiangang Sword. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another familiar boom resounded, and the strange flames helped the Earth Flame Dragon deflect the Tiangang Sword once more. At the same time, the tremendous impact swept across, causing the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation to shake. At this point, Lin Tianming once again focused his mind, firmly controlling the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, determined to stabilize it. Luckily, Lin Tianming¡¯s mastery of the Earth Evil Sword Formation had reached the zenith, and he had cultivated it to the Great Achievement Realm. Chapter 1165: 608: The Might of the Rocket_2 Chapter 1165: Chapter 608: The Might of the Rocket_2 Besides, Lin Tianming had rich combat experience and had just witnessed how bizarre the flames spat out by the Earth Flame Dragon were. In such a situation, Lin Tianming was constantly on guard, and now facing these strange flames again, he had long been fully prepared. Consequently, after shaking a few times, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation quickly returned to normal. When the shockwave ended and the Earth Flame Dragon saw that such an attack could not break the Sword Array, it immediately became panic-stricken. However, even so, Lin Tianming would not let it think, let alone give it much opportunity. Therefore, without any pause, Lin Tianming promptly activated the Blue Heart True Flame and unleashed a fireball that surged into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Lin Tianming was well aware that if he continued to stimulate the Tiangang Ninth Sword, the Earth Flame Dragon would certainly reciprocate in kind. Given that, he decided to use the Blue Heart True Flame as his main means of attack. After all, the Blue Heart True Flame had already achieved excellent results the first time it appeared. From this, it could be seen that although general attacks may have a stronger effect on other cultivators or demonic beasts, when facing this fire-attribute Earth Flame Dragon, using the Blue Heart True Flame was a better choice. In this way, Lin Tianming was very decisive in his actions, giving the Earth Flame Dragon no chance to catch its breath. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± In an instant, the fireball propelled by Lin Tianming sliced through the sky and appeared directly above the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s head. At this moment, feeling the fireball above, the Earth Flame Dragon was filled with rage, its blood-red eyes brimming with anger. However, no matter how angry it was, there was nothing it could do. Facing the fireball¡¯s attack, if the Earth Flame Dragon responded with the same method, the outcome would likely be no different from the first time. At that time, the Earth Flame Dragon had been injured by the Blue Heart True Flame and suffered a setback. Now faced with the same threat, the Earth Flame Dragon was very helpless and powerless. But with the situation as it was, and with the fireball about to descend, the Earth Flame Dragon had to fight desperately to block this strike if it wanted to survive. Otherwise, this round of attack would take its life. If it lost its life, all other thoughts would be meaningless. Perhaps understanding this, the Earth Flame Dragon was also prepared to fight desperately. Thus, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s attack drawing closer, the Earth Flame Dragon dared not delay. As it retreated, its mouth suddenly opened wide. In just a few breaths, a large amount of flames were spewed out from the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s mouth, eventually forming a rocket-like flame. Upon the emergence of this flame-rocket, the temperature within the entire Sword Array immediately began to rise. Not only that, after maintaining for a while, the temperature began to drop rapidly. Eventually, the temperature inside the Sword Array continued to plummet, ultimately reaching a coldness akin to an icy cave. This swift shift of events greatly surprised Lin Tianming. As he wondered, the two attacks clashed head-on. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud blast echoed near the pond, followed by a mushroom of fire rising into the sky, instantly illuminating the whole sky. And within that sea of fire, the Blue Heart True Flame was penetrated by the flame rocket, eventually exploding. In contrast, the flame rocket still existed and surged towards a section of the Sword Array Barricade. At this moment, seeing this, Lin Tianming was dumbstruck and internally alarmed. He was very clear about how powerful the Blue Heart True Flame was. Just moments ago, it was relying on the Blue Heart True Flame that he suppressed the Earth Flame Dragon and gained the upper hand. Yet even so, the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s fireball was directly pierced through by the flame rocket spat out by the Earth Flame Dragon. In the end, that flame rocket still existed and launched its attack. Although he could feel that the breath of the flame rocket had weakened significantly, and its power was certainly greatly reduced. But this sudden turn of events truly caught him off guard. However, Lin Tianming had no time to think too much at this moment. In his heart, he remembered only one thing, and that was he must block this attack at all costs, and never let the Earth Flame Dragon take this chance to escape the range of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Otherwise, it would not be so easy for him to regain such an advantageous situation. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming now focused his mind and controlled the operation of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation with all his strength. At the same time, Lin Tianming spat out a mouthful of essence blood and accurately sprinkled it on a section of the Sword Array Barricade. In that instant, the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation, reinforced by Lin Tianming¡¯s lifeblood essence, immediately became much more stable, and the color of the barrier¡¯s light screen became much brighter. As for that oppressive momentum, it soared even more. It was at the moment these changes occurred that a loud boom resounded, and the whole sword array shook violently. Lin Tianming immediately felt a surge of Qi-Blood in his body, and his divine soul felt a sense of shock. Looking into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, a huge wave of impact appeared, and a strong force rolled up rolling waves that crashed against the barricades all around. When everything settled back down, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was still in operation, and the light screen of the barrier still surrounded the Earth Flame Dragon. Only now, Lin Tianming¡¯s body surged with Qi-Blood, his complexion grew much paler, and the corner of his mouth even dripped with a trace of fresh blood. With this strike, Lin Tianming still managed to block the impact, thus preventing the entire Earth Fiend Sword Formation from being destroyed by the residual force of that fire rocket. However, the power of this strike from the Earth Flame Dragon was indeed very strong. Especially that fire rocket, which actually possessed both the power of scorching flames and the force of ten thousand years of ice. When these two opposing attributes were combined, they produced such a tremendous force, not only shattering the Blue Heart True Flame but also delivering a huge impact to the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. Therefore, even though Lin Tianming was well-prepared, he was still injured by this immense force of impact. Luckily at this moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was still operating, and the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s plan had failed. Next, Lin Tianming, who had suffered a setback, would not underestimate the Earth Flame Dragon and would not give it any chance to catch its breath. In his view, that fire rocket was probably the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s innate divine ability, and with the addition of that unknown fire power, it possessed such terrifying force. Facing such a level of attack, Lin Tianming did not dare to be careless. Thus, Lin Tianming forcibly suppressed the discomfort in his body and immediately controlled the Earth Fiend Sword Formation to reduce its range. At the same time, Lin Tianming¡¯s Tiangang Sword in his hand swung frequently, erupting with strands of Sword Qi shooting out. In just a moment, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, already rampant with Sword Qi, was now further stimulated by Lin Tianming¡¯s numerous Sword Qi attacks. For a while, the whole Earth Fiend Sword Formation was incredibly dense with Sword Qi, almost like a sky filled with a sword rain, pouring down upon the Earth Flame Dragon. Having done all these, Lin Tianming was still not reassured. So, Lin Tianming once again activated the Tiangang Ninth Sword divine skill, coordinating with the sword Qi inside the formation, launching attacks on the Earth Flame Dragon from all angles. And at this moment, the Earth Flame Dragon also came back to its senses. Seeing such a terrifying attack coming in succession, the Earth Flame Dragon did not dare to stay in place for long and retreated immediately. At the same time, the Earth Flame Dragon was also brewing a new fire rocket. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because it understood very well that ordinary attacks were useless against Lin Tianming and the Sword Array Barricade. Only that fire rocket from before gave it a slight chance of breaking through the sword formation. Therefore, facing such a threat, the Earth Flame Dragon could only rely on the strongest supernatural attack to survive this strike. So, the Earth Flame Dragon, putting forth all its effort, was quick to shape the fireball in its mouth. ¡°Swoosh swoosh swoosh¡­¡± Just then, a series of Sword Qi tore through the void, some of which were easily dodged by the Earth Flame Dragon, but some struck the body of the Earth Flame Dragon. Although the Earth Flame Dragon was quick, it still couldn¡¯t avoid such a dense attack. As a result, just as the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s most depended-on fire rocket was about to be activated, it was abruptly interrupted by the Tiangang Sword strike from Lin Tianming. ¡­ Chapter 1166: 609 Earth Core Truefire Chapter 1166: Chapter 609 Earth Core Truefire With several screams in succession, the Earth Flame Dragon was sent flying by a tremendous force. By the time it landed, it was struggling in pain on the ground. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the Earth Flame Dragon and found that its body was riddled with holes, a large number of the wounds were charred, and plenty of fresh blood was seeping out. Not only that, but the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body was wrapped in crimson blood, its overall momentum had significantly diminished, and its breath had become much weaker. After this strike, Lin Tianming had also broken the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s Divine Skills. What¡¯s more critical is that the Earth Flame Dragon now suffered heavy injuries, its strength significantly compromised. Moreover, after a series of operations, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation had silently narrowed to a range of just over a hundred zhang. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this level of the Earth Fiend Sword Formation, calling it impregnable might be an exaggeration, but it was basically impossible for the Earth Flame Dragon to escape solely with its attack methods. Thus, the battlefield was entirely under Lin Tianming¡¯s control at this time. As the Earth Flame Dragon suffered heavy damage, the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was also fully formed and extremely stable. At this point, the Earth Flame Dragon was like fish on the chopping board, merely at Lin Tianming¡¯s mercy. Knowing this, Lin Tianming certainly didn¡¯t hold back, nor did he give the Earth Flame Dragon any chance to catch its breath. Watching the furious Earth Flame Dragon let out a roar, it then stood up from the ground, with those blood-red eyes full of anger. At that moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face was stern, his expression utterly devoid of emotion as he watched the Earth Flame Dragon. After an unknown amount of time passed, Lin Tianming struck again. In that instant, Lin Tianming¡¯s hand ignited the Blue Heart True Flame, and then a gigantic fireball, as swift as thunder, charged directly into the Earth Fiend Sword Formation. At this time, the Earth Flame Dragon also felt the terrifying fireball approaching once again, plus the dense Sword Qi within the Sword Array constantly compressing its living space. At this point, the Earth Flame Dragon had no way to avoid it, and hardly any confidence to defend against it. After all, the Earth Flame Dragon had already suffered consecutive injuries, and its most relied upon special flame was no match for that fireball. Besides, even its Innate Divine Ability was easily neutralized by Lin Tianming. Now, the Earth Flame Dragon had no means whatsoever to turn its current dire situation around. In such circumstances, facing Lin Tianming¡¯s strike, the Earth Flame Dragon could do nothing but desperately try to dodge. However, the Sword Qi circulating within the Earth Fiend Sword Formation was just too dense and its power had increased several times compared to when it first started. To avoid these Sword Qi, the Earth Flame Dragon exerted all it had, leaving it no extra time or energy to deal with the attack from the Terrifying Fireball. Then, amidst a violent explosion of flames, the fireball formed by the Blue Heart True Flame directly bombarded the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body. In that moment, a piercing scream echoed throughout the entire land. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s gaze, the fireball created by the Blue Heart True Flame hit its target, directly igniting a large part of the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body. At this moment, the Earth Flame Dragon effectively turned into a blazing dragon. When the blaze dissipated, it was seen that the Earth Flame Dragon lay twitching on the ground, its massive body¡¯s rear half was blurred with blood and flesh, most areas charred. Moreover, at this point, the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s breath was faint, obviously on the verge of death. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianming also smiled and nodded slightly. In his eyes, defeating this Earth Flame Dragon did not require much effort, except during the first two rounds of attacks he was unaware of how tricky the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s attack was, and as a result, he suffered a bit. However, later on, he became very cautious, made ample preparations, and began to turn the situation around using the Earth Fiend Sword Formation and the Blue Heart True Flame. In the end, with the Earth Fiend Sword Formation quickly gaining strength, he maintained an absolute advantage throughout the entire battle. Till now, the Earth Flame Dragon had lost its combat power, posing no threat whatsoever. One could say, the battle was now settled. As for what¡¯s next, he only needs to kill the Earth Flame Dragon, then he can enter the pond to retrieve the Salt Crystal. Moreover, what¡¯s most important is to figure out where that peculiar flame of the Earth Flame Dragon came from. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming was thrilled and couldn¡¯t wait to approach the Earth Flame Dragon. At this time, the Earth Flame Dragon was not dead yet, and its body began to tremble involuntarily as it felt Lin Tianming slowly approaching. Barely flipping itself over, the Earth Flame Dragon looked at Lin Tianming, eyes filled with horror. Lin Tianming¡¯s face was calm at this moment, feeling somewhat rueful inside. In his eyes, this Earth Flame Dragon of not a low grade, with formidable strength and extremely bizarre attack methods. Such a Demonic Beast, if it could be subdued like the Primordial Lion Beast, would be another powerful ally for him, and the Lin Family would gain the combat power of a Golden Core Stage, and even akin to a Late Stage Golden Core existence. With such a Demonic Beast, the Lin Family¡¯s strength would be enhanced once again. Plus with the existing Golden Core Stage Clansmen of the Lin Family, as well as those Third Order Spiritual Birds, the compilation of the Lin Family¡¯s Golden Core Stage combat power had already exceeded more than ten. Such strength could easily crush the Zhenyang Sect, which had been oppressing the Lin Family previously. Chapter 1167: 609: Earth Core Truefire_2 Chapter 1167: Chapter 609: Earth Core Truefire_2 Even an age-old power like Myriad Medicine Valley, with its ten-thousand-year heritage, pales in comparison to the current strength of the Lin Family. However, unfortunately, it was Lin Tianming who had just subdued the Primordial Lion Beast. It was that contract ceremony of acknowledging a master that greatly drained his divine soul strength. After all, the ceremony of a demonic beast recognizing a master requires the host to split a wisp of their divine soul to merge into the beast¡¯s Sea of Consciousness, achieving a connection with the host¡¯s mind and even controlling the beast¡¯s purpose. As such, even if the split of the soul is exceptionally minor, the host will still need a long period of time to recover. And this period of time varies from person to person. Some may need decades, while others might recover in just ten or twenty years. Even though Lin Tianming naturally possesses a strong soul, after the acknowledgment ceremony with the Primordial Lion Beast, for at least ten years, he won¡¯t likely have the chance to subdue other demonic beasts. After all, the recovery of soul strength is extremely difficult, and excessive depletion could easily cause one¡¯s cultivation realm to regress. Although this isn¡¯t an absolute rule, as exemplified by Lin Tianming, who could attempt to subdue a new demonic beast in a short time if he¡¯s willing to pay a certain price. But Lin Tianming is not foolish, naturally, he would not take such a risk to subdue the Earth Flame Dragon. It is precisely because of such limitations that a cultivator can only tame a finite number of demonic beasts in a lifetime. Otherwise, if a cultivator constantly sought out demonic beasts to forcibly tame and form an army, wouldn¡¯t their combat strength increase rapidly? Moreover, when the number of demonic beasts reaches a certain level, the combined force released to face enemies is simply terrifying to contemplate. However, these restrictions are not insurmountable for human cultivators. The most obvious example is the existence of certain sects and families in the Cultivation World specialized in beast taming. These ancient lineages, through millennia of exploration and continuous improvement, have also created many special techniques and secret methods. According to rumors, there are techniques and secret methods that can diminish the damage to a cultivator¡¯s soul to a certain extent during the process of a demonic beast¡¯s submission. Not only that, cultivators can also make use of various elixirs or special treasures to quickly recover the lost part of their soul strength. Therefore, with such various methods, those cultivators specialized in beast taming can subdue more demonic beasts for their use within a limited time. As for those great sects and families primarily focused on beast taming, their overall strength is also incredibly formidable because of these capabilities. Even, some representative beast-taming forces are not weaker than those great powers following the primal cultivation path. Overall, with the development of the Cultivation World over countless years, the emergence of all sorts of strange techniques and secret methods is not really surprising. After all, with the vast expanse of the Cultivation World, innumerable treasures, and an astonishing number of cultivators. Against such a backdrop, the appearance of some extraordinary individuals is only to be expected. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not dwell too much on these matters. Now, as Lin Tianming himself does not possess those beast-taming techniques and secret methods, nor does he have any of those special treasures. Given this, even though he feels it¡¯s a pity, Lin Tianming had no choice but to decisively kill the Earth Flame Dragon. He was very clear that in the Cultivation World, where fortunes mean life or death, not only do cultivators operate on this principle, but the Human Race and demonic beasts are inherently opposed. Even long ago, there was a relentless situation between the human and demonic beast races. At that time, race wars occurred frequently, and countless human cultivators, including some Nascent Soul Stage Experts, died at the claws of demonic beasts. In the end, both sides suffered heavy losses, and many lineages were obliterated from the Cultivation World. And these past events are the survival laws of the Cultivation World. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming, looking at the still struggling Earth Flame Dragon, had no excess of pity in his heart. Thus, with a raise of his hand and a slash of his sword, a burst of Sword Qi ended the life of the Earth Flame Dragon. After doing all this, Lin Tianming looked at the pond in front of him with a trace of excitement on his face. At this moment, Qin Xi, who had been observing the battle from the side, also approached Lin Tianming. From afar, Qin Xi¡¯s excited voice could be heard. ¡°Ming, now that the Earth Flame Dragon is finally dead, should we go down and collect the Salt Crystals?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming smiled knowingly. ¡°Collecting the Salt Crystals is just a matter of time¡­¡± ¡°But before we get to collecting the treasure, we should deal with the corpse of this Earth Flame Dragon first.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming then pointed to some fiery red Scales scattered on the surface of the pond in front of them, and continued to speak: ¡°This Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s grade is not low, and there are quite a few Scales on its body, as well as those scattered on the surface of the pond.¡± ¡°Plus the horn on top of this Demonic Beast¡¯s head, those are top-notch materials for refining.¡± ¡°And if Fifteenth Grandfather were to see these materials, he would probably be extremely excited in an instant.¡± Hearing this, Qin Xi nodded in agreement and couldn¡¯t help but smile and chime in. ¡°Giggle¡­ Ming is right!¡± ¡°You know, our Fifteenth Grandfather is a complete refining fanatic. With such great materials, and adding some other Treasures, it¡¯s possible to refine a couple of exquisite Magical Treasures.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ That¡¯s indeed the case!¡± Lin Tianming replied with a smile and then began to process the corpse of the Earth Flame Dragon. After his dissection, he collected all the useful parts of the Earth Flame Dragon. Not only that, but he also gathered all the Scales of the Earth Flame Dragon that were scattered on the surface of the pond. After completing these tasks, the couple came back together again. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the pond in front of him and quickly jumped into it. Before this, Lin Tianming had already memorized the precise locations of the dozen or so Salt Crystals. Even if he didn¡¯t remember, with the assistance of the Eye of Five Colors, finding the landing spots of the Salt Crystals wasn¡¯t difficult for him. Now re-entering the pond without the interference of the Earth Flame Dragon, the familiar Lin Tianming quickly reached the side of the Salt Crystals. At that time, Lin Tianming looked at the pale blue Crystals in front of him and swiftly grabbed one to inspect it in his hand. After a thorough inspection, the excitement on Lin Tianming¡¯s face became even more radiant. It must be said that these dozen or so Salt Crystals were of excellent quality and were quite large in size. Just these Salt Crystals, being as numerous as eleven, was enough for the Lin Family¡¯s Array Masters to use for several hundred years. Understanding this, Lin Tianming quickly collected all the Salt Crystals into the Qiankun Jade. Afterward, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t rush to leave the bottom of the pond but carefully searched the entire area instead. In a short while, Lin Tianming discovered a fairly large round opening in a corner at the bottom of the pond. This round opening seemed ordinary, as if it were naturally formed at the bottom of the water. However, Lin Tianming was purposefully thorough in his search. So, Lin Tianming noticed that this circular opening was not large, and many broken stones appeared around it. More crucially, one side of it was covered in Ice, while the other side had dust that was scorched by intense flames. Moreover, in just this short amount of time, Lin Tianming felt the surrounding Yuan Qi was also converging towards that entrance. Immediately after, as Lin Tianming was contemplating in his heart, a blue flame suddenly appeared in that round opening at the bottom of the pond. The moment this flame appeared, the whole pond was filled with surging waves. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, the water in the pond was steaming hot on one side and bone-chillingly cold on the other, making Lin Tianming, who practiced Dual Cultivation of Body and Law, shudder involuntarily. At this moment, feeling these changes and seeing that a thread of blue flame, Lin Tianming was constantly thinking about the origin of this flame. A period as long as the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed, and Lin Tianming seemed to have thought of something. In that instant, his expression excited, he muttered to himself. ¡°Earth Core Truefire!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ It must certainly be this kind of Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fire, without a doubt!¡± ¡­ Chapter 1168: 610: Adventurous Plan Chapter 1168: Chapter 610: Adventurous Plan At this moment, Lin Tianming was incredibly excited. When he saw that faint flame below, it confirmed many of his previous speculations. It was not until this moment that he understood why the attack of the Earth Flame Dragon turned out this way. Under normal circumstances, the Earth Flame Dragon wasn¡¯t so powerful, and its Divine Skills shouldn¡¯t possess such strength. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason for this, presumably, was because the Earth Flame Dragon had either ingested the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ or refined a strand of the flame, causing its Divine Skills to mutate and eventually reach this level of power. This ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ is also one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires, said to be deeply buried underground all year round and extremely rare in the entire cultivation world. In terms of this exotic flame, it¡¯s quite similar to the Blue Heart True Flame within Lin Tianming; whether for pill concoction and weapon forging, or for combat, it plays a significant role. Beyond this, the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ has a very distinct feature; its primitive fire seed tends to switch between two attributes¡ªice and fire¡ªas a cycle approaches. In its fire attribute state, its unleashed attacks can incinerate everything, with an immeasurably high temperature. While in its ice attribute state, it can be bone-chillingly cold, freezing thousands of miles of land. Thus, it¡¯s no wonder that despite being a water attribute area, this pool birthed the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ one of the Heaven and Earth Marvelous Fires. Originally, this was connected to the dual attributes of the Earth Core Truefire. For cultivators, such a situation is extremely crucial; just like a water attribute cultivator controlling the Earth Core Truefire could also exert immense power. Hence, the distinctive features of the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ are quite evident, its attack power is bizarrely profound, and its strength is something Lin Tianming has already witnessed. In such circumstances, once such an exotic flame appears, nearly every cultivator or Demonic Beast would covet it endlessly. Understanding this, Lin Tianming probably grasped the reasons. Yet, the more he knew, the more incredible Lin Tianming found it. After all, for a Human Cultivator to refine an exotic flame is enormously difficult and risky. If a cultivator is unlucky, failing to refine the exotic flame and instead getting utterly incinerated by it, such cases are not uncommon. And the Earth Flame Dragon, being a Third Order Demon Beast, forcefully attempting to ingest such a Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame like the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ posed an even greater challenge than it would for Human Cultivators, literally a life-and-death situation. However, upon careful consideration and recalling his fierce battle with the Earth Flame Dragon, Lin Tianming quickly understood more key factors. According to his speculation, the Earth Flame Dragon hadn¡¯t truly refined the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ but only a very small part of it. It was precisely because of this small part that the Divine Skills of the Earth Flame Dragon had been enhanced, yet extremely limited. Otherwise, when facing the Blue Heart True Flame head-on back then, it wouldn¡¯t have been able to easily gain the upper hand. Besides, the Earth Flame Dragon¡¯s body didn¡¯t contain the primitive seed of the ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ nor the primitive flame in its demon core; there were only some residual traces inside its body. Based on this, Lin Tianming became even more certain that the Earth Flame Dragon hadn¡¯t refined the ¡®Earth Core Truefire.¡¯ As for the occurrence of a mutation, it was because the Earth Flame Dragon had stayed in this pool for a long time cultivating, and after accumulated development over the days and months, it eventually possessed a trace of the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s ability. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming felt immensely fortunate, thinking how good it was that the Earth Flame Dragon hadn¡¯t laid its claws on such a treasure. Otherwise, he and his wife would have missed such an opportunity. Now, with the Earth Flame Dragon dead and the salt crystals collected, only the strand of Earth Core Truefire before him burned on. At this moment, when Lin Tianming looked at that flame, his eyes were filled with anticipation. In Lin Tianming¡¯s heart, already possessing the Blue Heart True Flame, if he could refine this Earth Core Truefire and merge the two flames together, the power would likely be even more terrifying. To know, the mere power of the Blue Heart True Flame was no weaker than an ordinary Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. If he could indeed merge a new exotic flame, the power of the Blue Heart True Flame would at least double. By then, it might be possible to rival the Great Sun Sword Qi Art, or even surpass the power of this Profound Grade Spirit Art. However, accomplishing this would involve great risk. After all, just refining one Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame was already extremely difficult and risky. Take when Lin Tianming initially refined the Blue Heart True Flame; he nearly got burnt to death by the fire seed. Therefore, each time he recalled the experience, even a seasoned Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but shudder with sympathy, feeling truly fortunate about that incident. It¡¯s precisely because of these experiences that Lin Tianming felt such trepidation towards exotic flames. Nevertheless, even so, Lin Tianming still couldn¡¯t bear to give up such an opportunity after a bit of thought. Because opportunities like exotic flames are rare, once missed, he might not encounter them again in this lifetime. Though refining an exotic flame carries great risks, the rewards once successful are assuredly substantial. After all, the output often correlates directly with the input; the greater the danger, the more substantial the gain. This, Lin Tianming had a deep understanding of. Take these years, for instance; he¡¯s been able to cultivate to the Mid Stage Golden Core so smoothly and rapidly without encountering many bottlenecks precisely because he always embraces hardship and adventure. It¡¯s also because of the many experiences and crises he¡¯s seen that allow each of his ventures to yield sufficiently satisfying results. Chapter 1169: 610: The Plan for Adventure_2 Chapter 1169: Chapter 610: The Plan for Adventure_2 Understanding this, Lin Tianming had already made up his mind; he had to attempt to refine the ¡®Earth Core Truefire¡¯ and then find a way to fuse these two Exotic Flames together. With this goal in mind, Lin Tianming soon left the bottom of the lake and returned to the shore. At this moment, seeing Lin Tianming come back, Qin Xi hurriedly greeted him. ¡°Ming, did you get the Salt Crystals?¡± Qin Xi asked with a smile, her face showing anticipation. Hearing this, Lin Tianming remained expressionless, forcibly suppressing the excitement in his heart. ¡°Hehe¡­ There are more than ten Salt Crystals at the bottom of this pool, and I¡¯ve collected them all!¡± ¡°What? There are that many?¡± Qin Xi exclaimed in surprise, showing an excited smile on her face. Obviously, Qin Xi had thought there were only a few Salt Crystals, as they are valuable and not easily obtained. If they could get a few this time, it would actually meet her expectations. But she never imagined that there would be so many Salt Crystals at the bottom of the pool which was only so big. Initially, Qin Xi could hardly believe it, but now that Lin Tianming confirmed it, she naturally felt delighted. And at this time, Lin Tianming, hearing Qin Xi¡¯s words and seeing her excited expression, couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Straight after, Lin Tianming said mysteriously: ¡°Xi¡¯er, do you know what other treasures are hidden beneath this lake?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Xi was startled and pondered everything she had noticed, hoping to glean some useful information. However, after much thought, she still did not find anything amiss. Thus, Qin Xi giggled, hooking her arm through Lin Tianming¡¯s, showing a child-like demeanor. ¡°Ming¡­ you¡¯re being so mysterious! ¡°Quick, tell Xi¡¯er, what kind of great treasure did you actually find?¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming burst into hearty laughter. ¡°There¡¯s actually Earth Core Truefire at the bottom of this pool!¡± Lin Tianming replied directly, his face still bearing an excited smile. ¡°Earth Core Truefire?¡± ¡°Could it be that legendary Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame that possesses both Ice and Fire attributes?¡± Qin Xi was also shocked, clearly not expecting such a treasure to be beneath the lake. ¡°Hmm¡­ after a careful observation, it is indeed Earth Core Truefire without a doubt!¡± Lin Tianming nodded and replied, his eyes filled with unwavering conviction. At this point, Qin Xi, hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s response, also nodded profusely, her heart still harboring some doubts and hardly daring to believe it was true. Even Qin Xi had witnessed the attack of the Earth Flame Dragon before and wondered about its mysterious nature; she had made many guesses but did not dare to draw a definite conclusion. Now that Lin Tianming had said as much, it certainly couldn¡¯t be false. In such a situation, Qin Xi was also very happy, and her excitement was no less intense than that of Lin Tianming. Finally calming down a bit, Lin Tianming also began to speak about the specific plan. According to Lin Tianming¡¯s idea, he would refine the Earth Core Truefire, then try to merge the two flames together to create a variation. Once this objective is achieved, he will also attempt to separate a strand of the Primitive Flame Seed and then hand it over to Qin Xi for her to refine. By relying on the Ice attribute element of Earth Core Truefire, Qin Xi may also be able to control the new flame to its maximum capacity and fully unleash the power of the Exotic Flames. If both steps can be completed, then the husband and wife duo will have added another method of attack. Moreover, this attack method from the Exotic Flames will be no less powerful than the Profound Grade Spirit Arts. Although achieving these goals will involve significant risks, Lin Tianming had already made his decision; he will not shrink back, nor be afraid to take risks. In his eyes, as long as there is the slightest chance, he must try to seize it. Either succeed in refining it or perish thereupon! Facing the exotic flames, one of the strange objects of Heaven and Earth, he would never back down, and Qin Xi was equally brave in making the attempt. Therefore, Lin Tianming carefully outlined his plan, hoping to seek Qin Xi¡¯s consent. After Qin Xi heard Lin Tianming¡¯s plan, although she was also worried, she knew that opportunities like this were rare, especially when it came to treasures such as Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame. Moreover, Earth Core Truefire was a dual-attribute exotic flame, which held a great allure for a cultivator with Water Spirit Root Attribute like her. If she could acquire even a wisp of the original ¡®Earth Core Truefire,¡¯ Qin Xi herself could also use the power of this exotic flame to enhance her attack ability. Furthermore, the benefits of successful refinement were not just for Lin Tianming alone, but both spouses could profit from it. With such benefits at stake, she really had no reason to refuse. Thus, Qin Xi¡¯s thoughts quickly aligned with Lin Tianming¡¯s plan without any prior consultation. Under such circumstances, the couple reached a unanimous agreement on the plan concerning ¡®Earth Core Truefire.¡¯ S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Afterwards, the couple exchanged a few words to confirm some details and then began to take action. In a little while, under Lin Tianming¡¯s lead, the couple gathered together at the bottom of the pool. When Qin Xi saw the bundle of blue flames in the center of the circular opening, she couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of astonishment. ¡°Ming, could this be the Earth Core Truefire?¡± Qin Xi asked with a smile, quickly receiving a nod from Lin Tianming in response. Then, Qin Xi looked at the gentle movement of the blue flames and couldn¡¯t help but express her amazement. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s quite unique!¡± ¡°Moreover, the surroundings of this circular opening have Firestone on one side and bitterly cold Icestone on the other, it truly gives a sense of peculiarity.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames are rare, it is only natural for them to be so distinctive,¡± Lin Tianming replied with a light smile, then brought up the important matter at hand. Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi set aside her curiosity and patiently waited on the side. As for Lin Tianming, he began to regulate his breathing and then summoned a wisp of Blue Heart True Flame. Soon, Lin Tianming used the Blue Heart True Flame to form a Circular Ring, slowly approaching the bundle of Earth Core Truefire. With the emergence of the Blue Heart True Flame, the bundle of Earth Core Truefire inside the opening immediately started to flicker and dance, as if it were trying to repel the approach of the Blue Heart True Flame. Seeing this, Lin Tianming had anticipated it. He knew very well that exotic flames were independent of each other, and until one was refined by a host, they would naturally repel each other. Even if some exotic flames repelled each other, even after being refined by a host, they could not be merged and devoured, thus, the possibility of amalgamation did not exist. Luckily, both Earth Core Truefire and Blue Heart True Flame are relatively mild exotic flames. As long as the host¡¯s control over Fire Attribute Elements reaches a certain level, there is still hope for the two to fuse. Attempting such a high-risk activity is extraordinarily daring for any cultivator. And Lin Tianming was well-prepared for this point; now that he had arrived at the bottom of the pool, he naturally would not back down at this critical moment. Hence, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were unceasing, he cast numerous Law Decrees in rapid succession while chanting incantations. Lin Tianming quickly, with the powerful control of his Divine Sense, maneuvered the Blue Heart True Flame, inching closer to the Earth Core Truefire. At this moment, as the distance between the two exotic flames closed in, they were almost touching each other. Just then, the unclaimed Earth Core Truefire suddenly surged, a substantial force of flames rising up. In an instant, the surrounding Salt Crystal Water was directly evaporated by the intense heat, resulting in the formation of a vacuum bubble about three feet in size. Lin Tianming and Qin Xi were enveloped by the Blue Heart True Flame, thus avoiding the sudden escalation of flames and preventing them from being directly devoured by it. Otherwise, if it were any other Golden Core Stage Cultivator caught off guard, they would likely not die but would surely sustain serious injuries. The more he knew this, the more Lin Tianming was filled with anticipation for the Earth Core Truefire. Thus, Lin Tianming, fearless, continued to control the Blue Heart True Flame, drawing nearer to the Earth Core Truefire. ¡­ Chapter 1170: 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again Chapter 1170: Chapter 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again At this moment, perhaps sensing that Lin Tianming and Blue Heart True Flame were getting closer. Moreover, the aura emanating from Lin Tianming was extremely powerful and oppressive at all times. Suddenly, the Earth Core Truefire seed within the round mouth began to shake violently, and then started to leap furiously up and down. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This behavior was clearly an attempt to flee. If this were really the case, with the formidable power of the Earth Core Truefire, it might actually succeed. At that time, it would become even more difficult for Lin Tianming to capture and control it. In an instant, Lin Tianming immediately took action, directly blocking the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s path of escape. At this time, the Earth Core Truefire decisively collided with the invisible and colorless light screen. ¡°Sss Sss Sss¡­¡± A peculiar noise came, and the invisible and colorless light screen instantly ignited. In a moment, a large hole was burned through it, actually by the Earth Core Truefire. Without any hesitation, the Earth Core Truefire rushed into the small hole that had been burned open. All of this happened very quickly, Lin Tianming was just about to rush over to grab the Earth Core Truefire, when he saw that it had already crossed the barrier and was wildly fleeing in the Salt Crystal Pool. In less than an instant, the Earth Core Truefire had run over ten yards away, still continuously increasing the distance from Lin Tianming. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed slightly, thinking that the Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flames truly possessed spirituality, knowing to desperately flee to create a path of survival when facing threats. Otherwise, once captured by him, the outcome was predictable. After calming down a bit, Lin Tianming was relatively composed, because he was very clear that the birth of such Heaven and Earth strange objects like the Earth Core Truefire was extremely difficult. Therefore, it was quite normal for such treasures to possess a certain degree of spirituality. Take this Earth Core Truefire, for example, it was an extremely rare existence among Exotic Flames, and possessing such spirituality was the expected norm. Otherwise, if the Earth Core Truefire foolishly waited in place, that would have truly been surprising to him. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming remained calm and hastily leaped forward, pursuing in the direction of the fleeing Earth Core Truefire. Lin Tianming was very fast, and his body was agile. Even in the Salt Crystal Pool, his speed was not at all inferior to that on land. Before long, Lin Tianming had narrowed the distance between himself and the Earth Core Truefire. Watching the distance between them getting closer, Lin Tianming could even clearly feel the surging power of flame from the Earth Core Truefire. So, Lin Tianming immediately made his move, with a fireball formed from Blue Heart True Flame shooting forth first, quickly reaching in front of the Earth Core Truefire. And at that moment, the fireball suddenly exploded, transforming into a large wall of fire created by Blue Heart True Flame as a barrier. In an instant, the fire wall blocked the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s path from the other three directions. At this time, the Earth Core Truefire clearly felt that aura. For the Earth Core Truefire, Blue Heart True Flame was a serious concern. After all, Blue Heart True Flame was also a Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame, and its place on the Exotic Fire Ranking was not much different from that of Earth Core Truefire, and might even be a few ranks higher. Against such an Exotic Flame, especially one controlled by someone else, the Earth Core Truefire, currently without a master, would find it very difficult to cope. Thus, besieged on all sides, the Earth Core Truefire needed time to break through the obstacles once more. However, Lin Tianming, in hot pursuit from behind, was not slower than the fleeing Earth Core Truefire at all. In the face of such encirclement and pursuit, the Earth Core Truefire acted decisively, choosing one direction of the fire wall and charging straight through. In the blink of an eye, the Earth Core Truefire collided hard with the wall of fire. ¡°Sss Sss Sss¡­¡± A crackling sound transmitted, as the two different Exotic Flames intertwined, making the already fierce flames even more powerful by several times. In that instant, the flames of the fire wall surged, rising from a few yards high to over a dozen yards. Moreover, the Salt Crystal Water around the fire wall began evaporating at a rate visible to the naked eye. Just after two breaths, one could clearly feel the water level in the pool had dropped a little. If this continued for half a day, it was likely that the entire Salt Crystal Pool would dry out completely, thereby revealing the true nature of the pool¡¯s bottom. At this time, Lin Tianming also witnessed all this and felt the specific changes within the pool. However, Lin Tianming remained composed, as everything seemed to be within his grasp. Watching the two types of Exotic Flames intertwined, the power of Blue Heart True Flame diminished, soon revealing an opening. This outcome was not particularly surprising to Lin Tianming. In his view, although the Earth Core Truefire was strong, the fire wall he had induced contained only a small portion of Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s essence, and was too dispersed. At the very least, this dispersed stimulation of Blue Heart True Flame couldn¡¯t compare with the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Primitive Flame Seed. Thus, when the two forces of flame collided, the Earth Core Truefire with the Primitive Flame Seed would definitely suppress the widely dispersed Blue Heart True Flame. As expected, after the fire wall held on for a few breaths, it was directly penetrated by the Earth Core Truefire creating an opening. And just as the Earth Core Truefire was about to slip through that torn opening to escape, Lin Tianming, who was pursuing from behind, had already caught up. Chapter 1171: 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again_2 Chapter 1171: Chapter 611: Refining Exotic Flames Again_2 At this moment, Lin Tianming was chasing at high speed, and even from a long distance away, he had already swung his large hands. In his palm, a fiery ball of red and blue intertwined was already leaping within his palm. The flame looked unremarkable, similar to the fireballs he had generated previously. But upon a closer feeling, it would be found that this flame was darker in color, with the interior of the fireball predominantly blue flames. Moreover, as soon as the fireball appeared, even the surrounding elements began to stir, with many elements rushing towards the fireball, only to be evaporated by the terrifying temperature that was invisible and colorless. This fireball was indeed the Origin Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame. It should be known that this Origin Fire Seed is incredibly powerful, generally residing within Lin Tianming¡¯s body, not to be conjured unless absolutely necessary. Now, in order to refine and fuse the Earth Core Truefire, Lin Tianming had no choice but to risk it all. In such a situation, Lin Tianming naturally wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. As for the fire wall he had summoned just now, it was merely a product to block the escape of the Earth Core Truefire and delay time. The real capture still depended on the Origin Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand. Only an item of this caliber could make the Earth Core Truefire, which was also an Exotic Flame, apprehensive, even fearful. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, Lin Tianming acted swiftly, accurately, and ruthlessly, making no secret of his determination. With such a conviction, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements were swift, the fireball descending like a bolt of thunder from the sky, falling with an unstoppable momentum. As the fireball was about to land, getting closer and closer to the Earth Core Truefire. At this moment, the Earth Core Truefire had just charged into the hole on the fire wall. Just as the Earth Core Truefire was about to cross the barrier, sparks of the two Exotic Flames had already intertwined, with the core almost about to merge. Suddenly, the Blue Heart True Flame surged fiercely, quickly transforming into a fiery ring that enveloped the entire Earth Core Truefire in its center. At this moment, the Earth Core Truefire was frantically darting around within the circle of fire, colliding repeatedly in one direction, immediately causing a surge in the fire¡¯s intensity. Several breaths of time passed, and although the fiery ring would tremble and the flames rise, it remained stable without a sign of breaking. At the same time, the fiery ring formed by the Blue Heart True Flame created a Light Shield, trapping the Earth Core Truefire firmly within. At this time, the Earth Core Truefire inside the circle was frantically trying to break free from the bonds of the circle. However, having finally trapped it, Lin Tianming certainly wasn¡¯t about to let it go easily. Thus, Lin Tianming firmly controlled the Blue Heart True Flame, and slowly reduced the size of the fiery ring, further compressing the activity space of the Earth Core Truefire. After a short while, the area of the fiery ring became smaller and smaller, shrinking down to the size of a fist. By this time, with no space to move inside the fiery ring, the Earth Core Truefire couldn¡¯t break through the obstruction, only able to tremble in its limited space, seemingly expressing its resistance. However, Lin Tianming did not care about these. In his eyes, his purpose was to subdue this bundle of Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame, so that they could fuse together, thereby unleashing greater attack power. Now that the Earth Core Truefire had been captured by him, he naturally didn¡¯t care whether the Earth Core Truefire resisted or not. With that, as the movements gradually became smaller, Lin Tianming then concluded his exercise. Afterward, Lin Tianming reached out with one hand and grabbed the fireball of the Blue Heart True Flame in his hand. When he felt the tremors being transmitted from his palm, that was the collision of the Earth Core Truefire. At this moment, Lin Tianming¡¯s face showed excitement, and his heart was somewhat impatient. ¡°Hehe¡­ I have finally captured the Earth Core Truefire!¡± ¡°Time is pressing, next it¡¯s time to go into seclusion for cultivation for a while, trying to refine this fire and let them fuse together.¡± Lin Tianming thought to himself, then immediately shot towards the direction where Qin Xi was located. A little while later, the couple got to reunite. Seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s excited expression, Qin Xi knowingly asked: ¡°Ming, the Earth Core Truefire has been captured by you?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lin Tianming nodded and then changed the subject. ¡°Xi¡¯er¡­ the Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire has been captured, your husband must refine it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Time is pressing, let¡¯s seclude here for a while!¡± ¡°After all, this place is remote and concealed, rich in Spiritual Energy, and located deep within the abyss, far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators or Demonic Beasts, making it an excellent place for seclusion.¡± ¡°And Xi¡¯er, while you help me as a protector, you can also collect some of this Salt Crystal Water to bring back to the family later.¡± ¡°Once your husband has refined this Exotic Flame, it will be merged together, and a thread of the Original Fire Seed will be stripped out and given to Xi¡¯er to refine.¡± ¡°As long as Xi¡¯er can succeed, perhaps you can achieve the ability to control Exotic Flames just like me.¡± Lin Tianming said a few angry words, his eyes full of confidence. Listening to these words and seeing that kind of look in Lin Tianming¡¯s eyes, Qin Xi quickly nodded her head too. Immediately following, Qin Xi then spoke up to let Lin Tianming seclude with peace of mind, offering to take the responsibility of protector. Thus, with clear division of responsibilities, the couple quickly set into motion. In a short time, Lin Tianming had opened up a Temporary Cave Abode not far from the water pond and entered the Practice Room at the first opportunity. Sitting on the cushion, Lin Tianming tirelessly began cultivating and adjusting his state to its peak. Suddenly, Lin Tianming spread his hands, and the blue sphere formed by Blue Heart True Flame wrapping Earth Core Truefire hung in front of him. At this moment, the fireball was still slightly trembling, the Earth Core Truefire inside still not giving up on breaking through this confinement. Although the Earth Core Truefire was not a living entity and had some Spirituality, it was far from understanding what futility meant. Facing the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s attacks, Lin Tianming simply smiled, then hammered it with multiple Law Decrees. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s control, the fireball of Blue Heart True Flame suddenly cracked a small fissure. Feeling this change, the Earth Core Truefire trapped inside hurriedly poked out a spark, attempting to seize the opportunity to escape. Seeing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned cold, as he casually grabbed the Core Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire in his palm. With the isolation of the Blue Heart True Flame, he was not afraid of close contact with the Earth Core Truefire. Suddenly, Lin Tianming manifested his Divine Sense, enveloping the Earth Core Truefire within it. Simultaneously, Lin Tianming also tried to communicate with the Earth Core Truefire, establishing a certain degree of recognition to facilitate the refining process. After many attempts, the Earth Core Truefire remained unmoved. Seeing this, Lin Tianming was slightly disappointed, but soon regained his composure. He knew clearly, treasures like Heaven and Earth Aberrant Flame were proud and possessed a certain level of Spirituality; it was normal for them not to submit easily. Facing this situation, soft methods were definitely not going to work. Since that was the case, the only option was to take a hard approach and forcefully refine it to submission. Knowing this, Lin Tianming immediately changed his strategy, starting to forcefully spur his Divine Sense, refining the Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire bit by bit. After two days of refining, Lin Tianming finally succeeded in refining a thread of the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Fire Seed. During these two days, Lin Tianming consistently endured tremendous pain. If it were not for his continuously trained willpower being extremely remarkable, and with the assistance of the Blue Heart True Flame which could somewhat weaken the backlash of the Earth Core Truefire, Otherwise, if it had been a typical cultivator experiencing this, merely the inhuman sensation of pain would have led them to lose themselves amidst it. However, Lin Tianming¡¯s suffering these two days was not in vain; though the process was unbearably painful, he eventually managed to smoothly refine a thread of the Primitive Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire. Although it was just a bit, considering the vast energy of the entire Fire Seed, it seemed negligible. But at least there was a start, and Lin Tianming also gained some experience and methods. Proceeding this way, having a good beginning and some experience, his path of refining hereafter would definitely be somewhat easier. In fact, it was indeed so. ¡­ Chapter 1172: 612: Stripping the Fire Seed Chapter 1172: Chapter 612: Stripping the Fire Seed Unconsciously, half a year had passed. On this day, in the Practice Room where Lin Tianming was located, he was seen sitting cross-legged on a cushion, with both hands spread flat on his knees. As Lin Tianming made the Hand Seals with both hands, soon two bundles of flames appeared in the palms of his hands. At a glance, both flames bore red-blue colors, with the flame in the left hand being a deeper blue. As for the flame on the other side, its red component was greater and the flames were much more vibrant. These two flames were the ones Lin Tianming had refined. In his left hand was the recently refined Earth Core Truefire, and in his right hand was the long ago refined Blue Heart True Flame. After half a year of seclusion, Lin Tianming did not waste a moment¡¯s progress in refining. During this period, Lin Tianming endured unprecedented pain, facing challenges one after another. Fortunately, he persevered and successfully refined the Earth Core Truefire, making it his second Exotic Flame. However, since the Earth Core Truefire had just been refined, the fire produced by the Original Fire Seed was extremely limited, thus in appearance and aura, it was clearly weaker than the mature Blue Heart True Flame. But as the host, and having just refined the Origin Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire, Lin Tianming naturally did not underestimate the power and potential of the Earth Core Truefire. After all, the Earth Core Truefire is also listed on the Exotic Fire Ranking, being a dual-attribute Exotic Flame, its potential growth and eccentricity is imaginable. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Knowing this, Lin Tianming suppressed the excitement in his heart and retracted the two Exotic Flames back into his body. He then continued to cultivate and regulate his breath to restore his state. Once his condition was almost stable, Lin Tianming took out the two Exotic Flames again and suspended them in front of him. At that moment, as both Exotic Flames had been refined and suspended together, they sparked and caused a massive convergence of elements in their direction. Seeing this, Lin Tianming frowned. It was clear to anyone that the Exotic Flames were almost spiritual, competing subtly as if neither wanted to admit defeat even after having been refined by him. To Lin Tianming, this scene was quite usual. Although both Exotic Flames belonged to him, they still had a sense of repulsion towards each other. This was especially true right after being refined. His task was to let the two types of Exotic Flames fully integrate with each other, leading to a transformation. This process was very dangerous, and he could easily be attacked by backlash. After all, even a single Exotic Flame was already formidable, not to mention the danger and difficulty of forcibly merging two Exotic Flames, which increased exponentially. Despite understanding these, Lin Tianming still had a determined expression, showing a resolve not to stop until his goal was achieved. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming did not concern himself whether the two Exotic Flames were repulsive but directly forced them to move together. Soon, the distance between the two Exotic Flames got increasingly closer. At that time, the two Exotic Flames still repelled each other, and the flames surged higher and higher. However, as both Exotic Flames had been refined by Lin Tianming and now belonged to him, Despite their resistance, under Lin Tianming¡¯s forceful manipulation, they slowly merged together. At that moment, the power of the two flames seemed to understand Lin Tianming¡¯s determination and also knew that ¡®the arm cannot twist the thigh¡¯. Subsequently, instead of repelling each other, the two Exotic Flames began to clash against one another. As the fires of the two flames touched each other, the originally separate flames combined into one, forming a more gigantic Red-Blue Fireball, surrounded by innumerable sparks swirling and rising. At this moment, the temperature around rapidly increased, quickly reaching a terrifying level. Merely moments later, the temperature fluctuated between being unbearably hot and bone-chillingly cold. And as the fireball appeared, the elements between heaven and earth crazily converged towards it, emitting a series of strange noises frequently. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± In the midst of the scorching fireball, the two deepest colored flames collided with each other. With every collision, Lin Tianming, as the host, could feel an immense oppressive force coming towards him, accompanied by piercing pain in the soul, which instantly spread to every corner of his body. This pain, Lin Tianming was somewhat familiar with, as he had endured much suffering over the years. As for the pain at this moment, it was like the two Exotic Flames were scorching his soul, and that scream from the depths of his soul was also testing his willpower. If he could not persevere, he might become a fool with no memory at best, or at worst get lost in a world of pain without even knowing how he died. Fortunately, Lin Tianming had anticipated this and was mentally prepared. As the first round of confrontation ended, Lin Tianming got a moment to catch his breath. During this brief moment, Lin Tianming felt a chill on his back, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell. Moreover, the pain he was enduring was an inhuman ordeal. At least, compared to his past experiences, what he was facing now was evidently not on the same level. Suddenly, Lin Tianming¡¯s forehead sweated profusely, and his face quickly turned pale. Despite not being directly involved in the fight between the two Exotic Flames, he, as the host, could still feel how intense the struggle between them was. Chapter 1173: 612: Stripping the Fire Seed_2 Chapter 1173: Chapter 612: Stripping the Fire Seed_2 This struggle is no less intense than the battles fought by the Human Cultivators. One might even say that the struggle between such treasures as Exotic Flames is even more pure than the conflicts between the Human Race and the Demonic Beasts. Understanding this, Lin Tianming did not concern himself with these details, but instead concentrated with all his might. At the same time, Lin Tianming activated the Eye of Five Colors, closely watching the fierce clash between the two types of flame power. Following his gaze, the confrontation between the two Exotic Flames showed no signs of stopping, both greedily absorbing the other¡¯s fire power. Thankfully, these two flames shared some similarities and both had been refined by Lin Tianming. Otherwise, if it were other Exotic Flames, expecting them to merge and fuse would be almost impossible. In just a short time, both Fire Seeds had varying degrees of depletion within their flames, but there was also some new flame power that had entered them. This consumption continued unabated, as both Exotic Flames fiercely competed to consume and devour the essence of the other¡¯s Fire Seed, thereby strengthening their own. Soon, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed, and the process of the Exotic Flames swallowing each other had reached an intense stage. At the beginning, the two Exotic Flames were essentially in a state of stalemate. But as time passed, the Blue Heart True Flame seemed to stabilize better, perhaps because Lin Tianming had refined it earlier, and it had also been slowly growing stronger over the years. As a result, the Blue Heart True Flame gradually gained the upper hand, not only restraining the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s devouring but also consuming a considerable amount of flame power from the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Fire Seed. Soon, Lin Tianming noticed that the Blue Heart True Flame Seed was also slowly growing, its flames became even more dazzling, and the traces of blue light grew deeper than before. In just this short period of time, the size of the Blue Heart True Flame Seed had visibly increased by quite a bit, and its growth continued. In contrast, the size of the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Fire Seed had shrunk compared to its peak state. Moreover, the flames of the Earth Core Truefire visibly weakened, and the color on the periphery began to fade. Clearly, in this confrontation between Exotic Flames, the Earth Core Truefire could not withstand the fierce onslaught of the Blue Heart True Flame, which held an absolute advantage in the end. Now, the Blue Heart True Flame is ready to press on with its efforts, accelerating the assault on the Earth Core Truefire. Indeed, under Lin Tianming¡¯s close observation, the Blue Heart True Flame fearlessly engulfed the Earth Core Truefire, continuously devouring the Fire Seed within. Even though it was enveloped by the Blue Heart True Flame and its momentum had dropped to freezing point, the Earth Core Truefire struggled in its final resistance. If it could not reverse the situation, the Earth Core Truefire might indeed be entirely consumed by the Blue Heart True Flame. Though the Earth Core Truefire is not a living entity, it possesses high basic Spirituality and seems to understand how critical the upcoming situation is for it. Thus, the Earth Core Truefire also put up a final struggle. Instantly, blasts of flame could be seen from the Earth Core Truefire, attempting to break free from the encirclement of the Blue Heart True Flame. However, the Blue Heart True Flame maintained firm control of the situation, and was constantly absorbing the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Fire Seed. With one party weakening and the other gaining strength, the Earth Core Truefire became increasingly feeble, while the Blue Heart True Flame grew stronger. After two consecutive rounds of impact, the Earth Core Truefire still couldn¡¯t break free from the encirclement and barely posed any threat to the Blue Heart True Flame. At this point, it can be said that the Earth Core Truefire had lost its basic ability to resist. Although the flames of the Earth Core Truefire had not been extinguished, and its central flames were still flickering as if resisting, in the face of overwhelming power, the Blue Heart True Flame firmly controlled the situation and kept absorbing the Earth Core Truefire¡¯s Fire Seed. If this continues, the Earth Core Truefire will sooner or later be consumed by the Blue Heart True Flame, eventually merging into one. In face of this process, Lin Tianming did not interfere too much. In his view, whether it was the Earth Core Truefire or the Blue Heart True Flame, both Exotic Flames he had refined had a causal relationship with him. As for the plan to merge the Exotic Flames, regardless of which flame wins the struggle, the outcome is the same for him. Moreover, if he were to forcibly intervene, it might not only affect the compatibility of the new flame with him but might also lead to unexpected complications. Rather than intervening, it¡¯s better to let the Exotic Flames merge and devour each other freely. Only the Exotic Flame that survives will reveal its unique potential and exert even greater strength. Therefore, Lin Tianming watched the Earth Core Truefire being devoured entirely without the slightest disturbance in his heart. Until the Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire dissipated and the bundle of flames were extinguished, leaving only the Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame hovering in mid-air. At this moment, Lin Tianming felt the immense pain he had been enduring subside slightly. Immediately after, Lin Tianming hurriedly turned his attention to the Blue Heart True Flame, surveying the new flame that had emerged after a fierce struggle and not without much difficulty. Looking over, the Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame had grown significantly in size, and the blue luster on its surface had become even more conspicuous. Not only that, the aura of the Blue Heart True Flame was growing stronger, and its mere presence caused a massive flux in the elements around it. Some Fire Attribute Elements had even started to surge towards the location of the Blue Heart True Flame. And relying on the host¡¯s sensations, Lin Tianming could feel the power of this new Blue Heart True Flame Seed. At this time, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, his emotions concealing the tremendous pain he had just experienced. Once he had somewhat calmed down, Lin Tianming reached out and grabbed the brand-new Blue Heart True Flame in his hand. Lin Tianming touched the surface of the Fire Seed; the ascending blue flames seemed to welcome their sovereign, actively fluttering over the palm and back of Lin Tianming¡¯s hand. Furthermore, the feedback from the new Fire Seed was joyous, as if it were an army returning in triumph from victory. More crucially, Lin Tianming felt an incredibly strong force from the new Fire Seed. This force was the result of the fusion between the Earth Core Truefire and Blue Heart True Flame. This meant the Blue Heart True Flame had successfully merged and now possessed the dual-attribute power of the Earth Core Truefire. Realizing this meant that Lin Tianming¡¯s plan had been successfully executed to a great extent. However, at this moment, Lin Tianming could not fully relax just yet. Because according to the prior plan, he still had to separate a part of the new Blue Heart True Flame Seed to give to Qin Xi for her to attempt to refine. And this opportunity was only viable while the Blue Heart True Flame had just devoured the Earth Core Truefire. Because right now, the Blue Heart True Flame had just weathered a tough battle and was in a weakened period. Beyond that, the Blue Heart True Flame had devoured the Fire Seed of the Earth Core Truefire, and many of its energy sources were wasted due to inefficient absorption. Thus, with a certain amount of energy stored, now was the best time to separate a part of the Blue Heart True Flame Seed. If he waited a few years, even with all his abilities, he wouldn¡¯t be able to separate it at the peak of the Blue Heart True Flame¡¯s power. Because doing so would severely injure the Blue Heart True Flame, and even he, as its host, would suffer the consequences. If luck was not on his side, it was not impossible for him to fall as a result. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Understanding this, Lin Tianming immediately made his preparations and was resolutely determined. As long as he could successfully separate a strand of the Fire Seed for Qin Xi in the coming moments, and once she also succeeded in refining it, only then would this plan be considered truly complete. With this intention in mind, Lin Tianming then began to take action. Soon, Lin Tianming¡¯s fingers shaped a Law Decree, and beams of Spiritual Light bombarded the Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame. In an instant, the Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame flickered, and the blue flames soared accordingly. Seeing this response, Lin Tianming¡¯s movements didn¡¯t stop at all, and he manipulated his Divine Sense to penetrate deep into the Fire Seed. Following this, Lin Tianming controlled the Blue Heart True Flame and simultaneously used his Divine Sense to peel away the Fire Seed. ¡­ Chapter 1174: 613: Heading Back Home Chapter 1174: Chapter 613: Heading Back Home Such a feat of divided attention, thankfully Lin Tianming, born with a powerful Divine Soul and an even more domineering Divine Sense, could endure. Otherwise, just the aspect of splitting the Fire Seed would stump the vast majority of cultivators. Under Lin Tianming¡¯s manipulation, the newly strengthened Blue Heart True Flame Seed slowly cracked open around thirty percent of the way. The process was incredibly slow, with even a hairline fracture requiring an hour of arduous effort. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only that, but the pain Lin Tianming had to bear was tremendous. After all, the Blue Heart True Flame had been refined by Lin Tianming and become a part of his body, with a strand of Soul essence attached to the Fire Seed itself. This act of separation was akin to splitting off a sliver of divine soul. While it may have been just a sliver, so miniscule it would not be an overstatement to say so, the splitting of divine soul energy is a significant trial for anyone. Moreover, this kind of pain is something that most people simply cannot bear. Even a peculiar individual like Lin Tianming felt that this pain was by no means less than the earlier agony of his soul scorched by myriad seas of fire. Fortunately, Lin Tianming¡¯s willpower was extraordinary, having been honed through countless refinements, such common pains were hardly worth mentioning in his eyes. Even with the current soul-rending torment, Lin Tianming clenched his teeth, maintained a lucid mind, and silently endured the pain. It¡¯s unclear how much time had passed, but Lin Tianming felt the pain gradually subsiding, at least much lesser compared to its peak. At this point, Lin Tianming¡¯s peripheral vision swept over the Blue Heart True Flame Seed and noticed that the crack was almost coming full circle. Seeing this, Lin Tianming knew he was on the verge of success. Sure enough, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed. With a crisp sound, the Blue Heart True Flame Seed suddenly split apart, forming two pieces of unequal size. These two stones, large and small, were both covered in rising blue flames, with massive amounts of elemental energy converging towards them. In an instant, the flames on both stones grew more intense. At this moment, Lin Tianming could feel that the aura from both stones was identical, and the connection with the smaller stone was much less compared to the larger one. It seemed that this split was a success. Feeling these changes, Lin Tianming carefully examined again, lest he be mistaken. Soon, after testing and observing, he was utterly certain that his plan had advanced a significant step forward. Then, with a jubilant expression, he reached out with one hand and grasped the smaller piece. Immediately after, Lin Tianming¡¯s fingers danced, sealing the stone. Having done this, Lin Tianming, not minding his own exhaustion, promptly stood up and left the Practice Room. In a short while, Qin Xi, who had received the message, hurried over. There and then, seeing Lin Tianming¡¯s pale face and tired appearance, Qin Xi asked with concern. ¡°Ming, what have you been through in the past half a year?¡± ¡°Why do you look so weary and worn out?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Lin Tianming laughed, his smile reducing some of the exhaustion on his face. Thereafter, Lin Tianming explained: ¡°Your husband has been refining the Exotic Flames, and then managed to split off a small part.¡± ¡°Hard work pays off. After half a year of seclusion, I have successfully refined the Exotic Flames and split off a small portion of its Fire Seed.¡± Having said that, Lin Tianming patted his sleeve robe, and the sealed Blue Heart True Flame Seed appeared in his hand. Seeing this, Qin Xi¡¯s face showed disbelief, clearly not expecting such a difficult task to be so easily accomplished by Lin Tianming. Moreover, from refining to integrating the Exotic Flames to splitting a part, it only took a little over nine months. In such a brief period, Lin Tianming achieved all this, not just due to his innate talent and strength, but perhaps also through great hardship. And Lin Tianming¡¯s motivation was also to enable her to meet the conditions for manipulating the Exotic Flames. Thinking this, Qin Xi¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, her heart filled with deep emotion. At this moment, Lin Tianming smiled and said: ¡°Xi¡¯er, you should go into seclusion immediately and refine this Blue Heart True Flame Seed as quick as possible.¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi understood the importance of the task. Consequently, Qin Xi nodded at Lin Tianming and took the piece of the Blue Heart True Flame Seed. Afterwards, without intending to stay long, Qin Xi greeted Lin Tianming and then went straight into another Practice Room. Seeing Qin Xi¡¯s solemn attitude and knowing the importance of refining the Blue Heart True Flame, proceeding immediately into seclusion, Lin Tianming finally felt reassured. As for himself, he planned to go into seclusion to recover his own condition while waiting for Qin Xi¡¯s results. With this intention, Lin Tianming entered his own chamber. Time slowly passed by, and two months quietly slipped away. One day, while still resting in meditation in his chamber, Lin Tianming suddenly received a message from Qin Xi stating that she had finished her seclusion. Thus, Lin Tianming immediately exited his retreat, and the couple reunited once more. Chapter 1175: 613: Return to the Mansion_2 Chapter 1175: Chapter 613: Return to the Mansion_2 Upon seeing Qin Xi, Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t care about anything else and eagerly inquired about the results of her seclusion. At that moment, Qin Xi gave a mischievous smile, then her delicate jade-like hand formed a gesture, and a blue flame condensed in her palm. Following that, with a thought from Qin Xi, the blue flame suddenly shot up, quickly blazing fiercely. Seeing this, Lin Tianming already had his answer in his heart. Therefore, Lin Tianming was extremely excited, because the gains from their trip to Ice Wind Valley were simply too substantial. Every time he thought of these, Lin Tianming¡¯s mood would become very agitated. Not only him, but Qin Xi by his side was also brimming with excitement, her smile spreading across her face, covering the fatigue from her seclusion. After a short while, the couple each calmed down. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at Qin Xi before him and then at the pond that concealed treasures, and then he smiled contentedly. Afterward, Lin Tianming said leisurely: ¡°Xi¡¯er, this trip to Ice Wind Valley has been very fruitful, as we have searched nearly half the area and our gains have far exceeded expectations.¡± ¡°From what I see, it¡¯s unlikely there are any more treasures here.¡± ¡°Moreover, we¡¯ve stayed in this place for too long and might expose some of our tracks.¡± ¡°Given that, let¡¯s leave here and return to Yuanzhen City for some rest and recuperation, how about that?¡± Hearing Lin Tianming¡¯s words, Qin Xi nodded her head, completely agreeing with this plan in her heart. After all, it had been some time since they left their family to come out, they had traversed many locations in Ice Wind Valley, and had made significant gains. If they continued staying here, given the fortunes within Ice Wind Valley, future gains would probably not be as substantial. More importantly, they had achieved the purpose of their trip, and next, they needed to properly seclude themselves for cultivation, digesting the harvest of these years. Besides, they had other plans for leaving their family for this experience, particularly Lin Tianfeng and the others who were still missing, which kept the couple anxious. Soon, the couple came to an agreement, deciding to return to Yuanzhen City for a while before making any long-term plans. Thus, Lin Tianming and his wife wasted no more time. Soon after, Lin Tianming and his partner erased any traces of their presence, and took with them everything they could carry, even the Salt Crystal Water they didn¡¯t value highly, was collected in special containers by Lin Tianming until he had several. Seeing that there wasn¡¯t much left to scavenge and without leaving any clues, Lin Tianming then took Qin Xi¡¯s hand, and with a leap, they flew back towards the way they had come. Familiar with the route, flying up the abyss¡¯s passageway, Lin Tianming and his partner returned to the entrance of the abyss. Then, they traveled along the path they came, making their way toward the outskirts of Ice Wind Valley. Two months later. On this day, Lin Tianming and his wife returned to Yuanzhen City. For the past two months, they had been traveling non-stop and generally with good fortune, until today when they returned to their temporarily rented Cave Mansion. At this moment, sitting in the small courtyard, Lin Tianming and his partner felt a sense of joy, finally able to let go of their vigilance and relax. Speaking of which, since leaving the Lin Family, it had been over a decade. And since departing Yuanzhen City, it had likewise been several years. During this time, Lin Tianming and his wife experienced much. Although they hadn¡¯t faced particularly dangerous situations, battles were inevitable. Especially after the fierce battle with Yan Mingshan and the three others, Qin Xi took advantage of this opportunity to break through to the Mid Stage Golden Core. Indeed, in these more than ten years, Lin Tianming and his wife¡¯s gains were not insubstantial, obtaining various treasures in succession, while their cultivation steadily increased. However, many gains did come with a price, and Lin Tianming and his wife had much to bear. Just consider the continuous battles and the process of cultivating Divine Skills, all fraught with dangers. To be able to sit together with peace of mind like today was really the first time in these few years. For this reason, Lin Tianming had almost forgotten his fatigue, and he was still in a very good state. At this moment, Lin Tianming looked at the somewhat familiar scenery before him and couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I¡¯m finally back!¡± Lin Tianming sighed softly, his face alight with a very warm smile. ¡°Indeed¡­¡± As soon as his words fell, Qin Xi acknowledged with a nod before continuing, ¡°These years we¡¯ve been running around, experiencing quite a lot of things, and the gains truly exceeded expectations.¡± ¡°As for what¡¯s next, we might as well take a good rest for a while and gather information about the Cultivation World.¡± ¡°At the same time, we¡¯ll also secretly investigate any clues about Tianhu and the others.¡± Hearing Qin Xi say this, Lin Tianming nodded in agreement. In his heart, he indeed remembered to look for clues to find Lin Tianfeng and the others. Previously he had been preoccupied with helping Qin Xi break through her bottleneck, resulting in Qin Xi, after a hard struggle, breaking through on her own. Subsequently, one opportunity after another arose, and oftentimes, their plans couldn¡¯t keep up with the changes. However, now that they were back in Yuanzhen City, it was essential for them to rest and recuperate for some time. During this period, they needed to gather news about the Cultivation World and see if there was any major news coming from the Wei Kingdom. Furthermore, several years had passed since the fall of Liu Nantian and his group, and it was unknown if there had been any new developments in the Cultivation World. In addition, the search for clues concerning Lin Tianfeng and the others must not stop; in fact, they planned to intensify their efforts. Understanding this, the couple quickly discussed and assigned their tasks. Because Qin Xi had just finished refining the Fire Seed of the Blue Heart True Flame, in order to return to Yuanzhen City promptly, she had hit the road without taking the time to enter seclusion for cultivation. Now that they were back in Yuanzhen City, with no major plans at hand, Qin Xi decided to enter seclusion to cultivate for a good while. As for Lin Tianming, he was to handle gathering various pieces of information within Yuanzhen City, and in his spare time, he could study the refining methods for the Tribulation Evasion Pill. If conditions permitted, he could even start refining a few of them for emergencies. Under these circumstances, Lin Tianming had ample, fulfilling time. He could not only focus on his own cultivation but also could spare attention to the situation in Wei Kingdom and the clues concerning Lin Tianfeng. With these goals in mind, Lin Tianming and Qin Xi became busy with their respective tasks. Two days later, bright and early, Lin Tianming left the Temporary Cave Abode, full of energy, and appeared in the various districts of Yuanzhen City. Following Lin Tianming¡¯s plan, he would spend the next few days roaming the major areas of Yuanzhen City, quietly gathering information about the Cultivation World. Specifically, the changed situation in the Golden Crow Country, and the Wei Kingdom, where the Lin Family resided, were his main focuses of attention. After several days of visits and inquiries, Lin Tianming subtly gathered some useful information. It was rumored that the Cultivation World of the Golden Crow Country, originally relatively tranquil, had started to see a fair amount of friction over the past few years. The main sources of friction and conflict, naturally, arose from the Golden Elixir Forces of the Five Poison Sect and the Longqing Sect. Apart from these powerful nations, even the cultivation worlds of countries neighboring the Wei Kingdom, such as Helan Country, had begun to become unstable. However, overall, the Golden Elixir Forces in each country were restrained, not bothering to pay attention to minor skirmishes. Occasionally, news of the destruction of Foundation Establishment Cultivators or even Foundation Establishing Families would cause a stir. But, in the absence of absolute interest or sufficient hatred, these Golden Elixir Forces managed to maintain their composure. As the fervor subsided, the life and death circumstances of those Foundation Establishment Cultivators were forgotten, and everything returned to the original order. Wei Kingdom, which Lin Tianming paid close attention to, had been very peaceful in the recent decades, seemingly due to the heavy losses suffered in a great war decades ago. Thus, the Golden Elixir Forces in the Wei Kingdom spent these years secretly accumulating power or recovering their Yuan Qi, with an apparently peaceful atmosphere on the surface. Having learned this news, Lin Tianming felt a long sigh of relief deep inside him. After all, he was always attentive to the news from the Wei Kingdom and constantly concerned about everything related to his family. ¡­ Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1176: 614 Tang Lixin Chapter 1176: Chapter 614 Tang Lixin Seeing Wei Kingdom in a peaceful state and no major incidents occurring in the Golden Crow Country also implied that the downfall of He Zhengsong and the others did not expose any clues. As a result, the Five Poison Sect wouldn¡¯t rashly take action in the short term, and so the couple no longer had any concerns for their safety. As for the news of Liu Nantian and his group¡¯s demise, there was no stir about it in Yuanzhen City, only the legends of the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters continued to resonate loudly. Even when cultivators began discussing it, it immediately garnered the attention of many. However, Lin Tianming thought that since Liu Nantian and his group were notorious for their evil deeds and often secluded themselves in dangerous secret realms for cultivation, they always disguised themselves when they appeared in public, afraid of exposing any information, and thus inviting trouble. Having grown accustomed to such caution, their silent demise, especially in a dangerous place like Ice Wind Valley, went unnoticed by all. Even after several years, no one in the cultivation world had received the news of their end. Otherwise, given the reputation of the Yuan Zhen Three Monsters, once the word got out, it would certainly stir up a great commotion. This was fine by Lin Tianming, who was a person of low profile, not wishing to expose his whereabouts or strength. Since many pieces of information remained unknown, it was also beneficial for him and his wife to continue their travels across the center of Qingzhou. As Lin Tianming gradually gained control over this external information, he no longer mingled with the circles of lower-level cultivators. One morning, Lin Tianming left his Cave Mansion and arrived at the Sky Dragon Pavilion branch located in Yuanzhen City. After showing the Token that Tang Xiuping had given him, the receptionist recognized that Lin Tianming must be someone of distinguished status, either a distinguished guest of the Tang Family or a business partner. Regardless of which it was, it was not someone a cultivator in charge of reception could afford to offend. Thus, the cultivator hurriedly reported to the higher management of the shop, and eventually, the Chief Steward of the Sky Dragon Pavilion personally received Lin Tianming. Soon, Lin Tianming was seated in one of the Sky Dragon Pavilion¡¯s VIP rooms. Opposite him, a woman with an enchanting figure, dressed in yellow palace garments, was sizing up Lin Tianming. It was clear that this woman was a bit arrogant, unreservedly scrutinizing others. Such behavior is considered very impolite among cultivators, as encountering someone with a bad temper or an expert wishing to conceal their power could easily provoke conflict, or even lead to lethal trouble. Yet, this woman was so forthright, probably because she relied on being from the Nascent Soul Forces of the prestigious Tang Family and being one of their top-level core family members. Despite feeling somewhat displeased, Lin Tianming did not take it too seriously. After all, the woman came from a noble birth and also had some cultivation strength, so her arrogance was only natural. So, while the woman was assessing Lin Tianming, he too was discreetly observing her. After a period of observation, Lin Tianming noticed the woman¡¯s robust aura, which despite being very subtle, was detected by the keen-smelling Lin Tianming with his powerful Divine Sense. As a result, Lin Tianming also felt a hint of pressure from this VIP lady in yellow palace garments. Clearly, the identity and cultivation of the person managing this branch of the Sky Dragon Pavilion were extraordinary. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over the years, Lin Tianming had visited many workshops and even some large cities on the Immortal Path. In those Sky Dragon Pavilion shops, the Chief Stewards were usually Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, as was the case with Tang Xiuyuan who previously managed the Qianchuan Market now under the control of the Lin Family, and he was only at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment. If it weren¡¯t for Tang Xiuyuan¡¯s later cultivation improvement, his cultivation might still be around the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment right now. Moreover, Lin Tianming had encountered several Sky Dragon Pavilion branch Chief Stewards over the years. In the workshops under Myriad Medicine Valley, the Chief Stewards of the Sky Dragon Pavilion were also at the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment. Even the branch Chief Steward in Xitang City had cultivation at the Early Stage of the Golden Core. Xitang City, with its renowned status in the Southern Qingzhou and as the first major city with a Teleportation Formation, undoubtedly holds a significant role in commerce and people flow among the Southern Seven Kingdoms. That said, the Sky Dragon Pavilion branch in Xitang City plays a crucial role among the many properties owned by the Tang Family. Even so, the Chief Steward in Xitang City was only at the Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation. Considering this and the considerable size of the Tang Family¡¯s properties, their Commerce Alliance must be active across various nations in Qingzhou and likely has shops in the large cities of the surrounding provinces or even the central Three Provinces. To manage such extensive operations, the Tang Family needs many core forces to support them. For example, a branch in a large city managed by a Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be somewhat insufficient, inefficient, and insecure. A Golden Core Stage Cultivator in a single nation is essentially considered a strong force, and with the support of the prestigious Tang Family of Qingzhou, managing the nation¡¯s properties is quite fitting. Regarding Yuanzhen City, being one of the top cities on the Qingzhou Land and having a long-distance Teleportation Formation, it allows for the shortest travel time to other continents. Chapter 1177: 614 Tang Lixin_2 Chapter 1177: Chapter 614 Tang Lixin_2 With such a money magnet, the population of Yuanzhen City grew incredibly large, attracting cultivators from all over the world. Even forces from the Central Three States would send their elite disciples to experience life in Qingzhou. And Yuanzhen City was their first stop upon entering Qingzhou. Therefore, it goes without saying that the importance of Yuanzhen City is self-evident. In such a situation, to be able to station in a city as important as Yuanzhen City and manage the entire industries of Yuanzhen Kingdom is enough to indicate that the status and strength of this woman are extraordinary, not something an ordinary Tang Family member can compare with. Moreover, even Lin Tianming could faintly feel pressure, which proves that this woman must be at least at the Mid Stage Golden Core or higher in terms of cultivation strength. Possibly, the likelihood of her being at the Late Stage Golden Core is not small either. Otherwise, with Lin Tianming¡¯s current cultivation strength, an ordinary Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator would hardly catch his attention, let alone put any pressure on him. As expected, while Lin Tianming was taking measure of this woman, she took the initiative to speak up and broke the silence. ¡°It turns out to be Lin, my apologies for the oversight!¡± After saying this, the woman did not forget to introduce herself. As it turns out, this palace-dressed female cultivator was named Tang Lixin, a member of the Tang Family¡¯s generation with the character ¡®Li¡¯ in their names, and one of the well-known Golden Core Stage Experts in Qingzhou. According to rumors in the cultivation world, apart from the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators who serve as the main pillars of the Tang Family of Qingzhou, there are also ten peak experts who are at the Mid Stage Golden Core or above. These ten cultivators in the Mid-Late Golden Core Stage are the strongest underneath the Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Tang Family, each of them having entered the Golden Core Stage for many years, possessing extremely powerful strength. Moreover, these ten people play a significant role and exert great influence both within and outside of the Tang Family. And Tang Lixin was one of these ten great Golden Core Stage Experts of the Tang Family, as well as the only female cultivator among them. What¡¯s more crucial is that she has another identity that everyone has to take seriously: she is the direct granddaughter of Tang Tianlong, the premier expert of the Tang Family. And Tang Tianlong is the only Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator currently in the Tang Family of Qingzhou, with a reputation that has significant influence throughout the whole of Qingzhou, and even in the surrounding states. With such status, as well as the strength that makes countless people in the cultivation world envious, it¡¯s no wonder that Tang Lixin would be proud and unapologetically scrutinize Lin Tianming upon seeing him. It makes sense, after all, Tang Lixin¡¯s cultivation is at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, not only possessing notable personal strength, but also being an influential figure of the Tang Family, considered the apple of the family leaders¡¯ eyes. Compared to the few Tang Family Members Lin Tianming had encountered before, they are simply incomparable to Tang Lixin who was present. Yet, for Tang Lixin, with such a prestigious identity to appear in Yuanzhen City and take charge of the store, was quite unexpected to Lin Tianming. In his view, with Tang Lixin¡¯s status and strength, she certainly wouldn¡¯t need to worry about cultivating resources or waste time getting involved in the Tang Family¡¯s complex businesses. What Lin Tianming didn¡¯t realize, though, was that the Tang Family¡¯s clan rules were also strict, and many talented disciples were required to go to a certain place to experience the world or get involved in the family business as per family demands. Under such circumstances, even a genius cultivator like Tang Lixin had to undertake some family affairs according to the clan rules. Moreover, for the Tang Family to grow into a major power and to have remained standing in Qingzhou for tens of thousands of years, especially continuing to prosper in the recent ten thousand years. To achieve this, it shows that the Tang Family¡¯s system must be very perfect and robust. Otherwise, if a family had no rules at all, perhaps they could become a Golden Elixir Force through the efforts of gifted disciples. But to grow into a Nascent Soul Force, especially one that has flourished for a long time, relying solely on the abilities of one or two genius disciples is basically very difficult to accomplish. Just like the current Lin Family, relying on the talent of Lin Tianming alone can only bring the Lin Family to the upper echelon of the Golden Elixir Forces. To become another Nascent Soul Force in Qingzhou, it would require the collective efforts of the entire Lin Family for hundreds or even more years. In this way, the appearance of Tang Lixin in Yuanzhen City is not an impossibility. And indeed, that¡¯s the case! Tang Lixin appeared in Yuanzhen City because her cultivation had reached the peak of Mid Stage Golden Core and she had fallen into a bottleneck. As a result, Tang Lixin thought of various methods, but in the end, she still couldn¡¯t break through successfully. Having no other choice, Tang Lixin thought of going out to roam, to see if there was an opportunity to temper herself or buy some treasures to help her break through to the Late Stage Golden Core. With this goal in mind, Tang Lixin went to the Tang Family¡¯s Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, intending to take on a family mission to get a chance to clear her mind and possibly break through. This coincidentally aligned with a need for someone to escort a batch of treasures to the Yuanzhen City branch and to serve as the head of affairs there for a decade. When Tang Lixin saw that the mission wouldn¡¯t take long, she could fulfill the family task and also have the chance to visit one of the top cities in Qingzhou. Therefore, Tang Lixin seized this opportunity, took on the family mission, and eventually arrived in Yuanzhen City. As for meeting Lin Tianming, it was merely a fortunate coincidence. The personal reception now was simply due to Tang Lixin¡¯s own curiosity. Because the Lin Family had become a long-term cooperative partner of the Tang Family, some basic information about the Lin Family was well known among the upper echelons of the Tang Family. And the Lin Family had indeed caused quite a stir across the Qingzhou Land a few decades ago during the civil strife within the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom. During that time, the entire Wei Kingdom was in chaos, with all the Golden Elixir Forces taking part in the great war. Furthermore, the involvement of Huangyang Kingdom had caught the attention of all the Qingzhou Cultivators. After all, when a Jingzhou nation meddles in the internal conflict of a Qingzhou nation, it is easy to incite the enmity of Qingzhou Cultivators. If the friction occurred among the Foundation Establishment Powers at the periphery, it would naturally not draw the attention of the forces in the center of Qingzhou. But if it involves a Golden Elixir Force, that could indeed create some discussion. Besides, the Lin Family was too outstanding in that war! Especially Lin Tianming himself, who rose too quickly and whose overall strength was too dazzling. Someone like him, who could achieve such a level in just a hundred years, naturally drew some attention. After all, Genius Cultivators are never short of topics and focus, wherever they are. Take Tang Lixin, for example, who had heard of Lin Tianming¡¯s reputation and rumors, and thus became interested and curious about such a genius cultivator from a remote place. In such circumstances, Tang Lixin unexpectedly took the initiative to personally receive Lin Tianming today, a time when it wasn¡¯t strictly necessary for her to do so. With this in mind, Tang Lixin first sized him up, and seeing that Lin Tianming was also unabashedly observing her, she suddenly found this genius cultivator of the Lin Family quite interesting. ¡°Giggles¡­¡± After introducing herself, Tang Lixin looked at Lin Tianming and chuckled softly, a special smile flashing across her face. And Lin Tianming, upon hearing Tang Lixin¡¯s self-introduction, was also surprised inside. In his heart, he certainly did not expect Tang Lixin, the famed pearl of the Tang Family, to appear here, let alone personally receive him. Now, seeing Tang Lixin¡¯s unexpectedly open and friendly attitude, he also felt baffled. However, Lin Tianming was also a person of delicate thoughts. Tang Lixin¡¯s attitude didn¡¯t seem to carry any ill intent. Furthermore, the Lin Family had a fairly good relationship with the Tang Family. Although they weren¡¯t staunch allies, they were at least partners, and there were no intersections or grievances between the two families in the past, nor any recent rifts or grudges. With this in mind, there was no need for Lin Tianming to overthink. Understanding this, Lin Tianming also let out a sigh of relief in his heart. Following that, Lin Tianming chuckled as well, easing his own awkwardness. ¡°So it is the legendary Pearl of the Tang Family, Miss Tang Lixin. I am Lin Tianming from the Luoyun Lin Family of the Wei Kingdom, and I offer my greetings!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Tianming greeted her with a clasped fist bow, taking the initiative to lower his posture and greet Tang Lixin. ¡­ Chapter 1178: 615: Transaction Chapter 1178: Chapter 615: Transaction At this moment, Tang Lixin heard Lin Tianming¡¯s words and no longer continued her high stance; at least, she no longer had the previous air of arrogance. Right after, Tang Lixin asked. ¡°Lin, may I ask what brings you here today?¡± Hearing Tang Lixin get straight to the point, Lin Tianming thought about it and decided not to hide anything. In his view, dealing with a core member of the Tang Family like Tang Lixin, given her status and the perspective of a prestigious family, he felt there was no need for superficial pleasantries or to deceive her with sweet words. If he did so, he might end up offending her and losing more than he could gain. As a result, Lin Tianming also spoke straightforwardly. ¡°Fairy Tang, I was genuinely surprised to see you today!¡± ¡°And I have indeed come with a request, if I may ask for your assistance, Fairy Tang?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Tang Lixin showed a puzzled expression and then joked: ¡°Haha¡­ Lin, with your extraordinary talent, you¡¯ve already made quite a name among the young cultivators in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°With your abilities, Lin, what is it that you need?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, Lin, please speak up!¡± ¡°Given the support Lin Family has provided to Sky Dragon Pavilion over these years, if it is within my capacity, I will certainly not stand idly by.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming was somewhat surprised, and his favorable impression of the core members of the Tang Family greatly increased. Before this, he had thought members from a core family like Tang¡¯s would be extremely arrogant and aloof. After all, they have both status and strength, and for a cultivator from a remote rural area like him, they really wouldn¡¯t care too much. But now it seems, the core members of the Tang Family are quite righteous, at least not showing the frivolous customs of a prestigious family. Moreover, from this one can also see, the Tang Family¡¯s home discipline is quite commendable, worthy of the basic quality the Tang Family shows to outsiders. Given these conditions and deeds, it¡¯s no wonder the Tang Family has been able to stand for so many years in Qingzhou, remaining prosperous for so long, and has also established a good image throughout the Qingzhou Cultivation World. Understanding these, Lin Tianming¡¯s knowledge of the Tang Family deepened, and his favorable impression surged even more. After calming himself a bit, Lin Tianming then continued to speak. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to hide it from Fairy Tang, in earlier years I had asked someone from your esteemed family to manage a branch in Wei Kingdom Qianchuan Marketplace and help look into the whereabouts of two of my family members.¡± ¡°However, after so many years, there has been no feedback at all, not even the slightest bit of news, as if those two family members have evaporated from this world.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m certain that these two family members are alive, but I just don¡¯t know their current whereabouts.¡± After Lin Tianming finished speaking, Tang Lixin also gave a wry smile. Right after, Tang Lixin helplessly said: ¡°Lin, the way you put it, has really confused me.¡± ¡°You see, how and why your two family members disappeared, and why they did not present themselves, I really have no clue.¡± ¡°Given this, how should we even start looking for them?¡± ¡°After all, the Nine Provinces Continent is so vast, and even just Qingzhou alone has dozens of large and small countries.¡± ¡°In such a clueless situation, looking for two ordinary cultivators is like searching for a needle in the sea. What¡¯s the difference?¡± Tang Lixin discussed openly, her face showing a helpless smile, with a somewhat confused look overall. And hearing Tang Lixin¡¯s string of rhetorical questions, Lin Tianming also gave a wry smile, his face showing a hint of embarrassment. After a while, Lin Tianming felt that Tang Lixin¡¯s words made sense. Indeed, previously when he had asked Tang Xiuyuan to help search for Lin Tianfeng and others, the information he revealed was indeed scant, merely providing some basic facial features and information about cultivation techniques and weapons. If it were him being out in the world with no one to rely on, he would definitely change his identity and conceal his tracks. This approach is indeed a basic rule that any Foundation Establishment Loose Culturator must adhere to in the Cultivation World. And if solely relying on the basic information provided to Tang Xiuyuan, not to mention in the vast territory of Nine Provinces Continent, even in Qingzhou itself, finding two people who have hidden and changed their identities would have a very small probability of success. Knowing this, Lin Tianming thought for a moment and felt that he could, when appropriate, reveal more information about Lin Tianfeng and others. In his view, this would provide more reference conditions and help Tang Lixin better search for them. Thinking of this, Lin Tianming had made up his mind. As a result, Lin Tianming then slowly spoke up, roughly explaining the circumstances of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s disappearance initially. Besides that, including the condition of the Life-bound Soul Lamps left by Lin Tianfeng and others, he also carefully explained to Tang Lixin. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only on the specifics of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s initial experiences and gains, Lin Tianming made significant changes, not mentioning the details of those treasures. And after hearing all what Lin Tianming had to say, Tang Lixin also fell silent for a moment, seeming to ponder over the experiences of Lin Tianfeng and where they might appear. Soon, Tang Lixin had some speculations in her mind. Then, Tang Lixin once again spoke: ¡°Lin, your two family members managed to survive the Spatial Fissure with Foundation Establishment cultivation, which indicates that the danger level inside that Spatial Fissure is not too high.¡± Chapter 1179: 615: Trade_2 Chapter 1179: Chapter 615: Trade_2 ¡°Moreover, this also indicates that the distance they were transported by the spatial fissure is not very far.¡± ¡°You know, if they were transported to a place like Yunzhou, given the distance involved, even a Golden Core Cultivator would be facing a situation of nine deaths and one life.¡± ¡°And the fact that they were able to survive back then with their cultivation, it¡¯s highly likely that they were in Qingzhou or a territory nearby.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Tianming, upon hearing this explanation, nodded thoughtfully. At this moment, Tang Lixin continued to explain: ¡°Since so much time has passed and they have neither offered themselves nor returned to the lands of Wei Kingdom, their landing place must not be in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°Moreover, you also entrusted our people from Sky Dragon Commerce Association to inquire, but still no news, which further confirms that the two of them are not in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°And the two states adjacent to Qingzhou are Jingzhou and Jizhou. As for the other states, they do not meet the conditions as determined by this humble one.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming also felt that Tang Lixin¡¯s analysis was not without reason. In his view, considering that Lin Tianfeng and his party have been missing for decades without any news, their landing place is certainly not in Qingzhou. Besides, the fact that they have not returned to Wei Kingdom for so long and have not sent back any news must be due to the great distance or some difficulties they have encountered. After all, at the time of their disappearance, their cultivation was not high. To be able to survive in a strange land without support, and especially in a place where the cultivation standards were higher than Qingzhou, is indeed not an easy feat. Thus, this also confirms that Tang Lixin¡¯s judgement is very persuasive. Knowing this, Lin Tianming¡¯s obsession became even more intense. Therefore, Lin Tianming sighed helplessly, and then slowly said: ¡°Fairy Tang, your speculations are indeed very reasonable.¡± Lin Tianming paid a compliment, then continued to say: ¡°Since this is the case, could Fairy Tang help out in any way? Whatever the price, you can just say it.¡± ¡°As long as I can do it, I will not refuse!¡± Hearing these words, Tang Lixin paused briefly, then fell silent for a moment. After a short time, Tang Lixin spoke with a smile: ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s not impossible for me to help!¡± ¡°As for the price¡­ Lin, you can make a proposal to see if there is anything that could satisfy this humble one.¡± No sooner had these words fallen, than Lin Tianming couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. In his heart, he did not expect Tang Lixin to not make conditions but instead let him make the offer. In this manner, it was hard for him to say anything. After all, with Tang Lixin¡¯s profound background and great strength, and considering her perspective, ordinary items would definitely not catch her eye. As such, arousing Tang Lixin¡¯s interest was not going to be an easy task. Nevertheless, to quickly find Lin Tianfeng and the others, no matter the cost, he had to try. With this understanding, Lin Tianming said: ¡°Fairy Tang, would you consider five hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones as acceptable?¡± ¡°Five hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Does Lin believe that someone of my status and background would be lacking in Spirit Stones?¡± Tang Lixin said with a smile, her expression carrying a hint of sarcasm. At these words, Lin Tianming was momentarily at a loss for words, a sheepish smile appearing on his face. Indeed, with Tang Lixin¡¯s wealth and status, and being a cultivator renowned throughout Qingzhou, how could she lack Spirit Stones? However, Lin Tianming had made the offer, thinking of securing Tang Lixin¡¯s support at the lowest possible cost. Though he had many treasures, if he could achieve his goal by using Spirit Stones, which had a lesser immediate utility, that would be ideal. If that wasn¡¯t enough, he would have to further increase the stakes until Tang Lixin was satisfied. Realizing this, Lin Tianming said helplessly: ¡°I am willing to offer a Defense Treasure, does that sound acceptable to Fairy Tang?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not very interesting¡­¡± Tang Lixin replied bluntly. ¡°A Defense Treasure plus five hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, what do you think, Fairy Tang?¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Not interested¡­¡± ¡°What about adding an Offensive Magical Treasure?¡± Lin Tianming said with resignation. ¡°Still not interested!¡± Tang Lixin directly refused, her tone was very decisive, clearly showing no interest in what Lin Tianming was offering. Thinking about it, it was normal given Tang Lixin¡¯s background, she probably lacked nothing except for treasures that could lead to a breakthrough in cultivation or enhance the Four Arts of Cultivation. Realizing this, Lin Tianming knew in his heart that without paying a certain price, it would be impossible to satisfy Tang Lixin. Understanding this point, Lin Tianming smiled wryly and finally let out a long sigh, then slowly spoke. ¡°Fairy Tang, just tell me directly what treasure you need or are interested in, let¡¯s not beat around the bush!¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Tang Lixin laughed lightly and said, ¡°Lin, you must be a smart person to have gained such fame.¡± ¡°And the treasure I need, of course, is something that could help me break through my current cultivation level.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianming asked in confusion, ¡°Fairy Tang, coming from a prestigious family with thousands of years of heritage, couldn¡¯t you have some precious treasures to help you break through your current realm?¡± At these words, Tang Lixin¡¯s face blushed slightly, then she smiled awkwardly, ¡°To be honest with Lin, under normal circumstances, ordinary Heaven and Earth Treasures would indeed help me break through in cultivation.¡± ¡°Although my Tang Family does not dare boast a profound heritage, we can certainly produce some elixirs and Spirit Fruits that improve cultivation.¡± ¡°But what Lin doesn¡¯t know is that I have been stuck at the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm for decades.¡± ¡°During that time, I have consumed many Heaven and Earth Treasures, but have never managed to break through.¡± Hearing this explanation, Lin Tianming had an epiphany, thinking that indeed it was for this reason that Tang Lixin had decisively rejected his terms earlier on. However, the more it was the case, the less he wished to reveal that he possessed the Tribulation Evasion Pill. But to get Tang Lixin¡¯s help, he must offer this item to satisfy her. With these thoughts, Lin Tianming made up his mind. Thus, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression became stern, and he then spoke seriously, ¡°Fairy Tang, if I could help you break through your current realm, would you help me find the whereabouts of my two family members?¡± Hearing this, Tang Lixin¡¯s brow furrowed, seemingly unable to believe that Lin Tianming truly had a treasure that could help her break through her current bottleneck. But soon, Tang Lixin couldn¡¯t contain her inner anticipation. Thereupon, Tang Lixin pressed for an answer, ¡°Lin, do you really have a treasure that could help me overcome my current impasse?¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± At this moment, it was Lin Tianming¡¯s turn to take the initiative, a hint of mocking smile flashed across his face. ¡°Fairy Tang, let¡¯s make a deal!¡± ¡°I can swear on my life, as long as Daoist Tang can find the whereabouts of my two family members, I will definitely provide a treasure within a year.¡± ¡°Furthermore, this treasure will surely help Fairy Tang break through current difficulties, how about it?¡± Hearing this, Tang Lixin showed a slight hint of joy, somewhat skeptical in her heart. However soon, Tang Lixin made her decision. ¡°Deal!¡± No sooner had Tang Lixin spoken than her face turned solemn. Immediately after, Tang Lixin threatened coldly, ¡°But let me put this straight beforehand, I want to remind Lin of something.¡± ¡°If you deceive me, I will surely make you pay the price, and the entire Lin Family will pay the price.¡± Hearing Tang Lixin¡¯s words, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression changed slightly, thinking that this seemingly gentle woman was indeed not someone to be taken lightly. To think, she had been so warm just a moment ago, and now, suddenly, her threats emerged, which truly made him feel some anger. However, after thinking it over, Lin Tianming eventually suppressed the slight displeasure in his heart. Next, Lin Tianming¡¯s expression turned solemn as he waved his hand and said, ¡°Rest assured, Fairy Tang, I do as I say!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I hope so!¡± After replying sternly, Tang Lixin¡¯s expression seemed much gentler compared to the domineering attitude she had just a moment ago. ¡­ Chapter 1180: 616: Tianfengs Tribulation Chapter 1180: Chapter 616: Tianfeng¡¯s Tribulation Yuanzhen City, within the secret chamber of a certain Cave Mansion. Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his gaze fixed on a corner of the chamber, seemingly contemplating something. Since Lin Tianming bid farewell to Tang Lixin at the Sky Dragon Pavilion, he returned directly to his own Cave Mansion. During that visit, Lin Tianming and Tang Lixin reached a deal. According to the plan between Lin Tianming and Tang Lixin, Lin Tianming would provide a Treasure that could help Tang Lixin break through her bottleneck in exchange for her assistance in finding the whereabouts of Lin Tianfeng and the others. Despite her curiosity, Tang Lixin couldn¡¯t help but feel intrigued about what exactly the Treasure Lin Tianming provided was, as he did not elaborate further. However, since Lin Tianming kept the specifics of the Treasure to himself, Tang Lixin had no way of knowing. Without any other choice, as long as Tang Lixin found some clues, Lin Tianming would immediately provide the Treasure. Otherwise, without definite news, Lin Tianming wouldn¡¯t need to give anything. This method was also the result of careful deliberation and active pursuit by Lin Tianming. In his view, whether Tang Lixin could find Lin Tianfeng and the others in a short period of time was still hard to say. Not wanting to expose the Tribulation Evasion Pill too early, using such a method could also possibly delay some time. After all, the value of the Tribulation Evasion Pill was not low, and even for a powerful and prestigious family like the Tang Family, they would certainly covet the method to concoct it, as well as the Pill Formula and Spiritual Medicine. You should know, the value of the Tribulation Evasion Pill is by no means inferior to a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item. Although a Nascent Soul Spiritual Item can definitely let a Foundation Establishment Cultivator succeed in the Impact of Golden Core Stage with a certain probability, there¡¯s also a great chance of failure. However, the effect of the Tribulation Evasion Pill can allow a Qi cultivator at a bottleneck to improve by one realm. Don¡¯t underestimate this single realm improvement; the effects brought on by this upgrade can be much more significant than creating a new Golden Core Stage Cultivator. So to speak, Nascent Soul Spiritual Items are Treasures that Foundation Establishment Cultivators long for in their dreams. Yet for Golden Core Stage Cultivators, the appeal of Nascent Soul Spiritual Items is obviously not as great. In contrast, the Tribulation Evasion Pill is very important for every Core Formation Cultivator. Especially for Golden Core Cultivators at a bottleneck, knowing the existence of a Tribulation Evasion Pill, they would deem it worth pursuing at all costs. It is precisely because of such a Treasure that Lin Tianming has the bargaining capital to be able to urge Tang Lixin to act. As for not immediately taking out the Tribulation Evasion Pill, aside from being wary of any ill-intent from Tang Lixin, another reason is the need for time to concoct it. Under such circumstances, Lin Tianming would make such an arrangement. And after returning to the Cave Mansion, Lin Tianming immediately entered the secret chamber to meditate, intending to quickly concoct the Tribulation Evasion Pill. After all, whether for the deal with Tang Lixin or for the future of the Lin Family, he would have to start concocting the Tribulation Evasion Pill sooner or later. Moreover, everything needed was already prepared; whether Spiritual Medicine Materials or the Pill Formula and refining methods for the Tribulation Evasion Pill, Lin Tianming had carefully studied them for a long time. With these early preparations, Lin Tianming could start concocting at any moment. Knowing this, Lin Tianming didn¡¯t plan to delay any longer. Thus, at this moment, Lin Tianming began to cultivate and regulate his breath, bringing his state to its peak condition. After half a day passed, Lin Tianming once again opened his eyes, and a glint of sharpness flowed through them. Feeling his state had reached the pinnacle, Lin Tianming clapped his sleeves and the Qingyun Furnace immediately appeared in front of him. Subsequently, Lin Tianming took out many types of Spiritual Medicine Materials one by one, neatly arranging them in front of him. After completing these preparations, Lin Tianming formed a Single-handed Seal, and a cluster of crimson-blue flames immediately appeared in his palm. At that moment, Lin Tianming gazed at the flame in front of him, his expression filled with anticipation. After all, this flame was the original Blue Heart True Flame that had mutated after devouring the Earth Core Truefire. Although he had previously separated a small portion of the Fire Seed for Qin Xi, this mutated Fire Seed had clearly become stronger than before. It is because of such mutation that the new Blue Heart True Flame, whether in terms of attacking power or for Pill Concoction and Weapon Forging, will undoubtedly have certain improvements. Thereby, although the difficulty of refining the Tribulation Evasion Pill is non-negligible, with thorough preparation and the assistance of the new Blue Heart True Flame, Lin Tianming felt fully confident. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With such anticipation, Lin Tianming began to attempt concocting a few furnaces of ordinary elixirs, waiting until he got the hang of it before attempting the more difficult Tribulation Evasion Pill. This approach not only increased his chances of success, but also avoided wasting the precious Spiritual Medicine Materials of the Tribulation Evasion Pill. After all, the main ingredient of the Tribulation Evasion Pill, the Tianxin Grass, is highly valuable and scarce in the current Cultivation World, with a very limited quantity. Therefore, he had to be even more careful to avoid wasting this extremely hard-to-find Tianxin Grass. Moreover, for every additional Tribulation Evasion Pill he could refine, the Lin Family would have more family members who could use it to overcome a bottleneck. Fully aware of this, Lin Tianming prepared thoroughly and approached the entire alchemic process with great caution. Thus, with familiarity and routine, after a half-month of trial, Lin Tianming soon concocted three furnaces of regular elixirs, adjusting his state for Pill Concoction to its optimal level. Only after a good half-month did Lin Tianming, in his best condition, begin the Refining process for the Tribulation Evasion Pill. Chapter 1181: 616: Tianfengs Tribulation_2 Chapter 1181: Chapter 616: Tianfeng¡¯s Tribulation_2 ¡­ Qingzhou, Jinfeng Nation, Darknight Forest. The Darknight Forest, located in the north-central region of Jinfeng Nation, is a vast and gloomy woodland. According to some ancient texts, the existence of the Darknight Forest dates back hundreds of thousands of years and was once a domain controlled by the Demon Race. As for the interior of the Darknight Forest, it is filled with countless large and small gorges, where dense jungles thrive, and towering trees are as packed as grass. Legend has it in the Cultivation World that the Darknight Forest is fraught with immense danger, home to an untold number of Demonic Beasts. Despite its perils, the Darknight Forest also abounds with Fortune Treasures, making it the preferred place for many cultivators of the Jinfeng Nation to undertake trials. As time passed, countless cultivators fell within its bounds, but likewise, many found precious treasures there, propelling them into the ranks of the strong. Over time, the combination of hidden dangers and opportunities has only increased the notoriety of the Darknight Forest. Nowadays, it has become one of the two most perilous places in Jinfeng Nation, well-known throughout both the nation and all of Qingzhou Land. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this very moment, in a shadowy gorge within the Darknight Forest, an ear-splitting thunderclap resounded. Atop a mountain just outside the gorge, a resolute man was seen sitting cross-legged, his gaze reaching into the distance toward the depths of the gorge, a worried expression on his face. The man keeping watch was none other than Lin Tianhu, who had just returned from Jingzhou Land. The disturbance within the gorge was caused by Lin Tianfeng undergoing the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. At this time, Lin Tianhu, beholding the flashes of light and ground-shaking booms before him, involuntarily clenched his fists tightly, clearly feeling nervous. Deep down, he was indeed very concerned about the outcome of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s tribulation. After all, the two brothers had together fallen into a Spatial Fissure decades ago, and it was incredibly fortunate that they had survived. Subsequently, lost in different corners of Jingzhou Land, they both suffered greatly, nearly perishing on several occasions. Take, for instance, the time they were hunted by a Xu Family¡¯s Golden Core; they narrowly escaped death right there and then. Barely emerging victorious after a brutal battle, they finally evaded the crisis and returned to Qingzhou from Jingzhou Land. Having gone through these trials, Lin Tianhu and Lin Tianfeng¡¯s longing to return to the Hui Ethnicity intensified. Now, they had also found an opportunity; both Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er were ready to attempt the Impact of Golden Core Stage. Though eager to return to their ethnicity, neither Lin Tianfeng nor Sun Ling¡¯er were young, especially Sun Ling¡¯er who was actually older, now over a hundred and thirty years of age. Even Lin Tianfeng was already one hundred and ten years old, essentially entering middle age for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Continuing like this, if they do not break through to the Golden Core Stage, their potential will diminish over time. Moreover, if they delay for another two or three decades, they might lose even the last opportunity they have. That¡¯s why they felt it was best to attempt the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible. Once successful, not only would they preserve their cultivation potential, but their journey back home would also be safer. After all, Lin Tianhu was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, and his personal strength was severely limited. If he were to escort Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er across the vast Qingzhou Land back to Wei Kingdom, it would involve unpredictable risks and require a lot of time. Although the central states of Qingzhou have Teleportation Formations to speed up the journey, ensuring a certain level of safety, once inside Xitang Country¡¯s borders, they would still need to traverse several powerful nations¡¯ territories before finally reaching Wei Kingdom. Rather than face such risks, it¡¯s better to use this time to aim for the Golden Core Stage, If they succeed, not only will they preserve their potential, but their journey will also be much safer. After all, having been adrift outside for decades, they won¡¯t miss the last three to five years. Under these circumstances, after returning to Qingzhou, they started preparing for secluded cultivation immediately. After a year of preparation and three years of effort to reach the Golden Core Stage, it has been more than four years since they returned to Qingzhou Land. Today, the skies above the gorge suddenly darkened with clouds and thunder, sand flying and stones rolling, foreshadowing a coming storm. Soon enough, two consecutive Lightning Tribulations descended, the powerful fluctuations sweeping across the entire gorge. Facing the Thunder Tribulation Force, Lin Tianfeng dared not hold back, promptly deploying various Defense Artifacts he had prepared in advance, and ultimately managed to survive these two rounds of crisis. And at this very moment, the third-level Heavenly Tribulation was brewing within the dark clouds. A few breaths later, a thunderclap tore through the void, and a barrage burst forth from the clouds, aiming at Lin Tianfeng, who was in the depths of the canyon, pressing down with crushing force. At this time, at the bottom of a deep pit in the canyon, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s clothes were tattered, his complexion pale as blood, with fresh blood spilling from the corners of his mouth. Around him, fragments of Magic Artifacts were scattered on the ground, along with the scorched earth, and all around, the majestic trees lay chaotically, presenting a scene of desolation. ¡°Rumble rumble¡­¡± The Thunder Dragon roared, with divine thunder rolling in the sky. In an instant, the Thunder Dragon had already arrived above Lin Tianfeng¡¯s head. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng lifted his head to gaze at the sky. Despite his pale face, the Qi-Blood within him surged unstoppably, his body tottering as if it could collapse at any moment. But Lin Tianfeng remained resolute, not the slightest hint of fear on his face; instead, his aura soared tremendously. In his heart, he yearned deeply for the Golden Core Path. Throughout his years of trials, he had faced numerous life-and-death crises, each one fraught with deadly peril. It was his longing for the Immortal Path and the obsession to return to his family that helped him survive against all odds. Having risked their lives to seize the Fruit of Fortuity from the Xu Family Disciples with Sun Ling¡¯er, he had already taken a crucial step forward. Now that the Heavenly Tribulation had arrived, once he survived this ordeal, he would step into the realm he had dreamt of for so long. For this day, Lin Tianming had suffered much and faced many a peril¡ªhow could he falter at this critical juncture? ¡°Hmph¡­¡± ¡°Let the divine thunder strike, I, your Lord, shall not flinch!¡± Lin Tianfeng roared furiously in his heart, his eyes filled with a red gleam, his fighting spirit and momentum reaching the pinnacle of pinnacles. With such conviction, Lin Tianfeng let out a wild laugh. Immediately after, Lin Tianfeng leaped up to meet the Thunder Dragon that filled the sky above him. While still in midair, Lin Tianfeng quickly formed seals with his fingers, sending out several streaks of Spiritual Light. Soon, several Defense Artifacts had been activated by him, forming multiple barriers above his head. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s movements were swift, all completed in the blink of an eye. Just as these defensive measures were in place, the Thunder Dragon descended. ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± Several loud explosions followed, and the entire sky was covered by a sea of flames, the dazzling brightness illuminating the dimly-lit canyon. In that instant, three Defense Artifacts shattered instantaneously, turning into countless fragments across the land. And at this moment, Lin Tianfeng spewed several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion instantly turning even paler, and his vitality quickly waned. At the same time, Lin Tianfeng was struck by a tremendous force and thrown out, finally crashing heavily into the ground, forming a deep crater. Looking up, the Thunder Dragon in the sky had not dissipated; its form had become somewhat ethereal, clearly due to a significant expenditure of energy. Nevertheless, the Thunder Dragon remained, continuing its bombardment on the remaining two barriers above Lin Tianfeng. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Two more explosions resounded as the sky was once again set ablaze with light. In an instant, the two barriers held on only momentarily before being directly penetrated by the Thunder Dragon. Following that, the Thunder Dragon kept descending, aimed directly at Lin Tianfeng below. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, enduring the excruciating pain and propping up his severely injured body, swung out his sword, slashing furiously at the oncoming Thunder Dragon. This was his unwillingness embodied in one sword strike, his final act of defiance, always carried with the courage of a desperate gambit. If by chance he could survive, everything would become boundless and free. Otherwise, the next moment would be his demise on this spot. ¡­ Chapter 1182: 617: The Belated Disturbance Chapter 1182: Chapter 617: The Belated Disturbance ¡°Boom¡­¡± As the Thunder Dragon in the sky roared, it hammered down towards Lin Tianfeng below. Facing the Third Level of the Heavenly Tribulation, Lin Tianfeng wore a resolute expression. He was very clear about what this layer of tribulation meant for him and for any cultivator undergoing tribulation. Thus, Lin Tianfeng had completely let go of life and death at this moment, charging towards the Thunder Dragon without any hesitation. With a loud bang, Lin Tianfeng suddenly felt as if he were rapidly falling, his close-fitting inner armor shattered, and the thunder exploding beside his ear seemed to have shaken his divine soul. For a moment, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but grimace, his face twisted in pain. And this was just the most basic sensation; even greater pain also stemmed from his body. Under the suppression of the Thunder Dragon, the Qi-Blood in Lin Tianfeng¡¯s body raced, surging straight towards the Sky Spirit Cover. In that instant, all his internal organs trembled, and a terrifying sensation of pain instantly spread to every corner of his body. Enduring such agony, Lin Tianfeng bit down hard, forcing himself to remain conscious. Until a dull thud came, accompanied by even more intense pain atop his already suffering body, Lin Tianfeng then felt that he had regained control over his body. By then, the intense pain had somewhat eased, and Lin Tianfeng experienced a new sensation: a warm current suddenly emerged within him. For a moment, that warmth was incredibly comfortable, giving him the feeling of experiencing the Ice and Fire Duality. Not only that, but at the moment he regained control of his body, a powerful aura emanated from him as the center, rapidly spreading in all directions. This expansion of aura was swift; Lin Tianfeng had no time to react before it was complete. As a breath passed, Lin Tianfeng finally came to his senses, his body completely under his control again. Soon, when he sensed a powerful force within him, and that his Divine Sense¡¯s reach had expanded several times over from before, he then understood his current situation. ¡°Is this the realm of the Golden Core Stage?¡± In that instant, Lin Tianfeng mused to himself, his face still showing a look of disbelief. While Lin Tianfeng was still in shock, the dark clouds in the sky had quickly dissipated, and the previously dark sky had noticeably cleared up a lot. Additionally, with the Gang Wind ceasing, the earth regained its calm, everything returning to how it was before the tribulation, except for the scarred and charred land, which bore witness to what had just transpired. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng also returned to his senses from astonishment, his face immediately showing an ecstatic expression. As his mood gradually settled, Lin Tianfeng started to realize the severity of his injuries. During the first round of Heavenly Tribulation, he hadn¡¯t sustained many injuries; after all, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation¡¯s power was only average, and any Foundation Establishment Cultivator could withstand it. As for the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, its power doubled, presenting a significant threat to any cultivator undergoing tribulation. Indeed, it was so. Under the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s three rather good Defense Artifacts turned to ash, and the great rebounding force left him seriously injured. The power of the last layer of tribulation then doubled again, enough to make any cultivator sense the taste of death, ultimately forcing them to fight with all their might. For this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s several Defense Artifacts were destroyed, the inner armor that had saved his life many times was directly shattered, and he also sustained extremely serious injuries both inside and out. Luckily, his fortune was good. Although he lost many Treasures and sustained heavy injuries, he ultimately withstood the Threefold Lightning Tribulation and stepped into the long-coveted Golden Core Stage. The price, in his view, was incomparable to entering the Golden Core Stage. Let alone these Treasures, even if ten or eight more Magic Artifacts were destroyed, he would not hesitate. Knowing this, Lin Tianfeng was now overwhelmed with joy and filled with a sense of fortunate survival. Meanwhile, at this moment, Lin Tianhu, who was observing from outside the gorge, was also overjoyed. You should know, the usually serious Lin Tianhu seldom smiled and even appeared quite dull at times, as if indifferent to everything. But at this moment, Lin Tianhu was laughing heartily with excitement, his expression glowing and healthy. This contrast to his usual demeanor was indeed stark. Even Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t realize just how rare his facial expressions were at this time. In reality, Lin Tianhu was actually very warm-hearted and cared a great deal for every Lin Family Member. He was also willing to go through fire and water for his kinfolk, ready to protect them from wind and rain. As for Lin Tianfeng, he was extremely important in the eyes of Lin Tianhu, and held significant weight. After all, Lin Tianfeng was the chief among the Tian generation of the family, always very supportive and caring towards his siblings. It can be said that Lin Tianfeng, as the eldest brother of the Tian generation, had fulfilled all the responsibilities a big brother should. Such a brother, not only was he greatly respected by Lin Tianhu, but by every Tian generation Lin Family Member as well. If one had to compare any family member to Lin Tianfeng, perhaps only the prestige and contributions of Lin Tianming could surpass those of Lin Tianfeng, the eldest of the Tian generation. Thus, the life and death of Lin Tianfeng were of extreme concern to Lin Tianhu as well. Chapter 1183: 617 The Late Commotion_2 Chapter 1183: Chapter 617 The Late Commotion_2 In addition to the reasons mentioned above, another factor is that the two brothers were likewise stranded in the Jingzhou Land, where they suffered countless hardships. Now, having finally reunited and returned to the Qingzhou Land, they were a stone¡¯s throw away from the Green Bamboo Mountain that they had yearned for day and night. If they so desired, it would take at most a year or two to return to their homeland in glory. If Lin Tianfeng were to perish under the Heavenly Tribulation at this critical juncture, one can imagine how rare and tragic it would be. This regret would not only pertain to Lin Tianfeng, but to Lin Tianhu as well. This is precisely why Lin Tianhu had such high expectations for Lin Tianfeng¡¯s Impact of the Golden Core Stage. For this reason, he had worried for a long time, always on tenterhooks with each successive bout of the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, to the point where it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say his heart was constantly in knots. Now, seeing the thunderclouds disperse and the sky and land returning to their former state, and particularly at the moment the clouds vanished, the overwhelming pressure swept through, filling him with great joy, and for a moment, his blood boiled with excitement. As Lin Tianhu gathered his wits, he quickly stepped forward and headed straight towards Lin Tianfeng¡¯s location. Soon, Lin Tianhu arrived beside Lin Tianfeng. From afar, seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s pale face and weakened breath, Lin Tianhu immediately began to express his concern. ¡°Big brother¡­¡± ¡°Big brother¡­ you made it¡­ you succeeded!¡± At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, seeing Lin Tianhu rushing over, hurriedly steadied his staggering body and forcibly kept himself conscious. Then, Lin Tianfeng waved his hand and, trying to appear calm, smiled and said: ¡°Tianhu¡­ you¡¯ve worked hard these past few years!¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianhu too laughed excitedly, unable to hide the thrill on his face. ¡°Big brother¡­ how are you feeling?¡± ¡°Is your injury serious?¡± Lin Tianhu asked with concern, his care for his brother plainly showing on his face. ¡°Hehe¡­ fortunately, I survived the Threefold Lightning Tribulation!¡± ¡°As for my injury, for now it¡¯s not too concerning¡­¡± Lin Tianfeng said, waving his hand with a reassuring smile for Lin Tianhu. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianhu nodded and then gave a reminder. ¡°Big brother¡­ you¡¯ve just undergone the tribulation, and by the looks of it, your injury can¡¯t be light. You need to enter seclusion to recover as soon as possible and consolidate your cultivation, to prevent worsening injuries from causing a drop in your realm. That would be a real pity!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianhu waved his sleeve and a Jade Bottle appeared in his hand. Then, Lin Tianhu handed the Jade Bottle to Lin Tianfeng, adding with concern: ¡°Big brother¡­ take this healing elixir quickly to recover as fast as possible.¡± Feeling a warm surge within him upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng was deeply moved. Once he had composed himself, Lin Tianfeng did not refuse Lin Tianhu¡¯s kindness and took the Jade Bottle. ¡°Tianhu, then your brother will go into seclusion to heal. You¡¯ll have to work hard for a little while longer!¡± Lin Tianfeng replied with a smile and then began heading towards a specific spot inside the gorge. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu nodded in satisfaction, waiting until Lin Tianfeng was out of sight before returning to the entrance of the gorge. After a while, Lin Tianhu continued to sit at the top of the entrance to the gorge, his gaze fixedly aimed inward, before closing his eyes again. In the meantime, Lin Tianfeng would enter seclusion to cultivate, recovering from his injuries and solidifying his realm. Meanwhile, Lin Tianhu would continue to guard the location, acting as Lin Tianfeng¡¯s protector and awaiting the emergence of Sun Ling¡¯er, who was also in seclusion. Time flies, and before they knew it, two years had passed. That day, at noon, Lin Tianfeng finally ended his seclusion, walking out of the Temporary Cave Abode immediately and approaching Lin Tianhu. Seeing Lin Tianfeng emerge from seclusion with a very stable aura and a healthy-looking complexion, Lin Tianhu was overjoyed. ¡°Big brother, you¡¯ve finally come out of seclusion!¡± Even from a distance, Lin Tianhu called out to Lin Tianfeng with a smile on his face. ¡°Haha¡­ Tianhu, you¡¯ve worked hard!¡± Lin Tianfeng said with a laugh, clapping his large hands onto Lin Tianhu¡¯s shoulders, his excitement clearly evident. After exchanging a few polite remarks, the atmosphere between them was very harmonious. Some time passed before Lin Tianfeng changed the subject. ¡°Tianhu, is there still no news from Ling Er?¡± Lin Tianfeng looked in the direction of the canyon, a worried expression flashing across his face as he spoke. Upon hearing this, Lin Tianhu¡¯s expression immediately turned serious, and his face also grew more solemn. At that moment, Lin Tianhu sighed helplessly, then slowly said: ¡°Elder brother¡­ Sister-in-law has been in seclusion for a long time. Perhaps due to the extended preparations, there¡¯s still no news yet.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry, elder brother, I believe that as a person of good fortune, sister-in-law will definitely succeed in advancing to the Golden Core Stage.¡± Hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s comforting words, Lin Tianfeng gave a bitter smile, his worried expression not diminishing in the least, instead it seemed to grow heavier. In his heart, he was becoming somewhat pessimistic about Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s chances of successfully breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. Because he was very aware of the immense difficulty in attempting the Golden Core Stage breakthrough. Furthermore, Sun Ling¡¯er was older than him and was a woman. Although Sun Ling¡¯er had rich accumulation and a solid foundation, it had already been five years since she began her closed-door cultivation. Given the current situation, the probability of Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s success was shrinking. If the delay continued and her potential further depleted, there was a high likelihood of failure. And this was what concerned him the most. After all, when they were both drifting in the Jingzhou Land, they had relied on each other for survival, experiencing countless life-and-death situations together. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was with mutual support throughout these years that they had encountered many things and survived numerous life-threatening crises. In the end, having developed feelings for each other over time, they had made a lifelong commitment to each other in the midst of a crisis brought on by the Xu Family. Nowadays, although the two had not yet held a wedding ceremony, they were essentially husband and wife in name and had vowed to share life and death together. If Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s breakthrough were to fail, even if he himself successfully entered the Golden Core Stage, such an outcome would be meaningless. Therefore, no matter from which standpoint, he hoped for Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s success. That¡¯s why Lin Tianhu was so worried at this moment, his mood extremely downcast, to the point where he had completely forgotten the joy of his own breakthrough into the Golden Core Stage. Seeing Lin Tianfeng with such an expression, Lin Tianhu wanted to offer some comfort, but for a moment he didn¡¯t know what to say. With no other option, Lin Tianhu could only wait quietly and watch. In his heart, he incessantly prayed for Sun Ling¡¯er, hoping she would soon take that first step to beckon the Threefold Lightning Tribulation that everyone fears yet eagerly anticipates. And so, Lin Tianfeng and his companion stayed put for several days. During this time, the canyon was extremely quiet save for the routine howling of the wind, so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng stared in a certain direction, completely engrossed in what lay before his eyes, constantly preoccupied with Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s current situation. This dazed state continued for several days. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu sighed deeply yet again as he looked in the same direction. As for his sigh, Lin Tianfeng was completely unaware, totally lost in his own thoughts. It was at this time that a gust of wind suddenly arose in the canyon, disturbing the extraordinary calmness. Not only that, but the color of the sky was also changing slowly, from its initial gloomy hue to an almost complete darkness. Sensing such changes, Lin Tianhu immediately furrowed his brow and began to search around. Soon after, Lin Tianhu¡¯s face flushed with excitement, a very joyful smile spreading across it. ¡°Elder brother¡­ Elder brother¡­ There¡¯s movement!¡± ¡°Look quick¡­ There¡¯s finally some movement¡­¡± In his excitement, Lin Tianhu cried out in a staccato voice. ¡­ Chapter 1184: 618: More Good News Chapter 1184: Chapter 618: More Good News At this moment, hearing Lin Tianhu¡¯s shout, Lin Tianfeng also returned to his senses. When he felt the changes between heaven and earth, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face was suddenly filled with joy, and he could not help but take a long sigh of relief in his heart. Before this, he had been constantly worrying about Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s result from her closed-door cultivation, always waiting for this moment to arrive. Originally, he thought the chances were slim, his heart had become cold, and he had prepared to share life and death, But now seeing this commotion, so familiar, it was clearly the prelude to the Threefold Lightning Tribulation. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng was overjoyed, and the excitement he felt was no less than when he had his own breakthrough. Just as Lin Tianfeng and the other were overjoyed, the changes in the sky grew much more intense. At this time, one could see the dark clouds enveloping a large part of the valley again, with strong winds and flying sandstones between heaven and earth, like the harbinger of an impending storm. As the time of a stick of incense passed, the dark clouds in the sky were extremely vast, and the overall appearance was very low and heavy. Moreover, in these dark clouds, thunder and lightning had already started to surge and were continuously gathering. In such circumstances, Sun Ling¡¯er had also come out from her seclusion, ready to face the descent of the Heavenly Tribulation at the first opportunity. Soon, the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation arrived as expected. Just as anticipated, Sun Ling¡¯er hardly strained to withstand the bombardment of the First Layer of Thunder Tribulation. Following closely, in just a few breaths¡¯ time, the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation descended once more. This time, the power of the heavy tribulation was not small, and any cultivator facing it would have to pay a certain price. Indeed, facing the assault of the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, Sun Ling¡¯er did not dare to be careless and started defending with all her might. However, even then, the numerous Defense Artifacts that Sun Ling¡¯er had meticulously prepared were destroyed by this layer of the tribulation in one strike, the powerful backlash causing her to receive serious injuries. You should know, these were specifically prepared treasures for the tribulation, and each Defense Artifact¡¯s quality and spirituality were very good. The value of such Defense Artifacts was not low, and if a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage were to obtain any one of them, it would be enough to be considered a life-saving item. However, to have so many Defense Artifacts ruined at once, leaving hardly any fragments. Not just that, more importantly, Sun Ling¡¯er also suffered considerable injuries in response to the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation. And this was only the Second Layer of Thunder Tribulation, which already possessed such terrifying power. Based on this, Sun Ling¡¯er could imagine just what kind of power the last layer of tribulation would have; calling it world-destroying wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. And in fact, at this time, there wasn¡¯t any opportunity for her to think further. Just as Sun Ling¡¯er took a breath, the Third Level of Thunder Tribulation arrived once again as promised. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± Within an instant, a Thunder Dragon once again appeared in the dark clouds, its massive body twisting as it roared toward Sun Ling¡¯er on the ground with bared fangs and claws. At this time, Sun Ling¡¯er braced herself with all her spirit. Watching the Thunder Dragon drawing nearer, the powerful Gang Wind blew her Daoist robe about, that invisible, immense aura like a mountain bearing down on her. At this moment, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s complexion was very pale, her face showing a hint of terror. But Sun Ling¡¯er was an experienced individual, internally very strong-willed. Although the aura of the thunder tribulation was earth-shattering, Sun Ling¡¯er was only momentarily terrified, quickly regaining her composure. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only that, Sun Ling¡¯er, just like Lin Tianfeng, had made thorough preparations before her cultivation retreat. Moreover, with Lin Tianhu¡¯s personal teachings, she had knowledge about the Golden Core Tribulation, which everyone feared, so it wasn¡¯t entirely unknown to her. More crucially, she was well aware of the power of the tribulation, knew what it meant for them, and understood what she was supposed to do. Thus, Sun Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t dare to be careless at this time, watching as the Thunder Dragon descended, she immediately activated all the remaining Defense Treasures she had. Right when her defenses were all in place, the Thunder Dragon pierced through several Defense Treasures in succession. That instant, the sky erupted with deafening explosions. At the same time, bursts of flame lit up the dark sky, and the entire earth began to tremble slightly. At that moment, Sun Ling¡¯er was blasted away by the huge force. While still in mid-air, she couldn¡¯t help but spout several mouthfuls of essence blood, feeling all her internal organs trembling, her entire Qi-Blood rushing towards her Sky Spirit Cover. At that moment, her body and even her divine soul were enduring immense pain. However, even so, Sun Ling¡¯er clenched her teeth to stay conscious, her eyes fixed on the mid-air as if she was afraid to miss something. Under her gaze, the energy of the Thunder Dragon seemed to be depleted, eventually dissipating between heaven and earth. All of this happened very quickly, and it also departed just as fast. With the dispersal of the Thunder Dragon, Sun Ling¡¯er felt a certain change within her body at that moment. Simultaneously, an irresistible pressure gushed out, spreading rapidly in all directions. Feeling these changes, she knew she had succeeded. Even before the tribulation, her confidence was lacking because she wasn¡¯t young, and most of her potential had already been spent. And after being in closed-door cultivation for such a long time, a few years had passed without ever taking the crucial step and unable to attract the baptism of the Golden Core Tribulation. She thought that this Impact of the Golden Core Stage might have a greater probability of failure than success. Chapter 1185: 618: More Good News_2 Chapter 1185: Chapter 618: More Good News_2 However, it seemed that fate was on her side, miraculously getting her through the critical step at this pivotal moment. Facing the Threefold Lightning Tribulation, Sun Ling¡¯er was equally pessimistic, at one point fully prepared for her own demise. Who could have imagined, fate would take another turn. In this final round of the Heavenly Tribulation, Sun Ling¡¯er pulled out all the stops, bringing forth all her treasures and energy, just to give it her all in one final struggle. As for the result, she successfully endured the Tribulation, which was beyond her own expectations. Perhaps realizing this, Sun Ling¡¯er couldn¡¯t hold up any longer and ultimately lost consciousness, plunging rapidly from the sky. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng, who had been watching from the gorge, saw this scene and his face instantly registered shock and joy. He was joyous that Sun Ling¡¯er had made it through the Tribulation, but alarmed at her seemingly dire condition. Although she had survived the Tribulation, its powerful force had severely injured her. As the Thunder Dragon dissipated, Sun Ling¡¯er could no longer keep herself conscious and eventually fell from the sky. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng, anxiety evident on his face, immediately rushed towards Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s location. From a distance, Lin Tianfeng couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Ling Er¡­¡± Lin Tianfeng was fast, reaching near Sun Ling¡¯er in the blink of an eye. Without hesitation, Lin Tianfeng caught Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s body and held her tightly in his arms. As he looked at the unconscious Sun Ling¡¯er, her complexion pale and her body bearing numerous wounds with fresh blood staining her clothes red. Seeing this, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s face showed deep concern, as he incessantly called out Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s name. At this time, Lin Tianhu also arrived promptly. Seeing Lin Tianfeng¡¯s state, Lin Tianhu quickly spoke up, offering a reminder. ¡°Big brother, sister-in-law¡¯s breath is still there, it¡¯s just that her injuries are too severe, that¡¯s why she passed out.¡± ¡°Quickly have sister-in-law take some elixirs, don¡¯t let her injuries worsen and damage her foundation.¡± Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng turned his head, understanding the validity of Lin Tianhu¡¯s words. Therefore, Lin Tianfeng quickly took out a healing elixir, and promptly administered it to Sun Ling¡¯er. After doing this, Lin Tianhu reminded him a few more things, instructing Lin Tianfeng to take good care of Sun Ling¡¯er. Soon, Lin Tianfeng proceeded with the plan as Lin Tianhu had advised. As for Lin Tianhu, he continued to act as a protector outside the gorge, allowing the two of them to rest and recuperate in peace, and also consolidate their cultivation realms. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two years quietly passed by. Today, Lin Tianfeng emerged from seclusion first, joining Lin Tianhu. Seeing the newcomer, Lin Tianhu opened his eyes and greeted him immediately. ¡°Big brother¡­ It¡¯s been two years, how is sister-in-law¡¯s condition?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Your sister-in-law¡¯s injuries should have healed by now, she¡¯s currently consolidating her cultivation realm, and according to the timing, she should be almost done.¡± Lin Tianfeng replied with a laugh, an extremely excited smile on his face. In his heart, he was still not over the joy of Sun Ling¡¯er surviving the Tribulation. You see, at one point he really thought that Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage was likely to be unsuccessful. But at the last moment, a turn occurred. Despite the danger of the process and the great price Sun Ling¡¯er had to pay, the final outcome was truly surprising to him, yet also satisfying. Hearing this response, Lin Tianhu also nodded contentedly, his excitement and enthusiasm surging once again. After calming down slightly, the two brothers chatted idly. At this point, Lin Tianhu also brought up the plan of returning to the family. Hearing this, Lin Tianfeng was also extremely excited, especially since with Sun Ling¡¯er overcoming the Tribulation, they both had successively entered the Golden Core Stage. Now, with the three of them together, their collective strength soared, all major matters having been accomplished. At this moment, with three Golden Core Stage cultivators joining forces, their overall power had doubled. With such confidence, traversing the land of Jinfeng Nation, there was no longer any nostalgia or hesitation. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng began to talk about his plans. According to Lin Tianfeng¡¯s intentions, once Sun Ling¡¯er finishes her seclusion, they could set off for Yuanzhen Kingdom, or the similarly distant Yu¡¯an Country¡¯s Cultivation Realm. Because, on the Qingzhou Land, only these two nations have Teleportation Formations that connect to Xitang Country. Once they reach Xitang Country, they will then travel swiftly using Flying Artifacts. After all, Xitang Country is not too far from Wei Kingdom, and with their speed of travel, it will take less than a year to return to the Lin Family at Green Bamboo Mountain. Therefore, after Lin Tianfeng expressed his views, Lin Tianhu quickly gave his approval. Under these circumstances, the specifics of the plan were thus decided. Next, the two brothers just had to wait here, knowing that once Sun Ling¡¯er came out of seclusion, her cultivation realm would certainly be stable. By then, the three of them would start their journey directly, stepping onto the path home to their clan. With the plan set, their spirits were tremendously high, and their conversation was filled with conjecture about what would happen after returning to their clan. After a while, Lin Tianhu also asked about the results of Lin Tianfeng¡¯s closed-door cultivation. According to Lin Tianfeng, the offensive and defensive Magical Treasures left by Xu Qingzong after his death had all been refined by him. Now, with a stable cultivation realm and possession of offensive and defensive Magical Treasures, Lin Tianfeng could be said to have combat capabilities. And Lin Tianhu himself already had his own Magical Treasure, with an extremely formidable combat power, or else he wouldn¡¯t have been able to eliminate Xu Qingzong by himself initially. It was Sun Ling¡¯er who had the latest breakthrough, still in closed-door cultivation at the moment. After she comes out, still lacking a Magical Treasure, it¡¯s estimated that the combat power she could wield would be quite limited. But this was something that couldn¡¯t be helped. After all, all three of them had not long ago broken through to the Golden Core Stage, especially Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er, who had achieved their breakthroughs within the last three years. Take the Magical Treasure Lin Tianfeng was currently using; it was obtained because he eliminated Xu Qingzong. Otherwise, he might be in the same situation as Sun Ling¡¯er, possessing a cultivation realm but unable to exert much combat power. As for when he could get a Magical Treasure, it¡¯s unknown what year that would be, and what kind of crises he would experience. However, now that he has a Magical Treasure to utilize, Lin Tianfeng also wouldn¡¯t stand on ceremony. Thus, for the past two years, Lin Tianfeng was refining the Magical Treasure, and after meticulous crafting and nurturing, he now had established a certain combat power. Understanding this, Lin Tianfeng was in high spirits, insisting on pulling Lin Tianhu into a sparring session. Faced with Tianfeng¡¯s invitation, Lin Tianhu could not refuse, nor did he want to dampen the mood. In this way, the two of them took advantage of the interval during Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s seclusion to spar in a corner of the canyon. This continued for over half a month, as Lin Tianhu personally instructed and trained with Lin Tianfeng, his progress was swift, and his strength quickly elevated. Today, the two Lin Tianfengs came to a quiet place to practice with their Magical Treasures and personally spar to enhance their combat power and accumulate combat experience. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± The attacks from the two men clashed forcefully, the powerful shockwave sending both flying. Lin Tianhu entered the Golden Core Stage earliest and also had rich combat experience. Facing such an opponent, Lin Tianfeng persisted through numerous sparring sessions, always at an absolute disadvantage. Clearly, Lin Tianfeng was no match for Lin Tianhu. Nevertheless, Lin Tianfeng was not discouraged; on the contrary, his mood during the sparring sessions became even more exuberant. Thus, the two tirelessly sparred, each busy enhancing their strengths and combat experience. As time passed, both saw considerable gains. In the end, Lin Tianfeng improved significantly, to the point where he could just about hold his own when Lin Tianhu used eighty to ninety percent of his strength. With such progress, the duo, having tasted the fruits of their efforts, grew more diligent, and the commotion from each sparring session grew increasingly intense. Today, like usual, the brothers began their sparring. As their attacks grew increasingly fierce, a powerful momentum swept forth; marks left by their attacks were found all around the canyon. ¡­ Chapter 1186: 619: Diverting Trouble Eastward Chapter 1186: Chapter 619: Diverting Trouble Eastward ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± In the canyon, the Sword Qi was rampant as Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu¡¯s attacks collided with a thunderous impact. For a while, flames soared to the sky within the canyon, and the powerful shock force uprooted the towering trees around. As the smoke and dust dispersed, the flames also extinguished, granting the land a momentary respite. Days like this continued on, with such a spectacle occurring every few days. Yet despite such frequent disturbances, they never once attracted the attention of others, nor did anyone venture to this place. The reason for this was that this place was one of the two dangerous areas of the Jinfeng Nation, the Darknight Forest. In such a large and perilous place, it wasn¡¯t uncommon for cultivators to appear around the periphery. But in these inner regions, even Golden Core Stage Cultivators wouldn¡¯t dare to trespass recklessly with numerous Third Order Demon Beasts present. Lin Tianfeng¡¯s secluded training ground was situated in a remote and well-concealed location, conveniently nestled in a corner of the Darknight Forest, neither part of the inner areas nor the outskirts. In search for a suitable place for seclusion, Lin Tianhu had initially spent a lot of time and explored many places before finally finding this spot. Here, perfectly positioned between the inner and outer regions, it was easily overlooked in normal times. Under such circumstances, they were able to stay here for several years, during which time only a few Second Order Demonic Beasts accidentally entered and were swiftly slain by Lin Tianhu. As for visiting cultivators, they were all of Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and under Lin Tianhu¡¯s handling, it was nearly impossible for them to discover their traces. However, this peacefulness was completely shattered with the arrival of several cultivators. On this day, within the Darknight Forest, a male and a female cultivator swiftly passed over a mountain. At a glance, the two appeared panicked; the middle-aged-looking man was particularly pale with many bloodstains on his Daoist robe. Clearly, the man was severely injured. As for the female cultivator, her condition seemed somewhat better than the man¡¯s, but she was also considerably hurt. At this moment, the two were desperately fleeing towards the canyon where Lin Tianfeng and his companions were located. As they fled, the man¡¯s mana was depleting rapidly, and his injuries were worsening. Soon, the man¡¯s complexion became ashen white, resembling the snow. Seeing this, the woman, while assisting the man in their escape, couldn¡¯t help but ask with concern, ¡°Brother, how are your injuries?¡± Hearing this, the man feigned a carefree demeanor and replied, ¡°Zhuo Shi, I can still hold on.¡± ¡°But those who are after us will probably catch up soon, and then it will be even harder for us to escape.¡± Having said this, the man¡¯s face turned even paler, clearly understanding just how dire their situation was for both siblings. The woman, upon hearing her brother¡¯s words, also turned pale, with a solemn expression forming on her face. At that moment, the man heaved a long sigh, his face showing a determined look. ¡°Zhuo Shi, in order for us to escape, Ninth Uncle and the others have already exhausted all their strength to stall those old fellows, even giving up their lives.¡± ¡°Now, both of us are injured, and our strength has greatly diminished.¡± ¡°Moreover, even at our peak, we wouldn¡¯t have been a match for them.¡± ¡°Thus, once they catch up with us, we will likely meet our end here.¡± As he spoke, anger and despair filled the man¡¯s eyes. Then, after a pause, he resolutely said, ¡°Zhuo Shi, it doesn¡¯t matter if we fall, but that treasure must not fall into their hands at all costs.¡± ¡°You must realize that our family has been secretly scheming for this treasure for a hundred years.¡± ¡°This very item is our granduncle¡¯s sole chance at reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, and it fundamentally concerns the fate of the thousands within our family.¡± ¡°Should granduncle successfully enter the Nascent Soul Stage, all crises that lie before us will be easily resolved.¡± ¡°But if we lose this opportunity, our Liang Family will fall into an irreversible decline.¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Therefore, even in death, we must return this treasure to the family; otherwise, we would be the sinners of our clan.¡± The man spoke with resolution, mentally prepared to face death. Hearing her brother¡¯s words, the woman nodded in understanding, equally aware of their challenging predicament. But in her heart, she was all the more conscious of what this hard-won item meant for the entire Liang Family. Seeing the woman¡¯s serious expression, the man continued to speak. ¡°Zhuo Shi, if we are caught later, you take the treasure and flee immediately; I will fight desperately to hold them off and try to buy you some time.¡± ¡°Once you break into the deeper parts of the Darknight Forest, their group, no matter how powerful, won¡¯t dare to traverse recklessly in the inner areas.¡± ¡°And with you fleeing alone, being a smaller target, possibly taking advantage of the treacherous terrain or the Third Order Demonic Beasts for cover and obstruction, there¡¯s a chance you could shake them off.¡± ¡°If you manage to do so, your chances of surviving are not slim, and there would be hope for safely returning to the family.¡± ¡°So analyze the situation carefully, and do as I say; do you understand, Zhuo Shi?¡± After saying all this, the man looked earnestly at the woman, fully prepared for a desperate fight. Chapter 1187: 619: Drawing Disaster Away _2 Chapter 1187: Chapter 619: Drawing Disaster Away _2 And upon hearing these words, the woman¡¯s face immediately turned as white as snow. Ta Yao shook their head and said: ¡°Brother, the one who should stay is me. You should take the treasure and flee.¡± No sooner had the words been spoken, the man beside her scolded: ¡°What nonsense are you talking about at a time like this, Shi Er?¡± ¡°You have only recently broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and your strength is not strong. If you stay behind to cover our retreat, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t buy us any time.¡± ¡°Whereas I have been in the Golden Core Stage for several decades, and on top of that, I am already gravely injured. Even if by some fluke I escape, it¡¯s unlikely that I¡¯ll be able to shake off their pursuit later on.¡± ¡°In comparison, Shi Er, although you are injured, it does not greatly impact your strength, and the probability of you shaking them off and escaping is higher.¡± ¡°So it seems, it¡¯s most fitting that I stay behind to cover the retreat.¡± ¡°How¡­how can we do this?¡± Hearing this, the woman was momentarily at a loss for words. She wanted to refute the man¡¯s argument but found no angle to do so, and could only stammer a hesitant response. Just then, seeing the woman¡¯s indecision, the man immediately began to urge her. ¡°Stop hesitating, and when the time comes, follow my plan!¡± The man¡¯s tone was firm, his expression clearly brooking no refusal. At this very moment, Liang Zhuoshi, upon hearing her brother Liang Zhuoying¡¯s words, immediately had tears streaming down her face and finally, crying, she nodded her head. At this time, seeing his sister Liang Zhuoshi agree to his plan, Liang Zhuoying finally let out a sigh of relief, a bitter smile flashing across his pale face. And in his heart, he had already prepared himself to go to his death generously. But he was also very clear that, for the future of the Liang Family, for his sister to live, he had no choice but to sacrifice himself for that slim chance of hope. If he did not do so, it was very possible that the Liang Family would be annihilated by their enemies, and his sister would also die before his eyes. Neither of these possible outcomes was something he wanted to see. As for his death, it would at least have some value, perhaps even the chance for the Liang Family to turn things around. Understanding this, Liang Zhuoying did not hesitate at all, whether in his heart or in person, ready at any moment to self-detonate his Golden Core to buy time against the enemy. However, before the enemies could catch up to them, the brother and sister¡¯s speed underfoot did not decrease at all, leaving behind one mountain peak after another and eventually disappearing from their sight. In less than half a Shi Chen, the siblings Liang Zhuoying fled all the way and finally arrived outside a densely vegetated canyon. Just as they were about to catch their breath at the sight before them, they heard a jeering laugh behind them. ¡°Hehe¡­ where can you brother and sister run to now?¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Let¡¯s see where you can run to this time!¡± No sooner had the voice fallen, four figures appeared behind Liang Zhuoying and his sister. These people wore Daoist robes of different colors, and the embroidery patterns on their chests were all different, obviously from different martial arts sects. And indeed, that was the case. Furthermore, all four were at the Golden Core Stage Realm, among them one was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator. However, that person had a pale face and a somewhat languid breath, clearly having sustained no light injuries. And at this moment, when the Liang siblings saw the people who had arrived, their complexions turned even paler as they inwardly groaned. ¡°You old fellows, you¡¯ve arrived quite quickly!¡± Liang Zhuoying said coldly, his face undisguised with murderous intent. In his heart, they had assumed that they would be caught, at the least, in an hour or perhaps even longer. Yet, in less than half a Shi Chen, the enemy had already caught up to them. Now that they were encircled once again, what awaited them would probably be a concerted effort to kill them. Knowing this, Liang Zhuoying and his sister had already prepared themselves to make a last stand. Just then, the four opponents exchanged glances. Afterward, the Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivator among them spoke first. ¡°Fellow Daoists, now that we have caught up to them, let¡¯s act quickly and kill the two of them to prevent any further complications!¡± Upon hearing this, Xie Xiong among the three nodded and then spoke in agreement. ¡°Luo is right!¡± ¡°We should take them down as quickly as possible, so we can hurry to the Liang Family Mountain Gate to assist. No doubt we will break through the Liang Family¡¯s Mountain Protection Array more swiftly.¡± As the voice faded, Li Ying took over the conversation. ¡°Um¡­ Let¡¯s take action!¡± Upon hearing this, the four companions of Xie Xiong nodded at each other and then prepared to make a move. Seeing this, the siblings Liang Zhuoying and Liang Zhuoshi¡¯s expressions changed, and they hastily retreated several steps. After steadying themselves, Liang Zhuoying looked at his sister Liang Zhuoshi, and the look in his eyes already conveyed his plan. As for Liang Zhuoshi, though she was extremely reluctant, she could only express her acquiescence by giving a helpless nod in response to Liang Zhuoying. Witnessing this, Liang Zhuoying was about to make a move, ready to fight with all his might. It was at this moment, from behind the siblings in the canyon, a series of rumbling noises could be heard. At the same time, streaks of faint light crossed through the somewhat darkened sky. The sounds were intermittent, and the light of fire weak, seemingly unclear due to the distance. However, all present were of the Golden Core Stage Realm, and relying on their Divine Sense, they sensed this disturbance immediately. At this time, Liang Zhuoying, noticing these changes, had a shift in his complexion. By this moment, although Liang Zhuoying¡¯s expression was still unsightly, it was, compared to before, noticeably better. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Quickly, Liang Zhuoying covertly transmitted his voice to Liang Zhuoshi. ¡°Zhuo Shi, in the canyon behind us, there seems to be the presence of a fellow cultivator of the same stage,¡± ¡°Under the current circumstances, we have no way out.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s try to get inside and see if we can ask that Daoist friend for help, or directly drag them into the fray.¡± Hearing Liang Zhuoying¡¯s transmitted message, Liang Zhuoshi immediately understood her brother¡¯s plan and his intentions behind it. Liang Zhuoshi was no fool, in fact, she was quite clever. In her heart, whether it was for her own sake or to ensure Liang Zhuoying¡¯s survival, no matter how ruthless or malevolent the method, she was willing to give it a try. Although such a plan of drawing disaster elsewhere was not honorable, she could no longer care about that at this moment. Thus, Liang Zhuoshi immediately grabbed Liang Zhuoying¡¯s arm and rushed towards the interior of the canyon without hesitation. Liang Zhuoying, unwilling to be left behind, slapped his storage pouch as he retreated. A fiery red bead shot out from his hand, smashing towards the location where Xie Xiong and his companions were positioned. At this moment, seeing the actions of the Liang siblings and the rumbling from within the canyon, Xie Xiong and his party also understood their intentions. In such circumstances, Xie Xiong immediately leaped in pursuit. Behind him, Li Ying and the other two, mixing shock with anger, also quickly caught on. They too stepped forward in an attempt to prevent the Liang siblings from escaping. Just as the four of them stepped forward, the fiery red bead thrown by Liang Zhuoying exploded right before their eyes. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud boom resounded, accompanied by flames that soared into the sky, quickly forming a sea of fire. At that moment, the powerful shockwave spread in all directions. The four who had just shown themselves in pursuit of Liang Zhuoying were stopped dead by the fire sea created by the exploding bead for an instant. Although the power of this fire sea was not incredibly strong, it covered a considerable area, and the impact force in its center was still sufficiently lethal. Faced with such a tactic, even Golden Core Stage Cultivators had to evade its sharp edge for the sake of their own safety. Moreover, in their eyes, the action of the Liang siblings was nothing but a desperate attempt to bide time. Even if the two of them went into the canyon and gained the assistance of that oblivious cultivator, it wouldn¡¯t change the eventual outcome. Thus, the four forcefully halted their pursuit, planning to continue the chase once the sea of fire had somewhat dissipated and the Liang siblings had fled. ¡­ Chapter 1188: 620: Persuasion with Bitter Words Chapter 1188: Chapter 620: Persuasion with Bitter Words It was in this fleeting moment that Liang Zhuoying and her brother had disappeared from everyone¡¯s eyes, entering the interior of the canyon. Quickly, Liang Zhuoying and her brother followed the light that had streamed in earlier, speeding along toward the depths of the canyon. After a dozen breaths, the siblings caught sight of Lin Tianfeng and his companion. At that moment, Lin Tianfeng and his companion also sensed the presence and movements outside the canyon, preparing to erase the traces of their presence here to conceal their whereabouts. However, Liang Zhuoying and her brother were fast, and their target was clear¡ªthey were heading straight for them. In such circumstances, Lin Tianfeng and his companion had no time to hide, and were just intercepted by Liang Zhuoying and her brother. ¡°Fellow cultivators, save us!¡± From a distance, Liang Zhuoying shouted loudly, his expression looking somewhat agitated. And indeed, it was so. There was no other reason than the fact that they had never expected to see two cultivators within the canyon, both at the Golden Core Stage. At this point, they had nowhere to turn; coming across two cultivators of the same rank was a stroke of luck, and whether or not the others were willing to help, they had to stand with them. After all, Xie Xiong and his followers who were in pursuit would not care about their identities. To cover up the pursuit and not to reveal their ultimate motive, they had to strangle any uncontrollable factors in the cradle. In such a situation, even if Lin Tianfeng and his companion did not want to get involved, it would not be an easy matter at all. It was for this reason that the Liang siblings saw Lin Tianfeng and his companion as a lifeline. They were well aware that at this crucial moment, if they could drag Lin Tianfeng and his companion into the situation, their chances of surviving would greatly increase. In order to bring the treasure safely back to their family, let alone two fellow cultivators of equal rank, even if they encountered a scion of any major power, they would not hesitate to drag them down with them. After all, under the threat of death, for the sake of the Liang Family¡¯s fate, they had no choice but to do so. In their eyes, with Lin Tianfeng and his companion joining them, they now had the combat power of four Golden Core Stage cultivators on their side. Compared to Xie Xiong and his followers, they were not at a numerical disadvantage. However, both siblings were already injured and their strength had been greatly reduced. But with Lin Tianfeng and his companion joining, although the chance of victory was almost non-existent, at least they wouldn¡¯t be as passive as before, nor completely devoid of any chance of winning. What they wanted was to escape the danger and preserve their lives to bring the treasure that had been coveted for a hundred years back to their family. As long as they could survive this ordeal, as long as they could bring the treasure back to their family, any sacrifice and cost would be worthwhile. Knowing this, Liang Zhuoying and her sister no longer cared about anything else or what Lin Tianfeng and his companion¡¯s attitudes might be, and rushed directly towards them. At this moment, when Lin Tianfeng and his companion saw Liang Zhuoying and her brother, they could not help but frown. Not only that, when they sensed another four presences outside the canyon rushing towards them at high speed, even if they were foolish, they understood roughly what the situation entailed. At that time, the complexion of Lin Tianfeng and his companion underwent a drastic change, and a surge of anger bubbled up within them. ¡°What are you implying, fellow cultivators?¡± ¡°We brothers have no intention to meddle in others¡¯ affairs!¡± Lin Tianhu couldn¡¯t help but say, the color of displeasure very apparent on his face. No sooner had he spoken, than Lin Tianfeng¡¯s complexion darkened as well; he couldn¡¯t help but angrily reprimand, ¡°Leave at once, my brother and I are merely here to gain experience and do not wish to be dragged into your disputes.¡± Hearing the words of Lin Tianhu and his brother, and seeing their aloofness, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s expression changed slightly. Nevertheless, he did not intend to stop moving forward. Thus, Liang Zhuoying continued to advance with his sister Liang Zhuoshi, clearly determined not to give up until he achieved his goal. At this point, seeing their threats ineffective, Lin Tianfeng¡¯s expression turned even uglier. ¡°You¡­ you actually want to drag us into this mess?¡± Lin Tianfeng pointed at Liang Zhuoying and his sister, speaking with palpable anger. Just then, Xie Xiong and the three others from outside the canyon finally arrived at the location. Upon seeing Lin Tianfeng and his companion, their expressions also changed subtly, evidently not having expected to encounter two cultivators of the same rank here. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, the appearance of Lin Tianfeng and his companion, regardless of their attitude, was bound to disrupt their plans. Hence, Luo Xiao who led the group exchanged glances with Xie Xiong and the others and began to communicate secretly through transmitted messages. Soon after, Luo Xiao and the four others had reached an agreement in private. Then, Luo Xiao looked at Lin Tianfeng and his companion, his eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he was not taking the two of them seriously at all. Following that, Luo Xiao glanced at Liang Zhuoying and his sister, and then coldly said, ¡°Liang, do not think that you and your sister will be saved just by encountering these two cultivators.¡± ¡°Hand over that item obediently, and perhaps my fellow cultivators and I might leave you with an intact corpse.¡± Upon hearing this, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s expression shifted slightly, his eyes intently fixated on Lin Tianfeng and his companion, as if he wanted to gauge their reaction. At this very moment, Lin Tianfeng and his companion also gleaned some information from Luo Xiao¡¯s words. Based on Luo Xiao¡¯s remarks, it seemed that the brother and sister dragging them into the fray were from the Liang Family of the Golden Harvest Country¡¯s Cultivation World. Chapter 1189: 620: Earnest Advice_2 Chapter 1189: Chapter 620: Earnest Advice_2 For the Liang Family, Lin Tianfeng and his companion had gathered considerable information about the distribution of Jinfeng Nation¡¯s powers before even stepping into its territories. This was done to ensure that during their experience in Jinfeng Nation, they wouldn¡¯t inadvertently provoke any major forces and thereby invite unnecessary trouble. And the Liang Family¡¯s background was not to be underestimated. Because the overall strength of the Cultivation World in Jinfeng Nation is very strong, it can be said that on the land of Qingzhou, aside from those few countries where the Nascent Soul Forces are located, Jinfeng Nation is one of the strongest. Located in the north-central part of Qingzhou, Jinfeng Nation is adjacent to one of the central countries, Tang Country. As for Tang Country, it is precisely the territory of one of the Qingzhou Five Major Nascent Soul Powers¡ªthe Tang Family. Being able to occupy such a central position and being neighbors with the Tang Family, whose legacy goes back tens of thousands of years, it¡¯s clear just how powerful the Cultivation World of Jinfeng Nation is. And the Liang Family is one of the six major Golden Core Forces in Jinfeng Nation. As for the other five Golden Core Forces, they are all long-standing and very powerful entities. Including the Liang Family, each Golden Core Force¡¯s legacy spans over ten thousand years. In particular, the Liang Family is said to have the longest inheritance, with its history tracing back nearly thirty thousand years. That the Liang Family have been able to continue this long, and always be listed within the Golden Core Forces, speaks to their incredibly powerful strength. According to rumors in the Cultivation World, the overall strength of the Liang Family has always been ranked first among the Six Major Golden Core Forces of Jinfeng Nation, boasting more than a dozen Golden Core Stage Cultivators within their clan. Among them, there are at least two beings of substantial might in the Late Stage Golden Core. As for those in the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm, their numbers are also far from few. And this is only the strength apparent to the public; perhaps in the shadows, the Liang Family still possesses a certain amount of hidden power. It is with such power that the Liang Family has great influence and deterrent power in the entire Jinfeng Nation. Besides military influence, the Liang Family is also a prominent family knowledgeable in both formations and Alchemy Dao. With these foundations and resources, under the Liang Family¡¯s command, there¡¯s a large Commerce Alliance called ¡®Liang Merchant Alliance¡¯, which, like the Tang Family¡¯s Sky Dragon Pavilion, specializes in operating businesses. In the Liang Treasure Tower under this alliance¡¯s command, you can find its presence in nearly all the major cities and large workshops throughout Qingzhou. Take for instance Xitang City, the largest city in Southern Qingzhou, which has a branch of Liang Treasure Tower, whose influence is not small throughout Qingzhou. After thousands of years of operations, the Liang Merchant Alliance¡¯s business is booming, and its credibility and reputation are very good in the Qingzhou Cultivation World. In this way, the Liang Family is a power that possesses both formidable strength and excellent economic sources. This powerful clan, in terms of both hard and soft power, is extremely strong with seemingly no weaknesses. Being able to achieve such a status truly shows the depth and strength of the Liang Family¡¯s foundations. As for the other major Golden Core Forces in Jinfeng Nation, they are the two sects and three clans that make up the Five Great Golden Core Forces. Among these, the two sects are the Yuanchen Sect and Tianqing Sect, both of which have tens of thousands of years¡¯ heritage as Golden Core Forces. Although the overall strength of these two sects is slightly inferior to the Liang Family, they are still very formidable. The other three Golden Core Families are the Xie Family, Li Family, and Yang Clan. Among them, the strength of the Xie Family is not weak, and it is said to be not far behind the other two sects. Overall, aside from the five major Golden Core Forces other than the Liang Family, all are formidable entities. Any one of these Golden Core Forces is much stronger than the strongest power in Wei Kingdom, Myriad Medicine Valley, by more than just one tier. It could even be said that Myriad Medicine Valley, the strongest force in Wei Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, would stand no chance against the Yang Clan, which is considered the weakest among them. Moreover, it wouldn¡¯t take much effort for Yang Clan to annihilate Myriad Medicine Valley. Therefore, being able to survive in a place like Jinfeng Nation, where strong forces are as common as clouds, and having existed for tens of thousands of years, none of these powers are easy to deal with. Thinking of these things, Lin Tianhu was quite surprised. After all, with the might of the Liang Family being so formidable, the fact that this man named Liang Zhuoying is currently being pursued by four Golden Core Stage Cultivators seems to imply that some major incident has occurred recently in Jinfeng Nation. Otherwise, such a scene would not have unfolded. At this moment, Lin Tianfeng thought for a moment and had quite a few speculations about these upheavals in his heart. According to his thoughts, there must have been friction among the several major powers within the Jinfeng Nation. Especially among those four cultivators just now, one person¡¯s words mentioned a certain treasure, which is very likely the catalyst for a major war between these major powers. And a cultivator of Liang Zhuoying¡¯s stature being pursued, is most likely because that treasure is on him, which led to the enemies¡¯ spying. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the specific identities of the four people chasing after him, they are very likely to be from the other two sects and three clans. In light of this, the fact that they are chasing after Liang Zhuoying without regard for the Liang Family¡¯s deterrent power probably means that the four forces have already formed an alliance to deal with the strongest Liang Family together. Realizing this, Lin Tianfeng became even less willing to get involved in their affairs. In his view, any one of these six major forces in the Jinfeng Nation is not someone the Lin Family can afford to offend lightly. Even, not to mention the current Lin Family, even the strongest Myriad Medicine Valley in the Wei Kingdom would probably not dare to get mixed up in this. You must know that any one of these major powers has no fewer than ten Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Such a formidable family, once provoked, might even pose the risk of annihilation to Myriad Medicine Valley. The more he understood this, the more Lin Tianfeng was determined, no matter what, not to be drawn in. Otherwise, they would become the sinners of the Lin Family. With this knowledge, although Lin Tianfeng and Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t say much at this moment, in their hearts they already understood the causes of the events. What¡¯s more crucial is that they already had their own stance, knowing what to do next. Thus, Lin Tianhu took a glance at Luo Xiao and the others and hurriedly spoke up: ¡°Fellow Daoists, my brother and I have no relation with them, nor any intention to intervene in your affairs.¡± ¡°Next, my brother and I will leave immediately, and we will not linger here.¡± ¡°Moreover, whatever we have seen or heard today, we will not disclose a single word to the outside world, you can rest assured on this matter.¡± Having said this, Lin Tianfeng and his companion slowly stepped back, making a gesture as if they were ready to leave. At this moment, upon hearing these words, the expressions of Liang Zhuoying and his sister immediately turned anxious. ¡°Fellow Daoists, we siblings are members of the Liang Family. Luo Xiao, Xie Xiong, these few villains ambushed us, causing our Liang Family to suffer heavy losses.¡± ¡°Right now, as long as you two Daoist brothers assist us today in escaping this calamity, our Liang Family will certainly repay you generously in the future.¡± Liang Zhuoying¡¯s expression was sincere, and his eyes were fixed on Lin Tianfeng and his companion, fearful that they would leave right then and there. However, upon hearing this, Lin Tianfeng and his companion remained very calm, their hearts not the least bit swayed. In their eyes, it was clearly not the time to act recklessly, let alone take such a risk for people they had no relationship with. And right now, the situation was quite clear, so rather than finding trouble for themselves, it was better to act as if they had seen nothing. Because of this, Lin Tianfeng and his companion could make such resolved decisions. Then, seeing that Lin Tianfeng and his companion still had not taken a stance, Liang Zhuoying grew increasingly desperate, sensing that things were not boding well. Although he also knew that Lin Tianfeng and his companion, regardless of their sense of justice, would probably not invite trouble for themselves under such circumstances. However, from his point of view, there was simply no way out at this moment. After all, he and his sister had finally seen a glimmer of hope, so naturally, they would not easily let go of this last lifesaver. Moreover, he had no leeway for negotiation at the moment. So, seeing that promising them benefits still could not get Lin Tianfeng and his companion involved, Liang Zhuoying had no choice but to change his strategy. ¡°Fellow Daoists, do you really think that just by leaving, you can truly be safe?¡± ¡°You must know, Yuanchen Sect, Tianqing Sect, Xie Family, these major powers have long been scheming and have made ample preparations, which is why they targeted our Liang Family.¡± ¡°With this being the case, whether you get involved or not, they will definitely not let you off easily.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, instead of being passively defeated one by one, it¡¯s better to join forces with us siblings and make a stand.¡± ¡°As long as we get through this crisis, the compensation from our Liang Family will definitely satisfy you.¡± ¡°Additionally, you two Daoist Brothers will always gain the friendship of our Liang Family. If you encounter any trouble in the future, our Liang Family will never stand idly by.¡± Liang Zhuoying continued to persuade with undying zeal, seemingly determined to see it through. ¡­ Chapter 1190: 621 Forced to Act Chapter 1190: Chapter 621 Forced to Act Just as Liang Zhuo Ying finished speaking, a mocking laughter echoed through the air. ¡°Hehe¡­ Liang, why would someone unrelated to the Liang Family bother to rescue you?¡± ¡°Besides, even if those two intervene, they are bound to die!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t change your fate!¡± Xie Xiong said mockingly, his expression full of disdain. It wasn¡¯t just him; on the other side, Li Ying also sneered: ¡°Fellow cultivators, these two are merely at the Early Stage Golden Core, do you really intend to spare them?¡± As soon as the words fell, Xie Xiong immediately took over the conversation. ¡°Exactly¡­ To avoid future troubles, these two must die!¡± Hearing this, the expressions of Lin Tianfeng and his companion drastically changed, their angry feelings plainly visible. At this moment, they too understood the current situation. Whether they wanted to intervene or not, it was not going to be simple. Looking at it, even if they didn¡¯t want to get involved, they had to band together with Liang Zhuo Ying and his sister for their own survival. All for one, one for all. Knowing this, Lin Tianfeng and his companion exchanged a smile and slowly started moving towards where Liang Zhuo Ying and his sister were. Meanwhile, Liang Zhuo Ying, upon hearing Xie Xiong and others, and seeing the subtle change in Lin Tianfeng and his companion, couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Subsequently, Liang Zhuo Ying gestured a salute towards Lin Tianfeng and his companion, and then solemnly said. ¡°Fellow cultivators have seen it; those thieves covet the treasures of my Liang Family, hence they have been pursuing us siblings for days. The elders in my family fell into their hands in order to let us escape.¡± ¡°They want to eliminate the roots. Even though fellow cultivators are neither kin nor keen to the Liang Family, and also unwilling to interfere, they still see you as threats and worry about you leaking their information.¡± ¡°Now, we are in an absolute disadvantage, so they will certainly not let us go.¡± ¡°Since this is the case, if we want to make a full escape, there¡¯s no need to hold back anymore.¡± ¡°Moreover, fellow cultivators, please rest assured, everything I promised just now still holds.¡± ¡°As long as we get through this crisis, whatever help you need in the future, my Liang Family will do everything possible to assist you, in return for this favor.¡± After saying this, Liang Zhuo Ying earnestly looked at Lin Tianfeng and his companion, his demeanor extremely sincere, obviously moved. Lin Tianfeng and his companion, hearing this, also nodded in satisfaction. In fact, they too were aware of the current situation; no matter their stance, they had to make a move. As for whether they could repel Xie Xiong and the others, they weren¡¯t very confident. But regardless, by joining forces with Liang Zhuo Ying and his sister, they also had the combat power of four Golden Core Stage cultivators. This number was basically on par with their opponents. If Sun Ling¡¯er could come out of her retreat in time, their chances of escaping unscathed would be even greater. It¡¯s just that Sun Ling¡¯er had just broken through to the Golden Core Stage, and she was still in retreat and without any Magical Treasure to use, so her ability to exert much power was expected to be extremely limited. This being said, whether Sun Ling¡¯er would join them wasn¡¯t that important anymore. However, speak of the devil. Just as Lin Tianfeng and his companion were ready for battle, suddenly a disturbance came from deep within the canyon, and soon a woman appeared in everyone¡¯s sight. As for the person, it was undoubtedly Sun Ling¡¯er, whom Lin Tianfeng had been secretly hoping for. Obviously, although Sun Ling¡¯er was in retreat, with the major disturbance at the entrance of the canyon, with her Golden Core Stage cultivation, she naturally sensed it. Thus, Sun Ling¡¯er had no choice but to come out of her retreat hastily, to lend a helping hand to Lin Tianfeng and his companion. At this moment, seeing Sun Ling¡¯er coming forward proactively, Lin Tianfeng was somewhat worried and then asked with concern. ¡°Ling Er, is your cultivation stable after coming out of retreat so suddenly?¡± Hearing this caring remark, Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s heart warmed up, and she quickly stated that she was fine. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, it had been two years since she endured the Heavenly Tribulation. During this period, she had been continuously in retreat, recovering her injuries completely, and her cultivation also fully stabilized at the Early Stage Golden Core. Although her retreat ended somewhat abruptly, overall, there was no significant impact. Indeed, that¡¯s why Sun Ling¡¯er actively decided to end her retreat and assist, thinking that the addition of her Golden Core Stage combat power might increase their chances of victory a bit more. In such circumstances, Sun Ling¡¯er decided to end her retreat decisively and came forward to help. Lin Tianfeng, hearing Sun Ling¡¯er¡¯s explanation, breathed a sigh of relief internally. On the other hand, Xie Xiong and his people, seeing another Golden Core Stage cultivator coming out from the depths of the canyon, especially a female cultivator, their originally confident hearts couldn¡¯t help but skip a beat. In their eyes, apart from Luo Xiao at the Medium Stage Golden Core who suffered some injuries, the rest were basically at their peak condition. As for the other side, Liang Zhuo Ying and his sister both had sustained some injuries, with Liang Zhuo Ying even severely wounded, significantly reducing his combat effectiveness. From this perspective, the threat from those siblings wasn¡¯t significant. Only Lin Tianfeng and his companion were well-rested, both currently in peak condition, and their strength should not be underestimated. Yet even so, compared to their group of four, they were still obviously at an absolute disadvantage. But now, with another Golden Core Stage female cultivator coming into play, it¡¯s very likely that their advantage could be evened out, if not at least significantly weakened. Under such circumstances, the victory that seemed certain might be reversed because of the appearance of this female cultivator. Chapter 1191: 621 Forced to Take Action_2 Chapter 1191: Chapter 621 Forced to Take Action_2 But even understanding this, they were helpless, as their enmity had already been declared. Moreover, the Treasures they had been desperately pursuing were on the persons of the Liang Zhuoying siblings. Therefore, there was no way the Liang Zhuoying siblings could be allowed to escape. Knowing this, Luo Xiao and his group did not hesitate and took action immediately. In an instant, the highest cultivated Luo Xiao took the lead, charging directly towards Liang Zhuoying. Following him, Xie Xiong had also targeted Liang Zhuoshi, launching his first Attack to pierce the skies, locking on to Liang Zhuoshi¡¯s vitals. It was clear that the main target for the four of them was still the Liang siblings. As for Lin Tianfeng and his two companions, they were not the primary targets. Thus, the remaining Li Ying also charged towards Lin Tianhu as the other two took action. And the last Tianqing Sect Golden Core Cultivator, Cao Yunshan, rushed straight towards Lin Tianfeng. Seeing the other party taking action, Liang Zhuoying looked at Lin Tianhu and the others, then called out loudly. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s make our move too!¡± The moment his words fell, Liang Zhuoying was the first to strike, his powerful Attack surged towards the skies, with massive fluctuations spreading out in all directions. Seeing this scene, Lin Tianfeng and his companions refused to be outdone, with their Magical Treasures emitting different colors of light in an instant. In the blink of an eye, four battle groups had already been formed. Sun Ling¡¯er, although lacking a Magical Treasure and thus her strength was not at its peak, did not hide behind, but instead rushed towards the battle group where Lin Tianfeng was. Soon, Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er joined forces to fight against Cao Yunshan. This battle group was the only two-versus-one situation, while the rest were engaged in one-on-one combat. At the highest point of the entire battlefield, it was the fight between Luo Xiao and Liang Zhuoying. One was at Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and the other a core member of the Liang Family, both of whom were among the top contenders in strength and resources present. After several rounds of probing Attacks, Luo Xiao, thanks to his cultivation advantage, still clearly had the upper hand. Although he too was injured, compared to Liang Zhuoying, it was evidently a much lighter. This was also precisely why Liang Zhuoying was not faring well, as he was struggling desperately the entire time. However, as a core member of the Liang Family, reaching the Golden Core Stage at his age surely signified some exceptional aspects. Moreover, the fact that he could escape from Luo Xiao and his three companions with his sister Liang Zhuoshi was certainly not a matter of chance. Thus, in this battlefield that could reverse the overall situation, a conclusion would not easily arise. As for the other battlefields, aside from Lin Tianhu¡¯s situation, all were in evenly matched confrontations. Looking at Lin Tianhu¡¯s side, reliant on his peculiar bead Magical Treasure, he was actually able to suppress Li Ying. For a time, each side had one battle group with the upper hand and another at a disadvantage. Under such circumstances, the fierce combat entered an intense stage. By this point, both sides had gained a certain understanding of their respective opponents and were attacking with the intent to hold nothing back. On the highest battlefield. At this moment, Luo Xiao¡¯s full force strike sent Liang Zhuoying flying and crashing heavily onto a small hill. By then, Liang Zhuoying staggered to his feet, his complexion paler than ever devoid of any color. Under the relentless Attacks from Luo Xiao, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s injuries grew increasingly severe. It is important to note that he had already been wounded earlier on, with his strength not even reaching eighty percent of his peak. At this moment, after more than a dozen rounds of Attack, his situation had become more critical. Luo Xiao, although having the advantage, was not having an easy time either. After all, he himself had been struck by a Liang Family Golden Core Cultivator during the retreat before the great battle, and coupled with the pursuit of Liang Zhuoying and his sister, his own injuries were not light, resulting in significant consumption of his True Yuan Mana. With this series of Attacks, his already seriously wounded state worsened by the minute. However, even so, Luo Xiao knew that his opponent was even tougher than him, so his attacks became increasingly frenzied, thinking to end the battle as quickly as possible to avoid further complications. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± As the sound of sword chiming rose, Luo Xiao¡¯s next round of attacks arrived as expected. In that instant, powerful Sword Qi cut through the sky, and huge fluctuations whipped up swathes of Gang Wind, shooting towards Liang Zhuoying opposite him. At this moment, seeing this scene and feeling the Gang Wind striking his face, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s expression became extremely grave. Afterward, Liang Zhuoying let out a long sigh, and the movements in his hands correspondingly began. He pinched a Law Decree and then made a special hand gesture. In less than the time of one breath, a fireball the size of a bucket appeared above Liang Zhuoying¡¯s head. No sooner had the fireball appeared than the temperature around it soared dramatically, with waves of heat spreading out in all directions. With a shout from Liang Zhuoying, the fireball flew out at an inconceivable speed, quickly arriving above Luo Xiao¡¯s head. At this very moment, feeling the scorching temperature coming from above, Luo Xiao¡¯s skin started to sting unbearably from the heat. He knew clearly in his heart that this must be the famously powerful Yellow Grade Spirit Technique of the Liang Family. Moreover, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s usage of Spirit Art at this time obviously indicated he was in a dire situation. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t fight so desperately. Therefore, Luo Xiao didn¡¯t dare to be careless at this time. As he rapidly retreated, he simultaneously brought out his Defense Treasure, readying all defensive measures. However, the fireball was incredibly fast and attacked on a very unpredictable trajectory. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise echoed, and at the peak of the battlefield, a vast area of crimson fire burst forth. Looking across, the expanse of the sea of fire was enormous, engulfing a vast area with Luo Xiao at its center. And at the core of that sea of fire, the temperature rose tens of times in an instant, reaching a tremendously terrifying level. At this time, despite being mentally prepared and having used various defensive means, Luo Xiao was still heavily wounded directly by the fireball. When the sea of fire dissipated, Luo Xiao spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, his complexion turning instantly pale, his vitality rapidly weakening. Not only that, but at this time, Luo Xiao¡¯s Daoist robe was in tatters, with many parts of his body scorched black, and some of his flesh was mangled and indistinct. This kind of injury was clearly caused by the heavy damage from the fireball. After barely soothing himself, Luo Xiao wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth and immediately turned his gaze towards Liang Zhuoying. On the opposite side, Liang Zhuoying was also once again thrown off by Luo Xiao¡¯s Attack, eventually crashing heavily to the ground. With this hit, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s injuries worsened again, and his True Essence Mana was nearly depleted. Continuing like this, if he couldn¡¯t end the battle within three more exchanges, he might not die but would completely lose his combat ability. Understanding this, Liang Zhuoying was incredibly anxious inside, profoundly hoping that some positive news might come from the other battle groups. As long as any battle group could free up, he might manage to find a chance to catch his breath. At that time, there might still be a possibility for the tide of battle to turn. With such expectations, Liang Zhuoying took advantage of the short lull in attacks to glance briefly over at the battle group where Lin Tianhu was. Following his gaze, Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t show the slightest delay in his actions, his attacks pouring like a flow of water, each one exceptionally formidable. Under his fierce onslaught, his opponent Li Ying was being completely overpowered by him. Moreover, on this section of the battlefield, Lin Tianhu had consistently dominated from beginning to end. As Lin Tianhu pinched a Law Decree, streaks of Spiritual Light bombarded the beads in front of him. At the same time, Lin Tianhu also murmured incessantly, as if he was reciting some sort of spell incantation. Very quickly, a cloud of colorful smoke billowed up, swiftly engulfing Li Ying. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ Chapter 1192: 622: Fourth Order Attack Talisman Chapter 1192: Chapter 622: Fourth Order Attack Talisman ¡°Hoo hoo hoo¡­¡± With a distinct odd sound, a vast expanse of sky was shrouded in multicolored smoke. Amidst the smoke, Li Ying currently felt as if there were a weight of ten thousand catties pressing on him, each step he took was incredibly strenuous, his movements greatly slowed. Not just that, the smoke was exceedingly strange, it forcibly stirred up the Qi-Blood within his body, causing it to frantically surge. In that instant, he experienced an unprecedented sensation of pain. Just as Li Ying held on for the duration of one breath, more and more smoke swirled around him, both in density and size ballooning crazily. In the end, the discomfort in his body grew stronger and stronger. And because of this, Li Ying, no matter how much he could endure, could no longer keep up. As a result, within the colorful smoke, pained low growls were soon heard. By the time the smoke gradually dissipated, Li Ying¡¯s figure was finally revealed. Looking at him at that moment, Li Ying was already spitting blood, his complexion extremely pale, his entire presence somber and weak. Fortunately, the smoke was not endless, and as time passed, the smoke was slowly fading away. When the smoke had thinned to a certain extent, Li Ying finally felt his strength returning, everything gradually returning to normal. After feeling these changes, Li Ying just wanted to heave a sigh of relief. But at this moment, a cluster of flames suddenly burst out of the thin smoke, descending on his head with the speed of thunder not allowing one to cover one¡¯s ears. At this moment, Li Ying felt the extreme heat, and sensed the breath of death. At this point, Li Ying was thoroughly frightened. In his heart, he truly hadn¡¯t expected the strange smoke to yet not have completely cleared when Lin Tianhu¡¯s next round of attack had already arrived. Now, the fireball was very close to him, its speed unbelievably fast. Faced with such an abrupt attack, it was fundamentally unrealistic for Li Ying to dodge. Moreover, he hadn¡¯t even had time to catch his breath, now he was totally unprepared. What¡¯s more, he had already been seriously wounded just moments ago, his strength severely compromised. It could be said, he absolutely didn¡¯t have the time to handle this sudden attack, nor any confidence that he could survive this strike. Deeply aware of this, Li Ying was already resigned to his fate, standing stunned in his original spot, at a loss. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Accompanied by a sharp thunderous noise, within the sea of fire, a series of mournful screams were heard. The sound was intermittent, making one¡¯s scalp tingle upon hearing it. And within that sea of fire, Li Ying was struck directly by the fireball, instantly becoming a human-shaped Fire Man. As the sea of fire gradually calmed down, Li Ying¡¯s figure had already vanished without a trace. Clearly, under Lin Tianhu¡¯s sudden strike, Li Ying was bombed by the fireball without a chance to resist, not even a complete corpse was left behind. Moreover, the manner of Li Ying¡¯s death was extremely tragic; from his continuous screams, one could hear how agonizing his experience was at the time. But now that he was dead, everything that followed no longer had anything to do with him. At this time, as Lin Tianhu watched Li Ying being killed by him, an excited smile flashed across his face. In his heart, he was very satisfied with the outcome of this battle. After all, Li Ying was of Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation, and he hailed from a major power like the Tianqing Sect, his strength not to be underestimated. To have achieved victory against such an opponent, was indeed a very difficult feat. However, after giving it some thought, Lin Tianhu had certain insights. In his opinion, Li Ying, at the start of the great battle, because he had been relentlessly pursuing Liang Zhuoying and his sister, was not at his peak state, at least his True Essence Mana had been depleted by nearly half. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whereas he himself had been conserving strength, and in the years of secluded cultivation, his own cultivation had also been slowly improving, now not too far from the Mid Stage Golden Core Realm. Moreover, Li Ying had been overly hasty and careless, allowing him to catch onto a series of flaws, finally achieving a one-strike-kill situation. Understanding this, Lin Tianhu didn¡¯t become overly arrogant, but also didn¡¯t underestimate his own strength too much. After coming back to his senses, Lin Tianhu turned his gaze towards other battlefields. Under his watchful eye, he discovered that Lin Tianfeng and Sun Ling¡¯er joining hands to face Cao Yunshan, seemed to have gained a sliver of advantage. Although this advantage was not obvious, it existed nonetheless. If this continued, it wasn¡¯t certain that they could kill Cao Yunshan, but at the very least they could ensure their own lives were safe. Seeing this, Lin Tianhu felt much relieved in his heart. Then, he continued to observe the battlefields of the Liang Zhuoying siblings. Looking over, the fluctuations coming from those two battlefields were particularly intense, especially on Liang Zhuoying¡¯s side, every strike carrying formidable power, like mountains collapsing and earth splitting, as strong as a herd of thousands of horses charging. And the fluctuations from Liang Zhuoshi¡¯s side were no less intense; after all, the siblings were from a well-known family, relying on that lineage and heritage, naturally their strength wouldn¡¯t be weak. Looking at their opponents, they too were from major powers. Under such circumstances, the killing intent and strength from these two battlefields were definitely the strongest points of the entire battlefield. After observing, Lin Tianhu found that Liang Zhuoying¡¯s situation was extremely precarious, basically just struggling to hold on thanks to his strong Defense Treasure. While Liang Zhuoshi was also at a disadvantage, it was certainly much better than her brother Ming¡¯s side. Chapter 1193: 622: Fourth Order Attack Talisman_2 Chapter 1193: Chapter 622: Fourth Order Attack Talisman_2 At the very least, within ten rounds, Liang Zhuoshi should not have to worry about life and death. On the other hand, if the situation for Liang Zhuoying continues like this, within a maximum of five rounds, she will undoubtedly suffer heavy injuries from Luo Xiao, and there¡¯s even a high probability that she could fall right here and there. Realizing this, Lin Tianhu immediately decided to give Liang Zhuoying a hand. Because he knew very well that since the great battle had already begun, and both sides had torn their facades apart, he and Lin Tianhu were already involved in this turmoil no matter what actions they took. Now, no matter how they respond, there is no way back for them. Instead of being passively hunted down by the four Golden Core Forces of Jinfeng Nation and having their backgrounds investigated, which would very likely lead to the Lin Family eventually, By then, the Lin Family would have been involved in all of this through no fault of their own. Under such circumstances, it is better to take this opportunity to nip the threats in the bud. As long as these four are all here, the risk of exposure for them would be significantly reduced. Aware of this, Lin Tianhu had already made up his mind to stand on the side of the Liang Family. If the Liang Family were to win, the besieging forces from all sides would surely suffer heavy losses, or even face complete destruction. Since all significant forces would be disintegrating, and considering the distance from Jinfeng Nation to Wei Kingdom, even if the major forces were not eradicated, they would inevitably be severely damaged. At that point, the crisis facing the Lin Family would naturally be resolved. Moreover, cultivating good relations with a family as ancient and established as the Liang Family, and owing them a huge favor, will be beneficial for the long-term development of the Lin Family. You should know that the Liang Family¡¯s business is extensive, and the influence of the Liang Merchant Alliance under their control is very strong in the Qingzhou Land, second only to the Commerce Alliances under the Nascent Soul Forces. For such comprehensively developed families, it is worth it for the Lin Family to make some sacrifices to foster good relations. And the siblings Liang Zhuoying and Liang Zhuoshi are core family members of the Liang Family and are born of the legitimate line, holding significant influence within the entire family. If they could be rescued, it would surely draw the attention of the higher-ups in the Liang Family. With all these thoughts, Lin Tianhu leaped forward, rushing towards Liang Zhuoying¡¯s position at the first opportunity. At that moment, Liang Zhuoying was facing Luo Xiao¡¯s fierce onslaught, wave after wave of attacks coming at him like a tide, giving him no chance to catch his breath. As he watched the powerful Sword Qi swirling above him, threatening to sweep across heaven and earth, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s brows were deeply furrowed, and his heart was filled with bitterness. Faced with such attacks, he truly felt more willing than able. Now, just as one round of attacks had ended, the next had already descended. The fact that Liang Zhuoying could hold on until now was no easy feat. At this critical moment, Liang Zhuoying wanted to take a breather, but Luo Xiao on the other side didn¡¯t give him any opportunity. With no other choice, Liang Zhuoying, despite realizing that dragging the fight out was not an option, could only manage to hold out against this round of attacks. As long as he was still alive, there would naturally be a chance for a turnaround. On the contrary, if he lost his life, any further thoughts would be meaningless. Thus, in his urgency, Liang Zhuoying summoned up his courage and burst out with a few techniques, attempting to withstand this wave of attacks. ¡°Bang¡­¡± With a muffled sound, Liang Zhuoying was seen being flung away by a tremendous force. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While still in mid-air, he spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion turning significantly paler, and his energy clearly weakened. It wasn¡¯t until Lin Tianhu, who had rushed over from behind, placed a hand on his shoulder that Liang Zhuoying finally stabilized his form. Immediately after, Liang Zhuoying turned his head, and upon seeing Lin Tianhu coming to his support, his heart surged with joy. Deep inside, he clearly hadn¡¯t expected Lin Tianhu¡¯s strength to be so formidable, managing to defeat an equal-cultivation Li Ying in the quickest manner. You must know that Li Ying was also considered a veteran Golden Core Cultivator within Jinfeng Nation, and it has been over a hundred years since he broke through to the Golden Core Stage. Even if Li Ying was not in his best state, defeating him so swiftly was by no means easy. But the fact was, Lin Tianhu had already freed himself up and came to his side. Looking at Li Ying again, he has now vanished without a trace, with only a faint trace of breath lingering in the air, indicating that he had once been here. And this outcome indeed took Liang Zhuoying by surprise. Looking at the other battlefields, the situation was generally evenly matched, or they were clearly at a tactical disadvantage. Only on the side of Lin Tianhu, who had taken the lead in breaking the deadlock, did Liang Zhuoying, originally helpless, now see a glimmer of hope for victory. With the support from Lin Tianhu, Liang Zhuoying, who had been struggling to hold on, immediately became fully spirited. Seeing the appearance of Lin Tianhu, Luo Xiao, on the opposite side, instantly grew serious. Like Liang Zhuoying, Luo Xiao had not expected Lin Tianhu to achieve victory so quickly, with barely any effort to annihilate Li Ying. Moreover, Li Ying didn¡¯t even have the chance to escape or self-detonate his Golden Core. The ease with which Lin Tianhu could dispatch Li Ying showed just how formidable his strength was. The more Luo Xiao understood this, the more difficult he found the situation. He had originally held an overwhelming advantage, with continuous attacks that had seriously injured Liang Zhuoying and worsened his wounds. Under this trend, it should be only a matter of rounds before he could annihilate Liang Zhuoying. Once Liang Zhuoying died, they could continue to expand their advantage until they annihilated everyone else. But now with Lin Tianhu achieving victory first, it was tantamount to disrupting the balance of victory that initially tilted in their favor. Considering these factors, Luo Xiao already felt a great sense of foreboding. His current state wasn¡¯t good either, as his mana was nearly depleted, making his overall strength much less than at his peak. Now that Lin Tianhu and Liang Zhuoying were teaming up, it would not be easy for him to continue to suppress the opposition with the advantage of his cultivation. It was even possible that he might be the one suppressed, causing the situation he controlled to change. Realizing this, Luo Xiao grew more anxious, with his actions accelerating. He knew that delaying further would work against him. Instead of getting stuck in the mire, it would be better to make a decisive strike with the fastest and sharpest attack to resolve one of them first. As long as one of the two fell, the remaining one would not pose much of a threat. By then, he could regain control over the entire situation. With this in mind, Luo Xiao spared no effort, his hands performing a rapid series of moves, quickly condensing a tremendous Sword Qi that hovered above his head. At that moment, Luo Xiao cast a spell, and the Sword Qi soared into the sky, charging straight towards the vital parts of Liang Zhuoying. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another round of Luo Xiao¡¯s attack descended, almost without any break in between. At this very moment, both Liang Zhuoying and Lin Tianhu felt the massive fluctuation and witnessed the Sword Qi¡¯s ascent into the heavens. Especially Liang Zhuoying, whose complexion changed drastically the moment the Sword Qi appeared, evidently very wary of this attack. Moreover, the attack was clearly aimed at him, showing Luo Xiao¡¯s determination to eliminate him first. ¡°Fellow Daoist, this Sword Qi is undoubtedly that old monster Luo¡¯s trump card, a Yellow Grade Spirit Technique,¡± Liang Zhuoying warned, hastily retreating. At the same time, Liang Zhuoying slapped his storage bag, producing a pale-yellow talisman paper in his hand. Immediately thereafter, Liang Zhuoying¡¯s fingers flicked rapidly, bombarding the talisman paper with Spiritual Light. In an instant, the pale-yellow talisman paper expanded dramatically, quickly forming an earthen wall in front of him. This earthen wall, upon its appearance, caused the earth elemental energy between heaven and earth to surge rapidly, converging towards the wall invisibly. Witnessing this, Lin Tianhu was immensely shocked. Turns out, this pale-yellow talisman paper was actually a Fourth Order Defense Talisman. For a treasure of this level, Lin Tianhu had not only never seen it before but had hardly even heard about it. But now, the substantial and mighty wall and its powerful fluctuations were enough to demonstrate that this talisman paper was indeed the priceless Fourth Order Treasure. ¡­ Chapter 1194: 623: War of Attrition Chapter 1194: Chapter 623: War of Attrition ¡°Rumble¡­¡± As the sound of a sword¡¯s cry rose, the huge Sword Qi grew closer, and a powerful wave swept in. At this moment, Lin Tianhu snapped out of his shock. Immediately after, he summoned wind beneath his feet and retreated behind the earthen wall as quickly as possible. After steadying himself, he stared curiously at the earthen wall before him, as if afraid he might miss something. Under his watchful eye, the Sword Qi driven by Luo Xiao had descended, striking the earthen wall without deviation. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A thunderous roar spread, illuminating the sky with an extremely dazzling light. In that instant, Lin Tianhu felt his eyes sting, and even his Divine Sense momentarily fell into a blocked state. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the booming sound gradually subsided, everything returned to normal. At this time, Lin Tianhu eagerly observed the scene before him and found tiny cracks on the earthen wall that blocked their path. However, the earthen wall still stood, albeit its surface color had noticeably dimmed. It was evident that the Fourth Order Defense Talisman had a powerful defensive effect, managing to withstand Luo Xiao¡¯s driven Spirit Art attack. One must know that Luo Xiao was a Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm, also an experienced Golden Core Cultivator. Moreover, coming from a long-standing and influential force like the Yuanchen Sect, the Spirit Art he used was naturally extraordinary. Yet even so, Luo Xiao¡¯s terrifying strike was actually blocked by the Fourth Order Defense Talisman activated by Liang Zhuoying. And the earthen wall created by that Defense Talisman still stood, not dissipating after the attack had ended. This suggested that the Defense Talisman could be used again. Indeed, that was the case. As calm returned, Liang Zhuoying waved a hand, and the earthen wall crumbled to dust, disappearing without a trace. Following that, the light yellow talisman paper was grasped in Liang Zhuoying¡¯s hand. When he looked at the talisman, a trace of pain flickered across his face. The reason for this was that Third Order Talismans were extremely rare and invaluable. Especially defensive talismans, which are even costlier than attack talismans of the same grade, making them exceedingly precious. The talisman now employed by Liang Zhuoying was indeed a genuine Fourth Order Defense Talisman. Only such a treasure could effortlessly block an attack from Luo Xiao¡¯s caliber of Spirit Art. Otherwise, Liang Zhuoying would not have possibly brought out an ordinary Third Order Talisman. Currently, this Fourth Order Defense Talisman still had some energy remaining, enough to save his life at a critical moment. In such a situation, Liang Zhuoying naturally would not give up on such a valuable item. Hence, seeing that the Fourth Order Talisman paper in his hands had significantly dimmed, even a cultivator with Zhuoying¡¯s considerable wealth and background could not help but feel a pang of distress. This item had been used several times before, aiding the Liang Family members through crises and consuming most of its energy in the process. Otherwise, a Fourth Order Defense Talisman, even under the relentless assault of Luo Xiao, would likely not suffer the slightest. As for Liang Zhuoying¡¯s possession of such a treasure, it was because the Liang Family¡¯s business was extensive and their dealings were wide-ranging. Speaking of treasures like the Fourth Order Talismans, they were indeed rare and highly valued, hardly ever surfacing in the Cultivation World. Yet, relying on the Liang Merchant Alliance and their own influence, the Liang Family could obtain such rare Fourth Order Talismans. This Defense Talisman was prepared for Liang Zhuoying and others due to the utmost importance of the mission they were tasked with. Now, with each use of the Defense Talisman, its energy decreased once more; continuing like this, after two more attacks, it would completely dissipate. And such treasures are hard to replenish, constituting a loss for the Liang Family. Each time he thought about this, Liang Zhuoying felt significant pain, his gaze towards Luo Xiao across from him filled with fury. Having calmed down somewhat, Liang Zhuoying finally regained his composure. On the other side, the expression on Luo Xiao¡¯s face was extremely grim, having internally never anticipated Liang Zhuoying would possess such a defensive treasure. He had already employed his Spirit Art, yet still could not eliminate Liang Zhuoying and his sister. Furthermore, that Defense Talisman clearly had one or two more uses left. If he made another move, even if Liang Zhuoying was seriously injured, he would inevitably employ that Defense Talisman once again. And so, if the scenario continued, two Spirit Art attacks would be blocked by the Defense Talisman, and he still would not be able to eliminate the two of them. Luo Xiao found this outcome completely unacceptable. Knowing this, Liang Zhuoying deliberated and still decided to eliminate Liang Zhuoying and his sister at any cost, to obtain the treasure desired by the Sect. Otherwise, if they couldn¡¯t complete the mission, they would inevitably face punishment from the Great Elder upon returning to the Sect. Given these circumstances, no matter how difficult, he had no choice but to find every possible means to complete the mission. Subsequently, Luo Xiao paused briefly, swiftly initiating another attack. In an instant, another orb of light condensed above Luo Xiao¡¯s head, eventually forming a millstone-sized orb. Following Luo Xiao¡¯s Law Decree and intricate gestures, the orb of light suddenly shot toward the sky. Then, it bore down on Liang Zhuoying¡¯s position. In that moment, an intense aura descended from the heavens; before the Spirit Group even arrived, a Gang Wind had already formed, striking the cheeks of Lin Tianhu and Liang Zhuoying. Chapter 1195: 623: Attrition War_2 Chapter 1195: Chapter 623: Attrition War_2 At this moment, both Liang Zhuoying and Lin Tianhu sensed the fluctuation coming from above their heads, their faces grim. Especially Liang Zhuoying, who had already expended a lot of energy, his mana was nearly exhausted. Speaking of the previous round of attacks, if not for the presence of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman, he would have certainly been killed by Luo Xiao. And now, Liang Zhuoying was activating a Spirit Technique again, different from the last time, obviously at all costs. That is to say, if he wanted to get through this crisis, he would have to rely once more on the power of the Fourth Order Attack Talisman. Otherwise, ordinary methods simply couldn¡¯t block the attack of the Spirit Technique. Thus, after a brief moment of contemplation, Liang Zhuoying quickly made a decision. Soon, that yellow-colored talisman paper was once again invoked by him, turning into an earth wall barrier, standing in front of him and Lin Tianhu. At this time, behind the earth wall, Lin Tianhu felt the incoming light orb, his expression becoming somewhat grave. It must be said, the Golden Core Forces of Jinfeng Nation should not be underestimated; after all, they have a longstanding heritage, and any Golden Core Force had more than one Spirit Art at their disposal. Take the Tianqing Sect where Luo Xiao belonged, for example, they had more than one Spiritual Secret Technique within. And just now, the Sword Qi that Luo Xiao summoned was one Yellow Grade Spirit Technique. Now, the light orb he was driving, with its powerful aura, was definitely another Spirit Technique without a doubt. However, both these secret techniques were of the Yellow Grade Ranking, and while their Attack Power was much greater than ordinary Technique Divine Powers, the increase was still extremely limited. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet even so, Liang Zhuoying at the moment was gravely injured, his mana practically depleted. Facing this sudden strike, he had no confidence in evading the attack, nor any surplus mana to activate other defense methods. Moreover, even if he activated other methods, it was not certain that they could withstand the attack of the Spirit Group. Understanding this, Liang Zhuoying, despite the reluctance to exhaust the Fourth Order Defense Talisman, had no choice but to activate it again. They knew that in his current poor condition, only the Fourth Order Defense Talisman might be able to block Luo Xiao¡¯s strike. And if life was lost, what would be the use of preserving the Fourth Order Attack Talisman anyways. Therefore, without hesitation, Liang Zhuoying activated the Fourth Order Defense Talisman, and soon a wall of earth was erected in front of him and Lin Tianhu. Following that, with a loud bang, a huge glow shone across the sky. This disturbance lasted for a brief moment, rapidly settling back to calm. At this point, the earth wall barrier was still there but the glow on the barrier had dimmed considerably, seemingly teetering on the brink of collapse. As expected, Luo Xiao¡¯s attack was once again fruitless. However, the energy glow of the earth wall barrier appeared much dimmer now; at this rate of attack frequency and strength, it would collapse and dissipated completely after one more attack. Well aware of this, Luo Xiao had no intention of wasting time. Thus, while Liang Zhuoying had yet to retract the Defense Talisman, Luo Xiao launched another attack as scheduled. This time, he didn¡¯t activate any Spirit Technique, obviously because he had already used all his trump cards in the previous attack. At this point, he could only rely on Ordinary Attacks. Under such circumstances, Luo Xiao struck out, aiming a direct hit towards the earth wall barrier. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± After a series of explosive sounds, the earth wall still stood. However, the energy of the defensive screen had obviously diminished, causing the color of the glow to fade. Seeing this, Luo Xiao seemed to have anticipated it. He knew that a single Ordinary Attack would not be enough to break through this barely energized Defense Talisman. Therefore, at the very moment the first strike ended, Luo Xiao burst forth with another attack, aiming at the same spot as the first round. In less than a moment, another roar erupted, with a huge light illuminating the heavens and earth, illuminating the somewhat dark canyon. After this strike, the earth wall trembled violently, and some sporadic cracks appeared in certain spots. Although there were not many such cracks overall, this scene reflected the approximate condition of the Fourth Order Defense Talisman, which was certainly not optimistic. Therefore, Luo Xiao naturally would not waste time but decided to exhaust the energy of the Defense Talisman completely in a vigorous effort. Without that layer of protection, given Liang Zhuoying¡¯s current situation, she definitely couldn¡¯t last more than a few exchanges in his hands. Although Liang Zhuoying had help, in Luo Xiao¡¯s view, although Lin Tianhu¡¯s strength was not bad, he still couldn¡¯t be considered on the same level as himself. With his Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation realm, no matter how formidable someone at the Early Stage Golden Core was, it would be difficult for them to inflict fatal damage on him. Knowing this, Luo Xiao¡¯s actions were extremely decisive and he did not drag his feet in the slightest. Thus, just as the previous round of attacks had just subsided, Luo Xiao¡¯s next round of attacks was already approaching. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± Amidst a series of loud explosions, intense light flashed across the heavens and the earth. Following that, one could see the pale yellow earthen wall light screen completely crumbled, finally dissipating between heaven and earth. It was at that moment, a figure took advantage of the dazzling light and crossed over from behind the light screen of the earthen wall. By the time this person showed their figure, Luo Xiao realized that this was undoubtedly Lin Tianhu, who had been lying in wait for an opportunity to strike. At that moment, Lin Tianhu formed a Law Decree with his hand, and quickly made a complex hand gesture. In the blink of an eye, a fiery red light blade began to coalesce from his palm and finally formed a shaft of light several feet long, suspended above Lin Tianhu¡¯s head. In less than the time it takes for one breath, after Lin Tianhu gave a loud shout, the fiery red light blade suddenly shot out, swiftly aiming for Luo Xiao¡¯s vital parts. At this moment, Luo Xiao saw the surprise attack and was utterly unprepared for it. He thought that after his several rounds of assault, having exhausted the energy of the Fourth Order Defense Talisman, Liang Zhuoying and Lin Tianhu would certainly have no chance to counterattack immediately. And even if they did launch a counterattack, it would not be very strong. But reality gave him a harsh slap in the face. Now, the light blade attack was swift and fierce, fundamentally catching Luo Xiao somewhat off guard. Seeing the light blade approaching closer and closer, although Luo Xiao was surprised and shocked, he still quickly reacted. Moreover, Luo Xiao knew that it was too late for him to dodge. Therefore, Luo Xiao immediately activated a Defense Shield and placed it in front of himself. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Following a loud explosion, light flickered, and a massive impact spread out in all directions. At the center of that fluctuation, Luo Xiao felt a huge force strike him, stirring up all the Qi-Blood in his body. Besides this, the force of the impact was so tremendous that it shook all his internal organs violently. For a moment, an immense pain spread throughout his body. That instant, he experienced an unprecedented level of pain, causing him to grimace and his expression to twist painfully for quite a while. Once the shockwave ended, the skies briefly returned to calm. At that time, a trace of fresh blood spilled from the corner of Luo Xiao¡¯s mouth, and his complexion turned even paler. As for his aura, it was noticeably more weakened compared to before. Due to this sudden strike, Luo Xiao had underestimated Lin Tianhu¡¯s strength, resulting in a significant loss, and ultimately exacerbating his injuries. In addition to this, the attack caused a further increase in the consumption of his True Essence Mana. One should know that the True Essence Mana he had left was already not plentiful; previously, he had consecutively activated two Spirit Techniques, and afterwards, there were several rounds of Ordinary Attacks that broke the barrier formed by the Fourth Order Attack Talisman. Several rounds of such assaults had already caused him considerable consumption. Now, with this strike from Lin Tianhu, it was like adding frost to snow for Luo Xiao, whose mana was already scarce. However, this was not the part that infuriated Luo Xiao the most. It turns out that, in the instant that the previous attack ended, Lin Tianhu¡¯s next round of attacks once again arrived. ¡­ Chapter 1196: 624: Victory is Assured Chapter 1196: Chapter 624: Victory is Assured It was clear that Lin Tianhu had no intention of giving Luo Xiao any time or opportunity to catch his breath. In Lin Tianhu¡¯s eyes, he must take the opponent by surprise and seize any opportunity to gain an advantage. Otherwise, once Luo Xiao recovered, it would be very troublesome and extremely dangerous to deal with him given his Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation Realm. That¡¯s why Lin Tianhu¡¯s moves were faster and more ruthless with each attack, evidently determined to establish some advantage at any cost. Once the advantage reached a certain level, he would launch a fatal attack. Therefore, Lin Tianhu was fully concentrated, pushing this round of attacks to the extreme. Amidst a loud boom, Luo Xiao was sent flying by the tremendous force. While still in mid-air, Luo Xiao spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his complexion and breath immediately weakened significantly. By the time he stabilized himself and just thought about creating some safe distance to avoid being led around by the enemy¡ª S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was at this moment that Lin Tianhu¡¯s new round of attacks arrived once again, relentless as a flowing waterfall, showing no intention to pause even slightly. Facing such an onslaught from Lin Tianhu, Luo Xiao was evidently struggling. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked combat experience, but rather that Lin Tianhu¡¯s manner of attack was incredibly swift and decisive, direct and always catching him off-guard, leaving him no chance to breathe and totally unprepared. Now, he had barely recovered from the previous round of attacks, not even having enough time to establish a safe distance, when the next wave of onslaught approached as scheduled. Facing the increasingly imminent attacks, Luo Xiao, in his haste, could only retreat while trying to summon his Defense Treasure. Soon, just as his defensive measures took shape, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attack arrived. Along with a thunderous noise, a blaze of fire tore through the void. In that blaze, the force of Lin Tianhu¡¯s attack transferred from the Defense Treasure to Luo Xiao¡¯s body. While most of the force was blocked by the Defense Treasure, a significant enough strength still entered his body. In that instant, Luo Xiao¡¯s Qi-Blood within his body surged wildly. Subsequently, his complexion turned deathly pale again, and he spat out several more mouthfuls of blood, his breath weakening even further. Up to this point, he had taken several rounds of Lin Tianhu¡¯s attacks head-on, always on full defense, without taking any initiative to strike back. This scenario was completely contrary to his own intentions. Meanwhile, even though Tianhu might have a lower cultivation, he held the initiative all along, continuously leading Luo Xiao by the nose. This situation was precisely what Lin Tianhu wanted to see. On the other side, Luo Xiao, despite his higher cultivation, found himself in quite an embarrassing predicament. At this moment, the situation had reversed, and the scales of victory and defeat had shifted. Speaking of Lin Tianhu, he had previously slain Li Ying without expending much effort. Protected by a Fourth Order Defense Talisman, he had not consumed much mana but simply launched several surprise attacks earlier on. At this point, he was basically at his peak condition. In contrast, Luo Xiao had already expended a significant amount of True Yuan Mana in pursuit from the start. He then fought Liang Zhuoying for quite some time and subsequently had to exert two Spirit Arts in succession to break through the protection of the Fourth Order Defense Talisman. After such a series of energy depletions, Luo Xiao was already greatly weakened. Now, with Lin Tianhu¡¯s continuous attacks, his energy was further drained, and his injuries compounded. Currently, his mana was nearly depleted, and his injuries were far from slight¡ªhis condition could only be described as exceptionally poor. If things continued like this, he might actually suffer an unexpected defeat. If that were to happen, his entire life¡¯s reputation would be destroyed in an instant. As someone with Mid Stage Golden Core Cultivation in the Jin Feng Country Cultivation World, he was a figure of some status. Luo Xiao had truly not anticipated ending up in such a state. Now that things had reached this point, there was no time for him to think further. Because Lin Tianhu would not show any flaws, nor give him any chance to breathe, much less let go of this hard-won situation. Under these circumstances, as soon as his barrage of attacks ended, Lin Tianhu once again exploded with a ferocious strike. This strike seemed similar to the previous ones, but in reality, it possessed tremendous power and carried a resolve for a one-hit kill. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In a burst of violent fluctuations, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attack had already reached right above Luo Xiao¡¯s head. At this time, Luo Xiao had just recovered from the last round of attacks. When he sensed the oncoming shockwave, his face suddenly changed color, and he became both shocked and angry. As the attack drew closer, within moments it was less than a hundred feet away from Luo Xiao. At this very moment, Luo Xiao, in his urgency, could only rely on his Defense Treasure once again for protection. At this moment, he had been completely led around by Lin Tianhu, with no room for choices, no right to choose. Hence, Luo Xiao could only think about resisting this strike first, then look for an opportunity to turn the tables afterward. With such hope, Luo Xiao made a series of maneuvers. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In an instant, Lin Tianhu¡¯s attack forcefully collided head-on with the Defense Treasure summoned by Luo Xiao.